Shure Beta 57A Microphone</a>. Not because of feedback issues, amazingly; but because the condenser was picking up too much ambient sound. Even though I will probably never be able to use this microphone consistently, due to my band mates' love of noise, I really wish that I could. I highly recommend it.\",\n \"Product: Call Samson's Q7 dynamic vocal microphone into service when you want fine detail in your live vocal performances. This vocal microphone has been precision-designed to deliver clean, articulate, undistorted vocals even when it faces extremely bulletproof singers. Beyond that, Samson gave the Q7 a tight supercardioid pickup pattern, which helps you avoid potentially show-ruining problems with feedback. The supercardioid pickup pattern keeps the Q7 focused on the source straight in front of it, rejecting signals from its rear and sides. The makes the Samson Q7 perfect for performances with multiple onstage instruments.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Solid Microphone, Fair Price\\n\\nReview: I am a vocalist in a cover band. Nothing serious. Still, we try to get our hands on the most decent equipment feasible. After reading some solid reviews for Samson's Q7, I was pretty excited to try it out; although, to be honest, my expectations were not that high.\\n\\nIn my mind, based primarily on price point, the Q7 was in competition for air time with the <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Shure-SM58-LC-Cardioid-Vocal-Microphone-without-Cable/dp/B000CZ0R42/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Shure SM58-LC Cardioid Vocal Microphone without Cable</a>. I have to admit, for all of the talk about how sturdy and durable the SM58 is as the go-to workhorse, the Q7 at least feels sturdier. I really appreciate the heft of the Q7. Something about the weight and contour is just more satisfying than that of the SM58. Of course, I have used SM58s that were well over ten years old, and I've just pulled the Q7 out of the box, so to speak; so the jury is still out on actual durability. As far as sound is concerned, the discernable difference I was anticipating between the SM58 and the Q7 never materialized.\\n\\nAll in all, as a multi-purpose stable mic, I am happy to add the Q7 to the herd. Depending on how well the Q7 holds up, if faced with the decision to purchase a new workhorse mic in the future, I will probably choose the Q7 over the SM58 just to save a few dollars.\",\n \"Product: The Q8 Dynamic Handheld Microphone brings a high level of accuracy and audio performance to live and studio vocal miking applications. Using state-of-the-art microphone technology, the Q8 is engineered to the finest detail to provide the ultimate in sound reproduction and professionalism. The heart of the Q8's performance stems the neodymium dynamic mic element. Offering high gain output and a low impedance design, the capsule also features a super cardioid pickup pattern. This enables the Q8 to pick up all the nuances of any performance with exceptional clarity and detail, while reducing feedback and unwanted signals not originating directly in front of the mic capsule. The Q8 is equipped to withstand high sound pressure levels, so live vocals sound huge and crystal clear. This also makes the Q8 a versatile tool in the recording studio, a workhorse microphone perfect for any professional application. With a rugged zinc alloy, die-casted case, the Q8 will provide reliable performance in even the most demanding environments. In addition, the Q8 comes with a carry case and mic clip.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Good Mic. No Beta 58A Though.\\n\\nReview: I am the lead singer for a cover band that has a pretty eclectic set list. Being that we range from progressive rock to singer/songwriter stuff, I have always desired a warm mic with high gain before feedback and minimal off-axis coloration. After a couple of years of not being quite satisfied with the old-standby, <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Shure-SM58-LC-Cardioid-Vocal-Microphone-without-Cable/dp/B000CZ0R42/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Shure SM58-LC Cardioid Vocal Microphone without Cable</a>, I was given the <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Shure-BETA-58A-Supercardioid-Dynamic-Microphone-with-High-Output-Neodymium-Element-for-Vocal-Instrument-Applications/dp/B0002BACB4/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Shure BETA 58A Supercardioid Dynamic Microphone with High Output Neodymium Element for Vocal/Instrument Applications</a> to try out and immediately fell in love with it. After reading several reviews for the Samson SAQ8 in which side-by-side comparisons with the Beta - oddly all taking place at Sam Ash stores - proved the Q8 to be superior, I was quite excited to start using the mic that appeared to be even better than my favorite.\\n\\nMy excitement was not justified.\\n\\nAfter using the mic across a wide variety of songs, I decided to perform a side-by-side of my own; not at a Sam Ash store, but on our own equipment. I didn't mind using the Q8 while we were playing, and definitely felt that it was superior to the SM58 as a vocal mic, but the side-by-side with the Beta proved to me that the Beta provides a truer, brighter, sound. In comparison, the Q8 sounds muddy and sluggish. I don't know what was going on during the Sam Ash side-by-sides experienced by the other reviewers of the Q8, but the results were clear in our comparatively independent trial.\\n\\nIn my opinion, if you need a good vocal mic, particularly for live performance, it will be worth it for you to spend the extra money on the Beta 58A. That being said, now that we have it, I think we will be replacing one of our old Shure SM58s we use for backup vocals with the Q8. It is a good, high quality, microphone; just don't be misled into believing that it is superior to the Beta 58A.\",\n \"Product: The Active Grip 595 is a 5B at a standard 16 in length. The short taper and classic oval 5B wood tip gives this stick a well balance front weighted feel and optimizes power and speed while laying into the pocket - perfect for studio session work and outdoor festivals alike with a straight ahead back beat. The Active Grip 595 is a 5B at a standard 16 in length. The short taper and classic oval 5B wood tip gives this stick a well balance front weighted feel and optimizes power and speed while laying into the pocket - perfect for studio session work and outdoor festivals alike with a straight ahead back beat.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Differentin a good way\\n\\nReview: I have used Vic Firth sticks exclusively for about 6 years, but gave these a shot because I was intrigued by the ActiveGrip technology as I have a propensity to launch sticks when my hands get sweaty. I've played with Zildjian DIP sticks in the past (with the rubberized coating) and figured these would probably be similar. The problem with those, however, is a tendency to blister the edge of my index fingers after long sessions.\\n\\nOut of the box, the first thing you notice is, unlike the Zildjians, the Promarks are light-weight. I don't weigh my sticks, so I couldn't say how much lighter, but anyone who's been playing a while will definitely notice the nimble feel. This may impact durability and the low-mass will definitely affect dynamics for heavy hitters, but I am not one of those so I'm not too worried about either. I gave them a quick double-stroke roll on my desk and was pleasantly delighted by the responsiveness and snappy rebound. The ActiveGrip technology does what it says, giving a somewhat tacky feel, but it is far from \\\"sticky\\\" and didn't notice it getting any different as I played. That being said, it DOES enhance the grip more than regular wooden sticks. Like the Zildjian DIPs, I think there is a potential for blistering so building up some callouses would be advised before taking these to a three-hour gig.\\n\\nThe only thing that threw me off a bit was the tips. They are like an elongated barrel, but not quite an acorn as they don't taper as much. I didn't notice much of an impact on the sound or playability, it was just \\\"different\\\" for me since I am used to smaller, rounder tips.\\n\\nAll in all, a great stick and worth buying a pair to see if they work well for you.\",\n \"Product: Learn to Play Keyboard Bundle is a complete learning tool for developing skills with a piano or keyboard. This bundle combines the eMedia Piano & Keyboard Method CD-ROM with a high quality 49-key full-size, touch-sensitive MIDI keyboard. Hook up the keyboard to your USB port and start teaching yourself to play. The small Desktop keyboard is ideal for use on your Computer desk. Also includes Pitch bend and modulation wheels and a pedal port. Learn To Play Keyboard CD features 250 lessons that teach sight-reading, creating accompaniments, transposition and other essential keyboard skills. Video demonstrations and interactive reviews feature 100 songs, to reinforce lessons while making them more fun. The keyboard comes with USB cable that plugs your MIDI keyboard into your PC or Macintosh computer via a USB port that also powers the keyboard. Learn To Play Keyboard CD features 250 lessons that teach sight-reading, creating accompaniments, transposition and other essential keyboard skills. Video demonstrations and interactive reviews feature 100 songs, to reinforce lessons while making them more fun.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: It serves its purpose\\n\\nReview: I was reluctant to make this purchase after reading so many negative reviews; however, I am now very pleased that I went against what I believed to be my better judgment. I have been dedicating about six hours each week to this product for the last four or five months. When I began, I possessed only the most limited of knowledge with regard to sight reading, keeping time, and rhythm. I now have to admit, though I still have much to learn, that I can play the piano because of this product (although playing well will inevitably take some time). This system worked wonders for me and was much cheaper than the alternative of paying weekly for lessons, yet I must encourage you to read the following.\\n\\nWARNING:\\n- Children should not be subjected to this product, as they might experience severe boredom if product is applied directly (some instances of secondhand boredom have been reported in children under 16 that have even come into indirect contact with this product). That is, the lessons are far from engaging and should not be expected to keep a child's attention for even one moment. This might be particularly true when the child has no actual interest in learning how to play the piano, other than appeasing mom.\\n\\n- The software (and hardware) is, in fact, flakey. This being said, the software and keyboard have always worked for me, even if it did require a few additional steps from time to time. I discovered that one of the primary issues with the keyboard is that it will not work if the latest QuickTime update has not been installed. Considering the speed at which new QuickTime updates are made available, it is easy to see why this might require an update check quite frequently. At one point I also had to visit the company's website to download the latest drivers, since which time I have experienced no further issues. I have also realized that the keyboard will not communicate properly with the program if it is not turned on prior to opening the learning modules. If all else fails...rebooting has always worked.\\n\\nEven with these seemingly significant drawbacks, my own results with this product prevent me from doing anything other than singing its praises. The cost/benefit ratio, in my opinion, appears to have worked out in my favor. If you are an adult that seriously (serious enough to sit through monotone instructions and no-frill lessons) wishes to learn how to play the piano, I would recommend this product. I would also recommend utilizing these modules with a (not necessarily the one provided in this bundle, although it's not terrible) MIDI controller/keyboard, as there is great benefit to be had from the controller/software interaction and feedback.\",\n \"Product: Cuisinart introduces coffee without the carafe! The Coffee on demand coffeemaker has a simple \\\"press to serve\\\" lever that delivers up to 12 cups of hot coffee, cup by cup, from a double wall reservoir. Our exclusive Coffee gauge on the front of the unit counts down the cups remaining. With 24-hour programmability, auto shutoff, professional brushed metal housing, and clean, contemporary styling, this is one of the easiest-and almost elegant- coffeemakers on the market.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: As good as it gets!\\n\\nReview: This coffee maker has been churning out great brew for more than a year at the office, even with heavy use, so it was time to pick one up for the house. I was drawn to this model because the carafe always seems to be the weakest link, with glass having a tendency to break and even stainless steel having the propensity to get that burnt coffee taste after a few months. The design of the DCC-2000 gets around these issues and throws in a few extra benefits. The 2000 is unobtrusive and far more aesthetically pleasing than a standard coffee maker. Its coffee dispense pedal makes distribution a snap; however, the space permitted between the base and dispenser makes larger cups a little more of an issue, but achievable. Coffee preparation is just as easy as any carafe design and cleanup is certainly easier. There is also a built in \\\"coffee gauge\\\" (apparently fashioned after a fuel gauge) which indicates how much coffee remains inside, which is more fun to look at than functional, though handy nonetheless. In my experience the DCC-2000 is an attractive, hearty, and all around great coffee maker.\",\n \"Product: Keep fruits and veggies handy with these beautiful copper hanging baskets! This classic kitchen organizer is the ultimate in space-efficiency, taking up no counter space and instead hanging conveniently from the ceiling. The three tier hanging design allows additional storage and easy access to the stored contents. The beautiful copper finish on these kitchen baskets works well with home decor themes of any type. Great for wherever you find yourself wishing for more space, including the kitchen, kids' rooms, closets, laundry room, garage or bathroom! Basket diameters measure from 7-inch to 11-inch, and extends to a total height of 32-inches. No assembly required! This attractive storage piece can be hung up right away. Perfect for sorting and organizing produce, vegetables, craft supplies, and more. Add space, prevent cluttering, and maximize your storage abilities, while adding a touch of charm to your home.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Functional & Good Looking!\\n\\nReview: First and foremost, the baskets do their job. Even the top basket, although not huge in diameter, is deep enough to hold things effectively (We have granola bars in our top basket).\\n\\nBecause of the ring and clip design, the space between the baskets can actually be adjusted to ones liking pretty easily. These clips were also helpful because, upon arrival, the chains were a little kinked up. We were able to unclip and re-clip the baskets instead of having to fight a knot.\\n\\nI noticed that the listing says that the total height is approximately 32 when hanging. Im not sure how this measurement was taken, but ours measures right about 39 from top of hook to the bottom of the lowest basket. Just know that this set is large, and make sure you have something tall enough to hang it from.\\n\\nThe radius of the bottom basket is about 5.5 so youll want to make sure that whatever you intend to hang it from is at least that far from a wall to avoid basket tilt.\\n\\nIts a great set that looks nice, and holds things!\",\n \"Product: This brand new picture frame is manufactured in the USA at our facility in Ithaca, Michigan using the best materials and tools available. Our picture and poster frames LARGER THAN OR EQUAL TO 12x18 Inch (inside dimensions) include clear STYRENE facing, a rigid cardboard backing and hanging hardware. Some assembly is required to attach the hanging hardware to the frame. Visit our seller info page for assembly instructions. Hanging hardware includes: (2) 1\\\" Nails, (1) 30# capacity Wall Hanger, (1) 4' length of Hanging Wire, (2) D-Rings, (2) 1/2\\\" Screws. Before hanging your frame, please remember to peel off the blue protective film from the styrene facing (or acrylic facing if you upgraded) for maximum clarity. Our picture frames will compliment any space that you hang them in, they make great gifts and they will protect and display your photographs and artwork for years to come. If you have any questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact us. Feel free to visit our storefront and seller info pages to browse our extensive selection of frames, read customer feedback or review our policies and contact info. At the end of the day we want you to be completely happy with your purchase. Be sure to add us to your list of favorites so you can easily find us the next time you need a quality picture frame. Thank you for shopping with us. We are Craig Frames and we are framing the world.one customer at a time.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Amazing, for the price!\\n\\nReview: No, this is not the highest quality frame I have ever owned or seen. However, this is the highest quality or, at least, apparent quality frame that Ive ever owned or seen at this price point!\\n\\nNot only is the frame even better looking than in the product listing, but I was also quite please at how much care was taken in the packing process. The acrylic was lined with a removable protective coating on both sides, and the frame itself was secured in a floating-style packing arrangement.\\n\\nThe frame included everything need for hanging, and was easily installed within a minute of two with nothing more than a Phillips-head screwdriver (and a hammer to install the wall hook).\\n\\nIm very pleased with my purchase, and highly recommend this frame!\",\n \"Product: Transform any child's bedroom with this super soft microfiber twin sheet set featuring your child's favorite characters from Disney Frozen. Characters shown include Elsa and Anna. This twin bedding sheet set is sure to make any child smile. Each 3 piece, super soft microfiber twin sheet set includes a fitted sheet, flat sheet and one standard reversible pillowcase. The bold colors and exciting design will enhance the existing decor of any kid's or toddler bedroom. Fitted sheet measures 39\\\" x 75\\\", flat sheet measures 66\\\" x 96\\\" with (1) 20\\\" x 30\\\" standard pillowcase. 100Percent polyester. Easy care, machine wash cold, tumble dry low. Imported\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: They went wild for it!\\n\\nReview: My two youngest nieces are 3 and 5, and both love Frozen. I couldn't decide who would like the comforter more so I let their father decide. As it turns out, this comforter has been a real boon in the household. The comforter is so beloved by the girls that my brother, their father, has been able to effectively utilize it as a reward mechanism.\\n\\nThe comforter itself is vibrant and surprisingly soft for children's bedding. I do have fears, however, that the delicate threads and vibrant colors might not stand up too well to the test of time. But, for the moment, it is great!\\n\\nThe comforter did have a very strong chemically scent when it was first removed from the packaging that lingered for a few days. The girls didn't seem to mind it, but it was definitely unpleasant for a little while.\\n\\nAll in all, fans of Frozen probably won't be let down by this fun comforter.\",\n \"Product: The Precision Steam features Electrolux exclusive CleanBurst, which concentrates steam on stubborn sticky spots, so your bare floors remain spotless with less effort. With its swivel nozzle and extra wide 15 in. cleaning path, the Precision Steam mop helps you thoroughly clean sealed hard floors in your home quickly so you spend less time cleaning. The 3 steam settings on Precision Steam are ready in seconds and let you choose the right amount of steam to clean everything from your delicate sealed hardwood floors to heavily trafficked kitchen tile. Includes: Precision Steam Bare Floor Steamer - EL9010A,(2) Washable Microfiber Pads.\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: I guess you can call it steam.\\n\\nReview: My primary beef with the Electrolux Precision Steam is that it just barely earns the Steam title in its moniker. Yes, there is a visible vapor emitted from the device, but dry ice in water produces a similar effect. The problem is that there is no bite to this steam. It is lacking the heat that one expects from a steam cleaner. In other words, this mop would be just as effective if it simply squirted some water ahead of its microfiber pads. The pads are doing all the work!\\n\\nThe CleanBurst feature would be awesome if there were any real cleaning capacity to the burst of tepid water vapor. Instead, it just produces a wet spot on the floor next to the mop.\\n\\nI wish that I could give credit to the large reservoir and the exceptionally nimble, and wide, mop head, but these potential positives are rendered useless by the fact that, without hot steam, the mop intrinsically fails at being a steam mop.\",\n \"Product: InterDesign's Lazy Susan Cabinet Binz are the perfect storage solution for corner base cabinets! This 1/8 wedge is made of clear plastic and features a built-in handle, purchase 8 to create a full circle!\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Great for the proper fit!\\n\\nReview: Not all lazy Sues are created equal. Particularly in size. That being said, this bin will not be ideal for every lazy susan out there.\\n\\nFrom front angle to front angle, this bin measures about 9 inches. It has a depth of 4 inches, and is about 10 inches long. Keep in mind that eight of these bins create a full circle. I'd keep all of this in mind and check the dimensions against the dimensions of your susan before going all in, or you might be disappointed.\\n\\nIf the fit is true, these bins would be hard to beat. They are made of durable plastic, and include a small handle at the front for ease of extraction. They are perfect for doing a little organizing, and/or for adding a little depth to your susan.\",\n \"Product: The KRUPS Kj502 professional deep fryer with basket offers a large family-size Capacity.5 L. Of oil and 2.6 lbs. Of food-as well as three frying baskets for enhanced versatility. The large fry basket works well for a single big batch, while the two smaller fry baskets allow for frying two different foods at the same time. For foolproof results, use one of the four preset functions to fry chicken nuggets, French fries, or onion rings-the deep fryer automatically adjusts the temperature and time as needed. Manual settings allow for adjusting the settings as desired for customized results. The KRUPS professional electric fryer provides a large viewing window for safely checking on cooking food, an integrated odor filter for cooking without the smell, and cool touch handles and a breakaway cord for safety. With its ease of use, powerful performance, and manual and preset functions, the KRUPS Kj502 deep fryer accommodates novice, adventurous, and experienced fryers alike.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Not bad at all!\\n\\nReview: My first surprise was just how much oil this puppy uses. 4.5 liters is more than I imagined, which is great for a fry-heavy meal like a fried protein and side veggie. What is also great for a fry heavy meal is the dual baskets. The ability to put a protein in one side and a veggie in the other (or any other combination) is much more convenient than having to pick pieces out of a single basket or rotate items in and out of a single basket. Its also nice that if need be there is still the option of using the larger single basket.\\n\\nAs far as cooking, this machine maintains a pretty tight variance around the desired temperature. Being able to count on the temperature to be pretty close to what you think it is makes up for the generic presets which are not super helpful right out of the box. In other words, I wouldnt depend too heavily on the presets because there are just too many factors that change the cooking time and temperature, but the learning curve sans presets is not too steep because of the consistent temperature the machine provides.\\n\\nBelieve it or not, the odor really isn't as bad with this unit as the last couple of fryers Ive used. Obviously there is some odor, and that odor gets worse the older the oil gets, but whatever they have done to reduce the smell does seem to have bought some time.\\n\\nThe final big plus in my book is just how easy this machine is to disassemble and clean. It has an oil pan instead of a drain, which seems like it would be more of a pain, but, once the oil is out of the pan, the system is much easier to clean because it is a bit more module.\\n\\nOn the whole, there are some bells and whistles that bump up the price a bit without adding much useful functionality namely the presets but I still think that this is pretty solid and convenient little machine for in-home use.\",\n \"Product: This Sabatier 8-Inch Chef Knife with a Mother of Pearl-inspired handle can be used daily for a wide range of food preparation, including chopping, precision dicing, slicing and mincing. The high-carbon stainless steel blade holds an ultra-sharp edge and the knife is perfectly weighted and balanced for control. The comfortable mother of pearl-inspired handle is a striking addition to a modern kitchen. Hand-wash with warm water and a mild detergent; rinse and dry immediately.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Looks can be deceiving.\\n\\nReview: First of all, if you're reading this, I strongly recommend that you read the review of this knife by Storm. Storm obviously knows their stuff. As for my own, less knowledgeable, opinion; this knife is not worth the $140 that it is listed for at the time that this review is being written.\\n\\nI suspected as soon as I was able to see and handle the packaging in which the knife arrived that this knife is a high margin product for the manufacturer that is meant to look expensive, but did not cost much to produce. Once I held the knife itself in my hands, my initial feelings were confirmed. The balance and form of the knife was all wrong. I have handled a few very nice chef and utility knives, and each felt like they were meant to be used. That is, their balance point and ergonomics promoted ease of use with regard to the typical functions one might expect to use them for. This knife, on the other hand, has the balance of a discount bin hatchet.\\n\\nWhile it might feel like a $5 hatchet, it looks like an expensive knife. However, for a hundred and forty dollars if looks are ones goal it might be possible to pick up a mother of pearl knife that is actually mother of pearl and not acrylic.\\n\\nThe one positive that this knife has going for it as a cutting instrument, is that it has a pretty great edge right out of the box. Unfortunately, this edge doesnt hold for too longand then you're just left with a very expensive, albeit attractive, lower-middle of the line knife.\\n\\nIm disappointed. I think it is worth maybe $50 to $60 dollars on the basis of its attractive appearance and out-of-the-box edge, but the current $140 price tag is a premium knife priceand this, in my opinion, is not a premium quality knife.\",\n \"Product: Technics DJ Style Headphones for great monitoring\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Functionality for those who need it\\n\\nReview: I always find that a comparison makes for the best understanding of a product. I have had the pleasure of using both the Panasonic RP-DJ1205-S Technics Pro DJ Headphones, the product on this page, and the <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Panasonic-RP-DH1250-S-Technics-Pro-DJ-Headphone/dp/B00A17IAOA/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Panasonic RP-DH1250-S Technics Pro DJ Headphone</a>, a slightly more expensive model. While they are both great headphones, there are some fairly substantial differences.\\n\\nI will start with the DJ1205 model, the less expensive of the two models:\\n\\nThe DJ1205 has a fixed, professional grade coiled DJ cord. Although the product description on this page states that they are \\\"L-type\\\", the male 1/8 inch plug and 1/4 inch adapter are straight. Depending on where your headphones need to be plugged in, this may or may not be an issue. If anything, you may just get a little more stress on your cord at the connector, which, admittedly, can cause issues over time. The plug itself, and the1/4 inch adapter are flawless. I really appreciate that the adapter actually screws on to ensure a tight fit. Poorly designed adapters often create a bad connection and are easily the most common weakest link among an even otherwise decent set of cans.\\n\\nThe material used in the construction of the headphones feels a little less sturdy than I would have imagined, but I think this might be, in part, an effort to keep the overall weight down. Still, I would have liked the joint at which the ear pieces are adjusted for stereo and mono monitoring to have been a little more fluid, yet sturdy. I have a feeling, if these are actually going to be utilized for DJing that this joint on either side will be the first thing to go. Nonetheless, the joint itself is essential in making these cans perfect for switching between stereo and one ear monitoring. Not only does it permit the earpiece to be moved in front of or behind the ear, but the ear piece can be locked in place at any point along its path.\\n\\nThe earpiece is designed to sit on top of the ear as opposed to fitting over or around the ear. As opposed to some cheaper on-ear cans that I have tried in the past, there is almost no bleed with these. I am currently part of a four person podcast, in which we utilize four condenser mics in a 10x10 studio, so bleed, particularly out, is a big deal. It is not an issue with these headphones. I have also found that the on ear design of these headphones allows me to focus the sound output a little more specifically.\\n\\nThe headphones fold conveniently into the diameter of a CD. When placed inside the included carrying case, the headphones occupy about as much space as a typical small bag of flour.\\n\\nOn to the DH1250 model, the more expensive of the two models:\\n\\nThe DH1250 comes with two removable, and interchangeable, cords. One is specifically designed for iPhones and iPods, with the familiar volume adjustment built into the cord. The other cord is a professional grade coiled DJ cord. Both cords have gold-plated L-type male plugs to the sound source, and gold plated straight male plugs to the headphones. The iPhone cord, obviously, does not have a 1/4 inch adapter; the DJ cord does. This adapter screws solidly into place to ensure a good connection, which is great. The plug intended to be attached to the headphone end of the cord also locks into place with a simple, but secure, counter-pressure slot and twist system.\\n\\nThe construction of the DH1250 is solid, sturdy, fluid, and functional. While it takes a moment to get the hang of the orientation, the earpieces easily swivel to fit the head perfectly, fold for storage, or adjust between stereo and one ear monitoring. I have to say, however, that the design for one ear monitoring is novel but uncomfortable; unless one is only momentarily holding one of the reversed earpieces away from their head. In other words, it would not be comfortable to utilize one ear monitoring for any prolonged period of time with this design, which might actually be quite suitable for some DJs.\\n\\nThe DH1250 are over-ear monitors. That is, they are designed to be positioned around the circumference of one's ears, as opposed to on top of or in the ears. I have a big head, with very small ears, so bleed out was a little bit of an issue for me; but I can see how this would not be an issue for most others. Bleed in, however, was not an issue at all. I asked my wife to try to talk to me while I was listening to some music at a reasonable volume. She was literally screaming before I could hear her even slightly.\\n\\nThe headphones fold conveniently into the diameter of a CD. When placed inside the included carrying case, the headphones occupy about as much space as a typical small bag of flour.\\n\\nComparison:\\n\\nI did not mention anything of the sound quality of the two different models previously because I am not really able to discern any real difference. This might only be due to the fact that the sonic quality of both models is beyond excellent. I mean it when I say that these headphones both produce the most crisp and vivid sound that I have experienced out of headphones ever! That being said, I do slight prefer the sound of the on-ear DJ1205, simply because I can position the output directly over my freakishly tiny ears. Otherwise, both models are out of this world in the sound department.\\n\\nI like the interchangeable cords of the DH1250. This would usually be a detractor for me, as I am always concerned about the weakest link that is usually anything detachable. On the cords of the DH1250, all connections are as tight as one could hope for. It is just nice not to have to utilize the bulkier DJ cord for casual home and office listening, or listening on the go. I do also prefer the right-angle male plugs of the DH1250 over the straight plugs of the DJ1205. I have had too many issues with the cord separating from the plug in the past because of stress on a straight plug to feel perfectly comfortable with anything other than a right angle plug.\\n\\nWhen I was a kid, I DJed a little. I lived with one ear on and one ear off. If I were back there today, I would have preferred the design of the DJ1205. The jointed and lockable, multi-position earpiece of the DJ1205 is much more conducive to prolonged one ear monitoring that the more bulky and reversible DH1250.\\n\\nAs for overall construction and apparent durability, I have to give it to the more expensive DH1250. While they are still primarily plastic, it feels like the type of plastic utilized for commercial endeavors. It is light, but sturdy. The cheaper DJ1205 feel a little less sturdy, but are also a little more compact and comparatively light.\\n\\nIn a perfect world, I would choose to combine the best qualities of each model. In this world, I would choose the more expensive DH1250 model for what most people use headphones for; casually listening to music at home and/or on their phone. I would choose the cheaper DJ1205 model for professional applications like studio recording or DJing.\\n\\nIn either case you can't go wrong. These are both great headphones!\",\n \"Product: Item was cleaned and tested. Great cosmetic condition. Includes A/C Adapter. Intel Core 2 Duo CPU T8300 @ 2.40 GHz, 4.00GB RAM, 32-bit Operating Sysytem. 30-day money back guarantee.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: It does the trick\\n\\nReview: While I had heard more than a few complaints about the quality and longevity of Dell laptops, I recently needed one quickly and as cost efficiently as possible. After some comparative shopping, it became clear that Dell could fulfill these requirements better than their competitors.\\n\\nI ordered the Inspiron 1525 with the exact same specifications as those listed on this page, with the exception of a 150GB hard drive, directly from Dell (I would recommend doing the same as, at the time of this posting, the price dealing through Dell directly is almost three hundred dollars cheaper). I was not expecting much for the price, but I have been pleasantly surprised. It should be mentioned that I am by no means a computer expert and I do not use my laptop for anything special outside of work and surfing the internet. However, I do utilize some statistics and data charts that my last laptop labored over while this computer seems to remain unfazed and unburdened. Aside from its speed and power, which I am in no way disappointed with, I also find it to be aesthetically pleasing. The screen is larger and more vivid than I had anticipated, the overall design is sleek, and it will pass as professional. All of this said, it is a good laptop, good looking, handles what I throw at it, and priced to sell at the moment if purchased through Dell.\\n\\nAs for the apparent negatives, I have convinced myself that I have only heard so many complaints because I know so many more individuals that own Dells as opposed to any other brand, and have been comforted by a recommendation from a friend who is also a local college's IT supervisor.\",\n \"Product: The Hoya 52mm ultraviolet uv(0) haze multi-coated glass filter is a wise initial investment. It helps protect your valuable investment from dust, moisture and scratches, which can lead to costly repairs. The result is an average light transmission of over 97% giving sharp contrast and well balanced color. Hoya hmc filters are recommended for enhancing the performance of today's multicoated digital lenses. Multicoated to minimize reflection at the filter surfaces which reduces flare and ghosting. Haze filters provide additional benefits of correction for ultraviolet(uv) light which can register on film and videotape as a bluish cast and can obscure distant details.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Protects Lenses Without Distorting Photos\\n\\nReview: I purchased this filter for no other reason than to protect my lens. After reading reviews from several other filter manufactures, I feared that, by applying the filter, I would be protecting my lens at the cost of image quality. Not the case!\\n\\nWhile many other brands have complaints of ghosting and the appearance of unusual tints, I have had no such problems with the Hoya UV Filter.\\n\\nI presently keep the filter on my <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Nikon-35mm-f-1-8G-AF-S-DX-Lens-for-Nikon-Digital-SLR-Cameras/dp/B001S2PPT0/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Nikon 35mm f/1.8G AF-S DX Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras</a>. It screws on cleanly, without any cross-threading, and the lens cap still fits perfectly. It also comes in a nice hard case, which is handy if the filter needs to be swapped out.\\n\\nNow that I have tried it, and been quite pleased, I plan on purchasing one of these filters for each of my lenses.\",\n \"Product: Your best shots. Now mobile. Mobi instantly delivers your best photos amp;amp; videos from your camera to your smartphone or tablet. No wireless network required. Mobi creates its own WiFi so it works anywhere you are.Simple to setup. Simple to use. Just install the free Eye-Fi app on your smartphone or tablet to connect the card. Once paired, the card transfers photos amp;amp; videos whenever new content is detected by your device. And, once the transfer completes, the card disconnects its WiFi to save your battery.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Great for a quick fix\\n\\nReview: I thought that my wife would be more pleased with the device for quickly relaying photos of our baby to her various social media outlets. As it turns out, she still prefers to use her phone. However, the device has found a true supporter in my mother who, when she needs baby pics, needs baby pics now!\\n\\nWith newer cameras possessing similar WiFi abilities onboard, and the increased performance of cell phone cameras, I fear that the Eye-Fi Mobi has limited applications. For the small niche that it occupies, however, it gets the job done well.\\n\\nI do wish that it were possible to select which pictures will be pushed to the devices, or at least have the ability to make selectivity a setting. Even with this desire unfulfilled, the Mobi is great at doing what it is designed to do.\",\n \"Product: Outdoor photographers and watersport enthusiasts who document their adventures will appreciate this lightweight, technical and durable design that keeps camera and personal gear high and dry. The lightweight, technical , waterproof fabric with an IPX-6 rating offers splashproof protection from heavy seas; tested against high-pressure water stream from any angle. Roll-top, wide-mouth opening provides full and easy access to gear; Note: For splashproof protection, fold 3 times (minimum) to top of stored items; clip buckles. Removable, fully padded, adjustable camera case with taped seams enables the easy transfer of photo gear for other carrying options and provides redundant weather protection when placed in duffle. Ease-of-use design details, such as side-release buckles and ergonomic grab handles and zipper pulls, enhance active use. Durable carry handle for comfort. Daisy chain webbing loops offer an easy way to secure items to duffle. Exterior zippered pocket provides quick access to sunscreen, lip balm, keys, etc. The DryZone DF 20L fits a a Pro DSLR with attached lens (up to 70-200mm), 1 to 2 extra lenses, flash and accessories. Internal Dimensions: 41.5 x 23.5 x 16 cm (16.34 x 9.25 x 6.30 in); External Dimensions: 46 x 25 x 22 cm (18.11 x 9.84 x 8.66 in); Weight: 1.2 kg (2.64 lbs).\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: It has its place\\n\\nReview: Before I was willing to put any gear into this bag, I had to test its limits. To simulate the worst conditions that I might expect to find myself in with this bag, I placed it squarely in the path of my showerhead and let the water do its work for just over ten minutes. I rotated the bag a quarter turn every couple of minutes, and even placed the bag on its front and back for the last couple of minutes. To determine whether or not water had penetrated the bag, I placed tissues on the outside of the inner camera case but within the dry-bag, as well as a tissue within the inner camera bag itself. Not surprisingly, for a bag of this quality, not a single drop of water made it to either set of tissues.\\n\\nFor my next test, although I knew that the bag was not designed to be water proof, I decided to fill up the tub to determine the true limitations of the bag. My test was quickly shot in the foot when I discovered that the bag floats! And floats pretty well! I actually had to put most of my weight on the bag to get it to stay at the bottom of the tub. After about a minute under water, I pulled the bag to examine my tissues. Again, and this time surprisingly, there was not a drop of water on either tissue.\\n\\nNeedless to say this bag is definitely water resistant and splash-proof. I will not hesitate to put my camera and lenses in this bag even in extremely wet environments... the last time I went whitewater rafting comes to mind as a perfect use.\\n\\nAs for the other features of the bag, I was a little concerned about how much water would be absorbed by the perforated padding on the back support and shoulder straps of the bag. After my tests, I realized that this is not an issue. The only parts of the bag that retain any serious water are the adjustment strips used to tighten the shoulder straps. Because these strips do not touch the body, this is not a huge issue for me.\\n\\nWhile I am impressed by the interior volume of the exterior dry-bag, which can obviously be used for keeping anything dry if the interior bag is removed, the size and utility of the padded interior camera bag was a little disappointing. The interior volume of the padded camera bag is 11 X 6 inches, with a depth of about 9 inches. The space can be organized any number of ways with the included divider pads. There is definitely enough room to get the essentials to where one is going, but I was kind of expecting to see a few accessory pockets to better organize the smaller necessaries.\\n\\nOverall, the bag is great at its primary function: keeping things dry. For anything less than activities which ensure the drenching of person and gear, a cheaper and more practical solution might be found elsewhere. Then again, if one wants the utmost confidence that their gear will stay dry in the wettest conditions short of scuba diving; this is the bag for the job.\",\n \"Product: The inline microphone and remote let you switch easily between calls and music, and allow even more control when used with select iPhone, iPad and iPod models. Plus the matching carrying case makes it easy to put away anytime and take with you anywhere. Bose FreeStyle earbuds. Your friends will notice the look and you'll notice the sound. Listen for yourself.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Clear, Comfortable, and Costly\\n\\nReview: First, the sound quality, as should be expected from Bose, is superb! I don't believe that I have ever heard a deeper, fuller sound from earbuds. In fact, these buds reproduce sound at a higher quality than some of the better over-ear cans I've had in the past. The mid to high end of the sonic spectrum is great, which didn't really catch me off guard. It is the low end of the range that has me pleasantly surprised. Yes, it is a little lighter on the low end than what one would expect from a nice pair of over or on ear headphones but, like I said, it's really impressive for earbuds.\\n\\nThe buds come with three sets of interchangeable StayHear tips to ensure a proper fit. At first, due to the fact that they feel like they're levitating in the ears, I wasn't convinced that the buds would stay in place during even light activity. I was wrong. I did have to bump down to the small StayHear tips - I have childishly small ears - but these buds stick! And they're almost unnoticeable from a long-term comfort standpoint.\\n\\nI'm not one for hands-free phone accessories, other than the hands free function within my car, but I was listening to music through the Bose buds in the office when I received a call from my brother. About ten seconds into the call, he asked if I got a new phone. As it turns out, the inline mic/remote on the buds provides for better call quality than the built-in mic on my phone. I don't know that I would use it as an everyday solution, just because I would feel a little silly walking around with earbuds in all the time, but it's nice to know that if someone calls while I'm listening to music I don't have to worry about unplugging the buds.\\n\\nOverall, these are the best earbuds I've ever used. Great sound quality and extremely comfortable. My only qualm is with the price. This issue, however, might simply result from the fact that I've never thought of earbuds as the type of product that would warrant prices in excess of a hundred bucks. That being said, are the best earbuds I've ever used worth more than a hundred dollars? I guess you'll have to answer that question yourself. If you're looking for top quality earbuds, I can't imagine that you'll be disappointed with these... it's just a matter of how much that quality is worth to you.\",\n \"Product: B+W 55mm XS-Pro HTC Kaesemann Circular Polarizer with Multi-Resistant Nano Coating\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: I had no idea!\\n\\nReview: I have developed a bit of a passion for taking pictures of the sky; particularly interesting clouds. I knew that I would be well served to pick up a decent polarizer, but I have only ever had experience with low-end products that created too many other problems to be functional, so I quit looking. This B+W polarizer is not low-end, and, therefore, not necessarily inexpensive, but its results are transformative.\\n\\nPrior to utilizing this polarizer, I was either getting light skies sans polarizer or various unwanted colorations from cheaper polarizers. With the B+W I am getting beautiful color saturation, allowing me to capture the photograph as I see it in my minds eye.\\n\\nThis is the real deal. Now that Ive had the opportunity to utilize a higher end filter, I realize that Ive basically been throwing money away on poorly designed/constructed alternatives. I believe that I will be saving up to purchase B+W filters to slowly replace my current economy set of filters.\",\n \"Product: OCZ, the most awarded SSD brand of all time, introduces the Vertex 460A for those seeking a high-performance yet value-minded SSD. Combining OCZ's own controller design and Toshiba's latest generation of flash, Vertex 460A keeps your system ahead of the game and delivers a faster, more responsive PC experience.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Easy peasy for those in the know.\\n\\nReview: A co-worker of mine recently upgraded to a Solid State Drive after his HDD gave up the ghost, and insisted that I do the same to breathe life back into my aging laptop. I shamefully admit that I could not figure out how to mirror my system onto the new drive. Or perhaps, I was just too nervous to do what I thought I needed to do. Either way, I asked my co-worker to help me out.\\n\\nMy co-worker used a cable (which was not included... I believe it was USB to SATA) and the included software to get the new drive operational. It didn't take long at all. Maybe twenty minutes, tops. Once the new drive was up and running, my co-worker asked me to reboot so he could show me the new drive's blazing speed. I will admit that the start-up time is now discernably faster. I also notice that large photo files seem to load faster.\\n\\nBecause, my old HDD was still functional when removed, my tech savvy co-worker recommended that I get a hard drive enclosure, and use it as an external drive. I think that is exactly what I'll do.\\n\\nI couldn't be happier with the new drive, and recommend it to anyone whose laptop needs a shot in the arm.\",\n \"Product: NFC (near field communication) technology instantly connects NFC-capable devices to Bluetooth. Stream wireless digital audio via Bluetooth from your iPhone, iPad, Android, Windowsmost Bluetooth devices. The iBN43 is a fully featured bedside alarm clock with twin speakers for room-fi ling sound. Control your music or take calls with wireless speakerphone over Bluetooth, or listen to FM radio or line-in audio. A USB port and 2 device rest inserts keeps mobile devices charged and ready to go. The iBN43 also includes 6 FM presets, EQ controls and 3D sound and Reson8 sound technology for an exceptional audio experience\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: All in one for the bedroom!\\n\\nReview: First let me say that the product dimensions currently listed are way off at 5.8\\\" x 1.6\\\" x 5.4\\\". This unit is much larger than I was expecting. It is about 10.5\\\"W x 3\\\"H x 5.75\\\"D. A pretty large alarm clock. While it's not an issue for us, I wanted to point this out just in case you're working with a crowded nightstand.\\n\\nWe've really enjoyed this system so far. From a standard alarm clock standpoint, it's tops! Alarms can be set for every conceivable duration and occasion and, most importantly for me, it's dimmable.\\n\\nAs a sound system, it's also great! My wife has been looking for a nice little set of speakers to plug into her phone so she can listen to music while getting ready in the morning. The iHome has filled this void. Bluetooth is a snap to set up, and the speakers are more than capable of filling our bedroom and attached bathroom with pretty high quality sound.\\n\\nI know that there are other standalone Bluetooth speaker systems out there that might produce a higher quality in terms of sonic range, but the difference in sound is almost indiscernible, while the difference in price is not. Plus this system is a great alarm clock.\\n\\nMy wife and I have no complaints, and highly recommend this system.\",\n \"Product: High-end high-resolution monitor headphones that reproduce even the most subtle nuances of the source sound. In addition to mixing and recording in the studio, the HPH-MT7 headphones are perfect for mix monitoring in live performance applications thanks to their high sound pressure levels and durability.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Great, even under poor conditions!\\n\\nReview: Until two days ago, Ive been using these as casual-listening headphones. For the purpose of just listening to music, they're among the best Ive heard. Under such low-demand conditions nothing really jumps out, so I was having a hard time coming up with anything positive or negative to say about them. Luckily, I just had an opportunity to put them through their paces.\\n\\nIm the vocalist for a band that literally practices in a garage. Typically, I wear a pair of light earplugs when we practice. Just enough to keep my eardrums from being blown out. Ive had some ear sensitivity lately due to allergies, and during our last practice I was having a hard time finding the plug-to-ear golden ratio. In a last-ditch attempt, I thought these so-called monitors cant be any worse than what Ive got going on. The results were quite surprising.\\n\\nThe guys that I play with race to 11 on the volume over the course of the night, so my first concern was that, even with the headphones on, I was going to experience a pretty significant eardrum beating; if not from their amps, from the levels that I would have to pump through to the monitors. Not the case at all. Of course I could still hear them through the headphones, but the bleed was exceptionally mild given my proximity to and the volume of their respective outputs. So slight, in fact, that I was able to keep the monitor levels low enough that I could clearly hear myself across the spectrum without discomfort.\\n\\nWhile the bleed-in was low, my secondary concern was the sweat accumulation inside these over-ears. Im not exaggerating when I say that the garage we practice in easily achieved 110 degrees the other night. Within the first ten minutes, sweat was continuously pouring from my body. I thought for sure the monitors would be fried within an hour. Im pleased to say that they survived at least one two-hour stress test with flying colors. Ill come back and update this review if they eventually fall victim to the heat and sweat.\\n\\nNot only were they hardy enough to withstand the pretty harsh conditions I exposed them to, but they are also quite comfortable for corded monitors. In the past, I have not worn over-ear (or on-ear) monitors while playing because, by the end of a session, my neck ends up aching due to the excessive weight of the monitor or, more typically, the cord. These are not weightless, but are certainly tolerable. I think the straight cord is a big help. Not only does the straight cord feel less invasive when it inevitably touches ones body while hanging from the head, but the weight distribution is also preferable to a coiled cable.\\n\\nAs for the sound reproduction, its great! Just a little light on the lows, but I have yet to come across a set of headphone monitors that really nailed the low end. Reproduction otherwise was as close as one could reasonably expect, with no perceptible latencyeven through our multichain system.\\n\\nAll-in-in, the sound is as good or better than many of the best over-ear monitors Ive tried over the years; nothing to write home about there. They are serious monitors. The real story for me is their outstanding functionality under some truly awful conditions.\",\n \"Product: This Columbia military style belt is the perfect fit, no matter what your size it is easy and comfortable to wear the fabric is very thick and won't fray, even after many wears\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Held up better than expected\\n\\nReview: I noticed some quality issues mentioned in other reviews of this belt prior to purchase, but I figured, for this price, itll be worth a shot.\\n\\nI am happy to say that I have experience none of the quality issues mentioned elsewhere, and have been totally satisfied with this belt.\\n\\nIt is attractive, but in a subtle way. It is also wide enough to spread the support across enough area to not feel like is slicing into my hips. But not so wide to make it look like a clown belt.\\n\\nThe buckle is sturdy, and holds pretty well. I would say, on average, better than most of the buckles like this that Ive owned in the pastand Ive had many.\\n\\nIm totally satisfied with my purchase; especially, for the price I paid.\",\n \"Product: New Balance, is dedicated to helping athletes achieve their goals. It's been their mission for more than a century. It's why they don't spend money on celebrity endorsements. They spend it on research and development. It's why they don't design products to fit an image. They design them to fit. New Balance is driven to make the finest shoes for the same reason athletes lace them up: to achieve the very best.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Great Price, Fit Well, Look Stellar!\\n\\nReview: Im always a little apprehensive to purchase shoes online, due to the fact that I cant try them on. However, these shoes fit true to size. That is, they fit according to the size Ive worn in other New Balances. I will say this though, they feel a little narrower than the last pair I owned. I did a little A-B testing and feel comfortable attributing this to the material and pattern utilized to construct the respective pairs. The material and fabrication pattern utilized to construct this pair makes them seem a little more rigid. So if your feet tend to run a little snug when it comes to width, you might want to keep this in mind.\\n\\nI ordered the red pair with navy accents. They look awesome! The laces are sort of an off gray tone that Ive really grown to appreciate. The colors are sharp, vibrant, and, surprisingly, go with just about anything. Im very pleased with their appearance.\\n\\nAs can be expected from Newbs, they are comfortable as can be. I should say that I wear them faux laced, with knots at the top eyelets, so I cant really say how they might feel fully laced up. But for me, they feel great.\\n\\nMy only complaint would be that the inserts do not like to stay put. A minor annoyance at worst. Between the price, feel, and appearance, these are still five star shoes in my book!\",\n \"Product: Men's classic micro twill golf jacket. This jacket features a stylish laydown collar and lower welt pockets.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Odd dimensions...too small and too big\\n\\nReview: I like the style of the jacket. It is simple and low profile with a collared-shirt-style collar. It has a water resistant exterior that is slightly textured, giving it a matte appearance. Its interior is lightly quilted. Living in Florida, this jacket provides the perfect thickness. It doesnt burn up, but it is wind resistant and thick enough to stave off the relatively light winter cold. So, on paper the jacket is just about perfect. On the body, though, its kind of a bust.\\n\\nI have a true medium/slightly used-to-be-athletic build. I rarely have issues with things not fitting right off the rack, but this jackets dimensions are just odd. It is the perfect size through the shoulders and chest, as well as the perfect length. However, the jacket appears to taper out towards the waist. Its probably just the pockets creating an illusion, but it makes the jacket look like it is designed to be worn by a pear. And if the wearer isn't a pear, it makes them look like one anyway. The other very odd feature is the width of the sleeves. I am He-Man by no means, but Im not exaggerating when I say that when I bend my arms at the elbow, it feels like the sleeves are going to tear. That is, the sleeves are almost comically tight on the arms.\\n\\nThe result of the well-fitting chest and shoulders and the ill-fitting arms and waist is the least flattering jacket Ive ever worn. Im not typically a sensitive body image guy, but when wearing this jacket, I feel like it makes me look like Im standing in front of a wacky carnival mirror. I suppose there is a jacket for every body type, but if you have an average-ish build, I would probably steer clear of this jacket.\",\n \"Product: Lightweight, rain repellent, classic fit microfiber golf jacket\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Good looking and well designed.\\n\\nReview: This is essentially a water-resistant windbreakeralthough its much better looking than what one might imagine when they think of a windbreaker. That is, this jacket is ultra-lightweight, but functional and attractively designed to fit an average build.\\n\\nI recently received a similar style jacket from another leading brand, and the cut was unnecessarily awkward and unflattering. However, the folks at Haggar do not appear to have tried anything tricky with the cut of this utilitarian outerwear. It fits as an average sized male human might expect. Its not too tight in the arms or midsection, but it also doesnt balloon out at the waist. This jacket has also built in a slight margin of error with low profile elastic at the hips and adjustable cuffs.\\n\\nIt is apparent that the designers of the jacket actually anticipated that the jacket would be worn while moving around in the world. The underarms are tastefully ported to provide a little additional airflow, and the jacket has interior and exterior pockets aplenty for toting lifes necessities. I appreciate the fact that most of the pockets including the typical exterior hand pockets have buttons. I, for one, have been known to drop a cell phone or two out of my side pocket while entering or exiting my car, so buttons for me equal functionality. While they might not be a requirement for everyone, this jacket even includes an interior tab to tuck in ones glasses, and an earbud loop.\\n\\nAs far as the look, its classic without looking too old-manish. The jacket looks in person very similar to how it is portrayed in the pictures that accompany this listing.\\n\\nWhile I cant say that I would recommend the jacket at the MSRP of $135.00, at the current price point of around $50, I feel like it this jacket is a reasonable addition to the closet of the right person.\",\n \"Product: Tumi's lightest hard side travel collection to date, this exceptionally durable four-wheel carry-on is perfectly suited for frequent travelers and those who take shorter trips.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Its pretty and its labeled Tumi\\n\\nReview: I had very high expectations for this bag. My favorite piece of luggage is a Tumi garment/weekender bag that is literally the best piece of luggage I have ever utilized, in form and function. This carry-on piece took my breath away in a totally different manner; as in deflated.\\n\\nFirst, let me say that this is a nice piece of luggage. There is no question that I have certainly enjoyed using it. There are a few definitive high points. The four super high quality caster-style wheels that support the roll beside mobility help the bag glide smoothly over just about any surface. The built-in zipper lock not only looks neat, but is super convenient. After all, nobody likes having to keep track of that tiny luggage lock and key set. Beyond these two practical features, the bag also looks very attractive. In typical Tumi fashion, it finds its beauty in very subtle ways, such as the almost unnoticeable metallic-flake-like inclusions in the hard-shell color scheme, and, ironically, Tumis usual utilitarian exterior design.\\n\\nAs much as I enjoy using this bag, in this instance, I do not believe that the Tumi price premium is justified. I favor function. Aside from the superior wheel system which is a big deal nothing else about this bag screams premium quality.\\n\\nAs is also the case in the Tumi bag that I love leading me to believe that this might be Tumis Achilles heel the telescoping handle is not as sturdy, fluid, or rigid as one would expect on a premium piece of luggage. Unlike my other Tumi bag, the zipper on this bag is both sticky and flimsy. I think this is due in part to the excessive width of the material that separates the functional portion of the zipper from the rigid outer shell of the bag. Unfortunately, the width of this gap between the shell-like outer pieces also effectively produces play between the two sides of the bag. In other words, to two outer sides tend to move a little more independently than I believe they should. I don't know that this would be a huge issue if I didn't believe that, over time, the extra independent motion from the two halves of the bag might increase wear and tear at the bags most vulnerable areas the stitching that connects the exterior shell to the zipper strip, and the two connecting zipper halves.\\n\\nMy concern is that, with consistent use, one might find themselves on the wrong side of Tumis warranty. That is, I don't believe the issue is so bad that it would necessitate a claim within the one year worry free portion of the warranty, or maybe even years two through five of the limited warranty, but I would not feel comfortable saying that all that extra motion wouldnt produce some issues beyond the five-year warranty precipice. At the current price point, if I were going to purchase this bag, I would want to know that there were not any inherent issues that might promote future product failure if the warranty is only going to extend for five years. I cannot say that this bag is free from such issues.\",\n \"Product: Ideal for teaching upper-cuts 45-Pound weight Requires 20 dollars additional shipping.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Really like this bag!\\n\\nReview: I have only ever used a standard cylindrical heavy bag. My primary use for a heavy bag these days is to get my heart pumping (I should also add that I am only striking the bag with my fists). For what Im using it for, in my opinion, this bag is exponentially better than a standard heavy bag.\\n\\nAlthough this 45 pound bag is lighter than a typical 75-100 pound heavy bag, I have found that it provides plenty of resistance, when properly anchored. The real reason that I think this bag excels for what I am using it for is that the contoured body provides an opportunity and the motivation to extend strike combinations. I don't know that I had realized it before, but the ability to effectively simulate an uppercut without awkwardly dragging your knuckles up the side of the bag, or having to hit the rock-hard bottom of the bag, is amazing. It not only feels great, but like I said it encourages me to string together a longer sequence of strikes, which get a few more beats out of my ticker. Because of the shape and weight distribution of the bag, it also drops back into action pretty quickly after being struck with an uppercut.\\n\\nThe feel of the bag is great. Its not over filled, but it is not under filled either. It provides just enough give.\\n\\nThe bag itself is good quality synthetic leather. It is stitched into a quilt-like pattern at the contour, which seems to provide a bit of additional padding, and I believe it will enable it to hold its shape better over time. The bag is hung from four nylon straps, each with a metal semi-circle stitched into the end. My bag also came with an oversized carabiner-like spring clip. The bag does not come with mounting hardware, but Amazon has some options like <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Everlast-Wood-Beam-Heavy-Bag-Hanger/dp/B00076ZE0I/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Everlast Wood Beam Heavy Bag Hanger</a>. The bag also has a second metal semi-circle stitched into the bottom, with which the bag can be anchored. Again, youll have to devise your own anchoring rig.\\n\\nThe fixed nylon straps from which the bag hangs are not adjustable, so if you're hanging it from your ceiling, youll not only need some mounting hardware, but youll probably also want to head to your local hardware store to pick up a few feet of chain to make your bags height adjustable.\\n\\nIm fairly confident that if youve never struck a heavy bag contoured like this, you will really enjoy the experience. I know I sure do!\",\n \"Product: How many karats does it take to make an it girl? Answer, just this one! Inspired by the chic lucite handbags of the 1950s and 1960s, the Karat iPhone case will step up your shine game with genuine 24k gold elements encased in clear resin. Military strength impact protection, dual layer protection, a slim silhouette, shock absorbing bumpers, anti-scratch technology, refined natural feel metallic buttons, and a lifetime warranty you can't go wrong. This unique Karat case with real 24k gold will enhance the beauty and style of your Apple iPhone. Here at Case-Mate, we know that a case isnt just something you slip on the back of your iPhone and forget. Its a fashion accessory in its own right. A phone case expresses your personality, accentuates your look, and most importantly protects your Apple iPhone. But just because its a practical necessity doesnt mean it cant be beautiful. Choose your style!\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Good looking and functional!\\n\\nReview: My wife has the gold iPhone 6 and has been looking for a nice gold case. The last case she bought was cheaper, but the build quality was not even close to the level of this one, and it was basically just gold glitter glued to a run of the mill generic case.\\n\\nThis Case-Mate is thick and durable, with two piece construction that, although a little difficult to remove, provides excellent protection without being too bulky. I would have to say that my favorite detail of this case is the fact that Case-Mate took the time to make the buttons wonderfully accent the case while maintaining total functionality.\\n\\nAs far as the aesthetics of the case, it is tops! Its plain to see that this case is more robust than typical dime-a-dozen cases, and the idea that they used gold leaf instead of glitter is fun.\\n\\nOverall, my wife is quite pleased and Im pleased that shes pleased!\",\n \"Product: RND Power Solutions small charging station boasts USB 2-ports capable of charging 2 USB-powered devices at the same time, with a total of 2. 4 amps you can quickly charge iPads and tablets. Small Convenient Design: Much smaller than our other charging stations, it can be used in smaller spaces and only takes up the bottom AC Outlet on a typical wall outlet. It also includes an attached 7 inch micro USB cable for convenient charging, with a small shelf on top of the wall charger to place a charging phonepatible With but NOT limited to:- Apple iPad (Air, Mini, Pro) - Apple iPhone (XS (10S, XS Max, XR (10R), X (10), 8, 8 Plus, 7, 7 Plus, 6S, 6S Plus, 6, 6 Plus, 5S, 5, 5C, SE) - Apple iPod touch- Apple Watch- Google (Nexus, Pixel, Pixel XL)- HTC One (M8, M9), 10- LG (G3, G4, G5, G6, G7, V10, V20, V30, V40)- Microsoft Lumia (950, 950XL) - Microsoft Surface Pro- Moto X, G- OnePlus 1, 2- Samsung Galaxy (S5, S6, S6 Edge, S7, S7 Edge, S8, S8 Plus, S9, S9 Plus) - Samsung Note (2, 3, 4, 5, 8,9) - Sony XperiaCompatible with virtually all USB Compatible DevicesSpecifications:- Color: White- Electrical Ratings: 10A, 125 VAC, 60 Hz, 1250 Watts - Input Voltage: 100V-240V - USB Charger: 5V, 2. 4A- 2 Outlets- 2 USB Ports- attached 7 inch micro USB cable- small shelf on topNote: When charging tablets only charge one device at a time for the fastest speeds. Professional Retail PackagingRND Power Solutions products comes in professional retail packaging. Authentic RND Power Solutions products will have our branding on the product and packaging. 100% GUARANTEED100 percent satisfaction guaranteed! Backed by RND Power Solutions 1-Year hassle free warranty. RND Power SolutionsWe believe in gear that makes sense, technology that makes life easier, and designs that are always getting better. Our promise to you: products that we love and can stand behind, hassle free friendly tech support, and an awesome warranty to boot!RND is a small family owned US company based out of California making essential gear to keep you charged up and ready for lifes adventures. Stay innovative, stay honest, adventure always.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Buy this, it's awesome!\\n\\nReview: We have one set of conveniently placed outlets in our kitchen into which we shuffle all of our electronic devices. Prior to this amazing device it had become quite a chore.\\n\\nNow we can charge my wife's iPhone, my Lumia, our Kindle Fire, and our iPad without having to play the charging station shell game. The greatest part is that we still have outlets left over in case we need to make some toast or a smoothie or something.\\n\\nI will say that I routinely receive a notification from my phone, a Nokia Lumia 830, that the phone is charging slowly when utilizing the power station. Honestly, if it is charging slowly, it's not slow enough to notice.\\n\\nBuy this power station, I really don't think you'll regret it!\",\n \"Product: Turtle Wax Premium Trim Coating instantly restores dull, faded color to like new condition. New black tinted coating technology promotes two types of restoration: Surface restoration of rubber and plastic to correct faded color while providing a long lasting shine, deep down restoration to provide lasting color retention and protection. This trim restoration lasts up to a year.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Amazing... Patience not included\\n\\nReview: We have a 2012 Ford Focus and a 2013 Ford Escape. Within weeks of owning each, I was immensely disappointed at how faded the rubber seals around the windows looked (as well as these two rubber-ish trim things that run down both sides of the roof on both vehicles). I just sucked it up for quite a while, but it really added age to relatively new purchases. Needless to say, I jumped at the chance to try out Turtle Wax's Premium Trim Coating Kit.\\n\\nI decided to give it a go yesterday. Let me first say that, if this is your first time doing something like this, you may want to set aside more time than you initially estimate to complete this project. This is not necessarily because the process is inherently lengthy, but it does require a fair degree of care to avoid making a mess. I personally found that, by the second car, I was comfortable enough that I was moving much quicker. I would also recommend preparing several pre-moistened paper-towels and placing them within arm's reach prior to even putting on the included gloves. One of my first mistakes was not taking this precaution. I got some of the treatment on my window, immediately stopped to run inside and get some paper-towels, and, by the time I got back to the car, the treatment I had been applying to the rubber trim partially dried prior to my being able to smooth it out and made a bit of an awkward texture. The window was easy to clean up with a bit of elbow grease.\\n\\nAll-in-all, I am beyond pleased. The treatment took years off of the appearance of our vehicles. I was impressed with the look of the rubber window trim even after the first coating. After the second coat, it was so deep and rich that it almost looked like paint. The textured black plastic body trim on our Focus turned out well, but the results were not nearly as stunning as the rubber. I decided not to apply the treatment to the dark grey textured plastic body trim on our Escape. I just don't believe it will have the same brilliant effect on the gray trim. I did, however, apply it to the smooth black plastic rear window wipers on both vehicles with fantastic results.\\n\\nI am very, very pleased! If you understand that there is going to be a bit of patience and precision required of you going into it, I believe you will be pleased too.\",\n \"Product: Never find yourself stuck by the side of the road with a flat tire and no way to change it. This bolt-on steel box holds both scissor jack and lug wrench so you're ready in case of a roadside emergency. Box will fit most trailer tongues, and any trailer frame up to 3\\\" wide by 5\\\" high. Box cap is sealed securely with a pull pin for easy access, or you can use a lock (sold separately). The included scissor jack can lift up to 1-1/2 tons and the lug wrench is designed to fit all trailer lug nuts.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Great for a PWC trailer!\\n\\nReview: Installation was a breeze. It took 15 minutes, tops. And I believe if one were in a rush, it could get done even quicker.\\n\\nMy primary concern was that it was not water tight. Although it is mounted far enough forward on the trailer that it should never enter the water, it is not impossible. One dip would probably do the interior components in. My father had the bright idea of sealing the lid with a bead of marine silicone to keep in water tight. After all, this will only be getting used in an emergency, and if I have to pop the seal, I can just clean it and reseal it until the next use.\\n\\nNow this is steel, so it will rust over time, but I feel that if an effort is made to keep it above the water line, and if it is given a fresh water hose down after being around saltwater, it should last at least a few years.\\n\\nFor me, the real benefit of this set is that one will never be without a jack in an emergency...because you know that the one time you forget to throw your trailer jack in the back of the truck is the time you'll get a flat. As long as it hangs out in the $60 - $75 price point, it's probably worth it for the peace of mind alone.\",\n \"Product: LP on Black Vinyl\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: The Work of Artists\\n\\nReview: This album has been described as sounding like a monotone lecture read within a much more powerful musical composition. This might be true in that the tone of this artist's voice seems as if it could be mistaken as the same from one track to the next. Nonetheless, in this case, it works...and it works well. Even if it were to be played on loop, ten times in one sitting, each song would be more overwhelming than the last, and every time the same track was heard for the second, third or fourth time, the sound would seem more pure that that of previous listens. This album, in its entirety, is definitely one of the best to be offered this year.\",\n \"Product: BIC Triumph 730RT Gel is streamlined and sophisticated for the ultimate writing experience. The secure gel ink helps keep documents safe. It also has an ultra smooth refillable gel 0.7mm cartridge for effortless writing.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Good pen...a little rich for my blood\\n\\nReview: The pen itself is well designed. It looks good, is ergonomic, and produces a consistent flow of ink. I, personally, write a little hard and ended up having to switch back to a broader point. However, I passed the pens around the office and, of the three people I asked, everyone really enjoyed them. Of course there is always the danger of ink smear, as with most gel pens, but in this case it is minimal with a little caution.\\n\\nIt really is a good pen, but I believe that it is a little on the high side with regard to price to consistently purchase them for our office. However, if you don't experience the vanishing pen phenomenon as we do in our office, it might be worth it for you to give them a shot.\",\n \"Product: Keep your work safe with the Mead Sewn Binder featuring a handle for carrying convenience. Practical storage with a softer side has never been more in style. In addition to the 2 inches of 3-ring paper capacity, this binder also has multiple interior and exterior storage pockets. Binder features a color-coordinated ring fixture to add style.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: It gets the job done... at a price\\n\\nReview: I have a bad habit of hoarding a collection of single subject, spiral notebooks while studying for this or that. My problem is that I either have to carry around three or four separate notebooks or risk not having the notes I need at any given moment. This binder solves my problem in that it hides my shameful notebook habit, and reduces the number of objects that I have to keep track of for any particular subject of study down to one. Yes, I still have to remove the spiral notebooks to be able to turn the pages, but mine is more of a transport problem anyway. For me, it works.\\n\\nThe drawback is that the current price point - as of the writing of this review - is just shy of $14. In my opinion, a little high for what one gets... a three ring binder with zipper and handle. I would feel comfortable picking up a few more of these if they were a little closer to $8. Unfortunately, I am having a difficult time finding a comparable and less expensive product. It might come down to how much work you're willing to put into it for the extra savings.\\n\\nMy recommendation would be to first look for a cheaper option. If you know of a less expensive alternative, please let me know in the comment section.\",\n \"Product: This decorative, magnetic combination board is the elegant way to post messages and photos in one convenient location. The 3-in-1 collaborative system gives you a trio of messaging options. The dry-erase surface makes writing notes a breeze and wipes cleans fast. The magnetic surface lets you post pictures fast and the natural cork section holds important papers in place with just a push pin. This stylish 17\\\" x 23\\\" two-tone, blank and silver framed board looks great in any occasional use, small or home office. Hangs horizontally or vertically with the included self-stick pads. Comes with dry-erase marker with eraser cap and two magnets.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: We really enjoy it!\\n\\nReview: Right out of the box, I was a little disappointed that the method provided for hanging the board was thick double-sided tape. It will almost certainly require repainting when the board is removed from the wall. However, I could not immediately think of many better means to hang something that needs to be steady enough to write on, so I quickly got over it.\\n\\nWe have been looking for something like this for a little while to put on a wall in our kitchen for writing out interim shopping list reminders and organizing coupons. This little gem fits the bill nicely. It is the perfect size for these particular tasks and seems to possess just the right dimensions of whiteboard and corkboard. It is also great that the whiteboard is magnetized for a little additional utility.\\n\\nWhat has really led to my enjoyment of the board is the medium it provides for a little fun. My wife and I have picked up some <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Expo-Neon-Bullet-Tip-Dry-Erase-Markers-5-Colored-Markers/dp/B0033AGVVG/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Expo Neon Bullet Tip Dry Erase Markers, 5 Colored Markers</a>, and have gotten in the habit of leaving one another messages or illustrations on the board in passing. It sounds lame, but it's actually pretty entertaining sometimes. While we haven't tried it yet, the board might also provide a surface for some magnetic poetry... the sky could be the limit!\",\n \"Product: Brother ADS-1500W Sheetfed Scanner - 600 dpi Optical\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Great for small business\\n\\nReview: When I say small business, I mean me. After battling document management - particularly receipts - for too long, I have been tempted by the mass marketing efforts of NeatDesk to buy their flagship product: <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/NeatDesk-Desktop-Scanner-and-Digital-Filing-System-PC/dp/B001CQ8ER2/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">NeatDesk Desktop Scanner and Digital Filing System - PC</a>. However, I have put off the purchase due to a price point that I have had a hard time justifying. The Brother ADS-1500W occupies the price gap for folks in a similar mental struggle.\\n\\nMy primary objective being the efficient and effective management of receipts, I was also concerned about how the scanner would interact with my accounting software, QuickBooks. Like a charm, is this scanner's response to my concern! There was a slight learning curve involved in the full functionality, but BR-Receipts will export directly to one's accounting software and create searchable reports. Pretty neat! I have not personally tried it, but the BR-Receipts software is also compatible with Quicken.\\n\\nOther reviewers have mentioned it, but I thought I should reiterate; BR-Receipts does provide the ability to store locally and in the cloud. The cloud in this instance is Brother's. To utilize the Brother cloud is to give Brother permission to access any documents stored therein and, essentially, release Brother of any damages that might occur with regard to one's use of the service. Yikes!\\n\\nAside from organizing my bulging folder of receipts, the Brother ADS-1500W is an all-around handy scanner. I can see where it might be a little underpowered for heavy use, with only 18 pages per minute at 300 dpi; but for a small office with occasional use, I think it fits right into the sweet spot of functionality and affordability.\",\n \"Product: Easy set-up - no tape required for box assembly. Convenient lift-off lid. Easy carry handles. Durable, double end, double bottom construction. Constructed from strong 32 ECT B-Flute Kraft corrugated board. Reusable, recyclable and made in the USA.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Seems expensive, but arguably worth it!\\n\\nReview: No, I didn't have to pay for these specific boxes, but I have had to make that decision in the past. I bit my lip, and took the hit that seemed at the time to be an unreasonable expense for moving boxes. In my opinion the expense is worth it. Why? Glad you asked!\\n\\nThe first justification for the extra cost is durability and functionality. There is no finer feeling at the end of a long day of moving than hearing the packing tape from a basic cardboard box begin to slip or tear under the weight of 15 textbooks and that one thing you inherited from your grandmother that somehow made it into the same overweight box. The name moving box belies the true nature of basic moving boxes. In my experience, they are not really great at being moved. Bankers Boxes on the other hand can not only hold up under immense weight Im talking a box filled to the brim with documents but, surprise, they have handles with which to move the box once filled.\\n\\nThe second big advantage in my mind is that these boxes need not be disposable. It is not that they cant be disposed of efficiently, its just that they don't have to be disposed of after one use. Once the moving is over, these boxes are terrific for organization for years to come!\\n\\nAt the end of the day, it is the design that makes all the difference. These boxes are the best cardboard boxes on the market, if you ask me.\\n\\nAs far as this specific product bundle, its pretty good if you're looking to move. Ive never personally seen the large size boxes, so the medium sized boxes that come in this set seem just right to me. For moving, I imagine medium is probably the best fit. A box much larger might become unwieldy. As for the small size boxes included in this set, they are likely what one imagines if they have seen Bankers Boxes used for document storage at a business. They are not terribly small, so the label is a little misleading.\\n\\nIf you're not quite sure what all youll be packing up, this Small/Medium bundle is probably a good call, otherwise I would recommend just buying the exact size and quantity you need to make sure you have exactly what you're after for the task at hand.\\n\\nThese boxes cant be beat!\",\n \"Product: Perky-Pet Perkys Finest Top Fill Hummingbird Feeders are the most convenient feeders ever! The patent pending top fill technology allows you to simply unscrew the cap, pour in your nectar, and youre ready to feed the hummingbirds. The 16 fl oz capacity of the shatterproof plastic bottle is the perfect amount for keeping the hummingbirds coming back to your feeders. The 4 feeding ports feature soft, decorative flowers that are more life-like than any other port on the market. With a built in ant moat on the lid, you can be sure that ants wont be a problem for this feeder.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Top Fill, No Spill\\n\\nReview: The primary benefit of this particular feeder is the top-fill capability. Why? Well, seams are the weakest link when it comes to liquid-filled feeders. The fact that the primary seam on this feeder - that which is separated to pour in the feed - is above the liquid reservoir makes this feeder much less likely to leak over time than its non-top-fill counterparts.\\n\\nOther than its top-fill functionality, the feeder is brightly colored and loved by birds. It is plastic and light, but it is also sturdy and well manufactured.\\n\\nThe only problem I can foresee is that feeder might be susceptible to some rocking and rolling under windy conditions. That being the case, something a little heavier than this feeder might be appropriate if you plan on hanging it in an area subject to frequent or heavy breezes.\",\n \"Product: The Sodo Barbecue Grill Cover by Classic Accessories offers unique styling with clean lines and solid main body contours while providing reliable protection and peace of mind in wet, windy weather. Our light Raincoat fabric is tough but stores easily when not in use and is made from durable coated polyester with a PVC undercoating. Each cover comes with an integrated storage bag with an exterior label for easy identification. Air vents keep weather out while providing ventilation and minimizing condensation. Extra-long straps tie around furniture legs to secure covers on windy days. Adjustable draw-string tightens easily resulting in a custom-like fit. The Sodo Collection offers more features than other similarly-priced covers with a look that stands out from the crowd. 1-year warranty.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Worth the extra few dollars.\\n\\nReview: We have a four burner Char-Broil gas grill. I like to call it the hardware store special, in that it or something similar to it is the one thats always on sale outside of hardware superstores across the country. So if you bought a four burner grill on sale from your local hardware store, this review probably applies to you.\\n\\nThe last grill cover that we bought was one of the one-size-fits-all bargain bin numbers. Although, at close to ten dollars, it wasn't a tremendous bargain. I think it lasted about six months before it started to get brittle. Not long after that, a new tear would develop every time we put it on or took it off the grill.\\n\\nThis Classic Accessories grill cover is definitely a cut above what one finds in the bargain bin. While I probably would have been okay with the extra-large, as opposed to the XXL cover, I don't mind the wiggle room when Im trying to put it back on the grill in the dark.\\n\\nWhat struck me right off of jump-street was that this cover is constructed more like a boat cover than a grill cover, which is a good thing. The material is more flexible and thicker than any other grill cover that Ive had in the past, and I believe that this is going to prevent the dry-rot effect that Ive experienced with so many other grill covers. I also like the idea of the vent and the cinch cord. While I couldn't say for sure, I feel like these additions cant help but to regulate the temperature inside and outside of the cover, without exposing it to too much moisture.\\n\\nAll in all, Im quite pleased. While I don't anticipate it, if the Florida sun turns this cover into glasstic (tough as glass, thick as plastic) like my previous covers, Ill come back to update this review.\",\n \"Product: Nutro Ultra Small Breed Dry Dog Food Nutro Ultra Small Breed Dry Dog Food comes with the combination of some very healthy foods, such as Avocado, sunflower, flaxseed, which are rich in fatty acids and give your dog a shining coat. What's more, it contains protein from Chicken, lamb and Salmon to give your dog great muscle mass. That is not all; it also contains elements that are rich in antioxidants, such as Pomegranate, tomatoes, and cranberries, which help build its immune system. All of this,\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: The best food I've ever witnessed my dogs eat\\n\\nReview: We have an eight year old Pomeranian and an eight month old Papillon that refuse to not eat one another's food. Our dilemma was that we needed something easily digestible for our old-timer as well as a protein rich meal for our pup. We also caught wind of the dog food filler conspiracy and, reluctantly, switched from our supermarket bought, corn meal heavy brand to one of the higher quality names.\\n\\n<a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Nature-s-Recipe-Dry-Dog-Food-for-Adult-Dog-Easy-to-Digest-Chicken-Rice-and-Barley-Meal-15-Pound-Bag/dp/B003VIWOFM/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Nature's Recipe Dry Dog Food for Adult Dog, Easy to Digest Chicken Rice and Barley Meal, 15 Pound Bag</a> was our first choice and it seemed to go well. Our Pom's bowels became a thing of regularity wonder and our Pap was growing big and strong...kind of. We began to notice some hotspots on our Pap and excessive scratching from both dogs. Our eyes were peeled for fleas and we treated the hotspots with topical ointment to no avail. I was making a return visit to the pet-meds section of our local pet superstore when I was cornered by a sales rep from Nutro. Before I could avoid him he had already asked me what dog food we currently used. I told him, and he immediately asked me if we were having any skin issues. I was sold before he told me what I needed to buy. He filled me in on the idea that the particular blend of Nature's Recipe that we were using lacked some essential nutrients key to healthy skin and coat.\\n\\nWe have been using Nutro Ultra Small Breed for several weeks now and I could not be more pleased. Our Pom's insides are still working like a clock and, amazingly, our Pap's hotspots and itching spells have already been healed. I love this food...and I think my dogs like it too.\\n\\nJust one warning: when our older dog was eating the same quantity of Nutro as he was his previous foods, he began to put on weight fairly rapidly. In other words, one might want to monitor intake and the associated weight impact for a while and then adjust accordingly.\",\n \"Product: One and Only Live Nitrifying Bacteria removes toxic ammonia and nitrite, instantly working to prevent new tank syndrome by establishing a biological filter in your newly set-up aquarium. Use when setting up a new tank, after a disease treatment or water changes. 4 oz size for freshwater aquaria up to 60 gallons. One and Only has no sulfur or other offensive odors. Made by the recognized expert in aquarium nitrification and microbiology.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Give it a couple of weeks\\n\\nReview: I have a ten gallon tank with about five gallons of water in it displaced by a large, plastic, artificial tree stump, and filtered by a 90 GPH <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Tetra-ReptoFilter-In-tank-Filter-10i-for-Terrariums-up-to-20-Gallons/dp/B000HHM9BE/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Tetra ReptoFilter In-tank Filter 10i, for Terrariums up to 20 Gallons</a>. I have two small turtles, two Dwarf African Clawed Frogs and three Comet Goldfish. The substrate is about one inch of standard aquarium gravel. Believe me when I say that the bottom of my aquarium gets pretty gunky in fairly short order.\\n\\nI was excited to learn about Dr. Tim's Fresh Water Waste Away and applied the recommended amount as soon as I received it. After about one week, I did notice that the tank was marginally cleaner, but the tank and everything in it was covered in algae like never before. I was a little disappointed, but I decided to give it a couple more applications, just to give the Waste Away a fair shake. To my surprise, after three weeks and just as many applications, the sludge in the substrate was dramatically reduced and the overall water clarity was visibly better.\\n\\nUnfortunately the algae situation did not improve. However, I do feel like the algae might actually be contributing to the incredible water clarity. I have cleaned the algae from the sides of my tank, but have been letting it grow, within reason, on the large stump fixture. To be honest, as long as the sides are clean, the tank has never looked better.\\n\\nOverall, I would definitely recommend Dr. Tim's Fresh Water Waste Away; particularly if you have more than just fish in your tank. While it has created a little more work with regard to regular algae maintenance, my tank's overall appearance has definitely improved.\",\n \"Product: Protect your favorite pup from some of the worst pests with Sentry Fiproguard Plus for Dogs. Containing the same active ingredients as Frontline Plus (Fipronil and (S)-methoprene), Sentry Fiproguard Plus is guaranteed to get the job done. This waterproof formula kills fleas, ticks, chewing lice, flea larvae and controls the development of flea pupae. Use on dogs over 8 weeks of age.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: It did not kill my dogs!\\n\\nReview: It seems that every time I bring an off-brand product to the counter at my local pet superstore I am informed, in so many words, that it might lead to my pet's ultimate demise. While I do wonder why they even offer these products if they're so deadly; I have developed the helpful habit of always asking \\\"will this kill my dog?\\\" before checking out. I asked the same question when I saw what appeared to be the same thing as <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Frontline-Plus-for-Dogs-Small-up-to-22-lb-3-pk-up-to-10-kg/dp/B004IUSEFG/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Frontline Plus for Dogs - Small - up to 22 lb - 3 pk (up to 10 kg)</a> at a cheaper price. Amazingly, I actually got the green light this time. I was assured that Fiproguard Plus is available now because Frontline's patent lapsed and Fiproguard picked up the formula. I was also told that it would not kill my dog.\\n\\nI actually have two dogs, a one year old Papillon and an eight year old Pomeranian. I have applied Fiproguard Plus to both dogs and they are still very much alive...and flealess. Our Papillon did experience very mild irritation at the application site, but nothing serious. Because this is our first application of this product, I will definitely return to this review to update it if any weird reactions occur. If you're like me, you might be a little hesitant to try new things on your pups, so if this review is more than a week old and I have not returned to state otherwise, you can assume that this product works and did not harm my dogs in any way.\\n\\nAnother helpful point is that the picture of the box associated with this product posting is for all dogs 22 pounds and under that are over eight weeks old. I would assume that this is the product that you will receive if you purchase it through this listing.\",\n \"Product: The World Famous Crescent Brand Tool Sets Contain a Carefully Selected Assortment of Crescent Mechanic and Hand Tools. All Tools in This Set Meet New ANSI and ASME Specifications and Come with a Full Satisfaction Guarantee. Crescent, Providing Quality Tools since 1907. Set Includes: 3/8\\\" Drive, 72-Tooth Quick-Release Ratchet; 3/8\\\" Drive, 3\\\" and 6\\\" Extension; 3/8\\\" Drive, Universal Joint; 3/8\\\" Drive, Spark Plug Sockets: 5/8\\\"; 3/8\\\" Drive, 12-Pt. Sockets: 1/4\\\", 5/16\\\", 3/8\\\", 7/16\\\", 1/2\\\", 9/16\\\", 5/8\\\", 11/16\\\", 3/4\\\", 13/16\\\", 7/8\\\"; 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 mm; 3/8\\\" Drive, 6-Pt. Deep Sockets: 1/4\\\", 5/16\\\", 3/8\\\", 7/16\\\", 1/2\\\", 9/16\\\", 5/8\\\", 11/16\\\", 3/4\\\", 13/16\\\", 7/8\\\"; 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 mm & Storage Case.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Great little set ready for heavy use.\\n\\nReview: While the 1/2 inch drive might be a little beefy for some applications, I like having the extra heft available. I have heard of folks breaking even the comparably hefty 3/8, so I'm not opposed to mixing it up.\\n\\nThis particular set will cover the bases for many of the most common applications and, with 72 teeth, will get the job done a little easier. Really, this would be a great set to keep in the trunk or to send off with your child to school. Not to mention the fact that these tools are easy to keep clean, and come with a lifetime guarantee. Unfortunately, the case is not guaranteed; but I can all but guarantee you that this case won't last a lifetime.\\n\\nI'm pumped about the quick-release function! However, I have had a couple of quick-release sets in the past in which the quick release was the first thing to get gummed up and ultimately became the Achilles heel of the set. Although, I do believe this set is of a higher quality than either of those sets, so I'm holding out hope.\\n\\nOverall, it's a solid set at a price that won't break the bank.\",\n \"Product: The HAMMERHEAD Compact Self-Leveling Cross Line Laser with Adjustable Mounting Clamp projects bright horizontal, vertical or cross lines onto flat surfaces with the accuracy of 1/4 inch at 30 feet. The unit will self-level when positioned within 4 degrees of level; an LED indicator turns red when the unit is positioned outside of the self-leveling range. In the lock (manual) mode, the cross line laser can be positioned to project lines that are not level or plumb for projects that require them. The included adjustable mounting clamp easily attaches to a variety of surfaces to extend the utility of the tool. The cross line laser may also be mounted on any 1/4\\\" threaded tripod screw. Kit includes: (1) Compact Self-Leveling Cross Line Laser, (1) Adjustable Mounting Clamp and (2) AA Batteries\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Hip To Be Square\\n\\nReview: I believe this device does a fair job of abbreviating the gap between the cheapo over-the-register laser levels typically marketed for home use and the super expensive commercial units. The Hammerhead provides vertical, horizontal, as well as vertical and horizontal laser guidance that is easy to see even in strong light conditions.\\n\\nWhile it claims to be accurate within a quarter inch at thirty feet, I do not have spaces in my home large enough to test the reported drop. However, at the distances that I'm using it at (no more than 10 feet or so) it is at least as accurate as my three foot level.\\n\\nRight out of the box I was impressed. As soon as I put hands on it, I could tell that it was of a higher quality that my last laser level. At first I didn't know what to think about the included clamp and just used my camera tripod. I did eventually want to explore the capabilities of the clamp, and I have to say it's pretty impressive. The mouth of the clap opens up two-and-a-half inches, and is plenty deep and strong to secure to a wide variety of surfaces. I suppose it would have been a bit more difficult to engineer, but I do wish the ball joint that the laser mount is attached to provided for more vertical manipulation when the clip is attached to a surface horizontally, as the laser cannot self-level when it is positional horizontally. It is nice, though, that there is a fixed, non-self-leveling mode for when a job calls for it; like the argyle pattern my wife had me paint on our son's wall.\\n\\nIt seems ridiculous, but I also appreciate the fact that the unit arrived with batteries! Crazy, right?!\\n\\nWhen it's not locked or off, the laser is gravity leveling and free swinging. I can't imagine that anybody would plan on using this as a football, but, I can see how some damage could be caused to the device if handled too frequently or indelicately while the laser is in self-leveling mode.\\n\\nOverall, I'm pleased to have this Hammerhead in my house. With the three year limited warranty, I'm also pretty confident that I'll get at least three years of properly operated use out of this bad boy.\",\n \"Product: The Forney 55679 Ice auto-darkening welding helmet has variable shades # 9 - 13. The helmet has a large viewing area and four optical sensors. Outside mounted shade selecor knob and sensitivity adjustment. Internal welding and grinding switch, delay switch (short, middle and long) and battery/shade test control. UV/IR protection with up to shade DIN 16 continuous. Light state shade is DIN 4; variable shade DIN 9 to DIN 13. Power supply is solar cells with built in replaceable 3V lithium batteries. Forney Industries is one of America's longest operating family-owned metal working product companies. Founded in 1932, Forney offers more than 5,000 products for the hardware, automotive, farm & ranch and do-it-yourself markets. If you've got metal working questions, we've got answers. We're committed to your success regardless of location size or needs. Switching time light to dark is 1/30,000 of a second after the arc is struck. Switching time dark to light is .25 second in \\\"short\\\" mode, .8 seconds in \\\"long\\\" mode. Constructed of a lightweight impact resistant nylon shell and is equiped with a geared headband mechanism. Meets related DIN, ISO and EN safety standards including ANSI Z87.1 safety standards. Includes Forney trademarked Ice design and logo. Claims for warranty must be made within 90 days of the date of purchase. Proof of purchase required. This warranty does not cover any product that has been subject to misuse, neglect, negligence or accident, or that has been used in any way contrary to the purpose intended.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Utility in the form of customization!\\n\\nReview: This helmet possesses settings galore! An easily adjusted headband, tension adjusted helmet flip, adjustable sensitivity, adjustable delay, and interchangeable grinding/welding settings.\\n\\nOkay, customizable settings are nice, but do they work? In a word, yes! The best part is, aside from the interchangeable grinder/welding settings, the functional settings - delay and sensitivity - are on the outside of the helmet and can be adjusted on the fly. Just in case you're curious about what the grinder setting does; it is essentially a bypass mode that prevents the visor from darkening during low-light applications.\\n\\nThe helmet itself is light and comfortable, but appears relatively durable. Now, I haven't put the helmet through the ringer yet and, to be honest, I am not sure how it will hold up to abuse. However, I believe that if one were to try to take reasonable care of it, this helmet will last long enough to compensate for the price.\\n\\nThe blue flames are a little hokey, but are applied in a manner that, if you have to have graphics on your helmet, look better than some of the cheaper sticker-like graphics that can be seen on other helmets. It's not terrible.\\n\\nI do also want to mention that it is made in China, which I know can be a pain point.\\n\\nAll in all, it is a quality helmet that provides plenty of customization to get just about any job done comfortably.\",\n \"Product: Reveal Nightlight Quiet-Close with Grip-Tight elongated toilet seat\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Perfect for Little Boys\\n\\nReview: Our son is four. Those with little boys know that the toilet can be a tricky skill set to master. Two of the biggest trouble spots for our man are marksmanship and putting the seat down. This seat doesnt directly solve either of those issues, but it has helped for a couple of reasons.\\n\\nAs far as overall aim is concerned, we still have some work to do, but the night light on the seat has diminished the degree of damage we were getting used to when he had to get up at night to use the toilet. It is not super bright, and, therefore, not obnoxious. However, in total darkness it supplies enough light to gently illuminate the bathroom as seen from the hallway, and it certainly provides enough light to establish a decent target on the toilet bowl.\\n\\nAs far as putting the seat down when hes done, this seat provides two benefits. The first is that he is so enamored by the soft close seats apparent defiance of gravity that he cant wait to barely nudge the seat down and watch it float to the bowl below. The second benefit is that, when he did put the seat down before, everyone in the house knew it because the crash could be heard from any room. Again, the soft close function solves this.\\n\\nI, personally like the comfort of the seat itself. Although the exterior dimensions are approximately equivalent to our previous seat which is necessary to fit on the bow properly the width of the seat is a little narrower, making the circumference of the opening seem a fair amount larger.\\n\\nMy only issue with the seat is that the lid feels cheap. I imagine that they had to keep the weight of the lid down to allow the soft close function to work properly, but the lid feels and, in my opinion, looks a little cheap. The real issue with the lid for me is that I used to sit on the closed toilet seat when our boys (we also have an 10 monther) were taking baths, but when I sat on the lid of this seat, I feared that it might break.\\n\\nAll in all, the benefits of this seat outweigh the one issue I have with it by a fair margin.\",\n \"Product: The Nerf Rebelle Messenger Blaster can do so much more than launch a dart - you can write and send secret messages on the darts. Use the secret decoder to see the message. Measures approximately 9 1/2-inches long. Ages 8 and up.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: The message capability is a game changer!\\n\\nReview: This is the fourth Nerf Rebelle product that I've given to my nieces in the last couple of years, and they can't get enough! The older girls, ages 10, 7, and 5 are the primary users. They wanted the first round of Rebelle products after one of the Hunger Games movies came out. Although the fun lasted for quite a while, most of the darts were eventually lost or eaten by the dogs and the excitement waned. With the new secret message capability, the associated decoders, and a pack of refill darts, the initial excitement has been renewed.\\n\\nThe message darts can be reused by erasing the old message with a damp cloth. Be sure to dry the dart after erasing the message to ensure proper inscription and dart trajectory. Wet darts fly funny!\\n\\nThe shooter is pretty powerful for what it is and there is potential for a little bodily harm if shot in the face from any closer than a few feet. In other words, kids should be instructed not to shoot each other in the face at close range and should be supervised in general. However, the prospect of sending secret messages has changed the objective of the game, from what I've seen, from shoot your sister in the face from as close as possible to lob secret messages from as far away as possible without them being intercepted. A bit of an unforeseen bonus.\\n\\nIt probably goes without saying but, Nerf shooters are fun for dads and uncles too.\\n\\nThe darts will be lost or otherwise destroyed... so you might as well pick up a pack of replacement darts while you're at it (<a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Nerf-Rebelle-Message-Dart-Refill/dp/B00INZO5SM/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Nerf Rebelle Message Dart Refill</a>).\",\n \"Product: Zoom, Spin and Grin with Cyclone from Radio Flyer. Using arm powered action, you can spin 360 for unlimited fun. Whether you are zooming forward or rolling in reverse, the 16\\\" wheels offer a smooth ride. This ride on also features comfort handgrips to guide your ride and an ergonomic seat and frame for a comfort ride. The solid steel frame and rear caster wheel ensure years of classic Radio Flyer fun.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Like a hand-powered Big Wheel!\\n\\nReview: I'll get the only negative about our Cyclone out of the way first. On the plastic footplate, the two holes through which bolts are intended to be dropped to connect the footplate to the frame, and two components of the frame together, are misaligned. With a series of vice grips, the holes can be aligned one at a time. Unfortunately, even then the bolts did not seem long enough - probably due to the extra pressure exerted on them in the opposite direction - to expose the thread necessary to attach the nut. Another option would be drilling new holes in the plastic footplate. Because the footplate is also attached to the frame by some much smaller screws that also adhere the front skid-plate, I decided to drop the bolts through the frame beneath the footplate only. It looks a little funny, and is a little frustrating and disappointing, but it doesn't affect the functionality of the Cyclone, so it's not a huge deal.\\n\\nWith that out of the way, the Cyclone is a fun twist on an old concept! Imagine a Big Wheel, but backwards. Big plastic, hand-powered wheels in the front, and a little tiny wheel in the back, out of necessity. Just like the old Big Wheels, the plastic wheels do not provide much traction and really prevent the vehicle from being operated on anything other than a hard, smooth surface. If you think about it though, great traction and the ability to operate the Cyclone on any paved surface would present a litany of dangers considering the age group the Cyclone is intended for. However, I wouldn't hesitate to purchase an adult sized version with rubber tires and a better gear ratio... just saying.\\n\\nOverall it is a fun, relatively safe, age appropriate way to get your child to stay outside for a little bit longer.\",\n \"Product: Tot-sized farmers in the making will love the Fisher-Price Little People Animal Friends Farm and all of the opportunities it provides for realistic role play. Open the barn door or the gate to hear animal sounds (Moo!) or a farm tune. Help Farmer Eddie heard the animals into their stalls by matching them to their pictures. Drop the hay bale through the silo and the animals too, if toddlers are feeling extra silly!\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Simple, Sturdy, and Fun Enough\\n\\nReview: Our son just crossed the 22 month mark, and has had access to the Little People Animal Friends Farm Toy for almost a month now. To be honest, when we first removed the set from its packaging, which was a struggle, I was sure that this would get about five minutes of play time and then get lost at the bottom of the toy chest. To my surprise, he has actually played with it for at least a few moments just about every day since he got it. He is a fan of mixing and matching the figurines that came with the set with some of his favorite dinosaur toys in and among the various stalls in the barn.\\n\\nThe set can, essentially, be arranged in two ways. The first is as a cross-section type diorama, splitting the barn right down the center at a hinge that requires some assembly with a Phillips head screwdriver. The second is as an enclosed barn environment. The fact that he can arrange the toys in their respective pens while the barn is split open, and then close it up and carry it around a bit really seems to be the most pleasing aspect of this toy for our little one. He does also like to drop things down the silo but, as any parent or guardian might imagine, this can become a bit of a headache as things that were not intended to be used with this toy get stuck halfway down and inspire a meltdown until rectified.\\n\\nThe barn also makes various animal noises when specific gates are opened. It's a nice touch, particularly because the batteries which operate the sound box were included and preinstalled, but, for whatever reason, our son isn't that impressed with this particular feature.\\n\\nI can see him outgrowing this set in the near future but, for the time being, it is a sturdy toy that he seems to be enjoying enough on a regular basis for us to justify keeping it in the everyday play toy box.\",\n \"Product: In Disney/Pixar's Cars, every character in Radiator Springs knows that when you want a sweet new custom paint job, you make tracks to Ramone's! This super auto body shop play set features everything you need to customize your own designs. Drive your favorite Disney Pixar's Cars color change vehicles into the paint booth for a cool new style. Squeeze the water pump to blast on warm water then have some spin n' spray action as you watch the colors change. Raise the elevator to the top floor to show off your new paint job then roll down the ramp into the cold water dunk tank to change it back again. Part of the Story Sets line, this play set connects to other playsets to enhance the storytelling possibilities and build out the world of Cars. Collect all the color change vehicles (sold separately) so that you can dip, spray and splash an entire fleet! Includes 1 Color Change Ramone.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Neat, but lacking substance.\\n\\nReview: My son loves Cars. Naturally, he was thrilled to receive this playset. The excitement waned quickly, however.\\n\\nIn my opinion, the lack of sustained enthusiasm was in large part due to the set's design. The color changing car rolls onto a platform on the set's lower level, where it is sprayed from a bottle filled with cold water, changing its color - the color changing is neat, without a doubt. Then the car is manually lifted in place on its platform to the second level where it is dumped onto a ramp that leads the car to a warm water pool, reverting the car back to its original color. Yes, this is an exceptionally short and, after a few circuits, boring process, but the real issue might be with the mechanics of the process. The components, other than the cold water bottle and the car itself, are surprisingly low quality. Combine a bunch of low quality components, add motion, and what one gets is a herky-jerky heap of not much fun. That is, nothing that moves does so smoothly and without much effort.\\n\\nTo top things off, additional color changing cars are not inexpensive. As of the time of that this review is being written, additional color changing cars cost at least $12.50 each. One can see how this might add up. Honestly, if the set itself were of a higher quality, and a little more involved, I could see investing in a few additional pieces. As it stands, though, I feel like it would just be throwing good money after bad.\\n\\nMy son loves the included car and still plays with it regularly, along with his other cars. Not surprisingly, he could care less about the set at this point. I can't say I blame him. I feel like this was a weak effort from Mattel; particularly because these are the same folks that make the Hot Wheels sets and cars that have yet to disappoint.\",\n \"Product: Construct a whole zoos worth of remote-controlled animals with mechanical insides covered by colorful plastic skins. The animals all move using different mechanisms, each one mimicking the movement of the real animal it represents. A two-button remote control unit moves the small, lightweight motor forward and in reverse, allowing the models to move forward or backward. Build an elephant that walks, a scorpion that crawls along, and a cute little penguin that waddles. Construct a rabbit that bounds forward, a crab that scurries sideways, and an orangutan that climbs hand over hand along a string. You can even build a couple of dinosaurs: a Tyrannosaurus rex that walks on two legs and a Pteranodon that flies along a cord. Learn about animal locomotion and biomechanics as you build each model. When you are done, use the same 100 building pieces to dream up your own mechanical animal creations! You can even mix up the animal skins in funny ways to make outrageous hybrid animals.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Neat. Best in swarms.\\n\\nReview: My father was an elementary school teacher for much of his adult life, so, while I knew my own child's pleased reaction to the set, I wanted to get his take on whether or not this set might be appropriate for the classroom.\\n\\nHis reaction was that it would certainly be appropriate for the classroom, and would probably be best suited for the 8 to 10 year age range. He believed the set would be a good challenging for the eight year olds, and although less so for the 10 year olds it would still be a fun project. He felt that while the projects are neat individually, that kids would get over it quickly - as I found to be true in the case of my own son. To really get the most mileage out of this set, he believes that it would be worth it to pick up a few of the sets and take advantage of the multiple radio frequencies on the controllers to enable several children to let their creations interact. He insists that the children will almost inevitably turn their creations into miniature battle-bots, but that it will still progress their mechanical creativity.\\n\\nAs for my own thoughts, the set is fun and a great means to introduce children to mechanics and mechanisms. I have to agree with my father that, once each of the critters has been built, there is little to keep a youngster interested; so this set is probably best in multiples over the long-term.\",\n \"Product: Tot-sized farmers in the making will love the Fisher-Price Little People Animal Friends Farm and all of the opportunities it provides for realistic role play. Open the barn door or the gate to hear animal sounds (Moo!) or a farm tune. Help Farmer Eddie heard the animals into their stalls by matching them to their pictures. Drop the hay bale through the silo and the animals too, if toddlers are feeling extra silly!\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Simple, Sturdy, and Fun Enough\\n\\nReview: Our son just crossed the 22 month mark, and has had access to the Little People Animal Friends Farm Toy for almost a month now. To be honest, when we first removed the set from its packaging, which was a struggle, I was sure that this would get about five minutes of play time and then get lost at the bottom of the toy chest. To my surprise, he has actually played with it for at least a few moments just about every day since he got it. He is a fan of mixing and matching the figurines that came with the set with some of his favorite dinosaur toys in and among the various stalls in the barn.\\n\\nThe set can, essentially, be arranged in two ways. The first is as a cross-section type diorama, splitting the barn right down the center at a hinge that requires some assembly with a Phillips head screwdriver. The second is as an enclosed barn environment. The fact that he can arrange the toys in their respective pens while the barn is split open, and then close it up and carry it around a bit really seems to be the most pleasing aspect of this toy for our little one. He does also like to drop things down the silo but, as any parent or guardian might imagine, this can become a bit of a headache as things that were not intended to be used with this toy get stuck halfway down and inspire a meltdown until rectified.\\n\\nThe barn also makes various animal noises when specific gates are opened. It's a nice touch, particularly because the batteries which operate the sound box were included and preinstalled, but, for whatever reason, our son isn't that impressed with this particular feature.\\n\\nI can see him outgrowing this set in the near future but, for the time being, it is a sturdy toy that he seems to be enjoying enough on a regular basis for us to justify keeping it in the everyday play toy box.\",\n \"Product: Calico Critter babies love riding the merry-go-round! Realistic details invite endless pretend play fun. Merry-go-round spins as you turn the handle. Fish seats can detach from the carousel. Also features water spray & slide. Calico Critters is a unique and adorable range of distinctive animal characters with charming and beautifully detailed homes, furniture and accessories. They live, work and play in an idyllic and wonderful place called Calico Village. These timeless, classic toys promote wholesome family values. These life-like, award-winning miniatures also inspire imagination and creativity. These adorable toys promote healthy cognitive development through pretend play. Acting out storylines will exercise narrative and critical thinking processes, while fine motor skills and dexterity improve as little ones manipulate the fun environments, critters and accessories. Critters sold separately.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: The kids are crazy for Calico Critters\\n\\nReview: There something about a diverse collection of small things that seems to tap some primal instinct in children. That is, by itself, this is an exceptionally simply toy that is exactly what it looks like; a merry-go-round and slide for even smaller and simpler toys. However, it appears to me that the joy derived from Calico Critters by every child I know under the age of 6 is the result of an expanding environment. Its kind of hard to explain I guess. I presented this set as a present to my nieces - along with a couple of Calico Critters - and they went nuts! But, in watching them set it up among the rest of their set, I noticed that they didn't even really play with the new piece. It was as if just knowing that their Critters had the option of using the merry-go-round that seemed to be so exciting. Even my two-and-a-half year old son cant help but get pumped when he sees their expansive Calico Critter set.\\n\\nI imagine at this point my nieces could be consider discerning Critter connoisseurs, and they loved it. Even if I don't fully get it, I cannot argue with the fact that the merry-go-round set was a hit!\",\n \"Product: Fisher-Price Imaginext Ultra T-rex\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Ultra T-Rex version 1.2\\n\\nReview: This Ice version of the Ultra T-rex is identical in function to last years <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Fisher-Price-Imaginext-Ultra-T-Rex/dp/B00VJKT84Y/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Fisher-Price Imaginext Ultra T-Rex</a>. The differences include the color scheme, and the included action figures that appear more Neanderthal in stature with ice-age style garments and weapons. The Ice T-Rex also ships sans batteries, while the classic Ultra T-Rex listing claims to be shipped with batteries. There is also an approximate $7 premium attached to the Ice T-Rex as of the time of this writing.\\n\\nGrandma got the classic version of this T-Rex for our two-and-a-half-year-old son last Christmas, and I can confidently say that it is still one of his favorite toys. That being the case, we jumped at the chance to try out this years Ice model. It is still just as cool as last years and nearly identical in function, but I can say that two Ultra T-Rexes does not necessarily double the fun. Our son now about three-and-a-half still loves the toy, but will choose one or the other to besiege some of his other Imaginext faade style fortresses. So, if youve got last years version, and don't have any more children in the mix, you're probably still covered. I believe well be sending one to grandmas.\\n\\nIs it fun? This thing is super fun! It has plenty of low velocity projectiles to keep the battle going without putting out an eyeball, and, with the twist of a power pad, charges forward for about 18 inches at a time. I will say that in the absence of the previously mentioned fort-style playsets, our son eventually lost interest. The T-Rex in isolation is neat, but not sustainably fun. However, give it something to face off against, and the good times seem to keep on rolling.\\n\\nIs the ice version worth the current 10% premium over last years model? I suppose that would come down to personal preference. The blue translucent plastic of the Ice T-Rex is super neat, but I think our son actually favors the classic version because it looks more like real dinosaur bones. At the end of the day, both get the job done as far as an incredible toy goes.\\n\\nSome additional notes include the fact that, when standing upright, the footprint of the Ultra T-Rex is surprisingly slight considering its apparent bulk. Also, be sure to turn the power off after your child is done using it. We have been surprised several times when the T-Rex has unexpectedly and inexplicably roared a good half hour or more after playtime was over.\",\n \"Product: C.S. Lewis's famous inspirational work on the nature of love. C.S. Lewis's famous work on the nature of love divides love into four categories: Affection, Friendship, Eros and Charity. The first three are loves which come naturally to the human race. Charity, however, the Gift-love of God, is divine in its source and expression, and without the sweetening grace of this supernatural love, the natural loves become distorted and even dangerous.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: All loves in Love\\n\\nReview: Within this work, Mr. Lewis is quick to point out the inherent difficulty with regard to the concept of love facing individuals whose native tongue is English. That is, it is easily recognized that there exists an extreme deficit when one applies the same word to describe the sentiment shared with one's spouse, as well as their favorite food. In such extreme cases of difference in terms of the word's application, clarification is hardly needed and might be written off as an embellishment about that which one feels about, say, strawberries or chocolate. However, other instances are more difficult to write off as a poor choice of words; such as, love for friends, family, a spouse, and God. One must surely agree that the sentiment in each of these instances of love can exist and be experienced in significantly different ways. While love is the umbrella under which all of these sentiments rest, they are, as far as most people can tell, very different things. That being said, it is lucky for the reader that Mr. Lewis, almost immediately, circumvents the language barrier and begins to illustrate the foundational understanding which must be apparent for further exploration of the concepts of love to proceed. For those who have struggled with this, even the simplest concept of love's significance, as this reviewer has, the first chapter alone is worth the price of this work's purchase.\\n\\nBuilding upon a necessary base of knowledge, Lewis begins to explore the nature of love beginning with that love which might be the gray area between the words love and like, or either of the two, as spoken in the English language. Lewis continues his endeavor by tackling what people often consider the more significant forms of love such as friendship, erotic love, and the love of and for God. While no attempt will be made here to convey the significance of the final chapter regarding actual Love in fear of diluting a brilliant message, each of the chapters leading up to that point share common threads. That is, Mr. Lewis illustrates the difficulty which can be had with love in any form if left to our own devices. This illustration is achieved in the author's typical fashion of profound analogies and appeals to common experiences. One can be certain that while this recognition of the volatility of human love is of extreme importance, it is the overriding concept that only by surrendering these loves to Love that one can achieve happiness, solace, and purity in Love which makes this work unquestionably valuable to those that are fortunate enough to read it.\",\n \"Product: A stunning new edition of this timeless allegory of heaven and hell, repackaged and rebranded as part of the C.S. Lewis Signature Classics range. C.S. Lewis's dazzling allegory about heaven and hell and the chasm fixed between them, is one of his most brilliantly imaginative tales which will appeal to readers of all ages. Lewis communicates deep spiritual truths through the sheer power of the fantastic. In The Great Divorce the writer in a dream boards a bus on a drizzly afternoon and embarks on an incredible voyage through Heaven and Hell. He meets a host of supernatural beings far removed from his expectations and comes to significant realisations about the ultimate consequences of everyday behaviour. This is the starting point for a profound meditation upon good and evil. \\\"If we insist on keeping Hell (or even Earth) we shall not see Heaven: if we accept Heaven we shall not be able to retain even the smallest and most intimate souvenirs of Hell.\\\"\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Forks in the road of life and beyond\\n\\nReview: It is understandably difficult to offer an accurate depiction of any existence beyond that which humans experience on a daily basis. Fortunately for the reader of this text, Mr. Lewis claims to do no such thing. Yes, within this work the main character finds himself in Heaven, as well as Hell; however, it is this reviewer's opinion that the descriptions of these places are far from that which the work is intended to convey. Rather, it is that which this character observes and comes to understand while in these places that carries the weight of the message.\\n\\nIn his typical, albeit masterful, fashion, Mr. Lewis presents the reality of decisions made by every individual. In this case, such decisions expand beyond the temporal and into the realm of the eternal. Within this work, the point is clearly made that indecision is a decision in itself and that the decision to decide or not to decide must be made just as any other seemingly harmless decision if ultimate good is to be attained; perhaps in the form of a Heavenly existence. That is, there must be a complete and total surrender to good which can continuously lead to greater good, as opposed to evil or lingering indecisiveness which, while detrimental actions, behaviors, and/or perceptions can be rectified, can never transform into good simply by pressing onward.\\n\\nMr. Lewis vividly illustrates many of the snares which may disallow an attainment of that which is, ultimately, happiness through the means of intriguing character interactions and dialog incorporated within an extremely enjoyable and readable storyline. While Heaven and Hell might be little more than an abstract thought to many, if not most; Mr. Lewis has, yet again, applied a brilliant mind to difficult concepts in such a way that the message is made readily accessible to anyone that is fortunate enough to acquire a copy of this text. The message, however, could be easily missed, misunderstood, or lost by those that do not believe in the eternal consequences of decisions. Nonetheless, this is a must read for those that do subscribe to this belief and may prove to be, at least, thought provoking for those that do not.\",\n \"Product: Shipped from UK, please allow 10 to 21 business days for arrival. Very Good, A very good, near fine copy in black cloth boards, gilt title on spine with a very good, near fine dust jacket. Mayflower: a voyage to war. xvii, 461 p. : ill., ports. ; 24 cm.. . Includes bibliographical references (p. [415]-443).. .\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Philbrick does it again.\\n\\nReview: Philbrick certainly does it again with \\\"Mayflower: A Story of Courage, Community, and War\\\". It may be hard to believe that anything written by anyone could be as compelling as Philbrick's \\\"In the Heart of the Sea\\\", but prepare yourself to be amazed with what \\\"Mayflower\\\" has to offer. The greatest thing about this work is that almost everyone in America is at least familiar with the story that this incredible author masterfully expounds. \\\"Mayflower\\\" successfully fills in any gaps in the American holiday story.\\n\\nStarting from the very beginning with nothing more than a thought of escape from religious hardships, Philbrick follows our celebrated pilgrims all the way through the end of King Philip's War, and then some. \\\"Mayflower\\\" successfully leaves the reader well satisfied that they have been made privy to any information available today regarding the Plymouth Colony, its creation, and its impact on early life in the new world. One only has to take a glance at the bibliography to realize just how much thoughtful research went into this incredible account. What may be more fascinating is the fact that Philbrick compiles this mountain of research into a well written an extremely readable timeline that spans decade after decade.\\n\\nGet your eye-drops handy because you will not want to blink; this page turner will have you from cover to cover before you realize it and you will, most certainly, not feel cheated out of even the most minute of details. I would and will recommend \\\"Mayflower\\\" to anyone who can read, because to not take advantage of this enthralling work of literature might be a crime committed against one's own self. By the end of this book you will know the true story behind one of the most widely celebrated traditions in America, as well as what happened next.\",\n \"Product: C. S. Lewis was one of the greatest Christian Writers of our age. His \\\"Screwtape Letters\\\" still stirs considerable controversy. He wrote from the perspective of a devil giving advice to another devil in how to tempt a Christian. In doing so, he reveals to us how we let evil into our own lives. Lewis's work has influenced three generations of Christian thinkers and will continue to be a seminal Christian work.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: A Call for Reflection\\n\\nReview: In the preface to Lewis' final appearance of Screwtape, Screwtape Proposes a Toast, the author provides a terrific description of what his previous involvements with Screwtape included. Referring to his time authoring The Screwtape Letters, Lewis states \\\"The world into which I had to project myself while I spoke through Screwtape was all dust, grit, thirst and itch...It almost smothered me before I was done. It would have smothered my readers if I had prolonged it.\\\" After reading this work, it is plausible that many would see the truth in these statements.\\n\\nAs humans, it is relatively easy to recognize when one is acting, thinking, or living inappropriately. This might be true because of the concept of the human conscience. Lewis, however, brings a new perspective to the human conscience while offering the idea that it is driven by purposeful direction guided by the influences of good and evil. Although, in this particular work, the words good and evil might be more subjective than one is accustomed to.\\n\\nReading this work is a rare opportunity to reflect upon the choices made by each individual as life is lived through the means of a brilliant author speaking as a diabolical fiend. The idea of reading the letters of one tempter to his apprentice seems reminiscent of childish fantasy. Quite to the contrary, this work is powerful on level after level and certainly intended for mature minds. This work is yet another masterpiece in Lewis' collection and, if fully appreciated, has the potential to change lives.\",\n \"Product: Richard Bauckham is professor of New Testament studies and Bishop Wardlaw Professor at the University of St. Andrews, Scotland. A fellow of both the British Academy and the Royal Society of Edinburgh, he has also written Bible and Mission: Christian Witness in a Postmodern World.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Great Research - Poor Editing\\n\\nReview: In fear of being misinterpreted, it should first be said that Bauckham presents his case in a fresh light and has certainly done his research. The content of this text is powerful, and the intended message is definitely worth conveying. I would not have normally written a review for this work because there are so many others that have done a splendid job describing, in detail, that which makes it worth reading. However, I feel as if I should offer a warning to those whom are unprepared to take on the rather laborious task of actually reading the work in its entirety.\\n\\nAs powerful as this message may be, something may have been lost between that which was in Mr. Bauckham's mind and the actual pages of the text. Beginning with the very first page of this work and continuing throughout, this work is plagued by a writing style that is simply difficult to read with any consistency. I would compare the experience to listening to a lecture in which the presenter never once changes the tone of their voice. In fact, now that it has been mentioned, if this work is available in an audio format, I would highly recommend that alternative. To listen to a monotone lecture is one thing, but to read a work of length that appears to have been transcribed exactly as it would have been verbally presented by the author is something entirely different. What might have been the fatal blow with regard to readability was the insertion of the word \\\"triumphalistically\\\". Unfortunately, this occurs with about twenty pages left in the body of the work, which is far too late to seek out alternative means for retrieving the valuable information contained between the front and back cover of Jesus and the Eyewitnesses.\"\n]","isConversational":false},"profile_size":{"kind":"number","value":62,"string":"62"},"task":{"kind":"string","value":"longlamp_3"},"split_kind":{"kind":"string","value":"user_based"},"id":{"kind":"number","value":940,"string":"940"}}},{"rowIdx":941,"cells":{"question_id":{"kind":"string","value":"A3OIC7GUFY941R"},"question":{"kind":"string","value":"Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of \"2.0\" for a product with description \"Reeves-Graphik Inspire Me Sketchbook: Black. These professional quality sheets feature printed patterns to inspire your illustrations drawing and doodles! This package contains eighty pages of 5-1/2x5-1/2 inch bleed-proof marker sheets with dots triangles squares and hexagons images (eight pages of each shape) and forty-eight blank pages. Conforms to ASTM D4236. Imported.\". The summary of the review text is \"Not recommended. Not Bleedproof.\"."},"answer":{"kind":"string","value":"Like most artists, when marker paper is labeled as being \"bleedproof\" I expect it to be as such. Since I am primarily focused on mixed media, I have multiple brands of markers, pens, pencils etc around, and I decided to test if the paper was truly bleedproof.\n\nI used Tombow, Copic, Mr. Sketch, Memento, Sharpie, Spectrum Noir, Crayola, Martha Stewart, Staedtler, Gelly Roll, Sharpie Paint and Prismacolor markers to test. The good news is that most of the markers didn't bleed through. The bad news is that the Spectrum Noir, and Prismacolor did. Obviously they didn't go completely through, but if something is marketed as being bleed proof, I expect it to be such.\n\nI was bummed that the book didn't hold up to my test. It is a nice size for travel and the printed pages are a nice starter for doodling or sketching. The pages are nicely perforated, and come out easily; the back of the book has a nice pocket in which to store your pictures. It is a substantial book, and I'll use it now with my colored pencils. If it hadn't been marketed as having marker paper, and being bleed proof, I would rate this sketch book much higher. However, since it was marketed as such, I have to down rate it, as it doesn't do what it claims to do."},"correct_answer":{"kind":"string","value":"Like most artists, when marker paper is labeled as being \"bleedproof\" I expect it to be as such. Since I am primarily focused on mixed media, I have multiple brands of markers, pens, pencils etc around, and I decided to test if the paper was truly bleedproof.\n\nI used Tombow, Copic, Mr. Sketch, Memento, Sharpie, Spectrum Noir, Crayola, Martha Stewart, Staedtler, Gelly Roll, Sharpie Paint and Prismacolor markers to test. The good news is that most of the markers didn't bleed through. The bad news is that the Spectrum Noir, and Prismacolor did. Obviously they didn't go completely through, but if something is marketed as being bleed proof, I expect it to be such.\n\nI was bummed that the book didn't hold up to my test. It is a nice size for travel and the printed pages are a nice starter for doodling or sketching. The pages are nicely perforated, and come out easily; the back of the book has a nice pocket in which to store your pictures. It is a substantial book, and I'll use it now with my colored pencils. If it hadn't been marketed as having marker paper, and being bleed proof, I would rate this sketch book much higher. However, since it was marketed as such, I have to down rate it, as it doesn't do what it claims to do."},"documents":{"kind":"list like","value":["Product: Ultimate Brain Games collects 8 classic brain challenges on 1 cartridge. Try your skills at old favorites like 4-In-A-Row, Backgammon, Checkers, Chess, Domino, Mahiong, Reversi and Sink Ship.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Excellent, and about time\n\nReview: Many times as I've worked in the video game industry, I've had adults come to me, and ask for a game like this, so they could buy a GBA. Prior to this game coming out last year, the only truly adult themed game for people who aren't hardcore gamers was Caesar's Palace. This is a great game, not only for the variety of games it contains, but the quality and attention to detail. It's not as simple as say a black and white handheld dot matrix checkers game or something like that. This game actually challenges you to think, and is perfect to take along for those times where you have to wait or travel. The beauty of this game is that you can pick it up at any time, and also by that respect, you can easily put it down. With the invent of the GBA SP, I saw many professionals come in and buy a GBA SP with this game for their commute, or what not, as it is simpler and less expensive then a comparable Palm system. If this is your goal, then this is the game for you.","Product: Cross over to a world that thrives 24-7 on GCN. The ambitious Animal Crossing allows players to interact with a virtual village of animals who do something different every minute of every day. With Animal Crossing's 24-hour clock, the game's unique events can be in synch with real timeas day turns to night in the real world, the sun will also begin to set in the game. Seasons will change and special events will occur in real time, too. The dynamic setup will have players coming back every day to carry out their daily routines, build relationships with villagers, celebrate special days, collect furnishings for their homes and just live life in an innovative experience that's a world of its own.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Bought this game the day it came out and I still love it!\n\nReview: Wow, this game is really addictive a la the Sims. The basic premise is you are a human, and you move into a town that consists entirely of human like animals. These animals are all quirky, and their biggest concern is how they decorate their house. You accumulate \"stuff\", and work for the town store clerk - Tom Nook. The game is just really weird, but in the best possible way. If you try to explain this game to someone who has never played it, they wouldn't get it. Playing it is the only way to get an accurate description of the game. Awesome game! A++++!!\nPS - The game is good for all ages, although younger children who want to play it, should have a good grasp on basic reading to do so. The game, like Pokemon is very reading intensive.","Product: The insanely popular The Sims series arrives with The Sims: Bustin' Out, for the Game Boy Advance, in a huge way! For the first time on Game Boy Advance, Bustin' Out allows the player to directly control their Sim using the Control Pad. Over 150 unlockable items and social moves await your Sim's unique lifestyle. Choose from zany new careers, complete challenging missions, mini-games and make outrageous new friends. Download and play your Sim from the GameCube version for hidden features and more content. Connect with another Game Boy Advance using the Link Cable for exciting two-player action. Dive into The Sims Bustin' Out, and live life with your wildest imagination!\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: The Sims Strike Again!\n\nReview: I love the Sims! This game was excellent all around. The graphics may be a bit simplistic, but the game play is awesome. You'll get many hours of playtime out of this game before it bores you. It's a nice change from the original, with fresh ideas and concepts, but not such a radical departure that you have no idea what the game is about. A strategy guide is a must for this game, as some of the descriptions of your tasks can be a bit vague. Barring that, anyone can get into the world of the Sims and get lost from real life for a few hours. Definitely one of the best out there. I cannot wait for the SIMS 2, but this will tide me over until then","Product: No crime is ever perfect. Crack five gruesome cases using fieldwork and a state of the art crime lab as seen on the hit TV show. Utilize real-world forensic tools such as finger print dusters, UV lights, a magnifying scope and an enhanced microscope and serve justice where it's due!\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: More bugs then at a picnic of ants!\n\nReview: If everyone has the same problem with a game, that's a bug. You shouldn't have to play a game 9 times to get through it. I've had characters disappear on screen, not be able to interogate witnesses, evidence be collected, and then disappear. Ubisoft (the games manufacturer) says it is a noted problem, but the patch they gave does not work, for all the problems. I feel that they rushed this game out to capitalize on the past success of the previous game. Time between announcement of release and release was a scanty 6 months. Is that enough time to put out a quality computer game?\nAlso I had one other complaint about the game. Now it wants the CD in the disk drive for it to work, and it doesn't matter which cd. In the previous version, you could do a full install and not need the cd for it to run, which I thought was a definite plus.\nSo wait for a unbugged version, or get the original version, which even though it was short, it worked. Don't waste your time or money on this. I was extremely disappointed, as I love CSI.","Product: Madden NFL 2005 puts you in charge of your favorite team, for fast action of the gridiron. Force the action on defense, manage your team and create a championship team.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: A Madden for a Handheld that rocks... Thank you God!!!\n\nReview: I am so impressed with this game, Madden is the ultimate football franchise for the game systems, and the DS shows why. The graphics are not as sharp as I believed they would be on the DS, but still an improvement from the GBA. The touch screen for picking your plays is an incredible benefit - even as a rookie to handheld Madden (but a veteran of PS2 Madden), I found the user interface instinctive and clear. I picked up Madden and Super Mario when I bought the DS yesterday, and I've been playing Madden non-stop. It would be hard for me to single out one feature that makes this game incredible - but I would definitely say touch screen plays. Pick this up when you get your hands on a DS - you won't be disappointed!","Product: The Sims have moved to the City! Sims who Live in the City are known as Urbz and they have a adventuous new look and attitude. Walk your Urbz through 9 different jobs including a Tatoo Parlor and a Sushi bar. Change your look from punk to rap and experience diverse lifestyles in 9 different districts. It's up to you if your character becomes a big-time player on the street or gets lost in the crowd. It's all about prestige and popularity and The Urbz are living the dream in a City that never sleeps.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Nintendo DS is supposed to have better graphics...\n\nReview: But you'ld never know it from looking at this game! The Urbz for Nintendo DS is nothing but the GBA version with the feature of having the screen on the bottom available. That is my complaint with this game.\n\nOtherwise it's basically The Sims Bustin Out for GBA re-done for a big city. I still am enjoying the game, as it gives me something else to play on my DS, but I've found the game play hasn't changed all that much from the previous game.\n\nIf you're a new DS owner and you're looking for a game to take advantage of all the DS's power, I would suggest you look elsewhere in the limited selection of games for the DS. If you're a Sims Platform fan, you'll enjoy having the ability to take your Sims on the road much easier then you could before.","Product: CSI: Crime Scene Investigation puts you in the shoes of TV's hottest crimefighters! A slain police officer, a sabotaged stuntman, a murdered actress... What do these gruesome crimes have in common? Truth always leaves a trace, so take charge of a CSI team and find it!\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: CSI for the Xbox - Very interesting...\n\nReview: Ok the first thing you need to know before purchasing this item is that it is just the two CSI computer games CSI and CSI Dark Motives put into one Xbox game with no improvements or additions to the game. This being said - why would someone buy this game? I honestly bought it not knowing this, but to tell you the truth I was happy I did anyways. The game translates well to the Xbox, and gameplay is instinctive and easy to learn. The best thing is, all the bugs that were in the Dark Motives CSI game are gone, which makes the game much better. Another bonus for having the game on the Xbox, is how much free space you'll gain once you uninstall the CSI games from your PC. (I gained several GB myself.)\n\nNow I'm aware I've been writing this review from the viewpoint of someone who already owns these games for the PC. Now if you've never played these computer games, you're in for an excellent treat on the XBOX. The game is excellent with the real voices of the cast putting the icing on the cake as far as reality of it. If you're a CSI nut like myself, this is the game for you. Even if you're a casual CSI fan, but just enjoy the crime solving aspect of the game - this would be an excellent pickup for you.\n\nThe best part is how it sucks you into the game. This game will easily take over 20 hours of your time. A deal at the price, as the computer games alone would cost about 40 combined. My final word - pick it up!!","Product: Black leather upholstery offers luxurious comfort and style. Comfortable padded leather-wrapped armrests. Contemporary polished aluminum five-star base with casters. Recommended Applications: Executive amp;amp; Management Seat/Back Color: Black Arms Included: Yes Arm Style: Padded Loop.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Just a great desk chair\n\nReview: I waited about two months before writing this review - I wanted to give an accurate picture of how it held up. I am extremely pleased to say that after two months of regular use, it looks and feels as good as it did out of the box. The chair itself is very simple to assemble and comes together quite quickly. It is very nice to look at and has very good lines that make it appropriate for an executive or home office. As for comfort, I found it to be quite comfortable. The seat itself is firm and will (and has) held up with regular use. The back of the seat provides very good lumbar support. All in all, I find this chair to be excellent.","Product: Lift and Go gives you powerful pick-up for every corner of your home. Cover couches to stairs to floors with the Lift and Go Carry Canister Mode and On-Demand Cleaning Wand.\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: A devil of a time or how the vacuum sucks without actually sucking...\n\nReview: Let me start by saying this. I enjoy reviewing vacuums as it is really very hard to find the perfect one when you have pets. I have two large Labrador Retrievers and a very cantankerous cat. The three of these animals conspire to shed as much fur as possible around my house. To combat that, I've purchased a Roomba (affectionally known as Rosie) and do weekly touch ups with a regular vacuum. I recently finished my basement adding in 2 offices for my husband and I, a storage room, laundry room and large \"rumpus room\". Obviously, my small two bedroom Ranch doubled in size... and spaces for those evil dust bunnies to hide!\n\nHopefully you're still reading this now that I've set the stage. I was excited to be able to test this out as I was just getting over a bad virus that had me laid low over the holidays. In those two weeks, no vacuuming was done in this house and the furballs and dust bunnies multiplied like... umm.. rabbits!\n\nI took this vacuum for a spin hoping to like it. I vacuumed my entire house, top to bottom. I went under things (beds, sofas, etc). I vacuumed hardwood floors, tile, vinyl and area rugs (both high and low pile). I did the baseboards (including under the forced hot water baseboards), I did stairs, I did upholstery, I did cobwebs in cervices (seriously I do clean the house) and I've come to the conclusion...\n\nThis vacuum sucks. Absolutely not for pet owners. Or for anyone. Why? Here are my reasons in no specific order than the way my brain spit them out:\n\n1. Yes the canister does come off the main part of the vacuum, but there is no strap to hang it off your shoulder. You have to carry it in one hand, and use the wand in the other. I honestly got so sick of holding it, I reattached it to the vacuum.\n\n1a. The hose is not particularly well designed. Unless you are holding the canister, the hose length makes you bend over to vacuum (and I'm all of 5'5\", I couldn't imagine using this if I was taller). As I went to town on vacuuming today, I am in a world of hurt from this bending over.\n\n2. The floor attachment with the washable pad is a good idea in theory. It would be like a high end Swifter Vacuum. After attacking the dust bunnies and fur under my bed, I found that this is not a good idea in reality. The fur would collect on the pad and unless you constantly took the time to clean it off, you would find bigger dust bunnies left in your wake. The reason this happened is the suction was only at the front of the pad. If the fur collected behind it, there was no way for it to get sucked up.\n\n3. The motorized brush head attachment is horrible. It is only powered by suction, not by a separate power supply. So when I was vacuuming my sofas with it, the suction would be going, but the brush head would not be rotating as it was sucking up fur (and doing a poor job of it.)\n\n3a. I tried the upholstery attachment and it stunk. It wouldn't stay on the hose at all. Either the hose was too small or the attachment too big. After fussing with that for a couple of minutes, I gave up.\n\n4. The dirt cup. I've had bagless vacuums in the past, but I've never had one make such a mess when being emptied! The bottom of the cup is very wide and you have to make sure you get it perfectly over the trash without any error or you'll be vacuuming the mess up. I had to empty it several times (obviously - we had a dirt bunny and fur revolution going on!) but each time some of the dust came out the sides. I literally had to revacuum my kitchen.\n\n4a. In that line of thinking, the other problem I had with the dirt cup was only one side filled up in it for absolutely no reason that I could find. I took it apart and reassembled it, my husband took it apart and reassembled it. And nothing worked. It would only fill up one side of the cup. So I had to empty it much more often than I usually would assume to have to. This is even considering the militant dust bunnies roaming through the wilds of my house.\n\n5. On my low pile 7x9' area rug, it really didn't do well, and this wasn't a place where we had the dust bunnies. This was just bad design. There's no adjustment for rug pile, so it seemingly has trouble with low pile. It did do well in the high pile area rug in the living room. That was just using it as a vacuum obviously with no attachments.\n\nThese are my main concerns and dislikes. What I did like was how well it did my high pile area rug. That was the one impressive spot, and made me almost consider giving it two stars, but I couldn't justify that for one positive thing.\n\nI spent most of my day today obsessively vacuuming my house to give this vacuum a proper try out (and get my house back to rights after being sick for two weeks. I really went full on cleaning, and I wanted to see how well this vacuum did in one last test. I let Rosie the Roomba (Roomba 770) run through a cycle.\n\nAs proof that this vacuum sucked (or well didn't). I had to empty Rosie the Roomba twice as she was full. It isn't that I missed anything, because I was extremely thorough, much more so than usual when using the Dirt Devil. There was just that much invisible dirt left behind. Also, I'm glad I tried it after the two weeks not vacuuming - it was a trial under fire, but honestly nothing that a typical vacuum would have trouble with. All it was was dust, dander, and fur. I don't have kids, so there wasn't food or lego pieces to gunk up the works. If it can't work with my worst, which for all my grumbling wasn't horrible if you've ever watched an episode of Hoarders, what will it do for someone who uses it lightly?\n\nI can't recommend it at all. There are many better vacuums out there at this price point.","Product: The Kenmore 14.4-Volt cordless 2-in-1 stick vac features a 2-Speed setting and a self-standing design. The included combination tool helps you clean hard-to-reach areas, and features a 14.4 volt lithium ion battery.\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: AVOID! You will spend more time cleaning out the vacuum than you spend actually vacuuming!\n\nReview: If you have any animals whatsoever, do not buy this vacuum. I would give it zero stars if at all possible.\n\nPutting this vacuum together was very simple and straightforward. I liked the base that it came with. The red color is very appealing as well. That's what I have to say that's positive for this vacuum.\n\nWhen vacuuming, if the dust bin fills up about half way, it will spit the dust and dirt out the back of the vacuum as shown in my photo below. You don't notice it doing that as it comes out the back. So you have to go back and vacuum the area over again.\n\nIt also stinks at picking up fur. It will clog inside the vacuum and it can only be cleared by you taking apart the entire vacuum to pull the fur out of the various crevices of the machine. I can say as I tested this item, I spent more time cleaning out the vacuum than actually vacuuming.\n\nThe bottom line is this vacuum is a dud. There are so many more vacuums that actually work well at this price point, you shouldn't even consider this one. Kenmore is usually a solid brand that I swear by, but they totally missed the mark with this one.","Product: It is made of high quality PC material and suits for iPad Mini case An Amazon Brand.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Does what it should!\n\nReview: For me, cases just don't make sense with my iPad mini - I always have it out and am using it, and I have an awesome skin on my iPad that I just don't want to hide! I have the smart cover for the iPad as well, but I never really use it. As a \"tech geek\" I know how bad this is, and how easily I can break it. This back cover is the perfect solution for me. I can put it on my iPad, and still see my skin, and feel that I'm adding a small extra layer of protection. It doesn't add much weight to the mini, and is compatible with the smart cover. This is a very basic item (hence, Amazon Basics), but it really works well for me. I'm pleased with the fit and the extra bit of protection it provides (I'm careful with my devices as an adult, but if I had kids or something, I probably would get something stronger). For what it is supposed to it, it works well! Recommended!!","Product: Turtle Beach Impact 100 Gaming Keyboard for PC and Mac\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: BEWARE: NOT Compatible with Mac!!!\n\nReview: For Mac? Nope!\n\nI tried this with my late 2012 iMac (3.4 GHZ Intel Core i7, 32 GB RAM, 4TB HD), and I thought it would install easily. It didn't.\nI tried this with my 2010 MacBookAir. It also didn't work.\nI tried searching online for some sort of driver for it. Nope.\nI tried installing it manually through the Mac keyboard setup. Didn't work.\n\nThen, I gave up and went back to what I knew would work. My trusty Apple Wireless Keyboard.\n\nI'm disappointed that it wouldn't work, but not surprised. In the Quick Start Guide, it says nothing about being compatible with Mac. It says under system requirements \"Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7/8 or later\". If they come out with a driver for Mac, I will amend my review, but as it stands now - AVOID!!!","Product: Choose Your View Simply adjust the stand to your personal preference and sit back to read, watch movies and video, or any of your other favorite content in comfort. When youre finished, the cover folds closed to protect the screen with a soft inner lining thats smooth against your device. The slim, lightweight design slips easily into any bag without adding bulk. Multiple Viewing Angles The adjustable stand moves to give you the most comfortable viewing experience. Protective Corners Get full protection without getting in the way of your screen. Snap your iPad mini into the Protective Corners, and watch as they quietly fade into the background. Magnetic Tab Closure The magnetized tab closure secures the cover to keep your screen protected. When open, the tab neatly holds the cover back and out of the way. Compatibility iPad mini\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Unfortunately it didn't last\n\nReview: I love my iPad mini, and use it religiously throughout the day. When looking for a case, I first tried the Smart Cover that Apple puts out, but I didn't like that - not enough protection for my iPad. This was my second try, and when I first got it, I loved it! The colors were vivid and it seemed to have a good cover to protect the screen from scratches. I received several compliments on it. Unfortunately, within a month, the cover was becoming unglued, and the color had considerably faded. It got to the point that I was using duct tape to keep it together (definitely not a good look!), so I went out and bought a new case. I will clarify that when I say I'm hard on cases and covers, I mean I open and close it several times a day, as well as take it in and out of my purse. I don't drop it, or spill on it. This case really should have lasted much longer, but it seems that Belkin went for Style over Substance, and I wish they had tried for both!","Product: This CD is an out of print collectible! Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab Ultradisc II, limited edition 24-karat gold plated. Catalog UDCD 642. In the original jewel case. There are punch holes through the UPC.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Humble beginnings for a band that would become Huge..\n\nReview: Murmur is the first LP that R.E.M. put out. They had put out a shorter 5 song EP called Chronic Town about 1 year earlier. You can listen to that on Dead Letter Office, and you'll find the songs are quite different from those on Murmur. Murmur has a quiet simplicity to it that puts it apart from later R.E.M. recordings. You don't have extra musicians in there to muddle the mix. You've got Bill, Mike, Peter, and Michael in there, however limited their skills may have been musically, they made up for it. Listen to Perfect Circle and imagine being outside during the summer watching kids play ball as the sun goes down. Peter has said that Perfect Circle is about this feeling. Michael has said it's about a relationship gone wrong. The beauty of R.E.M. is that the song could be either. They were also innovative back then. If you listen to \"We Walk\" in the background you can hear Bill Berry playing pool. It's neat. After you listen to \"We Walk\" you'll never go up the stairs the same way again. Pick up this CD for your collection. As Michael would say \"A Must!\"","Product: Smilin', Rockapella's fifth domestic studio release showcases the group's continuing evolution as one of the industry's most spectacularly unique and captivating vocal groups, and features the addition of a new voice in George Baldi, whose experience as a member of Unique Attraction (the group that later became Boyz II Men), brings Rockapella's fresh, funky, irresistible new grooves even further toward perfection. Formed in New York City in 1986, Rockapella moved from the street corner serenades to New York's glitzy party circuit and began forging their own signature all-human, all-vocal sound. Rockapella's never duplicated version of rock-influenced, blue-eyed soul has been seen by millions in appearances on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Today Show, Good Morning America, CBS This Morning, Live with Regis & Kathie Lee, and their 5 year run on \"Where in the World is Carmen Sandeigo?\", and the highly successful Folgers Coffee \"Rockin' Morning\" ad campaign. Hearing Rockapella is believing, Seeing Rockapella is unbelievable!\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: I loved them... but this cd was the beginning of the end\n\nReview: I suppose you can never go back in time, but I sure wish the Rockapellians could. Back to the days of Barry, Sean, and Elliot. The new version of Rockapella that shows up on this CD pales in comparison to the vocal prowess of the Scott, Jeff, Sean, Barry, and Elliot concoction.\n\nThis CD was full of cover versions of old \"Summer\" songs with a few thrown together new ones. The one bright light of this whole cd would be the aforementioned Shambala, which is incredible, with 7 Rockapella members. I bought the album the day it came out, and this was my only reason for keeping it.\n\nIf you really want Rockapella, pick up 2, or In Concert (Forget about Live in Japan - don't get me started on that!!)","Product: Don't work harder, work smarter: easily and quickly organize your presentations, projects and reference materials with these easy-to-customize 5-tab white dividers with white tabs. The dividers for 3 ring binders feature an Index Maker Easy Apply strip that lets you label all your tabs at once, saving you tons of time so you can focus on more important work. Whether youre working on one project or require multiple sets, these tabbed dividers will help you pull it off with professional results. The paper dividers are also spectacular for customizing your presentation book, proposals, project binders, employee handbooks, training guides and more. The clear labels virtually disappear on the tabs, giving your tabbed dividers a polished, printed-on aesthetic. These dividers are easy-to-use with 3 ring binders and feature durable, double-sided reinforced tabs and edges that are tear resistant and guaranteed to last. Create custom dividers for home, work, school and more using the free templates at avery.com/templates to design and print your tab labels in just minutes.\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: Didn't work for my needs\n\nReview: To use this product, first of all you have to download a template from the Avery website. Not necessarily a bad thing, but a time drain if you're on a time crunch putting together the final steps of a presentation. Then when you do have the template you find that the spaces you have to type your title in are ridiculously small - you have to play with font and size until it fits. Again, another time drain. In my case, the ultimate failure was that the tabs did not extend past the edge of my paper in the binder, making it look as if there was any organization. This required a mad rush to the local office supply store to purchase the old fashioned type of tabs, which looked much better. I would not recommend this product at all.","Product: LASTS ALL YEAR. GUARANTEED!* Great for any class, this 3 subject Five Star wirebound notebook has 150 wide ruled sheets. Notebook paper is white and high quality to resist ink bleed.** Water-resistant front and back covers protect your notes all year. The 3 subject notebook also includes a 2-pocket storage page to separate subjects and store loose sheets. Reinforced storage pockets help prevent tears.*** Standard design wire is Spiral Lock to prevent coil snags that could get caught on your backpack or clothes. Neat Sheet perforated pages are easy to remove, and edges are clean. Notebook is 3-hole punched for easy insert into your favorite binder. Assorted colors. 2 pack. *ACCO Brands will replace any Five Star item that is returned within one year from the date of purchase. This guarantee does not cover damage due to abuse. Contact ACCO Brands Consumer Affairs for instructions.**Under normal usage, paper resists ink bleed with common student writing instruments such as pencils, ball point pens, gel pens, felt tip pens and highlighters.***Based on independent laboratory test results that establish pocket tear strength as compared to non-reinforced pocket in Five Star notebook.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: 5 Stars for 5 Star!\n\nReview: Yes, I am giving 5 Star Notebooks a 5 Star Review. As a professional student with several degrees, over the years I've tried many different brands, but I always come back to 5 Star. Why? When you take notes, you expect the page to stay in the notebook over the semester. 5 Star Notebooks use paper that I consider to be more durable than other brands. The notes I take at the beginning of the semester are in the notebook straight through to the end - the sheet is not worn at the rings. I find the slightly larger size of the page to be ideal for making notes in the margins of the page. I honestly can't say enough about them - they really are that good.","Product: The rumford gardener expanding hose is durable and kink free. expands to 75ft with water pressure and shrinks back for easy storage in the provided cinch bag. no more straining with heavy hoses, the rumford gardener expanding hose weighs less than 1lb.\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: Great idea, lousy execution and quality!\n\nReview: Like most as seen on TV products, the original idea is noble - make a hose that allows you to carry the entire thing one handed and store it in very little room. However, when you get into mass production, quality takes a back seat and that's certainly what happened here. To truly make a hose that would work like this proposes to do, you would need a much stronger material for the hose than what is used here. The first time I tried this product, it had so many leaks, it looked as though it was supposed to be one of those hoses with many holes to water one's garden. Forget about this concept until a company comes out with a better version, but expect the price point to jump accordingly.","Product: The Hy-Drate Cat is a healthy way to turn your cat's ordinary water bowl into an automatic water fountain. Designed to fit in your cat's favorite bowl, it remains securely in place with small, powerful suction cups. Fresh water continuously circulates through the Hy-Drate, while small sediments, like fur and food particles, stay trapped in the filter's mesh. One charcoal filter included.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Great if you need one... but why would you?\n\nReview: Both my labrador and my pit bull mix drank from their bowl without hesitation using this. I am lucky that I live in an area where I have good clean fresh water right from my tap; I personally don't have a need for it. I found that it did work well, and circulated the water quietly. My only concern is that I have two large dogs who empty their bowls of water frequently; there were times that the water was gone and the pump running dry (although the noise from this did alert me to two thirsty pups eagerly awaiting a water refill!). I think this would be more useful to someone who lives in an area where the tap water is of poor quality and they have smaller dogs who don't drink as often."],"string":"[\n \"Product: Ultimate Brain Games collects 8 classic brain challenges on 1 cartridge. Try your skills at old favorites like 4-In-A-Row, Backgammon, Checkers, Chess, Domino, Mahiong, Reversi and Sink Ship.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Excellent, and about time\\n\\nReview: Many times as I've worked in the video game industry, I've had adults come to me, and ask for a game like this, so they could buy a GBA. Prior to this game coming out last year, the only truly adult themed game for people who aren't hardcore gamers was Caesar's Palace. This is a great game, not only for the variety of games it contains, but the quality and attention to detail. It's not as simple as say a black and white handheld dot matrix checkers game or something like that. This game actually challenges you to think, and is perfect to take along for those times where you have to wait or travel. The beauty of this game is that you can pick it up at any time, and also by that respect, you can easily put it down. With the invent of the GBA SP, I saw many professionals come in and buy a GBA SP with this game for their commute, or what not, as it is simpler and less expensive then a comparable Palm system. If this is your goal, then this is the game for you.\",\n \"Product: Cross over to a world that thrives 24-7 on GCN. The ambitious Animal Crossing allows players to interact with a virtual village of animals who do something different every minute of every day. With Animal Crossing's 24-hour clock, the game's unique events can be in synch with real timeas day turns to night in the real world, the sun will also begin to set in the game. Seasons will change and special events will occur in real time, too. The dynamic setup will have players coming back every day to carry out their daily routines, build relationships with villagers, celebrate special days, collect furnishings for their homes and just live life in an innovative experience that's a world of its own.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Bought this game the day it came out and I still love it!\\n\\nReview: Wow, this game is really addictive a la the Sims. The basic premise is you are a human, and you move into a town that consists entirely of human like animals. These animals are all quirky, and their biggest concern is how they decorate their house. You accumulate \\\"stuff\\\", and work for the town store clerk - Tom Nook. The game is just really weird, but in the best possible way. If you try to explain this game to someone who has never played it, they wouldn't get it. Playing it is the only way to get an accurate description of the game. Awesome game! A++++!!\\nPS - The game is good for all ages, although younger children who want to play it, should have a good grasp on basic reading to do so. The game, like Pokemon is very reading intensive.\",\n \"Product: The insanely popular The Sims series arrives with The Sims: Bustin' Out, for the Game Boy Advance, in a huge way! For the first time on Game Boy Advance, Bustin' Out allows the player to directly control their Sim using the Control Pad. Over 150 unlockable items and social moves await your Sim's unique lifestyle. Choose from zany new careers, complete challenging missions, mini-games and make outrageous new friends. Download and play your Sim from the GameCube version for hidden features and more content. Connect with another Game Boy Advance using the Link Cable for exciting two-player action. Dive into The Sims Bustin' Out, and live life with your wildest imagination!\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: The Sims Strike Again!\\n\\nReview: I love the Sims! This game was excellent all around. The graphics may be a bit simplistic, but the game play is awesome. You'll get many hours of playtime out of this game before it bores you. It's a nice change from the original, with fresh ideas and concepts, but not such a radical departure that you have no idea what the game is about. A strategy guide is a must for this game, as some of the descriptions of your tasks can be a bit vague. Barring that, anyone can get into the world of the Sims and get lost from real life for a few hours. Definitely one of the best out there. I cannot wait for the SIMS 2, but this will tide me over until then\",\n \"Product: No crime is ever perfect. Crack five gruesome cases using fieldwork and a state of the art crime lab as seen on the hit TV show. Utilize real-world forensic tools such as finger print dusters, UV lights, a magnifying scope and an enhanced microscope and serve justice where it's due!\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: More bugs then at a picnic of ants!\\n\\nReview: If everyone has the same problem with a game, that's a bug. You shouldn't have to play a game 9 times to get through it. I've had characters disappear on screen, not be able to interogate witnesses, evidence be collected, and then disappear. Ubisoft (the games manufacturer) says it is a noted problem, but the patch they gave does not work, for all the problems. I feel that they rushed this game out to capitalize on the past success of the previous game. Time between announcement of release and release was a scanty 6 months. Is that enough time to put out a quality computer game?\\nAlso I had one other complaint about the game. Now it wants the CD in the disk drive for it to work, and it doesn't matter which cd. In the previous version, you could do a full install and not need the cd for it to run, which I thought was a definite plus.\\nSo wait for a unbugged version, or get the original version, which even though it was short, it worked. Don't waste your time or money on this. I was extremely disappointed, as I love CSI.\",\n \"Product: Madden NFL 2005 puts you in charge of your favorite team, for fast action of the gridiron. Force the action on defense, manage your team and create a championship team.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: A Madden for a Handheld that rocks... Thank you God!!!\\n\\nReview: I am so impressed with this game, Madden is the ultimate football franchise for the game systems, and the DS shows why. The graphics are not as sharp as I believed they would be on the DS, but still an improvement from the GBA. The touch screen for picking your plays is an incredible benefit - even as a rookie to handheld Madden (but a veteran of PS2 Madden), I found the user interface instinctive and clear. I picked up Madden and Super Mario when I bought the DS yesterday, and I've been playing Madden non-stop. It would be hard for me to single out one feature that makes this game incredible - but I would definitely say touch screen plays. Pick this up when you get your hands on a DS - you won't be disappointed!\",\n \"Product: The Sims have moved to the City! Sims who Live in the City are known as Urbz and they have a adventuous new look and attitude. Walk your Urbz through 9 different jobs including a Tatoo Parlor and a Sushi bar. Change your look from punk to rap and experience diverse lifestyles in 9 different districts. It's up to you if your character becomes a big-time player on the street or gets lost in the crowd. It's all about prestige and popularity and The Urbz are living the dream in a City that never sleeps.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Nintendo DS is supposed to have better graphics...\\n\\nReview: But you'ld never know it from looking at this game! The Urbz for Nintendo DS is nothing but the GBA version with the feature of having the screen on the bottom available. That is my complaint with this game.\\n\\nOtherwise it's basically The Sims Bustin Out for GBA re-done for a big city. I still am enjoying the game, as it gives me something else to play on my DS, but I've found the game play hasn't changed all that much from the previous game.\\n\\nIf you're a new DS owner and you're looking for a game to take advantage of all the DS's power, I would suggest you look elsewhere in the limited selection of games for the DS. If you're a Sims Platform fan, you'll enjoy having the ability to take your Sims on the road much easier then you could before.\",\n \"Product: CSI: Crime Scene Investigation puts you in the shoes of TV's hottest crimefighters! A slain police officer, a sabotaged stuntman, a murdered actress... What do these gruesome crimes have in common? Truth always leaves a trace, so take charge of a CSI team and find it!\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: CSI for the Xbox - Very interesting...\\n\\nReview: Ok the first thing you need to know before purchasing this item is that it is just the two CSI computer games CSI and CSI Dark Motives put into one Xbox game with no improvements or additions to the game. This being said - why would someone buy this game? I honestly bought it not knowing this, but to tell you the truth I was happy I did anyways. The game translates well to the Xbox, and gameplay is instinctive and easy to learn. The best thing is, all the bugs that were in the Dark Motives CSI game are gone, which makes the game much better. Another bonus for having the game on the Xbox, is how much free space you'll gain once you uninstall the CSI games from your PC. (I gained several GB myself.)\\n\\nNow I'm aware I've been writing this review from the viewpoint of someone who already owns these games for the PC. Now if you've never played these computer games, you're in for an excellent treat on the XBOX. The game is excellent with the real voices of the cast putting the icing on the cake as far as reality of it. If you're a CSI nut like myself, this is the game for you. Even if you're a casual CSI fan, but just enjoy the crime solving aspect of the game - this would be an excellent pickup for you.\\n\\nThe best part is how it sucks you into the game. This game will easily take over 20 hours of your time. A deal at the price, as the computer games alone would cost about 40 combined. My final word - pick it up!!\",\n \"Product: Black leather upholstery offers luxurious comfort and style. Comfortable padded leather-wrapped armrests. Contemporary polished aluminum five-star base with casters. Recommended Applications: Executive amp;amp; Management Seat/Back Color: Black Arms Included: Yes Arm Style: Padded Loop.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Just a great desk chair\\n\\nReview: I waited about two months before writing this review - I wanted to give an accurate picture of how it held up. I am extremely pleased to say that after two months of regular use, it looks and feels as good as it did out of the box. The chair itself is very simple to assemble and comes together quite quickly. It is very nice to look at and has very good lines that make it appropriate for an executive or home office. As for comfort, I found it to be quite comfortable. The seat itself is firm and will (and has) held up with regular use. The back of the seat provides very good lumbar support. All in all, I find this chair to be excellent.\",\n \"Product: Lift and Go gives you powerful pick-up for every corner of your home. Cover couches to stairs to floors with the Lift and Go Carry Canister Mode and On-Demand Cleaning Wand.\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: A devil of a time or how the vacuum sucks without actually sucking...\\n\\nReview: Let me start by saying this. I enjoy reviewing vacuums as it is really very hard to find the perfect one when you have pets. I have two large Labrador Retrievers and a very cantankerous cat. The three of these animals conspire to shed as much fur as possible around my house. To combat that, I've purchased a Roomba (affectionally known as Rosie) and do weekly touch ups with a regular vacuum. I recently finished my basement adding in 2 offices for my husband and I, a storage room, laundry room and large \\\"rumpus room\\\". Obviously, my small two bedroom Ranch doubled in size... and spaces for those evil dust bunnies to hide!\\n\\nHopefully you're still reading this now that I've set the stage. I was excited to be able to test this out as I was just getting over a bad virus that had me laid low over the holidays. In those two weeks, no vacuuming was done in this house and the furballs and dust bunnies multiplied like... umm.. rabbits!\\n\\nI took this vacuum for a spin hoping to like it. I vacuumed my entire house, top to bottom. I went under things (beds, sofas, etc). I vacuumed hardwood floors, tile, vinyl and area rugs (both high and low pile). I did the baseboards (including under the forced hot water baseboards), I did stairs, I did upholstery, I did cobwebs in cervices (seriously I do clean the house) and I've come to the conclusion...\\n\\nThis vacuum sucks. Absolutely not for pet owners. Or for anyone. Why? Here are my reasons in no specific order than the way my brain spit them out:\\n\\n1. Yes the canister does come off the main part of the vacuum, but there is no strap to hang it off your shoulder. You have to carry it in one hand, and use the wand in the other. I honestly got so sick of holding it, I reattached it to the vacuum.\\n\\n1a. The hose is not particularly well designed. Unless you are holding the canister, the hose length makes you bend over to vacuum (and I'm all of 5'5\\\", I couldn't imagine using this if I was taller). As I went to town on vacuuming today, I am in a world of hurt from this bending over.\\n\\n2. The floor attachment with the washable pad is a good idea in theory. It would be like a high end Swifter Vacuum. After attacking the dust bunnies and fur under my bed, I found that this is not a good idea in reality. The fur would collect on the pad and unless you constantly took the time to clean it off, you would find bigger dust bunnies left in your wake. The reason this happened is the suction was only at the front of the pad. If the fur collected behind it, there was no way for it to get sucked up.\\n\\n3. The motorized brush head attachment is horrible. It is only powered by suction, not by a separate power supply. So when I was vacuuming my sofas with it, the suction would be going, but the brush head would not be rotating as it was sucking up fur (and doing a poor job of it.)\\n\\n3a. I tried the upholstery attachment and it stunk. It wouldn't stay on the hose at all. Either the hose was too small or the attachment too big. After fussing with that for a couple of minutes, I gave up.\\n\\n4. The dirt cup. I've had bagless vacuums in the past, but I've never had one make such a mess when being emptied! The bottom of the cup is very wide and you have to make sure you get it perfectly over the trash without any error or you'll be vacuuming the mess up. I had to empty it several times (obviously - we had a dirt bunny and fur revolution going on!) but each time some of the dust came out the sides. I literally had to revacuum my kitchen.\\n\\n4a. In that line of thinking, the other problem I had with the dirt cup was only one side filled up in it for absolutely no reason that I could find. I took it apart and reassembled it, my husband took it apart and reassembled it. And nothing worked. It would only fill up one side of the cup. So I had to empty it much more often than I usually would assume to have to. This is even considering the militant dust bunnies roaming through the wilds of my house.\\n\\n5. On my low pile 7x9' area rug, it really didn't do well, and this wasn't a place where we had the dust bunnies. This was just bad design. There's no adjustment for rug pile, so it seemingly has trouble with low pile. It did do well in the high pile area rug in the living room. That was just using it as a vacuum obviously with no attachments.\\n\\nThese are my main concerns and dislikes. What I did like was how well it did my high pile area rug. That was the one impressive spot, and made me almost consider giving it two stars, but I couldn't justify that for one positive thing.\\n\\nI spent most of my day today obsessively vacuuming my house to give this vacuum a proper try out (and get my house back to rights after being sick for two weeks. I really went full on cleaning, and I wanted to see how well this vacuum did in one last test. I let Rosie the Roomba (Roomba 770) run through a cycle.\\n\\nAs proof that this vacuum sucked (or well didn't). I had to empty Rosie the Roomba twice as she was full. It isn't that I missed anything, because I was extremely thorough, much more so than usual when using the Dirt Devil. There was just that much invisible dirt left behind. Also, I'm glad I tried it after the two weeks not vacuuming - it was a trial under fire, but honestly nothing that a typical vacuum would have trouble with. All it was was dust, dander, and fur. I don't have kids, so there wasn't food or lego pieces to gunk up the works. If it can't work with my worst, which for all my grumbling wasn't horrible if you've ever watched an episode of Hoarders, what will it do for someone who uses it lightly?\\n\\nI can't recommend it at all. There are many better vacuums out there at this price point.\",\n \"Product: The Kenmore 14.4-Volt cordless 2-in-1 stick vac features a 2-Speed setting and a self-standing design. The included combination tool helps you clean hard-to-reach areas, and features a 14.4 volt lithium ion battery.\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: AVOID! You will spend more time cleaning out the vacuum than you spend actually vacuuming!\\n\\nReview: If you have any animals whatsoever, do not buy this vacuum. I would give it zero stars if at all possible.\\n\\nPutting this vacuum together was very simple and straightforward. I liked the base that it came with. The red color is very appealing as well. That's what I have to say that's positive for this vacuum.\\n\\nWhen vacuuming, if the dust bin fills up about half way, it will spit the dust and dirt out the back of the vacuum as shown in my photo below. You don't notice it doing that as it comes out the back. So you have to go back and vacuum the area over again.\\n\\nIt also stinks at picking up fur. It will clog inside the vacuum and it can only be cleared by you taking apart the entire vacuum to pull the fur out of the various crevices of the machine. I can say as I tested this item, I spent more time cleaning out the vacuum than actually vacuuming.\\n\\nThe bottom line is this vacuum is a dud. There are so many more vacuums that actually work well at this price point, you shouldn't even consider this one. Kenmore is usually a solid brand that I swear by, but they totally missed the mark with this one.\",\n \"Product: It is made of high quality PC material and suits for iPad Mini case An Amazon Brand.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Does what it should!\\n\\nReview: For me, cases just don't make sense with my iPad mini - I always have it out and am using it, and I have an awesome skin on my iPad that I just don't want to hide! I have the smart cover for the iPad as well, but I never really use it. As a \\\"tech geek\\\" I know how bad this is, and how easily I can break it. This back cover is the perfect solution for me. I can put it on my iPad, and still see my skin, and feel that I'm adding a small extra layer of protection. It doesn't add much weight to the mini, and is compatible with the smart cover. This is a very basic item (hence, Amazon Basics), but it really works well for me. I'm pleased with the fit and the extra bit of protection it provides (I'm careful with my devices as an adult, but if I had kids or something, I probably would get something stronger). For what it is supposed to it, it works well! Recommended!!\",\n \"Product: Turtle Beach Impact 100 Gaming Keyboard for PC and Mac\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: BEWARE: NOT Compatible with Mac!!!\\n\\nReview: For Mac? Nope!\\n\\nI tried this with my late 2012 iMac (3.4 GHZ Intel Core i7, 32 GB RAM, 4TB HD), and I thought it would install easily. It didn't.\\nI tried this with my 2010 MacBookAir. It also didn't work.\\nI tried searching online for some sort of driver for it. Nope.\\nI tried installing it manually through the Mac keyboard setup. Didn't work.\\n\\nThen, I gave up and went back to what I knew would work. My trusty Apple Wireless Keyboard.\\n\\nI'm disappointed that it wouldn't work, but not surprised. In the Quick Start Guide, it says nothing about being compatible with Mac. It says under system requirements \\\"Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7/8 or later\\\". If they come out with a driver for Mac, I will amend my review, but as it stands now - AVOID!!!\",\n \"Product: Choose Your View Simply adjust the stand to your personal preference and sit back to read, watch movies and video, or any of your other favorite content in comfort. When youre finished, the cover folds closed to protect the screen with a soft inner lining thats smooth against your device. The slim, lightweight design slips easily into any bag without adding bulk. Multiple Viewing Angles The adjustable stand moves to give you the most comfortable viewing experience. Protective Corners Get full protection without getting in the way of your screen. Snap your iPad mini into the Protective Corners, and watch as they quietly fade into the background. Magnetic Tab Closure The magnetized tab closure secures the cover to keep your screen protected. When open, the tab neatly holds the cover back and out of the way. Compatibility iPad mini\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Unfortunately it didn't last\\n\\nReview: I love my iPad mini, and use it religiously throughout the day. When looking for a case, I first tried the Smart Cover that Apple puts out, but I didn't like that - not enough protection for my iPad. This was my second try, and when I first got it, I loved it! The colors were vivid and it seemed to have a good cover to protect the screen from scratches. I received several compliments on it. Unfortunately, within a month, the cover was becoming unglued, and the color had considerably faded. It got to the point that I was using duct tape to keep it together (definitely not a good look!), so I went out and bought a new case. I will clarify that when I say I'm hard on cases and covers, I mean I open and close it several times a day, as well as take it in and out of my purse. I don't drop it, or spill on it. This case really should have lasted much longer, but it seems that Belkin went for Style over Substance, and I wish they had tried for both!\",\n \"Product: This CD is an out of print collectible! Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab Ultradisc II, limited edition 24-karat gold plated. Catalog UDCD 642. In the original jewel case. There are punch holes through the UPC.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Humble beginnings for a band that would become Huge..\\n\\nReview: Murmur is the first LP that R.E.M. put out. They had put out a shorter 5 song EP called Chronic Town about 1 year earlier. You can listen to that on Dead Letter Office, and you'll find the songs are quite different from those on Murmur. Murmur has a quiet simplicity to it that puts it apart from later R.E.M. recordings. You don't have extra musicians in there to muddle the mix. You've got Bill, Mike, Peter, and Michael in there, however limited their skills may have been musically, they made up for it. Listen to Perfect Circle and imagine being outside during the summer watching kids play ball as the sun goes down. Peter has said that Perfect Circle is about this feeling. Michael has said it's about a relationship gone wrong. The beauty of R.E.M. is that the song could be either. They were also innovative back then. If you listen to \\\"We Walk\\\" in the background you can hear Bill Berry playing pool. It's neat. After you listen to \\\"We Walk\\\" you'll never go up the stairs the same way again. Pick up this CD for your collection. As Michael would say \\\"A Must!\\\"\",\n \"Product: Smilin', Rockapella's fifth domestic studio release showcases the group's continuing evolution as one of the industry's most spectacularly unique and captivating vocal groups, and features the addition of a new voice in George Baldi, whose experience as a member of Unique Attraction (the group that later became Boyz II Men), brings Rockapella's fresh, funky, irresistible new grooves even further toward perfection. Formed in New York City in 1986, Rockapella moved from the street corner serenades to New York's glitzy party circuit and began forging their own signature all-human, all-vocal sound. Rockapella's never duplicated version of rock-influenced, blue-eyed soul has been seen by millions in appearances on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Today Show, Good Morning America, CBS This Morning, Live with Regis & Kathie Lee, and their 5 year run on \\\"Where in the World is Carmen Sandeigo?\\\", and the highly successful Folgers Coffee \\\"Rockin' Morning\\\" ad campaign. Hearing Rockapella is believing, Seeing Rockapella is unbelievable!\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: I loved them... but this cd was the beginning of the end\\n\\nReview: I suppose you can never go back in time, but I sure wish the Rockapellians could. Back to the days of Barry, Sean, and Elliot. The new version of Rockapella that shows up on this CD pales in comparison to the vocal prowess of the Scott, Jeff, Sean, Barry, and Elliot concoction.\\n\\nThis CD was full of cover versions of old \\\"Summer\\\" songs with a few thrown together new ones. The one bright light of this whole cd would be the aforementioned Shambala, which is incredible, with 7 Rockapella members. I bought the album the day it came out, and this was my only reason for keeping it.\\n\\nIf you really want Rockapella, pick up 2, or In Concert (Forget about Live in Japan - don't get me started on that!!)\",\n \"Product: Don't work harder, work smarter: easily and quickly organize your presentations, projects and reference materials with these easy-to-customize 5-tab white dividers with white tabs. The dividers for 3 ring binders feature an Index Maker Easy Apply strip that lets you label all your tabs at once, saving you tons of time so you can focus on more important work. Whether youre working on one project or require multiple sets, these tabbed dividers will help you pull it off with professional results. The paper dividers are also spectacular for customizing your presentation book, proposals, project binders, employee handbooks, training guides and more. The clear labels virtually disappear on the tabs, giving your tabbed dividers a polished, printed-on aesthetic. These dividers are easy-to-use with 3 ring binders and feature durable, double-sided reinforced tabs and edges that are tear resistant and guaranteed to last. Create custom dividers for home, work, school and more using the free templates at avery.com/templates to design and print your tab labels in just minutes.\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: Didn't work for my needs\\n\\nReview: To use this product, first of all you have to download a template from the Avery website. Not necessarily a bad thing, but a time drain if you're on a time crunch putting together the final steps of a presentation. Then when you do have the template you find that the spaces you have to type your title in are ridiculously small - you have to play with font and size until it fits. Again, another time drain. In my case, the ultimate failure was that the tabs did not extend past the edge of my paper in the binder, making it look as if there was any organization. This required a mad rush to the local office supply store to purchase the old fashioned type of tabs, which looked much better. I would not recommend this product at all.\",\n \"Product: LASTS ALL YEAR. GUARANTEED!* Great for any class, this 3 subject Five Star wirebound notebook has 150 wide ruled sheets. Notebook paper is white and high quality to resist ink bleed.** Water-resistant front and back covers protect your notes all year. The 3 subject notebook also includes a 2-pocket storage page to separate subjects and store loose sheets. Reinforced storage pockets help prevent tears.*** Standard design wire is Spiral Lock to prevent coil snags that could get caught on your backpack or clothes. Neat Sheet perforated pages are easy to remove, and edges are clean. Notebook is 3-hole punched for easy insert into your favorite binder. Assorted colors. 2 pack. *ACCO Brands will replace any Five Star item that is returned within one year from the date of purchase. This guarantee does not cover damage due to abuse. Contact ACCO Brands Consumer Affairs for instructions.**Under normal usage, paper resists ink bleed with common student writing instruments such as pencils, ball point pens, gel pens, felt tip pens and highlighters.***Based on independent laboratory test results that establish pocket tear strength as compared to non-reinforced pocket in Five Star notebook.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: 5 Stars for 5 Star!\\n\\nReview: Yes, I am giving 5 Star Notebooks a 5 Star Review. As a professional student with several degrees, over the years I've tried many different brands, but I always come back to 5 Star. Why? When you take notes, you expect the page to stay in the notebook over the semester. 5 Star Notebooks use paper that I consider to be more durable than other brands. The notes I take at the beginning of the semester are in the notebook straight through to the end - the sheet is not worn at the rings. I find the slightly larger size of the page to be ideal for making notes in the margins of the page. I honestly can't say enough about them - they really are that good.\",\n \"Product: The rumford gardener expanding hose is durable and kink free. expands to 75ft with water pressure and shrinks back for easy storage in the provided cinch bag. no more straining with heavy hoses, the rumford gardener expanding hose weighs less than 1lb.\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: Great idea, lousy execution and quality!\\n\\nReview: Like most as seen on TV products, the original idea is noble - make a hose that allows you to carry the entire thing one handed and store it in very little room. However, when you get into mass production, quality takes a back seat and that's certainly what happened here. To truly make a hose that would work like this proposes to do, you would need a much stronger material for the hose than what is used here. The first time I tried this product, it had so many leaks, it looked as though it was supposed to be one of those hoses with many holes to water one's garden. Forget about this concept until a company comes out with a better version, but expect the price point to jump accordingly.\",\n \"Product: The Hy-Drate Cat is a healthy way to turn your cat's ordinary water bowl into an automatic water fountain. Designed to fit in your cat's favorite bowl, it remains securely in place with small, powerful suction cups. Fresh water continuously circulates through the Hy-Drate, while small sediments, like fur and food particles, stay trapped in the filter's mesh. One charcoal filter included.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Great if you need one... but why would you?\\n\\nReview: Both my labrador and my pit bull mix drank from their bowl without hesitation using this. I am lucky that I live in an area where I have good clean fresh water right from my tap; I personally don't have a need for it. I found that it did work well, and circulated the water quietly. My only concern is that I have two large dogs who empty their bowls of water frequently; there were times that the water was gone and the pump running dry (although the noise from this did alert me to two thirsty pups eagerly awaiting a water refill!). I think this would be more useful to someone who lives in an area where the tap water is of poor quality and they have smaller dogs who don't drink as often.\"\n]","isConversational":false},"profile_size":{"kind":"number","value":19,"string":"19"},"task":{"kind":"string","value":"longlamp_3"},"split_kind":{"kind":"string","value":"user_based"},"id":{"kind":"number","value":941,"string":"941"}}},{"rowIdx":942,"cells":{"question_id":{"kind":"string","value":"AK6L9DT01EHXZ"},"question":{"kind":"string","value":"Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of \"2.0\" for a product with description \"NEWMAN THOMAS SKYFALL (SOUNDTRACK)\". The summary of the review text is \"Huge disappointment, and not because Adele is missing...\"."},"answer":{"kind":"string","value":"I am sorry to report that I found this score completely forgettable. It's all action cues and symphonic crescendos and thumping percussion. Sure, those are necessary to a soundtrack to accompany the film's action. But there is really no melodic theme you can grab onto, as on the classic Bond scores. I don't mean to be a purist -- I love not only the John Barry scores, but also the Bacharach and Conti, etc. They all have the required ups and owns, the character themes you can follow, and even the action pieces manage to refer to specific action. Thomas Newman knows how to compose music, of course, but here all I hear are action and menace, but no real subtlety. This music could have been used in almost any thriller -- there is no real Bond feel. The familiar theme is used once, maybe twice (it's so forgettable that I've forgotten), as a throwaway. There's just no soul to these compositions. I hate to write negative reviews, but I am so disappointed that I feel I need to say it. My God, there's more soul in Jerry Goldsmith's Flint music! And that was for spoofs! The inclusion of Adele's title song might have elevated the proceedings, but really I doubt it. This score might work for me as \"writing music,\" but it won't get that many pleasure listens. I guarantee that I still listen to many of the other scores for pleasure. I just don't get that feeling here. The last piece just peters out. There is no conclusion! There's very little connective tissue between the tracks. I sincerely wish I'd liked this a lot better.\n\n-W.D. Gagliani, author of Savage Nights"},"correct_answer":{"kind":"string","value":"I am sorry to report that I found this score completely forgettable. It's all action cues and symphonic crescendos and thumping percussion. Sure, those are necessary to a soundtrack to accompany the film's action. But there is really no melodic theme you can grab onto, as on the classic Bond scores. I don't mean to be a purist -- I love not only the John Barry scores, but also the Bacharach and Conti, etc. They all have the required ups and owns, the character themes you can follow, and even the action pieces manage to refer to specific action. Thomas Newman knows how to compose music, of course, but here all I hear are action and menace, but no real subtlety. This music could have been used in almost any thriller -- there is no real Bond feel. The familiar theme is used once, maybe twice (it's so forgettable that I've forgotten), as a throwaway. There's just no soul to these compositions. I hate to write negative reviews, but I am so disappointed that I feel I need to say it. My God, there's more soul in Jerry Goldsmith's Flint music! And that was for spoofs! The inclusion of Adele's title song might have elevated the proceedings, but really I doubt it. This score might work for me as \"writing music,\" but it won't get that many pleasure listens. I guarantee that I still listen to many of the other scores for pleasure. I just don't get that feeling here. The last piece just peters out. There is no conclusion! There's very little connective tissue between the tracks. I sincerely wish I'd liked this a lot better.\n\n-W.D. Gagliani, author of Savage Nights"},"documents":{"kind":"list like","value":["Product: This media storage console is designed to hold Plasma TVs up to 60. The large console you see here is made from composite wood, which makes it a strong and durable product for you and your family. This large console is made to hold up to 462 CDs, 212 DVDs, and 120 videos. The legs and handles are brushed metal, which complement the media console's finish. The console is available in ablack finishes to fit your home's setting.Multimedia Plasma TV Console With Media Storage Features:Hold up to 462 CDs, 212 DVD, and 120 videos.Weighs approximately 125 lbs.Made from composite wood.Six adjustable shelves.Sturdy and durable.Complements any setting.Multimedia Plasma TV Console With Media Storage Includes:Storage Console - (Model # BPS-6000) - 58\" (W) x 26.75\" (H) x 19.75\" (D)\"\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: EXCELLENT STAND FOR FLAT SCREEN (INCLUDES LOTS OF STORAGE)\n\nReview: I purchased this stand to take my new Samsung 46' 1080p LCD television. It looks fantastic and goes well with the tv bezel's red Touch of Color accent. There is a ton of DVD/CD storage, and it's all hidden. Cable box and component space in the center is well-thought out. It came in two large, heavy boxes (no delivery charge). Some negatives: assembly took me two evenings, maybe 5 hours (but I take a while to visualize each assembly step ahead of time); at first, many of the shelves/sides look alike and are not marked; instructions are OK, but in some steps don't mention ahead of time some key information (such as which door should be used on which side - you have to note the later-mentioned magnetic latch plate in order not to do it incorrectly); the two doors that hinge on each side are very heavy and almost require a second person to help install; most of the prefab construction requires use of those annoying \"cams\"). Having said all this, careful assembly results in a VERY NICE, USEFUL AND VERSATILE TV STAND. It's a really good unit, and worth the time and effort put into the assembly. I recommend taking your time, getting help for the final steps, and being patient. My new 46\" set is slightly smaller than the width of this unit, which allows for future expansion of the screen size! Plus, the doors hide a huge amount of DVD storage, which even takes my large Seinfeld collection boxes. Amazon had the best price. Delivery was fine. It helps to have lots of floor space to spread out, btw. Occasionally, I felt the instructions were less than perfect. But don't let that intimidate you. I rate the final product 5 stars.\n\n--W.D. Gagliani, author of Savage Nights","Product: Your one-of-a-kind photos deserve one-of-a-kind frames, but visiting a custom frame shop can be time consuming and expensive. Art to Frames extensive and growing line of inexpensive multi opening Photo Mats will get you the look you want at a price you can afford. Our Photo Mats come in a variety of sizes and colors and can be custom made to your needs. Frame choices range from traditional to contemporary, with both single and multiple photo opening mat options. With our large selection of custom frame and mat choices, the design possibilities are limitless. When you're done, you'll have a unique custom framed photo that will look like you spent a fortune at a frame shop. Your frame will be delivered directly to your front door or sent as a gift straight to your recipient. Product SKU No. Double-Multimat-95-61/89-FRBW26079.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Frame is great; needs adapting to use for special CD booklets, but it's possible\n\nReview: The frame is really pretty good for the price. I do wish I didn't have to screw the wire-holding screws into the back of the frame myself. It's not a major problem, but still a little annoying because you have to measure to make sure the wire won't be set too high, becoming visible behind the frame as it hangs. So you need to measure, mark, and drill a starter hole for each of the two screws that hold the triangular eye-hooks, and a screwdriver to tighten them. It's fairly heavy, so you want to be careful to make sure the wire is nice and tight. I wound the extra ends back over onto itself to where I'm sure they won't unravel. I used mine as pictured, horizontally, but I imagine mounting the screws appropriately would allow hanging the frame vertically. The mat looks very nice, certainly for photographs. I used mine for signed CD booklets, and it's not a \"perfect\" fit -- thicker booklets don't fit exactly as you would like. However, the final effect is attractive if you're careful when mounting the booklets behind the cut portions of the mat.\n\n--W.D. Gagliani, author of Savage Nights","Product: All our picture frames are produced on demand at our facility in Spencer MA using our exclusive Quadro Frames molding system. Moldings are custom extruded to our specifications and consist of ABS plastic with a metallized mylar finish, they are indistinguishable from a metal frame at a fraction of the cost. Backing panels are 1/8 inch thick MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard) - NOT cheap corrugated cardboard. Front panels are 0.040\" thick optically clear PET plastic with an opaque protective peel away film applied to both sides. While assembling your frames make sure to peel off the opaque protective film from BOTH sides of the plastic panel. Frames are made to precisely match the specified image size of 5x5 inches, the external dimensions of the frame are 5.375 x 5.375 inch , the visible image size (accounting for the edge covered by the moldings) is 4.25 x 4.25 inches. The moldings are side loading and in additional to the panels provided will accomodate 3/16 inches of additional thickness so there is sufficient space for an image as well as a double standard thickness matteboard. All components are manufactured to the highest tolerances for a picture frame of seamless fit and finish. Assembly is required but consists simply of snapping four (4) corner connectors onto the moldings, no tools are required the frames literally snap together in seconds. The corner connectors fit onto the back side of the moldings and are not visible from the front or sides. An arc shaped sawtooth pattern is molded onto the corner connectors so the frames are immediately ready to hang once assembled and also allow for fine levelling adjustment on the spot! These classic contemporary style picture frames are an excellent choice for framing virtually any image with a professional gallery look.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Easy to use, light, clean-looking plastic framing solution...\n\nReview: While these frames are not fancy, they are attractive enough especially when used with poster-type material. The frame sides snap together easily, and the hard backing and plexi-glass front hold the article snugly when it is slid into the slot in the frame itself. The snap connectors double as the hangers (you need to use two nails, push-pins, or whatever). The fact that glass isn't used keeps the unit light enough so you probably won't have to anchor the nails in the wall, but obviously you need to check your own situation. These frames get 5 stars from me for their simplicity of assembly and use and clean looks -- they made my Al Stewart art deco style posters look awesome! -- but if you're looking for fancier frames then you'll need to go for wood and glass (they will also be a lot heavier). I have purchased three, in two sizes, and they are more than up to the job.\n\n--W.D. Gagliani, author of Wolf's Trap (the Nick Lupo series)","Product: Color:Red | Product Packaging:Standard Packaging 1.2 M Y-TYPE CORD CLOSED SUPRA-AURAL, DYNAMIC DESIGN POWER HANDLING: 1,000 MW OVER-THE-HEAD MONITOR WIDE, ADJUSTABLE HEADBAND NEODYMIUM MAGNET GOLD-PLATED L-SHAPED STEREO MINI PLUG 30MM DOME TYPE DRIVER FREQ RESP: 10 HZ 24,000 HZ IMP: 24 _ 1 KHZ SENSITIVITY: 102 DB MW WEIGHT: 4.23 OZ RED\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Great sound for the price!\n\nReview: I'm a writer, but I love music (especially but not exclusively prog rock) and I needed lightweight headphones for working at my Starbucks office. I needed them to be fairly portable and sound pretty good. I use a combination of my iPhone iPod app and (gasp!) CDs from my extensive collection (who has time to convert them all?) played through my laptop. The Apple buds sound great, but they never fit inside my ears very well and slip out, plus they itch a little and thus had become annoying. I haven't bought \"cans\" in probably three decades (remember the Walkman days?), so I only had relics at home. Enter these SONY headphones. The reviews were good, the look seemed appropriate, and I went for the more serious black color over the white. And I can report that they are great for the money. They sound excellent to my ears: full, bassy sound, good separation, altogether perfect for my needs. They could be a bit \"smaller,\" I guess... they don't collapse quite as much as I'd like, but they do flatten and fit my laptop bag just fine. Keeping them on a long time does also make my ears itch a little, but I doubt any other model would avoid this. All in all, they are great. I'm listening to GENESIS REWIRED right now and it sounds excellent! (Horns instead of synth for \"In the Cage\"? It works!) Mileage may vary, but I can recommend these cans without reservation.\n\nWD Gagliani, author of WOLF'S TRAP","Product: Incase CL57934 Origami Workstation for iPad and Wireless Keyboard (Black)\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Great case/stand for iPad.\n\nReview: This was an excellent purchase. It's an effective case for the wireless keyboard and folds out into a stand for the iPad, giving you what becomes essentially a small laptop (that you'd prefer using on a table, mind you). It's great for travel and turns my iPad into a more useful device especially in hotel rooms. The only nitpick I have is that the case barely covers/protects the keyboard -- perhaps it could have been a teensy bit larger edge to edge. However, it works fine. The velcro hasn't come off for me after over a year of use, but it's not constant use... I have been very gentle with it, so mileage may vary.\n\n--W.D. Gagliani, author of Savage Nights","Product: Mens chronograph strap watch\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Almost perfect watch is still a great buy\n\nReview: I love watches. I have way too many, and sometimes I wonder what it means -- psychologically speaking -- that I keep browsing watches on-line and in stores. In any case, this is a good buy that looks very sporty on your wrist. It's large but not too large (and I like Invicta watches, so I know about \"large\"), and it's both sporty-casual and rather elegant. There are only two elements I don't love: the large red stylized numerals in the subdials and the tips of the hands. Both give the watch a sort of old-fashioned accent that I think clashes with the style of the case and the band, which is on the high-tech side. Maybe it's just me, but those clashing elements bother me about one star's worth. Mileage varies, of course, and you may find those elements appealing. Overall, this is still a lovely watch that I wear often as a weekday work watch, even though I'm afraid to damage it... at the price, I could afford to replace it. So far, it has held up well. I'm browsing other Nautica chronographs even as I write this, looking for that special one my collection still needs...\n\n--W.D. Gagliani, author of Savage Nights","Product: Case Logic ZLCS-214 Carrying Case (Briefcase) for 14\" Notebook, iPad, Tablet - Black ZLCS-214BLACK 724. Fits Devices (l x w x h): 13.75 x 1.8 x 11.25 inches.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Case is perfect for a writer on the go!\n\nReview: I've had this case less than a week, so I can't assess strength of construction or durability, though I can say that in my experience Case Logic has always held up well. What I can also say is that this low-key, not terribly wide case easily fits ALL of the following: my 13\" MacBook Air, my iPad 2, chargers/cords for both, plus (when I need them) an Apple outboard DVD drive and 1-T outboard drive, as well as a phone charger, my Sony headphones, various small accoutrements and accessories such as business cards, pens, small notebooks, and all without seeming bloated. I believe it would easily take my tiny (stealth) Canon digital Elph camera and charger as well, because it has a smaller zip-out pocket with a zipped compartment (which so far I've only used to carry a couple CDs to listen to while at Starbucks). If I don't bother with the DVD drive it would most likely take my iPad's Bluetooth keyboard, too. The laptop itself slips into a snug orange \"envelope\" style holder within its zipped compartment. And the bag has that airport security zip-open feature, which I haven't used but seems as though it would work fine. I would recommend this case unless you also need to lug a lot of old-school paper or folders (though it could handle some of those, I'm sure). If it holds up with my daily use, it is definitely a perfect case for the writer on the go!","Product: \"The Timex Expedition Field Chrono draws design inspiration from vintage military watches. The unique dial features numerals in increments of five up to 60 and three sub-dials that track minutes, seconds, and 1/20 of a second for up to 30 minutes. An easy to operate date window is located at 4 oclock. With the Quick Date function, you can set the date on the watch without turning the crown for every 24-hour period. Just pull the stem halfway out, and turn until desired date is reached. It also offers water resistance to 330 feet (100 meters) and a durable leather strap. The Indiglo night-light uniformly lights the surface of the watch dial using patented blue electroluminescent lighting technology. It uses less battery power than most other watch illumination systems, enabling your watch battery to last longer.\"\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Very nice retro pseudo-military look...\n\nReview: OK, disclaimer: I bought this watch elsewhere with a discount, but as I write this review I think the price here is now about the same so I might as well have ordered it here. I have way too many watches, due to a rampant watch (and specifically chronograph) fetish. My tastes run to affordable but stylish chronos that are either sporty, dive-inspired, or pseudo-military. This Timex reminds me of the kind of watch a tank commander might have worn in North Africa around the battle of Tobruk. You know, I write novels so I like to spin narratives... my point is that it has that retro military look. Its case is a sort of chocolate color steel, the band is brown calfskin with light stitching and very soft. The face is large but not excessively so, and the dial is also a desert tan in color: it would match your LRDG Land Rover desert camouflage as you stood on its \"bonnet\" to peer over a nearby dune. It's desert tan, which -- in my case -- was attractive because I prefer silver and black cases. This is my only brown-tone case, and the only suede band. The numbers around the dial are not the usual 3-6-9-12, but 5-10-15-20-25 etc. to 60 in 5-min increments. The three sub-dials are crisply painted in a lighter tan (almost but not quite yellow) so they really stand out. The calendar window replaces the 20 mark and is outlined by a rounded-corner rectangle that highlights it. The outer case is simple, almost antiqued... reminiscent of an older timepiece. My assessment so far is that this watch is a very nice addition to my collection, fits a niche I didn't have represented, and makes a distinctive statement on my wrist without being overly large and ungainly (I do like large, by the way, but this watch face is reasonably conservative in size). So even if you're not a British LRDG member hunting Rommel, or a pilot doing recon for those elusive Panzer divisions, you can almost pretend you are living that adventurous life when you wear this affordable replica representative of a simpler time. If I have any operational issues, I'll update the review. Timex does not include a particularly nice box, and the instructions are a much-folded flimsy sheet with generic steps for setting time and date and resetting sub-dials -- they do the job, but they could be a bit more substantial. Perhaps it's because of the low price-point... don't let that deter you if you like the watch's style. (Addendum: I forgot to mention the Indiglo function, which is accessible at a push of the crown and backlights the watch's face in blue -- works well and is a thoughtful addition to an already fine timepiece. I've had it for several months and it has performed flawlessly so far.)\n\n--W.D. Gagliani, author of SAVAGE NIGHTS","Product: Black ion-plated stainless steel case and bracelet. Uni-directional rotating black ion-plated bezel. Black dial with luminous hands and index hour markers. Minute markers around the outer rim. Dial Type: Analog. Luminescent hands and markers. Date display at the 3 o'clock position. Chronograph - two sub-dials displaying: 60 second and 60 minute. Quartz movement. Scratch resistant flame fusion crystal. Screw down crown. Solid case back. Case diameter: 44 mm. Case thickness: 12 mm. Round case shape. Band width: 22 mm. Band length: 8.75 inches. Fold over clasp with safety release. Water resistant at 50 meters / 165 feet. Functions: chronograph, date, hour, minute, second. Casual watch style. Invicta Signature II Chronograph Black Dial Black Ion-plated Mens Watch 7387.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Great watch with semi-military look...\n\nReview: This watch was a pleasant surprise! I have over a half-dozen Invictas and they are generally good-looking, functional, durable, and mostly affordable. This watch, though, turned out to be even better-looking than its photograph. First, it has only two sub-faces rather than the typical three, which makes it look distinctively different. The black on black style gives it that retro, minimalistic military look. It has no large numerals around the dial, only small luminescent dots. The luminescence is light, but not enough to bother me. The uni-directional bezel has large squared-off numerals at the 10-20-30-40-50 and 60 positions. The date window is larger than average for Invictas like this, and at the 3:00 PM position, where it's easier to read. The metal bracelet and case are stylish without being too flashy, buffed and not shiny. The 3 main hands are modern and easy to read. I took out several links with my Invicta tool, which works well. The clasp is one of the smoothest I own. All in all, for the price, this was a fantastic buy and I love that it's large without being one of those impossibly huge ones (I have a couple of those, too, and they have their place). This is almost my favorite of the Signature II collection, and I own several of them.\n\n-- W.D. Gagliani, author of WOLF'S EDGE","Product: Tangerine Dream hit the U.S. charts again with this 1977 LP, which gave piano and guitar (not to mention harmonica and harpsichord) equal billing with the synths and effects. The hypnotizing title piece joins Invisible Limits; The Big Sleep in Search of Hades , and more!\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Essential classic Tangerine Dream...\n\nReview: If you prefer the early to middle period TD, this one is a classic you can't do without. The cinematic, slightly horror-tinged melodies stick with you. I use it as writing music, but it's definitely more than background. If you already like Tangerine Dream, then this one is part of the Phaedra-Rubycon-Ricochet-Cyclone-Exit-Sorcerer era cycle. In my mind, this era is still my favorite, possibly due to the now-vintage analog synths and Mellotron usage, but the compositions exhibit what I would consider a more complete nature, with the weaving sequences resolving more effectively by fade-out. It's hard to quantify the Dream -- you either get it or you don't, I think -- but this one (like the above-mentioned) represents their best work.\n\n--W.D. Gagliani, author of Savage Nights","Product: 1986 Collection of Soundtrack Music the Genesis Keyboardist Composed for the Motion Pictures \"Quicksilver\" and \"Lorca and the Outlaws\". Fish (Derek Dick, Ex- of Marillion) Makes a Guest Appearance on \"Shorcut to Somewhere\".\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: If you like Genesis...\n\nReview: If you like Genesis, middle to late period, you probably appreciated Tony Banks and his compositional expertise. While this album is in no way \"a Genesis album,\" or really \"a Tony Banks\" solo album, it functions as something in between. You'll hear Banks's compositional and instrumental chops here, on display in a smattering of pieces from several movies, most of which went nowhere. The exception is \"Quicksilver,\" which boasted Kevin Bacon and a sort of quintessential anti-greed 80s message (which gets muddled, but it's all for a good cause). The other movies were flops, more or less (though \"The Wicked Lady,\" not represented here, was a costume epic that did boast a campy bit of swordplay and some sexy scenery, if not much else). But Tony's musical compositions far outshone these movies, and that's what you can say about most of the pieces here -- taken on their own, they're pretty great representations of what most of us liked best about Genesis (now that Steve Hackett had left). The \"Quicksilver\" theme, \"Shortcut to Somewhere,\" includes lead vocal by ex-Marillion front man Fish and proves that an album project by the two of them would at least have been interesting ... a sense reinforced by the song \"Another Murder of a Day,\" found on a later solo effort by Banks, \"Still.\" Really, every song or piece here has its charms, but \"Lion of Symmetry\" could have been on any Genesis album of the period, sung by either Gabriel or Collins, and it would have been great. Toyah Wilcox completely does it justice and the song could be considered a minor classic, if only anyone other than devoted Genesis and Banks fans had ever heard it. What else can be said? If you like Tony Banks and what he did in Genesis, then this album belongs in your collection. Hey, his others have some greatness too, even if they might seem uneven. I am always flabbergasted at how they sound better and better after not having heard them in a while. The most recent, \"Strictly Inc,\" while destined to flop, is also a minor classic. The afore-mentioned \"Still\" is excellent, and \"Bankstatement\" has grown on me greatly over the years. Of course \"A Curious Feeling\" is in a class by itself -- a true progressive record -- and \"The Fugitive\" is a sort of prequel to the \"progressive pop\" sound he was to employ from then on. His classical works are also of interest, if you don't mind not hearing his trademark keyboard sounds... but if you're like me, your mind will sort of provide those sounds as you listen to the compositions. (Because we know what Banks would do.) In any case, I just relistened to all of them in the last couple weeks and I can report that it made me pine for more music by Mr. Banks, the most underappreciated member of Genesis. What a shame to have to say that. I wish it weren't so. I think I'll listen to \"And Then There Were Three...\" now, only because his keyboards are literally layered on just about every recorded second. \"Soundtracks\" may a bit off the beaten path, but what proghead doesn't appreciate that?\n\n--W.D. Gagliani, Author of Savage Nights","Product: Digitally Remastered Edition of the Soundtrack by the Italian Group.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Must-have score for Goblin fans...\n\nReview: Much more complete than the previous CD version in my collection, this is certainly one of Goblin's best -- an iconic score for another iconic Dario Argento giallo. Some say Argento's movies are style over substance, and that may be, but when there's so much style... why not indulge? You could freeze almost any frame in an Argento movie and it would probably be stunning or at least \"pretty.\" His use of oversaturated colors gives everything a nightmarish cast, which I feel works well in whatever craziness the plots bring. Never more so than in Profondo Rosso (Deep Red). This score by the Italian progressive rock band and soundtrack magicians Goblin weaves in and out of prog-rock and often lands squarely on jazz and funk, and does so convincingly. Plus, in their hands, a simple lullaby or ostinato becomes -- seemingly effortlessly -- the stuff of true terror. Not all soundtrack music can stand on its own, without the visual aspect to give it dimension, but to my ears, Goblin's music always does. The best parts stick with you to promote nervous fear, especially when played on dark country roads on a chilly fall night... This recording is a must-have for Goblin fans despite the potential for repetition within all the various collections -- I always prefer complete scores if I can find them, so this was definitely a necessary addition to the Goblin (et al) shelf.\n\n--W.D. Gagliani, author of Wolf's Trap"],"string":"[\n \"Product: This media storage console is designed to hold Plasma TVs up to 60. The large console you see here is made from composite wood, which makes it a strong and durable product for you and your family. This large console is made to hold up to 462 CDs, 212 DVDs, and 120 videos. The legs and handles are brushed metal, which complement the media console's finish. The console is available in ablack finishes to fit your home's setting.Multimedia Plasma TV Console With Media Storage Features:Hold up to 462 CDs, 212 DVD, and 120 videos.Weighs approximately 125 lbs.Made from composite wood.Six adjustable shelves.Sturdy and durable.Complements any setting.Multimedia Plasma TV Console With Media Storage Includes:Storage Console - (Model # BPS-6000) - 58\\\" (W) x 26.75\\\" (H) x 19.75\\\" (D)\\\"\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: EXCELLENT STAND FOR FLAT SCREEN (INCLUDES LOTS OF STORAGE)\\n\\nReview: I purchased this stand to take my new Samsung 46' 1080p LCD television. It looks fantastic and goes well with the tv bezel's red Touch of Color accent. There is a ton of DVD/CD storage, and it's all hidden. Cable box and component space in the center is well-thought out. It came in two large, heavy boxes (no delivery charge). Some negatives: assembly took me two evenings, maybe 5 hours (but I take a while to visualize each assembly step ahead of time); at first, many of the shelves/sides look alike and are not marked; instructions are OK, but in some steps don't mention ahead of time some key information (such as which door should be used on which side - you have to note the later-mentioned magnetic latch plate in order not to do it incorrectly); the two doors that hinge on each side are very heavy and almost require a second person to help install; most of the prefab construction requires use of those annoying \\\"cams\\\"). Having said all this, careful assembly results in a VERY NICE, USEFUL AND VERSATILE TV STAND. It's a really good unit, and worth the time and effort put into the assembly. I recommend taking your time, getting help for the final steps, and being patient. My new 46\\\" set is slightly smaller than the width of this unit, which allows for future expansion of the screen size! Plus, the doors hide a huge amount of DVD storage, which even takes my large Seinfeld collection boxes. Amazon had the best price. Delivery was fine. It helps to have lots of floor space to spread out, btw. Occasionally, I felt the instructions were less than perfect. But don't let that intimidate you. I rate the final product 5 stars.\\n\\n--W.D. Gagliani, author of Savage Nights\",\n \"Product: Your one-of-a-kind photos deserve one-of-a-kind frames, but visiting a custom frame shop can be time consuming and expensive. Art to Frames extensive and growing line of inexpensive multi opening Photo Mats will get you the look you want at a price you can afford. Our Photo Mats come in a variety of sizes and colors and can be custom made to your needs. Frame choices range from traditional to contemporary, with both single and multiple photo opening mat options. With our large selection of custom frame and mat choices, the design possibilities are limitless. When you're done, you'll have a unique custom framed photo that will look like you spent a fortune at a frame shop. Your frame will be delivered directly to your front door or sent as a gift straight to your recipient. Product SKU No. Double-Multimat-95-61/89-FRBW26079.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Frame is great; needs adapting to use for special CD booklets, but it's possible\\n\\nReview: The frame is really pretty good for the price. I do wish I didn't have to screw the wire-holding screws into the back of the frame myself. It's not a major problem, but still a little annoying because you have to measure to make sure the wire won't be set too high, becoming visible behind the frame as it hangs. So you need to measure, mark, and drill a starter hole for each of the two screws that hold the triangular eye-hooks, and a screwdriver to tighten them. It's fairly heavy, so you want to be careful to make sure the wire is nice and tight. I wound the extra ends back over onto itself to where I'm sure they won't unravel. I used mine as pictured, horizontally, but I imagine mounting the screws appropriately would allow hanging the frame vertically. The mat looks very nice, certainly for photographs. I used mine for signed CD booklets, and it's not a \\\"perfect\\\" fit -- thicker booklets don't fit exactly as you would like. However, the final effect is attractive if you're careful when mounting the booklets behind the cut portions of the mat.\\n\\n--W.D. Gagliani, author of Savage Nights\",\n \"Product: All our picture frames are produced on demand at our facility in Spencer MA using our exclusive Quadro Frames molding system. Moldings are custom extruded to our specifications and consist of ABS plastic with a metallized mylar finish, they are indistinguishable from a metal frame at a fraction of the cost. Backing panels are 1/8 inch thick MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard) - NOT cheap corrugated cardboard. Front panels are 0.040\\\" thick optically clear PET plastic with an opaque protective peel away film applied to both sides. While assembling your frames make sure to peel off the opaque protective film from BOTH sides of the plastic panel. Frames are made to precisely match the specified image size of 5x5 inches, the external dimensions of the frame are 5.375 x 5.375 inch , the visible image size (accounting for the edge covered by the moldings) is 4.25 x 4.25 inches. The moldings are side loading and in additional to the panels provided will accomodate 3/16 inches of additional thickness so there is sufficient space for an image as well as a double standard thickness matteboard. All components are manufactured to the highest tolerances for a picture frame of seamless fit and finish. Assembly is required but consists simply of snapping four (4) corner connectors onto the moldings, no tools are required the frames literally snap together in seconds. The corner connectors fit onto the back side of the moldings and are not visible from the front or sides. An arc shaped sawtooth pattern is molded onto the corner connectors so the frames are immediately ready to hang once assembled and also allow for fine levelling adjustment on the spot! These classic contemporary style picture frames are an excellent choice for framing virtually any image with a professional gallery look.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Easy to use, light, clean-looking plastic framing solution...\\n\\nReview: While these frames are not fancy, they are attractive enough especially when used with poster-type material. The frame sides snap together easily, and the hard backing and plexi-glass front hold the article snugly when it is slid into the slot in the frame itself. The snap connectors double as the hangers (you need to use two nails, push-pins, or whatever). The fact that glass isn't used keeps the unit light enough so you probably won't have to anchor the nails in the wall, but obviously you need to check your own situation. These frames get 5 stars from me for their simplicity of assembly and use and clean looks -- they made my Al Stewart art deco style posters look awesome! -- but if you're looking for fancier frames then you'll need to go for wood and glass (they will also be a lot heavier). I have purchased three, in two sizes, and they are more than up to the job.\\n\\n--W.D. Gagliani, author of Wolf's Trap (the Nick Lupo series)\",\n \"Product: Color:Red | Product Packaging:Standard Packaging 1.2 M Y-TYPE CORD CLOSED SUPRA-AURAL, DYNAMIC DESIGN POWER HANDLING: 1,000 MW OVER-THE-HEAD MONITOR WIDE, ADJUSTABLE HEADBAND NEODYMIUM MAGNET GOLD-PLATED L-SHAPED STEREO MINI PLUG 30MM DOME TYPE DRIVER FREQ RESP: 10 HZ 24,000 HZ IMP: 24 _ 1 KHZ SENSITIVITY: 102 DB MW WEIGHT: 4.23 OZ RED\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Great sound for the price!\\n\\nReview: I'm a writer, but I love music (especially but not exclusively prog rock) and I needed lightweight headphones for working at my Starbucks office. I needed them to be fairly portable and sound pretty good. I use a combination of my iPhone iPod app and (gasp!) CDs from my extensive collection (who has time to convert them all?) played through my laptop. The Apple buds sound great, but they never fit inside my ears very well and slip out, plus they itch a little and thus had become annoying. I haven't bought \\\"cans\\\" in probably three decades (remember the Walkman days?), so I only had relics at home. Enter these SONY headphones. The reviews were good, the look seemed appropriate, and I went for the more serious black color over the white. And I can report that they are great for the money. They sound excellent to my ears: full, bassy sound, good separation, altogether perfect for my needs. They could be a bit \\\"smaller,\\\" I guess... they don't collapse quite as much as I'd like, but they do flatten and fit my laptop bag just fine. Keeping them on a long time does also make my ears itch a little, but I doubt any other model would avoid this. All in all, they are great. I'm listening to GENESIS REWIRED right now and it sounds excellent! (Horns instead of synth for \\\"In the Cage\\\"? It works!) Mileage may vary, but I can recommend these cans without reservation.\\n\\nWD Gagliani, author of WOLF'S TRAP\",\n \"Product: Incase CL57934 Origami Workstation for iPad and Wireless Keyboard (Black)\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Great case/stand for iPad.\\n\\nReview: This was an excellent purchase. It's an effective case for the wireless keyboard and folds out into a stand for the iPad, giving you what becomes essentially a small laptop (that you'd prefer using on a table, mind you). It's great for travel and turns my iPad into a more useful device especially in hotel rooms. The only nitpick I have is that the case barely covers/protects the keyboard -- perhaps it could have been a teensy bit larger edge to edge. However, it works fine. The velcro hasn't come off for me after over a year of use, but it's not constant use... I have been very gentle with it, so mileage may vary.\\n\\n--W.D. Gagliani, author of Savage Nights\",\n \"Product: Mens chronograph strap watch\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Almost perfect watch is still a great buy\\n\\nReview: I love watches. I have way too many, and sometimes I wonder what it means -- psychologically speaking -- that I keep browsing watches on-line and in stores. In any case, this is a good buy that looks very sporty on your wrist. It's large but not too large (and I like Invicta watches, so I know about \\\"large\\\"), and it's both sporty-casual and rather elegant. There are only two elements I don't love: the large red stylized numerals in the subdials and the tips of the hands. Both give the watch a sort of old-fashioned accent that I think clashes with the style of the case and the band, which is on the high-tech side. Maybe it's just me, but those clashing elements bother me about one star's worth. Mileage varies, of course, and you may find those elements appealing. Overall, this is still a lovely watch that I wear often as a weekday work watch, even though I'm afraid to damage it... at the price, I could afford to replace it. So far, it has held up well. I'm browsing other Nautica chronographs even as I write this, looking for that special one my collection still needs...\\n\\n--W.D. Gagliani, author of Savage Nights\",\n \"Product: Case Logic ZLCS-214 Carrying Case (Briefcase) for 14\\\" Notebook, iPad, Tablet - Black ZLCS-214BLACK 724. Fits Devices (l x w x h): 13.75 x 1.8 x 11.25 inches.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Case is perfect for a writer on the go!\\n\\nReview: I've had this case less than a week, so I can't assess strength of construction or durability, though I can say that in my experience Case Logic has always held up well. What I can also say is that this low-key, not terribly wide case easily fits ALL of the following: my 13\\\" MacBook Air, my iPad 2, chargers/cords for both, plus (when I need them) an Apple outboard DVD drive and 1-T outboard drive, as well as a phone charger, my Sony headphones, various small accoutrements and accessories such as business cards, pens, small notebooks, and all without seeming bloated. I believe it would easily take my tiny (stealth) Canon digital Elph camera and charger as well, because it has a smaller zip-out pocket with a zipped compartment (which so far I've only used to carry a couple CDs to listen to while at Starbucks). If I don't bother with the DVD drive it would most likely take my iPad's Bluetooth keyboard, too. The laptop itself slips into a snug orange \\\"envelope\\\" style holder within its zipped compartment. And the bag has that airport security zip-open feature, which I haven't used but seems as though it would work fine. I would recommend this case unless you also need to lug a lot of old-school paper or folders (though it could handle some of those, I'm sure). If it holds up with my daily use, it is definitely a perfect case for the writer on the go!\",\n \"Product: \\\"The Timex Expedition Field Chrono draws design inspiration from vintage military watches. The unique dial features numerals in increments of five up to 60 and three sub-dials that track minutes, seconds, and 1/20 of a second for up to 30 minutes. An easy to operate date window is located at 4 oclock. With the Quick Date function, you can set the date on the watch without turning the crown for every 24-hour period. Just pull the stem halfway out, and turn until desired date is reached. It also offers water resistance to 330 feet (100 meters) and a durable leather strap. The Indiglo night-light uniformly lights the surface of the watch dial using patented blue electroluminescent lighting technology. It uses less battery power than most other watch illumination systems, enabling your watch battery to last longer.\\\"\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Very nice retro pseudo-military look...\\n\\nReview: OK, disclaimer: I bought this watch elsewhere with a discount, but as I write this review I think the price here is now about the same so I might as well have ordered it here. I have way too many watches, due to a rampant watch (and specifically chronograph) fetish. My tastes run to affordable but stylish chronos that are either sporty, dive-inspired, or pseudo-military. This Timex reminds me of the kind of watch a tank commander might have worn in North Africa around the battle of Tobruk. You know, I write novels so I like to spin narratives... my point is that it has that retro military look. Its case is a sort of chocolate color steel, the band is brown calfskin with light stitching and very soft. The face is large but not excessively so, and the dial is also a desert tan in color: it would match your LRDG Land Rover desert camouflage as you stood on its \\\"bonnet\\\" to peer over a nearby dune. It's desert tan, which -- in my case -- was attractive because I prefer silver and black cases. This is my only brown-tone case, and the only suede band. The numbers around the dial are not the usual 3-6-9-12, but 5-10-15-20-25 etc. to 60 in 5-min increments. The three sub-dials are crisply painted in a lighter tan (almost but not quite yellow) so they really stand out. The calendar window replaces the 20 mark and is outlined by a rounded-corner rectangle that highlights it. The outer case is simple, almost antiqued... reminiscent of an older timepiece. My assessment so far is that this watch is a very nice addition to my collection, fits a niche I didn't have represented, and makes a distinctive statement on my wrist without being overly large and ungainly (I do like large, by the way, but this watch face is reasonably conservative in size). So even if you're not a British LRDG member hunting Rommel, or a pilot doing recon for those elusive Panzer divisions, you can almost pretend you are living that adventurous life when you wear this affordable replica representative of a simpler time. If I have any operational issues, I'll update the review. Timex does not include a particularly nice box, and the instructions are a much-folded flimsy sheet with generic steps for setting time and date and resetting sub-dials -- they do the job, but they could be a bit more substantial. Perhaps it's because of the low price-point... don't let that deter you if you like the watch's style. (Addendum: I forgot to mention the Indiglo function, which is accessible at a push of the crown and backlights the watch's face in blue -- works well and is a thoughtful addition to an already fine timepiece. I've had it for several months and it has performed flawlessly so far.)\\n\\n--W.D. Gagliani, author of SAVAGE NIGHTS\",\n \"Product: Black ion-plated stainless steel case and bracelet. Uni-directional rotating black ion-plated bezel. Black dial with luminous hands and index hour markers. Minute markers around the outer rim. Dial Type: Analog. Luminescent hands and markers. Date display at the 3 o'clock position. Chronograph - two sub-dials displaying: 60 second and 60 minute. Quartz movement. Scratch resistant flame fusion crystal. Screw down crown. Solid case back. Case diameter: 44 mm. Case thickness: 12 mm. Round case shape. Band width: 22 mm. Band length: 8.75 inches. Fold over clasp with safety release. Water resistant at 50 meters / 165 feet. Functions: chronograph, date, hour, minute, second. Casual watch style. Invicta Signature II Chronograph Black Dial Black Ion-plated Mens Watch 7387.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Great watch with semi-military look...\\n\\nReview: This watch was a pleasant surprise! I have over a half-dozen Invictas and they are generally good-looking, functional, durable, and mostly affordable. This watch, though, turned out to be even better-looking than its photograph. First, it has only two sub-faces rather than the typical three, which makes it look distinctively different. The black on black style gives it that retro, minimalistic military look. It has no large numerals around the dial, only small luminescent dots. The luminescence is light, but not enough to bother me. The uni-directional bezel has large squared-off numerals at the 10-20-30-40-50 and 60 positions. The date window is larger than average for Invictas like this, and at the 3:00 PM position, where it's easier to read. The metal bracelet and case are stylish without being too flashy, buffed and not shiny. The 3 main hands are modern and easy to read. I took out several links with my Invicta tool, which works well. The clasp is one of the smoothest I own. All in all, for the price, this was a fantastic buy and I love that it's large without being one of those impossibly huge ones (I have a couple of those, too, and they have their place). This is almost my favorite of the Signature II collection, and I own several of them.\\n\\n-- W.D. Gagliani, author of WOLF'S EDGE\",\n \"Product: Tangerine Dream hit the U.S. charts again with this 1977 LP, which gave piano and guitar (not to mention harmonica and harpsichord) equal billing with the synths and effects. The hypnotizing title piece joins Invisible Limits; The Big Sleep in Search of Hades , and more!\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Essential classic Tangerine Dream...\\n\\nReview: If you prefer the early to middle period TD, this one is a classic you can't do without. The cinematic, slightly horror-tinged melodies stick with you. I use it as writing music, but it's definitely more than background. If you already like Tangerine Dream, then this one is part of the Phaedra-Rubycon-Ricochet-Cyclone-Exit-Sorcerer era cycle. In my mind, this era is still my favorite, possibly due to the now-vintage analog synths and Mellotron usage, but the compositions exhibit what I would consider a more complete nature, with the weaving sequences resolving more effectively by fade-out. It's hard to quantify the Dream -- you either get it or you don't, I think -- but this one (like the above-mentioned) represents their best work.\\n\\n--W.D. Gagliani, author of Savage Nights\",\n \"Product: 1986 Collection of Soundtrack Music the Genesis Keyboardist Composed for the Motion Pictures \\\"Quicksilver\\\" and \\\"Lorca and the Outlaws\\\". Fish (Derek Dick, Ex- of Marillion) Makes a Guest Appearance on \\\"Shorcut to Somewhere\\\".\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: If you like Genesis...\\n\\nReview: If you like Genesis, middle to late period, you probably appreciated Tony Banks and his compositional expertise. While this album is in no way \\\"a Genesis album,\\\" or really \\\"a Tony Banks\\\" solo album, it functions as something in between. You'll hear Banks's compositional and instrumental chops here, on display in a smattering of pieces from several movies, most of which went nowhere. The exception is \\\"Quicksilver,\\\" which boasted Kevin Bacon and a sort of quintessential anti-greed 80s message (which gets muddled, but it's all for a good cause). The other movies were flops, more or less (though \\\"The Wicked Lady,\\\" not represented here, was a costume epic that did boast a campy bit of swordplay and some sexy scenery, if not much else). But Tony's musical compositions far outshone these movies, and that's what you can say about most of the pieces here -- taken on their own, they're pretty great representations of what most of us liked best about Genesis (now that Steve Hackett had left). The \\\"Quicksilver\\\" theme, \\\"Shortcut to Somewhere,\\\" includes lead vocal by ex-Marillion front man Fish and proves that an album project by the two of them would at least have been interesting ... a sense reinforced by the song \\\"Another Murder of a Day,\\\" found on a later solo effort by Banks, \\\"Still.\\\" Really, every song or piece here has its charms, but \\\"Lion of Symmetry\\\" could have been on any Genesis album of the period, sung by either Gabriel or Collins, and it would have been great. Toyah Wilcox completely does it justice and the song could be considered a minor classic, if only anyone other than devoted Genesis and Banks fans had ever heard it. What else can be said? If you like Tony Banks and what he did in Genesis, then this album belongs in your collection. Hey, his others have some greatness too, even if they might seem uneven. I am always flabbergasted at how they sound better and better after not having heard them in a while. The most recent, \\\"Strictly Inc,\\\" while destined to flop, is also a minor classic. The afore-mentioned \\\"Still\\\" is excellent, and \\\"Bankstatement\\\" has grown on me greatly over the years. Of course \\\"A Curious Feeling\\\" is in a class by itself -- a true progressive record -- and \\\"The Fugitive\\\" is a sort of prequel to the \\\"progressive pop\\\" sound he was to employ from then on. His classical works are also of interest, if you don't mind not hearing his trademark keyboard sounds... but if you're like me, your mind will sort of provide those sounds as you listen to the compositions. (Because we know what Banks would do.) In any case, I just relistened to all of them in the last couple weeks and I can report that it made me pine for more music by Mr. Banks, the most underappreciated member of Genesis. What a shame to have to say that. I wish it weren't so. I think I'll listen to \\\"And Then There Were Three...\\\" now, only because his keyboards are literally layered on just about every recorded second. \\\"Soundtracks\\\" may a bit off the beaten path, but what proghead doesn't appreciate that?\\n\\n--W.D. Gagliani, Author of Savage Nights\",\n \"Product: Digitally Remastered Edition of the Soundtrack by the Italian Group.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Must-have score for Goblin fans...\\n\\nReview: Much more complete than the previous CD version in my collection, this is certainly one of Goblin's best -- an iconic score for another iconic Dario Argento giallo. Some say Argento's movies are style over substance, and that may be, but when there's so much style... why not indulge? You could freeze almost any frame in an Argento movie and it would probably be stunning or at least \\\"pretty.\\\" His use of oversaturated colors gives everything a nightmarish cast, which I feel works well in whatever craziness the plots bring. Never more so than in Profondo Rosso (Deep Red). This score by the Italian progressive rock band and soundtrack magicians Goblin weaves in and out of prog-rock and often lands squarely on jazz and funk, and does so convincingly. Plus, in their hands, a simple lullaby or ostinato becomes -- seemingly effortlessly -- the stuff of true terror. Not all soundtrack music can stand on its own, without the visual aspect to give it dimension, but to my ears, Goblin's music always does. The best parts stick with you to promote nervous fear, especially when played on dark country roads on a chilly fall night... This recording is a must-have for Goblin fans despite the potential for repetition within all the various collections -- I always prefer complete scores if I can find them, so this was definitely a necessary addition to the Goblin (et al) shelf.\\n\\n--W.D. Gagliani, author of Wolf's Trap\"\n]","isConversational":false},"profile_size":{"kind":"number","value":12,"string":"12"},"task":{"kind":"string","value":"longlamp_3"},"split_kind":{"kind":"string","value":"user_based"},"id":{"kind":"number","value":942,"string":"942"}}},{"rowIdx":943,"cells":{"question_id":{"kind":"string","value":"A3KR59U3SQEKZA"},"question":{"kind":"string","value":"Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of \"5.0\" for a product with description \"AmazonBasics brings you everyday items at a great value. An Amazon Brand.\". The summary of the review text is \"WOW. This one WORKS..... QUIETLY!\"."},"answer":{"kind":"string","value":"I have previously owned only Fellowes and other brand shredders, and the story was always the same...... low capacity, noisy, slow, and ultimately, the shredder got jammed from an overfill and/or staple and/or overheating, and I needed a new shredder.\n\nAfter reading great reviews on the AmazonBasics Model, I found one Used Like New thru Warehouse Deals (about $10 off \"new\" price). Mine is everything the positive reviews spoke of-- it INDEED handles 12 sheets with ease, shreds relatively quickly (considering it's doing micro-cut shredding) and amazingly, is QUIET QUIET QUIET. With my old shredders, it felt like \"put sheets in and don't try conversation until it's done\", but this shredder just kinda hums along as it does its thing. Conversations easy to hear nearby, sound doesn't overwhelm TV or music in the room.... and it does the job.\n\nSo far, I've tested this shredder with the usual combo of junk mail, financial mail (opened and still in envelopes), packing paper, credit cards..... and have had no jams, no slows, no need to reverse, NO PROBLEMS. 12 sheets is no problem-- it MIGHT be able to do more, but based on past experience, I'll stick to 12 or less, and hopefully enjoy a nice long lifed shredder!"},"correct_answer":{"kind":"string","value":"I have previously owned only Fellowes and other brand shredders, and the story was always the same...... low capacity, noisy, slow, and ultimately, the shredder got jammed from an overfill and/or staple and/or overheating, and I needed a new shredder.\n\nAfter reading great reviews on the AmazonBasics Model, I found one Used Like New thru Warehouse Deals (about $10 off \"new\" price). Mine is everything the positive reviews spoke of-- it INDEED handles 12 sheets with ease, shreds relatively quickly (considering it's doing micro-cut shredding) and amazingly, is QUIET QUIET QUIET. With my old shredders, it felt like \"put sheets in and don't try conversation until it's done\", but this shredder just kinda hums along as it does its thing. Conversations easy to hear nearby, sound doesn't overwhelm TV or music in the room.... and it does the job.\n\nSo far, I've tested this shredder with the usual combo of junk mail, financial mail (opened and still in envelopes), packing paper, credit cards..... and have had no jams, no slows, no need to reverse, NO PROBLEMS. 12 sheets is no problem-- it MIGHT be able to do more, but based on past experience, I'll stick to 12 or less, and hopefully enjoy a nice long lifed shredder!"},"documents":{"kind":"list like","value":["Product: Bluetooth 4.0 with CSR / Inline Remote & Microphone Active Noise Cancellation / Rechargeable Extended Battery Play Time: up to 16 hours / Talk Time: up tp 18 hours Operating Range: about 10m\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Four Stars PLUS...... very impressive\n\nReview: I received these headphones at a discounted price in exchange for an honest review.\n\nThis is my first pair of over-ear bluetooth headphones. I've had several in-ear headsets, my most recent heavy use stereo set being the LG HBS-730. I purchased the LG set primarily for calls, secondarily for music, and it's been a solid performer for me. But let's cut to the chase.\n\nThese are impressive looking phones, but smaller than I pictured. I think I was picturing something closer to 50 or 60mm drivers, not 40mm-- but also had some concerns about the long-term usability of gigantic bluetooth headphones. These are NOT gigantic. They are really pretty minimal for over the ear designs.\n\nThe packaging, as you've likely seen in other reviews, is as stylized as the headphones themselves. Clean, simple, modern-- following the iPackaging model we all know so well. The included semi-hard carrying case is quite nice, and the included accessories are minimal, but all you need.\n\nThe design, as you've already seen, is sleek and modern, and it translates well to real life from the pictures. While the phones do APPEAR to be luxurious, and are somewhat substantial, weight wise, this is the typical (for modern products, in this price range) ILLUSION OF LUXURY. \"Protein Leather\", for those who don't know (I didn't) is synthetic (no surprise). The chrome and silvery surfaces of the headphones appear to be well-finished, although the phones I received had a very minor adhesive blob just above the noise reduction switch. Long story short, most of you looking at this will NOT expect real leather, real metal, etc-- and you will get what you expect. Not that this is bad-- it's just how things are nowadays. You want true luxury in headphones, you need to spend a few times this amount, just like the newer \"all-metal-body\" cell phones.\n\nCharging, pairing, and controls are all pretty standard and easy for bluetooth nowadays, with the exception of the noise-reduction module toggle on the right earpiece. On/off, pairing mode, volume, Last/Next track, the usual.\n\nOK. The sound: VERY IMPRESSIVE. NO, REALLY. Nice full bass, crisp mids, great definition throughout the frequency range, and super highs. Audiophile? Honestly, I don't think ANY bluetooth headset can be true audiophile, nor am I going to attempt to make this highly subjective call. However, I will say that I ABSOLUTELY get the best sound of any bluetooth device I own from these headphones, based on clarity and definition at high volumes. Musically, they're EXCELLENT-- I ran a comparison with my wired Sony MDR headphones with extra bass, and although the Sony's were louder, they also were muddier and distored (of course, it appears nowadays that speaker manufacturers are being smart and NOT allowing users to overdrive their speakers with \"too high\" volumes). In fact, after starting by cranking the volume up (with noise reduction ON), and being unimpressed by the sound and volume, then realizing that noise reduction WAS the problem, I ended up increasing my end rating because of the sound quality-- after all, headphones are made for SOUND.\n\nThe Noise Reduction function, as I mentioned above, DOES reduce the overall volume and punch of these phones-- but it WORKS. I first tested it in a room with a lot of fan noise (my computer room) with NO music, and was very impressed. However, in the same environment, I found that the music from the phones worked just as well, if not better, to silence the outside. Conversely, outside the phones, you cannot hear what's being played (just the way most of us want it).\n\nPros: GREAT SOUND, nice design, noise cancellation works well, easy controls/pairing\nCons: Slightly tight fit on the head (almost a deal breaker for me, had to stretch the phones over the box), Reduced volume/punch with Noise Reduction.\nBottom Line: I'd give it 4 1/2 stars if I could. SOLID performer for sure, especially at this price point. Best sound I've heard in Bluetooth.","Product: Sound reducing acoustic foam decreases fan noise by up to 50%. Use with fans in conjunction with carbon filters, light systems and more. Durable and light weight aluminum body. Compact size is easy to install. Attach a Phresh Silencer to the intake or exhaust side of an inline fan. Use on both sides for maximum sound reduction.\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: Defective Unit? I sure hope it is......\n\nReview: Just got around to using this. Conditioned it as per instructions, then calibrated, using 7, 10 and 4 solutions, per instructions, then put it away in storage solution, per instructions. Today I brought it out to test the pH of some whey...... after rinsing the tip in distilled water, the unit gave me a reading of 6.8 (the whey should be at most 6.2 at this point). Thinking maybe the whey was the problem, I rinsed again in distilled water, then tested the whey again.... 6.8. OK, rinse, and this time test the distilled water..... 7.5? What about our filtered water? 7.9? Tap water... 8.5?\n\nSomething's got to be screwy here.... so I rinsed again, then tried the 7.0 calibration solution, which read at 7.2. After recalibration, I tried the whey again, and got 6.8. Distilled water 7.5. Filtered water 7.9. Tap water 8.5. I am now verging on throwing this thing through the window....\n\nSeriously, thing MUST be defective. I wish I still had the packaging so I could return it.","Product: AMMEX Exam Grade Indigo Nitrile Gloves are three times more puncture resistant than latex and more elastic than vinyl. Combining superior comfort and strength with superior tactile sensitivity. These indigo nitrile gloves hold up better against rips and tears than other synthetic gloves. FDA approved for medical use. AMMEX Indigo Nitrile Exam gloves provide excellent durability and barrier protection against bloodborne pathogens and other environmental contaminants. Textured to provide excellent non-slip wet gripping power when handling tools\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Yes, they're that good (for light-medium duty)\n\nReview: I bought these for various heavier-duty kitchen and lighter-duty garden/yard tasks, selecting them due to their outstanding rating and low price in their category.\n\nThese are NOT the thickest nitrile gloves you can buy, by any stretch, and I would NOT recommend them for heavy duty tasks, as they will tear under stress-- but WOW. I've used (and currently use) many different types of nitrile gloves, and for their class and cost, these are great performers. After my first few uses for lighter tasks, having no failures or blowouts, I decided to stress test them by wearing a pair for a greenhouse project, where I worked with a lot of tools, mixed a lot of soil by hand, and came in contact with a lot of objects that have previously destroyed thin nitrile gloves..... and yes, these did tear under that stress, but they did NOT shred. There was one tear, about the size of a dime, at the base of my left index finger.\n\nI've used more expensive (and even thicker) nitrile gloves that haven't performed nearly as well as these. These gloves will likely become a regular Amazon subscription item for me.","Product: Scientifically blended Organic fertilizer enriched with nutrients and micronutrients which results in excellent all round growth of the plant.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Organic Pest Control & Fertilizer\n\nReview: I purchased this mainly for its pest control capabilities-- to be able to work the neem cake into the surface of the soil (or into a soil mix) as an insect repellant throughout my garden. We use this as part of a multi-pronged attack on our pests, which include spider mites, japanese flea beetles and cabbage looper moths, in conjunction with other application methods (like Bio-Neem) and other organic pest control methods.\n\nThis is a really awesome product because of its two-fold nature-- there aren't many substances that function as an insect repellant AND a fertilizer. Granted, as a fertilizer, it is limited in use (for me that translates into \"goes well with other ingredients in a custom soil mix\"), but it can be used in multiple ways.\n\nImportant to note that I would NOT consider this as a SINGLE method of pest control. Please look elsewhere if your main goal is to get rid of spider mites or other pests. This is a TOOL which can be used towards that end, but alone, it is highly unlikely to succeed (without a herculean effort).","Product: Supplied to professional kitchens and great for yours! This NSF Certified SuperSteelreg stock pot separates itself from the average commercial stainless steel pots. The pot is constructed of quality stainless steel with a Heavy-Duty 3-ply bottom consisting of two layers of stainless steel surrounding a 5 mm thick aluminum core. This results in extra strength, allows for superior heat distribution and is induction ready making THIS one of the most versatile lines of stainless steel pots available. Ideal for soups, pastas, stocks, bulk vegetables and seafood. Commercial grade with brushed exterior and interior. NSF means a HIGH QUALITY! Items marked with the NSF logo means that the item and its manufacturing facility was tested and approved by the independent testing company called NSF - National Sanitation Foundation (www.nsf.org) to be safe for commercial use. Many professional restaurants adhere to using NSF listed cookware in their commercial kitchens. The NSF logo can be found on millions of consumer, commercial, and industrial products today. Products evaluated and certified by NSF International include bottled water, food equipment, home water treatment products, home appliances, plumbing and faucets, and even pool and spa components. No other independent testing programs require companies to comply with the strict standards imposed by NSF and its product certification programs. From extensive product testing and material analysis to unannounced plant inspections, NSF is the only third-party testing organization to undertake a complete evaluation of every aspect of a product's development before it can earn our certification.Please feel free to do a search in our store for a range of other NSF certified cookware. * Thickness: 1 mm\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Heavy duty, tested thoroughly!\n\nReview: I got myself one of these \"used\" through a warehouse deal, and saved a little cash (though full price is cheap as I've found them for solid SS). Mine came (as expected) with a ding towards the bottom of the pot-- but given how thick the steel is, I wondered what in the heck could actually create a dent-- maybe a forklift? Whatever it was, it had to be big and heavy.... and that should give you a good idea of the quality of the stainless.\n\nThis pot is also heavy, and has a nice clad bottom for even heat distribution. I use it for cooking cheese, but we have also used it for making stock and other \"large pot\" creations. The handles are VERY SECURE, even when lifting a FULL 20 quart load, and the lid also fits very well.\n\nOverall, VERY satisfied.","Product: This high-capacity renewable dehumidifier has been designed to absorb moisture from small enclosed areas. It will help protect clothes and valuables from the damaging effects of mold, mildew and moisture rot. It is 100 percent renewable and needs no power to operate. Just hang the Eva-Dry unit in a closet or place it in other small enclosed spaces and it will adsorb moisture. There are no batteries required or cords to plug in - the unit works without power.\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: No measurable effect in my space\n\nReview: I purchased this unit for a small, closet-sized space that has (regularly monitored and measured) high levels of humidity, hoping that it would do the job. Sadly, it is not up to the task. No matter where I place the unit in the space, floor or ceiling, my measurements of humidity appear to be completely unaffected by it.\n\nThe needs of my space appear to be more than what this unit is capable of handling-- and although I didn't expect miracles from a sub-$50 \"Dehumidifier\", I at least expected some measurable results, even if only a 5% reduction in humidity. I will likely try moving this unit to a closet and see if I have any better luck with it-- but for now, and for the purpose I had intended for this unit, my rating stands.","Product: This high-capacity renewable dehumidifier has been designed to absorb moisture from small enclosed areas. It will help protect clothes and valuables from the damaging effects of mold, mildew and moisture rot. It is 100 percent renewable and needs no power to operate. Just hang the Eva-Dry unit in a closet or place it in other small enclosed spaces and it will adsorb moisture. There are no batteries required or cords to plug in - the unit works without power.\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: No measurable effect in my space\n\nReview: I purchased this unit for a small, closet-sized space that has (regularly monitored and measured) high levels of humidity, hoping that it would do the job. Sadly, it is not up to the task. No matter where I place the unit in the space, floor or ceiling, my measurements of humidity appear to be completely unaffected by it.\n\nThe needs of my space appear to be more than what this unit is capable of handling-- and although I didn't expect miracles from a sub-$50 \"Dehumidifier\", I at least expected some measurable results, even if only a 5% reduction in humidity. I will likely try moving this unit to a closet and see if I have any better luck with it-- but for now, and for the purpose I had intended for this unit, my rating stands.","Product: Taste the difference with TAKEYA's Cold Brew Coffee Maker. The traditional hot brewing process releases undesirable acids and oils, resulting in bitter flavor and acidity that is intolerable to many. With cold brewing, only the naturally delicious coffee flavors are extracted, leaving behind the bitter oils and fatty acids, creating a perfectly balanced, smooth extraction of concentrated coffee. Once brewed, concentrated coffee can be kept fresh in the TAKEYA airtight Cold Brew Coffee Maker for up to 2 weeks and used for both hot and iced coffees. Do not freeze or microwave\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: I Only Wish It Were Larger\n\nReview: Found this cold brewer from a web article, which called it the \"best/cheapest\" cold brew maker you could buy. Well, I didn't research a ton, since this was under $20, but I've gotta say it makes GREAT cold brew coffee.\n\nFinding the balance of grind coarseness and coffee amount is a bit different than regular hot coffee, and I do find that many of my favorite coffees taste different when prepared this way-- but I'd reached a point where the acidity in most coffees was destroying my stomach, despite not drinking all that much each day. With cold brew, I can drink much more coffee without having \"coffee stomach\"-- as in more than I usually require to make it through even the longest days.\n\nIt's easy to use, easy to clean and cheap. I only wish it were larger! :)","Product: Help tend fires and add a classic look to your fireplace with the UniFlame 5-Piece fireplace twist tool set, by Blue Rhino. Featuring a twist design and matching twisted looped handles, this set includes all the tools you need to tend to a fire.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Heavy Duty Fire Tools that look NICE\n\nReview: I'd been using the fireplace set that was included when I bought my house years ago--- a cheapish but cast set that was shorter and had screw on handles. When we upgraded to a wood burning stove, I knew it was time to find something better. After some searching (not much, these were pretty easy to find) I discovered this brand/model/set.\n\nThey arrived pretty much exactly as I expected them--- a few critical inches longer than my previous set, with a nicer stand/holder, and best of all, heavy (but not overly) solid fireplace tools. The handles are thick (twisted ends instead of a screw on), the finish is really quite lovely, and the tools themselves work the way I want them to-- the log tongs especially so, although they are a two handed job, especially with heavier logs.\n\nSo far, I've used them for about a month, and the finish is only a little ashy-- otherwise same as they ever were. Last fireplace tool set I think I'll need..... hopefully EVER.","Product: JENSEN JTA-222 3-Speed Stereo Turntable with AM/FM Stereo Radio\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Listen to vinyl, yes; truly experience vinyl, NO.\n\nReview: Bought this for my teenage daughter who wanted a turntable after seeing mine. For the price, it was a no-brainer, and for the functionality that goes along with the price, it gets four stars (I think it would have to be AMAZING to get five for the price).\nThe sound quality is OK, but what do you expect from a one-piece, amp/speakers built in, unit? This is NOT a $99 turntable, but for the function, it does not matter. The highest volume setting is a very dull roar, and of course, the tiny speakers begin to distort at the dull roar-- but again, THIS IS NOT A $99 turntable. In fact, with the built-ins, it's not even a $50 turntable-- but again, IT DOES THE JOB.\n\nIf you're looking for a cheap, below-entry level \"toy\" (it really isn't, but for the price, might as well be), this is your baby. If you want to truly experience vinyl, this is NOT your baby-- at least go to the $99 turntable with separate components (in my judgment). I'm sure there are audiophiles (who will NOT be reading this review, I'm guessing) who would say \"Add $400 to that price and you MIGHT have something that resembles a vinyl experience\". I'd like to be that guy, but for me, the $99 one does just fine for me now, and this one does GREAT for my teenager, who LOVES it (but of course, has hinted that she'd like my $99er if and when I upgrade).","Product: Mediabridge Forte - Portable Bluetooth Speaker\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: TINY Bluetooth Bomb (in a good way)\n\nReview: I received this product at a discount in exchange for an honest review.\n\nAs a result, I didn't pay attention to ALL the details about this speaker. I saw \"Bluetooth Speaker 5W maximum powered subwoofer\", and ASSUMED about the size (and we all know how that word is spelled). Looking at it, I GUESSED that it was approximately 3-4 inches square, maybe 6 inches tall..... so when I opened the shipping box, I was a bit shocked to see how tiny it is (approximately 60% of my guess doing rough math in my head). My first impression was: \"..... oh boy....\". (completely underwhelmed).\n\nI unbox it, and charge it up, plugging into a USB port on my computer, and within about 2 hours, it's charged (I didn't pay much attention, it could have actually been ready sooner-- I wanted to ensure a full charge before use, and at 2 hours, it WAS fully charged). So I power it on with my new assumptions that this thing is pretty much a toy, prepared with a playlist of my favorite heavy bass \"test the subwoofer\" and more delicate \"test the mid-high end\" songs, and turn it on. Pairing is effortless if you've ever done it before, so I queue up my first track and (of course) crank up the volume to max.\n\nSecond assumption about speaker: Blown Away. It's LOUD. I can tell there's a subwoofer not so much because of the deep bass thump I normally associate with subwoofers (it's KINDA there, but seriously, what do you expect from a little box you could uncomfortably fit into the front pocket of a pair of jeans if you really had to?), but instead, because the speaker is moving itself, beat by beat, with the music, across my desk. The subwoofer IS actually powerful enough to move this little beast. How loud? After finding that the bass response really depends on the surface on which you place the speaker, I settle on my dining table, near one end of my house, and walk about 60-75 feet to the other end of the house, and everything is still quite clear. I take the speaker outside to the back yard, and place it under the eave by the back door, and walk around the yard, 20-30 yards around, and the music is loud (and present) enough to hear clearly, but quiet enough to still hold a conversation.\n\nOK, so I'm satisfied with the sound. For a Bluetooth speaker (I do NOT expect audiophile quality by ANY means), it kicks out the music, especially for the size. Granted, it's basically MONO, and it's one tiny sound source, and as I mentioned, you could wear this thing on a large clunky necklace if you wanted, it's so small, but it hits the bass end well, the mids and highs are clear and present, and surprisingly do NOT distort at maximum volume (I believe that's due to smart designers who didn't allow the volume range to override the speaker capacity, unlike most). But the controls: SIMPLE. You can pause your music, you can take a phone call (quality is AOK, by the way), and restart your music, and that's about it-- simple by design. This was one area where I dropped about 1/2 star from my rating.\n\nI found it difficult to settle on my rating for this speaker, because of the lack of built in functions, along with the bottom line price of the unit for value offered (especially since I got a discount). For my personal needs, I would not have selected this speaker (because I like a few more functions for dealing with my music, at least a fast forward). I was also initially put off by the size of it, although considering the sound it puts out, it is truly AMAZING for its class. So for me, it really comes down to price and the needs of the end user. If you just want a tiny simple powerful bluetooth to blast your music, this may very well be a five-star speaker for you, depending on price. I settled on four stars, based on the current sale price (I'd quote, but let's leave it at \"under $20\" since prices change) and my own needs.\n\nLet's bottom line it: At the \"list price\", or even the \"regular price\", I would feel like I paid too much for this. At around $20, give or take, it begins nearing the awesome factor, and you can do the math from there.\n\nPROS: Incredibly portable, Incredible sound for the size, \"subwoofer\".\nCONS: Limited controls, \"mono\" sound","Product: Carhartt's men's extremes active jac is arctic-quilt lined for cold weather conditions. Water repellent, it's constructed of tough, 1000-denier cordura nylon, and fully lined with quilted, arctic-weight polyester insulation. It features two inside pockets, two hand-warmer pockets and rib-knit cuffs and waist. The main seams are triple stitched for strength. Care- Do not bleach\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Great Work Coat.... and yeah, it's TOUGH.\n\nReview: To me Carhartt is a brand that means \"made tough to work hard\" (usually), and this jacket is no exception.\n\nYes, it's a little stiff when you get it (the hood will not \"relax\" as other reviewers have aptly noted), but I found a good way around that issue was to simply fold it inside out while working without the hood. I also used the \"wash with vinegar\" trick another reviewer mentioned just to get a head start on break-in, and it seemed to get me off to a good start-- I do NOT feel like the marshmallow man while wearing it.\n\nIt's VERY warm, but still comfy up to about 50 F (when unzipping it usually provides the necessary ventilation)-- however, if the sun comes out, the black color soaks it up and it becomes too hot. OK, so you can't have ONE jacket for both super cold and warmish days. I didn't buy this for warmish days, and for cold, it does the trick.\n\nThe zipper WAS a little tight at first, but I used an old school trick and rubbed graphite (read: pencil tip) up and down the zipper surfaces a few times, then \"broke in\" the zipper. Don't notice that issue now.\n\nAs far as wind: What wind?\n\nAs far as rain: This jacket sheds water quite well. Can't say I'd choose it for a downpour kind of day, but in light to medium rain I made it inside with a slightly wet jacket exterior (most of the water just beaded up on it) but as for me.... still quite dry and warm underneath the built in layers.\n\nJust what I wanted. Unfortunately, it's also just what my wife wanted.... so I may have to get her one too.","Product: Rugged framed 100% polycarbonate construction that creates a combination of strength, flexibility and capacity.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Great looking, well-designed, highly functioning spinner bag\n\nReview: I decided to buy this spinner because I was tired of going through cheaper zipper spinner models.... either the zipper would break, or the hard sides would crack. This bag seemed like a good alternative, with it's traditional latch/lock closure and reinforced frame. To be honest, I didn't even really look at the inside detail of the bag (they're all alike, right?) until it arrived.... and I was VERY glad I'd made the choice I did. Besides the usual \"tie-down\" for packed clothes on one half of the oyster shell, there is a \"floating\" zipper pouch, suitable (in my case) for my pressed dress shirt and slacks.\n\nI was easily able to put in two pairs of shoes, two pairs of pants, undershirts, shirts, sweaters-- quite enough for the three days/two nights trip I just took, and likely, had I taken a bit more time (and was more attached to stricter folding of items), I could likely have fit enough clothes for a five day trip.\n\nAs far as being carry-on sized, I cannot say, but being as that I live in a smallish city where regional flights make typical carry-on sized bags into \"cabin checked\" bags, I can speak to the durability of the exterior under checked bag conditions. Granted, as of now, this has only been used on one trip (with three flights each way and associated baggage handling), but I see NO wear whatsoever. The bag looks BRAND NEW. I honestly have not been able to say this about any other bag. I certainly do not think this is a \"bulletproof\" spinner that will always look this way-- eventually that event that scratches the surface will happen-- but having a bag look just the way it did after my trip as it did when I unboxed it? That's something.\n\nIt looks great, the wheels are great quality-- the handle, when extended, feels a bit wobbly, as others have mentioned, but in playing with it a little bit, I almost wonder if the wobble is built in so that the handle can take a bit more \"punishment\" and bend without breaking. In any case, for this trip, and this traveler, and this bag, everything was AOK.","Product: The original, and still the smartest solution to your casual outside adventures, our slip-on Jungle Moc shoe will never disappoint with its performance, comfort and versatility. Breathable to keep feet comfortable in the heat, our Touch Breeze Moc integrates odor-fighting M Select FRESH inside and an M Select GRIP sole for exploring when and where you want without pause.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: First, DEFINITELY NOT LAST, \"jungle moc\". Excellent.\n\nReview: I've owned Merrell's before, but this is my first \"jungle moc\"..... and UNLIKELY to be my last.\n\nI chose these to be my \"casual summer house-town slippers\", and so far, they are more comfortable (and I can wear them longer) than any other pair I've selected. Normally, even with my most comfy shoes of this type, I end up with some discomfort around my heel or ankle by mid-day-- but not so in these. They fit my feet (which are narrow in the heel, but wide-ish in the toe, usually a M width does the trick for me) pretty well-- I suspect that the \"narrowness\" some other reviewers have mentioned actually works for my feet. Arch support in these is VERY mild, but I don't really require that, so for me, they are ok in that respect.\n\nOne of the big factors for me, besides comfort, in these shoes, is the temperature-- COOL, VERY COOL. I normally wear socks, even on the warmest days, and in my typical leather/suede slip ons, my feet usually sweat and become uncomfortably warm-- not so in these. While the mesh upper doesn't quite let the wind through (there's a backing that doesn't allow socks to show through), it is MUCH cooler than most shoes of this type I wear-- and so far, I have worn them around the yard on several near-100-degree days, with no \"hot feet\".\n\nThe look is about what I expected from the pics-- perhaps a bit clunkier looking than I might ultimately desire, but no biggie. I have found, that in about a week's worth of daily wear, I am beginning to see some \"creases\" on the mesh material, especially around the flex points that are created while entering and walking in the shoe. Since it is mesh, the creases aren't really set in (yet), but that's certainly a possibility over time.\n\nOverall (as of this moment), I stick with my five-star rating. This doesn't represent \"perfection\" to me, as I believe I have really owned one or two \"perfect\" pairs of shoes in my forty-some years on this earth (visiting)-- however, it DOES represent value for the money, and overall, how well I feel these shoes will serve the need for which I purchased them over time. Although they are not \"perfect\", I have no problem giving the \"I love them\" rating.\n\nFinally, the experience of the Merrell Jungle Moc, primarily the sole and overall feel/fit, is a BIG winner for me. These will NOT be the last pair I purchase-- in fact, I will likely search for a different version of the shoe for my autumn/winter seasonal needs.","Product: These Cotton Sole Kung Fu shoes are designed for indoor training. These shoes feature a black canvas construction with a reinforced cotton sole. The cotton sole provides you with easier mobility indoors to prevent the restriction of movement. These shoes are comfortable and durable enough for the most rigorous Kung Fu training.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Great for Vacuum Hose Snake Style Kung Fu (and other household Martial Arts styles)\n\nReview: Funny, Amazon asking about these shoes as if they were regular every day shoes. If you're looking at these, you either do some sort of Martial Arts or simply like the basic slipper look.\n\nThese are nothing fancy, just your basic Kung Fu shoes. Cotton upper, cotton sole (so not really meant for outdoor wear, unlike their rubber soled counterparts). I use them as a house slipper, as for me, they are the next best thing to barefoot (NO ARCH SUPPORT, just a 1/4\" firm cotton sole under your foot). The only reason I didn't give them 5 stars was because I wish they covered the tops of my feet just a little bit more-- I've had pairs before that covered a little more, maybe about 1/2 inch. Not a huge deal-- they still fit exactly as expected (not designed to have room in the toe like regular shoes, they fit a little more like socks) and do the job.","Product: Made of 7-ounce, 100 percent cotton rip stop fabric this short sits at the waist, has a relaxed seat an thigh and features fast dry technology that wicks away sweat for comfort and stain breaker technology which releases stains. I also has a comfortable gusseted crotch, hidden hook-and-loop back pocket flaps and cargo flaps, stronger sewn-on-seam belt loops, right-leg zipper secured side cargo pocket and a 11-inch inseam.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Very nice shorts. Comfy and cool.\n\nReview: As other reviewers have stated, make sure you measure your waist before ordering-- these, like other Carhartt's, are NOT vanity sized. Knowing this, I ordered my normal size in Carhartt's and mine fit great.\n\nThe rip-stop fabric is nice looking, and also quite functional from the looks of it (no, I didn't do a test stab). I'm not so sure about \"wicking\", as I haven't really worn them in super sweaty situations yet, but I definitely notice them to be cooler and more comfortable, temperature wise, than many of my other \"non-wicking\" shorts. The length of these shorts works well for me, sitting right around my knee, and the style will work just as well for a picnic in the park as for a hike in the hills or work in the yard.\n\nGood stuff as usual, Carhartt.","Product: Streamlining performance, this hiker with cinching stretch closure feels snug over an Air Cushioned heel and durable traction.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Super Comfortable for My Feet.\n\nReview: While I have no experience with the previous Merrell Chameleon, I'm pretty darned happy with this version. Fortunately for me, I was able to try on the shoe in person, which helped me to determine I should size down 1/2 size (normally an 11, a 10.5 is just fine in these for me).\n\nThey ARE a little tough to get on, mostly because of the design. This is basically a SLIP ON HIKER. Yes, it has \"laces\" which can be used to \"tighten\" the fit, but this is essentially a slip on with a firm, snug neoprene-like sleeve around the ankle to ensure a good fit. For me, they DO fit very well, and are among my most comfortable shoes I own.\n\nSome have complained about the lack of padding in these-- but I generally don't depend on a shoe alone for the right amount of cushion and pad for my feet. Not like I have special needs feet, but I generally do much better in ANY pair of shoes with a nice set of athletic gel-cushioning insoles, and these are no exception. They were comfortable out of the box, but with the insoles I like, they're really PERFECT (for my feet and their needs).\n\nI'm easily able to hike 5 miles or more in these, and have even run in them for short distances. Concrete, asphalt, dirt, gravel, grass.... doesn't matter.... my feet are fine and happy on all of these. I frequently even return home from my hikes and forget to change shoes, sometimes for hours-- then look down while grocery shopping to find my Chameleon's still on my feet. I think that speaks volumes.","Product: 32 Degrees Weatherproof's ultra-light premium duck down packable vest delivers minimal weight, superb compressibility and high loft warmth. The down packable vest is great for a range of activities and easily folds into a detachable pouch\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Not TOP quality, but really QUITE GOOD\n\nReview: I bought this vest on a Daily Deal, and got a GREAT price on it-- I figured \"What the heck, for this price, how bad can it be?\". I'm glad I did-- it ended up being a screaming deal.\n\nThe fill quality is very good, especially for the price I paid, but honestly, even for the every day price. I have a name-brand, 800-fill puffer hoodie, that clearly has more down, but honestly, not THAT much more (by feel, at least). I've worn this vest on 30-something or 40-something degree days with just a long-sleeve (heavier) shirt underneath it and been VERY comfortable-- nice and warm on a \"cool\" day.\n\nThe only issue I've had with this vest, however, are the zippers. Several times I've had them catch (lightly) when zipping or unzipping, and they just need some gentle manipulation to get them freed up and working again-- not a huge deal, and honestly, somewhat expected for the price, but that makes this a 4-star product instead of a 5-star. Fortunately, the zipper malfunctions have so far been only temporary, and not functionally destructive-- or we'd quickly be going down to the 2-3 star range.\n\nFor now, however, I'm VERY pleased with this vest-- does just what I want, looks nice, and I got a great deal.","Product: The Bulldog Cases Grey Molded Double Pistol Case measures in at 9\" X 12\" X 5\" and has a durable ABS polycarbonate molded outer shell. The corners of the case are fortified to provide extra protection from bumps and scrapes. This case features a luggage-style handle as well as a TSA combination lock. The TSA combination lock allows for the case to be \"flight friendly\" when transporting firearms. The inside padding of this case is two layers of thick egg-crate foam and will allow up to four firearms to be held within the case.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Nice little case... for my purposes\n\nReview: It's about the size of a lunchbox, but not quite so metallic on the outside. It's more like a soft shell, really, with well made zippers and a functional, but not security minded lock-- that is to say, it'll keep someone out who doesn't just want to cut through the binding, which as other reviewers have stated, could be easily done with a utility knife.\n\nThat said, inside are three layers of eggcrate foam, allowing you to safely pack (without scratching) two pistols, or a pistol and some magazines, or a pistol and your rather flat lunch for the day, if that's what you fancy. For me, this was exactly what I wanted-- no, not the flat lunch, but a decent range case that I could take out and lock for appearances if needed. Again, the other reviewers who've mentioned the lock are RIGHT ON-- while it does lock, I would NOT NOT NOT use this case to transport firearms via commercial transportation. However, to go out to the range, having my firearms \"locked\" while in the car-- PERFECT.\n\nGreat for me and my needs-- not going to get 5 stars from someone looking for a secure lock box, or a real HARD shell case. While I'm sure this case could handle a little bit of jostling, or even a good toss from a moving vehicle (once), unless you've got your gear packed inside so that it WILL NOT MOVE, a serious impact would likely do some damage to the contents.","Product: Mityvac 7.3 liter fluid evacuator features stiffening ribs for added durability. The redesigned pump handle is stronger for heavy use and longer tool life. A larger base prevents the chance of tipping and spills in shop.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Works well for some cars, not at all for others.....\n\nReview: I bought this because I've never changed my own oil, but thought it would be a much easier place to start than climbing under the car.....funny how it worked out.\n\nI tried the pump first on my 2002 Mustang-- NO DICE WHATSOEVER. No matter what I tried, I could NOT get any of the tubes deep enough to suck out ANY oil. I ended up changing the oil UNDER THE CAR. UGH. I did use the pump afterwards to suck up the used oil from my oil pan, and it worked quite well.\n\nI then tried it on my 1966 Ford Ranchero, and had every drop out within less than 2 minutes. Compared to the under-car method, WOW. This thing works like a charm. From oil pan to Mityvac to empty oil container and off to recycle.\n\nAs I said, I'd never changed my oil either way before-- and having now done both, I've got to say if this device fits your car, it's incredibly useful. Four stars, even though it was unusable on my Mustang-- since it can only work for cars with a correctly shaped dipstick tube, I can't fault it for that.","Product: A quick, easy and affordable way to replace a keyless entry remote key fob. Complete remote with a new battery and electronics installed. DIY step by step programming instructions included. Please use the parts finder to ensure this key is compatible with your vehicle\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: An Awesome non-OEM priced solution that WORKS\n\nReview: I was a little skeptical if this was going to work for the money.... especially after reading the programming instructions, which to even me, as a software technician, appeared as if they might be challenging (a number of specific key turns and button presses on both existing and new remotes).\n\nI was so wrong. Despite my reservations, I was able to complete the programming on the first try, and the fob works just the way it should. I'll admit I'd sort of hoped that although MY original remote doesn't have the rear door button, and this one does, it would magically work-- but dang it, my car doesn't have the feature.\n\nSo, despite my extraneous magical wishes not being granted by this product, it gets five stars. All functions work as they should, and it IS actually easy to program. I'd buy it again.","Product: Fox Farm Big Bloom.03 - .1 - .11 Quart Bottle Big Bloom is Alive! A microbially active, water soluble plant food specifically formulated to promote and emphasize the blooming characteristics of all flowering and fruiting plants. Big Bloom is an 100% natural and organic biologically active instant plant food. Big Bloom promotes strong, extra large, and multiple blooms while dramatically enhancing the flavor of fruits and vegetables. Big Bloom can be applied out of a watering can, through a foliar sprayer, drip irrigation and hydroponic systems. It's gentle nutrition will not burn tender young plants. May be used in combination with Grow Big, to customize the nutritional requirements of all plants.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: One of the few truly ORGANIC choices (that I trust)\n\nReview: I really like Big Bloom. I like that it's truly organic, that it's gentle yet effective, and the ingredients (I could almost make it myself-- it's just more work than I care to do regularly with everything else). What I LOVE is the effect it has on my plants. I'm not going to try to make claims of percentages or anything like that-- you'd have to do everything I do, or I'd have to do everything YOU do, to make that work out for us.... IT WORKS FOR ME AND MY METHODS.\n\nIt IS a little expensive, but well worth it. Just watch out because not all Fox Farm products ARE organic (if you care about organic like me-- if not, I'm sure we have other things in common). I've used their non-organic products too, and like those as well.","Product: Mykos is a fast-growing, beneficial fungi that connects many of the eneficial microbes in the soil to host plants. This \"symbiotic\" relationship inceases the supply of nutrients to plants, increasing the availability of both moisture and most of the fundamental elements required for plant growth. This greater nutrient availability leads to a bounty of healthier bigger plants and \"Bumper Crops\" Mykos has been used to produce world record-breaking pumpkins every year since 2006.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Used this for YEARS, still love it.\n\nReview: First discovered Mykos several years back and used it with every transplant. While I've never done any type of \"blind study\", what I notice is that plants that receive Mykos as per the instructions during transplant suffer far less (if any) shock or bad effects. Granted, I've been doing transplants for years, so I know what I'm doing, but that doesn't mean that I'm even close to a 100% survival rate-- no one can be.\n\nSure, some transplants I've done WITHOUT Mykos have done fine, but this is a product for those plants you really care about, and/or if you just want all your plants to have the best environment possible. Microbes and microlife are an essential part of that environment in my book (and many other folks' too), and for me, Mykos is my choice for the root system.","Product: AQUA RITE COLLECTION by Bloem: Constructed from the highest quality components, the Bloem Aqua Rite Watering Can is made from shatterproof plastic and is sure to last for years. Bloem products live up to their name with user-friendly handles for precise watering and easy carrying. The long-stem spout and small opening allows you to control the water flow to your plants and makes it easier to water those hard to reach places. Works great for watering indoors potted plants, hard to reach plants, or self-watering planters. All weather durability with UV protection and thick wall design ensures long lasting use. Made in USA. Holds 144 oz. = 1.125 Gallons Comfortable, easy-to-use handle Long stem spout controls water flow Size: Width 15 in (x) Depth 5.75 in (x) Height 10 in One-piece construction eliminates leaks 100% UV stabilized polypropylene plastic ensures long lasting color and withstands extreme weather conditions + BPA free\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: OK, I don't feel bad about spending my cash on THIS plastic watering can\n\nReview: I knew I needed a long-spouted watering can, but boy, did I have a hard time finding one-- not so much because they don't exist, but rather, because they are either tiny little toys that might be good for watering a dollhouse garden, or because they are overpriced pieces of thin plastic that hardly seem sturdy enough or worth the ridiculous prices being asked.\n\nEnter the Bloem Living Aqua Rite-- priced under $10, but apparently (based on the reviews I read, verified by this one as well) it is sturdy and well-made (for a molded plastic watering can). And YES, this is indeed the case. It holds about a gallon, is pretty easy to fill, has nice balance and reach, and best of all, is a somewhat \"sturdy\" (as much as this is possible) piece of molded plastic!\n\nNo cons to speak of-- this simply does the job, and I expect it will continue to do so as long as I don't kick it, drop it when full of water, leave it in the sun and/or freeze, or participate in any other plastic weakening/shattering events.","Product: The Milliard Hydroponic Grow Tent is great for cultivating exotic fruits, herbs, vegetables or seasonal fruits all year around! This tent makes indoor gardening easy! You control the climate and lighting so you can grow any plant in any place safely and easily! The tent is designed with an interior layer of reflective lining for maximized light and heat control to ensure an optimal growing environment. The tent features a sturdy tubular metal frame construction with support bars for hanging lights and plastic push-lock corners for easy tool free assembly, as well as heavy duty support bars to secure the light fixtures. Use the support bars at the top of the frame to hang lights and other greenhouse equipment according to your needs. The reflective interior lining of the grow tent is engineered with durable reinforced zippers for easy set up and multiple intake/exhaust ports that improve vapor and moisture control. The ports allow you to implement ductwork, fans, filters, and electric appliances. Easy clean up! This tent includes a removable reflective waterproof floor pan that takes the hassle out of indoor gardening and ensures a clean and enclosed environment for your plants to flourish. Large zippered door allows you to set up your plants and growing equipment with ease. Grow tent measures: 40in. x 40in. x 79in.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Great value for the money\n\nReview: I purchased this tent because it was one of the top rated on Amazon in class, and now I've seen why:\n\nPros: SIMPLE, relatively fast assembly, thick durable-feeling material, nice attention to detail (the vents, window, electric cord sleeves), nice zippers, seemingly sturdy/durable, bargain price.\n\nCons: Recommend 2 persons for assembly, especially when putting tent over frame. Zippers were a little sticky in places at first (though really solid feeling), but freed with some work, then were no issue). Also, my box did publicly display \"GROW TENT\" on the side, which I didn't care about, being an \"indoor veggie gardener\", but I know some people do.\n\nIn any event, although I've just set it up, I'm really pretty thrilled with it-- if things change, my review will be adjusted accordingly.","Product: Power Wash is a plant wash for removing unwanted residue left behind from foliar applied products. Pesticides, sticking agents, wetting agents and foliar applied nutrients can leave residue on your plants. Power Wash removes left behind residue, leaving your plants clean. Power Wash can be used throughout the growing and flowering cycle, up to and including the day of harvest. Power Wash is truly the cleanest solution for your garden.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Don't Know What the Mystery Active Ingredient is...... but it WORKS.\n\nReview: Like Mighty Wash (this is a follow up product to be used 2-3 days after if you wish, if not on it's own), this is a mysterious, mostly water product that is designed to safely remove prior residues (foliar fertilizers, pest treatments, etc) from your plants. Honestly, I'm pretty certain it's something simple, that special active ingredient, but until the internet figures that one out, I'll stick to this for the function.\n\nI feel a little odd about giving such a \"mystery product\" five stars (though I had to do the same for Mighty Wash), but IT WORKS. Day of harvest, no problem. Residues other than Mighty Wash (like Neem oil), no problem. Spraying during daylight (IN THE SHADE), no problem-- although they recommend night-time application, necessity forced me to use it during the day-- and in the SHADE (DO NOT APPLY IN DIRECT SUN, YOU WILL DAMAGE YOUR PLANTS), on a warm day, I found my sprayed plants dry and ready for what was next within 45 minutes, clean and otherwise unaffected.\n\nOther reviewers have noted that this product and Mighty Wash appear to \"roll off\" the leaves-- and both WILL, but saturation is the key to success. I sprayed all surfaces until they were WET (not damp, or misted), and after drying, found no traces of residue (under a loupe) on leaves. If your gardening regimen requires such a product, you'll likely be as mysteriously pleased as I.","Product: If you have never used the product (or never heard of it) Greensand is a mineral called glauconite, which is found on the ocean floor and mined for use as an organic fertilizer and soil conditioner. Greensand supplies marine potash, silica, iron oxide, magnesia, lime, phosphoric acid, and 22 trace minerals. Greensand works great on Southern hard as a rock clay soil this spring, to help improve its texture, and enrich the nutrient content of my soil without using chemicals. Greensand is one of the oldest and most generally useful tools in the organic gardening tool box. Greensand has been used since the eighteenth century as a soil amendment and slow-releasing fertilizer (0-0-3). It is one of the best certified organic sources of potassium. It comes from sandy rock or sediment containing a high percentage of the mineral glauconite (greenish-black to blue-green). It contains potash, magnesium, iron, silica and can contain as many as 30 other trace minerals. The recommended usage is to broadcast 50 to 100 lbs. per 1,000 square feet. It improves plant health in general and is also be used to loosen heavy, clay soils. It will also improve the moisture retention of sandy soils. Greensand is OMRI listed for organic use.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Greensand: The unknown yet awesome garden ingredient\n\nReview: I'd never heard of Green Sand until reading a book on organic growing which recommended it for long-term, slow-release rare and not-so-rare minerals.... and after I began using it in my soil mixes, I was hooked. I had been using the Down-To-Earth brand prior to this purchase, but after returning to their store locally and learning that their \"mine\" had \"run out\", I purchased the Old Cobblers Farm brand.\n\nSame good stuff. You don't need much of it, but WOW, it's a great additive. I think of it as \"long term azomite\"-- azomite being the \"A to Z of minerals\" for gardening, but in more of a slow-release, long-term format. Add this to your soil and you won't have any critical mineral shortages in your soil that may be affecting your plants. GOOD GOOD STUFF!","Product: Cheristin for cats topical flea control is designed to kill 98100% of fleas in just 12 hours. Quick and easy to use, this product is efficient and provides long lasting flea control. NOTE : Monitor your cat after application. Side effects may include signs of application site reactions such as application site hair loss, hair change (greasy, clumping or matting) or redness, inflammation and itching. Other side effects such as inactivity, vomiting and inappetance have also been reported. If these or any other side effects occur, consult your veterinarian, your cats healthcare expert.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: So far, so good, works great....... wish it were cheaper.\n\nReview: After using Advantage for our multi-cat household for many years, it just wasn't working as well. Tried Cheristin on the recommendation of one of our vets-- and it DOES work for us.\n\nPros: Less chemical smell/stickiness, faster acting time, more natural (derived) product than Advantage, KEEPS OUR CATS COMFORTABLE. It's now been 5-6 weeks and we COULD perhaps get away with a week more (but we won't) before retreating them.\n\nCons: Price. Because Advantage is offered in large sizes (with the same formula) for dogs, we were able to buy Advantage for large dogs and treat all five of our cats with a single tube. Because Cheristin is a new product, and there is no dog formula, we cannot do this, so instead of paying $12 to treat all 5 cats, we end up paying about 5 times that.","Product: Keeping your home clean and healthy is your mission and Filtrete healthy living filters can be your perfect partner. Featuring high performing electrostatic technology, Filtrete healthy living filters proactively capture dust, bacteria, germs, viruses and allergens in your air. For optimum performance, change your filter every 90 days or sooner.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Great filter for great indoor air\n\nReview: When I bought my house I learned of the importance of changing your furnace filter (if you have a furnace). After trying some super-cheap filters, and suffering from indoor allergies (we have cats, a small suburban farm, kids, lots of dust-makers), I tried a lower-grade Filtrete filter. My results were so noticeable, I upgraded, and now, have upgraded again.\n\nWhile these filters can only do so much for your indoor air (the air that actually circulates through your furnace), it really does a great job. I'm always simultaneously impressed and disgusted by how dirty they are after I pull them out. They do indicate that these filters are good for 3 months-- but I normally replace them every TWO months (finding them quite dirty) to enhance my air quality further and hopefully extend the life of my furnace.","Product: These HEAVYWEIGHT steel pegboards are perfect to organize your workshop and garage tools. Item is 16\" x 32\" and features a durable galvanized finish, diamond plate stamped surface and solid steel construction. Mounting screws are included.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Look nice, warp easily, better get real hanging hardware\n\nReview: While it does look nice as pictured, the metal used is not exactly what I would call \"heavyweight\"-- rather, \"medium-weight\". Granted, for the price paid, I didn't expect something industrial duty. However, because of this (lack of) weight, the boards are prone to warping and bending under small amounts of weight (for example, four of them leaned up against each other in the shipping carton). The biggest part of this issue is not the actual warp of the panel, but rather, the warping of the folded section of metal that should be perpendicular to the wall when hung, which more or less will keep the whole panel warped unless fixed. This CAN be done, but it's a pain.\n\nThe next issue I have with these panels is the \"included hanging hardware\"-- which translates to six sheet rock screws that absolutely WOULD NOT hold ANY type of weight of tools without anchors. Fortunately, I purchased mine to use as magnetic bulletin boards, but despite the fact that they will not hold much weight, I am STILL considering using some anchors on general principle.\n\nSo they lose points on weight and hardware-- but as I mentioned, they do look sharp, and they are (properly hung) quite functional. Had I not purchased these on a day when they were about 30% off the price I first saw, I would likely have given them fewer stars-- but can accept this as \"you get what you pay for\".","Product: Self assemble Niki Nu lamps create ambient, elegant, fun and soft mood lighting for any interior living room, outdoor space, office space, or patio and garden area; great for decorative lighting for events and parties. Made of durable and washable translucent polycarbonate plastic the completed light fixture shade is durable, easy to clean and weather resistance. The easy to assemble lighting kit includes 30 identical pieces of one color and one size along with written instructions and a website link to video instructions that guide you in creating one of 15 possible different light/lamp shade styles. Enhance your creativity by combining other Niki Nu Lites kit colors of the same size to customize a theme for a specific event or room decor. Assembled finished lamp shade diameter measurements: small/10-inches; medium/ 13-inches; large/17-inches; extra-large/22-inches. The completed lamp can hang from a ceiling, stand on the floor, sit on a table top, or adjust to fit as a lamp shade on an existing light fixture. A 12 foot long white electrical lamp cord with on/off switch is included in the kit. A single CFL energy saving lamp bulb, LED lamp bulb, or outdoor LED or CFL lamp bulb is required; not included in the kit. Basic assembly is required.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Cool looking lamp, fun \"puzzle\" to assemble\n\nReview: These are GREAT lamps-- this one was my second. People who come over ALWAYS comment on the modern colorful look.\n\nEspecially nice that they come WITH the lamp fixture, and it's a decent one at that. Makes for an easy all-in-one package.\n\nFinally, you do have to assemble the lamp-- the instructions are not QUITE as detailed and clear as they could be, for those who are not \"spatially inclined\", but after sitting with the detailed diagrams and having some hands on time with fitting together individual pieces, it was actually quite fun to assemble. Though challenging at times, it's easy enough to take the whole thing apart and start from scratch if necessary. You can also create larger, more intricate lamps with multiple kits-- which I have not yet tried, but it's a nice option.","Product: The item is a set of 3 G9 120V 4W LED lamps, which is fully suitable for Standard G9 lamp base, and gives out 400 Lumens this light source gives off bright warm white light 2900K for illumination. The LED bulb features energy-saving design to save over 90% energy. With easy to install and long lifetime.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Nice lights, NOT STANDARD G9 size\n\nReview: I really wanted to (like/use/enjoy) these bulbs, as I'd selected them to replace some standard G9 Halogens in a couple new table lamps I purchased. They're billed as \"standard size\", but as another awesome reviewer noted (wish I'd dug futher into that review in particular) with pictures, they ARE NOT STANDARD SIZE. They are larger in diameter (overall, standard G9's are flattish) and slightly longer-- and as a result, although they would fit in my lamp sockets, I was unable to put the shade back in place, as much as I tried.\n\nThe good: The light WAS quite nice, appropriately colored, and definitely a good replacement for the halogens. The form is also quite nice, encapsulated and easier to handle than standard G9's or halogens (you can put them in with bare fingers).","Product: GOT A GREEN HOUSE? LET'S GET GROWING! For the nature-lover and loving cultivator within you, there is Sandalwood. One of the latest additions to our family is the Sandalwood Dual Mode LED Grow Light, which is a simple but powerful device for all your indoor gardening and horticultural pursuits.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Nice Compact Grow Light\n\nReview: I purchased this light as an auxiliary light source for my small grow tent, where I already run a 300W Platinum LED light. That light is quite outstanding, but because of its shape (rectangular), the coverage pattern CAN be a little thin at certain angles or configurations of plants in the tent. I had considered purchasing a larger light, but that seemed like overkill for the tent, and then there's the price.\n\nEnter the Sandalwood 150W. Similarly designed (rectangular, with built in cooling fans, quality LED's, and different light phases for veg and bloom), it's a fairly equitable purchase in terms of price (about a dollar per watt). The included hanging hardware is a little bit on the flimsy side, but the unit is light-- it does the job ok. After installing it next to my existing light (in VEG mode), I powered up the Sandalwood, and noticed a definite increase in illumination on the plants. I did NOT do anything scientifically fancy like getting a light meter, but to my eyes, there's a difference now.\n\nThe plants, also, appear to notice the difference-- especially the plant in front of the tent, previously my \"dim spot\". While this plant previously had a tendency to lean towards the back of the tent (and the center of the larger light), it no longer leans, and seems quite contented to grow vertically. Shortly after installation, I switched into BLOOM mode (on both lights), and again, it just seems like there's more light all around to me. The plants also seem to agree, as I'm seeing fewer areas on the plants where growth appears to be slowed due to poor light coverage.\n\nOverall, even though I am using this light in tandem with another, I'm really impressed with it. The spectrum and power appear to be right on, and I don't doubt for one second that used alone, the Sandalwood 150W would do the job quite well in a small space. I did receive this light at a discount in exchange for my honest review, but my review is based on my perceived value based on the price most folks will pay (around $190). This is a solid four-star light, AT THE VERY LEAST. I will update my review as plants continue to grow and respond.","Product: The 10 watt modern led desk lamp from Newhouse Lighting is an affordable and feature rich desk light for any student, professional or person! this lamp maintains 3-step dimming, 3-step color temperature control (3000K/4000K/5000K) and a usb charging port for convenient electronics charging. Couple these features with the fact that this lamp is constructed with energy stay quality lads and you'll be making back the money you spent on this lamp in much less time that than the 22.8 year life this light is expected to live (assuming 3 hours/day of use)! please give it a try today - we know you'll be impressed and satisfied.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Sleek, Adjustable LED desk/table lamp\n\nReview: Pros: Sleek design, easy maneuvering lamp head to put the light where you want it, simple design, selectable light colors/powers, USB charging port, NICE BRIGHT LIGHT (or dim when you prefer). Sturdy metal base.\n\nCons: USB Port is low output, lamp stem and light bar seem to be plastic.\n\nOverall: Good value for the price most folks will pay, currently around $45. I did receive this lamp at a discount in exchange for an honest review, but my rating is based on the $45 price. Solid 4-stars-- between the design and functionality, there isn't much competition at this level. The light it provides is quality-- pick your color and brightness. USB functionality was a nice thought, but either provide a higher powered charging port OR build in a battery pack and make the whole thing rechargeable.","Product: Superior Heavy-duty neoprene grilling gloves feature acrylic terry lining for thermal insulation. Diamond-grip finish on palms for increased wet/dry grip. It has good abrasion, cut resistance, which makes it a great choice for working in both the food industry (deep fryers) and on your home grill, with heat stability up to 400F. This makes gloves suited to hot/cold liquid applications as well, perfect for steam applications like autoclaves or any situation where intermittent contact up to 400F occurs. (The time to pain at 400F is 16 seconds. Not recommended for use above 500F.) Neoprene resists the effects of aging, sunlight, ozone, oxidation and weather, as well as a broad range of oils and chemicals that attack natural rubber gloves like acids, caustics, oils, grease, and many solvents.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Works for my purposes!\n\nReview: I purchased these gloves for use in cheese making-- for dealing with dipping my hands repeatedly into acidic whey solutions that are often at uncomfortably hot temperatures. So far, great! The gloves are nice and thick, with enough terry cloth to protect against heat, and enough neoprene to.... well, ok, you don't need a lot of neoprene to protect against acidity-- but they feel thick enough overall to make me believe they will last quite well.\n\n4 stars instead of 5 because: They are the tiniest bit thick for maximum dexterity-- while I CAN achieve everything I need to do while wearing them, more delicate operations FEEL a little bit clumsy-- but that's a decent price for good heat/chem protection. Also, I wish the cuffs were just a little bit longer, perhaps another 3-4 inches. Otherwise, AWESOME.","Product: Tuck Interior Printing Customized Court Cards Top Notch Quality Metal Look Printed By Expert Playing Cards Company\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Very \"Fancy\" cards at a reasonable price\n\nReview: I love unusual playing cards, and collect them. Don't ask me why. In any case, these caught my eye because I love foil details on cards. They also have a very unusual overall look to them.\n\nIf you're looking at these cards, you probably also like unusual playing cards, and you likely also know that some of the super-fancy artsy-designy card decks can go for upwards of $40 per deck, even $80. These are not that, clearly-- however, they are extremely cool for their price-- and would be extremely cool at a slightly higher price. They have a great design, which is executed very well, and have a great feel to them-- also, they have good enough clarity and contrast to be used as a regular deck of playing cards, without that \"is this a spade or a club?\" feeling I've gotten from similar cards which were designed more for the art than the play."],"string":"[\n \"Product: Bluetooth 4.0 with CSR / Inline Remote & Microphone Active Noise Cancellation / Rechargeable Extended Battery Play Time: up to 16 hours / Talk Time: up tp 18 hours Operating Range: about 10m\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Four Stars PLUS...... very impressive\\n\\nReview: I received these headphones at a discounted price in exchange for an honest review.\\n\\nThis is my first pair of over-ear bluetooth headphones. I've had several in-ear headsets, my most recent heavy use stereo set being the LG HBS-730. I purchased the LG set primarily for calls, secondarily for music, and it's been a solid performer for me. But let's cut to the chase.\\n\\nThese are impressive looking phones, but smaller than I pictured. I think I was picturing something closer to 50 or 60mm drivers, not 40mm-- but also had some concerns about the long-term usability of gigantic bluetooth headphones. These are NOT gigantic. They are really pretty minimal for over the ear designs.\\n\\nThe packaging, as you've likely seen in other reviews, is as stylized as the headphones themselves. Clean, simple, modern-- following the iPackaging model we all know so well. The included semi-hard carrying case is quite nice, and the included accessories are minimal, but all you need.\\n\\nThe design, as you've already seen, is sleek and modern, and it translates well to real life from the pictures. While the phones do APPEAR to be luxurious, and are somewhat substantial, weight wise, this is the typical (for modern products, in this price range) ILLUSION OF LUXURY. \\\"Protein Leather\\\", for those who don't know (I didn't) is synthetic (no surprise). The chrome and silvery surfaces of the headphones appear to be well-finished, although the phones I received had a very minor adhesive blob just above the noise reduction switch. Long story short, most of you looking at this will NOT expect real leather, real metal, etc-- and you will get what you expect. Not that this is bad-- it's just how things are nowadays. You want true luxury in headphones, you need to spend a few times this amount, just like the newer \\\"all-metal-body\\\" cell phones.\\n\\nCharging, pairing, and controls are all pretty standard and easy for bluetooth nowadays, with the exception of the noise-reduction module toggle on the right earpiece. On/off, pairing mode, volume, Last/Next track, the usual.\\n\\nOK. The sound: VERY IMPRESSIVE. NO, REALLY. Nice full bass, crisp mids, great definition throughout the frequency range, and super highs. Audiophile? Honestly, I don't think ANY bluetooth headset can be true audiophile, nor am I going to attempt to make this highly subjective call. However, I will say that I ABSOLUTELY get the best sound of any bluetooth device I own from these headphones, based on clarity and definition at high volumes. Musically, they're EXCELLENT-- I ran a comparison with my wired Sony MDR headphones with extra bass, and although the Sony's were louder, they also were muddier and distored (of course, it appears nowadays that speaker manufacturers are being smart and NOT allowing users to overdrive their speakers with \\\"too high\\\" volumes). In fact, after starting by cranking the volume up (with noise reduction ON), and being unimpressed by the sound and volume, then realizing that noise reduction WAS the problem, I ended up increasing my end rating because of the sound quality-- after all, headphones are made for SOUND.\\n\\nThe Noise Reduction function, as I mentioned above, DOES reduce the overall volume and punch of these phones-- but it WORKS. I first tested it in a room with a lot of fan noise (my computer room) with NO music, and was very impressed. However, in the same environment, I found that the music from the phones worked just as well, if not better, to silence the outside. Conversely, outside the phones, you cannot hear what's being played (just the way most of us want it).\\n\\nPros: GREAT SOUND, nice design, noise cancellation works well, easy controls/pairing\\nCons: Slightly tight fit on the head (almost a deal breaker for me, had to stretch the phones over the box), Reduced volume/punch with Noise Reduction.\\nBottom Line: I'd give it 4 1/2 stars if I could. SOLID performer for sure, especially at this price point. Best sound I've heard in Bluetooth.\",\n \"Product: Sound reducing acoustic foam decreases fan noise by up to 50%. Use with fans in conjunction with carbon filters, light systems and more. Durable and light weight aluminum body. Compact size is easy to install. Attach a Phresh Silencer to the intake or exhaust side of an inline fan. Use on both sides for maximum sound reduction.\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: Defective Unit? I sure hope it is......\\n\\nReview: Just got around to using this. Conditioned it as per instructions, then calibrated, using 7, 10 and 4 solutions, per instructions, then put it away in storage solution, per instructions. Today I brought it out to test the pH of some whey...... after rinsing the tip in distilled water, the unit gave me a reading of 6.8 (the whey should be at most 6.2 at this point). Thinking maybe the whey was the problem, I rinsed again in distilled water, then tested the whey again.... 6.8. OK, rinse, and this time test the distilled water..... 7.5? What about our filtered water? 7.9? Tap water... 8.5?\\n\\nSomething's got to be screwy here.... so I rinsed again, then tried the 7.0 calibration solution, which read at 7.2. After recalibration, I tried the whey again, and got 6.8. Distilled water 7.5. Filtered water 7.9. Tap water 8.5. I am now verging on throwing this thing through the window....\\n\\nSeriously, thing MUST be defective. I wish I still had the packaging so I could return it.\",\n \"Product: AMMEX Exam Grade Indigo Nitrile Gloves are three times more puncture resistant than latex and more elastic than vinyl. Combining superior comfort and strength with superior tactile sensitivity. These indigo nitrile gloves hold up better against rips and tears than other synthetic gloves. FDA approved for medical use. AMMEX Indigo Nitrile Exam gloves provide excellent durability and barrier protection against bloodborne pathogens and other environmental contaminants. Textured to provide excellent non-slip wet gripping power when handling tools\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Yes, they're that good (for light-medium duty)\\n\\nReview: I bought these for various heavier-duty kitchen and lighter-duty garden/yard tasks, selecting them due to their outstanding rating and low price in their category.\\n\\nThese are NOT the thickest nitrile gloves you can buy, by any stretch, and I would NOT recommend them for heavy duty tasks, as they will tear under stress-- but WOW. I've used (and currently use) many different types of nitrile gloves, and for their class and cost, these are great performers. After my first few uses for lighter tasks, having no failures or blowouts, I decided to stress test them by wearing a pair for a greenhouse project, where I worked with a lot of tools, mixed a lot of soil by hand, and came in contact with a lot of objects that have previously destroyed thin nitrile gloves..... and yes, these did tear under that stress, but they did NOT shred. There was one tear, about the size of a dime, at the base of my left index finger.\\n\\nI've used more expensive (and even thicker) nitrile gloves that haven't performed nearly as well as these. These gloves will likely become a regular Amazon subscription item for me.\",\n \"Product: Scientifically blended Organic fertilizer enriched with nutrients and micronutrients which results in excellent all round growth of the plant.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Organic Pest Control & Fertilizer\\n\\nReview: I purchased this mainly for its pest control capabilities-- to be able to work the neem cake into the surface of the soil (or into a soil mix) as an insect repellant throughout my garden. We use this as part of a multi-pronged attack on our pests, which include spider mites, japanese flea beetles and cabbage looper moths, in conjunction with other application methods (like Bio-Neem) and other organic pest control methods.\\n\\nThis is a really awesome product because of its two-fold nature-- there aren't many substances that function as an insect repellant AND a fertilizer. Granted, as a fertilizer, it is limited in use (for me that translates into \\\"goes well with other ingredients in a custom soil mix\\\"), but it can be used in multiple ways.\\n\\nImportant to note that I would NOT consider this as a SINGLE method of pest control. Please look elsewhere if your main goal is to get rid of spider mites or other pests. This is a TOOL which can be used towards that end, but alone, it is highly unlikely to succeed (without a herculean effort).\",\n \"Product: Supplied to professional kitchens and great for yours! This NSF Certified SuperSteelreg stock pot separates itself from the average commercial stainless steel pots. The pot is constructed of quality stainless steel with a Heavy-Duty 3-ply bottom consisting of two layers of stainless steel surrounding a 5 mm thick aluminum core. This results in extra strength, allows for superior heat distribution and is induction ready making THIS one of the most versatile lines of stainless steel pots available. Ideal for soups, pastas, stocks, bulk vegetables and seafood. Commercial grade with brushed exterior and interior. NSF means a HIGH QUALITY! Items marked with the NSF logo means that the item and its manufacturing facility was tested and approved by the independent testing company called NSF - National Sanitation Foundation (www.nsf.org) to be safe for commercial use. Many professional restaurants adhere to using NSF listed cookware in their commercial kitchens. The NSF logo can be found on millions of consumer, commercial, and industrial products today. Products evaluated and certified by NSF International include bottled water, food equipment, home water treatment products, home appliances, plumbing and faucets, and even pool and spa components. No other independent testing programs require companies to comply with the strict standards imposed by NSF and its product certification programs. From extensive product testing and material analysis to unannounced plant inspections, NSF is the only third-party testing organization to undertake a complete evaluation of every aspect of a product's development before it can earn our certification.Please feel free to do a search in our store for a range of other NSF certified cookware. * Thickness: 1 mm\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Heavy duty, tested thoroughly!\\n\\nReview: I got myself one of these \\\"used\\\" through a warehouse deal, and saved a little cash (though full price is cheap as I've found them for solid SS). Mine came (as expected) with a ding towards the bottom of the pot-- but given how thick the steel is, I wondered what in the heck could actually create a dent-- maybe a forklift? Whatever it was, it had to be big and heavy.... and that should give you a good idea of the quality of the stainless.\\n\\nThis pot is also heavy, and has a nice clad bottom for even heat distribution. I use it for cooking cheese, but we have also used it for making stock and other \\\"large pot\\\" creations. The handles are VERY SECURE, even when lifting a FULL 20 quart load, and the lid also fits very well.\\n\\nOverall, VERY satisfied.\",\n \"Product: This high-capacity renewable dehumidifier has been designed to absorb moisture from small enclosed areas. It will help protect clothes and valuables from the damaging effects of mold, mildew and moisture rot. It is 100 percent renewable and needs no power to operate. Just hang the Eva-Dry unit in a closet or place it in other small enclosed spaces and it will adsorb moisture. There are no batteries required or cords to plug in - the unit works without power.\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: No measurable effect in my space\\n\\nReview: I purchased this unit for a small, closet-sized space that has (regularly monitored and measured) high levels of humidity, hoping that it would do the job. Sadly, it is not up to the task. No matter where I place the unit in the space, floor or ceiling, my measurements of humidity appear to be completely unaffected by it.\\n\\nThe needs of my space appear to be more than what this unit is capable of handling-- and although I didn't expect miracles from a sub-$50 \\\"Dehumidifier\\\", I at least expected some measurable results, even if only a 5% reduction in humidity. I will likely try moving this unit to a closet and see if I have any better luck with it-- but for now, and for the purpose I had intended for this unit, my rating stands.\",\n \"Product: This high-capacity renewable dehumidifier has been designed to absorb moisture from small enclosed areas. It will help protect clothes and valuables from the damaging effects of mold, mildew and moisture rot. It is 100 percent renewable and needs no power to operate. Just hang the Eva-Dry unit in a closet or place it in other small enclosed spaces and it will adsorb moisture. There are no batteries required or cords to plug in - the unit works without power.\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: No measurable effect in my space\\n\\nReview: I purchased this unit for a small, closet-sized space that has (regularly monitored and measured) high levels of humidity, hoping that it would do the job. Sadly, it is not up to the task. No matter where I place the unit in the space, floor or ceiling, my measurements of humidity appear to be completely unaffected by it.\\n\\nThe needs of my space appear to be more than what this unit is capable of handling-- and although I didn't expect miracles from a sub-$50 \\\"Dehumidifier\\\", I at least expected some measurable results, even if only a 5% reduction in humidity. I will likely try moving this unit to a closet and see if I have any better luck with it-- but for now, and for the purpose I had intended for this unit, my rating stands.\",\n \"Product: Taste the difference with TAKEYA's Cold Brew Coffee Maker. The traditional hot brewing process releases undesirable acids and oils, resulting in bitter flavor and acidity that is intolerable to many. With cold brewing, only the naturally delicious coffee flavors are extracted, leaving behind the bitter oils and fatty acids, creating a perfectly balanced, smooth extraction of concentrated coffee. Once brewed, concentrated coffee can be kept fresh in the TAKEYA airtight Cold Brew Coffee Maker for up to 2 weeks and used for both hot and iced coffees. Do not freeze or microwave\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: I Only Wish It Were Larger\\n\\nReview: Found this cold brewer from a web article, which called it the \\\"best/cheapest\\\" cold brew maker you could buy. Well, I didn't research a ton, since this was under $20, but I've gotta say it makes GREAT cold brew coffee.\\n\\nFinding the balance of grind coarseness and coffee amount is a bit different than regular hot coffee, and I do find that many of my favorite coffees taste different when prepared this way-- but I'd reached a point where the acidity in most coffees was destroying my stomach, despite not drinking all that much each day. With cold brew, I can drink much more coffee without having \\\"coffee stomach\\\"-- as in more than I usually require to make it through even the longest days.\\n\\nIt's easy to use, easy to clean and cheap. I only wish it were larger! :)\",\n \"Product: Help tend fires and add a classic look to your fireplace with the UniFlame 5-Piece fireplace twist tool set, by Blue Rhino. Featuring a twist design and matching twisted looped handles, this set includes all the tools you need to tend to a fire.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Heavy Duty Fire Tools that look NICE\\n\\nReview: I'd been using the fireplace set that was included when I bought my house years ago--- a cheapish but cast set that was shorter and had screw on handles. When we upgraded to a wood burning stove, I knew it was time to find something better. After some searching (not much, these were pretty easy to find) I discovered this brand/model/set.\\n\\nThey arrived pretty much exactly as I expected them--- a few critical inches longer than my previous set, with a nicer stand/holder, and best of all, heavy (but not overly) solid fireplace tools. The handles are thick (twisted ends instead of a screw on), the finish is really quite lovely, and the tools themselves work the way I want them to-- the log tongs especially so, although they are a two handed job, especially with heavier logs.\\n\\nSo far, I've used them for about a month, and the finish is only a little ashy-- otherwise same as they ever were. Last fireplace tool set I think I'll need..... hopefully EVER.\",\n \"Product: JENSEN JTA-222 3-Speed Stereo Turntable with AM/FM Stereo Radio\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Listen to vinyl, yes; truly experience vinyl, NO.\\n\\nReview: Bought this for my teenage daughter who wanted a turntable after seeing mine. For the price, it was a no-brainer, and for the functionality that goes along with the price, it gets four stars (I think it would have to be AMAZING to get five for the price).\\nThe sound quality is OK, but what do you expect from a one-piece, amp/speakers built in, unit? This is NOT a $99 turntable, but for the function, it does not matter. The highest volume setting is a very dull roar, and of course, the tiny speakers begin to distort at the dull roar-- but again, THIS IS NOT A $99 turntable. In fact, with the built-ins, it's not even a $50 turntable-- but again, IT DOES THE JOB.\\n\\nIf you're looking for a cheap, below-entry level \\\"toy\\\" (it really isn't, but for the price, might as well be), this is your baby. If you want to truly experience vinyl, this is NOT your baby-- at least go to the $99 turntable with separate components (in my judgment). I'm sure there are audiophiles (who will NOT be reading this review, I'm guessing) who would say \\\"Add $400 to that price and you MIGHT have something that resembles a vinyl experience\\\". I'd like to be that guy, but for me, the $99 one does just fine for me now, and this one does GREAT for my teenager, who LOVES it (but of course, has hinted that she'd like my $99er if and when I upgrade).\",\n \"Product: Mediabridge Forte - Portable Bluetooth Speaker\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: TINY Bluetooth Bomb (in a good way)\\n\\nReview: I received this product at a discount in exchange for an honest review.\\n\\nAs a result, I didn't pay attention to ALL the details about this speaker. I saw \\\"Bluetooth Speaker 5W maximum powered subwoofer\\\", and ASSUMED about the size (and we all know how that word is spelled). Looking at it, I GUESSED that it was approximately 3-4 inches square, maybe 6 inches tall..... so when I opened the shipping box, I was a bit shocked to see how tiny it is (approximately 60% of my guess doing rough math in my head). My first impression was: \\\"..... oh boy....\\\". (completely underwhelmed).\\n\\nI unbox it, and charge it up, plugging into a USB port on my computer, and within about 2 hours, it's charged (I didn't pay much attention, it could have actually been ready sooner-- I wanted to ensure a full charge before use, and at 2 hours, it WAS fully charged). So I power it on with my new assumptions that this thing is pretty much a toy, prepared with a playlist of my favorite heavy bass \\\"test the subwoofer\\\" and more delicate \\\"test the mid-high end\\\" songs, and turn it on. Pairing is effortless if you've ever done it before, so I queue up my first track and (of course) crank up the volume to max.\\n\\nSecond assumption about speaker: Blown Away. It's LOUD. I can tell there's a subwoofer not so much because of the deep bass thump I normally associate with subwoofers (it's KINDA there, but seriously, what do you expect from a little box you could uncomfortably fit into the front pocket of a pair of jeans if you really had to?), but instead, because the speaker is moving itself, beat by beat, with the music, across my desk. The subwoofer IS actually powerful enough to move this little beast. How loud? After finding that the bass response really depends on the surface on which you place the speaker, I settle on my dining table, near one end of my house, and walk about 60-75 feet to the other end of the house, and everything is still quite clear. I take the speaker outside to the back yard, and place it under the eave by the back door, and walk around the yard, 20-30 yards around, and the music is loud (and present) enough to hear clearly, but quiet enough to still hold a conversation.\\n\\nOK, so I'm satisfied with the sound. For a Bluetooth speaker (I do NOT expect audiophile quality by ANY means), it kicks out the music, especially for the size. Granted, it's basically MONO, and it's one tiny sound source, and as I mentioned, you could wear this thing on a large clunky necklace if you wanted, it's so small, but it hits the bass end well, the mids and highs are clear and present, and surprisingly do NOT distort at maximum volume (I believe that's due to smart designers who didn't allow the volume range to override the speaker capacity, unlike most). But the controls: SIMPLE. You can pause your music, you can take a phone call (quality is AOK, by the way), and restart your music, and that's about it-- simple by design. This was one area where I dropped about 1/2 star from my rating.\\n\\nI found it difficult to settle on my rating for this speaker, because of the lack of built in functions, along with the bottom line price of the unit for value offered (especially since I got a discount). For my personal needs, I would not have selected this speaker (because I like a few more functions for dealing with my music, at least a fast forward). I was also initially put off by the size of it, although considering the sound it puts out, it is truly AMAZING for its class. So for me, it really comes down to price and the needs of the end user. If you just want a tiny simple powerful bluetooth to blast your music, this may very well be a five-star speaker for you, depending on price. I settled on four stars, based on the current sale price (I'd quote, but let's leave it at \\\"under $20\\\" since prices change) and my own needs.\\n\\nLet's bottom line it: At the \\\"list price\\\", or even the \\\"regular price\\\", I would feel like I paid too much for this. At around $20, give or take, it begins nearing the awesome factor, and you can do the math from there.\\n\\nPROS: Incredibly portable, Incredible sound for the size, \\\"subwoofer\\\".\\nCONS: Limited controls, \\\"mono\\\" sound\",\n \"Product: Carhartt's men's extremes active jac is arctic-quilt lined for cold weather conditions. Water repellent, it's constructed of tough, 1000-denier cordura nylon, and fully lined with quilted, arctic-weight polyester insulation. It features two inside pockets, two hand-warmer pockets and rib-knit cuffs and waist. The main seams are triple stitched for strength. Care- Do not bleach\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Great Work Coat.... and yeah, it's TOUGH.\\n\\nReview: To me Carhartt is a brand that means \\\"made tough to work hard\\\" (usually), and this jacket is no exception.\\n\\nYes, it's a little stiff when you get it (the hood will not \\\"relax\\\" as other reviewers have aptly noted), but I found a good way around that issue was to simply fold it inside out while working without the hood. I also used the \\\"wash with vinegar\\\" trick another reviewer mentioned just to get a head start on break-in, and it seemed to get me off to a good start-- I do NOT feel like the marshmallow man while wearing it.\\n\\nIt's VERY warm, but still comfy up to about 50 F (when unzipping it usually provides the necessary ventilation)-- however, if the sun comes out, the black color soaks it up and it becomes too hot. OK, so you can't have ONE jacket for both super cold and warmish days. I didn't buy this for warmish days, and for cold, it does the trick.\\n\\nThe zipper WAS a little tight at first, but I used an old school trick and rubbed graphite (read: pencil tip) up and down the zipper surfaces a few times, then \\\"broke in\\\" the zipper. Don't notice that issue now.\\n\\nAs far as wind: What wind?\\n\\nAs far as rain: This jacket sheds water quite well. Can't say I'd choose it for a downpour kind of day, but in light to medium rain I made it inside with a slightly wet jacket exterior (most of the water just beaded up on it) but as for me.... still quite dry and warm underneath the built in layers.\\n\\nJust what I wanted. Unfortunately, it's also just what my wife wanted.... so I may have to get her one too.\",\n \"Product: Rugged framed 100% polycarbonate construction that creates a combination of strength, flexibility and capacity.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Great looking, well-designed, highly functioning spinner bag\\n\\nReview: I decided to buy this spinner because I was tired of going through cheaper zipper spinner models.... either the zipper would break, or the hard sides would crack. This bag seemed like a good alternative, with it's traditional latch/lock closure and reinforced frame. To be honest, I didn't even really look at the inside detail of the bag (they're all alike, right?) until it arrived.... and I was VERY glad I'd made the choice I did. Besides the usual \\\"tie-down\\\" for packed clothes on one half of the oyster shell, there is a \\\"floating\\\" zipper pouch, suitable (in my case) for my pressed dress shirt and slacks.\\n\\nI was easily able to put in two pairs of shoes, two pairs of pants, undershirts, shirts, sweaters-- quite enough for the three days/two nights trip I just took, and likely, had I taken a bit more time (and was more attached to stricter folding of items), I could likely have fit enough clothes for a five day trip.\\n\\nAs far as being carry-on sized, I cannot say, but being as that I live in a smallish city where regional flights make typical carry-on sized bags into \\\"cabin checked\\\" bags, I can speak to the durability of the exterior under checked bag conditions. Granted, as of now, this has only been used on one trip (with three flights each way and associated baggage handling), but I see NO wear whatsoever. The bag looks BRAND NEW. I honestly have not been able to say this about any other bag. I certainly do not think this is a \\\"bulletproof\\\" spinner that will always look this way-- eventually that event that scratches the surface will happen-- but having a bag look just the way it did after my trip as it did when I unboxed it? That's something.\\n\\nIt looks great, the wheels are great quality-- the handle, when extended, feels a bit wobbly, as others have mentioned, but in playing with it a little bit, I almost wonder if the wobble is built in so that the handle can take a bit more \\\"punishment\\\" and bend without breaking. In any case, for this trip, and this traveler, and this bag, everything was AOK.\",\n \"Product: The original, and still the smartest solution to your casual outside adventures, our slip-on Jungle Moc shoe will never disappoint with its performance, comfort and versatility. Breathable to keep feet comfortable in the heat, our Touch Breeze Moc integrates odor-fighting M Select FRESH inside and an M Select GRIP sole for exploring when and where you want without pause.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: First, DEFINITELY NOT LAST, \\\"jungle moc\\\". Excellent.\\n\\nReview: I've owned Merrell's before, but this is my first \\\"jungle moc\\\"..... and UNLIKELY to be my last.\\n\\nI chose these to be my \\\"casual summer house-town slippers\\\", and so far, they are more comfortable (and I can wear them longer) than any other pair I've selected. Normally, even with my most comfy shoes of this type, I end up with some discomfort around my heel or ankle by mid-day-- but not so in these. They fit my feet (which are narrow in the heel, but wide-ish in the toe, usually a M width does the trick for me) pretty well-- I suspect that the \\\"narrowness\\\" some other reviewers have mentioned actually works for my feet. Arch support in these is VERY mild, but I don't really require that, so for me, they are ok in that respect.\\n\\nOne of the big factors for me, besides comfort, in these shoes, is the temperature-- COOL, VERY COOL. I normally wear socks, even on the warmest days, and in my typical leather/suede slip ons, my feet usually sweat and become uncomfortably warm-- not so in these. While the mesh upper doesn't quite let the wind through (there's a backing that doesn't allow socks to show through), it is MUCH cooler than most shoes of this type I wear-- and so far, I have worn them around the yard on several near-100-degree days, with no \\\"hot feet\\\".\\n\\nThe look is about what I expected from the pics-- perhaps a bit clunkier looking than I might ultimately desire, but no biggie. I have found, that in about a week's worth of daily wear, I am beginning to see some \\\"creases\\\" on the mesh material, especially around the flex points that are created while entering and walking in the shoe. Since it is mesh, the creases aren't really set in (yet), but that's certainly a possibility over time.\\n\\nOverall (as of this moment), I stick with my five-star rating. This doesn't represent \\\"perfection\\\" to me, as I believe I have really owned one or two \\\"perfect\\\" pairs of shoes in my forty-some years on this earth (visiting)-- however, it DOES represent value for the money, and overall, how well I feel these shoes will serve the need for which I purchased them over time. Although they are not \\\"perfect\\\", I have no problem giving the \\\"I love them\\\" rating.\\n\\nFinally, the experience of the Merrell Jungle Moc, primarily the sole and overall feel/fit, is a BIG winner for me. These will NOT be the last pair I purchase-- in fact, I will likely search for a different version of the shoe for my autumn/winter seasonal needs.\",\n \"Product: These Cotton Sole Kung Fu shoes are designed for indoor training. These shoes feature a black canvas construction with a reinforced cotton sole. The cotton sole provides you with easier mobility indoors to prevent the restriction of movement. These shoes are comfortable and durable enough for the most rigorous Kung Fu training.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Great for Vacuum Hose Snake Style Kung Fu (and other household Martial Arts styles)\\n\\nReview: Funny, Amazon asking about these shoes as if they were regular every day shoes. If you're looking at these, you either do some sort of Martial Arts or simply like the basic slipper look.\\n\\nThese are nothing fancy, just your basic Kung Fu shoes. Cotton upper, cotton sole (so not really meant for outdoor wear, unlike their rubber soled counterparts). I use them as a house slipper, as for me, they are the next best thing to barefoot (NO ARCH SUPPORT, just a 1/4\\\" firm cotton sole under your foot). The only reason I didn't give them 5 stars was because I wish they covered the tops of my feet just a little bit more-- I've had pairs before that covered a little more, maybe about 1/2 inch. Not a huge deal-- they still fit exactly as expected (not designed to have room in the toe like regular shoes, they fit a little more like socks) and do the job.\",\n \"Product: Made of 7-ounce, 100 percent cotton rip stop fabric this short sits at the waist, has a relaxed seat an thigh and features fast dry technology that wicks away sweat for comfort and stain breaker technology which releases stains. I also has a comfortable gusseted crotch, hidden hook-and-loop back pocket flaps and cargo flaps, stronger sewn-on-seam belt loops, right-leg zipper secured side cargo pocket and a 11-inch inseam.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Very nice shorts. Comfy and cool.\\n\\nReview: As other reviewers have stated, make sure you measure your waist before ordering-- these, like other Carhartt's, are NOT vanity sized. Knowing this, I ordered my normal size in Carhartt's and mine fit great.\\n\\nThe rip-stop fabric is nice looking, and also quite functional from the looks of it (no, I didn't do a test stab). I'm not so sure about \\\"wicking\\\", as I haven't really worn them in super sweaty situations yet, but I definitely notice them to be cooler and more comfortable, temperature wise, than many of my other \\\"non-wicking\\\" shorts. The length of these shorts works well for me, sitting right around my knee, and the style will work just as well for a picnic in the park as for a hike in the hills or work in the yard.\\n\\nGood stuff as usual, Carhartt.\",\n \"Product: Streamlining performance, this hiker with cinching stretch closure feels snug over an Air Cushioned heel and durable traction.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Super Comfortable for My Feet.\\n\\nReview: While I have no experience with the previous Merrell Chameleon, I'm pretty darned happy with this version. Fortunately for me, I was able to try on the shoe in person, which helped me to determine I should size down 1/2 size (normally an 11, a 10.5 is just fine in these for me).\\n\\nThey ARE a little tough to get on, mostly because of the design. This is basically a SLIP ON HIKER. Yes, it has \\\"laces\\\" which can be used to \\\"tighten\\\" the fit, but this is essentially a slip on with a firm, snug neoprene-like sleeve around the ankle to ensure a good fit. For me, they DO fit very well, and are among my most comfortable shoes I own.\\n\\nSome have complained about the lack of padding in these-- but I generally don't depend on a shoe alone for the right amount of cushion and pad for my feet. Not like I have special needs feet, but I generally do much better in ANY pair of shoes with a nice set of athletic gel-cushioning insoles, and these are no exception. They were comfortable out of the box, but with the insoles I like, they're really PERFECT (for my feet and their needs).\\n\\nI'm easily able to hike 5 miles or more in these, and have even run in them for short distances. Concrete, asphalt, dirt, gravel, grass.... doesn't matter.... my feet are fine and happy on all of these. I frequently even return home from my hikes and forget to change shoes, sometimes for hours-- then look down while grocery shopping to find my Chameleon's still on my feet. I think that speaks volumes.\",\n \"Product: 32 Degrees Weatherproof's ultra-light premium duck down packable vest delivers minimal weight, superb compressibility and high loft warmth. The down packable vest is great for a range of activities and easily folds into a detachable pouch\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Not TOP quality, but really QUITE GOOD\\n\\nReview: I bought this vest on a Daily Deal, and got a GREAT price on it-- I figured \\\"What the heck, for this price, how bad can it be?\\\". I'm glad I did-- it ended up being a screaming deal.\\n\\nThe fill quality is very good, especially for the price I paid, but honestly, even for the every day price. I have a name-brand, 800-fill puffer hoodie, that clearly has more down, but honestly, not THAT much more (by feel, at least). I've worn this vest on 30-something or 40-something degree days with just a long-sleeve (heavier) shirt underneath it and been VERY comfortable-- nice and warm on a \\\"cool\\\" day.\\n\\nThe only issue I've had with this vest, however, are the zippers. Several times I've had them catch (lightly) when zipping or unzipping, and they just need some gentle manipulation to get them freed up and working again-- not a huge deal, and honestly, somewhat expected for the price, but that makes this a 4-star product instead of a 5-star. Fortunately, the zipper malfunctions have so far been only temporary, and not functionally destructive-- or we'd quickly be going down to the 2-3 star range.\\n\\nFor now, however, I'm VERY pleased with this vest-- does just what I want, looks nice, and I got a great deal.\",\n \"Product: The Bulldog Cases Grey Molded Double Pistol Case measures in at 9\\\" X 12\\\" X 5\\\" and has a durable ABS polycarbonate molded outer shell. The corners of the case are fortified to provide extra protection from bumps and scrapes. This case features a luggage-style handle as well as a TSA combination lock. The TSA combination lock allows for the case to be \\\"flight friendly\\\" when transporting firearms. The inside padding of this case is two layers of thick egg-crate foam and will allow up to four firearms to be held within the case.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Nice little case... for my purposes\\n\\nReview: It's about the size of a lunchbox, but not quite so metallic on the outside. It's more like a soft shell, really, with well made zippers and a functional, but not security minded lock-- that is to say, it'll keep someone out who doesn't just want to cut through the binding, which as other reviewers have stated, could be easily done with a utility knife.\\n\\nThat said, inside are three layers of eggcrate foam, allowing you to safely pack (without scratching) two pistols, or a pistol and some magazines, or a pistol and your rather flat lunch for the day, if that's what you fancy. For me, this was exactly what I wanted-- no, not the flat lunch, but a decent range case that I could take out and lock for appearances if needed. Again, the other reviewers who've mentioned the lock are RIGHT ON-- while it does lock, I would NOT NOT NOT use this case to transport firearms via commercial transportation. However, to go out to the range, having my firearms \\\"locked\\\" while in the car-- PERFECT.\\n\\nGreat for me and my needs-- not going to get 5 stars from someone looking for a secure lock box, or a real HARD shell case. While I'm sure this case could handle a little bit of jostling, or even a good toss from a moving vehicle (once), unless you've got your gear packed inside so that it WILL NOT MOVE, a serious impact would likely do some damage to the contents.\",\n \"Product: Mityvac 7.3 liter fluid evacuator features stiffening ribs for added durability. The redesigned pump handle is stronger for heavy use and longer tool life. A larger base prevents the chance of tipping and spills in shop.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Works well for some cars, not at all for others.....\\n\\nReview: I bought this because I've never changed my own oil, but thought it would be a much easier place to start than climbing under the car.....funny how it worked out.\\n\\nI tried the pump first on my 2002 Mustang-- NO DICE WHATSOEVER. No matter what I tried, I could NOT get any of the tubes deep enough to suck out ANY oil. I ended up changing the oil UNDER THE CAR. UGH. I did use the pump afterwards to suck up the used oil from my oil pan, and it worked quite well.\\n\\nI then tried it on my 1966 Ford Ranchero, and had every drop out within less than 2 minutes. Compared to the under-car method, WOW. This thing works like a charm. From oil pan to Mityvac to empty oil container and off to recycle.\\n\\nAs I said, I'd never changed my oil either way before-- and having now done both, I've got to say if this device fits your car, it's incredibly useful. Four stars, even though it was unusable on my Mustang-- since it can only work for cars with a correctly shaped dipstick tube, I can't fault it for that.\",\n \"Product: A quick, easy and affordable way to replace a keyless entry remote key fob. Complete remote with a new battery and electronics installed. DIY step by step programming instructions included. Please use the parts finder to ensure this key is compatible with your vehicle\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: An Awesome non-OEM priced solution that WORKS\\n\\nReview: I was a little skeptical if this was going to work for the money.... especially after reading the programming instructions, which to even me, as a software technician, appeared as if they might be challenging (a number of specific key turns and button presses on both existing and new remotes).\\n\\nI was so wrong. Despite my reservations, I was able to complete the programming on the first try, and the fob works just the way it should. I'll admit I'd sort of hoped that although MY original remote doesn't have the rear door button, and this one does, it would magically work-- but dang it, my car doesn't have the feature.\\n\\nSo, despite my extraneous magical wishes not being granted by this product, it gets five stars. All functions work as they should, and it IS actually easy to program. I'd buy it again.\",\n \"Product: Fox Farm Big Bloom.03 - .1 - .11 Quart Bottle Big Bloom is Alive! A microbially active, water soluble plant food specifically formulated to promote and emphasize the blooming characteristics of all flowering and fruiting plants. Big Bloom is an 100% natural and organic biologically active instant plant food. Big Bloom promotes strong, extra large, and multiple blooms while dramatically enhancing the flavor of fruits and vegetables. Big Bloom can be applied out of a watering can, through a foliar sprayer, drip irrigation and hydroponic systems. It's gentle nutrition will not burn tender young plants. May be used in combination with Grow Big, to customize the nutritional requirements of all plants.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: One of the few truly ORGANIC choices (that I trust)\\n\\nReview: I really like Big Bloom. I like that it's truly organic, that it's gentle yet effective, and the ingredients (I could almost make it myself-- it's just more work than I care to do regularly with everything else). What I LOVE is the effect it has on my plants. I'm not going to try to make claims of percentages or anything like that-- you'd have to do everything I do, or I'd have to do everything YOU do, to make that work out for us.... IT WORKS FOR ME AND MY METHODS.\\n\\nIt IS a little expensive, but well worth it. Just watch out because not all Fox Farm products ARE organic (if you care about organic like me-- if not, I'm sure we have other things in common). I've used their non-organic products too, and like those as well.\",\n \"Product: Mykos is a fast-growing, beneficial fungi that connects many of the eneficial microbes in the soil to host plants. This \\\"symbiotic\\\" relationship inceases the supply of nutrients to plants, increasing the availability of both moisture and most of the fundamental elements required for plant growth. This greater nutrient availability leads to a bounty of healthier bigger plants and \\\"Bumper Crops\\\" Mykos has been used to produce world record-breaking pumpkins every year since 2006.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Used this for YEARS, still love it.\\n\\nReview: First discovered Mykos several years back and used it with every transplant. While I've never done any type of \\\"blind study\\\", what I notice is that plants that receive Mykos as per the instructions during transplant suffer far less (if any) shock or bad effects. Granted, I've been doing transplants for years, so I know what I'm doing, but that doesn't mean that I'm even close to a 100% survival rate-- no one can be.\\n\\nSure, some transplants I've done WITHOUT Mykos have done fine, but this is a product for those plants you really care about, and/or if you just want all your plants to have the best environment possible. Microbes and microlife are an essential part of that environment in my book (and many other folks' too), and for me, Mykos is my choice for the root system.\",\n \"Product: AQUA RITE COLLECTION by Bloem: Constructed from the highest quality components, the Bloem Aqua Rite Watering Can is made from shatterproof plastic and is sure to last for years. Bloem products live up to their name with user-friendly handles for precise watering and easy carrying. The long-stem spout and small opening allows you to control the water flow to your plants and makes it easier to water those hard to reach places. Works great for watering indoors potted plants, hard to reach plants, or self-watering planters. All weather durability with UV protection and thick wall design ensures long lasting use. Made in USA. Holds 144 oz. = 1.125 Gallons Comfortable, easy-to-use handle Long stem spout controls water flow Size: Width 15 in (x) Depth 5.75 in (x) Height 10 in One-piece construction eliminates leaks 100% UV stabilized polypropylene plastic ensures long lasting color and withstands extreme weather conditions + BPA free\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: OK, I don't feel bad about spending my cash on THIS plastic watering can\\n\\nReview: I knew I needed a long-spouted watering can, but boy, did I have a hard time finding one-- not so much because they don't exist, but rather, because they are either tiny little toys that might be good for watering a dollhouse garden, or because they are overpriced pieces of thin plastic that hardly seem sturdy enough or worth the ridiculous prices being asked.\\n\\nEnter the Bloem Living Aqua Rite-- priced under $10, but apparently (based on the reviews I read, verified by this one as well) it is sturdy and well-made (for a molded plastic watering can). And YES, this is indeed the case. It holds about a gallon, is pretty easy to fill, has nice balance and reach, and best of all, is a somewhat \\\"sturdy\\\" (as much as this is possible) piece of molded plastic!\\n\\nNo cons to speak of-- this simply does the job, and I expect it will continue to do so as long as I don't kick it, drop it when full of water, leave it in the sun and/or freeze, or participate in any other plastic weakening/shattering events.\",\n \"Product: The Milliard Hydroponic Grow Tent is great for cultivating exotic fruits, herbs, vegetables or seasonal fruits all year around! This tent makes indoor gardening easy! You control the climate and lighting so you can grow any plant in any place safely and easily! The tent is designed with an interior layer of reflective lining for maximized light and heat control to ensure an optimal growing environment. The tent features a sturdy tubular metal frame construction with support bars for hanging lights and plastic push-lock corners for easy tool free assembly, as well as heavy duty support bars to secure the light fixtures. Use the support bars at the top of the frame to hang lights and other greenhouse equipment according to your needs. The reflective interior lining of the grow tent is engineered with durable reinforced zippers for easy set up and multiple intake/exhaust ports that improve vapor and moisture control. The ports allow you to implement ductwork, fans, filters, and electric appliances. Easy clean up! This tent includes a removable reflective waterproof floor pan that takes the hassle out of indoor gardening and ensures a clean and enclosed environment for your plants to flourish. Large zippered door allows you to set up your plants and growing equipment with ease. Grow tent measures: 40in. x 40in. x 79in.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Great value for the money\\n\\nReview: I purchased this tent because it was one of the top rated on Amazon in class, and now I've seen why:\\n\\nPros: SIMPLE, relatively fast assembly, thick durable-feeling material, nice attention to detail (the vents, window, electric cord sleeves), nice zippers, seemingly sturdy/durable, bargain price.\\n\\nCons: Recommend 2 persons for assembly, especially when putting tent over frame. Zippers were a little sticky in places at first (though really solid feeling), but freed with some work, then were no issue). Also, my box did publicly display \\\"GROW TENT\\\" on the side, which I didn't care about, being an \\\"indoor veggie gardener\\\", but I know some people do.\\n\\nIn any event, although I've just set it up, I'm really pretty thrilled with it-- if things change, my review will be adjusted accordingly.\",\n \"Product: Power Wash is a plant wash for removing unwanted residue left behind from foliar applied products. Pesticides, sticking agents, wetting agents and foliar applied nutrients can leave residue on your plants. Power Wash removes left behind residue, leaving your plants clean. Power Wash can be used throughout the growing and flowering cycle, up to and including the day of harvest. Power Wash is truly the cleanest solution for your garden.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Don't Know What the Mystery Active Ingredient is...... but it WORKS.\\n\\nReview: Like Mighty Wash (this is a follow up product to be used 2-3 days after if you wish, if not on it's own), this is a mysterious, mostly water product that is designed to safely remove prior residues (foliar fertilizers, pest treatments, etc) from your plants. Honestly, I'm pretty certain it's something simple, that special active ingredient, but until the internet figures that one out, I'll stick to this for the function.\\n\\nI feel a little odd about giving such a \\\"mystery product\\\" five stars (though I had to do the same for Mighty Wash), but IT WORKS. Day of harvest, no problem. Residues other than Mighty Wash (like Neem oil), no problem. Spraying during daylight (IN THE SHADE), no problem-- although they recommend night-time application, necessity forced me to use it during the day-- and in the SHADE (DO NOT APPLY IN DIRECT SUN, YOU WILL DAMAGE YOUR PLANTS), on a warm day, I found my sprayed plants dry and ready for what was next within 45 minutes, clean and otherwise unaffected.\\n\\nOther reviewers have noted that this product and Mighty Wash appear to \\\"roll off\\\" the leaves-- and both WILL, but saturation is the key to success. I sprayed all surfaces until they were WET (not damp, or misted), and after drying, found no traces of residue (under a loupe) on leaves. If your gardening regimen requires such a product, you'll likely be as mysteriously pleased as I.\",\n \"Product: If you have never used the product (or never heard of it) Greensand is a mineral called glauconite, which is found on the ocean floor and mined for use as an organic fertilizer and soil conditioner. Greensand supplies marine potash, silica, iron oxide, magnesia, lime, phosphoric acid, and 22 trace minerals. Greensand works great on Southern hard as a rock clay soil this spring, to help improve its texture, and enrich the nutrient content of my soil without using chemicals. Greensand is one of the oldest and most generally useful tools in the organic gardening tool box. Greensand has been used since the eighteenth century as a soil amendment and slow-releasing fertilizer (0-0-3). It is one of the best certified organic sources of potassium. It comes from sandy rock or sediment containing a high percentage of the mineral glauconite (greenish-black to blue-green). It contains potash, magnesium, iron, silica and can contain as many as 30 other trace minerals. The recommended usage is to broadcast 50 to 100 lbs. per 1,000 square feet. It improves plant health in general and is also be used to loosen heavy, clay soils. It will also improve the moisture retention of sandy soils. Greensand is OMRI listed for organic use.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Greensand: The unknown yet awesome garden ingredient\\n\\nReview: I'd never heard of Green Sand until reading a book on organic growing which recommended it for long-term, slow-release rare and not-so-rare minerals.... and after I began using it in my soil mixes, I was hooked. I had been using the Down-To-Earth brand prior to this purchase, but after returning to their store locally and learning that their \\\"mine\\\" had \\\"run out\\\", I purchased the Old Cobblers Farm brand.\\n\\nSame good stuff. You don't need much of it, but WOW, it's a great additive. I think of it as \\\"long term azomite\\\"-- azomite being the \\\"A to Z of minerals\\\" for gardening, but in more of a slow-release, long-term format. Add this to your soil and you won't have any critical mineral shortages in your soil that may be affecting your plants. GOOD GOOD STUFF!\",\n \"Product: Cheristin for cats topical flea control is designed to kill 98100% of fleas in just 12 hours. Quick and easy to use, this product is efficient and provides long lasting flea control. NOTE : Monitor your cat after application. Side effects may include signs of application site reactions such as application site hair loss, hair change (greasy, clumping or matting) or redness, inflammation and itching. Other side effects such as inactivity, vomiting and inappetance have also been reported. If these or any other side effects occur, consult your veterinarian, your cats healthcare expert.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: So far, so good, works great....... wish it were cheaper.\\n\\nReview: After using Advantage for our multi-cat household for many years, it just wasn't working as well. Tried Cheristin on the recommendation of one of our vets-- and it DOES work for us.\\n\\nPros: Less chemical smell/stickiness, faster acting time, more natural (derived) product than Advantage, KEEPS OUR CATS COMFORTABLE. It's now been 5-6 weeks and we COULD perhaps get away with a week more (but we won't) before retreating them.\\n\\nCons: Price. Because Advantage is offered in large sizes (with the same formula) for dogs, we were able to buy Advantage for large dogs and treat all five of our cats with a single tube. Because Cheristin is a new product, and there is no dog formula, we cannot do this, so instead of paying $12 to treat all 5 cats, we end up paying about 5 times that.\",\n \"Product: Keeping your home clean and healthy is your mission and Filtrete healthy living filters can be your perfect partner. Featuring high performing electrostatic technology, Filtrete healthy living filters proactively capture dust, bacteria, germs, viruses and allergens in your air. For optimum performance, change your filter every 90 days or sooner.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Great filter for great indoor air\\n\\nReview: When I bought my house I learned of the importance of changing your furnace filter (if you have a furnace). After trying some super-cheap filters, and suffering from indoor allergies (we have cats, a small suburban farm, kids, lots of dust-makers), I tried a lower-grade Filtrete filter. My results were so noticeable, I upgraded, and now, have upgraded again.\\n\\nWhile these filters can only do so much for your indoor air (the air that actually circulates through your furnace), it really does a great job. I'm always simultaneously impressed and disgusted by how dirty they are after I pull them out. They do indicate that these filters are good for 3 months-- but I normally replace them every TWO months (finding them quite dirty) to enhance my air quality further and hopefully extend the life of my furnace.\",\n \"Product: These HEAVYWEIGHT steel pegboards are perfect to organize your workshop and garage tools. Item is 16\\\" x 32\\\" and features a durable galvanized finish, diamond plate stamped surface and solid steel construction. Mounting screws are included.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Look nice, warp easily, better get real hanging hardware\\n\\nReview: While it does look nice as pictured, the metal used is not exactly what I would call \\\"heavyweight\\\"-- rather, \\\"medium-weight\\\". Granted, for the price paid, I didn't expect something industrial duty. However, because of this (lack of) weight, the boards are prone to warping and bending under small amounts of weight (for example, four of them leaned up against each other in the shipping carton). The biggest part of this issue is not the actual warp of the panel, but rather, the warping of the folded section of metal that should be perpendicular to the wall when hung, which more or less will keep the whole panel warped unless fixed. This CAN be done, but it's a pain.\\n\\nThe next issue I have with these panels is the \\\"included hanging hardware\\\"-- which translates to six sheet rock screws that absolutely WOULD NOT hold ANY type of weight of tools without anchors. Fortunately, I purchased mine to use as magnetic bulletin boards, but despite the fact that they will not hold much weight, I am STILL considering using some anchors on general principle.\\n\\nSo they lose points on weight and hardware-- but as I mentioned, they do look sharp, and they are (properly hung) quite functional. Had I not purchased these on a day when they were about 30% off the price I first saw, I would likely have given them fewer stars-- but can accept this as \\\"you get what you pay for\\\".\",\n \"Product: Self assemble Niki Nu lamps create ambient, elegant, fun and soft mood lighting for any interior living room, outdoor space, office space, or patio and garden area; great for decorative lighting for events and parties. Made of durable and washable translucent polycarbonate plastic the completed light fixture shade is durable, easy to clean and weather resistance. The easy to assemble lighting kit includes 30 identical pieces of one color and one size along with written instructions and a website link to video instructions that guide you in creating one of 15 possible different light/lamp shade styles. Enhance your creativity by combining other Niki Nu Lites kit colors of the same size to customize a theme for a specific event or room decor. Assembled finished lamp shade diameter measurements: small/10-inches; medium/ 13-inches; large/17-inches; extra-large/22-inches. The completed lamp can hang from a ceiling, stand on the floor, sit on a table top, or adjust to fit as a lamp shade on an existing light fixture. A 12 foot long white electrical lamp cord with on/off switch is included in the kit. A single CFL energy saving lamp bulb, LED lamp bulb, or outdoor LED or CFL lamp bulb is required; not included in the kit. Basic assembly is required.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Cool looking lamp, fun \\\"puzzle\\\" to assemble\\n\\nReview: These are GREAT lamps-- this one was my second. People who come over ALWAYS comment on the modern colorful look.\\n\\nEspecially nice that they come WITH the lamp fixture, and it's a decent one at that. Makes for an easy all-in-one package.\\n\\nFinally, you do have to assemble the lamp-- the instructions are not QUITE as detailed and clear as they could be, for those who are not \\\"spatially inclined\\\", but after sitting with the detailed diagrams and having some hands on time with fitting together individual pieces, it was actually quite fun to assemble. Though challenging at times, it's easy enough to take the whole thing apart and start from scratch if necessary. You can also create larger, more intricate lamps with multiple kits-- which I have not yet tried, but it's a nice option.\",\n \"Product: The item is a set of 3 G9 120V 4W LED lamps, which is fully suitable for Standard G9 lamp base, and gives out 400 Lumens this light source gives off bright warm white light 2900K for illumination. The LED bulb features energy-saving design to save over 90% energy. With easy to install and long lifetime.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Nice lights, NOT STANDARD G9 size\\n\\nReview: I really wanted to (like/use/enjoy) these bulbs, as I'd selected them to replace some standard G9 Halogens in a couple new table lamps I purchased. They're billed as \\\"standard size\\\", but as another awesome reviewer noted (wish I'd dug futher into that review in particular) with pictures, they ARE NOT STANDARD SIZE. They are larger in diameter (overall, standard G9's are flattish) and slightly longer-- and as a result, although they would fit in my lamp sockets, I was unable to put the shade back in place, as much as I tried.\\n\\nThe good: The light WAS quite nice, appropriately colored, and definitely a good replacement for the halogens. The form is also quite nice, encapsulated and easier to handle than standard G9's or halogens (you can put them in with bare fingers).\",\n \"Product: GOT A GREEN HOUSE? LET'S GET GROWING! For the nature-lover and loving cultivator within you, there is Sandalwood. One of the latest additions to our family is the Sandalwood Dual Mode LED Grow Light, which is a simple but powerful device for all your indoor gardening and horticultural pursuits.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Nice Compact Grow Light\\n\\nReview: I purchased this light as an auxiliary light source for my small grow tent, where I already run a 300W Platinum LED light. That light is quite outstanding, but because of its shape (rectangular), the coverage pattern CAN be a little thin at certain angles or configurations of plants in the tent. I had considered purchasing a larger light, but that seemed like overkill for the tent, and then there's the price.\\n\\nEnter the Sandalwood 150W. Similarly designed (rectangular, with built in cooling fans, quality LED's, and different light phases for veg and bloom), it's a fairly equitable purchase in terms of price (about a dollar per watt). The included hanging hardware is a little bit on the flimsy side, but the unit is light-- it does the job ok. After installing it next to my existing light (in VEG mode), I powered up the Sandalwood, and noticed a definite increase in illumination on the plants. I did NOT do anything scientifically fancy like getting a light meter, but to my eyes, there's a difference now.\\n\\nThe plants, also, appear to notice the difference-- especially the plant in front of the tent, previously my \\\"dim spot\\\". While this plant previously had a tendency to lean towards the back of the tent (and the center of the larger light), it no longer leans, and seems quite contented to grow vertically. Shortly after installation, I switched into BLOOM mode (on both lights), and again, it just seems like there's more light all around to me. The plants also seem to agree, as I'm seeing fewer areas on the plants where growth appears to be slowed due to poor light coverage.\\n\\nOverall, even though I am using this light in tandem with another, I'm really impressed with it. The spectrum and power appear to be right on, and I don't doubt for one second that used alone, the Sandalwood 150W would do the job quite well in a small space. I did receive this light at a discount in exchange for my honest review, but my review is based on my perceived value based on the price most folks will pay (around $190). This is a solid four-star light, AT THE VERY LEAST. I will update my review as plants continue to grow and respond.\",\n \"Product: The 10 watt modern led desk lamp from Newhouse Lighting is an affordable and feature rich desk light for any student, professional or person! this lamp maintains 3-step dimming, 3-step color temperature control (3000K/4000K/5000K) and a usb charging port for convenient electronics charging. Couple these features with the fact that this lamp is constructed with energy stay quality lads and you'll be making back the money you spent on this lamp in much less time that than the 22.8 year life this light is expected to live (assuming 3 hours/day of use)! please give it a try today - we know you'll be impressed and satisfied.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Sleek, Adjustable LED desk/table lamp\\n\\nReview: Pros: Sleek design, easy maneuvering lamp head to put the light where you want it, simple design, selectable light colors/powers, USB charging port, NICE BRIGHT LIGHT (or dim when you prefer). Sturdy metal base.\\n\\nCons: USB Port is low output, lamp stem and light bar seem to be plastic.\\n\\nOverall: Good value for the price most folks will pay, currently around $45. I did receive this lamp at a discount in exchange for an honest review, but my rating is based on the $45 price. Solid 4-stars-- between the design and functionality, there isn't much competition at this level. The light it provides is quality-- pick your color and brightness. USB functionality was a nice thought, but either provide a higher powered charging port OR build in a battery pack and make the whole thing rechargeable.\",\n \"Product: Superior Heavy-duty neoprene grilling gloves feature acrylic terry lining for thermal insulation. Diamond-grip finish on palms for increased wet/dry grip. It has good abrasion, cut resistance, which makes it a great choice for working in both the food industry (deep fryers) and on your home grill, with heat stability up to 400F. This makes gloves suited to hot/cold liquid applications as well, perfect for steam applications like autoclaves or any situation where intermittent contact up to 400F occurs. (The time to pain at 400F is 16 seconds. Not recommended for use above 500F.) Neoprene resists the effects of aging, sunlight, ozone, oxidation and weather, as well as a broad range of oils and chemicals that attack natural rubber gloves like acids, caustics, oils, grease, and many solvents.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Works for my purposes!\\n\\nReview: I purchased these gloves for use in cheese making-- for dealing with dipping my hands repeatedly into acidic whey solutions that are often at uncomfortably hot temperatures. So far, great! The gloves are nice and thick, with enough terry cloth to protect against heat, and enough neoprene to.... well, ok, you don't need a lot of neoprene to protect against acidity-- but they feel thick enough overall to make me believe they will last quite well.\\n\\n4 stars instead of 5 because: They are the tiniest bit thick for maximum dexterity-- while I CAN achieve everything I need to do while wearing them, more delicate operations FEEL a little bit clumsy-- but that's a decent price for good heat/chem protection. Also, I wish the cuffs were just a little bit longer, perhaps another 3-4 inches. Otherwise, AWESOME.\",\n \"Product: Tuck Interior Printing Customized Court Cards Top Notch Quality Metal Look Printed By Expert Playing Cards Company\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Very \\\"Fancy\\\" cards at a reasonable price\\n\\nReview: I love unusual playing cards, and collect them. Don't ask me why. In any case, these caught my eye because I love foil details on cards. They also have a very unusual overall look to them.\\n\\nIf you're looking at these cards, you probably also like unusual playing cards, and you likely also know that some of the super-fancy artsy-designy card decks can go for upwards of $40 per deck, even $80. These are not that, clearly-- however, they are extremely cool for their price-- and would be extremely cool at a slightly higher price. They have a great design, which is executed very well, and have a great feel to them-- also, they have good enough clarity and contrast to be used as a regular deck of playing cards, without that \\\"is this a spade or a club?\\\" feeling I've gotten from similar cards which were designed more for the art than the play.\"\n]","isConversational":false},"profile_size":{"kind":"number","value":36,"string":"36"},"task":{"kind":"string","value":"longlamp_3"},"split_kind":{"kind":"string","value":"user_based"},"id":{"kind":"number","value":943,"string":"943"}}},{"rowIdx":944,"cells":{"question_id":{"kind":"string","value":"A2JZ1LA3IQIOIJ"},"question":{"kind":"string","value":"Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of \"4.0\" for a product with description \"We all want to help. Over the past fifty years $1 trillion of aid has flowed from Western governments to Africa, with rock stars and actors campaigning for more. But this has not helped Africa. It has ruined it. Dambisa Moyo's excoriating and controversial book reveals why millions are actually poorer because of aid, unable to escape corruption and reduced, in the West's eyes, to a childlike state of beggary. \"Dead Aid\" shows us another way. Using hard evidence to illustrate her case, Moyo shows how, with access to capital and with the right policies, even the poorest nations can turn themselves around. First we must destroy the myth that aid works - and make charity history.\". The summary of the review text is \"alternative perspective on aid\"."},"answer":{"kind":"string","value":"The argument certainly appears to be sound and pretty congruent with people like Garret Hardin, but the resistance against stopping the aid, given that we have very little if any evidence of its help, still seems insurmountable. I don't feel this part of the issue was fully addressed. Moyo, an African economist, does mention that there are huge economic issues tied into the aid givers themselves (jobs that would be lost if aid were eradicated) but that does not seem like a complex enough reason to resist what seems to be complete folly (guilt is also offered as an explanation).\n\nHowever, Moyo's argument has ample support and some repetition. The book is quite small as it is but there is still excess. Having said that, there are times when she refers to an economic principle or a financial instrument without enough explanation for someone like myself who knows little about either.\n\nWhat makes the book, perhaps, most worthwhile is her suggestions of what might work as an alternative to the aid movement. Some of her suggestions are already in place in small quantities (micro lending, unusual banking systems) and others would require a more massive shift in thinking and philosophy, not to mention a complete renovation of the current system of power in many AFrican states that thrive on the aid money."},"correct_answer":{"kind":"string","value":"The argument certainly appears to be sound and pretty congruent with people like Garret Hardin, but the resistance against stopping the aid, given that we have very little if any evidence of its help, still seems insurmountable. I don't feel this part of the issue was fully addressed. Moyo, an African economist, does mention that there are huge economic issues tied into the aid givers themselves (jobs that would be lost if aid were eradicated) but that does not seem like a complex enough reason to resist what seems to be complete folly (guilt is also offered as an explanation).\n\nHowever, Moyo's argument has ample support and some repetition. The book is quite small as it is but there is still excess. Having said that, there are times when she refers to an economic principle or a financial instrument without enough explanation for someone like myself who knows little about either.\n\nWhat makes the book, perhaps, most worthwhile is her suggestions of what might work as an alternative to the aid movement. Some of her suggestions are already in place in small quantities (micro lending, unusual banking systems) and others would require a more massive shift in thinking and philosophy, not to mention a complete renovation of the current system of power in many AFrican states that thrive on the aid money."},"documents":{"kind":"list like","value":["Product: With cut-outs it is easy to make fun 3-D shapes for your fondant cakes and cupcakes. Just roll out the fondant, press down with cut-outs and lift away! Remove shapes with a small spatula.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: fondant cutters NOT cookie cutters\n\nReview: These are very small. So, if you are looking for really little cookies, these will work. If you are looking for standard cookie cutter sizes, the largest of these is a small cookie cutter. The smallest is so small, you couldn't fit it over your pinkie (unless you have a very small pinkie). They are sturdy and I did use the largest one for cookie dough because I was desperate, but it worked. Also, while the largest cutter has pointed edges for the star, the two smaller ones have rounded edges so they are barely star shaped. One good thing about the largest one is that the angles of the star points are far enough apart that your cookie dough does not get stuck in them.","Product: 21325 Features: -Double wall vacuum insulated tumbler.-Material: Stainless steel.-Vacuum insulated technology keeps beverages hot for four hours and cold for twelve hours.-Patented auto seal lid is 100 percent leak proof and spill proof.-Not intended for carbonated beverages or boiling liquids.-Lid is dishwasher safe.-Capacity: 16 oz. Color/Finish: -Black finish.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: keeps hot things hot and cold things cold\n\nReview: I've bought several of these for my family and as gifts. The insulated cup performs as advertised: it does not leak (and I've knocked mine over many times) and it maintains temperature. I've left ice tea in it over night and the ice hasn't melted the next day. The first time I took hot tea in it to work, I burned myself an hour later because the tea was still so hot and I wasn't expecting it.\n\nCleaning issues: You have to get a good steel brush for cleaning. I use mine every day, all day long, but it does get clean with the steel brush. I use the brush also on the lid and make sure that the bristles can fit into the sipping opening so that it also gets clean. I've had my cup over a year and it is still going strong.\n\nProblem: the cup does build up pressure and if you aren't careful when you push the button to drink, hot liquid can spray out of the cup. I've taken to pushing the button several times after I put the lid on to release the air.\n\nMy husband takes his in his backpack to work on the BART so it gets shaken up for 40 minutes every day and he hasn't had any problems with it leaking or losing heat.","Product: Clean laundry is the name of your game. Now you can master more on your chore board with this Heavy-Duty Gullwing Clothes Drying Rack. Its 46-linear feet of drying area includes hanging space, a mesh shelf for sweaters and a shoe rack that keeps your kicks in shape while drying. Its the best drying rack for protecting perfect pairs of blue jeans, delicate lingerie or vintage pieces from wear and tear of a dryer cycleall while saving on energy costs. When youre not using it, this portable drying rack neatly folds down to 3 flat for easy storage inside your laundry room, bedroom, or at your moms house.\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: rusts and stains clothes\n\nReview: If you are using this for inside, this review does not pertain to you but if you are hoping to dry clothes outside, this rack is not a good choice. I've had it now for about five months and it continually rusts and ruins clothes and even my outdoor patio. I've tried to dip all the water out--doesn't work, water continues to leak literally for weeks after its wet. All it needs is a little water to get inside the joints of the rack and it will rust. Another problem with the rack is that the way it is set up, you cannot really angle the clothes so they are not sitting right behind one another so that it takes along time for things to dry.","Product: Yacoubian Building\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: ending worth a not scintillating beginning\n\nReview: Not to taken with this novel. I'd read a review about how controversial the book was in Egypt and I could see how it makes Egyptians look pretty shallow and greedy (but aren't people everywhere?). But, the writing itself did not really draw me in. The ending was my favorite part and I'm glad I stuck with it until then.\n\nThe novel follows several individuals who live in the once vibrant and luxurious but now declining and seedy Yacobian building (metaphorically like Egypt herself). Many of the individuals come to bad ends (one is forced into an abortion, another's child dies and the man blames himself because he is homosexual; one is killed while committing a terrorist act). But the main story that gives the novel some hope and potential for redemption is the story of the young, hopeful B who at first starts an affair with the older man but who both eventually fall in love and marry. (this sounds cheesy, but it's not in the novel).\n\nI'm sure there are references that would make more sense if I knew more (any?) Egyptian history. The decline of the building begins to occur with the revolution of 1959 (? not sure of the date). While the revolution was apparently supposed to bring freedom, if the book is any indication, it brought greed, bribery, chaos and poverty, much of which is justified in the name of the religion (the big criticism of religion comes when the Sheik is instrumental in forcing one of the women to have an abortion). In Egypt these direct criticisms of Islam may seem particularly powerful, but from the eyes of a Western reader it just seems like same ole same ole.","Product: Born in Haifa, Israel, David Deutsch was educated at Cambridge and Oxford universities. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society and a professor of Physics at the University of Oxford, where he is a member of the Centre for Quantum Computation. His many honors include the Institute of Physics' Paul Dirac Prize and Medal. The author of The Fabric of Reality, he lives in England.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: power of good explanations\n\nReview: I have no science background (except college biology) and my own reading, so my understanding of The Beginning of Infinity is somewhat limited (particularly the chapter on the multiverse). But even with that limitation, I found this to be one of the best books I've read in years in terms of developing and pushing my own understanding of the world. I reread two chapters just to try to get some inkling of their meaning (the multiverse and the jump to universality). I also read the infinity chapter twice and on the second reading I finally got the point of the infinite hotel (or at least one point). Even after two reads though, with those chapters I still felt lost. I really need to reread them all, but this is my review with just one reading.\n\nDespite my ignorance, I still felt it worthwhile to write a review to encourage others who might think that this book is not for them to tackle it. It is worth the effort to comprehend even for those who are not versed in the sciences.\n\nThis is what I understood from the book. Deutsch argues that we are at the \"beginning\" of the creation of good explanations about our world (the infinity of the title is the endless knowledge that humans have the potential to create). We will always be at the beginning (such is the nature of infinity I think--at least that's what the infinite hotel suggested), and this leads to optimism about our world. Our world is filled with (overflowing with might be a better way to think of it because we don't even really know where the world ends)problems and potential solutions. Through conjecture and criticism, humans \"solve\" many of these problems and this leads to new problems (solutions are not truths but they are the best explanations for the problem after much testing--and stand as objective truths, I think).\n\nD systematically builds his case, looking at other science approaches like empiricism or instrumentalism and shows why these are not good explanations. This is not an attack on alternative perspectives as much as it is the building of good explanations around the topics that are discussed (which range from beauty (D argues that beauty is objective), philosophy, psychology, elections, choices, creation and physics). There seems to be rhetorical room for disagreement, meaning that D posits his position, criticizes the other positions and then argues that his position currently stands up to available criticism. Again, the criticism isn't an attack though; it's how knowledge is created. D's conjecture and refutation approach (to use Popper's terms) seems to make so much more sense then the usual way arguments are presented: here is a claim, here is why you should believe my claim, because I have lots of support for my claim you, the reader, should agree I'm right. Even if you have 500 pages of support for your claim, one piece of criticism could refute it.\n\nWhat I found most beneficial to me was the emphasis on optimism. Humans are great creators, testers and explainers. That's exciting. I still don't understand how to apply the theories and truths discussed here to human behavior, however. Deutsch does mention psychology and its bad theories, but I'm not really talking about that. I'm wondering if humans can achieve all possibilities that do not defy the laws of physics,and does this mean things like balancing the budget? Or agreeing on good laws? How does the human ability to develop good explanations work in these instances? Deutsch (referencing Popper, who he references a lot)states that reforming politics is more a matter of setting up laws that allow us to get rid of bad rulers and bad laws (as opposed to trying to somehow fix the system to make sure only \"good\" politicians got elected, or good laws passed). Is the assumption that if those laws were in place than politicians would develop/accept good explanations for fear of being got rid of (or would we just end up overturning things over and over again? Now I'm prophesying which D condemns; what could we predict about human behavior? that is really the question . . . ). Do the principles raised in this book work with human behavior just as they do with physical and technical problems?\n\nDeutsch starts with some fundamental principles (lots more than the ones I'm listing but these are what stood out to me and that I remember):\n1. there is no authoritative way to knowledge\n2. Humans are unique; what makes us unique is our ability to criticize our ideas and to generate new ones\n3. The best knowledge for anything is a good explanation (we ask, is this the best explanation?). Good explanations are the ones that withstand heavy and sustained criticism\n4. All observation is theory driven\n5. evolution favors the genes that can spread through the population\n6. morality, beauty, abstract concepts exist objectively (through good explanations)\n7. the laws of physics determine mathematical principles\n8. The universe is not random; but determined by the laws of physics.\n9. prophecy is bad explanation; prediction from good explanation is better\n10. Humans are creative but we have to be open to our creativity in order to feed it (the enlightenment was the first large scale example of this). We have to recognize that problems exist, that people can solve them and that this is the best plan for humans.\n\nWhen I finished I had lots of questions. I don't really get the concept of \"fine tuning\", and I don't understand the multiverse at all. I understand what the words say, but I can't get my head around the idea of these multiple planes and people all existing simultaneously and then when he starts talking about the photons hitting the plate and going off I get really lost.\n\nNot sure I get the anthropic principle. I did go do more reading on it and what I understood it to mean was that human existence (that humans are here) puts limits on the explanations for our existence. I think D disagrees with this.\n\nA final wondering. . . Deutsch doesn't really address emotions. Emotions, particularly fear, seem to power much human behavior (and certainly the stagnancy he discusses that kept us from moving forward with our creativity). In the rational world offered by this book, how do people \"deal with\" emotional resistance? Perhaps Deutsch would say that question isn't really relevant. There are good explanations for why emotion overpowers reason (I think they are good, but maybe they aren't--such as the part of our brains that powers emotions is much more powerful than that which powers reason), but such explanations do not help us to overcome this problem.","Product: One cold night in a most unlikely corner of Chicago Will Grayson crosses paths with Will Grayson Two guys with the same name running in two very different circles suddenly find their lives going in new and unexpected directions and culminating in epic turnsofheart and the most fabulous musical ever to grace the highschool stage\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: charming but over the top\n\nReview: This is corny and charming. The story of best friends, Will Grayson (aloof loner, afraid to connect with anyone) and Tiny (an enormous gay young man) who are trying to find love in highschool (Will through avoiding everyone and Tiny through having a relationship with everyone). The story does a good job of weaving the parallel lines of this desire in both boys (and the third character, the other Will Grayson) as they also attempt to keep their own friendship despite their self absorption and differences. It is the relationship between the two boys that I found most compelling. How hard it is to pursue the desire for love but also keep friendships.\n\nThe goofiness is that there is another will grayson, one who is also gay, who ends up as one of Tiny's many boyfriends; and Tiny is writing and putting on a musical that is really goofy about his life and love. The lyrics of many of the songs are included (much to my dismay). But, it does make you laugh. At the end, there is what is supposed to be a powerful scene during Tiny's play about identity which left me both irritated and wondering, what the heck? But ultimately, the boys friendship prevails and that saves the book from being just goofy.","Product: Brand NEW. We ship worldwide\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: melancholic look at Istanbul\n\nReview: Nobel prize winner in Literature, I was somewhat disappointed. It is a memoir but I got bogged down in Pamuk's melancholy, which apparently is a particularly Turkish feeling called Huzun which results from living in the ruins of a failed empire. But it's like reading the tirade of someone with a good control of language who feels eminently sorry for himself though not so much for his country, although there is some of that.\n\nThe photos are interesting and intriguing though mostly very old so provide perspective on Istanbul of the past which did seem particularly dark and depressing (but the pictures are also in black and white).I was disapointed they had no captions. I wanted to know what I was looking at.\n\nPamuk traces his history and his influences both western and Turkish as well as his rather chaotic homelife. His father lost his fortune and his parents were continually separated. His own trials mirror, in some ways, the trials of Istanbul and Turkey as they lost their place as a major power at the end of the 19th century.\n\nIt did not make me too interested in visiting Istanbul. In some ways, I felt like it was a eulogy for a dead city"],"string":"[\n \"Product: With cut-outs it is easy to make fun 3-D shapes for your fondant cakes and cupcakes. Just roll out the fondant, press down with cut-outs and lift away! Remove shapes with a small spatula.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: fondant cutters NOT cookie cutters\\n\\nReview: These are very small. So, if you are looking for really little cookies, these will work. If you are looking for standard cookie cutter sizes, the largest of these is a small cookie cutter. The smallest is so small, you couldn't fit it over your pinkie (unless you have a very small pinkie). They are sturdy and I did use the largest one for cookie dough because I was desperate, but it worked. Also, while the largest cutter has pointed edges for the star, the two smaller ones have rounded edges so they are barely star shaped. One good thing about the largest one is that the angles of the star points are far enough apart that your cookie dough does not get stuck in them.\",\n \"Product: 21325 Features: -Double wall vacuum insulated tumbler.-Material: Stainless steel.-Vacuum insulated technology keeps beverages hot for four hours and cold for twelve hours.-Patented auto seal lid is 100 percent leak proof and spill proof.-Not intended for carbonated beverages or boiling liquids.-Lid is dishwasher safe.-Capacity: 16 oz. Color/Finish: -Black finish.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: keeps hot things hot and cold things cold\\n\\nReview: I've bought several of these for my family and as gifts. The insulated cup performs as advertised: it does not leak (and I've knocked mine over many times) and it maintains temperature. I've left ice tea in it over night and the ice hasn't melted the next day. The first time I took hot tea in it to work, I burned myself an hour later because the tea was still so hot and I wasn't expecting it.\\n\\nCleaning issues: You have to get a good steel brush for cleaning. I use mine every day, all day long, but it does get clean with the steel brush. I use the brush also on the lid and make sure that the bristles can fit into the sipping opening so that it also gets clean. I've had my cup over a year and it is still going strong.\\n\\nProblem: the cup does build up pressure and if you aren't careful when you push the button to drink, hot liquid can spray out of the cup. I've taken to pushing the button several times after I put the lid on to release the air.\\n\\nMy husband takes his in his backpack to work on the BART so it gets shaken up for 40 minutes every day and he hasn't had any problems with it leaking or losing heat.\",\n \"Product: Clean laundry is the name of your game. Now you can master more on your chore board with this Heavy-Duty Gullwing Clothes Drying Rack. Its 46-linear feet of drying area includes hanging space, a mesh shelf for sweaters and a shoe rack that keeps your kicks in shape while drying. Its the best drying rack for protecting perfect pairs of blue jeans, delicate lingerie or vintage pieces from wear and tear of a dryer cycleall while saving on energy costs. When youre not using it, this portable drying rack neatly folds down to 3 flat for easy storage inside your laundry room, bedroom, or at your moms house.\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: rusts and stains clothes\\n\\nReview: If you are using this for inside, this review does not pertain to you but if you are hoping to dry clothes outside, this rack is not a good choice. I've had it now for about five months and it continually rusts and ruins clothes and even my outdoor patio. I've tried to dip all the water out--doesn't work, water continues to leak literally for weeks after its wet. All it needs is a little water to get inside the joints of the rack and it will rust. Another problem with the rack is that the way it is set up, you cannot really angle the clothes so they are not sitting right behind one another so that it takes along time for things to dry.\",\n \"Product: Yacoubian Building\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: ending worth a not scintillating beginning\\n\\nReview: Not to taken with this novel. I'd read a review about how controversial the book was in Egypt and I could see how it makes Egyptians look pretty shallow and greedy (but aren't people everywhere?). But, the writing itself did not really draw me in. The ending was my favorite part and I'm glad I stuck with it until then.\\n\\nThe novel follows several individuals who live in the once vibrant and luxurious but now declining and seedy Yacobian building (metaphorically like Egypt herself). Many of the individuals come to bad ends (one is forced into an abortion, another's child dies and the man blames himself because he is homosexual; one is killed while committing a terrorist act). But the main story that gives the novel some hope and potential for redemption is the story of the young, hopeful B who at first starts an affair with the older man but who both eventually fall in love and marry. (this sounds cheesy, but it's not in the novel).\\n\\nI'm sure there are references that would make more sense if I knew more (any?) Egyptian history. The decline of the building begins to occur with the revolution of 1959 (? not sure of the date). While the revolution was apparently supposed to bring freedom, if the book is any indication, it brought greed, bribery, chaos and poverty, much of which is justified in the name of the religion (the big criticism of religion comes when the Sheik is instrumental in forcing one of the women to have an abortion). In Egypt these direct criticisms of Islam may seem particularly powerful, but from the eyes of a Western reader it just seems like same ole same ole.\",\n \"Product: Born in Haifa, Israel, David Deutsch was educated at Cambridge and Oxford universities. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society and a professor of Physics at the University of Oxford, where he is a member of the Centre for Quantum Computation. His many honors include the Institute of Physics' Paul Dirac Prize and Medal. The author of The Fabric of Reality, he lives in England.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: power of good explanations\\n\\nReview: I have no science background (except college biology) and my own reading, so my understanding of The Beginning of Infinity is somewhat limited (particularly the chapter on the multiverse). But even with that limitation, I found this to be one of the best books I've read in years in terms of developing and pushing my own understanding of the world. I reread two chapters just to try to get some inkling of their meaning (the multiverse and the jump to universality). I also read the infinity chapter twice and on the second reading I finally got the point of the infinite hotel (or at least one point). Even after two reads though, with those chapters I still felt lost. I really need to reread them all, but this is my review with just one reading.\\n\\nDespite my ignorance, I still felt it worthwhile to write a review to encourage others who might think that this book is not for them to tackle it. It is worth the effort to comprehend even for those who are not versed in the sciences.\\n\\nThis is what I understood from the book. Deutsch argues that we are at the \\\"beginning\\\" of the creation of good explanations about our world (the infinity of the title is the endless knowledge that humans have the potential to create). We will always be at the beginning (such is the nature of infinity I think--at least that's what the infinite hotel suggested), and this leads to optimism about our world. Our world is filled with (overflowing with might be a better way to think of it because we don't even really know where the world ends)problems and potential solutions. Through conjecture and criticism, humans \\\"solve\\\" many of these problems and this leads to new problems (solutions are not truths but they are the best explanations for the problem after much testing--and stand as objective truths, I think).\\n\\nD systematically builds his case, looking at other science approaches like empiricism or instrumentalism and shows why these are not good explanations. This is not an attack on alternative perspectives as much as it is the building of good explanations around the topics that are discussed (which range from beauty (D argues that beauty is objective), philosophy, psychology, elections, choices, creation and physics). There seems to be rhetorical room for disagreement, meaning that D posits his position, criticizes the other positions and then argues that his position currently stands up to available criticism. Again, the criticism isn't an attack though; it's how knowledge is created. D's conjecture and refutation approach (to use Popper's terms) seems to make so much more sense then the usual way arguments are presented: here is a claim, here is why you should believe my claim, because I have lots of support for my claim you, the reader, should agree I'm right. Even if you have 500 pages of support for your claim, one piece of criticism could refute it.\\n\\nWhat I found most beneficial to me was the emphasis on optimism. Humans are great creators, testers and explainers. That's exciting. I still don't understand how to apply the theories and truths discussed here to human behavior, however. Deutsch does mention psychology and its bad theories, but I'm not really talking about that. I'm wondering if humans can achieve all possibilities that do not defy the laws of physics,and does this mean things like balancing the budget? Or agreeing on good laws? How does the human ability to develop good explanations work in these instances? Deutsch (referencing Popper, who he references a lot)states that reforming politics is more a matter of setting up laws that allow us to get rid of bad rulers and bad laws (as opposed to trying to somehow fix the system to make sure only \\\"good\\\" politicians got elected, or good laws passed). Is the assumption that if those laws were in place than politicians would develop/accept good explanations for fear of being got rid of (or would we just end up overturning things over and over again? Now I'm prophesying which D condemns; what could we predict about human behavior? that is really the question . . . ). Do the principles raised in this book work with human behavior just as they do with physical and technical problems?\\n\\nDeutsch starts with some fundamental principles (lots more than the ones I'm listing but these are what stood out to me and that I remember):\\n1. there is no authoritative way to knowledge\\n2. Humans are unique; what makes us unique is our ability to criticize our ideas and to generate new ones\\n3. The best knowledge for anything is a good explanation (we ask, is this the best explanation?). Good explanations are the ones that withstand heavy and sustained criticism\\n4. All observation is theory driven\\n5. evolution favors the genes that can spread through the population\\n6. morality, beauty, abstract concepts exist objectively (through good explanations)\\n7. the laws of physics determine mathematical principles\\n8. The universe is not random; but determined by the laws of physics.\\n9. prophecy is bad explanation; prediction from good explanation is better\\n10. Humans are creative but we have to be open to our creativity in order to feed it (the enlightenment was the first large scale example of this). We have to recognize that problems exist, that people can solve them and that this is the best plan for humans.\\n\\nWhen I finished I had lots of questions. I don't really get the concept of \\\"fine tuning\\\", and I don't understand the multiverse at all. I understand what the words say, but I can't get my head around the idea of these multiple planes and people all existing simultaneously and then when he starts talking about the photons hitting the plate and going off I get really lost.\\n\\nNot sure I get the anthropic principle. I did go do more reading on it and what I understood it to mean was that human existence (that humans are here) puts limits on the explanations for our existence. I think D disagrees with this.\\n\\nA final wondering. . . Deutsch doesn't really address emotions. Emotions, particularly fear, seem to power much human behavior (and certainly the stagnancy he discusses that kept us from moving forward with our creativity). In the rational world offered by this book, how do people \\\"deal with\\\" emotional resistance? Perhaps Deutsch would say that question isn't really relevant. There are good explanations for why emotion overpowers reason (I think they are good, but maybe they aren't--such as the part of our brains that powers emotions is much more powerful than that which powers reason), but such explanations do not help us to overcome this problem.\",\n \"Product: One cold night in a most unlikely corner of Chicago Will Grayson crosses paths with Will Grayson Two guys with the same name running in two very different circles suddenly find their lives going in new and unexpected directions and culminating in epic turnsofheart and the most fabulous musical ever to grace the highschool stage\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: charming but over the top\\n\\nReview: This is corny and charming. The story of best friends, Will Grayson (aloof loner, afraid to connect with anyone) and Tiny (an enormous gay young man) who are trying to find love in highschool (Will through avoiding everyone and Tiny through having a relationship with everyone). The story does a good job of weaving the parallel lines of this desire in both boys (and the third character, the other Will Grayson) as they also attempt to keep their own friendship despite their self absorption and differences. It is the relationship between the two boys that I found most compelling. How hard it is to pursue the desire for love but also keep friendships.\\n\\nThe goofiness is that there is another will grayson, one who is also gay, who ends up as one of Tiny's many boyfriends; and Tiny is writing and putting on a musical that is really goofy about his life and love. The lyrics of many of the songs are included (much to my dismay). But, it does make you laugh. At the end, there is what is supposed to be a powerful scene during Tiny's play about identity which left me both irritated and wondering, what the heck? But ultimately, the boys friendship prevails and that saves the book from being just goofy.\",\n \"Product: Brand NEW. We ship worldwide\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: melancholic look at Istanbul\\n\\nReview: Nobel prize winner in Literature, I was somewhat disappointed. It is a memoir but I got bogged down in Pamuk's melancholy, which apparently is a particularly Turkish feeling called Huzun which results from living in the ruins of a failed empire. But it's like reading the tirade of someone with a good control of language who feels eminently sorry for himself though not so much for his country, although there is some of that.\\n\\nThe photos are interesting and intriguing though mostly very old so provide perspective on Istanbul of the past which did seem particularly dark and depressing (but the pictures are also in black and white).I was disapointed they had no captions. I wanted to know what I was looking at.\\n\\nPamuk traces his history and his influences both western and Turkish as well as his rather chaotic homelife. His father lost his fortune and his parents were continually separated. His own trials mirror, in some ways, the trials of Istanbul and Turkey as they lost their place as a major power at the end of the 19th century.\\n\\nIt did not make me too interested in visiting Istanbul. In some ways, I felt like it was a eulogy for a dead city\"\n]","isConversational":false},"profile_size":{"kind":"number","value":7,"string":"7"},"task":{"kind":"string","value":"longlamp_3"},"split_kind":{"kind":"string","value":"user_based"},"id":{"kind":"number","value":944,"string":"944"}}},{"rowIdx":945,"cells":{"question_id":{"kind":"string","value":"A3KHFHJBCCECQH"},"question":{"kind":"string","value":"Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of \"5.0\" for a product with description \"A veteran Web developer and publisher, Deltina Hay is a pioneer of social media and Web 2.0, especially as it applies to business. She has written countless articles and two books on the subject. An experienced instructor, her knowledge of social media ideas and applying them in the real world make her writings some of the most accessible in the industry.\". The summary of the review text is \"This book will tell you what you need to know to get involved online, build your presence, and interact, share and collaborate.\"."},"answer":{"kind":"string","value":"I loved it. What a book. These days there are many books on the market that address the basics or the theory regarding online marketiing and the Social Web. At this point I have trouble giving them super high review ratings because they don't bring much new to the table. One such book I recently reviewed was <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/e-Riches-2-0-Next-Generation-Marketing-Strategies-for-Making-Millions-Online/dp/0814414621/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">e-Riches 2.0: Next-Generation Marketing Strategies for Making Millions Online</a>. As a result of my less than glowing review (even though I gave it 4 stars) I got hit with 5 neggies. Anyway, the instant book does not go too heavy on the basics or theory. It is a practical book for the do-it-yourselfer who wants to be lead by the hand on how set up their online presence using social media and Web 2.0 tools. It is well organized and well written and includes an introduction, 15 chapters, and 4 appendices as follows:\n\n0. Introduction\n1. Creating your social media strategy\n2. Preparation\n3. RSS feeds & blogs\n4. Building a Wordpress powered Web site\n5. Podcasting, vidcasting, & Webcasting\n6. Social networking & micro-blogging\n7. Social bookmarking & crowd-sourcing\n8. Media communities\n9. Widgets & badges\n10. Social media newsrooms\n11. More social tools\n12. Pulling it all together\n13. Looking to the future\n14. Measuring your success\n15. Conclusion\nA. Installing Wordpress\nB. Creating your own RSS feed\nC. Building your own widget\nD. Wordpress 2.7\n\nClearly the author is partial to Wordpress-dot-com. But there's nothing wrong with that. Wordpress offers great tools and it is a very nice service provider. Chapter 4 talks about Wordpress. Appendix A describes the process for setting up Wordpress. And Appendix D is kind of a supplemental blurb to Appendix A. I found the Introduction to be great. Chapter 1 on strategy was great, and chapters 12 through 15 were wonderful, too. Chapters 2-11 did a good job of providing tools and tactics to be used in building your online presence.\n\nBuilding a meaningful and productive online presence is all about (1) interactivity, (2) sharing, & (3) collaboration. This book will tell you what you need to know to get involved online, build your presence, and interact, share and collaborate. 5 stars!"},"correct_answer":{"kind":"string","value":"I loved it. What a book. These days there are many books on the market that address the basics or the theory regarding online marketiing and the Social Web. At this point I have trouble giving them super high review ratings because they don't bring much new to the table. One such book I recently reviewed was <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/e-Riches-2-0-Next-Generation-Marketing-Strategies-for-Making-Millions-Online/dp/0814414621/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">e-Riches 2.0: Next-Generation Marketing Strategies for Making Millions Online</a>. As a result of my less than glowing review (even though I gave it 4 stars) I got hit with 5 neggies. Anyway, the instant book does not go too heavy on the basics or theory. It is a practical book for the do-it-yourselfer who wants to be lead by the hand on how set up their online presence using social media and Web 2.0 tools. It is well organized and well written and includes an introduction, 15 chapters, and 4 appendices as follows:\n\n0. Introduction\n1. Creating your social media strategy\n2. Preparation\n3. RSS feeds & blogs\n4. Building a Wordpress powered Web site\n5. Podcasting, vidcasting, & Webcasting\n6. Social networking & micro-blogging\n7. Social bookmarking & crowd-sourcing\n8. Media communities\n9. Widgets & badges\n10. Social media newsrooms\n11. More social tools\n12. Pulling it all together\n13. Looking to the future\n14. Measuring your success\n15. Conclusion\nA. Installing Wordpress\nB. Creating your own RSS feed\nC. Building your own widget\nD. Wordpress 2.7\n\nClearly the author is partial to Wordpress-dot-com. But there's nothing wrong with that. Wordpress offers great tools and it is a very nice service provider. Chapter 4 talks about Wordpress. Appendix A describes the process for setting up Wordpress. And Appendix D is kind of a supplemental blurb to Appendix A. I found the Introduction to be great. Chapter 1 on strategy was great, and chapters 12 through 15 were wonderful, too. Chapters 2-11 did a good job of providing tools and tactics to be used in building your online presence.\n\nBuilding a meaningful and productive online presence is all about (1) interactivity, (2) sharing, & (3) collaboration. This book will tell you what you need to know to get involved online, build your presence, and interact, share and collaborate. 5 stars!"},"documents":{"kind":"list like","value":["Product: Apollo Twin reinvents desktop recording by delivering legendary analog studio sound, feel, and flow to music creators everywhere. This 2x6 Thunderbolt audio interface for Mac combines the same impeccable 24/192 kHz audio conversion of Universal Audio's acclaimed Apollo series with onboard Real time UAD DUO Processing. Plus it uses Unison technology, a breakthrough in classic mic preamp emulation. Record your music in real time (at near-zero latency) through the full range of UAD plug-ins - from Neve, Studer, Manley, Lexicon, API and more - putting racks of vintage EQs, compressors, mic preamps, tape machines, reverbs, and guitar amps at your fingertips . A Universal Audio breakthrough, Apollo Twin's Unison technology gives you the tone of the world's most sought-after tube and solid state mic preamps - including their all-important impedance, gain stage \"sweet spots,\" and component-level circuit behaviors. Based on unprecedented hardware-software integration between Apollo's mic preamps and its onboard UAD plug-in processing, Unison lets you record through stunning emulations like the bundled UA 610-B Tube Preamp plug-in, with more emulations available at the UA Online Store. Apollo Twin's smart feature set includes two class-leading mic/line preamps, two analog line outputs, two digitally controlled analog monitor outputs for full resolution at all listening levels, and up to eight additional channels of digital input via Optical connection. Onboard UAD DUO Processing lets you use UAD plug-ins both during real-time tracking and for mixing within Pro Tools, Cubase, Logic, Able ton Live, Garage Band and more. With its ergonomic desktop design, rugged aluminum construction, and front panel headphone and instrument connections, Apollo Twin has all the right tools, all in the right place. Thunderbolt cable sold separately. Apollo Twin includes the \"Real time Analog Classics\" UAD plug-in bundle. All other plug-ins are sold.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: One way to be able to make great records, but there are others!\n\nReview: I liked it. This is a rather high-end audio interface device that attaches to your Mac computer using OS X 10.8 or higher. To use it you will have to purchase separately an Apple Thunderbolt Firewire adapter for something like $30. The two-core processing can provide you with truly professional studio sound. However, I don't think this product is for everyone who is looking for such sound.\n\nSome recording people might have a computer setup that does not, nor cannot, create excellent sound quality with very low latency. Such persons would be the ideal candidate for getting this interface device. They should be aware that they will have a significant purchase price in getting this equipment, but will also have to shell even more dollars purchasing expensive plugins to get the most from this interface device. Other recording people who have a state-of-the-art computer setup for recording sound will probably have no need for this device. Their system will create wonderful sound files which will not need tweaking from plugins like the ones that work with the instant product being reviewed.\n\nSo you can upgrade an adequate computer system with this device and create great sound files, or you can build a high-power computer system for audio recording and forgo purchasing this device and the related plugins. 4 stars!","Product: Turn your iPad, iPhone or Mac in to a real musical instrumentLearn to Play Guitar with the Bundled JamTutor appReal Strings, Real Frets, Real Picking... No tuning requiredConnect wirelessly via WIFI, no cable necessaryMobile ready, Backpack friendly, 100% portable to Learn, Create and Play music anywhereFREE shipping in both Canada and the US and free local pickup available.Slightly used with very minimal wear. All accessories included. Guaranteed to work.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Great product, just needs better user documentation!\n\nReview: I liked this product a lot. It wasn't too difficult to hook up to my Mac. And it was definitely fun to play. It's compact, and the interface with my Mac is wireless. It can be used as a tool to learn how to play guitar, or it can be used as a guitar to create music. I'm using it for the former, but hope to use it for the latter in the future. The print instructions were not too helpful. However, the Web site that goes along with this product (and the downloadable software) served my needs. I expect the Web site will get beefed up in the future, and when things settle down there will be some good print instructions created. The lack of easy-to-understand documentation for this product is the only reason I've dropped the star rating. 4 stars!","Product: Turn up the creativity with the exciting new video tools in Roxio Creator NXT 3, the complete digital media suite. Record directly from your screen with new Live Screen Capture to add unique content to movies, presentations or demos. Make a movie or slideshow in minutes with new FastFlick, the 3-step multimedia app. You also get easy photo-editing tools and everything you need to rip, mix, burn and share your favorite music. Want to preserve your irreplaceable media files? Creator NXT 3 lets you burn, back up and copy to CD, DVD and Blu-ray Disc. Sharing is also a breeze with support for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, iPhone 6, iPad, the latest phones and devices, Facebook, YouTube and more.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: I took a look, but eventually uninstalled this puppy!\n\nReview: Didn't like it! I won't go as far as to say I hated it because the suite actually offers some good features with regard to digital video production and image editing. However, the software placed too many restrictions on my computer during the installation process for my liking, and the software after installation didn't set my world on fire when I used it. I have other software that does what it does and more. And it was kinda clunky I guess. I've subsequently uninstalled the software since I don't have much need for it. My favorite feature of this product was the ability to capture, convert, and share video. The video editing ability was too superficial for me, as was the photo editing ability. I didn't involve myself in the audio/music editing or the burning. 2 stars!","Product: The Ultra Rich Comforting Cream helps soothe dry to very dry skin by locking in moisture all day. It is specially formulated to help nourish and protect skin in need of intensive hydration. Its melting texture is infused with 25% shea butter, rich in vitamin E, omega 6 and karitene to answer the essential needs of dry to very dry skin, even sensitive. Moisture is locked into the skin, leaving it soft, supple and comfortable all day. Massage into skin all over the body after bathing, showering, or anytime skin feels dry or tight.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: A roll-royce version of Noxzema moisturizing cream!\n\nReview: I liked it. I don't regularly get high-end skin products like this. I'm just too frugal. Noxzema moisturizing cream is more in my price range. But this stuff is thicker and more heavily scented than Noxzema. The cream is so thick that it does not apply easily when you try to cover a large area of your face quickly. I suppose this product if more for doing a dab here and a dab there. This is especially true considering what you pay for a 1.7 oz of product. I took a sniff of the product while it was in the container, and I have to admit it is pretty strongly scented. However, you have to keep in mind that the scent is so strong because you are smelling the entire container full of product. The little that you apply to your face will not have such a strong odor. Any negative review based on the strong scent is actually being quite unfair. This product does a nice job leaving my skin moisturized. Goes on kind of wet and oily at first, but will dry quickly and all is well. 4 stars!","Product: VL521 Series Mid-Back Work Chair\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Not a chair I can highly recommend!\n\nReview: This chair was OK. Not one that I can highly recommend, but I won't trash it in this review either. Let's just say it is kind of nice to look at, it's clean, and it's functional. You can roll it around on its wheels, and you can adjust the height easily. But you cannot raise or lower the armrests, nor can you lean back in it comfortably. The back of the chair just does not give.\n\nThe materials used to construct the chair are mostly plastic. All in all, it's really just a basic chair. There's nothing special that can be said about this chair. It looks and feels like so many chairs I sit in at consulting projects I find myself working at. And I cannot say I have liked sitting in the chairs I am given very often. Maybe the fact that I'm sitting in them for mega hours a day doesn't help. But isn't a chair supposed to be comfortable over the long haul?\n\nI don't feel right commenting on the price directly regarding this product. I am by no means an expert on pricing for these kinds of chairs. But I suspect this chair is priced on the high side when it comes to value. 3 stars!","Product: Enjoy the high-temperature cooking that cast iron provides with this attractive contemporary-styled casserole. It warms evenly and holds heat, which is ideal for slow-cooking stews, braised dishes and roasts. Also perfect for cobblers and cornbread and can be used on both the cooktop and in the oven. Plus, the porcelain enamel interior coating doesn't require seasoning.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Made a wonderful batch of chili for me!\n\nReview: I love it! My cast iron casserole cookware made a wonderful batch of chili for me. Before using it I smear olive oil over the inside bottom of the pot. When using it I go with low to medium heat on my stove top so the pot can gradually and evenly heat up for efficient cooking. Otherwise, I would get burning or smoke. I use heat-resistant nylon tools to stir and mix my chili while it cooks. This is so I will not damage the porcelain coating inside my pot. While I bet I could wash my cookware in a dishwasher, I old-fashioned and choose to wash it by hand. The cleaning is easier when I soak the food residue with warm water for 15 to 20 minutes.\n\nThe cookware is really nice to look at. Bright red and shiny. The only negative I can think of is that the unit is really pretty heavy. It's made of cast iron and it is very durable. You won't be able to dent this product. 5 stars!","Product: La Cuisine's PRO Round 5 Qt. Cast Iron Casserole can be used to rustle up all sorts of mouth-watering dishes cooked on the stovetop or in the oven. La Cuisine's PRO cast iron cookware is crafted using sand molds, which are used only once, forging a lighter product with a very fine enamel finish that is truly unique. Wonderfully versatile, La Cuisine's PRO round casseroles are suited to the oven and all cooktops, including induction. Food heats through evenly and remains hot until served. The non-toxic, matte black enamel interior surface is scratch-resistant, stain-resistant, gives excellent food release that improves through continued use, and is simple to clean just wash in warm water. Perfect for professional and domestic cooks alike, La Cuisine PRO gives you no-fuss, healthy cooking that looks great as it goes straight from cooking on the stovetop or in the oven to serving at the table or buffet (our trivets, sold separately, are recommended for table/buffet use).\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Made a wonderful batch of chili for me!\n\nReview: I love it! My cast iron casserole cookware made a wonderful batch of chili for me. Before using it I smear olive oil over the inside bottom of the pot. When using it I go with low to medium heat on my stove top so the pot can gradually and evenly heat up for efficient cooking. Otherwise, I would get burning or smoke. I use heat-resistant nylon tools to stir and mix my chili while it cooks. This is so I will not damage the porcelain coating inside my pot. While I bet I could wash my cookware in a dishwasher, I old-fashioned and choose to wash it by hand. The cleaning is easier when I soak the food residue with warm water for 15 to 20 minutes.\n\nThe cookware is really nice to look at. Bright blue and shiny. The only negative I can think of is that the unit is really pretty heavy. It's made of cast iron and it is very durable. You won't be able to dent this product. I just reviewed another cast iron pot, and compared to that one this one seemed kind of pricey. Not sure why this one cost so much more than the other one? 5 stars!","Product: 227981 Features: Equipped with a worldwide basemap and high-sensitivity, WAAS-enabled GPS receiver with HotFix technology and GNSS support that locks onto satellite predictions to lock onto your position Take it anywhere to it's durably constructed with a tough, waterproof body and an easy to read 22-inch monochrome screen so that you can quickly view your position Supports geocaching GPX files for downloading key info, terrain beta, hints, and descriptions straight to the device so that your next geocaching adventure can be paper-free Download data via the USB port Compatible with spine mounting accessories Specifications: Weight to dimensions: 53 ounces to 21 x 40 x 13 inches Altimeter: no Display size: 22 inches Battery type to life: 2 AA, NIMH or Lithium to 25 hours\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Reviewed by a cyclist for cyclists considering this device for their bicycle riding.\n\nReview: This device (the eTrex 10) is a gem. Thus the five star rating. I've been studying it and using it on bicycle rides for the past two months. I've read several of the Amazon reviews for this product, and few do a good job of informing the consumer. I think this is because the product caters to so many different endusers: boaters, kayakers, walkers, hikers, off-road cyclists, and on-road cyclists. My review is written from the perspective of an on-road cyclist. And I'm not going to write a review as much as merely answer a series of questions.\n\n1. Can you charge this device using a USB cable? >>No. The device uses two AA batteries for power. They can be cheap alkaline, or the more expensive rechargeable NiMH or lithium. Alkaline work ok if the weather is warm or hot. If you go the rechargeable route, don't buy cheap ones that have less than 2000 capacity. I didn't know rechargeables came in different capacities. Duh! The rechargeable batteries you need to recharge in a separate recharging device.\n2. What do you use the USB cable for that comes with the device? >>To connect your device to your PC or Mac so you can update software or move GPX files on or off the device. GPX files are what tracks and waypoints are stored in. I use a Web site called RidewithGPS to create my TCX files. Then I use other software to convert them to GPX files. Think GpsVisualizer dotcom.\n3. Can you load maps into this device? >>Not really. There is an almost nonexistent base map that comes with the unit. It is supposedly possible to overwrite it with a different map. However, for you to add maps to this device you would need to be able to insert an SD card which is where you would store extra maps. Since you cannot install an SD card into this device, you cannot add maps.\n4. Can you use this device on long bike rides so you don't get lost? Is it good for bicycle touring? >>Yes. This is why I purchased this device.\n5. Can this device aid one in navigating a city walk? An outdoors hike? An off-road bicycle ride? An on-road bicycle ride? Yes to all four questions. I use the device for GPX files I create using a free online service called RidewithGPS dotcom. The GPX files are the end-product of designing a route. Some of the routes are through city streets. Some are through trails in the various outdoor parks near my home. Some are mountain bike trails. And some are 200k brevet rides on roads. I copy the GPX files into the GPX folder in my device and I'm ready to go.\n6. Can an SD card be installed into this device? >>No. Not on THIS device. Pay a little more to get the eTrex 20x or the eTrex 30x and you will be able to install an SD card in those devices.\n7. Is it easy to read this device in sunlight? At nighttime? >> Yes. Yes. I have found it easy in both daytime and nighttime. Of course, I have to wear glasses that correct my vision well. The viewing screen is somewhat small.\n8. Is this device good for long distance bike rides like brevets? >>Yes. GPS navigational devices designed for cyclists typically have internal rechargeable batteries that will die after 10 to 12 hours of constant use. Since the eTrex 10 uses two AA batteries, when they die they are easily replaced while riding the bike. As long as you have extra AA batteries along during your rides you will never be without a functioning eTrex 10.\n9. How long does it take to find satellites before it starts working? >>Depends. It always cranks up quickly (within a minute) for me. However, I have both kinds of satellites enabled in my system setup. Uses more power this way though.\n10. Is the user manual instructive? >>It is OK. The problem with the manual is the uses the device can be put to are so broad: boating, walking, hiking, biking off-road, and biking on-road. There really should be a manual for each type of user and there just isn't. Furthermore, do you want to use the device to mark geocaches? To merely be a navigation tool? Or to record where you have gone so you can retrace your steps? I'm really only interested in using the device as a navigation tool.\n11. Does this device track pace and distance traveled? Can it double as a bike speedometer? >>Yes. Yes. You can configure the view screen to tell you how far you have traveled at any point in time. And you can configure it to tell you how fast you are going in mph or kph.\n12. How relevant are street signs when using this device? >>Street signs are not really relevant because maps are not really relevant. With this device and your GPX file you will have a track (breadcrumb trail) and waypoints (usually along the trail). I create my GPX file so the names of the waypoints are street names. When the device is functioning a cursor shows up in the view screen indicating where I'm actually planted on the earth. As it moves along the track and I approach a waypoint I know it'll be time to make a turn. I can make the turn without even knowing the name of the street. And when riding in the middle of the night I rarely look for street signs to verify a turn. Of course, it is nice to see a street sign that matches the waypoint title. Waypoint titles show up in my view screen as I ride.\n13. Does the view screen easily scratch? >>Yes. This is a problem. Invest in a $10 screen saver.\n14. Does this device provide turn-by-turn instruction when being used? >>No. You only get turn-by-turn instructions when a GPS device uses an installed map to \"calculate\" your route. This device doesn't even have a map. But the eTrex 20x and eTrex 30x models do have maps. However, those units don't use the maps to calculate routes. The maps are just background images to the tracks and waypoints that appear on the respective view screens. All three units allow you to create proximity warnings around your waypoints. And when you get within a certain proximity of a waypoint you can be warned. This function works kind of like turn-by-turn instructions. Unfortunately, I have found them not to be too helpful. They tend to clutter up my view screen.\n15. Can you insert a pre-loaded route? >>Yes. See answer to Q12.\n16. What kind of battery life can one expect? >>With two rechargeable NiMH AA batteries with capacity of 2600 each you'll probably get more than 20 hours. This has been my experience while having both types of satellites accessed and leaving the backlight on constantly.\n17. Does this device have touchscreen features? >>No. If it did you wouldn't get 20 hours of battery life. See answer to Q16.\n18. What memory does this unit have? >>Only internal. This device does not let you install SD cards. The eTrex 20x and eTrex 30x does allow for SD cards. Those units cost more.\n19. What kind of batteries does this device use? >>AA batteries. See answer to Q1.\n20. When the batteries die do you lose your current track and any waypoints? >>Nope. This is because information is saved as you go along, and the route is not calculated during your ride. The track is static information, as are the waypoints. When you turn the device back on after changing the batteries the cursor in your view screen shows your current location just like when the power went out.\n21. What file formats does this device read? >>Only GPX files, which are XML text files with a .gpx extension. Won't read TCX or FIT file formats. To create GPX files I download my routes from Ridewithpgs and then use one of a few free online converting Web sites to convert the TCX file to a GPX format file.\n22. Does this device have an audio component? >>Nope. If it did, then you wouldn't get 20 hours of battery life. However, pay a little more and get the eTrex 20x or eTrex 30x and you will have some audio capability. For example, the proximity alarm in the eTrex 10 will not produce any bells or beeps, but the other two units do.\n23. Does this device have a mapping function? >>It will record where you have gone if you want it to. Save the file when you are done, and you can upload it to RWGPS, Garmin Connect, Strava, or MapMyRide.","Product: Beware of Punk from Sol Republic. Smaller, tougher and louder than you would expect, the Punk Portable Bluetooth Wireless Speaker is the ultimate sidekick to make your music heard. Surprisingly loud for its size, Punk is fearless. Crank up the volume and fill your room with music or take the party outside. Water resistant, Punk can lounge poolside. Shock resistant, Punk is not afraid of ruthless backpacks. Even dust doesn't bother Punk, so mount it to your bike using the 1/4-inch threaded mount and head up to the mountains. Punk goes with you anywhere, all day with long-lasting 8-hour battery life. Super social, Punk lets you connect any non-Bluetooth audio devices using the 3.5mm cable. You can even connect to that old stereo using Punk as a Bluetooth hub. If you won't break the rules, Punk will.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: A sturdy pocket-sized wireless speaker that produces quite a bit of quality sound!\n\nReview: I like this device. It was easy to pair with my various computers that are bluetooth compatible. It is very sturdy. Looks like it is water resistant, and can put up with quite a few shocks (aka, falls or drops). Took me about 2 hours to recharge the battery, and battery life seems to be around the 6 hour range.\n\nI tried to play the thing 60 feet from my computers, but it did not do too well from that far out. Played well at 40 feet or less, though. I wish it was easier to determine how low the battery is at a given time. But I just recharge it after I use it each day overnight. So that's not much of a problem. I don't like my music booming, but this pocket-sized wireless speaker than do very well for its size. Don't bother getting it if you want a real boom box, though. 4 stars!","Product: eTrex 20x Handheld GPSPopular Handheld GPS with Enhanced Memory & ResolutionGreater resolution with 240 x 320 display pixels for improved readabilityInternal memory expanded to hold more mapsHigh-sensitivity, WAAS-enabled GPS receiver with HotFix and GLONASS support2.2-inch color displayWorldwide basemap with shaded reliefeTrex 20x is our upgraded version of the popular eTrex 20, with enhanced screen resolution for a more readable display and internal memory expanded to hold more maps. It retains the ease-of-use, durability and affordability that eTrex is legendary for and can also be used on ATVs, bicycles, boats, cars or hot air balloons.See the WayeTrex 20x has an enhanced 2.2-inch, 65K color, sunlight-readable display. Durable and waterproof, eTrex 20x is built to withstand the elements. It has an upgraded interface yet retains its legendary toughness to withstand dust, dirt, humidity or water.Go AnywhereWith an array of compatible mounts, eTrex 20x is designed as a handheld or for use on ATVs, bicycles, in boats, cars even hot air balloons. Use the auto mount capability and City Navigator NT maps for turn-by-turn driving directions, or the rugged mount for your motorcycle or ATV. Wherever you think you might take eTrex, it has the mapping and mounts to get you there.Go GlobalThe eTrex series is the first-ever consumer-grade receivers that can track both GPS and GLONASS satellites simultaneously. When using GLONASS satellites, a system developed by the Russian Federation, the time it takes for the receiver to \"lock on\" to a position is (on average) approximately 20 percent faster than using GPS. And when using both GPS and GLONASS, the receiver has the ability to lock on to 24 more satellites than using GPS alone.Add Mapsbr/\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Reviewed by a cyclist for cyclists considering this device for their bicycle riding.\n\nReview: This device (the eTrex 20x) is a gem. Thus the five star rating. I've been studying it and used it on some bicycle rides over the past two months. I've read several of the Amazon reviews for this product, and few do a good job of informing the consumer. I think this is because the product caters to so many different endusers: boaters, kayakers, walkers, hikers, off-road cyclists, and on-road cyclists. My review is written from the perspective of an on-road cyclist. And I'm not going to write a review as much as merely answer a series of questions.\n\n1. Can you charge this device using a USB cable? >>No. The device uses two AA batteries for power. They can be cheap alkaline, or the more expensive rechargeable NiMH or lithium. Alkaline work ok if the weather is warm or hot. If you go the rechargeable route, don't buy cheap ones that have less than 2000 capacity. I didn't know rechargeables came in different capacities. Duh! The rechargeable batteries need to be recharged using a separate recharging device.\n2. What do you use the USB cable for that comes with the device? >>To connect your device to your PC or Mac so you can update software or move GPX files on or off the device. GPX files are what tracks and waypoints are stored in. I use a Web site called RidewithGPS to create my routes (tracks and cue sheet information). I export these as TCX files. Then I use other software to convert them to GPX files. Think GpsVisualizer dotcom.\n3. Can you load maps into this device? >>Yes, definitely. Unlike the eTrex 10 model, the eTrex 20x allows you to install an SD card which is where added maps are stored. I personally have not found a need to use a map with my device. I use this device pretty much as if it is only an eTrex 10 (which is much cheaper to purchase).\n4. Can you use this device on long bike rides so you don't get lost? Is it good for bicycle touring? >>Yes. This is why I purchased this device.\n5. Can this device aid one in navigating a city walk? An outdoors hike? An off-road bicycle ride? An on-road bicycle ride? Yes to all four questions. I use the device for routes I create that I ultimately save as GPX files. See answer to Q2. Some of the routes are through city streets. Some are through trails in the various outdoor parks near my home. Some are mountain bike trails. And some are 200k brevet rides on roads. I copy the GPX files into the GPX folder in my device and I'm ready to go.\n6. Can an SD card be installed into this device? >>Yes. This feature is one of the reasons this device costs more than the eTrex 10 model.\n7. Is it easy to read this device in sunlight? At nighttime? >> Yes. Yes. I have found it easy in both daytime and nighttime. Of course, I have to wear glasses that correct my vision well. The viewing screen is somewhat small.\n8. Is this device good for long distance bike rides like brevets? >>Yes. GPS navigational devices designed for cyclists typically have internal rechargeable batteries that will die after 10 to 12 hours of constant use. Since the eTrex 20x uses two AA batteries, when they die they are easily replaced while riding the bike. As long as you have extra AA batteries along during your rides you will never be without a functioning eTrex 20x.\n9. How long does it take to find satellites before it starts working? >>Depends. It always cranks up quickly (within a minute) for me. However, I have both kinds of satellites enabled in my system setup. Uses more power this way though.\n10. Is the user manual instructive? >>It is OK. The problem with the manual is the uses the device can be put to are so broad: boating, walking, hiking, biking off-road, and biking on-road. There really should be a manual for each type of user and there just isn't. Furthermore, do you want to use the device to mark geocaches? To merely be a navigation tool? Or to record where you have gone so you can retrace your steps? I'm really only interested in using the device as a navigation tool.\n11. Does this device track pace and distance traveled? Can it double as a bike speedometer? >>Yes. Yes. You can configure the view screen to tell you how far you have traveled at any point in time. And you can configure it to tell you how fast you are going in mph or kph.\n12. How relevant are street signs when using this device? >>Street signs are not really relevant because maps are not really relevant. With this device and your GPX file you will have a track (breadcrumb trail) and waypoints (usually along the trail). I create my GPX file so the names of the waypoints are street names. When the device is functioning a cursor shows up in the view screen indicating where I'm actually planted on the earth. As it moves along the track and I approach a waypoint I know it'll be time to make a turn. I can make the turn without even knowing the name of the street. And when riding in the middle of the night I rarely look for street signs to verify a turn. Of course, it is nice to see a street sign that matches the waypoint title. Waypoint titles show up in my view screen as I ride.\n13. Does the view screen easily scratch? >>Yes. This is a problem. Invest in a $10 screen saver/protector.\n14. Does this device provide turn-by-turn instruction when being used? >>Not the way I use it. You only get turn-by-turn instructions when a GPS device uses an installed map to \"calculate\" the route. I've never installed an SD card or added any maps. In any event, I don't think this device uses the maps to calculate routes. The maps seem to be just background images to the tracks and waypoints that appear on the view screen. The eTrex 20x (like the 10 and 30x models) allows you to create proximity warnings around your waypoints. And when you get within a certain proximity of a waypoint you can be warned. This function works kind of like turn-by-turn instructions. Unfortunately, I have found them not to be too helpful. They tend to clutter up my view screen.\n15. Can you insert a route (a file downloaded from a Web site like Ridewithgps dotcom)? >>Yes. See answers to Q2 and Q5.\n16. What kind of battery life can one expect? >>With two rechargeable NiMH AA batteries with capacity of 2600 each you'll probably get more than 20 hours. This has been my experience while having both types of satellites accessed and leaving the backlight on constantly.\n17. Does this device have touchscreen features? >>No. If it did you wouldn't get 20 hours of battery life. See answer to Q16.\n18. What memory does this unit have? >>Both internal and external. This device lets you install SD cards. Supposedly the internal memory on this device is about 3.7 GB. That considerably more than is offered in the eTrex 10.\n19. What kind of batteries does this device use? >>AA batteries. See answer to Q1.\n20. When the batteries die do you lose your current track and any waypoints? >>Nope. This is because information is saved as you go along, and the route is not calculated during your ride. The track is static information, as are the waypoints. When you turn the device back on after changing the batteries the cursor in your view screen shows your current location just like when the power went out.\n21. What file formats does this device read? >>Only GPX files, which are XML text files with a .gpx extension. Won't read TCX or FIT file formats. To create GPX files I download my routes from Ridewithpgs and then use one of a few free online converting Web sites to convert the TCX file to a GPX format file.\n22. Does this device have an audio component? >>Yes. This one of the differences between this model and the eTrex 10. For example, the proximity alarm in the eTrex 10 will not produce any bells or beeps, but the eTrex 20x does. This unit also offers an alarm clock function, and without the alarm being noisy you couldn't have an alarm clock.\n23. Does this device have a mapping function? >>It will record where you have gone if you want it to. Save the file when you are done, and you can upload it to RWGPS, Garmin Connect, Strava, or MapMyRide.\n24. Why would I want to purchase an eTrex 20x instead of the less expensive eTrex 10 model? >>The eTrex 20x comes with a higher resolution color viewing screen whereas the eTrex 10 has a lower resolution monochrome screen. The eTrex 20x will let me store 200 routes (GPX files) and 2000 waypoints whereas the eTrex 10 will only let me store 50 routes and 1000 waypoints. And if I cared about maps, then the eTrex 20x will let me load some pretty fancy maps onto the device. I have found the screen issues are not a big thing. And if I were to load more than a few routes on my device, then figuring out the waypoints gets unwieldy. And I've already said I don't care much about maps. I haven't used the alarm clock yet. But if I'm doing a long brevet and need to take a nap, then the 20x might be the better device. But maybe I'd want a real alarm clock that would make a louder sound? Who knows?","Product: Scotts Turf Builder Grass Seed Northeast Mix is specially formulated to thrive in challenging Northeast conditions. It is ideal for areas of sun and shade, and it grows in thick to help keep out dandelions and crabgrass. Each seed is wrapped in a unique WaterSmart PLUS Coating that absorbs 2x more water than uncoated seed, feeds with essential nutrients, and protects seedlings from disease. Grow Quicker, Thicker, Greener Grass. Guaranteed!\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: This product is definitely a great ingredient for an awesome lawn in NJ!\n\nReview: Love it! This is a good quality seed and is designed for properties situated in the northeastern part of the US, i.e., NJ (where I live). The grass that will grow can handle the hot sun well enough, and thrive in the areas of the yard that do not get cremated by the sun. The seeds are treated or coated with a substance that enables them to retain some water while germinating, and some nutrients, too. Thus, they are kind of like rasinettes instead of just plain raisins. I'm writing this review from what I experienced in the past with it, and the product looks the same as always as I planted it earlier this morning. The quality of the growth will depend on me nurturing it over the next month. 5 stars!","Product: Generic\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Definitely a flash light you should get if you go camping or get flat tires while driving after dark!\n\nReview: Love it! Not too small (and light), but not too big (and heavy). Its probably an excellent device to have after dark while camping, or when faced with a flat tire after dark while driving your car. It has three modes so to speak. One traditional mode where it can fire a direct beam of light at a specific spot. A second mode where it can illuminate an area or room for you, and it does a pretty good job doing it considering the size of the product. And a third mode where it flashes red light kind of like a distress signal or warning lamp. I cannot really tell which of the first two modes uses the most power. My hunch is that mode number two does. I pretty certain the third mode uses the least amount of power by far. Power is supplied by three AAA batteries. I have not taken the time to figure out how quickly the batteries die when using each of the three modes. Sorry.\n\nI plan to use the flash light in mode three primarily on early morning jogs I do with a friend before sun-up. I'm hoping the battery life will be reasonable. If it is, then this product might deserve more than 5 stars! However, if you are into camping or think you might be getting a flat tire on your car, then this flash light is definitely one you should consider getting regardless of what the battery life is. 5 stars!","Product: Dennis Snow spent twenty-years working for the mouse at Walt Disney World. Starting his career at 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, moving into managing various operating areas. He taught corporate philosophy and business practices at Disney University. Now a full-time speaker, trainer, consultant and author, Dennis helps organizations achieve goals in the areas of customer service, employee engagement, and leadership.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Be a productive and happy employee in a company that places a priority on branding its customer service with a postive rating.\n\nReview: I liked this book. It was kind of short. But it was easy to read and it had some good points to be made about how to be a productive and happy employee in a company that places a priority on branding its customer service with a postive rating. The book has the following 11 chapters:\n\n0. Introduction\n1. Never let Backstage come Onstage\n2. \"What time is the 3 o'clock parade?\" is not a stupid question\n3. Little wows add up\n4. Have fun with the job no matter how miserable you feel\n5. Don't be a customer service robot\n6. Pay attention to the details - everything speaks\n7. Never ever say: \"That's not my job\" - And don't even think it\n8. Everyone has a customer\n9. Figure out what ticks off your customers, and do something about it\n10. Take responsibility for your own career\n11. Conclusion\n\nI think it is fair to say that the material covered in this book can be categorized as follows:\n\n>>Be a quality control inspector (chapters 1, 6, 7, & 9)\n>>Help build a brand for your company's customer service (chapters 3, 5, & 8)\n>>Be a people person (Chapter 2)\n>>Enjoy your job (chapters 4 & 10)\n\nSince I found the book to be unduly short and almost not qualify to be called a book at all, I think there should have been more chapters that dealt with \"Being a People Person\" and \"Enjoying Your Job.\" And there probably should have been another chapter thrown in regarding how to brand your customer service efforts.\n\nIf you like any of the following books, then you will probably like the instant book I have just reviewed. 4 stars!\n\n\"The Nordstrom Way to Customer Service\" (ISBN: 9780471702863)\n\"The Starbucks Experience\" (ISBN: 9780071477840)\n\"The Toyota Way\" (ISBN: 9780071392310)\n\"Good to Great\" (ISBN: 9780066620992)\n\"How to Win Friends & Influence People\" (ISBN: 9780671027032)","Product: McGraw-Hill authors represent the leading experts in their fields and are dedicated to improving the lives, careers, and interests of readers worldwide\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: This book covers a lot of ground when it comes to being an infopreneur and running an information marketing company!\n\nReview: I liked this book very much. It is full of good content and covers a lot of bases for someone who wants to take their information and turn that information into streams of revenues. This book was masterminded by Robert Skrob, an infopreneur himself. He wrote the Preface and Chapter 1, and he got other players in the infopreneur field to write the remaining twelve chapters for the book. In my humble opinion, the chapters are well written. But as for the book's outline, I think it could be improved a little. It comes across more as a string of lengthy articles strung together in a haphazard order.\n\nI would delete Chapter 3 entitled \"Financing your info-marketing business.\" Information marketing companies are very cheap to get started. So why devote a chapter to financing such a venture?\n\nI would change the order of the chapters as follows:\n\nI. WHY START AN INFORMATION MARKETING COMPANY?\n0. Preface: It's not what you know, it's what you learn\n1. Escape hours for dollars: Do the work once and get paid many times\n7. Getting the lifestyle and income of your dreams by using joint ventures\nII. WHAT IS AN INFORMATION MARKETING COMPANY?\n10. An alternative to professional publishers\n11. Build a coaching program from scratch, $2 million a year within 18 months\n12. A coaching program making millions with no affinity, no money, and no experience in info-marketing\nIII. WHAT IS INVOLVED IN RUNNING AN INFORMATION MARKETING COMPANY?\n4. Simple and easy strategies for creating products you can sell for years\n5. The 5 keys to effectively marketing your business\n6. How to sell your information product online and offline\n8. Maximizing online info-product sales, generate more money from your business\n9. Using ezines as a fast and practically free way to sell more info-products online\nIV. CHOICE OF LEGAL ENTITY & WRITING A BUSINESS PLAN\n2. Protecting your information marketing business\n13. Speed implementation: How to get your info-marketing business up, running, and profitable quickly\n\nI would have liked Chapter 13 much more if it had made reference to business plans and consulting with SCORE (Senior Corps of Retired Executives) to get help writing the business plan. Instead, the reader might think it is OK to just start the business as a fling and wing it. A failure to plan is a plan to fail!\n\nI also think there are some fine books that can act as supplemental reading to the four parts I outline above. See also for Part I: \"Will Work for Fun\" (ISBN: 9780470231791). For Part II see: \"Four Steps to Building a Profitable Coaching Practice\" (ISBN: 0595296602), and \"Coaching Millions\" (ISBN: 9788979293287). For Part III see: \"The Official Guide to Information Marketing on the Internet\" (ISBN: 9781599182544), and \"ProBlogger\" (ISBN: 9780470246672). And for Part IV see: \"Structuring Your Business\" (ISBN: 1593371772).\n\nAll in all, I think this was a wonderful book. Even though I think it should be reorganized somewhat significantly I think the content is great. 5 stars!\n\nPS. I also think the reader of this book will benefit greatly by reading \"Web Business Success\" (ISBN: 0974924504).","Product: Thomas Chapple is a licensed elite-level USA Cycling and USA Triathlon coach. He has competed at the national level in downhill mountain bike racing, and regionally in road and track. Since he started coaching in 1997, he has enabled competitive athletes to advance from the local ranks to placement at national and world championships.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: A great companion book for anyone who has been reading books about power meters!\n\nReview: I liked this book very much. Soon after finishing <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/The-Power-Meter-Handbook-A-User-s-Guide-for-Cyclists-and-Triathletes/dp/1934030953/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">The Power Meter Handbook: A User's Guide for Cyclists and Triathletes</a> which included a section in its Chapter 6 regarding \"Base Period: Developing Fitness,\" I purchased this book. I thought Friel's book was kind of weak with regard to its discussion on the topic, and I wanted to get a full length book on the subject. I am glad I chose this tome. I thought this book was well written, organized, and presented. I saw nothing included that I disagreed with either.\n\nThis year I am new to power meters. And I have now read a couple of books on them. I was able to gather enough from the power meter books to pretty much understand how power can be integrated into a training program to make it more efficient. However, since I have not actively trained for competition for quite some time I thought it would be a good idea to read a few words on training basics, i.e., working out methodically to build a good fitness base.\n\nThe instant book includes Chapter 5 that covers \"training zones.\" If you have been reading anything about power meters, then you have read about these zones refered to as \"power zones.\" Thus, the inclusion of a discussion in this book about training/power zones ties the material in this book to anything about power meters. I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to take full advantage of his or her new power meter. 5 stars!","Product: Joy R. Butler is an attorney who regularly assists individuals and companies with their online activities. She is a graduate of Harvard Law School.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Read this book so you can be more confident about building your online presence and not be scared of doing things illegally.\n\nReview: I liked this book very much. I found it to be well organized, well written, and an easy read. Other reviewers have already provided the basic outline of the book in their reviews. So I won't reiterate that information here.\n\nThere have been many books written over the past several years about building an Online Presence using a Web site, blogs, and participating in the blogosphere and online social networking sites. I've read many of them, and posted reviews on Amazon regarding some that I have read. The instant book being reviewed is the first that I have seen that discusses the legal aspects of creating an Online Presence. Such legal topics covered include copyright law, trademark law, free speech law, and tort law (defamation, personal injury, etc.), to name a few.\n\nI know when I first started designing and building Web sites back in 1998 I found it a little intimidating trying to figure out how to get a URL (Web site address), what address could I legally get, and what about trademarks and how they relate to URLs? And I was a licensed attorney, too. These are the type of things covered in the book. How much content can you swipe from other sites and include in your site? How much re-writing do you need to do before you won't be called on copyright infringement? What about using image files that you did not create? What about \"photoshopping\" (modifying) someone else's image file and using it in your site? And can you embarrass someone so much that they go and kill themselves and not be held legal liable for the death? These are the kinds of things covered in this wonderful little tome.\n\nGenerally I have gotten tired of recommending \"Online Presence\" books since there are so many out there today. I've even stopped picking most of them up to skim. But I have to say this book is worthy of recommendation in 2010 since it covers material that I am not aware any other books on the subject delves into. I highly recommend this book to self-promoters, Internet marketers, and anyone else who is responsible for building an online presence for themselves or their businesses. 5 stars!","Product: McGraw-Hill authors represent the leading experts in their fields and are dedicated to improving the lives, careers, and interests of readers worldwide\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: A wonderful book for infopreneurs who want to sell distance learning programs.\n\nReview: I loved this book. I really liked it a lot! I'm in the process of putting together a virtual business that will provide a distance learning program, some publications, and a coaching service. Having this book to read was wonderful because it discusses the ins and outs of putting together an online education business, which is what distance learning programs are.\n\nThere are a number of books available today regarding infopreneurship and being an infopreneur. Creating articles, booklets, books, and reducing them to PDF files is the simplest way to be an infopreneur. But putting together teaching programs and providing the PDF files coupled with back and forth interaction through email and/or telephone is a bit more involved. It's still infopreneurship, but it is also distance learning or an online education business. This book explains what online education is about. And it gives you lots of resources and things to think about if you decide to take the plunge and start your own online education business. It has 14 chapters and two lists of resources in its appendix:\n\n1. Learning for a Better Life\n2. Entering the Online Learning Market\n3. Start-up strategies\n4. Online education goes to school\n5. Tuning up knowledge workers\n6. Lifelong online learning\n7. Course planning and offerings\n8. Solid foundations for virtual firms\n9. Putting your money down\n10. Content and delivery\n11. It's all about the software\n12. Finding the financing\n13. Spreading the word\n14. Failure and success\nA1. Online education resources\nA2. Glossary\n\nI was disappointed with Chapter 8 that discussed Choice of Entity (COE) issues and Business Plans. The COE material was VERY poor, and even wrong at times. LLCs don't dissolve just because an owner dies. The author simply did not know what he was talking about. Consider getting a copy of \"Structuring Your Business\" (ISBN: 1593371772) to get good information about COE. I've posted a book review for that book on Amazon, too. I think there should have been a full chapter devoted to business plans in this book. But there wasn't. Consider getting a copy of \"Business Models Made Easy\" (ISBN: 1599180413). I've posted a book review for that book on Amazon, too.\n\nIf you are wanting to build and run an online education business like me, then definitely get a copy of \"Four Steps to Building a Profitable Coaching Practice\" (ISBN: 0595296602). I've posted a book review for that book on Amazon, too. Three other books I highly recommend you read to supplement Mr. Mintzer's book are: \"Mastering Online Marketing\" (ISBN: 1599181517), \"Web Business Success\" (ISBN: 0974924504), and \"The Web Savvy Writer\" (ISBN: 0977830403). This last book is not currently being sold on Amazon. Google \"websavvywriter\" to find the author's site and you can buy it from her directly.\n\nWhat I liked the most about this book was the number and quality of URLs provided of real life distance learning Web sites. They can be found in the body of the book and in the appendix (A1). The Glossary was a disappointment. Also, I found the expenses listed in starting and running an online education business to be high. In fact, very high! If you do the research necessary to write a sound 25-35 page business plan, then you will realize how off the mark the expenses listed in this book really are. It is possible to start such a business for next to nothing except for your time in creating your business plan and your product(s). 5 stars!"],"string":"[\n \"Product: Apollo Twin reinvents desktop recording by delivering legendary analog studio sound, feel, and flow to music creators everywhere. This 2x6 Thunderbolt audio interface for Mac combines the same impeccable 24/192 kHz audio conversion of Universal Audio's acclaimed Apollo series with onboard Real time UAD DUO Processing. Plus it uses Unison technology, a breakthrough in classic mic preamp emulation. Record your music in real time (at near-zero latency) through the full range of UAD plug-ins - from Neve, Studer, Manley, Lexicon, API and more - putting racks of vintage EQs, compressors, mic preamps, tape machines, reverbs, and guitar amps at your fingertips . A Universal Audio breakthrough, Apollo Twin's Unison technology gives you the tone of the world's most sought-after tube and solid state mic preamps - including their all-important impedance, gain stage \\\"sweet spots,\\\" and component-level circuit behaviors. Based on unprecedented hardware-software integration between Apollo's mic preamps and its onboard UAD plug-in processing, Unison lets you record through stunning emulations like the bundled UA 610-B Tube Preamp plug-in, with more emulations available at the UA Online Store. Apollo Twin's smart feature set includes two class-leading mic/line preamps, two analog line outputs, two digitally controlled analog monitor outputs for full resolution at all listening levels, and up to eight additional channels of digital input via Optical connection. Onboard UAD DUO Processing lets you use UAD plug-ins both during real-time tracking and for mixing within Pro Tools, Cubase, Logic, Able ton Live, Garage Band and more. With its ergonomic desktop design, rugged aluminum construction, and front panel headphone and instrument connections, Apollo Twin has all the right tools, all in the right place. Thunderbolt cable sold separately. Apollo Twin includes the \\\"Real time Analog Classics\\\" UAD plug-in bundle. All other plug-ins are sold.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: One way to be able to make great records, but there are others!\\n\\nReview: I liked it. This is a rather high-end audio interface device that attaches to your Mac computer using OS X 10.8 or higher. To use it you will have to purchase separately an Apple Thunderbolt Firewire adapter for something like $30. The two-core processing can provide you with truly professional studio sound. However, I don't think this product is for everyone who is looking for such sound.\\n\\nSome recording people might have a computer setup that does not, nor cannot, create excellent sound quality with very low latency. Such persons would be the ideal candidate for getting this interface device. They should be aware that they will have a significant purchase price in getting this equipment, but will also have to shell even more dollars purchasing expensive plugins to get the most from this interface device. Other recording people who have a state-of-the-art computer setup for recording sound will probably have no need for this device. Their system will create wonderful sound files which will not need tweaking from plugins like the ones that work with the instant product being reviewed.\\n\\nSo you can upgrade an adequate computer system with this device and create great sound files, or you can build a high-power computer system for audio recording and forgo purchasing this device and the related plugins. 4 stars!\",\n \"Product: Turn your iPad, iPhone or Mac in to a real musical instrumentLearn to Play Guitar with the Bundled JamTutor appReal Strings, Real Frets, Real Picking... No tuning requiredConnect wirelessly via WIFI, no cable necessaryMobile ready, Backpack friendly, 100% portable to Learn, Create and Play music anywhereFREE shipping in both Canada and the US and free local pickup available.Slightly used with very minimal wear. All accessories included. Guaranteed to work.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Great product, just needs better user documentation!\\n\\nReview: I liked this product a lot. It wasn't too difficult to hook up to my Mac. And it was definitely fun to play. It's compact, and the interface with my Mac is wireless. It can be used as a tool to learn how to play guitar, or it can be used as a guitar to create music. I'm using it for the former, but hope to use it for the latter in the future. The print instructions were not too helpful. However, the Web site that goes along with this product (and the downloadable software) served my needs. I expect the Web site will get beefed up in the future, and when things settle down there will be some good print instructions created. The lack of easy-to-understand documentation for this product is the only reason I've dropped the star rating. 4 stars!\",\n \"Product: Turn up the creativity with the exciting new video tools in Roxio Creator NXT 3, the complete digital media suite. Record directly from your screen with new Live Screen Capture to add unique content to movies, presentations or demos. Make a movie or slideshow in minutes with new FastFlick, the 3-step multimedia app. You also get easy photo-editing tools and everything you need to rip, mix, burn and share your favorite music. Want to preserve your irreplaceable media files? Creator NXT 3 lets you burn, back up and copy to CD, DVD and Blu-ray Disc. Sharing is also a breeze with support for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, iPhone 6, iPad, the latest phones and devices, Facebook, YouTube and more.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: I took a look, but eventually uninstalled this puppy!\\n\\nReview: Didn't like it! I won't go as far as to say I hated it because the suite actually offers some good features with regard to digital video production and image editing. However, the software placed too many restrictions on my computer during the installation process for my liking, and the software after installation didn't set my world on fire when I used it. I have other software that does what it does and more. And it was kinda clunky I guess. I've subsequently uninstalled the software since I don't have much need for it. My favorite feature of this product was the ability to capture, convert, and share video. The video editing ability was too superficial for me, as was the photo editing ability. I didn't involve myself in the audio/music editing or the burning. 2 stars!\",\n \"Product: The Ultra Rich Comforting Cream helps soothe dry to very dry skin by locking in moisture all day. It is specially formulated to help nourish and protect skin in need of intensive hydration. Its melting texture is infused with 25% shea butter, rich in vitamin E, omega 6 and karitene to answer the essential needs of dry to very dry skin, even sensitive. Moisture is locked into the skin, leaving it soft, supple and comfortable all day. Massage into skin all over the body after bathing, showering, or anytime skin feels dry or tight.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: A roll-royce version of Noxzema moisturizing cream!\\n\\nReview: I liked it. I don't regularly get high-end skin products like this. I'm just too frugal. Noxzema moisturizing cream is more in my price range. But this stuff is thicker and more heavily scented than Noxzema. The cream is so thick that it does not apply easily when you try to cover a large area of your face quickly. I suppose this product if more for doing a dab here and a dab there. This is especially true considering what you pay for a 1.7 oz of product. I took a sniff of the product while it was in the container, and I have to admit it is pretty strongly scented. However, you have to keep in mind that the scent is so strong because you are smelling the entire container full of product. The little that you apply to your face will not have such a strong odor. Any negative review based on the strong scent is actually being quite unfair. This product does a nice job leaving my skin moisturized. Goes on kind of wet and oily at first, but will dry quickly and all is well. 4 stars!\",\n \"Product: VL521 Series Mid-Back Work Chair\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Not a chair I can highly recommend!\\n\\nReview: This chair was OK. Not one that I can highly recommend, but I won't trash it in this review either. Let's just say it is kind of nice to look at, it's clean, and it's functional. You can roll it around on its wheels, and you can adjust the height easily. But you cannot raise or lower the armrests, nor can you lean back in it comfortably. The back of the chair just does not give.\\n\\nThe materials used to construct the chair are mostly plastic. All in all, it's really just a basic chair. There's nothing special that can be said about this chair. It looks and feels like so many chairs I sit in at consulting projects I find myself working at. And I cannot say I have liked sitting in the chairs I am given very often. Maybe the fact that I'm sitting in them for mega hours a day doesn't help. But isn't a chair supposed to be comfortable over the long haul?\\n\\nI don't feel right commenting on the price directly regarding this product. I am by no means an expert on pricing for these kinds of chairs. But I suspect this chair is priced on the high side when it comes to value. 3 stars!\",\n \"Product: Enjoy the high-temperature cooking that cast iron provides with this attractive contemporary-styled casserole. It warms evenly and holds heat, which is ideal for slow-cooking stews, braised dishes and roasts. Also perfect for cobblers and cornbread and can be used on both the cooktop and in the oven. Plus, the porcelain enamel interior coating doesn't require seasoning.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Made a wonderful batch of chili for me!\\n\\nReview: I love it! My cast iron casserole cookware made a wonderful batch of chili for me. Before using it I smear olive oil over the inside bottom of the pot. When using it I go with low to medium heat on my stove top so the pot can gradually and evenly heat up for efficient cooking. Otherwise, I would get burning or smoke. I use heat-resistant nylon tools to stir and mix my chili while it cooks. This is so I will not damage the porcelain coating inside my pot. While I bet I could wash my cookware in a dishwasher, I old-fashioned and choose to wash it by hand. The cleaning is easier when I soak the food residue with warm water for 15 to 20 minutes.\\n\\nThe cookware is really nice to look at. Bright red and shiny. The only negative I can think of is that the unit is really pretty heavy. It's made of cast iron and it is very durable. You won't be able to dent this product. 5 stars!\",\n \"Product: La Cuisine's PRO Round 5 Qt. Cast Iron Casserole can be used to rustle up all sorts of mouth-watering dishes cooked on the stovetop or in the oven. La Cuisine's PRO cast iron cookware is crafted using sand molds, which are used only once, forging a lighter product with a very fine enamel finish that is truly unique. Wonderfully versatile, La Cuisine's PRO round casseroles are suited to the oven and all cooktops, including induction. Food heats through evenly and remains hot until served. The non-toxic, matte black enamel interior surface is scratch-resistant, stain-resistant, gives excellent food release that improves through continued use, and is simple to clean just wash in warm water. Perfect for professional and domestic cooks alike, La Cuisine PRO gives you no-fuss, healthy cooking that looks great as it goes straight from cooking on the stovetop or in the oven to serving at the table or buffet (our trivets, sold separately, are recommended for table/buffet use).\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Made a wonderful batch of chili for me!\\n\\nReview: I love it! My cast iron casserole cookware made a wonderful batch of chili for me. Before using it I smear olive oil over the inside bottom of the pot. When using it I go with low to medium heat on my stove top so the pot can gradually and evenly heat up for efficient cooking. Otherwise, I would get burning or smoke. I use heat-resistant nylon tools to stir and mix my chili while it cooks. This is so I will not damage the porcelain coating inside my pot. While I bet I could wash my cookware in a dishwasher, I old-fashioned and choose to wash it by hand. The cleaning is easier when I soak the food residue with warm water for 15 to 20 minutes.\\n\\nThe cookware is really nice to look at. Bright blue and shiny. The only negative I can think of is that the unit is really pretty heavy. It's made of cast iron and it is very durable. You won't be able to dent this product. I just reviewed another cast iron pot, and compared to that one this one seemed kind of pricey. Not sure why this one cost so much more than the other one? 5 stars!\",\n \"Product: 227981 Features: Equipped with a worldwide basemap and high-sensitivity, WAAS-enabled GPS receiver with HotFix technology and GNSS support that locks onto satellite predictions to lock onto your position Take it anywhere to it's durably constructed with a tough, waterproof body and an easy to read 22-inch monochrome screen so that you can quickly view your position Supports geocaching GPX files for downloading key info, terrain beta, hints, and descriptions straight to the device so that your next geocaching adventure can be paper-free Download data via the USB port Compatible with spine mounting accessories Specifications: Weight to dimensions: 53 ounces to 21 x 40 x 13 inches Altimeter: no Display size: 22 inches Battery type to life: 2 AA, NIMH or Lithium to 25 hours\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Reviewed by a cyclist for cyclists considering this device for their bicycle riding.\\n\\nReview: This device (the eTrex 10) is a gem. Thus the five star rating. I've been studying it and using it on bicycle rides for the past two months. I've read several of the Amazon reviews for this product, and few do a good job of informing the consumer. I think this is because the product caters to so many different endusers: boaters, kayakers, walkers, hikers, off-road cyclists, and on-road cyclists. My review is written from the perspective of an on-road cyclist. And I'm not going to write a review as much as merely answer a series of questions.\\n\\n1. Can you charge this device using a USB cable? >>No. The device uses two AA batteries for power. They can be cheap alkaline, or the more expensive rechargeable NiMH or lithium. Alkaline work ok if the weather is warm or hot. If you go the rechargeable route, don't buy cheap ones that have less than 2000 capacity. I didn't know rechargeables came in different capacities. Duh! The rechargeable batteries you need to recharge in a separate recharging device.\\n2. What do you use the USB cable for that comes with the device? >>To connect your device to your PC or Mac so you can update software or move GPX files on or off the device. GPX files are what tracks and waypoints are stored in. I use a Web site called RidewithGPS to create my TCX files. Then I use other software to convert them to GPX files. Think GpsVisualizer dotcom.\\n3. Can you load maps into this device? >>Not really. There is an almost nonexistent base map that comes with the unit. It is supposedly possible to overwrite it with a different map. However, for you to add maps to this device you would need to be able to insert an SD card which is where you would store extra maps. Since you cannot install an SD card into this device, you cannot add maps.\\n4. Can you use this device on long bike rides so you don't get lost? Is it good for bicycle touring? >>Yes. This is why I purchased this device.\\n5. Can this device aid one in navigating a city walk? An outdoors hike? An off-road bicycle ride? An on-road bicycle ride? Yes to all four questions. I use the device for GPX files I create using a free online service called RidewithGPS dotcom. The GPX files are the end-product of designing a route. Some of the routes are through city streets. Some are through trails in the various outdoor parks near my home. Some are mountain bike trails. And some are 200k brevet rides on roads. I copy the GPX files into the GPX folder in my device and I'm ready to go.\\n6. Can an SD card be installed into this device? >>No. Not on THIS device. Pay a little more to get the eTrex 20x or the eTrex 30x and you will be able to install an SD card in those devices.\\n7. Is it easy to read this device in sunlight? At nighttime? >> Yes. Yes. I have found it easy in both daytime and nighttime. Of course, I have to wear glasses that correct my vision well. The viewing screen is somewhat small.\\n8. Is this device good for long distance bike rides like brevets? >>Yes. GPS navigational devices designed for cyclists typically have internal rechargeable batteries that will die after 10 to 12 hours of constant use. Since the eTrex 10 uses two AA batteries, when they die they are easily replaced while riding the bike. As long as you have extra AA batteries along during your rides you will never be without a functioning eTrex 10.\\n9. How long does it take to find satellites before it starts working? >>Depends. It always cranks up quickly (within a minute) for me. However, I have both kinds of satellites enabled in my system setup. Uses more power this way though.\\n10. Is the user manual instructive? >>It is OK. The problem with the manual is the uses the device can be put to are so broad: boating, walking, hiking, biking off-road, and biking on-road. There really should be a manual for each type of user and there just isn't. Furthermore, do you want to use the device to mark geocaches? To merely be a navigation tool? Or to record where you have gone so you can retrace your steps? I'm really only interested in using the device as a navigation tool.\\n11. Does this device track pace and distance traveled? Can it double as a bike speedometer? >>Yes. Yes. You can configure the view screen to tell you how far you have traveled at any point in time. And you can configure it to tell you how fast you are going in mph or kph.\\n12. How relevant are street signs when using this device? >>Street signs are not really relevant because maps are not really relevant. With this device and your GPX file you will have a track (breadcrumb trail) and waypoints (usually along the trail). I create my GPX file so the names of the waypoints are street names. When the device is functioning a cursor shows up in the view screen indicating where I'm actually planted on the earth. As it moves along the track and I approach a waypoint I know it'll be time to make a turn. I can make the turn without even knowing the name of the street. And when riding in the middle of the night I rarely look for street signs to verify a turn. Of course, it is nice to see a street sign that matches the waypoint title. Waypoint titles show up in my view screen as I ride.\\n13. Does the view screen easily scratch? >>Yes. This is a problem. Invest in a $10 screen saver.\\n14. Does this device provide turn-by-turn instruction when being used? >>No. You only get turn-by-turn instructions when a GPS device uses an installed map to \\\"calculate\\\" your route. This device doesn't even have a map. But the eTrex 20x and eTrex 30x models do have maps. However, those units don't use the maps to calculate routes. The maps are just background images to the tracks and waypoints that appear on the respective view screens. All three units allow you to create proximity warnings around your waypoints. And when you get within a certain proximity of a waypoint you can be warned. This function works kind of like turn-by-turn instructions. Unfortunately, I have found them not to be too helpful. They tend to clutter up my view screen.\\n15. Can you insert a pre-loaded route? >>Yes. See answer to Q12.\\n16. What kind of battery life can one expect? >>With two rechargeable NiMH AA batteries with capacity of 2600 each you'll probably get more than 20 hours. This has been my experience while having both types of satellites accessed and leaving the backlight on constantly.\\n17. Does this device have touchscreen features? >>No. If it did you wouldn't get 20 hours of battery life. See answer to Q16.\\n18. What memory does this unit have? >>Only internal. This device does not let you install SD cards. The eTrex 20x and eTrex 30x does allow for SD cards. Those units cost more.\\n19. What kind of batteries does this device use? >>AA batteries. See answer to Q1.\\n20. When the batteries die do you lose your current track and any waypoints? >>Nope. This is because information is saved as you go along, and the route is not calculated during your ride. The track is static information, as are the waypoints. When you turn the device back on after changing the batteries the cursor in your view screen shows your current location just like when the power went out.\\n21. What file formats does this device read? >>Only GPX files, which are XML text files with a .gpx extension. Won't read TCX or FIT file formats. To create GPX files I download my routes from Ridewithpgs and then use one of a few free online converting Web sites to convert the TCX file to a GPX format file.\\n22. Does this device have an audio component? >>Nope. If it did, then you wouldn't get 20 hours of battery life. However, pay a little more and get the eTrex 20x or eTrex 30x and you will have some audio capability. For example, the proximity alarm in the eTrex 10 will not produce any bells or beeps, but the other two units do.\\n23. Does this device have a mapping function? >>It will record where you have gone if you want it to. Save the file when you are done, and you can upload it to RWGPS, Garmin Connect, Strava, or MapMyRide.\",\n \"Product: Beware of Punk from Sol Republic. Smaller, tougher and louder than you would expect, the Punk Portable Bluetooth Wireless Speaker is the ultimate sidekick to make your music heard. Surprisingly loud for its size, Punk is fearless. Crank up the volume and fill your room with music or take the party outside. Water resistant, Punk can lounge poolside. Shock resistant, Punk is not afraid of ruthless backpacks. Even dust doesn't bother Punk, so mount it to your bike using the 1/4-inch threaded mount and head up to the mountains. Punk goes with you anywhere, all day with long-lasting 8-hour battery life. Super social, Punk lets you connect any non-Bluetooth audio devices using the 3.5mm cable. You can even connect to that old stereo using Punk as a Bluetooth hub. If you won't break the rules, Punk will.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: A sturdy pocket-sized wireless speaker that produces quite a bit of quality sound!\\n\\nReview: I like this device. It was easy to pair with my various computers that are bluetooth compatible. It is very sturdy. Looks like it is water resistant, and can put up with quite a few shocks (aka, falls or drops). Took me about 2 hours to recharge the battery, and battery life seems to be around the 6 hour range.\\n\\nI tried to play the thing 60 feet from my computers, but it did not do too well from that far out. Played well at 40 feet or less, though. I wish it was easier to determine how low the battery is at a given time. But I just recharge it after I use it each day overnight. So that's not much of a problem. I don't like my music booming, but this pocket-sized wireless speaker than do very well for its size. Don't bother getting it if you want a real boom box, though. 4 stars!\",\n \"Product: eTrex 20x Handheld GPSPopular Handheld GPS with Enhanced Memory & ResolutionGreater resolution with 240 x 320 display pixels for improved readabilityInternal memory expanded to hold more mapsHigh-sensitivity, WAAS-enabled GPS receiver with HotFix and GLONASS support2.2-inch color displayWorldwide basemap with shaded reliefeTrex 20x is our upgraded version of the popular eTrex 20, with enhanced screen resolution for a more readable display and internal memory expanded to hold more maps. It retains the ease-of-use, durability and affordability that eTrex is legendary for and can also be used on ATVs, bicycles, boats, cars or hot air balloons.See the WayeTrex 20x has an enhanced 2.2-inch, 65K color, sunlight-readable display. Durable and waterproof, eTrex 20x is built to withstand the elements. It has an upgraded interface yet retains its legendary toughness to withstand dust, dirt, humidity or water.Go AnywhereWith an array of compatible mounts, eTrex 20x is designed as a handheld or for use on ATVs, bicycles, in boats, cars even hot air balloons. Use the auto mount capability and City Navigator NT maps for turn-by-turn driving directions, or the rugged mount for your motorcycle or ATV. Wherever you think you might take eTrex, it has the mapping and mounts to get you there.Go GlobalThe eTrex series is the first-ever consumer-grade receivers that can track both GPS and GLONASS satellites simultaneously. When using GLONASS satellites, a system developed by the Russian Federation, the time it takes for the receiver to \\\"lock on\\\" to a position is (on average) approximately 20 percent faster than using GPS. And when using both GPS and GLONASS, the receiver has the ability to lock on to 24 more satellites than using GPS alone.Add Mapsbr/\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Reviewed by a cyclist for cyclists considering this device for their bicycle riding.\\n\\nReview: This device (the eTrex 20x) is a gem. Thus the five star rating. I've been studying it and used it on some bicycle rides over the past two months. I've read several of the Amazon reviews for this product, and few do a good job of informing the consumer. I think this is because the product caters to so many different endusers: boaters, kayakers, walkers, hikers, off-road cyclists, and on-road cyclists. My review is written from the perspective of an on-road cyclist. And I'm not going to write a review as much as merely answer a series of questions.\\n\\n1. Can you charge this device using a USB cable? >>No. The device uses two AA batteries for power. They can be cheap alkaline, or the more expensive rechargeable NiMH or lithium. Alkaline work ok if the weather is warm or hot. If you go the rechargeable route, don't buy cheap ones that have less than 2000 capacity. I didn't know rechargeables came in different capacities. Duh! The rechargeable batteries need to be recharged using a separate recharging device.\\n2. What do you use the USB cable for that comes with the device? >>To connect your device to your PC or Mac so you can update software or move GPX files on or off the device. GPX files are what tracks and waypoints are stored in. I use a Web site called RidewithGPS to create my routes (tracks and cue sheet information). I export these as TCX files. Then I use other software to convert them to GPX files. Think GpsVisualizer dotcom.\\n3. Can you load maps into this device? >>Yes, definitely. Unlike the eTrex 10 model, the eTrex 20x allows you to install an SD card which is where added maps are stored. I personally have not found a need to use a map with my device. I use this device pretty much as if it is only an eTrex 10 (which is much cheaper to purchase).\\n4. Can you use this device on long bike rides so you don't get lost? Is it good for bicycle touring? >>Yes. This is why I purchased this device.\\n5. Can this device aid one in navigating a city walk? An outdoors hike? An off-road bicycle ride? An on-road bicycle ride? Yes to all four questions. I use the device for routes I create that I ultimately save as GPX files. See answer to Q2. Some of the routes are through city streets. Some are through trails in the various outdoor parks near my home. Some are mountain bike trails. And some are 200k brevet rides on roads. I copy the GPX files into the GPX folder in my device and I'm ready to go.\\n6. Can an SD card be installed into this device? >>Yes. This feature is one of the reasons this device costs more than the eTrex 10 model.\\n7. Is it easy to read this device in sunlight? At nighttime? >> Yes. Yes. I have found it easy in both daytime and nighttime. Of course, I have to wear glasses that correct my vision well. The viewing screen is somewhat small.\\n8. Is this device good for long distance bike rides like brevets? >>Yes. GPS navigational devices designed for cyclists typically have internal rechargeable batteries that will die after 10 to 12 hours of constant use. Since the eTrex 20x uses two AA batteries, when they die they are easily replaced while riding the bike. As long as you have extra AA batteries along during your rides you will never be without a functioning eTrex 20x.\\n9. How long does it take to find satellites before it starts working? >>Depends. It always cranks up quickly (within a minute) for me. However, I have both kinds of satellites enabled in my system setup. Uses more power this way though.\\n10. Is the user manual instructive? >>It is OK. The problem with the manual is the uses the device can be put to are so broad: boating, walking, hiking, biking off-road, and biking on-road. There really should be a manual for each type of user and there just isn't. Furthermore, do you want to use the device to mark geocaches? To merely be a navigation tool? Or to record where you have gone so you can retrace your steps? I'm really only interested in using the device as a navigation tool.\\n11. Does this device track pace and distance traveled? Can it double as a bike speedometer? >>Yes. Yes. You can configure the view screen to tell you how far you have traveled at any point in time. And you can configure it to tell you how fast you are going in mph or kph.\\n12. How relevant are street signs when using this device? >>Street signs are not really relevant because maps are not really relevant. With this device and your GPX file you will have a track (breadcrumb trail) and waypoints (usually along the trail). I create my GPX file so the names of the waypoints are street names. When the device is functioning a cursor shows up in the view screen indicating where I'm actually planted on the earth. As it moves along the track and I approach a waypoint I know it'll be time to make a turn. I can make the turn without even knowing the name of the street. And when riding in the middle of the night I rarely look for street signs to verify a turn. Of course, it is nice to see a street sign that matches the waypoint title. Waypoint titles show up in my view screen as I ride.\\n13. Does the view screen easily scratch? >>Yes. This is a problem. Invest in a $10 screen saver/protector.\\n14. Does this device provide turn-by-turn instruction when being used? >>Not the way I use it. You only get turn-by-turn instructions when a GPS device uses an installed map to \\\"calculate\\\" the route. I've never installed an SD card or added any maps. In any event, I don't think this device uses the maps to calculate routes. The maps seem to be just background images to the tracks and waypoints that appear on the view screen. The eTrex 20x (like the 10 and 30x models) allows you to create proximity warnings around your waypoints. And when you get within a certain proximity of a waypoint you can be warned. This function works kind of like turn-by-turn instructions. Unfortunately, I have found them not to be too helpful. They tend to clutter up my view screen.\\n15. Can you insert a route (a file downloaded from a Web site like Ridewithgps dotcom)? >>Yes. See answers to Q2 and Q5.\\n16. What kind of battery life can one expect? >>With two rechargeable NiMH AA batteries with capacity of 2600 each you'll probably get more than 20 hours. This has been my experience while having both types of satellites accessed and leaving the backlight on constantly.\\n17. Does this device have touchscreen features? >>No. If it did you wouldn't get 20 hours of battery life. See answer to Q16.\\n18. What memory does this unit have? >>Both internal and external. This device lets you install SD cards. Supposedly the internal memory on this device is about 3.7 GB. That considerably more than is offered in the eTrex 10.\\n19. What kind of batteries does this device use? >>AA batteries. See answer to Q1.\\n20. When the batteries die do you lose your current track and any waypoints? >>Nope. This is because information is saved as you go along, and the route is not calculated during your ride. The track is static information, as are the waypoints. When you turn the device back on after changing the batteries the cursor in your view screen shows your current location just like when the power went out.\\n21. What file formats does this device read? >>Only GPX files, which are XML text files with a .gpx extension. Won't read TCX or FIT file formats. To create GPX files I download my routes from Ridewithpgs and then use one of a few free online converting Web sites to convert the TCX file to a GPX format file.\\n22. Does this device have an audio component? >>Yes. This one of the differences between this model and the eTrex 10. For example, the proximity alarm in the eTrex 10 will not produce any bells or beeps, but the eTrex 20x does. This unit also offers an alarm clock function, and without the alarm being noisy you couldn't have an alarm clock.\\n23. Does this device have a mapping function? >>It will record where you have gone if you want it to. Save the file when you are done, and you can upload it to RWGPS, Garmin Connect, Strava, or MapMyRide.\\n24. Why would I want to purchase an eTrex 20x instead of the less expensive eTrex 10 model? >>The eTrex 20x comes with a higher resolution color viewing screen whereas the eTrex 10 has a lower resolution monochrome screen. The eTrex 20x will let me store 200 routes (GPX files) and 2000 waypoints whereas the eTrex 10 will only let me store 50 routes and 1000 waypoints. And if I cared about maps, then the eTrex 20x will let me load some pretty fancy maps onto the device. I have found the screen issues are not a big thing. And if I were to load more than a few routes on my device, then figuring out the waypoints gets unwieldy. And I've already said I don't care much about maps. I haven't used the alarm clock yet. But if I'm doing a long brevet and need to take a nap, then the 20x might be the better device. But maybe I'd want a real alarm clock that would make a louder sound? Who knows?\",\n \"Product: Scotts Turf Builder Grass Seed Northeast Mix is specially formulated to thrive in challenging Northeast conditions. It is ideal for areas of sun and shade, and it grows in thick to help keep out dandelions and crabgrass. Each seed is wrapped in a unique WaterSmart PLUS Coating that absorbs 2x more water than uncoated seed, feeds with essential nutrients, and protects seedlings from disease. Grow Quicker, Thicker, Greener Grass. Guaranteed!\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: This product is definitely a great ingredient for an awesome lawn in NJ!\\n\\nReview: Love it! This is a good quality seed and is designed for properties situated in the northeastern part of the US, i.e., NJ (where I live). The grass that will grow can handle the hot sun well enough, and thrive in the areas of the yard that do not get cremated by the sun. The seeds are treated or coated with a substance that enables them to retain some water while germinating, and some nutrients, too. Thus, they are kind of like rasinettes instead of just plain raisins. I'm writing this review from what I experienced in the past with it, and the product looks the same as always as I planted it earlier this morning. The quality of the growth will depend on me nurturing it over the next month. 5 stars!\",\n \"Product: Generic\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Definitely a flash light you should get if you go camping or get flat tires while driving after dark!\\n\\nReview: Love it! Not too small (and light), but not too big (and heavy). Its probably an excellent device to have after dark while camping, or when faced with a flat tire after dark while driving your car. It has three modes so to speak. One traditional mode where it can fire a direct beam of light at a specific spot. A second mode where it can illuminate an area or room for you, and it does a pretty good job doing it considering the size of the product. And a third mode where it flashes red light kind of like a distress signal or warning lamp. I cannot really tell which of the first two modes uses the most power. My hunch is that mode number two does. I pretty certain the third mode uses the least amount of power by far. Power is supplied by three AAA batteries. I have not taken the time to figure out how quickly the batteries die when using each of the three modes. Sorry.\\n\\nI plan to use the flash light in mode three primarily on early morning jogs I do with a friend before sun-up. I'm hoping the battery life will be reasonable. If it is, then this product might deserve more than 5 stars! However, if you are into camping or think you might be getting a flat tire on your car, then this flash light is definitely one you should consider getting regardless of what the battery life is. 5 stars!\",\n \"Product: Dennis Snow spent twenty-years working for the mouse at Walt Disney World. Starting his career at 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, moving into managing various operating areas. He taught corporate philosophy and business practices at Disney University. Now a full-time speaker, trainer, consultant and author, Dennis helps organizations achieve goals in the areas of customer service, employee engagement, and leadership.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Be a productive and happy employee in a company that places a priority on branding its customer service with a postive rating.\\n\\nReview: I liked this book. It was kind of short. But it was easy to read and it had some good points to be made about how to be a productive and happy employee in a company that places a priority on branding its customer service with a postive rating. The book has the following 11 chapters:\\n\\n0. Introduction\\n1. Never let Backstage come Onstage\\n2. \\\"What time is the 3 o'clock parade?\\\" is not a stupid question\\n3. Little wows add up\\n4. Have fun with the job no matter how miserable you feel\\n5. Don't be a customer service robot\\n6. Pay attention to the details - everything speaks\\n7. Never ever say: \\\"That's not my job\\\" - And don't even think it\\n8. Everyone has a customer\\n9. Figure out what ticks off your customers, and do something about it\\n10. Take responsibility for your own career\\n11. Conclusion\\n\\nI think it is fair to say that the material covered in this book can be categorized as follows:\\n\\n>>Be a quality control inspector (chapters 1, 6, 7, & 9)\\n>>Help build a brand for your company's customer service (chapters 3, 5, & 8)\\n>>Be a people person (Chapter 2)\\n>>Enjoy your job (chapters 4 & 10)\\n\\nSince I found the book to be unduly short and almost not qualify to be called a book at all, I think there should have been more chapters that dealt with \\\"Being a People Person\\\" and \\\"Enjoying Your Job.\\\" And there probably should have been another chapter thrown in regarding how to brand your customer service efforts.\\n\\nIf you like any of the following books, then you will probably like the instant book I have just reviewed. 4 stars!\\n\\n\\\"The Nordstrom Way to Customer Service\\\" (ISBN: 9780471702863)\\n\\\"The Starbucks Experience\\\" (ISBN: 9780071477840)\\n\\\"The Toyota Way\\\" (ISBN: 9780071392310)\\n\\\"Good to Great\\\" (ISBN: 9780066620992)\\n\\\"How to Win Friends & Influence People\\\" (ISBN: 9780671027032)\",\n \"Product: McGraw-Hill authors represent the leading experts in their fields and are dedicated to improving the lives, careers, and interests of readers worldwide\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: This book covers a lot of ground when it comes to being an infopreneur and running an information marketing company!\\n\\nReview: I liked this book very much. It is full of good content and covers a lot of bases for someone who wants to take their information and turn that information into streams of revenues. This book was masterminded by Robert Skrob, an infopreneur himself. He wrote the Preface and Chapter 1, and he got other players in the infopreneur field to write the remaining twelve chapters for the book. In my humble opinion, the chapters are well written. But as for the book's outline, I think it could be improved a little. It comes across more as a string of lengthy articles strung together in a haphazard order.\\n\\nI would delete Chapter 3 entitled \\\"Financing your info-marketing business.\\\" Information marketing companies are very cheap to get started. So why devote a chapter to financing such a venture?\\n\\nI would change the order of the chapters as follows:\\n\\nI. WHY START AN INFORMATION MARKETING COMPANY?\\n0. Preface: It's not what you know, it's what you learn\\n1. Escape hours for dollars: Do the work once and get paid many times\\n7. Getting the lifestyle and income of your dreams by using joint ventures\\nII. WHAT IS AN INFORMATION MARKETING COMPANY?\\n10. An alternative to professional publishers\\n11. Build a coaching program from scratch, $2 million a year within 18 months\\n12. A coaching program making millions with no affinity, no money, and no experience in info-marketing\\nIII. WHAT IS INVOLVED IN RUNNING AN INFORMATION MARKETING COMPANY?\\n4. Simple and easy strategies for creating products you can sell for years\\n5. The 5 keys to effectively marketing your business\\n6. How to sell your information product online and offline\\n8. Maximizing online info-product sales, generate more money from your business\\n9. Using ezines as a fast and practically free way to sell more info-products online\\nIV. CHOICE OF LEGAL ENTITY & WRITING A BUSINESS PLAN\\n2. Protecting your information marketing business\\n13. Speed implementation: How to get your info-marketing business up, running, and profitable quickly\\n\\nI would have liked Chapter 13 much more if it had made reference to business plans and consulting with SCORE (Senior Corps of Retired Executives) to get help writing the business plan. Instead, the reader might think it is OK to just start the business as a fling and wing it. A failure to plan is a plan to fail!\\n\\nI also think there are some fine books that can act as supplemental reading to the four parts I outline above. See also for Part I: \\\"Will Work for Fun\\\" (ISBN: 9780470231791). For Part II see: \\\"Four Steps to Building a Profitable Coaching Practice\\\" (ISBN: 0595296602), and \\\"Coaching Millions\\\" (ISBN: 9788979293287). For Part III see: \\\"The Official Guide to Information Marketing on the Internet\\\" (ISBN: 9781599182544), and \\\"ProBlogger\\\" (ISBN: 9780470246672). And for Part IV see: \\\"Structuring Your Business\\\" (ISBN: 1593371772).\\n\\nAll in all, I think this was a wonderful book. Even though I think it should be reorganized somewhat significantly I think the content is great. 5 stars!\\n\\nPS. I also think the reader of this book will benefit greatly by reading \\\"Web Business Success\\\" (ISBN: 0974924504).\",\n \"Product: Thomas Chapple is a licensed elite-level USA Cycling and USA Triathlon coach. He has competed at the national level in downhill mountain bike racing, and regionally in road and track. Since he started coaching in 1997, he has enabled competitive athletes to advance from the local ranks to placement at national and world championships.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: A great companion book for anyone who has been reading books about power meters!\\n\\nReview: I liked this book very much. Soon after finishing <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/The-Power-Meter-Handbook-A-User-s-Guide-for-Cyclists-and-Triathletes/dp/1934030953/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">The Power Meter Handbook: A User's Guide for Cyclists and Triathletes</a> which included a section in its Chapter 6 regarding \\\"Base Period: Developing Fitness,\\\" I purchased this book. I thought Friel's book was kind of weak with regard to its discussion on the topic, and I wanted to get a full length book on the subject. I am glad I chose this tome. I thought this book was well written, organized, and presented. I saw nothing included that I disagreed with either.\\n\\nThis year I am new to power meters. And I have now read a couple of books on them. I was able to gather enough from the power meter books to pretty much understand how power can be integrated into a training program to make it more efficient. However, since I have not actively trained for competition for quite some time I thought it would be a good idea to read a few words on training basics, i.e., working out methodically to build a good fitness base.\\n\\nThe instant book includes Chapter 5 that covers \\\"training zones.\\\" If you have been reading anything about power meters, then you have read about these zones refered to as \\\"power zones.\\\" Thus, the inclusion of a discussion in this book about training/power zones ties the material in this book to anything about power meters. I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to take full advantage of his or her new power meter. 5 stars!\",\n \"Product: Joy R. Butler is an attorney who regularly assists individuals and companies with their online activities. She is a graduate of Harvard Law School.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Read this book so you can be more confident about building your online presence and not be scared of doing things illegally.\\n\\nReview: I liked this book very much. I found it to be well organized, well written, and an easy read. Other reviewers have already provided the basic outline of the book in their reviews. So I won't reiterate that information here.\\n\\nThere have been many books written over the past several years about building an Online Presence using a Web site, blogs, and participating in the blogosphere and online social networking sites. I've read many of them, and posted reviews on Amazon regarding some that I have read. The instant book being reviewed is the first that I have seen that discusses the legal aspects of creating an Online Presence. Such legal topics covered include copyright law, trademark law, free speech law, and tort law (defamation, personal injury, etc.), to name a few.\\n\\nI know when I first started designing and building Web sites back in 1998 I found it a little intimidating trying to figure out how to get a URL (Web site address), what address could I legally get, and what about trademarks and how they relate to URLs? And I was a licensed attorney, too. These are the type of things covered in the book. How much content can you swipe from other sites and include in your site? How much re-writing do you need to do before you won't be called on copyright infringement? What about using image files that you did not create? What about \\\"photoshopping\\\" (modifying) someone else's image file and using it in your site? And can you embarrass someone so much that they go and kill themselves and not be held legal liable for the death? These are the kinds of things covered in this wonderful little tome.\\n\\nGenerally I have gotten tired of recommending \\\"Online Presence\\\" books since there are so many out there today. I've even stopped picking most of them up to skim. But I have to say this book is worthy of recommendation in 2010 since it covers material that I am not aware any other books on the subject delves into. I highly recommend this book to self-promoters, Internet marketers, and anyone else who is responsible for building an online presence for themselves or their businesses. 5 stars!\",\n \"Product: McGraw-Hill authors represent the leading experts in their fields and are dedicated to improving the lives, careers, and interests of readers worldwide\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: A wonderful book for infopreneurs who want to sell distance learning programs.\\n\\nReview: I loved this book. I really liked it a lot! I'm in the process of putting together a virtual business that will provide a distance learning program, some publications, and a coaching service. Having this book to read was wonderful because it discusses the ins and outs of putting together an online education business, which is what distance learning programs are.\\n\\nThere are a number of books available today regarding infopreneurship and being an infopreneur. Creating articles, booklets, books, and reducing them to PDF files is the simplest way to be an infopreneur. But putting together teaching programs and providing the PDF files coupled with back and forth interaction through email and/or telephone is a bit more involved. It's still infopreneurship, but it is also distance learning or an online education business. This book explains what online education is about. And it gives you lots of resources and things to think about if you decide to take the plunge and start your own online education business. It has 14 chapters and two lists of resources in its appendix:\\n\\n1. Learning for a Better Life\\n2. Entering the Online Learning Market\\n3. Start-up strategies\\n4. Online education goes to school\\n5. Tuning up knowledge workers\\n6. Lifelong online learning\\n7. Course planning and offerings\\n8. Solid foundations for virtual firms\\n9. Putting your money down\\n10. Content and delivery\\n11. It's all about the software\\n12. Finding the financing\\n13. Spreading the word\\n14. Failure and success\\nA1. Online education resources\\nA2. Glossary\\n\\nI was disappointed with Chapter 8 that discussed Choice of Entity (COE) issues and Business Plans. The COE material was VERY poor, and even wrong at times. LLCs don't dissolve just because an owner dies. The author simply did not know what he was talking about. Consider getting a copy of \\\"Structuring Your Business\\\" (ISBN: 1593371772) to get good information about COE. I've posted a book review for that book on Amazon, too. I think there should have been a full chapter devoted to business plans in this book. But there wasn't. Consider getting a copy of \\\"Business Models Made Easy\\\" (ISBN: 1599180413). I've posted a book review for that book on Amazon, too.\\n\\nIf you are wanting to build and run an online education business like me, then definitely get a copy of \\\"Four Steps to Building a Profitable Coaching Practice\\\" (ISBN: 0595296602). I've posted a book review for that book on Amazon, too. Three other books I highly recommend you read to supplement Mr. Mintzer's book are: \\\"Mastering Online Marketing\\\" (ISBN: 1599181517), \\\"Web Business Success\\\" (ISBN: 0974924504), and \\\"The Web Savvy Writer\\\" (ISBN: 0977830403). This last book is not currently being sold on Amazon. Google \\\"websavvywriter\\\" to find the author's site and you can buy it from her directly.\\n\\nWhat I liked the most about this book was the number and quality of URLs provided of real life distance learning Web sites. They can be found in the body of the book and in the appendix (A1). The Glossary was a disappointment. Also, I found the expenses listed in starting and running an online education business to be high. In fact, very high! If you do the research necessary to write a sound 25-35 page business plan, then you will realize how off the mark the expenses listed in this book really are. It is possible to start such a business for next to nothing except for your time in creating your business plan and your product(s). 5 stars!\"\n]","isConversational":false},"profile_size":{"kind":"number","value":17,"string":"17"},"task":{"kind":"string","value":"longlamp_3"},"split_kind":{"kind":"string","value":"user_based"},"id":{"kind":"number","value":945,"string":"945"}}},{"rowIdx":946,"cells":{"question_id":{"kind":"string","value":"A3UKM8RJFHDF2I"},"question":{"kind":"string","value":"Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of \"5.0\" for a product with description \"Yeti is the most advanced and versatile multi-pattern USB microphone available anywhere. Combining three capsules and four different pattern settings, Yeti is the ultimate tool for creating amazing recordings, directly to your computer. With a unique Platinum finish, Yeti Platinum adds style and energy to your recording or broadcasting setup. Now you can capture anything with a clarity and ease unheard of in a USB microphone. Featuring Blue's innovative triple capsule array, Yeti can record in stereo or your choice of three other unique patterns, including cardioid, omnidirectional, and bidirectional. Utilizing a high quality A-D converter, a built-in headphone amplifier for zero-latency monitoring, and direct controls for headphone volume, pattern selection, instant mute, and microphone gain. With no drivers to install, Yeti is the most versatile USB mic lighting up the airwaves today.\". The summary of the review text is \"Works great so far!\"."},"answer":{"kind":"string","value":"I just got my Blue Yeti [in silver] this week and it works great! I've heard these are nice mics, but now I believe it!\n\nMine was a gift so I, personally, didn't get it through Amazon, but the person who gave it to me did.\nBut, Since I'm the recipient & user, I thought it best that I write the review.\n\nI'm currently using my Yeti on a 10 year old HP Pavilion Elite M9200t tower with Windows 10 (64 bit), which I've updated through the years so it has 8 GB RAM and two hard drives: a Seagate 750 GB & a WD Blue 1 TB. I'm mentioning this so folks who might have older computers will know that they don't need a new computer to use the Yeti (wink).\n\nI'm going to be using my Yeti mostly for embroidery software instruction & computer troubleshooting tutorials.\n\nThe main program I'll be using with my Yeti is Camtasia, however, I've tested it with Audicity 1.3, which isn't even the newest version, and it works perfectly with the mic. The Yeti is listed in the microphone options and I have it recording in \"stereo 44,100 hz/32 bit\".\n\nI currently have the mic's gain at about 25% (9 o'clock on the dial) and the Cardioid setting; the Yeti is sitting on my desk about 18\" away from where I'm sitting at my PC and it picks up my voice perfectly.\n\nAdditionally,\nThrough Amazon, I've already ordered a Supon arm <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/SUPON-Professional-Studio-Condenser-Microphone-Suspension-Mic-Clip-Adjustable-Durable-Steel-Boom-Scissor-Arm-Stand-for-Radio-Broadcasting-Studio-Voice-Over-Sound-Studio-Stages-and-TV-Stations/dp/B06XKMLGSF/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">SUPON Professional Studio Condenser Microphone Suspension Mic Clip Adjustable & Durable Steel Boom Scissor Arm Stand for Radio Broadcasting Studio, Voice-Over Sound Studio, Stages, and TV Stations</a> & Aokeo pop filter <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Aokeo-Professional-Microphone-Pop-Filter-Mask-Shield-With-A-Clip-Stabilizing-Arm-For-Awesome-Premium-Recordings/dp/B01N21H9WY/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">Aokeo Professional Microphone Pop Filter Mask Shield With A Clip Stabilizing Arm For Awesome Premium Recordings</a> to get the Yeti off my desk (noise reduction).\n\nThe Auphonix shock mount arrived today and fits perfectly! I got the aluminum version, but it does come in plastic for a little less than the aluminum."},"correct_answer":{"kind":"string","value":"I just got my Blue Yeti [in silver] this week and it works great! I've heard these are nice mics, but now I believe it!\n\nMine was a gift so I, personally, didn't get it through Amazon, but the person who gave it to me did.\nBut, Since I'm the recipient & user, I thought it best that I write the review.\n\nI'm currently using my Yeti on a 10 year old HP Pavilion Elite M9200t tower with Windows 10 (64 bit), which I've updated through the years so it has 8 GB RAM and two hard drives: a Seagate 750 GB & a WD Blue 1 TB. I'm mentioning this so folks who might have older computers will know that they don't need a new computer to use the Yeti (wink).\n\nI'm going to be using my Yeti mostly for embroidery software instruction & computer troubleshooting tutorials.\n\nThe main program I'll be using with my Yeti is Camtasia, however, I've tested it with Audicity 1.3, which isn't even the newest version, and it works perfectly with the mic. The Yeti is listed in the microphone options and I have it recording in \"stereo 44,100 hz/32 bit\".\n\nI currently have the mic's gain at about 25% (9 o'clock on the dial) and the Cardioid setting; the Yeti is sitting on my desk about 18\" away from where I'm sitting at my PC and it picks up my voice perfectly.\n\nAdditionally,\nThrough Amazon, I've already ordered a Supon arm <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/SUPON-Professional-Studio-Condenser-Microphone-Suspension-Mic-Clip-Adjustable-Durable-Steel-Boom-Scissor-Arm-Stand-for-Radio-Broadcasting-Studio-Voice-Over-Sound-Studio-Stages-and-TV-Stations/dp/B06XKMLGSF/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">SUPON Professional Studio Condenser Microphone Suspension Mic Clip Adjustable & Durable Steel Boom Scissor Arm Stand for Radio Broadcasting Studio, Voice-Over Sound Studio, Stages, and TV Stations</a> & Aokeo pop filter <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Aokeo-Professional-Microphone-Pop-Filter-Mask-Shield-With-A-Clip-Stabilizing-Arm-For-Awesome-Premium-Recordings/dp/B01N21H9WY/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">Aokeo Professional Microphone Pop Filter Mask Shield With A Clip Stabilizing Arm For Awesome Premium Recordings</a> to get the Yeti off my desk (noise reduction).\n\nThe Auphonix shock mount arrived today and fits perfectly! I got the aluminum version, but it does come in plastic for a little less than the aluminum."},"documents":{"kind":"list like","value":["Product: This singing bowl is a special bowl, which is made of seven metals, i.e. gold, silver, copper, iron, tin, lead, and zinc. All the metal used has a specific purpose and represent the sun and the moon and other planets. This bowl can be used for meditation, music, and chakra cleansing. A leather striker is included with this singing bowl and this bowl was hand-hammered in Nepal. This bowl is truly hand made in a traditional way at singing-bowl house . Due to handmade bowl,the surface have several marked of hammered on it.The bowl have long lasting tune which create totally peaceful environment around you . who are looking for real handmade bowl from Himalaya will not be disappointing by this bowl. About B-Chakra, B is associated with the crown chakra. Located at the top of the head, the color of this chakra is violet. Issues are related to understanding. Disharmony of this chakra manifests as psychosis, creative exhaustion, nervous tension, psychic debilitation, hyperactivity, general lowered resistance, and migraines. Emotions associated with this chakra include bliss. The function is liberation and the symbol is the lotus flower. The endocrine influence is on the pineal gland. Associated with the element of thought and the signs of Pisces and the Universe. Sugalite, fluorite, amethyst, and all violet gemstones are related to this chakra. Essential oils are sandalwood and lavender. Quality is spirituality. Vowel sound of E MEASURMENT This is handcrafted bowl therefore please note that each one might have slight variations in measurement. Diameter: 6 inch Height : 3 inch Weight : 705 gram(only bowl ) (931.5 grams with striker and cushion)\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Excellent Singer...closer to a C orC# note though...I also recommend the book \"How to Heal with Singing Bowls by Suren Shrestha\"\n\nReview: Sounds pretty good...but it's closer to a note C or C# than note B.\nThe rim is a C# and the side strike is a C.\n\nI had my Sabine Metrotune MT9000 tuner going when playing this bowl recently to test the notes.\n\nThe strike tone is nice and smooth and the singing around the outside top edge is a soothing \"hummmm\" that sounds the best when resting on the supplied pillow, instead of my open palm.\n\nFor those who mentioned in the reviews that their bowls did not \"sing\" when running the striker around the edge, try not running the striker on the rim. You can try holding the striker vertically and tap it on the top outside edge to start a vibration, then run the striker vertically counterclockwise around the edge 1\" from the rim (I found that my bowl sounds better when going counterclockwise).\n\nWhen I ordered my 6\" Superb B Crown Chakra Old Tibetan Singing Bowl, the seller was listed as Singing Bowls Nepal, but the bowl was shipped via Amazon, the seller's name changed to YourKart. The price was the same either way.\n\nThe pillows can be just about any color so don't be surprised if you get a different color than pictured.\nAfter all, it's just a pillow cushion.\n\nFor instance, the picture when I ordered was a green pattern with tassels, but the pillow I received is nice red & gold pattern without tassels.\nI'm fine with that, besides, my cat would probably find the tassels anyway! LOL\n\nI also recommend \"How to Heal with Singing Bowls by Suren Shrestha\"...a modest paperback book with a lot of very helpful information about using singing bowls that includes an informative CD with Relaxation Therapy, Chakra Balancing Therapy, and Sound Meditation. <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/How-to-Heal-with-Singing-Bowls-Traditional-Tibetan-Healing-Methods/dp/1591812305/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">How to Heal with Singing Bowls: Traditional Tibetan Healing Methods</a>","Product: Save an abundance of time and energy with the Aroma 60-Cup (Cooked) Commercial Rice Cooker. Simply add rice and water, press a button and walk away! Aroma takes the \"cook' out of cooking rice - leaving you free to work on other things in the kitchen. You won't know how you lived without it! This convenient cooker's generous capacity perfectly cooks up to 60 cups of any variety of rice. It automatically senses when rice is done and switches to Keep-Warm for fresh rice all day. The durable body and heavy-duty stainless steel lid and aluminum cooking pot are designed for continuous use so you can count on batch after batch of flawless rice coming out of your kitchen. Two Rice Measuring Cups and Rice Paddle included.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: It's Really BIG! LOL\n\nReview: We just got this a few days ago to use for occasional catering events we volunteer for once a month and it works great! It's BIG! When not in use it will be kept in its box on a shelf in the garage.\n\nTo be honest, we were concerned that the rice might not cook evenly, being such big batches, but to our pleasant surprise, the rice cooks evenly throughout. It actually cooked better as a full batch vs. a 1/3 batch. When we did the smaller batch just to try it out, the very bottom layer of rice was slightly tan in color, but not burned or anything like that. When we did the full 30/60 cup batch, the bottom layer was just barely light tan, and the rice was evenly cooked.\n\nSo far, no complaints! :o)","Product: Fantastic condition. It is only a year old(Purchased new on 8-24-15 for $7,000). I just had it cleaned and serviced a month ago(8-26-15) so it is like new. Full LCD touchscreen display. It has 1,200 built in stitches and 233 preloaded embroidery designs plus you can download your own into the machine from your computer or usb stick. Also comes with all the original feet and 3 embroidery hoops, Designer diamond royale users guide, embroidery sampler, roller case for sewing machine and embroidery arm, a hard sewing machine cover, and a mega thread spool stand($35 value).\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: (Sept. 2014) I just traded in my Designer 1 for a used Diamond...Love it! (UPDATES 2017)\n\nReview: I just traded in my Viking Designer 1 for a used Designer Diamond and so far, I am completely impressed! (Sept. 2014)\n\n(ADDED DECEMBER 4, 2016)\nIf you're having problems with the dongle that came with your Husqvarna software, there is an update for the drivers but amazon won't allow hyperlinks so just go to the husqvarna viking web site:\nGo to Software Support\nClick on \"Support Portal Have Questions? Check out the new Embroidery Software Support Portal.\"\n...and go to the software support portal...search \"hasp\" (without the quotes).\nYou should get this:\nTo resolve your difficulties, please do the following to install an updated dongle driver.\n\n1. Unplug the dongle from your computer.\n2. Go to www.premierplusembroidery.com\n3. Click the \"Support\" link from the menu bar and click the \"Software Help & Updates\" link in the drop down list.\n4. Click the \"HASP Dongle Drivers\" link from under HASP Dongle Drivers near the bottom of the page.\n5. Download and save the file to your computer.\n6. Double-click the saved file to install it. Click the Run button if prompted and follow the remaining prompts.\n7. After the installation is complete, plug the dongle into the computer. The dongle should install the device drivers and light up.\n\nThe most recent Designer Diamond update (NON ROYAL & DELUXE):\nThere is an update dated March 2016 all versions of the Diamond.\n\nFor all machine updates, including Diamond, Diamond Deluxe & Royale\ngo to the Viking website...then at the top go to \"support & updates\" to find your machine to obtain the update via Update and Downloads.\n\nUpdates and downloads for the original Diamond:\nComplimentary software download (for PC computers)\nUPDATE VERSION 9725-6373 (March 3, 2016)\n\n(ADDED THIS PORTION 10 25 15)\n\nThere are some wonderful instructional videos for the Diamond. Sara demonstrates on the Royale, but the videos apply to all the Diamonds.\nsewingmastery.com aka heirloomcreations on youtube.\n\nIf you're having bobbin-nesting problems - see video #18....the problem is likely actually the top tension.\n\n... there are 111 videos to chose from that were posted in March 2015 by an authorized Viking retailer. She demonstrates the Diamond Royale from unboxing and through the manual, but it applies to the original Diamond & Diamond Deluxe as well.\nYou do not have to watch all the videos; only the ones you want to watch, but #18 addresses the tension specifically.\n\nAdditionally:\nIn regard to thread nesting that some users are experiencing:\nPlease find the review by Amazon Reviewer \"T.S\" (the user name on the post) dated September 25, 2015 that addresses thread nesting and a small metal part under the stitch plate.\n\nT.S. has supplied a photo of the part and I have added the part name and # in my response to T.S.\nT.S. had success eliminating thread nesting by removing that metal part.\nTake a look at the review...it could help you. :o)\n\nSEPTEMBER 2014-MY INITIAL REVIEW:\n\nI've been hoping to upgrade for the last year because my Designer 1 was over 12 years old and I was in a rut.\n\nI was torn between sticking with Viking (been a Viking customer for over 30 years) or switching to Brother.\n\nI decided to try to find a good used Viking so I looked to my local Viking dealer. Someone had recently traded in their gently used Diamond (Made in Sweden) to buy a new Diamond Royale (made in china....Vikings have always been made in Sweden, but are now made in china, which I find disheartening).\n\nMy dealer sold me the gently used Diamond for a great price and gave me a fair trade-in price for my Designer 1, in addition to a free one year warranty for all parts and labor....I love my local Viking Dealer!\n\nMy Designer Diamond is about six years old and very clean... it works great!\n\nAlthough I already own the Viking 5D Professional software and this Diamond machine works great with it, you do not need to have expensive embroidery software. It comes with 4D organizer/communication software and LOTS of designs, plus, you can buy ready made designs in many different formats (.SHV, .DHV, .VP3, .VIP, .HUS, .PEC, .PES, .PCS, .XXX, .SEW, .JEF, .EXP, .10* and .DST (embroidery files),.SH7 (stitch files),.VF3 (embroidery font files).\n\nOr you can use other brands of embroidery software that save designs in those embroidery formats, such as Embird, which I also have owned & upgraded for many years. It's really up to you and your budget/preference.\n\nUsing Viking's 5D Pro software, or the included communication software, and a USB cable I'm able to link directly from my computer or laptop to my Diamond to send designs to and update the firmware (I'm running Windows 10 64 bit on an eight year old HP Pavilion tower PC that I've upgraded myself through the years and it works perfectly with my Diamond).\n\nYou can also use the included 1GB memory stick (or other brand of USB stick/flash drive, like KIngston, for example) to transfer designs over to the machine, but to update the firmware, use a USB cable for a direct connection (users have had problems after using the memory stick to do the updates, myself included).\n\nI upgraded the firmware shortly after getting my machine (free download from Viking website) and it updated without any problems using a USB cable (& I used a Belkin USB cable, not the one that came with the machine because the Belkin was longer to reach the machine).\n\nThis Designer Diamond sews smoothly and with perfect upper & lower thread tension. I love the sensory system that automatically adjusts to the height/thickness of the fabric. However, you WILL need to make tension adjustments as needed, which you may find necessary for various situations, such as for different fabrics & stitches. This is normal for all sewing machines. The tension adjustments are temporary for the current project you're working on at the time.\n\nThe touchscreen is large and the embroidery designs show in great detail; much better than the Designer 1 screen.\nYou can also do a lot of editing & manipulating designs on the machine's screen, or in whichever computer embroidery software you're using.\n\nThree hoops are included with the machine (two of them are quite large), but I can also use the other hoops that I had purchased separately for my old Designer 1. I didn't have to trade those in because they didn't orignally come with the machine. And there are many other hoops available, often listed on Amazon, in addition to other online resources & auctions.\n\nThe embroidery designs stitch out nice and smooth.\n\nAlways remember to use no less than 2 layers of stabilizer (I usually use 3 layers), and you don't necessarily need to hoop the stabilizer. Many people hoop only the fabric, and then lay the layers of stabilizer between the hooped fabric/garment and the bed of the machine. Or they hoop the fabric with 2 layers of stabilizer and lay the 3rd layer on the bed of the machine. I've done all methods with equal results. Try it with some scrap material to see which method you prefer.\n\nAnd save your discarded stabilizer! You can reuse the leftover by overlapping the remainder with other remaining stabilizer pieces.\n\nThe Diamond can also trim the jump stitches if your designs have been digitized to trim jump stitches and the option is turned on in the machine's settings (you can turn this feature on and off as needed).\n\nThe Diamond is pretty heavy, like most of the Vikings I've owned (I still have a few of the older metal 6570 models with the cams, a #1+, and a couple of sergers)...it even seems heavier than those! Mine came with the three red cases on rollers, but I don't anticipate transporting it very often.\n\nI've only had the machine for a short time but so far, I couldn't be happier.\n\nUPDATE JANUARY 2015:\n\nI'm still enjoying my \"new\" used Diamond! I've been sewing various projects since last September that include making baby quilts with several embroidered designs, embroidered aprons, slip covers & mending....so far, all processes have stitched out as they should.\n\nUPDATE MAY 2015:\n\nMy Designer Diamond is still a true Gem. The only thing that i needed to take it in for, service wise, was to replace an LED bulb that burned out. You can't buy these bulbs and easily replace them like other machines. It's a wired LED that must be replaced by a technician, which kind of bums me out. I've never had a machine that needed to be taken in to change a bulb! LOL\n\n...and the part had to be ordered from Viking by my dealer, which took over a month to come in!\nI, of course, waited to take my machine in until the part was at my local Viking dealer.\nIt took only two days with my dealer and the bulb was replaced.\n\nLearning curve (needle breakage):\n\nA needle did break on me shortly after getting the machine, which is not unusual for a very dense embroidery design, which is what I was having the machine stitch out. I was using a bobbin thread that my Viking dealer recommended, which was thicker than I'm accustomed.\n\nI've since changed the bobbin thread back to a lighter bobbin thread by Threadart that I usually use (sold here on Amazon in black or white). It's similar to a lingerie thread, and no more needle breaks since (you can actually use lingerie thread as bobbin thread and it works quite well. it was recommended to me by another Viking dealer years ago).\n\nPlease note:\nI completely sympathize with those who have had problems with their Diamonds. I've been there before, but with two different Vikings....a Prisma 990 (1986) & a Designer 1 (2002-2014).\n\nThe Prisma 990 never worked well from the start and the Designer 1 had to have the screen replaced twice due to manufacturer defects (Viking was not the manufacturer of the screen. It was made in china). The first screen replacement was covered under warranty when it was new, but the second time (2013) it cost me $300 out-of-pocket because the electronics have only a 5 year warranty. I traded in the Designer 1 a year later for my used Diamond.\n\nUPDATE OCTOBER 2015:\nMy Diamond is still working beautifully. No problems, but a reminder about the thread tension:\n\nIf you select a stitch from one of the stitch menus, such as A1 Utilities, for example, and adjust the width or length of a stitch, do remember that you should also adjust the Tension. This is VERY important, because if you don't also adjust the tension, you will get very loose stitches and possibly thread nesting under the thread plate.\n\nThe thread tension used to be located on the Set Menu on the earlier firmware versions, but was moved to the main stitching window on one of the subsequent firmware updates that are free from Viking at their web site. Presumably to make adjusting the tension much more easy, because it's something you need to do often.\n\nI would also suggest that you make sure your Diamond has the most recent update (for the original Diamond -not deluxe or royale- the last update is dated November 2013). It contains all the updates to that point. As mentioned earlier, update with a USB cable using the included communication software or your Viking 5D, 6D, etc.\n\nUPDATE AUGUST 2016:\nI've had my \"gently used\" Designer Diamond for just about two years now and still no problems.\nIt's still working great!\n\nUPDATE DECEMBER 2016:\nI passed the two-year mark the end of September and still no problems with my Diamond.\nI LOVE this machine!\n\nUPDATE OCTOBER 2017:\nIt's been three years since getting my Designer Diamond and it's still working great!\nI STILL love this machine!","Product: 1055161 Features: -Measuring cup. -Red plastic cover. -Plastic cover. -Capacity: 8 Cup. -Made in USA. -Prepware collection. Product Type: -Measuring Cups. Material: -Plastic/Glass. Country of Manufacture: -United States. Dimensions: Overall Height - Top to Bottom: -5.625\". Overall Width - Side to Side: -7.875\". Overall Depth - Front to Back: -10\". Overall Product Weight: -3.5 lbs.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Every bit a Pyrex product as it could be!\n\nReview: I recently ordered & received my Pyrex Prepware 8-cup glass measuring cup with red lid to use for making large batches of yogurt (9 cups) in my Waring Pro yogurt maker (also purchased at Amazon.com) and I could not be more pleased. When I make yogurt I need to heat the milk to 185 degrees in the microwave and I don't like to heat it in my larger plastic measuring cups (just a concern about heating foods in plastic-better safe than sorry is my outlook, and I don't heat the milk with the lid on).\n\nAnyway, prior to getting this Pyrex 8-cup I would heat the milk in a ceramic mixing bowl but, after the milk cooled to 110 degrees, I would need to move it to a plastic container with a spout to pour into the individual cups...a bit inconvenient. Now I can do everything in one glass dish, from heating the milk, cooling it, adding the dry milk & yogurt starter, to pouring the mix into the individual yogurt cups....very cool!\n\nAs for another reviewer's problem with their Pyrex that they feel is \"junk\"; I'm not sure what happened there. Perhaps they received the wrong product or something? In any case, if you have any concerns, I would check out the Pyrex web site ([]) where they address \"rumors\" of poor quality, including the fact that Pyrex products are still made in the U.S. as it has been for over 60 years, and by union labor. Awesome!! I'm soooo glad to hear that another product is still made in the Good 'Ol U.S. of A!\n\nHappy Holidays!","Product: Don't just mask smelly garbage odors with fragrances and messy baking soda; eliminate them. The upgraded DZT13 is now equipped with a Carbon Filter Gate (CFG) that uses activated carbon to effectively eliminate and neutralize the toughest odors. Smelly and oversized garbage doesn't stand a chance with the upgraded 13 gallon Touchless Trash Can. Its extra wide opening (11.75 diagonal) allows disposal of larger debris and comes equipped with the most advanced infrared sensor technology on the market; opening the lid automatically when you approach within 6 inches, and closing it when you walk away. Thanks to the automatic lid closing system, the built-in carbon filter can work its magic; eliminating and neutralize nasty odors effectively. The pre-installed Carbon Filter Gate (CFG) has a 3-dimensional surface area, maximizing the deodorizer's odor-absorption capabilities. The deodorizer is non-scented and environmental friendly, making it safe for use around children and pets, providing you with a cleaner and fresher home. The deodorizer can fight odors for 3 months before needing replacement\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: We've owned the original since 2004...just upgraded (Oct 2013)\n\nReview: UPDATE:\nIt's April 2018 and we've had this iTouchless can since October 2013 and I only just yesterday changed the original batteries (Utilitech brand), so they lasted 4 1/2 years! I put Sony brand in it this time. The trash can still works great! The sensor isn't as sensitive as our original that would open constantly, so this current trash can sometimes does need you to hold your hand right over it a little longer, but I would rather do that than have it open constantly. I've attached photos of the original Utilitech batteries that I labeled at the time I installed them in October 2013, along with a photo of the Sony's I just put in.\n\nMy original review:\nWe've owned the original iTouchless 13 gallon trash can since around 2004, so it's been about 12 years and we've loved it. The batteries rarely need to be replaced, in fact, I'm pretty certain I've only changed them twice.\n\nThe original version is more rounded with the front being a little narrower than the back so the black ring that holds the bag in only goes in one way (I've noticed some user photos where people have the white trash bag sticking out. The white plastic bag should not be showing. The black ring will hold the trash bag neatly INSIDE the can).\n\nThe only problem we've ever had with our original version is the little gear or cogwheel that's attached to the lid where it meets the motor broke a few years ago, but I Super-Glued it so it technically still works. I've had to re-glue it a few times and although it \"works\", it isn't 100% so I've been looking into replacing the whole trash can and moving the old one to the garage (you can buy replacement lids directly from iTouchless, but with tax and shipping, it would cost what we paid after using our gift cards).\n\nWe had a couple of gift cards that we needed to use at an affiliated retailer so I decided to get the new version of the iTouchless 13 gallon. I was able to pay for half of the cost using gift cards.\n\nThe new version iTouchless 13 gallon is a much quieter and cleaner design; you can't even hear any motor sound like the original. It doesn't have any exposed cogwheel or gear and there are no openings to allow debris into the motor area like the original. The shape of the can is more square now and the lid opening is bigger, plus, the new model has the charcoal filter. Overall, a Much better design than the original.\n\nAs for our original iTouchless 13 gallon, we will still be using it, but in the garage for our junk mail (for the mail going to the shredder). I took the old lid completely apart to repair the lid gear better than in the past. Hopefully it will last many more years.","Product: HFD-010 Features: -Air purifier. -Designed for small sized rooms. -40-CADR air purifier delivers whisper quiet operation. -Two speed settings to ensure efficient performance. Product Type: -Air freshener/Cleaning cloths and wipes. Generic Dimensions: -10.5'' H x 17.8'' W x 12.6'' D. Dimensions: Overall Product Weight: -8.55 Pounds. Overall Height - Top to Bottom: -17.8 Inches. Overall Width - Side to Side: -10.5 Inches. Overall Depth - Front to Back: -12.6 Inches.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Don't buy this from Amazon Warehouse Deals!\n\nReview: Just received this from Amazon's \"Warehouse Deals\" which I've bought from several times in the past.\nThe items are always listed as \"used\" because the box may be damaged or the item may be missing a manual or something like that but the items barely ever show much sign of use, if any.\n\nThat is not the case for this air purifier.\nThis one was listed as not in original box & imperfections inside, which was fine, but when I opened this thing it was apparent that it was very USED...a lot! Both filters were filthy.\n\nThe outside of the unit appears ok (a couple of scuffs) but the inside looks like it was used in a room with a couple of smokers for quite some time (or several smokers for a short time!)....the filter & inside of the unit is stained with what appears to be nicotene, even after cleaning . I followed the manufacturer's instructions and washed both the pre-filter and the permanent HEPA filter (the soapy water I soaked the filters in was brown.....yeckkkk!)\n\nThe reason for the 4 stars is partially due to Amazon's poor description of the product, but is primarily due to how stained the filter has become after what may be a short period of time.\n\nOur filter is in a small room where we have our cat box and it does appear to be filter the air of dust.","Product: Waring has been making products for commercial kitchens for over 60 years. Today Waring Pro brings that expertise home with premium, commercial-quality products, including the Professional Yogurt Maker. Entertaining friends and family is easier than ever, with Waring Pro. Easily make one of the most popular, healthy dairy snacks! The Waring Pro Professional Yogurt Maker features six 8-oz. and two 16-oz. polycarbonate stackable jars with lids and a 19-hour blue LED timer display that ensures every batch comes out just how you like it! Jars, lids and top cover are dishwasher safe so cleanups are quick and easy, and the classic stainless accents add an elegant touch to todays contemporary kitchens.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Use your microwave to heat the milk...works great!\n\nReview: I got the Waring Pro YM350 for myself for Christmas (2009) to use along with my Salton YM9 one quart maker but I'm finding myself using just the Waring maker; it seems to make a better yogurt. I like my yogurt to be more on the firm side. I've been doing 8 cups at a time (of 2% low-fat milk ) using the two 2-cups & four 1-cup--they all fit in at the same time...don't worry that the cups aren't sitting in the little \"cut-outs\" on the surface of the maker...you can forget they're there if you want...just put the cups in this order in a circle: a 2-cupper, 1 cup, 1 cup, a 2-cupper, 1 cup, 1 cup.\n\n(I've since added another 9-cup variation at the bottom of this review, in addition to another photo...as of Dec 2013 the photos show under the review section to the right under \"Photos added by customers\").\n\nFor 8 cups:\nI cook 7-7.5 cups of milk in the microwave in a microwaveable bowl and check the temperature with a kitchen thermometer (Taylor Digital Thermometer w/probe that I got here on Amazon.com). Once the temp reaches approx. 185 degrees (approx. 18 minutes in the microwave on high) I let it cool on the counter (with a splatter screen placed on top of the bowl to keep dust etc. out yet let the milk cool more quickly). This is the same procedure I've been using with my Salton 1 quart yogurt maker for years, it just seems to come out better in the Waring.\n\nWhen the temp gets down to between 106 - 110 degrees, skim off the thin layer of cooled milk at the top and add 6 ounces of non-fat dry milk and 6 ounces of plain yogurt starter (from the previous batch or store-bought with active cultures) and stir in until a uniform consistency (put the starter yogurt into a separate bowl first and add about a 1/2 cup of the warmed milk and stir in with a whisk...then add that to the main batch of milk and stir in). I put the two bigger cups & 4 smaller cups into the maker (don't put the lids on); place the maker's cover on and set for 10 hours. I usually set up the batch in the evening so it's ready to put in the fridge in the morning before I go to work. It's nice and cold when I get home.\n\nI don't understand why a previous reviewer was complaining about the cups not being glass. I've been making yogurt for over 20 years and don't see any benefit to glass jars over plastic (BPA free). That being said, you can certainly replace the plastic jars with small glass jars, such as the Ball brand canning jars. They're 8 ounces each and fit well. But any combination of glass jars you can fit will work fine.\n\nI also don't understand why a different reviewer was complaining that the maker is \"...just a warmer\"...uhhh...yeeeahhh...it does keep the cooked milk warm at a steady temperature, but THAT'S how you get yogurt. However, there are instructions in the included booklet to make yogurt without cooking the milk first. You use room temperature pasturized milk and warm in the yogurt maker for about 16 to 24 hours, depending on what type of milk you're using. This method takes twice as long as it would when you pre-cook the yogurt in the microwave or on the stove.\n\nOverall, this is a terrific yogurt maker!\n\n(Update June 2010):\nAs I mentioned above, this is my latest configuration (I added a new photo)\nthis machine can make 9 cups using:\none of the 2 cup containers in the center,\nthe 6 included one cup containers AND\nan ordinary 1 cup glass canning jar (a jelly or jam jar works or a 1 cup glass).\n\n(Update December 2013): I am still using the first Waring YM350 I bought here on Amazon.com in 2009.\nI make one batch each week and sometimes use a yogurt strainer to make Greek yogurt (sold here on Amazon.com).\nI have since bought a back-up Waring YM350 so I now have extra jars (I just happened to find a refurbished unit elsewhere that was a really low price so I grabbed it).\n\nSimple instructions based on the included recipe but adjusted for the increased size of 9 cups:\nTo make 9 cups using the configuration above with the 2 cup container in the center/7 individual cups containers around the center container):\n\nCook 8-8.5 cups milk in a glass or ceramic bowl (preferably one w/ a spout to pour more easily like a Pyrex 8 cup container) in the microwave for 18-20 minutes full power to 185 degrees (time varies depending on your microwave). Remove from microwave & cool to 106-110 degrees (Cooling CAN be done in the fridge too!). After cooled, Stir in 1 cup dry milk. In a separate bowl add up to 1 cup plain yogurt (from the previous batch) and stir in 1 cup of the cooked milk that has been cooled & the dry milk was added. Stir that mix into the main batch of milk for an even consistency (stirring with a whisk).\n\nThe jars are placed evenly as shown in the photo (2 cup container in the center w/ the remaining single cups placed around it)...they do NOT need to sit evenly inside the indentations on the bottom of the yogurt machine. Pour the batch of warmed milk into the jars. Do not put the lids on the jars while the yogurt is \"cooking\".\n\nPlace machine's clear cover on the machine. Set the timer for 10 hours (more hours or less depending on your preference...10 hours is more firm than 8 hours, for example). I prefer a more firm yogurt so I cook mine for 10-12 hours (I've even tried about 15-16 hours & the yogurt comes out great!). When the yogurt is done \"cooking\", place the lids on the jars & put in the fridge (by the way, if for some reason you accidentally miss the yogurt maker shutting off when the time is up...I can't tell you how many times I've done this...I just put the lids on and place the jars in the fridge as soon as possible and chill overnight... the yogurt has been perfectly fine).","Product: Waring has been making products for commercial kitchens for over 60 years. Today Waring Pro brings that expertise home with premium, commercial-quality products, including the Professional Yogurt Maker. Entertaining friends and family is easier than ever, with Waring Pro. Easily make one of the most popular, healthy dairy snacks! The Waring Pro Professional Yogurt Maker features six 8-oz. and two 16-oz. polycarbonate stackable jars with lids and a 19-hour blue LED timer display that ensures every batch comes out just how you like it! Jars, lids and top cover are dishwasher safe so cleanups are quick and easy, and the classic stainless accents add an elegant touch to todays contemporary kitchens.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Use your microwave to heat the milk...works great!\n\nReview: I got the Waring Pro YM350 for myself for Christmas (2009) to use along with my Salton YM9 one quart maker but I'm finding myself using just the Waring maker; it seems to make a better yogurt. I like my yogurt to be more on the firm side. I've been doing 8 cups at a time (of 2% low-fat milk ) using the two 2-cups & four 1-cup--they all fit in at the same time...don't worry that the cups aren't sitting in the little \"cut-outs\" on the surface of the maker...you can forget they're there if you want...just put the cups in this order in a circle: a 2-cupper, 1 cup, 1 cup, a 2-cupper, 1 cup, 1 cup.\n\n(I've since added another 9-cup variation at the bottom of this review, in addition to another photo...as of Dec 2013 the photos show under the review section to the right under \"Photos added by customers\").\n\nFor 8 cups:\nI cook 7-7.5 cups of milk in the microwave in a microwaveable bowl and check the temperature with a kitchen thermometer (Taylor Digital Thermometer w/probe that I got here on Amazon.com). Once the temp reaches approx. 185 degrees (approx. 18 minutes in the microwave on high) I let it cool on the counter (with a splatter screen placed on top of the bowl to keep dust etc. out yet let the milk cool more quickly). This is the same procedure I've been using with my Salton 1 quart yogurt maker for years, it just seems to come out better in the Waring.\n\nWhen the temp gets down to between 106 - 110 degrees, skim off the thin layer of cooled milk at the top and add 6 ounces of non-fat dry milk and 6 ounces of plain yogurt starter (from the previous batch or store-bought with active cultures) and stir in until a uniform consistency (put the starter yogurt into a separate bowl first and add about a 1/2 cup of the warmed milk and stir in with a whisk...then add that to the main batch of milk and stir in). I put the two bigger cups & 4 smaller cups into the maker (don't put the lids on); place the maker's cover on and set for 10 hours. I usually set up the batch in the evening so it's ready to put in the fridge in the morning before I go to work. It's nice and cold when I get home.\n\nI don't understand why a previous reviewer was complaining about the cups not being glass. I've been making yogurt for over 20 years and don't see any benefit to glass jars over plastic (BPA free). That being said, you can certainly replace the plastic jars with small glass jars, such as the Ball brand canning jars. They're 8 ounces each and fit well. But any combination of glass jars you can fit will work fine.\n\nI also don't understand why a different reviewer was complaining that the maker is \"...just a warmer\"...uhhh...yeeeahhh...it does keep the cooked milk warm at a steady temperature, but THAT'S how you get yogurt. However, there are instructions in the included booklet to make yogurt without cooking the milk first. You use room temperature pasturized milk and warm in the yogurt maker for about 16 to 24 hours, depending on what type of milk you're using. This method takes twice as long as it would when you pre-cook the yogurt in the microwave or on the stove.\n\nOverall, this is a terrific yogurt maker!\n\n(Update June 2010):\nAs I mentioned above, this is my latest configuration (I added a new photo)\nthis machine can make 9 cups using:\none of the 2 cup containers in the center,\nthe 6 included one cup containers AND\nan ordinary 1 cup glass canning jar (a jelly or jam jar works or a 1 cup glass).\n\n(Update December 2013): I am still using the first Waring YM350 I bought here on Amazon.com in 2009.\nI make one batch each week and sometimes use a yogurt strainer to make Greek yogurt (sold here on Amazon.com).\nI have since bought a back-up Waring YM350 so I now have extra jars (I just happened to find a refurbished unit elsewhere that was a really low price so I grabbed it).\n\nSimple instructions based on the included recipe but adjusted for the increased size of 9 cups:\nTo make 9 cups using the configuration above with the 2 cup container in the center/7 individual cups containers around the center container):\n\nCook 8-8.5 cups milk in a glass or ceramic bowl (preferably one w/ a spout to pour more easily like a Pyrex 8 cup container) in the microwave for 18-20 minutes full power to 185 degrees (time varies depending on your microwave). Remove from microwave & cool to 106-110 degrees (Cooling CAN be done in the fridge too!). After cooled, Stir in 1 cup dry milk. In a separate bowl add up to 1 cup plain yogurt (from the previous batch) and stir in 1 cup of the cooked milk that has been cooled & the dry milk was added. Stir that mix into the main batch of milk for an even consistency (stirring with a whisk).\n\nThe jars are placed evenly as shown in the photo (2 cup container in the center w/ the remaining single cups placed around it)...they do NOT need to sit evenly inside the indentations on the bottom of the yogurt machine. Pour the batch of warmed milk into the jars. Do not put the lids on the jars while the yogurt is \"cooking\".\n\nPlace machine's clear cover on the machine. Set the timer for 10 hours (more hours or less depending on your preference...10 hours is more firm than 8 hours, for example). I prefer a more firm yogurt so I cook mine for 10-12 hours (I've even tried about 15-16 hours & the yogurt comes out great!). When the yogurt is done \"cooking\", place the lids on the jars & put in the fridge (by the way, if for some reason you accidentally miss the yogurt maker shutting off when the time is up...I can't tell you how many times I've done this...I just put the lids on and place the jars in the fridge as soon as possible and chill overnight... the yogurt has been perfectly fine).","Product: Additional container or replacement for the Vitamix. The container is oversized, 64-ounce capacity made from Eastman Tritan Copolyester material that is virtually unbreakable, more chemical resistant and contains no BPA. This see-through, no-drip spout container lets you witness the processing from start to finish. It features raised calibrations for easily measuring ingredients in ounces, cups or metrics. Container includes wet blade and 2-part locking lid designed for easy removal. Hardened stainless steel blades break down food and ice inside the container for consistently smooth results. Lid has removable plug marked with measurements and allows ingredients to be added while processing. Spill proof lid vents to allow hot or cold food to expand and contract. The ideal size for family meals and entertaining, designed to efficiently rotate large quantities back to the blades for faster, smoother blends. The blades in the Vitamix container reach speeds fast enough to create friction heat, bringing cold ingredients to steaming hot in about six minutes. With a drop of dish soap and warm water, your Vitamix machine can clean itself in 30 to 60 seconds\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: It's the perfect size to do small to medium batches of...whatever!\n\nReview: I bought us a Vitamix 7500 machine for Christmas (2017) that came with a 64 ounce wet container & a 32 ounce dry container, but I soon realized it would be nice to also have a 32 ounce wet container for smaller batches (& so I could give away the NutriBullet that I've seriously outgrown!)\n\nI saved a lot of money buying the 32 oz wet container via Amazon Warehouse Deals, and at first glance the container looked absolutely new & fine, however, when I added water, it all came gushing out the bottom (in the sink, of course! LOL). I took a close look at the container bottom and noticed that the blade assembly was not properly seated into the bottom, creating gaps in the bottom.\n\nIn order to correct this situation properly, the Vitamix wrench is an inexpensive must-have, so I ordered it from Amazon (I was already planning on ordering it at some point anyway).\n\nAs soon as the wrench arrived today, I very easily removed the bottom of this 32 ounce container, removed the blade assembly, examined both to make sure there was no damage from when it was installed incorrectly, and put it all back together...BAM!\n\nI now have a brand new 32 ounce wet container for an Amazon Warehouse Deals price and it works great!\nIt's the perfect size to do small to medium batches of...whatever!","Product: Replacement wrench for all Vitamix machines. Use to loosen and remove old blade assembly and install new blade assembly\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: I needed this Vitamix wrench to re-seat the blade assembly in my new 32 ounce wet container\n\nReview: I needed to order this Vitamix wrench to re-seat the blade assembly in the 32 ounce wet container I literally just bought through Amazon Warehouse Deals.\n\nI saved a lot of money buying the container via AWD, and at first glance the container looked absolutely new & fine, however, when I added water, it all came gushing out the bottom (in the sink, of course! LOL). I took a close look at the container bottom and noticed that the blade assembly was not properly seated into the bottom, creating gaps in the bottom. In order to correct this situation properly, this Vitamix wrench is a must-have (and inexpensive to boot!)\n\nSo, since I was already planning to order the wrench at some point, to go with the Vitamix 7500 I just bought for us for Christmas, I went ahead and ordered it now. As soon as it arrived, I very easily removed the bottom of the container, removed the blade assembly, examined both to make sure there was no damage from when it was installed incorrectly, and put it all back together...BAM!\n\nI now have a brand new 32 ounce wet container for an Amazon Warehouse Deals price!","Product: The MicroLux air purifier is a powerhouse that can clean up to 3000 soft of air and will leave your home or office smelling clean and fresh. The ultra quiet five-speed fan is so whisper-quiet, you can hardly hear it. Using seven types of filtration to clean the air, the MicroLux will reduce the spread of colds and the flu by eliminating airborne bacteria, viruses, germs, and mold spores. It will also reduce levels of allergens including pollen and animal dander and other contaminants in the air that could cause illnesses. In addition to removing all the harmful airborne particles, this purifier will make your home smell fresh and clean by eliminating odors such as pet odors, cigarette smoke, and dust. Pre filter air passes through this filter first, removing the largest particles and prolonging the life of the other filters. Hepa filter filters solid particles down to the size of a human hair (0.3 microns). removes allergens, contaminants, dust and pollens from your home or office. The HEPA filter is washable and reusable. Dual UV germ killing filters ultra Violet light is the most effective way to eliminate micro-organisms. Germs, mold, bacteria, germs, and viruses. The MicroLux features dual UV germ killing filters that Destroy all micro-organisms preventing any from reproducing and recirculating through your home. Ozone plate the ozone plate produces low levels of ozone designed to Destroy tobacco smoke and its inherent impurities plus odors from pets, cooking, mold, mildew and other household sources. Tio2 photo catalytic filter coated with Titanium Dioxide, this filter produces highly reactive electrons and ions when combined with the dual UV filters. These ions attach to odor causing bacteria and chemical molecules, destroying them through the process of oxidation. Washable and replaceable. Activated charcoal filter large activated carbon charcoal filter. Charcoal filters are proven to safely removes odors from the air. Dual point negative ion filtration circulates negative ions throughout a room to neutralize floating pollutants. Negative ion generators remove contaminants such as smoke, pollutants, allergens, bacteria, and viruses which lead to a variety of health concerns. Feature can be adjusted on and off.\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: Same thing sold under different names! Still doesn't work as advertised.\n\nReview: Just a few words of warning:\n\nThis is the same exact unit that keeps popping up over and over again with a new brand name slapped on it (aka Mammoth Air or New Comfort) that still has no warranty information whatsoever AND DOESN'T WORK as an air purifier...all it really does is move some air around...It's really nothing more than a fan, in my opinion.\n\nI bought ours off Amazon in 2009 under the name \"New Comfort: NEW AIR PURIFIER HEPA IONIC UV FRESH CLEANS 3000 ft. 6 Stage w. remote\"...it looks exactly like this unit shown here...the boxy speaker-like unit is the same, the button controls are the same, the readout...SAME.\n\nMore dust collects on the front grids than collect in the back, which is where the air enters, from the back. I've made sure over and over again that all the \"filters\" are installed in the order as described in the minimal pamplet but still, barely any dust or particulates accumulate in the back. The filters look mostly clean. There is no \"clean\" air smell, as I've noticed with other air purifiers, like Alpine Fresh Air - I've been at a small office location that uses that unit and I can smell the difference in the air, especially after they started using it. If you stand near it, you can \"smell\" the clean air. I simply cannot afford that unit.","Product: iRobot Vacuum Cleaner Roomba 620, White/Grey/Black\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Replaced our 550 with the 650-much better!\n\nReview: We've been using our Roomba 650 for about 6 weeks now and so far, it's working great!\n\nI got the 650 from a well-known home shopping channel using flexpay to replace a model 550 that, after almost 4 years, had begun not finding its station & wasn't picking up particulates like it used to. The 550 would also stop and announce it was time to \"clean Roomba's brushes\" when there was barely any debris in the brushes or the bin. I had even taken off the bottom of the Roomba & cleaned the brass sensor under the brushes thoroughly, but it didn't help.\n\nThe 650 looks almost identical to the 550 from the outside, but the dirt bin has a small motor or fan inside that apparently pulls in/vacuums up more pet hair/dirt/etc. because the bin gets full!\nI automatically check the bin once or twice a week because it has yet to announce that it's full or that the brushes need to be cleaned.\n\nThe 650 also has the updated Roomba brushes with the bigger yellow end caps. These brushes clean much better and the end caps are much easier to deal with when cleaning than previous Roomba brushes.\n\nThe 650 has ended up picking up an occasional dryer sheets & small pet toys without stopping. I'll discover them when I check the bin.\n\nThe only teeny, tiny downside is that the Control Station/remote (white) that I used with the Roomba 550 apparently will not work with the Roomba 650. I tried getting the two to communicate/pair but they wouldn't. I really like that Control Station better than the remote that came with the 650. The Control Station allows you to not only operate the Roomba, but to program it as well, should the Roomba get stuck somewhere in the house allowing the battery to drain, thus losing the on-board schedule. That being said, the 650 hasn't done that yet, like our 550 used to.\n\nOverall, VERY pleased with the Roomba 650.\n\n>^..^<","Product: Did you know Greek yogurt contains up to twice the amount of protein compared to traditional yogurt? Also, Greek yogurt is made by simply straining out liquid whey, so only the protein-rich whey solids remain. Everything you need to create Greek yogurt is included in this easy-to-use Oster CKSTYM1012 Mykonos Greek Digital Yogurt Maker. The Oster Mykonos Greek Yogurt Maker can produce one large batch or can be made as individual servings using the glass jars and lids provided. Recipes include the most popular varieties of milk from whole, reduced fat and skim - as well as soy and almond milk for vegan and lactose-free diets. Depending upon the type of milk used, cook time ranges from 10-12 hours. Cooking overnight or while you're away at work is recommended. In just a few easy steps, you can prepare fresh, homemade yogurt exactly how you like it and save money too! Making your own Greek yogurt at home can save up to 80% vs. store bought Greek yogurt per year. Includes yogurt maker with digital LCD display and timer function, set of 6 - 7oz. glass jars with lids, large 1 qt. plastic container/lid and Greek yogurt strainer. Pieces store neatly in unit. *Note for Customers Outside of North America. Some of our products use electricity for power. We sell electrical products that were made to work with 110V Electrical systems. If you live in a country that utilizes a different electrical system you may need to use a converter for these products to function. The act of using a converter automatically voids the warranty on these products.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Yes, it DOES make Greek [Style] Yogurt!\n\nReview: I've seen a few reviewers complain that this doesn't make Greek yogurt....perhaps if you're in Greece, the yogurt you make with this unit would BE Greek Yogurt, but in the States, it makes Greek-Style Yogurt, as shown in the description under the Steps to making yogurt............\n \"Step 3 - Strain It\nIf you prefer traditional style yogurt, you can place container in fridge after cooking is done. The secret to Greek yogurt is simply straining out liquid whey so only the protein-rich whey solids remain. For Greek-style yogurt, simply strain batch with Greek yogurt strainer to remove liquid, then place in fridge. When done, pieces store compactly together in unit.\"\n\nI've been making my own low fat yogurt for over 25 years. I've used a few different brands, such as Salton (Cosmopolitan), Salton YM9 (1 Quart Container), Waring (Pro), and this Oster Mykonos Greek Digital Yogurt maker. My favorite had been the Waring Pro; that is now my \"back-up\". It, too, can make as many as nine cups of yogurt just like this Oster, but doesn't have the strainer. I had to buy that separately.\n\nI purchased this Oster as an open box (unused) on a popular auction site, and like it the best, overall, because it's essentially a \"kit\" that allows you to make a big batch of yogurt in two different styles- Traditional & Greek. I also prefer a firm yogurt so I only make plain yogurt (I add fruit after the yogurt is chilled) and although I cook the yogurt for 12 hours, the same as my Waring Pro, the yogurt seems to come out a bit more firm in this Oster, even before straining.\n\nI make just over nine cups of low fat yogurt with this Oster buy filling all 6 glass cups in addition to the plastic rectangle container. I cook the milk in the microwave in an eight cup glass Pyrex (it will hold over nine cups - after the microwaving: a cup of plain starter from a previous batch gets mixed in with a cup of dry milk...8 + 1 =9)\n\nAfter the yogurt is done cooking and has been refrigerated at least 4 hours, I empty out the rectangle batch into the strainer, wash out the clear rectangle container, then place the now filled strainer into the rectangle container (raised up by putting the tabs on the opposite side. So now I've got six glass containers of \"regular\" yogurt, and the rectangle container with Greek \"Style\" yogurt (I strain it over night).\n\nI either go back and forth eating the two different yogurts (1/2 cup portions) or when the strained yogurt is gone, I add the contents of the glass containers to the strainer, reserving one for the next yogurt batch.\n\nAnd although I have the digital version, vs. the \"on/off\" button style, I don't really feel the added cost of the digital version is worth it.\nMine was \"open box\" so I didn't pay the digital version price. You still have to \"time\" the yogurt with either version. You need to remember what time you have to unplug the unit & place the batch in the fridge. Otherwise, the yogurt cooks exactly the same.\n\nI would definitely recommend this\nOster CKSTYM1012 Mykonos Greek Yogurt Maker (either version).\n\nBJ\n>^,,^<","Product: Vitamix fuels passions. It's why wear the brand most trusted by professional chefs. But you won't just find us in restaurant kitchens. Youll also find us in home kitchens around the world. Because whether you're interested in the culinary Arts, making healthier choices, or enjoying restaurant-quality smoothies at homewhen you're ready to move on and move up, when you're ready to invest in your passion, you're ready for Vitamin. Built to last: A bargain blender's not a bargain if it doesn't last. We know purchasing a Vitamix blender is an investment. But Vitamix blenders are built to last, helping you buy dependable, not disposable. Since the number-one reason people purchase a blender is to make smoothies, it's important to Get them right. Whether you prefer an icy blend or a perfectly smooth pure, nutrition-packed with veggies or a light, fruity treat, Vitamix smoothies give you a delicious, even blend in every Sip.<Power:<We don't aim to have the highest horsepower. You don't need more Horses; you need trained ones. The focused power of our complete blending system causes every component of the Vitamix machine to work together, creating faster, smoother blends packed with flavor.<The universal tool:<make smoothies & juices, hot soups, flours & dough, nut butter, frozen desserts, batters, dressings & sauces, non-dairy milks, and more.<Manufactured in Cleveland, Ohio USA\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: So far, I love it!\n\nReview: I've been seeing Vitamix commercials since I was a kid in the 70's and wanted to get one in my 20's but just could not afford it at the time. Instead, I got the usual standard blenders over the past decades.\n\nNow that I've been making my own whole juices for many years with four different brands of juice extractors & smoothie type machines, I looked again at Vitamix ... I decided it was the right time to take the plunge so I got us one for Christmas (2017) and so far, I'm glad I did (I got the all black.).\n\nAlthough I've only been using this machine for a week (I bought it in November on sale [elsewhere because I had a gift card] but wrapped it up for Christmas and opened it up ON Christmas), I can tell that this is a great machine! It's faster & quieter than our current NutriNinja that I've been using for a year. The Vitamix 7500 also pulverizes seeds, unlike my NutriNinja & Nutribullet (there are always many seeds in the bottom of the container).\n\nWhen I say \"quieter\", I don't mean it's \"quiet\", I mean, come on, a blender that's quiet?? I've never heard of an effective quiet blender. I've seen reviewers complain that their Vitamix isn't quiet...seriously? It's definitely quieter than other blenders, but it IS a blender and is not going to be totally \"quiet\".\n\nI'm comparing the sound to my previous NutriBullet & current NutriNinja...the Vitamix 7500 is definitely quieter.\n\nI got the 7500 due to the shorter height. But, if the lid is on the container when I try to slide the machine under my cabinets, which have a 3/4\" lip at the bottom so the actual space is just under 18\", the lid prevents the machine from sliding under the cabinet, so I don't put the lid on until it's under the cabinet. I've also starting inverting the container and then place the lid on the bottom, which is now at the top. Then it slides under our cabinets just fine.\n\nSo far, I 've made two large (64 oz) green juice batches and a full batch of hot spinach-potato-cheese-zucchini- turkey soup. I'll be making potato cheese soup this weekend. Note: the main soup base is blended with your ingredients and gets hot, but if you want a chunky soup, you would add additional whole ingredients to the soup base at the very end, on Low for just a couple of seconds, such as fresh or cooked spinach, cooked potato, cooked turkey or chicken (as shown on the green mat in the photos).\n\nI also got the 32 oz dry container with tamper and will be getting the 32 oz wet container in the coming months (for smaller batches).\n\nUpdate 01 10 18:\nI was able to get the 32 ounce wet container via Amazon Warehouse Deals and it's the perfect size for small to medium batches.","Product: Since 2010, our patented TABLETOTE laptop stands have consistently been Amazon best sellers. This product was originally developed for the highly mobile business professional, so we deliberately designed it to be lightweight (< 4lbs). It's constructed with high quality aluminum and plastic materials and despite it's weight, is quite durable and sturdy. It's easy to transport with a compact size of - 13.5 L x 10.5 W x 2 H. Self contained, with the legs and accessories neatly stored in the underbelly of the table. It easily fits in most pc carrying cases and backpacks. A clever feature, is the slide off bottom, which slides onto the top for an expandable large work space. This allows for mouse use or other lightweight equipment such as portable projectors. The height can be adjusted from 12\" to 29\", so it can be used for sitting or stand up work. Easy to use, sets up in seconds and requires no tools .Multi-Functional/Multi-Purpose. Consumers beyond business professionals have found many uses for TableTote, including home, office, school, travel, art, gaming, music and so much more. Comes with FREE snap on document holder. Lifetime customer satisfaction rating of 92%. Priced competitively, selling for 50% or less than other comparable stands. Hundreds of thousands sold worldwide. Manufactured by PC Tables Inc, who's been in business for 18 years and is a trusted and reputable company. Satisfaction Guaranteed.. If not completely satisfied, can return within 30 days for full refund. This item is available for international order and shipping.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: I use this exact table in my car at work during lunch!\n\nReview: This PC Table Tote is a wonderful little table for using with my laptop during my lunch break at work. I keep it in my car and use it while sitting in the passenger side front seat. I can eat my lunch and work on my laptop without having to rest it on my lap. I use my cell phone as the modem for my laptop so I can keep the phone sitting on the table as well while it is charging on the cigarette lighter/power source in the console of my car (when using a cell phone as a modem it tends to use up the battery so I keep it plugged in while I'm using it).\n\nI've also used the table to place an Infocus projector on in my workplace. The legs at their shortest length are perfect for raising the projector up so the screen display is not distorted, as it can be if the projector is on a table pointed \"up\" at the screen.\n\nThe design of the table is well done! It's so compact & light, yet it is actually quite sturdy when assembled correctly, which only takes a few seconds! I'm a person that takes care of my belongings so this table will surely last several more years. However, I can understand how someone who does not handle things with respect could put too much weight on this table (or any other fold-up table) with the legs extended and perhaps not assembled optimally, could ultimately bend a leg or damage the table using too much force.\n\nIf you follow the assembly instructions and do not exceed the maximum weight recommendations- you will definitely enjoy this table for a long time.","Product: Say goodbye to Wi-Fi dead zones. Convenient, discreet and easy to install, extended Wi-Fi coverage is just an outlet away with this essentials edition extender. Boost your Wi-Fi for mobile devices and connect a wired device such as Smart TVs or game consoles. Boost your existing network range & speed, delivering Wi-Fi up to 300Mbps. External antennas provide better Wi-Fi coverage and higher speed, while the convenient wall-plug design saves space. It works with any standard Wi-Fi router & is ideal for keeping your mobile devices connected as you move throughout your home.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: The N300 worked well, even though it was disguised as an EX6120. The N300 works better than the EX6120\n\nReview: I actually got this N300 range extender in error when I ordered a Netgear EX6120 via Amazon Warehouse Deals.\n.\nSomeone had apparently returned to Amazon, an N300 disguised an EX6120, with the stickers/labels from an EX6120 replaced onto the N300 and in the EX6120 box. When I went to install what I thought was an EX6120, it turned out to actually be an N300 disguised as an EX6120.\n\nThe N300 actually did work quite well. It kept the connection well and didn't get very warm.\nBut, I did have to return it for obvious reasons: since someone had played a little game with swapping labels/serial numbers/etc. this would void the warranty for me, and I also ordered the EX6120 due to a longer range (it has longer antennae) and thought the 5G would be a nice added option.\n\nI ended up returning the bogus \"EX6120\" (the actual N300) and re-ordered an EX6120 (Amazon Warehouse Deals), which hasn't been any better than the N300. As other reviewers have mentioned, in order to get a decent 2G signal with the EX6120, I had to turn off the 5G.\nAnd as for range of the EX6120, it's on par or less than par with the N300.\n\nSo, my advice, get the N300. I'll probably be getting an N300 to add in another area of the house.","Product: Protect, Store And Share Your Valuable Cd's And Dvd's With High Quality Paper Storage Envelopes Optimize Your Storage Space With Sleeves Which Are Less Than Half The Space Of A Slim Jewel Case Each Sleeve's Back Flap Secures And Protects Your Disc From Scratches, Dirt And Fingerprints\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: NOT \"heavy duty\" paper sleeves by any means\n\nReview: The description in the amazon listing states that the paper is \"heavy duty paper\" but the paper they're made from is not \"heavy duty\", by any means. It's just normal feeling paper and is rather thin.\n\nThe box I received is white, not the multi-color box as shown in the amazon listing, but the #190132 matches.\n(I thought first that maybe the wrong box was sent) No where on the box I received does it state \"heavy duty\".\n\nI'm not returning them because they were such a low price and they will be used for giving CD/DVDs to others who, I would hope, will put the disk(s) in a more suitable holder.\n\nIf you're looking for \"heavy duty\" paper CD/DVD sleeves, these are not them.","Product: Shipping Depth: 19.5 Shipping Height: 5.6 Shipping Width: 16.4 Master Pack Qty: 80 General Information Manufacturer: ASUS Computer International Manufacturer Part Number: VW199T-P Brand Name: Asus Product Series: VW Product Model: VW199T-P Product Name: VW199T-P Widescreen LCD Monitor Marketing Information: The exclusive Splendid Video Intelligence Technology optimizes video performance and image fidelity by enhancing color, brightness, contrast, and sharpness. 5 preset video modes (Scenery, Theater, Game, Night View, and Standard) can be selected via a hotkey. Product Type: LCD Monitor Technical Information Number of Screens: 1 Screen Size: 19 Screen Mode: WSXGA Response Time: 5 ms Aspect Ratio: 16:9 Horizontal Viewing Angle: 170 Vertical Viewing Angle: 160 Adjustable Display Angle: Yes Mount Type: Wall Mountable Backlight Technology: LED HDCP Supported: Yes Video Maximum Resolution: 1440 x 900 Standard Refresh Rate: 75 Hz Color Supported: 16.7 Million Colors Contrast Ratio: 10,000,000:1 Audio Speakers: Yes Interfaces/Ports DVI: Yes Built-in Devices Built-in Devices: Speaker Power Description Operating Power Consumption: 26.90 W Standby Power Consumption: 100 mW Off-Mode Power Consumption: 100 mW Physical Characteristics VESA Mount Compatible: Yes VESA Mount Standard: 100 x 100 Color: Black Height with Stand: 10.39 Width with Stand: 17.48 Depth with Stand: 8.27 Weight (Approximate): 9.26 lb Miscellaneous Package Contents: VW199T-P Widescreen LCD Monitor VGA Cable Audio Cable Power Cord Quick Start Guide CD-ROM Warranty Card Certifications Standards: UL/cUL CB CE FCC CCC TUV-GS TUV-ERGO ISO9241-307 BSMI Gost-R C-Tick VCCI PSB NOM J-MOSS Platform Supported: PC Green Compliant: Yes Green Compliance Certificate/Authority: TCO '03 Green Compliance Certificate/Authority: Energy Star Green Compliance Certificate/Authority: RoHS Warranty Standard Warranty: 3 Year\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Got as a second monitor to use with a laptop-works great!\n\nReview: I just got this from Amazon seller KT Parts as an \"open box\" item for my husband to use as a second monitor with his laptop and it's working great!\n\nI had previously ordered another ASUS, model VE198t from Amazon warehouse deals but it would only work lying on it's back. As soon as I stood it up on its stand, it stopped working. Needless to say it was sent back to Amazon. I ordered this monitor instead and it's almost identical. The only thing different is that it doesn't have an HDMI connection, which is fine because the DVI and VGA is sufficient.\n\nThe speakers work quite well for only 1W. Much better than the laptop's speakers my husband usually uses.\nSure, they're very basic, probably not great for gamers or loud music, but they're perfectly fine for normal computer & Internet sound.\n\nThe screen quality is very clean and clear and the monitor control buttons are on the front bottom corner instead of underneath.\n\nIt tilts forward and back and is fairly low so it's just slightly taller than the laptop's monitor.\n\nOverall, perfect for our needs.","Product: Travel stretch tailored fit 2-button side vent solid blazer.Mesh armhole inserts\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: I got this for my husband for his birthday and it fits perfectly!\n\nReview: My husband is 5' 6\" tall (34\" waist/42-43\" chest) and often has a tough time finding jackets off the rack that fit well.\n\nAfter reading the description of this jacket on Amazon, along with some reviews, I decided to take a chance on this one (but in the BLACK) because of the \"tailored\" fit & that it's good for travel (resists wrinkles). I got the 44 Short. I went up an inch in the chest just to ensure he had a comfortable fit.\n\nI could not believe the surprised look he had when he slipped this jacket on when I gave this to him for his birthday!\nIt fits him perfectly!\n\nIt looks nice with jeans or Dockers or dress pants. I ended up ordering the dark blue (MIDNIGHT) for him for Christmas (2017)","Product: Original Reiko Brank name Black Premium Leather Pouch is the perfect carrying Case for your Samsung Galaxy S5 smart phone. Plus size will also fit your Samsung Galaxy S 5 when you have one additional thin case installed.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: I'm so tired of retailers not knowing what LEATHER isn't!\n\nReview: ...THIS \"premium leather pouch\" IS NOT LEATHER!\n\nI'm beyond tired of the bait and switch constantly happening with sellers, especially here on amazon & other retailers.\n\nTime and time again, something is blatantly listed as \"leather\" or \"premium leather\", only to be delivered as \"leather like\" or \"pleather\", which is exactly what this pouch is....VINYL/PLASTIC/etc....which IS NOT LEATHER people!\n\nThe pouch I received doesn't even have any fake leather raised grain like in the picture...there's a leather-like design in the fabric, but it's very smooth; it's clearly not leather.\n\nAnd it doesn't look like other buyers' photos that have a metal emblem on the front.\nI ordered this one because it wasn't supposed to have ANY logo on the front, but it has an embossed logo of \"Reiko\"\n\nI gave it 3 stars because at least it does fit my Samsung Galaxy S5 with a cover on it. I have the two-layer purple & black \"damask\" pattern with the black rubber case from here on amazon <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Wireless-Fones-TM-Samsung-Galaxy-S5-Case-Dual-Layer-Hybrid-Impact-Resistant-Protective-Case-Purple-Victorian-Damask-Flower-on-Over-Black-Skin/dp/B00O08YNJM/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">Wireless Fones TM Samsung Galaxy S5 Case Dual Layer Hybrid Impact Resistant Protective Case Purple Victorian Damask Flower on Over Black Skin</a>) & the phone in the case fits in this VINYL pouch.","Product: BUNDLE VIA 1530TM BUNDLE W/CASE\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: \"no maps found\" ....won't buy this brand again\n\nReview: I did the exact same thing as user \"Todd\" just did yesterday (3/10/14) with our TomTom Via 1530 ....I updated it using the MyDrive Connect like I always do and the unit is now useless.....it only displays the \"no maps found\" screen and does nothing else! I've searched the Internet like crazy, including the TomTom web site (worthless, IMO), and tried different \"solutions\" that have done nothing to fix this. There's no \"pinhole\" reset anywhere on the unit either, like my TomTom Go 720.\n\nMost of the time none of the computers we have using the TomTom My Drive Connect will even recognize the device anymore (two HP Windows 7 64 bit desktop/towers & a Dell Vista 32 bit laptop). I'm sick of it.\n\nthis is our 3rd TomTom and it's the worst (the other two still work but are too expensive to buy new maps for) so I'm going with Garmin with free updates.","Product: Save even more with our 5 pack of LD remanufactured HP 920XL ink cartridges: This bulk set of LD Remanufactured HP 920XL inkjet cartridges includes 2 black CD975AN, 1 cyan CD972AN, 1 magenta CD973AN, and 1 yellow CD973AN inkjet cartridges. These LD remanufactured (HP 920XL) inkjet cartridges are original Hewlett Packard ink cartridges which have been through one cycle of service and have been recharged. Why buy original HP cartridges when you can get perfect quality out of our LD remanufactured inkjet cartridges at a fraction of the cost? Our remanufactured ink cartridges are not remanufactured by HP. Our remanufactured ink cartridges are not remanufactured by HP. This combo set works with the following Hewlett Packard (HP) Printers: OfficeJet 6000, OfficeJet 6500, OfficeJet 6500a, OfficeJet 6500a Plus, OfficeJet 7000, OfficeJet 7500a. We are the exclusive reseller of LD Products brand of high quality printing supplies on Amazon.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: So far, these are working Great in our HP Officejet 6500!\n\nReview: So far, these cartridges are working out great. The colors seem fine and the printer immediately recognized the ink levels, unlike refilled cartridges from Costco or cartridges I've refilled myself.\n\nIn regard to the leaking that I've read in other reviews, you need to be sure to pull the top sticker off first, before removing the cover at the bottom or it might leak, just like HP OEM cartridges can do as well.\n\nOr, if you remove the bottom cap first, you need to turn the cartridge upside-down first, then remove the ink cap, and then peel off the sticker covering the air hole. You'll hear the suction of the ink when the air hole is uncovered.\n\nUpdate July 12 2016:\n\nI just received our second order on auto-ship/subscription of these cartridges to be ready for when the first batch starts running low (all four cartridges still have ink in them in the printer).\n\nThe ink still performs very well, even better than the HP Officeject 6500 printer, which has begun having a problem pulling paper in from the paper tray, even after cleaning the rollers.\n\nI had removed the top sticker first on 3 of the cartridges but forgot my usual steps and reversed the process on the 4th cartridge and it almost leaked. This is the same for OEM HP or even Epson cartridges (we also have an Epson Workforce 630).\n\nBy removing the top sticker, it causes a \"suction\" that pulls the ink into the cartridge and it doesn't leak.","Product: Genuine OEM brand name HP Black Print Cartridge for LASERJET 4250/4350 (10K Yield) Q5942A\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: This is working out great for our HP OfficeJet 6968!\n\nReview: I wasn't sure how this 100 page plan would work out, especially since this is the first time we've bought a printer with Instant Ink capability, but it's been great! I took a guess that the 100 page plan would be about right, but I know for sure because our average use is 94 pages per month, so it's perfect for us.\n\nWe've been using this Instant Ink 100 plan since the fall of 2016 when we bought the HP OfficeJet 6968 via Amazon, without any problems at all.\nThe ink arrives as needed; the account information stays updated; I get email updates each month.\n\nI could easily see spending more than $60 a year in HP ink otherwise (I don't use anything but OEM HP ink).\n\nWe just bought a second printer (HP OfficeJet 6970) that will be set up on HP Instant Ink soon as well.","Product: Our fastest growing gourmet lettuce garden! A gourmet blend of red and green leaf, romaine, and butter head lettuce varieties that are so easy to grow. The Salad Greens Seed Pod Kit germinates in just days with daily harvests in as little as 2 weeks now you can grow and enjoy delicious, fresh lettuce all year round. Kit works in all AeroGardens. Planting with Seed Pods is fun and easy! Just insert the pre-seeded Grow Pods in your garden, add water and the patented, specially formulatedLiquid Nutrients. Most plants germinate within 7-14 days, are ready for harvesting in 4-6 weeks, and will keep producing continuous harvests for up to 6 months and longer. Indoor gardening cant get any tastier or simpler!\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: I definitely cannot recommend this Miracle-Gro brand\n\nReview: These Miracle-Gro AeroGarden Salad Greens Seed Pods barely grew. We had the same mold that another reviewer had despite having a very clean system (I always completely clean the unit thoroughly after a season of growing, and allow the unit to sit for at least three - four weeks before beginning a new batch).\n\nOf the seven pods, only four \"grew\", & barely. The other three had mold inside the pods where the seeds were and never sprouted.\nI struggled trying to keep the other four growing, but after three months, I gave up and pulled them all out. I'm letting my AeroGrow rest for a few weeks. After that I'm going to order a seed kit directly from AeroGrow as I have in the past. Those have grown large where we could harvest the lettuce and herbs.\n\nI definitely cannot recommend this Miracle-Gro brand...it's a Miracle IF they do \"gro\"!","Product: Repels raccoons, skunks, deer, squirrels, rabbits, mice, rats, stray dogs and stray cats. Durable weatherproof plastic housing. Completely wireless and solar powered. Works both day and night. Mounting bracket in back for easy mounting on wall or tree and comes with bonus garden stake so you can place just about anywhere! Perfect to keep unwanted animals out of garbage cans and to keep neighbors dog or cat from entering your yard. Solar powered works on rechargeable batteries and also can use regular alkaline batteries as well where the sun dont shine.\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: DON'T buy this thing....waste of money!\n\nReview: The Bell & Howell Motion Activated Pest Control unit is HORRIBLE!\nDo NOT buy this thing, unless you want to annoy humans.\n\nThe package states that it is inaudible to humans...yeah, maybe humans in the next state!....this thing IS audible...a loud ear piercing & repetitive \"chirping\" sounds all the time!\n\nIt was a Christmas gift from a relative to try to prevent squirrels from going up our fruit trees but it detects EVERYTHING, even a leaf falling off a tree that blows past the unit! It used to only \"chirp\" four times, but now it goes on for at least 12 times, or non-stop. I finally had to shut if off!\n(another relative was given the same unit for Christmas and their neighbors called the police thinking that someone's house alarm was going off...it was completely annoying the neighbors).\n\nAs other reviewers have stated, totally false advertising.","Product: Our postcards are printed on 16 pt (360 gsm) premium quality cardstock. The postcards are UV-coated on the front side for durability and protection. Size 4 x 6 inches (10 x 15 cm). Printed in USA.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Works GREAT in our 8' x 15' Lifetime Storage shed! Solar panel barely noticable\n\nReview: We put this two-light set in one of our new Lifetime Sheds (8'x15') and it's working great!\nThe night photos I took with my phone, but DID NOT use the Low-light detection setting in order to show TRUE light.\n(the low-light detection on my phone enhances the photo quality, which I didn't think was appropriate for this review).\n\nWe put a different single-light style into the 8'x12' shed to get a comparison of the light output/solar charging, etc. because it was less than half the price, but is supposed to put out the same amount of light...so far it's just \"ok\"...definitely not the same amount of light, so we may end up putting this MicroSolar set in there too.\n\nThis MicroSolar two-light system was super easy to install and works as described. The light output is perfect for our 8' x 15' Lifetime Shed (side door entry)\n\nWe installed the solar panel on the roof of the shed at one end, then ran the cable through the gable vent, along the trestle tops, down to the controls at the right side door. Although we think the light switch set up that some users did is a wonderful idea, we didn't want to void the warranty, especially since the red button on the controls works perfectly fine in our application (but \"thumbs up\" for that terrific \"hack\").\n\nWe positioned the lights so there's a light in the center of each half of the 15' shed.\n\n...but also we wanted to be able re-position the lights occasionally, so we installed two horizontal poles from the peaks of the trestles and zip-tied loops at the tops of the lights (in the screw holes) so the lights can slide left and right about two feet each....so toward the center section of the shed and to the ends of the shed.\n\nThe solar panel seems to be nice quality, compared to the other brand's single light unit we got for the 12' shed. We're curious to see how each does exposed to the elements.\n\nThis MicroSolar unit may seem a little pricier, compared to some of the other offerings here on Amazon, but worth every penny!","Product: A Cool Yule Tool. Fix holiday lights with a squeeze of a trigger. The Light Keeper PRO is the complete tool for fixing miniature light sets! A must for Christmas time. This all-in-one tool fixes most light sets in seconds by addressing the damaged bulb at the plug or at the socket. The LED Head Light helps visibility in light repair. The Audible Continuity Detector traces the circuit to the point of interruption. The 3-way bulb puller helps release tight bulbs from their sockets. The Bulb & Fuse Tester tests both indoor and outdoor mini lights. There is a spare bulb compartment in the handle for storage of extra bulbs and fuses. Three (3) 1.5-Volt Batteries are included. Patent pending. The trigger send a pulse that will activate a defective shunt; This fixes the circuit allowing the current to flow. Simply plug your Light Keeper PRO into the light set, pull the trigger and a pulse goes to the bulb, fixes the shunt and allows the light set to work correctly. The light keeper pro is not intended with led, rope or light set/sets with control boxes.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Had my doubts...boy was I wrong! LOL\n\nReview: My husband bought this little Light Keeper Pro (LKP) gadget a couple of years ago but we actually had never used it (he got it on sale when he was picking up some extra bulbs & thought it would be good for the future)). This year (2012) when we set up our 3 year old 7.5' pre-lit artificial CHRISTMAS tree there were 4 whole sections out on the bottom 1/3 portion of the tree (they were fine in 2011).\n\nI went through all the sockets to see if any lights were loose or had popped out that would cause the outage but none were missing (if a bulb burns out the strand will still light). I remembered we had the Light Keeper Pro but really didn't think it would work.\n\nDang, was I wrong! I simply followed the instructions on the back card... followed the plugged in light strand with the power sensor in the LKP to locate the offending bulb, popped it out, inserted the empty socket into the recepticle in the LKP, gave the trigger about 6 shots (one line took a couple of tries), each light strand lit up! (I was shocked, actually). I even reinserted the bulbs that appeared to be the problem and they now work too! The entire tree is now lit up (we have a few burned out lights but there's too many on the tree to begin with so they're not missed; I didn't even try to replace them).\n\nOne important tip when searching the light strand for the offending bulb/socket:\n\nAside from making sure the problem strand (or whole tree) is plugged into a power outlet, be PATIENT with the LKP's sensor. You may need to first have it sense a light strand that IS WORKING before running it along a non-working strand. You may need to do this a few times during the trouble-shooting process. This is a MINOR step. Think of it as being similar to a Stud Finder when looking for a wood beam in a wall-you need to do that process of running the stud finder several times back & forth along the wall before making the decision to drive the screw or nail into the wall.\n\nIf you exercise patience you'll have your light strand working in a matter of minutes. Just think of how much time (& money) you'll save by repairing the light strand on your pre-lit CHRISTMAS tree (while it's still ON the tree) vs. having to replace each strand of non-working lights. This is a No Brainer in my opinion! >^..^<","Product: The Mail Manager locking security mailbox by Mail Boss is USPS Approved for residential use and protects against mail theft and vandalism. Its innovative design accepts mail bundles and small packages, yet deters fishing. Made of heavy-gauge galvanized steel, mail manager includes a patented anti-pry latch locking mechanism to prevent leveraged entry and a high-security 12-disc wafer lock with 3 laser cut keys. Never worry about your mail being stolen again, with the Mail Manager secure lockable mailbox.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Seems well-built and good quality (I don't recommend ordering this from Amazon Warehouse Deals).\n\nReview: We just received our black Mail Boss 7506 mailbox today and promptly installed it.\nSo far it seems pretty sturdy and well-made.\n\nThis mailbox is quite a bit heavier than our old standard black, arched-top mailbox that shares space with three neighbor's mailboxes in a two across/two down pattern on a 4\" wooden post that was installed curbside when our neighborhood was built years ago. We added some additional blocks of wood as support under the \"T\" that our box is attached to on the mailbox post (something that other neighbors did not do on their 4 mailbox stand and now their stand is lopsided).\n\nThe flag is also quite long. We needed to trim ours because our mailbox is under another mailbox so there is no space to use the full flag.\nWe had to cut off over half of it. But it still extends enough for the mail carrier to see, if we ever use it (we don't think it's a very good idea to advertise that you've got mail going out, especially since the outgoing mail just clips into the mail slot for anyone to grab).\n\nPlease note (& this is not reflected in my rating of the product since it's not the fault of the manufacturer and merely an FYI for Amazon buyers):\n\nI do NOT recommend that you get this via Amazon Warehouse Deals unless you don't mind undisclosed damage.\n\nI've been a regular customer of Amazon.com since 1997 and in the past couple of years, I keep getting suckered into saving $ with Amazon Warehouse Deals...time and time again the item description does not match what you receive...there is undisclosed damage and/or missing components. I know, when will I learn?! (due to going through a mass lay-off where I work [now making 40% less than I used to], and completing my degree [student loans], I try to save $ where ever I can. I have better luck going with \"refurbished\" through Amazon vendors than going through Amazon Warehouse Deals.\n\nSince this is a mailbox that will be exposed to the elements and my husband could repair the mailbox, I decided not to send it back, but I thought I needed to mention it since putting a seller review on Amazon Warehouse Deals is a waste of time.\n\nThe mailbox I ordered was described as being in very good condition with NO cosmetic damage; only the packaging was to have some damage (I saved a screen print when I ordered it).\n\nThe mailbox that arrived was the complete opposite!\nThe packaging was in relatively good condition; not so for the mailbox!\n\nThere was a big dent in the top right side front & corner (the length of about 5\" in front of the flag) which prohibited the mail slot from opening without scraping. There was black paint chipped off where it was dented and the mailbox had clearly been installed somewhere and removed (the bottom was all scratched up and the clear plastic liner for inside had screw holes where it had been installed and was very dirty). It looked like someone may have dropped it before returning it or dropped it at the Amazon Warehouse & put it back in the box(?)\n\nThere were also NO screws of any kind and the keys were individually loose in the box. We're actually surprised all three keys were there at all.\n\nMy husband used to work in a family owned body & fender business so he went to work getting out the dent and sprayed Rustoleum black paint where the powder-coated paint had chipped off.\n\nIt's debatable whether the 15% savings was worth all the damage/repairs/missing parts. We're saying \"No\"...not worth it.\nIf this wasn't going to be outside and exposed to the elements, it would have gone back."],"string":"[\n \"Product: This singing bowl is a special bowl, which is made of seven metals, i.e. gold, silver, copper, iron, tin, lead, and zinc. All the metal used has a specific purpose and represent the sun and the moon and other planets. This bowl can be used for meditation, music, and chakra cleansing. A leather striker is included with this singing bowl and this bowl was hand-hammered in Nepal. This bowl is truly hand made in a traditional way at singing-bowl house . Due to handmade bowl,the surface have several marked of hammered on it.The bowl have long lasting tune which create totally peaceful environment around you . who are looking for real handmade bowl from Himalaya will not be disappointing by this bowl. About B-Chakra, B is associated with the crown chakra. Located at the top of the head, the color of this chakra is violet. Issues are related to understanding. Disharmony of this chakra manifests as psychosis, creative exhaustion, nervous tension, psychic debilitation, hyperactivity, general lowered resistance, and migraines. Emotions associated with this chakra include bliss. The function is liberation and the symbol is the lotus flower. The endocrine influence is on the pineal gland. Associated with the element of thought and the signs of Pisces and the Universe. Sugalite, fluorite, amethyst, and all violet gemstones are related to this chakra. Essential oils are sandalwood and lavender. Quality is spirituality. Vowel sound of E MEASURMENT This is handcrafted bowl therefore please note that each one might have slight variations in measurement. Diameter: 6 inch Height : 3 inch Weight : 705 gram(only bowl ) (931.5 grams with striker and cushion)\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Excellent Singer...closer to a C orC# note though...I also recommend the book \\\"How to Heal with Singing Bowls by Suren Shrestha\\\"\\n\\nReview: Sounds pretty good...but it's closer to a note C or C# than note B.\\nThe rim is a C# and the side strike is a C.\\n\\nI had my Sabine Metrotune MT9000 tuner going when playing this bowl recently to test the notes.\\n\\nThe strike tone is nice and smooth and the singing around the outside top edge is a soothing \\\"hummmm\\\" that sounds the best when resting on the supplied pillow, instead of my open palm.\\n\\nFor those who mentioned in the reviews that their bowls did not \\\"sing\\\" when running the striker around the edge, try not running the striker on the rim. You can try holding the striker vertically and tap it on the top outside edge to start a vibration, then run the striker vertically counterclockwise around the edge 1\\\" from the rim (I found that my bowl sounds better when going counterclockwise).\\n\\nWhen I ordered my 6\\\" Superb B Crown Chakra Old Tibetan Singing Bowl, the seller was listed as Singing Bowls Nepal, but the bowl was shipped via Amazon, the seller's name changed to YourKart. The price was the same either way.\\n\\nThe pillows can be just about any color so don't be surprised if you get a different color than pictured.\\nAfter all, it's just a pillow cushion.\\n\\nFor instance, the picture when I ordered was a green pattern with tassels, but the pillow I received is nice red & gold pattern without tassels.\\nI'm fine with that, besides, my cat would probably find the tassels anyway! LOL\\n\\nI also recommend \\\"How to Heal with Singing Bowls by Suren Shrestha\\\"...a modest paperback book with a lot of very helpful information about using singing bowls that includes an informative CD with Relaxation Therapy, Chakra Balancing Therapy, and Sound Meditation. <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/How-to-Heal-with-Singing-Bowls-Traditional-Tibetan-Healing-Methods/dp/1591812305/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">How to Heal with Singing Bowls: Traditional Tibetan Healing Methods</a>\",\n \"Product: Save an abundance of time and energy with the Aroma 60-Cup (Cooked) Commercial Rice Cooker. Simply add rice and water, press a button and walk away! Aroma takes the \\\"cook' out of cooking rice - leaving you free to work on other things in the kitchen. You won't know how you lived without it! This convenient cooker's generous capacity perfectly cooks up to 60 cups of any variety of rice. It automatically senses when rice is done and switches to Keep-Warm for fresh rice all day. The durable body and heavy-duty stainless steel lid and aluminum cooking pot are designed for continuous use so you can count on batch after batch of flawless rice coming out of your kitchen. Two Rice Measuring Cups and Rice Paddle included.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: It's Really BIG! LOL\\n\\nReview: We just got this a few days ago to use for occasional catering events we volunteer for once a month and it works great! It's BIG! When not in use it will be kept in its box on a shelf in the garage.\\n\\nTo be honest, we were concerned that the rice might not cook evenly, being such big batches, but to our pleasant surprise, the rice cooks evenly throughout. It actually cooked better as a full batch vs. a 1/3 batch. When we did the smaller batch just to try it out, the very bottom layer of rice was slightly tan in color, but not burned or anything like that. When we did the full 30/60 cup batch, the bottom layer was just barely light tan, and the rice was evenly cooked.\\n\\nSo far, no complaints! :o)\",\n \"Product: Fantastic condition. It is only a year old(Purchased new on 8-24-15 for $7,000). I just had it cleaned and serviced a month ago(8-26-15) so it is like new. Full LCD touchscreen display. It has 1,200 built in stitches and 233 preloaded embroidery designs plus you can download your own into the machine from your computer or usb stick. Also comes with all the original feet and 3 embroidery hoops, Designer diamond royale users guide, embroidery sampler, roller case for sewing machine and embroidery arm, a hard sewing machine cover, and a mega thread spool stand($35 value).\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: (Sept. 2014) I just traded in my Designer 1 for a used Diamond...Love it! (UPDATES 2017)\\n\\nReview: I just traded in my Viking Designer 1 for a used Designer Diamond and so far, I am completely impressed! (Sept. 2014)\\n\\n(ADDED DECEMBER 4, 2016)\\nIf you're having problems with the dongle that came with your Husqvarna software, there is an update for the drivers but amazon won't allow hyperlinks so just go to the husqvarna viking web site:\\nGo to Software Support\\nClick on \\\"Support Portal Have Questions? Check out the new Embroidery Software Support Portal.\\\"\\n...and go to the software support portal...search \\\"hasp\\\" (without the quotes).\\nYou should get this:\\nTo resolve your difficulties, please do the following to install an updated dongle driver.\\n\\n1. Unplug the dongle from your computer.\\n2. Go to www.premierplusembroidery.com\\n3. Click the \\\"Support\\\" link from the menu bar and click the \\\"Software Help & Updates\\\" link in the drop down list.\\n4. Click the \\\"HASP Dongle Drivers\\\" link from under HASP Dongle Drivers near the bottom of the page.\\n5. Download and save the file to your computer.\\n6. Double-click the saved file to install it. Click the Run button if prompted and follow the remaining prompts.\\n7. After the installation is complete, plug the dongle into the computer. The dongle should install the device drivers and light up.\\n\\nThe most recent Designer Diamond update (NON ROYAL & DELUXE):\\nThere is an update dated March 2016 all versions of the Diamond.\\n\\nFor all machine updates, including Diamond, Diamond Deluxe & Royale\\ngo to the Viking website...then at the top go to \\\"support & updates\\\" to find your machine to obtain the update via Update and Downloads.\\n\\nUpdates and downloads for the original Diamond:\\nComplimentary software download (for PC computers)\\nUPDATE VERSION 9725-6373 (March 3, 2016)\\n\\n(ADDED THIS PORTION 10 25 15)\\n\\nThere are some wonderful instructional videos for the Diamond. Sara demonstrates on the Royale, but the videos apply to all the Diamonds.\\nsewingmastery.com aka heirloomcreations on youtube.\\n\\nIf you're having bobbin-nesting problems - see video #18....the problem is likely actually the top tension.\\n\\n... there are 111 videos to chose from that were posted in March 2015 by an authorized Viking retailer. She demonstrates the Diamond Royale from unboxing and through the manual, but it applies to the original Diamond & Diamond Deluxe as well.\\nYou do not have to watch all the videos; only the ones you want to watch, but #18 addresses the tension specifically.\\n\\nAdditionally:\\nIn regard to thread nesting that some users are experiencing:\\nPlease find the review by Amazon Reviewer \\\"T.S\\\" (the user name on the post) dated September 25, 2015 that addresses thread nesting and a small metal part under the stitch plate.\\n\\nT.S. has supplied a photo of the part and I have added the part name and # in my response to T.S.\\nT.S. had success eliminating thread nesting by removing that metal part.\\nTake a look at the review...it could help you. :o)\\n\\nSEPTEMBER 2014-MY INITIAL REVIEW:\\n\\nI've been hoping to upgrade for the last year because my Designer 1 was over 12 years old and I was in a rut.\\n\\nI was torn between sticking with Viking (been a Viking customer for over 30 years) or switching to Brother.\\n\\nI decided to try to find a good used Viking so I looked to my local Viking dealer. Someone had recently traded in their gently used Diamond (Made in Sweden) to buy a new Diamond Royale (made in china....Vikings have always been made in Sweden, but are now made in china, which I find disheartening).\\n\\nMy dealer sold me the gently used Diamond for a great price and gave me a fair trade-in price for my Designer 1, in addition to a free one year warranty for all parts and labor....I love my local Viking Dealer!\\n\\nMy Designer Diamond is about six years old and very clean... it works great!\\n\\nAlthough I already own the Viking 5D Professional software and this Diamond machine works great with it, you do not need to have expensive embroidery software. It comes with 4D organizer/communication software and LOTS of designs, plus, you can buy ready made designs in many different formats (.SHV, .DHV, .VP3, .VIP, .HUS, .PEC, .PES, .PCS, .XXX, .SEW, .JEF, .EXP, .10* and .DST (embroidery files),.SH7 (stitch files),.VF3 (embroidery font files).\\n\\nOr you can use other brands of embroidery software that save designs in those embroidery formats, such as Embird, which I also have owned & upgraded for many years. It's really up to you and your budget/preference.\\n\\nUsing Viking's 5D Pro software, or the included communication software, and a USB cable I'm able to link directly from my computer or laptop to my Diamond to send designs to and update the firmware (I'm running Windows 10 64 bit on an eight year old HP Pavilion tower PC that I've upgraded myself through the years and it works perfectly with my Diamond).\\n\\nYou can also use the included 1GB memory stick (or other brand of USB stick/flash drive, like KIngston, for example) to transfer designs over to the machine, but to update the firmware, use a USB cable for a direct connection (users have had problems after using the memory stick to do the updates, myself included).\\n\\nI upgraded the firmware shortly after getting my machine (free download from Viking website) and it updated without any problems using a USB cable (& I used a Belkin USB cable, not the one that came with the machine because the Belkin was longer to reach the machine).\\n\\nThis Designer Diamond sews smoothly and with perfect upper & lower thread tension. I love the sensory system that automatically adjusts to the height/thickness of the fabric. However, you WILL need to make tension adjustments as needed, which you may find necessary for various situations, such as for different fabrics & stitches. This is normal for all sewing machines. The tension adjustments are temporary for the current project you're working on at the time.\\n\\nThe touchscreen is large and the embroidery designs show in great detail; much better than the Designer 1 screen.\\nYou can also do a lot of editing & manipulating designs on the machine's screen, or in whichever computer embroidery software you're using.\\n\\nThree hoops are included with the machine (two of them are quite large), but I can also use the other hoops that I had purchased separately for my old Designer 1. I didn't have to trade those in because they didn't orignally come with the machine. And there are many other hoops available, often listed on Amazon, in addition to other online resources & auctions.\\n\\nThe embroidery designs stitch out nice and smooth.\\n\\nAlways remember to use no less than 2 layers of stabilizer (I usually use 3 layers), and you don't necessarily need to hoop the stabilizer. Many people hoop only the fabric, and then lay the layers of stabilizer between the hooped fabric/garment and the bed of the machine. Or they hoop the fabric with 2 layers of stabilizer and lay the 3rd layer on the bed of the machine. I've done all methods with equal results. Try it with some scrap material to see which method you prefer.\\n\\nAnd save your discarded stabilizer! You can reuse the leftover by overlapping the remainder with other remaining stabilizer pieces.\\n\\nThe Diamond can also trim the jump stitches if your designs have been digitized to trim jump stitches and the option is turned on in the machine's settings (you can turn this feature on and off as needed).\\n\\nThe Diamond is pretty heavy, like most of the Vikings I've owned (I still have a few of the older metal 6570 models with the cams, a #1+, and a couple of sergers)...it even seems heavier than those! Mine came with the three red cases on rollers, but I don't anticipate transporting it very often.\\n\\nI've only had the machine for a short time but so far, I couldn't be happier.\\n\\nUPDATE JANUARY 2015:\\n\\nI'm still enjoying my \\\"new\\\" used Diamond! I've been sewing various projects since last September that include making baby quilts with several embroidered designs, embroidered aprons, slip covers & mending....so far, all processes have stitched out as they should.\\n\\nUPDATE MAY 2015:\\n\\nMy Designer Diamond is still a true Gem. The only thing that i needed to take it in for, service wise, was to replace an LED bulb that burned out. You can't buy these bulbs and easily replace them like other machines. It's a wired LED that must be replaced by a technician, which kind of bums me out. I've never had a machine that needed to be taken in to change a bulb! LOL\\n\\n...and the part had to be ordered from Viking by my dealer, which took over a month to come in!\\nI, of course, waited to take my machine in until the part was at my local Viking dealer.\\nIt took only two days with my dealer and the bulb was replaced.\\n\\nLearning curve (needle breakage):\\n\\nA needle did break on me shortly after getting the machine, which is not unusual for a very dense embroidery design, which is what I was having the machine stitch out. I was using a bobbin thread that my Viking dealer recommended, which was thicker than I'm accustomed.\\n\\nI've since changed the bobbin thread back to a lighter bobbin thread by Threadart that I usually use (sold here on Amazon in black or white). It's similar to a lingerie thread, and no more needle breaks since (you can actually use lingerie thread as bobbin thread and it works quite well. it was recommended to me by another Viking dealer years ago).\\n\\nPlease note:\\nI completely sympathize with those who have had problems with their Diamonds. I've been there before, but with two different Vikings....a Prisma 990 (1986) & a Designer 1 (2002-2014).\\n\\nThe Prisma 990 never worked well from the start and the Designer 1 had to have the screen replaced twice due to manufacturer defects (Viking was not the manufacturer of the screen. It was made in china). The first screen replacement was covered under warranty when it was new, but the second time (2013) it cost me $300 out-of-pocket because the electronics have only a 5 year warranty. I traded in the Designer 1 a year later for my used Diamond.\\n\\nUPDATE OCTOBER 2015:\\nMy Diamond is still working beautifully. No problems, but a reminder about the thread tension:\\n\\nIf you select a stitch from one of the stitch menus, such as A1 Utilities, for example, and adjust the width or length of a stitch, do remember that you should also adjust the Tension. This is VERY important, because if you don't also adjust the tension, you will get very loose stitches and possibly thread nesting under the thread plate.\\n\\nThe thread tension used to be located on the Set Menu on the earlier firmware versions, but was moved to the main stitching window on one of the subsequent firmware updates that are free from Viking at their web site. Presumably to make adjusting the tension much more easy, because it's something you need to do often.\\n\\nI would also suggest that you make sure your Diamond has the most recent update (for the original Diamond -not deluxe or royale- the last update is dated November 2013). It contains all the updates to that point. As mentioned earlier, update with a USB cable using the included communication software or your Viking 5D, 6D, etc.\\n\\nUPDATE AUGUST 2016:\\nI've had my \\\"gently used\\\" Designer Diamond for just about two years now and still no problems.\\nIt's still working great!\\n\\nUPDATE DECEMBER 2016:\\nI passed the two-year mark the end of September and still no problems with my Diamond.\\nI LOVE this machine!\\n\\nUPDATE OCTOBER 2017:\\nIt's been three years since getting my Designer Diamond and it's still working great!\\nI STILL love this machine!\",\n \"Product: 1055161 Features: -Measuring cup. -Red plastic cover. -Plastic cover. -Capacity: 8 Cup. -Made in USA. -Prepware collection. Product Type: -Measuring Cups. Material: -Plastic/Glass. Country of Manufacture: -United States. Dimensions: Overall Height - Top to Bottom: -5.625\\\". Overall Width - Side to Side: -7.875\\\". Overall Depth - Front to Back: -10\\\". Overall Product Weight: -3.5 lbs.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Every bit a Pyrex product as it could be!\\n\\nReview: I recently ordered & received my Pyrex Prepware 8-cup glass measuring cup with red lid to use for making large batches of yogurt (9 cups) in my Waring Pro yogurt maker (also purchased at Amazon.com) and I could not be more pleased. When I make yogurt I need to heat the milk to 185 degrees in the microwave and I don't like to heat it in my larger plastic measuring cups (just a concern about heating foods in plastic-better safe than sorry is my outlook, and I don't heat the milk with the lid on).\\n\\nAnyway, prior to getting this Pyrex 8-cup I would heat the milk in a ceramic mixing bowl but, after the milk cooled to 110 degrees, I would need to move it to a plastic container with a spout to pour into the individual cups...a bit inconvenient. Now I can do everything in one glass dish, from heating the milk, cooling it, adding the dry milk & yogurt starter, to pouring the mix into the individual yogurt cups....very cool!\\n\\nAs for another reviewer's problem with their Pyrex that they feel is \\\"junk\\\"; I'm not sure what happened there. Perhaps they received the wrong product or something? In any case, if you have any concerns, I would check out the Pyrex web site ([]) where they address \\\"rumors\\\" of poor quality, including the fact that Pyrex products are still made in the U.S. as it has been for over 60 years, and by union labor. Awesome!! I'm soooo glad to hear that another product is still made in the Good 'Ol U.S. of A!\\n\\nHappy Holidays!\",\n \"Product: Don't just mask smelly garbage odors with fragrances and messy baking soda; eliminate them. The upgraded DZT13 is now equipped with a Carbon Filter Gate (CFG) that uses activated carbon to effectively eliminate and neutralize the toughest odors. Smelly and oversized garbage doesn't stand a chance with the upgraded 13 gallon Touchless Trash Can. Its extra wide opening (11.75 diagonal) allows disposal of larger debris and comes equipped with the most advanced infrared sensor technology on the market; opening the lid automatically when you approach within 6 inches, and closing it when you walk away. Thanks to the automatic lid closing system, the built-in carbon filter can work its magic; eliminating and neutralize nasty odors effectively. The pre-installed Carbon Filter Gate (CFG) has a 3-dimensional surface area, maximizing the deodorizer's odor-absorption capabilities. The deodorizer is non-scented and environmental friendly, making it safe for use around children and pets, providing you with a cleaner and fresher home. The deodorizer can fight odors for 3 months before needing replacement\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: We've owned the original since 2004...just upgraded (Oct 2013)\\n\\nReview: UPDATE:\\nIt's April 2018 and we've had this iTouchless can since October 2013 and I only just yesterday changed the original batteries (Utilitech brand), so they lasted 4 1/2 years! I put Sony brand in it this time. The trash can still works great! The sensor isn't as sensitive as our original that would open constantly, so this current trash can sometimes does need you to hold your hand right over it a little longer, but I would rather do that than have it open constantly. I've attached photos of the original Utilitech batteries that I labeled at the time I installed them in October 2013, along with a photo of the Sony's I just put in.\\n\\nMy original review:\\nWe've owned the original iTouchless 13 gallon trash can since around 2004, so it's been about 12 years and we've loved it. The batteries rarely need to be replaced, in fact, I'm pretty certain I've only changed them twice.\\n\\nThe original version is more rounded with the front being a little narrower than the back so the black ring that holds the bag in only goes in one way (I've noticed some user photos where people have the white trash bag sticking out. The white plastic bag should not be showing. The black ring will hold the trash bag neatly INSIDE the can).\\n\\nThe only problem we've ever had with our original version is the little gear or cogwheel that's attached to the lid where it meets the motor broke a few years ago, but I Super-Glued it so it technically still works. I've had to re-glue it a few times and although it \\\"works\\\", it isn't 100% so I've been looking into replacing the whole trash can and moving the old one to the garage (you can buy replacement lids directly from iTouchless, but with tax and shipping, it would cost what we paid after using our gift cards).\\n\\nWe had a couple of gift cards that we needed to use at an affiliated retailer so I decided to get the new version of the iTouchless 13 gallon. I was able to pay for half of the cost using gift cards.\\n\\nThe new version iTouchless 13 gallon is a much quieter and cleaner design; you can't even hear any motor sound like the original. It doesn't have any exposed cogwheel or gear and there are no openings to allow debris into the motor area like the original. The shape of the can is more square now and the lid opening is bigger, plus, the new model has the charcoal filter. Overall, a Much better design than the original.\\n\\nAs for our original iTouchless 13 gallon, we will still be using it, but in the garage for our junk mail (for the mail going to the shredder). I took the old lid completely apart to repair the lid gear better than in the past. Hopefully it will last many more years.\",\n \"Product: HFD-010 Features: -Air purifier. -Designed for small sized rooms. -40-CADR air purifier delivers whisper quiet operation. -Two speed settings to ensure efficient performance. Product Type: -Air freshener/Cleaning cloths and wipes. Generic Dimensions: -10.5'' H x 17.8'' W x 12.6'' D. Dimensions: Overall Product Weight: -8.55 Pounds. Overall Height - Top to Bottom: -17.8 Inches. Overall Width - Side to Side: -10.5 Inches. Overall Depth - Front to Back: -12.6 Inches.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Don't buy this from Amazon Warehouse Deals!\\n\\nReview: Just received this from Amazon's \\\"Warehouse Deals\\\" which I've bought from several times in the past.\\nThe items are always listed as \\\"used\\\" because the box may be damaged or the item may be missing a manual or something like that but the items barely ever show much sign of use, if any.\\n\\nThat is not the case for this air purifier.\\nThis one was listed as not in original box & imperfections inside, which was fine, but when I opened this thing it was apparent that it was very USED...a lot! Both filters were filthy.\\n\\nThe outside of the unit appears ok (a couple of scuffs) but the inside looks like it was used in a room with a couple of smokers for quite some time (or several smokers for a short time!)....the filter & inside of the unit is stained with what appears to be nicotene, even after cleaning . I followed the manufacturer's instructions and washed both the pre-filter and the permanent HEPA filter (the soapy water I soaked the filters in was brown.....yeckkkk!)\\n\\nThe reason for the 4 stars is partially due to Amazon's poor description of the product, but is primarily due to how stained the filter has become after what may be a short period of time.\\n\\nOur filter is in a small room where we have our cat box and it does appear to be filter the air of dust.\",\n \"Product: Waring has been making products for commercial kitchens for over 60 years. Today Waring Pro brings that expertise home with premium, commercial-quality products, including the Professional Yogurt Maker. Entertaining friends and family is easier than ever, with Waring Pro. Easily make one of the most popular, healthy dairy snacks! The Waring Pro Professional Yogurt Maker features six 8-oz. and two 16-oz. polycarbonate stackable jars with lids and a 19-hour blue LED timer display that ensures every batch comes out just how you like it! Jars, lids and top cover are dishwasher safe so cleanups are quick and easy, and the classic stainless accents add an elegant touch to todays contemporary kitchens.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Use your microwave to heat the milk...works great!\\n\\nReview: I got the Waring Pro YM350 for myself for Christmas (2009) to use along with my Salton YM9 one quart maker but I'm finding myself using just the Waring maker; it seems to make a better yogurt. I like my yogurt to be more on the firm side. I've been doing 8 cups at a time (of 2% low-fat milk ) using the two 2-cups & four 1-cup--they all fit in at the same time...don't worry that the cups aren't sitting in the little \\\"cut-outs\\\" on the surface of the maker...you can forget they're there if you want...just put the cups in this order in a circle: a 2-cupper, 1 cup, 1 cup, a 2-cupper, 1 cup, 1 cup.\\n\\n(I've since added another 9-cup variation at the bottom of this review, in addition to another photo...as of Dec 2013 the photos show under the review section to the right under \\\"Photos added by customers\\\").\\n\\nFor 8 cups:\\nI cook 7-7.5 cups of milk in the microwave in a microwaveable bowl and check the temperature with a kitchen thermometer (Taylor Digital Thermometer w/probe that I got here on Amazon.com). Once the temp reaches approx. 185 degrees (approx. 18 minutes in the microwave on high) I let it cool on the counter (with a splatter screen placed on top of the bowl to keep dust etc. out yet let the milk cool more quickly). This is the same procedure I've been using with my Salton 1 quart yogurt maker for years, it just seems to come out better in the Waring.\\n\\nWhen the temp gets down to between 106 - 110 degrees, skim off the thin layer of cooled milk at the top and add 6 ounces of non-fat dry milk and 6 ounces of plain yogurt starter (from the previous batch or store-bought with active cultures) and stir in until a uniform consistency (put the starter yogurt into a separate bowl first and add about a 1/2 cup of the warmed milk and stir in with a whisk...then add that to the main batch of milk and stir in). I put the two bigger cups & 4 smaller cups into the maker (don't put the lids on); place the maker's cover on and set for 10 hours. I usually set up the batch in the evening so it's ready to put in the fridge in the morning before I go to work. It's nice and cold when I get home.\\n\\nI don't understand why a previous reviewer was complaining about the cups not being glass. I've been making yogurt for over 20 years and don't see any benefit to glass jars over plastic (BPA free). That being said, you can certainly replace the plastic jars with small glass jars, such as the Ball brand canning jars. They're 8 ounces each and fit well. But any combination of glass jars you can fit will work fine.\\n\\nI also don't understand why a different reviewer was complaining that the maker is \\\"...just a warmer\\\"...uhhh...yeeeahhh...it does keep the cooked milk warm at a steady temperature, but THAT'S how you get yogurt. However, there are instructions in the included booklet to make yogurt without cooking the milk first. You use room temperature pasturized milk and warm in the yogurt maker for about 16 to 24 hours, depending on what type of milk you're using. This method takes twice as long as it would when you pre-cook the yogurt in the microwave or on the stove.\\n\\nOverall, this is a terrific yogurt maker!\\n\\n(Update June 2010):\\nAs I mentioned above, this is my latest configuration (I added a new photo)\\nthis machine can make 9 cups using:\\none of the 2 cup containers in the center,\\nthe 6 included one cup containers AND\\nan ordinary 1 cup glass canning jar (a jelly or jam jar works or a 1 cup glass).\\n\\n(Update December 2013): I am still using the first Waring YM350 I bought here on Amazon.com in 2009.\\nI make one batch each week and sometimes use a yogurt strainer to make Greek yogurt (sold here on Amazon.com).\\nI have since bought a back-up Waring YM350 so I now have extra jars (I just happened to find a refurbished unit elsewhere that was a really low price so I grabbed it).\\n\\nSimple instructions based on the included recipe but adjusted for the increased size of 9 cups:\\nTo make 9 cups using the configuration above with the 2 cup container in the center/7 individual cups containers around the center container):\\n\\nCook 8-8.5 cups milk in a glass or ceramic bowl (preferably one w/ a spout to pour more easily like a Pyrex 8 cup container) in the microwave for 18-20 minutes full power to 185 degrees (time varies depending on your microwave). Remove from microwave & cool to 106-110 degrees (Cooling CAN be done in the fridge too!). After cooled, Stir in 1 cup dry milk. In a separate bowl add up to 1 cup plain yogurt (from the previous batch) and stir in 1 cup of the cooked milk that has been cooled & the dry milk was added. Stir that mix into the main batch of milk for an even consistency (stirring with a whisk).\\n\\nThe jars are placed evenly as shown in the photo (2 cup container in the center w/ the remaining single cups placed around it)...they do NOT need to sit evenly inside the indentations on the bottom of the yogurt machine. Pour the batch of warmed milk into the jars. Do not put the lids on the jars while the yogurt is \\\"cooking\\\".\\n\\nPlace machine's clear cover on the machine. Set the timer for 10 hours (more hours or less depending on your preference...10 hours is more firm than 8 hours, for example). I prefer a more firm yogurt so I cook mine for 10-12 hours (I've even tried about 15-16 hours & the yogurt comes out great!). When the yogurt is done \\\"cooking\\\", place the lids on the jars & put in the fridge (by the way, if for some reason you accidentally miss the yogurt maker shutting off when the time is up...I can't tell you how many times I've done this...I just put the lids on and place the jars in the fridge as soon as possible and chill overnight... the yogurt has been perfectly fine).\",\n \"Product: Waring has been making products for commercial kitchens for over 60 years. Today Waring Pro brings that expertise home with premium, commercial-quality products, including the Professional Yogurt Maker. Entertaining friends and family is easier than ever, with Waring Pro. Easily make one of the most popular, healthy dairy snacks! The Waring Pro Professional Yogurt Maker features six 8-oz. and two 16-oz. polycarbonate stackable jars with lids and a 19-hour blue LED timer display that ensures every batch comes out just how you like it! Jars, lids and top cover are dishwasher safe so cleanups are quick and easy, and the classic stainless accents add an elegant touch to todays contemporary kitchens.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Use your microwave to heat the milk...works great!\\n\\nReview: I got the Waring Pro YM350 for myself for Christmas (2009) to use along with my Salton YM9 one quart maker but I'm finding myself using just the Waring maker; it seems to make a better yogurt. I like my yogurt to be more on the firm side. I've been doing 8 cups at a time (of 2% low-fat milk ) using the two 2-cups & four 1-cup--they all fit in at the same time...don't worry that the cups aren't sitting in the little \\\"cut-outs\\\" on the surface of the maker...you can forget they're there if you want...just put the cups in this order in a circle: a 2-cupper, 1 cup, 1 cup, a 2-cupper, 1 cup, 1 cup.\\n\\n(I've since added another 9-cup variation at the bottom of this review, in addition to another photo...as of Dec 2013 the photos show under the review section to the right under \\\"Photos added by customers\\\").\\n\\nFor 8 cups:\\nI cook 7-7.5 cups of milk in the microwave in a microwaveable bowl and check the temperature with a kitchen thermometer (Taylor Digital Thermometer w/probe that I got here on Amazon.com). Once the temp reaches approx. 185 degrees (approx. 18 minutes in the microwave on high) I let it cool on the counter (with a splatter screen placed on top of the bowl to keep dust etc. out yet let the milk cool more quickly). This is the same procedure I've been using with my Salton 1 quart yogurt maker for years, it just seems to come out better in the Waring.\\n\\nWhen the temp gets down to between 106 - 110 degrees, skim off the thin layer of cooled milk at the top and add 6 ounces of non-fat dry milk and 6 ounces of plain yogurt starter (from the previous batch or store-bought with active cultures) and stir in until a uniform consistency (put the starter yogurt into a separate bowl first and add about a 1/2 cup of the warmed milk and stir in with a whisk...then add that to the main batch of milk and stir in). I put the two bigger cups & 4 smaller cups into the maker (don't put the lids on); place the maker's cover on and set for 10 hours. I usually set up the batch in the evening so it's ready to put in the fridge in the morning before I go to work. It's nice and cold when I get home.\\n\\nI don't understand why a previous reviewer was complaining about the cups not being glass. I've been making yogurt for over 20 years and don't see any benefit to glass jars over plastic (BPA free). That being said, you can certainly replace the plastic jars with small glass jars, such as the Ball brand canning jars. They're 8 ounces each and fit well. But any combination of glass jars you can fit will work fine.\\n\\nI also don't understand why a different reviewer was complaining that the maker is \\\"...just a warmer\\\"...uhhh...yeeeahhh...it does keep the cooked milk warm at a steady temperature, but THAT'S how you get yogurt. However, there are instructions in the included booklet to make yogurt without cooking the milk first. You use room temperature pasturized milk and warm in the yogurt maker for about 16 to 24 hours, depending on what type of milk you're using. This method takes twice as long as it would when you pre-cook the yogurt in the microwave or on the stove.\\n\\nOverall, this is a terrific yogurt maker!\\n\\n(Update June 2010):\\nAs I mentioned above, this is my latest configuration (I added a new photo)\\nthis machine can make 9 cups using:\\none of the 2 cup containers in the center,\\nthe 6 included one cup containers AND\\nan ordinary 1 cup glass canning jar (a jelly or jam jar works or a 1 cup glass).\\n\\n(Update December 2013): I am still using the first Waring YM350 I bought here on Amazon.com in 2009.\\nI make one batch each week and sometimes use a yogurt strainer to make Greek yogurt (sold here on Amazon.com).\\nI have since bought a back-up Waring YM350 so I now have extra jars (I just happened to find a refurbished unit elsewhere that was a really low price so I grabbed it).\\n\\nSimple instructions based on the included recipe but adjusted for the increased size of 9 cups:\\nTo make 9 cups using the configuration above with the 2 cup container in the center/7 individual cups containers around the center container):\\n\\nCook 8-8.5 cups milk in a glass or ceramic bowl (preferably one w/ a spout to pour more easily like a Pyrex 8 cup container) in the microwave for 18-20 minutes full power to 185 degrees (time varies depending on your microwave). Remove from microwave & cool to 106-110 degrees (Cooling CAN be done in the fridge too!). After cooled, Stir in 1 cup dry milk. In a separate bowl add up to 1 cup plain yogurt (from the previous batch) and stir in 1 cup of the cooked milk that has been cooled & the dry milk was added. Stir that mix into the main batch of milk for an even consistency (stirring with a whisk).\\n\\nThe jars are placed evenly as shown in the photo (2 cup container in the center w/ the remaining single cups placed around it)...they do NOT need to sit evenly inside the indentations on the bottom of the yogurt machine. Pour the batch of warmed milk into the jars. Do not put the lids on the jars while the yogurt is \\\"cooking\\\".\\n\\nPlace machine's clear cover on the machine. Set the timer for 10 hours (more hours or less depending on your preference...10 hours is more firm than 8 hours, for example). I prefer a more firm yogurt so I cook mine for 10-12 hours (I've even tried about 15-16 hours & the yogurt comes out great!). When the yogurt is done \\\"cooking\\\", place the lids on the jars & put in the fridge (by the way, if for some reason you accidentally miss the yogurt maker shutting off when the time is up...I can't tell you how many times I've done this...I just put the lids on and place the jars in the fridge as soon as possible and chill overnight... the yogurt has been perfectly fine).\",\n \"Product: Additional container or replacement for the Vitamix. The container is oversized, 64-ounce capacity made from Eastman Tritan Copolyester material that is virtually unbreakable, more chemical resistant and contains no BPA. This see-through, no-drip spout container lets you witness the processing from start to finish. It features raised calibrations for easily measuring ingredients in ounces, cups or metrics. Container includes wet blade and 2-part locking lid designed for easy removal. Hardened stainless steel blades break down food and ice inside the container for consistently smooth results. Lid has removable plug marked with measurements and allows ingredients to be added while processing. Spill proof lid vents to allow hot or cold food to expand and contract. The ideal size for family meals and entertaining, designed to efficiently rotate large quantities back to the blades for faster, smoother blends. The blades in the Vitamix container reach speeds fast enough to create friction heat, bringing cold ingredients to steaming hot in about six minutes. With a drop of dish soap and warm water, your Vitamix machine can clean itself in 30 to 60 seconds\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: It's the perfect size to do small to medium batches of...whatever!\\n\\nReview: I bought us a Vitamix 7500 machine for Christmas (2017) that came with a 64 ounce wet container & a 32 ounce dry container, but I soon realized it would be nice to also have a 32 ounce wet container for smaller batches (& so I could give away the NutriBullet that I've seriously outgrown!)\\n\\nI saved a lot of money buying the 32 oz wet container via Amazon Warehouse Deals, and at first glance the container looked absolutely new & fine, however, when I added water, it all came gushing out the bottom (in the sink, of course! LOL). I took a close look at the container bottom and noticed that the blade assembly was not properly seated into the bottom, creating gaps in the bottom.\\n\\nIn order to correct this situation properly, the Vitamix wrench is an inexpensive must-have, so I ordered it from Amazon (I was already planning on ordering it at some point anyway).\\n\\nAs soon as the wrench arrived today, I very easily removed the bottom of this 32 ounce container, removed the blade assembly, examined both to make sure there was no damage from when it was installed incorrectly, and put it all back together...BAM!\\n\\nI now have a brand new 32 ounce wet container for an Amazon Warehouse Deals price and it works great!\\nIt's the perfect size to do small to medium batches of...whatever!\",\n \"Product: Replacement wrench for all Vitamix machines. Use to loosen and remove old blade assembly and install new blade assembly\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: I needed this Vitamix wrench to re-seat the blade assembly in my new 32 ounce wet container\\n\\nReview: I needed to order this Vitamix wrench to re-seat the blade assembly in the 32 ounce wet container I literally just bought through Amazon Warehouse Deals.\\n\\nI saved a lot of money buying the container via AWD, and at first glance the container looked absolutely new & fine, however, when I added water, it all came gushing out the bottom (in the sink, of course! LOL). I took a close look at the container bottom and noticed that the blade assembly was not properly seated into the bottom, creating gaps in the bottom. In order to correct this situation properly, this Vitamix wrench is a must-have (and inexpensive to boot!)\\n\\nSo, since I was already planning to order the wrench at some point, to go with the Vitamix 7500 I just bought for us for Christmas, I went ahead and ordered it now. As soon as it arrived, I very easily removed the bottom of the container, removed the blade assembly, examined both to make sure there was no damage from when it was installed incorrectly, and put it all back together...BAM!\\n\\nI now have a brand new 32 ounce wet container for an Amazon Warehouse Deals price!\",\n \"Product: The MicroLux air purifier is a powerhouse that can clean up to 3000 soft of air and will leave your home or office smelling clean and fresh. The ultra quiet five-speed fan is so whisper-quiet, you can hardly hear it. Using seven types of filtration to clean the air, the MicroLux will reduce the spread of colds and the flu by eliminating airborne bacteria, viruses, germs, and mold spores. It will also reduce levels of allergens including pollen and animal dander and other contaminants in the air that could cause illnesses. In addition to removing all the harmful airborne particles, this purifier will make your home smell fresh and clean by eliminating odors such as pet odors, cigarette smoke, and dust. Pre filter air passes through this filter first, removing the largest particles and prolonging the life of the other filters. Hepa filter filters solid particles down to the size of a human hair (0.3 microns). removes allergens, contaminants, dust and pollens from your home or office. The HEPA filter is washable and reusable. Dual UV germ killing filters ultra Violet light is the most effective way to eliminate micro-organisms. Germs, mold, bacteria, germs, and viruses. The MicroLux features dual UV germ killing filters that Destroy all micro-organisms preventing any from reproducing and recirculating through your home. Ozone plate the ozone plate produces low levels of ozone designed to Destroy tobacco smoke and its inherent impurities plus odors from pets, cooking, mold, mildew and other household sources. Tio2 photo catalytic filter coated with Titanium Dioxide, this filter produces highly reactive electrons and ions when combined with the dual UV filters. These ions attach to odor causing bacteria and chemical molecules, destroying them through the process of oxidation. Washable and replaceable. Activated charcoal filter large activated carbon charcoal filter. Charcoal filters are proven to safely removes odors from the air. Dual point negative ion filtration circulates negative ions throughout a room to neutralize floating pollutants. Negative ion generators remove contaminants such as smoke, pollutants, allergens, bacteria, and viruses which lead to a variety of health concerns. Feature can be adjusted on and off.\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: Same thing sold under different names! Still doesn't work as advertised.\\n\\nReview: Just a few words of warning:\\n\\nThis is the same exact unit that keeps popping up over and over again with a new brand name slapped on it (aka Mammoth Air or New Comfort) that still has no warranty information whatsoever AND DOESN'T WORK as an air purifier...all it really does is move some air around...It's really nothing more than a fan, in my opinion.\\n\\nI bought ours off Amazon in 2009 under the name \\\"New Comfort: NEW AIR PURIFIER HEPA IONIC UV FRESH CLEANS 3000 ft. 6 Stage w. remote\\\"...it looks exactly like this unit shown here...the boxy speaker-like unit is the same, the button controls are the same, the readout...SAME.\\n\\nMore dust collects on the front grids than collect in the back, which is where the air enters, from the back. I've made sure over and over again that all the \\\"filters\\\" are installed in the order as described in the minimal pamplet but still, barely any dust or particulates accumulate in the back. The filters look mostly clean. There is no \\\"clean\\\" air smell, as I've noticed with other air purifiers, like Alpine Fresh Air - I've been at a small office location that uses that unit and I can smell the difference in the air, especially after they started using it. If you stand near it, you can \\\"smell\\\" the clean air. I simply cannot afford that unit.\",\n \"Product: iRobot Vacuum Cleaner Roomba 620, White/Grey/Black\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Replaced our 550 with the 650-much better!\\n\\nReview: We've been using our Roomba 650 for about 6 weeks now and so far, it's working great!\\n\\nI got the 650 from a well-known home shopping channel using flexpay to replace a model 550 that, after almost 4 years, had begun not finding its station & wasn't picking up particulates like it used to. The 550 would also stop and announce it was time to \\\"clean Roomba's brushes\\\" when there was barely any debris in the brushes or the bin. I had even taken off the bottom of the Roomba & cleaned the brass sensor under the brushes thoroughly, but it didn't help.\\n\\nThe 650 looks almost identical to the 550 from the outside, but the dirt bin has a small motor or fan inside that apparently pulls in/vacuums up more pet hair/dirt/etc. because the bin gets full!\\nI automatically check the bin once or twice a week because it has yet to announce that it's full or that the brushes need to be cleaned.\\n\\nThe 650 also has the updated Roomba brushes with the bigger yellow end caps. These brushes clean much better and the end caps are much easier to deal with when cleaning than previous Roomba brushes.\\n\\nThe 650 has ended up picking up an occasional dryer sheets & small pet toys without stopping. I'll discover them when I check the bin.\\n\\nThe only teeny, tiny downside is that the Control Station/remote (white) that I used with the Roomba 550 apparently will not work with the Roomba 650. I tried getting the two to communicate/pair but they wouldn't. I really like that Control Station better than the remote that came with the 650. The Control Station allows you to not only operate the Roomba, but to program it as well, should the Roomba get stuck somewhere in the house allowing the battery to drain, thus losing the on-board schedule. That being said, the 650 hasn't done that yet, like our 550 used to.\\n\\nOverall, VERY pleased with the Roomba 650.\\n\\n>^..^<\",\n \"Product: Did you know Greek yogurt contains up to twice the amount of protein compared to traditional yogurt? Also, Greek yogurt is made by simply straining out liquid whey, so only the protein-rich whey solids remain. Everything you need to create Greek yogurt is included in this easy-to-use Oster CKSTYM1012 Mykonos Greek Digital Yogurt Maker. The Oster Mykonos Greek Yogurt Maker can produce one large batch or can be made as individual servings using the glass jars and lids provided. Recipes include the most popular varieties of milk from whole, reduced fat and skim - as well as soy and almond milk for vegan and lactose-free diets. Depending upon the type of milk used, cook time ranges from 10-12 hours. Cooking overnight or while you're away at work is recommended. In just a few easy steps, you can prepare fresh, homemade yogurt exactly how you like it and save money too! Making your own Greek yogurt at home can save up to 80% vs. store bought Greek yogurt per year. Includes yogurt maker with digital LCD display and timer function, set of 6 - 7oz. glass jars with lids, large 1 qt. plastic container/lid and Greek yogurt strainer. Pieces store neatly in unit. *Note for Customers Outside of North America. Some of our products use electricity for power. We sell electrical products that were made to work with 110V Electrical systems. If you live in a country that utilizes a different electrical system you may need to use a converter for these products to function. The act of using a converter automatically voids the warranty on these products.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Yes, it DOES make Greek [Style] Yogurt!\\n\\nReview: I've seen a few reviewers complain that this doesn't make Greek yogurt....perhaps if you're in Greece, the yogurt you make with this unit would BE Greek Yogurt, but in the States, it makes Greek-Style Yogurt, as shown in the description under the Steps to making yogurt............\\n \\\"Step 3 - Strain It\\nIf you prefer traditional style yogurt, you can place container in fridge after cooking is done. The secret to Greek yogurt is simply straining out liquid whey so only the protein-rich whey solids remain. For Greek-style yogurt, simply strain batch with Greek yogurt strainer to remove liquid, then place in fridge. When done, pieces store compactly together in unit.\\\"\\n\\nI've been making my own low fat yogurt for over 25 years. I've used a few different brands, such as Salton (Cosmopolitan), Salton YM9 (1 Quart Container), Waring (Pro), and this Oster Mykonos Greek Digital Yogurt maker. My favorite had been the Waring Pro; that is now my \\\"back-up\\\". It, too, can make as many as nine cups of yogurt just like this Oster, but doesn't have the strainer. I had to buy that separately.\\n\\nI purchased this Oster as an open box (unused) on a popular auction site, and like it the best, overall, because it's essentially a \\\"kit\\\" that allows you to make a big batch of yogurt in two different styles- Traditional & Greek. I also prefer a firm yogurt so I only make plain yogurt (I add fruit after the yogurt is chilled) and although I cook the yogurt for 12 hours, the same as my Waring Pro, the yogurt seems to come out a bit more firm in this Oster, even before straining.\\n\\nI make just over nine cups of low fat yogurt with this Oster buy filling all 6 glass cups in addition to the plastic rectangle container. I cook the milk in the microwave in an eight cup glass Pyrex (it will hold over nine cups - after the microwaving: a cup of plain starter from a previous batch gets mixed in with a cup of dry milk...8 + 1 =9)\\n\\nAfter the yogurt is done cooking and has been refrigerated at least 4 hours, I empty out the rectangle batch into the strainer, wash out the clear rectangle container, then place the now filled strainer into the rectangle container (raised up by putting the tabs on the opposite side. So now I've got six glass containers of \\\"regular\\\" yogurt, and the rectangle container with Greek \\\"Style\\\" yogurt (I strain it over night).\\n\\nI either go back and forth eating the two different yogurts (1/2 cup portions) or when the strained yogurt is gone, I add the contents of the glass containers to the strainer, reserving one for the next yogurt batch.\\n\\nAnd although I have the digital version, vs. the \\\"on/off\\\" button style, I don't really feel the added cost of the digital version is worth it.\\nMine was \\\"open box\\\" so I didn't pay the digital version price. You still have to \\\"time\\\" the yogurt with either version. You need to remember what time you have to unplug the unit & place the batch in the fridge. Otherwise, the yogurt cooks exactly the same.\\n\\nI would definitely recommend this\\nOster CKSTYM1012 Mykonos Greek Yogurt Maker (either version).\\n\\nBJ\\n>^,,^<\",\n \"Product: Vitamix fuels passions. It's why wear the brand most trusted by professional chefs. But you won't just find us in restaurant kitchens. Youll also find us in home kitchens around the world. Because whether you're interested in the culinary Arts, making healthier choices, or enjoying restaurant-quality smoothies at homewhen you're ready to move on and move up, when you're ready to invest in your passion, you're ready for Vitamin. Built to last: A bargain blender's not a bargain if it doesn't last. We know purchasing a Vitamix blender is an investment. But Vitamix blenders are built to last, helping you buy dependable, not disposable. Since the number-one reason people purchase a blender is to make smoothies, it's important to Get them right. Whether you prefer an icy blend or a perfectly smooth pure, nutrition-packed with veggies or a light, fruity treat, Vitamix smoothies give you a delicious, even blend in every Sip.<Power:<We don't aim to have the highest horsepower. You don't need more Horses; you need trained ones. The focused power of our complete blending system causes every component of the Vitamix machine to work together, creating faster, smoother blends packed with flavor.<The universal tool:<make smoothies & juices, hot soups, flours & dough, nut butter, frozen desserts, batters, dressings & sauces, non-dairy milks, and more.<Manufactured in Cleveland, Ohio USA\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: So far, I love it!\\n\\nReview: I've been seeing Vitamix commercials since I was a kid in the 70's and wanted to get one in my 20's but just could not afford it at the time. Instead, I got the usual standard blenders over the past decades.\\n\\nNow that I've been making my own whole juices for many years with four different brands of juice extractors & smoothie type machines, I looked again at Vitamix ... I decided it was the right time to take the plunge so I got us one for Christmas (2017) and so far, I'm glad I did (I got the all black.).\\n\\nAlthough I've only been using this machine for a week (I bought it in November on sale [elsewhere because I had a gift card] but wrapped it up for Christmas and opened it up ON Christmas), I can tell that this is a great machine! It's faster & quieter than our current NutriNinja that I've been using for a year. The Vitamix 7500 also pulverizes seeds, unlike my NutriNinja & Nutribullet (there are always many seeds in the bottom of the container).\\n\\nWhen I say \\\"quieter\\\", I don't mean it's \\\"quiet\\\", I mean, come on, a blender that's quiet?? I've never heard of an effective quiet blender. I've seen reviewers complain that their Vitamix isn't quiet...seriously? It's definitely quieter than other blenders, but it IS a blender and is not going to be totally \\\"quiet\\\".\\n\\nI'm comparing the sound to my previous NutriBullet & current NutriNinja...the Vitamix 7500 is definitely quieter.\\n\\nI got the 7500 due to the shorter height. But, if the lid is on the container when I try to slide the machine under my cabinets, which have a 3/4\\\" lip at the bottom so the actual space is just under 18\\\", the lid prevents the machine from sliding under the cabinet, so I don't put the lid on until it's under the cabinet. I've also starting inverting the container and then place the lid on the bottom, which is now at the top. Then it slides under our cabinets just fine.\\n\\nSo far, I 've made two large (64 oz) green juice batches and a full batch of hot spinach-potato-cheese-zucchini- turkey soup. I'll be making potato cheese soup this weekend. Note: the main soup base is blended with your ingredients and gets hot, but if you want a chunky soup, you would add additional whole ingredients to the soup base at the very end, on Low for just a couple of seconds, such as fresh or cooked spinach, cooked potato, cooked turkey or chicken (as shown on the green mat in the photos).\\n\\nI also got the 32 oz dry container with tamper and will be getting the 32 oz wet container in the coming months (for smaller batches).\\n\\nUpdate 01 10 18:\\nI was able to get the 32 ounce wet container via Amazon Warehouse Deals and it's the perfect size for small to medium batches.\",\n \"Product: Since 2010, our patented TABLETOTE laptop stands have consistently been Amazon best sellers. This product was originally developed for the highly mobile business professional, so we deliberately designed it to be lightweight (< 4lbs). It's constructed with high quality aluminum and plastic materials and despite it's weight, is quite durable and sturdy. It's easy to transport with a compact size of - 13.5 L x 10.5 W x 2 H. Self contained, with the legs and accessories neatly stored in the underbelly of the table. It easily fits in most pc carrying cases and backpacks. A clever feature, is the slide off bottom, which slides onto the top for an expandable large work space. This allows for mouse use or other lightweight equipment such as portable projectors. The height can be adjusted from 12\\\" to 29\\\", so it can be used for sitting or stand up work. Easy to use, sets up in seconds and requires no tools .Multi-Functional/Multi-Purpose. Consumers beyond business professionals have found many uses for TableTote, including home, office, school, travel, art, gaming, music and so much more. Comes with FREE snap on document holder. Lifetime customer satisfaction rating of 92%. Priced competitively, selling for 50% or less than other comparable stands. Hundreds of thousands sold worldwide. Manufactured by PC Tables Inc, who's been in business for 18 years and is a trusted and reputable company. Satisfaction Guaranteed.. If not completely satisfied, can return within 30 days for full refund. This item is available for international order and shipping.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: I use this exact table in my car at work during lunch!\\n\\nReview: This PC Table Tote is a wonderful little table for using with my laptop during my lunch break at work. I keep it in my car and use it while sitting in the passenger side front seat. I can eat my lunch and work on my laptop without having to rest it on my lap. I use my cell phone as the modem for my laptop so I can keep the phone sitting on the table as well while it is charging on the cigarette lighter/power source in the console of my car (when using a cell phone as a modem it tends to use up the battery so I keep it plugged in while I'm using it).\\n\\nI've also used the table to place an Infocus projector on in my workplace. The legs at their shortest length are perfect for raising the projector up so the screen display is not distorted, as it can be if the projector is on a table pointed \\\"up\\\" at the screen.\\n\\nThe design of the table is well done! It's so compact & light, yet it is actually quite sturdy when assembled correctly, which only takes a few seconds! I'm a person that takes care of my belongings so this table will surely last several more years. However, I can understand how someone who does not handle things with respect could put too much weight on this table (or any other fold-up table) with the legs extended and perhaps not assembled optimally, could ultimately bend a leg or damage the table using too much force.\\n\\nIf you follow the assembly instructions and do not exceed the maximum weight recommendations- you will definitely enjoy this table for a long time.\",\n \"Product: Say goodbye to Wi-Fi dead zones. Convenient, discreet and easy to install, extended Wi-Fi coverage is just an outlet away with this essentials edition extender. Boost your Wi-Fi for mobile devices and connect a wired device such as Smart TVs or game consoles. Boost your existing network range & speed, delivering Wi-Fi up to 300Mbps. External antennas provide better Wi-Fi coverage and higher speed, while the convenient wall-plug design saves space. It works with any standard Wi-Fi router & is ideal for keeping your mobile devices connected as you move throughout your home.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: The N300 worked well, even though it was disguised as an EX6120. The N300 works better than the EX6120\\n\\nReview: I actually got this N300 range extender in error when I ordered a Netgear EX6120 via Amazon Warehouse Deals.\\n.\\nSomeone had apparently returned to Amazon, an N300 disguised an EX6120, with the stickers/labels from an EX6120 replaced onto the N300 and in the EX6120 box. When I went to install what I thought was an EX6120, it turned out to actually be an N300 disguised as an EX6120.\\n\\nThe N300 actually did work quite well. It kept the connection well and didn't get very warm.\\nBut, I did have to return it for obvious reasons: since someone had played a little game with swapping labels/serial numbers/etc. this would void the warranty for me, and I also ordered the EX6120 due to a longer range (it has longer antennae) and thought the 5G would be a nice added option.\\n\\nI ended up returning the bogus \\\"EX6120\\\" (the actual N300) and re-ordered an EX6120 (Amazon Warehouse Deals), which hasn't been any better than the N300. As other reviewers have mentioned, in order to get a decent 2G signal with the EX6120, I had to turn off the 5G.\\nAnd as for range of the EX6120, it's on par or less than par with the N300.\\n\\nSo, my advice, get the N300. I'll probably be getting an N300 to add in another area of the house.\",\n \"Product: Protect, Store And Share Your Valuable Cd's And Dvd's With High Quality Paper Storage Envelopes Optimize Your Storage Space With Sleeves Which Are Less Than Half The Space Of A Slim Jewel Case Each Sleeve's Back Flap Secures And Protects Your Disc From Scratches, Dirt And Fingerprints\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: NOT \\\"heavy duty\\\" paper sleeves by any means\\n\\nReview: The description in the amazon listing states that the paper is \\\"heavy duty paper\\\" but the paper they're made from is not \\\"heavy duty\\\", by any means. It's just normal feeling paper and is rather thin.\\n\\nThe box I received is white, not the multi-color box as shown in the amazon listing, but the #190132 matches.\\n(I thought first that maybe the wrong box was sent) No where on the box I received does it state \\\"heavy duty\\\".\\n\\nI'm not returning them because they were such a low price and they will be used for giving CD/DVDs to others who, I would hope, will put the disk(s) in a more suitable holder.\\n\\nIf you're looking for \\\"heavy duty\\\" paper CD/DVD sleeves, these are not them.\",\n \"Product: Shipping Depth: 19.5 Shipping Height: 5.6 Shipping Width: 16.4 Master Pack Qty: 80 General Information Manufacturer: ASUS Computer International Manufacturer Part Number: VW199T-P Brand Name: Asus Product Series: VW Product Model: VW199T-P Product Name: VW199T-P Widescreen LCD Monitor Marketing Information: The exclusive Splendid Video Intelligence Technology optimizes video performance and image fidelity by enhancing color, brightness, contrast, and sharpness. 5 preset video modes (Scenery, Theater, Game, Night View, and Standard) can be selected via a hotkey. Product Type: LCD Monitor Technical Information Number of Screens: 1 Screen Size: 19 Screen Mode: WSXGA Response Time: 5 ms Aspect Ratio: 16:9 Horizontal Viewing Angle: 170 Vertical Viewing Angle: 160 Adjustable Display Angle: Yes Mount Type: Wall Mountable Backlight Technology: LED HDCP Supported: Yes Video Maximum Resolution: 1440 x 900 Standard Refresh Rate: 75 Hz Color Supported: 16.7 Million Colors Contrast Ratio: 10,000,000:1 Audio Speakers: Yes Interfaces/Ports DVI: Yes Built-in Devices Built-in Devices: Speaker Power Description Operating Power Consumption: 26.90 W Standby Power Consumption: 100 mW Off-Mode Power Consumption: 100 mW Physical Characteristics VESA Mount Compatible: Yes VESA Mount Standard: 100 x 100 Color: Black Height with Stand: 10.39 Width with Stand: 17.48 Depth with Stand: 8.27 Weight (Approximate): 9.26 lb Miscellaneous Package Contents: VW199T-P Widescreen LCD Monitor VGA Cable Audio Cable Power Cord Quick Start Guide CD-ROM Warranty Card Certifications Standards: UL/cUL CB CE FCC CCC TUV-GS TUV-ERGO ISO9241-307 BSMI Gost-R C-Tick VCCI PSB NOM J-MOSS Platform Supported: PC Green Compliant: Yes Green Compliance Certificate/Authority: TCO '03 Green Compliance Certificate/Authority: Energy Star Green Compliance Certificate/Authority: RoHS Warranty Standard Warranty: 3 Year\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Got as a second monitor to use with a laptop-works great!\\n\\nReview: I just got this from Amazon seller KT Parts as an \\\"open box\\\" item for my husband to use as a second monitor with his laptop and it's working great!\\n\\nI had previously ordered another ASUS, model VE198t from Amazon warehouse deals but it would only work lying on it's back. As soon as I stood it up on its stand, it stopped working. Needless to say it was sent back to Amazon. I ordered this monitor instead and it's almost identical. The only thing different is that it doesn't have an HDMI connection, which is fine because the DVI and VGA is sufficient.\\n\\nThe speakers work quite well for only 1W. Much better than the laptop's speakers my husband usually uses.\\nSure, they're very basic, probably not great for gamers or loud music, but they're perfectly fine for normal computer & Internet sound.\\n\\nThe screen quality is very clean and clear and the monitor control buttons are on the front bottom corner instead of underneath.\\n\\nIt tilts forward and back and is fairly low so it's just slightly taller than the laptop's monitor.\\n\\nOverall, perfect for our needs.\",\n \"Product: Travel stretch tailored fit 2-button side vent solid blazer.Mesh armhole inserts\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: I got this for my husband for his birthday and it fits perfectly!\\n\\nReview: My husband is 5' 6\\\" tall (34\\\" waist/42-43\\\" chest) and often has a tough time finding jackets off the rack that fit well.\\n\\nAfter reading the description of this jacket on Amazon, along with some reviews, I decided to take a chance on this one (but in the BLACK) because of the \\\"tailored\\\" fit & that it's good for travel (resists wrinkles). I got the 44 Short. I went up an inch in the chest just to ensure he had a comfortable fit.\\n\\nI could not believe the surprised look he had when he slipped this jacket on when I gave this to him for his birthday!\\nIt fits him perfectly!\\n\\nIt looks nice with jeans or Dockers or dress pants. I ended up ordering the dark blue (MIDNIGHT) for him for Christmas (2017)\",\n \"Product: Original Reiko Brank name Black Premium Leather Pouch is the perfect carrying Case for your Samsung Galaxy S5 smart phone. Plus size will also fit your Samsung Galaxy S 5 when you have one additional thin case installed.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: I'm so tired of retailers not knowing what LEATHER isn't!\\n\\nReview: ...THIS \\\"premium leather pouch\\\" IS NOT LEATHER!\\n\\nI'm beyond tired of the bait and switch constantly happening with sellers, especially here on amazon & other retailers.\\n\\nTime and time again, something is blatantly listed as \\\"leather\\\" or \\\"premium leather\\\", only to be delivered as \\\"leather like\\\" or \\\"pleather\\\", which is exactly what this pouch is....VINYL/PLASTIC/etc....which IS NOT LEATHER people!\\n\\nThe pouch I received doesn't even have any fake leather raised grain like in the picture...there's a leather-like design in the fabric, but it's very smooth; it's clearly not leather.\\n\\nAnd it doesn't look like other buyers' photos that have a metal emblem on the front.\\nI ordered this one because it wasn't supposed to have ANY logo on the front, but it has an embossed logo of \\\"Reiko\\\"\\n\\nI gave it 3 stars because at least it does fit my Samsung Galaxy S5 with a cover on it. I have the two-layer purple & black \\\"damask\\\" pattern with the black rubber case from here on amazon <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Wireless-Fones-TM-Samsung-Galaxy-S5-Case-Dual-Layer-Hybrid-Impact-Resistant-Protective-Case-Purple-Victorian-Damask-Flower-on-Over-Black-Skin/dp/B00O08YNJM/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Wireless Fones TM Samsung Galaxy S5 Case Dual Layer Hybrid Impact Resistant Protective Case Purple Victorian Damask Flower on Over Black Skin</a>) & the phone in the case fits in this VINYL pouch.\",\n \"Product: BUNDLE VIA 1530TM BUNDLE W/CASE\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: \\\"no maps found\\\" ....won't buy this brand again\\n\\nReview: I did the exact same thing as user \\\"Todd\\\" just did yesterday (3/10/14) with our TomTom Via 1530 ....I updated it using the MyDrive Connect like I always do and the unit is now useless.....it only displays the \\\"no maps found\\\" screen and does nothing else! I've searched the Internet like crazy, including the TomTom web site (worthless, IMO), and tried different \\\"solutions\\\" that have done nothing to fix this. There's no \\\"pinhole\\\" reset anywhere on the unit either, like my TomTom Go 720.\\n\\nMost of the time none of the computers we have using the TomTom My Drive Connect will even recognize the device anymore (two HP Windows 7 64 bit desktop/towers & a Dell Vista 32 bit laptop). I'm sick of it.\\n\\nthis is our 3rd TomTom and it's the worst (the other two still work but are too expensive to buy new maps for) so I'm going with Garmin with free updates.\",\n \"Product: Save even more with our 5 pack of LD remanufactured HP 920XL ink cartridges: This bulk set of LD Remanufactured HP 920XL inkjet cartridges includes 2 black CD975AN, 1 cyan CD972AN, 1 magenta CD973AN, and 1 yellow CD973AN inkjet cartridges. These LD remanufactured (HP 920XL) inkjet cartridges are original Hewlett Packard ink cartridges which have been through one cycle of service and have been recharged. Why buy original HP cartridges when you can get perfect quality out of our LD remanufactured inkjet cartridges at a fraction of the cost? Our remanufactured ink cartridges are not remanufactured by HP. Our remanufactured ink cartridges are not remanufactured by HP. This combo set works with the following Hewlett Packard (HP) Printers: OfficeJet 6000, OfficeJet 6500, OfficeJet 6500a, OfficeJet 6500a Plus, OfficeJet 7000, OfficeJet 7500a. We are the exclusive reseller of LD Products brand of high quality printing supplies on Amazon.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: So far, these are working Great in our HP Officejet 6500!\\n\\nReview: So far, these cartridges are working out great. The colors seem fine and the printer immediately recognized the ink levels, unlike refilled cartridges from Costco or cartridges I've refilled myself.\\n\\nIn regard to the leaking that I've read in other reviews, you need to be sure to pull the top sticker off first, before removing the cover at the bottom or it might leak, just like HP OEM cartridges can do as well.\\n\\nOr, if you remove the bottom cap first, you need to turn the cartridge upside-down first, then remove the ink cap, and then peel off the sticker covering the air hole. You'll hear the suction of the ink when the air hole is uncovered.\\n\\nUpdate July 12 2016:\\n\\nI just received our second order on auto-ship/subscription of these cartridges to be ready for when the first batch starts running low (all four cartridges still have ink in them in the printer).\\n\\nThe ink still performs very well, even better than the HP Officeject 6500 printer, which has begun having a problem pulling paper in from the paper tray, even after cleaning the rollers.\\n\\nI had removed the top sticker first on 3 of the cartridges but forgot my usual steps and reversed the process on the 4th cartridge and it almost leaked. This is the same for OEM HP or even Epson cartridges (we also have an Epson Workforce 630).\\n\\nBy removing the top sticker, it causes a \\\"suction\\\" that pulls the ink into the cartridge and it doesn't leak.\",\n \"Product: Genuine OEM brand name HP Black Print Cartridge for LASERJET 4250/4350 (10K Yield) Q5942A\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: This is working out great for our HP OfficeJet 6968!\\n\\nReview: I wasn't sure how this 100 page plan would work out, especially since this is the first time we've bought a printer with Instant Ink capability, but it's been great! I took a guess that the 100 page plan would be about right, but I know for sure because our average use is 94 pages per month, so it's perfect for us.\\n\\nWe've been using this Instant Ink 100 plan since the fall of 2016 when we bought the HP OfficeJet 6968 via Amazon, without any problems at all.\\nThe ink arrives as needed; the account information stays updated; I get email updates each month.\\n\\nI could easily see spending more than $60 a year in HP ink otherwise (I don't use anything but OEM HP ink).\\n\\nWe just bought a second printer (HP OfficeJet 6970) that will be set up on HP Instant Ink soon as well.\",\n \"Product: Our fastest growing gourmet lettuce garden! A gourmet blend of red and green leaf, romaine, and butter head lettuce varieties that are so easy to grow. The Salad Greens Seed Pod Kit germinates in just days with daily harvests in as little as 2 weeks now you can grow and enjoy delicious, fresh lettuce all year round. Kit works in all AeroGardens. Planting with Seed Pods is fun and easy! Just insert the pre-seeded Grow Pods in your garden, add water and the patented, specially formulatedLiquid Nutrients. Most plants germinate within 7-14 days, are ready for harvesting in 4-6 weeks, and will keep producing continuous harvests for up to 6 months and longer. Indoor gardening cant get any tastier or simpler!\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: I definitely cannot recommend this Miracle-Gro brand\\n\\nReview: These Miracle-Gro AeroGarden Salad Greens Seed Pods barely grew. We had the same mold that another reviewer had despite having a very clean system (I always completely clean the unit thoroughly after a season of growing, and allow the unit to sit for at least three - four weeks before beginning a new batch).\\n\\nOf the seven pods, only four \\\"grew\\\", & barely. The other three had mold inside the pods where the seeds were and never sprouted.\\nI struggled trying to keep the other four growing, but after three months, I gave up and pulled them all out. I'm letting my AeroGrow rest for a few weeks. After that I'm going to order a seed kit directly from AeroGrow as I have in the past. Those have grown large where we could harvest the lettuce and herbs.\\n\\nI definitely cannot recommend this Miracle-Gro brand...it's a Miracle IF they do \\\"gro\\\"!\",\n \"Product: Repels raccoons, skunks, deer, squirrels, rabbits, mice, rats, stray dogs and stray cats. Durable weatherproof plastic housing. Completely wireless and solar powered. Works both day and night. Mounting bracket in back for easy mounting on wall or tree and comes with bonus garden stake so you can place just about anywhere! Perfect to keep unwanted animals out of garbage cans and to keep neighbors dog or cat from entering your yard. Solar powered works on rechargeable batteries and also can use regular alkaline batteries as well where the sun dont shine.\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: DON'T buy this thing....waste of money!\\n\\nReview: The Bell & Howell Motion Activated Pest Control unit is HORRIBLE!\\nDo NOT buy this thing, unless you want to annoy humans.\\n\\nThe package states that it is inaudible to humans...yeah, maybe humans in the next state!....this thing IS audible...a loud ear piercing & repetitive \\\"chirping\\\" sounds all the time!\\n\\nIt was a Christmas gift from a relative to try to prevent squirrels from going up our fruit trees but it detects EVERYTHING, even a leaf falling off a tree that blows past the unit! It used to only \\\"chirp\\\" four times, but now it goes on for at least 12 times, or non-stop. I finally had to shut if off!\\n(another relative was given the same unit for Christmas and their neighbors called the police thinking that someone's house alarm was going off...it was completely annoying the neighbors).\\n\\nAs other reviewers have stated, totally false advertising.\",\n \"Product: Our postcards are printed on 16 pt (360 gsm) premium quality cardstock. The postcards are UV-coated on the front side for durability and protection. Size 4 x 6 inches (10 x 15 cm). Printed in USA.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Works GREAT in our 8' x 15' Lifetime Storage shed! Solar panel barely noticable\\n\\nReview: We put this two-light set in one of our new Lifetime Sheds (8'x15') and it's working great!\\nThe night photos I took with my phone, but DID NOT use the Low-light detection setting in order to show TRUE light.\\n(the low-light detection on my phone enhances the photo quality, which I didn't think was appropriate for this review).\\n\\nWe put a different single-light style into the 8'x12' shed to get a comparison of the light output/solar charging, etc. because it was less than half the price, but is supposed to put out the same amount of light...so far it's just \\\"ok\\\"...definitely not the same amount of light, so we may end up putting this MicroSolar set in there too.\\n\\nThis MicroSolar two-light system was super easy to install and works as described. The light output is perfect for our 8' x 15' Lifetime Shed (side door entry)\\n\\nWe installed the solar panel on the roof of the shed at one end, then ran the cable through the gable vent, along the trestle tops, down to the controls at the right side door. Although we think the light switch set up that some users did is a wonderful idea, we didn't want to void the warranty, especially since the red button on the controls works perfectly fine in our application (but \\\"thumbs up\\\" for that terrific \\\"hack\\\").\\n\\nWe positioned the lights so there's a light in the center of each half of the 15' shed.\\n\\n...but also we wanted to be able re-position the lights occasionally, so we installed two horizontal poles from the peaks of the trestles and zip-tied loops at the tops of the lights (in the screw holes) so the lights can slide left and right about two feet each....so toward the center section of the shed and to the ends of the shed.\\n\\nThe solar panel seems to be nice quality, compared to the other brand's single light unit we got for the 12' shed. We're curious to see how each does exposed to the elements.\\n\\nThis MicroSolar unit may seem a little pricier, compared to some of the other offerings here on Amazon, but worth every penny!\",\n \"Product: A Cool Yule Tool. Fix holiday lights with a squeeze of a trigger. The Light Keeper PRO is the complete tool for fixing miniature light sets! A must for Christmas time. This all-in-one tool fixes most light sets in seconds by addressing the damaged bulb at the plug or at the socket. The LED Head Light helps visibility in light repair. The Audible Continuity Detector traces the circuit to the point of interruption. The 3-way bulb puller helps release tight bulbs from their sockets. The Bulb & Fuse Tester tests both indoor and outdoor mini lights. There is a spare bulb compartment in the handle for storage of extra bulbs and fuses. Three (3) 1.5-Volt Batteries are included. Patent pending. The trigger send a pulse that will activate a defective shunt; This fixes the circuit allowing the current to flow. Simply plug your Light Keeper PRO into the light set, pull the trigger and a pulse goes to the bulb, fixes the shunt and allows the light set to work correctly. The light keeper pro is not intended with led, rope or light set/sets with control boxes.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Had my doubts...boy was I wrong! LOL\\n\\nReview: My husband bought this little Light Keeper Pro (LKP) gadget a couple of years ago but we actually had never used it (he got it on sale when he was picking up some extra bulbs & thought it would be good for the future)). This year (2012) when we set up our 3 year old 7.5' pre-lit artificial CHRISTMAS tree there were 4 whole sections out on the bottom 1/3 portion of the tree (they were fine in 2011).\\n\\nI went through all the sockets to see if any lights were loose or had popped out that would cause the outage but none were missing (if a bulb burns out the strand will still light). I remembered we had the Light Keeper Pro but really didn't think it would work.\\n\\nDang, was I wrong! I simply followed the instructions on the back card... followed the plugged in light strand with the power sensor in the LKP to locate the offending bulb, popped it out, inserted the empty socket into the recepticle in the LKP, gave the trigger about 6 shots (one line took a couple of tries), each light strand lit up! (I was shocked, actually). I even reinserted the bulbs that appeared to be the problem and they now work too! The entire tree is now lit up (we have a few burned out lights but there's too many on the tree to begin with so they're not missed; I didn't even try to replace them).\\n\\nOne important tip when searching the light strand for the offending bulb/socket:\\n\\nAside from making sure the problem strand (or whole tree) is plugged into a power outlet, be PATIENT with the LKP's sensor. You may need to first have it sense a light strand that IS WORKING before running it along a non-working strand. You may need to do this a few times during the trouble-shooting process. This is a MINOR step. Think of it as being similar to a Stud Finder when looking for a wood beam in a wall-you need to do that process of running the stud finder several times back & forth along the wall before making the decision to drive the screw or nail into the wall.\\n\\nIf you exercise patience you'll have your light strand working in a matter of minutes. Just think of how much time (& money) you'll save by repairing the light strand on your pre-lit CHRISTMAS tree (while it's still ON the tree) vs. having to replace each strand of non-working lights. This is a No Brainer in my opinion! >^..^<\",\n \"Product: The Mail Manager locking security mailbox by Mail Boss is USPS Approved for residential use and protects against mail theft and vandalism. Its innovative design accepts mail bundles and small packages, yet deters fishing. Made of heavy-gauge galvanized steel, mail manager includes a patented anti-pry latch locking mechanism to prevent leveraged entry and a high-security 12-disc wafer lock with 3 laser cut keys. Never worry about your mail being stolen again, with the Mail Manager secure lockable mailbox.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Seems well-built and good quality (I don't recommend ordering this from Amazon Warehouse Deals).\\n\\nReview: We just received our black Mail Boss 7506 mailbox today and promptly installed it.\\nSo far it seems pretty sturdy and well-made.\\n\\nThis mailbox is quite a bit heavier than our old standard black, arched-top mailbox that shares space with three neighbor's mailboxes in a two across/two down pattern on a 4\\\" wooden post that was installed curbside when our neighborhood was built years ago. We added some additional blocks of wood as support under the \\\"T\\\" that our box is attached to on the mailbox post (something that other neighbors did not do on their 4 mailbox stand and now their stand is lopsided).\\n\\nThe flag is also quite long. We needed to trim ours because our mailbox is under another mailbox so there is no space to use the full flag.\\nWe had to cut off over half of it. But it still extends enough for the mail carrier to see, if we ever use it (we don't think it's a very good idea to advertise that you've got mail going out, especially since the outgoing mail just clips into the mail slot for anyone to grab).\\n\\nPlease note (& this is not reflected in my rating of the product since it's not the fault of the manufacturer and merely an FYI for Amazon buyers):\\n\\nI do NOT recommend that you get this via Amazon Warehouse Deals unless you don't mind undisclosed damage.\\n\\nI've been a regular customer of Amazon.com since 1997 and in the past couple of years, I keep getting suckered into saving $ with Amazon Warehouse Deals...time and time again the item description does not match what you receive...there is undisclosed damage and/or missing components. I know, when will I learn?! (due to going through a mass lay-off where I work [now making 40% less than I used to], and completing my degree [student loans], I try to save $ where ever I can. I have better luck going with \\\"refurbished\\\" through Amazon vendors than going through Amazon Warehouse Deals.\\n\\nSince this is a mailbox that will be exposed to the elements and my husband could repair the mailbox, I decided not to send it back, but I thought I needed to mention it since putting a seller review on Amazon Warehouse Deals is a waste of time.\\n\\nThe mailbox I ordered was described as being in very good condition with NO cosmetic damage; only the packaging was to have some damage (I saved a screen print when I ordered it).\\n\\nThe mailbox that arrived was the complete opposite!\\nThe packaging was in relatively good condition; not so for the mailbox!\\n\\nThere was a big dent in the top right side front & corner (the length of about 5\\\" in front of the flag) which prohibited the mail slot from opening without scraping. There was black paint chipped off where it was dented and the mailbox had clearly been installed somewhere and removed (the bottom was all scratched up and the clear plastic liner for inside had screw holes where it had been installed and was very dirty). It looked like someone may have dropped it before returning it or dropped it at the Amazon Warehouse & put it back in the box(?)\\n\\nThere were also NO screws of any kind and the keys were individually loose in the box. We're actually surprised all three keys were there at all.\\n\\nMy husband used to work in a family owned body & fender business so he went to work getting out the dent and sprayed Rustoleum black paint where the powder-coated paint had chipped off.\\n\\nIt's debatable whether the 15% savings was worth all the damage/repairs/missing parts. We're saying \\\"No\\\"...not worth it.\\nIf this wasn't going to be outside and exposed to the elements, it would have gone back.\"\n]","isConversational":false},"profile_size":{"kind":"number","value":28,"string":"28"},"task":{"kind":"string","value":"longlamp_3"},"split_kind":{"kind":"string","value":"user_based"},"id":{"kind":"number","value":946,"string":"946"}}},{"rowIdx":947,"cells":{"question_id":{"kind":"string","value":"AVQJD41PLPOOQ"},"question":{"kind":"string","value":"Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of \"3.0\" for a product with description \"When he loses a highly publicized virtual boxing match to ex-champ ROCKY BALBOA (Sylvester Stallone), reigning heavyweight titleholder Mason Dixon (Antonio Tarver) retaliates by challenging the Italian Stallion to a nationally televised, 10-round exhibition bout. To the surprise of his son (Milo Ventimiglia, TV's \"Heroes\") and friends, Rocky agrees to come out of retirement and face an opponent who's faster, stronger and thirty years his junior. With the odds stacked firmly against him, Rocky takes on Dixon in what will become the greatest fight in boxing history, a hard-hitting, action-packed battle of the ages!\". The summary of the review text is \"Hello, old friend...sort of.\"."},"answer":{"kind":"string","value":"Well, compared to the tragedy that was ROCKY IV and V, ROCKY BALBOA plays like an Oscar winner all over again! But I suppose \"all over again\" are the key words here.\n\nWhen watching ROCKY BALBOA, you can't help but enjoy it as a guilty pleasure because it reminds you so much of the original ROCKY of 1976, with all of its heart, soul and drama. But the fact is, is that when it's over, you've only been reminded and taken back to the spirit of the original film \"all over again\". If that's all the sixth installment of this franchise has to offer, then you're better off watching the original best picture of 1976 all over again; it was the best film in the series and it always will be."},"correct_answer":{"kind":"string","value":"Well, compared to the tragedy that was ROCKY IV and V, ROCKY BALBOA plays like an Oscar winner all over again! But I suppose \"all over again\" are the key words here.\n\nWhen watching ROCKY BALBOA, you can't help but enjoy it as a guilty pleasure because it reminds you so much of the original ROCKY of 1976, with all of its heart, soul and drama. But the fact is, is that when it's over, you've only been reminded and taken back to the spirit of the original film \"all over again\". If that's all the sixth installment of this franchise has to offer, then you're better off watching the original best picture of 1976 all over again; it was the best film in the series and it always will be."},"documents":{"kind":"list like","value":["Product: Deirdre (Natascha McElhone) puts together a team of experts that she tasks with stealing a valuable briefcase, the contents of which are a mystery. The international team includes Sam (Robert De Niro), an ex-intelligence officer, along with Vincent (Jean Reno), Gregor (Stellan Skarsgard) and others. As their operation gets underway, several team members are found to be untrustworthy, and everyone must complete the mission with a watchful eye on everyone else. Release date: September 25, 1998 (USA)\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: \"Have you ever killed anyone?\" \"I hurt somebody's feelings once.\"\n\nReview: When one considers director John Frankenheimer's career, it's almost a wonder he was ranked up there with other top names of his time like Stanley Kubrick and Martin Scorcese; because for as many classic hits that he turned out (THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE, THE TRAIN, BIRDMAN OF ALCATRAZ, GRAND PRIX & BLACK SUNDAY), there were just as many stinkers. Anyone remember FRENCH CONNECTION II, 52 PICK-UP and a particularly bad monster movie called PROPHECY? His 1996 remake of THE ISLAND OF DR. MOREAU was so bad, I concluded then and there that Marlon Brando should never again be in front of the camera! Perhaps if RONIN had been released a couple of years later, Frankenheimer's final swan song would not have been the forgettable REINDEER GAMES.\n\nThrough all of its tense spy thriller action and several genuine car chase scenes, the viewer hardly feels cheated by never knowing what's inside the mysterious case (a-la PULP FICTION) that the team of mercenaries, lead by Robert DeNiro, is after. Jonathon Pryce plays a chilling, frightening role as Seamus, a rogue Irish terrorist hell-bent on retrieving the case for himself. Hard to believe this guy is a song-and-dance man, also.\n\nHands-down, RONIN is one of the most intelligent action spy thrillers ever made; a film that easily puts the more popular genre of DIE HARD and LEATHAL WEAPON movies to shame.","Product: Star Wars - Episode VI, Return of the Jedi [VHS]\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: A JEDI's end with nothing new to offer\n\nReview: Okay, it's a STAR WARS film, so automatically, it's fun, exciting and full of spectacular effects that especially look great on DVD.\n\nSadly, though, this is one of the worst-acted, worst-dialogue films I have ever seen (followed very closely by ROCKY IV, but that's another issue entirely)! The plot seems like recycled pieces of STAR WARS and EMPIRE, and even John Williams's score has very little new musical themes.\n\nC3PO's character has been degredated to that of a feminine interior decorator and Darth Vader has become a completely passive pussy (excuse my French) whose only purpose is to say \"Yes, Master\" and \"As you wish.\"\n\nSo for those who wish to keep knocking THE PHANTOM MENACE for all its flaws, just re-watch JEDI and you'll see really bad film making.","Product: Guaranteed to work or your money back - PLEASE NOTE ALL MONIES FROM THIS SALE GO TO A 501 (C)3 NO KILL ANIMAL SHELTER\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: This tape is the BEST way to own this movie!\n\nReview: Make no mistake! We're talking about the original version of STAR WARS as it was realeased on video \"one last time\" in 1995. Black and blue box with Darth Vader on the cover.\n\nWhile the special edition in 1997 was entertaining, it was in no way an improvement for STAR WARS purists, like myself. The video I'm describing is the original 1977 film before George Lucas started butchering it and it has the benefit of being remastered in THX.\n\nI'm not saying don't own the special edition DVD. Of course own it! It looks and sounds perfect! I'm saying own BOTH!\n\nBy the way, everything I've said I also holds true for the 1995 video release of THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, as well. Between the original film and the 2004 DVD release, this film got butchered the most. The insertion of Ian McDermid into the scene between Darth Vader and the Emperor was beyond shameful!\n\nI can only hope Lucas will one day get the message from his fans and release the original (3) films on DVD.","Product: Boomtown Rats frontman Bob Geldof (in his screen debut) is a fine choice to play Waters's alter ego--an alienated, \"comfortably numb\" rock star whose psychosis manifests itself as an emotional (and symbolically physical) wall between himself and the cold, cruel world.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: An all-out attack on the senses!\n\nReview: In 1984, when I was 16 years-old, I didn't know any of Pink Floyd's music. Then one day I rented PINK FLOYD THE WALL, having only heard that it was supposed to be a real cool movie. Ninety minutes later, I was stunned, dumbfounded, and knocked senseless. I couldn't believe what I'd just seen and I hadn't understood ANY of it. Nightmare images combined with intense animation. But, goddamn, what incredible rock music! Like a persistent 90 minute rock video! I rewound it to the beginning and watched it again. Before the tape had to be returned, I'd watched it three or four times.\n\nThus began my love for the band Pink Floyd; with a movie. I raced out to buy THE WALL album, which was almost immediately followed by THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOON, WISH YOU WERE HERE, ANIMALS, THE FINAL CUT and MEDDLE. My obssession was born and Pink Floyd has been my favorite band ever since.\n\nDirector Alan Parker will probably be remembered least for this one; not with movies like MIDNIGHT EXPRESS, FAME and EVITA under his belt. Makes no nevermind. Pink Floyd fans count for plenty in this world and PINK FLOYD THE WALL will remain a rock and roll movie classic!","Product: Rocky Horror Picture Show [VHS]\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: A midnight cult classic that's not without flaws.\n\nReview: It's hard to believe that when THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW was first released in 1975, it was being shown as a regular feature with daytime shows. I can hardly imagine this a Saturday matinee for even one week's time.\n\nThank goodness for Greenwich Village's WAVERLY THEATER that started the midnight cult phenomenon that has been legendary for 30 years. This movie was actually partially responsible for making New York City theaters like THE WAVERLY and the 8TH STREET PLAYHOUSE famous.\n\nSo with a reputation like that, it would seem that ROCKY HORROR is damn near flawless. But as a pure film, without the fun of the audience participation, that's not so. The first half nearly jumps out of its socks with excitement and music. By the time you're into the latter half, it has slowed to an almost comatose level. Even the songs have lost their edge by then.\n\nBut for its flaws, it's timeless fun to be watched over and over again, even if it's only on your TV.","Product: King Kong Vs. Godzilla\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Campy, silly, cheap, badly dubbed...AND I LOVE IT!\n\nReview: Where do I begin?\n\nThe special effects are very cheaply done, even for 1962, when we already had the stop and go motion technology that made the original KING KONG so famous. The ape suit for KONG is so bad, it makes the one in the 1976 version look like CGI. Just watch the scenes where Kong bats his eye lids like some raging queen. The dubbing is expectedly bad and the performances from the Japanese actors are very campy.\n\nSo, it's amazing that given all that, this monster movie has become an irresistable cult classic! You can't help but feel a shiver of excitement in your spine when you see these two classic movie monsters (cheap suits) clash on screen.\n\nFor me personnally, this movie brings back memories of \"Godzilla Day\" on Channel 9, WOR TV, when I was a kid; every Friday after Thanksgiving.\n\nNow; just imagine a spectacular remake of this movie with Peter Jackson's KING KONG and Roland Emmerich's GODZILLA! Ooooh, I shiver at the thought!","Product: The Carriers (episode 13): Deep behind the iron curtain, an insidious special training center is built to resemble a typical American small town. Enemy agents are being taught the American way so they can infiltrate and undermine our population. The I.M.F. team, disguised as recruits, enters the center - only to discover the plan to destroy the U.S. is already underway! Guest starring George Takei. The Seal (episode 35): Relations with the country of Kuala Rokat are threatened when its priceless national treasure, a jade seal, disappears and surfaces with an American art dealer. It's up to Barney (Greg Morris) - and a well-trained feline - to outsmart the alarm system and recapture the seal. Guest starring Darren McGavin.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: My favorite actions films always seem to be sequels!\n\nReview: Yes, it's true! DIE HARD 2, TERMINATOR 2 and MISSION:IMPOSSIBLE 2 have all surpassed the originals, in my opinion. Even when I was a kid, I thought SUPERMAN II outsoared the original for action.\n\nWhen you sit down to watch an action film, you have to remember to judge if for what kind of an action film it is. Immediately, you have to be prepared to suspend some disbelief and keep the possibilities open. Is the plot even somewhat intelligent? Is the acting any good? Is the action in-your-face-relentless without being too stupid? My answer for MISSION:IMPOSSIBLE 2 is an unequivelled \"yes\" to all of them.\n\nThe plot takes on a more James Bond-ish approach, with Tom Cruise's character, Ethan Hunt, out to stop a former MI agent from releasing a deadly virus on the population of Australia. With him, is his \"Bond girl-ish\" sidekick and damsel in distress, Nia, played by Thandie Newton. Combined with the hardcore action of director John Woo, you cannot help but enjoy this film. The spectacular motorcycle sequence alone is worth your time.\n\nThe acting is as good as it can get for an action film. Some lines stick out favorably like, \"Well, Mr. Hunt, this isn't Mission Difficult. This is Mission Impossible. Difficult should be a walk in the park for you.\" and \"That punk put a hole in my Versache!\" oh, and my personal favorite:\n\n\"She doesn't have the experience for a job like this.\"\n\n\"What, to go to bed with a man and lie to him? She's a woman, she has all the experience she needs.\"\n\nSorry, ladies, I'm not sexist, but it IS funny.\n\nTom Crusie movies, for me, have always been a guilty pleasure. And I must say, if the rumors are true, and he is gay, his action role of Ethan Hunt in I, II and the upcoming III does a terrific job of covering it up. But then again, I suppose Rock Hudson did just as good a cover-up back in his day.","Product: Jaws 4:Revenge [VHS]\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: \"There are two ways to deal with this problem. You either kill this animal, or you cut off its food supply!\"\n\nReview: The animal being stupid JAWS movies and the food supply being stupid viewers who don't know any better!\n\nWould you believe Michael Caine did not show up at the 1987 Oscars to receive his award for HANNAH AND HER SISTERS because he was on location filming this dud? He said in an interview once that he took the job because he got a beach house in the Bahamas as an incentive. Perhaps I can't blame him for that.\n\nWhen I think of really bad sequels, so many wonderful titles come to mind; GREASE 2, ROCKY IV, POLTERGEIST II, HALLOWEEN 4,5,6,7,8 etc. And while personnaly, the Oscar will always go to ROCKY IV, I cannot resist the urge to tear JAWS: THE REVENGE to little pieces!\n\nTry to imagine that you're watching this unbelievably-assinine movie on TV, when a large arm comes out of the tube and starts knocking you senseless on your forehead. Suddenly you hear a voice from the TV say, \"Hey, stupid, you're watching a movie that is trying to convince you that a great white shark would swim halfway around the world to the Bahamas to take revenge on one particular family! Hello??? Anybody home in there???\"\n\nPaints a pretty accurate picture, doesn't it?","Product: During the Gulf War, members of cut-off platoon are captured and brainwashed by a large corporation to return to the United States following the war as their pawns. When one of the soldiers becomes the likely next Vice-President of the United States, the full scope of Manchurian's plan is revealed. Now, the last remaining soldier from the platoon must battle the brainwash and the corporation to prevent them from controlling the largest country in the free world.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: If it HAD to be made, surprisingly worthy.\n\nReview: I am generally against remaking old classic movies. However, there are some that have worked for me; KING KONG, THE FLY, INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS, even the current WAR OF THE WORLDS. The reason primarily is that they were genuinely REMADE with the current times.\n\nCANDIDATE retains the basic premise of mind conditioning and Raymond Shaw's rather twisted relationship with his mother. The film starts in 1991 Iraq and follows through to the post-terrorism paranoia of today. There are many other changes in the story as compared to the original film, which, like it or not, is what remaking a movie is all about. If not, you end up with an inferior carbon copy of an original, like Gus Van Sant's PSYCHO (what the hell was that idiot smoking when he came up with that idea???).","Product: 2004 DVD Release of the 1997 Special Edition Version of Return of the Jedi. Wide Screen : Region 1 DVD.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: A JEDI's end with nothing new to offer\n\nReview: Okay, it's a STAR WARS film, so automatically, it's fun, exciting and full of spectacular effects that especially look great on DVD.\n\nSadly, though, this is one of the worst-acted, worst-dialogue films I have ever seen (followed very closely by ROCKY IV, but that's another issue entirely)! The plot seems like recycled pieces of STAR WARS and EMPIRE, and even John Williams's score has very little new musical themes.\n\nC3PO's character has been degredated to that of a feminine interior decorator and Darth Vader has become a completely passive pussy (excuse my French) whose only purpose is to say \"Yes, Master\" and \"As you wish.\"\n\nSo for those who wish to keep knocking THE PHANTOM MENACE for all its flaws, just re-watch JEDI and you'll see really bad film making.","Product: Product Details\nActors: Terry Moore, Ben Johnson, Fay Wray, Robert Armstrong, Frank McHugh \nDirectors: Ernest B. Schoedsack, Merian C. Cooper, Peter Jackson \nWriters: Merian C. Cooper, Edgar Wallace, James Ashmore Creelman, Leon Gordon, Ruth Rose \nFormat: Box set, Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC \nLanguage: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono) \nSubtitles: English, Spanish, French \nRegion: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)\n\nAspect Ratio: 1.33:1 \nNumber of discs: 4 \nRated: NR (Not Rated) \nStudio: Turner Home Ent \nDVD Release Date: November 22, 2005 \nAverage Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (43 customer reviews) \nASIN: B000AY3KNA\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: It's Thanksgiving Day again!!!\n\nReview: Even though I always found SON OF KONG incredibly boring, my hats off to those great New York memories of Thanksgiving in the '70s and early '80s with WOR channel 9. Once a year, every year, you could count on \"Ape Day\" every Thanksgiving as a kid when you were on vacation from school:\n\n12pm - MIGHTY JOE YOUNG\n\n 2pm - KING KONG\n\n 4pm - SON OF KONG\n\nOnly flaw, though; my family would usually entertain the entire family, which meant my mother was constantly asking me to help her out before everyone arrived. That meant constant interruptions and missing the good parts. Remember, this was before the VCR!\n\nI'll look forward to buying the KING KONG and MIGHTY JOE YOUNG DVDs.\n\nHave to say, finally, that \"Godzilla\" day on the Friday after never meant that much to me. Even as a kid, I was scratching my head trying to comprehend the out-of-synch English dubbing.","Product: Match Point is \"a winning combination of sex, mystery, brilliant writing and first-rate acting that all adds up to one of the most erotic and exhilarating movies in years.\" (Maxim). Chris (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) is being torn apart by his desire for two very different women. Marrying Chloe (Emily Mortimer) will bring him a life of wealth and success, but his true passion lies with his brother-in-law's fiancee, the stunningly sensuous but unpredictable Nola (Scarlett Johansson). Pulsing with tension, Match Point rides the dangerous line between ambition and obsession to an ending as surprising as it is chilling.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Decent drama that lacks true originality.\n\nReview: Woody Allen's homage to the more serious side of his 1989's CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS seems apparant here, by viewers and critics. However, no one else here has cited that in many ways, MATCH POINT is a remake of A PLACE IN THE SUN with Montgomery Clift and Elizabeth Taylor.\n\nConsider: Pretty boy raises his personal status in life by marrying (or dating in PLACE) into a very wealthy family full of privilege; a life he won't give up at any cost. On the side, he has a pregnant mistress (Shelly Winters in PLACE) who threatens to cause trouble and destroy the world he's become accustom to. He decides to do away with the mistress and end his misery. In MATCH POINT, though, our protaganist cleverly and luckily gets away with it.\n\nOn the part of luck, I have to give Allen credit for the old lady's wedding ring sequence; in that by bouncing backwards off of the railing, it serves to exonerate our \"hero\". That was, indeed, a clever twist.\n\nBefore Allen dies (someday), I would love to see one more film with him and Diane Keaton. The two shared an incredible chemistry that has never been duplicated.","Product: UK Blu-ray/Region All pressing. 25th anniversary version, originally released in 2008, of the iconic sci-fi masterpiece Blade Runner, director Ridley Scott has gone back into post production to create the long-awaited definitive new version. Blade Runner: The Final Cut is spectacularly restored and remastered from original elements and contains never-before-seen added/extended scenes, added lines, new and improved special effects, director and filmmaker commentary, an all-new digital audio track and more. Special Features Disc 1: Digitally restored and remastered, incorporating new footage and special effects never before seen Soundtrack remastered in Dolby Digital 5.1 Introduction by director Ridley Scott Three filmmaker commentaries, including one by Ridley Scott Disc 2: Definitive documentary incorporating outtakes, deleted scenes and all-new interviews. The ultimate look at the movie's difficult creation and controversial legacy.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Always fixing, but never broken in the first place.\n\nReview: I had the opportunity to see the new \"Final Cut\" of BLADE RUNNER on screen in New York City this past weekend. As always, it's one of my favorite science fiction films of all time and I welcome any opportunity to see it on the big screen, in any version.\n\nFirst, I have to say that I saw this when it was first released in June 1982. The original theatrical version with Harrison Ford's voice-over and the Hollywood happy ending is still and will always be my favorite version. That said, the only thing I can honestly claim is an improvement with the \"Final Cut\" is the sharper, remastered print. As far as the film itself, it is almost completely identical to the 1992 Director's Cut. There are some extra pieces of dialogue and extended scenes thrown in, which in my opinion, don't expand the film at all. The added scenes of violence are not new to the BLADE RUNNER fan. They've been available for view ever since the film first appeared on video cassette in the '80's.\n\nIf you already own the Director's Cut of BLADE RUNNER on DVD, then save your money. Buying it all over again for the \"Final Cut\" will not gain you much, except a larger hole in your wallet.","Product: UK Blu-ray/Region All pressing. 25th anniversary version, originally released in 2008, of the iconic sci-fi masterpiece Blade Runner, director Ridley Scott has gone back into post production to create the long-awaited definitive new version. Blade Runner: The Final Cut is spectacularly restored and remastered from original elements and contains never-before-seen added/extended scenes, added lines, new and improved special effects, director and filmmaker commentary, an all-new digital audio track and more. Special Features Disc 1: Digitally restored and remastered, incorporating new footage and special effects never before seen Soundtrack remastered in Dolby Digital 5.1 Introduction by director Ridley Scott Three filmmaker commentaries, including one by Ridley Scott Disc 2: Definitive documentary incorporating outtakes, deleted scenes and all-new interviews. The ultimate look at the movie's difficult creation and controversial legacy.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Always fixing, but never broken in the first place.\n\nReview: I had the opportunity to see the new \"Final Cut\" of BLADE RUNNER on screen in New York City this past weekend. As always, it's one of my favorite science fiction films of all time and I welcome any opportunity to see it on the big screen, in any version.\n\nFirst, I have to say that I saw this when it was first released in June 1982. The original theatrical version with Harrison Ford's voice-over and the Hollywood happy ending is still and will always be my favorite version. That said, the only thing I can honestly claim is an improvement with the \"Final Cut\" is the sharper, remastered print. As far as the film itself, it is almost completely identical to the 1992 Director's Cut. There are some extra pieces of dialogue and extended scenes thrown in, which in my opinion, don't expand the film at all. The added scenes of violence are not new to the BLADE RUNNER fan. They've been available for view ever since the film first appeared on video cassette in the '80's.\n\nIf you already own the Director's Cut of BLADE RUNNER on DVD, then save your money. Buying it all over again for the \"Final Cut\" will not gain you much, except a larger hole in your wallet.","Product: U2 Live at Red Rocks: Under a Blood Red Sky [VHS]\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: U2 at their prime of rock music!\n\nReview: This is still a great concert to watch after 24 years! However, I think the filmakers should have chosen a better day, weather-wise, to videotape this show, because the camera shows many picture imperfections due to the weather at the time. Throughout the video, there are thick streaking black lines across the picture that I can only describe as images that look like branches (no joke!). It seems evident from one particular camera on stage with the band, almost as if there's something on the lens.\n\nWhen and if they release this show on DVD, it needs to be cleaned up considerably. But for now, this being all that's available, it's still a classic U2 concert, before the band sold out to their '90's \"pop\" image!","Product: Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman and Howe created the legendary sound of the rock group Yes. Recorded live at Shoreline on September 9, 1989, this incredible two and a half hour concert features some of the band's greatest hits, including \"Owner Of A Lonely Heart,\" \"Madrigal,\" \"Roundabout,\" \"Close To The Edge\" and many more.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Call this band what you want, it's still classic YES!\n\nReview: Without having had the benefit of seeing Yes-Symphonic Live 2001, this 1989 concert of ABWH is the best concert DVD I've ever seen. Far better than 9012Live, Keys to Ascention, Live from the House of Blues and the 35th Anniversary concert.\n\nAt this time, the band was reorganizing after nearly a decade of Trevor Rabin-based music. Their youth and their musical energy is still in top form, as is Jon Anderson's voice.\n\nDespite what other viewers might think, the picture and sound are excellent! The only flaw I find is that I know that for whatever reasons, the makers of this DVD chose to edit portions of the show where Jon addresses the audience in between songs. I know that it's missing because I remember seeing this identical show back in 1989 on Pay-per-View. Beyond that, a classic YES show!\n\nBy the way, the word PLUS in the title refers to songs from the Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman, Howe album that are performed in addition to classic YES songs - An evening of Yes music PLUS. Get it?","Product: Journey Self Titled audio cd\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: The other side of Journey...and it came FIRST!\n\nReview: Wow! Was I blown away by this CD!\n\nI've been a Journey fan for over twenty years now. I knew there were three pre-Steve Perry albums from the '70's, but I'd never heard any material. Let's face it; they don't play this stuff on FM radio and they never will! I actually first heard some of it when Journey toured last summer, spanning their entire 30-year career from the beginning.\n\nThis debut CD from 1975 is full of raw, hard-core rock, with that classic 70's edge. Some fans have argued that it almost takes on a heavy metal quality, and they're not entirely wrong. The music is NOT for the Steve Perry/Journey fan, but rather for the fans of the first three Santana albums featuring Gregg Rollie on vocals.\n\nJourney fans...go back to the very beginning and rediscover the legendary band's roots!","Product: Comes Alive \nAudio Cassette\nCopyright 1976\nby A & M Records. Dolby System\n\nSongs:\n \nSomething's Happening\nDoobie Wah\nShow Me The Way\nIt's A Plain Shame\nPenny for Your Thoughts\n(I'll Give You) Money\nShine On\nJumping Jack Flash\nAll I Want To Be (Is By Your Side)\nWind of Change\nBaby I Love Your Way\nI Wanna Go To The Sun\nLines On My Face\nDo You Feel Like We Do\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: A great, classic live album, but why the BEST?\n\nReview: Peter Frampton's FRAMPTON COMES ALIVE has been considered by rock fans, the great live album of all time. What exactly makes that so? What differentiates it from other live classics like say, Kiss ALIVE, Led-Zeppelin THE SONG REMAINS THE SAME, Grateful Dead DEAD AHEAD, Rush EXIT STAGE LEFT or Pink Floyd DELICATE SOUND OF THUNDER. Is it perhaps that strange voice instrument he's using during \"Do You Feel Like We Do\".\n\nI always figured a live album's popularity would depend more on one's personal music taste and perhaps if they had ever seen the band live before.\n\nDon't get me wrong. I absolutely love FRAMPTON COMES ALIVE! I have it on CD, vinyl and cassette (perhaps someday on 8-track, too). But I was only 9 years-old in 1976 so I can't personally relate to the man or the tour at the time.\n\nI don't think I have any answers here. I'm just putting the questions out there.\n\nAnd by the way, to reviewer \"Jeff J\" who can be heard on FCA, I was at the Pink Floyd show at the Nassau Collisium in 1988 when they recorded DELICATE SOUND OF THUNDER.","Product: Music Cd\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: One of the last great hard rock albums of the 1980's.\n\nReview: Just like Danno said, it's what FM rock radio used to sound like.\n\nIt was the summer of 1981 and rock music was about to come to an end. Disco was more or less dead and MTV was not yet on the air. By 1983, music would be dominated by the horrible likes of Michael Jackson and Culture Club!\n\nWhen the movie HEAVY METAL was released in living animation (this was the rage before the Japanese introduced us to Anime in 1988), it came with a kick-ass soundtrack with bands like Black Sabbath, Blue Oyster Cult, Cheap Trick and Sammy Hagar. Back in 1981, acts like this could still fill an entire stadium on their own. And while all the music is not exactly \"heavy metal\", their are some other great tunes by Donald Fagen, Don Felder, Stevie Nicks and Journey (yes, \"Open Arms\" was a brand new song on this soundtrack before the \"Escape\" album was released at the end of the year.\n\nThe only flaw, in my opinion, is that the songs are not in the order in which they come in the movie, the way most soundtracks run. It's fun to follow the duration of a film in your head as you listen to the music.","Product: Cd > Popular Music > Rock & Pop\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Still the best single disc compilation of YES's career!\n\nReview: By now, there have been numerous YES greatest hits packages, including two large box sets; yet this is the compilation I keep coming back to because it captures YES at the heart of their progressive stardom from 1971 through 1977.\n\nYou get full-length versions here, including \"Long Distance Runaround\" immediately followed by \"The Fish\". You also get \"And You And I\", which has managed not to be featured on many other YES compilations. Pity, because it's one of their most enchanting songs; although I believe on the YESYEARS box set, there is a live version recorded during the Trevor Rabin years.\n\nThe only down side is that \"Roundabout\" and \"I've Seen All Good People\" are live versions taken from their 1979 tour. While they're still enjoyable tunes, the original full-length version would have made this CD perfect.","Product: Genesis ~ Turn It On Again: The Hits\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: More or less disappointing, and THAT'S ALL.\n\nReview: First of all, the moment the producers screw me with an edited version of a hit song simply for the sake of space, THAT'S ALL, you've lost me! This is what's done with \"ABACAB\" and \"MAMA\"; two classic Genesis songs destroyed! The second flaw is including the song \"Congo\", which was not even a hit. I don't even remember who sang it in Phil Collins' place.\n\nOn the plus side, we get to hear a new version of \"The Carpet Crawlers\" with Peter Gabriel reunited with his old band members. Sadly, this never resulted in a reunion tour.\n\nThis is the only Genesis greatest hits package to date. As an alternate, consider any of the live recordings, which will give you a great mix of their hits at the time they were recorded.","Product: UK pressing. On An Island is the third David Gilmour solo album and his first studio recording since Pink Floyd's 1994 multi-platinum 'The Division Bell'. from the first moments of the sound collage that begins 'On An Island', you know it's a special experience that not only bears comparison with the best of Pink Floyd, but also confirms their lead guitarist and singer as an outstanding solo artist. Here he reveals a personal vision and a breadth of styles - folk, jazz, orchestral and rock - brought together as a unified piece by his lyrical guitar playing and instantly recognizable voice. On An Island is a collection of songs and instrumentals that had it's genus in the critically acclaimed 2002 London Festival Hall concerts. Gilmour has stepped out of his super-group to discover he's still at his peak - and he's rightly pleased. 'It's my best and most personal work,' he says. 'Making it with my musician friends has been a positive experience on so many levels.' EMI. 2006.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Oh, David, forgive me, but it's just not happening!\n\nReview: I give ON AN ISLAND two stars for two reasons; one, the title track is actually very good. Two, it's still David \"f*ckin\" Gilmour!\n\nPink Floyd has been my favorite band since I was a teenager and that's never going to change. Respectively, David Gilmour has been my favorite guitarist and that's never going to change. But I have to be brutal here. David's an old man now, and his music and guitar power have gotten old with him. And except for the title track, the album is dull, dull, DULL!\n\nAnd I'm sorry, but unlike many other reviewers, I am not willing to accept his age as an excuse for the music. I believe McCartney, Dylan, Clapton and Richards are all older than Gilmour and they've managed to hold onto their energy. In fact, if you had been lucky enough to catch CREAM in concert in NYC, you would have been shocked to see the high-powered performance three men in their mid-to-late sixties were putting on stage.\n\nThankfully, I sampled the cd at a listening station before paying for it. Save your money toward a David Gilmour concert ticket. At least you'll presumably hear the old material and some classic Pink Floyd!","Product: Canadian prog rock giants Rush, captured during their 1984 world tour, performing their best known hits (Closer To The Heart, Tom Sawyer). The trio of virtuosi - the ultimate band's-band was at the height of its synthesizer period - touring the 'Grace Under Pressure' album - an album awash in Geddy Lee's synth noodlings but ushering in drummer Neal Pert's use of synthesized drums and thus initiating a new, more majestic and anthemic-sounding era for the band.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: RUSH at their 80's peak!\n\nReview: When I was in college, this was the first (and favorite) concert video I owned. Years later, I (very stupidly) sold it. Recently, I spend nearly a year waiting for a used VHS copy to become available on [...] for a reasonable price, and finally got it. Then, wouldn't you know it, the concert finally becomes available on DVD individually, without having to buy EXIT...STAGE LEFT and A SHOW OF HANDS with it.\n\nThis is my favorite RUSH video concert for several reasons. For one thing, I enjoy concerts that are videotaped rather than filmed. It also captures Rush (in my opinion) at their golden moments in the 1980's, when their two previous albums, Moving Pictures and Signals had put them at the top of their fame. From 1981 through 1986, Rush was known for always opening their shows with \"Spirit of Radio\" and this one doesn't disappoint. It also includes the \"Fear\" trilogy of \"The Enemy Within\", \"The Weapon\" and \"Witchunt\" and the popular instrumental, \"YYZ\".\n\nI deduct one star because it's disappointing that after more than two decades, the DVD show is still only 69 minutes long, without more of the complete show offered to the fans.","Product: Songs Include : Discipline / Thela Hun Ginjeet / Matte Kudasai / Three Of A Perfect Pair / Frame By Frame / Sleepless / Heartbeat / Elephan Talk / 21st Century Schizoid Man / I Talk To The Wind / Epitaph / The Court Of The Crimson King\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Legendary progressive rock as only King Crimson can do it!\n\nReview: It's always amazes me how a legendary band like King Crimson gets virtually no airplay on FM rock radio. There may have been ONE time I actually heard \"21st Century Schitzoid Man\" played after hours. Bands like this one are, in my opinion, one of the reasons classic rock station never seem to get out of the playlist rut there in and why the archives are never dove into.\n\nTHE COMPACT KING CRIMSON serves not so much as a greatest hits package, but rather an overview of four (4) of their albums; 1980's frontman Adrian Belew's period is covered through the albums DISCIPLINE, BEAT and THREE OF A PERFECT PAIR, with all the best-known tracks. Finally, most of the band's first album, \"In The Court Of The Krimson King\" is featured as the CD's close-out. The John Wetton (later of ASIA) period is not covered here.\n\nI have to deduct a star for one reason; if you were to find this compilation on cassette, it would also include the tracks \"Red\" and \"Cat Food\". For some reason, they are omitted from the CD."],"string":"[\n \"Product: Deirdre (Natascha McElhone) puts together a team of experts that she tasks with stealing a valuable briefcase, the contents of which are a mystery. The international team includes Sam (Robert De Niro), an ex-intelligence officer, along with Vincent (Jean Reno), Gregor (Stellan Skarsgard) and others. As their operation gets underway, several team members are found to be untrustworthy, and everyone must complete the mission with a watchful eye on everyone else. Release date: September 25, 1998 (USA)\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: \\\"Have you ever killed anyone?\\\" \\\"I hurt somebody's feelings once.\\\"\\n\\nReview: When one considers director John Frankenheimer's career, it's almost a wonder he was ranked up there with other top names of his time like Stanley Kubrick and Martin Scorcese; because for as many classic hits that he turned out (THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE, THE TRAIN, BIRDMAN OF ALCATRAZ, GRAND PRIX & BLACK SUNDAY), there were just as many stinkers. Anyone remember FRENCH CONNECTION II, 52 PICK-UP and a particularly bad monster movie called PROPHECY? His 1996 remake of THE ISLAND OF DR. MOREAU was so bad, I concluded then and there that Marlon Brando should never again be in front of the camera! Perhaps if RONIN had been released a couple of years later, Frankenheimer's final swan song would not have been the forgettable REINDEER GAMES.\\n\\nThrough all of its tense spy thriller action and several genuine car chase scenes, the viewer hardly feels cheated by never knowing what's inside the mysterious case (a-la PULP FICTION) that the team of mercenaries, lead by Robert DeNiro, is after. Jonathon Pryce plays a chilling, frightening role as Seamus, a rogue Irish terrorist hell-bent on retrieving the case for himself. Hard to believe this guy is a song-and-dance man, also.\\n\\nHands-down, RONIN is one of the most intelligent action spy thrillers ever made; a film that easily puts the more popular genre of DIE HARD and LEATHAL WEAPON movies to shame.\",\n \"Product: Star Wars - Episode VI, Return of the Jedi [VHS]\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: A JEDI's end with nothing new to offer\\n\\nReview: Okay, it's a STAR WARS film, so automatically, it's fun, exciting and full of spectacular effects that especially look great on DVD.\\n\\nSadly, though, this is one of the worst-acted, worst-dialogue films I have ever seen (followed very closely by ROCKY IV, but that's another issue entirely)! The plot seems like recycled pieces of STAR WARS and EMPIRE, and even John Williams's score has very little new musical themes.\\n\\nC3PO's character has been degredated to that of a feminine interior decorator and Darth Vader has become a completely passive pussy (excuse my French) whose only purpose is to say \\\"Yes, Master\\\" and \\\"As you wish.\\\"\\n\\nSo for those who wish to keep knocking THE PHANTOM MENACE for all its flaws, just re-watch JEDI and you'll see really bad film making.\",\n \"Product: Guaranteed to work or your money back - PLEASE NOTE ALL MONIES FROM THIS SALE GO TO A 501 (C)3 NO KILL ANIMAL SHELTER\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: This tape is the BEST way to own this movie!\\n\\nReview: Make no mistake! We're talking about the original version of STAR WARS as it was realeased on video \\\"one last time\\\" in 1995. Black and blue box with Darth Vader on the cover.\\n\\nWhile the special edition in 1997 was entertaining, it was in no way an improvement for STAR WARS purists, like myself. The video I'm describing is the original 1977 film before George Lucas started butchering it and it has the benefit of being remastered in THX.\\n\\nI'm not saying don't own the special edition DVD. Of course own it! It looks and sounds perfect! I'm saying own BOTH!\\n\\nBy the way, everything I've said I also holds true for the 1995 video release of THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, as well. Between the original film and the 2004 DVD release, this film got butchered the most. The insertion of Ian McDermid into the scene between Darth Vader and the Emperor was beyond shameful!\\n\\nI can only hope Lucas will one day get the message from his fans and release the original (3) films on DVD.\",\n \"Product: Boomtown Rats frontman Bob Geldof (in his screen debut) is a fine choice to play Waters's alter ego--an alienated, \\\"comfortably numb\\\" rock star whose psychosis manifests itself as an emotional (and symbolically physical) wall between himself and the cold, cruel world.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: An all-out attack on the senses!\\n\\nReview: In 1984, when I was 16 years-old, I didn't know any of Pink Floyd's music. Then one day I rented PINK FLOYD THE WALL, having only heard that it was supposed to be a real cool movie. Ninety minutes later, I was stunned, dumbfounded, and knocked senseless. I couldn't believe what I'd just seen and I hadn't understood ANY of it. Nightmare images combined with intense animation. But, goddamn, what incredible rock music! Like a persistent 90 minute rock video! I rewound it to the beginning and watched it again. Before the tape had to be returned, I'd watched it three or four times.\\n\\nThus began my love for the band Pink Floyd; with a movie. I raced out to buy THE WALL album, which was almost immediately followed by THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOON, WISH YOU WERE HERE, ANIMALS, THE FINAL CUT and MEDDLE. My obssession was born and Pink Floyd has been my favorite band ever since.\\n\\nDirector Alan Parker will probably be remembered least for this one; not with movies like MIDNIGHT EXPRESS, FAME and EVITA under his belt. Makes no nevermind. Pink Floyd fans count for plenty in this world and PINK FLOYD THE WALL will remain a rock and roll movie classic!\",\n \"Product: Rocky Horror Picture Show [VHS]\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: A midnight cult classic that's not without flaws.\\n\\nReview: It's hard to believe that when THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW was first released in 1975, it was being shown as a regular feature with daytime shows. I can hardly imagine this a Saturday matinee for even one week's time.\\n\\nThank goodness for Greenwich Village's WAVERLY THEATER that started the midnight cult phenomenon that has been legendary for 30 years. This movie was actually partially responsible for making New York City theaters like THE WAVERLY and the 8TH STREET PLAYHOUSE famous.\\n\\nSo with a reputation like that, it would seem that ROCKY HORROR is damn near flawless. But as a pure film, without the fun of the audience participation, that's not so. The first half nearly jumps out of its socks with excitement and music. By the time you're into the latter half, it has slowed to an almost comatose level. Even the songs have lost their edge by then.\\n\\nBut for its flaws, it's timeless fun to be watched over and over again, even if it's only on your TV.\",\n \"Product: King Kong Vs. Godzilla\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Campy, silly, cheap, badly dubbed...AND I LOVE IT!\\n\\nReview: Where do I begin?\\n\\nThe special effects are very cheaply done, even for 1962, when we already had the stop and go motion technology that made the original KING KONG so famous. The ape suit for KONG is so bad, it makes the one in the 1976 version look like CGI. Just watch the scenes where Kong bats his eye lids like some raging queen. The dubbing is expectedly bad and the performances from the Japanese actors are very campy.\\n\\nSo, it's amazing that given all that, this monster movie has become an irresistable cult classic! You can't help but feel a shiver of excitement in your spine when you see these two classic movie monsters (cheap suits) clash on screen.\\n\\nFor me personnally, this movie brings back memories of \\\"Godzilla Day\\\" on Channel 9, WOR TV, when I was a kid; every Friday after Thanksgiving.\\n\\nNow; just imagine a spectacular remake of this movie with Peter Jackson's KING KONG and Roland Emmerich's GODZILLA! Ooooh, I shiver at the thought!\",\n \"Product: The Carriers (episode 13): Deep behind the iron curtain, an insidious special training center is built to resemble a typical American small town. Enemy agents are being taught the American way so they can infiltrate and undermine our population. The I.M.F. team, disguised as recruits, enters the center - only to discover the plan to destroy the U.S. is already underway! Guest starring George Takei. The Seal (episode 35): Relations with the country of Kuala Rokat are threatened when its priceless national treasure, a jade seal, disappears and surfaces with an American art dealer. It's up to Barney (Greg Morris) - and a well-trained feline - to outsmart the alarm system and recapture the seal. Guest starring Darren McGavin.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: My favorite actions films always seem to be sequels!\\n\\nReview: Yes, it's true! DIE HARD 2, TERMINATOR 2 and MISSION:IMPOSSIBLE 2 have all surpassed the originals, in my opinion. Even when I was a kid, I thought SUPERMAN II outsoared the original for action.\\n\\nWhen you sit down to watch an action film, you have to remember to judge if for what kind of an action film it is. Immediately, you have to be prepared to suspend some disbelief and keep the possibilities open. Is the plot even somewhat intelligent? Is the acting any good? Is the action in-your-face-relentless without being too stupid? My answer for MISSION:IMPOSSIBLE 2 is an unequivelled \\\"yes\\\" to all of them.\\n\\nThe plot takes on a more James Bond-ish approach, with Tom Cruise's character, Ethan Hunt, out to stop a former MI agent from releasing a deadly virus on the population of Australia. With him, is his \\\"Bond girl-ish\\\" sidekick and damsel in distress, Nia, played by Thandie Newton. Combined with the hardcore action of director John Woo, you cannot help but enjoy this film. The spectacular motorcycle sequence alone is worth your time.\\n\\nThe acting is as good as it can get for an action film. Some lines stick out favorably like, \\\"Well, Mr. Hunt, this isn't Mission Difficult. This is Mission Impossible. Difficult should be a walk in the park for you.\\\" and \\\"That punk put a hole in my Versache!\\\" oh, and my personal favorite:\\n\\n\\\"She doesn't have the experience for a job like this.\\\"\\n\\n\\\"What, to go to bed with a man and lie to him? She's a woman, she has all the experience she needs.\\\"\\n\\nSorry, ladies, I'm not sexist, but it IS funny.\\n\\nTom Crusie movies, for me, have always been a guilty pleasure. And I must say, if the rumors are true, and he is gay, his action role of Ethan Hunt in I, II and the upcoming III does a terrific job of covering it up. But then again, I suppose Rock Hudson did just as good a cover-up back in his day.\",\n \"Product: Jaws 4:Revenge [VHS]\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: \\\"There are two ways to deal with this problem. You either kill this animal, or you cut off its food supply!\\\"\\n\\nReview: The animal being stupid JAWS movies and the food supply being stupid viewers who don't know any better!\\n\\nWould you believe Michael Caine did not show up at the 1987 Oscars to receive his award for HANNAH AND HER SISTERS because he was on location filming this dud? He said in an interview once that he took the job because he got a beach house in the Bahamas as an incentive. Perhaps I can't blame him for that.\\n\\nWhen I think of really bad sequels, so many wonderful titles come to mind; GREASE 2, ROCKY IV, POLTERGEIST II, HALLOWEEN 4,5,6,7,8 etc. And while personnaly, the Oscar will always go to ROCKY IV, I cannot resist the urge to tear JAWS: THE REVENGE to little pieces!\\n\\nTry to imagine that you're watching this unbelievably-assinine movie on TV, when a large arm comes out of the tube and starts knocking you senseless on your forehead. Suddenly you hear a voice from the TV say, \\\"Hey, stupid, you're watching a movie that is trying to convince you that a great white shark would swim halfway around the world to the Bahamas to take revenge on one particular family! Hello??? Anybody home in there???\\\"\\n\\nPaints a pretty accurate picture, doesn't it?\",\n \"Product: During the Gulf War, members of cut-off platoon are captured and brainwashed by a large corporation to return to the United States following the war as their pawns. When one of the soldiers becomes the likely next Vice-President of the United States, the full scope of Manchurian's plan is revealed. Now, the last remaining soldier from the platoon must battle the brainwash and the corporation to prevent them from controlling the largest country in the free world.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: If it HAD to be made, surprisingly worthy.\\n\\nReview: I am generally against remaking old classic movies. However, there are some that have worked for me; KING KONG, THE FLY, INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS, even the current WAR OF THE WORLDS. The reason primarily is that they were genuinely REMADE with the current times.\\n\\nCANDIDATE retains the basic premise of mind conditioning and Raymond Shaw's rather twisted relationship with his mother. The film starts in 1991 Iraq and follows through to the post-terrorism paranoia of today. There are many other changes in the story as compared to the original film, which, like it or not, is what remaking a movie is all about. If not, you end up with an inferior carbon copy of an original, like Gus Van Sant's PSYCHO (what the hell was that idiot smoking when he came up with that idea???).\",\n \"Product: 2004 DVD Release of the 1997 Special Edition Version of Return of the Jedi. Wide Screen : Region 1 DVD.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: A JEDI's end with nothing new to offer\\n\\nReview: Okay, it's a STAR WARS film, so automatically, it's fun, exciting and full of spectacular effects that especially look great on DVD.\\n\\nSadly, though, this is one of the worst-acted, worst-dialogue films I have ever seen (followed very closely by ROCKY IV, but that's another issue entirely)! The plot seems like recycled pieces of STAR WARS and EMPIRE, and even John Williams's score has very little new musical themes.\\n\\nC3PO's character has been degredated to that of a feminine interior decorator and Darth Vader has become a completely passive pussy (excuse my French) whose only purpose is to say \\\"Yes, Master\\\" and \\\"As you wish.\\\"\\n\\nSo for those who wish to keep knocking THE PHANTOM MENACE for all its flaws, just re-watch JEDI and you'll see really bad film making.\",\n \"Product: Product Details\\nActors: Terry Moore, Ben Johnson, Fay Wray, Robert Armstrong, Frank McHugh \\nDirectors: Ernest B. Schoedsack, Merian C. Cooper, Peter Jackson \\nWriters: Merian C. Cooper, Edgar Wallace, James Ashmore Creelman, Leon Gordon, Ruth Rose \\nFormat: Box set, Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC \\nLanguage: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono) \\nSubtitles: English, Spanish, French \\nRegion: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)\\n\\nAspect Ratio: 1.33:1 \\nNumber of discs: 4 \\nRated: NR (Not Rated) \\nStudio: Turner Home Ent \\nDVD Release Date: November 22, 2005 \\nAverage Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (43 customer reviews) \\nASIN: B000AY3KNA\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: It's Thanksgiving Day again!!!\\n\\nReview: Even though I always found SON OF KONG incredibly boring, my hats off to those great New York memories of Thanksgiving in the '70s and early '80s with WOR channel 9. Once a year, every year, you could count on \\\"Ape Day\\\" every Thanksgiving as a kid when you were on vacation from school:\\n\\n12pm - MIGHTY JOE YOUNG\\n\\n 2pm - KING KONG\\n\\n 4pm - SON OF KONG\\n\\nOnly flaw, though; my family would usually entertain the entire family, which meant my mother was constantly asking me to help her out before everyone arrived. That meant constant interruptions and missing the good parts. Remember, this was before the VCR!\\n\\nI'll look forward to buying the KING KONG and MIGHTY JOE YOUNG DVDs.\\n\\nHave to say, finally, that \\\"Godzilla\\\" day on the Friday after never meant that much to me. Even as a kid, I was scratching my head trying to comprehend the out-of-synch English dubbing.\",\n \"Product: Match Point is \\\"a winning combination of sex, mystery, brilliant writing and first-rate acting that all adds up to one of the most erotic and exhilarating movies in years.\\\" (Maxim). Chris (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) is being torn apart by his desire for two very different women. Marrying Chloe (Emily Mortimer) will bring him a life of wealth and success, but his true passion lies with his brother-in-law's fiancee, the stunningly sensuous but unpredictable Nola (Scarlett Johansson). Pulsing with tension, Match Point rides the dangerous line between ambition and obsession to an ending as surprising as it is chilling.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Decent drama that lacks true originality.\\n\\nReview: Woody Allen's homage to the more serious side of his 1989's CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS seems apparant here, by viewers and critics. However, no one else here has cited that in many ways, MATCH POINT is a remake of A PLACE IN THE SUN with Montgomery Clift and Elizabeth Taylor.\\n\\nConsider: Pretty boy raises his personal status in life by marrying (or dating in PLACE) into a very wealthy family full of privilege; a life he won't give up at any cost. On the side, he has a pregnant mistress (Shelly Winters in PLACE) who threatens to cause trouble and destroy the world he's become accustom to. He decides to do away with the mistress and end his misery. In MATCH POINT, though, our protaganist cleverly and luckily gets away with it.\\n\\nOn the part of luck, I have to give Allen credit for the old lady's wedding ring sequence; in that by bouncing backwards off of the railing, it serves to exonerate our \\\"hero\\\". That was, indeed, a clever twist.\\n\\nBefore Allen dies (someday), I would love to see one more film with him and Diane Keaton. The two shared an incredible chemistry that has never been duplicated.\",\n \"Product: UK Blu-ray/Region All pressing. 25th anniversary version, originally released in 2008, of the iconic sci-fi masterpiece Blade Runner, director Ridley Scott has gone back into post production to create the long-awaited definitive new version. Blade Runner: The Final Cut is spectacularly restored and remastered from original elements and contains never-before-seen added/extended scenes, added lines, new and improved special effects, director and filmmaker commentary, an all-new digital audio track and more. Special Features Disc 1: Digitally restored and remastered, incorporating new footage and special effects never before seen Soundtrack remastered in Dolby Digital 5.1 Introduction by director Ridley Scott Three filmmaker commentaries, including one by Ridley Scott Disc 2: Definitive documentary incorporating outtakes, deleted scenes and all-new interviews. The ultimate look at the movie's difficult creation and controversial legacy.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Always fixing, but never broken in the first place.\\n\\nReview: I had the opportunity to see the new \\\"Final Cut\\\" of BLADE RUNNER on screen in New York City this past weekend. As always, it's one of my favorite science fiction films of all time and I welcome any opportunity to see it on the big screen, in any version.\\n\\nFirst, I have to say that I saw this when it was first released in June 1982. The original theatrical version with Harrison Ford's voice-over and the Hollywood happy ending is still and will always be my favorite version. That said, the only thing I can honestly claim is an improvement with the \\\"Final Cut\\\" is the sharper, remastered print. As far as the film itself, it is almost completely identical to the 1992 Director's Cut. There are some extra pieces of dialogue and extended scenes thrown in, which in my opinion, don't expand the film at all. The added scenes of violence are not new to the BLADE RUNNER fan. They've been available for view ever since the film first appeared on video cassette in the '80's.\\n\\nIf you already own the Director's Cut of BLADE RUNNER on DVD, then save your money. Buying it all over again for the \\\"Final Cut\\\" will not gain you much, except a larger hole in your wallet.\",\n \"Product: UK Blu-ray/Region All pressing. 25th anniversary version, originally released in 2008, of the iconic sci-fi masterpiece Blade Runner, director Ridley Scott has gone back into post production to create the long-awaited definitive new version. Blade Runner: The Final Cut is spectacularly restored and remastered from original elements and contains never-before-seen added/extended scenes, added lines, new and improved special effects, director and filmmaker commentary, an all-new digital audio track and more. Special Features Disc 1: Digitally restored and remastered, incorporating new footage and special effects never before seen Soundtrack remastered in Dolby Digital 5.1 Introduction by director Ridley Scott Three filmmaker commentaries, including one by Ridley Scott Disc 2: Definitive documentary incorporating outtakes, deleted scenes and all-new interviews. The ultimate look at the movie's difficult creation and controversial legacy.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Always fixing, but never broken in the first place.\\n\\nReview: I had the opportunity to see the new \\\"Final Cut\\\" of BLADE RUNNER on screen in New York City this past weekend. As always, it's one of my favorite science fiction films of all time and I welcome any opportunity to see it on the big screen, in any version.\\n\\nFirst, I have to say that I saw this when it was first released in June 1982. The original theatrical version with Harrison Ford's voice-over and the Hollywood happy ending is still and will always be my favorite version. That said, the only thing I can honestly claim is an improvement with the \\\"Final Cut\\\" is the sharper, remastered print. As far as the film itself, it is almost completely identical to the 1992 Director's Cut. There are some extra pieces of dialogue and extended scenes thrown in, which in my opinion, don't expand the film at all. The added scenes of violence are not new to the BLADE RUNNER fan. They've been available for view ever since the film first appeared on video cassette in the '80's.\\n\\nIf you already own the Director's Cut of BLADE RUNNER on DVD, then save your money. Buying it all over again for the \\\"Final Cut\\\" will not gain you much, except a larger hole in your wallet.\",\n \"Product: U2 Live at Red Rocks: Under a Blood Red Sky [VHS]\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: U2 at their prime of rock music!\\n\\nReview: This is still a great concert to watch after 24 years! However, I think the filmakers should have chosen a better day, weather-wise, to videotape this show, because the camera shows many picture imperfections due to the weather at the time. Throughout the video, there are thick streaking black lines across the picture that I can only describe as images that look like branches (no joke!). It seems evident from one particular camera on stage with the band, almost as if there's something on the lens.\\n\\nWhen and if they release this show on DVD, it needs to be cleaned up considerably. But for now, this being all that's available, it's still a classic U2 concert, before the band sold out to their '90's \\\"pop\\\" image!\",\n \"Product: Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman and Howe created the legendary sound of the rock group Yes. Recorded live at Shoreline on September 9, 1989, this incredible two and a half hour concert features some of the band's greatest hits, including \\\"Owner Of A Lonely Heart,\\\" \\\"Madrigal,\\\" \\\"Roundabout,\\\" \\\"Close To The Edge\\\" and many more.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Call this band what you want, it's still classic YES!\\n\\nReview: Without having had the benefit of seeing Yes-Symphonic Live 2001, this 1989 concert of ABWH is the best concert DVD I've ever seen. Far better than 9012Live, Keys to Ascention, Live from the House of Blues and the 35th Anniversary concert.\\n\\nAt this time, the band was reorganizing after nearly a decade of Trevor Rabin-based music. Their youth and their musical energy is still in top form, as is Jon Anderson's voice.\\n\\nDespite what other viewers might think, the picture and sound are excellent! The only flaw I find is that I know that for whatever reasons, the makers of this DVD chose to edit portions of the show where Jon addresses the audience in between songs. I know that it's missing because I remember seeing this identical show back in 1989 on Pay-per-View. Beyond that, a classic YES show!\\n\\nBy the way, the word PLUS in the title refers to songs from the Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman, Howe album that are performed in addition to classic YES songs - An evening of Yes music PLUS. Get it?\",\n \"Product: Journey Self Titled audio cd\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: The other side of Journey...and it came FIRST!\\n\\nReview: Wow! Was I blown away by this CD!\\n\\nI've been a Journey fan for over twenty years now. I knew there were three pre-Steve Perry albums from the '70's, but I'd never heard any material. Let's face it; they don't play this stuff on FM radio and they never will! I actually first heard some of it when Journey toured last summer, spanning their entire 30-year career from the beginning.\\n\\nThis debut CD from 1975 is full of raw, hard-core rock, with that classic 70's edge. Some fans have argued that it almost takes on a heavy metal quality, and they're not entirely wrong. The music is NOT for the Steve Perry/Journey fan, but rather for the fans of the first three Santana albums featuring Gregg Rollie on vocals.\\n\\nJourney fans...go back to the very beginning and rediscover the legendary band's roots!\",\n \"Product: Comes Alive \\nAudio Cassette\\nCopyright 1976\\nby A & M Records. Dolby System\\n\\nSongs:\\n \\nSomething's Happening\\nDoobie Wah\\nShow Me The Way\\nIt's A Plain Shame\\nPenny for Your Thoughts\\n(I'll Give You) Money\\nShine On\\nJumping Jack Flash\\nAll I Want To Be (Is By Your Side)\\nWind of Change\\nBaby I Love Your Way\\nI Wanna Go To The Sun\\nLines On My Face\\nDo You Feel Like We Do\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: A great, classic live album, but why the BEST?\\n\\nReview: Peter Frampton's FRAMPTON COMES ALIVE has been considered by rock fans, the great live album of all time. What exactly makes that so? What differentiates it from other live classics like say, Kiss ALIVE, Led-Zeppelin THE SONG REMAINS THE SAME, Grateful Dead DEAD AHEAD, Rush EXIT STAGE LEFT or Pink Floyd DELICATE SOUND OF THUNDER. Is it perhaps that strange voice instrument he's using during \\\"Do You Feel Like We Do\\\".\\n\\nI always figured a live album's popularity would depend more on one's personal music taste and perhaps if they had ever seen the band live before.\\n\\nDon't get me wrong. I absolutely love FRAMPTON COMES ALIVE! I have it on CD, vinyl and cassette (perhaps someday on 8-track, too). But I was only 9 years-old in 1976 so I can't personally relate to the man or the tour at the time.\\n\\nI don't think I have any answers here. I'm just putting the questions out there.\\n\\nAnd by the way, to reviewer \\\"Jeff J\\\" who can be heard on FCA, I was at the Pink Floyd show at the Nassau Collisium in 1988 when they recorded DELICATE SOUND OF THUNDER.\",\n \"Product: Music Cd\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: One of the last great hard rock albums of the 1980's.\\n\\nReview: Just like Danno said, it's what FM rock radio used to sound like.\\n\\nIt was the summer of 1981 and rock music was about to come to an end. Disco was more or less dead and MTV was not yet on the air. By 1983, music would be dominated by the horrible likes of Michael Jackson and Culture Club!\\n\\nWhen the movie HEAVY METAL was released in living animation (this was the rage before the Japanese introduced us to Anime in 1988), it came with a kick-ass soundtrack with bands like Black Sabbath, Blue Oyster Cult, Cheap Trick and Sammy Hagar. Back in 1981, acts like this could still fill an entire stadium on their own. And while all the music is not exactly \\\"heavy metal\\\", their are some other great tunes by Donald Fagen, Don Felder, Stevie Nicks and Journey (yes, \\\"Open Arms\\\" was a brand new song on this soundtrack before the \\\"Escape\\\" album was released at the end of the year.\\n\\nThe only flaw, in my opinion, is that the songs are not in the order in which they come in the movie, the way most soundtracks run. It's fun to follow the duration of a film in your head as you listen to the music.\",\n \"Product: Cd > Popular Music > Rock & Pop\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Still the best single disc compilation of YES's career!\\n\\nReview: By now, there have been numerous YES greatest hits packages, including two large box sets; yet this is the compilation I keep coming back to because it captures YES at the heart of their progressive stardom from 1971 through 1977.\\n\\nYou get full-length versions here, including \\\"Long Distance Runaround\\\" immediately followed by \\\"The Fish\\\". You also get \\\"And You And I\\\", which has managed not to be featured on many other YES compilations. Pity, because it's one of their most enchanting songs; although I believe on the YESYEARS box set, there is a live version recorded during the Trevor Rabin years.\\n\\nThe only down side is that \\\"Roundabout\\\" and \\\"I've Seen All Good People\\\" are live versions taken from their 1979 tour. While they're still enjoyable tunes, the original full-length version would have made this CD perfect.\",\n \"Product: Genesis ~ Turn It On Again: The Hits\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: More or less disappointing, and THAT'S ALL.\\n\\nReview: First of all, the moment the producers screw me with an edited version of a hit song simply for the sake of space, THAT'S ALL, you've lost me! This is what's done with \\\"ABACAB\\\" and \\\"MAMA\\\"; two classic Genesis songs destroyed! The second flaw is including the song \\\"Congo\\\", which was not even a hit. I don't even remember who sang it in Phil Collins' place.\\n\\nOn the plus side, we get to hear a new version of \\\"The Carpet Crawlers\\\" with Peter Gabriel reunited with his old band members. Sadly, this never resulted in a reunion tour.\\n\\nThis is the only Genesis greatest hits package to date. As an alternate, consider any of the live recordings, which will give you a great mix of their hits at the time they were recorded.\",\n \"Product: UK pressing. On An Island is the third David Gilmour solo album and his first studio recording since Pink Floyd's 1994 multi-platinum 'The Division Bell'. from the first moments of the sound collage that begins 'On An Island', you know it's a special experience that not only bears comparison with the best of Pink Floyd, but also confirms their lead guitarist and singer as an outstanding solo artist. Here he reveals a personal vision and a breadth of styles - folk, jazz, orchestral and rock - brought together as a unified piece by his lyrical guitar playing and instantly recognizable voice. On An Island is a collection of songs and instrumentals that had it's genus in the critically acclaimed 2002 London Festival Hall concerts. Gilmour has stepped out of his super-group to discover he's still at his peak - and he's rightly pleased. 'It's my best and most personal work,' he says. 'Making it with my musician friends has been a positive experience on so many levels.' EMI. 2006.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Oh, David, forgive me, but it's just not happening!\\n\\nReview: I give ON AN ISLAND two stars for two reasons; one, the title track is actually very good. Two, it's still David \\\"f*ckin\\\" Gilmour!\\n\\nPink Floyd has been my favorite band since I was a teenager and that's never going to change. Respectively, David Gilmour has been my favorite guitarist and that's never going to change. But I have to be brutal here. David's an old man now, and his music and guitar power have gotten old with him. And except for the title track, the album is dull, dull, DULL!\\n\\nAnd I'm sorry, but unlike many other reviewers, I am not willing to accept his age as an excuse for the music. I believe McCartney, Dylan, Clapton and Richards are all older than Gilmour and they've managed to hold onto their energy. In fact, if you had been lucky enough to catch CREAM in concert in NYC, you would have been shocked to see the high-powered performance three men in their mid-to-late sixties were putting on stage.\\n\\nThankfully, I sampled the cd at a listening station before paying for it. Save your money toward a David Gilmour concert ticket. At least you'll presumably hear the old material and some classic Pink Floyd!\",\n \"Product: Canadian prog rock giants Rush, captured during their 1984 world tour, performing their best known hits (Closer To The Heart, Tom Sawyer). The trio of virtuosi - the ultimate band's-band was at the height of its synthesizer period - touring the 'Grace Under Pressure' album - an album awash in Geddy Lee's synth noodlings but ushering in drummer Neal Pert's use of synthesized drums and thus initiating a new, more majestic and anthemic-sounding era for the band.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: RUSH at their 80's peak!\\n\\nReview: When I was in college, this was the first (and favorite) concert video I owned. Years later, I (very stupidly) sold it. Recently, I spend nearly a year waiting for a used VHS copy to become available on [...] for a reasonable price, and finally got it. Then, wouldn't you know it, the concert finally becomes available on DVD individually, without having to buy EXIT...STAGE LEFT and A SHOW OF HANDS with it.\\n\\nThis is my favorite RUSH video concert for several reasons. For one thing, I enjoy concerts that are videotaped rather than filmed. It also captures Rush (in my opinion) at their golden moments in the 1980's, when their two previous albums, Moving Pictures and Signals had put them at the top of their fame. From 1981 through 1986, Rush was known for always opening their shows with \\\"Spirit of Radio\\\" and this one doesn't disappoint. It also includes the \\\"Fear\\\" trilogy of \\\"The Enemy Within\\\", \\\"The Weapon\\\" and \\\"Witchunt\\\" and the popular instrumental, \\\"YYZ\\\".\\n\\nI deduct one star because it's disappointing that after more than two decades, the DVD show is still only 69 minutes long, without more of the complete show offered to the fans.\",\n \"Product: Songs Include : Discipline / Thela Hun Ginjeet / Matte Kudasai / Three Of A Perfect Pair / Frame By Frame / Sleepless / Heartbeat / Elephan Talk / 21st Century Schizoid Man / I Talk To The Wind / Epitaph / The Court Of The Crimson King\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Legendary progressive rock as only King Crimson can do it!\\n\\nReview: It's always amazes me how a legendary band like King Crimson gets virtually no airplay on FM rock radio. There may have been ONE time I actually heard \\\"21st Century Schitzoid Man\\\" played after hours. Bands like this one are, in my opinion, one of the reasons classic rock station never seem to get out of the playlist rut there in and why the archives are never dove into.\\n\\nTHE COMPACT KING CRIMSON serves not so much as a greatest hits package, but rather an overview of four (4) of their albums; 1980's frontman Adrian Belew's period is covered through the albums DISCIPLINE, BEAT and THREE OF A PERFECT PAIR, with all the best-known tracks. Finally, most of the band's first album, \\\"In The Court Of The Krimson King\\\" is featured as the CD's close-out. The John Wetton (later of ASIA) period is not covered here.\\n\\nI have to deduct a star for one reason; if you were to find this compilation on cassette, it would also include the tracks \\\"Red\\\" and \\\"Cat Food\\\". For some reason, they are omitted from the CD.\"\n]","isConversational":false},"profile_size":{"kind":"number","value":24,"string":"24"},"task":{"kind":"string","value":"longlamp_3"},"split_kind":{"kind":"string","value":"user_based"},"id":{"kind":"number","value":947,"string":"947"}}},{"rowIdx":948,"cells":{"question_id":{"kind":"string","value":"A2ZJ2H6DRSPVZ8"},"question":{"kind":"string","value":"Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of \"3.0\" for a product with description \"BRAND NEW, Exactly same ISBN as listed, Please double check ISBN carefully before ordering.\". The summary of the review text is \"Meh - there are better books out there\"."},"answer":{"kind":"string","value":"I'm having a hard time putting into words how I feel about this book. At times it was interesting, but at least 50% of the time that I was reading I felt I was continuing on just to get through it (meaning it was not very interesting about half of the time).\n\nI think this resulted in part from the fact that the author did not anthropomorphize the animals (meaning she did not project onto them human characteristics, like the power of speech). At first I greatly admired Sheila Burnford for taking this more realistic approach -- describing only the animals' actions, which is all we humans can genuinely observe of animals -- but the lack of dialogue between the animals, and our inability to ever know their thoughts or internal reactions contributes, I think, to why so much of the story is boring and becomes 'a slog' to read.\n\nFor example, in the scene where the animals are the \"guests\" at a dinner party hosted by an isolated old man (who is apparently crazy in the head!) the story could have benefited greatly (and been a bit less confusing) if it had been told from the animals' perspective. Because Burnford was constrained by her realistic approach to say nothing of the dogs' thoughts other than: \"Spellbound, his visitors remained rooted to the floor. Even the old dog, for once, was nonplussed . . . \" the story loses the opportunity to bring home to the reader just how crazy this man's behavior is. Much descriptive commentary which could have made the story fabulously interesting is omitted because the author decided to \"stick to the facts and only the facts.\"\n\nHowever, the more I think about it, since the narration is \"third party omniscient\" a better writer could have kept the animals realistic yet STILL included an added layer of commentary which would have made the \"factual account\" far more interesting, so maybe the problem is not that Burnford kept the animals realistic but that her writing style is too stripped down -- too \"facts and only the facts\" oriented.\n\nThe bottom line: there are so many better books out there that I doubt I would ever recommend this book to a child to read on his or her own. That said, a young child who is crazy about dogs and cats might still enjoy the book, especially if it is read aloud by someone who can add in the commentary on events which is lacking."},"correct_answer":{"kind":"string","value":"I'm having a hard time putting into words how I feel about this book. At times it was interesting, but at least 50% of the time that I was reading I felt I was continuing on just to get through it (meaning it was not very interesting about half of the time).\n\nI think this resulted in part from the fact that the author did not anthropomorphize the animals (meaning she did not project onto them human characteristics, like the power of speech). At first I greatly admired Sheila Burnford for taking this more realistic approach -- describing only the animals' actions, which is all we humans can genuinely observe of animals -- but the lack of dialogue between the animals, and our inability to ever know their thoughts or internal reactions contributes, I think, to why so much of the story is boring and becomes 'a slog' to read.\n\nFor example, in the scene where the animals are the \"guests\" at a dinner party hosted by an isolated old man (who is apparently crazy in the head!) the story could have benefited greatly (and been a bit less confusing) if it had been told from the animals' perspective. Because Burnford was constrained by her realistic approach to say nothing of the dogs' thoughts other than: \"Spellbound, his visitors remained rooted to the floor. Even the old dog, for once, was nonplussed . . . \" the story loses the opportunity to bring home to the reader just how crazy this man's behavior is. Much descriptive commentary which could have made the story fabulously interesting is omitted because the author decided to \"stick to the facts and only the facts.\"\n\nHowever, the more I think about it, since the narration is \"third party omniscient\" a better writer could have kept the animals realistic yet STILL included an added layer of commentary which would have made the \"factual account\" far more interesting, so maybe the problem is not that Burnford kept the animals realistic but that her writing style is too stripped down -- too \"facts and only the facts\" oriented.\n\nThe bottom line: there are so many better books out there that I doubt I would ever recommend this book to a child to read on his or her own. That said, a young child who is crazy about dogs and cats might still enjoy the book, especially if it is read aloud by someone who can add in the commentary on events which is lacking."},"documents":{"kind":"list like","value":["Product: If you love a good kitchen combo, check out the Chef'n Bistro Combo Grinder. This pepper/salt grinder is the perfect choice for cooks looking for a smart, space-saving version of the classic kitchen combo. The easy to use design allows the user to simply squeeze the handle for pepper, and shake for salt. A pour spout easily dispenses pinches and dashes of salt for recipes that call for measurements larger than a few shakes. Simply twist off the top to refill the salt, and twist off the lower half to refill the pepper. For your convenience, this ready-to-use salt and pepper shaker comes pre-filled with granulated salt and fresh peppercorns. Choose smart, easy-to-use kitchen utensils that are built on tasteful design, new technologies, and the trusted reputation of Chef'n.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Salt Holes are Way Too Big\n\nReview: I purchased a grinder similar to this one 7 years ago at Target for $8 and used the HECK out of it DAILY for those 7 years. It finally broke, and this Chef'n Bistro Combo Grinder was the closest thing I could find as a replacement. It's okay, but is inferior to the Target one I loved so much -- at twice the cost, of course! (Isn't that the way of the world these days?)\n\nAnyway. The pepper seems to grind a little too slowly and finely for my taste (despite adjusting to make the grind more coarse) but what I REALLY dislike is that the salt holes are about three times larger than normal, meaning that salt gets POURED onto your food, not sprinkled. Oy vey!","Product: Oscar(R) winners Dustin Hoffman (Best Actor, 1980, Kramer vs. Kramer), Susan Sarandon (Best Actress, 1996, Dead Man Walking), and Holly Hunter (Best Actress, 1994, The Piano) star with Jake Gyllenhaal (The Good Girl) in Moonlight Mile -- an uplifting story of endearing honesty and humor. When Joe Nast (Gyllenhaal) experiences an unexpected loss, he wants to be the man he believes everyone wants him to be -- the dutifully bereaved husband-to-be and the perfect would-be son-in-law to Ben (Hoffman) and Jojo (Sarandon). But then another woman unexpectedly enters his life, and he's torn between fulfilling his new roles and following his heart.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Sad film which does not realize its potential\n\nReview: As many other reviewers have noted, this film had a lot of potential: big name actors, interesting story premise, the potential to educate the larger public about the realities of grief. But ultimately it fails to deliver. The film is very sad, but it's hard to become emotionally involved with any of the characters because even for people marred by grief, they act too weirdly to connect with.\n\nFirst, some reviewers have said that these people are cold, unemotional and do not really seem to care that their close loved one has just died. I didn't see that; the stereotype is that people in grief look obviously sad and do things which we all expect sad people to do, but that is WRONG, especially if the grief is new and shocking (like a daughter getting gunned down at the friendly neighborhood lunch counter across the street from your office where your daughter hung out with you when she was a child).\n\nAn 8th grade girl at the junior high where I once served as a substitute teacher was raped and murdered in her own bed by a neighbor who came in through a window. At the memorial service her mother looked very calm and serene -- she never cried, smiled at people as she shook their hands, and did not look grief stricken at all. But when I hugged her, she hung on to me like a drowning person grasping a lifeboat and I could tell that she was consumed with grief. Needless to say, I did not appreciate hearing allthe junior high kids at school the next week 'dissing' their classmate's mother by talking about how 'obvious' it had been that the mother had not cared her daughter was dead. To be sure, my classes and I had several intense heart-to-heart talks about the paralyzing realities of deep, inexpressible grief and how wrong it is to make assumptions about someone else's emotional state.\n\nBut! That said, it was hard for me to connect with many of the personality characteristics of these characters. If Jake Gyllenhaal's character and his fiancee were calling off the wedding, why did they not tell her parents together -- especially since the wedding invitations were already being mailed out? Why did Dustin Hoffman's character not even CONSIDER that maybe his not-to-be son-in-law's occupational plans might change in light of his daughter's murder and, instead, charge \"full steam ahead\" with the pre-murder plans without even a discussion? (That seemed very unrealistic to me.)\n\nThe murdered fiance (Diane) does not seem like someone I would like much: she apparently manipulated Jake Gyllenhaal's character into agreeing to go into business with her father, and Susan Sarandon's character said she only became a writer in order to please her daughter (which is way weird, to say the least). And don't even go there with Jake Gyllenhaal finding his 'soul mate' within only a few weeks of Diane's murder. Yes it is believable he would REBOUND into bed with another woman (out of grief, confusion, feelings of loneliness and abandonment) but it is completely unbelievable that the relationship would be real or permanent. And what is up with that woman working for years for free for a man who has been missing (or was he a soldier? It was really hard to make out what was going on at times due to vague scenes and vague dialogue) I'm sorry, I just didn't get it.\n\nAnd why in the world were they talking to Holly Hunter, a private attorney, about testifying in a murder trial which is presided over by the District Attorney's office? That made NO SENSE, NO SENSE, NONSENSE.\n\nAnd Susan Sarandon stays with Dustin Hoffman because his body up against her butt at night in bed is \"home\" for her? Uhhh . . . that's just weird. Sure, fine -- fight like cats and dogs all day long and have little in common, but still you guys are 'soul mates.'","Product: Janet Jackson, Thandie Newton, and Whoopi Goldberg head up an all-star cast in a vibrant world where friends and strangers dream, fear, cry, love, and laugh out loud in an attempt to find their true selves. Adapted by writer/director Tyler Perry from Ntozake Shange's acclaimed choreopoem, this gripping film paints an unforgettable portrait of what it means to be a woman of color in the modern world.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Absolutely recommended if you are a fan of Ntozake Shange's original poem\n\nReview: Before I saw the film, I read the underlying work Tyler Perry dramatized in his screenplay: Ntozake Shange's choreopoem \"For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow is Enuf.\" As an adaptation of that work, I would rate this movie a 5 -- Tyler Perry, and the fabulous actresses he cast, did a fantastic job bringing Ntozake Shange's work to the screen.\n\nThat said, I completely understand the 2 and 3 star reviews who object that this movie is too dark -- that was my thought about Ntozake Shange's choreopoem when I first read it -- and in deference to their legitimate criticisms, I give the film 4 stars instead of 5. I applaud realism -- and you cannot heal problems you refuse to look at honestly and realistically -- but, still: it is depressing to read about/experience/watch repeated dark episodes and never be given hints about how one could go about healing and preventing the darkness for the future.\n\nIn defense of Ntozake Shange's perspective, however, she wrote \"For Colored Girls\" in the 1970's to shine a light on issues she felt were not being addressed. She also says she wrote it with a female audience in mind. As Allan Wallach wrote in Newsday, \"In poetry and prose, Shange describes what it means to be a black woman in a world of mean streets, deceitful men, and aching loss.\" As Shange wrote in 2010, \"'For Colored Girls' was and is for colored girls.\"\n\nMany black men objected that Shange's poem cast them in too dire a light. Here is what Shange says in an introduction written in 2010: \"The reactions from black men to 'For Colored Girls' was in a way very much like the white reaction to black power. The body traditionally used to power and authority interpreting, through their own fear, my work celebrating the self-determination and centrality of women as a hostile act. For men to walk out feeling that the work was about them spoke to their own patriarchal delusions more than to the actuality of the work itself.\"\n\nBut sensitive men have realized that Shange was simply bringing to light painful realities of life which need our collective attention. She says that when she received the Gwendolyn Brooks Poetry Prize for Lifetime Achievement, the poet Haki Madhubuti said to her of \"For Colored Girls\": \"We didn't know.\" He meant, obviously, that Shange's poem was a wake up call about the plight of women of color.\n\nMs. Shange met with all of the actresses in this film while the last scenes were being shot. Most of them had read her poem when they were growing up. She reflects, \"That 'For Colored Girls' continues to resonate so profoundly almost forty years after I first set pen to paper is bittersweet for me. Though we have achieved many a milestone, the stories and struggles of our lives as women, and in particular, women of color, are still not granted the full address due.\"\n\nSo, my final thought with respect to the darkness of the stories in \"For Colored Girls\": the real tragedy is that those dark stories continue to be re-enacted in the reality of everyday life. If you care about reality, you should watch, and care about, this fine adaptation of Ntozake Shange's poem.","Product: Golden Globe nominee Ewan McGregor (Star Wars I, II, III), Academy Award nominee Christopher Plummer (Inside Man), and Mlanie Laurent (Inglourious Basterds) star in Beginners, an uplifting comedy about how funny and transformative life can be. When graphic designer Oliver (McGregor) meets free-spirited Anna (Laurent) shortly after his father (Plummer) has passed away, Oliver realizes just how much of a beginner he is when it comes to long-lasting romantic love. Memories of his father, who, following the death of his wife of 45 years, came out of the closet at age 75 to live a full, energized, and wonderfully tumultuous gay life, encourage Oliver to open himself up to the potential of a true relationship. Inspired by writer/director Mike Mills own father, its an original love story that critics cheer is smart, poignant and often hilarious! (Karen Durbin, Elle)\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Started out with promise but devolved into a snoozefest\n\nReview: This movie began as mildly entertaining but omg there were so many times that I thought \"enough already!\" with the flashback scenes of the man's life with his dying father! Yes we get it that he went through many confusing and depressing things before his father died such that when he finally met a woman who sparked his interest he was CONFUSED AND DEPRESSED. Got it, got it, had it several scenes ago, please move on.\n\nThe film was SO slow and absorbed with itself -- and there were too many preachy interludes about how his parents were reviled because they were Jewish when Hitler came into power and then his father was reviled because he was gay, etc. etc. These are not new themes in American cinema and the Jewish theme in particular didn't seem to have anything whatsoever to do with the story -- except to impress you that despite the film's banality you the viewer must accept that it is \"an important, weighty film.\"","Product: Quick Shipping !!! New And Sealed !!! This Disc WILL NOT play on standard US DVD player. A multi-region PAL/NTSC DVD player is request to view it in USA/Canada. Please Review Description.\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: Pointless, Meandering, Pandering Idiocy\n\nReview: I wish I had turned this movie off after the first 15-20 minutes, but kept watching in the hopes it would get better. Nope, it just got stupider and more pointless the more it progressed. Helena Bonham Carter's role was a waste of her talent -- her character's presence in the story had no relevance to anything. We see the ghost of Collins' first love once and then never again and we never see the ghost of the little boy's mother -- ???? Collins supposedly hates being a vampire and a killer, but then turns his love interest into a vampire so they can live together forever -- ??? He can't stand the witch who turned him into a vampire, but then says he can't resist her sexually just so the film can include a sex romp (which has no relation to the story line) between two people with super powers -- ???\n\nThis movie was a horrid mish-mash of scenes which bore almost no relationship to one another, pandered to the adolescent faddish infatuation with vampires, and was neither funny nor scary, just stupid.","Product: Back to Eden - A Documentary About Organic Gardening! After years of back-breaking toil in ground ravaged by the effects of man-made growing systems, Paul Gautschi has discovered a taste of what God intended for mankind in the garden of Eden. Some of the vital issues facing agriculture today include soil preparation, fertilization, irrigation, weed control, pest control, crop rotation, and PH issues. None of these issues exist in the unaltered state of nature or in Pauls gardens and orchards. \n\nBack to Eden invites you to take a walk with Paul as he teaches you sustainable organic growing methods that are capable of being implemented in diverse climates around the world.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Paul Gautschi has a beautiful garden, but he is psychologically damaged and deceived, nevertheless\n\nReview: Paul Gautschi has a beautiful garden (though I am unsure whether one should prune his apple trees the way he does) and much of what he says is the truth. I am convinced, nevertheless, that he is a deceived individual who does not have a genuine relationship with God and, therefore, should not be listened to with respect to theological matters. \"Even the devil can quote Scripture,\" not to mention that the information he shares about organic gardening, mulching, etc., is not new revelation, but the recycling/repackaging of tips and techniques already discovered and respected by the secular world at large.\n\nWithin the first thirty minutes I was pretty sure Gautschi was deceived because he speaks, sounds (and even looks!) EXACTLY like a man in our community named Greg who thinks he lives in constant communication with God but is, instead, grossly deceived (and psychologically damaged). I have spent many hours over the past ten years engaged in theological discussions with Greg, and those discussions never fail to give me a headache (literally.) Much of what he says at first sounds truthful and like a legitimate interpretation of scripture, but it falls apart upon close examination. One example: God has told him that He (God) is the only ruler of men such that He must be King of society (okay) but that translates into this man believing that God loves monarchy and hates democracy. My response: If God is the king within each person there still needs to be a mechanism for leadership within a society composed of God-ruled individuals -- so wouldn't that mean an egalitarian system like democracy?\n\n\"No, no, no,\" Greg responds, \"the only political system of which God approves is monarchy.\" This is insane, of course, because what is the end result as applied in the real world ? That A MAN (a mortal, fallible, human being) becomes the ruler of other men, the very proposition that has fueled pagan civilizations for millenia (Egypt, Mesopotamia, medieval England) and which Greg himself acknowledges is not what God desires! But even when you point this out Greg cannot back down, change his tune OR see the flaw in his \"revelation\": further argument does nothing but flow around in infinite circles.\n\nGetting back to Paul Gautschi: I felt very sorry for him as he gave us a glimpse into his childhood. Although he may well be exaggerating, he states that as early as age five he remembers his father waking him up on a Saturday morning to go haul horse manure for the family garden, and that he and his siblings \"wore out shovels\" spading that manure into the ground. Working a five year old that hard is child abuse, amen; one of the foolproof methods for perverting the human race is childhood abuse/emotional deprivation. (Another foolproof method is drug use).\n\n[Oops: I started this review during a short window of opportunity but do not have enough time to finish it. I will have to save it for now and complete it later. My bad!]\n\n[12/21/15] Continuing: I have studied the issue of spiritual deception for 20 years and have noticed that there are recurrent patterns in the mode, method and context which distinguish spiritual deception from divine revelation. (This is why the similarity between Paul Gautschi and the man Greg I mentioned is not unimportant but, instead, extremely relevant.) One of the most prevalent is the idea that the INDIVIDUAL controls the relationship between himself and God.\n\nI was raised understanding that although God was there to listen to my prayers and to form my character into that of Christ's (if my desire was sincere), He was Lord and Master of the Universe and certainly had no obligation to RESPOND to anyone! As a young person I experienced His response only as the insight that since I was becoming more mature and Christlike in character, my prayers were being answered (which implied divine activity). But I would have considered it blasphemous for anyone to expect a direct response from God (I was unaware until much later in life that there were people who claimed to hear directly from God) so I certainly never expected God to communicate to me directly. I mean, who am I in the great scheme of things, when God has the entire Universe to oversee?\n\nI did eventually experience direct revelation from God, surprisingly -- beginning in my mid-30's after a lifetime of walking humbly in a path of His creation -- but God is always the one who initiates communication and it is always about what HE wants to communicate, not what I might think to ask (if I thought it appropriate to ask, which I do not). And He does not communicate orally, as a voice: it is my personal belief that God does not communicate in the form of a voice precisely to distinguish His revelation from the signs of mental illness (since \"hearing voices\" is a primary indicator of aberrant psychology: schizophrenia, etc.). I might be wrong, but it is something to consider.\n\nPaul Gautschi, on the other hand, believes he has the right to control his relationship with \"god.\" \"God\" is always there to answer Gautschi's questions on Gautschi's timetable (i.e., whenever Gautschi wants an answer): \"I said to God, 'How am I going to grow food without water?' And it was so incredible, I hear inside, He says, 'Well, you're looking at the wrong thing. Turn around and look at your trees.' And I pushed enough out when I built the house that I knew they had shallow roots, and I said, 'You know, God, you really have my attention. If you can show me how you do those without irrigation, I can do an orchard.' And \"god\" proceeds to do Gautschi's bidding, like a genie in a bottle.\n\nConversely, Gautschi feels free to tell \"god\" when \"god\" needs to stay out of his life -- and \"god\" obediently complies: \"As I was doing this orchard, experiencing these incredible results, because I was a creature of habit and our nature is to do things as we were taught, and not to enquire from God, I says, 'Okay, God, thanks for the help, but I can handle this on my own.' And so for the first 17 years I was out here diligently roto-tilling, hauling in organic material -- and I'm doing this stuff, on a treadmill, just running in place going nowhere . . . . Then one day I got out into my orchard -- I don't know what motivated me -- I got down on my knees and started moving these wood chips. I'm down to my elbows in this beautiful black compost and I got up and started screaming, I was so angry. I said, 'There's something wrong with this picture: I have been KILLING myself to get this in my garden and I don't have it.' And I hear inside, 'Well, it works in your garden the same way, but you didn't ask.' I was so angry. I threw that tiller away, and I started covering my garden with wood chips.\"\n\nThe real God is not at our beck and call and He doesn't play cruel 'hide and seek' games like Paul Gautschi's \"god.\" We are not in control of our relationship with Him, and He does not pop up and answer questions we pose -- on our agenda, our timetable. In this regard Gautschi reveals that his idea of god is exactly like that of Neal Donald Walsch, the deceived New Age guru who published Conversations with God in the mid 1990's (and apparently came out with a new book in 2014 which I have not read). \"God\" spoke to Walsch -- a non-believer who had never given God the time of day -- directly for the first time after Walsch indulged in an angry tirade against Him, accusing Him as being the reason for all of Walsch's problems. It is completely repugnant to imagine that God would lower himself to respond to anyone in that situation, as if God had anything to prove to Neal Donald Walsch!\n\nAnd it is repugnant to me that Gautschi believes the One True God, the Creator of the Universe, would stoop to having the type of conversation set forth above (which I quote verbatim from Back to Eden). Gautschi's lack of awe and pedestrian familiarity with his \"god\" is off-putting, to say the least.","Product: Chhotu is an intelligent boy who belongs to a poor family in Rajasthan. Born into poverty, he is forced to find work at a roadside food stall under the somewhat kind owner, Bhati. Chhotu is quick to learn and impresses Bhati with his abilities. Near the food stall is a heritage hotel in the palace of an erstwhile royal family. Chhotu strikes up a friendship with the lonely Prince of the royal family, but the Prince is forbidden by his father from mixing with commoners.One day Chhotu watches President Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam on television and it inspires him. Chhotu changes his name to Kalam and decides he wants to meet the president. He studies in his spare time and writes a speech for the Prince for a contest. The speech wins first prize at the contest, but soon after palace guards search Kalam's room and find the Prince's clothes. Kalam is labeled a thief and the rest of the story deals with how his actions lead to his destiny.Even though Kalam is accused of being a thief, he does not reveal the source of his clothes in order to protect the Prince from his father. Kalam hitches a ride to New Delhi where he tries to meet the President. Meanwhile, the Prince tells his father that it was he who gave the clothes to Kalam and that Kalam wrote the speech which earned first prize. The nominal King realizes his mistake and sends the prince to find Kalam in New Delhi. Kalam is found near the India Gate and is brought back home. The King tells him that he can study in the same school as the Prince and employs Kalam's mother as well.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Everyone should watch this beautiful movie full of hope and positive values\n\nReview: It is true that western civilization has exported its share of insidious values to countries considered \"lesser developed,\" but this movie celebrates an important POSITIVE western value: that an individual life is not predetermined by \"destiny\" and that, instead, each of us creates our lives by our actions, choices and decisions. To believe that one is powerless over the circumstances of his own life is a defeatist attitude plaguing individuals in EVERY culture (to be sure) but it continues to be culturally enforced in countries like India where the caste system was once entrenched.\n\nChhotu (who eventually changes his name to Kalam) is a 9 or 10 year old Indian boy \"with a mind as quick as a train\" born to a single mother in a small, famine-plagued village. To repay debt, Chhotu's mother hires him out to work in an outdoor cafe: she chides him that school is \"not in the destiny\" of a poor family like theirs, but Chhotu/Kalam believes in himself and in his dream of growing up to be an educated man of importance. He never lies and never gives up on himself -- and, in the end, accomplishes his goals despite seemingly insurmountable obstacles.\n\nI don't want to say more because this movie deserves to be discovered on its own, without advance spoilers.","Product: From La Femme Nikita and The Professional to The Fifth Element, writer/director Luc Besson has created some of the toughest, most memorable female action heroes in cinematic history. Now, Besson directs Scarlett Johansson in Lucy, an action-thriller that tracks a woman accidentally caught in a dark deal who turns the tables on her captors and transforms into a merciless warrior evolved beyond human logic. Lucy also stars Academy Award winner Morgan Freeman.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Two different genres of B film wrapped together into one silly and pointless plot\n\nReview: This movie was so, so, bad. The violence -- which begins about 5 minutes into the film and never lets up -- is horrific and completely detracts from the science fiction (though the science fiction is laughably unbelievable). Really, this movie is like two completely bad movies rolled up into one: one bad movie is for those who love gore and violence, and the other bad movie is for those who like absurd science fiction. Why Scarlett Johansson and Morgan Freeman chose to act in this movie is beyond me.\n\nThe ending line of the movie is similarly bad (but hysterical): it's Scarlett Johansson's character saying, \"This is life: now you know what to do with it.\" Uh, excuse me? What did this movie teach us about living life? That if we are willing to gamble by taking a bucket-load of freaky new drugs (that no one knows anything about) we might, just might, end up becoming super-genius Lords of the Universe? Lol","Product: The Identical is a redemptive movie about a young man, the son of a preacher, who rejects his father s desire for him to join the ministry and instead embarks on a career as a rock singer. As he struggles to pursue his dream and rise to stardom, he finds love, pain, success and failure, and ultimately uncovers a hidden family secret that reveals who he really is. It s a captivating story about a family restored, and a life discovered.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Families: pass this one up for other far better movies\n\nReview: I almost gave this 3-stars, but what I really didn't like -- and which caused me to give 2 stars instead -- is the whole weird Elvis connection. Elvis had a twin brother (Jesse Garon) who died at birth, and the death of this twin messed with Elvis' head his entire life. I feel this film was COMPLETELY based on the idea of \"what if\" Elvis' parents lied to him that his twin died and that, instead, he was alive and well somewhere out there. This would be a twist on the \"Elvis is still alive\" whacko belief so many diehard fans had for so many years.\n\nThe parallels to Elvis' life were so obvious and so distracting that I couldn't really care about the characters/story in the film; i.e., all I could think about was 1) is Elvis' life the real subplot, and 2) if so, why in the world did anyone decide to make this movie?\n\nSetting the issues regarding Elvis aside, the story itself was sappy, sentimental, contrived, and unbelievable. I resent the pandering mentality which sought to get this movie watched by labeling it \"a family film.\"","Product: Maggie (Melissa McCarthy), a single mother, moves into a new home in Brooklyn with her 12-year old son, Oliver (Jaeden Lieberher). Forced to work long hours, she has no choice but to leave Oliver in the care of their new neighbor, Vincent (Bill Murray), a retired curmudgeon with a desire for alcohol and gambling. An odd friendship soon blossoms between the improbable pair. Together with a pregnant stripper, named Daka (Naomi Watts), Vincent brings Oliver along on all the stops that make up his daily routine - the racetrack, a strip club, and the local dive bar. Vincent helps Oliver grow to become a man, while Oliver begins to see in Vincent something that no one else is able to: a misunderstood man with a good heart.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: It is sad that this movie holds up the Vincent character as a role model and \"saint\"\n\nReview: Definitely not a comedy, and many parts of the film just make you cringe. Bill Murray's character is too inconsistent to be believable. I can believe a saintly man being crotchety, a drinker and an occasional gambler -- but insisting that Melissa McCarthy's financially struggling character pay him for a fence he knew he demolished himself? Or stealing prescription medications and selling them to a drug dealer so casually, like he did it with no conscience whatsoever? I've lived with deeply flawed human beings who felt they had to be \"cruel to be kind\" but they were never as inconsistent as this guy, and when it's all said and done, I would never label them \"saints\" even though they were capable (at times) of being genuinely selfless..\n\nJust glad I did not watch this with my kids. I agree with other reviewers that the best part of the film is Bill Murray's mumbled singing at the end during the credits. THAT part was realistic and made me chuckle.","Product: Lucy Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy (Steelbook)\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Two different genres of B film wrapped together into one silly and pointless plot\n\nReview: This movie was so, so, bad. The violence -- which begins about 5 minutes into the film and never lets up -- is horrific and completely detracts from the science fiction (though the science fiction is laughably unbelievable). Really, this movie is like two completely bad movies rolled up into one: one bad movie is for those who love gore and violence, and the other bad movie is for those who like absurd science fiction. Why Scarlett Johansson and Morgan Freeman chose to act in this movie is beyond me.\n\nThe ending line of the movie is similarly bad (but hysterical): it's Scarlett Johansson's character saying, \"This is life: now you know what to do with it.\" Uh, excuse me? What did this movie teach us about living life? That if we are willing to gamble by taking a bucket-load of freaky new drugs (that no one knows anything about) we might, just might, end up becoming super-genius Lords of the Universe? Lol","Product: John Paul and Wayne are two young men in search of their fathers. Problem is their fathers have been dead for 25 years. Eddie and Steven are two young men in search of their sons whom they've never met. In 1969, Eddie and Steven are with their squad deep in the jungle of Vietnam on a five-day mission to retrieve fallen comrades. They write letters to their wives, often mentioning their love for their sons, one, who is an infants and one yet to be born. In 1994, John Paul and Wayne go on a five-day road trip to the Vietnam Wall in Washington DC to see their fathers' names. Along the way, reading those letters, they begin to get an understanding of who their fathers were and how they died. Trials and mishaps, both funny and sad, complicate the road trip for the boys. The horrors of war and the testing of faith manifest themselves for the young men in Vietnam. Ultimately, in parallel stories 25 years apart the fathers and sons are bound together forever.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Stupid, facile, unbelievable, don't waste your time\n\nReview: I can usually watch almost any movie all the way to the end -- but not this one. It was a waste of time. First, I am so sick and tired of the stereotypes one finds so often in Christian films. For example, to stress that modern day Christian women are not expected to be 'barefoot and pregnant,' Christian films often swing to the opposite extreme and portray women (like John's fiancee) as hopelessly unable to perform the most basic of domestic chores. [I'm pretty sure this same stereotype was used in The Resurrection of Gavin Stone, another recent Christian film.] Please, give me a break. The opening scene of, \"Honey, please don't cook: let's order pizza!\" (because she is a horrible cook) was stupid and insulting.\n\nSecond, the story line was idiotic. Like John is REALLY going to fly across the country three weeks before his wedding to confront (whomever answers the door) because after a lifetime of not knowing anything about his father, he just CAN'T wait 24 hours to see if he can get the guy he's trying to reach (Wayne) on the phone? And he is REALLY going to sit outside all day waiting on Wayne to let him in the house and talk to him? And Wayne has absolutely nothing going on in his life that he can spur of the moment say \"We're going to Washington D.C.\" with a total stranger -- the same total stranger he made wait outside an entire day before he would deign to even speak to him? And you are REALLY going to leave your car empty, with keys in the ignition, with complete strangers you picked up as hitchhikers the day before milling around with easy access to it? No one is that trusting.\n\nAnd, like, REALLY that every letter Wayne's father writes home from Vietnam is going to be completely about how wonderful John's father is, a man who is a total stranger to his family? Give me a break. So unbelievable.\n\nThird, the 'humor' was juvenile, predictable and HOKEY TO THE MAX -- as it often is in Christian films, which is so sad and embarrassing. About the time the hitchhikers stole the car, I couldn't take any more. My reaction was, \"Clearly this movie isn't going to get any better or more realistic; why waste any further time?\"","Product: Sundance Film Festival winner and Brazil's official Oscar submission. When the estranged daughter of a hard-working live-in housekeeper suddenly appears, the unspoken class barriers that exist within the home are thrown into disarray.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Excellent film despite the slightly unsatisfying ending\n\nReview: I totally enjoyed this film -- though the ending was kind of a let down. I was left wondering how in the world Val was going to support her daughter and her grandson without a job. Up to that point I thought the movie was excellent, and the actions of Val's employer Dona Barbara were so, so, so true to life. I have met many individuals who are as passive-aggressively petty as Dona Barbara, and it was gratifying to see that whomever wrote this screenplay has met a few as well. A very worthwhile film, and Val was simply hilarious at times.\n\nA mash up I would love to see: self-effacing Val working alongside Wanda Sykes' brash maid character from Chris Rock's Down to Earth. Wanda Sykes' maid would eat Val alive for breakfast, and it would be a hilarious pairing.","Product: A has-been rock manager from Van Nuys, California stumbles upon a once-in-a-lifetime voice in a remote Afghan cave in Rock the Kasbah, a dramatic comedy inspired by stranger-than-fiction, real-life events and directed by Oscar winner Barry Levinson. Richie Lanz (Bill Murray), dumped and stranded in war-torn Kabul by his last remaining client (Zooey Deschanel), discovers Salima Khan (Leem Lubany), a Pashtun teenager with a beautiful voice and the courageous dream of becoming the first woman to compete on national television in Afghanistan's version of American Idol. Richie partners with a savvy hooker (Kate Hudson), a pair of hard-partying war profiteers (Danny McBride and Scott Caan) and a hair-trigger mercenary (Bruce Willis) and, braving dangerous cultural prejudices, manages his new protge into becoming the \"Afghan Star.\"\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: A surprisingly wonderful film despite a few flaws\n\nReview: I did not have high expectations for this movie, especially after watching how it begins (with Bill Murray's character Richie Lanz lying to an older woman with a weird singing style that she \"has talent\" just so he can bilk her out of a promoter fee of $1,200). I thought, \"Another cheesy little film with a plot derivative of all other cheesy little films, I am sure.\" But over and over again the film proved me wrong.\n\nSure, I could have done without the Pretty-Woman-cliche Kate Hudson plays (prostitute who is not only drop-dead gorgeous but classy and smart about business) and many other improbable aspects of the plot. But still: Zooey Deschanel's character is hilarious, the first time you see Bruce Willis he is genuinely scary and psycho-looking (after that his character is never again scary or even interesting), the story is not at all predictable (until near the end) . . . BUT! The real gem is Bill Murray, who is just HILARIOUS. For me, Bill Murray is not always a joy to watch, but he certainly is in this film.\n\nThis could literally be one of Bill Murray's finest performances, and that is saying a lot. Groundhog Day may be a better movie, but the character Bill Murray plays in Groundhog Day is not as funny as the character he plays in this movie, Rock the Kasbah. I am serious. Being upbeat and always able to see the silver lining in every situation is Richie Lanz' job as a promoter, Bill Murray is completely believable as Richie Lanz, and Richie Lanz is, quite simply, very fun to watch. This film is a comedy because Bill Murray is the star AND the 'comic relief.'\n\nYou know why this film has so few 4 & 5 star reviews? Because the film is sympathetic towards natives of Afghanistan and realistically portrays the devastation which U.S. involvement in that country has wrought -- period. Too many Americans do not want to be reminded of the negative consequences of our military presence, and the discomfort this film no doubt causes them completely outweighs the humor of the story. At least that is my conclusion, based on things I have read in Amazon reviews.","Product: While a British film crew are shooting a version of The Duchess Of Malfi in Venice, they in turn are being filmed by a sleasy documentary primadonna while the strange staff share meals which consist of human meat. Then there is the hit man, the call girl and the hollywood producer all amnaging to become part of the madness...\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: There is a reason that almost 60% of those who watch this film hate it!\n\nReview: The 5 star reviews make a few good points and the 1 star reviews make many good points . . . meaning that a few ideas/moments in the film deserve 5 stars, but many, many more -- most actually -- deserve a 1 star rating. (BTW, I've almost never encountered anything more hated by Amazon reviewers than this film! Almost 60% of those who watch this film hate it, and it is NOT because none of us know how to identify 'good film-making' or that we do not understand the cutting-edge creativity of independent film-making. Please: cut the 'art film pretentiousness' already).\n\nI would have been generous and given this film 3 stars EXCEPT the light pornography about 30-40 minutes in completely destroyed what little interest the film had generated and caused me to turn it off for good. I mean, there is so much which is horrible and wrong with this film that it was barely keeping me interested ANYWAY, but then it had to divide into 4-scenes-at-once (4 picture-within-a-picture boxes containing different scenes) with each simultaneously depicting a different scenario of light porn? No, no, no. This was supposed to be a horror/mystery film -- or so the back of the DVD case indicated. If your film is so bad you need to induce lasciviousness in your audience just to keep them watching, please, next time, just SCRAP THE PROJECT, okay? My teen sons were watching with me and they don't need to see that crap. (Note: many parents watch R-rated films with their teens because that's infinitely better than the teen watching alone or with other teens: a parent can discuss what needs to be discussed about the film as it progresses, as well as decide if, and when, it is time to simply turn the movie off).\n\nOne final comment: how in the hell did this director get so many A list actors to participate in this farce of a film? Was there even a script? Were any of the actors given the opportunity, before signing on, to actually READ the script? Did they give John Malkovich a fake script such that he thought there was actually a real MOVIE with a PLOT attached to his one (interesting, yet bizarre) scene? Did any of these actors sue after the completed film was released because it was not at all what it had been represented to be, upfront? Enquiring minds want to know! (P.S. Since I did not watch the entire film, maybe John Malkovich had more than his one scene at the very beginning . . . but I suspect he did not.)\n\nFor those of you who are going to hate on me because of what I said about the 'eroticism' of this film: true eroticism is something completely different than sex used to manipulate an audience. A woman dipping her bare breasts into glasses of milk in order to arouse a man is just weird, not erotic. A woman wearing a miniskirt and no panties who pulls a gun from between her legs (insinuating that she had it up inside her) is crass and gross, not erotic. Showing disembodied female legs parting to permit the entry of a disembodied hand while simultaneously portraying a nude man and other sexual imagery in separate picture boxes) is pornography, not eroticism.","Product: Size for personal use, this double-sided dry-erase coordinate grid board is perfect for teaching or practicing graphing\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Very Helpful Product for students learning how to construct graphs\n\nReview: My homeschooled 8th grader doesn't like to draw and used to moan when he had to construct a graph on graph paper. His graphs started out very sloppy and wasted a lot of paper. Of course he just had to practice, practice, practice to get better at drawing graphs -- but buying this Dry-Erase Coordinate Grid Board helped the learning process immensely (for both of us).\n\nFor example, as we were going over his work together (after I had already graded it) it made it virtually painless for him to redo graphs which needed to be redone -- or I could quickly show him how it should have been done -- and then with a few quick swipes of the eraser we are ready to do another. Being able to construct graphs so painlessly and quickly boosted his confidence tremendously, and he is much more confident now when constructing a graph on regular graph paper.\n\nThe back of the board is blank and we use it routinely as a white board during other lessons. Small paper-sized white boards are so convenient for many subject areas -- like diagramming sentences or other grammar work -- and it is like you get two white boards for the price of one with this product: one which is a coordinate grid and one which is blank.\n\nHighly recommended for homeschoolers who are studying Pre-Algebra, Algebra or Geometry.","Product: See You in the Cosmos\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Fun to read for 200 pages, but then becomes something I cannot recommend\n\nReview: When I first began reading I was super-excited about this book, and hoped it would remain just as enjoyable to the end so I could give it 4 or 5 stars and then recommend it to my 14-year-old son as a book to add to his summer reading list. But the novelty and 'cute' factor of this novel wore out by page 200, and the rest of the book was a slog I endured just to get it finished.\n\nThe stream-of-consciousness narration gets old, and I agree with several 3 star reviewers that there is too much adult subject matter in the second half of the book. But here is what bothers me the most (and is why my 3 star review went down to a 2 star review): I completely disagree with the 'Big Idea' the author apparently wants us to take away from the story: that sometimes the most loving thing an abusive father can do for his family is utterly abandon them. AU CONTRAIRE. Here is the text:\n\n(pp. 279-80). The story gradually reveals that Alex and Ronnie were abandoned by their abusive father, causing their mother to slip farther into mental illness. Ronnie theorizes that maybe their dad made a loving sacrifice when he abandoned them:\n\nRonnie: \"He had to do what was best for the family, even if that meant that he wouldn't get to see them. Even if it hurt him that he wouldn't get to be with them. He had to take responsibility -- real responsibility for his actions. That's what it means to be an adult.\"\n\nAlex: \"So then, when we really love someone, we have to sacrifice getting to be with them?\"\n\nRonnie: \"No, not always. Not usually. But sometimes . . . sometimes it's the only way. Sometimes when we really love someone we have to leave them, because it's better for them than if we stayed.\"\n\nAlex: \"It's like how we have to go to Mars.\"\n\nRonnie: \"What?\"\n\nAlex: \"So the earth is dying because of things that we did, right? Things that humans did. And we KEEP hurting it, and the forests are disappearing and the oceans are rising and animals are going extinct, so maybe that's why we have to colonize Mars. We have to leave Earth so Earth can get better again.\"\n\nUhh . . . NO, NO, NO. As an aside, as much as I love science, the belief that humans are going to colonize Mars is escapist fantasy, not worthy of anyone's time and energy. But back to the issue of a father abandoning his family: it is cowardice for anyone to convince him- or her- self that it is noble or loving to abandon someone. If you are abusive and know that you are hurting those you love, then have the humility to admit that to their faces and to do what is necessary to get help. Getting help may well include moving out of the house (to keep your loved ones out of harm's way) but that is NOT the same thing as leaving and never again communicating or doing anything to demonstrate love and support!\n\nI have an ex-husband who abandoned us eight years ago in 2009: we don't even know where he lives now and have no way to contact him. I divorced him because he was abusive, and he continued to create havoc in our lives when he lived close by and we saw him regularly, so yes in many ways it is far better that he is completely out of our lives. And, yes, I am sure he would love to read the sentiment expressed in this novel, because I am sure he has at times rationalized that he is being noble by ignoring us, and that HE is the one harmed by his \"sacrifice.\"\n\nBut any person who has had to single parent children in a situation similar to mine knows that is COMPLETE AND TOTAL BS: it is abusive to completely ignore your children. It is abusive to never contact them, to never say \"I'm sorry I am not around,\" or \"I love you and miss you.\" It is abusive to never acknowledge birthdays or holidays and never send them at least a small gift (or even a letter). It abusive to manipulate for yourself a woefully inadequate child support obligation (only $200 a month!) and then, outrageously, even refuse to pay that piddling amount.\n\nThus, even if this book were a better read I would not recommend it to a preteen because of the author's inaccurate and dysfunctional idea of \"sacrificial love.\" An abuser who abandons his family has simply chosen a different form for his abuse: his action of abandonment is motivated by the same narcissism and psychological dysfunction which motivated the in-person abuse. There has been no remorse, and notions of \"love\" and/or \"sacrifice\" play no role in EITHER scenario. Period.","Product: Guaranteed to work or your money back - PLEASE NOTE ALL MONIES FROM THIS SALE GO TO A 501 (C)3 NO KILL ANIMAL SHELTER\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Decent for Homeschooling, but better for 4th grade instead of 5th\n\nReview: This is an okay science book for a 5th grade homeschooler, though I think it oversimplifies and would be better for a 4th grader. Because I am homeschooling a 7th grader as well as a 5th grader and they are doing Science together, we haven't used this text much because it is WAY too simplified for a 7th grader (duh), plus we've concentrated primarily on Earth Science and Chemistry this year and neither of those topics are addressed much by this book. (Though we plan to begin Life Science/Biology/Botany in a few weeks and the first half of the book is devoted to Life Science topics, so I am sure we will use it a little more in the near future.)\n\nWe also purchased the workbook and I'm not sure whether to recommend it: it duplicates the text considerably and is probably not necessary, though we've used it some. I'll update later with a firmer recommendation on that.\n\nI know that many homeschooling familes dislike using textbooks, and we don't use them as much as I thought we would (we are nearing the end of our first year homeschooling and before that my children attended public school). With science we primarily do experiments and read from other sources, plus we skip around a lot in our studies, which doesn't work well if you are trying to systematically work through a textbook. But taking notes from a textbook is something all college students have to do, so I found this cool tip online about how to use textbooks in a homeschool setting as a supplemental learning technique which also helps to groom a child's college study skills: it's called Textbook Response.\n\nEach son has a Textbook Response Journal (a dedicated spiral notebook for that purpose) which has the instructions for Textbook Response written inside the front cover. My sons get a Textbook Response assignment in Science (that's the only subject we're doing textbook response with right now, but I will likely expand it to other subjects next year) sometimes every week, but usually once every two weeks. In addition to making an outline (2 or 3 layer depending on child's skill level), here are the instructions for the written \"response\" expected each time they read in a textbook:\n\nTextbook: (we use multiple textbooks, so it is not always the same one)\nDate: Pages assigned: Pages Read Today:\n\nChapter Title:\nSubheading:\nList one important idea learned from subheading\n\nSubheading:\nList one important idea learned from subheading\n[and so on]\n\nAfter reading the entire assignment, write a paragraph (minimum 5 sentences) summarizing what was read. [The end]\n\nThis was an easy way to start them documenting textbook reading assignments, but I can already see where it needs to be broadened to include adding new vocabulary to a Word Locker/Glossary [we learned about Word Lockers from Spelling Workout where words not yet mastered carry over from week to week in a list called the Word Locker], and possibly a brainstorming list where the child notes questions/ideas for research/further study.\n\nMy 5th grader's summaries are really only one or two sentences, but we're working on that! We're also working on learning how to take notes (of any kind: from notes made while listening to a presentation of material to notes made while reading) because neither of my sons came out of public school knowing how to take notes and/or to consistently identify the main ideas presented.\n\nOne last note specifically about this textbook: something we noticed today as my 5th grader read the chapter on Land Biomes.\nThe majority of sources we've consulted divide forest biomes into Coniferous, Deciduous and Tropical Rain Forest. This book calls Coniferous forests \"taiga\" -- which is fine, they mean the same thing -- but what bothers me is that it not only does not mention that a taiga is the same as a coniferous forest, it doesn't even MENTION -- ever -- the words \"cone\" or \"coniferous\" when discussing the needle-leafed evergreen trees which compose a taiga. The authors were clearly pursing an agenda that students will NOT refer to this biome as a Coniferous Forest, yet, as I have said, Coniferous Forest is a widely used label the student needs to know because he/she will encounter it elsewhere. We find this type of obtuse idiocy often in science textbooks written for younger students, and it is annoying in the extreme to homeschooling families who consult multiple sources while learning! Attention textbook authors: agendas have no place in education!\n\nWe are not finished using this textbook and I will update this review to include anything else of note which we encounter.","Product: TEXTBOOK FOR 7TH AND 8TH GRADE MATH...ARITHEMTIC WITH WHOLE NUMBERS AND MONEY-FRACTIONS AND PERCENTS-LINES AND ANGLES-POLYGONS-AND MUCH MUCH MORE..\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: A good book, but could be better . . .\n\nReview: This is our first year homeschooling (5th and 7th grade). Basically my sons are doing well using Saxon for math, and since we are on a tight budget, I went with this older version of Saxon 87 for my 7th grader.\n\nOne drawback, though. Each lesson opens with a Problem Solving word problem. My son had no idea how to solve the following problem in Lesson 28: \"When Bill, Phil, Jill, and Gil entered the room they found four chairs waiting for them, so they each took a seat. One minute later they traded seats. Then they traded seats again and again. If they don't move the chairs but only move themselves, how many seating arrangements are possible?\"\n\nLong story short: none of the Saxon books had any explanation of how to do this sort of problem solving. I had the answer from the Solutions Manual (4 x 3 x 2 x 1 = 24) but no explanation as to why this is the way to solve the problem. I finally discovered in Algebra to Go (an Algebra math terms reference book) that this is a Statistics/Data Analysis problem called a permutation. None of the Saxon books we own (54, 65, 76, 87) mention the word 'permutation' much less explain how to solve a permutation problem.\n\nMy younger son encountered a similar problem in Saxon 54: the student was asked to compute a percentage without Saxon first providing instruction on how to do this, and I finally had to xerox the steps for computing percent out of a GED workbook in order to help him complete his Saxon 54 assignment. We love Saxon math overall, but I'm just saying . . . Saxon is not flawless.","Product: Confronting and solving problems is a painful process, which most of us attempt to avoid. And the very avoidance results in greater pain and an inability to grow both mentally and spiritually. Drawing heavily upon his own professional experience, Dr M Scott Peck, a practicing psychiatrist, suggests ways in which confronting and resolving our problems - and suffering through the changes - can enable us to reach a higher level of self-understanding. Dr Peck discusses the nature of loving relationships: how to recognize true compatibility; how to distinguish dependency from love; how to become one's own person; how to be a more sensitive partner.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Ditto that this should be required reading for all humans\n\nReview: I have read this book three times during my 50 years on this planet, each time gaining new insights. The maturity gained with age absolutely improves the lessons learned from reading this book. The first time I read it -- in my late 20's -- I thought it was a good read filled with solid wisdom, but nothing 'that' special. It wasn't until the second time I read it (in my mid 30's and in the midst of much upheaval in my personal life) that I finally got it how special this book is, and I proceeded to read everything else by Dr. Peck that I could get my hands on. Then when I read it for the third time in my mid 40's I experienced several new 'aha' moments with respect to several passages I SWEAR I had never read before -- though, of course, I had read them twice before. Clearly I had not yet experienced enough in life for the truth of those passages to click for me as they finally did.\n\nNow I am 50, and I am sure that at some point in the next few years I will read this again -- and, no doubt, again experience 'aha' moments from passage which did not fully register earlier in life. Dr. Peck's wisdom and insight is JUST THAT DEEP and on point. If you are over the age of 30, please gift yourself the gift of reading this book. If you are under the age of 30, I'd wait a few years: I DO believe that a certain amount of life experience is required to appreciate Dr. Peck's insights -- and, of course, he did not write this book until he himself was of a mature age (I don't think he was younger than 48, though I don't recall his age exactly).\n\nUPDATE: Dr. Peck was 42 when The Road Less Traveled was published, so a little younger than I thought.","Product: Book\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: Good only as a case study of the aberrational thought of someone with OCD\n\nReview: I am 54 and have been keeping house for over 25 years, usually while also working a job outside my home, and currently raising two teen boys on my own. Because I also aspire to do many things with my life besides work, cook and clean house, I'm always open to new ideas to make domestic chores more efficient. But, unfortunately, I found nothing of value in this book.\n\nFirst, I agree with the other 1 star reviews which complain that the book is mostly filler -- amen, I agree. By page 34 I had already read the same ideas repeatedly, and they were ideas anyone who has ever kept house already knows: discard what you do not really need, find a place for everything you do need, then keep everything in its place. Wow. We needed a new book to tell us THAT?\n\nSecond, many of the things Marie Kondo says are just plain wrong. For example, it is idiotic to state that completely de-cluttering your home once will so change your life and perspective that you will never struggle with clutter again. Omg. It has been my experience, to the contrary, that most people will slide right back, over a period of time, into whatever clutter situation they first were in which caused them to engage in a radical, all-encompassing purge and tidying. Kondo is deceiving herself if she honestly believes every client she has ever 'helped' has never backslid into a similar clutter situation months or years down the road DESPITE having followed her strategy.\n\nFor example, twenty years ago I became friends with an elderly painter who had become something of a hermit and quasi-hoarder. You could barely wade through his apartment because of the stacks of ancient newspapers, objects he never used, etc. He was embarrassed for me to see it, but genuinely believed that if someone could help him get the apartment back to a 'clean slate' state of tidiness, he would be so ecstatic he would definitely act to keep it in that condition. (Something Marie Kondo SWEARS is a guaranteed outcome: i.e., that one major purge and tidying event will so change your perspective that you will never again struggle with clutter.)\n\nEager to do a good deed for someone who seemed to deserve it, I recruited 5 or 6 friends and over a weekend we helped him sort through everything, discard 60-75% of the stuff laying around, and get the apartment so tidy it was almost minimalist in aspect. The man was ecstatic, felt he had a new lease on life -- and, yes, for awhile his new living space energized him and seemed to radically transform his life. But, as with most people (I'd say 85-90%!), within a few months the 'blush had faded from the rose' and the man began to slip back into the same old habits and patterns that caused his apartment to look the way I had originally encountered it.\n\nWhen I re-entered his apartment again 6 - 9 months later, it was obvious he was solidly back on track towards re-creating the horrendous state of widespread clutter. It was disgusting, sad and demoralizing (to me, but apparently not to him). What seemed even sadder is that he struck me as completely oblivious to the fact that he had resumed all the same bad habits he swore he would never indulge again. In the end, I have to say sorry, Marie Kondo: you just can't teach most old dogs new tricks.\n\nFinally, I also agree with the one star reviewers who suspect that Marie Kondo may suffer from psychological illness. I saw indications of that by page 34, long before any anthropomorphic discussions about socks and other possessions. She said that when she came home from school in junior high, she headed straight to whatever area of the house she had pre-planned to organize that day, not even stopping to change out of her school uniform. This is highly abnormal behavior which DOES NOT attest to a positive interest in tidying but, instead, to an unhealthy OCD-type aberration. I feel very sorry for Marie Kondo, but what she considers 'years of research and study of principles of tidying and organization' I would label, instead, 'compulsive, unnecessary activity which did nothing to advance her understanding of how to help clutter-prone individuals change their lives.'","Product: This book is in good condition. The pages are all there, firmly attached and clean. There are no writing, marking or underlining visible. The binding is solid and tight. The front and back covers are good as well.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: How does this woman make a living at writing?\n\nReview: I really do not understand what anyone sees in Diane Schoemperlen's books, other than a kind of eccentric novelty. I read the first four 'stories' in this collection -- \"Forms of Devotion,\" \"Five Small Rooms (A Murder Mystery), \"Body Language\" and \"Innocent Objects\" -- and was completely underwhelmed, especially since the first three aren't even stories because there is no plot, no action, nothing going on! And the fourth story just barely has a plot.\n\nWhat Schoemperlen likes to do, it appears, is to write pages of elaborate description -- of arcane, meaningless objects -- and then frame those descriptions with a few narrative sentences, as window dressing, to provide the merest whiff of story . . . then bundle the pages off to her publisher, calling it \"a collection of stories.\" How she ever won awards, or continues to get published, is beyond me.","Product: Another remarkable collection of poetry from one of America's masters of the medium. The first part gathers together poems of love and nostalgic memory, while Part II portrays confrontations inherent in a racist society.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: This book documents that Maya Angelou was not a gifted poet\n\nReview: I have spent my entire life having a great deal of respect for Maya Angelou for two reasons: I was moved by I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (which I read in college) and in my mid-30's I discovered her poem \"Still I Rise\" which I thought was wonderful. I also thought it was cool that she was in Roots, which is hands down one of the most important TV mini-series every produced and is still as fantastic today as it was 40+ years ago.\n\nBut. When I listened to the poem she wrote for Bill Clinton's inauguration, I was underwhelmed and could not understand why everyone thought it was so awesome. I thought maybe she just had a 'poetry fail' and the mediocre quality of that poem (if you could actually call it a poem) was an exception to the rule.\n\nThen recently I watched the excellent PBS biography of Ms. Angelou, 'Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise' and became interested in reading more of her poetry in order to make my own assessment. Sadly, reading the poetry in this book and several others, I realize I have been wrong to think so highly of her all of these years: her poetry is banal and at times lowers itself to being nothing more than dirty ditties [see, e.g., \"The Thirteens (Black)\" and \"The Thirteens (White)\" -- I see no redeeming qualities in either of those poems. You mean the Maya Angelou who always appeared smiling and like she was the sweetest, most benign presence on earth, was actually HATER???!!!! Wow did she really have most of us fooled, but good]\n\nOne hundred years from now I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings will likely still be read -- and Roots will definitely still be watched -- but other than that Maya Angelou's life and works will have solidly been relegated to the dustbin of history.","Product: Fall in step with the Parker family as they travel the country investigating fossil graveyards. Learn how fossils are formed, found, and displayed. A full-color journey through a part of the earth's h\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: God Does Not Approve of Teaching Falsehood to Children Yet Calling it \"Science\"\n\nReview: I believe in God and that Jesus was His Son and Christ . . . but this book is garbage and does not serve God or the coming of His Kingdom in any way, shape or form. The Earth, it's biology and its history (disclosed via the geologic time scale) is the closest thing we have to a Bible written by God instead of by mankind . . . such that it is the greatest sin to ignore geologic facts in order to make Earth's geological history \"fit\" a warped interpretation of a Bible story.\n\nOn p. 13 the son asks his father how fossils of sea animals came to be located in rock located in present day Indiana, United States, North America. The self-proclaimed \"paleontologist\" father responds, \"Sediment is the mud or sand that settles from flood waters. Do you know of any flood big enough to wash ocean life all the way to Indiana?\" EEEEEHHHHH! (buzzer sound) Wrong answer, buddy. Sea creature fossils found in the middle of a landlocked continent are there because of the scientific principle of Plate Tectonics, which does not in any way suggest that one global flood during the past 1.8 million years is the cause of all strata containing fossilized remains. This is especially true since most of those fossilized remains are of animals which went extinct long before there could have ever lived a man named Noah (i.e., prior to 1.8 million years ago).\n\nEven if you take the position that all scientific theories are just that -- theories, not proven \"fact\" -- it is morally unacceptable to ignore all we know about geology (including Plate Tectonics) and teach your child, instead, that all fossils got where they are today because of The Flood referenced in the Bible. Noah and The Flood are just as much 'theory' as Plate Tectonics: why not teach your child that both viewpoints are 'theories' and then let he/she decide, with God's help, which seems more like Truth?"],"string":"[\n \"Product: If you love a good kitchen combo, check out the Chef'n Bistro Combo Grinder. This pepper/salt grinder is the perfect choice for cooks looking for a smart, space-saving version of the classic kitchen combo. The easy to use design allows the user to simply squeeze the handle for pepper, and shake for salt. A pour spout easily dispenses pinches and dashes of salt for recipes that call for measurements larger than a few shakes. Simply twist off the top to refill the salt, and twist off the lower half to refill the pepper. For your convenience, this ready-to-use salt and pepper shaker comes pre-filled with granulated salt and fresh peppercorns. Choose smart, easy-to-use kitchen utensils that are built on tasteful design, new technologies, and the trusted reputation of Chef'n.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Salt Holes are Way Too Big\\n\\nReview: I purchased a grinder similar to this one 7 years ago at Target for $8 and used the HECK out of it DAILY for those 7 years. It finally broke, and this Chef'n Bistro Combo Grinder was the closest thing I could find as a replacement. It's okay, but is inferior to the Target one I loved so much -- at twice the cost, of course! (Isn't that the way of the world these days?)\\n\\nAnyway. The pepper seems to grind a little too slowly and finely for my taste (despite adjusting to make the grind more coarse) but what I REALLY dislike is that the salt holes are about three times larger than normal, meaning that salt gets POURED onto your food, not sprinkled. Oy vey!\",\n \"Product: Oscar(R) winners Dustin Hoffman (Best Actor, 1980, Kramer vs. Kramer), Susan Sarandon (Best Actress, 1996, Dead Man Walking), and Holly Hunter (Best Actress, 1994, The Piano) star with Jake Gyllenhaal (The Good Girl) in Moonlight Mile -- an uplifting story of endearing honesty and humor. When Joe Nast (Gyllenhaal) experiences an unexpected loss, he wants to be the man he believes everyone wants him to be -- the dutifully bereaved husband-to-be and the perfect would-be son-in-law to Ben (Hoffman) and Jojo (Sarandon). But then another woman unexpectedly enters his life, and he's torn between fulfilling his new roles and following his heart.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Sad film which does not realize its potential\\n\\nReview: As many other reviewers have noted, this film had a lot of potential: big name actors, interesting story premise, the potential to educate the larger public about the realities of grief. But ultimately it fails to deliver. The film is very sad, but it's hard to become emotionally involved with any of the characters because even for people marred by grief, they act too weirdly to connect with.\\n\\nFirst, some reviewers have said that these people are cold, unemotional and do not really seem to care that their close loved one has just died. I didn't see that; the stereotype is that people in grief look obviously sad and do things which we all expect sad people to do, but that is WRONG, especially if the grief is new and shocking (like a daughter getting gunned down at the friendly neighborhood lunch counter across the street from your office where your daughter hung out with you when she was a child).\\n\\nAn 8th grade girl at the junior high where I once served as a substitute teacher was raped and murdered in her own bed by a neighbor who came in through a window. At the memorial service her mother looked very calm and serene -- she never cried, smiled at people as she shook their hands, and did not look grief stricken at all. But when I hugged her, she hung on to me like a drowning person grasping a lifeboat and I could tell that she was consumed with grief. Needless to say, I did not appreciate hearing allthe junior high kids at school the next week 'dissing' their classmate's mother by talking about how 'obvious' it had been that the mother had not cared her daughter was dead. To be sure, my classes and I had several intense heart-to-heart talks about the paralyzing realities of deep, inexpressible grief and how wrong it is to make assumptions about someone else's emotional state.\\n\\nBut! That said, it was hard for me to connect with many of the personality characteristics of these characters. If Jake Gyllenhaal's character and his fiancee were calling off the wedding, why did they not tell her parents together -- especially since the wedding invitations were already being mailed out? Why did Dustin Hoffman's character not even CONSIDER that maybe his not-to-be son-in-law's occupational plans might change in light of his daughter's murder and, instead, charge \\\"full steam ahead\\\" with the pre-murder plans without even a discussion? (That seemed very unrealistic to me.)\\n\\nThe murdered fiance (Diane) does not seem like someone I would like much: she apparently manipulated Jake Gyllenhaal's character into agreeing to go into business with her father, and Susan Sarandon's character said she only became a writer in order to please her daughter (which is way weird, to say the least). And don't even go there with Jake Gyllenhaal finding his 'soul mate' within only a few weeks of Diane's murder. Yes it is believable he would REBOUND into bed with another woman (out of grief, confusion, feelings of loneliness and abandonment) but it is completely unbelievable that the relationship would be real or permanent. And what is up with that woman working for years for free for a man who has been missing (or was he a soldier? It was really hard to make out what was going on at times due to vague scenes and vague dialogue) I'm sorry, I just didn't get it.\\n\\nAnd why in the world were they talking to Holly Hunter, a private attorney, about testifying in a murder trial which is presided over by the District Attorney's office? That made NO SENSE, NO SENSE, NONSENSE.\\n\\nAnd Susan Sarandon stays with Dustin Hoffman because his body up against her butt at night in bed is \\\"home\\\" for her? Uhhh . . . that's just weird. Sure, fine -- fight like cats and dogs all day long and have little in common, but still you guys are 'soul mates.'\",\n \"Product: Janet Jackson, Thandie Newton, and Whoopi Goldberg head up an all-star cast in a vibrant world where friends and strangers dream, fear, cry, love, and laugh out loud in an attempt to find their true selves. Adapted by writer/director Tyler Perry from Ntozake Shange's acclaimed choreopoem, this gripping film paints an unforgettable portrait of what it means to be a woman of color in the modern world.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Absolutely recommended if you are a fan of Ntozake Shange's original poem\\n\\nReview: Before I saw the film, I read the underlying work Tyler Perry dramatized in his screenplay: Ntozake Shange's choreopoem \\\"For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow is Enuf.\\\" As an adaptation of that work, I would rate this movie a 5 -- Tyler Perry, and the fabulous actresses he cast, did a fantastic job bringing Ntozake Shange's work to the screen.\\n\\nThat said, I completely understand the 2 and 3 star reviews who object that this movie is too dark -- that was my thought about Ntozake Shange's choreopoem when I first read it -- and in deference to their legitimate criticisms, I give the film 4 stars instead of 5. I applaud realism -- and you cannot heal problems you refuse to look at honestly and realistically -- but, still: it is depressing to read about/experience/watch repeated dark episodes and never be given hints about how one could go about healing and preventing the darkness for the future.\\n\\nIn defense of Ntozake Shange's perspective, however, she wrote \\\"For Colored Girls\\\" in the 1970's to shine a light on issues she felt were not being addressed. She also says she wrote it with a female audience in mind. As Allan Wallach wrote in Newsday, \\\"In poetry and prose, Shange describes what it means to be a black woman in a world of mean streets, deceitful men, and aching loss.\\\" As Shange wrote in 2010, \\\"'For Colored Girls' was and is for colored girls.\\\"\\n\\nMany black men objected that Shange's poem cast them in too dire a light. Here is what Shange says in an introduction written in 2010: \\\"The reactions from black men to 'For Colored Girls' was in a way very much like the white reaction to black power. The body traditionally used to power and authority interpreting, through their own fear, my work celebrating the self-determination and centrality of women as a hostile act. For men to walk out feeling that the work was about them spoke to their own patriarchal delusions more than to the actuality of the work itself.\\\"\\n\\nBut sensitive men have realized that Shange was simply bringing to light painful realities of life which need our collective attention. She says that when she received the Gwendolyn Brooks Poetry Prize for Lifetime Achievement, the poet Haki Madhubuti said to her of \\\"For Colored Girls\\\": \\\"We didn't know.\\\" He meant, obviously, that Shange's poem was a wake up call about the plight of women of color.\\n\\nMs. Shange met with all of the actresses in this film while the last scenes were being shot. Most of them had read her poem when they were growing up. She reflects, \\\"That 'For Colored Girls' continues to resonate so profoundly almost forty years after I first set pen to paper is bittersweet for me. Though we have achieved many a milestone, the stories and struggles of our lives as women, and in particular, women of color, are still not granted the full address due.\\\"\\n\\nSo, my final thought with respect to the darkness of the stories in \\\"For Colored Girls\\\": the real tragedy is that those dark stories continue to be re-enacted in the reality of everyday life. If you care about reality, you should watch, and care about, this fine adaptation of Ntozake Shange's poem.\",\n \"Product: Golden Globe nominee Ewan McGregor (Star Wars I, II, III), Academy Award nominee Christopher Plummer (Inside Man), and Mlanie Laurent (Inglourious Basterds) star in Beginners, an uplifting comedy about how funny and transformative life can be. When graphic designer Oliver (McGregor) meets free-spirited Anna (Laurent) shortly after his father (Plummer) has passed away, Oliver realizes just how much of a beginner he is when it comes to long-lasting romantic love. Memories of his father, who, following the death of his wife of 45 years, came out of the closet at age 75 to live a full, energized, and wonderfully tumultuous gay life, encourage Oliver to open himself up to the potential of a true relationship. Inspired by writer/director Mike Mills own father, its an original love story that critics cheer is smart, poignant and often hilarious! (Karen Durbin, Elle)\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Started out with promise but devolved into a snoozefest\\n\\nReview: This movie began as mildly entertaining but omg there were so many times that I thought \\\"enough already!\\\" with the flashback scenes of the man's life with his dying father! Yes we get it that he went through many confusing and depressing things before his father died such that when he finally met a woman who sparked his interest he was CONFUSED AND DEPRESSED. Got it, got it, had it several scenes ago, please move on.\\n\\nThe film was SO slow and absorbed with itself -- and there were too many preachy interludes about how his parents were reviled because they were Jewish when Hitler came into power and then his father was reviled because he was gay, etc. etc. These are not new themes in American cinema and the Jewish theme in particular didn't seem to have anything whatsoever to do with the story -- except to impress you that despite the film's banality you the viewer must accept that it is \\\"an important, weighty film.\\\"\",\n \"Product: Quick Shipping !!! New And Sealed !!! This Disc WILL NOT play on standard US DVD player. A multi-region PAL/NTSC DVD player is request to view it in USA/Canada. Please Review Description.\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: Pointless, Meandering, Pandering Idiocy\\n\\nReview: I wish I had turned this movie off after the first 15-20 minutes, but kept watching in the hopes it would get better. Nope, it just got stupider and more pointless the more it progressed. Helena Bonham Carter's role was a waste of her talent -- her character's presence in the story had no relevance to anything. We see the ghost of Collins' first love once and then never again and we never see the ghost of the little boy's mother -- ???? Collins supposedly hates being a vampire and a killer, but then turns his love interest into a vampire so they can live together forever -- ??? He can't stand the witch who turned him into a vampire, but then says he can't resist her sexually just so the film can include a sex romp (which has no relation to the story line) between two people with super powers -- ???\\n\\nThis movie was a horrid mish-mash of scenes which bore almost no relationship to one another, pandered to the adolescent faddish infatuation with vampires, and was neither funny nor scary, just stupid.\",\n \"Product: Back to Eden - A Documentary About Organic Gardening! After years of back-breaking toil in ground ravaged by the effects of man-made growing systems, Paul Gautschi has discovered a taste of what God intended for mankind in the garden of Eden. Some of the vital issues facing agriculture today include soil preparation, fertilization, irrigation, weed control, pest control, crop rotation, and PH issues. None of these issues exist in the unaltered state of nature or in Pauls gardens and orchards. \\n\\nBack to Eden invites you to take a walk with Paul as he teaches you sustainable organic growing methods that are capable of being implemented in diverse climates around the world.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Paul Gautschi has a beautiful garden, but he is psychologically damaged and deceived, nevertheless\\n\\nReview: Paul Gautschi has a beautiful garden (though I am unsure whether one should prune his apple trees the way he does) and much of what he says is the truth. I am convinced, nevertheless, that he is a deceived individual who does not have a genuine relationship with God and, therefore, should not be listened to with respect to theological matters. \\\"Even the devil can quote Scripture,\\\" not to mention that the information he shares about organic gardening, mulching, etc., is not new revelation, but the recycling/repackaging of tips and techniques already discovered and respected by the secular world at large.\\n\\nWithin the first thirty minutes I was pretty sure Gautschi was deceived because he speaks, sounds (and even looks!) EXACTLY like a man in our community named Greg who thinks he lives in constant communication with God but is, instead, grossly deceived (and psychologically damaged). I have spent many hours over the past ten years engaged in theological discussions with Greg, and those discussions never fail to give me a headache (literally.) Much of what he says at first sounds truthful and like a legitimate interpretation of scripture, but it falls apart upon close examination. One example: God has told him that He (God) is the only ruler of men such that He must be King of society (okay) but that translates into this man believing that God loves monarchy and hates democracy. My response: If God is the king within each person there still needs to be a mechanism for leadership within a society composed of God-ruled individuals -- so wouldn't that mean an egalitarian system like democracy?\\n\\n\\\"No, no, no,\\\" Greg responds, \\\"the only political system of which God approves is monarchy.\\\" This is insane, of course, because what is the end result as applied in the real world ? That A MAN (a mortal, fallible, human being) becomes the ruler of other men, the very proposition that has fueled pagan civilizations for millenia (Egypt, Mesopotamia, medieval England) and which Greg himself acknowledges is not what God desires! But even when you point this out Greg cannot back down, change his tune OR see the flaw in his \\\"revelation\\\": further argument does nothing but flow around in infinite circles.\\n\\nGetting back to Paul Gautschi: I felt very sorry for him as he gave us a glimpse into his childhood. Although he may well be exaggerating, he states that as early as age five he remembers his father waking him up on a Saturday morning to go haul horse manure for the family garden, and that he and his siblings \\\"wore out shovels\\\" spading that manure into the ground. Working a five year old that hard is child abuse, amen; one of the foolproof methods for perverting the human race is childhood abuse/emotional deprivation. (Another foolproof method is drug use).\\n\\n[Oops: I started this review during a short window of opportunity but do not have enough time to finish it. I will have to save it for now and complete it later. My bad!]\\n\\n[12/21/15] Continuing: I have studied the issue of spiritual deception for 20 years and have noticed that there are recurrent patterns in the mode, method and context which distinguish spiritual deception from divine revelation. (This is why the similarity between Paul Gautschi and the man Greg I mentioned is not unimportant but, instead, extremely relevant.) One of the most prevalent is the idea that the INDIVIDUAL controls the relationship between himself and God.\\n\\nI was raised understanding that although God was there to listen to my prayers and to form my character into that of Christ's (if my desire was sincere), He was Lord and Master of the Universe and certainly had no obligation to RESPOND to anyone! As a young person I experienced His response only as the insight that since I was becoming more mature and Christlike in character, my prayers were being answered (which implied divine activity). But I would have considered it blasphemous for anyone to expect a direct response from God (I was unaware until much later in life that there were people who claimed to hear directly from God) so I certainly never expected God to communicate to me directly. I mean, who am I in the great scheme of things, when God has the entire Universe to oversee?\\n\\nI did eventually experience direct revelation from God, surprisingly -- beginning in my mid-30's after a lifetime of walking humbly in a path of His creation -- but God is always the one who initiates communication and it is always about what HE wants to communicate, not what I might think to ask (if I thought it appropriate to ask, which I do not). And He does not communicate orally, as a voice: it is my personal belief that God does not communicate in the form of a voice precisely to distinguish His revelation from the signs of mental illness (since \\\"hearing voices\\\" is a primary indicator of aberrant psychology: schizophrenia, etc.). I might be wrong, but it is something to consider.\\n\\nPaul Gautschi, on the other hand, believes he has the right to control his relationship with \\\"god.\\\" \\\"God\\\" is always there to answer Gautschi's questions on Gautschi's timetable (i.e., whenever Gautschi wants an answer): \\\"I said to God, 'How am I going to grow food without water?' And it was so incredible, I hear inside, He says, 'Well, you're looking at the wrong thing. Turn around and look at your trees.' And I pushed enough out when I built the house that I knew they had shallow roots, and I said, 'You know, God, you really have my attention. If you can show me how you do those without irrigation, I can do an orchard.' And \\\"god\\\" proceeds to do Gautschi's bidding, like a genie in a bottle.\\n\\nConversely, Gautschi feels free to tell \\\"god\\\" when \\\"god\\\" needs to stay out of his life -- and \\\"god\\\" obediently complies: \\\"As I was doing this orchard, experiencing these incredible results, because I was a creature of habit and our nature is to do things as we were taught, and not to enquire from God, I says, 'Okay, God, thanks for the help, but I can handle this on my own.' And so for the first 17 years I was out here diligently roto-tilling, hauling in organic material -- and I'm doing this stuff, on a treadmill, just running in place going nowhere . . . . Then one day I got out into my orchard -- I don't know what motivated me -- I got down on my knees and started moving these wood chips. I'm down to my elbows in this beautiful black compost and I got up and started screaming, I was so angry. I said, 'There's something wrong with this picture: I have been KILLING myself to get this in my garden and I don't have it.' And I hear inside, 'Well, it works in your garden the same way, but you didn't ask.' I was so angry. I threw that tiller away, and I started covering my garden with wood chips.\\\"\\n\\nThe real God is not at our beck and call and He doesn't play cruel 'hide and seek' games like Paul Gautschi's \\\"god.\\\" We are not in control of our relationship with Him, and He does not pop up and answer questions we pose -- on our agenda, our timetable. In this regard Gautschi reveals that his idea of god is exactly like that of Neal Donald Walsch, the deceived New Age guru who published Conversations with God in the mid 1990's (and apparently came out with a new book in 2014 which I have not read). \\\"God\\\" spoke to Walsch -- a non-believer who had never given God the time of day -- directly for the first time after Walsch indulged in an angry tirade against Him, accusing Him as being the reason for all of Walsch's problems. It is completely repugnant to imagine that God would lower himself to respond to anyone in that situation, as if God had anything to prove to Neal Donald Walsch!\\n\\nAnd it is repugnant to me that Gautschi believes the One True God, the Creator of the Universe, would stoop to having the type of conversation set forth above (which I quote verbatim from Back to Eden). Gautschi's lack of awe and pedestrian familiarity with his \\\"god\\\" is off-putting, to say the least.\",\n \"Product: Chhotu is an intelligent boy who belongs to a poor family in Rajasthan. Born into poverty, he is forced to find work at a roadside food stall under the somewhat kind owner, Bhati. Chhotu is quick to learn and impresses Bhati with his abilities. Near the food stall is a heritage hotel in the palace of an erstwhile royal family. Chhotu strikes up a friendship with the lonely Prince of the royal family, but the Prince is forbidden by his father from mixing with commoners.One day Chhotu watches President Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam on television and it inspires him. Chhotu changes his name to Kalam and decides he wants to meet the president. He studies in his spare time and writes a speech for the Prince for a contest. The speech wins first prize at the contest, but soon after palace guards search Kalam's room and find the Prince's clothes. Kalam is labeled a thief and the rest of the story deals with how his actions lead to his destiny.Even though Kalam is accused of being a thief, he does not reveal the source of his clothes in order to protect the Prince from his father. Kalam hitches a ride to New Delhi where he tries to meet the President. Meanwhile, the Prince tells his father that it was he who gave the clothes to Kalam and that Kalam wrote the speech which earned first prize. The nominal King realizes his mistake and sends the prince to find Kalam in New Delhi. Kalam is found near the India Gate and is brought back home. The King tells him that he can study in the same school as the Prince and employs Kalam's mother as well.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Everyone should watch this beautiful movie full of hope and positive values\\n\\nReview: It is true that western civilization has exported its share of insidious values to countries considered \\\"lesser developed,\\\" but this movie celebrates an important POSITIVE western value: that an individual life is not predetermined by \\\"destiny\\\" and that, instead, each of us creates our lives by our actions, choices and decisions. To believe that one is powerless over the circumstances of his own life is a defeatist attitude plaguing individuals in EVERY culture (to be sure) but it continues to be culturally enforced in countries like India where the caste system was once entrenched.\\n\\nChhotu (who eventually changes his name to Kalam) is a 9 or 10 year old Indian boy \\\"with a mind as quick as a train\\\" born to a single mother in a small, famine-plagued village. To repay debt, Chhotu's mother hires him out to work in an outdoor cafe: she chides him that school is \\\"not in the destiny\\\" of a poor family like theirs, but Chhotu/Kalam believes in himself and in his dream of growing up to be an educated man of importance. He never lies and never gives up on himself -- and, in the end, accomplishes his goals despite seemingly insurmountable obstacles.\\n\\nI don't want to say more because this movie deserves to be discovered on its own, without advance spoilers.\",\n \"Product: From La Femme Nikita and The Professional to The Fifth Element, writer/director Luc Besson has created some of the toughest, most memorable female action heroes in cinematic history. Now, Besson directs Scarlett Johansson in Lucy, an action-thriller that tracks a woman accidentally caught in a dark deal who turns the tables on her captors and transforms into a merciless warrior evolved beyond human logic. Lucy also stars Academy Award winner Morgan Freeman.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Two different genres of B film wrapped together into one silly and pointless plot\\n\\nReview: This movie was so, so, bad. The violence -- which begins about 5 minutes into the film and never lets up -- is horrific and completely detracts from the science fiction (though the science fiction is laughably unbelievable). Really, this movie is like two completely bad movies rolled up into one: one bad movie is for those who love gore and violence, and the other bad movie is for those who like absurd science fiction. Why Scarlett Johansson and Morgan Freeman chose to act in this movie is beyond me.\\n\\nThe ending line of the movie is similarly bad (but hysterical): it's Scarlett Johansson's character saying, \\\"This is life: now you know what to do with it.\\\" Uh, excuse me? What did this movie teach us about living life? That if we are willing to gamble by taking a bucket-load of freaky new drugs (that no one knows anything about) we might, just might, end up becoming super-genius Lords of the Universe? Lol\",\n \"Product: The Identical is a redemptive movie about a young man, the son of a preacher, who rejects his father s desire for him to join the ministry and instead embarks on a career as a rock singer. As he struggles to pursue his dream and rise to stardom, he finds love, pain, success and failure, and ultimately uncovers a hidden family secret that reveals who he really is. It s a captivating story about a family restored, and a life discovered.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Families: pass this one up for other far better movies\\n\\nReview: I almost gave this 3-stars, but what I really didn't like -- and which caused me to give 2 stars instead -- is the whole weird Elvis connection. Elvis had a twin brother (Jesse Garon) who died at birth, and the death of this twin messed with Elvis' head his entire life. I feel this film was COMPLETELY based on the idea of \\\"what if\\\" Elvis' parents lied to him that his twin died and that, instead, he was alive and well somewhere out there. This would be a twist on the \\\"Elvis is still alive\\\" whacko belief so many diehard fans had for so many years.\\n\\nThe parallels to Elvis' life were so obvious and so distracting that I couldn't really care about the characters/story in the film; i.e., all I could think about was 1) is Elvis' life the real subplot, and 2) if so, why in the world did anyone decide to make this movie?\\n\\nSetting the issues regarding Elvis aside, the story itself was sappy, sentimental, contrived, and unbelievable. I resent the pandering mentality which sought to get this movie watched by labeling it \\\"a family film.\\\"\",\n \"Product: Maggie (Melissa McCarthy), a single mother, moves into a new home in Brooklyn with her 12-year old son, Oliver (Jaeden Lieberher). Forced to work long hours, she has no choice but to leave Oliver in the care of their new neighbor, Vincent (Bill Murray), a retired curmudgeon with a desire for alcohol and gambling. An odd friendship soon blossoms between the improbable pair. Together with a pregnant stripper, named Daka (Naomi Watts), Vincent brings Oliver along on all the stops that make up his daily routine - the racetrack, a strip club, and the local dive bar. Vincent helps Oliver grow to become a man, while Oliver begins to see in Vincent something that no one else is able to: a misunderstood man with a good heart.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: It is sad that this movie holds up the Vincent character as a role model and \\\"saint\\\"\\n\\nReview: Definitely not a comedy, and many parts of the film just make you cringe. Bill Murray's character is too inconsistent to be believable. I can believe a saintly man being crotchety, a drinker and an occasional gambler -- but insisting that Melissa McCarthy's financially struggling character pay him for a fence he knew he demolished himself? Or stealing prescription medications and selling them to a drug dealer so casually, like he did it with no conscience whatsoever? I've lived with deeply flawed human beings who felt they had to be \\\"cruel to be kind\\\" but they were never as inconsistent as this guy, and when it's all said and done, I would never label them \\\"saints\\\" even though they were capable (at times) of being genuinely selfless..\\n\\nJust glad I did not watch this with my kids. I agree with other reviewers that the best part of the film is Bill Murray's mumbled singing at the end during the credits. THAT part was realistic and made me chuckle.\",\n \"Product: Lucy Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy (Steelbook)\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Two different genres of B film wrapped together into one silly and pointless plot\\n\\nReview: This movie was so, so, bad. The violence -- which begins about 5 minutes into the film and never lets up -- is horrific and completely detracts from the science fiction (though the science fiction is laughably unbelievable). Really, this movie is like two completely bad movies rolled up into one: one bad movie is for those who love gore and violence, and the other bad movie is for those who like absurd science fiction. Why Scarlett Johansson and Morgan Freeman chose to act in this movie is beyond me.\\n\\nThe ending line of the movie is similarly bad (but hysterical): it's Scarlett Johansson's character saying, \\\"This is life: now you know what to do with it.\\\" Uh, excuse me? What did this movie teach us about living life? That if we are willing to gamble by taking a bucket-load of freaky new drugs (that no one knows anything about) we might, just might, end up becoming super-genius Lords of the Universe? Lol\",\n \"Product: John Paul and Wayne are two young men in search of their fathers. Problem is their fathers have been dead for 25 years. Eddie and Steven are two young men in search of their sons whom they've never met. In 1969, Eddie and Steven are with their squad deep in the jungle of Vietnam on a five-day mission to retrieve fallen comrades. They write letters to their wives, often mentioning their love for their sons, one, who is an infants and one yet to be born. In 1994, John Paul and Wayne go on a five-day road trip to the Vietnam Wall in Washington DC to see their fathers' names. Along the way, reading those letters, they begin to get an understanding of who their fathers were and how they died. Trials and mishaps, both funny and sad, complicate the road trip for the boys. The horrors of war and the testing of faith manifest themselves for the young men in Vietnam. Ultimately, in parallel stories 25 years apart the fathers and sons are bound together forever.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Stupid, facile, unbelievable, don't waste your time\\n\\nReview: I can usually watch almost any movie all the way to the end -- but not this one. It was a waste of time. First, I am so sick and tired of the stereotypes one finds so often in Christian films. For example, to stress that modern day Christian women are not expected to be 'barefoot and pregnant,' Christian films often swing to the opposite extreme and portray women (like John's fiancee) as hopelessly unable to perform the most basic of domestic chores. [I'm pretty sure this same stereotype was used in The Resurrection of Gavin Stone, another recent Christian film.] Please, give me a break. The opening scene of, \\\"Honey, please don't cook: let's order pizza!\\\" (because she is a horrible cook) was stupid and insulting.\\n\\nSecond, the story line was idiotic. Like John is REALLY going to fly across the country three weeks before his wedding to confront (whomever answers the door) because after a lifetime of not knowing anything about his father, he just CAN'T wait 24 hours to see if he can get the guy he's trying to reach (Wayne) on the phone? And he is REALLY going to sit outside all day waiting on Wayne to let him in the house and talk to him? And Wayne has absolutely nothing going on in his life that he can spur of the moment say \\\"We're going to Washington D.C.\\\" with a total stranger -- the same total stranger he made wait outside an entire day before he would deign to even speak to him? And you are REALLY going to leave your car empty, with keys in the ignition, with complete strangers you picked up as hitchhikers the day before milling around with easy access to it? No one is that trusting.\\n\\nAnd, like, REALLY that every letter Wayne's father writes home from Vietnam is going to be completely about how wonderful John's father is, a man who is a total stranger to his family? Give me a break. So unbelievable.\\n\\nThird, the 'humor' was juvenile, predictable and HOKEY TO THE MAX -- as it often is in Christian films, which is so sad and embarrassing. About the time the hitchhikers stole the car, I couldn't take any more. My reaction was, \\\"Clearly this movie isn't going to get any better or more realistic; why waste any further time?\\\"\",\n \"Product: Sundance Film Festival winner and Brazil's official Oscar submission. When the estranged daughter of a hard-working live-in housekeeper suddenly appears, the unspoken class barriers that exist within the home are thrown into disarray.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Excellent film despite the slightly unsatisfying ending\\n\\nReview: I totally enjoyed this film -- though the ending was kind of a let down. I was left wondering how in the world Val was going to support her daughter and her grandson without a job. Up to that point I thought the movie was excellent, and the actions of Val's employer Dona Barbara were so, so, so true to life. I have met many individuals who are as passive-aggressively petty as Dona Barbara, and it was gratifying to see that whomever wrote this screenplay has met a few as well. A very worthwhile film, and Val was simply hilarious at times.\\n\\nA mash up I would love to see: self-effacing Val working alongside Wanda Sykes' brash maid character from Chris Rock's Down to Earth. Wanda Sykes' maid would eat Val alive for breakfast, and it would be a hilarious pairing.\",\n \"Product: A has-been rock manager from Van Nuys, California stumbles upon a once-in-a-lifetime voice in a remote Afghan cave in Rock the Kasbah, a dramatic comedy inspired by stranger-than-fiction, real-life events and directed by Oscar winner Barry Levinson. Richie Lanz (Bill Murray), dumped and stranded in war-torn Kabul by his last remaining client (Zooey Deschanel), discovers Salima Khan (Leem Lubany), a Pashtun teenager with a beautiful voice and the courageous dream of becoming the first woman to compete on national television in Afghanistan's version of American Idol. Richie partners with a savvy hooker (Kate Hudson), a pair of hard-partying war profiteers (Danny McBride and Scott Caan) and a hair-trigger mercenary (Bruce Willis) and, braving dangerous cultural prejudices, manages his new protge into becoming the \\\"Afghan Star.\\\"\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: A surprisingly wonderful film despite a few flaws\\n\\nReview: I did not have high expectations for this movie, especially after watching how it begins (with Bill Murray's character Richie Lanz lying to an older woman with a weird singing style that she \\\"has talent\\\" just so he can bilk her out of a promoter fee of $1,200). I thought, \\\"Another cheesy little film with a plot derivative of all other cheesy little films, I am sure.\\\" But over and over again the film proved me wrong.\\n\\nSure, I could have done without the Pretty-Woman-cliche Kate Hudson plays (prostitute who is not only drop-dead gorgeous but classy and smart about business) and many other improbable aspects of the plot. But still: Zooey Deschanel's character is hilarious, the first time you see Bruce Willis he is genuinely scary and psycho-looking (after that his character is never again scary or even interesting), the story is not at all predictable (until near the end) . . . BUT! The real gem is Bill Murray, who is just HILARIOUS. For me, Bill Murray is not always a joy to watch, but he certainly is in this film.\\n\\nThis could literally be one of Bill Murray's finest performances, and that is saying a lot. Groundhog Day may be a better movie, but the character Bill Murray plays in Groundhog Day is not as funny as the character he plays in this movie, Rock the Kasbah. I am serious. Being upbeat and always able to see the silver lining in every situation is Richie Lanz' job as a promoter, Bill Murray is completely believable as Richie Lanz, and Richie Lanz is, quite simply, very fun to watch. This film is a comedy because Bill Murray is the star AND the 'comic relief.'\\n\\nYou know why this film has so few 4 & 5 star reviews? Because the film is sympathetic towards natives of Afghanistan and realistically portrays the devastation which U.S. involvement in that country has wrought -- period. Too many Americans do not want to be reminded of the negative consequences of our military presence, and the discomfort this film no doubt causes them completely outweighs the humor of the story. At least that is my conclusion, based on things I have read in Amazon reviews.\",\n \"Product: While a British film crew are shooting a version of The Duchess Of Malfi in Venice, they in turn are being filmed by a sleasy documentary primadonna while the strange staff share meals which consist of human meat. Then there is the hit man, the call girl and the hollywood producer all amnaging to become part of the madness...\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: There is a reason that almost 60% of those who watch this film hate it!\\n\\nReview: The 5 star reviews make a few good points and the 1 star reviews make many good points . . . meaning that a few ideas/moments in the film deserve 5 stars, but many, many more -- most actually -- deserve a 1 star rating. (BTW, I've almost never encountered anything more hated by Amazon reviewers than this film! Almost 60% of those who watch this film hate it, and it is NOT because none of us know how to identify 'good film-making' or that we do not understand the cutting-edge creativity of independent film-making. Please: cut the 'art film pretentiousness' already).\\n\\nI would have been generous and given this film 3 stars EXCEPT the light pornography about 30-40 minutes in completely destroyed what little interest the film had generated and caused me to turn it off for good. I mean, there is so much which is horrible and wrong with this film that it was barely keeping me interested ANYWAY, but then it had to divide into 4-scenes-at-once (4 picture-within-a-picture boxes containing different scenes) with each simultaneously depicting a different scenario of light porn? No, no, no. This was supposed to be a horror/mystery film -- or so the back of the DVD case indicated. If your film is so bad you need to induce lasciviousness in your audience just to keep them watching, please, next time, just SCRAP THE PROJECT, okay? My teen sons were watching with me and they don't need to see that crap. (Note: many parents watch R-rated films with their teens because that's infinitely better than the teen watching alone or with other teens: a parent can discuss what needs to be discussed about the film as it progresses, as well as decide if, and when, it is time to simply turn the movie off).\\n\\nOne final comment: how in the hell did this director get so many A list actors to participate in this farce of a film? Was there even a script? Were any of the actors given the opportunity, before signing on, to actually READ the script? Did they give John Malkovich a fake script such that he thought there was actually a real MOVIE with a PLOT attached to his one (interesting, yet bizarre) scene? Did any of these actors sue after the completed film was released because it was not at all what it had been represented to be, upfront? Enquiring minds want to know! (P.S. Since I did not watch the entire film, maybe John Malkovich had more than his one scene at the very beginning . . . but I suspect he did not.)\\n\\nFor those of you who are going to hate on me because of what I said about the 'eroticism' of this film: true eroticism is something completely different than sex used to manipulate an audience. A woman dipping her bare breasts into glasses of milk in order to arouse a man is just weird, not erotic. A woman wearing a miniskirt and no panties who pulls a gun from between her legs (insinuating that she had it up inside her) is crass and gross, not erotic. Showing disembodied female legs parting to permit the entry of a disembodied hand while simultaneously portraying a nude man and other sexual imagery in separate picture boxes) is pornography, not eroticism.\",\n \"Product: Size for personal use, this double-sided dry-erase coordinate grid board is perfect for teaching or practicing graphing\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Very Helpful Product for students learning how to construct graphs\\n\\nReview: My homeschooled 8th grader doesn't like to draw and used to moan when he had to construct a graph on graph paper. His graphs started out very sloppy and wasted a lot of paper. Of course he just had to practice, practice, practice to get better at drawing graphs -- but buying this Dry-Erase Coordinate Grid Board helped the learning process immensely (for both of us).\\n\\nFor example, as we were going over his work together (after I had already graded it) it made it virtually painless for him to redo graphs which needed to be redone -- or I could quickly show him how it should have been done -- and then with a few quick swipes of the eraser we are ready to do another. Being able to construct graphs so painlessly and quickly boosted his confidence tremendously, and he is much more confident now when constructing a graph on regular graph paper.\\n\\nThe back of the board is blank and we use it routinely as a white board during other lessons. Small paper-sized white boards are so convenient for many subject areas -- like diagramming sentences or other grammar work -- and it is like you get two white boards for the price of one with this product: one which is a coordinate grid and one which is blank.\\n\\nHighly recommended for homeschoolers who are studying Pre-Algebra, Algebra or Geometry.\",\n \"Product: See You in the Cosmos\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Fun to read for 200 pages, but then becomes something I cannot recommend\\n\\nReview: When I first began reading I was super-excited about this book, and hoped it would remain just as enjoyable to the end so I could give it 4 or 5 stars and then recommend it to my 14-year-old son as a book to add to his summer reading list. But the novelty and 'cute' factor of this novel wore out by page 200, and the rest of the book was a slog I endured just to get it finished.\\n\\nThe stream-of-consciousness narration gets old, and I agree with several 3 star reviewers that there is too much adult subject matter in the second half of the book. But here is what bothers me the most (and is why my 3 star review went down to a 2 star review): I completely disagree with the 'Big Idea' the author apparently wants us to take away from the story: that sometimes the most loving thing an abusive father can do for his family is utterly abandon them. AU CONTRAIRE. Here is the text:\\n\\n(pp. 279-80). The story gradually reveals that Alex and Ronnie were abandoned by their abusive father, causing their mother to slip farther into mental illness. Ronnie theorizes that maybe their dad made a loving sacrifice when he abandoned them:\\n\\nRonnie: \\\"He had to do what was best for the family, even if that meant that he wouldn't get to see them. Even if it hurt him that he wouldn't get to be with them. He had to take responsibility -- real responsibility for his actions. That's what it means to be an adult.\\\"\\n\\nAlex: \\\"So then, when we really love someone, we have to sacrifice getting to be with them?\\\"\\n\\nRonnie: \\\"No, not always. Not usually. But sometimes . . . sometimes it's the only way. Sometimes when we really love someone we have to leave them, because it's better for them than if we stayed.\\\"\\n\\nAlex: \\\"It's like how we have to go to Mars.\\\"\\n\\nRonnie: \\\"What?\\\"\\n\\nAlex: \\\"So the earth is dying because of things that we did, right? Things that humans did. And we KEEP hurting it, and the forests are disappearing and the oceans are rising and animals are going extinct, so maybe that's why we have to colonize Mars. We have to leave Earth so Earth can get better again.\\\"\\n\\nUhh . . . NO, NO, NO. As an aside, as much as I love science, the belief that humans are going to colonize Mars is escapist fantasy, not worthy of anyone's time and energy. But back to the issue of a father abandoning his family: it is cowardice for anyone to convince him- or her- self that it is noble or loving to abandon someone. If you are abusive and know that you are hurting those you love, then have the humility to admit that to their faces and to do what is necessary to get help. Getting help may well include moving out of the house (to keep your loved ones out of harm's way) but that is NOT the same thing as leaving and never again communicating or doing anything to demonstrate love and support!\\n\\nI have an ex-husband who abandoned us eight years ago in 2009: we don't even know where he lives now and have no way to contact him. I divorced him because he was abusive, and he continued to create havoc in our lives when he lived close by and we saw him regularly, so yes in many ways it is far better that he is completely out of our lives. And, yes, I am sure he would love to read the sentiment expressed in this novel, because I am sure he has at times rationalized that he is being noble by ignoring us, and that HE is the one harmed by his \\\"sacrifice.\\\"\\n\\nBut any person who has had to single parent children in a situation similar to mine knows that is COMPLETE AND TOTAL BS: it is abusive to completely ignore your children. It is abusive to never contact them, to never say \\\"I'm sorry I am not around,\\\" or \\\"I love you and miss you.\\\" It is abusive to never acknowledge birthdays or holidays and never send them at least a small gift (or even a letter). It abusive to manipulate for yourself a woefully inadequate child support obligation (only $200 a month!) and then, outrageously, even refuse to pay that piddling amount.\\n\\nThus, even if this book were a better read I would not recommend it to a preteen because of the author's inaccurate and dysfunctional idea of \\\"sacrificial love.\\\" An abuser who abandons his family has simply chosen a different form for his abuse: his action of abandonment is motivated by the same narcissism and psychological dysfunction which motivated the in-person abuse. There has been no remorse, and notions of \\\"love\\\" and/or \\\"sacrifice\\\" play no role in EITHER scenario. Period.\",\n \"Product: Guaranteed to work or your money back - PLEASE NOTE ALL MONIES FROM THIS SALE GO TO A 501 (C)3 NO KILL ANIMAL SHELTER\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Decent for Homeschooling, but better for 4th grade instead of 5th\\n\\nReview: This is an okay science book for a 5th grade homeschooler, though I think it oversimplifies and would be better for a 4th grader. Because I am homeschooling a 7th grader as well as a 5th grader and they are doing Science together, we haven't used this text much because it is WAY too simplified for a 7th grader (duh), plus we've concentrated primarily on Earth Science and Chemistry this year and neither of those topics are addressed much by this book. (Though we plan to begin Life Science/Biology/Botany in a few weeks and the first half of the book is devoted to Life Science topics, so I am sure we will use it a little more in the near future.)\\n\\nWe also purchased the workbook and I'm not sure whether to recommend it: it duplicates the text considerably and is probably not necessary, though we've used it some. I'll update later with a firmer recommendation on that.\\n\\nI know that many homeschooling familes dislike using textbooks, and we don't use them as much as I thought we would (we are nearing the end of our first year homeschooling and before that my children attended public school). With science we primarily do experiments and read from other sources, plus we skip around a lot in our studies, which doesn't work well if you are trying to systematically work through a textbook. But taking notes from a textbook is something all college students have to do, so I found this cool tip online about how to use textbooks in a homeschool setting as a supplemental learning technique which also helps to groom a child's college study skills: it's called Textbook Response.\\n\\nEach son has a Textbook Response Journal (a dedicated spiral notebook for that purpose) which has the instructions for Textbook Response written inside the front cover. My sons get a Textbook Response assignment in Science (that's the only subject we're doing textbook response with right now, but I will likely expand it to other subjects next year) sometimes every week, but usually once every two weeks. In addition to making an outline (2 or 3 layer depending on child's skill level), here are the instructions for the written \\\"response\\\" expected each time they read in a textbook:\\n\\nTextbook: (we use multiple textbooks, so it is not always the same one)\\nDate: Pages assigned: Pages Read Today:\\n\\nChapter Title:\\nSubheading:\\nList one important idea learned from subheading\\n\\nSubheading:\\nList one important idea learned from subheading\\n[and so on]\\n\\nAfter reading the entire assignment, write a paragraph (minimum 5 sentences) summarizing what was read. [The end]\\n\\nThis was an easy way to start them documenting textbook reading assignments, but I can already see where it needs to be broadened to include adding new vocabulary to a Word Locker/Glossary [we learned about Word Lockers from Spelling Workout where words not yet mastered carry over from week to week in a list called the Word Locker], and possibly a brainstorming list where the child notes questions/ideas for research/further study.\\n\\nMy 5th grader's summaries are really only one or two sentences, but we're working on that! We're also working on learning how to take notes (of any kind: from notes made while listening to a presentation of material to notes made while reading) because neither of my sons came out of public school knowing how to take notes and/or to consistently identify the main ideas presented.\\n\\nOne last note specifically about this textbook: something we noticed today as my 5th grader read the chapter on Land Biomes.\\nThe majority of sources we've consulted divide forest biomes into Coniferous, Deciduous and Tropical Rain Forest. This book calls Coniferous forests \\\"taiga\\\" -- which is fine, they mean the same thing -- but what bothers me is that it not only does not mention that a taiga is the same as a coniferous forest, it doesn't even MENTION -- ever -- the words \\\"cone\\\" or \\\"coniferous\\\" when discussing the needle-leafed evergreen trees which compose a taiga. The authors were clearly pursing an agenda that students will NOT refer to this biome as a Coniferous Forest, yet, as I have said, Coniferous Forest is a widely used label the student needs to know because he/she will encounter it elsewhere. We find this type of obtuse idiocy often in science textbooks written for younger students, and it is annoying in the extreme to homeschooling families who consult multiple sources while learning! Attention textbook authors: agendas have no place in education!\\n\\nWe are not finished using this textbook and I will update this review to include anything else of note which we encounter.\",\n \"Product: TEXTBOOK FOR 7TH AND 8TH GRADE MATH...ARITHEMTIC WITH WHOLE NUMBERS AND MONEY-FRACTIONS AND PERCENTS-LINES AND ANGLES-POLYGONS-AND MUCH MUCH MORE..\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: A good book, but could be better . . .\\n\\nReview: This is our first year homeschooling (5th and 7th grade). Basically my sons are doing well using Saxon for math, and since we are on a tight budget, I went with this older version of Saxon 87 for my 7th grader.\\n\\nOne drawback, though. Each lesson opens with a Problem Solving word problem. My son had no idea how to solve the following problem in Lesson 28: \\\"When Bill, Phil, Jill, and Gil entered the room they found four chairs waiting for them, so they each took a seat. One minute later they traded seats. Then they traded seats again and again. If they don't move the chairs but only move themselves, how many seating arrangements are possible?\\\"\\n\\nLong story short: none of the Saxon books had any explanation of how to do this sort of problem solving. I had the answer from the Solutions Manual (4 x 3 x 2 x 1 = 24) but no explanation as to why this is the way to solve the problem. I finally discovered in Algebra to Go (an Algebra math terms reference book) that this is a Statistics/Data Analysis problem called a permutation. None of the Saxon books we own (54, 65, 76, 87) mention the word 'permutation' much less explain how to solve a permutation problem.\\n\\nMy younger son encountered a similar problem in Saxon 54: the student was asked to compute a percentage without Saxon first providing instruction on how to do this, and I finally had to xerox the steps for computing percent out of a GED workbook in order to help him complete his Saxon 54 assignment. We love Saxon math overall, but I'm just saying . . . Saxon is not flawless.\",\n \"Product: Confronting and solving problems is a painful process, which most of us attempt to avoid. And the very avoidance results in greater pain and an inability to grow both mentally and spiritually. Drawing heavily upon his own professional experience, Dr M Scott Peck, a practicing psychiatrist, suggests ways in which confronting and resolving our problems - and suffering through the changes - can enable us to reach a higher level of self-understanding. Dr Peck discusses the nature of loving relationships: how to recognize true compatibility; how to distinguish dependency from love; how to become one's own person; how to be a more sensitive partner.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Ditto that this should be required reading for all humans\\n\\nReview: I have read this book three times during my 50 years on this planet, each time gaining new insights. The maturity gained with age absolutely improves the lessons learned from reading this book. The first time I read it -- in my late 20's -- I thought it was a good read filled with solid wisdom, but nothing 'that' special. It wasn't until the second time I read it (in my mid 30's and in the midst of much upheaval in my personal life) that I finally got it how special this book is, and I proceeded to read everything else by Dr. Peck that I could get my hands on. Then when I read it for the third time in my mid 40's I experienced several new 'aha' moments with respect to several passages I SWEAR I had never read before -- though, of course, I had read them twice before. Clearly I had not yet experienced enough in life for the truth of those passages to click for me as they finally did.\\n\\nNow I am 50, and I am sure that at some point in the next few years I will read this again -- and, no doubt, again experience 'aha' moments from passage which did not fully register earlier in life. Dr. Peck's wisdom and insight is JUST THAT DEEP and on point. If you are over the age of 30, please gift yourself the gift of reading this book. If you are under the age of 30, I'd wait a few years: I DO believe that a certain amount of life experience is required to appreciate Dr. Peck's insights -- and, of course, he did not write this book until he himself was of a mature age (I don't think he was younger than 48, though I don't recall his age exactly).\\n\\nUPDATE: Dr. Peck was 42 when The Road Less Traveled was published, so a little younger than I thought.\",\n \"Product: Book\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: Good only as a case study of the aberrational thought of someone with OCD\\n\\nReview: I am 54 and have been keeping house for over 25 years, usually while also working a job outside my home, and currently raising two teen boys on my own. Because I also aspire to do many things with my life besides work, cook and clean house, I'm always open to new ideas to make domestic chores more efficient. But, unfortunately, I found nothing of value in this book.\\n\\nFirst, I agree with the other 1 star reviews which complain that the book is mostly filler -- amen, I agree. By page 34 I had already read the same ideas repeatedly, and they were ideas anyone who has ever kept house already knows: discard what you do not really need, find a place for everything you do need, then keep everything in its place. Wow. We needed a new book to tell us THAT?\\n\\nSecond, many of the things Marie Kondo says are just plain wrong. For example, it is idiotic to state that completely de-cluttering your home once will so change your life and perspective that you will never struggle with clutter again. Omg. It has been my experience, to the contrary, that most people will slide right back, over a period of time, into whatever clutter situation they first were in which caused them to engage in a radical, all-encompassing purge and tidying. Kondo is deceiving herself if she honestly believes every client she has ever 'helped' has never backslid into a similar clutter situation months or years down the road DESPITE having followed her strategy.\\n\\nFor example, twenty years ago I became friends with an elderly painter who had become something of a hermit and quasi-hoarder. You could barely wade through his apartment because of the stacks of ancient newspapers, objects he never used, etc. He was embarrassed for me to see it, but genuinely believed that if someone could help him get the apartment back to a 'clean slate' state of tidiness, he would be so ecstatic he would definitely act to keep it in that condition. (Something Marie Kondo SWEARS is a guaranteed outcome: i.e., that one major purge and tidying event will so change your perspective that you will never again struggle with clutter.)\\n\\nEager to do a good deed for someone who seemed to deserve it, I recruited 5 or 6 friends and over a weekend we helped him sort through everything, discard 60-75% of the stuff laying around, and get the apartment so tidy it was almost minimalist in aspect. The man was ecstatic, felt he had a new lease on life -- and, yes, for awhile his new living space energized him and seemed to radically transform his life. But, as with most people (I'd say 85-90%!), within a few months the 'blush had faded from the rose' and the man began to slip back into the same old habits and patterns that caused his apartment to look the way I had originally encountered it.\\n\\nWhen I re-entered his apartment again 6 - 9 months later, it was obvious he was solidly back on track towards re-creating the horrendous state of widespread clutter. It was disgusting, sad and demoralizing (to me, but apparently not to him). What seemed even sadder is that he struck me as completely oblivious to the fact that he had resumed all the same bad habits he swore he would never indulge again. In the end, I have to say sorry, Marie Kondo: you just can't teach most old dogs new tricks.\\n\\nFinally, I also agree with the one star reviewers who suspect that Marie Kondo may suffer from psychological illness. I saw indications of that by page 34, long before any anthropomorphic discussions about socks and other possessions. She said that when she came home from school in junior high, she headed straight to whatever area of the house she had pre-planned to organize that day, not even stopping to change out of her school uniform. This is highly abnormal behavior which DOES NOT attest to a positive interest in tidying but, instead, to an unhealthy OCD-type aberration. I feel very sorry for Marie Kondo, but what she considers 'years of research and study of principles of tidying and organization' I would label, instead, 'compulsive, unnecessary activity which did nothing to advance her understanding of how to help clutter-prone individuals change their lives.'\",\n \"Product: This book is in good condition. The pages are all there, firmly attached and clean. There are no writing, marking or underlining visible. The binding is solid and tight. The front and back covers are good as well.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: How does this woman make a living at writing?\\n\\nReview: I really do not understand what anyone sees in Diane Schoemperlen's books, other than a kind of eccentric novelty. I read the first four 'stories' in this collection -- \\\"Forms of Devotion,\\\" \\\"Five Small Rooms (A Murder Mystery), \\\"Body Language\\\" and \\\"Innocent Objects\\\" -- and was completely underwhelmed, especially since the first three aren't even stories because there is no plot, no action, nothing going on! And the fourth story just barely has a plot.\\n\\nWhat Schoemperlen likes to do, it appears, is to write pages of elaborate description -- of arcane, meaningless objects -- and then frame those descriptions with a few narrative sentences, as window dressing, to provide the merest whiff of story . . . then bundle the pages off to her publisher, calling it \\\"a collection of stories.\\\" How she ever won awards, or continues to get published, is beyond me.\",\n \"Product: Another remarkable collection of poetry from one of America's masters of the medium. The first part gathers together poems of love and nostalgic memory, while Part II portrays confrontations inherent in a racist society.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: This book documents that Maya Angelou was not a gifted poet\\n\\nReview: I have spent my entire life having a great deal of respect for Maya Angelou for two reasons: I was moved by I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (which I read in college) and in my mid-30's I discovered her poem \\\"Still I Rise\\\" which I thought was wonderful. I also thought it was cool that she was in Roots, which is hands down one of the most important TV mini-series every produced and is still as fantastic today as it was 40+ years ago.\\n\\nBut. When I listened to the poem she wrote for Bill Clinton's inauguration, I was underwhelmed and could not understand why everyone thought it was so awesome. I thought maybe she just had a 'poetry fail' and the mediocre quality of that poem (if you could actually call it a poem) was an exception to the rule.\\n\\nThen recently I watched the excellent PBS biography of Ms. Angelou, 'Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise' and became interested in reading more of her poetry in order to make my own assessment. Sadly, reading the poetry in this book and several others, I realize I have been wrong to think so highly of her all of these years: her poetry is banal and at times lowers itself to being nothing more than dirty ditties [see, e.g., \\\"The Thirteens (Black)\\\" and \\\"The Thirteens (White)\\\" -- I see no redeeming qualities in either of those poems. You mean the Maya Angelou who always appeared smiling and like she was the sweetest, most benign presence on earth, was actually HATER???!!!! Wow did she really have most of us fooled, but good]\\n\\nOne hundred years from now I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings will likely still be read -- and Roots will definitely still be watched -- but other than that Maya Angelou's life and works will have solidly been relegated to the dustbin of history.\",\n \"Product: Fall in step with the Parker family as they travel the country investigating fossil graveyards. Learn how fossils are formed, found, and displayed. A full-color journey through a part of the earth's h\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: God Does Not Approve of Teaching Falsehood to Children Yet Calling it \\\"Science\\\"\\n\\nReview: I believe in God and that Jesus was His Son and Christ . . . but this book is garbage and does not serve God or the coming of His Kingdom in any way, shape or form. The Earth, it's biology and its history (disclosed via the geologic time scale) is the closest thing we have to a Bible written by God instead of by mankind . . . such that it is the greatest sin to ignore geologic facts in order to make Earth's geological history \\\"fit\\\" a warped interpretation of a Bible story.\\n\\nOn p. 13 the son asks his father how fossils of sea animals came to be located in rock located in present day Indiana, United States, North America. The self-proclaimed \\\"paleontologist\\\" father responds, \\\"Sediment is the mud or sand that settles from flood waters. Do you know of any flood big enough to wash ocean life all the way to Indiana?\\\" EEEEEHHHHH! (buzzer sound) Wrong answer, buddy. Sea creature fossils found in the middle of a landlocked continent are there because of the scientific principle of Plate Tectonics, which does not in any way suggest that one global flood during the past 1.8 million years is the cause of all strata containing fossilized remains. This is especially true since most of those fossilized remains are of animals which went extinct long before there could have ever lived a man named Noah (i.e., prior to 1.8 million years ago).\\n\\nEven if you take the position that all scientific theories are just that -- theories, not proven \\\"fact\\\" -- it is morally unacceptable to ignore all we know about geology (including Plate Tectonics) and teach your child, instead, that all fossils got where they are today because of The Flood referenced in the Bible. Noah and The Flood are just as much 'theory' as Plate Tectonics: why not teach your child that both viewpoints are 'theories' and then let he/she decide, with God's help, which seems more like Truth?\"\n]","isConversational":false},"profile_size":{"kind":"number","value":24,"string":"24"},"task":{"kind":"string","value":"longlamp_3"},"split_kind":{"kind":"string","value":"user_based"},"id":{"kind":"number","value":948,"string":"948"}}},{"rowIdx":949,"cells":{"question_id":{"kind":"string","value":"A3NHRA7WNL9I8N"},"question":{"kind":"string","value":"Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of \"1.0\" for a product with description \"J.R. Ward is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of numerous novels, including the Black Dagger Brotherhood series. She lives in the South with her family.\". The summary of the review text is \"Trying to cash in on reputation - Ward's fans deserve better\"."},"answer":{"kind":"string","value":"This story deserves a rating in the range of 0 to 3 stars depending on where you are in the story. The writing is erratic at best, the hero is noteworthy for being a first class d-bag, and the love story strains credulity at many points a long the way. Ms. Bird (aka J. R. Ward) justifies this mash up in her introductory letter to readers where she explains this was only the second book she'd published, she really didn't know what she was doing [and it shows] and she was not used to writing for a living and under a lot of pressure to make her deadlines. She then directs readers to aspects of the story that foreshadow her BDB characters. The problem is that her larger than life brothers from the BDB series are not human and thus can get away with a lot of crap mere mortals can not. Imagine juxtaposing one of those enigmatic BDB egos and personalities onto a NY venture capitalist, and you get the hero of the first 25% of this story - one of THE most unlikeable, un-empathetic, romantic leads ever written. Even though he eventually improves (though it so intermittent that it is as if an alien is struggling to take control of his mind), he starts off the story being so caustic, cynical and demeaning that a woman would be a fool to want him.\n\nAt the end of the day, however, this book deserves only one star because the author is trying to cash in on her success by re-releasing a story that should have been relegated to the trash. . . and is so arrogant that she thinks readers will flock to her earlier material just because SHE wrote it. Shame on Bird-Ward for taking such blatant advantage of her loyal readers by foisting a third-rate story onto an unsuspecting public. Her fans deserve better!"},"correct_answer":{"kind":"string","value":"This story deserves a rating in the range of 0 to 3 stars depending on where you are in the story. The writing is erratic at best, the hero is noteworthy for being a first class d-bag, and the love story strains credulity at many points a long the way. Ms. Bird (aka J. R. Ward) justifies this mash up in her introductory letter to readers where she explains this was only the second book she'd published, she really didn't know what she was doing [and it shows] and she was not used to writing for a living and under a lot of pressure to make her deadlines. She then directs readers to aspects of the story that foreshadow her BDB characters. The problem is that her larger than life brothers from the BDB series are not human and thus can get away with a lot of crap mere mortals can not. Imagine juxtaposing one of those enigmatic BDB egos and personalities onto a NY venture capitalist, and you get the hero of the first 25% of this story - one of THE most unlikeable, un-empathetic, romantic leads ever written. Even though he eventually improves (though it so intermittent that it is as if an alien is struggling to take control of his mind), he starts off the story being so caustic, cynical and demeaning that a woman would be a fool to want him.\n\nAt the end of the day, however, this book deserves only one star because the author is trying to cash in on her success by re-releasing a story that should have been relegated to the trash. . . and is so arrogant that she thinks readers will flock to her earlier material just because SHE wrote it. Shame on Bird-Ward for taking such blatant advantage of her loyal readers by foisting a third-rate story onto an unsuspecting public. Her fans deserve better!"},"documents":{"kind":"list like","value":["Product: Yamazaki's Median has generous polished handles combined with elegant tines, bowls and a pleasing blade makes this pattern a comfortable fit. Functional artistry at its best, our polished collection of unique full-featured patterns has been designed to distinctly complement both your everyday as well as more formal needs.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Too oversized, especially the knife\n\nReview: I am getting ready to return this flatware, not because of its looks or its quality but because of its size. If it was about 15% smaller, I would probably give this five stars and keep it. Instead, this oversized flatware looks like it was made for giants. At first I thought I was imagining things, so I got out a ruler. The flare at the base of the knife is over one inch wide and the knife is almost 10 inches long. I didn't bother to measure the depth of the knife base, but keep in mind it is a rounded handle. Furthermore, the bowl in the larger spoon is a good 1/2 to 3/4 inch longer than the larger spoon in my current flatware (a now discontinued WMF Cromargan pattern) which I always knew was larger than average. The two forks are okay, as is the teaspoon, and the finish and aesthetic of the pattern are exemplary --- but I can not get beyond the gargantuan nature of the knife.\n\nI thought I would go online to find new flatware to replace my 25 year old WMF, since I am missing too many pieces from my original set and the replacements are exorbitantly expensive. I hoped to let my fingers do the walking and not have to handle each piece ahead of time, but now I question my strategy. Moral of the story: if a website doesn't tell you the dimensions of each item in a place setting, ASK before you buy. Perspectives in photos are not always helpful when it comes to judging overall size.","Product: The LG LCS1410SW Counter-Top Microwave Oven has 1.4 cubic feet rounded interior with 1200 Watts of Power in a Premium Smooth White Finish. LG has created a microwave to fit simpler needs. Equipped with Sensor Cooking Technology that senses humidity levels within the oven and automatically adjusts cooking time and performance to provide superior heating performance. This microwave oven has 6 Sensor Cook Options and 6 Auto Cook Options with the convenient Add Time Controls that allow you to easily add time in 30 second or 1 minute increments. Plus, this LG microwave includes child lockout to prevent the oven from accidentally being started. You get the features you need with great performance. Keep cooking just how you like it, simple.\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: Buyer Beware! No \"reheat\" option, thus it is pretty useless\n\nReview: This is a good news, bad news review. Good news . . . I did a lot of research before purchasing, read compliants about comparable models, and think this one has JUST about everything one could want. I don't find it especially noisy, it seems to work fine, it looks good, has a light that comes on inside when in use and compared to many, many others I've seen or used, I find the controls easy to use. Since I want to keep this brief I'll just say that the day before Christmas our beloved (& large) 10-yr old Sharp carousel died - it had the best controls/options on the planet and since the type/model is no longer available I started researching other brands/makes/models for something that gave us at least some of the options we had with our Sharp, without costing an arm and a leg or including a convection oven. My first choice was another Sharp but we couldn't find the one we wanted in stock so we got this one instead, which was second on my buy list. Another bit of good news, it was inexpensive.\n\nNow for the Bad News: there is no reheat option. I confess, I didn't focus on this because the product description said there were auto-sensor cooking options and I read more into that than I should. There are some auto-sensing options --- there are two (!) defrost options, a butter melting option, and 6 autocook buttons - for bacon (!!), frozen muffins, fresh muffins, a beverage, chicken (!!) and hot cereal. [I can't understand some of these choices, in particular bacon where it is not only easy and quick to cook in a microwave, but where no one in their right mind wouldn't want to stand there and babysit it since it so easy to overcook.] There also are six \"sensor touch buttons\" for popcorn, potatoe, rice, frozen veggies, frozen entree (in case someone doesn't want to read what it says in the box), and fresh and frozen veggies.\n\nBUT if you want to reheat a left-over plate of last night's dinner, or reheat the chinese food takeout, forget about it -you have to guess a time and power - the oven won't automatically sense how cooked something is or adjust the power periodically to make sure something is more evenly cooked, etc., or decide when it should turn off. I can't just hit reheat and walk away for a couple minutes to do something else. Heck, I can't even reliably heat up a couple slices of cold pizza which is a staple around here.\n\nThe other option is to read pages 19 & 20 of the operating manual to see if they have some suggestions and directions on what to do.\n\nI was so confident that we'd found a worthy (albeit not nearly as useful) successor to our Sharp, but the joke is on me. Just because a microwave has \"sensor\" cooking, it doesn't mean it will be used effectively and efficiently. This is the first microwave I've EVER seen/used where there is no auto-reheat button - and I have a large family and have used a microwave in many homes --- ironically, usually by just popping a plate with something on it inside the microwave and hitting the reheat button.\n\nAfter reading Consumer Reports, it said having sensor cooking is one of the very few \"must haves\" in a microwave since most of the time folks want to reheat food, not cook it from scratch. Well I followed their advice and picked one with a sensor, but what I should have done is found one with a sensor that automatically reheated most food!\n\nBuyer Beware.","Product: The Panasonic 1,300-Watt FlashXpress Toaster Oven features double IR heating with quartz and ceramic materials. There is no preheating necessary. The unit contains 6 preset cooking modes and an easy-to-read timer, which enables you to set and control precise cooking times up to 25 minutes.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Excellent appliance if you want to toast something..\n\nReview: This is the best toaster oven I've ever owned. Period. And over the course of 30 years I've owned just about every imaginable kind of toaster oven - and toaster oven combo (usually with convection feature). As I've gotten older I've really gravitated toward the pricey ones that aren't \"just\" a toaster. The last one I bought was a highly rated Cusinart stainless convection Combo that cost well over $300. I ended up giving it away after a year even though it was barely used. It was too big, too complicated to simply toast, took up too much room on my counter---and while it did lots of things well, the toasting could have been better. That's when I realized that I was too enamored with finding a toaster oven that did MORE than toast....yet the ones that did MORE tended to be very big & bulky & complicated, and simple toasting was a hassle. Then I read about this Panisonic while reading many online lists of \"top ten 10 toaster ovens for 2016-2017\". The description on the Panasonic stood out because it really is just a simple oven with simple intuitive buttons, but it can easily and accurately toast six slices of bread at once. Ultimately, that appealed over everything else. Simplicity, usefulness, large enough to toast 6 slices at once but doesn't use up too much counter space. So....I've had it about 5 months and it is the second most used appliance in our home after our microwave (which is the kids favorite appliance.). I am thrilled. One other thing? It's a slightly different shape than a traditional toaster over -- square shaped instead of long and boxy. The shape seems more logical for some reason, fits much better on our counter, and the toast seems easier to get to.","Product: Yamazaki's 5 piece placesetting consists of 1 dinner knife, 1 soup spoon, 1 dinner fork, 1 salad fork and 1 teaspoon.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Gargantuan Knife; too oversized for most people\n\nReview: I am getting ready to return this flatware, not because of its looks or its quality but because of its size. If it was about 15% smaller, I would probably give this five stars and keep it. Instead, this oversized flatware looks like it was made for giants. At first I thought I was imagining things, so I got out a ruler. The flare at the base of the knife is over one inch wide and the knife is almost 10 inches long. I didn't bother to measure the depth of the knife base, but keep in mind it is a rounded handle. Furthermore, the bowl in the larger spoon is a good 1/2 to 3/4 inch longer than the larger spoon in my current flatware (a now discontinued WMF Cromargan pattern) which I always knew was larger than average. The two forks are okay, as is the teaspoon, and the finish and aesthetic of the pattern are exemplary --- but I can not get beyond the gargantuan nature of the knife.\n\nI thought I would go online to find new flatware to replace my 25 year old WMF, since I am missing too many pieces from my original set and the replacements are exorbitantly expensive. I hoped to let my fingers do the walking and not have to handle each piece ahead of time, but now I question my strategy. Moral of the story: if a website doesn't tell you the dimensions of each item in a place setting, ASK before you buy. Perspectives in photos are not always helpful when it comes to judging overall size.","Product: This is a brand new, world-class watch by Wenger. It features a luminous silver hash markers at every hour, date display, Sapphire crystal, Swiss Quartz Movement, and a water resistance of 10 ATM.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Perfect for a 12-yr old boy\n\nReview: This watch is very utilitarian; what you see is what you get. The case is thick and the face is not even remotely delicate or feminine looking. When it arrived my first thought was that if I decided I didn't like it I could always pass it on to a kid because it looks like a boy's Swiss Army watch. I can't complain because I knew what it was before I ordered it though seeing it person makes the reality more stark. However, I understand and appreciate the sentiments expressed by one reviewer who said: \"Meh.\"\n\nBTW, the only thing it says on the back of the case or anywhere else is that its \"Swiss Made\" - in case where it is made is important.","Product: Linnea Design 2014 Poster Calendar. Now Designs number LI 14H. Celebrate each new month with a colorful graphic illustration by Johanna Riley or hang all twelve posters all year long! A wonderful gift for the home or office. The Poster Calendar is 11 x 14\" and is designed to be framed on the wall.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Calendar is great & Amazon rocks!\n\nReview: This is a wonderful calendar and I recommend it highly (5 stars).\n\nUpdate: as promised, I am revising my review from earlier today, because someone at Amazon must have read my original comment and \"fixed\" the problem . . . which was that the price of the calendar was nearly 50% higher than if one purchased it directly from Linnea Design. Though I suspected this was a pricing error, I still had to give the calendar one star (for its ridiculously high price) and in my review I provided the web address so folks could purchase the calendar directly from Linnea. Well, wouldn't you know it, its been just 10 hours since my review was published and the price has decreased by $15. So kudos to Amazon for addressing this so quickly, and kudos for publishing my original review, which encouraged people to shop elsewhere. As part of this update, I am deleting my original comments. [BTW, the Linnea calendar is by far the classiest of all the poster calendars on the market today; its absolutely beautiful, a work of art, bold in color but not too cutesy or too feminine. It has an unique sensibility and aesthetic.]","Product: LASTS ALL YEAR. GUARANTEED!* High-quality paper resists ink bleed** 1 subject; 100 graphed ruled sheets. Patented, reinforced storage pockets.*** 1 divider with 2 pockets; water-resistant plastic cover; Spiral Lock wire. Neat Sheet perforated pages of 11\" x 8 1/2easily tear out. Made in the U.S.A. Overall size of 11\" x 9 3/4\". *ACCO Brands will replace any Five Star notebook that is returned within one year from the date of purchase. This guarantee does not cover damage due to misuse or abuse. Contact ACCO Brands Consumer Affairs for instructions. ** Ideal for notetaking and homework, you can write on both sides of the paper and notes will stay clear and legible. **Under normal usage, paper resists ink bleed with common student writing instruments such as pencils, ball point pens, gel pens, felt tip pens and highlighters. ***Based on independent laboratory test results that establish pocket tear strength as compared to non-reinforced pockets in Five Star notebook.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Perfect for an Algebra student\n\nReview: Exactly what an Algebra student needs. Ordered this one after the first graph notebook I purchased (from local S--ples store) was rejected because it lacked the spiral binding - thus the graph paper pages separated from the notebook too easily. (This was explained to me by someone who has experienced that problem.) Colors we received were primary colors - so they were acceptable as well.\n\nNote: I would have been very upset (and given a much lower rating) if we were sent a non-primary color because that was not an acceptable option for the person who will be using this notebook. Amazon needs to improve on the way it handles the colors - maybe divide all choices into sub-categories so even if one can not specify the actual color notebook that is sent the buyer can at least rule out some colors.","Product: Linnea Poster Calendar for 2017, Artwork by Johanna Riley. Twelve 11\" x 14\" posters to hang on the wall... One for each month... Art for each month! This calendar is unique, popular, collected, and quickly becoming a family tradition.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Linnea Design 2017: A poster calendar of breathtaking beauty that brings great joy to the heart\n\nReview: Right now I have over 20 years of poster calendars stored away and my guess is that if I start using my saved calendars, I will have over 50% of future years covered! In fact, for 2017, I checked the perpetual calendar and discovered that I owned calendars from 3 other years that had the same layout. But getting a new poster calendar is the one way I treat myself every year. A good calendar can bring joy and beauty into a very mundane act that we all do daily. For 2017, I decided to buy a second 11 x 14 lucite frame (a standing one) so I could display my 2017 Linnea Design calendar AND elsewhere, I could hang one of those 3 other calendars with the 2017 layout. I now have a beautiful revolving display of artwork in 2 spots in my house.\n\nThe interesting thing is that the other poster calendar I am using this year is an older Nikki Schumann calendar. I always thought that Nikki Schumann calendars captured the everyday patterns of life in a really comforting, profound and colorful way and I absolutely loved them. When NS died, I experimented with a few other poster calendar artists but it took a while to find another I liked as much. In fact, I was ready to give up. (I was not that thrilled with the Linnea (Riley) calendars, which I found a little boring and insipid at times.) But Johanna Riley changed all that for me. In fact, I love the LinneaDesign calendars' by Johanna Riley just as much, if not more than the Schumann ones. Compared to Schumann, the colors in Johanna Riley's calendars are bolder, more vibrant and more saturated; most of the pictures have a more artistic aesthetic (Asian influence?) and are more dramatic; and often the topics are more sophisticated. Even if the individual posters aren't quite as relatable, per se, their breathtaking beauty more than makes up for that. I gain great pleasure looking at these posters and I am thrilled with the calendar for 2017.","Product: If you're a fan of Sudoku, you and your family will love this colorful alternative. Instead of using numbers to solve the puzzles, Colorku uses brightly colored wooden balls. The gameboard-crafted of solid wood-includes 81 balls in 9 different colors, 104 puzzle cards, solutions booklet, color conversion card and storage tray. There are 5 levels of difficulty. Place it on the coffee table and you're ready whenever you feel like a challenge. Also makes a decorative art piece. What is Sudoku? It is a logic-based number placement puzzle. The object of the game is to fill a 9x9 grid with a number so that every row and column have a number from 1-9 with no repeats and each 3x3 grid has a number from 1-9 with no repeats. The puzzles start with a partially completed grid and the players must fill in the rest.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Heads up - not for the color-challenged!\n\nReview: This game looks as gorgeous in hand as it does in the pictures. We read the outstanding reviews and my husband decided it was the perfect gift for me since I LOVE sudoku. And he is correct in a sense, though it is on the big and heavy side (the board is a large, square, thick piece of wood) - when not playing we would need to leave it out somewhere because it is too large to fit into our cupboards (though a game closet would be fine). Also if you lose a wooden bead the game will lose some of its aesthetic appeal (though it can still be played using a glass marble). But we're returning it for an entirely different reason --- my son is \"color-blind\" and can't play it. It was something we didn't really think about ahead of time and some games are less problematic than others (he struggles w/shades of red-green), so I just wanted to make a note in the reviews in case this is an issue for anyone else. There seem to be plenty of other \"sudoku type\" board games that aren't dependent upon discerning colors.","Product: Hillary Baxter had been only 21 when she left rural Kansas to pursue a New York modelling career. When Bret Bardoff offered her a prestigious six-month contract, the sky was the limit. But Hillary fell in love with Bret.\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: Embarassingly awful - I feel sorry for Nora Roberts\n\nReview: This story is awful and I feel duped. I read this was a NR \"classic\" and expected an older book but also a good one. That is not the case. When it says \"classic\" in this instance, it means \"desperate ploy to make money off NR's reputation by dusting off a story that should have been consigned to the trash heap.\"\n\nAnyway, the story is very dated and the plotting is extremely awkward. Bret's (male lead) interactions with Heather (female lead) consist of being impatient with her, angry with her or groping her. There is zero romance unless unexpected or uninvited passes counts as \"wooing.\" Bret also has \"another woman\" through out the entire story and he doesn't explain that relationship until 5 pages before the end, nor does his explanation jibe with his behavior. (One of many examples of poor plotting.)\n\nHowever, the biggest problem is that Bret is possibly the most repugnant, unappealing, and unattractive (in spirit) character to ever be the \"hero\" of a romance novel. I've never felt the hero of a story must be likeable, but there needs to be something that redeems him in the eye of the heroine as well as the reader. That is not the case with Bret. Furthermore, I suspect his aloofness, constant groping, cryptic comments, and tyrannical behavior are all attempts by NR to make him seem like a sexy alpha male. It doesn't work and he comes across as a boor. It is no wonder that Heather is a confused, hot mess. (There is also a cringe-worthy, sexual harassment aspect to all their interactions because of the fact that Bret is Heather's employer.)\n\nWhile not a rabid Nora Roberts fan, I've read enough of her stories to know that this one doesn't deserve to have her name associated with it.","Product: It all starts with a shiny, red, sit-on lawnmower. When Nancy spies her Christmas present from her husband sitting on the lawn, she realises the jewellery she thought was for her must be sitting on someone else. Her best friend Carmen isn't surprised (she never liked Jonathan) and persuades Nancy to leave Edinburgh and come and stay in her luxury London flat - far too vast for Carmen since her husband, millionaire rock star Spike Todd, died. Soon Nancy's met gorgeous Connor O'Shea, who lives next door, and his daughter Mia is matchmaking - not least because she'd like to see the back of Connor's current pushy girlfriend. Meanwhile Carmen, who's always been certain she doesn't want another man in her life, feels a spark when a handsome charity worker called Joe calls round. But Joe's not quite all he seems...\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: 4.5 Stars - I like it A LOT!\n\nReview: As I slowly make my way through Mansell's older books, I've enjoyed most, trashed one and loved a couple. This is one that I loved, for all the reasons already mentioned by others. My only complaint - and the reason it does not receive 5 stars - is that the author shortchanges her readers in the way she ends the book. It is too abrupt; in particular, the storyline that brings the book to its conclusion is chopped off at the knees. What makes it especially frustrating is that the characters in this final storyline are the two we learn the most about, the two we watch dance around each other for the entire novel, and it isn't apparent they are going to get together until about 5 pages from the end. If ever there was a story that deserved an epilogue, this one was it.\n\nBTW, there is a quote on the back cover of the book that says this is \"a delightful reworking of the Romeo and Juliet story . . . \" I have no idea what this reviewer meant and I did not read anything that even remotely reminded me of Romeo and Juliet - so if this is what you are hoping to find, prepare to be disappointed.\n\nAdded comment on 4/18/2014 - FYI for those interested, I just finished reading Summer by the Sea (by Susan Wiggs)and it IS \"a delightful reworking of the Romeo and Juliet story...\" and a book that I highly recommend reading."],"string":"[\n \"Product: Yamazaki's Median has generous polished handles combined with elegant tines, bowls and a pleasing blade makes this pattern a comfortable fit. Functional artistry at its best, our polished collection of unique full-featured patterns has been designed to distinctly complement both your everyday as well as more formal needs.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Too oversized, especially the knife\\n\\nReview: I am getting ready to return this flatware, not because of its looks or its quality but because of its size. If it was about 15% smaller, I would probably give this five stars and keep it. Instead, this oversized flatware looks like it was made for giants. At first I thought I was imagining things, so I got out a ruler. The flare at the base of the knife is over one inch wide and the knife is almost 10 inches long. I didn't bother to measure the depth of the knife base, but keep in mind it is a rounded handle. Furthermore, the bowl in the larger spoon is a good 1/2 to 3/4 inch longer than the larger spoon in my current flatware (a now discontinued WMF Cromargan pattern) which I always knew was larger than average. The two forks are okay, as is the teaspoon, and the finish and aesthetic of the pattern are exemplary --- but I can not get beyond the gargantuan nature of the knife.\\n\\nI thought I would go online to find new flatware to replace my 25 year old WMF, since I am missing too many pieces from my original set and the replacements are exorbitantly expensive. I hoped to let my fingers do the walking and not have to handle each piece ahead of time, but now I question my strategy. Moral of the story: if a website doesn't tell you the dimensions of each item in a place setting, ASK before you buy. Perspectives in photos are not always helpful when it comes to judging overall size.\",\n \"Product: The LG LCS1410SW Counter-Top Microwave Oven has 1.4 cubic feet rounded interior with 1200 Watts of Power in a Premium Smooth White Finish. LG has created a microwave to fit simpler needs. Equipped with Sensor Cooking Technology that senses humidity levels within the oven and automatically adjusts cooking time and performance to provide superior heating performance. This microwave oven has 6 Sensor Cook Options and 6 Auto Cook Options with the convenient Add Time Controls that allow you to easily add time in 30 second or 1 minute increments. Plus, this LG microwave includes child lockout to prevent the oven from accidentally being started. You get the features you need with great performance. Keep cooking just how you like it, simple.\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: Buyer Beware! No \\\"reheat\\\" option, thus it is pretty useless\\n\\nReview: This is a good news, bad news review. Good news . . . I did a lot of research before purchasing, read compliants about comparable models, and think this one has JUST about everything one could want. I don't find it especially noisy, it seems to work fine, it looks good, has a light that comes on inside when in use and compared to many, many others I've seen or used, I find the controls easy to use. Since I want to keep this brief I'll just say that the day before Christmas our beloved (& large) 10-yr old Sharp carousel died - it had the best controls/options on the planet and since the type/model is no longer available I started researching other brands/makes/models for something that gave us at least some of the options we had with our Sharp, without costing an arm and a leg or including a convection oven. My first choice was another Sharp but we couldn't find the one we wanted in stock so we got this one instead, which was second on my buy list. Another bit of good news, it was inexpensive.\\n\\nNow for the Bad News: there is no reheat option. I confess, I didn't focus on this because the product description said there were auto-sensor cooking options and I read more into that than I should. There are some auto-sensing options --- there are two (!) defrost options, a butter melting option, and 6 autocook buttons - for bacon (!!), frozen muffins, fresh muffins, a beverage, chicken (!!) and hot cereal. [I can't understand some of these choices, in particular bacon where it is not only easy and quick to cook in a microwave, but where no one in their right mind wouldn't want to stand there and babysit it since it so easy to overcook.] There also are six \\\"sensor touch buttons\\\" for popcorn, potatoe, rice, frozen veggies, frozen entree (in case someone doesn't want to read what it says in the box), and fresh and frozen veggies.\\n\\nBUT if you want to reheat a left-over plate of last night's dinner, or reheat the chinese food takeout, forget about it -you have to guess a time and power - the oven won't automatically sense how cooked something is or adjust the power periodically to make sure something is more evenly cooked, etc., or decide when it should turn off. I can't just hit reheat and walk away for a couple minutes to do something else. Heck, I can't even reliably heat up a couple slices of cold pizza which is a staple around here.\\n\\nThe other option is to read pages 19 & 20 of the operating manual to see if they have some suggestions and directions on what to do.\\n\\nI was so confident that we'd found a worthy (albeit not nearly as useful) successor to our Sharp, but the joke is on me. Just because a microwave has \\\"sensor\\\" cooking, it doesn't mean it will be used effectively and efficiently. This is the first microwave I've EVER seen/used where there is no auto-reheat button - and I have a large family and have used a microwave in many homes --- ironically, usually by just popping a plate with something on it inside the microwave and hitting the reheat button.\\n\\nAfter reading Consumer Reports, it said having sensor cooking is one of the very few \\\"must haves\\\" in a microwave since most of the time folks want to reheat food, not cook it from scratch. Well I followed their advice and picked one with a sensor, but what I should have done is found one with a sensor that automatically reheated most food!\\n\\nBuyer Beware.\",\n \"Product: The Panasonic 1,300-Watt FlashXpress Toaster Oven features double IR heating with quartz and ceramic materials. There is no preheating necessary. The unit contains 6 preset cooking modes and an easy-to-read timer, which enables you to set and control precise cooking times up to 25 minutes.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Excellent appliance if you want to toast something..\\n\\nReview: This is the best toaster oven I've ever owned. Period. And over the course of 30 years I've owned just about every imaginable kind of toaster oven - and toaster oven combo (usually with convection feature). As I've gotten older I've really gravitated toward the pricey ones that aren't \\\"just\\\" a toaster. The last one I bought was a highly rated Cusinart stainless convection Combo that cost well over $300. I ended up giving it away after a year even though it was barely used. It was too big, too complicated to simply toast, took up too much room on my counter---and while it did lots of things well, the toasting could have been better. That's when I realized that I was too enamored with finding a toaster oven that did MORE than toast....yet the ones that did MORE tended to be very big & bulky & complicated, and simple toasting was a hassle. Then I read about this Panisonic while reading many online lists of \\\"top ten 10 toaster ovens for 2016-2017\\\". The description on the Panasonic stood out because it really is just a simple oven with simple intuitive buttons, but it can easily and accurately toast six slices of bread at once. Ultimately, that appealed over everything else. Simplicity, usefulness, large enough to toast 6 slices at once but doesn't use up too much counter space. So....I've had it about 5 months and it is the second most used appliance in our home after our microwave (which is the kids favorite appliance.). I am thrilled. One other thing? It's a slightly different shape than a traditional toaster over -- square shaped instead of long and boxy. The shape seems more logical for some reason, fits much better on our counter, and the toast seems easier to get to.\",\n \"Product: Yamazaki's 5 piece placesetting consists of 1 dinner knife, 1 soup spoon, 1 dinner fork, 1 salad fork and 1 teaspoon.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Gargantuan Knife; too oversized for most people\\n\\nReview: I am getting ready to return this flatware, not because of its looks or its quality but because of its size. If it was about 15% smaller, I would probably give this five stars and keep it. Instead, this oversized flatware looks like it was made for giants. At first I thought I was imagining things, so I got out a ruler. The flare at the base of the knife is over one inch wide and the knife is almost 10 inches long. I didn't bother to measure the depth of the knife base, but keep in mind it is a rounded handle. Furthermore, the bowl in the larger spoon is a good 1/2 to 3/4 inch longer than the larger spoon in my current flatware (a now discontinued WMF Cromargan pattern) which I always knew was larger than average. The two forks are okay, as is the teaspoon, and the finish and aesthetic of the pattern are exemplary --- but I can not get beyond the gargantuan nature of the knife.\\n\\nI thought I would go online to find new flatware to replace my 25 year old WMF, since I am missing too many pieces from my original set and the replacements are exorbitantly expensive. I hoped to let my fingers do the walking and not have to handle each piece ahead of time, but now I question my strategy. Moral of the story: if a website doesn't tell you the dimensions of each item in a place setting, ASK before you buy. Perspectives in photos are not always helpful when it comes to judging overall size.\",\n \"Product: This is a brand new, world-class watch by Wenger. It features a luminous silver hash markers at every hour, date display, Sapphire crystal, Swiss Quartz Movement, and a water resistance of 10 ATM.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Perfect for a 12-yr old boy\\n\\nReview: This watch is very utilitarian; what you see is what you get. The case is thick and the face is not even remotely delicate or feminine looking. When it arrived my first thought was that if I decided I didn't like it I could always pass it on to a kid because it looks like a boy's Swiss Army watch. I can't complain because I knew what it was before I ordered it though seeing it person makes the reality more stark. However, I understand and appreciate the sentiments expressed by one reviewer who said: \\\"Meh.\\\"\\n\\nBTW, the only thing it says on the back of the case or anywhere else is that its \\\"Swiss Made\\\" - in case where it is made is important.\",\n \"Product: Linnea Design 2014 Poster Calendar. Now Designs number LI 14H. Celebrate each new month with a colorful graphic illustration by Johanna Riley or hang all twelve posters all year long! A wonderful gift for the home or office. The Poster Calendar is 11 x 14\\\" and is designed to be framed on the wall.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Calendar is great & Amazon rocks!\\n\\nReview: This is a wonderful calendar and I recommend it highly (5 stars).\\n\\nUpdate: as promised, I am revising my review from earlier today, because someone at Amazon must have read my original comment and \\\"fixed\\\" the problem . . . which was that the price of the calendar was nearly 50% higher than if one purchased it directly from Linnea Design. Though I suspected this was a pricing error, I still had to give the calendar one star (for its ridiculously high price) and in my review I provided the web address so folks could purchase the calendar directly from Linnea. Well, wouldn't you know it, its been just 10 hours since my review was published and the price has decreased by $15. So kudos to Amazon for addressing this so quickly, and kudos for publishing my original review, which encouraged people to shop elsewhere. As part of this update, I am deleting my original comments. [BTW, the Linnea calendar is by far the classiest of all the poster calendars on the market today; its absolutely beautiful, a work of art, bold in color but not too cutesy or too feminine. It has an unique sensibility and aesthetic.]\",\n \"Product: LASTS ALL YEAR. GUARANTEED!* High-quality paper resists ink bleed** 1 subject; 100 graphed ruled sheets. Patented, reinforced storage pockets.*** 1 divider with 2 pockets; water-resistant plastic cover; Spiral Lock wire. Neat Sheet perforated pages of 11\\\" x 8 1/2easily tear out. Made in the U.S.A. Overall size of 11\\\" x 9 3/4\\\". *ACCO Brands will replace any Five Star notebook that is returned within one year from the date of purchase. This guarantee does not cover damage due to misuse or abuse. Contact ACCO Brands Consumer Affairs for instructions. ** Ideal for notetaking and homework, you can write on both sides of the paper and notes will stay clear and legible. **Under normal usage, paper resists ink bleed with common student writing instruments such as pencils, ball point pens, gel pens, felt tip pens and highlighters. ***Based on independent laboratory test results that establish pocket tear strength as compared to non-reinforced pockets in Five Star notebook.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Perfect for an Algebra student\\n\\nReview: Exactly what an Algebra student needs. Ordered this one after the first graph notebook I purchased (from local S--ples store) was rejected because it lacked the spiral binding - thus the graph paper pages separated from the notebook too easily. (This was explained to me by someone who has experienced that problem.) Colors we received were primary colors - so they were acceptable as well.\\n\\nNote: I would have been very upset (and given a much lower rating) if we were sent a non-primary color because that was not an acceptable option for the person who will be using this notebook. Amazon needs to improve on the way it handles the colors - maybe divide all choices into sub-categories so even if one can not specify the actual color notebook that is sent the buyer can at least rule out some colors.\",\n \"Product: Linnea Poster Calendar for 2017, Artwork by Johanna Riley. Twelve 11\\\" x 14\\\" posters to hang on the wall... One for each month... Art for each month! This calendar is unique, popular, collected, and quickly becoming a family tradition.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Linnea Design 2017: A poster calendar of breathtaking beauty that brings great joy to the heart\\n\\nReview: Right now I have over 20 years of poster calendars stored away and my guess is that if I start using my saved calendars, I will have over 50% of future years covered! In fact, for 2017, I checked the perpetual calendar and discovered that I owned calendars from 3 other years that had the same layout. But getting a new poster calendar is the one way I treat myself every year. A good calendar can bring joy and beauty into a very mundane act that we all do daily. For 2017, I decided to buy a second 11 x 14 lucite frame (a standing one) so I could display my 2017 Linnea Design calendar AND elsewhere, I could hang one of those 3 other calendars with the 2017 layout. I now have a beautiful revolving display of artwork in 2 spots in my house.\\n\\nThe interesting thing is that the other poster calendar I am using this year is an older Nikki Schumann calendar. I always thought that Nikki Schumann calendars captured the everyday patterns of life in a really comforting, profound and colorful way and I absolutely loved them. When NS died, I experimented with a few other poster calendar artists but it took a while to find another I liked as much. In fact, I was ready to give up. (I was not that thrilled with the Linnea (Riley) calendars, which I found a little boring and insipid at times.) But Johanna Riley changed all that for me. In fact, I love the LinneaDesign calendars' by Johanna Riley just as much, if not more than the Schumann ones. Compared to Schumann, the colors in Johanna Riley's calendars are bolder, more vibrant and more saturated; most of the pictures have a more artistic aesthetic (Asian influence?) and are more dramatic; and often the topics are more sophisticated. Even if the individual posters aren't quite as relatable, per se, their breathtaking beauty more than makes up for that. I gain great pleasure looking at these posters and I am thrilled with the calendar for 2017.\",\n \"Product: If you're a fan of Sudoku, you and your family will love this colorful alternative. Instead of using numbers to solve the puzzles, Colorku uses brightly colored wooden balls. The gameboard-crafted of solid wood-includes 81 balls in 9 different colors, 104 puzzle cards, solutions booklet, color conversion card and storage tray. There are 5 levels of difficulty. Place it on the coffee table and you're ready whenever you feel like a challenge. Also makes a decorative art piece. What is Sudoku? It is a logic-based number placement puzzle. The object of the game is to fill a 9x9 grid with a number so that every row and column have a number from 1-9 with no repeats and each 3x3 grid has a number from 1-9 with no repeats. The puzzles start with a partially completed grid and the players must fill in the rest.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Heads up - not for the color-challenged!\\n\\nReview: This game looks as gorgeous in hand as it does in the pictures. We read the outstanding reviews and my husband decided it was the perfect gift for me since I LOVE sudoku. And he is correct in a sense, though it is on the big and heavy side (the board is a large, square, thick piece of wood) - when not playing we would need to leave it out somewhere because it is too large to fit into our cupboards (though a game closet would be fine). Also if you lose a wooden bead the game will lose some of its aesthetic appeal (though it can still be played using a glass marble). But we're returning it for an entirely different reason --- my son is \\\"color-blind\\\" and can't play it. It was something we didn't really think about ahead of time and some games are less problematic than others (he struggles w/shades of red-green), so I just wanted to make a note in the reviews in case this is an issue for anyone else. There seem to be plenty of other \\\"sudoku type\\\" board games that aren't dependent upon discerning colors.\",\n \"Product: Hillary Baxter had been only 21 when she left rural Kansas to pursue a New York modelling career. When Bret Bardoff offered her a prestigious six-month contract, the sky was the limit. But Hillary fell in love with Bret.\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: Embarassingly awful - I feel sorry for Nora Roberts\\n\\nReview: This story is awful and I feel duped. I read this was a NR \\\"classic\\\" and expected an older book but also a good one. That is not the case. When it says \\\"classic\\\" in this instance, it means \\\"desperate ploy to make money off NR's reputation by dusting off a story that should have been consigned to the trash heap.\\\"\\n\\nAnyway, the story is very dated and the plotting is extremely awkward. Bret's (male lead) interactions with Heather (female lead) consist of being impatient with her, angry with her or groping her. There is zero romance unless unexpected or uninvited passes counts as \\\"wooing.\\\" Bret also has \\\"another woman\\\" through out the entire story and he doesn't explain that relationship until 5 pages before the end, nor does his explanation jibe with his behavior. (One of many examples of poor plotting.)\\n\\nHowever, the biggest problem is that Bret is possibly the most repugnant, unappealing, and unattractive (in spirit) character to ever be the \\\"hero\\\" of a romance novel. I've never felt the hero of a story must be likeable, but there needs to be something that redeems him in the eye of the heroine as well as the reader. That is not the case with Bret. Furthermore, I suspect his aloofness, constant groping, cryptic comments, and tyrannical behavior are all attempts by NR to make him seem like a sexy alpha male. It doesn't work and he comes across as a boor. It is no wonder that Heather is a confused, hot mess. (There is also a cringe-worthy, sexual harassment aspect to all their interactions because of the fact that Bret is Heather's employer.)\\n\\nWhile not a rabid Nora Roberts fan, I've read enough of her stories to know that this one doesn't deserve to have her name associated with it.\",\n \"Product: It all starts with a shiny, red, sit-on lawnmower. When Nancy spies her Christmas present from her husband sitting on the lawn, she realises the jewellery she thought was for her must be sitting on someone else. Her best friend Carmen isn't surprised (she never liked Jonathan) and persuades Nancy to leave Edinburgh and come and stay in her luxury London flat - far too vast for Carmen since her husband, millionaire rock star Spike Todd, died. Soon Nancy's met gorgeous Connor O'Shea, who lives next door, and his daughter Mia is matchmaking - not least because she'd like to see the back of Connor's current pushy girlfriend. Meanwhile Carmen, who's always been certain she doesn't want another man in her life, feels a spark when a handsome charity worker called Joe calls round. But Joe's not quite all he seems...\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: 4.5 Stars - I like it A LOT!\\n\\nReview: As I slowly make my way through Mansell's older books, I've enjoyed most, trashed one and loved a couple. This is one that I loved, for all the reasons already mentioned by others. My only complaint - and the reason it does not receive 5 stars - is that the author shortchanges her readers in the way she ends the book. It is too abrupt; in particular, the storyline that brings the book to its conclusion is chopped off at the knees. What makes it especially frustrating is that the characters in this final storyline are the two we learn the most about, the two we watch dance around each other for the entire novel, and it isn't apparent they are going to get together until about 5 pages from the end. If ever there was a story that deserved an epilogue, this one was it.\\n\\nBTW, there is a quote on the back cover of the book that says this is \\\"a delightful reworking of the Romeo and Juliet story . . . \\\" I have no idea what this reviewer meant and I did not read anything that even remotely reminded me of Romeo and Juliet - so if this is what you are hoping to find, prepare to be disappointed.\\n\\nAdded comment on 4/18/2014 - FYI for those interested, I just finished reading Summer by the Sea (by Susan Wiggs)and it IS \\\"a delightful reworking of the Romeo and Juliet story...\\\" and a book that I highly recommend reading.\"\n]","isConversational":false},"profile_size":{"kind":"number","value":11,"string":"11"},"task":{"kind":"string","value":"longlamp_3"},"split_kind":{"kind":"string","value":"user_based"},"id":{"kind":"number","value":949,"string":"949"}}},{"rowIdx":950,"cells":{"question_id":{"kind":"string","value":"A1RX9MRXYGOE3P"},"question":{"kind":"string","value":"Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of \"4.0\" for a product with description \"Our pour over coffee stand was designed for use with the Hario V60 dripper (glass dripper with detachable base works best) and Hario decanter. Note your favorite mug can be used in place of the decanter if desired. This high quality stand is a beautiful addition to a home kitchen or cafe counter. Please note we make two models. Select the 'single' or 'double' stand based on your needs. We selected bamboo due to it's high quality and environmentally sustainable properties. Because bamboo is actually a \"grass\", it grows fast and readily renews itself. In short bamboo is strong, beautiful, and sustainable. We think it is the perfect choice for the stand! Note that the item comes fully assembled. Dripper and decanter sold separately.\". The summary of the review text is \"Doesn't fit my V60 as pictured but nice product overall - details within\"."},"answer":{"kind":"string","value":"First, the construction overall feels very good. The color is lighter than pictured - yellowish with some fairly light linear grains, and a few patchy light spots. It's wood, so I don't expect it (or want it) all to look the same - but it's not as dark as the Amazon picture portrays.\n\nSecond, I have a Hario V60 but it's not the kind that has a detachable base but is integrated together - all the ceramic and plastic ones are like this, I believe. This base causes the V60 to stand a bit high (awkwardly high?) on this coffee stand. See my included picture compared to the Amazon photos.\n\nThe result of the above is that there is quite a bit of distance between my carafe/mug resting on the base and the bottom of the pourover cone. The stand's height is obviously designed for the V60 without a base, so just a word to anyone with a V60 like my V60, you may be in for a splash factory.\n\nI originally gave this three stars since I didn't realize I had the wrong Hario V60 for proper use, but that's my error (though perhaps the description could be more clear?), so four stars from me. I received a discount on this product in exchange for an honest and unbiased review."},"correct_answer":{"kind":"string","value":"First, the construction overall feels very good. The color is lighter than pictured - yellowish with some fairly light linear grains, and a few patchy light spots. It's wood, so I don't expect it (or want it) all to look the same - but it's not as dark as the Amazon picture portrays.\n\nSecond, I have a Hario V60 but it's not the kind that has a detachable base but is integrated together - all the ceramic and plastic ones are like this, I believe. This base causes the V60 to stand a bit high (awkwardly high?) on this coffee stand. See my included picture compared to the Amazon photos.\n\nThe result of the above is that there is quite a bit of distance between my carafe/mug resting on the base and the bottom of the pourover cone. The stand's height is obviously designed for the V60 without a base, so just a word to anyone with a V60 like my V60, you may be in for a splash factory.\n\nI originally gave this three stars since I didn't realize I had the wrong Hario V60 for proper use, but that's my error (though perhaps the description could be more clear?), so four stars from me. I received a discount on this product in exchange for an honest and unbiased review."},"documents":{"kind":"list like","value":["Product: Why does coffee brewed from a French Press taste so amazingly different? Unlike other brew methods, the French Press gives you absolute control over the infusion time (longer infusion time produces a bolder and stronger cup). Perhaps more importantly, the unique screen lter of the French Press allows essential coffee oils to make their way into your cup; oils that would normally be blocked out and eliminated by paper lters. These oils are responsible for producing a very full body fantastically thicker and more avorful than anything youd experience from any other brew method, period. Better yet, the French Press is super inexpensive, simple to use, easy to clean, better for the environment (because no disposable lters are needed) and takes up virtually no space in your kitchen. Our 8-Cup French Press is similar to the SterlingPro French Press, designed with double walled Stainless Steel which retains brewing temperature better than glass versions and also wont shatter when dropped. Add our French Press to your cart and treat yourself to some amazingly flavorful home brewed coffee!\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Good weight, quality materials - great price\n\nReview: This press works well and is very solid - it'll stand the test of time. It has a good weight to it and all the pieces feel quality. As mentioned in the comment below, all materials inside appear to be metal, including the mesh strainer. This does produce a slightly metallic/abrasive noise when pressing the coffee, but I think it's the 'cost of doing business' with a steel press. I've broken too many glass presses to consider going back just because of the noise!\n\nThis press appears identical to a much more expensive item that until just recently was sold under a different brand name. That brand recently changed the design of their steel press (to a round/curved look instead of this design with more defined lines) and I wonder if Kuissential purchased the design/supply/etc. All this to say, I think this is a quality press that is being sold for a great, affordable price.\n\nUPDATE: I purchased this item at a price point of $22.99 and it seems the price has recently increased. It still functions as a great press but the price increase is obviously something to be aware of.","Product: The Opteka GS-2 is a ergonomically designed padded grip strap made to fit most Digital SLR cameras. The GS-2 provides a secure, one hand grip to your DSLR camera, stabilizing your shot and alleviating fatigue during extended photo shoots. It attaches via the tripod mount. You may still use a tripod with the strap attached.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Wanted to love it....but just couldn't stand it!\n\nReview: I wanted to love this product. I've seen a few people walking around with hand straps on their DSLRs and I thought they were SO AWESOME.\n\nSo I wanted to get one and I chose this one because of the promises of ergonomic stabilization. That just sounded really, really helpful.\n\nBut, it turns out, after trying it out for a few days, the hand grip strap was just not something that I would ever want to use. The product was not comfortable or easy to maneuver the camera controls with my hands (a bit larger, but not ridiculously large). And I also realized that I don't want a hand strap without a neck strap, but I definitely don't want two straps connected to my camera at the same time.\n\nThis was just not the product I hoped it was. I returned it.","Product: The Timberland express travel kit features a top handle for easy carrying and zip around closure.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: the right size for your trips!\n\nReview: Perfect for an overnight or a week. I had a large and baggy toiletries kit I've carried around for years and it was getting worn and tired. As I've been traveling more for one or two nights, I wanted something small that I could jam into a bag without taking up a lot of room.\n\nThis canvas bag is perfect. It's enough to fit the essentials you'll need for a few days - and I recently traveled for 6 days and it worked just fine. It's well made and doesn't have any frills, but has what you need.\n\nThe price on the red was a lot cheaper than the others and while it wasn't my favorite color, it's better than I thought it would be!","Product: Multi-purpose refillable butane lighter. Child resistant.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Consider a better option\n\nReview: I bought a few of these lighters for home and church, both places where candles are lit regularly. I chose these because they were relatively cheap, simply, and refillable.\n\nHaving had them for less than two months, the one used at home is nearly out of fuel. I expected that the fuel would last longer. It does not appear that it will be easy to refill the lighter with Butane. A final comment, it can be rather hard to \"click\" this lighter. That sounds silly, but there have been times where I struggled to actually produce a flame.\n\nAll said and done, I would recommend you purchase a lighter elsewhere. Either buy an expensive (refillable) one online or at a store, or find cheap ones elsewhere (like the 99 Cent Store).","Product: Rob West doesn't just write about tree ships. He sometimes retreats to write in the flying ship he built in his own back yard--it's the only place he can escape his wife, three sons (and their cronies), two dogs, three cats, two doves . . . and, when she chooses to drop in out of the sky, a duck!\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: An Adequate, though not always compelling, biography\n\nReview: Robert West has written a biography of Saint Francis for publisher Thomas Nelson's Christian Encounters series. In the book, West journeys through the life of Francis of Assisi, guided by earlier biographers of Thomas, historical records of the time period, and the author's attempt to fill in the gaps. The biography moves between historical recollections and narrative storytelling, describing the events of the life of Francis to paint a picture of the saint who founded the Franciscan order and is known as the patron saint of animals.\n\nWhile I was looking forward to reading a portrait of this saint, I struggled through the beginning of this biography. Because there is not a great deal establishing the exact accounts of Francis' childhood and early years, the author weaves together snippets of what we know of Francis of Assisi and what is known of twelfth and thirteenth century Italy. Understandably, this leads much of the early writing to be largely conjecture but made it difficult to be drawn in to Francis' life. However, the biography does eventually find its place as a short and accessible biography. At several points, the stories many know of Francis (embracing poverty, preaching to animals, etc.) are well-captured, pointing the reader to Francis' commitment to the demands of Christ. Francis' life proves a timely reminder of what discipleship looks like in an age of consumerism and West does an adequate job bringing this to life.\n\nNote: A copy of this book was provided by the publisher.","Product: Dave Phillips teaches in a Graduate School of Marriage and Family Therapy. As well, he leads workshops and corporate seminars on Emotional Intelligence and Mindfulness Training and is a soft skills consultant for a Canadian Labour Association. Dave holds two graduate degrees in Therapy, and Theology, and is an approved Supervisor with the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. Dave loves to golf, loves the Vancouver Canucks and is an avid consumer and critic of modern film. Randall Peters was a seasonal lecturer of philosophy and religion at Trinity Western University for seven years and now hosts a daily television show in Vancouver, Canada, on religion and culture. He has a graduate degree in theology and did PhD studies at Simon Fraser University. Quentin Steen has been the quirky husband to his wife for over fifteen years and the dazed and confused father to their three children. They live in Kelowna, B.C., Canada, where he works as a labor specialist and part-time speaker. He is finishing an M.A. in Leadership and Philosophy of Religion. As a third generation pastor he has fought hard against the destructive stigma of Evangelical subculture.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: A challenging and stretching book\n\nReview: I recently had the chance to read and review Colors of God: Conversations About Being the Church by Dave Phillips, Quentin Steen & Randall Peters - a book that was originally published in 2008 and recently republished. The authors are part of the neXus community in British Columbia. The book is set up as a dialogue between the authors (representing the voice of a pastor, a scholar, and a therapist) and explores the theology and practice of ministry through four colors: blue (theology), green (healthy living), red (community), and yellow (culture). The authors are part of the continuing conversation in the emerging/Emergent church dialogue, and readers familiar with the ideas in this conversation will find similar themes deconstructed and reconstructed in this book.\n\nWhile I did not naturally distinguish between the voices of the author as I read, I appreciated the attempt to match the medium with the message by the structured conversation. The parables of Jesus are highlighted throughout the book, and the authors rely heavily on theologian Robert Farrar Capon for understanding and interpreting these parables for the life of the church. After reading Colors, I picked up a book by Capon and would encourage anyone interested in the theological framework undergirding Colors to read Capon, as his work is hugely important for understanding the perspective of Colors. Few will find themselves agreeing with all of the theology presented in this book, as it represents a blend of liberal Episcopalian/mainline, evangelical, and Emergent mixed together in the cultural milieu of Canada.\n\nWhile the authors express their desire to be \"for something\" rather than \"against other things,\" I did find that a prevailing theme was the failure of traditional Western evangelicalism. There certainly is some hopeful and positive movement offered by the book, but the conversation primarily was defined negatively and reactionary. Overall, I found the book stretching (in good ways) and was challenged to think through some of the basic assumptions about theology and practice made in the wider church (and in my own ministry).\n\n(this book was provided by The Ooze Viral Bloggers program)"],"string":"[\n \"Product: Why does coffee brewed from a French Press taste so amazingly different? Unlike other brew methods, the French Press gives you absolute control over the infusion time (longer infusion time produces a bolder and stronger cup). Perhaps more importantly, the unique screen lter of the French Press allows essential coffee oils to make their way into your cup; oils that would normally be blocked out and eliminated by paper lters. These oils are responsible for producing a very full body fantastically thicker and more avorful than anything youd experience from any other brew method, period. Better yet, the French Press is super inexpensive, simple to use, easy to clean, better for the environment (because no disposable lters are needed) and takes up virtually no space in your kitchen. Our 8-Cup French Press is similar to the SterlingPro French Press, designed with double walled Stainless Steel which retains brewing temperature better than glass versions and also wont shatter when dropped. Add our French Press to your cart and treat yourself to some amazingly flavorful home brewed coffee!\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Good weight, quality materials - great price\\n\\nReview: This press works well and is very solid - it'll stand the test of time. It has a good weight to it and all the pieces feel quality. As mentioned in the comment below, all materials inside appear to be metal, including the mesh strainer. This does produce a slightly metallic/abrasive noise when pressing the coffee, but I think it's the 'cost of doing business' with a steel press. I've broken too many glass presses to consider going back just because of the noise!\\n\\nThis press appears identical to a much more expensive item that until just recently was sold under a different brand name. That brand recently changed the design of their steel press (to a round/curved look instead of this design with more defined lines) and I wonder if Kuissential purchased the design/supply/etc. All this to say, I think this is a quality press that is being sold for a great, affordable price.\\n\\nUPDATE: I purchased this item at a price point of $22.99 and it seems the price has recently increased. It still functions as a great press but the price increase is obviously something to be aware of.\",\n \"Product: The Opteka GS-2 is a ergonomically designed padded grip strap made to fit most Digital SLR cameras. The GS-2 provides a secure, one hand grip to your DSLR camera, stabilizing your shot and alleviating fatigue during extended photo shoots. It attaches via the tripod mount. You may still use a tripod with the strap attached.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Wanted to love it....but just couldn't stand it!\\n\\nReview: I wanted to love this product. I've seen a few people walking around with hand straps on their DSLRs and I thought they were SO AWESOME.\\n\\nSo I wanted to get one and I chose this one because of the promises of ergonomic stabilization. That just sounded really, really helpful.\\n\\nBut, it turns out, after trying it out for a few days, the hand grip strap was just not something that I would ever want to use. The product was not comfortable or easy to maneuver the camera controls with my hands (a bit larger, but not ridiculously large). And I also realized that I don't want a hand strap without a neck strap, but I definitely don't want two straps connected to my camera at the same time.\\n\\nThis was just not the product I hoped it was. I returned it.\",\n \"Product: The Timberland express travel kit features a top handle for easy carrying and zip around closure.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: the right size for your trips!\\n\\nReview: Perfect for an overnight or a week. I had a large and baggy toiletries kit I've carried around for years and it was getting worn and tired. As I've been traveling more for one or two nights, I wanted something small that I could jam into a bag without taking up a lot of room.\\n\\nThis canvas bag is perfect. It's enough to fit the essentials you'll need for a few days - and I recently traveled for 6 days and it worked just fine. It's well made and doesn't have any frills, but has what you need.\\n\\nThe price on the red was a lot cheaper than the others and while it wasn't my favorite color, it's better than I thought it would be!\",\n \"Product: Multi-purpose refillable butane lighter. Child resistant.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Consider a better option\\n\\nReview: I bought a few of these lighters for home and church, both places where candles are lit regularly. I chose these because they were relatively cheap, simply, and refillable.\\n\\nHaving had them for less than two months, the one used at home is nearly out of fuel. I expected that the fuel would last longer. It does not appear that it will be easy to refill the lighter with Butane. A final comment, it can be rather hard to \\\"click\\\" this lighter. That sounds silly, but there have been times where I struggled to actually produce a flame.\\n\\nAll said and done, I would recommend you purchase a lighter elsewhere. Either buy an expensive (refillable) one online or at a store, or find cheap ones elsewhere (like the 99 Cent Store).\",\n \"Product: Rob West doesn't just write about tree ships. He sometimes retreats to write in the flying ship he built in his own back yard--it's the only place he can escape his wife, three sons (and their cronies), two dogs, three cats, two doves . . . and, when she chooses to drop in out of the sky, a duck!\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: An Adequate, though not always compelling, biography\\n\\nReview: Robert West has written a biography of Saint Francis for publisher Thomas Nelson's Christian Encounters series. In the book, West journeys through the life of Francis of Assisi, guided by earlier biographers of Thomas, historical records of the time period, and the author's attempt to fill in the gaps. The biography moves between historical recollections and narrative storytelling, describing the events of the life of Francis to paint a picture of the saint who founded the Franciscan order and is known as the patron saint of animals.\\n\\nWhile I was looking forward to reading a portrait of this saint, I struggled through the beginning of this biography. Because there is not a great deal establishing the exact accounts of Francis' childhood and early years, the author weaves together snippets of what we know of Francis of Assisi and what is known of twelfth and thirteenth century Italy. Understandably, this leads much of the early writing to be largely conjecture but made it difficult to be drawn in to Francis' life. However, the biography does eventually find its place as a short and accessible biography. At several points, the stories many know of Francis (embracing poverty, preaching to animals, etc.) are well-captured, pointing the reader to Francis' commitment to the demands of Christ. Francis' life proves a timely reminder of what discipleship looks like in an age of consumerism and West does an adequate job bringing this to life.\\n\\nNote: A copy of this book was provided by the publisher.\",\n \"Product: Dave Phillips teaches in a Graduate School of Marriage and Family Therapy. As well, he leads workshops and corporate seminars on Emotional Intelligence and Mindfulness Training and is a soft skills consultant for a Canadian Labour Association. Dave holds two graduate degrees in Therapy, and Theology, and is an approved Supervisor with the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. Dave loves to golf, loves the Vancouver Canucks and is an avid consumer and critic of modern film. Randall Peters was a seasonal lecturer of philosophy and religion at Trinity Western University for seven years and now hosts a daily television show in Vancouver, Canada, on religion and culture. He has a graduate degree in theology and did PhD studies at Simon Fraser University. Quentin Steen has been the quirky husband to his wife for over fifteen years and the dazed and confused father to their three children. They live in Kelowna, B.C., Canada, where he works as a labor specialist and part-time speaker. He is finishing an M.A. in Leadership and Philosophy of Religion. As a third generation pastor he has fought hard against the destructive stigma of Evangelical subculture.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: A challenging and stretching book\\n\\nReview: I recently had the chance to read and review Colors of God: Conversations About Being the Church by Dave Phillips, Quentin Steen & Randall Peters - a book that was originally published in 2008 and recently republished. The authors are part of the neXus community in British Columbia. The book is set up as a dialogue between the authors (representing the voice of a pastor, a scholar, and a therapist) and explores the theology and practice of ministry through four colors: blue (theology), green (healthy living), red (community), and yellow (culture). The authors are part of the continuing conversation in the emerging/Emergent church dialogue, and readers familiar with the ideas in this conversation will find similar themes deconstructed and reconstructed in this book.\\n\\nWhile I did not naturally distinguish between the voices of the author as I read, I appreciated the attempt to match the medium with the message by the structured conversation. The parables of Jesus are highlighted throughout the book, and the authors rely heavily on theologian Robert Farrar Capon for understanding and interpreting these parables for the life of the church. After reading Colors, I picked up a book by Capon and would encourage anyone interested in the theological framework undergirding Colors to read Capon, as his work is hugely important for understanding the perspective of Colors. Few will find themselves agreeing with all of the theology presented in this book, as it represents a blend of liberal Episcopalian/mainline, evangelical, and Emergent mixed together in the cultural milieu of Canada.\\n\\nWhile the authors express their desire to be \\\"for something\\\" rather than \\\"against other things,\\\" I did find that a prevailing theme was the failure of traditional Western evangelicalism. There certainly is some hopeful and positive movement offered by the book, but the conversation primarily was defined negatively and reactionary. Overall, I found the book stretching (in good ways) and was challenged to think through some of the basic assumptions about theology and practice made in the wider church (and in my own ministry).\\n\\n(this book was provided by The Ooze Viral Bloggers program)\"\n]","isConversational":false},"profile_size":{"kind":"number","value":6,"string":"6"},"task":{"kind":"string","value":"longlamp_3"},"split_kind":{"kind":"string","value":"user_based"},"id":{"kind":"number","value":950,"string":"950"}}},{"rowIdx":951,"cells":{"question_id":{"kind":"string","value":"ASNTHBEYHQ7MH"},"question":{"kind":"string","value":"Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of \"3.0\" for a product with description \"For more than 80 years, Bear Archery has been Americas No. 1 brand in youth and institutional archery. The Scout Youth Bow Set comes ready to shoot with two Safetyglass arrows and a sight pin. The set also includes finger rollers, armguard, and arrow quiver. The recommended age range for children is 4 to 7 years old. The Scout is a 33-inch long ambidextrous bow that features durable composite limbs and an 8-13 lb. draw weight and a 16- to 24-inch draw length range. Choose from four different color options. Its never too early to share Bear with the next generation of archers.\". The summary of the review text is \"Not for left-handed shooters, despite claims\"."},"answer":{"kind":"string","value":"This is a decent, inexpensive bow set for young children who shoot right-handed, which would normally rate a 4 star for me. However, I was ordering for a left-handed shooter. Despite the fact that the product states it is for both right- and left-handed archers, this is not appropriate for a left-handed shooter. The arrow rest, which attaches with the equivalent of 3M tape, is directional, meaning it will only work for one side - the side appropriate for a right-handed shooter. The way the bow is strung is really only appropriate for a right-handed shooter. I know some reviewers said they were able to use it left-handed, but this is not optimal. the friction is going to affect both the shooter's ability (something to think about, even for a six year old just getting the basics) and eventually the integrity of the string. We were highly disappointed and ended up sending this back. My six year old had spent her own money to buy a bow that states it would work for her. Instead, she opened up a box of disappointment."},"correct_answer":{"kind":"string","value":"This is a decent, inexpensive bow set for young children who shoot right-handed, which would normally rate a 4 star for me. However, I was ordering for a left-handed shooter. Despite the fact that the product states it is for both right- and left-handed archers, this is not appropriate for a left-handed shooter. The arrow rest, which attaches with the equivalent of 3M tape, is directional, meaning it will only work for one side - the side appropriate for a right-handed shooter. The way the bow is strung is really only appropriate for a right-handed shooter. I know some reviewers said they were able to use it left-handed, but this is not optimal. the friction is going to affect both the shooter's ability (something to think about, even for a six year old just getting the basics) and eventually the integrity of the string. We were highly disappointed and ended up sending this back. My six year old had spent her own money to buy a bow that states it would work for her. Instead, she opened up a box of disappointment."},"documents":{"kind":"list like","value":["Product: The Baby cakes cake pop maker brings the fun and delicious cake pops trend into your own kitchen. Bake 12 cake pops or donut holes in just minutes. Add sticks and a touch of creative decorating for perfect cake pops in no time! Bakes 12 Cake Pops or Donut Holes. Includes Treat Sticks, Fork Tool, Cooling Stand. Nonstick Baking Plates. Power and Ready Lights. 1300 Watts.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Loved by aspiring child chef\n\nReview: I bought this for my 11 year old aspiring chef. She loves it and has been making more cake pops than any one family should probably have.\n\nPROS:\nCooks cake balls quickly.\nMakes 12 at a time, as opposed to some which only make 9.\nEasy clean up.\nComes with a tool to help spear the cake pops and remove them, as well as a tray and a small bag of sticks.\nThe recipes are good. Even changing them to accommodate wheat/gluten and dairy allergies, they have turned out well.\n\nCONS:\nThe cake pop maker is not insulated, and the outside gets extremely hot. The first time it was used, the stickers on top indicating \"power\" and \"ready\" melted.\nThe balls seem smaller than anticipated.","Product: Vinyl Shower Curtain With Window View Heavy Gauge\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Fills a niche market but lacks in quality\n\nReview: Concerned about axe wielding serial killers, dolls that come to life, and/or clowns? The maker of the standard view window shower curtain understands. Don't let your fears affect you personal hygiene. Grab one of these shower curtains today! You can shower while still keeping an watchful eye on the door and mirror. No one is going to get passed you. Sure, unless you have a convenient window escape in the shower, your one way of escape will probably be blocked by your foe, but at least you won't be surprised. Keep that bottle of shampoo handy and spray it in your attacker's eyes. Shampoo in the eyes stings like nothing else and is also known to wash away clown make-up.\n\nThere are very few shower curtains on the market which have a clear top portion, so in that aspect the mere existence of this curtain makes it a top choice. I had to search long and hard to find this shower curtain for one of my children who would like to keep a watchful eye on any comings and goings while showering. The clear portion extends down quite a bit more than the picture shows, which is great if the user is a child or someone else extremely short in stature. They can still view out the window. However, for your average, or even short, adult, the clear portion may be too low. The white portion will definitely cover any lower nether regions, but your top portion will be exposed.\n\nThere is a decidedly plastic smell to this curtain, and it is most likely made of PVC, which the description specifically stated it was not made of when I purchased the curtain. My husband, who tends to be oblivious to the majority of scents, was out of town for the first two days when this curtain arrived and was airing out. When he arrived home, he asked what the \"stench\" was. The rest of us noticed immediately and it bothered everyone in our household. We stuck it outside to try and air it out. It has been a week now, and the curtain still smells some when you walk by that bathroom.\n\nThe two halves are sewn together with two rows of stitching. Sewing on plastic understandably can affect the integrity of the plastic sheeting, but this was very poorly done. The stitches are not even and some are over 1/4\" long. The stitching also isn't straight and wavers across the curtain.\n\nThe bottom of the curtain was cut by a machine while it was folded, so there is a choppy line at the bottom. If you have a particularly short shower or tub, this does mean it is easy to adjust the length and you will probably end up with a straighter cut.\n\nThe shower curtain is heavier than a typical cheap shower liner, so it doesn't blow all over with the shower on. I would hope so, as I ended up paying $18.99 plus tax for this shower curtain. I can only hope the child in question outgrows the need to see outside the shower before the curtain falls apart.\n\nI would order this again if there were no other clear top shower curtains for the sheer fact that it is keeping water in the tub instead of my child constantly peeking out and getting water on the floor and wall. As disappointed as I am in the quality of the product, it is a better deal than replacing dry wall or paying for expensive therapy bills.","Product: Looking for a high quality, heat resistant, multi-purpose, easy to clean, odor resistant, long lasting and recyclable cooking utensil set ? Sayra Premium 6-piece Multi-color Kitchen Utensil set with Bonus Spoon Rest is your ultimate kitchen solution. This set is made of highly durable and lightweight nylon core coated with BPA Free, FDA Approved 100% Food grade Silicone. The unibody design is easy to clean and avoids food particles to stick preventing bacteria growth. Heat Resistant up to 480 F and suitable for non-stick and all other cooking surfaces. Odor resistant and dishwasher safe. Sayra is a small family business based out of California, USA. Our goal is to provide better product choices to our clients at competitive prices. We choose products that are of highest quality and safe to the consumer and the environment. We stand by our product with a 100% Money Back Guarantee. The Ultimate Non-stick Cooking Set Includes : 1 Red Spaghetti spoon: 11.2 X 2, 73g - Serve long pasta like spaghetti without clumping 1 Yellow Spoonula: 11.2 X 2.3, 76g - Fusion of a spatula and a spoon. Use to scrape bowls and mix dough 1 Green Mixing Spoon: 10.8 X 2.3, 81g- Good at stirring, cooking, mixing and serving food 1 Blue Ladle: 11.2 X 3.4, 98g - Serve up to cup of soup, stew or any liquid 1 Purple Turner: 11.7 X 3, 83g - Thin flexible edge glides under food for sauteing, turning and flipping 1 Pink Slotted Spoon: 10.8 X 2.3, 72g - Strain food from the liquid. Added edge for scraping food from the pan 1 BONUS Gray Spoon Rest: 9.5 X 4.6 X 0.55 , 72g - Use to rest cooking utensils instead of your tabletop or kitchen counter Care Instruction: Clean in warm soapy water by hand or in the dishwasher. Using abrasive cleansers or pads may damage the set.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Silicone set has nice, bright colors\n\nReview: I love using silicone products in baking. Silicone is a stable substance that doesn't leach toxins and is very easy to clean. As a family of seven with food allergies who have to cook everything from scratch, both of those aspects are very important to us.\n\nThis seven piece set is a great value. Minus the spoon rest which is all silicone, all the pieces have a sturdier nylon inner support with silicone making up the outside portion which touches food. Considering that you are getting seven pieces for under $20, this turns out to be a very good deal.\n\nSpaghetti Spoon - This piece is on the small side for a pasta server , and honestly, it doesn't quite cut it as well as our T-Rex pasta server. However, it is great for pasta salads with rotini.\n\nSpoonula - Sometimes known as a scrapula, this is a combination spatula and spoon. It is a typical scooped spatula, good for scraping a bowl of batter.\n\nMixing Spoon - This is a basic mixing spoon.\n\nLadle - This seems about as sturdy as other ladles we have.\n\nTurner - This works well for things like scarmpled eggs, but it lacks the angle and thinner edge needed for foods which require flipping.\n\nSlotted Spoon - The slotted spoon seems to work as well as similar versions.\n\nSpoon Rest - As the spoon rest doesn't really need any other support other than the counter, this piece is all silicone. It cleans up easily, although I could pesonally do without. It does work well for my younger chefs and gives them a specific place to lay their coooking utensils, cutting down on spills and drips elsewhere.\n\nWe really like the bright colors of this set. It is fun for kids, and we tend to deocrate in neutrals with bright pops of color. This fits perfectly and is replacing some really old pieces which have seen better days. Overall, it seems like a great value and would be cute as a gift.\n\nDisclaimer: I received this product at a discounted rate in exchange for an honest review.","Product: Show off your American pride in this Lil' Miss Liberty child costume! Includes dress and tiara. For more than 30 years, Forum Novelties has been a leader in the costume industry, as well as the joke, trick, magic, and novelty gift item business. Forum offers over 8,000 items to choose from, ranging from baby costumes, to adult and plus-size costumes, to pet costumes. Look to Forum Novelties for all of your Halloween, luau, Christmas, Mardi Gras, and St. Patrick's day supplies. From funny to frightening, Forum has it all.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: The headpiece is baby blue\n\nReview: My 7 year old really wanted to be the Statue of Liberty for Halloween. After reading reviews, I ordered a Medium. It is big on her, but she is wearing a size 6 in clothes. She would probably be better off with a size small. We will use some safety pins and make do for the times she will wear it.\n\nKeeping in mind that this is an inexpensive costume that I didn't have to make, it is a good deal. The fabric and sewing are what one would expect for this price: cheap with some sewing issues and just cut at the bottom with no hem. I expected the headpiece to be more foam, but it is actually fabric sewn with cardboard and as far as shape goes, looks better than the foam headpieces I have seen.\n\nHowever, The colors are all off. The dress itself could technically be called turquoise but really is closer to blue. The headpiece itself has no aspirations of being green or turquoise. It is solidly a baby blue color and looks awful.\n\nMy daughter is excited to have her costume, and I didn't have to make it. We plan to make a torch (not included in the costume) from a green flashlight and colored tissue paper. If I had known the colors of the costume, I would have opted to go without sleep and make the costume myself.","Product: The NEW GENERATION [SLIM META] series for the Samsung Galaxy S7 by OBLIQ, retains the original slim and sleek modern design while embracing new innovative features. The enhanced design offers a tpu bumper that secures your device like a second skin; cushioning your device from a drop or fall, absorbing the shock onto itself and not your device. While the hard pc back offers protection from daily wear and tear, while maintaining a slim and sophisticated metallized hairline design. OBLIQ’s Slim Meta series provides light weight and exceptional design, without sacrificing your device’s protection.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Affordable alternative for Galaxy S7 case\n\nReview: I just purchased two of the OBLIQ slim fit cases for our new Galaxy S7 phones. They are nice and sleek and appear to have similar protection to Otterbox's Commuter case, at about half of the price. I haven't dropped my phone to test that, but doing a visual comparison, I would say they are close. This case does not come with a screen protector, which we had to order separately. The case colors are lighter than they appear on the screen. The black is actually a charcoal grey and the silver appears more white with silver stripes. Order darker than you want. We haven't had any issues with getting the phone to work while the cases are on. They charge well via port or cordless charger and all side buttons work fine.","Product: Deeply delicious chicken jerky for your dog\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Dog eats with enthusiasm\n\nReview: Our dog has always received biologically appropriate food, with the majority being raw. We have recently had to switch away from raw food, as part of his new training to get over stranger anxiety requires him to work for every bite of food. I don't want the kids handling raw food to train him. As he is accustomed to eating raw food, he has been very picky regarding what food he will eat, refusing may foods and treats that don't meet his standards. We finally found a raw based kibble he will eat and that is small in size but wanted to add in some \"treats\" for variety.\n\nI was curious how he would receive the chicken jerky. He loves it. He took the treats with no hesitation. He enjoys it as much as the duck jerky we have previously purchased as treats. I like the fact that the chicken jerky is much easier to tear into small pieces for our miniature dachshund. The duck jerky is always difficult to cut, even with strong kitchen shears, and leaves your hands sore after filling a jar. The chicken jerky was easy to tear into pieces with our bare hands. I will say that our hands did feel a bit greasy after tearing up a considerable amount, and a few pieces had small white globes (most likely glycerin) on them. However, in the normal course of giving our dog treats, we haven't had any greasy issues.\n\nOverall, it seems to be a good product, purportedly with few ingredients, and one our dog eats with enthusiasm.\n\nDisclaimer: I received this product at a discounted rate in exchange for an honest review.","Product: The Finnex Planted+ 24/7 LED fixture allows a hands free simulated sunrise & sunset to take effect atop user's aquariums. The 24/7 feature starts with a cool lit dawn, transitions in to a warm sunrise morning, followed by an intense color blazing high noon, scaling down to a red sun drowned sunset and finishes with a starry night blue moonlight. The cycle will repeat itself in real time, hands free, the following day. The fixture is equipped with a remote that allows day elements such as a Thunderstorms, Cloudy Days, Sunny Days and Moonlights to be activated with a click of a button. Also accessible via the IR controlled remote are four (4) memory slots in which a user can easily customize and save countless color combinations and lighting intensities if the user does not want to use the 24/7 feature. In addition to the dimmable Red, Green and Blue LEDs, the fixture also incorporates 7,000k Daylight LEDs to allow planted aquariums to thrive. Equipped with memory, the fixture remembers last saved settings as to make it compatible with standard timers. The fixture interacts with the controller via a water resistant IR sensor. The fixture's clear legs can slide inwards if need be to mount shorter aquariums. The legs feature screws capable of mounting rimless aquariums. For those with larger rimmed aquariums, the legs also feature a removable inner portion to accommodate such a width. Built out of quality constructed aluminum and featuring a water resistant splash guard, the 24/7 was built with longevity in mind.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Great, Affordable Light for Low-Medium Light Planted Tanks\n\nReview: I am very pleased with the Finnex Planted+ 24/7. This a great, affordable option for someone looking to switch to LEDs. I was a little concerned about the brightness based on other reviews. However, the light is much better than the old T12 light that it was replacing. No concerns about the light reaching the bottom of the tank in a 55 gallon and the 36\" has no trouble lighting a deep 45 gallon tank . It works well for a low tech fully planted tank with low to medium light plants. I wouldn't trust this light alone to be sufficient for high light plants, though.\n\nThe multiple features are fun, but in my opinion not very useful for a fully planted tank. I have been using full sun during the day in order to provide sufficient light for plants. My family does enjoy using the moonlight setting in the late evenings. The remote controls work well and have a low profile when kept on the light fixture.","Product: Create a party atmosphere in your garden or patio with our solar lantern string lights. The 3\" lanterns are crafted from a weatherproof fabric and each houses one white LED bulb to give an ambient glow in low light. They are spaced along 15ft of dark green cable and are perfect for stringing along a fence or between buildings for a summer party or wedding. These hassle-free string lights automatically illuminate when the sun goes down and you can count on 8 hours illumination each night in the summer months. With a handy 4ft lead cable to the first lantern you will be able to position the solar panel in direct sunlight with ease. These lantern lights do require some self-assembly, but don't worry if you've no flat pack experience; it's super easy.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: great idea, didn't work\n\nReview: The lantern lights come packaged in a box, with minimal, easy assembly and complete instructions. They are attractive and perfect for outside use. I was initially worried that the lanterns would be made of a material which would not stand up to rain, but they appear perfect for outside use. An attached solar panel with stake means that you won't have to worry about using electricity, having them left on (a concern considering that I wanted these to place in an outdoor hang-out for my kids), or proximity to an electrical outlet. No running long extension cords through your grass.\n\nThese were great up until the point that we went to turn them on after charging with the solar panel through the day. The switch to turn the lights, on, off, or flickering is not as robust as it could be. However, there seems to be a wiring deficiency in the set I received. The lights only come on when physically holding the solar panel at certain angles or gently depressing the solar panel, making me think the wiring issue is connected to how the wires are attached to the solar panel. When turning the solar panel on the hinge to try and get the lights to stay on without me standing there holding the panel in a precarious position, the plastic below the hinge snapped without warning or force.\n\nI wish these had worked. I wanted to use them in a treehouse I am planning to build for my kids. A solar panel would have been perfect for that application.\n\nDisclaimer: I received this product at a discounted rate in exchange for an honest review.","Product: Dare to enter Dragonwood! Deep in the heart of this mythical forest lurk angry ogres, giggling goblins, and even the famed and fearsome fire-breathers themselves! Collect sets of adventurer cards to earn dice, which you will use to roll against your foes. Stomp on some fire ants, shriek at a grumpy troll, or strike the menacing orange dragon with a magical silver sword. Choose your strategy carefully because the landscape of Dragonwood is ever-changing. Only the bravest will overcome the odds to emerge victorious! It may be hard to imagine, but Dragonwood, with its vast array of richly illustrated cards, started out looking much different than where it ended. Inventor Darren Kisgen submitted a prototype without a single illustration - just simple words and numbers written in marker on blank white cards. Well apparently that's all was needed, because within moments, our play testers were enraptured with the simple-to-learn but deeply engaging fantasy-themed game. Illustrator Chris Beatrice beautifully captured the wit and humor depicted in Darren's words to create one of our most visually appealing games.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Great for families with younger kids\n\nReview: Dragonwood is not a typical game for our family. We tend to play geeky \"boardgame circle\" type games. I picked this up for a trip. It is compact and ended up being perfect for playing with the younger members of our family. Dragonwood is a combination card and dice rolling game. Using cards that you draw, you must then \"trade\" them in for rolls of the dice in an attempt to defeat various animals. Victories result in gaining those cards, and hence victory points.\n\nIf you have younger kids who want to play games with you, this is inexpensive enough that it is worth picking up. It is easy to learn, plays quickly, and has bright engaging artwork with a fun topic.","Product: David H. Burton was born in Windsor, Ontario to parents that instilled in him the love of the written word at a very young age. Throughout his childhood, David read relentlessly, often into the wee hours of the morning. When David isnt writing he enjoys spending time with his partner and three boys: hiking, swimming, kayaking, biking, and reading. David has a great fondness for Portuguese cuisine, good wine, and all things left of center. Feel free to connect with David online at: http://davidhburton.com\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: refreshing chapter book for young children\n\nReview: David Burton's book, Scourge: A Grim Doyle Adventure (Volume 1), is the first in a series of steampunk fantasy books for young children. The book begins with Grim Doyle, his five adopted siblings (one of whom is his birth sister), their two fathers, and a cranky old nanny. The story is slow at first but quickly begins to accelerate when the family finds itself back from the world they orginally fled from and which the children have no memory.\n\nThrust into a world they know nothing about and hiding in an orphanage while their fathers go off to lead the resistance, the siblings must discover their places in this new world, full of new races and gadgets which come to life. The book is only the beginning of the story and promises to answer more questions in future books.\n\nI found Scourge to be a refreshing change to other chapter books for young children. It's a nice compromise for children with well devloped vocabularies and reading comprehension who are working on their reading skills.\n\nDisclaimer: A complimentary copy of the book was provided by the author."],"string":"[\n \"Product: The Baby cakes cake pop maker brings the fun and delicious cake pops trend into your own kitchen. Bake 12 cake pops or donut holes in just minutes. Add sticks and a touch of creative decorating for perfect cake pops in no time! Bakes 12 Cake Pops or Donut Holes. Includes Treat Sticks, Fork Tool, Cooling Stand. Nonstick Baking Plates. Power and Ready Lights. 1300 Watts.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Loved by aspiring child chef\\n\\nReview: I bought this for my 11 year old aspiring chef. She loves it and has been making more cake pops than any one family should probably have.\\n\\nPROS:\\nCooks cake balls quickly.\\nMakes 12 at a time, as opposed to some which only make 9.\\nEasy clean up.\\nComes with a tool to help spear the cake pops and remove them, as well as a tray and a small bag of sticks.\\nThe recipes are good. Even changing them to accommodate wheat/gluten and dairy allergies, they have turned out well.\\n\\nCONS:\\nThe cake pop maker is not insulated, and the outside gets extremely hot. The first time it was used, the stickers on top indicating \\\"power\\\" and \\\"ready\\\" melted.\\nThe balls seem smaller than anticipated.\",\n \"Product: Vinyl Shower Curtain With Window View Heavy Gauge\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Fills a niche market but lacks in quality\\n\\nReview: Concerned about axe wielding serial killers, dolls that come to life, and/or clowns? The maker of the standard view window shower curtain understands. Don't let your fears affect you personal hygiene. Grab one of these shower curtains today! You can shower while still keeping an watchful eye on the door and mirror. No one is going to get passed you. Sure, unless you have a convenient window escape in the shower, your one way of escape will probably be blocked by your foe, but at least you won't be surprised. Keep that bottle of shampoo handy and spray it in your attacker's eyes. Shampoo in the eyes stings like nothing else and is also known to wash away clown make-up.\\n\\nThere are very few shower curtains on the market which have a clear top portion, so in that aspect the mere existence of this curtain makes it a top choice. I had to search long and hard to find this shower curtain for one of my children who would like to keep a watchful eye on any comings and goings while showering. The clear portion extends down quite a bit more than the picture shows, which is great if the user is a child or someone else extremely short in stature. They can still view out the window. However, for your average, or even short, adult, the clear portion may be too low. The white portion will definitely cover any lower nether regions, but your top portion will be exposed.\\n\\nThere is a decidedly plastic smell to this curtain, and it is most likely made of PVC, which the description specifically stated it was not made of when I purchased the curtain. My husband, who tends to be oblivious to the majority of scents, was out of town for the first two days when this curtain arrived and was airing out. When he arrived home, he asked what the \\\"stench\\\" was. The rest of us noticed immediately and it bothered everyone in our household. We stuck it outside to try and air it out. It has been a week now, and the curtain still smells some when you walk by that bathroom.\\n\\nThe two halves are sewn together with two rows of stitching. Sewing on plastic understandably can affect the integrity of the plastic sheeting, but this was very poorly done. The stitches are not even and some are over 1/4\\\" long. The stitching also isn't straight and wavers across the curtain.\\n\\nThe bottom of the curtain was cut by a machine while it was folded, so there is a choppy line at the bottom. If you have a particularly short shower or tub, this does mean it is easy to adjust the length and you will probably end up with a straighter cut.\\n\\nThe shower curtain is heavier than a typical cheap shower liner, so it doesn't blow all over with the shower on. I would hope so, as I ended up paying $18.99 plus tax for this shower curtain. I can only hope the child in question outgrows the need to see outside the shower before the curtain falls apart.\\n\\nI would order this again if there were no other clear top shower curtains for the sheer fact that it is keeping water in the tub instead of my child constantly peeking out and getting water on the floor and wall. As disappointed as I am in the quality of the product, it is a better deal than replacing dry wall or paying for expensive therapy bills.\",\n \"Product: Looking for a high quality, heat resistant, multi-purpose, easy to clean, odor resistant, long lasting and recyclable cooking utensil set ? Sayra Premium 6-piece Multi-color Kitchen Utensil set with Bonus Spoon Rest is your ultimate kitchen solution. This set is made of highly durable and lightweight nylon core coated with BPA Free, FDA Approved 100% Food grade Silicone. The unibody design is easy to clean and avoids food particles to stick preventing bacteria growth. Heat Resistant up to 480 F and suitable for non-stick and all other cooking surfaces. Odor resistant and dishwasher safe. Sayra is a small family business based out of California, USA. Our goal is to provide better product choices to our clients at competitive prices. We choose products that are of highest quality and safe to the consumer and the environment. We stand by our product with a 100% Money Back Guarantee. The Ultimate Non-stick Cooking Set Includes : 1 Red Spaghetti spoon: 11.2 X 2, 73g - Serve long pasta like spaghetti without clumping 1 Yellow Spoonula: 11.2 X 2.3, 76g - Fusion of a spatula and a spoon. Use to scrape bowls and mix dough 1 Green Mixing Spoon: 10.8 X 2.3, 81g- Good at stirring, cooking, mixing and serving food 1 Blue Ladle: 11.2 X 3.4, 98g - Serve up to cup of soup, stew or any liquid 1 Purple Turner: 11.7 X 3, 83g - Thin flexible edge glides under food for sauteing, turning and flipping 1 Pink Slotted Spoon: 10.8 X 2.3, 72g - Strain food from the liquid. Added edge for scraping food from the pan 1 BONUS Gray Spoon Rest: 9.5 X 4.6 X 0.55 , 72g - Use to rest cooking utensils instead of your tabletop or kitchen counter Care Instruction: Clean in warm soapy water by hand or in the dishwasher. Using abrasive cleansers or pads may damage the set.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Silicone set has nice, bright colors\\n\\nReview: I love using silicone products in baking. Silicone is a stable substance that doesn't leach toxins and is very easy to clean. As a family of seven with food allergies who have to cook everything from scratch, both of those aspects are very important to us.\\n\\nThis seven piece set is a great value. Minus the spoon rest which is all silicone, all the pieces have a sturdier nylon inner support with silicone making up the outside portion which touches food. Considering that you are getting seven pieces for under $20, this turns out to be a very good deal.\\n\\nSpaghetti Spoon - This piece is on the small side for a pasta server , and honestly, it doesn't quite cut it as well as our T-Rex pasta server. However, it is great for pasta salads with rotini.\\n\\nSpoonula - Sometimes known as a scrapula, this is a combination spatula and spoon. It is a typical scooped spatula, good for scraping a bowl of batter.\\n\\nMixing Spoon - This is a basic mixing spoon.\\n\\nLadle - This seems about as sturdy as other ladles we have.\\n\\nTurner - This works well for things like scarmpled eggs, but it lacks the angle and thinner edge needed for foods which require flipping.\\n\\nSlotted Spoon - The slotted spoon seems to work as well as similar versions.\\n\\nSpoon Rest - As the spoon rest doesn't really need any other support other than the counter, this piece is all silicone. It cleans up easily, although I could pesonally do without. It does work well for my younger chefs and gives them a specific place to lay their coooking utensils, cutting down on spills and drips elsewhere.\\n\\nWe really like the bright colors of this set. It is fun for kids, and we tend to deocrate in neutrals with bright pops of color. This fits perfectly and is replacing some really old pieces which have seen better days. Overall, it seems like a great value and would be cute as a gift.\\n\\nDisclaimer: I received this product at a discounted rate in exchange for an honest review.\",\n \"Product: Show off your American pride in this Lil' Miss Liberty child costume! Includes dress and tiara. For more than 30 years, Forum Novelties has been a leader in the costume industry, as well as the joke, trick, magic, and novelty gift item business. Forum offers over 8,000 items to choose from, ranging from baby costumes, to adult and plus-size costumes, to pet costumes. Look to Forum Novelties for all of your Halloween, luau, Christmas, Mardi Gras, and St. Patrick's day supplies. From funny to frightening, Forum has it all.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: The headpiece is baby blue\\n\\nReview: My 7 year old really wanted to be the Statue of Liberty for Halloween. After reading reviews, I ordered a Medium. It is big on her, but she is wearing a size 6 in clothes. She would probably be better off with a size small. We will use some safety pins and make do for the times she will wear it.\\n\\nKeeping in mind that this is an inexpensive costume that I didn't have to make, it is a good deal. The fabric and sewing are what one would expect for this price: cheap with some sewing issues and just cut at the bottom with no hem. I expected the headpiece to be more foam, but it is actually fabric sewn with cardboard and as far as shape goes, looks better than the foam headpieces I have seen.\\n\\nHowever, The colors are all off. The dress itself could technically be called turquoise but really is closer to blue. The headpiece itself has no aspirations of being green or turquoise. It is solidly a baby blue color and looks awful.\\n\\nMy daughter is excited to have her costume, and I didn't have to make it. We plan to make a torch (not included in the costume) from a green flashlight and colored tissue paper. If I had known the colors of the costume, I would have opted to go without sleep and make the costume myself.\",\n \"Product: The NEW GENERATION [SLIM META] series for the Samsung Galaxy S7 by OBLIQ, retains the original slim and sleek modern design while embracing new innovative features. The enhanced design offers a tpu bumper that secures your device like a second skin; cushioning your device from a drop or fall, absorbing the shock onto itself and not your device. While the hard pc back offers protection from daily wear and tear, while maintaining a slim and sophisticated metallized hairline design. OBLIQ’s Slim Meta series provides light weight and exceptional design, without sacrificing your device’s protection.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Affordable alternative for Galaxy S7 case\\n\\nReview: I just purchased two of the OBLIQ slim fit cases for our new Galaxy S7 phones. They are nice and sleek and appear to have similar protection to Otterbox's Commuter case, at about half of the price. I haven't dropped my phone to test that, but doing a visual comparison, I would say they are close. This case does not come with a screen protector, which we had to order separately. The case colors are lighter than they appear on the screen. The black is actually a charcoal grey and the silver appears more white with silver stripes. Order darker than you want. We haven't had any issues with getting the phone to work while the cases are on. They charge well via port or cordless charger and all side buttons work fine.\",\n \"Product: Deeply delicious chicken jerky for your dog\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Dog eats with enthusiasm\\n\\nReview: Our dog has always received biologically appropriate food, with the majority being raw. We have recently had to switch away from raw food, as part of his new training to get over stranger anxiety requires him to work for every bite of food. I don't want the kids handling raw food to train him. As he is accustomed to eating raw food, he has been very picky regarding what food he will eat, refusing may foods and treats that don't meet his standards. We finally found a raw based kibble he will eat and that is small in size but wanted to add in some \\\"treats\\\" for variety.\\n\\nI was curious how he would receive the chicken jerky. He loves it. He took the treats with no hesitation. He enjoys it as much as the duck jerky we have previously purchased as treats. I like the fact that the chicken jerky is much easier to tear into small pieces for our miniature dachshund. The duck jerky is always difficult to cut, even with strong kitchen shears, and leaves your hands sore after filling a jar. The chicken jerky was easy to tear into pieces with our bare hands. I will say that our hands did feel a bit greasy after tearing up a considerable amount, and a few pieces had small white globes (most likely glycerin) on them. However, in the normal course of giving our dog treats, we haven't had any greasy issues.\\n\\nOverall, it seems to be a good product, purportedly with few ingredients, and one our dog eats with enthusiasm.\\n\\nDisclaimer: I received this product at a discounted rate in exchange for an honest review.\",\n \"Product: The Finnex Planted+ 24/7 LED fixture allows a hands free simulated sunrise & sunset to take effect atop user's aquariums. The 24/7 feature starts with a cool lit dawn, transitions in to a warm sunrise morning, followed by an intense color blazing high noon, scaling down to a red sun drowned sunset and finishes with a starry night blue moonlight. The cycle will repeat itself in real time, hands free, the following day. The fixture is equipped with a remote that allows day elements such as a Thunderstorms, Cloudy Days, Sunny Days and Moonlights to be activated with a click of a button. Also accessible via the IR controlled remote are four (4) memory slots in which a user can easily customize and save countless color combinations and lighting intensities if the user does not want to use the 24/7 feature. In addition to the dimmable Red, Green and Blue LEDs, the fixture also incorporates 7,000k Daylight LEDs to allow planted aquariums to thrive. Equipped with memory, the fixture remembers last saved settings as to make it compatible with standard timers. The fixture interacts with the controller via a water resistant IR sensor. The fixture's clear legs can slide inwards if need be to mount shorter aquariums. The legs feature screws capable of mounting rimless aquariums. For those with larger rimmed aquariums, the legs also feature a removable inner portion to accommodate such a width. Built out of quality constructed aluminum and featuring a water resistant splash guard, the 24/7 was built with longevity in mind.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Great, Affordable Light for Low-Medium Light Planted Tanks\\n\\nReview: I am very pleased with the Finnex Planted+ 24/7. This a great, affordable option for someone looking to switch to LEDs. I was a little concerned about the brightness based on other reviews. However, the light is much better than the old T12 light that it was replacing. No concerns about the light reaching the bottom of the tank in a 55 gallon and the 36\\\" has no trouble lighting a deep 45 gallon tank . It works well for a low tech fully planted tank with low to medium light plants. I wouldn't trust this light alone to be sufficient for high light plants, though.\\n\\nThe multiple features are fun, but in my opinion not very useful for a fully planted tank. I have been using full sun during the day in order to provide sufficient light for plants. My family does enjoy using the moonlight setting in the late evenings. The remote controls work well and have a low profile when kept on the light fixture.\",\n \"Product: Create a party atmosphere in your garden or patio with our solar lantern string lights. The 3\\\" lanterns are crafted from a weatherproof fabric and each houses one white LED bulb to give an ambient glow in low light. They are spaced along 15ft of dark green cable and are perfect for stringing along a fence or between buildings for a summer party or wedding. These hassle-free string lights automatically illuminate when the sun goes down and you can count on 8 hours illumination each night in the summer months. With a handy 4ft lead cable to the first lantern you will be able to position the solar panel in direct sunlight with ease. These lantern lights do require some self-assembly, but don't worry if you've no flat pack experience; it's super easy.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: great idea, didn't work\\n\\nReview: The lantern lights come packaged in a box, with minimal, easy assembly and complete instructions. They are attractive and perfect for outside use. I was initially worried that the lanterns would be made of a material which would not stand up to rain, but they appear perfect for outside use. An attached solar panel with stake means that you won't have to worry about using electricity, having them left on (a concern considering that I wanted these to place in an outdoor hang-out for my kids), or proximity to an electrical outlet. No running long extension cords through your grass.\\n\\nThese were great up until the point that we went to turn them on after charging with the solar panel through the day. The switch to turn the lights, on, off, or flickering is not as robust as it could be. However, there seems to be a wiring deficiency in the set I received. The lights only come on when physically holding the solar panel at certain angles or gently depressing the solar panel, making me think the wiring issue is connected to how the wires are attached to the solar panel. When turning the solar panel on the hinge to try and get the lights to stay on without me standing there holding the panel in a precarious position, the plastic below the hinge snapped without warning or force.\\n\\nI wish these had worked. I wanted to use them in a treehouse I am planning to build for my kids. A solar panel would have been perfect for that application.\\n\\nDisclaimer: I received this product at a discounted rate in exchange for an honest review.\",\n \"Product: Dare to enter Dragonwood! Deep in the heart of this mythical forest lurk angry ogres, giggling goblins, and even the famed and fearsome fire-breathers themselves! Collect sets of adventurer cards to earn dice, which you will use to roll against your foes. Stomp on some fire ants, shriek at a grumpy troll, or strike the menacing orange dragon with a magical silver sword. Choose your strategy carefully because the landscape of Dragonwood is ever-changing. Only the bravest will overcome the odds to emerge victorious! It may be hard to imagine, but Dragonwood, with its vast array of richly illustrated cards, started out looking much different than where it ended. Inventor Darren Kisgen submitted a prototype without a single illustration - just simple words and numbers written in marker on blank white cards. Well apparently that's all was needed, because within moments, our play testers were enraptured with the simple-to-learn but deeply engaging fantasy-themed game. Illustrator Chris Beatrice beautifully captured the wit and humor depicted in Darren's words to create one of our most visually appealing games.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Great for families with younger kids\\n\\nReview: Dragonwood is not a typical game for our family. We tend to play geeky \\\"boardgame circle\\\" type games. I picked this up for a trip. It is compact and ended up being perfect for playing with the younger members of our family. Dragonwood is a combination card and dice rolling game. Using cards that you draw, you must then \\\"trade\\\" them in for rolls of the dice in an attempt to defeat various animals. Victories result in gaining those cards, and hence victory points.\\n\\nIf you have younger kids who want to play games with you, this is inexpensive enough that it is worth picking up. It is easy to learn, plays quickly, and has bright engaging artwork with a fun topic.\",\n \"Product: David H. Burton was born in Windsor, Ontario to parents that instilled in him the love of the written word at a very young age. Throughout his childhood, David read relentlessly, often into the wee hours of the morning. When David isnt writing he enjoys spending time with his partner and three boys: hiking, swimming, kayaking, biking, and reading. David has a great fondness for Portuguese cuisine, good wine, and all things left of center. Feel free to connect with David online at: http://davidhburton.com\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: refreshing chapter book for young children\\n\\nReview: David Burton's book, Scourge: A Grim Doyle Adventure (Volume 1), is the first in a series of steampunk fantasy books for young children. The book begins with Grim Doyle, his five adopted siblings (one of whom is his birth sister), their two fathers, and a cranky old nanny. The story is slow at first but quickly begins to accelerate when the family finds itself back from the world they orginally fled from and which the children have no memory.\\n\\nThrust into a world they know nothing about and hiding in an orphanage while their fathers go off to lead the resistance, the siblings must discover their places in this new world, full of new races and gadgets which come to life. The book is only the beginning of the story and promises to answer more questions in future books.\\n\\nI found Scourge to be a refreshing change to other chapter books for young children. It's a nice compromise for children with well devloped vocabularies and reading comprehension who are working on their reading skills.\\n\\nDisclaimer: A complimentary copy of the book was provided by the author.\"\n]","isConversational":false},"profile_size":{"kind":"number","value":10,"string":"10"},"task":{"kind":"string","value":"longlamp_3"},"split_kind":{"kind":"string","value":"user_based"},"id":{"kind":"number","value":951,"string":"951"}}},{"rowIdx":952,"cells":{"question_id":{"kind":"string","value":"A3CJ4WX7P56EW"},"question":{"kind":"string","value":"Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of \"2.0\" for a product with description \"Used Paperback in \"Like-New\" Condition published by Bantam Books, N.Y., 2007, 430 pages. Includes a preview of Koontz novel \" The Darkest Evening of the Year\" (release date: November 2007). We ship within 24 hours of your purchase with a Delivery Confirmation.\". The summary of the review text is \"Third Book in the Odd Series Disappoints\"."},"answer":{"kind":"string","value":"In 2005, Dean Koontz introduced readers to Odd Thomas in a critically acclaimed but mediocre book named after its hero. In 2006, Koontz, claiming he had received more letters about Odd than about any other character, released a sequel, Forever Odd. Uncharacteristically, the sequel turned out to be much better than the original. Now Koontz has brought Odd back for a third adventure. Unfortunately, the third time is not the charm with this series, as Brother Odd marks a return in quality to the unremarkable series debut.\n\nThe third installment has Odd living at a secluded monastery high in California's Sierra mountains. The novel starts out fast, as Odd wakes up one night to discover bodachs, supernatural creatures whose presence signifies impending disaster. Odd, who has the unusual ability to see and (nonverbally) communicate with the spirits of dead, immediately sets about attempting to determine what future and hopefully preventable event might have drawn the sinister bodachs to the monastery.\n\nAs Odd draws ever closer to uncovering the truth, we meet many of the monastery's other interesting inhabitants, some living, some not. Among the living an ex-Mafia hit man, a mysterious Russian librarian, and a reclusive genius who claims to have proven the existence of God via quantum physics. The most interesting nonliving resident is Brother Bernard, a bell-ringing poltergeist and former monk who has haunted the abbey since his suicide two years earlier. The abbey is also home to a number of nuns and several handicapped children who turn out to be the targets of the violence that has drawn the bodachs.\n\nThe book suffers from a number of ills, not the least significant of which is the fact that very little actually happens in the story after the opening chapters. The story drags along with lots of unnecessary (and unhelpful) description and the same kind of overly sugary narrative the first two books were guilty of. Book two had enough intensity in the plot to more than make up for the tone of the first-person writing; this book does not.\n\nAnother major problem is the dialog, since Koontz for some reason gave all his characters almost identical personalities. The speaking style and sense of humor of all the speaking characters is so similar, there is almost no distinction even between the heroes and the villains. In a book that relies heavily on humor to hold the reader's interest, the lack of unique voices is a serious detriment.\n\nIn characteristic fashion, Koontz injects a bit of social commentary into the narration, decrying such problems as unjust court rulings by liberal, activist judges and doctor-advocated \"mercy killings\" of disabled babies. In one poetic passage against general moral decay, he writes: \"The world beyond this mountain retreat was largely barbarian, a condition it had been striving toward for perhaps a century and a half. A once-glorious civilization was now only a pretense, a mask allowing barbarians to commit ever greater cruelties in the name of virtues that a truly civilized world would have recognized as evils.\"\n\nSince the story takes place in a monastery, there is a more religious tone in Brother Odd than in either of the previous two books. Though Koontz takes the opportunity in a few places to poke fun at some of the more admittedly ridiculous aspects of organized religion, the overall feel is one of respect for the men and women who have dedicated their lives to serving God and of reverence for the God they serve.\n\nIt's unfortunate that the story surrounding the genuinely likeable character of Odd Thomas falls flat, but when all is said and done, Brother Odd is at best unremarkable and at worst bordering on downright boring. Assuming the successful franchise will continue for a fourth book, hopefully Koontz will find a way to make the next attempt more rewarding."},"correct_answer":{"kind":"string","value":"In 2005, Dean Koontz introduced readers to Odd Thomas in a critically acclaimed but mediocre book named after its hero. In 2006, Koontz, claiming he had received more letters about Odd than about any other character, released a sequel, Forever Odd. Uncharacteristically, the sequel turned out to be much better than the original. Now Koontz has brought Odd back for a third adventure. Unfortunately, the third time is not the charm with this series, as Brother Odd marks a return in quality to the unremarkable series debut.\n\nThe third installment has Odd living at a secluded monastery high in California's Sierra mountains. The novel starts out fast, as Odd wakes up one night to discover bodachs, supernatural creatures whose presence signifies impending disaster. Odd, who has the unusual ability to see and (nonverbally) communicate with the spirits of dead, immediately sets about attempting to determine what future and hopefully preventable event might have drawn the sinister bodachs to the monastery.\n\nAs Odd draws ever closer to uncovering the truth, we meet many of the monastery's other interesting inhabitants, some living, some not. Among the living an ex-Mafia hit man, a mysterious Russian librarian, and a reclusive genius who claims to have proven the existence of God via quantum physics. The most interesting nonliving resident is Brother Bernard, a bell-ringing poltergeist and former monk who has haunted the abbey since his suicide two years earlier. The abbey is also home to a number of nuns and several handicapped children who turn out to be the targets of the violence that has drawn the bodachs.\n\nThe book suffers from a number of ills, not the least significant of which is the fact that very little actually happens in the story after the opening chapters. The story drags along with lots of unnecessary (and unhelpful) description and the same kind of overly sugary narrative the first two books were guilty of. Book two had enough intensity in the plot to more than make up for the tone of the first-person writing; this book does not.\n\nAnother major problem is the dialog, since Koontz for some reason gave all his characters almost identical personalities. The speaking style and sense of humor of all the speaking characters is so similar, there is almost no distinction even between the heroes and the villains. In a book that relies heavily on humor to hold the reader's interest, the lack of unique voices is a serious detriment.\n\nIn characteristic fashion, Koontz injects a bit of social commentary into the narration, decrying such problems as unjust court rulings by liberal, activist judges and doctor-advocated \"mercy killings\" of disabled babies. In one poetic passage against general moral decay, he writes: \"The world beyond this mountain retreat was largely barbarian, a condition it had been striving toward for perhaps a century and a half. A once-glorious civilization was now only a pretense, a mask allowing barbarians to commit ever greater cruelties in the name of virtues that a truly civilized world would have recognized as evils.\"\n\nSince the story takes place in a monastery, there is a more religious tone in Brother Odd than in either of the previous two books. Though Koontz takes the opportunity in a few places to poke fun at some of the more admittedly ridiculous aspects of organized religion, the overall feel is one of respect for the men and women who have dedicated their lives to serving God and of reverence for the God they serve.\n\nIt's unfortunate that the story surrounding the genuinely likeable character of Odd Thomas falls flat, but when all is said and done, Brother Odd is at best unremarkable and at worst bordering on downright boring. Assuming the successful franchise will continue for a fourth book, hopefully Koontz will find a way to make the next attempt more rewarding."},"documents":{"kind":"list like","value":["Product: From the heavy-duty arched top to the crushed velvet interior, these hardshell cases are vintage in every detail. The cases feature a black tolex covering with a strong arched top, a plush velvet interior, six locking mechanisms, an accessory compartment and more. These hardshells were modeled after classic pre-war style cases and will protect your instrument with their tough design and dense interior.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Nice hard case for Gibson clone\n\nReview: I bought this case sight-unseen for my Jay Turser JT-133, a Gibson ES-335 knock-off. Other reviews said the case fit the Gibson, so I figured it would probably fit the JT. And it does--mostly. When it first arrived, the case was extremely tight, but I managed to wedge the guitar in there and let it sit over night to kind of break in the padding. By the time I had taken it out and put it back in several times, the fit was much better.\n\nThe padding is very snug and secure; the guitar won't be moving around in there at all. The construction of the case is very nice. It's sturdy and seems solid when all snapped shut. Perhaps because my guitar wasn't immediately a perfect fit, I had to maneuver the top a bit in order to get the latches to shut, but eventually things settled out and now it works fine.\n\nOne beef I have is that this case is not meant to be set down in a sideways position (the position you carry it in). There are no little \"feet\" on the side of the case opposite the handle, only on the bottom. So if you're carrying it by the handle and need to set it down (like to open a car door), it sets down wobbly. It's not practical to set it all the way down on its back with one hand just to open a door or pick up a stand or something. It's a minor inconvenience, but it's there.\n\nThe handle seems sturdy enough, but the decorative leather strap that covers the metal attachments has already come loose, after carrying this thing to and from two gigs. Again, not a big deal, but it's a little quality detail that was missed by the manufacturer.\n\nOverall this is a fine case. It's a good deal for the money, it's solid, it does what it claims to do. I don't know that I would trust a $2,000 Gibson to this case, but for a much cheaper 335 imitation (and I have to say, the JT-133 is actually a very nice guitar), this case is great.","Product: The Pocket Air Check gas leak detector is a portable, battery operated, solid-state instrument intended for use in applications requiring detection of combustible gas leaks. Handheld and highly sensitive, the Pocket Air Check makes finding gas leaks as easy as using a flashlight and at a fraction of what other portable detectors cost. The Pocket Air Check is a toolbox requirement for the HVAC technician, plumber, homeowner or anyone working with combustible gas installations, especially natural gas or propane. Remove the battery cover on the back of the unit and insert 2 AA alkaline batteries. Refer to diagram inside battery compartment. Press and hold the green On/Off button. The power and Alarm lights and the audible alarm will turn on. The Alarm light and audible alarm will continue until the sensor warms up. You must continue to depress the On/Off button for the Air Check to detect gas. Releasing the On/Off switch will power down the unit. Plase the sensor approximately 1/2\" from the suspected leak. When checking a gas pipe connection, slowly move the sensor tip of the Air Check around the trhreads of the pipe or fitting. Check valve connections and the front and back of the valve stem. Check along the length of pipes and tubes for leaks. When gas is detected the Air Check Alarm light will turn on and the audible alarm will sound.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Handy gadget, but you get what you pay for\n\nReview: This handheld gas detector does what it's supposed to do, which I suppose is the bottom line. There's not too much to complain about with a device that claims to detect gas leaks and does. For the extremely casual do-it-yourself handyman, this is a useful gadget to have on hand for those moments when you think you might smell gas in the utility room or the kitchen or the garage. For anything more than very casual use, however, this little toy is way too flimsy.\n\nWhen I first unpacked the detector, I was surprised at how light and cheap-feeling it was. It did not come with batteries, so I had to dig out my own AAAs. When I got the batteries installed, it device wouldn't turn on. Assuming the batteries were dead, I put in some new ones. Still nothing. It turned out that the springs that are supposed to make contact with the battery terminals were so flimsy they were being pushed aside by normal battery installation. With a little prodding and coaxing, I managed to get them into proper position, and then finally the unit turned on. Then I put the battery cover on, and it died. Even the slightest bump or nudge throws something out of alignment, apparently. I took the cover off again and poked and prodded some more, and it turned back on.\n\nSo I ran my tests without touching the battery cover, and it did seem to work. I tested it on the stove burner without any flame, and it did register gas. Then I took it downstairs to where my wife thought she had smelled gas near the furnace, and I did not get a reading anywhere. So I assume I'm fine and the detector is working, but it's constructed so cheaply, it's hard to know for sure.\n\nAt the end of the day, it seems like it works, and that ought to be good enough for most home users. For this price, it's not worth griping too much about. But you definitely get what you pay for with this thing. Keep it away from the kids, and don't bump into anything while you're holding it, and it should be fine.","Product: Shows some signs of wear, and may have some markings on the inside. 100% Money Back Guarantee.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Clancy at his apolitical best\n\nReview: The line between social justice and vigilantism can be a fine one, as Clancy clearly demonstrates in this no-holds-barred thriller detailing the pre-CIA life of recurring character John Kelly (a.k.a. John Clark).\n\nKelly, still grieving the loss of his wife, meets an exciting young woman with whom he develops an instant chemistry. Within just a few days of inviting Pam onboard his boat and getting to know her, he falls head over heels in love--but not before discovering that she's a drug addict and a former prostitute. Undeterred, Kelly sets out to cure Pam of her addictions. As part of the healing process, Kelly takes Pam back to the streets of Baltimore. As extremely bad luck would have it, Pam is recognized by her former pimp, who shoots Kelly and kidnaps the girl. Days later, Kelly turns up in a hospital, and Pam turns up dead. Kelly vows to rehabilitate himself and avenge Pam's murder, eventually drawing on his considerable skills as a former Navy SEAL and embarking on a campaign of terror against the city's drug world that has cops scratching their heads and dealers quaking in their dark alleys.\n\nMeanwhile, in war-torn Vietnam, a U.S. spy drone snaps a photo of a high-ranking military official who is supposed to be dead--a man with knowledge that could be extremely beneficial to America's enemies. The Pentagon's top brass decides to stage a rescue, and who better to lead the mission than former SEAL John Kelly? Now, torn between his desire to punish his girlfriend's murderers and his loyalty to his country, Kelly has to decide which mission is more important. The choice he makes will affect not only the course of Kelly's life but the very condition of his soul.\n\nThe literary device of hero vs. human evil is a familiar one, and the ethical questions the book raises are worth considering. As with many of this author's novels, caution is required; the book contains accounts of torture, physical and emotional abuse, drug use, and war violence. The first chapter contains a relatively mild sex scene, and bad language is used throughout. But Clancy is a master of political and military intrigue, and the objectionable material is included not for its own sake but to support the compelling story and believable characters. Readers who are able to cheer for an antihero with a conscience will love Without Remorse.","Product: Tom Clancy takes us back to a formative episode in the life of John Kelly, a character familiar to his many readers as CIA legend Mr Clark, in his seventh No 1 bestselling thriller -- now reissued with a new cover. It is 1970. Back in the US after serving as a Navy SEAL in Vietnam, John Kelly meets a woman who will change his life forever. She has recently escaped from a nightmare world of unimaginable suffering, yet before they can plan a future together, the horrors of her past reach out to snatch her from him. Kelly vows to gain revenge -- but finds there are others who have need of his deadly skills. In Washington a high-risk operation is being planned to rescue a key group of prisoners from a POW camp deep within North Vietnam. Kelly has his own mission; the Pentagon want him for theirs. As he attempts to juggle the two, he must step into a netherworld as perilous as any he has ever known -- from which he may never return!\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Clancy at his apolitical best\n\nReview: The line between social justice and vigilantism can be a fine one, as Clancy clearly demonstrates in this no-holds-barred thriller detailing the pre-CIA life of recurring character John Kelly (a.k.a. John Clark).\n\nKelly, still grieving the loss of his wife, meets an exciting young woman with whom he develops an instant chemistry. Within just a few days of inviting Pam onboard his boat and getting to know her, he falls head over heels in love--but not before discovering that she's a drug addict and a former prostitute. Undeterred, Kelly sets out to cure Pam of her addictions. As part of the healing process, Kelly takes Pam back to the streets of Baltimore. As extremely bad luck would have it, Pam is recognized by her former pimp, who shoots Kelly and kidnaps the girl. Days later, Kelly turns up in a hospital, and Pam turns up dead. Kelly vows to rehabilitate himself and avenge Pam's murder, eventually drawing on his considerable skills as a former Navy SEAL and embarking on a campaign of terror against the city's drug world that has cops scratching their heads and dealers quaking in their dark alleys.\n\nMeanwhile, in war-torn Vietnam, a U.S. spy drone snaps a photo of a high-ranking military official who is supposed to be dead--a man with knowledge that could be extremely beneficial to America's enemies. The Pentagon's top brass decides to stage a rescue, and who better to lead the mission than former SEAL John Kelly? Now, torn between his desire to punish his girlfriend's murderers and his loyalty to his country, Kelly has to decide which mission is more important. The choice he makes will affect not only the course of Kelly's life but the very condition of his soul.\n\nThe literary device of hero vs. human evil is a familiar one, and the ethical questions the book raises are worth considering. As with many of this author's novels, caution is required; the book contains accounts of torture, physical and emotional abuse, drug use, and war violence. The first chapter contains a relatively mild sex scene, and bad language is used throughout. But Clancy is a master of political and military intrigue, and the objectionable material is included not for its own sake but to support the compelling story and believable characters. Readers who are able to cheer for an antihero with a conscience will love Without Remorse.","Product: James Herbert is one of the most influential and widely imitated authors of our time. His previous novels are `The Rats', `The Fog', `The Survivor', `Fluke', `The Spear', `Lair', `The Dark', `The Jonah', `Shrine', `Moon', `Domain', `The Magic Cottage', `Sepulchre', `Haunted', `Creed', `Portent' and `The Ghosts of Sleath'.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: A Rocket-Propelled, Overly Violent Pursuit through Post-Apocalyptic London\n\nReview: James Herbert's '48 is a good example of the \"last-man-on-earth\" theme that has been growing in creativity and gore in recent years (compare 2004's Dawn of the Dead or Resident Evil to 1978's The Omega Man for a rather graphic representation of this progression). Set in post-World-War-II London, this book is the story of a small band of survivors struggling to flee the evil, destructive \"black-shirts\" in a world decimated by Hitler's last-ditch, desparate, horrific attack. The \"B2\" bombs, warheads filled with a devastating virus called the \"blood death,\" have wiped out nearly all of the world's population. The only survivors are those with the extremely rare AB-negative blood type and a handful of other, less fortunate souls who survived the initial attack but are slowly dying from the blood disease nonetheless.\n\nThe story starts with an immediate pulse-pounding chase scene as the protagonist, Hoch, is pursued through the London's empty streets by a gang of murderous thugs loyal to Hitler's ideals and infected with the blood death. Their only hope for long-term survival is to capture Hoch and drain him of his healthy blood, then attempt a transfusion.\n\nWe follow Hoch down into the tunnels of London's Underground, into lavish hotel halls, and eventually to the top of the Tower Bridge, where he engineers a final standoff with the black-shirts who want his blood. Along the way, Hoch encounters a few other healthy individuals. One of them, Muriel, becomes a love interest in two drawn-out and unfortunately quite graphic sex scenes. Another, a German named Wilhelm Sterne, becomes the focus of Hoch's hatred in a series of character-development scenes that add surprising depth to the otherwise action-based plot.\n\nThe body count in '48 is unknowable. Beyond the initial deaths of billions of people worldwide due to the blood death, Hoch singlehandedly kills hundreds of black-shirts during the course of the story. In one brief but nonetheless disturbing scene shown in a flashback, Hoch runs over an insane man in the street for no reason other than the fact that the man is in his way. Hoch's female companions continually entreat him to spare the lives of his enemies (\"Hasn't there been enough killing?\" is a common refrain from these characters); but Herbert's protagonist is unaffected by their pleas.\n\nThis is a dark story that ends without imparting much hope for the future. It is without question entertaining--the rapidity of the plot and the well-written scenes of nonstop action see to that--and the characters are multilayered and for the most part believable. The book accomplishes exactly what it sets out to accomplish. However, due to the unoriginality of the story, the graphic sexuality, and the overwhelming scenes of violence, it is not one that I feel can be recommended.","Product: In the millennium's last great sf novel, Stephen Baxter takes us a short step byond Y2K. The year is 2010. We have survived ! so far. Cornelius Taine of Eschatology, Inc., mathematical genius, predicts that in just 200 years our species will be wiped out. Even evacuation from Earth will not save us from extinction. Reid Malenfant, entrepreneur, has Big Dumb Boosters ready to fly from the California desert, to be piloted by an enhanced squid named Sheena 5. When Taine offers Malenfant the ultimate dream of saving the species, Sheena's mission is diverted to investigate Earth's recently discovered -- and very remote -- second moon. What Sheena 5 discovers there is nothing less than a revelation: the secret reason for our existence visible at last beneath the rippled surface of Time's river. Malenfant and Taine must follow Sheena! but they are pursued by an enraged US Air and Space Force, and a mighty battle in space may cut short their hopes for the ultimate transformation of mankind.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Disappointing Trilogy Opener from Author of Moonseed\n\nReview: Stephen Baxter is an award-winning author who obviously takes great care in writing his carefully researched science-fiction novels. Manifold Time is book one in a trilogy about what happens to the world when people discover that the end is in sight. It's not your standard doomsday story, however, for a number of reasons, foremost among them being the painstaking care with which Baxter presents his central thesis: that the earth is doomed not because of an iminent threat such as a comet or global nuclear war but simply because of probability.\n\nThe book starts out confusing, levels out into understandable and exciting, builds to suspenseful, and then makes a disappointing decline into a long section of bewildering fluxation before finally going out with a fizzle. Hopefully books two and three in the trilogy will pick up a bit; I felt let down by the end of Manifold Time.","Product: The Number One international bestselling author of Jurassic Park, Congo and Sphere takes on global warming in this gripping and critically acclaimed thriller. In Paris, a physicist dies after performing a laboratory experiment for a beautiful visitor. In the jungles of Malaysia, a mysterious buyer purchases deadly cavitation technology, built to his specifications. In Vancouver, a small research submarine is leased for use in the waters of New Guinea. And in Tokyo, an intelligence agent tries to understand what it all means. Thus begins Michael Crichton's exciting and provocative techno-thriller State of Fear. Only Crichton's unique ability to blend scientific fact with pulse-pounding fiction could bring such disparate elements to a heart-stopping conclusion. This is Crichton's most wide-ranging thriller. State of Fear takes the reader from the glaciers of Iceland to the volcanoes of Antarctica, from the Arizona desert to the deadly jungles of the Solomon Islands, from the streets of Paris to the beaches of Los Angeles. The novel races forward on a roller-coaster thrill ride, all the while keeping the brain in high gear. Gripping and thought-provoking, State of Fear is Michael Crichton at his best.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Great Book on Global Warming\n\nReview: Michael Crichton is well known as the best-selling author of over a dozen scientific thrillers. His fast-moving prose combined with well researched data to back up his often chilling and occasionally controversial plot concepts have made him an international success. He has explored regenerative DNA manipulation (Jurassic Park), time travel and quantum physics (Timeline), nanotechnology and swarm theory (Prey), and sexual harrassment (Disclosure), among other topics. His streak continues with State of Fear, a nonstop thrill ride through the complexities of global warming and environmental activism.\n\nPeter Evans is a young hotshot attorney with a prestigious L.A. law firm. His primary client is George Morton, a billionnaire philanthropist whose passion for environmental issues bankrolls several earth-friendly groups. Among them is the National Environmental Research Fund, headed by Nicholas Drake, another of Peter's clients. NERF, funded by George Morton and represented by Evans, is about to sue the United States on behalf of the small island country of Vanutu. Vanutu, threatened by rises in sea level due to global warming in recent decades, feels that the United States is responsible. And NERF is going to do something about it.\n\nAs Peter Evans oversees the progress in the lawsuit preparation, he discovers problems. The data coming in from researchers all over the globe doesn't seem to match up with his \"knowledge\" about the environment. Average global temperatue is actually not increasing, even in areas of significant rises in carbon-dioxide. Sea level has remained steady for a hundred years. Glacial ice is not melting. The plaintiff is becoming worried about the suit's viability in court. When George Morton dies in a fiery car crash, Evans begins to suspect a conspiracy. Afraid of corporate research tampering, he digs deeper into the researchers' numbers.\n\nWith the help of George Morton's beautiful assistant, Sarah, and a mysterious duo from MIT's science department, Evans begins a journey of discovery that takes him from the tundra of Antarctica to the fiords of Norway to the islands of Hawaii. What he finds is indeed a conspiracy, but not one instigated by evil corporations. Instead, Evans realizes that the very environmental organization he represents is involved in a massive plot to force the world to take notice of changing weather patterns and take action to finally stop global warming. By actually manipulating the weather and simulating tectonic events, NERF plans to unleash a disaster of global proportions. And only Peter Evans can stop it.\n\nState of Fear is without question one of Crichton's best. With it's air of intrigue and suspense on a global scare, comparisons between State of Fear and Dan Brown's runaway best-seller The Da Vinci Code are already plentiful, and not without reason. Brown hit the jackpot with his combination of quick action and thoughtful, controversial dialog. Now Crichton, no stranger to literary success, has hit it again with a similar recipe consisting of a controversial subject surrounded by a great story. Like Brown, Crichton uses the highly effective technique of a knowledgeable character educating a newcomer to the field (in Brown's case grail mythology; in State of Fear global warming) in order to get his point across. And, as with previous Crichton best-sellers, readers may legitimately expect to be educated as well as entertained.","Product: The Frankenstein story is updated to the 21st century by the great American storyteller Dean Koontz. Now someone new is playing god. They are stronger, heal better and think faster than any humans ever created - and they must be destroyed. But not even Victor Helios can stop the engineered killers he has set loose on a reign of terror through modern-day New Orleans. The mad genius had not imagined that his creations would develop minds - and purposes - of their own. And as Deucalion and Detectives O'Connor and Maddison race to uncover an age-old conspiracy, they will discover that Victor's new, improved models have infiltrated every level of New Orleans society ...and far beyond.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Deucalion and friends return for a second shot at destroying Victor Frankenstein\n\nReview: For book two of his modern-day Frankenstein series, Dean Koontz has a new co-author and a new title, but that's about all that's different from book one. The characters, setting, tone, and basic plot are all the same. Fortunately, the enjoyability factor is also similar to that of the series debut, which makes the second book at least readable, if not exactly on a level with what readers have come to expect from \"America's storyteller.\"\n\nThe story continues right where book one left off, with Deucalion, the original Frankenstein Monster, and New Orleans cops Carson O'Connor and Michael Maddison plotting to track down and destroy Victor Helios, aka Frankenstein, before he can unleash his new-and-improved humans upon the city and the world. As the three would-be saviors uncover new layers of Helios's plot, they find that nothing is what is seems and no one can be trusted. Meanwhile, Helios's creations are facing their own issues, as they struggle with free will and their desire to destroy both humans and themselves. And when one of Helios's creations goes horribly wrong, the stage is set for the ultimate showdown between good and evil.\n\nCity of Night contains plenty of characteristic Dean Koontz philosophizing on everything from the nature of man to issues of good vs. evil to the meaning of free will. And it offers plenty of the same off-the-wall humor and good-natured banter between the two main (human) characters. There's a fair amount of sexual content, though this happily is downplayed from the first book. The sexual tension between the two cops is hardly subtle, yet because they are committed to not acting on their desires (for professional reasons, not moral), the objectionable content, at least between the protagonists, is minimal. There's some violence, as one would expect in a book entitled Frankenstein, but it's mostly of a bizarre rather than grotesque nature.\n\nSpiritual content in the book is limited to some rather vague references to an afterlife as characters contemplate what they believe may be their last hours or days before death. There are two interesting scenes that include priests, but the dialog in these scenes, one of which involves a priest contemplating suicide, is more philosophical than religious. Basically, there's just not a lot of depth in the story, spiritual or otherwise.\n\nThe Frankenstein series will not be remembered as Koontz's best work, and it will probably not rocket his co-authors to fame and fortune. Still, for what it is--B-level horror dressed up as Mary Shelly-esque social commentary--it delivers.","Product: SOMEONE NEW IS PLAYING GOD The Frankenstein story updated to the 21st century by the great American storyteller Dean Koontz. Created centuries ago by a madman, possessed of seemingly supernatural powers and a dogged drive for justice, the mysterious Deucalion arrives in New Orleans as the next generation of Dr Frankenstein's monsters are about to be unleashed by their deranged maker, now known as Victor Helios. Deucalion's path will cross with that of tough police detective Carson O'Connor and her partner, Michael Maddison, who are on the trail of a vicious serial killer stalking the city, a killer who selects his victims for the humanity that is missing in himself. Reluctantly, Carson will join forces with Deucalion against a far greater, terrifying threat: an entire race of killers who are much more - and less - than human ! Deucalion seeks one final confrontation with the evil genius who created him, Dr Frankenstein. Dean Koontz, the master storyteller, creates a bold new legend.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: America's Storyteller Puts a New Spin on a Classic Tale\n\nReview: The story offers little by way of surprise. Yes, it's about Frankenstein. Yes, that Frankenstein. We learn that Viktor Frankenstein was a real person, not merely a figment of Mary Shelley's imagination. Two hundred years ago, he learned so much about the human body from his experiments that he succeeded in creating a semi-human being--the original Frankenstein monster. He also learned how to augment his own body in order to defy death.\n\nTwo hundred years later, Frankenstein is still alive and living under an alias in (pre-Hurricane Katrina) New Orleans, where he is still creating \"new\" humans in the hope of eventually repopulating the earth with his super-race, eliminating the \"old\" humans, and becoming the godlike ruler of the world.\n\nHis first creation is still around as well. He's given himself the name Deucalion (after the Noah-like ark builder of ancient Greek mythology) and has been living a life of seclusion in a Buddhist monastery in Asia. When Frankenstein created Deucalion, he hadn't yet learned the finer points of making his \"new\" people look exactly like the \"old\" humans, so Deucalion is horribly disfigured. He's shy, gentle, huge, ugly, and basically your all-around likeable 200-year-old nice giant.\n\nWhen Deucalion learns that Frankenstein is still alive, he sets out for New Orleans to kill him before he can carry out his evil plans. Meanwhile, one of Frankenstein's new creations has gone haywire and begun a killing spree in the Big Easy. The cops are stymied by the mysterious case, and their problems are only compounded by the fact that unknown to them, one of the detectives working on the case is a member of Frankenstein's new race. Things come to a head when Deucalion joins forces with the cops and the fact that there are strange human-like beings with two hearts and other obviously engineered features running around the city comes to light.\n\nThis is the first in a trio of books about the strangely deathless Frankenstein and the problems brought about by his sinister creativity. The book's characters are reasonably well developed, and the settings are brought to life with lavishly descriptive prose, neither of which is surprising in a Dean Koontz book. More surprising is the amount of sexual content--way to much in my view. Profanity is kept to a reasonable level, but the violence and gore is a bit over the top at times.\n\nAll in all, I liked the book. My main hesitation in recommending it is that there doesn't seem to be any real reason to read it. Whereas the original Frankenstein was a social morality tale masked in a horror story, this is pretty much just a horror story with little to commend it by way of a moral. Readers who want a scary book that will challenge them to think would be better off reading Koontz's much earlier (and solo) work Watchers, a Frankenstein-like story about the dangers of genetic manipulation and social hierarchies.","Product: Paperback-Acceptable-Red cover instead of white and same book.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Intriguing Book after a Rough Opening\n\nReview: The Zero Game is the latest and without question best offering from political-suspense author Brad Meltzer, a relative newcomer whose first real breakthrough came in 2002 with The Millionaires. In The Zero Game, Meltzer takes a close look at what can go wrong in the back halls of power when the truly powerful turn a blind eye to the ambitions of those who desire power at any cost. The book is well written, fast paced, and insightful, with no major problems and very few minor ones.\n\nHarris Sandler is a Congressional aide working for one of the most powerful senators in Washington. He's not a true power broker, but he's a guy who can get things done. He's well liked, not overly ambitious, and just cynical enough about his job to recognize a good opportunity when he sees one. In short, he's a player in the highest-level game in the world--the game of politics in the capital of the United States.\n\nBut he's also a player in a different game, one not nearly so well publicized, one that has never been discussed by pundits or examined by the media. This game is played in secret by an unknown number of anonymous participants. The only rule is that no player may ever reveal the secrets of the game to anyone. The players in this game are betting on the outcome of Congressional votes, and the stakes can be deadly.\n\nIn an age when many, if not most, people's view of the political process in Washington falls somewhere between skepticism and cynicism, the notion that somewhere behind the scenes a small group of otherwise insignificant people are really calling the shots is appealing--and almost believable. Secret power and hidden ambition at the highest level are hardly novel concepts for a political thriller. Yet Meltzer manages to put a new twist to these familiar themes. With the addition of a seemingly invincible antagonist, a 16-year-old heroinne, and a daring cat-and-mouse chase that takes readers from the bowels of the earth, 8,000 feet deep in a South Dakota gold mine, to the bowels of the U.S. Capitol, Meltzer's transformation from a mediocre fiction writer to a top-notch political novelist is complete.\n\nMeltzer's latest novels are unsurprisingly drawing comparisons to John Grisham and David Baldacci by many critics, and The Zero Game indicates that such observations are not without merit. Meltzer's development as an author even since his previous novel, The First Counsel (2001) is immediately apparent in The Zero Game. The dialog is crisp and believable; the action is cinematically fast paced; the suspense is tight without ever going too far over the line toward melodrama. His portrayal of the House and Senate--particularly the members of each--is deferentially humorous while at the same time almost certainly accurate. He has left no crucial element of his writing untended, and his efforts pay off in the reader's experience.\n\nMeltzer draws upon his own experience as an intern on Capitol Hill to walk a fine and for the most part satisfyhing line when writing about Congress. He is knowledgeable enough about the political process not to be awestruck by our nation's lawmakers; yet he retains just enough idealism not to be jaded by the corruption that inevitably lurks behind any number of Washington's closed doors. And he allows his readers to view the whole Congressional system through the eyes of interns and aides, the seemingly powerless minions who write the speeches, who conduct the low-level meetings where major policy issues initially get shaped, and who in reality know more about politics than any lawmaker. One theme that comes across especially well is the relationship between Congressmen and Senators and their staffs. In one telling exchange, Viv, the 16-year-old intern who gets caught up with Harris in the corruption surrounding the game, asks another aide, Dinah, for some project books containing sensitive information. When Dinah hesitates, Meltzer writes, \"Harris had warned her this might happen. That was why he gave her the ultimate comback. `The congressman wants them,' Viv insisted. There was a short pause on the other line. `I'll get them ready,' Dinah eventually said.\"\n\nThere are some negatives in the book as well. At times the writing seems slightly careless, as if portions were never researched and certain facts never checked. In one instance, Meltzor describes an aide walking past \"the hearing room where Nixon was impeached during Watergate\" (Nixon was never impeached; he resigned before the House of Representatives had a chance to vote on the articles of impeachment drawn up by the Judiciary Committee). In another, the two houses of Congress are referred to as the two branches of government. Minor offenses, but they do distract the reader from the story.\n\nA more serious authorial offense is Meltzor's fickleness when it comes to narrative point of view. In an apparent effort to keep the reader locked into the story, Meltzer switches back and forth between the standard third-person narrative and a more unusual first-person account written in the present tense. Designed to make reading more experiencial, like watching a movie, this writing style is difficult to do well and easy to botch. By switching back and forth, Meltzer manages to land somewhere in between; it's a little distracting but not quite frustrating enough to dwell on. The real difference between Melter's technique and that of, say, John Grisham, who used first-person present-tense narration to great effect in The Rainmaker, is that Grisham is smooth enough to make you forget the unfamiliar and rather awkward construction after a few chapters, while Meltzer draws attention to it by killing off his narrator. This is a dirty trick, catching the reader off-guard, again in an attempt to make the reading experience more vivid.\n\nThe unexpected death of a character assumed to be a major protagonist is not uncommon and helps keep readers on their toes. But the unexpected death of a narrator seems cheap and frankly a little strange. Even so, Meltzer manages to pull it off without leaving the reader feeling cheated--too cheated, anyway. There's no question that there's some bait-and-switch advertising going on somewhere between the flap copy and the actual story, but the writing is otherwise good enough that the trick almost works.\n\nThe Zero Game is a fast, entertaining read, Meltzer's best to date. His harrowing plot lines and unconventional characters, coupled with intriguing story developments (when's the last time you read a political thriller with a major scene taking place 8,000 feet underground?) conspire to make Meltzer one of the best of his genre. If he can keep it up, his readers will undoubtedly continue to reward him as he continues to reward them for a long time to come."],"string":"[\n \"Product: From the heavy-duty arched top to the crushed velvet interior, these hardshell cases are vintage in every detail. The cases feature a black tolex covering with a strong arched top, a plush velvet interior, six locking mechanisms, an accessory compartment and more. These hardshells were modeled after classic pre-war style cases and will protect your instrument with their tough design and dense interior.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Nice hard case for Gibson clone\\n\\nReview: I bought this case sight-unseen for my Jay Turser JT-133, a Gibson ES-335 knock-off. Other reviews said the case fit the Gibson, so I figured it would probably fit the JT. And it does--mostly. When it first arrived, the case was extremely tight, but I managed to wedge the guitar in there and let it sit over night to kind of break in the padding. By the time I had taken it out and put it back in several times, the fit was much better.\\n\\nThe padding is very snug and secure; the guitar won't be moving around in there at all. The construction of the case is very nice. It's sturdy and seems solid when all snapped shut. Perhaps because my guitar wasn't immediately a perfect fit, I had to maneuver the top a bit in order to get the latches to shut, but eventually things settled out and now it works fine.\\n\\nOne beef I have is that this case is not meant to be set down in a sideways position (the position you carry it in). There are no little \\\"feet\\\" on the side of the case opposite the handle, only on the bottom. So if you're carrying it by the handle and need to set it down (like to open a car door), it sets down wobbly. It's not practical to set it all the way down on its back with one hand just to open a door or pick up a stand or something. It's a minor inconvenience, but it's there.\\n\\nThe handle seems sturdy enough, but the decorative leather strap that covers the metal attachments has already come loose, after carrying this thing to and from two gigs. Again, not a big deal, but it's a little quality detail that was missed by the manufacturer.\\n\\nOverall this is a fine case. It's a good deal for the money, it's solid, it does what it claims to do. I don't know that I would trust a $2,000 Gibson to this case, but for a much cheaper 335 imitation (and I have to say, the JT-133 is actually a very nice guitar), this case is great.\",\n \"Product: The Pocket Air Check gas leak detector is a portable, battery operated, solid-state instrument intended for use in applications requiring detection of combustible gas leaks. Handheld and highly sensitive, the Pocket Air Check makes finding gas leaks as easy as using a flashlight and at a fraction of what other portable detectors cost. The Pocket Air Check is a toolbox requirement for the HVAC technician, plumber, homeowner or anyone working with combustible gas installations, especially natural gas or propane. Remove the battery cover on the back of the unit and insert 2 AA alkaline batteries. Refer to diagram inside battery compartment. Press and hold the green On/Off button. The power and Alarm lights and the audible alarm will turn on. The Alarm light and audible alarm will continue until the sensor warms up. You must continue to depress the On/Off button for the Air Check to detect gas. Releasing the On/Off switch will power down the unit. Plase the sensor approximately 1/2\\\" from the suspected leak. When checking a gas pipe connection, slowly move the sensor tip of the Air Check around the trhreads of the pipe or fitting. Check valve connections and the front and back of the valve stem. Check along the length of pipes and tubes for leaks. When gas is detected the Air Check Alarm light will turn on and the audible alarm will sound.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Handy gadget, but you get what you pay for\\n\\nReview: This handheld gas detector does what it's supposed to do, which I suppose is the bottom line. There's not too much to complain about with a device that claims to detect gas leaks and does. For the extremely casual do-it-yourself handyman, this is a useful gadget to have on hand for those moments when you think you might smell gas in the utility room or the kitchen or the garage. For anything more than very casual use, however, this little toy is way too flimsy.\\n\\nWhen I first unpacked the detector, I was surprised at how light and cheap-feeling it was. It did not come with batteries, so I had to dig out my own AAAs. When I got the batteries installed, it device wouldn't turn on. Assuming the batteries were dead, I put in some new ones. Still nothing. It turned out that the springs that are supposed to make contact with the battery terminals were so flimsy they were being pushed aside by normal battery installation. With a little prodding and coaxing, I managed to get them into proper position, and then finally the unit turned on. Then I put the battery cover on, and it died. Even the slightest bump or nudge throws something out of alignment, apparently. I took the cover off again and poked and prodded some more, and it turned back on.\\n\\nSo I ran my tests without touching the battery cover, and it did seem to work. I tested it on the stove burner without any flame, and it did register gas. Then I took it downstairs to where my wife thought she had smelled gas near the furnace, and I did not get a reading anywhere. So I assume I'm fine and the detector is working, but it's constructed so cheaply, it's hard to know for sure.\\n\\nAt the end of the day, it seems like it works, and that ought to be good enough for most home users. For this price, it's not worth griping too much about. But you definitely get what you pay for with this thing. Keep it away from the kids, and don't bump into anything while you're holding it, and it should be fine.\",\n \"Product: Shows some signs of wear, and may have some markings on the inside. 100% Money Back Guarantee.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Clancy at his apolitical best\\n\\nReview: The line between social justice and vigilantism can be a fine one, as Clancy clearly demonstrates in this no-holds-barred thriller detailing the pre-CIA life of recurring character John Kelly (a.k.a. John Clark).\\n\\nKelly, still grieving the loss of his wife, meets an exciting young woman with whom he develops an instant chemistry. Within just a few days of inviting Pam onboard his boat and getting to know her, he falls head over heels in love--but not before discovering that she's a drug addict and a former prostitute. Undeterred, Kelly sets out to cure Pam of her addictions. As part of the healing process, Kelly takes Pam back to the streets of Baltimore. As extremely bad luck would have it, Pam is recognized by her former pimp, who shoots Kelly and kidnaps the girl. Days later, Kelly turns up in a hospital, and Pam turns up dead. Kelly vows to rehabilitate himself and avenge Pam's murder, eventually drawing on his considerable skills as a former Navy SEAL and embarking on a campaign of terror against the city's drug world that has cops scratching their heads and dealers quaking in their dark alleys.\\n\\nMeanwhile, in war-torn Vietnam, a U.S. spy drone snaps a photo of a high-ranking military official who is supposed to be dead--a man with knowledge that could be extremely beneficial to America's enemies. The Pentagon's top brass decides to stage a rescue, and who better to lead the mission than former SEAL John Kelly? Now, torn between his desire to punish his girlfriend's murderers and his loyalty to his country, Kelly has to decide which mission is more important. The choice he makes will affect not only the course of Kelly's life but the very condition of his soul.\\n\\nThe literary device of hero vs. human evil is a familiar one, and the ethical questions the book raises are worth considering. As with many of this author's novels, caution is required; the book contains accounts of torture, physical and emotional abuse, drug use, and war violence. The first chapter contains a relatively mild sex scene, and bad language is used throughout. But Clancy is a master of political and military intrigue, and the objectionable material is included not for its own sake but to support the compelling story and believable characters. Readers who are able to cheer for an antihero with a conscience will love Without Remorse.\",\n \"Product: Tom Clancy takes us back to a formative episode in the life of John Kelly, a character familiar to his many readers as CIA legend Mr Clark, in his seventh No 1 bestselling thriller -- now reissued with a new cover. It is 1970. Back in the US after serving as a Navy SEAL in Vietnam, John Kelly meets a woman who will change his life forever. She has recently escaped from a nightmare world of unimaginable suffering, yet before they can plan a future together, the horrors of her past reach out to snatch her from him. Kelly vows to gain revenge -- but finds there are others who have need of his deadly skills. In Washington a high-risk operation is being planned to rescue a key group of prisoners from a POW camp deep within North Vietnam. Kelly has his own mission; the Pentagon want him for theirs. As he attempts to juggle the two, he must step into a netherworld as perilous as any he has ever known -- from which he may never return!\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Clancy at his apolitical best\\n\\nReview: The line between social justice and vigilantism can be a fine one, as Clancy clearly demonstrates in this no-holds-barred thriller detailing the pre-CIA life of recurring character John Kelly (a.k.a. John Clark).\\n\\nKelly, still grieving the loss of his wife, meets an exciting young woman with whom he develops an instant chemistry. Within just a few days of inviting Pam onboard his boat and getting to know her, he falls head over heels in love--but not before discovering that she's a drug addict and a former prostitute. Undeterred, Kelly sets out to cure Pam of her addictions. As part of the healing process, Kelly takes Pam back to the streets of Baltimore. As extremely bad luck would have it, Pam is recognized by her former pimp, who shoots Kelly and kidnaps the girl. Days later, Kelly turns up in a hospital, and Pam turns up dead. Kelly vows to rehabilitate himself and avenge Pam's murder, eventually drawing on his considerable skills as a former Navy SEAL and embarking on a campaign of terror against the city's drug world that has cops scratching their heads and dealers quaking in their dark alleys.\\n\\nMeanwhile, in war-torn Vietnam, a U.S. spy drone snaps a photo of a high-ranking military official who is supposed to be dead--a man with knowledge that could be extremely beneficial to America's enemies. The Pentagon's top brass decides to stage a rescue, and who better to lead the mission than former SEAL John Kelly? Now, torn between his desire to punish his girlfriend's murderers and his loyalty to his country, Kelly has to decide which mission is more important. The choice he makes will affect not only the course of Kelly's life but the very condition of his soul.\\n\\nThe literary device of hero vs. human evil is a familiar one, and the ethical questions the book raises are worth considering. As with many of this author's novels, caution is required; the book contains accounts of torture, physical and emotional abuse, drug use, and war violence. The first chapter contains a relatively mild sex scene, and bad language is used throughout. But Clancy is a master of political and military intrigue, and the objectionable material is included not for its own sake but to support the compelling story and believable characters. Readers who are able to cheer for an antihero with a conscience will love Without Remorse.\",\n \"Product: James Herbert is one of the most influential and widely imitated authors of our time. His previous novels are `The Rats', `The Fog', `The Survivor', `Fluke', `The Spear', `Lair', `The Dark', `The Jonah', `Shrine', `Moon', `Domain', `The Magic Cottage', `Sepulchre', `Haunted', `Creed', `Portent' and `The Ghosts of Sleath'.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: A Rocket-Propelled, Overly Violent Pursuit through Post-Apocalyptic London\\n\\nReview: James Herbert's '48 is a good example of the \\\"last-man-on-earth\\\" theme that has been growing in creativity and gore in recent years (compare 2004's Dawn of the Dead or Resident Evil to 1978's The Omega Man for a rather graphic representation of this progression). Set in post-World-War-II London, this book is the story of a small band of survivors struggling to flee the evil, destructive \\\"black-shirts\\\" in a world decimated by Hitler's last-ditch, desparate, horrific attack. The \\\"B2\\\" bombs, warheads filled with a devastating virus called the \\\"blood death,\\\" have wiped out nearly all of the world's population. The only survivors are those with the extremely rare AB-negative blood type and a handful of other, less fortunate souls who survived the initial attack but are slowly dying from the blood disease nonetheless.\\n\\nThe story starts with an immediate pulse-pounding chase scene as the protagonist, Hoch, is pursued through the London's empty streets by a gang of murderous thugs loyal to Hitler's ideals and infected with the blood death. Their only hope for long-term survival is to capture Hoch and drain him of his healthy blood, then attempt a transfusion.\\n\\nWe follow Hoch down into the tunnels of London's Underground, into lavish hotel halls, and eventually to the top of the Tower Bridge, where he engineers a final standoff with the black-shirts who want his blood. Along the way, Hoch encounters a few other healthy individuals. One of them, Muriel, becomes a love interest in two drawn-out and unfortunately quite graphic sex scenes. Another, a German named Wilhelm Sterne, becomes the focus of Hoch's hatred in a series of character-development scenes that add surprising depth to the otherwise action-based plot.\\n\\nThe body count in '48 is unknowable. Beyond the initial deaths of billions of people worldwide due to the blood death, Hoch singlehandedly kills hundreds of black-shirts during the course of the story. In one brief but nonetheless disturbing scene shown in a flashback, Hoch runs over an insane man in the street for no reason other than the fact that the man is in his way. Hoch's female companions continually entreat him to spare the lives of his enemies (\\\"Hasn't there been enough killing?\\\" is a common refrain from these characters); but Herbert's protagonist is unaffected by their pleas.\\n\\nThis is a dark story that ends without imparting much hope for the future. It is without question entertaining--the rapidity of the plot and the well-written scenes of nonstop action see to that--and the characters are multilayered and for the most part believable. The book accomplishes exactly what it sets out to accomplish. However, due to the unoriginality of the story, the graphic sexuality, and the overwhelming scenes of violence, it is not one that I feel can be recommended.\",\n \"Product: In the millennium's last great sf novel, Stephen Baxter takes us a short step byond Y2K. The year is 2010. We have survived ! so far. Cornelius Taine of Eschatology, Inc., mathematical genius, predicts that in just 200 years our species will be wiped out. Even evacuation from Earth will not save us from extinction. Reid Malenfant, entrepreneur, has Big Dumb Boosters ready to fly from the California desert, to be piloted by an enhanced squid named Sheena 5. When Taine offers Malenfant the ultimate dream of saving the species, Sheena's mission is diverted to investigate Earth's recently discovered -- and very remote -- second moon. What Sheena 5 discovers there is nothing less than a revelation: the secret reason for our existence visible at last beneath the rippled surface of Time's river. Malenfant and Taine must follow Sheena! but they are pursued by an enraged US Air and Space Force, and a mighty battle in space may cut short their hopes for the ultimate transformation of mankind.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Disappointing Trilogy Opener from Author of Moonseed\\n\\nReview: Stephen Baxter is an award-winning author who obviously takes great care in writing his carefully researched science-fiction novels. Manifold Time is book one in a trilogy about what happens to the world when people discover that the end is in sight. It's not your standard doomsday story, however, for a number of reasons, foremost among them being the painstaking care with which Baxter presents his central thesis: that the earth is doomed not because of an iminent threat such as a comet or global nuclear war but simply because of probability.\\n\\nThe book starts out confusing, levels out into understandable and exciting, builds to suspenseful, and then makes a disappointing decline into a long section of bewildering fluxation before finally going out with a fizzle. Hopefully books two and three in the trilogy will pick up a bit; I felt let down by the end of Manifold Time.\",\n \"Product: The Number One international bestselling author of Jurassic Park, Congo and Sphere takes on global warming in this gripping and critically acclaimed thriller. In Paris, a physicist dies after performing a laboratory experiment for a beautiful visitor. In the jungles of Malaysia, a mysterious buyer purchases deadly cavitation technology, built to his specifications. In Vancouver, a small research submarine is leased for use in the waters of New Guinea. And in Tokyo, an intelligence agent tries to understand what it all means. Thus begins Michael Crichton's exciting and provocative techno-thriller State of Fear. Only Crichton's unique ability to blend scientific fact with pulse-pounding fiction could bring such disparate elements to a heart-stopping conclusion. This is Crichton's most wide-ranging thriller. State of Fear takes the reader from the glaciers of Iceland to the volcanoes of Antarctica, from the Arizona desert to the deadly jungles of the Solomon Islands, from the streets of Paris to the beaches of Los Angeles. The novel races forward on a roller-coaster thrill ride, all the while keeping the brain in high gear. Gripping and thought-provoking, State of Fear is Michael Crichton at his best.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Great Book on Global Warming\\n\\nReview: Michael Crichton is well known as the best-selling author of over a dozen scientific thrillers. His fast-moving prose combined with well researched data to back up his often chilling and occasionally controversial plot concepts have made him an international success. He has explored regenerative DNA manipulation (Jurassic Park), time travel and quantum physics (Timeline), nanotechnology and swarm theory (Prey), and sexual harrassment (Disclosure), among other topics. His streak continues with State of Fear, a nonstop thrill ride through the complexities of global warming and environmental activism.\\n\\nPeter Evans is a young hotshot attorney with a prestigious L.A. law firm. His primary client is George Morton, a billionnaire philanthropist whose passion for environmental issues bankrolls several earth-friendly groups. Among them is the National Environmental Research Fund, headed by Nicholas Drake, another of Peter's clients. NERF, funded by George Morton and represented by Evans, is about to sue the United States on behalf of the small island country of Vanutu. Vanutu, threatened by rises in sea level due to global warming in recent decades, feels that the United States is responsible. And NERF is going to do something about it.\\n\\nAs Peter Evans oversees the progress in the lawsuit preparation, he discovers problems. The data coming in from researchers all over the globe doesn't seem to match up with his \\\"knowledge\\\" about the environment. Average global temperatue is actually not increasing, even in areas of significant rises in carbon-dioxide. Sea level has remained steady for a hundred years. Glacial ice is not melting. The plaintiff is becoming worried about the suit's viability in court. When George Morton dies in a fiery car crash, Evans begins to suspect a conspiracy. Afraid of corporate research tampering, he digs deeper into the researchers' numbers.\\n\\nWith the help of George Morton's beautiful assistant, Sarah, and a mysterious duo from MIT's science department, Evans begins a journey of discovery that takes him from the tundra of Antarctica to the fiords of Norway to the islands of Hawaii. What he finds is indeed a conspiracy, but not one instigated by evil corporations. Instead, Evans realizes that the very environmental organization he represents is involved in a massive plot to force the world to take notice of changing weather patterns and take action to finally stop global warming. By actually manipulating the weather and simulating tectonic events, NERF plans to unleash a disaster of global proportions. And only Peter Evans can stop it.\\n\\nState of Fear is without question one of Crichton's best. With it's air of intrigue and suspense on a global scare, comparisons between State of Fear and Dan Brown's runaway best-seller The Da Vinci Code are already plentiful, and not without reason. Brown hit the jackpot with his combination of quick action and thoughtful, controversial dialog. Now Crichton, no stranger to literary success, has hit it again with a similar recipe consisting of a controversial subject surrounded by a great story. Like Brown, Crichton uses the highly effective technique of a knowledgeable character educating a newcomer to the field (in Brown's case grail mythology; in State of Fear global warming) in order to get his point across. And, as with previous Crichton best-sellers, readers may legitimately expect to be educated as well as entertained.\",\n \"Product: The Frankenstein story is updated to the 21st century by the great American storyteller Dean Koontz. Now someone new is playing god. They are stronger, heal better and think faster than any humans ever created - and they must be destroyed. But not even Victor Helios can stop the engineered killers he has set loose on a reign of terror through modern-day New Orleans. The mad genius had not imagined that his creations would develop minds - and purposes - of their own. And as Deucalion and Detectives O'Connor and Maddison race to uncover an age-old conspiracy, they will discover that Victor's new, improved models have infiltrated every level of New Orleans society ...and far beyond.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Deucalion and friends return for a second shot at destroying Victor Frankenstein\\n\\nReview: For book two of his modern-day Frankenstein series, Dean Koontz has a new co-author and a new title, but that's about all that's different from book one. The characters, setting, tone, and basic plot are all the same. Fortunately, the enjoyability factor is also similar to that of the series debut, which makes the second book at least readable, if not exactly on a level with what readers have come to expect from \\\"America's storyteller.\\\"\\n\\nThe story continues right where book one left off, with Deucalion, the original Frankenstein Monster, and New Orleans cops Carson O'Connor and Michael Maddison plotting to track down and destroy Victor Helios, aka Frankenstein, before he can unleash his new-and-improved humans upon the city and the world. As the three would-be saviors uncover new layers of Helios's plot, they find that nothing is what is seems and no one can be trusted. Meanwhile, Helios's creations are facing their own issues, as they struggle with free will and their desire to destroy both humans and themselves. And when one of Helios's creations goes horribly wrong, the stage is set for the ultimate showdown between good and evil.\\n\\nCity of Night contains plenty of characteristic Dean Koontz philosophizing on everything from the nature of man to issues of good vs. evil to the meaning of free will. And it offers plenty of the same off-the-wall humor and good-natured banter between the two main (human) characters. There's a fair amount of sexual content, though this happily is downplayed from the first book. The sexual tension between the two cops is hardly subtle, yet because they are committed to not acting on their desires (for professional reasons, not moral), the objectionable content, at least between the protagonists, is minimal. There's some violence, as one would expect in a book entitled Frankenstein, but it's mostly of a bizarre rather than grotesque nature.\\n\\nSpiritual content in the book is limited to some rather vague references to an afterlife as characters contemplate what they believe may be their last hours or days before death. There are two interesting scenes that include priests, but the dialog in these scenes, one of which involves a priest contemplating suicide, is more philosophical than religious. Basically, there's just not a lot of depth in the story, spiritual or otherwise.\\n\\nThe Frankenstein series will not be remembered as Koontz's best work, and it will probably not rocket his co-authors to fame and fortune. Still, for what it is--B-level horror dressed up as Mary Shelly-esque social commentary--it delivers.\",\n \"Product: SOMEONE NEW IS PLAYING GOD The Frankenstein story updated to the 21st century by the great American storyteller Dean Koontz. Created centuries ago by a madman, possessed of seemingly supernatural powers and a dogged drive for justice, the mysterious Deucalion arrives in New Orleans as the next generation of Dr Frankenstein's monsters are about to be unleashed by their deranged maker, now known as Victor Helios. Deucalion's path will cross with that of tough police detective Carson O'Connor and her partner, Michael Maddison, who are on the trail of a vicious serial killer stalking the city, a killer who selects his victims for the humanity that is missing in himself. Reluctantly, Carson will join forces with Deucalion against a far greater, terrifying threat: an entire race of killers who are much more - and less - than human ! Deucalion seeks one final confrontation with the evil genius who created him, Dr Frankenstein. Dean Koontz, the master storyteller, creates a bold new legend.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: America's Storyteller Puts a New Spin on a Classic Tale\\n\\nReview: The story offers little by way of surprise. Yes, it's about Frankenstein. Yes, that Frankenstein. We learn that Viktor Frankenstein was a real person, not merely a figment of Mary Shelley's imagination. Two hundred years ago, he learned so much about the human body from his experiments that he succeeded in creating a semi-human being--the original Frankenstein monster. He also learned how to augment his own body in order to defy death.\\n\\nTwo hundred years later, Frankenstein is still alive and living under an alias in (pre-Hurricane Katrina) New Orleans, where he is still creating \\\"new\\\" humans in the hope of eventually repopulating the earth with his super-race, eliminating the \\\"old\\\" humans, and becoming the godlike ruler of the world.\\n\\nHis first creation is still around as well. He's given himself the name Deucalion (after the Noah-like ark builder of ancient Greek mythology) and has been living a life of seclusion in a Buddhist monastery in Asia. When Frankenstein created Deucalion, he hadn't yet learned the finer points of making his \\\"new\\\" people look exactly like the \\\"old\\\" humans, so Deucalion is horribly disfigured. He's shy, gentle, huge, ugly, and basically your all-around likeable 200-year-old nice giant.\\n\\nWhen Deucalion learns that Frankenstein is still alive, he sets out for New Orleans to kill him before he can carry out his evil plans. Meanwhile, one of Frankenstein's new creations has gone haywire and begun a killing spree in the Big Easy. The cops are stymied by the mysterious case, and their problems are only compounded by the fact that unknown to them, one of the detectives working on the case is a member of Frankenstein's new race. Things come to a head when Deucalion joins forces with the cops and the fact that there are strange human-like beings with two hearts and other obviously engineered features running around the city comes to light.\\n\\nThis is the first in a trio of books about the strangely deathless Frankenstein and the problems brought about by his sinister creativity. The book's characters are reasonably well developed, and the settings are brought to life with lavishly descriptive prose, neither of which is surprising in a Dean Koontz book. More surprising is the amount of sexual content--way to much in my view. Profanity is kept to a reasonable level, but the violence and gore is a bit over the top at times.\\n\\nAll in all, I liked the book. My main hesitation in recommending it is that there doesn't seem to be any real reason to read it. Whereas the original Frankenstein was a social morality tale masked in a horror story, this is pretty much just a horror story with little to commend it by way of a moral. Readers who want a scary book that will challenge them to think would be better off reading Koontz's much earlier (and solo) work Watchers, a Frankenstein-like story about the dangers of genetic manipulation and social hierarchies.\",\n \"Product: Paperback-Acceptable-Red cover instead of white and same book.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Intriguing Book after a Rough Opening\\n\\nReview: The Zero Game is the latest and without question best offering from political-suspense author Brad Meltzer, a relative newcomer whose first real breakthrough came in 2002 with The Millionaires. In The Zero Game, Meltzer takes a close look at what can go wrong in the back halls of power when the truly powerful turn a blind eye to the ambitions of those who desire power at any cost. The book is well written, fast paced, and insightful, with no major problems and very few minor ones.\\n\\nHarris Sandler is a Congressional aide working for one of the most powerful senators in Washington. He's not a true power broker, but he's a guy who can get things done. He's well liked, not overly ambitious, and just cynical enough about his job to recognize a good opportunity when he sees one. In short, he's a player in the highest-level game in the world--the game of politics in the capital of the United States.\\n\\nBut he's also a player in a different game, one not nearly so well publicized, one that has never been discussed by pundits or examined by the media. This game is played in secret by an unknown number of anonymous participants. The only rule is that no player may ever reveal the secrets of the game to anyone. The players in this game are betting on the outcome of Congressional votes, and the stakes can be deadly.\\n\\nIn an age when many, if not most, people's view of the political process in Washington falls somewhere between skepticism and cynicism, the notion that somewhere behind the scenes a small group of otherwise insignificant people are really calling the shots is appealing--and almost believable. Secret power and hidden ambition at the highest level are hardly novel concepts for a political thriller. Yet Meltzer manages to put a new twist to these familiar themes. With the addition of a seemingly invincible antagonist, a 16-year-old heroinne, and a daring cat-and-mouse chase that takes readers from the bowels of the earth, 8,000 feet deep in a South Dakota gold mine, to the bowels of the U.S. Capitol, Meltzer's transformation from a mediocre fiction writer to a top-notch political novelist is complete.\\n\\nMeltzer's latest novels are unsurprisingly drawing comparisons to John Grisham and David Baldacci by many critics, and The Zero Game indicates that such observations are not without merit. Meltzer's development as an author even since his previous novel, The First Counsel (2001) is immediately apparent in The Zero Game. The dialog is crisp and believable; the action is cinematically fast paced; the suspense is tight without ever going too far over the line toward melodrama. His portrayal of the House and Senate--particularly the members of each--is deferentially humorous while at the same time almost certainly accurate. He has left no crucial element of his writing untended, and his efforts pay off in the reader's experience.\\n\\nMeltzer draws upon his own experience as an intern on Capitol Hill to walk a fine and for the most part satisfyhing line when writing about Congress. He is knowledgeable enough about the political process not to be awestruck by our nation's lawmakers; yet he retains just enough idealism not to be jaded by the corruption that inevitably lurks behind any number of Washington's closed doors. And he allows his readers to view the whole Congressional system through the eyes of interns and aides, the seemingly powerless minions who write the speeches, who conduct the low-level meetings where major policy issues initially get shaped, and who in reality know more about politics than any lawmaker. One theme that comes across especially well is the relationship between Congressmen and Senators and their staffs. In one telling exchange, Viv, the 16-year-old intern who gets caught up with Harris in the corruption surrounding the game, asks another aide, Dinah, for some project books containing sensitive information. When Dinah hesitates, Meltzer writes, \\\"Harris had warned her this might happen. That was why he gave her the ultimate comback. `The congressman wants them,' Viv insisted. There was a short pause on the other line. `I'll get them ready,' Dinah eventually said.\\\"\\n\\nThere are some negatives in the book as well. At times the writing seems slightly careless, as if portions were never researched and certain facts never checked. In one instance, Meltzor describes an aide walking past \\\"the hearing room where Nixon was impeached during Watergate\\\" (Nixon was never impeached; he resigned before the House of Representatives had a chance to vote on the articles of impeachment drawn up by the Judiciary Committee). In another, the two houses of Congress are referred to as the two branches of government. Minor offenses, but they do distract the reader from the story.\\n\\nA more serious authorial offense is Meltzor's fickleness when it comes to narrative point of view. In an apparent effort to keep the reader locked into the story, Meltzer switches back and forth between the standard third-person narrative and a more unusual first-person account written in the present tense. Designed to make reading more experiencial, like watching a movie, this writing style is difficult to do well and easy to botch. By switching back and forth, Meltzer manages to land somewhere in between; it's a little distracting but not quite frustrating enough to dwell on. The real difference between Melter's technique and that of, say, John Grisham, who used first-person present-tense narration to great effect in The Rainmaker, is that Grisham is smooth enough to make you forget the unfamiliar and rather awkward construction after a few chapters, while Meltzer draws attention to it by killing off his narrator. This is a dirty trick, catching the reader off-guard, again in an attempt to make the reading experience more vivid.\\n\\nThe unexpected death of a character assumed to be a major protagonist is not uncommon and helps keep readers on their toes. But the unexpected death of a narrator seems cheap and frankly a little strange. Even so, Meltzer manages to pull it off without leaving the reader feeling cheated--too cheated, anyway. There's no question that there's some bait-and-switch advertising going on somewhere between the flap copy and the actual story, but the writing is otherwise good enough that the trick almost works.\\n\\nThe Zero Game is a fast, entertaining read, Meltzer's best to date. His harrowing plot lines and unconventional characters, coupled with intriguing story developments (when's the last time you read a political thriller with a major scene taking place 8,000 feet underground?) conspire to make Meltzer one of the best of his genre. If he can keep it up, his readers will undoubtedly continue to reward him as he continues to reward them for a long time to come.\"\n]","isConversational":false},"profile_size":{"kind":"number","value":10,"string":"10"},"task":{"kind":"string","value":"longlamp_3"},"split_kind":{"kind":"string","value":"user_based"},"id":{"kind":"number","value":952,"string":"952"}}},{"rowIdx":953,"cells":{"question_id":{"kind":"string","value":"A2QFES3SU563U"},"question":{"kind":"string","value":"Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of \"4.0\" for a product with description \"Georgia Cates is the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Best-Selling Author. She resides in rural Mississippi with her wonderful husband, Jeff, and their two beautiful daughters. She spent fourteen years as a labor and delivery nurse before she decided to pursue her dream of becoming an author and hasnt looked back yet.\". The summary of the review text is \"Love truly does conquer all\"."},"answer":{"kind":"string","value":"My 4.5 star review for Beauty from Love (Beauty #3) by Georgia Cates\n\nYou were once my beauty from pain, before you became by beauty from surrender. Now you've adapted into something different again.\"\n\"And what is that?\"\n\"My beauty from love.\n\nWhen Jack McLachlan asked Laurelyn Prescott to be his companion all those months ago, he never expected that she would turn his world upside down and that she would be his last companion. Forever.\nI once thought I didn't want a wife and kids but it was because I hadnt met the right person. Everything is different now- Im married to the perfect woman and I cant wait until she becomes the mother of my children.\nFinally having the love of his life by his side, he is on cloud nine. Unfortunately things don't always go as planned.\nI couldn't help myself from falling in love with this woman. When she took my hand, I willingly gave her my whole life.\nLaurelyn is finally with her soul mate. She is ready to start her life with him and maybe even a family. Married life is going great that is until his past starts to put a damper on their future. Every time Laurelyn turns around there is another obstacle to overcome. Her confidence in Jack is uncertain and her trust in their relationship starts to crumble. How can they be happy when the past keeps coming back to bite him in the arse?\nJack will once again have to prove how much his love for Laurelyn will go and for Jack, with the cards stacking up against him, things start to look a bit grim.\nDammit, Laurelyn. You make me the man I am today-the one who loves his wife and wants to be a father. When are you gonna see that you've undone all the damage she caused. You make me...unbroken.\nI adored the third and final installment of this series. I finally got my HEA but then it is ripped away again and again. How much can one couple endure? They have fought so hard to be together and when they finally got there, the world decided they needed more challenges.\nLaurelyn kept her wit and humor through it all. Poor Jack, he finally finds the love of his life and things just don't go right for him.\nJack and Laurelyns love story is angsty, sexy and one heck of a fight. Never have I encountered two people with so much stacked against them and through it all survived as did their love.\nGeorgia did a fantastic job with this series. Jack and L have easily become two of my favorite characters. Such a wonderful series filled with many emotions."},"correct_answer":{"kind":"string","value":"My 4.5 star review for Beauty from Love (Beauty #3) by Georgia Cates\n\nYou were once my beauty from pain, before you became by beauty from surrender. Now you've adapted into something different again.\"\n\"And what is that?\"\n\"My beauty from love.\n\nWhen Jack McLachlan asked Laurelyn Prescott to be his companion all those months ago, he never expected that she would turn his world upside down and that she would be his last companion. Forever.\nI once thought I didn't want a wife and kids but it was because I hadnt met the right person. Everything is different now- Im married to the perfect woman and I cant wait until she becomes the mother of my children.\nFinally having the love of his life by his side, he is on cloud nine. Unfortunately things don't always go as planned.\nI couldn't help myself from falling in love with this woman. When she took my hand, I willingly gave her my whole life.\nLaurelyn is finally with her soul mate. She is ready to start her life with him and maybe even a family. Married life is going great that is until his past starts to put a damper on their future. Every time Laurelyn turns around there is another obstacle to overcome. Her confidence in Jack is uncertain and her trust in their relationship starts to crumble. How can they be happy when the past keeps coming back to bite him in the arse?\nJack will once again have to prove how much his love for Laurelyn will go and for Jack, with the cards stacking up against him, things start to look a bit grim.\nDammit, Laurelyn. You make me the man I am today-the one who loves his wife and wants to be a father. When are you gonna see that you've undone all the damage she caused. You make me...unbroken.\nI adored the third and final installment of this series. I finally got my HEA but then it is ripped away again and again. How much can one couple endure? They have fought so hard to be together and when they finally got there, the world decided they needed more challenges.\nLaurelyn kept her wit and humor through it all. Poor Jack, he finally finds the love of his life and things just don't go right for him.\nJack and Laurelyns love story is angsty, sexy and one heck of a fight. Never have I encountered two people with so much stacked against them and through it all survived as did their love.\nGeorgia did a fantastic job with this series. Jack and L have easily become two of my favorite characters. Such a wonderful series filled with many emotions."},"documents":{"kind":"list like","value":["Product: World After\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Hope Survival and longing... Horrificly Beautiful\n\nReview: World After picks up right where Angelfall left off.\nPenryn is slowing coming out of the being paralyzed from the scorpions sting while her mother sobs and her poor sister, Paige just staring off into the distance.\nStill trying to accept what was happening Penryn is happy her family is together again, she is in a mission to find out exactly what the angels did to her baby sister. After the attack on the angels aerie, everyone is picking up the pieces. Everyone is in survival mode.\nMaking friends along the way, Penryn and a few others discover the gruesome and horrifying truth of what the angels have planned.\nAfter Raffe was tricked into getting demon wings by Beliel, he is determined to get his beautiful white wings back and take his rightful place as a leader. What he wasn't expecting to see what Penryn.\nPenryn and Raffe are on separate missions. When circumstances bring them back together they realize they are in for the fight of their lives.\nPenryn is still a fighter. She is selfless and brave and risks her life many times for others. Her mother is still crazy as ever but in a few moments her rants, make complete sense. Paige is suffering, who wouldnt be. She became an important science experiment to the angels and Penryn feels helpless and a bit frightened of what Paige has become. No matter what, she will do all she can for her sister.\nI loved the chemistry that Raffe and Penryn have. Their feelings for each other are forbidden but when they have a moment, it is beautiful and so angsty.\nAlthough there is somewhat of an HEA, I was still left hanging. I cant wait to see how the author concludes this series.","Product: There are a lot of eyes in Debra Anastasias house in Maryland. First, her own creepy peepers are there, staring at her computer screen. Shes made two more sets of eyes with her body, and the kids they belong to are amazing. The poor husband is still looking at her after 17 years of marriage. At least he likes to laugh. Then the freaking dogs are looking at hersix eyeballs altogether, though the old dog is blind. And the cat watches her too, mostly while knocking stuff off the counter and doing that internal kitty laugh when Deb cant catch the items fast enough. In between taking care of everything those eyes involve, Debra creates pretend people in her head and paints them on the giant, beautiful canvas of your imagination. What an amazing job that is. The stories hit her hard while driving the minivan or shaving her legs, especially when theres no paper and pen around. In all of the lies she writes hides her heart, so thank you for letting it play in your mind. Debra has a smattering of books in a few genres. There are two in the Seraphim Series and three in the Poughkeepsie Brotherhood Series with a prequel, Poughkeepsie Begins in the near future. Fire Down Below is the first in the comedic Gynzaule Series. The second, Fire in the Hole, will be published in late 2015. The Revenger, a dark paranormal romance, will debut this summer. And last, a novella called Late Night with Andres is special because 100% of the proceeds go to breast cancer research. (So go get it right now, please!) You can find her at DebraAnastasia.com and on Twitter @Debra_Anastasia, but be prepared...\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Such a hilariously cringeworthy read\n\nReview: Summary:\nDove Glitch is a shy woman, especially when it comes to her body. So when she goes to her pharmacy for a girlie medication, she is shocked to see a new non-woman pharmacist. He is gorgeous and she is humiliated.\nFirst day on the job, pharmacist John Fitzwell is living his dream. When he helps his first customer with her feminine needs. He goes above and beyond and he is as quiet as the firework show on the Fourth of July Get the picture?\nDove finds herself really attracted to him but lacks the finesse and he has the devil as a girlfriend. When they see each other at a restaurant, Dove finds herself sticking up for Johnson in the most humiliating and gross way. Well, you know that saying, nothing ever goes as planned. Well with her crazy neighbors, a cat and her best friend Duke, things end up being a complete catastrophe.\n\nMy Thoughts:\nEver had that embarrassing moment when toilet paper is stuck to your shoe or if you accidently tucked your skirt into your tights? Well this is pretty much how Dove life is like when she meets the sexy pharmacist, Johnathan.\nDove is beautiful but oh so awkward.\nIt is so cringe worthy, crude, and it will leave you in several states of shock Seriously? Did that just freaking happen? OMG, that just happened and then I cant believe that happened?\nI haven't read anything like this. It is like that gameshow Wipeout, meets the movie Bad Grandpa, meets some version of Sex and the City all rolled into one. It was embarrassing, gross, sexy and hilarious! A fantastic job!","Product: USA Today bestseller Stacy Kestwick is a Southern girl who firmly believes mornings should be outlawed. Her perfect day would include lounging on a hammock with a good book, carbohydrates, and the people around her randomly breaking into choreographed song-and-dance routines. It would not include bacon, cleaning, or anything requiring patience.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Be prepared to get Wet!\n\nReview: Who knew doughnuts would become so much trouble?\nAfter overhearing a devastatingly heartbreaking secret that her boyfriend was keeping, Sadie Mullins is living with her best friend and is trying to find her sanctuary in a small touristy beach town. Her weakness doughnuts and when she stumbles upon a dog named General Beaugarde who in turn leads her to the gorgeous hunk of a man named West Montgomery. *Inserthilariouslybadfirstimpressionshere*\nFrustratingly good looking and cocky West wants for nothing. When it comes to women, all he has to do is smile. Ready for this? He has never had a girlfriend.\nSadie and West have chemistry that is off the charts. So they do the logical thing. They become friends and decide to hang out, which leads into some dates that turns into some kissing and then well, you know.\nRemember this folks communication is the key to all relationships in life and for Sadie and West, the lack of communication complicates things. Add a longtime female family friend and explanations that are somewhat truthful, you end up with great humor, jealousy and what we all love drama and angst.\nKestwicks debut novel has well developed characters, engaging dialogue and the story has a great flow. Be sure to dive head first into this one and enjoy the Wet ride and be prepared be left hanging out to dry.","Product: USA Today bestselling author, Liv Morris, was raised in the Ozark Mountains of Missouri. She now resides on the concrete rock known as Manhattan with her first and hopefully last husband. After relocating twelve times during his corporate career, she qualifies as a professional mover. Learning to bloom where she's planted, Liv brings her moving and life experience to her writing.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Steamy, Suspensful and shocking!\n\nReview: This picks up where Adam's Apple leaves us.\n\nAfter his life altering incident, Adam is recovering with the woman he has come to love. He has fallen fast and hard for her. He is finally happy and feels whole with her around.\n\nKathryn continues to teach Adam the sensual and mind blowing practice of Tantra. She is also helping him deal with the ghosts of his past. She too has found herself in love with Adam and she is okay being able to be in love again.\n\nWhile trying to recover from his injuries, Adams world is once again turned upside down. Betrayed by someone close to him and forced to make an impossible decision by the one person he loathes; Adams life slowly starts to crumble. Doing all he can to put an end to bastard that fathered him. He will stop at nothing to protect those he loves. With Kathryn by his side, he knows he will be able to overcome anything that is thrown his way.\n\nI came to really adore Adam in this second installment. He felt more human to me in this book. I think finally being able to really see him vulnerable brought his character to life. I love how protective he is of the ones he cares for. He definitely redeemed himself and his playboy ways.\n\nKathryn continues to be one of my favorites. She is loving, witty, smart and strong. The sex was SUPER HOT *fanningselfoff*\n\nLiv Morris did a wonderful job in concluding Adams story. If you are looking for a STEAMY HOT book with romance, suspense and some shock factors, then look no further.\n\nThis was a great and very enjoyable read.","Product: Elle Michaels is a professional in the tech sector, residing with her family in the Pacific Northwest. Having spent years acting in and directing stage productions, she dreamed of writing a screenplay, but at the suggestion of a friend, she decided to write a novel instead. She has always had a passion for reading and romance. There is nothing she loves more than to get lost in a sexy romance story. When not working or writing, she can be found spending time with the love of her life, her two young children and Yorkshire Terrier.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: An amazing story of loss, love and learning to live again\n\nReview: 4.5 Stars\nLoss: noun\nthe experience of having something taken from you or destroyed\n\nBrooke Adams is starting over. It has taken her four years to get to where she is at. She knows her heart will never recover but she also knows she needs to get her life back on track. Cutting ties with anything or anyone that has to do with her past, she ends up in Santa Monica. . Her IT background has been helpful so she is able to work from home. She has made friends with her neighbor, Jenna who has become a sister to her and Tyler, who is her best friend and her go to guy for any manly jobs that she needs done. Their friendship is easy and comfortable, he has become her rock. There is potential there but she refuses to lose another thing in her life, she just wouldnt survive it. As gorgeous as he is, she does her best to keep him in the friend zone. You know how life can be, not all things go according to plan.\n\nTyler I cant lose you. Youre such an important part of my life that III know I would never recover if I lost you. I just really need us to take this slow.\n\nGuarded: adjective\nVery careful about giving information, showing feelings, ect.\n\nEver since that very first day when you literally came crashing into my world, I haven't been able to stop thinking about you.\n\nTyler Reynolds was a goner the moment Brooke came into his life. He has kept his heart guarded after being cheated on by his fianc a few years back. He thought he loved her and that she loved him but she ended up only loving his money. He cherishes his friendship with Brooke. He also sees the sorrow in her eyes, although she acts happy, he knows she isn't and that she is hiding something. He wants nothing more than to make her happy. He would die before he causes her any pain. He goes for it with nothing more than a hope and a prayer.\n\nHope: verb\nTo want something to happen or be true and think that is could happen or be true\n\nAs they explore their new relationship and come to terms with their feelings for each other, things seem to be headed in the right direction. Like all relationships there a few bumps in the road. E Mic\n\nYouve taught me that life is a gift and that we should cherish each and every moment because no one knows what happens tomorrow.\nElle Michaels has done a fantastic job. I could relate to this story. It was heartbreaking, I know what loss feels like and the emotions that come along with it, the daily struggles and believe me, and these are lasting feelings and struggles. It does get easier with time but I also think that life keeps you busy enough so you cant dwell on that pain. Then the aspect of finding that all-consuming love, the fear of losing it. It is about facing your past, dealing with the fears, learning to live again and understanding that it is ok to move on.\n\nBrooke is a fantastic character, fragile yet so strong. She is beautiful without knowing it. Tyler is just amazing, the patience he has, the love he wants to give and the protectiveness he feels for Brooke.\n\nThis book had me in tears but it also had me smiling. It is such a wonderful feel good story."],"string":"[\n \"Product: World After\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Hope Survival and longing... Horrificly Beautiful\\n\\nReview: World After picks up right where Angelfall left off.\\nPenryn is slowing coming out of the being paralyzed from the scorpions sting while her mother sobs and her poor sister, Paige just staring off into the distance.\\nStill trying to accept what was happening Penryn is happy her family is together again, she is in a mission to find out exactly what the angels did to her baby sister. After the attack on the angels aerie, everyone is picking up the pieces. Everyone is in survival mode.\\nMaking friends along the way, Penryn and a few others discover the gruesome and horrifying truth of what the angels have planned.\\nAfter Raffe was tricked into getting demon wings by Beliel, he is determined to get his beautiful white wings back and take his rightful place as a leader. What he wasn't expecting to see what Penryn.\\nPenryn and Raffe are on separate missions. When circumstances bring them back together they realize they are in for the fight of their lives.\\nPenryn is still a fighter. She is selfless and brave and risks her life many times for others. Her mother is still crazy as ever but in a few moments her rants, make complete sense. Paige is suffering, who wouldnt be. She became an important science experiment to the angels and Penryn feels helpless and a bit frightened of what Paige has become. No matter what, she will do all she can for her sister.\\nI loved the chemistry that Raffe and Penryn have. Their feelings for each other are forbidden but when they have a moment, it is beautiful and so angsty.\\nAlthough there is somewhat of an HEA, I was still left hanging. I cant wait to see how the author concludes this series.\",\n \"Product: There are a lot of eyes in Debra Anastasias house in Maryland. First, her own creepy peepers are there, staring at her computer screen. Shes made two more sets of eyes with her body, and the kids they belong to are amazing. The poor husband is still looking at her after 17 years of marriage. At least he likes to laugh. Then the freaking dogs are looking at hersix eyeballs altogether, though the old dog is blind. And the cat watches her too, mostly while knocking stuff off the counter and doing that internal kitty laugh when Deb cant catch the items fast enough. In between taking care of everything those eyes involve, Debra creates pretend people in her head and paints them on the giant, beautiful canvas of your imagination. What an amazing job that is. The stories hit her hard while driving the minivan or shaving her legs, especially when theres no paper and pen around. In all of the lies she writes hides her heart, so thank you for letting it play in your mind. Debra has a smattering of books in a few genres. There are two in the Seraphim Series and three in the Poughkeepsie Brotherhood Series with a prequel, Poughkeepsie Begins in the near future. Fire Down Below is the first in the comedic Gynzaule Series. The second, Fire in the Hole, will be published in late 2015. The Revenger, a dark paranormal romance, will debut this summer. And last, a novella called Late Night with Andres is special because 100% of the proceeds go to breast cancer research. (So go get it right now, please!) You can find her at DebraAnastasia.com and on Twitter @Debra_Anastasia, but be prepared...\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Such a hilariously cringeworthy read\\n\\nReview: Summary:\\nDove Glitch is a shy woman, especially when it comes to her body. So when she goes to her pharmacy for a girlie medication, she is shocked to see a new non-woman pharmacist. He is gorgeous and she is humiliated.\\nFirst day on the job, pharmacist John Fitzwell is living his dream. When he helps his first customer with her feminine needs. He goes above and beyond and he is as quiet as the firework show on the Fourth of July Get the picture?\\nDove finds herself really attracted to him but lacks the finesse and he has the devil as a girlfriend. When they see each other at a restaurant, Dove finds herself sticking up for Johnson in the most humiliating and gross way. Well, you know that saying, nothing ever goes as planned. Well with her crazy neighbors, a cat and her best friend Duke, things end up being a complete catastrophe.\\n\\nMy Thoughts:\\nEver had that embarrassing moment when toilet paper is stuck to your shoe or if you accidently tucked your skirt into your tights? Well this is pretty much how Dove life is like when she meets the sexy pharmacist, Johnathan.\\nDove is beautiful but oh so awkward.\\nIt is so cringe worthy, crude, and it will leave you in several states of shock Seriously? Did that just freaking happen? OMG, that just happened and then I cant believe that happened?\\nI haven't read anything like this. It is like that gameshow Wipeout, meets the movie Bad Grandpa, meets some version of Sex and the City all rolled into one. It was embarrassing, gross, sexy and hilarious! A fantastic job!\",\n \"Product: USA Today bestseller Stacy Kestwick is a Southern girl who firmly believes mornings should be outlawed. Her perfect day would include lounging on a hammock with a good book, carbohydrates, and the people around her randomly breaking into choreographed song-and-dance routines. It would not include bacon, cleaning, or anything requiring patience.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Be prepared to get Wet!\\n\\nReview: Who knew doughnuts would become so much trouble?\\nAfter overhearing a devastatingly heartbreaking secret that her boyfriend was keeping, Sadie Mullins is living with her best friend and is trying to find her sanctuary in a small touristy beach town. Her weakness doughnuts and when she stumbles upon a dog named General Beaugarde who in turn leads her to the gorgeous hunk of a man named West Montgomery. *Inserthilariouslybadfirstimpressionshere*\\nFrustratingly good looking and cocky West wants for nothing. When it comes to women, all he has to do is smile. Ready for this? He has never had a girlfriend.\\nSadie and West have chemistry that is off the charts. So they do the logical thing. They become friends and decide to hang out, which leads into some dates that turns into some kissing and then well, you know.\\nRemember this folks communication is the key to all relationships in life and for Sadie and West, the lack of communication complicates things. Add a longtime female family friend and explanations that are somewhat truthful, you end up with great humor, jealousy and what we all love drama and angst.\\nKestwicks debut novel has well developed characters, engaging dialogue and the story has a great flow. Be sure to dive head first into this one and enjoy the Wet ride and be prepared be left hanging out to dry.\",\n \"Product: USA Today bestselling author, Liv Morris, was raised in the Ozark Mountains of Missouri. She now resides on the concrete rock known as Manhattan with her first and hopefully last husband. After relocating twelve times during his corporate career, she qualifies as a professional mover. Learning to bloom where she's planted, Liv brings her moving and life experience to her writing.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Steamy, Suspensful and shocking!\\n\\nReview: This picks up where Adam's Apple leaves us.\\n\\nAfter his life altering incident, Adam is recovering with the woman he has come to love. He has fallen fast and hard for her. He is finally happy and feels whole with her around.\\n\\nKathryn continues to teach Adam the sensual and mind blowing practice of Tantra. She is also helping him deal with the ghosts of his past. She too has found herself in love with Adam and she is okay being able to be in love again.\\n\\nWhile trying to recover from his injuries, Adams world is once again turned upside down. Betrayed by someone close to him and forced to make an impossible decision by the one person he loathes; Adams life slowly starts to crumble. Doing all he can to put an end to bastard that fathered him. He will stop at nothing to protect those he loves. With Kathryn by his side, he knows he will be able to overcome anything that is thrown his way.\\n\\nI came to really adore Adam in this second installment. He felt more human to me in this book. I think finally being able to really see him vulnerable brought his character to life. I love how protective he is of the ones he cares for. He definitely redeemed himself and his playboy ways.\\n\\nKathryn continues to be one of my favorites. She is loving, witty, smart and strong. The sex was SUPER HOT *fanningselfoff*\\n\\nLiv Morris did a wonderful job in concluding Adams story. If you are looking for a STEAMY HOT book with romance, suspense and some shock factors, then look no further.\\n\\nThis was a great and very enjoyable read.\",\n \"Product: Elle Michaels is a professional in the tech sector, residing with her family in the Pacific Northwest. Having spent years acting in and directing stage productions, she dreamed of writing a screenplay, but at the suggestion of a friend, she decided to write a novel instead. She has always had a passion for reading and romance. There is nothing she loves more than to get lost in a sexy romance story. When not working or writing, she can be found spending time with the love of her life, her two young children and Yorkshire Terrier.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: An amazing story of loss, love and learning to live again\\n\\nReview: 4.5 Stars\\nLoss: noun\\nthe experience of having something taken from you or destroyed\\n\\nBrooke Adams is starting over. It has taken her four years to get to where she is at. She knows her heart will never recover but she also knows she needs to get her life back on track. Cutting ties with anything or anyone that has to do with her past, she ends up in Santa Monica. . Her IT background has been helpful so she is able to work from home. She has made friends with her neighbor, Jenna who has become a sister to her and Tyler, who is her best friend and her go to guy for any manly jobs that she needs done. Their friendship is easy and comfortable, he has become her rock. There is potential there but she refuses to lose another thing in her life, she just wouldnt survive it. As gorgeous as he is, she does her best to keep him in the friend zone. You know how life can be, not all things go according to plan.\\n\\nTyler I cant lose you. Youre such an important part of my life that III know I would never recover if I lost you. I just really need us to take this slow.\\n\\nGuarded: adjective\\nVery careful about giving information, showing feelings, ect.\\n\\nEver since that very first day when you literally came crashing into my world, I haven't been able to stop thinking about you.\\n\\nTyler Reynolds was a goner the moment Brooke came into his life. He has kept his heart guarded after being cheated on by his fianc a few years back. He thought he loved her and that she loved him but she ended up only loving his money. He cherishes his friendship with Brooke. He also sees the sorrow in her eyes, although she acts happy, he knows she isn't and that she is hiding something. He wants nothing more than to make her happy. He would die before he causes her any pain. He goes for it with nothing more than a hope and a prayer.\\n\\nHope: verb\\nTo want something to happen or be true and think that is could happen or be true\\n\\nAs they explore their new relationship and come to terms with their feelings for each other, things seem to be headed in the right direction. Like all relationships there a few bumps in the road. E Mic\\n\\nYouve taught me that life is a gift and that we should cherish each and every moment because no one knows what happens tomorrow.\\nElle Michaels has done a fantastic job. I could relate to this story. It was heartbreaking, I know what loss feels like and the emotions that come along with it, the daily struggles and believe me, and these are lasting feelings and struggles. It does get easier with time but I also think that life keeps you busy enough so you cant dwell on that pain. Then the aspect of finding that all-consuming love, the fear of losing it. It is about facing your past, dealing with the fears, learning to live again and understanding that it is ok to move on.\\n\\nBrooke is a fantastic character, fragile yet so strong. She is beautiful without knowing it. Tyler is just amazing, the patience he has, the love he wants to give and the protectiveness he feels for Brooke.\\n\\nThis book had me in tears but it also had me smiling. It is such a wonderful feel good story.\"\n]","isConversational":false},"profile_size":{"kind":"number","value":5,"string":"5"},"task":{"kind":"string","value":"longlamp_3"},"split_kind":{"kind":"string","value":"user_based"},"id":{"kind":"number","value":953,"string":"953"}}},{"rowIdx":954,"cells":{"question_id":{"kind":"string","value":"A29SAQV356DDQ4"},"question":{"kind":"string","value":"Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of \"2.0\" for a product with description \"This is a story of a man's attempt to detach himself from the central current of life. He becomes involved in the operation of a coal company on a remote island in the Malay archipelago. When that fails he turns his back on humanity until, once again, he is drawn into contact with the world.\". The summary of the review text is \"Beyond good and awful - bigoted even by the standards of its time\"."},"answer":{"kind":"string","value":"I read this book in the 2015 Penguin Classics edition based on a glowing review in the TLS. I wanted to settle into a classic literary novel without any connection to my work. The edition is fine. The prosecraft is impressive. The book is just awful.\n\nMaybe its the strong influence of the canon of literature taught to English majors, with its dogma that Conrad is one of the greats, or maybe its just because English majors and lit professors don't know much about Asia, but Im surprised that there isn't a larger percentage of reviews and academic comment pointing out this books bigotry. Most discussions of Conrads racial attitudes focus on Heart of Darkness, but there is plenty here. Wang, a Chinese servant with a face of inscrutable immobility (III.chap. 2), is the subject of innumerable generalizations of how Chinese behave including not only an ability to find money in a house, but also an instinct to grow vegetables (III.chap. 1). He speaks in the same ludicrous pidgin as a white 1960s comedian playing the owner of a laundry. But at least he speaks: Pedro, a Colombian alligator hunter with fangs, is a hirsute subhuman, barely capable even of articulating Spanish. Ricardo, one of the main antagonists, is a cupidinous, uncouth, cat-like cutthroat from the British lower classes (and with a foot fetish, to boot). He is continually hatching schemes to take other peoples money. The Penguin editors notes remark that Ricardo would be an unusual surname for an Englishman, but omit to mention a rather famous 19th Century Ricardo from England, also rather interested in economics. Whether Conrad would have considered him an Englishman is a fine question, because that Ricardo, a hugely successful financial speculator and a leading philosopher of capitalistic international trade, was also a Jew not exactly Mr Conrads favorite specimen of humanity. (In 1918, Conrad wrote a letter to The New Republic denying that he himself was a Jew, and providing a numbered list of documents that would prove this fact.)\n\nThe other characters are white Europeans but it is the Englanders, especially the heroine, who are the most decisive and vigourous. The hero, Axel Heyst, is an indecisive Swedish nobleman. Conrad was himself of the minor Polish nobility, and it is tempting, with tongue only halfway in cheek, to see the antagonism between Heyst and Ricardo as being between the declining landed class and the class made wealthy by finance and capitalism, who see life as a matter .. of a particularly active warfare (III.chap. 10). (Heyst also is rather slow to decide if he even likes women, and there is a languid, sickly Lucifer-ish villain who shuns the presence of women the way Dracula avoids mirrors : white male homosexuality too comes off rather badly in this book.) The heroine, on the other hand, though she came from a poor background, is English through and through. Consequently she has the reflexes and muscle tone of a Hollywood action hero and the prudent resourcefulness of a secret agent, while getting warm and fuzzy at the prospect of sacrificing herself for her man. But since she has had sex outside of marriage, you can guess how she winds up.\n\nFor those tempted to make excuses for Conrad, just read the conclusion of Alfred Russell Wallaces <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/The-Malay-Archipelago/dp/B00BXSCQIW/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">The Malay Archipelago</a>, which compares modern Britain unfavorably to some of the societies of that region. It wasn't automatic for Englishmen of Conrads era to share his biases. Not that Conrads book, which is set in the islands between Java and Timor (present-day Indonesia and Timor Leste), evokes anything of what Wallace described. Not for Conrad the over-the-top exotic atmosphere of Sax Rohmers Fu Manchu novels, which at least can be read in a spirit of camp even as they run the gamut of racist stereotypes. Rather, the atmosphere in this novel is pared down. Aside from the vegetation that engulfs all vestiges of white society if not controlled, and a mention of a volcano visible on the horizon day and night, there isn't much there there: this story doesnt have a single Malay character in it, and the existence of villagers offstage is mentioned only once. (Ive visited this beautiful part of the world a few times. Suffice it to say that its not a place where the local culture just fades into the background.)\n\nIts a pity that someone with such a great talent at language should have spent his effort on such a dubious topic as the Decline of the White Race. For me this story died the moment I reached for my pencil, to mark the more outrageous passages. Yes, the story has echoes of French novels, Hamlet, The Tempest and Paradise Lost. Its best read exactly by the folks for whom such themes are important: undergrads writing about something-or-other in Conrads Victory, and tenure-track faculty looking for grist to grind in their infernal critical mills.\n\nReaders looking to immerse themselves in the late Victorian South Pacific would be better off with Wallace or, for fiction, Jos Rizals <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Noli-Me-Tangere-Touch-Me-Not/dp/0143039695/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">Noli Me Tangere (Touch Me Not)</a> (1887), especially in Howard Augenbraums recent translation. Maybe less masterful prose than Conrads on average, but a ripping yarn, melodramatic characters one can care about, and a biting sense of satire, written by the most famous martyr for Philippine independence. The real thing."},"correct_answer":{"kind":"string","value":"I read this book in the 2015 Penguin Classics edition based on a glowing review in the TLS. I wanted to settle into a classic literary novel without any connection to my work. The edition is fine. The prosecraft is impressive. The book is just awful.\n\nMaybe its the strong influence of the canon of literature taught to English majors, with its dogma that Conrad is one of the greats, or maybe its just because English majors and lit professors don't know much about Asia, but Im surprised that there isn't a larger percentage of reviews and academic comment pointing out this books bigotry. Most discussions of Conrads racial attitudes focus on Heart of Darkness, but there is plenty here. Wang, a Chinese servant with a face of inscrutable immobility (III.chap. 2), is the subject of innumerable generalizations of how Chinese behave including not only an ability to find money in a house, but also an instinct to grow vegetables (III.chap. 1). He speaks in the same ludicrous pidgin as a white 1960s comedian playing the owner of a laundry. But at least he speaks: Pedro, a Colombian alligator hunter with fangs, is a hirsute subhuman, barely capable even of articulating Spanish. Ricardo, one of the main antagonists, is a cupidinous, uncouth, cat-like cutthroat from the British lower classes (and with a foot fetish, to boot). He is continually hatching schemes to take other peoples money. The Penguin editors notes remark that Ricardo would be an unusual surname for an Englishman, but omit to mention a rather famous 19th Century Ricardo from England, also rather interested in economics. Whether Conrad would have considered him an Englishman is a fine question, because that Ricardo, a hugely successful financial speculator and a leading philosopher of capitalistic international trade, was also a Jew not exactly Mr Conrads favorite specimen of humanity. (In 1918, Conrad wrote a letter to The New Republic denying that he himself was a Jew, and providing a numbered list of documents that would prove this fact.)\n\nThe other characters are white Europeans but it is the Englanders, especially the heroine, who are the most decisive and vigourous. The hero, Axel Heyst, is an indecisive Swedish nobleman. Conrad was himself of the minor Polish nobility, and it is tempting, with tongue only halfway in cheek, to see the antagonism between Heyst and Ricardo as being between the declining landed class and the class made wealthy by finance and capitalism, who see life as a matter .. of a particularly active warfare (III.chap. 10). (Heyst also is rather slow to decide if he even likes women, and there is a languid, sickly Lucifer-ish villain who shuns the presence of women the way Dracula avoids mirrors : white male homosexuality too comes off rather badly in this book.) The heroine, on the other hand, though she came from a poor background, is English through and through. Consequently she has the reflexes and muscle tone of a Hollywood action hero and the prudent resourcefulness of a secret agent, while getting warm and fuzzy at the prospect of sacrificing herself for her man. But since she has had sex outside of marriage, you can guess how she winds up.\n\nFor those tempted to make excuses for Conrad, just read the conclusion of Alfred Russell Wallaces <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/The-Malay-Archipelago/dp/B00BXSCQIW/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">The Malay Archipelago</a>, which compares modern Britain unfavorably to some of the societies of that region. It wasn't automatic for Englishmen of Conrads era to share his biases. Not that Conrads book, which is set in the islands between Java and Timor (present-day Indonesia and Timor Leste), evokes anything of what Wallace described. Not for Conrad the over-the-top exotic atmosphere of Sax Rohmers Fu Manchu novels, which at least can be read in a spirit of camp even as they run the gamut of racist stereotypes. Rather, the atmosphere in this novel is pared down. Aside from the vegetation that engulfs all vestiges of white society if not controlled, and a mention of a volcano visible on the horizon day and night, there isn't much there there: this story doesnt have a single Malay character in it, and the existence of villagers offstage is mentioned only once. (Ive visited this beautiful part of the world a few times. Suffice it to say that its not a place where the local culture just fades into the background.)\n\nIts a pity that someone with such a great talent at language should have spent his effort on such a dubious topic as the Decline of the White Race. For me this story died the moment I reached for my pencil, to mark the more outrageous passages. Yes, the story has echoes of French novels, Hamlet, The Tempest and Paradise Lost. Its best read exactly by the folks for whom such themes are important: undergrads writing about something-or-other in Conrads Victory, and tenure-track faculty looking for grist to grind in their infernal critical mills.\n\nReaders looking to immerse themselves in the late Victorian South Pacific would be better off with Wallace or, for fiction, Jos Rizals <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Noli-Me-Tangere-Touch-Me-Not/dp/0143039695/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">Noli Me Tangere (Touch Me Not)</a> (1887), especially in Howard Augenbraums recent translation. Maybe less masterful prose than Conrads on average, but a ripping yarn, melodramatic characters one can care about, and a biting sense of satire, written by the most famous martyr for Philippine independence. The real thing."},"documents":{"kind":"list like","value":["Product: 2007 compilation from the Algerian-born French singer, songwriter, actor and performer. In Europe, Daho has remained one of the most popular World/Rock artists for 25 years, with each of his albums achieve gold or platinum status. 20 tracks including 'Ideal', 'Soudain', 'Mon Manege A Moi', 'Le Premier Jour' and more. EMI.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Most-played French CD in my collection\n\nReview: Although I've had this album for five or six years, today I was finally inspired to play it in reverse order, oldest songs to newest. That in turn inspired me to post a review.\n\nEtienne Daho is a welcome exception to usual trends of French pop music. French pop songs too often have utterly fractured melodic lines. The phrases start, halt on an upturn, move a bit more, halt again -- like a feather falling through the air. Combine with a predilection for noir-y moods and what I suppose is a French taste for tiny, breathless voices, and the results are often not very singable, even by pros. Most French pop seems to be the opposite of Italian pop, which favors broad, arching Verdi-esque melodic lines -- and more singers with better voices. (Indeed, many of the Francophone singers with stronger voices also seem to be of Italian origin, like Helene Segara, Elsa Lunghini a/k/a Elsa, and even Yves Montand.)\n\nDaho's melodies may not be operatic, nor his voice like Andrea Bocelli's, but all these songs are very cheerfully \"Euro\". It's not easy to write such ultra-pop. For example, the opening song, \"Idal\", manages to sound like an ultra-chic anthem -- no mean feat. As other reviewers have mentioned, this album is catchy, melodic, and singable-with (though you'll have to scrounge lyrics from other albums or the Internet). It's also sunny and fun -- and great in any direction.","Product: Lawrence Durrell's series of four novels set in Alexandria, Egypt during the 1940s. The lush and sensuous series consists of Justine (1957) Balthazar (1958) Mountolive (1958) Clea (1960).\nJustine, Balthazar and Mountolive use varied viewpoints to relate a series of events in Alexandria before World War II. In Clea, the story continues into the years during the war. \nOne L.G. Darley is the primary observer of the events, which include events in the lives of those he loves and those he knows. In Justine, Darley attempts to recover from and put into perspective his recently ended affair with a woman. Balthazar reinterprets the romantic perspective he placed on the affair and its aftermath in Justine, in more philosophical and intellectual terms. \n\nMountolive tells a story minus interpretation, and Clea reveals Darley's healing, and coming to love another woman.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Best enjoyed before one has a sense of humor about life\n\nReview: The descriptions and the sheer sensuality of language in this book are often beautiful, and may appeal to a wide range of readers, as they did to me. But the story, as distinguished from the style, may be best appreciated during a certain limited time in one's life, perhaps from around one's mid-20s until around age 40. Reading its early pages, I was happy to think I'd found a truly \"grown-up\" novel, because it may be hard to identify with many of the situations unless you've had some experience of separation and loss. As the story progressed, though, several of the main characters become either unrealistically saintly and long-suffering, or else, particularly in the case of the title character, more and more humorless and insufferable. Based on my own experience, I wonder how many people who are magnetically drawn to neurotic intellectual types like Justine in their youth don't get really, really fed up with them at some point in early middle age, if not sooner. So after 50-odd pages or so I found it easier to fall out of the book's spell.\n\nDurrell seems to have been favorably infatuated with Jewish culture during his life, but some of the silly mistakes he makes about it in this novel also make it more difficult to take the book seriously. In several places he mixes Sephardic and Ashkenazic culture, as when he refers to Justine's father being \"from Odessa in fur cap with greasy ringlets\". Elsewhere another Jewish character, Balthazar, claims he \"speaks as a member of the Cabal\" -- using an Orientalist term, redolent of a Dr. Fu-Manchu novel for its whiffs of conspiracy, describing students of the Kaballah, a collection of medieval Jewish mystical texts. The phrase is never used in earnest by Jews. But even more awkward is that the character claims so to be speaking while spouting a Latin quote from St. Augustine, a Catholic (who BTW pre-dated the Kaballah by several centuries). Such gaffes, along with plenty of over-the-top melodrama (\"Who invented the human heart, I wonder? Tell me, and then show me the place where he was hanged,\" Justine says at one of the few moments when she is neither naked nor sobbing uncontrollably), may make it tough for readers of a certain age to keep a straight face -- or to feel in a hurry to read the next volume of the quartet.","Product: Unusual book\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: A hollow and anti-democratic worldview\n\nReview: My dictionary tells me that \"nudge,\" which rhymes with \"judge\" and means a gentle push, is probably of Norwegian origin. The authors are careful to distinguish this from the Yiddishism \"noodge,\" meaning pest or bore (@4). So maybe a bakkel, which is what they call doughnuts in Norway, would be a more appropriate analogy for this book than a bagel. But either way, the book is missing something at its core. And it is not as much of a departure from the Chicago School worldview as some reviews would have you believe.\n\n1. Richard Thaler (RT) and Cass Sunstein (CS) base their recommendations on the experimental studies of A. Tversky, D. Kahneman and, among others, RT himself. As developed during the past three decades or so, these have led to the field of \"behavioral economics\" (and a Nobel Prize for Kahneman). The gist is that people have certain \"irrational\" ways of looking at the world that lead them to act differently from the way most economists assume for their convenience of their theories. By \"nudge\" they mean a design element in a thing or in a process that anticipates these psychological tendencies, and steers people toward behavior that, ideally, helps them without limiting their freedom.\n\nMany of the principles and techniques they describe (which other reviewers on this page summarize) have been known and exploited for far longer than there were fancy names for them. Retailers have set at prices $9.98 rather than $10.00 since time immemorial, relying on \"availability\". The wisdom of writing contracts and designing business processes with \"idiot-proof\" procedures (the term I was taught decades ago, in lieu of \"nudge\") is similarly ancient, at least within better law firms and companies. So RTCS's notion that nudges could be used more often when designing social policy shouldn't be very controversial. And on their face, many of their analyses make sense.\n\n2. RTCS do skate on thin ice near the end, when they make it explicit that they're relying on \"the invisible hand\" of markets to make their proposals work (e.g., @239-240) - a hand whose existence, or at least invisibility, is controversial. They're also on shaky ground when they suggest that John Rawls's \"publicity principle\" should be a constraint on nudges \"in both the public and private sectors\" (@244-245). This principle states that governments shouldn't select policies that they wouldn't be willing or able to defend publicly to their own citizens. RTCS don't spell out, though, the scope of this principle in the private sector. Should the analogue of \"citizen\" be shareholder, or indeed all citizens? If the latter, what's the source of this duty? If to shareholders only, where does that leave the rest of us?\n\n3. But those are details. The deeper problem is what's missing from the big picture of this book. Namely: society.\n\n\"There is no such thing as society. There are individual men and women, and there are families.\" So said Margaret Thatcher, and though RTCS don't quote her, they seem to share this view. Everything in this book is focused on decisions made by individuals (called \"Humans\" by RTCS) for their own good or ill, and based on their own preferences. The only other entity is a \"Planner\", such as a legislature, bureaucracy, judiciary or corporate management. Its relationship to individuals is top-down. Moreover, the Planner's own psychological quirks are rarely discussed. In effect, the \"homo economicus\"-type of rationality that behavioral economics denies to Humans is shifted up one level to the Planner.\n\nThe idea that people might act together to influence the Planner, select the Planner, communicate their will to the Planner, or rebel against the Planner is totally missing from this book (aside from a passing reference in a footnote (@238). This is very much in line with Robert Reich's observation in \"Supercapitalism\" (2007) that collective action and debate in American democracy has been replaced by an atomistic consumerism affecting all aspects of life, including politics.\n\nThe worldview expressed in \"Nudge\" is a far cry from the idea of \"active liberty\" described by Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer in his book of that name (2005). Democratic participation in lawmaking is central to Breyer's view, and policy decisions should be based on facilitating that participation. OTOH, in their footnote, RTCS make the conjunction of good laws and popular will sound like an occasional happy accident: \"Social practices, and the laws that reflect them, often persist not because they are wise but because Humans, often suffering from self-control problems, are simply following other Humans. ... We do not mean here to question the view that laws that really do embody the judgments of many people often deserve support for that reason\" (@238n). Of course one can think of examples where what RTCS say here is right; slavery, for example. But many other cases are less clear-cut (not that RTCS even express any opinion on the slavery issue or the \"wisdom\" of any other human rights). This footnote embodies the entire discussion of democracy you'll find in this book. RTCS don't even specify who those \"many people\" might be -- \"Planners\" perhaps?\n\n4. A corollary of RTCS's ignoring society is that they have no sensitivity to culture (notwithstanding numerous references to TV shows). This is most obvious in their chapters on organ donations (Ch. 11) and marriage (Ch. 15). The idea of a market for the purchase and sale of human organs \"has obvious merit, [but] it is also spectacularly unpopular for reasons that are not well understood\" (@175). Maybe the reason is that peoples' cultural beliefs lead them to find the idea of such a market repugnant?\n\nOr how about RTCS's proposal that the institution of marriage be left to private religious groups, with government providing only the institution of civil union - for everyone. They don't consider the idea that a nation's laws should express the cultural values of its people. Nor do they consider whether civil unions would be accepted without stigma in society - or even within families. Since many inter-faith marriages wouldn't be recognized under the laws of any specific religion, do RTCS expect people to shop around for a more convenient religion, or give up religion altogether? Maybe someday people will come around to RTCS's ultra-rational view (which may also be tinted by the apparently divorced status of at least one of them), but we're a long way from it. They need to deal with that.\n\nOne more thing about culture: RTCS assert that Tversy & Kahneman-type psychological tendencies arise from brain function (@19), and throughout the book they use the word \"Human\" to describe people who display those tendencies. I'm not an expert in this area of research, but it isn't clear how much of it has relied on subjects from non-Western cultures. Previous multi-cultural studies in behavioral economics, such as \"Foundations of Human Sociality\" edited by J. Heinrich & al. (2004), show considerable variation across cultures. So the details of \"choice architecture\" may be far more culturally-specific, and less scientifically grounded, than RTCS acknowledge. Certainly the book's point of departure, how to engineer behavior on the basis of individual preferences to behaviors, is very American. It would be quite alien to many books on social policy from France, Germany or Japan, for example. BTW playing this scientistic rhetorical trump card in matters of policy is a hallmark of the Chicago School. See, e.g., James Hackney Jr.'s \"Under Cover of Science\" (2007), which, despite not being enitrely convincing about the historical reasons for this rhetorical trope, is entirely correct in identifying it.\n\n5. CS was close with the Clinton Administration, and an early supporter of Obama. He's probably on the short list for a Federal judgeship - even to fill a Supreme Court vacancy - next time the Democrats take the White House. Before reading this book, I'd have welcomed such an appointment. Now, I'd be much more cautious to do so. America is a society in addition to being a group of individuals. And that society is the source of any \"Planner's\" authority. I hesitate to give such authority to anyone who forgets where it comes from, and forgets the values that underlie it. Unfortunately, that is exactly what the authors of \"Nudge\" appear to have forgotten.","Product: Lawrence George Durrell (Jalandhar India 27 de febrero de 1912 Sommieres Francia 7 de noviembre de 1990) fue un escritor britanico hermano del tambien escritor y zoologo Gerald Durrell. Escribio biografias poesia obras de teatro de viaje y novelas. Durrell se resistio a que lo asociasen con el Reino Unido y prefirio ser considerado cosmopolita. Postumamente se descubrio que en realidad nunca tuvo la ciudadania britanica1 . Se considera que su obra maestra es la tetralogia El cuarteto de Alejandria\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Best enjoyed before one has a sense of humor about life\n\nReview: The descriptions and the sheer sensuality of language in this book are often beautiful, and may appeal to a wide range of readers, as they did to me. But the story, as distinguished from the style, may be best appreciated during a certain limited time in one's life, perhaps from around one's mid-20s until around age 40. Reading its early pages, I was happy to think I'd found a truly \"grown-up\" novel, because it may be hard to identify with many of the situations unless you've had some experience of separation and loss. As the story progressed, though, several of the main characters become either unrealistically saintly and long-suffering, or else, particularly in the case of the title character, more and more humorless and insufferable. Based on my own experience, I wonder how many people who are magnetically drawn to neurotic intellectual types like Justine in their youth don't get really, really fed up with them at some point in early middle age, if not sooner. So after 50-odd pages or so I found it easier to fall out of the book's spell.\n\nDurrell seems to have been favorably infatuated with Jewish culture during his life, but some of the silly mistakes he makes about it in this novel also make it more difficult to take the book seriously. In several places he mixes Sephardic and Ashkenazic culture, as when he refers to Justine's father being \"from Odessa in fur cap with greasy ringlets\". Elsewhere another Jewish character, Balthazar, claims he \"speaks as a member of the Cabal\" -- using an Orientalist term, redolent of a Dr. Fu-Manchu novel for its whiffs of conspiracy, describing students of the Kaballah, a collection of medieval Jewish mystical texts. The phrase is never used in earnest by Jews. But even more awkward is that the character claims so to be speaking while spouting a Latin quote from St. Augustine, a Catholic (who BTW pre-dated the Kaballah by several centuries). Such gaffes, along with plenty of over-the-top melodrama (\"Who invented the human heart, I wonder? Tell me, and then show me the place where he was hanged,\" Justine says at one of the few moments when she is neither naked nor sobbing uncontrollably), may make it tough for readers of a certain age to keep a straight face -- or to feel in a hurry to read the next volume of the quartet."],"string":"[\n \"Product: 2007 compilation from the Algerian-born French singer, songwriter, actor and performer. In Europe, Daho has remained one of the most popular World/Rock artists for 25 years, with each of his albums achieve gold or platinum status. 20 tracks including 'Ideal', 'Soudain', 'Mon Manege A Moi', 'Le Premier Jour' and more. EMI.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Most-played French CD in my collection\\n\\nReview: Although I've had this album for five or six years, today I was finally inspired to play it in reverse order, oldest songs to newest. That in turn inspired me to post a review.\\n\\nEtienne Daho is a welcome exception to usual trends of French pop music. French pop songs too often have utterly fractured melodic lines. The phrases start, halt on an upturn, move a bit more, halt again -- like a feather falling through the air. Combine with a predilection for noir-y moods and what I suppose is a French taste for tiny, breathless voices, and the results are often not very singable, even by pros. Most French pop seems to be the opposite of Italian pop, which favors broad, arching Verdi-esque melodic lines -- and more singers with better voices. (Indeed, many of the Francophone singers with stronger voices also seem to be of Italian origin, like Helene Segara, Elsa Lunghini a/k/a Elsa, and even Yves Montand.)\\n\\nDaho's melodies may not be operatic, nor his voice like Andrea Bocelli's, but all these songs are very cheerfully \\\"Euro\\\". It's not easy to write such ultra-pop. For example, the opening song, \\\"Idal\\\", manages to sound like an ultra-chic anthem -- no mean feat. As other reviewers have mentioned, this album is catchy, melodic, and singable-with (though you'll have to scrounge lyrics from other albums or the Internet). It's also sunny and fun -- and great in any direction.\",\n \"Product: Lawrence Durrell's series of four novels set in Alexandria, Egypt during the 1940s. The lush and sensuous series consists of Justine (1957) Balthazar (1958) Mountolive (1958) Clea (1960).\\nJustine, Balthazar and Mountolive use varied viewpoints to relate a series of events in Alexandria before World War II. In Clea, the story continues into the years during the war. \\nOne L.G. Darley is the primary observer of the events, which include events in the lives of those he loves and those he knows. In Justine, Darley attempts to recover from and put into perspective his recently ended affair with a woman. Balthazar reinterprets the romantic perspective he placed on the affair and its aftermath in Justine, in more philosophical and intellectual terms. \\n\\nMountolive tells a story minus interpretation, and Clea reveals Darley's healing, and coming to love another woman.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Best enjoyed before one has a sense of humor about life\\n\\nReview: The descriptions and the sheer sensuality of language in this book are often beautiful, and may appeal to a wide range of readers, as they did to me. But the story, as distinguished from the style, may be best appreciated during a certain limited time in one's life, perhaps from around one's mid-20s until around age 40. Reading its early pages, I was happy to think I'd found a truly \\\"grown-up\\\" novel, because it may be hard to identify with many of the situations unless you've had some experience of separation and loss. As the story progressed, though, several of the main characters become either unrealistically saintly and long-suffering, or else, particularly in the case of the title character, more and more humorless and insufferable. Based on my own experience, I wonder how many people who are magnetically drawn to neurotic intellectual types like Justine in their youth don't get really, really fed up with them at some point in early middle age, if not sooner. So after 50-odd pages or so I found it easier to fall out of the book's spell.\\n\\nDurrell seems to have been favorably infatuated with Jewish culture during his life, but some of the silly mistakes he makes about it in this novel also make it more difficult to take the book seriously. In several places he mixes Sephardic and Ashkenazic culture, as when he refers to Justine's father being \\\"from Odessa in fur cap with greasy ringlets\\\". Elsewhere another Jewish character, Balthazar, claims he \\\"speaks as a member of the Cabal\\\" -- using an Orientalist term, redolent of a Dr. Fu-Manchu novel for its whiffs of conspiracy, describing students of the Kaballah, a collection of medieval Jewish mystical texts. The phrase is never used in earnest by Jews. But even more awkward is that the character claims so to be speaking while spouting a Latin quote from St. Augustine, a Catholic (who BTW pre-dated the Kaballah by several centuries). Such gaffes, along with plenty of over-the-top melodrama (\\\"Who invented the human heart, I wonder? Tell me, and then show me the place where he was hanged,\\\" Justine says at one of the few moments when she is neither naked nor sobbing uncontrollably), may make it tough for readers of a certain age to keep a straight face -- or to feel in a hurry to read the next volume of the quartet.\",\n \"Product: Unusual book\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: A hollow and anti-democratic worldview\\n\\nReview: My dictionary tells me that \\\"nudge,\\\" which rhymes with \\\"judge\\\" and means a gentle push, is probably of Norwegian origin. The authors are careful to distinguish this from the Yiddishism \\\"noodge,\\\" meaning pest or bore (@4). So maybe a bakkel, which is what they call doughnuts in Norway, would be a more appropriate analogy for this book than a bagel. But either way, the book is missing something at its core. And it is not as much of a departure from the Chicago School worldview as some reviews would have you believe.\\n\\n1. Richard Thaler (RT) and Cass Sunstein (CS) base their recommendations on the experimental studies of A. Tversky, D. Kahneman and, among others, RT himself. As developed during the past three decades or so, these have led to the field of \\\"behavioral economics\\\" (and a Nobel Prize for Kahneman). The gist is that people have certain \\\"irrational\\\" ways of looking at the world that lead them to act differently from the way most economists assume for their convenience of their theories. By \\\"nudge\\\" they mean a design element in a thing or in a process that anticipates these psychological tendencies, and steers people toward behavior that, ideally, helps them without limiting their freedom.\\n\\nMany of the principles and techniques they describe (which other reviewers on this page summarize) have been known and exploited for far longer than there were fancy names for them. Retailers have set at prices $9.98 rather than $10.00 since time immemorial, relying on \\\"availability\\\". The wisdom of writing contracts and designing business processes with \\\"idiot-proof\\\" procedures (the term I was taught decades ago, in lieu of \\\"nudge\\\") is similarly ancient, at least within better law firms and companies. So RTCS's notion that nudges could be used more often when designing social policy shouldn't be very controversial. And on their face, many of their analyses make sense.\\n\\n2. RTCS do skate on thin ice near the end, when they make it explicit that they're relying on \\\"the invisible hand\\\" of markets to make their proposals work (e.g., @239-240) - a hand whose existence, or at least invisibility, is controversial. They're also on shaky ground when they suggest that John Rawls's \\\"publicity principle\\\" should be a constraint on nudges \\\"in both the public and private sectors\\\" (@244-245). This principle states that governments shouldn't select policies that they wouldn't be willing or able to defend publicly to their own citizens. RTCS don't spell out, though, the scope of this principle in the private sector. Should the analogue of \\\"citizen\\\" be shareholder, or indeed all citizens? If the latter, what's the source of this duty? If to shareholders only, where does that leave the rest of us?\\n\\n3. But those are details. The deeper problem is what's missing from the big picture of this book. Namely: society.\\n\\n\\\"There is no such thing as society. There are individual men and women, and there are families.\\\" So said Margaret Thatcher, and though RTCS don't quote her, they seem to share this view. Everything in this book is focused on decisions made by individuals (called \\\"Humans\\\" by RTCS) for their own good or ill, and based on their own preferences. The only other entity is a \\\"Planner\\\", such as a legislature, bureaucracy, judiciary or corporate management. Its relationship to individuals is top-down. Moreover, the Planner's own psychological quirks are rarely discussed. In effect, the \\\"homo economicus\\\"-type of rationality that behavioral economics denies to Humans is shifted up one level to the Planner.\\n\\nThe idea that people might act together to influence the Planner, select the Planner, communicate their will to the Planner, or rebel against the Planner is totally missing from this book (aside from a passing reference in a footnote (@238). This is very much in line with Robert Reich's observation in \\\"Supercapitalism\\\" (2007) that collective action and debate in American democracy has been replaced by an atomistic consumerism affecting all aspects of life, including politics.\\n\\nThe worldview expressed in \\\"Nudge\\\" is a far cry from the idea of \\\"active liberty\\\" described by Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer in his book of that name (2005). Democratic participation in lawmaking is central to Breyer's view, and policy decisions should be based on facilitating that participation. OTOH, in their footnote, RTCS make the conjunction of good laws and popular will sound like an occasional happy accident: \\\"Social practices, and the laws that reflect them, often persist not because they are wise but because Humans, often suffering from self-control problems, are simply following other Humans. ... We do not mean here to question the view that laws that really do embody the judgments of many people often deserve support for that reason\\\" (@238n). Of course one can think of examples where what RTCS say here is right; slavery, for example. But many other cases are less clear-cut (not that RTCS even express any opinion on the slavery issue or the \\\"wisdom\\\" of any other human rights). This footnote embodies the entire discussion of democracy you'll find in this book. RTCS don't even specify who those \\\"many people\\\" might be -- \\\"Planners\\\" perhaps?\\n\\n4. A corollary of RTCS's ignoring society is that they have no sensitivity to culture (notwithstanding numerous references to TV shows). This is most obvious in their chapters on organ donations (Ch. 11) and marriage (Ch. 15). The idea of a market for the purchase and sale of human organs \\\"has obvious merit, [but] it is also spectacularly unpopular for reasons that are not well understood\\\" (@175). Maybe the reason is that peoples' cultural beliefs lead them to find the idea of such a market repugnant?\\n\\nOr how about RTCS's proposal that the institution of marriage be left to private religious groups, with government providing only the institution of civil union - for everyone. They don't consider the idea that a nation's laws should express the cultural values of its people. Nor do they consider whether civil unions would be accepted without stigma in society - or even within families. Since many inter-faith marriages wouldn't be recognized under the laws of any specific religion, do RTCS expect people to shop around for a more convenient religion, or give up religion altogether? Maybe someday people will come around to RTCS's ultra-rational view (which may also be tinted by the apparently divorced status of at least one of them), but we're a long way from it. They need to deal with that.\\n\\nOne more thing about culture: RTCS assert that Tversy & Kahneman-type psychological tendencies arise from brain function (@19), and throughout the book they use the word \\\"Human\\\" to describe people who display those tendencies. I'm not an expert in this area of research, but it isn't clear how much of it has relied on subjects from non-Western cultures. Previous multi-cultural studies in behavioral economics, such as \\\"Foundations of Human Sociality\\\" edited by J. Heinrich & al. (2004), show considerable variation across cultures. So the details of \\\"choice architecture\\\" may be far more culturally-specific, and less scientifically grounded, than RTCS acknowledge. Certainly the book's point of departure, how to engineer behavior on the basis of individual preferences to behaviors, is very American. It would be quite alien to many books on social policy from France, Germany or Japan, for example. BTW playing this scientistic rhetorical trump card in matters of policy is a hallmark of the Chicago School. See, e.g., James Hackney Jr.'s \\\"Under Cover of Science\\\" (2007), which, despite not being enitrely convincing about the historical reasons for this rhetorical trope, is entirely correct in identifying it.\\n\\n5. CS was close with the Clinton Administration, and an early supporter of Obama. He's probably on the short list for a Federal judgeship - even to fill a Supreme Court vacancy - next time the Democrats take the White House. Before reading this book, I'd have welcomed such an appointment. Now, I'd be much more cautious to do so. America is a society in addition to being a group of individuals. And that society is the source of any \\\"Planner's\\\" authority. I hesitate to give such authority to anyone who forgets where it comes from, and forgets the values that underlie it. Unfortunately, that is exactly what the authors of \\\"Nudge\\\" appear to have forgotten.\",\n \"Product: Lawrence George Durrell (Jalandhar India 27 de febrero de 1912 Sommieres Francia 7 de noviembre de 1990) fue un escritor britanico hermano del tambien escritor y zoologo Gerald Durrell. Escribio biografias poesia obras de teatro de viaje y novelas. Durrell se resistio a que lo asociasen con el Reino Unido y prefirio ser considerado cosmopolita. Postumamente se descubrio que en realidad nunca tuvo la ciudadania britanica1 . Se considera que su obra maestra es la tetralogia El cuarteto de Alejandria\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Best enjoyed before one has a sense of humor about life\\n\\nReview: The descriptions and the sheer sensuality of language in this book are often beautiful, and may appeal to a wide range of readers, as they did to me. But the story, as distinguished from the style, may be best appreciated during a certain limited time in one's life, perhaps from around one's mid-20s until around age 40. Reading its early pages, I was happy to think I'd found a truly \\\"grown-up\\\" novel, because it may be hard to identify with many of the situations unless you've had some experience of separation and loss. As the story progressed, though, several of the main characters become either unrealistically saintly and long-suffering, or else, particularly in the case of the title character, more and more humorless and insufferable. Based on my own experience, I wonder how many people who are magnetically drawn to neurotic intellectual types like Justine in their youth don't get really, really fed up with them at some point in early middle age, if not sooner. So after 50-odd pages or so I found it easier to fall out of the book's spell.\\n\\nDurrell seems to have been favorably infatuated with Jewish culture during his life, but some of the silly mistakes he makes about it in this novel also make it more difficult to take the book seriously. In several places he mixes Sephardic and Ashkenazic culture, as when he refers to Justine's father being \\\"from Odessa in fur cap with greasy ringlets\\\". Elsewhere another Jewish character, Balthazar, claims he \\\"speaks as a member of the Cabal\\\" -- using an Orientalist term, redolent of a Dr. Fu-Manchu novel for its whiffs of conspiracy, describing students of the Kaballah, a collection of medieval Jewish mystical texts. The phrase is never used in earnest by Jews. But even more awkward is that the character claims so to be speaking while spouting a Latin quote from St. Augustine, a Catholic (who BTW pre-dated the Kaballah by several centuries). Such gaffes, along with plenty of over-the-top melodrama (\\\"Who invented the human heart, I wonder? Tell me, and then show me the place where he was hanged,\\\" Justine says at one of the few moments when she is neither naked nor sobbing uncontrollably), may make it tough for readers of a certain age to keep a straight face -- or to feel in a hurry to read the next volume of the quartet.\"\n]","isConversational":false},"profile_size":{"kind":"number","value":4,"string":"4"},"task":{"kind":"string","value":"longlamp_3"},"split_kind":{"kind":"string","value":"user_based"},"id":{"kind":"number","value":954,"string":"954"}}},{"rowIdx":955,"cells":{"question_id":{"kind":"string","value":"A1H0P7ESJE2109"},"question":{"kind":"string","value":"Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of \"4.0\" for a product with description \"Avery Personal Creations InkJet Stretchable Transfer Sheets, 5 Pack (03302)\". The summary of the review text is \"Worked great for custom onesies\"."},"answer":{"kind":"string","value":"Bought these to make personalized onesies for a baby shower gift, and then used them for my own baby as well. They worked great and the transfers looked better and lasted a lot longer than the standard non-stretch version. You need to follow the directions carefully and don't skimp on the ironing time. Go in circles over the entire transfer in bits and if a corner doesn't come up easily, you need to iron some more. Also, don't forget to wait after ironing - the instructions tell you to let it cool down before peeling. One thing I did notice is if you print a logo and don't use it, there is a shelf life. It didn't work when I experimented with one that had been sitting around for over a year, which makes sense since the ink had probably dried out. I have made over 20 different onesies and tshirts with these and that was the only fail."},"correct_answer":{"kind":"string","value":"Bought these to make personalized onesies for a baby shower gift, and then used them for my own baby as well. They worked great and the transfers looked better and lasted a lot longer than the standard non-stretch version. You need to follow the directions carefully and don't skimp on the ironing time. Go in circles over the entire transfer in bits and if a corner doesn't come up easily, you need to iron some more. Also, don't forget to wait after ironing - the instructions tell you to let it cool down before peeling. One thing I did notice is if you print a logo and don't use it, there is a shelf life. It didn't work when I experimented with one that had been sitting around for over a year, which makes sense since the ink had probably dried out. I have made over 20 different onesies and tshirts with these and that was the only fail."},"documents":{"kind":"list like","value":["Product: Shout Color Catcher sheets absorb and trap loose dyes in your wash water, protecting clothes against color bleeds and helping preserve original colors. Color protector sheets go straight into the wash.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Keeps the pink out of your whites!\n\nReview: I used to keep 5 hampers in our massive master bedroom closet, and we would sort all clothes out (colors, whites, delicates, towels/linens, super soiled) so when I washed, nothing ever got mixed together. Yes, I'm a bit OCD, but it worked great and we had the room. Fast forward and we've moved into a tiny home in a big city and there's only room for one hamper, and so what's dirty gets washed together. I've used these color catcher sheets for years with my colored laundry so lighter colors don't get dingy from darker inks/dyes, and they work great. But even more impressive is that my whites washed with colors are also color-free, no green or grey or pink tints, when they come out of the wash. Love these and wouldn't do laundry without them.","Product: Who wouldn't want to add some bright, cheery color to their kitchen? From Fox Run's raspberry collection, these high quality kitchen essentials each boast a beautiful deep pink color, resembling perfectly ripened raspberries. Our Raspberry Locking Tongs feature silicone ends and comfort grips on sturdy stainless steel handles, so it won't scratch or damage your expensive non-stick cookware. Perfect when cooking in non-stick pans, grilling, flipping burgers, turning chicken and bacon, serving salad, cheese, fruit, pasta, and much more! These 12-inch tongs can be locked shut to take up less space when storing. Simply pop in the dishwasher to clean. Cook, grill, and serve easier with our Raspberry Locking Tongs, or brighten up your kitchen with our complete set!\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Something to consider when you get silicone tongs\n\nReview: So, we have a trusty set of metal tongs we bought a gazillion years ago that have served us well. But I found myself saying, \"if only these were coated in silicone\" a lot. As in they wouldn't scratch pans or the non-stick coating on them, they wouldn't get super hot at the tips, that kind of thing. Anyhow, these are good for what they are, but I have to say that the silicone is thick and so it takes away some of the versatility of our thin metal tongs. Picture thick silicone on your tweezers and you realize the tweezers won't work for minute grabbing anymore. Same thing here. Not a big deal, but something to consider when you are thinking you want silicone tongs. The lock mechanism is a little hinky. It works for now, but I can see it breaking easily in the future. It's not a huge deal for us, but for someone who wants/needs that lock, it's not the best design.","Product: Just the right sink, just the right bounce. Two technologies come together for better nights and brighter days. Our mattress is made with premium latex foam for cooling & bounce and memory foam for supportive comfort. Developed and crafted with exacting standards in the U.S.A., our bed is resilient enough to compress-ship and fit through any door. We offer 100% free shipping and free returns, with a 100-night no-risk trial.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: A very good mattress, delivered to your door, for a reasonable price.\n\nReview: We purchased a king size Casper over a year ago. The instructions, if you read them and follow them carefully, were very clear. I read some reviews where people cut the mattress. Maybe the instructions have changed, but when we did it, it took as a little while to figure out what they were talking about. We didn't cut open the package until everything made sense and it worked great. My advice is if they tell you to look for a blue dot, FIND the dot before you start hacking away. If you follow the instructions, you won't ruin your bed.\n\nWe did not have much off-gassing like some people complain about, but from purchasing other products, I know that this definitely varies, so I don't discount those reviews. Overall, we are both happy with the mattress, although over time, my husband has decided it's not perfect for him. I, on the other hand, have had chronic shoulder and back pain from previous mattresses, and I find this one really comfortable. I get a good night's sleep and don't wake up with soreness. So, I took the 1 star off since my hubby isn't entirely happy, but we are thinking about going down to a queen size and Casper is still at the top of our list of choices.\n\nOne final note - I wish Casper could lower their price point on the twin beds. A $1000 King is a great bargain, but a $500 twin is pricey, especially when you have more than one child =). We wanted to get Casper's for our girls, but ended up going with a less expensive mattress option as a result of the higher price.","Product: Ridiculously over-engineered? Or the perfect case for your iPad no matter where you're headed?We think it's a little bit of both.Simply put, the Griffin Survivor Case is the most protective case we've ever built.Tested and certified to meet or exceed US Department of Defense Standard 810F, Griffin's Survivor Military-Duty Case is designed from the inside out to protect your iPad from extreme conditions, dirt, sand, rain, shock, vibration and a host of other environmental factors.Survivor is built on a shatter-resistant polycarbonate frame clad in rugged, shock absorbing silicone. A built-in screen protector seals your Multi-Touch display from the outside environment, while hinged plugs seal the dock connector, camera lens, headphone port, hold switch and volume controls. The included stand clips on, then folds open for landscape viewing and typing.Survivor is independently tested and verified to meet or exceed environmental testing standards for blown rain, blown dust and grit, vibration, shock, temperature and humidity.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Great case with one fatal flaw\n\nReview: I bought this case for our iPad 2, which is used by my husband and also a lot by our young children, so it needed to be tough and protect against drops, scratches, etc. The case is a 5 star protector. However, the stand that holds the ipad up has a weakness - there are two metal rods that slide along a plastic \"guide rail\" to open up and flatten the stand. The plastic casing around the area breaks and then the metal rods pop out, rendering your stand completely useless. I emailed Griffin when this first happened and they sent me a new stand. However, within months of having the new stand, the exact same thing happened. I am able to sort of rig the stand to work sometimes, and we've just decided not to pursue getting yet another stand that will break. But with two young kids, the stand is essential for us, so it's a big disappointment. If the stand doesn't matter, this is a great protective covering, and my experience with Griffin customer service was excellent.","Product: The TL-PA2010KIT AV200 Nano Powerline Adapter Starter Kit by TP-LINK uses your home's existing electrical wires to create or expand your home network. With no additional wiring required, you can simply plug the TL-PA2010KIT into existing power sockets and instantly establish a networking infrastructure. With high-speed data transfer rates of up to 200Mbps, you can enjoy HD video streaming, online gaming, VoIP, or any other bandwidth intensive tasks. Plus, its miniature design gives you the flexibility to plug it in anywhere in your home. Key Features AV200 Powerline Speeds HomePlug AV standard compliant, high-speed data transfer rates of up to 200Mbps Up to 1000 Feet Up to 1000 meter over electrical circuit, better performance than wireless through walls or across floors Multi IPTV Streams Supports IGMP managed multicast IP transmission, optimizes IPTV streaming Power-Saving Mode Patented Power-Saving reduces power consumption by up to 75% Plug and Play No new wires or configuration required\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Some issues, but works well\n\nReview: We were so frustrated when we moved into a rental home recently. We'd been on cable internet, but the landlord won't let us install it and so we're stuck with DSL. We had to rely on a wireless network for our desktop computer, which is in the office downstairs and for our media setup, which is upstairs in a bedroom. Unfortunately, the house is big and neither were working consistently at all. We bought this starter kit in the hopes we'd get internet in the office, and from the box, we plugged one into the router, one down with the computer and BAM, instant internet that works great. The only problem I've found so far is one others comment on. The system for whatever reason seems to stop working once a day. At first I would restart the router each time, which was a hassle, but then I experimented and just unplugged the adapter near the computer and plugged it back in. Worked great and the internet came right back up. I'm not sure what the problem is that causes me to have to do it, and it would be better if I didn't, but it's not a big hassle to \"flip the switch\" once a day and I'm just so grateful to have internet to our computer again. We ordered TP-Link's wireless adapter for our media set up (we also use iPads up there as well so an ethernet solution wouldn't have fixed everything) and I'll post a review on that to say how it worked.","Product: Wear a smile with the fabulous Keira range, featuring a banded bra, soft cup, longline and nursing bra. Whether youre after comfort, or a bit more confidence, Keira will leave you glowing all day long. Care instructions: Do not dry clean , bleach ,tumble dry as it can cause loosening of elastene which is necessary for support\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: which is great for support and comfort\n\nReview: Okay, I would give this bra 4 or 5 stars except for 2 things. First, it rides up really high in front, which is great for support and comfort, but with most of my V neck an scoop neck shirts, you can see some of the bra at the lowest point. That's a bummer but I just wear this style with crew and turtlenecks. The second problem was this bra has a defect in the front. I didn't notice it until after I washed it, so now I'm keeping it, but it's a rubbed spot with frayed fabric along the underwire below the cup. It's a really pretty bra, and this spot ruins that effect. It'll still be supportive, just not sexy.\n\nUPDATE: changed to 2 stars. Another frayed spot on the side leaves a large welt on my skin. Poor product quality control.","Product: Move worry-free with this wireless sports bra from Enell. Made from high quality Nylon and LYCRA, this sports bra prevents skin chafing while providing optimum support. The front hook closure helps you wear or take off the bra easily. Contructed with Naturexx Performance Fabric that wicks away moisture to keep you cool and odor-free during the most intense workouts\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Best. Sports Bra. Ever.\n\nReview: If you are a busty woman (anywhere from C cup or above), then this bra is for you. I have tried numerous other (very expensive) sports bras, but none has provided the level of support AND comfort that the Enell does. Now, I have no problem with the fact that there are no strap adjustments, but apparently some women find the straps are too short/long for them. It fits me perfectly and I have changed sizes over the years. Be sure to take the time to measure your rib cage (below the breast) and across your breasts to determine the correct size to order. The basic calculation is breast size (let's say a 40) minus rib cage size (say 34) equals your cup size (40-34 = 6). Count the alphabet to 6 letters (in our example, F) and that's your cup size. Many products use double and triple D, so an F = DDD as well. As anyone with large breasts knows, it can be difficult to get excited about exercise when every bounce hurts, but exercise is SO important for our physical and mental health. So take a little time to figure out your size, and spend a little extra money, and get a good bra!","Product: Built for cross-training and stylish enough for casual wear, this sporty mary jane pulls double duty.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Super comfortable, looks much better in person\n\nReview: So this is a review from a 40-something, overweight, athletic woman who has had flat feet since blowing them out doing gymnastics as a teenager. I have suffered with plantar fasciitis since I gained the extra weight and have to wear supportive shoes in the house, as I cannot go barefoot without pain. I share all this because I think context is important, as I always look for reviews from people who have extra weight, or flat feet or plantar fasciitis, because those reviews will be most accurate for my needs.\n\nI have a pair of Merrell clogs that I wear as my \"indoor shoes\" and a pair of Merrell air cushion sneakers that I wear for walking around and to the gym, and then specialty shoes with more support and higher arches for aerobics and of course dance sneakers for Zumba. I didn't really understand what this barefoot style meant, until I opened the box and saw that there is no insert for the crush glove. I started wearing them around the house to try them out, and they were SO comfortable that I just left them on and didn't bother putting my comfort clogs back on. I'm definitely keeping these, and they are going to be my new walking to the gym and around the neighborhood shoes. I may even get a second pair to replace my indoor clogs and who knows maybe eventually will be able to walk around actually barefoot!\n\nAs for style, I got the purple/green and they look really nice in person. The pictures on the website made them look a little clunky and the colors a little clownish, but in reality the style is sleek and the colors are vibrant, but not garish.","Product: Whether you are stepping out to retrieve the morning paper or soothing soles after a long day of standing, you are sure to fall for the instant, cozy comfort of the Howser II slipper from Keen®. Easy slip-on design. Cotton-poly blend knit upper. Protective rubber toe cap. Faux fur lining for a cozy next-to-foot feel. KEEN.Cush memory foam footbed offers instant step-in comfort. Non-marking rubber outsole. Imported. Measurements: Weight: 13 oz Product measurements were taken using size 8, width B - Medium. Please note that measurements may vary by size.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Beautiful slipper that fit well, but has a fatal flaw.\n\nReview: I have a pair of Howsers with a quilted nylon exterior that I love, but are getting scruffy after a year of use (I can't go barefoot, so I have a pair of indoor only slippers that I wear EVERY day, all day in the house). So, I ordered this pair thinking it would be the same, but with a cooler exterior finish. They look just as nice in person as on the website and fit perfectly, EXCEPT for one major issue: The top of the shoe where you see some sheepskin sticking out? Well, it \"tucks\" under when you put it on your feet. You *could* take about 10 seconds every time you put them on, digging your finger in and straightening that out, I suppose, but I want a shoe I can slip on and wear without hassle. So, I'm sending them back and ordering another pair of the quilted nylon kind. Super bummed at this flaw in the design, as they are a really attractive slipper.","Product: The Elaine Petrone Method: Stop the Clock\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: Don't believe the description. You will be disappointed!\n\nReview: This DVD is apparently much like the last one Ms. Petrone put out, so I encourage you to read those reviews since there are not many on this product yet. I bought the Miracle Ball book last year and while I found that the method does seem to give results, I never could bring myself to do it enough to make a difference. I thought, if only there was a DVD where Elaine goes through each of the movements illustrated in the book and repeats them as the books says, then I could do them with her and would use the DVD quite often. Because the description lists all the problems her method can alleviate, you would think this is what the DVD would provide.\n\nBut no, Elaine talks about how she developed her method, and uses two people to show how she works with patients I guess. Since I don't live anywhere near her, this is not very useful to me. She spends a lot of time on the breathing, which is great for the first time, but after that is pretty pointless. She goes through several repetitions of 'elbow on the ball', does one 'ball on the neck' and one 'ball under the back' and that's it. That's all you get. There isn't even a book included listing all the other positions, so if you don't own the book already, the DVD is pretty much useless. I suppose it was a little helpful to do the one exercise and see how she focuses on breathing, but the book is pretty good about telling you that as well. All in all, I have another rubber ball for my $19.99 and will probably never watch this DVD again. If I could I would return it as the product is NOT what I expected considering the description, and really is not useful for anyone who actually wants to use this method since it doesn't really show it to you. Basically, it is a rip-off and I'm doubtful I will buy anything else by Elaine Petrone now, whether her method is excellent or not. If you are fastidious and can make yourself do the exercises, I would recommend getting the book and the two little balls, which Amazon carries for under $13.","Product: THE IMITATION GAME is a gripping, acclaimed thriller that tells the incredible true story of unsung war hero Alan Turing, the British mathematician responsible for cracking the German Enigma code during World War II. Benedict Cumberbatch (The Fifth Estate, Star Trek Into Darkness, and TVs Sherlock) and Keira Knightley (BAFTA nominee for Atonement, Oscar nominee for Pride and Prejudice) star as Turing and his ally and fellow code-breaker Joan Clarke, alongside a top-notch cast, including Matthew Goode (Stoker, A Single Man), Mark Strong (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy), Rory Kinnear (Skyfall), Charles Dance (Gosford Park, TV's Game of Thrones), Allen Leech (In Fear, TVs Downton Abbey) and Matthew Beard (An Education).\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: An amazing movie about an amazing man, but very sad.\n\nReview: I absolutely loved this movie and felt the acting was excellent. The story was so freaking depressing though! I mean, not what you see in the movie, except the very end. SPOILER ALERT - do not read on if you don't want to know some major plot points. I still get so sad to think that this amazing genius, Alan Turing, who could have spent the next 20-30 years developing who knows what other technological breakthroughs, had his life cut short at 40 because he was gay. It just sticks in your gut and makes you wish you weren't a part of such a malicious race of human beings. I mean, this man saved MILLIONS of lives by developing his Turing machine and sparked the advent of the modern computer. The fact that the man responsible for stopping the Nazis (who arbitrarily decided that Jews were evil, not to mention gays, political dissidents and anyone else they wanted to lump in there) was himself the victim of a society who arbitrarily decided that his sexual orientation was a crime and treated him like an animal because of it, it's overwhelming. And I can't get past the fact that no matter what progress we've made in terms of gay rights, or the rights of whatever group is currently being arbitrarily discriminated against at the moment (African-Americans, Hispanics, Women, Atheists, the list goes on and on), none of that will bring this man back, will undo the utter injustice of his chemical castration and the misery he must have felt in the last few years of his life. I weep for that lost life, the lost brilliance that could have changed everything. Who knows where we would be now if he had lived. So, this movie is a fantastic tribute to a man who did not fit into society's neat little boxes of how people should be, and also a stark reminder of how cruel and inhumane those who try to enforce those boxes are.","Product: The SILICRYLIC by Incipio is an innovative 2 part carrying case; a high quality Polycarbonate plastic interior embedded in a shock absorbing silicone core. The SILICRYLIC offers optimal protection, unparalleled comfort as well as easy access to all the iPhone's features.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Saves the phone when dropped\n\nReview: So, I had one of these in Fuchsia, which I loved, but I accidentally dropped my phone from the charging station and it plummeted to the ground. The hard part of the case broke in the corner it fell on, but the phone was completely undamaged. Yay Incipio! I emailed the company to see if I could purchase the outer hard shell portion separately as a part, since the inside silicone part was still great, and they said they don't sell parts, but they'd send me a new one since it was still under warranty. How awesome is that - I didn't even ask and they offered. Yay Incipio! So, the only downside was that I had to send back the broken case to get the new one. Well, being the murphy's law person that I am, I just *knew* if I carried my phone around for even a few days without a case, I would inevitably break it during that period of time, and since Incipio was so cool to me, I decided to buy another case to use while I waited for my replacement. I got black so I could give it to my hubby after my Fuchsia replacement arrived. This case is great and Incipio is great. Oh, and the kickstand is awesome - if you are debating about whether you need one or not - great for eating and reading books, or if you have young kids and you need them to sit still at the restaurant after they finish eating (but you haven't), set your iPhone out on the table with the kickstand, put on a Disney movie and you can finish your meal in peace =).","Product: AnyGlove's (Pat. Pend.) Leather and Fabric formulas can make your gloves touchscreen friendly in just minutes. It's easy. Just apply, dry and touchscreens will respond to your gloves as though being touched by your bare fingers. AnyGlove is the easy to use, cost effective solution that makes almost any gloves touchscreen compatible. AnyGlove does not wash off and is safe for use on all types of gloves, including fleece, fabric and leather. Each 15ml bottle of AnyGlove(TM) can treat up to 5 pairs of gloves. AnyGlove is currently in use by consumers, professional athletes and in industry, military and law enforcement in over 25 countries. AnyGlove has undergone testing and evaluation by some of the largest organizations in the world and been approved for use, including US and foreign defense forces (DLA CAGE CODE: 6YUF8). AnyGlove has been found to be effective on gloves containing Nomex?, Thermax?, Thinsulate?, Kevlar? and Gore-Tex?. For further information please visit our website. AnyGlove? For Leather is specifically formulated to provide functionality to leather, waterproof and insulated gloves.AnyGlove? Original Formula works like magic on fleece, knit, wool and synthetic leather gloves.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Great product, amazing customer service\n\nReview: Okay, first off, I have NO relationship to this company. I want to point that out because my review is pretty glowing and I don't want you to think it's fake. Anyone who writes a 1 star review of this product is being incredibly unfair. I emailed AnyGlove customer service before purchasing because I was deciding between the Leather Formula and the Original. Based on their advice, I bought the leather formula (I don't have leather gloves, mostly nylon/waterproof winter gloves). I get the product, and followed their instructions exactly (put on 2 coats, blow dry...one more coat and blow dry. It took about 10 minutes tops with interruptions from my 2 year old). Voila! My first set of gloves worked on my iPhone and iPad perfectly. On to my REI gloves that are nylon and a faux leather on the inside fingers and have a seam around each finger. I did the same application, and sure enough I could get contact but it was intermittent. So, I email AnyGlove again and sent a picture of the gloves and asked if they had any tips. They got back to me SAME DAY with an image of my picture with green outlines added specifying how far to apply the product on each finger I want to be reactive. They also suggested that if my seam got in the way too much (not the products fault, just the glove limitation), I could also put the product on my knuckle - which is a great alternative. Anyhow, I followed their diagram and now that pair of gloves is also reactive! Awesome. My next test is on a pair of magic gloves (cheap knit fabric), but I haven't had a chance to do them yet (and I keep forgetting to bring them in from the car - they are my back up pair). All in all, though, the product works really great when you follow the directions and the customer service of this company is OUTSTANDING and really friendly. They don't make you feel bad for writing in to ask questions - they thank you for reaching out. I'd give them 10 stars if I could.","Product: The Slim Armor case for the iPhone 6 provides complete all-around protection while maintaining a slim profile. The dual layered build of flexible TPU and hard polycarbonate come with protective features such as Air Cushioned corners and an interior spider-web pattern.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Doesn't inspire confidence in case of a fall.\n\nReview: Just received this case for one of two new iPhone 6s we bought on 9/19 (I also got the Spigen Tough Armour for the other phone, see my review there). From online reviews of the iPhone, I'm very afraid of dropping the phone and it breaking. I don't know how well this will protect the phone. It slips on and off easily...too easily. There is nothing keeping the case from pulling off the phone when it falls. I'm not willing to test it, so this is just my theory. The silicone barely reaches around the phone and so there is very little protection of the front screen, and of course, if the screen hits a corner directly, it will break. Also, the hard shell part only goes around the middle of the phone, not the edges. I had an Incipio case with kickstand for my iPhone 4 that I loved, but Incipio isn't making a kickstand for the iPhone 6 yet, and so I tried this one. The credit card kickstand idea seemed smart and works ok, but not great. I can see the card breaking in time and don't relish doing that with my actual credit cards. I will be looking for another case that gives me more confidence in protection.","Product: The Tough Armor case for the iPhone 6 provides impact absorption while staying less bulky than other protective cases. The dual layered build of flexible TPU and hard polycarbonate come with protective features such as Air Cushioned corners and an interior spider-web pattern.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Doesn't inspire confidence in case of a fall.\n\nReview: I also wrote a review for the slim case since we bought one of each for our new iPhone 6s. This one fits slightly better than the slim, which just slides on and off the phone with no resistance, but it still doesn't cover enough of the lip with silicone to feel secure. Also, the hard plastic only goes around the middle of the phone, leaving the edges covered in the silicone only, which doesn't feel like enough to protect the phone if dropped. The credit card kickstand is okay right now, but I can already see that the card will break over time, plus it would be nice to have a kickstand actually attached so you don't have to worry about carrying around a second piece with you to use it. Overall, the buttons etc. all line up and work fine, but I bought this for protection and it just doesn't feel safe. I'm going to research and buy another one as soon as more kickstand cases come out.","Product: Australian born and bred, Lilliana Anderson has always loved to read and write considering it the best form of escapism that the world has to offer. Besides writing Angelien's biographical trilogy, she also writes contemporary romance and drama all set within Australia. When she isn't writing she is a wife, and a mother to four children. She has worked in a variety of industries and studied humanities before transferring to commerce/law at university. She currently lives a fairly quiet life in suburban Melbourne.\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: Totally unbelievable characters and really bad plot points\n\nReview: SPOILER ALERT - Do not read if you don't want to know major plot points and how the story ends. I can't believe this novel has any good reviews. I often wonder with relatively new/unknown authors, if all of her friends are maybe writing positive reviews. There are so many reasons why this novel sucked. Number one: there is no such thing as a STRONG HEROINE who lets her boyfriend get away with putting her through a glass window, beating her up more afterwards, and \"possibly\" attempting to rape her AFTER he beats up her best friend, and DOESN'T PRESS CHARGES because he agrees to be out of the apartment when she picks up her things??? Are you fricking kidding me? Seriously. And then, when she runs into him later at a bar, she agrees to have a drink with him and his enabling friends, as if he didn't put her in the hospital and leave her scarred (literally) for life? AND THEN, when he beats up her best friend again, does she finally press charges? Does she realize that he will inevitably do this to another girl and part of the blame is on her for letting him go scot free? NO. She tells him to leave her and her friends alone forever. That'll learn him! I don't take abuse against women lightly, and it should never be used as some kind of stupid plot point in a way that indicates that anything but pressing charges and getting a violent criminal off the street is the answer. And best yet, does her best friend finally press charges? Nope. He's just as stupid as she is. STUPID STUPID STUPID.\n\nBut beyond that major issue, there are two others with Kristina. She has a great best friend, loving family, goes to \"uni\" to become a lawyer while working part-time in a law firm AND is training for triathalons. And yet she drinks like a soriority girl - gets drunk every weekend and has sex in public places. Have you ever met someone serious about a sport, their future/career who drinks like that or who exposes themselves to indecency charges? I haven't. It just doesn't jibe. She lives with her parents and has sex on the dance floor of a club in front of a large crowd. PLEASE. Finally, the most unconvincing aspect of this story was the \"switch\" of love interests. Her best friend, David, who she has known forever, and they both have been good friends through numerous relationships/sexual escapades with others, NEVER feeling anything more than friendship. All of the sudden, he decides he loves her. And then, even more silly, she realizes she's loved him all along, and she only had mind-blowing sex with that guy Elliot...in a club, in a car, over and over again for weeks...well, she only did that because she really loved David all along. Oh, please.\n\nHonestly, there is absolutely nothing realistic, reasonable or plausible in this novel. It's offensive in its dismissal of violence against women, but beyond that, it's just completely unbelievable. I would say don't waste your money, but I got this for free on Kindle, so I will say don't waste your time."],"string":"[\n \"Product: Shout Color Catcher sheets absorb and trap loose dyes in your wash water, protecting clothes against color bleeds and helping preserve original colors. Color protector sheets go straight into the wash.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Keeps the pink out of your whites!\\n\\nReview: I used to keep 5 hampers in our massive master bedroom closet, and we would sort all clothes out (colors, whites, delicates, towels/linens, super soiled) so when I washed, nothing ever got mixed together. Yes, I'm a bit OCD, but it worked great and we had the room. Fast forward and we've moved into a tiny home in a big city and there's only room for one hamper, and so what's dirty gets washed together. I've used these color catcher sheets for years with my colored laundry so lighter colors don't get dingy from darker inks/dyes, and they work great. But even more impressive is that my whites washed with colors are also color-free, no green or grey or pink tints, when they come out of the wash. Love these and wouldn't do laundry without them.\",\n \"Product: Who wouldn't want to add some bright, cheery color to their kitchen? From Fox Run's raspberry collection, these high quality kitchen essentials each boast a beautiful deep pink color, resembling perfectly ripened raspberries. Our Raspberry Locking Tongs feature silicone ends and comfort grips on sturdy stainless steel handles, so it won't scratch or damage your expensive non-stick cookware. Perfect when cooking in non-stick pans, grilling, flipping burgers, turning chicken and bacon, serving salad, cheese, fruit, pasta, and much more! These 12-inch tongs can be locked shut to take up less space when storing. Simply pop in the dishwasher to clean. Cook, grill, and serve easier with our Raspberry Locking Tongs, or brighten up your kitchen with our complete set!\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Something to consider when you get silicone tongs\\n\\nReview: So, we have a trusty set of metal tongs we bought a gazillion years ago that have served us well. But I found myself saying, \\\"if only these were coated in silicone\\\" a lot. As in they wouldn't scratch pans or the non-stick coating on them, they wouldn't get super hot at the tips, that kind of thing. Anyhow, these are good for what they are, but I have to say that the silicone is thick and so it takes away some of the versatility of our thin metal tongs. Picture thick silicone on your tweezers and you realize the tweezers won't work for minute grabbing anymore. Same thing here. Not a big deal, but something to consider when you are thinking you want silicone tongs. The lock mechanism is a little hinky. It works for now, but I can see it breaking easily in the future. It's not a huge deal for us, but for someone who wants/needs that lock, it's not the best design.\",\n \"Product: Just the right sink, just the right bounce. Two technologies come together for better nights and brighter days. Our mattress is made with premium latex foam for cooling & bounce and memory foam for supportive comfort. Developed and crafted with exacting standards in the U.S.A., our bed is resilient enough to compress-ship and fit through any door. We offer 100% free shipping and free returns, with a 100-night no-risk trial.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: A very good mattress, delivered to your door, for a reasonable price.\\n\\nReview: We purchased a king size Casper over a year ago. The instructions, if you read them and follow them carefully, were very clear. I read some reviews where people cut the mattress. Maybe the instructions have changed, but when we did it, it took as a little while to figure out what they were talking about. We didn't cut open the package until everything made sense and it worked great. My advice is if they tell you to look for a blue dot, FIND the dot before you start hacking away. If you follow the instructions, you won't ruin your bed.\\n\\nWe did not have much off-gassing like some people complain about, but from purchasing other products, I know that this definitely varies, so I don't discount those reviews. Overall, we are both happy with the mattress, although over time, my husband has decided it's not perfect for him. I, on the other hand, have had chronic shoulder and back pain from previous mattresses, and I find this one really comfortable. I get a good night's sleep and don't wake up with soreness. So, I took the 1 star off since my hubby isn't entirely happy, but we are thinking about going down to a queen size and Casper is still at the top of our list of choices.\\n\\nOne final note - I wish Casper could lower their price point on the twin beds. A $1000 King is a great bargain, but a $500 twin is pricey, especially when you have more than one child =). We wanted to get Casper's for our girls, but ended up going with a less expensive mattress option as a result of the higher price.\",\n \"Product: Ridiculously over-engineered? Or the perfect case for your iPad no matter where you're headed?We think it's a little bit of both.Simply put, the Griffin Survivor Case is the most protective case we've ever built.Tested and certified to meet or exceed US Department of Defense Standard 810F, Griffin's Survivor Military-Duty Case is designed from the inside out to protect your iPad from extreme conditions, dirt, sand, rain, shock, vibration and a host of other environmental factors.Survivor is built on a shatter-resistant polycarbonate frame clad in rugged, shock absorbing silicone. A built-in screen protector seals your Multi-Touch display from the outside environment, while hinged plugs seal the dock connector, camera lens, headphone port, hold switch and volume controls. The included stand clips on, then folds open for landscape viewing and typing.Survivor is independently tested and verified to meet or exceed environmental testing standards for blown rain, blown dust and grit, vibration, shock, temperature and humidity.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Great case with one fatal flaw\\n\\nReview: I bought this case for our iPad 2, which is used by my husband and also a lot by our young children, so it needed to be tough and protect against drops, scratches, etc. The case is a 5 star protector. However, the stand that holds the ipad up has a weakness - there are two metal rods that slide along a plastic \\\"guide rail\\\" to open up and flatten the stand. The plastic casing around the area breaks and then the metal rods pop out, rendering your stand completely useless. I emailed Griffin when this first happened and they sent me a new stand. However, within months of having the new stand, the exact same thing happened. I am able to sort of rig the stand to work sometimes, and we've just decided not to pursue getting yet another stand that will break. But with two young kids, the stand is essential for us, so it's a big disappointment. If the stand doesn't matter, this is a great protective covering, and my experience with Griffin customer service was excellent.\",\n \"Product: The TL-PA2010KIT AV200 Nano Powerline Adapter Starter Kit by TP-LINK uses your home's existing electrical wires to create or expand your home network. With no additional wiring required, you can simply plug the TL-PA2010KIT into existing power sockets and instantly establish a networking infrastructure. With high-speed data transfer rates of up to 200Mbps, you can enjoy HD video streaming, online gaming, VoIP, or any other bandwidth intensive tasks. Plus, its miniature design gives you the flexibility to plug it in anywhere in your home. Key Features AV200 Powerline Speeds HomePlug AV standard compliant, high-speed data transfer rates of up to 200Mbps Up to 1000 Feet Up to 1000 meter over electrical circuit, better performance than wireless through walls or across floors Multi IPTV Streams Supports IGMP managed multicast IP transmission, optimizes IPTV streaming Power-Saving Mode Patented Power-Saving reduces power consumption by up to 75% Plug and Play No new wires or configuration required\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Some issues, but works well\\n\\nReview: We were so frustrated when we moved into a rental home recently. We'd been on cable internet, but the landlord won't let us install it and so we're stuck with DSL. We had to rely on a wireless network for our desktop computer, which is in the office downstairs and for our media setup, which is upstairs in a bedroom. Unfortunately, the house is big and neither were working consistently at all. We bought this starter kit in the hopes we'd get internet in the office, and from the box, we plugged one into the router, one down with the computer and BAM, instant internet that works great. The only problem I've found so far is one others comment on. The system for whatever reason seems to stop working once a day. At first I would restart the router each time, which was a hassle, but then I experimented and just unplugged the adapter near the computer and plugged it back in. Worked great and the internet came right back up. I'm not sure what the problem is that causes me to have to do it, and it would be better if I didn't, but it's not a big hassle to \\\"flip the switch\\\" once a day and I'm just so grateful to have internet to our computer again. We ordered TP-Link's wireless adapter for our media set up (we also use iPads up there as well so an ethernet solution wouldn't have fixed everything) and I'll post a review on that to say how it worked.\",\n \"Product: Wear a smile with the fabulous Keira range, featuring a banded bra, soft cup, longline and nursing bra. Whether youre after comfort, or a bit more confidence, Keira will leave you glowing all day long. Care instructions: Do not dry clean , bleach ,tumble dry as it can cause loosening of elastene which is necessary for support\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: which is great for support and comfort\\n\\nReview: Okay, I would give this bra 4 or 5 stars except for 2 things. First, it rides up really high in front, which is great for support and comfort, but with most of my V neck an scoop neck shirts, you can see some of the bra at the lowest point. That's a bummer but I just wear this style with crew and turtlenecks. The second problem was this bra has a defect in the front. I didn't notice it until after I washed it, so now I'm keeping it, but it's a rubbed spot with frayed fabric along the underwire below the cup. It's a really pretty bra, and this spot ruins that effect. It'll still be supportive, just not sexy.\\n\\nUPDATE: changed to 2 stars. Another frayed spot on the side leaves a large welt on my skin. Poor product quality control.\",\n \"Product: Move worry-free with this wireless sports bra from Enell. Made from high quality Nylon and LYCRA, this sports bra prevents skin chafing while providing optimum support. The front hook closure helps you wear or take off the bra easily. Contructed with Naturexx Performance Fabric that wicks away moisture to keep you cool and odor-free during the most intense workouts\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Best. Sports Bra. Ever.\\n\\nReview: If you are a busty woman (anywhere from C cup or above), then this bra is for you. I have tried numerous other (very expensive) sports bras, but none has provided the level of support AND comfort that the Enell does. Now, I have no problem with the fact that there are no strap adjustments, but apparently some women find the straps are too short/long for them. It fits me perfectly and I have changed sizes over the years. Be sure to take the time to measure your rib cage (below the breast) and across your breasts to determine the correct size to order. The basic calculation is breast size (let's say a 40) minus rib cage size (say 34) equals your cup size (40-34 = 6). Count the alphabet to 6 letters (in our example, F) and that's your cup size. Many products use double and triple D, so an F = DDD as well. As anyone with large breasts knows, it can be difficult to get excited about exercise when every bounce hurts, but exercise is SO important for our physical and mental health. So take a little time to figure out your size, and spend a little extra money, and get a good bra!\",\n \"Product: Built for cross-training and stylish enough for casual wear, this sporty mary jane pulls double duty.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Super comfortable, looks much better in person\\n\\nReview: So this is a review from a 40-something, overweight, athletic woman who has had flat feet since blowing them out doing gymnastics as a teenager. I have suffered with plantar fasciitis since I gained the extra weight and have to wear supportive shoes in the house, as I cannot go barefoot without pain. I share all this because I think context is important, as I always look for reviews from people who have extra weight, or flat feet or plantar fasciitis, because those reviews will be most accurate for my needs.\\n\\nI have a pair of Merrell clogs that I wear as my \\\"indoor shoes\\\" and a pair of Merrell air cushion sneakers that I wear for walking around and to the gym, and then specialty shoes with more support and higher arches for aerobics and of course dance sneakers for Zumba. I didn't really understand what this barefoot style meant, until I opened the box and saw that there is no insert for the crush glove. I started wearing them around the house to try them out, and they were SO comfortable that I just left them on and didn't bother putting my comfort clogs back on. I'm definitely keeping these, and they are going to be my new walking to the gym and around the neighborhood shoes. I may even get a second pair to replace my indoor clogs and who knows maybe eventually will be able to walk around actually barefoot!\\n\\nAs for style, I got the purple/green and they look really nice in person. The pictures on the website made them look a little clunky and the colors a little clownish, but in reality the style is sleek and the colors are vibrant, but not garish.\",\n \"Product: Whether you are stepping out to retrieve the morning paper or soothing soles after a long day of standing, you are sure to fall for the instant, cozy comfort of the Howser II slipper from Keen®. Easy slip-on design. Cotton-poly blend knit upper. Protective rubber toe cap. Faux fur lining for a cozy next-to-foot feel. KEEN.Cush memory foam footbed offers instant step-in comfort. Non-marking rubber outsole. Imported. Measurements: Weight: 13 oz Product measurements were taken using size 8, width B - Medium. Please note that measurements may vary by size.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Beautiful slipper that fit well, but has a fatal flaw.\\n\\nReview: I have a pair of Howsers with a quilted nylon exterior that I love, but are getting scruffy after a year of use (I can't go barefoot, so I have a pair of indoor only slippers that I wear EVERY day, all day in the house). So, I ordered this pair thinking it would be the same, but with a cooler exterior finish. They look just as nice in person as on the website and fit perfectly, EXCEPT for one major issue: The top of the shoe where you see some sheepskin sticking out? Well, it \\\"tucks\\\" under when you put it on your feet. You *could* take about 10 seconds every time you put them on, digging your finger in and straightening that out, I suppose, but I want a shoe I can slip on and wear without hassle. So, I'm sending them back and ordering another pair of the quilted nylon kind. Super bummed at this flaw in the design, as they are a really attractive slipper.\",\n \"Product: The Elaine Petrone Method: Stop the Clock\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: Don't believe the description. You will be disappointed!\\n\\nReview: This DVD is apparently much like the last one Ms. Petrone put out, so I encourage you to read those reviews since there are not many on this product yet. I bought the Miracle Ball book last year and while I found that the method does seem to give results, I never could bring myself to do it enough to make a difference. I thought, if only there was a DVD where Elaine goes through each of the movements illustrated in the book and repeats them as the books says, then I could do them with her and would use the DVD quite often. Because the description lists all the problems her method can alleviate, you would think this is what the DVD would provide.\\n\\nBut no, Elaine talks about how she developed her method, and uses two people to show how she works with patients I guess. Since I don't live anywhere near her, this is not very useful to me. She spends a lot of time on the breathing, which is great for the first time, but after that is pretty pointless. She goes through several repetitions of 'elbow on the ball', does one 'ball on the neck' and one 'ball under the back' and that's it. That's all you get. There isn't even a book included listing all the other positions, so if you don't own the book already, the DVD is pretty much useless. I suppose it was a little helpful to do the one exercise and see how she focuses on breathing, but the book is pretty good about telling you that as well. All in all, I have another rubber ball for my $19.99 and will probably never watch this DVD again. If I could I would return it as the product is NOT what I expected considering the description, and really is not useful for anyone who actually wants to use this method since it doesn't really show it to you. Basically, it is a rip-off and I'm doubtful I will buy anything else by Elaine Petrone now, whether her method is excellent or not. If you are fastidious and can make yourself do the exercises, I would recommend getting the book and the two little balls, which Amazon carries for under $13.\",\n \"Product: THE IMITATION GAME is a gripping, acclaimed thriller that tells the incredible true story of unsung war hero Alan Turing, the British mathematician responsible for cracking the German Enigma code during World War II. Benedict Cumberbatch (The Fifth Estate, Star Trek Into Darkness, and TVs Sherlock) and Keira Knightley (BAFTA nominee for Atonement, Oscar nominee for Pride and Prejudice) star as Turing and his ally and fellow code-breaker Joan Clarke, alongside a top-notch cast, including Matthew Goode (Stoker, A Single Man), Mark Strong (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy), Rory Kinnear (Skyfall), Charles Dance (Gosford Park, TV's Game of Thrones), Allen Leech (In Fear, TVs Downton Abbey) and Matthew Beard (An Education).\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: An amazing movie about an amazing man, but very sad.\\n\\nReview: I absolutely loved this movie and felt the acting was excellent. The story was so freaking depressing though! I mean, not what you see in the movie, except the very end. SPOILER ALERT - do not read on if you don't want to know some major plot points. I still get so sad to think that this amazing genius, Alan Turing, who could have spent the next 20-30 years developing who knows what other technological breakthroughs, had his life cut short at 40 because he was gay. It just sticks in your gut and makes you wish you weren't a part of such a malicious race of human beings. I mean, this man saved MILLIONS of lives by developing his Turing machine and sparked the advent of the modern computer. The fact that the man responsible for stopping the Nazis (who arbitrarily decided that Jews were evil, not to mention gays, political dissidents and anyone else they wanted to lump in there) was himself the victim of a society who arbitrarily decided that his sexual orientation was a crime and treated him like an animal because of it, it's overwhelming. And I can't get past the fact that no matter what progress we've made in terms of gay rights, or the rights of whatever group is currently being arbitrarily discriminated against at the moment (African-Americans, Hispanics, Women, Atheists, the list goes on and on), none of that will bring this man back, will undo the utter injustice of his chemical castration and the misery he must have felt in the last few years of his life. I weep for that lost life, the lost brilliance that could have changed everything. Who knows where we would be now if he had lived. So, this movie is a fantastic tribute to a man who did not fit into society's neat little boxes of how people should be, and also a stark reminder of how cruel and inhumane those who try to enforce those boxes are.\",\n \"Product: The SILICRYLIC by Incipio is an innovative 2 part carrying case; a high quality Polycarbonate plastic interior embedded in a shock absorbing silicone core. The SILICRYLIC offers optimal protection, unparalleled comfort as well as easy access to all the iPhone's features.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Saves the phone when dropped\\n\\nReview: So, I had one of these in Fuchsia, which I loved, but I accidentally dropped my phone from the charging station and it plummeted to the ground. The hard part of the case broke in the corner it fell on, but the phone was completely undamaged. Yay Incipio! I emailed the company to see if I could purchase the outer hard shell portion separately as a part, since the inside silicone part was still great, and they said they don't sell parts, but they'd send me a new one since it was still under warranty. How awesome is that - I didn't even ask and they offered. Yay Incipio! So, the only downside was that I had to send back the broken case to get the new one. Well, being the murphy's law person that I am, I just *knew* if I carried my phone around for even a few days without a case, I would inevitably break it during that period of time, and since Incipio was so cool to me, I decided to buy another case to use while I waited for my replacement. I got black so I could give it to my hubby after my Fuchsia replacement arrived. This case is great and Incipio is great. Oh, and the kickstand is awesome - if you are debating about whether you need one or not - great for eating and reading books, or if you have young kids and you need them to sit still at the restaurant after they finish eating (but you haven't), set your iPhone out on the table with the kickstand, put on a Disney movie and you can finish your meal in peace =).\",\n \"Product: AnyGlove's (Pat. Pend.) Leather and Fabric formulas can make your gloves touchscreen friendly in just minutes. It's easy. Just apply, dry and touchscreens will respond to your gloves as though being touched by your bare fingers. AnyGlove is the easy to use, cost effective solution that makes almost any gloves touchscreen compatible. AnyGlove does not wash off and is safe for use on all types of gloves, including fleece, fabric and leather. Each 15ml bottle of AnyGlove(TM) can treat up to 5 pairs of gloves. AnyGlove is currently in use by consumers, professional athletes and in industry, military and law enforcement in over 25 countries. AnyGlove has undergone testing and evaluation by some of the largest organizations in the world and been approved for use, including US and foreign defense forces (DLA CAGE CODE: 6YUF8). AnyGlove has been found to be effective on gloves containing Nomex?, Thermax?, Thinsulate?, Kevlar? and Gore-Tex?. For further information please visit our website. AnyGlove? For Leather is specifically formulated to provide functionality to leather, waterproof and insulated gloves.AnyGlove? Original Formula works like magic on fleece, knit, wool and synthetic leather gloves.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Great product, amazing customer service\\n\\nReview: Okay, first off, I have NO relationship to this company. I want to point that out because my review is pretty glowing and I don't want you to think it's fake. Anyone who writes a 1 star review of this product is being incredibly unfair. I emailed AnyGlove customer service before purchasing because I was deciding between the Leather Formula and the Original. Based on their advice, I bought the leather formula (I don't have leather gloves, mostly nylon/waterproof winter gloves). I get the product, and followed their instructions exactly (put on 2 coats, blow dry...one more coat and blow dry. It took about 10 minutes tops with interruptions from my 2 year old). Voila! My first set of gloves worked on my iPhone and iPad perfectly. On to my REI gloves that are nylon and a faux leather on the inside fingers and have a seam around each finger. I did the same application, and sure enough I could get contact but it was intermittent. So, I email AnyGlove again and sent a picture of the gloves and asked if they had any tips. They got back to me SAME DAY with an image of my picture with green outlines added specifying how far to apply the product on each finger I want to be reactive. They also suggested that if my seam got in the way too much (not the products fault, just the glove limitation), I could also put the product on my knuckle - which is a great alternative. Anyhow, I followed their diagram and now that pair of gloves is also reactive! Awesome. My next test is on a pair of magic gloves (cheap knit fabric), but I haven't had a chance to do them yet (and I keep forgetting to bring them in from the car - they are my back up pair). All in all, though, the product works really great when you follow the directions and the customer service of this company is OUTSTANDING and really friendly. They don't make you feel bad for writing in to ask questions - they thank you for reaching out. I'd give them 10 stars if I could.\",\n \"Product: The Slim Armor case for the iPhone 6 provides complete all-around protection while maintaining a slim profile. The dual layered build of flexible TPU and hard polycarbonate come with protective features such as Air Cushioned corners and an interior spider-web pattern.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Doesn't inspire confidence in case of a fall.\\n\\nReview: Just received this case for one of two new iPhone 6s we bought on 9/19 (I also got the Spigen Tough Armour for the other phone, see my review there). From online reviews of the iPhone, I'm very afraid of dropping the phone and it breaking. I don't know how well this will protect the phone. It slips on and off easily...too easily. There is nothing keeping the case from pulling off the phone when it falls. I'm not willing to test it, so this is just my theory. The silicone barely reaches around the phone and so there is very little protection of the front screen, and of course, if the screen hits a corner directly, it will break. Also, the hard shell part only goes around the middle of the phone, not the edges. I had an Incipio case with kickstand for my iPhone 4 that I loved, but Incipio isn't making a kickstand for the iPhone 6 yet, and so I tried this one. The credit card kickstand idea seemed smart and works ok, but not great. I can see the card breaking in time and don't relish doing that with my actual credit cards. I will be looking for another case that gives me more confidence in protection.\",\n \"Product: The Tough Armor case for the iPhone 6 provides impact absorption while staying less bulky than other protective cases. The dual layered build of flexible TPU and hard polycarbonate come with protective features such as Air Cushioned corners and an interior spider-web pattern.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Doesn't inspire confidence in case of a fall.\\n\\nReview: I also wrote a review for the slim case since we bought one of each for our new iPhone 6s. This one fits slightly better than the slim, which just slides on and off the phone with no resistance, but it still doesn't cover enough of the lip with silicone to feel secure. Also, the hard plastic only goes around the middle of the phone, leaving the edges covered in the silicone only, which doesn't feel like enough to protect the phone if dropped. The credit card kickstand is okay right now, but I can already see that the card will break over time, plus it would be nice to have a kickstand actually attached so you don't have to worry about carrying around a second piece with you to use it. Overall, the buttons etc. all line up and work fine, but I bought this for protection and it just doesn't feel safe. I'm going to research and buy another one as soon as more kickstand cases come out.\",\n \"Product: Australian born and bred, Lilliana Anderson has always loved to read and write considering it the best form of escapism that the world has to offer. Besides writing Angelien's biographical trilogy, she also writes contemporary romance and drama all set within Australia. When she isn't writing she is a wife, and a mother to four children. She has worked in a variety of industries and studied humanities before transferring to commerce/law at university. She currently lives a fairly quiet life in suburban Melbourne.\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: Totally unbelievable characters and really bad plot points\\n\\nReview: SPOILER ALERT - Do not read if you don't want to know major plot points and how the story ends. I can't believe this novel has any good reviews. I often wonder with relatively new/unknown authors, if all of her friends are maybe writing positive reviews. There are so many reasons why this novel sucked. Number one: there is no such thing as a STRONG HEROINE who lets her boyfriend get away with putting her through a glass window, beating her up more afterwards, and \\\"possibly\\\" attempting to rape her AFTER he beats up her best friend, and DOESN'T PRESS CHARGES because he agrees to be out of the apartment when she picks up her things??? Are you fricking kidding me? Seriously. And then, when she runs into him later at a bar, she agrees to have a drink with him and his enabling friends, as if he didn't put her in the hospital and leave her scarred (literally) for life? AND THEN, when he beats up her best friend again, does she finally press charges? Does she realize that he will inevitably do this to another girl and part of the blame is on her for letting him go scot free? NO. She tells him to leave her and her friends alone forever. That'll learn him! I don't take abuse against women lightly, and it should never be used as some kind of stupid plot point in a way that indicates that anything but pressing charges and getting a violent criminal off the street is the answer. And best yet, does her best friend finally press charges? Nope. He's just as stupid as she is. STUPID STUPID STUPID.\\n\\nBut beyond that major issue, there are two others with Kristina. She has a great best friend, loving family, goes to \\\"uni\\\" to become a lawyer while working part-time in a law firm AND is training for triathalons. And yet she drinks like a soriority girl - gets drunk every weekend and has sex in public places. Have you ever met someone serious about a sport, their future/career who drinks like that or who exposes themselves to indecency charges? I haven't. It just doesn't jibe. She lives with her parents and has sex on the dance floor of a club in front of a large crowd. PLEASE. Finally, the most unconvincing aspect of this story was the \\\"switch\\\" of love interests. Her best friend, David, who she has known forever, and they both have been good friends through numerous relationships/sexual escapades with others, NEVER feeling anything more than friendship. All of the sudden, he decides he loves her. And then, even more silly, she realizes she's loved him all along, and she only had mind-blowing sex with that guy Elliot...in a club, in a car, over and over again for weeks...well, she only did that because she really loved David all along. Oh, please.\\n\\nHonestly, there is absolutely nothing realistic, reasonable or plausible in this novel. It's offensive in its dismissal of violence against women, but beyond that, it's just completely unbelievable. I would say don't waste your money, but I got this for free on Kindle, so I will say don't waste your time.\"\n]","isConversational":false},"profile_size":{"kind":"number","value":16,"string":"16"},"task":{"kind":"string","value":"longlamp_3"},"split_kind":{"kind":"string","value":"user_based"},"id":{"kind":"number","value":955,"string":"955"}}},{"rowIdx":956,"cells":{"question_id":{"kind":"string","value":"A17DPHLLOTRXCX"},"question":{"kind":"string","value":"Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of \"5.0\" for a product with description \"Husqvarna chain saw protective chaps contain PVC coated Denier polyester with Tek Warp protective layers designed to reduce the risk or severity of an injury and give the operator extra reaction time when contact is made by a moving chain. The cut retardant material is designed to \"pull\" apart and clog up the sprocket system of the chain saw and slow or stop the chain from rotating depending on the speed of the chain, length, angle of contact and power of the saw. Protective chaps should never be considered safer than proper chain saw handling safety procedures. Husqvarna chaps also feature adjustable waist sizes, Acetal Delrin buckles, pockets for gear and are cold water washable. They are UL certified and meet ASTM F1897, ANSI Z133.1 and OSHA regulation 1910-266.\". The summary of the review text is \"They are easy to put on\"."},"answer":{"kind":"string","value":"I can't review the performance of these because I haven't put a running chainsaw into my leg yet, so I'll stick with the aesthetic aspect of these chaps. First, I'm 6'4\" with a 34/35\" inseam and these fit really well length-wise. They come all the way down to my heel in fact and provide coverage over my whole boot. The waist strap and leg straps are adjustable and could fit someone much larger than me; I have a 35/36\" waist and weigh just under 200lbs.\n\nThey are easy to put on, have a lot of adjustment in the waist and legs area, and are comfortable. Are they a bit heavy and bulkier than just regular pants? Of course, but that's the trade-off for what I assume is basically several layers of Kevlar or a similar type material that should bind the chain and engine in case the running saw comes in contact with them.\n\nI tried the Stihl chaps, and while I own that brand of saw I did not like the chaps. These offer much better coverage and just had a better fit for me. I'll deal with the extra bulk for any measure of potential protection against a trip to the E.R. or worse."},"correct_answer":{"kind":"string","value":"I can't review the performance of these because I haven't put a running chainsaw into my leg yet, so I'll stick with the aesthetic aspect of these chaps. First, I'm 6'4\" with a 34/35\" inseam and these fit really well length-wise. They come all the way down to my heel in fact and provide coverage over my whole boot. The waist strap and leg straps are adjustable and could fit someone much larger than me; I have a 35/36\" waist and weigh just under 200lbs.\n\nThey are easy to put on, have a lot of adjustment in the waist and legs area, and are comfortable. Are they a bit heavy and bulkier than just regular pants? Of course, but that's the trade-off for what I assume is basically several layers of Kevlar or a similar type material that should bind the chain and engine in case the running saw comes in contact with them.\n\nI tried the Stihl chaps, and while I own that brand of saw I did not like the chaps. These offer much better coverage and just had a better fit for me. I'll deal with the extra bulk for any measure of potential protection against a trip to the E.R. or worse."},"documents":{"kind":"list like","value":["Product: The Wall Control Narrow Pegboard 8in x 32in Galvanized Metal Pegboard Rack Runner Tool Board Panel is Durable, Versatile, and Attractive. This Narrow Pegboard Panel is constructed from 20 Gauge Steel and is over 10 times stronger than conventional pegboard. The narrow pegboard construction allows for tool storage in confined areas like above workbenches and under cabinets. The Metal Pegboard Rack Runner Tool Board Panel will accept conventional 1/4in standard peg-board hooks as well as Wall Control's patented and secure slotted pegboard hooks and accessories. The Galvanized Metal Pegboard Rack features a durable and attractive metallic galvanized finish. The Pegboard Panel Includes (1) 8in x 32in Galvanized Metal Pegboard Tool Board Panel with Mounting Hardware and Instructions. Made in USA.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Quality product, works as intended\n\nReview: I ordered a few of these panels to create a custom charging station for some wireless Polycom Soundstation units at a plant. I used a drill hanger to set the main Soundstation unit on, and then I was able to mount the base unit and peripherals as well. I drilled the holes near the Polycom mounts a bit larger to allow the cords to come through, and then hid the rest of the cabling behind the panel since there is some clearance behind the panel to allow for hangers to be inserted.\n\nOverall the finish was very nice nice on these pegboards, all the holes are drilled evenly and they sit flat against the wall with no warping. I did paint them black, and didn't sand them first so the paint did not take well. Make sure if you're going to paint this pegboard that you sand it lightly first to give it some texture.\n\nQuality, lightweight alternative to standard pegboard which can eventually start to break apart. I would purchase again to use for projects like mine or to use as a regular pegboard.","Product: The WALLMOUNTH2 2U 19in Hinged Wall Mounting Bracket for Patch Panels is 6in deep and sturdily designed to provide a dependable solution for mounting a patch panel, or other slim 19in networking equipment to a wall. The patch panel wall mount features a hinged design for easy access to configuration buttons, ports and cables.The wall mountingholes are spaced 16 in. apart, making it suitable for mounting on almost any wall, based on common wall-frame stud spacing. Backed by a StarTech.com 2-year warranty.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Mounting holes not on 16\" center\n\nReview: Decent 2U panel, but a couple of issues. First is that the pre-drilled mounting holes are not 16\" as advertised. I tried to mount onto two studs, 16\" apart today and the holes looked like they were at least 17\" apart. I mounted it above another panel that was also spaced for 16\" studs and it was wider than the pre-drilled mounting holes on the existing equipment. I was able to make it work by splitting the difference on each side and driving screws at an angle, but this was not ideal.\n\nAlso as another reviewer noted, this includes cage nuts for mounting your 19\" rack equipment, but the screws that are included are a star nut and they give you a T-handle star wrench to use. Why not just use a standard phillips head for the screws? I've ordered StarTech items in the past and I'm usually happy with them, but this particular product was just a bit off.","Product: Modular connector for Category 5e UTP structured cabling systems. Uses include high megabit applications such as Gigabit Ethernet and 622 Mbps ATM.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Excellent keystone jacks for high speed data\n\nReview: I install between 30-50 of these keystone jacks per month. They are marked for easy identification between T568A or T568B and feature high-quality terminals that hold both solid and stranded wire securely without breaking the wire.\n\nThey snap-in to Leviton's faceplates easily (make sure you have the faceplate turned the correct direction, there is an \"UP\" side and it's marked on the back of the faceplate) and also snap into Panduit faceplates and other manufacturers that make snap-in faceplates.\n\nRemoving them is as simple as pressing down on the small tab on top of the jack, and then pushing down on the back of the jack. Patch cables snap securely into the jack opening.\n\nAll around a quality product, I recommend them for Cat5e data installations.","Product: 37\" HDTV Ready LCD TV with no tuner\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Great picture, full featured, super value\n\nReview: This is my first HD-LCD television, so I did some research before deciding on this unit. The fact that it cost almost half of units by Toshiba/Samsung/Phillips etc really helped in the decision making process :)\n\nLet me start with the specs. This is a 37\" LCD flat panel television capable of a max resolution of 780p and 1080i. If you aren't sure what those are, do a bit more research before reading the rest of this review. The native resolution is 1366x768, and displays movies in the 16x9 format. It has a very nice looking silver cabinet, with speakers mounted across the very bottom of the tv. Basic function buttons are located on the far right side of the black strip between the screen and the speakers. They look nice and don't feel cheap or mushy.\n\nOn the back of the television you will find all major inputs such as HDMI, Component video, S-video, composite video, USB port, and even a VGA/Component port to use this television as a computer display. However, there is no coaxial cable input on this tv. This is not an issue if you are using it with an HD cable box or similar unit, but if you just watch movies on it and want to hook up your regular cable, you must run the coaxial cable to a VCR or DVD/Receiver, then run a composite video cable to the television.\n\nSince this unit does not have a built-in HD tuner, to watch HD cable you must have a HD cable box (provided by your cable company with HD service). This isn't a drawback, but I wanted you to be aware. HD-ready means it's ready for a tuner but that it is not included.\n\nI hooked this television up to a Samsung upconvert DVD player so I could watch my movies in 720p. The picture is fantastic, and sound is adequate from the regular speakers. I have a small home theater system though, and I much prefer the sound from that instead of the television. The \"Big Picture\" technology on this tv lets me watch my full screen movies without black bars on the sides, and it has several aspect ratios to choose from at the touch of a button including normal aspect, 1:1 ratio, panoramic, and Zoom 1 and 2.\n\nThe menu functions on this tv are also very easy to use and done really well. You can fine tune the picture settings, color temp, cropping, and many other aspects of the picture.\n\nIn the box I also got a very easy to read Quick Start sheet, Remote control, and a full users manual on a cd. Olevia prints their 800 number on all their literature and from what I have heard has very good customer service, although I haven't tried it yet.\n\nLike I said, this is my first HD LCD widescreen and I have nothing else to compare it to other than what I've seen in the store. This unit replaced a 32\" Toshiba that I was very happy with, but I don't regret my choice. This tv looks fantastic, performs well, and shows quality you wouldn't expect for the price. Olevia (made by Syntax) seems to be doing something right...offering a high quality product at a fair price, not selling a brand name.\n\nOne note that has nothing to do with the actual television, but you might want to be aware of with widescreen tv's. If you are an avg user like me you probably weren't aware that widescreen dvd's actually come in a few different aspect ratios. What this means is that some movies, such as Pixar's \"Monster's Inc\", will show in full widescreen mode because the aspect ratio is 1.85:1 which is made for viewing on 16x9 widescreen tv's. However, other widescreen dvd's, such as Pixar's \"Cars\", are shown in 2.39:1 which is sometimes called the \"theatrical presentation\" of widescreen. Please be aware that when viewing movies like this you will still have black bars on the bottom and top of your picture.\n\nI was highly annoyed when I discovered this as I bought the widescreen specifically to eliminate this, but in certain widescreen formats you will still have them. You can eliminate them on this particular tv by zooming in the picture, but you lose quality and some of the screen, which isn't acceptable to me. Again, it's not the tv but just a choice made by someone when they create the DVD. Maybe newer tv's will eventually be able show both aspects without black bars, but for now they are here to stay, in some widescreen movies at least.","Product: This Wifi b/g wireless IP camera has its own built in web server. You can view the video from your own home network or you can configure your router to view and control the camera from computers or cellphones on the internet, without dependence on any third party web sites or subscriptions. With the built-in microphone you can listen in. Excellent MPEG4 or MJPEG video quality at a full 640 x 480 resolution with up to 30 frames per second for fluid, natural motion color. For viewing or recording a single camera no software is required besides just your browser. For viewing or recording multiple Sharx IP cameras the included MultiView software for PCs supports up to 4 Sharx IP cameras simultaneously. Truly amazing to see the streaming video on your web enabled cell phone. For frequent use we recommend to upgrade your cellphone service to unlimited data, which costs just $15/mo extra on the ATT network. You can see motion even on non-3G phones like SonyEricsson w580i. If your phone does not support video you can see automatically refreshing JPEG images. At home, you can use this camera with your laptop or iPhone as a baby or pet monitor, and the very high light sensitivity in \"moonlight mode\" allows you to view out from a window to see what's happening in the street as long as there is some background light available. For night vision in absolute, total darkness with no visible light, upgrade to SCNC2607 which adds infrared night vision and a higher quality, wide angle lens. Wireless operation supports WEP, WPA, WPA2 encryption. On routers with UPnP feature the camera can set itself up automatically, and on routers without UPnP (such as Apple's Airport series) the camera can be set up with our step by step instructions.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Excellent product, excellent support...you want the best you found it\n\nReview: UPDATE at end of original review:\n\nI have been looking for a nice wireless camera to monitor a room in our house, and I stumbled on this camera by accident. Man am I glad I did; after reading a few of the Amazon reviews I placed my order, and received it quickly. Setup wasn't cake, but I wouldn't say it was difficult either. Because I was not familiar with the product or process it took me a while to go through all the settings, but that's because this camera is so feature-rich.\n\nOthers have detailed the features and highlights of this camera, so I won't go into that detail. I will say that the camera does what it should perfectly. I love the fact that I can log into a website and see my camera feed in real-time; after setting it up, we left for the weekend to visit the parents. I logged into the website to show them how it works and they were very impressed.\n\nI already have plans to add a couple of the SCNC2607 cameras for the infrared capabilities, and a couple more of the SCNC2606. I do wish there was a pan/tilt/zoom feature; I know one of their models used to offer this, but can't seem to find it for sale. Anyway, great camera with a great picture and super features...what else do you need?\n\nUPDATE 1/16/13: Still working perfectly. Recently I swapped out my router and lost my settings, and I forgot how to set the camera back up. A quick email to Sharx, and they replied same day and even followed up with a phone call to see if I had resolved the issue. Their customer service is absolutely top notch, and that's the reason I'll continue to buy their products, even at the relatively much higher price than other cameras on the market. Well built products and great customer service, that's a win-win.","Product: High performance HDMI Switcher Easily switches three sources to one display. Key-press-switching function and intelligent function. With one fixed HDMI cable (pigtail) this converter not only reduces cost but also save time for consumers.HDMI Switcher routes high definition video (in multiple resolutions up to 1080p) and digital audio from any one of the three sources to display units. All inputs accommodate the connections of the high definition video sources simultaneously, compatible well for HD-DVD,SKY-STB, PS3, Xbox 360.Output sends high definition audio/video signals to a high definition display.Features:Support High Speed HDMI specification (Version 1.3b);Support highest video resolution 1080p;Support 250MHz/2.5Gbps per channel (7.5Gbps all channel) bandwidth; Support 12bit per channel (36bit all channel) deep color;HDCP pass-through; Support uncompressed audio such as LPCM;Support compressed audio such as DTS Digital, Dolby Digital including DTS-HD and Dolby True HD. NOTE: Even though HDMI cables support Hot Plug Detection, improper usage might result in resetting / restarting both devices, or even may cause damage to the devices. Therefore, we do not suggest Hot Plug action for any HDMI cables. Please make sure both input and output devices are off when plugging or unplugging HDMI cables.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Easy solution, works perfect where other switches failed\n\nReview: Here is my setup:\n\n-HDTV with only (1) HDMI input\n-Cable set top box with HDMI output\n-DVD player with HDMI output\n-Roku HD player with HDMI output\n\nYou can see the problem. 3 devices with HDMI outputs, a tv with only one input. I tried another active switch I bought here on Amazon that had a remote, but it would not switch between devices, even manually. After returning it and reading reviews of various switches, I was discouraged that I would be able to find an inexpensive solution.\n\nThe other day I stumbled onto this HDMI pigtail switch and after reading a few reviews figured I'd give it a try. For the price it couldn't hurt, so I ordered and received it the other day. I plugged the HDMI male cable into my tv, and then plugged the cable box into port 1, the Roku into port 2, and my dvd player into port 3.\n\nLo and behold, when I activate the Roku or dvd player the signal automatically switches to the correct port and the signal is displayed on the screen. We watched a dvd last night and the quality was excellent, and we watched HDTV as well and I can't tell that the picture quality is any different than when it was directly connected to the set top box.\n\nFifteen dollars for a product that does what it's supposed to and eliminates me having to constantly move my HDMI cable from one device to the next is worth every penny. It has a manual switch feature as well, but the auto switch is working perfectly for me. Just remember if you've been doing what I had to do, you'll need this device plus (3) HDMI cables so you can hook everything up (if you have 3 HDMI devices). Hope it works as well for you as it did for me.","Product: The EVGA GTX 480 is back! This Powerhouse performer takes the next generation NVIDIA GeForce GPU, and cranks it up another notch by offering even higher performance! Experience heart-pounding cinematic visuals with the EVGA GTX 480 thanks to the combined power of DirectX 11, NVIDIA PhysX, and NVIDIA 3D Vision Surround technologies. The EVGA GTX 480 contains double the CUDA cores of previous generation GPUs, a high speed GDDR5 memory interface with 1536 MB onboard and full DirectX 11 support providing for unrivalled performance and breathtaking image quality. Compatible in 2-way, 3-way, and 4-way SLI configurations, the EVGA GTX 480 provides brilliant and immersive experiences in games and unsurpassed computational power.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Excellent value for the money, huge upgrade\n\nReview: I installed this card in an Alienware Aurora R3. My computer came with a 256mb graphics card, so this is a huge upgrade. I'm sure I'm not even using this graphics card to its potential, but here's what it's done for me so far. I used to game quite a bit, but not so much anymore. I do however log onto WoW every now and then. Previously I was getting 60fps at best, with some settings turned down. Since installing the card, I am consistently getting over 200fps, and around 150-180fps when the action gets busy. Better still is I'm getting that frame rate with everything turned to the highest graphics settings.\n\nThe only downside so far is, as others mentioned is the noise. The card isn't super loud for me, but there is a consistent higher pitched \"whine\" for the lack of a better word that can be a bit annoying.\n\nI'm not a computer guru at all and the installation was very simple. Remove the side of the Alienware case, remove my old graphics card, and plug this one into its place. The power requirements for this card are greater, and it requires both an 8-pin and 6-pin lead from the power supply, which was simply plug-n-play. I turned the computer back on, installed the drivers from the cd, and then upgraded them online. Total time took about 15 minutes.\n\nAbsolutely excellent upgrade for the money. This card ranks about #6 in the highest-performing graphics cards on the market and was over $600 at one time. At the current price it's a great value and a nice upgrade you'll be happy with.","Product: The NETSCOUT LinkRunner AT Network Auto-Tester is the fastest way to solve network connectivity problems. This rugged, handheld network tester takes the guesswork out of troubleshooting with its complete one-button AutoTest. The AutoTest performs your required set of connectivity tests in 10 seconds, enabling you to accurately and quickly identify and solve network problems.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: it gets worse. Fluke includes the software for downloading and converting ...\n\nReview: The technical aspects of the Fluke Linkrunner have been covered already by other reviews so I won't rehash them here. It's a handy tool for what it's made for, but here's my gripe; this tool saves files in a 2kb file size, yet it will only hold (in my experience) approximately 49 files/results. That's it, 49. That's 98kb, so we'll round up to 100kb total. That equals .1MB of storage, which is beyond pitiful.\n\nWhen you go to save the results, it gets worse. Fluke includes the software for downloading and converting the saved files to a few different formats (PDF, Exel, Word) but you cannot batch download all the results to save for later. You have to download each file separately and/or convert them one at a time. Similarly you must delete each file from the device one at a time using a series of button presses. It's inconvenient, but not really time-consuming since there are only 50 files or less at any given time to delete.\n\nFinally saving results in the tool itself consists of manually deleting the default file name of \"Report\" and then renaming the file each time. It takes quite a few button presses thanks to the clunky interface.\n\nAnyway, it's a handy tool for the occasional test, but if you are saving/downloading/deleting large quantities of test results it's a bit of a hassle.","Product: The UniFi video camera is designed for use indoors or outdoors under an overhang. The camera has infrared LEDs with automatic IR cut filter. Accessible from a web browser, the UniFi video interface was designed to be easy to use yet packed with advanced features. The UniFi video interface is incredibly intuitive and loaded with powerful features such as detailed statistical Reporting, multiple views, versatile camera settings, advanced analytics, and customizable event recordings.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Fantastic little camera, full featured and easy setup\n\nReview: Fantastic little camera. I have recently installed several Ubiquiti products (two Nanostations, a Picostation, Toughswitch, etc) and when we needed a camera, I went back to Ubiquiti. Once it arrived I opened the box, plugged it into my network, opened the free software I installed from Ubiquiti (Unifi Video) and it detected the camera. I clicked on \"manage\" and I was able to view the live feed instantly and start setting it up. The last POE camera I used was a Sharx Security camera and you had to have a degree in networking to get it configured.\n\nUsually Ubiquiti products aren't for the home consumer as their products can be difficult to configure for the non-technical types, but this camera was a pleasant surprise. In just minutes I was setting up the recording configuration and enjoying the high def feed on my laptop. If you create an account on Ubiquiti's website, you can link it to your camera software and specify where the footage you record and save is stored, how much to store before overwrite, create zones for capturing footage at doorways, etc. The software is very slick, very user-friendly and again...it's free! You can search footage by date, time, even specific cameras (if you have more than one) along with some other filters that make sorting through recorded footage much easier.\n\nThe camera itself is a 1080p camera, but you can record and save in 3 different resolutions. It comes on a robust ball-swivel mount that lets you mount the camera at almost any angle, and it has a slot to allow the ethernet cable to come out without being crimped or you can pass a cable through the wall and straight into the back of this camera so the cable stays completely hidden and protected.\n\nIn addition to the great picture quality, it has IR lights for night time viewing and the picture is still very good. In my testing they cut in and out very well for the current lighting conditions.\n\nKeep in mind this is a 24v POE camera, so you need to use the included POE power supply or a product such as the Ubiquiti ToughSwitch to power this thing. All in all it's a fantastic little camera in a very nice package, I will definitely be purchasing more of these.","Product: The DigiView 4-Port (4X1) 1.3 HDMI CERTIFIED switch is the ideal solution for multiple HD devices to share a single HDMI display. This new v1.3 switch offers the enhancement of support for high bandwidth HDMI 1.3 signals. It is fully compatible with all prior versions of HDMI and will support all the new features including DEEP COLOR (high color bit depth) and enhanced multi-channel digital audio formats (Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD Master Audio). The HDMI Switcher allows access to multiple HDMI devices, such as DVD players and Satellite set-top boxes to one HDMI display.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Good build quality, will not remotely switch for me...read on\n\nReview: I have a very simple set-up at the house. I have (1) LCD tv with (1) HDMI input on the back. I also have a dvd player and a cable box, both with HDMI outputs. Setting up this device is super easy. Simply run one HDMI cable from the output on the back of the switch to the tv, and then run an HDMI cable from both the dvd player and the cable box into the inputs on the back of the switch.\n\nI had the cable box set on port 1, and the dvd player on port 2 since we use it less. I powered the switch on and the cable picture came onto the tv screen and looks fine. Here's where I came to the first issue. When I used the switch remote and pressed \"2\" to switch to the dvd player, it powered down my television. So I cannot use the remote, I have to manually press \"2\" on the switch itself. It does switch to port 2 (the red LED on the switch lights up), and the dvd screensaver comes onto the tv temporarily. But when I put a dvd into the player, the signal turns on and off alternately. I saw the dvd menu, then the tv went to an all blue screen (my tv's default screen when there is no input), then a solid pink screen, then back to dvd screensaver. Even with the switch manually set on \"2\" and a dvd playing, it will not display on the tv.\n\nUsing the remote to switch back to the cable box again powered my tv down. I can manually switch it over, and again the cable works fine. But so does a direct connection. For whatever reason, this device will not switch between my cable box and my dvd player, and when I manually switch it the dvd will not display on the tv screen.\n\nIf it will work for you it seems to be decently built piece of equipment. As for me I will be returning this to Amazon and searching for another solution.","Product: Rothco Men's The 3-Hole Face Mask. The 3-Hole Face Mask in Black This 100% acrylic ribbed knit face mask with eye and mouth slits is great for both a walk to work and a snowboarding trip. Match it with a winter jacket to stay completely warm. Pullover Ribbed Knit Face Mask One Eye Slit 100% Acrylic By Rothco Size & Fit: One Size Fits All.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Really good fit, soft material, color is spot-on\n\nReview: Nobody has reviewed this item so I figured I'd share. The fabric is acrylic, but is soft and feels just fine against the skin. The color is foliage green and looks just like the picture. The fit of the head area is very good, everything lines up where it should, and the neck piece is long enough that it covers your throat well.\n\nOnly negative I can see right now is the eye openings are fairly narrow and need to sit just right on your face for a perfectly clear view. I'm going to stretch the openings out just a bit to make sure I don't have any issues with obstructed view.\n\nOverall a very good cool-weather tactical use or hunting mask, especially for the price.","Product: The XTAK Knee Pads are extremely light and flexible, yet they provide superior protection and shock absorption with the flexibility to move the way your body moves. XTAK is the lightest, strongest product of its kind ever created.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Nice quality, but straps are narrow\n\nReview: Bought these for future use in some 3-Gun events. Let me start by saying the actual quality of these elbow pads is very good. They are lined with a Coolmax lining and a non-slip rubber pad to grip your clothing or skin better so they stay put. My big issue with these are that the neoprene straps that velcro together to hold them on your arm are very narrow, so if you tighten them enough to stay put they tend to dig into your arms a bit.\n\nEven after only a few minutes of wearing them, I felt like they were restricting blood flow. I used to have an old pair of Protec elbow pads with two straps that were much wider (probably 4 times as wide) that I used to wear creeking. I don't ever remember them feeling uncomfortable or restricting blood flow and I'd have them on for hours at a time.\n\nMy other issue is that the outer plastic shell comes to a pretty sharp point, so when I lay down and prop up on my elbows it's not very stable. Obviously I could see they had a point to them in the pictures, but I didn't realize how much it would affect stability. A nice, round surface would be better suited I think. I have this same issue with the Hatch XTAK Knee pads).\n\nI'm only knocking stars off for the straps however, as the pointed outer shell is only a downside because of the application I was using them in, and that's not necessarily their intended use.","Product: The XTAK Knee Pads are extremely light and flexible, yet they provide superior protection and shock absorption with the flexibility to move the way your body moves. XTAK is the lightest, strongest product of its kind ever created.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Nice quality, but straps are narrow\n\nReview: Bought these for future use in some 3-Gun events. Let me start by saying the actual quality of these elbow pads is very good. They are lined with a Coolmax lining and a non-slip rubber pad to grip your clothing or skin better so they stay put. My big issue with these are that the neoprene straps that velcro together to hold them on your arm are very narrow, so if you tighten them enough to stay put they tend to dig into your arms a bit.\n\nEven after only a few minutes of wearing them, I felt like they were restricting blood flow. I used to have an old pair of Protec elbow pads with two straps that were much wider (probably 4 times as wide) that I used to wear creeking. I don't ever remember them feeling uncomfortable or restricting blood flow and I'd have them on for hours at a time.\n\nMy other issue is that the outer plastic shell comes to a pretty sharp point, so when I lay down and prop up on my elbows it's not very stable. Obviously I could see they had a point to them in the pictures, but I didn't realize how much it would affect stability. A nice, round surface would be better suited I think. I have this same issue with the Hatch XTAK Knee pads).\n\nI'm only knocking stars off for the straps however, as the pointed outer shell is only a downside because of the application I was using them in, and that's not necessarily their intended use.","Product: GG&G, Inc. Bipod, with swivel, fits Picatinny, black gg&g-1125. This product is made of highly quality materials and manufactured in the United States.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: lightweight, quiet, & functional bipod\n\nReview: The GG&G rail mount bipod is an excellent choice for most anyone looking for a quality, lightweight alternative to Harris or similar style bipods. The legs of this bipod are deployed by squeezing a lever on the leg while rotating the bipod leg rearward. The action is smooth and quiet & the legs lock into place positively and securely.\n\nThere are no preset positions for extending the legs, which is accomplished by turning a small thumbscrew to allow the leg to slide in or out. Once you find the best position for your needs, just tighten the thumbscrew back up to secure the leg in place. This gives you more adaptability compared to a leg with preset locking positions.\n\nThe bipod also features adjustable cant, which is also controlled by a thumbscrew. I should note that the thumbscrews are aluminum, not plastic and should prove to be very durable. You can leave the screw loose to allow the rifle to cant side to side freely, or tighten the screw to firm it up.\n\nThe feet of the bipod are small squares with pointed teeth on the bottom to help bite into the surface of whatever the bipod is resting on. The feet are plastic, so I am not sure about long term durability but they are replaceable by removing a small screw that secures them to the bipod legs. If they are made of a nylon material they will be very durable, so this is one area I need to make an inquiry to GG&G about for clarification.\n\nThe only other small drawback is that the rail mount takes up some space, but on the plus side it makes for a very stable overall platform. An excellent bipod and I would purchase another. Big bonus, this product is manufactured here in the States by an American company. 5 stars.","Product: JP Enterprises Red Dot Sights - JPoint 4 MOA Dot Sight\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Excellent, low-mass sight for pistols or other platforms\n\nReview: I purchased this for the S&W M&P .40 CORE. The CORE comes with an adapter plate (#2) that fits the JPoint perfectly. This is an excellent optic with some trade-offs.\n\nFirst, the unit is not built like an EOTech; the housing is polymer and the lens is acrylic. While this might seem a disadvantage, it makes the Jpoint incredibly lightweight. It of course does weigh something, but in real-world terms it weighs practically nothing. This has a couple advantages: it doesn't change the way your pistol balances/handles, and since there is no mass on top of your slide, there is minimal inertia from the recoil.\n\nJpoint states that they went with the acrylic lens for similar reasons; low weight and durability. I read several reviews of CMore sight users that experienced cracked glass, which will not happen with the JPoint. The trade-off is a slightly less clear optical lens, but the dot is all you need to see anyway. Basically red dots/holographic sights allow you to keep both eyes on your target, with the dot super-imposed on your target. So that makes the acrylic lens less of an issue.\n\nYou cannot turn the Jpoint off without unmounting it and removing the battery. It does come with a protective cover however that keeps the dot on the lowest power setting to conserve battery life. The upside is the sight is always on and available, provided of course the battery is good.\n\nTo compensate for the lack of power on/off and adjustable brightness, the Jpoint adjusts automatically to light changes and it does so very well. Standing near a light switch in a completely dark room, I can switch the light on and watch the red dot get much brighter instantly, while a flip of the switch back to dark makes the dot shrink and dim to its lowest setting. It works instantly and perfectly.\n\nOverall I'm very happy with the Jpoint, with the only unknown for me being its long-term durability.","Product: The Pulsar 940 IR Flashlight operates in the remote field of IR range (940nm), invisible by the unaided eye.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Washes out my NV, not happy with performance\n\nReview: I purchased this IR light for a Gen II+ NV scope that already has very good light gathering ability. While the unit seems to be well built, I had a few concerns and issues I'll address. First, it's very lightweight which is a good feature for keeping the overall heft of a rifle down, but it's so light that I question the long-term durability of the unit. Once I mounted this to my rifle, I honestly could not tell much of a difference at all in the view through my NV scope. My honest opinion is that I could actually see better without it, due to it washing out my scope with IR light.\n\nMy guess is (again, this is my opinion) that while it might help an inexpensive Gen1 NV scope see better, a higher end NV unit will not benefit from this particular IR light as the beam does not adjust focus well. While you can theoretically adjust the beam on this unit, I found no setting that was beneficial to my setup at all, which is why I returned the unit.\n\nFor a higher quality IR light I purchased the TNVC ELR Torch PRO unit; it's made in Germany from aluminum and high quality glass, and it has made a huge improvement using the same setup that I tried the Pulsar with.","Product: A form fitting glove with maximum hand and finger dexterity.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Finally, great gloves for big-guy hands\n\nReview: I think I've tried 10 different pairs of \"tactical\" gloves, from Blackhawk to Mechanix and everything in between. I have large hands, and while some of the other gloves (most came in XL as the largest size) fit ok, when I made a fist the gloves would be overly tight in the ends of the fingers and I couldn't really close the wrist loops securely.\n\nAfter seeing these on Amazon I ordered them in the XXL size and I couldn't be happier. They fit, literally, like a glove. I have no excess material that hinders firearm control manipulation but they aren't so tight that I can't make a fist either. I can fully close the wrist straps, and the sewn in loops that helps you pull the gloves on are perfect.\n\nMy only negative about these gloves is they are called \"Heat Grip\" gloves, which would imply they are for protecting against higher temps. Of course they are not Nomex, and while they certainly offer better heat protection than bare skin I wouldn't recommend them for holding onto the forearm of a rifle that just had several hundred rounds put through it.\n\nI am happy with the quality and overall fit and appearance however, and they definitely have a permanent place in my gear stash.","Product: The MBUS (Magpul Back-Up Sight) is a low-cost, color injection molded, folding back-up sight. The MBUS Front Sight is adjustable for elevation and fits most 1913 Picatinny-railed hand guards. Made in U.S.A. Impact resistant polymer construction provides light weight and resists operational abuse. Spring-loaded flip up sight easily activated from either side or by pressing the top. Detent and spring pressure keeps sight erect but allows for unobstructed folding under impact, etc. Clamps to most any MIL-STD-1913 Picatinny/STANAG 4694 railed hand guards and provides the same height-over-bore as standard A2 irons. Protective wings shield the spring-locking A2 front sight post. Elevation adjustment tool included, but most aftermarket A2 front sight adjustment tools may be used as well. NOTE: Cannot be mounted to a railed gas block due to excess heat issues. Front MBUS must be mounted to a railed fore end on the same plane as the receiver rail. Because of this the sight is also not compatible with MOE Hand Guards.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Nice rear sight, one small issue\n\nReview: I bought the Magpul MBUS rear sight because my Doublestar Star15 did not ship with a rear sight, only an A2 front sight. When the Magpul arrived I installed it on the flattop rail just in front of the charging handle. When I deploy the Magpul sights, they line up perfectly with the factory front sight.\n\nMy only real complaint so far is that the Magpul sight features a little thumb tab on either side that when depressed allows the spring-loaded sight to go from folded flat to deployed instantly. However, I'm not sure if it's just the one I received or if it's common in all the Magpul MBUS sights, but pressing only one of the tabs will not deploy the sight. I either have to press both of them at the same time, or press down on the very top of the sight which will also allow it to deploy.\n\nI'm hoping that with a little use and wear that it will deploy by pressing only one tab on either side, but time will tell. Overall I'm very happy with this sight.","Product: Volquartsen Ultimate Clip Loader for MKII and MKIII Pistol, Yellow, VC2CLU\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Super product, I ordered clear but received yellow...don't hesitate\n\nReview: In case you're really picky, I did order the clear Lexan version and received a yellow model, so it's no guarantee of your color choice. It's ugly, but it works so well who cares? Here's the review:\n\nI just acquired a Ruger 22/45, and the magazines are really hard to load. To make it worse, the edges at the top of the mag are very sharp, and trying to load the in the traditional manner almost cut my thumb open. I managed the first day out with a pair of gloves, and when I got home the McFadden .22 loader was on my doorstep.\n\nThe instructions are very easy to follow.\n\nStep 1) Slide the loader lid open\nStep 2) Dump a bunch of .22 rounds loosely into the top\nStep 3) Slide the loader lid closed, and gently shake the loader back and forth\n\nIt's at this point the loose .22 rounds start dropping into a slot, perfectly aligned\n\nStep 4) Tilt the loader up (reservoir end up, mag insertion end down) and insert a Ruger mag fully into the bottom\n\nThe .22 rounds will either completely fill the magazine instantly, or you might have to gently slide the magazine back out just a bit and then back in, as 3-4 rounds fall in each time. Either way it's super easy. Stupid easy actually.\n\nThis is hands down the best accessory you could get for a day at the range. McFadden needs to make one of these for every .22 magazine model on the market, I'd buy one for anything else I own.","Product: Hand made from imported Australian beech wood. This furniture grade Rifle Display case cabinet is of beautiful design and construction, very detailed and attractive, but also very affordable. This display case is perfect for displaying that special rifle. Case comes standard with 1 set of heavy duty padded rifle hooks, These hooks are very sturdy and are non-marking. You can display the rifle either direction. These specially made hooks allow for easy access to the rifle. You can freely remove and remount the gun. 98% UV Door keeps your gun safe from the sunlight and dust build up. Heavy duty lockable latches keep your case safe from opening. (Please note locks are not meant as a safety deterrent please use further precaution) Case comes fully assembled with all mounting hardware included. Please make sure your gun fits inside this specific case. Dimensions inside are: 44.5 x 10 x 3.5 If your gun is longer please see other items as we have longer models available. (gun shown not included)\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Great value for the money...nice case, terrible hooks but easy to fix\n\nReview: <div id=\"video-block-R263K7ZT7PE52T\" class=\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\"></div><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/B140xeyYqlS.mp4\" class=\"video-url\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/A1SOQiPmn0S.png\" class=\"video-slate-img-url\"> I purchased this rifle case specifically to hold a Henry Golden Boy rifle. I looked at doing a custom deal from a store like Hobby Lobby, but I couldn't touch a case for this price so I went with this one from Amazon. Here's my thoughts on the case itself:\n\nThe wood isn't hardwood but it's of decent quality and the stain was nice and even throughout, and was true to the color I ordered. The \"glass\" is of course plexiglass, but is clear enough and perfectly suitable for a case in this price range; plus it keeps this case from being too heavy.\n\nThe felt was excellent; it's not super thick but it was very smooth, consistent in color and finished excellent inside the case. There were no loose edges or anything of that nature and it seems to be completely glued into the case, not just in a few spots.\n\nThe brass latches are a nice touch and keep the lid closed, but the locks are beyond worthless. I left it unlocked and threw the paper-thin keys in the garbage.\n\nAdditionally this case comes with hooks to hold your rifle. Here's where I took a star off. The hooks that are included are terrible for sure. They are sturdy, nice and padded, but terribly ugly and mounting requires screwing them through the front of the case, where the screws would protrude through the back. That means using a screw short enough to go through the particle board wood backing, but not so long that they go into your sheet rock. In my opinion they shouldn't be included with this case.\n\nInstead I purchased wooden curtain rod holders from Lowe's and installed them, lined them with felt, and added a small dowel rod post in the area behind the rifle receiver to keep the rifle from tilting back in the case (not shown in the video, I added it after to keep rifle perfectly level). It worked perfect and looks pretty good, and overall cost less than $15 total materials.\n\nHere's how I installed the hooks and dowel rod. Once I laid out where the wooden hooks would go, I lightly placed a tape outline around the base of the hooks so I could pick them up and still see where they were sitting. Then I took an Exacto knife and cut a very small square of felt out of the box where the hooks would sit so the screws would not cause a run in the felt. I made these cut-outs smaller than the outline of the hook itself, so the hook would cover the cut-out and it would not be visible.\n\nThen I pre-drilled two holes through my small square cut-out, and put two screws through the back of the box into the hooks. I lined the hooks with felt, installed the dowel rod the same way (stained to match the hooks I bought, even though you don't see it with the rifle in the case), and it was ready to go.\n\nOnce I was finished, I decided to get 4 large felt sticky squares (also from Lowe's) to put on the back of the box on the four corners. This allows the box to rest against the wall on those felt squares, and keeps the heads of the screws on the back of the box from contacting the wall and making it hang funny.\n\nThe box installed perfectly with the rifle inside. This was a gift and it turned out beautifully. Definitely worth your time, effort, and a little bit of money to make a very good rifle display case a little bit better.","Product: Rollers are rollers. At least, they are until they become catapults and throw you into the wall or the rider warming up in front of you because you punched out of them with an acceleration. Tacx' Galaxia Training Rollers solve that issue with a swing system that absorbs those accelerations, keeping your tires on the rollers and you on the bike. It also features the same conical rollers as the less expensive Antares model, and that shape further reduces the risk of unplanned rider/basement wall interfaces by coaching your tires into the center and away from the rollers' edges.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Smooth, lightweight, compact trainer - not easy to switch different size bikes\n\nReview: <div id=\"video-block-R3GQAAKICOBTT5\" class=\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\"></div><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/F1jbAs9q9aS.mp4\" class=\"video-url\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/01gsNrxQtUS.png\" class=\"video-slate-img-url\"> Getting older means not wanting to ride outside during temperature extremes, so my wife and I purchased the Tacx Galaxia rollers this week. She wanted a trainer, I liked the smoothness of rollers and how they encourage good bike handling, although they do lack the resistance of a good trainer. Having owned an older set of aluminum rollers, I was anxious to see how I would like these new Tacx Galaxia rollers with the rocking action that allows for harder efforts.\n\nFirst, assembly was very easy. The Galaxia arrives in a compact box, and includes the following parts:\n\n-3 roller drums\n-2 side rails\n-1 rubber drive band\n-6 bolts/washers and 2 hex wrenches\n\nThat's it. Simply stand the side rails up, insert the roller drums, and fasten them to the side rail frames with the included hardware. Don't forget to put the rubber band around the middle and front rollers before attaching both side rails however. Tighten the hardware using the 2 hex wrenches. You will probably have to hold the bolt on one side of the roller with a hex wrench while you turn the bolt on the other side, since the axles inside the drum rotate freely from the drum itself.\n\nNow you've assembled the rollers and you need to fit them to your bike size. Here's one of my disappointments with the Galaxia rollers. While changing the length of the rollers for different bike frame sizes is straightforward, it's not as easy or as quick as I'd like. Here's the procedure:\n\n-Measure your bike frame from the center of the front fork dropout to the center of the rear dropout.\n-Convert the inches to millimeters.\n-Using the chart in the rear of the instruction manual, find which of the 7 positions in the cassette (the cassette controls the length of the roller frame) will fit your bike.\n-Flip the Galaxia frame upside down.\n-Now remove the cassette from the frame and move the spring-loaded pin to that position, then replace cassette.\n-Flip open the two gray levers found inside the frame\n-Slide the frame apart until the spring-loaded pins pop into their secured positions for riding.\n-Close the two gray levers\n\nI find it very helpful to use a flat-blade screwdriver to aid in initial cassette removal, and to press the spring-loaded pin down as it passes and clicks into each position as you re-insert the cassette. This will make a lot more sense with the frame in front of you, and by watching a short setup video I put on Youtube: [...] (if link doesn't work, search for \"Galaxia roller assembly and setup).\n\nNow your bike should fit on the rollers and your front axle (or dropout) should align pretty much perfectly center with the axle of the front roller drum. You don't want to be forward of center here. So once it's setup for one bike, you must do the above steps again to switch bikes if they are of different wheelbase length.\n\nWhen I first saw the sliding frame of the Galaxia, I incorrectly assumed I could flip the two levers, slide the frame shorter or longer depending on my needs, and that was it. But the procedure is a bit more complicated than that. The sliding frame allows you to both change the cassette position and collapse the frame fully for storage.\n\nThat brings us back to another strong point of these rollers. They are lightweight, collapse into a very small package and would be very easy to transport. They also slide under a standard bed or store upright in a closet pretty easily.\n\nAdditionally they are not particularly noisy. We ride them at night in the room next to where our child sleeps, and from their room it sounds like a distant hum, much like a clothes dryer or something similar.\n\nOverall I am happy with these rollers. They seem to be of good quality, they were easy to assemble, and the rocking motion is not hard to get used to and will keep you on the rollers when standing or sprinting with hard effort. Just keep in mind if you have two bikes or more of different sizes and you all want to use these frequently, this might not be the setup for you.","Product: The Condor Rip-Away EMT pouch carries all your 1st aid gear. The pouch is designed to be rip-away from the modular platform when needed, and the strap on the platform keeps it from falling off accidentally.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Nice size, removes quickly, attaches securely\n\nReview: I ordered this to attach to my backpack via molle webbing, and one of the features I liked was the rip-away design. Basically you get a large velcro backplate with two straps and snaps that thread through the molle webbing, then you attach the main pouch to the backplate via velcro, and there is an additional strap with buckle just to make it secure.\n\nThe concept is you simply unbuckle one quick buckle and rip it off the backplate to get quick access to the EMT pouch.\n\nInside the pouch are several useful pocket sleeves, a zippered compartment for misc items, and a few bungee loops to hold various items. It holds a fair amount of things, and overall it seems to be of good quality.\n\nMy only other small complaint (minor as it is) is that while they put a fuzzy velcro strip across the front to allow for a Medical cross patch, they made it an off-size width. So a 2\" square med patch overhangs the velcro top and bottom. A 1\" square medical patch would fit better, so if you want to include that for easy identification since this pouch did not come with that designation, look for a smaller medical patch.","Product: The Montalban 3 is a complete all-in-one child carrier with all accessories included. Hook it up directly to a bike for towing anywhere you are headed or transform it easily into a performance jogger - kit included. It's unique alloy mono-frame design not only simplifies assembly but ensures maximum durability and safety. The trailer also features a patented 2-step folding mechanism that requires no tools at all. Wheels feature push button release for quick and easy removal and allow the trailer to stow virtually flat in the trunk of a car. Comfortably fits either 1 or 2 children or dogs!\nSpecifications\nPassenger Capacity: 1 or 2\nWeight Capacity: 100lb/45.4kg\nWeight: 35lb/15.8kg\nCabin Height: 28in\nCabin Width: 21in\nSeat Width: 22in\nCargo Space: 3250 cubic in\nWheel Size: 20in rear wheel with 16in jogger wheel\nOverall Size Assembled: 39in x 33in x 39in (without towbar)\nOverall Size Folded: 35in x 25in x 9in\nFrame: Alloy with all weather finish\nFabric: Coated Cordura\nHitch: Quick release connector universal to most bikes\n\nIncludes complete jogger\nconversion kit\nAccomodates 1 or 2 children\nLightweight alloy frame\nPatented 2-step folding and assembly meechanism requiring no tools for assembly Universal bike hitch connector with quick release\nPush button release wheels\nFolds flat for seasonal storage or travel ease\nLarge rear cargo storage area with valuables pocket\n5 point child harness with padded shoulder straps\nMesh padded vented seat with separate storage pockets\nAll weather cover with both mesh and vinyl window depending on the weather conditions\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Great bike trailer, fair for running/walking...could use a few improvements\n\nReview: UPDATE 9.9.12:\nWe've been using this trailer behind our bikes regularly now to pull our growing 16 month old. I still feel it's an overall excellent trailer and value, but I would still love a few changes. My main gripe is still that there aren't enough ventilation options. The main front panel has a screen cover, but if it starts raining (twice on us now) you either have to leave it open which means your child gets wet from the direct rainfall AND your rear tire spray, or close it and risk them getting hot. If the side panels also unzipped, you could close the front panel and open the sides to still allow ventilation while keeping most of the rain out till you can get back to the car.\n\nBut I have a new issue, and am wondering if others have encountered this problem. I can't air the tires up. The tubes/stems are Schrader valves, and when I try to put my pump on them they simply sink into the rim too low to get the pump on, and then I can't get air into them. This could be solved in one of two ways. Use tubes with longer Schrader valves, or switch to tubes that use threaded Presta valves. With a threaded Presta you can put a small nut on the stem that keeps it from sinking into the rim, and that would allow you to air the tires up. While there isn't a lot of weight on the tires, our last trip I noticed the trailer tended to swerve back and forth more than normal and I believe this was because of the low tire pressure, so they don't have the stability they should.\n\nAnyway, the manufacturer has addressed some of the other concerns from these reviews, so it's good to see that they are actively engaged with their customer base. I do like the trailer and will continue to use it, and hopefully Montalban will continue to tweak and improve an already excellent product.\n\nSorry for the long update, you will find the original review below. Thanks!\n\n***************************************************************************\n\nFirst let me say for the price this is an excellent trailer. We had looked at a few from Burley and Chariot, plus some of the less expensive models such as the Instep line that Amazon sells. We found our trailer at Costco as others mentioned for less than the price here, and being able to put hands on it was nice too so we could check out the quality a bit before we purchased.\n\nAssembly was super easy. That is, there is no assembly other than what it usually takes to \"assemble\" it from a collapsed storage position to the ready to use position. It has an aluminum tube frame all the way around that really makes it seem sturdy, and from the car to ready to pull takes all of a minute or so.\n\nAfter a few bike rides and a jogging trip, here are my pros and cons:\n\nPros Cycling:\n-Pulls easily and very smooth, even at speeds that most recreational cyclists will not usually reach\n (note: manual states trailer should not be pulled faster than 8mph. I can't coast at 8mph, and I feel very comfortable pulling the trailer faster. While I am still not sold on the long term durability of the quick-release wheel system of the trailer, I do not see any reason why this particular setup would hold up at 8mph and fail at 15mph. That is just my opinion, again the manual says the speed limit is 8mph on the trailer).\n\n-Very easy to attach to bike, and there is ample room for your left foot/heel when pedaling (I have a size 15 shoe)\n\n-Turns easily and tightly, you can turn around in less than the width of a normal street with no issues\n\nCons Cycling:\n-Seat and harnesses are the weakest part of this trailer. The straps are difficult to adjust, and instead of using simple snap buckles for the retention they use a D-ring and hook setup which makes buckling and unbuckling much more difficult.\n\n-There is nothing to keep the pads on the chest harness, so they want to slide off every time you go to use them, and the buckle ends up buried halfway up the pad, which leaves you trying to dig it out with a child that just wants to get going. I understand a nicer setup is more expensive, but I'd pay a bit more for a better harness system. After all, when cycling it's important that your child is strapped in well should a crash occur. Something between what they have now and lower-end car seat setup would be better.\n\n-Only the front panel is mesh for airflow, which allows possibly more wind than you'd like and debris to blow straight into the trailer (yes, a surprising amount of debris can enter through the screen window). Side panels do not zip out, which would be nice for indirect and cross ventilation on warmer days\n\n-There are loops at the very top of the front window/door area for keeping the mesh and/or solid windows rolled up, but they are either up or down, no in between. If a couple more of these retainer loops were sewed on, you could have the solid window halfway down for instance, which would limit airflow directly on the face but still allow ventilation on cooler days.\n\n-The flag is nice, but I would like a good sturdy loop on the back side of the trailer to install flashing lights, just like on the bike. This is probably an easy-enough modification. There is a reflector back there however.\n\nPros Jogging:\n-Trailer rolls very smoothly, cushioned hand grip is nice\n\n-Hand grip is a good height, my wife (short) and me (tall) both find it comfortable\n\n-You can push the trailer without kicking the bottom of it\n\nCons Jogging:\n-Fixed front wheel setup is long and well, fixed...which makes turning pretty much impossible without lifting the front wheel. I know you don't want a fast-swivel wheel if you are running and pushing this thing, but it's also hard to keep a good pace on a curvy path if you are having to push down on the rear handle to lift the front wheel just to turn.\n\n-More ventilation options would be nice (same as with cycling)\n\nIt sounds like I have a lot of cons, but it's more of a wishlist. We like this trailer, and with the exception of the harness system it really is an excellent setup for the money.","Product: Hogue wraparound rubber grips are the perfect choice for the shooter that is looking for a sleek grip that is both attractive as well as functional. This grip is manufactured from a soft durable rubber and features a lightweight, synthetic Skeleton insert that makes up the rigid interior of the grip. The synthetic insert is chemically bonded to the exterior rubber grip insuring that the grip won't delaminate or come apart. Lots of grips have irritating medallions or Funky features that can feel uncomfortable during use, the cobblestone (stippled) surface of this grip replaces traditional checkering and allows for good grip control. The material is solvent and oil resistant which means it will not deteriorate or dissolve due to cleaning your firearm.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Wider, more comfortable grip than factory panels provide, no mods required\n\nReview: Not too much to say about these Hogue rubber grips for the Ruger 22/45 except they offer a wider grip than the stock wood panels provide, which is nice if you have larger hands. The finger indexing and pebbled rubber make it comfortable and give you a firm grip as well.\n\nOne note based on another review here and a question that was asked, but there are no modifications required to install these grips on a Ruger 22/45. You simply remove the 4 screws holding the original 2 wooden grip panels on, place the Hogue rubber grip on the handle, make sure it's on good and snug and centered over the screw holes, and put screws back in. Done.\n\nA really nice grip if you're looking for more comfort and control over the stock grips.","Product: The safer way to Back Up! Camera Mounts to License Plate. Objects are visible 3' and Beyond. Helps Reduce Dangerous Spots. Perfect for cars, SUVs and Trucks; Families with kids and/or pets; Boat, RV or Camper Owners.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Easy install on pickup, works very well\n\nReview: This took me an hour to install on my truck. It works perfect, and for $100 I'm very pleased with the picture.\n\nThis camera system comes with three main parts:\n\n-The camera (mounts to license plate)\n-The wireless transmitter (needs to be mounted somewhere weather-proof)\n-The LCD monitor (mounts somewhere you can see it)\n\nHere's how to install this on a 2006 F-150 (this would apply to most trucks, cars will be different):\n\n-Mount the camera using the upper holes on your license plate and with the provided hardware.\n-Route the camera wire over the top of your plate and let it hang behind the bumper\n-Working from under the rear bumper, you'll see a group of wires in plastic tubing running above the frame over to the left taillight. This is where you will route the camera wire in a few minutes.\n\n-Open your tailgate and remove the two silver screws that hold your left taillight in place. Once those are removed, pull the taillight straight out. Do not wiggle it, you could snap the plastic retainers on the light. It is tight, but pull it straight out. Once it comes out, remove the upper and lower light bulbs by twisting their housings one half turn, they will pop right out.\n\n-You want to use the lower light, which is the reverse light. It will have one black wire, and one black wire with a violet stripe.\n\n-Crawl back under the truck, and run the camera wire along with the other wires you see above the bumper towards the taillight, then up through the hole towards the taillight. You should clearly be able to see daylight from where you've removed the taillight. Once you get the wire pulled up through the taillight hole, let it hang there. You'll want to secure the camera wire that runs under the truck to other wires using cable ties and possible some plastic tubing to offer it good protection.\n\n-At this time you'll want to disconnect the NEGATIVE (black) cable from your vehicle battery.\n\n-The next step is to run both the camera wire and the wireless transmitter's power wire from the taillight into the bed of the truck. If you stand on the left side of your truck and look at the taillight area, you should see a good 1/2\" size hole that goes into the truck bed. This hole comes out just below the top of the bed rail, very close to the tailgate. In my truck the hole is covered by the side of the bedliner, but the liner easily pulls back enough to expose the hole.\n\n-Push the loose end of the camera wire (with the white connector end) through that hole from the taillight side and into the bed of the truck. Now push the end of the transmitter power wire through the same hole, just as you did the camera wire. Both white connector ends should now be inside the truck bed, and you should have the loose red and black wire ends to connect to the taillight wires in the taillight housing.\n\n-Using the two red connectors that came with the camera, place one over the black wire of the taillight and one over the black/violet wire. Now take the black wire from the transmitter cable and place it in the red connector that contains the black taillight wire, and make sure they are sitting securely before clamping the connector down with a pair of pliers. Place the red wire into the red connector that holds the black/violet wire, and do the same as before. Make sure these connections are secure.\n\n-You can now replace the taillight connectors back into the actual taillight, and replace the entire unit back onto the truck. Don't forget to put the two silver screws back into the side of the light housing.\n\n-Now inside the truck bed, you should have two white connectors coming into the bed. Route those up the side of the truck to wherever you are going to mount the wireless transmitter. I placed mine in the left corner of the camper shell, just above the camper shell lip that sits on the top rails of the bed.\n\n-Connect the two white connectors to the wireless transmitter, and then you can push any additional wire length back into the hole the wires come out of, which will push it into the cavity behind the taillight. After doing this, I placed some plastic tubing over the wires to protect the short run they make from behind my bed liner to the transmitter.\n\n-Now RECONNECT the negative battery cable.\n\n-Inside the cab, plug the monitor into the cigarette lighter. You should see the blue light slowly blink. This means the monitor is in stand-by and is ready to receive a signal. Start your truck and put it into reverse...your display should now be showing you the view from the backup camera!","Product: Auto Ventshade's Bugflector II Hood shield is custom-molded and precision-engineered to fit perfectly, designed to protect and complement the contours of your vehicle's hood. The high-profile, wrap-around design is aerodynamically efficient and provides excellent protection for your hood, windshield and fender, deflecting rocks and other hazardous road debris. Impact-modified acrylic material is wear-and-tear resistant and car wash safe, providing maximum durability. It can also be easily removed from the hood for simple cleaning, and includes all installation instructions and required hardware. This hood shield provides easy installation with no drilling required. In order to protect the hood paint from rubbing, the set includes several rubber bumpers applied to the hood during the installation. Protected by a Limited Lifetime Warranty.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Great fit, quality deflector, poor hardware\n\nReview: I purchased the AVS Bugflector II for the Ram 2500. I knew that the bugshield would need to be long to cover the wide hood on the 2500, but the factory box it ships in is overkill. It's HUGE. The box is at least 6' long, and probably 10\" x 10\" wide on each side. I expected it to be more of a long tube, but it's not.\n\nEither way, I removed the Bugflector from the box along with the hardware package. The \"hardware\" consists of 2 metals clips with screws, and 4 plastic screws with 4 plastic anchors. The instructions for the Ram 2500 require you to remove the rubber weather-stripping under the lip of the hood before installing the Bugflector. The 2 metal clips are then attached to the Bugflector, and using 3M clear tape to protect the hood, you position the Bugflector while the metal clips hold it where you place it.\n\nThere are 4 existing holes under the hood of the Ram, and you insert the plastic anchors and screws into these holes. You are supposed to \"screw\" the screws into the anchors, but if you push to hard they will just seat all the way in without screwing them in. That doesn't give me much confidence as to their long-term durability; I'm not sure why they wouldn't just pop back out if the plastic threads aren't really holding.\n\nAt least for the installation however they seem to be holding. I've had it out on the interstate a few times with no issues, so we'll see how the plastic hardware holds up long term. Otherwise the Bugflector II does not touch the paint of the Ram 2500 other than the 2 metal clips on the edges.\n\nThe Bugflector II itself looks good and fits the contours of the truck perfectly. I expect it to last as long as you'd need it to.","Product: Kolpin Heavy-duty UTV side mirros help you see what's behind you and the dust you've kicked up along the way! These mirrors are designed with break away features and to fit most major brand UTVs with 1-5/8\"-2\" round tubes\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Good mirrors, easy install, Pioneer 700\n\nReview: Put these mirrors on a Pioneer 700-4. The smaller of the two included brackets plus a rubber insert and they fit very snug. The mirrors have a bracket that rotates so you can keep them vertical when mounted to a roll bar that slants, so no issues there. They were easy to mount, took about 10 mins total and while they swing in very easily to avoid damage if they are hit with something they do seem to hold their position very well. I don't do hard tail riding though, we just use it around the farm although we do have some rough trails.\n\nOne complaint is that there are four screws with sleeves that hold the mirror to the brackets, and one of them was cross threaded so I will ask for a replacement. Even with one screw missing though the bracket feels rock solid so no big deal.\n\nThey look good, work well, and are easy to install...I would buy again.","Product: Occunomix LUX-900 Hi-Viz Seat Belt Cover-Orange\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Use to protect seatbelt from dirty clothes, leaves bits of fabric everywhere\n\nReview: I bought two of these per seatbelt to use in my work/personal truck. I put one across the lapbelt portion, and one across the chest portion. The idea was to have a removeable cover that would keep my seatbelts clean when I was filthy so I didn't get my clean clothes dirty on the weekends.\n\nThey work ok for this purpose. Of course I attach them while I'm wearing the seatbelt, but when I exit the truck they don't allow the seatbelt to fully retract; that's not really a design flaw just something to be aware of if you use them like I do. If you just have one across the chest it's fine.\n\nThe main issue is that the edges of the fabric are unfinished, and when I take them off and on it leaves brightly colored fabric bits all over my clothes and seat.\n\nStill a good value for an inexpensive way to protect your seatbelts and clothes.","Product: Bedslide (15-7348-CG) Contractor Series BedSlide 73\" x 48\"\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Such a great addition to a work truck...small quality/design issue\n\nReview: I had a local truck accessory company install this Bedslide into a Ram 2500 CTD with 6.4\" bed. It fits perfectly, taking up just about every square inch that it can possibly occupy and still operate correctly.\n\nBasically this is a very thick sheet of plywood, supported on a steel frame with a rubber no-slip layer on top. The Bedslide operates with a handle, which is attached by a thin steel cable on the underside to the locking pins that keep the Bedslide in the desired position. To access the Bedslide, just let the tailgate down, pull the handle, and pull the Bedslide out as far as you want. I think there are 4 locking positions, and it will slide out a couple feet past the edge of your lowered tailgate. This makes putting anything on or taking anything off the Bedslide super easy, which is even more useful if you have a camper shell installed; no more climbing up into the bed.\n\nThe 1500 CG has a 1500 lb weight rating and a 5-year warranty. The side rails are removable in case what you want to put on the Bedslide is wider than the actual slide, plus it comes with 4 adjustable tie-down points. I like all the features, but after the install I discovered that a small plastic end cap that covers the exposed portion of the rail had already broken. It looks like these end caps are new, as pictures on Bedslide's website don't show them in most of their photos. It's not a great design in my opinion, I would think they could find a way to finish off the ends of the rails without the caps, or design a more robust cap.\n\nHowever that's a small issue, and the rest of this thing seems to be built very solid. I'm impressed so far with it and it has made loading things in and out of the truck so much easier. It's definitely a purchase I'd make again.\n\n***************************\n\nJan 27th, 2013 UPDATE:\n\nI still use the Bedslide daily to pull tools in and out of the truck. When I have to load/unload boxes of cable or I need something stored near the cab, it's a huge help to have this thing installed. One of my minor complaints was about the quality of the plastic endcaps; the first one arrived broken, the second one arrived broken, and the replacement lasted about a week before it just started falling off. Now the other side has fallen off as well, and I've just tossed them. They have no function other than aesthetics and it's not worth the frustration trying to keep them in place.\n\nHowever, the Bedslide itself is working perfectly still and it is hands down the best thing I've ever purchased for my truck. I can't imagine having a work truck without one now and for my purposes it works perfectly.\n\n***************************\n\nMarch 11th, 2014 UPDATE:\n\nLove, love, love the Bedslide. Everyone who sees it asks about it and comments about how useful they think it is, and I tell em they are right. Still having no functional issues with the slide at all, just a couple cosmetic items. The end caps fell off early as I stated previously, but I also somehow chipped the black paint off the handle on a 1\" section. I don't even know how it happened, so it does seem like it chipped a bit easy but it's an easy fix with some grill paint. I take things in and out of the truck bed daily, so I'm sure I banged it with something. I still think it's an awesome product and am happy with my purchase.","Product: Grill your favorite foods to suit your tastes over the porcelain-coated cast iron-grated 363-square inch. cooking space atop this STOK Charcoal Tower Grill. The built-in heat thermometer makes it easy to monitor the grill's temperature, and the grill's stainless steel design stands up to heavy and frequent grilling, providing long-lasting use. When it's time to clean up and store the grill, its removable ash catcher empties easily and the built-in wheels allow rolling portability between venues.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Lots of issues, some from shipping but some from factory\n\nReview: My review is below, which is mostly a repaste of the letter I sent to STOK grills after I got the grill assembled and discovered several issues along the way. Note that some of these issues occurred during shipping, which STOK doesn't have a lot of control over other than their packaging techniques. But my major gripe isn't a shipping issue. I'll post pics on the product page of the damage I can show. Review follows:\n\n\"I purchased the SCC0140MX tower charcoal grill as a Christmas present for my mom through Amazon and it delivered the other day. I got it out to assemble it last night, and during assembly and after assembly I found several issues that I am very disappointed with.\n\nFirst, as I unpacked the grill I found a dent in the side gray tower panel marked \"Left\". It's not a major dent, and I wouldn't have written for just a dent but there was more to come. Still unpacking I found two places on the bright orange lid where paint had rubbed off during shipment, and also two places inside the rim of the main bowl. The grill seemed to be packed well, so I'm not sure why there was damage in all these places but there was.\n\nFurther inspection revealed that the charcoal grate, which was wrapped in plastic and coated with a grease of some sort to prevent rust, had still rusted on a two inch section of the grate. And finally the pizza stone had a small chip on the outer edge, but it's not cracked and looks usable.\n\nThat was the extent of the issues upon unpacking, so I started to assemble. My main issue here is that first the main handle that you bolt to the grill sits completely crooked instead of nice and level, and you can't fix this because the bolt holes are pre-fixed into the lower bowl. But even worse, as I put the screws into those holes to tighten the handle, I could hear a popping sound. I was not over-tightening, just screwing them in to snug the handle up. But on the backside of the bolt holes, inside the lower main bowl, all the paint around the bolt holes began to chip off and fall onto the floor of the grill as the popping continued. I figure I might have to repair this with some charcoal grill paint.\n\nI took pictures of all the paint scuffs and issues during and after assembly. The grill will work in its current state, but I do not want to return this as it's a Christmas gift (we had it early since my mom lives in *location removed*). I just wanted to let you know about the issues we experienced with the grill. I ordered it based on the great reviews on Amazon, but by the time I got it fully assembled I was not happy at all with the quality of this product.\"\n\nAfter I sent that email off to STOK, I received a quick reply which basically advised I just pack the grill back up for return. I'm 6 hours from where it was assembled, so I can't just break the whole thing back down, repack it, and return it. Unfortunately putting the handle on the grill lid was one of the last steps in the assembly (yep, I follow directions) and so I didn't see it until the entire thing was assembled.\n\nOverall it's a nice looking grill, with a few cheap features (such as how the charcoal starter attaches underneath the grill) but I would have been happy with it without the damage and the handle/paint flaking issues. I would not purchase again based on my experience.\n\nUpdate: I received an email reply from a customer service rep at Stok regarding the above email. It stated that I could obtain replacement parts through the customer service department. That was the extent of the reply. I'm assuming the replacement parts might be covered under warranty, but I'm not sure who gets charged for shipping. Also to replace the damaged pieces, I would have to take apart about 50% of the grill, which I am now 6 hours away from. I might try to at least obtain new grill grate that is not rusted, call the rest bad luck, and move on. For myself I won't be purchasing another one of these grills.","Product: RECYCLER KIT-42 IN\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: easy install, blades could be better\n\nReview: Purchased for a Toro Timesaver 4225 zero turn. Considering I've never removed a mower deck before, the instructions were pretty good and installation took less than an hour working by myself. The kit allows the mower to mulch the grass, which works great when everything is nice and dry. We have long, hot, humid summers in the South however and between heavy dew and rainfall the grass doesn't dry out much.\n\nIt struggles a bit with wet grass (not soaked, just after a rain grass, just typical damp summer grass) leaving small clumps here and there and dropping large chunks at a time when you turn. Dry grass presents no problems at all though, and it mulches and distributes the grass really well.\n\nMy main complaint is that the mulch blades themselves don't seem to cut that well. I mow on the slowest setting, and it leaves small sections of thicker grass uncut and I have to return and mow over them again. I never had that issue with the stock blades, which seemed to cut much cleaner and more evenly. It's a trade-off I guess; at least with the mulch kit I just have to make a few extra passes, but I don't have to rake up a bunch of clippings before they kill the lawn.","Product: 6 ft. Extra-wide dog loading ramps give pets plenty of room for walking up and down to enter and exit a vehicle with ease. Great for minivans, cars and pickup trucks, portable pet loading ramps reduce strain on animal joints by eliminating the need to have to jump to or from an elevated surface. The extra-wide 18.75\" surface features a paw-friendly, washable grip tape usable in most weather conditions. Each dog ramp features a maximum 250 lb. capacity and is intended for use by pets only. Portable, lightweight design folds in half for transporting like a suitcase with the built-in carrying handle. Made with durable aluminum construction for years of reliable pet loading.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Long, wide ramp but suffers from poor manufacturing\n\nReview: I have a larger truck with a high tailgate, so I was looking for a long ramp to make the climb easier for an old dog. This ramp is the longest I could find, and it's nice and wide too.\n\nIt does flex a bit when my Pyrenees steps onto it, which makes her a bit nervous but it's better than trying to lift her up there. My real complaint is that it's manufactured very cheaply as others have pointed out, which makes the edges very sharp (like really dangerous sharp) so you have to really take care when trying to get it in and out of the truck bed and getting it unfolded and folded back up. Cheap latches and handle too, but I'm 99% it's made in China so I shouldn't expect more.\n\nI'd pay a bit more for this same style ramp with better manufacturing, but until then this one will have to do.","Product: INTELLITONE 200 KIT. IntelliTone digital toning eliminates noise and false signals. Smart Tone analog toning precisely isolates individual wire pairs. Locates cables safely and effectively on active networks.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Toner for data, voice, and cable map\n\nReview: I use this product at work daily. It works excellent for tracing data cables and for verifying they are wired correctly. The probe has an adjustable volume control and is plenty loud for my ears, I keep it on the loudest setting because some of our data enclosures are on the factory floor and the noise can be very loud. In addition to the tone the probe also has a series of lights that show signal strength.\n\nThe toner has a few different settings that allow you to send tones across data lines as well as digital and analog phone lines. It will also test/tone coaxial cable although I have not used that feature. The other things this toner/probe will do are listed in Amazon's product description so I won't bore you any more of them here. This is a very nice quality piece of equipment that works every time and is easy to use. I have a few different pieces of Fluke equipment and they all function as they should.\n\nThis is definitely a must-have for DIY'ers and even professionals that manage small networks.","Product: The aggressive, spiked look of the Serrated Kershaw Burst (#1970ST) is sure to draw the eye and plenty of positive comment. Youll appreciate its SpeedSafe assisted opening, which is easily accessed with a convenient flipper. Oh yes; and do notice that flipper. Weve directed the blade grind all the way down the flipper for a sweeping line. The handle is injection-molded, glass-filled nylon; a stout locking liner secures the blade during use. The Burst also includes a reversible pocketclip. A partially serrated blade provides additional cutting power for tough jobs. Since the company's founding in 1974, Kershaw Knives has been dedicated to quality. This has led to a worldwide reputation for performance and innovation in tools and knives. From state-of-the-art manufacturing to advanced materials, customers rely on Kershaw for products that provide \"technology with an edge\". Today, Kershaw is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kai Corporation, which has been in business for more than 90 years. Kai Corporation is Japan's premier blade producer. Their innovative approach to product development has resulted in more than 10,000 superior products. Kershaw products are guaranteed for the lifetime of the original owner to be free of defects when received from the factory. Any product we find to be defective in its original material, construction, or workmanship will be repaired or replaced with the same item or one of equal value at no charge. Normal wear, abuse, or neglect are excluded from this non-transferable warranty. For warranty service, please return product via UPS or insured mail. Include your name, address, telephone number, proof of purchase (sales slip) and a short explanation of the warranty service requested to Kai USA Ltd. 18600 SW Teton Avenue, Tualatin, OR 97062.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Excellent knife, quick to open & affordable\n\nReview: I am not a knife fanatic, and the longer review posted by another reviewer here does a better job of covering the finer details of this knife.\n\nI purchased 2 of these Kershaw Speedsafe knives, one for myself and one for my wife who wanted something to keep with her. I echo the remarks that the knife opens quickly and positively; it's light to carry, and not so deep when folded that it's uncomfortable when clipped into my front pocket.\n\nThe clip is really tight though, and it can be a challenge to get this knife clipped onto my pockets without damaging my pants. I also agree that there is a very audible click when the blade is deployed, and I can see in certain situations that this could be less than ideal.\n\nBut this knife has excellent features all-around, and for less than $25 it's very hard to beat. I have been more than happy with it and would buy another Kershaw product based on my experience with this product so far.","Product: Bayco SL-302B3 10-1/2-Inch Brooder Clamp Light with Porcelain Ceramic Socket is designed with a heat resistant porcelain socket and will light up 50-Percent more workspace than a standard 8-1/2-Inch clamp light. For easy positioning, it features an adjustable ball joint and a spring steel clamp with a scratch resistant vinyl sleeve. Bayco is the established leader in next generation task lighting systems incorporating innovative technology for all types of lighting applications. Our dedicated research and development teams continually seek out innovative technical solutions for demanding professional and non-professional lighting applications.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Cheap and flimsy neck joint, will not stay in place.\n\nReview: Wtf was wrong with a standard neck joint using a threaded bolt and a nut? Instead they've got this stupid garbage of a joint that relies on a flimsy clamp to put enough pressure on the tiny little nub attached to the clamp arm so that the lamp won't fall. Well, they failed. I can't tighten the little wingnut tight enough to keep the lamp in place.\n\nWhich makes it useless. Could we just bring manufacturing back to the States already, give these companies tax breaks so the products don't have to be crazy expensive, and start getting rid of this Chinese garbage?\n\nBottom line, this lamp is cheap and flimsy. Oh Amazon, when I searched for \"outdoor heat lamp\" this bad boy pops up, but it says \"indoor use only\" on the box.","Product: ECOSMART LED SOFT WHITE FLOOD/65 WATT EQUIVALENT BULB/9.5 ENERGY USED IN WATTS/575 LUMENS/3-YEAR WARRANTY/35,000 LIFE IN HOURS\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Easy installation, cool to touch, energy efficient\n\nReview: Man I'm impressed. I like LED's for headlamps, flashlights, bike lights, etc but I've been hesitant on LED's for house lighting. I didn't like the new mandates that will phase out incandescent lighting, as nothing looks or \"feels\" as nice as incandescent. Fluorescent is terrible. I hate CFL's. Then I came across these Ecosmart CREE LED lights at our local big box.\n\nWe currently have 7 can lights in our living room and 2 in our bath, all incandescent. I love them and they work well, and the bulbs have lasted quite a while. However when all of them are on, you can definitely feel the heat they generate. We have eight foot ceilings, and the living room can warm up under these lights. The bathroom is even worse because you stand directly under them. Nice on cold mornings I guess, but terrible in the summer.\n\nI looked at these lights because we're adding 4 more cans in the kitchen area, and when I saw these I had to take a second look. The big box store had them in a display, side by side with an incandescent fixture. The light was nearly identical, and better yet I could literally touch the lens and it was cool to the touch. I bought 6 and brought them home (2 for the bathroom, 4 for the kitchen).\n\nAs the recessed cans for the kitchen are not yet installed, I set about trying the two out in the bathroom. The cans in the bathroom are the HALO brand and were within spec for these lights (min 6.5\" depth, 5 3/4\" to 6.5\" wide), so I removed the bulbs, took out the adjustable bracket inside the can, screwed these into the socket, and pushed them up into the can. Done. That was it. Took me less than 10 minutes to do both, and that was with walking back and forth to turn the breaker off and on.\n\nPreviously we had 65w flood lights in there, and it was bright. These aren't quite as bright overall, but the quality of light is very good and they are using so much less energy to run. Best part is you no longer feel like you're baking when you're standing underneath them. My wife will appreciate that tomorrow morning when she's blow drying her hair; no more sweating AFTER taking a shower :P\n\nHonestly I couldn't be more pleased with the lights. They look very high end, super easy to install provided you have the correct ceiling can, and they will be a big cost savings over the other bulbs, plus I don't have to replace them anytime soon (rated for 25 years!).\n\nI have not tried these on a dimmer yet, but I might just replace the 7 lights in the living room with these as well and install an LED specific dimmer. Absolutely recommend these lights if you are looking for an energy saving alternative to incandescent lighting; the LED technology is the way to go.","Product: Continuous seam welded 16 gauge steel construction. Hinged cover clamps to the base with keyed quarter turn latch for a watertight seal. External mounting brackets allow box to be mounted on a wall or panel without having to remove the cover and exposing internal components to the environment. Bonding studs for grounding are provided on base and door. Internal panel and hardware included. Designed to meet NEMA type 1, 2, 4, 4X and IP65 ratings. UL Listed. Hinged Door, Lid design. Interior Panel. Easily machined and modified to your particular requirements. Base measures 15-3/4\" width by 15-3/4\" height by 7-55/64\" depth.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: High quality industrial/commercial-grade enclosure\n\nReview: We needed some weather-proof enclosures for housing equipment and cables in an outdoor environment. I ordered these after pricing some at my local supply house. The same quality enclosure at my supply house was 112/ea, so I went with the BUD Industries and I'm glad I did.\n\nThis is a heavy, sturdy box with no flex. The inside lip is curved upwards to keep water out of the enclosure and is continuous around the perimeter of the box. The door locks up tightly with a nice foam rubber weather seal, and has a solid key with a substantial handle that allows you to close this up securely.\n\nInside there is a steel mounting plate so you can attach equipment, PLC rails, etc. It comes with a grounding wire and hardware to hang the box using 4 exterior mounting tabs.\n\nQuality product all around at an excellent price.","Product: The Milwaukee 48-22-1010 staple and nail gun provides users with a straightforward tool that gives them the power to completely drive staples into tough material, drive staples and nails at consistent angles, and pull out and reset staples without the use of an additional tool. With its hi/low power switch, this tool provides greater driving control, supplying the user with up to 75% more power to penetrate difficult materials. The tilt and fire mechanism on this tool allows the user to achieve consistent driving angles. The integrated staple puller makes it easy to remove and replace a misplaced staple. In addition to these features, this Milwaukee staple and nail gun has an all-metal, jam-free magazine that makes it easy to drive staples and nails of multiple sizes. Compatible Arrow t50 staple sizes are 9/16-in, 1/2-in, 3/8-in, 5/16-in, and 1/4-in. Compatible 18ga brad nail sizes are 5/8-in and 1/2-in. Users love the smooth performance of the Milwaukee staple and nail gun.\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: Very frequent jams using brad nails, untested with staples\n\nReview: I purchased this for its ability to use 5/8\" brad nails as well as staples, as I had a specific project that required the brads. Note that I did not test this stapler with staples, only the recommended size of brad nails so I can't comment on its reliabilty using staples. I loaded it up with the brads according to the instructions, set the drive depth to the + setting (which is high or deep), and off I went. It worked perfectly for about 50 brads or so, but then the trouble started.\n\nI went to set a brad nail and nothing came out, so I thought it was empty. Turning it over to reload it, I discovered it was not empty, but jammed. The nail was sticking halfway out, and jammed tightly so that I could not even slide the loading tray open to free it. Using a pair of needle nose pliers I was able to push the brad back in enough to finally slide the loading tray out and dump the jammed nail. I reset the tool and started off again.\n\nTo my mounting frustration, over the next half hour it began jamming about every 4 or 5 shots; sometimes so badly it would take me several minutes to fix the jam and get the tool reset. This caused endless frustration as I was counting on the tool to tack thin wood strips in place, and the jams caused me to have to undo my work several times; it's hard to get a critical nail in place while holding the material in one hand, standing on a ladder, and having the tool fail yet again when it's time to set the nail.\n\nI resorted to hand nailing the last few pieces as I gave up on the Milwaukee tool. I have several Milwaukee tools, including the 18v Fuel drills and saws but this stapler is going straight back to the store tomorrow. Hopefully I will have better luck with another brand."],"string":"[\n \"Product: The Wall Control Narrow Pegboard 8in x 32in Galvanized Metal Pegboard Rack Runner Tool Board Panel is Durable, Versatile, and Attractive. This Narrow Pegboard Panel is constructed from 20 Gauge Steel and is over 10 times stronger than conventional pegboard. The narrow pegboard construction allows for tool storage in confined areas like above workbenches and under cabinets. The Metal Pegboard Rack Runner Tool Board Panel will accept conventional 1/4in standard peg-board hooks as well as Wall Control's patented and secure slotted pegboard hooks and accessories. The Galvanized Metal Pegboard Rack features a durable and attractive metallic galvanized finish. The Pegboard Panel Includes (1) 8in x 32in Galvanized Metal Pegboard Tool Board Panel with Mounting Hardware and Instructions. Made in USA.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Quality product, works as intended\\n\\nReview: I ordered a few of these panels to create a custom charging station for some wireless Polycom Soundstation units at a plant. I used a drill hanger to set the main Soundstation unit on, and then I was able to mount the base unit and peripherals as well. I drilled the holes near the Polycom mounts a bit larger to allow the cords to come through, and then hid the rest of the cabling behind the panel since there is some clearance behind the panel to allow for hangers to be inserted.\\n\\nOverall the finish was very nice nice on these pegboards, all the holes are drilled evenly and they sit flat against the wall with no warping. I did paint them black, and didn't sand them first so the paint did not take well. Make sure if you're going to paint this pegboard that you sand it lightly first to give it some texture.\\n\\nQuality, lightweight alternative to standard pegboard which can eventually start to break apart. I would purchase again to use for projects like mine or to use as a regular pegboard.\",\n \"Product: The WALLMOUNTH2 2U 19in Hinged Wall Mounting Bracket for Patch Panels is 6in deep and sturdily designed to provide a dependable solution for mounting a patch panel, or other slim 19in networking equipment to a wall. The patch panel wall mount features a hinged design for easy access to configuration buttons, ports and cables.The wall mountingholes are spaced 16 in. apart, making it suitable for mounting on almost any wall, based on common wall-frame stud spacing. Backed by a StarTech.com 2-year warranty.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Mounting holes not on 16\\\" center\\n\\nReview: Decent 2U panel, but a couple of issues. First is that the pre-drilled mounting holes are not 16\\\" as advertised. I tried to mount onto two studs, 16\\\" apart today and the holes looked like they were at least 17\\\" apart. I mounted it above another panel that was also spaced for 16\\\" studs and it was wider than the pre-drilled mounting holes on the existing equipment. I was able to make it work by splitting the difference on each side and driving screws at an angle, but this was not ideal.\\n\\nAlso as another reviewer noted, this includes cage nuts for mounting your 19\\\" rack equipment, but the screws that are included are a star nut and they give you a T-handle star wrench to use. Why not just use a standard phillips head for the screws? I've ordered StarTech items in the past and I'm usually happy with them, but this particular product was just a bit off.\",\n \"Product: Modular connector for Category 5e UTP structured cabling systems. Uses include high megabit applications such as Gigabit Ethernet and 622 Mbps ATM.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Excellent keystone jacks for high speed data\\n\\nReview: I install between 30-50 of these keystone jacks per month. They are marked for easy identification between T568A or T568B and feature high-quality terminals that hold both solid and stranded wire securely without breaking the wire.\\n\\nThey snap-in to Leviton's faceplates easily (make sure you have the faceplate turned the correct direction, there is an \\\"UP\\\" side and it's marked on the back of the faceplate) and also snap into Panduit faceplates and other manufacturers that make snap-in faceplates.\\n\\nRemoving them is as simple as pressing down on the small tab on top of the jack, and then pushing down on the back of the jack. Patch cables snap securely into the jack opening.\\n\\nAll around a quality product, I recommend them for Cat5e data installations.\",\n \"Product: 37\\\" HDTV Ready LCD TV with no tuner\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Great picture, full featured, super value\\n\\nReview: This is my first HD-LCD television, so I did some research before deciding on this unit. The fact that it cost almost half of units by Toshiba/Samsung/Phillips etc really helped in the decision making process :)\\n\\nLet me start with the specs. This is a 37\\\" LCD flat panel television capable of a max resolution of 780p and 1080i. If you aren't sure what those are, do a bit more research before reading the rest of this review. The native resolution is 1366x768, and displays movies in the 16x9 format. It has a very nice looking silver cabinet, with speakers mounted across the very bottom of the tv. Basic function buttons are located on the far right side of the black strip between the screen and the speakers. They look nice and don't feel cheap or mushy.\\n\\nOn the back of the television you will find all major inputs such as HDMI, Component video, S-video, composite video, USB port, and even a VGA/Component port to use this television as a computer display. However, there is no coaxial cable input on this tv. This is not an issue if you are using it with an HD cable box or similar unit, but if you just watch movies on it and want to hook up your regular cable, you must run the coaxial cable to a VCR or DVD/Receiver, then run a composite video cable to the television.\\n\\nSince this unit does not have a built-in HD tuner, to watch HD cable you must have a HD cable box (provided by your cable company with HD service). This isn't a drawback, but I wanted you to be aware. HD-ready means it's ready for a tuner but that it is not included.\\n\\nI hooked this television up to a Samsung upconvert DVD player so I could watch my movies in 720p. The picture is fantastic, and sound is adequate from the regular speakers. I have a small home theater system though, and I much prefer the sound from that instead of the television. The \\\"Big Picture\\\" technology on this tv lets me watch my full screen movies without black bars on the sides, and it has several aspect ratios to choose from at the touch of a button including normal aspect, 1:1 ratio, panoramic, and Zoom 1 and 2.\\n\\nThe menu functions on this tv are also very easy to use and done really well. You can fine tune the picture settings, color temp, cropping, and many other aspects of the picture.\\n\\nIn the box I also got a very easy to read Quick Start sheet, Remote control, and a full users manual on a cd. Olevia prints their 800 number on all their literature and from what I have heard has very good customer service, although I haven't tried it yet.\\n\\nLike I said, this is my first HD LCD widescreen and I have nothing else to compare it to other than what I've seen in the store. This unit replaced a 32\\\" Toshiba that I was very happy with, but I don't regret my choice. This tv looks fantastic, performs well, and shows quality you wouldn't expect for the price. Olevia (made by Syntax) seems to be doing something right...offering a high quality product at a fair price, not selling a brand name.\\n\\nOne note that has nothing to do with the actual television, but you might want to be aware of with widescreen tv's. If you are an avg user like me you probably weren't aware that widescreen dvd's actually come in a few different aspect ratios. What this means is that some movies, such as Pixar's \\\"Monster's Inc\\\", will show in full widescreen mode because the aspect ratio is 1.85:1 which is made for viewing on 16x9 widescreen tv's. However, other widescreen dvd's, such as Pixar's \\\"Cars\\\", are shown in 2.39:1 which is sometimes called the \\\"theatrical presentation\\\" of widescreen. Please be aware that when viewing movies like this you will still have black bars on the bottom and top of your picture.\\n\\nI was highly annoyed when I discovered this as I bought the widescreen specifically to eliminate this, but in certain widescreen formats you will still have them. You can eliminate them on this particular tv by zooming in the picture, but you lose quality and some of the screen, which isn't acceptable to me. Again, it's not the tv but just a choice made by someone when they create the DVD. Maybe newer tv's will eventually be able show both aspects without black bars, but for now they are here to stay, in some widescreen movies at least.\",\n \"Product: This Wifi b/g wireless IP camera has its own built in web server. You can view the video from your own home network or you can configure your router to view and control the camera from computers or cellphones on the internet, without dependence on any third party web sites or subscriptions. With the built-in microphone you can listen in. Excellent MPEG4 or MJPEG video quality at a full 640 x 480 resolution with up to 30 frames per second for fluid, natural motion color. For viewing or recording a single camera no software is required besides just your browser. For viewing or recording multiple Sharx IP cameras the included MultiView software for PCs supports up to 4 Sharx IP cameras simultaneously. Truly amazing to see the streaming video on your web enabled cell phone. For frequent use we recommend to upgrade your cellphone service to unlimited data, which costs just $15/mo extra on the ATT network. You can see motion even on non-3G phones like SonyEricsson w580i. If your phone does not support video you can see automatically refreshing JPEG images. At home, you can use this camera with your laptop or iPhone as a baby or pet monitor, and the very high light sensitivity in \\\"moonlight mode\\\" allows you to view out from a window to see what's happening in the street as long as there is some background light available. For night vision in absolute, total darkness with no visible light, upgrade to SCNC2607 which adds infrared night vision and a higher quality, wide angle lens. Wireless operation supports WEP, WPA, WPA2 encryption. On routers with UPnP feature the camera can set itself up automatically, and on routers without UPnP (such as Apple's Airport series) the camera can be set up with our step by step instructions.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Excellent product, excellent support...you want the best you found it\\n\\nReview: UPDATE at end of original review:\\n\\nI have been looking for a nice wireless camera to monitor a room in our house, and I stumbled on this camera by accident. Man am I glad I did; after reading a few of the Amazon reviews I placed my order, and received it quickly. Setup wasn't cake, but I wouldn't say it was difficult either. Because I was not familiar with the product or process it took me a while to go through all the settings, but that's because this camera is so feature-rich.\\n\\nOthers have detailed the features and highlights of this camera, so I won't go into that detail. I will say that the camera does what it should perfectly. I love the fact that I can log into a website and see my camera feed in real-time; after setting it up, we left for the weekend to visit the parents. I logged into the website to show them how it works and they were very impressed.\\n\\nI already have plans to add a couple of the SCNC2607 cameras for the infrared capabilities, and a couple more of the SCNC2606. I do wish there was a pan/tilt/zoom feature; I know one of their models used to offer this, but can't seem to find it for sale. Anyway, great camera with a great picture and super features...what else do you need?\\n\\nUPDATE 1/16/13: Still working perfectly. Recently I swapped out my router and lost my settings, and I forgot how to set the camera back up. A quick email to Sharx, and they replied same day and even followed up with a phone call to see if I had resolved the issue. Their customer service is absolutely top notch, and that's the reason I'll continue to buy their products, even at the relatively much higher price than other cameras on the market. Well built products and great customer service, that's a win-win.\",\n \"Product: High performance HDMI Switcher Easily switches three sources to one display. Key-press-switching function and intelligent function. With one fixed HDMI cable (pigtail) this converter not only reduces cost but also save time for consumers.HDMI Switcher routes high definition video (in multiple resolutions up to 1080p) and digital audio from any one of the three sources to display units. All inputs accommodate the connections of the high definition video sources simultaneously, compatible well for HD-DVD,SKY-STB, PS3, Xbox 360.Output sends high definition audio/video signals to a high definition display.Features:Support High Speed HDMI specification (Version 1.3b);Support highest video resolution 1080p;Support 250MHz/2.5Gbps per channel (7.5Gbps all channel) bandwidth; Support 12bit per channel (36bit all channel) deep color;HDCP pass-through; Support uncompressed audio such as LPCM;Support compressed audio such as DTS Digital, Dolby Digital including DTS-HD and Dolby True HD. NOTE: Even though HDMI cables support Hot Plug Detection, improper usage might result in resetting / restarting both devices, or even may cause damage to the devices. Therefore, we do not suggest Hot Plug action for any HDMI cables. Please make sure both input and output devices are off when plugging or unplugging HDMI cables.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Easy solution, works perfect where other switches failed\\n\\nReview: Here is my setup:\\n\\n-HDTV with only (1) HDMI input\\n-Cable set top box with HDMI output\\n-DVD player with HDMI output\\n-Roku HD player with HDMI output\\n\\nYou can see the problem. 3 devices with HDMI outputs, a tv with only one input. I tried another active switch I bought here on Amazon that had a remote, but it would not switch between devices, even manually. After returning it and reading reviews of various switches, I was discouraged that I would be able to find an inexpensive solution.\\n\\nThe other day I stumbled onto this HDMI pigtail switch and after reading a few reviews figured I'd give it a try. For the price it couldn't hurt, so I ordered and received it the other day. I plugged the HDMI male cable into my tv, and then plugged the cable box into port 1, the Roku into port 2, and my dvd player into port 3.\\n\\nLo and behold, when I activate the Roku or dvd player the signal automatically switches to the correct port and the signal is displayed on the screen. We watched a dvd last night and the quality was excellent, and we watched HDTV as well and I can't tell that the picture quality is any different than when it was directly connected to the set top box.\\n\\nFifteen dollars for a product that does what it's supposed to and eliminates me having to constantly move my HDMI cable from one device to the next is worth every penny. It has a manual switch feature as well, but the auto switch is working perfectly for me. Just remember if you've been doing what I had to do, you'll need this device plus (3) HDMI cables so you can hook everything up (if you have 3 HDMI devices). Hope it works as well for you as it did for me.\",\n \"Product: The EVGA GTX 480 is back! This Powerhouse performer takes the next generation NVIDIA GeForce GPU, and cranks it up another notch by offering even higher performance! Experience heart-pounding cinematic visuals with the EVGA GTX 480 thanks to the combined power of DirectX 11, NVIDIA PhysX, and NVIDIA 3D Vision Surround technologies. The EVGA GTX 480 contains double the CUDA cores of previous generation GPUs, a high speed GDDR5 memory interface with 1536 MB onboard and full DirectX 11 support providing for unrivalled performance and breathtaking image quality. Compatible in 2-way, 3-way, and 4-way SLI configurations, the EVGA GTX 480 provides brilliant and immersive experiences in games and unsurpassed computational power.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Excellent value for the money, huge upgrade\\n\\nReview: I installed this card in an Alienware Aurora R3. My computer came with a 256mb graphics card, so this is a huge upgrade. I'm sure I'm not even using this graphics card to its potential, but here's what it's done for me so far. I used to game quite a bit, but not so much anymore. I do however log onto WoW every now and then. Previously I was getting 60fps at best, with some settings turned down. Since installing the card, I am consistently getting over 200fps, and around 150-180fps when the action gets busy. Better still is I'm getting that frame rate with everything turned to the highest graphics settings.\\n\\nThe only downside so far is, as others mentioned is the noise. The card isn't super loud for me, but there is a consistent higher pitched \\\"whine\\\" for the lack of a better word that can be a bit annoying.\\n\\nI'm not a computer guru at all and the installation was very simple. Remove the side of the Alienware case, remove my old graphics card, and plug this one into its place. The power requirements for this card are greater, and it requires both an 8-pin and 6-pin lead from the power supply, which was simply plug-n-play. I turned the computer back on, installed the drivers from the cd, and then upgraded them online. Total time took about 15 minutes.\\n\\nAbsolutely excellent upgrade for the money. This card ranks about #6 in the highest-performing graphics cards on the market and was over $600 at one time. At the current price it's a great value and a nice upgrade you'll be happy with.\",\n \"Product: The NETSCOUT LinkRunner AT Network Auto-Tester is the fastest way to solve network connectivity problems. This rugged, handheld network tester takes the guesswork out of troubleshooting with its complete one-button AutoTest. The AutoTest performs your required set of connectivity tests in 10 seconds, enabling you to accurately and quickly identify and solve network problems.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: it gets worse. Fluke includes the software for downloading and converting ...\\n\\nReview: The technical aspects of the Fluke Linkrunner have been covered already by other reviews so I won't rehash them here. It's a handy tool for what it's made for, but here's my gripe; this tool saves files in a 2kb file size, yet it will only hold (in my experience) approximately 49 files/results. That's it, 49. That's 98kb, so we'll round up to 100kb total. That equals .1MB of storage, which is beyond pitiful.\\n\\nWhen you go to save the results, it gets worse. Fluke includes the software for downloading and converting the saved files to a few different formats (PDF, Exel, Word) but you cannot batch download all the results to save for later. You have to download each file separately and/or convert them one at a time. Similarly you must delete each file from the device one at a time using a series of button presses. It's inconvenient, but not really time-consuming since there are only 50 files or less at any given time to delete.\\n\\nFinally saving results in the tool itself consists of manually deleting the default file name of \\\"Report\\\" and then renaming the file each time. It takes quite a few button presses thanks to the clunky interface.\\n\\nAnyway, it's a handy tool for the occasional test, but if you are saving/downloading/deleting large quantities of test results it's a bit of a hassle.\",\n \"Product: The UniFi video camera is designed for use indoors or outdoors under an overhang. The camera has infrared LEDs with automatic IR cut filter. Accessible from a web browser, the UniFi video interface was designed to be easy to use yet packed with advanced features. The UniFi video interface is incredibly intuitive and loaded with powerful features such as detailed statistical Reporting, multiple views, versatile camera settings, advanced analytics, and customizable event recordings.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Fantastic little camera, full featured and easy setup\\n\\nReview: Fantastic little camera. I have recently installed several Ubiquiti products (two Nanostations, a Picostation, Toughswitch, etc) and when we needed a camera, I went back to Ubiquiti. Once it arrived I opened the box, plugged it into my network, opened the free software I installed from Ubiquiti (Unifi Video) and it detected the camera. I clicked on \\\"manage\\\" and I was able to view the live feed instantly and start setting it up. The last POE camera I used was a Sharx Security camera and you had to have a degree in networking to get it configured.\\n\\nUsually Ubiquiti products aren't for the home consumer as their products can be difficult to configure for the non-technical types, but this camera was a pleasant surprise. In just minutes I was setting up the recording configuration and enjoying the high def feed on my laptop. If you create an account on Ubiquiti's website, you can link it to your camera software and specify where the footage you record and save is stored, how much to store before overwrite, create zones for capturing footage at doorways, etc. The software is very slick, very user-friendly and again...it's free! You can search footage by date, time, even specific cameras (if you have more than one) along with some other filters that make sorting through recorded footage much easier.\\n\\nThe camera itself is a 1080p camera, but you can record and save in 3 different resolutions. It comes on a robust ball-swivel mount that lets you mount the camera at almost any angle, and it has a slot to allow the ethernet cable to come out without being crimped or you can pass a cable through the wall and straight into the back of this camera so the cable stays completely hidden and protected.\\n\\nIn addition to the great picture quality, it has IR lights for night time viewing and the picture is still very good. In my testing they cut in and out very well for the current lighting conditions.\\n\\nKeep in mind this is a 24v POE camera, so you need to use the included POE power supply or a product such as the Ubiquiti ToughSwitch to power this thing. All in all it's a fantastic little camera in a very nice package, I will definitely be purchasing more of these.\",\n \"Product: The DigiView 4-Port (4X1) 1.3 HDMI CERTIFIED switch is the ideal solution for multiple HD devices to share a single HDMI display. This new v1.3 switch offers the enhancement of support for high bandwidth HDMI 1.3 signals. It is fully compatible with all prior versions of HDMI and will support all the new features including DEEP COLOR (high color bit depth) and enhanced multi-channel digital audio formats (Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD Master Audio). The HDMI Switcher allows access to multiple HDMI devices, such as DVD players and Satellite set-top boxes to one HDMI display.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Good build quality, will not remotely switch for me...read on\\n\\nReview: I have a very simple set-up at the house. I have (1) LCD tv with (1) HDMI input on the back. I also have a dvd player and a cable box, both with HDMI outputs. Setting up this device is super easy. Simply run one HDMI cable from the output on the back of the switch to the tv, and then run an HDMI cable from both the dvd player and the cable box into the inputs on the back of the switch.\\n\\nI had the cable box set on port 1, and the dvd player on port 2 since we use it less. I powered the switch on and the cable picture came onto the tv screen and looks fine. Here's where I came to the first issue. When I used the switch remote and pressed \\\"2\\\" to switch to the dvd player, it powered down my television. So I cannot use the remote, I have to manually press \\\"2\\\" on the switch itself. It does switch to port 2 (the red LED on the switch lights up), and the dvd screensaver comes onto the tv temporarily. But when I put a dvd into the player, the signal turns on and off alternately. I saw the dvd menu, then the tv went to an all blue screen (my tv's default screen when there is no input), then a solid pink screen, then back to dvd screensaver. Even with the switch manually set on \\\"2\\\" and a dvd playing, it will not display on the tv.\\n\\nUsing the remote to switch back to the cable box again powered my tv down. I can manually switch it over, and again the cable works fine. But so does a direct connection. For whatever reason, this device will not switch between my cable box and my dvd player, and when I manually switch it the dvd will not display on the tv screen.\\n\\nIf it will work for you it seems to be decently built piece of equipment. As for me I will be returning this to Amazon and searching for another solution.\",\n \"Product: Rothco Men's The 3-Hole Face Mask. The 3-Hole Face Mask in Black This 100% acrylic ribbed knit face mask with eye and mouth slits is great for both a walk to work and a snowboarding trip. Match it with a winter jacket to stay completely warm. Pullover Ribbed Knit Face Mask One Eye Slit 100% Acrylic By Rothco Size & Fit: One Size Fits All.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Really good fit, soft material, color is spot-on\\n\\nReview: Nobody has reviewed this item so I figured I'd share. The fabric is acrylic, but is soft and feels just fine against the skin. The color is foliage green and looks just like the picture. The fit of the head area is very good, everything lines up where it should, and the neck piece is long enough that it covers your throat well.\\n\\nOnly negative I can see right now is the eye openings are fairly narrow and need to sit just right on your face for a perfectly clear view. I'm going to stretch the openings out just a bit to make sure I don't have any issues with obstructed view.\\n\\nOverall a very good cool-weather tactical use or hunting mask, especially for the price.\",\n \"Product: The XTAK Knee Pads are extremely light and flexible, yet they provide superior protection and shock absorption with the flexibility to move the way your body moves. XTAK is the lightest, strongest product of its kind ever created.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Nice quality, but straps are narrow\\n\\nReview: Bought these for future use in some 3-Gun events. Let me start by saying the actual quality of these elbow pads is very good. They are lined with a Coolmax lining and a non-slip rubber pad to grip your clothing or skin better so they stay put. My big issue with these are that the neoprene straps that velcro together to hold them on your arm are very narrow, so if you tighten them enough to stay put they tend to dig into your arms a bit.\\n\\nEven after only a few minutes of wearing them, I felt like they were restricting blood flow. I used to have an old pair of Protec elbow pads with two straps that were much wider (probably 4 times as wide) that I used to wear creeking. I don't ever remember them feeling uncomfortable or restricting blood flow and I'd have them on for hours at a time.\\n\\nMy other issue is that the outer plastic shell comes to a pretty sharp point, so when I lay down and prop up on my elbows it's not very stable. Obviously I could see they had a point to them in the pictures, but I didn't realize how much it would affect stability. A nice, round surface would be better suited I think. I have this same issue with the Hatch XTAK Knee pads).\\n\\nI'm only knocking stars off for the straps however, as the pointed outer shell is only a downside because of the application I was using them in, and that's not necessarily their intended use.\",\n \"Product: The XTAK Knee Pads are extremely light and flexible, yet they provide superior protection and shock absorption with the flexibility to move the way your body moves. XTAK is the lightest, strongest product of its kind ever created.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Nice quality, but straps are narrow\\n\\nReview: Bought these for future use in some 3-Gun events. Let me start by saying the actual quality of these elbow pads is very good. They are lined with a Coolmax lining and a non-slip rubber pad to grip your clothing or skin better so they stay put. My big issue with these are that the neoprene straps that velcro together to hold them on your arm are very narrow, so if you tighten them enough to stay put they tend to dig into your arms a bit.\\n\\nEven after only a few minutes of wearing them, I felt like they were restricting blood flow. I used to have an old pair of Protec elbow pads with two straps that were much wider (probably 4 times as wide) that I used to wear creeking. I don't ever remember them feeling uncomfortable or restricting blood flow and I'd have them on for hours at a time.\\n\\nMy other issue is that the outer plastic shell comes to a pretty sharp point, so when I lay down and prop up on my elbows it's not very stable. Obviously I could see they had a point to them in the pictures, but I didn't realize how much it would affect stability. A nice, round surface would be better suited I think. I have this same issue with the Hatch XTAK Knee pads).\\n\\nI'm only knocking stars off for the straps however, as the pointed outer shell is only a downside because of the application I was using them in, and that's not necessarily their intended use.\",\n \"Product: GG&G, Inc. Bipod, with swivel, fits Picatinny, black gg&g-1125. This product is made of highly quality materials and manufactured in the United States.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: lightweight, quiet, & functional bipod\\n\\nReview: The GG&G rail mount bipod is an excellent choice for most anyone looking for a quality, lightweight alternative to Harris or similar style bipods. The legs of this bipod are deployed by squeezing a lever on the leg while rotating the bipod leg rearward. The action is smooth and quiet & the legs lock into place positively and securely.\\n\\nThere are no preset positions for extending the legs, which is accomplished by turning a small thumbscrew to allow the leg to slide in or out. Once you find the best position for your needs, just tighten the thumbscrew back up to secure the leg in place. This gives you more adaptability compared to a leg with preset locking positions.\\n\\nThe bipod also features adjustable cant, which is also controlled by a thumbscrew. I should note that the thumbscrews are aluminum, not plastic and should prove to be very durable. You can leave the screw loose to allow the rifle to cant side to side freely, or tighten the screw to firm it up.\\n\\nThe feet of the bipod are small squares with pointed teeth on the bottom to help bite into the surface of whatever the bipod is resting on. The feet are plastic, so I am not sure about long term durability but they are replaceable by removing a small screw that secures them to the bipod legs. If they are made of a nylon material they will be very durable, so this is one area I need to make an inquiry to GG&G about for clarification.\\n\\nThe only other small drawback is that the rail mount takes up some space, but on the plus side it makes for a very stable overall platform. An excellent bipod and I would purchase another. Big bonus, this product is manufactured here in the States by an American company. 5 stars.\",\n \"Product: JP Enterprises Red Dot Sights - JPoint 4 MOA Dot Sight\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Excellent, low-mass sight for pistols or other platforms\\n\\nReview: I purchased this for the S&W M&P .40 CORE. The CORE comes with an adapter plate (#2) that fits the JPoint perfectly. This is an excellent optic with some trade-offs.\\n\\nFirst, the unit is not built like an EOTech; the housing is polymer and the lens is acrylic. While this might seem a disadvantage, it makes the Jpoint incredibly lightweight. It of course does weigh something, but in real-world terms it weighs practically nothing. This has a couple advantages: it doesn't change the way your pistol balances/handles, and since there is no mass on top of your slide, there is minimal inertia from the recoil.\\n\\nJpoint states that they went with the acrylic lens for similar reasons; low weight and durability. I read several reviews of CMore sight users that experienced cracked glass, which will not happen with the JPoint. The trade-off is a slightly less clear optical lens, but the dot is all you need to see anyway. Basically red dots/holographic sights allow you to keep both eyes on your target, with the dot super-imposed on your target. So that makes the acrylic lens less of an issue.\\n\\nYou cannot turn the Jpoint off without unmounting it and removing the battery. It does come with a protective cover however that keeps the dot on the lowest power setting to conserve battery life. The upside is the sight is always on and available, provided of course the battery is good.\\n\\nTo compensate for the lack of power on/off and adjustable brightness, the Jpoint adjusts automatically to light changes and it does so very well. Standing near a light switch in a completely dark room, I can switch the light on and watch the red dot get much brighter instantly, while a flip of the switch back to dark makes the dot shrink and dim to its lowest setting. It works instantly and perfectly.\\n\\nOverall I'm very happy with the Jpoint, with the only unknown for me being its long-term durability.\",\n \"Product: The Pulsar 940 IR Flashlight operates in the remote field of IR range (940nm), invisible by the unaided eye.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Washes out my NV, not happy with performance\\n\\nReview: I purchased this IR light for a Gen II+ NV scope that already has very good light gathering ability. While the unit seems to be well built, I had a few concerns and issues I'll address. First, it's very lightweight which is a good feature for keeping the overall heft of a rifle down, but it's so light that I question the long-term durability of the unit. Once I mounted this to my rifle, I honestly could not tell much of a difference at all in the view through my NV scope. My honest opinion is that I could actually see better without it, due to it washing out my scope with IR light.\\n\\nMy guess is (again, this is my opinion) that while it might help an inexpensive Gen1 NV scope see better, a higher end NV unit will not benefit from this particular IR light as the beam does not adjust focus well. While you can theoretically adjust the beam on this unit, I found no setting that was beneficial to my setup at all, which is why I returned the unit.\\n\\nFor a higher quality IR light I purchased the TNVC ELR Torch PRO unit; it's made in Germany from aluminum and high quality glass, and it has made a huge improvement using the same setup that I tried the Pulsar with.\",\n \"Product: A form fitting glove with maximum hand and finger dexterity.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Finally, great gloves for big-guy hands\\n\\nReview: I think I've tried 10 different pairs of \\\"tactical\\\" gloves, from Blackhawk to Mechanix and everything in between. I have large hands, and while some of the other gloves (most came in XL as the largest size) fit ok, when I made a fist the gloves would be overly tight in the ends of the fingers and I couldn't really close the wrist loops securely.\\n\\nAfter seeing these on Amazon I ordered them in the XXL size and I couldn't be happier. They fit, literally, like a glove. I have no excess material that hinders firearm control manipulation but they aren't so tight that I can't make a fist either. I can fully close the wrist straps, and the sewn in loops that helps you pull the gloves on are perfect.\\n\\nMy only negative about these gloves is they are called \\\"Heat Grip\\\" gloves, which would imply they are for protecting against higher temps. Of course they are not Nomex, and while they certainly offer better heat protection than bare skin I wouldn't recommend them for holding onto the forearm of a rifle that just had several hundred rounds put through it.\\n\\nI am happy with the quality and overall fit and appearance however, and they definitely have a permanent place in my gear stash.\",\n \"Product: The MBUS (Magpul Back-Up Sight) is a low-cost, color injection molded, folding back-up sight. The MBUS Front Sight is adjustable for elevation and fits most 1913 Picatinny-railed hand guards. Made in U.S.A. Impact resistant polymer construction provides light weight and resists operational abuse. Spring-loaded flip up sight easily activated from either side or by pressing the top. Detent and spring pressure keeps sight erect but allows for unobstructed folding under impact, etc. Clamps to most any MIL-STD-1913 Picatinny/STANAG 4694 railed hand guards and provides the same height-over-bore as standard A2 irons. Protective wings shield the spring-locking A2 front sight post. Elevation adjustment tool included, but most aftermarket A2 front sight adjustment tools may be used as well. NOTE: Cannot be mounted to a railed gas block due to excess heat issues. Front MBUS must be mounted to a railed fore end on the same plane as the receiver rail. Because of this the sight is also not compatible with MOE Hand Guards.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Nice rear sight, one small issue\\n\\nReview: I bought the Magpul MBUS rear sight because my Doublestar Star15 did not ship with a rear sight, only an A2 front sight. When the Magpul arrived I installed it on the flattop rail just in front of the charging handle. When I deploy the Magpul sights, they line up perfectly with the factory front sight.\\n\\nMy only real complaint so far is that the Magpul sight features a little thumb tab on either side that when depressed allows the spring-loaded sight to go from folded flat to deployed instantly. However, I'm not sure if it's just the one I received or if it's common in all the Magpul MBUS sights, but pressing only one of the tabs will not deploy the sight. I either have to press both of them at the same time, or press down on the very top of the sight which will also allow it to deploy.\\n\\nI'm hoping that with a little use and wear that it will deploy by pressing only one tab on either side, but time will tell. Overall I'm very happy with this sight.\",\n \"Product: Volquartsen Ultimate Clip Loader for MKII and MKIII Pistol, Yellow, VC2CLU\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Super product, I ordered clear but received yellow...don't hesitate\\n\\nReview: In case you're really picky, I did order the clear Lexan version and received a yellow model, so it's no guarantee of your color choice. It's ugly, but it works so well who cares? Here's the review:\\n\\nI just acquired a Ruger 22/45, and the magazines are really hard to load. To make it worse, the edges at the top of the mag are very sharp, and trying to load the in the traditional manner almost cut my thumb open. I managed the first day out with a pair of gloves, and when I got home the McFadden .22 loader was on my doorstep.\\n\\nThe instructions are very easy to follow.\\n\\nStep 1) Slide the loader lid open\\nStep 2) Dump a bunch of .22 rounds loosely into the top\\nStep 3) Slide the loader lid closed, and gently shake the loader back and forth\\n\\nIt's at this point the loose .22 rounds start dropping into a slot, perfectly aligned\\n\\nStep 4) Tilt the loader up (reservoir end up, mag insertion end down) and insert a Ruger mag fully into the bottom\\n\\nThe .22 rounds will either completely fill the magazine instantly, or you might have to gently slide the magazine back out just a bit and then back in, as 3-4 rounds fall in each time. Either way it's super easy. Stupid easy actually.\\n\\nThis is hands down the best accessory you could get for a day at the range. McFadden needs to make one of these for every .22 magazine model on the market, I'd buy one for anything else I own.\",\n \"Product: Hand made from imported Australian beech wood. This furniture grade Rifle Display case cabinet is of beautiful design and construction, very detailed and attractive, but also very affordable. This display case is perfect for displaying that special rifle. Case comes standard with 1 set of heavy duty padded rifle hooks, These hooks are very sturdy and are non-marking. You can display the rifle either direction. These specially made hooks allow for easy access to the rifle. You can freely remove and remount the gun. 98% UV Door keeps your gun safe from the sunlight and dust build up. Heavy duty lockable latches keep your case safe from opening. (Please note locks are not meant as a safety deterrent please use further precaution) Case comes fully assembled with all mounting hardware included. Please make sure your gun fits inside this specific case. Dimensions inside are: 44.5 x 10 x 3.5 If your gun is longer please see other items as we have longer models available. (gun shown not included)\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Great value for the money...nice case, terrible hooks but easy to fix\\n\\nReview: <div id=\\\"video-block-R263K7ZT7PE52T\\\" class=\\\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\\\"></div><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/B140xeyYqlS.mp4\\\" class=\\\"video-url\\\"><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/A1SOQiPmn0S.png\\\" class=\\\"video-slate-img-url\\\"> I purchased this rifle case specifically to hold a Henry Golden Boy rifle. I looked at doing a custom deal from a store like Hobby Lobby, but I couldn't touch a case for this price so I went with this one from Amazon. Here's my thoughts on the case itself:\\n\\nThe wood isn't hardwood but it's of decent quality and the stain was nice and even throughout, and was true to the color I ordered. The \\\"glass\\\" is of course plexiglass, but is clear enough and perfectly suitable for a case in this price range; plus it keeps this case from being too heavy.\\n\\nThe felt was excellent; it's not super thick but it was very smooth, consistent in color and finished excellent inside the case. There were no loose edges or anything of that nature and it seems to be completely glued into the case, not just in a few spots.\\n\\nThe brass latches are a nice touch and keep the lid closed, but the locks are beyond worthless. I left it unlocked and threw the paper-thin keys in the garbage.\\n\\nAdditionally this case comes with hooks to hold your rifle. Here's where I took a star off. The hooks that are included are terrible for sure. They are sturdy, nice and padded, but terribly ugly and mounting requires screwing them through the front of the case, where the screws would protrude through the back. That means using a screw short enough to go through the particle board wood backing, but not so long that they go into your sheet rock. In my opinion they shouldn't be included with this case.\\n\\nInstead I purchased wooden curtain rod holders from Lowe's and installed them, lined them with felt, and added a small dowel rod post in the area behind the rifle receiver to keep the rifle from tilting back in the case (not shown in the video, I added it after to keep rifle perfectly level). It worked perfect and looks pretty good, and overall cost less than $15 total materials.\\n\\nHere's how I installed the hooks and dowel rod. Once I laid out where the wooden hooks would go, I lightly placed a tape outline around the base of the hooks so I could pick them up and still see where they were sitting. Then I took an Exacto knife and cut a very small square of felt out of the box where the hooks would sit so the screws would not cause a run in the felt. I made these cut-outs smaller than the outline of the hook itself, so the hook would cover the cut-out and it would not be visible.\\n\\nThen I pre-drilled two holes through my small square cut-out, and put two screws through the back of the box into the hooks. I lined the hooks with felt, installed the dowel rod the same way (stained to match the hooks I bought, even though you don't see it with the rifle in the case), and it was ready to go.\\n\\nOnce I was finished, I decided to get 4 large felt sticky squares (also from Lowe's) to put on the back of the box on the four corners. This allows the box to rest against the wall on those felt squares, and keeps the heads of the screws on the back of the box from contacting the wall and making it hang funny.\\n\\nThe box installed perfectly with the rifle inside. This was a gift and it turned out beautifully. Definitely worth your time, effort, and a little bit of money to make a very good rifle display case a little bit better.\",\n \"Product: Rollers are rollers. At least, they are until they become catapults and throw you into the wall or the rider warming up in front of you because you punched out of them with an acceleration. Tacx' Galaxia Training Rollers solve that issue with a swing system that absorbs those accelerations, keeping your tires on the rollers and you on the bike. It also features the same conical rollers as the less expensive Antares model, and that shape further reduces the risk of unplanned rider/basement wall interfaces by coaching your tires into the center and away from the rollers' edges.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Smooth, lightweight, compact trainer - not easy to switch different size bikes\\n\\nReview: <div id=\\\"video-block-R3GQAAKICOBTT5\\\" class=\\\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\\\"></div><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/F1jbAs9q9aS.mp4\\\" class=\\\"video-url\\\"><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/01gsNrxQtUS.png\\\" class=\\\"video-slate-img-url\\\"> Getting older means not wanting to ride outside during temperature extremes, so my wife and I purchased the Tacx Galaxia rollers this week. She wanted a trainer, I liked the smoothness of rollers and how they encourage good bike handling, although they do lack the resistance of a good trainer. Having owned an older set of aluminum rollers, I was anxious to see how I would like these new Tacx Galaxia rollers with the rocking action that allows for harder efforts.\\n\\nFirst, assembly was very easy. The Galaxia arrives in a compact box, and includes the following parts:\\n\\n-3 roller drums\\n-2 side rails\\n-1 rubber drive band\\n-6 bolts/washers and 2 hex wrenches\\n\\nThat's it. Simply stand the side rails up, insert the roller drums, and fasten them to the side rail frames with the included hardware. Don't forget to put the rubber band around the middle and front rollers before attaching both side rails however. Tighten the hardware using the 2 hex wrenches. You will probably have to hold the bolt on one side of the roller with a hex wrench while you turn the bolt on the other side, since the axles inside the drum rotate freely from the drum itself.\\n\\nNow you've assembled the rollers and you need to fit them to your bike size. Here's one of my disappointments with the Galaxia rollers. While changing the length of the rollers for different bike frame sizes is straightforward, it's not as easy or as quick as I'd like. Here's the procedure:\\n\\n-Measure your bike frame from the center of the front fork dropout to the center of the rear dropout.\\n-Convert the inches to millimeters.\\n-Using the chart in the rear of the instruction manual, find which of the 7 positions in the cassette (the cassette controls the length of the roller frame) will fit your bike.\\n-Flip the Galaxia frame upside down.\\n-Now remove the cassette from the frame and move the spring-loaded pin to that position, then replace cassette.\\n-Flip open the two gray levers found inside the frame\\n-Slide the frame apart until the spring-loaded pins pop into their secured positions for riding.\\n-Close the two gray levers\\n\\nI find it very helpful to use a flat-blade screwdriver to aid in initial cassette removal, and to press the spring-loaded pin down as it passes and clicks into each position as you re-insert the cassette. This will make a lot more sense with the frame in front of you, and by watching a short setup video I put on Youtube: [...] (if link doesn't work, search for \\\"Galaxia roller assembly and setup).\\n\\nNow your bike should fit on the rollers and your front axle (or dropout) should align pretty much perfectly center with the axle of the front roller drum. You don't want to be forward of center here. So once it's setup for one bike, you must do the above steps again to switch bikes if they are of different wheelbase length.\\n\\nWhen I first saw the sliding frame of the Galaxia, I incorrectly assumed I could flip the two levers, slide the frame shorter or longer depending on my needs, and that was it. But the procedure is a bit more complicated than that. The sliding frame allows you to both change the cassette position and collapse the frame fully for storage.\\n\\nThat brings us back to another strong point of these rollers. They are lightweight, collapse into a very small package and would be very easy to transport. They also slide under a standard bed or store upright in a closet pretty easily.\\n\\nAdditionally they are not particularly noisy. We ride them at night in the room next to where our child sleeps, and from their room it sounds like a distant hum, much like a clothes dryer or something similar.\\n\\nOverall I am happy with these rollers. They seem to be of good quality, they were easy to assemble, and the rocking motion is not hard to get used to and will keep you on the rollers when standing or sprinting with hard effort. Just keep in mind if you have two bikes or more of different sizes and you all want to use these frequently, this might not be the setup for you.\",\n \"Product: The Condor Rip-Away EMT pouch carries all your 1st aid gear. The pouch is designed to be rip-away from the modular platform when needed, and the strap on the platform keeps it from falling off accidentally.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Nice size, removes quickly, attaches securely\\n\\nReview: I ordered this to attach to my backpack via molle webbing, and one of the features I liked was the rip-away design. Basically you get a large velcro backplate with two straps and snaps that thread through the molle webbing, then you attach the main pouch to the backplate via velcro, and there is an additional strap with buckle just to make it secure.\\n\\nThe concept is you simply unbuckle one quick buckle and rip it off the backplate to get quick access to the EMT pouch.\\n\\nInside the pouch are several useful pocket sleeves, a zippered compartment for misc items, and a few bungee loops to hold various items. It holds a fair amount of things, and overall it seems to be of good quality.\\n\\nMy only other small complaint (minor as it is) is that while they put a fuzzy velcro strip across the front to allow for a Medical cross patch, they made it an off-size width. So a 2\\\" square med patch overhangs the velcro top and bottom. A 1\\\" square medical patch would fit better, so if you want to include that for easy identification since this pouch did not come with that designation, look for a smaller medical patch.\",\n \"Product: The Montalban 3 is a complete all-in-one child carrier with all accessories included. Hook it up directly to a bike for towing anywhere you are headed or transform it easily into a performance jogger - kit included. It's unique alloy mono-frame design not only simplifies assembly but ensures maximum durability and safety. The trailer also features a patented 2-step folding mechanism that requires no tools at all. Wheels feature push button release for quick and easy removal and allow the trailer to stow virtually flat in the trunk of a car. Comfortably fits either 1 or 2 children or dogs!\\nSpecifications\\nPassenger Capacity: 1 or 2\\nWeight Capacity: 100lb/45.4kg\\nWeight: 35lb/15.8kg\\nCabin Height: 28in\\nCabin Width: 21in\\nSeat Width: 22in\\nCargo Space: 3250 cubic in\\nWheel Size: 20in rear wheel with 16in jogger wheel\\nOverall Size Assembled: 39in x 33in x 39in (without towbar)\\nOverall Size Folded: 35in x 25in x 9in\\nFrame: Alloy with all weather finish\\nFabric: Coated Cordura\\nHitch: Quick release connector universal to most bikes\\n\\nIncludes complete jogger\\nconversion kit\\nAccomodates 1 or 2 children\\nLightweight alloy frame\\nPatented 2-step folding and assembly meechanism requiring no tools for assembly Universal bike hitch connector with quick release\\nPush button release wheels\\nFolds flat for seasonal storage or travel ease\\nLarge rear cargo storage area with valuables pocket\\n5 point child harness with padded shoulder straps\\nMesh padded vented seat with separate storage pockets\\nAll weather cover with both mesh and vinyl window depending on the weather conditions\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Great bike trailer, fair for running/walking...could use a few improvements\\n\\nReview: UPDATE 9.9.12:\\nWe've been using this trailer behind our bikes regularly now to pull our growing 16 month old. I still feel it's an overall excellent trailer and value, but I would still love a few changes. My main gripe is still that there aren't enough ventilation options. The main front panel has a screen cover, but if it starts raining (twice on us now) you either have to leave it open which means your child gets wet from the direct rainfall AND your rear tire spray, or close it and risk them getting hot. If the side panels also unzipped, you could close the front panel and open the sides to still allow ventilation while keeping most of the rain out till you can get back to the car.\\n\\nBut I have a new issue, and am wondering if others have encountered this problem. I can't air the tires up. The tubes/stems are Schrader valves, and when I try to put my pump on them they simply sink into the rim too low to get the pump on, and then I can't get air into them. This could be solved in one of two ways. Use tubes with longer Schrader valves, or switch to tubes that use threaded Presta valves. With a threaded Presta you can put a small nut on the stem that keeps it from sinking into the rim, and that would allow you to air the tires up. While there isn't a lot of weight on the tires, our last trip I noticed the trailer tended to swerve back and forth more than normal and I believe this was because of the low tire pressure, so they don't have the stability they should.\\n\\nAnyway, the manufacturer has addressed some of the other concerns from these reviews, so it's good to see that they are actively engaged with their customer base. I do like the trailer and will continue to use it, and hopefully Montalban will continue to tweak and improve an already excellent product.\\n\\nSorry for the long update, you will find the original review below. Thanks!\\n\\n***************************************************************************\\n\\nFirst let me say for the price this is an excellent trailer. We had looked at a few from Burley and Chariot, plus some of the less expensive models such as the Instep line that Amazon sells. We found our trailer at Costco as others mentioned for less than the price here, and being able to put hands on it was nice too so we could check out the quality a bit before we purchased.\\n\\nAssembly was super easy. That is, there is no assembly other than what it usually takes to \\\"assemble\\\" it from a collapsed storage position to the ready to use position. It has an aluminum tube frame all the way around that really makes it seem sturdy, and from the car to ready to pull takes all of a minute or so.\\n\\nAfter a few bike rides and a jogging trip, here are my pros and cons:\\n\\nPros Cycling:\\n-Pulls easily and very smooth, even at speeds that most recreational cyclists will not usually reach\\n (note: manual states trailer should not be pulled faster than 8mph. I can't coast at 8mph, and I feel very comfortable pulling the trailer faster. While I am still not sold on the long term durability of the quick-release wheel system of the trailer, I do not see any reason why this particular setup would hold up at 8mph and fail at 15mph. That is just my opinion, again the manual says the speed limit is 8mph on the trailer).\\n\\n-Very easy to attach to bike, and there is ample room for your left foot/heel when pedaling (I have a size 15 shoe)\\n\\n-Turns easily and tightly, you can turn around in less than the width of a normal street with no issues\\n\\nCons Cycling:\\n-Seat and harnesses are the weakest part of this trailer. The straps are difficult to adjust, and instead of using simple snap buckles for the retention they use a D-ring and hook setup which makes buckling and unbuckling much more difficult.\\n\\n-There is nothing to keep the pads on the chest harness, so they want to slide off every time you go to use them, and the buckle ends up buried halfway up the pad, which leaves you trying to dig it out with a child that just wants to get going. I understand a nicer setup is more expensive, but I'd pay a bit more for a better harness system. After all, when cycling it's important that your child is strapped in well should a crash occur. Something between what they have now and lower-end car seat setup would be better.\\n\\n-Only the front panel is mesh for airflow, which allows possibly more wind than you'd like and debris to blow straight into the trailer (yes, a surprising amount of debris can enter through the screen window). Side panels do not zip out, which would be nice for indirect and cross ventilation on warmer days\\n\\n-There are loops at the very top of the front window/door area for keeping the mesh and/or solid windows rolled up, but they are either up or down, no in between. If a couple more of these retainer loops were sewed on, you could have the solid window halfway down for instance, which would limit airflow directly on the face but still allow ventilation on cooler days.\\n\\n-The flag is nice, but I would like a good sturdy loop on the back side of the trailer to install flashing lights, just like on the bike. This is probably an easy-enough modification. There is a reflector back there however.\\n\\nPros Jogging:\\n-Trailer rolls very smoothly, cushioned hand grip is nice\\n\\n-Hand grip is a good height, my wife (short) and me (tall) both find it comfortable\\n\\n-You can push the trailer without kicking the bottom of it\\n\\nCons Jogging:\\n-Fixed front wheel setup is long and well, fixed...which makes turning pretty much impossible without lifting the front wheel. I know you don't want a fast-swivel wheel if you are running and pushing this thing, but it's also hard to keep a good pace on a curvy path if you are having to push down on the rear handle to lift the front wheel just to turn.\\n\\n-More ventilation options would be nice (same as with cycling)\\n\\nIt sounds like I have a lot of cons, but it's more of a wishlist. We like this trailer, and with the exception of the harness system it really is an excellent setup for the money.\",\n \"Product: Hogue wraparound rubber grips are the perfect choice for the shooter that is looking for a sleek grip that is both attractive as well as functional. This grip is manufactured from a soft durable rubber and features a lightweight, synthetic Skeleton insert that makes up the rigid interior of the grip. The synthetic insert is chemically bonded to the exterior rubber grip insuring that the grip won't delaminate or come apart. Lots of grips have irritating medallions or Funky features that can feel uncomfortable during use, the cobblestone (stippled) surface of this grip replaces traditional checkering and allows for good grip control. The material is solvent and oil resistant which means it will not deteriorate or dissolve due to cleaning your firearm.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Wider, more comfortable grip than factory panels provide, no mods required\\n\\nReview: Not too much to say about these Hogue rubber grips for the Ruger 22/45 except they offer a wider grip than the stock wood panels provide, which is nice if you have larger hands. The finger indexing and pebbled rubber make it comfortable and give you a firm grip as well.\\n\\nOne note based on another review here and a question that was asked, but there are no modifications required to install these grips on a Ruger 22/45. You simply remove the 4 screws holding the original 2 wooden grip panels on, place the Hogue rubber grip on the handle, make sure it's on good and snug and centered over the screw holes, and put screws back in. Done.\\n\\nA really nice grip if you're looking for more comfort and control over the stock grips.\",\n \"Product: The safer way to Back Up! Camera Mounts to License Plate. Objects are visible 3' and Beyond. Helps Reduce Dangerous Spots. Perfect for cars, SUVs and Trucks; Families with kids and/or pets; Boat, RV or Camper Owners.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Easy install on pickup, works very well\\n\\nReview: This took me an hour to install on my truck. It works perfect, and for $100 I'm very pleased with the picture.\\n\\nThis camera system comes with three main parts:\\n\\n-The camera (mounts to license plate)\\n-The wireless transmitter (needs to be mounted somewhere weather-proof)\\n-The LCD monitor (mounts somewhere you can see it)\\n\\nHere's how to install this on a 2006 F-150 (this would apply to most trucks, cars will be different):\\n\\n-Mount the camera using the upper holes on your license plate and with the provided hardware.\\n-Route the camera wire over the top of your plate and let it hang behind the bumper\\n-Working from under the rear bumper, you'll see a group of wires in plastic tubing running above the frame over to the left taillight. This is where you will route the camera wire in a few minutes.\\n\\n-Open your tailgate and remove the two silver screws that hold your left taillight in place. Once those are removed, pull the taillight straight out. Do not wiggle it, you could snap the plastic retainers on the light. It is tight, but pull it straight out. Once it comes out, remove the upper and lower light bulbs by twisting their housings one half turn, they will pop right out.\\n\\n-You want to use the lower light, which is the reverse light. It will have one black wire, and one black wire with a violet stripe.\\n\\n-Crawl back under the truck, and run the camera wire along with the other wires you see above the bumper towards the taillight, then up through the hole towards the taillight. You should clearly be able to see daylight from where you've removed the taillight. Once you get the wire pulled up through the taillight hole, let it hang there. You'll want to secure the camera wire that runs under the truck to other wires using cable ties and possible some plastic tubing to offer it good protection.\\n\\n-At this time you'll want to disconnect the NEGATIVE (black) cable from your vehicle battery.\\n\\n-The next step is to run both the camera wire and the wireless transmitter's power wire from the taillight into the bed of the truck. If you stand on the left side of your truck and look at the taillight area, you should see a good 1/2\\\" size hole that goes into the truck bed. This hole comes out just below the top of the bed rail, very close to the tailgate. In my truck the hole is covered by the side of the bedliner, but the liner easily pulls back enough to expose the hole.\\n\\n-Push the loose end of the camera wire (with the white connector end) through that hole from the taillight side and into the bed of the truck. Now push the end of the transmitter power wire through the same hole, just as you did the camera wire. Both white connector ends should now be inside the truck bed, and you should have the loose red and black wire ends to connect to the taillight wires in the taillight housing.\\n\\n-Using the two red connectors that came with the camera, place one over the black wire of the taillight and one over the black/violet wire. Now take the black wire from the transmitter cable and place it in the red connector that contains the black taillight wire, and make sure they are sitting securely before clamping the connector down with a pair of pliers. Place the red wire into the red connector that holds the black/violet wire, and do the same as before. Make sure these connections are secure.\\n\\n-You can now replace the taillight connectors back into the actual taillight, and replace the entire unit back onto the truck. Don't forget to put the two silver screws back into the side of the light housing.\\n\\n-Now inside the truck bed, you should have two white connectors coming into the bed. Route those up the side of the truck to wherever you are going to mount the wireless transmitter. I placed mine in the left corner of the camper shell, just above the camper shell lip that sits on the top rails of the bed.\\n\\n-Connect the two white connectors to the wireless transmitter, and then you can push any additional wire length back into the hole the wires come out of, which will push it into the cavity behind the taillight. After doing this, I placed some plastic tubing over the wires to protect the short run they make from behind my bed liner to the transmitter.\\n\\n-Now RECONNECT the negative battery cable.\\n\\n-Inside the cab, plug the monitor into the cigarette lighter. You should see the blue light slowly blink. This means the monitor is in stand-by and is ready to receive a signal. Start your truck and put it into reverse...your display should now be showing you the view from the backup camera!\",\n \"Product: Auto Ventshade's Bugflector II Hood shield is custom-molded and precision-engineered to fit perfectly, designed to protect and complement the contours of your vehicle's hood. The high-profile, wrap-around design is aerodynamically efficient and provides excellent protection for your hood, windshield and fender, deflecting rocks and other hazardous road debris. Impact-modified acrylic material is wear-and-tear resistant and car wash safe, providing maximum durability. It can also be easily removed from the hood for simple cleaning, and includes all installation instructions and required hardware. This hood shield provides easy installation with no drilling required. In order to protect the hood paint from rubbing, the set includes several rubber bumpers applied to the hood during the installation. Protected by a Limited Lifetime Warranty.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Great fit, quality deflector, poor hardware\\n\\nReview: I purchased the AVS Bugflector II for the Ram 2500. I knew that the bugshield would need to be long to cover the wide hood on the 2500, but the factory box it ships in is overkill. It's HUGE. The box is at least 6' long, and probably 10\\\" x 10\\\" wide on each side. I expected it to be more of a long tube, but it's not.\\n\\nEither way, I removed the Bugflector from the box along with the hardware package. The \\\"hardware\\\" consists of 2 metals clips with screws, and 4 plastic screws with 4 plastic anchors. The instructions for the Ram 2500 require you to remove the rubber weather-stripping under the lip of the hood before installing the Bugflector. The 2 metal clips are then attached to the Bugflector, and using 3M clear tape to protect the hood, you position the Bugflector while the metal clips hold it where you place it.\\n\\nThere are 4 existing holes under the hood of the Ram, and you insert the plastic anchors and screws into these holes. You are supposed to \\\"screw\\\" the screws into the anchors, but if you push to hard they will just seat all the way in without screwing them in. That doesn't give me much confidence as to their long-term durability; I'm not sure why they wouldn't just pop back out if the plastic threads aren't really holding.\\n\\nAt least for the installation however they seem to be holding. I've had it out on the interstate a few times with no issues, so we'll see how the plastic hardware holds up long term. Otherwise the Bugflector II does not touch the paint of the Ram 2500 other than the 2 metal clips on the edges.\\n\\nThe Bugflector II itself looks good and fits the contours of the truck perfectly. I expect it to last as long as you'd need it to.\",\n \"Product: Kolpin Heavy-duty UTV side mirros help you see what's behind you and the dust you've kicked up along the way! These mirrors are designed with break away features and to fit most major brand UTVs with 1-5/8\\\"-2\\\" round tubes\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Good mirrors, easy install, Pioneer 700\\n\\nReview: Put these mirrors on a Pioneer 700-4. The smaller of the two included brackets plus a rubber insert and they fit very snug. The mirrors have a bracket that rotates so you can keep them vertical when mounted to a roll bar that slants, so no issues there. They were easy to mount, took about 10 mins total and while they swing in very easily to avoid damage if they are hit with something they do seem to hold their position very well. I don't do hard tail riding though, we just use it around the farm although we do have some rough trails.\\n\\nOne complaint is that there are four screws with sleeves that hold the mirror to the brackets, and one of them was cross threaded so I will ask for a replacement. Even with one screw missing though the bracket feels rock solid so no big deal.\\n\\nThey look good, work well, and are easy to install...I would buy again.\",\n \"Product: Occunomix LUX-900 Hi-Viz Seat Belt Cover-Orange\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Use to protect seatbelt from dirty clothes, leaves bits of fabric everywhere\\n\\nReview: I bought two of these per seatbelt to use in my work/personal truck. I put one across the lapbelt portion, and one across the chest portion. The idea was to have a removeable cover that would keep my seatbelts clean when I was filthy so I didn't get my clean clothes dirty on the weekends.\\n\\nThey work ok for this purpose. Of course I attach them while I'm wearing the seatbelt, but when I exit the truck they don't allow the seatbelt to fully retract; that's not really a design flaw just something to be aware of if you use them like I do. If you just have one across the chest it's fine.\\n\\nThe main issue is that the edges of the fabric are unfinished, and when I take them off and on it leaves brightly colored fabric bits all over my clothes and seat.\\n\\nStill a good value for an inexpensive way to protect your seatbelts and clothes.\",\n \"Product: Bedslide (15-7348-CG) Contractor Series BedSlide 73\\\" x 48\\\"\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Such a great addition to a work truck...small quality/design issue\\n\\nReview: I had a local truck accessory company install this Bedslide into a Ram 2500 CTD with 6.4\\\" bed. It fits perfectly, taking up just about every square inch that it can possibly occupy and still operate correctly.\\n\\nBasically this is a very thick sheet of plywood, supported on a steel frame with a rubber no-slip layer on top. The Bedslide operates with a handle, which is attached by a thin steel cable on the underside to the locking pins that keep the Bedslide in the desired position. To access the Bedslide, just let the tailgate down, pull the handle, and pull the Bedslide out as far as you want. I think there are 4 locking positions, and it will slide out a couple feet past the edge of your lowered tailgate. This makes putting anything on or taking anything off the Bedslide super easy, which is even more useful if you have a camper shell installed; no more climbing up into the bed.\\n\\nThe 1500 CG has a 1500 lb weight rating and a 5-year warranty. The side rails are removable in case what you want to put on the Bedslide is wider than the actual slide, plus it comes with 4 adjustable tie-down points. I like all the features, but after the install I discovered that a small plastic end cap that covers the exposed portion of the rail had already broken. It looks like these end caps are new, as pictures on Bedslide's website don't show them in most of their photos. It's not a great design in my opinion, I would think they could find a way to finish off the ends of the rails without the caps, or design a more robust cap.\\n\\nHowever that's a small issue, and the rest of this thing seems to be built very solid. I'm impressed so far with it and it has made loading things in and out of the truck so much easier. It's definitely a purchase I'd make again.\\n\\n***************************\\n\\nJan 27th, 2013 UPDATE:\\n\\nI still use the Bedslide daily to pull tools in and out of the truck. When I have to load/unload boxes of cable or I need something stored near the cab, it's a huge help to have this thing installed. One of my minor complaints was about the quality of the plastic endcaps; the first one arrived broken, the second one arrived broken, and the replacement lasted about a week before it just started falling off. Now the other side has fallen off as well, and I've just tossed them. They have no function other than aesthetics and it's not worth the frustration trying to keep them in place.\\n\\nHowever, the Bedslide itself is working perfectly still and it is hands down the best thing I've ever purchased for my truck. I can't imagine having a work truck without one now and for my purposes it works perfectly.\\n\\n***************************\\n\\nMarch 11th, 2014 UPDATE:\\n\\nLove, love, love the Bedslide. Everyone who sees it asks about it and comments about how useful they think it is, and I tell em they are right. Still having no functional issues with the slide at all, just a couple cosmetic items. The end caps fell off early as I stated previously, but I also somehow chipped the black paint off the handle on a 1\\\" section. I don't even know how it happened, so it does seem like it chipped a bit easy but it's an easy fix with some grill paint. I take things in and out of the truck bed daily, so I'm sure I banged it with something. I still think it's an awesome product and am happy with my purchase.\",\n \"Product: Grill your favorite foods to suit your tastes over the porcelain-coated cast iron-grated 363-square inch. cooking space atop this STOK Charcoal Tower Grill. The built-in heat thermometer makes it easy to monitor the grill's temperature, and the grill's stainless steel design stands up to heavy and frequent grilling, providing long-lasting use. When it's time to clean up and store the grill, its removable ash catcher empties easily and the built-in wheels allow rolling portability between venues.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Lots of issues, some from shipping but some from factory\\n\\nReview: My review is below, which is mostly a repaste of the letter I sent to STOK grills after I got the grill assembled and discovered several issues along the way. Note that some of these issues occurred during shipping, which STOK doesn't have a lot of control over other than their packaging techniques. But my major gripe isn't a shipping issue. I'll post pics on the product page of the damage I can show. Review follows:\\n\\n\\\"I purchased the SCC0140MX tower charcoal grill as a Christmas present for my mom through Amazon and it delivered the other day. I got it out to assemble it last night, and during assembly and after assembly I found several issues that I am very disappointed with.\\n\\nFirst, as I unpacked the grill I found a dent in the side gray tower panel marked \\\"Left\\\". It's not a major dent, and I wouldn't have written for just a dent but there was more to come. Still unpacking I found two places on the bright orange lid where paint had rubbed off during shipment, and also two places inside the rim of the main bowl. The grill seemed to be packed well, so I'm not sure why there was damage in all these places but there was.\\n\\nFurther inspection revealed that the charcoal grate, which was wrapped in plastic and coated with a grease of some sort to prevent rust, had still rusted on a two inch section of the grate. And finally the pizza stone had a small chip on the outer edge, but it's not cracked and looks usable.\\n\\nThat was the extent of the issues upon unpacking, so I started to assemble. My main issue here is that first the main handle that you bolt to the grill sits completely crooked instead of nice and level, and you can't fix this because the bolt holes are pre-fixed into the lower bowl. But even worse, as I put the screws into those holes to tighten the handle, I could hear a popping sound. I was not over-tightening, just screwing them in to snug the handle up. But on the backside of the bolt holes, inside the lower main bowl, all the paint around the bolt holes began to chip off and fall onto the floor of the grill as the popping continued. I figure I might have to repair this with some charcoal grill paint.\\n\\nI took pictures of all the paint scuffs and issues during and after assembly. The grill will work in its current state, but I do not want to return this as it's a Christmas gift (we had it early since my mom lives in *location removed*). I just wanted to let you know about the issues we experienced with the grill. I ordered it based on the great reviews on Amazon, but by the time I got it fully assembled I was not happy at all with the quality of this product.\\\"\\n\\nAfter I sent that email off to STOK, I received a quick reply which basically advised I just pack the grill back up for return. I'm 6 hours from where it was assembled, so I can't just break the whole thing back down, repack it, and return it. Unfortunately putting the handle on the grill lid was one of the last steps in the assembly (yep, I follow directions) and so I didn't see it until the entire thing was assembled.\\n\\nOverall it's a nice looking grill, with a few cheap features (such as how the charcoal starter attaches underneath the grill) but I would have been happy with it without the damage and the handle/paint flaking issues. I would not purchase again based on my experience.\\n\\nUpdate: I received an email reply from a customer service rep at Stok regarding the above email. It stated that I could obtain replacement parts through the customer service department. That was the extent of the reply. I'm assuming the replacement parts might be covered under warranty, but I'm not sure who gets charged for shipping. Also to replace the damaged pieces, I would have to take apart about 50% of the grill, which I am now 6 hours away from. I might try to at least obtain new grill grate that is not rusted, call the rest bad luck, and move on. For myself I won't be purchasing another one of these grills.\",\n \"Product: RECYCLER KIT-42 IN\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: easy install, blades could be better\\n\\nReview: Purchased for a Toro Timesaver 4225 zero turn. Considering I've never removed a mower deck before, the instructions were pretty good and installation took less than an hour working by myself. The kit allows the mower to mulch the grass, which works great when everything is nice and dry. We have long, hot, humid summers in the South however and between heavy dew and rainfall the grass doesn't dry out much.\\n\\nIt struggles a bit with wet grass (not soaked, just after a rain grass, just typical damp summer grass) leaving small clumps here and there and dropping large chunks at a time when you turn. Dry grass presents no problems at all though, and it mulches and distributes the grass really well.\\n\\nMy main complaint is that the mulch blades themselves don't seem to cut that well. I mow on the slowest setting, and it leaves small sections of thicker grass uncut and I have to return and mow over them again. I never had that issue with the stock blades, which seemed to cut much cleaner and more evenly. It's a trade-off I guess; at least with the mulch kit I just have to make a few extra passes, but I don't have to rake up a bunch of clippings before they kill the lawn.\",\n \"Product: 6 ft. Extra-wide dog loading ramps give pets plenty of room for walking up and down to enter and exit a vehicle with ease. Great for minivans, cars and pickup trucks, portable pet loading ramps reduce strain on animal joints by eliminating the need to have to jump to or from an elevated surface. The extra-wide 18.75\\\" surface features a paw-friendly, washable grip tape usable in most weather conditions. Each dog ramp features a maximum 250 lb. capacity and is intended for use by pets only. Portable, lightweight design folds in half for transporting like a suitcase with the built-in carrying handle. Made with durable aluminum construction for years of reliable pet loading.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Long, wide ramp but suffers from poor manufacturing\\n\\nReview: I have a larger truck with a high tailgate, so I was looking for a long ramp to make the climb easier for an old dog. This ramp is the longest I could find, and it's nice and wide too.\\n\\nIt does flex a bit when my Pyrenees steps onto it, which makes her a bit nervous but it's better than trying to lift her up there. My real complaint is that it's manufactured very cheaply as others have pointed out, which makes the edges very sharp (like really dangerous sharp) so you have to really take care when trying to get it in and out of the truck bed and getting it unfolded and folded back up. Cheap latches and handle too, but I'm 99% it's made in China so I shouldn't expect more.\\n\\nI'd pay a bit more for this same style ramp with better manufacturing, but until then this one will have to do.\",\n \"Product: INTELLITONE 200 KIT. IntelliTone digital toning eliminates noise and false signals. Smart Tone analog toning precisely isolates individual wire pairs. Locates cables safely and effectively on active networks.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Toner for data, voice, and cable map\\n\\nReview: I use this product at work daily. It works excellent for tracing data cables and for verifying they are wired correctly. The probe has an adjustable volume control and is plenty loud for my ears, I keep it on the loudest setting because some of our data enclosures are on the factory floor and the noise can be very loud. In addition to the tone the probe also has a series of lights that show signal strength.\\n\\nThe toner has a few different settings that allow you to send tones across data lines as well as digital and analog phone lines. It will also test/tone coaxial cable although I have not used that feature. The other things this toner/probe will do are listed in Amazon's product description so I won't bore you any more of them here. This is a very nice quality piece of equipment that works every time and is easy to use. I have a few different pieces of Fluke equipment and they all function as they should.\\n\\nThis is definitely a must-have for DIY'ers and even professionals that manage small networks.\",\n \"Product: The aggressive, spiked look of the Serrated Kershaw Burst (#1970ST) is sure to draw the eye and plenty of positive comment. Youll appreciate its SpeedSafe assisted opening, which is easily accessed with a convenient flipper. Oh yes; and do notice that flipper. Weve directed the blade grind all the way down the flipper for a sweeping line. The handle is injection-molded, glass-filled nylon; a stout locking liner secures the blade during use. The Burst also includes a reversible pocketclip. A partially serrated blade provides additional cutting power for tough jobs. Since the company's founding in 1974, Kershaw Knives has been dedicated to quality. This has led to a worldwide reputation for performance and innovation in tools and knives. From state-of-the-art manufacturing to advanced materials, customers rely on Kershaw for products that provide \\\"technology with an edge\\\". Today, Kershaw is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kai Corporation, which has been in business for more than 90 years. Kai Corporation is Japan's premier blade producer. Their innovative approach to product development has resulted in more than 10,000 superior products. Kershaw products are guaranteed for the lifetime of the original owner to be free of defects when received from the factory. Any product we find to be defective in its original material, construction, or workmanship will be repaired or replaced with the same item or one of equal value at no charge. Normal wear, abuse, or neglect are excluded from this non-transferable warranty. For warranty service, please return product via UPS or insured mail. Include your name, address, telephone number, proof of purchase (sales slip) and a short explanation of the warranty service requested to Kai USA Ltd. 18600 SW Teton Avenue, Tualatin, OR 97062.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Excellent knife, quick to open & affordable\\n\\nReview: I am not a knife fanatic, and the longer review posted by another reviewer here does a better job of covering the finer details of this knife.\\n\\nI purchased 2 of these Kershaw Speedsafe knives, one for myself and one for my wife who wanted something to keep with her. I echo the remarks that the knife opens quickly and positively; it's light to carry, and not so deep when folded that it's uncomfortable when clipped into my front pocket.\\n\\nThe clip is really tight though, and it can be a challenge to get this knife clipped onto my pockets without damaging my pants. I also agree that there is a very audible click when the blade is deployed, and I can see in certain situations that this could be less than ideal.\\n\\nBut this knife has excellent features all-around, and for less than $25 it's very hard to beat. I have been more than happy with it and would buy another Kershaw product based on my experience with this product so far.\",\n \"Product: Bayco SL-302B3 10-1/2-Inch Brooder Clamp Light with Porcelain Ceramic Socket is designed with a heat resistant porcelain socket and will light up 50-Percent more workspace than a standard 8-1/2-Inch clamp light. For easy positioning, it features an adjustable ball joint and a spring steel clamp with a scratch resistant vinyl sleeve. Bayco is the established leader in next generation task lighting systems incorporating innovative technology for all types of lighting applications. Our dedicated research and development teams continually seek out innovative technical solutions for demanding professional and non-professional lighting applications.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Cheap and flimsy neck joint, will not stay in place.\\n\\nReview: Wtf was wrong with a standard neck joint using a threaded bolt and a nut? Instead they've got this stupid garbage of a joint that relies on a flimsy clamp to put enough pressure on the tiny little nub attached to the clamp arm so that the lamp won't fall. Well, they failed. I can't tighten the little wingnut tight enough to keep the lamp in place.\\n\\nWhich makes it useless. Could we just bring manufacturing back to the States already, give these companies tax breaks so the products don't have to be crazy expensive, and start getting rid of this Chinese garbage?\\n\\nBottom line, this lamp is cheap and flimsy. Oh Amazon, when I searched for \\\"outdoor heat lamp\\\" this bad boy pops up, but it says \\\"indoor use only\\\" on the box.\",\n \"Product: ECOSMART LED SOFT WHITE FLOOD/65 WATT EQUIVALENT BULB/9.5 ENERGY USED IN WATTS/575 LUMENS/3-YEAR WARRANTY/35,000 LIFE IN HOURS\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Easy installation, cool to touch, energy efficient\\n\\nReview: Man I'm impressed. I like LED's for headlamps, flashlights, bike lights, etc but I've been hesitant on LED's for house lighting. I didn't like the new mandates that will phase out incandescent lighting, as nothing looks or \\\"feels\\\" as nice as incandescent. Fluorescent is terrible. I hate CFL's. Then I came across these Ecosmart CREE LED lights at our local big box.\\n\\nWe currently have 7 can lights in our living room and 2 in our bath, all incandescent. I love them and they work well, and the bulbs have lasted quite a while. However when all of them are on, you can definitely feel the heat they generate. We have eight foot ceilings, and the living room can warm up under these lights. The bathroom is even worse because you stand directly under them. Nice on cold mornings I guess, but terrible in the summer.\\n\\nI looked at these lights because we're adding 4 more cans in the kitchen area, and when I saw these I had to take a second look. The big box store had them in a display, side by side with an incandescent fixture. The light was nearly identical, and better yet I could literally touch the lens and it was cool to the touch. I bought 6 and brought them home (2 for the bathroom, 4 for the kitchen).\\n\\nAs the recessed cans for the kitchen are not yet installed, I set about trying the two out in the bathroom. The cans in the bathroom are the HALO brand and were within spec for these lights (min 6.5\\\" depth, 5 3/4\\\" to 6.5\\\" wide), so I removed the bulbs, took out the adjustable bracket inside the can, screwed these into the socket, and pushed them up into the can. Done. That was it. Took me less than 10 minutes to do both, and that was with walking back and forth to turn the breaker off and on.\\n\\nPreviously we had 65w flood lights in there, and it was bright. These aren't quite as bright overall, but the quality of light is very good and they are using so much less energy to run. Best part is you no longer feel like you're baking when you're standing underneath them. My wife will appreciate that tomorrow morning when she's blow drying her hair; no more sweating AFTER taking a shower :P\\n\\nHonestly I couldn't be more pleased with the lights. They look very high end, super easy to install provided you have the correct ceiling can, and they will be a big cost savings over the other bulbs, plus I don't have to replace them anytime soon (rated for 25 years!).\\n\\nI have not tried these on a dimmer yet, but I might just replace the 7 lights in the living room with these as well and install an LED specific dimmer. Absolutely recommend these lights if you are looking for an energy saving alternative to incandescent lighting; the LED technology is the way to go.\",\n \"Product: Continuous seam welded 16 gauge steel construction. Hinged cover clamps to the base with keyed quarter turn latch for a watertight seal. External mounting brackets allow box to be mounted on a wall or panel without having to remove the cover and exposing internal components to the environment. Bonding studs for grounding are provided on base and door. Internal panel and hardware included. Designed to meet NEMA type 1, 2, 4, 4X and IP65 ratings. UL Listed. Hinged Door, Lid design. Interior Panel. Easily machined and modified to your particular requirements. Base measures 15-3/4\\\" width by 15-3/4\\\" height by 7-55/64\\\" depth.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: High quality industrial/commercial-grade enclosure\\n\\nReview: We needed some weather-proof enclosures for housing equipment and cables in an outdoor environment. I ordered these after pricing some at my local supply house. The same quality enclosure at my supply house was 112/ea, so I went with the BUD Industries and I'm glad I did.\\n\\nThis is a heavy, sturdy box with no flex. The inside lip is curved upwards to keep water out of the enclosure and is continuous around the perimeter of the box. The door locks up tightly with a nice foam rubber weather seal, and has a solid key with a substantial handle that allows you to close this up securely.\\n\\nInside there is a steel mounting plate so you can attach equipment, PLC rails, etc. It comes with a grounding wire and hardware to hang the box using 4 exterior mounting tabs.\\n\\nQuality product all around at an excellent price.\",\n \"Product: The Milwaukee 48-22-1010 staple and nail gun provides users with a straightforward tool that gives them the power to completely drive staples into tough material, drive staples and nails at consistent angles, and pull out and reset staples without the use of an additional tool. With its hi/low power switch, this tool provides greater driving control, supplying the user with up to 75% more power to penetrate difficult materials. The tilt and fire mechanism on this tool allows the user to achieve consistent driving angles. The integrated staple puller makes it easy to remove and replace a misplaced staple. In addition to these features, this Milwaukee staple and nail gun has an all-metal, jam-free magazine that makes it easy to drive staples and nails of multiple sizes. Compatible Arrow t50 staple sizes are 9/16-in, 1/2-in, 3/8-in, 5/16-in, and 1/4-in. Compatible 18ga brad nail sizes are 5/8-in and 1/2-in. Users love the smooth performance of the Milwaukee staple and nail gun.\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: Very frequent jams using brad nails, untested with staples\\n\\nReview: I purchased this for its ability to use 5/8\\\" brad nails as well as staples, as I had a specific project that required the brads. Note that I did not test this stapler with staples, only the recommended size of brad nails so I can't comment on its reliabilty using staples. I loaded it up with the brads according to the instructions, set the drive depth to the + setting (which is high or deep), and off I went. It worked perfectly for about 50 brads or so, but then the trouble started.\\n\\nI went to set a brad nail and nothing came out, so I thought it was empty. Turning it over to reload it, I discovered it was not empty, but jammed. The nail was sticking halfway out, and jammed tightly so that I could not even slide the loading tray open to free it. Using a pair of needle nose pliers I was able to push the brad back in enough to finally slide the loading tray out and dump the jammed nail. I reset the tool and started off again.\\n\\nTo my mounting frustration, over the next half hour it began jamming about every 4 or 5 shots; sometimes so badly it would take me several minutes to fix the jam and get the tool reset. This caused endless frustration as I was counting on the tool to tack thin wood strips in place, and the jams caused me to have to undo my work several times; it's hard to get a critical nail in place while holding the material in one hand, standing on a ladder, and having the tool fail yet again when it's time to set the nail.\\n\\nI resorted to hand nailing the last few pieces as I gave up on the Milwaukee tool. I have several Milwaukee tools, including the 18v Fuel drills and saws but this stapler is going straight back to the store tomorrow. Hopefully I will have better luck with another brand.\"\n]","isConversational":false},"profile_size":{"kind":"number","value":38,"string":"38"},"task":{"kind":"string","value":"longlamp_3"},"split_kind":{"kind":"string","value":"user_based"},"id":{"kind":"number","value":956,"string":"956"}}},{"rowIdx":957,"cells":{"question_id":{"kind":"string","value":"A18Q0YU1FMO7TE"},"question":{"kind":"string","value":"Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of \"5.0\" for a product with description \"The ViewSonic VA2446m-LED is a 24\" (23.6 Vis) widescreen monitor with an LED backlight and glossy, thin-bezel design ideal for use in the home or at the office. With Full HD 1920x1080 resolution and a 10M:1 dynamic contrast ratio, the VA2446m-LED delivers stunning brightness and contrast, while a quick 5ms response time ensures crisp pictures and smooth playback. As a complete multimedia package, the display also includes a pair of integrated speakers. VGA and DVI inputs provide flexible and convenient connectivity, while a VESA-mountable design offers additional mount flexibility. With an efficient LED backlight and energy-saving Eco mode, the VA2446m-LED is an environmentally friendly display choice. In addition, a 3-year warranty, along with one of the industry's best pixel performance policies provides great value for the stylish, high-performance VA2446m-LED display.\". The summary of the review text is \"ViewSonic VA2246M-LED 22-Inch Screen LED-Lit Monitor: painless plug-n-play install, great resolution, easy on the eyes\"."},"answer":{"kind":"string","value":"The title says it all, a painless install... just hook it up to your PC, system recognized it immediately and there was no need for the included software cd. Screen is easy to read, great color and resolution. Also seems to run cool, probably due to LED backlighting.\n\nThis is my 2nd Veiwsonic, am beginning to be impressed with this brand.\n\nRecommended.\n\nUpdate 11/2015: I use this as a monitor (vs TV screen) daily and find it dependable, crisp and sharp, always nice and bright. I also noted, after a recent change to a new DVI adapter, that when scrolling the text definitely turns blue -- just while scrolling, and then returns to normal. My other Viewsonic DVI monitors do not exhibit this with the new adapter. Not a biggie, this 24\" screen is still worth the money, I can live with minor anomalies."},"correct_answer":{"kind":"string","value":"The title says it all, a painless install... just hook it up to your PC, system recognized it immediately and there was no need for the included software cd. Screen is easy to read, great color and resolution. Also seems to run cool, probably due to LED backlighting.\n\nThis is my 2nd Veiwsonic, am beginning to be impressed with this brand.\n\nRecommended.\n\nUpdate 11/2015: I use this as a monitor (vs TV screen) daily and find it dependable, crisp and sharp, always nice and bright. I also noted, after a recent change to a new DVI adapter, that when scrolling the text definitely turns blue -- just while scrolling, and then returns to normal. My other Viewsonic DVI monitors do not exhibit this with the new adapter. Not a biggie, this 24\" screen is still worth the money, I can live with minor anomalies."},"documents":{"kind":"list like","value":["Product: Transparent Clear Crystal Snap on Hard Case + USB Data Cable + USB Home Travel Charger + USB Car Charger for Sandisk Sansa Fuze is a combo pack. Charger: Input: 100V - 240V (U.S. & World Standard) (50~60Hz/180mA).Output: 7.6V / 800mA; Case: Custom made to fit your phone perfectly; Cable: Brand new non-OEM. 2-In-1 Features: Hotsysnc & Charging.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: FUZE essentials -- a great value\n\nReview: Essential accessories for any MP3 have to be chargers, home (wall) and away (auto), and something to keep it from getting banged up. This package provides all that perfectly.\n\nI bought this combo because it included a hardcover. Though originally low on my priority list, this item's importance has quickly risen, taking the brunt of drops and spills, dust and debris (from my own pockets no less!). The case is likely not water proof, but it certainly will save your baby from splashes. It holds my FUZE snuggly, and provides access to all controls without interference. Someone planned this gem, the edges are all nicely beveled and polished so that finger touch on the controls is not affected. After comparing to my daughter's silicon version, I give this hardcover 6 stars, and it needs no screen saver/cover.\n\nIn all, a great package for the price!, absolutely recommended.","Product: Hudson Bearings flange mounted two hole carbon steel ball transfer. Ball transfers solve a variety of material handling and motion control challenges, whether used in the traditional ball up position or as a caster in the ball down orientation. Ball transfers offer advantages to traditional casters, such as lower profiles and omnidirectional movement, often at a lower cost. Common applications: air cargo, shears, robotics, military logistics, store fixtures, die handling, laser and plasma cutters, glass and metal manufacturing, medical devices, caster substitution. Made of carbon steel housing material. Ball support cup is hardened and plated. Protective cover assures low torque and longevity. Units available in plated carbon steel to provide corrosion resistance. 1-inches main ball rotates on ninety 1/8-inches diameter support ball.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Hudson Bearings - case of 10 rollers for supporting material you while process long or big wood working materials on your own.\n\nReview: Highly useful for a homeowner/DIY junkie, much like a silent helper.\n\nThese serve very well to help support wood when feeding a tablesaw, chopsaw, planer, router, doing most anything with long or bulky items.\n\nHow? I have a line-up of rollers fastened to the (narrow) edge of a scrap 2x4, the 2x4 is then clamped to a portable workbench/vise, for example the Black&Decker Workmate. When ripping-planing-sanding-routing long items such as deck planks, 4x8 sheets of whatever, siding, long pieces of trim... these are PERFECT for supporting most any material being fed into a saw-planer-sander-router, and supporting the material as it comes out of that machine, and makes it easy to maneuver boards or sheets easily. Or even something as simple as supporting something when you need to make a notch, drill a hole, trim an edge... these rollers are there to support you as well. Makes maneuvering material, however great or small, as you need to get the job done without a fight. I used to rest my project items on a pair of portable workbenches -- no more, those benches now hold the previously mentioned \"2x4 rails with rollers\" so I can make whatever adjustments I need. I like easy.\n\nI just ordered another Case of 10 bearings -- you can never have enough helpful support (literally) when it comes to DIY.\n\nRecommended","Product: US Art Supply 15 Piece Multi-Purpose Brush Set\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: 15 Assorted quality Hobby Paint Brushes - hardly, a waste of your money\n\nReview: There is no quality involved here, and what you will get is not totally as pictured. Possibly ok for throw-away gluing, maybe.\n\nBrushes arrived in a flimsy plastic \"case\", stapled together. The case in turn was mailed in a cardboard sandwich made from a box, stapled all along the edges, the edges left open to the USPS. There were LOTS of staples, a good thing as lots came undone.\n\nBrushes all arrived stiff, handles sticky, supposedly because the seller dips them in soap for shipping, for reasons unknown that you are supposed to remove. After some soaking I tossed a few that remained stiff.\n\nBristles are all cheap, frayed ends, lots of loose bristles, metal ferrules that hold the bristles to the handle bent... blah blah blah.\n\nA complete waste, imho. I demanded and received a full refund.","Product: This quick-release coupling mounts inline between your airbrush and hose, and provides an easy method for disconnecting and/or changing airbrushes without the need to release air pressure or unscrew fittings. This coupling also swivels, helping to eliminate hose kinks. Easy-to-use, simply pull back the spring-loaded sleeve and the fitting separates into two pieces; a small male nipple (also called a tail) that remains attached to the airbrush and a body section connected to the air hose. An internal, self-sealing mechanism prevents air from escaping when the coupling is separated. Standard 1/8\" BSP connections. Includes one nipple (5mm diameter) and one body. As an added bonus, access to the following exclusive airbrushing guide downloads is included: Top 8 Cake Airbrushing Tips, Guide to Airbrush Cake Decorating, Developing Basic Artistic Skills, 10 Essential Airbrushing Tips, Airbrushing Strokes and Techniques, Airbrush Cleaning Manual, and the Airbrush Lettering Guide.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Airbrush Quick Release -- works, but differernt products from different Amazon sellers\n\nReview: There are a number of sellers offering airbrush quick connect/disconnect fittings for this one listing, and prices seem to vary widely.\n\nFor my new Master Airbrush kit I needed 4 quick connects (compressor and 3 brushes), and so considered the seller Beauticom whose cost was substantially lower than other sellers for this item, and has an ok rating.\n\nWhat arrived are indeed 1/8 BSP quick connects compatible with my setup. However, they look slightly different. I found that coupling the 2 parts together took some effort, more than I felt was needed, and discovered that the tiny \"O\"-rings inside the receiving side are DELICATE, easily distorted, easily dislodged, and easily ripped. Therefore, the coupling leaks. Scratch one of my quick-connects, luckily at the reduced cost I had decided to order a spare.\n\nThe remedy, if you choose this seller, is to apply a light coat of petroleum jelly to the male side of the quick-connect, and carefully mate the two halves while rotating them in opposite directions to help lubricate that O-ring as best as possible. I used a Q-tip and a tube of Vaseline Lip Balm, don't goop it up, just apply a nice coating. Thereafter I found the remaining couplers connected and disconnected fine, though there remains a slow leak somewhere, perhaps at the coupler and perhaps not, nothing to fuss about.\n\nA fair amount of force is needed to compress the coupler halves together in order to get them to release, but feel this is an advantage -- better a tight grip than a loose one, and also indicates that there is pressure on that tiny O-ring, meaning it's still there.\n\nYour options are to purchase couplers elsewhere at double and quadruple the cost of Beauticom. I'm satisfied with my choice and would order again if needed.","Product: ENG NA DVD BOX CD\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: FS 2004 Centruy of Flight\n\nReview: Microsoft still produces a fun flight simulator, I've been enjoying several of their variants since they originally came out over a decade ago. Hard for an old Navy pilot to give it up. (Currently have 4 MS sims, and 3 others.)\n\nPros: Lots of aircraft variety, and tho I haven't flown a real DC-3 or Cessna Caravan amphib (but several close cousins), the realism seems to be right on. Having flown the aerobatic Extra-300, I claim you can experience nearly everything except the physical G's and grey-out. Plenty of aircraft and flight options and scenarios, many historic, others downright fun, or create your own. Overall, if you enjoy real flying, this is the next best thing. Cheaper, too.\n\nEnjoyed the accompanying background information and detail on the historic flights, a personal interest, tho you needn't scan those if you're in a hurry to get flying.\n\nDefinitely themed for a dozen aircraft well known more in the beginning decades of flight, with some smaller and more current a/c included, such as the Lear, Mooney, Extra 300, venerable C-172, and even helicopters. If you're looking for the big Boeings, you'll get these in other MS sims.\n\nCon: Microsoft continues to insist on a validation CD anytime you start up their sims, even tho you can register your product. totally unnecessary.\n\nHappy Landings!","Product: No matter how you like to fly the Logitech Attack 3 Joystick will give you maximum control with minimum hassle. As soon as you wrap either hand around the fortable handle you'll immediately feel the smooth performance and precise control that tell you one important fact: this is no ordinary joystick. Plus the enhanced firepower of the 11 programmable buttons on this stick will help put you at the top of your game-and keep you there.Primary InformationInput Device Type:JoystickConnectivity Technology:CableButtons Qty:11Interface Type:USBFeatures:Trigger; programmable buttonsSystem RequirementsSystem Requirements / OS Required:Apple MacOS 9; Apple MacOS X 10.x; Microsoft Windows 98/ME/2000/XPService&SupportService & Support Type:Limited warranty - 1 yearUNSPSC CodeUNSPSC Code:43211705\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Logitech Attack 3 Joystick - highly limited\n\nReview: Disappointing, purchased because it has a USB interface and thought would be a nice update for my MS flight simulators.\n\npros: Nice and compact, and good feel for up/down (pitch), roll right/left (banking), but ...\n\nCons: NO left/right (yaw) Rudder capability! If you intend to use this for flight sims, and anything requiring some thinking and manuevering, this will also disappoint you.\n\nNo driver CD, instead you are instructed to go to LogiTech. Com. But once there, the only thing you can download is some gaming software. Their menuing system had difficulty indentifying the joystick, in spite of being provided product names and/or model numbers as instructed.\n\nThe controller says it has 11 programmable buttons, but I find no way of assigning any functions to any buttons using my MS simulators.\n\nLook elsewhere if you're searching for a 3-axis joystick.","Product: Blue-tooth speaker Wireless, Blue-tooth connection Re-Chargeable Li-Ion Battery Range up to 33 ft.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Antec Accent Lighting strip of 6 USB powered RED LEDs -- perfect for low ambient night lighting under a telescope!\n\nReview: Great ambient lighting -- for Astronomy! Not bright, not dim, it's enough to allow reading of star charts or even a reference manual while outdoors star gazing, and not mess up your night vision.\n\nUpdate 1/2016: bought another telescope, and so bought another Antec red LED strip for same... found to be dependable, low power demand, and essential to keep me from tripping over 2 telescopes in the dark gloom! These are a life saver!\n\nLED strip is about 1 foot in length, a small but convenient on/off switch (slide), and the USB cord is at least 3 feet.\nI \"installed\" the strip under the tripod base plate that the telescope sits on. Therefore there is no direct light interference, just a nice glow under the 'scope. When I need to look at a chart or book, I simply stick it under the baseplate so I can read it.\n\n\"Installation\" was simply a few \"D-wings\", those inch long rubber holders for computer cords you stick here and there, available on Amazon as\nUT Wire UTW-D18-BK D-Wings Cord Organizer Combo Kit, Black, 18-Piece; a bag of 18 for $7, very useful and they stick to the textured baseplate. I simply routed the LED strip through the holders, with a final \"wing\" near the switch. (Note: some reviews complain these unstick, but I have never had any problem, on smooth or textured surfaces. But then again, I clean that spot well beforehand.)\n\nPower consumption? with just 6 tiny LEDs I would expect minimal draw, but I plugged in the lights and let them run all night; the morning recharge of my power tank was minimal, quick, no surprises.","Product: Tripp Lite's 7-ft. Orange snag less category 5e (Cat5e) patch cable has 2 snag less RJ45 molded male connectors featuring integral strain relief. The cable is manufactured from PVC 4-pair stranded UTP and is rated for 350MHz/1Gbps communication. All cables are offered in a variety of lengths and colors for all category 5 (Cat5) and 5e cabling needs. Standard, non-snag less category 5e patch cables (N002-Series) are also available.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Belkin 7-ft RJ45 CAT 5E ethernet cable: Belkin doesn't understand -- don't kink electronic cables!\n\nReview: RJ45 cables are so common these days, you'd think everything would be worked out by now... apparently not so.\n\nThe worst thing you can do to any electronic cable is kink it, bend it sharply, put a crimp in it. But my 7 footers, shown on Amazon in an appropriately nicely formed loop, all arrived in a tight wad with sharp bends every 3 1/2 to 4 1/5 inches along the entire length, and then tightly bound in the middle with a wire tie. Each kink even created a discolored joint on the cable jacket. Cables don't like sharp bends (mine have 17 tight bends along a 7' cable), those kinks make cables hard to string and route along small spaces, they make a rat's nest behind my comm gear, and they jeopardize the integrity of the cable.\n\nC'mon Belkin, your \"Pro Series\" packaging is a silly gimmick, because at a thrifty $2.50 per cable, I'm betting dollars to donuts there's nothing special about your cables, no rare metals, no exotic coatings, no braided stainless shielding... it's a generic Ethernet cable. Nothing more, nothing less. Kindly treat it as such. Treat them kindly and fore go the glitzy packaging.\n\nMeanwhile, my 15' cables from Mediabridge happily arrived in a simple cardboard box, in a neat 5\" diameter coil. No kinks, no sharp bends. I try to order from Mediabridge when possible because they seem to know how to package and deliver cables that work out of the box, no fancy packaging, no rocket science, no need to hang a cable for a week to work out the kinks, just a sound cable. Unfortunately, they did not have 7-footers when I needed them. So I went with Belkin, after all it's just a cable. Next time I'll wait for Mediabridge to re-stock.","Product: The easiest way to aim a telescope. The view seen through the window of the Telrad is continuous with the sky around it, not magnified or upside down. Three rings are lighted and appear to lie among the stars. The small ring outlines the Moon-sized area seen in the telescope. The large outer ring outlines the area seen in a standard Finderscope. To point your telescope, just look through the Telrad and move the telescope until the rings are centered on the object. The Telrad is 8 inches long. Weighs 11 ounces and mounts on any telescope without drilling any holes. It unlocks from its base for separate storage. Requires 2 AA batteries (not included).\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: TELRAD telescope finder -- Essential gear for learning astronomy\n\nReview: For learning astronomy this is a great accessory... check that -- essential gear.\n\nFactory supplied finders are often like small 8x50 telescopes, often providing a cross hair reticle for centering on an object, but when used at night it's like looking through a mailing tube for a cat in a coal bin. Or a needle in a hay stack. High-powered binoculars can work better for finding things, but fall short on helping you position your telescope.\n\nThe Telrad is square and bulky, it provides NO magnification, it has a goofy dimmer switch for the illuminated reticle. It is not sexy looking taped to your telescope.\n\nBut it works fantastically. Reason 1) the unmagnified wide field of view means What You See Is What You Get (wysiwyg). And what you see now makes sense -- it matches your star chart/planisphere. Reason 2) the illuminated reticle (dimmable) enables you to center your telescope on your object easily, quickly.\n\nThis finder needs to be aligned just as any finder scope needs to be BEFORE viewing. Unfortunately the illuminated reticle is not visible for daytime alignment, so wait until dusk and pick a known bright star (Polaris, Altair, Vega, etc) or easy to identify object such as the moon, an evening planet, even a distant smokestack with blinking lights.\n\nThis Telrad is about the same size as the 8x50 finder on my Celestron C8.","Product: D-Link DIR-655 Xtreme Wireless Router The D-Link Xtreme N Gigabit Router has arrived to deliver you with faster speeds and farther range while staying backward compatible with 802.11g and 802.11b devices. Connect the Xtreme N Gigabit Router to a cable or DSL modem and provide high-speed web access to your computers, game systems, and multimedia players. Establish your wireless network with ease to share photos, files, music, videos, printers, and network storage. Powered by Xtreme N technology and outfitted with three external antennas, your router provides superior wireless coverage at home or the office! Specifications Wireless network standards: IEEE 802.11g IEEE 802.11b IEEE 802.11n Networking standards: IEEE 802.3ab gigabit ethernet IEEE 802.3 ethernet 10Base-T Wireless data transfer rates: 300 Mbps Security protocols: WPA 128-bit WEP 64-bit WEP WPA2 Routing / Firewall Protocols: DHCP Network address translation (NAT) Firewall Features: MAC Address Filtering URL Filtering Stateful Packet Inspection (SPI) One WAN port Four 10/100/1000 Mbps ports Ethernet: CAT6, CAT5e Limited 12 months parts and labor warranty Dimensions: 4.6\"W x 7.6\"D x 1.2\"H\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: D-Link 655 = plug-n-play, FAST, Linux compatible, satellite modem compatible\n\nReview: The review title pretty much says it all...\n\nI bought this D-Link to plug into a new satellite modem that arrived with absolutely NO features, hoping that the D-Link would provide firewall protection (it has SPI), accommodate my home LAN (has 4 ethernet ports), DHCP and decent wireless capability.\n\nNot only does this DIR-655 provide all these, the install and config was fast and straight-forward. Router recognizes and supports my 1GB network cards. The router's Wireless-N is definitely faster, and signal strengths throughout the house are noticeably better.\n\nAs my principal operating system of choice is Linux, I thoroughly enjoyed how the router plugged into the satellite modem and ran with Linux out-of-the-box, I needed only to configure my wireless security and then that, too, took off running.\n\nConsidering the features and ease-of-use, this appears to be a great router and at a bargain price. Highly recommended,\n\n(FYI: documentation in various languages and Adobe Reader executables are on the CD, if you need them.)\n\nupdate Feb 2013: still rock solid, glad I bought it.\nUpdate Feb 2015: router still rocks, and with a periodic firmware upgrade (easy) remains as my front-end to the Wacky World Web (www)","Product: With a gleaming white case accented by a bright color band and smooth rounded edges, the P5 is attractive, compact and portable. Its simple streamlined design includes a convenient built-in USB connector that allows quick, hassle-free data transfer rates, and its bright LED indicates card insertion and/or data transfer activity. When it comes to card readers, trust the memory experts at Transcend to provide the highest possible quality and speed. Just plug the P5 reader directly into any USB 2.0 port to get the most out of your memory card.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Transcend P5 9-in-1 USB 2.0 Reader\n\nReview: Does most of the common card formats, works equally well with Sandisk and Transcend chips, haven't tried others.\n\nPros: seems to work well on low power USB ports (I have a 4-port adapter that chronically complains about power overload when using other USB sticks; no complaints from the system with this reader.)\n\nMemory Cards (SD and microSD specifically) are easy to insert and remove from this reader.\n\nSystem is able to rapidly detect and read the directory, in contrast to some USB sticks that seem to take forever.\n\nWell manufactured and sturdy.\n\nGreat price.\n\nCon: (Minor) Stick has about the same dimensions of older and conventional USB sticks that seem fatter, meaning if you have several USB ports close together, you will not have sufficient room to insert a USB cable in an adjacent port.","Product: Bulky and expensive radar guns are now a thing of the past. The Pocket Radar Classic model is a pocket-sized general purpose speed radar gun that can be used for many uses including traffic safety, radio controlled hobbies, motorsports, neighborhood safety, industrial safety, scientific research and much more. You decide what to measure and when, using one of two modes snapshot or repeating to accurately monitor the speeds of vehicles, radio controlled planes/cars, runners and any other moving object from 7-375 MPH (11-600 KPH). If you want to measure Ball Speeds then the Ball Coach radar is a better choice. Measures: 7 to 375 MPH (11 to 600 KPH), Accurate to within +/- 1 mph, it gives over 10,000 readings on a single set of batteries. Includes a hard-shell case, wrist strap, 2 AAA alkaline batteries, and an illustrated Quick Start Guide.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Pocket Radar Personal Speed Radar\n\nReview: A great purchase. Unit is simple to use (point and click), smartly designed.\n\nI bought this for our HOA to \"prove\" to local drivers their excess speeds, in a kindler and gentler and yet \"scientific\" manner. This gizmo went to work straight out of the box, works at distances (specs say 1500 feet for vehicles, we are a little closer in), and get immediate readings, even works at up to 30 degree angles (curves in the roads). It's very unobtrusive, looks about the same as a Droid Phone or any common digital camera, and similar in size (fits easily in a shirt pocket). Automatic shutoff is very nice, as is it's speed recall feature.\n\nPurchase was based on previous reviews and cost. It's doing everything we expected and wanted, at the same cost as one week's rental of a hand held unit. Maybe next spring we'll see who's the fastest -- and slowest -- community picnic softball pitcher!","Product: EDIMAX EW-7811Un IEEE 802.11b/g/n Wireless Mini Nano Size USB Adapter, Up to 150Mbps Data Rates, with 16 languages EZmax setup wizard for easy installation.System Requirements: Windows 7/Vista/XP, Mac OS, Linux.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: EDIMAX EW-7811Un wireless network adapter - compatible with Linux and Windows, but lacks range compared to others.\n\nReview: Comments and assessments are based using just one machine, alternating between Linux and Windows OS's, and conducted to find an adapter that provided the best speed and signal strength to either OS.\n\nDefinitely plug-n-play with LINUX (Debian/Ubuntu/Mint), immediately recognized and connected to my home network.\nLinux accepts the adapter on the fly, automatically loads an appropriate driver, and continues on. Pain-free.\n\nWindows 7, being what it is, requires the driver to first be loaded from the accompanying mini-cd, and restarted.\nConnection following the mandatory reboot was quick and smooth.\n\nDifferent brands of USB wireless network adapters were tested and compared at the same time on the same machine.\nThe distance from the computer to the wireless gigabit router with N150-N400 speed is 6 feet.\n\nLinux reports the 802.11n connect speed around 75Mbs, the connect signal strength \"Good\".\n\nThe Windows Network and Sharing Center window simply says \"Signal strength: Excellent\", connect speed varies between 58-72Mbs\n\nBottom line:\nThe Edimax did not compare favorably to the other wireless brands running on the same machine at the same time.\nI am suspect that using this gadget on a machine located some distance away or with intervening structure may not provide a reliable connection. For my purposes as a secondary connection point to a backup subnet, it's acceptable, but not impressive.","Product: You know heat is very bad for electronics. You know your notebook is running hot. Now you will know how Thermaltake's latest Massive23 LX performance notebook cooler can help you to cool down your notebook that holds some of the most important files or memories of your life. Massive23 LX, with its massive and oversized 230mm ultra-quiet fan effectively push incredible amount of air while producing unnoticeable noise output. The embedded blue LEDs inside the fan as well as the fan itself can be easily turned On or Off with a built-in switch. Handles designed into the cooler allow users to effortlessly carry the notebook cooler with them wherever they go. Low power draw from the fan puts minimum strain on your notebook's battery power.Air Flow 18 - 54.6 CFM.Supports laptop size from 10-Inch to 17-Inch.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: ThermalTake Massive23 laptop/notebook cooler: An odd name but solid product - RECOMMENDED\n\nReview: While CoolerMaster has a slight edge on customer reviews and major variety offering of their coolers, I chose ThermalTake. And after the first cooler arrived, I quickly ordered a second (I have two very large, heavy 17.3\" widescreen Toshibas).\n\nSimplistic in its design: No moving parts except for the fan and LED light on/off buttons.\nMolded handgrips are provided on the side so I can easily pick up the cooler and laptop together and move them someplace else. Cooler is lightweight, sturdy, has a nice satin finish on the plastic sides and gloss black on the center perforated aluminum deck. The deck's nose (nearest you), is nicely rounded, does not interfere with keyboarding, and requires NO fittings or fixtures to keep your machine in place.\n\nA seemingly perfect bevel back to front makes keyboarding easy on the wrists, yet with no mechanical adjustment hardware to ... adjust or mess with. This bevel is the same as found on most conventional keyboards. BTW: the underside is a clear arch, allowing you to route your various cables, power cord, or what have under the deck without any problem, nothing to snag.\n\nI opted for the ThermalTakes large pancake center-mounted fan, massive and oversized and ultra-quiet as advertised. It runs slower than a set of smaller fans and therefore quieter, yet seems to deliver a large amount of air without a whirlwind under the notebook. I've been around PC fans enough to know the smaller they are, the more you need and/or the faster they run to push through sufficient air to cool your machine. This translates to noise.\n\nThe power draw for the cooler is a nominal 0.2a, well within the range of a standard USB 2.0 port, no need to use a special charging port, or a USB 3.0 port.\n\nI am unimpressed with any and all of the available coolers on the market offering trendy blue LED underlighting, but have come to appreciate knowing when the fan is on. (yes, the fan LED light have separate and independent switches, but if you power your cooler from your standard PC's USB port, turning off your PC turns off your cooler. How cool is that?)\n\nThe cooler provides 2 USB ports in the back/left corner, one for powering the cooler (a nice 18\" USB cord comes with the cooler), and an adjacent USB port to make up for the notebook port you lost to power the cooler. Net USB port loss: zero. Also a handy cubby w/door on the backside of the cooler holds your cooler's USB cord when not in use.\n\nMy favorite features of this new cooler involve my Toshibas: the cooler's deck provides four (4) rubber grippers embedded on the corners. These run side-to-side, whereas the rubber feet on my Toshiba run front-to-rear. The cooler's pads are sized and placed such that I have a positive match on all four (4) corners, the notebook refuses to move unless I tilt the cooler deck to around 30 degrees at which point my heavy notebook starts to slide.\n\nThe deck is sturdy, smooth, lightweight, rubber feet keep the cooler from moving until YOU move it. My very large Toshiba (16.3 inches wide) overhangs the edges of the cooler deck about 3/4-inch on each side; therefore I think it should handle most any laptop/notebook except for the little ones; I think any notebook smaller than 14\" may not be a good match for this cooler, which measures 14.75 inches wide by 11.75 inches deep, back height 2-inches and front height 1-inch.\n\nI do not power my coolers from the notebooks, but instead purchased a 6-foot standard USB cable for each, and power the cooler from a wall outlet driven USB charger port. This provides one additional USB port nearby my machine for charging my cellphone or some accessory I may want to attach to my notebook, such as speakers.\n\nFinally, this cooler can be tossed into a suitcase or backpack or large notebook case or bag (not sleeves, sorry), nothing to snag or catch on, just clean and simple and effective.\nRECOMMENDED","Product: Microsoft Wireless Desktop 2000 Keyboard and Mouse\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Wireless 2000 Keyboard - excellent choice\n\nReview: Works out-of-the box with Linux (Ubuntu) and Windows (though it takes Windows about 15 seconds to figure out the new device). Range is great for mouse and keyboard; no delays or inconsistencies encountered. I liked the Wireless 2000 non-business version so much I decided to try this one as well.\n\nPros:\nNO CORDS!, to state the obvious, but very nice to eliminate clutter on and under my desk.\nWorks with Linux (thank you, Microsoft)\nOnly one USB widget required for mouse and keyboard, saves one port (nice for my older machines)\nKeyboard is nicely sized and shaped, and has feet pads that keeps it solidly in place, no sliding around in spite of its very light weight.\nNice feel on both keyboard and mouse, but I'm not that fast and therefore not fussy.\nMouse wheel has side-side movement for lateral scrolling, and found this to be the only difference between the \"business\" vs. \"non-business version\", except the non-business costs a bit more.\n\nCons:\nNone.\n\nGreat combo for the cost.","Product: This 8GB Class 4 MicroSDHC Memory card has a guaranteed to maintain read write speed of at least 4mb/s, twice as fast as a class 2 card. Comes with bonus MicroSDHC to USB Memory card reader for transferring all of your file from the card to your computer.\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: Dead On Arrival - Thumb drives defunct\n\nReview: Bought 2 of these. Both were dead on arrival, meaning neither was readable on 3 different machines (laptop, desktop, tower). Each computer detected the thumb drive, but none could read or even format the SDHC chip. I even tried reading several of my known good SDHC chips in each of the new thumb drives, but still could not read anything.\n\nUpdate 5/30/2012: ordered a different MicroSD reader and determined that the SanDisk microSDs are in fact readable, which means that the thumb drives were both dead. And to add insult to injury, one of the 8gb microSD chips turned out to be only 2gb.\n\nTerrible Packaging: \"Fullfilled by Amazon\" I guess means they package products on behalf of their sellers. My 2 thumb drives were each in a small plastic \"zip top\" envelop containing the thumb drive and the SD chip and adapter, about 2x3 inches, appropriate. These 2 tiny packages however, were placed on a cardboard sheet approximately 10x12 inches, and half-covered with heat shrink. Since these items were only half covered, they were allowed to slip out through the unattached heat shrink edges into the cardboard shipping box. That shipping box was about large enough to mail a New York phone directory. And so all the tiny bits slipped out into this big box and were rattling around until delivered. Amazon shipping is the worst, expect nothing better from them.","Product: This adapter is made to allow an older computer system with an IDE/EIDE/PATA interface to add and additional or upgrade the existing HDD to a newer SATA hard drive. This adapter works with most systems and devices, although depending on your BIOS and the device you are trying to connect, you may encounter compatibility issues. This adapter also requires the connection of power through a molex connector (cable not provided)\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: PATA / SATA adapter, NOT for IDE\n\nReview: This adapter will likely work fine for PATA and SATA drives, but is not compatible with the older IDE (pre-PATA) discs.\nThe adapter's pins on the IDE/PATA side are male, requiring a female disc socket; IDE disc sockets are male. Male to male does not work.\nThe Molex (electrical) connector is inverted for IDE, probably ok for PATA.\nThe dimensions/location of the Molex connector and the IDE connector (ignoring for the moment the earlier Male/Male issue above, and the inverted Molex connector) are physically too close to both fit at the same time.\n\nI have a dozen older IDE drives I intended to copy over to my new SATA drives, this adapter was 100% incompatible with Western, Seagate, Maxtor, Hitachi, and all others.\n\nThis adapter is for PATA / SATA drives only. This adapter is physically incompatible with IDE.\n\nI can't fault the suppler, as the package clearly says \"PATA to SATA, and SATA to PATA\" adapter, and nowhere mentions IDE. Amazon however. is simply wrong to advertise this adapter with IDE in any part of the description.","Product: Cat5 Patch Cable, Molded, 24AWG, 50u, 3ft Blue. Connect ethernet devices in your home or office with iMBA's High Speed Cat5 ethernet network cable. A snagless molded strain relief protects your devices during installation and gold plated contacts ensure you're getting clear data transmissions for your computing needs. Network your home or office with this high-efficient and affordable Cat5 ethernet network cables.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Cat5e 10' ethernet cables -- utilitarian, economical for small/home office.\n\nReview: For my home office/small office network these have worked well.\n\n4-Stars for the following: the moulded plug is on the short side, about 1/8\" shorter than my other brand cables. I had no prior issues except when I purchased CAT5e couplers (you know, because I have a surplus of shorter ethernet cables and am too cheap to buy the proper lengths), but these short plugs also make it tougher to make a solid connection between my routers/switches and the client end (pc).\n\nThe small moulded hood and short plastic tang (that plastic blip that locks the plug into place) can sometimes be a challenge to disengage when you need to unplug.\n\nConsidering that these cables work well on my gigabit network (CAT5e), and the corresponding low price, I think these are a great value. If I were using these in a commercial environment requiring routine plug/unplug, I might reconsider.","Product: .\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Sabrent 4-Port USB 2.0 Hub\n\nReview: Most things being USB driven these days, my laptop and two older towers are always in need of \"just one more\" USB port.\n\nThis gizmo is ideal, not only can you attach additional devices, but you can turn any on or off in any combination, and the blue LED helps keep it all straight. If you, like me, have a bunch of USB memory sticks, chips and adapters each with a copy of \"something\" and want to get it all consolidated on one machine, this helps. I have a dozen or more microSD chips for smart phones, mp3 players, even bluetooth speakers that accept a chip with mp3 tunes, digital camers... you get the idea.\n\nIt's also a bargain accessory. Works very well, recommended.","Product: UT Wire 12 ft. Expandable Flexi Cable Wrap wraps around bundles of cables or cords to keep it organized. Made from a soft and flexible material, Flexi Cable Wrap leaves no plastic cut from sharp edges on your finger when inserting cords or extra complicated tools needed for installation. It is a smart expandable system that easily self wraps and conforms to bundle cords.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: UT flexi wire organizer - 12 ft... simply brilliant, economical, lots of applications. LOVE IT\n\nReview: Am beginning to appreciate the UT line of cable/cord organizers-holders.\n\nCapacity is nominal 1\" diameter, and flexible.\n\nThis item provides no adhesive, and that's just fine. From my 12-foot roll I typically cut off a chunk (2-6 inches, using household scissors), and bind a handful of cables together and toss the wad back into the comm closet or cabinet. Point being, sometimes it's simply useful to keep a bunch of related computer cables \"together\" but not necessarily fixed to any particular surface... afterall, change is the name of the game when it comes to networks and computer setups.\n\nThis \"organizer\" is brilliant in its simplicity and usefulness (and economy), capable of containing a number of power cords, ethernet cables, whatever... just wrap your wad of stuff with this. Sometimes I need to secure it with a velcro wrap, but only because I have stuffed the UT cable wrap to its limit and then some.","Product: The Celestron 9x50 right angle correct image (race) illuminated finder is a great upgrade to the stock finder scopes found on many Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes. The 50 mm optics produce bright, sharp images with a magnification of 9x and a 5 apparent field of view. Meanwhile, the right-angle, correct-image design keeps objects Right-side up and left-to-right correct, making it easier to locate objects as well as track them as they drift through the field of view. The eyepiece module can be rotated left or right so you can find the perfect viewing angle. The double-crosshair reticle etched in the eyepiece makes it easy to center an object, whether you are aligning your computerized telescope or finding deep-sky objects on your own. The reticle can be focused separate from the finder itself. A battery-powered Illuminator lights up the crosshair with a soft, red glow, and the illumination can be easily adjusted by turning the on/off knob. The Celestron 9x50 race finder comes with a sturdy bracket consisting of two rings and an integrated dovetail. Adjusting the alignment of the finder is easy with the oversized Thumbscrews. The dovetail allows for easy attachment to and removal from most Schmidt-Cassegrain and edge HD optical tube assemblies without affecting the alignment of the finder scope.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Celestron RACI Illuminated finderscope -- lots of nice features for new and veteran astronomers. NO instructions, but workable.\n\nReview: A pending 4-star...\nUPGRADED Dec 2015 to 5-stars: I retired my factory finder in favor of this RACI\n+ Definitely easier for matching charts to the cosmos for navigating.\n+ Definitely appreciate the parallel reticle, you can place your intended target in the center box.\n+ Definitely appreciate the illumination, thought it would not be bright enough, but have been using lowest light and then turning off\n (saves the batteries)\n\nAll seems OK with this finder, with the major exception there are NO INSTRUCTIONS. Not a big thing for those familiar with eyepieces, focusers and other telescopic equipment, but it would be nice to have SOMETHING, whereas the finder arrived with NOTHING. At the very minimum someone needs to ID the batteries for eventual replacement! Newcomers will find this exasperating.\n\nAfter 30 minutes of fiddling, the finder is now ready for some star-time; will update this review after ward, but it looks like a nice finder.\n\nI have been using a Telrad finder on my 8-inch SCT, and like it for the illuminated reticle and wysiwyg (what you see is what you get) view for star-hopping. It is however, not magnified, still very ok for general celestial navigation (planetary, constellations, major galaxies, nebulaes and clusters), but I wanted to try this magnified, illuminated and \"upright\" wysiwyg finder for a large telescope with deeper capabilities.\n\nPros: 1) double crosshairs, meaning parallel vertical and horizontal lines (etches actually) so that you can place your target inside the crosshairs for a precise alignment. This means of course that your new snazzy RACI and your optical tube are 100% in agreement. Not always the case, and stars being what they are keep moving on us, or us moving relative to them.\n\n2) Having your intended object appear \"correctly\" (upright, wysiwyg) as shown on star atlases and charts makes star-hopping easier for us amateurs.\n\n3) I use an 11\" Celestron SCT that has a big optical tube, so having the right-angle makes sighting (ie, \"targeting\") far easier than with the original factory in-line finder.\n\nps on the absent instructions: this RACI uses the same mounting method as the factory finder -- 1 fixed set-screw (spring loaded), and 2 adjustable set-screws for exact adjustment. If your RACI body moves, notice a hex allen set-screw within the fixed spring loaded screw, one that can be tensioned for a more secure placement and alignment of the RACI. I had to increase that adjustment tension as the RACI body was \"too soft\" and easily moved. Not a big thing, just look for that buried allen screw.\n\nCons: none technical. My RACI arrived with some scuffs and smudges and a noticeable scrape down to the bare metal near the mount, and it appeared to be somewhat put together but sloppy. Also a number of dirt/dust particles here and there inside the optics as if this unit had been partially disassembled. \"In\" as is requiring partial disassembly and blowing out the foreign debris. This leads me to believe this was once someone else's and they returned it.\n\nI hope to add positive feedback after it's been in service a while.","Product: Our redesigned Large Orion Deluxe Accessory Case is more durable than ever. Made from super-tough ABS-clad wood with a rugged aluminum frame, this case features an attractive textured black finish. It's ideal for protecting your valuable investment in telescope eyepieces, filters, Barlow lenses, telescope diagonals and more - plus it looks really cool! You'll appreciate the strong dual hinges in back and the sturdy metal latches in front. The hinged carrying handle provides a sure grip as you safely transport your astronomy accessories. A removable, adjustable shoulder strap makes it easy to carry the case to and from your favorite observing site, even when fully loaded with telescope eyepieces and other gear. The Large Deluxe Accessory Case also features locking latches, with keys provided. Inside you'll find egg-crate foam on top and die-cut spaces in the main compartment, just the right sizes to hold your jewels safely and securely. This roomy Large Deluxe Accessory Case has die-cut foam holes for eight 1.25 and three 2 telescope eyepieces, plus nine other compartments for everything from Barlow lenses and eyepiece filters to laser collimators and red astronomy flashlights. Internal dimensions: 17.2 x 12.3 x 5.0\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Orion Deluxe Large Accessory Case -- lots of space for your space toys.\n\nReview: Lots of space, much more than I anticipated. Overall the case seems very sturdy, even though it's very light.\nPlenty of depth, enough so that after removing the foam plugs for my shorter eyepieces I needed to cut the plugs and insert part of each back into their hole or otherwise the eyepieces would disappear into the opening.\n2\" holes turned out to be nice for my thicker eyepieces such as the zoom and the Barlow/T-adapter.\nSeveral large rectangular \"trays\" of varying sizes, just 1 holds my numerous (6) filters\nPlenty of padding on the lid. Foam is easily cut/trimmed as needed by any decent kitchen knife.\n\nThis will probably serve all my lens and accessories needs far into the future. Until that time, It also holds my hand controller and bracket, red LED flashlight, green laser pointer and some spare batts, still lots of space.\n\nI initially gave this 4 stars, not needing either the locks or carry strap. However, in homes with kids this might be essential, as might the strap for some, and the metal lid hasps (fasteners) are far superior to the common plastic squeeze until it snaps variety.\nSo 5 stars.","Product: The perfect tripod should be stable yet lightweight and easy to operate, requiring minimal knob twisting and lever flipping. The Celestron TrailSeeker was designed to be your perfect tripod. It is lightweight (3.94 lb.) and compact, yet it can hold up to almost 9 lbs of equipment. The aluminum legs of the TrailSeeker Tripod are fully adjustable, not just in length, but in their angle as well. With the center column fully extended, the maximum height achieved is 70.5 inches (58 inches with the column down). Each leg is made up of four sections that can be shortened or lengthened with the flip of a simple lever lock. This makes it easy to make the tripod a little taller or a little shorter as your terrain or needs change. Each leg can also be set to three different angles. If the place you need to set up your tripod is not perfectly flat, the ability to adjust the angle of one or more legs makes all the difference. The center column of the TrailSeeker tripod does more than just go up and down. The bottom end of the column holds a retractable balance hook. This simple device can make all the difference in the stability of your tripod, especially on windy days. Just hang something heavy from the hook like a backpack and youll be amazed at the difference. When the hook is not needed, it retracts up into the center column to stay neatly out of the way. Two of the legs come with padded wraps, providing protection for your shoulder when carrying and making it a little more comfortable to make adjustments during cold weather. The legs also feature rubber feet to keep them from sliding on slick or wet surfaces. The Celestron TrailSeeker Tripod is topped with a two-way fluid pan head. The single handle makes it easy to move the head around, and one oversized knob adjusts the tension and locks the head in place. A quick release plate with standard 1/4-20 thread mount makes it easy to attach a spotting scope, binocular, camera, or small telescope to the tripod. The plate snaps into place when inserted into the pan head. Other features include bubble levels, located on the top of the tripod as well as on the side of the pan head, and a tripod carry case. The case is the perfect place to store your tripod when not in use, and makes it easy to transport via the shoulder strap.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Celestron TrailSeeker Triopd: A fine mount for grab-n-go astronomy or camera mount, solid.\n\nReview: A perfect mount for my Celestron C90 Mak-Cass.\nA solid foundation as a grab-and-go astronomy scope mount, albeit without slow-motion hand adjustments.\nBut for quick lunar and planetary spotting this is a winner.\n\nPros:\nConvenient carry case, provides inside pocket for whatever, zippered full-length and easy open padded compartment for tripod.\nProvides leveling bubble\nProvides a small compass for basic polar alignment if needed.\nSingle knob provides lock-down of both elevation and circular movement.\nVery sturdy legs! 3-section; center post also extends vertically if you need additional height. I like that I can set the mount level low and sit comfortably in a lawn chair for my observing sessions.\n\nBonus: not advertised, my tripod arrived with a very nice Celestron metal (ie, non-flexible/moveable) binocular/camera mounting adapter; also a smaller plastic adapter but no manufacturing info.\n\nCons: none found.\n\nNyah: nice add-on features might be azimuth and latitude rings, but this was not advertised as an astronomy mount, though it can serve that function.","Product: PNY CS1211 is designed for an easy and cost-effective HDD replacement in the existing PC system to help realize faster boot times, quicker application launches and better overall system storage\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: PNY 240gb CS 1211 SSD - a great upgrade for an old Dell Inspiron 1525 - plug-and-play\n\nReview: What a great upgrade... this breathed new life into an old Dell Inspiron 1525 given to me.\nThe existing OS was Vista, so I simply pulled the laptop's HDD and slipped in the PNY.\nThis took all of 5 casual minutes. The PNY comes with a thin spacer for those installs that had a thicker HDD.\nMy old 1525 needed that spacer to keep from rattling around. Spacer uses 2 small strips of 3M adhesive, effective.\n\nFrom there is was boot time with a Linux cd and an amazingly brief install (bye bye, Vista).\nThis PNY is backwards compatible with SATA I & II; this SSD is still fast.\n\nAn earlier review here provides information on how to clone an original laptop HDD to an SSD, very useful, all Amazon items.\nNice to have a fast and quiet laptop (and free as well!)","Product: Cat5 Patch Cable, Molded, 24AWG, 50u, . Connect Ethernet devices in your home or office with iMBA's High Speed Cat5 Ethernet network cable. A snagless molded strain relief protects your devices during installation and gold plated contacts ensure you're getting clear data transmissions for your computing needs. Network your home or office with this high-efficient and affordable Cat5 Ethernet network cables.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Cat5e 10' ethernet cables -- utilitarian, economical for small/home office.\n\nReview: For my home office/small office network these have worked well.\n\n4-Stars for the following: the moulded plug is on the short side, about 1/8\" shorter than my other brand cables. I had no prior issues except when I purchased CAT5e couplers (you know, because I have a surplus of shorter ethernet cables and am too cheap to buy the proper lengths), but these short plugs also make it tougher to make a solid connection between my routers/switches and the client end (pc).\n\nThe small moulded hood and short plastic tang (that plastic blip that locks the plug into place) can sometimes be a challenge to disengage when you need to unplug.\n\nConsidering that these cables work well on my gigabit network (CAT5e), and the corresponding low price, I think these are a great value. If I were using these in a commercial environment requiring routine plug/unplug, I might reconsider.","Product: 4 5/8\" closed LinerLock. 3 1/2\" gray finish 420 stainless hollow ground blade with thumb Slot. Textured black G-10 handles with gray finish stainless bolster. Front handle has machined hole cutouts. Gray finish stainless pocket clip.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Ka-Bar Agama folder -- great every day carry folder\n\nReview: I have a preference for the more traditional Ka-Bar straight blade military-style knives, but after losing my everyday folding Gerber, I finally found this KA-Bar folder. Note that I'm not a folding knife snob, buy I do appreciate a product that shows thought in design, its craftsmanship, and ultimately it's utility.\n\nBottom line, this seems to be a great folder for the buck, I appreciate the workmanship; Ka-Bar wins me again. And also nice to once again have a dependable and versatile blade handy for snipping hay bale twine, opening packages, slicing apples or just to mess with.\nPros:\nEasy to draw from my pocket, no tendency to hang up, extracts smoothly and without any fuss or coaxing.\nNice, deep pocket clip so the knife is \"In\" my pocket, not sticking out beyond 3/8 inch (low visual profile if you need that).\n\nNice weight and balance.\nNice thickness and length to the handle, sits in my hand comfortably and solid, 4 3/4 inch length, nice smooth edges provide a comfortable feel.\nShows no tendency for allowing my grip to slide forward, or back.\n\nBlade arrived out-of-the-box SHARP. Haven't had it long enough to comment on how long it holds an edge, but this is also dependent in large part on how you use/abuse your blades.\nBlade has a comfortable thumb slot for single hand deployment of the blade.\nAmount of thumb pressure to deploy the blade is low, thumb studs not needed.\nOpening is very smooth... and quiet. Blade gives a definite but quiet \"click\" when it locks in place.\nBlade remains solidly locked, demonstrates no slack or looseness.\nAppears to have the ability (a \"star\" screw) to tighten or loosen the blade pivot for how much tension you want when deploying the blade.\n\nI have the straight edge drop point, and it has enough heft to do some serious cutting, 3 3/4 inches from hilt to tip, 7/8 inch deep (excluding thumb slot)\n\nCons:\nPocket clip is where it is, not relocatable. By the looks of the handle halves (left & right), this seems to be an easy thing for Ka-Bar to provide,\nbut didn't. This folder suits my right-handed draw from my right rear pocket perfectly, but may not be your style.\n\nAddendum: I liked this knife so well I gave it to my daughter (hiking/camping) and bought another.\nps2: I lost my original, and replaced it with 2 Agamas... in case I get careless again. At $20 a pop, this is not a problem.","Product: Decoro Brand Premium Holster Combos are made with a high quality plastic and are designed to protect your phone from dings, bumps, and scratches. All Decoro Brand Premium Holster Combos provide easy access to your phones buttons and features. With the wide variety of accessories the Decoro brand offers, you will be able to showcase your own personal style while maintaining the out of the box freshness of your device.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: DECORO Rubberized Shell and Holster -- nice, convenient, but with tendancy to come apart?\n\nReview: I bought this for my new Samsung Proclaim S720C, aka the Samsung i110.\n\nI was about to give this a 5-star rating, as it hangs onto my belt, keeps the cell phone snugly in place, rotates when needed (such as plopping into a car seat), and so forth. The rubberized case seems to have just the right amount of rigidity, offers good holding surface. In short, a very fine way of keeping your connection to the world safe and snug... until.\n\nI sat in an arm chair, and discovered how this holster is \"manufactured\", something of a misnomer. The clip is secured to the holster by means of a pressure fit button. It was this button that popped off when I sat down, separating entirely from the holster.\nYou can put it back together, of course providing you have the button (and the holster), but once popped these things tend to do so again, easier and easier.\n\nSo while I like the holster and it's features, be vigilant, else you may look to your belt for your phone and discover just the clip, no holster, no phone, and no clue.\n\nA secure attachment of the clip to the holster is needed... it's called a fastener, not a pressure fit button. I don't like entrusting my expensive phone to a 1-cent piece of plastic.","Product: The INNOVA Battery and Charging System Monitor displays the condition of your battery and charging system instantly. It protects the engine computer and 12-volt accessories from damaging surges when jump starting or recharging. Easily plugs into the vehicle's cigarette lighter or power receptacle to monitor battery and charging system voltage. The LCD screen displays the measured voltage with a bar graph to indicate battery charge level and the color-coded LEDs quickly identify the battery's charge status. The head pivots for easy viewing and angle adjustment.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Equus Bettery and Charging Monitor -- simple, versatile, inexpensive\n\nReview: Actually a product from Innova, who makes a variety of well known automotive analyzers.\n\nThis very convenient, simple, and inexpensive gizmo paid for itself today, as I have an older pickup with an electrical \"leak\". It took just a few minutes to suspect a fairly new battery having one or more weak cells. There could be other causes (such as a dead short), but the battery is easily diagnosed by a battery dealer (usually a free service). My friendly auto shop was reluctant to consider the battery as this is a 6 month old replacement for another battery I bought from them just 18 months prior.\n\nPROS:\nEasy to use: plug it into a cigarette adapter with the engine off, and again with the engine running.\nComes with a straight-forward user card for interpreting the LED values.\nDisplay head pivots for easy viewing.\nGood materials and workmanship (at this early stage anyway).\nUseful for any vehicle with a 12 volt system (I have a cigarette adapter with battery clips, making this monitor useful on a motorcycle or ATV, very handy).\nInexpensive diagnostic piece of equipment, easily fits in the glove box and available.\nHelps to quickly eliminate guesswork.\n\nCons: none","Product: Max Energy Tuning extracts every bit of energy possible out of every molecule of fuel giving you more miles at part-throttle and more power at wide-open throttle. With the additional power and optimized transmission functions, drivers use less fuel to accelerate and maintain cruising speeds without the torque converter un-locking and transmission down-shifting to a lower gear. The results are maximum power and fuel mileage. For vehicles that come from the factory capable of using regular octane fuel, two (2) optimized tuning programs are provided: one for premium, and the other for regular. In most cases, Hypertechs exclusive Power Tuning for regular octane provides excellent power gains, almost as much power as premium octane. Only one (1) Power Tuning program is provided for vehicles that were designed from the factory to use only premium fuel.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: HyperTech 3200 Max-Energy -- noticeable improvements in my GMs\n\nReview: This is my second Hypertech, this one for a recently purchased used 2002 Yukon 1500, 5.3L gas.\n\n\"Install\" is straight-forward, though with each HyperTech I had to first go online and download the controller with the latest version of their product. From there, uploading their program into the vehicle takes about 1 minute. Their processes are well documented and painless.\n\nSince installing my HyperTech code, the Yukon has shown a 10-12% increase in fuel economy with no change in driving habits or conditions. Startup seems quieter, shift points smoother. This vehicle has over 105,000 miles and now gets 17 city and 20+ highway at 70-80mph (up from 15 and 17).\n\nI also found the Max-Energy to be beneficial after installing it in my 1997 Silverado K1500. For that vehicle, mileage did not improve appreciably, but very likely because I use that truck primarily for hauling 2000 lbs of water and pulling a 4000 lb horse trailer on mountain roads. It has more pulling power than before the install.\n\nReloading the original, factory code is straight-forward.\n\nI recommend this product, at least for GMs such as I have, the HyperTech seems to give these older vehicles a new lease on life. Reviews of the HyperTech Max Economy version were not complimentary, so I opted for the Max--Energy, and I'm happy I did so.","Product: Max Energy Tuning extracts every bit of energy possible out of every molecule of fuel giving you more miles at part-throttle and more power at wide-open throttle. With the additional power and optimized transmission functions, drivers use less fuel to accelerate and maintain cruising speeds without the torque converter un-locking and transmission down-shifting to a lower gear. The results are maximum power and fuel mileage. For vehicles that come from the factory capable of using regular octane fuel, two (2) optimized tuning programs are provided: one for premium, and the other for regular. In most cases, Hypertechs exclusive Power Tuning for regular octane provides excellent power gains, almost as much power as premium octane. Only one (1) Power Tuning program is provided for vehicles that were designed from the factory to use only premium fuel.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: HyperTech 3200 Max-Energy -- noticeable improvements in my GMs\n\nReview: This is my second Hypertech, this one for a recently purchased used 2002 Yukon 1500, 5.3L gas.\n\n\"Install\" is straight-forward, though with each HyperTech I had to first go online and download the controller with the latest version of their product. From there, uploading their program into the vehicle takes about 1 minute. Their processes are well documented and painless.\n\nSince installing my HyperTech code, the Yukon has shown a 10-12% increase in fuel economy with no change in driving habits or conditions. Startup seems quieter, shift points smoother. This vehicle has over 105,000 miles and now gets 17 city and 20+ highway at 70-80mph (up from 15 and 17).\n\nI also found the Max-Energy to be beneficial after installing it in my 1997 Silverado K1500. For that vehicle, mileage did not improve appreciably, but very likely because I use that truck primarily for hauling 2000 lbs of water and pulling a 4000 lb horse trailer on mountain roads. It has more pulling power than before the install.\n\nReloading the original, factory code is straight-forward.\n\nI recommend this product, at least for GMs such as I have, the HyperTech seems to give these older vehicles a new lease on life. Reviews of the HyperTech Max Economy version were not complimentary, so I opted for the Max--Energy, and I'm happy I did so.","Product: Bottle Style May Vary, May Come in Glass or Plastic\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Noodler's Antietam -- a rich blood-red.\n\nReview: Having become addicted to Noodler's array of colors, I added Antietam to my collection as my first red, and went \"conservative\" red (vs. Dragon Napalm or Nikita red, or their standard \"Red\" ). I'm happy to have Antietam as my only \"red\".\n\nA rich, deep red. Blood red is a good description, along with Jalapeno red (sun dried, not the green variety), Sun Dried Tomato, Dark Cinnamon Red. Has a slight tint of brown. Sharp contrast on paper, easy to read, but not overpowering or obnoxious. It has a classy look to it.\nFrom a pen pal: \"Rust Red\", a touch of orange-brown.\n\nOther Noodler's colors to recommend:\nBaystate Blue: rich, vibrant, bordering on a neon\nApache Sunset: aptly named gold-orange\nHeart of Darkness: pitch black, crisp\nLexington Gray: ok, but a dark gray, unlike the more medium as shown here on Amazon.\nTurquoise: a traditional, New Mexico sky southwest blue.\nNavajo Turquoise: A little darker than the above turquoise, a slight hint of green maybe.","Product: Noodler's Ink is 100% made in the USA from cap to glass to ink. Archival quality inks in large 3oz. bottles for vintage or new fountain pens. Yellow base with vibrant orange and red tones. Lovely on white or ivory papers.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Noodler's Antietam -- a rich blood-red.\n\nReview: Having become addicted to Noodler's array of colors, I added Antietam to my collection as my first red, and went \"conservative\" red (vs. Dragon Napalm or Nikita red, or their standard \"Red\" ). I'm happy to have Antietam as my only \"red\".\n\nA rich, deep red. Blood red is a good description, along with Jalapeno red (sun dried, not the green variety), Sun Dried Tomato, Dark Cinnamon Red. Has a slight tint of brown. Sharp contrast on paper, easy to read, but not overpowering or obnoxious. It has a classy look to it.\nFrom a pen pal: \"Rust Red\", a touch of orange-brown.\n\nOther Noodler's colors to recommend:\nBaystate Blue: rich, vibrant, bordering on a neon\nApache Sunset: aptly named gold-orange\nHeart of Darkness: pitch black, crisp\nLexington Gray: ok, but a dark gray, unlike the more medium as shown here on Amazon.\nTurquoise: a traditional, New Mexico sky southwest blue.\nNavajo Turquoise: A little darker than the above turquoise, a slight hint of green maybe.","Product: Noodler's Ink is 100% made in the USA from cap to glass to ink. Archival quality ink in large 4.5oz. eye dropper bottle. Heart of Darkness is completely bulletproof, eternal, forgery-resistant and water-resistant. Durable and intensely black, this intense color is resistant to an increasing array of industrial solvents, bleaching agents, and other tools.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Noodler's Heart of Darkness -- blacker than the bottom of a coal mine\n\nReview: I'm only recently returned to fountain pen usage, starting over so to speak, and am amazed at the pens and inks available now.\n\nDecided to try Noodler's based on reviews here and elsewhere, and their unusual colors and intriguing descriptions. Could be clever marketing, or else Noodler's makes great fountain pen inks.\n\nHeart of Darkness is an unbelievably deep, rich, Black BLACK. Suitable for even the Prince of Darkness.\n\nI tried it out with their complimentary dropper-fill fountain pen, discovered this ink flows smoothly, makes very crisp black lines on what I think is a medium nib, no feathering, no blobs -- all on generic notebook paper. Test: I removed the pen cap, made a 4-inch stroke on the paper, returned the cap, and ran my finger across the line -- no smudging! It took longer to type this sentence than do the smudge test. I guess this is what they mean by \"Bulletproof\".\n\nI can imagine that this ink when used with a fine or extra-fine nib would produce amazingly clear images, letters, lines, and such.\n\nTheir website doesn't appear to sell their products, but they provide dealer links. I intend to get a sampler of their 1-ounce inks.\n\nUpdate: Darkness has become my black ink of choice, smooth, consistent. I forgot to mention details about the included sample pen, by Noodler's. Very nice to hold and use, writes well, and has become one of my non-Parker favorites. I found the dropper fill method not to be difficult at all, just be patient and keep a blotter nearby in case you are impatient. I wish they offered this pen on Amazon, as I found it superior to a couple of Lamy's, the Noodler's Piston fill, and a Schaeffer. Might even be on par with my Parker Vector, and is a nicer size and balance for me than the Vector.","Product: Noodler's Ink is 100% made in the USA from cap to glass to ink. Archival quality inks in large 3oz. bottles for vintage or new fountain pens. Yellow base with vibrant orange and red tones. Lovely on white or ivory papers.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Noodler's Antietam -- a rich blood-red.\n\nReview: Having become addicted to Noodler's array of colors, I added Antietam to my collection as my first red, and went \"conservative\" red (vs. Dragon Napalm or Nikita red, or their standard \"Red\" ). I'm happy to have Antietam as my only \"red\".\n\nA rich, deep red. Blood red is a good description, along with Jalapeno red (sun dried, not the green variety), Sun Dried Tomato, Dark Cinnamon Red. Has a slight tint of brown. Sharp contrast on paper, easy to read, but not overpowering or obnoxious. It has a classy look to it.\nFrom a pen pal: \"Rust Red\", a touch of orange-brown.\n\nOther Noodler's colors to recommend:\nBaystate Blue: rich, vibrant, bordering on a neon\nApache Sunset: aptly named gold-orange\nHeart of Darkness: pitch black, crisp\nLexington Gray: ok, but a dark gray, unlike the more medium as shown here on Amazon.\nTurquoise: a traditional, New Mexico sky southwest blue.\nNavajo Turquoise: A little darker than the above turquoise, a slight hint of green maybe.","Product: Noodler's Ink is 100% made in the USA from cap to glass to ink. Archival quality ink in large 4.5oz. eye dropper bottle. Heart of Darkness is completely bulletproof, eternal, forgery-resistant and water-resistant. Durable and intensely black, this intense color is resistant to an increasing array of industrial solvents, bleaching agents, and other tools.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Noodler's Heart of Darkness -- blacker than the bottom of a coal mine\n\nReview: I'm only recently returned to fountain pen usage, starting over so to speak, and am amazed at the pens and inks available now.\n\nDecided to try Noodler's based on reviews here and elsewhere, and their unusual colors and intriguing descriptions. Could be clever marketing, or else Noodler's makes great fountain pen inks.\n\nHeart of Darkness is an unbelievably deep, rich, Black BLACK. Suitable for even the Prince of Darkness.\n\nI tried it out with their complimentary dropper-fill fountain pen, discovered this ink flows smoothly, makes very crisp black lines on what I think is a medium nib, no feathering, no blobs -- all on generic notebook paper. Test: I removed the pen cap, made a 4-inch stroke on the paper, returned the cap, and ran my finger across the line -- no smudging! It took longer to type this sentence than do the smudge test. I guess this is what they mean by \"Bulletproof\".\n\nI can imagine that this ink when used with a fine or extra-fine nib would produce amazingly clear images, letters, lines, and such.\n\nTheir website doesn't appear to sell their products, but they provide dealer links. I intend to get a sampler of their 1-ounce inks.\n\nUpdate: Darkness has become my black ink of choice, smooth, consistent. I forgot to mention details about the included sample pen, by Noodler's. Very nice to hold and use, writes well, and has become one of my non-Parker favorites. I found the dropper fill method not to be difficult at all, just be patient and keep a blotter nearby in case you are impatient. I wish they offered this pen on Amazon, as I found it superior to a couple of Lamy's, the Noodler's Piston fill, and a Schaeffer. Might even be on par with my Parker Vector, and is a nicer size and balance for me than the Vector.","Product: Noodler's Ink is 100% made in the USA from cap to glass to ink. Archival quality inks in large 3oz. bottles for vintage or new fountain pens. With nice shading, this dark blue-black is great for use in professional writing. Partially bulletproof, and both forgery-resistant and water-resistant.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Noodler's Antietam -- a rich blood-red.\n\nReview: Having become addicted to Noodler's array of colors, I added Antietam to my collection as my first red, and went \"conservative\" red (vs. Dragon Napalm or Nikita red, or their standard \"Red\" ). I'm happy to have Antietam as my only \"red\".\n\nA rich, deep red. Blood red is a good description, along with Jalapeno red (sun dried, not the green variety), Sun Dried Tomato, Dark Cinnamon Red. Has a slight tint of brown. Sharp contrast on paper, easy to read, but not overpowering or obnoxious. It has a classy look to it.\nFrom a pen pal: \"Rust Red\", a touch of orange-brown.\n\nOther Noodler's colors to recommend:\nBaystate Blue: rich, vibrant, bordering on a neon\nApache Sunset: aptly named gold-orange\nHeart of Darkness: pitch black, crisp\nLexington Gray: ok, but a dark gray, unlike the more medium as shown here on Amazon.\nTurquoise: a traditional, New Mexico sky southwest blue.\nNavajo Turquoise: A little darker than the above turquoise, a slight hint of green maybe.","Product: The Nemosine Singularity is a convergence of value quality and performance. The resin body is lightweight and comfortably shaped. The chromed trims and clip provide an elegant touch of style to the Singularity s design. The precision stainless steel nib is manufactured in Germany and is offered in a multitude of point sizes for almost any writing style. Every Nemosine fountain pen is inspected and packaged here in the USA. Included with the no-frills Nemosine box is a set of (6) disposable ink cartridges a converter to be used with bottled ink (bottled ink not included) and an instruction booklet.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Nemosine Singularity -- Smooth and consistent, easy to handle -- and a fantastic bargin for a daily or specialty fountain\n\nReview: I got off my Parker kick for a moment just to try something new and different.\n\nI purchased a Pilot Prera Clear Body (elsewhere) for 4 times the money, and just plain like this Nemosine 4 times better. That makes the Nemosine a winner 16 to 1.\n\nThis demo filled easily, fits my hand well and has nice balance, and the ink (Noodler's) began to flow right away and has remained smooth and consistent. Fill method is piston, and works well (wish all converters would hold more, there seems to be barrel space for it). I chose the Fine Point nib, but it seems closer to a medium, as do a lot of Parker Fine nibs.\n\nFor the price, the only thing that comes close is the free Noodler's demo pens that you can sometimes find with their larger bottles.\nMy plan is to buy several more Nemosines, and use this demo with a clear barrel for various colored inks. The cap threads on, opposed to friction fit, and is very nice for keeping ink fresh and ready to flow when you're ready.\n\nNoodler's inks work great in all my fountains, wide color selection, and downright fun.\n\nfwiw: When I bought the Pilot Prera, I also purchase the Pilot Penmanship Fountain Pen. This is for penmanship training, with a 3-sided grip to help learn proper pen holding. At $8, this is a nice pen for that purpose, nice weight and balance, converter or cartridge fill, and smoother than the Prera. It too would be great if you want a special pen for each of your special inks, but my personal choice for this remains the Nemosine.","Product: From Noodler's Ink - A flexible nib fountain pen with a twist-fill piston mechanism. Writes from thin the thick lines based on pressure and speed of writing. Made from a celluloid derivative, these pens should never be cleaned with alcohols.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Noodler's Hudson Bay Fathoms flex-nib: smooth, easy to use, fun, a value\n\nReview: Having returned to fountain pens recently, all of my experimenting until now has been with \"conventional nibs\", I guess you can call it.\n\nI wanted to try a flex nib, but based on reviews, the Noodler's flex pen lineup wasn't encouraging, and other brands offering flex nibs were way pricey for just my curiosity interest. But then I found this Noodler's Hudson Bay Fathoms, a model different from their average rated flex lineups, and decided to give this one a shot.\n\nI like it a lot, simply put. As the only other review (presently) puts it, the pen writes well, is easy to hold, and is a bargain. I'm just beginning to learn how pressure can affect the ink flow, and this pen has been fun to write with.\n\nAt $14, this is a bargain flex fountain.\n\nSo, if you like flex nibs, or want to try one out, this Hudson Bay Fathoms will serve well.","Product: The JT Eaton Bait Block apple flavor rodenticide is a first generation anticoagulant bait with specially formulated blocks that have an apple flavor to attract and eliminate mice and rats. The active ingredient is Diphacinone 0.005-percent which efficiently eliminates smaller rodents and pests a few days after feeding. This product includes 144 packs of 1-ounce rodenticide blocks in a tamper evident resealable pail. It is perfect for garages or basements to keep those rodents away. It. comes with a 1-year limited warranty to protect against defects in material and workmanship. JT Eaton's mission is to manufacture and distribute products designed to eradicate pests. We continually seek out new ways to provide consumers with the knowledge and products they need to create a healthier and safer world. JT Eaton has been family owned and operated since 1932 and they manufacture and sell only the highest quality products.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: JT Eaton Bail Block Bucket -- First, get the lid off! Then, use to attract rodents and whack with a shovel. Ineffective bait.\n\nReview: I have no idea how effective the contents (ie, rodent bait) works.\nWhat I will comment on is the pail itself, it was IMPOSSIBLE to open! yep. Couldn't do it even with a pliers and then a hammer and pry bar. So I resorted to my USMC kabar and hacked the lid off. The bucket is now destroyed, but I have other buckets.\n\nUpdate 11/2015: Not effective for my variety of garage mouse apparently, more like a snack.\n\nMice definitely are attracted to it, they consumed a number of bait blocks I put in my garage, and there are definite signs they've been nibbling, and I put out more, being hopeful. One might reasonably conclude they eat the stuff and go off to die somewhere. So, I caught two mice using a live trap and dumped them in a deep bucket with a block of this JT bait. Two days later the bait is nearly gone and the rodents remained active. Your rodents may find this bait lethal, but not my garden variety mouse.","Product: Zero gravity (or anti-gravity) chairs are designed with comfort in mind, so much so that that they're widely used not only as camping, patio and pool furniture, but also in beauty salons, offices all across the world and as a reflexology chair. Outsunny's popular line of Zero Gravity chairs are high quality and feature equipped. Included is a removable/adjustable pillow, great for use as a headrest or for the perfect lumbar support. UV-resistant high quality breathable mesh fabric and a powder-coated steel frame for long lasting use. Angle lock allows you lock in any reclining angle from sitting up to the \"zero gravity\" position. Features: - Powder-coated weather-resistant steel frame - The seats of the recliners are made from UV-resistant breathable mesh materials - Support for the breathable mesh area is provided by a replaceable elastic cord, creating a chair that immediately adjusts to your body's size - Foldable for easy transportation - Great for reflexology therapy - May be used both indoors and outdoors Specifications: - Overall Size (upright unfolded): 43 5/8\" tall x 25 1/4\" wide - Seating Width: 19\" (20 3/4\" between arm rests) - Fully Reclined Size: 59\" long x 34 1/2\" tall - Folded: 38\" x 25\" x 6\" - Weight Capacity: 300 lbs. - Chair Weight: 20 lbs.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Outsunny Zero Gravity Deck Recliner -- works as described, comfortable.\n\nReview: Zero Gravity to some means Space to others. I purchased 2 of these for night time astronomy observing. In other circumstances, looks like it will do well as a deck chair.\n\nIn all, these seem solid for my 215 lb frame, and as long as people treat it like a deck chair, and not an exercise machine, I expect it will serve well. Some earlier reviews complain about some metal parts of the chair bending or folding on first use.\n\nClearly the chair folds for storage, and it reclines when in use. Therefore there are sliding components that travel up and down, or forward and backward along some of the chair's tube structures. The chairs were initially resistant to movement (folding, reclining). Therefore, before using I strongly recommend applying a lubricant on all movable surfaces and hinge points. I used a \"dry film\" Teflon, goes on wet, pentrates well, and then wipe off excess. Do this outside. After this application, both chairs were easy to open, close and recline. The Teflon type lube becomes dry to the touch, and should not leave an oily residue.\n\nThe end result is that both chairs easily unfold for use, and the recliner portion easily moves from upright to somewhat horizontal (not flat). I suspect this may have contributed to those earlier reviewers that experienced structural issues... if it can't move, it will bend.\n\nPros: Comfortable, a personal and subjective thing mostly.\nIncludes a wedge shaped pad, usable as a headrest or lumbar support. Easily positioned or simply left off.\nThe seat fabric seems quite solid, flexible bungee-like 1/4\" cord, doubled, is used to secure the fabric to the frame.\nSeat fabric advertised as UV resistent, definitely looks water proof, time will tell.\nOnce properly lubricated, the chair sets up and and reclines smoothly; knobs on each armrest lock any particular position in place, a quick 1/4 turn does it. I suspect if you try to exit the chair when it is reclined, considerable stress will result, along with bent frame components; so please return the chair to it's upright and locked position before taking off.\n\nCon: Sloppy frame finishing - the tubes all show poorly applied finish, looks like there was some sand-like bubbly debris on the surface and it was simply painted over.","Product: Veranda Collection patio furniture covers by Classic Accessories offer maximum protection with style. The dark splashguard hides stains and water spots while high-flow air vents protect furniture from mold and mildew. Buckled straps attach to furniture legs and help covers hold on in the worst weather. Water-resistant undercoating keeps the rain from penetrating, ensuring that your furniture stays high and dry. A convenient draw string hem affords a tight, custom fit while large padded handles make removal and adjustment of your cover convenient and hassle-free. All Veranda Collection covers feature a 3-year warranty guaranteeing replacement if damaged by dry-rot, the sun, or mold and mildew. You'll be sure to find the right covers to fit your needs with over 140 shapes and styles in the Veranda Collection from Classic Accessories.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Classic Accessories Veranda Overized storage bag -- generous size, heavy duty, weather resistent.\n\nReview: Oct 2017 update: it leaks, the seams seem to be the culprit; yet the material itself seems to be waterproof. Odd. Therefore I would NOT use this as an outdoor storage bag for deck cushions or whatever you want protected. Apart from that, I am pleased with this storage bag, heavy-duty, spacious, but NOT water proof.\n\n------- Original review ----\nGenerous size, holds deck chair cushions for a set of 6 chairs, plus a double hammock.\nMaterial is very sturdy, heavy duty handle with a velcro wrap to keep both handle loops together, bottom inside of this bag is water proof material (don't know about the seams yet, don't care).\nNot mentioned, sturdy canvas-like handles on both ends of the bag.\n\nEarlier claims about the zipper not being \"waterproof\", valid, but as water resistant as you might find on a raincoat. If you're storing outdoor cushions anyway then bag your cushions in hefty lawn/leaf/trash bags, place these in this jumbo bag and store in a garage or shed on end or flat, or from a rafter, or under some reasonable overhang. I placed mine on top of a deck table, upside down and had no issues during a decent 2-day rain. For long term (winter) I plan to hang on end from a storage shed rafter. (Include a highly fragrant bar of cheap hand soap or two to keep mice out.)","Product: Starmark creates innovative toys and training products that reflect the way dogs learn and have fun. Starmark's pet products division brings you the benefit of their vast experience working with thousands of dogs and their owners. Starmark Everlasting Treats are specially formulated ingredients which are completely edible and digestible, Everlasting Treats are bursting with flavor providing long-lasting chewing enjoyment for your dog. Their unique shape and raised dental ridges safely scrub your dog's teeth for a brighter smile. Insert healthy treats into the Everlasting Treat toys for hours of fun and interactive play. Available in chicken, liver, vanilla mint, hickory, wheat/corn/soy free, and wheat free flavors. Comes in small, medium, or large 2-packs. Nutritional Adequacy: Feed as a treat. This product is intended for intermittent or supplemental feeding only. Caution: With all chew products and treats, pets should be supervised as no product is completely indestructible. Pieces smaller than the mouth may present a choking hazard. When wet, treats may stain fabric and upholstery. For questions about Starmark products contact 1-877-823-7847\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Everlasting Dog Treats -- Love at First Bite!\n\nReview: This was an instant success for our food- and treat-fussy Siberian, and our \"normal\" voracious Malamute.\n\nPros: 1) Most importantly: If our siberian will accept (as in devour!) these treats, we predict most any other fussy pups will too.\n\n2) Someone intelligently designed the treat holders and shape of the treats themselves so that they can't be immediately removed and consumed... our dogs spend hours working on their treat ball. True to their breeds, our pups get in an occasional gnawing moment, but for the most part they have to lick and nibble their way through their treat. Which means when we leave for an extended time, they are honorably occupied, not bored, and not getting into mischief.\n\n3) The ball itself is made of a soft-ish, somewhat pliable material, and yet appears to be indestructible. Time will tell.\n\n4) A variety of flavors. We purchased each of the available flavors to learn which would \"win\", and immediately discovered that all flavors send our pups into exited expectation when they see their ball coming.\n\n5) You can put your own treats inside the ball itself, but it looks like a tough nut for any dog to get to.\n\nCon: and this could be a good thing: it's hard getting a treat into the ball unless you have strong hands/wrists, or a smooth ended spoon handle to help peel the retaining edge of the treat ball opening over the edge of the treat. This means your pup will not likely remove the treat in one lump (unless he uses that smooth spoon handle) and immediately consume it.","Product: A patented, pH-balanced product for general ear cleansing and frequent use. Contains 2-percent acetic acid, which is effective against Pseudomonas as well as other bacteria and microbes; and 2-percent boric acid. Contains no ototoxic agents or artificial cleansing or dewaxing agents. All-natural and hypoallergenic. Apple scented.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: DECHRA DermaPet Malacetic Otic ear/skin cleanser and ointment -- totally effective!\n\nReview: I have adopted numerous arctic canines, Malamute and Siberian, both endowed with heavy coats and their habit of various \"irritations\", the most significant being ear infections and whatnot.\n\nI have for a long time used Malacetic Otic as a curative... meaning it is applied to the affected ear and within days the pup is happy to have the dried residue removed (earwax, whatever that greasy and smelly stuff amounts to) and is no long shaking it's head vigorously, scratching or rubbing it's affected ear(s) on the carpet or whatever is convenient (have you ever been a rubbing post? I have - yuck).\n\nI have a small spray bottle of this magic potion, some cotton balls (spritzed with the ointment), and a few Q-tips nearby. The process of spraying the pups's inner ear (far easier than trying to drain or apply some of the lotion into the affected ear), followed by a gentle removal of obvious waxy stuff, finally a gentle wipe-down/wipe out of the affected ear with a cotton ball (also sprayed with Malacetic). In a single day my pups are happy. This process leaves a residue of dried, flaky stuff that is easily flicked out with a Q-tip or even finger tip. Pups are now familiar with the routine, they know it relieves their itching and inflammation, and allow me full access to rid them of their ear issues.\n\nExtremely recommended if your pup is suffering. Malacetic Otic is a great solution (pun intended). Easy on them, easy for you. A 16oz bottle lasts a long, long time, you and your pup are worth it.","Product: Minneapolis-based Wagner SprayTech Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Wagner Holding, Inc., is a market leader in advanced paint applicators. It develops and markets a wide array of painting and decorating products used in home improvement, commercial painting and industrial fine finishing. They make it easier to prepare surfaces, apply paints and other coatings, and clean up after painting. Wagner supports its customers through innovation, high tech engineering, quality manufacturing and service. Follow Wagner on Facebook and Twitter.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: A fine small job sprayer\n\nReview: A fine small job sprayer, but cannot say it is designed for detail work. The spray pattern is still pretty large.\n\nI bought this for spraying lattice panels and it does fine, not as much overspray as my original Wagner 0518080 Control Spray Max HVLP Sprayer, purchased 3 years ago (here on Amazon). Very nice that this line of Wagner sprayers has stuck around, the front-end attached as expected and I was ready to shoot after loading up the paint container.\n\nPaint containers, the stainless and 1400ml plastic that came with my original HVLP kit, are all interchangeable, very convenient.\n\nNote: the instructions say that these Wagners will shoot stain without thinning, but I found that reducing the paint viscosity helps flow and coverage. I strive to find something that is somewhat similar to the consistency of cream, or coffee creamer. This allows me to reduce the flow and lower the pressure... This means it takes a little more time to cover, but also reduces overspray.\n\nNice to have a backup spray head. (And beats a brush any day, particularly for lattice and rough texture surfaces!)","Product: High quality latex-based wood filler formulated to create a surface and body that looks and acts like real wood and provides a repair that is 3X stronger than the wood itself.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: DAP Plastic Latex Wood Filler -- easy, effective, economical\n\nReview: Impressive for an Amazon Add-on-Item...\n\nI used this to fill old nail and screw holes, cracks and smaller missing wood sections on redwood railings and balusters. Spreads well, smooth. The results were perfect -- the filler sanded flush (I used an orbital, 5 seconds per hole), and then stained the entire railing. No priming needed. The end result was a smooth surface, no detectable surface irregularities.\n\nThis filler spreads well, but over the course of several weeks (or repeated opening of its plastic container that does not seal all that well) it begins to dry out, gets kind of crumbly. The remedy is to dip your putty knife in some mineral spirits (just wet it), then remix the filler. Repeat (dip and mix) until the end result regains its flexible consistency -- it should spread like butter.. I found this remedy can be done repeatedly.\n\nFiller dries to an almond color, so I recommend a solid stain/paint or else this will likely show through unless you are finishing with a darker solid color.\n\nFiller shows NO sign of shrinkage, and accepts my dark solid stains just fine (oil based Cabot). In fact, when the railing is re-installed there is no apparent sign it has been renovated.\n\nPutty knife: Amazon Add-on-Item Wagner Pro-Grip Flex Putty Knife 1 1/2 inches (recommended)\nhttps://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000I1QDXO/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1","Product: The BOSTITCH BTFP1KIT 1-Tool and Compressor Combo Kit is ideal for interior and exterior finishing and trimming project for a variety of crafts like furniture, cabinets, and staircases. It features a 150 max PSI 6.0 gallon tank (22.7 L) and 2.6 SCFM* delivered @ 90 PSI pump, which enables long tool run time with quick recovery. The compressor features long-life oil-free, maintenance-free pump for convenient use. It has a BOSTITCH high efficiency motor for easy start up in cold weather or extension cord application [14 ga or larger, 50 ft. (15.2 m) or less]. At only 78.5 dBA** operational noise level it offers you a quiet work environment. The SB-1850BN 18 GA brad nailer drives 18GA brad nails from 5/8\" to 2\". 1/4\" x 15' PVC air hose with fittings and 1-1/4\" 18GA brad nails are included. specs: Depth Adjustment - Yes, Adjustable Exhaust, Magazine Capacity - 100, No Mar Pad, Power Source - Pneumatic, Tool Weight only 2.7 lbs.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Bostich BTFP02012 6 gallon compressor... enough already, this is a GREAT DIY addition to any shop. Recommended\n\nReview: A DIY essential if you use pneumatic whatevers...\nAm happy to have an air compressor that is portable, charges quickly.\nNo issues with air leakage.\n\nI also purchased the Hitachi air line, link follow. This is another winner, includes connectors -- recommended:\nHitachi 115155 Professional Grade Polyurethane Air Hose with 1/4\" Industrial Fittings, 1/4\" x 50', Green\n\nThis unit was a Plug-n-Play purchase, plugged it in and was ready to serve my pneumatic stapler.\n\nAlmost... Bostitch includes an air relief nozzle on the underside of the pancake, shipped OPEN.\nClose this orifice and your compressor will reach max pressure in short order.\nThis is not mentioned in the included info-document.\n\nIncluded info-document is not a manual, more of a 24x36 poster that require unfolding and navigating... sheesh. What ever happened to tool manuals? Refolding said poster to its original configuration is... nonsense. It's an air compressor, move on...\n\nBottom line: a recommended addition to any DIY environment. Unit is portable, performs as claimed.","Product: This Cutting Combo includes a DWHT10272 pocket knife and a DWHT10261 folding utility knife. The DEWALT Folding Pocket knife is designed for Heavy-Duty use. This pocket knife features a stainless-steel blade for durability and rust resistance. The pocket knife has a Tanto tip that helps with piercing through tough materials. The DEWALT auto load folding retractable knife combines the convenience of a folding knife with the functionality of a traditional utility knife. Blade changes are quick and easy as the old blade is removed with the push of a button and a new blade put into place by moving the slide forward. A new blade is always available with storage for up to 3 integrated into the utility knife.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: DeWalt Pocket and Utility Knife Combo -- SAFE, rugged, dependable - Recommended\n\nReview: When it comes to folders (pocket folding knives) I am a snob for safety, utility, safety, durability, safety, utility.\nThis DeWalt meets all of the above, sharp-sharp edge, so I can open boxes or letters equally well.\n\nWhen it comes to box knives, I am cautious; when it comes to folding box cutters I am suspicious, scared, paranoid, sometimes panicky that the knife will fold on me as has happened with some major home mart Chinese made cutters. They should include band-aides!\n\nI was initially skeptical; however, this deWalt cutter is SAFE, solid, stable, predictable, sharp and in fact has become my ONLY box cutter, all others having been deep-sixed.\n\nAs mentioned by an earlier review, the nationally known Homie Despot sells this combo for half, so get two sets and you will be happy.","Product: Gallon, natural, UV plus oil based wood finish, 1 coat penetrating finish that protects & conditions wood while maintaining a natural appearance.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Messmers UV Plus wood finishes -- FREEDOM! from constant maintenance. And looks great.\n\nReview: After a decade of finding a reliable wood finish, I have reduced it all down to Messmers.\nI live in a solar harsh (high mountain elevation), high wind and snow environment.\n\nRefinishing here runs the gamut from a year to 5 years depending.\n\nMessmers is deliverance from my environmental challenges. It stands up to high solar, high wind (reaching 103mph this past winter!), weeks of snow cover, yada yada.\n\nPros: easy to apply, dries fairly fast in comparison to other name brands, some that remain sticky weeks afterward and attract dust, insects, pollen and grit like a magnent!\nApplication by brush, roller, spray; I have done all 3 with excellent coverage and results.\nViscosity is \"thin\", as compared to other known brands that have the consistency of pancake syrup. Penetrates extremely well.\nDried finish is CONSISTENTLY (emphasis) satin, not gloss as often happens with competition stains with multiple applications.\nA decent variety of color tones, though limited to semi-trans and semi-solids.\nEasy clean-up: mineral spirits. After spraying Messmers, I \"shoot\" a cup of mineral spirits through my spray gun and put it aside for another project.\n\nTheir \"Natural\" tone turns most anything, eg, cedar, redwood, etc) an orange tinge, but not obnoxious. In fact, if you spray untreated cedar or redwood with just water, you get something similar. I recycle wood (cedar and redwood) for numerous projects, and enjoy the Messmers effect on highlighting grains.","Product: Amora Lighting Tiffany Style Mission Table Lamp, 8-Inches Wide\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Amora Tiffany Mission style lamps - solid, smaller for accent lighting, attractive\n\nReview: Amora makes 3 of these smaller Tiffany Mission lamps. The bases are all identical, the shades vary and are priced accordingly.\nShades are nicely made stained glass. I purchased 3 lamps, each with a different shade. The more intricate the shade, the less light it emits.\n\nI use G14 LED bulbs, appliance sized, short to fit inside the harp that holds the shade. This reduces the bulb to something under 400 lumens, the G14 LEDs replace a conventional 35w bulb and use only 4.5 watts, comparable to a night light. That makes these lamps more suitable for ambiance, probably not suitable as a reading lamp. Lamps fit nicely on nightstands and bookcase tops without taking much space or looking out of proportion.\n\nNice Mission look, nice accent lighting.\n\nAmazon link to the G14 bulbs: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LXZBLJI","Product: Tamiya America, Inc Masking Tape, 6mm, TAM87030\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: tamiya Masking Tape -- excellent adhesion prevents sprayed items from \"leaking\", great for hobbyists and modelers\n\nReview: This applies to scale model ship painting: bought the Tamiya brand masking 6 and 10mm tapes based on advice from a seasoned hobbyist. It was excellent advice. Am discovering that Tamiya produces quality modeling supplies and kits. No complaints on their kits, paints, tools, etc, and prefer Tamiya (though higher cost) over all others.\n\nTape adheres very well, so there is no bleeding of paint under the tape. But, spend some time getting a firm seal, it's worth the effort; I use a stiff and small old toothbrush for this. A smoothed and rounded pop-sickle stick rubbed along the edge also helps.\n\nTape remains flexible enough, at least the 6mm, so that it follows curves and conforms to irregular surfaces... within reason, but we're talking 12-15\" model ships.\n\nTape removes nicely, leaves a clean paint line if you have prepped your work well.\n\nIt's on the spendy side for masking tape, but you will save time and re-work and heart ache. I use regular brand-name household paint masking tapes for covering the remaining parts from overspray, typically the 1- to 2-inch wide blue stuff, works well in combination with the Tamiya defining the paint edge.\n\nRecommended for detailed painting and spraying."],"string":"[\n \"Product: Transparent Clear Crystal Snap on Hard Case + USB Data Cable + USB Home Travel Charger + USB Car Charger for Sandisk Sansa Fuze is a combo pack. Charger: Input: 100V - 240V (U.S. & World Standard) (50~60Hz/180mA).Output: 7.6V / 800mA; Case: Custom made to fit your phone perfectly; Cable: Brand new non-OEM. 2-In-1 Features: Hotsysnc & Charging.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: FUZE essentials -- a great value\\n\\nReview: Essential accessories for any MP3 have to be chargers, home (wall) and away (auto), and something to keep it from getting banged up. This package provides all that perfectly.\\n\\nI bought this combo because it included a hardcover. Though originally low on my priority list, this item's importance has quickly risen, taking the brunt of drops and spills, dust and debris (from my own pockets no less!). The case is likely not water proof, but it certainly will save your baby from splashes. It holds my FUZE snuggly, and provides access to all controls without interference. Someone planned this gem, the edges are all nicely beveled and polished so that finger touch on the controls is not affected. After comparing to my daughter's silicon version, I give this hardcover 6 stars, and it needs no screen saver/cover.\\n\\nIn all, a great package for the price!, absolutely recommended.\",\n \"Product: Hudson Bearings flange mounted two hole carbon steel ball transfer. Ball transfers solve a variety of material handling and motion control challenges, whether used in the traditional ball up position or as a caster in the ball down orientation. Ball transfers offer advantages to traditional casters, such as lower profiles and omnidirectional movement, often at a lower cost. Common applications: air cargo, shears, robotics, military logistics, store fixtures, die handling, laser and plasma cutters, glass and metal manufacturing, medical devices, caster substitution. Made of carbon steel housing material. Ball support cup is hardened and plated. Protective cover assures low torque and longevity. Units available in plated carbon steel to provide corrosion resistance. 1-inches main ball rotates on ninety 1/8-inches diameter support ball.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Hudson Bearings - case of 10 rollers for supporting material you while process long or big wood working materials on your own.\\n\\nReview: Highly useful for a homeowner/DIY junkie, much like a silent helper.\\n\\nThese serve very well to help support wood when feeding a tablesaw, chopsaw, planer, router, doing most anything with long or bulky items.\\n\\nHow? I have a line-up of rollers fastened to the (narrow) edge of a scrap 2x4, the 2x4 is then clamped to a portable workbench/vise, for example the Black&Decker Workmate. When ripping-planing-sanding-routing long items such as deck planks, 4x8 sheets of whatever, siding, long pieces of trim... these are PERFECT for supporting most any material being fed into a saw-planer-sander-router, and supporting the material as it comes out of that machine, and makes it easy to maneuver boards or sheets easily. Or even something as simple as supporting something when you need to make a notch, drill a hole, trim an edge... these rollers are there to support you as well. Makes maneuvering material, however great or small, as you need to get the job done without a fight. I used to rest my project items on a pair of portable workbenches -- no more, those benches now hold the previously mentioned \\\"2x4 rails with rollers\\\" so I can make whatever adjustments I need. I like easy.\\n\\nI just ordered another Case of 10 bearings -- you can never have enough helpful support (literally) when it comes to DIY.\\n\\nRecommended\",\n \"Product: US Art Supply 15 Piece Multi-Purpose Brush Set\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: 15 Assorted quality Hobby Paint Brushes - hardly, a waste of your money\\n\\nReview: There is no quality involved here, and what you will get is not totally as pictured. Possibly ok for throw-away gluing, maybe.\\n\\nBrushes arrived in a flimsy plastic \\\"case\\\", stapled together. The case in turn was mailed in a cardboard sandwich made from a box, stapled all along the edges, the edges left open to the USPS. There were LOTS of staples, a good thing as lots came undone.\\n\\nBrushes all arrived stiff, handles sticky, supposedly because the seller dips them in soap for shipping, for reasons unknown that you are supposed to remove. After some soaking I tossed a few that remained stiff.\\n\\nBristles are all cheap, frayed ends, lots of loose bristles, metal ferrules that hold the bristles to the handle bent... blah blah blah.\\n\\nA complete waste, imho. I demanded and received a full refund.\",\n \"Product: This quick-release coupling mounts inline between your airbrush and hose, and provides an easy method for disconnecting and/or changing airbrushes without the need to release air pressure or unscrew fittings. This coupling also swivels, helping to eliminate hose kinks. Easy-to-use, simply pull back the spring-loaded sleeve and the fitting separates into two pieces; a small male nipple (also called a tail) that remains attached to the airbrush and a body section connected to the air hose. An internal, self-sealing mechanism prevents air from escaping when the coupling is separated. Standard 1/8\\\" BSP connections. Includes one nipple (5mm diameter) and one body. As an added bonus, access to the following exclusive airbrushing guide downloads is included: Top 8 Cake Airbrushing Tips, Guide to Airbrush Cake Decorating, Developing Basic Artistic Skills, 10 Essential Airbrushing Tips, Airbrushing Strokes and Techniques, Airbrush Cleaning Manual, and the Airbrush Lettering Guide.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Airbrush Quick Release -- works, but differernt products from different Amazon sellers\\n\\nReview: There are a number of sellers offering airbrush quick connect/disconnect fittings for this one listing, and prices seem to vary widely.\\n\\nFor my new Master Airbrush kit I needed 4 quick connects (compressor and 3 brushes), and so considered the seller Beauticom whose cost was substantially lower than other sellers for this item, and has an ok rating.\\n\\nWhat arrived are indeed 1/8 BSP quick connects compatible with my setup. However, they look slightly different. I found that coupling the 2 parts together took some effort, more than I felt was needed, and discovered that the tiny \\\"O\\\"-rings inside the receiving side are DELICATE, easily distorted, easily dislodged, and easily ripped. Therefore, the coupling leaks. Scratch one of my quick-connects, luckily at the reduced cost I had decided to order a spare.\\n\\nThe remedy, if you choose this seller, is to apply a light coat of petroleum jelly to the male side of the quick-connect, and carefully mate the two halves while rotating them in opposite directions to help lubricate that O-ring as best as possible. I used a Q-tip and a tube of Vaseline Lip Balm, don't goop it up, just apply a nice coating. Thereafter I found the remaining couplers connected and disconnected fine, though there remains a slow leak somewhere, perhaps at the coupler and perhaps not, nothing to fuss about.\\n\\nA fair amount of force is needed to compress the coupler halves together in order to get them to release, but feel this is an advantage -- better a tight grip than a loose one, and also indicates that there is pressure on that tiny O-ring, meaning it's still there.\\n\\nYour options are to purchase couplers elsewhere at double and quadruple the cost of Beauticom. I'm satisfied with my choice and would order again if needed.\",\n \"Product: ENG NA DVD BOX CD\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: FS 2004 Centruy of Flight\\n\\nReview: Microsoft still produces a fun flight simulator, I've been enjoying several of their variants since they originally came out over a decade ago. Hard for an old Navy pilot to give it up. (Currently have 4 MS sims, and 3 others.)\\n\\nPros: Lots of aircraft variety, and tho I haven't flown a real DC-3 or Cessna Caravan amphib (but several close cousins), the realism seems to be right on. Having flown the aerobatic Extra-300, I claim you can experience nearly everything except the physical G's and grey-out. Plenty of aircraft and flight options and scenarios, many historic, others downright fun, or create your own. Overall, if you enjoy real flying, this is the next best thing. Cheaper, too.\\n\\nEnjoyed the accompanying background information and detail on the historic flights, a personal interest, tho you needn't scan those if you're in a hurry to get flying.\\n\\nDefinitely themed for a dozen aircraft well known more in the beginning decades of flight, with some smaller and more current a/c included, such as the Lear, Mooney, Extra 300, venerable C-172, and even helicopters. If you're looking for the big Boeings, you'll get these in other MS sims.\\n\\nCon: Microsoft continues to insist on a validation CD anytime you start up their sims, even tho you can register your product. totally unnecessary.\\n\\nHappy Landings!\",\n \"Product: No matter how you like to fly the Logitech Attack 3 Joystick will give you maximum control with minimum hassle. As soon as you wrap either hand around the fortable handle you'll immediately feel the smooth performance and precise control that tell you one important fact: this is no ordinary joystick. Plus the enhanced firepower of the 11 programmable buttons on this stick will help put you at the top of your game-and keep you there.Primary InformationInput Device Type:JoystickConnectivity Technology:CableButtons Qty:11Interface Type:USBFeatures:Trigger; programmable buttonsSystem RequirementsSystem Requirements / OS Required:Apple MacOS 9; Apple MacOS X 10.x; Microsoft Windows 98/ME/2000/XPService&SupportService & Support Type:Limited warranty - 1 yearUNSPSC CodeUNSPSC Code:43211705\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Logitech Attack 3 Joystick - highly limited\\n\\nReview: Disappointing, purchased because it has a USB interface and thought would be a nice update for my MS flight simulators.\\n\\npros: Nice and compact, and good feel for up/down (pitch), roll right/left (banking), but ...\\n\\nCons: NO left/right (yaw) Rudder capability! If you intend to use this for flight sims, and anything requiring some thinking and manuevering, this will also disappoint you.\\n\\nNo driver CD, instead you are instructed to go to LogiTech. Com. But once there, the only thing you can download is some gaming software. Their menuing system had difficulty indentifying the joystick, in spite of being provided product names and/or model numbers as instructed.\\n\\nThe controller says it has 11 programmable buttons, but I find no way of assigning any functions to any buttons using my MS simulators.\\n\\nLook elsewhere if you're searching for a 3-axis joystick.\",\n \"Product: Blue-tooth speaker Wireless, Blue-tooth connection Re-Chargeable Li-Ion Battery Range up to 33 ft.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Antec Accent Lighting strip of 6 USB powered RED LEDs -- perfect for low ambient night lighting under a telescope!\\n\\nReview: Great ambient lighting -- for Astronomy! Not bright, not dim, it's enough to allow reading of star charts or even a reference manual while outdoors star gazing, and not mess up your night vision.\\n\\nUpdate 1/2016: bought another telescope, and so bought another Antec red LED strip for same... found to be dependable, low power demand, and essential to keep me from tripping over 2 telescopes in the dark gloom! These are a life saver!\\n\\nLED strip is about 1 foot in length, a small but convenient on/off switch (slide), and the USB cord is at least 3 feet.\\nI \\\"installed\\\" the strip under the tripod base plate that the telescope sits on. Therefore there is no direct light interference, just a nice glow under the 'scope. When I need to look at a chart or book, I simply stick it under the baseplate so I can read it.\\n\\n\\\"Installation\\\" was simply a few \\\"D-wings\\\", those inch long rubber holders for computer cords you stick here and there, available on Amazon as\\nUT Wire UTW-D18-BK D-Wings Cord Organizer Combo Kit, Black, 18-Piece; a bag of 18 for $7, very useful and they stick to the textured baseplate. I simply routed the LED strip through the holders, with a final \\\"wing\\\" near the switch. (Note: some reviews complain these unstick, but I have never had any problem, on smooth or textured surfaces. But then again, I clean that spot well beforehand.)\\n\\nPower consumption? with just 6 tiny LEDs I would expect minimal draw, but I plugged in the lights and let them run all night; the morning recharge of my power tank was minimal, quick, no surprises.\",\n \"Product: Tripp Lite's 7-ft. Orange snag less category 5e (Cat5e) patch cable has 2 snag less RJ45 molded male connectors featuring integral strain relief. The cable is manufactured from PVC 4-pair stranded UTP and is rated for 350MHz/1Gbps communication. All cables are offered in a variety of lengths and colors for all category 5 (Cat5) and 5e cabling needs. Standard, non-snag less category 5e patch cables (N002-Series) are also available.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Belkin 7-ft RJ45 CAT 5E ethernet cable: Belkin doesn't understand -- don't kink electronic cables!\\n\\nReview: RJ45 cables are so common these days, you'd think everything would be worked out by now... apparently not so.\\n\\nThe worst thing you can do to any electronic cable is kink it, bend it sharply, put a crimp in it. But my 7 footers, shown on Amazon in an appropriately nicely formed loop, all arrived in a tight wad with sharp bends every 3 1/2 to 4 1/5 inches along the entire length, and then tightly bound in the middle with a wire tie. Each kink even created a discolored joint on the cable jacket. Cables don't like sharp bends (mine have 17 tight bends along a 7' cable), those kinks make cables hard to string and route along small spaces, they make a rat's nest behind my comm gear, and they jeopardize the integrity of the cable.\\n\\nC'mon Belkin, your \\\"Pro Series\\\" packaging is a silly gimmick, because at a thrifty $2.50 per cable, I'm betting dollars to donuts there's nothing special about your cables, no rare metals, no exotic coatings, no braided stainless shielding... it's a generic Ethernet cable. Nothing more, nothing less. Kindly treat it as such. Treat them kindly and fore go the glitzy packaging.\\n\\nMeanwhile, my 15' cables from Mediabridge happily arrived in a simple cardboard box, in a neat 5\\\" diameter coil. No kinks, no sharp bends. I try to order from Mediabridge when possible because they seem to know how to package and deliver cables that work out of the box, no fancy packaging, no rocket science, no need to hang a cable for a week to work out the kinks, just a sound cable. Unfortunately, they did not have 7-footers when I needed them. So I went with Belkin, after all it's just a cable. Next time I'll wait for Mediabridge to re-stock.\",\n \"Product: The easiest way to aim a telescope. The view seen through the window of the Telrad is continuous with the sky around it, not magnified or upside down. Three rings are lighted and appear to lie among the stars. The small ring outlines the Moon-sized area seen in the telescope. The large outer ring outlines the area seen in a standard Finderscope. To point your telescope, just look through the Telrad and move the telescope until the rings are centered on the object. The Telrad is 8 inches long. Weighs 11 ounces and mounts on any telescope without drilling any holes. It unlocks from its base for separate storage. Requires 2 AA batteries (not included).\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: TELRAD telescope finder -- Essential gear for learning astronomy\\n\\nReview: For learning astronomy this is a great accessory... check that -- essential gear.\\n\\nFactory supplied finders are often like small 8x50 telescopes, often providing a cross hair reticle for centering on an object, but when used at night it's like looking through a mailing tube for a cat in a coal bin. Or a needle in a hay stack. High-powered binoculars can work better for finding things, but fall short on helping you position your telescope.\\n\\nThe Telrad is square and bulky, it provides NO magnification, it has a goofy dimmer switch for the illuminated reticle. It is not sexy looking taped to your telescope.\\n\\nBut it works fantastically. Reason 1) the unmagnified wide field of view means What You See Is What You Get (wysiwyg). And what you see now makes sense -- it matches your star chart/planisphere. Reason 2) the illuminated reticle (dimmable) enables you to center your telescope on your object easily, quickly.\\n\\nThis finder needs to be aligned just as any finder scope needs to be BEFORE viewing. Unfortunately the illuminated reticle is not visible for daytime alignment, so wait until dusk and pick a known bright star (Polaris, Altair, Vega, etc) or easy to identify object such as the moon, an evening planet, even a distant smokestack with blinking lights.\\n\\nThis Telrad is about the same size as the 8x50 finder on my Celestron C8.\",\n \"Product: D-Link DIR-655 Xtreme Wireless Router The D-Link Xtreme N Gigabit Router has arrived to deliver you with faster speeds and farther range while staying backward compatible with 802.11g and 802.11b devices. Connect the Xtreme N Gigabit Router to a cable or DSL modem and provide high-speed web access to your computers, game systems, and multimedia players. Establish your wireless network with ease to share photos, files, music, videos, printers, and network storage. Powered by Xtreme N technology and outfitted with three external antennas, your router provides superior wireless coverage at home or the office! Specifications Wireless network standards: IEEE 802.11g IEEE 802.11b IEEE 802.11n Networking standards: IEEE 802.3ab gigabit ethernet IEEE 802.3 ethernet 10Base-T Wireless data transfer rates: 300 Mbps Security protocols: WPA 128-bit WEP 64-bit WEP WPA2 Routing / Firewall Protocols: DHCP Network address translation (NAT) Firewall Features: MAC Address Filtering URL Filtering Stateful Packet Inspection (SPI) One WAN port Four 10/100/1000 Mbps ports Ethernet: CAT6, CAT5e Limited 12 months parts and labor warranty Dimensions: 4.6\\\"W x 7.6\\\"D x 1.2\\\"H\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: D-Link 655 = plug-n-play, FAST, Linux compatible, satellite modem compatible\\n\\nReview: The review title pretty much says it all...\\n\\nI bought this D-Link to plug into a new satellite modem that arrived with absolutely NO features, hoping that the D-Link would provide firewall protection (it has SPI), accommodate my home LAN (has 4 ethernet ports), DHCP and decent wireless capability.\\n\\nNot only does this DIR-655 provide all these, the install and config was fast and straight-forward. Router recognizes and supports my 1GB network cards. The router's Wireless-N is definitely faster, and signal strengths throughout the house are noticeably better.\\n\\nAs my principal operating system of choice is Linux, I thoroughly enjoyed how the router plugged into the satellite modem and ran with Linux out-of-the-box, I needed only to configure my wireless security and then that, too, took off running.\\n\\nConsidering the features and ease-of-use, this appears to be a great router and at a bargain price. Highly recommended,\\n\\n(FYI: documentation in various languages and Adobe Reader executables are on the CD, if you need them.)\\n\\nupdate Feb 2013: still rock solid, glad I bought it.\\nUpdate Feb 2015: router still rocks, and with a periodic firmware upgrade (easy) remains as my front-end to the Wacky World Web (www)\",\n \"Product: With a gleaming white case accented by a bright color band and smooth rounded edges, the P5 is attractive, compact and portable. Its simple streamlined design includes a convenient built-in USB connector that allows quick, hassle-free data transfer rates, and its bright LED indicates card insertion and/or data transfer activity. When it comes to card readers, trust the memory experts at Transcend to provide the highest possible quality and speed. Just plug the P5 reader directly into any USB 2.0 port to get the most out of your memory card.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Transcend P5 9-in-1 USB 2.0 Reader\\n\\nReview: Does most of the common card formats, works equally well with Sandisk and Transcend chips, haven't tried others.\\n\\nPros: seems to work well on low power USB ports (I have a 4-port adapter that chronically complains about power overload when using other USB sticks; no complaints from the system with this reader.)\\n\\nMemory Cards (SD and microSD specifically) are easy to insert and remove from this reader.\\n\\nSystem is able to rapidly detect and read the directory, in contrast to some USB sticks that seem to take forever.\\n\\nWell manufactured and sturdy.\\n\\nGreat price.\\n\\nCon: (Minor) Stick has about the same dimensions of older and conventional USB sticks that seem fatter, meaning if you have several USB ports close together, you will not have sufficient room to insert a USB cable in an adjacent port.\",\n \"Product: Bulky and expensive radar guns are now a thing of the past. The Pocket Radar Classic model is a pocket-sized general purpose speed radar gun that can be used for many uses including traffic safety, radio controlled hobbies, motorsports, neighborhood safety, industrial safety, scientific research and much more. You decide what to measure and when, using one of two modes snapshot or repeating to accurately monitor the speeds of vehicles, radio controlled planes/cars, runners and any other moving object from 7-375 MPH (11-600 KPH). If you want to measure Ball Speeds then the Ball Coach radar is a better choice. Measures: 7 to 375 MPH (11 to 600 KPH), Accurate to within +/- 1 mph, it gives over 10,000 readings on a single set of batteries. Includes a hard-shell case, wrist strap, 2 AAA alkaline batteries, and an illustrated Quick Start Guide.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Pocket Radar Personal Speed Radar\\n\\nReview: A great purchase. Unit is simple to use (point and click), smartly designed.\\n\\nI bought this for our HOA to \\\"prove\\\" to local drivers their excess speeds, in a kindler and gentler and yet \\\"scientific\\\" manner. This gizmo went to work straight out of the box, works at distances (specs say 1500 feet for vehicles, we are a little closer in), and get immediate readings, even works at up to 30 degree angles (curves in the roads). It's very unobtrusive, looks about the same as a Droid Phone or any common digital camera, and similar in size (fits easily in a shirt pocket). Automatic shutoff is very nice, as is it's speed recall feature.\\n\\nPurchase was based on previous reviews and cost. It's doing everything we expected and wanted, at the same cost as one week's rental of a hand held unit. Maybe next spring we'll see who's the fastest -- and slowest -- community picnic softball pitcher!\",\n \"Product: EDIMAX EW-7811Un IEEE 802.11b/g/n Wireless Mini Nano Size USB Adapter, Up to 150Mbps Data Rates, with 16 languages EZmax setup wizard for easy installation.System Requirements: Windows 7/Vista/XP, Mac OS, Linux.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: EDIMAX EW-7811Un wireless network adapter - compatible with Linux and Windows, but lacks range compared to others.\\n\\nReview: Comments and assessments are based using just one machine, alternating between Linux and Windows OS's, and conducted to find an adapter that provided the best speed and signal strength to either OS.\\n\\nDefinitely plug-n-play with LINUX (Debian/Ubuntu/Mint), immediately recognized and connected to my home network.\\nLinux accepts the adapter on the fly, automatically loads an appropriate driver, and continues on. Pain-free.\\n\\nWindows 7, being what it is, requires the driver to first be loaded from the accompanying mini-cd, and restarted.\\nConnection following the mandatory reboot was quick and smooth.\\n\\nDifferent brands of USB wireless network adapters were tested and compared at the same time on the same machine.\\nThe distance from the computer to the wireless gigabit router with N150-N400 speed is 6 feet.\\n\\nLinux reports the 802.11n connect speed around 75Mbs, the connect signal strength \\\"Good\\\".\\n\\nThe Windows Network and Sharing Center window simply says \\\"Signal strength: Excellent\\\", connect speed varies between 58-72Mbs\\n\\nBottom line:\\nThe Edimax did not compare favorably to the other wireless brands running on the same machine at the same time.\\nI am suspect that using this gadget on a machine located some distance away or with intervening structure may not provide a reliable connection. For my purposes as a secondary connection point to a backup subnet, it's acceptable, but not impressive.\",\n \"Product: You know heat is very bad for electronics. You know your notebook is running hot. Now you will know how Thermaltake's latest Massive23 LX performance notebook cooler can help you to cool down your notebook that holds some of the most important files or memories of your life. Massive23 LX, with its massive and oversized 230mm ultra-quiet fan effectively push incredible amount of air while producing unnoticeable noise output. The embedded blue LEDs inside the fan as well as the fan itself can be easily turned On or Off with a built-in switch. Handles designed into the cooler allow users to effortlessly carry the notebook cooler with them wherever they go. Low power draw from the fan puts minimum strain on your notebook's battery power.Air Flow 18 - 54.6 CFM.Supports laptop size from 10-Inch to 17-Inch.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: ThermalTake Massive23 laptop/notebook cooler: An odd name but solid product - RECOMMENDED\\n\\nReview: While CoolerMaster has a slight edge on customer reviews and major variety offering of their coolers, I chose ThermalTake. And after the first cooler arrived, I quickly ordered a second (I have two very large, heavy 17.3\\\" widescreen Toshibas).\\n\\nSimplistic in its design: No moving parts except for the fan and LED light on/off buttons.\\nMolded handgrips are provided on the side so I can easily pick up the cooler and laptop together and move them someplace else. Cooler is lightweight, sturdy, has a nice satin finish on the plastic sides and gloss black on the center perforated aluminum deck. The deck's nose (nearest you), is nicely rounded, does not interfere with keyboarding, and requires NO fittings or fixtures to keep your machine in place.\\n\\nA seemingly perfect bevel back to front makes keyboarding easy on the wrists, yet with no mechanical adjustment hardware to ... adjust or mess with. This bevel is the same as found on most conventional keyboards. BTW: the underside is a clear arch, allowing you to route your various cables, power cord, or what have under the deck without any problem, nothing to snag.\\n\\nI opted for the ThermalTakes large pancake center-mounted fan, massive and oversized and ultra-quiet as advertised. It runs slower than a set of smaller fans and therefore quieter, yet seems to deliver a large amount of air without a whirlwind under the notebook. I've been around PC fans enough to know the smaller they are, the more you need and/or the faster they run to push through sufficient air to cool your machine. This translates to noise.\\n\\nThe power draw for the cooler is a nominal 0.2a, well within the range of a standard USB 2.0 port, no need to use a special charging port, or a USB 3.0 port.\\n\\nI am unimpressed with any and all of the available coolers on the market offering trendy blue LED underlighting, but have come to appreciate knowing when the fan is on. (yes, the fan LED light have separate and independent switches, but if you power your cooler from your standard PC's USB port, turning off your PC turns off your cooler. How cool is that?)\\n\\nThe cooler provides 2 USB ports in the back/left corner, one for powering the cooler (a nice 18\\\" USB cord comes with the cooler), and an adjacent USB port to make up for the notebook port you lost to power the cooler. Net USB port loss: zero. Also a handy cubby w/door on the backside of the cooler holds your cooler's USB cord when not in use.\\n\\nMy favorite features of this new cooler involve my Toshibas: the cooler's deck provides four (4) rubber grippers embedded on the corners. These run side-to-side, whereas the rubber feet on my Toshiba run front-to-rear. The cooler's pads are sized and placed such that I have a positive match on all four (4) corners, the notebook refuses to move unless I tilt the cooler deck to around 30 degrees at which point my heavy notebook starts to slide.\\n\\nThe deck is sturdy, smooth, lightweight, rubber feet keep the cooler from moving until YOU move it. My very large Toshiba (16.3 inches wide) overhangs the edges of the cooler deck about 3/4-inch on each side; therefore I think it should handle most any laptop/notebook except for the little ones; I think any notebook smaller than 14\\\" may not be a good match for this cooler, which measures 14.75 inches wide by 11.75 inches deep, back height 2-inches and front height 1-inch.\\n\\nI do not power my coolers from the notebooks, but instead purchased a 6-foot standard USB cable for each, and power the cooler from a wall outlet driven USB charger port. This provides one additional USB port nearby my machine for charging my cellphone or some accessory I may want to attach to my notebook, such as speakers.\\n\\nFinally, this cooler can be tossed into a suitcase or backpack or large notebook case or bag (not sleeves, sorry), nothing to snag or catch on, just clean and simple and effective.\\nRECOMMENDED\",\n \"Product: Microsoft Wireless Desktop 2000 Keyboard and Mouse\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Wireless 2000 Keyboard - excellent choice\\n\\nReview: Works out-of-the box with Linux (Ubuntu) and Windows (though it takes Windows about 15 seconds to figure out the new device). Range is great for mouse and keyboard; no delays or inconsistencies encountered. I liked the Wireless 2000 non-business version so much I decided to try this one as well.\\n\\nPros:\\nNO CORDS!, to state the obvious, but very nice to eliminate clutter on and under my desk.\\nWorks with Linux (thank you, Microsoft)\\nOnly one USB widget required for mouse and keyboard, saves one port (nice for my older machines)\\nKeyboard is nicely sized and shaped, and has feet pads that keeps it solidly in place, no sliding around in spite of its very light weight.\\nNice feel on both keyboard and mouse, but I'm not that fast and therefore not fussy.\\nMouse wheel has side-side movement for lateral scrolling, and found this to be the only difference between the \\\"business\\\" vs. \\\"non-business version\\\", except the non-business costs a bit more.\\n\\nCons:\\nNone.\\n\\nGreat combo for the cost.\",\n \"Product: This 8GB Class 4 MicroSDHC Memory card has a guaranteed to maintain read write speed of at least 4mb/s, twice as fast as a class 2 card. Comes with bonus MicroSDHC to USB Memory card reader for transferring all of your file from the card to your computer.\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: Dead On Arrival - Thumb drives defunct\\n\\nReview: Bought 2 of these. Both were dead on arrival, meaning neither was readable on 3 different machines (laptop, desktop, tower). Each computer detected the thumb drive, but none could read or even format the SDHC chip. I even tried reading several of my known good SDHC chips in each of the new thumb drives, but still could not read anything.\\n\\nUpdate 5/30/2012: ordered a different MicroSD reader and determined that the SanDisk microSDs are in fact readable, which means that the thumb drives were both dead. And to add insult to injury, one of the 8gb microSD chips turned out to be only 2gb.\\n\\nTerrible Packaging: \\\"Fullfilled by Amazon\\\" I guess means they package products on behalf of their sellers. My 2 thumb drives were each in a small plastic \\\"zip top\\\" envelop containing the thumb drive and the SD chip and adapter, about 2x3 inches, appropriate. These 2 tiny packages however, were placed on a cardboard sheet approximately 10x12 inches, and half-covered with heat shrink. Since these items were only half covered, they were allowed to slip out through the unattached heat shrink edges into the cardboard shipping box. That shipping box was about large enough to mail a New York phone directory. And so all the tiny bits slipped out into this big box and were rattling around until delivered. Amazon shipping is the worst, expect nothing better from them.\",\n \"Product: This adapter is made to allow an older computer system with an IDE/EIDE/PATA interface to add and additional or upgrade the existing HDD to a newer SATA hard drive. This adapter works with most systems and devices, although depending on your BIOS and the device you are trying to connect, you may encounter compatibility issues. This adapter also requires the connection of power through a molex connector (cable not provided)\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: PATA / SATA adapter, NOT for IDE\\n\\nReview: This adapter will likely work fine for PATA and SATA drives, but is not compatible with the older IDE (pre-PATA) discs.\\nThe adapter's pins on the IDE/PATA side are male, requiring a female disc socket; IDE disc sockets are male. Male to male does not work.\\nThe Molex (electrical) connector is inverted for IDE, probably ok for PATA.\\nThe dimensions/location of the Molex connector and the IDE connector (ignoring for the moment the earlier Male/Male issue above, and the inverted Molex connector) are physically too close to both fit at the same time.\\n\\nI have a dozen older IDE drives I intended to copy over to my new SATA drives, this adapter was 100% incompatible with Western, Seagate, Maxtor, Hitachi, and all others.\\n\\nThis adapter is for PATA / SATA drives only. This adapter is physically incompatible with IDE.\\n\\nI can't fault the suppler, as the package clearly says \\\"PATA to SATA, and SATA to PATA\\\" adapter, and nowhere mentions IDE. Amazon however. is simply wrong to advertise this adapter with IDE in any part of the description.\",\n \"Product: Cat5 Patch Cable, Molded, 24AWG, 50u, 3ft Blue. Connect ethernet devices in your home or office with iMBA's High Speed Cat5 ethernet network cable. A snagless molded strain relief protects your devices during installation and gold plated contacts ensure you're getting clear data transmissions for your computing needs. Network your home or office with this high-efficient and affordable Cat5 ethernet network cables.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Cat5e 10' ethernet cables -- utilitarian, economical for small/home office.\\n\\nReview: For my home office/small office network these have worked well.\\n\\n4-Stars for the following: the moulded plug is on the short side, about 1/8\\\" shorter than my other brand cables. I had no prior issues except when I purchased CAT5e couplers (you know, because I have a surplus of shorter ethernet cables and am too cheap to buy the proper lengths), but these short plugs also make it tougher to make a solid connection between my routers/switches and the client end (pc).\\n\\nThe small moulded hood and short plastic tang (that plastic blip that locks the plug into place) can sometimes be a challenge to disengage when you need to unplug.\\n\\nConsidering that these cables work well on my gigabit network (CAT5e), and the corresponding low price, I think these are a great value. If I were using these in a commercial environment requiring routine plug/unplug, I might reconsider.\",\n \"Product: .\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Sabrent 4-Port USB 2.0 Hub\\n\\nReview: Most things being USB driven these days, my laptop and two older towers are always in need of \\\"just one more\\\" USB port.\\n\\nThis gizmo is ideal, not only can you attach additional devices, but you can turn any on or off in any combination, and the blue LED helps keep it all straight. If you, like me, have a bunch of USB memory sticks, chips and adapters each with a copy of \\\"something\\\" and want to get it all consolidated on one machine, this helps. I have a dozen or more microSD chips for smart phones, mp3 players, even bluetooth speakers that accept a chip with mp3 tunes, digital camers... you get the idea.\\n\\nIt's also a bargain accessory. Works very well, recommended.\",\n \"Product: UT Wire 12 ft. Expandable Flexi Cable Wrap wraps around bundles of cables or cords to keep it organized. Made from a soft and flexible material, Flexi Cable Wrap leaves no plastic cut from sharp edges on your finger when inserting cords or extra complicated tools needed for installation. It is a smart expandable system that easily self wraps and conforms to bundle cords.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: UT flexi wire organizer - 12 ft... simply brilliant, economical, lots of applications. LOVE IT\\n\\nReview: Am beginning to appreciate the UT line of cable/cord organizers-holders.\\n\\nCapacity is nominal 1\\\" diameter, and flexible.\\n\\nThis item provides no adhesive, and that's just fine. From my 12-foot roll I typically cut off a chunk (2-6 inches, using household scissors), and bind a handful of cables together and toss the wad back into the comm closet or cabinet. Point being, sometimes it's simply useful to keep a bunch of related computer cables \\\"together\\\" but not necessarily fixed to any particular surface... afterall, change is the name of the game when it comes to networks and computer setups.\\n\\nThis \\\"organizer\\\" is brilliant in its simplicity and usefulness (and economy), capable of containing a number of power cords, ethernet cables, whatever... just wrap your wad of stuff with this. Sometimes I need to secure it with a velcro wrap, but only because I have stuffed the UT cable wrap to its limit and then some.\",\n \"Product: The Celestron 9x50 right angle correct image (race) illuminated finder is a great upgrade to the stock finder scopes found on many Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes. The 50 mm optics produce bright, sharp images with a magnification of 9x and a 5 apparent field of view. Meanwhile, the right-angle, correct-image design keeps objects Right-side up and left-to-right correct, making it easier to locate objects as well as track them as they drift through the field of view. The eyepiece module can be rotated left or right so you can find the perfect viewing angle. The double-crosshair reticle etched in the eyepiece makes it easy to center an object, whether you are aligning your computerized telescope or finding deep-sky objects on your own. The reticle can be focused separate from the finder itself. A battery-powered Illuminator lights up the crosshair with a soft, red glow, and the illumination can be easily adjusted by turning the on/off knob. The Celestron 9x50 race finder comes with a sturdy bracket consisting of two rings and an integrated dovetail. Adjusting the alignment of the finder is easy with the oversized Thumbscrews. The dovetail allows for easy attachment to and removal from most Schmidt-Cassegrain and edge HD optical tube assemblies without affecting the alignment of the finder scope.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Celestron RACI Illuminated finderscope -- lots of nice features for new and veteran astronomers. NO instructions, but workable.\\n\\nReview: A pending 4-star...\\nUPGRADED Dec 2015 to 5-stars: I retired my factory finder in favor of this RACI\\n+ Definitely easier for matching charts to the cosmos for navigating.\\n+ Definitely appreciate the parallel reticle, you can place your intended target in the center box.\\n+ Definitely appreciate the illumination, thought it would not be bright enough, but have been using lowest light and then turning off\\n (saves the batteries)\\n\\nAll seems OK with this finder, with the major exception there are NO INSTRUCTIONS. Not a big thing for those familiar with eyepieces, focusers and other telescopic equipment, but it would be nice to have SOMETHING, whereas the finder arrived with NOTHING. At the very minimum someone needs to ID the batteries for eventual replacement! Newcomers will find this exasperating.\\n\\nAfter 30 minutes of fiddling, the finder is now ready for some star-time; will update this review after ward, but it looks like a nice finder.\\n\\nI have been using a Telrad finder on my 8-inch SCT, and like it for the illuminated reticle and wysiwyg (what you see is what you get) view for star-hopping. It is however, not magnified, still very ok for general celestial navigation (planetary, constellations, major galaxies, nebulaes and clusters), but I wanted to try this magnified, illuminated and \\\"upright\\\" wysiwyg finder for a large telescope with deeper capabilities.\\n\\nPros: 1) double crosshairs, meaning parallel vertical and horizontal lines (etches actually) so that you can place your target inside the crosshairs for a precise alignment. This means of course that your new snazzy RACI and your optical tube are 100% in agreement. Not always the case, and stars being what they are keep moving on us, or us moving relative to them.\\n\\n2) Having your intended object appear \\\"correctly\\\" (upright, wysiwyg) as shown on star atlases and charts makes star-hopping easier for us amateurs.\\n\\n3) I use an 11\\\" Celestron SCT that has a big optical tube, so having the right-angle makes sighting (ie, \\\"targeting\\\") far easier than with the original factory in-line finder.\\n\\nps on the absent instructions: this RACI uses the same mounting method as the factory finder -- 1 fixed set-screw (spring loaded), and 2 adjustable set-screws for exact adjustment. If your RACI body moves, notice a hex allen set-screw within the fixed spring loaded screw, one that can be tensioned for a more secure placement and alignment of the RACI. I had to increase that adjustment tension as the RACI body was \\\"too soft\\\" and easily moved. Not a big thing, just look for that buried allen screw.\\n\\nCons: none technical. My RACI arrived with some scuffs and smudges and a noticeable scrape down to the bare metal near the mount, and it appeared to be somewhat put together but sloppy. Also a number of dirt/dust particles here and there inside the optics as if this unit had been partially disassembled. \\\"In\\\" as is requiring partial disassembly and blowing out the foreign debris. This leads me to believe this was once someone else's and they returned it.\\n\\nI hope to add positive feedback after it's been in service a while.\",\n \"Product: Our redesigned Large Orion Deluxe Accessory Case is more durable than ever. Made from super-tough ABS-clad wood with a rugged aluminum frame, this case features an attractive textured black finish. It's ideal for protecting your valuable investment in telescope eyepieces, filters, Barlow lenses, telescope diagonals and more - plus it looks really cool! You'll appreciate the strong dual hinges in back and the sturdy metal latches in front. The hinged carrying handle provides a sure grip as you safely transport your astronomy accessories. A removable, adjustable shoulder strap makes it easy to carry the case to and from your favorite observing site, even when fully loaded with telescope eyepieces and other gear. The Large Deluxe Accessory Case also features locking latches, with keys provided. Inside you'll find egg-crate foam on top and die-cut spaces in the main compartment, just the right sizes to hold your jewels safely and securely. This roomy Large Deluxe Accessory Case has die-cut foam holes for eight 1.25 and three 2 telescope eyepieces, plus nine other compartments for everything from Barlow lenses and eyepiece filters to laser collimators and red astronomy flashlights. Internal dimensions: 17.2 x 12.3 x 5.0\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Orion Deluxe Large Accessory Case -- lots of space for your space toys.\\n\\nReview: Lots of space, much more than I anticipated. Overall the case seems very sturdy, even though it's very light.\\nPlenty of depth, enough so that after removing the foam plugs for my shorter eyepieces I needed to cut the plugs and insert part of each back into their hole or otherwise the eyepieces would disappear into the opening.\\n2\\\" holes turned out to be nice for my thicker eyepieces such as the zoom and the Barlow/T-adapter.\\nSeveral large rectangular \\\"trays\\\" of varying sizes, just 1 holds my numerous (6) filters\\nPlenty of padding on the lid. Foam is easily cut/trimmed as needed by any decent kitchen knife.\\n\\nThis will probably serve all my lens and accessories needs far into the future. Until that time, It also holds my hand controller and bracket, red LED flashlight, green laser pointer and some spare batts, still lots of space.\\n\\nI initially gave this 4 stars, not needing either the locks or carry strap. However, in homes with kids this might be essential, as might the strap for some, and the metal lid hasps (fasteners) are far superior to the common plastic squeeze until it snaps variety.\\nSo 5 stars.\",\n \"Product: The perfect tripod should be stable yet lightweight and easy to operate, requiring minimal knob twisting and lever flipping. The Celestron TrailSeeker was designed to be your perfect tripod. It is lightweight (3.94 lb.) and compact, yet it can hold up to almost 9 lbs of equipment. The aluminum legs of the TrailSeeker Tripod are fully adjustable, not just in length, but in their angle as well. With the center column fully extended, the maximum height achieved is 70.5 inches (58 inches with the column down). Each leg is made up of four sections that can be shortened or lengthened with the flip of a simple lever lock. This makes it easy to make the tripod a little taller or a little shorter as your terrain or needs change. Each leg can also be set to three different angles. If the place you need to set up your tripod is not perfectly flat, the ability to adjust the angle of one or more legs makes all the difference. The center column of the TrailSeeker tripod does more than just go up and down. The bottom end of the column holds a retractable balance hook. This simple device can make all the difference in the stability of your tripod, especially on windy days. Just hang something heavy from the hook like a backpack and youll be amazed at the difference. When the hook is not needed, it retracts up into the center column to stay neatly out of the way. Two of the legs come with padded wraps, providing protection for your shoulder when carrying and making it a little more comfortable to make adjustments during cold weather. The legs also feature rubber feet to keep them from sliding on slick or wet surfaces. The Celestron TrailSeeker Tripod is topped with a two-way fluid pan head. The single handle makes it easy to move the head around, and one oversized knob adjusts the tension and locks the head in place. A quick release plate with standard 1/4-20 thread mount makes it easy to attach a spotting scope, binocular, camera, or small telescope to the tripod. The plate snaps into place when inserted into the pan head. Other features include bubble levels, located on the top of the tripod as well as on the side of the pan head, and a tripod carry case. The case is the perfect place to store your tripod when not in use, and makes it easy to transport via the shoulder strap.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Celestron TrailSeeker Triopd: A fine mount for grab-n-go astronomy or camera mount, solid.\\n\\nReview: A perfect mount for my Celestron C90 Mak-Cass.\\nA solid foundation as a grab-and-go astronomy scope mount, albeit without slow-motion hand adjustments.\\nBut for quick lunar and planetary spotting this is a winner.\\n\\nPros:\\nConvenient carry case, provides inside pocket for whatever, zippered full-length and easy open padded compartment for tripod.\\nProvides leveling bubble\\nProvides a small compass for basic polar alignment if needed.\\nSingle knob provides lock-down of both elevation and circular movement.\\nVery sturdy legs! 3-section; center post also extends vertically if you need additional height. I like that I can set the mount level low and sit comfortably in a lawn chair for my observing sessions.\\n\\nBonus: not advertised, my tripod arrived with a very nice Celestron metal (ie, non-flexible/moveable) binocular/camera mounting adapter; also a smaller plastic adapter but no manufacturing info.\\n\\nCons: none found.\\n\\nNyah: nice add-on features might be azimuth and latitude rings, but this was not advertised as an astronomy mount, though it can serve that function.\",\n \"Product: PNY CS1211 is designed for an easy and cost-effective HDD replacement in the existing PC system to help realize faster boot times, quicker application launches and better overall system storage\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: PNY 240gb CS 1211 SSD - a great upgrade for an old Dell Inspiron 1525 - plug-and-play\\n\\nReview: What a great upgrade... this breathed new life into an old Dell Inspiron 1525 given to me.\\nThe existing OS was Vista, so I simply pulled the laptop's HDD and slipped in the PNY.\\nThis took all of 5 casual minutes. The PNY comes with a thin spacer for those installs that had a thicker HDD.\\nMy old 1525 needed that spacer to keep from rattling around. Spacer uses 2 small strips of 3M adhesive, effective.\\n\\nFrom there is was boot time with a Linux cd and an amazingly brief install (bye bye, Vista).\\nThis PNY is backwards compatible with SATA I & II; this SSD is still fast.\\n\\nAn earlier review here provides information on how to clone an original laptop HDD to an SSD, very useful, all Amazon items.\\nNice to have a fast and quiet laptop (and free as well!)\",\n \"Product: Cat5 Patch Cable, Molded, 24AWG, 50u, . Connect Ethernet devices in your home or office with iMBA's High Speed Cat5 Ethernet network cable. A snagless molded strain relief protects your devices during installation and gold plated contacts ensure you're getting clear data transmissions for your computing needs. Network your home or office with this high-efficient and affordable Cat5 Ethernet network cables.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Cat5e 10' ethernet cables -- utilitarian, economical for small/home office.\\n\\nReview: For my home office/small office network these have worked well.\\n\\n4-Stars for the following: the moulded plug is on the short side, about 1/8\\\" shorter than my other brand cables. I had no prior issues except when I purchased CAT5e couplers (you know, because I have a surplus of shorter ethernet cables and am too cheap to buy the proper lengths), but these short plugs also make it tougher to make a solid connection between my routers/switches and the client end (pc).\\n\\nThe small moulded hood and short plastic tang (that plastic blip that locks the plug into place) can sometimes be a challenge to disengage when you need to unplug.\\n\\nConsidering that these cables work well on my gigabit network (CAT5e), and the corresponding low price, I think these are a great value. If I were using these in a commercial environment requiring routine plug/unplug, I might reconsider.\",\n \"Product: 4 5/8\\\" closed LinerLock. 3 1/2\\\" gray finish 420 stainless hollow ground blade with thumb Slot. Textured black G-10 handles with gray finish stainless bolster. Front handle has machined hole cutouts. Gray finish stainless pocket clip.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Ka-Bar Agama folder -- great every day carry folder\\n\\nReview: I have a preference for the more traditional Ka-Bar straight blade military-style knives, but after losing my everyday folding Gerber, I finally found this KA-Bar folder. Note that I'm not a folding knife snob, buy I do appreciate a product that shows thought in design, its craftsmanship, and ultimately it's utility.\\n\\nBottom line, this seems to be a great folder for the buck, I appreciate the workmanship; Ka-Bar wins me again. And also nice to once again have a dependable and versatile blade handy for snipping hay bale twine, opening packages, slicing apples or just to mess with.\\nPros:\\nEasy to draw from my pocket, no tendency to hang up, extracts smoothly and without any fuss or coaxing.\\nNice, deep pocket clip so the knife is \\\"In\\\" my pocket, not sticking out beyond 3/8 inch (low visual profile if you need that).\\n\\nNice weight and balance.\\nNice thickness and length to the handle, sits in my hand comfortably and solid, 4 3/4 inch length, nice smooth edges provide a comfortable feel.\\nShows no tendency for allowing my grip to slide forward, or back.\\n\\nBlade arrived out-of-the-box SHARP. Haven't had it long enough to comment on how long it holds an edge, but this is also dependent in large part on how you use/abuse your blades.\\nBlade has a comfortable thumb slot for single hand deployment of the blade.\\nAmount of thumb pressure to deploy the blade is low, thumb studs not needed.\\nOpening is very smooth... and quiet. Blade gives a definite but quiet \\\"click\\\" when it locks in place.\\nBlade remains solidly locked, demonstrates no slack or looseness.\\nAppears to have the ability (a \\\"star\\\" screw) to tighten or loosen the blade pivot for how much tension you want when deploying the blade.\\n\\nI have the straight edge drop point, and it has enough heft to do some serious cutting, 3 3/4 inches from hilt to tip, 7/8 inch deep (excluding thumb slot)\\n\\nCons:\\nPocket clip is where it is, not relocatable. By the looks of the handle halves (left & right), this seems to be an easy thing for Ka-Bar to provide,\\nbut didn't. This folder suits my right-handed draw from my right rear pocket perfectly, but may not be your style.\\n\\nAddendum: I liked this knife so well I gave it to my daughter (hiking/camping) and bought another.\\nps2: I lost my original, and replaced it with 2 Agamas... in case I get careless again. At $20 a pop, this is not a problem.\",\n \"Product: Decoro Brand Premium Holster Combos are made with a high quality plastic and are designed to protect your phone from dings, bumps, and scratches. All Decoro Brand Premium Holster Combos provide easy access to your phones buttons and features. With the wide variety of accessories the Decoro brand offers, you will be able to showcase your own personal style while maintaining the out of the box freshness of your device.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: DECORO Rubberized Shell and Holster -- nice, convenient, but with tendancy to come apart?\\n\\nReview: I bought this for my new Samsung Proclaim S720C, aka the Samsung i110.\\n\\nI was about to give this a 5-star rating, as it hangs onto my belt, keeps the cell phone snugly in place, rotates when needed (such as plopping into a car seat), and so forth. The rubberized case seems to have just the right amount of rigidity, offers good holding surface. In short, a very fine way of keeping your connection to the world safe and snug... until.\\n\\nI sat in an arm chair, and discovered how this holster is \\\"manufactured\\\", something of a misnomer. The clip is secured to the holster by means of a pressure fit button. It was this button that popped off when I sat down, separating entirely from the holster.\\nYou can put it back together, of course providing you have the button (and the holster), but once popped these things tend to do so again, easier and easier.\\n\\nSo while I like the holster and it's features, be vigilant, else you may look to your belt for your phone and discover just the clip, no holster, no phone, and no clue.\\n\\nA secure attachment of the clip to the holster is needed... it's called a fastener, not a pressure fit button. I don't like entrusting my expensive phone to a 1-cent piece of plastic.\",\n \"Product: The INNOVA Battery and Charging System Monitor displays the condition of your battery and charging system instantly. It protects the engine computer and 12-volt accessories from damaging surges when jump starting or recharging. Easily plugs into the vehicle's cigarette lighter or power receptacle to monitor battery and charging system voltage. The LCD screen displays the measured voltage with a bar graph to indicate battery charge level and the color-coded LEDs quickly identify the battery's charge status. The head pivots for easy viewing and angle adjustment.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Equus Bettery and Charging Monitor -- simple, versatile, inexpensive\\n\\nReview: Actually a product from Innova, who makes a variety of well known automotive analyzers.\\n\\nThis very convenient, simple, and inexpensive gizmo paid for itself today, as I have an older pickup with an electrical \\\"leak\\\". It took just a few minutes to suspect a fairly new battery having one or more weak cells. There could be other causes (such as a dead short), but the battery is easily diagnosed by a battery dealer (usually a free service). My friendly auto shop was reluctant to consider the battery as this is a 6 month old replacement for another battery I bought from them just 18 months prior.\\n\\nPROS:\\nEasy to use: plug it into a cigarette adapter with the engine off, and again with the engine running.\\nComes with a straight-forward user card for interpreting the LED values.\\nDisplay head pivots for easy viewing.\\nGood materials and workmanship (at this early stage anyway).\\nUseful for any vehicle with a 12 volt system (I have a cigarette adapter with battery clips, making this monitor useful on a motorcycle or ATV, very handy).\\nInexpensive diagnostic piece of equipment, easily fits in the glove box and available.\\nHelps to quickly eliminate guesswork.\\n\\nCons: none\",\n \"Product: Max Energy Tuning extracts every bit of energy possible out of every molecule of fuel giving you more miles at part-throttle and more power at wide-open throttle. With the additional power and optimized transmission functions, drivers use less fuel to accelerate and maintain cruising speeds without the torque converter un-locking and transmission down-shifting to a lower gear. The results are maximum power and fuel mileage. For vehicles that come from the factory capable of using regular octane fuel, two (2) optimized tuning programs are provided: one for premium, and the other for regular. In most cases, Hypertechs exclusive Power Tuning for regular octane provides excellent power gains, almost as much power as premium octane. Only one (1) Power Tuning program is provided for vehicles that were designed from the factory to use only premium fuel.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: HyperTech 3200 Max-Energy -- noticeable improvements in my GMs\\n\\nReview: This is my second Hypertech, this one for a recently purchased used 2002 Yukon 1500, 5.3L gas.\\n\\n\\\"Install\\\" is straight-forward, though with each HyperTech I had to first go online and download the controller with the latest version of their product. From there, uploading their program into the vehicle takes about 1 minute. Their processes are well documented and painless.\\n\\nSince installing my HyperTech code, the Yukon has shown a 10-12% increase in fuel economy with no change in driving habits or conditions. Startup seems quieter, shift points smoother. This vehicle has over 105,000 miles and now gets 17 city and 20+ highway at 70-80mph (up from 15 and 17).\\n\\nI also found the Max-Energy to be beneficial after installing it in my 1997 Silverado K1500. For that vehicle, mileage did not improve appreciably, but very likely because I use that truck primarily for hauling 2000 lbs of water and pulling a 4000 lb horse trailer on mountain roads. It has more pulling power than before the install.\\n\\nReloading the original, factory code is straight-forward.\\n\\nI recommend this product, at least for GMs such as I have, the HyperTech seems to give these older vehicles a new lease on life. Reviews of the HyperTech Max Economy version were not complimentary, so I opted for the Max--Energy, and I'm happy I did so.\",\n \"Product: Max Energy Tuning extracts every bit of energy possible out of every molecule of fuel giving you more miles at part-throttle and more power at wide-open throttle. With the additional power and optimized transmission functions, drivers use less fuel to accelerate and maintain cruising speeds without the torque converter un-locking and transmission down-shifting to a lower gear. The results are maximum power and fuel mileage. For vehicles that come from the factory capable of using regular octane fuel, two (2) optimized tuning programs are provided: one for premium, and the other for regular. In most cases, Hypertechs exclusive Power Tuning for regular octane provides excellent power gains, almost as much power as premium octane. Only one (1) Power Tuning program is provided for vehicles that were designed from the factory to use only premium fuel.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: HyperTech 3200 Max-Energy -- noticeable improvements in my GMs\\n\\nReview: This is my second Hypertech, this one for a recently purchased used 2002 Yukon 1500, 5.3L gas.\\n\\n\\\"Install\\\" is straight-forward, though with each HyperTech I had to first go online and download the controller with the latest version of their product. From there, uploading their program into the vehicle takes about 1 minute. Their processes are well documented and painless.\\n\\nSince installing my HyperTech code, the Yukon has shown a 10-12% increase in fuel economy with no change in driving habits or conditions. Startup seems quieter, shift points smoother. This vehicle has over 105,000 miles and now gets 17 city and 20+ highway at 70-80mph (up from 15 and 17).\\n\\nI also found the Max-Energy to be beneficial after installing it in my 1997 Silverado K1500. For that vehicle, mileage did not improve appreciably, but very likely because I use that truck primarily for hauling 2000 lbs of water and pulling a 4000 lb horse trailer on mountain roads. It has more pulling power than before the install.\\n\\nReloading the original, factory code is straight-forward.\\n\\nI recommend this product, at least for GMs such as I have, the HyperTech seems to give these older vehicles a new lease on life. Reviews of the HyperTech Max Economy version were not complimentary, so I opted for the Max--Energy, and I'm happy I did so.\",\n \"Product: Bottle Style May Vary, May Come in Glass or Plastic\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Noodler's Antietam -- a rich blood-red.\\n\\nReview: Having become addicted to Noodler's array of colors, I added Antietam to my collection as my first red, and went \\\"conservative\\\" red (vs. Dragon Napalm or Nikita red, or their standard \\\"Red\\\" ). I'm happy to have Antietam as my only \\\"red\\\".\\n\\nA rich, deep red. Blood red is a good description, along with Jalapeno red (sun dried, not the green variety), Sun Dried Tomato, Dark Cinnamon Red. Has a slight tint of brown. Sharp contrast on paper, easy to read, but not overpowering or obnoxious. It has a classy look to it.\\nFrom a pen pal: \\\"Rust Red\\\", a touch of orange-brown.\\n\\nOther Noodler's colors to recommend:\\nBaystate Blue: rich, vibrant, bordering on a neon\\nApache Sunset: aptly named gold-orange\\nHeart of Darkness: pitch black, crisp\\nLexington Gray: ok, but a dark gray, unlike the more medium as shown here on Amazon.\\nTurquoise: a traditional, New Mexico sky southwest blue.\\nNavajo Turquoise: A little darker than the above turquoise, a slight hint of green maybe.\",\n \"Product: Noodler's Ink is 100% made in the USA from cap to glass to ink. Archival quality inks in large 3oz. bottles for vintage or new fountain pens. Yellow base with vibrant orange and red tones. Lovely on white or ivory papers.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Noodler's Antietam -- a rich blood-red.\\n\\nReview: Having become addicted to Noodler's array of colors, I added Antietam to my collection as my first red, and went \\\"conservative\\\" red (vs. Dragon Napalm or Nikita red, or their standard \\\"Red\\\" ). I'm happy to have Antietam as my only \\\"red\\\".\\n\\nA rich, deep red. Blood red is a good description, along with Jalapeno red (sun dried, not the green variety), Sun Dried Tomato, Dark Cinnamon Red. Has a slight tint of brown. Sharp contrast on paper, easy to read, but not overpowering or obnoxious. It has a classy look to it.\\nFrom a pen pal: \\\"Rust Red\\\", a touch of orange-brown.\\n\\nOther Noodler's colors to recommend:\\nBaystate Blue: rich, vibrant, bordering on a neon\\nApache Sunset: aptly named gold-orange\\nHeart of Darkness: pitch black, crisp\\nLexington Gray: ok, but a dark gray, unlike the more medium as shown here on Amazon.\\nTurquoise: a traditional, New Mexico sky southwest blue.\\nNavajo Turquoise: A little darker than the above turquoise, a slight hint of green maybe.\",\n \"Product: Noodler's Ink is 100% made in the USA from cap to glass to ink. Archival quality ink in large 4.5oz. eye dropper bottle. Heart of Darkness is completely bulletproof, eternal, forgery-resistant and water-resistant. Durable and intensely black, this intense color is resistant to an increasing array of industrial solvents, bleaching agents, and other tools.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Noodler's Heart of Darkness -- blacker than the bottom of a coal mine\\n\\nReview: I'm only recently returned to fountain pen usage, starting over so to speak, and am amazed at the pens and inks available now.\\n\\nDecided to try Noodler's based on reviews here and elsewhere, and their unusual colors and intriguing descriptions. Could be clever marketing, or else Noodler's makes great fountain pen inks.\\n\\nHeart of Darkness is an unbelievably deep, rich, Black BLACK. Suitable for even the Prince of Darkness.\\n\\nI tried it out with their complimentary dropper-fill fountain pen, discovered this ink flows smoothly, makes very crisp black lines on what I think is a medium nib, no feathering, no blobs -- all on generic notebook paper. Test: I removed the pen cap, made a 4-inch stroke on the paper, returned the cap, and ran my finger across the line -- no smudging! It took longer to type this sentence than do the smudge test. I guess this is what they mean by \\\"Bulletproof\\\".\\n\\nI can imagine that this ink when used with a fine or extra-fine nib would produce amazingly clear images, letters, lines, and such.\\n\\nTheir website doesn't appear to sell their products, but they provide dealer links. I intend to get a sampler of their 1-ounce inks.\\n\\nUpdate: Darkness has become my black ink of choice, smooth, consistent. I forgot to mention details about the included sample pen, by Noodler's. Very nice to hold and use, writes well, and has become one of my non-Parker favorites. I found the dropper fill method not to be difficult at all, just be patient and keep a blotter nearby in case you are impatient. I wish they offered this pen on Amazon, as I found it superior to a couple of Lamy's, the Noodler's Piston fill, and a Schaeffer. Might even be on par with my Parker Vector, and is a nicer size and balance for me than the Vector.\",\n \"Product: Noodler's Ink is 100% made in the USA from cap to glass to ink. Archival quality inks in large 3oz. bottles for vintage or new fountain pens. Yellow base with vibrant orange and red tones. Lovely on white or ivory papers.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Noodler's Antietam -- a rich blood-red.\\n\\nReview: Having become addicted to Noodler's array of colors, I added Antietam to my collection as my first red, and went \\\"conservative\\\" red (vs. Dragon Napalm or Nikita red, or their standard \\\"Red\\\" ). I'm happy to have Antietam as my only \\\"red\\\".\\n\\nA rich, deep red. Blood red is a good description, along with Jalapeno red (sun dried, not the green variety), Sun Dried Tomato, Dark Cinnamon Red. Has a slight tint of brown. Sharp contrast on paper, easy to read, but not overpowering or obnoxious. It has a classy look to it.\\nFrom a pen pal: \\\"Rust Red\\\", a touch of orange-brown.\\n\\nOther Noodler's colors to recommend:\\nBaystate Blue: rich, vibrant, bordering on a neon\\nApache Sunset: aptly named gold-orange\\nHeart of Darkness: pitch black, crisp\\nLexington Gray: ok, but a dark gray, unlike the more medium as shown here on Amazon.\\nTurquoise: a traditional, New Mexico sky southwest blue.\\nNavajo Turquoise: A little darker than the above turquoise, a slight hint of green maybe.\",\n \"Product: Noodler's Ink is 100% made in the USA from cap to glass to ink. Archival quality ink in large 4.5oz. eye dropper bottle. Heart of Darkness is completely bulletproof, eternal, forgery-resistant and water-resistant. Durable and intensely black, this intense color is resistant to an increasing array of industrial solvents, bleaching agents, and other tools.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Noodler's Heart of Darkness -- blacker than the bottom of a coal mine\\n\\nReview: I'm only recently returned to fountain pen usage, starting over so to speak, and am amazed at the pens and inks available now.\\n\\nDecided to try Noodler's based on reviews here and elsewhere, and their unusual colors and intriguing descriptions. Could be clever marketing, or else Noodler's makes great fountain pen inks.\\n\\nHeart of Darkness is an unbelievably deep, rich, Black BLACK. Suitable for even the Prince of Darkness.\\n\\nI tried it out with their complimentary dropper-fill fountain pen, discovered this ink flows smoothly, makes very crisp black lines on what I think is a medium nib, no feathering, no blobs -- all on generic notebook paper. Test: I removed the pen cap, made a 4-inch stroke on the paper, returned the cap, and ran my finger across the line -- no smudging! It took longer to type this sentence than do the smudge test. I guess this is what they mean by \\\"Bulletproof\\\".\\n\\nI can imagine that this ink when used with a fine or extra-fine nib would produce amazingly clear images, letters, lines, and such.\\n\\nTheir website doesn't appear to sell their products, but they provide dealer links. I intend to get a sampler of their 1-ounce inks.\\n\\nUpdate: Darkness has become my black ink of choice, smooth, consistent. I forgot to mention details about the included sample pen, by Noodler's. Very nice to hold and use, writes well, and has become one of my non-Parker favorites. I found the dropper fill method not to be difficult at all, just be patient and keep a blotter nearby in case you are impatient. I wish they offered this pen on Amazon, as I found it superior to a couple of Lamy's, the Noodler's Piston fill, and a Schaeffer. Might even be on par with my Parker Vector, and is a nicer size and balance for me than the Vector.\",\n \"Product: Noodler's Ink is 100% made in the USA from cap to glass to ink. Archival quality inks in large 3oz. bottles for vintage or new fountain pens. With nice shading, this dark blue-black is great for use in professional writing. Partially bulletproof, and both forgery-resistant and water-resistant.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Noodler's Antietam -- a rich blood-red.\\n\\nReview: Having become addicted to Noodler's array of colors, I added Antietam to my collection as my first red, and went \\\"conservative\\\" red (vs. Dragon Napalm or Nikita red, or their standard \\\"Red\\\" ). I'm happy to have Antietam as my only \\\"red\\\".\\n\\nA rich, deep red. Blood red is a good description, along with Jalapeno red (sun dried, not the green variety), Sun Dried Tomato, Dark Cinnamon Red. Has a slight tint of brown. Sharp contrast on paper, easy to read, but not overpowering or obnoxious. It has a classy look to it.\\nFrom a pen pal: \\\"Rust Red\\\", a touch of orange-brown.\\n\\nOther Noodler's colors to recommend:\\nBaystate Blue: rich, vibrant, bordering on a neon\\nApache Sunset: aptly named gold-orange\\nHeart of Darkness: pitch black, crisp\\nLexington Gray: ok, but a dark gray, unlike the more medium as shown here on Amazon.\\nTurquoise: a traditional, New Mexico sky southwest blue.\\nNavajo Turquoise: A little darker than the above turquoise, a slight hint of green maybe.\",\n \"Product: The Nemosine Singularity is a convergence of value quality and performance. The resin body is lightweight and comfortably shaped. The chromed trims and clip provide an elegant touch of style to the Singularity s design. The precision stainless steel nib is manufactured in Germany and is offered in a multitude of point sizes for almost any writing style. Every Nemosine fountain pen is inspected and packaged here in the USA. Included with the no-frills Nemosine box is a set of (6) disposable ink cartridges a converter to be used with bottled ink (bottled ink not included) and an instruction booklet.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Nemosine Singularity -- Smooth and consistent, easy to handle -- and a fantastic bargin for a daily or specialty fountain\\n\\nReview: I got off my Parker kick for a moment just to try something new and different.\\n\\nI purchased a Pilot Prera Clear Body (elsewhere) for 4 times the money, and just plain like this Nemosine 4 times better. That makes the Nemosine a winner 16 to 1.\\n\\nThis demo filled easily, fits my hand well and has nice balance, and the ink (Noodler's) began to flow right away and has remained smooth and consistent. Fill method is piston, and works well (wish all converters would hold more, there seems to be barrel space for it). I chose the Fine Point nib, but it seems closer to a medium, as do a lot of Parker Fine nibs.\\n\\nFor the price, the only thing that comes close is the free Noodler's demo pens that you can sometimes find with their larger bottles.\\nMy plan is to buy several more Nemosines, and use this demo with a clear barrel for various colored inks. The cap threads on, opposed to friction fit, and is very nice for keeping ink fresh and ready to flow when you're ready.\\n\\nNoodler's inks work great in all my fountains, wide color selection, and downright fun.\\n\\nfwiw: When I bought the Pilot Prera, I also purchase the Pilot Penmanship Fountain Pen. This is for penmanship training, with a 3-sided grip to help learn proper pen holding. At $8, this is a nice pen for that purpose, nice weight and balance, converter or cartridge fill, and smoother than the Prera. It too would be great if you want a special pen for each of your special inks, but my personal choice for this remains the Nemosine.\",\n \"Product: From Noodler's Ink - A flexible nib fountain pen with a twist-fill piston mechanism. Writes from thin the thick lines based on pressure and speed of writing. Made from a celluloid derivative, these pens should never be cleaned with alcohols.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Noodler's Hudson Bay Fathoms flex-nib: smooth, easy to use, fun, a value\\n\\nReview: Having returned to fountain pens recently, all of my experimenting until now has been with \\\"conventional nibs\\\", I guess you can call it.\\n\\nI wanted to try a flex nib, but based on reviews, the Noodler's flex pen lineup wasn't encouraging, and other brands offering flex nibs were way pricey for just my curiosity interest. But then I found this Noodler's Hudson Bay Fathoms, a model different from their average rated flex lineups, and decided to give this one a shot.\\n\\nI like it a lot, simply put. As the only other review (presently) puts it, the pen writes well, is easy to hold, and is a bargain. I'm just beginning to learn how pressure can affect the ink flow, and this pen has been fun to write with.\\n\\nAt $14, this is a bargain flex fountain.\\n\\nSo, if you like flex nibs, or want to try one out, this Hudson Bay Fathoms will serve well.\",\n \"Product: The JT Eaton Bait Block apple flavor rodenticide is a first generation anticoagulant bait with specially formulated blocks that have an apple flavor to attract and eliminate mice and rats. The active ingredient is Diphacinone 0.005-percent which efficiently eliminates smaller rodents and pests a few days after feeding. This product includes 144 packs of 1-ounce rodenticide blocks in a tamper evident resealable pail. It is perfect for garages or basements to keep those rodents away. It. comes with a 1-year limited warranty to protect against defects in material and workmanship. JT Eaton's mission is to manufacture and distribute products designed to eradicate pests. We continually seek out new ways to provide consumers with the knowledge and products they need to create a healthier and safer world. JT Eaton has been family owned and operated since 1932 and they manufacture and sell only the highest quality products.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: JT Eaton Bail Block Bucket -- First, get the lid off! Then, use to attract rodents and whack with a shovel. Ineffective bait.\\n\\nReview: I have no idea how effective the contents (ie, rodent bait) works.\\nWhat I will comment on is the pail itself, it was IMPOSSIBLE to open! yep. Couldn't do it even with a pliers and then a hammer and pry bar. So I resorted to my USMC kabar and hacked the lid off. The bucket is now destroyed, but I have other buckets.\\n\\nUpdate 11/2015: Not effective for my variety of garage mouse apparently, more like a snack.\\n\\nMice definitely are attracted to it, they consumed a number of bait blocks I put in my garage, and there are definite signs they've been nibbling, and I put out more, being hopeful. One might reasonably conclude they eat the stuff and go off to die somewhere. So, I caught two mice using a live trap and dumped them in a deep bucket with a block of this JT bait. Two days later the bait is nearly gone and the rodents remained active. Your rodents may find this bait lethal, but not my garden variety mouse.\",\n \"Product: Zero gravity (or anti-gravity) chairs are designed with comfort in mind, so much so that that they're widely used not only as camping, patio and pool furniture, but also in beauty salons, offices all across the world and as a reflexology chair. Outsunny's popular line of Zero Gravity chairs are high quality and feature equipped. Included is a removable/adjustable pillow, great for use as a headrest or for the perfect lumbar support. UV-resistant high quality breathable mesh fabric and a powder-coated steel frame for long lasting use. Angle lock allows you lock in any reclining angle from sitting up to the \\\"zero gravity\\\" position. Features: - Powder-coated weather-resistant steel frame - The seats of the recliners are made from UV-resistant breathable mesh materials - Support for the breathable mesh area is provided by a replaceable elastic cord, creating a chair that immediately adjusts to your body's size - Foldable for easy transportation - Great for reflexology therapy - May be used both indoors and outdoors Specifications: - Overall Size (upright unfolded): 43 5/8\\\" tall x 25 1/4\\\" wide - Seating Width: 19\\\" (20 3/4\\\" between arm rests) - Fully Reclined Size: 59\\\" long x 34 1/2\\\" tall - Folded: 38\\\" x 25\\\" x 6\\\" - Weight Capacity: 300 lbs. - Chair Weight: 20 lbs.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Outsunny Zero Gravity Deck Recliner -- works as described, comfortable.\\n\\nReview: Zero Gravity to some means Space to others. I purchased 2 of these for night time astronomy observing. In other circumstances, looks like it will do well as a deck chair.\\n\\nIn all, these seem solid for my 215 lb frame, and as long as people treat it like a deck chair, and not an exercise machine, I expect it will serve well. Some earlier reviews complain about some metal parts of the chair bending or folding on first use.\\n\\nClearly the chair folds for storage, and it reclines when in use. Therefore there are sliding components that travel up and down, or forward and backward along some of the chair's tube structures. The chairs were initially resistant to movement (folding, reclining). Therefore, before using I strongly recommend applying a lubricant on all movable surfaces and hinge points. I used a \\\"dry film\\\" Teflon, goes on wet, pentrates well, and then wipe off excess. Do this outside. After this application, both chairs were easy to open, close and recline. The Teflon type lube becomes dry to the touch, and should not leave an oily residue.\\n\\nThe end result is that both chairs easily unfold for use, and the recliner portion easily moves from upright to somewhat horizontal (not flat). I suspect this may have contributed to those earlier reviewers that experienced structural issues... if it can't move, it will bend.\\n\\nPros: Comfortable, a personal and subjective thing mostly.\\nIncludes a wedge shaped pad, usable as a headrest or lumbar support. Easily positioned or simply left off.\\nThe seat fabric seems quite solid, flexible bungee-like 1/4\\\" cord, doubled, is used to secure the fabric to the frame.\\nSeat fabric advertised as UV resistent, definitely looks water proof, time will tell.\\nOnce properly lubricated, the chair sets up and and reclines smoothly; knobs on each armrest lock any particular position in place, a quick 1/4 turn does it. I suspect if you try to exit the chair when it is reclined, considerable stress will result, along with bent frame components; so please return the chair to it's upright and locked position before taking off.\\n\\nCon: Sloppy frame finishing - the tubes all show poorly applied finish, looks like there was some sand-like bubbly debris on the surface and it was simply painted over.\",\n \"Product: Veranda Collection patio furniture covers by Classic Accessories offer maximum protection with style. The dark splashguard hides stains and water spots while high-flow air vents protect furniture from mold and mildew. Buckled straps attach to furniture legs and help covers hold on in the worst weather. Water-resistant undercoating keeps the rain from penetrating, ensuring that your furniture stays high and dry. A convenient draw string hem affords a tight, custom fit while large padded handles make removal and adjustment of your cover convenient and hassle-free. All Veranda Collection covers feature a 3-year warranty guaranteeing replacement if damaged by dry-rot, the sun, or mold and mildew. You'll be sure to find the right covers to fit your needs with over 140 shapes and styles in the Veranda Collection from Classic Accessories.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Classic Accessories Veranda Overized storage bag -- generous size, heavy duty, weather resistent.\\n\\nReview: Oct 2017 update: it leaks, the seams seem to be the culprit; yet the material itself seems to be waterproof. Odd. Therefore I would NOT use this as an outdoor storage bag for deck cushions or whatever you want protected. Apart from that, I am pleased with this storage bag, heavy-duty, spacious, but NOT water proof.\\n\\n------- Original review ----\\nGenerous size, holds deck chair cushions for a set of 6 chairs, plus a double hammock.\\nMaterial is very sturdy, heavy duty handle with a velcro wrap to keep both handle loops together, bottom inside of this bag is water proof material (don't know about the seams yet, don't care).\\nNot mentioned, sturdy canvas-like handles on both ends of the bag.\\n\\nEarlier claims about the zipper not being \\\"waterproof\\\", valid, but as water resistant as you might find on a raincoat. If you're storing outdoor cushions anyway then bag your cushions in hefty lawn/leaf/trash bags, place these in this jumbo bag and store in a garage or shed on end or flat, or from a rafter, or under some reasonable overhang. I placed mine on top of a deck table, upside down and had no issues during a decent 2-day rain. For long term (winter) I plan to hang on end from a storage shed rafter. (Include a highly fragrant bar of cheap hand soap or two to keep mice out.)\",\n \"Product: Starmark creates innovative toys and training products that reflect the way dogs learn and have fun. Starmark's pet products division brings you the benefit of their vast experience working with thousands of dogs and their owners. Starmark Everlasting Treats are specially formulated ingredients which are completely edible and digestible, Everlasting Treats are bursting with flavor providing long-lasting chewing enjoyment for your dog. Their unique shape and raised dental ridges safely scrub your dog's teeth for a brighter smile. Insert healthy treats into the Everlasting Treat toys for hours of fun and interactive play. Available in chicken, liver, vanilla mint, hickory, wheat/corn/soy free, and wheat free flavors. Comes in small, medium, or large 2-packs. Nutritional Adequacy: Feed as a treat. This product is intended for intermittent or supplemental feeding only. Caution: With all chew products and treats, pets should be supervised as no product is completely indestructible. Pieces smaller than the mouth may present a choking hazard. When wet, treats may stain fabric and upholstery. For questions about Starmark products contact 1-877-823-7847\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Everlasting Dog Treats -- Love at First Bite!\\n\\nReview: This was an instant success for our food- and treat-fussy Siberian, and our \\\"normal\\\" voracious Malamute.\\n\\nPros: 1) Most importantly: If our siberian will accept (as in devour!) these treats, we predict most any other fussy pups will too.\\n\\n2) Someone intelligently designed the treat holders and shape of the treats themselves so that they can't be immediately removed and consumed... our dogs spend hours working on their treat ball. True to their breeds, our pups get in an occasional gnawing moment, but for the most part they have to lick and nibble their way through their treat. Which means when we leave for an extended time, they are honorably occupied, not bored, and not getting into mischief.\\n\\n3) The ball itself is made of a soft-ish, somewhat pliable material, and yet appears to be indestructible. Time will tell.\\n\\n4) A variety of flavors. We purchased each of the available flavors to learn which would \\\"win\\\", and immediately discovered that all flavors send our pups into exited expectation when they see their ball coming.\\n\\n5) You can put your own treats inside the ball itself, but it looks like a tough nut for any dog to get to.\\n\\nCon: and this could be a good thing: it's hard getting a treat into the ball unless you have strong hands/wrists, or a smooth ended spoon handle to help peel the retaining edge of the treat ball opening over the edge of the treat. This means your pup will not likely remove the treat in one lump (unless he uses that smooth spoon handle) and immediately consume it.\",\n \"Product: A patented, pH-balanced product for general ear cleansing and frequent use. Contains 2-percent acetic acid, which is effective against Pseudomonas as well as other bacteria and microbes; and 2-percent boric acid. Contains no ototoxic agents or artificial cleansing or dewaxing agents. All-natural and hypoallergenic. Apple scented.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: DECHRA DermaPet Malacetic Otic ear/skin cleanser and ointment -- totally effective!\\n\\nReview: I have adopted numerous arctic canines, Malamute and Siberian, both endowed with heavy coats and their habit of various \\\"irritations\\\", the most significant being ear infections and whatnot.\\n\\nI have for a long time used Malacetic Otic as a curative... meaning it is applied to the affected ear and within days the pup is happy to have the dried residue removed (earwax, whatever that greasy and smelly stuff amounts to) and is no long shaking it's head vigorously, scratching or rubbing it's affected ear(s) on the carpet or whatever is convenient (have you ever been a rubbing post? I have - yuck).\\n\\nI have a small spray bottle of this magic potion, some cotton balls (spritzed with the ointment), and a few Q-tips nearby. The process of spraying the pups's inner ear (far easier than trying to drain or apply some of the lotion into the affected ear), followed by a gentle removal of obvious waxy stuff, finally a gentle wipe-down/wipe out of the affected ear with a cotton ball (also sprayed with Malacetic). In a single day my pups are happy. This process leaves a residue of dried, flaky stuff that is easily flicked out with a Q-tip or even finger tip. Pups are now familiar with the routine, they know it relieves their itching and inflammation, and allow me full access to rid them of their ear issues.\\n\\nExtremely recommended if your pup is suffering. Malacetic Otic is a great solution (pun intended). Easy on them, easy for you. A 16oz bottle lasts a long, long time, you and your pup are worth it.\",\n \"Product: Minneapolis-based Wagner SprayTech Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Wagner Holding, Inc., is a market leader in advanced paint applicators. It develops and markets a wide array of painting and decorating products used in home improvement, commercial painting and industrial fine finishing. They make it easier to prepare surfaces, apply paints and other coatings, and clean up after painting. Wagner supports its customers through innovation, high tech engineering, quality manufacturing and service. Follow Wagner on Facebook and Twitter.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: A fine small job sprayer\\n\\nReview: A fine small job sprayer, but cannot say it is designed for detail work. The spray pattern is still pretty large.\\n\\nI bought this for spraying lattice panels and it does fine, not as much overspray as my original Wagner 0518080 Control Spray Max HVLP Sprayer, purchased 3 years ago (here on Amazon). Very nice that this line of Wagner sprayers has stuck around, the front-end attached as expected and I was ready to shoot after loading up the paint container.\\n\\nPaint containers, the stainless and 1400ml plastic that came with my original HVLP kit, are all interchangeable, very convenient.\\n\\nNote: the instructions say that these Wagners will shoot stain without thinning, but I found that reducing the paint viscosity helps flow and coverage. I strive to find something that is somewhat similar to the consistency of cream, or coffee creamer. This allows me to reduce the flow and lower the pressure... This means it takes a little more time to cover, but also reduces overspray.\\n\\nNice to have a backup spray head. (And beats a brush any day, particularly for lattice and rough texture surfaces!)\",\n \"Product: High quality latex-based wood filler formulated to create a surface and body that looks and acts like real wood and provides a repair that is 3X stronger than the wood itself.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: DAP Plastic Latex Wood Filler -- easy, effective, economical\\n\\nReview: Impressive for an Amazon Add-on-Item...\\n\\nI used this to fill old nail and screw holes, cracks and smaller missing wood sections on redwood railings and balusters. Spreads well, smooth. The results were perfect -- the filler sanded flush (I used an orbital, 5 seconds per hole), and then stained the entire railing. No priming needed. The end result was a smooth surface, no detectable surface irregularities.\\n\\nThis filler spreads well, but over the course of several weeks (or repeated opening of its plastic container that does not seal all that well) it begins to dry out, gets kind of crumbly. The remedy is to dip your putty knife in some mineral spirits (just wet it), then remix the filler. Repeat (dip and mix) until the end result regains its flexible consistency -- it should spread like butter.. I found this remedy can be done repeatedly.\\n\\nFiller dries to an almond color, so I recommend a solid stain/paint or else this will likely show through unless you are finishing with a darker solid color.\\n\\nFiller shows NO sign of shrinkage, and accepts my dark solid stains just fine (oil based Cabot). In fact, when the railing is re-installed there is no apparent sign it has been renovated.\\n\\nPutty knife: Amazon Add-on-Item Wagner Pro-Grip Flex Putty Knife 1 1/2 inches (recommended)\\nhttps://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000I1QDXO/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1\",\n \"Product: The BOSTITCH BTFP1KIT 1-Tool and Compressor Combo Kit is ideal for interior and exterior finishing and trimming project for a variety of crafts like furniture, cabinets, and staircases. It features a 150 max PSI 6.0 gallon tank (22.7 L) and 2.6 SCFM* delivered @ 90 PSI pump, which enables long tool run time with quick recovery. The compressor features long-life oil-free, maintenance-free pump for convenient use. It has a BOSTITCH high efficiency motor for easy start up in cold weather or extension cord application [14 ga or larger, 50 ft. (15.2 m) or less]. At only 78.5 dBA** operational noise level it offers you a quiet work environment. The SB-1850BN 18 GA brad nailer drives 18GA brad nails from 5/8\\\" to 2\\\". 1/4\\\" x 15' PVC air hose with fittings and 1-1/4\\\" 18GA brad nails are included. specs: Depth Adjustment - Yes, Adjustable Exhaust, Magazine Capacity - 100, No Mar Pad, Power Source - Pneumatic, Tool Weight only 2.7 lbs.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Bostich BTFP02012 6 gallon compressor... enough already, this is a GREAT DIY addition to any shop. Recommended\\n\\nReview: A DIY essential if you use pneumatic whatevers...\\nAm happy to have an air compressor that is portable, charges quickly.\\nNo issues with air leakage.\\n\\nI also purchased the Hitachi air line, link follow. This is another winner, includes connectors -- recommended:\\nHitachi 115155 Professional Grade Polyurethane Air Hose with 1/4\\\" Industrial Fittings, 1/4\\\" x 50', Green\\n\\nThis unit was a Plug-n-Play purchase, plugged it in and was ready to serve my pneumatic stapler.\\n\\nAlmost... Bostitch includes an air relief nozzle on the underside of the pancake, shipped OPEN.\\nClose this orifice and your compressor will reach max pressure in short order.\\nThis is not mentioned in the included info-document.\\n\\nIncluded info-document is not a manual, more of a 24x36 poster that require unfolding and navigating... sheesh. What ever happened to tool manuals? Refolding said poster to its original configuration is... nonsense. It's an air compressor, move on...\\n\\nBottom line: a recommended addition to any DIY environment. Unit is portable, performs as claimed.\",\n \"Product: This Cutting Combo includes a DWHT10272 pocket knife and a DWHT10261 folding utility knife. The DEWALT Folding Pocket knife is designed for Heavy-Duty use. This pocket knife features a stainless-steel blade for durability and rust resistance. The pocket knife has a Tanto tip that helps with piercing through tough materials. The DEWALT auto load folding retractable knife combines the convenience of a folding knife with the functionality of a traditional utility knife. Blade changes are quick and easy as the old blade is removed with the push of a button and a new blade put into place by moving the slide forward. A new blade is always available with storage for up to 3 integrated into the utility knife.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: DeWalt Pocket and Utility Knife Combo -- SAFE, rugged, dependable - Recommended\\n\\nReview: When it comes to folders (pocket folding knives) I am a snob for safety, utility, safety, durability, safety, utility.\\nThis DeWalt meets all of the above, sharp-sharp edge, so I can open boxes or letters equally well.\\n\\nWhen it comes to box knives, I am cautious; when it comes to folding box cutters I am suspicious, scared, paranoid, sometimes panicky that the knife will fold on me as has happened with some major home mart Chinese made cutters. They should include band-aides!\\n\\nI was initially skeptical; however, this deWalt cutter is SAFE, solid, stable, predictable, sharp and in fact has become my ONLY box cutter, all others having been deep-sixed.\\n\\nAs mentioned by an earlier review, the nationally known Homie Despot sells this combo for half, so get two sets and you will be happy.\",\n \"Product: Gallon, natural, UV plus oil based wood finish, 1 coat penetrating finish that protects & conditions wood while maintaining a natural appearance.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Messmers UV Plus wood finishes -- FREEDOM! from constant maintenance. And looks great.\\n\\nReview: After a decade of finding a reliable wood finish, I have reduced it all down to Messmers.\\nI live in a solar harsh (high mountain elevation), high wind and snow environment.\\n\\nRefinishing here runs the gamut from a year to 5 years depending.\\n\\nMessmers is deliverance from my environmental challenges. It stands up to high solar, high wind (reaching 103mph this past winter!), weeks of snow cover, yada yada.\\n\\nPros: easy to apply, dries fairly fast in comparison to other name brands, some that remain sticky weeks afterward and attract dust, insects, pollen and grit like a magnent!\\nApplication by brush, roller, spray; I have done all 3 with excellent coverage and results.\\nViscosity is \\\"thin\\\", as compared to other known brands that have the consistency of pancake syrup. Penetrates extremely well.\\nDried finish is CONSISTENTLY (emphasis) satin, not gloss as often happens with competition stains with multiple applications.\\nA decent variety of color tones, though limited to semi-trans and semi-solids.\\nEasy clean-up: mineral spirits. After spraying Messmers, I \\\"shoot\\\" a cup of mineral spirits through my spray gun and put it aside for another project.\\n\\nTheir \\\"Natural\\\" tone turns most anything, eg, cedar, redwood, etc) an orange tinge, but not obnoxious. In fact, if you spray untreated cedar or redwood with just water, you get something similar. I recycle wood (cedar and redwood) for numerous projects, and enjoy the Messmers effect on highlighting grains.\",\n \"Product: Amora Lighting Tiffany Style Mission Table Lamp, 8-Inches Wide\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Amora Tiffany Mission style lamps - solid, smaller for accent lighting, attractive\\n\\nReview: Amora makes 3 of these smaller Tiffany Mission lamps. The bases are all identical, the shades vary and are priced accordingly.\\nShades are nicely made stained glass. I purchased 3 lamps, each with a different shade. The more intricate the shade, the less light it emits.\\n\\nI use G14 LED bulbs, appliance sized, short to fit inside the harp that holds the shade. This reduces the bulb to something under 400 lumens, the G14 LEDs replace a conventional 35w bulb and use only 4.5 watts, comparable to a night light. That makes these lamps more suitable for ambiance, probably not suitable as a reading lamp. Lamps fit nicely on nightstands and bookcase tops without taking much space or looking out of proportion.\\n\\nNice Mission look, nice accent lighting.\\n\\nAmazon link to the G14 bulbs: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LXZBLJI\",\n \"Product: Tamiya America, Inc Masking Tape, 6mm, TAM87030\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: tamiya Masking Tape -- excellent adhesion prevents sprayed items from \\\"leaking\\\", great for hobbyists and modelers\\n\\nReview: This applies to scale model ship painting: bought the Tamiya brand masking 6 and 10mm tapes based on advice from a seasoned hobbyist. It was excellent advice. Am discovering that Tamiya produces quality modeling supplies and kits. No complaints on their kits, paints, tools, etc, and prefer Tamiya (though higher cost) over all others.\\n\\nTape adheres very well, so there is no bleeding of paint under the tape. But, spend some time getting a firm seal, it's worth the effort; I use a stiff and small old toothbrush for this. A smoothed and rounded pop-sickle stick rubbed along the edge also helps.\\n\\nTape remains flexible enough, at least the 6mm, so that it follows curves and conforms to irregular surfaces... within reason, but we're talking 12-15\\\" model ships.\\n\\nTape removes nicely, leaves a clean paint line if you have prepped your work well.\\n\\nIt's on the spendy side for masking tape, but you will save time and re-work and heart ache. I use regular brand-name household paint masking tapes for covering the remaining parts from overspray, typically the 1- to 2-inch wide blue stuff, works well in combination with the Tamiya defining the paint edge.\\n\\nRecommended for detailed painting and spraying.\"\n]","isConversational":false},"profile_size":{"kind":"number","value":50,"string":"50"},"task":{"kind":"string","value":"longlamp_3"},"split_kind":{"kind":"string","value":"user_based"},"id":{"kind":"number","value":957,"string":"957"}}},{"rowIdx":958,"cells":{"question_id":{"kind":"string","value":"A1XPD3WFBJ38WK"},"question":{"kind":"string","value":"Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of \"4.0\" for a product with description \"Linda Andrews lives in Phoenix, Arizona with her husband, three children and a menagerie of domesticated animals. While she started writing a decade ago, she always used her stories to escape the redundancy of her day job as a scientist and never thought to actually combine her love of fiction and science. DOH! After that Homer Simpson moment, she allowed the two halves of her brain to talk to each other. The journeys shes embarked on since then are dark, twisted and occasionally violent, but never predictable. If youve loved one of her most demented creations so far, shed love to hear from you at lindaandrews at lindaandrews dot net\". The summary of the review text is \"One of the better PA novels from an indie writer today\"."},"answer":{"kind":"string","value":"Linda Andrews has created a believable world where you enter not at the beginning, but perhaps at the end of the beginning.\n\nFrom the first few sentences, the reader is thrust into a world trying to recover from The Redaction - a worldwide flu pandemic with a 35% mortality rate. This is the end-of-the-world scenario deemed most realistic by \"experts\" at such things, and Andrews paints a world where such numbers of death strain the systems and creations of mankind right up to the limit.\n\nThen, of course, Andrews adds one more horrific straw, and the end of the world truly is upon us.\n\nAlong the way, Andrews introduces some true good and true evil in her characters. Some reviewers think the dialogue is too convoluted; I think it's a pretty realistic description of how humans ultimately react and survive even in the darkest of times. Yes, there is a lot of sex in this novel, but I think it's handled logically and realistically given all the other SHTF context. Andrews' only real flaw is when she strays too close to romance-novel territory in a few places; but her science makes sense. And although one of the major twists in the story is glaringly apparent by Chapter Seven, I can forgive the error in favor of an overall plot that engages the reader and makes me want to know much, much more.\n\nIt's not quite five-star material, but it's close. Homonym errors crop up sporadically here - Andrews needs to learn the difference between \"passed\" and \"past.\" Her plot point of every nuclear power plant in the US escaping containment and \"sterilizing the planet\" seems a bit over the top. And, Trent's gunshot to the shoulder appears to have magically healed in about a day. Even with all that, this is good reading.\n\nThere is definitely room for much, much more - clamors for a sequel were rewarded with Part II of this series, which I am reading now; and seriously, there was never any doubt given the ending of the first book. Indeed, what I would like to see are one ore more PREQUELS - we get very little of Mavis' or David's backstories, and the story of the Redaction itself is certainly novel-length. Andrews has a good knack for revealing past history in extremely few words - often someone utters an aside or the author herself makes a throwaway, by-the-way statement - and suddenly you're thinking \"Oh, wow - THAT's how that came about.\" But I am curious to know about Mavis' history, her family (who died BEFORE the Redaction) and her career. There's a lot of tantalizing stuff in the brevity of the author's narrative.\n\nSo many questions to answer; I hope Andrews enjoys writing enough that we eventually learn them all."},"correct_answer":{"kind":"string","value":"Linda Andrews has created a believable world where you enter not at the beginning, but perhaps at the end of the beginning.\n\nFrom the first few sentences, the reader is thrust into a world trying to recover from The Redaction - a worldwide flu pandemic with a 35% mortality rate. This is the end-of-the-world scenario deemed most realistic by \"experts\" at such things, and Andrews paints a world where such numbers of death strain the systems and creations of mankind right up to the limit.\n\nThen, of course, Andrews adds one more horrific straw, and the end of the world truly is upon us.\n\nAlong the way, Andrews introduces some true good and true evil in her characters. Some reviewers think the dialogue is too convoluted; I think it's a pretty realistic description of how humans ultimately react and survive even in the darkest of times. Yes, there is a lot of sex in this novel, but I think it's handled logically and realistically given all the other SHTF context. Andrews' only real flaw is when she strays too close to romance-novel territory in a few places; but her science makes sense. And although one of the major twists in the story is glaringly apparent by Chapter Seven, I can forgive the error in favor of an overall plot that engages the reader and makes me want to know much, much more.\n\nIt's not quite five-star material, but it's close. Homonym errors crop up sporadically here - Andrews needs to learn the difference between \"passed\" and \"past.\" Her plot point of every nuclear power plant in the US escaping containment and \"sterilizing the planet\" seems a bit over the top. And, Trent's gunshot to the shoulder appears to have magically healed in about a day. Even with all that, this is good reading.\n\nThere is definitely room for much, much more - clamors for a sequel were rewarded with Part II of this series, which I am reading now; and seriously, there was never any doubt given the ending of the first book. Indeed, what I would like to see are one ore more PREQUELS - we get very little of Mavis' or David's backstories, and the story of the Redaction itself is certainly novel-length. Andrews has a good knack for revealing past history in extremely few words - often someone utters an aside or the author herself makes a throwaway, by-the-way statement - and suddenly you're thinking \"Oh, wow - THAT's how that came about.\" But I am curious to know about Mavis' history, her family (who died BEFORE the Redaction) and her career. There's a lot of tantalizing stuff in the brevity of the author's narrative.\n\nSo many questions to answer; I hope Andrews enjoys writing enough that we eventually learn them all."},"documents":{"kind":"list like","value":["Product: This is a very nice cappuccino / espresso finish sofa table. It has two drawers that each have two pull handles. The pull handles are a silver nickel color. Notice the design in the legs and edge of the table, this is made of mostly solid wood done in a cappuccino finish. This listing is for the sofa table only. Dimensions: 48\" long x 18\" wide x 29\" deep.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Decent value for the price, good color, mostly solid wood\n\nReview: This is a very nice console table with a transitional/contemporary look that assembled by attaching the legs and the bottom shelf with the same bolts, washers and lock washers at all points. Finish is a very nice dark brown/espresso and the included drawer hardware is of a nickel finish - the oval knobs can be placed horizontally or vertically. There are four knobs but actually two drawers in the main unit - that piece comes fully assembled. I did note a slight bit of gap between the rear legs and the lower shelf - one rear leg seemed to be torqued just the slightest amount from true square - but as it was a rear leg and the unit sits level after assembly I decided to accept that as a bit of \"character.\"\n\nIt appears that the manufacturer has taken claims about damage to heart. This item was packed in foam, styrofoam, cardboard, then a heavy cardboard outer box, THEN sturdy cardboard L-beams on the outside, THEN foam corner pieces on the outside of the box at all corners, THEN shrink wrapped. That, plus the mostly all-wood construction, meant that there was no damage on delivery.","Product: Mohu Leaf 30 is the award-winning digital antenna that jump started the cord cutting revolution. Launched in 2011, Leaf 30 established the trend of paper-thin antennas with many others striving to achieve the same quality and design. Leaf 30 was the first and continues to be one of the top-rated and most popular HDTV antennas available on the market. Antenna Made in USA Derived from US Military Technology The patented Leaf 30 was modeled after life-saving technology designed and developed for the US Military to discreetly detect IEDs, making it the most reliable and sophisticated indoor HDTV antenna on the market today. We are proud of our military connection, and it is evident in our design, quality, and stability. We are also proud to say that our Leaf antennas are made in USA. Watch 100% Free TV in HD Leaf 30 lets you enjoy over-the-air networks in your area without paying a monthly fee. That means you can watch 94 of the 100 most-watched TV shows for free from networks like ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, PBS, The CW, Univision and more. And because over-the-air broadcasts are uncompressed, you will experience the clearest picture quality possible with your HDTV antenna. Highest Quality, Sleek Design, Easy Installation Mohu Leaf 30 is now tested to reach up to a 40-mile radius and includes a high performance 10 ft. detachable coaxial cable, giving users the flexibility to place the antenna much higher on a wall or close to a window for optimal reception. Leaf 30 TV antenna indoor is also paintable and reversible to match decor, and much easier on the eyes than a traditional antenna. Setup is as easy as plugging it in, turning on your TV, and scanning for channels.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: UHF: Average. VHF: Non-existent\n\nReview: This antenna has one, one only one, advantage: It's truly paper-thin, meaning that it may fit in areas where typical HDTV antennas might not go.\n\nUnfortunately, if you live in an area where some of your HDTV is in the VHF band - Denver, where I live, is a prime example - you are essentially out of luck with this antenna. It'll pick up KUSA/Channel 9, barely, probably from a bit of the cable connection from the antenna to the TV and not from the antenna itself.\n\nThis could be forgiven if the antenna did a better than average job with UHF channels, but interestingly, this antenna didn't perform any differently than a variety of other antennas from RCA, Philips, and off brands from Big Lots.\n\nNo need to purchase this unless its thinness and flexibility are major factors for you - and ONLY if you're in an all-UHF HDTV market.","Product: OTTERBOX RBB1-9650S-20-COTR Blackberry Bold 9650 Impact Case\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Case: Great. Included screen protector: Useless.\n\nReview: While the typical Otterbox case seems to do the job well - the case has less of that slick silicone feel and is more grippy than the $9.95 specials you usually find in stores - the included screen protector has a fatal flaw. The screen protector comes with two paper pull tabs. The first tab is used to peel away the backing so you can then carefully position the protector on the screen. Then a second white tab says \"peel me after mounting the screen.\" So I did. And the tab peeled away leaving more gunky, sticky residue than I've seen on a peel-away sticker in years. No way to remove it with Goof-Off or something like that, and there's no way I'd apply that stuff anywhere near the case of my Blackberry. Which means I'd have to remove the protector to clean it, reducing its adhesion were I to try to apply is a second time; which means I'll be buying a replacement screen protector. Very, very, dumb, Otterbox.","Product: Inkjet all-in-one with duplex printing provides low cost printing, fast print speeds, up to 35-sheet auto document feeder, and 11\" x 17\" output via bypass. Save up to 40% with a super High-Yield black ink replacement cartridge when compared with High-Yield black ink cartridge.1 fastest in class print speeds.2 3.7\" color touchscreen display. Print from compatible mobile devices over wireless network.4\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Adequate multifunction printer in a sea of mediocre choices\n\nReview: I don't think my standards are all that high for an all-in-one printer. I want something that prints fast, quietly, at a reasonably low ink cost. After years of HP and their outrageous per-page ink costs, I went to Epson, where I encountered horrible page quality due to print heads that couldn't be cleaned or adjusted no matter how much you tried. So my quest continued to Brother, and their MFCJ5620DW.\n\nThe best I can say is that this printer is okay. Its stated 35 ppm/27 ppm boast is laughable. You won't get more than about 10 ppm under optimum conditions. As others have noted, its black and color quality is acceptable but not as vivid or pure as other printers.\n\nAnd the printer is notorious for a whole new universe of sounds as it prints! Many all-in-ones are noisy, but at least their noise is contained to the bass and midrange part of the sound spectrum. This printer...whines. It makes all sorts of high-pitched wails, clicks and screams, at different pitches, as it prints. Really? Honestly, Brother?\n\nFor the price ($99 on sale), I'll probably live with it for a year, and continue the quest. Perhaps Canon will come up with something. But I'm convinced there's a conspiracy among all printer manufacturers to make crap for the home. I think we're all suffering with mediocrity while they rake in 1000% profits on ink.","Product: Kyle Pratt is the bestselling author of action-adventure and speculative fiction novels. Kyle grew up in the mountains of Colorado and earned an Associate in Arts degree from Mesa State College in Grand Junction. When money for college ran low he enlisted in the United States Navy as a Cryptologic Technician. While in the navy he earned a bachelors degree in political science. While in the navy Kyle short stories, and continued to work on longer pieces after he retired from the service. Kyle is the author of author of a growing list of books. Titan Encounter, his debut novel was released in 2012. This was followed by a post-apocalyptic series that includes Through Many Fires, A Time to Endure and Braving the Storms, Nightmare in Slow Motion and The Long Way Home. Several short stories are available on Wattpad.com and NoiseTrade.com. Today, Kyle writes fulltime from his farm in western Washington State. You can learn more about Kyle on his website, www.kyleonkindle.com\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: First book worth a look; second and third books, not so much\n\nReview: I had high hopes for this series with the first book, but as we slog along, the plot has become trite and predictable, with \"twists\" you can see coming a mile away.\n\nPratt's PA world is methodical and numbing, as a new wave in the form of a pandemic flu strikes the \"remaining\" of the series title. One small example: The CDC in this universe has been \"wiped out\" because Atlanta was one of the US cities hit by nukes in the first volume - but even a cursory amount of research would tell you that the CDC has plenty of satellite centers around the country, including Spokane, very near the action of the story. Even with the damage noted in the first book of the series, Pratt provides more of a 19th-century approach to the flu than would be reasonable. This carries on throughout the book; another example is that cell phones are still up and running fine, but in the Strengthen What Remains universe, the characters are usually too dumb to actually use them in a reasonable way (with Zach's notable exception in the second act)...and apparently the internet is completely down, since none of the characters actually consider using this tool over the months of the book. Kind of hard to imagine a world where cell phone service and texting is still healthy, but the internet, which was designed to survive the specific scenario of the first book, is missing.\n\nAll can be forgiven when characters are strong and writing is tight, but in this volume, neither occurs. Caden, the main character, sleepwalks through several major life events. Zachery (actually spelled that way in the book instead of Zachary, and it's indicative to me of the overall sloppy editing) is good to the point of a halo, and indeed he seems to find Jesus in the third act, not for any particular plot advancement reason, just because. Pratt relies far too much on cliffhangers to end his short chapters. A few times might make sense, but when every single chapter ends with \"A shot rang out\" or \"He heard a stifled scream\" or \"'His blood pressure's droppping!\", it gets trite fast (and in many cases there's no further reference made to the artificial drama in the next chapter anyway).\n\nA significant portion of events takes place off stage - for instance, after setting up a major conflict between the two Americas, such conflict is resolved as an afterthought in one sentence near the end of the book.\n\nAnd then there are the homonym errors. Pratt still doesn't understand the difference between a hanger and a hangar - in a military novel, you'd think someone would have caught this, but we have planes coming out of \"hangers\" in several areas. And he doesn't know the difference between heel and heal. Had the book provided proper momentum for the plot and a sense of driving forward to a strong conclusion, these editing errors might not be so glaring. Unfortunately, there are a lot of warts in a lot of areas.\n\nI might recommend the first book in the series for PA completists. You can skip books 2 and 3 (this one).","Product: An international bestselling author, Manel Loureiro was born in Pontevedra, Spain, and studied law at Universidad de Santiago de Compostela. After graduation, he worked in television, both on-screen (appearing on Television de Galicia) and behind-the-scenes as a writer. Apocalypse Z, his first novel, began as a popular blog before its publication, eventually becoming a bestseller in several countries, including Spain, Italy, and Brazil. Called the Spanish Stephen King by the Guardian, Manel has written three novels in the Apocalypse Z series. He currently resides in Pontevedra, Spain, where, in addition to writing, he is still a practicing lawyer.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: A tremendous non-US perspective in the genre\n\nReview: Zombie fiction normally presupposes a worldwide catastrophe, but since 99% is written in America, the perspective is usually skewed to the United States. Not so with this refreshing novel. Manel Loureiro, writing in his native Spanish and now assisted by an outstanding English translator, gives us a realistic portrait of the apocalypse, told from the point of view of a lawyer living in northern Spain.\n\nThe collapse of the world is believable and fairly slow, so you get a good sense of growing worry turning to alarm turning to sheer terror. The main character's journey starts with a series of blog posts, moving to an old-school journal when the internet finally crashes. Loureiro's writing is taut, taking the main character (and his adorable cat) through twists and turns by land, sea and finally air, with an ending that leaves English speakers begging for more translations. (Loureiro has continued the series in Spanish.)\n\nThe infected/zombies in this book are portrayed chillingly but not over-the-top as sometimes afflicts American writers. We don't have to endure seven pages of odor descriptions for each encounter, for instance. Instead, Loureiro concentrates on the suspense and fear aspects of trying to survive in a world where humans have suddenly fallen from the top of the food chain.\n\nAn overall great job. I look forward to future books translated...hopefully not taking the several years this first book took!","Product: Linda Andrews lives in Phoenix, Arizona with her husband, three children and a menagerie of domesticated animals. While she started writing a decade ago, she always used her stories to escape the redundancy of her day job as a scientist and never thought to actually combine her love of fiction and science. DOH! After that Homer Simpson moment, she allowed the two halves of her brain to talk to each other. The journeys shes embarked on since then are dark, twisted and occasionally violent, but never predictable. If youve loved one of her most demented creations so far, shed love to hear from you at lindaandrews at lindaandrews dot net\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Continued good PA fiction\n\nReview: Linda Andrews continues the saga of the post-Redaction catastrophe with this second book of a multi-part series. New characters are introduced but all your loved (and hated) characters from the first book are back.\n\nAndrews continues her unique writing style - I recommend you start with Part One, Extinction Level Event, in this series, but when you \"start\" you'll feel as if you've been slipstreamed right into the middle of a grand plot arc. Andrews likes to reveal bits and pieces of backstory in the middle of character musings - blink and you'll miss some interesting stuff - and there is so, so much still to be told, including how the Redaction began and how humanity will survive the multiple plagues (and whole-country migrations) that follow.\n\nWith tighter editing, this could really become a classic of post-apocalyptic fiction to rival Stephen King. Andrews still mixes up \"passed\" with \"past\" and she has other homonym errors throughout the book. And the final part of Book Two seems almost farcical in its dealing with true evil. Andrews weaves two main memes through both books - vengeance and forgiveness - and I think she got a bit trite at the end of this book, but I'll forgive her in hopes that Book Three will give her a chance to continue her obvious progression as a writer.\n\nThere are enough unanswered questions for at many more books in this well-crafted universe, including my personal hope for prequels. Thank you Linda Andrews for your efforts.","Product: Linda Chamberlain's involvement in life extension started more than 40 years ago, when she and her life partner, Fred Chamberlain III, started the Alcor Life Extension Foundation in California in 1972. She was Alcor's Cryotransport Manager from 1997 to 2001, and she actively participated in the biostasis of both her father-in-law, Fred Chamberlain, Jr. ( the first Alcor patient in 1976: http://www.lifepact.com/frcjr.htm) and her mother, Arlene Fried in 1990 (see Linda's article, Her Blue Eyes Will Sparkle: http://www.alcor.org/Library/html/casereport9012.htm). In the 1980s, Linda and Fred wrote short stories about cryonics and life extension. These stories, together with a few by other authors, were compiled into a book called LifeQuest: (http://www.amazon.com/LifeQuest-Cryonics-Uploading-Transhuman-Adventures/dp/1448646618). With today's exponentially changing technology, Linda's primary life extension focus is the preservation of identity through substrate independent minds (SIM). Linda and Fred are active participants in the research programs of Terasem Movement, Inc. and are building extensive mind files, seeing their arrangements to be frozen as no longer their primary avenue to preservation of their identity, but as an adjunct by hopefully being able to have their brains mapped as supplementary information for their cybertwins (Blog on Cybertwins: http://hyperbeings.blogspot.com/)(see also the blog by Dr. Martine Rothblatt: http://mindclones.blogspot.com/search?updated-min=2010-01-01T00%3A00%3A00-05%3A00&updated-max=2011-01-01T00%3A00%3A00-05%3A00&max-results=8). Linda and Fred also produce a weekly podcast on the Truths of Terasem (http://itunes.apple.com/podcast/truths-of-terasem-podcasts/id383099543). The podcasts explore the post-Singularity potential for humanity, personal identity preservation, and the need for geoethical nanotechnology if humanity is to survive the Singularity that we may encounter as soon as 2029.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: First-rate \"hard\" SF except for going down the \"shoot\"\n\nReview: Linda Chamberlain has written a rollicking \"hard\" science fiction novel set in a future where the ultimate in pro-life philosophy has taken root. Cryonics is the science of cooling people to \"freeze\" metabolism in the hopes that emerging technologies can fix what ails or injures them. In 2011, the odds of success are pretty long; in the future world of Star Pebble, cryonics is routine and provides a backdrop for a novel never far from pondering life and death.\n\nHad cryonics been the only theme of the novel, it would have been interesting; but Chamberlain also introduces some well-thought-out subplots and mechanisms as her heroine, Nyla, herself a clone (!), tries to thwart an over-the-top evil plot to wreck the Thomas Agency, a for-hire security group that dominates the policing of multiple private enterprise space stations in Earth orbit.\n\nOkay, okay. Maybe some of the subplots AREN'T so well thought out. Why is everyone spending so much money to live in orbit? Wouldn't it be cheaper to \"colonize\" the moon or Mars? And why is cryonics so prevalent - to the point that whole colony ships have convenient cooling stations and medicine lines strung in every corridor \"just in case\" you get hurt? There's a disconnect between a Star Trek-like view of Utopia in Chamberlain's world and the capitalistic society that seems to be able to afford life extension, avatars, cloning, AND armies of hundreds.\n\nOh, but the subplots that do work, work well. Example: Not a single phaser, laser or bullet-style gun in this book. Chamberlain correctly deduces that in the hazardous environment of a space colony, anything that might penetrate the skin of the ship would be so dangerous as to be unthinkable as a weapon, so we get some wonderful narration around the use of dart guns and gas bombs to take out the bad guys. The result is a travelogue of battle and fight scenes that are fast, suspense-filled and full of mayhem...just never actually loud.\n\nA couple of things that could have made this truly 5-star: The initial chapters read as if you've wandered in midway through the novel, lacking binding context that is a bit jarring to comprehend until information is revealed, almost backhandedly, in later chapters. Also, it is a bit hard to reconcile a book with a strong pro-life cryonics core against the hundreds of bad guys that are indeed killed, permanently, during the battles. For philosophy that celebrates life above all, there sure is a lot of death.\n\nFinally, one niggle: One goes down a chute, not a shoot, Ms. Chamberlain. Annoyingly, Nyla goes down and through shoots not once, but at least half a dozen times in the book. Shame on your editor.\n\nWith all its flaws, I rate the book right there with \"The First Immortal\" by James Halperin as a recommended member of the SF/cryonics genre."],"string":"[\n \"Product: This is a very nice cappuccino / espresso finish sofa table. It has two drawers that each have two pull handles. The pull handles are a silver nickel color. Notice the design in the legs and edge of the table, this is made of mostly solid wood done in a cappuccino finish. This listing is for the sofa table only. Dimensions: 48\\\" long x 18\\\" wide x 29\\\" deep.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Decent value for the price, good color, mostly solid wood\\n\\nReview: This is a very nice console table with a transitional/contemporary look that assembled by attaching the legs and the bottom shelf with the same bolts, washers and lock washers at all points. Finish is a very nice dark brown/espresso and the included drawer hardware is of a nickel finish - the oval knobs can be placed horizontally or vertically. There are four knobs but actually two drawers in the main unit - that piece comes fully assembled. I did note a slight bit of gap between the rear legs and the lower shelf - one rear leg seemed to be torqued just the slightest amount from true square - but as it was a rear leg and the unit sits level after assembly I decided to accept that as a bit of \\\"character.\\\"\\n\\nIt appears that the manufacturer has taken claims about damage to heart. This item was packed in foam, styrofoam, cardboard, then a heavy cardboard outer box, THEN sturdy cardboard L-beams on the outside, THEN foam corner pieces on the outside of the box at all corners, THEN shrink wrapped. That, plus the mostly all-wood construction, meant that there was no damage on delivery.\",\n \"Product: Mohu Leaf 30 is the award-winning digital antenna that jump started the cord cutting revolution. Launched in 2011, Leaf 30 established the trend of paper-thin antennas with many others striving to achieve the same quality and design. Leaf 30 was the first and continues to be one of the top-rated and most popular HDTV antennas available on the market. Antenna Made in USA Derived from US Military Technology The patented Leaf 30 was modeled after life-saving technology designed and developed for the US Military to discreetly detect IEDs, making it the most reliable and sophisticated indoor HDTV antenna on the market today. We are proud of our military connection, and it is evident in our design, quality, and stability. We are also proud to say that our Leaf antennas are made in USA. Watch 100% Free TV in HD Leaf 30 lets you enjoy over-the-air networks in your area without paying a monthly fee. That means you can watch 94 of the 100 most-watched TV shows for free from networks like ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, PBS, The CW, Univision and more. And because over-the-air broadcasts are uncompressed, you will experience the clearest picture quality possible with your HDTV antenna. Highest Quality, Sleek Design, Easy Installation Mohu Leaf 30 is now tested to reach up to a 40-mile radius and includes a high performance 10 ft. detachable coaxial cable, giving users the flexibility to place the antenna much higher on a wall or close to a window for optimal reception. Leaf 30 TV antenna indoor is also paintable and reversible to match decor, and much easier on the eyes than a traditional antenna. Setup is as easy as plugging it in, turning on your TV, and scanning for channels.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: UHF: Average. VHF: Non-existent\\n\\nReview: This antenna has one, one only one, advantage: It's truly paper-thin, meaning that it may fit in areas where typical HDTV antennas might not go.\\n\\nUnfortunately, if you live in an area where some of your HDTV is in the VHF band - Denver, where I live, is a prime example - you are essentially out of luck with this antenna. It'll pick up KUSA/Channel 9, barely, probably from a bit of the cable connection from the antenna to the TV and not from the antenna itself.\\n\\nThis could be forgiven if the antenna did a better than average job with UHF channels, but interestingly, this antenna didn't perform any differently than a variety of other antennas from RCA, Philips, and off brands from Big Lots.\\n\\nNo need to purchase this unless its thinness and flexibility are major factors for you - and ONLY if you're in an all-UHF HDTV market.\",\n \"Product: OTTERBOX RBB1-9650S-20-COTR Blackberry Bold 9650 Impact Case\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Case: Great. Included screen protector: Useless.\\n\\nReview: While the typical Otterbox case seems to do the job well - the case has less of that slick silicone feel and is more grippy than the $9.95 specials you usually find in stores - the included screen protector has a fatal flaw. The screen protector comes with two paper pull tabs. The first tab is used to peel away the backing so you can then carefully position the protector on the screen. Then a second white tab says \\\"peel me after mounting the screen.\\\" So I did. And the tab peeled away leaving more gunky, sticky residue than I've seen on a peel-away sticker in years. No way to remove it with Goof-Off or something like that, and there's no way I'd apply that stuff anywhere near the case of my Blackberry. Which means I'd have to remove the protector to clean it, reducing its adhesion were I to try to apply is a second time; which means I'll be buying a replacement screen protector. Very, very, dumb, Otterbox.\",\n \"Product: Inkjet all-in-one with duplex printing provides low cost printing, fast print speeds, up to 35-sheet auto document feeder, and 11\\\" x 17\\\" output via bypass. Save up to 40% with a super High-Yield black ink replacement cartridge when compared with High-Yield black ink cartridge.1 fastest in class print speeds.2 3.7\\\" color touchscreen display. Print from compatible mobile devices over wireless network.4\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Adequate multifunction printer in a sea of mediocre choices\\n\\nReview: I don't think my standards are all that high for an all-in-one printer. I want something that prints fast, quietly, at a reasonably low ink cost. After years of HP and their outrageous per-page ink costs, I went to Epson, where I encountered horrible page quality due to print heads that couldn't be cleaned or adjusted no matter how much you tried. So my quest continued to Brother, and their MFCJ5620DW.\\n\\nThe best I can say is that this printer is okay. Its stated 35 ppm/27 ppm boast is laughable. You won't get more than about 10 ppm under optimum conditions. As others have noted, its black and color quality is acceptable but not as vivid or pure as other printers.\\n\\nAnd the printer is notorious for a whole new universe of sounds as it prints! Many all-in-ones are noisy, but at least their noise is contained to the bass and midrange part of the sound spectrum. This printer...whines. It makes all sorts of high-pitched wails, clicks and screams, at different pitches, as it prints. Really? Honestly, Brother?\\n\\nFor the price ($99 on sale), I'll probably live with it for a year, and continue the quest. Perhaps Canon will come up with something. But I'm convinced there's a conspiracy among all printer manufacturers to make crap for the home. I think we're all suffering with mediocrity while they rake in 1000% profits on ink.\",\n \"Product: Kyle Pratt is the bestselling author of action-adventure and speculative fiction novels. Kyle grew up in the mountains of Colorado and earned an Associate in Arts degree from Mesa State College in Grand Junction. When money for college ran low he enlisted in the United States Navy as a Cryptologic Technician. While in the navy he earned a bachelors degree in political science. While in the navy Kyle short stories, and continued to work on longer pieces after he retired from the service. Kyle is the author of author of a growing list of books. Titan Encounter, his debut novel was released in 2012. This was followed by a post-apocalyptic series that includes Through Many Fires, A Time to Endure and Braving the Storms, Nightmare in Slow Motion and The Long Way Home. Several short stories are available on Wattpad.com and NoiseTrade.com. Today, Kyle writes fulltime from his farm in western Washington State. You can learn more about Kyle on his website, www.kyleonkindle.com\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: First book worth a look; second and third books, not so much\\n\\nReview: I had high hopes for this series with the first book, but as we slog along, the plot has become trite and predictable, with \\\"twists\\\" you can see coming a mile away.\\n\\nPratt's PA world is methodical and numbing, as a new wave in the form of a pandemic flu strikes the \\\"remaining\\\" of the series title. One small example: The CDC in this universe has been \\\"wiped out\\\" because Atlanta was one of the US cities hit by nukes in the first volume - but even a cursory amount of research would tell you that the CDC has plenty of satellite centers around the country, including Spokane, very near the action of the story. Even with the damage noted in the first book of the series, Pratt provides more of a 19th-century approach to the flu than would be reasonable. This carries on throughout the book; another example is that cell phones are still up and running fine, but in the Strengthen What Remains universe, the characters are usually too dumb to actually use them in a reasonable way (with Zach's notable exception in the second act)...and apparently the internet is completely down, since none of the characters actually consider using this tool over the months of the book. Kind of hard to imagine a world where cell phone service and texting is still healthy, but the internet, which was designed to survive the specific scenario of the first book, is missing.\\n\\nAll can be forgiven when characters are strong and writing is tight, but in this volume, neither occurs. Caden, the main character, sleepwalks through several major life events. Zachery (actually spelled that way in the book instead of Zachary, and it's indicative to me of the overall sloppy editing) is good to the point of a halo, and indeed he seems to find Jesus in the third act, not for any particular plot advancement reason, just because. Pratt relies far too much on cliffhangers to end his short chapters. A few times might make sense, but when every single chapter ends with \\\"A shot rang out\\\" or \\\"He heard a stifled scream\\\" or \\\"'His blood pressure's droppping!\\\", it gets trite fast (and in many cases there's no further reference made to the artificial drama in the next chapter anyway).\\n\\nA significant portion of events takes place off stage - for instance, after setting up a major conflict between the two Americas, such conflict is resolved as an afterthought in one sentence near the end of the book.\\n\\nAnd then there are the homonym errors. Pratt still doesn't understand the difference between a hanger and a hangar - in a military novel, you'd think someone would have caught this, but we have planes coming out of \\\"hangers\\\" in several areas. And he doesn't know the difference between heel and heal. Had the book provided proper momentum for the plot and a sense of driving forward to a strong conclusion, these editing errors might not be so glaring. Unfortunately, there are a lot of warts in a lot of areas.\\n\\nI might recommend the first book in the series for PA completists. You can skip books 2 and 3 (this one).\",\n \"Product: An international bestselling author, Manel Loureiro was born in Pontevedra, Spain, and studied law at Universidad de Santiago de Compostela. After graduation, he worked in television, both on-screen (appearing on Television de Galicia) and behind-the-scenes as a writer. Apocalypse Z, his first novel, began as a popular blog before its publication, eventually becoming a bestseller in several countries, including Spain, Italy, and Brazil. Called the Spanish Stephen King by the Guardian, Manel has written three novels in the Apocalypse Z series. He currently resides in Pontevedra, Spain, where, in addition to writing, he is still a practicing lawyer.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: A tremendous non-US perspective in the genre\\n\\nReview: Zombie fiction normally presupposes a worldwide catastrophe, but since 99% is written in America, the perspective is usually skewed to the United States. Not so with this refreshing novel. Manel Loureiro, writing in his native Spanish and now assisted by an outstanding English translator, gives us a realistic portrait of the apocalypse, told from the point of view of a lawyer living in northern Spain.\\n\\nThe collapse of the world is believable and fairly slow, so you get a good sense of growing worry turning to alarm turning to sheer terror. The main character's journey starts with a series of blog posts, moving to an old-school journal when the internet finally crashes. Loureiro's writing is taut, taking the main character (and his adorable cat) through twists and turns by land, sea and finally air, with an ending that leaves English speakers begging for more translations. (Loureiro has continued the series in Spanish.)\\n\\nThe infected/zombies in this book are portrayed chillingly but not over-the-top as sometimes afflicts American writers. We don't have to endure seven pages of odor descriptions for each encounter, for instance. Instead, Loureiro concentrates on the suspense and fear aspects of trying to survive in a world where humans have suddenly fallen from the top of the food chain.\\n\\nAn overall great job. I look forward to future books translated...hopefully not taking the several years this first book took!\",\n \"Product: Linda Andrews lives in Phoenix, Arizona with her husband, three children and a menagerie of domesticated animals. While she started writing a decade ago, she always used her stories to escape the redundancy of her day job as a scientist and never thought to actually combine her love of fiction and science. DOH! After that Homer Simpson moment, she allowed the two halves of her brain to talk to each other. The journeys shes embarked on since then are dark, twisted and occasionally violent, but never predictable. If youve loved one of her most demented creations so far, shed love to hear from you at lindaandrews at lindaandrews dot net\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Continued good PA fiction\\n\\nReview: Linda Andrews continues the saga of the post-Redaction catastrophe with this second book of a multi-part series. New characters are introduced but all your loved (and hated) characters from the first book are back.\\n\\nAndrews continues her unique writing style - I recommend you start with Part One, Extinction Level Event, in this series, but when you \\\"start\\\" you'll feel as if you've been slipstreamed right into the middle of a grand plot arc. Andrews likes to reveal bits and pieces of backstory in the middle of character musings - blink and you'll miss some interesting stuff - and there is so, so much still to be told, including how the Redaction began and how humanity will survive the multiple plagues (and whole-country migrations) that follow.\\n\\nWith tighter editing, this could really become a classic of post-apocalyptic fiction to rival Stephen King. Andrews still mixes up \\\"passed\\\" with \\\"past\\\" and she has other homonym errors throughout the book. And the final part of Book Two seems almost farcical in its dealing with true evil. Andrews weaves two main memes through both books - vengeance and forgiveness - and I think she got a bit trite at the end of this book, but I'll forgive her in hopes that Book Three will give her a chance to continue her obvious progression as a writer.\\n\\nThere are enough unanswered questions for at many more books in this well-crafted universe, including my personal hope for prequels. Thank you Linda Andrews for your efforts.\",\n \"Product: Linda Chamberlain's involvement in life extension started more than 40 years ago, when she and her life partner, Fred Chamberlain III, started the Alcor Life Extension Foundation in California in 1972. She was Alcor's Cryotransport Manager from 1997 to 2001, and she actively participated in the biostasis of both her father-in-law, Fred Chamberlain, Jr. ( the first Alcor patient in 1976: http://www.lifepact.com/frcjr.htm) and her mother, Arlene Fried in 1990 (see Linda's article, Her Blue Eyes Will Sparkle: http://www.alcor.org/Library/html/casereport9012.htm). In the 1980s, Linda and Fred wrote short stories about cryonics and life extension. These stories, together with a few by other authors, were compiled into a book called LifeQuest: (http://www.amazon.com/LifeQuest-Cryonics-Uploading-Transhuman-Adventures/dp/1448646618). With today's exponentially changing technology, Linda's primary life extension focus is the preservation of identity through substrate independent minds (SIM). Linda and Fred are active participants in the research programs of Terasem Movement, Inc. and are building extensive mind files, seeing their arrangements to be frozen as no longer their primary avenue to preservation of their identity, but as an adjunct by hopefully being able to have their brains mapped as supplementary information for their cybertwins (Blog on Cybertwins: http://hyperbeings.blogspot.com/)(see also the blog by Dr. Martine Rothblatt: http://mindclones.blogspot.com/search?updated-min=2010-01-01T00%3A00%3A00-05%3A00&updated-max=2011-01-01T00%3A00%3A00-05%3A00&max-results=8). Linda and Fred also produce a weekly podcast on the Truths of Terasem (http://itunes.apple.com/podcast/truths-of-terasem-podcasts/id383099543). The podcasts explore the post-Singularity potential for humanity, personal identity preservation, and the need for geoethical nanotechnology if humanity is to survive the Singularity that we may encounter as soon as 2029.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: First-rate \\\"hard\\\" SF except for going down the \\\"shoot\\\"\\n\\nReview: Linda Chamberlain has written a rollicking \\\"hard\\\" science fiction novel set in a future where the ultimate in pro-life philosophy has taken root. Cryonics is the science of cooling people to \\\"freeze\\\" metabolism in the hopes that emerging technologies can fix what ails or injures them. In 2011, the odds of success are pretty long; in the future world of Star Pebble, cryonics is routine and provides a backdrop for a novel never far from pondering life and death.\\n\\nHad cryonics been the only theme of the novel, it would have been interesting; but Chamberlain also introduces some well-thought-out subplots and mechanisms as her heroine, Nyla, herself a clone (!), tries to thwart an over-the-top evil plot to wreck the Thomas Agency, a for-hire security group that dominates the policing of multiple private enterprise space stations in Earth orbit.\\n\\nOkay, okay. Maybe some of the subplots AREN'T so well thought out. Why is everyone spending so much money to live in orbit? Wouldn't it be cheaper to \\\"colonize\\\" the moon or Mars? And why is cryonics so prevalent - to the point that whole colony ships have convenient cooling stations and medicine lines strung in every corridor \\\"just in case\\\" you get hurt? There's a disconnect between a Star Trek-like view of Utopia in Chamberlain's world and the capitalistic society that seems to be able to afford life extension, avatars, cloning, AND armies of hundreds.\\n\\nOh, but the subplots that do work, work well. Example: Not a single phaser, laser or bullet-style gun in this book. Chamberlain correctly deduces that in the hazardous environment of a space colony, anything that might penetrate the skin of the ship would be so dangerous as to be unthinkable as a weapon, so we get some wonderful narration around the use of dart guns and gas bombs to take out the bad guys. The result is a travelogue of battle and fight scenes that are fast, suspense-filled and full of mayhem...just never actually loud.\\n\\nA couple of things that could have made this truly 5-star: The initial chapters read as if you've wandered in midway through the novel, lacking binding context that is a bit jarring to comprehend until information is revealed, almost backhandedly, in later chapters. Also, it is a bit hard to reconcile a book with a strong pro-life cryonics core against the hundreds of bad guys that are indeed killed, permanently, during the battles. For philosophy that celebrates life above all, there sure is a lot of death.\\n\\nFinally, one niggle: One goes down a chute, not a shoot, Ms. Chamberlain. Annoyingly, Nyla goes down and through shoots not once, but at least half a dozen times in the book. Shame on your editor.\\n\\nWith all its flaws, I rate the book right there with \\\"The First Immortal\\\" by James Halperin as a recommended member of the SF/cryonics genre.\"\n]","isConversational":false},"profile_size":{"kind":"number","value":8,"string":"8"},"task":{"kind":"string","value":"longlamp_3"},"split_kind":{"kind":"string","value":"user_based"},"id":{"kind":"number","value":958,"string":"958"}}},{"rowIdx":959,"cells":{"question_id":{"kind":"string","value":"A1IXMFH2Z6FJA6"},"question":{"kind":"string","value":"Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of \"5.0\" for a product with description \"3 Piece Canister Set complete with three attractively styled stainless steel and glass storage containers.\". The summary of the review text is \"10 Stars to the All Clad Company\"."},"answer":{"kind":"string","value":"I own practically everything this company has ever made, even some pieces that haven't been made in years. I have cookware, utensils, canisters, you name it. I generally don't buy designer items, but I try to buy quality. This line has been one of the best investments in my home I've ever made.\n\nJust a couple of months ago, after having a conversation asking if they'd examine some of my cookware (the bottoms on those pieces were not flat enough to use on my glass top range without spinning around), I mailed off 4 of my larger pieces.\n\nThanks to All Clad, I have brand new, non-spinning cookware items- 3 qt and 6 qt saute pans, an 8 qt stockpot, and a 12\" frypan.\n\nI found them to be very kind, and when it was all said and done, they replaced every piece from the over 17-year old set that I sent them without question or hesitation. They even included brand new lids for the 3 items I sent that use them without requesting the lids from my old cookware.\n\nBy that same token, I will continue to support All Clad, and just like they did for me, it will be without question or hesitation."},"correct_answer":{"kind":"string","value":"I own practically everything this company has ever made, even some pieces that haven't been made in years. I have cookware, utensils, canisters, you name it. I generally don't buy designer items, but I try to buy quality. This line has been one of the best investments in my home I've ever made.\n\nJust a couple of months ago, after having a conversation asking if they'd examine some of my cookware (the bottoms on those pieces were not flat enough to use on my glass top range without spinning around), I mailed off 4 of my larger pieces.\n\nThanks to All Clad, I have brand new, non-spinning cookware items- 3 qt and 6 qt saute pans, an 8 qt stockpot, and a 12\" frypan.\n\nI found them to be very kind, and when it was all said and done, they replaced every piece from the over 17-year old set that I sent them without question or hesitation. They even included brand new lids for the 3 items I sent that use them without requesting the lids from my old cookware.\n\nBy that same token, I will continue to support All Clad, and just like they did for me, it will be without question or hesitation."},"documents":{"kind":"list like","value":["Product: Crafted with the same exacting standards of All-Clad cookware, this measuring cup set is an ideal kitchen accessory for serious cooks. Each cup in the set is a miniature version of All-Clad's famous saucepan, with heavy-gauge stainless steel construction, a polished finish, and signature riveted handles. The set includes five cups with 1/4-, 1/3-, 1/2-, 2/3-, and 1-cup capacities. Heavy-Gauge Stainless Steel Measuring Set The All-Clad Measuring Cup Set allows you to measure dry ingredients with speed and precision. The five-cup set includes 1/4-, 1/3-, 1/2-, 2/3-, and 1-cup capacities for measuring dry goods. Made of heavy-gauge 18/10 stainless steel, these cups are designed to last and are both dishwasher and freezer safe. Features All-Clad's Classic Saucepan Design Each cup in the set is designed after All-Clad's famous sauce pan. The cups feature the company's signature riveted handles. The All-Clad logo and capacity markings are laser-etched onto each handle. About All-Clad What's in the Box Set of five All-Clad Measuring Cups and warranty information.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: 10 Stars to the All Clad Company\n\nReview: I own practically everything this company has ever made, even some pieces that haven't been made in years. I have cookware, utensils, canisters, you name it. I generally don't buy designer items, but I try to buy quality. This line has been one of the best investments in my home I've ever made.\n\nJust a couple of months ago, after having a conversation asking if they'd examine some of my cookware (the bottoms on those pieces were not flat enough to use on my glass top range without spinning around), I mailed off 4 of my larger pieces.\n\nThanks to All Clad, I have brand new, non-spinning cookware items- 3 qt and 6 qt saute pans, an 8 qt stockpot, and a 12\" frypan.\n\nI found them to be very kind, and when it was all said and done, they replaced every piece from the over 17-year old set that I sent them without question or hesitation. They even included brand new lids for the 3 items I sent that use them without requesting the lids from my old cookware.\n\nBy that same token, I will continue to support All Clad, and just like they did for me, it will be without question or hesitation.","Product: Practical products from Designs2Go include our 191024 2 tier dobule swivel. Perfect for TV sets and monitors with space for DVD or game players. Convenience Concepts brings you exciting and affordable furniture. Combining exciting designs with economical overseas manufacturing to bring you the finest in sensible contemporary furniture. Focusing on R-T-A Entertainment, TV, Storage, and Accent furniture.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Great For Our Bedroom, Too!\n\nReview: After purchasing a new bed that had a footboard, we found we needed extra height to be able to enjoy television without having to peer through wrought iron scrolling!\n\nThis stand with its 9\" height placed on top of our dresser was just perfect to be able to see over the footboard and omits the need for a separate TV Stand, saving space in our small bedroom. It holds our 32\" LCD TV on the top shelf and satellite receiver on the bottom shelf. I beleive there'll be enough room to stack a DVD player on top of the receiver on the lower shelf if we choose to add one in the future.\n\nThe unit is sturdy and I expect years and years of service out of it. Assembly couldn't have been easier-may have taken 5 minutes and you don't have to be mechanically inclined to do it.","Product: Practical products from Designs2Go include our 191024 2 tier dobule swivel. Perfect for TV sets and monitors with space for DVD or game players. Convenience Concepts brings you exciting and affordable furniture. Combining exciting designs with economical overseas manufacturing to bring you the finest in sensible contemporary furniture. Focusing on R-T-A Entertainment, TV, Storage, and Accent furniture.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Great For Our Bedroom, Too!\n\nReview: After purchasing a new bed that had a footboard, we found we needed extra height to be able to enjoy television without having to peer through wrought iron scrolling!\n\nThis stand with its 9\" height placed on top of our dresser was just perfect to be able to see over the footboard and omits the need for a separate TV Stand, saving space in our small bedroom. It holds our 32\" LCD TV on the top shelf and satellite receiver on the bottom shelf. I beleive there'll be enough room to stack a DVD player on top of the receiver on the lower shelf if we choose to add one in the future.\n\nThe unit is sturdy and I expect years and years of service out of it. Assembly couldn't have been easier-may have taken 5 minutes and you don't have to be mechanically inclined to do it.","Product: This is an O.E.M. authorized part. Fits various Kirby models. OEM Part Number 156197. Made in United States.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Much Easier To Clean Over the Standard Kirby Brush Roller\n\nReview: I have a long-haired dog that sheds as if he's trying to go bald! His name is Bear and my favorite saying is \"Bear hair EVERYWHERE!\"\nI have a Kirby G6 and nothing beats a Kirby when it comes to suction, but removing the pet fur, not to mention human hair, from the brush was quite a chore.\n\nThis small but very useful item makes it easier. The bristles are so much farther apart compared to the standard brush, that a great deal of the fur bypasses the brush and goes straight to the waste bag. For the fur that doesn't, the brush is designed with a \"cutting line\" that spans the full length of the roller designed to guide your scissor or knife and cut the hair \"blobs\". I did use the same technique on the standard brush, too, but the fact that the bypass feature leaves less fur makes cleanup faster.","Product: Presto 6-Quart Electric Pressure Cooker cooks 3 to 4 times faster than ordinary methods; fish, chicken, and vegetables cook to perfection in minutes. Control Master heat control automatically regulates the temperature to maintain the proper cooking pressure. Complete 64-page instructions/recipe book included which contains easy-to-follow instructions and flavorful recipes. Cover locking system prevents cooker from being opened until pressure is safely reduced. Completely immiscible and dishwasher safe with the heat control removed. Features stainless steel basket for steaming and cooking several foods at once with no intermingling of flavors.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: I Love This and Every Pressure Cooker I Own!\n\nReview: I received this as a holiday gift. I had a 4qt electric from the 60's, but it was time for a replacement. I also have an electric non-stick 8 qt, and I love it, too. I have 2 stovetop varieties of pressure cooker. I love them all, but this one is special. It's the only electric without a nonstick coating that I own and it has a modern curved shape that I love!\n\nSome people have complained that they don't like how the thermostat cycles on and off. That's what it, and any corded electric appliance with a thermostat does. Perfectly natural. In fact, I have the exact same effect using my stovetop models (I have an electric range, and its thermostat also cycles on and off).\n\nThe stainless steel is much cleaner looking than aluminum exterior models The bottom where the heating element is housed contains aluminum for rapid heating, but it does not come in contact with food for those who have that concern.\n\nDo shop around. As of this writing, the least expensive seller is offering this for $144. When the kids bought mine, it was only around $99, if not less.","Product: The wallace collection of flatware storage chests are crafted with a solid oak veneer and lined with a plush black interior fabric, your pieces will be safely stored for many years to come.\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: Knives Won't Even Fit Through the Slots\n\nReview: I didn't mind that it was featherweight, I was simply looking for a way to store my continental-sized new flatware without breaking the bank. This could have been it if only my flatware had fit!\n\nI started by taking a knife to place in a slot, and the slot wasn't even wide enough to accommodate it. My knife was less than halfway in before I realized that this item just isn't going to work. Now, I don't know what to choose for storage. It's just flatware, not silverplate or sterling, but it's nice enough to use with my china and not as everyday flatware.\n\nIf anyone has any affordable storage suggestions for a flatware service for 12 other than its original cardboard box, I'd love to hear them.","Product: Bunn Phase Brew features Heat & Release Technology that heats all the water to ideal brewing temperature before releasing it onto the coffee grounds to prevent bitter flavor.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Love Bunn Products and Especially Their Customer Service and Warranties\n\nReview: I don't think this model has even been on the market 3 years, and this model comes with a 3-year warranty. I went on the Bunn website, emailed them about my concerns, and 2 days later got an email saying they've ordered a replacement unit to be shipped to me. The only thing wrong with mine was the paint peeling off of the warming tray; it functioned perfectly otherwise.\n\nBunn uses items that fail during the warranty period as research items to determine how they can improve their product. I've had to use their warranty service more than once in my life and they've always been very gracious. No arguments, no hassle returns, just the way I like it. I'm so pleased with their customer service, I bought their single-serve machine directly from their website the same day they addressed my Phase Brew issue. I will continue to support them as they have supported me through the years.\n\nSome reviewers here are new to the product and don't get the concept of how to properly use this machine. If you're using the bare minimum amount of water, more than likely it won't brew. You'll need to make sure the water is well above the minimum water line on the water tank. If you measure a certain amount of water and pour it in, by the time it settles, it will show as at or below the water line. It is a gravity machine. I learned this as a newbie of this model.\n\nI also prolong the life of all of my small appliances requiring water by using nothing but distilled water that I distill at home from our horrible desert tap water. It is the only way I can get delicious coffee and tea without cloudiness. Even store-bought bottled water (any other than distilled) is generally some municipality's tap water and it still contains gunk of one kind or another, requiring more frequent cleaning of your machine.","Product: This NESCO 8-quart Multifunction Pressure Cooker allows you to pressure cook, brown, saute, slow cook, steam and make rice. It comes with a cooking rack, measuring cup, spoon and condensation drip cup. Among its great features are a self-locking lid with automatic pressure release and cool-touch lid and handles.\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: NESCO: \"NO Part of this Pressure Cooker Can Be Placed in the Dishwasher\"\n\nReview: I did a little research before buying but apparently not enough. I couldn't understand why NO part of this unit is dishwasher safe, so I wrote to Nesco directly. I explained to the customer service department that I never use heated drying-everything air dries. The response?\n\n\"Dishwasher detergents are too harsh on the items. You can put them in the dishwasher at your own risk, but if the parts fail they will not be covered under the one year warranty.\" The \"no dishwasher\" disclaimer can also be found on page 8 as the first line in the owner's manual.\n\nThe only items I'm familiar with that can be harmed by dishwasher detergent are aluminum. I personally ruined an antique aluminum ice cream scoop that I called myself cleaning before displaying in my curio cabinet\n\n. If the pressure cooker is that flimsy that parts can fail simply by cleaning them in a dishwasher, they must not be well made, therefore, not for me.\n\nThey also told me was what the inner cooking pot was made of, which I already knew but that was not the problem.\n\nThe problem is that both the exterior of the lid (perhaps) and interior of the lid (and most definitely the removable lid liner) are aluminum.\nI can't have aluminum in my cooking items, even indirectly, unless coated. If they decided to put in a stainless lid liner, I may reconsider in the future an updated version. Highly suspect. Can't put the lid in the dishwasher? how about the collector, or even the sealing gasket? You mean I can't even put the rice measuring cup or ladle in the dishwasher? They say nothing, so nothing it is.\n\nI couldn't send it back fast enough. Seeking a well-made Stainless, dishwasher safe, large pressure cooker to accompany my Instant Pot. Every single piece of the Instant Pot is dishwasher safe, except, of course, the base. I just wish they made one larger than 8 quarts.","Product: Because of its shape, this All-Clad Stainless 4202 2-Quart sauce pan pan is ideal for making sauces, heating liquids, cooking food in liquids and reheating. With high, straight sides and a smaller surface area, the sauce pan holds heat well and limits evaporation. The classic sauce pan is a versatile essential found in a variety of sizes in every well- equipped kitchen, and it can be used with or without its lid to control evaporation. All-Clads Stainless 3-Ply cookware features a thick-gauge aluminum core that attracts heat fast, while the addition of stainless steel ensures even heat distribution for consistent results across the entire cooking surface, all the way to the rim. Even more, its stainless-steel interior with a starburst finish offers natural stick resistance, letting you know when food is ready to release, and it wont react with ingredients, so theres no risk of food picking up a metallic taste. Made in the USA, this stainless-steel cookware offers warp-resistant strength and dishwasher-safe convenience, plus it can be used on any cooktop, including induction. Discover what it means to cook with All-Clads most popular cookware collectionAll-Clad Stainless is a classic choice for anyone who loves to cook.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: 10 Stars to the All Clad Company\n\nReview: I own practically everything this company has ever made, even some pieces that haven't been made in years. I have cookware, utensils, canisters, you name it. I generally don't buy designer items, but I try to buy quality. This line has been one of the best investments in my home I've ever made.\n\nJust a couple of months ago, after having a conversation asking if they'd examine some of my cookware (the bottoms on those pieces were not flat enough to use on my glass top range without spinning around), I mailed off 4 of my larger pieces.\n\nThanks to All Clad, I have brand new, non-spinning cookware items- 3 qt and 6 qt saute pans, an 8 qt stockpot, and a 12\" frypan.\n\nI found them to be very kind, and when it was all said and done, they replaced every piece from the over 17-year old set that I sent them without question or hesitation. They even included brand new lids for the 3 items I sent that use them without requesting the lids from my old cookware.\n\nBy that same token, I will continue to support All Clad, and just like they did for me, it will be without question or hesitation.","Product: Deeper than a traditional fry pan, this All-Clad Stainless 4402 2-Quart saut pan features a large surface area and tall, straight sides that hold in juices, prevent splattering, and allow for easy turning with a spatula. Ideal for a wide range of foods including chicken breasts and fish fillets, the saut pan offers the convenience of browning or searing, then deglazing or finishing in liquid; all in one pan. The lid locks in moisture and heat to thoroughly finish meats on the stove top or in the oven. All-Clads Stainless 3-ply cookware features a thick-gauge aluminum core that attracts heat fast, while the addition of stainless steel ensures even heat distribution for consistent results across the entire cooking surface, all the way to the rim. Even more, its stainless-steel interior with a starburst finish offers natural stick resistance, letting you know when food is ready to release, and it wont react with ingredients, so theres no risk of food picking up a metallic taste. Made in the USA, this stainless-steel cookware offers warp-resistant strength and dishwasher-safe convenience, plus it can be used on any cooktop, including induction. Discover what it means to cook with All-Clads most popular cookware collectionAll-Clad Stainless is a classic choice for anyone who loves to cook.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: 10 Stars to the All Clad Company\n\nReview: I own practically everything this company has ever made, even some pieces that haven't been made in years. I have cookware, utensils, canisters, you name it. I generally don't buy designer items, but I try to buy quality. This line has been one of the best investments in my home I've ever made.\n\nJust a couple of months ago, after having a conversation asking if they'd examine some of my cookware (the bottoms on those pieces were not flat enough to use on my glass top range without spinning around), I mailed off 4 of my larger pieces.\n\nThanks to All Clad, I have brand new, non-spinning cookware items- 3 qt and 6 qt saute pans, an 8 qt stockpot, and a 12\" frypan.\n\nI found them to be very kind, and when it was all said and done, they replaced every piece from the over 17-year old set that I sent them without question or hesitation. They even included brand new lids for the 3 items I sent that use them without requesting the lids from my old cookware.\n\nBy that same token, I will continue to support All Clad, and just like they did for me, it will be without question or hesitation.","Product: A useful and versatile array of everyday essentials, this All-Clad Stainless 401716 14-piece cookware set includes 10-Inch and 12-Inch fry pans, 2-Quart and 3-Quart sauce pans with lids, 3 quart and 6-Quart saut pans with lids, 12-Inch chef's pan and an 8-Quart stockpot with lid. All-Clads Stainless 3-ply cookware features a thick-gauge aluminum core that attracts heat fast, while the addition of stainless steel ensures even heat distribution for consistent results across the entire cooking surface, all the way to the rim. Even more, its stainless-steel interior with a starburst finish offers natural stick resistance, letting you know when food is ready to release, and it wont react with ingredients, so theres no risk of food picking up a metallic taste. Made in the USA, this stainless-steel cookware offers warp-resistant strength and dishwasher-safe convenience, plus it can be used on any cooktop, including induction. Discover what it means to cook with All-Clads most popular cookware collectionAll-Clad Stainless is a classic choice for anyone who loves to cook.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: 10 Stars to the All Clad Company\n\nReview: I own practically everything this company has ever made, even some pieces that haven't been made in years. I have cookware, utensils, canisters, you name it. I generally don't buy designer items, but I try to buy quality. This line has been one of the best investments in my home I've ever made.\n\nJust a couple of months ago, after having a conversation asking if they'd examine some of my cookware (the bottoms on those pieces were not flat enough to use on my glass top range without spinning around), I mailed off 4 of my larger pieces.\n\nThanks to All Clad, I have brand new, non-spinning cookware items- 3 qt and 6 qt saute pans, an 8 qt stockpot, and a 12\" frypan.\n\nI found them to be very kind, and when it was all said and done, they replaced every piece from the over 17-year old set that I sent them without question or hesitation. They even included brand new lids for the 3 items I sent that use them without requesting the lids from my old cookware.\n\nBy that same token, I will continue to support All Clad, and just like they did for me, it will be without question or hesitation.","Product: Instant Pot is a smart Electric Pressure Cooker designed by Canadians aiming to be Safe, Convenient and Dependable. It speeds up cooking by 2~6 times using up to 70% less energy and, above all, produces nutritious healthy food in a convenient and consistent fashion. Instant Pot Duo is a 7-in-1 programmable cooker, it replaces 7 kitchen appliances as it has the functions of a pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, steamer, saut, yogurt maker & warmer. 14 built-in smart programs (Soup, Meat/Stew, Bean/Chili, Poultry, Saut, Steam, Rice, Porridge, Multigrain, Slow Cook, Keep-Warm, Yogurt, Pasteurize & Jiu Niang) cook your favorite dishes with the press of a button. A 24-hour timer allows for delayed cooking. Automatic keep-warm holds the temperature of the food until you serve it. Instant Pot generates almost no noise and leaks no steam. It traps all the aromas in the food without heating up the kitchen. The 3-ply bottom stainless steel inner pot is extremely durable and leaves no health concerns associated with non-stick coatings. The slim body design has lid holders for both left and right handed users. The brushed stainless steel exterior is finger print resistant. Its elegant and durable design makes it easy to clean and pleasurable to use for the years to come. Instant Pot Duo uses the latest technology with an embedded microprocessor, which monitors the pressure and temperature, keeps time and adjusts heating intensity. The cooking programs have been lab-tested hundreds of times for optimal effect. These greatly improve cooking result and maintain consistence. Instant Pot is carefully designed to eliminate many common errors that could cause harm or spoil food. It passed the stringent UL certification giving you uncompromised safety and peace of mind and protects you with 10 proven safety mechanisms and patented technologies.\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: Prime Day 8-Quart Bargain Turned Out Not To Be A Bargain At All Due To It Being A Very Outdated Version of the Instant Pot\n\nReview: The model I received is an original version, not a 3rd generation of the 8-quart Instant Pot.\n\nThere is no such thing as a 3rd generation DUO 80 I found out. None. Due to an error on Instant Pot's website and copied by Amazon, it was advertised as a 3rd generation on Prime Day. I can't blame Amazon because they trusted the manufacturer's description..\n\nAll 8 qt models as of this writing are the same. They have attached cords and lack other programmability features found on new, smaller models. I noticed this right out of the box when I saw that the power cord was hard-wired rather than the removable cord advertised in the product description. If that were the only difference in this old model and the current models, I could handle that. Unfortunately, the 8 quart models do not have the same programmability functions as the 3rd generation models found in 6 qt designs. If you want to know the differences, do a search on the instant pot website.\n\nI returned it in favor of another 8 qt. brand that is more modern in every way and I'll keep my 6 qt. Instant Pot DUO 60 PLUS.","Product: Tiger induction heat microcomputer controlled rice cooker/warmer comes with 4 in 1 functions (rice cooking, Synchro-Cooking, slow cooker, bread baking) and 11 computerized cooking menu settings. This 10 cup rice cooker and warmer not only cooks rice but also comes with the new \"tacook\" synchronized cooking function to prepare two dishes simultaneously with the power of induction heat. This unit comes with 5 layer metal plus 3 layer coating for multilayer ceramic coated inner pan that provides even heating for delicious rice every time. The lid can also be removed entirely to be disassembled so each piece can be washed.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Total Waste of Money For Me\n\nReview: Granted, it appears to be a very well-made appliance, but if I ever had a \"What the hell was I thinking\" moment, it was after I purchased this rice cooker. Now mind you, I've been cooking rice for over 5 decades, from a stovetop (gas, electric, and induction), in a pressure cooker, to microwaving it . Why did I buy a $400 rice cooker in the first place? Because I really needed to know if there would be a major change in the way my rice turned out or tasted. It was no different than making it by any other means. I cook all kinds of rice from standard white rice, basmati, jasmine, and brown. Cooking them in this appliance had absolutely no effect on the texture or flavor, and it took as long or a lot longer to cook than by using conventional methods.\n\nBy the way, it appears most rice cookers currently on the market (except a few stainless and clay models) have some kind of nonstick coating. You can bet your last money that at some point either sooner or later, that coating will either peel or bubble and eventually flake off into your food. I prefer not to eat or feed this to my family. I don't care what-free the plastic is, it's still plastic.\n\nI cook everything using either stainless steel or glass. These are the only surfaces I am really comfortable using from a health standpoint.\n\nSometimes I feel that some of the great reviews for appliances of this nature are due to the reviewer believing in their mind that there's a difference to justify spending this much money on it. Maybe they really just don't know how to cook rice properly and consistently using the old-fashioned ways or just want a set it and forget it way of making it.","Product: Inspired by professionals and designed for connoisseurs, KRUPS products have been built with three key attributes in mind: Passion, Precision and Perfection. The KRUPS KJ7000 Expert Deep Fryer features a patented technology that circulates the air through a carbon filter to inhibit the odors. Fry fish, meat, fries, doughnuts, funnel cake and more like an expert using the 30-minute timer and the adjustable temperature control. The large glass window enables you to keep an eye on the food without opening the lid thus preventing any heat loss during the cooking cycle. The immersed heating element along with the 1750 watts of power bring oil up to temperature quickly and recover rapidly after foods are added. When it comes to cleaning, deep fryers are often a nightmare, yet the KJ7000 Deep Fryer can be easily disassembled for an enjoyable clean up. Combining large capacity and precise control, the KRUPS Expert Deep Fryer offers professionals results time after time.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: WOW! Where Had This Been Hiding?\n\nReview: Where Had This Been Hiding? I don't know, but I happened across it while visiting other websites. On the few sites I saw it, they were asking full MSRP. Then, I found it here at a substantial savings. Please note, this has been discontinued by the manufacturer. I found out through research that it actually came out several years ago, but I didn't know about it. When I purchased mine a few weeks ago, Amazon was the only seller. Now there are several, so I suspect they've been purchased at a close-out price, but I try not to buy from third-party sellers things of this nature.\n\nI have fried twice so far and there's no other like it on the market for home use. It truly has a fog-free tempered-glass huge window that you can actually see through while it's frying. This is due to a dual-purpose fan which not only keeps the window from fogging, it also forces odors through a filter. I know, I wasn't accustomed to hearing the sound of a fan while deep frying either, but considering what it does, I don't mind at all.\n\nThe thermostat is accurate and does indeed reach the 375 degree Fahrenheit mark as measured with a brand new analog thermometer and the set temperature recovers rapidly after food is added. I must disclose that my frying so far has only been with food at room or refrigerator temperatures-I have not tried any frozen foods in it as yet. What many that are newer to deep fryer uses would benefit by knowing is 1) You cannot overload the basket-food needs to have oil surrounding it to fry evenly. 2) Never drop the basket in rapidly. Take the time to slowly submerge the food into the hot oil. 3) Give the oil an additional minute or two after the temperature light tells you the oil is ready. It is, after all, a thermostat and it may still fluctuate slightly. 4) Don't expect to fry the same amount of frozen food as you would unfrozen foods, and again, putting the basket into the oil slowly will allow the oil's temperature to recover much more rapidly.\n\nThis fryer is very well made with the window lid easily lifting off for cleaning and has a top-quality stainless steel frying basket, stainless steel oil container (not coated with a cheap nonstick coating that will eventually flake off), and a stainless steel body like a fryer I had many years back, but this Krups is much sturdier. The filter is easily accessible and replacement filters are inexpensive. It has an \"oil ready\" light and a mechanical timer with chime as well.\n\nI originally wanted a Breville analog model, but the reviews about its inability to reach the desired frying temperature discouraged me and their only other offering (as of this writing) is a digital model which is not to my liking for this type of appliance.\n\nThis Krups does take up a good deal of real estate so you'll want to either store it in a cabinet or buy it its own table or cart for storage when not in use.","Product: A dozen different ways to cook and space enough to rotisserie roast a 4-pound chicken makes Cuisinarts Rotisserie Convection Toaster Oven in demand for every kitchen. 1875 watts of power heats the unit quickly and ensures precise cooking. Generous size accommodates 6 slices of bread or a 12\" pizza. With its brushed-stainless steel counter appeal and easy clean nonstick interior, this is an oven sure to please every creative home cook.\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: Rotisserie Died On First Use with 3 lb. Chicken\n\nReview: I chose this model primarily because it has the capability of many more functions than to just rotisserie foods, but even more important was the variable temperature settings, something most rotisserie ovens just don't offer. No, you're not locked in to the preset 425 degree setting when using the rotisserie feature.\n\nUnfortunately, it seems that if something is going to die on me it generally does so outside of normal business hours.\nI received my oven yesterday (ordered through Jet.com, shipped by Walmart), and I ordered a case of small chickens, all 3.5 lbs or less. I took out 1 chicken and marinated it overnight for cooking this evening.\n\nI went to check on my chicken after the timer beeped and found that at some point it was no longer rotating and only one side had properly browned. I removed the chicken (no, it didn't touch anything on either top, bottom, or sides), and sure enough, the rotisserie was dead. It wouldn't even turn empty. I waited until it completely cooled to room temperature, but still no turning of the rotisserie.\n\nI'll be on the phone with Cuisinart first thing Monday morning to see how they wish to resolve this. I hope it's relatively quickly to avoid my having to do a return to the retailer.\n\nI'm thankful for the non-advertised 3-year limited warranty. I looked at the product description on several websites that carry this item and there's no mention of the warranty. Perhaps the only place to find it is inside of the owner's manual, which is where I found it.\n\nUpdate: I decided rather than take a chance on another failure, I'd just return it and choose an oven without the rotisserie feature.","Product: Achieve perfectly cooked meals with deliciously enhanced flavorall in less timewith this safe, easy-to-use PC8-Precision stovetop pressure cooker by All-Clad. With a smart timer and four cooking programs (vegetables, grains, meat/poultry, and seafood), the 8.4-quart pressure cooker ensures foolproof results. Enjoy soups and stews, braised meats, rice dishes, veggies, desserts, and more. Simply add ingredients, secure the lid, set the program and timer, and turn up the heat. A series of three beeps indicates when to turn down the heat, when to release the steam (just slide the lever), and when cooking is complete. A steamer basket for delicate food items comes included, as well as a recipe book and quick start guide. Other highlights include a 10-inch stainless-steel base for warp-free strength, compatibility with all stovetops including induction, and a thorough five-point safety system for peace of mind. The pot and steaming basket are dishwasher-safe, along with the lid (after first removing the timer, control panel, and gasket). Ideal for weeknight meals, the stovetop pressure cooker allows busy home chefs to cook quickly without compromising on nutrition or taste.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: If You're Trying To Choose Between This One and the Breville Fast Slow Pro\n\nReview: I found that it's much easier to know the exact pressure you're using with the Breville Fast Slow Pro.\n\nWith the All-Clad (this item), you need to either memorize or refer to a written chart to know what pressure you're using because it's not spelled out like the Breville. Breville has distinct, individual actual psi markings accessed by turning a dial, whereas the All-Clad has numbers that have nothing to do with the psi setting. For example, you choose number 4 if you want one psi setting or 7 for another and there's no correlation between those numbers and psi's.\n\nOther than those 2 items and the exterior designs (All-Clad being highly polished, Breville being brushed stainless), they're identical in their functions.\n\nBoth have the same number of preset pressure settings that range from 1.5-12 psi plus one customizable setting. One uses a dial to access settings, the other uses buttons.\nBoth use the same nonstick interior pot which holds odors for what seems like forever.\nBoth require removal of a nut to be able to separate the lid from the body for cleaning purposes.\n\nHaving had both units, I find the Breville to be much more user-friendly. I also own the All-Clad PC8 Stovetop Pressure Cooker and the Instant Pot Duo-60. I returned this electric All-Clad to W-S and kept all of the others.","Product: The KitchenAid multi-cooker delivers consistent culinary results with more than 10 cooking methods for amazing versatility. With even heat technology it constantly monitors the temperature of the cooking pot from 110 degrees to 450 degrees Fahrenheit for precise temperature control. The digital display shows step-by-step instructions, temperature and timer for up to 12 hours of cooking. The KitchenAid stir tower accessory was designed to mix, flip and stir ingredients in the KitchenAid multi-cooker. Great for yogurt, meatballs, risotto and more.\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: CeramaShield coating scratch resistant-NOT\n\nReview: I've only had this 3 months and have used it 5 times. Never have I put anything in it that has bones and I only use silicone utensils. So why am I having nonstick coating rubbing off and going into my food? It's due to the Stir Tower. The only scratches are in the area just below the lip where the Stir Tower sits. Although seated properly, the Stir Tower raises and lowers just slightly, which causes it to rub against the side of the inner pot. KitchenAid did send a replacement inner pot which I have not yet used, but I'm sure this will happen even with the new pot. What needs to be corrected is the Stir Tower rubbing problem. I don't wish to incorporate CeramaShield coating into my family's meals. This item costs way too much for that to happen. Instead of this item, I recommend this <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Breville-The-Fast-Slow-Pro-Silver/dp/B013I40R8E/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">Breville The Fast Slow Pro, Silver</a>. It does everything (except the stir tower that I don't recommend anyway) plus has various pressure cooker functions. The Breville is a much better buy for about the same cost. If you must have a multicooker and can live without the stir tower, get the Breville.","Product: Because of its shape, this All-Clad Stainless 4204 W/LOOP 4-Quart sauce pan pan is ideal for making sauces, heating liquids, cooking food in liquids and reheating. With high, straight sides and a smaller surface area, the sauce pan holds heat well and limits evaporation. The classic sauce pan is a versatile essential found in a variety of sizes in every well- equipped kitchen, and it can be used with or without its lid to control evaporation. All-Clads Stainless 3-ply cookware features a thick-gauge aluminum core that attracts heat fast, while the addition of stainless steel ensures even heat distribution for consistent results across the entire cooking surface, all the way to the rim. Even more, its stainless-steel interior with a starburst finish offers natural stick resistance, letting you know when food is ready to release, and it wont react with ingredients, so theres no risk of food picking up a metallic taste. Made in the USA, this stainless-steel cookware offers warp-resistant strength and dishwasher-safe convenience, plus it can be used on any cooktop, including induction. Discover what it means to cook with All-Clads most popular cookware collectionAll-Clad Stainless is a classic choice for anyone who loves to cook.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: 10 Stars to the All Clad Company\n\nReview: I own practically everything this company has ever made, even some pieces that haven't been made in years. I have cookware, utensils, canisters, you name it. I generally don't buy designer items, but I try to buy quality. This line has been one of the best investments in my home I've ever made.\n\nJust a couple of months ago, after having a conversation asking if they'd examine some of my cookware (the bottoms on those pieces were not flat enough to use on my glass top range without spinning around), I mailed off 4 of my larger pieces.\n\nThanks to All Clad, I have brand new, non-spinning cookware items- 3 qt and 6 qt saute pans, an 8 qt stockpot, and a 12\" frypan.\n\nI found them to be very kind, and when it was all said and done, they replaced every piece from the over 17-year old set that I sent them without question or hesitation. They even included brand new lids for the 3 items I sent that use them without requesting the lids from my old cookware.\n\nBy that same token, I will continue to support All Clad, and just like they did for me, it will be without question or hesitation.","Product: The combination pressure and slow cooker that knows the time, temperature and pressure. Some foods are tender with time, others are tastier under pressure, but how to know the exact pressure, temperature and time different foods need ? Its all possible with the 'Fast Slow Pro' a multicore unit with pressure and slow cook menus that automatically adjust time, temperature and pressure between fast and slow cooking. The dual sensors at the top and bottom monitor ingredients for more accurate temperature and pressure control, while the hands free steam release automatically to maximize flavor and texture. You can pressure cook, slow cook, steam, reduce, sauteacute; and sear with the press of a button. Rely on the fully interactive LCD to tell you when its building pressure, cooking and releasing steam.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Nap Approved! - At Least While It Worked. Updated Reviews February/March, 2017.\n\nReview: Update to the update, 3/1/17\n\nI made contact with Breville's Support department on 2/21. They were very professional and promptly emailed a prepaid return label for the defective unit. They received the return from me on 2/23. I am promised a new replacement unit. I'm hesitant about accepting another of the same unit, especially since I'm told it would only be warranted for the amount of time equal to the time remaining on my original purchase. That means I have only a 4 month warranty on the replacement when the original went out on me during the 8th month of ownership. That's rather disturbing considering the original cost of this item with tax was in excess of $270. I may have to seek out an extended warranty somewhere.\n\nUpdated 2/20/17\n\nWell, it has died on me during month 8. It powers on but will not heat up at all. It's staying in the preheating mode for a very long time, and even when the programming switches to the preset cooking mode, it hasn't heated whatsoever and no pressure. I made sure the plug was in firmly and even switched outlets and the inner pot in case there wasn't proper electrical contact with the outer coating washing off the old pot. New vs. old inner pot made no difference.\n\nYes, I loved this appliance so much that I got an extra pot for it. I noticed that even though it says the inner pot is dishwasher-safe, the outer coating of paint (not the nonstick interior) starts to wash off. I've had a lot of gray substance all over my hands from this over a period of time. I don't believe it should be listed as a dishwasher-safe inner pot. I haven't had any problems with the inner nonstick coating of any kind. No bubbles forming, no peeling, just a problem with the exterior of the pot.\n\nIt is too late today to contact the manufacturer for warranty service, but you can bet I'll be on the phone first thing tomorrow morning.\n\nORIGINAL REVIEW:\n\nFirst, I'd like to point out this very important feature that I don't believe is listed in the item description, and that is:\n\n This appliance has many pre-programmed settings, however, they will not be accurate unless your residence is right at or around\nsea-level like my former home. My current home's elevation is at about 2180 ft. Please refer to the manual which explains how to make the simple adjustment-a one-time change that will correct all settings based on your elevation. Even if unplugged, the adjustment will not revert to the factory setting unless you program it to do so. Try to find that feature on any other electric pressure cooker!\n\nJust for clarification: This is listed as a 6 qt. appliance, however, the usable capacity is 4.5 qts. You will find it listed as one of those two on various websites. It would be nice if all websites explained this so that folks that see the 4.5 qt. description won't think the usable capacity is less than that.\n\nI've had my share of pressure cookers over the decades. The early electrics had a removable corded rotary thermostat with a temperature probe that heated the unit. The only way to test the accuracy was to set it to what appeared on the dial to be 212 degrees to see if water boiled. It was never truly accurate, but close. Once liquids no longer boiled at that setting, it was time to buy a new thermostat.\n\nI still own 2 stovetop stainless steel interior/exterior pressure cookers. They'll last forever and replacement parts are readily available.\nUnfortunately, with stovetops I have to stay awake and alert-no taking a nap while those are being used! Yes, I'm old. I'm liable to fall asleep at the drop of a hat waiting for some of my long cooking items to get done.\n\nI've tried other electric pressure cookers, including the \"Instant Pot\", and a couple sold on TV shopping channels. Some I found to be cheaply made and unreliable. They either contained cheap nonstick coatings or not even close to accurate temperature settings. The \"Instant Pot\" is the only other electric pressure cooker I've kept.\n\nSo far, this fully-electronic model is wonderful compared to all of the others, new or vintage. I really love the \"Reduction\" setting. I like the fact that not only does it have many pre-programmed settings for common uses, but even the preset times can be overridden. I love that I don't have to constantly watch it because it turns itself off when the cycle has completed. Yes, that means while it's cooking, I get to take a nap without worrying that it will run dry, burn everything, and fill my house with smoke!\n\nThe ceramic-coated nonstick removable inner pot shows no sign of blistering or peeling, unlike the overrated, overpriced All Clad Gourmet Slow Cooker with Browning. Beautiful to look at, but that's where it ends.\n\nMy biggest concerns would be finding replacement parts down the line. It seems these higher-end products' parts aren't around indefinitely. The other worry would be failure of the screen. Sometimes modern technology won't hold up very long, especially where electronics come into play.\n\nYou can easily tell the higher quality of this appliance over many of the cheapie models on the market. I expect I will get my money's worth out of it even if I don't get 20 years out of it! It's truly worth the extra expense, and the learning curve is shorter than I anticipated. I'm overall very pleased with this purchase, as well as my other Breville electric appliances.\n\nI really hope that some day someone, preferably Breville, will invent an oval-shaped pressure cooker at least 6-8 quarts in size.\nI've seen many oval slow cookers, many round pressure cookers, but never an oval pressure cooker. It would be a vast improvement and allow the cooker even more versatility.","Product: The simplehuman stainless steel utensil holder with spoon rest is designed to store utensils of different sizes. A shallow front compartment holds shorter tools, like can openers, so they won't get lost at the bottom of the holder. Two deep compartments neatly store tall items. A detachable spoon rest is always in reach at the front of the holder.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: This One Beats the Oxo Models for Long Utensils\n\nReview: My first purchase of this identical item won't show here as verified because I purchased it several years ago directly from Simplehuman.com. I own several All-Clad brand utensils which range from 13\"-14.5\" in total length. When it came time (now) to replace it, I looked at the 3 Oxo styles. Although I like the styles, I couldn't bring myself to purchase Oxo due to their being shorter. I don't care for having over 1/2 of the length of the utensil sticking out, not to mention lessened stability. This one has just over 7\" usable interior height in the 2 outer compartments. The center compartment is for shorter items. I suspect the Oxo's bottom tray is included in its height measurement making the storage compartment even shorter. For my money, it's simplehuman.\n\nThe built-in spoon rest is extremely innovative, very conveniently located, and frequently used in my household.\n\nThe one thing I don't care about this product is that the narrow plastic bottom rim will crack and break off over time, making it unsightly, which is why I'm replacing it, so minus 1 star. I wish they'd update it to use a silicone bottom rim, then it would be near-perfect.","Product: Lifetime Guarantee: We sell only high quality products But if for whatever reason this item does not meet your requirements, we will provide you with a full refund at anytime.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: No Ipod, Zune or Sansa? No Problem! I Use Mine ONLY with Memory Cards.\n\nReview: I don't own a stand-alone MP3 Player, nor do I need one. I have a memory card slot in my smartphone, laptop, desktop, and now, thanks to the Soundfly, in my 1995 & 1999 cars. I can use 1 card and transfer it between any of these items if I so choose and have sound through their speakers or with a headset or earbuds for those items having that capability.\n\nThe item description is limited when it comes to describing the features of this wonderful item. I wrote to the company in advance of making my purchase and was told that yes, it will accept Micro-SDHC cards up to 32MB. I am not sure whether the description also mentions that the unit's head can be adjusted.\n\nI have read some reviews that say they can't find an FM channel on their car radio to use. I guess with all of the frequencies available I have trouble understanding that, but here in Las Vegas, no problems at all.\n\nI use mine primarily in my 1999 Cadillac. As a smoker, I had also purchased an adapter to allow use of both the lighter and the Soundfly, but ended up just replacing one of the rear cigarette lighters with the Soundfly. I'm not one to want to do a lot of changing of songs while driving anyway.\n\nI will wait until the desert heat subsides before leaving it in the car regularly, but it's wonderful to know that it's so easy to just pull in and out of the lighter socket and small and lightweight enough to easily drop in my purse.\n\nThis was just what I needed to avoid the expense of buying and having two MP3-capable car radios installed.","Product: The PB2703 is a top-loading MP3/CD player boombox with a built-in AM/FM radio tuner. Play your favorite music and audio files from the MP3/CD player, USB Port, SD MMC Slot. The telescopic FM antenna provides clearer reception, and the high-output stereo speakers fill your home with dynamic audio. Plus, the attractive exterior adds a stylish touch. And the easy-to-read LED panel lets you locate the CD controls quickly, even in the dark.\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: Big Disappointment After a Big High\n\nReview: I bought this specifically to have something portable that runs on AC or Batteries to take to my jobsite to play the music on my memory card. This had everything to fit the bill and I was anxiously anticipating its arrival.\n\nAfter inserting my SD card, I found it played two songs, then quit. There was no power. I jiggled the card and it started back. After placing a set of keys on the table next to it, it stopped again. I then realized I had an electrical short problem. I was devistated! I have to return it and there are no more in red to be found. Now I'll have to start my search over. I did, however, like the sound quality playing the SD card MP3's. Didn't try out the radio or CD functions at all.","Product: Seidio's DILEX Pro with Metal Kickstand Combo contains a DILEX Pro with Metal Kickstand Case and a DILEX Pro Holster. The DILEX Pro with Metal Kickstand Case is a light, protective companion for smart devices on-the-go. It provides shock absorbing protection with two interlocking layers in a thin case for your phone. The case features our new Hex guard Technology, a honeycomb pattern on the interior TPU casing, that provides extra cushioning if your device is dropped. It also features our familiar soft-touch coating on the exterior that makes it easy to slide the case in and out of a pocket or purse. Slip the case into a secure spring-clip DILEX Pro Holster for the ultimate carrying solution for your device. The built-in metal kickstand can be used in landscape orientation for a hands free experience when viewing multimedia, managing photo slideshows, and displaying clocks and calendars. The magnetic kickstand provides convenience by easily snapping back in when not in use. (The DILEX Pro with Metal Kickstand Case does not support the device in portrait orientation.) *This product supports NFC.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: ... cell phone accessories since they are generally well-made and comfortable to hold\n\nReview: I love the Seidio holster, I do not love the case. For many phone styles, Seidio used to make 2 choices of holsters-for use with their case, and one to be used with a phone without a case that would hold it firmly in place with no give. Unfortunately, they don't do that anymore for many phones.\n\nI did not care for Seidio's Dilex or Surface cases but that was all they manufactured for the S6 Edge+. I purchased this set because it was less expensive than the holster alone, but will only be using the holster.\n\nLong story short-I'll be using this Seidio holster with a Spigen Slim Armor case like I've done with my standard S6. They are a perfect fit match.","Product: The Slim Armor case offers absolute protection in a slim package for the LG V10. The impeccable fit of the hard PC exterior and soft TPU interior features shock absorbing technology that safeguards the device from drops in pristine style. The added kickstand props the display at a comfortable viewing angle for extra versatility.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: I really like this case\n\nReview: I really like this case!\n\nSince I purchase my V10, I've been waiting impatiently for Seidio to manufacture a case/holster combination for this phone. Heck, I'd settle for their holster alone because I feel their configured more sensibly than most.\n\nJust to have something to protect my phone, I bought the first cheapie combo case/holster on the market, but I hate it. It's ill fitting and just overall poor quality.\n\nSeidio, can you hear me crying out to you?? I've relied on your brand for the past 8 phones!\n\nOK, so since Seidio hasn't come through for me thus far, I was still looking for something that I could at least tolerate while waiting. I came across this Spigen. I immediately noticed that the main thing I wanted, a holster, was not made by Spigen for this case, but I ordered the case anyway.\n\nIt turns out it was so much nicer than the case I had, and it actually fit in the el-cheapo holster. This Spigen is a very slick and slippery case, but I love the fact that it's not overly bulky like some while still being protective, and the rose gold color is gorgeous and different.\n\nI'm still waiting for my favorite Seidio, but this is fine for now.","Product: Miracle-Gro AeroGarden Bounty with Gourmet Herb Seed Pod Kit - Grow fresh herbs, vegetables, salad greens, flowers and more. Let your imagination grow wild!\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Not Cost-Effective For Me\n\nReview: Please Note: What you aren't told in the product description is that if you have a water softener system installed in your home, you will need to use water from an alternative source in this device.\n\nThis is a nice little toy for those who can afford it, but definitely not for those like myself that are budget-minded. For what the AeroGarden, pods and nutrients, plus add water and electricity costs, I can buy tons of herbs, vegetables, fruits and items not even capable of being grown in this unit. Just because it's \"organic gardening\", it still won't pay for itself any time soon. That is the only reason I deducted one star.\n\nIf I had been fortunate enough to get it free like the Vine Program participants, I probably wouldn't feel the way I do, but I have my hard-earned cash invested in something where there's a huge possibility that it will cease to function long before I could reach a break-even point.\n\nI'm sure it's very good at what it does and I envy those who can actually feel that owning one of these is in their best interest-it's just not for me.","Product: SmartBidet is easy to install and offers its users hygiene, comfort, and convenience. It is easy to use and friendly to the environment. SmartBidet also offers a stylish design and a multi-function control panel. Here are a few of SmartBidet's amazing features: posterior wash, feminine wash, oscillating wash, warm air dryer, adjustable water pressure, hygienic filtered water, heated water, heated seat, safety on/off sensor, self-cleaning nozzle, quick release seat for easy cleaning, energy saving mode, soft close lid and seat.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Now I Have A Shiny Hiney\n\nReview: I am a 64-year-old woman who had never in life used a bidet of any kind, anywhere. After doing a lot of research, I decided on this once after the determination that a manual bidet wouldn't give me all of the features I would like to have. This item has at least most of them, plus some I didn't expect and was pleasantly surprised. This model seems to have more features than many others available without breaking the bank.\n\nI easily installed this myself. It actually took me longer to find the tools than to install the seat. There was absolutely no need for any additional equipment. In fact, I have a left-over metal water-connection hose since I had no need to change the existing one, just unscrew it from the toilet tank and reattach it to the adapter that turns 1 connection into 2. I had read stories from people who experienced leakage, but I suspect they've either under-tightened, over-tightened, or failed to use enough of the Teflon tape or their choice of sealant. The power cord was just long enough to reach my outlet without an extension. I added a single-plug GFI outlet <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/TRC-90033-Shockshield-White-Portable-GFCI-Plug-with-Surge-Protection/dp/B000XVG72G/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">TRC 90033 Shockshield White Portable GFCI Plug with Surge Protection</a> since my old home has no such outlets.\n\nI knew I couldn't tolerate cold water alone during the winter and this model heats. Beware and use the lower heat settings first until you find the one that's comfortable for you. This also applies to the heated drying feature. My first experience ended up with an uncomfortably overly-warmed left bun.\n\nThere's definitely a difference in water pressure when using the his vs hers settings. I'm no small woman; nevertheless, the highest setting intended for males was too powerful for me. This is also something that is adjustable-the water pressure.\n\nAll features/settings/adjustments are done from the remote control. I chose this model over the SB-1000. They've identical features except the fixed remote (SB-2000) vs. the SB-1000's detached remote.\n\nWhen you choose an electric bidet seat, compare this model's features with the high-priced competitors. I wish I had known about and purchased this years ago.\n\nThe only reason for 4-stars-it has only been installed for 1 month so I can't speak on its longevity factor.","Product: GoBidet - GB-2003-C - Features and Functions - Single control knob control adjusts both water temperature & pressure - Fits 1- and 2-piece toilets, Round or Elongated - No electricity or battery needed - Chrome finish - Cool water connections are included - Hot water connection not included - Large spray area with 7-hole spray nozzle - Electroplated all brass -The GoBidet 2003C Chrome Bidet Attachment is a high quality add-on bidet system that can add a cleansing front or rear wash to virtually any toilet. The GoBidet is universally designed to fit 1 or 2 piece toilets and can be set up to work with both hot and cold water connections. It comes ready with connections for cold water, but an optional hot water kit can also be added to supply warm water from a nearby sink. The GoBidet 2003C bidet attachment also comes with a dual function support bracket so it will work with both 1 and 2 piece toilets. Made of durable solid brass with a high quality chrome finish - The unique swing arm design allows the GoBidet to be used for variety of bidet applications where bidet seats and traditional bidet attachments just won't work. It is as easy to install as it is to use, making it an easy, economical way to add bidet functionality to your toilet routine. Once installed, the GoBidet will straddle the rim of the toilet bowl and sit underneath your existing toilet seat. The mixing valve and control levers will be mounted off to the side of your toilet bowl (right side when seated) while the swing arm wash nozzle will sit inside of the bowl. The unique swing arm design of the GoBidet will stay folded along the inside rim of your toilet bowl and out of the way while you use the toilet. When you are ready to wash, use the rear lever to swing the arm into position underneath your bottom. Then, use the larger control level to adjust both the spray pressure and the spray temperature (with optional hot water kit). The spray head itself features 7 holes for large spray area.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Same Problem as LeslieMac23\n\nReview: Fortunately, I didn't get too much further than shutting off the water to the toilet tank,removing the toilet seat and seating the unit in the porcelain to see how it would fit. To my chagrin, and no matter how I tried, it just wasn't going to work out. The main unit, once it was placed in a position where the shower needed to be was not going to allow free range of motion for the temperature adjustment lever. I can't take the chance that the water might be too hot and scald me. If mine had looked like the ones in the photos taken by people who have had theirs a number of years, it may have worked. I see theirs has a lever that is shorter and has a rounded end whereas mine looks like the photo in the item description. Next, I sat there looking at the hot water kit I had also purchased separately. There was no way it was going to attach without at least one additional part purchase. That was the last straw for me. I'm thankful I didn't open the parts package because both items are definitely going back. I'll just have to buy one of those cheapie all-in-one units and replace it every couple of years."],"string":"[\n \"Product: Crafted with the same exacting standards of All-Clad cookware, this measuring cup set is an ideal kitchen accessory for serious cooks. Each cup in the set is a miniature version of All-Clad's famous saucepan, with heavy-gauge stainless steel construction, a polished finish, and signature riveted handles. The set includes five cups with 1/4-, 1/3-, 1/2-, 2/3-, and 1-cup capacities. Heavy-Gauge Stainless Steel Measuring Set The All-Clad Measuring Cup Set allows you to measure dry ingredients with speed and precision. The five-cup set includes 1/4-, 1/3-, 1/2-, 2/3-, and 1-cup capacities for measuring dry goods. Made of heavy-gauge 18/10 stainless steel, these cups are designed to last and are both dishwasher and freezer safe. Features All-Clad's Classic Saucepan Design Each cup in the set is designed after All-Clad's famous sauce pan. The cups feature the company's signature riveted handles. The All-Clad logo and capacity markings are laser-etched onto each handle. About All-Clad What's in the Box Set of five All-Clad Measuring Cups and warranty information.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: 10 Stars to the All Clad Company\\n\\nReview: I own practically everything this company has ever made, even some pieces that haven't been made in years. I have cookware, utensils, canisters, you name it. I generally don't buy designer items, but I try to buy quality. This line has been one of the best investments in my home I've ever made.\\n\\nJust a couple of months ago, after having a conversation asking if they'd examine some of my cookware (the bottoms on those pieces were not flat enough to use on my glass top range without spinning around), I mailed off 4 of my larger pieces.\\n\\nThanks to All Clad, I have brand new, non-spinning cookware items- 3 qt and 6 qt saute pans, an 8 qt stockpot, and a 12\\\" frypan.\\n\\nI found them to be very kind, and when it was all said and done, they replaced every piece from the over 17-year old set that I sent them without question or hesitation. They even included brand new lids for the 3 items I sent that use them without requesting the lids from my old cookware.\\n\\nBy that same token, I will continue to support All Clad, and just like they did for me, it will be without question or hesitation.\",\n \"Product: Practical products from Designs2Go include our 191024 2 tier dobule swivel. Perfect for TV sets and monitors with space for DVD or game players. Convenience Concepts brings you exciting and affordable furniture. Combining exciting designs with economical overseas manufacturing to bring you the finest in sensible contemporary furniture. Focusing on R-T-A Entertainment, TV, Storage, and Accent furniture.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Great For Our Bedroom, Too!\\n\\nReview: After purchasing a new bed that had a footboard, we found we needed extra height to be able to enjoy television without having to peer through wrought iron scrolling!\\n\\nThis stand with its 9\\\" height placed on top of our dresser was just perfect to be able to see over the footboard and omits the need for a separate TV Stand, saving space in our small bedroom. It holds our 32\\\" LCD TV on the top shelf and satellite receiver on the bottom shelf. I beleive there'll be enough room to stack a DVD player on top of the receiver on the lower shelf if we choose to add one in the future.\\n\\nThe unit is sturdy and I expect years and years of service out of it. Assembly couldn't have been easier-may have taken 5 minutes and you don't have to be mechanically inclined to do it.\",\n \"Product: Practical products from Designs2Go include our 191024 2 tier dobule swivel. Perfect for TV sets and monitors with space for DVD or game players. Convenience Concepts brings you exciting and affordable furniture. Combining exciting designs with economical overseas manufacturing to bring you the finest in sensible contemporary furniture. Focusing on R-T-A Entertainment, TV, Storage, and Accent furniture.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Great For Our Bedroom, Too!\\n\\nReview: After purchasing a new bed that had a footboard, we found we needed extra height to be able to enjoy television without having to peer through wrought iron scrolling!\\n\\nThis stand with its 9\\\" height placed on top of our dresser was just perfect to be able to see over the footboard and omits the need for a separate TV Stand, saving space in our small bedroom. It holds our 32\\\" LCD TV on the top shelf and satellite receiver on the bottom shelf. I beleive there'll be enough room to stack a DVD player on top of the receiver on the lower shelf if we choose to add one in the future.\\n\\nThe unit is sturdy and I expect years and years of service out of it. Assembly couldn't have been easier-may have taken 5 minutes and you don't have to be mechanically inclined to do it.\",\n \"Product: This is an O.E.M. authorized part. Fits various Kirby models. OEM Part Number 156197. Made in United States.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Much Easier To Clean Over the Standard Kirby Brush Roller\\n\\nReview: I have a long-haired dog that sheds as if he's trying to go bald! His name is Bear and my favorite saying is \\\"Bear hair EVERYWHERE!\\\"\\nI have a Kirby G6 and nothing beats a Kirby when it comes to suction, but removing the pet fur, not to mention human hair, from the brush was quite a chore.\\n\\nThis small but very useful item makes it easier. The bristles are so much farther apart compared to the standard brush, that a great deal of the fur bypasses the brush and goes straight to the waste bag. For the fur that doesn't, the brush is designed with a \\\"cutting line\\\" that spans the full length of the roller designed to guide your scissor or knife and cut the hair \\\"blobs\\\". I did use the same technique on the standard brush, too, but the fact that the bypass feature leaves less fur makes cleanup faster.\",\n \"Product: Presto 6-Quart Electric Pressure Cooker cooks 3 to 4 times faster than ordinary methods; fish, chicken, and vegetables cook to perfection in minutes. Control Master heat control automatically regulates the temperature to maintain the proper cooking pressure. Complete 64-page instructions/recipe book included which contains easy-to-follow instructions and flavorful recipes. Cover locking system prevents cooker from being opened until pressure is safely reduced. Completely immiscible and dishwasher safe with the heat control removed. Features stainless steel basket for steaming and cooking several foods at once with no intermingling of flavors.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: I Love This and Every Pressure Cooker I Own!\\n\\nReview: I received this as a holiday gift. I had a 4qt electric from the 60's, but it was time for a replacement. I also have an electric non-stick 8 qt, and I love it, too. I have 2 stovetop varieties of pressure cooker. I love them all, but this one is special. It's the only electric without a nonstick coating that I own and it has a modern curved shape that I love!\\n\\nSome people have complained that they don't like how the thermostat cycles on and off. That's what it, and any corded electric appliance with a thermostat does. Perfectly natural. In fact, I have the exact same effect using my stovetop models (I have an electric range, and its thermostat also cycles on and off).\\n\\nThe stainless steel is much cleaner looking than aluminum exterior models The bottom where the heating element is housed contains aluminum for rapid heating, but it does not come in contact with food for those who have that concern.\\n\\nDo shop around. As of this writing, the least expensive seller is offering this for $144. When the kids bought mine, it was only around $99, if not less.\",\n \"Product: The wallace collection of flatware storage chests are crafted with a solid oak veneer and lined with a plush black interior fabric, your pieces will be safely stored for many years to come.\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: Knives Won't Even Fit Through the Slots\\n\\nReview: I didn't mind that it was featherweight, I was simply looking for a way to store my continental-sized new flatware without breaking the bank. This could have been it if only my flatware had fit!\\n\\nI started by taking a knife to place in a slot, and the slot wasn't even wide enough to accommodate it. My knife was less than halfway in before I realized that this item just isn't going to work. Now, I don't know what to choose for storage. It's just flatware, not silverplate or sterling, but it's nice enough to use with my china and not as everyday flatware.\\n\\nIf anyone has any affordable storage suggestions for a flatware service for 12 other than its original cardboard box, I'd love to hear them.\",\n \"Product: Bunn Phase Brew features Heat & Release Technology that heats all the water to ideal brewing temperature before releasing it onto the coffee grounds to prevent bitter flavor.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Love Bunn Products and Especially Their Customer Service and Warranties\\n\\nReview: I don't think this model has even been on the market 3 years, and this model comes with a 3-year warranty. I went on the Bunn website, emailed them about my concerns, and 2 days later got an email saying they've ordered a replacement unit to be shipped to me. The only thing wrong with mine was the paint peeling off of the warming tray; it functioned perfectly otherwise.\\n\\nBunn uses items that fail during the warranty period as research items to determine how they can improve their product. I've had to use their warranty service more than once in my life and they've always been very gracious. No arguments, no hassle returns, just the way I like it. I'm so pleased with their customer service, I bought their single-serve machine directly from their website the same day they addressed my Phase Brew issue. I will continue to support them as they have supported me through the years.\\n\\nSome reviewers here are new to the product and don't get the concept of how to properly use this machine. If you're using the bare minimum amount of water, more than likely it won't brew. You'll need to make sure the water is well above the minimum water line on the water tank. If you measure a certain amount of water and pour it in, by the time it settles, it will show as at or below the water line. It is a gravity machine. I learned this as a newbie of this model.\\n\\nI also prolong the life of all of my small appliances requiring water by using nothing but distilled water that I distill at home from our horrible desert tap water. It is the only way I can get delicious coffee and tea without cloudiness. Even store-bought bottled water (any other than distilled) is generally some municipality's tap water and it still contains gunk of one kind or another, requiring more frequent cleaning of your machine.\",\n \"Product: This NESCO 8-quart Multifunction Pressure Cooker allows you to pressure cook, brown, saute, slow cook, steam and make rice. It comes with a cooking rack, measuring cup, spoon and condensation drip cup. Among its great features are a self-locking lid with automatic pressure release and cool-touch lid and handles.\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: NESCO: \\\"NO Part of this Pressure Cooker Can Be Placed in the Dishwasher\\\"\\n\\nReview: I did a little research before buying but apparently not enough. I couldn't understand why NO part of this unit is dishwasher safe, so I wrote to Nesco directly. I explained to the customer service department that I never use heated drying-everything air dries. The response?\\n\\n\\\"Dishwasher detergents are too harsh on the items. You can put them in the dishwasher at your own risk, but if the parts fail they will not be covered under the one year warranty.\\\" The \\\"no dishwasher\\\" disclaimer can also be found on page 8 as the first line in the owner's manual.\\n\\nThe only items I'm familiar with that can be harmed by dishwasher detergent are aluminum. I personally ruined an antique aluminum ice cream scoop that I called myself cleaning before displaying in my curio cabinet\\n\\n. If the pressure cooker is that flimsy that parts can fail simply by cleaning them in a dishwasher, they must not be well made, therefore, not for me.\\n\\nThey also told me was what the inner cooking pot was made of, which I already knew but that was not the problem.\\n\\nThe problem is that both the exterior of the lid (perhaps) and interior of the lid (and most definitely the removable lid liner) are aluminum.\\nI can't have aluminum in my cooking items, even indirectly, unless coated. If they decided to put in a stainless lid liner, I may reconsider in the future an updated version. Highly suspect. Can't put the lid in the dishwasher? how about the collector, or even the sealing gasket? You mean I can't even put the rice measuring cup or ladle in the dishwasher? They say nothing, so nothing it is.\\n\\nI couldn't send it back fast enough. Seeking a well-made Stainless, dishwasher safe, large pressure cooker to accompany my Instant Pot. Every single piece of the Instant Pot is dishwasher safe, except, of course, the base. I just wish they made one larger than 8 quarts.\",\n \"Product: Because of its shape, this All-Clad Stainless 4202 2-Quart sauce pan pan is ideal for making sauces, heating liquids, cooking food in liquids and reheating. With high, straight sides and a smaller surface area, the sauce pan holds heat well and limits evaporation. The classic sauce pan is a versatile essential found in a variety of sizes in every well- equipped kitchen, and it can be used with or without its lid to control evaporation. All-Clads Stainless 3-Ply cookware features a thick-gauge aluminum core that attracts heat fast, while the addition of stainless steel ensures even heat distribution for consistent results across the entire cooking surface, all the way to the rim. Even more, its stainless-steel interior with a starburst finish offers natural stick resistance, letting you know when food is ready to release, and it wont react with ingredients, so theres no risk of food picking up a metallic taste. Made in the USA, this stainless-steel cookware offers warp-resistant strength and dishwasher-safe convenience, plus it can be used on any cooktop, including induction. Discover what it means to cook with All-Clads most popular cookware collectionAll-Clad Stainless is a classic choice for anyone who loves to cook.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: 10 Stars to the All Clad Company\\n\\nReview: I own practically everything this company has ever made, even some pieces that haven't been made in years. I have cookware, utensils, canisters, you name it. I generally don't buy designer items, but I try to buy quality. This line has been one of the best investments in my home I've ever made.\\n\\nJust a couple of months ago, after having a conversation asking if they'd examine some of my cookware (the bottoms on those pieces were not flat enough to use on my glass top range without spinning around), I mailed off 4 of my larger pieces.\\n\\nThanks to All Clad, I have brand new, non-spinning cookware items- 3 qt and 6 qt saute pans, an 8 qt stockpot, and a 12\\\" frypan.\\n\\nI found them to be very kind, and when it was all said and done, they replaced every piece from the over 17-year old set that I sent them without question or hesitation. They even included brand new lids for the 3 items I sent that use them without requesting the lids from my old cookware.\\n\\nBy that same token, I will continue to support All Clad, and just like they did for me, it will be without question or hesitation.\",\n \"Product: Deeper than a traditional fry pan, this All-Clad Stainless 4402 2-Quart saut pan features a large surface area and tall, straight sides that hold in juices, prevent splattering, and allow for easy turning with a spatula. Ideal for a wide range of foods including chicken breasts and fish fillets, the saut pan offers the convenience of browning or searing, then deglazing or finishing in liquid; all in one pan. The lid locks in moisture and heat to thoroughly finish meats on the stove top or in the oven. All-Clads Stainless 3-ply cookware features a thick-gauge aluminum core that attracts heat fast, while the addition of stainless steel ensures even heat distribution for consistent results across the entire cooking surface, all the way to the rim. Even more, its stainless-steel interior with a starburst finish offers natural stick resistance, letting you know when food is ready to release, and it wont react with ingredients, so theres no risk of food picking up a metallic taste. Made in the USA, this stainless-steel cookware offers warp-resistant strength and dishwasher-safe convenience, plus it can be used on any cooktop, including induction. Discover what it means to cook with All-Clads most popular cookware collectionAll-Clad Stainless is a classic choice for anyone who loves to cook.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: 10 Stars to the All Clad Company\\n\\nReview: I own practically everything this company has ever made, even some pieces that haven't been made in years. I have cookware, utensils, canisters, you name it. I generally don't buy designer items, but I try to buy quality. This line has been one of the best investments in my home I've ever made.\\n\\nJust a couple of months ago, after having a conversation asking if they'd examine some of my cookware (the bottoms on those pieces were not flat enough to use on my glass top range without spinning around), I mailed off 4 of my larger pieces.\\n\\nThanks to All Clad, I have brand new, non-spinning cookware items- 3 qt and 6 qt saute pans, an 8 qt stockpot, and a 12\\\" frypan.\\n\\nI found them to be very kind, and when it was all said and done, they replaced every piece from the over 17-year old set that I sent them without question or hesitation. They even included brand new lids for the 3 items I sent that use them without requesting the lids from my old cookware.\\n\\nBy that same token, I will continue to support All Clad, and just like they did for me, it will be without question or hesitation.\",\n \"Product: A useful and versatile array of everyday essentials, this All-Clad Stainless 401716 14-piece cookware set includes 10-Inch and 12-Inch fry pans, 2-Quart and 3-Quart sauce pans with lids, 3 quart and 6-Quart saut pans with lids, 12-Inch chef's pan and an 8-Quart stockpot with lid. All-Clads Stainless 3-ply cookware features a thick-gauge aluminum core that attracts heat fast, while the addition of stainless steel ensures even heat distribution for consistent results across the entire cooking surface, all the way to the rim. Even more, its stainless-steel interior with a starburst finish offers natural stick resistance, letting you know when food is ready to release, and it wont react with ingredients, so theres no risk of food picking up a metallic taste. Made in the USA, this stainless-steel cookware offers warp-resistant strength and dishwasher-safe convenience, plus it can be used on any cooktop, including induction. Discover what it means to cook with All-Clads most popular cookware collectionAll-Clad Stainless is a classic choice for anyone who loves to cook.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: 10 Stars to the All Clad Company\\n\\nReview: I own practically everything this company has ever made, even some pieces that haven't been made in years. I have cookware, utensils, canisters, you name it. I generally don't buy designer items, but I try to buy quality. This line has been one of the best investments in my home I've ever made.\\n\\nJust a couple of months ago, after having a conversation asking if they'd examine some of my cookware (the bottoms on those pieces were not flat enough to use on my glass top range without spinning around), I mailed off 4 of my larger pieces.\\n\\nThanks to All Clad, I have brand new, non-spinning cookware items- 3 qt and 6 qt saute pans, an 8 qt stockpot, and a 12\\\" frypan.\\n\\nI found them to be very kind, and when it was all said and done, they replaced every piece from the over 17-year old set that I sent them without question or hesitation. They even included brand new lids for the 3 items I sent that use them without requesting the lids from my old cookware.\\n\\nBy that same token, I will continue to support All Clad, and just like they did for me, it will be without question or hesitation.\",\n \"Product: Instant Pot is a smart Electric Pressure Cooker designed by Canadians aiming to be Safe, Convenient and Dependable. It speeds up cooking by 2~6 times using up to 70% less energy and, above all, produces nutritious healthy food in a convenient and consistent fashion. Instant Pot Duo is a 7-in-1 programmable cooker, it replaces 7 kitchen appliances as it has the functions of a pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, steamer, saut, yogurt maker & warmer. 14 built-in smart programs (Soup, Meat/Stew, Bean/Chili, Poultry, Saut, Steam, Rice, Porridge, Multigrain, Slow Cook, Keep-Warm, Yogurt, Pasteurize & Jiu Niang) cook your favorite dishes with the press of a button. A 24-hour timer allows for delayed cooking. Automatic keep-warm holds the temperature of the food until you serve it. Instant Pot generates almost no noise and leaks no steam. It traps all the aromas in the food without heating up the kitchen. The 3-ply bottom stainless steel inner pot is extremely durable and leaves no health concerns associated with non-stick coatings. The slim body design has lid holders for both left and right handed users. The brushed stainless steel exterior is finger print resistant. Its elegant and durable design makes it easy to clean and pleasurable to use for the years to come. Instant Pot Duo uses the latest technology with an embedded microprocessor, which monitors the pressure and temperature, keeps time and adjusts heating intensity. The cooking programs have been lab-tested hundreds of times for optimal effect. These greatly improve cooking result and maintain consistence. Instant Pot is carefully designed to eliminate many common errors that could cause harm or spoil food. It passed the stringent UL certification giving you uncompromised safety and peace of mind and protects you with 10 proven safety mechanisms and patented technologies.\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: Prime Day 8-Quart Bargain Turned Out Not To Be A Bargain At All Due To It Being A Very Outdated Version of the Instant Pot\\n\\nReview: The model I received is an original version, not a 3rd generation of the 8-quart Instant Pot.\\n\\nThere is no such thing as a 3rd generation DUO 80 I found out. None. Due to an error on Instant Pot's website and copied by Amazon, it was advertised as a 3rd generation on Prime Day. I can't blame Amazon because they trusted the manufacturer's description..\\n\\nAll 8 qt models as of this writing are the same. They have attached cords and lack other programmability features found on new, smaller models. I noticed this right out of the box when I saw that the power cord was hard-wired rather than the removable cord advertised in the product description. If that were the only difference in this old model and the current models, I could handle that. Unfortunately, the 8 quart models do not have the same programmability functions as the 3rd generation models found in 6 qt designs. If you want to know the differences, do a search on the instant pot website.\\n\\nI returned it in favor of another 8 qt. brand that is more modern in every way and I'll keep my 6 qt. Instant Pot DUO 60 PLUS.\",\n \"Product: Tiger induction heat microcomputer controlled rice cooker/warmer comes with 4 in 1 functions (rice cooking, Synchro-Cooking, slow cooker, bread baking) and 11 computerized cooking menu settings. This 10 cup rice cooker and warmer not only cooks rice but also comes with the new \\\"tacook\\\" synchronized cooking function to prepare two dishes simultaneously with the power of induction heat. This unit comes with 5 layer metal plus 3 layer coating for multilayer ceramic coated inner pan that provides even heating for delicious rice every time. The lid can also be removed entirely to be disassembled so each piece can be washed.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Total Waste of Money For Me\\n\\nReview: Granted, it appears to be a very well-made appliance, but if I ever had a \\\"What the hell was I thinking\\\" moment, it was after I purchased this rice cooker. Now mind you, I've been cooking rice for over 5 decades, from a stovetop (gas, electric, and induction), in a pressure cooker, to microwaving it . Why did I buy a $400 rice cooker in the first place? Because I really needed to know if there would be a major change in the way my rice turned out or tasted. It was no different than making it by any other means. I cook all kinds of rice from standard white rice, basmati, jasmine, and brown. Cooking them in this appliance had absolutely no effect on the texture or flavor, and it took as long or a lot longer to cook than by using conventional methods.\\n\\nBy the way, it appears most rice cookers currently on the market (except a few stainless and clay models) have some kind of nonstick coating. You can bet your last money that at some point either sooner or later, that coating will either peel or bubble and eventually flake off into your food. I prefer not to eat or feed this to my family. I don't care what-free the plastic is, it's still plastic.\\n\\nI cook everything using either stainless steel or glass. These are the only surfaces I am really comfortable using from a health standpoint.\\n\\nSometimes I feel that some of the great reviews for appliances of this nature are due to the reviewer believing in their mind that there's a difference to justify spending this much money on it. Maybe they really just don't know how to cook rice properly and consistently using the old-fashioned ways or just want a set it and forget it way of making it.\",\n \"Product: Inspired by professionals and designed for connoisseurs, KRUPS products have been built with three key attributes in mind: Passion, Precision and Perfection. The KRUPS KJ7000 Expert Deep Fryer features a patented technology that circulates the air through a carbon filter to inhibit the odors. Fry fish, meat, fries, doughnuts, funnel cake and more like an expert using the 30-minute timer and the adjustable temperature control. The large glass window enables you to keep an eye on the food without opening the lid thus preventing any heat loss during the cooking cycle. The immersed heating element along with the 1750 watts of power bring oil up to temperature quickly and recover rapidly after foods are added. When it comes to cleaning, deep fryers are often a nightmare, yet the KJ7000 Deep Fryer can be easily disassembled for an enjoyable clean up. Combining large capacity and precise control, the KRUPS Expert Deep Fryer offers professionals results time after time.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: WOW! Where Had This Been Hiding?\\n\\nReview: Where Had This Been Hiding? I don't know, but I happened across it while visiting other websites. On the few sites I saw it, they were asking full MSRP. Then, I found it here at a substantial savings. Please note, this has been discontinued by the manufacturer. I found out through research that it actually came out several years ago, but I didn't know about it. When I purchased mine a few weeks ago, Amazon was the only seller. Now there are several, so I suspect they've been purchased at a close-out price, but I try not to buy from third-party sellers things of this nature.\\n\\nI have fried twice so far and there's no other like it on the market for home use. It truly has a fog-free tempered-glass huge window that you can actually see through while it's frying. This is due to a dual-purpose fan which not only keeps the window from fogging, it also forces odors through a filter. I know, I wasn't accustomed to hearing the sound of a fan while deep frying either, but considering what it does, I don't mind at all.\\n\\nThe thermostat is accurate and does indeed reach the 375 degree Fahrenheit mark as measured with a brand new analog thermometer and the set temperature recovers rapidly after food is added. I must disclose that my frying so far has only been with food at room or refrigerator temperatures-I have not tried any frozen foods in it as yet. What many that are newer to deep fryer uses would benefit by knowing is 1) You cannot overload the basket-food needs to have oil surrounding it to fry evenly. 2) Never drop the basket in rapidly. Take the time to slowly submerge the food into the hot oil. 3) Give the oil an additional minute or two after the temperature light tells you the oil is ready. It is, after all, a thermostat and it may still fluctuate slightly. 4) Don't expect to fry the same amount of frozen food as you would unfrozen foods, and again, putting the basket into the oil slowly will allow the oil's temperature to recover much more rapidly.\\n\\nThis fryer is very well made with the window lid easily lifting off for cleaning and has a top-quality stainless steel frying basket, stainless steel oil container (not coated with a cheap nonstick coating that will eventually flake off), and a stainless steel body like a fryer I had many years back, but this Krups is much sturdier. The filter is easily accessible and replacement filters are inexpensive. It has an \\\"oil ready\\\" light and a mechanical timer with chime as well.\\n\\nI originally wanted a Breville analog model, but the reviews about its inability to reach the desired frying temperature discouraged me and their only other offering (as of this writing) is a digital model which is not to my liking for this type of appliance.\\n\\nThis Krups does take up a good deal of real estate so you'll want to either store it in a cabinet or buy it its own table or cart for storage when not in use.\",\n \"Product: A dozen different ways to cook and space enough to rotisserie roast a 4-pound chicken makes Cuisinarts Rotisserie Convection Toaster Oven in demand for every kitchen. 1875 watts of power heats the unit quickly and ensures precise cooking. Generous size accommodates 6 slices of bread or a 12\\\" pizza. With its brushed-stainless steel counter appeal and easy clean nonstick interior, this is an oven sure to please every creative home cook.\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: Rotisserie Died On First Use with 3 lb. Chicken\\n\\nReview: I chose this model primarily because it has the capability of many more functions than to just rotisserie foods, but even more important was the variable temperature settings, something most rotisserie ovens just don't offer. No, you're not locked in to the preset 425 degree setting when using the rotisserie feature.\\n\\nUnfortunately, it seems that if something is going to die on me it generally does so outside of normal business hours.\\nI received my oven yesterday (ordered through Jet.com, shipped by Walmart), and I ordered a case of small chickens, all 3.5 lbs or less. I took out 1 chicken and marinated it overnight for cooking this evening.\\n\\nI went to check on my chicken after the timer beeped and found that at some point it was no longer rotating and only one side had properly browned. I removed the chicken (no, it didn't touch anything on either top, bottom, or sides), and sure enough, the rotisserie was dead. It wouldn't even turn empty. I waited until it completely cooled to room temperature, but still no turning of the rotisserie.\\n\\nI'll be on the phone with Cuisinart first thing Monday morning to see how they wish to resolve this. I hope it's relatively quickly to avoid my having to do a return to the retailer.\\n\\nI'm thankful for the non-advertised 3-year limited warranty. I looked at the product description on several websites that carry this item and there's no mention of the warranty. Perhaps the only place to find it is inside of the owner's manual, which is where I found it.\\n\\nUpdate: I decided rather than take a chance on another failure, I'd just return it and choose an oven without the rotisserie feature.\",\n \"Product: Achieve perfectly cooked meals with deliciously enhanced flavorall in less timewith this safe, easy-to-use PC8-Precision stovetop pressure cooker by All-Clad. With a smart timer and four cooking programs (vegetables, grains, meat/poultry, and seafood), the 8.4-quart pressure cooker ensures foolproof results. Enjoy soups and stews, braised meats, rice dishes, veggies, desserts, and more. Simply add ingredients, secure the lid, set the program and timer, and turn up the heat. A series of three beeps indicates when to turn down the heat, when to release the steam (just slide the lever), and when cooking is complete. A steamer basket for delicate food items comes included, as well as a recipe book and quick start guide. Other highlights include a 10-inch stainless-steel base for warp-free strength, compatibility with all stovetops including induction, and a thorough five-point safety system for peace of mind. The pot and steaming basket are dishwasher-safe, along with the lid (after first removing the timer, control panel, and gasket). Ideal for weeknight meals, the stovetop pressure cooker allows busy home chefs to cook quickly without compromising on nutrition or taste.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: If You're Trying To Choose Between This One and the Breville Fast Slow Pro\\n\\nReview: I found that it's much easier to know the exact pressure you're using with the Breville Fast Slow Pro.\\n\\nWith the All-Clad (this item), you need to either memorize or refer to a written chart to know what pressure you're using because it's not spelled out like the Breville. Breville has distinct, individual actual psi markings accessed by turning a dial, whereas the All-Clad has numbers that have nothing to do with the psi setting. For example, you choose number 4 if you want one psi setting or 7 for another and there's no correlation between those numbers and psi's.\\n\\nOther than those 2 items and the exterior designs (All-Clad being highly polished, Breville being brushed stainless), they're identical in their functions.\\n\\nBoth have the same number of preset pressure settings that range from 1.5-12 psi plus one customizable setting. One uses a dial to access settings, the other uses buttons.\\nBoth use the same nonstick interior pot which holds odors for what seems like forever.\\nBoth require removal of a nut to be able to separate the lid from the body for cleaning purposes.\\n\\nHaving had both units, I find the Breville to be much more user-friendly. I also own the All-Clad PC8 Stovetop Pressure Cooker and the Instant Pot Duo-60. I returned this electric All-Clad to W-S and kept all of the others.\",\n \"Product: The KitchenAid multi-cooker delivers consistent culinary results with more than 10 cooking methods for amazing versatility. With even heat technology it constantly monitors the temperature of the cooking pot from 110 degrees to 450 degrees Fahrenheit for precise temperature control. The digital display shows step-by-step instructions, temperature and timer for up to 12 hours of cooking. The KitchenAid stir tower accessory was designed to mix, flip and stir ingredients in the KitchenAid multi-cooker. Great for yogurt, meatballs, risotto and more.\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: CeramaShield coating scratch resistant-NOT\\n\\nReview: I've only had this 3 months and have used it 5 times. Never have I put anything in it that has bones and I only use silicone utensils. So why am I having nonstick coating rubbing off and going into my food? It's due to the Stir Tower. The only scratches are in the area just below the lip where the Stir Tower sits. Although seated properly, the Stir Tower raises and lowers just slightly, which causes it to rub against the side of the inner pot. KitchenAid did send a replacement inner pot which I have not yet used, but I'm sure this will happen even with the new pot. What needs to be corrected is the Stir Tower rubbing problem. I don't wish to incorporate CeramaShield coating into my family's meals. This item costs way too much for that to happen. Instead of this item, I recommend this <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Breville-The-Fast-Slow-Pro-Silver/dp/B013I40R8E/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Breville The Fast Slow Pro, Silver</a>. It does everything (except the stir tower that I don't recommend anyway) plus has various pressure cooker functions. The Breville is a much better buy for about the same cost. If you must have a multicooker and can live without the stir tower, get the Breville.\",\n \"Product: Because of its shape, this All-Clad Stainless 4204 W/LOOP 4-Quart sauce pan pan is ideal for making sauces, heating liquids, cooking food in liquids and reheating. With high, straight sides and a smaller surface area, the sauce pan holds heat well and limits evaporation. The classic sauce pan is a versatile essential found in a variety of sizes in every well- equipped kitchen, and it can be used with or without its lid to control evaporation. All-Clads Stainless 3-ply cookware features a thick-gauge aluminum core that attracts heat fast, while the addition of stainless steel ensures even heat distribution for consistent results across the entire cooking surface, all the way to the rim. Even more, its stainless-steel interior with a starburst finish offers natural stick resistance, letting you know when food is ready to release, and it wont react with ingredients, so theres no risk of food picking up a metallic taste. Made in the USA, this stainless-steel cookware offers warp-resistant strength and dishwasher-safe convenience, plus it can be used on any cooktop, including induction. Discover what it means to cook with All-Clads most popular cookware collectionAll-Clad Stainless is a classic choice for anyone who loves to cook.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: 10 Stars to the All Clad Company\\n\\nReview: I own practically everything this company has ever made, even some pieces that haven't been made in years. I have cookware, utensils, canisters, you name it. I generally don't buy designer items, but I try to buy quality. This line has been one of the best investments in my home I've ever made.\\n\\nJust a couple of months ago, after having a conversation asking if they'd examine some of my cookware (the bottoms on those pieces were not flat enough to use on my glass top range without spinning around), I mailed off 4 of my larger pieces.\\n\\nThanks to All Clad, I have brand new, non-spinning cookware items- 3 qt and 6 qt saute pans, an 8 qt stockpot, and a 12\\\" frypan.\\n\\nI found them to be very kind, and when it was all said and done, they replaced every piece from the over 17-year old set that I sent them without question or hesitation. They even included brand new lids for the 3 items I sent that use them without requesting the lids from my old cookware.\\n\\nBy that same token, I will continue to support All Clad, and just like they did for me, it will be without question or hesitation.\",\n \"Product: The combination pressure and slow cooker that knows the time, temperature and pressure. Some foods are tender with time, others are tastier under pressure, but how to know the exact pressure, temperature and time different foods need ? Its all possible with the 'Fast Slow Pro' a multicore unit with pressure and slow cook menus that automatically adjust time, temperature and pressure between fast and slow cooking. The dual sensors at the top and bottom monitor ingredients for more accurate temperature and pressure control, while the hands free steam release automatically to maximize flavor and texture. You can pressure cook, slow cook, steam, reduce, sauteacute; and sear with the press of a button. Rely on the fully interactive LCD to tell you when its building pressure, cooking and releasing steam.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Nap Approved! - At Least While It Worked. Updated Reviews February/March, 2017.\\n\\nReview: Update to the update, 3/1/17\\n\\nI made contact with Breville's Support department on 2/21. They were very professional and promptly emailed a prepaid return label for the defective unit. They received the return from me on 2/23. I am promised a new replacement unit. I'm hesitant about accepting another of the same unit, especially since I'm told it would only be warranted for the amount of time equal to the time remaining on my original purchase. That means I have only a 4 month warranty on the replacement when the original went out on me during the 8th month of ownership. That's rather disturbing considering the original cost of this item with tax was in excess of $270. I may have to seek out an extended warranty somewhere.\\n\\nUpdated 2/20/17\\n\\nWell, it has died on me during month 8. It powers on but will not heat up at all. It's staying in the preheating mode for a very long time, and even when the programming switches to the preset cooking mode, it hasn't heated whatsoever and no pressure. I made sure the plug was in firmly and even switched outlets and the inner pot in case there wasn't proper electrical contact with the outer coating washing off the old pot. New vs. old inner pot made no difference.\\n\\nYes, I loved this appliance so much that I got an extra pot for it. I noticed that even though it says the inner pot is dishwasher-safe, the outer coating of paint (not the nonstick interior) starts to wash off. I've had a lot of gray substance all over my hands from this over a period of time. I don't believe it should be listed as a dishwasher-safe inner pot. I haven't had any problems with the inner nonstick coating of any kind. No bubbles forming, no peeling, just a problem with the exterior of the pot.\\n\\nIt is too late today to contact the manufacturer for warranty service, but you can bet I'll be on the phone first thing tomorrow morning.\\n\\nORIGINAL REVIEW:\\n\\nFirst, I'd like to point out this very important feature that I don't believe is listed in the item description, and that is:\\n\\n This appliance has many pre-programmed settings, however, they will not be accurate unless your residence is right at or around\\nsea-level like my former home. My current home's elevation is at about 2180 ft. Please refer to the manual which explains how to make the simple adjustment-a one-time change that will correct all settings based on your elevation. Even if unplugged, the adjustment will not revert to the factory setting unless you program it to do so. Try to find that feature on any other electric pressure cooker!\\n\\nJust for clarification: This is listed as a 6 qt. appliance, however, the usable capacity is 4.5 qts. You will find it listed as one of those two on various websites. It would be nice if all websites explained this so that folks that see the 4.5 qt. description won't think the usable capacity is less than that.\\n\\nI've had my share of pressure cookers over the decades. The early electrics had a removable corded rotary thermostat with a temperature probe that heated the unit. The only way to test the accuracy was to set it to what appeared on the dial to be 212 degrees to see if water boiled. It was never truly accurate, but close. Once liquids no longer boiled at that setting, it was time to buy a new thermostat.\\n\\nI still own 2 stovetop stainless steel interior/exterior pressure cookers. They'll last forever and replacement parts are readily available.\\nUnfortunately, with stovetops I have to stay awake and alert-no taking a nap while those are being used! Yes, I'm old. I'm liable to fall asleep at the drop of a hat waiting for some of my long cooking items to get done.\\n\\nI've tried other electric pressure cookers, including the \\\"Instant Pot\\\", and a couple sold on TV shopping channels. Some I found to be cheaply made and unreliable. They either contained cheap nonstick coatings or not even close to accurate temperature settings. The \\\"Instant Pot\\\" is the only other electric pressure cooker I've kept.\\n\\nSo far, this fully-electronic model is wonderful compared to all of the others, new or vintage. I really love the \\\"Reduction\\\" setting. I like the fact that not only does it have many pre-programmed settings for common uses, but even the preset times can be overridden. I love that I don't have to constantly watch it because it turns itself off when the cycle has completed. Yes, that means while it's cooking, I get to take a nap without worrying that it will run dry, burn everything, and fill my house with smoke!\\n\\nThe ceramic-coated nonstick removable inner pot shows no sign of blistering or peeling, unlike the overrated, overpriced All Clad Gourmet Slow Cooker with Browning. Beautiful to look at, but that's where it ends.\\n\\nMy biggest concerns would be finding replacement parts down the line. It seems these higher-end products' parts aren't around indefinitely. The other worry would be failure of the screen. Sometimes modern technology won't hold up very long, especially where electronics come into play.\\n\\nYou can easily tell the higher quality of this appliance over many of the cheapie models on the market. I expect I will get my money's worth out of it even if I don't get 20 years out of it! It's truly worth the extra expense, and the learning curve is shorter than I anticipated. I'm overall very pleased with this purchase, as well as my other Breville electric appliances.\\n\\nI really hope that some day someone, preferably Breville, will invent an oval-shaped pressure cooker at least 6-8 quarts in size.\\nI've seen many oval slow cookers, many round pressure cookers, but never an oval pressure cooker. It would be a vast improvement and allow the cooker even more versatility.\",\n \"Product: The simplehuman stainless steel utensil holder with spoon rest is designed to store utensils of different sizes. A shallow front compartment holds shorter tools, like can openers, so they won't get lost at the bottom of the holder. Two deep compartments neatly store tall items. A detachable spoon rest is always in reach at the front of the holder.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: This One Beats the Oxo Models for Long Utensils\\n\\nReview: My first purchase of this identical item won't show here as verified because I purchased it several years ago directly from Simplehuman.com. I own several All-Clad brand utensils which range from 13\\\"-14.5\\\" in total length. When it came time (now) to replace it, I looked at the 3 Oxo styles. Although I like the styles, I couldn't bring myself to purchase Oxo due to their being shorter. I don't care for having over 1/2 of the length of the utensil sticking out, not to mention lessened stability. This one has just over 7\\\" usable interior height in the 2 outer compartments. The center compartment is for shorter items. I suspect the Oxo's bottom tray is included in its height measurement making the storage compartment even shorter. For my money, it's simplehuman.\\n\\nThe built-in spoon rest is extremely innovative, very conveniently located, and frequently used in my household.\\n\\nThe one thing I don't care about this product is that the narrow plastic bottom rim will crack and break off over time, making it unsightly, which is why I'm replacing it, so minus 1 star. I wish they'd update it to use a silicone bottom rim, then it would be near-perfect.\",\n \"Product: Lifetime Guarantee: We sell only high quality products But if for whatever reason this item does not meet your requirements, we will provide you with a full refund at anytime.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: No Ipod, Zune or Sansa? No Problem! I Use Mine ONLY with Memory Cards.\\n\\nReview: I don't own a stand-alone MP3 Player, nor do I need one. I have a memory card slot in my smartphone, laptop, desktop, and now, thanks to the Soundfly, in my 1995 & 1999 cars. I can use 1 card and transfer it between any of these items if I so choose and have sound through their speakers or with a headset or earbuds for those items having that capability.\\n\\nThe item description is limited when it comes to describing the features of this wonderful item. I wrote to the company in advance of making my purchase and was told that yes, it will accept Micro-SDHC cards up to 32MB. I am not sure whether the description also mentions that the unit's head can be adjusted.\\n\\nI have read some reviews that say they can't find an FM channel on their car radio to use. I guess with all of the frequencies available I have trouble understanding that, but here in Las Vegas, no problems at all.\\n\\nI use mine primarily in my 1999 Cadillac. As a smoker, I had also purchased an adapter to allow use of both the lighter and the Soundfly, but ended up just replacing one of the rear cigarette lighters with the Soundfly. I'm not one to want to do a lot of changing of songs while driving anyway.\\n\\nI will wait until the desert heat subsides before leaving it in the car regularly, but it's wonderful to know that it's so easy to just pull in and out of the lighter socket and small and lightweight enough to easily drop in my purse.\\n\\nThis was just what I needed to avoid the expense of buying and having two MP3-capable car radios installed.\",\n \"Product: The PB2703 is a top-loading MP3/CD player boombox with a built-in AM/FM radio tuner. Play your favorite music and audio files from the MP3/CD player, USB Port, SD MMC Slot. The telescopic FM antenna provides clearer reception, and the high-output stereo speakers fill your home with dynamic audio. Plus, the attractive exterior adds a stylish touch. And the easy-to-read LED panel lets you locate the CD controls quickly, even in the dark.\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: Big Disappointment After a Big High\\n\\nReview: I bought this specifically to have something portable that runs on AC or Batteries to take to my jobsite to play the music on my memory card. This had everything to fit the bill and I was anxiously anticipating its arrival.\\n\\nAfter inserting my SD card, I found it played two songs, then quit. There was no power. I jiggled the card and it started back. After placing a set of keys on the table next to it, it stopped again. I then realized I had an electrical short problem. I was devistated! I have to return it and there are no more in red to be found. Now I'll have to start my search over. I did, however, like the sound quality playing the SD card MP3's. Didn't try out the radio or CD functions at all.\",\n \"Product: Seidio's DILEX Pro with Metal Kickstand Combo contains a DILEX Pro with Metal Kickstand Case and a DILEX Pro Holster. The DILEX Pro with Metal Kickstand Case is a light, protective companion for smart devices on-the-go. It provides shock absorbing protection with two interlocking layers in a thin case for your phone. The case features our new Hex guard Technology, a honeycomb pattern on the interior TPU casing, that provides extra cushioning if your device is dropped. It also features our familiar soft-touch coating on the exterior that makes it easy to slide the case in and out of a pocket or purse. Slip the case into a secure spring-clip DILEX Pro Holster for the ultimate carrying solution for your device. The built-in metal kickstand can be used in landscape orientation for a hands free experience when viewing multimedia, managing photo slideshows, and displaying clocks and calendars. The magnetic kickstand provides convenience by easily snapping back in when not in use. (The DILEX Pro with Metal Kickstand Case does not support the device in portrait orientation.) *This product supports NFC.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: ... cell phone accessories since they are generally well-made and comfortable to hold\\n\\nReview: I love the Seidio holster, I do not love the case. For many phone styles, Seidio used to make 2 choices of holsters-for use with their case, and one to be used with a phone without a case that would hold it firmly in place with no give. Unfortunately, they don't do that anymore for many phones.\\n\\nI did not care for Seidio's Dilex or Surface cases but that was all they manufactured for the S6 Edge+. I purchased this set because it was less expensive than the holster alone, but will only be using the holster.\\n\\nLong story short-I'll be using this Seidio holster with a Spigen Slim Armor case like I've done with my standard S6. They are a perfect fit match.\",\n \"Product: The Slim Armor case offers absolute protection in a slim package for the LG V10. The impeccable fit of the hard PC exterior and soft TPU interior features shock absorbing technology that safeguards the device from drops in pristine style. The added kickstand props the display at a comfortable viewing angle for extra versatility.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: I really like this case\\n\\nReview: I really like this case!\\n\\nSince I purchase my V10, I've been waiting impatiently for Seidio to manufacture a case/holster combination for this phone. Heck, I'd settle for their holster alone because I feel their configured more sensibly than most.\\n\\nJust to have something to protect my phone, I bought the first cheapie combo case/holster on the market, but I hate it. It's ill fitting and just overall poor quality.\\n\\nSeidio, can you hear me crying out to you?? I've relied on your brand for the past 8 phones!\\n\\nOK, so since Seidio hasn't come through for me thus far, I was still looking for something that I could at least tolerate while waiting. I came across this Spigen. I immediately noticed that the main thing I wanted, a holster, was not made by Spigen for this case, but I ordered the case anyway.\\n\\nIt turns out it was so much nicer than the case I had, and it actually fit in the el-cheapo holster. This Spigen is a very slick and slippery case, but I love the fact that it's not overly bulky like some while still being protective, and the rose gold color is gorgeous and different.\\n\\nI'm still waiting for my favorite Seidio, but this is fine for now.\",\n \"Product: Miracle-Gro AeroGarden Bounty with Gourmet Herb Seed Pod Kit - Grow fresh herbs, vegetables, salad greens, flowers and more. Let your imagination grow wild!\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Not Cost-Effective For Me\\n\\nReview: Please Note: What you aren't told in the product description is that if you have a water softener system installed in your home, you will need to use water from an alternative source in this device.\\n\\nThis is a nice little toy for those who can afford it, but definitely not for those like myself that are budget-minded. For what the AeroGarden, pods and nutrients, plus add water and electricity costs, I can buy tons of herbs, vegetables, fruits and items not even capable of being grown in this unit. Just because it's \\\"organic gardening\\\", it still won't pay for itself any time soon. That is the only reason I deducted one star.\\n\\nIf I had been fortunate enough to get it free like the Vine Program participants, I probably wouldn't feel the way I do, but I have my hard-earned cash invested in something where there's a huge possibility that it will cease to function long before I could reach a break-even point.\\n\\nI'm sure it's very good at what it does and I envy those who can actually feel that owning one of these is in their best interest-it's just not for me.\",\n \"Product: SmartBidet is easy to install and offers its users hygiene, comfort, and convenience. It is easy to use and friendly to the environment. SmartBidet also offers a stylish design and a multi-function control panel. Here are a few of SmartBidet's amazing features: posterior wash, feminine wash, oscillating wash, warm air dryer, adjustable water pressure, hygienic filtered water, heated water, heated seat, safety on/off sensor, self-cleaning nozzle, quick release seat for easy cleaning, energy saving mode, soft close lid and seat.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Now I Have A Shiny Hiney\\n\\nReview: I am a 64-year-old woman who had never in life used a bidet of any kind, anywhere. After doing a lot of research, I decided on this once after the determination that a manual bidet wouldn't give me all of the features I would like to have. This item has at least most of them, plus some I didn't expect and was pleasantly surprised. This model seems to have more features than many others available without breaking the bank.\\n\\nI easily installed this myself. It actually took me longer to find the tools than to install the seat. There was absolutely no need for any additional equipment. In fact, I have a left-over metal water-connection hose since I had no need to change the existing one, just unscrew it from the toilet tank and reattach it to the adapter that turns 1 connection into 2. I had read stories from people who experienced leakage, but I suspect they've either under-tightened, over-tightened, or failed to use enough of the Teflon tape or their choice of sealant. The power cord was just long enough to reach my outlet without an extension. I added a single-plug GFI outlet <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/TRC-90033-Shockshield-White-Portable-GFCI-Plug-with-Surge-Protection/dp/B000XVG72G/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">TRC 90033 Shockshield White Portable GFCI Plug with Surge Protection</a> since my old home has no such outlets.\\n\\nI knew I couldn't tolerate cold water alone during the winter and this model heats. Beware and use the lower heat settings first until you find the one that's comfortable for you. This also applies to the heated drying feature. My first experience ended up with an uncomfortably overly-warmed left bun.\\n\\nThere's definitely a difference in water pressure when using the his vs hers settings. I'm no small woman; nevertheless, the highest setting intended for males was too powerful for me. This is also something that is adjustable-the water pressure.\\n\\nAll features/settings/adjustments are done from the remote control. I chose this model over the SB-1000. They've identical features except the fixed remote (SB-2000) vs. the SB-1000's detached remote.\\n\\nWhen you choose an electric bidet seat, compare this model's features with the high-priced competitors. I wish I had known about and purchased this years ago.\\n\\nThe only reason for 4-stars-it has only been installed for 1 month so I can't speak on its longevity factor.\",\n \"Product: GoBidet - GB-2003-C - Features and Functions - Single control knob control adjusts both water temperature & pressure - Fits 1- and 2-piece toilets, Round or Elongated - No electricity or battery needed - Chrome finish - Cool water connections are included - Hot water connection not included - Large spray area with 7-hole spray nozzle - Electroplated all brass -The GoBidet 2003C Chrome Bidet Attachment is a high quality add-on bidet system that can add a cleansing front or rear wash to virtually any toilet. The GoBidet is universally designed to fit 1 or 2 piece toilets and can be set up to work with both hot and cold water connections. It comes ready with connections for cold water, but an optional hot water kit can also be added to supply warm water from a nearby sink. The GoBidet 2003C bidet attachment also comes with a dual function support bracket so it will work with both 1 and 2 piece toilets. Made of durable solid brass with a high quality chrome finish - The unique swing arm design allows the GoBidet to be used for variety of bidet applications where bidet seats and traditional bidet attachments just won't work. It is as easy to install as it is to use, making it an easy, economical way to add bidet functionality to your toilet routine. Once installed, the GoBidet will straddle the rim of the toilet bowl and sit underneath your existing toilet seat. The mixing valve and control levers will be mounted off to the side of your toilet bowl (right side when seated) while the swing arm wash nozzle will sit inside of the bowl. The unique swing arm design of the GoBidet will stay folded along the inside rim of your toilet bowl and out of the way while you use the toilet. When you are ready to wash, use the rear lever to swing the arm into position underneath your bottom. Then, use the larger control level to adjust both the spray pressure and the spray temperature (with optional hot water kit). The spray head itself features 7 holes for large spray area.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Same Problem as LeslieMac23\\n\\nReview: Fortunately, I didn't get too much further than shutting off the water to the toilet tank,removing the toilet seat and seating the unit in the porcelain to see how it would fit. To my chagrin, and no matter how I tried, it just wasn't going to work out. The main unit, once it was placed in a position where the shower needed to be was not going to allow free range of motion for the temperature adjustment lever. I can't take the chance that the water might be too hot and scald me. If mine had looked like the ones in the photos taken by people who have had theirs a number of years, it may have worked. I see theirs has a lever that is shorter and has a rounded end whereas mine looks like the photo in the item description. Next, I sat there looking at the hot water kit I had also purchased separately. There was no way it was going to attach without at least one additional part purchase. That was the last straw for me. I'm thankful I didn't open the parts package because both items are definitely going back. I'll just have to buy one of those cheapie all-in-one units and replace it every couple of years.\"\n]","isConversational":false},"profile_size":{"kind":"number","value":27,"string":"27"},"task":{"kind":"string","value":"longlamp_3"},"split_kind":{"kind":"string","value":"user_based"},"id":{"kind":"number","value":959,"string":"959"}}},{"rowIdx":960,"cells":{"question_id":{"kind":"string","value":"AQ55H30MZSV0Q"},"question":{"kind":"string","value":"Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of \"1.0\" for a product with description \"The Camco RV 3/8\" or 1/2\" Drain Valve Barb with Flange can be used to easily drain your RV fresh water tank. Constructed of durable plastic with dual-size barb for use with 1/2\" or 3/4\" vinyl tubing.\". The summary of the review text is \"Don't work in a pressurized system, there is a better alternative\"."},"answer":{"kind":"string","value":"These were used in my motor home to drain water lines that are pressurized from the water pump and they cannot take the pressure so leak constantly. They become stiff to turn and they do not last more than two years before becoming brittle. I've had the handle break off on several. They could still be used but required an adjustable wrench to operate them.\n\nBTW the listing is incorrect, The barb is for 3/8\" or 1/2\" not 3/4\".\n\nThere is no large manufacturer who makes metal replacements for these, however there is a seller on ebay who has sells machined aluminum flanges with the 3/8-1/2\" barb that are tapped for a 1/8\" NPT thread into which you can screw an automotive drain valve which will not leak. They are pricey but will never need replacement. They are listed as \"RV Fresh Water Drain Valve Flanges\". I bought three and they are beautiful pieces of machining and, to me, well worth the cost. They work perfectly!"},"correct_answer":{"kind":"string","value":"These were used in my motor home to drain water lines that are pressurized from the water pump and they cannot take the pressure so leak constantly. They become stiff to turn and they do not last more than two years before becoming brittle. I've had the handle break off on several. They could still be used but required an adjustable wrench to operate them.\n\nBTW the listing is incorrect, The barb is for 3/8\" or 1/2\" not 3/4\".\n\nThere is no large manufacturer who makes metal replacements for these, however there is a seller on ebay who has sells machined aluminum flanges with the 3/8-1/2\" barb that are tapped for a 1/8\" NPT thread into which you can screw an automotive drain valve which will not leak. They are pricey but will never need replacement. They are listed as \"RV Fresh Water Drain Valve Flanges\". I bought three and they are beautiful pieces of machining and, to me, well worth the cost. They work perfectly!"},"documents":{"kind":"list like","value":["Product: This functional TV Stand features a large adjustable shelf behind framed with safety-tempered and well designed glass doors. Holds TV's up to 95 pounds. Finish in Cinnamon Cherry. Features: Overall Product Dimensions: 19.38\" H x 35.38\" W x 17.5\" D; Product Weight: 62.92 lbs.; TV Weight Limit: 95 lbs..\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Decent for the price.\n\nReview: My Daughter was moving into a new place and needed a TV stand. This looked like it filled the bill but for the color which I liked but she did not. She wanted grey and nothing in grey was available at a reasonable price so we decided to paint it. Big mistake - DON'T. Or. at least, don't use water based enamel because it does not stick, even after we sanded all the surfaces. Check for a primer that is made to adhere to laminate surfaces. Go to a professional paint store and buy what's recommended. Our paint job looked good but the paint peels from the surface with the slightest amount of friction.\n\nOther than that the assembly was straight forward and made easier by using a drill with a Phillips bit and its screw driver torque set to the lowest. The only problem that we had is that the shelf was too wide for the finished cabinet and had to be hammered into place, thus scraping off the paint. If I did it over I'd fit the shelf before screwing down the sides to see if that helps space things properly.","Product: Noise Canceling Headphones --- Reduces unwanted ambient noise by 87.4%, providing a quieter environment to enhance your listening experience. Foldable and swivel design --- Allows the headphones to fold up to a small and compact size. Dual use capability --- Allows for the option to listen to music with or without noise cancellation. This allows you to still beable to use the headphones as headphones when the battery runs dry. Plug Adaptor --- is supplied to connect directly to stereo or dual jack of in-flight music services.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Great for the price\n\nReview: I purchased these without first reading the Amazon reviews and was concerned once I had read them that the headphones would be worthless. I recently tried them out on two cross country flights using five different airplanes. My conclusion is that they do, indeed, work on reducing the constant rumbling background noise but only reduce it by about one third. If you push them hard against your ears they will cancel another third but, of course, this is not practical. Part of the reason that they do do not block out more noise is because the earcups rest on the ears, they do not surround the ears. For this reason they are also uncomfortable if you wear glasses as they push the ears into the glasses' sidepieces. On one flight my row mate had a set of expensive Bose noise canceling headphones with ear cushions that surround the ears and he let me try them. I found that the noise cancelling was far superior but that there was a constant, noticeable, white noise hiss that was as irritating as the remaining noise from the Sony. The smaller earcups on the Sony also make it easier to pack. I only listened to the in-flight channels so cannot comment on sound quality.","Product: DNA On-Ear Headphones-Multilingual, Apple Control Talk - White Over Light Grey. From the world's leading designer of high performance headphones, comes the newest in headphones technology, Monster DNA. Hear every detail, feel every beat, and express a bold, iconic, new look.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Superb sound, painful experience\n\nReview: I'm not an \"audiophile\". I'm 70 years old with hearing deficits from listening to loud popular music in the '60s and '70s with headphones. Lately I listen to my music on an iPod Classic and a 2d gen iPod Shuffle using high quality buds. My taste in music is eclectic: '50-'70s Pop, Motown, Big Band, pre-WWII Jazz, Blues, Western Swing, Bluegrass, Native American Flute, some musicals, African American Gospel, and Classic. It all sounds brilliant, clear and detailed with these headphones. The best test for me is listening to Bach Organ music and I cannot recall hearing it so well before.\n\nThe headphones isolate sound extremely well. My wife cannot hear the music to which I'm listening and I can barely hear that she is talking on the phone in the same room.\n\nIt came in fancy packaging with an elegant pocket for literature but there was not an Owner's Manual, not that it is too complicated to operate. One of the cords has a switch that allows the wearer to increase the volume by pushing the + sign, lowering it by pushing the - and turning the player on and off by pushing the o. It does not work with all players, does with my Classic, doesn't with the Shuffle.\n\nI'm absolutely thrilled with these and can find little wrong with them. However, I have NOT listened to other headphones in this price range so cannot compare them. Perhaps those of you with much time listening to high end stereo systems and high end headphones won't enjoy them as much as I do but I recommend them wholeheartedly. I recently found a good deal on less expensive Sony MDR 7506 Monitor Headphones about which I've read nothing but superb reviews. I expected to hear how The DNAs were put in their place but was very surprised to find out that I prefer the DNAs. I don't know how to explain it but listening to classical music the sounds were flat through the Sonys and rounder through the DNAs. The DNAs may be less accurate than the Sonys to a true audiophile but the DNAs are more enjoyable to me.\n\nRevised 2/21/14:\n\nOne very significant Con: The cushioned ear pads are small and do not surround my ears but, rather, sit on them and,cause my ears to hurt, badly. The Sony's fit better. DO NOT BUY THESE IF YOU HAVEN\"T TRIED THEM OUT FOR AN HOUR. I find them excruciatingly painful if worn for more than 15 minutes. Your ears and head may be different. For your sake I hope that they fit well because the sound is excellent. I cannot wear them.","Product: The Roku 1 is the best basic player money can buy. Enjoy stunning video at up to 1080p HD* . Roku 1 comes standard with composite cables just in case your TV doesn't have HDMI. Enjoy more than 2,000 streaming channels, offering access to 250,000+ movies and TV episodes, plus, music, sports, international programming, kids programming and more*. Search the widest selection of channels by title, actor, or director. Follow new movies you want to watch, and receive automatic updates when they are ready to stream. *Some channels require payment. Channel availability can change and varies by country. Availability of 1080p HD video limited by channel provider and speed of broadband connection.\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: Loved it for the 20 days that it worked\n\nReview: Then it would no longer recognize my ATT Wireless. After spending an hour with three different techs, one from the U.S., two from India, they told me that ROKU's maximum operating distance from a router is 30'. Really? Many rooms are longer than that. (Nowhere is that info mentioned by ROKU in its promotional materials.) I was about 60' from the router and it had worked for 20 days, why all of a sudden didn't it? Well, they didn't know but suggested I call AT&T and have it change the channel on my router to 11. I did that and it still wouldn't work.\n\nROKU would not exchange my ROKU for a new one. Given the hassle with this one and given the opening spiel from the first tech that ROKU would sell me an extended warranty which would allow me unlimited tech calls 24 hours a day for $19.95, my faith in ROKU was destroyed and I returned it.\n\nThank goodness I purchased it from Amazon and not directly from ROKU. I was able to return it within Amazon's 30 day window.\n\nI replaced it with a Sony Blu-Ray player, BD-S3100 player with Wi-Fi, which works perfectly. However, the ROKU streaming system (when it works) connects quicker and the selection method is easier to use and more intuitive than the Sony.","Product: Arrive refreshed after a long flight, avoid distractions in a noisy office, or find peace & quiet in your living room with the ATH-ANC7b-SViS Quiet Point Active Noise-Cancelling Headphones. These lightweight, compact headphones effectively reduce distracting background noise by 90% while offering the superior audio quality that has made Audio-Technical a worldwide leader in electro-acoustic technology.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: I'm glad I bought them\n\nReview: My Wife and I are preparing for a trip abroad. I have an old pair of Sony noise-cancelling headphones and looked for another pair of phones to cancel airplane noise. I read \"Best of\" reviews and reviews here on Amazon. The Audio Technica were rated second best to Bose for noise cancelling and were significantly cheaper, thus a \"Best Buy\". The Amazon reviews, also, were very favorable. The one negative reported was noise bleeding out from the headphones. I had my Wife sit near me while I played music through them and she only heard loud bass sounds and then only faintly. She did not believe they would bother a neighboring passenger.\n\nI haven't used them on a flight but I did find YouTube videos taken in-flight, I turned the volume up to where it was as loud as I remember a cabin being and the headphones cancelled it very well. Their sound reproduction is very good, too. They appear to be of solid construction, fit well, and are fairly comfortable. I'll update after I've used them for a long period on a flight.","Product: Aptx Bluetooth wireless audio. Wireless stream audio from your smartphone or tablet directly to the 450 with performance aptX Bluetooth built in. The aptX codec allows for cdquality audio with apt equipped smartphones, tablets or computers. Dialog up, commercials down. If you can' T hear the actors, it' S nearly impossible to follow the story. Zvox engineered accuracy with delivers voices clearly and distinctly when your program is playing. Everyone knows how sponsors love to ludicrously raise the volume during commercial breaks. The sound base 450' S output leveling feature reduces the commercial outburst, keeping the volume to a tolerable level. Big sound from a small console. Featuring three fullrange speakers, highoutput woofer and integrate amplification this Onepiece system replaces the need for a separate AV receiver and external speakers. There' S no need to run unsightly wires around the room to generate roomfilling surround. Plus, the sound base serves as a convenient pedestal for flatpanel TV sizes up to 55 inches. Since it can support up to 70 lbs, You can place the sound base 450 directly underneath your TV and without making extra room for IT on your entertainment cabinet. Built with convenience in mind. You can connect iPod or portable player to available extra inputs for terrific sound. The display on the 450 lights up from behind the front cloth grille then disappears when not in use. And the 450 learns the commands of your TV remote, giving you one less clicker to keep track of. Cable or satellite remote controlsensing circuitry powers the system on and off along with your TV.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Great upgraded sound, fantastic tech support!\n\nReview: I had a Zvox 420 that stopped working so I bought a 450 which solved my problem. The 450 produces the same sound as the 420. That is, it is far superior to the TV sound and much better than other sound bars that I've tried. The Dialogue setting is very good, but still not as clear as using headphones. The Output Level setting reduces the sound level on commercials and is a godsend. It is very easy to set up; 15 min, tops. It has some other upgraded features, such as Bluetooth connectivity, that I'm not interested in.\n\nBest of all is their Customer Service/Tech support. They diagnosed the problem with my 420 (which I gave to my daughter). It turns out that the speakers were fine, they just would not accept the recently upgraded audio signal that the stations have gone to though the optical cable connection. The 450 does, that's one of its upgrades. The solution was to use RCA cables to connect to the TV, or, better yet, newer TVs have adjustable audio settings in their menu settings that allow the speakers to use the new signal. That's what I did with my daughter's new TV. Fred, Dave, and Dan were the techs I spoke with and they could not have been more helpful.","Product: TalkAbout 280 SLK's are small enough to fit in the palm of your hand or slip into a shirt pocket. Yet these radios are packed with enough power to deliver crystal clear communication up to two miles depending on terrain and conditions.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: A great radio, but, worth the price?\n\nReview: I purchased two of these because they had the most features of all the Motorola models. Having NOW read the reviews of some of the competitors I am certain that I would have been just as happy with cheaper models. These are the \"cutest\" and smallest, but the feature of different sounds to identify different callers is a disappointment. The SENDING radio makes five different noises to identify five different senders, but the noise is made out loud on the sender's radio and the noise is transmitted the same as one's voice would be. I find it annoying and not worth any extra cost over the model 250. The only advantage that I can see of the Motorola 250 and 280 over the competition is the number of channels and sub-channels they make available. This would be a useful feature when there are lots of other radios being used in the area, such as at a crowded theme park but, in the circumstances that I find myself, there are never other radios around and I am not certain that we will be able to communicate with radios with less channels.\n\nMy wife and I use the radios when we are caravaning on drives with our car club and they have been very useful. One member missed a turnoff when he didn't see us turn and we were able to re-direct him, otherwise we probably would not have seen him until the end of the day.\n\nAnother consideration in making a purchase of a two-way radio is the number and type of accessories, we wound up spending as much on accessories as we did on the radios: arm holsters, earphone/ microphone combination for easier hands free operation when driving a car and rechargeable batteries and chargers.","Product: Make your own shade with this wide-brimmed sun hat. Woven paper fabric provides excellent breathability, while a Supplex lining provides UPF 30 protection. A removable chin cord keeps the Papyrus in place during hot afternoon winds\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: A shapeless mess, but good!\n\nReview: Not a bad hat if you don't mid looking like the hero's comic relief sidekick in a '40s Western.\n\nThis hat comes pre-crushed in a box. It does not, and will not, look anything like the picture. The crown does not retain its shape and, instead, is, essentially, round. Also the crown is low so that when the hat sits on your head the crown material fits close to the contours of your head. I like a hat in which there is space between the top of the crown and the top of one's head. There is little with this hat. The brim, also, is floppy (not to the point that it bands in a breeze, which is what I wanted) and does not retain it's shape. Pluses: It is very lightweight, the material is very breathable, it has a light weight sweat band and it is inexpensive. It is sized correctly for my 7&3/8\" head.\n\n9/18/13: Despite the fact that the hat decides, seemingly from day to day, what shape it will be, I find myself wearing this hat instead of others because it is so light weight and causes me to sweat less than any of the other hats that I have.\n\n6/24/17: The best hat I've found, so far for Sun and Heat (and I'm a hat freak) However, I still sweat a lot. My initial review is accurate, it needs a taller crown but I've just done an extensive search for sun hats and none do. Other than straw Cowboy hats which don't get good reviews for keeping one cool. I can't believe all the Top Ratings for sun hats of nylon that fit one's head snugly and only have mesh side panels.","Product: Foreign Legion caps are flat top, light weight and have a back flap for neck protection from the sun. Military specs. vintage washed.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Depends upon your use\n\nReview: I bought this cap in Khaki. Originally I wanted to use it to protect my ears and the back of my neck when hiking and walking in the desert sun but found that it did not breathe enough for that purpose and was too hot. I put it away but, after buying a roadster, found myself looking for the best headgear for driving it top down. A broad brimmed hat worked well for providing shade but because I have high back seats with headrests the back brim interfered with the headrest so that was not the answer. I'm a bit of a hat freak so I rummaged through my collection and re-discovered this hat and it is perfect. Not hot in the breeze and the wind that whips around the cockpit keeps the neck flap pushed in place. Good long brim to shade my eyes and the flap protects my ears. Great price for this perfect headgear!","Product: #1 Selling Nordic Walking Fitness Poles in the USA! Real Nordic Walking Poles! ALL 32 sizes in stock and ready to ship-FAST shipping. Quality 1-piece construction designed for every day use - dependable, user friendly(unlike cheap/flimsy collapsible poles). The Scandinavians recommend one-piece poles. The athletes I coach only use one-piece poles. Avoid cheap/flimsy twist-locking 2-piece and 3-piece adjustable length/telescoping/collapsible poles. All sizes in stock and ready to ship. Free DVD and printed instructions included with every order. Please send us an Amazon email with the height of the person that these fancy new poles are for. According to Nick Mahood, SWIX Nordic Walking Director, "I have no doubt that Pete Edwards (SKIWALKING.COM) is the #1 retailer of Nordic Walking Poles in the US! You can quote me on that! We are generally an inactive and increasingly overweight country. Nordic Walking is just what we need, it is simple, effective and gives people who have difficulty moving the ability to get out and walk! Through his nationwide efforts to spread the message about Nordic Walking Pete Edwards has given thousands of people the means to improve their health and well being! Pete Edwards has single handedly introduced Nordic Walking to thousands of Americans through his enthusiastic classes!" Nordic Walking is the best! Nordic Walking is for ALL ages and ALL fitness levels." Perfect Length Guarantee-include your height when ordering and we will select the Perfect Length Poles for your height. Perfect length poles help us to automatically walk with a super straight back-better walking posture is biomechanically a good thing. Special Attention: If you have questions or if you having pole sizing questions please call us at 231-334-3080. Please note that SWIX and EXEL are #1 rated poles + they are the real thing - they are not the fake collapsible poles flooding the market from China. Don't get scammed by cheap/flimsy collapsible poles.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Great poles, great exercise\n\nReview: I have been walking the sandy and rocky trails here in Northern Nevada in order to build up my stamina after chemo and radiation Cancer treatment. It's definitely helped but I wanted to try strengthening my upper body, too. I've seen people walking with poles so bought a cheap set of trekking poles after doing some research on line. The trekking poles were a hindrance, not a help, and I quickly realized that the descriptions about their use did not really describe what they were NOT good for, which is the kind of walking that I, and, I assume, most people, do for fun and exercise. In my walking I swing my arms, as runners realize is necessary for efficient technique. Trekking poles are meant to be kept in front of you to stabilize you when shuffling along in steep or very rocky or loose terrain or with a heavy backpack. They can be used to swing along side you but are not really meant or designed for that. Further research convinced me that Nordic poles were more in line with the kind of walking that I do. Further checking, including reading the reviews here, also convinced me that these poles were a \"best buy\" so I ordered them.\n\nI'm very happy with the poles and with the dealer. I received an e-mail asking me to provide my height, so that the pole length could be determined, almost instantaneously with the placing of my order. The poles were shipped the same day and I received them very quickly without expedited shipping.\n\nAs someone who Cross Country skied quite a bit in the past I believed that I wouldn't have too much trouble picking up the basic technique and I was right. The poles came with two 8&1/2\"X11\" sheets of paper with printed set of instructions which described the technique. It is very close to Cross country ski poling from which it derives. One thing the instructions emphasize is not gripping the handles of the ski poles but allowing them to swing free tethered by the patented glove-like strap. After using the poles for awhile, I realized that while Cross country skiing I did grip the poles too much and having these straps on Cross country ski poles would make them much easier to use effectively for skiing.\n\nThe poles also came with a DVD and I was excited to receive it because it's always easier to learn when you can see a proper example of what's being taught. However, the DVD was a disappointment. Rather than being an instructional DVD it was really a promotional DVD with only a very small section on instruction on proper technique which wasn't very well done. After all of the emphasis in the written materials on not holding on to the handles of the poles, the beginners shown do hold on to their poles. The DVD shows a very fit woman with the firmest Gluteous Maximus in all of Christendom springing around like a Gazelle or a Mountain Sheep in the Rockies. It's nice to see the potential of the poles but little time is shown as to how to develop it. There are many videos on-line showing how to use Nordic style poles, although they do show varying versions of \"Nordic walking\", so while they do not vary very much it can be somewhat confusing. However, they do give you enough information so that you get the general idea and you can experiment with the variations to see which work best for you.\n\nThe poles in actual use: As I said, the patented glove/strap works really well and one does not need to grasp the handles. However, the strap does rub my hand at the base of my forefinger where it meets the crotch with my thumb. Also I found that while the \"letting the poles swing free technique\" works well on open flat ground, it needs to be modified when using a narrow path bordered by rocks and bushes. In that case more effort is required to move the poles over obstacles and one does need to hold on to the the handles with one's fingers to do so. Further, the total release use of the poles allows them to drag along the ground. Dragging across snow has no side affects, dragging across stoney and rocky ground is noisy. Just planting the poles on rocky ground is noisy enough, so idyllic solitude is disturbed by using the poles and my accompanying wife complained about the noise.\n\nAnother problem that I had was that the poles when not gripped and swinging forward would sometimes land in line with my feet so that I would stumble over them.\n\nThe one really annoying problem is how difficult and time consuming it is to remove the straps and the poles if you need to use your hands for anything. The click out straps would be much nicer to have. I don't know if they are available on one piece non-metal poles but if they are, I would recommend those over these. They may not be as adjustable as are these straps but there are no instructions that come with these poles as to how to lengthen and shorten the straps and I'd rather pay for a second set of straps, if I needed them for wearing gloves, in exchange for the convenience of easily freeing one's hands.\n\nThe fact that the poles are one piece definitely makes them lighter and stronger which will be important when the stage is reached that one really pushes off them with one's arms. Not being metal means that they are not as noisy in use.\n\nI have one complaint with the product. Otherwise it seems to be ideal. I do agree with Rebecca's concern. Before I purchased these poles I read all the reviews and I did not understand her concern. I now do. As I state above, it is a problem to use your hands to take a drink from a bottle, blow your nose, pull stickers from your dog, pick up dog poop, etc. because removing the poles is not easy.\n\nMy only other complaint is that I wish that there was a more comprehensive, detailed instruction DVD provided showing how to use the poles in a wide range of terrain situations.","Product: #1 Selling Nordic Walking Fitness Poles in the USA! Real Nordic Walking Poles! ALL 32 sizes in stock and ready to ship-FAST shipping. Quality 1-piece construction designed for every day use - dependable, user friendly(unlike cheap/flimsy collapsible poles). The Scandinavians recommend one-piece poles. The athletes I coach only use one-piece poles. Avoid cheap/flimsy twist-locking 2-piece and 3-piece adjustable length/telescoping/collapsible poles. All sizes in stock and ready to ship. Free DVD and printed instructions included with every order. Please send us an Amazon email with the height of the person that these fancy new poles are for. According to Nick Mahood, SWIX Nordic Walking Director, "I have no doubt that Pete Edwards (SKIWALKING.COM) is the #1 retailer of Nordic Walking Poles in the US! You can quote me on that! We are generally an inactive and increasingly overweight country. Nordic Walking is just what we need, it is simple, effective and gives people who have difficulty moving the ability to get out and walk! Through his nationwide efforts to spread the message about Nordic Walking Pete Edwards has given thousands of people the means to improve their health and well being! Pete Edwards has single handedly introduced Nordic Walking to thousands of Americans through his enthusiastic classes!" Nordic Walking is the best! Nordic Walking is for ALL ages and ALL fitness levels." Perfect Length Guarantee-include your height when ordering and we will select the Perfect Length Poles for your height. Perfect length poles help us to automatically walk with a super straight back-better walking posture is biomechanically a good thing. Special Attention: If you have questions or if you having pole sizing questions please call us at 231-334-3080. Please note that SWIX and EXEL are #1 rated poles + they are the real thing - they are not the fake collapsible poles flooding the market from China. Don't get scammed by cheap/flimsy collapsible poles.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Great poles, great exercise\n\nReview: I have been walking the sandy and rocky trails here in Northern Nevada in order to build up my stamina after chemo and radiation Cancer treatment. It's definitely helped but I wanted to try strengthening my upper body, too. I've seen people walking with poles so bought a cheap set of trekking poles after doing some research on line. The trekking poles were a hindrance, not a help, and I quickly realized that the descriptions about their use did not really describe what they were NOT good for, which is the kind of walking that I, and, I assume, most people, do for fun and exercise. In my walking I swing my arms, as runners realize is necessary for efficient technique. Trekking poles are meant to be kept in front of you to stabilize you when shuffling along in steep or very rocky or loose terrain or with a heavy backpack. They can be used to swing along side you but are not really meant or designed for that. Further research convinced me that Nordic poles were more in line with the kind of walking that I do. Further checking, including reading the reviews here, also convinced me that these poles were a \"best buy\" so I ordered them.\n\nI'm very happy with the poles and with the dealer. I received an e-mail asking me to provide my height, so that the pole length could be determined, almost instantaneously with the placing of my order. The poles were shipped the same day and I received them very quickly without expedited shipping.\n\nAs someone who Cross Country skied quite a bit in the past I believed that I wouldn't have too much trouble picking up the basic technique and I was right. The poles came with two 8&1/2\"X11\" sheets of paper with printed set of instructions which described the technique. It is very close to Cross country ski poling from which it derives. One thing the instructions emphasize is not gripping the handles of the ski poles but allowing them to swing free tethered by the patented glove-like strap. After using the poles for awhile, I realized that while Cross country skiing I did grip the poles too much and having these straps on Cross country ski poles would make them much easier to use effectively for skiing.\n\nThe poles also came with a DVD and I was excited to receive it because it's always easier to learn when you can see a proper example of what's being taught. However, the DVD was a disappointment. Rather than being an instructional DVD it was really a promotional DVD with only a very small section on instruction on proper technique which wasn't very well done. After all of the emphasis in the written materials on not holding on to the handles of the poles, the beginners shown do hold on to their poles. The DVD shows a very fit woman with the firmest Gluteous Maximus in all of Christendom springing around like a Gazelle or a Mountain Sheep in the Rockies. It's nice to see the potential of the poles but little time is shown as to how to develop it. There are many videos on-line showing how to use Nordic style poles, although they do show varying versions of \"Nordic walking\", so while they do not vary very much it can be somewhat confusing. However, they do give you enough information so that you get the general idea and you can experiment with the variations to see which work best for you.\n\nThe poles in actual use: As I said, the patented glove/strap works really well and one does not need to grasp the handles. However, the strap does rub my hand at the base of my forefinger where it meets the crotch with my thumb. Also I found that while the \"letting the poles swing free technique\" works well on open flat ground, it needs to be modified when using a narrow path bordered by rocks and bushes. In that case more effort is required to move the poles over obstacles and one does need to hold on to the the handles with one's fingers to do so. Further, the total release use of the poles allows them to drag along the ground. Dragging across snow has no side affects, dragging across stoney and rocky ground is noisy. Just planting the poles on rocky ground is noisy enough, so idyllic solitude is disturbed by using the poles and my accompanying wife complained about the noise.\n\nAnother problem that I had was that the poles when not gripped and swinging forward would sometimes land in line with my feet so that I would stumble over them.\n\nThe one really annoying problem is how difficult and time consuming it is to remove the straps and the poles if you need to use your hands for anything. The click out straps would be much nicer to have. I don't know if they are available on one piece non-metal poles but if they are, I would recommend those over these. They may not be as adjustable as are these straps but there are no instructions that come with these poles as to how to lengthen and shorten the straps and I'd rather pay for a second set of straps, if I needed them for wearing gloves, in exchange for the convenience of easily freeing one's hands.\n\nThe fact that the poles are one piece definitely makes them lighter and stronger which will be important when the stage is reached that one really pushes off them with one's arms. Not being metal means that they are not as noisy in use.\n\nI have one complaint with the product. Otherwise it seems to be ideal. I do agree with Rebecca's concern. Before I purchased these poles I read all the reviews and I did not understand her concern. I now do. As I state above, it is a problem to use your hands to take a drink from a bottle, blow your nose, pull stickers from your dog, pick up dog poop, etc. because removing the poles is not easy.\n\nMy only other complaint is that I wish that there was a more comprehensive, detailed instruction DVD provided showing how to use the poles in a wide range of terrain situations.","Product: Synopsis : \nDuring Late World War II, the Japanese Army starts losing in the battle. Special junior officers including Kamio(Kenichi Matsuyama) board Yamato and meet the officer Moriwaki (Takashi Sorimachi) and Uchida (Shidou Nakamura). However, this battle marks the virtual end of the Combined Fleet of the Imperial Japanese Navy. Then in April 1945, Yamato is ordered to carry out a suicide mission and sets out to the waters of Okinawa....\n\nLanguage : Japanese / Cantonese\n\nSubtitle : Chinese / English \n\nVideo Format : NTSC\n\nModel : DVD9\n\nDiscs : 1\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: A skimpy presentation of the Yamato in WW2\n\nReview: Really two and one half stars. I had read the excellent \"A Glorious Way To Die\" about Yamato's last mission so I was able to fill in the blanks but the subtitle translations were atrocious and make it hard to know if there were any subtleties in the movie that I missed. I doubt it. I concur completely with Maciek's Two Star review. there was so much more background that easily could have been included to emphasize and explain the tragedy. There was NO information as to what the Yamato faced, I believe it was 6 carrier groups and all their planes. It was truly suicidal. The Yamato was not alone there was one other battleship, one cruiser, and 4 destroyers, as I recall, what was left of the Japanese Navy. Two destroyers survived to pick up survivors.","Product: You are bidding on a Motorola va76r Tundra unlocked for activation on any GSM carrier, such as AT&T or T-Mobile. This phone has been call tested and is in full working order. The phone uses GSM technology. It cannot be activated for Verizon, Sprint, or other CDMA carriers. Comes with battery and charger. If you have any problems with this phone, whatsoever, WE WILL FIX IT FOR YOU.\n\nSPECIFICATIONS\nDimensions: 4.01 x 2.1 x 0.9 in\nWeight: 4.9 oz\nDisplay: 2.2 in\nTalk time: 5\nStandby: 14 days\nBand: WCDMA (UMTS) / GSM 850/900/1800/1900\n \n \nFEATURES\n \nCamera: 2 MP (zoom 4X)\nBluetooth: 2.0\n \nWorld roaming (quad band GSM)\nWeb browser\nEmail\nSMS/MMS messaging\nMP3 player\n \nPush-to-talk\n \nGPS\n \nMicroSD slot\nSpeakerphone\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Not worth the money to me.\n\nReview: I bought this phone for one reason only: Sound quality. The reviews on different Tech review websites said that this phone had by far the best sound of any AT&T compatible phone. I was tired of garbled sound and thought it would be worth the money. The sound has proven to be no better than other phones that I have had. Also, the use of functions and entering of information is less intuitive and more difficult for me than other phones. I'm not a techie and don't want to be. To make using the phone even more of a problem, the owner's manual that came with it stopped at 43 pages although the table of contents shows more than 100 pages. The seller was friendly enough but said it could not locate a replacement and referred me to the owner's manual website. The phone has many functions that I don't need and never intended to use so I can't review them, as I said I was interested in sound quality and am disappointed.","Product: The Auto Expressions Bucket Seatcover features innovative fabric and design for both fashion and fit. This seatcover updates the appearance of old or dirty seats and protects against splits, stains, fading, dirt, and pet hairs. Made from strong, sturdy fabrics, the unique design features the \"Superfit\" flap for a more snug, wrinkle-free fit. The seatcover is easy to install and fits most bucket seats. Each package contains one bucket seatcover.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: O.K. for the price\n\nReview: I'm using these on a 2005 MINI. I was looking for inexpensive covers and they fit the bill. However, if you have side bolsters on your seats the covers do not fit the seats snugly. Also,the covers will cover any pockets you have on the back of your seats and any back rake adjustment levers and quick release levers that slide the seat forward.\n\nThe covers have a thin foam lining so I doubt that they will stand up to a washing once they have gotten dirty.\n\nOne more thing, the illustration makes the covers look like they are a solid grey, they are not. The panels on the sides of the front of the seat are solid grey, the center panel is a multi-hued grey lozenge pattern. (The back and sides are a grey stretch material.)","Product: Powerful, portable, and efficient, the Yamaha EF2000iS Gas-Powered Portable Inverter delivers maximum electrical output without sacrificing portability. Thanks to its innovative inverter system, the generator is able to generate up to 2,000 watts of clean AC power. It can run up to 10.5 hours continuously without refueling and uses premium technologies to maximize fuel efficiency.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Great generator but expensive. Customer service less than helpful.\n\nReview: After much research I bought two of these to replace a Robin Subaru RG3200iS generator that I've had for a few years and use when I'm dry camping to run the a/c in my Motor home. I'm usually land sailing and carry the generator in the trailer that I pull with all my land sailing equipment but it is a heavy generator and really too heavy to lift by myself. Recently I've needed a generator when I'm not pulling my trailer. Loading the Subaru into my Motor home was a real ordeal, even with two people. Two of these Yamahas equal the output of the Subaru at about two thirds the weight. One third for each. They can be linked together with the appropriate accessory (as can the Hondas). At 44 pounds, dry weight, they can be managed by one person.\n\nThis Yamaha and its equivalent Honda are very similar. I decided on the Yamaha because it has a fuel gauge, which the Honda doesn't, a metal valve train component, Honda's is plastic, a longer warranty and a slightly cheaper price. The Honda has a fuel pump that draws fuel so an auxiliary gas tank can be used. Yamaha's gas is gravity fed so, while one can use an auxiliary gas tank, it has to be located above the generator which is not very practical. Not foreseeing the need for a longer run than the tank provides, I went with the Yamaha.\n\nAs almost everyone says and the You tube videos show, it starts right up with one or two easy pulls and is one of the most silent portable generators available although it is certainly not whisper quiet.\n\nI'm deducting one star for several reasons. The Owner's Manual is good but not great. It does not warn you how difficult it is to remove the side panel. To do so, one removes two screws but it does not then come off because there are three \"snap on\" posts, one at the top middle, and two, one each, down the sides, that require some force to free and some force, the heel of the hand, to slam back in place. There is no indication on the cover, such as lips or finger holds, where these posts are.\n\nAlso, maintenance is based upon hours run and there is no hour meter installed. Yamaha makes one (Yamaha Engine Meter 4C-01), for an additional $50 bucks, but it is generic, not specific to this model and is not easy to install on it.\n\nA non-Yamaha accessory which is worth getting is an oil filler cap with a magnet to attract metal particles in the oil.\n\nThe best price that I could find was at Yamahgenerators.com.\n\nAnother major drawback is that you cannot drain the gas tank. You have to get a hand siphon to remove the fuel, so that's an additional cost. I didn't drain it, I used Stabil and suffered the result of having to get the carbs cleaned. So another $20 for a Gastapper fluid changer.\n\n6/8/16: I have to knock off another star. The generator is as previously stated, HOWEVER service leaves much to be desired. The Owner's manual says that you need \"a high altitude kit\" to run at over 4000'. I live at 4500'. However, my local Yamaha authorized repair shop was unaware of the need for different jets and could find nothing about it in their Yamaha materials, including parts info. Yamaha Customer relations was not much better, I was placed on hold to transfer to a \"specialist\" twice for ten minutes, each time, before hanging up, but I finally spoke with a customer relations person who was more helpful and told me I needed to contact Mikuni, the carb mfr, for the parts. The number for Mikuni that she gave me was no longer a working number. After leaving several messages at different numbers which I found on-line, I received a call back from a helpful rep at Sudco (Sudco.com) who had info on the different jets for different altitudes and I ordered the correct one (65) from him. He said that I only needed to change the Main jet, not the Pilot jet.","Product: his is NOT just your ordinary Native American flute music. One of the earliest and still the best of the Coyote Oldman recordings, \"Thunder Chord\" is a haunting evocation of the timeless, of dimensions beyond the visible. Powerfully transcendental, this tape has been used to help AIDS and cancer patients find their own timeless core of Self.\n\"Coyote Oldman\" was originally two performers: Michael Graham Allen, who reconstructs and plays archoelogical flutes of the Americas; and Barry Stramp, who mixed and digitally processed Allen's flute music. No synthesizers or samplers are used on this or previous Coyote Oldman recordings. Indeed, it was Stramp's genius with the digital recombining of Allen's flute playing that gave Thunder Chord its other-worldly beauty. Oldman after Stramp is pleasant, occasionally strong, but much more pedestrian. Thunder Chord is Coyote Oldman at its very best.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Boring but good backgound music\n\nReview: I was looking for another Native American flute artist after discovering R. Carlos Nakai, whom I really like. Based upon reviews by a self-professed flautist and appreciater of Native American flautists, despite not being able to learn anything about the music from listening to the 30 second sound bites, I purchased the album. Big disappointment. There is a fine line between subtle and boring. This music is so unvarying and monotonous that it far transgresses that line. It is expensive white noise. I can understand it being used for entirely unobtrusive background music at a spa but for anyone who wants to LISTEN to flute music it is a complete waste of time. Also, when I meditate I don't want any other noise than my breathing so it is of no use to me for that purpose.\n\nYour tastes may difer from mine but I strongly recommend that you listen to the entire album before purchasing it.","Product: HP's latest Photosmart A646 compact photo printer allows direct printing from you camera enabled cellphone via built-in Bluetooth.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Nice, but not for serious photographer\n\nReview: This is a very compact machine and fairly simple to use. It produces crisp and clean prints with good detail. Landscapes come out best. With portraits, the colors get funny and one needs to experiment with different manufacturers' paper, and the \"Photo fix\" and \"Colorspace\" settings under \"Preferences\". As the other reviewer mentioned, there is no black ink cartridge so the print colors are compromised and, often, inaccurate. I see this as a printer to use if one doesn't own a computer or to take to a party and print photos on the spot to give to friends. The limitation on this latter use is the slowness of the machine. Prints take 1&1/2 minutes and imputs such as editing and scrolling are also slow. Print sizes are limited to 4\"X6\" and 5\"X7\" (and panoramic 4\"X12\").\n\nThe printer did not do a good job of finding and correcting red-eye and pet-eye (a feature I liked because I take a lot of pet photos). It was hit and miss. Also, while I didn't try all the special effects, I found problems with those that I did use. I could not get the machine to print a border on an edited picture. Despite showing the preview of the border on the edited photo, the actual print would be a border on the unedited photo.\n\nI do not know how long an ink cartridge lasts, the sample provided is not a full cartridge. Cartridges are about twenty dollars.\n\nIt does not take all sizes of memory cards but can print from a Pictbridge certified camera (whatever that is). So check to see that your card is compatible.\n\nAs with all electronic products, currently, at least in my experience, there is no full owner's manual provided, only a \"Start Here\" guide. One has to download the full manual from HP's website, so now I have an unbound stack of 47 8&1/2\"X11\" pages. I think this is an unbelievably cheap practice.\n\nTo make prints at home of casual snapshots, this does an adequate job, especially if one doesn't have a computer or printer.","Product: Americas finest rabbit repellent granular and easy to use, all natural and environmentally safe. Specifically formulated to stop rabbit damage to vegetables, shrubs and flowers, and it is guaranteed. It does not smell bad and won not wash off in rain. Rabbit scram won not harm animals, the environment or you and your family. This product contents 6 Pounds.\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: Didn't repel, didn't even discourage. Worthless.\n\nReview: I have a very small, putting green sized lawn in a housing development in what was originally Sagebrush covered land. We have both Jack rabbits and cottontails. This year the coyote population seems to have been greatly reduced and the cottontail population has exploded. The rabbits started eating my grass at the edge of my lawn and their urine has killed it. As the grass dies they move inward. Spreading Rabbit Scram around the perimeter of my lawn, on the decomposed granite which is the surface of most of my yard, even with additional applications, has done nothing to stop them. Every morning and evening (goodness knows what happens at night) there are one, or more, rabbits sitting in the middle of the lawn. They are not even discouraged enough to visit my neighbor's lawn which is twice as large, is only 20' away, and has not been treated in any way to repel rabbits. The only good news is that Rabbit Scram smells like a nice BBQ rub. I've used most of the 25# pail that I purchased in order to give the product a fair trial. All to no avail. A wasted $110.00 as I hesitate to use it as a BBQ rub.","Product: If you want your outdoor power equipment to last longer and do more, you want Arnold parts, accessories, and attachments. Providing you with a wide variety of top-quality, snow-friendly products, Arnold winter parts and accessories will get your equipment through those cold, snowy months. Compatible with tons of major brands, 50+ years of proven performance has landed Arnold a reputation of cutting edge product innovations and extensive engineering expertise. From basic maintenance to major innovations, Arnold has everything you need to keep equipment running the way it should season after season. With Arnold you can be confident of a reliable product with accurate fit, design, material, and construction. In addition to reliable parts and accessories, Arnolds easy-to-follow instructions and extra tips will ease your equipment maintenance and assure that you get the job done right.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: OEM for YardMachine Snow Blowers\n\nReview: Just O.K. I lost mine in the snow because I kept unsnapping it from the bracket in order to clear out icy snow from the chute. Stuck it in my pocket and it fell out. I'll probably find it in this Spring. In the meantime I use a small crow bar which works as well, or better, but which is heavy and cold. I'm looking to buy another but will drill a hole through it and install a lanyard so I can keep it on my wrist.\n\nI did buy, instead, Snow Joe SJCOT Universal Electric Snow Thrower Chute Clean Out Tool which is just as good at half the price. I've given up on the idea of drilling the tool to add a strap as I'm afraid that the drill holes will weaken it.","Product: The Perky-Pet Copper Panorama Wild Bird Feeder is sure to attract many birds to your backyard. The cutting-edge design of this feeder allows the seed to dispense into the tray and stop dispensing once the tray is full. As the birds continue to dine from the circular perch, the seed is replenished into the tray so it remains consistently full. This feeder also features the Sure-Lock cap system, an innovative squirrel proof feature which ensures the lid stays put and squirrels cant get into the seed. The Copper Panorama holds 2 lb of seed and features an eye-catching copper finish. Remember to clean your wild bird feeders every two weeks with a mild soap and water solution.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Gorgeous but not for use in windy site\n\nReview: We have been using a yellow \"sock\" with thistle seed to feed birds in the Winter. It attracts sparrows, gold finches and juncos. We decided to try to feed larger birds like Blue Jays. The feeder hung for days with no birds on it. We then spilled some of the seed on the ground to try to attract the birds. They were attracted, to the seed on the ground. They still would not feed from the feeder. My assessment was that the perch isn't large enough for larger birds so I filled the feeder with thistle and, lo and behold, it was visited by the small birds, but no where near as much as the nearby sock.\n\n1/18/16: Have been using it for Black Sunflower seeds and it works well, but no large birds, HOWEVER, if you have high winds the feeder will sway back and forth and dump out all the seed.","Product: Deer scram stimulates a strong fear response by emitting an odor that deer and rabbits associate with their dead kin. It repels the animal before they nibble on plants. Deer scram does not have an unpleasant odor to humans, but discourages unwanted animals from returning to the protected area. It contains no synthetic additives, is non toxic, biodegradable and will not harm animals or the environment. Deer scram biodegrades into high nitrogen organic nutrients. It should be applied every 30 to 45 days depending on weather conditions. This granular product is easy to apply and is rain and snow resistant. This product contents 6 Pounds.\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: Didn't repel, didn't even discourage. Worthless.\n\nReview: I have a very small, putting green sized lawn in a housing development in what was originally Sagebrush covered land. We have both Jack rabbits and cottontails. This year the coyote population seems to have been greatly reduced and the cottontail population has exploded. The rabbits started eating my grass at the edge of my lawn and their urine has killed it. As the grass dies they move inward. Spreading Rabbit Scram around the perimeter of my lawn, on the decomposed granite which is the surface of most of my yard, even with additional applications, has done nothing to stop them. Every morning and evening (goodness knows what happens at night) there are one, or more, rabbits sitting in the middle of the lawn. They are not even discouraged enough to visit my neighbor's lawn which is twice as large, is only 20' away, and has not been treated in any way to repel rabbits. The only good news is that Rabbit Scram smells like a nice BBQ rub. I've used most of the 25# pail that I purchased in order to give the product a fair trial. All to no avail. A wasted $110.00 as I hesitate to use it as a BBQ rub.","Product: Organic Cotton Stuffed Dog Bed\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Well made hypoallergenic dog bed\n\nReview: The bed is made from a cotton twill cover of organically grown cotton. It is a chino (khaki) pants weight twill. The filling is a fiber fill made from 100% re-cycled soda pop bottles. The cover is removable for washing and it is handmade in the U.S.A. (Montana). The Basil color is fairly accurately reproduced in the photo. It is a very sturdy bed but will not withstand the efforts of a serious digger or bed destroyer and it is not warranteed against destruction. My Miniature Schnauzer jumped right in and curled right up. The Medium is actually large for him. Breeds a step up in size such as Irish Terriers should fit perfectly. I'll update this review if there are durability issues.\n\nUpdate. Both my Miniature Schnauzers like the bed so much that I bought a second one (in a different color). The cushions are interchangeable so we swapped them for a little more zip. Both dogs love the beds.","Product: The Slo-Bowl is a natural, healthy and playful solution for dogs that gobble their kibble too quickly. Our nature-inspired designs promote natural eating habits by requiring dogs to forage for their feasts. Moreover, by prolonging feeding times, Slo-Bowls reduce the risks for bloat, regurgitation and canine obesity. Dogs quickly learn to \"chase\" their food through the maze of ridges and valleys, making dinnertime feel more like a hunt. And, because the Slo-Bowl \"rewards\" their play with bits of food, furry friends become more and more engaged as the meal goes on. Veterinarians agree that slower feeding is safer feeding. When it's time to dine, feed your dog with peace of mind.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Depends on what kind of a tongue your dog has.\n\nReview: I have two Miniature Schnauzers that literally inhale their food. They do NOT chew it at all. I give them dry kibble and canned green beans for bulk. They are 6 and 4 years old and, so far, have suffered no ill effects from their speedy eating. However, I felt it had to be better if they slowed down and actually chewed their food. They have long skinny tongues so they can reach in the passages but a dog with a ladle shaped tongue might not be very successful. I bought two of these, the circular spiral and the flower. The spiral has much deeper grooves and is harder for both of them to use. I would not get it again for them. The flower seems just difficult enough. I alternate with feedings.\n\nI'm happy because it slows them down and gives them a challenge and all the dog owners in our family think that it is a great idea. My wife thinks that I'm a Sadist and am torturing them.","Product: The Lava the Original 14.5-Inch Colormax Lamp with Rainbow Decal Base will bring color and a relaxed, happy vibe to any room. The rainbow graphics on the base and cap match perfectly to the rainbow of the multi-colored glass globe. As the white lava passes through the glass globe, it absorbs different colors and changes tones. Watch the instant motion and enjoy this version of a timeless Lava the Original lamp. For over fifty years, the iconic Lava the Original brand has been the pioneer in novelty and conventional lighting products, and today it stands as one of the most recognized, trusted, and beloved brands of all time. At Lava the Original, our commitments to pursuing the latest fashion trends, cutting-edge technology, and unsurpassed quality ensure that we continue to intrigue our older fans while enticing the younger generation with our exciting new product lines. So whether you are six or sixty, we have a Lava the Original lamp product just right for setting the mood of your life.\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: WARNING: Lava-less \"Lava\" Lamp.\n\nReview: The second of these is the same as the first. Despite being CALLED a Lava lamp, there is NO \"Lava\" in it. Just sparkly bits that move around. Of course there is no coil and no wax!\n\nThe first came with a broken bulb of a size not easy to find. I had to go to two bulb stores to find it. Then, when turned on, all it does is sparkle and bubble very small bubbles. Reading the manufacturer's posts I looked closely and realized the globe contains NO heating coil and NO wax! I'm going to exchange it to see if I have better luck. Considering what terrible reviews these lamps get, all my fingers and toes are crossed.","Product: Valspar's Plastic Paint is ideal for refreshing or changing the color of any interior or exterior rigid plastic surface, including outdoor furniture, plastic play toys, and storage equipment. Offers superior adhesion, with no primer necessary.\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: So bad in so many ways\n\nReview: I spent much time reading reviews on spray paints for plastic. Three brands make such paint, Krylon, Valspar and Rust-oleum. All are well established brands, have been around for a long time, and I've used them in the past.\n\nAll three have great and terrible reviews for their paints for plastic and their primer paints for plastic. I flipped a coin (also I couldn't find Rust-oleum at my local Lowe's) and bought the Valspar. Big mistake.\n\nDespite shaking for two minutes, I got splatter, poor coverage and virtually none at the recommended 9 to 10 inch distance. The propellant petered out so that the pressure was poor and I was left with probably half a can of paint that can't be used.\n\nLuckily what I was painting did not need to have a good finish because it wasn't. Uneven, splattered, and not glossy is what I got.","Product: This book is a facsimile reprint and may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: A Handbook for Infantrymen participating in trench warfare.\n\nReview: I've a long term interest in WW1 which always seemed to be the height of human insanity and I've read just about everything available for 60 years: American, British, French and German accounts. Most explain well the horror, tedium, and feeling of being overwhelmed, that so many experienced. This book provides an entirely different perspective. This author had a background of marksmanship and hunting and so went into with the war with a sense of purpose and a view to honing his expertise.\n\nThe book is long and, frequently, repetitive. It could have used a good editor. It's really more of a series of informal lectures among a group of friends or interested strangers. In it McBride dissects the trench warfare battle field and clearly explains what was necessary to be successful. He does seem very dispassionate about his accounts and that may take getting used to But it is all real, practical, information that I'd want to know before being shipped to the front and, once there, I'd stick close to him to learn all that I could. It was written about 15 years after the war and some of his predictions about what would work and not work in future wars appears to be very true to this is student of military history.\n\nThe other significant plus about this book is that it gives a view of the Canadian Army and it's WW1 battles not readily found. Unsurprisingly, it appears to have had practices, procedures, and behavior mid-way between the British and American Armies' approaches.","Product: Lance Lambert is an award winning writer, automotive journalist and television host and producer. His humorous stories have been published in Old Cars Weekly, Garage Style Magazine, Mustang Times, Mustang News, CruZin' Magazine, Hot Rod Hotline, Journal Newspapers and numerous other publications. He was awarded the Lee Iacocca Award from the Iacocca Family Foundation in 2010 and was inducted into the Washington Hot Rod Hall of Fame in 2008. He has been a \"car guy\" since early childhood. Heidi Van Horn of the Houston Chronicle says, \"Lance is an amicable asset to the car world - at once a wealth of knowledge and history, an icon of automotive TV programming and a friendly ambassador to the industry for everyone from the experienced gearheads to neophyte spectators. It is easy to see that Lance loves cars, and car people love Lance.\" Sandy Scott, Director of Operations, Petersen Automotive Museum, says, \"Lance's humorous storytelling style makes you feel like you are sitting in the front seat with him as he drives you through his amazing 'car guy' life.\" M.J. McDermott, KCPQ Television Reporter, says, \"Lance Lambert is the Garrison Keillor of car stores.\" His most cherished experiences have been with friends that have accompanied him through his lifetime of automotive adventures.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: One step above boring.\n\nReview: These stories are moderately interesting to a car guy, really only so if you know the author. Anyone with any involvement in cars has their own stories that are as, or more, interesting, than these. I have the Kindle version and there are countless errors. The book really needed a good proofreader for the frequent typos, omissions, and duplicate insertions, and a good editor to rearrange the stories so that, at least, they are in chronological order. Clearly they were published separately and later compiled, although I can't imagine what commercial publication would have carried them other than a small town newspaper looking to fill space.\n\nAs a Car Guy, my conclusion is that the ideal reader for this book is not a car guy, but someone who wants to get involved in a personal relationship with a car guy. There is a lot to be learned from that perspective.\n\nI keep the Kindle in the toilet and the stories works well to divert me from my exertions and my exertions keep me from falling asleep reading the stories."],"string":"[\n \"Product: This functional TV Stand features a large adjustable shelf behind framed with safety-tempered and well designed glass doors. Holds TV's up to 95 pounds. Finish in Cinnamon Cherry. Features: Overall Product Dimensions: 19.38\\\" H x 35.38\\\" W x 17.5\\\" D; Product Weight: 62.92 lbs.; TV Weight Limit: 95 lbs..\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Decent for the price.\\n\\nReview: My Daughter was moving into a new place and needed a TV stand. This looked like it filled the bill but for the color which I liked but she did not. She wanted grey and nothing in grey was available at a reasonable price so we decided to paint it. Big mistake - DON'T. Or. at least, don't use water based enamel because it does not stick, even after we sanded all the surfaces. Check for a primer that is made to adhere to laminate surfaces. Go to a professional paint store and buy what's recommended. Our paint job looked good but the paint peels from the surface with the slightest amount of friction.\\n\\nOther than that the assembly was straight forward and made easier by using a drill with a Phillips bit and its screw driver torque set to the lowest. The only problem that we had is that the shelf was too wide for the finished cabinet and had to be hammered into place, thus scraping off the paint. If I did it over I'd fit the shelf before screwing down the sides to see if that helps space things properly.\",\n \"Product: Noise Canceling Headphones --- Reduces unwanted ambient noise by 87.4%, providing a quieter environment to enhance your listening experience. Foldable and swivel design --- Allows the headphones to fold up to a small and compact size. Dual use capability --- Allows for the option to listen to music with or without noise cancellation. This allows you to still beable to use the headphones as headphones when the battery runs dry. Plug Adaptor --- is supplied to connect directly to stereo or dual jack of in-flight music services.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Great for the price\\n\\nReview: I purchased these without first reading the Amazon reviews and was concerned once I had read them that the headphones would be worthless. I recently tried them out on two cross country flights using five different airplanes. My conclusion is that they do, indeed, work on reducing the constant rumbling background noise but only reduce it by about one third. If you push them hard against your ears they will cancel another third but, of course, this is not practical. Part of the reason that they do do not block out more noise is because the earcups rest on the ears, they do not surround the ears. For this reason they are also uncomfortable if you wear glasses as they push the ears into the glasses' sidepieces. On one flight my row mate had a set of expensive Bose noise canceling headphones with ear cushions that surround the ears and he let me try them. I found that the noise cancelling was far superior but that there was a constant, noticeable, white noise hiss that was as irritating as the remaining noise from the Sony. The smaller earcups on the Sony also make it easier to pack. I only listened to the in-flight channels so cannot comment on sound quality.\",\n \"Product: DNA On-Ear Headphones-Multilingual, Apple Control Talk - White Over Light Grey. From the world's leading designer of high performance headphones, comes the newest in headphones technology, Monster DNA. Hear every detail, feel every beat, and express a bold, iconic, new look.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Superb sound, painful experience\\n\\nReview: I'm not an \\\"audiophile\\\". I'm 70 years old with hearing deficits from listening to loud popular music in the '60s and '70s with headphones. Lately I listen to my music on an iPod Classic and a 2d gen iPod Shuffle using high quality buds. My taste in music is eclectic: '50-'70s Pop, Motown, Big Band, pre-WWII Jazz, Blues, Western Swing, Bluegrass, Native American Flute, some musicals, African American Gospel, and Classic. It all sounds brilliant, clear and detailed with these headphones. The best test for me is listening to Bach Organ music and I cannot recall hearing it so well before.\\n\\nThe headphones isolate sound extremely well. My wife cannot hear the music to which I'm listening and I can barely hear that she is talking on the phone in the same room.\\n\\nIt came in fancy packaging with an elegant pocket for literature but there was not an Owner's Manual, not that it is too complicated to operate. One of the cords has a switch that allows the wearer to increase the volume by pushing the + sign, lowering it by pushing the - and turning the player on and off by pushing the o. It does not work with all players, does with my Classic, doesn't with the Shuffle.\\n\\nI'm absolutely thrilled with these and can find little wrong with them. However, I have NOT listened to other headphones in this price range so cannot compare them. Perhaps those of you with much time listening to high end stereo systems and high end headphones won't enjoy them as much as I do but I recommend them wholeheartedly. I recently found a good deal on less expensive Sony MDR 7506 Monitor Headphones about which I've read nothing but superb reviews. I expected to hear how The DNAs were put in their place but was very surprised to find out that I prefer the DNAs. I don't know how to explain it but listening to classical music the sounds were flat through the Sonys and rounder through the DNAs. The DNAs may be less accurate than the Sonys to a true audiophile but the DNAs are more enjoyable to me.\\n\\nRevised 2/21/14:\\n\\nOne very significant Con: The cushioned ear pads are small and do not surround my ears but, rather, sit on them and,cause my ears to hurt, badly. The Sony's fit better. DO NOT BUY THESE IF YOU HAVEN\\\"T TRIED THEM OUT FOR AN HOUR. I find them excruciatingly painful if worn for more than 15 minutes. Your ears and head may be different. For your sake I hope that they fit well because the sound is excellent. I cannot wear them.\",\n \"Product: The Roku 1 is the best basic player money can buy. Enjoy stunning video at up to 1080p HD* . Roku 1 comes standard with composite cables just in case your TV doesn't have HDMI. Enjoy more than 2,000 streaming channels, offering access to 250,000+ movies and TV episodes, plus, music, sports, international programming, kids programming and more*. Search the widest selection of channels by title, actor, or director. Follow new movies you want to watch, and receive automatic updates when they are ready to stream. *Some channels require payment. Channel availability can change and varies by country. Availability of 1080p HD video limited by channel provider and speed of broadband connection.\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: Loved it for the 20 days that it worked\\n\\nReview: Then it would no longer recognize my ATT Wireless. After spending an hour with three different techs, one from the U.S., two from India, they told me that ROKU's maximum operating distance from a router is 30'. Really? Many rooms are longer than that. (Nowhere is that info mentioned by ROKU in its promotional materials.) I was about 60' from the router and it had worked for 20 days, why all of a sudden didn't it? Well, they didn't know but suggested I call AT&T and have it change the channel on my router to 11. I did that and it still wouldn't work.\\n\\nROKU would not exchange my ROKU for a new one. Given the hassle with this one and given the opening spiel from the first tech that ROKU would sell me an extended warranty which would allow me unlimited tech calls 24 hours a day for $19.95, my faith in ROKU was destroyed and I returned it.\\n\\nThank goodness I purchased it from Amazon and not directly from ROKU. I was able to return it within Amazon's 30 day window.\\n\\nI replaced it with a Sony Blu-Ray player, BD-S3100 player with Wi-Fi, which works perfectly. However, the ROKU streaming system (when it works) connects quicker and the selection method is easier to use and more intuitive than the Sony.\",\n \"Product: Arrive refreshed after a long flight, avoid distractions in a noisy office, or find peace & quiet in your living room with the ATH-ANC7b-SViS Quiet Point Active Noise-Cancelling Headphones. These lightweight, compact headphones effectively reduce distracting background noise by 90% while offering the superior audio quality that has made Audio-Technical a worldwide leader in electro-acoustic technology.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: I'm glad I bought them\\n\\nReview: My Wife and I are preparing for a trip abroad. I have an old pair of Sony noise-cancelling headphones and looked for another pair of phones to cancel airplane noise. I read \\\"Best of\\\" reviews and reviews here on Amazon. The Audio Technica were rated second best to Bose for noise cancelling and were significantly cheaper, thus a \\\"Best Buy\\\". The Amazon reviews, also, were very favorable. The one negative reported was noise bleeding out from the headphones. I had my Wife sit near me while I played music through them and she only heard loud bass sounds and then only faintly. She did not believe they would bother a neighboring passenger.\\n\\nI haven't used them on a flight but I did find YouTube videos taken in-flight, I turned the volume up to where it was as loud as I remember a cabin being and the headphones cancelled it very well. Their sound reproduction is very good, too. They appear to be of solid construction, fit well, and are fairly comfortable. I'll update after I've used them for a long period on a flight.\",\n \"Product: Aptx Bluetooth wireless audio. Wireless stream audio from your smartphone or tablet directly to the 450 with performance aptX Bluetooth built in. The aptX codec allows for cdquality audio with apt equipped smartphones, tablets or computers. Dialog up, commercials down. If you can' T hear the actors, it' S nearly impossible to follow the story. Zvox engineered accuracy with delivers voices clearly and distinctly when your program is playing. Everyone knows how sponsors love to ludicrously raise the volume during commercial breaks. The sound base 450' S output leveling feature reduces the commercial outburst, keeping the volume to a tolerable level. Big sound from a small console. Featuring three fullrange speakers, highoutput woofer and integrate amplification this Onepiece system replaces the need for a separate AV receiver and external speakers. There' S no need to run unsightly wires around the room to generate roomfilling surround. Plus, the sound base serves as a convenient pedestal for flatpanel TV sizes up to 55 inches. Since it can support up to 70 lbs, You can place the sound base 450 directly underneath your TV and without making extra room for IT on your entertainment cabinet. Built with convenience in mind. You can connect iPod or portable player to available extra inputs for terrific sound. The display on the 450 lights up from behind the front cloth grille then disappears when not in use. And the 450 learns the commands of your TV remote, giving you one less clicker to keep track of. Cable or satellite remote controlsensing circuitry powers the system on and off along with your TV.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Great upgraded sound, fantastic tech support!\\n\\nReview: I had a Zvox 420 that stopped working so I bought a 450 which solved my problem. The 450 produces the same sound as the 420. That is, it is far superior to the TV sound and much better than other sound bars that I've tried. The Dialogue setting is very good, but still not as clear as using headphones. The Output Level setting reduces the sound level on commercials and is a godsend. It is very easy to set up; 15 min, tops. It has some other upgraded features, such as Bluetooth connectivity, that I'm not interested in.\\n\\nBest of all is their Customer Service/Tech support. They diagnosed the problem with my 420 (which I gave to my daughter). It turns out that the speakers were fine, they just would not accept the recently upgraded audio signal that the stations have gone to though the optical cable connection. The 450 does, that's one of its upgrades. The solution was to use RCA cables to connect to the TV, or, better yet, newer TVs have adjustable audio settings in their menu settings that allow the speakers to use the new signal. That's what I did with my daughter's new TV. Fred, Dave, and Dan were the techs I spoke with and they could not have been more helpful.\",\n \"Product: TalkAbout 280 SLK's are small enough to fit in the palm of your hand or slip into a shirt pocket. Yet these radios are packed with enough power to deliver crystal clear communication up to two miles depending on terrain and conditions.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: A great radio, but, worth the price?\\n\\nReview: I purchased two of these because they had the most features of all the Motorola models. Having NOW read the reviews of some of the competitors I am certain that I would have been just as happy with cheaper models. These are the \\\"cutest\\\" and smallest, but the feature of different sounds to identify different callers is a disappointment. The SENDING radio makes five different noises to identify five different senders, but the noise is made out loud on the sender's radio and the noise is transmitted the same as one's voice would be. I find it annoying and not worth any extra cost over the model 250. The only advantage that I can see of the Motorola 250 and 280 over the competition is the number of channels and sub-channels they make available. This would be a useful feature when there are lots of other radios being used in the area, such as at a crowded theme park but, in the circumstances that I find myself, there are never other radios around and I am not certain that we will be able to communicate with radios with less channels.\\n\\nMy wife and I use the radios when we are caravaning on drives with our car club and they have been very useful. One member missed a turnoff when he didn't see us turn and we were able to re-direct him, otherwise we probably would not have seen him until the end of the day.\\n\\nAnother consideration in making a purchase of a two-way radio is the number and type of accessories, we wound up spending as much on accessories as we did on the radios: arm holsters, earphone/ microphone combination for easier hands free operation when driving a car and rechargeable batteries and chargers.\",\n \"Product: Make your own shade with this wide-brimmed sun hat. Woven paper fabric provides excellent breathability, while a Supplex lining provides UPF 30 protection. A removable chin cord keeps the Papyrus in place during hot afternoon winds\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: A shapeless mess, but good!\\n\\nReview: Not a bad hat if you don't mid looking like the hero's comic relief sidekick in a '40s Western.\\n\\nThis hat comes pre-crushed in a box. It does not, and will not, look anything like the picture. The crown does not retain its shape and, instead, is, essentially, round. Also the crown is low so that when the hat sits on your head the crown material fits close to the contours of your head. I like a hat in which there is space between the top of the crown and the top of one's head. There is little with this hat. The brim, also, is floppy (not to the point that it bands in a breeze, which is what I wanted) and does not retain it's shape. Pluses: It is very lightweight, the material is very breathable, it has a light weight sweat band and it is inexpensive. It is sized correctly for my 7&3/8\\\" head.\\n\\n9/18/13: Despite the fact that the hat decides, seemingly from day to day, what shape it will be, I find myself wearing this hat instead of others because it is so light weight and causes me to sweat less than any of the other hats that I have.\\n\\n6/24/17: The best hat I've found, so far for Sun and Heat (and I'm a hat freak) However, I still sweat a lot. My initial review is accurate, it needs a taller crown but I've just done an extensive search for sun hats and none do. Other than straw Cowboy hats which don't get good reviews for keeping one cool. I can't believe all the Top Ratings for sun hats of nylon that fit one's head snugly and only have mesh side panels.\",\n \"Product: Foreign Legion caps are flat top, light weight and have a back flap for neck protection from the sun. Military specs. vintage washed.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Depends upon your use\\n\\nReview: I bought this cap in Khaki. Originally I wanted to use it to protect my ears and the back of my neck when hiking and walking in the desert sun but found that it did not breathe enough for that purpose and was too hot. I put it away but, after buying a roadster, found myself looking for the best headgear for driving it top down. A broad brimmed hat worked well for providing shade but because I have high back seats with headrests the back brim interfered with the headrest so that was not the answer. I'm a bit of a hat freak so I rummaged through my collection and re-discovered this hat and it is perfect. Not hot in the breeze and the wind that whips around the cockpit keeps the neck flap pushed in place. Good long brim to shade my eyes and the flap protects my ears. Great price for this perfect headgear!\",\n \"Product: #1 Selling Nordic Walking Fitness Poles in the USA! Real Nordic Walking Poles! ALL 32 sizes in stock and ready to ship-FAST shipping. Quality 1-piece construction designed for every day use - dependable, user friendly(unlike cheap/flimsy collapsible poles). The Scandinavians recommend one-piece poles. The athletes I coach only use one-piece poles. Avoid cheap/flimsy twist-locking 2-piece and 3-piece adjustable length/telescoping/collapsible poles. All sizes in stock and ready to ship. Free DVD and printed instructions included with every order. Please send us an Amazon email with the height of the person that these fancy new poles are for. According to Nick Mahood, SWIX Nordic Walking Director, "I have no doubt that Pete Edwards (SKIWALKING.COM) is the #1 retailer of Nordic Walking Poles in the US! You can quote me on that! We are generally an inactive and increasingly overweight country. Nordic Walking is just what we need, it is simple, effective and gives people who have difficulty moving the ability to get out and walk! Through his nationwide efforts to spread the message about Nordic Walking Pete Edwards has given thousands of people the means to improve their health and well being! Pete Edwards has single handedly introduced Nordic Walking to thousands of Americans through his enthusiastic classes!" Nordic Walking is the best! Nordic Walking is for ALL ages and ALL fitness levels." Perfect Length Guarantee-include your height when ordering and we will select the Perfect Length Poles for your height. Perfect length poles help us to automatically walk with a super straight back-better walking posture is biomechanically a good thing. Special Attention: If you have questions or if you having pole sizing questions please call us at 231-334-3080. Please note that SWIX and EXEL are #1 rated poles + they are the real thing - they are not the fake collapsible poles flooding the market from China. Don't get scammed by cheap/flimsy collapsible poles.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Great poles, great exercise\\n\\nReview: I have been walking the sandy and rocky trails here in Northern Nevada in order to build up my stamina after chemo and radiation Cancer treatment. It's definitely helped but I wanted to try strengthening my upper body, too. I've seen people walking with poles so bought a cheap set of trekking poles after doing some research on line. The trekking poles were a hindrance, not a help, and I quickly realized that the descriptions about their use did not really describe what they were NOT good for, which is the kind of walking that I, and, I assume, most people, do for fun and exercise. In my walking I swing my arms, as runners realize is necessary for efficient technique. Trekking poles are meant to be kept in front of you to stabilize you when shuffling along in steep or very rocky or loose terrain or with a heavy backpack. They can be used to swing along side you but are not really meant or designed for that. Further research convinced me that Nordic poles were more in line with the kind of walking that I do. Further checking, including reading the reviews here, also convinced me that these poles were a \\\"best buy\\\" so I ordered them.\\n\\nI'm very happy with the poles and with the dealer. I received an e-mail asking me to provide my height, so that the pole length could be determined, almost instantaneously with the placing of my order. The poles were shipped the same day and I received them very quickly without expedited shipping.\\n\\nAs someone who Cross Country skied quite a bit in the past I believed that I wouldn't have too much trouble picking up the basic technique and I was right. The poles came with two 8&1/2\\\"X11\\\" sheets of paper with printed set of instructions which described the technique. It is very close to Cross country ski poling from which it derives. One thing the instructions emphasize is not gripping the handles of the ski poles but allowing them to swing free tethered by the patented glove-like strap. After using the poles for awhile, I realized that while Cross country skiing I did grip the poles too much and having these straps on Cross country ski poles would make them much easier to use effectively for skiing.\\n\\nThe poles also came with a DVD and I was excited to receive it because it's always easier to learn when you can see a proper example of what's being taught. However, the DVD was a disappointment. Rather than being an instructional DVD it was really a promotional DVD with only a very small section on instruction on proper technique which wasn't very well done. After all of the emphasis in the written materials on not holding on to the handles of the poles, the beginners shown do hold on to their poles. The DVD shows a very fit woman with the firmest Gluteous Maximus in all of Christendom springing around like a Gazelle or a Mountain Sheep in the Rockies. It's nice to see the potential of the poles but little time is shown as to how to develop it. There are many videos on-line showing how to use Nordic style poles, although they do show varying versions of \\\"Nordic walking\\\", so while they do not vary very much it can be somewhat confusing. However, they do give you enough information so that you get the general idea and you can experiment with the variations to see which work best for you.\\n\\nThe poles in actual use: As I said, the patented glove/strap works really well and one does not need to grasp the handles. However, the strap does rub my hand at the base of my forefinger where it meets the crotch with my thumb. Also I found that while the \\\"letting the poles swing free technique\\\" works well on open flat ground, it needs to be modified when using a narrow path bordered by rocks and bushes. In that case more effort is required to move the poles over obstacles and one does need to hold on to the the handles with one's fingers to do so. Further, the total release use of the poles allows them to drag along the ground. Dragging across snow has no side affects, dragging across stoney and rocky ground is noisy. Just planting the poles on rocky ground is noisy enough, so idyllic solitude is disturbed by using the poles and my accompanying wife complained about the noise.\\n\\nAnother problem that I had was that the poles when not gripped and swinging forward would sometimes land in line with my feet so that I would stumble over them.\\n\\nThe one really annoying problem is how difficult and time consuming it is to remove the straps and the poles if you need to use your hands for anything. The click out straps would be much nicer to have. I don't know if they are available on one piece non-metal poles but if they are, I would recommend those over these. They may not be as adjustable as are these straps but there are no instructions that come with these poles as to how to lengthen and shorten the straps and I'd rather pay for a second set of straps, if I needed them for wearing gloves, in exchange for the convenience of easily freeing one's hands.\\n\\nThe fact that the poles are one piece definitely makes them lighter and stronger which will be important when the stage is reached that one really pushes off them with one's arms. Not being metal means that they are not as noisy in use.\\n\\nI have one complaint with the product. Otherwise it seems to be ideal. I do agree with Rebecca's concern. Before I purchased these poles I read all the reviews and I did not understand her concern. I now do. As I state above, it is a problem to use your hands to take a drink from a bottle, blow your nose, pull stickers from your dog, pick up dog poop, etc. because removing the poles is not easy.\\n\\nMy only other complaint is that I wish that there was a more comprehensive, detailed instruction DVD provided showing how to use the poles in a wide range of terrain situations.\",\n \"Product: #1 Selling Nordic Walking Fitness Poles in the USA! Real Nordic Walking Poles! ALL 32 sizes in stock and ready to ship-FAST shipping. Quality 1-piece construction designed for every day use - dependable, user friendly(unlike cheap/flimsy collapsible poles). The Scandinavians recommend one-piece poles. The athletes I coach only use one-piece poles. Avoid cheap/flimsy twist-locking 2-piece and 3-piece adjustable length/telescoping/collapsible poles. All sizes in stock and ready to ship. Free DVD and printed instructions included with every order. Please send us an Amazon email with the height of the person that these fancy new poles are for. According to Nick Mahood, SWIX Nordic Walking Director, "I have no doubt that Pete Edwards (SKIWALKING.COM) is the #1 retailer of Nordic Walking Poles in the US! You can quote me on that! We are generally an inactive and increasingly overweight country. Nordic Walking is just what we need, it is simple, effective and gives people who have difficulty moving the ability to get out and walk! Through his nationwide efforts to spread the message about Nordic Walking Pete Edwards has given thousands of people the means to improve their health and well being! Pete Edwards has single handedly introduced Nordic Walking to thousands of Americans through his enthusiastic classes!" Nordic Walking is the best! Nordic Walking is for ALL ages and ALL fitness levels." Perfect Length Guarantee-include your height when ordering and we will select the Perfect Length Poles for your height. Perfect length poles help us to automatically walk with a super straight back-better walking posture is biomechanically a good thing. Special Attention: If you have questions or if you having pole sizing questions please call us at 231-334-3080. Please note that SWIX and EXEL are #1 rated poles + they are the real thing - they are not the fake collapsible poles flooding the market from China. Don't get scammed by cheap/flimsy collapsible poles.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Great poles, great exercise\\n\\nReview: I have been walking the sandy and rocky trails here in Northern Nevada in order to build up my stamina after chemo and radiation Cancer treatment. It's definitely helped but I wanted to try strengthening my upper body, too. I've seen people walking with poles so bought a cheap set of trekking poles after doing some research on line. The trekking poles were a hindrance, not a help, and I quickly realized that the descriptions about their use did not really describe what they were NOT good for, which is the kind of walking that I, and, I assume, most people, do for fun and exercise. In my walking I swing my arms, as runners realize is necessary for efficient technique. Trekking poles are meant to be kept in front of you to stabilize you when shuffling along in steep or very rocky or loose terrain or with a heavy backpack. They can be used to swing along side you but are not really meant or designed for that. Further research convinced me that Nordic poles were more in line with the kind of walking that I do. Further checking, including reading the reviews here, also convinced me that these poles were a \\\"best buy\\\" so I ordered them.\\n\\nI'm very happy with the poles and with the dealer. I received an e-mail asking me to provide my height, so that the pole length could be determined, almost instantaneously with the placing of my order. The poles were shipped the same day and I received them very quickly without expedited shipping.\\n\\nAs someone who Cross Country skied quite a bit in the past I believed that I wouldn't have too much trouble picking up the basic technique and I was right. The poles came with two 8&1/2\\\"X11\\\" sheets of paper with printed set of instructions which described the technique. It is very close to Cross country ski poling from which it derives. One thing the instructions emphasize is not gripping the handles of the ski poles but allowing them to swing free tethered by the patented glove-like strap. After using the poles for awhile, I realized that while Cross country skiing I did grip the poles too much and having these straps on Cross country ski poles would make them much easier to use effectively for skiing.\\n\\nThe poles also came with a DVD and I was excited to receive it because it's always easier to learn when you can see a proper example of what's being taught. However, the DVD was a disappointment. Rather than being an instructional DVD it was really a promotional DVD with only a very small section on instruction on proper technique which wasn't very well done. After all of the emphasis in the written materials on not holding on to the handles of the poles, the beginners shown do hold on to their poles. The DVD shows a very fit woman with the firmest Gluteous Maximus in all of Christendom springing around like a Gazelle or a Mountain Sheep in the Rockies. It's nice to see the potential of the poles but little time is shown as to how to develop it. There are many videos on-line showing how to use Nordic style poles, although they do show varying versions of \\\"Nordic walking\\\", so while they do not vary very much it can be somewhat confusing. However, they do give you enough information so that you get the general idea and you can experiment with the variations to see which work best for you.\\n\\nThe poles in actual use: As I said, the patented glove/strap works really well and one does not need to grasp the handles. However, the strap does rub my hand at the base of my forefinger where it meets the crotch with my thumb. Also I found that while the \\\"letting the poles swing free technique\\\" works well on open flat ground, it needs to be modified when using a narrow path bordered by rocks and bushes. In that case more effort is required to move the poles over obstacles and one does need to hold on to the the handles with one's fingers to do so. Further, the total release use of the poles allows them to drag along the ground. Dragging across snow has no side affects, dragging across stoney and rocky ground is noisy. Just planting the poles on rocky ground is noisy enough, so idyllic solitude is disturbed by using the poles and my accompanying wife complained about the noise.\\n\\nAnother problem that I had was that the poles when not gripped and swinging forward would sometimes land in line with my feet so that I would stumble over them.\\n\\nThe one really annoying problem is how difficult and time consuming it is to remove the straps and the poles if you need to use your hands for anything. The click out straps would be much nicer to have. I don't know if they are available on one piece non-metal poles but if they are, I would recommend those over these. They may not be as adjustable as are these straps but there are no instructions that come with these poles as to how to lengthen and shorten the straps and I'd rather pay for a second set of straps, if I needed them for wearing gloves, in exchange for the convenience of easily freeing one's hands.\\n\\nThe fact that the poles are one piece definitely makes them lighter and stronger which will be important when the stage is reached that one really pushes off them with one's arms. Not being metal means that they are not as noisy in use.\\n\\nI have one complaint with the product. Otherwise it seems to be ideal. I do agree with Rebecca's concern. Before I purchased these poles I read all the reviews and I did not understand her concern. I now do. As I state above, it is a problem to use your hands to take a drink from a bottle, blow your nose, pull stickers from your dog, pick up dog poop, etc. because removing the poles is not easy.\\n\\nMy only other complaint is that I wish that there was a more comprehensive, detailed instruction DVD provided showing how to use the poles in a wide range of terrain situations.\",\n \"Product: Synopsis : \\nDuring Late World War II, the Japanese Army starts losing in the battle. Special junior officers including Kamio(Kenichi Matsuyama) board Yamato and meet the officer Moriwaki (Takashi Sorimachi) and Uchida (Shidou Nakamura). However, this battle marks the virtual end of the Combined Fleet of the Imperial Japanese Navy. Then in April 1945, Yamato is ordered to carry out a suicide mission and sets out to the waters of Okinawa....\\n\\nLanguage : Japanese / Cantonese\\n\\nSubtitle : Chinese / English \\n\\nVideo Format : NTSC\\n\\nModel : DVD9\\n\\nDiscs : 1\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: A skimpy presentation of the Yamato in WW2\\n\\nReview: Really two and one half stars. I had read the excellent \\\"A Glorious Way To Die\\\" about Yamato's last mission so I was able to fill in the blanks but the subtitle translations were atrocious and make it hard to know if there were any subtleties in the movie that I missed. I doubt it. I concur completely with Maciek's Two Star review. there was so much more background that easily could have been included to emphasize and explain the tragedy. There was NO information as to what the Yamato faced, I believe it was 6 carrier groups and all their planes. It was truly suicidal. The Yamato was not alone there was one other battleship, one cruiser, and 4 destroyers, as I recall, what was left of the Japanese Navy. Two destroyers survived to pick up survivors.\",\n \"Product: You are bidding on a Motorola va76r Tundra unlocked for activation on any GSM carrier, such as AT&T or T-Mobile. This phone has been call tested and is in full working order. The phone uses GSM technology. It cannot be activated for Verizon, Sprint, or other CDMA carriers. Comes with battery and charger. If you have any problems with this phone, whatsoever, WE WILL FIX IT FOR YOU.\\n\\nSPECIFICATIONS\\nDimensions: 4.01 x 2.1 x 0.9 in\\nWeight: 4.9 oz\\nDisplay: 2.2 in\\nTalk time: 5\\nStandby: 14 days\\nBand: WCDMA (UMTS) / GSM 850/900/1800/1900\\n \\n \\nFEATURES\\n \\nCamera: 2 MP (zoom 4X)\\nBluetooth: 2.0\\n \\nWorld roaming (quad band GSM)\\nWeb browser\\nEmail\\nSMS/MMS messaging\\nMP3 player\\n \\nPush-to-talk\\n \\nGPS\\n \\nMicroSD slot\\nSpeakerphone\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Not worth the money to me.\\n\\nReview: I bought this phone for one reason only: Sound quality. The reviews on different Tech review websites said that this phone had by far the best sound of any AT&T compatible phone. I was tired of garbled sound and thought it would be worth the money. The sound has proven to be no better than other phones that I have had. Also, the use of functions and entering of information is less intuitive and more difficult for me than other phones. I'm not a techie and don't want to be. To make using the phone even more of a problem, the owner's manual that came with it stopped at 43 pages although the table of contents shows more than 100 pages. The seller was friendly enough but said it could not locate a replacement and referred me to the owner's manual website. The phone has many functions that I don't need and never intended to use so I can't review them, as I said I was interested in sound quality and am disappointed.\",\n \"Product: The Auto Expressions Bucket Seatcover features innovative fabric and design for both fashion and fit. This seatcover updates the appearance of old or dirty seats and protects against splits, stains, fading, dirt, and pet hairs. Made from strong, sturdy fabrics, the unique design features the \\\"Superfit\\\" flap for a more snug, wrinkle-free fit. The seatcover is easy to install and fits most bucket seats. Each package contains one bucket seatcover.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: O.K. for the price\\n\\nReview: I'm using these on a 2005 MINI. I was looking for inexpensive covers and they fit the bill. However, if you have side bolsters on your seats the covers do not fit the seats snugly. Also,the covers will cover any pockets you have on the back of your seats and any back rake adjustment levers and quick release levers that slide the seat forward.\\n\\nThe covers have a thin foam lining so I doubt that they will stand up to a washing once they have gotten dirty.\\n\\nOne more thing, the illustration makes the covers look like they are a solid grey, they are not. The panels on the sides of the front of the seat are solid grey, the center panel is a multi-hued grey lozenge pattern. (The back and sides are a grey stretch material.)\",\n \"Product: Powerful, portable, and efficient, the Yamaha EF2000iS Gas-Powered Portable Inverter delivers maximum electrical output without sacrificing portability. Thanks to its innovative inverter system, the generator is able to generate up to 2,000 watts of clean AC power. It can run up to 10.5 hours continuously without refueling and uses premium technologies to maximize fuel efficiency.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Great generator but expensive. Customer service less than helpful.\\n\\nReview: After much research I bought two of these to replace a Robin Subaru RG3200iS generator that I've had for a few years and use when I'm dry camping to run the a/c in my Motor home. I'm usually land sailing and carry the generator in the trailer that I pull with all my land sailing equipment but it is a heavy generator and really too heavy to lift by myself. Recently I've needed a generator when I'm not pulling my trailer. Loading the Subaru into my Motor home was a real ordeal, even with two people. Two of these Yamahas equal the output of the Subaru at about two thirds the weight. One third for each. They can be linked together with the appropriate accessory (as can the Hondas). At 44 pounds, dry weight, they can be managed by one person.\\n\\nThis Yamaha and its equivalent Honda are very similar. I decided on the Yamaha because it has a fuel gauge, which the Honda doesn't, a metal valve train component, Honda's is plastic, a longer warranty and a slightly cheaper price. The Honda has a fuel pump that draws fuel so an auxiliary gas tank can be used. Yamaha's gas is gravity fed so, while one can use an auxiliary gas tank, it has to be located above the generator which is not very practical. Not foreseeing the need for a longer run than the tank provides, I went with the Yamaha.\\n\\nAs almost everyone says and the You tube videos show, it starts right up with one or two easy pulls and is one of the most silent portable generators available although it is certainly not whisper quiet.\\n\\nI'm deducting one star for several reasons. The Owner's Manual is good but not great. It does not warn you how difficult it is to remove the side panel. To do so, one removes two screws but it does not then come off because there are three \\\"snap on\\\" posts, one at the top middle, and two, one each, down the sides, that require some force to free and some force, the heel of the hand, to slam back in place. There is no indication on the cover, such as lips or finger holds, where these posts are.\\n\\nAlso, maintenance is based upon hours run and there is no hour meter installed. Yamaha makes one (Yamaha Engine Meter 4C-01), for an additional $50 bucks, but it is generic, not specific to this model and is not easy to install on it.\\n\\nA non-Yamaha accessory which is worth getting is an oil filler cap with a magnet to attract metal particles in the oil.\\n\\nThe best price that I could find was at Yamahgenerators.com.\\n\\nAnother major drawback is that you cannot drain the gas tank. You have to get a hand siphon to remove the fuel, so that's an additional cost. I didn't drain it, I used Stabil and suffered the result of having to get the carbs cleaned. So another $20 for a Gastapper fluid changer.\\n\\n6/8/16: I have to knock off another star. The generator is as previously stated, HOWEVER service leaves much to be desired. The Owner's manual says that you need \\\"a high altitude kit\\\" to run at over 4000'. I live at 4500'. However, my local Yamaha authorized repair shop was unaware of the need for different jets and could find nothing about it in their Yamaha materials, including parts info. Yamaha Customer relations was not much better, I was placed on hold to transfer to a \\\"specialist\\\" twice for ten minutes, each time, before hanging up, but I finally spoke with a customer relations person who was more helpful and told me I needed to contact Mikuni, the carb mfr, for the parts. The number for Mikuni that she gave me was no longer a working number. After leaving several messages at different numbers which I found on-line, I received a call back from a helpful rep at Sudco (Sudco.com) who had info on the different jets for different altitudes and I ordered the correct one (65) from him. He said that I only needed to change the Main jet, not the Pilot jet.\",\n \"Product: his is NOT just your ordinary Native American flute music. One of the earliest and still the best of the Coyote Oldman recordings, \\\"Thunder Chord\\\" is a haunting evocation of the timeless, of dimensions beyond the visible. Powerfully transcendental, this tape has been used to help AIDS and cancer patients find their own timeless core of Self.\\n\\\"Coyote Oldman\\\" was originally two performers: Michael Graham Allen, who reconstructs and plays archoelogical flutes of the Americas; and Barry Stramp, who mixed and digitally processed Allen's flute music. No synthesizers or samplers are used on this or previous Coyote Oldman recordings. Indeed, it was Stramp's genius with the digital recombining of Allen's flute playing that gave Thunder Chord its other-worldly beauty. Oldman after Stramp is pleasant, occasionally strong, but much more pedestrian. Thunder Chord is Coyote Oldman at its very best.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Boring but good backgound music\\n\\nReview: I was looking for another Native American flute artist after discovering R. Carlos Nakai, whom I really like. Based upon reviews by a self-professed flautist and appreciater of Native American flautists, despite not being able to learn anything about the music from listening to the 30 second sound bites, I purchased the album. Big disappointment. There is a fine line between subtle and boring. This music is so unvarying and monotonous that it far transgresses that line. It is expensive white noise. I can understand it being used for entirely unobtrusive background music at a spa but for anyone who wants to LISTEN to flute music it is a complete waste of time. Also, when I meditate I don't want any other noise than my breathing so it is of no use to me for that purpose.\\n\\nYour tastes may difer from mine but I strongly recommend that you listen to the entire album before purchasing it.\",\n \"Product: HP's latest Photosmart A646 compact photo printer allows direct printing from you camera enabled cellphone via built-in Bluetooth.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Nice, but not for serious photographer\\n\\nReview: This is a very compact machine and fairly simple to use. It produces crisp and clean prints with good detail. Landscapes come out best. With portraits, the colors get funny and one needs to experiment with different manufacturers' paper, and the \\\"Photo fix\\\" and \\\"Colorspace\\\" settings under \\\"Preferences\\\". As the other reviewer mentioned, there is no black ink cartridge so the print colors are compromised and, often, inaccurate. I see this as a printer to use if one doesn't own a computer or to take to a party and print photos on the spot to give to friends. The limitation on this latter use is the slowness of the machine. Prints take 1&1/2 minutes and imputs such as editing and scrolling are also slow. Print sizes are limited to 4\\\"X6\\\" and 5\\\"X7\\\" (and panoramic 4\\\"X12\\\").\\n\\nThe printer did not do a good job of finding and correcting red-eye and pet-eye (a feature I liked because I take a lot of pet photos). It was hit and miss. Also, while I didn't try all the special effects, I found problems with those that I did use. I could not get the machine to print a border on an edited picture. Despite showing the preview of the border on the edited photo, the actual print would be a border on the unedited photo.\\n\\nI do not know how long an ink cartridge lasts, the sample provided is not a full cartridge. Cartridges are about twenty dollars.\\n\\nIt does not take all sizes of memory cards but can print from a Pictbridge certified camera (whatever that is). So check to see that your card is compatible.\\n\\nAs with all electronic products, currently, at least in my experience, there is no full owner's manual provided, only a \\\"Start Here\\\" guide. One has to download the full manual from HP's website, so now I have an unbound stack of 47 8&1/2\\\"X11\\\" pages. I think this is an unbelievably cheap practice.\\n\\nTo make prints at home of casual snapshots, this does an adequate job, especially if one doesn't have a computer or printer.\",\n \"Product: Americas finest rabbit repellent granular and easy to use, all natural and environmentally safe. Specifically formulated to stop rabbit damage to vegetables, shrubs and flowers, and it is guaranteed. It does not smell bad and won not wash off in rain. Rabbit scram won not harm animals, the environment or you and your family. This product contents 6 Pounds.\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: Didn't repel, didn't even discourage. Worthless.\\n\\nReview: I have a very small, putting green sized lawn in a housing development in what was originally Sagebrush covered land. We have both Jack rabbits and cottontails. This year the coyote population seems to have been greatly reduced and the cottontail population has exploded. The rabbits started eating my grass at the edge of my lawn and their urine has killed it. As the grass dies they move inward. Spreading Rabbit Scram around the perimeter of my lawn, on the decomposed granite which is the surface of most of my yard, even with additional applications, has done nothing to stop them. Every morning and evening (goodness knows what happens at night) there are one, or more, rabbits sitting in the middle of the lawn. They are not even discouraged enough to visit my neighbor's lawn which is twice as large, is only 20' away, and has not been treated in any way to repel rabbits. The only good news is that Rabbit Scram smells like a nice BBQ rub. I've used most of the 25# pail that I purchased in order to give the product a fair trial. All to no avail. A wasted $110.00 as I hesitate to use it as a BBQ rub.\",\n \"Product: If you want your outdoor power equipment to last longer and do more, you want Arnold parts, accessories, and attachments. Providing you with a wide variety of top-quality, snow-friendly products, Arnold winter parts and accessories will get your equipment through those cold, snowy months. Compatible with tons of major brands, 50+ years of proven performance has landed Arnold a reputation of cutting edge product innovations and extensive engineering expertise. From basic maintenance to major innovations, Arnold has everything you need to keep equipment running the way it should season after season. With Arnold you can be confident of a reliable product with accurate fit, design, material, and construction. In addition to reliable parts and accessories, Arnolds easy-to-follow instructions and extra tips will ease your equipment maintenance and assure that you get the job done right.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: OEM for YardMachine Snow Blowers\\n\\nReview: Just O.K. I lost mine in the snow because I kept unsnapping it from the bracket in order to clear out icy snow from the chute. Stuck it in my pocket and it fell out. I'll probably find it in this Spring. In the meantime I use a small crow bar which works as well, or better, but which is heavy and cold. I'm looking to buy another but will drill a hole through it and install a lanyard so I can keep it on my wrist.\\n\\nI did buy, instead, Snow Joe SJCOT Universal Electric Snow Thrower Chute Clean Out Tool which is just as good at half the price. I've given up on the idea of drilling the tool to add a strap as I'm afraid that the drill holes will weaken it.\",\n \"Product: The Perky-Pet Copper Panorama Wild Bird Feeder is sure to attract many birds to your backyard. The cutting-edge design of this feeder allows the seed to dispense into the tray and stop dispensing once the tray is full. As the birds continue to dine from the circular perch, the seed is replenished into the tray so it remains consistently full. This feeder also features the Sure-Lock cap system, an innovative squirrel proof feature which ensures the lid stays put and squirrels cant get into the seed. The Copper Panorama holds 2 lb of seed and features an eye-catching copper finish. Remember to clean your wild bird feeders every two weeks with a mild soap and water solution.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Gorgeous but not for use in windy site\\n\\nReview: We have been using a yellow \\\"sock\\\" with thistle seed to feed birds in the Winter. It attracts sparrows, gold finches and juncos. We decided to try to feed larger birds like Blue Jays. The feeder hung for days with no birds on it. We then spilled some of the seed on the ground to try to attract the birds. They were attracted, to the seed on the ground. They still would not feed from the feeder. My assessment was that the perch isn't large enough for larger birds so I filled the feeder with thistle and, lo and behold, it was visited by the small birds, but no where near as much as the nearby sock.\\n\\n1/18/16: Have been using it for Black Sunflower seeds and it works well, but no large birds, HOWEVER, if you have high winds the feeder will sway back and forth and dump out all the seed.\",\n \"Product: Deer scram stimulates a strong fear response by emitting an odor that deer and rabbits associate with their dead kin. It repels the animal before they nibble on plants. Deer scram does not have an unpleasant odor to humans, but discourages unwanted animals from returning to the protected area. It contains no synthetic additives, is non toxic, biodegradable and will not harm animals or the environment. Deer scram biodegrades into high nitrogen organic nutrients. It should be applied every 30 to 45 days depending on weather conditions. This granular product is easy to apply and is rain and snow resistant. This product contents 6 Pounds.\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: Didn't repel, didn't even discourage. Worthless.\\n\\nReview: I have a very small, putting green sized lawn in a housing development in what was originally Sagebrush covered land. We have both Jack rabbits and cottontails. This year the coyote population seems to have been greatly reduced and the cottontail population has exploded. The rabbits started eating my grass at the edge of my lawn and their urine has killed it. As the grass dies they move inward. Spreading Rabbit Scram around the perimeter of my lawn, on the decomposed granite which is the surface of most of my yard, even with additional applications, has done nothing to stop them. Every morning and evening (goodness knows what happens at night) there are one, or more, rabbits sitting in the middle of the lawn. They are not even discouraged enough to visit my neighbor's lawn which is twice as large, is only 20' away, and has not been treated in any way to repel rabbits. The only good news is that Rabbit Scram smells like a nice BBQ rub. I've used most of the 25# pail that I purchased in order to give the product a fair trial. All to no avail. A wasted $110.00 as I hesitate to use it as a BBQ rub.\",\n \"Product: Organic Cotton Stuffed Dog Bed\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Well made hypoallergenic dog bed\\n\\nReview: The bed is made from a cotton twill cover of organically grown cotton. It is a chino (khaki) pants weight twill. The filling is a fiber fill made from 100% re-cycled soda pop bottles. The cover is removable for washing and it is handmade in the U.S.A. (Montana). The Basil color is fairly accurately reproduced in the photo. It is a very sturdy bed but will not withstand the efforts of a serious digger or bed destroyer and it is not warranteed against destruction. My Miniature Schnauzer jumped right in and curled right up. The Medium is actually large for him. Breeds a step up in size such as Irish Terriers should fit perfectly. I'll update this review if there are durability issues.\\n\\nUpdate. Both my Miniature Schnauzers like the bed so much that I bought a second one (in a different color). The cushions are interchangeable so we swapped them for a little more zip. Both dogs love the beds.\",\n \"Product: The Slo-Bowl is a natural, healthy and playful solution for dogs that gobble their kibble too quickly. Our nature-inspired designs promote natural eating habits by requiring dogs to forage for their feasts. Moreover, by prolonging feeding times, Slo-Bowls reduce the risks for bloat, regurgitation and canine obesity. Dogs quickly learn to \\\"chase\\\" their food through the maze of ridges and valleys, making dinnertime feel more like a hunt. And, because the Slo-Bowl \\\"rewards\\\" their play with bits of food, furry friends become more and more engaged as the meal goes on. Veterinarians agree that slower feeding is safer feeding. When it's time to dine, feed your dog with peace of mind.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Depends on what kind of a tongue your dog has.\\n\\nReview: I have two Miniature Schnauzers that literally inhale their food. They do NOT chew it at all. I give them dry kibble and canned green beans for bulk. They are 6 and 4 years old and, so far, have suffered no ill effects from their speedy eating. However, I felt it had to be better if they slowed down and actually chewed their food. They have long skinny tongues so they can reach in the passages but a dog with a ladle shaped tongue might not be very successful. I bought two of these, the circular spiral and the flower. The spiral has much deeper grooves and is harder for both of them to use. I would not get it again for them. The flower seems just difficult enough. I alternate with feedings.\\n\\nI'm happy because it slows them down and gives them a challenge and all the dog owners in our family think that it is a great idea. My wife thinks that I'm a Sadist and am torturing them.\",\n \"Product: The Lava the Original 14.5-Inch Colormax Lamp with Rainbow Decal Base will bring color and a relaxed, happy vibe to any room. The rainbow graphics on the base and cap match perfectly to the rainbow of the multi-colored glass globe. As the white lava passes through the glass globe, it absorbs different colors and changes tones. Watch the instant motion and enjoy this version of a timeless Lava the Original lamp. For over fifty years, the iconic Lava the Original brand has been the pioneer in novelty and conventional lighting products, and today it stands as one of the most recognized, trusted, and beloved brands of all time. At Lava the Original, our commitments to pursuing the latest fashion trends, cutting-edge technology, and unsurpassed quality ensure that we continue to intrigue our older fans while enticing the younger generation with our exciting new product lines. So whether you are six or sixty, we have a Lava the Original lamp product just right for setting the mood of your life.\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: WARNING: Lava-less \\\"Lava\\\" Lamp.\\n\\nReview: The second of these is the same as the first. Despite being CALLED a Lava lamp, there is NO \\\"Lava\\\" in it. Just sparkly bits that move around. Of course there is no coil and no wax!\\n\\nThe first came with a broken bulb of a size not easy to find. I had to go to two bulb stores to find it. Then, when turned on, all it does is sparkle and bubble very small bubbles. Reading the manufacturer's posts I looked closely and realized the globe contains NO heating coil and NO wax! I'm going to exchange it to see if I have better luck. Considering what terrible reviews these lamps get, all my fingers and toes are crossed.\",\n \"Product: Valspar's Plastic Paint is ideal for refreshing or changing the color of any interior or exterior rigid plastic surface, including outdoor furniture, plastic play toys, and storage equipment. Offers superior adhesion, with no primer necessary.\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: So bad in so many ways\\n\\nReview: I spent much time reading reviews on spray paints for plastic. Three brands make such paint, Krylon, Valspar and Rust-oleum. All are well established brands, have been around for a long time, and I've used them in the past.\\n\\nAll three have great and terrible reviews for their paints for plastic and their primer paints for plastic. I flipped a coin (also I couldn't find Rust-oleum at my local Lowe's) and bought the Valspar. Big mistake.\\n\\nDespite shaking for two minutes, I got splatter, poor coverage and virtually none at the recommended 9 to 10 inch distance. The propellant petered out so that the pressure was poor and I was left with probably half a can of paint that can't be used.\\n\\nLuckily what I was painting did not need to have a good finish because it wasn't. Uneven, splattered, and not glossy is what I got.\",\n \"Product: This book is a facsimile reprint and may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: A Handbook for Infantrymen participating in trench warfare.\\n\\nReview: I've a long term interest in WW1 which always seemed to be the height of human insanity and I've read just about everything available for 60 years: American, British, French and German accounts. Most explain well the horror, tedium, and feeling of being overwhelmed, that so many experienced. This book provides an entirely different perspective. This author had a background of marksmanship and hunting and so went into with the war with a sense of purpose and a view to honing his expertise.\\n\\nThe book is long and, frequently, repetitive. It could have used a good editor. It's really more of a series of informal lectures among a group of friends or interested strangers. In it McBride dissects the trench warfare battle field and clearly explains what was necessary to be successful. He does seem very dispassionate about his accounts and that may take getting used to But it is all real, practical, information that I'd want to know before being shipped to the front and, once there, I'd stick close to him to learn all that I could. It was written about 15 years after the war and some of his predictions about what would work and not work in future wars appears to be very true to this is student of military history.\\n\\nThe other significant plus about this book is that it gives a view of the Canadian Army and it's WW1 battles not readily found. Unsurprisingly, it appears to have had practices, procedures, and behavior mid-way between the British and American Armies' approaches.\",\n \"Product: Lance Lambert is an award winning writer, automotive journalist and television host and producer. His humorous stories have been published in Old Cars Weekly, Garage Style Magazine, Mustang Times, Mustang News, CruZin' Magazine, Hot Rod Hotline, Journal Newspapers and numerous other publications. He was awarded the Lee Iacocca Award from the Iacocca Family Foundation in 2010 and was inducted into the Washington Hot Rod Hall of Fame in 2008. He has been a \\\"car guy\\\" since early childhood. Heidi Van Horn of the Houston Chronicle says, \\\"Lance is an amicable asset to the car world - at once a wealth of knowledge and history, an icon of automotive TV programming and a friendly ambassador to the industry for everyone from the experienced gearheads to neophyte spectators. It is easy to see that Lance loves cars, and car people love Lance.\\\" Sandy Scott, Director of Operations, Petersen Automotive Museum, says, \\\"Lance's humorous storytelling style makes you feel like you are sitting in the front seat with him as he drives you through his amazing 'car guy' life.\\\" M.J. McDermott, KCPQ Television Reporter, says, \\\"Lance Lambert is the Garrison Keillor of car stores.\\\" His most cherished experiences have been with friends that have accompanied him through his lifetime of automotive adventures.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: One step above boring.\\n\\nReview: These stories are moderately interesting to a car guy, really only so if you know the author. Anyone with any involvement in cars has their own stories that are as, or more, interesting, than these. I have the Kindle version and there are countless errors. The book really needed a good proofreader for the frequent typos, omissions, and duplicate insertions, and a good editor to rearrange the stories so that, at least, they are in chronological order. Clearly they were published separately and later compiled, although I can't imagine what commercial publication would have carried them other than a small town newspaper looking to fill space.\\n\\nAs a Car Guy, my conclusion is that the ideal reader for this book is not a car guy, but someone who wants to get involved in a personal relationship with a car guy. There is a lot to be learned from that perspective.\\n\\nI keep the Kindle in the toilet and the stories works well to divert me from my exertions and my exertions keep me from falling asleep reading the stories.\"\n]","isConversational":false},"profile_size":{"kind":"number","value":27,"string":"27"},"task":{"kind":"string","value":"longlamp_3"},"split_kind":{"kind":"string","value":"user_based"},"id":{"kind":"number","value":960,"string":"960"}}},{"rowIdx":961,"cells":{"question_id":{"kind":"string","value":"A15PYCET4XH22X"},"question":{"kind":"string","value":"Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of \"5.0\" for a product with description \"Perfect for use on natural surface materials found in sinks, countertops, strainers and shower bases. Remains flexible, so it is easy to work with and cleans up easily.\". The summary of the review text is \"Very Easy to Use\"."},"answer":{"kind":"string","value":"Every homeowner should have a bit of this. Eventually, you will need it. I'm impressed on how easy this is to use!\n\nIt has a similar consistency to molding clay. Just dig your fingers in and tear of chunks to shape around what you are trying to seal. It is extremely easy to use, set, and clean up. I've read some other reviews and questions on this site, so let me say that some are misleading. Here is the BACK of the container:\n\nThis is designed to make a waterproof seal between any two rigid surfaces. Not for plastic (use silicone sealant). Not for marble, granite, limestone or any dimensional stone (use stain-free plumber's putty).\n\nI've used this to seat a faucet, and just recently to take care of a leak in my stainless steel sink (around the strainer). Once you set this plumber's putty, you are ready to go. There isn't any curing time.\n\nI picked mine up at THD for 1.20 (14 oz). Not sure if it is a sale price or not."},"correct_answer":{"kind":"string","value":"Every homeowner should have a bit of this. Eventually, you will need it. I'm impressed on how easy this is to use!\n\nIt has a similar consistency to molding clay. Just dig your fingers in and tear of chunks to shape around what you are trying to seal. It is extremely easy to use, set, and clean up. I've read some other reviews and questions on this site, so let me say that some are misleading. Here is the BACK of the container:\n\nThis is designed to make a waterproof seal between any two rigid surfaces. Not for plastic (use silicone sealant). Not for marble, granite, limestone or any dimensional stone (use stain-free plumber's putty).\n\nI've used this to seat a faucet, and just recently to take care of a leak in my stainless steel sink (around the strainer). Once you set this plumber's putty, you are ready to go. There isn't any curing time.\n\nI picked mine up at THD for 1.20 (14 oz). Not sure if it is a sale price or not."},"documents":{"kind":"list like","value":["Product: Get ready to rock and roll with the Maxam 43\" Electric Bass Guitar. This 4-string electric bass features two tone controls, a volume control, an input jack, an amp cord, strap buttons, and two Allen wrenches to assist with adjustments. This guitar comes with everything you need to get started and get going! Turn the music up!\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Great Entry Level Bass\n\nReview: 9.17.16 UPDATE\nRemoved another star. I was just chillin' and practicing quietly when all the sudden I busted my nut and can't rock the G-String any more ;) Well, I can't play an open G, if I'm being technical. Attached a 4th picture of the travesty.\n\n9.15.16 UPDATE\nUpdating to remove 1 star. Overall, this is still a decent entry level bass. I've adjusted the pickups, the action, and neck - but I still cant get a good slap out of this thing. The neck is warped - which is expected at the price-point, but it curves on top and bottom enough to be irritating. I haven't tried sanding down the 2nd fret, yet. That seems to be a trouble-area as well.\n\nThis is solid if you are just starting out and don't want to commit to a pricey bass. There are so many this's and that's on instruments: I'd advise starting off basic until you get a feel what you like, don't like, and want.\n\nThe action on this is set pretty high and the bridge is fixed. It does come with a Humbucker and Rosewood Fretboard.\n\nPersonally, I like that it is all black. No logos; just cool looking.\n\nThere are kits were you can get a bass, soft case and/or practice amp. I wanted the dollars to go to the instrument only. Straps, tuner, and stand are all dirt cheap.\n\nIn any event - whatever you end up getting - have fun!!!\n\nPS - The stand in the picture can be found on Amazon <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/here/dp/B01CDC4I4Q/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">here</a>.","Product: Spend more time playing and less time tuning using Tidal Tek's 3-in-1 Guitar Tuner. Featuring award-winning 3-in-1 design which allows you to have all your musical aids in one compact device. Clip on and go! Clip on mode uses the vibrations of your instrument to tune so ambient noises will never get in your way! Use it for practice, in the studio, or for your live performances.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Functions Well: Tuner, Tone Gen, and Metronome\n\nReview: I have a SNARK tuner but was asked by the vendor to check out this Tidal Tek 3-1 tuner, tone gen, and metronome. The company sent a promotional sample for evaluation without promise of a review.\n\nFirst and foremost - it works. It's small, clips easily, and can be maneuvered to the angle in which you need. You will want to check out the instructions since this isn't just a tuner. The power button allows the user to cycle through settings and features. Let's take one at a time:\n\nTuner - not as responsive as SNARK, but it works just fine. I'm talking about a 2-second delay to register the vibration, then you can tune...so it isn't a game changer.\n\nMetronome - luckily you can go sans audio (LED lights). The digital chirp is not what I'd call pleasing to the ear. The cool thing - you can dial this in between 30-250 bpm and select different rhythms. By default it will be a loud chirp, then you can select medium, low, and off (LED only).\n\nTone generator - if you need one, cool. It is the digital tone from hell. It is adjustable, though. So you may find this quite handy.\n\nOverall, I like it. I'm posting this, then adding a few photos which will be below or to the left (depending on viewing device). 4.5/5 Stars. Solid features and easy to use.","Product: 1byone Type QS-0094 Mini Flashing Light Lamps With Three Colors Gels, Apply Lighting For DJ Disco House Party Hotel Stage Office Camping Field Etc, Lighting For Halloween And Christmas\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Good for Small Space\n\nReview: This is a review of the Hanging Cylinder QS-0094 strobe light.\n\nHaving worked in broadcast and video production for many years, I gravitated toward this model because it looks like a studio can light. The body is plastic, so it is extremely light. You could buy an inexpensive T-Bar Stand and mount several of these without fear.\n\nThe instructions are rather simple - just plug it in and dial in the speed, which is a knob located on the back of the light. There is no on/off switch, so you will have to unplug it when not in use.\n\nIt comes with three gels (Red, Yellow, and Blue). The instructions mention unscrewing the exterior cover, but I found it works just fine, without the labor, to simply place the gel over the gel/screen cover. I swung the light around, tipped it down, etc., and the gel stayed in place.\n\nThe packaging was great - it came in a larger box, and was a box within a box with Styrofoam panels.\n\nCouple notes:\n\nThis is fine for home use, or a small office party, but I would not recommend this for anything larger. At the price-point, you simply aren't going to get the wattage or digital interface for running a light show.\n\nIf you plan on using this as a stationary light at home, it is light enough to engineer your own rig. A small C-Clamp will handle the weight easy enough. You can also place it on a shelf, turn it upside down, and use the `hanger' as the base and tilt it to your needs.\n\nGrowing up I had a small, old-school wood strobe box which is long gone. If you prefer that style, check out the QS-0092.\n\nProduct provided by 1Byone","Product: The Boss \"NTR\" Executive LeatherPlus Chair by Boss Office Products requires so little assembly that you'll literally have it put together within minutes of removing it from the box. The chair is soft to the touch thanks to the polyurethane infused leather, which also offers durability. The back features an ergonomic curve for proper lumbar support as well as a waterfall seat that keeps legs from becoming too tired. Measurements for the unit are 27\" W x 28\" D x 45-48.5\" H with the height being determined by the user via the pneumatic gas lift. Additional features include an adjustable tilt tension and the ability to lock the chair in an upright position.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Comfortable and Easy to Put Together\n\nReview: Purchased in June 2012, I think I've tested it long enough for an honest review. This is used daily, and on occassions children climb on it and spin around. The comfort and support is spot on. I'm just shy of 6'5\" so I did my research before selecting this chair and the price didn't break the bank. It has held up well over the last two years with no sign of deteriorating.\n\nThe chair has a tall back and although the armrests are static, I find them comfortable. I've come close to buying another one for work (we have crappy chairs). The downside: the \"LeatherPlus\" should be renamed vinyl with added leather. It does look good, but it doesn't have the same feel as a nice leather chair. Again, at the price-point, one shouldn't complain. The grey parts have picked up some scratches.\n\nIt is easy to put together and if you are tall - I strongly suggest looking into this product.","Product: The Boss \"NTR\" Executive LeatherPlus Chair by Boss Office Products requires so little assembly that you'll literally have it put together within minutes of removing it from the box. The chair is soft to the touch thanks to the polyurethane infused leather, which also offers durability. The back features an ergonomic curve for proper lumbar support as well as a waterfall seat that keeps legs from becoming too tired. Measurements for the unit are 27\" W x 28\" D x 45-48.5\" H with the height being determined by the user via the pneumatic gas lift. Additional features include an adjustable tilt tension and the ability to lock the chair in an upright position.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Comfortable and Easy to Put Together\n\nReview: Purchased in June 2012, I think I've tested it long enough for an honest review. This is used daily, and on occassions children climb on it and spin around. The comfort and support is spot on. I'm just shy of 6'5\" so I did my research before selecting this chair and the price didn't break the bank. It has held up well over the last two years with no sign of deteriorating.\n\nThe chair has a tall back and although the armrests are static, I find them comfortable. I've come close to buying another one for work (we have crappy chairs). The downside: the \"LeatherPlus\" should be renamed vinyl with added leather. It does look good, but it doesn't have the same feel as a nice leather chair. Again, at the price-point, one shouldn't complain. The grey parts have picked up some scratches.\n\nIt is easy to put together and if you are tall - I strongly suggest looking into this product.","Product: THE NEXT DIMENSION IN ENTERTAINMENT. The New Nintendo 3DS XL system combines next-generation portable gaming withsuper-stable 3D technology and added control features. Take 3D photos, connectwith friends, and enhance your gaming experiences with added amiibo support. The New Nintendo 3DS XL system plays all Nintendo DS games. Nintendo DS games will not appear in 3D. AC Adapter sold separately. New Nintendo 3DS XL uses the same AC adapter as Nintendo DSi, Nintendo 3DS and 2DS. 3D Mode recommended for Ages 7+\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Killer Graphics and Speed\n\nReview: Update 11.11.16: These are built well. Even with kids, they still look new and are going strong.\n\nUpdate 12.25.15: Now that they are even cheaper, we picked up a second one for the middle child. I've yet to have any issues with this product since February 2015.\n\n***Original***\n\nObviously there are/were some things going on that really irked people. I'll admit, I wasn't awaiting this release and haven't done the scan through the reviews, but I take it was around a massive jackup between supply and demand. My wife purchased this device for 200 USD at a local store with a red circle as its logo. Even then she had to keep her eyes out for two weeks to finally find a store that had one in stock. She completely lucked out, as she tells me, finding one yesterday...which was the recipient's birthday. Not sure why it is 40 USD more at Amazon, though.\n\nProduct - Okay - this thing is pretty wicked. The previous DS units we have are the originals. So, getting my hands on my daughter's new 3DS XL floored me. My old friend Link (who is older than my daughter) is still kicking major butt and the variety of controls and buttons makes it such a more interesting game. Jumping from the original to this model is insane. It's like a whole new environment with the screen size, graphics ability, robust controls, and the 3D, which admittedly is taking my older eyes some getting used to. Of course, you can turn it off.\n\nAt first I was scratching my head as to why the AC wasn't included. I still am, to a degree, but the other side of this sees the benefit of not having to buy another one since you may have compatible cables. If you have cables for DSi, 3DS or 2DS, then you are good to go. We didn't, so that was an additional expense. We purchased <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/this/dp/B00L59D9HG/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">this</a>.\n\nAnyway, the construction feels good, the speed and graphics are great, response is quick, the screen is a good size, and I look forward (I mean my daughter)... with another adventure with Link. If I notice any issues or have concerns I will come back to update this review.","Product: Mekomy\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Really Large, but Comfortable and Sound Good\n\nReview: These are the largest cans I've yet to come across. Get your mind out of my gutter.\n\nThey are extremely comfortable, but you won't charm the ladies with these on your head. They take geek (cool) and shift it near the dork spectrum. But if you are secure with yourself or simply don't get visitors, then I think you'll like these.\n\nThese connect through USB. If that works for you, continue. The microphone arm is flexible and slides back into the headphone when not needed. The bits that touch you are leather and soft, and all-around comfortable.\n\n\"Breathing\" lights on the cans are automatic and not programmable. They just cycle through colors and you won't even notice this when wearing. The metal cutout over the headband is cool looking - it is stainless steel, with a brushed finish.\n\nThe line is pretty nice, actually. It is about 6-foot long, thick, and has in-line controls to mute sound and mic, and adjust volume.\n\nLastly, they sound good. With the over-sized cans, please check your volume before wearing. A little goes a long way. You do have the option to download a zip file from the vendor, which provides 7.1 audio drivers for your setup. If you choose to do this, it is a 20MB zip and a 30-ish MB extract. Scanned without issue.\n\nLastly, Lasty, this ships in a nice rubber clam shell. The company sent a promotional sample for evaluation without promise of a review.\n\nPlease see pictures for additional detail.","Product: This is a brand new 18x22 picture, photo, diploma, poster frame (meaning a 18 '' x 22 '' or a 22 '' x 18 '' print will fit just right). This 18 x 22 Black frame is made of MDF, measuring 1.25'' wide, and 0.75'' deep, with a .375 '' deep rabbet (the space below the lip to the bottom of the frame). It is carefully made to the highest quality industry standards. This frame comes with Styrene. This Tradewinds designer frame is a unique frame that you will not find in most frame shops. The frame is perfect to lighten up your most cherished picture, photo, art gallery, poster, photograph, painting, diploma, artwork, craft project, needle-point or more, yet modest enough to match just about any environment. This Black frame works perfectly with black-and-white , and color pictures or paintings. Makes a nice Christmas gift! Please don't hesitate to browse through our policies and feedback. If you're not sure this is exactly the frame you'd like, feel free to use the search at the top of this page and search ArtToFrames to view our huge selection of wood picture frames, metal picture frames, and premade picture frames. Don't forget to add us to favorites, so you don't have to search for us again next time you need a picture frame!~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Product SKU # - - WOMFRBW72079-18x22~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Arrived in Perfect Condition\n\nReview: I had a poster coming in, so I needed a frame that was affordable and looked good. This fit the bill and looks good.\n\nThis showed up in mint condition. It is protected inside the box and also has wrap around the trim and a film over both sided of the glass.\n\nThe main reason I selected this frame was so I'd have it on file and could order more as I plan on hanging several in the same space. I wanted to try it out and see the results after shipment. I've gone to big box stores and sometimes it is hard to find the right style and/or one that isn't slightly damaged.\n\nYes, it is MDF, so only use indoors in a controlled environment such as your home, but not your bathroom or anywhere that humidity fluctuates daily. That is a standard rule-of-thumb for any baseboards or crown-molding as well.\n\nI have bought a couple of these frames now (different sizes). Good to go - no damage on shipment.","Product: Make cookies just like the Boss using the Cake Boss Stainless Steel Tools and Gadgets 2-Tablespoon Mechanical Cookie Scoop. Cake Boss Tools and Gadgets make baking easier and more enjoyable, and this stainless steel cookie scoop is ideal for scooping and placing dough onto baking pans. Boasting a stylish Cake Boss logo, the cookie scoop features comfortable rubberized pads on the handles. With a squeeze of the spring-action handles, the curved lever inside the scoop releases the contents and resets for the next portion. A must-have for the kitchen and bakery, it's perfect for making chocolate chip cookies in uniform sizes, and also great for filling mini cupcake tins with vanilla or chocolate batter. Plus, it's dishwasher safe, so cleanup is a breeze. Partner it with Cake Boss bakeware or other great pieces from the entire collection and get baking like the Boss! Portion out cookie dough and batters like a pro with the Cake Boss Tools and Gadgets Stainless Steel 2-Tablespoon Mechanical Cookie Scoop.\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: Doesn't work as good as it looks.\n\nReview: The only thing good about this product is that it looks good. Well, that and the spring works. In my defense, my wife wanted this specific one so I ordered it and didn't think about looking at the reviews (gasp!).\n\nThe inserts (red with logo) are very cheap and quickly starts to come unattached to the spring-action handles. The curved level inside the scoop works great when you are testing it with air, but when you add a mix (cookie dough, cupcake batter, etc.) it heads South quickly.\n\nSave your money and look at another scoop.\n\nUDDATE 6.7.15: It has been used several times without too much issue, but I had to take some pliers to fix it recently. The gears got messed up. It was easy to fix though.","Product: Product Description Keep shoes orderly organized and within reach with this durable design Shoe rack cover keeps your shoes un-viewable and keeps your room neat Lightweight and easy to move It's a nice way to store the shoes, you can quickly find the right shoes 6 Tiers Shoe Cabinet, store 36 pair shoes Introductions: Do you think it is a shoe rack to keep your shoe in an orderly fashion! This shoe rack features unique design and elegant appearance, increase beauty for your home. From modem home comes this simple versatile organizer for a lot of shoes. Standard design with 6 tier shoe rack can keep your all kinds of shoes as a storage .Your shoes will be leave in a mess on longer. The 6-tier shoe rack provide big space to contain your shoes. The convertible shoe rack assembles in minutes and can be set up in multiple configurations depending on your needs. If you own it that give you a clean and comfortable life space. Features 1. Keep shoes orderly organized and within reach with this durable design 2. Shoe rack cover keeps your shoes un-viewable and keeps your room neat 3. It's a nice way to store the shoes, you can quickly find the right shoes 4. The shoe rack is lightweight and easy to move 5. This shoe rack can be a good assistant for you 6. It can store 36 pair shoes 7. 6 Tiers Shoe Cabinet Specifications 1. Material: non-woven, plastic, steel 2. Dimensions: 45.29 x 11.81 x 41.34 inch/ 115 x 30 x 105 cm (L x W x H) 3. Weight: 8.11 lb Package Includes 1 * Cover 12 * Mesh 14 * Four-way Joints 28 * Three-way Joints 36 * Tube (17cm) 21 * Tube (24cm) 28 * Tube (52.8cm) 1 * User Manual\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Hour to Assemble, End Result is Nice\n\nReview: Okay, so overall I am satisfied with the end result. However, getting there took about an hour. Each row has two shelves. For an adult male, you can fit two pair of shoes on one shelf. Adult women - it will depend on heals, flats, etc. Kids shoes, which I will primarily use this for, you can fit - well, it depends on your children. I can fit up to eight pair on one shelf for the three-year-old. So, Hello to the destruction of clutter.\n\nNow, the assembly required - it is easy, but monotonous. I suggest going slow and making sure each corner and middle piece has the shallow opening facing down. I got over-zealous at the beginning and the end and had to correct my error. Also, make sure the shiny side of the shelf is facing up. If you hose this up, you will either have to deconstruct a bit, or say screw it because once you have the cover on you won't really notice.\n\nThe directions are pretty good. The scale is pretty bad, so I suggest counting the pieces and you will know which one is which. When you are building the shelves, the support poles are the middle-length ones. If you have slack, you are using the wrong ones.\n\nWhat isn't outlined in the directions are the smallest of the poles (six only) that are used as feet if desired. They also come with plastic caps to protect a hard surface. I'm electing to not use those at this time as I want the added strength and support of the product sitting flush on the floor. I suggest putting those on last.\n\nPutting the whole thing together - just give yourself some room on the floor. It is super light, so spinning it around and dialing in each shelf is easier this way. Well, unless you have a workbench. Approach this as a bed frame or children's' toy. Don't worry about dialing in everything until you get a couple rows done. Attach, push poles if needed, and it will start looking nice and square. Then rinse and repeat.\n\nIf you don't leave yourself some wiggle-room, it will make it harder to get the poles into the plastic sleeves. When you are done, unzip each side of the cover to make it easier to install. Then, just tie down (three straps) around the front and you are good to go.\n\nThe directions suggest soaking the plastic bits in warm water so they are more malleable. I'm not in the habit of soaking my bits, so I pressed on as/is. You could always squirt a tiny bit of silicone spray on a towel and rub that on the ends of poles to help it slide into the connectors.\nI only had one of the center connectors crack on me, but I was having a Herculean moment and take the blame. I saved that shelf for the top (less stress). It's all good.\n\nOverall, I am pleased with the product, and the final look of it. You could ditch the cover and put a three-shelf section next to another three-shelf section for closet use. I was provided this unit for evaluation. I didn't cuss once putting it together, which means it didn't irk me - but I'm deducting a star for the amount of assembly required. Attached pictures are before and after.\n\nOf course, if it falls apart or comes apart - I will be back to revisit this evaluation and rating.","Product: The Boss \"NTR\" Executive LeatherPlus Chair by Boss Office Products requires so little assembly that you'll literally have it put together within minutes of removing it from the box. The chair is soft to the touch thanks to the polyurethane infused leather, which also offers durability. The back features an ergonomic curve for proper lumbar support as well as a waterfall seat that keeps legs from becoming too tired. Measurements for the unit are 27\" W x 28\" D x 45-48.5\" H with the height being determined by the user via the pneumatic gas lift. Additional features include an adjustable tilt tension and the ability to lock the chair in an upright position.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Comfortable and Easy to Put Together\n\nReview: Purchased in June 2012, I think I've tested it long enough for an honest review. This is used daily, and on occassions children climb on it and spin around. The comfort and support is spot on. I'm just shy of 6'5\" so I did my research before selecting this chair and the price didn't break the bank. It has held up well over the last two years with no sign of deteriorating.\n\nThe chair has a tall back and although the armrests are static, I find them comfortable. I've come close to buying another one for work (we have crappy chairs). The downside: the \"LeatherPlus\" should be renamed vinyl with added leather. It does look good, but it doesn't have the same feel as a nice leather chair. Again, at the price-point, one shouldn't complain. The grey parts have picked up some scratches.\n\nIt is easy to put together and if you are tall - I strongly suggest looking into this product.","Product: Enjoy the Good Life -> Drink In Style Start enjoying the wealthy lifestyle taking your drink with Premier Kitchen professional Ice Ball Maker. It provides you an elegant and enjoyable way to take your drink. You will get 8 perfect ice ball spheres. Using our clever design you will enjoy the real taste of your drink without diluting it. Want to impress your friends? This ice ball maker will do the job. Want to buy something cool for your friend? This ice sphere maker is your perfect gift for every event.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Perfect sphere too difficult\n\nReview: I was more interested in these vs. the vendor's square ice cube trays (which are 5 stars). The bottom half of the ball was perfect, but the top half is iffy at best. With the product being thick silicone and black, you cant tell how much water you placed inside the mold. I used filtered water and filled the top (the four small holes) enough to where it overflowed. The top lid can handle the overflow without a mess. That's a solid plus in design.\n\nHowever, you can't see the fill line and after filling. I found that I didn't get the molds completely filled. There was a decisive ridge in the ice (where the bottom and top mold meet) This product did produce four dense half-balls of ice that are slow to melt.\n\nSome will counter and say - you need to practice and get a feel for the proper amount. To that I say, No I don't. These are bits of ice. If I have to 'practice' then they are no longer convenient and I won't use. You may have better luck than I.\n\nMade with food-grade silicone that is dishwasher safe and BPA free.\n\n*No they aren't 500 dollars. The vendor hasn't set the price yet*\n\nTested December 2014; Product supplied by vendor","Product: With small teeth, this product is especially designed to mash garlic, ginger,also can be used to grind vegetables and fruits.A creative kitchen tool for you!\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Small, but Works Well\n\nReview: Well, what to say about a grater? It is small, easy to use, sharp, and has multiple rows of directional teeth to get your ingredients down to a small size. It works like a champ for garlic and ginger. I have not used it on root vegetables so I cannot comment on that. I desperately hope it would make them taste better - but I don't expect miracles.\n\nI wouldn't call this a grater though. It is more of a pulverizer. That fresh garlic and ginger does get knocked down quickly, but it is more of a mush. Depending on your need, this may not be suitable at times.\n\nIt appears to be made on one, solid plate of stainless steel and is safe for your dishwasher. This is a unique design as there are no holes in the back.\n\nTested April 2015. Product supplied by ECALOO for an unbiased review. At this time, there is no price-point.","Product: A great kitchen tool offering a wide variety of uses, the pastry scraper is mainly designed to scrape and split bread dough as you work with it on a board. It can also be used for scraping, crushing, chopping, and even measuring. Inch increments are listed on the blade for dividing cookie and pastry dough. Durably made with a stainless-steel blade and a wide, comfortable nonslip rubber handle, the tool is comfortable to hold and work with. Cleanup is easy since the scraper is dishwasher safe.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Hefty Grip and Durable Material\n\nReview: The company sent a promotional sample for evaluation without promise of a review.. Not all are 'hits' in my opinion, but this one is killer. My wife used to work in a bakery and she does a great deal of baking at home. She was excited to see this stainless steel scraper/chopper. The moment she held it, she smiled and said she has wanted one of these for awhile, but they are typically flimsy and not worth the cost. Basing opinion on the heft of the blade and the robust handle, this is a high-end product.\n\nThe black, rubber handle has thumb indentions on both sides. The blade has a uniform 45 degree beveled edge across the bottom and one side, which also has a ruler for precise measurements. The blade is stainless-steel and dishwasher safe.","Product: Size: 6.69*1.06 inch Made by food-grade silicone,body safety Silicone heads can snap on and off handles for easy cleaning in dishwasher Withstand Heat of up to 460 degrees Fahrenheit,Suitable for all BBQ grill and pastry This silicone basting brushes better than a conventional pastry brush,Because it won't fall out \"hairs\" on your food\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Inexpensive Set of Small Basting Brushes\n\nReview: This is a set of 4 silicone basting brushes with plastic handles 4.5 inches long with the brush adding about 2 more inches. If you are grilling, please note these measurements. You'll be fine if your food is at the edge of the grill, but if you are reaching across - your wrist/forearm can get a little toasty quickly.\n\nThe silicone is quite colorful, so even if coated with marinade you will still know which ones to use on your mixed grill meats and vegetables. These aren't very big and more aimed toward baking and poultry. These are dishwasher safe and the tips come off with a good pull if you want to separate before washing. The vendor sent his inexpensive set to me in exchange for an unbiased evaluation.","Product: With the Canon Power Shot SX520 HS digital camera you can capture beautiful scenic panoramas, elusive wildlife, an athlete's intensity, or a child's wonder - all from a distance that won't interrupt the action. The SX520 HS makes this kind of versatility easy with an incredible 42x optical zoom and 24mm wide-angle lens. This camera was born to zoom, with features and systems designed to make high-magnification shooting with advanced Canon optics simple and spectacular. The Optical Image Stabilizer and Intelligent IS keep images clear and steady while Zoom Framing Assist and a new Advanced Zoom Framing Assist function help you track and capture subjects, follow their movement and keep them in focus - whether you're shooting stills or super-lifelike 1080p full HD video. And High Speed AF means reduced lag time. Use this sophisticated point-and-shoot wherever you go to capture memories with the quality and versatility they deserve.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Wonderful entry level or upgrade from point-and-click.\n\nReview: Quick update: 12/24/14 - The price has dropped to the lowest I've seen since the product launch (200 USD).\n\nHere's the deal. I'm not going to waste [too much] of your time spitting the specs back to you in a review. You have already looked at them. If you are here, it is because you don't want to spend 3000 USD on a high-end professional box and thousands more on lenses; but, you want something better than a basic point-in-shoot. Yes? If so, please continue.\n\nAlthough there is NOTHING wrong with Nikon, I prefer Canon and have a 5D Mark III at work at a pair of XF 300's for video. They are amazing. No doubt. That said, the cost is overkill for personal/amateur use. Take the plunge in the Canon Family. The feel of this model is similar to the T2i/T3i. It has enough features to learn and grow with and not break the bank or cause you to purchase additional gear.\n\nCons: No shoe, USB 2.0 - not sure why they didn't go 3.0\n\nThat said, if you want to buy various lenses, stop here and search for deals on the T3i. Still here? This is a very nice entry into photography:\n\n24mm wide and 42x Optical Zoom. I recommend never using an optical zoom to the edge of capability. You will have data loss (blur, shallow detail).\n\n1080p HD. This is nice as you can take high quality video. This has become more prevalent over the last 5 years and Canon's CMOS can capture high-impact, detailed video. You will have to look elsewhere for audio capture as you will need external to get clean audio for any [higher end] editing needs.\n\n16.0 MP is robust enough for you to capture high-detail, print-quality pictures worthy of framing\n\n3.0 inch LCD is plenty big to see what you are framing. You may want to look at a screen hood (few dollars) if you are shooting in high-sun.\n\nYou will want to get some memory cards to capture all your needs. This model takes SD/SDHC/SDXC. Transcend SD Class 10 for video needs (16-32GB) and SD Class 4 for photo needs should get you started without headache.\n\nIn any event, I truly hope you deep-dive into this product. For the price point, the quality and capabilities are wonderful! Enjoy!!","Product: Speaker impedence 16 ohms, Weight 12 grams, Cable length 1.2 m, Wire core material enamelled copper wire, Headphone sensitivity 93dB, Plug Type - 3.5mm gold-plated, The maximum practical power - 5mW, Maximum acceptable power - 20mW\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Quality Design and Sound\n\nReview: At this price-point (20 USD) these are pretty aggressive little ear buds. I'm not sure if this is a promotional rate or not, but it is a killer deal.\nThe black/silver M-10 varies slightly from the product picture:\n\n> The R and L are stamped on the black part where the wire comes into the bud.\n> The silver lines are actually ribbed\n> Looks way better in person. Very D. Vader looking (don't want to get sued by Disney here)\n\nThese are put together well and the sound is well rounded. They are fairly deep (long) buds so they go into the ear canal securely. Some may not find this comfortable and you should be aware of this design.\n\nSince they fit snugly, the noise-cancellation is solid. I ran these with a gas leaf blower and the music was definitely \"louder\" than that piece of equipment. It muffled the motor and all was good. I typically don't push headphones past the half-way point on a device's volume setting, for your context.\n\nOverall, the design, sound quality, and noise-cancellation are all great. Extra feature: the jack actually fits into the phone with a case. Many, not all, cases make using anything non-OEM a challenge.\n\nI originally figured that these inexpensive headphones would be moderately okay. I was assuming wrong. Tested April 2015; Product supplied by vendor for unbiased review.","Product: 100% Original QCY QY5s Bluetooth V4.1 Headset Earphone Sports Headphone HD Sound Original QCY QY5s wireless bluetooth 4.1 headset blutooth sport running headphone stereo studio music earphones fone de ouvido with microphone for iphone smartphone mobilephone all bluetooh devices as iphone 4/5/6 plus samsung huawei xiaomi tablet pc etc. 100% original QCY QY5s Features: CRS Bluetooth V4.1 chip Portable lightweight and sweatproof design Built-in microphone HD audio interaural stereo Membrane Vibrating Technology Built-in rechargeable Li-ion battery Multipoint pairing (up to 2 phones) Voice command for picking up / rejecting calls Built-in 14.2mm nedymium driver Clear bass resonance, CVC 6.0 wind noise reduction, and superior sound isolation Wide compatible With the various devices with bluetooth function for android mobile phone and for Iphone Specification: Bluetooth version: CRS Bluetooth V4.1 Frequency range: 2.4GHz-2.48GHz Operating distance: Up to 10m (free space) Bluetooth profiles: A2DP, AVRCP, HSP, HFP Standby time: Up to 180hrs Talk / music playtime: Approximately 4 -5hours Charging time: Approximately 2 hours Frequency response: 20Hz-20kHz Operational temperature: -10 to 50 C Package Included: 1xQY5s Sport Bluetooth Stereo Headset 1xUSB Charger Cable 4xEar Rubber 4xEear Hook\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Sound Good but Cord is Really Long\n\nReview: I didn't realize it until I was pairing these BT headphones they are the QY5 model. Ive tested the QY7 and 8 previously and have enjoyed both sets. The 5s are similar to the 8s as they are both small in-ear buds with ear stabilizers included. These sound perfectly fine when paired to an iPhone 6. A nice, solid balance across frequencies. These don't suck in as much as the 7 series. The cord is pretty long though, not optimal for any exercise in my opinion. The company sent a promotional sample for evaluation without promise of a review. I doubt I received retail packaging (just a plain white box), but everything showed up in working order without issue. Included are s,m,l bud tips and a power cable (USB).","Product: This is a Wolverine work collection belt that has state of the art fibers that twist and turn with your every move, providing increased range of motion. There is no increased range of motion. There is no holding back when Wolverine flex on your side.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Inexpensive Leather Casual Belt\n\nReview: This is a solid casual belt with brush-finish buckle. It easily fits in jean loops (as well as slacks if desired). It is true to size and is definitely leather. The Wolverine keeper (embossed) looks nice but isn't distracting. All the holes look to be machine punched. I find the size chart is on par with belts you'd find in retail stores. Whatever your jean size, I'd jump up by 4 (38 inch, get 42). This allows for a better fit regardless if you get this or another belt.\n\nAt the time of this posting, it is 12 USD which is pretty inexpensive. The list is 35 USD, which I wouldn't pay personally. Ultimately, If you see this under 20 USD, I don't think you will be disappointed.\n\nIf I notice anything funky (buckle deteriorating or holes tearing) I'll come back and update. The company sent a promotional sample for evaluation without promise of a review.","Product: Now you can create your very own customized tee shirt. Choose the logo or text you wish us to print on high quality Cotton T-Shirts. 100% preshrunk cotton takes the worry away from shrunk-age. Seamless rib at neck and collar. Double-needle stitched neckline, bottom and sleeve hems. Any needs, Feel free to contact us, We're aim to make you 100% pleased with the transaction.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: GREAT Except for Sizing\n\nReview: NOOOOO. You need to order a size up!\n\nThe good: It turned out pretty damn sweet. The whites are a little cloudy on a black shirt, but nothing to worry about. You'd get there anyway after heavy use. The T-shirt itself is 100% cotton preshrunk.\n\nThe how: This is a design-yourself shirt. Nothing new on this concept. You are limited to 7MB upload and can alter the size of the design after you upload and before you checkout. Although I created my design in vector (.ai file), I had to convert it to .png (maintains transparency). It ended up being a 1MB file at that point. I didn't think it would turn out this well since I \"gave up\" 6MB worth of file size. I also came damn close to maxing out the size of print.\n\nThe bad: Most my shirts are 2X and fit just fine. I ordered a 2X and it is tight from neck down. So - doesn't fit as expected. Super bummed. I was overly impressed how it turned out and was going to use this as my new 'concert' shirt as it was a one-of-a-kind design. Damn. I'll have to cut the sleeves off and use it as a gym shirt now. No biggie for me since I'm not out any cash on this shirt.\n\nThe company sent a promotional sample for evaluation without promise of a review.\n\nHint - turn all your graphic Ts inside out before washing. They'll last longer.\n\nHint 2 - unless you want a box or circle background, don't upload a .jpg. A .png file is your best bet at this time.\n\nPlease don't forget to order up a size!\n\n3X wasn't an option when I placed the order :(","Product: Three friends discover a mysterious machine that takes pictures 24 hours in the future and conspire to use that power to help themselves to some extra cash. That is until the machine starts spitting out some questionable photos that suggest the trio's future could be in peril.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Fun, Low Budget Flick\n\nReview: This is a fun, low-budget flick that I originally found on Netflix. The main setting is the living room of three roommates (two guys, one girl = 1 third wheel). Across from their picture window is the apartment of an old man, whom they discover has passed. In lieu of contacting the police, they discover a special camera that is aimed at their living room.\n\nThis camera takes pictures of tomorrow, always at 8pm. As the three struggle with life (waitress, apartment manager/painter, and, well a pill popper gambler), they get an idea on how to make some quick cash. Of course, seeing into the future doesnt necessarily mean you won't see something disturbing.\n\nI thought the acting was okay and the cinematography was well done. The movie is a little slow as it is mostly dialogue, but there was a nice twist at the end.","Product: WILD TALES is a fresco of rage, fury, deception, and revenge. Made up of six stories, it is an entertaining and jaw-dropping film about people crossing the line into madness when faced with perceived injustice. A lover's betrayal, a return to the repressed past, and the violence woven into everyday encounters drive the characters to lose control and cross the line that divides civilization and barbarism.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Enjoyable and Dark (Violent, too)\n\nReview: Personal perception accounts for much of our 'truth' in pretty much any situation. In Wild Tales, Perception is a bitch.\n\nI was given a heads-up to check out this movie by someone that isn't shy of violence and strange turns of events. Even if you don't like subtitles, I estimate only about half of the movie really needs them. In fact, the Road Rage segment speaks for itself. It is brutal and awesome. There are deaths in this dark film, but surprisingly there are no guns; obviously not from 'Murica.\n\nRather, this gem is from Argentine under the title 'Relatos Salvajes' (2014). Although I was hoping all the short stories would be tied together, the only defining string is scenes that go from bad to worse. Well, actually 'Bombita' and 'Hasta que la muerte nos separe' end on more positive notes, but I won't give anything away.\n\nThere are some interesting camera shots, but overall it is pretty standard cinematography. The scenes, stories, and settings are all diverse and overall it is very well done. 'Pasternak's' freeze-frame ending is brilliant. I was almost expecting to see Tim Roth lurking in the background.\n\nLittle Bomb was completely predictable but utterly satisfying. The Strongest is the most brutal of the mix and frakken awesome.\n\nOverall a quality, fun, violent and dark film.","Product: Brand New. Free upgrade to 1st class shipping! I do not ship to APO/FPO.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Well Produced; Interesting Story\n\nReview: Season one is very interesting. This is a show that you need to devote attention to and not multitask; don't check statuses or surf the interwebs. Why? Because there are a lot of subtitles to be read, and if you miss those and don't speak Spanish, you might as well turn the show off and go about your business. I didn't know a great deal about the shows lead character, Pablo Escobar, aside from little snippets from comparative articles and The War on Drugs campaign.\n\nThis series is set in the 1980s and chronicles the life of the Colombian drug lord, Pablo Escobar. Although it is understood throughout the season that Escobar began his life of crime at an early age, we pick up his story as he begins to really explode and become one of the richest men in the world. He accomplishes this by supplying the majority of the worlds cocaine (estimated around 80%). Starting from a lower class family, from Medellin, he would end up clearing over $400 Million a week.\n\nIn all, this is very well done - solid cinematography and actors. I'm looking forward to Season 2","Product: Incredibly Durable The cable covered by high quality material which is more durable than other plastic cable, prevent to bending or scratching. Past 10000+ times bend test and no damage or change in performance is found, Lightweight and flexible to be coiled for portable carrying but tangle -free indeed. Perfect Length The 3 feet length of these charging cables allows you to move around freely as you charging your devices. Whether you are at home, at the office or back seat of car, you can enjoy complete freedom of movement. Great performance with pure wire and standard 8 pin connector provides charging or syncing with your devices. USB Wall Charger Plug travel adapters to easily fit into an All-in-One travel plug, it is the best USB travel charger for business trips or travelling as it also covers the voltage100v-240v. Suitable for international travelling. providing for each one the best full Speed charge Compatible with the latest iOS11 without any error messages. iPhone X, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6S, iPhone 6S Plus iPhone 5, iPhone 5S, iPhone 5C, iPhone Sepia Pro, iPad Air, iPad Air 2iPad mini, iPad mini 2, iPad mini 3, iPad mini 4, iPad 4iPod Touch (5 Gen), iPod Nano 7What's in the box2 X 3 Feet USB Cables2 X Wall Charger : Every sale includes an 12-month, worry-free to prove the importance we set on quality.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Good Protection for Corner Drops\n\nReview: Verus' aptly named Thor case is a bit larger than most cases. It reminds me of the kid-friendly Kindle covers. All four corners bulge out a bit to add extra protection for corner drops. I lean toward minimalism, and this case definitely falls in line. The Charcoal Black is black-on-black with a dimpled back and solid uppers and sides. It is wider than normal and comes in around 3 inches.\n\nThese cases are engineered to be a snug fit and are easy to put on. All ports and buttons line up just fine. As far as cases go, this is a pretty popular model (at least on Amazon). If you want some 'flair', check out the Electric Blue or Hot Pink.\n\nThe case comes with a one-year warranty.\n\nThe company sent a promotional sample for evaluation without promise of a review.","Product: About Verus: Verus combines quality construction with pragmatic features and elegant design | great for any occasion: the iron Shield Series case is comfortable in any environment, whether it's a Black tie event or a trip to the store | feel confident in your fashion sense wherever you go-at least when it comes to your case | having your Cake (and eating it, too): No longer care about form over function | the iron Shield provides the perfect mix of both, supplying both safety and looks in a singular, thin and light Package | installation: separate the soft, TPU layer from the aluminum bumper before installing | insert your iPhone 6 device into the TPU layer before fitting both into the Metal frame | it's a quick and easy process that's painless and straightforward\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Streamlined TPU and Aluminum Case\n\nReview: IF you use OEM lightning cable and bluetooth headphones (or OEM headphones), then this is a 5 Star case. I've used it for a bit and originally rated it highly. The lightness and the attractive aluminum frame are killer. However, you may be disappointed when plugging in headphones or lightning cables that are not OEM. Some, not all, aftermarket products will have too much of a profile (rubber around connector) to correctly seat into the ports. I have two corded headphones that are too thick to clear the frame and I have to remove it when listening to music.\n\nVerus' Aluminum Case Iron Shield is pretty sharp looking in person and is my new daily driver. If it scratches easily or if I have other issues I will go back to another case and update the rating here.\n\nFirst, follow the directions. Yeah, I'm not kidding. There is a method to getting this sucker on your phone in less than 5 seconds. Once you do, it is equally easy to remove. However, bypass the directions and you may Hulk out in frustration. I did. I advise not having children within the range of your voice on the first attempt.\n\nMost cases I've used are Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), which is plastic commonly used in a wide-variety of cases. This case has a thinner skin as the aluminum frame is just that - a frame. The button response is quite good and the ports line up flawlessly. It has a minimal profile and is light and form-fitting.. The cases comes with a one-year warranty.\n\nTested March 2015; Product supplied by Verus. Opinions, good or bad, are 100% my own.","Product: Exclusive design bring you a comfortable eye.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Good Protection Plus Secret Storage\n\nReview: Verus' Card Slot Case (Damda, Champagne Gold) provides protection and built-in storage for your license and debit/credit card. It is a little bulkier than other cases, so you should consider if you want a secret compartment or not.\n\nOverall, It looks good and has a good feel. The side grips provide just enough give to feel good in your hand. I'm not sold on the longevity of the sliding door. Where this is a cool feature, it may also be the demise of an otherwise fun and useful case. Only time will tell to be honest. Of course, I will circle back and update if there are issues, but you may want to press deeper into the lower rating reviews to see how many folks have issues with the slider.\n\nIt fits your phone like a glove and is easy to install. The buttons are responsive and the ports are easily accessible. I did note there is a slight notch surrounding the headphone port to allow for 45/90 degree headphone jacks.\n\nThe case comes with a one-year warranty.\n\nThe company sent a promotional sample for evaluation without promise of a review.","Product: Applicable to the iPhone?case\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: For the Minimalist in Your Family\n\nReview: This is an inexpensive, minimalist case that provides quality protection and port access. The back is clear and if Caseology would load a template on the product page, one could customize the back of their phone with proper cut-outs quite easily. Printing on a decent stock paper, you can enjoy photos, one-of-a-kind designs, or, well, whatever you want. So, HINT to Caseology. The frame is matte black with glossy black front and back bumpers.\n\nOkay, the important stuff: The bumper frame allows you to put your phone face-down with protection. The buttons are responsive and the back cut-out for the lens and flash are spot-on. What I noted as above average: the bottom design. The case provides passage for a fairly large headphone jack. The thickest corded headphone jack I have is the brainwavz S1 and it fits fine. There are a handful of cases I've tested where this is not the case. The 8-pin port is also open enough for aftermarket lightning cables.\n\nIf you are in the market for a low-key phone case, this fits the bill.\n\nThe company sent a promotional sample for evaluation without promise of a review.","Product: Packing arguably one of the best hardware combinations available at the moment, the natural habitat of the Motorola DROID Turbo is somewhere near the very top of Mount Android, thanks to the 5.2-inch Quad HD display, the power-laden 2.7GHz Snapdragon 805, the 3GB of LPDDR3 RAM, the 21MP rear snapper capable of shooting 4K video clips, and the humongous, \"two-day\" 3,900mAh battery inside.Carrier: Verizon WirelessDevice has a slot for a SIM card. Does not have a slot for a MicroSD memory car\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: The Battery Alone Should Get Your Attention\n\nReview: This is a high-end smartphone packed with some serious hardware. Before I get to that, I am a Droid fan and my last few phones have been by Motorola. My house is split as there is a big Apple fan. Im also very impressed with Samsungs Galaxy line. In sum, I appreciate other companies and phones, but I feel the Droid Turbo by Motorola will launch into popularity.\n\nWhat would drive you to this? For me, it was the multitude of features, but the battery (3800MaH) is a big one. No, talking about batteries isn't sexy, but with the turbo charging, it only takes 15 minutes (yes, you are reading that right) to get around eight hours of life. Admit it that is pretty sexy. There is a reason there is a huge aftermarket for battery cases, chargers and gizmos, after all. I went with RAZR over iPhone two years ago and a big driver was the battery life. Motorola has made it a no brainer for this new two-year commitment.\n\nThe last Ill go into detail is the screen (Gorilla 3, AMOLED). It is a great size but is smaller than the iPhone 6+ and Galaxy Note 4. It is impressive; 565 PPI with 16 million colors. Bright, crisp great for zoom-ins, games and media; even checking work email here and there, which I discourage.\n\nOther highlights are the 21MP camera with dual LED flash (4K video capture) and user facing 2MP capable of 1080p video capture. It comes loaded with KitKat and the 2.7GHz processor with 3GB RAM can handle pretty much anything you through at it. Lastly, it has a nice menu features for the camera, but if you are a heavy, heavy phonetog, the Galaxy may be your thing.\n\nAMOLED (active-matrix organic light-emitting diode) in case you were itching to know","Product: Ipow: Gooseneck design ,your best friends while driving. The ipow car mount is the perfect mobile phone holder for most smartphones. If your mobile phone diagonal screen size between 3.2-6 Inches; you can buy it.Another functional feature is the ability to rotate by 360 degree in order to provide multiple viewing angles from anywhere inside your vehicle. It is easy to install no tools required. Thanks to its super strong sticky gel pad, so the car mount can sticks securely to most smooth flat surfaces, yet is still easily removable. Choose it to protect your phone in car and drive with confidence! you're ready to go! Feature : 1. Mobile phone holder equipped with auxiliary sticking plate ,allowing you to easily pasted on the dashboard ,and somewhere not easy to paste. 2. Its locking feature helps place your phone efficiently into the mount and out of it without causing any struggle. 3. Its 360rotation,convenient use ,put the position angle can be with your mind any rotation, humanized design. 4. Extra-large sticky gel pad attaches to the windshield or most smooth flat surfaces and is easily removable. Compatibility: 1. Apple: iPhone 5S/5C/5/4S/4/3GS 2. HTC: HTC One/8X/8S 3. Motorola: Motorola Droid RAZR/MAXX/HD 4. Samsung: Galaxy S4 S3 S2/ 5. Blackberry Q10 & Z10, LG Optimus G/Nexus 4 To install the ipow car holder: 1. Clean the suction pad and the desired location to which it sticks 2. Please adhere the chassis silicone the surface first, and press the bottom switch, then fixed it. 3. Adjust the angle to your preference, you can also tighten it to prevent movement.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Adjustable and Solid Sunction\n\nReview: Ive tried numerous vent/cradle phone holders and I just don't like the end result due to the combined weight and gravity pulling the phone down too much. Overall I really enjoy the concept of this design. Although Im not a fan of adjustable clips to hold your phone, this design makes it easier. Id compare the clip to a hair clip that has rubber grips to hold your phone securely.\n\n360 degree rotation\nEasy to mount phone\nVery adjustable with quality suction cup\n\nI drove 90 minutes and putting the unit for optimal use equated to having the long arm extended with one slight curve. This of course will vary with make/model and preference. The weight of the phone and cradle coupled with varied road conditions caused too much bouncing for my liking. The base stayed in place and the phone was completely secure but it was causing a distraction for me.\n\nSo, personally this is an average product and I won't be using it. However, I give it high marks for adaptability, suction cup strength and the easy-to-use cradle.\n\nTested March 2015; Product supplied by vendor for review.","Product: Compatibility: Compatible with Apple iPhone 6 /6s 4. 7 inch, allowing full access to touchscreen, camera, buttons, and ports. NOT COMPATIBLE with iPhone 6 5. 5 inch or any other iPhone models. Apple MFi Certified Natick Apple iPhone 6/ 6s 4. 7 Inch External Protective Battery Case is certified by Apple MFi, which means each case comes with smart circuit protection and ensures 100% compatibility in the future. The battery case can be used safely, without any possibility of exploding. Powerful: With its amazing 3100 mAh batter power capacity delivered in such a compact package. You will pleasantly renew your iPhone 6 power supply with more than 100% of full charge of iPhone internal battery capacity. Design: Designed with both protection and looks in mind, It comes with one lightening connector to charge your iPhone 6 and one micro USB charging port to charge the battery case through a USB cable connected to a Wall/Car charger or a PC USB Port. Our advanced technology provides guaranteed compatibility with the latest iPhone 6 IOS operating system which allows charging and data sync simultaneously. Specifications Battery type: Li-polymer Capacity: 3. 7V/3100mAh Input: 5V / 1A (Max) Output: 5V / 1A Package Including: 1 x Natick iPhone 6/ 6sBattery Case 1 x microUSB Charging Cable 2 x Frames 1 x Headphone Extension Adaptor 1 x User Manual Retail Packaging\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Sleek and Lighter than Expected\n\nReview: Any battery case will add weight and depth to your device, which until tech changes substantially, is simply the price you pay for extra juice. Ive tested battery cases before, so I figured this would be just another one for a different phone. The good news is this product is lighter than I thought it would be. Although it is bigger than older iPhones, the design provides a sleek feel with rounded corners.\n\nThis is a back (battery) case as well as a minimalistic front cover. iPhone 6s have 1810mAH batteries, so adding a 3100mAh (fully charged) battery will recharge your phone 100% with room to spare. Your headphone jack will be recessed once inside the case and Nexcon provides the headphone extension adapter as well as the microUSB cable to charge. The design lines up with the camera, buttons and ports.\n\nDue to the added weight, Im not prone to use battery cases as the daily driver, but they are good to have handy on trips and in emergencies where you cannot find an available charge and/or cable. You can elect to charge and toss the case in your purse or briefcase. However, if you don't mind the weight this case is durable enough to take daily abuse.\n\nThe company sent a promotional sample for evaluation without promise of a review.","Product: MPOW Brand Certified: Top-Brand Bluetooth Accessories for Smartphones MPOW Brand Certified: Top-Brand Bluetooth Accessories for Smartphones|Cheetah's Stylish Behind-Ear Streamline Outlook Design Guarantee 100% Stable and Comfortable User Wearing Experience for Running,Jogging,Biking,Driving,Fishing,Camping,Hiking and other Outdoor Sports.|The Most Advanced Bluetooth 4.1 Chips Hardware Configuration Ensure Hi-Fi CD Quality Stereo Music Sound and Strong Signal. Leading apt-X Tech Can Provide No-lag Voice when Listening to Music or Calling with Mic.|Simple To Use: Portable Function Control Buttons Are Designed for Easily Operation. Just Press it untill Blue and Red LED Light Alternatively Flashing, find and connect with your phones,then you can enjoy music or calling wirelessly. If need reconnect automatically, please turn on bluetooth of your phone first, then turn on the Cheetah, It can reconnect automatically.|Also need an armband? Save 20% on our highly-rated Mpow Running Sporty Sweatproof Armband [Please search ASIN:B00YS8H6R0 to find it] when you purchase this Bluetooth Headphones. Add both to cart, and enter the code RVM8P7EE at checkout! Mpow Cheetah Sport Bluetooth 4.1 Wireless Headphones Stereo Sport Running Gym Exercise Headsets Earphones-Retail Packaging-Black\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Runners - Take Note\n\nReview: Tested on an iPhone, the audio is quite good. The design is outstanding. Many runners complain of Bluetooth and in-ear buds falling out. I would be shocked if you didn't find these steps above the competition. They have thick plastic that curves around your ear and the behind-the-neck cable is tight. I jumped around, shook my head like I was possessed and whatnot and they stay firmly attached.\n\nPairing was easy and charging doesn't take long. The product includes the charging cable (USB 2.0), small, medium, and large ear bud tips, and directions. The hands-free calling feature is on par with the price-point. The microphone is fine.\n\nIn short: Huge points for the design of them staying securely on ears.\n\nAs with any product, I will circle back if there are significant issues.\n\nThe company sent a promotional sample for evaluation without promise of a review.","Product: MPOW Brand Certified: Top-Brand Bluetooth Accessories for Smartphones MPOW Brand Certified: Top-Brand Bluetooth Accessories for Smartphones|Cheetah's Stylish Behind-Ear Streamline Outlook Design Guarantee 100% Stable and Comfortable User Wearing Experience for Running,Jogging,Biking,Driving,Fishing,Camping,Hiking and other Outdoor Sports.|The Most Advanced Bluetooth 4.1 Chips Hardware Configuration Ensure Hi-Fi CD Quality Stereo Music Sound and Strong Signal. Leading apt-X Tech Can Provide No-lag Voice when Listening to Music or Calling with Mic.|Simple To Use: Portable Function Control Buttons Are Designed for Easily Operation. Just Press it untill Blue and Red LED Light Alternatively Flashing, find and connect with your phones,then you can enjoy music or calling wirelessly. If need reconnect automatically, please turn on bluetooth of your phone first, then turn on the Cheetah, It can reconnect automatically.|Also need an armband? Save 20% on our highly-rated Mpow Running Sporty Sweatproof Armband [Please search ASIN:B00YS8H6R0 to find it] when you purchase this Bluetooth Headphones. Add both to cart, and enter the code RVM8P7EE at checkout! Mpow Cheetah Sport Bluetooth 4.1 Wireless Headphones Stereo Sport Running Gym Exercise Headsets Earphones-Retail Packaging-Black\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: These Do NOT fall out\n\nReview: Tested on an iPhone, the audio is quite good. The design is outstanding. Many runners complain of Bluetooth and in-ear buds falling out. I would be shocked if you didn't find these steps above the competition. They have thick plastic that curves around your ear and the behind-the-neck cable is tight. I jumped around, shook my head like I was possessed and whatnot and they stay firmly attached.\n\nPairing was easy and charging doesn't take long. The product includes the charging cable (USB 2.0), small, medium, and large ear bud tips, a pouch, and directions. The hands-free calling feature is on par with the price=point. The microphone is fine.\n\nIn short: Huge points for the design of them staying securely on ears.\n\nAs with any product, I will circle back if there are significant issues.\n\nTested January 2015; Product supplied by Mpow. Opinions, good or bad, are 100% my own.","Product: 8000 mAh Solar Panel Charger Portable Waterproof/Shockproof/Dustproof Power Bank for iPhone 6 Plus 5S 5C 5 4S, LG G3, Nexus, HTC One M9, Sony, Nokia, Gopro, GPS and More\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Good Size, Slow Solar Charge\n\nReview: A rugged and robust 8000mAh battery provides a great deal of backup power. This solar panel can recharge this battery pack, but it will be slower than three-legged turtle sprinting blindfolded in the dark. In case you are wondering, that is really, really slow. So slow, it isn't worth the effort.\nBut, if you charge this up with the USB cable and use sunlight to top it off, you are good to go on filling to at/near capacity.\n\nSome positives:\n+ Flashlight is decently bright and has on, S.O.S. (repeating) and strobe settings.\n+ The case has good grip\n+ Directions are entertaining\n\nThe Cons:\n- 1.0 Amp output\n- Low-level solar panel\n\nDirections (translation) highlights:\n#5: Do not put this product on the water, Light or damp rain Cream.\n#7: Please keep this product and related accessories, to avoid home Easy reach of children.\n\nIn all, this device does what it sets out to do - providing backup power to mobile devices. I'm knocking a star because it is only 1.0A output.\n\nTested April 2015; Product supplied by vendor for unbiased review.","Product: Tire Bead Sealer, Flammable, Size 32 oz., Color Black, Material Liquid, Features Forms An Air Tight Seal Between The Tire And Rim Reducing Bead Leaks, Used For Tires/Wheel This product contains a chemical that is regulated under California Proposition 65. Warning: This product contains a chemical known to the State of California to cause birth defects or other reproductive harm. -\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: When Soapy Water Doesn't Work...\n\nReview: I purchased a can of XTRA Seal Bead Sealer at a local auto shop as it wasn't showing up in hardware store searches. I had never used this product before, but it did exactly what I needed it to do straight away.\n\nMy snowblower tires keep flattening out and breaking the seal, which if you are here - you know what that means. I tried the string and the ratchet system and finally got one tire to fill up. But no matter what I tried, I couldn't get the other one to retain air. I finally waited for the weather to clear (bad snow storm) and globbed this onto both sides of the tire near the rim. Although you will still need to ratchet/compress the tire, it finally took and I was back in action.\n\nI don't want to admit how long I fussed with that tire until getting this sealer.","Product: The bulb size may vary between the model or trim of your vehicle. Please check your vehicles owners manual or the original bulb to confirm the bulb size before placing an order. The lamp compatibility guides available online and Amazon filter system may not be 100% accurate or up to date.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Bright White Light; Comes in Matching Set\n\nReview: Update 4.8.16 - All is working well. There are no issues with these being used for license plate illumination.\n\n--Original--\n\nIf you live in the Midwest, don't pick a cold night to install some vehicle lights...unless you have a heater, which I don't. Luckily, it was just my license plate bulbs getting a LED makeover.\n\nBelow are two pictures, with four total shots. The first, on the left an OEM bulb. On the right is the JDM ASTAR LED, white bulb. These suckers are bright. The second picture shows a crappy picture (my fault) of both bulbs installed. On the right, is a FJ-specific shot that shows you have to pry the cover off the gasket to change the bulb.\n\nI used a Philips screw driver to get to the bulbs as well as a precision flat to separate the cover from the gasket. In all, about 5 minutes is all it takes. Time will tell if these last as long as OEMs, which I just kept just in case. If I have any issues with flickering or death, I will circle back and change the rating/review accordingly. The company sent a promotional sample for evaluation without promise of a review.","Product: This bulb mostly used on running light, tail light, turn signal light, corner light, stop light, Reverse light, brake light, parking light, sidemarker, back up light, Dome Lights, License Plate, Side Marker Lights, multi application etc\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Gizmo Would Hate These\n\nReview: These are larger than standard OEM bulbs. Luckily, at least for my vehicle, the reverse lights are pretty much the only bulb of the rear three (brake, reverse, turn) that I can actually remove. I have a nice compartment that pops off to expose all three bulbs, but it is a Toyota. It was engineered for smaller hands, it seems. Long story short, one of my kids will have to help daddy change his other bulbs. I'll turn in my man-card later today.\n\nOkay, to the point: These bulbs are bright and functional. Yes, the look a bit goofy in hand, but once you install them, no one will ever know. My only complaint are the lead wires. They look and feel as if you have one shot at installing properly. Hose up and you may snap or lose the wiring - or worse, have to dig them out of your connector.\n\nOtherwise - good to go. The company sent a promotional sample for evaluation without promise of a review.","Product: Pennzoil Multi-Use Pump. Custom Accessories, the leader in Automotive Aftermarket Accessories, is a\"One-Stop-Shop\" for ALL your Automotive needs. From Interior Accessories, Exterior Accessories, Car Care, Steering Wheels Covers, Compasses, Tire Gauges, Air Compressors, Car Organization, Car Comfort, and countless others CUSTOM ACCESSORIES has it all.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Super Easy to Use\n\nReview: I purchased and used this immediate as I needed to do a quick oil change on a mower. It wasn't my mower and I couldn't find the pan screw (nor was it identified in the user manual). For a small job, this pump works fine. I wouldn't use it in a vehicle as debris/dirt deposits are better pulled from proper draining, not sucking up.\n\nDirections are included, but basically you just use the intake and outtake quick release; depress and shove in a line and release. Repeat the process. At this point you should have the pump in the middle and each side has spaghetti monster arms. Total effort for first time users - perhaps a minute. Note - if are experiencing a leak around the quick releases, just pull it back and shove the tubing in further and release. It should stop the leak immediately.\n\nAfter that - it works as described. this also comes with a small tube and kit to inflate balls and such. Personally, I tossed these bits as I have better pumps and an air compressor. I just needed the siphon option.\n\nThe final clean out takes the longest. I pumped the oil through then removed the intake tube and drain the small remainder. Then pumped the outtake. Once done, wrapped in a sack and will use this kit for oil only. If I ever need to siphon gas for storage, I'll just go get another pump.","Product: TRIVIUM SILENCE IN THE SNOW\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Clean Harmonic Album (Not Thrash)\n\nReview: Had to come back and change from 4 to 5 stars. I can't get enough of the title track and enjoy the full album.\n\nIm new to Trivium so I cannot compare their previous works to this 2015 release, Silence in the Snow.\n\nBased on their style, I figured they be a Scandinavian band but NO, they are from the USA; Florida if we are being specific. Their hard rock/metal sound is clean with harmonic vocals and I enjoy this entire album.\n\nThe vocals have a definitive mark on all the songs . Looking into the band a bit, it looks like they began as a thrash metal but have evolved (or devolved depending on your tastes) into melodic metal. In parts, they sound like a mix of Hoobastank and Tyr. I know, sounds weird, but it works.\n\nAccording to my brother they did start out growling/thrash and switched styles a few albums ago. They tour with Slipknot and are killer liveboth guitarists are outstanding. Where I like Corey Taylors other works, Im not a fan of Slipknot. The music is outstanding, but the vocals drive me batty. So, if you dig old Trivium, Im banking you may NOT like this album.\n\nEDIT: I think I\"m going to have to pick up \"Vengeance Falls\" now. Good stuff!!","Product: LACUNA COIL Delirium CD\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Solid Music; Vocals vary\n\nReview: Delirium definitely comes out swinging with The House of Shame. This one is growing on me quickly; solid hook and chorus. And then I get lost a bit on the first half of the album. Musically, everything is great. Vocally, for me, it is hit and miss.\n\nClaustrophobia, the 10th track, and Ultima Ratio (11th) strikes the balance I was looking for when I pre-ordered this CD. For my personal library of Lacuna Coil (In a Reverie, Comalies, Dark Adrenaline), the majority of songs are symphonic metal(core) with harmonic vocals.\n\nI'm not a fan of thrash/scream/grunt metal. This album is definitely harder than prior releases and many songs border at the top end of my vocal threshold.\n\nThe 12th track, Live to Tell, is the first song that completely sounds like earlier LC releases. The fact that it is a cover (Madonna), doesn't faze me. Good songs are often made better by better bands :)\n\nBreakdown is definitely going into heavy rotation. My favorite Andrea-heavy song is the final track, Bleed the Pain.\n\nFor fans or newbs to LC - just sample the songs and decide if this album is for you. 3.8/5 Stars","Product: WALI single monitor stand (model WL-M001) made of high grade steel and aluminum. Fits most LCD monitors up to 27\" and supports up to 22 lbs per monitor. Every joint is able to be tightened, so you can adjust exactly how fluid/stationary you want everything to be. Special features include the ability for each individual VESA plate to be level adjusted up and down by 0.8\" so your monitors will be perfectly aligned (see pictures). We also made mounting your monitors easy with detachable VESA plates that screw into your monitor and then slide back onto the frame of the stand. An optional bolt through grommet clamp is included with this stand. This has standard VESA 75x75mm and 100x100mm mounting holes.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Simple Design, Nice Overall Finish and Function. Easy Setup\n\nReview: For the most part this is a basic one-monitor stand. You have two options on how to use it. One, assemble it as a clamp that goes on your surface. Two, drill your surface and mount the post. This will work with both VESA 75x75 and 100x100. The build is pretty solid and has some heft to it. This, of course is quite important as you don't want your monitor to tilt or sag.\n\nThe cool feature of this particular model is the ability to mount the bracket to your monitor and THEN mount the monitor to the stand. I've had many stands, and for the most part this isn't an option. So, you are stuck setting up the stand then holding your screen as you screw in the mount with one hand. The Wali design is a big plus.\n\nOutside of that, it comes with all parts and tools (except a Philips screwdriver). I circled some surface damage on the primary support. Although the product was well packaged, the scrapes were there straight out of the box. I plan on using this stand at work since my old single stand is sagging.\n\nAlthough I do not foresee any issues with this stand, if it begins to sag or the screws start to give - I will come back. I am anal about my monitors lining up and staying up exactly where I dial them into.\n\nThe company sent a promotional sample for evaluation without promise of a review. 4.8/5 due to minor blemish.","Product: This professional bonded leather padfolio makes an impressive statement. Extra storage pocket and pen holder (pen not included). Preparation is noted when on a conference table or carried into a meeting with our padfolio. Smooth leather finish, soft rich texture. A great gift for any office or traveling professionals and ideal for recent college graduates! Padfolio dimensions are 12 1/2 x 9 3/4 x 3/4.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Soft, Clean, and Looks Nice\n\nReview: Update - Two months down with daily use to and from meetings, car, and home. This still looks nice and new. Absolutely no stitching issues or other blemishes.\n\nThis is much nicer than I originally expected. For quick comparison, it looks, smells, and feels professional and is a step up from economy vendor or company branded portfolios.\n\nBonded leather is real leather bits, but it isn't the same as quality leather products. All the scraps from leather hide products (more expensive products) are collected and processed and glued tougher with polyurethane. Thus the smell of leather, and Bonded Leather material.\n\nSo, like most anything in life, it boils down to budget. If you've got the extra cash and want a portfolio to last a very long time, expect to pay around 80-150 USD.\n\nThis portfolio looks nice and had soft padding. I expect it to last a couple years. If it lasts longer and still looks good after that - pure bonus. Now you have to ask yourself, \"Do I care if it is fine leather?\" I sure don't. People aren't going to come up and ask.\n\nOne 'extra' is the backside of the flaps. In cheaper portfolios those are shiny plastic. This is not the case with this product.\n\nIf your name ends with A, then this is monogrammed for you. The Armiger logo is nice looking and depending on your viewing angle it could be Avengers, a Celtic design, Secret Society, or new take on a Star Trek-ish badge.\n\nThe company sent a promotional sample for evaluation without promise of a review.","Product: Power wash your deck, driveway, patio furniture and more with this powerful pressure washer from Generac. Long been known for their quality engines, this model is no exception, equipped with a powerful 196cc Generac OHV engine. Also included are four Quick-Click nozzle tips (0-degree Blast, 25-degree Clean, 40-degree Wash, Soap) and a 25 foot hose. Generac's power washers are carefully engineered for longevity and ease of use, with well thought-out features not found on competitive models. Easy to maneuver, the welded frame is designed for durability, with a built-in step for easy starting and an integrated gun holster. The easily accessible high-performance axial cam pump provides maximum heat dissipation for extended life and the easy to pull trigger reduces fatigue. The pump is located well above the ground, eliminating the need to kneel down to make hose connections. Backed with a 2 year limited warranty. Founded in 1959, Generac has earned a reputation as the company home and business owners turn to when the power goes out. The first to engineer affordable home standby generators, along with the first engine developed specifically for the rigors of generator use, Generac now sells more home standby generators than all of our competitors combined. We have brought this same level of commitment and quality to our pressure washer products. Our customer research has led us to engineer our pressure washers from the ground up, to meet your specific demands. Generac manufactures the widest range of power products in the marketplace including portable, RV, residential, commercial and industrial generators. Generac also operates three large factories which employs thousands of workers in the American Midwest. Note: This model is not for sale in California/non-CARB compliant.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Solid Balance Between Cost and Function\n\nReview: I've used this on a board-on-board fence, vinyl siding, concrete, and a wood deck. I researched plenty and went with the Generac 2,800 PSI for several reasons:\n\n* Portable\n* On-board detergent tank\n* Solid ratings (Amazon and other stores)\n* Price for performance\n* High PSI before going into commercial/very expensive models\n\nEven if you have never seen or used a power-washer, don't let this intimidate you. Go gas! I'm completely underwhelmed with electric power-washers and hauling extension cords with water just makes me leery - not to mention it is a hassle.\n\nIt is easy to unpack and set up. The bulk is ready to go. Just snap on the top (handle), connect the wand hose and detergent line (if desired), then add oil (included) and gas it up. Do NOT run it without water.\n\nInstall the hose and turn the water on. You are ready to roll. Flip the gas slider on as well as the choke. There is an on/off switch so turn that on as well. A couple pulls and it should fire up. Then adjust the choke and start having some fun.\n\nIt is easy to collapse and haul to another location, but just make sure to haul it upright unless you don't have gas, oil, or detergent in it (so, just plan on upright travel). The top comes off easy for transport. If you have a hatchback, SUV/Crossover, you will not have any issue. I lifted it in/out no problem, but it does have some heft to it so you may want a helper.\n\nThis comes with four nozzles and a handy place to store them. There are aftermarket attachments, so check those out. I have not purchased one, but can totally appreciate the surface cleaners. They aren't cheap though, but they will cut down the time needed on horizontal surfaces. After watching them in action, I may have to get one!","Product: HoontTM Powerful Electronic Outdoor/Indoor Animal & Pest Repeller - Motion Activated Permanently eliminate pest problems with this aggressive ultrasonic/sonic flashing light animal repeller. Select your mode of ultrasonic, sonic and strobe flashing. Get rid of Deers, Birds (Pigeons, Woodpeckers, Seagulls, etc.), Cats, Dogs, Bears, Squirrels, Rabbits, Skunks, Bats, Rats, Foxes, Raccoons, Mice and much more. HOW IT WORKS - The HoontTM Animal Repeller blasts a range of powerful ultrasonic sound, audible sound, and flashing LED strobe lights to scare away a wide variety of pests. Equipped with an infrared motion sensor, the pest repeller has an optional mode of activating when it senses motion, or it can run continuously. EASY TO INSTALL - Simply take it out of the box, plug it in and select your desired mode. Adapter is included. Can also be operated with a 9-Volt battery (Not included). / Package includes an aluminum stake for optional sticking into the ground. HUMANE & ENVIRONMENT FRIENDLY - No messy chemicals or pesticides, no traps, no dead animals. The HoontTM gets rid of all animal and pest through emitting a mixture of ultrasonic, sonic and powerful flashing LED strobe lights, frightening the pests/animals to leave the area. WEATHERPROOF & WATER-RESISTANT - Perfect for yards, patios, basements, garages, attics, porches, boats, gardens, Farms, ponds, etc. / COVERAGE AREA: Up to 5000 Sq. Ft. (PIR Motion sensor: Up to 800 Sq. Ft.)\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Good Light and Really Loud Siren\n\nReview: I haven't had this product for very long. So far so good. I have it in my front yard's landscaping so I can see it in action. I'll probably move it to a side of my house near the fence as I need to scare off rabbits. I don't mind them, but I'm tired of throwing away their dead bodies. I've even had conversations with them - just trying to do my part for their survival.\n\nMy backyard is home to two Greyhounds. If you know anything about them, you understand why I have dead rabbits. I could place this back there, but I don't want the dogs setting off the alarm. It is quite loud! More on that: There are three settings and I prefer the flashing-lights motion sensor.\n\nSo yeah, I popped a 9V into the unit and cycled through the settings. The siren is extremely loud and even when I covered the speaker and frantically pried out the 9V to unplug the power, it was still loud enough to wake up sleeping children upstairs. It is a 'lovely' 110 db blast that would work as intended. Just make sure you aren't sleeping near it.\n\nMy complaint is there is no OFF switch. I used the staking method and it worked perfectly fine. There is a notch to mount it as well. You can use this with the included power supply, or 9v battery that you will need a small screwdriver to install.\n\nOnly time will tell as I've only had this product for a short while. I will revisit and update if any significant findings occur. I received a promotional code from the vendor for an unbiased evaluation.","Product: The Waste King 3200 Legend Series 3/4-HP EZ-Mount Sound Insulated Garbage Disposer is one of the best food disposers on the market. With a high-speed 2700 r.p.m. permanent magnet motor, this disposer can efficiently get rid of your food waste. This disposer is also septic safe for properly sized septic tanks, making it environmentally friendly. The fast and easy mount system provides a no-hassle installation and it is dishwasher compatible. Package Content: garbage disposersplash guardpower cordmanualwarranty\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Pretty Powerful and Quiet\n\nReview: I purchased this make and model based on comparing reviews in the price range +/- 50 USD. I had a Badger 1 which, to its credit, lasted about 8 years. I went with Waste King because it was an easy swap, has an 8 year warranty, increased my HP from .25 to .75, and is pretty quiet.\n\nIf you are replacing a disposal, I have confidence that you can do this yourself. There are plenty of videos out there showing the ins/outs of these suckers. There really isn't much to these things. There is a knock-out, which you will have to remove if you are hooking up to your dishwasher. This too is easy (just don't forget to do it). Also, this comes wired and ready to go.\n\nIf you are putting in a new disposal and need to add plumbing, you can still DIY, but I'd probably opt for a professional install. The last thing you want to do is experience water damage and/or electrical issues. It shouldn't be terribly expensive to hire out, and peace of mind (and safety) definitely have value.\n\nSo far...so good. I will update this as time goes by.\n\nUpdate 6.17.17 - Another year down the drain. No issues, no clogs, still runs smooth and quiet.\n\nUpdate 6.4.16 - Some time has passed and just here to say all is well. I've had zero issues or concerns. I have come to realize and appreciate how quiet this is compared to the Badger.","Product: The Waste King 3200 Legend Series 3/4-HP EZ-Mount Sound Insulated Garbage Disposer is one of the best food disposers on the market. With a high-speed 2700 r.p.m. permanent magnet motor, this disposer can efficiently get rid of your food waste. This disposer is also septic safe for properly sized septic tanks, making it environmentally friendly. The fast and easy mount system provides a no-hassle installation and it is dishwasher compatible. Package Content: garbage disposersplash guardpower cordmanualwarranty\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Pretty Powerful and Quiet\n\nReview: I purchased this make and model based on comparing reviews in the price range +/- 50 USD. I had a Badger 1 which, to its credit, lasted about 8 years. I went with Waste King because it was an easy swap, has an 8 year warranty, increased my HP from .25 to .75, and is pretty quiet.\n\nIf you are replacing a disposal, I have confidence that you can do this yourself. There are plenty of videos out there showing the ins/outs of these suckers. There really isn't much to these things. There is a knock-out, which you will have to remove if you are hooking up to your dishwasher. This too is easy (just don't forget to do it). Also, this comes wired and ready to go.\n\nIf you are putting in a new disposal and need to add plumbing, you can still DIY, but I'd probably opt for a professional install. The last thing you want to do is experience water damage and/or electrical issues. It shouldn't be terribly expensive to hire out, and peace of mind (and safety) definitely have value.\n\nSo far...so good. I will update this as time goes by.\n\nUpdate 6.17.17 - Another year down the drain. No issues, no clogs, still runs smooth and quiet.\n\nUpdate 6.4.16 - Some time has passed and just here to say all is well. I've had zero issues or concerns. I have come to realize and appreciate how quiet this is compared to the Badger.","Product: Imagine serving the dark side with this Kohl's exclusive Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens set that includes Kylo Ren's mask and lightsaber that extends for a duel with a flick of the wrist.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Okay, but Proving a bit Challenging\n\nReview: Edit to report it is fully functional, mostly. The trick to making sure both sides extend is to be fairly forceful when extending the primary blade. It sounds weird, but you really have to give it a good swipe otherwise one side doesn't extend. That said, this doesn't work every time.\n\n**Original 3 Star**\nWe have numerous lightsabers around the house. With this set, I cannot get one of the sides to fully extend. My son doesn't care yet, but I've tried twisting and prying to no avail. This has happened before with older sabers and is usually easy to fix. Unfortunately, it isn't fully \"operational\" after numerous attempts to fix it.\n\nOutside of that, he likes it. There are no batteries needed for the saber as there are no lights or cool sound effects.\n\nThis is a fairly standard collapsible saber which also comes with a mask, which is pretty small.\n\nWait for a sale. I strongly suggest not paying the current 45 USD","Product: Put your skills to the test with Hyper Toss. The ultimate toy for fast, fun interactive play that really gets you moving. Kids will love trying to beat their scores by catching the ball quickly in one of the three colored cups- all by following audio instructions! Hyper Toss includes 4 game modes: Hyper Toss, Memory Toss, Free Style and Super Toss!.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: 1 Ball 3 Cups\n\nReview: You ever ask yourself, \"What is more fun than the ball on a string tied to a cup on a stick toy?\"\n\nPhew. Glad I'm not the only one!\n\nSame concept, except no string; includes three cups and a timer. It doesn't mean this is real easy - not by a long shot. This is a bit more interactive and has a few styles of play, including: how fast you can catch the damn sack, total recall, difficulty levels, and freestyle.\n\nIf you watch the video, the youngsters make this look rather easy. Don't believe everything you see on the interwebs. Although, I can do a back flip into splits and catch flawlessly. But enough about me.\n\nIn all - pretty fun and pretty painless if you miss the target. Enjoy!\n\nAdded bonus: kids' necks aren't locked into tablet position.","Product: NA\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: This One, Not So Much\n\nReview: I've read the series and pre-ordered this book. However, I wasn't quick to consume and put it down off and on to read other books. That is a bit telling if you know me. I may have completed my journey with these characters, or the book itself left me feeling a bit flat. The culprit in this book was so fantastical that Harrison may see the end coming soon. Yes, there are two pivotal relationship changes, and a minor one involving the pack. So, yes - there was guts to the story, but it simply didn't resonate like her previous works. That said, if you've made it this far in the series - that tells you something great about the author","Product: After graduating with a BA in Computer Science, Itzik Klein did what many other good husbands and fathers do; he accepted a position with a company working nine to five. And just like many others, his eight hour days often turned into twelve hour days in order to keep up with demands. This didnt leave him a lot of time with his family and he knew something had to change. As a young boy, Itzik enjoyed reading and took a special liking to Dr. Seuss stories. Inspired by the lyrical prose, he often wrote songs as a child. It wasnt until he became a father that he decided to take it a step further and he has recently published his first childrens book, The Gnomes of the Night. His writing debut has been a positive one and Itzik is currently working on his second book, scheduled to be released soon. His parenting philosophy is simple. Get down and talk to your son or daughter at eye level. Listen without arrogance and dont assume you always know what is best for them. Encourage them to reason for themselves and help them make good decisions. And always challenge them to think outside the box. Itzik hopes to inspire others with his actions. There is nothing more important to him than being home with his family and making a difference. Leaving his former position has allowed him to do so and he wants others to know it is never too late to take a chance on your dreams. Itzik currently resides in Israel with his wife and three children. When he is not writing or focused on parenting, he enjoys playing guitar and going to concerts. Traveling is another fond pastime, whether it is to the country and being in nature or visiting active and vibrant urban cities. A big fan of literature, Itzik enjoys stories of all kinds, whether it's a play, in the theater, film, book or TV show. Please feel free to reach out to Itzik at Itzikklein1978@gmail.com. He enjoys hearing from his fans.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Quick Story About Picking Up\n\nReview: I was asked to read this book and since it sounded fun, I was happy to oblige. Overall the book is decent and is a teachable moment about picking up after yourself. All parents, I assume, would agree that they'd rather their children pick up their toys, clothes, towels, books, etc. So, an illustrated book about such activities is a welcomed addition to my 'shelf'.\n\nI loved the graphics. The illustrations are warm. That said, was the dad's beard an afterthought? It just looks off and out of style with the rest of the drawings.\n\nSome of the verses felt a bit forced. Not all were rhymes, which is fine, but there seemed to be a bit of bouncing in and out of style. I don't think kids will really notice.\n\nI did chuckle when I saw the crafty product-placement (hint: bedtime). Illustrations are a 5, Typeset is 5. Story flow is a 3.\n\nRead March 2015; Product supplied by author/publisher. Opinions, good or bad, are 100% my own."],"string":"[\n \"Product: Get ready to rock and roll with the Maxam 43\\\" Electric Bass Guitar. This 4-string electric bass features two tone controls, a volume control, an input jack, an amp cord, strap buttons, and two Allen wrenches to assist with adjustments. This guitar comes with everything you need to get started and get going! Turn the music up!\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Great Entry Level Bass\\n\\nReview: 9.17.16 UPDATE\\nRemoved another star. I was just chillin' and practicing quietly when all the sudden I busted my nut and can't rock the G-String any more ;) Well, I can't play an open G, if I'm being technical. Attached a 4th picture of the travesty.\\n\\n9.15.16 UPDATE\\nUpdating to remove 1 star. Overall, this is still a decent entry level bass. I've adjusted the pickups, the action, and neck - but I still cant get a good slap out of this thing. The neck is warped - which is expected at the price-point, but it curves on top and bottom enough to be irritating. I haven't tried sanding down the 2nd fret, yet. That seems to be a trouble-area as well.\\n\\nThis is solid if you are just starting out and don't want to commit to a pricey bass. There are so many this's and that's on instruments: I'd advise starting off basic until you get a feel what you like, don't like, and want.\\n\\nThe action on this is set pretty high and the bridge is fixed. It does come with a Humbucker and Rosewood Fretboard.\\n\\nPersonally, I like that it is all black. No logos; just cool looking.\\n\\nThere are kits were you can get a bass, soft case and/or practice amp. I wanted the dollars to go to the instrument only. Straps, tuner, and stand are all dirt cheap.\\n\\nIn any event - whatever you end up getting - have fun!!!\\n\\nPS - The stand in the picture can be found on Amazon <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/here/dp/B01CDC4I4Q/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">here</a>.\",\n \"Product: Spend more time playing and less time tuning using Tidal Tek's 3-in-1 Guitar Tuner. Featuring award-winning 3-in-1 design which allows you to have all your musical aids in one compact device. Clip on and go! Clip on mode uses the vibrations of your instrument to tune so ambient noises will never get in your way! Use it for practice, in the studio, or for your live performances.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Functions Well: Tuner, Tone Gen, and Metronome\\n\\nReview: I have a SNARK tuner but was asked by the vendor to check out this Tidal Tek 3-1 tuner, tone gen, and metronome. The company sent a promotional sample for evaluation without promise of a review.\\n\\nFirst and foremost - it works. It's small, clips easily, and can be maneuvered to the angle in which you need. You will want to check out the instructions since this isn't just a tuner. The power button allows the user to cycle through settings and features. Let's take one at a time:\\n\\nTuner - not as responsive as SNARK, but it works just fine. I'm talking about a 2-second delay to register the vibration, then you can tune...so it isn't a game changer.\\n\\nMetronome - luckily you can go sans audio (LED lights). The digital chirp is not what I'd call pleasing to the ear. The cool thing - you can dial this in between 30-250 bpm and select different rhythms. By default it will be a loud chirp, then you can select medium, low, and off (LED only).\\n\\nTone generator - if you need one, cool. It is the digital tone from hell. It is adjustable, though. So you may find this quite handy.\\n\\nOverall, I like it. I'm posting this, then adding a few photos which will be below or to the left (depending on viewing device). 4.5/5 Stars. Solid features and easy to use.\",\n \"Product: 1byone Type QS-0094 Mini Flashing Light Lamps With Three Colors Gels, Apply Lighting For DJ Disco House Party Hotel Stage Office Camping Field Etc, Lighting For Halloween And Christmas\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Good for Small Space\\n\\nReview: This is a review of the Hanging Cylinder QS-0094 strobe light.\\n\\nHaving worked in broadcast and video production for many years, I gravitated toward this model because it looks like a studio can light. The body is plastic, so it is extremely light. You could buy an inexpensive T-Bar Stand and mount several of these without fear.\\n\\nThe instructions are rather simple - just plug it in and dial in the speed, which is a knob located on the back of the light. There is no on/off switch, so you will have to unplug it when not in use.\\n\\nIt comes with three gels (Red, Yellow, and Blue). The instructions mention unscrewing the exterior cover, but I found it works just fine, without the labor, to simply place the gel over the gel/screen cover. I swung the light around, tipped it down, etc., and the gel stayed in place.\\n\\nThe packaging was great - it came in a larger box, and was a box within a box with Styrofoam panels.\\n\\nCouple notes:\\n\\nThis is fine for home use, or a small office party, but I would not recommend this for anything larger. At the price-point, you simply aren't going to get the wattage or digital interface for running a light show.\\n\\nIf you plan on using this as a stationary light at home, it is light enough to engineer your own rig. A small C-Clamp will handle the weight easy enough. You can also place it on a shelf, turn it upside down, and use the `hanger' as the base and tilt it to your needs.\\n\\nGrowing up I had a small, old-school wood strobe box which is long gone. If you prefer that style, check out the QS-0092.\\n\\nProduct provided by 1Byone\",\n \"Product: The Boss \\\"NTR\\\" Executive LeatherPlus Chair by Boss Office Products requires so little assembly that you'll literally have it put together within minutes of removing it from the box. The chair is soft to the touch thanks to the polyurethane infused leather, which also offers durability. The back features an ergonomic curve for proper lumbar support as well as a waterfall seat that keeps legs from becoming too tired. Measurements for the unit are 27\\\" W x 28\\\" D x 45-48.5\\\" H with the height being determined by the user via the pneumatic gas lift. Additional features include an adjustable tilt tension and the ability to lock the chair in an upright position.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Comfortable and Easy to Put Together\\n\\nReview: Purchased in June 2012, I think I've tested it long enough for an honest review. This is used daily, and on occassions children climb on it and spin around. The comfort and support is spot on. I'm just shy of 6'5\\\" so I did my research before selecting this chair and the price didn't break the bank. It has held up well over the last two years with no sign of deteriorating.\\n\\nThe chair has a tall back and although the armrests are static, I find them comfortable. I've come close to buying another one for work (we have crappy chairs). The downside: the \\\"LeatherPlus\\\" should be renamed vinyl with added leather. It does look good, but it doesn't have the same feel as a nice leather chair. Again, at the price-point, one shouldn't complain. The grey parts have picked up some scratches.\\n\\nIt is easy to put together and if you are tall - I strongly suggest looking into this product.\",\n \"Product: The Boss \\\"NTR\\\" Executive LeatherPlus Chair by Boss Office Products requires so little assembly that you'll literally have it put together within minutes of removing it from the box. The chair is soft to the touch thanks to the polyurethane infused leather, which also offers durability. The back features an ergonomic curve for proper lumbar support as well as a waterfall seat that keeps legs from becoming too tired. Measurements for the unit are 27\\\" W x 28\\\" D x 45-48.5\\\" H with the height being determined by the user via the pneumatic gas lift. Additional features include an adjustable tilt tension and the ability to lock the chair in an upright position.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Comfortable and Easy to Put Together\\n\\nReview: Purchased in June 2012, I think I've tested it long enough for an honest review. This is used daily, and on occassions children climb on it and spin around. The comfort and support is spot on. I'm just shy of 6'5\\\" so I did my research before selecting this chair and the price didn't break the bank. It has held up well over the last two years with no sign of deteriorating.\\n\\nThe chair has a tall back and although the armrests are static, I find them comfortable. I've come close to buying another one for work (we have crappy chairs). The downside: the \\\"LeatherPlus\\\" should be renamed vinyl with added leather. It does look good, but it doesn't have the same feel as a nice leather chair. Again, at the price-point, one shouldn't complain. The grey parts have picked up some scratches.\\n\\nIt is easy to put together and if you are tall - I strongly suggest looking into this product.\",\n \"Product: THE NEXT DIMENSION IN ENTERTAINMENT. The New Nintendo 3DS XL system combines next-generation portable gaming withsuper-stable 3D technology and added control features. Take 3D photos, connectwith friends, and enhance your gaming experiences with added amiibo support. The New Nintendo 3DS XL system plays all Nintendo DS games. Nintendo DS games will not appear in 3D. AC Adapter sold separately. New Nintendo 3DS XL uses the same AC adapter as Nintendo DSi, Nintendo 3DS and 2DS. 3D Mode recommended for Ages 7+\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Killer Graphics and Speed\\n\\nReview: Update 11.11.16: These are built well. Even with kids, they still look new and are going strong.\\n\\nUpdate 12.25.15: Now that they are even cheaper, we picked up a second one for the middle child. I've yet to have any issues with this product since February 2015.\\n\\n***Original***\\n\\nObviously there are/were some things going on that really irked people. I'll admit, I wasn't awaiting this release and haven't done the scan through the reviews, but I take it was around a massive jackup between supply and demand. My wife purchased this device for 200 USD at a local store with a red circle as its logo. Even then she had to keep her eyes out for two weeks to finally find a store that had one in stock. She completely lucked out, as she tells me, finding one yesterday...which was the recipient's birthday. Not sure why it is 40 USD more at Amazon, though.\\n\\nProduct - Okay - this thing is pretty wicked. The previous DS units we have are the originals. So, getting my hands on my daughter's new 3DS XL floored me. My old friend Link (who is older than my daughter) is still kicking major butt and the variety of controls and buttons makes it such a more interesting game. Jumping from the original to this model is insane. It's like a whole new environment with the screen size, graphics ability, robust controls, and the 3D, which admittedly is taking my older eyes some getting used to. Of course, you can turn it off.\\n\\nAt first I was scratching my head as to why the AC wasn't included. I still am, to a degree, but the other side of this sees the benefit of not having to buy another one since you may have compatible cables. If you have cables for DSi, 3DS or 2DS, then you are good to go. We didn't, so that was an additional expense. We purchased <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/this/dp/B00L59D9HG/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">this</a>.\\n\\nAnyway, the construction feels good, the speed and graphics are great, response is quick, the screen is a good size, and I look forward (I mean my daughter)... with another adventure with Link. If I notice any issues or have concerns I will come back to update this review.\",\n \"Product: Mekomy\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Really Large, but Comfortable and Sound Good\\n\\nReview: These are the largest cans I've yet to come across. Get your mind out of my gutter.\\n\\nThey are extremely comfortable, but you won't charm the ladies with these on your head. They take geek (cool) and shift it near the dork spectrum. But if you are secure with yourself or simply don't get visitors, then I think you'll like these.\\n\\nThese connect through USB. If that works for you, continue. The microphone arm is flexible and slides back into the headphone when not needed. The bits that touch you are leather and soft, and all-around comfortable.\\n\\n\\\"Breathing\\\" lights on the cans are automatic and not programmable. They just cycle through colors and you won't even notice this when wearing. The metal cutout over the headband is cool looking - it is stainless steel, with a brushed finish.\\n\\nThe line is pretty nice, actually. It is about 6-foot long, thick, and has in-line controls to mute sound and mic, and adjust volume.\\n\\nLastly, they sound good. With the over-sized cans, please check your volume before wearing. A little goes a long way. You do have the option to download a zip file from the vendor, which provides 7.1 audio drivers for your setup. If you choose to do this, it is a 20MB zip and a 30-ish MB extract. Scanned without issue.\\n\\nLastly, Lasty, this ships in a nice rubber clam shell. The company sent a promotional sample for evaluation without promise of a review.\\n\\nPlease see pictures for additional detail.\",\n \"Product: This is a brand new 18x22 picture, photo, diploma, poster frame (meaning a 18 '' x 22 '' or a 22 '' x 18 '' print will fit just right). This 18 x 22 Black frame is made of MDF, measuring 1.25'' wide, and 0.75'' deep, with a .375 '' deep rabbet (the space below the lip to the bottom of the frame). It is carefully made to the highest quality industry standards. This frame comes with Styrene. This Tradewinds designer frame is a unique frame that you will not find in most frame shops. The frame is perfect to lighten up your most cherished picture, photo, art gallery, poster, photograph, painting, diploma, artwork, craft project, needle-point or more, yet modest enough to match just about any environment. This Black frame works perfectly with black-and-white , and color pictures or paintings. Makes a nice Christmas gift! Please don't hesitate to browse through our policies and feedback. If you're not sure this is exactly the frame you'd like, feel free to use the search at the top of this page and search ArtToFrames to view our huge selection of wood picture frames, metal picture frames, and premade picture frames. Don't forget to add us to favorites, so you don't have to search for us again next time you need a picture frame!~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Product SKU # - - WOMFRBW72079-18x22~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Arrived in Perfect Condition\\n\\nReview: I had a poster coming in, so I needed a frame that was affordable and looked good. This fit the bill and looks good.\\n\\nThis showed up in mint condition. It is protected inside the box and also has wrap around the trim and a film over both sided of the glass.\\n\\nThe main reason I selected this frame was so I'd have it on file and could order more as I plan on hanging several in the same space. I wanted to try it out and see the results after shipment. I've gone to big box stores and sometimes it is hard to find the right style and/or one that isn't slightly damaged.\\n\\nYes, it is MDF, so only use indoors in a controlled environment such as your home, but not your bathroom or anywhere that humidity fluctuates daily. That is a standard rule-of-thumb for any baseboards or crown-molding as well.\\n\\nI have bought a couple of these frames now (different sizes). Good to go - no damage on shipment.\",\n \"Product: Make cookies just like the Boss using the Cake Boss Stainless Steel Tools and Gadgets 2-Tablespoon Mechanical Cookie Scoop. Cake Boss Tools and Gadgets make baking easier and more enjoyable, and this stainless steel cookie scoop is ideal for scooping and placing dough onto baking pans. Boasting a stylish Cake Boss logo, the cookie scoop features comfortable rubberized pads on the handles. With a squeeze of the spring-action handles, the curved lever inside the scoop releases the contents and resets for the next portion. A must-have for the kitchen and bakery, it's perfect for making chocolate chip cookies in uniform sizes, and also great for filling mini cupcake tins with vanilla or chocolate batter. Plus, it's dishwasher safe, so cleanup is a breeze. Partner it with Cake Boss bakeware or other great pieces from the entire collection and get baking like the Boss! Portion out cookie dough and batters like a pro with the Cake Boss Tools and Gadgets Stainless Steel 2-Tablespoon Mechanical Cookie Scoop.\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: Doesn't work as good as it looks.\\n\\nReview: The only thing good about this product is that it looks good. Well, that and the spring works. In my defense, my wife wanted this specific one so I ordered it and didn't think about looking at the reviews (gasp!).\\n\\nThe inserts (red with logo) are very cheap and quickly starts to come unattached to the spring-action handles. The curved level inside the scoop works great when you are testing it with air, but when you add a mix (cookie dough, cupcake batter, etc.) it heads South quickly.\\n\\nSave your money and look at another scoop.\\n\\nUDDATE 6.7.15: It has been used several times without too much issue, but I had to take some pliers to fix it recently. The gears got messed up. It was easy to fix though.\",\n \"Product: Product Description Keep shoes orderly organized and within reach with this durable design Shoe rack cover keeps your shoes un-viewable and keeps your room neat Lightweight and easy to move It's a nice way to store the shoes, you can quickly find the right shoes 6 Tiers Shoe Cabinet, store 36 pair shoes Introductions: Do you think it is a shoe rack to keep your shoe in an orderly fashion! This shoe rack features unique design and elegant appearance, increase beauty for your home. From modem home comes this simple versatile organizer for a lot of shoes. Standard design with 6 tier shoe rack can keep your all kinds of shoes as a storage .Your shoes will be leave in a mess on longer. The 6-tier shoe rack provide big space to contain your shoes. The convertible shoe rack assembles in minutes and can be set up in multiple configurations depending on your needs. If you own it that give you a clean and comfortable life space. Features 1. Keep shoes orderly organized and within reach with this durable design 2. Shoe rack cover keeps your shoes un-viewable and keeps your room neat 3. It's a nice way to store the shoes, you can quickly find the right shoes 4. The shoe rack is lightweight and easy to move 5. This shoe rack can be a good assistant for you 6. It can store 36 pair shoes 7. 6 Tiers Shoe Cabinet Specifications 1. Material: non-woven, plastic, steel 2. Dimensions: 45.29 x 11.81 x 41.34 inch/ 115 x 30 x 105 cm (L x W x H) 3. Weight: 8.11 lb Package Includes 1 * Cover 12 * Mesh 14 * Four-way Joints 28 * Three-way Joints 36 * Tube (17cm) 21 * Tube (24cm) 28 * Tube (52.8cm) 1 * User Manual\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Hour to Assemble, End Result is Nice\\n\\nReview: Okay, so overall I am satisfied with the end result. However, getting there took about an hour. Each row has two shelves. For an adult male, you can fit two pair of shoes on one shelf. Adult women - it will depend on heals, flats, etc. Kids shoes, which I will primarily use this for, you can fit - well, it depends on your children. I can fit up to eight pair on one shelf for the three-year-old. So, Hello to the destruction of clutter.\\n\\nNow, the assembly required - it is easy, but monotonous. I suggest going slow and making sure each corner and middle piece has the shallow opening facing down. I got over-zealous at the beginning and the end and had to correct my error. Also, make sure the shiny side of the shelf is facing up. If you hose this up, you will either have to deconstruct a bit, or say screw it because once you have the cover on you won't really notice.\\n\\nThe directions are pretty good. The scale is pretty bad, so I suggest counting the pieces and you will know which one is which. When you are building the shelves, the support poles are the middle-length ones. If you have slack, you are using the wrong ones.\\n\\nWhat isn't outlined in the directions are the smallest of the poles (six only) that are used as feet if desired. They also come with plastic caps to protect a hard surface. I'm electing to not use those at this time as I want the added strength and support of the product sitting flush on the floor. I suggest putting those on last.\\n\\nPutting the whole thing together - just give yourself some room on the floor. It is super light, so spinning it around and dialing in each shelf is easier this way. Well, unless you have a workbench. Approach this as a bed frame or children's' toy. Don't worry about dialing in everything until you get a couple rows done. Attach, push poles if needed, and it will start looking nice and square. Then rinse and repeat.\\n\\nIf you don't leave yourself some wiggle-room, it will make it harder to get the poles into the plastic sleeves. When you are done, unzip each side of the cover to make it easier to install. Then, just tie down (three straps) around the front and you are good to go.\\n\\nThe directions suggest soaking the plastic bits in warm water so they are more malleable. I'm not in the habit of soaking my bits, so I pressed on as/is. You could always squirt a tiny bit of silicone spray on a towel and rub that on the ends of poles to help it slide into the connectors.\\nI only had one of the center connectors crack on me, but I was having a Herculean moment and take the blame. I saved that shelf for the top (less stress). It's all good.\\n\\nOverall, I am pleased with the product, and the final look of it. You could ditch the cover and put a three-shelf section next to another three-shelf section for closet use. I was provided this unit for evaluation. I didn't cuss once putting it together, which means it didn't irk me - but I'm deducting a star for the amount of assembly required. Attached pictures are before and after.\\n\\nOf course, if it falls apart or comes apart - I will be back to revisit this evaluation and rating.\",\n \"Product: The Boss \\\"NTR\\\" Executive LeatherPlus Chair by Boss Office Products requires so little assembly that you'll literally have it put together within minutes of removing it from the box. The chair is soft to the touch thanks to the polyurethane infused leather, which also offers durability. The back features an ergonomic curve for proper lumbar support as well as a waterfall seat that keeps legs from becoming too tired. Measurements for the unit are 27\\\" W x 28\\\" D x 45-48.5\\\" H with the height being determined by the user via the pneumatic gas lift. Additional features include an adjustable tilt tension and the ability to lock the chair in an upright position.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Comfortable and Easy to Put Together\\n\\nReview: Purchased in June 2012, I think I've tested it long enough for an honest review. This is used daily, and on occassions children climb on it and spin around. The comfort and support is spot on. I'm just shy of 6'5\\\" so I did my research before selecting this chair and the price didn't break the bank. It has held up well over the last two years with no sign of deteriorating.\\n\\nThe chair has a tall back and although the armrests are static, I find them comfortable. I've come close to buying another one for work (we have crappy chairs). The downside: the \\\"LeatherPlus\\\" should be renamed vinyl with added leather. It does look good, but it doesn't have the same feel as a nice leather chair. Again, at the price-point, one shouldn't complain. The grey parts have picked up some scratches.\\n\\nIt is easy to put together and if you are tall - I strongly suggest looking into this product.\",\n \"Product: Enjoy the Good Life -> Drink In Style Start enjoying the wealthy lifestyle taking your drink with Premier Kitchen professional Ice Ball Maker. It provides you an elegant and enjoyable way to take your drink. You will get 8 perfect ice ball spheres. Using our clever design you will enjoy the real taste of your drink without diluting it. Want to impress your friends? This ice ball maker will do the job. Want to buy something cool for your friend? This ice sphere maker is your perfect gift for every event.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Perfect sphere too difficult\\n\\nReview: I was more interested in these vs. the vendor's square ice cube trays (which are 5 stars). The bottom half of the ball was perfect, but the top half is iffy at best. With the product being thick silicone and black, you cant tell how much water you placed inside the mold. I used filtered water and filled the top (the four small holes) enough to where it overflowed. The top lid can handle the overflow without a mess. That's a solid plus in design.\\n\\nHowever, you can't see the fill line and after filling. I found that I didn't get the molds completely filled. There was a decisive ridge in the ice (where the bottom and top mold meet) This product did produce four dense half-balls of ice that are slow to melt.\\n\\nSome will counter and say - you need to practice and get a feel for the proper amount. To that I say, No I don't. These are bits of ice. If I have to 'practice' then they are no longer convenient and I won't use. You may have better luck than I.\\n\\nMade with food-grade silicone that is dishwasher safe and BPA free.\\n\\n*No they aren't 500 dollars. The vendor hasn't set the price yet*\\n\\nTested December 2014; Product supplied by vendor\",\n \"Product: With small teeth, this product is especially designed to mash garlic, ginger,also can be used to grind vegetables and fruits.A creative kitchen tool for you!\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Small, but Works Well\\n\\nReview: Well, what to say about a grater? It is small, easy to use, sharp, and has multiple rows of directional teeth to get your ingredients down to a small size. It works like a champ for garlic and ginger. I have not used it on root vegetables so I cannot comment on that. I desperately hope it would make them taste better - but I don't expect miracles.\\n\\nI wouldn't call this a grater though. It is more of a pulverizer. That fresh garlic and ginger does get knocked down quickly, but it is more of a mush. Depending on your need, this may not be suitable at times.\\n\\nIt appears to be made on one, solid plate of stainless steel and is safe for your dishwasher. This is a unique design as there are no holes in the back.\\n\\nTested April 2015. Product supplied by ECALOO for an unbiased review. At this time, there is no price-point.\",\n \"Product: A great kitchen tool offering a wide variety of uses, the pastry scraper is mainly designed to scrape and split bread dough as you work with it on a board. It can also be used for scraping, crushing, chopping, and even measuring. Inch increments are listed on the blade for dividing cookie and pastry dough. Durably made with a stainless-steel blade and a wide, comfortable nonslip rubber handle, the tool is comfortable to hold and work with. Cleanup is easy since the scraper is dishwasher safe.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Hefty Grip and Durable Material\\n\\nReview: The company sent a promotional sample for evaluation without promise of a review.. Not all are 'hits' in my opinion, but this one is killer. My wife used to work in a bakery and she does a great deal of baking at home. She was excited to see this stainless steel scraper/chopper. The moment she held it, she smiled and said she has wanted one of these for awhile, but they are typically flimsy and not worth the cost. Basing opinion on the heft of the blade and the robust handle, this is a high-end product.\\n\\nThe black, rubber handle has thumb indentions on both sides. The blade has a uniform 45 degree beveled edge across the bottom and one side, which also has a ruler for precise measurements. The blade is stainless-steel and dishwasher safe.\",\n \"Product: Size: 6.69*1.06 inch Made by food-grade silicone,body safety Silicone heads can snap on and off handles for easy cleaning in dishwasher Withstand Heat of up to 460 degrees Fahrenheit,Suitable for all BBQ grill and pastry This silicone basting brushes better than a conventional pastry brush,Because it won't fall out \\\"hairs\\\" on your food\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Inexpensive Set of Small Basting Brushes\\n\\nReview: This is a set of 4 silicone basting brushes with plastic handles 4.5 inches long with the brush adding about 2 more inches. If you are grilling, please note these measurements. You'll be fine if your food is at the edge of the grill, but if you are reaching across - your wrist/forearm can get a little toasty quickly.\\n\\nThe silicone is quite colorful, so even if coated with marinade you will still know which ones to use on your mixed grill meats and vegetables. These aren't very big and more aimed toward baking and poultry. These are dishwasher safe and the tips come off with a good pull if you want to separate before washing. The vendor sent his inexpensive set to me in exchange for an unbiased evaluation.\",\n \"Product: With the Canon Power Shot SX520 HS digital camera you can capture beautiful scenic panoramas, elusive wildlife, an athlete's intensity, or a child's wonder - all from a distance that won't interrupt the action. The SX520 HS makes this kind of versatility easy with an incredible 42x optical zoom and 24mm wide-angle lens. This camera was born to zoom, with features and systems designed to make high-magnification shooting with advanced Canon optics simple and spectacular. The Optical Image Stabilizer and Intelligent IS keep images clear and steady while Zoom Framing Assist and a new Advanced Zoom Framing Assist function help you track and capture subjects, follow their movement and keep them in focus - whether you're shooting stills or super-lifelike 1080p full HD video. And High Speed AF means reduced lag time. Use this sophisticated point-and-shoot wherever you go to capture memories with the quality and versatility they deserve.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Wonderful entry level or upgrade from point-and-click.\\n\\nReview: Quick update: 12/24/14 - The price has dropped to the lowest I've seen since the product launch (200 USD).\\n\\nHere's the deal. I'm not going to waste [too much] of your time spitting the specs back to you in a review. You have already looked at them. If you are here, it is because you don't want to spend 3000 USD on a high-end professional box and thousands more on lenses; but, you want something better than a basic point-in-shoot. Yes? If so, please continue.\\n\\nAlthough there is NOTHING wrong with Nikon, I prefer Canon and have a 5D Mark III at work at a pair of XF 300's for video. They are amazing. No doubt. That said, the cost is overkill for personal/amateur use. Take the plunge in the Canon Family. The feel of this model is similar to the T2i/T3i. It has enough features to learn and grow with and not break the bank or cause you to purchase additional gear.\\n\\nCons: No shoe, USB 2.0 - not sure why they didn't go 3.0\\n\\nThat said, if you want to buy various lenses, stop here and search for deals on the T3i. Still here? This is a very nice entry into photography:\\n\\n24mm wide and 42x Optical Zoom. I recommend never using an optical zoom to the edge of capability. You will have data loss (blur, shallow detail).\\n\\n1080p HD. This is nice as you can take high quality video. This has become more prevalent over the last 5 years and Canon's CMOS can capture high-impact, detailed video. You will have to look elsewhere for audio capture as you will need external to get clean audio for any [higher end] editing needs.\\n\\n16.0 MP is robust enough for you to capture high-detail, print-quality pictures worthy of framing\\n\\n3.0 inch LCD is plenty big to see what you are framing. You may want to look at a screen hood (few dollars) if you are shooting in high-sun.\\n\\nYou will want to get some memory cards to capture all your needs. This model takes SD/SDHC/SDXC. Transcend SD Class 10 for video needs (16-32GB) and SD Class 4 for photo needs should get you started without headache.\\n\\nIn any event, I truly hope you deep-dive into this product. For the price point, the quality and capabilities are wonderful! Enjoy!!\",\n \"Product: Speaker impedence 16 ohms, Weight 12 grams, Cable length 1.2 m, Wire core material enamelled copper wire, Headphone sensitivity 93dB, Plug Type - 3.5mm gold-plated, The maximum practical power - 5mW, Maximum acceptable power - 20mW\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Quality Design and Sound\\n\\nReview: At this price-point (20 USD) these are pretty aggressive little ear buds. I'm not sure if this is a promotional rate or not, but it is a killer deal.\\nThe black/silver M-10 varies slightly from the product picture:\\n\\n> The R and L are stamped on the black part where the wire comes into the bud.\\n> The silver lines are actually ribbed\\n> Looks way better in person. Very D. Vader looking (don't want to get sued by Disney here)\\n\\nThese are put together well and the sound is well rounded. They are fairly deep (long) buds so they go into the ear canal securely. Some may not find this comfortable and you should be aware of this design.\\n\\nSince they fit snugly, the noise-cancellation is solid. I ran these with a gas leaf blower and the music was definitely \\\"louder\\\" than that piece of equipment. It muffled the motor and all was good. I typically don't push headphones past the half-way point on a device's volume setting, for your context.\\n\\nOverall, the design, sound quality, and noise-cancellation are all great. Extra feature: the jack actually fits into the phone with a case. Many, not all, cases make using anything non-OEM a challenge.\\n\\nI originally figured that these inexpensive headphones would be moderately okay. I was assuming wrong. Tested April 2015; Product supplied by vendor for unbiased review.\",\n \"Product: 100% Original QCY QY5s Bluetooth V4.1 Headset Earphone Sports Headphone HD Sound Original QCY QY5s wireless bluetooth 4.1 headset blutooth sport running headphone stereo studio music earphones fone de ouvido with microphone for iphone smartphone mobilephone all bluetooh devices as iphone 4/5/6 plus samsung huawei xiaomi tablet pc etc. 100% original QCY QY5s Features: CRS Bluetooth V4.1 chip Portable lightweight and sweatproof design Built-in microphone HD audio interaural stereo Membrane Vibrating Technology Built-in rechargeable Li-ion battery Multipoint pairing (up to 2 phones) Voice command for picking up / rejecting calls Built-in 14.2mm nedymium driver Clear bass resonance, CVC 6.0 wind noise reduction, and superior sound isolation Wide compatible With the various devices with bluetooth function for android mobile phone and for Iphone Specification: Bluetooth version: CRS Bluetooth V4.1 Frequency range: 2.4GHz-2.48GHz Operating distance: Up to 10m (free space) Bluetooth profiles: A2DP, AVRCP, HSP, HFP Standby time: Up to 180hrs Talk / music playtime: Approximately 4 -5hours Charging time: Approximately 2 hours Frequency response: 20Hz-20kHz Operational temperature: -10 to 50 C Package Included: 1xQY5s Sport Bluetooth Stereo Headset 1xUSB Charger Cable 4xEar Rubber 4xEear Hook\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Sound Good but Cord is Really Long\\n\\nReview: I didn't realize it until I was pairing these BT headphones they are the QY5 model. Ive tested the QY7 and 8 previously and have enjoyed both sets. The 5s are similar to the 8s as they are both small in-ear buds with ear stabilizers included. These sound perfectly fine when paired to an iPhone 6. A nice, solid balance across frequencies. These don't suck in as much as the 7 series. The cord is pretty long though, not optimal for any exercise in my opinion. The company sent a promotional sample for evaluation without promise of a review. I doubt I received retail packaging (just a plain white box), but everything showed up in working order without issue. Included are s,m,l bud tips and a power cable (USB).\",\n \"Product: This is a Wolverine work collection belt that has state of the art fibers that twist and turn with your every move, providing increased range of motion. There is no increased range of motion. There is no holding back when Wolverine flex on your side.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Inexpensive Leather Casual Belt\\n\\nReview: This is a solid casual belt with brush-finish buckle. It easily fits in jean loops (as well as slacks if desired). It is true to size and is definitely leather. The Wolverine keeper (embossed) looks nice but isn't distracting. All the holes look to be machine punched. I find the size chart is on par with belts you'd find in retail stores. Whatever your jean size, I'd jump up by 4 (38 inch, get 42). This allows for a better fit regardless if you get this or another belt.\\n\\nAt the time of this posting, it is 12 USD which is pretty inexpensive. The list is 35 USD, which I wouldn't pay personally. Ultimately, If you see this under 20 USD, I don't think you will be disappointed.\\n\\nIf I notice anything funky (buckle deteriorating or holes tearing) I'll come back and update. The company sent a promotional sample for evaluation without promise of a review.\",\n \"Product: Now you can create your very own customized tee shirt. Choose the logo or text you wish us to print on high quality Cotton T-Shirts. 100% preshrunk cotton takes the worry away from shrunk-age. Seamless rib at neck and collar. Double-needle stitched neckline, bottom and sleeve hems. Any needs, Feel free to contact us, We're aim to make you 100% pleased with the transaction.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: GREAT Except for Sizing\\n\\nReview: NOOOOO. You need to order a size up!\\n\\nThe good: It turned out pretty damn sweet. The whites are a little cloudy on a black shirt, but nothing to worry about. You'd get there anyway after heavy use. The T-shirt itself is 100% cotton preshrunk.\\n\\nThe how: This is a design-yourself shirt. Nothing new on this concept. You are limited to 7MB upload and can alter the size of the design after you upload and before you checkout. Although I created my design in vector (.ai file), I had to convert it to .png (maintains transparency). It ended up being a 1MB file at that point. I didn't think it would turn out this well since I \\\"gave up\\\" 6MB worth of file size. I also came damn close to maxing out the size of print.\\n\\nThe bad: Most my shirts are 2X and fit just fine. I ordered a 2X and it is tight from neck down. So - doesn't fit as expected. Super bummed. I was overly impressed how it turned out and was going to use this as my new 'concert' shirt as it was a one-of-a-kind design. Damn. I'll have to cut the sleeves off and use it as a gym shirt now. No biggie for me since I'm not out any cash on this shirt.\\n\\nThe company sent a promotional sample for evaluation without promise of a review.\\n\\nHint - turn all your graphic Ts inside out before washing. They'll last longer.\\n\\nHint 2 - unless you want a box or circle background, don't upload a .jpg. A .png file is your best bet at this time.\\n\\nPlease don't forget to order up a size!\\n\\n3X wasn't an option when I placed the order :(\",\n \"Product: Three friends discover a mysterious machine that takes pictures 24 hours in the future and conspire to use that power to help themselves to some extra cash. That is until the machine starts spitting out some questionable photos that suggest the trio's future could be in peril.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Fun, Low Budget Flick\\n\\nReview: This is a fun, low-budget flick that I originally found on Netflix. The main setting is the living room of three roommates (two guys, one girl = 1 third wheel). Across from their picture window is the apartment of an old man, whom they discover has passed. In lieu of contacting the police, they discover a special camera that is aimed at their living room.\\n\\nThis camera takes pictures of tomorrow, always at 8pm. As the three struggle with life (waitress, apartment manager/painter, and, well a pill popper gambler), they get an idea on how to make some quick cash. Of course, seeing into the future doesnt necessarily mean you won't see something disturbing.\\n\\nI thought the acting was okay and the cinematography was well done. The movie is a little slow as it is mostly dialogue, but there was a nice twist at the end.\",\n \"Product: WILD TALES is a fresco of rage, fury, deception, and revenge. Made up of six stories, it is an entertaining and jaw-dropping film about people crossing the line into madness when faced with perceived injustice. A lover's betrayal, a return to the repressed past, and the violence woven into everyday encounters drive the characters to lose control and cross the line that divides civilization and barbarism.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Enjoyable and Dark (Violent, too)\\n\\nReview: Personal perception accounts for much of our 'truth' in pretty much any situation. In Wild Tales, Perception is a bitch.\\n\\nI was given a heads-up to check out this movie by someone that isn't shy of violence and strange turns of events. Even if you don't like subtitles, I estimate only about half of the movie really needs them. In fact, the Road Rage segment speaks for itself. It is brutal and awesome. There are deaths in this dark film, but surprisingly there are no guns; obviously not from 'Murica.\\n\\nRather, this gem is from Argentine under the title 'Relatos Salvajes' (2014). Although I was hoping all the short stories would be tied together, the only defining string is scenes that go from bad to worse. Well, actually 'Bombita' and 'Hasta que la muerte nos separe' end on more positive notes, but I won't give anything away.\\n\\nThere are some interesting camera shots, but overall it is pretty standard cinematography. The scenes, stories, and settings are all diverse and overall it is very well done. 'Pasternak's' freeze-frame ending is brilliant. I was almost expecting to see Tim Roth lurking in the background.\\n\\nLittle Bomb was completely predictable but utterly satisfying. The Strongest is the most brutal of the mix and frakken awesome.\\n\\nOverall a quality, fun, violent and dark film.\",\n \"Product: Brand New. Free upgrade to 1st class shipping! I do not ship to APO/FPO.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Well Produced; Interesting Story\\n\\nReview: Season one is very interesting. This is a show that you need to devote attention to and not multitask; don't check statuses or surf the interwebs. Why? Because there are a lot of subtitles to be read, and if you miss those and don't speak Spanish, you might as well turn the show off and go about your business. I didn't know a great deal about the shows lead character, Pablo Escobar, aside from little snippets from comparative articles and The War on Drugs campaign.\\n\\nThis series is set in the 1980s and chronicles the life of the Colombian drug lord, Pablo Escobar. Although it is understood throughout the season that Escobar began his life of crime at an early age, we pick up his story as he begins to really explode and become one of the richest men in the world. He accomplishes this by supplying the majority of the worlds cocaine (estimated around 80%). Starting from a lower class family, from Medellin, he would end up clearing over $400 Million a week.\\n\\nIn all, this is very well done - solid cinematography and actors. I'm looking forward to Season 2\",\n \"Product: Incredibly Durable The cable covered by high quality material which is more durable than other plastic cable, prevent to bending or scratching. Past 10000+ times bend test and no damage or change in performance is found, Lightweight and flexible to be coiled for portable carrying but tangle -free indeed. Perfect Length The 3 feet length of these charging cables allows you to move around freely as you charging your devices. Whether you are at home, at the office or back seat of car, you can enjoy complete freedom of movement. Great performance with pure wire and standard 8 pin connector provides charging or syncing with your devices. USB Wall Charger Plug travel adapters to easily fit into an All-in-One travel plug, it is the best USB travel charger for business trips or travelling as it also covers the voltage100v-240v. Suitable for international travelling. providing for each one the best full Speed charge Compatible with the latest iOS11 without any error messages. iPhone X, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6S, iPhone 6S Plus iPhone 5, iPhone 5S, iPhone 5C, iPhone Sepia Pro, iPad Air, iPad Air 2iPad mini, iPad mini 2, iPad mini 3, iPad mini 4, iPad 4iPod Touch (5 Gen), iPod Nano 7What's in the box2 X 3 Feet USB Cables2 X Wall Charger : Every sale includes an 12-month, worry-free to prove the importance we set on quality.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Good Protection for Corner Drops\\n\\nReview: Verus' aptly named Thor case is a bit larger than most cases. It reminds me of the kid-friendly Kindle covers. All four corners bulge out a bit to add extra protection for corner drops. I lean toward minimalism, and this case definitely falls in line. The Charcoal Black is black-on-black with a dimpled back and solid uppers and sides. It is wider than normal and comes in around 3 inches.\\n\\nThese cases are engineered to be a snug fit and are easy to put on. All ports and buttons line up just fine. As far as cases go, this is a pretty popular model (at least on Amazon). If you want some 'flair', check out the Electric Blue or Hot Pink.\\n\\nThe case comes with a one-year warranty.\\n\\nThe company sent a promotional sample for evaluation without promise of a review.\",\n \"Product: About Verus: Verus combines quality construction with pragmatic features and elegant design | great for any occasion: the iron Shield Series case is comfortable in any environment, whether it's a Black tie event or a trip to the store | feel confident in your fashion sense wherever you go-at least when it comes to your case | having your Cake (and eating it, too): No longer care about form over function | the iron Shield provides the perfect mix of both, supplying both safety and looks in a singular, thin and light Package | installation: separate the soft, TPU layer from the aluminum bumper before installing | insert your iPhone 6 device into the TPU layer before fitting both into the Metal frame | it's a quick and easy process that's painless and straightforward\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Streamlined TPU and Aluminum Case\\n\\nReview: IF you use OEM lightning cable and bluetooth headphones (or OEM headphones), then this is a 5 Star case. I've used it for a bit and originally rated it highly. The lightness and the attractive aluminum frame are killer. However, you may be disappointed when plugging in headphones or lightning cables that are not OEM. Some, not all, aftermarket products will have too much of a profile (rubber around connector) to correctly seat into the ports. I have two corded headphones that are too thick to clear the frame and I have to remove it when listening to music.\\n\\nVerus' Aluminum Case Iron Shield is pretty sharp looking in person and is my new daily driver. If it scratches easily or if I have other issues I will go back to another case and update the rating here.\\n\\nFirst, follow the directions. Yeah, I'm not kidding. There is a method to getting this sucker on your phone in less than 5 seconds. Once you do, it is equally easy to remove. However, bypass the directions and you may Hulk out in frustration. I did. I advise not having children within the range of your voice on the first attempt.\\n\\nMost cases I've used are Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), which is plastic commonly used in a wide-variety of cases. This case has a thinner skin as the aluminum frame is just that - a frame. The button response is quite good and the ports line up flawlessly. It has a minimal profile and is light and form-fitting.. The cases comes with a one-year warranty.\\n\\nTested March 2015; Product supplied by Verus. Opinions, good or bad, are 100% my own.\",\n \"Product: Exclusive design bring you a comfortable eye.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Good Protection Plus Secret Storage\\n\\nReview: Verus' Card Slot Case (Damda, Champagne Gold) provides protection and built-in storage for your license and debit/credit card. It is a little bulkier than other cases, so you should consider if you want a secret compartment or not.\\n\\nOverall, It looks good and has a good feel. The side grips provide just enough give to feel good in your hand. I'm not sold on the longevity of the sliding door. Where this is a cool feature, it may also be the demise of an otherwise fun and useful case. Only time will tell to be honest. Of course, I will circle back and update if there are issues, but you may want to press deeper into the lower rating reviews to see how many folks have issues with the slider.\\n\\nIt fits your phone like a glove and is easy to install. The buttons are responsive and the ports are easily accessible. I did note there is a slight notch surrounding the headphone port to allow for 45/90 degree headphone jacks.\\n\\nThe case comes with a one-year warranty.\\n\\nThe company sent a promotional sample for evaluation without promise of a review.\",\n \"Product: Applicable to the iPhone?case\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: For the Minimalist in Your Family\\n\\nReview: This is an inexpensive, minimalist case that provides quality protection and port access. The back is clear and if Caseology would load a template on the product page, one could customize the back of their phone with proper cut-outs quite easily. Printing on a decent stock paper, you can enjoy photos, one-of-a-kind designs, or, well, whatever you want. So, HINT to Caseology. The frame is matte black with glossy black front and back bumpers.\\n\\nOkay, the important stuff: The bumper frame allows you to put your phone face-down with protection. The buttons are responsive and the back cut-out for the lens and flash are spot-on. What I noted as above average: the bottom design. The case provides passage for a fairly large headphone jack. The thickest corded headphone jack I have is the brainwavz S1 and it fits fine. There are a handful of cases I've tested where this is not the case. The 8-pin port is also open enough for aftermarket lightning cables.\\n\\nIf you are in the market for a low-key phone case, this fits the bill.\\n\\nThe company sent a promotional sample for evaluation without promise of a review.\",\n \"Product: Packing arguably one of the best hardware combinations available at the moment, the natural habitat of the Motorola DROID Turbo is somewhere near the very top of Mount Android, thanks to the 5.2-inch Quad HD display, the power-laden 2.7GHz Snapdragon 805, the 3GB of LPDDR3 RAM, the 21MP rear snapper capable of shooting 4K video clips, and the humongous, \\\"two-day\\\" 3,900mAh battery inside.Carrier: Verizon WirelessDevice has a slot for a SIM card. Does not have a slot for a MicroSD memory car\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: The Battery Alone Should Get Your Attention\\n\\nReview: This is a high-end smartphone packed with some serious hardware. Before I get to that, I am a Droid fan and my last few phones have been by Motorola. My house is split as there is a big Apple fan. Im also very impressed with Samsungs Galaxy line. In sum, I appreciate other companies and phones, but I feel the Droid Turbo by Motorola will launch into popularity.\\n\\nWhat would drive you to this? For me, it was the multitude of features, but the battery (3800MaH) is a big one. No, talking about batteries isn't sexy, but with the turbo charging, it only takes 15 minutes (yes, you are reading that right) to get around eight hours of life. Admit it that is pretty sexy. There is a reason there is a huge aftermarket for battery cases, chargers and gizmos, after all. I went with RAZR over iPhone two years ago and a big driver was the battery life. Motorola has made it a no brainer for this new two-year commitment.\\n\\nThe last Ill go into detail is the screen (Gorilla 3, AMOLED). It is a great size but is smaller than the iPhone 6+ and Galaxy Note 4. It is impressive; 565 PPI with 16 million colors. Bright, crisp great for zoom-ins, games and media; even checking work email here and there, which I discourage.\\n\\nOther highlights are the 21MP camera with dual LED flash (4K video capture) and user facing 2MP capable of 1080p video capture. It comes loaded with KitKat and the 2.7GHz processor with 3GB RAM can handle pretty much anything you through at it. Lastly, it has a nice menu features for the camera, but if you are a heavy, heavy phonetog, the Galaxy may be your thing.\\n\\nAMOLED (active-matrix organic light-emitting diode) in case you were itching to know\",\n \"Product: Ipow: Gooseneck design ,your best friends while driving. The ipow car mount is the perfect mobile phone holder for most smartphones. If your mobile phone diagonal screen size between 3.2-6 Inches; you can buy it.Another functional feature is the ability to rotate by 360 degree in order to provide multiple viewing angles from anywhere inside your vehicle. It is easy to install no tools required. Thanks to its super strong sticky gel pad, so the car mount can sticks securely to most smooth flat surfaces, yet is still easily removable. Choose it to protect your phone in car and drive with confidence! you're ready to go! Feature : 1. Mobile phone holder equipped with auxiliary sticking plate ,allowing you to easily pasted on the dashboard ,and somewhere not easy to paste. 2. Its locking feature helps place your phone efficiently into the mount and out of it without causing any struggle. 3. Its 360rotation,convenient use ,put the position angle can be with your mind any rotation, humanized design. 4. Extra-large sticky gel pad attaches to the windshield or most smooth flat surfaces and is easily removable. Compatibility: 1. Apple: iPhone 5S/5C/5/4S/4/3GS 2. HTC: HTC One/8X/8S 3. Motorola: Motorola Droid RAZR/MAXX/HD 4. Samsung: Galaxy S4 S3 S2/ 5. Blackberry Q10 & Z10, LG Optimus G/Nexus 4 To install the ipow car holder: 1. Clean the suction pad and the desired location to which it sticks 2. Please adhere the chassis silicone the surface first, and press the bottom switch, then fixed it. 3. Adjust the angle to your preference, you can also tighten it to prevent movement.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Adjustable and Solid Sunction\\n\\nReview: Ive tried numerous vent/cradle phone holders and I just don't like the end result due to the combined weight and gravity pulling the phone down too much. Overall I really enjoy the concept of this design. Although Im not a fan of adjustable clips to hold your phone, this design makes it easier. Id compare the clip to a hair clip that has rubber grips to hold your phone securely.\\n\\n360 degree rotation\\nEasy to mount phone\\nVery adjustable with quality suction cup\\n\\nI drove 90 minutes and putting the unit for optimal use equated to having the long arm extended with one slight curve. This of course will vary with make/model and preference. The weight of the phone and cradle coupled with varied road conditions caused too much bouncing for my liking. The base stayed in place and the phone was completely secure but it was causing a distraction for me.\\n\\nSo, personally this is an average product and I won't be using it. However, I give it high marks for adaptability, suction cup strength and the easy-to-use cradle.\\n\\nTested March 2015; Product supplied by vendor for review.\",\n \"Product: Compatibility: Compatible with Apple iPhone 6 /6s 4. 7 inch, allowing full access to touchscreen, camera, buttons, and ports. NOT COMPATIBLE with iPhone 6 5. 5 inch or any other iPhone models. Apple MFi Certified Natick Apple iPhone 6/ 6s 4. 7 Inch External Protective Battery Case is certified by Apple MFi, which means each case comes with smart circuit protection and ensures 100% compatibility in the future. The battery case can be used safely, without any possibility of exploding. Powerful: With its amazing 3100 mAh batter power capacity delivered in such a compact package. You will pleasantly renew your iPhone 6 power supply with more than 100% of full charge of iPhone internal battery capacity. Design: Designed with both protection and looks in mind, It comes with one lightening connector to charge your iPhone 6 and one micro USB charging port to charge the battery case through a USB cable connected to a Wall/Car charger or a PC USB Port. Our advanced technology provides guaranteed compatibility with the latest iPhone 6 IOS operating system which allows charging and data sync simultaneously. Specifications Battery type: Li-polymer Capacity: 3. 7V/3100mAh Input: 5V / 1A (Max) Output: 5V / 1A Package Including: 1 x Natick iPhone 6/ 6sBattery Case 1 x microUSB Charging Cable 2 x Frames 1 x Headphone Extension Adaptor 1 x User Manual Retail Packaging\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Sleek and Lighter than Expected\\n\\nReview: Any battery case will add weight and depth to your device, which until tech changes substantially, is simply the price you pay for extra juice. Ive tested battery cases before, so I figured this would be just another one for a different phone. The good news is this product is lighter than I thought it would be. Although it is bigger than older iPhones, the design provides a sleek feel with rounded corners.\\n\\nThis is a back (battery) case as well as a minimalistic front cover. iPhone 6s have 1810mAH batteries, so adding a 3100mAh (fully charged) battery will recharge your phone 100% with room to spare. Your headphone jack will be recessed once inside the case and Nexcon provides the headphone extension adapter as well as the microUSB cable to charge. The design lines up with the camera, buttons and ports.\\n\\nDue to the added weight, Im not prone to use battery cases as the daily driver, but they are good to have handy on trips and in emergencies where you cannot find an available charge and/or cable. You can elect to charge and toss the case in your purse or briefcase. However, if you don't mind the weight this case is durable enough to take daily abuse.\\n\\nThe company sent a promotional sample for evaluation without promise of a review.\",\n \"Product: MPOW Brand Certified: Top-Brand Bluetooth Accessories for Smartphones MPOW Brand Certified: Top-Brand Bluetooth Accessories for Smartphones|Cheetah's Stylish Behind-Ear Streamline Outlook Design Guarantee 100% Stable and Comfortable User Wearing Experience for Running,Jogging,Biking,Driving,Fishing,Camping,Hiking and other Outdoor Sports.|The Most Advanced Bluetooth 4.1 Chips Hardware Configuration Ensure Hi-Fi CD Quality Stereo Music Sound and Strong Signal. Leading apt-X Tech Can Provide No-lag Voice when Listening to Music or Calling with Mic.|Simple To Use: Portable Function Control Buttons Are Designed for Easily Operation. Just Press it untill Blue and Red LED Light Alternatively Flashing, find and connect with your phones,then you can enjoy music or calling wirelessly. If need reconnect automatically, please turn on bluetooth of your phone first, then turn on the Cheetah, It can reconnect automatically.|Also need an armband? Save 20% on our highly-rated Mpow Running Sporty Sweatproof Armband [Please search ASIN:B00YS8H6R0 to find it] when you purchase this Bluetooth Headphones. Add both to cart, and enter the code RVM8P7EE at checkout! Mpow Cheetah Sport Bluetooth 4.1 Wireless Headphones Stereo Sport Running Gym Exercise Headsets Earphones-Retail Packaging-Black\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Runners - Take Note\\n\\nReview: Tested on an iPhone, the audio is quite good. The design is outstanding. Many runners complain of Bluetooth and in-ear buds falling out. I would be shocked if you didn't find these steps above the competition. They have thick plastic that curves around your ear and the behind-the-neck cable is tight. I jumped around, shook my head like I was possessed and whatnot and they stay firmly attached.\\n\\nPairing was easy and charging doesn't take long. The product includes the charging cable (USB 2.0), small, medium, and large ear bud tips, and directions. The hands-free calling feature is on par with the price-point. The microphone is fine.\\n\\nIn short: Huge points for the design of them staying securely on ears.\\n\\nAs with any product, I will circle back if there are significant issues.\\n\\nThe company sent a promotional sample for evaluation without promise of a review.\",\n \"Product: MPOW Brand Certified: Top-Brand Bluetooth Accessories for Smartphones MPOW Brand Certified: Top-Brand Bluetooth Accessories for Smartphones|Cheetah's Stylish Behind-Ear Streamline Outlook Design Guarantee 100% Stable and Comfortable User Wearing Experience for Running,Jogging,Biking,Driving,Fishing,Camping,Hiking and other Outdoor Sports.|The Most Advanced Bluetooth 4.1 Chips Hardware Configuration Ensure Hi-Fi CD Quality Stereo Music Sound and Strong Signal. Leading apt-X Tech Can Provide No-lag Voice when Listening to Music or Calling with Mic.|Simple To Use: Portable Function Control Buttons Are Designed for Easily Operation. Just Press it untill Blue and Red LED Light Alternatively Flashing, find and connect with your phones,then you can enjoy music or calling wirelessly. If need reconnect automatically, please turn on bluetooth of your phone first, then turn on the Cheetah, It can reconnect automatically.|Also need an armband? Save 20% on our highly-rated Mpow Running Sporty Sweatproof Armband [Please search ASIN:B00YS8H6R0 to find it] when you purchase this Bluetooth Headphones. Add both to cart, and enter the code RVM8P7EE at checkout! Mpow Cheetah Sport Bluetooth 4.1 Wireless Headphones Stereo Sport Running Gym Exercise Headsets Earphones-Retail Packaging-Black\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: These Do NOT fall out\\n\\nReview: Tested on an iPhone, the audio is quite good. The design is outstanding. Many runners complain of Bluetooth and in-ear buds falling out. I would be shocked if you didn't find these steps above the competition. They have thick plastic that curves around your ear and the behind-the-neck cable is tight. I jumped around, shook my head like I was possessed and whatnot and they stay firmly attached.\\n\\nPairing was easy and charging doesn't take long. The product includes the charging cable (USB 2.0), small, medium, and large ear bud tips, a pouch, and directions. The hands-free calling feature is on par with the price=point. The microphone is fine.\\n\\nIn short: Huge points for the design of them staying securely on ears.\\n\\nAs with any product, I will circle back if there are significant issues.\\n\\nTested January 2015; Product supplied by Mpow. Opinions, good or bad, are 100% my own.\",\n \"Product: 8000 mAh Solar Panel Charger Portable Waterproof/Shockproof/Dustproof Power Bank for iPhone 6 Plus 5S 5C 5 4S, LG G3, Nexus, HTC One M9, Sony, Nokia, Gopro, GPS and More\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Good Size, Slow Solar Charge\\n\\nReview: A rugged and robust 8000mAh battery provides a great deal of backup power. This solar panel can recharge this battery pack, but it will be slower than three-legged turtle sprinting blindfolded in the dark. In case you are wondering, that is really, really slow. So slow, it isn't worth the effort.\\nBut, if you charge this up with the USB cable and use sunlight to top it off, you are good to go on filling to at/near capacity.\\n\\nSome positives:\\n+ Flashlight is decently bright and has on, S.O.S. (repeating) and strobe settings.\\n+ The case has good grip\\n+ Directions are entertaining\\n\\nThe Cons:\\n- 1.0 Amp output\\n- Low-level solar panel\\n\\nDirections (translation) highlights:\\n#5: Do not put this product on the water, Light or damp rain Cream.\\n#7: Please keep this product and related accessories, to avoid home Easy reach of children.\\n\\nIn all, this device does what it sets out to do - providing backup power to mobile devices. I'm knocking a star because it is only 1.0A output.\\n\\nTested April 2015; Product supplied by vendor for unbiased review.\",\n \"Product: Tire Bead Sealer, Flammable, Size 32 oz., Color Black, Material Liquid, Features Forms An Air Tight Seal Between The Tire And Rim Reducing Bead Leaks, Used For Tires/Wheel This product contains a chemical that is regulated under California Proposition 65. Warning: This product contains a chemical known to the State of California to cause birth defects or other reproductive harm. -\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: When Soapy Water Doesn't Work...\\n\\nReview: I purchased a can of XTRA Seal Bead Sealer at a local auto shop as it wasn't showing up in hardware store searches. I had never used this product before, but it did exactly what I needed it to do straight away.\\n\\nMy snowblower tires keep flattening out and breaking the seal, which if you are here - you know what that means. I tried the string and the ratchet system and finally got one tire to fill up. But no matter what I tried, I couldn't get the other one to retain air. I finally waited for the weather to clear (bad snow storm) and globbed this onto both sides of the tire near the rim. Although you will still need to ratchet/compress the tire, it finally took and I was back in action.\\n\\nI don't want to admit how long I fussed with that tire until getting this sealer.\",\n \"Product: The bulb size may vary between the model or trim of your vehicle. Please check your vehicles owners manual or the original bulb to confirm the bulb size before placing an order. The lamp compatibility guides available online and Amazon filter system may not be 100% accurate or up to date.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Bright White Light; Comes in Matching Set\\n\\nReview: Update 4.8.16 - All is working well. There are no issues with these being used for license plate illumination.\\n\\n--Original--\\n\\nIf you live in the Midwest, don't pick a cold night to install some vehicle lights...unless you have a heater, which I don't. Luckily, it was just my license plate bulbs getting a LED makeover.\\n\\nBelow are two pictures, with four total shots. The first, on the left an OEM bulb. On the right is the JDM ASTAR LED, white bulb. These suckers are bright. The second picture shows a crappy picture (my fault) of both bulbs installed. On the right, is a FJ-specific shot that shows you have to pry the cover off the gasket to change the bulb.\\n\\nI used a Philips screw driver to get to the bulbs as well as a precision flat to separate the cover from the gasket. In all, about 5 minutes is all it takes. Time will tell if these last as long as OEMs, which I just kept just in case. If I have any issues with flickering or death, I will circle back and change the rating/review accordingly. The company sent a promotional sample for evaluation without promise of a review.\",\n \"Product: This bulb mostly used on running light, tail light, turn signal light, corner light, stop light, Reverse light, brake light, parking light, sidemarker, back up light, Dome Lights, License Plate, Side Marker Lights, multi application etc\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Gizmo Would Hate These\\n\\nReview: These are larger than standard OEM bulbs. Luckily, at least for my vehicle, the reverse lights are pretty much the only bulb of the rear three (brake, reverse, turn) that I can actually remove. I have a nice compartment that pops off to expose all three bulbs, but it is a Toyota. It was engineered for smaller hands, it seems. Long story short, one of my kids will have to help daddy change his other bulbs. I'll turn in my man-card later today.\\n\\nOkay, to the point: These bulbs are bright and functional. Yes, the look a bit goofy in hand, but once you install them, no one will ever know. My only complaint are the lead wires. They look and feel as if you have one shot at installing properly. Hose up and you may snap or lose the wiring - or worse, have to dig them out of your connector.\\n\\nOtherwise - good to go. The company sent a promotional sample for evaluation without promise of a review.\",\n \"Product: Pennzoil Multi-Use Pump. Custom Accessories, the leader in Automotive Aftermarket Accessories, is a\\\"One-Stop-Shop\\\" for ALL your Automotive needs. From Interior Accessories, Exterior Accessories, Car Care, Steering Wheels Covers, Compasses, Tire Gauges, Air Compressors, Car Organization, Car Comfort, and countless others CUSTOM ACCESSORIES has it all.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Super Easy to Use\\n\\nReview: I purchased and used this immediate as I needed to do a quick oil change on a mower. It wasn't my mower and I couldn't find the pan screw (nor was it identified in the user manual). For a small job, this pump works fine. I wouldn't use it in a vehicle as debris/dirt deposits are better pulled from proper draining, not sucking up.\\n\\nDirections are included, but basically you just use the intake and outtake quick release; depress and shove in a line and release. Repeat the process. At this point you should have the pump in the middle and each side has spaghetti monster arms. Total effort for first time users - perhaps a minute. Note - if are experiencing a leak around the quick releases, just pull it back and shove the tubing in further and release. It should stop the leak immediately.\\n\\nAfter that - it works as described. this also comes with a small tube and kit to inflate balls and such. Personally, I tossed these bits as I have better pumps and an air compressor. I just needed the siphon option.\\n\\nThe final clean out takes the longest. I pumped the oil through then removed the intake tube and drain the small remainder. Then pumped the outtake. Once done, wrapped in a sack and will use this kit for oil only. If I ever need to siphon gas for storage, I'll just go get another pump.\",\n \"Product: TRIVIUM SILENCE IN THE SNOW\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Clean Harmonic Album (Not Thrash)\\n\\nReview: Had to come back and change from 4 to 5 stars. I can't get enough of the title track and enjoy the full album.\\n\\nIm new to Trivium so I cannot compare their previous works to this 2015 release, Silence in the Snow.\\n\\nBased on their style, I figured they be a Scandinavian band but NO, they are from the USA; Florida if we are being specific. Their hard rock/metal sound is clean with harmonic vocals and I enjoy this entire album.\\n\\nThe vocals have a definitive mark on all the songs . Looking into the band a bit, it looks like they began as a thrash metal but have evolved (or devolved depending on your tastes) into melodic metal. In parts, they sound like a mix of Hoobastank and Tyr. I know, sounds weird, but it works.\\n\\nAccording to my brother they did start out growling/thrash and switched styles a few albums ago. They tour with Slipknot and are killer liveboth guitarists are outstanding. Where I like Corey Taylors other works, Im not a fan of Slipknot. The music is outstanding, but the vocals drive me batty. So, if you dig old Trivium, Im banking you may NOT like this album.\\n\\nEDIT: I think I\\\"m going to have to pick up \\\"Vengeance Falls\\\" now. Good stuff!!\",\n \"Product: LACUNA COIL Delirium CD\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Solid Music; Vocals vary\\n\\nReview: Delirium definitely comes out swinging with The House of Shame. This one is growing on me quickly; solid hook and chorus. And then I get lost a bit on the first half of the album. Musically, everything is great. Vocally, for me, it is hit and miss.\\n\\nClaustrophobia, the 10th track, and Ultima Ratio (11th) strikes the balance I was looking for when I pre-ordered this CD. For my personal library of Lacuna Coil (In a Reverie, Comalies, Dark Adrenaline), the majority of songs are symphonic metal(core) with harmonic vocals.\\n\\nI'm not a fan of thrash/scream/grunt metal. This album is definitely harder than prior releases and many songs border at the top end of my vocal threshold.\\n\\nThe 12th track, Live to Tell, is the first song that completely sounds like earlier LC releases. The fact that it is a cover (Madonna), doesn't faze me. Good songs are often made better by better bands :)\\n\\nBreakdown is definitely going into heavy rotation. My favorite Andrea-heavy song is the final track, Bleed the Pain.\\n\\nFor fans or newbs to LC - just sample the songs and decide if this album is for you. 3.8/5 Stars\",\n \"Product: WALI single monitor stand (model WL-M001) made of high grade steel and aluminum. Fits most LCD monitors up to 27\\\" and supports up to 22 lbs per monitor. Every joint is able to be tightened, so you can adjust exactly how fluid/stationary you want everything to be. Special features include the ability for each individual VESA plate to be level adjusted up and down by 0.8\\\" so your monitors will be perfectly aligned (see pictures). We also made mounting your monitors easy with detachable VESA plates that screw into your monitor and then slide back onto the frame of the stand. An optional bolt through grommet clamp is included with this stand. This has standard VESA 75x75mm and 100x100mm mounting holes.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Simple Design, Nice Overall Finish and Function. Easy Setup\\n\\nReview: For the most part this is a basic one-monitor stand. You have two options on how to use it. One, assemble it as a clamp that goes on your surface. Two, drill your surface and mount the post. This will work with both VESA 75x75 and 100x100. The build is pretty solid and has some heft to it. This, of course is quite important as you don't want your monitor to tilt or sag.\\n\\nThe cool feature of this particular model is the ability to mount the bracket to your monitor and THEN mount the monitor to the stand. I've had many stands, and for the most part this isn't an option. So, you are stuck setting up the stand then holding your screen as you screw in the mount with one hand. The Wali design is a big plus.\\n\\nOutside of that, it comes with all parts and tools (except a Philips screwdriver). I circled some surface damage on the primary support. Although the product was well packaged, the scrapes were there straight out of the box. I plan on using this stand at work since my old single stand is sagging.\\n\\nAlthough I do not foresee any issues with this stand, if it begins to sag or the screws start to give - I will come back. I am anal about my monitors lining up and staying up exactly where I dial them into.\\n\\nThe company sent a promotional sample for evaluation without promise of a review. 4.8/5 due to minor blemish.\",\n \"Product: This professional bonded leather padfolio makes an impressive statement. Extra storage pocket and pen holder (pen not included). Preparation is noted when on a conference table or carried into a meeting with our padfolio. Smooth leather finish, soft rich texture. A great gift for any office or traveling professionals and ideal for recent college graduates! Padfolio dimensions are 12 1/2 x 9 3/4 x 3/4.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Soft, Clean, and Looks Nice\\n\\nReview: Update - Two months down with daily use to and from meetings, car, and home. This still looks nice and new. Absolutely no stitching issues or other blemishes.\\n\\nThis is much nicer than I originally expected. For quick comparison, it looks, smells, and feels professional and is a step up from economy vendor or company branded portfolios.\\n\\nBonded leather is real leather bits, but it isn't the same as quality leather products. All the scraps from leather hide products (more expensive products) are collected and processed and glued tougher with polyurethane. Thus the smell of leather, and Bonded Leather material.\\n\\nSo, like most anything in life, it boils down to budget. If you've got the extra cash and want a portfolio to last a very long time, expect to pay around 80-150 USD.\\n\\nThis portfolio looks nice and had soft padding. I expect it to last a couple years. If it lasts longer and still looks good after that - pure bonus. Now you have to ask yourself, \\\"Do I care if it is fine leather?\\\" I sure don't. People aren't going to come up and ask.\\n\\nOne 'extra' is the backside of the flaps. In cheaper portfolios those are shiny plastic. This is not the case with this product.\\n\\nIf your name ends with A, then this is monogrammed for you. The Armiger logo is nice looking and depending on your viewing angle it could be Avengers, a Celtic design, Secret Society, or new take on a Star Trek-ish badge.\\n\\nThe company sent a promotional sample for evaluation without promise of a review.\",\n \"Product: Power wash your deck, driveway, patio furniture and more with this powerful pressure washer from Generac. Long been known for their quality engines, this model is no exception, equipped with a powerful 196cc Generac OHV engine. Also included are four Quick-Click nozzle tips (0-degree Blast, 25-degree Clean, 40-degree Wash, Soap) and a 25 foot hose. Generac's power washers are carefully engineered for longevity and ease of use, with well thought-out features not found on competitive models. Easy to maneuver, the welded frame is designed for durability, with a built-in step for easy starting and an integrated gun holster. The easily accessible high-performance axial cam pump provides maximum heat dissipation for extended life and the easy to pull trigger reduces fatigue. The pump is located well above the ground, eliminating the need to kneel down to make hose connections. Backed with a 2 year limited warranty. Founded in 1959, Generac has earned a reputation as the company home and business owners turn to when the power goes out. The first to engineer affordable home standby generators, along with the first engine developed specifically for the rigors of generator use, Generac now sells more home standby generators than all of our competitors combined. We have brought this same level of commitment and quality to our pressure washer products. Our customer research has led us to engineer our pressure washers from the ground up, to meet your specific demands. Generac manufactures the widest range of power products in the marketplace including portable, RV, residential, commercial and industrial generators. Generac also operates three large factories which employs thousands of workers in the American Midwest. Note: This model is not for sale in California/non-CARB compliant.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Solid Balance Between Cost and Function\\n\\nReview: I've used this on a board-on-board fence, vinyl siding, concrete, and a wood deck. I researched plenty and went with the Generac 2,800 PSI for several reasons:\\n\\n* Portable\\n* On-board detergent tank\\n* Solid ratings (Amazon and other stores)\\n* Price for performance\\n* High PSI before going into commercial/very expensive models\\n\\nEven if you have never seen or used a power-washer, don't let this intimidate you. Go gas! I'm completely underwhelmed with electric power-washers and hauling extension cords with water just makes me leery - not to mention it is a hassle.\\n\\nIt is easy to unpack and set up. The bulk is ready to go. Just snap on the top (handle), connect the wand hose and detergent line (if desired), then add oil (included) and gas it up. Do NOT run it without water.\\n\\nInstall the hose and turn the water on. You are ready to roll. Flip the gas slider on as well as the choke. There is an on/off switch so turn that on as well. A couple pulls and it should fire up. Then adjust the choke and start having some fun.\\n\\nIt is easy to collapse and haul to another location, but just make sure to haul it upright unless you don't have gas, oil, or detergent in it (so, just plan on upright travel). The top comes off easy for transport. If you have a hatchback, SUV/Crossover, you will not have any issue. I lifted it in/out no problem, but it does have some heft to it so you may want a helper.\\n\\nThis comes with four nozzles and a handy place to store them. There are aftermarket attachments, so check those out. I have not purchased one, but can totally appreciate the surface cleaners. They aren't cheap though, but they will cut down the time needed on horizontal surfaces. After watching them in action, I may have to get one!\",\n \"Product: HoontTM Powerful Electronic Outdoor/Indoor Animal & Pest Repeller - Motion Activated Permanently eliminate pest problems with this aggressive ultrasonic/sonic flashing light animal repeller. Select your mode of ultrasonic, sonic and strobe flashing. Get rid of Deers, Birds (Pigeons, Woodpeckers, Seagulls, etc.), Cats, Dogs, Bears, Squirrels, Rabbits, Skunks, Bats, Rats, Foxes, Raccoons, Mice and much more. HOW IT WORKS - The HoontTM Animal Repeller blasts a range of powerful ultrasonic sound, audible sound, and flashing LED strobe lights to scare away a wide variety of pests. Equipped with an infrared motion sensor, the pest repeller has an optional mode of activating when it senses motion, or it can run continuously. EASY TO INSTALL - Simply take it out of the box, plug it in and select your desired mode. Adapter is included. Can also be operated with a 9-Volt battery (Not included). / Package includes an aluminum stake for optional sticking into the ground. HUMANE & ENVIRONMENT FRIENDLY - No messy chemicals or pesticides, no traps, no dead animals. The HoontTM gets rid of all animal and pest through emitting a mixture of ultrasonic, sonic and powerful flashing LED strobe lights, frightening the pests/animals to leave the area. WEATHERPROOF & WATER-RESISTANT - Perfect for yards, patios, basements, garages, attics, porches, boats, gardens, Farms, ponds, etc. / COVERAGE AREA: Up to 5000 Sq. Ft. (PIR Motion sensor: Up to 800 Sq. Ft.)\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Good Light and Really Loud Siren\\n\\nReview: I haven't had this product for very long. So far so good. I have it in my front yard's landscaping so I can see it in action. I'll probably move it to a side of my house near the fence as I need to scare off rabbits. I don't mind them, but I'm tired of throwing away their dead bodies. I've even had conversations with them - just trying to do my part for their survival.\\n\\nMy backyard is home to two Greyhounds. If you know anything about them, you understand why I have dead rabbits. I could place this back there, but I don't want the dogs setting off the alarm. It is quite loud! More on that: There are three settings and I prefer the flashing-lights motion sensor.\\n\\nSo yeah, I popped a 9V into the unit and cycled through the settings. The siren is extremely loud and even when I covered the speaker and frantically pried out the 9V to unplug the power, it was still loud enough to wake up sleeping children upstairs. It is a 'lovely' 110 db blast that would work as intended. Just make sure you aren't sleeping near it.\\n\\nMy complaint is there is no OFF switch. I used the staking method and it worked perfectly fine. There is a notch to mount it as well. You can use this with the included power supply, or 9v battery that you will need a small screwdriver to install.\\n\\nOnly time will tell as I've only had this product for a short while. I will revisit and update if any significant findings occur. I received a promotional code from the vendor for an unbiased evaluation.\",\n \"Product: The Waste King 3200 Legend Series 3/4-HP EZ-Mount Sound Insulated Garbage Disposer is one of the best food disposers on the market. With a high-speed 2700 r.p.m. permanent magnet motor, this disposer can efficiently get rid of your food waste. This disposer is also septic safe for properly sized septic tanks, making it environmentally friendly. The fast and easy mount system provides a no-hassle installation and it is dishwasher compatible. Package Content: garbage disposersplash guardpower cordmanualwarranty\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Pretty Powerful and Quiet\\n\\nReview: I purchased this make and model based on comparing reviews in the price range +/- 50 USD. I had a Badger 1 which, to its credit, lasted about 8 years. I went with Waste King because it was an easy swap, has an 8 year warranty, increased my HP from .25 to .75, and is pretty quiet.\\n\\nIf you are replacing a disposal, I have confidence that you can do this yourself. There are plenty of videos out there showing the ins/outs of these suckers. There really isn't much to these things. There is a knock-out, which you will have to remove if you are hooking up to your dishwasher. This too is easy (just don't forget to do it). Also, this comes wired and ready to go.\\n\\nIf you are putting in a new disposal and need to add plumbing, you can still DIY, but I'd probably opt for a professional install. The last thing you want to do is experience water damage and/or electrical issues. It shouldn't be terribly expensive to hire out, and peace of mind (and safety) definitely have value.\\n\\nSo far...so good. I will update this as time goes by.\\n\\nUpdate 6.17.17 - Another year down the drain. No issues, no clogs, still runs smooth and quiet.\\n\\nUpdate 6.4.16 - Some time has passed and just here to say all is well. I've had zero issues or concerns. I have come to realize and appreciate how quiet this is compared to the Badger.\",\n \"Product: The Waste King 3200 Legend Series 3/4-HP EZ-Mount Sound Insulated Garbage Disposer is one of the best food disposers on the market. With a high-speed 2700 r.p.m. permanent magnet motor, this disposer can efficiently get rid of your food waste. This disposer is also septic safe for properly sized septic tanks, making it environmentally friendly. The fast and easy mount system provides a no-hassle installation and it is dishwasher compatible. Package Content: garbage disposersplash guardpower cordmanualwarranty\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Pretty Powerful and Quiet\\n\\nReview: I purchased this make and model based on comparing reviews in the price range +/- 50 USD. I had a Badger 1 which, to its credit, lasted about 8 years. I went with Waste King because it was an easy swap, has an 8 year warranty, increased my HP from .25 to .75, and is pretty quiet.\\n\\nIf you are replacing a disposal, I have confidence that you can do this yourself. There are plenty of videos out there showing the ins/outs of these suckers. There really isn't much to these things. There is a knock-out, which you will have to remove if you are hooking up to your dishwasher. This too is easy (just don't forget to do it). Also, this comes wired and ready to go.\\n\\nIf you are putting in a new disposal and need to add plumbing, you can still DIY, but I'd probably opt for a professional install. The last thing you want to do is experience water damage and/or electrical issues. It shouldn't be terribly expensive to hire out, and peace of mind (and safety) definitely have value.\\n\\nSo far...so good. I will update this as time goes by.\\n\\nUpdate 6.17.17 - Another year down the drain. No issues, no clogs, still runs smooth and quiet.\\n\\nUpdate 6.4.16 - Some time has passed and just here to say all is well. I've had zero issues or concerns. I have come to realize and appreciate how quiet this is compared to the Badger.\",\n \"Product: Imagine serving the dark side with this Kohl's exclusive Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens set that includes Kylo Ren's mask and lightsaber that extends for a duel with a flick of the wrist.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Okay, but Proving a bit Challenging\\n\\nReview: Edit to report it is fully functional, mostly. The trick to making sure both sides extend is to be fairly forceful when extending the primary blade. It sounds weird, but you really have to give it a good swipe otherwise one side doesn't extend. That said, this doesn't work every time.\\n\\n**Original 3 Star**\\nWe have numerous lightsabers around the house. With this set, I cannot get one of the sides to fully extend. My son doesn't care yet, but I've tried twisting and prying to no avail. This has happened before with older sabers and is usually easy to fix. Unfortunately, it isn't fully \\\"operational\\\" after numerous attempts to fix it.\\n\\nOutside of that, he likes it. There are no batteries needed for the saber as there are no lights or cool sound effects.\\n\\nThis is a fairly standard collapsible saber which also comes with a mask, which is pretty small.\\n\\nWait for a sale. I strongly suggest not paying the current 45 USD\",\n \"Product: Put your skills to the test with Hyper Toss. The ultimate toy for fast, fun interactive play that really gets you moving. Kids will love trying to beat their scores by catching the ball quickly in one of the three colored cups- all by following audio instructions! Hyper Toss includes 4 game modes: Hyper Toss, Memory Toss, Free Style and Super Toss!.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: 1 Ball 3 Cups\\n\\nReview: You ever ask yourself, \\\"What is more fun than the ball on a string tied to a cup on a stick toy?\\\"\\n\\nPhew. Glad I'm not the only one!\\n\\nSame concept, except no string; includes three cups and a timer. It doesn't mean this is real easy - not by a long shot. This is a bit more interactive and has a few styles of play, including: how fast you can catch the damn sack, total recall, difficulty levels, and freestyle.\\n\\nIf you watch the video, the youngsters make this look rather easy. Don't believe everything you see on the interwebs. Although, I can do a back flip into splits and catch flawlessly. But enough about me.\\n\\nIn all - pretty fun and pretty painless if you miss the target. Enjoy!\\n\\nAdded bonus: kids' necks aren't locked into tablet position.\",\n \"Product: NA\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: This One, Not So Much\\n\\nReview: I've read the series and pre-ordered this book. However, I wasn't quick to consume and put it down off and on to read other books. That is a bit telling if you know me. I may have completed my journey with these characters, or the book itself left me feeling a bit flat. The culprit in this book was so fantastical that Harrison may see the end coming soon. Yes, there are two pivotal relationship changes, and a minor one involving the pack. So, yes - there was guts to the story, but it simply didn't resonate like her previous works. That said, if you've made it this far in the series - that tells you something great about the author\",\n \"Product: After graduating with a BA in Computer Science, Itzik Klein did what many other good husbands and fathers do; he accepted a position with a company working nine to five. And just like many others, his eight hour days often turned into twelve hour days in order to keep up with demands. This didnt leave him a lot of time with his family and he knew something had to change. As a young boy, Itzik enjoyed reading and took a special liking to Dr. Seuss stories. Inspired by the lyrical prose, he often wrote songs as a child. It wasnt until he became a father that he decided to take it a step further and he has recently published his first childrens book, The Gnomes of the Night. His writing debut has been a positive one and Itzik is currently working on his second book, scheduled to be released soon. His parenting philosophy is simple. Get down and talk to your son or daughter at eye level. Listen without arrogance and dont assume you always know what is best for them. Encourage them to reason for themselves and help them make good decisions. And always challenge them to think outside the box. Itzik hopes to inspire others with his actions. There is nothing more important to him than being home with his family and making a difference. Leaving his former position has allowed him to do so and he wants others to know it is never too late to take a chance on your dreams. Itzik currently resides in Israel with his wife and three children. When he is not writing or focused on parenting, he enjoys playing guitar and going to concerts. Traveling is another fond pastime, whether it is to the country and being in nature or visiting active and vibrant urban cities. A big fan of literature, Itzik enjoys stories of all kinds, whether it's a play, in the theater, film, book or TV show. Please feel free to reach out to Itzik at Itzikklein1978@gmail.com. He enjoys hearing from his fans.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Quick Story About Picking Up\\n\\nReview: I was asked to read this book and since it sounded fun, I was happy to oblige. Overall the book is decent and is a teachable moment about picking up after yourself. All parents, I assume, would agree that they'd rather their children pick up their toys, clothes, towels, books, etc. So, an illustrated book about such activities is a welcomed addition to my 'shelf'.\\n\\nI loved the graphics. The illustrations are warm. That said, was the dad's beard an afterthought? It just looks off and out of style with the rest of the drawings.\\n\\nSome of the verses felt a bit forced. Not all were rhymes, which is fine, but there seemed to be a bit of bouncing in and out of style. I don't think kids will really notice.\\n\\nI did chuckle when I saw the crafty product-placement (hint: bedtime). Illustrations are a 5, Typeset is 5. Story flow is a 3.\\n\\nRead March 2015; Product supplied by author/publisher. Opinions, good or bad, are 100% my own.\"\n]","isConversational":false},"profile_size":{"kind":"number","value":49,"string":"49"},"task":{"kind":"string","value":"longlamp_3"},"split_kind":{"kind":"string","value":"user_based"},"id":{"kind":"number","value":961,"string":"961"}}},{"rowIdx":962,"cells":{"question_id":{"kind":"string","value":"A3R1WFO4KIUQXZ"},"question":{"kind":"string","value":"Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of \"5.0\" for a product with description \"Double wall borosilicate glass retains heat and freshness longer while leaving the outside wall cool to the touch. Double wall also keeps the mug free from condensation. Perfectly suited for a wide variety of hot and cold beverages. 16-ounce capacity .\". The summary of the review text is \"Mine lasted six years\"."},"answer":{"kind":"string","value":"I bought this mug when it first became available when there were far fewer look-alike borosilicate thermal mug products on the market. Having owned a few of the others now I can say with certainty that if you read comments about them being fragile, they absolutely are, after all they are all made from the same glass material and no matter what brand you choose, glass is glass - it will shatter on physical impact, so if that concerns you then you are looking at the wrong category of product. They are all delicate and one day your expensive thermal glass mug will break, you can count on it.\n\nNow, heres the good news - mine lasted a full 6 years of being used every single day, being microwaved over and over and being washed with no special care in the dishwasher. Then yesterday I carelessly swiped it with the back of my hand and it fell into the deepest part of my granite kitchen sink. The photo tells the rest of the story, which is why Im here buying another one.\n\nTake a look at the photo. Despite crashing to the bottom of the sink with tremendous impact it did not shatter into a million pieces, in fact I was surprised how large the broken pieces were.\n\nDuring those 6 years I loved this cup. It kept my morning coffee hot 10x longer than any other cup I own and thats without using the lid. The rim is smooth and at the proper angle to sip hot coffee without burning my lips. And the shape of the handle is unique and different from all of the other brands, it is large enough to get all four fingers in it for a secure grip.\n\nI totally get the reason people are disappointed when this cup or any of the other similar brands breaks. They are much more expensive than an everyday coffee cup. You have to be more careful with it than everyday cups, and Im living proof that with a little care its not unreasonable to expect to get 6 years out of it - and that would probably have been more if it wasn't for my carelessness."},"correct_answer":{"kind":"string","value":"I bought this mug when it first became available when there were far fewer look-alike borosilicate thermal mug products on the market. Having owned a few of the others now I can say with certainty that if you read comments about them being fragile, they absolutely are, after all they are all made from the same glass material and no matter what brand you choose, glass is glass - it will shatter on physical impact, so if that concerns you then you are looking at the wrong category of product. They are all delicate and one day your expensive thermal glass mug will break, you can count on it.\n\nNow, heres the good news - mine lasted a full 6 years of being used every single day, being microwaved over and over and being washed with no special care in the dishwasher. Then yesterday I carelessly swiped it with the back of my hand and it fell into the deepest part of my granite kitchen sink. The photo tells the rest of the story, which is why Im here buying another one.\n\nTake a look at the photo. Despite crashing to the bottom of the sink with tremendous impact it did not shatter into a million pieces, in fact I was surprised how large the broken pieces were.\n\nDuring those 6 years I loved this cup. It kept my morning coffee hot 10x longer than any other cup I own and thats without using the lid. The rim is smooth and at the proper angle to sip hot coffee without burning my lips. And the shape of the handle is unique and different from all of the other brands, it is large enough to get all four fingers in it for a secure grip.\n\nI totally get the reason people are disappointed when this cup or any of the other similar brands breaks. They are much more expensive than an everyday coffee cup. You have to be more careful with it than everyday cups, and Im living proof that with a little care its not unreasonable to expect to get 6 years out of it - and that would probably have been more if it wasn't for my carelessness."},"documents":{"kind":"list like","value":["Product: The American Red Cross FRX3 is a solar and hand turbine powered AM, FM, weather radio with alarm clock. There is a built-in USB smart phone charger that allows a 30 second emergency phone call with one minute of cranking. To listen to personal tunes, use the AUX-input to play an external MP3 player. You’ll never be left in the dark thanks to the LED flashlight and glow-in-the-dark locater around the rim of the solar panel.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Average product, shop around\n\nReview: This radio neither excels at anything or completely fails at anything. Despite its unique design and \"American Red Cross\" label it is pretty average, and at that overpriced for something that's only average.\n\nThere are dozens of emergency kit radios that share similar features, some of them at a more budget-friendly price. Like this one they have a NOAA radio, hand-crank, solar cell, rechargeable battery and flashlight. And some include the latest gimmick which is to provide emergency charging capability to your cell phone. That is a very questionable feature. As someone who is an avid outdoorsperson my opinion that it is foolish to deplete the battery on an emergency radio to charge ones cell phone. First, if you are stranded in a remote area you are probably not in a cell service zone and if you are you probably should have called somebody already. Second and more important, if you are a hiker, skier, camper, etc. and have any intent at all to be in remote areas you should carry a dedicated high-capacity external emergency battery. I carry one from Anker <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Anker-2nd-Gen-Astro-E4/dp/B00BQ5KHJW/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">Anker 2nd Gen Astro E4</a> that is 13,000 mAh, which is enough power to charge my phone at least 5-6 times and it is small enough to fit in my jacket pocket (and costs less than $30).\n\nAs far as choosing a NOAA weather alert radio, my personal experience has been that a major company who has been making them for almost 50 years like Midland can get you a higher quality product than a no-name label. On that subject, I'm a bit disappointed that an organization that is supported with our donations like the American Red Cross would let their name be used to endorse one product over another, giving the appearance that somehow this might be \"better\" in an emergency. It isn't.","Product: TrueClear Advanced Screen Protector for iPad Air 2 and iPad Air is the best screen protector available, engineered for strength and clarity and tested to meet optometric standards. The result is a crystal clear screen protector that keeps your screen safe from damage while still giving you an incredible screen experience.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: One thing keeps it from being a 5-star product\n\nReview: I've used screen protectors going back to the days of the Palm Pilot (remember those?) Early screen protectors earned a reputation that exists to this day of being of questionable value, to put it mildly. They scratched, they distorted, they affected stylus/touch performance, we tough to clean and worst of all ... they were virtually impossible to install without bubbles and dust.\n\nThe newest screen protectors are hard glass and have eliminated all of the above problems and actually do protect the device's screen from reasonable dings and knocks. This isn't one of them, but it does represent a much newer and more sophisticated technology for flexible plastic protectors.\n\nThe Belkin is:\n\n* Very clear - no image distortion\n* Does not scratch easily\n* Has no effect on touch/gesturing performance\n* About as trouble-free to install as any screen protector\n\nAnd a feature that makes this particular product stand out from the crowd ... it does a much better than average job of resisting fingerprints and smudging. And that makes it one of the best screen protectors I have tried.\n\nIs it as good as glass? In my opinion no. I have glass on two of my other devices that I use the most and both of them have had the protector installed for over a year, and they look perfect. They are micro thin and one of the phones I throw in my pocket every day of the week where it comes in contact with keys and coins and the screen looks like new. Plastic screen protectors aren't at that level (yet) but it was more than adequate for my 7\" tab that rarely leaves my house.\n\nFINAL RATING:\n\nRating a screen protector negatively because the user didn't know how or didn't use reasonable care in installing is not going to result in a rating that has any meaning to someone else so I won't go into detail about how the installation process went for me other than to say there were no unexpected unsatisfactory results. The rating is based on how well it met the criteria listed above, which it does very well. On the negative side is the price. Belkin isn't alone in grossly overcharging for screen protectors but the fact remains that it's not worth the price. The high price keeps it from being a best buy and results in a final rating of 4-stars.","Product: The Transcend USB 3.0 SD & microSD Card Reader is able to transfer images, videos, and other files from SD & microSD card formats (SDHC/SDXC/UHS-I/UHS-3). This reader is compatible with Super-Speed USB 3.0 interface (backward compatible with USB 2.0) and features an LED status light. Compatible with both Windows and Mac platforms.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Card readers like this are designed to allow image files to transfer ...\n\nReview: As digital still and video cameras continue to increase their number of megapixels, file sizes continue to get larger as well. Among the results is file transfer rate continue to get longer and longer. The built-in media card readers in all but the newest models usually aren't capable of high transfer rates so we are left waiting a long time for our photos/videos to download.\n\nCard readers like this are designed to allow image files to transfer at a much faster rate due to use of USB 3.0 and electronics designed to handle the latest media card technologies.\n\nThis reader has very fast electronics and has multiple ports to accommodate most of the commonly used modern media cards.\n\nI did a casual test of several photos and videos and there is no doubt that it is substantially faster than the card reader built in to my computer. How fast? Your results will vary because there are many factors that determine transfer rates such as the specific type and model of the media card, the processor and amount of memory in your computer, hard disk speed and even how the computer is wired internally. But in all cases you should see a speed increase when downloading photos. Just be sure to plug this reader into the USB 3.0 port of your computer its usually blue.\n\nBy the way, once you open the blister card you will find an offer for a free app called RecoverRX which is useful to try to recover data that has been accidentally deleted. Getting that is probably worth more than the card reader itself.","Product: This keystone jack provides a female S/PDIF Digital Optical (TOSLINK) connection on each side and is intended for use in standard keystone wall plates and other keystone devices. The keystone measures 31/32\" long by 13/16\" tall by 3/4\" wide. The core receptacle inside is gold-plated\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Note and heed the seller's warnings\n\nReview: The price is right and the quality of construction is nice. When ordering, be careful to note the seller's warnings about their premium Toslink cables not fitting into this jack. That warning not only applies to their cables but to those of other manufacturers as well. Of 3 cables I tried to use, only one of them fit. The others \"fit\" but could not be inserted deep enough for the optical ends of the cable to mate properly and hence they could not relay the signal between them. There is probably no way a buyer could know for sure if it is compatible without buying and trying it. While Toslink is a recognized standard, apparently variances in associated connectivity is allowed.\n\nIn fairness the fact that it didn't work properly with my specific cables is not a reason to downrate it, however it also is not fair to rank something like this 5-stars for \"best of the best\" so 3-stars for \"average\" indicates a neutral rating.","Product: High speed memory cards recommended for DSLR cameras and full HD camcorders. Designed for the advanced shooter to capture the moment as it happens. File recovery downloadable software helps recover photos and videos that have been accidentally damaged or deleted\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: At least equal to other well-known brands\n\nReview: When I got a new Sony 24mp camera I found none of my available SD cards had the adequate capacity for such large still and video files. The Sony 32gb SD card was the lowest priced brand name card and while matching the brand of the card to the camera is not important, like they say \"it couldn't hurt\". At least I couldn't blame the card if it didn't perform well in a Sony camera.\n\nHowever it does perform and very well at that. Regardless of camera settings for both still and video photography the card doesn't bog down. I can shoot that the camera's maximum burst speed and there is no lag in write speed. Video playback from the card is stutterless.\n\nThe card is well made and fits well into the camera and my card readers. Sony SD cards get generally good reviews and are decently priced for a brand name. I was only too happy to save a few dollars that I could spend on other camera accessories.","Product: The blue, customizable Windows touch tab on Sculpt Comfort Mouse revolutionizes the relationship between hardware and software, providing quick and easy access to the Start Menu, Cortana*, OneNote, Task View or virtual desktops.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: The most perfect mouse ever?\n\nReview: [NOTE: this mouse is being used with Windows 10]\n\nEarly on in my life with computers I used to buy Microsoft mice, because they were among the few that actually worked with the slowly evolving Windows operating system. They were overpriced and not very good but they were compatible. As time progressed and other brands came and went I started buying Logitech mice and loved them, despite the fact that they were one of the most expensive brands around. I got used to them starting out great and after about a year being, well, not so great. But I often wondered why no one else seemed to get the in-hand feel right or the button clicks just right and then there was that incredible scrolling. At least until the mouse got old. I have gone through more Logitech mice than I can count.\n\nNow with a new high-end laptop computer that has everything going for it other than being cursed with a trackpad that I cant stand (to be fair, I dislike trackpads in general), I set out to find the one mouse that rolled all of my wants and needs into one device that also happened to feel good in my hand. This is about my discovery of the Microsoft Sculpt Bluetooth mouse whether or not it is the perfect mouse.\n\nHeres what I wanted: a Bluetooth mouse that I could use on a few different computers without having to remove and reinstall any kind of dongle. I wanted a mouse that would track on most surfaces like a coffee table, the arm of a couch and even my leg. I mean after all, when you use a mouse with a laptop you really don't want to have to sit at a desk using a mousepad, do you? And of course, it was important that it feels good in the palm of my hand.\n\nSurprisingly, there aren't a lot of mice that fit that wish list. Basically a couple from Microsoft, a couple from Logitech and a couple from lesser-known companies. Sadly, the Logitech versions were nowhere near in their collection of premium mice with a great in-hand feel and a top-of-the-line scroll wheel. So I thought I would give Microsoft a shot again, and this model was surprisingly inexpensive.\n\nWHAT I LIKE/LOVE:\n\n1. It is compact, a good thing when traveling with a laptop, but not too compact.\n2. It has positive button clicks that aren't annoyingly loud\n3. The scroll wheel is accurate and has a good amount of resistance. It actually does have its own software version of Logitechs Hyper-Scroll that lets it fly through pages fast depending on how fast you spin the wheel. And it has a good balance between being a smooth scroller but yet has some clickability.\n4. Although all Bluetooth mice have some lag from an at rest position, it is really very minimal\n5. That bright blue patch on the side was a surprise, a delight and a reason to love it\n\nAll of the above is self-explanatory other than the blue patch. Microsoft does a terrible job explaining it and that almost caused me not to buy the mouse because one thing I want/need more than almost anything is physical forward/backward buttons on my mouse for web surfing. Microsoft really plays it down but that patch (as well as the other buttons/wheel) is fully programmable. And within 5 minutes I was finding I love it more than physical backward/forward buttons. Among its tricks is that you can set it so that if you physically click the patch you can open the start menu in Windows 10. But if you swipe your thumb up or down on it (reversible) you can go forward or backward in your web browser and you get a tiny tingle in your finger to tell you that it understands you. Funny but moving my thumb up and down is actually more logical than physical forward/backward buttons.\n\nYes, this mouse does track on my pants leg, or bare leg for that matter. And on a glass coffee table and on the floor and a leather sofa arm. And yes it does feel great when I wrap my palm around it. For my taste it is just ever so slightly smaller than I would think is the ideal size and I would prefer that my thumb fell to rest on the thumb rest, not the blue patch, but I can get used to that.\n\nFinal note, just to be clear, I liked this mouse right out of the box, but after installing a free download app from Microsoft to further tweak and customize it, to me it is now about as perfect of a mouse as Ive ever owned. I love this mouse!","Product: kingston's Class 10 Uhs-i Ultimate Card Features Uhs-i Technology And Impressive Performance That Lets Users Shoot Full 1080p Hd Video And 3d Video - And Transfer Files Faster. The Card's Higher Sustained Write Speeds Support Continuous Burst Mode And Ensure Video Integrity By Reducing Stutter. The Class 10 Uhs-i Ultimate Card Is Compatible With Sdhc (16gb, 32gb) And Sdxc (64gb) And Is Backed By A Lifetime Warranty, Free Technical Support And Legendary Kingston Reliability.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Is it as good as the more well-known brand?\n\nReview: Though there are only a couple of well-known \"go to\" names for SD memory cards that account for the lion's share of the market, there are in fact several other manufacturers worth noting. One of them is Kingston. While not as common of a name for SD cards to some people they have been a stalwart for computer memory for many years and have been one of my most trusted brand names for computer RAM as long as I can remember. So why not trust them for digital camera/video SD cards?\n\nTheir selling price is in line with the other brands, and in fact cheaper if you consider the 32mb card I am reviewing a UHS-I SDHC card which generally sells for more. This is their best premium card, regarded by some as one the most premium card currently available. It was selling on Amazon for only $32 the day I ordered it to evaluate for review, however when it was introduced about 2 years ago it sold for just under $300).\n\nI'm not sure there is anyone one can definitively detail any substantial differences between the SD card from one company to another and I tried as best as possible to be blind to what brand name was stamped on it.\n\nI replaced the SD card on my very new and current bridge camera which is a memory hog at a 20 megapixel resolution count. The camera takes outstanding HD video so I reasoned I could benefit from the most mb I could stuff into it. Inserting it was flawless and of course my available image count doubled over my previous 16mb card to more than any person really needs (5000+ images at the highest resolution settings).\n\nIt is important to realize that a UHS-I card will ONLY perform at its maximum capability in a device that is built for UHS-I technology (most digitals cameras/camcorders are not)and when used with the latest USB 3.0 transfer interface (most computers don't have it built in). The good news regarding the Kingston product is that it is a SDHC compatible product, so you do not necessarily need a special controller. Kingston states that the card will give you Class 10 performance when used in a non-UHS-I capable device. Regarding \"picture quality\" don't believe anyone who claims an SD card from one manufacturer can give you \"better\" photos than that from another manufacturer. That is simply impossible.\n\nSo, bottom line, what are you buying when you choose an SD card brand name? As a professional photographer (I am not using this product professionally however) you are looking for dependability/reliability. Some brands (like SanDisk) are accepted as being pretty rock solid. I expect Kingston, given their reputation, to be reliable as well. I will update this as I run it through its paces and see how it performs in the long term.","Product: View more, do more, and protect more with the clarity and mobile control of D-Links Pan & Tilt Day/Night Network Camera (DCS-5020L). With no monthly fees the exclusive mydlink app you can view and control the camera -anywhere, anytime -on your smartphone or tablet. Experience confident clarity and control with the ultra-smooth pan/tilt and digital zoom functionality. Integrated motion and sound-sensing detection and night-vision technology provides around-the-clock surveillance. Designed with an integrated Wi-Fi extender to easily expand your wireless network. With simple installation, youll have an effective, affordable home or business surveillance solution up and running in no time.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: This gadget has lots of uses\n\nReview: This little camera is an amazing value for the price. While many camera-based home security systems are designed to give you information after the fact, this camera will alert your smartphone if there is unusual motion activity or sounds and let you see it live, while panning, tilting and zooming to get the \"best view\" before you snap photos and call authorities.\n\nI didn't need an addition to my very adequate home security system but I found a cool use for this camera. I have cats that are used to occasionally being left on their own for a couple of days and longer if a friend or relative comes over to check their food and water. I have the camera set up to alert me when the cats move into their feeding area so I can be assured that they are all right. Then I check the level of food and water so I can call/text the human helper if the food is running low. The camera will also alert me if there is any unusual noise, like maybe a cat in distress. Convert that example to anything you might want to monitor, like maybe chickens who may be in harm's way of predators, you get the idea.\n\nLook, this isn't a $1000 sophisticated system so it's not fair to be too harsh on a product that costs less than $150. For what it is, there could be hundreds of unique uses. The image quality won't rival an expensive video camera, but it is equal to most small home security cameras. It appears that for the price you don't get auto focus, which may be the reason some folks think the picture quality is soft. Adjust the ring around the lens and it can produce a decently sharp image. At night the images are useful to about 20' - 25' but beyond that it would be hard to recognize anything anyway.\n\nI have the latest generation D-Link router so setup consisted of plugging the camera in and pushing two buttons ... one on the router and one on the camera and, presto, it was all set up. Since I already had a MyDlink account (free) it instantly recognized the new camera and I was good to go.\n\nIt should be remembered that this is a WiFi camera so it must be within range of your existing router. Regardless if you have a home security system or not, this camera can be very useful, and for the price it beats having nothing at all.","Product: You don't need bells & whistles to bring your drive alive. The Onyx EZ makes satellite radio simple to install, use and enjoy so you can focus on the best part -listening.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: XMs best receiver yet\n\nReview: XM Radio and I go back a long way, pretty much since it was introduced. And I have a box literally full of old receivers to prove it. Some of them work but most have seen better days.\n\nRecently I wanted a new receiver to feed just one location, a small sitting area with its own dedicated sound system. I have a network radio receiver in there but for lots of reasons I have found that XM just works better and sounds cleaner than network radio. The room is small so I don't want a lot of clutter, and fortunately one wall faces in exactly the right direction to aim the antenna at the satellite.\n\nAfter owning numerous brands and models of XM radios, this one is truly the most attractive and useful. The home kit model which I purchased has a small weighted base (older models were very lightweight) that has all cables exiting from the rear (older models cables exited from the side). The receiver slides firmly into the base and can be removed to use with my existing car kit (it has a built-in FM transmitter).\n\nXM has finally made a model with a bright, clear and easy-to-read display. I can read it from an easy chair half-way across the room. The button locations are logical (another improvement over older models) and all are illuminated. The backlighting has both brightness and contrast controls.\n\nThe included remote control is more logical than older models and easier to read. It includes 10 preset channels.\n\nInstallation was flawless, and despite the fact that XM changed their subscription options without telling me and I had to choose a different package, the end result is I got all the channels I want and need for the same price as before. But it is a 3-ring circus trying to deal with them. You would think by now they would have figured out how to run their business. But then again, Im reviewing the radio here, not the company.\n\nI found no negatives, and based on the great styling as easy to use functionality, this receiver ranks as the best Ive owned and earns 5-stars.","Product: Power monitors, hard drives, laptops and other desktop items while also charging USB-based devices with Belkin's Desktop Power Hub. Three surge outlets and three USB charging ports provide simultaneous power to multiple computing devices and peripherals. Elegantly designed with a piano black gloss finish and a built-in stand to hold a tablet or phone at a convenient viewing angle, the Desktop Power Hub makes multi-device charging accessible and convenient.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Very well made - but a bit odd\n\nReview: Belkin is a long-time respected accessory manufacturer. Their products are generally made better and last longer than a lot of the no-name dirt-cheap stuff on the market and for that reason you usually pay a little more for them. However, judging by the other identical hubs on the same Amazon page that are branded with no-name logos it is evident that Belkin's only role having to do with this particular product is to buy it from a Chinese OEM and have their name put on it.\n\nAt $30 this power hub might be thought of as slightly high for what it does, but doesn't feel cheap.\n\nThe first impression has to be the power cord. No flimsy thin wire connected to a power transformer here, this power cord is thicker than the one on my refrigerator. More like what's on my power drill. Coupled with a rugged molded grounded plug it is so thick the rest of the lightweight hub has trouble laying flat.\n\nThe plug feeds three grounded power outlets. Standard U.S. outlets (note that since this is a new product the Amazon illustration still shows the model Belkin sells in the Far East market). Two of the outlets are adjacent to one another and the third spaced quite distant to allow for any size power brick.\n\nOn one side are three USB ports, one marked 2.1A and colored gray. That one and another port have a circle drawn around them and the combination of both ports is marked 1A. Then the three ports have a larger circle drawn around all 3 and the combination of all 3 is marked 700 mA. The Amazon description states a combined rating of 2.1 A, which seems to be just the opposite of what Belkin intended and how the product itself is labeled.\n\nThere are no instructions or indications with the hub that define how those ports are intended to be used individually or together.\n\nThere are two pilot lights, one confirming that the unit is grounded and the other confirming that the unit is protected. At this point a serious question is raised as to exactly what the manufacturer had in mind when designing this hub. Use in the bathroom? Around the swimming pool? In the rain?\n\nFinally, there is a slot to place your \"device\" (I'll use that term to define whatever you decide to use this hub with). Being a universal dock there is nothing to plug your device's power in to (different brands and models of smartphones, tablets, reading devices, etc. may use different size jacks which may be located almost anywhere on the device). The slot is wider than most devices, even those that have very thick protective cases on them, so there is room enough with most devices to let them lean back at a comfortable angle. There is also a small cutout at the front center that may be designed to route the charging cable if you decide to place your device \"upright\" with the power jack at the bottom. It's hard to be certain if that's what Belkin had in mind because again there is absolutely no documentation packed with the hub. Frankly I think it would be a bad idea to let the entire weight of your device rest on the often fragile charging plug.\n\nThere is nothing to be found that is negative about this hub, it is rugged and provides 3 AC outlets and 3 USB power ports. The big question is, since it only holds one device at a time, why you would need 3 AC outlets and 3 USB power ports. It's not fair to deduct any points for that because some people may find it perfect for their needs, so considering how well it's made Belkin earns their 4 stars for quality of construction.","Product: Boston Acoustics TVEEONE Surround Sound Slim Soundbar\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Impressive sound, attractive and versatile\n\nReview: When I saw the TVee One I was immediately intrigued. This speaker worker like a champ. The base is sturdy enough to hold up to about a 60\" TV,is low profile and tastefully designed to work well with virtually any decor.\n\nAnd the sound is glorious. Boston Acoustics seems to know how to focus the right amount of sound like it is coming directly right from the TV/monitor screen but still envelop the room with the effect of a multi-channel audio system. For those like me who often refer to Bose speakers as delivering miraculous sound from a small box, these are just as impressive but more natural sounding than Bose's highly processed sound field. Specifically the bass is clean and solid way down low, the highs are bright and sparkling and the mid-range is perfect for dialog and musical vocals.\n\nHere are some features to be aware of:\n\n- There is a row of control buttons along the upper-front panel that double as helpful status lights depending on how many and which of them are illuminated at any given time (they self-dim after a few seconds so as not to distract from watching TV). Kudos that they are angled so they can be seen from both a seated or standing position.\n\n- There is a 5-way built-in equalizer for dialog, music, music wide, movie and movie wide which have a significant effect on the stereo or surround sound effect. The included remote control also has a \"night\" mode to limit the dynamic range for late night listening.\n\n- The speaker has an easy to set up Bluetooth feature built in, a great way to play music from a smartphone or tablet.\n\n- There are two types of optical audio inputs plus an analog input on the rear. The speaker automatically selects the appropriate input and turns itself on and off with the TV (which you can override). All of the necessary cables are included in the box as well as a full-function remote control\n\n- The TVee One has a built-in processor to \"teach\" virtually any type of remote control the various functions, it's as simple as pushing a button\n\n- IMPORTANT: A small difference in how you place the speaker can make a big difference in the sound quality due to the dual ducted ports on the rear. Do NOT push it up against a wall or the sound will be terrible. Also, it is not wise to have a soft surface like curtains behind the speaker. I found a significant difference in sound quality (especially bass) when I moved the speaker forward to 3\" from a hard-surfaced wall from the 2\" where I originally had it. Bottom line: the rear ports have a very big impact on the quality of the sound.\n\nHookup is simple and it has classic restrained styling, no annoying gaudy logos, just a small subtle nameplate. After seeing and hearing it I am now using it coupled with a dedicated network receiver in my den on a lowboy bookcase where it is ideal for listening to morning news and a wide variety of music genres during the day plus I can instantly switch to play Bluetooth audio from my phone or iPad. The unexpectedly good sound and reasonable price earns a solid positive rating.","Product: D-Links mydlink Camera Video Recorder (DNR-202L) captures every moment while youre away. Designed with two USB 2.0 ports (you bring the USB hard drives) you can record video and audio from up to four mydlink-enabled Cloud Cameras. Simultaneously record video and view real-time or playback recorded video from up to your mydlink-enabled cameras. Recorded video is secure and safe with local storage and setup is quick and easy with auto camera discovery and intuitive user interface. Use locally or anywhere with an Internet connection. The free mydlink mobile app and portal provides remote viewing anytime.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Doesn't work as expected\n\nReview: I added this recorder to an existing system of D-Link cameras, all of which work perfectly. However, in almost of month of trying I have not been able to get the recorder to work. I'm pretty high-tech and usually can figure things out but not in this case. I don't want to exaggerate but the installation seems to keep asking for more and more and more software to be downloaded and installed but the actual app that runs it really doesn't confirm anything or give a clue what more it needs to run.\n\nAt this point I'm a bit unsure of the basic concept of needing this plus a hard drive plus dedicated camera to build a video home security system when there are turn-key systems for about the same price that are plug-n-play.\n\nI have been traveling a lot since I got this recorder (hence it would have been nice if it worked) so I have not been able to devote the time to spend on the phone with D-Link so in fairness to them this review will rate it as \"average\" until I get it to work properly at which time I will post a more in-depth review and adjust my rating accordingly. I will note however that based on some of the other reviews this seems to be a recurring issue. I recommend keeping up to date on this and other reviews to see what the resolution is.","Product: This Lightning to USB A charging/sync cable lets you connect you iPhone, iPad, or iPod with Lightning connector to charge your device or sync with your media library.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: A good value other than an odd quirk\n\nReview: The first impressions of Amazon Basics version of the Apple Lightning cable is positive. It is beefier than Apple's version, the plugs at the end are more substantial and of course, it costs a lot less. I have no complaints that it may not work with every possible case that any company could ever make for an Apple product ... that's not realistic and not a reason to downrate it. It works fine with the cases I bought from Anker.\n\nI did experience a quirk that I have been unable to document as to whether it is \"normal\" or \"abnormal\", a comment would be appreciated from someone who may be able to provide some useful feedback. When plugged into a desktop computer that had been used previously with an iPad (using the OEM cable) the computer recognized the iPad as an entirely new device and initiated the \"Welcome to your new iPad\" screen, setting up new profiles, a new backup scheme (which took 30 minutes to complete) and stating that it has now used 3 of the 5 computer connections Apple allows (I only have one desktop computer that the iPad connects to). This is likely due to the unique identity chip that Apple requires to be embedded into the cable. I wonder if Amazon knows about this, as it could be considered a negative for an otherwise fine cable.","Product: The Atlantic Universal Soundbar Bracket is a smart solution to mounting your Soundbar or center speaker directly to your TV. Through an innovative design this unit allows you to have your Soundbar fastened directly below or on top of your TV for optimal listening experience.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: The ONE big difference is well worth it\n\nReview: I took an unusually long time for me to finally decide of the many sound bar brackets available which one to buy. Most of them seem basically similar to each other and the general price range is from about $16 to about $30. My soundbar at 40 is longer than a lot of them and is also heavier than most (its a Denon) and the way the keyholes are made they put a lot of forward weight on whatever they're mounted to. Ive used two different extra heavy duty wall anchors and both times the speaker tore out of the mounts.\n\nI didn't want to mount the soundbar butted right up to the edge of the TV for aesthetic reasons and for that same reason I didn't like that most brackets reveal all of the unattractive adjustment perforated slots/holes if there is any space showing between the soundbar and the TV. Instead, for my purposes I mounted the brackets to the back of my cabinet as shown in the photos rather than to the TVs wall mount. Only the part that actually mounts to my speaker is visible over the top of the cabinet. I used a spacer on the two bolts that slip into the keyhole mounts on my soundbar so I can easily lift it off if I need to get at the connectors. Although my soundbar is quite heavy I can lock the swivel joints of the bracket down using the included Allen wrench. Mounting it floating over the cabinet leaves me enough clearance between the soundbar and my equipment cabinet to slide a DVR, DVD player or other component under the speaker for a very professional finished look.\n\nThe Atlantic bracket is different in two very positive ways:\n\n1. The visible part between the TV and the soundbar is solid metal, not a perforated mounting bracket\n2. But more important, this is the only bracket I have ever found anywhere that allows the soundbar to be adjusted FORWARD and BACKWARD so the front edge can be flush with the front of the TV or the soundbar can jut forward for better sound disbursement. And that one feature is why I bought it.\n\nThe way the forward/backward adjustment works is that the part between what mounts to the soundbar and what mounts to the TV has an articulating hinge. You can easily move the soundbar toward you or away from you (and up and down) depending on your preferences. Another benefit I discovered of that feature is that if your TV mount swivels from side-to-side a soundbar thats wider than the TV will hit the wall, but with this bracket you can scoot the speaker forward so you can swivel the TV without the soundbar hitting the wall.\n\nThe seller calls this a universal bracket and I agree it is very adjustable. It is capable of accommodating mounting holes up to 28 wide which should fit the mounting holes on a large percentage of soundbars. If you mount it to a wall TV mount the vertical bars can be spaced for the VESA mounting holes on every TV made. It seems the common issue some people are having is that they say it doesnt adjust to their speaker. Rather than use fixed screw holes the bracket uses long slots to allow for virtually infinite adjustment.\n\nThe bracket is very solidly constructed completely of metal yet it is not too heavy. Being as solid as it is it does not introduce any vibrations that could affect sound quality. It is at the upper end of what I wanted to pay, but the fore/aft adjustment is absolutely worth it, its surprising what a difference that can make in having the installation look custom vs amateurish.","Product: Sony Digital Camera Screen Protector Foils PCKLM16\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Perfect fit. Cheap insurance for a high quality camera.\n\nReview: I bought this for a Sony A7. I chose this part number because it is the one recommended by Sony for that camera at their website. There is a similar looking screen protector also being sold at Amazon (but does not indicate a model number) that has many more reviews. The reason for that could be it sells for a little less money and is ready for immediate delivery whereas I had to wait almost a month for the PCKLM16. In reading the reviews for the lesser priced protector many reviewers mention the NEX 7 although Amazon lists it as compatible with the A7/R. The screen protector they are reviewing has a small notch cut out of one corner custom made for the NEX 7 whereas the PCKLM16 does not. The PCKLM16 is in authentic Sony packaging with an illustration of an A7/R on the packaging and they are made by Sony in Japan.\n\nI decided to pay more and wait the month for delivery. The product I received is a perfect fit for the A7 and the adhesive appears to be strong. When applied to the camera the protector does not add anything to the size nor weight of the camera. The material is extremely clear and hard enough to give confidence that it will protect the view screen from scratches and nicks. I use a cellphone-like protector on one of my other Sony cameras that works okay as a protector but detracts slightly from the image clarity whereas the PCKLM16 does not.\n\nFor a camera the quality of the A7 a $15 screen protector is a must-have. In time it may need to be replaced but it is cheap insurance against damage. By the way, another must-have is a good clear filter for the lens. The <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Sigma-EX-DG-55mm-Multi-Coated-UV-Filter/dp/B00009R6K1/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">Sigma EX DG 55mm Multi-Coated UV Filter</a> is reasonably priced and well-made.","Product: The directional condenser microphones equipped on the TM-2X are the same mics used in our highly-regarded DR-series recorders. The X-Y pattern and two mic capsules are ideal for capturing a true representation of the sonic atmosphere, whether it's sound from a wide area or directly in front of the camera. As a result, the TM-2X records pristine sound that fits naturally with the recorded video. High audio quality while handling high sound pressuresTascam continues to develop recording devices that focus on the design of the analog circuits behind the mic capsules. As a result, the TM-2X achieves a high performance rating and a frequency response of 50 Hz to 20 kHz. The TM-2X is also designed with the capacity to handle high sound pressures up to 120 dB SPL to prevent distortion even in loud scenarios. Stereo mini plug output for simple and direct camera connection Setup is as simple as connecting the cord from the TM-2X to the camera's mic input jack allowing you to add high-quality audio to video. The output can be set to one of two levels to enable compatibility with a variety of cameras.Floating structure for less handling noiseThe floating support structure underneath the mics absorbs unwanted handling noise and sounds from cameras' mechanics. Noise isolation arm includedWhen capturing video using changeable auto-focus lenses, the sounds produced from the lens itself can disrupt and interfere with recordings. In situations where this noise is a problem, you can reduce the interruptions by using the included noise isolation arm. The noise isolation arm physically increases the distance from the noise source to reduce its capture. The structure of the arm, including its length and height, was developed through extensive testing.Low-cut filter eliminates unwanted low frequenciesThe unit includes an on-board low-cut filter to cut out low-frequency background noise. Depending on the video recording scenario, you can choose to turn this feature on or off (\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: A perfect acessory for a DSLR camera\n\nReview: <div id=\"video-block-R37Y4STMJ9S8TK\" class=\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\"></div><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/A1h3C7fc%2BXS.mp4\" class=\"video-url\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61JK2iR2gxS.png\" class=\"video-slate-img-url\">TEAC/Tascam is one of a handful of companies that has a long history in audio recorders and microphones. Today, such products certainly are not built as robustly as they were 20 - 30 years ago and for an exacting professional it is hard to get past today's plastic construction to take products like this seriously. Oddly, despite not even being remotely as well made as old school audio products, improvements in circuitry and manufacturing techniques can deliver products with remarkably good performance at a reasonable price.\n\nSo with an open mind, and considering what kinds of applications a microphone like the TM-2X is intend for, does it amaze or disappoint? The attached video was made the first day I got the mic, I will take some time to do a better video soon. A few things to listen for (ignore the bad video quality) is the air was very calm that day but yet there is a ton of wind noise. That's not surprising. The included \"mouse\" will make for much more pleasing outdoor audio. Also note that the guitar player was well off-axis and the man on stage was playing the flute very softly at quite a distance from me. The sound imagery under those conditions is quite impressive. Also, I purposely shook, tapped and bumped the handheld camera to see how the isolation mount would handle it. So you might say this example is a worst-case scenario. Look for some future videos in which I will shoot under some better controlled conditions.\n\nFirst off, the microphone is clearly designed to be attached to such devices as DSLR's which have video recording capability, a built-in accessory shoe and a powered stereo microphone input jack. To a lesser degree this would make a good add-on microphone for lower-end dedicated digital camcorders (the better ones likely would have their own microphones at least as good if not better than the TM-2X). What makes it a good match for digital still cameras (when used as a video camera) is that it is rare to find any digital camera with a good built-in microphone, let alone any with a true X-Y pattern.\n\nThe product includes a Noise Isolation Arm to suspend the sound elements about 6\" forward to reduce the chance of picking up mechanical noises from the camera body and lens, a Floating Support Structure which does what it sounds like (isolating the microphone from the mount and camera body using a rubber device that literally floats the mic from the frame, virtually eliminating the physical transmission of noises from physical contact with the camera) and a Furry Windscreen which greatly reduces the effect of wind across the face of the microphone grills. The hardware is virtually all plastic, but not flimsy, for example the isolation arm has understructure bracing like a well-engineered bridge.\n\nThe microphone elements themselves are adjustable vertically (but not horizontally) to permit recording sounds that are mostly forward, mostly ambient and exclusively ambient. Think of forward being the recording of something like a band where you want to place the sound in the same relative position as what the video sees. Ambient would be more like recording a passing parade where you want to also include crowd sounds and the general atmosphere of the event for which you might point the mic elements up or down to take advantage of reflected sound. By adjusting to positions in between you can tailor the relative amount of ambience to the amount of forward sound. Tascam makes a point that the actual pickup elements are identical to what they use in their dedicated DR series digital recorders.\n\nThe TM-2X has two switches, one is a low-cut filter to reduce the boominess of a live room or further reduce wind noise and the other a hi/low sensitivity switch which acts essentially as a volume control in situations where the sound is excessively loud. The cable terminates in a stereo mini plug which is compatible with the majority of digital cameras (and also many small stereo recorders) and Tascam thoughtfully provides several built-in cable clips to assure mechanical noise is not transmitted up the cable to the microphone. Note that this microphone is not internally powered but can be powered from most DSLR and digicams through the stereo mini plug.\n\nTested with a very high-end digital camera recording a 4K video at a live highly percussive entertainment event the audio quality is very impressive and can rival a sophisticated multi-microphone setup when played back though a quality audio system. Highs were crisp and tingly, lows were clean and authoritative and the important mid-range audio for vocals snapped through clearly and well-positioned. However, a caveat ... I recorded in an outdoor environment at which I thought here would be zero wind noise so I did not use the fluffy mouse. I was so wrong. The mic elements are so sensitive they howled at the very slightest amount of breeze. I highly recommend kicking in the low-pass filter and using the included fluffy mouse anytime you record outdoors.\n\nFor under $130, if you are at all interested in improving the audio quality of your DSLR, this is a must-have microphone that is also very small and portable. While it may not amaze in the same league as expensive studio microphones, for its intended use it is a 5-star accessory.","Product: Print Fully qualified Bluetooth 4.2 IEEE802.11ac standards compliant Antenna to support WLAN 2Tx2R transmission High speed wireless connection up to 867 Mbps Bluetooth Enhances Data Rate (EDR) support\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: It may not work for everyone\n\nReview: The idea behind the design of this card is terrific, a wifi card that theoretically can process wireless data at some of the highest speeds available in todays high end routers combined with a Bluetooth card that is compatible with the newest standards. It all sounds good on paper. But does it work? I really wanted it to. I have a powerful graphics-quality business grade computer that I use in my home office. It has tons of expandability but no available internal USB ports. And unfortunately this card requires being plugged in to an internal USB port. That doesnt seem to be the best design, I don't know what percentage of desktop computers have an available internal USB port but clearly not all of them. I tried looping a short cable to an external USB port and when I powered the computer up, this card sent an error message to my BIOS equivalent to what I would get if I didn't properly remove a USB storage device like a thumb drive. And thats the problem ... BIOS won't let Windows load thinking there is a bootable device in place, even if I changed my settings to only boot from the Windows partition of drive 0.\n\nSo, in a nutshell what Im saying is whether this adapter works for you may be hit or miss. It obviously works for some users so I cant ding them as if the product is unusable but yet I feel its because of their questionable choice of requiring their card to be plugged in to a USB port that some users will be left out in the cold. I was one of them and I had to send the card back, after spending many hours trying to get it to work. And that is why I believe the product earns the rating it got.","Product: If you are looking for a dashcam full of personality the P1 Pro is the perfect choice. Complete with a light reminder, driver fatigue warning, and stop and go this device will help you reach your destination safely and in style. The G-Sensor will back up that important file when an impact occurs. It loops over old footage and continuously records while plugged into the car lighter outlet. Able to switch between 720p or 1080p HD 30 fps at 130 Degree angle footage you can create images through snapshots and video at different resolutions. The wide dynamic range will provide you with crystal clear images in low-light conditions. If you want to stand out with a swanky dashcam the P1 Pro is the choice for you.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Comprehensive testing and evaluation review\n\nReview: <div id=\"video-block-R17YOHHVMXT27W\" class=\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\"></div><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/E1%2B-fNG1uMS.mp4\" class=\"video-url\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/01Qj6Bc2SKS.png\" class=\"video-slate-img-url\">Dash cams are almost as common as cell phones in many developed countries in the world, but are virtually unknown in the U.S. other than a few You Tube videos that have gone viral (usually from Russia). Think when the last time you saw an ad for a dash cam on TV or in a magazine. Never? Yet it is such a useful device one would think it would be standard equipment in every car made.\n\nWhat is a dash cam? In its traditional form it is a small TV camera that mounts to a vehicle's windshield and records everything it sees in front of (and sometimes behind) the vehicle. It continually records, usually long enough for close to a full day's worth of driving, and then like a home security camera, automatically records over itself. Usually other than placing it on the windshield and turning it on most people never think about it. Until, that is, they are involved in an accident and their dash cam can be valuable proof for insurance claims and police reports. Most dash cams kick into a \"don't erase this\" mode automatically if there is a significant impact to trigger the sensor. And most dash cams also record sound, which can be useful in helping to determine cause, like the screeching of brakes or a horn blowing.\n\nI tested the Papago P2 PRO for an article I was writing for Tech Toy Playground. Here are some of the highlights.\n\nPapago! is a very new brand in a crowded field of manufacturers of dash cams. Right out of the gate they have some notable qualities that set them apart. While there are very few well-known brand names in the dash cam business (and those companies are barely a blip on the radar as far as sales go), Papago joins a long list of companies that sell dash cams for as low as $20 and as high as $400. Their products look different from the slightly odd shapes that are common for this type of product ... more robust, utilitarian and business-like but they also top the list when it comes to features and benefits and usability.\n\nThey are one of the few, if not the only, dash cam manufacturer to have a full presence in the U.S., with American-based people that understand the domestic market. That is one of several reasons I discovered that I believe will propel this newcomer company to the forefront of the dash cam industry and help redefine what the product does and what non-traditional potentials it holds. The manufacturer was very helpful to me in preparing this review with detailed responses to my questions while I was evaluating the unit that I received directly from their company.\n\nStarting with specs, I won't repeat what is published on this product page but will highlight the things that differentiate Papago! (the exclamation point is part of their name) from other brands.\n\nFEATURES:\n\n- GPS digital mapping\n- Wide dynamic range for great nighttime video\n- Lane departure system (exclusive) - warns you if you leave your driving lane\n- Stop and Go (exclusive) - honks at you if you're still stopped after the car in front pulls away\n- Front collision warning system (exclusive) - beeps at you if you are approaching the car in front too fast\n- Driver fatigue alarm (exclusive) - helps keep you awake on long trips\n- Light reminder (exclusive) - reminds you to turn your lights on at night\n- Built in speed camera alert (exclusive) - lets you know of known speed camera locations\n\nLet's face reality, dash cams haven't caught on yet in the U.S. I can think of a few reasons, one being that most people don't think they would ever need one until after an accident at which they are not at fault but face increased insurance rates and a long legal battle. The other is they may have tried a dash cam and found the video quality was unusable. And third, they were turned off by the unfortunate lack of \"real\" reviews (yes this seems to be an industry ripe with suspiciously glowing reviews about no-name products) and found there was an incredible lack of information from offshore sellers.\n\nAs far as styling, well, Papago! stands alone in a field of sometimes strangely shaped dash cams. My first impression is that it looks exactly like one of those video monitors they used to have hanging down from the ceiling in high school science lab before flat screens came along. The shape is very practical, with the part that faces the driver being almost entirely \"TV screen\". The lens points out the front and is well recessed to avoid fingerprints on it. It is also reasonably shielded from the sun's rays by upper and lower eyelids. One thing that Papago! thought of that some other manufacturers don't understand is that the lens part that faces the windshield is matte black with no chrome or bright trim. There are a surprising number of other dash cams that have s bright chrome trim around the lens, which reflects in the windshield and distorts the video image. Of course the bright chrome trim also attracts attention to the camera.\n\nThe monitor screen is also coated to avoid glare. The camera's housing is a heavier than usual grade of plastic, very glossy black. Looking in through the grills on the side it looks like there is a metal chassis inside. Mounting is via a hanging gimbal mount that adjusts (and locks) vertically which in turn is attached to a ball & socket connected to a suction mount with locking tab. All of the operational controls (4 of them) are mounted under the monitor screen and operated with a tactile click. The left side has the SD card slot and a slide power switch that covers the SD card when in the \"on\" position to prevent the card from being removed. The right side has the mini UBS power connector (note it is NOT the micro sized connector used for most new smartphones, the mini size is more common for car accessories like GPS units). Finally there is a HDMI connector. The bottom has a microphone and an unusually large audio speaker. The layout is the simplest and easiest to use I have ever seen and after the first few minutes the use of an instruction manual is no longer necessary.\n\nThe camera is packaged with a cigarette lighter power cord, but not with a necessary (and optional) SD card. Maximum capacity is 32 GB which will record 6 hours before erasing over itself. Operation is simple and menu driven. Plug it in, follow the instructions and drive.\n\nWHAT IS LACKING\n\nThe most obvious missing thing is any sort of quick-release. That is unfortunate because no one should leave a camera like this in view when they are not actually in the vehicle, even for a short time. That means unsticking the suction cup each and every time, which can lead to premature wear and tear. As far as dash cams go this one is on the larger side, definitely not something you will stick in your pocket. I would have liked to see some sort of flannel bag to put the camera into when it's removed and stored in the accessory compartment of my vehicle. Other desirable missing features are a large easy to find button to put the camera into a \"do not delete\" mode after an incident (there is a button to do that but it looks the same as the other menu buttons).\n\nSpeaking of the suction cup, there was a concern or two about how well it would stick. First off, you can't expect to attach any suction cup to a vehicle windshield without cleaning the area first. Windshields are always coated with a film caused by the plastics and chemicals in the vehicle so the area must be cleaned with a good window cleaner or rubbing alcohol. I asked Papago! about that concern and they advised that they have redesigned the suction mount and they will work with owners who may have the old mount. During my testing I practically had to pry the mount off, it didn't look like it could fall off by itself.\n\nDIFFERENCE BETWEEN P2 PRO and P3\n\nThese are identical models with one exception. The P3 has a real time GPS display. Well sort of. When switched to GPS mode you can roughly make out where you are on a map display, but it has none of the route planning, turn-by-turn directions, or any other feature of a full GPS unit. For the extra cost I would say there is no compelling reason to opt for it ... there are so many excellent GPS units (including built in to most smartphones) it is better to keep the functions of the two devices completely separate.\n\nSUMMARY:\n\nWhile a quick Amazon search will reveal dozens of brand names for dash cams, many of them are hardly above the toy level and have no customer service support in the U.S. Those that do have recognized brand names on them are priced high and some appear to simply be a no-name unit with a brand-name logo attached. Papago! has a history in dash cams and is committed to supporting the U.S. market with a local presence. They have several unique and useful features that are unique to Papago! Here is a summary of the pros and cons of the P2/P3 model:\n\nPROS:\n\n- Good quality of construction\n- Good video quality day and night\n- Very easy to use\n- U.S. customer service support\n- Several unique useful features not found in other brands\n- Reasonable price\n\nCONS:\n\n- No quick release mount\n- Large physical size\n\nFor those reasons I am rating it as not-quite-perfect with 4.5 stars rounded up to 5-stars and recommend it as a model to give serious consideration to.\n\nOTHER BENEFITS:\n\nThere is something beyond the obvious with dash cams that is taking a while to catch on, likely because only in some countries will people use a dash cam for anything other than the extremely rare instances of catching an accident and using the evidence in their favor. That is the spontaneity of having a camera record your travels and adventures to share with your friends and family. For me it has been driving impossible trails, streams and off-road terrain in search of places where other people never go. It has been the unexpected sighting of a spectacular falling meteorite over a beachfront road or a herd of elk crossing the road in a remote forest. Yes, a dash cam can be used to memorialize road trip events that no one would ever believe later on. Frankly I would own one just for that reason and it would be worth every penny, with the \"insurance\" value placed as second.\n\nIn the attached video you can see some real-life day and night footage as well as a quick tour around town for distant relatives. But note that the video quality is not as good as what comes out of the camera because of the heavy compression Amazon uses when you post a video.","Product: Enjoy superior sound while easily steaming music with built-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and AirPlay. With 7.2 channels & 165 watts of power, driven by the largest capacitors and transformer in its class, its legendary Sony sound that really connects. Featuring 4K resolution pass-through and upscaling, high-res audio compatibility, 10 HD inputs and support for 2 separate powered zones, this receiver is the ultimate high resolution sound stage for your music, Blu-ray movies, games and more\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: So, is it a 1-star or a 5-star?\n\nReview: <div id=\"video-block-RFOGUIYRVAK32\" class=\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\"></div><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/D1BoP%2BYpxUS.mp4\" class=\"video-url\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/11htNCs0Z0S.png\" class=\"video-slate-img-url\"> I have never taken so long to write a review - a full 5 months. It was necessary to live with this receiver in a real-life everyday living environment, listening to a wide variety of what I would normally listen to for me to offer a review that is useful to others. I have rarely swung so wide between giving any product a 1-star or a 5-star. I have never been so torn while reading reviews from people who either love this receiver or think it is junk.\n\nI work hard at writing detailed and very honest reviews and I was not about to be coerced into throwing a rating number at this product until I really had time to live with it and learn its pros and cons. What you are about to read is real life ... I have a long background in consumer electronics and have personally owned some of the top-rated products in hi-fi history. I don't take the quality of sound I hear out of an electronic device lightly.\n\nNote that there is a video attached to this review to give an overview of the unpacking experience and a close-up of the controls and ports. It is not intended to review the performance of the receiver.\n\nINITIAL EXPERIENCE\n\nI don't know how much the look and feel of a media component means but as far back as earliest days of radio and phonographs design has been a crucial part of sound equipment marketing. Note that when it comes to multi-channel media receivers there is hardly a tiny variance from the accepted \"look\" of a black box with a brushed aluminum (or aluminum-look) faceplate. There must be the expected large black knob(s). The LCD display is located in exactly the same location on almost every brand. The size and shape are virtually identical from brand-to-brand. In the retail shelf-space you won't find silver-faced units anymore. No wood grain. No white. No red. No green. All of those would be the kiss of death on retail shelves. So the Sony meets expectations here. Not that what it looks like has anything to do with how it sounds or functions. It simply looks like most other receivers.\n\nQUALITY OF DESIGN & USABILITY\n\nThe front panel is scarce. A personal disappointment is that the faceplate is made of plastic and shows fingerprints a lot. Even cheaper units from the competition use extruded aluminum. The user is barely aware that there are buttons along the entire width of the LCD display. Most people will never use them. There are two large heavy round knobs that have that smooth feel that Yamaha introduced many years ago, and they feel great. One is to control sound volume, which some people may use occasionally. The other is the input selector, which is rendered redundant and obsolete by Sony's simple and easy to use remote control. There are also a couple of front panel inputs that most people will rarely use but it's nice having them there. The rear panel is very pared down compared to most 7.1 receivers. On the negative side the speaker terminals are so tightly crammed together it is virtually impossible to connect bare-end speaker wires. Do yourself a favor and opt for banana plugs. There are plenty of HDMI inputs and two HDMI outputs but from there this receiver falls downhill when it comes to analog and optical inputs and outputs. And the assignability of the few that exist is tightly regulated by the manufacturer. Sony obviously lives in a HDMI-only world. One simple thing I miss is the old-school switchable AC accessory power plug on the back. So cheap to have included and easy to give us ... and so missed.\n\nFUNCTIONALITY\n\nCompared to its competition and earlier generation Sony products the on-screen-display (OSD) is brilliant and deserves tremendous praise. It is always ready to go at a button's press to display on your TV and is clean, simple, easy to read and for the most part, covers almost any setup function you wish to perform. It almost totally makes up for a remote control that has the most minimalistic buttons since your grandfather's Zenith TV. There are a few things that required reading the manual but not many, from everything I've seen Sony's OSD is best in class.\n\nThe remote itself is pretty good. Being that the buttons are assignable I wish Sony had found a way of letting the user custom label them instead of printing arbitrary and sometimes confusing designation on the button caps. There's not much to this remote ... a few assignable buttons, a basic transport control and a very basic volume/mute control. That's it. And after a while using it, I don't miss the 83 buttons of my previous receiver's remote. Having already said that the buttons on the remote are assignable, with so few of them I would have liked to be able to assign some functions that are not possible, like direct access to favorite sound fields. And using internet radio is a multi-step process that requires the on-screen TV display each time ... there is no way to simply press one button on the remote and resume listening to a favorite internet radio channel. But to be fair, most competitive receivers are also not ready for prime time when it comes to understanding how to implement internet radio.\n\nHOW DOES IT SOUND?\n\nThis is why I got it. My old receiver had close to most of the features I need other than network radio and wifi connectivity. I've never thought of Sony as being in the same league and some of the long-respected godfathers of audio and my past experiences with similar Sony products has been not that great. My old receiver (an expensive, top of line, Onkyo 7.1 receiver) never sounded \"great\" from the first day out of the box. Coupled with my Mirage 7.1 speakers and 2 ultra-bass JBL subwoofers my old receiver just sounded weak and puny. Every frequency sounded forced and everyday TV just sounded, okay being honest, like a TV with a 3\" speaker. I can't test every brand and model out there but I will say this. After 3-4 calibration resets I got the sound out of my new Sony receiver to be gut-wrenching, drawer-dropping knock-your-socks off amazing. And that's on every source up to the highest definition audio I could toss at it. As much as Sony leaves me wanting when it comes to operation and functionality I will say this to you ... it makes sound come alive! Now a purist should expect the sound from an amplifier to be uncolored. Not only isn't that a reality with most modern sound equipment, our tastes have changed over the years and have been influenced by what we hear in theaters and concerts. We want our sound to please us, not give us 100% faithful reproduction. And I assure you that the Sony delivers pleasing sound.\n\nSUMMARY\n\nThis is a powerful receiver, well suited for use with a good matched set of speakers. I realize that the volume \"numbers\" are relative and vary from brand to brand but just to give you an idea, my usual listening position with the Sony is between 20-30, whereas with the Onkyo it was between 50-60. At that high of a volume setting it was inevitable to hear hum and other electronic noise. With the Sony you can hold the speakers to your ears like headphones (with no music playing obviously) and hear zero electronically-induced noise.\n\nNEGATIVES:\n\nAre there negatives? Yes and they can be frustrating. Sony's idea of a user manual is for you to go to a website, where it is available in interactive form. Even at that, for an item like a sophisticated receiver, the manual is sketchy and does not explain in-depth what some features and functions do. Another negative is that a few times it has simply forgotten what it is doing and locked up. Not shut down (like from overheating) but locked up all of the control and stopped producing sound. Unplugging it for a few hours has reset it (so far) but then it is a pain to go through the entire setup and sound balancing process again. In 5 months that has happened 3 times. And I'll reiterate that the quantity and versatility of analog and digital inputs and outputs (other than plenty of HDMI connections) is less than expected for the price.\n\nBOTTOM LINE:\n\nIf I rated this receiver solely on sound quality and nothing else (and after all that is its primary job) I would give it 5-stars. If I rated it on everyday ease of use it would also get 5-stars. But if I rated it on versatility and dependability, based on my experience, it would be hard to give it much more than 1-star - it doesn't outshine any other brand that I've seen or used. But I am happy with it and combined with my Mirage speakers the sound is awesome, so a fair final rating all things considered is 4-stars.","Product: The Gauntlet 3 SuperSpeed USB 3.0 2.5-inch external hard drive enclosure merges the speed and performance of USB 3.0 and SATA 3 technology with an Ultra durable and lightweight form factor. Simply install (plug-and-play) any 2.5 SATA I/II/III HDD or SSD for blisteringly fast data transfers -- up to 10X the data transfer rate of Hi-Speed USB 2.0 and 2X faster than SATA2 technology.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Strong, lightweight and protective\n\nReview: I own several similar enclosures designed for 2.5 drives (sometimes called laptop drives). Of them this one is in the middle as far as overall size. One of them is highly ruggedized for travel and the other is smooth and rounded to easily fit in a pocket. The Patriot Gauntlet 3 combines some of the better features of my other enclosures but is lacking in some other ways.\n\nThe enclosure itself is an aluminum sleeve. It is easily stronger overall than any of the ones that have a plastic shell. The drive mounts into a plastic tray that slides into the sleeve. This has an advantage in helping absorb impact shock and helping to insulate the drive a bit. The plastic tray will hold both HDD and SSD drives. I am using it with a Patriot SSD and the fit (as you would expect) is absolutely perfect, so much so that you can skip screwing it in if you plan to swap the drive regularly. The drive slides in at an angle and mates with the fixed receptacle/PCB. When used with a Patriot drive the installation process is extremely easy. If you wish to remove the drive the process is just as easy simply insert a small pointed object (pencil, jewelers screwdriver, etc) into the hole in the bottom of the tray and pop the drive out.\n\nBoth ends of the plastic tray are exposed after it is slid into the aluminum sleeve. One end of the tray is perforated for ventilation and the other has a USB 3.0 port and a relatively large (and bright) blue LED drive status light. The kit comes with 4 screws to mount the drive to the tray (optional) and 2 screws to hold the tray inside the aluminum sleeve (required). A nice touch is that the plastic tray has two tiny brass ferrules to screw into so it can be opened and closed repeatedly. A jewelers screwdriver is included, which is the perfect size to use to pop the drive out of the tray if you need to. Finally, a heavy-duty USB cable is included; the 18 length is pretty common for drive enclosures of this type.\n\nAddressing some concerns about dependability, frankly theres not much to be concerned about. The case is essentially passive, in other words there is not much there to fail. Those users reporting failure might be more likely have an issue with their drive, not the enclosure. Likewise those who could not get their drive to work (i.e. be recognized by their computer). This is not a fault of the case, nor of the drive but because bare drives are generally shipped unformatted. This is common, and an easy task to format (and partition) the drive to suit the users individual needs.\n\nThe only negative I have about the Patriot Gauntlet 3 enclosure is the bold and gaudy logo and graphics painted onto the aluminum sleeve. I don't have the need to advertise the brand and model of something after I already bought and paid for it. The graphics on this case are particularly ugly and I would have strongly preferred that there was no logo at all.\n\nPatriot provided a sample for me to evaluate and share an honest opinion with no expectation of preferential treatment. I rated it 5-stars despite the graphics because that is a personal preference that has nothing to do with performance. The product itself is superior to anything I have yet to run across in this price range.","Product: Wirelessly Stream Music In Genuine Hi-Fi Quality With the Large HEOS 7 Wireless Speaker: Hear Everything From Internet Radio to Services Such as Pandora, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Rhapsody, and More Five Drivers, Five Dedicated Amplifiers, Dual-Band Wi-Fi, and DSP Processing Guide the HEOS 7 Wireless Speaker and Produce Tremendous Bass, Mammoth Sound, and Lively Dynamics Tailored to liven up even the biggest spaces with room-filling music, the largeHEOS 7 wireless speakermakes music come alive in vibrant, full-range, hi-fi sound that features genuinely deep bass and a punchy midrange. Able to stream music from a plethora of sources, including smartphones, tablets, USB sticks, NAS drives, and the entire spectrum of Internet radio and music services such asSpotify, Pandora, Rhapsody, iHeartRadio andTuneIn,HEOS 7supplies big, open spaces such as open-floor areas, patios, and living rooms with big, clear, loud sound. Because of the superb user interface and simple setup, you'll be listening to music seconds after you remove HEOS 7 from the box. Dual-band Wi-Fi, five drivers, five dedicated amplifiers, two passive radiators, and DSP processing do the rest. You can even add more HEOS components to the system, group them together, and enjoy multi-room sound. Backed by our60-Day Satisfaction Guarantee! What HEOS Is and How It Works Wireless multi-room sound has finally evolved to meet audiophile standards. IntroducingHEOS,a cutting-edge wireless system that fills any room with phenomenal sound from your digital music sources. Bolstered by dual-band 802.11n Wi-Fi for long range and extra bandwidth, HEOS connects to your existing Wi-Fi network and can be placed anywhere. No bridging device or new equipment required. HEOS Means Plenty of Options and Easy User Interface You can choose one of three different-sized standalone speakers; the optional HEOS Extend even expands wireless reach to every part of your home.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Went from 5-star to 2-star then 5-star again - read why\n\nReview: <div id=\"video-block-RLLFCKZBQO8PK\" class=\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\"></div><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/D1JZj3shyOS.mp4\" class=\"video-url\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/0167VS7eQeS.png\" class=\"video-slate-img-url\"> My review for this speaker started as a 5-star rave and spiraled downward to a 2-star before bouncing back again to 5-stars. It is important to realize why this is the case, as the majority of reviews are never updated after they are written. It is always a good practice whenever shopping online to make a point of reading the most recent reviews because the design and performance of a product often changes. For this product that could not have been truer.\n\nMany of the older reviews make a major point of discussing the issues of the HEOS series (not just this one model) with not being able to pair with your source (usually a smartphone) and then not being able to do so time after time. Regardless of how good this speaker looks or sounds, that inability to stay \"connected\" was the kiss of death for the entire HEOS series - to the point I gave up and stopped even trying.\n\nFortunately the manufacturer, Denon, didn't stop trying. After numerous failed attempts to update the software and firmware (and a tenacious effort to stay in personal contact with me and work through the issues) I am pleased to report that my HEOS products now work as they should ... first time and all the time. Please take that into account when you read the older reviews and if you were one of the original reviewers like I was, it may be time to download the latest fixes to your older product.\n\nNow that my HEOS system works as it should, here is a condensed version of my initial testing and evaluation and why at the time I felt it earned 5-stars, and why I raised this update back up to 5-stars.\n\nThe HEOS 7 looks and sounds like a WOW out of the box perform impressively whether the sound source is the delicate pluck of a violin string or the gut-rattling thump of urban rap. There are no mincing words or hedging specs, Denon went out hunting for bear with the HEOS 7 and they ended up with a product that both looks and sounds amazing.\n\nIt should be made clear that I am not a Denon groupie; in fact this is the first Denon product I've ever owned. Like most of us I have my personal brand preferences but I try to whisk preferences aside in a quest to be as objective as possible about a sound product's ability to produce musical goosebumps. This speaker does that in a most marvelous way.\n\nLet's be fair, this is a LARGE speaker, far larger than I expected. 8\" high x 19\" wide by 6.5\" deep. Yes that large. It is something that may likely be put in a particular location and stay put from then on.\n\nCompounded is the fact that Denon chose not to incorporate any sort of handle to carry this beast around. It is portable in the loosest sense of the word. That evidently is by design, as the speaker is AC only, no battery power available.\n\nDenon, for almost $700 chose not to incorporate some features that are pretty commonplace in speakers these days. Like Bluetooth and Airplay, two of the most common features of portable speakers. Additionally, there is no separate remote control. You can buy a 3rd party Bluetooth dongle and connect it to the AUX input. That being said, in order to select the AUX input but you will need to have a network connection to do this because at this time HEOS is only operable when connected to a network with an Android or iOS device using the HEOS app to control it. If there is one thing I would suggest to them regarding the design it would be to recess the connectors on the rear deeper into the cabinet. If you try to place the speaker on a wall shelf as it is now it won't fit flush against the wall because the power (and any other) connectors have to protrude at least an inch straight out from the rear of the cabinet.\n\nIncluded with the speaker is an AC power brick, a short stereo mini-to-mini cable and a short Ethernet cable. And a very brief instruction manual. The instructions are to download the HEOS app, plug your iOS or Android device into the speaker using the stereo cable and push a button to sync them. From that point you use your device (smartphone or tablet) to turn the speaker on and control the volume. The speaker turns off automatically when there is no sound for 20 minutes and goes into deep sleep whenever the wired or wireless network connection is removed for more than 60 minutes. To completely turn off the power to the speaker you must remove the power plug from the back of the speaker.\n\nThe only major controls on the speaker are up/down volume and a mute button. You select the source (the built-in Spotify, Rhapsody, TuneIn, and Pandora or play-from-device from the app installed on your phone or tablet). There is a bass/treble adjustment control in the app's settings but none on the speaker itself.\n\nAs this is a home network speaker it is not possible to use it wirelessly where you don't have network capability (for example, using Bluetooth or Airplay) and for the most part it would be impractical to take to a party unless your host is willing to give you their network password and let you log on or you connect the speaker using the AUX input. If you don't have a wired or wireless home network this may not be the speaker for you without additional accessories.\n\nThe sound stage is quite broad considering this is a single speaker rather than a pair of stereo speakers. There is none of that artificially processed sound that so many mini speakers have. The speaker does produce stereo sound from the single enclosure with 5 active drivers, including 2 precision tweeters, 2 mid woofers, 1 subwoofer, plus 2 passive radiators to provide additional bass response.\n\nThe HEOS 7 sounds great but has some limitations for its price. It is intended to be used on a home network with your phone or tablet being the source. My home has 2 new network receivers serving 4 zones. Ideally I would like this speaker to wander with me to various rooms, plug it in and have it play what's playing in the other zones, something that is possible but not without a $350 accessory, the new HEOS Link which from what I know at this point could make HEOS an incredibly powerful wireless multi-room audio system.\n\nInitially I was concerned that I would have to dedicate my phone or iPad as a source thereby tying them up from their intended purpose all day. In truth you don't need to tie up your mobile device while using HEOS. Your mobile device will simply act as a controller to select the source. HEOS players actually directly connect to your streaming services and network attached storage. You can actually turn off your mobile device and music will continue to play, the only obvious exception being if the source playing is music that's stored on the mobile device. For example after I choose a network radio station I completely shut down the app and even leave the house with my device and the HEOS continues to play. The only way to stop the sound is to use the \"mute\" button on the speaker or to press the stop button on the music source (i.e. Pandora, TuneIn, etc.)\n\nBack to the one and only reason most people buy speakers ... the sound. My HEOS 7 has ended up in my home office, replacing a set of high-end bookshelf speakers and a subwoofer. For now I am driving it from TuneIn and playing a diverse playlist of Jazz, Classical, New Age, and Urban music among others. As Denon recommends the speaker is across the room from me at ear level. It fills the room with direct and reflected sound making it hard to pinpoint a single source of the sound. Each instrument sounds real, not recorded. Forgetting brand, price, how it operates and everything else the quality of sound performance is at connoisseur level.\n\nThe HEOS apps for iOS and Android are virtually identical to each other and intuitive. If you install it on one device (which requires a temporary hard-wire connection) it will automatically set itself up on your additional devices. It lacks only one important feature which is a dedicated \"favorites\" button for network radio stations on the main screen, a feature I have come to love on my Marantz network receiver. Marantz, by the way, is owned by the same company as Denon.\n\nSUMMARY:\n\nThe \"pros\" of the HEOS 7 are overwhelmingly positive starting with simply amazing sound. I would buy one for every room in the house on that basis alone. It is also beautiful to look at while at the same time being very unobtrusive. And it is exceptionally easy to use, not a claim easily made by some of the newer home entertainment products. The \"cons\" are very minor ... the lack of a dedicated \"favorites\" button and the fact that when you plug in an AUX source it shuts of the network input (my Boston Acoustics speaker automatically switches between AUX and A. Boston Acoustics by the way is also owned by the same company as Denon ... see a trend?) Finally under \"cons\" is the frustration that due to the lack of Bluetooth or Airplay I can't watch a YouTube video on my iPad and send the sound to the HEOS 7.\n\nBecause the speaker does such an outstanding job at what it was designed to do, none of the \"cons\" are significant enough to cause the HEOS 7 to be rated at less than a solid 5-stars which it earns on sound quality alone.\n\n[NOTE] the accompanying video is intended to illustrate the unpacking experience and what's in the box. There is a short musical excerpt from my iPad playlist, however no speaker should be judged by a video recording, there are too many variables to draw any valid conclusions.","Product: Wirelessly Stream Music In Genuine Hi-Fi Quality With the Mid-Sized HEOS 5 Wireless Speaker: Hear Everything From Smartphone Content to Internet Radio, Pandora, Spotify, Rhapsody, iHeartRadio and More Four Drivers, Four Dedicated Amplifiers, Dual-Band Wi-Fi, and DSP Processing Guide the HEOS 5 Wireless Speaker and Yield Deep Bass, Full-Range Sound, and Wowing Dynamics The mid-sizedHEOS 5 wireless speaker makes music come alive in rich, vibrant, full-range, hi-fi sound that features genuinely deep bass and a punchy midrange. Able to stream music from a plethora of sources, including smartphones, tablets, USB sticks, NAS drives, and the entire spectrum of Internet radio and music services such as Spotify, Pandora, Rhapsody, iHeartRadio and TuneIn, HEOS 5 occupies a compact footprint but delivers big sonics that don't shirk on dynamics or clarity. Because of the superb user interface and simple setup, you'll be listening to music seconds after you remove HEOS 5 from the box. Dual-band Wi-Fi, four drivers, four dedicated amplifiers, and DSP processing do the rest. You can even add more HEOS components to the system, group them together, and enjoy multi-room sound. Backed by our 60-Day Satisfaction Guarantee! What HEOS Is and How It Works Wireless multi-room sound has finally evolved to meet audiophile standards. Introducing HEOS, a cutting-edge wireless system that fills any room with phenomenal sound from your digital music sources. Bolstered by dual-band 802.11n Wi-Fi for long range and extra bandwidth, HEOS connects to your existing Wi-Fi network and can be placed anywhere. No bridging device or new equipment required. HEOS Means Plenty of Options and Easy User Interface You can choose one of three different-sized standalone speakers; the optional HEOS Extend even expands wireless reach to every part of your home.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Heos 5 as part of a full wireless system\n\nReview: I have an all-Heos home. When I first started the project of seeking multi-room audio it was a nightmare of convoluted wiring (my home is an open floor plan and the wires had to be run around the exterior and holes punched into the walls where the speakers were). Then the switching system so I could hear the same or different audio in each room requires a $2000 switchbox and even more wiring and hole punching. And even then I was limited to what my main sound system could feed out to the remote speakers.\n\nBluetooth and other wireless speakers just didn't work any more than a short distance from the sound source. Then internet-based speaker technology came along and I jumped in with both feet. There were some benefits but the speakers looked dorky and were fine for background music but they weren't exactly audiophile grade.\n\nMy first exposure to the Denon Heos system got me hooked. Well, almost. No the sound quality isn't pure audiophile grade but it is impressively good considering the size of the speakers, and the availability of sound sources and integral switchability was equally impressive. The only downside was that the app-based control scheme was slow, cumbersome and hardly dependable. But I stuck with it, sometimes pulling my hair out and cursing my decision.\n\nI was in touch with the manufacturer more often that I called my mother. What impressed me is that they actually listened and for a while they were pushing out firmware and software fixes what seemed to be several times a day. And things got steadily better. You can trace my frustrating ride even by reading other reviews here and elsewhere the early ones were highly critical and negative about the apps, and over time those complaints grew less and less. Thats the real value and beauty of upgradable firmware/software. Its also a good lesson about why people who post reviews should update them once in a while as their issues get fixed.\n\nFrankly I am still not crazy about the apps user interface. It still takes too many steps and some procedures are still too menu-driven. But I will say that it is to the point that I can turn my system on much the way one would turn a table radio on and not spend 5 minutes fussing with getting it set up each time.\n\nLets look at my own system for an example of that. I have Heos speakers in every room plus a control unit that feed off my dens sound system. That control unit isn't mandatory but I have some unique needs to route audio from that room to the other rooms and also make it available to hard-wired and Heos portable units (with optional battery pack) for poolside and the back yard. I am able to treat each speaker as its own entity receiving network radio on its own and controlling the volume locally. Or I can pull any sound source into any room or link any combination into any room(s) I want being able to control the volume and mute for each of them locally or via the app. I can plug a local sound source (like a TV) into any speaker and (using an optional Bluetooth dongle) I can send sound from a phone, tablet or other Bluetooth-enable device to any local speaker.\n\nEach of the speakers is different, depending on the size of the room, so there are Heos 1,3, 5 and 7 speakers and a Heos soundbar for the master bedrooms wall-mounted TV (the main media room has its own dedicate audiophile-grade sound systems, although I do have a Heos repeater in there so I can input audio from my Heos network. The versatility is amazing and since each speaker is matched to the size of the room its in the sound quality is superb considering these are all single-point speakers. When all speakers are fired up playing the same sound source I can walk the entire house and have an almost seamless blanket of sound with almost no dead spots.\n\nYou are here to learn about the Heos 5, which is the second-to-top-of-the-line after the Heos 7. I wish I could put into words the largeness and richness of sound and the deep bass this speaker puts out. It is powerful enough for larger rooms like a living room, master bedroom or family room, not quite as immense sounding as the Heos 7 but still very big while being housed in a substantially smaller cabinet. Of all the Heos series it has one feature that could be very attractive to some people, a built-in carrying handle. All of the Heos-series speakers are uniquely shaped, tapered and curved and none of them are easy to hold or carry. Of all of them the Heos 3 has an optional battery/Bluetooth adapter pack so it can be carried, well, anywhere. However it shares the family trait of being hard to get your hand(s) around. The Heos 5 however has a nice carrying handle molded into the back of the cabinet making it an awesome choice if you are only buying one Heos product and you want to carry it from room-to-room. I'm not sure I understand why Denon didn't make the Heos 5 the so-called \"portable\" speaker with an available battery pack and Bluetooth adapter.\n\nOne of the things that I most love about having an all-Heos system is that, despite the fact that the 1,3,5 and 7 speakers are all different sizes and shapes they all have audio characteristics that give them the same family of sound. There is no jarring sense that one rooms speaker sound brighter or bassier or warmer than the speaker in another room. Unless you push them beyond a reasonable expectation (for example, to place the Heos 1 in an extra-large living room) the speakers just seem to fill the room end-to-end, top-to-bottom with sound that reflects and radiates rather than broadcasts from one pinpointed location.\n\nMy recommendation if you are looking for only one Heos speaker and your room size is a typical living room, den or bedroom, the Heos 5 would probably be your best one to start with in terms of size, price and performance. I recently swapped my speakers around which made the Heos 5 the one I listen to most of the time now. I put it where my Heos 7 used to be and i won't say it sounds just as good but it does sound surprisingly close overall with the biggest exception being that the Heos 5's sound is more pinpointed, while the Heos 7 has a wider soundstage.\n\nWireless speakers have suddenly become popular with offerings now from almost every major name in audio. With the advice to you that reading a review can't tell you how any of them sound, to my taste the Heos series represents, to me, the best sound of any of them.","Product: With the Eton Mini you can tune in to your favorite local stations or listen to news and music from across the globe. With AM/FM and shortwave bands you can hear just about everything your ears desire.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Equivalent to other name-brand radios in its price range\n\nReview: I'm surprised at some of the negative comments about what this radio \"doesn't do\". The fact is it is an under $40 pocket radio. At that it is very well made, looks beautiful, sounds better than expected and has reasonably good performance. Eton is no \"off brand\" company; they sell some very high-end and respected radio equipment, including Grundig. And the good look of their products is no accident as they are a design partner with Apple. I found the product to look and operate exactly as it looks on this page.\n\nGranted, AM/FM pocket radios are not considered high-tech products in today's world and shortwave radios have a very small market share in the United States - and shortwave enthusiasts more often than not have very critical needs and tastes and will opt for radios that cost several hundred dollars. That must be taken into account when reading comments about what this little radio \"doesn't do\".\n\nThe small size of the Eton Mini makes it a good choice to take along when traveling, whether you are staying in a hotel, motorhome or backwoods camping. Like other Eton products I own it is a nice grade of plastic that can take being thrown into a drawer, suitcase or backpack. The buttons are physical (that is they are not membrane touch panels) and operate with reasonable precision. The display is especially bright and clear for such a radio, great for someone with limited vision. The speaker, as mentioned, sounds better than you would expect for such a small radio. It won't fill a room with glorious music but for news and information and a little background music it is very easy to listen to.\n\nFor any of the above listed purposes the user will appreciate that the Eton Mini uses standard, easy-to-find AAA batteries and will run for a long time on a set. The earphone plug is a standard mini-jack and when headphones are plugged in it can play stereo sound. It has an alarm setting to be used as a clock radio, again making it ideal for traveling. The corners of the case are rounded and it will fit into a standard shirt pocket (it's thinner than a typical pocket radio) and there is a \"lock\" button to prevent the settings from accidentally changing.\n\nIs it the best choice in its price range? Actually, considering that pocket radios are not considered high-tech, there are dozens of brands and models in this price range to choose from, including some very good ones from Sony, Grundig, Sangean, etc. I own several of them. The Eton Mini can be favorably compared to any one of them, with the decision coming down to personal choice of aesthetics, operating controls and display visibility.","Product: The Linksys USB Ethernet Adapter (USB3GIG) is the perfect solution for the business traveler that prefers the speed of Gigabit Ethernet to Wi-Fi. Simply connect the USB3GIG to your MacBook Air, Chrome book or Ultra book's USB 3.0 port and the Ethernet port to a router to get an ultra-fast wired connection. With the Gigabit Port, you'll get high-speed data transfers, which is great for downloading large files or streaming media. Its compact design makes it easy to carry and the travel cap keeps it protected. The Linksys USB Ethernet Adapter Gigabit USB 3.0 is the perfect solution for anyone who requires ultra-fast wired speed.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: It is what Linksys says it is, but you need to understand what that is\n\nReview: It is important to begin with understanding what this adapter is, and what it is not:\n\n1. It is basically a passive device designed to permit someone who has a computer (usually of the netbook design) that doesn't have an Ethernet port and doesn't have access to WiFi to connect to a hard-wire router. This adapter won't magically turn a slow internet connection into an ultra-fast one.\n\n2. The on-disk drivers are for Windows and Mac OS. Since the product was introduced there are reports that additional drivers are avilable for downloading.\n\nThis adapter might be useful is to someone who has a laptop or Ultrabook which is not equipped with a Gigabit Ethernet port but has such a port available to them in their home or office (not common). In such an application, assuming they are running the right OS, they may be able to increase their speed by plugging this into their USB 3.0 port (again, not that common). Under the right conditions, the adapter does work acceptably which rates it 4-stars.\n\nTo address the concern that this may be a legacy (discontinued) product and therefore no longer supported, it is in fact a current product and is listed in-stock and available for sale at the Linksys website as of mid-September 2014.\n\nBottom line: there is nothing negative about the design or operation of this adapter if it suits your needs and the hardware you are using it with and hence it gets a good rating. But don't expect it to so what it's not designed to do.","Product: The HEOS Link is part of the HEOS wireless multi-room sound system that enables you to enjoy your favorite music anywhere and everywhere around your home. By utilizing your existing wireless home network and the HEOS app on your iOS or Android device, you can explore, browse, and play music from your own music library, from online streaming music services, and from thousands of internet radio stations.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Updated. This is the missing link - why will it change your entertainment system?\n\nReview: After discovering the HEOS 7 speaker I began to see a reformation of the potential and listening quality of my home audio system. Follow this review as Denon continues to make major performance improvements.\n\nI am a life-long connoisseur of high quality home audio. When I was in college I was the only student who had a full-on audio system in my dorm room. In my first apartment when I was barely making any money I couldn't go a few months without buying the newest and latest amplifiers, speakers and other audio gear. I still have some of those high-end products including a pair of speakers that cost $5000 EACH.\n\nI've mellowed a bit now and circumstances dictate no more 7' audio racks in the living room with accompanying 7' speakers. Now it boils down to four things ... great sound when watch movies on my flat-screen TV, pure clean music to relax to in my favorite chair in my den, high quality but unobtrusive sound in my home office, and music-grade sound for my spa and outdoor entertainment area.\n\nAll that is challenging in a multi-story, open floor plan home with vaulted ceilings. It is extremely perplexing to run speaker wires where I need (want) speakers and tying it all together with an integrated control has been a nightmare. So I have interconnect wires, speaker cables, etc. running around the external perimeter of my house ... something I know many people have to resort to.\n\nMy first network receiver a few months ago opened my eyes to new possibilities and opportunities. Then just recently I added a network receiver for my home entertainment system and then replaced two bookshelf speakers and a subwoofer in my home office with the HEOS 7, which actually sounds better than $1000 worth of speakers. But there was a missing link. Tying them all together and controlling them from anywhere in the house. An inquiry to Denon opened my eyes to a brand-new product they were just bringing to market. The HEOS Link. I had to try it - this seemed to be the missing link I needed.\n\nAfter extensive testing here is what I found.\n\nThe HEOS Link is a quality piece of hi-fi gear. The little box has an abundance of connectivity both in and out. To name them ... there are both coaxial and optical digital outputs, an optical digital input, a USB input used to connect USB storage devices, network connectivity via Ethernet or dual channel wifi, analog RCA preamp audio out, standardized subwoofer out and both IR and trigger out. The unit works with (and only with) the Android/iOS HEOS app which does not create a source of content but rather acts as a remote control for content. In other words, whether your source is Pandora, Spotify, Rhapsody or TunedIn, or the units AUX input or the content on your smartphone or tablet, once you select a source the HEOS Link, um, links to it and from then on you can shut the app down or even travel 1000 miles away with your phone and the HEOS link will keep pumping sound out.\n\nI have two devices so far interlaced in my HEOS environment, the Link and a HEOS 7 speaker Denon HEOS 7 Wireless Speaker(reviewed separately). I can feed both of them the same source or a completely different source by simply swiping the devices together or apart on my iPad or smartphone. The effect is addictive, why run wires when you can interconnect each room in your house with HEOS speakers or the Link to feed to old school non-network components.\n\nSetup is brainless, you download the app, plug your smartphone or tablet hard wire into the Link and push a button and it learns to like each other. From then on your smartphone or tablet is your command center.\n\nIs there anything not to like? Well, yes. Both the firmware and software have been automatically updated several times since I got the HEOS 7 speaker and the HEOS Link. Yes, this is a good thing because it shows that Denon is up all night trying to perfect this concept. On the downside I feel like a guinea pig because a beautiful concept seem to be still not fully ready to meet its potential. The app is kind of cumbersome and non-intuitive. It worked perfectly with my HEOS 7 until I added the HEOS Link then it seems to take forever to \"find\" my devices and connect to them. Sometimes it loses them altogether although the Link and speaker are still fully connected to an ultra-strong WiFi signal just a few feet away. It seems more like a software bug than a component issue.\n\nI don't like that I can't simply turn the app on and punch my last listened to music channel or one of my favorite channels. And I don't like that I can't tell any component in the HEOS system to do something simple like play the audio from YouTube or some internet source like a CNN video. How hard could that be, I have $20 Bluetooth speakers that do that just fine.\n\nFinal thought ... the setup guide for the HEOS Link is pitiful. Simplistic beyond belief. Yes there is a wonderful online PDF link to a full user manual but Denon leaves it up to you to go find it. For such a sophisticated (and expensive at $350) product I would expect a whole lot more information how to utilize its capabilities.\n\nNegatives aside I find it hard to downrate this product too much, because I have seen tangible evidence that Denon is working very hard to improve it, and their product support has been outstanding. So I will focus on the positives and the fact that I got it to do what I wanted and rate it 4.5 stars (rounded up to 5-stars) for now and I will live with it for a while to see what direction Denon takes. Check back in a while to see if this is a flash in the pan product for Denon or if they have a serious commitment to it.","Product: Escape with the new full size dynamic SP540 headphones by Koss, inventors of the world's first SP/3 Stereo phone in 1958. The SP540's natural fitting, unique D-profile echoes the shape of the ear, perfecting sound, fit and comfort. The lightweight design lets you feel the music, not the headphones, creating a streamlined immersive experience. A single entry, detectable cable adds versatility, perfect for quick storage and portability. The D-profile, contour cushion closes gaps around the ear, improving comfort, fit, isolation and sound.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: You can do better for the price, even from Koss\n\nReview: My first headphones ever were from Koss. I bought them, for more money than I should have ever spent, because all of the engineers at the radio station I worked at loved them. To tell the truth I bought my second pair, at 5-times my monthly rent, to try to outdo those engineers. And I still own them, obviously I am a big fan of Koss headphones. My second pair were Koss's top-of-the line model and are regarded as one of the best headphone sets ever created. And yes, I do also own a pair of a different brand, the one that eventually knocked Koss off the #1 spot.\n\nSo being a headphone geek I bought this (hmmm, am I the only person here who actually bought a pair?).\n\nA good set of headphones can be summarized as:\n\n1. How accurately do they reproduce sound?\n\n2. How comfortable are they?\n\n3. How well are they constructed? (Which can, of course, affect sound quality).\n\nWell, for under $150 my expectations were \"how good could they be\"? And unfortunately, as is true with so many products that live on previously stellar brand names, my expectations were equal to what Koss is able to deliver in these days of cheap offshore manufacturing. When the money is coming out of your own pocket you'll find that $150 for headphones is really just entry level.\n\nAs far as sound accuracy they are not bad. They rank noticeably lower in sound accuracy compared to my first 2 pairs of Koss headsets and even lower when compared with what is regarded as today's standard of the broadcasting/studio industry. Rating? 2+\n\nWhile not heavy, and made slightly more comfortable by the asymmetric earpiece, they feel ... well, awkward. Good but not great. Just too much like they are \"there\" rather than molding to the head and disappearing. Rating 3-\n\nQuality of construction is relatively cheesy. They have a mass-produced made-in-China feel of not really great plastics. In no way feeling like what Koss used to be. These may be fine as a quickie headphone for someone who has never worn a real Koss headphone and is easily impressed. But no, they are not special in any way. Adequate? Yes. Koss quality? Well, let your own ears decide, everyone hears sound differently. My ears say they are average and earn 3-stars.\n\n[UPDATE] I returned them. Just not worth the price. Got a better model Koss instead. In fact, for substantially less money I believe many people will find the Koss ProDj200 to be a better value and very satisfying to listen to.","Product: Give nearly any room the rich, detailed sound it deserves with the Polk Omni S2 wireless speaker Use vertically or horizontally DTS Play-Fi technology for Wi-Fi connectivity and product linking / grouping Control all of your music through your phone, tablet or computer through the Polk Omni App Ultra-compact size is easy on the eyes in any home environment\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Hopefully they will get better\n\nReview: Forgive the long review. These speakers are a new product category for many people and the intent is to make this review as complete and comprehensive as possible.\n\nSeveral well-known audio manufacturers (and some new-comers) are jumping in to a relatively new category of product, the internet speaker. I use the term \"jumping in\" quite literally because most of what's being sold ranges from ill-conceived to not-ready-for-prime-time. The idea sounds good on paper, in fact the idea sounds great. But the execution of delivering a viable consumer product is falling far short of what it could be.\n\nAn internet speaker is basically a table radio that tunes in stations that supply an audio feed over the internet. No internal tuner, you use your phone/tablet to link to those audio feeds. Some internet speakers only need to be told once what to connect to and they stay connected even if you turn your phone off or leave the house. One disadvantage of the Polk is that the phone must keep the app open (draining the batteries) and cannot be taken out of range of your WIFI signal.\n\nDO YOU REALLY WANT AN INTERNET SPEAKER\n\nThe idea of an internet speaker sounds pretty high tech but the reality of what it is and what it does raises a big question of whether it's worth it. There are numerous ways to hook up an extension speaker (which is really all these are ... most need to be plugged in to work). An internet speaker simply permits you to play audio from online sources or in most cases from a playlist on your phone or tablet. If you have a device with Bluetooth there are hundreds of models of Bluetooth speakers that cost less, often far less, than an internet speaker, which is generally a basic portable speaker with the same capability you already have built into the speaker, and you still need your phone/tablet to control it. The lure of thousands of \"free\" stations fades quickly when you get your first internet speaker and learn that a huge percentage of those are \"free samples\" that interrupt your music every few minutes with commercials from \"Progressive Flo\" (voted the most hated commercial ever) making duck sounds at 10x the volume of the program content. If you want to kill Flo you have to subscribe, but if you like variety in your music you must subscribe to EACH content provider, usually at between $10 - $25 per month each. That would be like having to subscribe to each individual channel you watch on TV. The cost of having a wide range of music content to choose from could cost you several hundred dollars a month. Your other option is to pick ONE music service (like Pandora, Spotify, etc) and pay for it each month but you're still limited to what playlists are available from them. And unfortunately, Polk has a very limited choice of such subscription services available and missing are some of the most popular, including SiriusXM. So maybe what you really want is a nice table radio?\n\nThere is no easy direct comparison between the current brands of internet speakers like Sonos; Denon/HEOS; Pure/Jongo; etc, they are much too different in terms of design and how they operate. The most glaring issue with all of them is that there is no interchangeability or compatibility. If you have a Denon in one room and a Polk in another room you have to run them from two completely separate and incompatible apps, not all of which can access the same music service. It's like owning 2 TV's that each require service from a different, and incompatible, cable company.\n\nIf you stick with one brand (as I'm sure the manufacturer hopes you will do) you shouldn't run into many compatibility issues. However if you mix brands, as I do, there are some weird issues syncing the exact same channel between different internet speakers. For example, I can choose a particular music service and select a channel. I can do that with 3 internet speakers from 3 different companies so I \"fill my house with music\". Sounds simple, right? Guess what? Each speaker is out of sync, playing the SAME station. Sometimes by a little, sometimes by a lot (it varies). Sometimes a commercial starts on one speaker while the other is still playing music, then a DIFFERENT commercial starts on the second speaker. The result is chaos and definitely not what anyone would have in mind as a whole-house music system.\n\nInternet speaker systems tend to be ultra-sensitive to even brief interruptions in the WIFI signal (most routers hiccup numerous times a day). Instead of a loss of sound for a second or two, however, the speaker can \"forget\" its connection, which requires re-pairing it with your phone again, starting from scratch. The Polk is far easier to pair and drops its signal FAR less than the Denon HEOS which has a reputation of NOT playing more often than it IS playing. The following observations from me, being an owner and user of each brand, might help:\n\nSONOS\n\nSonos is pretty much the granddaddy of internet speakers. They are differentiated by being one of the companies with no legacy in audio or speaker manufacture but the one who forged new territory in this yet emerging technology. So you would expect them to get the technology end right, and hopefully deliver a good sounding speaker. You would be right. Using the Sonos app is easier and more intuitive than any of the others and it offers the widest range of music sources and connectivity. Their speakers are very contemporary looking and, while not the leaders in their category for kicking out the best sounding music, they are remarkably listenable for a company with no real history in speaker hardware design and manufacture. Sonos has thrown down the gauntlet in terms of product pricing and what this genre of product is expected to do, with the others left to try to outdo them, or at least match them in a game of \"me too\".\n\nJONGO by Pure\n\nThis is a company who has some recognition in the European market but never caught on in the U.S. They have by far the most cumbersome and convoluted app design and like Sonos, are not an old-line pioneer in speaker design. Much if not most of what they do is non-standard. Their speakers are slightly cutting edge and have some truly unique technology such as the user-selectable sound surround field settings that virtually turn one speaker into several. To their credit they have a user-replaceable rechargeable system but to their discredit they have chosen to make the weird decision to not built Bluetooth into the device but rather utilize a plug-in dongle.\n\nHEOS by Denon\n\nThis is a product you want to like but they just can't seem to get it to work. The #1 problem with HEOS is that it has a terrible memory problem; it constantly forgets that it's connected and has to be re-linked, sometimes several times a day. Their method of linking their wireless speakers to your wireless device is inexplicably a WIRE, making it very inconvenient if you prefer to locate the speaker in a hard-to-reach place. But even using a hard wire to connect them, often the speaker simply refuses to connect. The other side of the coin is that they win hands down for sound quality by a wide margin. They also have at this point the weakest repertoire of source options, notably lacking AirPlay and Sirus XM and they do not support BlueTooth. HEOS speakers are house-current powered only so they can't be run on battery power for things like backyard use. HEOS is also the winner for looks, they weren't afraid to break the mold and design speakers that are at the cutting edge of trend setting.\n\nOMNI by Polk\n\nPolk was just not ready yet to release this product category. They hit the market by acknowledging almost non-existent support for iOS (DUH!) and their Android app is clunky. They make an offer to iOS users to download a desktop app but it is worse than clunky. The most unfortunate thing about Polk is that, despite the fact that they are one of the most respected names in speakers, this series is toy-like in look, feel and sound quality. And horribly overpriced for what you get. The owner experience is that the speaker looks, feels and sounds like a $75 utility speaker but costs twice that. For what? Frankly, not much.\n\nSUMMARY OF POLK OMNI:\n\n1. They are two 2\" speakers, they sound good but not spectacular, they are only 2\" speakers\n2. Doesn't feel expensive as it is\n3. Easy setup, stayed connected better than competitive brands\n4. App is poorly designed and difficult to navigate\n5. App download warns you that the app is huge (77 MB) - and that's to your cell phone\n6. According to Polk, their Apple app is not ready yet but yet they have released it\n7. Contrary to the instructions, the indicator light on back doesn't do anything\n8. Sounds like a medium-price table radio, in other words it sounds like you would expect it to\n9. White grill cloth looks weird on black body\n10. Must sign a contract before being permitted to use the required Polk app\n\nSo the bottom line is that these are not bad speakers. Nor are they great speakers. They are cursed with trying to exist in a product category that has been rushed to market and can be very frustrating for the average consumer. As is true with competing models you can't just press a switch and start listening to \"the radio\". Listening to some sound sources is difficult and listening to other sound sources is impossible. Rated on their own merit, the Polk Omni rates between 3-stars and 4-stars. They get bumped up to 4-stars primarily because they seem to be easier to use and more stable in operation than their competition.","Product: The Polk Omni A1 is a high performance speaker amplifier designed to wirelessly (on your Wi-Fi network) stream music to your favorite speakers. Through your iOS or Android smartphone, tablet or PC stream your favorite music services, Internet radio stations, and music libraries on DLNA enabled devices wirelessly to your existing speakers. Simply connect your speakers' wires to the binding ports on the back of the A1, download the Polk App, and follow the easy setup instructions. Compatible with any passive speaker. Start with one Omni wireless music system product and add more anytime. All your music anywhere in your home.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: A worthwhile wireless audio accessory\n\nReview: <div id=\"video-block-R13PLWRT85S0LX\" class=\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\"></div><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/C1Gb79ONMfS.mp4\" class=\"video-url\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/11htNCs0Z0S.png\" class=\"video-slate-img-url\"> There are now several companies vying for position in the wireless (not to be confused with Bluetooth) home audio marketplace. Sonos is one of the best known, partially because they paved the early trail for such products and partially because they have done an exemplary job of setting the standards for others. I already own products from Sonos as well as several other well-known brand names in the wireless audio realm ... Heos, Marantz, Sony, Jongo (lesser known), and of course Polk Omni.\n\nPolk differentiates itself by being first and foremost a company who targets sound over technology, not that the others aren't stellar audio performers, but Polk starts there and then tries to figure out how to add in the technology part.\n\nUnfortunately all of the above manufacturers have two things in common - they are all trying to get to the same destination by using different road maps; and they are all trying to get there without a compass. There is virtually no such thing as compatibility among the major manufacturers, which is what's holding them all back. In an ideal world you would have one standard for a wireless receiver that communicates with one standard of app that \"broadcasts\" bi-directionally to remote speakers and/or remote input devices located throughout the range of a home internet network, wired or wireless. This doesn't happen by any stretch of the imagination, with each manufacturer offering their own apps and their own ways of communicating the signal in a home entertainment environment.\n\nThe Omni A1 is slightly out in left field in the entire scope of things. Rather than being a speaker with wireless capabilities Polk is offering a wireless internet amplifier that you use with your existing pair of stereo speakers, thereby affording you the potential of driving a set of superb speakers (from Polk or other brands) that can run circles around the all-in-one approach the other guys have their sights set on.\n\nIt is a wireless receiver in that it can be operated with the same app that the other products in the Polk Omni family to stream such online services as Pandora, SiriusXM, etc.; tune internet radio channels; or play from your personal library on your phone, tablet or computer. It also has one audio input that can be accessed either by an optical/digital port, RCA connectors or a 1/8\" mini-phone connector. Alternatively a second terminal post will permit connection of a record turntable by removing a set of terminators and connecting the output of the turntable to the posts. The sole and only output of the 75W x 2 amplifier is one pair of stereo speakers. Of course, as part of the Polk Omni family, if you are accessing a music channel/service through the amplifier that source can also be routed to any other Polk Omni -enabled speaker on the network.\n\nAll that seems to be very little in return for a fairly hefty $399 retail price. But remember we're talking about Polk here, not some cheap no-name amplifier. The amplifier is, in fact, worth the money as an audio amp alone, the sound is pure, clean and certainly of audiophile quality (within reason). The inclusion of a phono preamp should not be minimized, a good one is hard to come by these days and my test with my own top-end turntable resulted in the best sound from vinyl I have heard in years. So much so that I am rewiring my system to incorporate the A1 as the designated phono amplifier.\n\nFrankly, unless you are willing to invest in a full-blown Polk Omni system, this one component will likely leave you wondering \"why buy it\"? But if you are already on the road to a true wireless audio home this is a very worthwhile, and worthy, accessory to buy. For what it does (and does well) it is worth considering.","Product: Portable, Floatable, Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker thats perfect for any water filled activity.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: I had such high hopes! Watch the DUNK TEST video\n\nReview: <div id=\"video-block-R340OR3VPA6X99\" class=\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\"></div><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/D1pkNORq1AS.mp4\" class=\"video-url\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/11htNCs0Z0S.png\" class=\"video-slate-img-url\"> I love tech products that throw away the mold and come up with new shapes, functions and designs. So when I saw this speaker (despite the fact that I have more Bluetooth speakers than any human should own), it struck me as great summertime fun in the pool. Sure we have outdoor speakers pointed AT the pool but how cool would it be to have a speaker INSIDE the pool ... especially something we could use at night in the Jacuzzi without being loud enough to bother the neighbors. Don't worry about that one - this speaker will NOT bother the neighbors!\n\nThe look is certainly cool and outside-the-box in its design. It comes in two colors, the charcoal/blue that I tested and a white/blue model that looks much more nautical. Although it didn't lose any points over it I would have much preferred to see some hot beachy, fun colors. The two choices offered are pretty dull.\n\nThe speaker is (and this is hard to put a finger on) what I would call \"just right\" in terms of size and weight. Small enough to throw in a backpack or beach bag but large enough to (hopefully) deliver some kick bass sound.\n\nIt paired instantly with my smartphone, as most modern Bluetooth devices are prone to do these days and as soon as I took a few pictures of it I headed out to the pool for the obligatory \"dunk test\". How did it do? Well you'll have to watch the video (I mean how else can I explain how it sounds if you don't listen to it?) but I'll give you a hint ... it got an overall 3-star rating. And I had such high hopes!\n\nI mentioned I have more than a few Bluetooth speakers lying around. Of those, MOST of them sound better at to 1/3 the price and some of them sound much, much better. Under the best conditions this speaker sounds okay. A big part of the average 3-star rating is because it is way too expensive for what you get in terms of sound and usability. If I bought this at $20 ... well, I probably wouldn't. And that says a lot.","Product: The View Sonic VA2855Smh is a 28 Full HD 1080p display designed for both home entertainment and office use. Equipped with Super Clear Pro MVA technology, true 8-bit colors, and a 3000:1 static contrast ratio, the VA2855Smh delivers superior color performance with excellent color reproduction at nearly any viewing angle. Vivid 1920x1080 resolution and dual stereo speakers deliver an immersive viewing experience ideal for any multimedia application, while HDMI and VGA inputs provide flexible connectivity to PCs, laptops, and other multimedia devices. View Sonic's exclusive View Mode provides intuitive presets to deliver optimized screen performance in different applications. In addition, Flicker-Free technology and a Blue Light Filter help to eliminate eye strain from extended viewing periods. With an energy-saving Eco-mode feature and ENERGY STAR compliance, the VA2855Smh is a great long-term investment.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: A good choice if budget is tight\n\nReview: While I have owned and liked previous Viewsonic monitors they are not usually the first name I think of when I buy a monitor because as a photographer I tend to have the need to go a little higher graphic performance. I am using this one for a second computer that's usually used just for common everyday tasks like internet, email, etc., which is what it is targeted for.\n\nThis is a very basic monitor, which you might expect at what its going for. It is designed for function over style, which should suit most buyers. The connectivity is basic but should be adequate for most casual users. There is a limited range of adjustment for tilt but none for height, swivel or portrait mode. The HDMI/VGA connectors are on the bottom rather than on the back along with an audio jack that feeds the tiny (and tinny) speakers. The setup and operational switches are arranged along the bottom right edge of the frame, the most typical arrangement. There is a VESA- standard 100mm mounting array in the back for mounting on a wall or extension arm but this is a noticeably thicker monitor than many other current designs.\n\nWhile they describe the monitor screen as edge-to-edge, in fact the screen does not go all the way to the edge, there is a 1/2\" bezel (the typical width) covered with the protective front glass to hide the bezel and make it appear like it is frameless. The glass is coated with an anti-glare treatment and is less glossy than average but not a true flat matte surface.\n\nHOW DOES IT PERFORM\n\nMost of us buy monitors for their image quality as their top criterion. This monitor does not disappoint. With an IPS screen and better than average specs the visual performance is great for everyday computer use, light gaming and non-critical photo/video editing.\n\nIve use monitors that have a weak loose fastening to a lightweight plastic base so every time I touch my desk the monitor shakes. Far too many monitors I've used are built this way. Unfortunately this one is not as solid as I would have liked, certainly not as bad as some I've used but it does feel plasticky, in fact the base is just a piece of molded plastic with no metal weight in it.\n\nThis model is intended for buyers (such as businesses) who may purchase them in quantities. Such monitors generally lack over-the-top styling, superfluous features or excessive marketing hype such as being co-branding with audio/video big-draw names. Business-grade monitors generally do, however, tend to promote one or two value-added features not normally expected in a budget range product. They may also feature longer warranties than store shelf model (but not always). This model has a 3-year Limited Warranty, substantially longer than the 90 days found on some other brands. One thing that gives it away as intended for office use is the absolutely huge logo painted across almost the entire back of the monitor monitor companies like to advertise themselves this way. Most people at home probably will never look at the back of their monitor but if you are planning to use it where the back will show its something you may want to consider.\n\nIn terms of unique features this one has a blue light filter which is supposed to cut down on eyestrain. The latest operating system upgrade includes it as a feature and there are popular software add-in apps that do the same so there is dubious value having it built into the monitor but it is nevertheless a plus that they are thinking outside the box like that.\n\nSHOULD YOU BUY IT\n\nWhen it comes down to it the only thing that's really at the top of the list of reasons for choosing one monitor over another is how good the picture quality is. Reading advertisements, specs and reviews can do pretty much everything but tell you how good the picture is going to look to you; the only way to know is to see it for yourself. This monitor does well on specs. It does well also on design and ergonomics. And it does very well on value. Not so good are the wobbly stand and puny internal speakers. The Viewsonic brand name is plus as is the 3-year warranty. The picture quality is good for everyday home use but not up to the needs of serious photographers, graphic artists or gamers. All things considered, I like it for what its intended for.","Product: KHOMO DUAL SERIES Case KHOMO Introduces its best seller case for Apple iPad Air 2nd Generation. The DUAL Series Case continues to be an NUMBER ONE Seller! The Ultra Slim KHOMO DUAL Case is the perfect choice for those who want a stylish and affordable way to protect their tablet. This chic, lightweight case has a Polyurethane FRONT cover and a hard rubberized Poly-Carbonate BACK Protector. The rubberized Poly-Carbonate Back ensures a firm grip while holding your tablet. The KHOMO DUAL Case offers your Apple iPad great protection from scratches, fingerprints, dust, small impacts and many other everyday happenings. It also offers you multiple viewing angles: Fold back to comfortably watch movies and videos or place it in a lower, more ergonomic angle for typing. It's easy to always get the right view. Warranty 2 Year KHOMO Warranty with quick and easy KHOMO service. Check out the KHOMO Accessories Collection Known as The Mobile & Tablet Accessories Experts, KHOMO takes great pride in developing high quality, innovative designs that enhance and protect your valuable devices. Protect what you love with KHOMO top of the line accessories. We Got You Covered.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: No its not perfect. How close does it come?\n\nReview: The phrase you get what you pay for isn't necessarily a negative term, and for this item I don't intend it to be. This is one of those products that is a good value for the price and judging by the large number of positive review, it seems other customers agree. I own quite a few iPad cases (more than the average person Im sure) so my review will be a general impression of how this one stacks up. I won't compare it to specific brands because there are so many models being sold and they change so often.\n\nIn some ways this particular style of case is one of my least favorite, and on the other hand there are some things about it that I love. It is probably the most popular style of iPad case being sold today, due primarily to the fact that this style is what Apple themselves has sold for a few years, spawning hundreds of look-alike clones, most of them selling for far less than Apples and some of the actually a better product. What I like about the case is that it respects the whole idea that the iPad Air 2 is incredibly thin and impressively light weight. If you are looking for a case that helps prevent your iPad from getting scratched up, offers a little bit of protection against everyday dings, gives reasonable protection to the large screen area and lets you comfortably use your iPad in landscape mode this is the style of case you are looking at. The Khomo case is not drop-proof or shock-resistant. It is not dust tight or moisture proof. But it is as ultra-light as a case can get and offers a degree of protection to the entire iPad from everyday use. All of the ports and buttons are exposed and easily accessible and the case does not block the sound of the bottom firing speakers. The iPad snaps in with a reassuring click and won't pop out in everyday use. The cover is made of a hard material and the full-length hinge is reasonably strong. The magnets that hold the lid shut and put the device into standby mode are strong enough for normal use. The case has a smooth rubberized finish that looks and feels good and isn't slippery.\n\nI mentioned I am not a big fan of cases like this. I bought it because I was determined to not have a case increase the overall size and weight of my iPad Air 2 any more than absolutely necessary and after I looked at dozens of similar cases I chose this one as what I think is the best of its type. What I don't like about this case or any of the similarly designed ones from other companies is the tri-fold lid. Whoever designed it put the task of using the case as an easel in landscape mode over practicality. In real life I think most people (like me) check their iPad dozens of times a day by simply flipping the lid open for a few minutes at a time. The style of case I have used that best permits that is one that has a one-piece solid cover like a book cover. In fact a case like that lets you hold your iPad just like a book. Tri-fold covers don't easily permit that so they require folding the cover all the against the back of the iPad so you can get a secure grip on it. But, it is what it is and Khomos lid at least folds flat all the way back, something not every case will do.\n\nThere have been quite a few words in other reviews about the quality of materials, how strong the magnet is, the cover not lying perfectly flat when closed, etc. Here again it is important to accept the reality that you get what you pay for. If this was an $80 case some of those quibbles would have merit but for less than $15 the Khomo case is surprisingly well made. Its not perfect by any means but it is put together better than most of the lower priced cases. At the selling price I expect to get about 6-8 months of use out of it at which time I may simply replace it with a new one or try something else. You really cant expect more out of it. I like this case and think it is the best in its class of design. But is it the best case you can buy? No, but I believe any better case is going to cause you to add to the overall size and weight of your iPad. If you have a strong desire to keep your iPad as slim and lightweight as possible, the Khomo case is the one to get.\n\n[UPDATE] - I took 1-star off of my review after a couple of days. See the photo I posted. This is how it looks after only a few day's normal use. They also lost that star because they raised the price to $20. At $15 it was a good value, after a 25% price increase ... not a good deal.","Product: Speck's StyleFolio case for iPad mini 2 and 3 proves that real protection doesn't have to be bulky and ugly! The sleek Stylefolio case for iPad mini 2 and iPad mini 3 provides stylish protection and an adjustable stand, to help you get the most from your iPad mini 2 or ipad mini 3 . The slim design with a soft, anti-scratch lining provides full protection for both the front and back of your iPad mini. The adjustable stand allows you to choose from multiple angles for the most comfortable viewing and typing positions. The case is durable, yet lightweight, and snaps shut securely with a clasp closure to protect your touchscreen when your iPad mini 2 or iPad mini 3 is not in use.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: A better value than both the cheap and high-end competitors\n\nReview: There are a lot of slimline cases for the iPad Mini but the most popular are two similar styles that outwardly look very similar. They can be distinguished from each other by the number of creases on the front cover the original Apple style which has two creases (3 sections) and this one which has one crease (2 sections). The original style usually is hinged at the left like a book, while this style has a third hinge about 2/3 the way across the back. Which you like better is a very personal choice, there are pros and cons for both in the way they work as an easel and when using the device as an e-reader.\n\nThe StyleFolio is similar to many of the other cases of this type with a couple of advantages over some of them. One is that both the headphone jack and Lightning jack are larger than average so they are compatible with a wider range of peripherals. The StyleFolio also features a hinged (a real hinge not a bent piece of plastic) clasp that will keep the case from popping open, even if you drop it from a short height. Most cases rely on only the magnetic sleep device, which is not a very strong magnet. I like this clasp a lot not only for that reason but that it will also lock the case in the OPEN position to make one-handed reading a lot easier. Why hasn't anyone thought of this simple idea before?\n\nIn a world of either dull drab utilitarian iPad cases or bright flowery in-your-face cases, the StyleFolio is classy yet reserved. The main color is a matte very dark blue (or charcoal, depending on your color perception) with an attractive snakeskin pattern that has a very slight sheen.\n\nThe #1 thing I like most about the StyleFolio (and the reason it earned 5-stars) is that, unlike many of the competitive cases of this type, the pieces are stitched together (even at the creases) rather than glued together. The glued variety falls apart in a few months, while the StyleFolio seems to be much more durable. It is a little pricier than the cheap knockoffs but a fraction of Apples branded cases and in terms of quality it is better than both.","Product: Home Smart Switch with Wireless Extender\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: It may be just what you need or more than you need\n\nReview: This is a new-school update on a product I have used for many year. At one time I had my entire house wired with switches that used the AC power line to transmit signals from a central controller to each switch. I could set the lights to go on and off at a preset time, choosing to dim some of them to predetermined levels. I could have fans and other appliance switch on and off using the same controller. There were several companies who supported the same standard (which is still being sold today) and in fact I still use a few devices for hard-t0-reach lights and appliances.\n\nToday not much has changed except now the units are controlled from a smartphone. How they function is very similar to the technology that was around in the 1980s with the biggest difference that they use a WiFi signal rather than the AC power lines (which had some drawbacks in terms of all devices needing to be on the same circuit and occasional interference from wireless phones and other devices.\n\nSo, bottom line is, I like the concept TRENDnet has here and their price per switch isn't that far off what the other technology used over 20 years ago.\n\nTRENDnet adds a few new twists however. One is that you can monitor the current draw (power usage) of the item thats plugged in to each switch. Thats kind of cool, EXCEPT logic says the items you most need to monitor are items that are too power-hungry for the capacity of these switches to handle or that you wouldnt want to switch them remotely anyway like TVs, air conditioners, refrigerators, water heaters, etc.\n\nAnother twist by TRENDnet is that each switch monitors your homes WiFi signal and amplifies it to help expand the reach to more problematic areas. There are numerous stand-alone devices that do this for a reasonable price (including by TRENDnet) and frankly I wish this feature didn't exist. It can make a mess out of your home internet network and even slow a good signal down rather than boost it. This is just mixing an unnecessary feature into a product that already does a good job all by itself.\n\nOne warning if you are considering this type of switch it would not be wise to use it for anything critical, for example a breathing device for an elderly person or a self-feeder for livestock, etc. I have experienced blips in the WiFi signal that cause the switch to turn or shut off by itself. For the majority of uses that might just be an inconvenience but for some applications like the examples above it could be dangerous. Just use common sense.\n\nAnother detail to be aware of, this switch will usually only work with devices that have a mechanical on/off switch. Note that most TV's, radios and almost anything that already has a remote control will not work. The device needs to be able to be set in the \"on\" position so mechanically to work.\n\nAnother thing to be aware of is because of the wireless extender functionality you may experience some unusual behavior that you're not used to, like if you are viewing a video or listening to an audio source via WiFi and you walk from one zone to another where this (these) devices hand off the signal from your router to an extender and maybe another. The signal may drop out for anywhere from a second to several seconds as your device re-establishes a connection. Again, this may be just a minor inconvenience but for some people could be annoying.\n\nAs a wireless switch I like this and would recommend it. As an extender, I would prefer to not use it as such and invest in a good dedicated extender if you really need one.","Product: Tzumi shutterstick selfie stick: Take the perfect picture of yourself or your group with the Tzumi Shutterstick Selfie Stick. The wireless remote shutter function allows you to take pictures hassle-free and the handle conveniently extends to 39\". The camera mirror will help take hi-res rear camera shots. Compatible with most smartphones, this is great for any selfie artistDirections: 1. Place your smartphone into the unit's bracket. 2. Attach the bracket to the base of the telescopic handle by rotating it clockwise. 3. Extend the telescopic handle to the desired length. 4. Activate the camera function of your smartphone. Check the Bluetooth connection. 5. While holding the handle, look at the mirror to help guide you in taking that perfect picture. 6. When ready, press the shutter button to take the picture.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: More portable than other models\n\nReview: Okay, as a professional photographer you would think a selfie stick would not be of interest to me. In fact it is. There are so many times when I need to get an otherwise not possible point of view picture or video sequence where the small size and light weight of a selfie stick makes that possible. So even if you are not into selfies, here is a helpful tool that may have more than just that one use.\n\nIve tested so-called selfie sticks before and there are many. Some are actually quite well built. I have a friend who uses one to simulate high-angle views from home video security cameras he is going to install. I like mine not only for the usual overhead shots but for shots taken at sidewalk level.\nWhat has bothered me about some of the selfie sticks is that the way they clasp on to my $600 smartphone are scary the phone is hanging pretty precariously between two spring-loaded clips.\n\nWith the Tzumi however, the phone is cradled in a secure tray, and then held in by a locking device. I have complete confidence that the phone will not fall out as may happen with some other selfie sticks.\n\nI also like the mirror design. While I question the manufacturers assumption that some people may own phones that don't have a front facing camera, frankly I have never sees such a smartphone. BUT, we all know that the rear-facing camera is always better, sometimes very much better and it may be the better choice for taking your better-quality photos. With the mirror you can frame the scene just the way you want using the better quality camera, whether it is facing you or you have your back turned to the action and you are filming whats behind you.\n\nThe Tzumi is slightly less fussy to extend to various lengths than some other selfie sticks I have tried because it uses friction locks rather than mechanical ones. And it folds down smaller than most (12 compared to others I have that only collapse to about 20 but to be fair some other models extend out to 50 instead of the Tzumis 39)\n\nFinally, there are no apps that need to be downloaded to activate the shutter release like some other brands. Just pair it via Bluetooth with your phone.\n\nAll of the above earns this product a respectable rating. Since it is the best I have seen so far I think it deserves 5-stars.","Product: The French Bull ipad Mini 3 cover is constructed from a single piece of polyurethane and has a sleek covered hinge that custom fits the thin prole of your iPad. And it doesnt just protect it. The ipad Mini 3 case wakes your iPad when opened and puts it to sleep when closed. Our ipad Mini cases are durable and fold into different positions to create a stand for reading, viewing, typing, or making FaceTime calls. And its easily removable, so you can snap it on and o whenever you want.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: From blah to pizzaah\n\nReview: Usually I like the simplicity of a basic color with a contrasting accent of color. This iPad case is the polar extreme bright, colorful, bold and vibrant. Like a sudden rainbow on a stormy day. It makes its own statement wherever it goes in a tasteful yet possessive way. This was a case I purposely chose to help bring a touch of Spring into what has been a grey Winter.\n\nAdmittedly it costs more than most similar cases no, not as much as one with the Apple brand name on it but about double what the generic ones do. And I didn't get it for the label, because frankly I didn't know what a French Bull was and how that could be attractive. Now, thanks to sampling this one courtesy of the company, I know. The designer is Jackie Shapiro.\n\nThe case arrives in a substantial sleeve that is exactly that no convoluted scheme to open it, the case slips right out. From first feel I could tell it was a better-made product than what I had been using, which was an ultra-slim plain black lightly-textured model that has never been off my iPad since the day I bought it. I bought it because it is ultra-slim I don't understand the merit of buying a thin, lightweight tablet and then doubling its size and weight with a carrying case.\n\nGranted the French Bull case is a little bit of both microscopically thicker and heavier, but not excessively so. But that also makes it feel more substantial, more protective and more elegant. Both case work the same way, the iPad snaps into a perimeter frame, a method I far prefer to the ones where the device slips into a slot or is held in place with clips, straps or other methods. The perimeter frame offers the most protection and permits the case to be as slim as possible. With the French Bull, unlike the other brand though, the case goes 360 degrees around, leaving no surface of the iPad to be scratched.\n\nThe color of the case is a personal preference. The one I selected was my current choice; however the company has several other designs from which to choose.\n\nThis case is every bit as well made as the Apple branded ones, with far less of a me too look to it. Yes you can get cheaper generic ones if you're on a budget. But if quality and fashion overrule cheap in your budget I would be hard pressed to recommend something other than French Bull.","Product: Panasonic DMC-TS30A LUMIX Active Lifestyle Tough Camera (Blue)\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Put this one at the top of your short list\n\nReview: <div id=\"video-block-R2HCK1N56I0Q6I\" class=\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\"></div><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/D1Yk-dI0meS.mp4\" class=\"video-url\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/11htNCs0Z0S.png\" class=\"video-slate-img-url\">As a professional photographer I have had quite a bit of experience in using my camera gear under unfavorable conditions, including underwater. However when I am taking family snapshots my first choice of camera when I am heading out the door for a fun time with the family and friends is ... well, my cell phone - because it's always with me and it takes good pictures. That puts me squarely in category of being the average person, but with the difference that I know a bit more about cameras and how to capture a good photo than average. And what would be my SECOND choice of the ideal camera to take along for a fun outing? A ruggedized, weather-resistant, easy-to-use snapshot camera that doesn't get in the way of having fun while capture great photo memories. And that is the kind of camera I recommend to you if you are looking for an everyday point-and-shoot digital camera.\n\nOf all the brands and models available, Panasonic Lumix has carved the strongest niche into the ruggedized/weatherized camera market and this is one of their best all-around offerings to date. Here's why you should consider it, along with an explanation of what it lacks and why.\n\nThe DMC-TS30A is a brand-new model as of April 2015 and has a 16MP sensor, more than adequate to capture excellent photos. Thankfully the hype about more megapixels has long passed and most people realize that a good lens and a capable internal processor are at least as important (if not more) than how many megapixels the camera has. And Panasonic Lumix has the track record for producing high quality lens and processors, especially at this, the lower price range of cameras.\n\nThe lens is a 25-100mm (equiv), the most ideal range I could recommend for everyday picture taking. And it's fast for an entry-level point-and-shoot at f/3.9 meaning better low-light photos and less blur. The other specs like shutter speed and ISO rating are not stellar but they are well suited for a camera of this type and how it will be used.\n\nWhy is this camera the one you want to take along even if you have a decent camera in your cell phone? The manufacturer's advertising claims that is that it is submersible to 26ft, shockproof to 5ft, freeze-proof to 14 degrees F and also dustproof. Which means you won't have to baby it, just take it where you go and snap away. And the fact that it only weighs about 5 oz (slightly more than an iphone 6) and is MUCH smaller than the iPhone guarantees that it will not be a hassle to carry with you all day.\n\nIf you are into taking photos underwater (like shallow water snorkeling, not deep diving, this is NOT a dive camera) Panasonic has all the right answers for you including an underwater illuminator to help the colors \"snap\", and special circuitry to optimize underwater colors. By the way, that torch (as Panasonic calls it) is totally independent of the camera operation, very handy if you are trying to take a photo of someone or something in total darkness, you can turn it on to visually locate your subject for framing.\n\nThe feature list is impressive for its price: 1280 x 720 pixel HD video (that looks awesome), built-in time-lapse, 12 creative modes and 13 scene modes and a burst mode of 8 frames/second at reduced resolution. What is lacks is Wi-FI (which greatly reduces battery life - I never use it), NFC (nice on a cell phone, useless on a camera), and GPS (a nice feature to have but it also eats up your batteries much faster). One final note is that this camera has enough built-in memory to take about 30 or so pictures without a memory card. You may never use it but it's a great \"just in case\" backup for that once-in-a-lifetime shot.\n\nCONS:\n\nFor what it's designed for this camera doesn't really have any significant downsides. I've taken some nice sharp clear photos with it and in the fully-automatic mode it is really difficult to take a \"bad\" picture. The only reality check is that the rear LCD's resolution is only average, certainly not bad and definitely comparable to other cameras in the price range, but once you have used a camera with a higher resolution screen (or most new smartphones) you won't get excited about how ordinary the viewing screen is on this camera. Not really a con but a reality check is that the pictures this camera is capable of are sharp and the color reproduction is very accurate. The camera is capable of taking good pictures under good conditions. But it does have its limits.\n\nBOTTOM LINE:\n\nConsidering photo quality, features, extreme compact size, excellent shockproof and weather-resistant qualities AND a price that won't break your budget I would put this camera at the top of your short list of everyday fun cameras that you will want to take with you everywhere you go. I want to make it clear that a 5-star rating is because it rates well in its price range compared to competitive models. But don't expect DSLR quality and features out of a little point-and-shoot pocket camera, nor should you expect it to substitute for a true dive camera. You get what you pay for with any camera.\n\nCheck out the attached video for unboxing photos and a real-life glimpse at the first photos and videos I took with this camera. I've used it under a variety of conditions including some underwater video since I made the video and I will add those soon plus some photos/video I've shot in less-than-ideal conditions.","Product: Q-Sees QD7015P surveillance PT camera offers high resolution, 700TVL/960H, for unmatched situational awareness. With programmable cruise presets, this versatile camera has your property covered at every angle. It's full 360 Degree horizontal scan movement and its 90 Degree tilt movement makes sure you capture the essential details. Its fixed 6mm lens means youll always have a tight shot of what in view. The included mounting brackets provides added flexibility in positioning the camera to achieve the best viewing angle - from on a horizontal, vertical or overhead surface. Whether you need to protect a long hallway or get an overview of your warehouse, the QD7015P has you covered. Trust Q-See to help you protect what matters most.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: You must know what this camera has as well as what it lacks\n\nReview: IMPORTANT NOTE: At the time this review was written the product description contained an error (that the camera has a 3x optical zoom). Of the millions of products Amazon sells mistakes like that can happen but it is an important spec for anyone interested in purchasing this camera. The error has been reported and this paragraph will be removed once the description is accurate. However, the simple typo does not affect the star rating this product will be given in this review.\n\nUnfortunately, the erroneous spec is an important one. The category of security cameras can be divided into two broad sub-categories cameras that will be manually operated by security personnel in a live surveillance environment; and cameras that will be used 24/7 to monitor an unattended environment. This difference is important because in the first instance it is generally assumed that the environment being viewed will be under people conditions, in other words some place like a fully-lit retail store, workplace, storage area, etc. The operator would have control of the camera and would manually pan, tilt and zoom as needed to detect suspicious activity. This camera does not have a zoom function. A surveillance camera that doesnt zoom is significantly less effective for its intended use because by design a PTZ camera is intended for live monitoring and if the operator cant zoom in on the action they are left at a severe disadvantage. This is something that needs to be carefully considered by the customer noting that there ARE situations in which panning and tilting would be the only movement necessary, perhaps as in monitoring a cash register. Given the option, however, adding zoom for the nominal cost is well worth it.\n\nOn the other hand, security cameras intended for 24/7 monitoring are generally unattended, which negates the need for pan, tilt or zoom. These cameras are usually fix-mounted and attached to a recording and/or alarm system. Being unattended, there is no need to control the movement of the camera.\n\nThe other (in our opinion) significant drawback to this camera is that it has no IR illuminators, in other words, no night vision capabilities. Going back to the first scenario, most PTZ cameras that are controlled by security personnel are used in store-lit conditions and low-light capability isn't important. But a security camera that cant be used at night has virtually no value as a 24/7 security camera as it must be used in daytime-only live monitoring.\n\nKnowing upfront that this camera does not have zoom capability nor does it have night vision puts it in the category of being a limited application device. For someone who is looking for a daylight-only camera that can pan and tilt but not zoom they will find that the quality of construction and image quality of this camera are a bit above average (Q-See has built a decent reputation for that), and they will find that the price is reasonable but a bit higher than some competitive models.\n\nBecause it does what it is intended to do, and does it well it earns a positive rating IF you don't need zoom or night-vision. Its not significantly better than other brands that offer the same features, often for less money, and therefore the final rating is I like it, which Amazon defines as 4-stars.","Product: JJC Z-S16-50 self-retaining auto lens cap is a creative and latest patent product designed by JJC company. Z-S16-50 auto lens cap is designed for SONY PZ 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 OSS E-mount Lens. This dedicated lens cap will be an indispensable accessory for your Sony 16-50mm lens.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Hints, tips and what you need to know\n\nReview: <div id=\"video-block-RY056GXTX486T\" class=\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\"></div><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/D1tFanY2tsS.mp4\" class=\"video-url\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/11mT5gVuMwS.png\" class=\"video-slate-img-url\"> The Sony 16-50 SELP1650 lens used on the wildly popular a6000, NEX-5/6/7 and other e-mount Sony cameras is a study in brilliant engineering. In its price range its optical quality has been highly praised. No, its not a Zeiss lens but for a kit lens it is exceptionally sharp. One thing that has endured it to many Sony users is that it is a self-retracting lens that folds into a satisfyingly small and lightweight form factor to compliment the slimness of the Sony e- series of cameras.\n\nFor many customers, though, who may be used to the self-closing lens caps of more basic point-and-shoot cameras, removing a lens cap every time you want to take a picture and the challenge of not losing it is a minor frustration they would rather live without.\n\nThe JJC self-retaining auto lens cap is the solution. It is a one-of-a-kind product that simply screws on to the front of the Sony lens and eliminates the need for a removable lens cap.\n\nHOW DOES IT WORK?\n\nThe cap design is actually quite simple, although ingenious. When it is screwed to the front of the lens two small buttons on the rim of the device press against the camera lens outer barrel and that action closes a leaf shutter to cover your lens and protect it from smudges, fingerprints and foreign objects. It is engineered to match the existing lens perfectly and looks like it should have been there in the first place (and many people wonder why Sony didn't think of it first).\n\nDOES IT WORK AS EXPECTED?\n\nYes. I am very impressed. I became interested in it for an online article I am writing for a consumer tech site and acquired a production sample direct from the factory (to assure I was getting the genuine product). JJC was kind enough to send that sample at their expense without any expectation about how I would review it.\n\nI have tested it on my own Sony 16-50 SELP1650 lens under a variety of conditions and it works as expected 100% of the time.\n\nHINTS AND TIPS (watch my video to learn how to install this product):\n\nDespite any instructions you may run across, here is the best way to install this accessory:\n\n1. Lay the camera on its back with the lens facing up. Be sure to lay it on something soft to protect the rear LCD. Power the camera on and lay the Z-CAP onto the extended portion of the lens. Be careful not to let it touch the lens glass surface (which is easy to do). Rotate it very slowly and carefully until the very fine threads catch and the cap starts to screw in. STOP!!!\n\n2. Do not screw the cap all the way down. Instead power the camera OFF and then extremely slowly and carefully continue the screw the cap down until you observe the two leafs start to close. Continue screwing until the two leafs just touch each other. STOP!!\n\n3. At that point, every time you power the camera ON the cap will automatically open all the way, there will be nothing to obscure the lens to cause vignetting. And when you power the camera OFF the leafs will close and just touch each other.\n\n4. Why is it important to not screw the cap down any further? Because the camera is designed to give an error message if anything obstructs the lens while opening or closing. If you screw the cap down too far the cap may press against the camera lens barrel hard enough that the camera will think there is an obstruction. The worst case scenario is that the motor will continue to whirr a little which may not hurt anything but why take the chance?\n\nBecause the ring of the Z-CAP is milled to look and feel exactly like the rings on the Sony lens you may from time to time twist it accidentally. That is a necessary evil in the way this cap has to be designed. If that happens, check again to see that the two little buttons on the back of the Z-CAP just barely touch the lens barrel and are pressed only enough to cause the two leafs to come together no more than that.\n\nWHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:\n\nAs is true with every auto leaf-type lens cap ever made for a point-and-shoot camera, the leafs in the Z-CAP are delicate. They are designed to provide moderate protection against your finger accidentally touching the lens when not in use, or a bit of protection against a foreign object touching the lens. This lens cap is NOT dustproof and certainly not waterproof. If you are going to be taking your camera to a hostile (i.e. dusty) environment, hold on to that lens cap and us it instead of the Z-CAP. You need to realize that the Z-CAP is a convenience; it cannot protect your lens as well as a hard plastic lens cap. Never poke the Z-CAPs leafs with your fingers, and ideally use an eveready-type case for your camera.\n\nThe other thing you need to know is that you will not be able to use a filter of any type (that includes clear glass or skylight filters) if you use the Z-CAP. Its going to be one or the other. The reason is that the Z-CAP works by having its little buttons get pressed against the outer barrel of the cameras lens. Any filter, not matter how thin it is, will prevent the Z-CAPs buttons from activating, making it useless.\n\nThis is a very well thought out and manufactured product and worth the price in convenience alone. As long as you recognize that any lens cap with movie leafs can also capture sand and other debris and take reasonable caution having his cap can tremendously add to the pleasure of using Sonys excellent kit lens. It earns 5-star for doing everything it should and doing it very well.","Product: Enjoy over 300 streaming entertainment services, including Netflix, YouTube, Hulu Plus, and Amazon Instant Video. Quickly load and start Blu-ray and DVD discs, and even upscale DVDs to near HD quality. Easily share your photos and videos via the front USB slot. Best of all, you can play select PlayStation 3 games with PlayStation Now.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: How much are you giving up by buying the basic model?\n\nReview: I have mixed feeling about this player. I am and always have been a fan of Sony products, even when some of their stuff hasn't been all that great. When I bought a new TV for my bedroom recently I went high-end and made it a Sony and there is no doubt that it ranks as a premium TV. I like to match the DVD player brand to the TV because there is usually a degree of handshaking that goes on, for example when you insert the disc it turns the TV power on. Sony also has some color improvement circuitry that improves the picture quality when you use their player with their TV, but that's on the higher priced models, not this one.\n\nAnd this is a relatively entry-level player for Sonys lineup of Blu-ray players. The only feature it has that it is a smart player, although it must be hard-wired to your WiFi network.\n\nThe mixed feelings have to do with the look and feel of the player itself it reminds me of those no-name $29 DVD players that the discount superstore sells. Connectivity is at an absolute minimum and it feels, frankly, cheap. When the disc is playing the unit vibrates like crazy, Ive never seen a DVD player vibrate so hard.\n\nAnd my big hesitation is that for such a plain machine the price is high. I know its a Sony but when they made this look and feel like a bargain basement DVD player they could have reduced the price. By a lot.\n\nNow, on the other hand the picture and sound quality (on my Sony TV) is superlative. The disc loads almost instantly and my test disc (Avatar) has never looked better. The colors are spot on, the black levels are richly saturated while the white areas look natural. There isn't a hint of motion blur and the audio spacial positioning is just as it should be. Where this player looks like a toy its obvious Sony put their brand name on the line and did what they know how to do, and they did it well.\n\nI checked out the smart apps and agree that the visual look is a bit dated but not as bad as some I have seen. I purposely bought this model, however, because I am using an Amazon Fire Stick on the TV and don't need to have basically the same apps duplicated on my DVD player. But after playing around with the DVD player I would say that someone who is using it to turn a non-smart TV into a smart TV should be well satisfied.\n\nGoing back to the mixed feelings, this is the smallest and lightest Blu-ray player I have owned (or even seen for that matter). Using it in a bedroom that smallness works out to be an advantage in that I have a small 12 x 12 floating shelf on the wall next to the TV and this player fits on it perfectly. Its out of the way but convenient and looks really cool.\n\nIf you already have a smart TV or have no need for those capabilities this player will give you all you need and save you some money over the more expensive Sony models, without sacrificing sound or picture quality. When I add it all together, the positives outweigh the negatives and the bottom line is that I like it.","Product: Bluedio U (ufo) over-ear headphones Bluetooth wireless headsets with pps 8 drivers, mic, 3D sound (silver and black)\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Entry level premium headphones sound great\n\nReview: These are one of several models of headphones from Bluedio in their premium-level series. The same company also makes a wide range of lower-priced headphones as well. Bluedio has been steadily building their brand name and with many users they have earned respect as a serious competitor to some of the long-time more established brand names like Koss, Bose, Panasonic, etc. To complete my test of the complete series I am using a pair which was provided to me N/C by the manufacturer. Our reviews continue as always to be independent of any outside influence.\n\nThe UFO (also known as simply the U) is the older of a two-part set of similar phones, differing a bit cosmetically and in performance. As is true with any brand/model of headphones the ultimate most important factor is whether they sound good to you, and if they are comfortable to wear. No reviewer can tell you that, to be sure you need to make that choice and try them for yourself.\n\nCompared side-by-side to the similar UFO Plus phones this model does offer more choices in terms of style, and if thats important to you some of the choices really make a strong styling statement. Theoretically the Plus model has some audio enhancements but again, whats important is how they sound to you. I found the UFO model to be a great performer for vocals, jazz and classical music, with a smoother and wider mid-range than the Plus model, and ranking as one of the better headphones for vocals Ive tested. They are not the most bass proficient in the Bluedio series, that distinction belongs to the Plus model, which is as impressive as a Cadillac with a trunk full of subwoofers. The UFOs go down deep and hold it together at the lower registers but fall short of making you feel like you're heads going to explode like the bassier big brother model.\n\nBack to styling, the UFOs may be one of the more beautiful phones from any brand Ive seen to date. The quality of construction is excellent, they fit like a glove and never feel too heavy, and they come in a wide range of tasteful colors. I am testing the sliver/black model which is about as elegant as a pair of headphones can get. I also like the pure white model. You can also get them in all red, all black or if you're indecisive you can get a bed/black combo. These are a simpler design than some of the other Bluedio headphones, with a strong but traditional hinge rather than the unique swivel hinge some of the other models have. The headband is soft and thickly padded and the earcups fit snug but not tight. Like the other premium-series Bluedios they come packed in a strong fitted carrying case with an impressive presentation/gift box.\n\nThe UFOs are the lowest priced premium phones Bluedio sells. At about $150 at the time I tested them they are an excellent bargain. While not the most ultimate headphones Ive ever tested I rate them high for being such a good value with excellent performance at the price.","Product: Pioneer's Elite VSX-45 receiver is your gateway to truly superior performance. A value-packed, 5.2-channel receiver with 80 watts per channel (20 Hz - 20 kHz, THD 0.08 % at 8 ohms)-400 watts total-the VSX-45 is for purists who want power, connectivity and ultimate wireless convenience for their high-definition home theater. Advanced features like Ultra HD (4K/60P 4:4:4) Pass-through, HDCP 2.2 compatibility, built-in Wi-Fi and a new wireless setup app make this one versatile, easy-to-use receiver.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Good news bad news\n\nReview: Lets start with answering the most important question. Is this a good receiver? The answer is yes it is, but whether it is the best choice for you depends on how you plan to use it.\n\nRight now the most popular market segment for home entertainment receivers is for 7.2 units that are network capable have the latest audio processing capabilities and can handle the latest video input/outputs. They sell for (what marketing calls the sweet spot) about $600 from virtually every name in the receiver business, like Yamaha, Sony, Onkyo, Marantz, Denon, etc. At that price they have most of the features and power to fill almost anyones living room with great surround sound, in fact spending more these days only buys a relatively small increase in features and sound quality. Thats why the $600 price range is by far the most popular.\n\nTHE GOOD NEWS\n\nThe VSX-45 is a very good receiver in terms of what it is capable of doing in a smaller room like a bedroom, den or family room. At 80 watts per channel it will feed a nice set of utility speakers (2-front, 2-rear, a center and a subwoofer or two). It has 6 HDMI inputs and 1 HDMI output, perhaps overkill for a receiver of its class but then again you cant have too many HDMI inputs so why not. The built-in Bluetooth and Wi-Fi mean you are getting a very complete home entertainment center that lacks little.\n\nTHE BAD NEWS\n\nThis is only bad news if you are looking to create a full-blown multi-channel system this is not your receiver. At 5.2 and 80w/ch it does a good job for smaller rooms but will probably leave movie buffs wanting for more if they have a good large-screen TV. My installation in a den with speakers in each corner make it ideal for listening to music, and the B-channel output is a bonus to add a pair of speakers for an adjacent sitting room. Now, all that isn't the bad news. The bad news is that this receiver is selling for about $450. At that price it would be easy to find a decent 7.2 receiver (Pioneer Elite has one for only $50 more) and if you stretch your budget only a little more you can step up an entire class in terms of capabilities, power and performance. So the bottom line of this is that the biggest negative about this receiver is that it is priced too high for what you get. And thats what keeps it from earning 5-stars.\n\nWHY BUY IT\n\nThere is a capability of this receiver that is buried down in the specs but is critically important, something that is not common for most receivers. That is RS-232c interface and full IP control and if you need/use that capability you should suddenly be more interested in this model, as you won't find that capability offered by many brands. What that buys you is the ability to control your receiver with products from Crestron, AMX, Savant and several other respected home automation companies.\n\nRECOMMENDATION\n\nIf you do NOT need home automation control (i.e. for a built-in system) and will never use that feature this is probably not the receiver for you, you can get more return for your dollar with many other models from Pioneer and other companies. If you ARE looking for a receiver with such capabilities this one should be on your list to consider. You will find it is a very able performer, especially as a second room receiver. It is rated at 4-stars as an I like it product, which is a very good rating.","Product: URBAN ARMOR GEAR products reflect the independent spirit of our designers and represent a dedication to superior quality and craftsmanship. Our feather-light composite cases feature a hard outer shell and a soft impact resistant core. Although visually striking, the unique shape of the case also provides strength while minimizing size and weight. Our design allows full access to your device's controls and ports, while openings are designed for problem-free snapshots and uncompromised audio. The marriage of these design elements and materials working in unison maximizes protection for your device. There is a twelve month manufacturer warranty on each case. Please note that this case is for the Microsoft Surface 3 and is not compatible with the Microsoft Surface Pro 3.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Some good and some not so good\n\nReview: Lets start off with a reality check that has nothing to do with whether this is a 1-star or 5-star product this is NOT a general purpose everyday case for the Surface 3. It is designed to be, and it is, a specialty product. Therefore this review will not compare it to other styles of cases but rather rate it solely on its own merits.\n\nWHAT IS IT?\n\nThis is a ruggedized mil spec case designed for people who must, or choose to use, their Surface 3 in challenging conditions and circumstances. Adding a whopping 10.88 oz to a device that only weighs 26.72 oz. this is clearly not a case that someone who bought the Surface 3 because of its thinness and light weight would treasure. For those who use their tablet under harsh conditions, however, this could be a perfect choice.\n\nWHAT DO YOU GET?\n\nA piece of plastic with a little metal leg on the back. Frankly that is the #1 nagging issue with this case, can they be serious charging $65 for it? By the way, there are no instructions included. And you might actually need them.\n\nHOW GOOD IS IT?\n\nThere is no questioning that this case will offer substantial protection for your device. Whether it is mil spec is questionable. I worked for quite a while with qualifying products to be truly mil spec and I don't think this case would pass muster. That doesnt make it a bad case, just not one that I would choose if my life depended on it.\n\nTHE GOOD\n\nIt does what it should in rough conditions. Not that I would drive over my Surface 3 with a tank to test it, but I did bang it around within reason and I feel confident all the protection I could want is there. The embossed design on the back makes for very confident handling even with wet, greasy hands or while wearing gloves.\n\nTHE BAD\n\nThe little elastic strap to lock the keyboard closed is CHEAP beyond any acceptable standard, especially when you are paying $65 for this case. UAG should be embarrassed to even have it there. The rubberized button protectors could be designed better, they make pressing the buttons more difficult than it should be. Ive seen much better designed button covers on other cases.\n\nQUIRKS\n\nSince there are no instructions included, everything I knew and learned about the case was from the little ad blurbs on the product packaging. The first is that the product is impact resistant. That blurb is true. The second is that there is a stylus holder. Not a great one, but it serves its purpose reasonably well. The third is that it is Type Cover compatible. True again, and I would recommend it. The fourth is that it has a 3-position stand. It took way too long to figure out how to use it, though. It snaps into the first position a bit too easily and (for my taste) doesnt lock in that position as firmly as I would like. That position holds the tablet the most upright. Due to the design of the leg, however, if you press any higher than the middle of the Surfaces screen while in the landscape position the tablet simply falls over. Every time. This was unacceptable. Without directions it took a bit of time and effort to figure out how to click the leg into the second (of three) position because there is so much resistance it felt like I was going to break it. The second, or middle, position is rock solid for holding the tablet at a usable angle and being able to tap as hard on the screen as I wanted. This is also true with the third position, which also was much to hard to \"click\" into place. The fifth blurb talks about the frog skin grip and as I mentioned earlier the grip on this case is very good indeed. The sixth blurb mentions that the case can be used in both landscape and portrait mode. Other than the obvious DUH, this claim wasn't necessarily true. The stand is only usable in the portrait mode while in positions 2 and 3 and in both of those positions touching the device's screen toward the edges would cause the case to fall over. The rear leg is therefore pretty much useless as a support when used in the portrait mode. Finally, the last blurb is that the case is feather light. I don't think its debatable that a case that weighs 40% (almost half) of what the device itself weights can be called feather light by even the most starry-eyed copywriter. And referring to a case thats supposed to be heavy-duty as being feather light is an oxymoron anyway. Thats not what I want a manufacturer telling me about a $65 case that Im buying to protect a $500 electronic device.\n\nAll things considered, this case does not earn an I love it 5-stars. As an everyday case it would barely earn 3-stars. But for what it is designed to do it does it reasonably well (though at a price) and settles in nicely at 4-stars.","Product: Best in class Audio. Use in small room or any small space in home. Bathroom or other damp/steamy environment - (note: HEOS 1 is steam proof by itself and IPX4 waterproof with HEOS 1 Go Pack sold separately).\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: How does it work, how does it sound, is it worth it?\n\nReview: <div id=\"video-block-R35IDZENI2MJOE\" class=\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\"></div><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/D1dsrFKVSjS.mp4\" class=\"video-url\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/01gsNrxQtUS.png\" class=\"video-slate-img-url\"> I own and use wireless audio speakers made by several respected companies. Not Bluetooth speakers, of which I own dozens (for travel and other portable use) but the type that can be used throughout my home to extend music sources to remote rooms via WiFi.\n\nMy home entertainment media room is hard-wired and separate from any of the wireless speakers ... it serves the sole purpose of high quality audio/video reproduction and there is no need to extend external sound sources in or out of that high-end listening system.\n\nSo what's left is a lot of rooms in a house that was built before anyone thought to hard-wire it for audio and video. It is a house that is open architecture which makes it difficult to string wires from room to room (everything must be routed along exterior walls, a task for obvious reasons I want to keep to a minimum).\n\nSo when Sonos introduced their wireless speaker systems I was one of the first to jump on the bandwagon. I like their products but they are pricey and in my estimated, more meant for permanent or semi-permanent installation, not necessarily a bad thing.\n\nNeeding to expand into other rooms I went with the Jongo system (more popular in the UK than in the U.S.). I quickly learned that theirs wasn't really a system after all; it was pretty half-baked, and the sound quality was nice but not really hifi.\n\nNext I tried the top-of-the-line HEOS 7 and was impressed with both the sound quality and the architectural design statement it makes. I loved it but, being an early-adopter, it was very not ready for prime time. To their credit, the people at Denon were all over me like flies on honey to help me to get a stable, working, dependable and versatile system. That process took a LONG time and frankly it was only in June/July of 2015 that I finally felt I could call the HEOS system fully developed and top-tier.\n\nIn the meantime I auditioned and installed a couple of Polk's versions of the Sonos and HEOS systems. That was almost a year ago and to date I think they are still having teething issues and their communication with existing customers is almost non-existent.\n\nIn the end, I think only Sonos and HEOS have their act together and can offer a real and dependable wireless audio system. Of the two, I lean a bit toward HEOS for everyday ease of use (and I mean something that you can pretty much turn on and you have music). I think Denon's user interface still needs some tweaking, their app is still not fully intuitive, but when you get to know it, you can learn the logic behind it.\n\nI decided to add the new HEOS 1 to my system (which is now getting to be pretty much HEOS throughout the interior of the house, including the HEOS Link device) a few days ago, and now have one of the early production models. While the speaker is smaller and lighter (and less expensive) than any of the other HEOS products, the quality of the sound is aurally matched and, like the other HEOS speakers, is remarkably pleasant to listen too. Is it better or worse than Sonos or Polk? I will say it is impressively good and I will disagree with anyone who reviews any of the available speakers from any of the brands as \"the best\" or even \"better\". I can't put a lot of faith into statements like that ... so much depends on the source of the sound, the genre of music, the speaker placement, the acoustic environment in the particular room and maybe most importantly, the ears of the listener and their particular preferences. I recommend ignoring any statements that one of the brands is \"better\" or \"worse\" than the other brand.\n\nThere is only one way to get the answer about how they sound and that is to buy the product and use it with YOUR music, in YOUR listening room, with YOUR ears. If you like it, then it is the right product for you, if you hate it Amazon has a very generous return policy.\n\nI installed the HEOS 1 in my own bedroom, replacing an equivalent series speaker from Polk. I didn't put it in the same location so right there that accounts for some difference in sound but to me the music (being streamed by the HEOS Link in my den) sounds crazy good. And using the app on my iPhone I can very easily listen to what I want to, and share that music with the other HEOS-equipped room. Even if you only bought a HEOS 1 and nothing else you would have a speaker that will fill a bedroom-sized room and (in my opinion) outperforms every Bluetooth speakers I have listened to (and that's a lot of them).\n\nThe bottom line is you would be hard put to find an amplified speaker of this quality under $200. To find one that is part of a highly capable wireless whole-house system makes it especially attractive. The speaker is well-built, cranks out powerful sound and is more attractive than most speakers of its size and type. It has an available option of attaching a rechargeable lithium battery pack that also contains a Bluetooth adapter, but that attachment is half the price of the speaker. That's too much, I would say it's worth $75 tops in terms of user value. This is a speaker that I not only like but I like it a lot. Amazon defines that as a 5-star product and that's what rating I believe it earned.\n\nAs an early user of an actual production HEOS 1 I would be happy to answer any questions left in the comments box below.","Product: Experience the cutting edge of audio with the 7.2 Ch. TX-NR646 Network A/V Receiver, the first in its class to feature the revolutionary dts:X and Dolby Atmos multi-dimensional audio formats. Onkyo's high-current amplification system drives your speakers with maximum impact and fidelity at 170 watts per channel. UltraHD video capability is equally impressive, with eight HDMI 2.0a terminals including dedicated HDCP 2.2 compatible inputs for premium 4K video content and two HDMI outputs for video in separate rooms. The TX-NR646's high-grade 384kHz / 32bit AKM DAC unlocks the full potential of any audio format. Conveniently stream music over built-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Airplay, or Internet music services, including Spotify Connect and Pandora. Use the free Onkyo Remote app to stream audio stored on your mobile device, browse and select tracks from online services and control playback in two zones. Plus, for fans of vinyl, the TX-NR646 has a phono equalizer input to connect a turntable.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: An excellent value at the price point, but is it right for you?\n\nReview: This is my second Onkyo multi-channel receiver and it replaces an older model that lacks many of the newer and current standards. I would describe myself as an audio enthusiast, having owned 10+ good quality receivers to date. My original Onkyo receiver was my first multi-channel receiver though and in its day (were only talking about 5 years ago) it was regarded as one of THE trend-setting units in its class. When my needs and tastes exceeded the capabilities of that older Onkyo I replaced it with a newer receiver (a different brand) that last year was the new king of the hill that everyone wanted to own. And make no mistake, I still love that one and it is currently the heart of my media center setup. When I bought my new receiver I relegated the older Onkyo to serve in a rec room setup that is pretty stereotypical of most peoples family rooms, where the audiophile need wasn't quite as critical as in the main media center. My goal was to repeat that cycle the next time technology took another step forward, and that time is now with the Onkyo TX-NR646 a full-featured yet affordable receiver newly released for sale on 6/3/2015 and built with todays technology in mind.\n\nOne quick note about Onkyo they have never been one of the first brand names that comes to mind for most people and not the brand they tend to see on the shelf at the local hifi retailer. Onkyo has a market niche skewed a little more toward the audiophile consumer who appreciates certain design technologies that make Onkyo less of a plain vanilla product than average. That is probably why you are here reading reviews about this product, because you are looking for a receiver that is better-than-average but not something you have to mortgage the house to afford.\n\nIn its class, and Im talking receivers that range from about $300-$1000, the Onkyo physically blends in with every other brand on the shelf. Lets be honest, they all look almost identical these days. And theres no problem with that. What the front panel is made from, or how many knobs it has, or what the display looks like are all far less important than #1 how it sounds and #2 how it interfaces with your entertainment system. Beyond that, the little design variances between brands is relatively minor.\n\nCONNECTIVITY:\n\nRead 50 receiver reviews and you will find 50 different opinions and expectations on connectivity options. The balance is between how people want to wire the receiver and how the manufacturer designed it. I found connectivity options on the TX-NR646 sorely lacking compared to my old Onkyo receiver. Unfortunately that seems to be a trend analog inputs/outputs have been minimalized on most receivers and like many other models this one hard labels the inputs and switching, which rarely works for me. Like most users I end up plugging DVD #2, for example, into CAB/SAT because I don't have a cable/satellite box and I need an extra input. In a perfect world all inputs, outputs and switches would be user-configurable with the ability to label each according to what components are in your system. Kudos, though, for the inclusion of an analog phono input. Vinyl refuses to die. Not only is the phono input there, but it has a good clean pre-amp section to support it.\n\nRegarding the observation about the B-speaker question, at one time B-speaker capability was an important consideration, albeit a hassle with regard to controlling those speakers (and assigning a different program source) at the remote location. In todays world there are several much more desirable options than a B-speaker output on ones primary receiver. In my house I have dedicated systems in each listening area, hard-wired to their local speakers and others using technology from Sonos, Heos, Omni, etc. I cant imagine going back to running a hard-wired stereo pair from my primary receiver these days. By freeing up that B-speaker capability, the user is free to utilize the other design features of the TX-NR646 with fewer limitations.\n\nPERFORMANCE:\n\nIn theory, an amplifier should be completely linear, by that I mean the sound quality of what goes in to it should come out exactly the same, only amplified. In reality that is never true in products like this. Part of that is by design, the manufactures don't want perfect sound, they want pleasing sound. So it is very valid to make the statement that someone could and would prefer the sound of Brand A over Brand B. When I replaced my original Onkyo the difference I heard with my newer receiver was like night and day. How good audio sounds to any person is subject to so many variables (room conditions, speakers, music source, human ears, etc) that if you read any review that states that this or any audio product sounds best or worst you should stop reading right there. Such claims are inherently impossible. Read all you want about the features, specs, design, versatility, etc. of this receiver but the ONLY way you will know if you like how it sounds is to buy it, install it, and listen to it in your own listening room, with your own music, using your own ears. All that being said, this receiver has tangibly better sound to MY ears than my original Onkyo and I like it very much. Do I love it? No. To me it still has what I can only describe as a slightly constrained sound like if you were watching a live parade and the musicians turned their instruments slightly away from you, just enough that every subtle nuance is ever so slightly muted. Or that sound when a vocalist pulls the microphone away just a little too much and their voice thins out slightly. On this receiver, all of the sound is coming from the right place as its supposed to, the spacial positioning, which is one of the main reasons we buy multi-channel receivers, is proper and impressive, the audio is clean and undistorted within expectations, but I just cant make it drop my jaw. And maybe thats not something a $700 receiver is capable of doing. And thats reality if the sound quality of this receiver was the absolutely ultimate in audio perfection why would you pay a penny more for one of the more expensive models? So maybe the best way to summarize how it sounds it that it sounds like what you pay for.\n\nPROS:\n\nOnkyo remains one of the brands that makes good use of the real-estate on the back panel, especially when it comes to the spacing of the speaker terminals. Compared to some brands, Onkyos rear panel I/O ports are much easier to use.\n\nCONS:\n\nA small detail but notable is that Onkyo has chosen to not put a USB port on the front of the receiver. While I have never used mine, having front panel auxiliary ports can add to the convenience of using a receiver. Also, like many other brands, Onkyo has left off a switched AC outlet on the rear. That is something I do miss from previous models.\n\nOnkyo also continues to provide remote controls that look and operate like they were designed in the 1980s. Boxy, non-intuitive, loaded with small buttons that mostly look the same Onkyo is definitely out of step with how the world works. They compound the problem by featuring a plethora of identical front panel buttons on the receiver itself. Sony is one brand that kicked these old-school remotes out the door in favor of minimalistic menu-driven (and customizable) operation. Onkyos on-screen display shows progress over their abysmal older receivers but they just don't seem to understand that, A) most people don't walk across the room to use front panel controls, and B) ditto with remotes with a hundred buttons on them. Onkyo is far behind the times in terms of Human User Interface.\n\nSUMMARY:\n\nGoing back to the earlier comment regarding ones individual opinions and expectations about this or any competitive model receiver there are a lot of choices available in the marketplace. Hopefully the manufacturers website, professional reviews and those posted here at Amazon can help the potential buyer make an informed decision whether this one will or will not fill the bill for them. If this particular model isn't the right one for you, that doesnt make it an inferior product nor should it affect the products Amazon rating. It is what it is. This is a respectable mid-priced receiver and yes there will be compromises. In its price range it has what it takes to satisfy the needs of buyers who are looking to step up to newer technology without breaking the budget. It offers a reasonable number of features and versatility and high-end audio quality (subject to personal tastes). It has its shortcomings, notably the dated user interface and limited customization. Some buyers may find issue with how the zoning is designed and for others that may be a non-issue (this model is not unique regarding such limitations).\n\nIf it were the perfect receiver and deserving of an unqualified 5-stars it would probably cost much more than it does. But its not just an average performer either. I like it, and as defined by Amazon I like it equates to 4-stars. I feel comfortable advising any reading this review to include the TX-NR646 on their short list of receivers to consider in the sub-$700 price range.","Product: High speed SDHC UHS-I memory card designed for the photographer / videographer who requires 4K video shooting, high speed burst shooting and fast transfer speed. File recovery downloadable software helps recover photos and videos that have been accidentally damaged or deleted.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Read about the newest version of this card\n\nReview: Before getting into the specific results of this card, a few quick observations:\n\n1. Sony seems to use this page for similar cards but doesnt change it when theres a new model which means some of the reviews are for previous generation cards, not whats being sold today. It takes a little care to weed them out.\n\n2. This is a Class 10 UHS-1 SD card that is specd at 94 MB/s read and 79 MB/s write\n\n3. Sony is specific on the packaging that this card is NOT meant to fit every SD card-slot camera ever made. It is intended for newer, more advanced technology devices. The buyer must do a bit of research to be sure their device will work with this card. Any incompatibility is not a defect nor is it the fault of the card.\n\nOPERATION AND USE:\n\nI tested this card in a Sony A7 and a Sony A6000 camera. You don't have to use the same brand card as what the camera is but it couldn't hurt and I have always had my best results using Sony cards in Sony cameras (after all, thats what Sony uses when they design and test their products). My results were a perfect physical fit (it replaced a Kingston 32 GB card that always had a sloppy fit and intermittent loss of contact with the camera). I never use the little lock slider on SD cards but because there was a comment about it being loose, I tried it and can assure you that the lock/unlock action is very tight.\n\nWithout getting into a lot of test bench specs (most people know their real-life results will not be the same as a test-bench anyway) I did experience an improvement in both write and read speeds over the Kingston SDHC Ultimate, which is rated at 60 MB/s. That card is about a year old.\n\nBesides the fact that Sony cards seem to go on sale often, another benefit is that they include both File Rescue and X-Pict Story as free software. You have to download them and they are not generic freebies, you must enter the valid serial number off the actual Sony card to complete the download. Both are actually useful apps, with X-Pict Story being surprisingly capable, especially for someone who wants an easy to use video story-maker program.\n\nSo, based on real-life performance of this Sony card in my Sony cameras and the fact that the physical fit was perfect in my cameras (you might be surprised that SD cards are not always universally compatible), I would say that I would rate this card as an excellent choice and an excellent value for the price. It is made in Taiwan and is backed by Sony.","Product: FOLDS UP SMALL: When not keeping your digital video camera, DSLR, zoom lens, surf or dive housing, iPad, tablet, Kindle, mics safe, the wrap takes up very little room in your bag or jacket pocket\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: More versatile and useful that you might think\n\nReview: Indigo Marble is a new company that is focusing on quality photographic accessories you don't see every day. While there are several well-known photo accessory sellers at Amazon who offer page after page of me-too items that all look the same, this company is marching to the beat of a different drummer. This is one gadget from them thats silly simple but comes under the category of why didn't I think of that?\n\nOn the surface it appears to be nothing more than a square of material thats padded and has little Velcro tabs at each corner. And in terms of design thats all it really is. But in terms of function, there is so much value to it.\n\nI can think of numerous uses for this wrap but as a professional photographer, there is one that really stands out. You see, pro photographers, especially those who fall into the category of being photojournalists, shy away from camera cases of any type. No matter how fancy the case, they just get in the way a photographer wants immediate access to all items of gear instantly, whether that be cameras, lenses, lighting gear, etc. But when we are traveling to a job site we need to protect our gear from being banged around. Not that we care about scratches and dings because pro gear is designed to take that sort of abuse, but more to protect against impact damage, dust, moisture and temperature extremes that can occur while on the road. Many times that protection is just an old shirt or jacket, but whatever it is we need to be able to grab our gear without any hassle. Actually, the old shirt idea isn't such a good one. More than once Ive grabbed one of those shirts accidentally and watched a camera tumble to the floor.\n\nThe idea behind the wrap is, well the name says it all to wrap around some piece of gear to give it a degree of protection. The dense foam the manufacturer uses does a good job of that. The 4 Velcro tabs permit the wrap to be closed up in a split second and unwrapped just as fast. I purposely pushed my camera off the seat of my truck and let it tumble to the floor to simulate what would happen if I slammed on the brakes and the camera survived just fine. If I would trust a camera that cost several thousand dollars to a wrap that cost a few dollars, I would have to say this is something I would recommend.\n\nI found a secondary use that is handy for me as well. During a shoot my camera rarely leaves my hands. But when it does, I always want to set it down on a secure surface thats dry, not slippery or muddy, and as free from dust as possible. I use my wrap as sort of a landing pad when I lay my camera down (or one of my accessories) to take advantage of the padding and also just to help remember where I put it during the fury and confusion of a shoot.\n\nPS. I also found a use to wrap some old classic cameras that I keep in storage, as you can see in the attached pictures. The lining and padding seem to be safer than anything else Ive tried.\n\nThis thing isn't rocket science, and it isn't priced like it. It comes in 2 sizes (the manufacturer provided a sample for me to evaluate. This one is their large size). For the price and the convenience that buys, I would rate this as a best buy.","Product: FOLDS UP SMALL: When not keeping your digital video camera, DSLR, binoculars, zoom lens, surf or dive housing, iPad, tablet, Kindle, mics safe, the wrap takes up very little room in your bag or jacket pocket\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: More versatile and useful that you might think\n\nReview: This is one of those gadgets thats silly simple but comes under the category of why didn't I think of that?\n\nOn the surface it appears to be nothing more than a square of material thats padded and has little Velcro tabs at each corner. And in terms of design thats all it really is. But in terms of function, there is so much value to it.\n\nI can think of numerous uses for this wrap but as a professional photographer, there is one that really stands out. You see, pro photographers, especially those who fall into the category of being photojournalists, shy away from camera cases of any type. No matter how fancy the case, they just get in the way a photographer wants immediate access to all items of gear instantly, whether that be cameras, lenses, lighting gear, etc. But when we are traveling to a job site we need to protect our gear from being banged around. Not that we care about scratches and dings because pro gear is designed to take that sort of abuse, but more to protect against impact damage, dust, moisture and temperature extremes that can occur while on the road. Many times that protection is just an old shirt or jacket, but whatever it is we need to be able to grab our gear without any hassle. Actually, the old shirt idea isn't such a good one. More than once Ive grabbed one of those shirts accidentally and watched a camera tumble to the floor.\n\nThe idea behind the wrap is, well the name says it all to wrap around some piece of gear to give it a degree of protection. The dense foam the manufacturer uses does a good job of that. The 4 Velcro tabs permit the wrap to be closed up in a split second and unwrapped just as fast. I purposely pushed my camera off the seat of my truck and let it tumble to the floor to simulate what would happen if I slammed on the brakes and the camera survived just fine. If I would trust a camera that cost several thousand dollars to a wrap that cost a few dollars, I would have to say this is something I would recommend.\n\nI found a secondary use that is handy for me as well. During a shoot my camera rarely leaves my hands. But when it does, I always want to set it down on a secure surface thats dry, not slippery or muddy, and as free from dust as possible. I use my wrap as sort of a landing pad when I lay my camera down (or one of my accessories) to take advantage of the padding and also just to help remember where I put it during the fury and confusion of a shoot.\n\nPS. I also found a use to wrap some old classic cameras that I keep in storage, as you can see in the attached pictures. The lining and padding seem to be safer than anything else Ive tried.\n\nThis thing isn't rocket science, and it isn't priced like it. It comes in 2 sizes (the manufacturer provided a sample for me to evaluate and I ordered the medium size). For the price and the convenience that buys, I would rate this as a best buy.","Product: 2.1 Wiireless Sound Bar with wireless Subwoofer.Dual-Driver array, HDMI Input/Output, Dobly Digitial & DTS Decoding. Class D Digital Amplifiers USB Storage / Aux Input Grouping of TV Sound On-Wall Mounting Ready\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Here's what you need to know that the ads don't tell you\n\nReview: <div id=\"video-block-R2AIIOEF3GRJET\" class=\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\"></div><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/E1UvyUL2lpS.mp4\" class=\"video-url\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/015OFLiOouS.png\" class=\"video-slate-img-url\"> This is the newest of an expanding lineup of the HEOS series from Denon, and in some ways the most intriguing. First shipments began in early July 2015 so as I write this actual production units have only been in end-user hands for about 6 weeks. I am reviewing a final production model here. This review is long, detailed and objective and is intended for the individual who is serious about spending $800 for a sound bar.\n\nIn the days before people bought speakers sight unseen through mail order there were stereo retail stores that had listening rooms so customers could A-B compare the sound from model to model. All people hear things differently from other people. Brand names and consumer reviews by strangers are all but meaningless in judging if YOU will like a speaker's sound, so this is more a guideline to the form and functionality of this product than hyped up praise for how it sounds.\n\nThat being said, I am very fond of the \"Denon sound\". Their pedigree comes from a historic lineage with premium brands like Denon, Marantz, Boston Acoustics, McIntosh Laboratory and Snell. To my ears their sound is natural, smooth and eminently listenable for hours without the tiring effects of boominess, shrillness or over-processing that many models of modern speakers have opted for in a bid to be trendy and give an initial \"wow\" experience. Because this line of Denon speakers is so listenable for extended periods it is a major reason I've chosen them for 100% of the audio playback in every room of my home other than my home theater media room which is a combination of other brands and models.\n\nI've tested and reviewed several various sound bars recently for my consumer tech website. This one lands near the higher end in price, but don't forget it is more than just a sound bar ... it also incorporates the full HEOS wireless system and therefore not only has to sound good with TV audio but with high quality music as well, plus it can play from far more input sources than the average sound bar and can do so under remote app control. Having a wireless subwoofer also adds a bit to the total cost of the system. Having compared several competitive models gave me a good insight into how to shop for the ideal sound bar.\n\nMy HEOS sound bar installation is not for my primary media room where I have a hard-wired surround system. I have yet to find any sound bar, including this one that comes close to my 7.3 surround sound system. Instead, after much research I decided this would be the perfect matchup to my new high-end HDTV in my bedroom, where I also make extensive use of music listening broadcast throughout the house via HEOS. Now for me this one speaker serves both purposes as a TV speaker and also a quality music speaker due to the switchable \"TV/Music\" frequency tailoring I can play Blu-Ray disks with the audiophile sound quality they deserve or immerse myself in TV surround sound. Using a sound bar in a smaller room like a bedroom is actually a better choice than using discreet surround speakers because most people watch TV in bed and it is not usually practical to wire rear channel speakers behind most beds without them being too close to the listener's ears.\n\nFEATURE HIGHLIGHTS:\n\nBeing a high-end model this is not just a few cheap speakers mounted in a long enclosure (as I found in some of the lower-price sound bars). Denon uses some very premium circuitry normally reserved for their top-tier receivers and spacial expansion processing that is eerily close to having a full-on multi-speaker surround system. They've given a lot of thought to connectivity and controllability as well; even to the small detail of a circuit that passes the IR signal from your TV's remote control into the front of the speaker and out its rear just in case you place the sound bar in front of your TV's IR receiver sensor.\n\nDenon has also well thought some little details that manufacturers often overlook. One of them is how to handle the challenge of mounting a sound bar to the wall but still allowing for the necessary cables like power, HDMI, etc. to be connected. I've seen some brands go for the obvious and have the cables plug straight in ... very bad because the speaker ends up being mounted 6\" from the wall to accommodate the necessary cables. Other brands have the cables come out the bottom, which can look messy but also it makes them prone to be accidentally knocked out of their jacks. What Denon does is to recess them and mount them sideways so they are not in the way and cannot accidentally be pulled out. Denon also opts for a super-simple eyehook to mount the speaker to the wall. Why is this important? Because you WILL need to unmount it from time to time to access certain controls, most notably the port and pushbutton that you use to sync the speaker to your mobile device. From experience I have found that the pairing process needs to be refreshed from time-to-time, especially after one of the relatively frequent automatic firmware upgrades. By way of comparison, some of the other brands I tested can get very frustrating to mount to the wall. By the way, if you choose to place the speaker on a table or in a cabinet it comes with three sets of feet to adjust the height to your preference.\n\nOVERALL LOOK, FEEL AND CONSTRUCTION:\n\nThe Denon HEOS line of products hit the gate with their own distinctive look and it is well-executed with quality materials and attention to detail. They are higher-end products and they look it. The HomeCinema bar retains the family resemblance and is designed to fit in well with pretty much any environment. While I would be the first to say that the heavier a speaker is the more likely it is to have the guts to deliver powerful sound, there is the practical side that wants a sound bar that can be wall-mounted without heavy-duty hardware. The Denon strikes a nice compromise by keeping the bar itself light enough that a couple of Mollies can easily hold it in place and installing it remains a one-person job. The subwoofer is solidly constructed and, of course, can be placed almost anywhere in the room. It is rear-firing which for many people with carpeted floors works out better than down-firing. You've got total freedom to experiment with placing it to meet your personal audio tastes.\n\nPROS:\n\nFor what this system costs you should have a reasonable expectation of superior sound quality and the HomeCinema doesn't let you down. While it may not deliver the jaw-dropping, knee-rattling sound that you may get in a movie theater,you will have a hard time believing how impressive the sound coming from such a thin speaker can be. I would stick my neck out and say that this one speaker has the potential of sounding WAY better than some of the budget brand multi-speaker home theater systems being sold in the average retail stores. To compare it with the speakers built in to your TV ... well, there simply is no comparison. As stated above, the QUALITY of the sound is a personal decision and depends entirely on your preference and listening style, but it is indisputable that this is a premium audio system.\n\nCONS:\n\nMaybe not a con but something to be aware of, at 40\" long this is a very big speaker. I have mixed emotions about that. Most people I know who have very large (over 50\") TV's have them connected to an external receiver and speakers. My experience is that generally people who use sound bars tend to own smaller (under 40\") TV's which are actually only about 36\" wide, so this sound bar sticks out a few inches on either side of your TV. No matter how you slice it, the Denon takes up a lot of horizontal real estate. Again, not a problem but something you will have to take in mind as far as placement logistics (the sub-woofer is wireless and can go virtually anywhere in the room).\n\nThere are other treats that the premium price buys you. Like, while the majority of sound bars only include optical inputs the HEOS includes an HDMI input and output with TV audio return channel as well as Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus and DTS decoders. You also get both optical and coaxial digital audio inputs.\n\nThe HEOS HomeCinema supports MP3 and WMA compressed music files, as well as lossless AAC, FLAC, and WAV files, and it can handle sample rates of 32, 44.1, and 48 kHz. The Audio Return Channel (ARC) provides a single wire connection to TV's using HDMI, Additional inputs include USB, optical digital, coaxial digital, and stereo RCA analog. That's a lot of connectivity!\n\nNone of us expect much these days when it comes to customer service support from any of the big-name companies. It's worth noting then that I have had quite the opposite experience with Denon. To be accurate (and blunt), when HEOS first hit the market and I was one of the early users, frankly if it weren't for customer service I may have thrown in the towel ... in fact my early reviews of HEOS products were not very positive. But I always was able to reach a real person with a real name to deal with who remembered me and if he didn't know the answer he went straight to the engineering people to get an answer for me. Over time I saw a lot of \"updates and fixes\" that directly answered some of my nagging issues. And there were a LOT of software and firmware upgrades before the bugs got worked out. I feel confident now with my latest HEOS component that the bugs have been indeed worked out to the point that my system runs smoothly every time I fire it up. I make a point of this because there are reviews posted from customers who were not happy with the early stumbles and glitches and it's all too easy to assume current products are the same. They're not. One of the huge advantages of software-driven products like HEOS is that if there is a hitch you're not stuck with it, everything that's been \"fixed\" over time with my HEOS products has been through a seamless automatic download. And a big kudo to the fact that when one of my components updates, Denon automatically updates ALL of my HEOS components at the same time (not even Apple does that with their iOS upgrades).\n\nBOTTOM LINE:\n\nIf you own current HEOS products you will probably fall head-over-heels in love with the HomeCinema sound bar, not only for how it sounds but for how wonderfully versatile Denon has made it. If you are new to HEOS and think almost $800 is too much to pay for a sound bar (maybe more than you paid for your TV), take a closer look. This is a magnificent sound system that does so much more than adding great sound to your TV. If you use it in your living room you very well may end up with it being your ONLY source of audiophile-quality sound, built into a physical package that is ideal for smaller rooms, apartments or shared quarters. And, if you live in a typical house like me, once you experience having the same music (or an extensive range of DIFFERENT music) playing in every room of your house, including your back yard you will wonder how you every lived without it.\n\nBasing my review on the high-end quality and versatility of this speaker and taking into account how well it integrates into a whole-home wireless solution, I feel confident recommending it as worthy of earning 5-stars.","Product: Get the weather forecast and temperature information to plan your day with confidence with AcuRite's pro color weather station. The weather station's illuminated color display features indoor and outdoor temperature and humidity, rainfall, wind speed, wind direction, wind Chill, the weather forecast, heat index, dew point, barometric pressure with 12-hour history, time and date. Display stands upright for tabletop use or is wall-mountable. The AcuRite professional weather station uses patented Self-Calibrating technology to provide your personal forecast of 12 to 24 hour weather conditions. Self-calibrating Forecasting is generated from weather data measured by the 5-in-1 sensor in your yard - giving you the most accurate forecast available for your exact location. The patent-pending 5-in-1 sensor is easy to setup, includes mounting hardware and features a 2 year battery life for maintenance-free operation. One-year limited warranty. It's more than accurate, it's AcuRite.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Some real life observations\n\nReview: There is already tons of feedback on this product detailing how it works in technical terms. Here are some real life observations that will hopefully help you decide if this is the one for you, or not.\n\nAcuRite makes a lot of weather station products that look and perform almost identically to each other. I have always found shopping for their products difficult because despite a wide variance in price sometimes its really hard to tell what makes one model different from another. Before going on, since this page lists two variations of this model with one costing almost twice the other, the one I have is the internet connected model, which is really the only reason I even want a weather station in the first place.\n\nAcuRite is one of a handful of companies who make this kind of home weather station and they tend to be at the lower end of the scale in terms of price and degree of accuracy. Every time Ive shopped for one I find wide ranging levels of satisfaction with those not liking it usually not happy with the accuracy and durability. One of the reasons I put off until now getting one is I have been living in the desert where we really don't get much variance in weather anyway and much of the year its in the 110-120F range and low cost weather stations like this only last one season before the sun destroys them. Im moving to an area where there are 4 seasons and Im not used to weather conditions and changes, and Im more out in the sticks so now a home weather station seems more useful.\n\nSo much has been said about the specifics of what this does Ill only touch on those things Ive learned that I think are most important for you to know:\n\nAs tempting as those multi color displays look on some models you never really get used to them and the task of reading them gets old fast, then after that they are an eyesore in your living room. The inverted color display on this one is much more restrained and without the many colors its actually easier to read. Note that at night it dims itself, making it a more suitable in the living room.\n\nThe practical range of the wireless transmission from the outside unit to the indoor unit when you consider windows and walls is really 50 for some types of house construction, your results will vary.\n\nFor as much as this unit costs I would have expected by now that it would integrate into one or all of the smart home devices like Alexa. It seems so obvious to make a unit that you simply ask what current conditions are. But no, there is no interconnect between such home automation devices at all.\n\nThis model does not have lightning detection. Why? To me thats a major downside.\n\nOne thoughtful design feature is that this model has a dual sensor solar panel which is not shown in the product page illustrations. They are mounted at a slight V-shaped angle and point slightly upward so if the outdoor unit is mounted properly the panels will gather power from the sun all afternoon.\n\nOPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT\n\nThese are not serious flaws that would keep me from considering this model, but nevertheless are areas where I would expect more from this company, especially at the price:\n\n1. The overall construction is not very rugged. It would be well suited for temperate climates but I doubt it could survive long in harsh desert heat, brutal winter ice and snow or hurricane force winds.\n\n2. The most glaring example of inadequate construction is the way the outdoor unit mounts to the lightweight plastic tube. Once you point the sender in the proper direction you're supposed to fasten it in place with a tiny sheet metal fastener that bores a hole in the plastic tube. Unfortunately making that hole means if you want to make a slight adjustment (which means making another hole) it may not be very secure anymore.\n\n3. Speaking of the fasteners, there is an initial frustration when you open everything that they forgot to include the mounting kit, which means youll have to wait to install it. That turns out not to be the case - theyve hidden them in the battery compartment but nowhere do they tell you that.\n\n4. I was surprised, though not in an entirely bad way, how big the indoor display unit is. From the product illustrations I expected it to be smaller. In fact it is large enough to dominate wherever it is placed, which caused me have to rethink the ideal location.\n\n5. I am not a fan of the continuously moving tickers some cable news shows have. I don't need the information overload. This display unit has such a ticker and you cant turn it off, only have it display fast, medium or slow. When I put the display on a table within my peripheral vision while watching TV the constant movement got annoying. Also, you cant select which information you do and don't want to see so you have to wait for up to 36 different updates to flash by. Again, information overload.\n\n6. If you want to use the Access transponder (which isn't required for the weather station to work) you must plug it in to a physical Ethernet port on a router. When will companies understand that almost every home router is only equipped with four ports and many people already have those ports in use already. Yet a lot of minor gadget companies like this demand to be hard wired to the router. Such devices should be Wi-Fi enabled. Period. End of story.\n\n7. UPDATE: after a few days of the daily light-to-moderate wind pushing the big off-balance 5-in-1 sender back and forth that tiny fastener enlarged the hole in the soft plastic pole and fell out. Now the whole sender unit is just spinning around freely on the pole. I had to come up with a way to clamp it to the pole to keep it pointing due south as required. Why hasn't anyone else mentioned this issue?.\n\n8. The flimsy plastic base on the display is not weighted. Whenever you push any of the buttons the tall top-heavy display falls over. You would think the designers would have noticed that.\n\nSATISFACTION LEVEL\n\nOverall I like this for being a very simplistic basic weather station. These days for most of us there isn't really much need to buy such hardware, however, because you can so easily tap in to similar and even better units in your own neighborhood on your smartphone and get the identical information. I think this company is resting on their past laurels from the 1970s and 1980s and is tremendously behind the technology curve, nothing they are offering is as state of the art as it could be. The decision is yours if you want or need a physical weather station at your home or get the same information for free on your phone. If your choice is the former, this is one of several brands and models to give consideration to.","Product: With stunning 2K resolution, the 27 BenQ SW2700PT monitor is equipped with 99% Adobe RGB, 100% sRGB, 100% Rec.709 color space coverage providing you with a wide range of spectacular colors to work with.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: A serious look at a serious graphics monitor\n\nReview: BEFORE WE START\n\nImportant: please note that the seller has lumped 8 different BenQ monitors together on this page, resulting in reviews for all of them being mixed together. That can lead to confusion and conflicting information from well-meaning reviewers. To further complicate it the actual model number is not displayed anywhere for each review, only a generic product description in fine print called \"Style Name\". To be clear then the model I am reviewing is the SW2700PT 27\" IPS Adobe RGB Color Management 2560x1440 Display.\n\nMY ROLE IN THE CREATIVE PROCESS\n\nI have owned an award-winning still and video photography business for many years, having trained at several recognized institutions. My work is primarily documentary and product-related. Precision resolution and colorimetry in my acquisition and post gear is of high priority to me. There are many brands, models and technologies of imaging devices available to the professional; however it is sometimes difficult to lock in to definitive standardization. I have used BenQ products since the late 1990s and recognize them as a prime manufacturer associated with display products suitable for professional applications.\n\nHOW I WILL BE REVIEWING THIS PRODUCT\n\nThis review will not be laden with specs, neither those published by the manufacturer nor those measured by me, specs and features are readily available at the manufacturers website. Specs are not my primary motivator in considering a monitor, any more than I dwell on specs when evaluating the purchase of a new camera. Specs don't create art. Bluntly, computer monitors are an unfortunate but necessary tool to achieve an interim step in the process of communicating what the artist/photographer sees and interprets to the ultimate viewer. If we are to work in the digital realm we must use monitors, we have no other option, and all claims and hype from the manufacturers aside there is no monitor that exists capable of perfect imagery. When an artist/photographer perceives a nuance of a color that defines what their finished product will be it is the job of the camera, monitor, software and printing/display process to retain as much as possible of that hue so it may be shared with others. That to me is the difference between buying an $89 monitor at Walmart and making the commitment to acquire a monitor such as this and spend the time and energy it takes to fine-tune it to realize its full potential.\n\nSpecs are not meaningless and BenQ is generous with them to the degree of including a custom factory calibration report with each individual SW2700PT monitor. This is a valuable resource to give you a starting point to fine tune your specific monitor to your individual graphics card, software and output media. What is applicable to me is unique and applies only to me and my workstation. What is important is that the monitor has a plethora of fine-tuning adjustments far beyond the average computer desktop monitor.\n\nWHY\n\nBefore even getting into specs, features and performance one might ask why spend so much on a computer monitor. These days its easy to buy a decent monitor for just over $100 and a very good monitor for about twice that. Why spend $650 (MSRP) for a photography and video editing display at all? Ill refer back to this again a little later but the #1 reason is that photography (and graphic arts) are not about specs, features or performance. A monitor exists for the sole reason to display as reasonable a facsimile of what the photographer/artist visualizes, either at the time of creation or their interpretation of the finished product. Therefore a monitor, as a tool, must be: A) accurate; and B) replicable, i.e. it must reproduce the same tonality all the time, every hour of every day, under reasonable variable lighting conditions.\n\nFUNCTIONALITY\n\nApart from the visual fine-tuning range available, the SW2700PTmonitor also customizes well physically to your workstation needs. The base and mounting arm are in a class all by themselves in terms of structural rigidity resulting in virtually no physical shake. Thats important, as miniscule amounts of shake can affect human perception of the sharpness of an image. The monitor has an impressive range of vertical adjustment and is self-locking and calibrated so a favorite position may be replicated at different sessions. Likewise the 90 degree swivel is smooth but tight so no locking screws or cams are needed. If it is necessary to move the monitor for any reason there is a simple push-button mechanism to unlock it from the mounting arm after which the screen portion may be lifted from the base. This model is compatible with an excellent wired OSD remote controller for menu access with 3 user-determined presets; a quantum improvement over reaching under the screen and randomly pushing tiny menu buttons as you would find on the vast majority of monitors. The wired remote may be set into a receptacle built in to the bottom of the base; a similar receptacle built in to the arm or removed completely and placed at your fingertips for instant menu adjustments.\n\nThe SW2700PT is packed with premium quality interface cables for DVI, USB, and DisplayPort and a very robust and durable shading hood that attaches to permanent mounting clips molded into the bezel of the monitor. Also included is a comprehensive version of Palette Master Element calibration software. The monitor is rated as zero flicker and low blue light emitting. Unique are a SD card reader and two USB 3.0 ports on the left side of the cabinet.\n\nUSAGE\n\nThis monitor is best suited for a permanent, lighting-controlled graphic workstation. I mentioned that I am using this monitor in my home office workstation. Make no mistake, work that I do away from the studio is just as just as serious as what I do at the office. I have been using a 23 monitor up until I tested the BenQ because I believe anything larger may be difficult to process in my brain as a finite image. Heres an example of what I mean hold a 4x6, a 5x7 and an 8x10 printed photograph in your hands and look at them. Your eyes perceive the entire image as a something finite with boundaries. Now hold a 16x20 print in front of you. Too large, huh? You have to scan your eyes and maybe even turn your head to take in the entire image. This is not always a good thing when you are editing still or motion photographs (video). My example illustrates why a larger workstation monitor is not necessarily a better thing. After using this monitor for a while I discovered that 27 is not too large for editing tasks, but I will say that it is the largest I would be willing to use. At the same distance as my 23 monitor (and I am unwilling to change that) Ive learned that MOST of the time my eyes are comfortable taking in the entire image as one finite composition. The only time I find the BenQ to be too big is when editing purposely distorted high res video such as from a GoPro. In those cases I need to increase the distance from my eyes to the screen by about 20% more.\n\nHOW DOES IT PERFORM\n\nImage quality is very elusive to define even under the most controlled of conditions it can still be subject to a large number of variables and therefore the degree of satisfaction will probably not be the same for everyone. I know the term personal preference should have no place in a review of a tool that is intended to render images to a certain definable standard, but in real life it does, if only to the degree that there are individual differences in how each of us perceives color, intensity and tonal balance. My vision has been professionally tested recently for my ability to perceive color accuracy and the results indicate that my vision is near-perfect. But I will wager it is not the same 24/7/365. During the course of my test period I have been very satisfied with the degree of accuracy this monitor is capable of. I have reviewed a wide range of archive images and shot some stuff specifically for comparative purposes. Posting them here would be a useless exercise so you will have to accept that I am convinced enough that this monitor will suit my needs that I will be adding it to my wish list which hopefully will coincide with a time that it goes on a Lightning Deal. For those reading my review I cant imagine how anyone could make a final decision on something like this based on what someone else says. If you think it will fit your needs I suggest buying one and trying it before you make a final commitment.\n\nAREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT\n\nIm not sure what practical concern this would be but it should be noted that the HDMI port is Ver 1.4 rather than the Ver 2.0.\n\nWHY BENQ\n\nI have little to no concern what brand name is on a tool that I use in my trade. In fact I have always covered brand logos on my cameras with electrical tape so they don't distract my subject. My only consideration for the brand name of this product is whether the company behind it is an actual engineering/development company or just a brand name slapped on a generic product. And whether the company will be there to provide after-purchase support. I have owned BenQ products going back 15 years or more and I am confident that they have the necessary experience, skills and stability to be considered one of the major players when it comes to professional display products.\n\nSUMMARY\n\nShould you choose this specific model of monitor? Of course that is a personal decision. Here is my professional input as a working photographer who uses monitors such as this as part of my working toolkit. I see the use of a monitor in photo editing as being broken down into four general levels of need, and where the user fits into one or more of those level:\n\n1. The Exhibition Photographer this is when I must present my work in its most perfect form, such as a display in a gallery or museum. There are criteria I must meet, some of them self-imposed, that are not cost-effective for me to do myself, or that can meet a higher standard if I work with a pro lab equipped with specialty equipment that is outside of my budget range. This is more often the case for video editing but it can also apply to my still photography needs. I don't care what brand equipment they use, I care about the results and Im willing to pay them for those results. Obviously for that category of work I don't need to own a monitor (or any equipment or software) of my own.\n\n2. My Business this is my bread and butter. This is where I choose the equipment, software and accessories to best accomplish my highest standard of work while still running a profitable business. After careful consideration I found this monitor to be an excellent fit for my needs and it is priced at a enterprise-friendly cost. For the working professionals studio or home workstation I would recommend giving this monitor serious consideration. When properly adjusted I consider it worthy of being called a professional photographers tool.\n\n3. Enthusiast I believe a high percentage of people reading this review fall into this category. I do when I am taking photographs not for profit but for the sheer joy and satisfaction of photography. I want my results to reflect what I saw at the time I created the photo and I think most people who invest in a good camera and a quality set of lenses are after the same goal. When you consider what you spent on your camera gear the purchase price of this BenQ monitor is indeed reasonable and is night and day superior to a typical run-of-the-mill generic computer monitor. I doubt if a quality-conscious photo enthusiast would be disappointed in this monitor.\n\n4. The family snapshot shooter frankly 95% of what I take these days for family fun time is with my smartphone and I post it directly to social media without editing so, no, this monitor would be overkill for someone who primarily takes pictures of the kids and pets. But guess what? Cell phone cameras have become amazingly capable these days and every so often I take a candid shot that knocks my socks off and I do spend time touching it up. So I would say if you're into photography and/or video and have a few bucks to spend on a monitor the fact alone that the screen on this one is so good I would say its hard to go wrong, if for no other reason than the instant push-button profile selector.\n\nRegardless of what else you may ever read about this monitor, words will never be able to communicate how your images will look to you (ideally of course they should look exactly like what you saw/envisioned in real life when you created the image). Whether I tell you positive words or negative words to describe how well that worked out for me what I had this monitor to use my words cant let you see what I see. While the current selling price of just under $600 (when this review was written) may be on the pricey side for the photo enthusiast it is actually on the lower end of the spectrum compared to what you CAN spend on a display monitor if you really want to. Consider that the price also includes a three-year warranty on parts, labor, and backlight and I would consider this monitor not only an advanced and accomplished tool for the professional photographer/videographer but a good value as well.\n\nI evaluated a new retail production model monitor that was loaned to me for a month for the express purpose of sharing my observations in a review. I did not receive any compensation, free or discounted goods, nor any special requests from the marketing company who facilitated the loaner sample and I did not communicate directly with BenQ at any time. The monitor was packed up and sent back after the short-term loan.","Product: Capture more fast action and record more Full HD or 4K Ultra HD-ready video with your Android based smartphone, action or MIL camera. SanDisk Extreme cards are built tough for extreme durability even under challenging environmental conditions. Fast speeds reduce the time you're on hold while your pictures and videos move to your card or from your card to your computer. Storage capacities from 16GB to 64GB expand device memory and leave room to record video that's ready for the new 4K Ultra HD television screens and monitors.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: A pro talks about memory cards\n\nReview: Few people would question that SanDisk has earned a strong reputation as a manufacturer of memory cards. Not that there aren't other brands that are not equally as good, but because in the minds of some of the most demanding users worldwide SanDisk seems to have built an aura of not only for being good in terms of performance but for being the memory card people trust when they depend on it most. As a professional photographer I try not to let brand names influence my buying decisions, but as I look at the many memory cards I own, the fact is that most of them are SanDisk.\n\nMemory card manufacturers like to surround their products with a lot of mystique having to do with speed and extreme ruggedness. Im sorry to be the bearer of a dose of reality but the card itself is not the only factor in determining the speed performance of the product. The specific type and model of what you are using the card in, what you are doing with that device and under what conditions you are doing it and lots of other factors have a tremendous effect on a memory cards speed, a reason that when you read reviews from people who submit 30 pages of benchmarks you are only reading how the card performed under certain conditions at a specific time and place as they say, your performance may (and will) vary. That being said, this card represents a level of performance that should equal virtually any current piece of electronics you insert it in.\n\nThe other spec ruggedness also confuses a lot of people. The reality is that it would take ridiculously extreme conditions to damage a memory card manufactured by almost any company you can think of. A memory card is nothing more than a piece of plastic that sandwiches the electronic circuitry thats sealed inside. There is precious little that makes one brands card more rugged than another brand. When you buy a memory card you are buying the brands reputation more than any differences in the physical card over another brand and thats where SanDisk reigns supreme they have everything to lose if their cards don't live up to the highest of professional expectations, this is pretty much their entire livelihood, so to people like me they are worth the premium in price. Will it ever fail? Yes maybe it will and maybe it will be at the worst possible time and maybe you will read about someone who hates this card because of such an experience. No memory card is infallible.\n\nSo what about this particular newest version card? I tested (and am using on a daily basis) the 32GB model. 32GB is the current sweet spot in card capacities in terms of practical value for most devices whether that be cameras, video devices, smartphones or anything that requires a microSDHC card. The capacity is adequate for most users and the size assures compatibility for most current devices. And, the price point is comfortable for most people. At under-$20 selecting this card is almost a no-brainer and (this is personal opinion) I cant see saving $1.57 to buy an off-brand card when you can get a SanDisk for this low price.\n\nIf you are shopping for a memory card you know the SanDisk brand name. And youve probably read the usual glowing reviews from fans and also the negative reviews from people who prefer other brands. Youve probably read the so-called benchmark tests. Thats good stuff to know but heres the advice of someone who doesnt get a paycheck unless I deliver billable results (me) you're not buying specs, you're buying confidence and reliability. Think of that when you are ready to push the buy button. I rate this card as 5-stars for a product I can trust.","Product: The Patriot Torch LE Solid State Drive (SSD) is the perfect solution for those looking to increase the performance and storage space of their system. Available in capacities of 120GB, 240GB, 480GB and 960GB, the Torch LE SSD fits the needs of everyday users who are looking to significantly improve system response time over mechanical hard drives. Using a SATA III 6Gb/s interface, that is backwards compatible with SATA II 3Gb/S, the Torch LE SSD has transfer speeds of up to 560MB/s read and write speeds of up to 425MB/s (120GB), 530MB/s (240GB) and 540MB/s (480GB and 960GB). Built using a 7mm high 2.5\" form factor, the Torch LE fits neatly into any Ultrabook, laptop or desktop PC. The Torch LE has advanced features including end-to-end data path protection (ETEP), advanced wear-leveling, advanced garbage collection, smart ECC, smart refresh, and smart flush technology. The Patriot Torch LE is Compatible with Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows, 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10, Mac OS X, and Linux systems. Backed by Patriot's award winning build quality, the Torch LE comes with a 3-year warranty.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: A good performing bargain drive\n\nReview: Sometimes when things don't go perfect the first time it's a good opportunity to learn more about a product and the manufacturer than most people get to know. You as a reader of these reviews benefit from such learning experiences much more than just reading a review that tells you about a bad experience that left the user hating the company and telling you not to buy from them.\n\nIm no stranger to Patriot but like many people Im learning my way through the sometimes complicated world of SSDs. Not only is there a lot to learn but technology is changing at a breakneck pace as SSDs start becoming more and more common as replacement drives and even the default drive in new computers and laptops.\n\nSSDs are more memory devices than hard drives so its no surprise that the industry leaders tend to be companies with experience in manufacturing computer memory. Patriot is known as a long-time respected brand in that business. They have a full range of SSDs in a variety of capacities and capabilities. I am testing the Torch LE series, which is a value line that Patriot does not sell direct or in stores, only through Amazon and only in bulk packaging (by that I mean no retail box, no mounting kit, no cables/screws and no driver disk). The unit arrives in a clear plastic clamshell case with a small one page spec sheet. You are expected to know how to install it and how to set it up. In exchange for the simplistic marketing presentation you pay an industry-leading low price.\n\nI am not a novice to what makes computers work having built about a half-dozen of them from scratch. Im also not completely new to SSDs I just finished converting the primary drive in my high-end home workstation using a premium SSD of a different brand and my top-of-the-line laptop is 100% SSD. Patriot asked me to evaluate the Torch LE series for them and provided me with a discounted sample unit. As always my review is based on my own real-life experiences with the product.\n\nBefore installing the drive in my home workstation as supplemental data storage drive I read numerous reviews to see what issues I might expect to face and then I contacted the manufacturer for technical advice. Not surprisingly the first thing I learned was for the best experience I should update the drives firmware. This advice is made very clear at Patriots website and is most certainly the reason for some of the issues other users faced. So if you buy this drive (or any SSD from any manufacturer) check FIRST to see if there are firmware updates and do them before doing anything else.\n\nHow easy is it to update the firmware? Honestly, not that easy. Ive done that task dozens of times with other electronic components but the process here sent be back to tech support several times before I was able to do it right. In the end I looked at that experience as a valuable lesson about how good Patriot is at taking care of their customers. In a nutshell, I got fast responses and good advice throughout the process.\n\nSo heres a condensed version of what you need to know before installing this drive:\n\n1. The firmware update for the Torch LE is not listed on the tech support page at Patriot. To find it you need to go to the product description page (remember, Patriot does not sell this drive direct, only through Amazon). On the drives spec page there is a huge banner headline that tells you there is a firmware update available and how to download it. That part is easy.\n\n2. After you download it youll find that the app is zipped using 1z, a protocol the average person is probably not familiar with. Unlike most downloads these days the app is NOT self-extracting. You have to go to the 1z website and download an extraction tool. There are a dozen or more choices available and when you get it youll be faced with another dozen or so options on HOW to extract the file. None of it is as easy as pushing a button.\n\n3. Once you extract the file youll find the tool to be a goldmine. Its a basic tool but it will tell you a TON of information about your SSD drive (apparently not only for Patriot brand drives either). BE VERY VERY CAREFUL THAT YOU ARE READING THE INFO FOR THE PATRIOT DRIVE NOT ANY OTHER SSD YOU MIGHT HAVE INSTALLED!! In my case it only read my other brand boot drive because I had the Patriot drive hooked up via USB 3.0 I learned I had to install the drive inside my computer using a SATA cable for the app to recognize it. Then it displayed both of my SSD drives it is important that you don't accidentally flash the wrong drive!\n\n4. After installing my new Patriot Torch LE it fought for dominance in my system against my DVD drive. The only way I could get both to be recognized by my computer (with some great handholding by Patriot tech support) was trial and error switching my SATA cables around until everything played nice together.\n\nAfter all was said and done I ended up with whats considered to be the Rolls Royce of SSD drives (of another brand) as my primary boot drive and the Patriot Torch LE SSD as my supplemental data drive. I ran numerous benchmarks and real-life tests and found the bottom line is that in terms of performance the budget Torch LE series is impressive with comparable read speeds and a slightly slower write speed that is imperceptible in real life. As you know, specs are dependent on so many variables they are best considered a guideline for comparison performance in your system the way you use it will probably be different. There are several places you can search for benchmark tests of this drive under controlled conditions. Im satisfied that there is no reason I can think of not to save the money and buy a Torch LE series unless your needs are super demanding. If you cant measure the difference in terms of real-life benefits, why pay for it?\n\nFinal point is that even at the price point Patriot sells this drive with a 3 year warranty. Overall I like this drive and would recommend it as a good value performer. I would knock off a little for the difficulty in flashing the firmware but then I would need to offset that by giving kudos for a much better than average tech support experience. My gut tells me that equates to a total rating of 4.5 stars.","Product: The 290 Dual is the natural connection between the 290 and the higher-end family of the Manfrotto tripods. It has kept the sturdy construction of the 290 featuring the patented 90 Degree column mechanism, which together with the 4 leg angle positions enables it to easily reach ground level. These features make the 290 Dual the ideal support for photographers to express maximum creativity by discovering totally new shooting perspectives. This kit features a ball head for quick set up and ultimate adjustability.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Heres how to compare this to the less-expensive brands\n\nReview: If you're not a professional shooter or advanced amateur Manfrotto may not be a brand you're familiar with and you may be asking who would spend so much money for a \"no name\" camera tripod. In fact Manfrotto is a much sought after and revered tripod brand to those who want premium level performance without paying top dollar. Yes, the upper echelons of the tripod can easily command $2000 or more for a \"premium\" camera tripod. And when you make your living as a working professional photographer as I do you gladly pay that price for premium performance.\n\nBefore talking specifics I want to state that I am also an award winning videographer and this (even with the 3-way kit) is not set up for video unless you plan to use it only occasionally for home movies or lock down shots. Video tripod/head combos and still photography tripod/head combos have very different design characteristics, a ball head and a good fluid head are very different items.\n\nI own several tripods for my work and this makes the fourth I own for my personal photo fun times. Frankly this is not in the same league as my pro gear. But it's not meant to be. My pro gear is too heavy for this tripod and, as sturdy as this tripod is, it simply wouldn't be up to the challenges of commercial photo work.\n\nBut I am not working 24/7. And when I am traveling or just having fun with friends and family my tripod needs are entirely different. Having been frustrated by the cheapie tripods I bought to save money a few months ago I bought one of the top selling models from Ravelli, based primarily on price. The first one was broken so I got a replacement. After using it a few times its easy to see why it sells for a third of the price as the Manfrotto. Here is what to look for in a mid-weight tripod like this:\n\n1. Legs that positively lock when extended. The two most common locks are twist-to-lock and a snap lever lock. While the choice of which is best is a personal preference I find the twist-type (like the other brand has) may not always lock fully tight, which can cause the leg to slip. A positive snap lock like the Manafrotto, if it is well made, is less likely to slip. The Manafrotto has a mechanism that compensates for wear and age of the locking tab.\n2. Legs that have a positive lock to keep them from spreading when you don't want them to. I have had other tripod legs splay outward on highly polished floor surfaces. The Manafrotto has a four-position snap lock that keeps the legs at useful angles.\n\nAnd as far as the head mounted on the tripod, here are some tips:\n\n1. The ball mechanism should move smoothly but lock absolutely firmly when you have the camera in shooting position. Remember, a ball head is not a fluid head and it is not intended for smooth panning and tilting but a smooth ball action means that you will be able to position the camera precisely for still shots. The lower-priced brand has a ball mechanism that binds and is difficult to position and is not very precise.\n2. The quick release mount must be QUICK and the mounting plate slim enough to leave on the camera while shooting if the photographer is in a hurry. The lower-priced brand has a multi-step process for mounting or removing the head which involves loosening a screw then flicking a lever that does not positively lock, then while holding a little pin in the camera plate needed to slid out of a track that was poorly finished so it would usually get stuck. Inexplicably, the tab used to screw the mount to the camera body didn't lock in the up position so it would also catch on the mounting track. All of which made mounting and removing the camera a frustrating and time-consuming process.\n\nOne final thing to mention about this tripod is the unique instant 90 tilt feature, essentially allowing you to bend the center column at a right angle for straight down or straight up shots. If you do product shots (as I do) this is a solid gold feature you will love. One tip, though, is that unless your cameras is pretty light, folding the center column can throw the balance of the tripod off, possibly causing the weight of the camera to tip it over. To solve this, simply extend the leg nearest the camera out a little longer than the other two legs. With practice this will become second nature and your tripod will stay rock steady for those straight down (or straight up) shots.\n\nBOTTOM LINE:\n\nAs far as tripods go this is about as economical (and lightweight) anyone who is serious about photography will probably want to consider. For most amateurs and semi-pros it strikes a nice balance between cost and stability while still being easy to carry with you. Manafrotto is a highly respected brand and I don't get the impression that this is a cheap entry level model in their product lineup. Once you use it for a few days the difference between it and lower priced brands becomes pretty obvious. The quality of construction and attention to detail makes it worth the higher price and I have no doubt it will serve well for many years. As this is the best I have found anywhere near its price range I believe it earns 5-stars.","Product: HP 11-p110nr x360 Convertible\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Comprehensive user overview this HP, a MacBook Pro or a Surface Book, or ... ?\n\nReview: Please note that this review is long and it is not simply a cute-and-paste of specs you can find everywhere else. It is based on real-life needs and real-life use. I'm not a computer salesperson so you also won't find a lot of hype and hyperbole. What you will find is based on a whole lot of experience traveling with, and depending on, laptops.\n\nThese days you just cant shop for laptops like you used to, even only a year or two ago. The whole idea of what a laptop is and how its used has changed. Back in the day no laptop would be given serious consideration unless it had 17 screen, quad-core processor, 1 GB hard drive, mega battery power and more. Then came smartphones with big screens and ultra-powerful tablets and of course hybrid devices like the MacBook Pro, Surface Book and now the iPad Pro (with accessory keyboard). Extreme power is out and extreme portability is in. Not that there's no longer a market for the big powerful heavy luggable laptops many jet-setting businesspeople and others who require a mobile solution as capable as their office workstation still want and need the capabilities a premium full-featured laptop offers.\n\nBut for the rest of us the mobile computing market has segmented into all kinds of available choices, this convertible from HP being one of many. Its as different as it is unique from a full-featured laptop as different can be. So there is no value in applying traditional comparison criteria to it like how big the screen is, how much onboard storage it has or even how fast the processor is. Those features are not why it exists.\n\nLets look at some of the common mobile computing specs and see how this convertible stacks up:\n\nSCREEN SIZE:\n\nWith the advent of the iPad Pro theres no denying that the world has adopted smaller screens in the 12 range as the de facto standard the MacBook Pro has one, the Surface Pro has one, the new iPad Pro has one, Chromebooks have one. A smaller screen strikes an acceptable balance between useful readability and convenient portability. While there is and will be every bit as important a need for smaller, and larger, screens the market has spoken and the 12-13 range is what they want.\n\nON-BOARD STORAGE:\n\nWhat? No terabyte hard drive? Nope, no more than an MacBook Pro, Surface Book or iPad Pro has one. With cloud computing where both apps and files are store remotely its just not the kiss of death anymore to be limited to 16 GB or 64 GB or 128 GB. My iPad is only 16 GB onboard and after a year Im still only using 50% of it. Plus, unlike my iPad, the HP 11-p11nr (one of the most awkward model numbers Ive ever seen) has readily available plug-in storage options thats almost limited only by the imagination.\n\nPROCESSOR SPEED:\n\nRolls Royce used to have an answer when anyone asked how much horsepower their cars had. Adequate was the answer. With the latest versions of iOS, Chrome, Android and in this case, Windows 10 it is rare to find a mobile computer that doesnt have adequate power to run the operating system and almost any app you can throw at it.\n\nBATTERY POWER:\n\nDitto. In the old days, getting 2-3 hours on a laptops battery was a time for celebration. Todays mobile devices can power through an entire business day and more without even breathing heavy. Its just not that big of a deal anymore.\n\nSo needless to say, after evaluating and testing the HP 11-p11nr it emerges as a very capable mobile computing device. Now, why would you want to consider this form-factor instead of a traditional laptop, a tablet or a MacBook/Surface type of device? After all, the lines get more and more blurred with the many choices of non-traditional laptops available.\n\nAs a convertible, this model more resembles a shrunken traditional laptop than anything else. Its advantage over a smartphone or tablet is the obvious inclusion of a real tactile keyboard, something that the hybrids are not quite there with (late edit: except for the Surface Book which has a true tactile keyboard). A real keyboard will appeal to anyone who types a lot, i.e. a writer, blogger, teacher/student, etc. The keyboard is always attached and is hard-wired and includes an industry-standard touchpad so it operates just like the full-size laptops. The screen is also attached and positionable for (dare I say it) laptop use, something tablets and hybrids are usually just not that great at. The unique feature of a convertible is that the screen can be swiveled so the device can be used more like a tablet (albeit a heavy and cumbersome to hold tablet), but with Windows 10 it can be used in a 100% touch-only mode. That may not appeal to the typical tablet user as much as it may appeal to a business user who wants one device to serve as their laptop and their tablet.\n\nI want to touch on the similar devices that have a removeable screen instead of a hinged one like the HP. This is pure personal preference but for me (and Im sure others) there seems to be a productivity advantage of being able to just flip the screen up on a laptop, lets say in an airport, and start working. There is a risk factor with devices in which the screen separates that the user starts depending on the screen as a tablet device and may not have the keyboard with him/her when they need it. Personally I like having a laptop be a laptop 100% of the time and carrying my iPad with me for entirely different reasons and purposes.\n\nThe most obvious question would be which is better, a convertible or a hybrid? To reduce the question down to the most simplistic answer possible a hybrid still wins for extreme portability while a convertible has the advantage of more closely replacing a traditional laptop. In other words, its a personal choice. When I look at my real-life needs for a laptop (mostly for business) I compare my HP convertible more with devices like the MacBook Pro and the new Surface Book and one startling things becomes crystal clear the HP convertible does an lot of things that those two devices do but at a fraction of the price.\n\nPERSONAL OBSERVATIONS:\n\nHere are some of my random thoughts about this laptop in general, in no particular priority:\n\n1. As far as laptops go it is a lightweight but as far as tablets go it is substantially heavier. At 3 lbs, 2 oz (as measured by me) it is a half-pound or so heavier than most Chromebooks.\n2. The screen is really nice for a low-end laptop. Not in the realm of the best tablets but better than any Chromebook I have used.\n3. The fit and finish is much better than any of the Chromebooks I have seen. It should. It costs more than the average Chromebook.\n4. The above being said, it doesnt compare on any of those points with the MacBook Pro or a Surface Book but then again it is a fraction of the price.\n5. The keyboard feel is much more like a typical laptop. One of my needs for a laptop is to work on my books and a good keyboard is an absolute must-have. That combined with being compatible with Windows software, especially Word, is a deal-clincher.\n6. The concept of having a real almost full size keyboard, AND a multi-touchpad, AND a WIN10 touchscreen is about as close to perfection as it gets an amazing combination for the low price.\n7. After using an iPad with a Bluetooth keyboard for a while to travel with it is hard to get used to going back to having to carry a separate power transformer instead of just a USB cable. That is a necessary evil I guess but at least it is smaller and lighter than what you would find with most laptops.\n8. The speakers sound better than anything in its price range. The audio quality is better than the iPad Air2 by far (but thats not saying much). I haven't compared it yet side-by-side to the new iPad Pro because it won't be delivered for at least a few more weeks.\n9. The in-box setup and use documentation is pathetic. If this is your first modern computer you will be hopelessly lost. Even if you are upgrading from a fairly recent computer to Windows 10 you will be left scratching your head. The small fold-out \"roadmap\" consists of a picture of how to plug it in, a picture of where the buttons/inputs are and how to open the screen. Most of the sheet consists of Regulatory Declarations of Conformity, Software Terms, Limited Warranty, Feedback on this document, and tons of \"warnings\" in fine print. Not a word about how to actually get started, and especially not a word about all those now famous \"privacy settings\" that Windows 10 automatically sets to \"allow\". There is so much these days in setting up a new computer that is a one-way street (i.e. once you make a choice it is difficult or impossible to undo). Someone at Microsoft and/or HP will probably say \"well you can go online for more setup documentation\". But what about for those people who bought this as their first and only computer? How do they get online if they don't have a computer and don't know how to?\n10. As far as the 32 GB Solid-State Drive on-board storage, which is a tiny fraction of what you might expect on a full-size laptop or desktop computer, almost exactly half of that is already used by pre-installed software/apps (some call it bloatware). That leaves an amount remaining that can only hold a handful of photos at full resolution. Even if you immediately uninstall some of the stuff you will never use that's still not a lot of storage. But remember that this is designed to store most of your \"files\" in the Cloud using OneDrive. To make a long story short, it really does work itself out in real life for most users.\n\nBOTTOM LINE:\n\nYou are reading this page because you have, or think you have, a need for a convertible laptop. I do too. My need is for something to help me take my Windows 10 desktop computer mobile and still run all the same software (well, most of it) and have all of the benefits of a full-size laptop without the weight or the expense. I have not seen a better choice available to do that. I am very happy that this is the ultimate mobile PRODUCTIVITY computer for my business travel needs. Having it available to me has almost zero effect on my need and use for my iPhone nor my iPad, I still use them every day for entirely different reasons. None of them are replaceable by the other. My choice here was to which mobile PRODUCTIVITY computer made the most sense for me (being a Windows user for work) and the HP won out over the hybrids clearly and easily on price and just as much on overall usability. I like it, which Amazon defines as earning 4-stars. Is it perfect? No, and as an entry-level machine HP never intended it to be. I would say it requires a serious looking at though because it offers a lot of value for the price.","Product: The DxO ONE attaches to your iPhone and transforms it into a professional-quality connected camera. Featuring a 1-inch format 20.2 megapixel sensor and a high-quality f/1.8 lens, it captures amazing images, even in low light. The companion iOS app turns your iPhone display into a beautiful viewfinder and gives you full control over the cameras settings.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Comprehensive DxO ONE overview What you must know\n\nReview: This is an overview with first impressions of the DxO ONE iPhone camera accessory. Note that until 9/24/2015 the product was in pre-release free sample stages only through the Vine program. This is a post-release overview and is NOT for a Vine sample product.\n\nWHO IS DXO?\n\nYou know Nikon, Canon, Sony, Pentax and many other camera brand names. Most people who are not working professional photographers have probably never heard of DxO. And for good reason, this is their first entry into the camera hardware business. The company, whose full name is DxOMARK, is a professional photographers test and review website. They have been a regular source of high-end sophisticated camera testing for me for over 10 years. They are known for their lab-grade camera bench-marking tool and professional image enhancement software. However, they have not gone into detail at this point who actually makes the hardware for them and what their long-term commitment is to this product.\n\nWHO AM I?\n\nI have been hooked on photography since I was 10 years old and a working professional by the time I was 20. Ive been published in some of the top newspapers and magazines and have worked with presidents, kings, celebrities and tycoons. Im a frequent contributor to photographic and consumer-tech websites and have worked directly with the leading manufacturers in design, engineering, training and marketing.\n\nWHAT IS THE DxO ONE?\n\nThe device is specifically designed to be an add-on accessory for a current generation iPhone running iOS 8 or greater. While it may connect to other lightning connector enabled devices like iPod, the entire functionality of the accessory is enabled for and by the power of the iPhone. What it does is to enhance the capabilities of the already highly capable onboard camera of the iPhone by adding a much more sophisticated 20.2 megapixel 1 Sony imager. The accessory has its own fixed focal length lens (32mm equivalent, f1.8 max aperture) which ostensibly is superior to the iPhones onboard camera. The accessory is self-powered using an internal rechargeable cell (see more about this elsewhere in this article). The accessory attaches physically to an iPhone by plugging it into the phones lightning connector for both physical support and transfer of data. Operation of the accessory is accomplished using both dedicated controls and an on-screen control panel on the iPhone.\n\nIS THIS A NEW ONE-OF-A-KIND CAMERA?\n\nActually no. There are others that are intended to perform a similar function, most notably the Olympus AIR A01, which is remarkably similar in concept (but not in execution) and sells for just under $500. While the Olympus is a slightly lower 16 MP device with a 4/3 sensor and is designed primarily to be used with a Smartphone but unlike the DxO ONE, the Olympus may be used with iOS, Android and other operating systems, a huge advantage of not being limited to one brand of phone and one style of interface connector that could become obsolete. The Olympus has a far superior mounting system, rather than hang from the bottom of the phone solely by the delicate Lightning connector like the DxO ONE, the Olympus AIR mounts to the phone using a rugged clamp and then communicates all of its functions to the phone wirelessly.\n\nThe biggest advantage of the AIR of course is that it can be used with a large variety of existing 4/3 lenses, including zoom lenses, and is much easier to physically handle and control (but by the same token, the AIRs body is significantly larger and heavier 147g vs the DxOs approx. 91g). The AIR also has a beefier battery and multi-motion image stabilization. I won't go in to all of the differences but it is worth looking in to the AIR if you are looking at this genre of accessory and comparing them feature-for-feature to see which is best for you.\n\nWHAT MAKES IT SO UNIQUE?\n\nThere has been almost no mention from the Vine samplers of the #1 thing that makes this accessory unique and special and that is the image sensor. That is not something consumer-grade point-and-shoot camera manufacturers go into detail about with their level of customers, but it is a major point of consideration for professional photographers and experienced photo enthusiasts. No matter how many megapixels a camera has the bottleneck in achieving pro-level image quality is the small sensors that consumer cameras have. Thats why, no matter how many megapixels the next iPhone has, the tiny little sensor will always prevent it from equaling the quality of a high-end DSLR.\n\nHeres a simplified explanation. Imagine a silver dollar. Now imagine taking a brush and painting tiny dots on it. Each dot represents one pixel. Once you get to 20,000,000 dots you have painted the equivalent of 20 MP on the surface of the coin. Now take a dime and using the same brush, try to paint 20,000,000 dots on it. The dots are going to be smaller and squeezed in closer together. What you have done is illustrated the difference between a point-and-shoot consumer camera using a small sensor (the dime) and a pro-level DSLR using a one-inch sensor (the silver dollar). The tremendously larger surface area of the larger sensor permits each of the 20,000,000 dots (pixels) to be larger and gather more light and result in more resolution. Of course, sensor design is much more complicated than my simplified example but in the above example I have illustrated WHY the Dxo ONE exists and the reason why it is an exciting and necessary tool for individuals with an advanced knowledge of photography who can put it to its full potential when used properly.\n\nThere is an illustration I created posted with this article that compares the image sensor size of the DxO ONE to the typical $800-$1000 DSLR from Canon, Nikon and the other brands to the typical sensor for a consumer-grade point-and-shoot to the sensor size in a typical smartphone. The graphic illustrates the tremendous difference in relative size between various sensors. Remember, sensor size, NOT how many megapixels is the prime factor in determining image quality. By the way, as other pro photographers will agree, right up there in importance when we choose any camera is the quality of the optics. We don't care whose brand name is on the front or whether it has WiFi or all kinds of gimmicks, without a good lens all else is a waste of money. The DxO ONE has a lens that is both better and more capable than what is built in to any iPhone. But don't fool yourself, it is nowhere in the same league as a professional quality lens which will cost you many times what the entire DxO ONE costs.\n\nWHO WANTS / NEEDS IT?\n\nFrankly, to many if not most iPhone owners this accessory isn't going to do a lot to help them take any better pictures than they already can using the technology built in to their iPhones. The high megapixel count (as I have preached for years) doesnt necessary help make a better picture, but rather a bigger picture. For the casual snapshot taker who posts their photos to Facebook it will be virtually impossible for them, or anyone else, to see any improvement in picture quality under everyday conditions. It is the serious enthusiast and some professionals who are likely to take full advantage of the cameras ability to take photos that can be cropped or enlarged to huge poster sizes (something most people rarely if ever do). And that person can and likely will see the value of purchasing a $600 accessory that they are willing to carry everywhere they carry their iPhone as they search for the perfect shot. Does this mean the DxO ONE isn't capable of greatly improving on the inherent quality of photos an iPhone is capable of taking? Of course not. In the hands of someone willing to take the time and effort it requires to photograph rather than take a snapshot the DxO ONE is capable of fantastic results. The time-worn maxim still applies great photos are taken by photographers not cameras.\n\nWHAT ARE ITS PRIMARY SELLING POINTS?\n\nIf you are already a DSLR user, especially one who owns one of the handful of pro-grade cameras, you will appreciate that the DxO ONE will give you some of the capabilities of your big, heavy and complicated camera in a tiny, lightweight gadget that you can literally carry everywhere with you. Even professional photographers take a day off but they are never without their phone. If you happen to be an accomplished shooter and also happen to own a current generation iPhone you may never again say dang, I wish I had my camera with me. The DxO one excels at portraiture due to its fixed lens and great bokeh (well except for the 6 blade iris). And along those lines, as a working professional, there is a use for me for the DxO ONE that is truly unique and worth the price and thats street photography. By that I mean walking casually through events, neighborhoods, etc. where a full-size DSLR would scream WARNING: professional photographer with expensive camera) and allow me to look like Im simply taking a snapshot with my phone, while I am actually taking what could be an award-winning photograph. In fact I would say the concept of having this as a stealth camera would be my #1 reason for owning it. BTW the RAW + proprietary DxO image processing makes it especially suitable for ambient light photography.\n\nWHAT ARE ITS SIGNIFICANT WEAKNESSES?\n\nThe DxO ONE, by camera standards, is not the first (or even second or third) camera you would choose for general family photos, sports/action photography or to use in unfavorable weather conditions. While it does have a 1/8000 shutter, it is an electronic vs mechanical shutter. The DxO ONE just not really cut out for action photography due in no short measure to the fussy setup procedures, shutter lag, lack of ruggedness and the lack of a zoom lens (digital zooms like you will find here don't count).\n\nOne major concern I have is the way the device mounts to the iPhone via nothing more than the lightning connector. Books have been written about how fragile the lighting connector is (a reason Apple is indicating replacing it with USB-C) and I tend to be very careful about plugging and unplugging accessories in to my iPhone. Im very concerned about something the size and weight of the DxO ONE hanging off my phone supported by nothing but the lightning connector, though the seller makes some interesting points about how the camera is supposed to fall off before the connector breaks. I would much rather have seen the company design an accessory that somehow clamps onto the phone like the Olympus AIR and utilize a flexible cable to connect it to the phone. Along the same topic, I fear what will happen to my shiny (and expensive) DxO ONE if next years iPhone 7 is the first Apple phone to switch to USB-C. Maybe, and thats a big maybe, some sort of adapter can be rigged up but thats a pretty ugly thought to visualize.\n\nNext, there is no physical onboard still image stabilization. This is something almost every consumer is used to by now and is a definite weak point for point-and-shoot snapshooters. Without the knowledge and temperament to adjust the settings properly a lot of the superior imaging quality can be ruined by shaky hands (more to come on how the DxO ONE compensates for that).\n\nNo tripod mount. That pretty much erases any benefit from the 15 second shutter speed '\n\nBy far the majority of people use some sort of protective case on their iPhones (and iPads). The design of the standard-length lightning connector as the only way to mount the DxO ONE is physically incompatible with a significant percentage of popular phone cases. Speaking for myself I am not willing to remove my phone from its case to use any accessory. Fortunately my phones case is such that the entire bottom is exposed and the DxO ONE fits but just barely and not very securely.\n\nAnd for those who have not shot 20.2 megapixel images, the file size is HUGE, larger than most people are used to. While the DxO ONE can use microSD memory cards for image storage, beginner photographers may not be quite ready to edit such large files and may find the file sizes much too large to post to some social media sites or email apps without taking an extra step to resize their photos.\n\nAnd finally, as is becoming a persistent topic whenever the DxO ONE is discussed, the battery life is abysmal. I don't know what else to say about that, the short battery life seems to erase all of the positive benefits of having a pro DSLR in your pocket available to plug in to your iPhone at any time.\n\nThe DxO ONE can also be used as a stand-alone camera. Frankly this is not what it is designed for and there are significant limitations to using it that way, like no viewfinder and very limited control over the camera. I found it useful recently at a late-afternoon outdoor wedding where the lighting was very low and there were already two professional photographers covering it. With the DxO ONE hidden in my hand I took some incredible unposed candids of the wedding party that most point & shoot cameras could not have been able to handle in the low-light conditions. I also took some out on the dance floor at the reception that no one had any idea I was taking. I cant see many practical applications of using the camera without being attached to the smarts of an iPhone but if you understand what the DxO ONE is (and isnt) designed to do you will soon discover why it really is unique and comparisons to other brands and styles of camera just don't really work.\n\nFor now, I like the Dxo ONE in concept. Time will tell if as shipped production models will reveal any more benefits or concerns compared to the hand-picked seed Vine samples. Amazon defines I like it as 4-stars so until production models get some real-life field experience by experienced users I will rate it as such and hold off on any test/evaluation sample shots until then.","Product: The compact, sleek design of all of our dashcams will allow you to place them in the most ideal spot so your view of the road is not blocked. The video quality in most of our dashcams is an astonishing 1080 HD at 30fps, with more options to choose from. GEKO uses the most advanced technology today to combine state-of-the-art lenses and image sensors to guarantee crisp, clear footage. GEKO dashcams are resilient and durable, made to withstand the harshest of weather conditions, either hot or cold. GEKO dashcams deliver the confidence of Full HD video clarity, ensuring rich detail and crystal clear image quality for your surveillance video clips. Versatile and powerful, yet small enough to fit just about anywhere our dashcams will surpass your expectations. Imagine having a second set of eyes on the road while you drive. With the full one-year warranty that is included you will get the added support you need.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: The new class leader is one of the most affordable\n\nReview: <div id=\"video-block-R968QURG3X4OD\" class=\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\"></div><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/D1GatY0-QiS.mp4\" class=\"video-url\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/11mT5gVuMwS.png\" class=\"video-slate-img-url\"> Okay, Im finally excited about a dashcam! Not that I haven't tested (and used) quite a few very fancy and nice dashcams. But this one is literally the first that got me excited. So Ill start by simply ticking off my first impressions and what I liked about them (dont worry, the list of things I didn't like follows right after):\n\n1. It is tiny and light. And doesnt look like a dashcam (i.e. it doesnt have steal me written all over it. It is finished in stealth black rubberized covering that absolutely does not call attention to itself. In use it looks like one of those electric eye things that auto-dims your headlights or senses the outdoor temperature.\n2. It has a built-in battery backup.\n3. There is NO chrome on it at all, in fact no markings or writing on the side that faces outward. The part that faces into the vehicle only has a few subtle gray-on-black button labels.\n4. The buttons are real buttons. When you push one it actually clicks, so you know you did something.\n5. There is a small but surprisingly bright and sharp LCD screen so you know what the camera is pointed at.\n6. There is a microphone so it picks up sound (yea!!!) that can be used as evidence or just to record a fun trip adventure.\n7. To mount/unmount it there are no fussy levers, you just slide it into the adjustable suction mount that is already in place. And the suction mount is tiny and also totally subtle, it does not scream expensive toy on-board\n8. It records to a standard Micro-SD card (included) for ease in downloading the video\n9. It comes with a cigarette plug adapter for operation and recharging the battery. It also comes with a shorter USB cable for the same purpose.\n10. This should be #1 it is totally brainless operation. It powers on automatically when your start the car* and goes into record when it senses motion, then it turns off when you stop driving. There is a 12 second pause so it keeps recording when you are stopped for a stop sign in case someone does something stupid.\n\nNow, the not-so-rosy:\n\n1. Why does it use the old-school mini-USB connector instead of the more standard micro-USB? I know that connector is still popular in a few places in the world but not everyone has them laying around and if you lose the cables that come with the unit you may be out of luck. Not a deal-breaker, just an inconvenience.\n2. See #10 above I like the motion sensor and the 12 second delay at stop signs but Im not crazy about it going into pause during longer stops, like at red lights. I would suggest that they may the pause user-adjustable, and I would set it at about two minutes before auto-pausing.\n3. Hold on, Im thinking of other things I didn't like. Still thinking \nOh yeah, add to the list of things I love the price. Holy dashcam Batman, are you kidding? Yes Ive see a few toy no-name dashcams for about the same price but something from the leading Papago! brand for such a low price? If I had known about this before the manuf asked me to test an early sample copy I would have had my checkbook in hand in a split second to buy one. Of course there wasn't a word about how I should write my review, these people are way above that and I wouldnt have listened anyway. I test and review stuff MY way.\n\nWHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:\n\nBeing a 1080p camera the Geko is about as good (if not better) than most GoPro-type cameras and there is no reason it cant be used exactly the same way (except it is not waterproof or meant for hostile environments). In fact the 120 degree lens is just about right for a lot of typical sports/action video use. The Geko also has a built-in still camera with a couple of unusually powerful LED flash bulbs. Careful though, you will want to make sure the LEDs are turned off if you plan to shoot pictures through the windshield of your car or youll get some nasty reflections.\n\nAlso know that there is no software included in the box. You are pretty much on your own to download any video or still photo files. That was not difficult for me under Windows 10. I just popped the card into the SD adapter (included) and stuck it in the slot in my computer to download the files. Note that if you don't have very long fingernails (I dont) getting the card in and out of the camera will take something like a knife or in my case, a letter opener.\n\nBOTTOM LINE:\n\nThere is very little not to like and the price is as right as it gets. Papago! is one of the very few dashcam companies that actually has real people in the United States and they are great at customer service. I don't know why anyone would want to buy a no-name brand when the cost of the Geko is so ridiculously low.","Product: The DV180F has two LCDs, a 2.7-inch screen in the back and a 1.5-inch screen on the front. The front screen makes it easy to frame self-portraits--no more guessing and hoping you took a good shot. Thanks to built-in Wi-Fi, transferring your images and sharing them no longer requires memory cards or cables. Whether you're at the concert hall or a birthday party, grab the DV180F to take 720p HD-quality MPEG video at 30 frames per second. The Smart Auto 2.0 feature automatically analyzes the current shooting environment and chooses the right mode to give you the best possible picture. The compact design of the DV180F makes it easy for you to slip it into your pocket and take it with you wherever you go.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: A good idea with a not-so-good execution\n\nReview: This is about as generic of a Point & Shoot digital camera as you will find. With one exception it is as ordinary as any under $150 camera as you will find from Nikon, Canon, Sony, Fuji or any of the many other brand names. There is nothing about the cameras specs or performance that would make you choose it over any other brand. None of the above should be considered negative, there is absolutely nothing wrong with this camera.\n\nBut it is the one unique feature that is the exception that may cause you to consider it. And that is the front mounted LCD viewing screen. All of a sudden a plain vanilla camera becomes a selfie cam, and that feature may be worthwhile for some people.\n\nFirst the bad news virtually every smartphone made in the past 5 years (at least) has a selfie cam built in. And selfie cams are very popular with some people. And for those people their phone is with them all the time, why would they want or need another, larger camera to carry around in addition to their phone. Well, for some people, especially those with families or who are very active, a traditional Point & Shoot camera gives them more features than their cell phone. Most notably on this particular Samsung camera, a 5x optical zoom lens (the specs shown by Amazon above are wrong, they show it to be a 6x lens). An optical zoom can make all the difference if you travel and want to bring home better than average vacation photos. And the more powerful onboard flash can be more useful for pictures in dimly lit conditions than the puny flash on almost every smartphone. While the image quality may not be substantially different from what your smartphone is capable of, if you plan to make enlargements of your photos the larger image sensor should result in better enlargements than your smartphone. By the way, this is a 16.2 MP camera, at the time I posted this review the product page does not show the resolution specs.\n\nSo what Im saying is if you are already leaning toward buying a separate pocket camera of this type, why not consider the added benefit that it can also take selfies?\n\nThe idea is good. Samsungs execution of the idea is not so good. The placement of the little front LCD is not at all well thought out. First, it is located to the left of the lens (as you face the camera) right under the shutter release where it is almost impossible for your finger to reach the shutter button without blocking the LCD screen. Other cameras with the idea of offering the selfie cam feature have the rear viewfinder fold up over the top of the camera where it is easier to reach the shutter button without blocking it. Once you try taking selfies with the Samsung you may find it frustrating to try to hold the camera at arms length and release the shutter while still being able to see the LCD screen.\n\nIt doesnt get any better as far as the flash location which is located right above the front LCD screen. Not only is it hard to hold the camera for selfies without blocking the flash but the location close to the lens is very prone to causing red-eye.\n\nThe camera is not accurately described by the manufacturer either. They say transferring your images and sharing them no longer requires memory cards or cables due to the built-in WiFi. Not true, you still need a memory card in the camera. I think what they mean to say is that you don't have to take the memory card out and stick it in your computer to transfer pictures but not many people do that anyway. Having WiFi in a camera tends to be no less complicated (or even more complicated) for most people than just plugging their camera into a computer using the USB cable. Plus, WiFi is a battery drainer, a consideration if you won't have easy access to a camera charger for an extended period.\n\nFor a Point & Shoot camera, this Samsung model is pretty decent but you can get a comparable brand name model for less without WiFi or a front LCD screen. If you have your heart set on either or both features there is no reason to not buy it. Overall I like the camera (and the white color is attractive and unique). Amazon suggests I like it as a 4-star rating and I agree.","Product: NEW Dell premium notebook with optimized performance for both productivity and gaming entertainment.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: I believe Dell has a winner\n\nReview: <div id=\"video-block-R22M3DYHPACU91\" class=\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\"></div><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/D12KwGncL7S.mp4\" class=\"video-url\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/01huQF6pkOS.png\" class=\"video-slate-img-url\"> For a laptop computer, any laptop made by any brand, to cost almost $1000 at the end of 2015 it better be one of the best computers on the planet. PC laptops have generally fallen to the $200-300 range for a good one from a brand name. If you read the news reports it has been said that laptops are already dead along with their desktop brothers replaced by smartphones and tablets, and there is already talk that tablet sales have peaked and are on a downward spiral.\n\nSo what makes this laptop from Dell worth anywhere near its champagne & caviar selling price? Quality of construction? Is it crafted from an exotic ultra-lightweight metal? Nope, its just ordinary plastic. How about power? Well, it takes a techies eye to recognize it as at first glance any computer with only an Intel i5 chip, 8GB RAM and a 256GB hard drive sounds downright puny in todays competitive world. (More on this later).\n\nHow about the screen image quality and graphics? Well, now were on to something. No it doesnt have a 17 screen, but for me, that size is massive overkill in a portable computer. No matter how you slice it the 15 screen was, is and will be the sweet size that strikes the perfect balance between viewability and portability.\n\nWhile not a large screen, especially for a gaming machine, the screen and graphics card verge on being close to the best you can get in a PC laptop. The GeFocce GTX 960M (4GB GDDR5) graphics card will cut through most games like butter at high settings and 1080p and receive 30 frames per second. Yes, this is a gaming machine.\n\nThe keyboard is the familiar chiclets-style that is found on almost every laptop computer made these days. It is not bad nor is it great. A saving grace is that it is nicely illuminated, although it doesnt light up like Vegas like on a fancy gaming keyboard. The keyboard also has a full numeric keypad, something business users will love. It also has a HUGE trackpad with clickable left and right mouse buttons. I've heard some people don't like it being centered below the text keys rather than centered on the machine but I almost never use trackpads anyway. I prefer a mouse because I tend to do a lot of scrolling, plus I like extra programmable buttons.\n\nNot having an optical drive (i.e. CD/DVD) is something lacking on a unit as expensive as this is, although it certainly is no longer a necessity anymore. The battery pack is more capable yet smaller and lighter than most laptops were only a few years ago, which is a plus, but WHY do laptops still require a charging pack as large and heavy as this one? There is no lack of connectivity, with all three of the USB ports being 3.0 capable (backward compatible). DisplayPort is not present which might tweak some hardcore gamers. And a subtle but appreciated touch is that there is a lower bay door that opens easily to snap in up to 8GB more RAM or another larger hard drive. I should note that when I say hard drive Im using the term interchangeably with the 256GB SSD (solid-state drive) that actually comes preinstalled in the computer. SSDs offer faster boot times, quieter/cooler operation, better battery life, faster data access and less chance to be damaged by sudden jolts to the unit.\n\nI was initially disappointed to find the CPU being only an Intel i5, being under the belief that the i7 was a more powerful chip. Generally that may be true in the classic sense of power but this chip is no slouch. It uses the newest 6th Generation Skylake architecture based processors that were just introduced a few weeks ago in late 2015. Specifically it is an Intel Core i5-6300HQ. The processor contains four cores, a 2.3GHz clock speed and up to 3.2GHz turbo boost mode. It benchmarks a similar performance to processors such as the i7-4712HQ which gets around 7500 CPU Mark points which is excellent. The i5-6300HQ performs about the same but in a cooler and more power-efficient package. In other words, this processor is absolute top drawer in performance.\n\nIn todays world of cloud computing the 256GB storage drive isn't as small as it sounds. I found it adequate for my needs. But it is comforting to know that it would only take seconds to snap a larger storage drive into place. Ditto with the RAM which is 8GB DDR3L 1600MHz. I am used to a little more and 8GB is borderline for me, but RAM is cheap and that is one of the first improvements I will be making.\n\nInternet connectivity is 802.11 A/C plus a Bluetooth 4.0 adapter. Theres also an integrated 1000Mbps controller with RJ-45 port in case you want to connect using hard-wire. I like that it has a built-in SD card slot, something I will use often but my happy face went away when I saw it lacked a touch screen, something that seems like it should be standard equipment now that Windows 10 has figured out how to give us the best of traditional keyboard AND touchscreen interactivity. For the price I for one will miss it.\n\nWhile Im not an IT person, I have a lot of experience with computers desktop, laptop and tablet. Somehow Ive been able to make it through my adult life never owning a Dell product. Thats not a reflection on Dell, but honestly Ive never even considered one my opportunities always lead me to purchase brands like HP, IBM/Lenovo, ASUS and a few others. So if you're like me and have never owned a Dell you may be interested in my overall gut first impression and overall satisfaction with this one, knowing that it certainly represents one of their most expensive laptop products.\n\nUnlike some of the hard-core gaming laptops, this one is not a beast in design or handling. It is, in fact, quite svelte in its slim profile and lack of garish trim that is often associated with gaming laptops.\n\nSUMMARY:\n\nWe have many choices these days and so far, nothing has come along that can do everything. Our smartphones are incredible but no matter how big a smartphones screen is it just doesnt cut it for serious gaming, graphics work or everyday business work. Tablets do so much today they can almost replace a traditional computer but if you add on a keyboard and mouse (if possible) and USB hub, etc. you're carrying around pretty much the weight and volume of a laptop. There are ultra-slim laptops that are gorgeous (and expensive) and there are cheap Chromebooks that lack full compatibility with the entire range of games and business software. So, yes, there is still a need for an authentic genuine laptop like this one and if you are performance hungry and not used to compromise this one actually begins to not look so expensive after all. True, its not super-lightweight. True its kind of a monster to carry around. True even with its advanced battery it still won't get you through an entire day without a recharge. Those are the trade-offs for blazing speed and an image quality that will knock your socks off. If you are in the market for a business machine this one has your number. If you are a gamer on a budget who is looking for the best you can afford, Dell knows who you are. For what it is, and how it does what it is intended to do, I believe Dell has a winner and my out-of-the-gate rating is 5-stars. Lets see how it survives real-life everyday use for a few months and Ill report back as necessary.","Product: Vinyl plus, whose design inspiration comes from the classic and retro vinyl record, is another classic headphones created by Bluedio team. The flexible and streamline appearance design is just like the vinyl CD. Note : If the PC has a built-in Bluetooth, please try to install the Toshiba Bluetooth stack (choose the newest one or whatever is recommended online).If you use a Bluetooth dongle, you may need to buy a CSR 4.0 Bluetooth adapter, the CSR 4.0 Bluetooth adapter would work perfectly with our headphones. Please install the driver by using the included mini CD in the package of CSR 4.0 Bluetooth adapter. Please press and hold the power button until the blue light stays on. Please make sure that the headphone has entered the pairing mode by pressing and holding the power button until the blue light stays on. when you press the power button once, the red and blue light on the headphone blinks, then the headphone can`t be paired with any other devices. Troubleshooting Steps: A: If the PC has a built-in Bluetooth, please try to install the Toshiba Bluetooth stack (choose the newest one or whatever is recommended online).Some other customers said it works great, they connect our headphone to their PC successfully using a Toshiba application.. B: If our customer use a Bluetooth dongle, then he may need to buy a CSR 4.0 Bluetooth adapter, the CSR 4.0 Bluetooth adapter would work perfectly with our headphones. And after buying the CSR 4.0 Bluetooth adapter, our customer need to install the driver by using the included mini CD in the package of CSR 4.0 Bluetooth adapter. Please press and hold the power button until the blue light stays on. Our customer need to make sure that the headphone has entered the pairing mode by pressing and holding the power button until the blue light stays on. when you press the power button once, the red and blue light on the headphone blinks, then the headphone can`t be paired with any other devices.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Comprehensive first look and new product test\n\nReview: I was a bit apprehensive when I saw this headphone from Bluedio, a company who has made a strong niche selling good quality headphones in the modest price range (by modest I mean $25-100). This isn't their first foray into a premium headset but it may be their most ambitious. And I am no stranger to high-end headphones, personally owning a pair that cost in the $1000 range. So when the company told me about them as they were being newly released I agreed to test and evaluate a production pair as a no-cost sample with the understanding that my reviews are always independent and free from commercial endorsement.\n\nWhen the headphones arrived my heart sank a little. The box was heavy, a full 3.7 pounds! Yes, my super-expensive electrostatic headphones are heavy too and I certainly have no love for that fact. When I wear headphones it is often for extended periods and excessive weight can be the biggest negative going.\n\nFortunately, it turned out that the headphones themselves aren't all that heavy, it is the beautiful presentation box they come in that accounts for most of the weight. The unit itself only weighs a respectable 14 oz.\n\nWhile on the subject of comfort, this set includes the word Light in the product name and they truly are not only light but superbly comfortable. The light weight and a thoughtful design shape makes me forget that these are some of the largest headphones Ive seen as soon as I slip them on. Lets get that clear right now, these headphones are meant to wear for hours on end without fatigue, due in large part to the buttery-soft earcups and headband. One of the things headphone listeners will agree on is that little is more annoying than the spring tension against the head being too strong (or so weak you have to keep adjusting them). Bluedio did an excellent job of getting that metric exactly right so once you slip them on you tend to forget you're wearing them.\n\nHOW DO THEY SPEC?\n\nAs Bluetooth headphones these tick all the boxes. They are Ver 4.1 + EDR compliant with A2DP, AVRCP, HSP and HFP profiles with a stated operational range of 33. They have 16 ohm drivers with a specd frequency range of 15-25,000Hz and a THD of <0.1%. They charge fully in 2 hours and deliver an outstanding music/talk time of 20 hours with a standby time of 1100 hours. Of course actual use time will vary. In addition to the beautiful fitted case with carabineer, they come packed with a USB charging cable, a Y audio cable for music sharing and a mini-to-mini talk cable for use with your smartphone. All of the cables have a fitted pouch to avoid misplacing them.\n\nBUT HOW DO THEY SOUND?\n\nI could go on about how they look and feel. Ill let the attached photos take care of showing you how they look. Youre here to find out how they sound, right? Every person hears sound differently depending on their age, ear shape, physical condition and of course the type of music they listen to and at what volume. So don't fall for reviews that claim any audio product sounds great or sounds terrible. You may have a totally opposite opinion. The best and only way to know if an audio product will sound good to you is to listen to it using the music you like listening to, at the volume you like. I know that sounds like a legal copout but its a fact. Specs you see on paper are also only a very rough guideline to what an audio product is capable of. There are things of course that are based in science, for example, a 70mm diaphragm should produce better sound in the low frequencies than a 20mm diaphragm. And it does in these headphones the bass range is sublimely pure without being boomy. The larger diaphragm also contributes to a silky-smooth midrange that enhances the realism of the vocal range. One thing specs cant measure is sound stage, a very important factor in music enjoyment that transcends frequency response and other specs. Heres an example. A superior pair of headphones will enable you to pinpoint the lateral and even the vertical orientation of individual instruments whether recorded live or in a studio. Comparing the Vinyl Plus to a basic pair of headphones and also an expensive pair that I don't happen to like very much, using the same source, with the Bluedios I can localize a particular instrument in a live orchestral performance and place it higher or lower than adjacent instruments. These headphones are not alone in being able to do that, but nevertheless it is a sign of a quality audio product.\n\nBURN IN:\n\nTo slap any better quality headphone on and immediately declare the sound quality as good or bad would be an audiophile faux pas. Here is how to \"burn in\" a good pair of headphones:\n\n1. Start with feeding the headphones a white noise signal. The volume should be lower than normal listening level. Play the white noise source continuously for 10-30 hours at low volume.\n\n2. Follow that by feeding your headphones with pink noise (ordinary music will do). Play them continuously for 100-200 hours at medium volume\n\n3. Switch now to your favorite music genre but switch it up with a variety of different styles. Listen to your headphones at normal volume until the sound smooths out and reaches it optimal capability. Your headphones are now successfully burned in.\n\nAREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT:\n\nI am picky when it comes to audiophile headphones. Of the ones I own, some are designed for studio monitoring (ideally they should reproduce sound that is as close to uncolored as possible), and some are designed for fun (headphones that are purposely tuned to tweak extra bass or treble for a livelier experience). The Vinyl Plus tend toward being more flat (uncolored) than average. But they do have a trick up their sleeves with the 3D effect option that can be turned on by pressing a combination of buttons. As a rule I avoid such gimmicks because they sound too artificial and processed. To their credit, they use this effect judiciously and the effect is fairly subtle. I would only use it for certain types of music but I did like the effect for classical and some types of jazz. I don't care for it for most vocals, however. I am also not on the same page as the manufacturer that these headphones should share their functionality with also being a telephone headset. To me thats silly to try to compromise a pair of headphones that cost over $250 with a Bluetooth earpiece that is designed to be as small and lightweight as possible. I don't see the logic in trying to have them do both, and the result is a bit frustrating when you push a button expecting one result and you get Siri babbling in your ear asking how she can help you. I chose to ignore the phone headset function entirely. Sadly, if I had included it in my review it would have brought my entire rating down a point or more.\n\nSUMMARY\n\nAs a near-audiophile pair of headphones this model deserves serious consideration. If you are put off by the fact that Bluedio is not a household name like Bose or Koss or other more famous brands, rest assured that they are a real company with extensive audio experience and this isn't just a product they slapped their name on. In other words, they are serious about you taking these headphones seriously. I believe they have done an admirable job and the more time I spend with them the more I appreciate how enjoyable the sound is. While not 100% perfect they are something you should consider if you like music and for that reason they earn 4.5 stars, rounded up to 5-stars.","Product: Designed with photographers, videographers, and creative professionals in mind, the SanDisk Extreme 510 Portable SSD combines the performance of a portable SSD with all-terrain durability and water resistance.3 Perfect for your next trek or on-location shoot, this truly portable SSD clips to your bag or fits conveniently in your pocket. With 480GB capacity and read speeds of up to 430MB/s, your transfer times are dramatically reduced, even when moving your highest-res files.1 The tough, water-resistant SanDisk Extreme 510 Portable SSD includes 128-bit encryption for password-protection2, making it a must-have for making it a must-have for your most important files.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Bottom line do I trust this drive or not?\n\nReview: This genre of portable hard drive (from SanDisk and several other manufacturers) comes at the perfect time for me. With the reduced price and increased reliability of SSD I have very recently made the switch both my work desktop computer and my laptop, both high-end models, are now 100% SSD. And with the introduction of the SanDisk Extreme 510 my dream of total file mobility between the two machines has finally been realized.\n\nLong ago when I wanted to exchange files between a desktop and a laptop computer so I could start my work on one and continue it later on the other it meant using some sort of recordable media like floppy disks, CDs, DVDs, Zip disks, etc. Then later networking and cloud computing made it easier (sometimes) but less secure (often) and there was always the risk of the network or cloud connection being down just when I needed it most. Portable hard drives were a good solution but not very convenient, sometimes risky, and not always fully compatible between operating systems.\n\nSo a dependable large capacity SSD that I could carry in my pocket with bullet-proof file security is just what I wanted and needed.\n\nSanDisk (now part of Western Digital) seems to have targeted my industry commercial photography/videography/graphics right on the button with this product and their marketing materials dwell heavily on it being intended for creative individuals. My data storage scenario now is to have SSD local storage on both my desktop and my laptop and back both of them up to reliable old standby full-size hard drives. But now I back up those same files for redundancy and transportability to my Extreme 510 as well so I have double safety against losing my media.\n\nSince I work with large files, file speed is important to me and in an all-SSD environment everything now happens almost instantaneously. Time is money and at the end of the day the speed difference between SSD's and traditional hard drives is tangible.\n\nIve had my hands on SanDisks competitors in the large capacity portable SSD marketplace and there is no doubt the Extreme 510 gives the most confidence that it could survive having s truck run over it in a winter's storm and still work.\n\nHaving just listed many of the positives, whats not to like? Well, a few things:\n\n1. I simply cant figure out why SanDisk didn't go with some sort of captive USB cable. Instead I have to be sure to remember to bring the supplied USB extension cable (that plugs in to a port thats hidden behind a water-tight door). Oh, and I cant just use any cable, I have to use the special USB 3.0 one thats included with this drive. Thats less convenient than I would want it to be.\n\n2. SanDisk has done a poor job convincing me why the 510 model is $100 more than the 500 model, which seems to have identical specs (for the 480GB size Im reviewing) Not being able to see enough difference between the 500 and 510 to warrant the price difference I went to the manufacturers website and researched it. Nope, couldn't find any other difference there either except for the red trim. So I dug deeper and heres what SanDisk has to say in their own words The difference between Extreme 510 and 500 is that the Extreme 510 has all-terrain durability and water resistance. With its rubber bumper and IP55-rating for water and dust resistance, the SanDisk Extreme 510 Portable SSD stands up to hazards such as rain, spills and rough, dusty trails, while also cushioning against falls while the performance remains the same.\n\nSUMMARY\n\nIt was also a little challenging to dig for it but to be clear this is a high speed USB 3.0 drive. For me that is great news because it does work at maximum speed with all of my computers. By the way, the 510 model is about 8 months newer than the Model 500 but it doesnt use any newer or different technology.\n\nOne thing I haven't touched on is so-called benchmark speeds. Ill leave that to others to argue, there are many review sites that specialize in that sort of thing. In real life there are variables that affect the speed of a storage device that don't line up with what benchmark tests may indicate under controlled conditions. In my use of this drive for writing and reading everyday files I am satisfied that the drive is sufficiently fast.\n\nHaving some experience with similar portable drives from other brands there is one thing SanDisk got right that for other brands can either be a minor inconvenience or a dealbreaker and thats the ability to simply plug or unplug it from any modern Windows PC or Mac without installing fussy drivers or conversion software. Samsung for example has an otherwise fine external SSD that is known for compatibility issues. For a business person like me that is crucial I need to be able to take my files anywhere and be able to use them at will.\n\nI have a hard time deciding whether this product earns 4 or 5 stars. For sheer functionality and great design and being the answer to my dream to go all-SSD I love it. I don't love having to carry a separate and special cable with me and if I forget that cable Im out of business. Maybe I would have looked more kindly at the cable issue if at least the unit had some place to store it when not in use. I have to drop it at least a half-star for that. SanDisk loses another half-star for their warranty on this product. Remember, according to SanDisk the 510 and 500 are the identical unit other than the 510 is supposed to be more weatherized but there is no hard evidence to back that up. In fact, per SanDisk, the 510 should be kept away from direct sunlight, moisture and temperature extremes, do not bend flex or drop the drive. But the nail in the coffin is that the Model 500 has a THREE year warranty and costs $100 less while the Model 510 which is supposedly more rugged only has a TWO year warranty.\n\nThe bottom line is a media professional cant afford to lose their work, be it photos, videos or graphics and thats why SanDisk has such a rock solid reputation and worldwide acceptance when it comes to SD cards for pro photo gear. Thats when price isn't the object, trust is. Looking beyond the way this drive looks, the fancy red stripe, the connectivity and everything else at the end of the day I am faced with the serious question if this is the drive I will trust to safely store what amounts to my paycheck. Thats not an easy call to make but when I consider everything known to me my judgement call is yes and that is what I am basing my rating on of I like it (Amazons definition).","Product: Enhanced for completely silent performance and supreme longevity with ASUS Auto Extreme, the ASUS 710 features superior build precision and component quality through full SMT assembly process. ASUS 710 is built to be the perfect HTPC card to offload processing for Quad HD media playback, smoother productivity, and casual gaming.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Some hints youve probably never seen before\n\nReview: Although my desktop computer is a workhorse business-grade workstation, the way I bought it was in its basic configuration. I did that purposely so I could add my own preference of upgrades. I do have a work computer dedicated to high-end video, photo and graphics editing and another dedicated to gaming, but I wanted to be able to do both from time-to-time on my home PC where I usually work of projects.\n\nThat being said, no one including me will ever say this card is a high-end gaming/graphics card. It isnt. But don't believe that anything low-end is without merit, or as I saw one claim that the onboard video that comes with a basic computer is better than any low-end graphics card. Logic says that shared memory vs. dedicated memory and a card optimized for graphics can be a useful and valuable upgrade. Note that the company classifies this as a Corporate Stable Model. What does that mean? I asked and the answer was simply that products with that designation are designed for business to be compatible with a wide range of operating systems and hardware and to have enhanced product support not usually available with consumer-grade products. Maybe the most intriguing is what they call advance-swap if you're having trouble with your card they let you keep it in service until they send you a replacement, so you're not left with a non-working computer for days or weeks. Owning a business I know that can mean running task-intensive software, the need for stable graphic performance, and the expectation that the components in a business computer likely will be powered on and often in use 24/7.\n\nBut which one to choose? There are so many brands with so many specs that sound similar but fall down when it comes to the quality of the components, which can result in intermittent performance, not actually achieving expected performance or early failure. So for me the place to start is with the ASUS brand name. The people who really know about graphics cards rarely disagree about the fact that this company is fanatical about quality.\n\nAfter that decision I found that reading what others have to say doesnt mean much, there are so many variables when it comes to every other component in their computer system, what apps they are using, how bogged down with apps their computer is, the list goes on this is one product that I believe the only way to know if it is going to work for you is to get it and try it in your systems for your unique purposes.\n\nSo the first hint I think can be useful if you are in a daze and simply don't know which one to choose is to look at the fine print above. Every item here has a date of first sale (you can actually do a sort by several parameters and one of them is to list the most recently added products in any category). Youll find that some of the video graphics cards still being sold here can go back as far as Windows XP or even earlier. Not coincidentally, it seems the number one reason people say they aren't satisfied with a graphics card is that it isn't compatible with newer operating systems like WIN10. By buying a card like this that was designed and manufactured after WIN10 was introduced and has drivers included written for WIN10 youve upped your chances of 100% compatibility a lot and took a big step toward future compatibility as well.\n\nSo, after several weeks of research and saving at least a dozen semi-finalists to my cart, this is the one I chose. And I think I did good, it works extremely well, its such a breath of fresh air for something to just work like its supposed to.\n\nTwo final words of caution: I don't have any problems with the most popular search engine that starts with G---, its always been my preferred search engine. But if you don't want their chrome or their search bar option please note that both are set to install by default unless you catch it and opt out. You have to uncheck them if you don't want them. The other heads-up is just my duh mistake the card ships with a plastic protective piece over the contacts. I didn't see it and tried to insert it into the motherboard. Hmm, it wouldnt go into the slot. Hey, don't laugh at me, at least I caught it before trying to force it in.","Product: The Tenda S108 8-port 10/100Mbps Fast Ethernet Switch provides 8 10/100Mbps Auto-Negotiation RJ45 ports. All ports support Auto MDI/MDIX function eliminating the need for crossover cables or Uplink ports. The Switch is Plug-and-Play and each port can be used as general ports or Uplink ports and can be simply plugged into a server a hub or a switch using straight cable or crossover cable. The S105 8-port 10/100M Fast Ethernet Switch provides you with a low-cost easy-to-use high-performance seamless and standard upgrade to improve your old network to a 100Mbps network. It will boost your network performance up to full duplex data transfer. Its wire-speed switching that forwards packets can be as fast as the speed that your network delivers those packets to them.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: The key things to know\n\nReview: Since there are several different products lumped together on this page to be clear I am posting about the 5 port gigabit Ethernet switch. If you're looking at this item you already know what it does and if you need it or not. The big question is whether this brand or one of the handful of others in the same price range.\n\nTo answer that question, Im a big advocate of things that are truly plug and play and switches aren't always as easy as they should be. So Im happy to report that I only had to plug in my cables and I was up and running. No configurations, no buying special cables, it just worked. I measured no significant loss of speed using the switch but thats just a casual observation, not something based on sophisticated benchmarks.\n\nThe quality of the component is basic as you would expect for the price, and having used switches from other brands I wouldnt say it is better or worse. One other thing to know is that their product photo makes this look like about the same size as a typical router and other switches Ive owned are about that size. So I was surprised to find that this is about the size of a deck of cards. Thats actually a good thing, why take up extra space if you don't have to.\n\nIf you are a little unsure why in these days the average person would need a switch anymore with most things in the home being Wi-Fi not Ethernet, the reason I needed it is that certain things still need to be plugged into a router, for example a home video security system, most of the hubs that are used by some style of smart switches, the controller for my garage door opener, a legacy Blu-Ray player, and yes my desktop computer even though it has Wi-Fi I get much faster speeds using Ethernet. Almost all popular routers only have 4 Ethernet ports and some of the newer technologies Wi-Fi mesh products now only have one Ethernet port. Thats why multi-port switches are still needed.","Product: Photive Sphere Wireless Bluetooth Speaker Black\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Beautiful design meets impressive sound\n\nReview: <div id=\"video-block-R3HIKTYKNGG2VS\" class=\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\"></div><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/D1aGaT5D09S.mp4\" class=\"video-url\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/015OFLiOouS.png\" class=\"video-slate-img-url\"> I got hooked on small portable Bluetooth speakers early one when they were a novelty. These days you can buy one for ten bucks at the \"dollar\" discount store or spend a couple of hundred dollars for a fancy name-brand one. Some of them sound amazing, due mostly to advanced computer design and a ton of electronic sound enhancement. They are not designed to be hi-fi in the sense of being your primary music system but rather a cool and convenient way of playing music from your phone or tablet wherever you are. I use a Bluetooth speaker whenever I travel to fill cold and impersonal hotel rooms with music piped to it from my phone.\n\nSince Ive been auditioning the latest and greatest speakers for so long Ive got a garage full of them and anymore I only ever use one or two of them. And Ive stopped collecting them because for the most part I haven't seen anything new in a long time.\n\nWhen Photive showed me their new Sphere speaker it didn't take much to convince me to make an exception and agree to review it (without any commitment to be anything less than 100% honest) so they sent me a N/C sample to test. What intrigued me more than anything was the design. The one I tested is almost the exact same color as my den. No one else Ive ever seen makes a speaker that color. They call the color olive (they also make the speaker in sky, lavender, gray and graphite). It sells for a reasonable price so I didn't have very high expectations for it sounding amazing but I could picture it fitting in perfectly in my den as a combo Bluetooth speaker and wireless phone speaker.\n\nI want to make it clear that this speaker doesnt sound like a $500 audiophile speaker, not even close, but for its size and price I was blown away how enjoyable it is to listen to. It fills my den with music when played at a reasonable background music level, which is all I would ever expect a small Bluetooth speaker to do. It also sounds very clear when used as a phone speaker.\n\nUnlike the high-tech, plastic look that most low-priced Bluetooth speakers have this one has a coarse-weave, almost burlap cloth grill that covers every part that you see. The back panel is a matching plastic. The controls are mounted on top where they are easy to reach and they are easy to understand. No touch-sensitive buttons, these all work with a satisfying click and in some cases a pleasant musical note to inform you of the speakers status. There is a VERY subtle blue light hidden behind the grill to help with Bluetooth pairing and act as a pilot light. Pairing was instant and I haven't lost the signal yet. There is a standard mini-phone jack on the rear panel to plug in directly to an audio source (like your phone) and a standard USB charging port.\n\nThe speaker is designed to stand on a table or shelf using a little tripod that plugs into a hole in the back and it looks beautiful that way. I would have been thrilled if they had designed it with a mounting hole on the back so I could hang it on the wall. Dont tell them but I drilled my own hole and when I hung the speaker on the wall it sounded even better because it used the wall as a bass amplifier. I didn't take anything away for the lack of a mounting hole because they don't promise that it is wall-mountable but I hope Version 2 heeds my suggestion.\n\nWhen I first saw this speaker I didn't expect it could rate any better than average but after spending some time with it I love it for the beautiful design and surprisingly good sound. Amazon suggests 5-stars for an I love it product and I agree.","Product: The base for Apple Pencil provides an elegant storage solution for Apple Pencil between uses. Holding the Apple Pencil upright, it protects the tip while allowing easy access to the device. The Compact accessory Mirrors the minimal design of the Apple Pencil and iPad Pro, and merges seamlessly with any desktop environment.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Handy but way overpriced\n\nReview: WHAT IT IS\n\nA weighted silvery metallic truncated cone with a hole in the top\n\nWHATS IT FOR\n\nTo hold an Apple Pencil when you're not using it\n\nDOES IT DO ANYTHING\n\nIt holds the Pencil. It does not charge the Pencil. The seller makes it very clear that it is NOT a charger, so it should not be negatively reviewed for something it's not intended to do. BUT, note that similar stands that DO charge the Pencil are only a few dollars more.\n\nSTYLING\n\nStyling is always a personal choice. It fits in well in my high-tech desk and only takes about an inch of room.\n\nIS IT WORTH IT\n\nThe value of something is always in the eye of the beholder my opinion is that $25 (at the time of review, prices fluctuate) for something that cost 25 cents to make is outrageous. It furthers the stereotype that sellers can get away with overcharging for junk accessories just because they're designed for Apple products. There is no way on Planet Earth that this little aluminum lump is worth what the seller is asking.\n\nOn a 1-5 scale for utility this item earns 5-stars. On value it earns 1-star. Final rating an average 3-star, which Amazon defines as \"it's okay\".","Product: Creates convenient access to power at your desktopConsolidates multiple connections to simplify technology\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Well made and very handy if you fasten it down\n\nReview: The consistent theme in the reviews of this product is that it is very lightweight and slides around at the touch of a finger. There is no question that is true. The Amazon product description fails to mention that this product's original design was as an accessory to one of their monitor stands where it is meant to to snap securely into a cutout in the metal stand. Used that way it is probably a useful accessory. However, including the snap-off plastic shell so it could be used solo ... not such a great idea.\n\nKnowing that I bought one anyway because I wanted a convenient AC outlet on my desktop to plug things like external hard drives and other occasional accessories. I attached the hub with strong double-stick tape with the little tabs hanging over the front edge of the shelf to give the box extra support when plugging devices in. Used that way it is the perfect convenience AC box. Both the box and the cable are very rugged and solid feeling. Now that I've had it mounted within reach on my desktop I can't believe I haven't installed a box like this years ago.\n\nThere are three available models: one with two grounded AC outlets, one with four USB ports and another with one grounded AC outlet and two USB ports. I chose the double-AC outlet version. I like that the outlets are oriented 180 degrees from each other so if they are used with right-angle plugs or power bricks they don't interfere with each other. For the price this is a very handy accessory once you come up with a way to mount it.","Product: Two grounded three-prong outlets.Plastic Hub FrameRubberized Feet Two grounded three-prong outlets.Plastic Hub FrameRubberized Feet Connector/Port: USB 2.0; Number of Ports: N/A; For Use With: N/A; Transfer Rate: N/A.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Almost better than sliced bread\n\nReview: Theres that saying about something being better than sliced bread. I first ran across this item a couple of years ago when it was still expensive and being sold as part of a computer monitor stand (remember when the big old computer monitors used to be put on stands?). Rolodex long since got out of making those things but apparently had a ton of these little dual outlet things left and sold them on close-out (which is when I bought it). The original idea was that they were supposed to snap in to a cutout on the monitor stand to give you an extra spare AC outlets on your desktop.\n\nI bought my first one for a similar purpose. Ive attached a photo of that. It was one of the best ideas Ive ever had. Its mounted on a little shelf right above the computer (which you can see below it in the photo) and next to a 5-port charger for my phones, tablets, cameras, etc. Next to that is the volume control for my computer speakers. I cant tell you how much frustration that has saved by eliminating the need to crawl under my desk to get to a power outlet when I only need to plug something in for a few minutes.\n\nThe design is that there is a rock-solid metal box that encloses the two outlets with a very heavy-duty grounded AC cord coming out the back. The cord is about 30, the perfect length. That metal box is covered with a decorative plastic shell that slips right off. The idea was that the metal box is what snapped into the monitor mount and the shell was just there for cosmetics. If you buy this and just want to lay it down somewhere as an extension box there is nothing to keep it from sliding around. What I did was to mount the metal box to the shelf using heavy-duty double-face tape and then slipped the silver plastic shell over it. Good fortune dictated that the shell had two little nubs in front (you can see them in the photo) so when I push the plugs into the sockets the nubs keep the whole thing from moving.\n\nI must have used this thing 1000 times so far and it is brilliant.\n\nI bought a second Rolodex box recently for a similar purpose. As you can see in the photo it is mounted under the bottom shelf of an end table in my media room. Its mounted the same way except that, because its upside-down, I used a couple of small screws to hold the plastic shell from falling off. The original reason I installed it was that during winter we both wrap electric shearling comforters around ourselves so we don't have to heat the entire room. Crawling over the chair backs got old really quick, but with this outlet we only have to lean over and plug the comforters in. The same idea works for cell phone chargers or other things you only need to plug in occasionally.\n\nIve never seen anything more ideally suited for the purposes Ive described, and I love them, which is defined by Amazon as 5-stars.","Product: Super-slim form factor provides the benefits of a folio/desk-top case with no extra bulk\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Not the best value\n\nReview: As I write this there are no 5 star reviews. And I don't wonder why. I'm surprised a company like Case Logic would sell such a poorly designed product.\n\nHere's what I don't like:\n\n- It feels very, very cheap. That is made worse by the fact that is it really expensive for a piece of plastic.\n- There is nothing to keep the cover securely closed. It just flops open.\n- I don't trust that it's holding the iPAD securely in place. A little twist and it could end up on the floor.\n- The elastic strap is much too stretchy. I don't feel I ever have a firm grip on the case when using it.\n- While I haven't had it that long I suspect the hinge will not last a long time.\n\nHere's what I like:\n\n- It looks (and feels) reasonably like leather.\n\nExpanding more on the first point, I recently bought a brand-name laser all-in-one printer for about 3x the price of this piece of plastic. That irks me. Some accessory manufacturers grossly overcharge for accessories for certain things like iPADS, iPhones, etc just because the main product is expensive. For example, I've seen car battery cords selling for $50 that are identical to ones selling for $5.\n\nThis is not the best value out there for an iPAD folio.","Product: Quantity: 1 x case cover & 1 x shoulder strap.\nCondition: 100% Brand New.\nMaterial: PU Leather.\nTwo pieces snap button classic design.\nSoft inner layer act as a shock absorber .\nHigh quality with durable material against your DC damage or scratched.\nBuilt-in tripod mount, easy attached to tripod without taking out you camera.\nPerfect fits for Olympus XZ1 XZ-1.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: A beautiful case for a beautiful camera\n\nReview: PREFACE: The first case I received had a terrible blemish right on the front. It was so bad I feared it might cause the case to rip someday. Amazon, as always stood behind me the customer although this item was sold by a third-party vendor. Prepaid shipment back, full refund within 48 hours, and I was able to buy a replacement that was perfect. Both Amazon and the actual seller get kudos for great customer service.\n\nREVIEW: I have owned several SLR cameras that had Eveready cases, which meant that the camera stayed in the case while you popped the front part open to take a picture. Those cases were cool but, to me as a photojournalist they were impractical. Not only were they nerdy but a pro always wanted access to every port, control and dial of his/her camera, and Eveready cases were always a compromise.\n\nEveready cases died sometime in the late 80s when digital cameras came along. There were probably many reasons but the most logical to me is that they became too fussy when the user needed regular access to the rear viewing screen, memory card holder, and rechargeable battery slot. So instead, people began to either use their camera without a case or switched to pouches, often worn on the belt, to protect their camera.\n\nVery recently, with the advent of bridge cameras that are very high quality but yet still in the pocketable compact fixed-lens genre, a few cameras have been introduced that harken back to the days of the old 35mm rangefinder cameras. These cameras are a little too big to fit in ones pocket but a little too small to hold comfortably. Many have a lens that protrudes slightly in front when off that makes pocket storage or pouches impractical so the ingenious inventors have revived the Eveready case as a practical alternative.\n\nThis review is about the Cosmos cases for the Olympus XZ-1. The same style comes in either black or brown. In real-life use, the camera is meant to be screwed into the case using the tripod socket and readily available for use by either popping the top part down or removing it and using the bottom part as a protective shield for the camera body and rear LCD. In either configuration, a case like the Cosmos is a fantastic idea.\n\nMy preference is to remove the upper part of the case for the full duration of whatever event Im at and either leave it in the car or stuff it in my back pocket. I like that when using only the bottom half I can attach the neck strap to the case, not the camera body, and also attach a wrist strap lanyard to the camera itself if I choose to remove the case entirely and let the camera swing from my wrist.\n\nThe case itself is identified in the ad as leather. Im not sure about that, but I don't really care. It looks and feels like leather and is amazingly well made for under $20. It fits the camera perfectly, including the snap-on lens cap, if the user desires. As mentioned, the tripod screw is machined aluminum which is strong and easy to remove from the camera (often) to give access to the USB output and battery charge socket (same thing).\n\nWhen I am finished having fun with the camera, I snap the upper piece back on and throw the whole thing in my glove compartment, knowing the body case portion is protecting my XZ-1 from scrapes, scratches and dings.\n\nThe inner fleece is soft and offers more protection than either pouch cases or no case at all. I am using a good screen protector for the LCD screen which helps guard one of the most vulnerable parts of the camera. The stock lens cap guards the front and the rest of the case takes care of the rest.\n\nA couple of almost unnoticed little design features are that there is an extra thickness pad built into the rear of the case to protect the LCD from, well, almost anything. And, there is an extra little tab of leather right under the menu button to help guide your finger without looking at the camera.\n\nFinally, that little nagging criticism of the XZ-1 that it doesnt have a proper handgrip becomes a non-issue when the Cosmos case is attached. It adds plenty of grip for your right hand to prevent any mishaps.\n\nWhile I don't rank products in my reviews against products I haven't tried or don't own, based on all of the Eveready cases I have researched I chose this one and I am not disappointed.","Product: Easy to use coupler style keystones allow you to use RJ45 terminated cables in the front and the back eliminating the need to splice wires while standing behind a rack. You can use pre-terminated fix length cables as well eliminating the need for crimping. Fits all standard keystone wall plates and panels.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: A tight fit, convenience and a good price\n\nReview: As simple and obvious as this device is it is surprising how it is to find something like it in the stores. The vast majority of Keystone couplers are the type that has to be wired to the cable. Im not a technophobe and if that was my only choice I would bite the bullet and hard wire the jack. But why? My phone jacks, audio jack, HDMI jacks, etc. are all plug-to-plug, why should my Ethernet jack have to be any different.\n\nMy installation need was simple, there is a CAT6 cable dangling out of the wall in my home office, along with a coax cable. They get in the way when cleaning or moving furniture and I simply wanted the convenience of being able to unplug them when I wanted to. I didn't want to turn this into a complicated task, I really don't have time for that.\n\nSince I already had a Keystone wall plate and a coax-to-coax Keystone coupler I bought this one from Monoprice. The coupler itself is easy to review it works. The rest of the review is about Monoprice, a company I am very satisfied with. They consistently offer well-made products and sell them for a reasonable price. Whenever I am searching Amazon for little adapters and stuff like that I scroll until I find the Monoprice name brand and thats the one I choose. Ive never been disappointed.\n\nBy the way, the cable fits into both ends of this coupler tightly with a snap to assure a good connection. I couldn't ask for anything more.","Product: You want a bag that's inspired by the past yet perfect for today. Welcome to SOLO Vintage Collection. The Vintage Collections Columbian Leather Sleeve brings real elegance to your professional style. Built to protect your laptop up to 16 inches, the Vintage Sleeve is all about looking good. Made of genuine Columbian Leather with a soft interior lining to prevent scratches, and padded to protect your laptop from accidental dings and drops. Leather tabbed zipper pull keeps your laptop securely inside while you're on the move. The front features a quick access pocket that's perfect for boarding passes, a magazine, anything you want to be able to grab quickly. Perfect for the mobile professional who wants to travel light, and needs to have their laptop at hand. No matter your style and need, rely on SOLO.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: You will be surprised\n\nReview: IMPORTANT SPECS\n\nMy device: Dell gaming series 15 - 7000\nDimensions of device: 15-1/8 x 10-3/8 x 1\nFit : like a glove\n\nREALITY CHECK\n\nMy need for a case for my high end portable gaming computer is to be able to carry it separately and securely with me to protect it from everyday bumps, dings and scrapes. I do not need pockets for papers, pens or anything else and I don't need (and prefer not to have) a handle or shoulder strap on the case. My goal is the most minimalist, lightweight, tough, and attractive case as possible. My aesthetic preference is real genuine leather but only if it is in my budget.\n\nWhen I saw the listing for this case it seemed too good to be true. The specs all looked good on paper - a secure zipper closure, a minimal side pocket to carry the laptops small power supply/charger and the look of leather is a nice benefit.\n\nIm not going to make a big deal of what material this is actually made from. The item description uses the word leather but there is no tag anywhere on the actual product that uses that word (or any other) to describe what it is really made from, nor is there any hint at their site. The word leather is used so loosely these days and there are so many words to describe imitation leather Im not going to second guess it. If its man made it is one of the best imitations Ive seen, its almost too real to be real.\n\nThe case is fully lined (so you cant see the underside of the material) but keeping it on a positive note that lining makes it easy to slip the device into the case without scratching it. There is also a thin foam padding on both the top and bottom sides to give the device reasonable protection. The zippers operate smoothly and without a hitch.\n\nMy device, as described above, fits like a glove, as if the sleeve was custom made for it. That is one of the reasons Im so positive about it, the others reasons being quality of construction, attention to detail and value.\n\nI will never know if the materials used to make this product ever saw the hide of a living critter (I almost expect not at the price) but I don't care, it looks and feels classy and long lasting and thats what counts for me.\n\nSUMMARY\n\nI thought this was too good to be true but I took the chance and Im glad I did. If all you need is a protective sleeve and not a lot of storage pockets, and you don't care to have a handle or shoulder strap this one is worth serious consideration.","Product: Kingston's Class 10 UHS-I Elite card features impressive performance that lets users shoot fast-action photos and HD video with higher sustained write speeds to ensure HD video integrity. This entry-level UHS-I compatible card reads up to 30MB/s - 3x faster than standard Class 10 SDHC cards - to make uploading files faster, especially when using USB 3.0 readers. this card lets users record more video (up to 640 minutes at 12Mbps) without changing out cards. Photographers can shoot more high-density image files, such as RAW or JPEG, without running out of space. The Class 10 UHS-I Elite is compatible with SDHC (8GB, 16GB, 32GB) and SDXC host devices and backed by a lifetime warranty and free technical support.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Works fine. Pay the $4 more for the Kingston \"Ultimate\" card\n\nReview: This is not my first Kingston SD card. Despite more publicity about some other SD card manufacturers, Kingston has had a solid reputation for many years with computer memory and is by no means a \"no name\" brand when it comes to digital camera memory cards.\n\nThis one works well, however it should be noted that Kingston is rather stingy with the exact specs other than to refer to it as an \"entry level\" card.\n\nI used it as most people would, without resorting to fancy test gear but actually in-use in 3 digital cameras and one GoPro digital video cameras. The digital photo cameras were a simplistic point-and-shoot; a bridge camera costing just under $1000 and a DSLR costing in the $2000+ range. In those cameras as well as the GoPro I could not see any real-life practical difference between this \"entry level\" card and the 32GB Kingston \"Ultimate\" SD card that sells for about $4 more. Yes there may be some measurable difference if we are to believe the manufactures who push a ton of specs our way, so if that is to be believed I question why not pay the $4 more and buy the \"ultimate\" card?\n\nI have both cards. I have used them in the same cameras under the same conditions. They both keep up with the required read and write speeds of each camera I tested. Perhaps certain brands or models of cameras might stumble a bit using either card. My suggestion is to pay the $4 more and get the \"ultimate\" card. I trust it, it hasn't failed me since I bought it (and I occasionally use it for my serious business shoots). It is for that reason that I can't give the entry level card more than 4 stars ... it works but why save a couple of bucks when the \"ultimate\" card promises higher specs?","Product: Sony Camera Cases LCSELCA/B\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Don't leave home without it\n\nReview: This is a beautifully built, extremely compact and ultimately protective case for the Sony A7 series cameras. Yes expensive, but when one realizes that they are using this case to protect a $2000 camera, it is cheap insurance. It is an everready case, a design that has been around for decades. The term everready means the user is ready to use their camera very quickly after simply unsnapping the front cover and letting it hang or snapping it off entirely, leaving a leather sheath around the vulnerable camera body. The sheath adds very little bulk to the camera and many photographers feel it makes the camera easier to grip and less prone to slip out of their hands.\n\nThe sheath (or body glove) has cutouts for access to all camera controls while in use and only has to be removed to access the ports on the side of the camera - removing it takes a few seconds. When the camera is not in use the front cover not only protects the lens but covers the rear LCD screen. The case is relatively dust resistant and can protect the camera in a light rain/snow.\n\nI'm not sure why there is some negativity about this case. Despite comments to the contrary the case is genuine leather. Other negative comments seem to be based in a misunderstanding what an everready case is and how to use it.\n\nThe concerns I've seen seem to be that some people think the case makes the camera \"bigger\". Yes the case has a large snout so it can accommodate most of the lenses designed for the A7 series BUT a case is used for protection while traveling, not while shooting. The whole concept of an everready case is that the front part snaps off during use, leaving the camera in a skin-tight body case, sheathed against dings and bumps. The reality is that an everyready case is one of the smallest cases available for this or any camera of its type. It would be foolish to throw a $2000+ camera in the trunk of one's car without some sort of protective case.\n\nA good analogy would be that of a smartphone. Despite manufacturers designing smartphones to be ultra-thin and light most people end up putting them into the equivalent of an everready case, sometimes using large heavy protective cases on their phone. The concept is the same why you would use this case on an expensive camera.\n\nThe complaint that the battery compartment is not easily accessible indicates someone who never used an everready case on a film SLR. Such a case had to be removed EVERY time the film had to be changed, usually after 36 exposures. With a camera like the A7 most people will never access the battery compartment once after they buy the camera. Also those same people will likely never access the SD card compartment after they install it the first time. Part of the specific design of the A7 is its WiFi feature so the camera does not have to download physically from the SD card to a computer.\n\nNow it is true that the case has to be removed to access the charging port. Equate that to changing the roll of film ... five turns of the knob on the bottom and the case is off. Think about it, if there were doors and hatches for every port on any modern digital camera you would end up with no case at all.\n\nI saw one comment that the bottom screw is not recessed so the camera won't sit flat with the case on it. I honestly have never seen an everready case that has a recessed screw. It would be much too much hassle to remove it. And I can't imagine trying to take a picture with the camera sitting on a table with an everready case attached.\n\nI currently use everready cases on two of my walkabout cameras while they are not in use or being transported with me. When I am ready to use the camera I remove the front cover and usually leave it in my car or elsewhere and carry the camera with only the sheath/body glove protecting the camera. Having that thin but rugged protection has saved my A7 more times than I can count from damage. This is a very worthwhile investment as an accessory to your A7 series camera and Sony has done an excellent job designing it.","Product: So realistic you might just forget youre watching TV. Stunning images are produced using our Clear Resolution Enhancer picture engine that allows you to enjoy individual details and textures that are ultra-crisp and oh-so-realistic. Theres also amazing contrast that helps images come alive on screen.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Do you get any more when you pay top dollar for a Sony?\n\nReview: <div id=\"video-block-R3272FUR2ZPS56\" class=\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\"></div><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/D1yFCk-TzNS.mp4\" class=\"video-url\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/01gsNrxQtUS.png\" class=\"video-slate-img-url\">Back when TV's had picture tubes it was pretty well accepted that there was Sony Trinitron followed by everyone else. As a TV producer I worked in studios all over the world and Sony Trinitron monitors were the engineering standard in almost 100% of them. It was better because it was radically different from what everyone else used.\n\nThese days there is no such radical distinction between the flat panels used by different companies. Yes there are some subtle differences, and a lot of marketing hype to make it sound like the difference are greater than they actually are, but the basic technology is all the same. So similar in fact that it is not uncommon for Brand A to buy their panels from Brand B, C and X depending on who has the greater supply on hand. It is documented that even for the exact same brand and model you may be getting different panels from two side-by-side boxes at your local store.\n\nAll that is in the way of saying that when I chose to buy this my first Sony-brand LED TV I did so without expecting to get anything substantially different, or better, for the premium price than any other major brand. Note that I said \"major brand\" because there is more to a TV than just the panel and the reason the unknown off-brands can sell their TV's cheaper is they often use panels that are rejected by the major brands, and their electronic processing is not as sophisticated.\n\nVery few people have a high expectation for a small screen TV. It is not what they will be watching in their living room (usually) and the small screen tends to hide picture defects unlike larger screens. Almost all 32\" and smaller screens are 720 and usually 60Hz because that's all the eye can see. It is apples vs. oranges to compare the specs of a 32\" TV with that of a 50\" TV. So when shopping for a TV of this size it's best to just ignore those specs and look for what will actually make a difference.\n\nHERE IS WHAT I LIKE ABOUT THIS TV:\n\n1. The build quality is excellent. You can see an immediate difference between a Sony and a no-name TV in the quality of the plastic, the fit and finish, and the overall use interface.\n\n2. The sound, if not the best, is one of the best available on a TV of this size. Sound quality for many people on a larger screen TV isn't that important anymore because the majority of people plug the TV into external speakers of some sort, but for small TV's like this sound quality is a key factor and it would be hard to find a TV with better sound than this one.\n\n3. The inputs and outputs are full-featured. Small TV's usually skimp on giving you a full set of inputs and outputs but with this TV pretty much anything you could need is there.\n\n4. The remote is logically laid out. That may not sound important until you are lying in bed in the dark and you want to do something simple. With some TV remotes you are faced with a ton of small look-alike buttons. This TV's remote shows its obvious Sony pedigree.\n\n5. The screen is somewhere in-between being glossy and matte. It does not act like a mirror like my Samsung TV but it is not a dull finish either. Being located in a bedroom the look is very unobtrusive.\n\nAnd finally the picture quality ... Sony knows that no matter what else this is the reason people buy a Sony and they don't let you down. The colors are as good as any small TV will ever get, the blacks are deep and rich but don't lose the important details of the image. There is an unmistakable sense of quality compared to the other major brand names, and a huge difference when compared to some of the no-name TV's. The picture on this TV simply looks natural, not over-processed, not cartoon-like. Take a look at the attached photo I took with my cell phone immediately after I pulled the TV out of the box and turned it on. You can even get better if you take a few minutes to tweak the color controls (I much prefer the \"warm\" setting) you'll know why you bought a Sony.\n\nI like a couple of very minor details. One is that when the TV is off there is no pilot light and when it is on the status light glows a very dim green, unlike so many electronic components today that use very bright blue LED's. And if you want no status light at all ... you can simply turn it off.\nI also like that the manufacturer's logo on the front bezel is very subtle and the only other log is an even more subtle tiny \"Bravia\" designation. There is none of the usual marketing hype and advertising specs that many brands plaster all over the front of their components. I already bought the product ... I don't need to have advertising hype pushed into my face every time I look at it.\n\nWHAT'S NOT TO LIKE?\n\nYou probably knew before reading these reviews that this is not a \"Smart TV\". That is not a negative, in fact to me, it is a positive. Smart TV's become obsolete very fast. For a few dollars I make my TV as smart (or smarter) than most Smart TV's by plugging in an Amazon Fire Stick to one of the HDMI ports. The benefit is if I should replace the TV I still have my Fire Stick with all of my favorite settings.\n\nSo what are the negatives? They are truly tiny. One would be that for those (rare) times I want to turn the TV on or off without the remote the control buttons are hidden out of view behind the TV. They are especially hard to reach when the TV is wall-mounted. Sure it makes the front panel look smooth and clean but to me it is an inconvenience.\n\nI would also have preferred that the antenna/cable connector face downward or to the side rather than stick straight out the back. My input cable is thicker and less flexible than normal and it sticks out too far. I solved this by getting a 90 adapter at the local hardware store.\n\nThat's really it for minor quibbles. I am very happy with this TV and I believe it is worth the extra price over the other 32\" TV's available for two reasons ... picture quality and sound quality. I looked at a lot of models before choosing this one and I truly feel that it is the best available.\n\n[EDIT] Note that this is a 2014 model and that Sony is not putting a lot of effort into small TV's anymore. If you can buy this model or one of the similar Sony models I still think you would be making a good choice.","Product: pocket projector, 50 lumens, up to 60\" (150 cm) screen, 4 Oz, Wireless, Media player, battery up to 2 hours, HDMI, Bluetooth, 4 GB internal memory, Micro SD card reader, USB plug, USB charging,\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: How to shop for a video projector\n\nReview: As a multimedia pro I have used video projectors for a long time, including ones that were as big as a large suitcase but didn't perform any better than this tiny one from Phillips. I still own several of them. I tried this one for a while, enough to get a good feel for it before exchanging it for another model that cost less but did more.\n\nWhen shopping for a video projector the list of what to look for is actually quite short:\n\n1. How bright is it? By far that is the most important thing. In todays world of technology we expect them all to be sharp and clear because we live in a digital world but not all projectors are created with equal brightness.\n\n2. How compatible is it with your source material? Basically here we are mainly talking about if your plans are primarily to project videos (like movies) or data (like spreadsheets and graphics presentations). Some projectors will do both but most are designed to be better suited to one or the other of those tasks.\n\nBRIGHTNESS\n\nThe world is slowly moving toward measuring how bright a light is by using lumens rather than watts. Watts don't really tell you how bright something is but in the U.S. we are so used to it our brains automatically translate how bright something, for example a 60 watt light bulb, should be. If we were to convert that 60 watt light bulb into lumens the equivalent would be roughly 800 lumens. A 75 watt light bulb would be about 1100 lumens and a 100 watt light bulb would be about 1600 lumens. So you see, unfortunately this video projector at 50 lumens isn't very bright. Even many of the newer LED penlight flashlights are capable of putting out 500 lumens or more. And to put it into perspective, a typical business-grade portable video projector is usually rated at about 3000 lumens and a good brand name one like Epson, BenQ or Optoma can be had for under $300. So not only is the Phillips too dim for any real practical use other than a fun personal gadget, its price is in the stratosphere.\n\nCOMPATIBILITY\n\nThe Phillips is skewed toward being used more as a video projector than a data projector. It is not directly plug compatible with all computers nor is it designed to adjust to multiple scan resolutions like a typical data projector can.\n\nIS IT FOR YOU?\n\nIm not saying that you shouldnt consider an ultra-small video projector like this. As a professional photographer and video producer who sometimes needs to make presentations to small groups under controlled conditions I own a similar model that costs $100 less and puts out 80 lumens. Its adequate with the lights dimmed, runs about 4 hours on a battery charge and connects wirelessly to my smartphone. The Phillips on the other hand is about twice the size, requires a plug-in dongle to be connected wirelessly to the source and has half the battery life, but costs substantially more.\n\nBOTTOM LINE\n\nPhillips coyly does not make any reference to how big of a picture you can expect to project. In my experience that is a very hard thing to pin down because it depends on how dark the room is and what you are projecting the image on (professional screen, white wall, bedsheet, etc). If you expect to use this to watch movies on a giant screen in your backyard, keep shopping, you probably won't be very happy with this. I was satisfied with the image quality on a white hotel room wall with the picture size about the same as a 46 flat-screen TV like you would use at home. Thats with the light turned completely off and the drapes drawn. If that describes your expectation this might be worth considering, but I cant get past the price tag its at the very top of the range compared to similar models and when I add up the less than stellar brightness, the inconvenience of needing external adapters and the price its hard to rate it higher than 3-stars, which Amazon defines as its okay.","Product: Powerful hi-fi streaming with an authentic stereo panorama & 160 watt amplifier Can be included as part of a multi-room setup in combination with Raumfeld Wi-Fi speakers\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Not a solid home run\n\nReview: These speakers looked like just what I needed. Ill describe that scenario and see how they worked out and in the process reveal the overall upsides and downsides of the product.\n\nI was looking for a minimalistic design speaker set (stereo) to flank a modern all-white fireplace with a flush floor level hearth. The available space on either side of the fireplace opening is 12 per side. These speakers are an 8 cube, which fit perfectly leaving a well-balanced look on either side. The white/aluminum finish was also a perfect complement to the all-white fireplace. Very chic. Then I found that each speaker does not operate 100% independently. The reality is that one speaker is a master and the other is a slave which much be connected to the master using the included cable. That completely defeats the concept that they are wireless speakers and there simply is no way to interconnect them without the unattractive wire between them showing. Please understand that when I say wireless I get that they need to be plugged in to an AC power source, which I have on either side of the fireplace. But wireless in the sense that they don't require being connected to the speaker terminals of a receiver or amplifier because they are streaming speakers. Having to wire one speaker to the other doesnt qualify as wireless.\n\nTrue, my intended installation is a bit unique, but then I considered using them on bookshelves in another room. The two bookshelves are not connected to each other and I ran in to the same problem I had to run a wire across the wall from one bookshelf to another to connect the speakers together. The issue is that there is a doorway between where I wanted to use the two speakers, which I would have to string the interconnect wire across.\n\nI understand what Raumfeld is trying to do with these. Their main competitors like Sonos, Heos, Polk and others are promoting the use of a single speaker, sometimes with true stereo sound and sometimes not. I own all three brands and even another brand of wireless streaming speaker. Of the popular brands most of them tend to be a little more utilitarian looking than the design of the Raumfelds, which are really beautiful. But on the other hand if you buy two of the speakers from the other brands you don't have to use a wire to connect them together each has everything it needs built in to one speakers.\n\nThe 800lb elephant in the room question is going to be are the Raumfelds worth $700 in terms of sound quality? Well, how a speaker sounds is up to each individual person but Ill have to say that they sound really good, but they don't sound spectacular. Not $700 spectacular. To be fair, if you wanted to use two matching speakers from the other brands you would pay as much or more so I won't say that the Raumfelds are overpriced. I will say that my opinion is that you're paying more for aesthetics than audiophile excellence, which is a completely personal choice and decision. Since you have to interconnect the speakers anyway I think a better choice would be to buy two awesome (and beautiful) speakers from any brand of your choosing and then buy a separate network audio receiver component (from Raumfeld, Sonos, Heos or any of the several brands) to achieve the benefits of wireless streaming audio. That way you get beauty and versatility.\n\nFinal thought the seller makes a big point of the German Engineering but doesnt dwell much on the reality that these speakers are made in China. Neither point is a big deal to me but it is something you should be aware of. The bottom line for me is that the field of choices for wireless streaming audio products is suddenly growing larger and Raumfeld has some catching up to do before they can compete with the more established brands like Sonos. For me there are too many limitations that aren't offset by any compelling reasons to choose Raumfelds other than they look great and sound respectably good. That certainly makes them better than average but not a solid home run.","Product: Kenko Tokina Ltd, one of the largest manufacturers of camera lenses and photographic accessories in the world, has released the new Kenko REAL PRO Clip Lens series for photography enthusiasts to add a new level of creativity and focus to non-traditional photography devices like iPhone/Android Phones and Tablets. The Kenko REAL PRO 7x Telephoto Clip Lens is a super telephoto optical lens made using fine quality multi-coated optical grade glass. The 7x Telephoto Clip Lens creates a field of view that is 7x closer than your native device image. The 7x Telephoto Clip Lens can be used as a monocular for viewing without a mobile device. The 7x Telephoto Clip Lens comes with universal clip that is attached to your iPhone, iPad, iMac, MacBook, Android smart phone, Android tablet or other device with a camera. Kenko REAL PRO 7x Telephoto Clip Lens will increase the possibility of smart phone and other device cameras allowing you to make unique and astonishing photos. Complete with intelligent features like built-in selfie stand and quick on-off design, Kenko REAL PRO Clip lenses will take your mobile photography to the next level.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: What you need to know about considering this\n\nReview: I first tried one of these add-on lenses for my cell phone a couple of years ago and the results were so bad I swore I would never use one again. That earlier model used an adapter that attached to the phone and then a variety of tiny lenses screwed in to it.\n\nYes, as a professional photographer I have maybe a higher standard when it comes to any device that is involved with taking photos. But when I use my iPhone to take quick family snapshots or vacation pics I am not a photography snob. I am surprised and pleased at the quality of photos my phone can take and the reality is that the majority of photos I take with it are absolutely fine for social media, texting and emails. Some are even good enough for large-format enlargements.\n\nWhen I use my cell phone to take snapshots what I miss most compared to having a real camera with me isn't a telephoto feature as much as a wide angle feature. I can almost always compromise the fact that I cant get closer to a subject to zoom in on a distant object. But if the perspective I want to photograph is too wide for my phones lens, there isn't a lot I can do about it. That is until I tried this Kenko add-on wide-angle adapter.\n\nI like the design of it. Its all metal and there are no cumbersome adapters, just a clip that lets you mount the adapter over your phones lens.\n\nHERES WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW\n\n1. You really cant just clip this thing on and shoot. It is fairly sensitive to being positioned over the exact center of your phones lens, so you need to take the time to look at your phones screen until the picture looks right. For some that fussiness can be a dealbreaker.\n\n2. The adapter must touch the body of the phone and the lens has to be at the exactly right distance from the phones lens. That rules out using the adapter with most phone cases unless you want to take the case off your phone before taking a photo.\n\n3. Pretty much 100% of the advantage of using your cell phone to take candid snapshots is that it is always with you and ready to take a photo in seconds. Having to remember to take a clip on accessory, no matter how small, defeats the benefit of the convenience of using a cell phone camera.\n\n4. Because the adapter is wide-angle it has a close focus range, which means that dust on the adapters lens can result in huge black spots on your pictures. The adapter has to kept clean, which means not only carrying the adapter with you but also carrying the included case. You cant just toss the adapter in your pocket and expect it not to get scratched and dusty. It will.\n\n5. The wide-angle adapter has quite a bit of vignetting and barrel distortion. Its best when not used to photograph things with strong horizontal or vertical lines or details along the borders.\n\n6. This is actually TWO lenses in one kit a wide-angle adapter and a close-up macro lens\n\nHELPFUL HINTS\n\n1. The design requires that the macro lens be mounted FIRST before attaching the wide-angle lens to it. You cannot use the wide-angle lens by itself, you must have the macro lens installed first.\n\n2. Because of what I just said, the best way to carry and protect the lenses is to have them both attached unless you think you will take a lot of macro pictures\n\n3. The seller seems to emphasize more that this is a wide-angle lens. I find that I can fudge my way around needing to get more of a scene in the photo easier than it is to focus extremely close to something. My phone only focuses about 20 away from something. Using the macro lens and I show in my sample you can focus right up to the surface of a tiny object. Beware that the focus range is extremely small when you shoot that close and it takes a steady hand to get a sharp picture.\n\n4. While having to carry a separate accessory can be considered a downside, the seller thoughtfully includes a metal carabiner clip so you can clip this lens accessory to something.\n\nOne final note, there is no rule that you cant use this wide-angle adapter on your front-facing selfie lens and in fact it works really well for taking selfies of a small group of friends with you. One nice thing about using it on your front-facing lens is that your phone case is not likely to interfere with clipping the adapter on and because almost all phones have smooth, flat fronts it can actually be easier to scoot the adapter around until it is properly centered over the lens.\n\nI like this adapter. It falls short of being perfect because it cant be used on a majority of phones when they are in a case, and that using it isn't as simple as just clip and shoot. But those aren't severe drawbacks as long as you know about them upfront.","Product: For nearly 70 years, Wrangler has staked its claim as a global leader in jeanswear, casual apparel and fashion-forward westerninspiredattire. Built upon the nostalgic undercurrent of Americana heritage, the brand celebrates a rich legacy of authentic products consumers crave.Wrangler continues to preserve their American legacy while continuously developing innovative products that harnesstraditional roots, while expanding on its mainstream appeal as a fashion-forward label. Wrangler will prepare you for whatever the day may hold. So go ahead, be bold. Be adventurous.Be comfortable in your own jeans.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Heres why I won't be driving to the mall anymore\n\nReview: When I dress up I like to wear a real dress shirt. And when I am casual I like to be VERY casual, opting for soft comfortable tee shirts over button-up types. So my closet only has a few short-sleeve button-up casual shirts hanging in it. This one has quickly become my favorite. Heres why.\n\nFirst off, it is ridiculously comfortable, which is due to being all cotton. The more its washed the better it feels. And after being in the mens clothing business for so long, Wrangler knows how to cut a shirt. The fit is far superior to what I see hanging on the rack at the local department store.\n\nI also like the color. The illustration on my screen shows it to be a slightly lighter shade of red than the actual product which is more of a wine color, and the collar trim is a medium shade of gray which goes well with the red. I don't like my casual shirts to have wild colors but I do like to wear shirts that are an expression of how I feel when I wear them. And this particular shade of red fits in great everywhere I go. In fact, the overall look is so versatile that I consider it a cross between being a casual shirt and a dressier shirt that I can wear at a nicer restaurant for dinner.\n\nThe construction of the shirt is also better than Ive been finding at department stores, which sell similar shirts for 2-3 times more what this brand name shirt from Wrangler cost. The stitching is perfect, no loose threads, nothing misaligned.\n\nAnd the fit is exactly what my size is supposed to be.\n\nIve been turned on to a new source of shirts by Wrangler, which has the very positive side-effect that I don't have to drive over to the mall anymore the price here at Amazon is less than the stores charge on their 80% off racks and I know what Im getting (and can return it if I don't like it). I like this shirt a lot and rate it as 5-stars.","Product: For nearly 70 years, Wrangler has staked its claim as a global leader in jeanswear, casual apparel and fashion-forward westerninspiredattire. Built upon the nostalgic undercurrent of Americana heritage, the brand celebrates a rich legacy of authentic products consumers crave.Wrangler continues to preserve their American legacy while continuously developing innovative products that harnesstraditional roots, while expanding on its mainstream appeal as a fashion-forward label. Wrangler will prepare you for whatever the day may hold. So go ahead, be bold. Be adventurous.Be comfortable in your own jeans.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Heres why I won't be driving to the mall anymore\n\nReview: When I dress up I like to wear a real dress shirt. And when I am casual I like to be VERY casual, opting for soft comfortable tee shirts over button-up types. So my closet only has a few short-sleeve button-up casual shirts hanging in it. This one has quickly become my favorite. Heres why.\n\nFirst off, it is ridiculously comfortable, which is due to being all cotton. The more its washed the better it feels. And after being in the mens clothing business for so long, Wrangler knows how to cut a shirt. The fit is far superior to what I see hanging on the rack at the local department store.\n\nI also like the color. The illustration on my screen shows it to be a slightly lighter shade of red than the actual product which is more of a wine color, and the collar trim is a medium shade of gray which goes well with the red. I don't like my casual shirts to have wild colors but I do like to wear shirts that are an expression of how I feel when I wear them. And this particular shade of red fits in great everywhere I go. In fact, the overall look is so versatile that I consider it a cross between being a casual shirt and a dressier shirt that I can wear at a nicer restaurant for dinner.\n\nThe construction of the shirt is also better than Ive been finding at department stores, which sell similar shirts for 2-3 times more what this brand name shirt from Wrangler cost. The stitching is perfect, no loose threads, nothing misaligned.\n\nAnd the fit is exactly what my size is supposed to be.\n\nIve been turned on to a new source of shirts by Wrangler, which has the very positive side-effect that I don't have to drive over to the mall anymore the price here at Amazon is less than the stores charge on their 80% off racks and I know what Im getting (and can return it if I don't like it). I like this shirt a lot and rate it as 5-stars.","Product: Fruit of the Loom Men's Classic White Briefs offer secure all day support with full coverage. Each pair features Dual Defense, providing moisture wicking and long lasting odor protection. The comfortable, soft waistband will not bind or pinch your skin allowing for ease of movement. The comfortable full cut provides pinch free leg openings with secured support. These 100% cotton Fruit of the Loom White Briefs have a tag free waistband that is soft against your skin for all day comfort.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Direct comparison with Hanes\n\nReview: With over 3000 reviews already written theres not much anyone can add except for the one thing that seems to be missing a direct comparison between this pack of mens white briefs and its closest competitor in terms of value priced packaging, the <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Hanes-Men-s-7-Pack-Brief-White-Large/dp/B00569PW80/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">Hanes Men's 7-Pack Brief, White, Large</a>\n\nThey both serve the same purpose and at first glance look almost identical. But given a closer look there are two noticeable differences:\n\n1. Despite the stated size, the two brands are quite a bit different in dimensions. Ive included a photo of the two brands side-by-side with actual measurements of the key areas. Note that one brand is not uniformly larger or smaller than the other some dimensions are larger and some are smaller.\n\n2. See-through. This is a bit difficult to capture in a photograph but when held up to the window the Fruit of the Loom pair was easier to see through than the Hanes. That may make a difference to some guys and not to others. To me I felt the Hanes had a little more body to them which translated into them sagging a little less and contouring to the body a little better. The differences are very small though.\n\nThe size differences may be more important to some guys. The photos are for the large size of each brand. Note that the Fruit of the Loom has a full inch larger leg opening. Depending on if your thigh is thick or thin at that point it can make a difference about holding everything in place, or on the other hand it might result in an uncomfortable tightness in that area.\n\nNote that the Fruit of the Loom is smaller at the waistband but substantially higher from bottom of crotch to the top of the waistband. The Fruit of the Loom is also taller from the top of the leg opening to the top of the waistband. Both of these measurements mean that the Hanes will ride lower on the hips than the Fruit of the Loom.\n\nBoth brands are too close to call in terms of how well they are made, in other words they are what you expect for the price.\n\nThe prices for both brands change frequently. I was going to buy another pair of the Hanes and on the day I was going to order the price was double what I paid last time (which is twice what the Fruit of the Loom was selling for). Thats why I chose Fruit of the Loom this time. All things considered this is a product that I would buy based on price more than I would for any differences in the item itself. Whichever is priced lower will be the one I buy next time.","Product: Fruit of the Loom Men's Classic White Briefs offer secure all day support with full coverage. Each pair features Dual Defense, providing moisture wicking and long lasting odor protection. The comfortable, soft waistband will not bind or pinch your skin allowing for ease of movement. The comfortable full cut provides pinch free leg openings with secured support. These 100% cotton Fruit of the Loom White Briefs have a tag free waistband that is soft against your skin for all day comfort.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Direct comparison with Hanes\n\nReview: With over 3000 reviews already written theres not much anyone can add except for the one thing that seems to be missing a direct comparison between this pack of mens white briefs and its closest competitor in terms of value priced packaging, the <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Hanes-Men-s-7-Pack-Brief-White-Large/dp/B00569PW80/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">Hanes Men's 7-Pack Brief, White, Large</a>\n\nThey both serve the same purpose and at first glance look almost identical. But given a closer look there are two noticeable differences:\n\n1. Despite the stated size, the two brands are quite a bit different in dimensions. Ive included a photo of the two brands side-by-side with actual measurements of the key areas. Note that one brand is not uniformly larger or smaller than the other some dimensions are larger and some are smaller.\n\n2. See-through. This is a bit difficult to capture in a photograph but when held up to the window the Fruit of the Loom pair was easier to see through than the Hanes. That may make a difference to some guys and not to others. To me I felt the Hanes had a little more body to them which translated into them sagging a little less and contouring to the body a little better. The differences are very small though.\n\nThe size differences may be more important to some guys. The photos are for the large size of each brand. Note that the Fruit of the Loom has a full inch larger leg opening. Depending on if your thigh is thick or thin at that point it can make a difference about holding everything in place, or on the other hand it might result in an uncomfortable tightness in that area.\n\nNote that the Fruit of the Loom is smaller at the waistband but substantially higher from bottom of crotch to the top of the waistband. The Fruit of the Loom is also taller from the top of the leg opening to the top of the waistband. Both of these measurements mean that the Hanes will ride lower on the hips than the Fruit of the Loom.\n\nBoth brands are too close to call in terms of how well they are made, in other words they are what you expect for the price.\n\nThe prices for both brands change frequently. I was going to buy another pair of the Hanes and on the day I was going to order the price was double what I paid last time (which is twice what the Fruit of the Loom was selling for). Thats why I chose Fruit of the Loom this time. All things considered this is a product that I would buy based on price more than I would for any differences in the item itself. Whichever is priced lower will be the one I buy next time.","Product: Our fruit of the loom soft stretch waistband knit boxer is designed to offer all day comfort, ease of movement and comes with a convenient button fly\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: An excellent value for quality and price\n\nReview: This is the first time I have bought underwear in any place other than a retail store. Knowing the brand name is Fruit of the Loom was reassuring and the price is pretty enticing for 5 pair ... close to what one pair costs at the store I usually shop at.\n\nThe fit is \"as expected\" - in other words no surprises. The fabric feels nearly identical to underwear that cost a lot more at the retail store. It is lightweight for comfort but heavy enough to feel durable.\n\nSome have mentioned they think they are slightly shorter than some other brands. That is something only the wearer can decide how comfortable they feel. If anything I felt that the length was slightly longer than average, not by much, but certainly not short. The photo shows how far down they hang.\n\nAs far as the color's that were received, well again that is personal choice. My order was not as muted as the sample illustration shown at the seller's page; they are purple, light gray, dark blue, pale green and soft red, all attractive and contemporary colors. I can't see negatively rating an otherwise fine product because of the colors that were shipped - the seller makes it very clear that returns are accepted, so if the buyer doesn't like them all they have to do is ship them back.\n\nEveryone has their own personal preference about the subject of underwear, so hopefully the above information helps point you in the right direction. For this reviewer they are an exceptionally good value at the selling price and are a 5-star product.","Product: Fruit of the loom 10 pair value pack over-the-calf-tube\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Not bad especially considering the price\n\nReview: I had to approach judging these with a dose of reality, at the time I got them they were only a buck a pair, I had no reasonable expectation that they would compare in any way to those that I get for ten bucks a pair. These are clearly sold as tube socks not fitted socks, so that's what they are, one long tube sewn together at the toe end. Not everyone likes this style of sock. For casual wear around the house I don't care. Regarding the length, they are sold as over-the-calf socks but evidently that means one thing to a 4' person and something else to a 6' person. For me they are much longer than the socks I usually wear but they are under my pants so no one sees them and I don't care. If you choose to wear them with shorts that may be a concern to you.\n\nI do find a couple of advantages to these extra-length socks though. One is they keep my legs warm while working outdoors on a cold day. And the other is I like to wear them while sitting around the campfire while camping. Why? They do a good job at keeping insects, spiders, etc from crawling up inside my pant leg.\n\nI'm fairly active and I don't have any concerns about these socks ripping or tearing the one seam. The material looks like it will last a reasonable time and it is somewhat cushy but not a lot. How long they will last would concern me a lot more if they were expensive but at a buck a pair? Meh.","Product: Prince socks are inspired by professional tennis athletes who demand a lot from their socks and made for everyone to enjoy. These performance plus no show tab socks feature an achilles tab for protection and to keep the sock in place, coolmax moisture management fibers, arch compression for support and stability to reduce foot fatigue, targeted zone cushioning for extra protection in high impact areas, blister resist fibers to reduce friction, spandex for premium fit and recovery, zone mesh for breathability, and smooth toe seams for ultimate comfort. The colored lines in the arch area come in multiple colors within the pack for variety and versatility. Built for athletic activities or everyday comfort.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: The styling and color is what got me\n\nReview: When dressing casually 98% of the time I wear closed-toed sandals with low-cut socks. Living in the desert wearing socks is part of the balance necessary to keep ones feet cool in the blistering heat but yet keep the sand and creepy-crawly critters out. My brand of choice is usually Puma because they are stronger and snugger than other brands Ive tried. But despite their cute logo they are pretty boringly white.\n\nThe first thing that attracted me to these is that they have color and style, important when some of the sock shows through the openings in the sandal. So right there I liked them.\n\nThe next thing that scored big with me is that the ankle part of the sock is higher than any brand of low-cut socks Ive seen. Why this is important is that most sandals (open or closed) rely on an ankle strap to keep them on your feet and often that strap is positioned in such a way that it misses the sock and rubs on the bare skin. Obviously not very comfortable. These socks have plenty of room for the ankle strap to wrap securely around the sock, not the skin.\n\nNow for the #1 reason I wear closed-toed sandals around here is because it is HOT and the last thing I want is a sock that makes my feet even hotter. The fabric and weave of these socks is amazingly cool and comfortable even on the hottest days.\n\nThese may actually be the most comfortable low-cut socks Ive worn. While they cost more than I usually pay per pair they are not unreasonably expensive and the quality makes up for the extra cost. Plus they look great.\n\nI have one suggestion to the seller, however. While it may seem obvious that if you picture 3 socks that you are selling 3 pairs of socks, product pictures aren't always accurate. Nowhere on the product page does it actually state the quantity of socks in the package, and the size description of 1 x 1 x 1 inches is obviously misleading. It would help regular Amazon customers if you were more accurate in your product description by simply stating that you are selling 3 pairs of socks at this price.","Product: This quality passport holder is a perfect gift for men and women who travel frequently. See images above. It features radio frequency identification blocking technology to keep people from stealing your valuable information. It has 6 slots for credit cards & I.D. and a clear plastic window pocket to keep your passport handy. It also has a hidden billfold and a zippered enclosure. It has a detachable, nylon neck/shoulder strap to prevent it from being snatched away from you. It's made from waterproof, lightweight nylon. Travel with confidence knowing your valuable information is readily available and secure from prying eyes and hands while you travel.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Don't leave home without it\n\nReview: <div id=\"video-block-R3F0OAN3GB65SI\" class=\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\"></div><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/C1UCKp9VezS.mp4\" class=\"video-url\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/21XiuMl6hYS.png\" class=\"video-slate-img-url\"> If you are an experienced traveler you know that the days of hoping on a plane with your wallet thrown in your back pocket or purse and nothing else are long gone. For a dozen reasons experienced travelers have learned that they have to take numerous precautions to safeguard their security, identity and personal well-being. Travel documents are far more sophisticated than they were only a few years ago, and the methods \"the bad guys\" use to try to circumvent the law are far more sophisticated as well.\n\nOne indispensable item that travelers depend on in today's world is a secure place to keep their travel documents, ready for inspection when necessary, and otherwise away from prying hands. But it isn't just prying hands that travelers have to be concerned about. It is the electronic fishing for the data embedded in their travel documents through electronic means without any physical contact with the documents on your person.\n\nManufacturers are addressing the security concerns of travelers with such products as TSA-approved luggage locks and items like this, travel document organizers. They understand that added weight of any kind is the last thing a traveler wants or needs and they have designed this organizer to be exceptionally lightweight using a good grade of polyester which is one reason I like it better than some others I have seen. As a writer who addresses the needs of travelers I wanted to evaluate it and obtained one at a discount, which did not factor in to my personal impressions of it.\n\nOf the things that attracted me, the interior of this organizer has secure, but easy-to-access compartments for such documents as your passport, visa, driver's license, traveler's cheques, etc. The entire case is protected from Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) intrusion, which of course is it's big selling point.\n\nThe organizer is of a tri-fold design for compactness and is designed to be worn over the neck and under your outerwear like a sweater or jacket. That helps safeguard it against pickpocketing or accidental loss. As a personal preference I would have chosen not to have a visible logo to draw attention to the purpose of this case. As a generality I do not see the necessity for a manufacturer to advertise their brand to you after you have already bought the item. Not a big enough negative to down-rate it but it is something I hope they improve.\n\nAlthough the price is lower and offers more features than some competitive models the manufacturer cautions that the current price is \"introductory\" (whatever that means). At the current selling price I consider it a good bargain but frankly I would not have paid the inflated \"retail\" price.\n\nThe features and benefits offered by the Travellows Travel Document Organizer deserve a correspondingly positive rating.","Product: For nearly 70 years, Wrangler has staked its claim as a global leader in jeanswear, casual apparel and fashion-forward westerninspiredattire. Built upon the nostalgic undercurrent of Americana heritage, the brand celebrates a rich legacy of authentic products consumers crave.Wrangler continues to preserve their American legacy while continuously developing innovative products that harnesstraditional roots, while expanding on its mainstream appeal as a fashion-forward label. Wrangler will prepare you for whatever the day may hold. So go ahead, be bold. Be adventurous.Be comfortable in your own jeans.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Wrangler reviews probably won't help you much\n\nReview: Before reading any of the reviews on this page there are two important things you need to know:\n\n1. All of the reviews for many different styles of shirts are lumped together on this one page however each different color and style of shirt can be night & day difference from each other\n\n2. These shirts can be manufactured in factories all over the world and where they're made can make a huge difference in their quality\n\nSo how can you make any sense out of these reviews? First, look at the tiny fine print at the top of each review. See where it tells you the color and style? To get any value out of the reviews look only for the reviews for the color/style you are interested in. Note that some people will assign extreme positive or negative ratings simply because of what the shirt is made of. Another thing you will see that one certain color may be a cotton shirt, while another color of the same style is a polyester shirt and still another color is a blend.\n\nFrom reading some of the reviews it is clear that these shirts are made in a variety of countries and they are not all made the same as each other, even if the style and color is the same. So in reality none of the reviews including this one are going to help you very much. You just have to take your chances to see what you will be sent.\n\nWhat about the specific shirt I am reviewing? Mine is a dress blues stripe (red/white/blue) polo which the seller describes as being made in Lesotho. It is not, it is made in Bangladesh which is almost 6000 miles away and isn't even on the same continent as Lesotho. The seller says it is made of 100% polyester. It is not, it is made of 100% cotton and it is not a wicking fabric. You have to decide if that's reason enough to take points away. I'm not going to; I will just go strictly by Amazon's rating definition. I like this shirt, and Amazon says that earns 4-stars. I am comfortable with that and I am comfortable in the shirt. It looks more expensive than it is (buying from Amazon helps evade the huge retail store markup). It arrived looking used and faded which I assume is the way it was designed and after several washings and it still looks fresh.\n\nIt's not the best shirt I've ever worn, hence not capable of earning 5-stars, but I would recommend considering it if you're not really picky about fabric content or where it's made.","Product: The Wolverine brand is known for its tough, resilient work wear that's always built to last. This belt is a 38mm cognac strap with double edge stitching and rugged gunmetal roller buckle. Available in brown, sizes 32-44.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: A bargain considering he high quality\n\nReview: First, a word about Wolverine. They are a 130 year old highly respected U.S. leather goods company. Their products are generally expensive but worth it. In fact I wondered if a belt selling for such a low price here (lower in fact than the junk sold at some of the well-known department stores) could really be a genuine Wolverine product so I called the company. They confirmed that yes these are indeed genuine Wolverine belts.\n\nThis belt is a good example of their quality. It is far superior to what you will find hanging on the rack at most department stores, even some of the better ones, where a large percentage of mens belts are made from whats called bonded leather (kind of like Pringles potato chips, they grind leather into a powder and then bond it together with plastics and glue to make something that looks like real leather). No, the Wolverine belt is real leather, cut and stitched the old fashioned way. It is hefty (I weighed it at 6.5 oz) and thick, at least twice as thick as any other belt I own. It is also w-i-d-e which is something you should be aware of if you are considering it. At 1.53 wide it won't fit through the loops of most mens dress pants (but then again it is not meant to be a dress belt). It will however fit most mens jeans where it does a far better job than any skinny belt in holding your pants up. The width and the weight make jeans fit as they should, especially as the belt ages and becomes more supple.\n\nMens belt sizes have always been a retail mystery, because despite the size markings they are something that is adjustable. Typically, belts are measured from the edge of the buckle to the middle hole. This measurement does not usually include the buckle itself. Because belts go around your pants, not just around your waist, a properly fitting belt about 2\" larger than your waist size, so for example if you wear size 36 pants, order a 38\" belt. This belts holes give you a range of +/- 6 inches.\n\nThe look out of the box is very first-class and expensive looking, despite the very reasonable selling price and it looks like it will give years of service. I like this belt a lot and I know it will only get better looking as it ages.","Product: Columbia men's underwear 95/5 cotton stretch 2 pack brief\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Possibly the most comfortable Ive worn\n\nReview: When I shop for high quality clothing thats more than just a made-up fancy sounding name the company Ive turned to most of my life is Columbia Sportswear. Created and based Portland, Oregon, Columbia has been in business for more than 70 years, more than half of which with feisty chairman Gert Boyle running the show with an iron fist. Her commitment to quality (albeit at a hefty price tag) is legend. Everything Ive bought from Columbia to this point has been winter outerwear this is my first experience with their underwear.\n\nThe first detail I noticed (beside the fact that they cost $24 for only two pair) is that they are made with a soft breathable stretchable fabric that is designed for the active man. The wicking fabric pulls moisture away from the body, excellent when worn under gym clothes, for skiing, running or other rigorous activity. The leg bands hold tighter to the leg to provide the kind of support a man needs.\n\nThese are truly brief, more so than typical Jockey shorts, but not so much as bikini briefs. However the stretch material allows the pouch to expand sufficiently to support without squeezing and binding. Its easy to forget you're wearing them.\n\nAs a sports brief these are possibly the most comfortable Ive ever worn.","Product: Fully sealed and taped waterproof seams. Adjustable/zippered leg openings with storm flap for easy off and on. Adjustable elastic waist band with webbing belt & adjustable quick release buckle (on back of bib, not shown). Waterproof hip storage pocket.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Warm without being bulky\n\nReview: This cap is much larger than I expected. When pops tried on the so-called youth size it fit him perfectly. This one comes down almost to his mouth. You can roll up the side but its obvious that this is not a sailors watch cap and the sides were not meant to be rolled up for a few reasons. One is that the material is slippery and the sides resist staying rolled up. The other is this is supposed to be a camo hat, having a neon orange band showing sort of defeats that idea.\n\nHaving said all that, otherwise I really like this thing. The material is super soft and comfortable and the inside is a very short fiber knit fleece that slides on and off my hair without matting it down of getting strands caught in it. The camo color is great for hunting, camping or hiking well except for that 50,000 watt neon orange.\n\nBut it is warm without being bulky, Ill give it that.","Product: Speedo water accessories are unmatched in performance, fit and feel. The Bullet is super comfortable and features our new fitness goggle technologies of Elastomeric seals and Clearsight vision. This is the perfect fitness or recreational goggle for open water or pool swimming. No matter where or why you dive in - training, fitness, or fun - those moments in the water are always better with Speedo.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Good product unless you aren't a swim goggle expert\n\nReview: I don't like wearing things like glasses, wristwatches, hats, necklaces or pretty much anything else. But there are times when a strong dose of reality check is necessary and I will grudgingly wear various items of bodily protection when circumstances warrant. And I am particularly cautious about protecting my eyes. My current (and first and only) swim goggles are a good brand, well made and offer excellent protection, but they reinforce why I don't like to wear things ... they feel heavy and they press against my face too much and most importantly they tend to distort the view.\n\nWhile these Speedos aren't Olympic-grade pro models or even the companys top of the line, they are built like pro athletes versions that cost substantially more. As far as the brand, well its hard to argue that Speedo knows what they're doing when it comes to swim products. There are four categories of Speedo Fit swim goggles: Performance, Recreation, Fitness and Kids. These are from the Fitness category. The model is the Bullet, which puts comfort at the top of their list of features. In addition to having an Elastomeric headband, which is strong soft and stretchy, they have UV blocking, anti-fog lenses and are latex-free.\n\nTopping the list of positives is that the part that frames the eye is incredibly soft, compliant and they form a super tight seal without feeling tight. That is probably the feature I personally like best of this model. The headband is ultra-thin and ultra-lightweight but strong and the adjustments for centering are instant, simply push two buttons which releases a ratchet that holds the band in place. The nose piece fits me, but that is a matter of personal preference.\n\nThat leads me to the negatives. First off are the instructions are almost non-existent. They could be much more detailed about things like how to unpack the glasses and how to adjust them properly. Regarding unpacking it looks more complicated than it is. While it looks like the clamshell is riveted closed the back actually pops open with a click, I assume so people can try them on in the store. The lenses have clear adhesive protectors over them that have printing on them so its obvious to remove them but after that it looks like there is another protective layer but nowhere is it made clear if that is the actual lens or not. The green ones in my photo comparison are from Speedos website which shows this model with a different look to the lenses and they do not look like they have that protector over them. Ive tried (carefully) to peel that off because nowhere does Speedo explain if that is part of the lens or not, which makes for a frustrating user experience with this product.\n\nProper adjustment is important with swim goggles yet for all their expertise Speedos only suggestion is to keep adjusting them until they fit. Not a word about what constitutes a good fit in the little foldout manual and even less at their website.\n\nAs a broad generality I like these goggles for fit, comfort and their ability to keep water out. But Im disappointed that Speedo makes too much of an assumption that anyone who buys them doesnt need information and assistance in preparing them or using them so they offer zero help.","Product: The Goal Zero Lighthouse 250 is a bright, USB rechargeable LED lantern. You decide how long the Lighthouse 250 lasts, on one charge, with its dimmable light for tent or trail. Red light to alert. Charge your USB device conveniently with a built in USB output port.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: A very bright idea\n\nReview: This lantern will make you smile. It is so much like one of those late-night cable channel commercials with their \"but wait, there's more!!!\" lines. But yes, it's true, there IS more and it's all very impressive.\n\nOVERALL QUALITY:\n\nOkay, it's not made quite as rugged as some of the better-known brand names but it is rugged enough for normal camping, backpacking and use around the house. It is small enough to fit into a glove compartment or knapsack and reasonably well made.\n\nCOOL FEATURES:\n\n1. It's bright, almost class-leading bright at 250 lumens with a very pure white light that is bright enough to read by. But wait, there's more ...\n\n2. It has a rotary brightness control from nightlight level to a turbo position that is super-bright. But wait, there's more ...\n\n3. The brightness control rotates in both directions, one way it shines 360 degrees and the other way it shines only 180 degrees if you don't want to be blinded while sitting around the campfire. But wait, there's more ...\n\n4. There is a flashing red light beacon that surrounds the top of the lantern, great for \"marking your spot\" when you leave your campsite, or of course being used as a roadside hazard light. But wait, there's more ...\n\n5. Two metal legs extend down to raise the lantern up, very nice over a camp table or when used at home during a power failure. Those same legs can be used to hang the lantern upside down like a bat or you can use a fold-out hook on the top. Clever. . But wait, there's more ...\n\n6. The lantern can be charged with (optional) Goal Zero solar panels. But wait, there's more ...\n\n7. At low power the lantern can run up to 48 hours. At higher power it is definitely usable for those few hours around the campfire. But wait, there's more ...\n\n8. You can charge the lantern from any standard USB source, like the adapter in your vehicle, your laptop, a wall charger, etc. But wait, there's more ...\n\n9. You can also use the lantern to charge your cellphone or tablet in the case of a wilderness emergency. But wait, there's more ...\n\n10. No power outlet? No way to charge the lantern? No worries, there is a handy crank on top that lets you wind it up and run it for a short while, then just wind it again, and again, and again. You can virtually never be out of light if you are really stuck with no possible source of power.\n\nI honestly can't find anything I don't like about this lantern and think it has earned 5-stars.","Product: TriMax Triple Insulation Keep Drinks COLD for 48 Hours and HOT for up to 16 Hours\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Recommend two minor improvements\n\nReview: This overview is for the 24oz size. It is also available in 20oz and 32oz. While virtually every car cupholder is different Im pleased that this size fits in both of my front cupholders and also the ones in all four doors. And it fits easily in the water bottle holder of my backpack.\n\nThe first thing I did is removed the lid and immediately smelled inside. My experience with any food container that starts off with an odor it will rarely ever smell clean. I was happy to find that this product was almost completely odor free. As I would anyway I soaked it for a while with a vinegar and water solution.\n\nI like the minimalistic design, almost the entire container is usable for carrying liquid. Yet it is strong and tough. My only concern would be the plastic drinking spout which looks like it could break if hit hard enough from the side. Fortunately the very thick and resilient rubberized retainer strap (which is also the carrying handle) would probably prevent the spout from ever taking a direct hit. By the way, I prefer drinking from a straw and Evovessel was way ahead of me. They have an optional gadget called a flip spout top <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/EcoVessel-AT-GRYRED-Adult-Flip-Spout-Lid/dp/B010RGO0QQ/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">EcoVessel AT-GRYRED Adult Flip Spout Lid</a> that fits this Boulder series perfectly. You can even customize how far down the straw goes into the bottle. I didn't even have to think about buying one for under five bucks.\n\nThere are two small areas for improvement, neither of which are dealbreakers. One is that the cap for the smaller spout is smooth stainless steel while the cap for the larger opening is fluted. I wish the smaller cap was fluted as well - opening it with wet hands or with gloves can be a little difficult. My other recommendation is that the inner strainer fit snugger. It tends to flop around inside rather noisily which can get annoying to hear when you're hiking through a peaceful wilderness. I found a simple solution that works for now, just position the wire lift hoop so it presses against the inside of the larger cap. That will work as long as the wire lift hoop has enough friction to stay put.","Product: The single speed Allen Urban model incorporates a 6061 aluminum frame, high performance 451 MM wheels, a patented folding stem and delivers a smooth, responsive ride. As a single speed model, the Urban is best suited for flat terrain or small hills. The key benefit of this model is that the 451 MM wheels deliver an exceptionally comfortable ride. With the exception of our Downtown model, all Allen folding bicycles use 451 MM wheels, which are slightly larger than standard 20\" wheels and deliver an exceptionally comfortable ride. The Urban uses a patented press-linkage folding design on the frame and headset which makes folding and storing this bicycle quick and easy. A patented rear wheel lock system allow the bicycle to be rolled like a cart when in a folded position for easy transport. Rider size range: 4'8\" to 6'5\"/Max rider weight: 230 LB. Bike ships 100% assembled - unfold and go.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Very high quality + convenience\n\nReview: <div id=\"video-block-R10WY7EXQK6WJV\" class=\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\"></div><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/E1C339NbL6S.mp4\" class=\"video-url\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/11htNCs0Z0S.png\" class=\"video-slate-img-url\"> [UPDATE] I mention below in my review that the little plastic front reflector broke off in shipping. To me that's in no way a negative issue, although I would have to replace it to ride legally in my community. To their credit, Allen Bicycles shipped me a replacement reflector via Priority Mail. Little customer service details make a difference and the manufacturer deserves to be recognized for their no-hassle way of taking care of their customer.\n\nI have owned some of the top \"name brands\" of bicycles over time, not because of wishing to impress with snobby brand names but to experience the performance that I expect and pay for. My prime criterion in a bicycle, as is true when choosing equipment in my career as a professional photographer, is whether the tool I choose is the best to do the job.\n\nI live in a neighborhood that is fairly boring for bike riding and I usually don't have time to ride further to more interesting areas. So bikes have been, for me, like so many other people ... something that is carried on the top or rear of my vehicle for weekend outings. So many times I would like to explore areas that are just the opposite of the back country, i.e. the urban area of my city or other cities I may visit.\n\nThe model name of this bike is \"Urban\" and that is what it is. It is a very fitting name. There are many things this bike is not if someone is going to pick it apart piece by piece and complain how other bikes (designed for other purposes) are \"better\". I believe the manufacture has represented the difference between their two similar models, the \"Downtown\" and the \"Urban\" as one being designed for short treks from point-to-point in a central metro area and the other being a little more robust for getting out of city-center and riding slightly more aggressively in nearby urban neighborhoods. Neither of these two riding styles dictate a multi-speed transmission or ruggedized suspension or any fancy features.\n\nComing from my perspective of having owned and ridden some legendary bikes, and now owning my first folding bike, I won't dare to compare mine against models I have never owned and lived with - only providing you with some feedback and impressions of this model, as used for the purpose it was designed for.\n\nWithout getting picky about dimensions, the Sports Urban can be best summarized by saying it \"feels good\". Mounting it is comfortable and confident and has an overall sense of feeling like a full-size bike with the practical advantage that when folded it is half the size of a full-size bike. Of course it isn't, and can't be, half the weight ... the raw materials don't weigh half as much just because they are folded in half. The folding mechanism is sheer brilliance, totally and completely intuitive ... just click to fold, click to unfold. And once it is in the riding configuration there is no way it feels any less structurally rigid than a non-folding bike. Do read the instructions carefully, they are rather ominous concerning use of the \"Golden Copper Button\" and how failing to use it properly could make the bike unsafe or dangerous to ride.\n\nThe bike comes fully assembled and tuned. The wheels turn true, the tires have no wobble or shimmy, the chain is smooth and the bike tracks straight. All of this should be expected from something that costs close to $700. The overall fit and finish is excellent, however the bike is shipped with insufficient packing material which resulted in several areas on the handlebars of the paint being worn through to the bare metal and the front reflector (plastic) being broken off. While packaging is not cause to deduct points, it does affect first impressions.\n\nI won't pretend to have the experience in folding bikes to compare every brand and model out there and try to discuss models I've never owned. I won't even compare this, as a folding bike, with other bikes I've owned that were designed for entirely different usage. I can only report on what I know, and that is that owning this bike is a very satisfying experience. It has given me the freedom to literally throw a bike that rides like a full-sized model into the back of my vehicle, drive somewhere, and explore in one of the best ways possible ... by bike. Full satisfaction deserves a positive review and endorsement, not because of where I got it but because it's a good product.","Product: The Nifty Carousel for K-Cups elegantly displays all your favorite K-Cups. The lazy susan base rotates 360 degrees, making it extremely easy to find and select your favorite K-Cup flavor. The stylish chrome finish design looks great on any kitchen counter top. The Nifty Carousel for K-Cups will hold up to 28 K-Cups.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: A best buy for several reasons\n\nReview: <div id=\"video-block-R3S9QG0IQPI0HC\" class=\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\"></div><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/C1z9Aq1jYTS.mp4\" class=\"video-url\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/01gsNrxQtUS.png\" class=\"video-slate-img-url\">(See video for an up-close look)\n\nOne thing a new Keurig brewer owner soon discovers is that they will soon need a convenient place near the brewer to store at least a few of each of their favorite flavors. It almost doesn't seem to be an option, the brewer is so utterly simple to use it's a shame to add any time or energy to the process to dig through boxes of K-cups.\n\nAnd you WILL have boxes of them, ask any Keurig brewer owner. Sure you may settle on a few favorites but you will probably want to have some additional options available for other family members or guests.\n\nFrankly, after researching the available K-cup storage holders I wasn't impressed by any of them, and every one of them was far overpriced for what it was. Come on, there is no way that a few pieces of wire welded together should cost $25. I read review after review (especially the negative ones) and there were always significant reasons to not buy that particular unit. This was the first one without any negative reviews and there were some other advantages that attracted me. They are:\n\n1. It holds 28 K-cups but doesn't dominate my counter-top. The size is a nice compliment to my brewer (which is the lesser-known K145 OfficePRO model, please check out my review and video here <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Keurig-K145-OfficePRO-Brewing-System-with-Bonus-K-Cup-Portion-Trial-Pack/dp/B00I9IML3O/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">Keurig K145 OfficePRO Brewing System with Bonus K-Cup Portion Trial Pack</a>\n\n2. It is made with very heavy chrome-plated wires that look attractive and feel very solid\n\n3. It spins smoothly with no wobble and there is no way it will tip over\n\n4. A very common complaint of most other carousels is that the K-cups fall out or get pulled out when you remove an adjacent K-cup. Not so with this model, there is plenty of room for each cup and they are held at an angle that prevents them from falling out\n\nI resisted getting a smaller carousel at first but then reality set in and the fact of life is that 4 samples of each of 8 flavors is just about perfect for most brewer owners. Just like adding water to the brewer every day or so, I simply plug in replacement K-cups every so often.\n\nI did see a review or two mention that not every ring is the same size and a few of the K-cups didn't seat all the way down to their rim. I don't think that's a manufacturing flaw but rather the way they designed it ... all of the smaller rings are at the top row and they are all equally slightly smaller. I think that's just to accommodate the taper of the design and there is simply a little less room at the top. We're only talking about a slight difference and you really have to be looking for it to notice that that row of K-cups doesn't slide all the way down to their rims. It is not at all anything that takes away from the look, design or functionality of the carousel.\n\nHINT: shop carefully for this one. The day I bought it I paid $11. The next day it was $20. I'd much rather pay $11 at which price it easily earns 5 stars.","Product: The East and West, despite Kiplings claim that they will never meet, are being united for the new film by Sergei Bodrov Sr., Mongol: The Early Years of Genghis Khan. The project, with a budget of 15 million euros, is a major international co-production with the participation of Russia, Germany, Kazakhstan and the USA.\n\"Mongol\" is the epic story of a young Genghis Khan and how events in his early life lead him to become the legendary conquerer and father of Mongolia.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Detailed review of a superb movie\n\nReview: This is a movie on the scale of what Hollywood was once capable of. It isn't and doesn't have to be historically perfect in every detail of accuracy. There are so many movies based loosely on historical legend that succeed in weaving history with story-telling why single this one out as not being \"historically accurate\". Will the first person who saw the movie who actually witnessed life in the 12th century please step forward and tell us all exactly what went on every day in the life of Genghis Khan? Yet some reviews lean toward criticizing the film's accuracy based on other movies they have seen or books they have read. Bottom line ... this is a movie, not a history book.\n\nI am no more qualified than anyone to discuss how accurately this movie portrays the life story of Genghis Khan, though as a descendent of Mongols and having traveled extensively in the footsteps of Temüjin by way of foot, camel and jeep I can say that much of what I saw such as the sharing of milk, the blessing over it, the drunken parties, the relationships of the Mongolians with their families and with each other, and the background scenery of much of this movie is dead-on accurate. I've been there ... the movie, in a sometimes idealized way, often shows us exactly what Temüjin himself saw 900 years ago.\n\nTaken as a movie, not a history book, the cinematography is excellent. The music is eerily accurate as a popularized version of exactly what camel herders and local entertainers performed for me and have performed for others for centuries. The costumes were romanticized, of course, in most cases. There were times it was hard to focus that we are talking about the 12th century and the movie's costuming simply jumped all over time and space.\n\nI am extremely happy that the dialogue of the Mongolian actors was in their native dialect (while the Chinese actors spoke Mandarin and some of the other characters spoke in a Turkic dialect). With my limited knowledge of the Mongolian language I recognized what the people I lived with in Mongolia spoke to me. The sub-titles were well done. To dub the dialogue into the local language of the movie's viewer would have utterly destroyed the movie.\n\nI'm not sure what I expected from this movie before seeing it, maybe a preachy documentary or something featuring Tom Cruise and Kim Kardashian in the lead roles to sell at the box office, unfortunately if Hollywood made this movie that may actually have been the case. It was easy to ease into the more casual and less hammy acting of the actors who were chosen. There were no miscasts, although Honglei Sun as Jamukha might be just a little over the top with his backaches and neckaches.\n\nWatch the movie with an open and relaxed mind and tune in on the many subtleties used to help us understand the conditions and circumstances that formed one of the most memorable people in all of history. Take time to dissect the battle scenes to see how Temüjin progressed from being the underdog to becoming Genghis Khan, perhaps the most brilliant military strategians of all time. And do read the subtitles, there aren't that many of them.\n\nI highly recommend this movie.","Product: Box set containing six popular musicals from Rodgers and Hammerstein. 'Carousel' (1956) tells the story of carnival barker Billy Bigelow (Gordon MacRae), who is killed committing an armed robbery in order to provide for his baby girl. Years later Billy is allowed to return to Earth for his daughter's graduation. Songs included are 'If I Love You', 'Soliloquy', and 'You'll Never Walk Alone'. In 'State Fair' (1945), every member of the Frake family is after a prize at the annual State Fair: father for his prize pig; mother for her pies in the pie contest; and for the son and daughter, true love. Rodgers and Hammerstein's score was written especially for the screen and features some of their biggest hits, including 'It Might As Well Be Spring' and 'It's a Grand Night for Singing'. In 'Oklahoma' (1955), farmhands Curly (MacRae) and Will (Gene Nelson) fall for local girls Ado (Gloria Grahame) and Laurey (Shirley Jones). The path to true love is thwarted, however, by nasty farmhand Jud Fry (Rod Steiger). Featuring classics such as 'Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin' and 'People Will Say We're in Love'. In 'South Pacific' (1958) an American Navy nurse (Mitzi Gaynor) stationed on a South Pacific Island falls in love with a middle-aged French planter (Rossano Brazzi), who goes on to become a war hero. Includes the songs: 'There is Nothing Like a Dame', 'Bali Ha'i', 'Happy Talk' and 'I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair'. In 'The King and I' (1956), when nineteenth century English schoolteacher Anna Leonowens (Deborah Kerr) is employed by the King of Siam (Yul Brynner) to educate his many children, she takes her son, Louis (Rex Thompson), along with her. Anna, a strong-willed woman, soon clashes with the king, who is used to having his every wish adhered to without question. However, Anna's refusal to bow to his will wins his respect and, eventually, his love. Rodgers and Hammerstein numbers include 'Hello Young Lovers' and 'Getting To Know You'. Finally, 'The Sound of Music' (1965) is set in Austria in the 1930s. Ex-nun Maria (Julie Andrews) becomes the governess for a family of seven children who live in the shadow of their domineering and repressed widower father (Christopher Plummer). She brings love, music and excitement into the children's lives and also eventually begins to have an effect on their father. But just when things are looking up, the rise of Nazism and the threat of the coming war darkens all their futures. Includes a host of memorable songs, such as 'Do-Re-Mi', 'Climb Ev'ry Mountain', and 'My Favourite Things'.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Buy it to enjoy the films, not the technical quality of the discs\n\nReview: I bought this set specifically to get the Todd-A-O version of Oklahoma. At the time it was only available in this set and for a reasonable price it gave me the opportunity to watch several other classic movies that I have never seen, or only seen on a picture tube TV decimated by late night car commercials.\n\nHowever this review is for the purchased product, the entire set. In a nutshell, the films rate a 5 as genuine classics, produced in a way that will never be repeated. The enjoyment of being able to watch them full-length at home on a modern flat-screen TV is easily worth a 5.\n\nOn the other hand, the transfers range from bad to really bad. No it can't be expected that any of these movies would or could look as good as when they were projected on the silver screen from the original release prints, but with a few of the movies the image and sound quality are so bad it make it difficult to watch the film. Colors wander all over the place, the sound volume goes up and down, and dialogue is sometimes unintelligible. This is a set to own for content only, to be able to watch a classic movie at home. None of them will please a movie connoisseur. But is that a reasonable expectation? That's something that's up to the buyer to decide.\n\nThe hardest to watch is South Pacific because the original producer had this thing about dissolving to weird colors every time a character burst into song. The modern transfer to DVD process just didn't seem to be able to handle that and made what was originally an unusual effect into something that seems to be drug induced. I found myself closing my eyes so I could enjoy listening to the song without having to watch the shifting colors.\n\nStraying from the review for a second ... movie reviews at Amazon are the least credible of any review for any product. Are people reviewing a movie that was made 30 years ago because they don't like the story line? Will that make the slightest difference in a movie that's already made? Or are they reviewing the technical quality of the film-to-disc transfer? Regardless of digital technical restoration \"miracles\" there's no way an old movie being played on their TV will ever look like a shot-to-digital current theatrical release. In one instance of the ridiculous, as this is being written on Sept 4, 2014, one of these films - the digitally remastered Todd-A-O version of Oklahoma which won't be sold until October 7, 2014 already has 325 reviews under it, many complaining how bad the color and sound are. Duh! That's because they're reviewing an old version of that movie! So, hint, if you like classic old movies just buy them in whatever format is cheapest and enjoy them for what they are. Some things just can't be made better with a \"new coat of paint\".\n\nFinal rating - a tough call. Certainly a 5 on content. While it would be tempting to rate it a 1 on technical quality, that's not exactly fair for the reason described above. I would say overall for all of the discs the technical quality is about what should be expected from such old movies, hence an average 3, bringing the overall rating to 4-stars.","Product: The East and West, despite Kiplings claim that they will never meet, are being united for the new film by Sergei Bodrov Sr., Mongol: The Early Years of Genghis Khan. The project, with a budget of 15 million euros, is a major international co-production with the participation of Russia, Germany, Kazakhstan and the USA.\n\"Mongol\" is the epic story of a young Genghis Khan and how events in his early life lead him to become the legendary conquerer and father of Mongolia.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Detailed review of a superb movie\n\nReview: This is a movie on the scale of what Hollywood was once capable of. It isn't and doesn't have to be historically perfect in every detail of accuracy. There are so many movies based loosely on historical legend that succeed in weaving history with story-telling why single this one out as not being \"historically accurate\". Will the first person who saw the movie who actually witnessed life in the 12th century please step forward and tell us all exactly what went on every day in the life of Genghis Khan? Yet some reviews lean toward criticizing the film's accuracy based on other movies they have seen or books they have read. Bottom line ... this is a movie, not a history book.\n\nI am no more qualified than anyone to discuss how accurately this movie portrays the life story of Genghis Khan, though as a descendent of Mongols and having traveled extensively in the footsteps of Temüjin by way of foot, camel and jeep I can say that much of what I saw such as the sharing of milk, the blessing over it, the drunken parties, the relationships of the Mongolians with their families and with each other, and the background scenery of much of this movie is dead-on accurate. I've been there ... the movie, in a sometimes idealized way, often shows us exactly what Temüjin himself saw 900 years ago.\n\nTaken as a movie, not a history book, the cinematography is excellent. The music is eerily accurate as a popularized version of exactly what camel herders and local entertainers performed for me and have performed for others for centuries. The costumes were romanticized, of course, in most cases. There were times it was hard to focus that we are talking about the 12th century and the movie's costuming simply jumped all over time and space.\n\nI am extremely happy that the dialogue of the Mongolian actors was in their native dialect (while the Chinese actors spoke Mandarin and some of the other characters spoke in a Turkic dialect). With my limited knowledge of the Mongolian language I recognized what the people I lived with in Mongolia spoke to me. The sub-titles were well done. To dub the dialogue into the local language of the movie's viewer would have utterly destroyed the movie.\n\nI'm not sure what I expected from this movie before seeing it, maybe a preachy documentary or something featuring Tom Cruise and Kim Kardashian in the lead roles to sell at the box office, unfortunately if Hollywood made this movie that may actually have been the case. It was easy to ease into the more casual and less hammy acting of the actors who were chosen. There were no miscasts, although Honglei Sun as Jamukha might be just a little over the top with his backaches and neckaches.\n\nWatch the movie with an open and relaxed mind and tune in on the many subtleties used to help us understand the conditions and circumstances that formed one of the most memorable people in all of history. Take time to dissect the battle scenes to see how Temüjin progressed from being the underdog to becoming Genghis Khan, perhaps the most brilliant military strategians of all time. And do read the subtitles, there aren't that many of them.\n\nI highly recommend this movie.","Product: Box set containing six popular musicals from Rodgers and Hammerstein. 'Carousel' (1956) tells the story of carnival barker Billy Bigelow (Gordon MacRae), who is killed committing an armed robbery in order to provide for his baby girl. Years later Billy is allowed to return to Earth for his daughter's graduation. Songs included are 'If I Love You', 'Soliloquy', and 'You'll Never Walk Alone'. In 'State Fair' (1945), every member of the Frake family is after a prize at the annual State Fair: father for his prize pig; mother for her pies in the pie contest; and for the son and daughter, true love. Rodgers and Hammerstein's score was written especially for the screen and features some of their biggest hits, including 'It Might As Well Be Spring' and 'It's a Grand Night for Singing'. In 'Oklahoma' (1955), farmhands Curly (MacRae) and Will (Gene Nelson) fall for local girls Ado (Gloria Grahame) and Laurey (Shirley Jones). The path to true love is thwarted, however, by nasty farmhand Jud Fry (Rod Steiger). Featuring classics such as 'Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin' and 'People Will Say We're in Love'. In 'South Pacific' (1958) an American Navy nurse (Mitzi Gaynor) stationed on a South Pacific Island falls in love with a middle-aged French planter (Rossano Brazzi), who goes on to become a war hero. Includes the songs: 'There is Nothing Like a Dame', 'Bali Ha'i', 'Happy Talk' and 'I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair'. In 'The King and I' (1956), when nineteenth century English schoolteacher Anna Leonowens (Deborah Kerr) is employed by the King of Siam (Yul Brynner) to educate his many children, she takes her son, Louis (Rex Thompson), along with her. Anna, a strong-willed woman, soon clashes with the king, who is used to having his every wish adhered to without question. However, Anna's refusal to bow to his will wins his respect and, eventually, his love. Rodgers and Hammerstein numbers include 'Hello Young Lovers' and 'Getting To Know You'. Finally, 'The Sound of Music' (1965) is set in Austria in the 1930s. Ex-nun Maria (Julie Andrews) becomes the governess for a family of seven children who live in the shadow of their domineering and repressed widower father (Christopher Plummer). She brings love, music and excitement into the children's lives and also eventually begins to have an effect on their father. But just when things are looking up, the rise of Nazism and the threat of the coming war darkens all their futures. Includes a host of memorable songs, such as 'Do-Re-Mi', 'Climb Ev'ry Mountain', and 'My Favourite Things'.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Buy it to enjoy the films, not the technical quality of the discs\n\nReview: I bought this set specifically to get the Todd-A-O version of Oklahoma. At the time it was only available in this set and for a reasonable price it gave me the opportunity to watch several other classic movies that I have never seen, or only seen on a picture tube TV decimated by late night car commercials.\n\nHowever this review is for the purchased product, the entire set. In a nutshell, the films rate a 5 as genuine classics, produced in a way that will never be repeated. The enjoyment of being able to watch them full-length at home on a modern flat-screen TV is easily worth a 5.\n\nOn the other hand, the transfers range from bad to really bad. No it can't be expected that any of these movies would or could look as good as when they were projected on the silver screen from the original release prints, but with a few of the movies the image and sound quality are so bad it make it difficult to watch the film. Colors wander all over the place, the sound volume goes up and down, and dialogue is sometimes unintelligible. This is a set to own for content only, to be able to watch a classic movie at home. None of them will please a movie connoisseur. But is that a reasonable expectation? That's something that's up to the buyer to decide.\n\nThe hardest to watch is South Pacific because the original producer had this thing about dissolving to weird colors every time a character burst into song. The modern transfer to DVD process just didn't seem to be able to handle that and made what was originally an unusual effect into something that seems to be drug induced. I found myself closing my eyes so I could enjoy listening to the song without having to watch the shifting colors.\n\nStraying from the review for a second ... movie reviews at Amazon are the least credible of any review for any product. Are people reviewing a movie that was made 30 years ago because they don't like the story line? Will that make the slightest difference in a movie that's already made? Or are they reviewing the technical quality of the film-to-disc transfer? Regardless of digital technical restoration \"miracles\" there's no way an old movie being played on their TV will ever look like a shot-to-digital current theatrical release. In one instance of the ridiculous, as this is being written on Sept 4, 2014, one of these films - the digitally remastered Todd-A-O version of Oklahoma which won't be sold until October 7, 2014 already has 325 reviews under it, many complaining how bad the color and sound are. Duh! That's because they're reviewing an old version of that movie! So, hint, if you like classic old movies just buy them in whatever format is cheapest and enjoy them for what they are. Some things just can't be made better with a \"new coat of paint\".\n\nFinal rating - a tough call. Certainly a 5 on content. While it would be tempting to rate it a 1 on technical quality, that's not exactly fair for the reason described above. I would say overall for all of the discs the technical quality is about what should be expected from such old movies, hence an average 3, bringing the overall rating to 4-stars.","Product: Developed exclusively for Mill Creek Entertainment by award-winning documentarians Centre Communications. Filmed on-location using state-of-the-art cameras and production equipment for optimal audio/visual presentation! Discover the wonder and mystery of our nation s national parks including The Grand Canyon, Yellowstone and Yosemite. Enjoy their awe-inspiring beauty through aerial and ground tours of each park.\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: Not even worth the $3.99 price I paid\n\nReview: This movie is titled \"The Grand Canyon\". I only paid $3.99 for a Bly-Ray version so had no expectation that this was a great video. Based on its cheesiness the most I could have given it would have been 3 stars. How did it end up with only 1-star? Read on.\n\nThere is not much positive I can say about this video. There is a belief that Blu-Ray videos are going to have fantastic picture quality. Not so here. It is grainy and has dancing pixels in most of the location footage (you can tell it's not the transfer or the DVD player because the interview scenes look fine). Several times I had the impression it was shot with a cell phone camera. The scripting is atrocious. Here's an exaggerated example of his writing style: \"The rocks are red. They are red because of sediment. Sediment that formed over millions of years. Years that happened a long time ago. A long time ago because it wasn't recent\". After the first half-hour of listening to virtually every sentence begin with the last word of the previous sentence it was hard to take the video seriously without giggling at the amateurish writing (apparently the guy who made the video pretty much was a one-man-band). The narrator has the emotion of a corpse and listening to his sibilant ssss's was like fingernails on a chalkboard. I know this was low-budget but didn't anyone think of a simple breath filter in front of his microphone?\n\nAll of the above might have earned 3-stars for an \"average effort\" so why did I rate it only 1-star? Because this video is NOT about the Grand Canyon and the video's maker claims it is. Only about 7 minutes out of 1hr/20min program length is directly related to the Grand Canyon and of that maybe about 2-3 minutes of video (made up of little clips that are a few seconds each) is actually shot at the Grand Canyon and the rest of it is some guy rambling on-camera on about who-knows-what. The movie's remaining video footage? Most of it was filmed up to 200 miles away in Utah and Colorado which looks nothing like the Grand Canyon (the video maker has an obvious fetish with \"The Colorado Plateau\" as it is mentioned dozens of times). I suspect the guy who filmed it didn't want to file for the permits and pay the fees to GCNPS so he shot some \"home movies\" pretending he was a tourist.\n\nThe title \"Grand Canyon\" is a complete misrepresentation. If you are considering buying this video because you likely will never visit the Grand Canyon ... don't. After watching it you will be hopelessly confused which scenery was shot at the Grand Canyon (hint: only 2-3 minutes of the entire show) and you'll hardly know what the Grand Canyon even looks like. If you are thinking of buying this video as an educational tool for your children, parental guidance is suggested ... explain to them that they are watching a video about a huge area of Southern Utah, Southwest Colorado, Northwest New Mexico and the Northeast corner of Arizona. That way they can learn a little (very little) about that area of the American Southwest. It would be misguided for you to tell them that all of those pretty scenes the video maker has lumped into a video titled \"Grand Canyon\" are in or even remotely near the Grand Canyon.\n\nIt is rare I am so disappointed I give any product only 1-star. This one is it.","Product: Target Exclusive MetalPak; Embossed with beautiful inner and outer artwork and UV HD copy!\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Just a little more wow please\n\nReview: This is for the 30th Anniversary steelbook edition, not the movie content. I saw Top Gun in the theater when it was originally releases and own a VHS copy of it. This is a movie that begs to be seen in the best possible resolution and highest quality sound, so when I got the bug to see it again, this time on my new larger and better TV and newly enhanced sound system with three room rattling subwoofers, this blu-ray DVD version is the one I chose to buy. Was it worth it, or did the quality of my home theater system outdo the quality of this release?\n\nI wish I could say this is the ultimate version of Top Gun but its not. Visually its impressive but the reality is this movie was filmed over 30 years ago and while the DVD is worlds improved over my VHS copy, it would take a far more intensive digital remastering to equal the quality of several other digitally remastered classics I can think of.\n\nBut lets face it, what always made Top Gun a heart stopper in the theaters was the sound and here I would say this is the best release yet and Im not sure what more they could do to improve it, after all they only had a Dolby two-channel track to begin with and this movie screams for multiple rear, center and the full 24.1.10 channel Dolby Atmos home theater experience (note that I don't have that and I don't know anybody who does, just sayin). The DTS-HD Master Audio 6.1 offers plausible surround effects and clear intelligible dialogue but falls short a little in really being able to rattle the windows.\n\nSo the bottom line is that for the twelve bucks I paid for this disc Im happy and I like it. I wish they could have done more to wow me but reality is a real thing.","Product: Widescreen edition AC-3\nTHX Laser Disc\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Just a little more wow please\n\nReview: This is for the 30th Anniversary steelbook edition, not the movie content. I saw Top Gun in the theater when it was originally releases and own a VHS copy of it. This is a movie that begs to be seen in the best possible resolution and highest quality sound, so when I got the bug to see it again, this time on my new larger and better TV and newly enhanced sound system with three room rattling subwoofers, this blu-ray DVD version is the one I chose to buy. Was it worth it, or did the quality of my home theater system outdo the quality of this release?\n\nI wish I could say this is the ultimate version of Top Gun but its not. Visually its impressive but the reality is this movie was filmed over 30 years ago and while the DVD is worlds improved over my VHS copy, it would take a far more intensive digital remastering to equal the quality of several other digitally remastered classics I can think of.\n\nBut lets face it, what always made Top Gun a heart stopper in the theaters was the sound and here I would say this is the best release yet and Im not sure what more they could do to improve it, after all they only had a Dolby two-channel track to begin with and this movie screams for multiple rear, center and the full 24.1.10 channel Dolby Atmos home theater experience (note that I don't have that and I don't know anybody who does, just sayin). The DTS-HD Master Audio 6.1 offers plausible surround effects and clear intelligible dialogue but falls short a little in really being able to rattle the windows.\n\nSo the bottom line is that for the twelve bucks I paid for this disc Im happy and I like it. I wish they could have done more to wow me but reality is a real thing.","Product: The Plantronics Explorer 350 is a sleek, lightweight headset that fuses Bluetooth wireless technology with effortless call control for a true hands-free experience. The Explorer 350 headset is easy to use and incorporates all call features--volume, answer/end call, last-number redial, and voice-activated dialing--into one single button. Delivering up to eight hours of talk time and convenient in-car accessories for charging and stowing, the Explorer 350 lets you keep your headset handy and charged while you are on the go.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: One of the best\n\nReview: When I bought my first Bluetooth-enabled phone about 3 years ago the deal included a Motorola Bluetooth headset. Cool, I thought. Then I used it less and less, because the thing had to be recharged at home and would only last about an hour. Soon I thought it was just too hard to use ... hard to put on, and totally weird in that to turn it on you had to take it OFF your ear, flip down the mouthpiece, then put it BACK on your ear. Whoever designed the thing had no clue how people use headsets. It also sounded like I was talking from the bottom of a water well. Whenever I used it on conference calls people would yell for me to go on mute. So I started asking people in the waiting rooms at airports what brand they had and what brand they liked. I got so many people who hated Jabra that I didn't even consider it. I already didn't really care for Motorola, so I started looking at Nokia, which seem to be nice but clumsy, and then I kept meeting more and more people who were in love with their Plantronics. I have used Plantronics headsets for a long time in the office, after all, that's all they do and they seem to do it well. I looked at a few Plantronics and didn't find one that jumped out at me, then one day I ran across the Explorer 350. This was just too good to be true! Are you kidding me, $49 bucks for a Bluetooth headset made by the top brand? Then I looked closer and found that Plantronics did something very unique with this headset. Instead of having to charge it at home, it comes with an extremely cool little clip that either mounts to your dash or hooks to your air vent in your car then plugs into your cigarette lighter. Now that made sense! A place to hold the headset where you use it most, always charging, then ready to use in a second or to walk around the rest of the day with it fully charged. For us road warriors, Plantronics also thoughtfully included a USB charging cable so the trusty laptop will keep your headset charged while you sleep. You can buy an optional AC adapter if that makes you feel more secure. So how is it built and how does it perform? Built like a Hummer! The main piece is one solid chunk that looks like it is pretty immune to any normal damage while clunking around in your pocket with a lot of coins. The piece that goes around your ear looks like it is solid as well, and effortlessly switches from ear to ear and slips on with one easy motion. After the first time, this thing slips on with no thought on my part and instantly is in the perfect position for use. Operation couldn't be simpler. Unlike my Motorola with several switches that you had to remember how and what sequence to push them in, the Plantronics has one switch. Push it in to turn it on, push it in to turn it off, push it in to talk, push it in to hang up, push it in to voice dial, etc. All you have to do is push. Want to make it louder or quieter? Push up or push down. No-brainer. I saved performance for last because this is what convinced me to keep it. After a quick charge I called a friend from my car with the window rolled down. This is a friend I talk to all the time from my land line. I said, hey, I just bought a new Bluetooth headset and want to see how it sounds to you. He said, cool, put it on and I'll let you know. I said ... I already have it on! He said the sound was perfect, no background noise of any kind and it sounded at least as good as my landline. One of the things several of my airport buddies told me they liked about Plantronics is how the durable rubber earpiece fits comfortably inside your ear and blocks out noise ... like annoying flight announcements. I have to say that not only did I sound perfect to my friend but every call I have been on has been easier to hear than with any other headset I have ever tried.\n\nPROS:\n\nSound Quality\n\nSuperior construction\n\nEase of use\n\nPairing - instant and flawless\n\nPrice\n\nComfort\n\nCONS:\n\nNone I could see. Earns a comfortable 5 stars!","Product: Sport Your iPod nano in a New WayClip & GoTake your tunes anywhere with the wristband specially designed for the new iPod Nano 6. It's the easiest way for you and your Nano to go mobile. Comfortable & Easy It's simple to attach your device using Nano's integrated-clip design. And you get a custom fit with the Velcro closure that's secure and reliable. The lightweight material is thin, breathable and machine washable.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Several flaws keep the ratings low\n\nReview: I don't wear wrist watches. In fact I hate wearing wrist watches. But when I travel I'm never quite sure where to put my iPod mini. Having previously seen other iPod watch band straps I kinda liked the idea, but most of the straps were way too overpriced.\n\nI thought I'd like this one because it doesn't buckle on, a quick wrap of the strap using the Velcro fastener is all it takes. I also liked it because unlike many of the other wrist straps, it does not need a fussy installation process ... the iPod just clips to the front using the existing clip on the back of the iPod.\n\nThe reality:\n\n- The product feels really cheesy. My wrist started to sweat as soon as I put it on\n\n- It also looks really cheesy. The huge light gray Belkin logo does nothing to help\n\n- The Velcro fastener is VERY weak. The Velcro has the holding strength of a used Post-It note. What are you thinking Belkin??? It I flicked my wrist the entire strap would go flying.\n\n- It has no style. If you don't mind looking like a kid wearing a toy found in a box of Cracker Jacks, it likely will serve its purpose.\n\n- The iPod itself stick much too far out, making it easy to snag onto something and tear the iPod off. Unlike many similar iPod straps there is nothing surrounding the iPod to help protect it.\n\n- The landing pad for the iPod is substantially larger than the player itself and is too rigid to wrap around the contours of my wrist, so I have this stiff 2-1/2\" piece of rigid plastic sticking out of each side of my wrist. If I tension it down by pulling the Velcro tab tight I feel the whole thing will suddenly blast off and put somebody's eye out.\n\n- It is WAY overpriced for what it is.\n\nI'm a fan of most Belkin products. I don't think they had their thinking caps on when they came up with this wrist strap.\n\nI've posted 3 pictures of the strap in-use with captions.","Product: Designed by the French designer David Turpin the MM03 is a contemporary styled Bluetooth handset, finished in a luxurious black or white high- gloss texture. Manufactured with a high quality speaker and microphone, it supports Bluetooth 2.1 multipoint technology, which lets you pair and answer calls on two different Bluetooth devices. This means you can quickly and easily connect the Moshi Moshi 03 to two phones, such as a Smartphone and a personal phone, or a phone and a Bluetooth-enabled device, such as a laptop that you use to make VOIP Internet calls. The handset is supplied with a weighted recharging base for the handset and a silicon mat designed to protect the mobile phone from wear and tear.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Very handy and ultra stylish\n\nReview: This is something I didn't think I would want or need until I got it, now I can't see not having it. I don't have an i-Phone but it really doesn't matter, it works perfectly with my bluetooth enabled smart phone just fine. Whenever I'm in the offie I keep my phone in a desktop charging cradle and have my wireless headset nearby. But it is a hassle putting the headset on and off everytime I want to make or take a call.\n\nWith the Moshi Curve (odd name for a product) my phone can remain in the cradle and I can make a call using a comfortable and familiar handset. It is far easier to hold than a candy bar shaped phone and any radiation from the phone is far away from my ear.\n\nSince I don't have an iPhone I have found that the dock on the handset works perfectly with my iPod, it keeps it charged and there is a handy audio output to my computer speaker system. It holds the iPod at the perfect angle and keeps it handy since the phone is close to me on my desk.\n\nI can't write this without commenting on the packaging the manufacturer used for this device. Considering there is nothing really fragile about it, a normal blister card would have been fine, but no, it came packed in a box made of cardboard that is about 4x thicker than a normal box, with an intricately die-cut inner sleeve that has a piece of thick dense rubber surrounding the phone (!). It was incredibly overpackaged, but certainly protected the device and gave the whole product an aura of quality.\n\nI read a review from someone who downgraded the product because of \"bright blinking lights\" and expected them to be visible and annoying. In fact they are on the underside of the handset and not even visible in the daytime. At night they put out a soft glow, not at all annoying. I'm thinking most people who own this handset would use it at a desk or in their living area, not in a darkened bedroom, but if they did a little piece of tape over the light would take care of the problem and would be unseen so it wouldn't detract from the styling. In my opinion, the status lights have nothing to do with whether this is a good product or not.\n\nSo, is it a good product? Yes. It is extremely attractive and almost a piece of art (reminds of of Bang & Olufsen products). The sound quality is better than the phone itself and it is substantially easier to hold for extended periods. Personally, if there was a choice I would get the unit without the iPhone dock, but having it is not a dealbreaker.","Product: The MG2TRI Flexible Mini Tripod with Universal Smartphone Holder fits Apple iPhone X, iPhone 8 and 8 Plus, iPhone 7 and 7 Plus, iPhone 6S Plus and 6S, Samsung Galaxy Note 8, Note 5, and Note 4, Galaxy S8, S7, S6 edge+, and S6, LG G6, G5, and G4, Google Nexus 6, HTC One M8 and One Max, Nokia Lumia 1520, 1020, and Motorola Moto G and Moto X. The tripod is also compatible with small digital cameras with the standard 1/4-20 camera pattern. This unique package includes a Flexible Mini Tripod with Arkons Mobile Grip 2 Universal Smartphone Holder and handy carrying pouch. Use the flexible mini tripod/holder package in one of two ways: 1) Attach a digital camera directly to the flexible mini tripod by screwing it onto the 1/4-20 mounting bolt, or 2) screw the end of the Mobile Grip 2 holder directly onto the mini tripod for use with a smartphone (remove the rubber insert on the side of the holder to reveal an industry-standard 1/4-20 threaded camera mounting pattern for use). Take photos anywhere using the Flexible Mini Tripod. Bend the tripods legs to grab on to fences, poles, and trees. Or, hold up the tripod to get a better shot of the action at concerts, parades, and other public events. The Mobile Grip 2 holder expands to accommodate all smartphones (even those with skins and ruggedized cases) up to 3.6 wide. The holder is just 1.4 high, and is ideal for those who prefer a smaller profile. The holders spring-loaded mechanism makes it easy to insert or remove the cell phone from the holder with one hand, yet holds the smartphone securely. Its simplistic yet effective design keeps rear smartphone cameras free for spontaneous pictures or videos.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: A must-have gadget if you own a smartphone\n\nReview: Considering its modest price this is a very versatile and surprisingly well-built device. Its two primary functions are to act as a tripod for a smartphone (which of course does not have tripod mounting holes) or to be used as a small travel tripod for pocket digital cameras. What makes it unique is its flexible extensions that can be wrapped around things like table legs, tree trunks, handlebars, etc. It's not unique in being the only product of its type ... there are numerous similar tripods ... but unique compared to using a standard tripod.\n\nThe tripod comes with a standard mounting screw which can be used with almost all compact cameras. Unlike some similar units, this one has a \"quick-release\" mount which permits the camera to be instantly removed. The designers got two things very right with the quick-mount. One is that the part that remains on the camera is so thin as to hardly be there, nice for slipping your camera back in your pocket when you aren't using the tripod. The other thing is that there is a positive locking mechanism that prevents the camera from accidentally slipping out of the quick-release.\n\nIncluded with the kit is a spring-loaded mount that fits the majority of modern cell phones and even a few phablets. The spring is very strong and there are beefy rubber grips to help prevent your expensive phone from taking a nosedive. The spring is so strong that it may seem difficult to operate at first - here's a hint - push up on the movable part with your phone, then slip the bottom in place. The phone mount can be attached to the tripod directly and the phone can be used either horizontally or vertically. The mount is slim enough that it does not get in the way of the camera lens.\n\nAlso included is a useful swivel mount that attaches to the back of the smartphone holder giving the user a virtually limitless range of motion. It is small and light enough most people would probably opt to keep it installed at all times.\n\nThe most obvious need for a smartphone tripod is when using the self-timer for group photos, something nearly impossible to do without some sort of tripod for the phone. With selfies as popular as they are now it also lets you wrap the legs of the phone around something nearby so you can move back enough to include more people (see my video).\n\nThe whole things is very lightweight and comes with a handy carrying bag. Not being able to find any negatives at all, this useful gadget earns 5-stars.","Product: 5-Device charging station and desktop charger combo recharge and reorganize your mobile devices. No more multi-device mayhem tablets here, smartphones there, cables everywhere? Consolidate all your recharge requirements into this neat and tidy arrangement. Poweriq detects your Device. Delivers the fastest charge. Exclusive to Anker, PowerIQ amp-adjustment technology Intelligently identifies your device to deliver Its fastest Possible charge through two ports. Incredibly powerful a family-sized 40 watts/ 8 Amps through five ports charges all your phones, tablets and other devices simultaneously. Discreet design this simple, unassuming charging station blends in with pretty much any home or office decor, sporting a sleek outer shell that's no bigger than necessary. World famous warranty at Anker, we believe in our products. That's why we back them all with an 18-month warranty and provide friendly, easy-to-reach support. For optimal use: - use with the included Anker 40W 5-Port desktop charger or most recent 25W 5-Port desktop charger (sold separately). other chargers of a similar or smaller size may also be compatible. - use your original cables or a third party certified one (such as mfi). -charger compatible with Apple and Android smartphones, tablets (including the Nexus 7) and other USB-charged devices except for the iPod Nano, iPod Classic, HP Touchpad, LG G2 and Asus tablets.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: A simple and attractive multi-device charging station\n\nReview: <div id=\"video-block-R1MFNPH90YGOTJ\" class=\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\"></div><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/D1IO83-HKTS.mp4\" class=\"video-url\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/01Qj6Bc2SKS.png\" class=\"video-slate-img-url\"> Picture a typical family's kitchen counter at the end of the day. The whole family has their phones and tablets plugged in to recharge them after a long day. There's more spaghetti coming out of the wall outlet than there is in the pot on the stove.\n\nEnter Anker's Charging Station. Think of it as a toaster but instead of the slots holding a slice of bread they each hold phones and tablets of all shapes and sizes. And the Charging Station takes up less room than a toaster.\n\nWhat is it? The idea itself is simple. An attractive box designed to hold Anker's 40w 5-port charger inside. There are hidden slots to route the various charging cables through and a rubberized top with wide slots to hold the devices themselves. The slots hold the devices upright so in reality the Charging Station takes up no more room than a 7\" tablet laying down.\n\nThe Charging station is built of heavy plastic and is attractive enough to be used in any room. It is relatively heavy and has rubber feet so it won't move around.\n\nIt is close to the perfect solution. There are a few things to know and understand however:\n\n1. The Charging Station does not come with any electronics (i.e. charger, cables, etc). It is designed to work only with Anker's own 40w charger. Their similar 25w charger is larger and will not fit the custom cutout inside the box. If you already own a 25w Anker charger you could always Velcro it to the bottom of the case.\n\n2. Considering it contains no electronics and is just a plastic box, at the $36 current selling price it is overpriced. It actually costs more than the much more sophisticated 5-port charger itself. This keeps the Charging Station from being a 5-star product.\n\n3. On the plus side, the slots are wide and deep enough to hold a smartphone or tablet in virtually any normal protective case without removing it. Shown in the attached video is a Samsung Galaxy II in a TPU case and an iPad Mini in an Anker case. BTW note that it is being used with Anker's excellent Lightning cable.\n\nIf Anker would bundle the Charging Station with their 40w 5-port charger and sell the combination for under $50 they would score a home run.","Product: The Turtle Cell is the first protective iPhone case with premium, built-in retractable headphones and the first solution that eliminates losing, tangling and breaking of headphones all in one device. With the Turtle Cell, you simply pull the headphones out to any comfortable length and they lock into place for convenient listening. Hands-free calling is easy with the in-line microphone and push button controls. When you're done using the headphones you just push a button to retract the headphones back into the case for safe storage. The case also features an audio switch that allows you to engage or disengage the headphones without ever removing the case. The Turtle Cell is built from a high-impact polycarbonate material and has a 1mm lip over the front of the phone to provide superior protection. Even with a full-length pair of headphones and superior protection, the Turtle Cell only adds 7mm of additional thickness to your phone.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: One of the most useful iPhone cases ever made\n\nReview: 2015 is shaping up as the year of taking existing technologies and making them better, more fun and cooler with innovative why didn't I think of that tech toys. This is certainly one of them and it came to my attention as a contender for an article I was writing about just such products. I received a sample so I could share my experience with you.\n\nThis is definitely not a me too product. Condensing it into some short bullet points here are some of what makes it unique:\n\n- The most obvious is that it has a pair of surprisingly good quality earbuds built right into the case\n- Not to be content with just doing that, they made the earbuds RETRACTABLE\n- The case is not simply one of those TPU shells, it has an armored tactical feel about it\n- It is a two-piece case but rather have front and back pieces than can fall apart, the TOP slides off to permit sliding the case in. Even if the case fell to the ground the chances of the phone popping out and getting damaged are pretty rare\n- There is an oddly effective switch that switches the earbuds off so you can use the phones speaker. Since that would be almost impossible electronically it simply yanks the headphone plug out of the jack!\n- There is an acoustically amplified chamber at the bottom of the case that captures the sound from your iPhones speaker and channels it forward\n- For all the case does it adds surprisingly little size and bulk to your phone\n- The case feels far from that cheesy bargain look that so many discount store cases have, there is a real premium feel about it\n\nThere are some close-up photos at the end of this review. Check them out. The ones on the Amazon page are pretty good but these will give you a closer view of how well this case is made.\n\nFor sheer innovation, quality of construction and ruggedness (not to mention a fair selling price) this is a great value and is recommended as earning 5-stars.","Product: Unlocked 4G LTE phone Equipped with a 4.5-Inch BLU Infinite View Technology display, 1.2 GHz Quad Core processor and Adreno 305 GPU, Android Jellybean v4.3. 5MP autofocus 2581 x 1936 pixel camera with VGA Front camera.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: It's really pretty good ... for the price\n\nReview: My current phone, a Samsung Galaxy, to my surprise is 5 years old. How time flies. I like that phone, it does everything I want and need, but lately it has been developing some unfortunately glitches ... the camera locks up, sometimes the whole thing will slow to a crawl, and it is heavier than I would like.\n\nAlthough I do love the screen resolution, the sound quality and the overall build quality of my Samsung, it is time for a new phone - but the one I want (the upcoming Sony Z4) isn't due for a major upgrade until mid-2015 and cuts well into my budget but I am determined to buy it the day it hits the stores.\n\nI thought I would try this BLU phone in the interim and see how I like it. It costs a fraction of my Samsung but in almost every way the specs represent a quantum leap in technology. And while on paper it doesn't sound that much more physically manageable, in real life it feels thinner, lighter and more comfortable to use.\n\nBefore getting into anything else let's get the big reveal out of the way right now ... what I love most is that it does not come preloaded with garbage-ware that the provider won't let me delete. It is about as pure Android as is possible to buy and therefore screams faster in performance than most phones with the same specs.\n\nWHAT DO YOU GIVE UP?\n\n* For its screen size it is larger and heavier overall than you should expect\n* Screen resolution, while adequate, is several generations behind current technology\n* Camera resolution, again decent, is not great\n* No gyro or compass\n* Not the absolute latest release of Android (although it's supposed to be coming)\n\nWHAT FEATURES ARE IMPRESSIVE FOR THE PRICE?\n\n* 1.2 GHz quad-core processor - excellent for a phone in this price range\n* 4 GB ROM/16GB RAM - expansion up to 32 GB via microSD card\n* 1850 mAh user replaceable battery\n* Compatibility with most carriers and prepaid plans\n* Comes with gel case, screen protector and charging accessories\n\nThe screen won't knock your socks off. I did a side-by-side comparison of the BLU IPS screen with the Samsung OLED screen and there is a world of difference. But in the end, neither is \"better\" than the other. One has blacker blacks, the other has richer colors, one washes out more off angle, the other washes out more in bright light. One looks great when dimmed, the other is difficult to read. I would say they are about equal when it comes to battery life.\n\nThe BLU is a great value. It's not the best smartphone ever made nor does it try to be. It tries to be the best cheap smartphone and I think that's where they have a firm grasp on that market niche. If you like to show off to your friends who just bought the newest from the big brand names, BLU likely won't cut it. And if you're rough on phones the build quality may not be top tier (but then again you can buy 10 of them for the price of some other phones and have a drawer-full of spares).\n\nYes, it's a cheap phone in price but as a user there is little that feels or looks cheap about it. I likely would have put up with my failing Samsung until the Sony X4 comes along later this year but the BLU is a very nice interim step and I've decided it will be my backup phone once I retire the Samsung.","Product: Slim and Strong for the iPhone 6 The Grip Shield case for the iPhone 6 (4.7-inches) provides complete all-around protection while maintaining a slim profile.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Flashy - but will it protect your phone?\n\nReview: <div id=\"video-block-R183ZUYO1E3UU4\" class=\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\"></div><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/C1qfWd6lhpS.mp4\" class=\"video-url\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/11htNCs0Z0S.png\" class=\"video-slate-img-url\"> You are reading this because you have an iPhone 6 and are shopping for a case. You've already narrowed your search down by the general style you prefer and the price that best fits your budget. You know that there is no way to know how well a case will fit, how comfortable it will be, how much protection it will give your prized phone and how long it will last by reading other people's reviews. Reviews for some type of products can be very useful but you know that when it comes to cases for phones you are unique and what is good for someone else may not work best for you. There is no substitute for getting your own case and using it on your own phone.\n\nThat being said, following are some personal observations, combined with a brief video, that I hope will help you narrow the field down to the case you are looking for. This is for the item pictured, an LAX Gadgets slim \"shield case\" for the iPhone 6 in a shiny gold basket weave finish.\n\n1. This case is flexible plastic, harder than a silicone case but more flexible than a rigid case.\n2. It \"snaps\" over the phone. While it fits firmly it is easy to remove\n3. It has 5 cutouts: camera/flash, silence switch, headphone jack, lightning cable and audio speaker\n4. It has a round opening on the back (about \") to reveal the Apple logo on the phone\n5. The control buttons (volume and sleep) are protected by molded button covers\n6. The case adds little weight to the phone\n7. The front of the case has a very slight rim to protect the screen when face down\n\nWHAT I LIKE:\n\n1. The plastic material is not slippery. The sides are a little rougher to provide a good grip\n2. The ports for the headphones and lightning connector are slightly larger than average\n3. Despite the gold finish the back is a scratch resistant glossy plastic\n4. There are 6 ribs on the back to further resist slipping\n\nWHAT I DIDN'T LIKE\n\n1. The round hole shows off the Apple logo but also lets dust and moisture into the case\n2. The control button covers make operating the buttons a little more difficult than bare buttons\n3. The honeycomb interior offers slight shock resistance but will leave a pattern on the back of your phone\n4. This is a bump-resistant case, it will not withstand any sizable drop\n5. There is no dust or moisture protection for the phone\n\nAs an attractive yet utilitarian case this one is sold at a reasonable price. It is flashier than average, but if you like the look, go for it. What kept it from earning a full 5-stars is the stiff button operation, the lack of a soft interior backing and the logo peephole which exposes a portion of the actual phone to dust, moisture and perhaps a poke with something that may mar the phone's finish.","Product: Protection reinvented! Nuud takes smartphone protection and usability to new levels with the most advanced case design available. Nuud screen less technology, protects your device from plunges and fumbles - without the need for a screen cover. That way, you can use your device as intended, in ways and places never before possible.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: It's always good to get nd\n\nReview: If you search for smartphone cases you will likely find that the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus have a dizzying number of cases of every conceivable style, color and purpose. One of the most popular categories of add-on cases are those that are ruggedized and resist the elements. And for good reason with iPhone prices approaching just under the $1000 mark on one hand and Americans increasing active outdoor lifestyle on the other.\n\nI have tested numerous cases for the iPhone as well as other current phones for a popular website and have seen products that run the gamut from pure junk to pure genius. Somewhere toward the top of the scale are cases from Lifeproof who has won a large following for making cases that are both innovative and practical. Lets be clear, I have no favorites Ill equally point out what works and what doesnt when I review a case.\n\nNote that this review is based on an actual production model. As of mid-April 2015 the case has not actually been shipped for actual sale yet at Amazon.\n\nSo much has and will be written about the nd model that I won't repeat each and every spec and feature. The manufacturer does a good job of that. No, this overview will simply highlight what the high points and low points are for this particular design. For brevity I will refer to cases that are waterproof/dirt proof/ snow proof/shock proof, etc. as ruggedized going forward:\n\nTHE HIGHS:\n\n1. As humungously big as the iPhone 6 Plus is its also ultra- slim. That slimness is part of why you bought a 6 Plus. The majority of ruggedized cases add way too much bulk and weight to the phone. While by definition a ruggedized case has to add size and weight, the nd gets away with adding as little as possible. Mine weighed in at exactly 55.52 grams (the phone itself weighs 172 grams).\n\n2. Its easy to install. Not everyone wants to have their phone ruggedized 24/7. The nd does a admirable job at being able to snap together and snap apart with a minimum of fuss. And do it repeatedly without losing its weather proof capabilities.\n\n3. Retention of functionality what this means is how much do you lose in terms of that gorgeous screens sharpness and touch sensitivity? Answer: none because the screen can be left fully exposed. Note I say can be because you do get the choice of installing a screen protector that Lifestyle includes in the box.\n\n4. The rear of the nd case is smoked plastic to let you appreciate the phone inside. I mean the way the phone looks is important to you, right?\n\n5. Finally, the 1000 lb elephant in the room, does it protect your phone? Yes it does but read further down in our review for some important details.\n\nTHE LOWS:\n\n1. As positive as I feel about the retention of functionality of the phones screen, I bemoan the loss of functionality of the major control buttons. The nd case isn't alone in this regard, but they haven't done anything to make the problem better. The buttons take a very firm and decisive press to activate and the ring/silent switch is virtually impossible to use. Yes there ARE some cases Ive used that manage to do a better job at keeping the control buttons easy to use.\n\n2. Every ruggedized case I have used has suffered a loss of quality for the camera(s) and the phones speakers and microphones. The nd is no exception to this. Expect all audio to sound a bit muffled, like as if you had your thumb over the mic/speaker. Its going to happen so get used to it. But the imaging devices were a pleasant surprise got the front and rear cameras suffered minimal effects of having to shoot through a window and the flash did not pick up any weird glare like with some other cases.\n\n3. The lightning connector WILL fit the Apple cable that came with your phone. It probably will not fit any other brand of lightning connector/cable you can find. The hole was made to be an exact fit for the Apple connector to help keep the elements out. If you regularly use cables or other adapters from third-party companies you will have to take the phone out of the case first.\n\n4. Ditto with the mini audio connector, except that the nd does include a short dongle to let you plug in your favorite headphones or other audio accessories.\n\nYOU NEED TO KNOW THIS:\n\nLifeproof goes overboard in warning you to TEST your device before exposing your phone to water. This makes total sense. If you want to dunk your $1000 phone under water in an untested case please don't say you weren't warned. The way I do it is to wad up a piece of tissue paper into a square thats about 2 x 2 and place it inside the case, close all seals, and hold the case under a few feet of water for about a minute. If you see bubbles rising you are already in trouble, but if you open the case and the tissue is even the slightest damp DONT put your phone in the case, return it immediately for a replacement or another model. I will point out that you should towel dry the case before you open it to inspect the tissue so you don't accidentally have some water leak inside.\n\nLifeproof has a reputation and its a good one. They earned it by making products that do what they're supposed to. The nd is the best I have seen (so far) for the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus and I recommend it for adding minimal size and weight, for retaining screen functionality and for a good job protecting the phone from the elements.","Product: The Vault by Silk is an ultra slim wallet case for iPhone 5/5s/SE that comfortably fits 3 cards plus cash. The durable soft-touch cover provides full-frame protection on all 4 corners to protect your phone from drops and dings. The soft-touch finish provides the perfect amount of grip and an ultra slim fit to slide in your pocket without sticking to the liner. Vault's sleek exterior gives way to a shock-absorbent reinforced ribbed substructure that disperses shocks around and away from your phone. Natural-Throw buttons provide a tactile response from each click to maintain an organic connection with the phone. Vault case marries the essentials of a wallet to the form factor of your iPhone.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Excellent protection at a very reasonable price\n\nReview: Here it is February of 2016. Why am I posting a review about a case for an iPhone 5s? Isnt that phone as obsolete as an audio cassette? It might surprise you that, according to a report Apple released a few days ago, that the iPhone 5s is second only to the iPhone 6 in number of devices in use today (the 6s is a distant third). The actual numbers are iPhone 6 = 35.06%; iPhone 5s = 19.1% and iPhone 6s = 13.73%. So there are still a lot of people needing and buying cases and other accessories for the 5s, me included.\n\nWhile the 5s may be one of the most rugged phones made, many of us still want to protect it from damage without adding substantially to the whole reason we still keep this classic model its small size.\n\nThe Silk Vault is an excellent way to do that, without paying the huge price tag for some of the other better known name brands. I got mine in brilliant turquoise because I like colorful things and it looks beautiful together with the phones gold case. The Silk case doesnt add much to the height and width of the iPhone, only .05 on each side and it is a featherweight at only 1.06 oz (29.98g). But it has an aggressively raised rim that protects the face of the phone and holds it very securely in place.\n\nThe back is where there is the most protection, a full .25 of thickness, that isn't wasted by the way because the designers cleverly included a place to store credit cards or business cards.\n\nThe large opening on the bottom allows full access to the headphone jack and Lightning connector as well as unobstructed sound from the bottom-firing speaker, and the camera cutout protects the lens while giving the camera a full and clear view. The only other cutout is for the physical mute switch.\n\nThe phones volume buttons and on/off switch however are covered with form-fitted buttons on the case. This is a personal preference, one that I don't happen to share I prefer exposed buttons. It does take extra effort to activate those controls because of the stiffness of the plastic material. To some that may be a plus, so the buttons aren't accidentally activated when carrying the phone in a pocket or purse. Since it is a judgement call I won't rate that feature up nor down in my final rating.\n\nI received this months ago as a sample in exchange for a review but after using it extensively I like this case. Our reviews are completely independent of any manufacturer or organization. It is extremely protective while still being very lightweight. I like the look of it, it makes a nice impression. It doesnt affect holding or using the phone one-handed, in fact the extra thickness actually makes the phone a little easier to hold. And the price is very affordable and the added bonus of an included screen protector makes the value all the better. For those reasons I recommend it and believe it earns a 5-star rating.","Product: True Clear advanced screen protector for iPhone 5 is the best screen protector available, engineered for strength and clarity and tested to meet optometric standards. The result is a crystal Clear screen protector that keeps your screen safe from damage while still giving you an incredible screen experience.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: But wait theres more\n\nReview: Screen protectors are some of the simplest products being sold today. All there is to one is a clear piece of plastic or glass that glues to the screen of your phone to protect it from scratches and/or impact damage. I use the word glues loosely because some attach by friction or static. And I use the term protect loosely because when screen protectors first came out the screens they protected were pretty soft and fragile. These days most phones (and tablets) use ultra-strong gorilla-type glass that is virtually impervious to scratching and probably does as good of a job protecting against impact blows as most screen protectors. And I use the term probably loosely because who wants to find out how much of an impact it would take to shatter your screen.\n\nWhich brings us to why screen protectors are sold. Theyre cheap insurance (at least most of them are). Belkin is one of two brands I always go to whenever I get a new phone or tablet because they are a name brand and I trust them. And, compared to some screen protectors Ive seen that can sell for a ridiculous $50 or more, Belkin keeps the price down at a realistic level.\n\nAssigning a rating to this (or any screen protector) is tough because who knows how long it will last and how well it will protect in case of an accident, until its too late. I think what most people who have tried to install a screen protector want to know is how easy it goes on, are there a lot of bubbles, and does it stay in place or do the corners start to turn up?\n\nIm pleased to report that in my experience Belkin did better than average on all counts. The fit is perfect and when you run your finger across the screen it feels smooth. There is nothing to dislike.\n\nOn a side note, it seems many accessory manufacturers are discontinuing add-ons for the iPhone 5/5s. Im happy to see Belkin is not one of them. But what bewilders me a little is that they have not changed the product description for this item. If you believe the reports the new iPhone SE has been very popular and this screen protector is a perfect fit for it. Im not sure why Belkin has chosen not to list the SE but this would be a wise choice for anyone who is thinking of getting the new mini model iPhone.","Product: Screen Guard Transparent Overlay for Samsung Galaxy SIIProtection Without Distraction The totally transparent overlay keeps you screen safe without changing its appearance. Defend Your Device Avoid damage without affecting your touchscreen's functionality. Strong yet thin and lightweight, the overlay provides excellent protection that will help keep your device looking like new.Tru Clear See your screen, not the overlay. Tru Clear technology ensures optimal screen visibility. Fast Install Applying the overlay is fast and easy. Simply clean your phone screen with the included cleaning wipe, peel the overlay from its backing and place it onto your screen. Then use the included smoothing card to push away creases and bubbles.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Quality product but something to beware of\n\nReview: My S2 cost over $600 and the screen is gorilla glass, why would I want to use a screen protector? Why not?\n\nMy phone is designed to be one of the thinnest ever, and after babying my previous smart phones with expensive belt cases I decided I wanted to add minimum bulk and weight to this phone with any add-ons. That way I could feel confident carrying the phone in my pocket and babying it as little as possible. From Day One, a semi-hard skin case has protected my phone flawlessly, and for an extra measure of protection I've decided to use a good screen protector \"just in case\". The Belkin product is, at about $5 each, cheap insurance.\n\nTwo warnings though, you have to be meticulous about cleanliness and alignment when installing any screen protector. I was able to align mine after being ultra careful about dust and I noticed something with regard to the screen protector the dealer put on the phone about a year ago: it is definitely thinner, smoother and more touch-responsive than the old one.\n\nThe other warning is that what seems to be the identical Galaxy S2 sold by AT&T and that sold be T-Mobile is, in fact, different in terms of screen size and shape. They look the same but the dimensions of the screen protector for the AT&T is slightly narrower and the front speaker/earpiece is not in the exact same position. True, \"ATT\" is noted in the product headline but nowhere else does the description inform you it is not intended for T-Mobile S2 phones. That's not Amazon's fault, they use the descriptions that manufacturers provide to them and Belkin should be clearer on this. I can make it fit because the T-Mobile screen is slightly larger, not smaller, but it is not a true custom fit. The first attempt I tried to cut a larger hole for the ear speaker and from then on there was a huge air bubble around it that wouldn't go away. On the second attempt I simply cut the top 1/2\" off the top of the protector and the results were perfect. Check very carefully when you buy any brand screen protector for the S2 that is it designed for the version sold by your carrier.","Product: A sophisticated, hand wrapped premium genuine leather case. Each Lugano Kontur is crafted with meticulous attention to detail to preserve the unique characteristics of the leather. Available in 4 colors: Black, Blue, Tan, and Red.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: This is the perfect iPhone 5/5s case\n\nReview: <div id=\"video-block-R1HGNCDNEPCCZ8\" class=\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\"></div><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/C1VtIL4md8S.mp4\" class=\"video-url\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/21ycMLfBFqS.png\" class=\"video-slate-img-url\">[PLEASE READ IMPORTANT UPDATE AT END OF REVIEW]\n\nI wasn't one of the first to rush out and buy the iPhone 6 when it was introduced. Don't get me wrong, it's a great phone, but my business phone needs don't require the larger screen nor thinner build of this model offers. Instead, my move was from a larger screen Android device to the smaller screen iPhone 5s - a model that is still a premium Apple phone but in a form factor that has the high degree of mobility I require.\n\nThe next decision was what kind of case would I buy? I toyed with the idea of going caseless, as the 5s is a pretty rugged device, but I found that I could put a decent case on it and still have a device that is a fraction of the size and weight of my old Android phone. The research as to WHICH case to buy literally took weeks. I wanted to add as little bulk and weight to the 5s as possible but get as much cushion from life's everyday dings and bumps. I didn't need waterproofness or extreme drop protection but I did want something stylish and easy to comfortably hold in one hand. And I did NOT want those beautiful control buttons hindered in any way, nor full access to the bottom ports. When you add all of those together the list of available options kept getting smaller and smaller.\n\nI knew from previous experience I didn't want silicone or TPU. I learned that I didn't want metal as it is known to reduce cell signal strength anywhere from 10% to 30%, which not only can be an issue for dropped calls but a reduction in signal strength is known to have a corresponding negative effect on battery life. The decision came down to an \"all leather\" case and I was disappointed how few options I had for a case that was both well-made and attractive ... so many of them were downright ugly. And my options seemed to be shrinking as each day passed because, despite the continuing strong sales of the 5s, manufacturers were putting all of their resources into the 6 and 6 Plus and discontinuing all but a few models that fit the 5s.\n\nNo matter what I looked at, I kept coming back to the Sena Lugano Kontur as ticking all of the boxes ... protective, attractive, stylish, accessible and realistically priced. Of the 4 colors left I chose the brown shade.\n\nRegardless of my ordering choice, the seller chose to ship the case via FedEx Next Day at no charge. While I could have bought it directly from the Sena website on closeout sale, the site was clear that all sales were final, whereas through Amazon I was protected if it was not as represented. I also objected to Sena automatically adding sales tax despite the fact that they do not have a retail presence in my state. That, plus their high shipping charge and long lead time brought their final price to within a dollar or two of Amazon's non-sale price. The case bought from Amazon arrived when expected and was exactly as described.\n\nThis case is one of the best values I have seen in a long time. It is truly beautiful and compliments my gold 5s like a million bucks. The fit is perfect; the quality of construction is perfect, I could not be happier! Here are a few details that neither the Sena website nor the Amazon page make completely clear.\n\n1. The case only adds .18cm to each side of the phone, just enough for scratch, ding and bump protection. However it adds .47cm to the back where the rear glass panel of the phone is more vulnerable to impact damage. Brilliant. Overall, the case, as measured by me, is 29 grams x 12.72cm high x 6.22cm wide x 1.23cm deep.\n\n2. The inside is lined with suede for a total of 3 layers of protection from rear impact damage.\n\n3. The access cutouts are 100% precise and perfect as is the cutout for the camera/flash (which is a little deeper than most cases to help protect the camera lens).\n\n4. The lip of the case does not extend forward enough to protect the screen if the phone is placed face down. The difference is very slight but the screen does extend about .25mm further out.\n\nI have no negatives but I do have an observation that does not affect my final rating. That is that the retail package does not do credit to such a well-made case. I am not a fan of packaging excess in which it will all be thrown away, but this package was falling apart when I received it and there was zero written material, like suggestions on how to care for the leather. The seller did not help much by sending it in a padded envelope instead of a box. [UPDATE] another time when I bought this same case in another color the packaging was very deluxe. It probably has to do with which seller fulfills the order.\n\nAlmost 100% of the visible area of the case is covered in leather with only a tiny rim of the underlying polycarbonate frame visible around the camera opening and the bumper rim around the screen. I am not on the same page as anyone who would rate this case as being \"all plastic\" I don't know what else they would expect it to be. I fully expected there to be some sort of rigid frame to which the leather is attached to and the high-strength synthetic material is the best choice for minimal weight vs. maximum protection. Ditto with \"no screen protection\" ... of course not, it is clearly not a wallet nor pouch case; the entire beauty of it is that the full surface of the screen is exposed. Any user of a case like this would naturally use a good tempered glass screen protector if they were concerned about screen damage.\n\nI almost think I spent more time researching the case than I did the choice of phone (which iPhone or whether to go with another Android phone). After all that I can highly endorse and recommend this case (and likely the very similar model for the 6 and 6 Plus). To me THIS is the perfect iPhone case.\n\n[IMPORTANT UPDATE JANUARY 2017]\n\nI like this case so much I ordered yet another one in a different color (black) in January of 2017 (my 4th). Unfortunately the manufacturer changed the molding slightly and now it does not fit the iPhone 5 series. The width is still okay but the top and bottom ridges that the phone snaps in to are different which causes the phone to slide loosely up and down in the case by about 1.5mm. I had to send my newest case back for a refund. I might try again and get another color so for now I won't change my rating on the chance that only the black color is affected.","Product: A concentrated hand car wash shampoo that is effective at removing stubborn road grime while leaving a high gloss shine. Contains water conditioners and produces a rich, thick foam that lifts and carries dirt from the surface for an optimal wash experience. Leaves a spot-free finish. Concentrated wash is highly economical. Just mix 1 capful (1/3 ounces) with every 2 gallons of water. Bio-degradable and phosphate-free. Does not contain acids, lye or hydrocarbons which can remove sensitive wax finishes and dull paint finishes.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Does what the manufacturer claims\n\nReview: Maybe there's just a little confusion about what this is, so first a note of clarity ... this is not a car polish or wax, it is a car wash detergent, meant to clean your car not wax it.\n\nThat being said, in terms of actual cleaning power, it does a good job. No soap is going to work magic, it takes some rubbing with a sponge to get deep dirt out. So if someone sprays it on their car (after being diluted according to instructions of course) and the car isn't instantly and perfectly clean, well, there's probably not a soap that does that. It's not going to leave a pro wax finish that lasts for months or years. You will likely have to wash your car just as often as you ever did.\n\nWhat the manufacturer claims to be their unique difference, is that unlike many car wash detergents that may leave the car not-so-shiny UNTIL you wax it using another product, this one is designed to leave the car with a glossier finish. And that it does. The car does appear \"just waxed\" but remember, it's not, you will still have to wax it with an appropriate wax of choice.\n\nWhat make Exclusiv Gloss Shampoo stand out a bit from the crowd is that if you wax your car immediately after washing it with this product, as you should, you will likely find it far easier to apply and buff the wax. And that's an important selling point.\n\nI tried it on my four vehicles, one glossy silver metallic clear-coat, two white enamel and one green metallic enamel. I tried it only in a small test area. The results were noticeable and impressive enough to rate this product \"as advertised\" and effective with no significant drawbacks, hence 5-stars.","Product: Genuine Toyota Wiper Arm\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: This is identical to the original\n\nReview: After hearing how much the dealer wanted to replace the broken rear wiper arm on my 4-Runner I found this one at Amazon for a fraction of the price. It is described as being genuine Toyota so I took a chance. When I compare it to the original 17 year old part it was identical in every way, so I can confirm that it is a genuine replacement part. Installation is easy. Remove the rubber boot at the base of the arm, remove the nut and pull the old arm off. After 17 years mine was a little hard to remove so I put a few drops of Lock-Eze on it. Before replacing the broken arm make sure it is parked in position so it rests on the little holder attached to the hatch door. I say this because if the arm is broken it may not be lining up where it should.\n\nIts a good idea to put the wiper blade back on first (or install a new one) before fastening the arm in place to assure it lines up properly. The blade assembly is easy to remove and reinstall. I also suggest replacing the blade with a genuine OEM Toyota part because the after-market blades do not have the plastic part that guides the blade back into the holder. Yes it may cost a little more (about $18 at Amazon) but its worth it. As you can see in the attached photo the finished replacement looks as good as new.","Product: The five-piece male singing group, guided by their musical director Phil Coulter, perform live on their American tour in 2008.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Personally, I loved it\n\nReview: I have a hard time taking reviews of CDs or DVDs seriously if they only talk about how much the buyer loved or hated the performance. To me that is 100% subject to individual taste. I may love Josh Grobin, All American Rejects, Coldplay, The Verve, etc. and you may hate them all or any one of them. No problem. So I'll limit talking about my own personal musical tastes in writing this review.\n\nMy first exposure to Celtic Thunder was some late-night TV commercial enticing me to buy their DVD online. I am not for or against Celtic music but honestly have never bought any. I liked the short blurb I saw about this DVD so I searched Amazon and found there was a DVD version under $15 bucks so I bought it. The shipping point was in my home town, so even though I bought it late Sunday night I received it early Tuesday with no tax and no shipping charges. Woohoo, thank you Amazon!\n\nWe played about half the DVD the first night. YOU decide if you love them or hate them musically but my review is that the video quality is one of the best I have seen ... very close to Blu-Ray quality on a normal DVD player. The editing is expert ... clean, logical and unobtrusive. The audio is first-rate, very transparent and clean, it took full advantage of my Amazon-purchased amplifier and speakers.\n\nFor under fifteen bucks, it is hard to imagine a DVD that will bring you more entertainment. Ok, maybe Celtic music isn't for everybody but these performers are way too wide ranged to be considered only \"Celtic\". There are a couple of songs that truly brought tears to my eyes, and one or two (like Damien singing Puppy Love) that were so infectious that even the studio musicians on the DVD were so overtaken by smiles that they almost lost place playing their instruments.\n\nFor the price, even if you watch this DVD only once, it is hard to imagine anyone not falling in love with it.\n\nPROS: Good cheap entertainment, great video and sound\nCONS: Logical assumption that they would sing together more, it's mostly a series of solos\n\nBONUS: Totally fresh versions of a few very familiar songs. First-class talent.","Product: The five-piece male singing group, guided by their musical director Phil Coulter, perform live on their American tour in 2008.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Personally, I loved it\n\nReview: I have a hard time taking reviews of CDs or DVDs seriously if they only talk about how much the buyer loved or hated the performance. To me that is 100% subject to individual taste. I may love Josh Grobin, All American Rejects, Coldplay, The Verve, etc. and you may hate them all or any one of them. No problem. So I'll limit talking about my own personal musical tastes in writing this review.\n\nMy first exposure to Celtic Thunder was some late-night TV commercial enticing me to buy their DVD online. I am not for or against Celtic music but honestly have never bought any. I liked the short blurb I saw about this DVD so I searched Amazon and found there was a DVD version under $15 bucks so I bought it. The shipping point was in my home town, so even though I bought it late Sunday night I received it early Tuesday with no tax and no shipping charges. Woohoo, thank you Amazon!\n\nWe played about half the DVD the first night. YOU decide if you love them or hate them musically but my review is that the video quality is one of the best I have seen ... very close to Blu-Ray quality on a normal DVD player. The editing is expert ... clean, logical and unobtrusive. The audio is first-rate, very transparent and clean, it took full advantage of my Amazon-purchased amplifier and speakers.\n\nFor under fifteen bucks, it is hard to imagine a DVD that will bring you more entertainment. Ok, maybe Celtic music isn't for everybody but these performers are way too wide ranged to be considered only \"Celtic\". There are a couple of songs that truly brought tears to my eyes, and one or two (like Damien singing Puppy Love) that were so infectious that even the studio musicians on the DVD were so overtaken by smiles that they almost lost place playing their instruments.\n\nFor the price, even if you watch this DVD only once, it is hard to imagine anyone not falling in love with it.\n\nPROS: Good cheap entertainment, great video and sound\nCONS: Logical assumption that they would sing together more, it's mostly a series of solos\n\nBONUS: Totally fresh versions of a few very familiar songs. First-class talent.","Product: Epson Stylus Photo R220 Ink Jet Printer\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: A bargain for the price\n\nReview: I didn't have huge expectations from a printer that costs under $100, but what attracted me to the Epson R220 is the ability to print on DVDs and CDs. I had just bought a new DVD recorder to finally copy my old library of VHS tapes (which I throw away as soon as I make a copy). I wanted to get away from stick-on labels forever, they bubble and peel and in many case keep DVD players from even being able to play. So I saw the Epson R220 at OfficeMax with a $10 rebate and I already had one of those $10 coupons they mail you. Now I'm down to $80 for a 6-ink printer, so why not! I bought the printer almost 2 months ago and am pleasantly surprised that the ink tanks still show half full. And that's after printing quite a few 4 x 6 and 8 x 10 photos and even more DVD labels. The printer looks attractive and was easy to set up. This is my first Epson after many years of HP printers, and I wonder why I didn't make the switch long ago. The colors on high-quality paper are more accurate and more vibrant than HP and look more like real photographs. Although I originally purchased the printer only to do CD/DVD labels, I'm changing my mind now and am looking for someone to buy my much more expensive HP and I'll use the Epson for all my photo printing now. I can't imagine why anyone would want to pay more for a photo printer unless they are doing extremely demanding professional printing. To me, the Epson Stylus Photo R220 is the best bargain in the market.","Product: Gaming Steelseries Qck Surface\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: I became interested in it because several trusted professional photographic sources listed it as one of the best choices for photo editing and retouching\n\nReview: This vendor mixes all kinds of products on this page so all of the comments are jumbled together. Obviously its important to read the ones that apply to the specific model you're interested in. So to be clear, the one I bought is the QcK Mini Gaming black model. I should also make it clear that I didn't buy it for gaming. Graphics and photography is how I make my living. While this is labeled as a gaming mouse pad, I became interested in it because several trusted professional photographic sources listed it as one of the best choices for photo editing and retouching. They also addressed the most obvious question why not use a graphics tablet. I do, but like so many other photographers I don't always find a graphics tablet natural or intuitive to use for certain tasks.\n\nGaming and precision graphic editing share a lot of things in common. You want your mouse to track exactly where you point it without wandering. Most common throwaway mouse pads aren't perfectly smooth and many of them have fibers or other kinds of surfaces that can cause a mouse to wander, even slightly, which can have a cumulative effect when you are trying to trace a trajectory. There are many very expensive mouse pads that label themselves as precision. Ive spent hundreds on them over the years and most are hype, they actually work against me and in some cases they don't work with certain mice at all.\n\nMinimal lag is the golden grail in both gaming and graphics... you simply cant wait for the mouse to wake up, even though were only talking nanoseconds. Thats why many gamers and artists prefer wired mice. But to go along with this pad I bought a new wireless mouse <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/G602-Lag-Free-Wireless-Gaming-Mouse/dp/B00E4MQODC/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">G602 Lag-Free Wireless Gaming Mouse</a> that is highly praised for gaming as well as photo editing because of its high resolution and minimal lag. The two work together beautifully, the mouse glides like butter over the pad.\n\nOf the several options here one of them is to get this model in several choices of size. My choice would be to get the largest possible which, now that I have tested the mini size, I will get for my main workstation, keeping the mini to use with my laptop where my workspace is very crowded.\n\nHere are two additional observations that may be helpful. First, the pad is sent rolled up in a square box. In a way thats nice to protect it but know that it will take a few days for it to flatten itself completely out on your desktop. The other thing is that some have mentioned an odor. For what its worth mine has zero odor. Over many years of mail order shopping I have received more than a few items that arrived smelling like rat droppings or dead animal. The cause is likely just that from sitting in huge distributor warehouses, or even critters crawling into delivery trucks. Since only a handful of people mentioned it that would possibly be a logical answer.","Product: QcK mouse pads are the top choice of esports pros. The legendary micro-woven cloth has made the QcK line the worlds best-selling gaming surface. Tested by the top mouse sensor manufacturer, the high thread count and smooth surface optimizes mouse tracking accuracy for both optical and laser sensors. Durable and washable, the QcK is easy to clean and keep in competitive condition.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: I became interested in it because several trusted professional photographic sources listed it as one of the best choices for photo editing and retouching\n\nReview: This vendor mixes all kinds of products on this page so all of the comments are jumbled together. Obviously its important to read the ones that apply to the specific model you're interested in. So to be clear, the one I bought is the QcK Mini Gaming black model. I should also make it clear that I didn't buy it for gaming. Graphics and photography is how I make my living. While this is labeled as a gaming mouse pad, I became interested in it because several trusted professional photographic sources listed it as one of the best choices for photo editing and retouching. They also addressed the most obvious question why not use a graphics tablet. I do, but like so many other photographers I don't always find a graphics tablet natural or intuitive to use for certain tasks.\n\nGaming and precision graphic editing share a lot of things in common. You want your mouse to track exactly where you point it without wandering. Most common throwaway mouse pads aren't perfectly smooth and many of them have fibers or other kinds of surfaces that can cause a mouse to wander, even slightly, which can have a cumulative effect when you are trying to trace a trajectory. There are many very expensive mouse pads that label themselves as precision. Ive spent hundreds on them over the years and most are hype, they actually work against me and in some cases they don't work with certain mice at all.\n\nMinimal lag is the golden grail in both gaming and graphics... you simply cant wait for the mouse to wake up, even though were only talking nanoseconds. Thats why many gamers and artists prefer wired mice. But to go along with this pad I bought a new wireless mouse <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/G602-Lag-Free-Wireless-Gaming-Mouse/dp/B00E4MQODC/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">G602 Lag-Free Wireless Gaming Mouse</a> that is highly praised for gaming as well as photo editing because of its high resolution and minimal lag. The two work together beautifully, the mouse glides like butter over the pad.\n\nOf the several options here one of them is to get this model in several choices of size. My choice would be to get the largest possible which, now that I have tested the mini size, I will get for my main workstation, keeping the mini to use with my laptop where my workspace is very crowded.\n\nHere are two additional observations that may be helpful. First, the pad is sent rolled up in a square box. In a way thats nice to protect it but know that it will take a few days for it to flatten itself completely out on your desktop. The other thing is that some have mentioned an odor. For what its worth mine has zero odor. Over many years of mail order shopping I have received more than a few items that arrived smelling like rat droppings or dead animal. The cause is likely just that from sitting in huge distributor warehouses, or even critters crawling into delivery trucks. Since only a handful of people mentioned it that would possibly be a logical answer.","Product: Our medium desktop file boxes are great for organizing frequently used files and keeping them easily accessible.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Too bad they skimped\n\nReview: I like the size, shape and style of these file boxes and would have rated them higher if they were made of a higher grade of plastic. I was surprised and disappointed to see how thin the plastic is, about as thick as two credit cards. If you use them for a small number of file folders on a desktop they might be adequate but when I fill them to capacity to archive documents in storage the plastic is so thin it actually bulges. For the price Im disappointed that Iris skimped instead of making the slight extra effort to make a higher quality product.\n\n[UPDATE] The first two boxes I used barely held a handful of file papers. As I was loading the third box it actually ripped at the corner from top almost to the bottom. I sent all of them back and rate them unacceptable.","Product: Fellowes Professional Series Compact Keyboard Tray provides comfort and maneuverability for smaller workspaces. Designed and manufactured for Fellowes by Humanscale. Lift and lock feature lets you adjust height with one hand tilt platform to reposition, then straighten to lock in place. Single manual knob adjusts tilt up to -10 degrees for optimal comfort. Warning Trak helps prevent mouse from sliding off platform. Standard platform accommodates both right and left-handed mousing. Health-V memory foam supports with Microban antimicrobial protection stay cleaner and relieve wrist pressure to help prevent carpal tunnel syndrome. Durable keyboard tray features compact 17-3/4 Inches glide track, slim profile, and non-skid pads.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Well built and heavy\n\nReview: I have used many keyboard trays that are so flimsy they make typing a chore as they wiggle and slide around while in use. This tray earns the moniker \"professional\" ... it is definitely office quality. Once locked in place it is as solid as having your keyboard on a desktop.\n\nThere is nothing I disliked about the quality or performance of the tray and I would recommend it to anyone. There is one caveat that you should be aware of, however. Besides the obvious that you could not mount it to a glass-top desk, you should also be aware that many desks made today have a hollow core top (much like an interior door in your house). The mounting plate needs something very solid to screw in to (the tray is the heaviest I have ever seen). If your desktop is hollow core the screws would rip right out. You have a couple of options. One would be to install a wood mounting plate from the front of your desk to the rear which you would attach into the solid wood edges, or another option would be to use short Molly-type mounts for the rear screws of the keyboard mount.\n\nThe price (for the quality of this tray) is reasonable and it should serve its purpose for a long time to come.","Product: Strong Point Reduces breaking. Space-saver compact design. Safety switch prevents operation when shavings tray is removed. Portable battery power (2 AA batteries).\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: For the price it does an okay basic job\n\nReview: It's a bit of a shame that there are so many negative reviews of this product. Some of them seem to be off-point (no pun intended) so I will offer mine for comparison.\n\nFirst off, my initial impression is that the unit is MUCH smaller than I expected, about the size of two \"D\" batteries next to each other. While I didn't have high expectations from any battery powered pencil sharpener (the only other one I ever owned was useless), the reviews here had me expecting garbage. My experience turned out this was not really the case.\n\nLet's face reality. While there may be a very few people who need to sharpen pencils often, in today's world most of us don't. Those who do should NOT be looking at a $6 piece of plastic. To buy something in this price range then complain that it isn't as good as a $30 pencil sharpener is not very credible.\n\nI opened the box, I inserted 2 \"AA\" batteries and inserted a very dull pencil. At first the motor whirled and I thought the pencil was sharpened but when I pulled it out, nothing. I tried again and pushed it in deeper. I heard a satisfying sharpening noise and in about 3 seconds I pulled the pencil out and it had an extremely sharp point on it. It looked almost too sharp. The manufacturer calls this \"strong point\". I'm skeptical, I don't understand how pencil lead can be made any stronger than it already is, but for anyone using a pencil for very fine work, like architecture, I can't imagine a sharper point.\n\nHere are a couple of reviewer comments I saw and my feedback on them, plus some observations of my own:\n\n- Slow. Not the case, I have never seen a faster pencil sharpener. I wonder if the user was using old, weak batteries?\n\n- It stops when inserting a pencil. I didn't find that to be the case. Perhaps the user pushed the pencil in too far?\n\n- No \"plus/minus\" on the case to show how to install the batteries. In fact there are illustrations on the BOTTOM of the sharpener to show how to install the batteries. That took me a little while to find. I would have preferred if they were inside the battery compartment. It wasn't very intuitive to put them on the bottom of the case.\n\n- Short battery life. I haven't had it long enough but I can't subscribe to this complaint. I sharpen a pencil about once every two months. If anyone sharpens pencils every day, they definitely should not be looking at a $6 battery operated sharpener.\n\n- Trouble with colored pencils. Colored pencils use very soft \"lead\". They are best sharpened with those little plastic manual sharpeners very slowly. I don't think even a $50 sharpener does well on colored pencils.\n\nNegatives that can't be corrected ... there is one hole at the top so your pencil better be \"just the right size\". The first one I tried it on was a round pencil that is just slightly thicker than the average yellow pencil. The fit was quite tight in that I literally had to pull the pencil back out because of the tight fit.\n\nBottom line: If you have high expectations for a $6 pencil sharpener you will certainly be disappointed. To try to compare it to one of the $70 sharpeners shown on this same page is simply unrealistic. For its price it performs the task of sharpening a pencil adequately. I can't give it 5 stars because it has its weaknesses but for what it is it ranks at least in the 3-4 star range. I liked the point it put on my pencil so I'm giving it 4 stars.","Product: The Canon PIXMA MX922 Energy Star Wireless Inkjet Office All-in-One Printer prints in black and white at 15 ipm, in color at 10 ipm, and can output a borderless 4.0 x 6.0-inch photo in 21 seconds. Print borderless photos right at home using the 9600 x 2400 color dpi. Use the automatic double-sided print feature to print on both sides of the page and cut your paper consumption by as much as 50%. The built-in disc tray lets you design and print your own custom CDs, DVDs, and Blu-rays. Its Full HD Movie Print feature takes a frame from an HD movie recorded on a compatible EOS, PowerShot, or VIXIA camera or camcorder and prints it as a photo, ensuring you never miss a photo opportunity while shooting video. The MX922 features a scan resolution of up to 2400 x 4800 dpi optical. Plus use the built-in copy function to duplicate photos as well as documents.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: FOCUS ON THE MX922 AS A CD/DVD LABEL PRINTER\n\nReview: This review will start by detailing the Canon MX922 as a CD/DVD disc label printer. There are many reviews here and elsewhere that go very deeply into how it performs as a printer, copier, scanner and fax but if you are looking for a good CD/DVD label printer your choices these days are very slim and costly. The MX922 at the time of this review is still a current best-selling model (which means it should work with modern operating systems including WIN10 and be compatible with popular disc labeling software) and it is amazingly reasonable. Later on in my review I will give a synopsis of the overall performance of the machine.\n\nIf you have a large library of music or videos on older formats like audio/video cassette tape and, like me, want to transfer them to CD or DVD to preserve them and save space you may have considered an inkjet printer that prints directly onto the disc. I won't go in to the story about why printers that can do that have been so hard to find (in the U.S.) but it reads like a murder mystery. Suffice it to say that some of the better (but now discontinued) printers with disc printing capability are going for outrageous premiums these days. I was lucky many years ago to buy an Epson R220 which is an excellent disc printing unit, and extremely thrifty on ink. I have used that printer constantly for over 10 years and it still works, but over time the sensors and rollers for the disc printing mechanism have worn and these days I have to baby the disc through. It often takes several attempts until the printer accepts the disc just right. I know some day the Epson is going to give it up completely so I wanted another handy when that happens. After a lot of searching I decided on the MX 922.\n\nAs a CD/DVD disc printer the operation is about the same compared to the Epson. It appears that Canon and Epson share a lot of the same design and functionality when it comes to disc printing.\n\nI use SureThing Ver. 6 disc labeling software , which thankfully is still being supported by the manufacturer with an update as recent as January 2017. It is completely compatible with a wide range of Canon inkjet printers including the MX922. I can print either large or small hub labels, which I do often. The Canon dye ink seems a little better matched to printable CD/DVD surfaces the ink dries faster than with the Epson pigment ink and has a more professional printed appearance.\n\nThe MX922 has a dedicated slot for the printable disc tray, which is stored under one of the paper trays. I like the storage arrangement because with my Epsons disc tray it is always getting misplaced and dusty. The actual process between the two printers is very similar snap the disc into the holder, slide it into the slot to the proper markings, and print. Unlike the Epson the disc tray doesnt protrude out of the back of the printer which means I don't have to move the printer away from the wall every time I want to print a disc. The Canon makes the user go through a couple of steps before printing a disc, unlike the Epson. The door over the disc slot must be closed first before clicking print on your computer, and then the printer makes some internal adjustments after which you open the access door, insert the disc tray, and then press the okay button on the printer. I ultimately determined this to be more of an advantage than a problem because the printer is too big to fit on my desk so I have to locate it on the other side of the room and operate it wirelessly. The extra step before the print job starts lets me walk over to the printer and make sure the disc tray is set properly and then press the okay button when I am ready for it to start.\n\nAs an overall AIO printer, everything about this printer is first-class. It is more of a heavy-duty office grade product than the newer models that just came out and the image quality is near-flawless, especially photos. As a professional photographer I am fond of Canon printers for photo work and my own wide-format printer is a Canon. I should emphasize that I didn't choose the MX922 for its photo printing capability and I want to emphasize that while the MX922 prints better than average photos it is not by any means a pro photo printer. But if you do print you own photos with it I don't think you will be disappointed.\n\nOperation of the MX922 is surprisingly straight-forward, despite a very complicated looking control panel. I didn't need to read the instructions at all, between the LCD screen and the context-sensitive control buttons every function is obvious and easy to understand. A word on that context-sensitive control panel, I have never seen anything like it there are 16 unmarked black buttons on the panel that light up only when needed and only for the function necessary at that moment. So sometimes only two buttons will light up, sometimes four and sometimes more. The function buttons even transform into a telephone keypad when the machine is used as a fax. Its pretty ingenious.\n\nOn the downside list are that the MX922 is a monster in both size and weight. Thats not a complaint, because it is a very solid well-built machine, but it does take up a lot of space. Fortunately it is a WiFi wireless printer so I am able to place it in a location where I have more room. Like my wide-format Canon printer the wireless setup is almost too easy and it works first time, every time (I cant say that about other brands of wireless printers I own). WiFi setup using WPS was one-button and took 5 seconds.\n\nOne little drawback is that it takes a long time for the printer to get itself ready to print, moving the ink carriage back and forth, whirring and buzzing. That seems to be a Canon trait that offsets any claims of print speed. Print speed has never been a deciding factor for me so it doesnt bother me.\nLastly on the wish it didn't do that list is that it is all too easy to forget to open the front door when Im printing something and have the printed page crinkle up inside the unit. Fortunately the front door does not have a lock or catch to it so if I forget to open it the printed page usually pushes it open with a thud. But when the door is open an extension arm automatically pops out. The way my printer is set up I bump into that arm every time I am near it. Its something I would prefer was not there.\n\nInk consumption is okay, about the same as all other current Canon multifunction machines in its class, however not all models can take XL tanks in all slots like this one does which gives more ink per tank. There is even the option of an XXL black cartridge which is nice if you plan to do a lot of B&W printing or copying. Keep in mind this is an inkjet and no one ever said that inkjets are economical to own. Theyre not.\n\nIve noticed a lot of comments about the size of this printer. That is likely because newer printers are much smaller than they used to be. But by any measure the MX922 is large and heavy. Heres a comparison between it and Canons newest roughly equivalent model that was just introduced. The MX922 is 15.6d x 19.4w x 9.1h inches and 25.7 pounds vs the new TS9020 which is 12.8d x 14.7w x 5.6h inches and 14.7 pounds. The difference is substantial.\n\nAs an All-in-One printer the MX922 has it all and is built like a tank. Its easy to operate and relatively economical compared to other brands Ive owned. And the value is hard to beat. Would I have bought this printer if it was to be the only one I own? Probably not, but not necessarily not. As a multifunction machine it does everything but does not excel at any one of them. I have always preferred dedicated machines that excel at what they were intended to do. But if I include the fact that it is a disc label printer my opinion changes. There is no such thing as an affordable mainstream cd/dvd disc labeler being sold as a stand-alone printer so if disc labeling was an important feature to me (which it is) I don't think you can find a better value available today.","Product: In the Box - IRIScan Book 3 scanner, Readiris Pro 12 software for PC and Mac on CD-ROM, Free IRIS Compressor, Pro software, MicroSD card (including SD card adaptor), USB cable, Transport pouch, Discount voucher for next purchase, Quick user guide Features Mobile scanner Cordless, battery-powered and very lightweight. Carry it anywhere! Ideal to scan books, magazines & newspapers. 300/600/900 dpi scanning resolutions. Scanning speed - 2 sec. for a B&W document/ 3 sec. for a color document.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: An excellent buy ... BUT ...\n\nReview: <div id=\"video-block-R1PSDJMMH1578F\" class=\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\"></div><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/D1wsLsBEXfS.mp4\" class=\"video-url\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/11htNCs0Z0S.png\" class=\"video-slate-img-url\"> At the price and for what it does, this little handheld scanner is an excellent buy and well worth considering. Please re-read those words very carefully. They do not say that this is the best scanner ever made, or that it is perfect, or that it doesn't take a little care and patience to use, or that it will do everything. The more money you invest in scanner hardware and software, the more those qualities will improve, BUT for the price, and if your needs are not ultra-demanding, it would be hard to find a better value anywhere.\n\nIt starts with pedigree. IRIS has been well-known as far back as my memory takes me as a leader in scanning and OCR software. They are one of the companies who have earned the right to \"own\" a large slice of the document management industry. It is immediately apparent upon opening the box that this is not a cheap offshore knockoff product. It has the look, feel and usability of an office product, not a toy. And I'm sure that is in no small part at least partially attributable to their relationship with Canon.\n\nThis review and the attached video represent about 15 minutes of my time - opening the box, inserting the batteries and SD card, scanning the closest document I could find and \"managing\" it using the software provides. My need for an instruction manual (despite never owning a hand-scanner wand previously) was minimal. And that's a good thing because there isn't one in the box. You have to go to their website to view it. That doesn't bother me, many companies are doing that ... it is a socially responsible act of conservation not to print paper manuals.\n\nMy first scan was with everything set to the default mode, and frankly I don't see a lot of reasons to change that, although the menu system is easy enough to understand. I resisted the urge to swipe the scanner down the page like a NASCAR driver which seems to be a common error, instead moving it at an moderate even pace. When I plugged it in to my computer's USB port the software automatically opened and showed me an image of my scan with each section highlighted into the familiar scan segments. The scan, even at 300 dpi, was perfect as the video illustrates. After that I pushed the OCR button to save it to MS Word and noticed that the first few words were garbled, however the remainder of the OCR-translated document was virtually perfect, including retention of paragraphing and formatting. After I looked at my raw scan it was obvious that that the failure to recognize the first couple of words was because of user error ... I had started my scan right over the first line. I should have known better and given it about \" lead space before the text started. You will see how obvious that is in my video.\n\nIf you open the software before you connect the scanner it will present you with several choices where/how you can save or convert the image. Also I learned quickly that IRIScan fully understands that some scan sources can be a bit challenging, like books. They clearly explain that if the text curves too much into the margin simply scan the book sideways from the margin to the edge and rotate the scan turn. That works like a charm, and is actually the default picture they show of the unit on the cover of the retail box.\n\nIf you remember those handheld scanners from back in the `80s and `90s this one is on an entirely different planet. Those old school scanners had to be held meticulously straight (which was nearly impossible). The IRIScan has a ton of correcting smarts built in so it only needs to be lightly guided down the page.\n\nI mentioned earlier that this is my first wand scanner. I am reviewing it at the request of the supplier. Here are the obligatory pros and cons:\n\nPROS:\n\n1. Uses readily available AAA batteries (included). Think about it, you are most likely to use this scanner someplace where you can't plug it in (to use or to recharge). It's so much easier to take a few cheap AAA batteries along than have rechargeable batteries die at the wrong time. Hint: put fresh batteries in as soon as you can, the starter batteries probably won't last more than a few days.\n\n2. Total no-brainer operation of both the hardware and the software.\n\n3. Even the included software, although not a business-grade version, is pretty good and probably as much as anyone really needs.\n\nCONS:\n\n1. Uses the older (and larger) mini-USB cable connector like older cell phones and some GPS units use rather than the MUCH more common micro-USB connector that most of the known world uses. So don't misplace the included cable or you will have to hunt for a new one.\n\n2. The rubber rollers and the clear scanning window are always exposed. Sure they include a little plastic baggie to carry the scanner in but I would rather have seen a snap-on dust cover.\n\n3. No multi-page scans with this model. Sorry. I guess it's available in the more deluxe models but it's a feature I miss because I hoped to use it to scan multi-page receipts for my expense reports. Oh well.\n\nI'm sure if you are really picky and have very demanding needs for a wand scanner you might feel a little disappointed by this model. You shouldn't be however, because for the price you won't find anything better, even from no-name offshore sellers. As is true in life, you get what you pay for, and the good news is that IRIS has models with more features (at a higher price) to suit any need. At the price and for what it does, this little handheld scanner is an excellent buy and well worth considering and definitely earns 5-stars.","Product: With Hidden Screw Mounts. Made from zinc. White Exterior Finish.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Useful and a great bargain\n\nReview: I bought these to serve two purposes. One, as a traditional door stop to prevent the doorknob from denting the wall; and two, to prevent the bedroom doors from slamming shut whenever it got a little breezy with the windows open. Honestly I got tired of dragging whatever heavy object I could find in front of the door to keep it open.\n\nThese are very well made for the price, and more attractive than those with the big clunky exposed magnet. They mounted in minutes with no exposed screws.\n\nNo need to be concerned if you have hollow doors, most interior doors these days are hollow. Every door has a solid wood perimeter (its called a rail) of usually about 2-3. And the best place to mount the catch is just inside the top corner of the door where it has plenty of rail for the included screws to hold it securely. See my photo to get an idea where to mount the catch.\n\nMounting the doorstop is optional whether you choose to put it at the top or bottom of the door. For aesthetics some people may choose not to have it visible on the wall. In my case because the strong breeze from the window is more apt to hit the top of the door that was a better place to have the door stop. Mounting it at the top also helps avoid accidentally kicking the door stop and makes it a little easier to vacuum, but again that is strictly a personal choice.\n\nThis is a well-made product, especially for the price, and is something you likely will never have to replace. The instructions are excellent and everything you need is in the bag.","Product: Manage your artwork and keep it organized with the Mead Acadmie wirebound sketchbook. Sheets are heavyweight and archival quality. Sketchbook includes 70 sheets of perforated sketch paper. Cleanly and easily tear out your sketches at any time, and use the included sketch and store pockets to keep them with the rest of your work. Paper is acid-free, lignin-free and fade-resistant. 11 in. x 8.5 in.sheet size.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: The product is acceptable but the cover is gaudy\n\nReview: I was taught as a child to keep a sketchbook of life as I see it. No boundaries, no rigid instructions about coloring inside the lines or using a #2 pencil ... just observe and interpret.\n\nSo I guess I am not on the same page (bad pun) as some people who criticize the texture or weight of the paper. I see that as not a challenge but an opportunity to adapt my choice of media (pencil, pen, marker, crayon, etc) to the texture life has presented me.\n\nAgreed, this is not a rough texture, nor is the paper especially heavy weight. But it is a sketchbook and I'm not sure any of that is important. I does work for what it is intended to do. Other brands, models and styles of sketchbooks will work equally well when chosen for the intended use of the individual.\n\nIt's not the weight or texture of the paper I have issues with, it is the very gaudy and distracting design of the cover. It sucks away from creativity. My opinion is that I would have preferred that the manufacturer used a peel-off marketing cover so the user could design the cover the way they pleased. If not, how about an easily removable advertising cover revealing a simple blank page to permit the user to \"own\" the sketchbook with their personal design?\n\nBeing wire-bound it is not impossible to remove the binding, and the less-than-attractive cover and start fresh with one's own cover. Which is especially possible if you happen to own a spiral wire binding machine.\n\nNormally comments regarding shipping and packaging should be reserved for the appropriate section at Amazon however it needs to be mentioned that the sketchbook shipped in a cardboard foldover with the corners of the sketchbook exposed. So of course they are crushed and dirty. Some of that responsibility rests with Amazon but at almost $15 I believe the manufacturer could have provided the product in a box or at least shrink-wrapped in plastic.\n\nOverall this is not a bad sketchbook, especially suitable to pen and ink sketches, if you take the time and effort to remove the commercial cover and replace it with your own customized creation.","Product: Step-by-step guidance to achieving your personal financial goals\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Return to your homes folks, nothing new to see here\n\nReview: If you have never used Quicken before, frankly there is nothing like it. And the manufacturer, Intuit, knows that and grossly overcharges for it. Their product development costs have to be minimal, as the basic product itself hasn't changed substantially in years. In todays world of free and nearly free apps for our phones and tablets, it is hard to justify why Quicken costs as much as it does.\n\nIf you have used Quicken previously there is precious little reason to consider an upgrade more often than every 10 years or so. And then you are better off just buying a new full-retail version from Amazon or any other reseller rather than get a product update from Quicken at a cost thats actually more than buying the full version anywhere else.\n\nWhen buying Quicken you are faced with an array of different versions. Hint: most of the functionality is the same in all of the versions, with only a few relatively minor tweaks to customize them for different user preferences. It is critically important for you to realize that the Starter version is for first time users only, you CANNOT import data from any other Quicken version you can only start a new file from scratch.\n\nI downloaded Quicken 2015 kicking and screaming because I had to, not because I wanted to. I was perfectly happy with the much cursed and maligned 2013 version (that finally was patched to the point of being okay) and after doing a clean restore of my computer in anticipation of WIN10 coming I found out that my 2013 disk was misplaced likely accidentally included in a batch of stuff I had shredded recently. Knowing that Quicken comes out with their new version every year in September I hated the thought of paying full retail price in July for last years version (2015). I wouldnt have bought any new version so soon if I still had 2013 available to use. And, Quicken being Quicken, I wasn't able to use my backup files with the older 2011 version I still had.\n\nAfter installing 2015 Deluxe I can safely say I could not find one tangible change from the 2013 version I had been using. This is not just an unsubstantiated comment, I am very much a Quicken expert. I bought Version 1 on a 5.25 floppy disk directly from the original developer when it was first invented and I have used it non-stop since then.\n\nMy install of 2015 should have gone smoothly, but no. While they haven't done much to change it, they have done some subtle tweaks that ranged for me from minor irritations to some loud grrrr moments. The minor irritation came from version 2015 making the process of linking to my bank account to download transactions more complicated. I have no idea why but what used to be a one-step process took me almost 2 hours to set up and get working because it kept telling me my password was wrong (the same password it just accepted seconds earlier). It said it would send me an email to reset the password but after trying several times they never sent the email. Then they said that my bank locked me out after repeated attempts (my bank told me that was impossible, that the problem was with Quicken). I then bypassed Quicken's super-secure bullet-proof password safety features at the push of one button (something that a 98 year-old grandma hacker could do in 3 seconds and steal all of my data) and bingo I was in.\n\nThe major frustration though came from some (unknown) reason that Quicken didn't just download my banks transactions from the date I last used it, but instead felt it had to go back and re-download things that had already cleared and rename them. In doing so it left me with numerous duplicate entries and a lot of items lumped together with the same dates, as in several direct deposits from one source all dated the same day. What that did is left a whole series of red entries that shows as overdrafts. They never were, of course, but it made a mess of my meticulously maintained checkbook register that I had to go back over a 6-month period and re-enter manually item-by-item using my banks statements. It left a taste of what so many people have accused Quicken programmers of living in dark cubicles, never using the product themselves in real life and having no clue the effects their little tweaks were having.\n\nI cant downrate Quicken for me losing my 2013 version and having to buy a new one, or the fact that when 2016 comes out I won't get a discount after only getting a couple of months use out of 2015. But I can downrate it because I didn't get anything better than I already had, and the fact that the few minor tweaks they did do make my life harder, not easier.","Product: Samsung SL-M2830DW Xpress Mono Laser Printer\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: The missing details you need to know\n\nReview: This printer is essentially identical to the Samsung SL-M2825DW currently being sold for about $130 with one exception described below. If you have found this models listing at Amazon, congratulations, you have just saved yourself about $50. If you (like me) bought it when it went on promotional sale for $49, you have scored yourself a truly remarkable deal. The main difference between the two printers is what retail channel they are intended to be sold through, in other words the hardware itself isn't different, only who sells it. You can get either through Amazon.\n\nI have worked for the Big 3 printer manufacturers and as a result I have owned or currently own more printers than most people will use in a lifetime. It was silly for me to actually buy this one (btw Ive never worked for Samsungs printer division) but I wanted something dedicated to use with our laptop computer so guests could use it to print their personal stuff airline boarding passes for example. It turns out this printer is so good now Im using it so I don't have to run up to the office whenever I want to print something from the laptop.\n\nHaving faced the frustrations of setting up a new printer that most people dread I was amazed that there simply weren't any with this printer, in fact from the moment I started to open the packing box to the moment I was printing my first test print took about 5 minutes. Heres what happened I opened the box, removed the blue shipping tape from the device, pulled the toner out and removed its shipping lock, shook the toner, turned the power switch on, inserted the CD into my laptop and pressed install. The software automatically discovered my printer, set it up and spit out a test print and I was done.\n\nEqually frustrating when setting up a printer is getting it to work with a smartphone or tablet. Not here. That took less than 1 minute. I downloaded the app and clicked install. A few seconds later the printer driver was available to use with every print-enabled app on my iPhone and iPad. To correct some erroneous information in the Customer Q&A above, when printing from iOS the printer does NOT only print using the manual feed tray, you have full 100% functionality of the printer available to you. When you click print while in a printer-enabled iOS app a dialogue pops up that asks you if you want to print single or double-sided (the default is single-sided). Click print and in less than 10 seconds your printer will turn on from standby and print from your auto-feed tray. Its exactly the way you always hoped and dreamed a printer would work with a computer, laptop, smartphone or tablet.\n\nTo set the record straight, one of the reviews vastly overcomplicated the wifi setup procedure. You don't have to do anything or make any changes or setting to your computer (or smartphone). The printer is instantly recognized during the installation process and sets itself up with no questions asked of you nor any settings you have to adjust.\n\nAnd also to be clear (since people are conditioned to accept that most printers only come with starter cartridges), not true here the cartridge that comes in the box is the same MLT-D115L as a replacement standard cartridge both giving a 700 page yield (an optional high-yield 3,000 page cartridge is available). That is the difference between this and the SL-M2825DW model which comes with a 1200 page yield MLT-D116S cartridge. Both printers can use the optional high-yield 3000 page cartridge, however. So, true some of that cost savings is erased with the more expensive model giving you 500 more pages out-of-the-box but after that it makes sense with either model to upgrade to the high-yield cartridge for only $51.\n\nBOTTOM LINE\n\nIf you are thinking of buying this printer for your business, STOP you will be back here posting a negative review in 6 months. This is not a business-class printer. But as an extremely low-cost printer for the average home this model wins as the best value available of all B&W laser printers currently available. For all intents and purposes it offers the same high-end features like wireless, double-sided, large auto-feed tray, easy to use manual-feed tray, fast first-print-out, fast multiple prints, sharp clear text, quiet operation, dependable paper path, etc. in a tiny footprint that is surprisingly well made. And in my years of setting up more printers than I can count, it is the absolute champion at how easy it is to set up. If you expect a perfect product that will never break and customer support that will correct any malfunctions instantly you are not living in the real world you won't get that from any printer manufacturer. When I bought this my expectations were very low and the best I would have imagined rating it would be average but all things considered, for the price, this turned out to be a 5-star product.","Product: Making learning fun and easy with easy study tools extremely durable plastic periodic table wall chart! The chart is color coded to help students distinguish between metals, non-metals, and noble gas families, and differentiate types of metals, solids, liquids, and gases from synthetic elements. Each listed element includes the name, symbol, atomic number, and mass of each element for further detail. This plastic sign is printed on a 15mil PVC (not paper) plastic board and laminated for extra durability and thickness. This makes the sign a total of 35mil in thickness. The same thickness as a standard credit card! The corners are also rounded to ensure there are no sharp edges making this chart suitable for all ages. The chart measures 17.0 l x 11.0 h. This is a great product for, classrooms, homeschool curriculums, teacher's reference and college dorm rooms.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: More than meets the eye\n\nReview: You are considering this item because you already know what the Periodic Table of the Elements is, or you know that your kids need to learn it for school. There are a handful of sellers offering laminated copies of the table for use as a study aid, which is admirable. As far as the table itself is concerned, the contents are fixed, theres no way one company can sell a better Periodic Table they all contain the same basic information. But a company (like EasyStudy Tools) can present that basic information is a manner that is clearer and easier to read and thats what sets this product apart from the others.\n\nEasyStudy Tools chart includes atomic number, atomic mass and full element name and does so using large element codes and bright element colors for enhanced visibility (thats a quote from their product description).\n\nThe chart itself, unlike similar ones, is made from a sheet of heavyweight plastic, not a paper chart thats been laminated. It resembles a table placemat, in fact one of the critical reviews pointed that out. If you have kids you know that most kids will read anything and everything on the table when they're eating, so to me having a study aid that can be used as a placemat is a brilliant idea. Why miss any opportunity to help your kids learn?\n\nNote that the original product needed some corrections. I understand from EasyStudy that those changes are in the works. I acquired mine as a review sample directly from them and I have found them to be very earnest and responsive to all feedback and suggestions and willing to listen to new ideas. The sample was sent no charge but as always our reviews are completely independent of any manufacturer or organization.\n\nSo the final thing that may be on your mind is whether it is worth the $15 cost. I have some experience in making membership cards in small quantities for my business. I was paying a premium price per card and the finished cost per card would surprise you. This chart uses plastic that is similar to those credit cards and realistically they cant get the costs down by printing millions of them. I believe EasyStudy is trying to provide a helpful and necessary service to provide tools to help our kids learn and their selling price fairly reflects their actual costs to do so. But heres an idea once your kids progress to the point they no longer need this learning tool how about donating it to your local school? You know many teachers have such limited budgets that they are paying for supplies out of their own pockets, what a wonderful donation this would make at a small $15 cost to you.\n\nFor the concept, the execution and the high quality of presentation this product is a solid winner and deserves a 5-star rating.","Product: LOHOME desk mat is perfect for using as a reading or writing surface, as well as hold your keyboard and mouse. This desk mat is a great match to your desk wide surface area use the LOHOME desk mat's wide surface area to accommodate a variety of the devices in your workspace. With enough room for your keyboard and mouse, and space enough for a sketchbook or journal. This mat is appropriate for a variety of uses. Synthetic leather texture synthetic leather texture desk mat feels great to the touch. The surface is stain resistant and easy to clean. Rectangular desk pad offers a superior writing surface that will not indent, scratch or stain. Outstanding design no glare lychee pattern surface reduce eye strain, nonslip backing prevents mat from moving once placed on a desk. Edge protection lip protects your clothing out of scratch with desk edge. Two grooves on top of the mat supply convenience to place pencil and pen. What requirements do you have on a desk mat? Beauty LOHOME mat comes with smooth & flat surface, clear texture, neat edge. Practical LOHOME mat not only can be used as a desk pad, but a mousepad. A wide area can hold a variety of the devices and protect your desk from scratches. LOHOME mat meets your most requirements for desk mat if you are thinking of buying a desk mat, action now .\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Much more than I expected\n\nReview: I have a real leather semi-circular desk mat from Ikea that Ive had for many years. Its a flat sheet of steel with the leather glued to it and a lip that wraps around the edge of the desk. My desk has a sharp edge so the wraparound lip has saved my arms from a lot of wear and tear. Over time the leather had become worn and pitted and newer laser mice are affected by the steel. But the sheer weight of it has guaranteed it has never once slid around.\n\nKEY FEATURES\n\nI wanted something similar but larger and rectangular so I can use the pad as a very large mousing surface. The wraparound edge lip was a must-have so that limited the style to this one, which seems to be sold by a half dozen different companies with about a ten dollar spread between them for the same thing. This one was at the high end but was the only one that promised to send it flat instead of rolled up, and it has the most reviews. I decided to pay the extra price (for what looks like the same thing) to assure it arrived flat - that was high on my importance list.\n\nCONDITION\n\nThe flat pak helped, although there wasn't a shred of material inside the box other than the deskpad it arrived perfectly flat.\n\nFIXING THE FIXABLE\n\nAs I feared, the lack of any weighty backing material, like the IKEA used, means the pad easily slides all over the desk at the slightest touch, which is annoying to say the least. Also, when I rest my forearms on the pad while typing they stick to the TPU enough that when I lift my arms the whole pad comes up with them. I came up with an easy solution to that which works like a charm. Simply take two of the small circular hook and loop dots like <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Vkey-Sticky-Back-Coins-Hook-Loop-Self-Adhesive-Dots-Tapes/dp/B017JUCQZ0/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">Vkey Sticky Back Coins Hook & Loop Self Adhesive Dots Tapes</a> and attach them to the pad and it will never move again until you want it to. Important there is a right way and a wrong way. The natural inclination is to attach the dots at the four corners. Unfortunately that creates raised bumps in the pad that look bad and can affect moving your mouse around. The better way is to cut one dot in half and stick the halves inside each end of the front lip so it stick to the edge of your desk, not the top. Now your pad will lay perfectly flat with no bumps and won't budge no matter what.\n\nQUALITY\n\nBased on a few things I read I expected this pad to be paper thin but its not, it actually is a relatively thick pad that muffles the sound of my keyboard and mouse click (especially appreciated late at night). It lays absolutely flat and there are no imperfections at all. It is definitely worth what I paid. I had low expectations of it as a mousing surface until I tried it and discovered I like the feel of the way my mouse slides on it better than my very fancy special mouse pad, and of course the advantage is that now my entire desk pad is also a mouse pad.","Product: Quartet glass dry-erase board is Stain and ghost resistant for lasting use and magnetic to hang papers with magnets without damaging glass surface. 12\" x 12\" board size is a perfect choice for a personal space in home or office. Fashionably designed board is frameless and glossy with a thin profile. Red colored glass board surface clearly displays most colors of dry-erase ink. Glass is easy to keep clean with Quartet whiteboard cleaning supplies. Mounting hardware included for easy installation in your space. Magnetic glass dry-erase board comes with 1 Quartet dry-erase marker and 2 round magnets.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Much better than I expected\n\nReview: [This review is for the 12 x 12 version. The board is also available in a 17 x 17 version]\n\nThe trouble with chalkboards is that they look like a classroom. Same with cork boards, they have the look of an office employee break room. Neither is something that adds to the décor of my home.\n\nMy kitchen is country modern ... red brick with glossy white cabinets and stainless steel appliances. The accent color is red. This dry marker board visually is a perfect fit.\n\nIt's solidly made of thick glass with a high-gloss cherry red finish. Thankfully there are no logos or markings of any kind despite what the sellers product photos might suggest. I give high marks to designers who have enough good taste to not deface the look of their design with an unattractive logo ... after I already own a product I don't need an ad staring me in the face every time I look at it.\n\nThe board comes with one dry erase marker which unfortunately is not magnetized to stick to the board. I found that most colors (surprisingly) show up easy to read against the red surface. Also included are two modern-looking chrome magnets. We like to collect magnets when we travel so we also use some from our own collection.\n\nTHINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW\n\n1. The quality of manufacture (the product is made in China) is excellent; I would call it commercial grade. The steel backing plate is massive, weighing almost 3 lbs, and the red high-gloss glass skin is bonded to the mounting plate. The board is absolutely flat with no hint of warping and the lacquer-like finish is flawless. Some people might want to consider this to hang all by itself as an ultra-modern work of art. Seriously.\n\n2. The mounting holes are rock solid, as my photo illustrates there are four of them, each being a + shaped cutout for maximum adjustability.\n\n3. The product comes with all of the screws and mounting anchors necessary.\n\n4. The manufacturer shows obvious pride in their product the way it is carefully protected and packed with several levels of impact absorbing material.\n\n5. Please realize that this is not a cheap stamped piece of material, it is heavy-grade steel and glass. Weighing almost 3 lbs it is heavy. I would suggest if possible that at least one of your mounting screws be anchored to a stud.\n\nThis is an instance in which the sellers product description doesnt really do the item justice, it is much better made than I ever expected. If you are concerned about the selling price, don't be, when you see it youll agree that its worth it.","Product: The South Main Hardware lockable steel security filing box is an excellent lockbox for important items such as documents and small valuables. It's great for storage in cabinets, lockers, desks and basements. Available in Black. Includes 2 keys. Storage compartment dimensions are 13.58 inch L x 6.10 inch W x 11.34 inch h.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Mostly positive with one glaring flaw\n\nReview: Ive been shopping for several weeks for a security box of this size to keep my current medical records in. I haven't had a lot of luck finding a good one. Most of the ones sold at the office supply stores are plastic and from past experience with them, are the type that fall apart. Reading reviews of the most popular plastic file boxes here at Amazon confirmed that with many customers reporting that the hinges break and the latches don't stay latched.\n\nHowever I was equally disappointed at the few metal boxes I found. They were either extremely thin stamped metal or thick steel fireboxes which was massive overkill for keeping everyday records.\n\nThis new one from South Main Hardware was being introduced at just the right time for me and I was asked to take a look at an early sample of one. It costs slightly more than the average box of its size as sold by retail stores but to me most of them are very overpriced for being only plastic.\n\nSo I was eager to see if this one was a good value or not.\n\nThe box is definitely more solid feeling that most of the plastic boxes and made of a much higher grade of metal than the cheap tin ones Ive seen (and owned). For lack of a better way of putting it, the thickness of the metal reminds me of what you would find used for appliances like refrigerators, stoves, washer/dryers, etc. Substantial but not firebox thick.\n\nThe hinge is a piano hinge, which means it goes all the way across the back of the lid. There is an average key lock that would discourage someone from randomly going through your papers and if they did you would see the evidence of it. But there is no way I would call it secure. It would take anyone determined to get into the box about 5 seconds to pry the lock. On the minus side, there is no latch other than the key lock which means you have to use a key to lock/unlock the box every time you use it.\n\nThis box has welded in hanger rails for pendaflex-tyle file folders that are substantially better than the cheap type plastic boxes use. They are strong and recessed which means the file folders are much less apt to fall of the rails than most other file boxes of this type.\n\nThe box is (in my opinion) a bit more attractive than most of what I see in the retail office supply stores. There is a pro and con to being metal with hard edges if you drop it, it will dent and if you carelessly bang it into a wall or desk it can do some damage, unlike most plastic boxes. Note that unlike most other all-metal boxes Ive seen the edges on this one are softly rounded to avoid scratching furniture and catching on clothing. As the photo shows there is only one weld seam for the main sides of the box and thats at the back.\n\nNot so positive is that South Main Hardware chose to put a huge advertising logo right on the top of the box. It is not a label or decal but actually painted on the box. After I own a product I don't want to be forced to advertise the manufacturer forever. These days most reputable companies have gone to very low-key subtle logos (look at an iPhone, you can barely find their logo). This box is one of the worst Ive seen in terms of being in your face with their oversized logo.\n\nOn a scale of 1 5 I think this filing box is better than average and I think the price represents a good value for the money. I like it, maybe not love it and the ugly logo doesnt make me like it any better.","Product: A chair intelligent enough to understand how you sit, and adjust itself intuitively. A chair thoughtful enough to measure, and minimize, its lifelong impact on the environment. Its almost as if the chair can think.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: One seriously versatile and comfortable chair\n\nReview: For the past 100 years most office chairs have been designed for looks rather than comfort. Oh, some were comfortable alright, after setting several adjustments to make it just right for one individual person but usually only if that person sat a certain way in the chair. This chair is different for the different way we do things these days. Consider the following scenarios:\n\n1. Many business offices today are collaborative. Office walls and doors have come down and workers move one location to another often for short sessions.\n\n2. Workers who spend long hours at one location sitting in one chair often no longer engage in just one task. One person may be sitting at a traditional keyboard for a period, then sit back and work with a tablet device, only to move into a relaxed mode to share thoughts with co-workers, then might pull his/her chair over to a group brainstorming session.\n\n3. Many individuals work in non-traditional work spaces including their home where they may share the same workspace with other family members.\n\n4. The image of a worker sitting bolt upright dressed in a suit or dress, posed to look important has pretty much been obliterated by no one caring how someone looks in their chair.\n\nRecently I went shopping for an office chair to replace my fancy leather one that was falling apart, the victim of both long hours in it and being cheap when I originally bought it. I went to several office supply stores and business furniture specialty stores and sat in dozens of traditional and non-traditional chairs and was dismayed that none of them were comfortable, and some caused discomfort within minutes. They looked cool, all right, but I could not find a single one that I could spent hours sitting in.\n\nThe Think Chair wasn't among them, of course, because it is a new product. It defies almost everything Ive ever felt Ive known about business office furniture. It will be hard to convey in words what a chair feels like when you sit in it, of course. Every body is built differently and it is a daunting task for any chair to be able to feel comfortable to a never-ending variety of body shapes and sizes.\n\nBut that is exactly what sets this chair apart from the me-too pack of look-alike chairs that have dominated work areas for so many years. This one, in fact, might be called a smart chair because when you sit in it, the chair senses the way you are sitting, your weight, and how you shift it around while working. So for example, it is not uncommon for me to have a normal posture when I first sit in my chair, then when I start to work on a document that requires typing I lean way back. A while later I may be working on photo editing and am hunched forward using my graphic tablet and then a phone call comes in and I lean way back and kick my feet up on something. Unlike any chair I have ever used, the Think Chair compensates for all of those changes and optimizes itself without me making any changes to the settings.\n\nNow, the chair may be smart but it isn't my brain, so at any time I have the option of adjusting such things as height, back tension, lumbar support, armrest height and all kinds of little tweaks to make myself comfortable and when I shift around the chair keeps my preferences in mind while easing itself into complementary postures. The closest I can come to describing the action is like certain elliptical exercise equipment that adjusts itself as you use it.\n\nAt first it seems like you are going to go flying wildly out of control because we are so used to chairs that do nothing but tilt and swivel. More times than one I leaned back and felt like I was a bit helpless as the chair silently and effortlessly assumed a different, but yet always supportive, position.\n\nAs far as aesthetics, the Think Chair is elegantly minimalistic. Having shopped the various office furniture stores there is frankly nothing quite like it in terms of the look and feel of excellence of materials and construction. The metal components are absolutely first-class, in fact in some ways reminiscent of seating in first-class of certain overseas airlines. The same may be said about the fabric, a unique padded mesh that breathes like mesh but has the softness of upholstered fabric. The chair is available in several colors (I want them all, the choice is hard to make) but the electric blue (what they call Blue Jay) of the one I have is probably the most like I would imagine Captain Kirk would sit in to command the Enterprise.\n\nWhats not to like? This comes down to more to personal preference than design issues. For example, to me the armrests seem like an afterthought on a chair so comfortable and well-designed. They are a semi-soft rubbery material. Im a person who likes to rest my elbow on the armrest and hold my chin while Im thinking. Im used to a soft armrest. I guess with this chair Ill just have to get used to doing less thinking. The black color of the armrests, to me, looks a bit too generic. Im not sure I would want it to match the fabric but maybe some other shade of darker blue? I like that they adjust up/down, forward/back, tilt/swivel, etc. but the only one of those positions that locks in place is up/down. I prefer not to have my armrest suddenly move if I bump against it. The other (minor) quibble is that the legs stick out further from the center shaft than usual. My old chair is 11 per leg and this one is 13 per leg. Until I get used to it, every time I swing my chair around my ankles hit the end of the leg.\n\nUnlike most office chairs, this one comes 100% fully assembled so there is nothing to adjust or be out of adjustment. The box is rather large (and heavy) so if you're ordering it you may want to arrange for the delivery person to leave it in a location when you can unbox it and then carry the assembled chair to its final destination. Steelcase includes an excellent user guide to help you learn how to customize each adjustment to your own preference.\n\nAs far as value for the price, its necessary to keep in mind that this is a commercial office product and as such it is very competitively priced with other quality office chairs. For some it may be a little pricier than what you are used to for a home-office chair but if (like me) you spend a lot of time working at a desk, once you sit in this chair you will never question if its worth the money. It is.\n\nBefore I actually used the chair for a while I was pretty convinced that it would not be possible to rank it as best (I was thinking of words like different). But it didn't take long for me to form the opinion that this is likely the most comfortable office chair Ive ever sat in, regardless of brand, style or price. Its really a night vs. day comparison to an average office chair. Steelcase has raised the bar in every possible way.\n\nAn office chair is important to me. Comfort and posture are not trivial matters. All things considered I would rate this chair as I like it (4-stars) but because it is so ridiculously comfortable and supportive I am compelled to tell you what I would tell anyone who asks me I love it and Amazon defines that as earning 5-star.","Product: Make spraying liquid weed killers, insect killers, fungicides, and fertilizers easy with Ortho Dial N Spray Hose End Sprayer. The extended-grip design keeps your hands dry during application and the direct-connect design makes attaching Ortho concentrate bottles fast and easy. Also, there are 3 adjustable spray patterns and 14 dial settings, so you can trust that you are spraying the precise amount of product-every time.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Versatile and useful for its low price\n\nReview: Start by realizing this is an $11 piece of plastic and don't set high expectations that it will give you Porsche performance on a Yugo budget. Something made to sell for $11 will certainly exhibit normal unit-to-unit quality variances ... some users will get a perfect one and some users will get one with problems. Ortho is a reputable company and the product is guaranteed. If it doesn't work, send it back or (for the extremely low price, toss it). Anything attached to a garden hose will probable leak a little. If it sprays toxic chemicals in your face, stop using it and get rid of it.\n\nThat being said, the copy I received did not leak. It essentially did what it should do and did it reasonably well. The major advantages of this type of sprayer over pre-mixed chemicals is:\n\n1. You don't have to pay for fancy mechanical devices every time you buy garden chemicals. There are even sprayers now that include battery-powered spray heads. Let's see ... 50 cents for the chemicals and $25 for a throw-away motorized spray head.\n\n2. You don't have to pay for the water that dilutes the chemicals.\n\n3. You can adjust the power/strength of the chemical mix according to your needs.\n\n4. You can reuse the sprayer for numerous types of chemicals (just don't reuse it for toxins one day and fertilizers the next). For the low price, own at least two of these for feeding and killing.\n\nI like to keep gardening tools as simple as possible, which is getting increasing more difficult. This hose-end sprayer is actually a pretty simple device. Just use common sense and, as always, choose the right tool for the job.","Product: Orb-3 Antifoam neutralizes foam quickly & safely. The fast-acting formula quickly knocks down ugly foam, making this kind of upset easy to prevent and control in pools, spas and water features. This natural, eco-friendly, easy to use water-based emulsion provides long-lasting, effective defoaming and foam prevention. Its food-grade ingredients simply cause water to go flat. And, because foam can harbor bacteria and organic materials, you'll reduce scum lines and your maintenance time as well. Professionals rely on Orb-3 Antifoam for great looking water in pools, spas and water-features all year round. For pools: Apply 2 ounces per 5,000 gallons For Spas: Apply 1/2 ounce per 500 gallons. Safe for people, pets and plants, Orb-3 Antifoam carries the Orb-3 60-Day Satisfaction Guarantee: if you are not completely satisfied with your purchase simply return it within 60-days and we will gladly refund your purchase price. To use: Shake thoroughly before using. Dilute dose with enough water to topically spray or add to water body. Increase or decrease dose as needed to control foam. For persistent foam or foamy areas, use an automatic feed pump such as the Orb-3 2000 Peristaltic Pump. It is safe to enjoy the water immediately after use. Do not put sanitizers or other chemicals directly in the bucket with Orb-3 Antifoam. For best results use within 6 months of purchase. Made in USA.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: A little goes a long way\n\nReview: This product doesn't seem to be very well accepted. The two biggest issues have to do with it leaving a scum line and that it adds an odor.\n\nMy spa has virtually no foam, at least not enough to consider treating it. But I did try this product to evaluate it on a day when there was enough foam to see what it did to it. Not being a chemist or physicist I don't know where the foam is supposed to go but my guess is that this stuff is supposed to break it down, which would probably leave a film of some sort. That's what it did for me. I don't know which is worse, the foam or the film but I can't blame the product for doing what it's supposed to. I'm neutral on the subject but I'm not a fan of adding even more chemicals to my spa.\n\nAs far as the odor, again I would expect any chemical to have an odor. If it was practical I would change the spa water before every use, any chemical smell is a turn off. So again, I guess I can't blame this stuff for adding more chemical odors if that's the way it works.\n\nBy the way, I used only a few drops and it neutralized the foam. If there is excessive sliminess and smells maybe the user could reduce the amount of product being added?","Product: Scotts Turf Builder Grass Seed Sunny Mix thrives in hot and sunny, summer conditions. It is ideal for open areas with few trees. And, each seed is wrapped in a unique WaterSmart PLUS Coating that absorbs 2x more water than uncoated seed, feeds with essential nutrients, and protects seedlings from disease. Grow Quicker, Thicker, Greener Grass. Guaranteed.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Some hints on how to choose the best seed for your lawn\n\nReview: Scotts has my needs perfectly described as requiring a grass that thrives in hot & sunny summer conditions. Half of our lawn is both hot and sunny and the other half is hot and mostly in shade. Being an L-shaped lot it is easy for us to grow two entirely different types of grass but yet have a uniform look throughout. I choose Scotts Sunny Mix for the portion of the law that gets bombarded with sun from morning till night. Coincidentally that portion of our lawn gets the most use and abuse from walking across it, pets and backyard get-togethers after sundown so we also require the lawn to be hardy. And oh yeah, we live in a dry climate and cant have the sprinklers on for hours every day, so whatever grass we plant has to absorb and use water efficiently.\n\nThis seed is it. Before going any further I need to point out that personally I believe customer reviews for a product like grass seed are next to useless. Ive already proven that in my own lawn where 50% of it loves a Sunny Mix and the other half would be the worst possible place to put it. So reading my review, or any other here, isn't going to tell you anything useful how this seed will perform for YOUR lawn.\n\nI like it and it works for me. Grass seed is cheap, my suggestion is to designate an area one season to a specific type of grass seed that is the most appropriate and try it out. If it doesnt work that doesnt mean that Scotts is a bad company or the product is defective, it simply means you need to try another blend until you find the one thats perfect for you and you lawn, in your climate and geographic area.\n\nMy experience with this particular blend has slightly less to do with it being a sunny mix than the fact that it requires less water and utilizes the water it gets most efficiently. And for me that worked out well and deserves a positive rating.","Product: Highlights: Size: 8 Quart Organic Lightens heavy potting mixes and native soil Enriched with Miracle-Gro Plant Foo Helps promote strong root development Unique water-holding capabilities help plants require less frequent watering For use in-containers and in-ground Bagged\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Beneficial for house plants in dry climates\n\nReview: This is a \"new\" version of a product that has been on the market for quite a while. The manufacturer does not make it clear what the difference between the two is other than slightly different package labeling. I have used this product successfully over the long term and it has helped produce very healthy and vibrant house plants. I have just potted numerous new plantings for an in-house winter spice garden and will update this review if there is anything significant to report about the progress over time.\n\nIf you have not used this product before note that it is not intended to be used as potting soil itself but rather used to lighten heavy potting and seeding mixes and assisting in retaining moisture and nutrients. It should be mixed in a 1-to-1 ratio with pre-mixed potting mix or native soil. It works great to line wire baskets when used by itself.\n\nIf you are curious what benefit a Sphagnum peat moss has, it is that it has good water retention abilities. That is an important benefit if you live in dry climate areas like the desert or if your indoor air is not humidified in the winter.\n\nThis product is as-expected and a good value.","Product: Hot Shot Natural Home Insect Control contains lemongrass oil to kill ants, cockroaches (American and German), centipedes, crickets, earwigs, millipedes, pillbugs, scorpions, spiders (poisonous and non-poisonous, including black widows), fleas, ticks, silverfish, firebrats and waterbugs. Its safe to use around pets and children and doesnt leave any lingering pesticides. Fast acting formula kills on contact. Leaves no messy residue. Test an inconspicuous sample of fabric or rug for staining before use. INDOOR USE: Shake well, set nozzle to spray setting and spray directly onto insects until thoroughly covered. Spray into hiding places such as cracks, crevices, openings around sinks, drains and pipes, around appliances, along baseboards and behind cabinets. Spray until wet. Contact as many insects as possible. Repeat as necessary. OUTDOOR USE: Remove debris and leaf litter from next to the foundation; cut back vegetation and branches that touch foundation; and move or rake back rocks, deep mulch or other potential pest harborage next to the foundation. Shake well, set nozzle to spray setting and spray infested areas thoroughly. For ants, thoroughly wet hills and runways. Hot Shot Natural is a complete line of pest control products that are safe to use around children and pets. The formulas, made with natural lemongrass oil, have been tested to ensure product effectiveness. Hot Shot Natural - caring for your home, the natural way.\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: Best ant attracting product ever\n\nReview: As so many others have said, this stuff doesn't kill insects, it attracts them. They love it. They swim in it. They drink it. They send gift packages of it home to their families.\n\nSeriously here's my experience with it. I found a few ants hovering around a piece of cat kibble that our cat carried to the coffee table. We never eat on the coffee table and never since we've owned it has there been even one ant on it. I think someone tracked in an ant or two on their shoes one day and they found the morsel. There were no ant trails, just a few ants around the piece of kibble. I discarded the nugget and sprayed the entire table top with Hot Shot (I had just bought the bottle and this was the first time I was using it). The next morning there was a trail of ants crawling up the table leg and dozens of ants wandering aimlessly around on top of the table. I sprayed them directly with Hot Shot and they continued to mill around, unfazed. The only ants that died were the ones that were so soaked they drowned to death.\n\nA few hours later there were even more ants on the table. They were loving the smell of the Hot Shot. I sprayed again. Same thing. They were actually walking through puddles of Hot Shot. The few who drowned I could have just as easily drowned with plain water or spitting on them.\n\nI repeated the whole thing later and now even more ants were attracted to the table, a table that had never seen an ant was now a desirable destination resort for them. They were sending postcards back home telling their friends they had discovered Hot Shot nirvana.\n\nThe only way to stop the invasion was to wash the entire table and the path leading up to it with a strong ant poison, which defeated the whole purpose of buying a so-called natural environmentally friendly product.\n\nI will never buy Hot Shot again.","Product: 17\", amish made. Spring steel, much more powerful than the standard plastic ones! Genuine leather.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Everything you wanted to know about fly swatters and more\n\nReview: Fly swatters are another of those dying breed of products like rotary dial phones, TVs with picture tubes, cassette players, etc. that used to be found in every home but these days not so much. If you walk into even the big mega department stores looking for one you likely won't even find one. And when you do, like here at Amazon, they are almost always the one-piece molded plastic things that are stamped out by the billions in China.\n\nMy great-aunt from Pennsylvania had an Amish-made fly swatter. She was 92 and when she aimed for a fly she could have been Annie Oakley she never missed a shot. Her fly swatter, which she probably had all of her life, was a supple piece of perforated leather with what looked like a bent metal coat hanger attached to it.\n\nHere are some little-known things about fly swatters that you probably never knew:\n\n1. The device really shouldnt be called a fly swatter at all. Swatting flies is what you do with your hand or what a horse does with its tail. Your mission with one of these things is to KILL the fly, not just swat at it. A much more appropriate name should be a Fly Whapper.\n\n2. The cheap plastic things are designed all wrong for whapping flies. First off they are usually brightly colored. Flies have hundreds of thousands of eyes, in fact fly eyes have the fastest visual responses in the animal kingdom. So, bottom line is that if you want to surprise them the last thing you want is a neon pink piece of plastic flailing at one of them.\n\n3. Plastic fly swatters are also too rigid. My great aunts fly whapper had a wire handle just like this Amish one does and for a good reason. The thin wire minimize the disruption of air currents, which can be detected by the fly and allow it to escape, and also reduce air resistance, making it easier to hit a fast-moving target such as a fly. The thicker, more rigid plastic handle is like sending an engraved warning notice to the fly that you're about to hit it. Its the same reason that a rolled up newspaper rarely actually hits a fly.\n\n4. There are some other (similar) handmade fly whappers with a leather pad at the end but they use a wooden handle. Same thing the wooden handle isn't whippy enough, to be able to flex just before the moment of impact for maximum squoosh with minimum damage caused by hitting other objects.\n\n5. Finally, the business end of the fly whapper, lets call it the pad. For absolute maximum whippiness there is nothing that beats natural leather. There was another kind of pad thats hard to find now that was a fabric mesh like a dense window screen. They were a close second to natural leather in whippiness. The cheap plastic pads aren't even in the same league as either of the above.\n\nSo, you're shopping for a fly whapper and you now know that those bright neon colors that attract your eye also attracts all of the thousands of eyes on the fly and destroy your chances of a stealth approach. Youve also learned that a stiff handle can be your worst enemy when whapping flies the whippier the handle the better. Youve also learned that my 92 year old aunt had a batting average that makes yours look like junior league and she did it with an old Amish fly whapper that wasn't too different from this one.\n\nAnd now you know the full story why I believe this fly whapper earns a full 5-stars.","Product: - Guaranteed to fit built-in barbecue grills 37\" long x 27\" wide x 24\" high - Fits Weber Summit Gas Built-In Grill model S-460 - Four-year limited warranty - Gardelle One is a durable woven polyester fabric with an added UV-stabilized coating and a water-resistant laminated undercoating - Water-resistant backing keeps your barbecue dry while elastic hem cords move easily through a special channel for a snug fit - Reinforced padded handles make removal easy while double-stitched seams add strength and a stylish accent - Scroll down for additional cover fit information by grill model - Structured vents stay open to prevent wind lofting and mildew and are lined with mesh barriers - Two (2) custom-colored buckles keep your cover secure in any weather - Adjustable webbing belts slide easily for a tailored look\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Well worth the price\n\nReview: I used to think having a custom made cover was the only way I was going to be able to cover my outside barbecue without it looking ugly. But the cost was prohibitively expensive to have a cover made, so we ended up using tarps (which of course are not very attractive).\n\nI was happy to run across this listing for the Ravenna cover, which wisely does not try to assume the role of being a one-size-fits-all cover. It covers the important part of the barbecue, which really doesnt vary that much from brand to brand, which protects the working part of the grill. Some grills (like ours) have the cabinet right below the grill and others do not. Please be aware that this only covers the upper part. If you prefer to cover the cabinet as well there are many other choices available here at Amazon.\n\nThree sizes are available. They don't do a great job explaining at the Amazon page what those sizes translate to, but here is an overly-simplified explanation. The extra-small would be appropriate for those under-$100 grills you see on sale at the local hardware store, the ones that can cook about two steaks or 4 hamburgers easily. The small might be the better choice for the slightly larger grills in the under-$200 range that can do 4-6 steaks and about 10 burgers. And the medium is going to be right for the double-wide grills that usually sell for about $500 and up.\n\nIm not sure where the seller got the concept of built-in grill in their product title but no, this cover would also be totally appropriate for the larger 6-burner mobile grills of up to 45 wide x 29 deep.\n\nThe quality is really good, better than you would expect for the price. For most of us, in whatever climate we live, this looks like it would last about 5 years which would be pretty good for the price (it is actually warranted for 4 years). On the subject of price, while affordable the Ravenna cover cost a bit more than some of the full-drape covers available. Ive used those and most are made of a substantially lighter-weight material. This one is both woven polyester combined with a laminate polyvinyl chloride backing. It folds up surprisingly small.\n\nConsidering the quality of construction, not to mention the time it will save you from cleaning outer casing of your grill, this cover is well worth the price.","Product: The weight distribution of the Classic Pizza Wheel is designed to perfection to allow one simple roll through even the thickest of pizzas with one simple motion. There will no longer be any struggling with rolling your pizza wheel back and forth, tiring your arm, just so that you can get a slice of pizza. The pre-sharpened blade allows you to go right from box to cutting without any hassle in between. 4 quick rolls over your pizza and you'll have 8 delicious slices of pizza ready to be devoured.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Is it good, better or best ... or worst?\n\nReview: <div id=\"video-block-R8N0JP56IBTJV\" class=\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\"></div><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/C1Uj1jKp2SS.mp4\" class=\"video-url\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/21vEmk1uEPS.png\" class=\"video-slate-img-url\"> I have a pizza cutter that I got from my mom that's maybe 20 years old. It was made by a long-gone company and was made in America. It will probably last another 20 years but let's be realistic, how often does the average person use a pizza cutter and how long do they use it each time? With reasonable care a pizza cutter is destined to last a long time.\n\nSo the #1 reason to replace one is probably to get a \"better\" one. Back in mom's time most pizza cutters had a 2\" wheel, straight handle and most did not have a knuckle guard. Some people will claim an advantage to having a larger wheel. In fact, a larger wheel does have a slight advantage that it help apply more pressure to cut through thicker crusts and also (at least in my experience) less of the toppings seem to stick to the wheel.\n\nThe Cuisinart CPS104 is a disappointment. The manufacturer is careful not to go into any detail in their product description other than it is \"silver\". What looks like a solid metal chromed handle is in fact plastic with \"chrome\" plated trim. It looks cheap, like something you would find at the dollar store, not what you would expect from Cuisinart for $15.\n\nOthers have mentioned various problems with the wheel. In my case it wobbles so much it feels like it is going to fall off (I tried tightening it but it's as tight as it goes). Watch the video to see (and hear) the problem. The extreme wobble makes a mess when cutting a pizza!\n\nAnother issue is the clear plastic blade guard that the product ships with. Nowhere does it say that this guard should be used again after the product is unpacked. Note (in the video) that it has large holes in it where it is VERY easy for your finger to slip when you try to \"snap\" the guard back on, and in doing so it would be extremely easy to slice your fingertip off.\n\nTrue the handle is comfortable, helping the product achieve its \"average\" rating. Otherwise there aren't a lot of positives to report about this pizza cutter. It is utilitarian and it cuts pizza - I would expect any new pizza cutter to do that. I can't say yet if the plastic handle is going to snap if too much pressure is applied, or if the \"chrome\" will flake off with everyday use (I have never had a fake chrome plastic product survive more than a few months without looking pretty bad). If either of those happens the product rating can only go down ... this product has nothing at all to recommend it for a 5 or even a 4 star rating.\n\nNote that the packaging says this product is NOT dishwasher safe. The cheap plastic probably wouldn't survive one dishwasher cycle. They say to \"wipe it clean\". Have you ever tried to \"wipe\" gooey cheese and greasy meat oils off a pizza cutter? I do not believe that would be very sanitary ... or easy.\n\nFrankly, this product is lucky it even got 3-stars.","Product: Easy! Fast! Convenient! If you like ignition at the click of a finger, then try our Electric Charcoal Starter. This handy device, with a heat resistant handle, will have you cooking in minutes without matches, lighter fluids or fire starters. Our design improves on every other starter on the market. We have: A longer handle to reach more coals without reaching into the cooker. An angled design to avoid heat near the handle. Stainless steel cooker mounting bracket. Larger heating coil starts more coals for faster cooking. Includes cooling stand.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Does it do what the ads claim it will do?\n\nReview: The idea behind this thing is pretty basic. You put it under the charcoal, plug it in to an AC outlet, and wait for the coals to get hot enough to catch fire. Im comparing it not to other brands (because realistically who has tested all of the several brands being sold) but to the method I have used for many years pouring the charcoal into a glorified tin can with some newspapers stuffed inside and lighting it. That method works for me without chemical lighters and gives me blazing white hot coals in 30 minutes or less. Using this doesnt seem to offer any other real advantage except time IF it works faster. Does it?\n\nI poured the same amount of charcoal I always use, about the same amount most people would use. The size and shape of the grill may have a tiny influence for some people but the only valid comparison is how fast is it compared to the method we are used to? After the coals are lit and glowing they are going to heat to usable temperature just as fast no matter what starter method we use. So, the only valid review is how fast this thing can get that initial heat going.\n\nCompared to my usual method (remember that takes 30 minutes or less) here is how the Aura electric started did:\n\n1. The instructions warn never to use it for more than 8 minutes. What if that doesnt light your charcoal? Well, they don't answer that question. It actually takes 10-12 minutes to get the coals hot enough to be able to remove the starter.\n\n2. Because of the large size of the heat ring, a significant number of coals are touched and heated. The heat seems to radiate inward toward the center of the ring, so it has the effect of magnifying the heat.\n\nSo, it does work, and it works in a reasonable period of time. The design is pretty simple and the construction is acceptable, I would expect it to be usable for at least one barbecue season, maybe a couple more. And the price is acceptable for a barbecue accessory.\n\nThe bottom line is I like it (Amazons definition for 4-stars). Its not a product that is so far superior that it would be fair to say I love it, but theres no reason not to recommend it.","Product: An Amazon Brand.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Heres why this one is a keeper\n\nReview: Living as I do in an extremely harsh climate a grill cover is not only something thats nice to have, it is a necessity if you don't want to buy a new BBQ grill every couple of years. Because of the climate extremes Ive either had to get used to buying cheap covers that I replace every season or spending an unreasonable amount on name brand covers.\n\nAs they do with so many things AmazonBasics comes through with flying colors with this kettle grill cover. The heavy quality of the fabric, the excellent stitching details, the generous sizing, and the extra ruggedness of the fastenings all place it firmly in the premium league of products yet the price assures its place in the best buy value category compared to any of the brand names.\n\nI own a cover for my kettle grill that I paid much more for and while it is nice, the AmazonBasics is better in every way. I ordered this one to cover my brand new smaller-size propane grill and the fit is perfect in other words you don't have to use it specifically on a kettle grill, it will fit many smaller charcoal and gas grills as well.\n\nSince we are subject to very high winds, I am picky about how good the tie-downs are on a grill cover and these are among the best. The double stitching on the sewn-in handles makes it easy to slip the cover on and off.\n\nAnd, while color is a personal preference, I like the look of the desert sand/dark brown combination.\n\nHaving owned more than my share of grill covers I consider this one a keeper. Judging the look and feel of the materials Im sure it will hold up a lot better than anything Ive seen in the price range.","Product: Smith Performance Sprayers are built to work as hard as you do. They are durable, professional products with an emphasis on chemical resistance and built to withstand the most demanding work conditions. The 190447 2-Gallon Industrial and Contractor Series Bleach Compression Sprayer is ideal for large jobs involving remediation, cleaning, degreasing or mold removal. Sprayer features a lockable shut-off to reduce hand fatigue, a nickel-plated brass poppet for strength and precision, and an easy-to-clean, in-line filtration system. The Viton seals offer the best chemical resistance to bleach and other harsh chemicals and are easily changed without using tools. The pressure release valve not only prevents over compression, but also helps prevent chemicals dispersing from tank onto the user prior to opening. Multiple nozzles included with the 190447 bleach sprayer for ultimate versatility: high foaming nozzle (enables visible confirmation of covered area and deeper grime penetration), wide flat fan nozzle (red, 0.25 GPM, angled at 70 Degree), narrow flat fan nozzle (yellow, 0.15 GPM, angled at 30 Degree), and adjustable poly nozzle (enables stream to cone patterns). Also accepts Tee Jet nozzles.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Recommended for light-duty commercial use\n\nReview: As a homeowner I use a variety of home maintenance tools, including sprayers for paint, lawn chemicals, cleaners and power washing. While the seller designates this specifically as a bleach sprayer there is nothing in its design that would prevent you from using it for other cleaning chemicals or even weed killers just don't go from one chemical to another without thoroughly cleaning the sprayer first. If space and your budget permit, ideally you will own both cleanup sprayers and plant food sprayers, as those are things you don't ever want to mix.\n\nThis sprayer is intended for light duty commercial work and I did find that overall it is a bit more rugged than the ones Ive bought at the local home improvement warehouse. But then again, those cost about half the price. While on the subject of price, of course I do not own a storeroom full of sprayers but as a casual shopper I cant help but notice that compared to similar units being sold at Amazon this one is at the upper price range for a manual sprayer. I was curious to see if I could find any advantages.\n\nThe unit itself is almost all plastic other than the stainless steel wand. The plus is that it is lightweight and (according to the manufacturer) resistant to the chemicals its intended to be used with. I can find no fault with that logic. However, there are a few things that stand out immediately that concern me. The first is that the clamp that holds the pump handle is secured in place only by two plastic clamps (see photo) that don't really snap into place. I would be concerned that over time the pressure buildup inside the tank might pop that clamp open, potentially spilling the chemicals. I don't quite understand why the manufacturer didn't use a screw-on or twist-on mechanism instead.\n\nOn the plus side, the release trigger on the handle is large, comfortable and easy to use, as is the trigger lock mechanism. Both look like they will stand up to heavy use over several seasons.\n\nNot such positive news about the instruction manual. Faced with a bag of small parts I opened the manual and found numerous tiny obscure photos and sketches about how to assemble and use the product. It would not cost the manufacturer any more to use larger diagrams and type and print a more usable and helpful manual.\n\nBe aware that the product description shows that a gray low volume fan nozzle is included. It is not. The small product shots at the top of the sellers page accurately show the black, yellow and red nozzle that are included.\n\nBottom line is that this is a good product with a couple of small details that prevent it from earning 5-stars. It may not be substantially better than those sprayers selling for much less money, and therefore overkill for a typical homeowner, but offsetting that is that virtually every part is available from Smith as a replacement a big plus for light-duty commercial users.","Product: Know your indoor environment. With an AcuRite Pro Accuracy Indoor Temperature and Humidity Monitor, you get reliable information that can help you ensure a comfortable living space, and better air quality, all while taking steps to preserve your home's interior and valuable possessions. This temperature sensor and humidity gauge combination offers enhanced accuracy, and frequent measurement updates on an easy-to-read digital display. Compact, easy to use, and offering a variety of mounting options, it's a must-have for any home or office. One-year limited warranty.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Best in class heres why\n\nReview: [NOTE] At the time this review was written, this device had only been for sale since December 2016 and reviews for 3 completely different models were all mixed up together. So to be clear, this review refers ONLY to the AcuRite Pro model <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/AcuRite-01083M-Pro-Accuracy-Temperature-Humidity-Monitor/dp/B01HDW58GS/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">AcuRite 01083M Pro Accuracy Temperature & Humidity Monitor</a>\n\nLIKES\n\n1. Small physical size but large easy to read primary displays\n2. Well-designed hole for hanging plus 2 strong magnets. NO fold-out easel stand but wide flat base allows it to stand up pretty well\n3. Setup controls are not too complicated\n4. Smaller digital readout of temperature and humidity history. The temperature one is for the past 24 hours, the humidity one can be switched from past 24 hours or lifetime (until the battery is replaced at which time it resets).\n5. Comfort zone scale is somewhat useful and easy to understand\n\nNOT SO GREAT\n\nThe largest display is humidity and the smaller one is temperature. Some people, including me, would prefer to have them reversed. It would cost nothing for them to make this a setup option, it makes no sense why the designers didn't realize that\n\nNote that there is no clock function whether visible or not. That means that you can't choose when the 24 hour cycle begins/ends for recording daily highs and lows. For example if you insert the batteries at 3:48 PM that's when the 24 hour recording cycle will begin. You can trick the design by waiting until midnight to insert the batteries if you want to know the history for a true 24 hour cycle\n\nThis is a simple temperature/humidity reader, there are no clocks, remote sensors, alerts, alarms or anything else. For my purpose of monitoring the room temperature and \"comfort\" level of humidity in my bedroom none of those mattered, I bought this because it was exactly what I need.\n\nACCURACY\n\nA thermometer is worthless if it's not accurate. Unfortunately the vast majority of thermometers being made these days are pure junk, sometimes nowhere even close to being accurate. And humidity meters can be even worse. This one out of the box was within reasonable tolerance if you're not picky but it did read a couple of degrees high for both temperature and humidity. That would be something you'd have to live with for most products in this price range but the good news is that with this model you can fine tune both the temperature and humidity readouts by calibrating them using a known accurate device. Once calibrated the AcuRite Pro was dead on after that, at least until the batteries had to be replaced.","Product: Wellness Natural Grain Free Wet Canned Cat Food Cubed, Sliced and Minced recipes are the perfect way to treat your cat to the variety he or she has been waiting for. For each delicious canned cat food recipe, Wellness has paired succulent cuts of wholesome, natural protein sources like chicken, turkey, salmon and tuna with delightfully savory sauces that are sure to please the palate of your furry friend. Each recipe is grain free and, like all Wellness products, does not contain any wheat, wheat gluten, soy or added artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. For those cats that are in need of a single protein source diet, poultry-free and fish-free varieties are available. Explore all of the flavorsome choices today! In addition, hydration is extremely important to a cat's overall health and since cats do not have a strong thirst drive, Wellness wet canned cat food recipes are a delicious and healthy way to increase your cat's moisture intake.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Cat food reality 101\n\nReview: Its frustrating when humans make the decision to feed their cat a certain brand of canned food because they (the human) thinks it tastes good. Do they honestly think cats choose which brand of lizard or rat or pigeon to eat because of flavor? As pet parents a cat liking a food should be far down on the list of reasons to choose it. Saying you feed your cat something because it loves it is like saying you feed your two-year old baby nothing but cotton candy meals three times a day because she loves it.\n\nUsing rigid guidelines set out for my cats by a veterinarian I choose this brand as one the better ones that meets my pets dietary needs. It does that well, but not perfectly. Unfortunately it still avoids listing specific numbers for carbohydrates, which should be near the top of a cats nutritional needs. High carbohydrates negatively impact the blood sugar level of cats and the leading cause of feline diabetes (which is why responsible humans should NEVER feed their cats dry cat kibble).\n\nAnd also unfortunately they like most other brands play loose with the words grain free because some of their ingredients in fact are just as poor of a choice for cats as grains.\n\nDespite all that, overall they are one of the better options and by the way, a side benefit is that my cats do like it. The only thing that pushes this brand down slightly is they are at the far upper end of the price scale, even when compared to other super-premium canned food blends.","Product: Help your cats feel their best at any age with IAMS PROACTIVE HEALTH Healthy Senior Dry Cat Food with Chickendesigned to support senior cats 11 years old or older. Chicken is the #1 ingredient in this senior cat food (made for outdoor or indoor adult cats) to help support strong muscles. This senior cat kibble is designed for complete health, including bones, teeth, joints, and hearts. It also contains Vitamin E and antioxidants to revitalize your aging kitties immune system, supporting your senior cats ongoing vitality, no matter how old they are. If youre looking for senior cat food for your lively senior, get your paws on thisand keep your cats happy, healthy, and ready to pounce with IAMS Healthy Senior Dry Cat Food.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Friendly for special needs cats too\n\nReview: With so many cat foods available these days (cat food is a huge profit business) I like to stick with proven name brands like IAMS whenever I can. They generally fall on the positive side between generic foods and super-premium brands and tend to be a bit more toward the premium end in their choice of ingredients and their manufacturing control.\n\nLike so many other brands IAMS loves to classify their cat foods as being intended for kittens, adult cats, senior cats, multiple cats, etc. The differences in the ingredient mix are sometime subtle and to a cat there is no rule dictating what they should eat if a cat likes the taste and can keep it down and the ingredients are cat-healthy then there is no reason why a senior mix cant be fed to a non-senior cat. Case in point is one of mine is just shy of 6 years old so he is hardly a senior yet, but he has special needs. He had to have all of his teeth extracted when he was a kitten. Dont try to tell HIM that, he has no clue that hes toothless and can easily keep up with his toothed sister eating anything.\n\nBut despite what he thinks, from a humans viewpoint, its simply easier for him to eat smaller and softer dry food kibble than larger sizes. From that aspect he likes to eat this formulation. And any cat owner knows that getting a cat to eat something is half the battle.\n\nSo if you combined the fact that a cat likes the flavor, is comfortable eating it and the ingredients are cat-healthy that translates to a product I like.","Product: The Wahl&reg; Figura&trade; Professional Clippers provide up to 90 minutes of cordless runtime. Includes a detachable 5-in-1 Fine Pro blade with 5 adjustable cutting lengths: #9, #10, #15, #30, and #40.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Built rock solid, excellent performance\n\nReview: The manufacturer's product description hits all of the key features but it is worth adding emphasis to some of them:\n\n1. This clipper is very quiet, smooth and almost vibration-free, important features when you are working with an animal that may be a bit nervous\n2. The blade remains cool to the touch, again an important feature for the animal's comfort\n3. The feel of the clipper in-hand is comfortable to hold\n4. There are no cords to get in the way, it has a run-time of about 90 minutes and lithium batteries have a long useful life\n5. It is not a make-do product, it is designed and sold by Wahl's Professional Animal division and is engineered for use with animals\n\nWhat is not obvious until you open the box is how rock solid this clipper is built, as if carved from a solid piece of stainless steel. If you are apprehensive about the $150 price tag, know that you are getting something that is very well made and obviously not mass-produced in the Far East. The blades in fact are crafted in Germany, with the product assembled in the U.S.\n\nOne point to be considered is that there is really no compelling reason that this clipper can't be purchased for trimming human hair if you don't have animals to trim. As such it is certainly a deluxe hair clipper, well-balanced, quiet and smooth with a wide range of adjustments. Bottom line: it may actually rank as one of the most well-built hair clippers available.","Product: Give your cat the nutrition she needs with Purina Cat Chow Gentle adult dry cat food. This formula helps support easy digestion in adult cats. In fact, every serving provides all 25 essential vitamins and minerals to help support her overall health and well-being, so you can feel good about filling her dish at mealtime each day. Purina Cat Chow Gentle cat food is formulated with natural prebiotic fiber, high-quality protein and no artificial colors to help support digestive health without compromising on nutrition. An order of this Purina Cat Chow Gentle adult dry cat food from Amazon.com gives her the high-quality care she deserves. Convenient home delivery also means you can skip a trip to the store, giving you more time to spend with your favorite feline pal. At mealtime, every bowl of this food gives her 100% complete and balanced nutrition and a natural prebiotic fiber to help support her digestive health.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Toothless rescue kitty digests this better\n\nReview: Almost 5 years ago we rescued an entire family of abandoned cats, including 5 newborn kittens and 3 adults. Over time at the beginning we found homes for all of them, keeping with us a loving brother and sister combo. We nursed those two through some tough times, including the loss of the males teeth due to a life-threatening disease. Now at almost 5 years they are happy and healthy and defying logic, the male is able to eat dry food the same as any other cat. Not being able to chew the food, sometimes if he eats too fast not all of it stays down.\n\nI was so happy to learn of this gentle, more easily digestible dry food from Purina. We have been buying a top-rated premium food at a specialty pet food store (quite expensive) and hoped to find something more readily available at the grocery store that was easier for the male cat to digest. I believe we have found it.\n\nThe nutritional information is on the label. Only you can decide what you want to feed your cats, and only your cats can decide if they want to eat it. Our decision was that this product offers a sufficient nutritional value to feed it to our cats on a regular basis. I do want to make it clear that they do not depend on a dry food only diet they get fed a high-moisture wet food 2-3 times daily and they self-regulate their intake of dry food during off hours.\n\nAll things considered, this formulation is good for fully healthy cats and those that need a more gentle food. My cats like the taste and the incidents of a meal not staying down have noticeably gone down. Im happy with the product and rate it at 5-stars. If anything affects that after longer term use an update will be posted.","Product: NUTRO PERFECT PORTIONS Adult Cat Food Trays allow you to feed your cat wet cat food without the mess of leftovers in your refrigerator. Made with real chicken as the first ingredient, this grain-free cat food contains no artificial flavors, colors or preservatives only high-quality ingredients and nutrition in every serving. With NUTRO PERFECT PORTIONS Adult Cat Real Chicken Pate Recipe Cat Food Trays, your cat gets a fresh meal every time.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: The real secret about this cat food\n\nReview: It gets to the point of how do you know which cat food to buy? I agree with my cat vet that the manufacturers don't really tell you anything useful about their product and what they do tell you is less important than what they neglect to tell you the really important stuff. And what value is it to read if someone elses cat will eat or won't eat a particular brand of food? Every cat is different and usually most cats change their moods ten times a day. Whats important is if YOUR cat will eat a certain food and even more important is if that food is actually good for your cat.\n\nSo I cant tell you if this one is good or not, but as the human parent of a recently diagnosed diabetic cat I can tell you that dry kibble cat foods are pure evil to a cats digestive system. And that canned foods that use a lot of starchy gravy are giving your cat exactly the opposite of whats healthy for it. Cats are, by nature, meat eaters and they aren't as good as people at breaking down carbohydrates in their digestive system. The ideal diet for a cat is one that has increased protein and decreased carbohydrate content, but these are things that cat food makers are reluctant to give us information on. It turns out that special expensive diets are no better than basic Friskies at giving your cat what it needs which is a diet thats high in protein and low in carbs.\n\nBy the way, another interesting thing about other peoples observations how they love one brand and not another is fun to see, but usually highly inaccurate to use in choosing which brand is right for you. Did you know that the Nutro Perfect brand is made by the same company as Pedigree, Whiskas, Royal Canin. Sheba, Greenies, Cesar, Iams and Eukanuba?\n\nMy cats aren't wild about this particular brand but they will eat it, but again thats not important to you, your cat may feel differently. As a generality Nutro Perfect seems to be at the better end of the spectrum of being made with the meat products that are good for your cat to eat, so I like it. If you care about your cat, don't read ads or what other people have to say ask your vet.","Product: IRIS 7-Tier Cat Tree Condo has sturdy wood components and heavy-duty hardware. The IRIS 7-Tier Cat Tree Condo is built to give many years of safe, playful fun. It assembles in minutes, and will provide a great space for your cat friend to explore and play. Cleanup is easy with a soft brush or vacuum.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: You need to know this if you buy this product\n\nReview: This is one of those products where the sellers product pictures tell almost the whole story. If you are in the market for a Cat Condo you can tell immediately if this one will be the right size, the right look, and have the right features for your cat(s). And by features I mean how many places there are for your cats to climb, rest, play and simply be cats.\n\nIf youve never bought a Cat Condo before, or if youve owned one and been disappointed, this review is for you. Its not a rehash of the height, weight, color and other things that you can get from the product description but rather an actual first-hand overview of whats good and whats not so good about this product.\n\nHOW WELL IS IT MADE/HOW GOOD DOES IT LOOK\n\nI have seen Cat Condos being sold out of the back of a pickup truck at a local vacant lot. Theres not a lot of rocket science that goes into making one, and there are a lot of people who build them in their basement to sell out of their car on weekends. All it takes is some scrap wood and carpet remnants and a staple gun. I want to be very clear that this is NOT one of those products. Everything about it reassures you that it is worth the price (which admittedly is higher than average). The quality of the materials is first-class in look, feel and the way it is applied. The design is such that it is solid and secure even though it is tall enough to touch most ceilings. There is absolutely no hint of staples or excess glue or anything else that is usually a dead giveaway in a cheap Cat Condo. On this score I rate it as a 5.\n\nHOW EASY IS IT TO ASSEMBLE\n\nThe instructions are drawings only, no words. If you are experienced assembling RTA (IKEA-type) furniture you will find this to be about a 7 on a scale of 1-10 of easiness (10 being easiest). All of the screws use the same thread and the only tool required is the included allen wrench. Here are two IMPORTANT hints to help make assembly easier:\n\n1. Copy and print out a photo of how the assembled product should look (you can use the sellers photo above). Nowhere in the box will you find something like that. Without it, you will end up scratching your head a lot.\n\n2. Believe them when they tell you to start assembling from the top of the unit. All logic will tell you to start assembling the bottom first. Dont. Start from the very top piece and work your way down with the unit laying on its side on a hard-surface floor. Do NOT skip a step and do not move the unit until the very last screw is tightened and only then raise the unit upright. You will need a second human to help you tilt it upright.\nOn ease-of-assembly I rate it a 4\n\nPROS\n\nFrom my experience seeing other Cat Condos they usually seem to be made by someone who has never seen a cat, or at least doesnt understand what a cat wants. This Cat Condo is fairly close to perfect in offering places that almost any cat will find useful to climb, stretch, scratch, play, sleep, hide, jump, etc. The levels are (for the most part) at the right place. The heavy-duty ropes (two of them) take more energy to bat around than a piece of thread or yarn. There are plenty of sisal-wrapped pillars to scratch their claws on. The two apartments are roomy and private but have a big picture window to the outside world (and the cat-ear shape of the openings is not only cute but practical cats don't like to enter places where their whiskers or ears won't fit). Timid cats have lower levels, energetic cats can spend energy getting to the top, and kittens will be all over it. Adding up the pros rates this product as a 5.\n\nCONS\n\nThe only two things I would have improved on are that the bottom rope hangs too low. But guess what? It attaches using the exact same screw-hole size as everything else. So it was easy for me to move it to an upper level into a vacant screw hole. The other minor detail is that the upper staircase is mounted in a bit of a strange place where even the most agile cat will find it hard to climb onto that level from the one below it. My cats didn't like it. But again, if it is a problem it is easily correctable because the staircase is held in place with only two of the heavy-duty screws and can be removed in a few seconds. I didn't take away any points for either of these for two reasons they are personal preference and they are easily correctable if you don't like them.\n\nIS THIS THE RIGHT ONE TO BUY?\n\nIve seen a lot of Cat Condos in stores, at friends homes, being sold out of the back of a van at the gas station, etc. and yet I have never bought one because so many of them look cheesy and seem to use shoddy materials. This is the first one I liked. In fact I like it so much I have it placed right in my living room near the people chairs so the cats can keep us company and have a commanding view of the entire room with a view out the window and even a view of the fireplace in the winder. My cats are very happy and all-in-all this product earns and deserves a 5-star rating.","Product: Hills Science Diet Adult Urinary Hairball Control pet food provides precisely balanced nutrition to help support the health of the whole urinary system. Contains natural ingredients plus vitamins, minerals and amino acids. *Hills 100% Satisfaction Guarantee: We're confident your pet will enjoy Hill's Science Diet foods. We're so confident that we offer a 100% money-back guarantee. If you are unsatisfied for any reason, return the unused portion to Amazon for a full refund or replacement. For more information on returning an Amazon purchased product, visit the Amazon returns center.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Good, better, best or worst?\n\nReview: Unlike the canned food that I feed my cats, I do not stick to one brand when it comes to dry food. Ive learned that the cats have a preference for one flavor of canned food, and it gives them the moisture and nutrition they need so I stick with one brand. As far as dry food though, my cats learned early in life to pace themselves and nibble at the dry food in-between scheduled meal times, like in the middle of the night or if I am not home during the day. They take as much as they want and need and contrary to popular belief they won't gorge themselves until all the food is gone. They like the variety of switching brands and because it isn't their main meal I can afford to try the (many) brands of premium dry foods that cost about $25/5lb bag.\n\nFor no particular reason I have never before tried Hills brand cat foods, although I am very familiar with it. Hills has a prominent place on the shelf at the specialty animal feed store where I usually get my premium brand cat food. I know it is a respected name, and lately there are an amazing number of new brand names for cat foods on the shelf as well.\n\nMy cats are rescue kitties and my commitment to them when I saved them was that they would not only get a chance to live but they would be well taken care of. They in turn have returned that care with their love and affection.\n\nWhile they are healthy, I know cats can develop urinary infections even if they are indoor only pets. And while excessive hairballs has never been an issue, because of our climate they do tend to shed a lot seasonally and in the process swallow some fur. So this formulation from Hills would be best classified as it couldn't hurt.\n\nAs far as rating it, Ive always recommended not to put a lot of faith into what other people say about cat food or how they rate it. Every cat is different and every environment they live in is different. It is unfair to rate a cat food as a 1 or a 5 because one cat didn't like the flavor. We as humans have no idea what the food tastes like. And as far as health benefits (or claimed health benefits) it would take years eating a particular formulation as their steady diet to show positive or negative effects so again, there is no value in opening a bag and pouring out one serving and then rating it as a 1 or a 5 in terms of being good for your cat.\n\nBased on the ingredients, the price/value of the product and the reputation of the manufacturer I like this product. Amazon defines I like it as 4-stars.","Product: Its time to add some color to your home while encouraging your pet to drink more water. The new Pet Safe Current circulating fountain is an affordable way to provide your pet with a constant source of fresh, filtered water. The Current comes in a trendy Orchid color and is available in 3 sizes. The submersible pump constantly circulates the water through the bowl, keeping the water aerated and appealing to pets. The BPA Free plastic design comes apart for easy cleaning and is dishwasher safe. The Current ensures your pet has access to clean water even when youre away.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Is this a gimmick? Let's find out\n\nReview: I have as much understanding of house pets as anyone else. They need water to survive and to that end I even have an upstairs and downstairs bowl of water available for them. I tried for my convenience (not the pets) to use one of those self-filling dishes. The results were not positive but the experience was educational. Here are some notes as they apply to this aerating dish:\n\n1. The best feeding style of water dishes are wide bowls. Deep, narrow bowls like this do not replicate nature. This one has a bowl with high sides and a big bump (the motor) that physically interferes with a pet's ability to lap up a large surface without having their whiskers touch anything.\n\n2. Pets don't need gimmicks to help them drink water. When they are thirsty they will find water wherever it happens to be and drink from it. Most house pets drink from bowls of rainwater with bugs and leaves floating in it. They don't think like humans.\n\n3. Dogs and cats don't like to be watched or interrupted when they are doing something. That includes eating, drinking, pooping, etc. They can get used to moving water like in a stream but a so-called fountain water bowl that has a big bump with a motor that buzzes and vibrates won't make them happy.\n\n4. As a good human you should be emptying and refilling a pet's water bowl once a day. As a good house pet they should be drinking most of that bowl of water as part of their healthy regime. Hence, there is really no need for a bowl that aerates the water, making this thing nothing more than a gimmick.\n\nPROS:\n\n1. Compared to similar models its cheap. But on the other hand its only a plastic bowl with a pump spinning inside. Theres no magic here but a ton of profit for the manufacturer.\n\n2. It is very colorful if thats your thing. Score 1 for you your pet doesnt care.\n\nCONS:\n\n1. It takes a simple concept of an easy-to-clean water bowl and introduces all kinds of nooks and crannies where mold and mildew can grow. Lots of places to get slimy inside where you cant see it. Ideally you should disassemble it and wash the insides once a day. Will you do that? Will anyone do that? Um, no.\n\n2. If a purple water dish isn't your thing, this thing is pretty ugly (personal opinion) your pet doesnt care.\n\n3. And the most important point this is NOT a fountain. The water is not pumped in like a babbling brook. In fact there is no water movement. This is a $2 plastic bowl with a fish tank pump in it. The pump is noisy (think fish tank) and vibrates. It is loud enough to annoy a human. Pets have hearing thats thirty times more sensitive than a humans, which means having a fish tank pump next to their ears while they are trying to drink sounds to them like being next to a jack hammer.\n\nNow, here's the gotcha ... nowhere does the seller tell you in the product description on this page that you must change the filter (made only by them, of course) every 2-4 weeks at a cost of $4.00/4. I'm not a big fan of products that the manufacture deems useful only if you continue to buy replacement parts to continue to make them work as designed.\n\nBOTTOM LINE:\n\nAs you read these reviews, person A will tell you that their pet drinks from this dish with no problems and person B will tell you that the sound of a whirring motor in their water dish scares the heck out of their pet. The point is that every pet is a unique, individual critter and there is zero value in hearing about other peoples pets. This water dish doesnt have anything to offer that is a significant benefit to any pet but if you like the color and having a cheap little pump water entertains you then go for it your pet doesnt care.","Product: With its cutting-edge design and 100 oz. water capacity, the Pet Safe Drink well Sedona Pet Fountain is ideal for large or multiple pets. The bowl and ceramic tower design not only minimizes spills and splashes but provides a large drinking area to accommodate pets with large or flat faces. The falling movement of the water draws in oxygen to prevent bacteria growth, while at the same time naturally freshening your petâs water. The hygienic design is easy to clean and top shelf dishwasher safe. The Sedona Pet Fountain will âclearlyâ keep your pet healthy and hydrated while adding an elegant touch to your home decor.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: The most beautiful pet drinking bowl ever?\n\nReview: In the ongoing quest to find the perfect pet water dish, here is yet another, this one from a company with a recognized background in selling a seemingly endless variety of water dishes that all share the common theme that in one way or another they use a pump to flow the water into the dish.\n\nThis ones claim to uniqueness can be summarized by the following:\n\n1. Design ultra-modern, almost art gallery in form\n2. Clear water bowl well explain if this is good or bad in a second\n3. Ceramic water pump housing\n4. Oversize for larger pets or multiple pet families\n\nLets face it, some of us hide our pet food dishes in the laundry room or other utility room and don't care what the food dishes look like. And others of us feed our pets in the kitchen or other common area and want the feeding area to be attractive. This bowl is definitely designed for the latter with its swooping sides and crystal-clear water bowl. And about that bowl, good or bad? Ive learned that some bowl designs seem like a good idea to humans but not so much to the pets. Stainless steel for example. While it seems like it would be easy to clean (in reality its not, it gets scummy fast) the shiny surface acts like a mirror. Animals are territorial while eating and drinking and they really don't appreciate seeing another face staring at them during dinner time, even if its their own face they're looking at. Dark colors like black have much of the same effect. Ive been using clear pyrex pie dishes for some time and not only are they easy to clean but pets have no adverse reaction to eating out of a clear dish.\n\nThe ceramic water pump housing is definitely an advantage, there is no question that ceramic is easy to clean and durable and the muted mint green color is contemporary and attractive. This is a good choice of materials by Petsafe. The only downside is that it doesnt attach to the bowl so a frisky pet can potentially knock it over.\n\nAs far as the bowl shape though, once again it seems even companies like Petsafe who specialize in pet food dishes don't have a great understanding of a pets anatomy, especially cats. This is yet another water dish that, while it is large, has a bowl that the pet must stick their snout deep into. Thats just not the way animals drink in nature. Whether they drink from moving water or still water, animals will generally drink from large flat surfaces, not small deep holes. There are several reasons one is so as not to block their vision and hearing from potential adversaries, and the other is that their whisker width helps them avoid getting caught in restrictive places they won't enter if their whiskers touch the sides. So why are so many water dishes make with steeply sloped sides and small surface areas (like this one) which is just the opposite of what your pet wants? And, the ceramic tower in the middle doesnt help, it severely restricts access to the water on all but one side. And how would you like to bump your head into your drinking glass every time you take a drink?\n\nThe seller claims a 100 oz water capacity. We measured that claim by filling the bowl as much as practical without overflowing, with the ceramic insert and motor/pump installed, and then emptied the contents into a measuring cup. At best we were able to measure no more than 70 oz of water. However, because of the deep design of the bowl and the narrow sides, the animal would never be able to reach more than half that amount at best, making the usable water capacity no more than about a quart.\n\nFinally, the motor sound these dishes use what is essentially an aquarium pump. Some are quieter than others and to a humans hearing it may sound quiet but remember that your pets hearing is 30x more sensitive than yours. When they stick their head into a confined area right next to an electric motor it sounds like a jack hammer to them. They whole romantic image of gently flowing water that humans perceive is perceived quite the opposite by our pets. If you change your pets water daily (as you should) there is absolutely no need for a pump to recirculate the water and a charcoal filter to clean it. Other than to sell what should be a $5 water dish for $80.\n\nAll of the above doesnt mean this is a bad water dish. If you like it, AND your pets will drink from it, sure go ahead and buy it for the designer style. When I end up giving it Amazons recommended 4-stars because I like it Im doing so not because it is the best water dish ever made but because I think it earns being considered one of the most attractive pet dishes on the market. It earns 4-stars because it is very easy to clean (and easy to see when it needs cleaning) and is highly resistant to accidently tipping over even with frisky pets. Those are qualities at which it excels compared to other dishes I have seen or used. And I have not found anything about it that is enough of a negative to detract from being water dish worth considering.","Product: Fresh and clean water is paramount for keeping your pets heathy and refreshedand the Oster Fresh Sips Less Stress Pet Water Fountain will help you hydrate them consistently and conveniently. It provides your cats and small dogs a steady supply of double-filtered water from its 60-ounce BPA-free reservoir, so they'll never go thirsty again.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: A 4-paw cat fountain\n\nReview: <div id=\"video-block-R3K9CRVG28R3UH\" class=\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\"></div><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/D1MsRyOp60S.mp4\" class=\"video-url\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/11r%2B21Qye8S.png\" class=\"video-slate-img-url\"> I have not had very good luck with so-called pet fountains although I have tried several different types. Frankly, most have been designed by someone who has never seen a cat. Its no secret that cats are picky eaters and drinkers, sometimes refusing to drink water even though they are thirsty and their bodies require water to survive. Too many water dishes I have seen have small, shallow bowls. Thats not natural and is contrary to the way cats learned to drink in the wild thousands of years ago. Small, odd-shaped bowls touch against the cats whiskers, something cats hate.\n\nI pretty much had sworn off ever getting another specialized cat drinking dish, because my rescue kitties do just fine drinking out of a typical human soup bowl. Its just important to fully change the water daily and clean the bowl every few days. But I was attracted to this one because its one of the few made by a recognized name brand, Oster, who I have trusted for years in my kitchen. It is designed so differently than other models I decided to give it a try.\n\nFirst off, my #1 concern would be the motor and water movement. The motor is essentially what you find as a fish tank pump and my cats don't like a motor whirring in their ears while they are trying to drink. They weren't too crazy about this one either, but have learned to tolerate it. Im not convinced that continuously bubbling water is that big of an advantage but Im also enough of a realist to know that it really cant hurt.\n\nFrom observing my cats drink I know that they like their water bowl high up but don't like sticking their faces too deep into a bowl. Oster seems to have understood that about cats with a water line that isn't too deep inside the bowl. When the cats drink from it their position seems very natural and they look comfortable. The most important thing is that they ARE drinking from it, and spending a long time getting hydrated. That alone is the most positive thing I can say about this pet fountain.\n\nThe water bubbling motion is relatively gentle. Not all cats like to drink from a faucet (mine dont) and they aren't crazy about waterfall-type pet fountains. I like the pure white plastic bowl. Ive learned through experience that my cats don't like shiny stainless steel bowls because they see a reflection of themselves while they drink (imagine you trying to drink with another face an inch away from yours). The same negative is true with dark colors. A white bowl has sort of an infinity effect so the cat is only thinking about the water, not whats below it.\n\nSome observations:\n\n1. This product looks larger in the sellers photos than it actually is. The actual size is about what a 1-gallon plastic milk container would be if you cut it in half\n\n2. Before ordering I thought this was the type of self-feeder that could be left unattended to assure the pets always had water available. Not true. This is NOT a self-feeder. It 100% depends on the motor to pump water up from the non-accessible storage tank down below to a shallow drinking surface. If it clogs, the power fails, or any other reason it stops pumping water upward to the drinking surface your pet will have zero access to the water locked in the tank below and only a small amount will remain in the drinking tray. Do NOT depend on this device if you go away for even more than a few hours to guarantee your pet has access to water.\n\n3. Unsnapping the top drinking tray part from the water reservoir is a minor hassle. The white part fits VERY snugly into the blue bottom. While the top part has two tabs, there is nothing to hold on to the bottom to pull the two pieces apart. It soon becomes a task you aren't crazy about doing very often.\n\n4. The fish-tank motor they use is an off-the-shelf generic motor. Be cautious that there is an unlabeled slide switch on the bottom of it and be sure not to bump that switch while you are filling the tank or cleaning it. The manufacturer warns that you should NOT change the setting (I tried the pump shot water all over the floor).\n\n5. The device uses a special custom replaceable filter. I am not a fan of products that require consumables especially when (as Oster recommends) they have to be replaced 12-24 times a year. Ive gotten used to the frustration of buying something from a no-name brand and never again finding the special filter available for sale. Fortunately this comes from a major brand name and the chances are a little better they will support it with consumable for maybe a year or so, however as of today the necessary part is not available for purchase from Amazon.\n\n6. The power cord has a jack that plugs in to the included power transformer, a disadvantage. If the pet tugs on the cord they can easily disconnect it. I would have expected a company like Oster to use less genetic parts and come up with something more appropriate to use around pets.\n\nThe Oster pet fountain falls short of being a 5-star product for the reasons outlined above. There is nothing so negative to recommend against it however as long as you are aware that it only has two minor advantages it raises the drinking level up to a more comfortable level (which is its major advantage) and it gently swirls the water and filters it as it recycles it (at a hefty cost). It is NOT a self-feeder that can be left unattended. By the way, compared to other similar products from lesser-known brands, the Oster is definitely at the lower end of the price scale.","Product: Wellness Grain Free Trufood Complements provide a pure protein meal complement, with a minimal amount of ingredients, no fillers or glutens. Add Trufood Complements to any meal as delicious topper, mixer, or snack.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: This is not intended to be a cats full meal\n\nReview: Its important to start out with the most obvious thing, and what seems to be a justifiable negative for many other reviewers, the packet size is TINY, not enough even for one meal for a normal cat, and the price per packet ranges between $1.38-$1.87 each depending on which seller you buy it from, substantially more than almost any brand of cat food on an ounce-for-ounce basis. What is not clear unless you read the sellers description very carefully is that this is NOT intended to be used as a meal for your cat. The seller makes it clear that this is intended to be (in their words) a complement to Top it, Mix it, Snack it in other words, something you add to your cats usual meal, probably to make it more savory to the cat. If I were to rate this product solely on value if it was intended to be used by itself as a meal I would only give it 1-star. But as a topper or snack to complement a real meal, as it is clearly labeled, it might be considered more reasonable if it looked anywhere near as appetizing as the sellers pictures. It doesnt. Each bag contains a lot of liquid and some smashed up solid stuff.\n\nNote that this product is made in Thailand, which has a controversial record as far as the quality of pet foods. You have probably noticed lately that there are countless brands of pet food you never heard of selling pricier than average products that are very heavily hyped as being healthy or natural. I don't know if they are or not but most of these companies are nothing more than marketing names with no history in pet food formulations and pretty much zero social or legal responsibility for the safety and well-being of your pet. My personal preference is to trust long-standing brand names over made up names from unknown sources.\n\nAs far as what it tastes like, every cat is different your cat and my cat and our neighbors cat will all react differently to the flavor so theres no value in even going into the subject of how it tastes.\n\nI rate this as being neither good nor bad, therefore a 3-star rating. It is extremely overpriced as a meal but if its something you use from time to time as a snack or treat its probably not that bad.","Product: Real food is raw. Its that simple. And we believe feeding your cat pure nutrition should be simple too. Carefully crafted in small batches, Instinct Raw Market Nuggets are made from real foods you can trust, all 100% freeze dried to protect and lock in nutrition and taste. Starting with raw, grass-fed lamb and organic fruits and vegetables, our recipes mirror your cats ideal diet, delivering protein rich, minimally processed nutrition your cat will love. Serving is simple! Just crumble and add water to serve. Complete and balanced nutrition for dogs. Made in USA facilities.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Of all the look-alike cat foods this one is different\n\nReview: With cats the most important thing is getting them to eat it. Of course you want what they eat to be nutritious but if they refuse to touch it being healthy food isn't going to help much. Fortunately on that score, both of my rescue kitties like the taste and texture of this food. As their human I like it too because it has a good blend of ingredients and is easy to prepare.\n\nOne of my cats has a special need he had his teeth extracted as a baby. Now almost 6 years later we know that operation saved his life and he is as healthy as can be, and he has no problem eating even hard dry kibble, but tends to prefer canned food. This food is a nice compromise between the benefits of dry food and the easier to chew advantages of canned food for him.\n\nThe first impression is that you get a really small bag and that its feather light. Both are true but remember this product is freeze dried. You crumble the chucks into a dish and add water. Served properly there are more servings in the bag than you would think. And I like not having to lift a heavy bag at every feeding time.\n\nI also like that the seller takes the time and effort to discuss in real-life terms how to use their products. I am disappointed at so many companies in the pet care business who don't know (or care) the first thing about pets. Taking the time to provide all of the feeding tips gives me a degree of confidence that this company is doing more than peddling product (watch their video if you don't believe it).\n\nI do wonder about this one statement of theirs though and always remember, regular activity is an important part of your cat's overall, healthy lifestyle. I was trying to explain that to my cats during one of their famous 18 hour naps and all I got back was a big yawn and a look like hey, sleeping IS a regular activity for us. If you live with cats in your family you will probably relate to that.","Product: New name and look - same great nutrition: Solid Gold Sunrise Delight is now Solid Gold Wholesome Selects! Solid Gold Wholesome Selects grain free wet cat food is a nutritionally complete and balanced meal perfect for cats of all sizes. Crafted with a combination of nutrient-dense and delicious ingredients including real chicken and duck, fiber-rich pumpkin and 5 superfoods in a savory gravy, Wholesome Selects makes a nutritious and filling meal that even the pickiest cats are sure to love. May also be served as an accompaniment to dry food or as a tasty treat. Free from fillers. Contains no corn, wheat or soy. No artificial colorings or preservatives. Carrageenan and BPA free. 100% satisfaction guaranteed!\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Yes, pumpkin can be good for cats\n\nReview: My rescue cats just came back from their annual vet visit. They are 6 years old and the vet pronounced them healthy and exactly where they should be as far as weight. We see a cat-only specialist who is in tune with feline well-being and his advice has been an important factor in keeping our cats healthy.\n\nHe advised us to control the amount of dry food we serve our cats. Cats will eat anything (when they feel like it) but that doesn't mean they SHOULD eat everything. The truth is that cats don't know or care if their food is fancy, gourmet, holistic or trendy. It's also true that it is meaningless to base what you serve your cat based on whether someone else claims her cat \"loves\" or \"hates\" the flavor of a certain brand ... that information is totally meaningless to YOUR cat who has its own thoughts on what it likes to eat. For the record though, mine dove right in and ate it up. Theyre usually more hesitant to try new foods.\n\nWith cat food what counts is nutritional value and the limits of your pet food budget.\n\nThis brand passes muster on nutritional value, certainly in a better category than the 29 cents a can grocery store brands. As far as price, this is certainly on the high end of the scale. Whether that is \"too much\" only you and your budget can decide. There is nothing negative I found with this brand and by the same token nothing overwhelmingly superior compared to any other brand.\n\nINTERESTING FACT\n\nDid you know that the #1 pumpkin pie filling isn't made with pumpkins? At least not the traditional bright orange Jack O'Lantern your mind associates with a pumpkin. The manufacturer says it's because pumpkins aren't really eatable and don't taste like what we associate with a pumpkin pie taste. Instead they use a propriatary variety of squash that the FDA loosely allows to be categorized as \"pumpkin\". That being true makes me wonder if this cat food uses real pumpkins like we use for holiday decorations or they too use some form of squash, not that it makes any difference at all to your cat. That raises the question though whether or not pumpkin is actually good for pets. The experts answer that with a qualified \"yes\". Pumpkin fed in reasonable quantities to dogs and cats can have several positive benefits. BUT feeding them too much can have the opposite effect and actually harm your pet. It is reasonable to assume that the amount of pumpkin (or squash) in each can of this food is within safe limits. The bottom line is that I like this product and so do my cats, with only the high price keeping it from being flawless.","Product: Aqueon brings a new stage of aquatic health and safety to the world. Producing quality products designed for your pets health and habitat, Aqueon rises above the standard and will continue to do so.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: A suggestion on product description\n\nReview: On a positive note, any time I can replace a bulb with an LED I consider it an advantage as long as it is bright enough and has the look I want. The look is important because some LED lights can have a very unpleasant and unnatural color tone. Most people have seen enough aquariums in their lifetimes that they know what looks right and what doesnt. This model is blue and used by itself has a cartoonish look to it that some people may like and others may not. The look is improved if it is used in combination with a pure white bulb.\n\nIve used the word bulb a couple of times and it is important to point out that the sellers description for this product may be misleading to some people. They call it a lamp. I think many people think of a lamp as a fixture (like a table lamp or floor lamp) that is a fully-functional self-contained item that you plug in and use. This is not a lamp by that definition, it is a replacement bulb it must be used with fixture that is designed to fit it. Aqueon sells that fixture but they are very expensive for nothing more than something that holds a bulb. If you only wanted one bulb in this size you would be spending close to $70 just for starters. Of course if you already have a fixture that the bulb fits that would not be the case.\n\nUnlike some who commented about broken units, mine was undamaged and I think it was reasonably well protected but if that is a common issue I would think the seller would be more serious about listening to all of the people who received broken units, it doesnt speak very highly of their customer support. By the way, a very important thing to realize is that you can order this either standard or frustration-free. Mine was frustration-free and perhaps it is actually packed a little better? Im not coming down too hard on Aqueon though; they are a recognized name brand and sold in a lot of places.\n\nBottom line is that it does what it is intended to do but is otherwise relatively ordinary as far as replacement bulbs go. I suggest the seller be clearer that they are selling a replacement bulb only.","Product: Plug-in module allows control of appliances/lamps from anywhere in the house using any X10 controllerWorks with fans air conditioners coffee pots stereos TVs and lampsCompatible 15A 1/3 HP and 500-watt appliances\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: An improved version of an old classic\n\nReview: X10 appliance modules have an internal mechanical relay to switch the power on and off whereas the lamp modules and wall switch modules are electronic. As with things mechanical, they age and at some point stop working. I bought this one to replace a 30 year old one that finally started to turn on only went it felt like it. I can't complain about getting 30 years out of a product. The primary advantages of the newer model are having a 3-prong plug rather than just a 2-prong polarized plug, and that it is more esthetically attractive. The downside is that the relay is much louder ... it can jolt someone out of their chair all the way across the room. It works perfectly with the newest Powerhouse controller. While X10 may not be the most sophisticated and latest technology it is certainly one of, if not the, lowest price. For the price it does what is expected and does it well.","Product: The Stanley 016013R 16\" Series 2000 Tool Box with Tray features two lid organizers for small parts storage accessible without opening the tool box. It has a built-in pad lock eye for small locks keeps contents secure. It also has a tote tray inside to store smaller items. The soft, wide rubber coated handle allows for easy & comfortable grip. Nickel metal-plated latches.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Useful and a good value for its price\n\nReview: We need to start off with a dose of reality. This isn't your grandfather's tool box. Far from it. It's not made of heavy-duty steel or solid walnut lined with rich felt. No, it is plastic, 100% plastic. And oh yeah, it only costs about ten bucks.\n\nIt's not very big either, in fact the useful inner capacity is much smaller that you might think due to the unusually thick plastic walls. I got it for one reason, to carry my socket wrench sets to wherever I need to use them. It seems socket wrench manufacturers have never been able to come up with a carrying case that's halfway decent. My goal was to carry two sets of sockets (U.S. and Metric) and their associated wrenches and handles. It turns out this is the perfect size. Since socket wrenches are heavy the fact that this case only weighs 2lbs 5 oz is nice that it doesn't make carrying them even heavier. The double-walled plastic insulates the sound of all those steel wrenches clanging together. I choose to carry my most often used handles in the lift-out tray for easy access and use the two small snap-lock compartments for fast access to my most often used sizes of sockets.\n\nWhile not all Stanley products these days are as well made as they used to be and hence not an automatic mark of quality, I compared this toolbox to similar plastic ones in the shelf at the home improvement store and the giant discount superstore and for the price it made better than the rest. There are 2 three-section piano hinges on the back (plastic) that are strong but open just shy of 90 degrees, which means the lid won't stay open by itself. That's maybe the only major flaw. The handle is hefty and strong and folds completely flat for stacking and there are little dimples on the top exactly for that purpose. The locking buckle on the front is metal and does what it should but it is attached only by being pressed into a plastic slot. It may be a point of early failure but in its defense it's not flimsy.\n\nOverall I like this toolbox as far as value for the price. The lid hinge isn't a deal breaker just a minor inconvenience. I will probably buy a couple more of these because it's the best at the price and would be almost perfect with a couple of tiny design improvements.","Product: This 15-Piece Utility Drawer Tool Kit is in a heavy duty plastic storage case. Simply open top tray for quick and easy access. Has adjustable compartments for fasteners. Set contains: 8 1/2-Inch scissors, utility knife with 3 Blades, bottle opener with knife, 8-ounce claw hammer, 6-Inch torpedo level, 6-Inch slip joint pliers, 12-feet. tape measure, 1/4-Inch by 4-Inch slotted screwdriver, No. 2 Phillips screwdriver, 3/32-inch. slotted screwdriver, No. 0 Phillips screwdriver.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Handy little \"second\" set\n\nReview: This kit attracted me to keep upstairs in our house, where the office, bathrooms and bedrooms are. Seems there are always little projects and repairs upstairs and it gets old to have to run down to the garage whenever we need a simple tool only to find out that we needed something else and had to run downstairs again.\n\nThis kit isn't going to win any awards for quality or durability, but it does include all the basic tools necessary to hang a picture, tighten the toilet valve, adjust a bed frame or make minor adjustments in the office. It has an okay price and the plastic case seems strong enough to do its purpose.\n\nThe only nitpick might be that it arrived with a plastic \"rivet\" that prevented the case from opening. No instructions at all how to remove it. The distributor would be wise to add a little arrow label pointing to the rivet with an instruction how to remove it (I ended up cutting it with a sharp knife.","Product: The 45-piece Stubby Set is great for the home or auto. This stubby set will loosen or tighten just about every bolt nut and fastener on your boat or RV.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Handy little \"second\" set\n\nReview: This kit attracted me to keep upstairs in our house, where the office, bathrooms and bedrooms are. Seems there are always little projects and repairs upstairs and it gets old to have to run down to the garage whenever we need a simple tool only to find out that we needed something else and had to run downstairs again.\n\nThis kit seems perfect for the type of lighter duty projects we would typically work on around the house. It is about as complete a socket wrench/screwdriver as anyone would need. One thing I loved is the stubby handle is reversible, so the same handle can be used for the smaller and larger sockets. Why didn't someone think of this before? I really dislike using the flimsy little adapters that come with most socket wrench sets. It's such a simple idea, kudos to this company for doing it.\n\nThis may not be a two-hundred dollar tool kit, but for a convenince kit I think it will work just fine.","Product: The 45-piece Stubby Set is great for the home or auto. This stubby set will loosen or tighten just about every bolt nut and fastener on your boat or RV.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Handy little \"second\" set\n\nReview: This kit attracted me to keep upstairs in our house, where the office, bathrooms and bedrooms are. Seems there are always little projects and repairs upstairs and it gets old to have to run down to the garage whenever we need a simple tool only to find out that we needed something else and had to run downstairs again.\n\nThis kit seems perfect for the type of lighter duty projects we would typically work on around the house. It is about as complete a socket wrench/screwdriver as anyone would need. One thing I loved is the stubby handle is reversible, so the same handle can be used for the smaller and larger sockets. Why didn't someone think of this before? I really dislike using the flimsy little adapters that come with most socket wrench sets. It's such a simple idea, kudos to this company for doing it.\n\nThis may not be a two-hundred dollar tool kit, but for a convenince kit I think it will work just fine.","Product: Deltana has a proven record for exceptional service and quality and is the architectural hardware manufacturer with the largest inventory selection of architectural and door hardware in America. With an array of fine finishes, finding hinges, bolts, bumpers & stops, ball catch, roller latch, door accessories and home accessories which compliment your homes decor.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Here is the hinge thats so hard to find in stores\n\nReview: What can you say about a door hinge? Well as it turns out, a lot. First and most important to echo what some other people have pointed out this style self-closing hinge in satin nickel (or any other non-brass color) is impossible to find at the big box home improvement stores, or at the smaller regional hardware stores as well. Because of fire codes which generally require a heavier 4 hinge you would think this would be one of the most popular styles of self-closing hinges, but no. So I was glad to find it listed at Amazon and for a lower price than similar hinges sold at the home improvement stores.\n\nAnd it is a better quality hinge. I compare it side-by-side with a similar hinge I bought in error (the corner radius is different) but otherwise they were both self-closing 4 hinges. The Deltana is made better all the way around. The hinge itself operates with more precision than the one from the store, which results in the door opening and closing more smoothly. The store model only has the hex adjusting screw at the top, whereas the Deltana has the tension adjustment lever. Their instructions do a good job explaining how to adjust both for the perfect opening/closing tension.\nThe finish on the Deltana hinge is what I would call architectural grade. By that I mean the store model (which was not satin nickel because they don't sell that color) was more utilitarian looking. By comparison the Deltana looked more finished.\n\nFor the price this is a top-quality hinge and because this exact model is so hard to find in stores I recommend it as an Amazon purchase.","Product: This 2 light vanity fixture is a great addition to your bath space with an inviting mix of traditional and contemporary design elements. The chrome finish and white glass gives a crisp and clean appearance. The fixture is backed by a manufacturers 1 year warranty.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: An excellent value for the price\n\nReview: One of our baths is an art deco modern with retro accents. The existing wall light sconce is something you may have found on a theater wall in the 1930s. However one of the glass pieces broke and until we can figure out a way to have another piece made the fixture had to be taken down.\n\nAs inexpensive at this light fixture is it does a great job of complementing our dcor. The chrome part does not look like a cheap fixture; it has the look and feel of heavy highly polished chrome. And the glass globes also look and feel very solid. They do an excellent job of diffusing the light. Rather than use thumbscrews the globes are attached with a large nut that screws around the bulb socket, so it is 100% secure and can't possibly work loose. Although the manufacturer illustrates the globes as having their open end pointed downward, because of the way they are attached it is also possible to point the open end toward the wall (or even upward if you wish). It gives the fixture an entirely different look while also completely hiding the bulb from view. By the way, it uses two candelabra bulbs rather than standard bulbs.\n\nThe rest of the fixture is pretty ordinary; the only thing worth noting is that high quality materials are used throughout. If you like the design, this light fixture can give your room a new look for a very low price. The fifth star, in fact, was earned because of the high value for the money.","Product: Attach AnywhereNo Wiring Required Remote Control with Wall Mount and Motion Sensor 120 Lumens of Light Weatherproof Design 1 Year plus Battery Life 350 ft2 Light Coverage Area Includes Wall Mount and Stake Motion and Remote Control 3 D Batteries\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Not bad - not great\n\nReview: I expected more for the $60 retail price. While described as bronze finish (leading me to expect something substantial) they are actually plastic that has sort of a brown/bronze color. VERY lightweight plastic, like something you would find at Walmart for about $10. All you get are the lights, two flimsy plastic stakes, and a plastic mounting cradle that attaches to the stakes. If you choose, you can take the light fixtures out of the cradle and mount them to a wall with screws or double-faced tape.\n\nWhen I pulled the fixture out of the cradle it was dripping with some sort of liquid. It's a bit disconcerting to have unidentified liquid dripping from a product made in China. I have no idea why the lights were leaking because all they are is an empty plastic shell with a LED light bulb in them. For $60 retail they don't even include a set of batteries. Probably the least likely size battery most people have laying around their homes are \"C\" cells so I had to go out and buy a set at about 20% of the cost of the entire light set. Why would they use the least popular size battery rather than the much more popular AA or D cell?\n\nAfter wiping the mysterious liquid off of the lights I inserted the fresh batteries and installed the light using the ground stakes at the leading edge of my sidewalk. When it got dark they illuminated as expected when they sensed motion and lit a small round area about the same as a small LED flashlight would do from the same distance. The light was okay, but I would have far preferred a much wider beam. I also noted that the lights sensed movement from quite a distance, so placement could be an issue to reduce false triggering.\n\nThe bare LED is mounted at the top and is supposed to reflect down on a large curved area to diffuse the beam. However, the reflector is the same brown plastic as the rest of the fixture. Brown plastic does not reflect light ... I'm really baffled that Mr. Beams hasn't figured out that the lights would be far more effective if the reflector was white or silver.\n\nThe set includes a remote control, despite the fact that they are motion sensing. There is no real logic in having a remote control. If Mr. Beams is listening I would suggest that the remote be reprogrammed to turn the low-power guide light feature on and off, so it could be preset before guests arrive who are not familiar where the sidewalk starts, rather than have this feature hidden deep inside under the battery compartment.\n\nThere's nothing particularly bad nor is there anything particularly impressive about these light. I would buy several more if they were priced about $10 - $15 a set but they are a pretty poor value at their current selling price.","Product: The Lutron CTCL153PAL is a 600Watt, 3way, preset dimmer in almond from the Skylark Contour product line. This model features a smoothsliding captive knob which allows you to select the desired light level. Also, with a rocker switch, you can simply turn the lights on to a preset level or turn them off.The Lutron CTCL153PAL is intended to be used with 3way applications. You can also use this unit with halogen, incandescent and LED bulbs. This model is available in a wide array of colors, so you can easily match it to your wall.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: High quality and unique features set it apart\n\nReview: I have never lived for more than a day in a house without installing dimmers. They are not optional for me, I have to be able to adjust room lighting the way I want it.\n\nThe bathroom is especially important. I want to be able to pre-adjust the light before bedtime to a low nightlight level so when I turn the switch on it is preset to that level. I recently installed this new model from Lutron in the bathroom and I love it. It replaced a model in which the actual on/off button was about half as big and had a \"snapping\" sound to it. This one has a big, softly rounded switch that moves with a satisfying click but is virtually noiseless. The dimmer lever is large, smooth and easy to understand.\n\nBut the features that are hidden inside the switch are what sets it apart from others. One is that it uses the latest electronic technology that lets it dim virtually any bulb ... incandescent, fluorescent, halogen or LED (most dimmer switches won't work with LED or only dim them to about 50%). It should be made clear that not EVERY individual bulb will work, some might not, but the fact that the switch works with most TYPES of bulbs is the major point.\n\nBecause each type of bulb has different dimming characteristics, the Lutron has something I have not seen in a dimmer before - the ability to preset a little control behind the faceplate to the user's choice of minimum dimming level. In practical terms I have mine set so that at the very lowest setting of the slide switch the lights are on at nightlight level so there is never a chance of having to stumble into a dark bathroom and be blinded by a light that's too bright, or to flick the switch on and nothing happens because someone set the dimmer switch too low so the light was off in the lowest position.\n\nWhen I shop for dimmer switches I notice that our choices are getting slimmer and slimmer, there are only a handful of styles being sold these days. This one is considered a basic model. I like the look and feel of it. The only negative is that Lutron should have offered the option of a lighted on/off button. With the advanced technology they already have built in, the ideal scenario would be letting the user decide if they want the button to be lighted or not.","Product: Leviton X7592-W 15 Amp, Slim Guide Light GFCI, SmartLockPro, Monochromatic, Back and Side Wired, Self-Grounding Clip, Tamper Resistant, White The SmartlockPro Slim GFCI/Guide Light is a great way to add an extra element of safety when its dark without losing outlet space in kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms, hallways and hospitality guest suites. Instead of plugging in a nightlight which takes up an outlet space, this device offers dual LED guide lights that turn On and Off automatically based on light levels and uses only 1W of electricity. The Slim GFCI/Guide Light is tamper-resistant to meet current National Electrical Code requirements for child safety, includes a line-load reversal indicator to aid in diagnosing wiring errors during installation, and provides our patented reset lockout feature that will not allow a GFCI to be reset if it is not properly powered and able to provide protection. Designed to be the most compact GFCI on the market, the devices reduced depth ma\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: How to make a mundane product better\n\nReview: A review of something as basic as a GFCI outlet could be summed up in two words \"it works\". There isn't a lot of difference from one model to another so what makes this one worth 5 stars?\n\nThe built-in LED nightlight is great. I'm using it in a bathroom and it eliminates the need to sacrifice one of the outlets to plug in a traditional night night. The lights are bright but not overwhelming, just enough to help find ones way at night. The color of the light is a soft, pleasant cool white. Smartly, Leviton added a sensor so the light only comes on when the room is dark. A nice touch is the LED fades on and off, so it is very unobstrusive.\n\nHaving replaced a GFCI outlet that was about 20 years old there is some newer technology that was appreciated as well.\n\nPROS: The outlet is slightly slimmer than the one it replaced, so the wires aren't bunched up as much in the box as before. Not only does the tamper resistant feature add safety but help grab the prongs of the plug for a more secure fit. The buttons are more flush than my old unit, which was always getting tripped accidentally. This plug also has a tiny LED light to show that it is functioning properly.\n\nCONS: Not really a con but a user preference ... while a nightlight in a bathroom is probably a good thing for most people, there may be some installations where a bright light may not be desireable. The nightlight can't be turned off, so if you don't want an outlet with a bright light you may want to consider another model.\n\nA word of caution if you are replacing an older GFCI. To me the ground hole is usually on the bottom as pictured on this page. Other Leviton outlets are usually that way. However the illustration in the instruction manual for this model shows the ground holes at the top. That's not just an illustration error, it is important if you have a 4 wire system that you wire the \"live\" and \"load\" sides properly. When I installed this outlet I copied the old outlet exactly and the GFCI wouldn't work (which by the way is a nice feature, you can't wire this outlet wrong). Turns out that copying the way the old outlet was wired didn't work because Leviton seems to have intentionally designed this outlet to be mounted with the ground hole at the top. You can, of course, invert it, but you have to swap the \"live\" and \"load\" wires to do so. The way to be sure is to look closely at the back of the outlet, the \"live\" and \"load\" ends are embossed into the plastic.\n\nThis is an attractive, contemporary designed outlet with some nice features at a reasonable price and can be considered best in class. See my uploaded photo to see how bright the night light is.","Product: Check and close your garage door from any room in the house. Green and Red LED lights indicate wether the garage door is open or closed. Volume controlled alert lets you know when the door is being opened. MyQ enabled technology allows you to monitor and close up to four garage doors.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Heres all you need to know about this monitor\n\nReview: This device is designed to plug in to an AC power outlet inside your home and let you know with simple red or green lights if your garage door is open or closed. If the door is open the red light will flash brightly. If the door is closed the green light will glow. If the door is open you can close it using a button on the monitor.\n\nHere are the key things you need to know:\n\n1. Although sold by Liftmaster this monitor will work with any garage door opener that has the MyQ feature installed, regardless of brand. Liftmaster openers are sold under the Chamberlain and Sears Craftsman brand names, among others. MyQ is a feature that connects to your home WiFi system and permits you to operate enabled products (garage door and gate openers) using an app on a smartphone. It is built in to many of the newer openers and can be added to any MyQ-enabled opener. Note that MyQ does require you to have WiFi and also have a smartphone.\n\n2. This is not exactly the same as the remote opener on your garage wall or outside wall in that it will NOT open the door, the push button will only close the door from wherever you have the monitor plugged in.\n\n3. There is no real installation, just plug it in, push a small button on the back and within 60 seconds press the learn button on your garage door opener. They instantly pair and recognize each other.\n\n4. Some of the user questions and answers are a little misleading there are actually two different alert tones involved. One is a beeper inside the monitor that can be set to warn you if the garage door is being opened. This is a great security feature or just a nice convenience to give you a heads-up that someone is home. Our garage door is so silent I have been startled more than once to find a family member walk up who I didn't know was home. The beep sound like the one in your microwave and has a 3-position volume control or you can turn it off, and when turned on it will give a short beep occasionally to remind you that the garage door is open. The other alert tone is actually built in to your garage door motor unit and sounds if you close your garage door using any MyQ remote device (smartphone, this monitor, etc). It is a loud beep that sounds like an alarm clock and it cant be turned off because it is a required safety feature. If you close your door remotely the tone will sound a loud beep first to warn anyone near the garage to stand clear of the door, then it waits a few seconds before starting the motor to close the door.\n\n5. This monitor can be used with up to 4 openers (garage door or gate) but it will only tell you that one or more of them is open, not which one or how many. When you push the close button ALL of the doors will close at once.\n\nI have been considering buying this monitor for a very long time but what kept me away is I didn't think I would like the design. In the product description it looks like it has to be placed on a tabletop or counter and you have to look straight down at it to see the lights. I thought a wall-mounted unit would have been a better design. After I got it, I plugged it in and put it on a low cabinet that we can see while watching TV, which puts it at about eye level. We can easily see the lights from that angle. It happens to be next to the stairwell so it is the last thing we see before going up to bed so we can be assured that the garage doors are closed before we turn in. The peace of mind is worth every penny this device costs, and the convenience of having a subtle alert when someone comes home is a nice bonus. This device works exactly as expected and I think it is a good value at the price.","Product: Heavy duty aluminum frame with composite body for durability. V-groove edge for leveling pipe, making the job easier and quicker. Locking dial vial for easier reading of angles. Rare earth magnets are 5 times stronger than strip magnets and allow for easy, hands-free steel construction work. IRWIN Tools 150 Magnetic Torpedo Level, 9-Inch (1794155)\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Handy and nice features for the price\n\nReview: This is a nice level to use for quick projects like hanging a picture when my 36\" aluminum level is just a bit cumbersome to drag around. Yes this is made of aluminum and plastic (mostly plastic) but if it is accurate, which it is, that doesn't matter. There should be no expectation, for $10, that this comes anywhere near a \"construction tool\" in ruggedness. The quality of the plastic isn't all that cheap, it just looks it because of the Mattel-its-swell colors.\n\nThe thing that makes it worth the price is the adjustable angle finder bubble and the v-groove for use on pipes and conduit, features not often found on a product in this price range. Unlike my big professional level, the main vial is easy to read from virtually any angle or lighting condition.\nFor what it is meant to be Irwin Tools has made just the right tool.","Product: The Light It! Stick On Lights are compact and low profile. Its adhesive backing makes it simple to mount to any surface. Tapping the center of the light turns it on, making it useful for illuminating dark storage areas and workspaces. 9 Super-bright LEDs offer energy-efficient lighting that never needs replacing. This mini LED light operates for up to 100 hours on 3 AAA batteries (Not included). Each light measures 10.9 by 6.3 by 2.5 inches.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: It's bright, stylish and not very practical\n\nReview: This is an updated version of the type of \"stick up\" light that has been around for years. It is intended to be used to illuminate areas like closets or under counters when you only need a light for a few minutes. As such, it does its job, it is very bright. It is also more attractive than many \"stick up\" lights. I question the practicality, though, as the on/off switch is only momentary. It would have been more practical if the switch were \"press on / press off\". Because the switch is located in the center of the light ring, your hand covers most of the light while pressing the power button. Since one hand is pressing the button to keep the light illuminated that puts a limit on what you can be doing with the other hand. I just haven't found a practical use for it, given its limitations.","Product: Effortlessly achieve convenience and affluence equivalent to built-in guide lighting with Mr. Beams' MB726 set of six motion-sensing LED nightlights. Ideal for stairways, bathrooms, kids' bedrooms, nurseries, and even in a boat or recreational vehicle, the units offer safety and sure footing without the obstacles of hardwiring and electrical demands. The lights' super-bright LED bulbs last up to 50,000 hours--which means years of energy-efficient, cost-effective illumination--and they operate on four AA batteries per light (not included) that last for approximately one year under normal use. Uniquely designed to activate when sensing motion up to 9 feet away, the lights remain on as needed before shutting off automatically after 30 seconds of no motion being detected, making them ideal for navigating the way to the bathroom or kitchen in the middle of the night. Furthermore, they only activate automatically when detecting darkness to conserve battery power during daylight hours. Sleek and stylish with a weatherproof design for indoor and outdoor use, the nightlights come with both tape and screws/mounting anchors for simple, custom-fit installation. Each light measures 1.2 inches long by 3.75 inches wide by 3.25 inches tall and comes in neutral white for easy integration into surrounding decor.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Just a bit shy of perfect\n\nReview: This is my second set of Mr. Beams LED motion-sensing lights. The first is the weatherized outdoor model that I have installed at the beginning of my sidewalk to guide the way. This set was purchased to illuminate the open staircase indoors so the lights don't have to be turned on. Three lights are ideal for that application ... one over the first step, which also lights the floor enough to know where to step, the second is located over the middle step and sheds enough light to light the adjacent steps, and the third is located slightly higher and about 18\" from the beginning of the top step. Placing it there gives ample illumination for the first few steps and also the landing. I chose the more elevated location because it is more likely an accident could happen by someone falling down the stairs than missing the bottom landing.\n\nPOSITIVES:\n\nThe most positive feature about these lights is they are minimalistic and attractive. Compare them to the illustrations of most of the other similar LED lights, which frankly look weird. The glossy white curved reflector spreads the light pattern softly so there are no harsh borders to the beam. They seem just bright enough for their purpose without being glaring. They operate on 4 standard AA batteries. And, they offer mounting via double-face tape or screws.\n\nNEGATIVES:\n\nLike my other Mr. Beams lights, these arrived oily. So much so that the double-face tape literally slid right off. My suggestion is to wash the mounting plate with warm soapy water before using them. You might also want to wipe the lights themselves with a moist cloth (don't immerse the fixtures) so the oily surface doesn't attract excess dust.\n\nThe quality control of Mr. Beams products is just so-so. All three of mine worked out of the box but the screws for the battery compartment on one of them is not formed right and can't be completely screwed in.\n\nAt $10 per light when purchased in a set of 3 the price is reasonable.","Product: Leviton's USB Charger/Tamper-Resistant Receptacle offers a ground-breaking 2.1-Amps of charging power and a 20-Amp/125-volt tamper-resistant receptacle. This state-of-the-art device has the ability to charge up to three electronic devices at once utilizing the USB ports and the receptacle. The USB Ports are Type A, 2.0/3.0 and are controlled by a smart chip which recognizes and optimizes the charging power of your device. This means you can spend less time charging your device and more time enjoying it. Leviton's USB Charger/Tamper-Resistant Receptacle is ideal for charging tablets, smart and mobile phones, e-readers and much more. Strategically designed with two vertical USB ports, the Leviton USB Charger/Tamper-Resistant Receptacle allows additional space for maneuvering of charging cords, reduces stress on the cables while charging and provides an aesthetically pleasing design. Our device is engineered to fit in a standard wall box, use a standard wallplate and can be multi-ganged with another Leviton USB Charger/Tamper-Resistant Receptacle or any standard Leviton wiring device. The value-added features of Leviton's tamper-resistant receptacle provides the safe and superior device you have come to expect from an industry leader like Leviton. Compatibility The Leviton USB Charger/Tamper-Resistant Receptacle is compatible with a wide range of electronic devices including, but not limited to, the following: iPad, iPhone (including iPhone 5), Kindle Fire HD, iPod, tablets, mobile phones, Blackberry, Android phones, Nintendo 3DS, PlayStation Vita, Bluetooth headsets, digital cameras, Kindle, Nook e-readers, GPS and many more. Note: USB Ports are not intended to charge two tablets simultaneously. If the devices' combined power requirements exceed the power capacity of the USB ports, the charger will automatically shut down to protect your devices. To charge two tablets use the high power USB port and the tamper-resistant receptacle.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: These should be standard in every home\n\nReview: This is a quality product in every way and a major improvement over plugging in assorted transformers for various USB devices. Note that there are two versions of this outlet being sold, a 15 amp version (T5630) which is sold in blister pack at retail stores, and this one (T5830) a 20 amp commercial version that is sold in a simple cardboard box. The T5830 has a NEMA 5-20 A T-slot for the neutral blade which accepts either 15 amp parallel-blade plugs or 20 amp plugs.\n\nINSTALLATION: total time less than 10 minutes from opening the box. The instructions are clear and there were no surprises. Rather than use little holes to poke the wires into, you have a choice of wrapping them around the set screw or into a receptacle behind the screw. Both ways are safe and secure. The finished installation using a Decora wall plate is very attractive.\n\nOPERATION: you have 3 outlets, one a standard AC grounded outlet has a nice solid grip to what is plugged in to it. The outlet has a NEC Compliant shutter mechanism which blocks access to contacts from most foreign objects for improved safety. The other two are USB outlets that can be used simultaneously or individually. One of them is intended for higher power devices like tablets and the other for standard smartphone, cameras and other USB-powered devices. There is circuitry built in that allows you to use either plug for lower powered devices and another sensor that will temporarily shut down the USB jacks if you exceed the maximum capability when charging two devices simultaneously.\n\nFEATURES: unlike most other brands, Leviton aligns the USB jack vertically so there is less stress on the plug when in use. This also allows them to be spaced further apart which helps in plugging and unplugging the cables. The design of the outlet is contemporary gloss white (other colors available) with no obvious logos or markings.\n\nTHINGS TO KNOW: There are some \"smarts\" built in to this outlet to regulate the USB power depending on the device which can also shut the USB jacks off if they are overloaded. This has sometimes been mistakenly regarded as a defective unit ... no, it is just doing what it should.\n\nAnother misconception is that this outlet is huge ... it's not; it is 1.75\" wide x 1.25\" deep, about the usual size for a dimmer switch, for example. A \"typical\" single-gang new construction outlet box is 2\" wide x 2.25\" deep. Since this device contains circuitry to transform the voltage and the aforementioned \"smarts\" it really has to be a bit larger than a standard outlet box. I put the word \"typical\" in quotes because there is no real standard for outlet boxes other than height, the ones in your home may be a day old or 75 years old, they may be plastic or metal, they may differ because of local building codes. I based the dimensions of a \"typical\" box on what that big hardware chain says is their #1 selling box. In any case there is plenty of clearance room for the USB charger/outlet. There may be some confusion for those replacing a slimline plug. This outlet is not slimline, it couldn't be and still have the necessary transformer required to reduce and regulate the power to the USB jacks. But in no way is it larger than a ground fault interrupter (1.8\" wide x 1.5\" deep). All of the dimensions are from actually measuring each item and the GFCI is in fact larger.","Product: Orbit Clear Comfort Non-Programmable 83501 Thermostat Clear Comfort is a stylish, manual thermostat with an easy-to-read digital display. It is the perfect blend of style and function. You can't control the temperature outside, but you can control it indoors. Your home should be a place of comfort, and Orbit non-programmable Clear Comfort Thermostat allows you to make it that way, with the perfect blend of style and function. Clear Comfort brings you many features not typically found on other non-programmable thermostats. The clean, bright base provides a stylish platform. Covered with a transparent polycarbonate faceplate, the thermostat has a sleek design that enhances any space. Yet, where Clear Comfort really stands above the rest is on the large, easy-to-read display. It is easy to see the set and current temperature, even from across the room. Orbit Clear Comfort Non-Programmable Thermostats provide simple control, Merely set the thermostat to the temperature you want and adjust it when desired; that is it. Clear Comfort leads the way with precision thermostat technology that keeps temperatures from fluctuating, providing you with a stable and accurate indoor climate. Temperature settings range from 40F to 90F (4.4C to 32.2C).\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Simple and attractive ... but\n\nReview: If you have one of those old round dial thermostats or something similar that is intended to simply turn your furnace and/or AC on and off this could be the right thermostat for you. It is easy to use and the dial is extremely easy to read. As others have noted it is not a sophisticated programmable unit designed for complicated multi-stage HVAC systems.\n\nThe main reasons to choose this model:\n\n1. Style - it is attractive and does not call attention to itself\n2. Ease of use - simple clearly marked switches are easy to understand by everyone\n3. Big easy to read display\n\nNote that it does require AAA batteries. That is unusual for a wall thermostat. That could be a concern in areas subject to temperature extremes if the actual on/off operation is dependent in any way on replaceable batteries.\n\nOrbit appears to be primarily in the irrigation and sprinkling business with this product being distributed by an \"as seen on TV\" type marketing company so long-term support may be questionable. Since most people buy their thermostats and don't replace them again for 20 - 30 years it makes sense to stick with an established brand name like Honeywell or similar.","Product: This power bar has a rugged metal housing with 400J surge suppression. The cord is 6ft long, the body is 3ft long and has 9 grounded outlets. There is a on/off switch with a resettable circuit breaker. Both the back and ends have wall mounting keyholes. Rating: 125VAC/60Hz/15A/1875W.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: The details you need to make the right choice\n\nReview: I am a long-time fan of Stanley tools, like the Craftsman brand they generally offer good quality at a value price. This product is a disappointment for the primary reason that it is misrepresented. This is described and sold as a power bar, when in fact the product itself is clearly labeled as a surge protector. They are different products intended for different applications. I want to make it clear that there is nothing wrong with it being a surge protector, my point is that the seller doesnt tell you that information up front in case you specifically don't want a surge protector.\n\nA power bar is just what it says a strip that contains multiple outlets for the distribution of AC power. A power bar is intended to provide raw unadulterated power to each outlet. It may have an on/off switch and overload protection but should not be intended to sacrifice itself if there is an external line surge, perhaps from a lightning strike. It is generally accepted that surge protectors have a one-time life cycle and have a finite life expectancy before they should be replaced.\n\nThis product fails at being EITHER a power bar or good surge protector. It is clearly designed and intended for rugged use, i.e. in the workshop. As such, the product ad is described to have a built-in circuit breaker, a positive feature. In this type of application there may be devices plugged in to that the manufacturer specifically recommends should NOT be plugged in to a surge protector. If you follow the manufacturers advice, then this product could be useless. Also, the industry says that one surge protector should not be daisy-chained into another. If you buy this as an AC power distribution strip with the intent of using one of the outlets to feed a real surge protector, well, you shouldnt.\n\nWhat do I mean by a real surge protector? The Stanley Pro9 has a puny built-in surge protector, limited EMI/RFI shielding or filtering for clean power and no voltage regulation. The surge protector on this strip is bare minimum at 400 Joules (by comparison, a good media center surge protector is more in the 2100 3500 Joule range). Surge protectors that are designed to protect expensive home entertainment or computer equipment are much more sophisticated than the PRO9. This is not the low-cost solution you want to buy for your entertainment or computer system on one hand and on the other hand it is not a pure AC distribution strip either. So it is really not the ideal choice for either application.\n\nDESIGN ODDITY\n\nIn the U.S. virtually all AC power outlets are installed with the two blades on top and the round ground hole on the bottom. Oddly, Stanley designed this strip backwards, with the ground hole on top. That can end up being just a minor inconvenience because you have to purposely reverse the way you are used to plugging items in, or it can be a major annoyance for cords and power bricks whose cords are at a right angle plugged into the Stanley strip all such devices would have their cords sticking straight up instead of hanging down. And, oddly, the strips own power cord exits from the TOP of the strip when mounted upright, i.e with the Stanley name logo the way it can be read. If you want to mount the strip with the outlets oriented like virtually every outlet in America and have the strips power cable hang down you have to mount the strip upside down. Theres no reason you cant do that, but I question how wise it is of Stanley to rub your face into their design mistake every time you have to look at their upside-down logo (see the photo I attached). It just seems to be another example that the company is being very sloppy about this product.\n\nThe manufacturer should be upfront in their advertising about exactly what they are selling (I included a photo of the actual product label). I don't have confidence that I can trust it as a power bar and I certainly wouldnt trust it as a true surge protector. I expect more from Stanley. The final rating of 3-stars is not a negative, following Amazon's guidelines it describes this product as \"It's OK\"","Product: New Push Pull Rotate technology-the hands-full door lock from Brinks. The only door lock that opens 3 ways. Push it, pull it, or rotate it. With an elbow, hip or finger you can open the door by simply pushing or pulling on the knob or lever. They are also ADA compliant. Despite being so easy to use, these locks are built to achieve the most rigorous residential security standards you would expect from Brinks. You can rest assured they will keep intruders out and your family and valuables safe. All Push Pull Rotate door locks are built on a commercial grade chassis to withstand repeated use and abuse; making them perfect front and back doors and for all interior rooms like bathrooms, laundry rooms, and pantries. Installation is easy. They fit all standard doors. You only need a Phillips screwdriver and a few minutes to dramatically improve the function and appearance of your home. Made with superior craftsmanship, Push Pull Rotate door locks have dual torsion springs for smooth rotation, hidden screws for a more decorative appearance, 75mm diameter roses to hide the blemish from old hardware and removable interior knobs or levers for scratch-free installation. All items in this line come with a lifetime warranty for defects in material or workmanship\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Here's why (and where) you might need this\n\nReview: <div id=\"video-block-RLUVLH51ZDFLS\" class=\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\"></div><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/D12CJitIazS.mp4\" class=\"video-url\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/11htNCs0Z0S.png\" class=\"video-slate-img-url\"> Everyone likely has heard of Brinks but who knew they made doorknobs? Certainly not me. There is no doubt the name Brinks brings to mind the highest levels of security, right? So, it's a smart move on their part getting into something like doorknobs. It was only moments after I unpacked this particular one that I noticed something on the bottom of the box that says \"Brink's trademark & copyright works are used with permission\". So being ever curious I soon discovered that these products are made by Hampton Products under license from Brinks.\n\nWhat interested me in the biggest feature that makes this door knob unique was a recent visit to a friend in the hospital. The doors to the patient rooms all had door knobs that could either be pushed or pulled to open them, perfect for hospital staff who are often carrying or pushing things and also perfect for patients who may have temporary or permanent disabilities making it difficult to turn a door knob. As soon as I saw it I knew I wanted one for my kitchen door that goes to the garage, which is used at least 50% of the time with my arms full of groceries, laundry, or other things. I was excited to find that such a push/pull/rotate doorknob was actually available now for home use. Oh yes, I did say rotate ... unlike the hospital door knobs, you can choose to push, pull OR rotate the knob like an ordinary door knob.\n\nThe quality of construction is surprisingly good considering the reasonable price. I would place it more like Schlage products than the lower end products commonly found in apartments and tract homes. The hardware feels solid, the satin nickel (other finishes are available) looks expensive and the smoothness in the way it operates all feel like the more expensive brands.\n\nCoincidentally I have been in the process of replacing all of the exterior door sets with upgraded ADA-compliant ones, if for no other reason than they are easier to use. In the process I selected satin nickel as the color of choice to better go with the contemporary look of the rest of the house. This series, known as the Stafford, to me is one of the most attractive, with a classic but contemporary shape to it. I like that the escutcheon plate is screwless, which matches my more expensive Schlage locks. It was absolutely easy to install, the instructions are great and I didn't have to do any redrilling or cutting.\n\nHonestly, wasn't sure if I would like a push/pull knob anywhere else except that pesky kitchen door but now that I've installed it it's becoming kind of addictive and I can think of several more places where this might be the perfect solution.\n\nHere are a few pros and cons to help answer any questions you may ask. If you have any others please leave them in the comments section:\n\nPROS\n1. Better than expected quality for the price\n2. TWO different sized latch assemblies are included to retrofit most any door (60mm and 70mm)\n3. Well written instructions with easy to understand illustrations\n\nCONS\n\n1. Knob set was not wrapped in plastic, allowing other components to rub against it in shipping\n2. Brinks does not offer a matching deadbolt lock in the Stafford series. I bet many people will want to install this indoor lock on their kitchen-to-garage door where they will also want a deadbolt. The kitchen is one of the most visible rooms in the house and to have unmatched locks on that door is unfortunate.","Product: A good bonding primer is essential to ensure that topcoats adhere to tough-to-paint surfaces. High adhesion primer increases painting possibilities by bonding to a wide range of surfaces. KILZ Adhesion is a unique latex primer developed to bond securely on slick surfaces where a traditional water or oil-base primer will not adhere. Bonds to tough-to-paint surfaces including Kynar, PVC, Formica, vinyl, glass, tile, glazed brick, chalky paints, glossy finishes, fiberglass and metals. Topcoat with either latex or oil-based paint. Use on most interior and exterior surfaces where a secure bond is critical. This problem solving primer can be used under epoxies, lacquers, and products containing Xylene or other solvents. This is a 1-quart can of KILZ Adhesion High-Bonding Interior/Exterior water-based Primer in white. Covers approximately 300 square feet per gallon. Use on properly prepared surfaces free of dust, grease, chalk, mold, rust and peeling paint. Mix well before using. Apply with brush, roller, or spray. KILZ Adhesion dries to touch within 30 minutes and ready to recoat in an hour. KILZ has been making premium primers and paints for 40 years. KILZ was named Paint Brand of the Year in 2015 in the Harris Poll EquiTrend Rankings.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Should you order paint by mail-order?\n\nReview: With a family background in the commercial painting business you would think I would know all there is to know about paint. But no, there are always improvements being made. One of the frustrations many people face is painting over a darker color with a lighter one without the old color showing through. When I discovered KILZ primers a couple of years ago my painting tasks suddenly became far less frustrating.\n\nThese days I use KILZ before every paint job and my results are always pro quality. But as effective as this primer is, there are still surfaces that are extra challenging like kitchen cabinets, brick and surfaces that have become chalky over time all current projects I have on my to-do list. This was my first exposure to KILZs high adhesion primer and of my immediate projects I chose to try it on the old cabinets in my kitchen. Half the kitchen had been remodeled with glossy white cabinetry but the other half still had the old fashioned woodgrain that was porous and scratched and badly aged. Because of the custom way they were made the cost of replacing them was not in the budget so I wanted to try to paint over them with glossy white to match other side of the room. Unfortunately, glossy white paint tends to show ever imperfection.\n\nUsing the KILZ high adhesion primer I was able to completely cover the wood grain and as a bonus this primer filled in all of the minor imperfections. I sanded between coats and even though this primer can cover most surfaces in one coat, using two coats gave me an almost flawless smooth surface that I was able to successfully paint over with glossy white paint. From my experience with other primers I don't think I would have been able to get such a nice finish without this primer. Needless to say I am very happy with it.\n\nYou might have the same concern though that I did about ordering paint by mail. Often when I order any liquid product the container opens in transit and the product leaks out. I imagined the mess an open can of paint would make. The company takes extra care with this product by sealing the can shut with four metal locks that cannot pop open and then putting the can in a heavy plastic sealed bag and a rugged cardboard outer box. From now on I will have zero concerns about ordering this way. By the way they even throw in a stirring stick.\n\nMaybe this primer isn't needed for everyday use (but why not) but for anything thats not just a routine touchup with the same color I think its worth it.","Product: Recharge up to 2100 times Maintain up to 70% of their charge after 5 years (when not it use) 2000mAh type, 1900mAh min, Ni-MH pre-charged rechargeable battery 4 position charger with worldwide voltage (110 - 240V) Charges from 1 to 4 AA or AAA batteries in any combination\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Is this your best option?\n\nReview: When I first heard about Sanyo's new type of rechargeable batteries in 2005 I bought a set of them immediately together with the original charger. I still use those batteries on an everyday basis and though their ability to hold a charge has diminished a bit, they still work acceptably. At that time you had to charge all four batteries (and you couldn't mix AA with AAA) and the charge time was roughly 3-4 hours.\n\nSince then Eneloop has undergone lots of changes as has the product itself. Specifically what those changes are depends on where in the world you live. If you live in the USA the product you buy that's intended for the U.S. market is sold by Panasonic (one of the two owners now of the Eneloop trademark ... Sanyo is out of the picture) and the batteries are, or should be, made in Japan with the chargers being made in China. This particular set makes a big point that recharging time for a full set of four is 7 hours; charging time used to be underplayed previously. The reason may be that there is another, harder to find and more expensive \"advanced\" charger that quotes a 3 hour recharge time. What they don't make obvious is that if you are only charging 1 or 2 AA batteries the charge time for both chargers is identical ... 3 hours. You benefit from the faster charger time with the new premium charger only if you are charging 4 batteries at the same time.\n\nAs long-time Eneloop customers are probably aware, there are literally pages of batteries with the Eneloop brand name being sold. Some have been reported to be counterfeit. Some are made in Chinese factories and intended to be sold outside of the USA. Some may have the Fujitsu brand on them and some may be ancient (pre-2009) Sanyo batteries. Do NOT buy those ... they are obsolete.\n\nThis product checks out as legit and they were close to 100% pre-charged. As I discovered after getting 11+ years use out of my original set, the estimate of how many times they can be recharged is just that, only an estimate. Your useful life will vary depending on temperature and humidity conditions, what device you're using them in, how far you deplete them before recharging them, which if the several models of chargers you recharge them in, etc.\n\nIf you have never before owned Eneloop batteries, I recommend starting with this kit of four AA cells with charger. I consider it a 5-star product.","Product: The DEWALT DCK421D2 20V MAX lithium-ion 4-tool kit features four powerful tools for a wide variety of jobs and projects. The fast performance of the DCD780 1/2-inch drill/driver pairs well with the compact power of the DCF885 1/4-inch impact driver to provide a well-rounded pair of tools that help everyone from steel stud framers and contractors to cabinetmakers and plumbers work their way through a variety of applications. The DCS393 6-1/2-inch circular saw features a powerful motor that makes the most demanding cuts with ease. Rounding out the kit, the versatile DCL040 worklight delivers 110 lumens of light output with an efficient LED bulb and head that rotates 120 degrees.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: A worthwhile set for everyday homeowner projects\n\nReview: <div id=\"video-block-R29HX6J9SGEJLL\" class=\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\"></div><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/D1C07Ff8pES.mp4\" class=\"video-url\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/11htNCs0Z0S.png\" class=\"video-slate-img-url\"> In my work I've always believed in using the right tool for the job to get the best results. As a homeowner the same holds true. It is almost impossible to have too many tools.\n\nI have owned several battery-operated drills from different manufacturers and have been generally not fully happy with any of them. In the past they added weight of the battery made them heavy and awkward and the old Ni-Cad cells allowed only a short amount of time before they had to be recharged, not to mention that the battery died after about a year (those tools used to have the battery built in, not batteries that snap on like these DeWalt tools.\n\nDeWalt is a very respectable brand name for tools and I had high hopes for this kit. In one bag it includes 3 of the most useful power tools, all using the same batteries. Although it is a kit this review will discuss each component separately. Note that while it is shown as a kit and referred to as a kit, in reality each item was pretty much just placed into a large cardboard box with a little packing paper stuffed in. It does not appear that this is really a kit but rather a collection of assorted DeWalt tools that also includes a carrying bag. Please see the video for a close-up view of each tool in the kit.\n\nTHE DRILL\n\nAfter abandoning battery operated drills (except for my little Craftsman screwdriver/hole starter) I popped for a high-end Hitachi electric drill, which is near perfection in a drill. I love everything about it. What I don't love is that 8 times out of 10 I'm not immediately next to a power outlet which means dragging out the extension cord. That gets very old when I only have a couple of holes to drill. The DeWalt drill ranks high on the scale for quality of construction. While not contractor-grade it is close while still being light enough to not cause undo fatigue. It is unusually well balanced despite the battery pack (which is not as heavy as some of the old Ni-Cads I've owned which includes an older DeWalt that was loaned out and never returned). The drill has variable reversible speeds, variable clutch and a two-speed transmission (600/2000 RPM). What I like most is that it is about half as big front-to-back as most power drills, which comes in handy when working in tight spaces.\n\nTHE IMPACT DRIVER\n\nAlthough I have probably a more complete workshop than average, one thing I've never owned is an impact driver. If you're not familiar with them, an impact driver is specially engineered to do one job which is to drive screws, and it does it faster and easier than any other tool by using both bit rotation and concussive blows to power-drive screws through the thickest, densest materials. Although small, the design of the tool is to transfer the impact to the bit, not to the wrist. It is the ideal partner to a good power drill. Using a standard quick-loading \" hex chuck it is compatible out of the box with a full range of socket ends as well and is nearly ideal for removing difficult bolts and nuts.\n\nTHE CIRCULAR SAW\n\nOf course I have a Skil saw. I also have a jig saw, compound miter saw and recently bought a compact circular plunge saw and tile saw. All have their place but of course the full-size circular saw sees the most use cutting 2x4's and plywood sheets. But again, what if I want to cut just one 2x4? Out comes the extension cord and I usually have to take my work to where the power is instead of bringing my saw to where the work is. The DeWalt is exactly the right size for those quick trim jobs. You probably wouldn't use it for a full-scale construction project but it definitely has enough power for quick cuts around the home. Plus it is much quieter to use, something your neighbors will appreciate if you have to do a quick cut on a Sunday morning. Compared to the drill and impact driver I would say the saw is not quite as \"rugged\" but keep in mind it is intended for occasional lighter duty work than a full-size circular saw.\n\nTHE FLASHLIGHT\n\nThis seems to be a popular item to include in kits like this and I have always failed to see the reason why. Everyone owns at least one flashlight, why waste the use of one of the heavy, expensive Lithium Ion batteries on a simple flashlight? And it's not even a great flashlight. At 110 lumens I have little pocket flashlights that run on a single AA battery that are brighter and more convenient. It seems to be more hassle than it's worth to carry such a large, heavy flashlight when there are ones that provide the equivalent amount of light for $25-50. This accessory is simply rated as adequate, there is nothing much to say about it. By the way, it is packed separately in its own clamshell packaging, an obvious add-on item to enhance the value of the kit. It really doesn't.\n\nWHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:\n\n1. Battery life is impressive. The average user will probably easily be able to get through a full day of projects without recharging or changing batteries.\n\n2. This item, as sold, does not include any of the necessary accessories other than a saw blade. Keep in mind that the drill uses standard drill bits which most people who are buying tools likely already have and would balk at paying extra to get more. The impact driver uses standard \" hex bits, again something most workshops likely already have. There are an infinite number of sizes and purposes available for driving kits from many manufacturers ranging in price from cheap to expensive. I am satisfied that DeWalt did not include arbitrary samples that may not fit my needs. They do sell a basic kit for about $15 that seems to be a good starter kit.\n\n3. The kit includes 2 clamshell packaged batteries and one battery charger.\n\nOverall this is a good (maybe not excellent) value for the price. The fit and feel of the tools is definitely not cheap and they offer as much versatility as the average homeowner would need. Including the flashlight doesn't add any value, but does add about $50 to the cost. That is what resulted in the overall rating of 4-stars, which Amazon defines as \"I like it\" ... a high rating.","Product: When You Want The Durability And Adjustability Of Automaxx Clamping But You Need More Clamping Capacity, Turn To Automaxx Bar Clamps. These Quality Clamps Automatically Adjust To Your Material Thickness, Whether It'S Thick, Thin, Or In Between. Clamp Quickly And Easily By Simply Sliding The Clamp Heads Against Your Workpiece, And Then Squeezing The Handle To Close The Clamp With Consistent Pressure Every Time. Setting The Clamping Pressure Is Simple, Too. Just Set The Desired Pressure Using An Easy To Regulate Thumbscrew, And Automaxx Bar Clamps Do The RestLocking Closed Easily And Consistently Every Time. These Also Feature A Highly Durable, All-Metal Construction To Withstand Years Of Rugged Use. Their Ergonomic Padded Grips Provide Comfort And Ease Of Use, While Extra Large Clamp Faces Spread Clamping Pressure Evenly. This Heavy-Duty Version Has 12\" Clamping Capacity, With A 2-7/8\" Reach And 700 Lb. Of Clamping Pressure.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Automaxx where have you been all my life?\n\nReview: My workshop has clamps of all shapes and sizes. Clamps are useful, no necessary, if you do any kind of woodworking and doesn't it seem every job requires clamps that are all of different sizes and shapes?\n\nBut anyone who does projects around the house has often found that they need something different from typical c-clamps or any of the typical clamps one would use to hold two pieces together, let's say while gluing. What they really need is a third hand, usually followed by recruiting a reluctant spouse, offspring, roommate or neighbor and then trying to explain how you need something held just so while you saw, cut, screw, adjust, whatever. Oh my gosh, is Automaxx so much easier to work with.\n\nThe range of \"things\" Automaxx can hold together for you is crazy. It is the perfect third hand. And no awkward adjustments, just squeeze the handles together (kind of like the handbrake on a mountain bike) and voila, the two pieces are held firmly together after which you can apply a little more or less pressure with a handy thumbscrew.\n\nThis is one of those things you probably would never have searched Amazon for but once you learned they exist, it was something you just had to have.\n\nI've already used it in the workshop, garden, kitchen and found a pretty unique use for it in my car. It's well built, yet simple and does what it is expected to do and more. Love it.","Product: Introducing the lightest pro circular saw on the market, the new SPT67WL-01 SKILSAW SIDEWINDER, from the company that invented circular saws. Legendary SKILSAW worm drive inspired technology has been integrated into this SIDEWINDER with our best-in-class Dual-Field motor invented specifically for saws. The combination of the lightweight housing and unique Dual-Field motor results in a saw that lets you power through the toughest days on the jobsite, year after year. The 15 Amp motor ensures power for each demanding cut. Add the 56 degree precision beveling capacity and true grip to the list of benefits. The SPT67WL-01 is backed by the SKILSAW Stay True Guarantee which includes a 1 Year limited warranty as well as a 180 Day money back, no questions asked guarantee. SKILSAW, true to the trade since 1924.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Read on to get an even better one for only $10 more\n\nReview: I am far from being a stranger to the brand Skil when it comes to power tools. When my parents were newlyweds they built their dream house using a Skil saw, a table saw and a hammer. Not a cabin, but a 5000 sq ft house. Today my own workshop is an embarrassment of power tools of every shape and purpose. When I was first starting out though I couldn't afford a real Skil circular saw so I made do with an off-brand that has served its purpose but I had had my frustrating moments with it. Seeing this new saw series from Skil got me excited. Sure I would love to have a power saw of the quality that my dad used to build a house but thats not going to happen in todays world. But I read the promotional information and it sounded good to me so I went for it when it was listed here.\n\nSo, is it a real Skil saw or does lightweight mean cheap? Lets see what I discovered and if my excitement turned to remorse.\n\nThe first impression upon opening the box is they definitely didn't lie about being lightweight. The user in-hand weight is only 8.6 lbs which compares to Amazons best seller Skil 7-1/4 saw which weighs 11.8 lbs. It is light to the point that it seems almost like a toy. But we have to separate the concept of a saw being light from the concept that it is light duty. Light weight, in fact, can be a very positive attribute when you are using a power saw on a major project for hours at a time. I confess to being only human and can only handle a heavy power saw for so long before my arm gets tired. And if I am doing any sawing above chest-level just a few minutes with a heavy power saw is enough to require frequent breaks to rest my arms.\n\nI took a lot of time to use and test this saw. The construction quality I assure you is NOT a toy. Skil obviously did a lot of research into using resin (plastic) materials that are light yet strong, to the point I would have to admit the tool has the feel that it can survive a lot of use and abuse. Note that the footplate is magnesium, thats where using metal really counts. Later in this review I will compare this new model with another similar twin model introduced by Skil at the same time.\n\nOkay, if the outer housing, despite being plastic, is Skil quality, what about where it counts the most the motor and drive system?\n\nSkil claims that they have not compromised the guts of this saw just to make it light weight. I spent a day with it working on my springtime cleanup/fixup project and there is no doubt that it handles like a Skil saw. The power is there, the precision is there, the versatility is there the only thing noticeably missing is the weight. After a while I was looking forward to doing MORE cutting, rather than dreading picking up the saw again. Thats really the bottom line results, and I was not disappointed.\n\nIt will take a while to get over the fact that this saw isn't built like the tank my dads old Skil saw was and Im sure there will be numerous negative reviews from purists about how cheap the resin (plastic) feels to them. This is the 21st century and no, things are not built like they used to be. I can think of several things I own where I can honestly say they are made BETTER. This is one of them. I don't have a Skil saw to look at it and worry about where it was made or what kind of materials they used to make it. I have a Skil saw to cut wood fast, accurately and with the minimum effort possible. This Skil saw passes that test with flying colors.\n\nBOTTOM LINE:\n\nThis is one of two nearly identical models Skilsaw introduced recently, the big-brother model Skil SPT67WM-22 has \"all-magnesium\" body including motor housing (technically not ALL magnesium, the handle itself is plastic). It weighs only 8.8 lbs. That compares to this little-brother model introduced at the same time and selling for about $10 less (model SPT67WL-01) is even lighter weight, 8.6 lbs, having a combination of a magnesium footplate and mostly resin (plastic) exterior parts including the motor housing.\n\nBoth models feature the Skilsaw exclusive Sidewinder geared Dual-field motor for maximum torque, an extra-long 10' cord (6' is standard for most circular saws) and a 56 bevel cut, making it the only saw that cuts at that angle.\n\nMy recommendation is with the two saws being otherwise identical, for the $10 difference I recommend going with the all-magnesium Skil SPT67WM-22 model rather than the plastic housing model reviewed here. I like both of them a lot, but all-magnesium on the big-brother model earns the 5-star rating and according to Amazon's definition this one is \"I Like It/4-stars\" rather than \"I Love It/5-stars\".","Product: Perfect for installing door locks, knobs and cabinets hinges or drilling larger diameter holes through desks etc. 8-Pc. Hardened high carbon steel hole saws in sizes: 1\", 1-1/4\", 1-1/2\", 1-3/4\", 2\", 2-1/8\", 2-1/4\" and 2-1/2\" 2-pc. Mandrels 1-pc. Hex key 1-pc 1/4\" bit and storage case.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Better value than the local stores sell\n\nReview: This is one of those tool items that isn't something I use every day, but when I need it, well Ive got to have it. So for people like me theres just not a lot of value in spending a lot of money for a hole saw set, even knowing that spending more will buy me a better product. This is a pretty run-of-the-mill set, not really better or worse than other low-price sets Ive used. None of them have ever lasted very long but they get the job done.\n\nBefore buying this I did check out what the chain home improvement store had in stock and also checked that freight disposal hardware place. For the price, the TruePower had more pieces and a nicer carrying case to keep everything in. I know the type of carrying case may sound trivial but in my workshop stuff like this almost always ends up at the bottom of some box never to be seen again (especially just when I need it most), so if the carrying case is easy to use and protects the tool, I have a much better chance at actually using it.\n\nThe way this model works is pretty standard. Of the various better mousetrap styles Ive tried in the past I end up liking this design the best for ease of use and effectiveness.\n\nOverall I like it. My one negative is that, compared to other similar sets Ive owned, the depth of the saw is less than some other brands. 99% of the time I am cutting into wallboard or some other relatively thin material so its not an issue but be aware that this would not be the best hole saw to make a very deep cut. For that reason they fall just a little short of being a 5-star product.","Product: This unique desk lamp combines style and functionality into one dynamic product! The interesting pyramid base includes a touch dimming switch to change between three distinct levels of brightness. A built-in 5V USB charging port is contained at the rear of the pyramid, allowing for the convenient charging of devices such as a smart phone, tablet, reader and so forth. The 16 inch long shade provides light over a large work area, and the diffuser cover helps provide even light distribution and reduces glare on the work surface. The shade tilts up and down and rotates left and right to help optimize the beam direction and put the light exactly where it's needed. The 8W bright LEDs will provide flicker-free light and are rated for an average life of 20,000 hours. AC charger cord is included. Includes a manufacturer's 90 day limited warranty.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Is its bonus feature worth the extra cost?\n\nReview: As you're probably aware, shopping for a desk lamp is a highly individual decision. The style, color and features you choose depend entirely on your own needs and decorating tastes. So it would not be very productive to rate this or any lamp on how it looks. To my own tastes I was disappointed; it has a very cheap discount store look to it. And thats really much of the basis why it doesnt rate very highly you can find this type of lamp for $10-20 at most low-end stores and the shelves of the Swedish mega-furniture store are crammed full of similar lamps for less than half the price. Quite simply, this lamp is in no way worth $50+\n\nI got it to use as a task light next to my favorite chair, however the broad pattern of the light is not focused enough for that purpose. I ended up putting it next to the bed in our guest room and for that purpose, the soft diffused light pattern works out pretty good. The on/off buttons are also well suited for a guest room in that they are big, bold and easy to figure out (low/medium/bright/off). The fact that the part that lights up can be swung about 45 degrees side-to-side and can be raised and lowered is also nice for a bedside. Another plus is that the smallish base does not hog a lot of valuable space on the nightstand.\n\nThe lamp features a USB port to use as a phone charger. It is as barely adequate as they come. The power output is only 750mA, just enough to charge a basic cell phone slooowly overnight. Most modern phone and tablet chargers are up to 10x more powerful than that. Again, for use in a guestroom where the person would probably plug their phone in overnight it might be okay. Unfortunately the port is at the back of the base so your guest would never know its there unless you trained them.\n\nI am not a big fan of touch-sensitive power buttons and most of the lamps Ive owned that use them don't work for very long. The ones on this lamp are not as hyper-sensitive as others Ive seen and so far have worked as expected each time I use them.\n\nNote that when I unpacked the lamp the lamp arm seemed broken, it just hung limp. There are no instructions how to correct that but I used a coin to tighten a plastic slot and it is holding the arm in place but the plastic is so soft it got deformed. The side-to-side swivel is also very loose but there doesn't seem to be a way of adjusting that.\n\nBottom line: this is a pretty average lamp, worth about half the price being asked. Its okay, but not special. Amazons rating policy is that its okay ranks as a 3-star product.","Product: The 1.6W Newhouse Lighting T5 Base Bulb is the perfect substitute for an old halogen T5 bulb. The T5 LED light bulb has a low-heat feature what will keep it cool during long working hours, unlike halogens which tend to get extremely hot. This smart alternative to halogen bulbs uses up to 80% less energy than Halogen bulbs- and uses only 1.6-Watts of power to emit the same amount of light. This unique bulb is suitable for damp locations, so you wont have to worry about weathering or humidity damaging your bulb. Compliant with FCC Standards, this bulb has no electromagnetic interference. It is also compliant with RoHS to ensure that it is Mercury and Lead Free. Mercury-free and other pollutant-free properties make this bulb safer. This soft white, compact LED bulb is ideal for any space: Landscape Malibu Cast Metal Tier Light, Malibu Porche lights, Cabinet, Closet, Outdoor patio, Under counter Lights, Indoor and Outdoor Fixtures, Landscaping Lights, Deck Lighting, Garden Lights, and other lights that are compatible with T5 base.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Produces a wonderful gaslamp glow\n\nReview: Of all of the various T5 LED bulbs that are suitable to work in Malibu outdoor lighting, this is one of the few that is rated as 18w equivalent and capable of casting light in a full 360 degree circle. This was important to me in replacing the lamp in my driveway post light fixture, which had been retrofitted to low-voltage halogen years ago. The retrofit allowed me to wire the lamppost on the same circuit as my other outdoor lighting and save power consumption substantially over an incandescent bulb. The smaller bulb also had a much more pleasant effect than a full-size light bulb. The only downside is that when it came to replacing the halogen bulb, which was several times a year, it required getting on a ladder and disassembling the entire top of the lamppost, not an easy task.\n\nConverting the halogen bulb to LED concerned me. The lamppost is as much decorative as it is functional I wanted enough light to illuminate that section of the driveway but wanted the lamppost to have more of a glow than a floodlight effect. And the last thing I wanted was to have the bulb give off that garish bluish LED look.\n\nI chose this bulb despite it being a little pricier than some other options. Im glad I did. The bulb is well-made and when lit it has a glow that is bright yet subtle. When lit you simply cant see the bulb at all, the entire thing glows evenly. As you can see from the photo the bulb gives off a warm glow that looks very much like a gaslamp and yet it still gives off a lot of light.\n\nThe base of the lamp is fractionally larger than a standard T5 halogen bulb, to the degree that it spread the pins in the receptacle slightly. I noticed this because I put the old halogen bulb back in temporarily to compare the two of them and found that the LED bulb had made the socket looser. I wasn't that concerned because I had no intention of going back to the old bulb, but it is something to be aware of.\n\nThis is an excellent product and was worth the price.","Product: Ecobee3 Thermostat with Sensor, Wi-Fi, 2nd Generation, Works with Amazon Alexa\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Reality check of ecobee 2nd generation (iOS 10 AND Echo Dot 2nd Gen updates!)\n\nReview: [Note that this is for the most current SECOND generation ecobee3 that is HomeKit enabled. Also note that this is a long review this a complex product category and I believe if you're dropping this kind of money you want more of a review than it arrived on time and its the best thermostat ever]\n\nI am an unabashed tech junkie who is easily bedazzled by cool new toys with flashing blue LEDs and amazing apps. But if you think this is going to be a gushing review like this product is getting at some if the online media sites, think again. While I love and have LONG used home automation and smart connectivity, there are times where I've drawn the line, especially when it comes to the increasing number of ways manufacturers are trying to tap into using wifi-enabled devices in the home. Some of them are simply a bad idea while others can be just plain stupid. Raise your hand if your home wireless network has never suddenly dropped the signal or if your service provider has never had an outage that can last hours or even days. Okay, I didn't see any hands. Now just use common sense ... if you lose your internet signal while watching a movie or listening to music using an internet-enabled device, how bad can that possibly be? Maybe just a frustration but not a tragedy. But what if your home security depends on that internet signal (wired or wireless) to work or your wifi garage door opens itself while you're on vacation? Or your HVAC system goes berserk while you're away and harms your pets or damages your home? Or smoke alarms don't go off because they lose the wifi signal? I'm not saying internet-based devices are evil; Ive had near-disaster with a simple 2-wire old school thermostat once that malfunctioned and almost burned the house down. BUT if you're going in that direction its imperative that you research what the device's Plan B is if there is a service failure. Specifically if you are looking at thermostats will they function as expected during a complete loss of internet connectivity, and what will they do after a complete power outage?\n\nIf you haven't done so already please take the time to also read the 1-star reviews here for this product before you order. I found some intelligent and valid points from those folks who rated it 1-star. The biggest takeaway is that this is not a product for everyone, and for those who need it it's not just a slam-dunk plug & play device. Like most of the cool gadgets I've worked with recently the ecobee3 requires the patience to learn, in detail, what it can (and can't) do, and how to set it up properly. True it has a high degree of wow factor but do your research first to find out if it is really a necessity in your home, or can it actually make your HVAC system work less efficiently, or even potentially harm it.\n\nCutting to the chase, although this is a wifi enabled device my fears were allayed when I learned that it is NOT dependent on wifi to do its primary job. It can and will function just like your old school thermostat with no wifi connection at all. That is a MAJOR positive!\n\nAs a technophile I find there is a fine line between being excited about the potential of a cool new gadget and accepting the reality of how it actually works in a real-life environment. Having read several dozen reviews here and elsewhere for this thermostat its evident that most of them are more excited about one particular feature over everything else and that is the one regarding the remote sensors. Yet it is hard to find a review that describes in detail IF that feature really works or if it only sounds good in theory on paper. My first reaction to the concept made me think of my SUV which has 3 thermostats for cabin temperature the driver, front passenger and rear seat passenger all have their own personal thermostat so for example I can set mine at 55 degrees to keep me awake and my front passenger can set hers to 80 degrees, while those in the rear seat can set theirs to 70 degrees. That all sounds good in theory but in reality we are all sitting in one closed-in cabin and regardless of the thermostat setting and how the vents are open each passenger will not be sitting in a climate cocoon at the temperature they set. That cant happen because the air will mingle and blend and average throughout the cabin. The best that can happen is the vent on one side will be open and the vent on the other side will be closed and one person will have a little more air being blown at them.\n\nNow take that example in my home, which is open architecture, which means the entire living area downstairs (living room, kitchen, dining area, den, etc) are all essentially one room with no doors between them. The bedrooms are upstairs, each having a closable door, and the house thermostat is in the hallway between them a terrible location because it is at the top of an open stairwell where all the heat rises and congregates right at the thermostat. It I have one sensor downstairs and one in the master bedroom upstairs and I set the one downstairs at 72 degrees and the one in the master bedroom at 60 degrees the HVAC cant do anything to deliver different temperatures to those two areas, all it knows how to do is turn on and off (which is true for 99.9999% of most average homes). It also cant know that heat from downstairs is rising up the stairwell into the bedroom area, or that the bedroom has a large south-facing bay window that causes that room to sometimes get as much as 20 degrees hotter than downstairs. If the ecobee thermostat is trying to make the bedroom 60 degrees it simply cant make the downstairs 72 degrees, all it can do is run the AC longer and make the downstairs even COLDER in the process. And just like in my car the air will blend and average throughout the house. Dont get me wrong, I love the theory of how the ecobee is supposed to work but Ive learned that the vast majority of the reviews about that feature never say anything about how it really works in a real house under real-life conditions.\n\nThe follow me feature also sounds nice on paper but in real life heres what happens. Take the example that I am downstairs eating breakfast and I want the temperature to be 72 degrees while Im there but I want it to be warmer (or cooler) when Im not in that area. But when I go upstairs where my work desk is I want it to follow me and make the temperature there 72 degrees now. My HVAC (like virtually every HVAC) only knows to either turn on or turn off like a light switch and how long the thermostat tells it to operate to reach an assigned temperature. If the HVAC is on and trying to make my upstairs area 72 degrees it WILL have a corresponding effect on the breakfast area I just left. It HAS to. It CANT suddenly raise or lower the temperature in the breakfast area while at the same time try to maintain my setting of 72 degrees upstairs. And as the sun comes around the sensor upstairs will tell the HVAC to stay on even longer to compensate for my work area getting warmer and warmer. My HVAC doesnt know or care what the ecobees nifty wifi climate sensor tells it the ambient outdoor temperature in my zip code is (another dubious feature), all it knows is I told it to make the zone I am in a certain temperature and it will turn the HVAC on or off until it reached that temperature in the zone where I currently am, but in the process the ENTIRE rest of my house will also get warmer or cooler just because the HVAC is operating.\n\nThe bottom line of this entire example is that as nifty as the design seems to be on paper, and as excited as the reviews are about the POTENTIAL of what the design can do, the reality is that the only way you can get true zone control is to have separate HVAC units for each zone in your house (impractical for most people) or to install temperature-regulated automated vents throughout your home (very expensive).\n\nSo all that being said, how about real everyday life with the ecobee in my otherwise typical average home? Here are some observations:\n\n1. We are on a rate averaging plan, which after doing our research is a no-brainer. Our heating/cooling bill is exactly the same every month no matter if we run the HVAC 24/7 (which at certain times a year is exactly what we need to do) or whether we go on vacation and turn the thermostat way down. That makes the so-called energy savings of devices like this meaningless.\n\n2. In the summer we set our thermostat to one temperature and leave it at that setting 24/7 whether we are home or not. There are at least three key reasons for that. One is pets just because we are out of the house the pets need a relatively constant temperature and certainly no extremes. So an away from home setting (as so many reviewers have pointed out) is pretty much useless if you are a pet owner. Another reason is that we paid $10,000 for a new HVAC unit and the manufacturers #1 warning is not to cycle it on or off more than necessary, which causes an incredible amount of wear. And the third reason is that if you set the temperature to be, lets say, 20 degrees higher (or lower) while you are at work all day when you get home your HVAC has to work just as hard or maybe harder to bring the temperature back to your normal setting. HVAC experts have told us that the energy usage difference between leaving it at a constant setting or using an away setting is almost an exact wash, in other words there is no real advantage to using an away setting unless you are doing so for an extended period (like being on vacation for a week) and people with pets probably would not want to have a drastic temperature change while they're away precisely because of that reason.\n\n3. Is the concept of having remote sensors bad? No its not. ecobee indicates that a large percentage of people have their thermostats installed in hallways, which in many houses is probably the worst place for it. I find it to be very positive that I can install the sensor near the location in my house where I spend the most time. For that reason I would choose this thermostat over any other that doesnt offer a remote sensor. That being said there are very few people I know who need more than one remote sensor.\n\n4. The #1 best feature of a wifi-enabled thermostat is being able to check, change and be alerted remotely using a smartphone. Of those three, I would buy a wifi thermostat just for being able to be alerted if there is a sudden unexpected change in my homes temperature. But there are wifi-enabled thermostats that cost a lot less than the ecobee. I do appreciate though that the ecobee doesnt depend on the internet to function. If your wifi goes down your HVAC will still work as normal and when it comes back on you will then be in remote contact again. BUT note that there is no battery backup on the ecobee. In case of an AC power failure it will default to factory settings.\n\n5. I like the simple user interface. You don't have to be a PhD to operate it. A well-designed thermostat has to be simple enough for EVERY member of the household to be able to make basic adjustments. I had my previous one for 10 years and I never did fully understand how to program it for multiple daily on/off times.\n\nSUMMARY\n\nIf you stuck through all this congratulations, you have a serious interest in this thermostat and I will guess that you were frustrated with some of the reviews that overhyped its features but didn't tell you if those features were actually useful or necessary. I have been involved with high tech gadgets for a long time and have the same tendency as other techies to get excited about buzzwords and cool-factor features that sound better to the designer and the investors on paper than they actually pan out to be in real life. Most of what has been said about the ecobee is true and compared to my experience with its #1 competitor is the better of the two products in my opinion. I recommend it, and I like it (which Amazon defines as 4-stars) but I don't love it. My personal experience (and what Ive read in other reviews) is that you're paying for some features that you may never be able to use. It would be a better product if the manufacturer made it more modular offer the basic unit for a lower price and sell firmware enhancements that can be purchases on an as-needed basis. I like that ecobee is continuing to improve the product (I would not have liked it as much if it wasn't HomeKit enable, for example) but unfortunately each new generation obsoletes the previous one. Making it modular could take some of the sting out of paying so much only to find out that the next generation is better.\n\n[iOS 10 and Echo Dot Second Generation updates]\n\niOS 10 has only been around for a few days now and I am very impressed with what theyve done with HomeKit. And now, all of a sudden Amazons Echo Dot Second Generation is available to order (but not deliverable until October 20). I have wild plans to see if I can use the ecobee with BOTH HomeKit under iOS 10 and the new Echo Dot, so I can just yell at my Dot to change the temperature if Im too hot or cold and use my iPhone/iPad/Apple TV to remotely do all the fine tuning of schedules, etc. Wow. I cant wait to let you know how all that works out. Check back toward the end of October for a major update)\n\nOn a more somber noted, the one concern I may have is how long ecobee may be around to support this product, indeed their entire concept. That may not be as much of a concern when you buy let's say a toaster from a new startup company, but when you invest $250 for the basic thermostat unit and then start adding expensive modules the long-term commitment of a Kickstarter-type newbie becomes a viable question ... what if their investment funding dries up? What if Apple makes a sudden turn in technology (not that they would EVER do something as drastic as killing off an earphone connector thats been around almost 70 years, would they). What if some law gets passed that affects home wifi devices? What if customers prefer Nest and drives ecobee out of business? I know people who have thermostats on their wall that are older than I am. For most people a HVAC thermostat isn't something optional like a toaster, it is an absolute necessity. How long the seller can/will support it has to be considered before shelling out several hundred dollars. None of this affects my review, its only some reality-check things to think about.","Product: Introducing the BenQ e-Reading Desk Lamp. The Worlds First Lamp Designed for e-Reading. Unlike the regular task lamps, the lamp has wider lighting coverage. Developed specifically for the usage of monitors, kindles, tablets, and other devices, as well as for use in large workspaces, the desk lamp distributes light evenly across the desk. It delivers a 90cm illumination range, 150% wider than any regular reading lamp, helping you see everything from your keyboard to your entire desk. Its patented brighter at the sides, darker in the middle illumination is designed to eliminate glare.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Big question is it worth $300?\n\nReview: <div id=\"video-block-R380986TJYXPEH\" class=\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\"></div><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/D1FtF%2BjAN6S.mp4\" class=\"video-url\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/015OFLiOouS.png\" class=\"video-slate-img-url\"> Lets start by acknowledging the 900 lb gorilla in the room at $300 this is not your Dollar Store lamp. To some the price may seem outrageous and justification right there to give it a negative review. And yes, there is no doubt that it cost more than the average desk lamp. But the price is not at all out of line with what you would pay for a high quality table lamp at a fine furniture store. And theres that argument why a Bentley costs more than a Kia.\n\nMoving on from what it costs, the obvious question is whether it is worth what it costs. And that is what the rest of this review will focus on.\n\nFirst off, you may wonder who BenQ is. That is actually important because they are a real electronics company with a long history of innovation and engineering. In other words they are not a made-up name slapped on a generic product cranked out by the billions. I have a long personal knowledge of BenQ, having bought their monitors and projectors as far back as 15 years ago. I also have quite a bit of history with LEDs themselves starting when I was a kid and got my hands on a bag of early light emitting diodes and was fascinated with them. These days Ive replaced most incandescent, florescent and halogen lights in my home with LEDs of some sort. The majority of them fall short of perfect on two scores the color temperature is never quite right and they rarely work well for low illumination mood lighting. In a moment well see how BenQ addresses both of those issues.\n\nThe lamp itself is exceptionally well made, at over 10 lbs the cast metal fit and finish would make it at home in the most tastefully decorated offices and homes. And Im picky about such things, my home and office space reflect a feng shui quality that is conducive to a positive and healthy lifestyle.\n\nThe lamp is unique in many ways. One is the shape of the lamp head and the way the light is emitted so it is brighter at the edges than the center to avoid harsh glaring hotspots. I replaced the LED light I had been using on my office desktop with this one and I noticed the BenQ was immediately kinder on my eyes. The lamp I replaced was actually not a cheap one either it has a similar elongated lamp head and is designed to be low-glare, in fact I can look directly at the light at full brightness and not strain my eyes. My old lamp is also dimmable but in 8 steps rather than one continuous range. The biggest difference though is the variable color temperature. At one time I did try another lamp that could be switched from warm to cool lighting and I found both ranges to be uncomfortable, it was either too yellow or too blue. The BenQs color temperature is fully variable (I have never seen any lamp with this feature) so I can set it precisely where I want it. While that is a very nice and important feature for anyone, I have quickly learned that it is the answer to a dream for a professional photographer like me. I can set it to exactly correspond with how I have my monitor tuned. By the way, only recently have there been numerous news reports of the value of reducing the bluish cast of LED lights to aid eye comfort and help the body/mind to sleep (Apple just introduced a feature in which their phone/tablets change color temperature when it gets dark). I immediately discovered that my vision was much more relaxed during late nights at the computer compared to my old LED desk lamp.\n\nHeres where it gets really interesting. There is a way you can set this lamp to automatically compensate for variances in ambient lighting. That would be a neat trick all by itself but when I am at the computer monitor at night with only the BenQ lamp for lighting it senses the variances in the brightness of the monitors screen and subtlety varies the lighting level of my workspace, almost imperceptibly but enough to keep my relative luminance perception consistent with my monitors output. That can get pretty complicated to describe but lets just say it is unusually easy on my eyes.\n\nA quick aside here, BenQ also has a computer monitor that is specifically made for professional photographers that I recently learned about. I am seriously thinking of getting it but not yet because it is quite expensive.\n\nCons? Yes there is one that I guess would depend on where you put this lamp. For me the uber-cool looking controls are beautiful to look at but I have to stand up to reach them when Im working at my desk. I would imagine that would be true in other locations as well. As cool as the controls look my personal preference would have been if BenQ located the dual-purpose rotary brightness/color temperature dial on the base or at least on the front of the lamp shade. While the unusually heavy weight of over 10 lbs is a plus in my mind to keep the lamp from jiggling the overall size may be a concern for some people. The base itself is a full 9 in diameter and at minimum the lamp stands 17 tall and another 30 out if fully extended. It is a LARGE lamp more at home on big desks than cramped work spaces.\n\nSo the question is, whether this lamp is worth $300. I would say that if you spend a lot of time reading, yes. If you spend a lot of time with an e-reader, yes. If you spend a lot of time at a computer, yes. And if you like and appreciate beautiful design and exquisite construction, yes. Frankly, I would have a hard time being without it now.\n\nBenQ asked me to evaluate this new product as they introduced it and provided a sample for me to test without any expectation of anything but a fair and honest review. Based on my real-life use and the importance I place on eye comfort and design in my office space I believe this lamp earns a very respectable 5-star rating.","Product: Specifications: Material: Brass, chrome finish height: 18.5\" single handle number of installation hole: One hole valve type: Ceramic valve double faucets: One traditional faucet and one handheld pull down sprayer faucet this brass kitchen sink faucet features a beautiful polished chrome finish. It is the perfect combination of practicality and style. It has two faucets to fit your needs at all time. Simply put pressure on the main faucet to control the water flow (for the pull down faucet). This is extremely practical and water efficient. If you prefer using your faucet in the more traditional way, simply use the 2nd faucet that can be rotated from the sink to the side of the sink. The high quality ceramic valves allow for a drip-free kitchen faucet. Features: Solid brass polished chrome finish single handle swivel spout drip-free ceramic valves includes two pipes for hot and cold water very easy to install package includes: 1 x kitchen sink faucet 2 x 1/2\" map pipes for cold and hot water2 x 1/2\" map.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: What do you get for a fraction of the cost of other models?\n\nReview: I am very familiar with this style of kitchen faucet, two of my relatives have similar faucets installed in their kitchens. Faucets like this usually start at about $200 for no-name brands and can go up to about $1200 for the top name brands. So my first thought when I saw the price was that it was a cheap plastic piece of junk. But since I write for a kitchen specialty website where many of our readers are on tight budgets I thought I would keep an open mind. The distributer offered to provide a reduced cost sample for testing and evaluation, but our reviews are completely independent on any manufacturer or organization.\n\nMy first impression when it arrived is how VERY heavy it is. Ill warn you right up front that if you have a low-cost stainless steel sink this faucet will likely be too heavy for it. Likewise if your sink is not firmly mounted into your countertop. Fortunately I have a very heavy-duty kitchen sink with a deep bowl that is intended for faucets like this. Unfortunately, when we bought the sink we didn't plan ahead and we bought a faucet that is the wrong style and the wrong color and we have never really liked it so the unfortunate part is having to uninstall it to put this one in.\n\nIf you are considering this faucet, also be aware that it is very tall, it sticks up about 20 above the sink rim. Some kitchens may not be able to handle that height. Again, I was fortunate that our sink is well designed for a commercial grade faucet like this.\n\nI inspected the faucet before installing it. Contrary to what I might expect for the price this faucet is mostly metal (the manufacturer states that it is brass). I have looked at similar faucets at the home improvement chain store that cost over $200 and they are made with quite a bit of plastic.\n\nThis is a single-hole faucet, ideal for me because my sink is drilled for only one hole. Note that it does NOT come with a trim plate if you have a 3-hole sink so you will have to get that locally. The mounting hole is standard size and it hooked up easily to the existing water feeds. Installation did not take any longer than any other faucet and everything needed was in the box. Kudos to the manufacturer for including two premium-grade metal sheathed feed hoses. I would have only expected cheap plastic hoses at this price.\n\nAfter installation the faucet operates in a similar way to other commercial-grade (or restaurant grade) faucets. If you are new to this type of faucet heres what to expect the on/off/temperature control is to the right and operates by tilting it away from the main stem. The temperature is controlled by moving the lever toward you or away from you. Once you are satisfied with the temperature you can turn the water on and off without changing it. The on/off lever itself is machine-knurled metal and is easy to operate with your wrist, knuckles, etc if your hands are full.\n\nHeres where it gets tricky if this style of faucet is new to you you actually have TWO faucets to choose from. One is on a fixed arm like a normal kitchen faucet and it has its own on/off switch. This faucet can be swung a full 360 degrees and has a standard aerator in it, so using it is like what most people are used to. The second faucet is on a spring-loaded flexible gooseneck tube and extends over20 high. It has a clamp to hold it in place or you can unclamp it and use the entire faucet like a sprayer hose. The end of it operates more like a sprayer than an aerator and it has its own on/off switch. This faucet also rotates 360 degrees. So the trick is that you can operate either or BOTH of the faucets at the same time depending on which on/off switch you have turned on.\n\nWARNING\n\nThe word warning isn't meant to be a negative but to point out a couple of things you MUST know in using this style of faucet:\n\n1. Most kitchen faucets don't swivel 360 degrees. If you have either faucet swung far to the side where it is not pointing into the sink and its on/off switch is on, if you turn the main control on you will spray water all over your kitchen counter. Thats just the way commercial faucets work so you are forced to think a bit before absent-mindedly turning the water on.\n\n2. The gooseneck faucet can be left hanging without inserting it into the clamp. If you turn the main control on and the goosenecks lever is also on you will be faced with the entire assembly wildly flailing around like a goose with its neck cut off (maybe thats why they call it a gooseneck). TRUST ME!!! I have done this and it is NOT a pretty sight to have water spraying at high pressure all over your kitchen while you desperately try to find the on/off control. It is only funny later when you talk about it. Again, this is not a defect or a negative, its just what happens when you choose to have such a fancy faucet in your kitchen.\n\nThe bottom line is this faucet is an amazing value at the price. It is mostly solid metal, well made, has ceramic valves and looks like a million dollars. Once you use a faucet like this for everyday kitchen chores you will never go back to a basic faucet again. It is well made and leak-free. In fact it only has one drawback which I consider a minor inconvenience but to some it may be a more significant frustration. With most faucets of this style the gooseneck clamp is longer than the bottom normal faucet so it can swivel around it. Inexplicably this manufacturer has designed theirs backwards so the bottom faucet sticks out longer than the gooseneck so when you swivel it from side to side it hits the gooseneck. The solution in everyday use is to always keep the gooseneck positioned to one side or the other while using the lower faucet. But its still backwards from what you would expect it to be. I cant take a full rating point off for that because it doesnt bother me but I will knock a half point off of an otherwise excellent and affordable product.","Product: *Just press and scan to find studs instantly. You can measure, mark, and level with one tool. *Built-in Bubble level. Integrated Ruler. Convenient Pencil Caddy. *13 sensors provide up to 1.7 inches detection depth. *Detects wood and metal. *Includes ProFinder 6000+ Stud Finder, 2 Duracell \"AA\" Batteries and 3 Pencils. *Made in USA.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: This is the first one I grab\n\nReview: The answer to the question is yes, this is the identical product as the Franklin Sensors model 710. Thats per the company who makes it. They created the blue model primarily for club stores (and here) and sell the yellow one at retail. The only non-product-related difference is that the yellow one has a manuf contact number whereas the blue one should be returned to the store for warranty.\n\nLets be clear upfront that this is not the perfect stud finder. Being the 4th one I own I can attest to none of them being perfect and in fact sometime I use 2-3 of them to double check against each other if the project involves drilling holes that would be an issue cosmetically or if I am mounting something heavy and expensive (like a TV) and want to be absolutely sure I am in the center of the stud not the edge. Most of the time, but not all of the time, they are about the same in their reading but what Im concerned about is those times that they are NOT in agreement.\n\nIf you own other stud sensors you know that the common procedure is that you have to turn them on, hold them against the wall to calibrate, and then sweep them slowly until they sense a stud. This model is a little different in that you simply press the on button and hold it to the wall. You can either move it or slide it as you choose. There are 13 LED lights and for most normal studs 3 or 4 of them with light up when you are dead center on the stud.\n\nIt works well for normal walls, and by that I mean when the wall is interior grade wallboard and the stud are normal vertical ones. The manufacture does not make any claims that this device will differentiate between different types of studs, sense electrical wires and conduit or sense nails, it is NOT a metal detector. That is one of the reasons I still keep and use another stud sensor that detects and reports metal objects and electrical current. It works best if you have a wide expanse of wall, which is common, but it is awkward to use for small spaces, rounded or uneven walls, corners, and close to the edge of any wall (not that it doesnt work, its physical size just makes it more difficult to place it where you want it). The Profinder does not beep, flash a marker light or even indicate the precise center of the stud but because it displays the LEDS across the entire width of a common stud it is easy to find and mark the center. A plus is that it has a built-in measuring ruler and a fairly accurate level it seems those are two things I never have handy when I am mounting something to a wall.\n\nThis is the first model of stud sensor Ive used that glides smoothly across the wall, part of that is due to it being about a foot wide and using Teflon guides. Smaller handheld stud finders tend to jump around if the wall surface isn't smooth.\n\nI would not classify this as the best one out there and you need to know it isn't designed to be the answer to every job. But for the majority of typical everyday tasks it is now the first one I grab and the one I most depend on for everyday use.","Product: The Chamberlain Whisper Belt Drive Ultra-Quiet & Strong 1/2hp steel-reinforced belt drive garage door opener is the ultimate blend of power and quiet. It features our exclusive Motor Vibration Isolation System (MVIS) - which eliminates power head vibration for reduced noise - making it the ideal choice if you have rooms positioned above the garage. As an added convenience feature, the opener has a timer-to-close function that will automatically close the garage door in case you forget. This garage door opener is bundled with the Chamberlain MyQ Internet Gateway (CIGBU). MyQ technology allows you to monitor, open and close your garage door from anywhere all from your smartphone. The unit includes two 3-button remote controls, wireless keypad, motion detecting control panel, safety sensors and delivers 200 watts of light for added safety (light bulbs sold separately). HomeLink Compatible Compatible Bridge (not included) necessary for certain vehicles. Visit bridge.chamberlain.com to find out if a Bridge is needed.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: How to decide if this is the right model for you\n\nReview: Regardless of who makes it, a garage door opener is a relatively simple device. Its sole function is for an electric motor to lift and lower a garage door. That basic function has not changed since electric garage door openers were invented by C.G. Johnson in 1926. Todays electric garage door openers are basically the same device, with a few modern convenience touches added. It seems there are dozens of models to choose from, however, and the purpose of this review is to help you decide if this model is a good choice.\n\nOf those dozens of models, there are actually only a small number of manufacturers by far the market is dominated by only two companies, Genie and Liftmaster (who sells their openers under the brand names Chamberlain, Liftmaster, Sears Craftsman, and Garage Master). Under different brand names Liftmaster currently sells at least 35 models.\n\nLets focus first on the key features this model advertises and how well that feature performs:\n\n1. Whisper Belt Drive for me this is an important feature, although certainly not one limited to this one specific Chamberlain model. I have two bedrooms right above the garage and my original garage door opener could wake the dead. Having a belt drive opener and the motor vibration isolation this model features is definitely a positive. Please understand that neither of these features can make your garage door totally silent, you will still have the mechanical noise of the door traveling up and down on the rails, but the motor noise in the bedrooms has gone from a roar to a quiet hum, a big improvement.\n\n2. HomeLink this feature allows vehicles that already have a garage door opener button built in to the car to operate your garage door without having to carry a separate transmitter. Note that if you don't have a vehicle equipped with this option, HomeLink does nothing for you. In theory this should rank as a positive feature for Chamberlain, but in reality their execution of it is terrible. The fact is that this opener will only work with SOME vehicles and they must be newer than 2011. That leaves out a lot of vehicles. If you own an older vehicle, you're not entirely out of luck; Chamberlain will sell you an adapter to make their opener compatible with the standard used in older vehicles for an additional $25.00. I tried every local store who sells garage door openers and none of them sell it, it seems the only place to get the adapter is directly from Chamberlains website. The adapter has some drawbacks, for example it works by retransmitting the signal from your vehicle to the actual opener, so there will be a delay when you press the open button and it may not work as far away from your house as you're used to. Five years after the standards changed, it is inexcusable that Chamberlain doesnt simply build this into the motor unit itself instead of requiring an adapter.\n\n3. MyQ this is a dubious feature that allows you to open and close the garage door using your cell phone. Its not that simple. To do so you have to find and open an app and then activate the opener function, not very practical. However there ARE some benefits to this feature I use it to alert me if the garage door is opened when Im away from the house. Not that something like that would happen often but the added security is nice to have. There is a misconception that MyQ will alert you if you leave your garage door open. No, it can't do that, it has no way of determining that the door was accidentally left open and sending you a message to warn you. You must manually open the app on your phone and look at it to see if the door is open or closed. The alert some people are referring to is that MyQ will message you if someone else opens the garage door. By the way, there is a useful gadget made by Liftmaster/Chamberlain that will warn you while you're home that the garage door is open and let you close it from anywhere in the house. It is <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Liftmaster-829LM-Garage-Door-Monitor/dp/B005FT4MY6/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">Liftmaster 829LM Garage Door Monitor</a> and it is a worthwhile accessory to consider.\n\nI have also used it to remotely allow access to the garage for a repair person or pet sitter rather than give them the opener code, but note that when you press the close button it creates a warning beep first that sounds like a garbage truck backing up. Chamberlain builds MyQ into some of their other models but inexplicably this model bundles it as a separate accessory that you have to install yourself. But it doesnt install into the opener, instead you have to physically connect it using a cable to your router (which means you must have an extra free Ethernet port available). There are other restrictions as well, like you must have a compatible smartphone but you cannot use that phone to connect it (you MUST use a computer to program it), and you must provide Chamberlain with a valid email address.\n\n4. Timer-to-close: you might be interested in this feature if you regularly forget to close your garage door, just be aware that if you use it there will be a loud beep (sounds like a garbage truck backing up) to warn others that the door is about to close. If that happens at 3:00 AM your neighbors may hate you.\n\nChamberlains claim that their Quick Rail assembles in less than 60 seconds. While that may be true, the claim is VERY misleading. That just means that the rail pieces snap together in a few seconds, it doesnt mean thats how long it will take you to INSTALL the rails, which (depending on your installation and mechanical/technical skills) can take a few hours to the better part of a day. I installed my opener myself because I was replacing a Sears Craftsman unit which is made by Chamberlain/LiftMaster, however from personal experience I would not recommend doing so unless you are very handy with mechanical things AND you have another strong person to help you. And if you're starting from scratch with a new installation I suggest hiring a professional.\n\nSUMMARY:\n\nConsidering the price, there is no compelling reason to buy this model over any of the others that Chamberlain (or other brands) offer. It is priced a little high for a basic model that doesnt have features built in that other models do. There is nothing new or unique about it compared to other models from the same company. For those reason we consider it to be an average product and rate it accordingly at 3-stars.","Product: Bosch Starlock oscillating multi-tool accessories deliver a three-dimensional fit designed to provide a completely integrated system between multi-tool and accessory. This is a new dimension in torque for oscillating multi-tools. By using a three-dimensional shape instead of a flat interface, Starlock provides the highest-torque transfer, reduced vibration and the ability for higher performance applications. These accessories continue to be OIS compatible and fit existing tools, as well as the next generation of high-performance Starlock tools. Bosch multi-tool accessories are Swiss made for precision accuracy and long life in the most demanding professional applications. Bosch has a heritage of innovation including the SDS-plus and SDS-max shank systems for concrete hammers and the T-Shank professional blade standard interface for jig saws. The Starlock interface is the new professional standard in oscillating multi-tool systems.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: An improvement over my original one\n\nReview: There are so many things we buy where the name brand doesnt mean as much as it used to. For me that often opens my mind to considering lesser-known brands if the price saving is significant. But one place I have learned (often the hard way) not to skimp is on my workshop tools. Bosch tools cost more but I have yet to have an experience in which the Bosch tool wasn't the best of class. And when I buy accessories for my Bosch tools I (almost) always choose Bosch-branded accessories. I was a bit concerned, though, if this \"Starlock\" mount would work on my 5 year old tool which uses an O.I.S. mount. Fortunately the new mount is backward compatible. I've attached a couple of photos showing what the old mount looks like compared to the new Starlock mount.\n\nThis newly design plunge cut blade is something I was very interested in. Just a few days before I saw it I had destroyed the plunge cut blade that came in the kit with my Bosch oscillating multi-tool and I was looking to replace it. I liked several things about the product description that it is promoted to have a longer life expectancy was important but what really got my attention is the curved tec blade, which looked like it would allow better control for the initial plunge. There are some other nice improvements like the blade being color coded and the integral depth scale. And I like the fact that the blades are Swiss-made yet sell for a reasonable price.\n\nIn real-life use I was not disappointed. The fit on my tool is perfect and the blade cuts faster and cleaner than my old blade. There is less vibration which seems to translate into better cutting efficiency for the oscillating mechanism.\n\nGetting this blade has introduced me to several other of Boschs oscillating multi-tool blades that I was not aware of and I plan to order some different styles that I will report on after I get a chance to use them.\n\nFor improved performance and still a reasonable price this blade earns a 5-star rating.","Product: National Hardware Yardlock is an innovative keyless lock designed for wood or vinyl gates. Dependable in extreme weather, Yardlock works without electronics or batteries by setting your own combination to lock and unlock your gate. Works on both in-swinging and out-swinging gates and backed by a Limited Lifetime Warranty. Yardlock is easy to install and simple to operate meaning youll protect your yard, barbecue, patio furniture, and pool in no time.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: I was surprised how well designed this device is\n\nReview: I was just completing a project of building a standard width gate for a fence that previously only had a double-wide vehicle gate (which we rarely needed to use). We were getting tired of having to pry open such a large gate when all we needed to do was get to the trash cans. A single-wide gate is a huge improvement in terms of convenience but it also introduced a bit of a security concern as it would be easier for someone to open a typical gate latch and gain access to our back yard. A rear-mounted padlock wasn't a good solution because there were times we wanted to be able to get into the yard without going through the house to unlock it from the back yard. And our house is set up where we don't need to carry keys with us and we certainly didn't want a gate lock that required them.\n\nI was excited when I ran across the Yardlock and had high expectations but feared it would be another As Seen on TV gimmick.\n\nIn fact it is an amazingly simple device to install and use but very well designed and made at the same time. The part that latches the gate closed is identical to the tried and true latches that have been used on gates since I was a kid. In this case, simple is good, why mess with something that works? Installation of the latch part took about 10 minutes, requiring only 6 (included) screws.\n\nWhat makes the Yardlock different is that they add a panel box that mounts to the other side of your fence that has a 4-digit combination lock to provide access to your gate latch. The way it works is you enter the combination and pull the box downward like a fire alarm and that pulls a short wire that unlatches the gate mechanism. Its all very simple with no batteries or complicated parts to wear out.\n\nAfter you mount the standard gate latch to one side of your fence (the Yardlock can be installed for either inward or outward opening gates) you drill a hole through part of the fence. For inward opening gates that will probably be a 4x4 fence post. Most people probably won't have a drill bit long enough but thats a good excuse to buy one. Fortunately I happened to have one laying around. After you drill the hole you poke the short wire through it and screw it to the inside of the lockbox which you have mounted with four screws to the outside of your fence. The entire project took about 20 minutes but if I were to install a second one I probably could cut that time in half.\n\nA couple of thoughtful features are the inclusion of a spring that mounts to the inside of your gate that helps snap the gate latch firmly shut and also helps to close the lockbox and hold it tightly closed. Another nice touch is having weatherproof covers for both the combination lock and to semi-enclose the gate latch (which also helps prying fingers from reaching over your fence and defeating the security of the device. An unmentioned bonus is that there is room enough in the lockbox to hide a spare key if you are so inclined.\n\nAll of the parts are well-made, the instructions are clear and easy to follow and everything you need is in the package (except the long drill bit if you are installing it on a 4x4 fence post). The parts seem very weather resistant. For once I found a gimmick that is actually well-designed and well-made and its something I would have no problem recommending.","Product: Get faster prep and removal compared to 3M paper-backed tapes with the innovative ScotchBlue PLATINUM INTERIOR Painters Tape. Its made from 3M's advanced poly-back material so it conforms to curves and tears at a 90-degree straight edge for fast cornering. When its time for the big reveal, this tape removes easily in one piece with no slivering or tearing so you can reveal ultra-sharp paint lines.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Its not magic tape\n\nReview: If you've ever painted your house, indoors or out, you are likely familiar with masking tape. Its job is to do exactly what it sounds like, to mask off a surface adjacent to the one you're painting so there is a nice even line between the two surfaces. And how well has that worked out for you? Probably never. So Scotch (3M) invented BLUE masking tape that of course costs more, but does a substantially better job at masking. 3M is that company who has changed the world with adhesives, from Post-It Notes to Scotch Tape, even the most commonly used recording tape in the world when things used to be recorded on tape.\n\nAs improved as 3M Blue tape was it wasn't perfect. Being a paper-based product paint would be absorbed by the tape, leaving a ragged edge much of the time. And it stretched and tore when you didn't want it to and was messy to remove. But I've bought it by the carton-load for the seemingly endless painting task I've been involved with.\n\nMy paint expert at the home improvement store showed me a new, improved version of Blue tape called (what else) PREMIUM Blue tape, which of course cost even more but this time it's made of a plastic material, not paper, so its not supposed to stretch, not supposed to absorb paint, supposed to leave a cleaner edge, and is said to be easier to remove ... IF you follow directions and do it right. We all know most people actually don't follow instructions and that can result in the tape still having wet paint on it or removing paint you didn't want removed, or even seepage under the tape if it's not applied properly. Compared to the crepe original blue tape its supposed to tear a lot easier. If youve used the original tape you know it is almost impossible to make a clean right angle tear. I found tearing the Premium tape not to be quite as slam dunk as 3M would like you to believe. Grabbing the tape exactly as the instructions show and very carefully trying to tear it at a right angle it stretched instead of tore. If you do it EXACTLY right you can get it to tear but its fussy to do that and unfortunately even the slightest stretch of the tape renders it useless for its intended task of masking a clean edge.\n\nI saw comments that 3M was putting less tape on the Premium roll than their regular crepe tape. That's not exactly accurate or fair because 3M packages their tapes in so many different ways to be sold at different retailers. A more fair comparison is the new Premium tape being sold here at Amazon at $8.98 for a single 1.41\" wide x 45 yard roll compared to the basic blue crepe tape also sold here at Amazon, and also for .41\" wide x 45 yard rolls but the price is $9.99 for SIX rolls, that's right, 6 rolls for only a dollar more than one single roll of Premium tape. THAT'S what you should be comparing. Compared that way you would have to be very motivated to pay so much more for the new Premium tape. Not every painting task may necessitate paying that much more considering the tradeoffs. My home improvement budget tells me that I will keep a roll or two on hand for those projects that are very exacting where two contrasting colors will meet on adjacent walls and it has to look perfect, but will definitely not switch over and stop buying the tried & true everyday 3M blue painter's tape for simple masking jobs where precision isn't a factor.\n\nI can't see how 3Ms Premium Blue tape can earn a 5-star rating. It is expensive and fussy to work with which can result in expensive waste of tape. It does leave a cleaner edge if you apply it very carefully and use caution not to stretch it. And to avoid waste you might find that you're better off cutting and trimming the tape with a pair of scissors. Despite all that I like the tape enough to buy it so the bottom line is it earns somewhere between 3 and 4 stars. I will lean toward just barely 4-stars because with care I was able to achieve a satisfactory clean edge on a current painting job.","Product: Contemporary lines, ultra-sleek look and high quality elegant finishes. The Alberson collection features frosted acrylic diffusers, vertically seated on a brushed nickel frame. This LED vanity adds a clean, refined look to your space. Available in 3 light and 4 light options. Specifications Dimensions Product Depth (in.): 3 in Product Height (in.): 5.25 in Product Width (in.): 24 Details Connection Type: Hardwired Fixture Color/Finish: Brushed Nickel Fixture Color/Finish Family: Nickel Hardware Included: Yes Light Bulb Base Code: Other Light Bulb Type Included: LED Light Direction: Ambient Maximum Bulb Wattage: 5 W Maximum Wattage (watts): 20 Number of Bulbs Required: 4 Product Weight (lb.): 7lb Recommended Light Bulb Shape Code: GY8.6 Shade Color Family: White Certifications and Listings ETL Listed\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Some important questions answered\n\nReview: My main bath is 100% custom and a one-of-a-kind. I was surprised and disappointed at the extremely limited selection of designer LED light fixtures that are available no matter where I looked and of those they generally fell into one of three categories ... very unattractive, very expensive, or harsh unflattering blue/green light.\n\nThis was in fact the only one I found that looks classy, is reasonably priced and has a bright but yet skin-flattering natural color temperature.\n\nTHE FIXTURE\n\nWhen I shopped for bathroom fixtures I mostly found either bright shiny chrome or dark bronze. This one stands out as being an attractive brushed nickel steel. Together with the frosted acrylic light towers that seem to float in mid-air the look is decidedly contemporary yet almost art deco so it goes well with classic dcor.\n\nINSTALLATION\n\nHaving installed a few lighting fixture that took hours because of bad design it is refreshing that this manufacturer seems to get it. From box to working fixture took less than 10 minutes. The fixture is designed with a removable back plate that slides off. The back plate has a circular mounting section with several continuous slots that should fit virtually every wiring box made. While not necessary there are also two keyholes for an extra-secure mounting. Once the back plate is fastened and the wires connected the main fixture simply slides onto the back plate and tightens with four captive screws. A nice feature is that the fixture can be mounted with the towers pointing up or down depending on your taste and lighting needs.\n\nHOW BRIGHT\n\nThe four light towers cast light evenly in all directions and at 1200 lumens the fixture is super bright, roughly similar to a 100 watt light bulb. The omni-directional glow is well suited for applying makeup, shaving and other bathroom tasks.\n\nCOLOR OF LIGHT\n\nThe stated color temperature is 3000k. For comparison, warm-white is usually thought of as being about 2700k and cool-white/daylight is closer to 5000-6000k, so this light is more to the warm end of the scale. But it is not yellowish. Color temperature is obviously a personal preference but I think this is the ideal color to be used at a bathroom sink.\n\nDIMMABLE\n\nI know not everyone uses a dimmer switch in their bathroom so for many this may not be an issue. For me it is important. Our wall color is dark burgundy and we only have one small window for daylight so we need a very bright light fixture, and as detailed above this one is super bright. But on the other hand we don't want to be blinded in the middle of the night when using the bathroom. LED lights are notorious for not dimming well or not dimming at all. I installed the fixture using my existing Lutron current generation dimmer switch and was pleased with the results. I was able to operate the fixture at full brightness and smoothly dim down to about 5% before the light turns off. This is a very wide range of dimming comparable to using an incandescent light bulb. There is no buzz nor flickering and the color temperature stays constant from full-on to full-dim. Note that every dimmer switch may work differently, you may have to experiment to get the results you desire.\n\nBOTTOM LINE\n\nThis fixture was a bit more than my budget but it is well-made, attractive and has excellent performance. Theoretically the LED bulbs should last long enough that I don't have to think about it. All things considered I would have no problem recommending this fixture.","Product: The Hi-Fi 2 is HAI by Leviton's all new distributed audio system. With 4 zones, 4 sources and an all new keypad with OLED display, the Hi-Fi 2 is perfect for today's demanding homeowners. The powerful yet compact Hi-Fi 2 plays music from devices you already own (or those you wish to purchase) and is so easy to operate that anyone can enjoy it. With Hi-Fi 2, you have the ability to listen to different sources at the same time at different volume levels throughout your home or set all zones to the same source and volume. Audio sources can now be located throughout the house using Remote Input Modules or locally inputted at the Hi-Fi 2 amplifier, including iPods, home theater systems, computers and more. Hi-Fi by HAI's components are modular, giving flexibility for expansion as needs change. The base system provides 4 zones and 4 sources. Hi-Fi by HAI by Leviton may be a stand-alone installation or may be integrated with an HAI by Leviton home control system for enhanced features including control from an iPhone or iPad. Variable line out amplification outputs are available for zones 1 and 4 (in addition to the built-in amps) as well as page/mute and system on jacks. Standard Cat-5 wiring is used to connect the digital amplifier with VSC's and RIM's. Standard speaker wire is used to connect speakers with the digital amplifier. The terminals on the Hi-Fi board are designed for 16 gauge wire and either 16 gauge or 14 gauge wire may be used. HAI by Leviton recommends either 6 ohm or 8 ohm speakers with Hi-Fi 2. Includes Hi-Fi Main Board Assembly in an Enclosure. Also comes with remote control, 2 Remote Input Modules (RIM), 4 OLED Volume-Source Controls (VSC) and a cable for an HAI by Leviton Omni Home Control System or Lumina Lighting Control System.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Highly customizable and versatile\n\nReview: While this is not the solution for a simple plug-n-play setup for the faint at heart novice, it can be a lifesaver in a well thought out audiophile system. My application seemed to be easy at first but when I took into account my 4 major zones, it was not as easy as I imagined.\n\nThe setup (with your own personal variations) was not that hard to imagine ...\n\n1. Don't change or affect the primary 7.1 media center sound system\n2. Add a simplistic 2-channel playback of any source to my home office\n3. Be able to play any source into my den\n4. Route any source to the pool area and/or the back yard for parties\n\nEverything to accomplish this was included in the box except wires. I was able to output two stereo channels from my surround sound system (which remained intact) to my remote home office where I could control the speaker volume. Another routing took the stereo signal to my den where I was also able to control the local volume. In my case (because of the versatility of this controller) I then re-routed it to two more destinations ... the pool area and the back lawn area, both individually volume controllable.\n\nThe system is highly configurable so I recommend starting with a blank piece of paper and imagining what your ideal distribution would be and working backwards. After doing so I did not run in to any roadblocks that were imposed by the system. What I especially liked was I could try various scenarios before settling on the one that works best for me.\n\nOnce everything was in place I programmed everything to an iPad Mini which pretty much is always at my side when at home and from there I was able to ignore any of the hardware and simply run the entire system from the pad just like the very expensive custom systems but at a fraction of the price.\nLeviton has very good product support and for something as customizable as this, that's a good thing because most users will probably have need to contact them at least once or twice.","Product: Wynford is a traditional styled bath suite that has updated, classic details with clean, refined design cues, allowing it to work across multiple decorating styles.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: The one thing you need to know\n\nReview: There is no doubt that this is a much higher grade bath product than you will find at the mega-discount store for $10. Regardless of what they make, Moen products are made to last. This is a basic wire shower basket with a touch of decorating flair that is easy to install and will last for a long time. However there is one important thing you need to know if you are considering it. As might be expected, the part that fits into the corner is at a 90 degree angle. The bend of that angle (technically the radius) is pretty sharp and is obviously intended to be installed in a tiled shower where the corner is close to a hard 90 degree angle. However that is not true with all showers, including mine. Many bathroom contractors are now making their corners rounded to make them easier to clean and prevent mold in the corner grout line. That radius can vary depending on design but this shower basket will not fit well into a showers corner unless it is very square. The basket itself stands off from the wall a bit due to the two mounting studs but there is also the concern aesthetically of the angle of the basket not matching the angle of your shower corner. If you have a one-piece molded shower wall you may face the same situation. This is not a negative nor a reason not to buy this product, just a caution that if you do buy it, be sure to hold it in place BEFORE you drill any holes in the wall.\n\nOtherwise, while priced at the higher end of the scale, this product will last for a long time so I would consider it reasonably priced considering the way it is made. I like it, which Amazon defines as earning 4-stars.","Product: Every household needs a Globe, especially one as beneficial, detailed, and versatile as our light-up Globe that makes everything so easy-to-see and touch! whether kids and teens are discovering the mountains of Peru, or the depths of the Arabian sea, they can relate to global concepts and aid retention through multiple senses - sight and feel. Our illuminated Orion relief Globe helps your child understand the spherical shape of the earth, where they live in relation to other places across the Globe, and other important details such as capitals, National and political borders, the vegetation of different regions, and Geographical features. Our inspiring 12-inch Globe sits perfectly balanced on any shelf or table - at home or in the classroom - from its sturdy, non-tip base. Young children enjoy the bright colors, and adults appreciate this high-quality globe's highly accurate design and its 1: 42, 500, 00 natural scale. SWITCH on the soft interior light to reveal a detailed display of Earth's continents and ocean's topography. Use our Globe as an educational tool, or as a sophisticated decorative addition to your child's bedroom, playroom, or living room. The best all-night companion to keep children feeling safe in the dark, this versatile Globe doubles as a nightlight. The light emitted creates a relaxing ambient glow, sure to help calm any nighttime fears. Makes the perfect anytime gift for a budding Explorer and the whole family! includes an 18W halogen bulb; replace with 25W or less. Plug into a standard 120 volt outlet; tuv-gs and ul certified. Made in Italy.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Is this the reference tool you need?\n\nReview: Often when watching TV or reading a news story I am interested in where a city, country, body of water or other geographical feature is located. Sure these days I can simply do a search on my smartphone but there is nothing like a globe to put it into context where it is in relationship with the rest of the world.\n\nWe have a 30 year old illuminated globe made by Scan-Globe A/S in Denmark (Replogles European trade name) in our living room that not only serves as a reference tool but as an attractive softly glowing mood light for watching TV. It is beautifully made but the world has changed a lot in 30 years, especially the entire former Soviet Union and much of Africa. So we bought this Orion globe as the most similar in size, design and features to our old one.\n\nThe most obvious is that our original globe is a clear plastic sphere to which has been glued a paper map while the new globe is a plastic sphere that has the map printed directly on to the plastic. I included photos because which is \"better\" is a matter of opinion. My opinion is that the paper map has sharper text and richer depth of colors. But on the other hand the Orion globe has a 3D raised surface for elevated features like mountains.\n\nI would not agree with the sellers description that the globe has a sturdy no-tip base. That description leads me to believe the base is weighted, it is not, it is only a thin piece of molded plastic that wouldnt last long around kids. While on the subject of sketchy details, a little research revealed that Orion is a trade name for globes sold by Replogle, a highly respected long-time manufacturer of quality globes. Nowhere on the globe or packaging does it give any indication that this globe is associated with Replogle in any way. In fact the sellers description states that \"this is an exclusive HearthSong product that is only available from them\". Hearthsong is an online toy seller.\n\nThe key difference though boils down to the very reason one buys a globe, which is information and that us where the two globes are night and day. While you can only fit so many city names and other details on to a 12\" sphere, the old Scan-Globe wins hands down. I am actually somewhat disappointed at the lack of detail on the Orion globe. I'll grant that at its selling price I didn't expect a classroom quality product but in my judgement the Orion is more of a decorative knickknack than a useful reference tool.","Product: Kids can discover playful trivia spanning decades of Disney magic, from animated classics and blockbuster movies, to television hits and dazzling theme park destinations. It's a game of teamwork--with a competitive twist! Along the way, are guess-my-answer questions that reveal how much kids know about the other players!\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Who's the leader of the club that's made for you and me?\n\nReview: I love trivia, everything about it. I watch Jeopardy on TV and actually surprise myself how many questions I get right. On the other hand I am not much for board games; in fact this is the only one I own. Cutting to the chase - I love this game. It is rated as being for ages 7+ but this is no kid's game. Based on Disney trivia from their animated classics and blockbuster movies, theme parks and TV shows it will test the knowledge and experience of most adults.\n\nThe game offers an unusual twist to typical board games in that the players encounter guess-my-answer questions that reveal how much the players know about each other. We are already planning a Disney-themed backyard party of close friends in which each will dress as their favorite Disney character, prepare a Disney-inspired food dish and use this game as the focal point of our entertainment.\n\nThe product itself is first-class and worth the selling price. Packaged in an attractive Disney character box the game board, game pieces (of which there are many) and game cards are all substantial quality for many years of use.\n\nIf you like trivia and also happen to be a Disney fan this is a must-have game. Highly recommended and worthy of 5-stars.","Product: With this set teach your little farmer how to transport the goods that they grow to the market place. This will allow them to link the train to the land! What else mixes fun with quality and commitment better than a John Deere and train?.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Its a Lionel well, sort of\n\nReview: One of my most cherished memories is setting up our familys Lionel 027 train set each year at Christmas. The set was already old when I was born and was stored in its box in the attic until it came out each year as our holiday special treat. We lived in farmland, surrounded by wheat fields near the steel plants and it was common to see vintage steam locomotives hauling the heavy ore over the tracks that cut a swath through the fields of golden grain. Playing with my Lionel train model set took my young mind on endless journeys of adventure and intrigue.\n\nSo what could be more satisfying to a now-adult (me) than to see this current-day Lionel set reminiscent of the John Deere tractors that were also an integral part of my childhood memories.\n\nOf course times have changed. Lionel trains are no longer made in Irvington, New Jersey but in China. Today they are virtually 100% plastic in contrast to the heavy die-cast metal of their heyday. A quick glance at toy train sets being sold these days seems to have them fall into one of three broad categories ... simple polystyrene infants toys, basic working models (but still plastic) and much more expensive metal O-gauge models that are reminiscent of vintage classic sets. This one falls somewhere in the middle range.\n\nToday's Lionels can't be compared to their classic trains, nor should they be. This set is remarkably detailed compared to cheaper toy trains being sold today. It has an uncanny whistle sound effect that takes me straight back to what I listened to lying in bed as a youth. The larger size scale works well as a holiday décor item and for kids (real kids, not me) all the fun and imagination inspiring whimsy are still in full force.\n\nThis set is worth the selling price. I refuse to compare it to what \"used to be\" because it is what it is ... its a Lionel."],"string":"[\n \"Product: The American Red Cross FRX3 is a solar and hand turbine powered AM, FM, weather radio with alarm clock. There is a built-in USB smart phone charger that allows a 30 second emergency phone call with one minute of cranking. To listen to personal tunes, use the AUX-input to play an external MP3 player. You’ll never be left in the dark thanks to the LED flashlight and glow-in-the-dark locater around the rim of the solar panel.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Average product, shop around\\n\\nReview: This radio neither excels at anything or completely fails at anything. Despite its unique design and \\\"American Red Cross\\\" label it is pretty average, and at that overpriced for something that's only average.\\n\\nThere are dozens of emergency kit radios that share similar features, some of them at a more budget-friendly price. Like this one they have a NOAA radio, hand-crank, solar cell, rechargeable battery and flashlight. And some include the latest gimmick which is to provide emergency charging capability to your cell phone. That is a very questionable feature. As someone who is an avid outdoorsperson my opinion that it is foolish to deplete the battery on an emergency radio to charge ones cell phone. First, if you are stranded in a remote area you are probably not in a cell service zone and if you are you probably should have called somebody already. Second and more important, if you are a hiker, skier, camper, etc. and have any intent at all to be in remote areas you should carry a dedicated high-capacity external emergency battery. I carry one from Anker <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Anker-2nd-Gen-Astro-E4/dp/B00BQ5KHJW/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Anker 2nd Gen Astro E4</a> that is 13,000 mAh, which is enough power to charge my phone at least 5-6 times and it is small enough to fit in my jacket pocket (and costs less than $30).\\n\\nAs far as choosing a NOAA weather alert radio, my personal experience has been that a major company who has been making them for almost 50 years like Midland can get you a higher quality product than a no-name label. On that subject, I'm a bit disappointed that an organization that is supported with our donations like the American Red Cross would let their name be used to endorse one product over another, giving the appearance that somehow this might be \\\"better\\\" in an emergency. It isn't.\",\n \"Product: TrueClear Advanced Screen Protector for iPad Air 2 and iPad Air is the best screen protector available, engineered for strength and clarity and tested to meet optometric standards. The result is a crystal clear screen protector that keeps your screen safe from damage while still giving you an incredible screen experience.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: One thing keeps it from being a 5-star product\\n\\nReview: I've used screen protectors going back to the days of the Palm Pilot (remember those?) Early screen protectors earned a reputation that exists to this day of being of questionable value, to put it mildly. They scratched, they distorted, they affected stylus/touch performance, we tough to clean and worst of all ... they were virtually impossible to install without bubbles and dust.\\n\\nThe newest screen protectors are hard glass and have eliminated all of the above problems and actually do protect the device's screen from reasonable dings and knocks. This isn't one of them, but it does represent a much newer and more sophisticated technology for flexible plastic protectors.\\n\\nThe Belkin is:\\n\\n* Very clear - no image distortion\\n* Does not scratch easily\\n* Has no effect on touch/gesturing performance\\n* About as trouble-free to install as any screen protector\\n\\nAnd a feature that makes this particular product stand out from the crowd ... it does a much better than average job of resisting fingerprints and smudging. And that makes it one of the best screen protectors I have tried.\\n\\nIs it as good as glass? In my opinion no. I have glass on two of my other devices that I use the most and both of them have had the protector installed for over a year, and they look perfect. They are micro thin and one of the phones I throw in my pocket every day of the week where it comes in contact with keys and coins and the screen looks like new. Plastic screen protectors aren't at that level (yet) but it was more than adequate for my 7\\\" tab that rarely leaves my house.\\n\\nFINAL RATING:\\n\\nRating a screen protector negatively because the user didn't know how or didn't use reasonable care in installing is not going to result in a rating that has any meaning to someone else so I won't go into detail about how the installation process went for me other than to say there were no unexpected unsatisfactory results. The rating is based on how well it met the criteria listed above, which it does very well. On the negative side is the price. Belkin isn't alone in grossly overcharging for screen protectors but the fact remains that it's not worth the price. The high price keeps it from being a best buy and results in a final rating of 4-stars.\",\n \"Product: The Transcend USB 3.0 SD & microSD Card Reader is able to transfer images, videos, and other files from SD & microSD card formats (SDHC/SDXC/UHS-I/UHS-3). This reader is compatible with Super-Speed USB 3.0 interface (backward compatible with USB 2.0) and features an LED status light. Compatible with both Windows and Mac platforms.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Card readers like this are designed to allow image files to transfer ...\\n\\nReview: As digital still and video cameras continue to increase their number of megapixels, file sizes continue to get larger as well. Among the results is file transfer rate continue to get longer and longer. The built-in media card readers in all but the newest models usually aren't capable of high transfer rates so we are left waiting a long time for our photos/videos to download.\\n\\nCard readers like this are designed to allow image files to transfer at a much faster rate due to use of USB 3.0 and electronics designed to handle the latest media card technologies.\\n\\nThis reader has very fast electronics and has multiple ports to accommodate most of the commonly used modern media cards.\\n\\nI did a casual test of several photos and videos and there is no doubt that it is substantially faster than the card reader built in to my computer. How fast? Your results will vary because there are many factors that determine transfer rates such as the specific type and model of the media card, the processor and amount of memory in your computer, hard disk speed and even how the computer is wired internally. But in all cases you should see a speed increase when downloading photos. Just be sure to plug this reader into the USB 3.0 port of your computer its usually blue.\\n\\nBy the way, once you open the blister card you will find an offer for a free app called RecoverRX which is useful to try to recover data that has been accidentally deleted. Getting that is probably worth more than the card reader itself.\",\n \"Product: This keystone jack provides a female S/PDIF Digital Optical (TOSLINK) connection on each side and is intended for use in standard keystone wall plates and other keystone devices. The keystone measures 31/32\\\" long by 13/16\\\" tall by 3/4\\\" wide. The core receptacle inside is gold-plated\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Note and heed the seller's warnings\\n\\nReview: The price is right and the quality of construction is nice. When ordering, be careful to note the seller's warnings about their premium Toslink cables not fitting into this jack. That warning not only applies to their cables but to those of other manufacturers as well. Of 3 cables I tried to use, only one of them fit. The others \\\"fit\\\" but could not be inserted deep enough for the optical ends of the cable to mate properly and hence they could not relay the signal between them. There is probably no way a buyer could know for sure if it is compatible without buying and trying it. While Toslink is a recognized standard, apparently variances in associated connectivity is allowed.\\n\\nIn fairness the fact that it didn't work properly with my specific cables is not a reason to downrate it, however it also is not fair to rank something like this 5-stars for \\\"best of the best\\\" so 3-stars for \\\"average\\\" indicates a neutral rating.\",\n \"Product: High speed memory cards recommended for DSLR cameras and full HD camcorders. Designed for the advanced shooter to capture the moment as it happens. File recovery downloadable software helps recover photos and videos that have been accidentally damaged or deleted\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: At least equal to other well-known brands\\n\\nReview: When I got a new Sony 24mp camera I found none of my available SD cards had the adequate capacity for such large still and video files. The Sony 32gb SD card was the lowest priced brand name card and while matching the brand of the card to the camera is not important, like they say \\\"it couldn't hurt\\\". At least I couldn't blame the card if it didn't perform well in a Sony camera.\\n\\nHowever it does perform and very well at that. Regardless of camera settings for both still and video photography the card doesn't bog down. I can shoot that the camera's maximum burst speed and there is no lag in write speed. Video playback from the card is stutterless.\\n\\nThe card is well made and fits well into the camera and my card readers. Sony SD cards get generally good reviews and are decently priced for a brand name. I was only too happy to save a few dollars that I could spend on other camera accessories.\",\n \"Product: The blue, customizable Windows touch tab on Sculpt Comfort Mouse revolutionizes the relationship between hardware and software, providing quick and easy access to the Start Menu, Cortana*, OneNote, Task View or virtual desktops.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: The most perfect mouse ever?\\n\\nReview: [NOTE: this mouse is being used with Windows 10]\\n\\nEarly on in my life with computers I used to buy Microsoft mice, because they were among the few that actually worked with the slowly evolving Windows operating system. They were overpriced and not very good but they were compatible. As time progressed and other brands came and went I started buying Logitech mice and loved them, despite the fact that they were one of the most expensive brands around. I got used to them starting out great and after about a year being, well, not so great. But I often wondered why no one else seemed to get the in-hand feel right or the button clicks just right and then there was that incredible scrolling. At least until the mouse got old. I have gone through more Logitech mice than I can count.\\n\\nNow with a new high-end laptop computer that has everything going for it other than being cursed with a trackpad that I cant stand (to be fair, I dislike trackpads in general), I set out to find the one mouse that rolled all of my wants and needs into one device that also happened to feel good in my hand. This is about my discovery of the Microsoft Sculpt Bluetooth mouse whether or not it is the perfect mouse.\\n\\nHeres what I wanted: a Bluetooth mouse that I could use on a few different computers without having to remove and reinstall any kind of dongle. I wanted a mouse that would track on most surfaces like a coffee table, the arm of a couch and even my leg. I mean after all, when you use a mouse with a laptop you really don't want to have to sit at a desk using a mousepad, do you? And of course, it was important that it feels good in the palm of my hand.\\n\\nSurprisingly, there aren't a lot of mice that fit that wish list. Basically a couple from Microsoft, a couple from Logitech and a couple from lesser-known companies. Sadly, the Logitech versions were nowhere near in their collection of premium mice with a great in-hand feel and a top-of-the-line scroll wheel. So I thought I would give Microsoft a shot again, and this model was surprisingly inexpensive.\\n\\nWHAT I LIKE/LOVE:\\n\\n1. It is compact, a good thing when traveling with a laptop, but not too compact.\\n2. It has positive button clicks that aren't annoyingly loud\\n3. The scroll wheel is accurate and has a good amount of resistance. It actually does have its own software version of Logitechs Hyper-Scroll that lets it fly through pages fast depending on how fast you spin the wheel. And it has a good balance between being a smooth scroller but yet has some clickability.\\n4. Although all Bluetooth mice have some lag from an at rest position, it is really very minimal\\n5. That bright blue patch on the side was a surprise, a delight and a reason to love it\\n\\nAll of the above is self-explanatory other than the blue patch. Microsoft does a terrible job explaining it and that almost caused me not to buy the mouse because one thing I want/need more than almost anything is physical forward/backward buttons on my mouse for web surfing. Microsoft really plays it down but that patch (as well as the other buttons/wheel) is fully programmable. And within 5 minutes I was finding I love it more than physical backward/forward buttons. Among its tricks is that you can set it so that if you physically click the patch you can open the start menu in Windows 10. But if you swipe your thumb up or down on it (reversible) you can go forward or backward in your web browser and you get a tiny tingle in your finger to tell you that it understands you. Funny but moving my thumb up and down is actually more logical than physical forward/backward buttons.\\n\\nYes, this mouse does track on my pants leg, or bare leg for that matter. And on a glass coffee table and on the floor and a leather sofa arm. And yes it does feel great when I wrap my palm around it. For my taste it is just ever so slightly smaller than I would think is the ideal size and I would prefer that my thumb fell to rest on the thumb rest, not the blue patch, but I can get used to that.\\n\\nFinal note, just to be clear, I liked this mouse right out of the box, but after installing a free download app from Microsoft to further tweak and customize it, to me it is now about as perfect of a mouse as Ive ever owned. I love this mouse!\",\n \"Product: kingston's Class 10 Uhs-i Ultimate Card Features Uhs-i Technology And Impressive Performance That Lets Users Shoot Full 1080p Hd Video And 3d Video - And Transfer Files Faster. The Card's Higher Sustained Write Speeds Support Continuous Burst Mode And Ensure Video Integrity By Reducing Stutter. The Class 10 Uhs-i Ultimate Card Is Compatible With Sdhc (16gb, 32gb) And Sdxc (64gb) And Is Backed By A Lifetime Warranty, Free Technical Support And Legendary Kingston Reliability.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Is it as good as the more well-known brand?\\n\\nReview: Though there are only a couple of well-known \\\"go to\\\" names for SD memory cards that account for the lion's share of the market, there are in fact several other manufacturers worth noting. One of them is Kingston. While not as common of a name for SD cards to some people they have been a stalwart for computer memory for many years and have been one of my most trusted brand names for computer RAM as long as I can remember. So why not trust them for digital camera/video SD cards?\\n\\nTheir selling price is in line with the other brands, and in fact cheaper if you consider the 32mb card I am reviewing a UHS-I SDHC card which generally sells for more. This is their best premium card, regarded by some as one the most premium card currently available. It was selling on Amazon for only $32 the day I ordered it to evaluate for review, however when it was introduced about 2 years ago it sold for just under $300).\\n\\nI'm not sure there is anyone one can definitively detail any substantial differences between the SD card from one company to another and I tried as best as possible to be blind to what brand name was stamped on it.\\n\\nI replaced the SD card on my very new and current bridge camera which is a memory hog at a 20 megapixel resolution count. The camera takes outstanding HD video so I reasoned I could benefit from the most mb I could stuff into it. Inserting it was flawless and of course my available image count doubled over my previous 16mb card to more than any person really needs (5000+ images at the highest resolution settings).\\n\\nIt is important to realize that a UHS-I card will ONLY perform at its maximum capability in a device that is built for UHS-I technology (most digitals cameras/camcorders are not)and when used with the latest USB 3.0 transfer interface (most computers don't have it built in). The good news regarding the Kingston product is that it is a SDHC compatible product, so you do not necessarily need a special controller. Kingston states that the card will give you Class 10 performance when used in a non-UHS-I capable device. Regarding \\\"picture quality\\\" don't believe anyone who claims an SD card from one manufacturer can give you \\\"better\\\" photos than that from another manufacturer. That is simply impossible.\\n\\nSo, bottom line, what are you buying when you choose an SD card brand name? As a professional photographer (I am not using this product professionally however) you are looking for dependability/reliability. Some brands (like SanDisk) are accepted as being pretty rock solid. I expect Kingston, given their reputation, to be reliable as well. I will update this as I run it through its paces and see how it performs in the long term.\",\n \"Product: View more, do more, and protect more with the clarity and mobile control of D-Links Pan & Tilt Day/Night Network Camera (DCS-5020L). With no monthly fees the exclusive mydlink app you can view and control the camera -anywhere, anytime -on your smartphone or tablet. Experience confident clarity and control with the ultra-smooth pan/tilt and digital zoom functionality. Integrated motion and sound-sensing detection and night-vision technology provides around-the-clock surveillance. Designed with an integrated Wi-Fi extender to easily expand your wireless network. With simple installation, youll have an effective, affordable home or business surveillance solution up and running in no time.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: This gadget has lots of uses\\n\\nReview: This little camera is an amazing value for the price. While many camera-based home security systems are designed to give you information after the fact, this camera will alert your smartphone if there is unusual motion activity or sounds and let you see it live, while panning, tilting and zooming to get the \\\"best view\\\" before you snap photos and call authorities.\\n\\nI didn't need an addition to my very adequate home security system but I found a cool use for this camera. I have cats that are used to occasionally being left on their own for a couple of days and longer if a friend or relative comes over to check their food and water. I have the camera set up to alert me when the cats move into their feeding area so I can be assured that they are all right. Then I check the level of food and water so I can call/text the human helper if the food is running low. The camera will also alert me if there is any unusual noise, like maybe a cat in distress. Convert that example to anything you might want to monitor, like maybe chickens who may be in harm's way of predators, you get the idea.\\n\\nLook, this isn't a $1000 sophisticated system so it's not fair to be too harsh on a product that costs less than $150. For what it is, there could be hundreds of unique uses. The image quality won't rival an expensive video camera, but it is equal to most small home security cameras. It appears that for the price you don't get auto focus, which may be the reason some folks think the picture quality is soft. Adjust the ring around the lens and it can produce a decently sharp image. At night the images are useful to about 20' - 25' but beyond that it would be hard to recognize anything anyway.\\n\\nI have the latest generation D-Link router so setup consisted of plugging the camera in and pushing two buttons ... one on the router and one on the camera and, presto, it was all set up. Since I already had a MyDlink account (free) it instantly recognized the new camera and I was good to go.\\n\\nIt should be remembered that this is a WiFi camera so it must be within range of your existing router. Regardless if you have a home security system or not, this camera can be very useful, and for the price it beats having nothing at all.\",\n \"Product: You don't need bells & whistles to bring your drive alive. The Onyx EZ makes satellite radio simple to install, use and enjoy so you can focus on the best part -listening.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: XMs best receiver yet\\n\\nReview: XM Radio and I go back a long way, pretty much since it was introduced. And I have a box literally full of old receivers to prove it. Some of them work but most have seen better days.\\n\\nRecently I wanted a new receiver to feed just one location, a small sitting area with its own dedicated sound system. I have a network radio receiver in there but for lots of reasons I have found that XM just works better and sounds cleaner than network radio. The room is small so I don't want a lot of clutter, and fortunately one wall faces in exactly the right direction to aim the antenna at the satellite.\\n\\nAfter owning numerous brands and models of XM radios, this one is truly the most attractive and useful. The home kit model which I purchased has a small weighted base (older models were very lightweight) that has all cables exiting from the rear (older models cables exited from the side). The receiver slides firmly into the base and can be removed to use with my existing car kit (it has a built-in FM transmitter).\\n\\nXM has finally made a model with a bright, clear and easy-to-read display. I can read it from an easy chair half-way across the room. The button locations are logical (another improvement over older models) and all are illuminated. The backlighting has both brightness and contrast controls.\\n\\nThe included remote control is more logical than older models and easier to read. It includes 10 preset channels.\\n\\nInstallation was flawless, and despite the fact that XM changed their subscription options without telling me and I had to choose a different package, the end result is I got all the channels I want and need for the same price as before. But it is a 3-ring circus trying to deal with them. You would think by now they would have figured out how to run their business. But then again, Im reviewing the radio here, not the company.\\n\\nI found no negatives, and based on the great styling as easy to use functionality, this receiver ranks as the best Ive owned and earns 5-stars.\",\n \"Product: Power monitors, hard drives, laptops and other desktop items while also charging USB-based devices with Belkin's Desktop Power Hub. Three surge outlets and three USB charging ports provide simultaneous power to multiple computing devices and peripherals. Elegantly designed with a piano black gloss finish and a built-in stand to hold a tablet or phone at a convenient viewing angle, the Desktop Power Hub makes multi-device charging accessible and convenient.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Very well made - but a bit odd\\n\\nReview: Belkin is a long-time respected accessory manufacturer. Their products are generally made better and last longer than a lot of the no-name dirt-cheap stuff on the market and for that reason you usually pay a little more for them. However, judging by the other identical hubs on the same Amazon page that are branded with no-name logos it is evident that Belkin's only role having to do with this particular product is to buy it from a Chinese OEM and have their name put on it.\\n\\nAt $30 this power hub might be thought of as slightly high for what it does, but doesn't feel cheap.\\n\\nThe first impression has to be the power cord. No flimsy thin wire connected to a power transformer here, this power cord is thicker than the one on my refrigerator. More like what's on my power drill. Coupled with a rugged molded grounded plug it is so thick the rest of the lightweight hub has trouble laying flat.\\n\\nThe plug feeds three grounded power outlets. Standard U.S. outlets (note that since this is a new product the Amazon illustration still shows the model Belkin sells in the Far East market). Two of the outlets are adjacent to one another and the third spaced quite distant to allow for any size power brick.\\n\\nOn one side are three USB ports, one marked 2.1A and colored gray. That one and another port have a circle drawn around them and the combination of both ports is marked 1A. Then the three ports have a larger circle drawn around all 3 and the combination of all 3 is marked 700 mA. The Amazon description states a combined rating of 2.1 A, which seems to be just the opposite of what Belkin intended and how the product itself is labeled.\\n\\nThere are no instructions or indications with the hub that define how those ports are intended to be used individually or together.\\n\\nThere are two pilot lights, one confirming that the unit is grounded and the other confirming that the unit is protected. At this point a serious question is raised as to exactly what the manufacturer had in mind when designing this hub. Use in the bathroom? Around the swimming pool? In the rain?\\n\\nFinally, there is a slot to place your \\\"device\\\" (I'll use that term to define whatever you decide to use this hub with). Being a universal dock there is nothing to plug your device's power in to (different brands and models of smartphones, tablets, reading devices, etc. may use different size jacks which may be located almost anywhere on the device). The slot is wider than most devices, even those that have very thick protective cases on them, so there is room enough with most devices to let them lean back at a comfortable angle. There is also a small cutout at the front center that may be designed to route the charging cable if you decide to place your device \\\"upright\\\" with the power jack at the bottom. It's hard to be certain if that's what Belkin had in mind because again there is absolutely no documentation packed with the hub. Frankly I think it would be a bad idea to let the entire weight of your device rest on the often fragile charging plug.\\n\\nThere is nothing to be found that is negative about this hub, it is rugged and provides 3 AC outlets and 3 USB power ports. The big question is, since it only holds one device at a time, why you would need 3 AC outlets and 3 USB power ports. It's not fair to deduct any points for that because some people may find it perfect for their needs, so considering how well it's made Belkin earns their 4 stars for quality of construction.\",\n \"Product: Boston Acoustics TVEEONE Surround Sound Slim Soundbar\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Impressive sound, attractive and versatile\\n\\nReview: When I saw the TVee One I was immediately intrigued. This speaker worker like a champ. The base is sturdy enough to hold up to about a 60\\\" TV,is low profile and tastefully designed to work well with virtually any decor.\\n\\nAnd the sound is glorious. Boston Acoustics seems to know how to focus the right amount of sound like it is coming directly right from the TV/monitor screen but still envelop the room with the effect of a multi-channel audio system. For those like me who often refer to Bose speakers as delivering miraculous sound from a small box, these are just as impressive but more natural sounding than Bose's highly processed sound field. Specifically the bass is clean and solid way down low, the highs are bright and sparkling and the mid-range is perfect for dialog and musical vocals.\\n\\nHere are some features to be aware of:\\n\\n- There is a row of control buttons along the upper-front panel that double as helpful status lights depending on how many and which of them are illuminated at any given time (they self-dim after a few seconds so as not to distract from watching TV). Kudos that they are angled so they can be seen from both a seated or standing position.\\n\\n- There is a 5-way built-in equalizer for dialog, music, music wide, movie and movie wide which have a significant effect on the stereo or surround sound effect. The included remote control also has a \\\"night\\\" mode to limit the dynamic range for late night listening.\\n\\n- The speaker has an easy to set up Bluetooth feature built in, a great way to play music from a smartphone or tablet.\\n\\n- There are two types of optical audio inputs plus an analog input on the rear. The speaker automatically selects the appropriate input and turns itself on and off with the TV (which you can override). All of the necessary cables are included in the box as well as a full-function remote control\\n\\n- The TVee One has a built-in processor to \\\"teach\\\" virtually any type of remote control the various functions, it's as simple as pushing a button\\n\\n- IMPORTANT: A small difference in how you place the speaker can make a big difference in the sound quality due to the dual ducted ports on the rear. Do NOT push it up against a wall or the sound will be terrible. Also, it is not wise to have a soft surface like curtains behind the speaker. I found a significant difference in sound quality (especially bass) when I moved the speaker forward to 3\\\" from a hard-surfaced wall from the 2\\\" where I originally had it. Bottom line: the rear ports have a very big impact on the quality of the sound.\\n\\nHookup is simple and it has classic restrained styling, no annoying gaudy logos, just a small subtle nameplate. After seeing and hearing it I am now using it coupled with a dedicated network receiver in my den on a lowboy bookcase where it is ideal for listening to morning news and a wide variety of music genres during the day plus I can instantly switch to play Bluetooth audio from my phone or iPad. The unexpectedly good sound and reasonable price earns a solid positive rating.\",\n \"Product: D-Links mydlink Camera Video Recorder (DNR-202L) captures every moment while youre away. Designed with two USB 2.0 ports (you bring the USB hard drives) you can record video and audio from up to four mydlink-enabled Cloud Cameras. Simultaneously record video and view real-time or playback recorded video from up to your mydlink-enabled cameras. Recorded video is secure and safe with local storage and setup is quick and easy with auto camera discovery and intuitive user interface. Use locally or anywhere with an Internet connection. The free mydlink mobile app and portal provides remote viewing anytime.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Doesn't work as expected\\n\\nReview: I added this recorder to an existing system of D-Link cameras, all of which work perfectly. However, in almost of month of trying I have not been able to get the recorder to work. I'm pretty high-tech and usually can figure things out but not in this case. I don't want to exaggerate but the installation seems to keep asking for more and more and more software to be downloaded and installed but the actual app that runs it really doesn't confirm anything or give a clue what more it needs to run.\\n\\nAt this point I'm a bit unsure of the basic concept of needing this plus a hard drive plus dedicated camera to build a video home security system when there are turn-key systems for about the same price that are plug-n-play.\\n\\nI have been traveling a lot since I got this recorder (hence it would have been nice if it worked) so I have not been able to devote the time to spend on the phone with D-Link so in fairness to them this review will rate it as \\\"average\\\" until I get it to work properly at which time I will post a more in-depth review and adjust my rating accordingly. I will note however that based on some of the other reviews this seems to be a recurring issue. I recommend keeping up to date on this and other reviews to see what the resolution is.\",\n \"Product: This Lightning to USB A charging/sync cable lets you connect you iPhone, iPad, or iPod with Lightning connector to charge your device or sync with your media library.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: A good value other than an odd quirk\\n\\nReview: The first impressions of Amazon Basics version of the Apple Lightning cable is positive. It is beefier than Apple's version, the plugs at the end are more substantial and of course, it costs a lot less. I have no complaints that it may not work with every possible case that any company could ever make for an Apple product ... that's not realistic and not a reason to downrate it. It works fine with the cases I bought from Anker.\\n\\nI did experience a quirk that I have been unable to document as to whether it is \\\"normal\\\" or \\\"abnormal\\\", a comment would be appreciated from someone who may be able to provide some useful feedback. When plugged into a desktop computer that had been used previously with an iPad (using the OEM cable) the computer recognized the iPad as an entirely new device and initiated the \\\"Welcome to your new iPad\\\" screen, setting up new profiles, a new backup scheme (which took 30 minutes to complete) and stating that it has now used 3 of the 5 computer connections Apple allows (I only have one desktop computer that the iPad connects to). This is likely due to the unique identity chip that Apple requires to be embedded into the cable. I wonder if Amazon knows about this, as it could be considered a negative for an otherwise fine cable.\",\n \"Product: The Atlantic Universal Soundbar Bracket is a smart solution to mounting your Soundbar or center speaker directly to your TV. Through an innovative design this unit allows you to have your Soundbar fastened directly below or on top of your TV for optimal listening experience.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: The ONE big difference is well worth it\\n\\nReview: I took an unusually long time for me to finally decide of the many sound bar brackets available which one to buy. Most of them seem basically similar to each other and the general price range is from about $16 to about $30. My soundbar at 40 is longer than a lot of them and is also heavier than most (its a Denon) and the way the keyholes are made they put a lot of forward weight on whatever they're mounted to. Ive used two different extra heavy duty wall anchors and both times the speaker tore out of the mounts.\\n\\nI didn't want to mount the soundbar butted right up to the edge of the TV for aesthetic reasons and for that same reason I didn't like that most brackets reveal all of the unattractive adjustment perforated slots/holes if there is any space showing between the soundbar and the TV. Instead, for my purposes I mounted the brackets to the back of my cabinet as shown in the photos rather than to the TVs wall mount. Only the part that actually mounts to my speaker is visible over the top of the cabinet. I used a spacer on the two bolts that slip into the keyhole mounts on my soundbar so I can easily lift it off if I need to get at the connectors. Although my soundbar is quite heavy I can lock the swivel joints of the bracket down using the included Allen wrench. Mounting it floating over the cabinet leaves me enough clearance between the soundbar and my equipment cabinet to slide a DVR, DVD player or other component under the speaker for a very professional finished look.\\n\\nThe Atlantic bracket is different in two very positive ways:\\n\\n1. The visible part between the TV and the soundbar is solid metal, not a perforated mounting bracket\\n2. But more important, this is the only bracket I have ever found anywhere that allows the soundbar to be adjusted FORWARD and BACKWARD so the front edge can be flush with the front of the TV or the soundbar can jut forward for better sound disbursement. And that one feature is why I bought it.\\n\\nThe way the forward/backward adjustment works is that the part between what mounts to the soundbar and what mounts to the TV has an articulating hinge. You can easily move the soundbar toward you or away from you (and up and down) depending on your preferences. Another benefit I discovered of that feature is that if your TV mount swivels from side-to-side a soundbar thats wider than the TV will hit the wall, but with this bracket you can scoot the speaker forward so you can swivel the TV without the soundbar hitting the wall.\\n\\nThe seller calls this a universal bracket and I agree it is very adjustable. It is capable of accommodating mounting holes up to 28 wide which should fit the mounting holes on a large percentage of soundbars. If you mount it to a wall TV mount the vertical bars can be spaced for the VESA mounting holes on every TV made. It seems the common issue some people are having is that they say it doesnt adjust to their speaker. Rather than use fixed screw holes the bracket uses long slots to allow for virtually infinite adjustment.\\n\\nThe bracket is very solidly constructed completely of metal yet it is not too heavy. Being as solid as it is it does not introduce any vibrations that could affect sound quality. It is at the upper end of what I wanted to pay, but the fore/aft adjustment is absolutely worth it, its surprising what a difference that can make in having the installation look custom vs amateurish.\",\n \"Product: Sony Digital Camera Screen Protector Foils PCKLM16\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Perfect fit. Cheap insurance for a high quality camera.\\n\\nReview: I bought this for a Sony A7. I chose this part number because it is the one recommended by Sony for that camera at their website. There is a similar looking screen protector also being sold at Amazon (but does not indicate a model number) that has many more reviews. The reason for that could be it sells for a little less money and is ready for immediate delivery whereas I had to wait almost a month for the PCKLM16. In reading the reviews for the lesser priced protector many reviewers mention the NEX 7 although Amazon lists it as compatible with the A7/R. The screen protector they are reviewing has a small notch cut out of one corner custom made for the NEX 7 whereas the PCKLM16 does not. The PCKLM16 is in authentic Sony packaging with an illustration of an A7/R on the packaging and they are made by Sony in Japan.\\n\\nI decided to pay more and wait the month for delivery. The product I received is a perfect fit for the A7 and the adhesive appears to be strong. When applied to the camera the protector does not add anything to the size nor weight of the camera. The material is extremely clear and hard enough to give confidence that it will protect the view screen from scratches and nicks. I use a cellphone-like protector on one of my other Sony cameras that works okay as a protector but detracts slightly from the image clarity whereas the PCKLM16 does not.\\n\\nFor a camera the quality of the A7 a $15 screen protector is a must-have. In time it may need to be replaced but it is cheap insurance against damage. By the way, another must-have is a good clear filter for the lens. The <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Sigma-EX-DG-55mm-Multi-Coated-UV-Filter/dp/B00009R6K1/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Sigma EX DG 55mm Multi-Coated UV Filter</a> is reasonably priced and well-made.\",\n \"Product: The directional condenser microphones equipped on the TM-2X are the same mics used in our highly-regarded DR-series recorders. The X-Y pattern and two mic capsules are ideal for capturing a true representation of the sonic atmosphere, whether it's sound from a wide area or directly in front of the camera. As a result, the TM-2X records pristine sound that fits naturally with the recorded video. High audio quality while handling high sound pressuresTascam continues to develop recording devices that focus on the design of the analog circuits behind the mic capsules. As a result, the TM-2X achieves a high performance rating and a frequency response of 50 Hz to 20 kHz. The TM-2X is also designed with the capacity to handle high sound pressures up to 120 dB SPL to prevent distortion even in loud scenarios. Stereo mini plug output for simple and direct camera connection Setup is as simple as connecting the cord from the TM-2X to the camera's mic input jack allowing you to add high-quality audio to video. The output can be set to one of two levels to enable compatibility with a variety of cameras.Floating structure for less handling noiseThe floating support structure underneath the mics absorbs unwanted handling noise and sounds from cameras' mechanics. Noise isolation arm includedWhen capturing video using changeable auto-focus lenses, the sounds produced from the lens itself can disrupt and interfere with recordings. In situations where this noise is a problem, you can reduce the interruptions by using the included noise isolation arm. The noise isolation arm physically increases the distance from the noise source to reduce its capture. The structure of the arm, including its length and height, was developed through extensive testing.Low-cut filter eliminates unwanted low frequenciesThe unit includes an on-board low-cut filter to cut out low-frequency background noise. Depending on the video recording scenario, you can choose to turn this feature on or off (\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: A perfect acessory for a DSLR camera\\n\\nReview: <div id=\\\"video-block-R37Y4STMJ9S8TK\\\" class=\\\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\\\"></div><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/A1h3C7fc%2BXS.mp4\\\" class=\\\"video-url\\\"><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61JK2iR2gxS.png\\\" class=\\\"video-slate-img-url\\\">TEAC/Tascam is one of a handful of companies that has a long history in audio recorders and microphones. Today, such products certainly are not built as robustly as they were 20 - 30 years ago and for an exacting professional it is hard to get past today's plastic construction to take products like this seriously. Oddly, despite not even being remotely as well made as old school audio products, improvements in circuitry and manufacturing techniques can deliver products with remarkably good performance at a reasonable price.\\n\\nSo with an open mind, and considering what kinds of applications a microphone like the TM-2X is intend for, does it amaze or disappoint? The attached video was made the first day I got the mic, I will take some time to do a better video soon. A few things to listen for (ignore the bad video quality) is the air was very calm that day but yet there is a ton of wind noise. That's not surprising. The included \\\"mouse\\\" will make for much more pleasing outdoor audio. Also note that the guitar player was well off-axis and the man on stage was playing the flute very softly at quite a distance from me. The sound imagery under those conditions is quite impressive. Also, I purposely shook, tapped and bumped the handheld camera to see how the isolation mount would handle it. So you might say this example is a worst-case scenario. Look for some future videos in which I will shoot under some better controlled conditions.\\n\\nFirst off, the microphone is clearly designed to be attached to such devices as DSLR's which have video recording capability, a built-in accessory shoe and a powered stereo microphone input jack. To a lesser degree this would make a good add-on microphone for lower-end dedicated digital camcorders (the better ones likely would have their own microphones at least as good if not better than the TM-2X). What makes it a good match for digital still cameras (when used as a video camera) is that it is rare to find any digital camera with a good built-in microphone, let alone any with a true X-Y pattern.\\n\\nThe product includes a Noise Isolation Arm to suspend the sound elements about 6\\\" forward to reduce the chance of picking up mechanical noises from the camera body and lens, a Floating Support Structure which does what it sounds like (isolating the microphone from the mount and camera body using a rubber device that literally floats the mic from the frame, virtually eliminating the physical transmission of noises from physical contact with the camera) and a Furry Windscreen which greatly reduces the effect of wind across the face of the microphone grills. The hardware is virtually all plastic, but not flimsy, for example the isolation arm has understructure bracing like a well-engineered bridge.\\n\\nThe microphone elements themselves are adjustable vertically (but not horizontally) to permit recording sounds that are mostly forward, mostly ambient and exclusively ambient. Think of forward being the recording of something like a band where you want to place the sound in the same relative position as what the video sees. Ambient would be more like recording a passing parade where you want to also include crowd sounds and the general atmosphere of the event for which you might point the mic elements up or down to take advantage of reflected sound. By adjusting to positions in between you can tailor the relative amount of ambience to the amount of forward sound. Tascam makes a point that the actual pickup elements are identical to what they use in their dedicated DR series digital recorders.\\n\\nThe TM-2X has two switches, one is a low-cut filter to reduce the boominess of a live room or further reduce wind noise and the other a hi/low sensitivity switch which acts essentially as a volume control in situations where the sound is excessively loud. The cable terminates in a stereo mini plug which is compatible with the majority of digital cameras (and also many small stereo recorders) and Tascam thoughtfully provides several built-in cable clips to assure mechanical noise is not transmitted up the cable to the microphone. Note that this microphone is not internally powered but can be powered from most DSLR and digicams through the stereo mini plug.\\n\\nTested with a very high-end digital camera recording a 4K video at a live highly percussive entertainment event the audio quality is very impressive and can rival a sophisticated multi-microphone setup when played back though a quality audio system. Highs were crisp and tingly, lows were clean and authoritative and the important mid-range audio for vocals snapped through clearly and well-positioned. However, a caveat ... I recorded in an outdoor environment at which I thought here would be zero wind noise so I did not use the fluffy mouse. I was so wrong. The mic elements are so sensitive they howled at the very slightest amount of breeze. I highly recommend kicking in the low-pass filter and using the included fluffy mouse anytime you record outdoors.\\n\\nFor under $130, if you are at all interested in improving the audio quality of your DSLR, this is a must-have microphone that is also very small and portable. While it may not amaze in the same league as expensive studio microphones, for its intended use it is a 5-star accessory.\",\n \"Product: Print Fully qualified Bluetooth 4.2 IEEE802.11ac standards compliant Antenna to support WLAN 2Tx2R transmission High speed wireless connection up to 867 Mbps Bluetooth Enhances Data Rate (EDR) support\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: It may not work for everyone\\n\\nReview: The idea behind the design of this card is terrific, a wifi card that theoretically can process wireless data at some of the highest speeds available in todays high end routers combined with a Bluetooth card that is compatible with the newest standards. It all sounds good on paper. But does it work? I really wanted it to. I have a powerful graphics-quality business grade computer that I use in my home office. It has tons of expandability but no available internal USB ports. And unfortunately this card requires being plugged in to an internal USB port. That doesnt seem to be the best design, I don't know what percentage of desktop computers have an available internal USB port but clearly not all of them. I tried looping a short cable to an external USB port and when I powered the computer up, this card sent an error message to my BIOS equivalent to what I would get if I didn't properly remove a USB storage device like a thumb drive. And thats the problem ... BIOS won't let Windows load thinking there is a bootable device in place, even if I changed my settings to only boot from the Windows partition of drive 0.\\n\\nSo, in a nutshell what Im saying is whether this adapter works for you may be hit or miss. It obviously works for some users so I cant ding them as if the product is unusable but yet I feel its because of their questionable choice of requiring their card to be plugged in to a USB port that some users will be left out in the cold. I was one of them and I had to send the card back, after spending many hours trying to get it to work. And that is why I believe the product earns the rating it got.\",\n \"Product: If you are looking for a dashcam full of personality the P1 Pro is the perfect choice. Complete with a light reminder, driver fatigue warning, and stop and go this device will help you reach your destination safely and in style. The G-Sensor will back up that important file when an impact occurs. It loops over old footage and continuously records while plugged into the car lighter outlet. Able to switch between 720p or 1080p HD 30 fps at 130 Degree angle footage you can create images through snapshots and video at different resolutions. The wide dynamic range will provide you with crystal clear images in low-light conditions. If you want to stand out with a swanky dashcam the P1 Pro is the choice for you.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Comprehensive testing and evaluation review\\n\\nReview: <div id=\\\"video-block-R17YOHHVMXT27W\\\" class=\\\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\\\"></div><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/E1%2B-fNG1uMS.mp4\\\" class=\\\"video-url\\\"><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/01Qj6Bc2SKS.png\\\" class=\\\"video-slate-img-url\\\">Dash cams are almost as common as cell phones in many developed countries in the world, but are virtually unknown in the U.S. other than a few You Tube videos that have gone viral (usually from Russia). Think when the last time you saw an ad for a dash cam on TV or in a magazine. Never? Yet it is such a useful device one would think it would be standard equipment in every car made.\\n\\nWhat is a dash cam? In its traditional form it is a small TV camera that mounts to a vehicle's windshield and records everything it sees in front of (and sometimes behind) the vehicle. It continually records, usually long enough for close to a full day's worth of driving, and then like a home security camera, automatically records over itself. Usually other than placing it on the windshield and turning it on most people never think about it. Until, that is, they are involved in an accident and their dash cam can be valuable proof for insurance claims and police reports. Most dash cams kick into a \\\"don't erase this\\\" mode automatically if there is a significant impact to trigger the sensor. And most dash cams also record sound, which can be useful in helping to determine cause, like the screeching of brakes or a horn blowing.\\n\\nI tested the Papago P2 PRO for an article I was writing for Tech Toy Playground. Here are some of the highlights.\\n\\nPapago! is a very new brand in a crowded field of manufacturers of dash cams. Right out of the gate they have some notable qualities that set them apart. While there are very few well-known brand names in the dash cam business (and those companies are barely a blip on the radar as far as sales go), Papago joins a long list of companies that sell dash cams for as low as $20 and as high as $400. Their products look different from the slightly odd shapes that are common for this type of product ... more robust, utilitarian and business-like but they also top the list when it comes to features and benefits and usability.\\n\\nThey are one of the few, if not the only, dash cam manufacturer to have a full presence in the U.S., with American-based people that understand the domestic market. That is one of several reasons I discovered that I believe will propel this newcomer company to the forefront of the dash cam industry and help redefine what the product does and what non-traditional potentials it holds. The manufacturer was very helpful to me in preparing this review with detailed responses to my questions while I was evaluating the unit that I received directly from their company.\\n\\nStarting with specs, I won't repeat what is published on this product page but will highlight the things that differentiate Papago! (the exclamation point is part of their name) from other brands.\\n\\nFEATURES:\\n\\n- GPS digital mapping\\n- Wide dynamic range for great nighttime video\\n- Lane departure system (exclusive) - warns you if you leave your driving lane\\n- Stop and Go (exclusive) - honks at you if you're still stopped after the car in front pulls away\\n- Front collision warning system (exclusive) - beeps at you if you are approaching the car in front too fast\\n- Driver fatigue alarm (exclusive) - helps keep you awake on long trips\\n- Light reminder (exclusive) - reminds you to turn your lights on at night\\n- Built in speed camera alert (exclusive) - lets you know of known speed camera locations\\n\\nLet's face reality, dash cams haven't caught on yet in the U.S. I can think of a few reasons, one being that most people don't think they would ever need one until after an accident at which they are not at fault but face increased insurance rates and a long legal battle. The other is they may have tried a dash cam and found the video quality was unusable. And third, they were turned off by the unfortunate lack of \\\"real\\\" reviews (yes this seems to be an industry ripe with suspiciously glowing reviews about no-name products) and found there was an incredible lack of information from offshore sellers.\\n\\nAs far as styling, well, Papago! stands alone in a field of sometimes strangely shaped dash cams. My first impression is that it looks exactly like one of those video monitors they used to have hanging down from the ceiling in high school science lab before flat screens came along. The shape is very practical, with the part that faces the driver being almost entirely \\\"TV screen\\\". The lens points out the front and is well recessed to avoid fingerprints on it. It is also reasonably shielded from the sun's rays by upper and lower eyelids. One thing that Papago! thought of that some other manufacturers don't understand is that the lens part that faces the windshield is matte black with no chrome or bright trim. There are a surprising number of other dash cams that have s bright chrome trim around the lens, which reflects in the windshield and distorts the video image. Of course the bright chrome trim also attracts attention to the camera.\\n\\nThe monitor screen is also coated to avoid glare. The camera's housing is a heavier than usual grade of plastic, very glossy black. Looking in through the grills on the side it looks like there is a metal chassis inside. Mounting is via a hanging gimbal mount that adjusts (and locks) vertically which in turn is attached to a ball & socket connected to a suction mount with locking tab. All of the operational controls (4 of them) are mounted under the monitor screen and operated with a tactile click. The left side has the SD card slot and a slide power switch that covers the SD card when in the \\\"on\\\" position to prevent the card from being removed. The right side has the mini UBS power connector (note it is NOT the micro sized connector used for most new smartphones, the mini size is more common for car accessories like GPS units). Finally there is a HDMI connector. The bottom has a microphone and an unusually large audio speaker. The layout is the simplest and easiest to use I have ever seen and after the first few minutes the use of an instruction manual is no longer necessary.\\n\\nThe camera is packaged with a cigarette lighter power cord, but not with a necessary (and optional) SD card. Maximum capacity is 32 GB which will record 6 hours before erasing over itself. Operation is simple and menu driven. Plug it in, follow the instructions and drive.\\n\\nWHAT IS LACKING\\n\\nThe most obvious missing thing is any sort of quick-release. That is unfortunate because no one should leave a camera like this in view when they are not actually in the vehicle, even for a short time. That means unsticking the suction cup each and every time, which can lead to premature wear and tear. As far as dash cams go this one is on the larger side, definitely not something you will stick in your pocket. I would have liked to see some sort of flannel bag to put the camera into when it's removed and stored in the accessory compartment of my vehicle. Other desirable missing features are a large easy to find button to put the camera into a \\\"do not delete\\\" mode after an incident (there is a button to do that but it looks the same as the other menu buttons).\\n\\nSpeaking of the suction cup, there was a concern or two about how well it would stick. First off, you can't expect to attach any suction cup to a vehicle windshield without cleaning the area first. Windshields are always coated with a film caused by the plastics and chemicals in the vehicle so the area must be cleaned with a good window cleaner or rubbing alcohol. I asked Papago! about that concern and they advised that they have redesigned the suction mount and they will work with owners who may have the old mount. During my testing I practically had to pry the mount off, it didn't look like it could fall off by itself.\\n\\nDIFFERENCE BETWEEN P2 PRO and P3\\n\\nThese are identical models with one exception. The P3 has a real time GPS display. Well sort of. When switched to GPS mode you can roughly make out where you are on a map display, but it has none of the route planning, turn-by-turn directions, or any other feature of a full GPS unit. For the extra cost I would say there is no compelling reason to opt for it ... there are so many excellent GPS units (including built in to most smartphones) it is better to keep the functions of the two devices completely separate.\\n\\nSUMMARY:\\n\\nWhile a quick Amazon search will reveal dozens of brand names for dash cams, many of them are hardly above the toy level and have no customer service support in the U.S. Those that do have recognized brand names on them are priced high and some appear to simply be a no-name unit with a brand-name logo attached. Papago! has a history in dash cams and is committed to supporting the U.S. market with a local presence. They have several unique and useful features that are unique to Papago! Here is a summary of the pros and cons of the P2/P3 model:\\n\\nPROS:\\n\\n- Good quality of construction\\n- Good video quality day and night\\n- Very easy to use\\n- U.S. customer service support\\n- Several unique useful features not found in other brands\\n- Reasonable price\\n\\nCONS:\\n\\n- No quick release mount\\n- Large physical size\\n\\nFor those reasons I am rating it as not-quite-perfect with 4.5 stars rounded up to 5-stars and recommend it as a model to give serious consideration to.\\n\\nOTHER BENEFITS:\\n\\nThere is something beyond the obvious with dash cams that is taking a while to catch on, likely because only in some countries will people use a dash cam for anything other than the extremely rare instances of catching an accident and using the evidence in their favor. That is the spontaneity of having a camera record your travels and adventures to share with your friends and family. For me it has been driving impossible trails, streams and off-road terrain in search of places where other people never go. It has been the unexpected sighting of a spectacular falling meteorite over a beachfront road or a herd of elk crossing the road in a remote forest. Yes, a dash cam can be used to memorialize road trip events that no one would ever believe later on. Frankly I would own one just for that reason and it would be worth every penny, with the \\\"insurance\\\" value placed as second.\\n\\nIn the attached video you can see some real-life day and night footage as well as a quick tour around town for distant relatives. But note that the video quality is not as good as what comes out of the camera because of the heavy compression Amazon uses when you post a video.\",\n \"Product: Enjoy superior sound while easily steaming music with built-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and AirPlay. With 7.2 channels & 165 watts of power, driven by the largest capacitors and transformer in its class, its legendary Sony sound that really connects. Featuring 4K resolution pass-through and upscaling, high-res audio compatibility, 10 HD inputs and support for 2 separate powered zones, this receiver is the ultimate high resolution sound stage for your music, Blu-ray movies, games and more\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: So, is it a 1-star or a 5-star?\\n\\nReview: <div id=\\\"video-block-RFOGUIYRVAK32\\\" class=\\\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\\\"></div><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/D1BoP%2BYpxUS.mp4\\\" class=\\\"video-url\\\"><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/11htNCs0Z0S.png\\\" class=\\\"video-slate-img-url\\\"> I have never taken so long to write a review - a full 5 months. It was necessary to live with this receiver in a real-life everyday living environment, listening to a wide variety of what I would normally listen to for me to offer a review that is useful to others. I have rarely swung so wide between giving any product a 1-star or a 5-star. I have never been so torn while reading reviews from people who either love this receiver or think it is junk.\\n\\nI work hard at writing detailed and very honest reviews and I was not about to be coerced into throwing a rating number at this product until I really had time to live with it and learn its pros and cons. What you are about to read is real life ... I have a long background in consumer electronics and have personally owned some of the top-rated products in hi-fi history. I don't take the quality of sound I hear out of an electronic device lightly.\\n\\nNote that there is a video attached to this review to give an overview of the unpacking experience and a close-up of the controls and ports. It is not intended to review the performance of the receiver.\\n\\nINITIAL EXPERIENCE\\n\\nI don't know how much the look and feel of a media component means but as far back as earliest days of radio and phonographs design has been a crucial part of sound equipment marketing. Note that when it comes to multi-channel media receivers there is hardly a tiny variance from the accepted \\\"look\\\" of a black box with a brushed aluminum (or aluminum-look) faceplate. There must be the expected large black knob(s). The LCD display is located in exactly the same location on almost every brand. The size and shape are virtually identical from brand-to-brand. In the retail shelf-space you won't find silver-faced units anymore. No wood grain. No white. No red. No green. All of those would be the kiss of death on retail shelves. So the Sony meets expectations here. Not that what it looks like has anything to do with how it sounds or functions. It simply looks like most other receivers.\\n\\nQUALITY OF DESIGN & USABILITY\\n\\nThe front panel is scarce. A personal disappointment is that the faceplate is made of plastic and shows fingerprints a lot. Even cheaper units from the competition use extruded aluminum. The user is barely aware that there are buttons along the entire width of the LCD display. Most people will never use them. There are two large heavy round knobs that have that smooth feel that Yamaha introduced many years ago, and they feel great. One is to control sound volume, which some people may use occasionally. The other is the input selector, which is rendered redundant and obsolete by Sony's simple and easy to use remote control. There are also a couple of front panel inputs that most people will rarely use but it's nice having them there. The rear panel is very pared down compared to most 7.1 receivers. On the negative side the speaker terminals are so tightly crammed together it is virtually impossible to connect bare-end speaker wires. Do yourself a favor and opt for banana plugs. There are plenty of HDMI inputs and two HDMI outputs but from there this receiver falls downhill when it comes to analog and optical inputs and outputs. And the assignability of the few that exist is tightly regulated by the manufacturer. Sony obviously lives in a HDMI-only world. One simple thing I miss is the old-school switchable AC accessory power plug on the back. So cheap to have included and easy to give us ... and so missed.\\n\\nFUNCTIONALITY\\n\\nCompared to its competition and earlier generation Sony products the on-screen-display (OSD) is brilliant and deserves tremendous praise. It is always ready to go at a button's press to display on your TV and is clean, simple, easy to read and for the most part, covers almost any setup function you wish to perform. It almost totally makes up for a remote control that has the most minimalistic buttons since your grandfather's Zenith TV. There are a few things that required reading the manual but not many, from everything I've seen Sony's OSD is best in class.\\n\\nThe remote itself is pretty good. Being that the buttons are assignable I wish Sony had found a way of letting the user custom label them instead of printing arbitrary and sometimes confusing designation on the button caps. There's not much to this remote ... a few assignable buttons, a basic transport control and a very basic volume/mute control. That's it. And after a while using it, I don't miss the 83 buttons of my previous receiver's remote. Having already said that the buttons on the remote are assignable, with so few of them I would have liked to be able to assign some functions that are not possible, like direct access to favorite sound fields. And using internet radio is a multi-step process that requires the on-screen TV display each time ... there is no way to simply press one button on the remote and resume listening to a favorite internet radio channel. But to be fair, most competitive receivers are also not ready for prime time when it comes to understanding how to implement internet radio.\\n\\nHOW DOES IT SOUND?\\n\\nThis is why I got it. My old receiver had close to most of the features I need other than network radio and wifi connectivity. I've never thought of Sony as being in the same league and some of the long-respected godfathers of audio and my past experiences with similar Sony products has been not that great. My old receiver (an expensive, top of line, Onkyo 7.1 receiver) never sounded \\\"great\\\" from the first day out of the box. Coupled with my Mirage 7.1 speakers and 2 ultra-bass JBL subwoofers my old receiver just sounded weak and puny. Every frequency sounded forced and everyday TV just sounded, okay being honest, like a TV with a 3\\\" speaker. I can't test every brand and model out there but I will say this. After 3-4 calibration resets I got the sound out of my new Sony receiver to be gut-wrenching, drawer-dropping knock-your-socks off amazing. And that's on every source up to the highest definition audio I could toss at it. As much as Sony leaves me wanting when it comes to operation and functionality I will say this to you ... it makes sound come alive! Now a purist should expect the sound from an amplifier to be uncolored. Not only isn't that a reality with most modern sound equipment, our tastes have changed over the years and have been influenced by what we hear in theaters and concerts. We want our sound to please us, not give us 100% faithful reproduction. And I assure you that the Sony delivers pleasing sound.\\n\\nSUMMARY\\n\\nThis is a powerful receiver, well suited for use with a good matched set of speakers. I realize that the volume \\\"numbers\\\" are relative and vary from brand to brand but just to give you an idea, my usual listening position with the Sony is between 20-30, whereas with the Onkyo it was between 50-60. At that high of a volume setting it was inevitable to hear hum and other electronic noise. With the Sony you can hold the speakers to your ears like headphones (with no music playing obviously) and hear zero electronically-induced noise.\\n\\nNEGATIVES:\\n\\nAre there negatives? Yes and they can be frustrating. Sony's idea of a user manual is for you to go to a website, where it is available in interactive form. Even at that, for an item like a sophisticated receiver, the manual is sketchy and does not explain in-depth what some features and functions do. Another negative is that a few times it has simply forgotten what it is doing and locked up. Not shut down (like from overheating) but locked up all of the control and stopped producing sound. Unplugging it for a few hours has reset it (so far) but then it is a pain to go through the entire setup and sound balancing process again. In 5 months that has happened 3 times. And I'll reiterate that the quantity and versatility of analog and digital inputs and outputs (other than plenty of HDMI connections) is less than expected for the price.\\n\\nBOTTOM LINE:\\n\\nIf I rated this receiver solely on sound quality and nothing else (and after all that is its primary job) I would give it 5-stars. If I rated it on everyday ease of use it would also get 5-stars. But if I rated it on versatility and dependability, based on my experience, it would be hard to give it much more than 1-star - it doesn't outshine any other brand that I've seen or used. But I am happy with it and combined with my Mirage speakers the sound is awesome, so a fair final rating all things considered is 4-stars.\",\n \"Product: The Gauntlet 3 SuperSpeed USB 3.0 2.5-inch external hard drive enclosure merges the speed and performance of USB 3.0 and SATA 3 technology with an Ultra durable and lightweight form factor. Simply install (plug-and-play) any 2.5 SATA I/II/III HDD or SSD for blisteringly fast data transfers -- up to 10X the data transfer rate of Hi-Speed USB 2.0 and 2X faster than SATA2 technology.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Strong, lightweight and protective\\n\\nReview: I own several similar enclosures designed for 2.5 drives (sometimes called laptop drives). Of them this one is in the middle as far as overall size. One of them is highly ruggedized for travel and the other is smooth and rounded to easily fit in a pocket. The Patriot Gauntlet 3 combines some of the better features of my other enclosures but is lacking in some other ways.\\n\\nThe enclosure itself is an aluminum sleeve. It is easily stronger overall than any of the ones that have a plastic shell. The drive mounts into a plastic tray that slides into the sleeve. This has an advantage in helping absorb impact shock and helping to insulate the drive a bit. The plastic tray will hold both HDD and SSD drives. I am using it with a Patriot SSD and the fit (as you would expect) is absolutely perfect, so much so that you can skip screwing it in if you plan to swap the drive regularly. The drive slides in at an angle and mates with the fixed receptacle/PCB. When used with a Patriot drive the installation process is extremely easy. If you wish to remove the drive the process is just as easy simply insert a small pointed object (pencil, jewelers screwdriver, etc) into the hole in the bottom of the tray and pop the drive out.\\n\\nBoth ends of the plastic tray are exposed after it is slid into the aluminum sleeve. One end of the tray is perforated for ventilation and the other has a USB 3.0 port and a relatively large (and bright) blue LED drive status light. The kit comes with 4 screws to mount the drive to the tray (optional) and 2 screws to hold the tray inside the aluminum sleeve (required). A nice touch is that the plastic tray has two tiny brass ferrules to screw into so it can be opened and closed repeatedly. A jewelers screwdriver is included, which is the perfect size to use to pop the drive out of the tray if you need to. Finally, a heavy-duty USB cable is included; the 18 length is pretty common for drive enclosures of this type.\\n\\nAddressing some concerns about dependability, frankly theres not much to be concerned about. The case is essentially passive, in other words there is not much there to fail. Those users reporting failure might be more likely have an issue with their drive, not the enclosure. Likewise those who could not get their drive to work (i.e. be recognized by their computer). This is not a fault of the case, nor of the drive but because bare drives are generally shipped unformatted. This is common, and an easy task to format (and partition) the drive to suit the users individual needs.\\n\\nThe only negative I have about the Patriot Gauntlet 3 enclosure is the bold and gaudy logo and graphics painted onto the aluminum sleeve. I don't have the need to advertise the brand and model of something after I already bought and paid for it. The graphics on this case are particularly ugly and I would have strongly preferred that there was no logo at all.\\n\\nPatriot provided a sample for me to evaluate and share an honest opinion with no expectation of preferential treatment. I rated it 5-stars despite the graphics because that is a personal preference that has nothing to do with performance. The product itself is superior to anything I have yet to run across in this price range.\",\n \"Product: Wirelessly Stream Music In Genuine Hi-Fi Quality With the Large HEOS 7 Wireless Speaker: Hear Everything From Internet Radio to Services Such as Pandora, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Rhapsody, and More Five Drivers, Five Dedicated Amplifiers, Dual-Band Wi-Fi, and DSP Processing Guide the HEOS 7 Wireless Speaker and Produce Tremendous Bass, Mammoth Sound, and Lively Dynamics Tailored to liven up even the biggest spaces with room-filling music, the largeHEOS 7 wireless speakermakes music come alive in vibrant, full-range, hi-fi sound that features genuinely deep bass and a punchy midrange. Able to stream music from a plethora of sources, including smartphones, tablets, USB sticks, NAS drives, and the entire spectrum of Internet radio and music services such asSpotify, Pandora, Rhapsody, iHeartRadio andTuneIn,HEOS 7supplies big, open spaces such as open-floor areas, patios, and living rooms with big, clear, loud sound. Because of the superb user interface and simple setup, you'll be listening to music seconds after you remove HEOS 7 from the box. Dual-band Wi-Fi, five drivers, five dedicated amplifiers, two passive radiators, and DSP processing do the rest. You can even add more HEOS components to the system, group them together, and enjoy multi-room sound. Backed by our60-Day Satisfaction Guarantee! What HEOS Is and How It Works Wireless multi-room sound has finally evolved to meet audiophile standards. IntroducingHEOS,a cutting-edge wireless system that fills any room with phenomenal sound from your digital music sources. Bolstered by dual-band 802.11n Wi-Fi for long range and extra bandwidth, HEOS connects to your existing Wi-Fi network and can be placed anywhere. No bridging device or new equipment required. HEOS Means Plenty of Options and Easy User Interface You can choose one of three different-sized standalone speakers; the optional HEOS Extend even expands wireless reach to every part of your home.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Went from 5-star to 2-star then 5-star again - read why\\n\\nReview: <div id=\\\"video-block-RLLFCKZBQO8PK\\\" class=\\\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\\\"></div><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/D1JZj3shyOS.mp4\\\" class=\\\"video-url\\\"><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/0167VS7eQeS.png\\\" class=\\\"video-slate-img-url\\\"> My review for this speaker started as a 5-star rave and spiraled downward to a 2-star before bouncing back again to 5-stars. It is important to realize why this is the case, as the majority of reviews are never updated after they are written. It is always a good practice whenever shopping online to make a point of reading the most recent reviews because the design and performance of a product often changes. For this product that could not have been truer.\\n\\nMany of the older reviews make a major point of discussing the issues of the HEOS series (not just this one model) with not being able to pair with your source (usually a smartphone) and then not being able to do so time after time. Regardless of how good this speaker looks or sounds, that inability to stay \\\"connected\\\" was the kiss of death for the entire HEOS series - to the point I gave up and stopped even trying.\\n\\nFortunately the manufacturer, Denon, didn't stop trying. After numerous failed attempts to update the software and firmware (and a tenacious effort to stay in personal contact with me and work through the issues) I am pleased to report that my HEOS products now work as they should ... first time and all the time. Please take that into account when you read the older reviews and if you were one of the original reviewers like I was, it may be time to download the latest fixes to your older product.\\n\\nNow that my HEOS system works as it should, here is a condensed version of my initial testing and evaluation and why at the time I felt it earned 5-stars, and why I raised this update back up to 5-stars.\\n\\nThe HEOS 7 looks and sounds like a WOW out of the box perform impressively whether the sound source is the delicate pluck of a violin string or the gut-rattling thump of urban rap. There are no mincing words or hedging specs, Denon went out hunting for bear with the HEOS 7 and they ended up with a product that both looks and sounds amazing.\\n\\nIt should be made clear that I am not a Denon groupie; in fact this is the first Denon product I've ever owned. Like most of us I have my personal brand preferences but I try to whisk preferences aside in a quest to be as objective as possible about a sound product's ability to produce musical goosebumps. This speaker does that in a most marvelous way.\\n\\nLet's be fair, this is a LARGE speaker, far larger than I expected. 8\\\" high x 19\\\" wide by 6.5\\\" deep. Yes that large. It is something that may likely be put in a particular location and stay put from then on.\\n\\nCompounded is the fact that Denon chose not to incorporate any sort of handle to carry this beast around. It is portable in the loosest sense of the word. That evidently is by design, as the speaker is AC only, no battery power available.\\n\\nDenon, for almost $700 chose not to incorporate some features that are pretty commonplace in speakers these days. Like Bluetooth and Airplay, two of the most common features of portable speakers. Additionally, there is no separate remote control. You can buy a 3rd party Bluetooth dongle and connect it to the AUX input. That being said, in order to select the AUX input but you will need to have a network connection to do this because at this time HEOS is only operable when connected to a network with an Android or iOS device using the HEOS app to control it. If there is one thing I would suggest to them regarding the design it would be to recess the connectors on the rear deeper into the cabinet. If you try to place the speaker on a wall shelf as it is now it won't fit flush against the wall because the power (and any other) connectors have to protrude at least an inch straight out from the rear of the cabinet.\\n\\nIncluded with the speaker is an AC power brick, a short stereo mini-to-mini cable and a short Ethernet cable. And a very brief instruction manual. The instructions are to download the HEOS app, plug your iOS or Android device into the speaker using the stereo cable and push a button to sync them. From that point you use your device (smartphone or tablet) to turn the speaker on and control the volume. The speaker turns off automatically when there is no sound for 20 minutes and goes into deep sleep whenever the wired or wireless network connection is removed for more than 60 minutes. To completely turn off the power to the speaker you must remove the power plug from the back of the speaker.\\n\\nThe only major controls on the speaker are up/down volume and a mute button. You select the source (the built-in Spotify, Rhapsody, TuneIn, and Pandora or play-from-device from the app installed on your phone or tablet). There is a bass/treble adjustment control in the app's settings but none on the speaker itself.\\n\\nAs this is a home network speaker it is not possible to use it wirelessly where you don't have network capability (for example, using Bluetooth or Airplay) and for the most part it would be impractical to take to a party unless your host is willing to give you their network password and let you log on or you connect the speaker using the AUX input. If you don't have a wired or wireless home network this may not be the speaker for you without additional accessories.\\n\\nThe sound stage is quite broad considering this is a single speaker rather than a pair of stereo speakers. There is none of that artificially processed sound that so many mini speakers have. The speaker does produce stereo sound from the single enclosure with 5 active drivers, including 2 precision tweeters, 2 mid woofers, 1 subwoofer, plus 2 passive radiators to provide additional bass response.\\n\\nThe HEOS 7 sounds great but has some limitations for its price. It is intended to be used on a home network with your phone or tablet being the source. My home has 2 new network receivers serving 4 zones. Ideally I would like this speaker to wander with me to various rooms, plug it in and have it play what's playing in the other zones, something that is possible but not without a $350 accessory, the new HEOS Link which from what I know at this point could make HEOS an incredibly powerful wireless multi-room audio system.\\n\\nInitially I was concerned that I would have to dedicate my phone or iPad as a source thereby tying them up from their intended purpose all day. In truth you don't need to tie up your mobile device while using HEOS. Your mobile device will simply act as a controller to select the source. HEOS players actually directly connect to your streaming services and network attached storage. You can actually turn off your mobile device and music will continue to play, the only obvious exception being if the source playing is music that's stored on the mobile device. For example after I choose a network radio station I completely shut down the app and even leave the house with my device and the HEOS continues to play. The only way to stop the sound is to use the \\\"mute\\\" button on the speaker or to press the stop button on the music source (i.e. Pandora, TuneIn, etc.)\\n\\nBack to the one and only reason most people buy speakers ... the sound. My HEOS 7 has ended up in my home office, replacing a set of high-end bookshelf speakers and a subwoofer. For now I am driving it from TuneIn and playing a diverse playlist of Jazz, Classical, New Age, and Urban music among others. As Denon recommends the speaker is across the room from me at ear level. It fills the room with direct and reflected sound making it hard to pinpoint a single source of the sound. Each instrument sounds real, not recorded. Forgetting brand, price, how it operates and everything else the quality of sound performance is at connoisseur level.\\n\\nThe HEOS apps for iOS and Android are virtually identical to each other and intuitive. If you install it on one device (which requires a temporary hard-wire connection) it will automatically set itself up on your additional devices. It lacks only one important feature which is a dedicated \\\"favorites\\\" button for network radio stations on the main screen, a feature I have come to love on my Marantz network receiver. Marantz, by the way, is owned by the same company as Denon.\\n\\nSUMMARY:\\n\\nThe \\\"pros\\\" of the HEOS 7 are overwhelmingly positive starting with simply amazing sound. I would buy one for every room in the house on that basis alone. It is also beautiful to look at while at the same time being very unobtrusive. And it is exceptionally easy to use, not a claim easily made by some of the newer home entertainment products. The \\\"cons\\\" are very minor ... the lack of a dedicated \\\"favorites\\\" button and the fact that when you plug in an AUX source it shuts of the network input (my Boston Acoustics speaker automatically switches between AUX and A. Boston Acoustics by the way is also owned by the same company as Denon ... see a trend?) Finally under \\\"cons\\\" is the frustration that due to the lack of Bluetooth or Airplay I can't watch a YouTube video on my iPad and send the sound to the HEOS 7.\\n\\nBecause the speaker does such an outstanding job at what it was designed to do, none of the \\\"cons\\\" are significant enough to cause the HEOS 7 to be rated at less than a solid 5-stars which it earns on sound quality alone.\\n\\n[NOTE] the accompanying video is intended to illustrate the unpacking experience and what's in the box. There is a short musical excerpt from my iPad playlist, however no speaker should be judged by a video recording, there are too many variables to draw any valid conclusions.\",\n \"Product: Wirelessly Stream Music In Genuine Hi-Fi Quality With the Mid-Sized HEOS 5 Wireless Speaker: Hear Everything From Smartphone Content to Internet Radio, Pandora, Spotify, Rhapsody, iHeartRadio and More Four Drivers, Four Dedicated Amplifiers, Dual-Band Wi-Fi, and DSP Processing Guide the HEOS 5 Wireless Speaker and Yield Deep Bass, Full-Range Sound, and Wowing Dynamics The mid-sizedHEOS 5 wireless speaker makes music come alive in rich, vibrant, full-range, hi-fi sound that features genuinely deep bass and a punchy midrange. Able to stream music from a plethora of sources, including smartphones, tablets, USB sticks, NAS drives, and the entire spectrum of Internet radio and music services such as Spotify, Pandora, Rhapsody, iHeartRadio and TuneIn, HEOS 5 occupies a compact footprint but delivers big sonics that don't shirk on dynamics or clarity. Because of the superb user interface and simple setup, you'll be listening to music seconds after you remove HEOS 5 from the box. Dual-band Wi-Fi, four drivers, four dedicated amplifiers, and DSP processing do the rest. You can even add more HEOS components to the system, group them together, and enjoy multi-room sound. Backed by our 60-Day Satisfaction Guarantee! What HEOS Is and How It Works Wireless multi-room sound has finally evolved to meet audiophile standards. Introducing HEOS, a cutting-edge wireless system that fills any room with phenomenal sound from your digital music sources. Bolstered by dual-band 802.11n Wi-Fi for long range and extra bandwidth, HEOS connects to your existing Wi-Fi network and can be placed anywhere. No bridging device or new equipment required. HEOS Means Plenty of Options and Easy User Interface You can choose one of three different-sized standalone speakers; the optional HEOS Extend even expands wireless reach to every part of your home.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Heos 5 as part of a full wireless system\\n\\nReview: I have an all-Heos home. When I first started the project of seeking multi-room audio it was a nightmare of convoluted wiring (my home is an open floor plan and the wires had to be run around the exterior and holes punched into the walls where the speakers were). Then the switching system so I could hear the same or different audio in each room requires a $2000 switchbox and even more wiring and hole punching. And even then I was limited to what my main sound system could feed out to the remote speakers.\\n\\nBluetooth and other wireless speakers just didn't work any more than a short distance from the sound source. Then internet-based speaker technology came along and I jumped in with both feet. There were some benefits but the speakers looked dorky and were fine for background music but they weren't exactly audiophile grade.\\n\\nMy first exposure to the Denon Heos system got me hooked. Well, almost. No the sound quality isn't pure audiophile grade but it is impressively good considering the size of the speakers, and the availability of sound sources and integral switchability was equally impressive. The only downside was that the app-based control scheme was slow, cumbersome and hardly dependable. But I stuck with it, sometimes pulling my hair out and cursing my decision.\\n\\nI was in touch with the manufacturer more often that I called my mother. What impressed me is that they actually listened and for a while they were pushing out firmware and software fixes what seemed to be several times a day. And things got steadily better. You can trace my frustrating ride even by reading other reviews here and elsewhere the early ones were highly critical and negative about the apps, and over time those complaints grew less and less. Thats the real value and beauty of upgradable firmware/software. Its also a good lesson about why people who post reviews should update them once in a while as their issues get fixed.\\n\\nFrankly I am still not crazy about the apps user interface. It still takes too many steps and some procedures are still too menu-driven. But I will say that it is to the point that I can turn my system on much the way one would turn a table radio on and not spend 5 minutes fussing with getting it set up each time.\\n\\nLets look at my own system for an example of that. I have Heos speakers in every room plus a control unit that feed off my dens sound system. That control unit isn't mandatory but I have some unique needs to route audio from that room to the other rooms and also make it available to hard-wired and Heos portable units (with optional battery pack) for poolside and the back yard. I am able to treat each speaker as its own entity receiving network radio on its own and controlling the volume locally. Or I can pull any sound source into any room or link any combination into any room(s) I want being able to control the volume and mute for each of them locally or via the app. I can plug a local sound source (like a TV) into any speaker and (using an optional Bluetooth dongle) I can send sound from a phone, tablet or other Bluetooth-enable device to any local speaker.\\n\\nEach of the speakers is different, depending on the size of the room, so there are Heos 1,3, 5 and 7 speakers and a Heos soundbar for the master bedrooms wall-mounted TV (the main media room has its own dedicate audiophile-grade sound systems, although I do have a Heos repeater in there so I can input audio from my Heos network. The versatility is amazing and since each speaker is matched to the size of the room its in the sound quality is superb considering these are all single-point speakers. When all speakers are fired up playing the same sound source I can walk the entire house and have an almost seamless blanket of sound with almost no dead spots.\\n\\nYou are here to learn about the Heos 5, which is the second-to-top-of-the-line after the Heos 7. I wish I could put into words the largeness and richness of sound and the deep bass this speaker puts out. It is powerful enough for larger rooms like a living room, master bedroom or family room, not quite as immense sounding as the Heos 7 but still very big while being housed in a substantially smaller cabinet. Of all the Heos series it has one feature that could be very attractive to some people, a built-in carrying handle. All of the Heos-series speakers are uniquely shaped, tapered and curved and none of them are easy to hold or carry. Of all of them the Heos 3 has an optional battery/Bluetooth adapter pack so it can be carried, well, anywhere. However it shares the family trait of being hard to get your hand(s) around. The Heos 5 however has a nice carrying handle molded into the back of the cabinet making it an awesome choice if you are only buying one Heos product and you want to carry it from room-to-room. I'm not sure I understand why Denon didn't make the Heos 5 the so-called \\\"portable\\\" speaker with an available battery pack and Bluetooth adapter.\\n\\nOne of the things that I most love about having an all-Heos system is that, despite the fact that the 1,3,5 and 7 speakers are all different sizes and shapes they all have audio characteristics that give them the same family of sound. There is no jarring sense that one rooms speaker sound brighter or bassier or warmer than the speaker in another room. Unless you push them beyond a reasonable expectation (for example, to place the Heos 1 in an extra-large living room) the speakers just seem to fill the room end-to-end, top-to-bottom with sound that reflects and radiates rather than broadcasts from one pinpointed location.\\n\\nMy recommendation if you are looking for only one Heos speaker and your room size is a typical living room, den or bedroom, the Heos 5 would probably be your best one to start with in terms of size, price and performance. I recently swapped my speakers around which made the Heos 5 the one I listen to most of the time now. I put it where my Heos 7 used to be and i won't say it sounds just as good but it does sound surprisingly close overall with the biggest exception being that the Heos 5's sound is more pinpointed, while the Heos 7 has a wider soundstage.\\n\\nWireless speakers have suddenly become popular with offerings now from almost every major name in audio. With the advice to you that reading a review can't tell you how any of them sound, to my taste the Heos series represents, to me, the best sound of any of them.\",\n \"Product: With the Eton Mini you can tune in to your favorite local stations or listen to news and music from across the globe. With AM/FM and shortwave bands you can hear just about everything your ears desire.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Equivalent to other name-brand radios in its price range\\n\\nReview: I'm surprised at some of the negative comments about what this radio \\\"doesn't do\\\". The fact is it is an under $40 pocket radio. At that it is very well made, looks beautiful, sounds better than expected and has reasonably good performance. Eton is no \\\"off brand\\\" company; they sell some very high-end and respected radio equipment, including Grundig. And the good look of their products is no accident as they are a design partner with Apple. I found the product to look and operate exactly as it looks on this page.\\n\\nGranted, AM/FM pocket radios are not considered high-tech products in today's world and shortwave radios have a very small market share in the United States - and shortwave enthusiasts more often than not have very critical needs and tastes and will opt for radios that cost several hundred dollars. That must be taken into account when reading comments about what this little radio \\\"doesn't do\\\".\\n\\nThe small size of the Eton Mini makes it a good choice to take along when traveling, whether you are staying in a hotel, motorhome or backwoods camping. Like other Eton products I own it is a nice grade of plastic that can take being thrown into a drawer, suitcase or backpack. The buttons are physical (that is they are not membrane touch panels) and operate with reasonable precision. The display is especially bright and clear for such a radio, great for someone with limited vision. The speaker, as mentioned, sounds better than you would expect for such a small radio. It won't fill a room with glorious music but for news and information and a little background music it is very easy to listen to.\\n\\nFor any of the above listed purposes the user will appreciate that the Eton Mini uses standard, easy-to-find AAA batteries and will run for a long time on a set. The earphone plug is a standard mini-jack and when headphones are plugged in it can play stereo sound. It has an alarm setting to be used as a clock radio, again making it ideal for traveling. The corners of the case are rounded and it will fit into a standard shirt pocket (it's thinner than a typical pocket radio) and there is a \\\"lock\\\" button to prevent the settings from accidentally changing.\\n\\nIs it the best choice in its price range? Actually, considering that pocket radios are not considered high-tech, there are dozens of brands and models in this price range to choose from, including some very good ones from Sony, Grundig, Sangean, etc. I own several of them. The Eton Mini can be favorably compared to any one of them, with the decision coming down to personal choice of aesthetics, operating controls and display visibility.\",\n \"Product: The Linksys USB Ethernet Adapter (USB3GIG) is the perfect solution for the business traveler that prefers the speed of Gigabit Ethernet to Wi-Fi. Simply connect the USB3GIG to your MacBook Air, Chrome book or Ultra book's USB 3.0 port and the Ethernet port to a router to get an ultra-fast wired connection. With the Gigabit Port, you'll get high-speed data transfers, which is great for downloading large files or streaming media. Its compact design makes it easy to carry and the travel cap keeps it protected. The Linksys USB Ethernet Adapter Gigabit USB 3.0 is the perfect solution for anyone who requires ultra-fast wired speed.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: It is what Linksys says it is, but you need to understand what that is\\n\\nReview: It is important to begin with understanding what this adapter is, and what it is not:\\n\\n1. It is basically a passive device designed to permit someone who has a computer (usually of the netbook design) that doesn't have an Ethernet port and doesn't have access to WiFi to connect to a hard-wire router. This adapter won't magically turn a slow internet connection into an ultra-fast one.\\n\\n2. The on-disk drivers are for Windows and Mac OS. Since the product was introduced there are reports that additional drivers are avilable for downloading.\\n\\nThis adapter might be useful is to someone who has a laptop or Ultrabook which is not equipped with a Gigabit Ethernet port but has such a port available to them in their home or office (not common). In such an application, assuming they are running the right OS, they may be able to increase their speed by plugging this into their USB 3.0 port (again, not that common). Under the right conditions, the adapter does work acceptably which rates it 4-stars.\\n\\nTo address the concern that this may be a legacy (discontinued) product and therefore no longer supported, it is in fact a current product and is listed in-stock and available for sale at the Linksys website as of mid-September 2014.\\n\\nBottom line: there is nothing negative about the design or operation of this adapter if it suits your needs and the hardware you are using it with and hence it gets a good rating. But don't expect it to so what it's not designed to do.\",\n \"Product: The HEOS Link is part of the HEOS wireless multi-room sound system that enables you to enjoy your favorite music anywhere and everywhere around your home. By utilizing your existing wireless home network and the HEOS app on your iOS or Android device, you can explore, browse, and play music from your own music library, from online streaming music services, and from thousands of internet radio stations.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Updated. This is the missing link - why will it change your entertainment system?\\n\\nReview: After discovering the HEOS 7 speaker I began to see a reformation of the potential and listening quality of my home audio system. Follow this review as Denon continues to make major performance improvements.\\n\\nI am a life-long connoisseur of high quality home audio. When I was in college I was the only student who had a full-on audio system in my dorm room. In my first apartment when I was barely making any money I couldn't go a few months without buying the newest and latest amplifiers, speakers and other audio gear. I still have some of those high-end products including a pair of speakers that cost $5000 EACH.\\n\\nI've mellowed a bit now and circumstances dictate no more 7' audio racks in the living room with accompanying 7' speakers. Now it boils down to four things ... great sound when watch movies on my flat-screen TV, pure clean music to relax to in my favorite chair in my den, high quality but unobtrusive sound in my home office, and music-grade sound for my spa and outdoor entertainment area.\\n\\nAll that is challenging in a multi-story, open floor plan home with vaulted ceilings. It is extremely perplexing to run speaker wires where I need (want) speakers and tying it all together with an integrated control has been a nightmare. So I have interconnect wires, speaker cables, etc. running around the external perimeter of my house ... something I know many people have to resort to.\\n\\nMy first network receiver a few months ago opened my eyes to new possibilities and opportunities. Then just recently I added a network receiver for my home entertainment system and then replaced two bookshelf speakers and a subwoofer in my home office with the HEOS 7, which actually sounds better than $1000 worth of speakers. But there was a missing link. Tying them all together and controlling them from anywhere in the house. An inquiry to Denon opened my eyes to a brand-new product they were just bringing to market. The HEOS Link. I had to try it - this seemed to be the missing link I needed.\\n\\nAfter extensive testing here is what I found.\\n\\nThe HEOS Link is a quality piece of hi-fi gear. The little box has an abundance of connectivity both in and out. To name them ... there are both coaxial and optical digital outputs, an optical digital input, a USB input used to connect USB storage devices, network connectivity via Ethernet or dual channel wifi, analog RCA preamp audio out, standardized subwoofer out and both IR and trigger out. The unit works with (and only with) the Android/iOS HEOS app which does not create a source of content but rather acts as a remote control for content. In other words, whether your source is Pandora, Spotify, Rhapsody or TunedIn, or the units AUX input or the content on your smartphone or tablet, once you select a source the HEOS Link, um, links to it and from then on you can shut the app down or even travel 1000 miles away with your phone and the HEOS link will keep pumping sound out.\\n\\nI have two devices so far interlaced in my HEOS environment, the Link and a HEOS 7 speaker Denon HEOS 7 Wireless Speaker(reviewed separately). I can feed both of them the same source or a completely different source by simply swiping the devices together or apart on my iPad or smartphone. The effect is addictive, why run wires when you can interconnect each room in your house with HEOS speakers or the Link to feed to old school non-network components.\\n\\nSetup is brainless, you download the app, plug your smartphone or tablet hard wire into the Link and push a button and it learns to like each other. From then on your smartphone or tablet is your command center.\\n\\nIs there anything not to like? Well, yes. Both the firmware and software have been automatically updated several times since I got the HEOS 7 speaker and the HEOS Link. Yes, this is a good thing because it shows that Denon is up all night trying to perfect this concept. On the downside I feel like a guinea pig because a beautiful concept seem to be still not fully ready to meet its potential. The app is kind of cumbersome and non-intuitive. It worked perfectly with my HEOS 7 until I added the HEOS Link then it seems to take forever to \\\"find\\\" my devices and connect to them. Sometimes it loses them altogether although the Link and speaker are still fully connected to an ultra-strong WiFi signal just a few feet away. It seems more like a software bug than a component issue.\\n\\nI don't like that I can't simply turn the app on and punch my last listened to music channel or one of my favorite channels. And I don't like that I can't tell any component in the HEOS system to do something simple like play the audio from YouTube or some internet source like a CNN video. How hard could that be, I have $20 Bluetooth speakers that do that just fine.\\n\\nFinal thought ... the setup guide for the HEOS Link is pitiful. Simplistic beyond belief. Yes there is a wonderful online PDF link to a full user manual but Denon leaves it up to you to go find it. For such a sophisticated (and expensive at $350) product I would expect a whole lot more information how to utilize its capabilities.\\n\\nNegatives aside I find it hard to downrate this product too much, because I have seen tangible evidence that Denon is working very hard to improve it, and their product support has been outstanding. So I will focus on the positives and the fact that I got it to do what I wanted and rate it 4.5 stars (rounded up to 5-stars) for now and I will live with it for a while to see what direction Denon takes. Check back in a while to see if this is a flash in the pan product for Denon or if they have a serious commitment to it.\",\n \"Product: Escape with the new full size dynamic SP540 headphones by Koss, inventors of the world's first SP/3 Stereo phone in 1958. The SP540's natural fitting, unique D-profile echoes the shape of the ear, perfecting sound, fit and comfort. The lightweight design lets you feel the music, not the headphones, creating a streamlined immersive experience. A single entry, detectable cable adds versatility, perfect for quick storage and portability. The D-profile, contour cushion closes gaps around the ear, improving comfort, fit, isolation and sound.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: You can do better for the price, even from Koss\\n\\nReview: My first headphones ever were from Koss. I bought them, for more money than I should have ever spent, because all of the engineers at the radio station I worked at loved them. To tell the truth I bought my second pair, at 5-times my monthly rent, to try to outdo those engineers. And I still own them, obviously I am a big fan of Koss headphones. My second pair were Koss's top-of-the line model and are regarded as one of the best headphone sets ever created. And yes, I do also own a pair of a different brand, the one that eventually knocked Koss off the #1 spot.\\n\\nSo being a headphone geek I bought this (hmmm, am I the only person here who actually bought a pair?).\\n\\nA good set of headphones can be summarized as:\\n\\n1. How accurately do they reproduce sound?\\n\\n2. How comfortable are they?\\n\\n3. How well are they constructed? (Which can, of course, affect sound quality).\\n\\nWell, for under $150 my expectations were \\\"how good could they be\\\"? And unfortunately, as is true with so many products that live on previously stellar brand names, my expectations were equal to what Koss is able to deliver in these days of cheap offshore manufacturing. When the money is coming out of your own pocket you'll find that $150 for headphones is really just entry level.\\n\\nAs far as sound accuracy they are not bad. They rank noticeably lower in sound accuracy compared to my first 2 pairs of Koss headsets and even lower when compared with what is regarded as today's standard of the broadcasting/studio industry. Rating? 2+\\n\\nWhile not heavy, and made slightly more comfortable by the asymmetric earpiece, they feel ... well, awkward. Good but not great. Just too much like they are \\\"there\\\" rather than molding to the head and disappearing. Rating 3-\\n\\nQuality of construction is relatively cheesy. They have a mass-produced made-in-China feel of not really great plastics. In no way feeling like what Koss used to be. These may be fine as a quickie headphone for someone who has never worn a real Koss headphone and is easily impressed. But no, they are not special in any way. Adequate? Yes. Koss quality? Well, let your own ears decide, everyone hears sound differently. My ears say they are average and earn 3-stars.\\n\\n[UPDATE] I returned them. Just not worth the price. Got a better model Koss instead. In fact, for substantially less money I believe many people will find the Koss ProDj200 to be a better value and very satisfying to listen to.\",\n \"Product: Give nearly any room the rich, detailed sound it deserves with the Polk Omni S2 wireless speaker Use vertically or horizontally DTS Play-Fi technology for Wi-Fi connectivity and product linking / grouping Control all of your music through your phone, tablet or computer through the Polk Omni App Ultra-compact size is easy on the eyes in any home environment\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Hopefully they will get better\\n\\nReview: Forgive the long review. These speakers are a new product category for many people and the intent is to make this review as complete and comprehensive as possible.\\n\\nSeveral well-known audio manufacturers (and some new-comers) are jumping in to a relatively new category of product, the internet speaker. I use the term \\\"jumping in\\\" quite literally because most of what's being sold ranges from ill-conceived to not-ready-for-prime-time. The idea sounds good on paper, in fact the idea sounds great. But the execution of delivering a viable consumer product is falling far short of what it could be.\\n\\nAn internet speaker is basically a table radio that tunes in stations that supply an audio feed over the internet. No internal tuner, you use your phone/tablet to link to those audio feeds. Some internet speakers only need to be told once what to connect to and they stay connected even if you turn your phone off or leave the house. One disadvantage of the Polk is that the phone must keep the app open (draining the batteries) and cannot be taken out of range of your WIFI signal.\\n\\nDO YOU REALLY WANT AN INTERNET SPEAKER\\n\\nThe idea of an internet speaker sounds pretty high tech but the reality of what it is and what it does raises a big question of whether it's worth it. There are numerous ways to hook up an extension speaker (which is really all these are ... most need to be plugged in to work). An internet speaker simply permits you to play audio from online sources or in most cases from a playlist on your phone or tablet. If you have a device with Bluetooth there are hundreds of models of Bluetooth speakers that cost less, often far less, than an internet speaker, which is generally a basic portable speaker with the same capability you already have built into the speaker, and you still need your phone/tablet to control it. The lure of thousands of \\\"free\\\" stations fades quickly when you get your first internet speaker and learn that a huge percentage of those are \\\"free samples\\\" that interrupt your music every few minutes with commercials from \\\"Progressive Flo\\\" (voted the most hated commercial ever) making duck sounds at 10x the volume of the program content. If you want to kill Flo you have to subscribe, but if you like variety in your music you must subscribe to EACH content provider, usually at between $10 - $25 per month each. That would be like having to subscribe to each individual channel you watch on TV. The cost of having a wide range of music content to choose from could cost you several hundred dollars a month. Your other option is to pick ONE music service (like Pandora, Spotify, etc) and pay for it each month but you're still limited to what playlists are available from them. And unfortunately, Polk has a very limited choice of such subscription services available and missing are some of the most popular, including SiriusXM. So maybe what you really want is a nice table radio?\\n\\nThere is no easy direct comparison between the current brands of internet speakers like Sonos; Denon/HEOS; Pure/Jongo; etc, they are much too different in terms of design and how they operate. The most glaring issue with all of them is that there is no interchangeability or compatibility. If you have a Denon in one room and a Polk in another room you have to run them from two completely separate and incompatible apps, not all of which can access the same music service. It's like owning 2 TV's that each require service from a different, and incompatible, cable company.\\n\\nIf you stick with one brand (as I'm sure the manufacturer hopes you will do) you shouldn't run into many compatibility issues. However if you mix brands, as I do, there are some weird issues syncing the exact same channel between different internet speakers. For example, I can choose a particular music service and select a channel. I can do that with 3 internet speakers from 3 different companies so I \\\"fill my house with music\\\". Sounds simple, right? Guess what? Each speaker is out of sync, playing the SAME station. Sometimes by a little, sometimes by a lot (it varies). Sometimes a commercial starts on one speaker while the other is still playing music, then a DIFFERENT commercial starts on the second speaker. The result is chaos and definitely not what anyone would have in mind as a whole-house music system.\\n\\nInternet speaker systems tend to be ultra-sensitive to even brief interruptions in the WIFI signal (most routers hiccup numerous times a day). Instead of a loss of sound for a second or two, however, the speaker can \\\"forget\\\" its connection, which requires re-pairing it with your phone again, starting from scratch. The Polk is far easier to pair and drops its signal FAR less than the Denon HEOS which has a reputation of NOT playing more often than it IS playing. The following observations from me, being an owner and user of each brand, might help:\\n\\nSONOS\\n\\nSonos is pretty much the granddaddy of internet speakers. They are differentiated by being one of the companies with no legacy in audio or speaker manufacture but the one who forged new territory in this yet emerging technology. So you would expect them to get the technology end right, and hopefully deliver a good sounding speaker. You would be right. Using the Sonos app is easier and more intuitive than any of the others and it offers the widest range of music sources and connectivity. Their speakers are very contemporary looking and, while not the leaders in their category for kicking out the best sounding music, they are remarkably listenable for a company with no real history in speaker hardware design and manufacture. Sonos has thrown down the gauntlet in terms of product pricing and what this genre of product is expected to do, with the others left to try to outdo them, or at least match them in a game of \\\"me too\\\".\\n\\nJONGO by Pure\\n\\nThis is a company who has some recognition in the European market but never caught on in the U.S. They have by far the most cumbersome and convoluted app design and like Sonos, are not an old-line pioneer in speaker design. Much if not most of what they do is non-standard. Their speakers are slightly cutting edge and have some truly unique technology such as the user-selectable sound surround field settings that virtually turn one speaker into several. To their credit they have a user-replaceable rechargeable system but to their discredit they have chosen to make the weird decision to not built Bluetooth into the device but rather utilize a plug-in dongle.\\n\\nHEOS by Denon\\n\\nThis is a product you want to like but they just can't seem to get it to work. The #1 problem with HEOS is that it has a terrible memory problem; it constantly forgets that it's connected and has to be re-linked, sometimes several times a day. Their method of linking their wireless speakers to your wireless device is inexplicably a WIRE, making it very inconvenient if you prefer to locate the speaker in a hard-to-reach place. But even using a hard wire to connect them, often the speaker simply refuses to connect. The other side of the coin is that they win hands down for sound quality by a wide margin. They also have at this point the weakest repertoire of source options, notably lacking AirPlay and Sirus XM and they do not support BlueTooth. HEOS speakers are house-current powered only so they can't be run on battery power for things like backyard use. HEOS is also the winner for looks, they weren't afraid to break the mold and design speakers that are at the cutting edge of trend setting.\\n\\nOMNI by Polk\\n\\nPolk was just not ready yet to release this product category. They hit the market by acknowledging almost non-existent support for iOS (DUH!) and their Android app is clunky. They make an offer to iOS users to download a desktop app but it is worse than clunky. The most unfortunate thing about Polk is that, despite the fact that they are one of the most respected names in speakers, this series is toy-like in look, feel and sound quality. And horribly overpriced for what you get. The owner experience is that the speaker looks, feels and sounds like a $75 utility speaker but costs twice that. For what? Frankly, not much.\\n\\nSUMMARY OF POLK OMNI:\\n\\n1. They are two 2\\\" speakers, they sound good but not spectacular, they are only 2\\\" speakers\\n2. Doesn't feel expensive as it is\\n3. Easy setup, stayed connected better than competitive brands\\n4. App is poorly designed and difficult to navigate\\n5. App download warns you that the app is huge (77 MB) - and that's to your cell phone\\n6. According to Polk, their Apple app is not ready yet but yet they have released it\\n7. Contrary to the instructions, the indicator light on back doesn't do anything\\n8. Sounds like a medium-price table radio, in other words it sounds like you would expect it to\\n9. White grill cloth looks weird on black body\\n10. Must sign a contract before being permitted to use the required Polk app\\n\\nSo the bottom line is that these are not bad speakers. Nor are they great speakers. They are cursed with trying to exist in a product category that has been rushed to market and can be very frustrating for the average consumer. As is true with competing models you can't just press a switch and start listening to \\\"the radio\\\". Listening to some sound sources is difficult and listening to other sound sources is impossible. Rated on their own merit, the Polk Omni rates between 3-stars and 4-stars. They get bumped up to 4-stars primarily because they seem to be easier to use and more stable in operation than their competition.\",\n \"Product: The Polk Omni A1 is a high performance speaker amplifier designed to wirelessly (on your Wi-Fi network) stream music to your favorite speakers. Through your iOS or Android smartphone, tablet or PC stream your favorite music services, Internet radio stations, and music libraries on DLNA enabled devices wirelessly to your existing speakers. Simply connect your speakers' wires to the binding ports on the back of the A1, download the Polk App, and follow the easy setup instructions. Compatible with any passive speaker. Start with one Omni wireless music system product and add more anytime. All your music anywhere in your home.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: A worthwhile wireless audio accessory\\n\\nReview: <div id=\\\"video-block-R13PLWRT85S0LX\\\" class=\\\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\\\"></div><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/C1Gb79ONMfS.mp4\\\" class=\\\"video-url\\\"><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/11htNCs0Z0S.png\\\" class=\\\"video-slate-img-url\\\"> There are now several companies vying for position in the wireless (not to be confused with Bluetooth) home audio marketplace. Sonos is one of the best known, partially because they paved the early trail for such products and partially because they have done an exemplary job of setting the standards for others. I already own products from Sonos as well as several other well-known brand names in the wireless audio realm ... Heos, Marantz, Sony, Jongo (lesser known), and of course Polk Omni.\\n\\nPolk differentiates itself by being first and foremost a company who targets sound over technology, not that the others aren't stellar audio performers, but Polk starts there and then tries to figure out how to add in the technology part.\\n\\nUnfortunately all of the above manufacturers have two things in common - they are all trying to get to the same destination by using different road maps; and they are all trying to get there without a compass. There is virtually no such thing as compatibility among the major manufacturers, which is what's holding them all back. In an ideal world you would have one standard for a wireless receiver that communicates with one standard of app that \\\"broadcasts\\\" bi-directionally to remote speakers and/or remote input devices located throughout the range of a home internet network, wired or wireless. This doesn't happen by any stretch of the imagination, with each manufacturer offering their own apps and their own ways of communicating the signal in a home entertainment environment.\\n\\nThe Omni A1 is slightly out in left field in the entire scope of things. Rather than being a speaker with wireless capabilities Polk is offering a wireless internet amplifier that you use with your existing pair of stereo speakers, thereby affording you the potential of driving a set of superb speakers (from Polk or other brands) that can run circles around the all-in-one approach the other guys have their sights set on.\\n\\nIt is a wireless receiver in that it can be operated with the same app that the other products in the Polk Omni family to stream such online services as Pandora, SiriusXM, etc.; tune internet radio channels; or play from your personal library on your phone, tablet or computer. It also has one audio input that can be accessed either by an optical/digital port, RCA connectors or a 1/8\\\" mini-phone connector. Alternatively a second terminal post will permit connection of a record turntable by removing a set of terminators and connecting the output of the turntable to the posts. The sole and only output of the 75W x 2 amplifier is one pair of stereo speakers. Of course, as part of the Polk Omni family, if you are accessing a music channel/service through the amplifier that source can also be routed to any other Polk Omni -enabled speaker on the network.\\n\\nAll that seems to be very little in return for a fairly hefty $399 retail price. But remember we're talking about Polk here, not some cheap no-name amplifier. The amplifier is, in fact, worth the money as an audio amp alone, the sound is pure, clean and certainly of audiophile quality (within reason). The inclusion of a phono preamp should not be minimized, a good one is hard to come by these days and my test with my own top-end turntable resulted in the best sound from vinyl I have heard in years. So much so that I am rewiring my system to incorporate the A1 as the designated phono amplifier.\\n\\nFrankly, unless you are willing to invest in a full-blown Polk Omni system, this one component will likely leave you wondering \\\"why buy it\\\"? But if you are already on the road to a true wireless audio home this is a very worthwhile, and worthy, accessory to buy. For what it does (and does well) it is worth considering.\",\n \"Product: Portable, Floatable, Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker thats perfect for any water filled activity.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: I had such high hopes! Watch the DUNK TEST video\\n\\nReview: <div id=\\\"video-block-R340OR3VPA6X99\\\" class=\\\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\\\"></div><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/D1pkNORq1AS.mp4\\\" class=\\\"video-url\\\"><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/11htNCs0Z0S.png\\\" class=\\\"video-slate-img-url\\\"> I love tech products that throw away the mold and come up with new shapes, functions and designs. So when I saw this speaker (despite the fact that I have more Bluetooth speakers than any human should own), it struck me as great summertime fun in the pool. Sure we have outdoor speakers pointed AT the pool but how cool would it be to have a speaker INSIDE the pool ... especially something we could use at night in the Jacuzzi without being loud enough to bother the neighbors. Don't worry about that one - this speaker will NOT bother the neighbors!\\n\\nThe look is certainly cool and outside-the-box in its design. It comes in two colors, the charcoal/blue that I tested and a white/blue model that looks much more nautical. Although it didn't lose any points over it I would have much preferred to see some hot beachy, fun colors. The two choices offered are pretty dull.\\n\\nThe speaker is (and this is hard to put a finger on) what I would call \\\"just right\\\" in terms of size and weight. Small enough to throw in a backpack or beach bag but large enough to (hopefully) deliver some kick bass sound.\\n\\nIt paired instantly with my smartphone, as most modern Bluetooth devices are prone to do these days and as soon as I took a few pictures of it I headed out to the pool for the obligatory \\\"dunk test\\\". How did it do? Well you'll have to watch the video (I mean how else can I explain how it sounds if you don't listen to it?) but I'll give you a hint ... it got an overall 3-star rating. And I had such high hopes!\\n\\nI mentioned I have more than a few Bluetooth speakers lying around. Of those, MOST of them sound better at to 1/3 the price and some of them sound much, much better. Under the best conditions this speaker sounds okay. A big part of the average 3-star rating is because it is way too expensive for what you get in terms of sound and usability. If I bought this at $20 ... well, I probably wouldn't. And that says a lot.\",\n \"Product: The View Sonic VA2855Smh is a 28 Full HD 1080p display designed for both home entertainment and office use. Equipped with Super Clear Pro MVA technology, true 8-bit colors, and a 3000:1 static contrast ratio, the VA2855Smh delivers superior color performance with excellent color reproduction at nearly any viewing angle. Vivid 1920x1080 resolution and dual stereo speakers deliver an immersive viewing experience ideal for any multimedia application, while HDMI and VGA inputs provide flexible connectivity to PCs, laptops, and other multimedia devices. View Sonic's exclusive View Mode provides intuitive presets to deliver optimized screen performance in different applications. In addition, Flicker-Free technology and a Blue Light Filter help to eliminate eye strain from extended viewing periods. With an energy-saving Eco-mode feature and ENERGY STAR compliance, the VA2855Smh is a great long-term investment.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: A good choice if budget is tight\\n\\nReview: While I have owned and liked previous Viewsonic monitors they are not usually the first name I think of when I buy a monitor because as a photographer I tend to have the need to go a little higher graphic performance. I am using this one for a second computer that's usually used just for common everyday tasks like internet, email, etc., which is what it is targeted for.\\n\\nThis is a very basic monitor, which you might expect at what its going for. It is designed for function over style, which should suit most buyers. The connectivity is basic but should be adequate for most casual users. There is a limited range of adjustment for tilt but none for height, swivel or portrait mode. The HDMI/VGA connectors are on the bottom rather than on the back along with an audio jack that feeds the tiny (and tinny) speakers. The setup and operational switches are arranged along the bottom right edge of the frame, the most typical arrangement. There is a VESA- standard 100mm mounting array in the back for mounting on a wall or extension arm but this is a noticeably thicker monitor than many other current designs.\\n\\nWhile they describe the monitor screen as edge-to-edge, in fact the screen does not go all the way to the edge, there is a 1/2\\\" bezel (the typical width) covered with the protective front glass to hide the bezel and make it appear like it is frameless. The glass is coated with an anti-glare treatment and is less glossy than average but not a true flat matte surface.\\n\\nHOW DOES IT PERFORM\\n\\nMost of us buy monitors for their image quality as their top criterion. This monitor does not disappoint. With an IPS screen and better than average specs the visual performance is great for everyday computer use, light gaming and non-critical photo/video editing.\\n\\nIve use monitors that have a weak loose fastening to a lightweight plastic base so every time I touch my desk the monitor shakes. Far too many monitors I've used are built this way. Unfortunately this one is not as solid as I would have liked, certainly not as bad as some I've used but it does feel plasticky, in fact the base is just a piece of molded plastic with no metal weight in it.\\n\\nThis model is intended for buyers (such as businesses) who may purchase them in quantities. Such monitors generally lack over-the-top styling, superfluous features or excessive marketing hype such as being co-branding with audio/video big-draw names. Business-grade monitors generally do, however, tend to promote one or two value-added features not normally expected in a budget range product. They may also feature longer warranties than store shelf model (but not always). This model has a 3-year Limited Warranty, substantially longer than the 90 days found on some other brands. One thing that gives it away as intended for office use is the absolutely huge logo painted across almost the entire back of the monitor monitor companies like to advertise themselves this way. Most people at home probably will never look at the back of their monitor but if you are planning to use it where the back will show its something you may want to consider.\\n\\nIn terms of unique features this one has a blue light filter which is supposed to cut down on eyestrain. The latest operating system upgrade includes it as a feature and there are popular software add-in apps that do the same so there is dubious value having it built into the monitor but it is nevertheless a plus that they are thinking outside the box like that.\\n\\nSHOULD YOU BUY IT\\n\\nWhen it comes down to it the only thing that's really at the top of the list of reasons for choosing one monitor over another is how good the picture quality is. Reading advertisements, specs and reviews can do pretty much everything but tell you how good the picture is going to look to you; the only way to know is to see it for yourself. This monitor does well on specs. It does well also on design and ergonomics. And it does very well on value. Not so good are the wobbly stand and puny internal speakers. The Viewsonic brand name is plus as is the 3-year warranty. The picture quality is good for everyday home use but not up to the needs of serious photographers, graphic artists or gamers. All things considered, I like it for what its intended for.\",\n \"Product: KHOMO DUAL SERIES Case KHOMO Introduces its best seller case for Apple iPad Air 2nd Generation. The DUAL Series Case continues to be an NUMBER ONE Seller! The Ultra Slim KHOMO DUAL Case is the perfect choice for those who want a stylish and affordable way to protect their tablet. This chic, lightweight case has a Polyurethane FRONT cover and a hard rubberized Poly-Carbonate BACK Protector. The rubberized Poly-Carbonate Back ensures a firm grip while holding your tablet. The KHOMO DUAL Case offers your Apple iPad great protection from scratches, fingerprints, dust, small impacts and many other everyday happenings. It also offers you multiple viewing angles: Fold back to comfortably watch movies and videos or place it in a lower, more ergonomic angle for typing. It's easy to always get the right view. Warranty 2 Year KHOMO Warranty with quick and easy KHOMO service. Check out the KHOMO Accessories Collection Known as The Mobile & Tablet Accessories Experts, KHOMO takes great pride in developing high quality, innovative designs that enhance and protect your valuable devices. Protect what you love with KHOMO top of the line accessories. We Got You Covered.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: No its not perfect. How close does it come?\\n\\nReview: The phrase you get what you pay for isn't necessarily a negative term, and for this item I don't intend it to be. This is one of those products that is a good value for the price and judging by the large number of positive review, it seems other customers agree. I own quite a few iPad cases (more than the average person Im sure) so my review will be a general impression of how this one stacks up. I won't compare it to specific brands because there are so many models being sold and they change so often.\\n\\nIn some ways this particular style of case is one of my least favorite, and on the other hand there are some things about it that I love. It is probably the most popular style of iPad case being sold today, due primarily to the fact that this style is what Apple themselves has sold for a few years, spawning hundreds of look-alike clones, most of them selling for far less than Apples and some of the actually a better product. What I like about the case is that it respects the whole idea that the iPad Air 2 is incredibly thin and impressively light weight. If you are looking for a case that helps prevent your iPad from getting scratched up, offers a little bit of protection against everyday dings, gives reasonable protection to the large screen area and lets you comfortably use your iPad in landscape mode this is the style of case you are looking at. The Khomo case is not drop-proof or shock-resistant. It is not dust tight or moisture proof. But it is as ultra-light as a case can get and offers a degree of protection to the entire iPad from everyday use. All of the ports and buttons are exposed and easily accessible and the case does not block the sound of the bottom firing speakers. The iPad snaps in with a reassuring click and won't pop out in everyday use. The cover is made of a hard material and the full-length hinge is reasonably strong. The magnets that hold the lid shut and put the device into standby mode are strong enough for normal use. The case has a smooth rubberized finish that looks and feels good and isn't slippery.\\n\\nI mentioned I am not a big fan of cases like this. I bought it because I was determined to not have a case increase the overall size and weight of my iPad Air 2 any more than absolutely necessary and after I looked at dozens of similar cases I chose this one as what I think is the best of its type. What I don't like about this case or any of the similarly designed ones from other companies is the tri-fold lid. Whoever designed it put the task of using the case as an easel in landscape mode over practicality. In real life I think most people (like me) check their iPad dozens of times a day by simply flipping the lid open for a few minutes at a time. The style of case I have used that best permits that is one that has a one-piece solid cover like a book cover. In fact a case like that lets you hold your iPad just like a book. Tri-fold covers don't easily permit that so they require folding the cover all the against the back of the iPad so you can get a secure grip on it. But, it is what it is and Khomos lid at least folds flat all the way back, something not every case will do.\\n\\nThere have been quite a few words in other reviews about the quality of materials, how strong the magnet is, the cover not lying perfectly flat when closed, etc. Here again it is important to accept the reality that you get what you pay for. If this was an $80 case some of those quibbles would have merit but for less than $15 the Khomo case is surprisingly well made. Its not perfect by any means but it is put together better than most of the lower priced cases. At the selling price I expect to get about 6-8 months of use out of it at which time I may simply replace it with a new one or try something else. You really cant expect more out of it. I like this case and think it is the best in its class of design. But is it the best case you can buy? No, but I believe any better case is going to cause you to add to the overall size and weight of your iPad. If you have a strong desire to keep your iPad as slim and lightweight as possible, the Khomo case is the one to get.\\n\\n[UPDATE] - I took 1-star off of my review after a couple of days. See the photo I posted. This is how it looks after only a few day's normal use. They also lost that star because they raised the price to $20. At $15 it was a good value, after a 25% price increase ... not a good deal.\",\n \"Product: Speck's StyleFolio case for iPad mini 2 and 3 proves that real protection doesn't have to be bulky and ugly! The sleek Stylefolio case for iPad mini 2 and iPad mini 3 provides stylish protection and an adjustable stand, to help you get the most from your iPad mini 2 or ipad mini 3 . The slim design with a soft, anti-scratch lining provides full protection for both the front and back of your iPad mini. The adjustable stand allows you to choose from multiple angles for the most comfortable viewing and typing positions. The case is durable, yet lightweight, and snaps shut securely with a clasp closure to protect your touchscreen when your iPad mini 2 or iPad mini 3 is not in use.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: A better value than both the cheap and high-end competitors\\n\\nReview: There are a lot of slimline cases for the iPad Mini but the most popular are two similar styles that outwardly look very similar. They can be distinguished from each other by the number of creases on the front cover the original Apple style which has two creases (3 sections) and this one which has one crease (2 sections). The original style usually is hinged at the left like a book, while this style has a third hinge about 2/3 the way across the back. Which you like better is a very personal choice, there are pros and cons for both in the way they work as an easel and when using the device as an e-reader.\\n\\nThe StyleFolio is similar to many of the other cases of this type with a couple of advantages over some of them. One is that both the headphone jack and Lightning jack are larger than average so they are compatible with a wider range of peripherals. The StyleFolio also features a hinged (a real hinge not a bent piece of plastic) clasp that will keep the case from popping open, even if you drop it from a short height. Most cases rely on only the magnetic sleep device, which is not a very strong magnet. I like this clasp a lot not only for that reason but that it will also lock the case in the OPEN position to make one-handed reading a lot easier. Why hasn't anyone thought of this simple idea before?\\n\\nIn a world of either dull drab utilitarian iPad cases or bright flowery in-your-face cases, the StyleFolio is classy yet reserved. The main color is a matte very dark blue (or charcoal, depending on your color perception) with an attractive snakeskin pattern that has a very slight sheen.\\n\\nThe #1 thing I like most about the StyleFolio (and the reason it earned 5-stars) is that, unlike many of the competitive cases of this type, the pieces are stitched together (even at the creases) rather than glued together. The glued variety falls apart in a few months, while the StyleFolio seems to be much more durable. It is a little pricier than the cheap knockoffs but a fraction of Apples branded cases and in terms of quality it is better than both.\",\n \"Product: Home Smart Switch with Wireless Extender\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: It may be just what you need or more than you need\\n\\nReview: This is a new-school update on a product I have used for many year. At one time I had my entire house wired with switches that used the AC power line to transmit signals from a central controller to each switch. I could set the lights to go on and off at a preset time, choosing to dim some of them to predetermined levels. I could have fans and other appliance switch on and off using the same controller. There were several companies who supported the same standard (which is still being sold today) and in fact I still use a few devices for hard-t0-reach lights and appliances.\\n\\nToday not much has changed except now the units are controlled from a smartphone. How they function is very similar to the technology that was around in the 1980s with the biggest difference that they use a WiFi signal rather than the AC power lines (which had some drawbacks in terms of all devices needing to be on the same circuit and occasional interference from wireless phones and other devices.\\n\\nSo, bottom line is, I like the concept TRENDnet has here and their price per switch isn't that far off what the other technology used over 20 years ago.\\n\\nTRENDnet adds a few new twists however. One is that you can monitor the current draw (power usage) of the item thats plugged in to each switch. Thats kind of cool, EXCEPT logic says the items you most need to monitor are items that are too power-hungry for the capacity of these switches to handle or that you wouldnt want to switch them remotely anyway like TVs, air conditioners, refrigerators, water heaters, etc.\\n\\nAnother twist by TRENDnet is that each switch monitors your homes WiFi signal and amplifies it to help expand the reach to more problematic areas. There are numerous stand-alone devices that do this for a reasonable price (including by TRENDnet) and frankly I wish this feature didn't exist. It can make a mess out of your home internet network and even slow a good signal down rather than boost it. This is just mixing an unnecessary feature into a product that already does a good job all by itself.\\n\\nOne warning if you are considering this type of switch it would not be wise to use it for anything critical, for example a breathing device for an elderly person or a self-feeder for livestock, etc. I have experienced blips in the WiFi signal that cause the switch to turn or shut off by itself. For the majority of uses that might just be an inconvenience but for some applications like the examples above it could be dangerous. Just use common sense.\\n\\nAnother detail to be aware of, this switch will usually only work with devices that have a mechanical on/off switch. Note that most TV's, radios and almost anything that already has a remote control will not work. The device needs to be able to be set in the \\\"on\\\" position so mechanically to work.\\n\\nAnother thing to be aware of is because of the wireless extender functionality you may experience some unusual behavior that you're not used to, like if you are viewing a video or listening to an audio source via WiFi and you walk from one zone to another where this (these) devices hand off the signal from your router to an extender and maybe another. The signal may drop out for anywhere from a second to several seconds as your device re-establishes a connection. Again, this may be just a minor inconvenience but for some people could be annoying.\\n\\nAs a wireless switch I like this and would recommend it. As an extender, I would prefer to not use it as such and invest in a good dedicated extender if you really need one.\",\n \"Product: Tzumi shutterstick selfie stick: Take the perfect picture of yourself or your group with the Tzumi Shutterstick Selfie Stick. The wireless remote shutter function allows you to take pictures hassle-free and the handle conveniently extends to 39\\\". The camera mirror will help take hi-res rear camera shots. Compatible with most smartphones, this is great for any selfie artistDirections: 1. Place your smartphone into the unit's bracket. 2. Attach the bracket to the base of the telescopic handle by rotating it clockwise. 3. Extend the telescopic handle to the desired length. 4. Activate the camera function of your smartphone. Check the Bluetooth connection. 5. While holding the handle, look at the mirror to help guide you in taking that perfect picture. 6. When ready, press the shutter button to take the picture.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: More portable than other models\\n\\nReview: Okay, as a professional photographer you would think a selfie stick would not be of interest to me. In fact it is. There are so many times when I need to get an otherwise not possible point of view picture or video sequence where the small size and light weight of a selfie stick makes that possible. So even if you are not into selfies, here is a helpful tool that may have more than just that one use.\\n\\nIve tested so-called selfie sticks before and there are many. Some are actually quite well built. I have a friend who uses one to simulate high-angle views from home video security cameras he is going to install. I like mine not only for the usual overhead shots but for shots taken at sidewalk level.\\nWhat has bothered me about some of the selfie sticks is that the way they clasp on to my $600 smartphone are scary the phone is hanging pretty precariously between two spring-loaded clips.\\n\\nWith the Tzumi however, the phone is cradled in a secure tray, and then held in by a locking device. I have complete confidence that the phone will not fall out as may happen with some other selfie sticks.\\n\\nI also like the mirror design. While I question the manufacturers assumption that some people may own phones that don't have a front facing camera, frankly I have never sees such a smartphone. BUT, we all know that the rear-facing camera is always better, sometimes very much better and it may be the better choice for taking your better-quality photos. With the mirror you can frame the scene just the way you want using the better quality camera, whether it is facing you or you have your back turned to the action and you are filming whats behind you.\\n\\nThe Tzumi is slightly less fussy to extend to various lengths than some other selfie sticks I have tried because it uses friction locks rather than mechanical ones. And it folds down smaller than most (12 compared to others I have that only collapse to about 20 but to be fair some other models extend out to 50 instead of the Tzumis 39)\\n\\nFinally, there are no apps that need to be downloaded to activate the shutter release like some other brands. Just pair it via Bluetooth with your phone.\\n\\nAll of the above earns this product a respectable rating. Since it is the best I have seen so far I think it deserves 5-stars.\",\n \"Product: The French Bull ipad Mini 3 cover is constructed from a single piece of polyurethane and has a sleek covered hinge that custom fits the thin prole of your iPad. And it doesnt just protect it. The ipad Mini 3 case wakes your iPad when opened and puts it to sleep when closed. Our ipad Mini cases are durable and fold into different positions to create a stand for reading, viewing, typing, or making FaceTime calls. And its easily removable, so you can snap it on and o whenever you want.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: From blah to pizzaah\\n\\nReview: Usually I like the simplicity of a basic color with a contrasting accent of color. This iPad case is the polar extreme bright, colorful, bold and vibrant. Like a sudden rainbow on a stormy day. It makes its own statement wherever it goes in a tasteful yet possessive way. This was a case I purposely chose to help bring a touch of Spring into what has been a grey Winter.\\n\\nAdmittedly it costs more than most similar cases no, not as much as one with the Apple brand name on it but about double what the generic ones do. And I didn't get it for the label, because frankly I didn't know what a French Bull was and how that could be attractive. Now, thanks to sampling this one courtesy of the company, I know. The designer is Jackie Shapiro.\\n\\nThe case arrives in a substantial sleeve that is exactly that no convoluted scheme to open it, the case slips right out. From first feel I could tell it was a better-made product than what I had been using, which was an ultra-slim plain black lightly-textured model that has never been off my iPad since the day I bought it. I bought it because it is ultra-slim I don't understand the merit of buying a thin, lightweight tablet and then doubling its size and weight with a carrying case.\\n\\nGranted the French Bull case is a little bit of both microscopically thicker and heavier, but not excessively so. But that also makes it feel more substantial, more protective and more elegant. Both case work the same way, the iPad snaps into a perimeter frame, a method I far prefer to the ones where the device slips into a slot or is held in place with clips, straps or other methods. The perimeter frame offers the most protection and permits the case to be as slim as possible. With the French Bull, unlike the other brand though, the case goes 360 degrees around, leaving no surface of the iPad to be scratched.\\n\\nThe color of the case is a personal preference. The one I selected was my current choice; however the company has several other designs from which to choose.\\n\\nThis case is every bit as well made as the Apple branded ones, with far less of a me too look to it. Yes you can get cheaper generic ones if you're on a budget. But if quality and fashion overrule cheap in your budget I would be hard pressed to recommend something other than French Bull.\",\n \"Product: Panasonic DMC-TS30A LUMIX Active Lifestyle Tough Camera (Blue)\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Put this one at the top of your short list\\n\\nReview: <div id=\\\"video-block-R2HCK1N56I0Q6I\\\" class=\\\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\\\"></div><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/D1Yk-dI0meS.mp4\\\" class=\\\"video-url\\\"><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/11htNCs0Z0S.png\\\" class=\\\"video-slate-img-url\\\">As a professional photographer I have had quite a bit of experience in using my camera gear under unfavorable conditions, including underwater. However when I am taking family snapshots my first choice of camera when I am heading out the door for a fun time with the family and friends is ... well, my cell phone - because it's always with me and it takes good pictures. That puts me squarely in category of being the average person, but with the difference that I know a bit more about cameras and how to capture a good photo than average. And what would be my SECOND choice of the ideal camera to take along for a fun outing? A ruggedized, weather-resistant, easy-to-use snapshot camera that doesn't get in the way of having fun while capture great photo memories. And that is the kind of camera I recommend to you if you are looking for an everyday point-and-shoot digital camera.\\n\\nOf all the brands and models available, Panasonic Lumix has carved the strongest niche into the ruggedized/weatherized camera market and this is one of their best all-around offerings to date. Here's why you should consider it, along with an explanation of what it lacks and why.\\n\\nThe DMC-TS30A is a brand-new model as of April 2015 and has a 16MP sensor, more than adequate to capture excellent photos. Thankfully the hype about more megapixels has long passed and most people realize that a good lens and a capable internal processor are at least as important (if not more) than how many megapixels the camera has. And Panasonic Lumix has the track record for producing high quality lens and processors, especially at this, the lower price range of cameras.\\n\\nThe lens is a 25-100mm (equiv), the most ideal range I could recommend for everyday picture taking. And it's fast for an entry-level point-and-shoot at f/3.9 meaning better low-light photos and less blur. The other specs like shutter speed and ISO rating are not stellar but they are well suited for a camera of this type and how it will be used.\\n\\nWhy is this camera the one you want to take along even if you have a decent camera in your cell phone? The manufacturer's advertising claims that is that it is submersible to 26ft, shockproof to 5ft, freeze-proof to 14 degrees F and also dustproof. Which means you won't have to baby it, just take it where you go and snap away. And the fact that it only weighs about 5 oz (slightly more than an iphone 6) and is MUCH smaller than the iPhone guarantees that it will not be a hassle to carry with you all day.\\n\\nIf you are into taking photos underwater (like shallow water snorkeling, not deep diving, this is NOT a dive camera) Panasonic has all the right answers for you including an underwater illuminator to help the colors \\\"snap\\\", and special circuitry to optimize underwater colors. By the way, that torch (as Panasonic calls it) is totally independent of the camera operation, very handy if you are trying to take a photo of someone or something in total darkness, you can turn it on to visually locate your subject for framing.\\n\\nThe feature list is impressive for its price: 1280 x 720 pixel HD video (that looks awesome), built-in time-lapse, 12 creative modes and 13 scene modes and a burst mode of 8 frames/second at reduced resolution. What is lacks is Wi-FI (which greatly reduces battery life - I never use it), NFC (nice on a cell phone, useless on a camera), and GPS (a nice feature to have but it also eats up your batteries much faster). One final note is that this camera has enough built-in memory to take about 30 or so pictures without a memory card. You may never use it but it's a great \\\"just in case\\\" backup for that once-in-a-lifetime shot.\\n\\nCONS:\\n\\nFor what it's designed for this camera doesn't really have any significant downsides. I've taken some nice sharp clear photos with it and in the fully-automatic mode it is really difficult to take a \\\"bad\\\" picture. The only reality check is that the rear LCD's resolution is only average, certainly not bad and definitely comparable to other cameras in the price range, but once you have used a camera with a higher resolution screen (or most new smartphones) you won't get excited about how ordinary the viewing screen is on this camera. Not really a con but a reality check is that the pictures this camera is capable of are sharp and the color reproduction is very accurate. The camera is capable of taking good pictures under good conditions. But it does have its limits.\\n\\nBOTTOM LINE:\\n\\nConsidering photo quality, features, extreme compact size, excellent shockproof and weather-resistant qualities AND a price that won't break your budget I would put this camera at the top of your short list of everyday fun cameras that you will want to take with you everywhere you go. I want to make it clear that a 5-star rating is because it rates well in its price range compared to competitive models. But don't expect DSLR quality and features out of a little point-and-shoot pocket camera, nor should you expect it to substitute for a true dive camera. You get what you pay for with any camera.\\n\\nCheck out the attached video for unboxing photos and a real-life glimpse at the first photos and videos I took with this camera. I've used it under a variety of conditions including some underwater video since I made the video and I will add those soon plus some photos/video I've shot in less-than-ideal conditions.\",\n \"Product: Q-Sees QD7015P surveillance PT camera offers high resolution, 700TVL/960H, for unmatched situational awareness. With programmable cruise presets, this versatile camera has your property covered at every angle. It's full 360 Degree horizontal scan movement and its 90 Degree tilt movement makes sure you capture the essential details. Its fixed 6mm lens means youll always have a tight shot of what in view. The included mounting brackets provides added flexibility in positioning the camera to achieve the best viewing angle - from on a horizontal, vertical or overhead surface. Whether you need to protect a long hallway or get an overview of your warehouse, the QD7015P has you covered. Trust Q-See to help you protect what matters most.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: You must know what this camera has as well as what it lacks\\n\\nReview: IMPORTANT NOTE: At the time this review was written the product description contained an error (that the camera has a 3x optical zoom). Of the millions of products Amazon sells mistakes like that can happen but it is an important spec for anyone interested in purchasing this camera. The error has been reported and this paragraph will be removed once the description is accurate. However, the simple typo does not affect the star rating this product will be given in this review.\\n\\nUnfortunately, the erroneous spec is an important one. The category of security cameras can be divided into two broad sub-categories cameras that will be manually operated by security personnel in a live surveillance environment; and cameras that will be used 24/7 to monitor an unattended environment. This difference is important because in the first instance it is generally assumed that the environment being viewed will be under people conditions, in other words some place like a fully-lit retail store, workplace, storage area, etc. The operator would have control of the camera and would manually pan, tilt and zoom as needed to detect suspicious activity. This camera does not have a zoom function. A surveillance camera that doesnt zoom is significantly less effective for its intended use because by design a PTZ camera is intended for live monitoring and if the operator cant zoom in on the action they are left at a severe disadvantage. This is something that needs to be carefully considered by the customer noting that there ARE situations in which panning and tilting would be the only movement necessary, perhaps as in monitoring a cash register. Given the option, however, adding zoom for the nominal cost is well worth it.\\n\\nOn the other hand, security cameras intended for 24/7 monitoring are generally unattended, which negates the need for pan, tilt or zoom. These cameras are usually fix-mounted and attached to a recording and/or alarm system. Being unattended, there is no need to control the movement of the camera.\\n\\nThe other (in our opinion) significant drawback to this camera is that it has no IR illuminators, in other words, no night vision capabilities. Going back to the first scenario, most PTZ cameras that are controlled by security personnel are used in store-lit conditions and low-light capability isn't important. But a security camera that cant be used at night has virtually no value as a 24/7 security camera as it must be used in daytime-only live monitoring.\\n\\nKnowing upfront that this camera does not have zoom capability nor does it have night vision puts it in the category of being a limited application device. For someone who is looking for a daylight-only camera that can pan and tilt but not zoom they will find that the quality of construction and image quality of this camera are a bit above average (Q-See has built a decent reputation for that), and they will find that the price is reasonable but a bit higher than some competitive models.\\n\\nBecause it does what it is intended to do, and does it well it earns a positive rating IF you don't need zoom or night-vision. Its not significantly better than other brands that offer the same features, often for less money, and therefore the final rating is I like it, which Amazon defines as 4-stars.\",\n \"Product: JJC Z-S16-50 self-retaining auto lens cap is a creative and latest patent product designed by JJC company. Z-S16-50 auto lens cap is designed for SONY PZ 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 OSS E-mount Lens. This dedicated lens cap will be an indispensable accessory for your Sony 16-50mm lens.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Hints, tips and what you need to know\\n\\nReview: <div id=\\\"video-block-RY056GXTX486T\\\" class=\\\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\\\"></div><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/D1tFanY2tsS.mp4\\\" class=\\\"video-url\\\"><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/11mT5gVuMwS.png\\\" class=\\\"video-slate-img-url\\\"> The Sony 16-50 SELP1650 lens used on the wildly popular a6000, NEX-5/6/7 and other e-mount Sony cameras is a study in brilliant engineering. In its price range its optical quality has been highly praised. No, its not a Zeiss lens but for a kit lens it is exceptionally sharp. One thing that has endured it to many Sony users is that it is a self-retracting lens that folds into a satisfyingly small and lightweight form factor to compliment the slimness of the Sony e- series of cameras.\\n\\nFor many customers, though, who may be used to the self-closing lens caps of more basic point-and-shoot cameras, removing a lens cap every time you want to take a picture and the challenge of not losing it is a minor frustration they would rather live without.\\n\\nThe JJC self-retaining auto lens cap is the solution. It is a one-of-a-kind product that simply screws on to the front of the Sony lens and eliminates the need for a removable lens cap.\\n\\nHOW DOES IT WORK?\\n\\nThe cap design is actually quite simple, although ingenious. When it is screwed to the front of the lens two small buttons on the rim of the device press against the camera lens outer barrel and that action closes a leaf shutter to cover your lens and protect it from smudges, fingerprints and foreign objects. It is engineered to match the existing lens perfectly and looks like it should have been there in the first place (and many people wonder why Sony didn't think of it first).\\n\\nDOES IT WORK AS EXPECTED?\\n\\nYes. I am very impressed. I became interested in it for an online article I am writing for a consumer tech site and acquired a production sample direct from the factory (to assure I was getting the genuine product). JJC was kind enough to send that sample at their expense without any expectation about how I would review it.\\n\\nI have tested it on my own Sony 16-50 SELP1650 lens under a variety of conditions and it works as expected 100% of the time.\\n\\nHINTS AND TIPS (watch my video to learn how to install this product):\\n\\nDespite any instructions you may run across, here is the best way to install this accessory:\\n\\n1. Lay the camera on its back with the lens facing up. Be sure to lay it on something soft to protect the rear LCD. Power the camera on and lay the Z-CAP onto the extended portion of the lens. Be careful not to let it touch the lens glass surface (which is easy to do). Rotate it very slowly and carefully until the very fine threads catch and the cap starts to screw in. STOP!!!\\n\\n2. Do not screw the cap all the way down. Instead power the camera OFF and then extremely slowly and carefully continue the screw the cap down until you observe the two leafs start to close. Continue screwing until the two leafs just touch each other. STOP!!\\n\\n3. At that point, every time you power the camera ON the cap will automatically open all the way, there will be nothing to obscure the lens to cause vignetting. And when you power the camera OFF the leafs will close and just touch each other.\\n\\n4. Why is it important to not screw the cap down any further? Because the camera is designed to give an error message if anything obstructs the lens while opening or closing. If you screw the cap down too far the cap may press against the camera lens barrel hard enough that the camera will think there is an obstruction. The worst case scenario is that the motor will continue to whirr a little which may not hurt anything but why take the chance?\\n\\nBecause the ring of the Z-CAP is milled to look and feel exactly like the rings on the Sony lens you may from time to time twist it accidentally. That is a necessary evil in the way this cap has to be designed. If that happens, check again to see that the two little buttons on the back of the Z-CAP just barely touch the lens barrel and are pressed only enough to cause the two leafs to come together no more than that.\\n\\nWHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:\\n\\nAs is true with every auto leaf-type lens cap ever made for a point-and-shoot camera, the leafs in the Z-CAP are delicate. They are designed to provide moderate protection against your finger accidentally touching the lens when not in use, or a bit of protection against a foreign object touching the lens. This lens cap is NOT dustproof and certainly not waterproof. If you are going to be taking your camera to a hostile (i.e. dusty) environment, hold on to that lens cap and us it instead of the Z-CAP. You need to realize that the Z-CAP is a convenience; it cannot protect your lens as well as a hard plastic lens cap. Never poke the Z-CAPs leafs with your fingers, and ideally use an eveready-type case for your camera.\\n\\nThe other thing you need to know is that you will not be able to use a filter of any type (that includes clear glass or skylight filters) if you use the Z-CAP. Its going to be one or the other. The reason is that the Z-CAP works by having its little buttons get pressed against the outer barrel of the cameras lens. Any filter, not matter how thin it is, will prevent the Z-CAPs buttons from activating, making it useless.\\n\\nThis is a very well thought out and manufactured product and worth the price in convenience alone. As long as you recognize that any lens cap with movie leafs can also capture sand and other debris and take reasonable caution having his cap can tremendously add to the pleasure of using Sonys excellent kit lens. It earns 5-star for doing everything it should and doing it very well.\",\n \"Product: Enjoy over 300 streaming entertainment services, including Netflix, YouTube, Hulu Plus, and Amazon Instant Video. Quickly load and start Blu-ray and DVD discs, and even upscale DVDs to near HD quality. Easily share your photos and videos via the front USB slot. Best of all, you can play select PlayStation 3 games with PlayStation Now.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: How much are you giving up by buying the basic model?\\n\\nReview: I have mixed feeling about this player. I am and always have been a fan of Sony products, even when some of their stuff hasn't been all that great. When I bought a new TV for my bedroom recently I went high-end and made it a Sony and there is no doubt that it ranks as a premium TV. I like to match the DVD player brand to the TV because there is usually a degree of handshaking that goes on, for example when you insert the disc it turns the TV power on. Sony also has some color improvement circuitry that improves the picture quality when you use their player with their TV, but that's on the higher priced models, not this one.\\n\\nAnd this is a relatively entry-level player for Sonys lineup of Blu-ray players. The only feature it has that it is a smart player, although it must be hard-wired to your WiFi network.\\n\\nThe mixed feelings have to do with the look and feel of the player itself it reminds me of those no-name $29 DVD players that the discount superstore sells. Connectivity is at an absolute minimum and it feels, frankly, cheap. When the disc is playing the unit vibrates like crazy, Ive never seen a DVD player vibrate so hard.\\n\\nAnd my big hesitation is that for such a plain machine the price is high. I know its a Sony but when they made this look and feel like a bargain basement DVD player they could have reduced the price. By a lot.\\n\\nNow, on the other hand the picture and sound quality (on my Sony TV) is superlative. The disc loads almost instantly and my test disc (Avatar) has never looked better. The colors are spot on, the black levels are richly saturated while the white areas look natural. There isn't a hint of motion blur and the audio spacial positioning is just as it should be. Where this player looks like a toy its obvious Sony put their brand name on the line and did what they know how to do, and they did it well.\\n\\nI checked out the smart apps and agree that the visual look is a bit dated but not as bad as some I have seen. I purposely bought this model, however, because I am using an Amazon Fire Stick on the TV and don't need to have basically the same apps duplicated on my DVD player. But after playing around with the DVD player I would say that someone who is using it to turn a non-smart TV into a smart TV should be well satisfied.\\n\\nGoing back to the mixed feelings, this is the smallest and lightest Blu-ray player I have owned (or even seen for that matter). Using it in a bedroom that smallness works out to be an advantage in that I have a small 12 x 12 floating shelf on the wall next to the TV and this player fits on it perfectly. Its out of the way but convenient and looks really cool.\\n\\nIf you already have a smart TV or have no need for those capabilities this player will give you all you need and save you some money over the more expensive Sony models, without sacrificing sound or picture quality. When I add it all together, the positives outweigh the negatives and the bottom line is that I like it.\",\n \"Product: Bluedio U (ufo) over-ear headphones Bluetooth wireless headsets with pps 8 drivers, mic, 3D sound (silver and black)\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Entry level premium headphones sound great\\n\\nReview: These are one of several models of headphones from Bluedio in their premium-level series. The same company also makes a wide range of lower-priced headphones as well. Bluedio has been steadily building their brand name and with many users they have earned respect as a serious competitor to some of the long-time more established brand names like Koss, Bose, Panasonic, etc. To complete my test of the complete series I am using a pair which was provided to me N/C by the manufacturer. Our reviews continue as always to be independent of any outside influence.\\n\\nThe UFO (also known as simply the U) is the older of a two-part set of similar phones, differing a bit cosmetically and in performance. As is true with any brand/model of headphones the ultimate most important factor is whether they sound good to you, and if they are comfortable to wear. No reviewer can tell you that, to be sure you need to make that choice and try them for yourself.\\n\\nCompared side-by-side to the similar UFO Plus phones this model does offer more choices in terms of style, and if thats important to you some of the choices really make a strong styling statement. Theoretically the Plus model has some audio enhancements but again, whats important is how they sound to you. I found the UFO model to be a great performer for vocals, jazz and classical music, with a smoother and wider mid-range than the Plus model, and ranking as one of the better headphones for vocals Ive tested. They are not the most bass proficient in the Bluedio series, that distinction belongs to the Plus model, which is as impressive as a Cadillac with a trunk full of subwoofers. The UFOs go down deep and hold it together at the lower registers but fall short of making you feel like you're heads going to explode like the bassier big brother model.\\n\\nBack to styling, the UFOs may be one of the more beautiful phones from any brand Ive seen to date. The quality of construction is excellent, they fit like a glove and never feel too heavy, and they come in a wide range of tasteful colors. I am testing the sliver/black model which is about as elegant as a pair of headphones can get. I also like the pure white model. You can also get them in all red, all black or if you're indecisive you can get a bed/black combo. These are a simpler design than some of the other Bluedio headphones, with a strong but traditional hinge rather than the unique swivel hinge some of the other models have. The headband is soft and thickly padded and the earcups fit snug but not tight. Like the other premium-series Bluedios they come packed in a strong fitted carrying case with an impressive presentation/gift box.\\n\\nThe UFOs are the lowest priced premium phones Bluedio sells. At about $150 at the time I tested them they are an excellent bargain. While not the most ultimate headphones Ive ever tested I rate them high for being such a good value with excellent performance at the price.\",\n \"Product: Pioneer's Elite VSX-45 receiver is your gateway to truly superior performance. A value-packed, 5.2-channel receiver with 80 watts per channel (20 Hz - 20 kHz, THD 0.08 % at 8 ohms)-400 watts total-the VSX-45 is for purists who want power, connectivity and ultimate wireless convenience for their high-definition home theater. Advanced features like Ultra HD (4K/60P 4:4:4) Pass-through, HDCP 2.2 compatibility, built-in Wi-Fi and a new wireless setup app make this one versatile, easy-to-use receiver.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Good news bad news\\n\\nReview: Lets start with answering the most important question. Is this a good receiver? The answer is yes it is, but whether it is the best choice for you depends on how you plan to use it.\\n\\nRight now the most popular market segment for home entertainment receivers is for 7.2 units that are network capable have the latest audio processing capabilities and can handle the latest video input/outputs. They sell for (what marketing calls the sweet spot) about $600 from virtually every name in the receiver business, like Yamaha, Sony, Onkyo, Marantz, Denon, etc. At that price they have most of the features and power to fill almost anyones living room with great surround sound, in fact spending more these days only buys a relatively small increase in features and sound quality. Thats why the $600 price range is by far the most popular.\\n\\nTHE GOOD NEWS\\n\\nThe VSX-45 is a very good receiver in terms of what it is capable of doing in a smaller room like a bedroom, den or family room. At 80 watts per channel it will feed a nice set of utility speakers (2-front, 2-rear, a center and a subwoofer or two). It has 6 HDMI inputs and 1 HDMI output, perhaps overkill for a receiver of its class but then again you cant have too many HDMI inputs so why not. The built-in Bluetooth and Wi-Fi mean you are getting a very complete home entertainment center that lacks little.\\n\\nTHE BAD NEWS\\n\\nThis is only bad news if you are looking to create a full-blown multi-channel system this is not your receiver. At 5.2 and 80w/ch it does a good job for smaller rooms but will probably leave movie buffs wanting for more if they have a good large-screen TV. My installation in a den with speakers in each corner make it ideal for listening to music, and the B-channel output is a bonus to add a pair of speakers for an adjacent sitting room. Now, all that isn't the bad news. The bad news is that this receiver is selling for about $450. At that price it would be easy to find a decent 7.2 receiver (Pioneer Elite has one for only $50 more) and if you stretch your budget only a little more you can step up an entire class in terms of capabilities, power and performance. So the bottom line of this is that the biggest negative about this receiver is that it is priced too high for what you get. And thats what keeps it from earning 5-stars.\\n\\nWHY BUY IT\\n\\nThere is a capability of this receiver that is buried down in the specs but is critically important, something that is not common for most receivers. That is RS-232c interface and full IP control and if you need/use that capability you should suddenly be more interested in this model, as you won't find that capability offered by many brands. What that buys you is the ability to control your receiver with products from Crestron, AMX, Savant and several other respected home automation companies.\\n\\nRECOMMENDATION\\n\\nIf you do NOT need home automation control (i.e. for a built-in system) and will never use that feature this is probably not the receiver for you, you can get more return for your dollar with many other models from Pioneer and other companies. If you ARE looking for a receiver with such capabilities this one should be on your list to consider. You will find it is a very able performer, especially as a second room receiver. It is rated at 4-stars as an I like it product, which is a very good rating.\",\n \"Product: URBAN ARMOR GEAR products reflect the independent spirit of our designers and represent a dedication to superior quality and craftsmanship. Our feather-light composite cases feature a hard outer shell and a soft impact resistant core. Although visually striking, the unique shape of the case also provides strength while minimizing size and weight. Our design allows full access to your device's controls and ports, while openings are designed for problem-free snapshots and uncompromised audio. The marriage of these design elements and materials working in unison maximizes protection for your device. There is a twelve month manufacturer warranty on each case. Please note that this case is for the Microsoft Surface 3 and is not compatible with the Microsoft Surface Pro 3.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Some good and some not so good\\n\\nReview: Lets start off with a reality check that has nothing to do with whether this is a 1-star or 5-star product this is NOT a general purpose everyday case for the Surface 3. It is designed to be, and it is, a specialty product. Therefore this review will not compare it to other styles of cases but rather rate it solely on its own merits.\\n\\nWHAT IS IT?\\n\\nThis is a ruggedized mil spec case designed for people who must, or choose to use, their Surface 3 in challenging conditions and circumstances. Adding a whopping 10.88 oz to a device that only weighs 26.72 oz. this is clearly not a case that someone who bought the Surface 3 because of its thinness and light weight would treasure. For those who use their tablet under harsh conditions, however, this could be a perfect choice.\\n\\nWHAT DO YOU GET?\\n\\nA piece of plastic with a little metal leg on the back. Frankly that is the #1 nagging issue with this case, can they be serious charging $65 for it? By the way, there are no instructions included. And you might actually need them.\\n\\nHOW GOOD IS IT?\\n\\nThere is no questioning that this case will offer substantial protection for your device. Whether it is mil spec is questionable. I worked for quite a while with qualifying products to be truly mil spec and I don't think this case would pass muster. That doesnt make it a bad case, just not one that I would choose if my life depended on it.\\n\\nTHE GOOD\\n\\nIt does what it should in rough conditions. Not that I would drive over my Surface 3 with a tank to test it, but I did bang it around within reason and I feel confident all the protection I could want is there. The embossed design on the back makes for very confident handling even with wet, greasy hands or while wearing gloves.\\n\\nTHE BAD\\n\\nThe little elastic strap to lock the keyboard closed is CHEAP beyond any acceptable standard, especially when you are paying $65 for this case. UAG should be embarrassed to even have it there. The rubberized button protectors could be designed better, they make pressing the buttons more difficult than it should be. Ive seen much better designed button covers on other cases.\\n\\nQUIRKS\\n\\nSince there are no instructions included, everything I knew and learned about the case was from the little ad blurbs on the product packaging. The first is that the product is impact resistant. That blurb is true. The second is that there is a stylus holder. Not a great one, but it serves its purpose reasonably well. The third is that it is Type Cover compatible. True again, and I would recommend it. The fourth is that it has a 3-position stand. It took way too long to figure out how to use it, though. It snaps into the first position a bit too easily and (for my taste) doesnt lock in that position as firmly as I would like. That position holds the tablet the most upright. Due to the design of the leg, however, if you press any higher than the middle of the Surfaces screen while in the landscape position the tablet simply falls over. Every time. This was unacceptable. Without directions it took a bit of time and effort to figure out how to click the leg into the second (of three) position because there is so much resistance it felt like I was going to break it. The second, or middle, position is rock solid for holding the tablet at a usable angle and being able to tap as hard on the screen as I wanted. This is also true with the third position, which also was much to hard to \\\"click\\\" into place. The fifth blurb talks about the frog skin grip and as I mentioned earlier the grip on this case is very good indeed. The sixth blurb mentions that the case can be used in both landscape and portrait mode. Other than the obvious DUH, this claim wasn't necessarily true. The stand is only usable in the portrait mode while in positions 2 and 3 and in both of those positions touching the device's screen toward the edges would cause the case to fall over. The rear leg is therefore pretty much useless as a support when used in the portrait mode. Finally, the last blurb is that the case is feather light. I don't think its debatable that a case that weighs 40% (almost half) of what the device itself weights can be called feather light by even the most starry-eyed copywriter. And referring to a case thats supposed to be heavy-duty as being feather light is an oxymoron anyway. Thats not what I want a manufacturer telling me about a $65 case that Im buying to protect a $500 electronic device.\\n\\nAll things considered, this case does not earn an I love it 5-stars. As an everyday case it would barely earn 3-stars. But for what it is designed to do it does it reasonably well (though at a price) and settles in nicely at 4-stars.\",\n \"Product: Best in class Audio. Use in small room or any small space in home. Bathroom or other damp/steamy environment - (note: HEOS 1 is steam proof by itself and IPX4 waterproof with HEOS 1 Go Pack sold separately).\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: How does it work, how does it sound, is it worth it?\\n\\nReview: <div id=\\\"video-block-R35IDZENI2MJOE\\\" class=\\\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\\\"></div><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/D1dsrFKVSjS.mp4\\\" class=\\\"video-url\\\"><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/01gsNrxQtUS.png\\\" class=\\\"video-slate-img-url\\\"> I own and use wireless audio speakers made by several respected companies. Not Bluetooth speakers, of which I own dozens (for travel and other portable use) but the type that can be used throughout my home to extend music sources to remote rooms via WiFi.\\n\\nMy home entertainment media room is hard-wired and separate from any of the wireless speakers ... it serves the sole purpose of high quality audio/video reproduction and there is no need to extend external sound sources in or out of that high-end listening system.\\n\\nSo what's left is a lot of rooms in a house that was built before anyone thought to hard-wire it for audio and video. It is a house that is open architecture which makes it difficult to string wires from room to room (everything must be routed along exterior walls, a task for obvious reasons I want to keep to a minimum).\\n\\nSo when Sonos introduced their wireless speaker systems I was one of the first to jump on the bandwagon. I like their products but they are pricey and in my estimated, more meant for permanent or semi-permanent installation, not necessarily a bad thing.\\n\\nNeeding to expand into other rooms I went with the Jongo system (more popular in the UK than in the U.S.). I quickly learned that theirs wasn't really a system after all; it was pretty half-baked, and the sound quality was nice but not really hifi.\\n\\nNext I tried the top-of-the-line HEOS 7 and was impressed with both the sound quality and the architectural design statement it makes. I loved it but, being an early-adopter, it was very not ready for prime time. To their credit, the people at Denon were all over me like flies on honey to help me to get a stable, working, dependable and versatile system. That process took a LONG time and frankly it was only in June/July of 2015 that I finally felt I could call the HEOS system fully developed and top-tier.\\n\\nIn the meantime I auditioned and installed a couple of Polk's versions of the Sonos and HEOS systems. That was almost a year ago and to date I think they are still having teething issues and their communication with existing customers is almost non-existent.\\n\\nIn the end, I think only Sonos and HEOS have their act together and can offer a real and dependable wireless audio system. Of the two, I lean a bit toward HEOS for everyday ease of use (and I mean something that you can pretty much turn on and you have music). I think Denon's user interface still needs some tweaking, their app is still not fully intuitive, but when you get to know it, you can learn the logic behind it.\\n\\nI decided to add the new HEOS 1 to my system (which is now getting to be pretty much HEOS throughout the interior of the house, including the HEOS Link device) a few days ago, and now have one of the early production models. While the speaker is smaller and lighter (and less expensive) than any of the other HEOS products, the quality of the sound is aurally matched and, like the other HEOS speakers, is remarkably pleasant to listen too. Is it better or worse than Sonos or Polk? I will say it is impressively good and I will disagree with anyone who reviews any of the available speakers from any of the brands as \\\"the best\\\" or even \\\"better\\\". I can't put a lot of faith into statements like that ... so much depends on the source of the sound, the genre of music, the speaker placement, the acoustic environment in the particular room and maybe most importantly, the ears of the listener and their particular preferences. I recommend ignoring any statements that one of the brands is \\\"better\\\" or \\\"worse\\\" than the other brand.\\n\\nThere is only one way to get the answer about how they sound and that is to buy the product and use it with YOUR music, in YOUR listening room, with YOUR ears. If you like it, then it is the right product for you, if you hate it Amazon has a very generous return policy.\\n\\nI installed the HEOS 1 in my own bedroom, replacing an equivalent series speaker from Polk. I didn't put it in the same location so right there that accounts for some difference in sound but to me the music (being streamed by the HEOS Link in my den) sounds crazy good. And using the app on my iPhone I can very easily listen to what I want to, and share that music with the other HEOS-equipped room. Even if you only bought a HEOS 1 and nothing else you would have a speaker that will fill a bedroom-sized room and (in my opinion) outperforms every Bluetooth speakers I have listened to (and that's a lot of them).\\n\\nThe bottom line is you would be hard put to find an amplified speaker of this quality under $200. To find one that is part of a highly capable wireless whole-house system makes it especially attractive. The speaker is well-built, cranks out powerful sound and is more attractive than most speakers of its size and type. It has an available option of attaching a rechargeable lithium battery pack that also contains a Bluetooth adapter, but that attachment is half the price of the speaker. That's too much, I would say it's worth $75 tops in terms of user value. This is a speaker that I not only like but I like it a lot. Amazon defines that as a 5-star product and that's what rating I believe it earned.\\n\\nAs an early user of an actual production HEOS 1 I would be happy to answer any questions left in the comments box below.\",\n \"Product: Experience the cutting edge of audio with the 7.2 Ch. TX-NR646 Network A/V Receiver, the first in its class to feature the revolutionary dts:X and Dolby Atmos multi-dimensional audio formats. Onkyo's high-current amplification system drives your speakers with maximum impact and fidelity at 170 watts per channel. UltraHD video capability is equally impressive, with eight HDMI 2.0a terminals including dedicated HDCP 2.2 compatible inputs for premium 4K video content and two HDMI outputs for video in separate rooms. The TX-NR646's high-grade 384kHz / 32bit AKM DAC unlocks the full potential of any audio format. Conveniently stream music over built-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Airplay, or Internet music services, including Spotify Connect and Pandora. Use the free Onkyo Remote app to stream audio stored on your mobile device, browse and select tracks from online services and control playback in two zones. Plus, for fans of vinyl, the TX-NR646 has a phono equalizer input to connect a turntable.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: An excellent value at the price point, but is it right for you?\\n\\nReview: This is my second Onkyo multi-channel receiver and it replaces an older model that lacks many of the newer and current standards. I would describe myself as an audio enthusiast, having owned 10+ good quality receivers to date. My original Onkyo receiver was my first multi-channel receiver though and in its day (were only talking about 5 years ago) it was regarded as one of THE trend-setting units in its class. When my needs and tastes exceeded the capabilities of that older Onkyo I replaced it with a newer receiver (a different brand) that last year was the new king of the hill that everyone wanted to own. And make no mistake, I still love that one and it is currently the heart of my media center setup. When I bought my new receiver I relegated the older Onkyo to serve in a rec room setup that is pretty stereotypical of most peoples family rooms, where the audiophile need wasn't quite as critical as in the main media center. My goal was to repeat that cycle the next time technology took another step forward, and that time is now with the Onkyo TX-NR646 a full-featured yet affordable receiver newly released for sale on 6/3/2015 and built with todays technology in mind.\\n\\nOne quick note about Onkyo they have never been one of the first brand names that comes to mind for most people and not the brand they tend to see on the shelf at the local hifi retailer. Onkyo has a market niche skewed a little more toward the audiophile consumer who appreciates certain design technologies that make Onkyo less of a plain vanilla product than average. That is probably why you are here reading reviews about this product, because you are looking for a receiver that is better-than-average but not something you have to mortgage the house to afford.\\n\\nIn its class, and Im talking receivers that range from about $300-$1000, the Onkyo physically blends in with every other brand on the shelf. Lets be honest, they all look almost identical these days. And theres no problem with that. What the front panel is made from, or how many knobs it has, or what the display looks like are all far less important than #1 how it sounds and #2 how it interfaces with your entertainment system. Beyond that, the little design variances between brands is relatively minor.\\n\\nCONNECTIVITY:\\n\\nRead 50 receiver reviews and you will find 50 different opinions and expectations on connectivity options. The balance is between how people want to wire the receiver and how the manufacturer designed it. I found connectivity options on the TX-NR646 sorely lacking compared to my old Onkyo receiver. Unfortunately that seems to be a trend analog inputs/outputs have been minimalized on most receivers and like many other models this one hard labels the inputs and switching, which rarely works for me. Like most users I end up plugging DVD #2, for example, into CAB/SAT because I don't have a cable/satellite box and I need an extra input. In a perfect world all inputs, outputs and switches would be user-configurable with the ability to label each according to what components are in your system. Kudos, though, for the inclusion of an analog phono input. Vinyl refuses to die. Not only is the phono input there, but it has a good clean pre-amp section to support it.\\n\\nRegarding the observation about the B-speaker question, at one time B-speaker capability was an important consideration, albeit a hassle with regard to controlling those speakers (and assigning a different program source) at the remote location. In todays world there are several much more desirable options than a B-speaker output on ones primary receiver. In my house I have dedicated systems in each listening area, hard-wired to their local speakers and others using technology from Sonos, Heos, Omni, etc. I cant imagine going back to running a hard-wired stereo pair from my primary receiver these days. By freeing up that B-speaker capability, the user is free to utilize the other design features of the TX-NR646 with fewer limitations.\\n\\nPERFORMANCE:\\n\\nIn theory, an amplifier should be completely linear, by that I mean the sound quality of what goes in to it should come out exactly the same, only amplified. In reality that is never true in products like this. Part of that is by design, the manufactures don't want perfect sound, they want pleasing sound. So it is very valid to make the statement that someone could and would prefer the sound of Brand A over Brand B. When I replaced my original Onkyo the difference I heard with my newer receiver was like night and day. How good audio sounds to any person is subject to so many variables (room conditions, speakers, music source, human ears, etc) that if you read any review that states that this or any audio product sounds best or worst you should stop reading right there. Such claims are inherently impossible. Read all you want about the features, specs, design, versatility, etc. of this receiver but the ONLY way you will know if you like how it sounds is to buy it, install it, and listen to it in your own listening room, with your own music, using your own ears. All that being said, this receiver has tangibly better sound to MY ears than my original Onkyo and I like it very much. Do I love it? No. To me it still has what I can only describe as a slightly constrained sound like if you were watching a live parade and the musicians turned their instruments slightly away from you, just enough that every subtle nuance is ever so slightly muted. Or that sound when a vocalist pulls the microphone away just a little too much and their voice thins out slightly. On this receiver, all of the sound is coming from the right place as its supposed to, the spacial positioning, which is one of the main reasons we buy multi-channel receivers, is proper and impressive, the audio is clean and undistorted within expectations, but I just cant make it drop my jaw. And maybe thats not something a $700 receiver is capable of doing. And thats reality if the sound quality of this receiver was the absolutely ultimate in audio perfection why would you pay a penny more for one of the more expensive models? So maybe the best way to summarize how it sounds it that it sounds like what you pay for.\\n\\nPROS:\\n\\nOnkyo remains one of the brands that makes good use of the real-estate on the back panel, especially when it comes to the spacing of the speaker terminals. Compared to some brands, Onkyos rear panel I/O ports are much easier to use.\\n\\nCONS:\\n\\nA small detail but notable is that Onkyo has chosen to not put a USB port on the front of the receiver. While I have never used mine, having front panel auxiliary ports can add to the convenience of using a receiver. Also, like many other brands, Onkyo has left off a switched AC outlet on the rear. That is something I do miss from previous models.\\n\\nOnkyo also continues to provide remote controls that look and operate like they were designed in the 1980s. Boxy, non-intuitive, loaded with small buttons that mostly look the same Onkyo is definitely out of step with how the world works. They compound the problem by featuring a plethora of identical front panel buttons on the receiver itself. Sony is one brand that kicked these old-school remotes out the door in favor of minimalistic menu-driven (and customizable) operation. Onkyos on-screen display shows progress over their abysmal older receivers but they just don't seem to understand that, A) most people don't walk across the room to use front panel controls, and B) ditto with remotes with a hundred buttons on them. Onkyo is far behind the times in terms of Human User Interface.\\n\\nSUMMARY:\\n\\nGoing back to the earlier comment regarding ones individual opinions and expectations about this or any competitive model receiver there are a lot of choices available in the marketplace. Hopefully the manufacturers website, professional reviews and those posted here at Amazon can help the potential buyer make an informed decision whether this one will or will not fill the bill for them. If this particular model isn't the right one for you, that doesnt make it an inferior product nor should it affect the products Amazon rating. It is what it is. This is a respectable mid-priced receiver and yes there will be compromises. In its price range it has what it takes to satisfy the needs of buyers who are looking to step up to newer technology without breaking the budget. It offers a reasonable number of features and versatility and high-end audio quality (subject to personal tastes). It has its shortcomings, notably the dated user interface and limited customization. Some buyers may find issue with how the zoning is designed and for others that may be a non-issue (this model is not unique regarding such limitations).\\n\\nIf it were the perfect receiver and deserving of an unqualified 5-stars it would probably cost much more than it does. But its not just an average performer either. I like it, and as defined by Amazon I like it equates to 4-stars. I feel comfortable advising any reading this review to include the TX-NR646 on their short list of receivers to consider in the sub-$700 price range.\",\n \"Product: High speed SDHC UHS-I memory card designed for the photographer / videographer who requires 4K video shooting, high speed burst shooting and fast transfer speed. File recovery downloadable software helps recover photos and videos that have been accidentally damaged or deleted.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Read about the newest version of this card\\n\\nReview: Before getting into the specific results of this card, a few quick observations:\\n\\n1. Sony seems to use this page for similar cards but doesnt change it when theres a new model which means some of the reviews are for previous generation cards, not whats being sold today. It takes a little care to weed them out.\\n\\n2. This is a Class 10 UHS-1 SD card that is specd at 94 MB/s read and 79 MB/s write\\n\\n3. Sony is specific on the packaging that this card is NOT meant to fit every SD card-slot camera ever made. It is intended for newer, more advanced technology devices. The buyer must do a bit of research to be sure their device will work with this card. Any incompatibility is not a defect nor is it the fault of the card.\\n\\nOPERATION AND USE:\\n\\nI tested this card in a Sony A7 and a Sony A6000 camera. You don't have to use the same brand card as what the camera is but it couldn't hurt and I have always had my best results using Sony cards in Sony cameras (after all, thats what Sony uses when they design and test their products). My results were a perfect physical fit (it replaced a Kingston 32 GB card that always had a sloppy fit and intermittent loss of contact with the camera). I never use the little lock slider on SD cards but because there was a comment about it being loose, I tried it and can assure you that the lock/unlock action is very tight.\\n\\nWithout getting into a lot of test bench specs (most people know their real-life results will not be the same as a test-bench anyway) I did experience an improvement in both write and read speeds over the Kingston SDHC Ultimate, which is rated at 60 MB/s. That card is about a year old.\\n\\nBesides the fact that Sony cards seem to go on sale often, another benefit is that they include both File Rescue and X-Pict Story as free software. You have to download them and they are not generic freebies, you must enter the valid serial number off the actual Sony card to complete the download. Both are actually useful apps, with X-Pict Story being surprisingly capable, especially for someone who wants an easy to use video story-maker program.\\n\\nSo, based on real-life performance of this Sony card in my Sony cameras and the fact that the physical fit was perfect in my cameras (you might be surprised that SD cards are not always universally compatible), I would say that I would rate this card as an excellent choice and an excellent value for the price. It is made in Taiwan and is backed by Sony.\",\n \"Product: FOLDS UP SMALL: When not keeping your digital video camera, DSLR, zoom lens, surf or dive housing, iPad, tablet, Kindle, mics safe, the wrap takes up very little room in your bag or jacket pocket\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: More versatile and useful that you might think\\n\\nReview: Indigo Marble is a new company that is focusing on quality photographic accessories you don't see every day. While there are several well-known photo accessory sellers at Amazon who offer page after page of me-too items that all look the same, this company is marching to the beat of a different drummer. This is one gadget from them thats silly simple but comes under the category of why didn't I think of that?\\n\\nOn the surface it appears to be nothing more than a square of material thats padded and has little Velcro tabs at each corner. And in terms of design thats all it really is. But in terms of function, there is so much value to it.\\n\\nI can think of numerous uses for this wrap but as a professional photographer, there is one that really stands out. You see, pro photographers, especially those who fall into the category of being photojournalists, shy away from camera cases of any type. No matter how fancy the case, they just get in the way a photographer wants immediate access to all items of gear instantly, whether that be cameras, lenses, lighting gear, etc. But when we are traveling to a job site we need to protect our gear from being banged around. Not that we care about scratches and dings because pro gear is designed to take that sort of abuse, but more to protect against impact damage, dust, moisture and temperature extremes that can occur while on the road. Many times that protection is just an old shirt or jacket, but whatever it is we need to be able to grab our gear without any hassle. Actually, the old shirt idea isn't such a good one. More than once Ive grabbed one of those shirts accidentally and watched a camera tumble to the floor.\\n\\nThe idea behind the wrap is, well the name says it all to wrap around some piece of gear to give it a degree of protection. The dense foam the manufacturer uses does a good job of that. The 4 Velcro tabs permit the wrap to be closed up in a split second and unwrapped just as fast. I purposely pushed my camera off the seat of my truck and let it tumble to the floor to simulate what would happen if I slammed on the brakes and the camera survived just fine. If I would trust a camera that cost several thousand dollars to a wrap that cost a few dollars, I would have to say this is something I would recommend.\\n\\nI found a secondary use that is handy for me as well. During a shoot my camera rarely leaves my hands. But when it does, I always want to set it down on a secure surface thats dry, not slippery or muddy, and as free from dust as possible. I use my wrap as sort of a landing pad when I lay my camera down (or one of my accessories) to take advantage of the padding and also just to help remember where I put it during the fury and confusion of a shoot.\\n\\nPS. I also found a use to wrap some old classic cameras that I keep in storage, as you can see in the attached pictures. The lining and padding seem to be safer than anything else Ive tried.\\n\\nThis thing isn't rocket science, and it isn't priced like it. It comes in 2 sizes (the manufacturer provided a sample for me to evaluate. This one is their large size). For the price and the convenience that buys, I would rate this as a best buy.\",\n \"Product: FOLDS UP SMALL: When not keeping your digital video camera, DSLR, binoculars, zoom lens, surf or dive housing, iPad, tablet, Kindle, mics safe, the wrap takes up very little room in your bag or jacket pocket\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: More versatile and useful that you might think\\n\\nReview: This is one of those gadgets thats silly simple but comes under the category of why didn't I think of that?\\n\\nOn the surface it appears to be nothing more than a square of material thats padded and has little Velcro tabs at each corner. And in terms of design thats all it really is. But in terms of function, there is so much value to it.\\n\\nI can think of numerous uses for this wrap but as a professional photographer, there is one that really stands out. You see, pro photographers, especially those who fall into the category of being photojournalists, shy away from camera cases of any type. No matter how fancy the case, they just get in the way a photographer wants immediate access to all items of gear instantly, whether that be cameras, lenses, lighting gear, etc. But when we are traveling to a job site we need to protect our gear from being banged around. Not that we care about scratches and dings because pro gear is designed to take that sort of abuse, but more to protect against impact damage, dust, moisture and temperature extremes that can occur while on the road. Many times that protection is just an old shirt or jacket, but whatever it is we need to be able to grab our gear without any hassle. Actually, the old shirt idea isn't such a good one. More than once Ive grabbed one of those shirts accidentally and watched a camera tumble to the floor.\\n\\nThe idea behind the wrap is, well the name says it all to wrap around some piece of gear to give it a degree of protection. The dense foam the manufacturer uses does a good job of that. The 4 Velcro tabs permit the wrap to be closed up in a split second and unwrapped just as fast. I purposely pushed my camera off the seat of my truck and let it tumble to the floor to simulate what would happen if I slammed on the brakes and the camera survived just fine. If I would trust a camera that cost several thousand dollars to a wrap that cost a few dollars, I would have to say this is something I would recommend.\\n\\nI found a secondary use that is handy for me as well. During a shoot my camera rarely leaves my hands. But when it does, I always want to set it down on a secure surface thats dry, not slippery or muddy, and as free from dust as possible. I use my wrap as sort of a landing pad when I lay my camera down (or one of my accessories) to take advantage of the padding and also just to help remember where I put it during the fury and confusion of a shoot.\\n\\nPS. I also found a use to wrap some old classic cameras that I keep in storage, as you can see in the attached pictures. The lining and padding seem to be safer than anything else Ive tried.\\n\\nThis thing isn't rocket science, and it isn't priced like it. It comes in 2 sizes (the manufacturer provided a sample for me to evaluate and I ordered the medium size). For the price and the convenience that buys, I would rate this as a best buy.\",\n \"Product: 2.1 Wiireless Sound Bar with wireless Subwoofer.Dual-Driver array, HDMI Input/Output, Dobly Digitial & DTS Decoding. Class D Digital Amplifiers USB Storage / Aux Input Grouping of TV Sound On-Wall Mounting Ready\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Here's what you need to know that the ads don't tell you\\n\\nReview: <div id=\\\"video-block-R2AIIOEF3GRJET\\\" class=\\\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\\\"></div><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/E1UvyUL2lpS.mp4\\\" class=\\\"video-url\\\"><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/015OFLiOouS.png\\\" class=\\\"video-slate-img-url\\\"> This is the newest of an expanding lineup of the HEOS series from Denon, and in some ways the most intriguing. First shipments began in early July 2015 so as I write this actual production units have only been in end-user hands for about 6 weeks. I am reviewing a final production model here. This review is long, detailed and objective and is intended for the individual who is serious about spending $800 for a sound bar.\\n\\nIn the days before people bought speakers sight unseen through mail order there were stereo retail stores that had listening rooms so customers could A-B compare the sound from model to model. All people hear things differently from other people. Brand names and consumer reviews by strangers are all but meaningless in judging if YOU will like a speaker's sound, so this is more a guideline to the form and functionality of this product than hyped up praise for how it sounds.\\n\\nThat being said, I am very fond of the \\\"Denon sound\\\". Their pedigree comes from a historic lineage with premium brands like Denon, Marantz, Boston Acoustics, McIntosh Laboratory and Snell. To my ears their sound is natural, smooth and eminently listenable for hours without the tiring effects of boominess, shrillness or over-processing that many models of modern speakers have opted for in a bid to be trendy and give an initial \\\"wow\\\" experience. Because this line of Denon speakers is so listenable for extended periods it is a major reason I've chosen them for 100% of the audio playback in every room of my home other than my home theater media room which is a combination of other brands and models.\\n\\nI've tested and reviewed several various sound bars recently for my consumer tech website. This one lands near the higher end in price, but don't forget it is more than just a sound bar ... it also incorporates the full HEOS wireless system and therefore not only has to sound good with TV audio but with high quality music as well, plus it can play from far more input sources than the average sound bar and can do so under remote app control. Having a wireless subwoofer also adds a bit to the total cost of the system. Having compared several competitive models gave me a good insight into how to shop for the ideal sound bar.\\n\\nMy HEOS sound bar installation is not for my primary media room where I have a hard-wired surround system. I have yet to find any sound bar, including this one that comes close to my 7.3 surround sound system. Instead, after much research I decided this would be the perfect matchup to my new high-end HDTV in my bedroom, where I also make extensive use of music listening broadcast throughout the house via HEOS. Now for me this one speaker serves both purposes as a TV speaker and also a quality music speaker due to the switchable \\\"TV/Music\\\" frequency tailoring I can play Blu-Ray disks with the audiophile sound quality they deserve or immerse myself in TV surround sound. Using a sound bar in a smaller room like a bedroom is actually a better choice than using discreet surround speakers because most people watch TV in bed and it is not usually practical to wire rear channel speakers behind most beds without them being too close to the listener's ears.\\n\\nFEATURE HIGHLIGHTS:\\n\\nBeing a high-end model this is not just a few cheap speakers mounted in a long enclosure (as I found in some of the lower-price sound bars). Denon uses some very premium circuitry normally reserved for their top-tier receivers and spacial expansion processing that is eerily close to having a full-on multi-speaker surround system. They've given a lot of thought to connectivity and controllability as well; even to the small detail of a circuit that passes the IR signal from your TV's remote control into the front of the speaker and out its rear just in case you place the sound bar in front of your TV's IR receiver sensor.\\n\\nDenon has also well thought some little details that manufacturers often overlook. One of them is how to handle the challenge of mounting a sound bar to the wall but still allowing for the necessary cables like power, HDMI, etc. to be connected. I've seen some brands go for the obvious and have the cables plug straight in ... very bad because the speaker ends up being mounted 6\\\" from the wall to accommodate the necessary cables. Other brands have the cables come out the bottom, which can look messy but also it makes them prone to be accidentally knocked out of their jacks. What Denon does is to recess them and mount them sideways so they are not in the way and cannot accidentally be pulled out. Denon also opts for a super-simple eyehook to mount the speaker to the wall. Why is this important? Because you WILL need to unmount it from time to time to access certain controls, most notably the port and pushbutton that you use to sync the speaker to your mobile device. From experience I have found that the pairing process needs to be refreshed from time-to-time, especially after one of the relatively frequent automatic firmware upgrades. By way of comparison, some of the other brands I tested can get very frustrating to mount to the wall. By the way, if you choose to place the speaker on a table or in a cabinet it comes with three sets of feet to adjust the height to your preference.\\n\\nOVERALL LOOK, FEEL AND CONSTRUCTION:\\n\\nThe Denon HEOS line of products hit the gate with their own distinctive look and it is well-executed with quality materials and attention to detail. They are higher-end products and they look it. The HomeCinema bar retains the family resemblance and is designed to fit in well with pretty much any environment. While I would be the first to say that the heavier a speaker is the more likely it is to have the guts to deliver powerful sound, there is the practical side that wants a sound bar that can be wall-mounted without heavy-duty hardware. The Denon strikes a nice compromise by keeping the bar itself light enough that a couple of Mollies can easily hold it in place and installing it remains a one-person job. The subwoofer is solidly constructed and, of course, can be placed almost anywhere in the room. It is rear-firing which for many people with carpeted floors works out better than down-firing. You've got total freedom to experiment with placing it to meet your personal audio tastes.\\n\\nPROS:\\n\\nFor what this system costs you should have a reasonable expectation of superior sound quality and the HomeCinema doesn't let you down. While it may not deliver the jaw-dropping, knee-rattling sound that you may get in a movie theater,you will have a hard time believing how impressive the sound coming from such a thin speaker can be. I would stick my neck out and say that this one speaker has the potential of sounding WAY better than some of the budget brand multi-speaker home theater systems being sold in the average retail stores. To compare it with the speakers built in to your TV ... well, there simply is no comparison. As stated above, the QUALITY of the sound is a personal decision and depends entirely on your preference and listening style, but it is indisputable that this is a premium audio system.\\n\\nCONS:\\n\\nMaybe not a con but something to be aware of, at 40\\\" long this is a very big speaker. I have mixed emotions about that. Most people I know who have very large (over 50\\\") TV's have them connected to an external receiver and speakers. My experience is that generally people who use sound bars tend to own smaller (under 40\\\") TV's which are actually only about 36\\\" wide, so this sound bar sticks out a few inches on either side of your TV. No matter how you slice it, the Denon takes up a lot of horizontal real estate. Again, not a problem but something you will have to take in mind as far as placement logistics (the sub-woofer is wireless and can go virtually anywhere in the room).\\n\\nThere are other treats that the premium price buys you. Like, while the majority of sound bars only include optical inputs the HEOS includes an HDMI input and output with TV audio return channel as well as Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus and DTS decoders. You also get both optical and coaxial digital audio inputs.\\n\\nThe HEOS HomeCinema supports MP3 and WMA compressed music files, as well as lossless AAC, FLAC, and WAV files, and it can handle sample rates of 32, 44.1, and 48 kHz. The Audio Return Channel (ARC) provides a single wire connection to TV's using HDMI, Additional inputs include USB, optical digital, coaxial digital, and stereo RCA analog. That's a lot of connectivity!\\n\\nNone of us expect much these days when it comes to customer service support from any of the big-name companies. It's worth noting then that I have had quite the opposite experience with Denon. To be accurate (and blunt), when HEOS first hit the market and I was one of the early users, frankly if it weren't for customer service I may have thrown in the towel ... in fact my early reviews of HEOS products were not very positive. But I always was able to reach a real person with a real name to deal with who remembered me and if he didn't know the answer he went straight to the engineering people to get an answer for me. Over time I saw a lot of \\\"updates and fixes\\\" that directly answered some of my nagging issues. And there were a LOT of software and firmware upgrades before the bugs got worked out. I feel confident now with my latest HEOS component that the bugs have been indeed worked out to the point that my system runs smoothly every time I fire it up. I make a point of this because there are reviews posted from customers who were not happy with the early stumbles and glitches and it's all too easy to assume current products are the same. They're not. One of the huge advantages of software-driven products like HEOS is that if there is a hitch you're not stuck with it, everything that's been \\\"fixed\\\" over time with my HEOS products has been through a seamless automatic download. And a big kudo to the fact that when one of my components updates, Denon automatically updates ALL of my HEOS components at the same time (not even Apple does that with their iOS upgrades).\\n\\nBOTTOM LINE:\\n\\nIf you own current HEOS products you will probably fall head-over-heels in love with the HomeCinema sound bar, not only for how it sounds but for how wonderfully versatile Denon has made it. If you are new to HEOS and think almost $800 is too much to pay for a sound bar (maybe more than you paid for your TV), take a closer look. This is a magnificent sound system that does so much more than adding great sound to your TV. If you use it in your living room you very well may end up with it being your ONLY source of audiophile-quality sound, built into a physical package that is ideal for smaller rooms, apartments or shared quarters. And, if you live in a typical house like me, once you experience having the same music (or an extensive range of DIFFERENT music) playing in every room of your house, including your back yard you will wonder how you every lived without it.\\n\\nBasing my review on the high-end quality and versatility of this speaker and taking into account how well it integrates into a whole-home wireless solution, I feel confident recommending it as worthy of earning 5-stars.\",\n \"Product: Get the weather forecast and temperature information to plan your day with confidence with AcuRite's pro color weather station. The weather station's illuminated color display features indoor and outdoor temperature and humidity, rainfall, wind speed, wind direction, wind Chill, the weather forecast, heat index, dew point, barometric pressure with 12-hour history, time and date. Display stands upright for tabletop use or is wall-mountable. The AcuRite professional weather station uses patented Self-Calibrating technology to provide your personal forecast of 12 to 24 hour weather conditions. Self-calibrating Forecasting is generated from weather data measured by the 5-in-1 sensor in your yard - giving you the most accurate forecast available for your exact location. The patent-pending 5-in-1 sensor is easy to setup, includes mounting hardware and features a 2 year battery life for maintenance-free operation. One-year limited warranty. It's more than accurate, it's AcuRite.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Some real life observations\\n\\nReview: There is already tons of feedback on this product detailing how it works in technical terms. Here are some real life observations that will hopefully help you decide if this is the one for you, or not.\\n\\nAcuRite makes a lot of weather station products that look and perform almost identically to each other. I have always found shopping for their products difficult because despite a wide variance in price sometimes its really hard to tell what makes one model different from another. Before going on, since this page lists two variations of this model with one costing almost twice the other, the one I have is the internet connected model, which is really the only reason I even want a weather station in the first place.\\n\\nAcuRite is one of a handful of companies who make this kind of home weather station and they tend to be at the lower end of the scale in terms of price and degree of accuracy. Every time Ive shopped for one I find wide ranging levels of satisfaction with those not liking it usually not happy with the accuracy and durability. One of the reasons I put off until now getting one is I have been living in the desert where we really don't get much variance in weather anyway and much of the year its in the 110-120F range and low cost weather stations like this only last one season before the sun destroys them. Im moving to an area where there are 4 seasons and Im not used to weather conditions and changes, and Im more out in the sticks so now a home weather station seems more useful.\\n\\nSo much has been said about the specifics of what this does Ill only touch on those things Ive learned that I think are most important for you to know:\\n\\nAs tempting as those multi color displays look on some models you never really get used to them and the task of reading them gets old fast, then after that they are an eyesore in your living room. The inverted color display on this one is much more restrained and without the many colors its actually easier to read. Note that at night it dims itself, making it a more suitable in the living room.\\n\\nThe practical range of the wireless transmission from the outside unit to the indoor unit when you consider windows and walls is really 50 for some types of house construction, your results will vary.\\n\\nFor as much as this unit costs I would have expected by now that it would integrate into one or all of the smart home devices like Alexa. It seems so obvious to make a unit that you simply ask what current conditions are. But no, there is no interconnect between such home automation devices at all.\\n\\nThis model does not have lightning detection. Why? To me thats a major downside.\\n\\nOne thoughtful design feature is that this model has a dual sensor solar panel which is not shown in the product page illustrations. They are mounted at a slight V-shaped angle and point slightly upward so if the outdoor unit is mounted properly the panels will gather power from the sun all afternoon.\\n\\nOPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT\\n\\nThese are not serious flaws that would keep me from considering this model, but nevertheless are areas where I would expect more from this company, especially at the price:\\n\\n1. The overall construction is not very rugged. It would be well suited for temperate climates but I doubt it could survive long in harsh desert heat, brutal winter ice and snow or hurricane force winds.\\n\\n2. The most glaring example of inadequate construction is the way the outdoor unit mounts to the lightweight plastic tube. Once you point the sender in the proper direction you're supposed to fasten it in place with a tiny sheet metal fastener that bores a hole in the plastic tube. Unfortunately making that hole means if you want to make a slight adjustment (which means making another hole) it may not be very secure anymore.\\n\\n3. Speaking of the fasteners, there is an initial frustration when you open everything that they forgot to include the mounting kit, which means youll have to wait to install it. That turns out not to be the case - theyve hidden them in the battery compartment but nowhere do they tell you that.\\n\\n4. I was surprised, though not in an entirely bad way, how big the indoor display unit is. From the product illustrations I expected it to be smaller. In fact it is large enough to dominate wherever it is placed, which caused me have to rethink the ideal location.\\n\\n5. I am not a fan of the continuously moving tickers some cable news shows have. I don't need the information overload. This display unit has such a ticker and you cant turn it off, only have it display fast, medium or slow. When I put the display on a table within my peripheral vision while watching TV the constant movement got annoying. Also, you cant select which information you do and don't want to see so you have to wait for up to 36 different updates to flash by. Again, information overload.\\n\\n6. If you want to use the Access transponder (which isn't required for the weather station to work) you must plug it in to a physical Ethernet port on a router. When will companies understand that almost every home router is only equipped with four ports and many people already have those ports in use already. Yet a lot of minor gadget companies like this demand to be hard wired to the router. Such devices should be Wi-Fi enabled. Period. End of story.\\n\\n7. UPDATE: after a few days of the daily light-to-moderate wind pushing the big off-balance 5-in-1 sender back and forth that tiny fastener enlarged the hole in the soft plastic pole and fell out. Now the whole sender unit is just spinning around freely on the pole. I had to come up with a way to clamp it to the pole to keep it pointing due south as required. Why hasn't anyone else mentioned this issue?.\\n\\n8. The flimsy plastic base on the display is not weighted. Whenever you push any of the buttons the tall top-heavy display falls over. You would think the designers would have noticed that.\\n\\nSATISFACTION LEVEL\\n\\nOverall I like this for being a very simplistic basic weather station. These days for most of us there isn't really much need to buy such hardware, however, because you can so easily tap in to similar and even better units in your own neighborhood on your smartphone and get the identical information. I think this company is resting on their past laurels from the 1970s and 1980s and is tremendously behind the technology curve, nothing they are offering is as state of the art as it could be. The decision is yours if you want or need a physical weather station at your home or get the same information for free on your phone. If your choice is the former, this is one of several brands and models to give consideration to.\",\n \"Product: With stunning 2K resolution, the 27 BenQ SW2700PT monitor is equipped with 99% Adobe RGB, 100% sRGB, 100% Rec.709 color space coverage providing you with a wide range of spectacular colors to work with.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: A serious look at a serious graphics monitor\\n\\nReview: BEFORE WE START\\n\\nImportant: please note that the seller has lumped 8 different BenQ monitors together on this page, resulting in reviews for all of them being mixed together. That can lead to confusion and conflicting information from well-meaning reviewers. To further complicate it the actual model number is not displayed anywhere for each review, only a generic product description in fine print called \\\"Style Name\\\". To be clear then the model I am reviewing is the SW2700PT 27\\\" IPS Adobe RGB Color Management 2560x1440 Display.\\n\\nMY ROLE IN THE CREATIVE PROCESS\\n\\nI have owned an award-winning still and video photography business for many years, having trained at several recognized institutions. My work is primarily documentary and product-related. Precision resolution and colorimetry in my acquisition and post gear is of high priority to me. There are many brands, models and technologies of imaging devices available to the professional; however it is sometimes difficult to lock in to definitive standardization. I have used BenQ products since the late 1990s and recognize them as a prime manufacturer associated with display products suitable for professional applications.\\n\\nHOW I WILL BE REVIEWING THIS PRODUCT\\n\\nThis review will not be laden with specs, neither those published by the manufacturer nor those measured by me, specs and features are readily available at the manufacturers website. Specs are not my primary motivator in considering a monitor, any more than I dwell on specs when evaluating the purchase of a new camera. Specs don't create art. Bluntly, computer monitors are an unfortunate but necessary tool to achieve an interim step in the process of communicating what the artist/photographer sees and interprets to the ultimate viewer. If we are to work in the digital realm we must use monitors, we have no other option, and all claims and hype from the manufacturers aside there is no monitor that exists capable of perfect imagery. When an artist/photographer perceives a nuance of a color that defines what their finished product will be it is the job of the camera, monitor, software and printing/display process to retain as much as possible of that hue so it may be shared with others. That to me is the difference between buying an $89 monitor at Walmart and making the commitment to acquire a monitor such as this and spend the time and energy it takes to fine-tune it to realize its full potential.\\n\\nSpecs are not meaningless and BenQ is generous with them to the degree of including a custom factory calibration report with each individual SW2700PT monitor. This is a valuable resource to give you a starting point to fine tune your specific monitor to your individual graphics card, software and output media. What is applicable to me is unique and applies only to me and my workstation. What is important is that the monitor has a plethora of fine-tuning adjustments far beyond the average computer desktop monitor.\\n\\nWHY\\n\\nBefore even getting into specs, features and performance one might ask why spend so much on a computer monitor. These days its easy to buy a decent monitor for just over $100 and a very good monitor for about twice that. Why spend $650 (MSRP) for a photography and video editing display at all? Ill refer back to this again a little later but the #1 reason is that photography (and graphic arts) are not about specs, features or performance. A monitor exists for the sole reason to display as reasonable a facsimile of what the photographer/artist visualizes, either at the time of creation or their interpretation of the finished product. Therefore a monitor, as a tool, must be: A) accurate; and B) replicable, i.e. it must reproduce the same tonality all the time, every hour of every day, under reasonable variable lighting conditions.\\n\\nFUNCTIONALITY\\n\\nApart from the visual fine-tuning range available, the SW2700PTmonitor also customizes well physically to your workstation needs. The base and mounting arm are in a class all by themselves in terms of structural rigidity resulting in virtually no physical shake. Thats important, as miniscule amounts of shake can affect human perception of the sharpness of an image. The monitor has an impressive range of vertical adjustment and is self-locking and calibrated so a favorite position may be replicated at different sessions. Likewise the 90 degree swivel is smooth but tight so no locking screws or cams are needed. If it is necessary to move the monitor for any reason there is a simple push-button mechanism to unlock it from the mounting arm after which the screen portion may be lifted from the base. This model is compatible with an excellent wired OSD remote controller for menu access with 3 user-determined presets; a quantum improvement over reaching under the screen and randomly pushing tiny menu buttons as you would find on the vast majority of monitors. The wired remote may be set into a receptacle built in to the bottom of the base; a similar receptacle built in to the arm or removed completely and placed at your fingertips for instant menu adjustments.\\n\\nThe SW2700PT is packed with premium quality interface cables for DVI, USB, and DisplayPort and a very robust and durable shading hood that attaches to permanent mounting clips molded into the bezel of the monitor. Also included is a comprehensive version of Palette Master Element calibration software. The monitor is rated as zero flicker and low blue light emitting. Unique are a SD card reader and two USB 3.0 ports on the left side of the cabinet.\\n\\nUSAGE\\n\\nThis monitor is best suited for a permanent, lighting-controlled graphic workstation. I mentioned that I am using this monitor in my home office workstation. Make no mistake, work that I do away from the studio is just as just as serious as what I do at the office. I have been using a 23 monitor up until I tested the BenQ because I believe anything larger may be difficult to process in my brain as a finite image. Heres an example of what I mean hold a 4x6, a 5x7 and an 8x10 printed photograph in your hands and look at them. Your eyes perceive the entire image as a something finite with boundaries. Now hold a 16x20 print in front of you. Too large, huh? You have to scan your eyes and maybe even turn your head to take in the entire image. This is not always a good thing when you are editing still or motion photographs (video). My example illustrates why a larger workstation monitor is not necessarily a better thing. After using this monitor for a while I discovered that 27 is not too large for editing tasks, but I will say that it is the largest I would be willing to use. At the same distance as my 23 monitor (and I am unwilling to change that) Ive learned that MOST of the time my eyes are comfortable taking in the entire image as one finite composition. The only time I find the BenQ to be too big is when editing purposely distorted high res video such as from a GoPro. In those cases I need to increase the distance from my eyes to the screen by about 20% more.\\n\\nHOW DOES IT PERFORM\\n\\nImage quality is very elusive to define even under the most controlled of conditions it can still be subject to a large number of variables and therefore the degree of satisfaction will probably not be the same for everyone. I know the term personal preference should have no place in a review of a tool that is intended to render images to a certain definable standard, but in real life it does, if only to the degree that there are individual differences in how each of us perceives color, intensity and tonal balance. My vision has been professionally tested recently for my ability to perceive color accuracy and the results indicate that my vision is near-perfect. But I will wager it is not the same 24/7/365. During the course of my test period I have been very satisfied with the degree of accuracy this monitor is capable of. I have reviewed a wide range of archive images and shot some stuff specifically for comparative purposes. Posting them here would be a useless exercise so you will have to accept that I am convinced enough that this monitor will suit my needs that I will be adding it to my wish list which hopefully will coincide with a time that it goes on a Lightning Deal. For those reading my review I cant imagine how anyone could make a final decision on something like this based on what someone else says. If you think it will fit your needs I suggest buying one and trying it before you make a final commitment.\\n\\nAREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT\\n\\nIm not sure what practical concern this would be but it should be noted that the HDMI port is Ver 1.4 rather than the Ver 2.0.\\n\\nWHY BENQ\\n\\nI have little to no concern what brand name is on a tool that I use in my trade. In fact I have always covered brand logos on my cameras with electrical tape so they don't distract my subject. My only consideration for the brand name of this product is whether the company behind it is an actual engineering/development company or just a brand name slapped on a generic product. And whether the company will be there to provide after-purchase support. I have owned BenQ products going back 15 years or more and I am confident that they have the necessary experience, skills and stability to be considered one of the major players when it comes to professional display products.\\n\\nSUMMARY\\n\\nShould you choose this specific model of monitor? Of course that is a personal decision. Here is my professional input as a working photographer who uses monitors such as this as part of my working toolkit. I see the use of a monitor in photo editing as being broken down into four general levels of need, and where the user fits into one or more of those level:\\n\\n1. The Exhibition Photographer this is when I must present my work in its most perfect form, such as a display in a gallery or museum. There are criteria I must meet, some of them self-imposed, that are not cost-effective for me to do myself, or that can meet a higher standard if I work with a pro lab equipped with specialty equipment that is outside of my budget range. This is more often the case for video editing but it can also apply to my still photography needs. I don't care what brand equipment they use, I care about the results and Im willing to pay them for those results. Obviously for that category of work I don't need to own a monitor (or any equipment or software) of my own.\\n\\n2. My Business this is my bread and butter. This is where I choose the equipment, software and accessories to best accomplish my highest standard of work while still running a profitable business. After careful consideration I found this monitor to be an excellent fit for my needs and it is priced at a enterprise-friendly cost. For the working professionals studio or home workstation I would recommend giving this monitor serious consideration. When properly adjusted I consider it worthy of being called a professional photographers tool.\\n\\n3. Enthusiast I believe a high percentage of people reading this review fall into this category. I do when I am taking photographs not for profit but for the sheer joy and satisfaction of photography. I want my results to reflect what I saw at the time I created the photo and I think most people who invest in a good camera and a quality set of lenses are after the same goal. When you consider what you spent on your camera gear the purchase price of this BenQ monitor is indeed reasonable and is night and day superior to a typical run-of-the-mill generic computer monitor. I doubt if a quality-conscious photo enthusiast would be disappointed in this monitor.\\n\\n4. The family snapshot shooter frankly 95% of what I take these days for family fun time is with my smartphone and I post it directly to social media without editing so, no, this monitor would be overkill for someone who primarily takes pictures of the kids and pets. But guess what? Cell phone cameras have become amazingly capable these days and every so often I take a candid shot that knocks my socks off and I do spend time touching it up. So I would say if you're into photography and/or video and have a few bucks to spend on a monitor the fact alone that the screen on this one is so good I would say its hard to go wrong, if for no other reason than the instant push-button profile selector.\\n\\nRegardless of what else you may ever read about this monitor, words will never be able to communicate how your images will look to you (ideally of course they should look exactly like what you saw/envisioned in real life when you created the image). Whether I tell you positive words or negative words to describe how well that worked out for me what I had this monitor to use my words cant let you see what I see. While the current selling price of just under $600 (when this review was written) may be on the pricey side for the photo enthusiast it is actually on the lower end of the spectrum compared to what you CAN spend on a display monitor if you really want to. Consider that the price also includes a three-year warranty on parts, labor, and backlight and I would consider this monitor not only an advanced and accomplished tool for the professional photographer/videographer but a good value as well.\\n\\nI evaluated a new retail production model monitor that was loaned to me for a month for the express purpose of sharing my observations in a review. I did not receive any compensation, free or discounted goods, nor any special requests from the marketing company who facilitated the loaner sample and I did not communicate directly with BenQ at any time. The monitor was packed up and sent back after the short-term loan.\",\n \"Product: Capture more fast action and record more Full HD or 4K Ultra HD-ready video with your Android based smartphone, action or MIL camera. SanDisk Extreme cards are built tough for extreme durability even under challenging environmental conditions. Fast speeds reduce the time you're on hold while your pictures and videos move to your card or from your card to your computer. Storage capacities from 16GB to 64GB expand device memory and leave room to record video that's ready for the new 4K Ultra HD television screens and monitors.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: A pro talks about memory cards\\n\\nReview: Few people would question that SanDisk has earned a strong reputation as a manufacturer of memory cards. Not that there aren't other brands that are not equally as good, but because in the minds of some of the most demanding users worldwide SanDisk seems to have built an aura of not only for being good in terms of performance but for being the memory card people trust when they depend on it most. As a professional photographer I try not to let brand names influence my buying decisions, but as I look at the many memory cards I own, the fact is that most of them are SanDisk.\\n\\nMemory card manufacturers like to surround their products with a lot of mystique having to do with speed and extreme ruggedness. Im sorry to be the bearer of a dose of reality but the card itself is not the only factor in determining the speed performance of the product. The specific type and model of what you are using the card in, what you are doing with that device and under what conditions you are doing it and lots of other factors have a tremendous effect on a memory cards speed, a reason that when you read reviews from people who submit 30 pages of benchmarks you are only reading how the card performed under certain conditions at a specific time and place as they say, your performance may (and will) vary. That being said, this card represents a level of performance that should equal virtually any current piece of electronics you insert it in.\\n\\nThe other spec ruggedness also confuses a lot of people. The reality is that it would take ridiculously extreme conditions to damage a memory card manufactured by almost any company you can think of. A memory card is nothing more than a piece of plastic that sandwiches the electronic circuitry thats sealed inside. There is precious little that makes one brands card more rugged than another brand. When you buy a memory card you are buying the brands reputation more than any differences in the physical card over another brand and thats where SanDisk reigns supreme they have everything to lose if their cards don't live up to the highest of professional expectations, this is pretty much their entire livelihood, so to people like me they are worth the premium in price. Will it ever fail? Yes maybe it will and maybe it will be at the worst possible time and maybe you will read about someone who hates this card because of such an experience. No memory card is infallible.\\n\\nSo what about this particular newest version card? I tested (and am using on a daily basis) the 32GB model. 32GB is the current sweet spot in card capacities in terms of practical value for most devices whether that be cameras, video devices, smartphones or anything that requires a microSDHC card. The capacity is adequate for most users and the size assures compatibility for most current devices. And, the price point is comfortable for most people. At under-$20 selecting this card is almost a no-brainer and (this is personal opinion) I cant see saving $1.57 to buy an off-brand card when you can get a SanDisk for this low price.\\n\\nIf you are shopping for a memory card you know the SanDisk brand name. And youve probably read the usual glowing reviews from fans and also the negative reviews from people who prefer other brands. Youve probably read the so-called benchmark tests. Thats good stuff to know but heres the advice of someone who doesnt get a paycheck unless I deliver billable results (me) you're not buying specs, you're buying confidence and reliability. Think of that when you are ready to push the buy button. I rate this card as 5-stars for a product I can trust.\",\n \"Product: The Patriot Torch LE Solid State Drive (SSD) is the perfect solution for those looking to increase the performance and storage space of their system. Available in capacities of 120GB, 240GB, 480GB and 960GB, the Torch LE SSD fits the needs of everyday users who are looking to significantly improve system response time over mechanical hard drives. Using a SATA III 6Gb/s interface, that is backwards compatible with SATA II 3Gb/S, the Torch LE SSD has transfer speeds of up to 560MB/s read and write speeds of up to 425MB/s (120GB), 530MB/s (240GB) and 540MB/s (480GB and 960GB). Built using a 7mm high 2.5\\\" form factor, the Torch LE fits neatly into any Ultrabook, laptop or desktop PC. The Torch LE has advanced features including end-to-end data path protection (ETEP), advanced wear-leveling, advanced garbage collection, smart ECC, smart refresh, and smart flush technology. The Patriot Torch LE is Compatible with Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows, 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10, Mac OS X, and Linux systems. Backed by Patriot's award winning build quality, the Torch LE comes with a 3-year warranty.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: A good performing bargain drive\\n\\nReview: Sometimes when things don't go perfect the first time it's a good opportunity to learn more about a product and the manufacturer than most people get to know. You as a reader of these reviews benefit from such learning experiences much more than just reading a review that tells you about a bad experience that left the user hating the company and telling you not to buy from them.\\n\\nIm no stranger to Patriot but like many people Im learning my way through the sometimes complicated world of SSDs. Not only is there a lot to learn but technology is changing at a breakneck pace as SSDs start becoming more and more common as replacement drives and even the default drive in new computers and laptops.\\n\\nSSDs are more memory devices than hard drives so its no surprise that the industry leaders tend to be companies with experience in manufacturing computer memory. Patriot is known as a long-time respected brand in that business. They have a full range of SSDs in a variety of capacities and capabilities. I am testing the Torch LE series, which is a value line that Patriot does not sell direct or in stores, only through Amazon and only in bulk packaging (by that I mean no retail box, no mounting kit, no cables/screws and no driver disk). The unit arrives in a clear plastic clamshell case with a small one page spec sheet. You are expected to know how to install it and how to set it up. In exchange for the simplistic marketing presentation you pay an industry-leading low price.\\n\\nI am not a novice to what makes computers work having built about a half-dozen of them from scratch. Im also not completely new to SSDs I just finished converting the primary drive in my high-end home workstation using a premium SSD of a different brand and my top-of-the-line laptop is 100% SSD. Patriot asked me to evaluate the Torch LE series for them and provided me with a discounted sample unit. As always my review is based on my own real-life experiences with the product.\\n\\nBefore installing the drive in my home workstation as supplemental data storage drive I read numerous reviews to see what issues I might expect to face and then I contacted the manufacturer for technical advice. Not surprisingly the first thing I learned was for the best experience I should update the drives firmware. This advice is made very clear at Patriots website and is most certainly the reason for some of the issues other users faced. So if you buy this drive (or any SSD from any manufacturer) check FIRST to see if there are firmware updates and do them before doing anything else.\\n\\nHow easy is it to update the firmware? Honestly, not that easy. Ive done that task dozens of times with other electronic components but the process here sent be back to tech support several times before I was able to do it right. In the end I looked at that experience as a valuable lesson about how good Patriot is at taking care of their customers. In a nutshell, I got fast responses and good advice throughout the process.\\n\\nSo heres a condensed version of what you need to know before installing this drive:\\n\\n1. The firmware update for the Torch LE is not listed on the tech support page at Patriot. To find it you need to go to the product description page (remember, Patriot does not sell this drive direct, only through Amazon). On the drives spec page there is a huge banner headline that tells you there is a firmware update available and how to download it. That part is easy.\\n\\n2. After you download it youll find that the app is zipped using 1z, a protocol the average person is probably not familiar with. Unlike most downloads these days the app is NOT self-extracting. You have to go to the 1z website and download an extraction tool. There are a dozen or more choices available and when you get it youll be faced with another dozen or so options on HOW to extract the file. None of it is as easy as pushing a button.\\n\\n3. Once you extract the file youll find the tool to be a goldmine. Its a basic tool but it will tell you a TON of information about your SSD drive (apparently not only for Patriot brand drives either). BE VERY VERY CAREFUL THAT YOU ARE READING THE INFO FOR THE PATRIOT DRIVE NOT ANY OTHER SSD YOU MIGHT HAVE INSTALLED!! In my case it only read my other brand boot drive because I had the Patriot drive hooked up via USB 3.0 I learned I had to install the drive inside my computer using a SATA cable for the app to recognize it. Then it displayed both of my SSD drives it is important that you don't accidentally flash the wrong drive!\\n\\n4. After installing my new Patriot Torch LE it fought for dominance in my system against my DVD drive. The only way I could get both to be recognized by my computer (with some great handholding by Patriot tech support) was trial and error switching my SATA cables around until everything played nice together.\\n\\nAfter all was said and done I ended up with whats considered to be the Rolls Royce of SSD drives (of another brand) as my primary boot drive and the Patriot Torch LE SSD as my supplemental data drive. I ran numerous benchmarks and real-life tests and found the bottom line is that in terms of performance the budget Torch LE series is impressive with comparable read speeds and a slightly slower write speed that is imperceptible in real life. As you know, specs are dependent on so many variables they are best considered a guideline for comparison performance in your system the way you use it will probably be different. There are several places you can search for benchmark tests of this drive under controlled conditions. Im satisfied that there is no reason I can think of not to save the money and buy a Torch LE series unless your needs are super demanding. If you cant measure the difference in terms of real-life benefits, why pay for it?\\n\\nFinal point is that even at the price point Patriot sells this drive with a 3 year warranty. Overall I like this drive and would recommend it as a good value performer. I would knock off a little for the difficulty in flashing the firmware but then I would need to offset that by giving kudos for a much better than average tech support experience. My gut tells me that equates to a total rating of 4.5 stars.\",\n \"Product: The 290 Dual is the natural connection between the 290 and the higher-end family of the Manfrotto tripods. It has kept the sturdy construction of the 290 featuring the patented 90 Degree column mechanism, which together with the 4 leg angle positions enables it to easily reach ground level. These features make the 290 Dual the ideal support for photographers to express maximum creativity by discovering totally new shooting perspectives. This kit features a ball head for quick set up and ultimate adjustability.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Heres how to compare this to the less-expensive brands\\n\\nReview: If you're not a professional shooter or advanced amateur Manfrotto may not be a brand you're familiar with and you may be asking who would spend so much money for a \\\"no name\\\" camera tripod. In fact Manfrotto is a much sought after and revered tripod brand to those who want premium level performance without paying top dollar. Yes, the upper echelons of the tripod can easily command $2000 or more for a \\\"premium\\\" camera tripod. And when you make your living as a working professional photographer as I do you gladly pay that price for premium performance.\\n\\nBefore talking specifics I want to state that I am also an award winning videographer and this (even with the 3-way kit) is not set up for video unless you plan to use it only occasionally for home movies or lock down shots. Video tripod/head combos and still photography tripod/head combos have very different design characteristics, a ball head and a good fluid head are very different items.\\n\\nI own several tripods for my work and this makes the fourth I own for my personal photo fun times. Frankly this is not in the same league as my pro gear. But it's not meant to be. My pro gear is too heavy for this tripod and, as sturdy as this tripod is, it simply wouldn't be up to the challenges of commercial photo work.\\n\\nBut I am not working 24/7. And when I am traveling or just having fun with friends and family my tripod needs are entirely different. Having been frustrated by the cheapie tripods I bought to save money a few months ago I bought one of the top selling models from Ravelli, based primarily on price. The first one was broken so I got a replacement. After using it a few times its easy to see why it sells for a third of the price as the Manfrotto. Here is what to look for in a mid-weight tripod like this:\\n\\n1. Legs that positively lock when extended. The two most common locks are twist-to-lock and a snap lever lock. While the choice of which is best is a personal preference I find the twist-type (like the other brand has) may not always lock fully tight, which can cause the leg to slip. A positive snap lock like the Manafrotto, if it is well made, is less likely to slip. The Manafrotto has a mechanism that compensates for wear and age of the locking tab.\\n2. Legs that have a positive lock to keep them from spreading when you don't want them to. I have had other tripod legs splay outward on highly polished floor surfaces. The Manafrotto has a four-position snap lock that keeps the legs at useful angles.\\n\\nAnd as far as the head mounted on the tripod, here are some tips:\\n\\n1. The ball mechanism should move smoothly but lock absolutely firmly when you have the camera in shooting position. Remember, a ball head is not a fluid head and it is not intended for smooth panning and tilting but a smooth ball action means that you will be able to position the camera precisely for still shots. The lower-priced brand has a ball mechanism that binds and is difficult to position and is not very precise.\\n2. The quick release mount must be QUICK and the mounting plate slim enough to leave on the camera while shooting if the photographer is in a hurry. The lower-priced brand has a multi-step process for mounting or removing the head which involves loosening a screw then flicking a lever that does not positively lock, then while holding a little pin in the camera plate needed to slid out of a track that was poorly finished so it would usually get stuck. Inexplicably, the tab used to screw the mount to the camera body didn't lock in the up position so it would also catch on the mounting track. All of which made mounting and removing the camera a frustrating and time-consuming process.\\n\\nOne final thing to mention about this tripod is the unique instant 90 tilt feature, essentially allowing you to bend the center column at a right angle for straight down or straight up shots. If you do product shots (as I do) this is a solid gold feature you will love. One tip, though, is that unless your cameras is pretty light, folding the center column can throw the balance of the tripod off, possibly causing the weight of the camera to tip it over. To solve this, simply extend the leg nearest the camera out a little longer than the other two legs. With practice this will become second nature and your tripod will stay rock steady for those straight down (or straight up) shots.\\n\\nBOTTOM LINE:\\n\\nAs far as tripods go this is about as economical (and lightweight) anyone who is serious about photography will probably want to consider. For most amateurs and semi-pros it strikes a nice balance between cost and stability while still being easy to carry with you. Manafrotto is a highly respected brand and I don't get the impression that this is a cheap entry level model in their product lineup. Once you use it for a few days the difference between it and lower priced brands becomes pretty obvious. The quality of construction and attention to detail makes it worth the higher price and I have no doubt it will serve well for many years. As this is the best I have found anywhere near its price range I believe it earns 5-stars.\",\n \"Product: HP 11-p110nr x360 Convertible\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Comprehensive user overview this HP, a MacBook Pro or a Surface Book, or ... ?\\n\\nReview: Please note that this review is long and it is not simply a cute-and-paste of specs you can find everywhere else. It is based on real-life needs and real-life use. I'm not a computer salesperson so you also won't find a lot of hype and hyperbole. What you will find is based on a whole lot of experience traveling with, and depending on, laptops.\\n\\nThese days you just cant shop for laptops like you used to, even only a year or two ago. The whole idea of what a laptop is and how its used has changed. Back in the day no laptop would be given serious consideration unless it had 17 screen, quad-core processor, 1 GB hard drive, mega battery power and more. Then came smartphones with big screens and ultra-powerful tablets and of course hybrid devices like the MacBook Pro, Surface Book and now the iPad Pro (with accessory keyboard). Extreme power is out and extreme portability is in. Not that there's no longer a market for the big powerful heavy luggable laptops many jet-setting businesspeople and others who require a mobile solution as capable as their office workstation still want and need the capabilities a premium full-featured laptop offers.\\n\\nBut for the rest of us the mobile computing market has segmented into all kinds of available choices, this convertible from HP being one of many. Its as different as it is unique from a full-featured laptop as different can be. So there is no value in applying traditional comparison criteria to it like how big the screen is, how much onboard storage it has or even how fast the processor is. Those features are not why it exists.\\n\\nLets look at some of the common mobile computing specs and see how this convertible stacks up:\\n\\nSCREEN SIZE:\\n\\nWith the advent of the iPad Pro theres no denying that the world has adopted smaller screens in the 12 range as the de facto standard the MacBook Pro has one, the Surface Pro has one, the new iPad Pro has one, Chromebooks have one. A smaller screen strikes an acceptable balance between useful readability and convenient portability. While there is and will be every bit as important a need for smaller, and larger, screens the market has spoken and the 12-13 range is what they want.\\n\\nON-BOARD STORAGE:\\n\\nWhat? No terabyte hard drive? Nope, no more than an MacBook Pro, Surface Book or iPad Pro has one. With cloud computing where both apps and files are store remotely its just not the kiss of death anymore to be limited to 16 GB or 64 GB or 128 GB. My iPad is only 16 GB onboard and after a year Im still only using 50% of it. Plus, unlike my iPad, the HP 11-p11nr (one of the most awkward model numbers Ive ever seen) has readily available plug-in storage options thats almost limited only by the imagination.\\n\\nPROCESSOR SPEED:\\n\\nRolls Royce used to have an answer when anyone asked how much horsepower their cars had. Adequate was the answer. With the latest versions of iOS, Chrome, Android and in this case, Windows 10 it is rare to find a mobile computer that doesnt have adequate power to run the operating system and almost any app you can throw at it.\\n\\nBATTERY POWER:\\n\\nDitto. In the old days, getting 2-3 hours on a laptops battery was a time for celebration. Todays mobile devices can power through an entire business day and more without even breathing heavy. Its just not that big of a deal anymore.\\n\\nSo needless to say, after evaluating and testing the HP 11-p11nr it emerges as a very capable mobile computing device. Now, why would you want to consider this form-factor instead of a traditional laptop, a tablet or a MacBook/Surface type of device? After all, the lines get more and more blurred with the many choices of non-traditional laptops available.\\n\\nAs a convertible, this model more resembles a shrunken traditional laptop than anything else. Its advantage over a smartphone or tablet is the obvious inclusion of a real tactile keyboard, something that the hybrids are not quite there with (late edit: except for the Surface Book which has a true tactile keyboard). A real keyboard will appeal to anyone who types a lot, i.e. a writer, blogger, teacher/student, etc. The keyboard is always attached and is hard-wired and includes an industry-standard touchpad so it operates just like the full-size laptops. The screen is also attached and positionable for (dare I say it) laptop use, something tablets and hybrids are usually just not that great at. The unique feature of a convertible is that the screen can be swiveled so the device can be used more like a tablet (albeit a heavy and cumbersome to hold tablet), but with Windows 10 it can be used in a 100% touch-only mode. That may not appeal to the typical tablet user as much as it may appeal to a business user who wants one device to serve as their laptop and their tablet.\\n\\nI want to touch on the similar devices that have a removeable screen instead of a hinged one like the HP. This is pure personal preference but for me (and Im sure others) there seems to be a productivity advantage of being able to just flip the screen up on a laptop, lets say in an airport, and start working. There is a risk factor with devices in which the screen separates that the user starts depending on the screen as a tablet device and may not have the keyboard with him/her when they need it. Personally I like having a laptop be a laptop 100% of the time and carrying my iPad with me for entirely different reasons and purposes.\\n\\nThe most obvious question would be which is better, a convertible or a hybrid? To reduce the question down to the most simplistic answer possible a hybrid still wins for extreme portability while a convertible has the advantage of more closely replacing a traditional laptop. In other words, its a personal choice. When I look at my real-life needs for a laptop (mostly for business) I compare my HP convertible more with devices like the MacBook Pro and the new Surface Book and one startling things becomes crystal clear the HP convertible does an lot of things that those two devices do but at a fraction of the price.\\n\\nPERSONAL OBSERVATIONS:\\n\\nHere are some of my random thoughts about this laptop in general, in no particular priority:\\n\\n1. As far as laptops go it is a lightweight but as far as tablets go it is substantially heavier. At 3 lbs, 2 oz (as measured by me) it is a half-pound or so heavier than most Chromebooks.\\n2. The screen is really nice for a low-end laptop. Not in the realm of the best tablets but better than any Chromebook I have used.\\n3. The fit and finish is much better than any of the Chromebooks I have seen. It should. It costs more than the average Chromebook.\\n4. The above being said, it doesnt compare on any of those points with the MacBook Pro or a Surface Book but then again it is a fraction of the price.\\n5. The keyboard feel is much more like a typical laptop. One of my needs for a laptop is to work on my books and a good keyboard is an absolute must-have. That combined with being compatible with Windows software, especially Word, is a deal-clincher.\\n6. The concept of having a real almost full size keyboard, AND a multi-touchpad, AND a WIN10 touchscreen is about as close to perfection as it gets an amazing combination for the low price.\\n7. After using an iPad with a Bluetooth keyboard for a while to travel with it is hard to get used to going back to having to carry a separate power transformer instead of just a USB cable. That is a necessary evil I guess but at least it is smaller and lighter than what you would find with most laptops.\\n8. The speakers sound better than anything in its price range. The audio quality is better than the iPad Air2 by far (but thats not saying much). I haven't compared it yet side-by-side to the new iPad Pro because it won't be delivered for at least a few more weeks.\\n9. The in-box setup and use documentation is pathetic. If this is your first modern computer you will be hopelessly lost. Even if you are upgrading from a fairly recent computer to Windows 10 you will be left scratching your head. The small fold-out \\\"roadmap\\\" consists of a picture of how to plug it in, a picture of where the buttons/inputs are and how to open the screen. Most of the sheet consists of Regulatory Declarations of Conformity, Software Terms, Limited Warranty, Feedback on this document, and tons of \\\"warnings\\\" in fine print. Not a word about how to actually get started, and especially not a word about all those now famous \\\"privacy settings\\\" that Windows 10 automatically sets to \\\"allow\\\". There is so much these days in setting up a new computer that is a one-way street (i.e. once you make a choice it is difficult or impossible to undo). Someone at Microsoft and/or HP will probably say \\\"well you can go online for more setup documentation\\\". But what about for those people who bought this as their first and only computer? How do they get online if they don't have a computer and don't know how to?\\n10. As far as the 32 GB Solid-State Drive on-board storage, which is a tiny fraction of what you might expect on a full-size laptop or desktop computer, almost exactly half of that is already used by pre-installed software/apps (some call it bloatware). That leaves an amount remaining that can only hold a handful of photos at full resolution. Even if you immediately uninstall some of the stuff you will never use that's still not a lot of storage. But remember that this is designed to store most of your \\\"files\\\" in the Cloud using OneDrive. To make a long story short, it really does work itself out in real life for most users.\\n\\nBOTTOM LINE:\\n\\nYou are reading this page because you have, or think you have, a need for a convertible laptop. I do too. My need is for something to help me take my Windows 10 desktop computer mobile and still run all the same software (well, most of it) and have all of the benefits of a full-size laptop without the weight or the expense. I have not seen a better choice available to do that. I am very happy that this is the ultimate mobile PRODUCTIVITY computer for my business travel needs. Having it available to me has almost zero effect on my need and use for my iPhone nor my iPad, I still use them every day for entirely different reasons. None of them are replaceable by the other. My choice here was to which mobile PRODUCTIVITY computer made the most sense for me (being a Windows user for work) and the HP won out over the hybrids clearly and easily on price and just as much on overall usability. I like it, which Amazon defines as earning 4-stars. Is it perfect? No, and as an entry-level machine HP never intended it to be. I would say it requires a serious looking at though because it offers a lot of value for the price.\",\n \"Product: The DxO ONE attaches to your iPhone and transforms it into a professional-quality connected camera. Featuring a 1-inch format 20.2 megapixel sensor and a high-quality f/1.8 lens, it captures amazing images, even in low light. The companion iOS app turns your iPhone display into a beautiful viewfinder and gives you full control over the cameras settings.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Comprehensive DxO ONE overview What you must know\\n\\nReview: This is an overview with first impressions of the DxO ONE iPhone camera accessory. Note that until 9/24/2015 the product was in pre-release free sample stages only through the Vine program. This is a post-release overview and is NOT for a Vine sample product.\\n\\nWHO IS DXO?\\n\\nYou know Nikon, Canon, Sony, Pentax and many other camera brand names. Most people who are not working professional photographers have probably never heard of DxO. And for good reason, this is their first entry into the camera hardware business. The company, whose full name is DxOMARK, is a professional photographers test and review website. They have been a regular source of high-end sophisticated camera testing for me for over 10 years. They are known for their lab-grade camera bench-marking tool and professional image enhancement software. However, they have not gone into detail at this point who actually makes the hardware for them and what their long-term commitment is to this product.\\n\\nWHO AM I?\\n\\nI have been hooked on photography since I was 10 years old and a working professional by the time I was 20. Ive been published in some of the top newspapers and magazines and have worked with presidents, kings, celebrities and tycoons. Im a frequent contributor to photographic and consumer-tech websites and have worked directly with the leading manufacturers in design, engineering, training and marketing.\\n\\nWHAT IS THE DxO ONE?\\n\\nThe device is specifically designed to be an add-on accessory for a current generation iPhone running iOS 8 or greater. While it may connect to other lightning connector enabled devices like iPod, the entire functionality of the accessory is enabled for and by the power of the iPhone. What it does is to enhance the capabilities of the already highly capable onboard camera of the iPhone by adding a much more sophisticated 20.2 megapixel 1 Sony imager. The accessory has its own fixed focal length lens (32mm equivalent, f1.8 max aperture) which ostensibly is superior to the iPhones onboard camera. The accessory is self-powered using an internal rechargeable cell (see more about this elsewhere in this article). The accessory attaches physically to an iPhone by plugging it into the phones lightning connector for both physical support and transfer of data. Operation of the accessory is accomplished using both dedicated controls and an on-screen control panel on the iPhone.\\n\\nIS THIS A NEW ONE-OF-A-KIND CAMERA?\\n\\nActually no. There are others that are intended to perform a similar function, most notably the Olympus AIR A01, which is remarkably similar in concept (but not in execution) and sells for just under $500. While the Olympus is a slightly lower 16 MP device with a 4/3 sensor and is designed primarily to be used with a Smartphone but unlike the DxO ONE, the Olympus may be used with iOS, Android and other operating systems, a huge advantage of not being limited to one brand of phone and one style of interface connector that could become obsolete. The Olympus has a far superior mounting system, rather than hang from the bottom of the phone solely by the delicate Lightning connector like the DxO ONE, the Olympus AIR mounts to the phone using a rugged clamp and then communicates all of its functions to the phone wirelessly.\\n\\nThe biggest advantage of the AIR of course is that it can be used with a large variety of existing 4/3 lenses, including zoom lenses, and is much easier to physically handle and control (but by the same token, the AIRs body is significantly larger and heavier 147g vs the DxOs approx. 91g). The AIR also has a beefier battery and multi-motion image stabilization. I won't go in to all of the differences but it is worth looking in to the AIR if you are looking at this genre of accessory and comparing them feature-for-feature to see which is best for you.\\n\\nWHAT MAKES IT SO UNIQUE?\\n\\nThere has been almost no mention from the Vine samplers of the #1 thing that makes this accessory unique and special and that is the image sensor. That is not something consumer-grade point-and-shoot camera manufacturers go into detail about with their level of customers, but it is a major point of consideration for professional photographers and experienced photo enthusiasts. No matter how many megapixels a camera has the bottleneck in achieving pro-level image quality is the small sensors that consumer cameras have. Thats why, no matter how many megapixels the next iPhone has, the tiny little sensor will always prevent it from equaling the quality of a high-end DSLR.\\n\\nHeres a simplified explanation. Imagine a silver dollar. Now imagine taking a brush and painting tiny dots on it. Each dot represents one pixel. Once you get to 20,000,000 dots you have painted the equivalent of 20 MP on the surface of the coin. Now take a dime and using the same brush, try to paint 20,000,000 dots on it. The dots are going to be smaller and squeezed in closer together. What you have done is illustrated the difference between a point-and-shoot consumer camera using a small sensor (the dime) and a pro-level DSLR using a one-inch sensor (the silver dollar). The tremendously larger surface area of the larger sensor permits each of the 20,000,000 dots (pixels) to be larger and gather more light and result in more resolution. Of course, sensor design is much more complicated than my simplified example but in the above example I have illustrated WHY the Dxo ONE exists and the reason why it is an exciting and necessary tool for individuals with an advanced knowledge of photography who can put it to its full potential when used properly.\\n\\nThere is an illustration I created posted with this article that compares the image sensor size of the DxO ONE to the typical $800-$1000 DSLR from Canon, Nikon and the other brands to the typical sensor for a consumer-grade point-and-shoot to the sensor size in a typical smartphone. The graphic illustrates the tremendous difference in relative size between various sensors. Remember, sensor size, NOT how many megapixels is the prime factor in determining image quality. By the way, as other pro photographers will agree, right up there in importance when we choose any camera is the quality of the optics. We don't care whose brand name is on the front or whether it has WiFi or all kinds of gimmicks, without a good lens all else is a waste of money. The DxO ONE has a lens that is both better and more capable than what is built in to any iPhone. But don't fool yourself, it is nowhere in the same league as a professional quality lens which will cost you many times what the entire DxO ONE costs.\\n\\nWHO WANTS / NEEDS IT?\\n\\nFrankly, to many if not most iPhone owners this accessory isn't going to do a lot to help them take any better pictures than they already can using the technology built in to their iPhones. The high megapixel count (as I have preached for years) doesnt necessary help make a better picture, but rather a bigger picture. For the casual snapshot taker who posts their photos to Facebook it will be virtually impossible for them, or anyone else, to see any improvement in picture quality under everyday conditions. It is the serious enthusiast and some professionals who are likely to take full advantage of the cameras ability to take photos that can be cropped or enlarged to huge poster sizes (something most people rarely if ever do). And that person can and likely will see the value of purchasing a $600 accessory that they are willing to carry everywhere they carry their iPhone as they search for the perfect shot. Does this mean the DxO ONE isn't capable of greatly improving on the inherent quality of photos an iPhone is capable of taking? Of course not. In the hands of someone willing to take the time and effort it requires to photograph rather than take a snapshot the DxO ONE is capable of fantastic results. The time-worn maxim still applies great photos are taken by photographers not cameras.\\n\\nWHAT ARE ITS PRIMARY SELLING POINTS?\\n\\nIf you are already a DSLR user, especially one who owns one of the handful of pro-grade cameras, you will appreciate that the DxO ONE will give you some of the capabilities of your big, heavy and complicated camera in a tiny, lightweight gadget that you can literally carry everywhere with you. Even professional photographers take a day off but they are never without their phone. If you happen to be an accomplished shooter and also happen to own a current generation iPhone you may never again say dang, I wish I had my camera with me. The DxO one excels at portraiture due to its fixed lens and great bokeh (well except for the 6 blade iris). And along those lines, as a working professional, there is a use for me for the DxO ONE that is truly unique and worth the price and thats street photography. By that I mean walking casually through events, neighborhoods, etc. where a full-size DSLR would scream WARNING: professional photographer with expensive camera) and allow me to look like Im simply taking a snapshot with my phone, while I am actually taking what could be an award-winning photograph. In fact I would say the concept of having this as a stealth camera would be my #1 reason for owning it. BTW the RAW + proprietary DxO image processing makes it especially suitable for ambient light photography.\\n\\nWHAT ARE ITS SIGNIFICANT WEAKNESSES?\\n\\nThe DxO ONE, by camera standards, is not the first (or even second or third) camera you would choose for general family photos, sports/action photography or to use in unfavorable weather conditions. While it does have a 1/8000 shutter, it is an electronic vs mechanical shutter. The DxO ONE just not really cut out for action photography due in no short measure to the fussy setup procedures, shutter lag, lack of ruggedness and the lack of a zoom lens (digital zooms like you will find here don't count).\\n\\nOne major concern I have is the way the device mounts to the iPhone via nothing more than the lightning connector. Books have been written about how fragile the lighting connector is (a reason Apple is indicating replacing it with USB-C) and I tend to be very careful about plugging and unplugging accessories in to my iPhone. Im very concerned about something the size and weight of the DxO ONE hanging off my phone supported by nothing but the lightning connector, though the seller makes some interesting points about how the camera is supposed to fall off before the connector breaks. I would much rather have seen the company design an accessory that somehow clamps onto the phone like the Olympus AIR and utilize a flexible cable to connect it to the phone. Along the same topic, I fear what will happen to my shiny (and expensive) DxO ONE if next years iPhone 7 is the first Apple phone to switch to USB-C. Maybe, and thats a big maybe, some sort of adapter can be rigged up but thats a pretty ugly thought to visualize.\\n\\nNext, there is no physical onboard still image stabilization. This is something almost every consumer is used to by now and is a definite weak point for point-and-shoot snapshooters. Without the knowledge and temperament to adjust the settings properly a lot of the superior imaging quality can be ruined by shaky hands (more to come on how the DxO ONE compensates for that).\\n\\nNo tripod mount. That pretty much erases any benefit from the 15 second shutter speed '\\n\\nBy far the majority of people use some sort of protective case on their iPhones (and iPads). The design of the standard-length lightning connector as the only way to mount the DxO ONE is physically incompatible with a significant percentage of popular phone cases. Speaking for myself I am not willing to remove my phone from its case to use any accessory. Fortunately my phones case is such that the entire bottom is exposed and the DxO ONE fits but just barely and not very securely.\\n\\nAnd for those who have not shot 20.2 megapixel images, the file size is HUGE, larger than most people are used to. While the DxO ONE can use microSD memory cards for image storage, beginner photographers may not be quite ready to edit such large files and may find the file sizes much too large to post to some social media sites or email apps without taking an extra step to resize their photos.\\n\\nAnd finally, as is becoming a persistent topic whenever the DxO ONE is discussed, the battery life is abysmal. I don't know what else to say about that, the short battery life seems to erase all of the positive benefits of having a pro DSLR in your pocket available to plug in to your iPhone at any time.\\n\\nThe DxO ONE can also be used as a stand-alone camera. Frankly this is not what it is designed for and there are significant limitations to using it that way, like no viewfinder and very limited control over the camera. I found it useful recently at a late-afternoon outdoor wedding where the lighting was very low and there were already two professional photographers covering it. With the DxO ONE hidden in my hand I took some incredible unposed candids of the wedding party that most point & shoot cameras could not have been able to handle in the low-light conditions. I also took some out on the dance floor at the reception that no one had any idea I was taking. I cant see many practical applications of using the camera without being attached to the smarts of an iPhone but if you understand what the DxO ONE is (and isnt) designed to do you will soon discover why it really is unique and comparisons to other brands and styles of camera just don't really work.\\n\\nFor now, I like the Dxo ONE in concept. Time will tell if as shipped production models will reveal any more benefits or concerns compared to the hand-picked seed Vine samples. Amazon defines I like it as 4-stars so until production models get some real-life field experience by experienced users I will rate it as such and hold off on any test/evaluation sample shots until then.\",\n \"Product: The compact, sleek design of all of our dashcams will allow you to place them in the most ideal spot so your view of the road is not blocked. The video quality in most of our dashcams is an astonishing 1080 HD at 30fps, with more options to choose from. GEKO uses the most advanced technology today to combine state-of-the-art lenses and image sensors to guarantee crisp, clear footage. GEKO dashcams are resilient and durable, made to withstand the harshest of weather conditions, either hot or cold. GEKO dashcams deliver the confidence of Full HD video clarity, ensuring rich detail and crystal clear image quality for your surveillance video clips. Versatile and powerful, yet small enough to fit just about anywhere our dashcams will surpass your expectations. Imagine having a second set of eyes on the road while you drive. With the full one-year warranty that is included you will get the added support you need.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: The new class leader is one of the most affordable\\n\\nReview: <div id=\\\"video-block-R968QURG3X4OD\\\" class=\\\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\\\"></div><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/D1GatY0-QiS.mp4\\\" class=\\\"video-url\\\"><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/11mT5gVuMwS.png\\\" class=\\\"video-slate-img-url\\\"> Okay, Im finally excited about a dashcam! Not that I haven't tested (and used) quite a few very fancy and nice dashcams. But this one is literally the first that got me excited. So Ill start by simply ticking off my first impressions and what I liked about them (dont worry, the list of things I didn't like follows right after):\\n\\n1. It is tiny and light. And doesnt look like a dashcam (i.e. it doesnt have steal me written all over it. It is finished in stealth black rubberized covering that absolutely does not call attention to itself. In use it looks like one of those electric eye things that auto-dims your headlights or senses the outdoor temperature.\\n2. It has a built-in battery backup.\\n3. There is NO chrome on it at all, in fact no markings or writing on the side that faces outward. The part that faces into the vehicle only has a few subtle gray-on-black button labels.\\n4. The buttons are real buttons. When you push one it actually clicks, so you know you did something.\\n5. There is a small but surprisingly bright and sharp LCD screen so you know what the camera is pointed at.\\n6. There is a microphone so it picks up sound (yea!!!) that can be used as evidence or just to record a fun trip adventure.\\n7. To mount/unmount it there are no fussy levers, you just slide it into the adjustable suction mount that is already in place. And the suction mount is tiny and also totally subtle, it does not scream expensive toy on-board\\n8. It records to a standard Micro-SD card (included) for ease in downloading the video\\n9. It comes with a cigarette plug adapter for operation and recharging the battery. It also comes with a shorter USB cable for the same purpose.\\n10. This should be #1 it is totally brainless operation. It powers on automatically when your start the car* and goes into record when it senses motion, then it turns off when you stop driving. There is a 12 second pause so it keeps recording when you are stopped for a stop sign in case someone does something stupid.\\n\\nNow, the not-so-rosy:\\n\\n1. Why does it use the old-school mini-USB connector instead of the more standard micro-USB? I know that connector is still popular in a few places in the world but not everyone has them laying around and if you lose the cables that come with the unit you may be out of luck. Not a deal-breaker, just an inconvenience.\\n2. See #10 above I like the motion sensor and the 12 second delay at stop signs but Im not crazy about it going into pause during longer stops, like at red lights. I would suggest that they may the pause user-adjustable, and I would set it at about two minutes before auto-pausing.\\n3. Hold on, Im thinking of other things I didn't like. Still thinking \\nOh yeah, add to the list of things I love the price. Holy dashcam Batman, are you kidding? Yes Ive see a few toy no-name dashcams for about the same price but something from the leading Papago! brand for such a low price? If I had known about this before the manuf asked me to test an early sample copy I would have had my checkbook in hand in a split second to buy one. Of course there wasn't a word about how I should write my review, these people are way above that and I wouldnt have listened anyway. I test and review stuff MY way.\\n\\nWHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:\\n\\nBeing a 1080p camera the Geko is about as good (if not better) than most GoPro-type cameras and there is no reason it cant be used exactly the same way (except it is not waterproof or meant for hostile environments). In fact the 120 degree lens is just about right for a lot of typical sports/action video use. The Geko also has a built-in still camera with a couple of unusually powerful LED flash bulbs. Careful though, you will want to make sure the LEDs are turned off if you plan to shoot pictures through the windshield of your car or youll get some nasty reflections.\\n\\nAlso know that there is no software included in the box. You are pretty much on your own to download any video or still photo files. That was not difficult for me under Windows 10. I just popped the card into the SD adapter (included) and stuck it in the slot in my computer to download the files. Note that if you don't have very long fingernails (I dont) getting the card in and out of the camera will take something like a knife or in my case, a letter opener.\\n\\nBOTTOM LINE:\\n\\nThere is very little not to like and the price is as right as it gets. Papago! is one of the very few dashcam companies that actually has real people in the United States and they are great at customer service. I don't know why anyone would want to buy a no-name brand when the cost of the Geko is so ridiculously low.\",\n \"Product: The DV180F has two LCDs, a 2.7-inch screen in the back and a 1.5-inch screen on the front. The front screen makes it easy to frame self-portraits--no more guessing and hoping you took a good shot. Thanks to built-in Wi-Fi, transferring your images and sharing them no longer requires memory cards or cables. Whether you're at the concert hall or a birthday party, grab the DV180F to take 720p HD-quality MPEG video at 30 frames per second. The Smart Auto 2.0 feature automatically analyzes the current shooting environment and chooses the right mode to give you the best possible picture. The compact design of the DV180F makes it easy for you to slip it into your pocket and take it with you wherever you go.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: A good idea with a not-so-good execution\\n\\nReview: This is about as generic of a Point & Shoot digital camera as you will find. With one exception it is as ordinary as any under $150 camera as you will find from Nikon, Canon, Sony, Fuji or any of the many other brand names. There is nothing about the cameras specs or performance that would make you choose it over any other brand. None of the above should be considered negative, there is absolutely nothing wrong with this camera.\\n\\nBut it is the one unique feature that is the exception that may cause you to consider it. And that is the front mounted LCD viewing screen. All of a sudden a plain vanilla camera becomes a selfie cam, and that feature may be worthwhile for some people.\\n\\nFirst the bad news virtually every smartphone made in the past 5 years (at least) has a selfie cam built in. And selfie cams are very popular with some people. And for those people their phone is with them all the time, why would they want or need another, larger camera to carry around in addition to their phone. Well, for some people, especially those with families or who are very active, a traditional Point & Shoot camera gives them more features than their cell phone. Most notably on this particular Samsung camera, a 5x optical zoom lens (the specs shown by Amazon above are wrong, they show it to be a 6x lens). An optical zoom can make all the difference if you travel and want to bring home better than average vacation photos. And the more powerful onboard flash can be more useful for pictures in dimly lit conditions than the puny flash on almost every smartphone. While the image quality may not be substantially different from what your smartphone is capable of, if you plan to make enlargements of your photos the larger image sensor should result in better enlargements than your smartphone. By the way, this is a 16.2 MP camera, at the time I posted this review the product page does not show the resolution specs.\\n\\nSo what Im saying is if you are already leaning toward buying a separate pocket camera of this type, why not consider the added benefit that it can also take selfies?\\n\\nThe idea is good. Samsungs execution of the idea is not so good. The placement of the little front LCD is not at all well thought out. First, it is located to the left of the lens (as you face the camera) right under the shutter release where it is almost impossible for your finger to reach the shutter button without blocking the LCD screen. Other cameras with the idea of offering the selfie cam feature have the rear viewfinder fold up over the top of the camera where it is easier to reach the shutter button without blocking it. Once you try taking selfies with the Samsung you may find it frustrating to try to hold the camera at arms length and release the shutter while still being able to see the LCD screen.\\n\\nIt doesnt get any better as far as the flash location which is located right above the front LCD screen. Not only is it hard to hold the camera for selfies without blocking the flash but the location close to the lens is very prone to causing red-eye.\\n\\nThe camera is not accurately described by the manufacturer either. They say transferring your images and sharing them no longer requires memory cards or cables due to the built-in WiFi. Not true, you still need a memory card in the camera. I think what they mean to say is that you don't have to take the memory card out and stick it in your computer to transfer pictures but not many people do that anyway. Having WiFi in a camera tends to be no less complicated (or even more complicated) for most people than just plugging their camera into a computer using the USB cable. Plus, WiFi is a battery drainer, a consideration if you won't have easy access to a camera charger for an extended period.\\n\\nFor a Point & Shoot camera, this Samsung model is pretty decent but you can get a comparable brand name model for less without WiFi or a front LCD screen. If you have your heart set on either or both features there is no reason to not buy it. Overall I like the camera (and the white color is attractive and unique). Amazon suggests I like it as a 4-star rating and I agree.\",\n \"Product: NEW Dell premium notebook with optimized performance for both productivity and gaming entertainment.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: I believe Dell has a winner\\n\\nReview: <div id=\\\"video-block-R22M3DYHPACU91\\\" class=\\\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\\\"></div><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/D12KwGncL7S.mp4\\\" class=\\\"video-url\\\"><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/01huQF6pkOS.png\\\" class=\\\"video-slate-img-url\\\"> For a laptop computer, any laptop made by any brand, to cost almost $1000 at the end of 2015 it better be one of the best computers on the planet. PC laptops have generally fallen to the $200-300 range for a good one from a brand name. If you read the news reports it has been said that laptops are already dead along with their desktop brothers replaced by smartphones and tablets, and there is already talk that tablet sales have peaked and are on a downward spiral.\\n\\nSo what makes this laptop from Dell worth anywhere near its champagne & caviar selling price? Quality of construction? Is it crafted from an exotic ultra-lightweight metal? Nope, its just ordinary plastic. How about power? Well, it takes a techies eye to recognize it as at first glance any computer with only an Intel i5 chip, 8GB RAM and a 256GB hard drive sounds downright puny in todays competitive world. (More on this later).\\n\\nHow about the screen image quality and graphics? Well, now were on to something. No it doesnt have a 17 screen, but for me, that size is massive overkill in a portable computer. No matter how you slice it the 15 screen was, is and will be the sweet size that strikes the perfect balance between viewability and portability.\\n\\nWhile not a large screen, especially for a gaming machine, the screen and graphics card verge on being close to the best you can get in a PC laptop. The GeFocce GTX 960M (4GB GDDR5) graphics card will cut through most games like butter at high settings and 1080p and receive 30 frames per second. Yes, this is a gaming machine.\\n\\nThe keyboard is the familiar chiclets-style that is found on almost every laptop computer made these days. It is not bad nor is it great. A saving grace is that it is nicely illuminated, although it doesnt light up like Vegas like on a fancy gaming keyboard. The keyboard also has a full numeric keypad, something business users will love. It also has a HUGE trackpad with clickable left and right mouse buttons. I've heard some people don't like it being centered below the text keys rather than centered on the machine but I almost never use trackpads anyway. I prefer a mouse because I tend to do a lot of scrolling, plus I like extra programmable buttons.\\n\\nNot having an optical drive (i.e. CD/DVD) is something lacking on a unit as expensive as this is, although it certainly is no longer a necessity anymore. The battery pack is more capable yet smaller and lighter than most laptops were only a few years ago, which is a plus, but WHY do laptops still require a charging pack as large and heavy as this one? There is no lack of connectivity, with all three of the USB ports being 3.0 capable (backward compatible). DisplayPort is not present which might tweak some hardcore gamers. And a subtle but appreciated touch is that there is a lower bay door that opens easily to snap in up to 8GB more RAM or another larger hard drive. I should note that when I say hard drive Im using the term interchangeably with the 256GB SSD (solid-state drive) that actually comes preinstalled in the computer. SSDs offer faster boot times, quieter/cooler operation, better battery life, faster data access and less chance to be damaged by sudden jolts to the unit.\\n\\nI was initially disappointed to find the CPU being only an Intel i5, being under the belief that the i7 was a more powerful chip. Generally that may be true in the classic sense of power but this chip is no slouch. It uses the newest 6th Generation Skylake architecture based processors that were just introduced a few weeks ago in late 2015. Specifically it is an Intel Core i5-6300HQ. The processor contains four cores, a 2.3GHz clock speed and up to 3.2GHz turbo boost mode. It benchmarks a similar performance to processors such as the i7-4712HQ which gets around 7500 CPU Mark points which is excellent. The i5-6300HQ performs about the same but in a cooler and more power-efficient package. In other words, this processor is absolute top drawer in performance.\\n\\nIn todays world of cloud computing the 256GB storage drive isn't as small as it sounds. I found it adequate for my needs. But it is comforting to know that it would only take seconds to snap a larger storage drive into place. Ditto with the RAM which is 8GB DDR3L 1600MHz. I am used to a little more and 8GB is borderline for me, but RAM is cheap and that is one of the first improvements I will be making.\\n\\nInternet connectivity is 802.11 A/C plus a Bluetooth 4.0 adapter. Theres also an integrated 1000Mbps controller with RJ-45 port in case you want to connect using hard-wire. I like that it has a built-in SD card slot, something I will use often but my happy face went away when I saw it lacked a touch screen, something that seems like it should be standard equipment now that Windows 10 has figured out how to give us the best of traditional keyboard AND touchscreen interactivity. For the price I for one will miss it.\\n\\nWhile Im not an IT person, I have a lot of experience with computers desktop, laptop and tablet. Somehow Ive been able to make it through my adult life never owning a Dell product. Thats not a reflection on Dell, but honestly Ive never even considered one my opportunities always lead me to purchase brands like HP, IBM/Lenovo, ASUS and a few others. So if you're like me and have never owned a Dell you may be interested in my overall gut first impression and overall satisfaction with this one, knowing that it certainly represents one of their most expensive laptop products.\\n\\nUnlike some of the hard-core gaming laptops, this one is not a beast in design or handling. It is, in fact, quite svelte in its slim profile and lack of garish trim that is often associated with gaming laptops.\\n\\nSUMMARY:\\n\\nWe have many choices these days and so far, nothing has come along that can do everything. Our smartphones are incredible but no matter how big a smartphones screen is it just doesnt cut it for serious gaming, graphics work or everyday business work. Tablets do so much today they can almost replace a traditional computer but if you add on a keyboard and mouse (if possible) and USB hub, etc. you're carrying around pretty much the weight and volume of a laptop. There are ultra-slim laptops that are gorgeous (and expensive) and there are cheap Chromebooks that lack full compatibility with the entire range of games and business software. So, yes, there is still a need for an authentic genuine laptop like this one and if you are performance hungry and not used to compromise this one actually begins to not look so expensive after all. True, its not super-lightweight. True its kind of a monster to carry around. True even with its advanced battery it still won't get you through an entire day without a recharge. Those are the trade-offs for blazing speed and an image quality that will knock your socks off. If you are in the market for a business machine this one has your number. If you are a gamer on a budget who is looking for the best you can afford, Dell knows who you are. For what it is, and how it does what it is intended to do, I believe Dell has a winner and my out-of-the-gate rating is 5-stars. Lets see how it survives real-life everyday use for a few months and Ill report back as necessary.\",\n \"Product: Vinyl plus, whose design inspiration comes from the classic and retro vinyl record, is another classic headphones created by Bluedio team. The flexible and streamline appearance design is just like the vinyl CD. Note : If the PC has a built-in Bluetooth, please try to install the Toshiba Bluetooth stack (choose the newest one or whatever is recommended online).If you use a Bluetooth dongle, you may need to buy a CSR 4.0 Bluetooth adapter, the CSR 4.0 Bluetooth adapter would work perfectly with our headphones. Please install the driver by using the included mini CD in the package of CSR 4.0 Bluetooth adapter. Please press and hold the power button until the blue light stays on. Please make sure that the headphone has entered the pairing mode by pressing and holding the power button until the blue light stays on. when you press the power button once, the red and blue light on the headphone blinks, then the headphone can`t be paired with any other devices. Troubleshooting Steps: A: If the PC has a built-in Bluetooth, please try to install the Toshiba Bluetooth stack (choose the newest one or whatever is recommended online).Some other customers said it works great, they connect our headphone to their PC successfully using a Toshiba application.. B: If our customer use a Bluetooth dongle, then he may need to buy a CSR 4.0 Bluetooth adapter, the CSR 4.0 Bluetooth adapter would work perfectly with our headphones. And after buying the CSR 4.0 Bluetooth adapter, our customer need to install the driver by using the included mini CD in the package of CSR 4.0 Bluetooth adapter. Please press and hold the power button until the blue light stays on. Our customer need to make sure that the headphone has entered the pairing mode by pressing and holding the power button until the blue light stays on. when you press the power button once, the red and blue light on the headphone blinks, then the headphone can`t be paired with any other devices.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Comprehensive first look and new product test\\n\\nReview: I was a bit apprehensive when I saw this headphone from Bluedio, a company who has made a strong niche selling good quality headphones in the modest price range (by modest I mean $25-100). This isn't their first foray into a premium headset but it may be their most ambitious. And I am no stranger to high-end headphones, personally owning a pair that cost in the $1000 range. So when the company told me about them as they were being newly released I agreed to test and evaluate a production pair as a no-cost sample with the understanding that my reviews are always independent and free from commercial endorsement.\\n\\nWhen the headphones arrived my heart sank a little. The box was heavy, a full 3.7 pounds! Yes, my super-expensive electrostatic headphones are heavy too and I certainly have no love for that fact. When I wear headphones it is often for extended periods and excessive weight can be the biggest negative going.\\n\\nFortunately, it turned out that the headphones themselves aren't all that heavy, it is the beautiful presentation box they come in that accounts for most of the weight. The unit itself only weighs a respectable 14 oz.\\n\\nWhile on the subject of comfort, this set includes the word Light in the product name and they truly are not only light but superbly comfortable. The light weight and a thoughtful design shape makes me forget that these are some of the largest headphones Ive seen as soon as I slip them on. Lets get that clear right now, these headphones are meant to wear for hours on end without fatigue, due in large part to the buttery-soft earcups and headband. One of the things headphone listeners will agree on is that little is more annoying than the spring tension against the head being too strong (or so weak you have to keep adjusting them). Bluedio did an excellent job of getting that metric exactly right so once you slip them on you tend to forget you're wearing them.\\n\\nHOW DO THEY SPEC?\\n\\nAs Bluetooth headphones these tick all the boxes. They are Ver 4.1 + EDR compliant with A2DP, AVRCP, HSP and HFP profiles with a stated operational range of 33. They have 16 ohm drivers with a specd frequency range of 15-25,000Hz and a THD of <0.1%. They charge fully in 2 hours and deliver an outstanding music/talk time of 20 hours with a standby time of 1100 hours. Of course actual use time will vary. In addition to the beautiful fitted case with carabineer, they come packed with a USB charging cable, a Y audio cable for music sharing and a mini-to-mini talk cable for use with your smartphone. All of the cables have a fitted pouch to avoid misplacing them.\\n\\nBUT HOW DO THEY SOUND?\\n\\nI could go on about how they look and feel. Ill let the attached photos take care of showing you how they look. Youre here to find out how they sound, right? Every person hears sound differently depending on their age, ear shape, physical condition and of course the type of music they listen to and at what volume. So don't fall for reviews that claim any audio product sounds great or sounds terrible. You may have a totally opposite opinion. The best and only way to know if an audio product will sound good to you is to listen to it using the music you like listening to, at the volume you like. I know that sounds like a legal copout but its a fact. Specs you see on paper are also only a very rough guideline to what an audio product is capable of. There are things of course that are based in science, for example, a 70mm diaphragm should produce better sound in the low frequencies than a 20mm diaphragm. And it does in these headphones the bass range is sublimely pure without being boomy. The larger diaphragm also contributes to a silky-smooth midrange that enhances the realism of the vocal range. One thing specs cant measure is sound stage, a very important factor in music enjoyment that transcends frequency response and other specs. Heres an example. A superior pair of headphones will enable you to pinpoint the lateral and even the vertical orientation of individual instruments whether recorded live or in a studio. Comparing the Vinyl Plus to a basic pair of headphones and also an expensive pair that I don't happen to like very much, using the same source, with the Bluedios I can localize a particular instrument in a live orchestral performance and place it higher or lower than adjacent instruments. These headphones are not alone in being able to do that, but nevertheless it is a sign of a quality audio product.\\n\\nBURN IN:\\n\\nTo slap any better quality headphone on and immediately declare the sound quality as good or bad would be an audiophile faux pas. Here is how to \\\"burn in\\\" a good pair of headphones:\\n\\n1. Start with feeding the headphones a white noise signal. The volume should be lower than normal listening level. Play the white noise source continuously for 10-30 hours at low volume.\\n\\n2. Follow that by feeding your headphones with pink noise (ordinary music will do). Play them continuously for 100-200 hours at medium volume\\n\\n3. Switch now to your favorite music genre but switch it up with a variety of different styles. Listen to your headphones at normal volume until the sound smooths out and reaches it optimal capability. Your headphones are now successfully burned in.\\n\\nAREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT:\\n\\nI am picky when it comes to audiophile headphones. Of the ones I own, some are designed for studio monitoring (ideally they should reproduce sound that is as close to uncolored as possible), and some are designed for fun (headphones that are purposely tuned to tweak extra bass or treble for a livelier experience). The Vinyl Plus tend toward being more flat (uncolored) than average. But they do have a trick up their sleeves with the 3D effect option that can be turned on by pressing a combination of buttons. As a rule I avoid such gimmicks because they sound too artificial and processed. To their credit, they use this effect judiciously and the effect is fairly subtle. I would only use it for certain types of music but I did like the effect for classical and some types of jazz. I don't care for it for most vocals, however. I am also not on the same page as the manufacturer that these headphones should share their functionality with also being a telephone headset. To me thats silly to try to compromise a pair of headphones that cost over $250 with a Bluetooth earpiece that is designed to be as small and lightweight as possible. I don't see the logic in trying to have them do both, and the result is a bit frustrating when you push a button expecting one result and you get Siri babbling in your ear asking how she can help you. I chose to ignore the phone headset function entirely. Sadly, if I had included it in my review it would have brought my entire rating down a point or more.\\n\\nSUMMARY\\n\\nAs a near-audiophile pair of headphones this model deserves serious consideration. If you are put off by the fact that Bluedio is not a household name like Bose or Koss or other more famous brands, rest assured that they are a real company with extensive audio experience and this isn't just a product they slapped their name on. In other words, they are serious about you taking these headphones seriously. I believe they have done an admirable job and the more time I spend with them the more I appreciate how enjoyable the sound is. While not 100% perfect they are something you should consider if you like music and for that reason they earn 4.5 stars, rounded up to 5-stars.\",\n \"Product: Designed with photographers, videographers, and creative professionals in mind, the SanDisk Extreme 510 Portable SSD combines the performance of a portable SSD with all-terrain durability and water resistance.3 Perfect for your next trek or on-location shoot, this truly portable SSD clips to your bag or fits conveniently in your pocket. With 480GB capacity and read speeds of up to 430MB/s, your transfer times are dramatically reduced, even when moving your highest-res files.1 The tough, water-resistant SanDisk Extreme 510 Portable SSD includes 128-bit encryption for password-protection2, making it a must-have for making it a must-have for your most important files.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Bottom line do I trust this drive or not?\\n\\nReview: This genre of portable hard drive (from SanDisk and several other manufacturers) comes at the perfect time for me. With the reduced price and increased reliability of SSD I have very recently made the switch both my work desktop computer and my laptop, both high-end models, are now 100% SSD. And with the introduction of the SanDisk Extreme 510 my dream of total file mobility between the two machines has finally been realized.\\n\\nLong ago when I wanted to exchange files between a desktop and a laptop computer so I could start my work on one and continue it later on the other it meant using some sort of recordable media like floppy disks, CDs, DVDs, Zip disks, etc. Then later networking and cloud computing made it easier (sometimes) but less secure (often) and there was always the risk of the network or cloud connection being down just when I needed it most. Portable hard drives were a good solution but not very convenient, sometimes risky, and not always fully compatible between operating systems.\\n\\nSo a dependable large capacity SSD that I could carry in my pocket with bullet-proof file security is just what I wanted and needed.\\n\\nSanDisk (now part of Western Digital) seems to have targeted my industry commercial photography/videography/graphics right on the button with this product and their marketing materials dwell heavily on it being intended for creative individuals. My data storage scenario now is to have SSD local storage on both my desktop and my laptop and back both of them up to reliable old standby full-size hard drives. But now I back up those same files for redundancy and transportability to my Extreme 510 as well so I have double safety against losing my media.\\n\\nSince I work with large files, file speed is important to me and in an all-SSD environment everything now happens almost instantaneously. Time is money and at the end of the day the speed difference between SSD's and traditional hard drives is tangible.\\n\\nIve had my hands on SanDisks competitors in the large capacity portable SSD marketplace and there is no doubt the Extreme 510 gives the most confidence that it could survive having s truck run over it in a winter's storm and still work.\\n\\nHaving just listed many of the positives, whats not to like? Well, a few things:\\n\\n1. I simply cant figure out why SanDisk didn't go with some sort of captive USB cable. Instead I have to be sure to remember to bring the supplied USB extension cable (that plugs in to a port thats hidden behind a water-tight door). Oh, and I cant just use any cable, I have to use the special USB 3.0 one thats included with this drive. Thats less convenient than I would want it to be.\\n\\n2. SanDisk has done a poor job convincing me why the 510 model is $100 more than the 500 model, which seems to have identical specs (for the 480GB size Im reviewing) Not being able to see enough difference between the 500 and 510 to warrant the price difference I went to the manufacturers website and researched it. Nope, couldn't find any other difference there either except for the red trim. So I dug deeper and heres what SanDisk has to say in their own words The difference between Extreme 510 and 500 is that the Extreme 510 has all-terrain durability and water resistance. With its rubber bumper and IP55-rating for water and dust resistance, the SanDisk Extreme 510 Portable SSD stands up to hazards such as rain, spills and rough, dusty trails, while also cushioning against falls while the performance remains the same.\\n\\nSUMMARY\\n\\nIt was also a little challenging to dig for it but to be clear this is a high speed USB 3.0 drive. For me that is great news because it does work at maximum speed with all of my computers. By the way, the 510 model is about 8 months newer than the Model 500 but it doesnt use any newer or different technology.\\n\\nOne thing I haven't touched on is so-called benchmark speeds. Ill leave that to others to argue, there are many review sites that specialize in that sort of thing. In real life there are variables that affect the speed of a storage device that don't line up with what benchmark tests may indicate under controlled conditions. In my use of this drive for writing and reading everyday files I am satisfied that the drive is sufficiently fast.\\n\\nHaving some experience with similar portable drives from other brands there is one thing SanDisk got right that for other brands can either be a minor inconvenience or a dealbreaker and thats the ability to simply plug or unplug it from any modern Windows PC or Mac without installing fussy drivers or conversion software. Samsung for example has an otherwise fine external SSD that is known for compatibility issues. For a business person like me that is crucial I need to be able to take my files anywhere and be able to use them at will.\\n\\nI have a hard time deciding whether this product earns 4 or 5 stars. For sheer functionality and great design and being the answer to my dream to go all-SSD I love it. I don't love having to carry a separate and special cable with me and if I forget that cable Im out of business. Maybe I would have looked more kindly at the cable issue if at least the unit had some place to store it when not in use. I have to drop it at least a half-star for that. SanDisk loses another half-star for their warranty on this product. Remember, according to SanDisk the 510 and 500 are the identical unit other than the 510 is supposed to be more weatherized but there is no hard evidence to back that up. In fact, per SanDisk, the 510 should be kept away from direct sunlight, moisture and temperature extremes, do not bend flex or drop the drive. But the nail in the coffin is that the Model 500 has a THREE year warranty and costs $100 less while the Model 510 which is supposedly more rugged only has a TWO year warranty.\\n\\nThe bottom line is a media professional cant afford to lose their work, be it photos, videos or graphics and thats why SanDisk has such a rock solid reputation and worldwide acceptance when it comes to SD cards for pro photo gear. Thats when price isn't the object, trust is. Looking beyond the way this drive looks, the fancy red stripe, the connectivity and everything else at the end of the day I am faced with the serious question if this is the drive I will trust to safely store what amounts to my paycheck. Thats not an easy call to make but when I consider everything known to me my judgement call is yes and that is what I am basing my rating on of I like it (Amazons definition).\",\n \"Product: Enhanced for completely silent performance and supreme longevity with ASUS Auto Extreme, the ASUS 710 features superior build precision and component quality through full SMT assembly process. ASUS 710 is built to be the perfect HTPC card to offload processing for Quad HD media playback, smoother productivity, and casual gaming.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Some hints youve probably never seen before\\n\\nReview: Although my desktop computer is a workhorse business-grade workstation, the way I bought it was in its basic configuration. I did that purposely so I could add my own preference of upgrades. I do have a work computer dedicated to high-end video, photo and graphics editing and another dedicated to gaming, but I wanted to be able to do both from time-to-time on my home PC where I usually work of projects.\\n\\nThat being said, no one including me will ever say this card is a high-end gaming/graphics card. It isnt. But don't believe that anything low-end is without merit, or as I saw one claim that the onboard video that comes with a basic computer is better than any low-end graphics card. Logic says that shared memory vs. dedicated memory and a card optimized for graphics can be a useful and valuable upgrade. Note that the company classifies this as a Corporate Stable Model. What does that mean? I asked and the answer was simply that products with that designation are designed for business to be compatible with a wide range of operating systems and hardware and to have enhanced product support not usually available with consumer-grade products. Maybe the most intriguing is what they call advance-swap if you're having trouble with your card they let you keep it in service until they send you a replacement, so you're not left with a non-working computer for days or weeks. Owning a business I know that can mean running task-intensive software, the need for stable graphic performance, and the expectation that the components in a business computer likely will be powered on and often in use 24/7.\\n\\nBut which one to choose? There are so many brands with so many specs that sound similar but fall down when it comes to the quality of the components, which can result in intermittent performance, not actually achieving expected performance or early failure. So for me the place to start is with the ASUS brand name. The people who really know about graphics cards rarely disagree about the fact that this company is fanatical about quality.\\n\\nAfter that decision I found that reading what others have to say doesnt mean much, there are so many variables when it comes to every other component in their computer system, what apps they are using, how bogged down with apps their computer is, the list goes on this is one product that I believe the only way to know if it is going to work for you is to get it and try it in your systems for your unique purposes.\\n\\nSo the first hint I think can be useful if you are in a daze and simply don't know which one to choose is to look at the fine print above. Every item here has a date of first sale (you can actually do a sort by several parameters and one of them is to list the most recently added products in any category). Youll find that some of the video graphics cards still being sold here can go back as far as Windows XP or even earlier. Not coincidentally, it seems the number one reason people say they aren't satisfied with a graphics card is that it isn't compatible with newer operating systems like WIN10. By buying a card like this that was designed and manufactured after WIN10 was introduced and has drivers included written for WIN10 youve upped your chances of 100% compatibility a lot and took a big step toward future compatibility as well.\\n\\nSo, after several weeks of research and saving at least a dozen semi-finalists to my cart, this is the one I chose. And I think I did good, it works extremely well, its such a breath of fresh air for something to just work like its supposed to.\\n\\nTwo final words of caution: I don't have any problems with the most popular search engine that starts with G---, its always been my preferred search engine. But if you don't want their chrome or their search bar option please note that both are set to install by default unless you catch it and opt out. You have to uncheck them if you don't want them. The other heads-up is just my duh mistake the card ships with a plastic protective piece over the contacts. I didn't see it and tried to insert it into the motherboard. Hmm, it wouldnt go into the slot. Hey, don't laugh at me, at least I caught it before trying to force it in.\",\n \"Product: The Tenda S108 8-port 10/100Mbps Fast Ethernet Switch provides 8 10/100Mbps Auto-Negotiation RJ45 ports. All ports support Auto MDI/MDIX function eliminating the need for crossover cables or Uplink ports. The Switch is Plug-and-Play and each port can be used as general ports or Uplink ports and can be simply plugged into a server a hub or a switch using straight cable or crossover cable. The S105 8-port 10/100M Fast Ethernet Switch provides you with a low-cost easy-to-use high-performance seamless and standard upgrade to improve your old network to a 100Mbps network. It will boost your network performance up to full duplex data transfer. Its wire-speed switching that forwards packets can be as fast as the speed that your network delivers those packets to them.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: The key things to know\\n\\nReview: Since there are several different products lumped together on this page to be clear I am posting about the 5 port gigabit Ethernet switch. If you're looking at this item you already know what it does and if you need it or not. The big question is whether this brand or one of the handful of others in the same price range.\\n\\nTo answer that question, Im a big advocate of things that are truly plug and play and switches aren't always as easy as they should be. So Im happy to report that I only had to plug in my cables and I was up and running. No configurations, no buying special cables, it just worked. I measured no significant loss of speed using the switch but thats just a casual observation, not something based on sophisticated benchmarks.\\n\\nThe quality of the component is basic as you would expect for the price, and having used switches from other brands I wouldnt say it is better or worse. One other thing to know is that their product photo makes this look like about the same size as a typical router and other switches Ive owned are about that size. So I was surprised to find that this is about the size of a deck of cards. Thats actually a good thing, why take up extra space if you don't have to.\\n\\nIf you are a little unsure why in these days the average person would need a switch anymore with most things in the home being Wi-Fi not Ethernet, the reason I needed it is that certain things still need to be plugged into a router, for example a home video security system, most of the hubs that are used by some style of smart switches, the controller for my garage door opener, a legacy Blu-Ray player, and yes my desktop computer even though it has Wi-Fi I get much faster speeds using Ethernet. Almost all popular routers only have 4 Ethernet ports and some of the newer technologies Wi-Fi mesh products now only have one Ethernet port. Thats why multi-port switches are still needed.\",\n \"Product: Photive Sphere Wireless Bluetooth Speaker Black\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Beautiful design meets impressive sound\\n\\nReview: <div id=\\\"video-block-R3HIKTYKNGG2VS\\\" class=\\\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\\\"></div><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/D1aGaT5D09S.mp4\\\" class=\\\"video-url\\\"><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/015OFLiOouS.png\\\" class=\\\"video-slate-img-url\\\"> I got hooked on small portable Bluetooth speakers early one when they were a novelty. These days you can buy one for ten bucks at the \\\"dollar\\\" discount store or spend a couple of hundred dollars for a fancy name-brand one. Some of them sound amazing, due mostly to advanced computer design and a ton of electronic sound enhancement. They are not designed to be hi-fi in the sense of being your primary music system but rather a cool and convenient way of playing music from your phone or tablet wherever you are. I use a Bluetooth speaker whenever I travel to fill cold and impersonal hotel rooms with music piped to it from my phone.\\n\\nSince Ive been auditioning the latest and greatest speakers for so long Ive got a garage full of them and anymore I only ever use one or two of them. And Ive stopped collecting them because for the most part I haven't seen anything new in a long time.\\n\\nWhen Photive showed me their new Sphere speaker it didn't take much to convince me to make an exception and agree to review it (without any commitment to be anything less than 100% honest) so they sent me a N/C sample to test. What intrigued me more than anything was the design. The one I tested is almost the exact same color as my den. No one else Ive ever seen makes a speaker that color. They call the color olive (they also make the speaker in sky, lavender, gray and graphite). It sells for a reasonable price so I didn't have very high expectations for it sounding amazing but I could picture it fitting in perfectly in my den as a combo Bluetooth speaker and wireless phone speaker.\\n\\nI want to make it clear that this speaker doesnt sound like a $500 audiophile speaker, not even close, but for its size and price I was blown away how enjoyable it is to listen to. It fills my den with music when played at a reasonable background music level, which is all I would ever expect a small Bluetooth speaker to do. It also sounds very clear when used as a phone speaker.\\n\\nUnlike the high-tech, plastic look that most low-priced Bluetooth speakers have this one has a coarse-weave, almost burlap cloth grill that covers every part that you see. The back panel is a matching plastic. The controls are mounted on top where they are easy to reach and they are easy to understand. No touch-sensitive buttons, these all work with a satisfying click and in some cases a pleasant musical note to inform you of the speakers status. There is a VERY subtle blue light hidden behind the grill to help with Bluetooth pairing and act as a pilot light. Pairing was instant and I haven't lost the signal yet. There is a standard mini-phone jack on the rear panel to plug in directly to an audio source (like your phone) and a standard USB charging port.\\n\\nThe speaker is designed to stand on a table or shelf using a little tripod that plugs into a hole in the back and it looks beautiful that way. I would have been thrilled if they had designed it with a mounting hole on the back so I could hang it on the wall. Dont tell them but I drilled my own hole and when I hung the speaker on the wall it sounded even better because it used the wall as a bass amplifier. I didn't take anything away for the lack of a mounting hole because they don't promise that it is wall-mountable but I hope Version 2 heeds my suggestion.\\n\\nWhen I first saw this speaker I didn't expect it could rate any better than average but after spending some time with it I love it for the beautiful design and surprisingly good sound. Amazon suggests 5-stars for an I love it product and I agree.\",\n \"Product: The base for Apple Pencil provides an elegant storage solution for Apple Pencil between uses. Holding the Apple Pencil upright, it protects the tip while allowing easy access to the device. The Compact accessory Mirrors the minimal design of the Apple Pencil and iPad Pro, and merges seamlessly with any desktop environment.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Handy but way overpriced\\n\\nReview: WHAT IT IS\\n\\nA weighted silvery metallic truncated cone with a hole in the top\\n\\nWHATS IT FOR\\n\\nTo hold an Apple Pencil when you're not using it\\n\\nDOES IT DO ANYTHING\\n\\nIt holds the Pencil. It does not charge the Pencil. The seller makes it very clear that it is NOT a charger, so it should not be negatively reviewed for something it's not intended to do. BUT, note that similar stands that DO charge the Pencil are only a few dollars more.\\n\\nSTYLING\\n\\nStyling is always a personal choice. It fits in well in my high-tech desk and only takes about an inch of room.\\n\\nIS IT WORTH IT\\n\\nThe value of something is always in the eye of the beholder my opinion is that $25 (at the time of review, prices fluctuate) for something that cost 25 cents to make is outrageous. It furthers the stereotype that sellers can get away with overcharging for junk accessories just because they're designed for Apple products. There is no way on Planet Earth that this little aluminum lump is worth what the seller is asking.\\n\\nOn a 1-5 scale for utility this item earns 5-stars. On value it earns 1-star. Final rating an average 3-star, which Amazon defines as \\\"it's okay\\\".\",\n \"Product: Creates convenient access to power at your desktopConsolidates multiple connections to simplify technology\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Well made and very handy if you fasten it down\\n\\nReview: The consistent theme in the reviews of this product is that it is very lightweight and slides around at the touch of a finger. There is no question that is true. The Amazon product description fails to mention that this product's original design was as an accessory to one of their monitor stands where it is meant to to snap securely into a cutout in the metal stand. Used that way it is probably a useful accessory. However, including the snap-off plastic shell so it could be used solo ... not such a great idea.\\n\\nKnowing that I bought one anyway because I wanted a convenient AC outlet on my desktop to plug things like external hard drives and other occasional accessories. I attached the hub with strong double-stick tape with the little tabs hanging over the front edge of the shelf to give the box extra support when plugging devices in. Used that way it is the perfect convenience AC box. Both the box and the cable are very rugged and solid feeling. Now that I've had it mounted within reach on my desktop I can't believe I haven't installed a box like this years ago.\\n\\nThere are three available models: one with two grounded AC outlets, one with four USB ports and another with one grounded AC outlet and two USB ports. I chose the double-AC outlet version. I like that the outlets are oriented 180 degrees from each other so if they are used with right-angle plugs or power bricks they don't interfere with each other. For the price this is a very handy accessory once you come up with a way to mount it.\",\n \"Product: Two grounded three-prong outlets.Plastic Hub FrameRubberized Feet Two grounded three-prong outlets.Plastic Hub FrameRubberized Feet Connector/Port: USB 2.0; Number of Ports: N/A; For Use With: N/A; Transfer Rate: N/A.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Almost better than sliced bread\\n\\nReview: Theres that saying about something being better than sliced bread. I first ran across this item a couple of years ago when it was still expensive and being sold as part of a computer monitor stand (remember when the big old computer monitors used to be put on stands?). Rolodex long since got out of making those things but apparently had a ton of these little dual outlet things left and sold them on close-out (which is when I bought it). The original idea was that they were supposed to snap in to a cutout on the monitor stand to give you an extra spare AC outlets on your desktop.\\n\\nI bought my first one for a similar purpose. Ive attached a photo of that. It was one of the best ideas Ive ever had. Its mounted on a little shelf right above the computer (which you can see below it in the photo) and next to a 5-port charger for my phones, tablets, cameras, etc. Next to that is the volume control for my computer speakers. I cant tell you how much frustration that has saved by eliminating the need to crawl under my desk to get to a power outlet when I only need to plug something in for a few minutes.\\n\\nThe design is that there is a rock-solid metal box that encloses the two outlets with a very heavy-duty grounded AC cord coming out the back. The cord is about 30, the perfect length. That metal box is covered with a decorative plastic shell that slips right off. The idea was that the metal box is what snapped into the monitor mount and the shell was just there for cosmetics. If you buy this and just want to lay it down somewhere as an extension box there is nothing to keep it from sliding around. What I did was to mount the metal box to the shelf using heavy-duty double-face tape and then slipped the silver plastic shell over it. Good fortune dictated that the shell had two little nubs in front (you can see them in the photo) so when I push the plugs into the sockets the nubs keep the whole thing from moving.\\n\\nI must have used this thing 1000 times so far and it is brilliant.\\n\\nI bought a second Rolodex box recently for a similar purpose. As you can see in the photo it is mounted under the bottom shelf of an end table in my media room. Its mounted the same way except that, because its upside-down, I used a couple of small screws to hold the plastic shell from falling off. The original reason I installed it was that during winter we both wrap electric shearling comforters around ourselves so we don't have to heat the entire room. Crawling over the chair backs got old really quick, but with this outlet we only have to lean over and plug the comforters in. The same idea works for cell phone chargers or other things you only need to plug in occasionally.\\n\\nIve never seen anything more ideally suited for the purposes Ive described, and I love them, which is defined by Amazon as 5-stars.\",\n \"Product: Super-slim form factor provides the benefits of a folio/desk-top case with no extra bulk\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Not the best value\\n\\nReview: As I write this there are no 5 star reviews. And I don't wonder why. I'm surprised a company like Case Logic would sell such a poorly designed product.\\n\\nHere's what I don't like:\\n\\n- It feels very, very cheap. That is made worse by the fact that is it really expensive for a piece of plastic.\\n- There is nothing to keep the cover securely closed. It just flops open.\\n- I don't trust that it's holding the iPAD securely in place. A little twist and it could end up on the floor.\\n- The elastic strap is much too stretchy. I don't feel I ever have a firm grip on the case when using it.\\n- While I haven't had it that long I suspect the hinge will not last a long time.\\n\\nHere's what I like:\\n\\n- It looks (and feels) reasonably like leather.\\n\\nExpanding more on the first point, I recently bought a brand-name laser all-in-one printer for about 3x the price of this piece of plastic. That irks me. Some accessory manufacturers grossly overcharge for accessories for certain things like iPADS, iPhones, etc just because the main product is expensive. For example, I've seen car battery cords selling for $50 that are identical to ones selling for $5.\\n\\nThis is not the best value out there for an iPAD folio.\",\n \"Product: Quantity: 1 x case cover & 1 x shoulder strap.\\nCondition: 100% Brand New.\\nMaterial: PU Leather.\\nTwo pieces snap button classic design.\\nSoft inner layer act as a shock absorber .\\nHigh quality with durable material against your DC damage or scratched.\\nBuilt-in tripod mount, easy attached to tripod without taking out you camera.\\nPerfect fits for Olympus XZ1 XZ-1.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: A beautiful case for a beautiful camera\\n\\nReview: PREFACE: The first case I received had a terrible blemish right on the front. It was so bad I feared it might cause the case to rip someday. Amazon, as always stood behind me the customer although this item was sold by a third-party vendor. Prepaid shipment back, full refund within 48 hours, and I was able to buy a replacement that was perfect. Both Amazon and the actual seller get kudos for great customer service.\\n\\nREVIEW: I have owned several SLR cameras that had Eveready cases, which meant that the camera stayed in the case while you popped the front part open to take a picture. Those cases were cool but, to me as a photojournalist they were impractical. Not only were they nerdy but a pro always wanted access to every port, control and dial of his/her camera, and Eveready cases were always a compromise.\\n\\nEveready cases died sometime in the late 80s when digital cameras came along. There were probably many reasons but the most logical to me is that they became too fussy when the user needed regular access to the rear viewing screen, memory card holder, and rechargeable battery slot. So instead, people began to either use their camera without a case or switched to pouches, often worn on the belt, to protect their camera.\\n\\nVery recently, with the advent of bridge cameras that are very high quality but yet still in the pocketable compact fixed-lens genre, a few cameras have been introduced that harken back to the days of the old 35mm rangefinder cameras. These cameras are a little too big to fit in ones pocket but a little too small to hold comfortably. Many have a lens that protrudes slightly in front when off that makes pocket storage or pouches impractical so the ingenious inventors have revived the Eveready case as a practical alternative.\\n\\nThis review is about the Cosmos cases for the Olympus XZ-1. The same style comes in either black or brown. In real-life use, the camera is meant to be screwed into the case using the tripod socket and readily available for use by either popping the top part down or removing it and using the bottom part as a protective shield for the camera body and rear LCD. In either configuration, a case like the Cosmos is a fantastic idea.\\n\\nMy preference is to remove the upper part of the case for the full duration of whatever event Im at and either leave it in the car or stuff it in my back pocket. I like that when using only the bottom half I can attach the neck strap to the case, not the camera body, and also attach a wrist strap lanyard to the camera itself if I choose to remove the case entirely and let the camera swing from my wrist.\\n\\nThe case itself is identified in the ad as leather. Im not sure about that, but I don't really care. It looks and feels like leather and is amazingly well made for under $20. It fits the camera perfectly, including the snap-on lens cap, if the user desires. As mentioned, the tripod screw is machined aluminum which is strong and easy to remove from the camera (often) to give access to the USB output and battery charge socket (same thing).\\n\\nWhen I am finished having fun with the camera, I snap the upper piece back on and throw the whole thing in my glove compartment, knowing the body case portion is protecting my XZ-1 from scrapes, scratches and dings.\\n\\nThe inner fleece is soft and offers more protection than either pouch cases or no case at all. I am using a good screen protector for the LCD screen which helps guard one of the most vulnerable parts of the camera. The stock lens cap guards the front and the rest of the case takes care of the rest.\\n\\nA couple of almost unnoticed little design features are that there is an extra thickness pad built into the rear of the case to protect the LCD from, well, almost anything. And, there is an extra little tab of leather right under the menu button to help guide your finger without looking at the camera.\\n\\nFinally, that little nagging criticism of the XZ-1 that it doesnt have a proper handgrip becomes a non-issue when the Cosmos case is attached. It adds plenty of grip for your right hand to prevent any mishaps.\\n\\nWhile I don't rank products in my reviews against products I haven't tried or don't own, based on all of the Eveready cases I have researched I chose this one and I am not disappointed.\",\n \"Product: Easy to use coupler style keystones allow you to use RJ45 terminated cables in the front and the back eliminating the need to splice wires while standing behind a rack. You can use pre-terminated fix length cables as well eliminating the need for crimping. Fits all standard keystone wall plates and panels.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: A tight fit, convenience and a good price\\n\\nReview: As simple and obvious as this device is it is surprising how it is to find something like it in the stores. The vast majority of Keystone couplers are the type that has to be wired to the cable. Im not a technophobe and if that was my only choice I would bite the bullet and hard wire the jack. But why? My phone jacks, audio jack, HDMI jacks, etc. are all plug-to-plug, why should my Ethernet jack have to be any different.\\n\\nMy installation need was simple, there is a CAT6 cable dangling out of the wall in my home office, along with a coax cable. They get in the way when cleaning or moving furniture and I simply wanted the convenience of being able to unplug them when I wanted to. I didn't want to turn this into a complicated task, I really don't have time for that.\\n\\nSince I already had a Keystone wall plate and a coax-to-coax Keystone coupler I bought this one from Monoprice. The coupler itself is easy to review it works. The rest of the review is about Monoprice, a company I am very satisfied with. They consistently offer well-made products and sell them for a reasonable price. Whenever I am searching Amazon for little adapters and stuff like that I scroll until I find the Monoprice name brand and thats the one I choose. Ive never been disappointed.\\n\\nBy the way, the cable fits into both ends of this coupler tightly with a snap to assure a good connection. I couldn't ask for anything more.\",\n \"Product: You want a bag that's inspired by the past yet perfect for today. Welcome to SOLO Vintage Collection. The Vintage Collections Columbian Leather Sleeve brings real elegance to your professional style. Built to protect your laptop up to 16 inches, the Vintage Sleeve is all about looking good. Made of genuine Columbian Leather with a soft interior lining to prevent scratches, and padded to protect your laptop from accidental dings and drops. Leather tabbed zipper pull keeps your laptop securely inside while you're on the move. The front features a quick access pocket that's perfect for boarding passes, a magazine, anything you want to be able to grab quickly. Perfect for the mobile professional who wants to travel light, and needs to have their laptop at hand. No matter your style and need, rely on SOLO.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: You will be surprised\\n\\nReview: IMPORTANT SPECS\\n\\nMy device: Dell gaming series 15 - 7000\\nDimensions of device: 15-1/8 x 10-3/8 x 1\\nFit : like a glove\\n\\nREALITY CHECK\\n\\nMy need for a case for my high end portable gaming computer is to be able to carry it separately and securely with me to protect it from everyday bumps, dings and scrapes. I do not need pockets for papers, pens or anything else and I don't need (and prefer not to have) a handle or shoulder strap on the case. My goal is the most minimalist, lightweight, tough, and attractive case as possible. My aesthetic preference is real genuine leather but only if it is in my budget.\\n\\nWhen I saw the listing for this case it seemed too good to be true. The specs all looked good on paper - a secure zipper closure, a minimal side pocket to carry the laptops small power supply/charger and the look of leather is a nice benefit.\\n\\nIm not going to make a big deal of what material this is actually made from. The item description uses the word leather but there is no tag anywhere on the actual product that uses that word (or any other) to describe what it is really made from, nor is there any hint at their site. The word leather is used so loosely these days and there are so many words to describe imitation leather Im not going to second guess it. If its man made it is one of the best imitations Ive seen, its almost too real to be real.\\n\\nThe case is fully lined (so you cant see the underside of the material) but keeping it on a positive note that lining makes it easy to slip the device into the case without scratching it. There is also a thin foam padding on both the top and bottom sides to give the device reasonable protection. The zippers operate smoothly and without a hitch.\\n\\nMy device, as described above, fits like a glove, as if the sleeve was custom made for it. That is one of the reasons Im so positive about it, the others reasons being quality of construction, attention to detail and value.\\n\\nI will never know if the materials used to make this product ever saw the hide of a living critter (I almost expect not at the price) but I don't care, it looks and feels classy and long lasting and thats what counts for me.\\n\\nSUMMARY\\n\\nI thought this was too good to be true but I took the chance and Im glad I did. If all you need is a protective sleeve and not a lot of storage pockets, and you don't care to have a handle or shoulder strap this one is worth serious consideration.\",\n \"Product: Kingston's Class 10 UHS-I Elite card features impressive performance that lets users shoot fast-action photos and HD video with higher sustained write speeds to ensure HD video integrity. This entry-level UHS-I compatible card reads up to 30MB/s - 3x faster than standard Class 10 SDHC cards - to make uploading files faster, especially when using USB 3.0 readers. this card lets users record more video (up to 640 minutes at 12Mbps) without changing out cards. Photographers can shoot more high-density image files, such as RAW or JPEG, without running out of space. The Class 10 UHS-I Elite is compatible with SDHC (8GB, 16GB, 32GB) and SDXC host devices and backed by a lifetime warranty and free technical support.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Works fine. Pay the $4 more for the Kingston \\\"Ultimate\\\" card\\n\\nReview: This is not my first Kingston SD card. Despite more publicity about some other SD card manufacturers, Kingston has had a solid reputation for many years with computer memory and is by no means a \\\"no name\\\" brand when it comes to digital camera memory cards.\\n\\nThis one works well, however it should be noted that Kingston is rather stingy with the exact specs other than to refer to it as an \\\"entry level\\\" card.\\n\\nI used it as most people would, without resorting to fancy test gear but actually in-use in 3 digital cameras and one GoPro digital video cameras. The digital photo cameras were a simplistic point-and-shoot; a bridge camera costing just under $1000 and a DSLR costing in the $2000+ range. In those cameras as well as the GoPro I could not see any real-life practical difference between this \\\"entry level\\\" card and the 32GB Kingston \\\"Ultimate\\\" SD card that sells for about $4 more. Yes there may be some measurable difference if we are to believe the manufactures who push a ton of specs our way, so if that is to be believed I question why not pay the $4 more and buy the \\\"ultimate\\\" card?\\n\\nI have both cards. I have used them in the same cameras under the same conditions. They both keep up with the required read and write speeds of each camera I tested. Perhaps certain brands or models of cameras might stumble a bit using either card. My suggestion is to pay the $4 more and get the \\\"ultimate\\\" card. I trust it, it hasn't failed me since I bought it (and I occasionally use it for my serious business shoots). It is for that reason that I can't give the entry level card more than 4 stars ... it works but why save a couple of bucks when the \\\"ultimate\\\" card promises higher specs?\",\n \"Product: Sony Camera Cases LCSELCA/B\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Don't leave home without it\\n\\nReview: This is a beautifully built, extremely compact and ultimately protective case for the Sony A7 series cameras. Yes expensive, but when one realizes that they are using this case to protect a $2000 camera, it is cheap insurance. It is an everready case, a design that has been around for decades. The term everready means the user is ready to use their camera very quickly after simply unsnapping the front cover and letting it hang or snapping it off entirely, leaving a leather sheath around the vulnerable camera body. The sheath adds very little bulk to the camera and many photographers feel it makes the camera easier to grip and less prone to slip out of their hands.\\n\\nThe sheath (or body glove) has cutouts for access to all camera controls while in use and only has to be removed to access the ports on the side of the camera - removing it takes a few seconds. When the camera is not in use the front cover not only protects the lens but covers the rear LCD screen. The case is relatively dust resistant and can protect the camera in a light rain/snow.\\n\\nI'm not sure why there is some negativity about this case. Despite comments to the contrary the case is genuine leather. Other negative comments seem to be based in a misunderstanding what an everready case is and how to use it.\\n\\nThe concerns I've seen seem to be that some people think the case makes the camera \\\"bigger\\\". Yes the case has a large snout so it can accommodate most of the lenses designed for the A7 series BUT a case is used for protection while traveling, not while shooting. The whole concept of an everready case is that the front part snaps off during use, leaving the camera in a skin-tight body case, sheathed against dings and bumps. The reality is that an everyready case is one of the smallest cases available for this or any camera of its type. It would be foolish to throw a $2000+ camera in the trunk of one's car without some sort of protective case.\\n\\nA good analogy would be that of a smartphone. Despite manufacturers designing smartphones to be ultra-thin and light most people end up putting them into the equivalent of an everready case, sometimes using large heavy protective cases on their phone. The concept is the same why you would use this case on an expensive camera.\\n\\nThe complaint that the battery compartment is not easily accessible indicates someone who never used an everready case on a film SLR. Such a case had to be removed EVERY time the film had to be changed, usually after 36 exposures. With a camera like the A7 most people will never access the battery compartment once after they buy the camera. Also those same people will likely never access the SD card compartment after they install it the first time. Part of the specific design of the A7 is its WiFi feature so the camera does not have to download physically from the SD card to a computer.\\n\\nNow it is true that the case has to be removed to access the charging port. Equate that to changing the roll of film ... five turns of the knob on the bottom and the case is off. Think about it, if there were doors and hatches for every port on any modern digital camera you would end up with no case at all.\\n\\nI saw one comment that the bottom screw is not recessed so the camera won't sit flat with the case on it. I honestly have never seen an everready case that has a recessed screw. It would be much too much hassle to remove it. And I can't imagine trying to take a picture with the camera sitting on a table with an everready case attached.\\n\\nI currently use everready cases on two of my walkabout cameras while they are not in use or being transported with me. When I am ready to use the camera I remove the front cover and usually leave it in my car or elsewhere and carry the camera with only the sheath/body glove protecting the camera. Having that thin but rugged protection has saved my A7 more times than I can count from damage. This is a very worthwhile investment as an accessory to your A7 series camera and Sony has done an excellent job designing it.\",\n \"Product: So realistic you might just forget youre watching TV. Stunning images are produced using our Clear Resolution Enhancer picture engine that allows you to enjoy individual details and textures that are ultra-crisp and oh-so-realistic. Theres also amazing contrast that helps images come alive on screen.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Do you get any more when you pay top dollar for a Sony?\\n\\nReview: <div id=\\\"video-block-R3272FUR2ZPS56\\\" class=\\\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\\\"></div><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/D1yFCk-TzNS.mp4\\\" class=\\\"video-url\\\"><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/01gsNrxQtUS.png\\\" class=\\\"video-slate-img-url\\\">Back when TV's had picture tubes it was pretty well accepted that there was Sony Trinitron followed by everyone else. As a TV producer I worked in studios all over the world and Sony Trinitron monitors were the engineering standard in almost 100% of them. It was better because it was radically different from what everyone else used.\\n\\nThese days there is no such radical distinction between the flat panels used by different companies. Yes there are some subtle differences, and a lot of marketing hype to make it sound like the difference are greater than they actually are, but the basic technology is all the same. So similar in fact that it is not uncommon for Brand A to buy their panels from Brand B, C and X depending on who has the greater supply on hand. It is documented that even for the exact same brand and model you may be getting different panels from two side-by-side boxes at your local store.\\n\\nAll that is in the way of saying that when I chose to buy this my first Sony-brand LED TV I did so without expecting to get anything substantially different, or better, for the premium price than any other major brand. Note that I said \\\"major brand\\\" because there is more to a TV than just the panel and the reason the unknown off-brands can sell their TV's cheaper is they often use panels that are rejected by the major brands, and their electronic processing is not as sophisticated.\\n\\nVery few people have a high expectation for a small screen TV. It is not what they will be watching in their living room (usually) and the small screen tends to hide picture defects unlike larger screens. Almost all 32\\\" and smaller screens are 720 and usually 60Hz because that's all the eye can see. It is apples vs. oranges to compare the specs of a 32\\\" TV with that of a 50\\\" TV. So when shopping for a TV of this size it's best to just ignore those specs and look for what will actually make a difference.\\n\\nHERE IS WHAT I LIKE ABOUT THIS TV:\\n\\n1. The build quality is excellent. You can see an immediate difference between a Sony and a no-name TV in the quality of the plastic, the fit and finish, and the overall use interface.\\n\\n2. The sound, if not the best, is one of the best available on a TV of this size. Sound quality for many people on a larger screen TV isn't that important anymore because the majority of people plug the TV into external speakers of some sort, but for small TV's like this sound quality is a key factor and it would be hard to find a TV with better sound than this one.\\n\\n3. The inputs and outputs are full-featured. Small TV's usually skimp on giving you a full set of inputs and outputs but with this TV pretty much anything you could need is there.\\n\\n4. The remote is logically laid out. That may not sound important until you are lying in bed in the dark and you want to do something simple. With some TV remotes you are faced with a ton of small look-alike buttons. This TV's remote shows its obvious Sony pedigree.\\n\\n5. The screen is somewhere in-between being glossy and matte. It does not act like a mirror like my Samsung TV but it is not a dull finish either. Being located in a bedroom the look is very unobtrusive.\\n\\nAnd finally the picture quality ... Sony knows that no matter what else this is the reason people buy a Sony and they don't let you down. The colors are as good as any small TV will ever get, the blacks are deep and rich but don't lose the important details of the image. There is an unmistakable sense of quality compared to the other major brand names, and a huge difference when compared to some of the no-name TV's. The picture on this TV simply looks natural, not over-processed, not cartoon-like. Take a look at the attached photo I took with my cell phone immediately after I pulled the TV out of the box and turned it on. You can even get better if you take a few minutes to tweak the color controls (I much prefer the \\\"warm\\\" setting) you'll know why you bought a Sony.\\n\\nI like a couple of very minor details. One is that when the TV is off there is no pilot light and when it is on the status light glows a very dim green, unlike so many electronic components today that use very bright blue LED's. And if you want no status light at all ... you can simply turn it off.\\nI also like that the manufacturer's logo on the front bezel is very subtle and the only other log is an even more subtle tiny \\\"Bravia\\\" designation. There is none of the usual marketing hype and advertising specs that many brands plaster all over the front of their components. I already bought the product ... I don't need to have advertising hype pushed into my face every time I look at it.\\n\\nWHAT'S NOT TO LIKE?\\n\\nYou probably knew before reading these reviews that this is not a \\\"Smart TV\\\". That is not a negative, in fact to me, it is a positive. Smart TV's become obsolete very fast. For a few dollars I make my TV as smart (or smarter) than most Smart TV's by plugging in an Amazon Fire Stick to one of the HDMI ports. The benefit is if I should replace the TV I still have my Fire Stick with all of my favorite settings.\\n\\nSo what are the negatives? They are truly tiny. One would be that for those (rare) times I want to turn the TV on or off without the remote the control buttons are hidden out of view behind the TV. They are especially hard to reach when the TV is wall-mounted. Sure it makes the front panel look smooth and clean but to me it is an inconvenience.\\n\\nI would also have preferred that the antenna/cable connector face downward or to the side rather than stick straight out the back. My input cable is thicker and less flexible than normal and it sticks out too far. I solved this by getting a 90 adapter at the local hardware store.\\n\\nThat's really it for minor quibbles. I am very happy with this TV and I believe it is worth the extra price over the other 32\\\" TV's available for two reasons ... picture quality and sound quality. I looked at a lot of models before choosing this one and I truly feel that it is the best available.\\n\\n[EDIT] Note that this is a 2014 model and that Sony is not putting a lot of effort into small TV's anymore. If you can buy this model or one of the similar Sony models I still think you would be making a good choice.\",\n \"Product: pocket projector, 50 lumens, up to 60\\\" (150 cm) screen, 4 Oz, Wireless, Media player, battery up to 2 hours, HDMI, Bluetooth, 4 GB internal memory, Micro SD card reader, USB plug, USB charging,\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: How to shop for a video projector\\n\\nReview: As a multimedia pro I have used video projectors for a long time, including ones that were as big as a large suitcase but didn't perform any better than this tiny one from Phillips. I still own several of them. I tried this one for a while, enough to get a good feel for it before exchanging it for another model that cost less but did more.\\n\\nWhen shopping for a video projector the list of what to look for is actually quite short:\\n\\n1. How bright is it? By far that is the most important thing. In todays world of technology we expect them all to be sharp and clear because we live in a digital world but not all projectors are created with equal brightness.\\n\\n2. How compatible is it with your source material? Basically here we are mainly talking about if your plans are primarily to project videos (like movies) or data (like spreadsheets and graphics presentations). Some projectors will do both but most are designed to be better suited to one or the other of those tasks.\\n\\nBRIGHTNESS\\n\\nThe world is slowly moving toward measuring how bright a light is by using lumens rather than watts. Watts don't really tell you how bright something is but in the U.S. we are so used to it our brains automatically translate how bright something, for example a 60 watt light bulb, should be. If we were to convert that 60 watt light bulb into lumens the equivalent would be roughly 800 lumens. A 75 watt light bulb would be about 1100 lumens and a 100 watt light bulb would be about 1600 lumens. So you see, unfortunately this video projector at 50 lumens isn't very bright. Even many of the newer LED penlight flashlights are capable of putting out 500 lumens or more. And to put it into perspective, a typical business-grade portable video projector is usually rated at about 3000 lumens and a good brand name one like Epson, BenQ or Optoma can be had for under $300. So not only is the Phillips too dim for any real practical use other than a fun personal gadget, its price is in the stratosphere.\\n\\nCOMPATIBILITY\\n\\nThe Phillips is skewed toward being used more as a video projector than a data projector. It is not directly plug compatible with all computers nor is it designed to adjust to multiple scan resolutions like a typical data projector can.\\n\\nIS IT FOR YOU?\\n\\nIm not saying that you shouldnt consider an ultra-small video projector like this. As a professional photographer and video producer who sometimes needs to make presentations to small groups under controlled conditions I own a similar model that costs $100 less and puts out 80 lumens. Its adequate with the lights dimmed, runs about 4 hours on a battery charge and connects wirelessly to my smartphone. The Phillips on the other hand is about twice the size, requires a plug-in dongle to be connected wirelessly to the source and has half the battery life, but costs substantially more.\\n\\nBOTTOM LINE\\n\\nPhillips coyly does not make any reference to how big of a picture you can expect to project. In my experience that is a very hard thing to pin down because it depends on how dark the room is and what you are projecting the image on (professional screen, white wall, bedsheet, etc). If you expect to use this to watch movies on a giant screen in your backyard, keep shopping, you probably won't be very happy with this. I was satisfied with the image quality on a white hotel room wall with the picture size about the same as a 46 flat-screen TV like you would use at home. Thats with the light turned completely off and the drapes drawn. If that describes your expectation this might be worth considering, but I cant get past the price tag its at the very top of the range compared to similar models and when I add up the less than stellar brightness, the inconvenience of needing external adapters and the price its hard to rate it higher than 3-stars, which Amazon defines as its okay.\",\n \"Product: Powerful hi-fi streaming with an authentic stereo panorama & 160 watt amplifier Can be included as part of a multi-room setup in combination with Raumfeld Wi-Fi speakers\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Not a solid home run\\n\\nReview: These speakers looked like just what I needed. Ill describe that scenario and see how they worked out and in the process reveal the overall upsides and downsides of the product.\\n\\nI was looking for a minimalistic design speaker set (stereo) to flank a modern all-white fireplace with a flush floor level hearth. The available space on either side of the fireplace opening is 12 per side. These speakers are an 8 cube, which fit perfectly leaving a well-balanced look on either side. The white/aluminum finish was also a perfect complement to the all-white fireplace. Very chic. Then I found that each speaker does not operate 100% independently. The reality is that one speaker is a master and the other is a slave which much be connected to the master using the included cable. That completely defeats the concept that they are wireless speakers and there simply is no way to interconnect them without the unattractive wire between them showing. Please understand that when I say wireless I get that they need to be plugged in to an AC power source, which I have on either side of the fireplace. But wireless in the sense that they don't require being connected to the speaker terminals of a receiver or amplifier because they are streaming speakers. Having to wire one speaker to the other doesnt qualify as wireless.\\n\\nTrue, my intended installation is a bit unique, but then I considered using them on bookshelves in another room. The two bookshelves are not connected to each other and I ran in to the same problem I had to run a wire across the wall from one bookshelf to another to connect the speakers together. The issue is that there is a doorway between where I wanted to use the two speakers, which I would have to string the interconnect wire across.\\n\\nI understand what Raumfeld is trying to do with these. Their main competitors like Sonos, Heos, Polk and others are promoting the use of a single speaker, sometimes with true stereo sound and sometimes not. I own all three brands and even another brand of wireless streaming speaker. Of the popular brands most of them tend to be a little more utilitarian looking than the design of the Raumfelds, which are really beautiful. But on the other hand if you buy two of the speakers from the other brands you don't have to use a wire to connect them together each has everything it needs built in to one speakers.\\n\\nThe 800lb elephant in the room question is going to be are the Raumfelds worth $700 in terms of sound quality? Well, how a speaker sounds is up to each individual person but Ill have to say that they sound really good, but they don't sound spectacular. Not $700 spectacular. To be fair, if you wanted to use two matching speakers from the other brands you would pay as much or more so I won't say that the Raumfelds are overpriced. I will say that my opinion is that you're paying more for aesthetics than audiophile excellence, which is a completely personal choice and decision. Since you have to interconnect the speakers anyway I think a better choice would be to buy two awesome (and beautiful) speakers from any brand of your choosing and then buy a separate network audio receiver component (from Raumfeld, Sonos, Heos or any of the several brands) to achieve the benefits of wireless streaming audio. That way you get beauty and versatility.\\n\\nFinal thought the seller makes a big point of the German Engineering but doesnt dwell much on the reality that these speakers are made in China. Neither point is a big deal to me but it is something you should be aware of. The bottom line for me is that the field of choices for wireless streaming audio products is suddenly growing larger and Raumfeld has some catching up to do before they can compete with the more established brands like Sonos. For me there are too many limitations that aren't offset by any compelling reasons to choose Raumfelds other than they look great and sound respectably good. That certainly makes them better than average but not a solid home run.\",\n \"Product: Kenko Tokina Ltd, one of the largest manufacturers of camera lenses and photographic accessories in the world, has released the new Kenko REAL PRO Clip Lens series for photography enthusiasts to add a new level of creativity and focus to non-traditional photography devices like iPhone/Android Phones and Tablets. The Kenko REAL PRO 7x Telephoto Clip Lens is a super telephoto optical lens made using fine quality multi-coated optical grade glass. The 7x Telephoto Clip Lens creates a field of view that is 7x closer than your native device image. The 7x Telephoto Clip Lens can be used as a monocular for viewing without a mobile device. The 7x Telephoto Clip Lens comes with universal clip that is attached to your iPhone, iPad, iMac, MacBook, Android smart phone, Android tablet or other device with a camera. Kenko REAL PRO 7x Telephoto Clip Lens will increase the possibility of smart phone and other device cameras allowing you to make unique and astonishing photos. Complete with intelligent features like built-in selfie stand and quick on-off design, Kenko REAL PRO Clip lenses will take your mobile photography to the next level.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: What you need to know about considering this\\n\\nReview: I first tried one of these add-on lenses for my cell phone a couple of years ago and the results were so bad I swore I would never use one again. That earlier model used an adapter that attached to the phone and then a variety of tiny lenses screwed in to it.\\n\\nYes, as a professional photographer I have maybe a higher standard when it comes to any device that is involved with taking photos. But when I use my iPhone to take quick family snapshots or vacation pics I am not a photography snob. I am surprised and pleased at the quality of photos my phone can take and the reality is that the majority of photos I take with it are absolutely fine for social media, texting and emails. Some are even good enough for large-format enlargements.\\n\\nWhen I use my cell phone to take snapshots what I miss most compared to having a real camera with me isn't a telephoto feature as much as a wide angle feature. I can almost always compromise the fact that I cant get closer to a subject to zoom in on a distant object. But if the perspective I want to photograph is too wide for my phones lens, there isn't a lot I can do about it. That is until I tried this Kenko add-on wide-angle adapter.\\n\\nI like the design of it. Its all metal and there are no cumbersome adapters, just a clip that lets you mount the adapter over your phones lens.\\n\\nHERES WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW\\n\\n1. You really cant just clip this thing on and shoot. It is fairly sensitive to being positioned over the exact center of your phones lens, so you need to take the time to look at your phones screen until the picture looks right. For some that fussiness can be a dealbreaker.\\n\\n2. The adapter must touch the body of the phone and the lens has to be at the exactly right distance from the phones lens. That rules out using the adapter with most phone cases unless you want to take the case off your phone before taking a photo.\\n\\n3. Pretty much 100% of the advantage of using your cell phone to take candid snapshots is that it is always with you and ready to take a photo in seconds. Having to remember to take a clip on accessory, no matter how small, defeats the benefit of the convenience of using a cell phone camera.\\n\\n4. Because the adapter is wide-angle it has a close focus range, which means that dust on the adapters lens can result in huge black spots on your pictures. The adapter has to kept clean, which means not only carrying the adapter with you but also carrying the included case. You cant just toss the adapter in your pocket and expect it not to get scratched and dusty. It will.\\n\\n5. The wide-angle adapter has quite a bit of vignetting and barrel distortion. Its best when not used to photograph things with strong horizontal or vertical lines or details along the borders.\\n\\n6. This is actually TWO lenses in one kit a wide-angle adapter and a close-up macro lens\\n\\nHELPFUL HINTS\\n\\n1. The design requires that the macro lens be mounted FIRST before attaching the wide-angle lens to it. You cannot use the wide-angle lens by itself, you must have the macro lens installed first.\\n\\n2. Because of what I just said, the best way to carry and protect the lenses is to have them both attached unless you think you will take a lot of macro pictures\\n\\n3. The seller seems to emphasize more that this is a wide-angle lens. I find that I can fudge my way around needing to get more of a scene in the photo easier than it is to focus extremely close to something. My phone only focuses about 20 away from something. Using the macro lens and I show in my sample you can focus right up to the surface of a tiny object. Beware that the focus range is extremely small when you shoot that close and it takes a steady hand to get a sharp picture.\\n\\n4. While having to carry a separate accessory can be considered a downside, the seller thoughtfully includes a metal carabiner clip so you can clip this lens accessory to something.\\n\\nOne final note, there is no rule that you cant use this wide-angle adapter on your front-facing selfie lens and in fact it works really well for taking selfies of a small group of friends with you. One nice thing about using it on your front-facing lens is that your phone case is not likely to interfere with clipping the adapter on and because almost all phones have smooth, flat fronts it can actually be easier to scoot the adapter around until it is properly centered over the lens.\\n\\nI like this adapter. It falls short of being perfect because it cant be used on a majority of phones when they are in a case, and that using it isn't as simple as just clip and shoot. But those aren't severe drawbacks as long as you know about them upfront.\",\n \"Product: For nearly 70 years, Wrangler has staked its claim as a global leader in jeanswear, casual apparel and fashion-forward westerninspiredattire. Built upon the nostalgic undercurrent of Americana heritage, the brand celebrates a rich legacy of authentic products consumers crave.Wrangler continues to preserve their American legacy while continuously developing innovative products that harnesstraditional roots, while expanding on its mainstream appeal as a fashion-forward label. Wrangler will prepare you for whatever the day may hold. So go ahead, be bold. Be adventurous.Be comfortable in your own jeans.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Heres why I won't be driving to the mall anymore\\n\\nReview: When I dress up I like to wear a real dress shirt. And when I am casual I like to be VERY casual, opting for soft comfortable tee shirts over button-up types. So my closet only has a few short-sleeve button-up casual shirts hanging in it. This one has quickly become my favorite. Heres why.\\n\\nFirst off, it is ridiculously comfortable, which is due to being all cotton. The more its washed the better it feels. And after being in the mens clothing business for so long, Wrangler knows how to cut a shirt. The fit is far superior to what I see hanging on the rack at the local department store.\\n\\nI also like the color. The illustration on my screen shows it to be a slightly lighter shade of red than the actual product which is more of a wine color, and the collar trim is a medium shade of gray which goes well with the red. I don't like my casual shirts to have wild colors but I do like to wear shirts that are an expression of how I feel when I wear them. And this particular shade of red fits in great everywhere I go. In fact, the overall look is so versatile that I consider it a cross between being a casual shirt and a dressier shirt that I can wear at a nicer restaurant for dinner.\\n\\nThe construction of the shirt is also better than Ive been finding at department stores, which sell similar shirts for 2-3 times more what this brand name shirt from Wrangler cost. The stitching is perfect, no loose threads, nothing misaligned.\\n\\nAnd the fit is exactly what my size is supposed to be.\\n\\nIve been turned on to a new source of shirts by Wrangler, which has the very positive side-effect that I don't have to drive over to the mall anymore the price here at Amazon is less than the stores charge on their 80% off racks and I know what Im getting (and can return it if I don't like it). I like this shirt a lot and rate it as 5-stars.\",\n \"Product: For nearly 70 years, Wrangler has staked its claim as a global leader in jeanswear, casual apparel and fashion-forward westerninspiredattire. Built upon the nostalgic undercurrent of Americana heritage, the brand celebrates a rich legacy of authentic products consumers crave.Wrangler continues to preserve their American legacy while continuously developing innovative products that harnesstraditional roots, while expanding on its mainstream appeal as a fashion-forward label. Wrangler will prepare you for whatever the day may hold. So go ahead, be bold. Be adventurous.Be comfortable in your own jeans.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Heres why I won't be driving to the mall anymore\\n\\nReview: When I dress up I like to wear a real dress shirt. And when I am casual I like to be VERY casual, opting for soft comfortable tee shirts over button-up types. So my closet only has a few short-sleeve button-up casual shirts hanging in it. This one has quickly become my favorite. Heres why.\\n\\nFirst off, it is ridiculously comfortable, which is due to being all cotton. The more its washed the better it feels. And after being in the mens clothing business for so long, Wrangler knows how to cut a shirt. The fit is far superior to what I see hanging on the rack at the local department store.\\n\\nI also like the color. The illustration on my screen shows it to be a slightly lighter shade of red than the actual product which is more of a wine color, and the collar trim is a medium shade of gray which goes well with the red. I don't like my casual shirts to have wild colors but I do like to wear shirts that are an expression of how I feel when I wear them. And this particular shade of red fits in great everywhere I go. In fact, the overall look is so versatile that I consider it a cross between being a casual shirt and a dressier shirt that I can wear at a nicer restaurant for dinner.\\n\\nThe construction of the shirt is also better than Ive been finding at department stores, which sell similar shirts for 2-3 times more what this brand name shirt from Wrangler cost. The stitching is perfect, no loose threads, nothing misaligned.\\n\\nAnd the fit is exactly what my size is supposed to be.\\n\\nIve been turned on to a new source of shirts by Wrangler, which has the very positive side-effect that I don't have to drive over to the mall anymore the price here at Amazon is less than the stores charge on their 80% off racks and I know what Im getting (and can return it if I don't like it). I like this shirt a lot and rate it as 5-stars.\",\n \"Product: Fruit of the Loom Men's Classic White Briefs offer secure all day support with full coverage. Each pair features Dual Defense, providing moisture wicking and long lasting odor protection. The comfortable, soft waistband will not bind or pinch your skin allowing for ease of movement. The comfortable full cut provides pinch free leg openings with secured support. These 100% cotton Fruit of the Loom White Briefs have a tag free waistband that is soft against your skin for all day comfort.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Direct comparison with Hanes\\n\\nReview: With over 3000 reviews already written theres not much anyone can add except for the one thing that seems to be missing a direct comparison between this pack of mens white briefs and its closest competitor in terms of value priced packaging, the <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Hanes-Men-s-7-Pack-Brief-White-Large/dp/B00569PW80/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Hanes Men's 7-Pack Brief, White, Large</a>\\n\\nThey both serve the same purpose and at first glance look almost identical. But given a closer look there are two noticeable differences:\\n\\n1. Despite the stated size, the two brands are quite a bit different in dimensions. Ive included a photo of the two brands side-by-side with actual measurements of the key areas. Note that one brand is not uniformly larger or smaller than the other some dimensions are larger and some are smaller.\\n\\n2. See-through. This is a bit difficult to capture in a photograph but when held up to the window the Fruit of the Loom pair was easier to see through than the Hanes. That may make a difference to some guys and not to others. To me I felt the Hanes had a little more body to them which translated into them sagging a little less and contouring to the body a little better. The differences are very small though.\\n\\nThe size differences may be more important to some guys. The photos are for the large size of each brand. Note that the Fruit of the Loom has a full inch larger leg opening. Depending on if your thigh is thick or thin at that point it can make a difference about holding everything in place, or on the other hand it might result in an uncomfortable tightness in that area.\\n\\nNote that the Fruit of the Loom is smaller at the waistband but substantially higher from bottom of crotch to the top of the waistband. The Fruit of the Loom is also taller from the top of the leg opening to the top of the waistband. Both of these measurements mean that the Hanes will ride lower on the hips than the Fruit of the Loom.\\n\\nBoth brands are too close to call in terms of how well they are made, in other words they are what you expect for the price.\\n\\nThe prices for both brands change frequently. I was going to buy another pair of the Hanes and on the day I was going to order the price was double what I paid last time (which is twice what the Fruit of the Loom was selling for). Thats why I chose Fruit of the Loom this time. All things considered this is a product that I would buy based on price more than I would for any differences in the item itself. Whichever is priced lower will be the one I buy next time.\",\n \"Product: Fruit of the Loom Men's Classic White Briefs offer secure all day support with full coverage. Each pair features Dual Defense, providing moisture wicking and long lasting odor protection. The comfortable, soft waistband will not bind or pinch your skin allowing for ease of movement. The comfortable full cut provides pinch free leg openings with secured support. These 100% cotton Fruit of the Loom White Briefs have a tag free waistband that is soft against your skin for all day comfort.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Direct comparison with Hanes\\n\\nReview: With over 3000 reviews already written theres not much anyone can add except for the one thing that seems to be missing a direct comparison between this pack of mens white briefs and its closest competitor in terms of value priced packaging, the <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Hanes-Men-s-7-Pack-Brief-White-Large/dp/B00569PW80/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Hanes Men's 7-Pack Brief, White, Large</a>\\n\\nThey both serve the same purpose and at first glance look almost identical. But given a closer look there are two noticeable differences:\\n\\n1. Despite the stated size, the two brands are quite a bit different in dimensions. Ive included a photo of the two brands side-by-side with actual measurements of the key areas. Note that one brand is not uniformly larger or smaller than the other some dimensions are larger and some are smaller.\\n\\n2. See-through. This is a bit difficult to capture in a photograph but when held up to the window the Fruit of the Loom pair was easier to see through than the Hanes. That may make a difference to some guys and not to others. To me I felt the Hanes had a little more body to them which translated into them sagging a little less and contouring to the body a little better. The differences are very small though.\\n\\nThe size differences may be more important to some guys. The photos are for the large size of each brand. Note that the Fruit of the Loom has a full inch larger leg opening. Depending on if your thigh is thick or thin at that point it can make a difference about holding everything in place, or on the other hand it might result in an uncomfortable tightness in that area.\\n\\nNote that the Fruit of the Loom is smaller at the waistband but substantially higher from bottom of crotch to the top of the waistband. The Fruit of the Loom is also taller from the top of the leg opening to the top of the waistband. Both of these measurements mean that the Hanes will ride lower on the hips than the Fruit of the Loom.\\n\\nBoth brands are too close to call in terms of how well they are made, in other words they are what you expect for the price.\\n\\nThe prices for both brands change frequently. I was going to buy another pair of the Hanes and on the day I was going to order the price was double what I paid last time (which is twice what the Fruit of the Loom was selling for). Thats why I chose Fruit of the Loom this time. All things considered this is a product that I would buy based on price more than I would for any differences in the item itself. Whichever is priced lower will be the one I buy next time.\",\n \"Product: Our fruit of the loom soft stretch waistband knit boxer is designed to offer all day comfort, ease of movement and comes with a convenient button fly\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: An excellent value for quality and price\\n\\nReview: This is the first time I have bought underwear in any place other than a retail store. Knowing the brand name is Fruit of the Loom was reassuring and the price is pretty enticing for 5 pair ... close to what one pair costs at the store I usually shop at.\\n\\nThe fit is \\\"as expected\\\" - in other words no surprises. The fabric feels nearly identical to underwear that cost a lot more at the retail store. It is lightweight for comfort but heavy enough to feel durable.\\n\\nSome have mentioned they think they are slightly shorter than some other brands. That is something only the wearer can decide how comfortable they feel. If anything I felt that the length was slightly longer than average, not by much, but certainly not short. The photo shows how far down they hang.\\n\\nAs far as the color's that were received, well again that is personal choice. My order was not as muted as the sample illustration shown at the seller's page; they are purple, light gray, dark blue, pale green and soft red, all attractive and contemporary colors. I can't see negatively rating an otherwise fine product because of the colors that were shipped - the seller makes it very clear that returns are accepted, so if the buyer doesn't like them all they have to do is ship them back.\\n\\nEveryone has their own personal preference about the subject of underwear, so hopefully the above information helps point you in the right direction. For this reviewer they are an exceptionally good value at the selling price and are a 5-star product.\",\n \"Product: Fruit of the loom 10 pair value pack over-the-calf-tube\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Not bad especially considering the price\\n\\nReview: I had to approach judging these with a dose of reality, at the time I got them they were only a buck a pair, I had no reasonable expectation that they would compare in any way to those that I get for ten bucks a pair. These are clearly sold as tube socks not fitted socks, so that's what they are, one long tube sewn together at the toe end. Not everyone likes this style of sock. For casual wear around the house I don't care. Regarding the length, they are sold as over-the-calf socks but evidently that means one thing to a 4' person and something else to a 6' person. For me they are much longer than the socks I usually wear but they are under my pants so no one sees them and I don't care. If you choose to wear them with shorts that may be a concern to you.\\n\\nI do find a couple of advantages to these extra-length socks though. One is they keep my legs warm while working outdoors on a cold day. And the other is I like to wear them while sitting around the campfire while camping. Why? They do a good job at keeping insects, spiders, etc from crawling up inside my pant leg.\\n\\nI'm fairly active and I don't have any concerns about these socks ripping or tearing the one seam. The material looks like it will last a reasonable time and it is somewhat cushy but not a lot. How long they will last would concern me a lot more if they were expensive but at a buck a pair? Meh.\",\n \"Product: Prince socks are inspired by professional tennis athletes who demand a lot from their socks and made for everyone to enjoy. These performance plus no show tab socks feature an achilles tab for protection and to keep the sock in place, coolmax moisture management fibers, arch compression for support and stability to reduce foot fatigue, targeted zone cushioning for extra protection in high impact areas, blister resist fibers to reduce friction, spandex for premium fit and recovery, zone mesh for breathability, and smooth toe seams for ultimate comfort. The colored lines in the arch area come in multiple colors within the pack for variety and versatility. Built for athletic activities or everyday comfort.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: The styling and color is what got me\\n\\nReview: When dressing casually 98% of the time I wear closed-toed sandals with low-cut socks. Living in the desert wearing socks is part of the balance necessary to keep ones feet cool in the blistering heat but yet keep the sand and creepy-crawly critters out. My brand of choice is usually Puma because they are stronger and snugger than other brands Ive tried. But despite their cute logo they are pretty boringly white.\\n\\nThe first thing that attracted me to these is that they have color and style, important when some of the sock shows through the openings in the sandal. So right there I liked them.\\n\\nThe next thing that scored big with me is that the ankle part of the sock is higher than any brand of low-cut socks Ive seen. Why this is important is that most sandals (open or closed) rely on an ankle strap to keep them on your feet and often that strap is positioned in such a way that it misses the sock and rubs on the bare skin. Obviously not very comfortable. These socks have plenty of room for the ankle strap to wrap securely around the sock, not the skin.\\n\\nNow for the #1 reason I wear closed-toed sandals around here is because it is HOT and the last thing I want is a sock that makes my feet even hotter. The fabric and weave of these socks is amazingly cool and comfortable even on the hottest days.\\n\\nThese may actually be the most comfortable low-cut socks Ive worn. While they cost more than I usually pay per pair they are not unreasonably expensive and the quality makes up for the extra cost. Plus they look great.\\n\\nI have one suggestion to the seller, however. While it may seem obvious that if you picture 3 socks that you are selling 3 pairs of socks, product pictures aren't always accurate. Nowhere on the product page does it actually state the quantity of socks in the package, and the size description of 1 x 1 x 1 inches is obviously misleading. It would help regular Amazon customers if you were more accurate in your product description by simply stating that you are selling 3 pairs of socks at this price.\",\n \"Product: This quality passport holder is a perfect gift for men and women who travel frequently. See images above. It features radio frequency identification blocking technology to keep people from stealing your valuable information. It has 6 slots for credit cards & I.D. and a clear plastic window pocket to keep your passport handy. It also has a hidden billfold and a zippered enclosure. It has a detachable, nylon neck/shoulder strap to prevent it from being snatched away from you. It's made from waterproof, lightweight nylon. Travel with confidence knowing your valuable information is readily available and secure from prying eyes and hands while you travel.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Don't leave home without it\\n\\nReview: <div id=\\\"video-block-R3F0OAN3GB65SI\\\" class=\\\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\\\"></div><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/C1UCKp9VezS.mp4\\\" class=\\\"video-url\\\"><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/21XiuMl6hYS.png\\\" class=\\\"video-slate-img-url\\\"> If you are an experienced traveler you know that the days of hoping on a plane with your wallet thrown in your back pocket or purse and nothing else are long gone. For a dozen reasons experienced travelers have learned that they have to take numerous precautions to safeguard their security, identity and personal well-being. Travel documents are far more sophisticated than they were only a few years ago, and the methods \\\"the bad guys\\\" use to try to circumvent the law are far more sophisticated as well.\\n\\nOne indispensable item that travelers depend on in today's world is a secure place to keep their travel documents, ready for inspection when necessary, and otherwise away from prying hands. But it isn't just prying hands that travelers have to be concerned about. It is the electronic fishing for the data embedded in their travel documents through electronic means without any physical contact with the documents on your person.\\n\\nManufacturers are addressing the security concerns of travelers with such products as TSA-approved luggage locks and items like this, travel document organizers. They understand that added weight of any kind is the last thing a traveler wants or needs and they have designed this organizer to be exceptionally lightweight using a good grade of polyester which is one reason I like it better than some others I have seen. As a writer who addresses the needs of travelers I wanted to evaluate it and obtained one at a discount, which did not factor in to my personal impressions of it.\\n\\nOf the things that attracted me, the interior of this organizer has secure, but easy-to-access compartments for such documents as your passport, visa, driver's license, traveler's cheques, etc. The entire case is protected from Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) intrusion, which of course is it's big selling point.\\n\\nThe organizer is of a tri-fold design for compactness and is designed to be worn over the neck and under your outerwear like a sweater or jacket. That helps safeguard it against pickpocketing or accidental loss. As a personal preference I would have chosen not to have a visible logo to draw attention to the purpose of this case. As a generality I do not see the necessity for a manufacturer to advertise their brand to you after you have already bought the item. Not a big enough negative to down-rate it but it is something I hope they improve.\\n\\nAlthough the price is lower and offers more features than some competitive models the manufacturer cautions that the current price is \\\"introductory\\\" (whatever that means). At the current selling price I consider it a good bargain but frankly I would not have paid the inflated \\\"retail\\\" price.\\n\\nThe features and benefits offered by the Travellows Travel Document Organizer deserve a correspondingly positive rating.\",\n \"Product: For nearly 70 years, Wrangler has staked its claim as a global leader in jeanswear, casual apparel and fashion-forward westerninspiredattire. Built upon the nostalgic undercurrent of Americana heritage, the brand celebrates a rich legacy of authentic products consumers crave.Wrangler continues to preserve their American legacy while continuously developing innovative products that harnesstraditional roots, while expanding on its mainstream appeal as a fashion-forward label. Wrangler will prepare you for whatever the day may hold. So go ahead, be bold. Be adventurous.Be comfortable in your own jeans.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Wrangler reviews probably won't help you much\\n\\nReview: Before reading any of the reviews on this page there are two important things you need to know:\\n\\n1. All of the reviews for many different styles of shirts are lumped together on this one page however each different color and style of shirt can be night & day difference from each other\\n\\n2. These shirts can be manufactured in factories all over the world and where they're made can make a huge difference in their quality\\n\\nSo how can you make any sense out of these reviews? First, look at the tiny fine print at the top of each review. See where it tells you the color and style? To get any value out of the reviews look only for the reviews for the color/style you are interested in. Note that some people will assign extreme positive or negative ratings simply because of what the shirt is made of. Another thing you will see that one certain color may be a cotton shirt, while another color of the same style is a polyester shirt and still another color is a blend.\\n\\nFrom reading some of the reviews it is clear that these shirts are made in a variety of countries and they are not all made the same as each other, even if the style and color is the same. So in reality none of the reviews including this one are going to help you very much. You just have to take your chances to see what you will be sent.\\n\\nWhat about the specific shirt I am reviewing? Mine is a dress blues stripe (red/white/blue) polo which the seller describes as being made in Lesotho. It is not, it is made in Bangladesh which is almost 6000 miles away and isn't even on the same continent as Lesotho. The seller says it is made of 100% polyester. It is not, it is made of 100% cotton and it is not a wicking fabric. You have to decide if that's reason enough to take points away. I'm not going to; I will just go strictly by Amazon's rating definition. I like this shirt, and Amazon says that earns 4-stars. I am comfortable with that and I am comfortable in the shirt. It looks more expensive than it is (buying from Amazon helps evade the huge retail store markup). It arrived looking used and faded which I assume is the way it was designed and after several washings and it still looks fresh.\\n\\nIt's not the best shirt I've ever worn, hence not capable of earning 5-stars, but I would recommend considering it if you're not really picky about fabric content or where it's made.\",\n \"Product: The Wolverine brand is known for its tough, resilient work wear that's always built to last. This belt is a 38mm cognac strap with double edge stitching and rugged gunmetal roller buckle. Available in brown, sizes 32-44.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: A bargain considering he high quality\\n\\nReview: First, a word about Wolverine. They are a 130 year old highly respected U.S. leather goods company. Their products are generally expensive but worth it. In fact I wondered if a belt selling for such a low price here (lower in fact than the junk sold at some of the well-known department stores) could really be a genuine Wolverine product so I called the company. They confirmed that yes these are indeed genuine Wolverine belts.\\n\\nThis belt is a good example of their quality. It is far superior to what you will find hanging on the rack at most department stores, even some of the better ones, where a large percentage of mens belts are made from whats called bonded leather (kind of like Pringles potato chips, they grind leather into a powder and then bond it together with plastics and glue to make something that looks like real leather). No, the Wolverine belt is real leather, cut and stitched the old fashioned way. It is hefty (I weighed it at 6.5 oz) and thick, at least twice as thick as any other belt I own. It is also w-i-d-e which is something you should be aware of if you are considering it. At 1.53 wide it won't fit through the loops of most mens dress pants (but then again it is not meant to be a dress belt). It will however fit most mens jeans where it does a far better job than any skinny belt in holding your pants up. The width and the weight make jeans fit as they should, especially as the belt ages and becomes more supple.\\n\\nMens belt sizes have always been a retail mystery, because despite the size markings they are something that is adjustable. Typically, belts are measured from the edge of the buckle to the middle hole. This measurement does not usually include the buckle itself. Because belts go around your pants, not just around your waist, a properly fitting belt about 2\\\" larger than your waist size, so for example if you wear size 36 pants, order a 38\\\" belt. This belts holes give you a range of +/- 6 inches.\\n\\nThe look out of the box is very first-class and expensive looking, despite the very reasonable selling price and it looks like it will give years of service. I like this belt a lot and I know it will only get better looking as it ages.\",\n \"Product: Columbia men's underwear 95/5 cotton stretch 2 pack brief\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Possibly the most comfortable Ive worn\\n\\nReview: When I shop for high quality clothing thats more than just a made-up fancy sounding name the company Ive turned to most of my life is Columbia Sportswear. Created and based Portland, Oregon, Columbia has been in business for more than 70 years, more than half of which with feisty chairman Gert Boyle running the show with an iron fist. Her commitment to quality (albeit at a hefty price tag) is legend. Everything Ive bought from Columbia to this point has been winter outerwear this is my first experience with their underwear.\\n\\nThe first detail I noticed (beside the fact that they cost $24 for only two pair) is that they are made with a soft breathable stretchable fabric that is designed for the active man. The wicking fabric pulls moisture away from the body, excellent when worn under gym clothes, for skiing, running or other rigorous activity. The leg bands hold tighter to the leg to provide the kind of support a man needs.\\n\\nThese are truly brief, more so than typical Jockey shorts, but not so much as bikini briefs. However the stretch material allows the pouch to expand sufficiently to support without squeezing and binding. Its easy to forget you're wearing them.\\n\\nAs a sports brief these are possibly the most comfortable Ive ever worn.\",\n \"Product: Fully sealed and taped waterproof seams. Adjustable/zippered leg openings with storm flap for easy off and on. Adjustable elastic waist band with webbing belt & adjustable quick release buckle (on back of bib, not shown). Waterproof hip storage pocket.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Warm without being bulky\\n\\nReview: This cap is much larger than I expected. When pops tried on the so-called youth size it fit him perfectly. This one comes down almost to his mouth. You can roll up the side but its obvious that this is not a sailors watch cap and the sides were not meant to be rolled up for a few reasons. One is that the material is slippery and the sides resist staying rolled up. The other is this is supposed to be a camo hat, having a neon orange band showing sort of defeats that idea.\\n\\nHaving said all that, otherwise I really like this thing. The material is super soft and comfortable and the inside is a very short fiber knit fleece that slides on and off my hair without matting it down of getting strands caught in it. The camo color is great for hunting, camping or hiking well except for that 50,000 watt neon orange.\\n\\nBut it is warm without being bulky, Ill give it that.\",\n \"Product: Speedo water accessories are unmatched in performance, fit and feel. The Bullet is super comfortable and features our new fitness goggle technologies of Elastomeric seals and Clearsight vision. This is the perfect fitness or recreational goggle for open water or pool swimming. No matter where or why you dive in - training, fitness, or fun - those moments in the water are always better with Speedo.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Good product unless you aren't a swim goggle expert\\n\\nReview: I don't like wearing things like glasses, wristwatches, hats, necklaces or pretty much anything else. But there are times when a strong dose of reality check is necessary and I will grudgingly wear various items of bodily protection when circumstances warrant. And I am particularly cautious about protecting my eyes. My current (and first and only) swim goggles are a good brand, well made and offer excellent protection, but they reinforce why I don't like to wear things ... they feel heavy and they press against my face too much and most importantly they tend to distort the view.\\n\\nWhile these Speedos aren't Olympic-grade pro models or even the companys top of the line, they are built like pro athletes versions that cost substantially more. As far as the brand, well its hard to argue that Speedo knows what they're doing when it comes to swim products. There are four categories of Speedo Fit swim goggles: Performance, Recreation, Fitness and Kids. These are from the Fitness category. The model is the Bullet, which puts comfort at the top of their list of features. In addition to having an Elastomeric headband, which is strong soft and stretchy, they have UV blocking, anti-fog lenses and are latex-free.\\n\\nTopping the list of positives is that the part that frames the eye is incredibly soft, compliant and they form a super tight seal without feeling tight. That is probably the feature I personally like best of this model. The headband is ultra-thin and ultra-lightweight but strong and the adjustments for centering are instant, simply push two buttons which releases a ratchet that holds the band in place. The nose piece fits me, but that is a matter of personal preference.\\n\\nThat leads me to the negatives. First off are the instructions are almost non-existent. They could be much more detailed about things like how to unpack the glasses and how to adjust them properly. Regarding unpacking it looks more complicated than it is. While it looks like the clamshell is riveted closed the back actually pops open with a click, I assume so people can try them on in the store. The lenses have clear adhesive protectors over them that have printing on them so its obvious to remove them but after that it looks like there is another protective layer but nowhere is it made clear if that is the actual lens or not. The green ones in my photo comparison are from Speedos website which shows this model with a different look to the lenses and they do not look like they have that protector over them. Ive tried (carefully) to peel that off because nowhere does Speedo explain if that is part of the lens or not, which makes for a frustrating user experience with this product.\\n\\nProper adjustment is important with swim goggles yet for all their expertise Speedos only suggestion is to keep adjusting them until they fit. Not a word about what constitutes a good fit in the little foldout manual and even less at their website.\\n\\nAs a broad generality I like these goggles for fit, comfort and their ability to keep water out. But Im disappointed that Speedo makes too much of an assumption that anyone who buys them doesnt need information and assistance in preparing them or using them so they offer zero help.\",\n \"Product: The Goal Zero Lighthouse 250 is a bright, USB rechargeable LED lantern. You decide how long the Lighthouse 250 lasts, on one charge, with its dimmable light for tent or trail. Red light to alert. Charge your USB device conveniently with a built in USB output port.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: A very bright idea\\n\\nReview: This lantern will make you smile. It is so much like one of those late-night cable channel commercials with their \\\"but wait, there's more!!!\\\" lines. But yes, it's true, there IS more and it's all very impressive.\\n\\nOVERALL QUALITY:\\n\\nOkay, it's not made quite as rugged as some of the better-known brand names but it is rugged enough for normal camping, backpacking and use around the house. It is small enough to fit into a glove compartment or knapsack and reasonably well made.\\n\\nCOOL FEATURES:\\n\\n1. It's bright, almost class-leading bright at 250 lumens with a very pure white light that is bright enough to read by. But wait, there's more ...\\n\\n2. It has a rotary brightness control from nightlight level to a turbo position that is super-bright. But wait, there's more ...\\n\\n3. The brightness control rotates in both directions, one way it shines 360 degrees and the other way it shines only 180 degrees if you don't want to be blinded while sitting around the campfire. But wait, there's more ...\\n\\n4. There is a flashing red light beacon that surrounds the top of the lantern, great for \\\"marking your spot\\\" when you leave your campsite, or of course being used as a roadside hazard light. But wait, there's more ...\\n\\n5. Two metal legs extend down to raise the lantern up, very nice over a camp table or when used at home during a power failure. Those same legs can be used to hang the lantern upside down like a bat or you can use a fold-out hook on the top. Clever. . But wait, there's more ...\\n\\n6. The lantern can be charged with (optional) Goal Zero solar panels. But wait, there's more ...\\n\\n7. At low power the lantern can run up to 48 hours. At higher power it is definitely usable for those few hours around the campfire. But wait, there's more ...\\n\\n8. You can charge the lantern from any standard USB source, like the adapter in your vehicle, your laptop, a wall charger, etc. But wait, there's more ...\\n\\n9. You can also use the lantern to charge your cellphone or tablet in the case of a wilderness emergency. But wait, there's more ...\\n\\n10. No power outlet? No way to charge the lantern? No worries, there is a handy crank on top that lets you wind it up and run it for a short while, then just wind it again, and again, and again. You can virtually never be out of light if you are really stuck with no possible source of power.\\n\\nI honestly can't find anything I don't like about this lantern and think it has earned 5-stars.\",\n \"Product: TriMax Triple Insulation Keep Drinks COLD for 48 Hours and HOT for up to 16 Hours\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Recommend two minor improvements\\n\\nReview: This overview is for the 24oz size. It is also available in 20oz and 32oz. While virtually every car cupholder is different Im pleased that this size fits in both of my front cupholders and also the ones in all four doors. And it fits easily in the water bottle holder of my backpack.\\n\\nThe first thing I did is removed the lid and immediately smelled inside. My experience with any food container that starts off with an odor it will rarely ever smell clean. I was happy to find that this product was almost completely odor free. As I would anyway I soaked it for a while with a vinegar and water solution.\\n\\nI like the minimalistic design, almost the entire container is usable for carrying liquid. Yet it is strong and tough. My only concern would be the plastic drinking spout which looks like it could break if hit hard enough from the side. Fortunately the very thick and resilient rubberized retainer strap (which is also the carrying handle) would probably prevent the spout from ever taking a direct hit. By the way, I prefer drinking from a straw and Evovessel was way ahead of me. They have an optional gadget called a flip spout top <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/EcoVessel-AT-GRYRED-Adult-Flip-Spout-Lid/dp/B010RGO0QQ/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">EcoVessel AT-GRYRED Adult Flip Spout Lid</a> that fits this Boulder series perfectly. You can even customize how far down the straw goes into the bottle. I didn't even have to think about buying one for under five bucks.\\n\\nThere are two small areas for improvement, neither of which are dealbreakers. One is that the cap for the smaller spout is smooth stainless steel while the cap for the larger opening is fluted. I wish the smaller cap was fluted as well - opening it with wet hands or with gloves can be a little difficult. My other recommendation is that the inner strainer fit snugger. It tends to flop around inside rather noisily which can get annoying to hear when you're hiking through a peaceful wilderness. I found a simple solution that works for now, just position the wire lift hoop so it presses against the inside of the larger cap. That will work as long as the wire lift hoop has enough friction to stay put.\",\n \"Product: The single speed Allen Urban model incorporates a 6061 aluminum frame, high performance 451 MM wheels, a patented folding stem and delivers a smooth, responsive ride. As a single speed model, the Urban is best suited for flat terrain or small hills. The key benefit of this model is that the 451 MM wheels deliver an exceptionally comfortable ride. With the exception of our Downtown model, all Allen folding bicycles use 451 MM wheels, which are slightly larger than standard 20\\\" wheels and deliver an exceptionally comfortable ride. The Urban uses a patented press-linkage folding design on the frame and headset which makes folding and storing this bicycle quick and easy. A patented rear wheel lock system allow the bicycle to be rolled like a cart when in a folded position for easy transport. Rider size range: 4'8\\\" to 6'5\\\"/Max rider weight: 230 LB. Bike ships 100% assembled - unfold and go.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Very high quality + convenience\\n\\nReview: <div id=\\\"video-block-R10WY7EXQK6WJV\\\" class=\\\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\\\"></div><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/E1C339NbL6S.mp4\\\" class=\\\"video-url\\\"><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/11htNCs0Z0S.png\\\" class=\\\"video-slate-img-url\\\"> [UPDATE] I mention below in my review that the little plastic front reflector broke off in shipping. To me that's in no way a negative issue, although I would have to replace it to ride legally in my community. To their credit, Allen Bicycles shipped me a replacement reflector via Priority Mail. Little customer service details make a difference and the manufacturer deserves to be recognized for their no-hassle way of taking care of their customer.\\n\\nI have owned some of the top \\\"name brands\\\" of bicycles over time, not because of wishing to impress with snobby brand names but to experience the performance that I expect and pay for. My prime criterion in a bicycle, as is true when choosing equipment in my career as a professional photographer, is whether the tool I choose is the best to do the job.\\n\\nI live in a neighborhood that is fairly boring for bike riding and I usually don't have time to ride further to more interesting areas. So bikes have been, for me, like so many other people ... something that is carried on the top or rear of my vehicle for weekend outings. So many times I would like to explore areas that are just the opposite of the back country, i.e. the urban area of my city or other cities I may visit.\\n\\nThe model name of this bike is \\\"Urban\\\" and that is what it is. It is a very fitting name. There are many things this bike is not if someone is going to pick it apart piece by piece and complain how other bikes (designed for other purposes) are \\\"better\\\". I believe the manufacture has represented the difference between their two similar models, the \\\"Downtown\\\" and the \\\"Urban\\\" as one being designed for short treks from point-to-point in a central metro area and the other being a little more robust for getting out of city-center and riding slightly more aggressively in nearby urban neighborhoods. Neither of these two riding styles dictate a multi-speed transmission or ruggedized suspension or any fancy features.\\n\\nComing from my perspective of having owned and ridden some legendary bikes, and now owning my first folding bike, I won't dare to compare mine against models I have never owned and lived with - only providing you with some feedback and impressions of this model, as used for the purpose it was designed for.\\n\\nWithout getting picky about dimensions, the Sports Urban can be best summarized by saying it \\\"feels good\\\". Mounting it is comfortable and confident and has an overall sense of feeling like a full-size bike with the practical advantage that when folded it is half the size of a full-size bike. Of course it isn't, and can't be, half the weight ... the raw materials don't weigh half as much just because they are folded in half. The folding mechanism is sheer brilliance, totally and completely intuitive ... just click to fold, click to unfold. And once it is in the riding configuration there is no way it feels any less structurally rigid than a non-folding bike. Do read the instructions carefully, they are rather ominous concerning use of the \\\"Golden Copper Button\\\" and how failing to use it properly could make the bike unsafe or dangerous to ride.\\n\\nThe bike comes fully assembled and tuned. The wheels turn true, the tires have no wobble or shimmy, the chain is smooth and the bike tracks straight. All of this should be expected from something that costs close to $700. The overall fit and finish is excellent, however the bike is shipped with insufficient packing material which resulted in several areas on the handlebars of the paint being worn through to the bare metal and the front reflector (plastic) being broken off. While packaging is not cause to deduct points, it does affect first impressions.\\n\\nI won't pretend to have the experience in folding bikes to compare every brand and model out there and try to discuss models I've never owned. I won't even compare this, as a folding bike, with other bikes I've owned that were designed for entirely different usage. I can only report on what I know, and that is that owning this bike is a very satisfying experience. It has given me the freedom to literally throw a bike that rides like a full-sized model into the back of my vehicle, drive somewhere, and explore in one of the best ways possible ... by bike. Full satisfaction deserves a positive review and endorsement, not because of where I got it but because it's a good product.\",\n \"Product: The Nifty Carousel for K-Cups elegantly displays all your favorite K-Cups. The lazy susan base rotates 360 degrees, making it extremely easy to find and select your favorite K-Cup flavor. The stylish chrome finish design looks great on any kitchen counter top. The Nifty Carousel for K-Cups will hold up to 28 K-Cups.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: A best buy for several reasons\\n\\nReview: <div id=\\\"video-block-R3S9QG0IQPI0HC\\\" class=\\\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\\\"></div><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/C1z9Aq1jYTS.mp4\\\" class=\\\"video-url\\\"><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/01gsNrxQtUS.png\\\" class=\\\"video-slate-img-url\\\">(See video for an up-close look)\\n\\nOne thing a new Keurig brewer owner soon discovers is that they will soon need a convenient place near the brewer to store at least a few of each of their favorite flavors. It almost doesn't seem to be an option, the brewer is so utterly simple to use it's a shame to add any time or energy to the process to dig through boxes of K-cups.\\n\\nAnd you WILL have boxes of them, ask any Keurig brewer owner. Sure you may settle on a few favorites but you will probably want to have some additional options available for other family members or guests.\\n\\nFrankly, after researching the available K-cup storage holders I wasn't impressed by any of them, and every one of them was far overpriced for what it was. Come on, there is no way that a few pieces of wire welded together should cost $25. I read review after review (especially the negative ones) and there were always significant reasons to not buy that particular unit. This was the first one without any negative reviews and there were some other advantages that attracted me. They are:\\n\\n1. It holds 28 K-cups but doesn't dominate my counter-top. The size is a nice compliment to my brewer (which is the lesser-known K145 OfficePRO model, please check out my review and video here <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Keurig-K145-OfficePRO-Brewing-System-with-Bonus-K-Cup-Portion-Trial-Pack/dp/B00I9IML3O/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Keurig K145 OfficePRO Brewing System with Bonus K-Cup Portion Trial Pack</a>\\n\\n2. It is made with very heavy chrome-plated wires that look attractive and feel very solid\\n\\n3. It spins smoothly with no wobble and there is no way it will tip over\\n\\n4. A very common complaint of most other carousels is that the K-cups fall out or get pulled out when you remove an adjacent K-cup. Not so with this model, there is plenty of room for each cup and they are held at an angle that prevents them from falling out\\n\\nI resisted getting a smaller carousel at first but then reality set in and the fact of life is that 4 samples of each of 8 flavors is just about perfect for most brewer owners. Just like adding water to the brewer every day or so, I simply plug in replacement K-cups every so often.\\n\\nI did see a review or two mention that not every ring is the same size and a few of the K-cups didn't seat all the way down to their rim. I don't think that's a manufacturing flaw but rather the way they designed it ... all of the smaller rings are at the top row and they are all equally slightly smaller. I think that's just to accommodate the taper of the design and there is simply a little less room at the top. We're only talking about a slight difference and you really have to be looking for it to notice that that row of K-cups doesn't slide all the way down to their rims. It is not at all anything that takes away from the look, design or functionality of the carousel.\\n\\nHINT: shop carefully for this one. The day I bought it I paid $11. The next day it was $20. I'd much rather pay $11 at which price it easily earns 5 stars.\",\n \"Product: The East and West, despite Kiplings claim that they will never meet, are being united for the new film by Sergei Bodrov Sr., Mongol: The Early Years of Genghis Khan. The project, with a budget of 15 million euros, is a major international co-production with the participation of Russia, Germany, Kazakhstan and the USA.\\n\\\"Mongol\\\" is the epic story of a young Genghis Khan and how events in his early life lead him to become the legendary conquerer and father of Mongolia.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Detailed review of a superb movie\\n\\nReview: This is a movie on the scale of what Hollywood was once capable of. It isn't and doesn't have to be historically perfect in every detail of accuracy. There are so many movies based loosely on historical legend that succeed in weaving history with story-telling why single this one out as not being \\\"historically accurate\\\". Will the first person who saw the movie who actually witnessed life in the 12th century please step forward and tell us all exactly what went on every day in the life of Genghis Khan? Yet some reviews lean toward criticizing the film's accuracy based on other movies they have seen or books they have read. Bottom line ... this is a movie, not a history book.\\n\\nI am no more qualified than anyone to discuss how accurately this movie portrays the life story of Genghis Khan, though as a descendent of Mongols and having traveled extensively in the footsteps of Temüjin by way of foot, camel and jeep I can say that much of what I saw such as the sharing of milk, the blessing over it, the drunken parties, the relationships of the Mongolians with their families and with each other, and the background scenery of much of this movie is dead-on accurate. I've been there ... the movie, in a sometimes idealized way, often shows us exactly what Temüjin himself saw 900 years ago.\\n\\nTaken as a movie, not a history book, the cinematography is excellent. The music is eerily accurate as a popularized version of exactly what camel herders and local entertainers performed for me and have performed for others for centuries. The costumes were romanticized, of course, in most cases. There were times it was hard to focus that we are talking about the 12th century and the movie's costuming simply jumped all over time and space.\\n\\nI am extremely happy that the dialogue of the Mongolian actors was in their native dialect (while the Chinese actors spoke Mandarin and some of the other characters spoke in a Turkic dialect). With my limited knowledge of the Mongolian language I recognized what the people I lived with in Mongolia spoke to me. The sub-titles were well done. To dub the dialogue into the local language of the movie's viewer would have utterly destroyed the movie.\\n\\nI'm not sure what I expected from this movie before seeing it, maybe a preachy documentary or something featuring Tom Cruise and Kim Kardashian in the lead roles to sell at the box office, unfortunately if Hollywood made this movie that may actually have been the case. It was easy to ease into the more casual and less hammy acting of the actors who were chosen. There were no miscasts, although Honglei Sun as Jamukha might be just a little over the top with his backaches and neckaches.\\n\\nWatch the movie with an open and relaxed mind and tune in on the many subtleties used to help us understand the conditions and circumstances that formed one of the most memorable people in all of history. Take time to dissect the battle scenes to see how Temüjin progressed from being the underdog to becoming Genghis Khan, perhaps the most brilliant military strategians of all time. And do read the subtitles, there aren't that many of them.\\n\\nI highly recommend this movie.\",\n \"Product: Box set containing six popular musicals from Rodgers and Hammerstein. 'Carousel' (1956) tells the story of carnival barker Billy Bigelow (Gordon MacRae), who is killed committing an armed robbery in order to provide for his baby girl. Years later Billy is allowed to return to Earth for his daughter's graduation. Songs included are 'If I Love You', 'Soliloquy', and 'You'll Never Walk Alone'. In 'State Fair' (1945), every member of the Frake family is after a prize at the annual State Fair: father for his prize pig; mother for her pies in the pie contest; and for the son and daughter, true love. Rodgers and Hammerstein's score was written especially for the screen and features some of their biggest hits, including 'It Might As Well Be Spring' and 'It's a Grand Night for Singing'. In 'Oklahoma' (1955), farmhands Curly (MacRae) and Will (Gene Nelson) fall for local girls Ado (Gloria Grahame) and Laurey (Shirley Jones). The path to true love is thwarted, however, by nasty farmhand Jud Fry (Rod Steiger). Featuring classics such as 'Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin' and 'People Will Say We're in Love'. In 'South Pacific' (1958) an American Navy nurse (Mitzi Gaynor) stationed on a South Pacific Island falls in love with a middle-aged French planter (Rossano Brazzi), who goes on to become a war hero. Includes the songs: 'There is Nothing Like a Dame', 'Bali Ha'i', 'Happy Talk' and 'I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair'. In 'The King and I' (1956), when nineteenth century English schoolteacher Anna Leonowens (Deborah Kerr) is employed by the King of Siam (Yul Brynner) to educate his many children, she takes her son, Louis (Rex Thompson), along with her. Anna, a strong-willed woman, soon clashes with the king, who is used to having his every wish adhered to without question. However, Anna's refusal to bow to his will wins his respect and, eventually, his love. Rodgers and Hammerstein numbers include 'Hello Young Lovers' and 'Getting To Know You'. Finally, 'The Sound of Music' (1965) is set in Austria in the 1930s. Ex-nun Maria (Julie Andrews) becomes the governess for a family of seven children who live in the shadow of their domineering and repressed widower father (Christopher Plummer). She brings love, music and excitement into the children's lives and also eventually begins to have an effect on their father. But just when things are looking up, the rise of Nazism and the threat of the coming war darkens all their futures. Includes a host of memorable songs, such as 'Do-Re-Mi', 'Climb Ev'ry Mountain', and 'My Favourite Things'.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Buy it to enjoy the films, not the technical quality of the discs\\n\\nReview: I bought this set specifically to get the Todd-A-O version of Oklahoma. At the time it was only available in this set and for a reasonable price it gave me the opportunity to watch several other classic movies that I have never seen, or only seen on a picture tube TV decimated by late night car commercials.\\n\\nHowever this review is for the purchased product, the entire set. In a nutshell, the films rate a 5 as genuine classics, produced in a way that will never be repeated. The enjoyment of being able to watch them full-length at home on a modern flat-screen TV is easily worth a 5.\\n\\nOn the other hand, the transfers range from bad to really bad. No it can't be expected that any of these movies would or could look as good as when they were projected on the silver screen from the original release prints, but with a few of the movies the image and sound quality are so bad it make it difficult to watch the film. Colors wander all over the place, the sound volume goes up and down, and dialogue is sometimes unintelligible. This is a set to own for content only, to be able to watch a classic movie at home. None of them will please a movie connoisseur. But is that a reasonable expectation? That's something that's up to the buyer to decide.\\n\\nThe hardest to watch is South Pacific because the original producer had this thing about dissolving to weird colors every time a character burst into song. The modern transfer to DVD process just didn't seem to be able to handle that and made what was originally an unusual effect into something that seems to be drug induced. I found myself closing my eyes so I could enjoy listening to the song without having to watch the shifting colors.\\n\\nStraying from the review for a second ... movie reviews at Amazon are the least credible of any review for any product. Are people reviewing a movie that was made 30 years ago because they don't like the story line? Will that make the slightest difference in a movie that's already made? Or are they reviewing the technical quality of the film-to-disc transfer? Regardless of digital technical restoration \\\"miracles\\\" there's no way an old movie being played on their TV will ever look like a shot-to-digital current theatrical release. In one instance of the ridiculous, as this is being written on Sept 4, 2014, one of these films - the digitally remastered Todd-A-O version of Oklahoma which won't be sold until October 7, 2014 already has 325 reviews under it, many complaining how bad the color and sound are. Duh! That's because they're reviewing an old version of that movie! So, hint, if you like classic old movies just buy them in whatever format is cheapest and enjoy them for what they are. Some things just can't be made better with a \\\"new coat of paint\\\".\\n\\nFinal rating - a tough call. Certainly a 5 on content. While it would be tempting to rate it a 1 on technical quality, that's not exactly fair for the reason described above. I would say overall for all of the discs the technical quality is about what should be expected from such old movies, hence an average 3, bringing the overall rating to 4-stars.\",\n \"Product: The East and West, despite Kiplings claim that they will never meet, are being united for the new film by Sergei Bodrov Sr., Mongol: The Early Years of Genghis Khan. The project, with a budget of 15 million euros, is a major international co-production with the participation of Russia, Germany, Kazakhstan and the USA.\\n\\\"Mongol\\\" is the epic story of a young Genghis Khan and how events in his early life lead him to become the legendary conquerer and father of Mongolia.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Detailed review of a superb movie\\n\\nReview: This is a movie on the scale of what Hollywood was once capable of. It isn't and doesn't have to be historically perfect in every detail of accuracy. There are so many movies based loosely on historical legend that succeed in weaving history with story-telling why single this one out as not being \\\"historically accurate\\\". Will the first person who saw the movie who actually witnessed life in the 12th century please step forward and tell us all exactly what went on every day in the life of Genghis Khan? Yet some reviews lean toward criticizing the film's accuracy based on other movies they have seen or books they have read. Bottom line ... this is a movie, not a history book.\\n\\nI am no more qualified than anyone to discuss how accurately this movie portrays the life story of Genghis Khan, though as a descendent of Mongols and having traveled extensively in the footsteps of Temüjin by way of foot, camel and jeep I can say that much of what I saw such as the sharing of milk, the blessing over it, the drunken parties, the relationships of the Mongolians with their families and with each other, and the background scenery of much of this movie is dead-on accurate. I've been there ... the movie, in a sometimes idealized way, often shows us exactly what Temüjin himself saw 900 years ago.\\n\\nTaken as a movie, not a history book, the cinematography is excellent. The music is eerily accurate as a popularized version of exactly what camel herders and local entertainers performed for me and have performed for others for centuries. The costumes were romanticized, of course, in most cases. There were times it was hard to focus that we are talking about the 12th century and the movie's costuming simply jumped all over time and space.\\n\\nI am extremely happy that the dialogue of the Mongolian actors was in their native dialect (while the Chinese actors spoke Mandarin and some of the other characters spoke in a Turkic dialect). With my limited knowledge of the Mongolian language I recognized what the people I lived with in Mongolia spoke to me. The sub-titles were well done. To dub the dialogue into the local language of the movie's viewer would have utterly destroyed the movie.\\n\\nI'm not sure what I expected from this movie before seeing it, maybe a preachy documentary or something featuring Tom Cruise and Kim Kardashian in the lead roles to sell at the box office, unfortunately if Hollywood made this movie that may actually have been the case. It was easy to ease into the more casual and less hammy acting of the actors who were chosen. There were no miscasts, although Honglei Sun as Jamukha might be just a little over the top with his backaches and neckaches.\\n\\nWatch the movie with an open and relaxed mind and tune in on the many subtleties used to help us understand the conditions and circumstances that formed one of the most memorable people in all of history. Take time to dissect the battle scenes to see how Temüjin progressed from being the underdog to becoming Genghis Khan, perhaps the most brilliant military strategians of all time. And do read the subtitles, there aren't that many of them.\\n\\nI highly recommend this movie.\",\n \"Product: Box set containing six popular musicals from Rodgers and Hammerstein. 'Carousel' (1956) tells the story of carnival barker Billy Bigelow (Gordon MacRae), who is killed committing an armed robbery in order to provide for his baby girl. Years later Billy is allowed to return to Earth for his daughter's graduation. Songs included are 'If I Love You', 'Soliloquy', and 'You'll Never Walk Alone'. In 'State Fair' (1945), every member of the Frake family is after a prize at the annual State Fair: father for his prize pig; mother for her pies in the pie contest; and for the son and daughter, true love. Rodgers and Hammerstein's score was written especially for the screen and features some of their biggest hits, including 'It Might As Well Be Spring' and 'It's a Grand Night for Singing'. In 'Oklahoma' (1955), farmhands Curly (MacRae) and Will (Gene Nelson) fall for local girls Ado (Gloria Grahame) and Laurey (Shirley Jones). The path to true love is thwarted, however, by nasty farmhand Jud Fry (Rod Steiger). Featuring classics such as 'Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin' and 'People Will Say We're in Love'. In 'South Pacific' (1958) an American Navy nurse (Mitzi Gaynor) stationed on a South Pacific Island falls in love with a middle-aged French planter (Rossano Brazzi), who goes on to become a war hero. Includes the songs: 'There is Nothing Like a Dame', 'Bali Ha'i', 'Happy Talk' and 'I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair'. In 'The King and I' (1956), when nineteenth century English schoolteacher Anna Leonowens (Deborah Kerr) is employed by the King of Siam (Yul Brynner) to educate his many children, she takes her son, Louis (Rex Thompson), along with her. Anna, a strong-willed woman, soon clashes with the king, who is used to having his every wish adhered to without question. However, Anna's refusal to bow to his will wins his respect and, eventually, his love. Rodgers and Hammerstein numbers include 'Hello Young Lovers' and 'Getting To Know You'. Finally, 'The Sound of Music' (1965) is set in Austria in the 1930s. Ex-nun Maria (Julie Andrews) becomes the governess for a family of seven children who live in the shadow of their domineering and repressed widower father (Christopher Plummer). She brings love, music and excitement into the children's lives and also eventually begins to have an effect on their father. But just when things are looking up, the rise of Nazism and the threat of the coming war darkens all their futures. Includes a host of memorable songs, such as 'Do-Re-Mi', 'Climb Ev'ry Mountain', and 'My Favourite Things'.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Buy it to enjoy the films, not the technical quality of the discs\\n\\nReview: I bought this set specifically to get the Todd-A-O version of Oklahoma. At the time it was only available in this set and for a reasonable price it gave me the opportunity to watch several other classic movies that I have never seen, or only seen on a picture tube TV decimated by late night car commercials.\\n\\nHowever this review is for the purchased product, the entire set. In a nutshell, the films rate a 5 as genuine classics, produced in a way that will never be repeated. The enjoyment of being able to watch them full-length at home on a modern flat-screen TV is easily worth a 5.\\n\\nOn the other hand, the transfers range from bad to really bad. No it can't be expected that any of these movies would or could look as good as when they were projected on the silver screen from the original release prints, but with a few of the movies the image and sound quality are so bad it make it difficult to watch the film. Colors wander all over the place, the sound volume goes up and down, and dialogue is sometimes unintelligible. This is a set to own for content only, to be able to watch a classic movie at home. None of them will please a movie connoisseur. But is that a reasonable expectation? That's something that's up to the buyer to decide.\\n\\nThe hardest to watch is South Pacific because the original producer had this thing about dissolving to weird colors every time a character burst into song. The modern transfer to DVD process just didn't seem to be able to handle that and made what was originally an unusual effect into something that seems to be drug induced. I found myself closing my eyes so I could enjoy listening to the song without having to watch the shifting colors.\\n\\nStraying from the review for a second ... movie reviews at Amazon are the least credible of any review for any product. Are people reviewing a movie that was made 30 years ago because they don't like the story line? Will that make the slightest difference in a movie that's already made? Or are they reviewing the technical quality of the film-to-disc transfer? Regardless of digital technical restoration \\\"miracles\\\" there's no way an old movie being played on their TV will ever look like a shot-to-digital current theatrical release. In one instance of the ridiculous, as this is being written on Sept 4, 2014, one of these films - the digitally remastered Todd-A-O version of Oklahoma which won't be sold until October 7, 2014 already has 325 reviews under it, many complaining how bad the color and sound are. Duh! That's because they're reviewing an old version of that movie! So, hint, if you like classic old movies just buy them in whatever format is cheapest and enjoy them for what they are. Some things just can't be made better with a \\\"new coat of paint\\\".\\n\\nFinal rating - a tough call. Certainly a 5 on content. While it would be tempting to rate it a 1 on technical quality, that's not exactly fair for the reason described above. I would say overall for all of the discs the technical quality is about what should be expected from such old movies, hence an average 3, bringing the overall rating to 4-stars.\",\n \"Product: Developed exclusively for Mill Creek Entertainment by award-winning documentarians Centre Communications. Filmed on-location using state-of-the-art cameras and production equipment for optimal audio/visual presentation! Discover the wonder and mystery of our nation s national parks including The Grand Canyon, Yellowstone and Yosemite. Enjoy their awe-inspiring beauty through aerial and ground tours of each park.\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: Not even worth the $3.99 price I paid\\n\\nReview: This movie is titled \\\"The Grand Canyon\\\". I only paid $3.99 for a Bly-Ray version so had no expectation that this was a great video. Based on its cheesiness the most I could have given it would have been 3 stars. How did it end up with only 1-star? Read on.\\n\\nThere is not much positive I can say about this video. There is a belief that Blu-Ray videos are going to have fantastic picture quality. Not so here. It is grainy and has dancing pixels in most of the location footage (you can tell it's not the transfer or the DVD player because the interview scenes look fine). Several times I had the impression it was shot with a cell phone camera. The scripting is atrocious. Here's an exaggerated example of his writing style: \\\"The rocks are red. They are red because of sediment. Sediment that formed over millions of years. Years that happened a long time ago. A long time ago because it wasn't recent\\\". After the first half-hour of listening to virtually every sentence begin with the last word of the previous sentence it was hard to take the video seriously without giggling at the amateurish writing (apparently the guy who made the video pretty much was a one-man-band). The narrator has the emotion of a corpse and listening to his sibilant ssss's was like fingernails on a chalkboard. I know this was low-budget but didn't anyone think of a simple breath filter in front of his microphone?\\n\\nAll of the above might have earned 3-stars for an \\\"average effort\\\" so why did I rate it only 1-star? Because this video is NOT about the Grand Canyon and the video's maker claims it is. Only about 7 minutes out of 1hr/20min program length is directly related to the Grand Canyon and of that maybe about 2-3 minutes of video (made up of little clips that are a few seconds each) is actually shot at the Grand Canyon and the rest of it is some guy rambling on-camera on about who-knows-what. The movie's remaining video footage? Most of it was filmed up to 200 miles away in Utah and Colorado which looks nothing like the Grand Canyon (the video maker has an obvious fetish with \\\"The Colorado Plateau\\\" as it is mentioned dozens of times). I suspect the guy who filmed it didn't want to file for the permits and pay the fees to GCNPS so he shot some \\\"home movies\\\" pretending he was a tourist.\\n\\nThe title \\\"Grand Canyon\\\" is a complete misrepresentation. If you are considering buying this video because you likely will never visit the Grand Canyon ... don't. After watching it you will be hopelessly confused which scenery was shot at the Grand Canyon (hint: only 2-3 minutes of the entire show) and you'll hardly know what the Grand Canyon even looks like. If you are thinking of buying this video as an educational tool for your children, parental guidance is suggested ... explain to them that they are watching a video about a huge area of Southern Utah, Southwest Colorado, Northwest New Mexico and the Northeast corner of Arizona. That way they can learn a little (very little) about that area of the American Southwest. It would be misguided for you to tell them that all of those pretty scenes the video maker has lumped into a video titled \\\"Grand Canyon\\\" are in or even remotely near the Grand Canyon.\\n\\nIt is rare I am so disappointed I give any product only 1-star. This one is it.\",\n \"Product: Target Exclusive MetalPak; Embossed with beautiful inner and outer artwork and UV HD copy!\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Just a little more wow please\\n\\nReview: This is for the 30th Anniversary steelbook edition, not the movie content. I saw Top Gun in the theater when it was originally releases and own a VHS copy of it. This is a movie that begs to be seen in the best possible resolution and highest quality sound, so when I got the bug to see it again, this time on my new larger and better TV and newly enhanced sound system with three room rattling subwoofers, this blu-ray DVD version is the one I chose to buy. Was it worth it, or did the quality of my home theater system outdo the quality of this release?\\n\\nI wish I could say this is the ultimate version of Top Gun but its not. Visually its impressive but the reality is this movie was filmed over 30 years ago and while the DVD is worlds improved over my VHS copy, it would take a far more intensive digital remastering to equal the quality of several other digitally remastered classics I can think of.\\n\\nBut lets face it, what always made Top Gun a heart stopper in the theaters was the sound and here I would say this is the best release yet and Im not sure what more they could do to improve it, after all they only had a Dolby two-channel track to begin with and this movie screams for multiple rear, center and the full 24.1.10 channel Dolby Atmos home theater experience (note that I don't have that and I don't know anybody who does, just sayin). The DTS-HD Master Audio 6.1 offers plausible surround effects and clear intelligible dialogue but falls short a little in really being able to rattle the windows.\\n\\nSo the bottom line is that for the twelve bucks I paid for this disc Im happy and I like it. I wish they could have done more to wow me but reality is a real thing.\",\n \"Product: Widescreen edition AC-3\\nTHX Laser Disc\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Just a little more wow please\\n\\nReview: This is for the 30th Anniversary steelbook edition, not the movie content. I saw Top Gun in the theater when it was originally releases and own a VHS copy of it. This is a movie that begs to be seen in the best possible resolution and highest quality sound, so when I got the bug to see it again, this time on my new larger and better TV and newly enhanced sound system with three room rattling subwoofers, this blu-ray DVD version is the one I chose to buy. Was it worth it, or did the quality of my home theater system outdo the quality of this release?\\n\\nI wish I could say this is the ultimate version of Top Gun but its not. Visually its impressive but the reality is this movie was filmed over 30 years ago and while the DVD is worlds improved over my VHS copy, it would take a far more intensive digital remastering to equal the quality of several other digitally remastered classics I can think of.\\n\\nBut lets face it, what always made Top Gun a heart stopper in the theaters was the sound and here I would say this is the best release yet and Im not sure what more they could do to improve it, after all they only had a Dolby two-channel track to begin with and this movie screams for multiple rear, center and the full 24.1.10 channel Dolby Atmos home theater experience (note that I don't have that and I don't know anybody who does, just sayin). The DTS-HD Master Audio 6.1 offers plausible surround effects and clear intelligible dialogue but falls short a little in really being able to rattle the windows.\\n\\nSo the bottom line is that for the twelve bucks I paid for this disc Im happy and I like it. I wish they could have done more to wow me but reality is a real thing.\",\n \"Product: The Plantronics Explorer 350 is a sleek, lightweight headset that fuses Bluetooth wireless technology with effortless call control for a true hands-free experience. The Explorer 350 headset is easy to use and incorporates all call features--volume, answer/end call, last-number redial, and voice-activated dialing--into one single button. Delivering up to eight hours of talk time and convenient in-car accessories for charging and stowing, the Explorer 350 lets you keep your headset handy and charged while you are on the go.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: One of the best\\n\\nReview: When I bought my first Bluetooth-enabled phone about 3 years ago the deal included a Motorola Bluetooth headset. Cool, I thought. Then I used it less and less, because the thing had to be recharged at home and would only last about an hour. Soon I thought it was just too hard to use ... hard to put on, and totally weird in that to turn it on you had to take it OFF your ear, flip down the mouthpiece, then put it BACK on your ear. Whoever designed the thing had no clue how people use headsets. It also sounded like I was talking from the bottom of a water well. Whenever I used it on conference calls people would yell for me to go on mute. So I started asking people in the waiting rooms at airports what brand they had and what brand they liked. I got so many people who hated Jabra that I didn't even consider it. I already didn't really care for Motorola, so I started looking at Nokia, which seem to be nice but clumsy, and then I kept meeting more and more people who were in love with their Plantronics. I have used Plantronics headsets for a long time in the office, after all, that's all they do and they seem to do it well. I looked at a few Plantronics and didn't find one that jumped out at me, then one day I ran across the Explorer 350. This was just too good to be true! Are you kidding me, $49 bucks for a Bluetooth headset made by the top brand? Then I looked closer and found that Plantronics did something very unique with this headset. Instead of having to charge it at home, it comes with an extremely cool little clip that either mounts to your dash or hooks to your air vent in your car then plugs into your cigarette lighter. Now that made sense! A place to hold the headset where you use it most, always charging, then ready to use in a second or to walk around the rest of the day with it fully charged. For us road warriors, Plantronics also thoughtfully included a USB charging cable so the trusty laptop will keep your headset charged while you sleep. You can buy an optional AC adapter if that makes you feel more secure. So how is it built and how does it perform? Built like a Hummer! The main piece is one solid chunk that looks like it is pretty immune to any normal damage while clunking around in your pocket with a lot of coins. The piece that goes around your ear looks like it is solid as well, and effortlessly switches from ear to ear and slips on with one easy motion. After the first time, this thing slips on with no thought on my part and instantly is in the perfect position for use. Operation couldn't be simpler. Unlike my Motorola with several switches that you had to remember how and what sequence to push them in, the Plantronics has one switch. Push it in to turn it on, push it in to turn it off, push it in to talk, push it in to hang up, push it in to voice dial, etc. All you have to do is push. Want to make it louder or quieter? Push up or push down. No-brainer. I saved performance for last because this is what convinced me to keep it. After a quick charge I called a friend from my car with the window rolled down. This is a friend I talk to all the time from my land line. I said, hey, I just bought a new Bluetooth headset and want to see how it sounds to you. He said, cool, put it on and I'll let you know. I said ... I already have it on! He said the sound was perfect, no background noise of any kind and it sounded at least as good as my landline. One of the things several of my airport buddies told me they liked about Plantronics is how the durable rubber earpiece fits comfortably inside your ear and blocks out noise ... like annoying flight announcements. I have to say that not only did I sound perfect to my friend but every call I have been on has been easier to hear than with any other headset I have ever tried.\\n\\nPROS:\\n\\nSound Quality\\n\\nSuperior construction\\n\\nEase of use\\n\\nPairing - instant and flawless\\n\\nPrice\\n\\nComfort\\n\\nCONS:\\n\\nNone I could see. Earns a comfortable 5 stars!\",\n \"Product: Sport Your iPod nano in a New WayClip & GoTake your tunes anywhere with the wristband specially designed for the new iPod Nano 6. It's the easiest way for you and your Nano to go mobile. Comfortable & Easy It's simple to attach your device using Nano's integrated-clip design. And you get a custom fit with the Velcro closure that's secure and reliable. The lightweight material is thin, breathable and machine washable.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Several flaws keep the ratings low\\n\\nReview: I don't wear wrist watches. In fact I hate wearing wrist watches. But when I travel I'm never quite sure where to put my iPod mini. Having previously seen other iPod watch band straps I kinda liked the idea, but most of the straps were way too overpriced.\\n\\nI thought I'd like this one because it doesn't buckle on, a quick wrap of the strap using the Velcro fastener is all it takes. I also liked it because unlike many of the other wrist straps, it does not need a fussy installation process ... the iPod just clips to the front using the existing clip on the back of the iPod.\\n\\nThe reality:\\n\\n- The product feels really cheesy. My wrist started to sweat as soon as I put it on\\n\\n- It also looks really cheesy. The huge light gray Belkin logo does nothing to help\\n\\n- The Velcro fastener is VERY weak. The Velcro has the holding strength of a used Post-It note. What are you thinking Belkin??? It I flicked my wrist the entire strap would go flying.\\n\\n- It has no style. If you don't mind looking like a kid wearing a toy found in a box of Cracker Jacks, it likely will serve its purpose.\\n\\n- The iPod itself stick much too far out, making it easy to snag onto something and tear the iPod off. Unlike many similar iPod straps there is nothing surrounding the iPod to help protect it.\\n\\n- The landing pad for the iPod is substantially larger than the player itself and is too rigid to wrap around the contours of my wrist, so I have this stiff 2-1/2\\\" piece of rigid plastic sticking out of each side of my wrist. If I tension it down by pulling the Velcro tab tight I feel the whole thing will suddenly blast off and put somebody's eye out.\\n\\n- It is WAY overpriced for what it is.\\n\\nI'm a fan of most Belkin products. I don't think they had their thinking caps on when they came up with this wrist strap.\\n\\nI've posted 3 pictures of the strap in-use with captions.\",\n \"Product: Designed by the French designer David Turpin the MM03 is a contemporary styled Bluetooth handset, finished in a luxurious black or white high- gloss texture. Manufactured with a high quality speaker and microphone, it supports Bluetooth 2.1 multipoint technology, which lets you pair and answer calls on two different Bluetooth devices. This means you can quickly and easily connect the Moshi Moshi 03 to two phones, such as a Smartphone and a personal phone, or a phone and a Bluetooth-enabled device, such as a laptop that you use to make VOIP Internet calls. The handset is supplied with a weighted recharging base for the handset and a silicon mat designed to protect the mobile phone from wear and tear.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Very handy and ultra stylish\\n\\nReview: This is something I didn't think I would want or need until I got it, now I can't see not having it. I don't have an i-Phone but it really doesn't matter, it works perfectly with my bluetooth enabled smart phone just fine. Whenever I'm in the offie I keep my phone in a desktop charging cradle and have my wireless headset nearby. But it is a hassle putting the headset on and off everytime I want to make or take a call.\\n\\nWith the Moshi Curve (odd name for a product) my phone can remain in the cradle and I can make a call using a comfortable and familiar handset. It is far easier to hold than a candy bar shaped phone and any radiation from the phone is far away from my ear.\\n\\nSince I don't have an iPhone I have found that the dock on the handset works perfectly with my iPod, it keeps it charged and there is a handy audio output to my computer speaker system. It holds the iPod at the perfect angle and keeps it handy since the phone is close to me on my desk.\\n\\nI can't write this without commenting on the packaging the manufacturer used for this device. Considering there is nothing really fragile about it, a normal blister card would have been fine, but no, it came packed in a box made of cardboard that is about 4x thicker than a normal box, with an intricately die-cut inner sleeve that has a piece of thick dense rubber surrounding the phone (!). It was incredibly overpackaged, but certainly protected the device and gave the whole product an aura of quality.\\n\\nI read a review from someone who downgraded the product because of \\\"bright blinking lights\\\" and expected them to be visible and annoying. In fact they are on the underside of the handset and not even visible in the daytime. At night they put out a soft glow, not at all annoying. I'm thinking most people who own this handset would use it at a desk or in their living area, not in a darkened bedroom, but if they did a little piece of tape over the light would take care of the problem and would be unseen so it wouldn't detract from the styling. In my opinion, the status lights have nothing to do with whether this is a good product or not.\\n\\nSo, is it a good product? Yes. It is extremely attractive and almost a piece of art (reminds of of Bang & Olufsen products). The sound quality is better than the phone itself and it is substantially easier to hold for extended periods. Personally, if there was a choice I would get the unit without the iPhone dock, but having it is not a dealbreaker.\",\n \"Product: The MG2TRI Flexible Mini Tripod with Universal Smartphone Holder fits Apple iPhone X, iPhone 8 and 8 Plus, iPhone 7 and 7 Plus, iPhone 6S Plus and 6S, Samsung Galaxy Note 8, Note 5, and Note 4, Galaxy S8, S7, S6 edge+, and S6, LG G6, G5, and G4, Google Nexus 6, HTC One M8 and One Max, Nokia Lumia 1520, 1020, and Motorola Moto G and Moto X. The tripod is also compatible with small digital cameras with the standard 1/4-20 camera pattern. This unique package includes a Flexible Mini Tripod with Arkons Mobile Grip 2 Universal Smartphone Holder and handy carrying pouch. Use the flexible mini tripod/holder package in one of two ways: 1) Attach a digital camera directly to the flexible mini tripod by screwing it onto the 1/4-20 mounting bolt, or 2) screw the end of the Mobile Grip 2 holder directly onto the mini tripod for use with a smartphone (remove the rubber insert on the side of the holder to reveal an industry-standard 1/4-20 threaded camera mounting pattern for use). Take photos anywhere using the Flexible Mini Tripod. Bend the tripods legs to grab on to fences, poles, and trees. Or, hold up the tripod to get a better shot of the action at concerts, parades, and other public events. The Mobile Grip 2 holder expands to accommodate all smartphones (even those with skins and ruggedized cases) up to 3.6 wide. The holder is just 1.4 high, and is ideal for those who prefer a smaller profile. The holders spring-loaded mechanism makes it easy to insert or remove the cell phone from the holder with one hand, yet holds the smartphone securely. Its simplistic yet effective design keeps rear smartphone cameras free for spontaneous pictures or videos.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: A must-have gadget if you own a smartphone\\n\\nReview: Considering its modest price this is a very versatile and surprisingly well-built device. Its two primary functions are to act as a tripod for a smartphone (which of course does not have tripod mounting holes) or to be used as a small travel tripod for pocket digital cameras. What makes it unique is its flexible extensions that can be wrapped around things like table legs, tree trunks, handlebars, etc. It's not unique in being the only product of its type ... there are numerous similar tripods ... but unique compared to using a standard tripod.\\n\\nThe tripod comes with a standard mounting screw which can be used with almost all compact cameras. Unlike some similar units, this one has a \\\"quick-release\\\" mount which permits the camera to be instantly removed. The designers got two things very right with the quick-mount. One is that the part that remains on the camera is so thin as to hardly be there, nice for slipping your camera back in your pocket when you aren't using the tripod. The other thing is that there is a positive locking mechanism that prevents the camera from accidentally slipping out of the quick-release.\\n\\nIncluded with the kit is a spring-loaded mount that fits the majority of modern cell phones and even a few phablets. The spring is very strong and there are beefy rubber grips to help prevent your expensive phone from taking a nosedive. The spring is so strong that it may seem difficult to operate at first - here's a hint - push up on the movable part with your phone, then slip the bottom in place. The phone mount can be attached to the tripod directly and the phone can be used either horizontally or vertically. The mount is slim enough that it does not get in the way of the camera lens.\\n\\nAlso included is a useful swivel mount that attaches to the back of the smartphone holder giving the user a virtually limitless range of motion. It is small and light enough most people would probably opt to keep it installed at all times.\\n\\nThe most obvious need for a smartphone tripod is when using the self-timer for group photos, something nearly impossible to do without some sort of tripod for the phone. With selfies as popular as they are now it also lets you wrap the legs of the phone around something nearby so you can move back enough to include more people (see my video).\\n\\nThe whole things is very lightweight and comes with a handy carrying bag. Not being able to find any negatives at all, this useful gadget earns 5-stars.\",\n \"Product: 5-Device charging station and desktop charger combo recharge and reorganize your mobile devices. No more multi-device mayhem tablets here, smartphones there, cables everywhere? Consolidate all your recharge requirements into this neat and tidy arrangement. Poweriq detects your Device. Delivers the fastest charge. Exclusive to Anker, PowerIQ amp-adjustment technology Intelligently identifies your device to deliver Its fastest Possible charge through two ports. Incredibly powerful a family-sized 40 watts/ 8 Amps through five ports charges all your phones, tablets and other devices simultaneously. Discreet design this simple, unassuming charging station blends in with pretty much any home or office decor, sporting a sleek outer shell that's no bigger than necessary. World famous warranty at Anker, we believe in our products. That's why we back them all with an 18-month warranty and provide friendly, easy-to-reach support. For optimal use: - use with the included Anker 40W 5-Port desktop charger or most recent 25W 5-Port desktop charger (sold separately). other chargers of a similar or smaller size may also be compatible. - use your original cables or a third party certified one (such as mfi). -charger compatible with Apple and Android smartphones, tablets (including the Nexus 7) and other USB-charged devices except for the iPod Nano, iPod Classic, HP Touchpad, LG G2 and Asus tablets.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: A simple and attractive multi-device charging station\\n\\nReview: <div id=\\\"video-block-R1MFNPH90YGOTJ\\\" class=\\\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\\\"></div><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/D1IO83-HKTS.mp4\\\" class=\\\"video-url\\\"><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/01Qj6Bc2SKS.png\\\" class=\\\"video-slate-img-url\\\"> Picture a typical family's kitchen counter at the end of the day. The whole family has their phones and tablets plugged in to recharge them after a long day. There's more spaghetti coming out of the wall outlet than there is in the pot on the stove.\\n\\nEnter Anker's Charging Station. Think of it as a toaster but instead of the slots holding a slice of bread they each hold phones and tablets of all shapes and sizes. And the Charging Station takes up less room than a toaster.\\n\\nWhat is it? The idea itself is simple. An attractive box designed to hold Anker's 40w 5-port charger inside. There are hidden slots to route the various charging cables through and a rubberized top with wide slots to hold the devices themselves. The slots hold the devices upright so in reality the Charging Station takes up no more room than a 7\\\" tablet laying down.\\n\\nThe Charging station is built of heavy plastic and is attractive enough to be used in any room. It is relatively heavy and has rubber feet so it won't move around.\\n\\nIt is close to the perfect solution. There are a few things to know and understand however:\\n\\n1. The Charging Station does not come with any electronics (i.e. charger, cables, etc). It is designed to work only with Anker's own 40w charger. Their similar 25w charger is larger and will not fit the custom cutout inside the box. If you already own a 25w Anker charger you could always Velcro it to the bottom of the case.\\n\\n2. Considering it contains no electronics and is just a plastic box, at the $36 current selling price it is overpriced. It actually costs more than the much more sophisticated 5-port charger itself. This keeps the Charging Station from being a 5-star product.\\n\\n3. On the plus side, the slots are wide and deep enough to hold a smartphone or tablet in virtually any normal protective case without removing it. Shown in the attached video is a Samsung Galaxy II in a TPU case and an iPad Mini in an Anker case. BTW note that it is being used with Anker's excellent Lightning cable.\\n\\nIf Anker would bundle the Charging Station with their 40w 5-port charger and sell the combination for under $50 they would score a home run.\",\n \"Product: The Turtle Cell is the first protective iPhone case with premium, built-in retractable headphones and the first solution that eliminates losing, tangling and breaking of headphones all in one device. With the Turtle Cell, you simply pull the headphones out to any comfortable length and they lock into place for convenient listening. Hands-free calling is easy with the in-line microphone and push button controls. When you're done using the headphones you just push a button to retract the headphones back into the case for safe storage. The case also features an audio switch that allows you to engage or disengage the headphones without ever removing the case. The Turtle Cell is built from a high-impact polycarbonate material and has a 1mm lip over the front of the phone to provide superior protection. Even with a full-length pair of headphones and superior protection, the Turtle Cell only adds 7mm of additional thickness to your phone.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: One of the most useful iPhone cases ever made\\n\\nReview: 2015 is shaping up as the year of taking existing technologies and making them better, more fun and cooler with innovative why didn't I think of that tech toys. This is certainly one of them and it came to my attention as a contender for an article I was writing about just such products. I received a sample so I could share my experience with you.\\n\\nThis is definitely not a me too product. Condensing it into some short bullet points here are some of what makes it unique:\\n\\n- The most obvious is that it has a pair of surprisingly good quality earbuds built right into the case\\n- Not to be content with just doing that, they made the earbuds RETRACTABLE\\n- The case is not simply one of those TPU shells, it has an armored tactical feel about it\\n- It is a two-piece case but rather have front and back pieces than can fall apart, the TOP slides off to permit sliding the case in. Even if the case fell to the ground the chances of the phone popping out and getting damaged are pretty rare\\n- There is an oddly effective switch that switches the earbuds off so you can use the phones speaker. Since that would be almost impossible electronically it simply yanks the headphone plug out of the jack!\\n- There is an acoustically amplified chamber at the bottom of the case that captures the sound from your iPhones speaker and channels it forward\\n- For all the case does it adds surprisingly little size and bulk to your phone\\n- The case feels far from that cheesy bargain look that so many discount store cases have, there is a real premium feel about it\\n\\nThere are some close-up photos at the end of this review. Check them out. The ones on the Amazon page are pretty good but these will give you a closer view of how well this case is made.\\n\\nFor sheer innovation, quality of construction and ruggedness (not to mention a fair selling price) this is a great value and is recommended as earning 5-stars.\",\n \"Product: Unlocked 4G LTE phone Equipped with a 4.5-Inch BLU Infinite View Technology display, 1.2 GHz Quad Core processor and Adreno 305 GPU, Android Jellybean v4.3. 5MP autofocus 2581 x 1936 pixel camera with VGA Front camera.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: It's really pretty good ... for the price\\n\\nReview: My current phone, a Samsung Galaxy, to my surprise is 5 years old. How time flies. I like that phone, it does everything I want and need, but lately it has been developing some unfortunately glitches ... the camera locks up, sometimes the whole thing will slow to a crawl, and it is heavier than I would like.\\n\\nAlthough I do love the screen resolution, the sound quality and the overall build quality of my Samsung, it is time for a new phone - but the one I want (the upcoming Sony Z4) isn't due for a major upgrade until mid-2015 and cuts well into my budget but I am determined to buy it the day it hits the stores.\\n\\nI thought I would try this BLU phone in the interim and see how I like it. It costs a fraction of my Samsung but in almost every way the specs represent a quantum leap in technology. And while on paper it doesn't sound that much more physically manageable, in real life it feels thinner, lighter and more comfortable to use.\\n\\nBefore getting into anything else let's get the big reveal out of the way right now ... what I love most is that it does not come preloaded with garbage-ware that the provider won't let me delete. It is about as pure Android as is possible to buy and therefore screams faster in performance than most phones with the same specs.\\n\\nWHAT DO YOU GIVE UP?\\n\\n* For its screen size it is larger and heavier overall than you should expect\\n* Screen resolution, while adequate, is several generations behind current technology\\n* Camera resolution, again decent, is not great\\n* No gyro or compass\\n* Not the absolute latest release of Android (although it's supposed to be coming)\\n\\nWHAT FEATURES ARE IMPRESSIVE FOR THE PRICE?\\n\\n* 1.2 GHz quad-core processor - excellent for a phone in this price range\\n* 4 GB ROM/16GB RAM - expansion up to 32 GB via microSD card\\n* 1850 mAh user replaceable battery\\n* Compatibility with most carriers and prepaid plans\\n* Comes with gel case, screen protector and charging accessories\\n\\nThe screen won't knock your socks off. I did a side-by-side comparison of the BLU IPS screen with the Samsung OLED screen and there is a world of difference. But in the end, neither is \\\"better\\\" than the other. One has blacker blacks, the other has richer colors, one washes out more off angle, the other washes out more in bright light. One looks great when dimmed, the other is difficult to read. I would say they are about equal when it comes to battery life.\\n\\nThe BLU is a great value. It's not the best smartphone ever made nor does it try to be. It tries to be the best cheap smartphone and I think that's where they have a firm grasp on that market niche. If you like to show off to your friends who just bought the newest from the big brand names, BLU likely won't cut it. And if you're rough on phones the build quality may not be top tier (but then again you can buy 10 of them for the price of some other phones and have a drawer-full of spares).\\n\\nYes, it's a cheap phone in price but as a user there is little that feels or looks cheap about it. I likely would have put up with my failing Samsung until the Sony X4 comes along later this year but the BLU is a very nice interim step and I've decided it will be my backup phone once I retire the Samsung.\",\n \"Product: Slim and Strong for the iPhone 6 The Grip Shield case for the iPhone 6 (4.7-inches) provides complete all-around protection while maintaining a slim profile.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Flashy - but will it protect your phone?\\n\\nReview: <div id=\\\"video-block-R183ZUYO1E3UU4\\\" class=\\\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\\\"></div><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/C1qfWd6lhpS.mp4\\\" class=\\\"video-url\\\"><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/11htNCs0Z0S.png\\\" class=\\\"video-slate-img-url\\\"> You are reading this because you have an iPhone 6 and are shopping for a case. You've already narrowed your search down by the general style you prefer and the price that best fits your budget. You know that there is no way to know how well a case will fit, how comfortable it will be, how much protection it will give your prized phone and how long it will last by reading other people's reviews. Reviews for some type of products can be very useful but you know that when it comes to cases for phones you are unique and what is good for someone else may not work best for you. There is no substitute for getting your own case and using it on your own phone.\\n\\nThat being said, following are some personal observations, combined with a brief video, that I hope will help you narrow the field down to the case you are looking for. This is for the item pictured, an LAX Gadgets slim \\\"shield case\\\" for the iPhone 6 in a shiny gold basket weave finish.\\n\\n1. This case is flexible plastic, harder than a silicone case but more flexible than a rigid case.\\n2. It \\\"snaps\\\" over the phone. While it fits firmly it is easy to remove\\n3. It has 5 cutouts: camera/flash, silence switch, headphone jack, lightning cable and audio speaker\\n4. It has a round opening on the back (about \\\") to reveal the Apple logo on the phone\\n5. The control buttons (volume and sleep) are protected by molded button covers\\n6. The case adds little weight to the phone\\n7. The front of the case has a very slight rim to protect the screen when face down\\n\\nWHAT I LIKE:\\n\\n1. The plastic material is not slippery. The sides are a little rougher to provide a good grip\\n2. The ports for the headphones and lightning connector are slightly larger than average\\n3. Despite the gold finish the back is a scratch resistant glossy plastic\\n4. There are 6 ribs on the back to further resist slipping\\n\\nWHAT I DIDN'T LIKE\\n\\n1. The round hole shows off the Apple logo but also lets dust and moisture into the case\\n2. The control button covers make operating the buttons a little more difficult than bare buttons\\n3. The honeycomb interior offers slight shock resistance but will leave a pattern on the back of your phone\\n4. This is a bump-resistant case, it will not withstand any sizable drop\\n5. There is no dust or moisture protection for the phone\\n\\nAs an attractive yet utilitarian case this one is sold at a reasonable price. It is flashier than average, but if you like the look, go for it. What kept it from earning a full 5-stars is the stiff button operation, the lack of a soft interior backing and the logo peephole which exposes a portion of the actual phone to dust, moisture and perhaps a poke with something that may mar the phone's finish.\",\n \"Product: Protection reinvented! Nuud takes smartphone protection and usability to new levels with the most advanced case design available. Nuud screen less technology, protects your device from plunges and fumbles - without the need for a screen cover. That way, you can use your device as intended, in ways and places never before possible.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: It's always good to get nd\\n\\nReview: If you search for smartphone cases you will likely find that the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus have a dizzying number of cases of every conceivable style, color and purpose. One of the most popular categories of add-on cases are those that are ruggedized and resist the elements. And for good reason with iPhone prices approaching just under the $1000 mark on one hand and Americans increasing active outdoor lifestyle on the other.\\n\\nI have tested numerous cases for the iPhone as well as other current phones for a popular website and have seen products that run the gamut from pure junk to pure genius. Somewhere toward the top of the scale are cases from Lifeproof who has won a large following for making cases that are both innovative and practical. Lets be clear, I have no favorites Ill equally point out what works and what doesnt when I review a case.\\n\\nNote that this review is based on an actual production model. As of mid-April 2015 the case has not actually been shipped for actual sale yet at Amazon.\\n\\nSo much has and will be written about the nd model that I won't repeat each and every spec and feature. The manufacturer does a good job of that. No, this overview will simply highlight what the high points and low points are for this particular design. For brevity I will refer to cases that are waterproof/dirt proof/ snow proof/shock proof, etc. as ruggedized going forward:\\n\\nTHE HIGHS:\\n\\n1. As humungously big as the iPhone 6 Plus is its also ultra- slim. That slimness is part of why you bought a 6 Plus. The majority of ruggedized cases add way too much bulk and weight to the phone. While by definition a ruggedized case has to add size and weight, the nd gets away with adding as little as possible. Mine weighed in at exactly 55.52 grams (the phone itself weighs 172 grams).\\n\\n2. Its easy to install. Not everyone wants to have their phone ruggedized 24/7. The nd does a admirable job at being able to snap together and snap apart with a minimum of fuss. And do it repeatedly without losing its weather proof capabilities.\\n\\n3. Retention of functionality what this means is how much do you lose in terms of that gorgeous screens sharpness and touch sensitivity? Answer: none because the screen can be left fully exposed. Note I say can be because you do get the choice of installing a screen protector that Lifestyle includes in the box.\\n\\n4. The rear of the nd case is smoked plastic to let you appreciate the phone inside. I mean the way the phone looks is important to you, right?\\n\\n5. Finally, the 1000 lb elephant in the room, does it protect your phone? Yes it does but read further down in our review for some important details.\\n\\nTHE LOWS:\\n\\n1. As positive as I feel about the retention of functionality of the phones screen, I bemoan the loss of functionality of the major control buttons. The nd case isn't alone in this regard, but they haven't done anything to make the problem better. The buttons take a very firm and decisive press to activate and the ring/silent switch is virtually impossible to use. Yes there ARE some cases Ive used that manage to do a better job at keeping the control buttons easy to use.\\n\\n2. Every ruggedized case I have used has suffered a loss of quality for the camera(s) and the phones speakers and microphones. The nd is no exception to this. Expect all audio to sound a bit muffled, like as if you had your thumb over the mic/speaker. Its going to happen so get used to it. But the imaging devices were a pleasant surprise got the front and rear cameras suffered minimal effects of having to shoot through a window and the flash did not pick up any weird glare like with some other cases.\\n\\n3. The lightning connector WILL fit the Apple cable that came with your phone. It probably will not fit any other brand of lightning connector/cable you can find. The hole was made to be an exact fit for the Apple connector to help keep the elements out. If you regularly use cables or other adapters from third-party companies you will have to take the phone out of the case first.\\n\\n4. Ditto with the mini audio connector, except that the nd does include a short dongle to let you plug in your favorite headphones or other audio accessories.\\n\\nYOU NEED TO KNOW THIS:\\n\\nLifeproof goes overboard in warning you to TEST your device before exposing your phone to water. This makes total sense. If you want to dunk your $1000 phone under water in an untested case please don't say you weren't warned. The way I do it is to wad up a piece of tissue paper into a square thats about 2 x 2 and place it inside the case, close all seals, and hold the case under a few feet of water for about a minute. If you see bubbles rising you are already in trouble, but if you open the case and the tissue is even the slightest damp DONT put your phone in the case, return it immediately for a replacement or another model. I will point out that you should towel dry the case before you open it to inspect the tissue so you don't accidentally have some water leak inside.\\n\\nLifeproof has a reputation and its a good one. They earned it by making products that do what they're supposed to. The nd is the best I have seen (so far) for the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus and I recommend it for adding minimal size and weight, for retaining screen functionality and for a good job protecting the phone from the elements.\",\n \"Product: The Vault by Silk is an ultra slim wallet case for iPhone 5/5s/SE that comfortably fits 3 cards plus cash. The durable soft-touch cover provides full-frame protection on all 4 corners to protect your phone from drops and dings. The soft-touch finish provides the perfect amount of grip and an ultra slim fit to slide in your pocket without sticking to the liner. Vault's sleek exterior gives way to a shock-absorbent reinforced ribbed substructure that disperses shocks around and away from your phone. Natural-Throw buttons provide a tactile response from each click to maintain an organic connection with the phone. Vault case marries the essentials of a wallet to the form factor of your iPhone.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Excellent protection at a very reasonable price\\n\\nReview: Here it is February of 2016. Why am I posting a review about a case for an iPhone 5s? Isnt that phone as obsolete as an audio cassette? It might surprise you that, according to a report Apple released a few days ago, that the iPhone 5s is second only to the iPhone 6 in number of devices in use today (the 6s is a distant third). The actual numbers are iPhone 6 = 35.06%; iPhone 5s = 19.1% and iPhone 6s = 13.73%. So there are still a lot of people needing and buying cases and other accessories for the 5s, me included.\\n\\nWhile the 5s may be one of the most rugged phones made, many of us still want to protect it from damage without adding substantially to the whole reason we still keep this classic model its small size.\\n\\nThe Silk Vault is an excellent way to do that, without paying the huge price tag for some of the other better known name brands. I got mine in brilliant turquoise because I like colorful things and it looks beautiful together with the phones gold case. The Silk case doesnt add much to the height and width of the iPhone, only .05 on each side and it is a featherweight at only 1.06 oz (29.98g). But it has an aggressively raised rim that protects the face of the phone and holds it very securely in place.\\n\\nThe back is where there is the most protection, a full .25 of thickness, that isn't wasted by the way because the designers cleverly included a place to store credit cards or business cards.\\n\\nThe large opening on the bottom allows full access to the headphone jack and Lightning connector as well as unobstructed sound from the bottom-firing speaker, and the camera cutout protects the lens while giving the camera a full and clear view. The only other cutout is for the physical mute switch.\\n\\nThe phones volume buttons and on/off switch however are covered with form-fitted buttons on the case. This is a personal preference, one that I don't happen to share I prefer exposed buttons. It does take extra effort to activate those controls because of the stiffness of the plastic material. To some that may be a plus, so the buttons aren't accidentally activated when carrying the phone in a pocket or purse. Since it is a judgement call I won't rate that feature up nor down in my final rating.\\n\\nI received this months ago as a sample in exchange for a review but after using it extensively I like this case. Our reviews are completely independent of any manufacturer or organization. It is extremely protective while still being very lightweight. I like the look of it, it makes a nice impression. It doesnt affect holding or using the phone one-handed, in fact the extra thickness actually makes the phone a little easier to hold. And the price is very affordable and the added bonus of an included screen protector makes the value all the better. For those reasons I recommend it and believe it earns a 5-star rating.\",\n \"Product: True Clear advanced screen protector for iPhone 5 is the best screen protector available, engineered for strength and clarity and tested to meet optometric standards. The result is a crystal Clear screen protector that keeps your screen safe from damage while still giving you an incredible screen experience.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: But wait theres more\\n\\nReview: Screen protectors are some of the simplest products being sold today. All there is to one is a clear piece of plastic or glass that glues to the screen of your phone to protect it from scratches and/or impact damage. I use the word glues loosely because some attach by friction or static. And I use the term protect loosely because when screen protectors first came out the screens they protected were pretty soft and fragile. These days most phones (and tablets) use ultra-strong gorilla-type glass that is virtually impervious to scratching and probably does as good of a job protecting against impact blows as most screen protectors. And I use the term probably loosely because who wants to find out how much of an impact it would take to shatter your screen.\\n\\nWhich brings us to why screen protectors are sold. Theyre cheap insurance (at least most of them are). Belkin is one of two brands I always go to whenever I get a new phone or tablet because they are a name brand and I trust them. And, compared to some screen protectors Ive seen that can sell for a ridiculous $50 or more, Belkin keeps the price down at a realistic level.\\n\\nAssigning a rating to this (or any screen protector) is tough because who knows how long it will last and how well it will protect in case of an accident, until its too late. I think what most people who have tried to install a screen protector want to know is how easy it goes on, are there a lot of bubbles, and does it stay in place or do the corners start to turn up?\\n\\nIm pleased to report that in my experience Belkin did better than average on all counts. The fit is perfect and when you run your finger across the screen it feels smooth. There is nothing to dislike.\\n\\nOn a side note, it seems many accessory manufacturers are discontinuing add-ons for the iPhone 5/5s. Im happy to see Belkin is not one of them. But what bewilders me a little is that they have not changed the product description for this item. If you believe the reports the new iPhone SE has been very popular and this screen protector is a perfect fit for it. Im not sure why Belkin has chosen not to list the SE but this would be a wise choice for anyone who is thinking of getting the new mini model iPhone.\",\n \"Product: Screen Guard Transparent Overlay for Samsung Galaxy SIIProtection Without Distraction The totally transparent overlay keeps you screen safe without changing its appearance. Defend Your Device Avoid damage without affecting your touchscreen's functionality. Strong yet thin and lightweight, the overlay provides excellent protection that will help keep your device looking like new.Tru Clear See your screen, not the overlay. Tru Clear technology ensures optimal screen visibility. Fast Install Applying the overlay is fast and easy. Simply clean your phone screen with the included cleaning wipe, peel the overlay from its backing and place it onto your screen. Then use the included smoothing card to push away creases and bubbles.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Quality product but something to beware of\\n\\nReview: My S2 cost over $600 and the screen is gorilla glass, why would I want to use a screen protector? Why not?\\n\\nMy phone is designed to be one of the thinnest ever, and after babying my previous smart phones with expensive belt cases I decided I wanted to add minimum bulk and weight to this phone with any add-ons. That way I could feel confident carrying the phone in my pocket and babying it as little as possible. From Day One, a semi-hard skin case has protected my phone flawlessly, and for an extra measure of protection I've decided to use a good screen protector \\\"just in case\\\". The Belkin product is, at about $5 each, cheap insurance.\\n\\nTwo warnings though, you have to be meticulous about cleanliness and alignment when installing any screen protector. I was able to align mine after being ultra careful about dust and I noticed something with regard to the screen protector the dealer put on the phone about a year ago: it is definitely thinner, smoother and more touch-responsive than the old one.\\n\\nThe other warning is that what seems to be the identical Galaxy S2 sold by AT&T and that sold be T-Mobile is, in fact, different in terms of screen size and shape. They look the same but the dimensions of the screen protector for the AT&T is slightly narrower and the front speaker/earpiece is not in the exact same position. True, \\\"ATT\\\" is noted in the product headline but nowhere else does the description inform you it is not intended for T-Mobile S2 phones. That's not Amazon's fault, they use the descriptions that manufacturers provide to them and Belkin should be clearer on this. I can make it fit because the T-Mobile screen is slightly larger, not smaller, but it is not a true custom fit. The first attempt I tried to cut a larger hole for the ear speaker and from then on there was a huge air bubble around it that wouldn't go away. On the second attempt I simply cut the top 1/2\\\" off the top of the protector and the results were perfect. Check very carefully when you buy any brand screen protector for the S2 that is it designed for the version sold by your carrier.\",\n \"Product: A sophisticated, hand wrapped premium genuine leather case. Each Lugano Kontur is crafted with meticulous attention to detail to preserve the unique characteristics of the leather. Available in 4 colors: Black, Blue, Tan, and Red.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: This is the perfect iPhone 5/5s case\\n\\nReview: <div id=\\\"video-block-R1HGNCDNEPCCZ8\\\" class=\\\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\\\"></div><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/C1VtIL4md8S.mp4\\\" class=\\\"video-url\\\"><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/21ycMLfBFqS.png\\\" class=\\\"video-slate-img-url\\\">[PLEASE READ IMPORTANT UPDATE AT END OF REVIEW]\\n\\nI wasn't one of the first to rush out and buy the iPhone 6 when it was introduced. Don't get me wrong, it's a great phone, but my business phone needs don't require the larger screen nor thinner build of this model offers. Instead, my move was from a larger screen Android device to the smaller screen iPhone 5s - a model that is still a premium Apple phone but in a form factor that has the high degree of mobility I require.\\n\\nThe next decision was what kind of case would I buy? I toyed with the idea of going caseless, as the 5s is a pretty rugged device, but I found that I could put a decent case on it and still have a device that is a fraction of the size and weight of my old Android phone. The research as to WHICH case to buy literally took weeks. I wanted to add as little bulk and weight to the 5s as possible but get as much cushion from life's everyday dings and bumps. I didn't need waterproofness or extreme drop protection but I did want something stylish and easy to comfortably hold in one hand. And I did NOT want those beautiful control buttons hindered in any way, nor full access to the bottom ports. When you add all of those together the list of available options kept getting smaller and smaller.\\n\\nI knew from previous experience I didn't want silicone or TPU. I learned that I didn't want metal as it is known to reduce cell signal strength anywhere from 10% to 30%, which not only can be an issue for dropped calls but a reduction in signal strength is known to have a corresponding negative effect on battery life. The decision came down to an \\\"all leather\\\" case and I was disappointed how few options I had for a case that was both well-made and attractive ... so many of them were downright ugly. And my options seemed to be shrinking as each day passed because, despite the continuing strong sales of the 5s, manufacturers were putting all of their resources into the 6 and 6 Plus and discontinuing all but a few models that fit the 5s.\\n\\nNo matter what I looked at, I kept coming back to the Sena Lugano Kontur as ticking all of the boxes ... protective, attractive, stylish, accessible and realistically priced. Of the 4 colors left I chose the brown shade.\\n\\nRegardless of my ordering choice, the seller chose to ship the case via FedEx Next Day at no charge. While I could have bought it directly from the Sena website on closeout sale, the site was clear that all sales were final, whereas through Amazon I was protected if it was not as represented. I also objected to Sena automatically adding sales tax despite the fact that they do not have a retail presence in my state. That, plus their high shipping charge and long lead time brought their final price to within a dollar or two of Amazon's non-sale price. The case bought from Amazon arrived when expected and was exactly as described.\\n\\nThis case is one of the best values I have seen in a long time. It is truly beautiful and compliments my gold 5s like a million bucks. The fit is perfect; the quality of construction is perfect, I could not be happier! Here are a few details that neither the Sena website nor the Amazon page make completely clear.\\n\\n1. The case only adds .18cm to each side of the phone, just enough for scratch, ding and bump protection. However it adds .47cm to the back where the rear glass panel of the phone is more vulnerable to impact damage. Brilliant. Overall, the case, as measured by me, is 29 grams x 12.72cm high x 6.22cm wide x 1.23cm deep.\\n\\n2. The inside is lined with suede for a total of 3 layers of protection from rear impact damage.\\n\\n3. The access cutouts are 100% precise and perfect as is the cutout for the camera/flash (which is a little deeper than most cases to help protect the camera lens).\\n\\n4. The lip of the case does not extend forward enough to protect the screen if the phone is placed face down. The difference is very slight but the screen does extend about .25mm further out.\\n\\nI have no negatives but I do have an observation that does not affect my final rating. That is that the retail package does not do credit to such a well-made case. I am not a fan of packaging excess in which it will all be thrown away, but this package was falling apart when I received it and there was zero written material, like suggestions on how to care for the leather. The seller did not help much by sending it in a padded envelope instead of a box. [UPDATE] another time when I bought this same case in another color the packaging was very deluxe. It probably has to do with which seller fulfills the order.\\n\\nAlmost 100% of the visible area of the case is covered in leather with only a tiny rim of the underlying polycarbonate frame visible around the camera opening and the bumper rim around the screen. I am not on the same page as anyone who would rate this case as being \\\"all plastic\\\" I don't know what else they would expect it to be. I fully expected there to be some sort of rigid frame to which the leather is attached to and the high-strength synthetic material is the best choice for minimal weight vs. maximum protection. Ditto with \\\"no screen protection\\\" ... of course not, it is clearly not a wallet nor pouch case; the entire beauty of it is that the full surface of the screen is exposed. Any user of a case like this would naturally use a good tempered glass screen protector if they were concerned about screen damage.\\n\\nI almost think I spent more time researching the case than I did the choice of phone (which iPhone or whether to go with another Android phone). After all that I can highly endorse and recommend this case (and likely the very similar model for the 6 and 6 Plus). To me THIS is the perfect iPhone case.\\n\\n[IMPORTANT UPDATE JANUARY 2017]\\n\\nI like this case so much I ordered yet another one in a different color (black) in January of 2017 (my 4th). Unfortunately the manufacturer changed the molding slightly and now it does not fit the iPhone 5 series. The width is still okay but the top and bottom ridges that the phone snaps in to are different which causes the phone to slide loosely up and down in the case by about 1.5mm. I had to send my newest case back for a refund. I might try again and get another color so for now I won't change my rating on the chance that only the black color is affected.\",\n \"Product: A concentrated hand car wash shampoo that is effective at removing stubborn road grime while leaving a high gloss shine. Contains water conditioners and produces a rich, thick foam that lifts and carries dirt from the surface for an optimal wash experience. Leaves a spot-free finish. Concentrated wash is highly economical. Just mix 1 capful (1/3 ounces) with every 2 gallons of water. Bio-degradable and phosphate-free. Does not contain acids, lye or hydrocarbons which can remove sensitive wax finishes and dull paint finishes.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Does what the manufacturer claims\\n\\nReview: Maybe there's just a little confusion about what this is, so first a note of clarity ... this is not a car polish or wax, it is a car wash detergent, meant to clean your car not wax it.\\n\\nThat being said, in terms of actual cleaning power, it does a good job. No soap is going to work magic, it takes some rubbing with a sponge to get deep dirt out. So if someone sprays it on their car (after being diluted according to instructions of course) and the car isn't instantly and perfectly clean, well, there's probably not a soap that does that. It's not going to leave a pro wax finish that lasts for months or years. You will likely have to wash your car just as often as you ever did.\\n\\nWhat the manufacturer claims to be their unique difference, is that unlike many car wash detergents that may leave the car not-so-shiny UNTIL you wax it using another product, this one is designed to leave the car with a glossier finish. And that it does. The car does appear \\\"just waxed\\\" but remember, it's not, you will still have to wax it with an appropriate wax of choice.\\n\\nWhat make Exclusiv Gloss Shampoo stand out a bit from the crowd is that if you wax your car immediately after washing it with this product, as you should, you will likely find it far easier to apply and buff the wax. And that's an important selling point.\\n\\nI tried it on my four vehicles, one glossy silver metallic clear-coat, two white enamel and one green metallic enamel. I tried it only in a small test area. The results were noticeable and impressive enough to rate this product \\\"as advertised\\\" and effective with no significant drawbacks, hence 5-stars.\",\n \"Product: Genuine Toyota Wiper Arm\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: This is identical to the original\\n\\nReview: After hearing how much the dealer wanted to replace the broken rear wiper arm on my 4-Runner I found this one at Amazon for a fraction of the price. It is described as being genuine Toyota so I took a chance. When I compare it to the original 17 year old part it was identical in every way, so I can confirm that it is a genuine replacement part. Installation is easy. Remove the rubber boot at the base of the arm, remove the nut and pull the old arm off. After 17 years mine was a little hard to remove so I put a few drops of Lock-Eze on it. Before replacing the broken arm make sure it is parked in position so it rests on the little holder attached to the hatch door. I say this because if the arm is broken it may not be lining up where it should.\\n\\nIts a good idea to put the wiper blade back on first (or install a new one) before fastening the arm in place to assure it lines up properly. The blade assembly is easy to remove and reinstall. I also suggest replacing the blade with a genuine OEM Toyota part because the after-market blades do not have the plastic part that guides the blade back into the holder. Yes it may cost a little more (about $18 at Amazon) but its worth it. As you can see in the attached photo the finished replacement looks as good as new.\",\n \"Product: The five-piece male singing group, guided by their musical director Phil Coulter, perform live on their American tour in 2008.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Personally, I loved it\\n\\nReview: I have a hard time taking reviews of CDs or DVDs seriously if they only talk about how much the buyer loved or hated the performance. To me that is 100% subject to individual taste. I may love Josh Grobin, All American Rejects, Coldplay, The Verve, etc. and you may hate them all or any one of them. No problem. So I'll limit talking about my own personal musical tastes in writing this review.\\n\\nMy first exposure to Celtic Thunder was some late-night TV commercial enticing me to buy their DVD online. I am not for or against Celtic music but honestly have never bought any. I liked the short blurb I saw about this DVD so I searched Amazon and found there was a DVD version under $15 bucks so I bought it. The shipping point was in my home town, so even though I bought it late Sunday night I received it early Tuesday with no tax and no shipping charges. Woohoo, thank you Amazon!\\n\\nWe played about half the DVD the first night. YOU decide if you love them or hate them musically but my review is that the video quality is one of the best I have seen ... very close to Blu-Ray quality on a normal DVD player. The editing is expert ... clean, logical and unobtrusive. The audio is first-rate, very transparent and clean, it took full advantage of my Amazon-purchased amplifier and speakers.\\n\\nFor under fifteen bucks, it is hard to imagine a DVD that will bring you more entertainment. Ok, maybe Celtic music isn't for everybody but these performers are way too wide ranged to be considered only \\\"Celtic\\\". There are a couple of songs that truly brought tears to my eyes, and one or two (like Damien singing Puppy Love) that were so infectious that even the studio musicians on the DVD were so overtaken by smiles that they almost lost place playing their instruments.\\n\\nFor the price, even if you watch this DVD only once, it is hard to imagine anyone not falling in love with it.\\n\\nPROS: Good cheap entertainment, great video and sound\\nCONS: Logical assumption that they would sing together more, it's mostly a series of solos\\n\\nBONUS: Totally fresh versions of a few very familiar songs. First-class talent.\",\n \"Product: The five-piece male singing group, guided by their musical director Phil Coulter, perform live on their American tour in 2008.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Personally, I loved it\\n\\nReview: I have a hard time taking reviews of CDs or DVDs seriously if they only talk about how much the buyer loved or hated the performance. To me that is 100% subject to individual taste. I may love Josh Grobin, All American Rejects, Coldplay, The Verve, etc. and you may hate them all or any one of them. No problem. So I'll limit talking about my own personal musical tastes in writing this review.\\n\\nMy first exposure to Celtic Thunder was some late-night TV commercial enticing me to buy their DVD online. I am not for or against Celtic music but honestly have never bought any. I liked the short blurb I saw about this DVD so I searched Amazon and found there was a DVD version under $15 bucks so I bought it. The shipping point was in my home town, so even though I bought it late Sunday night I received it early Tuesday with no tax and no shipping charges. Woohoo, thank you Amazon!\\n\\nWe played about half the DVD the first night. YOU decide if you love them or hate them musically but my review is that the video quality is one of the best I have seen ... very close to Blu-Ray quality on a normal DVD player. The editing is expert ... clean, logical and unobtrusive. The audio is first-rate, very transparent and clean, it took full advantage of my Amazon-purchased amplifier and speakers.\\n\\nFor under fifteen bucks, it is hard to imagine a DVD that will bring you more entertainment. Ok, maybe Celtic music isn't for everybody but these performers are way too wide ranged to be considered only \\\"Celtic\\\". There are a couple of songs that truly brought tears to my eyes, and one or two (like Damien singing Puppy Love) that were so infectious that even the studio musicians on the DVD were so overtaken by smiles that they almost lost place playing their instruments.\\n\\nFor the price, even if you watch this DVD only once, it is hard to imagine anyone not falling in love with it.\\n\\nPROS: Good cheap entertainment, great video and sound\\nCONS: Logical assumption that they would sing together more, it's mostly a series of solos\\n\\nBONUS: Totally fresh versions of a few very familiar songs. First-class talent.\",\n \"Product: Epson Stylus Photo R220 Ink Jet Printer\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: A bargain for the price\\n\\nReview: I didn't have huge expectations from a printer that costs under $100, but what attracted me to the Epson R220 is the ability to print on DVDs and CDs. I had just bought a new DVD recorder to finally copy my old library of VHS tapes (which I throw away as soon as I make a copy). I wanted to get away from stick-on labels forever, they bubble and peel and in many case keep DVD players from even being able to play. So I saw the Epson R220 at OfficeMax with a $10 rebate and I already had one of those $10 coupons they mail you. Now I'm down to $80 for a 6-ink printer, so why not! I bought the printer almost 2 months ago and am pleasantly surprised that the ink tanks still show half full. And that's after printing quite a few 4 x 6 and 8 x 10 photos and even more DVD labels. The printer looks attractive and was easy to set up. This is my first Epson after many years of HP printers, and I wonder why I didn't make the switch long ago. The colors on high-quality paper are more accurate and more vibrant than HP and look more like real photographs. Although I originally purchased the printer only to do CD/DVD labels, I'm changing my mind now and am looking for someone to buy my much more expensive HP and I'll use the Epson for all my photo printing now. I can't imagine why anyone would want to pay more for a photo printer unless they are doing extremely demanding professional printing. To me, the Epson Stylus Photo R220 is the best bargain in the market.\",\n \"Product: Gaming Steelseries Qck Surface\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: I became interested in it because several trusted professional photographic sources listed it as one of the best choices for photo editing and retouching\\n\\nReview: This vendor mixes all kinds of products on this page so all of the comments are jumbled together. Obviously its important to read the ones that apply to the specific model you're interested in. So to be clear, the one I bought is the QcK Mini Gaming black model. I should also make it clear that I didn't buy it for gaming. Graphics and photography is how I make my living. While this is labeled as a gaming mouse pad, I became interested in it because several trusted professional photographic sources listed it as one of the best choices for photo editing and retouching. They also addressed the most obvious question why not use a graphics tablet. I do, but like so many other photographers I don't always find a graphics tablet natural or intuitive to use for certain tasks.\\n\\nGaming and precision graphic editing share a lot of things in common. You want your mouse to track exactly where you point it without wandering. Most common throwaway mouse pads aren't perfectly smooth and many of them have fibers or other kinds of surfaces that can cause a mouse to wander, even slightly, which can have a cumulative effect when you are trying to trace a trajectory. There are many very expensive mouse pads that label themselves as precision. Ive spent hundreds on them over the years and most are hype, they actually work against me and in some cases they don't work with certain mice at all.\\n\\nMinimal lag is the golden grail in both gaming and graphics... you simply cant wait for the mouse to wake up, even though were only talking nanoseconds. Thats why many gamers and artists prefer wired mice. But to go along with this pad I bought a new wireless mouse <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/G602-Lag-Free-Wireless-Gaming-Mouse/dp/B00E4MQODC/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">G602 Lag-Free Wireless Gaming Mouse</a> that is highly praised for gaming as well as photo editing because of its high resolution and minimal lag. The two work together beautifully, the mouse glides like butter over the pad.\\n\\nOf the several options here one of them is to get this model in several choices of size. My choice would be to get the largest possible which, now that I have tested the mini size, I will get for my main workstation, keeping the mini to use with my laptop where my workspace is very crowded.\\n\\nHere are two additional observations that may be helpful. First, the pad is sent rolled up in a square box. In a way thats nice to protect it but know that it will take a few days for it to flatten itself completely out on your desktop. The other thing is that some have mentioned an odor. For what its worth mine has zero odor. Over many years of mail order shopping I have received more than a few items that arrived smelling like rat droppings or dead animal. The cause is likely just that from sitting in huge distributor warehouses, or even critters crawling into delivery trucks. Since only a handful of people mentioned it that would possibly be a logical answer.\",\n \"Product: QcK mouse pads are the top choice of esports pros. The legendary micro-woven cloth has made the QcK line the worlds best-selling gaming surface. Tested by the top mouse sensor manufacturer, the high thread count and smooth surface optimizes mouse tracking accuracy for both optical and laser sensors. Durable and washable, the QcK is easy to clean and keep in competitive condition.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: I became interested in it because several trusted professional photographic sources listed it as one of the best choices for photo editing and retouching\\n\\nReview: This vendor mixes all kinds of products on this page so all of the comments are jumbled together. Obviously its important to read the ones that apply to the specific model you're interested in. So to be clear, the one I bought is the QcK Mini Gaming black model. I should also make it clear that I didn't buy it for gaming. Graphics and photography is how I make my living. While this is labeled as a gaming mouse pad, I became interested in it because several trusted professional photographic sources listed it as one of the best choices for photo editing and retouching. They also addressed the most obvious question why not use a graphics tablet. I do, but like so many other photographers I don't always find a graphics tablet natural or intuitive to use for certain tasks.\\n\\nGaming and precision graphic editing share a lot of things in common. You want your mouse to track exactly where you point it without wandering. Most common throwaway mouse pads aren't perfectly smooth and many of them have fibers or other kinds of surfaces that can cause a mouse to wander, even slightly, which can have a cumulative effect when you are trying to trace a trajectory. There are many very expensive mouse pads that label themselves as precision. Ive spent hundreds on them over the years and most are hype, they actually work against me and in some cases they don't work with certain mice at all.\\n\\nMinimal lag is the golden grail in both gaming and graphics... you simply cant wait for the mouse to wake up, even though were only talking nanoseconds. Thats why many gamers and artists prefer wired mice. But to go along with this pad I bought a new wireless mouse <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/G602-Lag-Free-Wireless-Gaming-Mouse/dp/B00E4MQODC/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">G602 Lag-Free Wireless Gaming Mouse</a> that is highly praised for gaming as well as photo editing because of its high resolution and minimal lag. The two work together beautifully, the mouse glides like butter over the pad.\\n\\nOf the several options here one of them is to get this model in several choices of size. My choice would be to get the largest possible which, now that I have tested the mini size, I will get for my main workstation, keeping the mini to use with my laptop where my workspace is very crowded.\\n\\nHere are two additional observations that may be helpful. First, the pad is sent rolled up in a square box. In a way thats nice to protect it but know that it will take a few days for it to flatten itself completely out on your desktop. The other thing is that some have mentioned an odor. For what its worth mine has zero odor. Over many years of mail order shopping I have received more than a few items that arrived smelling like rat droppings or dead animal. The cause is likely just that from sitting in huge distributor warehouses, or even critters crawling into delivery trucks. Since only a handful of people mentioned it that would possibly be a logical answer.\",\n \"Product: Our medium desktop file boxes are great for organizing frequently used files and keeping them easily accessible.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Too bad they skimped\\n\\nReview: I like the size, shape and style of these file boxes and would have rated them higher if they were made of a higher grade of plastic. I was surprised and disappointed to see how thin the plastic is, about as thick as two credit cards. If you use them for a small number of file folders on a desktop they might be adequate but when I fill them to capacity to archive documents in storage the plastic is so thin it actually bulges. For the price Im disappointed that Iris skimped instead of making the slight extra effort to make a higher quality product.\\n\\n[UPDATE] The first two boxes I used barely held a handful of file papers. As I was loading the third box it actually ripped at the corner from top almost to the bottom. I sent all of them back and rate them unacceptable.\",\n \"Product: Fellowes Professional Series Compact Keyboard Tray provides comfort and maneuverability for smaller workspaces. Designed and manufactured for Fellowes by Humanscale. Lift and lock feature lets you adjust height with one hand tilt platform to reposition, then straighten to lock in place. Single manual knob adjusts tilt up to -10 degrees for optimal comfort. Warning Trak helps prevent mouse from sliding off platform. Standard platform accommodates both right and left-handed mousing. Health-V memory foam supports with Microban antimicrobial protection stay cleaner and relieve wrist pressure to help prevent carpal tunnel syndrome. Durable keyboard tray features compact 17-3/4 Inches glide track, slim profile, and non-skid pads.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Well built and heavy\\n\\nReview: I have used many keyboard trays that are so flimsy they make typing a chore as they wiggle and slide around while in use. This tray earns the moniker \\\"professional\\\" ... it is definitely office quality. Once locked in place it is as solid as having your keyboard on a desktop.\\n\\nThere is nothing I disliked about the quality or performance of the tray and I would recommend it to anyone. There is one caveat that you should be aware of, however. Besides the obvious that you could not mount it to a glass-top desk, you should also be aware that many desks made today have a hollow core top (much like an interior door in your house). The mounting plate needs something very solid to screw in to (the tray is the heaviest I have ever seen). If your desktop is hollow core the screws would rip right out. You have a couple of options. One would be to install a wood mounting plate from the front of your desk to the rear which you would attach into the solid wood edges, or another option would be to use short Molly-type mounts for the rear screws of the keyboard mount.\\n\\nThe price (for the quality of this tray) is reasonable and it should serve its purpose for a long time to come.\",\n \"Product: Strong Point Reduces breaking. Space-saver compact design. Safety switch prevents operation when shavings tray is removed. Portable battery power (2 AA batteries).\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: For the price it does an okay basic job\\n\\nReview: It's a bit of a shame that there are so many negative reviews of this product. Some of them seem to be off-point (no pun intended) so I will offer mine for comparison.\\n\\nFirst off, my initial impression is that the unit is MUCH smaller than I expected, about the size of two \\\"D\\\" batteries next to each other. While I didn't have high expectations from any battery powered pencil sharpener (the only other one I ever owned was useless), the reviews here had me expecting garbage. My experience turned out this was not really the case.\\n\\nLet's face reality. While there may be a very few people who need to sharpen pencils often, in today's world most of us don't. Those who do should NOT be looking at a $6 piece of plastic. To buy something in this price range then complain that it isn't as good as a $30 pencil sharpener is not very credible.\\n\\nI opened the box, I inserted 2 \\\"AA\\\" batteries and inserted a very dull pencil. At first the motor whirled and I thought the pencil was sharpened but when I pulled it out, nothing. I tried again and pushed it in deeper. I heard a satisfying sharpening noise and in about 3 seconds I pulled the pencil out and it had an extremely sharp point on it. It looked almost too sharp. The manufacturer calls this \\\"strong point\\\". I'm skeptical, I don't understand how pencil lead can be made any stronger than it already is, but for anyone using a pencil for very fine work, like architecture, I can't imagine a sharper point.\\n\\nHere are a couple of reviewer comments I saw and my feedback on them, plus some observations of my own:\\n\\n- Slow. Not the case, I have never seen a faster pencil sharpener. I wonder if the user was using old, weak batteries?\\n\\n- It stops when inserting a pencil. I didn't find that to be the case. Perhaps the user pushed the pencil in too far?\\n\\n- No \\\"plus/minus\\\" on the case to show how to install the batteries. In fact there are illustrations on the BOTTOM of the sharpener to show how to install the batteries. That took me a little while to find. I would have preferred if they were inside the battery compartment. It wasn't very intuitive to put them on the bottom of the case.\\n\\n- Short battery life. I haven't had it long enough but I can't subscribe to this complaint. I sharpen a pencil about once every two months. If anyone sharpens pencils every day, they definitely should not be looking at a $6 battery operated sharpener.\\n\\n- Trouble with colored pencils. Colored pencils use very soft \\\"lead\\\". They are best sharpened with those little plastic manual sharpeners very slowly. I don't think even a $50 sharpener does well on colored pencils.\\n\\nNegatives that can't be corrected ... there is one hole at the top so your pencil better be \\\"just the right size\\\". The first one I tried it on was a round pencil that is just slightly thicker than the average yellow pencil. The fit was quite tight in that I literally had to pull the pencil back out because of the tight fit.\\n\\nBottom line: If you have high expectations for a $6 pencil sharpener you will certainly be disappointed. To try to compare it to one of the $70 sharpeners shown on this same page is simply unrealistic. For its price it performs the task of sharpening a pencil adequately. I can't give it 5 stars because it has its weaknesses but for what it is it ranks at least in the 3-4 star range. I liked the point it put on my pencil so I'm giving it 4 stars.\",\n \"Product: The Canon PIXMA MX922 Energy Star Wireless Inkjet Office All-in-One Printer prints in black and white at 15 ipm, in color at 10 ipm, and can output a borderless 4.0 x 6.0-inch photo in 21 seconds. Print borderless photos right at home using the 9600 x 2400 color dpi. Use the automatic double-sided print feature to print on both sides of the page and cut your paper consumption by as much as 50%. The built-in disc tray lets you design and print your own custom CDs, DVDs, and Blu-rays. Its Full HD Movie Print feature takes a frame from an HD movie recorded on a compatible EOS, PowerShot, or VIXIA camera or camcorder and prints it as a photo, ensuring you never miss a photo opportunity while shooting video. The MX922 features a scan resolution of up to 2400 x 4800 dpi optical. Plus use the built-in copy function to duplicate photos as well as documents.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: FOCUS ON THE MX922 AS A CD/DVD LABEL PRINTER\\n\\nReview: This review will start by detailing the Canon MX922 as a CD/DVD disc label printer. There are many reviews here and elsewhere that go very deeply into how it performs as a printer, copier, scanner and fax but if you are looking for a good CD/DVD label printer your choices these days are very slim and costly. The MX922 at the time of this review is still a current best-selling model (which means it should work with modern operating systems including WIN10 and be compatible with popular disc labeling software) and it is amazingly reasonable. Later on in my review I will give a synopsis of the overall performance of the machine.\\n\\nIf you have a large library of music or videos on older formats like audio/video cassette tape and, like me, want to transfer them to CD or DVD to preserve them and save space you may have considered an inkjet printer that prints directly onto the disc. I won't go in to the story about why printers that can do that have been so hard to find (in the U.S.) but it reads like a murder mystery. Suffice it to say that some of the better (but now discontinued) printers with disc printing capability are going for outrageous premiums these days. I was lucky many years ago to buy an Epson R220 which is an excellent disc printing unit, and extremely thrifty on ink. I have used that printer constantly for over 10 years and it still works, but over time the sensors and rollers for the disc printing mechanism have worn and these days I have to baby the disc through. It often takes several attempts until the printer accepts the disc just right. I know some day the Epson is going to give it up completely so I wanted another handy when that happens. After a lot of searching I decided on the MX 922.\\n\\nAs a CD/DVD disc printer the operation is about the same compared to the Epson. It appears that Canon and Epson share a lot of the same design and functionality when it comes to disc printing.\\n\\nI use SureThing Ver. 6 disc labeling software , which thankfully is still being supported by the manufacturer with an update as recent as January 2017. It is completely compatible with a wide range of Canon inkjet printers including the MX922. I can print either large or small hub labels, which I do often. The Canon dye ink seems a little better matched to printable CD/DVD surfaces the ink dries faster than with the Epson pigment ink and has a more professional printed appearance.\\n\\nThe MX922 has a dedicated slot for the printable disc tray, which is stored under one of the paper trays. I like the storage arrangement because with my Epsons disc tray it is always getting misplaced and dusty. The actual process between the two printers is very similar snap the disc into the holder, slide it into the slot to the proper markings, and print. Unlike the Epson the disc tray doesnt protrude out of the back of the printer which means I don't have to move the printer away from the wall every time I want to print a disc. The Canon makes the user go through a couple of steps before printing a disc, unlike the Epson. The door over the disc slot must be closed first before clicking print on your computer, and then the printer makes some internal adjustments after which you open the access door, insert the disc tray, and then press the okay button on the printer. I ultimately determined this to be more of an advantage than a problem because the printer is too big to fit on my desk so I have to locate it on the other side of the room and operate it wirelessly. The extra step before the print job starts lets me walk over to the printer and make sure the disc tray is set properly and then press the okay button when I am ready for it to start.\\n\\nAs an overall AIO printer, everything about this printer is first-class. It is more of a heavy-duty office grade product than the newer models that just came out and the image quality is near-flawless, especially photos. As a professional photographer I am fond of Canon printers for photo work and my own wide-format printer is a Canon. I should emphasize that I didn't choose the MX922 for its photo printing capability and I want to emphasize that while the MX922 prints better than average photos it is not by any means a pro photo printer. But if you do print you own photos with it I don't think you will be disappointed.\\n\\nOperation of the MX922 is surprisingly straight-forward, despite a very complicated looking control panel. I didn't need to read the instructions at all, between the LCD screen and the context-sensitive control buttons every function is obvious and easy to understand. A word on that context-sensitive control panel, I have never seen anything like it there are 16 unmarked black buttons on the panel that light up only when needed and only for the function necessary at that moment. So sometimes only two buttons will light up, sometimes four and sometimes more. The function buttons even transform into a telephone keypad when the machine is used as a fax. Its pretty ingenious.\\n\\nOn the downside list are that the MX922 is a monster in both size and weight. Thats not a complaint, because it is a very solid well-built machine, but it does take up a lot of space. Fortunately it is a WiFi wireless printer so I am able to place it in a location where I have more room. Like my wide-format Canon printer the wireless setup is almost too easy and it works first time, every time (I cant say that about other brands of wireless printers I own). WiFi setup using WPS was one-button and took 5 seconds.\\n\\nOne little drawback is that it takes a long time for the printer to get itself ready to print, moving the ink carriage back and forth, whirring and buzzing. That seems to be a Canon trait that offsets any claims of print speed. Print speed has never been a deciding factor for me so it doesnt bother me.\\nLastly on the wish it didn't do that list is that it is all too easy to forget to open the front door when Im printing something and have the printed page crinkle up inside the unit. Fortunately the front door does not have a lock or catch to it so if I forget to open it the printed page usually pushes it open with a thud. But when the door is open an extension arm automatically pops out. The way my printer is set up I bump into that arm every time I am near it. Its something I would prefer was not there.\\n\\nInk consumption is okay, about the same as all other current Canon multifunction machines in its class, however not all models can take XL tanks in all slots like this one does which gives more ink per tank. There is even the option of an XXL black cartridge which is nice if you plan to do a lot of B&W printing or copying. Keep in mind this is an inkjet and no one ever said that inkjets are economical to own. Theyre not.\\n\\nIve noticed a lot of comments about the size of this printer. That is likely because newer printers are much smaller than they used to be. But by any measure the MX922 is large and heavy. Heres a comparison between it and Canons newest roughly equivalent model that was just introduced. The MX922 is 15.6d x 19.4w x 9.1h inches and 25.7 pounds vs the new TS9020 which is 12.8d x 14.7w x 5.6h inches and 14.7 pounds. The difference is substantial.\\n\\nAs an All-in-One printer the MX922 has it all and is built like a tank. Its easy to operate and relatively economical compared to other brands Ive owned. And the value is hard to beat. Would I have bought this printer if it was to be the only one I own? Probably not, but not necessarily not. As a multifunction machine it does everything but does not excel at any one of them. I have always preferred dedicated machines that excel at what they were intended to do. But if I include the fact that it is a disc label printer my opinion changes. There is no such thing as an affordable mainstream cd/dvd disc labeler being sold as a stand-alone printer so if disc labeling was an important feature to me (which it is) I don't think you can find a better value available today.\",\n \"Product: In the Box - IRIScan Book 3 scanner, Readiris Pro 12 software for PC and Mac on CD-ROM, Free IRIS Compressor, Pro software, MicroSD card (including SD card adaptor), USB cable, Transport pouch, Discount voucher for next purchase, Quick user guide Features Mobile scanner Cordless, battery-powered and very lightweight. Carry it anywhere! Ideal to scan books, magazines & newspapers. 300/600/900 dpi scanning resolutions. Scanning speed - 2 sec. for a B&W document/ 3 sec. for a color document.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: An excellent buy ... BUT ...\\n\\nReview: <div id=\\\"video-block-R1PSDJMMH1578F\\\" class=\\\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\\\"></div><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/D1wsLsBEXfS.mp4\\\" class=\\\"video-url\\\"><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/11htNCs0Z0S.png\\\" class=\\\"video-slate-img-url\\\"> At the price and for what it does, this little handheld scanner is an excellent buy and well worth considering. Please re-read those words very carefully. They do not say that this is the best scanner ever made, or that it is perfect, or that it doesn't take a little care and patience to use, or that it will do everything. The more money you invest in scanner hardware and software, the more those qualities will improve, BUT for the price, and if your needs are not ultra-demanding, it would be hard to find a better value anywhere.\\n\\nIt starts with pedigree. IRIS has been well-known as far back as my memory takes me as a leader in scanning and OCR software. They are one of the companies who have earned the right to \\\"own\\\" a large slice of the document management industry. It is immediately apparent upon opening the box that this is not a cheap offshore knockoff product. It has the look, feel and usability of an office product, not a toy. And I'm sure that is in no small part at least partially attributable to their relationship with Canon.\\n\\nThis review and the attached video represent about 15 minutes of my time - opening the box, inserting the batteries and SD card, scanning the closest document I could find and \\\"managing\\\" it using the software provides. My need for an instruction manual (despite never owning a hand-scanner wand previously) was minimal. And that's a good thing because there isn't one in the box. You have to go to their website to view it. That doesn't bother me, many companies are doing that ... it is a socially responsible act of conservation not to print paper manuals.\\n\\nMy first scan was with everything set to the default mode, and frankly I don't see a lot of reasons to change that, although the menu system is easy enough to understand. I resisted the urge to swipe the scanner down the page like a NASCAR driver which seems to be a common error, instead moving it at an moderate even pace. When I plugged it in to my computer's USB port the software automatically opened and showed me an image of my scan with each section highlighted into the familiar scan segments. The scan, even at 300 dpi, was perfect as the video illustrates. After that I pushed the OCR button to save it to MS Word and noticed that the first few words were garbled, however the remainder of the OCR-translated document was virtually perfect, including retention of paragraphing and formatting. After I looked at my raw scan it was obvious that that the failure to recognize the first couple of words was because of user error ... I had started my scan right over the first line. I should have known better and given it about \\\" lead space before the text started. You will see how obvious that is in my video.\\n\\nIf you open the software before you connect the scanner it will present you with several choices where/how you can save or convert the image. Also I learned quickly that IRIScan fully understands that some scan sources can be a bit challenging, like books. They clearly explain that if the text curves too much into the margin simply scan the book sideways from the margin to the edge and rotate the scan turn. That works like a charm, and is actually the default picture they show of the unit on the cover of the retail box.\\n\\nIf you remember those handheld scanners from back in the `80s and `90s this one is on an entirely different planet. Those old school scanners had to be held meticulously straight (which was nearly impossible). The IRIScan has a ton of correcting smarts built in so it only needs to be lightly guided down the page.\\n\\nI mentioned earlier that this is my first wand scanner. I am reviewing it at the request of the supplier. Here are the obligatory pros and cons:\\n\\nPROS:\\n\\n1. Uses readily available AAA batteries (included). Think about it, you are most likely to use this scanner someplace where you can't plug it in (to use or to recharge). It's so much easier to take a few cheap AAA batteries along than have rechargeable batteries die at the wrong time. Hint: put fresh batteries in as soon as you can, the starter batteries probably won't last more than a few days.\\n\\n2. Total no-brainer operation of both the hardware and the software.\\n\\n3. Even the included software, although not a business-grade version, is pretty good and probably as much as anyone really needs.\\n\\nCONS:\\n\\n1. Uses the older (and larger) mini-USB cable connector like older cell phones and some GPS units use rather than the MUCH more common micro-USB connector that most of the known world uses. So don't misplace the included cable or you will have to hunt for a new one.\\n\\n2. The rubber rollers and the clear scanning window are always exposed. Sure they include a little plastic baggie to carry the scanner in but I would rather have seen a snap-on dust cover.\\n\\n3. No multi-page scans with this model. Sorry. I guess it's available in the more deluxe models but it's a feature I miss because I hoped to use it to scan multi-page receipts for my expense reports. Oh well.\\n\\nI'm sure if you are really picky and have very demanding needs for a wand scanner you might feel a little disappointed by this model. You shouldn't be however, because for the price you won't find anything better, even from no-name offshore sellers. As is true in life, you get what you pay for, and the good news is that IRIS has models with more features (at a higher price) to suit any need. At the price and for what it does, this little handheld scanner is an excellent buy and well worth considering and definitely earns 5-stars.\",\n \"Product: With Hidden Screw Mounts. Made from zinc. White Exterior Finish.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Useful and a great bargain\\n\\nReview: I bought these to serve two purposes. One, as a traditional door stop to prevent the doorknob from denting the wall; and two, to prevent the bedroom doors from slamming shut whenever it got a little breezy with the windows open. Honestly I got tired of dragging whatever heavy object I could find in front of the door to keep it open.\\n\\nThese are very well made for the price, and more attractive than those with the big clunky exposed magnet. They mounted in minutes with no exposed screws.\\n\\nNo need to be concerned if you have hollow doors, most interior doors these days are hollow. Every door has a solid wood perimeter (its called a rail) of usually about 2-3. And the best place to mount the catch is just inside the top corner of the door where it has plenty of rail for the included screws to hold it securely. See my photo to get an idea where to mount the catch.\\n\\nMounting the doorstop is optional whether you choose to put it at the top or bottom of the door. For aesthetics some people may choose not to have it visible on the wall. In my case because the strong breeze from the window is more apt to hit the top of the door that was a better place to have the door stop. Mounting it at the top also helps avoid accidentally kicking the door stop and makes it a little easier to vacuum, but again that is strictly a personal choice.\\n\\nThis is a well-made product, especially for the price, and is something you likely will never have to replace. The instructions are excellent and everything you need is in the bag.\",\n \"Product: Manage your artwork and keep it organized with the Mead Acadmie wirebound sketchbook. Sheets are heavyweight and archival quality. Sketchbook includes 70 sheets of perforated sketch paper. Cleanly and easily tear out your sketches at any time, and use the included sketch and store pockets to keep them with the rest of your work. Paper is acid-free, lignin-free and fade-resistant. 11 in. x 8.5 in.sheet size.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: The product is acceptable but the cover is gaudy\\n\\nReview: I was taught as a child to keep a sketchbook of life as I see it. No boundaries, no rigid instructions about coloring inside the lines or using a #2 pencil ... just observe and interpret.\\n\\nSo I guess I am not on the same page (bad pun) as some people who criticize the texture or weight of the paper. I see that as not a challenge but an opportunity to adapt my choice of media (pencil, pen, marker, crayon, etc) to the texture life has presented me.\\n\\nAgreed, this is not a rough texture, nor is the paper especially heavy weight. But it is a sketchbook and I'm not sure any of that is important. I does work for what it is intended to do. Other brands, models and styles of sketchbooks will work equally well when chosen for the intended use of the individual.\\n\\nIt's not the weight or texture of the paper I have issues with, it is the very gaudy and distracting design of the cover. It sucks away from creativity. My opinion is that I would have preferred that the manufacturer used a peel-off marketing cover so the user could design the cover the way they pleased. If not, how about an easily removable advertising cover revealing a simple blank page to permit the user to \\\"own\\\" the sketchbook with their personal design?\\n\\nBeing wire-bound it is not impossible to remove the binding, and the less-than-attractive cover and start fresh with one's own cover. Which is especially possible if you happen to own a spiral wire binding machine.\\n\\nNormally comments regarding shipping and packaging should be reserved for the appropriate section at Amazon however it needs to be mentioned that the sketchbook shipped in a cardboard foldover with the corners of the sketchbook exposed. So of course they are crushed and dirty. Some of that responsibility rests with Amazon but at almost $15 I believe the manufacturer could have provided the product in a box or at least shrink-wrapped in plastic.\\n\\nOverall this is not a bad sketchbook, especially suitable to pen and ink sketches, if you take the time and effort to remove the commercial cover and replace it with your own customized creation.\",\n \"Product: Step-by-step guidance to achieving your personal financial goals\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Return to your homes folks, nothing new to see here\\n\\nReview: If you have never used Quicken before, frankly there is nothing like it. And the manufacturer, Intuit, knows that and grossly overcharges for it. Their product development costs have to be minimal, as the basic product itself hasn't changed substantially in years. In todays world of free and nearly free apps for our phones and tablets, it is hard to justify why Quicken costs as much as it does.\\n\\nIf you have used Quicken previously there is precious little reason to consider an upgrade more often than every 10 years or so. And then you are better off just buying a new full-retail version from Amazon or any other reseller rather than get a product update from Quicken at a cost thats actually more than buying the full version anywhere else.\\n\\nWhen buying Quicken you are faced with an array of different versions. Hint: most of the functionality is the same in all of the versions, with only a few relatively minor tweaks to customize them for different user preferences. It is critically important for you to realize that the Starter version is for first time users only, you CANNOT import data from any other Quicken version you can only start a new file from scratch.\\n\\nI downloaded Quicken 2015 kicking and screaming because I had to, not because I wanted to. I was perfectly happy with the much cursed and maligned 2013 version (that finally was patched to the point of being okay) and after doing a clean restore of my computer in anticipation of WIN10 coming I found out that my 2013 disk was misplaced likely accidentally included in a batch of stuff I had shredded recently. Knowing that Quicken comes out with their new version every year in September I hated the thought of paying full retail price in July for last years version (2015). I wouldnt have bought any new version so soon if I still had 2013 available to use. And, Quicken being Quicken, I wasn't able to use my backup files with the older 2011 version I still had.\\n\\nAfter installing 2015 Deluxe I can safely say I could not find one tangible change from the 2013 version I had been using. This is not just an unsubstantiated comment, I am very much a Quicken expert. I bought Version 1 on a 5.25 floppy disk directly from the original developer when it was first invented and I have used it non-stop since then.\\n\\nMy install of 2015 should have gone smoothly, but no. While they haven't done much to change it, they have done some subtle tweaks that ranged for me from minor irritations to some loud grrrr moments. The minor irritation came from version 2015 making the process of linking to my bank account to download transactions more complicated. I have no idea why but what used to be a one-step process took me almost 2 hours to set up and get working because it kept telling me my password was wrong (the same password it just accepted seconds earlier). It said it would send me an email to reset the password but after trying several times they never sent the email. Then they said that my bank locked me out after repeated attempts (my bank told me that was impossible, that the problem was with Quicken). I then bypassed Quicken's super-secure bullet-proof password safety features at the push of one button (something that a 98 year-old grandma hacker could do in 3 seconds and steal all of my data) and bingo I was in.\\n\\nThe major frustration though came from some (unknown) reason that Quicken didn't just download my banks transactions from the date I last used it, but instead felt it had to go back and re-download things that had already cleared and rename them. In doing so it left me with numerous duplicate entries and a lot of items lumped together with the same dates, as in several direct deposits from one source all dated the same day. What that did is left a whole series of red entries that shows as overdrafts. They never were, of course, but it made a mess of my meticulously maintained checkbook register that I had to go back over a 6-month period and re-enter manually item-by-item using my banks statements. It left a taste of what so many people have accused Quicken programmers of living in dark cubicles, never using the product themselves in real life and having no clue the effects their little tweaks were having.\\n\\nI cant downrate Quicken for me losing my 2013 version and having to buy a new one, or the fact that when 2016 comes out I won't get a discount after only getting a couple of months use out of 2015. But I can downrate it because I didn't get anything better than I already had, and the fact that the few minor tweaks they did do make my life harder, not easier.\",\n \"Product: Samsung SL-M2830DW Xpress Mono Laser Printer\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: The missing details you need to know\\n\\nReview: This printer is essentially identical to the Samsung SL-M2825DW currently being sold for about $130 with one exception described below. If you have found this models listing at Amazon, congratulations, you have just saved yourself about $50. If you (like me) bought it when it went on promotional sale for $49, you have scored yourself a truly remarkable deal. The main difference between the two printers is what retail channel they are intended to be sold through, in other words the hardware itself isn't different, only who sells it. You can get either through Amazon.\\n\\nI have worked for the Big 3 printer manufacturers and as a result I have owned or currently own more printers than most people will use in a lifetime. It was silly for me to actually buy this one (btw Ive never worked for Samsungs printer division) but I wanted something dedicated to use with our laptop computer so guests could use it to print their personal stuff airline boarding passes for example. It turns out this printer is so good now Im using it so I don't have to run up to the office whenever I want to print something from the laptop.\\n\\nHaving faced the frustrations of setting up a new printer that most people dread I was amazed that there simply weren't any with this printer, in fact from the moment I started to open the packing box to the moment I was printing my first test print took about 5 minutes. Heres what happened I opened the box, removed the blue shipping tape from the device, pulled the toner out and removed its shipping lock, shook the toner, turned the power switch on, inserted the CD into my laptop and pressed install. The software automatically discovered my printer, set it up and spit out a test print and I was done.\\n\\nEqually frustrating when setting up a printer is getting it to work with a smartphone or tablet. Not here. That took less than 1 minute. I downloaded the app and clicked install. A few seconds later the printer driver was available to use with every print-enabled app on my iPhone and iPad. To correct some erroneous information in the Customer Q&A above, when printing from iOS the printer does NOT only print using the manual feed tray, you have full 100% functionality of the printer available to you. When you click print while in a printer-enabled iOS app a dialogue pops up that asks you if you want to print single or double-sided (the default is single-sided). Click print and in less than 10 seconds your printer will turn on from standby and print from your auto-feed tray. Its exactly the way you always hoped and dreamed a printer would work with a computer, laptop, smartphone or tablet.\\n\\nTo set the record straight, one of the reviews vastly overcomplicated the wifi setup procedure. You don't have to do anything or make any changes or setting to your computer (or smartphone). The printer is instantly recognized during the installation process and sets itself up with no questions asked of you nor any settings you have to adjust.\\n\\nAnd also to be clear (since people are conditioned to accept that most printers only come with starter cartridges), not true here the cartridge that comes in the box is the same MLT-D115L as a replacement standard cartridge both giving a 700 page yield (an optional high-yield 3,000 page cartridge is available). That is the difference between this and the SL-M2825DW model which comes with a 1200 page yield MLT-D116S cartridge. Both printers can use the optional high-yield 3000 page cartridge, however. So, true some of that cost savings is erased with the more expensive model giving you 500 more pages out-of-the-box but after that it makes sense with either model to upgrade to the high-yield cartridge for only $51.\\n\\nBOTTOM LINE\\n\\nIf you are thinking of buying this printer for your business, STOP you will be back here posting a negative review in 6 months. This is not a business-class printer. But as an extremely low-cost printer for the average home this model wins as the best value available of all B&W laser printers currently available. For all intents and purposes it offers the same high-end features like wireless, double-sided, large auto-feed tray, easy to use manual-feed tray, fast first-print-out, fast multiple prints, sharp clear text, quiet operation, dependable paper path, etc. in a tiny footprint that is surprisingly well made. And in my years of setting up more printers than I can count, it is the absolute champion at how easy it is to set up. If you expect a perfect product that will never break and customer support that will correct any malfunctions instantly you are not living in the real world you won't get that from any printer manufacturer. When I bought this my expectations were very low and the best I would have imagined rating it would be average but all things considered, for the price, this turned out to be a 5-star product.\",\n \"Product: Making learning fun and easy with easy study tools extremely durable plastic periodic table wall chart! The chart is color coded to help students distinguish between metals, non-metals, and noble gas families, and differentiate types of metals, solids, liquids, and gases from synthetic elements. Each listed element includes the name, symbol, atomic number, and mass of each element for further detail. This plastic sign is printed on a 15mil PVC (not paper) plastic board and laminated for extra durability and thickness. This makes the sign a total of 35mil in thickness. The same thickness as a standard credit card! The corners are also rounded to ensure there are no sharp edges making this chart suitable for all ages. The chart measures 17.0 l x 11.0 h. This is a great product for, classrooms, homeschool curriculums, teacher's reference and college dorm rooms.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: More than meets the eye\\n\\nReview: You are considering this item because you already know what the Periodic Table of the Elements is, or you know that your kids need to learn it for school. There are a handful of sellers offering laminated copies of the table for use as a study aid, which is admirable. As far as the table itself is concerned, the contents are fixed, theres no way one company can sell a better Periodic Table they all contain the same basic information. But a company (like EasyStudy Tools) can present that basic information is a manner that is clearer and easier to read and thats what sets this product apart from the others.\\n\\nEasyStudy Tools chart includes atomic number, atomic mass and full element name and does so using large element codes and bright element colors for enhanced visibility (thats a quote from their product description).\\n\\nThe chart itself, unlike similar ones, is made from a sheet of heavyweight plastic, not a paper chart thats been laminated. It resembles a table placemat, in fact one of the critical reviews pointed that out. If you have kids you know that most kids will read anything and everything on the table when they're eating, so to me having a study aid that can be used as a placemat is a brilliant idea. Why miss any opportunity to help your kids learn?\\n\\nNote that the original product needed some corrections. I understand from EasyStudy that those changes are in the works. I acquired mine as a review sample directly from them and I have found them to be very earnest and responsive to all feedback and suggestions and willing to listen to new ideas. The sample was sent no charge but as always our reviews are completely independent of any manufacturer or organization.\\n\\nSo the final thing that may be on your mind is whether it is worth the $15 cost. I have some experience in making membership cards in small quantities for my business. I was paying a premium price per card and the finished cost per card would surprise you. This chart uses plastic that is similar to those credit cards and realistically they cant get the costs down by printing millions of them. I believe EasyStudy is trying to provide a helpful and necessary service to provide tools to help our kids learn and their selling price fairly reflects their actual costs to do so. But heres an idea once your kids progress to the point they no longer need this learning tool how about donating it to your local school? You know many teachers have such limited budgets that they are paying for supplies out of their own pockets, what a wonderful donation this would make at a small $15 cost to you.\\n\\nFor the concept, the execution and the high quality of presentation this product is a solid winner and deserves a 5-star rating.\",\n \"Product: LOHOME desk mat is perfect for using as a reading or writing surface, as well as hold your keyboard and mouse. This desk mat is a great match to your desk wide surface area use the LOHOME desk mat's wide surface area to accommodate a variety of the devices in your workspace. With enough room for your keyboard and mouse, and space enough for a sketchbook or journal. This mat is appropriate for a variety of uses. Synthetic leather texture synthetic leather texture desk mat feels great to the touch. The surface is stain resistant and easy to clean. Rectangular desk pad offers a superior writing surface that will not indent, scratch or stain. Outstanding design no glare lychee pattern surface reduce eye strain, nonslip backing prevents mat from moving once placed on a desk. Edge protection lip protects your clothing out of scratch with desk edge. Two grooves on top of the mat supply convenience to place pencil and pen. What requirements do you have on a desk mat? Beauty LOHOME mat comes with smooth & flat surface, clear texture, neat edge. Practical LOHOME mat not only can be used as a desk pad, but a mousepad. A wide area can hold a variety of the devices and protect your desk from scratches. LOHOME mat meets your most requirements for desk mat if you are thinking of buying a desk mat, action now .\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Much more than I expected\\n\\nReview: I have a real leather semi-circular desk mat from Ikea that Ive had for many years. Its a flat sheet of steel with the leather glued to it and a lip that wraps around the edge of the desk. My desk has a sharp edge so the wraparound lip has saved my arms from a lot of wear and tear. Over time the leather had become worn and pitted and newer laser mice are affected by the steel. But the sheer weight of it has guaranteed it has never once slid around.\\n\\nKEY FEATURES\\n\\nI wanted something similar but larger and rectangular so I can use the pad as a very large mousing surface. The wraparound edge lip was a must-have so that limited the style to this one, which seems to be sold by a half dozen different companies with about a ten dollar spread between them for the same thing. This one was at the high end but was the only one that promised to send it flat instead of rolled up, and it has the most reviews. I decided to pay the extra price (for what looks like the same thing) to assure it arrived flat - that was high on my importance list.\\n\\nCONDITION\\n\\nThe flat pak helped, although there wasn't a shred of material inside the box other than the deskpad it arrived perfectly flat.\\n\\nFIXING THE FIXABLE\\n\\nAs I feared, the lack of any weighty backing material, like the IKEA used, means the pad easily slides all over the desk at the slightest touch, which is annoying to say the least. Also, when I rest my forearms on the pad while typing they stick to the TPU enough that when I lift my arms the whole pad comes up with them. I came up with an easy solution to that which works like a charm. Simply take two of the small circular hook and loop dots like <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Vkey-Sticky-Back-Coins-Hook-Loop-Self-Adhesive-Dots-Tapes/dp/B017JUCQZ0/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Vkey Sticky Back Coins Hook & Loop Self Adhesive Dots Tapes</a> and attach them to the pad and it will never move again until you want it to. Important there is a right way and a wrong way. The natural inclination is to attach the dots at the four corners. Unfortunately that creates raised bumps in the pad that look bad and can affect moving your mouse around. The better way is to cut one dot in half and stick the halves inside each end of the front lip so it stick to the edge of your desk, not the top. Now your pad will lay perfectly flat with no bumps and won't budge no matter what.\\n\\nQUALITY\\n\\nBased on a few things I read I expected this pad to be paper thin but its not, it actually is a relatively thick pad that muffles the sound of my keyboard and mouse click (especially appreciated late at night). It lays absolutely flat and there are no imperfections at all. It is definitely worth what I paid. I had low expectations of it as a mousing surface until I tried it and discovered I like the feel of the way my mouse slides on it better than my very fancy special mouse pad, and of course the advantage is that now my entire desk pad is also a mouse pad.\",\n \"Product: Quartet glass dry-erase board is Stain and ghost resistant for lasting use and magnetic to hang papers with magnets without damaging glass surface. 12\\\" x 12\\\" board size is a perfect choice for a personal space in home or office. Fashionably designed board is frameless and glossy with a thin profile. Red colored glass board surface clearly displays most colors of dry-erase ink. Glass is easy to keep clean with Quartet whiteboard cleaning supplies. Mounting hardware included for easy installation in your space. Magnetic glass dry-erase board comes with 1 Quartet dry-erase marker and 2 round magnets.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Much better than I expected\\n\\nReview: [This review is for the 12 x 12 version. The board is also available in a 17 x 17 version]\\n\\nThe trouble with chalkboards is that they look like a classroom. Same with cork boards, they have the look of an office employee break room. Neither is something that adds to the décor of my home.\\n\\nMy kitchen is country modern ... red brick with glossy white cabinets and stainless steel appliances. The accent color is red. This dry marker board visually is a perfect fit.\\n\\nIt's solidly made of thick glass with a high-gloss cherry red finish. Thankfully there are no logos or markings of any kind despite what the sellers product photos might suggest. I give high marks to designers who have enough good taste to not deface the look of their design with an unattractive logo ... after I already own a product I don't need an ad staring me in the face every time I look at it.\\n\\nThe board comes with one dry erase marker which unfortunately is not magnetized to stick to the board. I found that most colors (surprisingly) show up easy to read against the red surface. Also included are two modern-looking chrome magnets. We like to collect magnets when we travel so we also use some from our own collection.\\n\\nTHINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW\\n\\n1. The quality of manufacture (the product is made in China) is excellent; I would call it commercial grade. The steel backing plate is massive, weighing almost 3 lbs, and the red high-gloss glass skin is bonded to the mounting plate. The board is absolutely flat with no hint of warping and the lacquer-like finish is flawless. Some people might want to consider this to hang all by itself as an ultra-modern work of art. Seriously.\\n\\n2. The mounting holes are rock solid, as my photo illustrates there are four of them, each being a + shaped cutout for maximum adjustability.\\n\\n3. The product comes with all of the screws and mounting anchors necessary.\\n\\n4. The manufacturer shows obvious pride in their product the way it is carefully protected and packed with several levels of impact absorbing material.\\n\\n5. Please realize that this is not a cheap stamped piece of material, it is heavy-grade steel and glass. Weighing almost 3 lbs it is heavy. I would suggest if possible that at least one of your mounting screws be anchored to a stud.\\n\\nThis is an instance in which the sellers product description doesnt really do the item justice, it is much better made than I ever expected. If you are concerned about the selling price, don't be, when you see it youll agree that its worth it.\",\n \"Product: The South Main Hardware lockable steel security filing box is an excellent lockbox for important items such as documents and small valuables. It's great for storage in cabinets, lockers, desks and basements. Available in Black. Includes 2 keys. Storage compartment dimensions are 13.58 inch L x 6.10 inch W x 11.34 inch h.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Mostly positive with one glaring flaw\\n\\nReview: Ive been shopping for several weeks for a security box of this size to keep my current medical records in. I haven't had a lot of luck finding a good one. Most of the ones sold at the office supply stores are plastic and from past experience with them, are the type that fall apart. Reading reviews of the most popular plastic file boxes here at Amazon confirmed that with many customers reporting that the hinges break and the latches don't stay latched.\\n\\nHowever I was equally disappointed at the few metal boxes I found. They were either extremely thin stamped metal or thick steel fireboxes which was massive overkill for keeping everyday records.\\n\\nThis new one from South Main Hardware was being introduced at just the right time for me and I was asked to take a look at an early sample of one. It costs slightly more than the average box of its size as sold by retail stores but to me most of them are very overpriced for being only plastic.\\n\\nSo I was eager to see if this one was a good value or not.\\n\\nThe box is definitely more solid feeling that most of the plastic boxes and made of a much higher grade of metal than the cheap tin ones Ive seen (and owned). For lack of a better way of putting it, the thickness of the metal reminds me of what you would find used for appliances like refrigerators, stoves, washer/dryers, etc. Substantial but not firebox thick.\\n\\nThe hinge is a piano hinge, which means it goes all the way across the back of the lid. There is an average key lock that would discourage someone from randomly going through your papers and if they did you would see the evidence of it. But there is no way I would call it secure. It would take anyone determined to get into the box about 5 seconds to pry the lock. On the minus side, there is no latch other than the key lock which means you have to use a key to lock/unlock the box every time you use it.\\n\\nThis box has welded in hanger rails for pendaflex-tyle file folders that are substantially better than the cheap type plastic boxes use. They are strong and recessed which means the file folders are much less apt to fall of the rails than most other file boxes of this type.\\n\\nThe box is (in my opinion) a bit more attractive than most of what I see in the retail office supply stores. There is a pro and con to being metal with hard edges if you drop it, it will dent and if you carelessly bang it into a wall or desk it can do some damage, unlike most plastic boxes. Note that unlike most other all-metal boxes Ive seen the edges on this one are softly rounded to avoid scratching furniture and catching on clothing. As the photo shows there is only one weld seam for the main sides of the box and thats at the back.\\n\\nNot so positive is that South Main Hardware chose to put a huge advertising logo right on the top of the box. It is not a label or decal but actually painted on the box. After I own a product I don't want to be forced to advertise the manufacturer forever. These days most reputable companies have gone to very low-key subtle logos (look at an iPhone, you can barely find their logo). This box is one of the worst Ive seen in terms of being in your face with their oversized logo.\\n\\nOn a scale of 1 5 I think this filing box is better than average and I think the price represents a good value for the money. I like it, maybe not love it and the ugly logo doesnt make me like it any better.\",\n \"Product: A chair intelligent enough to understand how you sit, and adjust itself intuitively. A chair thoughtful enough to measure, and minimize, its lifelong impact on the environment. Its almost as if the chair can think.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: One seriously versatile and comfortable chair\\n\\nReview: For the past 100 years most office chairs have been designed for looks rather than comfort. Oh, some were comfortable alright, after setting several adjustments to make it just right for one individual person but usually only if that person sat a certain way in the chair. This chair is different for the different way we do things these days. Consider the following scenarios:\\n\\n1. Many business offices today are collaborative. Office walls and doors have come down and workers move one location to another often for short sessions.\\n\\n2. Workers who spend long hours at one location sitting in one chair often no longer engage in just one task. One person may be sitting at a traditional keyboard for a period, then sit back and work with a tablet device, only to move into a relaxed mode to share thoughts with co-workers, then might pull his/her chair over to a group brainstorming session.\\n\\n3. Many individuals work in non-traditional work spaces including their home where they may share the same workspace with other family members.\\n\\n4. The image of a worker sitting bolt upright dressed in a suit or dress, posed to look important has pretty much been obliterated by no one caring how someone looks in their chair.\\n\\nRecently I went shopping for an office chair to replace my fancy leather one that was falling apart, the victim of both long hours in it and being cheap when I originally bought it. I went to several office supply stores and business furniture specialty stores and sat in dozens of traditional and non-traditional chairs and was dismayed that none of them were comfortable, and some caused discomfort within minutes. They looked cool, all right, but I could not find a single one that I could spent hours sitting in.\\n\\nThe Think Chair wasn't among them, of course, because it is a new product. It defies almost everything Ive ever felt Ive known about business office furniture. It will be hard to convey in words what a chair feels like when you sit in it, of course. Every body is built differently and it is a daunting task for any chair to be able to feel comfortable to a never-ending variety of body shapes and sizes.\\n\\nBut that is exactly what sets this chair apart from the me-too pack of look-alike chairs that have dominated work areas for so many years. This one, in fact, might be called a smart chair because when you sit in it, the chair senses the way you are sitting, your weight, and how you shift it around while working. So for example, it is not uncommon for me to have a normal posture when I first sit in my chair, then when I start to work on a document that requires typing I lean way back. A while later I may be working on photo editing and am hunched forward using my graphic tablet and then a phone call comes in and I lean way back and kick my feet up on something. Unlike any chair I have ever used, the Think Chair compensates for all of those changes and optimizes itself without me making any changes to the settings.\\n\\nNow, the chair may be smart but it isn't my brain, so at any time I have the option of adjusting such things as height, back tension, lumbar support, armrest height and all kinds of little tweaks to make myself comfortable and when I shift around the chair keeps my preferences in mind while easing itself into complementary postures. The closest I can come to describing the action is like certain elliptical exercise equipment that adjusts itself as you use it.\\n\\nAt first it seems like you are going to go flying wildly out of control because we are so used to chairs that do nothing but tilt and swivel. More times than one I leaned back and felt like I was a bit helpless as the chair silently and effortlessly assumed a different, but yet always supportive, position.\\n\\nAs far as aesthetics, the Think Chair is elegantly minimalistic. Having shopped the various office furniture stores there is frankly nothing quite like it in terms of the look and feel of excellence of materials and construction. The metal components are absolutely first-class, in fact in some ways reminiscent of seating in first-class of certain overseas airlines. The same may be said about the fabric, a unique padded mesh that breathes like mesh but has the softness of upholstered fabric. The chair is available in several colors (I want them all, the choice is hard to make) but the electric blue (what they call Blue Jay) of the one I have is probably the most like I would imagine Captain Kirk would sit in to command the Enterprise.\\n\\nWhats not to like? This comes down to more to personal preference than design issues. For example, to me the armrests seem like an afterthought on a chair so comfortable and well-designed. They are a semi-soft rubbery material. Im a person who likes to rest my elbow on the armrest and hold my chin while Im thinking. Im used to a soft armrest. I guess with this chair Ill just have to get used to doing less thinking. The black color of the armrests, to me, looks a bit too generic. Im not sure I would want it to match the fabric but maybe some other shade of darker blue? I like that they adjust up/down, forward/back, tilt/swivel, etc. but the only one of those positions that locks in place is up/down. I prefer not to have my armrest suddenly move if I bump against it. The other (minor) quibble is that the legs stick out further from the center shaft than usual. My old chair is 11 per leg and this one is 13 per leg. Until I get used to it, every time I swing my chair around my ankles hit the end of the leg.\\n\\nUnlike most office chairs, this one comes 100% fully assembled so there is nothing to adjust or be out of adjustment. The box is rather large (and heavy) so if you're ordering it you may want to arrange for the delivery person to leave it in a location when you can unbox it and then carry the assembled chair to its final destination. Steelcase includes an excellent user guide to help you learn how to customize each adjustment to your own preference.\\n\\nAs far as value for the price, its necessary to keep in mind that this is a commercial office product and as such it is very competitively priced with other quality office chairs. For some it may be a little pricier than what you are used to for a home-office chair but if (like me) you spend a lot of time working at a desk, once you sit in this chair you will never question if its worth the money. It is.\\n\\nBefore I actually used the chair for a while I was pretty convinced that it would not be possible to rank it as best (I was thinking of words like different). But it didn't take long for me to form the opinion that this is likely the most comfortable office chair Ive ever sat in, regardless of brand, style or price. Its really a night vs. day comparison to an average office chair. Steelcase has raised the bar in every possible way.\\n\\nAn office chair is important to me. Comfort and posture are not trivial matters. All things considered I would rate this chair as I like it (4-stars) but because it is so ridiculously comfortable and supportive I am compelled to tell you what I would tell anyone who asks me I love it and Amazon defines that as earning 5-star.\",\n \"Product: Make spraying liquid weed killers, insect killers, fungicides, and fertilizers easy with Ortho Dial N Spray Hose End Sprayer. The extended-grip design keeps your hands dry during application and the direct-connect design makes attaching Ortho concentrate bottles fast and easy. Also, there are 3 adjustable spray patterns and 14 dial settings, so you can trust that you are spraying the precise amount of product-every time.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Versatile and useful for its low price\\n\\nReview: Start by realizing this is an $11 piece of plastic and don't set high expectations that it will give you Porsche performance on a Yugo budget. Something made to sell for $11 will certainly exhibit normal unit-to-unit quality variances ... some users will get a perfect one and some users will get one with problems. Ortho is a reputable company and the product is guaranteed. If it doesn't work, send it back or (for the extremely low price, toss it). Anything attached to a garden hose will probable leak a little. If it sprays toxic chemicals in your face, stop using it and get rid of it.\\n\\nThat being said, the copy I received did not leak. It essentially did what it should do and did it reasonably well. The major advantages of this type of sprayer over pre-mixed chemicals is:\\n\\n1. You don't have to pay for fancy mechanical devices every time you buy garden chemicals. There are even sprayers now that include battery-powered spray heads. Let's see ... 50 cents for the chemicals and $25 for a throw-away motorized spray head.\\n\\n2. You don't have to pay for the water that dilutes the chemicals.\\n\\n3. You can adjust the power/strength of the chemical mix according to your needs.\\n\\n4. You can reuse the sprayer for numerous types of chemicals (just don't reuse it for toxins one day and fertilizers the next). For the low price, own at least two of these for feeding and killing.\\n\\nI like to keep gardening tools as simple as possible, which is getting increasing more difficult. This hose-end sprayer is actually a pretty simple device. Just use common sense and, as always, choose the right tool for the job.\",\n \"Product: Orb-3 Antifoam neutralizes foam quickly & safely. The fast-acting formula quickly knocks down ugly foam, making this kind of upset easy to prevent and control in pools, spas and water features. This natural, eco-friendly, easy to use water-based emulsion provides long-lasting, effective defoaming and foam prevention. Its food-grade ingredients simply cause water to go flat. And, because foam can harbor bacteria and organic materials, you'll reduce scum lines and your maintenance time as well. Professionals rely on Orb-3 Antifoam for great looking water in pools, spas and water-features all year round. For pools: Apply 2 ounces per 5,000 gallons For Spas: Apply 1/2 ounce per 500 gallons. Safe for people, pets and plants, Orb-3 Antifoam carries the Orb-3 60-Day Satisfaction Guarantee: if you are not completely satisfied with your purchase simply return it within 60-days and we will gladly refund your purchase price. To use: Shake thoroughly before using. Dilute dose with enough water to topically spray or add to water body. Increase or decrease dose as needed to control foam. For persistent foam or foamy areas, use an automatic feed pump such as the Orb-3 2000 Peristaltic Pump. It is safe to enjoy the water immediately after use. Do not put sanitizers or other chemicals directly in the bucket with Orb-3 Antifoam. For best results use within 6 months of purchase. Made in USA.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: A little goes a long way\\n\\nReview: This product doesn't seem to be very well accepted. The two biggest issues have to do with it leaving a scum line and that it adds an odor.\\n\\nMy spa has virtually no foam, at least not enough to consider treating it. But I did try this product to evaluate it on a day when there was enough foam to see what it did to it. Not being a chemist or physicist I don't know where the foam is supposed to go but my guess is that this stuff is supposed to break it down, which would probably leave a film of some sort. That's what it did for me. I don't know which is worse, the foam or the film but I can't blame the product for doing what it's supposed to. I'm neutral on the subject but I'm not a fan of adding even more chemicals to my spa.\\n\\nAs far as the odor, again I would expect any chemical to have an odor. If it was practical I would change the spa water before every use, any chemical smell is a turn off. So again, I guess I can't blame this stuff for adding more chemical odors if that's the way it works.\\n\\nBy the way, I used only a few drops and it neutralized the foam. If there is excessive sliminess and smells maybe the user could reduce the amount of product being added?\",\n \"Product: Scotts Turf Builder Grass Seed Sunny Mix thrives in hot and sunny, summer conditions. It is ideal for open areas with few trees. And, each seed is wrapped in a unique WaterSmart PLUS Coating that absorbs 2x more water than uncoated seed, feeds with essential nutrients, and protects seedlings from disease. Grow Quicker, Thicker, Greener Grass. Guaranteed.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Some hints on how to choose the best seed for your lawn\\n\\nReview: Scotts has my needs perfectly described as requiring a grass that thrives in hot & sunny summer conditions. Half of our lawn is both hot and sunny and the other half is hot and mostly in shade. Being an L-shaped lot it is easy for us to grow two entirely different types of grass but yet have a uniform look throughout. I choose Scotts Sunny Mix for the portion of the law that gets bombarded with sun from morning till night. Coincidentally that portion of our lawn gets the most use and abuse from walking across it, pets and backyard get-togethers after sundown so we also require the lawn to be hardy. And oh yeah, we live in a dry climate and cant have the sprinklers on for hours every day, so whatever grass we plant has to absorb and use water efficiently.\\n\\nThis seed is it. Before going any further I need to point out that personally I believe customer reviews for a product like grass seed are next to useless. Ive already proven that in my own lawn where 50% of it loves a Sunny Mix and the other half would be the worst possible place to put it. So reading my review, or any other here, isn't going to tell you anything useful how this seed will perform for YOUR lawn.\\n\\nI like it and it works for me. Grass seed is cheap, my suggestion is to designate an area one season to a specific type of grass seed that is the most appropriate and try it out. If it doesnt work that doesnt mean that Scotts is a bad company or the product is defective, it simply means you need to try another blend until you find the one thats perfect for you and you lawn, in your climate and geographic area.\\n\\nMy experience with this particular blend has slightly less to do with it being a sunny mix than the fact that it requires less water and utilizes the water it gets most efficiently. And for me that worked out well and deserves a positive rating.\",\n \"Product: Highlights: Size: 8 Quart Organic Lightens heavy potting mixes and native soil Enriched with Miracle-Gro Plant Foo Helps promote strong root development Unique water-holding capabilities help plants require less frequent watering For use in-containers and in-ground Bagged\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Beneficial for house plants in dry climates\\n\\nReview: This is a \\\"new\\\" version of a product that has been on the market for quite a while. The manufacturer does not make it clear what the difference between the two is other than slightly different package labeling. I have used this product successfully over the long term and it has helped produce very healthy and vibrant house plants. I have just potted numerous new plantings for an in-house winter spice garden and will update this review if there is anything significant to report about the progress over time.\\n\\nIf you have not used this product before note that it is not intended to be used as potting soil itself but rather used to lighten heavy potting and seeding mixes and assisting in retaining moisture and nutrients. It should be mixed in a 1-to-1 ratio with pre-mixed potting mix or native soil. It works great to line wire baskets when used by itself.\\n\\nIf you are curious what benefit a Sphagnum peat moss has, it is that it has good water retention abilities. That is an important benefit if you live in dry climate areas like the desert or if your indoor air is not humidified in the winter.\\n\\nThis product is as-expected and a good value.\",\n \"Product: Hot Shot Natural Home Insect Control contains lemongrass oil to kill ants, cockroaches (American and German), centipedes, crickets, earwigs, millipedes, pillbugs, scorpions, spiders (poisonous and non-poisonous, including black widows), fleas, ticks, silverfish, firebrats and waterbugs. Its safe to use around pets and children and doesnt leave any lingering pesticides. Fast acting formula kills on contact. Leaves no messy residue. Test an inconspicuous sample of fabric or rug for staining before use. INDOOR USE: Shake well, set nozzle to spray setting and spray directly onto insects until thoroughly covered. Spray into hiding places such as cracks, crevices, openings around sinks, drains and pipes, around appliances, along baseboards and behind cabinets. Spray until wet. Contact as many insects as possible. Repeat as necessary. OUTDOOR USE: Remove debris and leaf litter from next to the foundation; cut back vegetation and branches that touch foundation; and move or rake back rocks, deep mulch or other potential pest harborage next to the foundation. Shake well, set nozzle to spray setting and spray infested areas thoroughly. For ants, thoroughly wet hills and runways. Hot Shot Natural is a complete line of pest control products that are safe to use around children and pets. The formulas, made with natural lemongrass oil, have been tested to ensure product effectiveness. Hot Shot Natural - caring for your home, the natural way.\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: Best ant attracting product ever\\n\\nReview: As so many others have said, this stuff doesn't kill insects, it attracts them. They love it. They swim in it. They drink it. They send gift packages of it home to their families.\\n\\nSeriously here's my experience with it. I found a few ants hovering around a piece of cat kibble that our cat carried to the coffee table. We never eat on the coffee table and never since we've owned it has there been even one ant on it. I think someone tracked in an ant or two on their shoes one day and they found the morsel. There were no ant trails, just a few ants around the piece of kibble. I discarded the nugget and sprayed the entire table top with Hot Shot (I had just bought the bottle and this was the first time I was using it). The next morning there was a trail of ants crawling up the table leg and dozens of ants wandering aimlessly around on top of the table. I sprayed them directly with Hot Shot and they continued to mill around, unfazed. The only ants that died were the ones that were so soaked they drowned to death.\\n\\nA few hours later there were even more ants on the table. They were loving the smell of the Hot Shot. I sprayed again. Same thing. They were actually walking through puddles of Hot Shot. The few who drowned I could have just as easily drowned with plain water or spitting on them.\\n\\nI repeated the whole thing later and now even more ants were attracted to the table, a table that had never seen an ant was now a desirable destination resort for them. They were sending postcards back home telling their friends they had discovered Hot Shot nirvana.\\n\\nThe only way to stop the invasion was to wash the entire table and the path leading up to it with a strong ant poison, which defeated the whole purpose of buying a so-called natural environmentally friendly product.\\n\\nI will never buy Hot Shot again.\",\n \"Product: 17\\\", amish made. Spring steel, much more powerful than the standard plastic ones! Genuine leather.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Everything you wanted to know about fly swatters and more\\n\\nReview: Fly swatters are another of those dying breed of products like rotary dial phones, TVs with picture tubes, cassette players, etc. that used to be found in every home but these days not so much. If you walk into even the big mega department stores looking for one you likely won't even find one. And when you do, like here at Amazon, they are almost always the one-piece molded plastic things that are stamped out by the billions in China.\\n\\nMy great-aunt from Pennsylvania had an Amish-made fly swatter. She was 92 and when she aimed for a fly she could have been Annie Oakley she never missed a shot. Her fly swatter, which she probably had all of her life, was a supple piece of perforated leather with what looked like a bent metal coat hanger attached to it.\\n\\nHere are some little-known things about fly swatters that you probably never knew:\\n\\n1. The device really shouldnt be called a fly swatter at all. Swatting flies is what you do with your hand or what a horse does with its tail. Your mission with one of these things is to KILL the fly, not just swat at it. A much more appropriate name should be a Fly Whapper.\\n\\n2. The cheap plastic things are designed all wrong for whapping flies. First off they are usually brightly colored. Flies have hundreds of thousands of eyes, in fact fly eyes have the fastest visual responses in the animal kingdom. So, bottom line is that if you want to surprise them the last thing you want is a neon pink piece of plastic flailing at one of them.\\n\\n3. Plastic fly swatters are also too rigid. My great aunts fly whapper had a wire handle just like this Amish one does and for a good reason. The thin wire minimize the disruption of air currents, which can be detected by the fly and allow it to escape, and also reduce air resistance, making it easier to hit a fast-moving target such as a fly. The thicker, more rigid plastic handle is like sending an engraved warning notice to the fly that you're about to hit it. Its the same reason that a rolled up newspaper rarely actually hits a fly.\\n\\n4. There are some other (similar) handmade fly whappers with a leather pad at the end but they use a wooden handle. Same thing the wooden handle isn't whippy enough, to be able to flex just before the moment of impact for maximum squoosh with minimum damage caused by hitting other objects.\\n\\n5. Finally, the business end of the fly whapper, lets call it the pad. For absolute maximum whippiness there is nothing that beats natural leather. There was another kind of pad thats hard to find now that was a fabric mesh like a dense window screen. They were a close second to natural leather in whippiness. The cheap plastic pads aren't even in the same league as either of the above.\\n\\nSo, you're shopping for a fly whapper and you now know that those bright neon colors that attract your eye also attracts all of the thousands of eyes on the fly and destroy your chances of a stealth approach. Youve also learned that a stiff handle can be your worst enemy when whapping flies the whippier the handle the better. Youve also learned that my 92 year old aunt had a batting average that makes yours look like junior league and she did it with an old Amish fly whapper that wasn't too different from this one.\\n\\nAnd now you know the full story why I believe this fly whapper earns a full 5-stars.\",\n \"Product: - Guaranteed to fit built-in barbecue grills 37\\\" long x 27\\\" wide x 24\\\" high - Fits Weber Summit Gas Built-In Grill model S-460 - Four-year limited warranty - Gardelle One is a durable woven polyester fabric with an added UV-stabilized coating and a water-resistant laminated undercoating - Water-resistant backing keeps your barbecue dry while elastic hem cords move easily through a special channel for a snug fit - Reinforced padded handles make removal easy while double-stitched seams add strength and a stylish accent - Scroll down for additional cover fit information by grill model - Structured vents stay open to prevent wind lofting and mildew and are lined with mesh barriers - Two (2) custom-colored buckles keep your cover secure in any weather - Adjustable webbing belts slide easily for a tailored look\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Well worth the price\\n\\nReview: I used to think having a custom made cover was the only way I was going to be able to cover my outside barbecue without it looking ugly. But the cost was prohibitively expensive to have a cover made, so we ended up using tarps (which of course are not very attractive).\\n\\nI was happy to run across this listing for the Ravenna cover, which wisely does not try to assume the role of being a one-size-fits-all cover. It covers the important part of the barbecue, which really doesnt vary that much from brand to brand, which protects the working part of the grill. Some grills (like ours) have the cabinet right below the grill and others do not. Please be aware that this only covers the upper part. If you prefer to cover the cabinet as well there are many other choices available here at Amazon.\\n\\nThree sizes are available. They don't do a great job explaining at the Amazon page what those sizes translate to, but here is an overly-simplified explanation. The extra-small would be appropriate for those under-$100 grills you see on sale at the local hardware store, the ones that can cook about two steaks or 4 hamburgers easily. The small might be the better choice for the slightly larger grills in the under-$200 range that can do 4-6 steaks and about 10 burgers. And the medium is going to be right for the double-wide grills that usually sell for about $500 and up.\\n\\nIm not sure where the seller got the concept of built-in grill in their product title but no, this cover would also be totally appropriate for the larger 6-burner mobile grills of up to 45 wide x 29 deep.\\n\\nThe quality is really good, better than you would expect for the price. For most of us, in whatever climate we live, this looks like it would last about 5 years which would be pretty good for the price (it is actually warranted for 4 years). On the subject of price, while affordable the Ravenna cover cost a bit more than some of the full-drape covers available. Ive used those and most are made of a substantially lighter-weight material. This one is both woven polyester combined with a laminate polyvinyl chloride backing. It folds up surprisingly small.\\n\\nConsidering the quality of construction, not to mention the time it will save you from cleaning outer casing of your grill, this cover is well worth the price.\",\n \"Product: The weight distribution of the Classic Pizza Wheel is designed to perfection to allow one simple roll through even the thickest of pizzas with one simple motion. There will no longer be any struggling with rolling your pizza wheel back and forth, tiring your arm, just so that you can get a slice of pizza. The pre-sharpened blade allows you to go right from box to cutting without any hassle in between. 4 quick rolls over your pizza and you'll have 8 delicious slices of pizza ready to be devoured.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Is it good, better or best ... or worst?\\n\\nReview: <div id=\\\"video-block-R8N0JP56IBTJV\\\" class=\\\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\\\"></div><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/C1Uj1jKp2SS.mp4\\\" class=\\\"video-url\\\"><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/21vEmk1uEPS.png\\\" class=\\\"video-slate-img-url\\\"> I have a pizza cutter that I got from my mom that's maybe 20 years old. It was made by a long-gone company and was made in America. It will probably last another 20 years but let's be realistic, how often does the average person use a pizza cutter and how long do they use it each time? With reasonable care a pizza cutter is destined to last a long time.\\n\\nSo the #1 reason to replace one is probably to get a \\\"better\\\" one. Back in mom's time most pizza cutters had a 2\\\" wheel, straight handle and most did not have a knuckle guard. Some people will claim an advantage to having a larger wheel. In fact, a larger wheel does have a slight advantage that it help apply more pressure to cut through thicker crusts and also (at least in my experience) less of the toppings seem to stick to the wheel.\\n\\nThe Cuisinart CPS104 is a disappointment. The manufacturer is careful not to go into any detail in their product description other than it is \\\"silver\\\". What looks like a solid metal chromed handle is in fact plastic with \\\"chrome\\\" plated trim. It looks cheap, like something you would find at the dollar store, not what you would expect from Cuisinart for $15.\\n\\nOthers have mentioned various problems with the wheel. In my case it wobbles so much it feels like it is going to fall off (I tried tightening it but it's as tight as it goes). Watch the video to see (and hear) the problem. The extreme wobble makes a mess when cutting a pizza!\\n\\nAnother issue is the clear plastic blade guard that the product ships with. Nowhere does it say that this guard should be used again after the product is unpacked. Note (in the video) that it has large holes in it where it is VERY easy for your finger to slip when you try to \\\"snap\\\" the guard back on, and in doing so it would be extremely easy to slice your fingertip off.\\n\\nTrue the handle is comfortable, helping the product achieve its \\\"average\\\" rating. Otherwise there aren't a lot of positives to report about this pizza cutter. It is utilitarian and it cuts pizza - I would expect any new pizza cutter to do that. I can't say yet if the plastic handle is going to snap if too much pressure is applied, or if the \\\"chrome\\\" will flake off with everyday use (I have never had a fake chrome plastic product survive more than a few months without looking pretty bad). If either of those happens the product rating can only go down ... this product has nothing at all to recommend it for a 5 or even a 4 star rating.\\n\\nNote that the packaging says this product is NOT dishwasher safe. The cheap plastic probably wouldn't survive one dishwasher cycle. They say to \\\"wipe it clean\\\". Have you ever tried to \\\"wipe\\\" gooey cheese and greasy meat oils off a pizza cutter? I do not believe that would be very sanitary ... or easy.\\n\\nFrankly, this product is lucky it even got 3-stars.\",\n \"Product: Easy! Fast! Convenient! If you like ignition at the click of a finger, then try our Electric Charcoal Starter. This handy device, with a heat resistant handle, will have you cooking in minutes without matches, lighter fluids or fire starters. Our design improves on every other starter on the market. We have: A longer handle to reach more coals without reaching into the cooker. An angled design to avoid heat near the handle. Stainless steel cooker mounting bracket. Larger heating coil starts more coals for faster cooking. Includes cooling stand.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Does it do what the ads claim it will do?\\n\\nReview: The idea behind this thing is pretty basic. You put it under the charcoal, plug it in to an AC outlet, and wait for the coals to get hot enough to catch fire. Im comparing it not to other brands (because realistically who has tested all of the several brands being sold) but to the method I have used for many years pouring the charcoal into a glorified tin can with some newspapers stuffed inside and lighting it. That method works for me without chemical lighters and gives me blazing white hot coals in 30 minutes or less. Using this doesnt seem to offer any other real advantage except time IF it works faster. Does it?\\n\\nI poured the same amount of charcoal I always use, about the same amount most people would use. The size and shape of the grill may have a tiny influence for some people but the only valid comparison is how fast is it compared to the method we are used to? After the coals are lit and glowing they are going to heat to usable temperature just as fast no matter what starter method we use. So, the only valid review is how fast this thing can get that initial heat going.\\n\\nCompared to my usual method (remember that takes 30 minutes or less) here is how the Aura electric started did:\\n\\n1. The instructions warn never to use it for more than 8 minutes. What if that doesnt light your charcoal? Well, they don't answer that question. It actually takes 10-12 minutes to get the coals hot enough to be able to remove the starter.\\n\\n2. Because of the large size of the heat ring, a significant number of coals are touched and heated. The heat seems to radiate inward toward the center of the ring, so it has the effect of magnifying the heat.\\n\\nSo, it does work, and it works in a reasonable period of time. The design is pretty simple and the construction is acceptable, I would expect it to be usable for at least one barbecue season, maybe a couple more. And the price is acceptable for a barbecue accessory.\\n\\nThe bottom line is I like it (Amazons definition for 4-stars). Its not a product that is so far superior that it would be fair to say I love it, but theres no reason not to recommend it.\",\n \"Product: An Amazon Brand.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Heres why this one is a keeper\\n\\nReview: Living as I do in an extremely harsh climate a grill cover is not only something thats nice to have, it is a necessity if you don't want to buy a new BBQ grill every couple of years. Because of the climate extremes Ive either had to get used to buying cheap covers that I replace every season or spending an unreasonable amount on name brand covers.\\n\\nAs they do with so many things AmazonBasics comes through with flying colors with this kettle grill cover. The heavy quality of the fabric, the excellent stitching details, the generous sizing, and the extra ruggedness of the fastenings all place it firmly in the premium league of products yet the price assures its place in the best buy value category compared to any of the brand names.\\n\\nI own a cover for my kettle grill that I paid much more for and while it is nice, the AmazonBasics is better in every way. I ordered this one to cover my brand new smaller-size propane grill and the fit is perfect in other words you don't have to use it specifically on a kettle grill, it will fit many smaller charcoal and gas grills as well.\\n\\nSince we are subject to very high winds, I am picky about how good the tie-downs are on a grill cover and these are among the best. The double stitching on the sewn-in handles makes it easy to slip the cover on and off.\\n\\nAnd, while color is a personal preference, I like the look of the desert sand/dark brown combination.\\n\\nHaving owned more than my share of grill covers I consider this one a keeper. Judging the look and feel of the materials Im sure it will hold up a lot better than anything Ive seen in the price range.\",\n \"Product: Smith Performance Sprayers are built to work as hard as you do. They are durable, professional products with an emphasis on chemical resistance and built to withstand the most demanding work conditions. The 190447 2-Gallon Industrial and Contractor Series Bleach Compression Sprayer is ideal for large jobs involving remediation, cleaning, degreasing or mold removal. Sprayer features a lockable shut-off to reduce hand fatigue, a nickel-plated brass poppet for strength and precision, and an easy-to-clean, in-line filtration system. The Viton seals offer the best chemical resistance to bleach and other harsh chemicals and are easily changed without using tools. The pressure release valve not only prevents over compression, but also helps prevent chemicals dispersing from tank onto the user prior to opening. Multiple nozzles included with the 190447 bleach sprayer for ultimate versatility: high foaming nozzle (enables visible confirmation of covered area and deeper grime penetration), wide flat fan nozzle (red, 0.25 GPM, angled at 70 Degree), narrow flat fan nozzle (yellow, 0.15 GPM, angled at 30 Degree), and adjustable poly nozzle (enables stream to cone patterns). Also accepts Tee Jet nozzles.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Recommended for light-duty commercial use\\n\\nReview: As a homeowner I use a variety of home maintenance tools, including sprayers for paint, lawn chemicals, cleaners and power washing. While the seller designates this specifically as a bleach sprayer there is nothing in its design that would prevent you from using it for other cleaning chemicals or even weed killers just don't go from one chemical to another without thoroughly cleaning the sprayer first. If space and your budget permit, ideally you will own both cleanup sprayers and plant food sprayers, as those are things you don't ever want to mix.\\n\\nThis sprayer is intended for light duty commercial work and I did find that overall it is a bit more rugged than the ones Ive bought at the local home improvement warehouse. But then again, those cost about half the price. While on the subject of price, of course I do not own a storeroom full of sprayers but as a casual shopper I cant help but notice that compared to similar units being sold at Amazon this one is at the upper price range for a manual sprayer. I was curious to see if I could find any advantages.\\n\\nThe unit itself is almost all plastic other than the stainless steel wand. The plus is that it is lightweight and (according to the manufacturer) resistant to the chemicals its intended to be used with. I can find no fault with that logic. However, there are a few things that stand out immediately that concern me. The first is that the clamp that holds the pump handle is secured in place only by two plastic clamps (see photo) that don't really snap into place. I would be concerned that over time the pressure buildup inside the tank might pop that clamp open, potentially spilling the chemicals. I don't quite understand why the manufacturer didn't use a screw-on or twist-on mechanism instead.\\n\\nOn the plus side, the release trigger on the handle is large, comfortable and easy to use, as is the trigger lock mechanism. Both look like they will stand up to heavy use over several seasons.\\n\\nNot such positive news about the instruction manual. Faced with a bag of small parts I opened the manual and found numerous tiny obscure photos and sketches about how to assemble and use the product. It would not cost the manufacturer any more to use larger diagrams and type and print a more usable and helpful manual.\\n\\nBe aware that the product description shows that a gray low volume fan nozzle is included. It is not. The small product shots at the top of the sellers page accurately show the black, yellow and red nozzle that are included.\\n\\nBottom line is that this is a good product with a couple of small details that prevent it from earning 5-stars. It may not be substantially better than those sprayers selling for much less money, and therefore overkill for a typical homeowner, but offsetting that is that virtually every part is available from Smith as a replacement a big plus for light-duty commercial users.\",\n \"Product: Know your indoor environment. With an AcuRite Pro Accuracy Indoor Temperature and Humidity Monitor, you get reliable information that can help you ensure a comfortable living space, and better air quality, all while taking steps to preserve your home's interior and valuable possessions. This temperature sensor and humidity gauge combination offers enhanced accuracy, and frequent measurement updates on an easy-to-read digital display. Compact, easy to use, and offering a variety of mounting options, it's a must-have for any home or office. One-year limited warranty.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Best in class heres why\\n\\nReview: [NOTE] At the time this review was written, this device had only been for sale since December 2016 and reviews for 3 completely different models were all mixed up together. So to be clear, this review refers ONLY to the AcuRite Pro model <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/AcuRite-01083M-Pro-Accuracy-Temperature-Humidity-Monitor/dp/B01HDW58GS/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">AcuRite 01083M Pro Accuracy Temperature & Humidity Monitor</a>\\n\\nLIKES\\n\\n1. Small physical size but large easy to read primary displays\\n2. Well-designed hole for hanging plus 2 strong magnets. NO fold-out easel stand but wide flat base allows it to stand up pretty well\\n3. Setup controls are not too complicated\\n4. Smaller digital readout of temperature and humidity history. The temperature one is for the past 24 hours, the humidity one can be switched from past 24 hours or lifetime (until the battery is replaced at which time it resets).\\n5. Comfort zone scale is somewhat useful and easy to understand\\n\\nNOT SO GREAT\\n\\nThe largest display is humidity and the smaller one is temperature. Some people, including me, would prefer to have them reversed. It would cost nothing for them to make this a setup option, it makes no sense why the designers didn't realize that\\n\\nNote that there is no clock function whether visible or not. That means that you can't choose when the 24 hour cycle begins/ends for recording daily highs and lows. For example if you insert the batteries at 3:48 PM that's when the 24 hour recording cycle will begin. You can trick the design by waiting until midnight to insert the batteries if you want to know the history for a true 24 hour cycle\\n\\nThis is a simple temperature/humidity reader, there are no clocks, remote sensors, alerts, alarms or anything else. For my purpose of monitoring the room temperature and \\\"comfort\\\" level of humidity in my bedroom none of those mattered, I bought this because it was exactly what I need.\\n\\nACCURACY\\n\\nA thermometer is worthless if it's not accurate. Unfortunately the vast majority of thermometers being made these days are pure junk, sometimes nowhere even close to being accurate. And humidity meters can be even worse. This one out of the box was within reasonable tolerance if you're not picky but it did read a couple of degrees high for both temperature and humidity. That would be something you'd have to live with for most products in this price range but the good news is that with this model you can fine tune both the temperature and humidity readouts by calibrating them using a known accurate device. Once calibrated the AcuRite Pro was dead on after that, at least until the batteries had to be replaced.\",\n \"Product: Wellness Natural Grain Free Wet Canned Cat Food Cubed, Sliced and Minced recipes are the perfect way to treat your cat to the variety he or she has been waiting for. For each delicious canned cat food recipe, Wellness has paired succulent cuts of wholesome, natural protein sources like chicken, turkey, salmon and tuna with delightfully savory sauces that are sure to please the palate of your furry friend. Each recipe is grain free and, like all Wellness products, does not contain any wheat, wheat gluten, soy or added artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. For those cats that are in need of a single protein source diet, poultry-free and fish-free varieties are available. Explore all of the flavorsome choices today! In addition, hydration is extremely important to a cat's overall health and since cats do not have a strong thirst drive, Wellness wet canned cat food recipes are a delicious and healthy way to increase your cat's moisture intake.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Cat food reality 101\\n\\nReview: Its frustrating when humans make the decision to feed their cat a certain brand of canned food because they (the human) thinks it tastes good. Do they honestly think cats choose which brand of lizard or rat or pigeon to eat because of flavor? As pet parents a cat liking a food should be far down on the list of reasons to choose it. Saying you feed your cat something because it loves it is like saying you feed your two-year old baby nothing but cotton candy meals three times a day because she loves it.\\n\\nUsing rigid guidelines set out for my cats by a veterinarian I choose this brand as one the better ones that meets my pets dietary needs. It does that well, but not perfectly. Unfortunately it still avoids listing specific numbers for carbohydrates, which should be near the top of a cats nutritional needs. High carbohydrates negatively impact the blood sugar level of cats and the leading cause of feline diabetes (which is why responsible humans should NEVER feed their cats dry cat kibble).\\n\\nAnd also unfortunately they like most other brands play loose with the words grain free because some of their ingredients in fact are just as poor of a choice for cats as grains.\\n\\nDespite all that, overall they are one of the better options and by the way, a side benefit is that my cats do like it. The only thing that pushes this brand down slightly is they are at the far upper end of the price scale, even when compared to other super-premium canned food blends.\",\n \"Product: Help your cats feel their best at any age with IAMS PROACTIVE HEALTH Healthy Senior Dry Cat Food with Chickendesigned to support senior cats 11 years old or older. Chicken is the #1 ingredient in this senior cat food (made for outdoor or indoor adult cats) to help support strong muscles. This senior cat kibble is designed for complete health, including bones, teeth, joints, and hearts. It also contains Vitamin E and antioxidants to revitalize your aging kitties immune system, supporting your senior cats ongoing vitality, no matter how old they are. If youre looking for senior cat food for your lively senior, get your paws on thisand keep your cats happy, healthy, and ready to pounce with IAMS Healthy Senior Dry Cat Food.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Friendly for special needs cats too\\n\\nReview: With so many cat foods available these days (cat food is a huge profit business) I like to stick with proven name brands like IAMS whenever I can. They generally fall on the positive side between generic foods and super-premium brands and tend to be a bit more toward the premium end in their choice of ingredients and their manufacturing control.\\n\\nLike so many other brands IAMS loves to classify their cat foods as being intended for kittens, adult cats, senior cats, multiple cats, etc. The differences in the ingredient mix are sometime subtle and to a cat there is no rule dictating what they should eat if a cat likes the taste and can keep it down and the ingredients are cat-healthy then there is no reason why a senior mix cant be fed to a non-senior cat. Case in point is one of mine is just shy of 6 years old so he is hardly a senior yet, but he has special needs. He had to have all of his teeth extracted when he was a kitten. Dont try to tell HIM that, he has no clue that hes toothless and can easily keep up with his toothed sister eating anything.\\n\\nBut despite what he thinks, from a humans viewpoint, its simply easier for him to eat smaller and softer dry food kibble than larger sizes. From that aspect he likes to eat this formulation. And any cat owner knows that getting a cat to eat something is half the battle.\\n\\nSo if you combined the fact that a cat likes the flavor, is comfortable eating it and the ingredients are cat-healthy that translates to a product I like.\",\n \"Product: The Wahl&reg; Figura&trade; Professional Clippers provide up to 90 minutes of cordless runtime. Includes a detachable 5-in-1 Fine Pro blade with 5 adjustable cutting lengths: #9, #10, #15, #30, and #40.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Built rock solid, excellent performance\\n\\nReview: The manufacturer's product description hits all of the key features but it is worth adding emphasis to some of them:\\n\\n1. This clipper is very quiet, smooth and almost vibration-free, important features when you are working with an animal that may be a bit nervous\\n2. The blade remains cool to the touch, again an important feature for the animal's comfort\\n3. The feel of the clipper in-hand is comfortable to hold\\n4. There are no cords to get in the way, it has a run-time of about 90 minutes and lithium batteries have a long useful life\\n5. It is not a make-do product, it is designed and sold by Wahl's Professional Animal division and is engineered for use with animals\\n\\nWhat is not obvious until you open the box is how rock solid this clipper is built, as if carved from a solid piece of stainless steel. If you are apprehensive about the $150 price tag, know that you are getting something that is very well made and obviously not mass-produced in the Far East. The blades in fact are crafted in Germany, with the product assembled in the U.S.\\n\\nOne point to be considered is that there is really no compelling reason that this clipper can't be purchased for trimming human hair if you don't have animals to trim. As such it is certainly a deluxe hair clipper, well-balanced, quiet and smooth with a wide range of adjustments. Bottom line: it may actually rank as one of the most well-built hair clippers available.\",\n \"Product: Give your cat the nutrition she needs with Purina Cat Chow Gentle adult dry cat food. This formula helps support easy digestion in adult cats. In fact, every serving provides all 25 essential vitamins and minerals to help support her overall health and well-being, so you can feel good about filling her dish at mealtime each day. Purina Cat Chow Gentle cat food is formulated with natural prebiotic fiber, high-quality protein and no artificial colors to help support digestive health without compromising on nutrition. An order of this Purina Cat Chow Gentle adult dry cat food from Amazon.com gives her the high-quality care she deserves. Convenient home delivery also means you can skip a trip to the store, giving you more time to spend with your favorite feline pal. At mealtime, every bowl of this food gives her 100% complete and balanced nutrition and a natural prebiotic fiber to help support her digestive health.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Toothless rescue kitty digests this better\\n\\nReview: Almost 5 years ago we rescued an entire family of abandoned cats, including 5 newborn kittens and 3 adults. Over time at the beginning we found homes for all of them, keeping with us a loving brother and sister combo. We nursed those two through some tough times, including the loss of the males teeth due to a life-threatening disease. Now at almost 5 years they are happy and healthy and defying logic, the male is able to eat dry food the same as any other cat. Not being able to chew the food, sometimes if he eats too fast not all of it stays down.\\n\\nI was so happy to learn of this gentle, more easily digestible dry food from Purina. We have been buying a top-rated premium food at a specialty pet food store (quite expensive) and hoped to find something more readily available at the grocery store that was easier for the male cat to digest. I believe we have found it.\\n\\nThe nutritional information is on the label. Only you can decide what you want to feed your cats, and only your cats can decide if they want to eat it. Our decision was that this product offers a sufficient nutritional value to feed it to our cats on a regular basis. I do want to make it clear that they do not depend on a dry food only diet they get fed a high-moisture wet food 2-3 times daily and they self-regulate their intake of dry food during off hours.\\n\\nAll things considered, this formulation is good for fully healthy cats and those that need a more gentle food. My cats like the taste and the incidents of a meal not staying down have noticeably gone down. Im happy with the product and rate it at 5-stars. If anything affects that after longer term use an update will be posted.\",\n \"Product: NUTRO PERFECT PORTIONS Adult Cat Food Trays allow you to feed your cat wet cat food without the mess of leftovers in your refrigerator. Made with real chicken as the first ingredient, this grain-free cat food contains no artificial flavors, colors or preservatives only high-quality ingredients and nutrition in every serving. With NUTRO PERFECT PORTIONS Adult Cat Real Chicken Pate Recipe Cat Food Trays, your cat gets a fresh meal every time.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: The real secret about this cat food\\n\\nReview: It gets to the point of how do you know which cat food to buy? I agree with my cat vet that the manufacturers don't really tell you anything useful about their product and what they do tell you is less important than what they neglect to tell you the really important stuff. And what value is it to read if someone elses cat will eat or won't eat a particular brand of food? Every cat is different and usually most cats change their moods ten times a day. Whats important is if YOUR cat will eat a certain food and even more important is if that food is actually good for your cat.\\n\\nSo I cant tell you if this one is good or not, but as the human parent of a recently diagnosed diabetic cat I can tell you that dry kibble cat foods are pure evil to a cats digestive system. And that canned foods that use a lot of starchy gravy are giving your cat exactly the opposite of whats healthy for it. Cats are, by nature, meat eaters and they aren't as good as people at breaking down carbohydrates in their digestive system. The ideal diet for a cat is one that has increased protein and decreased carbohydrate content, but these are things that cat food makers are reluctant to give us information on. It turns out that special expensive diets are no better than basic Friskies at giving your cat what it needs which is a diet thats high in protein and low in carbs.\\n\\nBy the way, another interesting thing about other peoples observations how they love one brand and not another is fun to see, but usually highly inaccurate to use in choosing which brand is right for you. Did you know that the Nutro Perfect brand is made by the same company as Pedigree, Whiskas, Royal Canin. Sheba, Greenies, Cesar, Iams and Eukanuba?\\n\\nMy cats aren't wild about this particular brand but they will eat it, but again thats not important to you, your cat may feel differently. As a generality Nutro Perfect seems to be at the better end of the spectrum of being made with the meat products that are good for your cat to eat, so I like it. If you care about your cat, don't read ads or what other people have to say ask your vet.\",\n \"Product: IRIS 7-Tier Cat Tree Condo has sturdy wood components and heavy-duty hardware. The IRIS 7-Tier Cat Tree Condo is built to give many years of safe, playful fun. It assembles in minutes, and will provide a great space for your cat friend to explore and play. Cleanup is easy with a soft brush or vacuum.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: You need to know this if you buy this product\\n\\nReview: This is one of those products where the sellers product pictures tell almost the whole story. If you are in the market for a Cat Condo you can tell immediately if this one will be the right size, the right look, and have the right features for your cat(s). And by features I mean how many places there are for your cats to climb, rest, play and simply be cats.\\n\\nIf youve never bought a Cat Condo before, or if youve owned one and been disappointed, this review is for you. Its not a rehash of the height, weight, color and other things that you can get from the product description but rather an actual first-hand overview of whats good and whats not so good about this product.\\n\\nHOW WELL IS IT MADE/HOW GOOD DOES IT LOOK\\n\\nI have seen Cat Condos being sold out of the back of a pickup truck at a local vacant lot. Theres not a lot of rocket science that goes into making one, and there are a lot of people who build them in their basement to sell out of their car on weekends. All it takes is some scrap wood and carpet remnants and a staple gun. I want to be very clear that this is NOT one of those products. Everything about it reassures you that it is worth the price (which admittedly is higher than average). The quality of the materials is first-class in look, feel and the way it is applied. The design is such that it is solid and secure even though it is tall enough to touch most ceilings. There is absolutely no hint of staples or excess glue or anything else that is usually a dead giveaway in a cheap Cat Condo. On this score I rate it as a 5.\\n\\nHOW EASY IS IT TO ASSEMBLE\\n\\nThe instructions are drawings only, no words. If you are experienced assembling RTA (IKEA-type) furniture you will find this to be about a 7 on a scale of 1-10 of easiness (10 being easiest). All of the screws use the same thread and the only tool required is the included allen wrench. Here are two IMPORTANT hints to help make assembly easier:\\n\\n1. Copy and print out a photo of how the assembled product should look (you can use the sellers photo above). Nowhere in the box will you find something like that. Without it, you will end up scratching your head a lot.\\n\\n2. Believe them when they tell you to start assembling from the top of the unit. All logic will tell you to start assembling the bottom first. Dont. Start from the very top piece and work your way down with the unit laying on its side on a hard-surface floor. Do NOT skip a step and do not move the unit until the very last screw is tightened and only then raise the unit upright. You will need a second human to help you tilt it upright.\\nOn ease-of-assembly I rate it a 4\\n\\nPROS\\n\\nFrom my experience seeing other Cat Condos they usually seem to be made by someone who has never seen a cat, or at least doesnt understand what a cat wants. This Cat Condo is fairly close to perfect in offering places that almost any cat will find useful to climb, stretch, scratch, play, sleep, hide, jump, etc. The levels are (for the most part) at the right place. The heavy-duty ropes (two of them) take more energy to bat around than a piece of thread or yarn. There are plenty of sisal-wrapped pillars to scratch their claws on. The two apartments are roomy and private but have a big picture window to the outside world (and the cat-ear shape of the openings is not only cute but practical cats don't like to enter places where their whiskers or ears won't fit). Timid cats have lower levels, energetic cats can spend energy getting to the top, and kittens will be all over it. Adding up the pros rates this product as a 5.\\n\\nCONS\\n\\nThe only two things I would have improved on are that the bottom rope hangs too low. But guess what? It attaches using the exact same screw-hole size as everything else. So it was easy for me to move it to an upper level into a vacant screw hole. The other minor detail is that the upper staircase is mounted in a bit of a strange place where even the most agile cat will find it hard to climb onto that level from the one below it. My cats didn't like it. But again, if it is a problem it is easily correctable because the staircase is held in place with only two of the heavy-duty screws and can be removed in a few seconds. I didn't take away any points for either of these for two reasons they are personal preference and they are easily correctable if you don't like them.\\n\\nIS THIS THE RIGHT ONE TO BUY?\\n\\nIve seen a lot of Cat Condos in stores, at friends homes, being sold out of the back of a van at the gas station, etc. and yet I have never bought one because so many of them look cheesy and seem to use shoddy materials. This is the first one I liked. In fact I like it so much I have it placed right in my living room near the people chairs so the cats can keep us company and have a commanding view of the entire room with a view out the window and even a view of the fireplace in the winder. My cats are very happy and all-in-all this product earns and deserves a 5-star rating.\",\n \"Product: Hills Science Diet Adult Urinary Hairball Control pet food provides precisely balanced nutrition to help support the health of the whole urinary system. Contains natural ingredients plus vitamins, minerals and amino acids. *Hills 100% Satisfaction Guarantee: We're confident your pet will enjoy Hill's Science Diet foods. We're so confident that we offer a 100% money-back guarantee. If you are unsatisfied for any reason, return the unused portion to Amazon for a full refund or replacement. For more information on returning an Amazon purchased product, visit the Amazon returns center.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Good, better, best or worst?\\n\\nReview: Unlike the canned food that I feed my cats, I do not stick to one brand when it comes to dry food. Ive learned that the cats have a preference for one flavor of canned food, and it gives them the moisture and nutrition they need so I stick with one brand. As far as dry food though, my cats learned early in life to pace themselves and nibble at the dry food in-between scheduled meal times, like in the middle of the night or if I am not home during the day. They take as much as they want and need and contrary to popular belief they won't gorge themselves until all the food is gone. They like the variety of switching brands and because it isn't their main meal I can afford to try the (many) brands of premium dry foods that cost about $25/5lb bag.\\n\\nFor no particular reason I have never before tried Hills brand cat foods, although I am very familiar with it. Hills has a prominent place on the shelf at the specialty animal feed store where I usually get my premium brand cat food. I know it is a respected name, and lately there are an amazing number of new brand names for cat foods on the shelf as well.\\n\\nMy cats are rescue kitties and my commitment to them when I saved them was that they would not only get a chance to live but they would be well taken care of. They in turn have returned that care with their love and affection.\\n\\nWhile they are healthy, I know cats can develop urinary infections even if they are indoor only pets. And while excessive hairballs has never been an issue, because of our climate they do tend to shed a lot seasonally and in the process swallow some fur. So this formulation from Hills would be best classified as it couldn't hurt.\\n\\nAs far as rating it, Ive always recommended not to put a lot of faith into what other people say about cat food or how they rate it. Every cat is different and every environment they live in is different. It is unfair to rate a cat food as a 1 or a 5 because one cat didn't like the flavor. We as humans have no idea what the food tastes like. And as far as health benefits (or claimed health benefits) it would take years eating a particular formulation as their steady diet to show positive or negative effects so again, there is no value in opening a bag and pouring out one serving and then rating it as a 1 or a 5 in terms of being good for your cat.\\n\\nBased on the ingredients, the price/value of the product and the reputation of the manufacturer I like this product. Amazon defines I like it as 4-stars.\",\n \"Product: Its time to add some color to your home while encouraging your pet to drink more water. The new Pet Safe Current circulating fountain is an affordable way to provide your pet with a constant source of fresh, filtered water. The Current comes in a trendy Orchid color and is available in 3 sizes. The submersible pump constantly circulates the water through the bowl, keeping the water aerated and appealing to pets. The BPA Free plastic design comes apart for easy cleaning and is dishwasher safe. The Current ensures your pet has access to clean water even when youre away.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Is this a gimmick? Let's find out\\n\\nReview: I have as much understanding of house pets as anyone else. They need water to survive and to that end I even have an upstairs and downstairs bowl of water available for them. I tried for my convenience (not the pets) to use one of those self-filling dishes. The results were not positive but the experience was educational. Here are some notes as they apply to this aerating dish:\\n\\n1. The best feeding style of water dishes are wide bowls. Deep, narrow bowls like this do not replicate nature. This one has a bowl with high sides and a big bump (the motor) that physically interferes with a pet's ability to lap up a large surface without having their whiskers touch anything.\\n\\n2. Pets don't need gimmicks to help them drink water. When they are thirsty they will find water wherever it happens to be and drink from it. Most house pets drink from bowls of rainwater with bugs and leaves floating in it. They don't think like humans.\\n\\n3. Dogs and cats don't like to be watched or interrupted when they are doing something. That includes eating, drinking, pooping, etc. They can get used to moving water like in a stream but a so-called fountain water bowl that has a big bump with a motor that buzzes and vibrates won't make them happy.\\n\\n4. As a good human you should be emptying and refilling a pet's water bowl once a day. As a good house pet they should be drinking most of that bowl of water as part of their healthy regime. Hence, there is really no need for a bowl that aerates the water, making this thing nothing more than a gimmick.\\n\\nPROS:\\n\\n1. Compared to similar models its cheap. But on the other hand its only a plastic bowl with a pump spinning inside. Theres no magic here but a ton of profit for the manufacturer.\\n\\n2. It is very colorful if thats your thing. Score 1 for you your pet doesnt care.\\n\\nCONS:\\n\\n1. It takes a simple concept of an easy-to-clean water bowl and introduces all kinds of nooks and crannies where mold and mildew can grow. Lots of places to get slimy inside where you cant see it. Ideally you should disassemble it and wash the insides once a day. Will you do that? Will anyone do that? Um, no.\\n\\n2. If a purple water dish isn't your thing, this thing is pretty ugly (personal opinion) your pet doesnt care.\\n\\n3. And the most important point this is NOT a fountain. The water is not pumped in like a babbling brook. In fact there is no water movement. This is a $2 plastic bowl with a fish tank pump in it. The pump is noisy (think fish tank) and vibrates. It is loud enough to annoy a human. Pets have hearing thats thirty times more sensitive than a humans, which means having a fish tank pump next to their ears while they are trying to drink sounds to them like being next to a jack hammer.\\n\\nNow, here's the gotcha ... nowhere does the seller tell you in the product description on this page that you must change the filter (made only by them, of course) every 2-4 weeks at a cost of $4.00/4. I'm not a big fan of products that the manufacture deems useful only if you continue to buy replacement parts to continue to make them work as designed.\\n\\nBOTTOM LINE:\\n\\nAs you read these reviews, person A will tell you that their pet drinks from this dish with no problems and person B will tell you that the sound of a whirring motor in their water dish scares the heck out of their pet. The point is that every pet is a unique, individual critter and there is zero value in hearing about other peoples pets. This water dish doesnt have anything to offer that is a significant benefit to any pet but if you like the color and having a cheap little pump water entertains you then go for it your pet doesnt care.\",\n \"Product: With its cutting-edge design and 100 oz. water capacity, the Pet Safe Drink well Sedona Pet Fountain is ideal for large or multiple pets. The bowl and ceramic tower design not only minimizes spills and splashes but provides a large drinking area to accommodate pets with large or flat faces. The falling movement of the water draws in oxygen to prevent bacteria growth, while at the same time naturally freshening your petâs water. The hygienic design is easy to clean and top shelf dishwasher safe. The Sedona Pet Fountain will âclearlyâ keep your pet healthy and hydrated while adding an elegant touch to your home decor.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: The most beautiful pet drinking bowl ever?\\n\\nReview: In the ongoing quest to find the perfect pet water dish, here is yet another, this one from a company with a recognized background in selling a seemingly endless variety of water dishes that all share the common theme that in one way or another they use a pump to flow the water into the dish.\\n\\nThis ones claim to uniqueness can be summarized by the following:\\n\\n1. Design ultra-modern, almost art gallery in form\\n2. Clear water bowl well explain if this is good or bad in a second\\n3. Ceramic water pump housing\\n4. Oversize for larger pets or multiple pet families\\n\\nLets face it, some of us hide our pet food dishes in the laundry room or other utility room and don't care what the food dishes look like. And others of us feed our pets in the kitchen or other common area and want the feeding area to be attractive. This bowl is definitely designed for the latter with its swooping sides and crystal-clear water bowl. And about that bowl, good or bad? Ive learned that some bowl designs seem like a good idea to humans but not so much to the pets. Stainless steel for example. While it seems like it would be easy to clean (in reality its not, it gets scummy fast) the shiny surface acts like a mirror. Animals are territorial while eating and drinking and they really don't appreciate seeing another face staring at them during dinner time, even if its their own face they're looking at. Dark colors like black have much of the same effect. Ive been using clear pyrex pie dishes for some time and not only are they easy to clean but pets have no adverse reaction to eating out of a clear dish.\\n\\nThe ceramic water pump housing is definitely an advantage, there is no question that ceramic is easy to clean and durable and the muted mint green color is contemporary and attractive. This is a good choice of materials by Petsafe. The only downside is that it doesnt attach to the bowl so a frisky pet can potentially knock it over.\\n\\nAs far as the bowl shape though, once again it seems even companies like Petsafe who specialize in pet food dishes don't have a great understanding of a pets anatomy, especially cats. This is yet another water dish that, while it is large, has a bowl that the pet must stick their snout deep into. Thats just not the way animals drink in nature. Whether they drink from moving water or still water, animals will generally drink from large flat surfaces, not small deep holes. There are several reasons one is so as not to block their vision and hearing from potential adversaries, and the other is that their whisker width helps them avoid getting caught in restrictive places they won't enter if their whiskers touch the sides. So why are so many water dishes make with steeply sloped sides and small surface areas (like this one) which is just the opposite of what your pet wants? And, the ceramic tower in the middle doesnt help, it severely restricts access to the water on all but one side. And how would you like to bump your head into your drinking glass every time you take a drink?\\n\\nThe seller claims a 100 oz water capacity. We measured that claim by filling the bowl as much as practical without overflowing, with the ceramic insert and motor/pump installed, and then emptied the contents into a measuring cup. At best we were able to measure no more than 70 oz of water. However, because of the deep design of the bowl and the narrow sides, the animal would never be able to reach more than half that amount at best, making the usable water capacity no more than about a quart.\\n\\nFinally, the motor sound these dishes use what is essentially an aquarium pump. Some are quieter than others and to a humans hearing it may sound quiet but remember that your pets hearing is 30x more sensitive than yours. When they stick their head into a confined area right next to an electric motor it sounds like a jack hammer to them. They whole romantic image of gently flowing water that humans perceive is perceived quite the opposite by our pets. If you change your pets water daily (as you should) there is absolutely no need for a pump to recirculate the water and a charcoal filter to clean it. Other than to sell what should be a $5 water dish for $80.\\n\\nAll of the above doesnt mean this is a bad water dish. If you like it, AND your pets will drink from it, sure go ahead and buy it for the designer style. When I end up giving it Amazons recommended 4-stars because I like it Im doing so not because it is the best water dish ever made but because I think it earns being considered one of the most attractive pet dishes on the market. It earns 4-stars because it is very easy to clean (and easy to see when it needs cleaning) and is highly resistant to accidently tipping over even with frisky pets. Those are qualities at which it excels compared to other dishes I have seen or used. And I have not found anything about it that is enough of a negative to detract from being water dish worth considering.\",\n \"Product: Fresh and clean water is paramount for keeping your pets heathy and refreshedand the Oster Fresh Sips Less Stress Pet Water Fountain will help you hydrate them consistently and conveniently. It provides your cats and small dogs a steady supply of double-filtered water from its 60-ounce BPA-free reservoir, so they'll never go thirsty again.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: A 4-paw cat fountain\\n\\nReview: <div id=\\\"video-block-R3K9CRVG28R3UH\\\" class=\\\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\\\"></div><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/D1MsRyOp60S.mp4\\\" class=\\\"video-url\\\"><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/11r%2B21Qye8S.png\\\" class=\\\"video-slate-img-url\\\"> I have not had very good luck with so-called pet fountains although I have tried several different types. Frankly, most have been designed by someone who has never seen a cat. Its no secret that cats are picky eaters and drinkers, sometimes refusing to drink water even though they are thirsty and their bodies require water to survive. Too many water dishes I have seen have small, shallow bowls. Thats not natural and is contrary to the way cats learned to drink in the wild thousands of years ago. Small, odd-shaped bowls touch against the cats whiskers, something cats hate.\\n\\nI pretty much had sworn off ever getting another specialized cat drinking dish, because my rescue kitties do just fine drinking out of a typical human soup bowl. Its just important to fully change the water daily and clean the bowl every few days. But I was attracted to this one because its one of the few made by a recognized name brand, Oster, who I have trusted for years in my kitchen. It is designed so differently than other models I decided to give it a try.\\n\\nFirst off, my #1 concern would be the motor and water movement. The motor is essentially what you find as a fish tank pump and my cats don't like a motor whirring in their ears while they are trying to drink. They weren't too crazy about this one either, but have learned to tolerate it. Im not convinced that continuously bubbling water is that big of an advantage but Im also enough of a realist to know that it really cant hurt.\\n\\nFrom observing my cats drink I know that they like their water bowl high up but don't like sticking their faces too deep into a bowl. Oster seems to have understood that about cats with a water line that isn't too deep inside the bowl. When the cats drink from it their position seems very natural and they look comfortable. The most important thing is that they ARE drinking from it, and spending a long time getting hydrated. That alone is the most positive thing I can say about this pet fountain.\\n\\nThe water bubbling motion is relatively gentle. Not all cats like to drink from a faucet (mine dont) and they aren't crazy about waterfall-type pet fountains. I like the pure white plastic bowl. Ive learned through experience that my cats don't like shiny stainless steel bowls because they see a reflection of themselves while they drink (imagine you trying to drink with another face an inch away from yours). The same negative is true with dark colors. A white bowl has sort of an infinity effect so the cat is only thinking about the water, not whats below it.\\n\\nSome observations:\\n\\n1. This product looks larger in the sellers photos than it actually is. The actual size is about what a 1-gallon plastic milk container would be if you cut it in half\\n\\n2. Before ordering I thought this was the type of self-feeder that could be left unattended to assure the pets always had water available. Not true. This is NOT a self-feeder. It 100% depends on the motor to pump water up from the non-accessible storage tank down below to a shallow drinking surface. If it clogs, the power fails, or any other reason it stops pumping water upward to the drinking surface your pet will have zero access to the water locked in the tank below and only a small amount will remain in the drinking tray. Do NOT depend on this device if you go away for even more than a few hours to guarantee your pet has access to water.\\n\\n3. Unsnapping the top drinking tray part from the water reservoir is a minor hassle. The white part fits VERY snugly into the blue bottom. While the top part has two tabs, there is nothing to hold on to the bottom to pull the two pieces apart. It soon becomes a task you aren't crazy about doing very often.\\n\\n4. The fish-tank motor they use is an off-the-shelf generic motor. Be cautious that there is an unlabeled slide switch on the bottom of it and be sure not to bump that switch while you are filling the tank or cleaning it. The manufacturer warns that you should NOT change the setting (I tried the pump shot water all over the floor).\\n\\n5. The device uses a special custom replaceable filter. I am not a fan of products that require consumables especially when (as Oster recommends) they have to be replaced 12-24 times a year. Ive gotten used to the frustration of buying something from a no-name brand and never again finding the special filter available for sale. Fortunately this comes from a major brand name and the chances are a little better they will support it with consumable for maybe a year or so, however as of today the necessary part is not available for purchase from Amazon.\\n\\n6. The power cord has a jack that plugs in to the included power transformer, a disadvantage. If the pet tugs on the cord they can easily disconnect it. I would have expected a company like Oster to use less genetic parts and come up with something more appropriate to use around pets.\\n\\nThe Oster pet fountain falls short of being a 5-star product for the reasons outlined above. There is nothing so negative to recommend against it however as long as you are aware that it only has two minor advantages it raises the drinking level up to a more comfortable level (which is its major advantage) and it gently swirls the water and filters it as it recycles it (at a hefty cost). It is NOT a self-feeder that can be left unattended. By the way, compared to other similar products from lesser-known brands, the Oster is definitely at the lower end of the price scale.\",\n \"Product: Wellness Grain Free Trufood Complements provide a pure protein meal complement, with a minimal amount of ingredients, no fillers or glutens. Add Trufood Complements to any meal as delicious topper, mixer, or snack.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: This is not intended to be a cats full meal\\n\\nReview: Its important to start out with the most obvious thing, and what seems to be a justifiable negative for many other reviewers, the packet size is TINY, not enough even for one meal for a normal cat, and the price per packet ranges between $1.38-$1.87 each depending on which seller you buy it from, substantially more than almost any brand of cat food on an ounce-for-ounce basis. What is not clear unless you read the sellers description very carefully is that this is NOT intended to be used as a meal for your cat. The seller makes it clear that this is intended to be (in their words) a complement to Top it, Mix it, Snack it in other words, something you add to your cats usual meal, probably to make it more savory to the cat. If I were to rate this product solely on value if it was intended to be used by itself as a meal I would only give it 1-star. But as a topper or snack to complement a real meal, as it is clearly labeled, it might be considered more reasonable if it looked anywhere near as appetizing as the sellers pictures. It doesnt. Each bag contains a lot of liquid and some smashed up solid stuff.\\n\\nNote that this product is made in Thailand, which has a controversial record as far as the quality of pet foods. You have probably noticed lately that there are countless brands of pet food you never heard of selling pricier than average products that are very heavily hyped as being healthy or natural. I don't know if they are or not but most of these companies are nothing more than marketing names with no history in pet food formulations and pretty much zero social or legal responsibility for the safety and well-being of your pet. My personal preference is to trust long-standing brand names over made up names from unknown sources.\\n\\nAs far as what it tastes like, every cat is different your cat and my cat and our neighbors cat will all react differently to the flavor so theres no value in even going into the subject of how it tastes.\\n\\nI rate this as being neither good nor bad, therefore a 3-star rating. It is extremely overpriced as a meal but if its something you use from time to time as a snack or treat its probably not that bad.\",\n \"Product: Real food is raw. Its that simple. And we believe feeding your cat pure nutrition should be simple too. Carefully crafted in small batches, Instinct Raw Market Nuggets are made from real foods you can trust, all 100% freeze dried to protect and lock in nutrition and taste. Starting with raw, grass-fed lamb and organic fruits and vegetables, our recipes mirror your cats ideal diet, delivering protein rich, minimally processed nutrition your cat will love. Serving is simple! Just crumble and add water to serve. Complete and balanced nutrition for dogs. Made in USA facilities.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Of all the look-alike cat foods this one is different\\n\\nReview: With cats the most important thing is getting them to eat it. Of course you want what they eat to be nutritious but if they refuse to touch it being healthy food isn't going to help much. Fortunately on that score, both of my rescue kitties like the taste and texture of this food. As their human I like it too because it has a good blend of ingredients and is easy to prepare.\\n\\nOne of my cats has a special need he had his teeth extracted as a baby. Now almost 6 years later we know that operation saved his life and he is as healthy as can be, and he has no problem eating even hard dry kibble, but tends to prefer canned food. This food is a nice compromise between the benefits of dry food and the easier to chew advantages of canned food for him.\\n\\nThe first impression is that you get a really small bag and that its feather light. Both are true but remember this product is freeze dried. You crumble the chucks into a dish and add water. Served properly there are more servings in the bag than you would think. And I like not having to lift a heavy bag at every feeding time.\\n\\nI also like that the seller takes the time and effort to discuss in real-life terms how to use their products. I am disappointed at so many companies in the pet care business who don't know (or care) the first thing about pets. Taking the time to provide all of the feeding tips gives me a degree of confidence that this company is doing more than peddling product (watch their video if you don't believe it).\\n\\nI do wonder about this one statement of theirs though and always remember, regular activity is an important part of your cat's overall, healthy lifestyle. I was trying to explain that to my cats during one of their famous 18 hour naps and all I got back was a big yawn and a look like hey, sleeping IS a regular activity for us. If you live with cats in your family you will probably relate to that.\",\n \"Product: New name and look - same great nutrition: Solid Gold Sunrise Delight is now Solid Gold Wholesome Selects! Solid Gold Wholesome Selects grain free wet cat food is a nutritionally complete and balanced meal perfect for cats of all sizes. Crafted with a combination of nutrient-dense and delicious ingredients including real chicken and duck, fiber-rich pumpkin and 5 superfoods in a savory gravy, Wholesome Selects makes a nutritious and filling meal that even the pickiest cats are sure to love. May also be served as an accompaniment to dry food or as a tasty treat. Free from fillers. Contains no corn, wheat or soy. No artificial colorings or preservatives. Carrageenan and BPA free. 100% satisfaction guaranteed!\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Yes, pumpkin can be good for cats\\n\\nReview: My rescue cats just came back from their annual vet visit. They are 6 years old and the vet pronounced them healthy and exactly where they should be as far as weight. We see a cat-only specialist who is in tune with feline well-being and his advice has been an important factor in keeping our cats healthy.\\n\\nHe advised us to control the amount of dry food we serve our cats. Cats will eat anything (when they feel like it) but that doesn't mean they SHOULD eat everything. The truth is that cats don't know or care if their food is fancy, gourmet, holistic or trendy. It's also true that it is meaningless to base what you serve your cat based on whether someone else claims her cat \\\"loves\\\" or \\\"hates\\\" the flavor of a certain brand ... that information is totally meaningless to YOUR cat who has its own thoughts on what it likes to eat. For the record though, mine dove right in and ate it up. Theyre usually more hesitant to try new foods.\\n\\nWith cat food what counts is nutritional value and the limits of your pet food budget.\\n\\nThis brand passes muster on nutritional value, certainly in a better category than the 29 cents a can grocery store brands. As far as price, this is certainly on the high end of the scale. Whether that is \\\"too much\\\" only you and your budget can decide. There is nothing negative I found with this brand and by the same token nothing overwhelmingly superior compared to any other brand.\\n\\nINTERESTING FACT\\n\\nDid you know that the #1 pumpkin pie filling isn't made with pumpkins? At least not the traditional bright orange Jack O'Lantern your mind associates with a pumpkin. The manufacturer says it's because pumpkins aren't really eatable and don't taste like what we associate with a pumpkin pie taste. Instead they use a propriatary variety of squash that the FDA loosely allows to be categorized as \\\"pumpkin\\\". That being true makes me wonder if this cat food uses real pumpkins like we use for holiday decorations or they too use some form of squash, not that it makes any difference at all to your cat. That raises the question though whether or not pumpkin is actually good for pets. The experts answer that with a qualified \\\"yes\\\". Pumpkin fed in reasonable quantities to dogs and cats can have several positive benefits. BUT feeding them too much can have the opposite effect and actually harm your pet. It is reasonable to assume that the amount of pumpkin (or squash) in each can of this food is within safe limits. The bottom line is that I like this product and so do my cats, with only the high price keeping it from being flawless.\",\n \"Product: Aqueon brings a new stage of aquatic health and safety to the world. Producing quality products designed for your pets health and habitat, Aqueon rises above the standard and will continue to do so.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: A suggestion on product description\\n\\nReview: On a positive note, any time I can replace a bulb with an LED I consider it an advantage as long as it is bright enough and has the look I want. The look is important because some LED lights can have a very unpleasant and unnatural color tone. Most people have seen enough aquariums in their lifetimes that they know what looks right and what doesnt. This model is blue and used by itself has a cartoonish look to it that some people may like and others may not. The look is improved if it is used in combination with a pure white bulb.\\n\\nIve used the word bulb a couple of times and it is important to point out that the sellers description for this product may be misleading to some people. They call it a lamp. I think many people think of a lamp as a fixture (like a table lamp or floor lamp) that is a fully-functional self-contained item that you plug in and use. This is not a lamp by that definition, it is a replacement bulb it must be used with fixture that is designed to fit it. Aqueon sells that fixture but they are very expensive for nothing more than something that holds a bulb. If you only wanted one bulb in this size you would be spending close to $70 just for starters. Of course if you already have a fixture that the bulb fits that would not be the case.\\n\\nUnlike some who commented about broken units, mine was undamaged and I think it was reasonably well protected but if that is a common issue I would think the seller would be more serious about listening to all of the people who received broken units, it doesnt speak very highly of their customer support. By the way, a very important thing to realize is that you can order this either standard or frustration-free. Mine was frustration-free and perhaps it is actually packed a little better? Im not coming down too hard on Aqueon though; they are a recognized name brand and sold in a lot of places.\\n\\nBottom line is that it does what it is intended to do but is otherwise relatively ordinary as far as replacement bulbs go. I suggest the seller be clearer that they are selling a replacement bulb only.\",\n \"Product: Plug-in module allows control of appliances/lamps from anywhere in the house using any X10 controllerWorks with fans air conditioners coffee pots stereos TVs and lampsCompatible 15A 1/3 HP and 500-watt appliances\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: An improved version of an old classic\\n\\nReview: X10 appliance modules have an internal mechanical relay to switch the power on and off whereas the lamp modules and wall switch modules are electronic. As with things mechanical, they age and at some point stop working. I bought this one to replace a 30 year old one that finally started to turn on only went it felt like it. I can't complain about getting 30 years out of a product. The primary advantages of the newer model are having a 3-prong plug rather than just a 2-prong polarized plug, and that it is more esthetically attractive. The downside is that the relay is much louder ... it can jolt someone out of their chair all the way across the room. It works perfectly with the newest Powerhouse controller. While X10 may not be the most sophisticated and latest technology it is certainly one of, if not the, lowest price. For the price it does what is expected and does it well.\",\n \"Product: The Stanley 016013R 16\\\" Series 2000 Tool Box with Tray features two lid organizers for small parts storage accessible without opening the tool box. It has a built-in pad lock eye for small locks keeps contents secure. It also has a tote tray inside to store smaller items. The soft, wide rubber coated handle allows for easy & comfortable grip. Nickel metal-plated latches.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Useful and a good value for its price\\n\\nReview: We need to start off with a dose of reality. This isn't your grandfather's tool box. Far from it. It's not made of heavy-duty steel or solid walnut lined with rich felt. No, it is plastic, 100% plastic. And oh yeah, it only costs about ten bucks.\\n\\nIt's not very big either, in fact the useful inner capacity is much smaller that you might think due to the unusually thick plastic walls. I got it for one reason, to carry my socket wrench sets to wherever I need to use them. It seems socket wrench manufacturers have never been able to come up with a carrying case that's halfway decent. My goal was to carry two sets of sockets (U.S. and Metric) and their associated wrenches and handles. It turns out this is the perfect size. Since socket wrenches are heavy the fact that this case only weighs 2lbs 5 oz is nice that it doesn't make carrying them even heavier. The double-walled plastic insulates the sound of all those steel wrenches clanging together. I choose to carry my most often used handles in the lift-out tray for easy access and use the two small snap-lock compartments for fast access to my most often used sizes of sockets.\\n\\nWhile not all Stanley products these days are as well made as they used to be and hence not an automatic mark of quality, I compared this toolbox to similar plastic ones in the shelf at the home improvement store and the giant discount superstore and for the price it made better than the rest. There are 2 three-section piano hinges on the back (plastic) that are strong but open just shy of 90 degrees, which means the lid won't stay open by itself. That's maybe the only major flaw. The handle is hefty and strong and folds completely flat for stacking and there are little dimples on the top exactly for that purpose. The locking buckle on the front is metal and does what it should but it is attached only by being pressed into a plastic slot. It may be a point of early failure but in its defense it's not flimsy.\\n\\nOverall I like this toolbox as far as value for the price. The lid hinge isn't a deal breaker just a minor inconvenience. I will probably buy a couple more of these because it's the best at the price and would be almost perfect with a couple of tiny design improvements.\",\n \"Product: This 15-Piece Utility Drawer Tool Kit is in a heavy duty plastic storage case. Simply open top tray for quick and easy access. Has adjustable compartments for fasteners. Set contains: 8 1/2-Inch scissors, utility knife with 3 Blades, bottle opener with knife, 8-ounce claw hammer, 6-Inch torpedo level, 6-Inch slip joint pliers, 12-feet. tape measure, 1/4-Inch by 4-Inch slotted screwdriver, No. 2 Phillips screwdriver, 3/32-inch. slotted screwdriver, No. 0 Phillips screwdriver.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Handy little \\\"second\\\" set\\n\\nReview: This kit attracted me to keep upstairs in our house, where the office, bathrooms and bedrooms are. Seems there are always little projects and repairs upstairs and it gets old to have to run down to the garage whenever we need a simple tool only to find out that we needed something else and had to run downstairs again.\\n\\nThis kit isn't going to win any awards for quality or durability, but it does include all the basic tools necessary to hang a picture, tighten the toilet valve, adjust a bed frame or make minor adjustments in the office. It has an okay price and the plastic case seems strong enough to do its purpose.\\n\\nThe only nitpick might be that it arrived with a plastic \\\"rivet\\\" that prevented the case from opening. No instructions at all how to remove it. The distributor would be wise to add a little arrow label pointing to the rivet with an instruction how to remove it (I ended up cutting it with a sharp knife.\",\n \"Product: The 45-piece Stubby Set is great for the home or auto. This stubby set will loosen or tighten just about every bolt nut and fastener on your boat or RV.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Handy little \\\"second\\\" set\\n\\nReview: This kit attracted me to keep upstairs in our house, where the office, bathrooms and bedrooms are. Seems there are always little projects and repairs upstairs and it gets old to have to run down to the garage whenever we need a simple tool only to find out that we needed something else and had to run downstairs again.\\n\\nThis kit seems perfect for the type of lighter duty projects we would typically work on around the house. It is about as complete a socket wrench/screwdriver as anyone would need. One thing I loved is the stubby handle is reversible, so the same handle can be used for the smaller and larger sockets. Why didn't someone think of this before? I really dislike using the flimsy little adapters that come with most socket wrench sets. It's such a simple idea, kudos to this company for doing it.\\n\\nThis may not be a two-hundred dollar tool kit, but for a convenince kit I think it will work just fine.\",\n \"Product: The 45-piece Stubby Set is great for the home or auto. This stubby set will loosen or tighten just about every bolt nut and fastener on your boat or RV.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Handy little \\\"second\\\" set\\n\\nReview: This kit attracted me to keep upstairs in our house, where the office, bathrooms and bedrooms are. Seems there are always little projects and repairs upstairs and it gets old to have to run down to the garage whenever we need a simple tool only to find out that we needed something else and had to run downstairs again.\\n\\nThis kit seems perfect for the type of lighter duty projects we would typically work on around the house. It is about as complete a socket wrench/screwdriver as anyone would need. One thing I loved is the stubby handle is reversible, so the same handle can be used for the smaller and larger sockets. Why didn't someone think of this before? I really dislike using the flimsy little adapters that come with most socket wrench sets. It's such a simple idea, kudos to this company for doing it.\\n\\nThis may not be a two-hundred dollar tool kit, but for a convenince kit I think it will work just fine.\",\n \"Product: Deltana has a proven record for exceptional service and quality and is the architectural hardware manufacturer with the largest inventory selection of architectural and door hardware in America. With an array of fine finishes, finding hinges, bolts, bumpers & stops, ball catch, roller latch, door accessories and home accessories which compliment your homes decor.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Here is the hinge thats so hard to find in stores\\n\\nReview: What can you say about a door hinge? Well as it turns out, a lot. First and most important to echo what some other people have pointed out this style self-closing hinge in satin nickel (or any other non-brass color) is impossible to find at the big box home improvement stores, or at the smaller regional hardware stores as well. Because of fire codes which generally require a heavier 4 hinge you would think this would be one of the most popular styles of self-closing hinges, but no. So I was glad to find it listed at Amazon and for a lower price than similar hinges sold at the home improvement stores.\\n\\nAnd it is a better quality hinge. I compare it side-by-side with a similar hinge I bought in error (the corner radius is different) but otherwise they were both self-closing 4 hinges. The Deltana is made better all the way around. The hinge itself operates with more precision than the one from the store, which results in the door opening and closing more smoothly. The store model only has the hex adjusting screw at the top, whereas the Deltana has the tension adjustment lever. Their instructions do a good job explaining how to adjust both for the perfect opening/closing tension.\\nThe finish on the Deltana hinge is what I would call architectural grade. By that I mean the store model (which was not satin nickel because they don't sell that color) was more utilitarian looking. By comparison the Deltana looked more finished.\\n\\nFor the price this is a top-quality hinge and because this exact model is so hard to find in stores I recommend it as an Amazon purchase.\",\n \"Product: This 2 light vanity fixture is a great addition to your bath space with an inviting mix of traditional and contemporary design elements. The chrome finish and white glass gives a crisp and clean appearance. The fixture is backed by a manufacturers 1 year warranty.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: An excellent value for the price\\n\\nReview: One of our baths is an art deco modern with retro accents. The existing wall light sconce is something you may have found on a theater wall in the 1930s. However one of the glass pieces broke and until we can figure out a way to have another piece made the fixture had to be taken down.\\n\\nAs inexpensive at this light fixture is it does a great job of complementing our dcor. The chrome part does not look like a cheap fixture; it has the look and feel of heavy highly polished chrome. And the glass globes also look and feel very solid. They do an excellent job of diffusing the light. Rather than use thumbscrews the globes are attached with a large nut that screws around the bulb socket, so it is 100% secure and can't possibly work loose. Although the manufacturer illustrates the globes as having their open end pointed downward, because of the way they are attached it is also possible to point the open end toward the wall (or even upward if you wish). It gives the fixture an entirely different look while also completely hiding the bulb from view. By the way, it uses two candelabra bulbs rather than standard bulbs.\\n\\nThe rest of the fixture is pretty ordinary; the only thing worth noting is that high quality materials are used throughout. If you like the design, this light fixture can give your room a new look for a very low price. The fifth star, in fact, was earned because of the high value for the money.\",\n \"Product: Attach AnywhereNo Wiring Required Remote Control with Wall Mount and Motion Sensor 120 Lumens of Light Weatherproof Design 1 Year plus Battery Life 350 ft2 Light Coverage Area Includes Wall Mount and Stake Motion and Remote Control 3 D Batteries\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Not bad - not great\\n\\nReview: I expected more for the $60 retail price. While described as bronze finish (leading me to expect something substantial) they are actually plastic that has sort of a brown/bronze color. VERY lightweight plastic, like something you would find at Walmart for about $10. All you get are the lights, two flimsy plastic stakes, and a plastic mounting cradle that attaches to the stakes. If you choose, you can take the light fixtures out of the cradle and mount them to a wall with screws or double-faced tape.\\n\\nWhen I pulled the fixture out of the cradle it was dripping with some sort of liquid. It's a bit disconcerting to have unidentified liquid dripping from a product made in China. I have no idea why the lights were leaking because all they are is an empty plastic shell with a LED light bulb in them. For $60 retail they don't even include a set of batteries. Probably the least likely size battery most people have laying around their homes are \\\"C\\\" cells so I had to go out and buy a set at about 20% of the cost of the entire light set. Why would they use the least popular size battery rather than the much more popular AA or D cell?\\n\\nAfter wiping the mysterious liquid off of the lights I inserted the fresh batteries and installed the light using the ground stakes at the leading edge of my sidewalk. When it got dark they illuminated as expected when they sensed motion and lit a small round area about the same as a small LED flashlight would do from the same distance. The light was okay, but I would have far preferred a much wider beam. I also noted that the lights sensed movement from quite a distance, so placement could be an issue to reduce false triggering.\\n\\nThe bare LED is mounted at the top and is supposed to reflect down on a large curved area to diffuse the beam. However, the reflector is the same brown plastic as the rest of the fixture. Brown plastic does not reflect light ... I'm really baffled that Mr. Beams hasn't figured out that the lights would be far more effective if the reflector was white or silver.\\n\\nThe set includes a remote control, despite the fact that they are motion sensing. There is no real logic in having a remote control. If Mr. Beams is listening I would suggest that the remote be reprogrammed to turn the low-power guide light feature on and off, so it could be preset before guests arrive who are not familiar where the sidewalk starts, rather than have this feature hidden deep inside under the battery compartment.\\n\\nThere's nothing particularly bad nor is there anything particularly impressive about these light. I would buy several more if they were priced about $10 - $15 a set but they are a pretty poor value at their current selling price.\",\n \"Product: The Lutron CTCL153PAL is a 600Watt, 3way, preset dimmer in almond from the Skylark Contour product line. This model features a smoothsliding captive knob which allows you to select the desired light level. Also, with a rocker switch, you can simply turn the lights on to a preset level or turn them off.The Lutron CTCL153PAL is intended to be used with 3way applications. You can also use this unit with halogen, incandescent and LED bulbs. This model is available in a wide array of colors, so you can easily match it to your wall.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: High quality and unique features set it apart\\n\\nReview: I have never lived for more than a day in a house without installing dimmers. They are not optional for me, I have to be able to adjust room lighting the way I want it.\\n\\nThe bathroom is especially important. I want to be able to pre-adjust the light before bedtime to a low nightlight level so when I turn the switch on it is preset to that level. I recently installed this new model from Lutron in the bathroom and I love it. It replaced a model in which the actual on/off button was about half as big and had a \\\"snapping\\\" sound to it. This one has a big, softly rounded switch that moves with a satisfying click but is virtually noiseless. The dimmer lever is large, smooth and easy to understand.\\n\\nBut the features that are hidden inside the switch are what sets it apart from others. One is that it uses the latest electronic technology that lets it dim virtually any bulb ... incandescent, fluorescent, halogen or LED (most dimmer switches won't work with LED or only dim them to about 50%). It should be made clear that not EVERY individual bulb will work, some might not, but the fact that the switch works with most TYPES of bulbs is the major point.\\n\\nBecause each type of bulb has different dimming characteristics, the Lutron has something I have not seen in a dimmer before - the ability to preset a little control behind the faceplate to the user's choice of minimum dimming level. In practical terms I have mine set so that at the very lowest setting of the slide switch the lights are on at nightlight level so there is never a chance of having to stumble into a dark bathroom and be blinded by a light that's too bright, or to flick the switch on and nothing happens because someone set the dimmer switch too low so the light was off in the lowest position.\\n\\nWhen I shop for dimmer switches I notice that our choices are getting slimmer and slimmer, there are only a handful of styles being sold these days. This one is considered a basic model. I like the look and feel of it. The only negative is that Lutron should have offered the option of a lighted on/off button. With the advanced technology they already have built in, the ideal scenario would be letting the user decide if they want the button to be lighted or not.\",\n \"Product: Leviton X7592-W 15 Amp, Slim Guide Light GFCI, SmartLockPro, Monochromatic, Back and Side Wired, Self-Grounding Clip, Tamper Resistant, White The SmartlockPro Slim GFCI/Guide Light is a great way to add an extra element of safety when its dark without losing outlet space in kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms, hallways and hospitality guest suites. Instead of plugging in a nightlight which takes up an outlet space, this device offers dual LED guide lights that turn On and Off automatically based on light levels and uses only 1W of electricity. The Slim GFCI/Guide Light is tamper-resistant to meet current National Electrical Code requirements for child safety, includes a line-load reversal indicator to aid in diagnosing wiring errors during installation, and provides our patented reset lockout feature that will not allow a GFCI to be reset if it is not properly powered and able to provide protection. Designed to be the most compact GFCI on the market, the devices reduced depth ma\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: How to make a mundane product better\\n\\nReview: A review of something as basic as a GFCI outlet could be summed up in two words \\\"it works\\\". There isn't a lot of difference from one model to another so what makes this one worth 5 stars?\\n\\nThe built-in LED nightlight is great. I'm using it in a bathroom and it eliminates the need to sacrifice one of the outlets to plug in a traditional night night. The lights are bright but not overwhelming, just enough to help find ones way at night. The color of the light is a soft, pleasant cool white. Smartly, Leviton added a sensor so the light only comes on when the room is dark. A nice touch is the LED fades on and off, so it is very unobstrusive.\\n\\nHaving replaced a GFCI outlet that was about 20 years old there is some newer technology that was appreciated as well.\\n\\nPROS: The outlet is slightly slimmer than the one it replaced, so the wires aren't bunched up as much in the box as before. Not only does the tamper resistant feature add safety but help grab the prongs of the plug for a more secure fit. The buttons are more flush than my old unit, which was always getting tripped accidentally. This plug also has a tiny LED light to show that it is functioning properly.\\n\\nCONS: Not really a con but a user preference ... while a nightlight in a bathroom is probably a good thing for most people, there may be some installations where a bright light may not be desireable. The nightlight can't be turned off, so if you don't want an outlet with a bright light you may want to consider another model.\\n\\nA word of caution if you are replacing an older GFCI. To me the ground hole is usually on the bottom as pictured on this page. Other Leviton outlets are usually that way. However the illustration in the instruction manual for this model shows the ground holes at the top. That's not just an illustration error, it is important if you have a 4 wire system that you wire the \\\"live\\\" and \\\"load\\\" sides properly. When I installed this outlet I copied the old outlet exactly and the GFCI wouldn't work (which by the way is a nice feature, you can't wire this outlet wrong). Turns out that copying the way the old outlet was wired didn't work because Leviton seems to have intentionally designed this outlet to be mounted with the ground hole at the top. You can, of course, invert it, but you have to swap the \\\"live\\\" and \\\"load\\\" wires to do so. The way to be sure is to look closely at the back of the outlet, the \\\"live\\\" and \\\"load\\\" ends are embossed into the plastic.\\n\\nThis is an attractive, contemporary designed outlet with some nice features at a reasonable price and can be considered best in class. See my uploaded photo to see how bright the night light is.\",\n \"Product: Check and close your garage door from any room in the house. Green and Red LED lights indicate wether the garage door is open or closed. Volume controlled alert lets you know when the door is being opened. MyQ enabled technology allows you to monitor and close up to four garage doors.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Heres all you need to know about this monitor\\n\\nReview: This device is designed to plug in to an AC power outlet inside your home and let you know with simple red or green lights if your garage door is open or closed. If the door is open the red light will flash brightly. If the door is closed the green light will glow. If the door is open you can close it using a button on the monitor.\\n\\nHere are the key things you need to know:\\n\\n1. Although sold by Liftmaster this monitor will work with any garage door opener that has the MyQ feature installed, regardless of brand. Liftmaster openers are sold under the Chamberlain and Sears Craftsman brand names, among others. MyQ is a feature that connects to your home WiFi system and permits you to operate enabled products (garage door and gate openers) using an app on a smartphone. It is built in to many of the newer openers and can be added to any MyQ-enabled opener. Note that MyQ does require you to have WiFi and also have a smartphone.\\n\\n2. This is not exactly the same as the remote opener on your garage wall or outside wall in that it will NOT open the door, the push button will only close the door from wherever you have the monitor plugged in.\\n\\n3. There is no real installation, just plug it in, push a small button on the back and within 60 seconds press the learn button on your garage door opener. They instantly pair and recognize each other.\\n\\n4. Some of the user questions and answers are a little misleading there are actually two different alert tones involved. One is a beeper inside the monitor that can be set to warn you if the garage door is being opened. This is a great security feature or just a nice convenience to give you a heads-up that someone is home. Our garage door is so silent I have been startled more than once to find a family member walk up who I didn't know was home. The beep sound like the one in your microwave and has a 3-position volume control or you can turn it off, and when turned on it will give a short beep occasionally to remind you that the garage door is open. The other alert tone is actually built in to your garage door motor unit and sounds if you close your garage door using any MyQ remote device (smartphone, this monitor, etc). It is a loud beep that sounds like an alarm clock and it cant be turned off because it is a required safety feature. If you close your door remotely the tone will sound a loud beep first to warn anyone near the garage to stand clear of the door, then it waits a few seconds before starting the motor to close the door.\\n\\n5. This monitor can be used with up to 4 openers (garage door or gate) but it will only tell you that one or more of them is open, not which one or how many. When you push the close button ALL of the doors will close at once.\\n\\nI have been considering buying this monitor for a very long time but what kept me away is I didn't think I would like the design. In the product description it looks like it has to be placed on a tabletop or counter and you have to look straight down at it to see the lights. I thought a wall-mounted unit would have been a better design. After I got it, I plugged it in and put it on a low cabinet that we can see while watching TV, which puts it at about eye level. We can easily see the lights from that angle. It happens to be next to the stairwell so it is the last thing we see before going up to bed so we can be assured that the garage doors are closed before we turn in. The peace of mind is worth every penny this device costs, and the convenience of having a subtle alert when someone comes home is a nice bonus. This device works exactly as expected and I think it is a good value at the price.\",\n \"Product: Heavy duty aluminum frame with composite body for durability. V-groove edge for leveling pipe, making the job easier and quicker. Locking dial vial for easier reading of angles. Rare earth magnets are 5 times stronger than strip magnets and allow for easy, hands-free steel construction work. IRWIN Tools 150 Magnetic Torpedo Level, 9-Inch (1794155)\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Handy and nice features for the price\\n\\nReview: This is a nice level to use for quick projects like hanging a picture when my 36\\\" aluminum level is just a bit cumbersome to drag around. Yes this is made of aluminum and plastic (mostly plastic) but if it is accurate, which it is, that doesn't matter. There should be no expectation, for $10, that this comes anywhere near a \\\"construction tool\\\" in ruggedness. The quality of the plastic isn't all that cheap, it just looks it because of the Mattel-its-swell colors.\\n\\nThe thing that makes it worth the price is the adjustable angle finder bubble and the v-groove for use on pipes and conduit, features not often found on a product in this price range. Unlike my big professional level, the main vial is easy to read from virtually any angle or lighting condition.\\nFor what it is meant to be Irwin Tools has made just the right tool.\",\n \"Product: The Light It! Stick On Lights are compact and low profile. Its adhesive backing makes it simple to mount to any surface. Tapping the center of the light turns it on, making it useful for illuminating dark storage areas and workspaces. 9 Super-bright LEDs offer energy-efficient lighting that never needs replacing. This mini LED light operates for up to 100 hours on 3 AAA batteries (Not included). Each light measures 10.9 by 6.3 by 2.5 inches.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: It's bright, stylish and not very practical\\n\\nReview: This is an updated version of the type of \\\"stick up\\\" light that has been around for years. It is intended to be used to illuminate areas like closets or under counters when you only need a light for a few minutes. As such, it does its job, it is very bright. It is also more attractive than many \\\"stick up\\\" lights. I question the practicality, though, as the on/off switch is only momentary. It would have been more practical if the switch were \\\"press on / press off\\\". Because the switch is located in the center of the light ring, your hand covers most of the light while pressing the power button. Since one hand is pressing the button to keep the light illuminated that puts a limit on what you can be doing with the other hand. I just haven't found a practical use for it, given its limitations.\",\n \"Product: Effortlessly achieve convenience and affluence equivalent to built-in guide lighting with Mr. Beams' MB726 set of six motion-sensing LED nightlights. Ideal for stairways, bathrooms, kids' bedrooms, nurseries, and even in a boat or recreational vehicle, the units offer safety and sure footing without the obstacles of hardwiring and electrical demands. The lights' super-bright LED bulbs last up to 50,000 hours--which means years of energy-efficient, cost-effective illumination--and they operate on four AA batteries per light (not included) that last for approximately one year under normal use. Uniquely designed to activate when sensing motion up to 9 feet away, the lights remain on as needed before shutting off automatically after 30 seconds of no motion being detected, making them ideal for navigating the way to the bathroom or kitchen in the middle of the night. Furthermore, they only activate automatically when detecting darkness to conserve battery power during daylight hours. Sleek and stylish with a weatherproof design for indoor and outdoor use, the nightlights come with both tape and screws/mounting anchors for simple, custom-fit installation. Each light measures 1.2 inches long by 3.75 inches wide by 3.25 inches tall and comes in neutral white for easy integration into surrounding decor.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Just a bit shy of perfect\\n\\nReview: This is my second set of Mr. Beams LED motion-sensing lights. The first is the weatherized outdoor model that I have installed at the beginning of my sidewalk to guide the way. This set was purchased to illuminate the open staircase indoors so the lights don't have to be turned on. Three lights are ideal for that application ... one over the first step, which also lights the floor enough to know where to step, the second is located over the middle step and sheds enough light to light the adjacent steps, and the third is located slightly higher and about 18\\\" from the beginning of the top step. Placing it there gives ample illumination for the first few steps and also the landing. I chose the more elevated location because it is more likely an accident could happen by someone falling down the stairs than missing the bottom landing.\\n\\nPOSITIVES:\\n\\nThe most positive feature about these lights is they are minimalistic and attractive. Compare them to the illustrations of most of the other similar LED lights, which frankly look weird. The glossy white curved reflector spreads the light pattern softly so there are no harsh borders to the beam. They seem just bright enough for their purpose without being glaring. They operate on 4 standard AA batteries. And, they offer mounting via double-face tape or screws.\\n\\nNEGATIVES:\\n\\nLike my other Mr. Beams lights, these arrived oily. So much so that the double-face tape literally slid right off. My suggestion is to wash the mounting plate with warm soapy water before using them. You might also want to wipe the lights themselves with a moist cloth (don't immerse the fixtures) so the oily surface doesn't attract excess dust.\\n\\nThe quality control of Mr. Beams products is just so-so. All three of mine worked out of the box but the screws for the battery compartment on one of them is not formed right and can't be completely screwed in.\\n\\nAt $10 per light when purchased in a set of 3 the price is reasonable.\",\n \"Product: Leviton's USB Charger/Tamper-Resistant Receptacle offers a ground-breaking 2.1-Amps of charging power and a 20-Amp/125-volt tamper-resistant receptacle. This state-of-the-art device has the ability to charge up to three electronic devices at once utilizing the USB ports and the receptacle. The USB Ports are Type A, 2.0/3.0 and are controlled by a smart chip which recognizes and optimizes the charging power of your device. This means you can spend less time charging your device and more time enjoying it. Leviton's USB Charger/Tamper-Resistant Receptacle is ideal for charging tablets, smart and mobile phones, e-readers and much more. Strategically designed with two vertical USB ports, the Leviton USB Charger/Tamper-Resistant Receptacle allows additional space for maneuvering of charging cords, reduces stress on the cables while charging and provides an aesthetically pleasing design. Our device is engineered to fit in a standard wall box, use a standard wallplate and can be multi-ganged with another Leviton USB Charger/Tamper-Resistant Receptacle or any standard Leviton wiring device. The value-added features of Leviton's tamper-resistant receptacle provides the safe and superior device you have come to expect from an industry leader like Leviton. Compatibility The Leviton USB Charger/Tamper-Resistant Receptacle is compatible with a wide range of electronic devices including, but not limited to, the following: iPad, iPhone (including iPhone 5), Kindle Fire HD, iPod, tablets, mobile phones, Blackberry, Android phones, Nintendo 3DS, PlayStation Vita, Bluetooth headsets, digital cameras, Kindle, Nook e-readers, GPS and many more. Note: USB Ports are not intended to charge two tablets simultaneously. If the devices' combined power requirements exceed the power capacity of the USB ports, the charger will automatically shut down to protect your devices. To charge two tablets use the high power USB port and the tamper-resistant receptacle.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: These should be standard in every home\\n\\nReview: This is a quality product in every way and a major improvement over plugging in assorted transformers for various USB devices. Note that there are two versions of this outlet being sold, a 15 amp version (T5630) which is sold in blister pack at retail stores, and this one (T5830) a 20 amp commercial version that is sold in a simple cardboard box. The T5830 has a NEMA 5-20 A T-slot for the neutral blade which accepts either 15 amp parallel-blade plugs or 20 amp plugs.\\n\\nINSTALLATION: total time less than 10 minutes from opening the box. The instructions are clear and there were no surprises. Rather than use little holes to poke the wires into, you have a choice of wrapping them around the set screw or into a receptacle behind the screw. Both ways are safe and secure. The finished installation using a Decora wall plate is very attractive.\\n\\nOPERATION: you have 3 outlets, one a standard AC grounded outlet has a nice solid grip to what is plugged in to it. The outlet has a NEC Compliant shutter mechanism which blocks access to contacts from most foreign objects for improved safety. The other two are USB outlets that can be used simultaneously or individually. One of them is intended for higher power devices like tablets and the other for standard smartphone, cameras and other USB-powered devices. There is circuitry built in that allows you to use either plug for lower powered devices and another sensor that will temporarily shut down the USB jacks if you exceed the maximum capability when charging two devices simultaneously.\\n\\nFEATURES: unlike most other brands, Leviton aligns the USB jack vertically so there is less stress on the plug when in use. This also allows them to be spaced further apart which helps in plugging and unplugging the cables. The design of the outlet is contemporary gloss white (other colors available) with no obvious logos or markings.\\n\\nTHINGS TO KNOW: There are some \\\"smarts\\\" built in to this outlet to regulate the USB power depending on the device which can also shut the USB jacks off if they are overloaded. This has sometimes been mistakenly regarded as a defective unit ... no, it is just doing what it should.\\n\\nAnother misconception is that this outlet is huge ... it's not; it is 1.75\\\" wide x 1.25\\\" deep, about the usual size for a dimmer switch, for example. A \\\"typical\\\" single-gang new construction outlet box is 2\\\" wide x 2.25\\\" deep. Since this device contains circuitry to transform the voltage and the aforementioned \\\"smarts\\\" it really has to be a bit larger than a standard outlet box. I put the word \\\"typical\\\" in quotes because there is no real standard for outlet boxes other than height, the ones in your home may be a day old or 75 years old, they may be plastic or metal, they may differ because of local building codes. I based the dimensions of a \\\"typical\\\" box on what that big hardware chain says is their #1 selling box. In any case there is plenty of clearance room for the USB charger/outlet. There may be some confusion for those replacing a slimline plug. This outlet is not slimline, it couldn't be and still have the necessary transformer required to reduce and regulate the power to the USB jacks. But in no way is it larger than a ground fault interrupter (1.8\\\" wide x 1.5\\\" deep). All of the dimensions are from actually measuring each item and the GFCI is in fact larger.\",\n \"Product: Orbit Clear Comfort Non-Programmable 83501 Thermostat Clear Comfort is a stylish, manual thermostat with an easy-to-read digital display. It is the perfect blend of style and function. You can't control the temperature outside, but you can control it indoors. Your home should be a place of comfort, and Orbit non-programmable Clear Comfort Thermostat allows you to make it that way, with the perfect blend of style and function. Clear Comfort brings you many features not typically found on other non-programmable thermostats. The clean, bright base provides a stylish platform. Covered with a transparent polycarbonate faceplate, the thermostat has a sleek design that enhances any space. Yet, where Clear Comfort really stands above the rest is on the large, easy-to-read display. It is easy to see the set and current temperature, even from across the room. Orbit Clear Comfort Non-Programmable Thermostats provide simple control, Merely set the thermostat to the temperature you want and adjust it when desired; that is it. Clear Comfort leads the way with precision thermostat technology that keeps temperatures from fluctuating, providing you with a stable and accurate indoor climate. Temperature settings range from 40F to 90F (4.4C to 32.2C).\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Simple and attractive ... but\\n\\nReview: If you have one of those old round dial thermostats or something similar that is intended to simply turn your furnace and/or AC on and off this could be the right thermostat for you. It is easy to use and the dial is extremely easy to read. As others have noted it is not a sophisticated programmable unit designed for complicated multi-stage HVAC systems.\\n\\nThe main reasons to choose this model:\\n\\n1. Style - it is attractive and does not call attention to itself\\n2. Ease of use - simple clearly marked switches are easy to understand by everyone\\n3. Big easy to read display\\n\\nNote that it does require AAA batteries. That is unusual for a wall thermostat. That could be a concern in areas subject to temperature extremes if the actual on/off operation is dependent in any way on replaceable batteries.\\n\\nOrbit appears to be primarily in the irrigation and sprinkling business with this product being distributed by an \\\"as seen on TV\\\" type marketing company so long-term support may be questionable. Since most people buy their thermostats and don't replace them again for 20 - 30 years it makes sense to stick with an established brand name like Honeywell or similar.\",\n \"Product: This power bar has a rugged metal housing with 400J surge suppression. The cord is 6ft long, the body is 3ft long and has 9 grounded outlets. There is a on/off switch with a resettable circuit breaker. Both the back and ends have wall mounting keyholes. Rating: 125VAC/60Hz/15A/1875W.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: The details you need to make the right choice\\n\\nReview: I am a long-time fan of Stanley tools, like the Craftsman brand they generally offer good quality at a value price. This product is a disappointment for the primary reason that it is misrepresented. This is described and sold as a power bar, when in fact the product itself is clearly labeled as a surge protector. They are different products intended for different applications. I want to make it clear that there is nothing wrong with it being a surge protector, my point is that the seller doesnt tell you that information up front in case you specifically don't want a surge protector.\\n\\nA power bar is just what it says a strip that contains multiple outlets for the distribution of AC power. A power bar is intended to provide raw unadulterated power to each outlet. It may have an on/off switch and overload protection but should not be intended to sacrifice itself if there is an external line surge, perhaps from a lightning strike. It is generally accepted that surge protectors have a one-time life cycle and have a finite life expectancy before they should be replaced.\\n\\nThis product fails at being EITHER a power bar or good surge protector. It is clearly designed and intended for rugged use, i.e. in the workshop. As such, the product ad is described to have a built-in circuit breaker, a positive feature. In this type of application there may be devices plugged in to that the manufacturer specifically recommends should NOT be plugged in to a surge protector. If you follow the manufacturers advice, then this product could be useless. Also, the industry says that one surge protector should not be daisy-chained into another. If you buy this as an AC power distribution strip with the intent of using one of the outlets to feed a real surge protector, well, you shouldnt.\\n\\nWhat do I mean by a real surge protector? The Stanley Pro9 has a puny built-in surge protector, limited EMI/RFI shielding or filtering for clean power and no voltage regulation. The surge protector on this strip is bare minimum at 400 Joules (by comparison, a good media center surge protector is more in the 2100 3500 Joule range). Surge protectors that are designed to protect expensive home entertainment or computer equipment are much more sophisticated than the PRO9. This is not the low-cost solution you want to buy for your entertainment or computer system on one hand and on the other hand it is not a pure AC distribution strip either. So it is really not the ideal choice for either application.\\n\\nDESIGN ODDITY\\n\\nIn the U.S. virtually all AC power outlets are installed with the two blades on top and the round ground hole on the bottom. Oddly, Stanley designed this strip backwards, with the ground hole on top. That can end up being just a minor inconvenience because you have to purposely reverse the way you are used to plugging items in, or it can be a major annoyance for cords and power bricks whose cords are at a right angle plugged into the Stanley strip all such devices would have their cords sticking straight up instead of hanging down. And, oddly, the strips own power cord exits from the TOP of the strip when mounted upright, i.e with the Stanley name logo the way it can be read. If you want to mount the strip with the outlets oriented like virtually every outlet in America and have the strips power cable hang down you have to mount the strip upside down. Theres no reason you cant do that, but I question how wise it is of Stanley to rub your face into their design mistake every time you have to look at their upside-down logo (see the photo I attached). It just seems to be another example that the company is being very sloppy about this product.\\n\\nThe manufacturer should be upfront in their advertising about exactly what they are selling (I included a photo of the actual product label). I don't have confidence that I can trust it as a power bar and I certainly wouldnt trust it as a true surge protector. I expect more from Stanley. The final rating of 3-stars is not a negative, following Amazon's guidelines it describes this product as \\\"It's OK\\\"\",\n \"Product: New Push Pull Rotate technology-the hands-full door lock from Brinks. The only door lock that opens 3 ways. Push it, pull it, or rotate it. With an elbow, hip or finger you can open the door by simply pushing or pulling on the knob or lever. They are also ADA compliant. Despite being so easy to use, these locks are built to achieve the most rigorous residential security standards you would expect from Brinks. You can rest assured they will keep intruders out and your family and valuables safe. All Push Pull Rotate door locks are built on a commercial grade chassis to withstand repeated use and abuse; making them perfect front and back doors and for all interior rooms like bathrooms, laundry rooms, and pantries. Installation is easy. They fit all standard doors. You only need a Phillips screwdriver and a few minutes to dramatically improve the function and appearance of your home. Made with superior craftsmanship, Push Pull Rotate door locks have dual torsion springs for smooth rotation, hidden screws for a more decorative appearance, 75mm diameter roses to hide the blemish from old hardware and removable interior knobs or levers for scratch-free installation. All items in this line come with a lifetime warranty for defects in material or workmanship\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Here's why (and where) you might need this\\n\\nReview: <div id=\\\"video-block-RLUVLH51ZDFLS\\\" class=\\\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\\\"></div><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/D12CJitIazS.mp4\\\" class=\\\"video-url\\\"><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/11htNCs0Z0S.png\\\" class=\\\"video-slate-img-url\\\"> Everyone likely has heard of Brinks but who knew they made doorknobs? Certainly not me. There is no doubt the name Brinks brings to mind the highest levels of security, right? So, it's a smart move on their part getting into something like doorknobs. It was only moments after I unpacked this particular one that I noticed something on the bottom of the box that says \\\"Brink's trademark & copyright works are used with permission\\\". So being ever curious I soon discovered that these products are made by Hampton Products under license from Brinks.\\n\\nWhat interested me in the biggest feature that makes this door knob unique was a recent visit to a friend in the hospital. The doors to the patient rooms all had door knobs that could either be pushed or pulled to open them, perfect for hospital staff who are often carrying or pushing things and also perfect for patients who may have temporary or permanent disabilities making it difficult to turn a door knob. As soon as I saw it I knew I wanted one for my kitchen door that goes to the garage, which is used at least 50% of the time with my arms full of groceries, laundry, or other things. I was excited to find that such a push/pull/rotate doorknob was actually available now for home use. Oh yes, I did say rotate ... unlike the hospital door knobs, you can choose to push, pull OR rotate the knob like an ordinary door knob.\\n\\nThe quality of construction is surprisingly good considering the reasonable price. I would place it more like Schlage products than the lower end products commonly found in apartments and tract homes. The hardware feels solid, the satin nickel (other finishes are available) looks expensive and the smoothness in the way it operates all feel like the more expensive brands.\\n\\nCoincidentally I have been in the process of replacing all of the exterior door sets with upgraded ADA-compliant ones, if for no other reason than they are easier to use. In the process I selected satin nickel as the color of choice to better go with the contemporary look of the rest of the house. This series, known as the Stafford, to me is one of the most attractive, with a classic but contemporary shape to it. I like that the escutcheon plate is screwless, which matches my more expensive Schlage locks. It was absolutely easy to install, the instructions are great and I didn't have to do any redrilling or cutting.\\n\\nHonestly, wasn't sure if I would like a push/pull knob anywhere else except that pesky kitchen door but now that I've installed it it's becoming kind of addictive and I can think of several more places where this might be the perfect solution.\\n\\nHere are a few pros and cons to help answer any questions you may ask. If you have any others please leave them in the comments section:\\n\\nPROS\\n1. Better than expected quality for the price\\n2. TWO different sized latch assemblies are included to retrofit most any door (60mm and 70mm)\\n3. Well written instructions with easy to understand illustrations\\n\\nCONS\\n\\n1. Knob set was not wrapped in plastic, allowing other components to rub against it in shipping\\n2. Brinks does not offer a matching deadbolt lock in the Stafford series. I bet many people will want to install this indoor lock on their kitchen-to-garage door where they will also want a deadbolt. The kitchen is one of the most visible rooms in the house and to have unmatched locks on that door is unfortunate.\",\n \"Product: A good bonding primer is essential to ensure that topcoats adhere to tough-to-paint surfaces. High adhesion primer increases painting possibilities by bonding to a wide range of surfaces. KILZ Adhesion is a unique latex primer developed to bond securely on slick surfaces where a traditional water or oil-base primer will not adhere. Bonds to tough-to-paint surfaces including Kynar, PVC, Formica, vinyl, glass, tile, glazed brick, chalky paints, glossy finishes, fiberglass and metals. Topcoat with either latex or oil-based paint. Use on most interior and exterior surfaces where a secure bond is critical. This problem solving primer can be used under epoxies, lacquers, and products containing Xylene or other solvents. This is a 1-quart can of KILZ Adhesion High-Bonding Interior/Exterior water-based Primer in white. Covers approximately 300 square feet per gallon. Use on properly prepared surfaces free of dust, grease, chalk, mold, rust and peeling paint. Mix well before using. Apply with brush, roller, or spray. KILZ Adhesion dries to touch within 30 minutes and ready to recoat in an hour. KILZ has been making premium primers and paints for 40 years. KILZ was named Paint Brand of the Year in 2015 in the Harris Poll EquiTrend Rankings.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Should you order paint by mail-order?\\n\\nReview: With a family background in the commercial painting business you would think I would know all there is to know about paint. But no, there are always improvements being made. One of the frustrations many people face is painting over a darker color with a lighter one without the old color showing through. When I discovered KILZ primers a couple of years ago my painting tasks suddenly became far less frustrating.\\n\\nThese days I use KILZ before every paint job and my results are always pro quality. But as effective as this primer is, there are still surfaces that are extra challenging like kitchen cabinets, brick and surfaces that have become chalky over time all current projects I have on my to-do list. This was my first exposure to KILZs high adhesion primer and of my immediate projects I chose to try it on the old cabinets in my kitchen. Half the kitchen had been remodeled with glossy white cabinetry but the other half still had the old fashioned woodgrain that was porous and scratched and badly aged. Because of the custom way they were made the cost of replacing them was not in the budget so I wanted to try to paint over them with glossy white to match other side of the room. Unfortunately, glossy white paint tends to show ever imperfection.\\n\\nUsing the KILZ high adhesion primer I was able to completely cover the wood grain and as a bonus this primer filled in all of the minor imperfections. I sanded between coats and even though this primer can cover most surfaces in one coat, using two coats gave me an almost flawless smooth surface that I was able to successfully paint over with glossy white paint. From my experience with other primers I don't think I would have been able to get such a nice finish without this primer. Needless to say I am very happy with it.\\n\\nYou might have the same concern though that I did about ordering paint by mail. Often when I order any liquid product the container opens in transit and the product leaks out. I imagined the mess an open can of paint would make. The company takes extra care with this product by sealing the can shut with four metal locks that cannot pop open and then putting the can in a heavy plastic sealed bag and a rugged cardboard outer box. From now on I will have zero concerns about ordering this way. By the way they even throw in a stirring stick.\\n\\nMaybe this primer isn't needed for everyday use (but why not) but for anything thats not just a routine touchup with the same color I think its worth it.\",\n \"Product: Recharge up to 2100 times Maintain up to 70% of their charge after 5 years (when not it use) 2000mAh type, 1900mAh min, Ni-MH pre-charged rechargeable battery 4 position charger with worldwide voltage (110 - 240V) Charges from 1 to 4 AA or AAA batteries in any combination\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Is this your best option?\\n\\nReview: When I first heard about Sanyo's new type of rechargeable batteries in 2005 I bought a set of them immediately together with the original charger. I still use those batteries on an everyday basis and though their ability to hold a charge has diminished a bit, they still work acceptably. At that time you had to charge all four batteries (and you couldn't mix AA with AAA) and the charge time was roughly 3-4 hours.\\n\\nSince then Eneloop has undergone lots of changes as has the product itself. Specifically what those changes are depends on where in the world you live. If you live in the USA the product you buy that's intended for the U.S. market is sold by Panasonic (one of the two owners now of the Eneloop trademark ... Sanyo is out of the picture) and the batteries are, or should be, made in Japan with the chargers being made in China. This particular set makes a big point that recharging time for a full set of four is 7 hours; charging time used to be underplayed previously. The reason may be that there is another, harder to find and more expensive \\\"advanced\\\" charger that quotes a 3 hour recharge time. What they don't make obvious is that if you are only charging 1 or 2 AA batteries the charge time for both chargers is identical ... 3 hours. You benefit from the faster charger time with the new premium charger only if you are charging 4 batteries at the same time.\\n\\nAs long-time Eneloop customers are probably aware, there are literally pages of batteries with the Eneloop brand name being sold. Some have been reported to be counterfeit. Some are made in Chinese factories and intended to be sold outside of the USA. Some may have the Fujitsu brand on them and some may be ancient (pre-2009) Sanyo batteries. Do NOT buy those ... they are obsolete.\\n\\nThis product checks out as legit and they were close to 100% pre-charged. As I discovered after getting 11+ years use out of my original set, the estimate of how many times they can be recharged is just that, only an estimate. Your useful life will vary depending on temperature and humidity conditions, what device you're using them in, how far you deplete them before recharging them, which if the several models of chargers you recharge them in, etc.\\n\\nIf you have never before owned Eneloop batteries, I recommend starting with this kit of four AA cells with charger. I consider it a 5-star product.\",\n \"Product: The DEWALT DCK421D2 20V MAX lithium-ion 4-tool kit features four powerful tools for a wide variety of jobs and projects. The fast performance of the DCD780 1/2-inch drill/driver pairs well with the compact power of the DCF885 1/4-inch impact driver to provide a well-rounded pair of tools that help everyone from steel stud framers and contractors to cabinetmakers and plumbers work their way through a variety of applications. The DCS393 6-1/2-inch circular saw features a powerful motor that makes the most demanding cuts with ease. Rounding out the kit, the versatile DCL040 worklight delivers 110 lumens of light output with an efficient LED bulb and head that rotates 120 degrees.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: A worthwhile set for everyday homeowner projects\\n\\nReview: <div id=\\\"video-block-R29HX6J9SGEJLL\\\" class=\\\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\\\"></div><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/D1C07Ff8pES.mp4\\\" class=\\\"video-url\\\"><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/11htNCs0Z0S.png\\\" class=\\\"video-slate-img-url\\\"> In my work I've always believed in using the right tool for the job to get the best results. As a homeowner the same holds true. It is almost impossible to have too many tools.\\n\\nI have owned several battery-operated drills from different manufacturers and have been generally not fully happy with any of them. In the past they added weight of the battery made them heavy and awkward and the old Ni-Cad cells allowed only a short amount of time before they had to be recharged, not to mention that the battery died after about a year (those tools used to have the battery built in, not batteries that snap on like these DeWalt tools.\\n\\nDeWalt is a very respectable brand name for tools and I had high hopes for this kit. In one bag it includes 3 of the most useful power tools, all using the same batteries. Although it is a kit this review will discuss each component separately. Note that while it is shown as a kit and referred to as a kit, in reality each item was pretty much just placed into a large cardboard box with a little packing paper stuffed in. It does not appear that this is really a kit but rather a collection of assorted DeWalt tools that also includes a carrying bag. Please see the video for a close-up view of each tool in the kit.\\n\\nTHE DRILL\\n\\nAfter abandoning battery operated drills (except for my little Craftsman screwdriver/hole starter) I popped for a high-end Hitachi electric drill, which is near perfection in a drill. I love everything about it. What I don't love is that 8 times out of 10 I'm not immediately next to a power outlet which means dragging out the extension cord. That gets very old when I only have a couple of holes to drill. The DeWalt drill ranks high on the scale for quality of construction. While not contractor-grade it is close while still being light enough to not cause undo fatigue. It is unusually well balanced despite the battery pack (which is not as heavy as some of the old Ni-Cads I've owned which includes an older DeWalt that was loaned out and never returned). The drill has variable reversible speeds, variable clutch and a two-speed transmission (600/2000 RPM). What I like most is that it is about half as big front-to-back as most power drills, which comes in handy when working in tight spaces.\\n\\nTHE IMPACT DRIVER\\n\\nAlthough I have probably a more complete workshop than average, one thing I've never owned is an impact driver. If you're not familiar with them, an impact driver is specially engineered to do one job which is to drive screws, and it does it faster and easier than any other tool by using both bit rotation and concussive blows to power-drive screws through the thickest, densest materials. Although small, the design of the tool is to transfer the impact to the bit, not to the wrist. It is the ideal partner to a good power drill. Using a standard quick-loading \\\" hex chuck it is compatible out of the box with a full range of socket ends as well and is nearly ideal for removing difficult bolts and nuts.\\n\\nTHE CIRCULAR SAW\\n\\nOf course I have a Skil saw. I also have a jig saw, compound miter saw and recently bought a compact circular plunge saw and tile saw. All have their place but of course the full-size circular saw sees the most use cutting 2x4's and plywood sheets. But again, what if I want to cut just one 2x4? Out comes the extension cord and I usually have to take my work to where the power is instead of bringing my saw to where the work is. The DeWalt is exactly the right size for those quick trim jobs. You probably wouldn't use it for a full-scale construction project but it definitely has enough power for quick cuts around the home. Plus it is much quieter to use, something your neighbors will appreciate if you have to do a quick cut on a Sunday morning. Compared to the drill and impact driver I would say the saw is not quite as \\\"rugged\\\" but keep in mind it is intended for occasional lighter duty work than a full-size circular saw.\\n\\nTHE FLASHLIGHT\\n\\nThis seems to be a popular item to include in kits like this and I have always failed to see the reason why. Everyone owns at least one flashlight, why waste the use of one of the heavy, expensive Lithium Ion batteries on a simple flashlight? And it's not even a great flashlight. At 110 lumens I have little pocket flashlights that run on a single AA battery that are brighter and more convenient. It seems to be more hassle than it's worth to carry such a large, heavy flashlight when there are ones that provide the equivalent amount of light for $25-50. This accessory is simply rated as adequate, there is nothing much to say about it. By the way, it is packed separately in its own clamshell packaging, an obvious add-on item to enhance the value of the kit. It really doesn't.\\n\\nWHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:\\n\\n1. Battery life is impressive. The average user will probably easily be able to get through a full day of projects without recharging or changing batteries.\\n\\n2. This item, as sold, does not include any of the necessary accessories other than a saw blade. Keep in mind that the drill uses standard drill bits which most people who are buying tools likely already have and would balk at paying extra to get more. The impact driver uses standard \\\" hex bits, again something most workshops likely already have. There are an infinite number of sizes and purposes available for driving kits from many manufacturers ranging in price from cheap to expensive. I am satisfied that DeWalt did not include arbitrary samples that may not fit my needs. They do sell a basic kit for about $15 that seems to be a good starter kit.\\n\\n3. The kit includes 2 clamshell packaged batteries and one battery charger.\\n\\nOverall this is a good (maybe not excellent) value for the price. The fit and feel of the tools is definitely not cheap and they offer as much versatility as the average homeowner would need. Including the flashlight doesn't add any value, but does add about $50 to the cost. That is what resulted in the overall rating of 4-stars, which Amazon defines as \\\"I like it\\\" ... a high rating.\",\n \"Product: When You Want The Durability And Adjustability Of Automaxx Clamping But You Need More Clamping Capacity, Turn To Automaxx Bar Clamps. These Quality Clamps Automatically Adjust To Your Material Thickness, Whether It'S Thick, Thin, Or In Between. Clamp Quickly And Easily By Simply Sliding The Clamp Heads Against Your Workpiece, And Then Squeezing The Handle To Close The Clamp With Consistent Pressure Every Time. Setting The Clamping Pressure Is Simple, Too. Just Set The Desired Pressure Using An Easy To Regulate Thumbscrew, And Automaxx Bar Clamps Do The RestLocking Closed Easily And Consistently Every Time. These Also Feature A Highly Durable, All-Metal Construction To Withstand Years Of Rugged Use. Their Ergonomic Padded Grips Provide Comfort And Ease Of Use, While Extra Large Clamp Faces Spread Clamping Pressure Evenly. This Heavy-Duty Version Has 12\\\" Clamping Capacity, With A 2-7/8\\\" Reach And 700 Lb. Of Clamping Pressure.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Automaxx where have you been all my life?\\n\\nReview: My workshop has clamps of all shapes and sizes. Clamps are useful, no necessary, if you do any kind of woodworking and doesn't it seem every job requires clamps that are all of different sizes and shapes?\\n\\nBut anyone who does projects around the house has often found that they need something different from typical c-clamps or any of the typical clamps one would use to hold two pieces together, let's say while gluing. What they really need is a third hand, usually followed by recruiting a reluctant spouse, offspring, roommate or neighbor and then trying to explain how you need something held just so while you saw, cut, screw, adjust, whatever. Oh my gosh, is Automaxx so much easier to work with.\\n\\nThe range of \\\"things\\\" Automaxx can hold together for you is crazy. It is the perfect third hand. And no awkward adjustments, just squeeze the handles together (kind of like the handbrake on a mountain bike) and voila, the two pieces are held firmly together after which you can apply a little more or less pressure with a handy thumbscrew.\\n\\nThis is one of those things you probably would never have searched Amazon for but once you learned they exist, it was something you just had to have.\\n\\nI've already used it in the workshop, garden, kitchen and found a pretty unique use for it in my car. It's well built, yet simple and does what it is expected to do and more. Love it.\",\n \"Product: Introducing the lightest pro circular saw on the market, the new SPT67WL-01 SKILSAW SIDEWINDER, from the company that invented circular saws. Legendary SKILSAW worm drive inspired technology has been integrated into this SIDEWINDER with our best-in-class Dual-Field motor invented specifically for saws. The combination of the lightweight housing and unique Dual-Field motor results in a saw that lets you power through the toughest days on the jobsite, year after year. The 15 Amp motor ensures power for each demanding cut. Add the 56 degree precision beveling capacity and true grip to the list of benefits. The SPT67WL-01 is backed by the SKILSAW Stay True Guarantee which includes a 1 Year limited warranty as well as a 180 Day money back, no questions asked guarantee. SKILSAW, true to the trade since 1924.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Read on to get an even better one for only $10 more\\n\\nReview: I am far from being a stranger to the brand Skil when it comes to power tools. When my parents were newlyweds they built their dream house using a Skil saw, a table saw and a hammer. Not a cabin, but a 5000 sq ft house. Today my own workshop is an embarrassment of power tools of every shape and purpose. When I was first starting out though I couldn't afford a real Skil circular saw so I made do with an off-brand that has served its purpose but I had had my frustrating moments with it. Seeing this new saw series from Skil got me excited. Sure I would love to have a power saw of the quality that my dad used to build a house but thats not going to happen in todays world. But I read the promotional information and it sounded good to me so I went for it when it was listed here.\\n\\nSo, is it a real Skil saw or does lightweight mean cheap? Lets see what I discovered and if my excitement turned to remorse.\\n\\nThe first impression upon opening the box is they definitely didn't lie about being lightweight. The user in-hand weight is only 8.6 lbs which compares to Amazons best seller Skil 7-1/4 saw which weighs 11.8 lbs. It is light to the point that it seems almost like a toy. But we have to separate the concept of a saw being light from the concept that it is light duty. Light weight, in fact, can be a very positive attribute when you are using a power saw on a major project for hours at a time. I confess to being only human and can only handle a heavy power saw for so long before my arm gets tired. And if I am doing any sawing above chest-level just a few minutes with a heavy power saw is enough to require frequent breaks to rest my arms.\\n\\nI took a lot of time to use and test this saw. The construction quality I assure you is NOT a toy. Skil obviously did a lot of research into using resin (plastic) materials that are light yet strong, to the point I would have to admit the tool has the feel that it can survive a lot of use and abuse. Note that the footplate is magnesium, thats where using metal really counts. Later in this review I will compare this new model with another similar twin model introduced by Skil at the same time.\\n\\nOkay, if the outer housing, despite being plastic, is Skil quality, what about where it counts the most the motor and drive system?\\n\\nSkil claims that they have not compromised the guts of this saw just to make it light weight. I spent a day with it working on my springtime cleanup/fixup project and there is no doubt that it handles like a Skil saw. The power is there, the precision is there, the versatility is there the only thing noticeably missing is the weight. After a while I was looking forward to doing MORE cutting, rather than dreading picking up the saw again. Thats really the bottom line results, and I was not disappointed.\\n\\nIt will take a while to get over the fact that this saw isn't built like the tank my dads old Skil saw was and Im sure there will be numerous negative reviews from purists about how cheap the resin (plastic) feels to them. This is the 21st century and no, things are not built like they used to be. I can think of several things I own where I can honestly say they are made BETTER. This is one of them. I don't have a Skil saw to look at it and worry about where it was made or what kind of materials they used to make it. I have a Skil saw to cut wood fast, accurately and with the minimum effort possible. This Skil saw passes that test with flying colors.\\n\\nBOTTOM LINE:\\n\\nThis is one of two nearly identical models Skilsaw introduced recently, the big-brother model Skil SPT67WM-22 has \\\"all-magnesium\\\" body including motor housing (technically not ALL magnesium, the handle itself is plastic). It weighs only 8.8 lbs. That compares to this little-brother model introduced at the same time and selling for about $10 less (model SPT67WL-01) is even lighter weight, 8.6 lbs, having a combination of a magnesium footplate and mostly resin (plastic) exterior parts including the motor housing.\\n\\nBoth models feature the Skilsaw exclusive Sidewinder geared Dual-field motor for maximum torque, an extra-long 10' cord (6' is standard for most circular saws) and a 56 bevel cut, making it the only saw that cuts at that angle.\\n\\nMy recommendation is with the two saws being otherwise identical, for the $10 difference I recommend going with the all-magnesium Skil SPT67WM-22 model rather than the plastic housing model reviewed here. I like both of them a lot, but all-magnesium on the big-brother model earns the 5-star rating and according to Amazon's definition this one is \\\"I Like It/4-stars\\\" rather than \\\"I Love It/5-stars\\\".\",\n \"Product: Perfect for installing door locks, knobs and cabinets hinges or drilling larger diameter holes through desks etc. 8-Pc. Hardened high carbon steel hole saws in sizes: 1\\\", 1-1/4\\\", 1-1/2\\\", 1-3/4\\\", 2\\\", 2-1/8\\\", 2-1/4\\\" and 2-1/2\\\" 2-pc. Mandrels 1-pc. Hex key 1-pc 1/4\\\" bit and storage case.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Better value than the local stores sell\\n\\nReview: This is one of those tool items that isn't something I use every day, but when I need it, well Ive got to have it. So for people like me theres just not a lot of value in spending a lot of money for a hole saw set, even knowing that spending more will buy me a better product. This is a pretty run-of-the-mill set, not really better or worse than other low-price sets Ive used. None of them have ever lasted very long but they get the job done.\\n\\nBefore buying this I did check out what the chain home improvement store had in stock and also checked that freight disposal hardware place. For the price, the TruePower had more pieces and a nicer carrying case to keep everything in. I know the type of carrying case may sound trivial but in my workshop stuff like this almost always ends up at the bottom of some box never to be seen again (especially just when I need it most), so if the carrying case is easy to use and protects the tool, I have a much better chance at actually using it.\\n\\nThe way this model works is pretty standard. Of the various better mousetrap styles Ive tried in the past I end up liking this design the best for ease of use and effectiveness.\\n\\nOverall I like it. My one negative is that, compared to other similar sets Ive owned, the depth of the saw is less than some other brands. 99% of the time I am cutting into wallboard or some other relatively thin material so its not an issue but be aware that this would not be the best hole saw to make a very deep cut. For that reason they fall just a little short of being a 5-star product.\",\n \"Product: This unique desk lamp combines style and functionality into one dynamic product! The interesting pyramid base includes a touch dimming switch to change between three distinct levels of brightness. A built-in 5V USB charging port is contained at the rear of the pyramid, allowing for the convenient charging of devices such as a smart phone, tablet, reader and so forth. The 16 inch long shade provides light over a large work area, and the diffuser cover helps provide even light distribution and reduces glare on the work surface. The shade tilts up and down and rotates left and right to help optimize the beam direction and put the light exactly where it's needed. The 8W bright LEDs will provide flicker-free light and are rated for an average life of 20,000 hours. AC charger cord is included. Includes a manufacturer's 90 day limited warranty.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Is its bonus feature worth the extra cost?\\n\\nReview: As you're probably aware, shopping for a desk lamp is a highly individual decision. The style, color and features you choose depend entirely on your own needs and decorating tastes. So it would not be very productive to rate this or any lamp on how it looks. To my own tastes I was disappointed; it has a very cheap discount store look to it. And thats really much of the basis why it doesnt rate very highly you can find this type of lamp for $10-20 at most low-end stores and the shelves of the Swedish mega-furniture store are crammed full of similar lamps for less than half the price. Quite simply, this lamp is in no way worth $50+\\n\\nI got it to use as a task light next to my favorite chair, however the broad pattern of the light is not focused enough for that purpose. I ended up putting it next to the bed in our guest room and for that purpose, the soft diffused light pattern works out pretty good. The on/off buttons are also well suited for a guest room in that they are big, bold and easy to figure out (low/medium/bright/off). The fact that the part that lights up can be swung about 45 degrees side-to-side and can be raised and lowered is also nice for a bedside. Another plus is that the smallish base does not hog a lot of valuable space on the nightstand.\\n\\nThe lamp features a USB port to use as a phone charger. It is as barely adequate as they come. The power output is only 750mA, just enough to charge a basic cell phone slooowly overnight. Most modern phone and tablet chargers are up to 10x more powerful than that. Again, for use in a guestroom where the person would probably plug their phone in overnight it might be okay. Unfortunately the port is at the back of the base so your guest would never know its there unless you trained them.\\n\\nI am not a big fan of touch-sensitive power buttons and most of the lamps Ive owned that use them don't work for very long. The ones on this lamp are not as hyper-sensitive as others Ive seen and so far have worked as expected each time I use them.\\n\\nNote that when I unpacked the lamp the lamp arm seemed broken, it just hung limp. There are no instructions how to correct that but I used a coin to tighten a plastic slot and it is holding the arm in place but the plastic is so soft it got deformed. The side-to-side swivel is also very loose but there doesn't seem to be a way of adjusting that.\\n\\nBottom line: this is a pretty average lamp, worth about half the price being asked. Its okay, but not special. Amazons rating policy is that its okay ranks as a 3-star product.\",\n \"Product: The 1.6W Newhouse Lighting T5 Base Bulb is the perfect substitute for an old halogen T5 bulb. The T5 LED light bulb has a low-heat feature what will keep it cool during long working hours, unlike halogens which tend to get extremely hot. This smart alternative to halogen bulbs uses up to 80% less energy than Halogen bulbs- and uses only 1.6-Watts of power to emit the same amount of light. This unique bulb is suitable for damp locations, so you wont have to worry about weathering or humidity damaging your bulb. Compliant with FCC Standards, this bulb has no electromagnetic interference. It is also compliant with RoHS to ensure that it is Mercury and Lead Free. Mercury-free and other pollutant-free properties make this bulb safer. This soft white, compact LED bulb is ideal for any space: Landscape Malibu Cast Metal Tier Light, Malibu Porche lights, Cabinet, Closet, Outdoor patio, Under counter Lights, Indoor and Outdoor Fixtures, Landscaping Lights, Deck Lighting, Garden Lights, and other lights that are compatible with T5 base.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Produces a wonderful gaslamp glow\\n\\nReview: Of all of the various T5 LED bulbs that are suitable to work in Malibu outdoor lighting, this is one of the few that is rated as 18w equivalent and capable of casting light in a full 360 degree circle. This was important to me in replacing the lamp in my driveway post light fixture, which had been retrofitted to low-voltage halogen years ago. The retrofit allowed me to wire the lamppost on the same circuit as my other outdoor lighting and save power consumption substantially over an incandescent bulb. The smaller bulb also had a much more pleasant effect than a full-size light bulb. The only downside is that when it came to replacing the halogen bulb, which was several times a year, it required getting on a ladder and disassembling the entire top of the lamppost, not an easy task.\\n\\nConverting the halogen bulb to LED concerned me. The lamppost is as much decorative as it is functional I wanted enough light to illuminate that section of the driveway but wanted the lamppost to have more of a glow than a floodlight effect. And the last thing I wanted was to have the bulb give off that garish bluish LED look.\\n\\nI chose this bulb despite it being a little pricier than some other options. Im glad I did. The bulb is well-made and when lit it has a glow that is bright yet subtle. When lit you simply cant see the bulb at all, the entire thing glows evenly. As you can see from the photo the bulb gives off a warm glow that looks very much like a gaslamp and yet it still gives off a lot of light.\\n\\nThe base of the lamp is fractionally larger than a standard T5 halogen bulb, to the degree that it spread the pins in the receptacle slightly. I noticed this because I put the old halogen bulb back in temporarily to compare the two of them and found that the LED bulb had made the socket looser. I wasn't that concerned because I had no intention of going back to the old bulb, but it is something to be aware of.\\n\\nThis is an excellent product and was worth the price.\",\n \"Product: Ecobee3 Thermostat with Sensor, Wi-Fi, 2nd Generation, Works with Amazon Alexa\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Reality check of ecobee 2nd generation (iOS 10 AND Echo Dot 2nd Gen updates!)\\n\\nReview: [Note that this is for the most current SECOND generation ecobee3 that is HomeKit enabled. Also note that this is a long review this a complex product category and I believe if you're dropping this kind of money you want more of a review than it arrived on time and its the best thermostat ever]\\n\\nI am an unabashed tech junkie who is easily bedazzled by cool new toys with flashing blue LEDs and amazing apps. But if you think this is going to be a gushing review like this product is getting at some if the online media sites, think again. While I love and have LONG used home automation and smart connectivity, there are times where I've drawn the line, especially when it comes to the increasing number of ways manufacturers are trying to tap into using wifi-enabled devices in the home. Some of them are simply a bad idea while others can be just plain stupid. Raise your hand if your home wireless network has never suddenly dropped the signal or if your service provider has never had an outage that can last hours or even days. Okay, I didn't see any hands. Now just use common sense ... if you lose your internet signal while watching a movie or listening to music using an internet-enabled device, how bad can that possibly be? Maybe just a frustration but not a tragedy. But what if your home security depends on that internet signal (wired or wireless) to work or your wifi garage door opens itself while you're on vacation? Or your HVAC system goes berserk while you're away and harms your pets or damages your home? Or smoke alarms don't go off because they lose the wifi signal? I'm not saying internet-based devices are evil; Ive had near-disaster with a simple 2-wire old school thermostat once that malfunctioned and almost burned the house down. BUT if you're going in that direction its imperative that you research what the device's Plan B is if there is a service failure. Specifically if you are looking at thermostats will they function as expected during a complete loss of internet connectivity, and what will they do after a complete power outage?\\n\\nIf you haven't done so already please take the time to also read the 1-star reviews here for this product before you order. I found some intelligent and valid points from those folks who rated it 1-star. The biggest takeaway is that this is not a product for everyone, and for those who need it it's not just a slam-dunk plug & play device. Like most of the cool gadgets I've worked with recently the ecobee3 requires the patience to learn, in detail, what it can (and can't) do, and how to set it up properly. True it has a high degree of wow factor but do your research first to find out if it is really a necessity in your home, or can it actually make your HVAC system work less efficiently, or even potentially harm it.\\n\\nCutting to the chase, although this is a wifi enabled device my fears were allayed when I learned that it is NOT dependent on wifi to do its primary job. It can and will function just like your old school thermostat with no wifi connection at all. That is a MAJOR positive!\\n\\nAs a technophile I find there is a fine line between being excited about the potential of a cool new gadget and accepting the reality of how it actually works in a real-life environment. Having read several dozen reviews here and elsewhere for this thermostat its evident that most of them are more excited about one particular feature over everything else and that is the one regarding the remote sensors. Yet it is hard to find a review that describes in detail IF that feature really works or if it only sounds good in theory on paper. My first reaction to the concept made me think of my SUV which has 3 thermostats for cabin temperature the driver, front passenger and rear seat passenger all have their own personal thermostat so for example I can set mine at 55 degrees to keep me awake and my front passenger can set hers to 80 degrees, while those in the rear seat can set theirs to 70 degrees. That all sounds good in theory but in reality we are all sitting in one closed-in cabin and regardless of the thermostat setting and how the vents are open each passenger will not be sitting in a climate cocoon at the temperature they set. That cant happen because the air will mingle and blend and average throughout the cabin. The best that can happen is the vent on one side will be open and the vent on the other side will be closed and one person will have a little more air being blown at them.\\n\\nNow take that example in my home, which is open architecture, which means the entire living area downstairs (living room, kitchen, dining area, den, etc) are all essentially one room with no doors between them. The bedrooms are upstairs, each having a closable door, and the house thermostat is in the hallway between them a terrible location because it is at the top of an open stairwell where all the heat rises and congregates right at the thermostat. It I have one sensor downstairs and one in the master bedroom upstairs and I set the one downstairs at 72 degrees and the one in the master bedroom at 60 degrees the HVAC cant do anything to deliver different temperatures to those two areas, all it knows how to do is turn on and off (which is true for 99.9999% of most average homes). It also cant know that heat from downstairs is rising up the stairwell into the bedroom area, or that the bedroom has a large south-facing bay window that causes that room to sometimes get as much as 20 degrees hotter than downstairs. If the ecobee thermostat is trying to make the bedroom 60 degrees it simply cant make the downstairs 72 degrees, all it can do is run the AC longer and make the downstairs even COLDER in the process. And just like in my car the air will blend and average throughout the house. Dont get me wrong, I love the theory of how the ecobee is supposed to work but Ive learned that the vast majority of the reviews about that feature never say anything about how it really works in a real house under real-life conditions.\\n\\nThe follow me feature also sounds nice on paper but in real life heres what happens. Take the example that I am downstairs eating breakfast and I want the temperature to be 72 degrees while Im there but I want it to be warmer (or cooler) when Im not in that area. But when I go upstairs where my work desk is I want it to follow me and make the temperature there 72 degrees now. My HVAC (like virtually every HVAC) only knows to either turn on or turn off like a light switch and how long the thermostat tells it to operate to reach an assigned temperature. If the HVAC is on and trying to make my upstairs area 72 degrees it WILL have a corresponding effect on the breakfast area I just left. It HAS to. It CANT suddenly raise or lower the temperature in the breakfast area while at the same time try to maintain my setting of 72 degrees upstairs. And as the sun comes around the sensor upstairs will tell the HVAC to stay on even longer to compensate for my work area getting warmer and warmer. My HVAC doesnt know or care what the ecobees nifty wifi climate sensor tells it the ambient outdoor temperature in my zip code is (another dubious feature), all it knows is I told it to make the zone I am in a certain temperature and it will turn the HVAC on or off until it reached that temperature in the zone where I currently am, but in the process the ENTIRE rest of my house will also get warmer or cooler just because the HVAC is operating.\\n\\nThe bottom line of this entire example is that as nifty as the design seems to be on paper, and as excited as the reviews are about the POTENTIAL of what the design can do, the reality is that the only way you can get true zone control is to have separate HVAC units for each zone in your house (impractical for most people) or to install temperature-regulated automated vents throughout your home (very expensive).\\n\\nSo all that being said, how about real everyday life with the ecobee in my otherwise typical average home? Here are some observations:\\n\\n1. We are on a rate averaging plan, which after doing our research is a no-brainer. Our heating/cooling bill is exactly the same every month no matter if we run the HVAC 24/7 (which at certain times a year is exactly what we need to do) or whether we go on vacation and turn the thermostat way down. That makes the so-called energy savings of devices like this meaningless.\\n\\n2. In the summer we set our thermostat to one temperature and leave it at that setting 24/7 whether we are home or not. There are at least three key reasons for that. One is pets just because we are out of the house the pets need a relatively constant temperature and certainly no extremes. So an away from home setting (as so many reviewers have pointed out) is pretty much useless if you are a pet owner. Another reason is that we paid $10,000 for a new HVAC unit and the manufacturers #1 warning is not to cycle it on or off more than necessary, which causes an incredible amount of wear. And the third reason is that if you set the temperature to be, lets say, 20 degrees higher (or lower) while you are at work all day when you get home your HVAC has to work just as hard or maybe harder to bring the temperature back to your normal setting. HVAC experts have told us that the energy usage difference between leaving it at a constant setting or using an away setting is almost an exact wash, in other words there is no real advantage to using an away setting unless you are doing so for an extended period (like being on vacation for a week) and people with pets probably would not want to have a drastic temperature change while they're away precisely because of that reason.\\n\\n3. Is the concept of having remote sensors bad? No its not. ecobee indicates that a large percentage of people have their thermostats installed in hallways, which in many houses is probably the worst place for it. I find it to be very positive that I can install the sensor near the location in my house where I spend the most time. For that reason I would choose this thermostat over any other that doesnt offer a remote sensor. That being said there are very few people I know who need more than one remote sensor.\\n\\n4. The #1 best feature of a wifi-enabled thermostat is being able to check, change and be alerted remotely using a smartphone. Of those three, I would buy a wifi thermostat just for being able to be alerted if there is a sudden unexpected change in my homes temperature. But there are wifi-enabled thermostats that cost a lot less than the ecobee. I do appreciate though that the ecobee doesnt depend on the internet to function. If your wifi goes down your HVAC will still work as normal and when it comes back on you will then be in remote contact again. BUT note that there is no battery backup on the ecobee. In case of an AC power failure it will default to factory settings.\\n\\n5. I like the simple user interface. You don't have to be a PhD to operate it. A well-designed thermostat has to be simple enough for EVERY member of the household to be able to make basic adjustments. I had my previous one for 10 years and I never did fully understand how to program it for multiple daily on/off times.\\n\\nSUMMARY\\n\\nIf you stuck through all this congratulations, you have a serious interest in this thermostat and I will guess that you were frustrated with some of the reviews that overhyped its features but didn't tell you if those features were actually useful or necessary. I have been involved with high tech gadgets for a long time and have the same tendency as other techies to get excited about buzzwords and cool-factor features that sound better to the designer and the investors on paper than they actually pan out to be in real life. Most of what has been said about the ecobee is true and compared to my experience with its #1 competitor is the better of the two products in my opinion. I recommend it, and I like it (which Amazon defines as 4-stars) but I don't love it. My personal experience (and what Ive read in other reviews) is that you're paying for some features that you may never be able to use. It would be a better product if the manufacturer made it more modular offer the basic unit for a lower price and sell firmware enhancements that can be purchases on an as-needed basis. I like that ecobee is continuing to improve the product (I would not have liked it as much if it wasn't HomeKit enable, for example) but unfortunately each new generation obsoletes the previous one. Making it modular could take some of the sting out of paying so much only to find out that the next generation is better.\\n\\n[iOS 10 and Echo Dot Second Generation updates]\\n\\niOS 10 has only been around for a few days now and I am very impressed with what theyve done with HomeKit. And now, all of a sudden Amazons Echo Dot Second Generation is available to order (but not deliverable until October 20). I have wild plans to see if I can use the ecobee with BOTH HomeKit under iOS 10 and the new Echo Dot, so I can just yell at my Dot to change the temperature if Im too hot or cold and use my iPhone/iPad/Apple TV to remotely do all the fine tuning of schedules, etc. Wow. I cant wait to let you know how all that works out. Check back toward the end of October for a major update)\\n\\nOn a more somber noted, the one concern I may have is how long ecobee may be around to support this product, indeed their entire concept. That may not be as much of a concern when you buy let's say a toaster from a new startup company, but when you invest $250 for the basic thermostat unit and then start adding expensive modules the long-term commitment of a Kickstarter-type newbie becomes a viable question ... what if their investment funding dries up? What if Apple makes a sudden turn in technology (not that they would EVER do something as drastic as killing off an earphone connector thats been around almost 70 years, would they). What if some law gets passed that affects home wifi devices? What if customers prefer Nest and drives ecobee out of business? I know people who have thermostats on their wall that are older than I am. For most people a HVAC thermostat isn't something optional like a toaster, it is an absolute necessity. How long the seller can/will support it has to be considered before shelling out several hundred dollars. None of this affects my review, its only some reality-check things to think about.\",\n \"Product: Introducing the BenQ e-Reading Desk Lamp. The Worlds First Lamp Designed for e-Reading. Unlike the regular task lamps, the lamp has wider lighting coverage. Developed specifically for the usage of monitors, kindles, tablets, and other devices, as well as for use in large workspaces, the desk lamp distributes light evenly across the desk. It delivers a 90cm illumination range, 150% wider than any regular reading lamp, helping you see everything from your keyboard to your entire desk. Its patented brighter at the sides, darker in the middle illumination is designed to eliminate glare.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Big question is it worth $300?\\n\\nReview: <div id=\\\"video-block-R380986TJYXPEH\\\" class=\\\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\\\"></div><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/D1FtF%2BjAN6S.mp4\\\" class=\\\"video-url\\\"><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/015OFLiOouS.png\\\" class=\\\"video-slate-img-url\\\"> Lets start by acknowledging the 900 lb gorilla in the room at $300 this is not your Dollar Store lamp. To some the price may seem outrageous and justification right there to give it a negative review. And yes, there is no doubt that it cost more than the average desk lamp. But the price is not at all out of line with what you would pay for a high quality table lamp at a fine furniture store. And theres that argument why a Bentley costs more than a Kia.\\n\\nMoving on from what it costs, the obvious question is whether it is worth what it costs. And that is what the rest of this review will focus on.\\n\\nFirst off, you may wonder who BenQ is. That is actually important because they are a real electronics company with a long history of innovation and engineering. In other words they are not a made-up name slapped on a generic product cranked out by the billions. I have a long personal knowledge of BenQ, having bought their monitors and projectors as far back as 15 years ago. I also have quite a bit of history with LEDs themselves starting when I was a kid and got my hands on a bag of early light emitting diodes and was fascinated with them. These days Ive replaced most incandescent, florescent and halogen lights in my home with LEDs of some sort. The majority of them fall short of perfect on two scores the color temperature is never quite right and they rarely work well for low illumination mood lighting. In a moment well see how BenQ addresses both of those issues.\\n\\nThe lamp itself is exceptionally well made, at over 10 lbs the cast metal fit and finish would make it at home in the most tastefully decorated offices and homes. And Im picky about such things, my home and office space reflect a feng shui quality that is conducive to a positive and healthy lifestyle.\\n\\nThe lamp is unique in many ways. One is the shape of the lamp head and the way the light is emitted so it is brighter at the edges than the center to avoid harsh glaring hotspots. I replaced the LED light I had been using on my office desktop with this one and I noticed the BenQ was immediately kinder on my eyes. The lamp I replaced was actually not a cheap one either it has a similar elongated lamp head and is designed to be low-glare, in fact I can look directly at the light at full brightness and not strain my eyes. My old lamp is also dimmable but in 8 steps rather than one continuous range. The biggest difference though is the variable color temperature. At one time I did try another lamp that could be switched from warm to cool lighting and I found both ranges to be uncomfortable, it was either too yellow or too blue. The BenQs color temperature is fully variable (I have never seen any lamp with this feature) so I can set it precisely where I want it. While that is a very nice and important feature for anyone, I have quickly learned that it is the answer to a dream for a professional photographer like me. I can set it to exactly correspond with how I have my monitor tuned. By the way, only recently have there been numerous news reports of the value of reducing the bluish cast of LED lights to aid eye comfort and help the body/mind to sleep (Apple just introduced a feature in which their phone/tablets change color temperature when it gets dark). I immediately discovered that my vision was much more relaxed during late nights at the computer compared to my old LED desk lamp.\\n\\nHeres where it gets really interesting. There is a way you can set this lamp to automatically compensate for variances in ambient lighting. That would be a neat trick all by itself but when I am at the computer monitor at night with only the BenQ lamp for lighting it senses the variances in the brightness of the monitors screen and subtlety varies the lighting level of my workspace, almost imperceptibly but enough to keep my relative luminance perception consistent with my monitors output. That can get pretty complicated to describe but lets just say it is unusually easy on my eyes.\\n\\nA quick aside here, BenQ also has a computer monitor that is specifically made for professional photographers that I recently learned about. I am seriously thinking of getting it but not yet because it is quite expensive.\\n\\nCons? Yes there is one that I guess would depend on where you put this lamp. For me the uber-cool looking controls are beautiful to look at but I have to stand up to reach them when Im working at my desk. I would imagine that would be true in other locations as well. As cool as the controls look my personal preference would have been if BenQ located the dual-purpose rotary brightness/color temperature dial on the base or at least on the front of the lamp shade. While the unusually heavy weight of over 10 lbs is a plus in my mind to keep the lamp from jiggling the overall size may be a concern for some people. The base itself is a full 9 in diameter and at minimum the lamp stands 17 tall and another 30 out if fully extended. It is a LARGE lamp more at home on big desks than cramped work spaces.\\n\\nSo the question is, whether this lamp is worth $300. I would say that if you spend a lot of time reading, yes. If you spend a lot of time with an e-reader, yes. If you spend a lot of time at a computer, yes. And if you like and appreciate beautiful design and exquisite construction, yes. Frankly, I would have a hard time being without it now.\\n\\nBenQ asked me to evaluate this new product as they introduced it and provided a sample for me to test without any expectation of anything but a fair and honest review. Based on my real-life use and the importance I place on eye comfort and design in my office space I believe this lamp earns a very respectable 5-star rating.\",\n \"Product: Specifications: Material: Brass, chrome finish height: 18.5\\\" single handle number of installation hole: One hole valve type: Ceramic valve double faucets: One traditional faucet and one handheld pull down sprayer faucet this brass kitchen sink faucet features a beautiful polished chrome finish. It is the perfect combination of practicality and style. It has two faucets to fit your needs at all time. Simply put pressure on the main faucet to control the water flow (for the pull down faucet). This is extremely practical and water efficient. If you prefer using your faucet in the more traditional way, simply use the 2nd faucet that can be rotated from the sink to the side of the sink. The high quality ceramic valves allow for a drip-free kitchen faucet. Features: Solid brass polished chrome finish single handle swivel spout drip-free ceramic valves includes two pipes for hot and cold water very easy to install package includes: 1 x kitchen sink faucet 2 x 1/2\\\" map pipes for cold and hot water2 x 1/2\\\" map.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: What do you get for a fraction of the cost of other models?\\n\\nReview: I am very familiar with this style of kitchen faucet, two of my relatives have similar faucets installed in their kitchens. Faucets like this usually start at about $200 for no-name brands and can go up to about $1200 for the top name brands. So my first thought when I saw the price was that it was a cheap plastic piece of junk. But since I write for a kitchen specialty website where many of our readers are on tight budgets I thought I would keep an open mind. The distributer offered to provide a reduced cost sample for testing and evaluation, but our reviews are completely independent on any manufacturer or organization.\\n\\nMy first impression when it arrived is how VERY heavy it is. Ill warn you right up front that if you have a low-cost stainless steel sink this faucet will likely be too heavy for it. Likewise if your sink is not firmly mounted into your countertop. Fortunately I have a very heavy-duty kitchen sink with a deep bowl that is intended for faucets like this. Unfortunately, when we bought the sink we didn't plan ahead and we bought a faucet that is the wrong style and the wrong color and we have never really liked it so the unfortunate part is having to uninstall it to put this one in.\\n\\nIf you are considering this faucet, also be aware that it is very tall, it sticks up about 20 above the sink rim. Some kitchens may not be able to handle that height. Again, I was fortunate that our sink is well designed for a commercial grade faucet like this.\\n\\nI inspected the faucet before installing it. Contrary to what I might expect for the price this faucet is mostly metal (the manufacturer states that it is brass). I have looked at similar faucets at the home improvement chain store that cost over $200 and they are made with quite a bit of plastic.\\n\\nThis is a single-hole faucet, ideal for me because my sink is drilled for only one hole. Note that it does NOT come with a trim plate if you have a 3-hole sink so you will have to get that locally. The mounting hole is standard size and it hooked up easily to the existing water feeds. Installation did not take any longer than any other faucet and everything needed was in the box. Kudos to the manufacturer for including two premium-grade metal sheathed feed hoses. I would have only expected cheap plastic hoses at this price.\\n\\nAfter installation the faucet operates in a similar way to other commercial-grade (or restaurant grade) faucets. If you are new to this type of faucet heres what to expect the on/off/temperature control is to the right and operates by tilting it away from the main stem. The temperature is controlled by moving the lever toward you or away from you. Once you are satisfied with the temperature you can turn the water on and off without changing it. The on/off lever itself is machine-knurled metal and is easy to operate with your wrist, knuckles, etc if your hands are full.\\n\\nHeres where it gets tricky if this style of faucet is new to you you actually have TWO faucets to choose from. One is on a fixed arm like a normal kitchen faucet and it has its own on/off switch. This faucet can be swung a full 360 degrees and has a standard aerator in it, so using it is like what most people are used to. The second faucet is on a spring-loaded flexible gooseneck tube and extends over20 high. It has a clamp to hold it in place or you can unclamp it and use the entire faucet like a sprayer hose. The end of it operates more like a sprayer than an aerator and it has its own on/off switch. This faucet also rotates 360 degrees. So the trick is that you can operate either or BOTH of the faucets at the same time depending on which on/off switch you have turned on.\\n\\nWARNING\\n\\nThe word warning isn't meant to be a negative but to point out a couple of things you MUST know in using this style of faucet:\\n\\n1. Most kitchen faucets don't swivel 360 degrees. If you have either faucet swung far to the side where it is not pointing into the sink and its on/off switch is on, if you turn the main control on you will spray water all over your kitchen counter. Thats just the way commercial faucets work so you are forced to think a bit before absent-mindedly turning the water on.\\n\\n2. The gooseneck faucet can be left hanging without inserting it into the clamp. If you turn the main control on and the goosenecks lever is also on you will be faced with the entire assembly wildly flailing around like a goose with its neck cut off (maybe thats why they call it a gooseneck). TRUST ME!!! I have done this and it is NOT a pretty sight to have water spraying at high pressure all over your kitchen while you desperately try to find the on/off control. It is only funny later when you talk about it. Again, this is not a defect or a negative, its just what happens when you choose to have such a fancy faucet in your kitchen.\\n\\nThe bottom line is this faucet is an amazing value at the price. It is mostly solid metal, well made, has ceramic valves and looks like a million dollars. Once you use a faucet like this for everyday kitchen chores you will never go back to a basic faucet again. It is well made and leak-free. In fact it only has one drawback which I consider a minor inconvenience but to some it may be a more significant frustration. With most faucets of this style the gooseneck clamp is longer than the bottom normal faucet so it can swivel around it. Inexplicably this manufacturer has designed theirs backwards so the bottom faucet sticks out longer than the gooseneck so when you swivel it from side to side it hits the gooseneck. The solution in everyday use is to always keep the gooseneck positioned to one side or the other while using the lower faucet. But its still backwards from what you would expect it to be. I cant take a full rating point off for that because it doesnt bother me but I will knock a half point off of an otherwise excellent and affordable product.\",\n \"Product: *Just press and scan to find studs instantly. You can measure, mark, and level with one tool. *Built-in Bubble level. Integrated Ruler. Convenient Pencil Caddy. *13 sensors provide up to 1.7 inches detection depth. *Detects wood and metal. *Includes ProFinder 6000+ Stud Finder, 2 Duracell \\\"AA\\\" Batteries and 3 Pencils. *Made in USA.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: This is the first one I grab\\n\\nReview: The answer to the question is yes, this is the identical product as the Franklin Sensors model 710. Thats per the company who makes it. They created the blue model primarily for club stores (and here) and sell the yellow one at retail. The only non-product-related difference is that the yellow one has a manuf contact number whereas the blue one should be returned to the store for warranty.\\n\\nLets be clear upfront that this is not the perfect stud finder. Being the 4th one I own I can attest to none of them being perfect and in fact sometime I use 2-3 of them to double check against each other if the project involves drilling holes that would be an issue cosmetically or if I am mounting something heavy and expensive (like a TV) and want to be absolutely sure I am in the center of the stud not the edge. Most of the time, but not all of the time, they are about the same in their reading but what Im concerned about is those times that they are NOT in agreement.\\n\\nIf you own other stud sensors you know that the common procedure is that you have to turn them on, hold them against the wall to calibrate, and then sweep them slowly until they sense a stud. This model is a little different in that you simply press the on button and hold it to the wall. You can either move it or slide it as you choose. There are 13 LED lights and for most normal studs 3 or 4 of them with light up when you are dead center on the stud.\\n\\nIt works well for normal walls, and by that I mean when the wall is interior grade wallboard and the stud are normal vertical ones. The manufacture does not make any claims that this device will differentiate between different types of studs, sense electrical wires and conduit or sense nails, it is NOT a metal detector. That is one of the reasons I still keep and use another stud sensor that detects and reports metal objects and electrical current. It works best if you have a wide expanse of wall, which is common, but it is awkward to use for small spaces, rounded or uneven walls, corners, and close to the edge of any wall (not that it doesnt work, its physical size just makes it more difficult to place it where you want it). The Profinder does not beep, flash a marker light or even indicate the precise center of the stud but because it displays the LEDS across the entire width of a common stud it is easy to find and mark the center. A plus is that it has a built-in measuring ruler and a fairly accurate level it seems those are two things I never have handy when I am mounting something to a wall.\\n\\nThis is the first model of stud sensor Ive used that glides smoothly across the wall, part of that is due to it being about a foot wide and using Teflon guides. Smaller handheld stud finders tend to jump around if the wall surface isn't smooth.\\n\\nI would not classify this as the best one out there and you need to know it isn't designed to be the answer to every job. But for the majority of typical everyday tasks it is now the first one I grab and the one I most depend on for everyday use.\",\n \"Product: The Chamberlain Whisper Belt Drive Ultra-Quiet & Strong 1/2hp steel-reinforced belt drive garage door opener is the ultimate blend of power and quiet. It features our exclusive Motor Vibration Isolation System (MVIS) - which eliminates power head vibration for reduced noise - making it the ideal choice if you have rooms positioned above the garage. As an added convenience feature, the opener has a timer-to-close function that will automatically close the garage door in case you forget. This garage door opener is bundled with the Chamberlain MyQ Internet Gateway (CIGBU). MyQ technology allows you to monitor, open and close your garage door from anywhere all from your smartphone. The unit includes two 3-button remote controls, wireless keypad, motion detecting control panel, safety sensors and delivers 200 watts of light for added safety (light bulbs sold separately). HomeLink Compatible Compatible Bridge (not included) necessary for certain vehicles. Visit bridge.chamberlain.com to find out if a Bridge is needed.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: How to decide if this is the right model for you\\n\\nReview: Regardless of who makes it, a garage door opener is a relatively simple device. Its sole function is for an electric motor to lift and lower a garage door. That basic function has not changed since electric garage door openers were invented by C.G. Johnson in 1926. Todays electric garage door openers are basically the same device, with a few modern convenience touches added. It seems there are dozens of models to choose from, however, and the purpose of this review is to help you decide if this model is a good choice.\\n\\nOf those dozens of models, there are actually only a small number of manufacturers by far the market is dominated by only two companies, Genie and Liftmaster (who sells their openers under the brand names Chamberlain, Liftmaster, Sears Craftsman, and Garage Master). Under different brand names Liftmaster currently sells at least 35 models.\\n\\nLets focus first on the key features this model advertises and how well that feature performs:\\n\\n1. Whisper Belt Drive for me this is an important feature, although certainly not one limited to this one specific Chamberlain model. I have two bedrooms right above the garage and my original garage door opener could wake the dead. Having a belt drive opener and the motor vibration isolation this model features is definitely a positive. Please understand that neither of these features can make your garage door totally silent, you will still have the mechanical noise of the door traveling up and down on the rails, but the motor noise in the bedrooms has gone from a roar to a quiet hum, a big improvement.\\n\\n2. HomeLink this feature allows vehicles that already have a garage door opener button built in to the car to operate your garage door without having to carry a separate transmitter. Note that if you don't have a vehicle equipped with this option, HomeLink does nothing for you. In theory this should rank as a positive feature for Chamberlain, but in reality their execution of it is terrible. The fact is that this opener will only work with SOME vehicles and they must be newer than 2011. That leaves out a lot of vehicles. If you own an older vehicle, you're not entirely out of luck; Chamberlain will sell you an adapter to make their opener compatible with the standard used in older vehicles for an additional $25.00. I tried every local store who sells garage door openers and none of them sell it, it seems the only place to get the adapter is directly from Chamberlains website. The adapter has some drawbacks, for example it works by retransmitting the signal from your vehicle to the actual opener, so there will be a delay when you press the open button and it may not work as far away from your house as you're used to. Five years after the standards changed, it is inexcusable that Chamberlain doesnt simply build this into the motor unit itself instead of requiring an adapter.\\n\\n3. MyQ this is a dubious feature that allows you to open and close the garage door using your cell phone. Its not that simple. To do so you have to find and open an app and then activate the opener function, not very practical. However there ARE some benefits to this feature I use it to alert me if the garage door is opened when Im away from the house. Not that something like that would happen often but the added security is nice to have. There is a misconception that MyQ will alert you if you leave your garage door open. No, it can't do that, it has no way of determining that the door was accidentally left open and sending you a message to warn you. You must manually open the app on your phone and look at it to see if the door is open or closed. The alert some people are referring to is that MyQ will message you if someone else opens the garage door. By the way, there is a useful gadget made by Liftmaster/Chamberlain that will warn you while you're home that the garage door is open and let you close it from anywhere in the house. It is <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Liftmaster-829LM-Garage-Door-Monitor/dp/B005FT4MY6/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Liftmaster 829LM Garage Door Monitor</a> and it is a worthwhile accessory to consider.\\n\\nI have also used it to remotely allow access to the garage for a repair person or pet sitter rather than give them the opener code, but note that when you press the close button it creates a warning beep first that sounds like a garbage truck backing up. Chamberlain builds MyQ into some of their other models but inexplicably this model bundles it as a separate accessory that you have to install yourself. But it doesnt install into the opener, instead you have to physically connect it using a cable to your router (which means you must have an extra free Ethernet port available). There are other restrictions as well, like you must have a compatible smartphone but you cannot use that phone to connect it (you MUST use a computer to program it), and you must provide Chamberlain with a valid email address.\\n\\n4. Timer-to-close: you might be interested in this feature if you regularly forget to close your garage door, just be aware that if you use it there will be a loud beep (sounds like a garbage truck backing up) to warn others that the door is about to close. If that happens at 3:00 AM your neighbors may hate you.\\n\\nChamberlains claim that their Quick Rail assembles in less than 60 seconds. While that may be true, the claim is VERY misleading. That just means that the rail pieces snap together in a few seconds, it doesnt mean thats how long it will take you to INSTALL the rails, which (depending on your installation and mechanical/technical skills) can take a few hours to the better part of a day. I installed my opener myself because I was replacing a Sears Craftsman unit which is made by Chamberlain/LiftMaster, however from personal experience I would not recommend doing so unless you are very handy with mechanical things AND you have another strong person to help you. And if you're starting from scratch with a new installation I suggest hiring a professional.\\n\\nSUMMARY:\\n\\nConsidering the price, there is no compelling reason to buy this model over any of the others that Chamberlain (or other brands) offer. It is priced a little high for a basic model that doesnt have features built in that other models do. There is nothing new or unique about it compared to other models from the same company. For those reason we consider it to be an average product and rate it accordingly at 3-stars.\",\n \"Product: Bosch Starlock oscillating multi-tool accessories deliver a three-dimensional fit designed to provide a completely integrated system between multi-tool and accessory. This is a new dimension in torque for oscillating multi-tools. By using a three-dimensional shape instead of a flat interface, Starlock provides the highest-torque transfer, reduced vibration and the ability for higher performance applications. These accessories continue to be OIS compatible and fit existing tools, as well as the next generation of high-performance Starlock tools. Bosch multi-tool accessories are Swiss made for precision accuracy and long life in the most demanding professional applications. Bosch has a heritage of innovation including the SDS-plus and SDS-max shank systems for concrete hammers and the T-Shank professional blade standard interface for jig saws. The Starlock interface is the new professional standard in oscillating multi-tool systems.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: An improvement over my original one\\n\\nReview: There are so many things we buy where the name brand doesnt mean as much as it used to. For me that often opens my mind to considering lesser-known brands if the price saving is significant. But one place I have learned (often the hard way) not to skimp is on my workshop tools. Bosch tools cost more but I have yet to have an experience in which the Bosch tool wasn't the best of class. And when I buy accessories for my Bosch tools I (almost) always choose Bosch-branded accessories. I was a bit concerned, though, if this \\\"Starlock\\\" mount would work on my 5 year old tool which uses an O.I.S. mount. Fortunately the new mount is backward compatible. I've attached a couple of photos showing what the old mount looks like compared to the new Starlock mount.\\n\\nThis newly design plunge cut blade is something I was very interested in. Just a few days before I saw it I had destroyed the plunge cut blade that came in the kit with my Bosch oscillating multi-tool and I was looking to replace it. I liked several things about the product description that it is promoted to have a longer life expectancy was important but what really got my attention is the curved tec blade, which looked like it would allow better control for the initial plunge. There are some other nice improvements like the blade being color coded and the integral depth scale. And I like the fact that the blades are Swiss-made yet sell for a reasonable price.\\n\\nIn real-life use I was not disappointed. The fit on my tool is perfect and the blade cuts faster and cleaner than my old blade. There is less vibration which seems to translate into better cutting efficiency for the oscillating mechanism.\\n\\nGetting this blade has introduced me to several other of Boschs oscillating multi-tool blades that I was not aware of and I plan to order some different styles that I will report on after I get a chance to use them.\\n\\nFor improved performance and still a reasonable price this blade earns a 5-star rating.\",\n \"Product: National Hardware Yardlock is an innovative keyless lock designed for wood or vinyl gates. Dependable in extreme weather, Yardlock works without electronics or batteries by setting your own combination to lock and unlock your gate. Works on both in-swinging and out-swinging gates and backed by a Limited Lifetime Warranty. Yardlock is easy to install and simple to operate meaning youll protect your yard, barbecue, patio furniture, and pool in no time.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: I was surprised how well designed this device is\\n\\nReview: I was just completing a project of building a standard width gate for a fence that previously only had a double-wide vehicle gate (which we rarely needed to use). We were getting tired of having to pry open such a large gate when all we needed to do was get to the trash cans. A single-wide gate is a huge improvement in terms of convenience but it also introduced a bit of a security concern as it would be easier for someone to open a typical gate latch and gain access to our back yard. A rear-mounted padlock wasn't a good solution because there were times we wanted to be able to get into the yard without going through the house to unlock it from the back yard. And our house is set up where we don't need to carry keys with us and we certainly didn't want a gate lock that required them.\\n\\nI was excited when I ran across the Yardlock and had high expectations but feared it would be another As Seen on TV gimmick.\\n\\nIn fact it is an amazingly simple device to install and use but very well designed and made at the same time. The part that latches the gate closed is identical to the tried and true latches that have been used on gates since I was a kid. In this case, simple is good, why mess with something that works? Installation of the latch part took about 10 minutes, requiring only 6 (included) screws.\\n\\nWhat makes the Yardlock different is that they add a panel box that mounts to the other side of your fence that has a 4-digit combination lock to provide access to your gate latch. The way it works is you enter the combination and pull the box downward like a fire alarm and that pulls a short wire that unlatches the gate mechanism. Its all very simple with no batteries or complicated parts to wear out.\\n\\nAfter you mount the standard gate latch to one side of your fence (the Yardlock can be installed for either inward or outward opening gates) you drill a hole through part of the fence. For inward opening gates that will probably be a 4x4 fence post. Most people probably won't have a drill bit long enough but thats a good excuse to buy one. Fortunately I happened to have one laying around. After you drill the hole you poke the short wire through it and screw it to the inside of the lockbox which you have mounted with four screws to the outside of your fence. The entire project took about 20 minutes but if I were to install a second one I probably could cut that time in half.\\n\\nA couple of thoughtful features are the inclusion of a spring that mounts to the inside of your gate that helps snap the gate latch firmly shut and also helps to close the lockbox and hold it tightly closed. Another nice touch is having weatherproof covers for both the combination lock and to semi-enclose the gate latch (which also helps prying fingers from reaching over your fence and defeating the security of the device. An unmentioned bonus is that there is room enough in the lockbox to hide a spare key if you are so inclined.\\n\\nAll of the parts are well-made, the instructions are clear and easy to follow and everything you need is in the package (except the long drill bit if you are installing it on a 4x4 fence post). The parts seem very weather resistant. For once I found a gimmick that is actually well-designed and well-made and its something I would have no problem recommending.\",\n \"Product: Get faster prep and removal compared to 3M paper-backed tapes with the innovative ScotchBlue PLATINUM INTERIOR Painters Tape. Its made from 3M's advanced poly-back material so it conforms to curves and tears at a 90-degree straight edge for fast cornering. When its time for the big reveal, this tape removes easily in one piece with no slivering or tearing so you can reveal ultra-sharp paint lines.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Its not magic tape\\n\\nReview: If you've ever painted your house, indoors or out, you are likely familiar with masking tape. Its job is to do exactly what it sounds like, to mask off a surface adjacent to the one you're painting so there is a nice even line between the two surfaces. And how well has that worked out for you? Probably never. So Scotch (3M) invented BLUE masking tape that of course costs more, but does a substantially better job at masking. 3M is that company who has changed the world with adhesives, from Post-It Notes to Scotch Tape, even the most commonly used recording tape in the world when things used to be recorded on tape.\\n\\nAs improved as 3M Blue tape was it wasn't perfect. Being a paper-based product paint would be absorbed by the tape, leaving a ragged edge much of the time. And it stretched and tore when you didn't want it to and was messy to remove. But I've bought it by the carton-load for the seemingly endless painting task I've been involved with.\\n\\nMy paint expert at the home improvement store showed me a new, improved version of Blue tape called (what else) PREMIUM Blue tape, which of course cost even more but this time it's made of a plastic material, not paper, so its not supposed to stretch, not supposed to absorb paint, supposed to leave a cleaner edge, and is said to be easier to remove ... IF you follow directions and do it right. We all know most people actually don't follow instructions and that can result in the tape still having wet paint on it or removing paint you didn't want removed, or even seepage under the tape if it's not applied properly. Compared to the crepe original blue tape its supposed to tear a lot easier. If youve used the original tape you know it is almost impossible to make a clean right angle tear. I found tearing the Premium tape not to be quite as slam dunk as 3M would like you to believe. Grabbing the tape exactly as the instructions show and very carefully trying to tear it at a right angle it stretched instead of tore. If you do it EXACTLY right you can get it to tear but its fussy to do that and unfortunately even the slightest stretch of the tape renders it useless for its intended task of masking a clean edge.\\n\\nI saw comments that 3M was putting less tape on the Premium roll than their regular crepe tape. That's not exactly accurate or fair because 3M packages their tapes in so many different ways to be sold at different retailers. A more fair comparison is the new Premium tape being sold here at Amazon at $8.98 for a single 1.41\\\" wide x 45 yard roll compared to the basic blue crepe tape also sold here at Amazon, and also for .41\\\" wide x 45 yard rolls but the price is $9.99 for SIX rolls, that's right, 6 rolls for only a dollar more than one single roll of Premium tape. THAT'S what you should be comparing. Compared that way you would have to be very motivated to pay so much more for the new Premium tape. Not every painting task may necessitate paying that much more considering the tradeoffs. My home improvement budget tells me that I will keep a roll or two on hand for those projects that are very exacting where two contrasting colors will meet on adjacent walls and it has to look perfect, but will definitely not switch over and stop buying the tried & true everyday 3M blue painter's tape for simple masking jobs where precision isn't a factor.\\n\\nI can't see how 3Ms Premium Blue tape can earn a 5-star rating. It is expensive and fussy to work with which can result in expensive waste of tape. It does leave a cleaner edge if you apply it very carefully and use caution not to stretch it. And to avoid waste you might find that you're better off cutting and trimming the tape with a pair of scissors. Despite all that I like the tape enough to buy it so the bottom line is it earns somewhere between 3 and 4 stars. I will lean toward just barely 4-stars because with care I was able to achieve a satisfactory clean edge on a current painting job.\",\n \"Product: Contemporary lines, ultra-sleek look and high quality elegant finishes. The Alberson collection features frosted acrylic diffusers, vertically seated on a brushed nickel frame. This LED vanity adds a clean, refined look to your space. Available in 3 light and 4 light options. Specifications Dimensions Product Depth (in.): 3 in Product Height (in.): 5.25 in Product Width (in.): 24 Details Connection Type: Hardwired Fixture Color/Finish: Brushed Nickel Fixture Color/Finish Family: Nickel Hardware Included: Yes Light Bulb Base Code: Other Light Bulb Type Included: LED Light Direction: Ambient Maximum Bulb Wattage: 5 W Maximum Wattage (watts): 20 Number of Bulbs Required: 4 Product Weight (lb.): 7lb Recommended Light Bulb Shape Code: GY8.6 Shade Color Family: White Certifications and Listings ETL Listed\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Some important questions answered\\n\\nReview: My main bath is 100% custom and a one-of-a-kind. I was surprised and disappointed at the extremely limited selection of designer LED light fixtures that are available no matter where I looked and of those they generally fell into one of three categories ... very unattractive, very expensive, or harsh unflattering blue/green light.\\n\\nThis was in fact the only one I found that looks classy, is reasonably priced and has a bright but yet skin-flattering natural color temperature.\\n\\nTHE FIXTURE\\n\\nWhen I shopped for bathroom fixtures I mostly found either bright shiny chrome or dark bronze. This one stands out as being an attractive brushed nickel steel. Together with the frosted acrylic light towers that seem to float in mid-air the look is decidedly contemporary yet almost art deco so it goes well with classic dcor.\\n\\nINSTALLATION\\n\\nHaving installed a few lighting fixture that took hours because of bad design it is refreshing that this manufacturer seems to get it. From box to working fixture took less than 10 minutes. The fixture is designed with a removable back plate that slides off. The back plate has a circular mounting section with several continuous slots that should fit virtually every wiring box made. While not necessary there are also two keyholes for an extra-secure mounting. Once the back plate is fastened and the wires connected the main fixture simply slides onto the back plate and tightens with four captive screws. A nice feature is that the fixture can be mounted with the towers pointing up or down depending on your taste and lighting needs.\\n\\nHOW BRIGHT\\n\\nThe four light towers cast light evenly in all directions and at 1200 lumens the fixture is super bright, roughly similar to a 100 watt light bulb. The omni-directional glow is well suited for applying makeup, shaving and other bathroom tasks.\\n\\nCOLOR OF LIGHT\\n\\nThe stated color temperature is 3000k. For comparison, warm-white is usually thought of as being about 2700k and cool-white/daylight is closer to 5000-6000k, so this light is more to the warm end of the scale. But it is not yellowish. Color temperature is obviously a personal preference but I think this is the ideal color to be used at a bathroom sink.\\n\\nDIMMABLE\\n\\nI know not everyone uses a dimmer switch in their bathroom so for many this may not be an issue. For me it is important. Our wall color is dark burgundy and we only have one small window for daylight so we need a very bright light fixture, and as detailed above this one is super bright. But on the other hand we don't want to be blinded in the middle of the night when using the bathroom. LED lights are notorious for not dimming well or not dimming at all. I installed the fixture using my existing Lutron current generation dimmer switch and was pleased with the results. I was able to operate the fixture at full brightness and smoothly dim down to about 5% before the light turns off. This is a very wide range of dimming comparable to using an incandescent light bulb. There is no buzz nor flickering and the color temperature stays constant from full-on to full-dim. Note that every dimmer switch may work differently, you may have to experiment to get the results you desire.\\n\\nBOTTOM LINE\\n\\nThis fixture was a bit more than my budget but it is well-made, attractive and has excellent performance. Theoretically the LED bulbs should last long enough that I don't have to think about it. All things considered I would have no problem recommending this fixture.\",\n \"Product: The Hi-Fi 2 is HAI by Leviton's all new distributed audio system. With 4 zones, 4 sources and an all new keypad with OLED display, the Hi-Fi 2 is perfect for today's demanding homeowners. The powerful yet compact Hi-Fi 2 plays music from devices you already own (or those you wish to purchase) and is so easy to operate that anyone can enjoy it. With Hi-Fi 2, you have the ability to listen to different sources at the same time at different volume levels throughout your home or set all zones to the same source and volume. Audio sources can now be located throughout the house using Remote Input Modules or locally inputted at the Hi-Fi 2 amplifier, including iPods, home theater systems, computers and more. Hi-Fi by HAI's components are modular, giving flexibility for expansion as needs change. The base system provides 4 zones and 4 sources. Hi-Fi by HAI by Leviton may be a stand-alone installation or may be integrated with an HAI by Leviton home control system for enhanced features including control from an iPhone or iPad. Variable line out amplification outputs are available for zones 1 and 4 (in addition to the built-in amps) as well as page/mute and system on jacks. Standard Cat-5 wiring is used to connect the digital amplifier with VSC's and RIM's. Standard speaker wire is used to connect speakers with the digital amplifier. The terminals on the Hi-Fi board are designed for 16 gauge wire and either 16 gauge or 14 gauge wire may be used. HAI by Leviton recommends either 6 ohm or 8 ohm speakers with Hi-Fi 2. Includes Hi-Fi Main Board Assembly in an Enclosure. Also comes with remote control, 2 Remote Input Modules (RIM), 4 OLED Volume-Source Controls (VSC) and a cable for an HAI by Leviton Omni Home Control System or Lumina Lighting Control System.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Highly customizable and versatile\\n\\nReview: While this is not the solution for a simple plug-n-play setup for the faint at heart novice, it can be a lifesaver in a well thought out audiophile system. My application seemed to be easy at first but when I took into account my 4 major zones, it was not as easy as I imagined.\\n\\nThe setup (with your own personal variations) was not that hard to imagine ...\\n\\n1. Don't change or affect the primary 7.1 media center sound system\\n2. Add a simplistic 2-channel playback of any source to my home office\\n3. Be able to play any source into my den\\n4. Route any source to the pool area and/or the back yard for parties\\n\\nEverything to accomplish this was included in the box except wires. I was able to output two stereo channels from my surround sound system (which remained intact) to my remote home office where I could control the speaker volume. Another routing took the stereo signal to my den where I was also able to control the local volume. In my case (because of the versatility of this controller) I then re-routed it to two more destinations ... the pool area and the back lawn area, both individually volume controllable.\\n\\nThe system is highly configurable so I recommend starting with a blank piece of paper and imagining what your ideal distribution would be and working backwards. After doing so I did not run in to any roadblocks that were imposed by the system. What I especially liked was I could try various scenarios before settling on the one that works best for me.\\n\\nOnce everything was in place I programmed everything to an iPad Mini which pretty much is always at my side when at home and from there I was able to ignore any of the hardware and simply run the entire system from the pad just like the very expensive custom systems but at a fraction of the price.\\nLeviton has very good product support and for something as customizable as this, that's a good thing because most users will probably have need to contact them at least once or twice.\",\n \"Product: Wynford is a traditional styled bath suite that has updated, classic details with clean, refined design cues, allowing it to work across multiple decorating styles.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: The one thing you need to know\\n\\nReview: There is no doubt that this is a much higher grade bath product than you will find at the mega-discount store for $10. Regardless of what they make, Moen products are made to last. This is a basic wire shower basket with a touch of decorating flair that is easy to install and will last for a long time. However there is one important thing you need to know if you are considering it. As might be expected, the part that fits into the corner is at a 90 degree angle. The bend of that angle (technically the radius) is pretty sharp and is obviously intended to be installed in a tiled shower where the corner is close to a hard 90 degree angle. However that is not true with all showers, including mine. Many bathroom contractors are now making their corners rounded to make them easier to clean and prevent mold in the corner grout line. That radius can vary depending on design but this shower basket will not fit well into a showers corner unless it is very square. The basket itself stands off from the wall a bit due to the two mounting studs but there is also the concern aesthetically of the angle of the basket not matching the angle of your shower corner. If you have a one-piece molded shower wall you may face the same situation. This is not a negative nor a reason not to buy this product, just a caution that if you do buy it, be sure to hold it in place BEFORE you drill any holes in the wall.\\n\\nOtherwise, while priced at the higher end of the scale, this product will last for a long time so I would consider it reasonably priced considering the way it is made. I like it, which Amazon defines as earning 4-stars.\",\n \"Product: Every household needs a Globe, especially one as beneficial, detailed, and versatile as our light-up Globe that makes everything so easy-to-see and touch! whether kids and teens are discovering the mountains of Peru, or the depths of the Arabian sea, they can relate to global concepts and aid retention through multiple senses - sight and feel. Our illuminated Orion relief Globe helps your child understand the spherical shape of the earth, where they live in relation to other places across the Globe, and other important details such as capitals, National and political borders, the vegetation of different regions, and Geographical features. Our inspiring 12-inch Globe sits perfectly balanced on any shelf or table - at home or in the classroom - from its sturdy, non-tip base. Young children enjoy the bright colors, and adults appreciate this high-quality globe's highly accurate design and its 1: 42, 500, 00 natural scale. SWITCH on the soft interior light to reveal a detailed display of Earth's continents and ocean's topography. Use our Globe as an educational tool, or as a sophisticated decorative addition to your child's bedroom, playroom, or living room. The best all-night companion to keep children feeling safe in the dark, this versatile Globe doubles as a nightlight. The light emitted creates a relaxing ambient glow, sure to help calm any nighttime fears. Makes the perfect anytime gift for a budding Explorer and the whole family! includes an 18W halogen bulb; replace with 25W or less. Plug into a standard 120 volt outlet; tuv-gs and ul certified. Made in Italy.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Is this the reference tool you need?\\n\\nReview: Often when watching TV or reading a news story I am interested in where a city, country, body of water or other geographical feature is located. Sure these days I can simply do a search on my smartphone but there is nothing like a globe to put it into context where it is in relationship with the rest of the world.\\n\\nWe have a 30 year old illuminated globe made by Scan-Globe A/S in Denmark (Replogles European trade name) in our living room that not only serves as a reference tool but as an attractive softly glowing mood light for watching TV. It is beautifully made but the world has changed a lot in 30 years, especially the entire former Soviet Union and much of Africa. So we bought this Orion globe as the most similar in size, design and features to our old one.\\n\\nThe most obvious is that our original globe is a clear plastic sphere to which has been glued a paper map while the new globe is a plastic sphere that has the map printed directly on to the plastic. I included photos because which is \\\"better\\\" is a matter of opinion. My opinion is that the paper map has sharper text and richer depth of colors. But on the other hand the Orion globe has a 3D raised surface for elevated features like mountains.\\n\\nI would not agree with the sellers description that the globe has a sturdy no-tip base. That description leads me to believe the base is weighted, it is not, it is only a thin piece of molded plastic that wouldnt last long around kids. While on the subject of sketchy details, a little research revealed that Orion is a trade name for globes sold by Replogle, a highly respected long-time manufacturer of quality globes. Nowhere on the globe or packaging does it give any indication that this globe is associated with Replogle in any way. In fact the sellers description states that \\\"this is an exclusive HearthSong product that is only available from them\\\". Hearthsong is an online toy seller.\\n\\nThe key difference though boils down to the very reason one buys a globe, which is information and that us where the two globes are night and day. While you can only fit so many city names and other details on to a 12\\\" sphere, the old Scan-Globe wins hands down. I am actually somewhat disappointed at the lack of detail on the Orion globe. I'll grant that at its selling price I didn't expect a classroom quality product but in my judgement the Orion is more of a decorative knickknack than a useful reference tool.\",\n \"Product: Kids can discover playful trivia spanning decades of Disney magic, from animated classics and blockbuster movies, to television hits and dazzling theme park destinations. It's a game of teamwork--with a competitive twist! Along the way, are guess-my-answer questions that reveal how much kids know about the other players!\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Who's the leader of the club that's made for you and me?\\n\\nReview: I love trivia, everything about it. I watch Jeopardy on TV and actually surprise myself how many questions I get right. On the other hand I am not much for board games; in fact this is the only one I own. Cutting to the chase - I love this game. It is rated as being for ages 7+ but this is no kid's game. Based on Disney trivia from their animated classics and blockbuster movies, theme parks and TV shows it will test the knowledge and experience of most adults.\\n\\nThe game offers an unusual twist to typical board games in that the players encounter guess-my-answer questions that reveal how much the players know about each other. We are already planning a Disney-themed backyard party of close friends in which each will dress as their favorite Disney character, prepare a Disney-inspired food dish and use this game as the focal point of our entertainment.\\n\\nThe product itself is first-class and worth the selling price. Packaged in an attractive Disney character box the game board, game pieces (of which there are many) and game cards are all substantial quality for many years of use.\\n\\nIf you like trivia and also happen to be a Disney fan this is a must-have game. Highly recommended and worthy of 5-stars.\",\n \"Product: With this set teach your little farmer how to transport the goods that they grow to the market place. This will allow them to link the train to the land! What else mixes fun with quality and commitment better than a John Deere and train?.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Its a Lionel well, sort of\\n\\nReview: One of my most cherished memories is setting up our familys Lionel 027 train set each year at Christmas. The set was already old when I was born and was stored in its box in the attic until it came out each year as our holiday special treat. We lived in farmland, surrounded by wheat fields near the steel plants and it was common to see vintage steam locomotives hauling the heavy ore over the tracks that cut a swath through the fields of golden grain. Playing with my Lionel train model set took my young mind on endless journeys of adventure and intrigue.\\n\\nSo what could be more satisfying to a now-adult (me) than to see this current-day Lionel set reminiscent of the John Deere tractors that were also an integral part of my childhood memories.\\n\\nOf course times have changed. Lionel trains are no longer made in Irvington, New Jersey but in China. Today they are virtually 100% plastic in contrast to the heavy die-cast metal of their heyday. A quick glance at toy train sets being sold these days seems to have them fall into one of three broad categories ... simple polystyrene infants toys, basic working models (but still plastic) and much more expensive metal O-gauge models that are reminiscent of vintage classic sets. This one falls somewhere in the middle range.\\n\\nToday's Lionels can't be compared to their classic trains, nor should they be. This set is remarkably detailed compared to cheaper toy trains being sold today. It has an uncanny whistle sound effect that takes me straight back to what I listened to lying in bed as a youth. The larger size scale works well as a holiday décor item and for kids (real kids, not me) all the fun and imagination inspiring whimsy are still in full force.\\n\\nThis set is worth the selling price. I refuse to compare it to what \\\"used to be\\\" because it is what it is ... its a Lionel.\"\n]","isConversational":false},"profile_size":{"kind":"number","value":200,"string":"200"},"task":{"kind":"string","value":"longlamp_3"},"split_kind":{"kind":"string","value":"user_based"},"id":{"kind":"number","value":962,"string":"962"}}},{"rowIdx":963,"cells":{"question_id":{"kind":"string","value":"A1QG13XG3EO2CX"},"question":{"kind":"string","value":"Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of \"1.0\" for a product with description \"Sports, Basketball\". The summary of the review text is \"disapointing lack of depth\"."},"answer":{"kind":"string","value":"As a casual NBA fan and admirer of all Phil Jackson has done, I bought this book hoping to find something which would provide insight into the happenings behind the scenes, how Jackson handled all the chaos, and insight into an interesting season. Unfortunately Jackson's book does not weave a single cohesive theme. It is presented as a series of disjointed diary entries which spend far too much time focusing on recapping the most recent basketball game. Although there are some interesting noted in the book, some of which are highlighted in other reviews (and some of which made the news), they are few and far between, and usually buried in piles of game analysis and box score review. I hope Phil Jackson keeps his day job."},"correct_answer":{"kind":"string","value":"As a casual NBA fan and admirer of all Phil Jackson has done, I bought this book hoping to find something which would provide insight into the happenings behind the scenes, how Jackson handled all the chaos, and insight into an interesting season. Unfortunately Jackson's book does not weave a single cohesive theme. It is presented as a series of disjointed diary entries which spend far too much time focusing on recapping the most recent basketball game. Although there are some interesting noted in the book, some of which are highlighted in other reviews (and some of which made the news), they are few and far between, and usually buried in piles of game analysis and box score review. I hope Phil Jackson keeps his day job."},"documents":{"kind":"list like","value":["Product: Excite your dinner guests by bringing this vibrant and fun square baking dish to the table. Whether you're baking chicken or cheesy pasta, food has never looked so stylish! You'll love using this piece often since it is dishwasher, microwave, freezer safe and oven safe to 500F for ultimate convenience and versatility.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: functional and fashionable, but hard to store\n\nReview: Functionally I really like this pan - it's very deep and large enough to fit a lot of food. The size is somewhat deceiving because of it's shape (I don't own many other square pans - most are rectangular and much shallower). It's great for making deeper casseroles, lasagnas, etc. It's also fashionable. No, it might not be formal enough for a formal dinner party, but for anything casual (when's the last time you had a formal dinner party anyway?), it's great. It looks nice enough to sit on the table so you don't have to take food from a pan and put it into a serving dish, avoiding every dish washer's pet peeve. The handles are large enough to comfortably hold while wearing an oven mitt. The only down side is that it doesn't stack well with all my other pots and pans in the cabinet. If you have a very limited space this might be an issue to think about.","Product: The Rabbit Wing Corkscrew is an essential tool for any home bar or kitchen. This classic corkscrew's twin arms provide extra leverage to remove wine corks with ease. Constructed of durable plastic and stainless steel for long service life. Designed to fit any size bottle. Dishwasher-safe for easy cleaning. This corkscrew is backed with a 5-year warranty.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Best winged corkscrew I've used\n\nReview: I've used plenty of winged corkscrews in the past, and they're usually somewhat flimsy, need to be pulled on a lot, and the letral stress form the twisting motion you have to apply to get the cork out eventually breaks the corkscrew. This one is solid. While I can't claim I've used it enough to see if it stands the test of time, the cork comes out much easier, and the whole unit is built very solidly. It also fits snugly on the top of the wine bottle, and the screw is long enough that it pulls the cork out the whole way the first time so I don't have to apply any lateral pressure. If you want a winged corkscrew, this is the way to go.","Product: A mini-tower UPS with line interactive topology, the CyberPower Intelligent LCD CP1500AVRLCD provides battery backup (using simulated sine wave output) and surge protection for desktop computers, workstations, networking devices, and home entertainment systems. The CP1500AVRLCD uses Automatic Voltage Regulation (AVR) to correct minor power fluctuations without switching to battery power, which extends battery life. AVR is essential in areas where power fluctuations occur frequently. The CP1500AVRLCD comes with a three-year warranty (including coverage of batteries) Battery Backup Supplies power long enough for equipment to properly shut down when utility power fails. Helps prevent loss of data and minimizes the component stress caused by a hard shutdown. Surge Protection Diverts excess voltage away from sensitive electronic equipment during an AC power surge or power spike to prevent damage. Data Line Protection Prevents power surges that travel through telephone, coaxial, and Ethernet lines from causing damage to electronics. Line Interactive Topology Exists when a line interactive UPS has an autotransformer that regulates low voltages (e.g., brownouts) and over voltages (e.g., spikes) without having to switch to battery. Automatic Voltage Regulation (AVR) Provides clean, consistent AC power by automatically regulating low voltages and over voltages, within defined tolerances, when incoming utility power has minor fluctuations. Simulated Sine Wave Output Uses pulse wave modulation to generate a stepped, approximated sine wave to supply cost-effective battery backup power for equipment that does not require sine wave output. GreenPower UPSBypass Design Is a patented design that allows utility power to bypass the UPS transformer, when AC power is stable, which reduces energy consumption, noise, and heat buildup. Multifunction LCD Panel Displays immediate, detailed information on the UPS battery and power conditions, alerting users to potential problems before they can affect critical equipment and cause downtime. Ultra Quiet Design Minimizes noise during operation for a quieter work environment. PowerPanel Personal Software Provides a user-friendly dashboard interface for controlling and monitoring the UPS. Free software download available here. ENERGY STAR This model is an ENERGY STAR certified Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) system. ENERGY STAR is the trusted, government-backed symbol for energy-efficient products and practices that help save money and protect the environment.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: had for 2 years, tested many times\n\nReview: For some reason my area has had more than it's fair share of power outages in the last 3 years. I used to use a simple APC UPS, but when we lost power late at night, the UPS would beep to tell me it had lost power and would wake me up. After being woken up by my UPS twice around 2am I decided it was time to upgrade. The APC models were a little too pricey, so I decided to try the cyberpower models. The first thing I did was disable the beeping. I ended up getting 3 in all and they've all been through about 5 real power outages and several momentary outages. I have two supporting computer equipment and one supporting a TV, blu-ray player, and HTPC. I've never had a single issue during either major or minor outages. They all do their jobs perfectly without a hitch and provide me with readouts on the digital display so I can see what's going on at any time. (You can see input power, output power, load, estimated battery life, etc. right on the display.)\n\nTwo of my systems (ReadyNAS and HTPC) monitor the UPS state via USB cable and shut down when the battery life hits 50% during an outage. This feature has been tested during several of the major outages and worked fine.\n\nOverall I really can't say enough about these things. I've put them through several real world tests (not deliberately of course), and they've always worked fine. (If only I could get my power company to be as responsive as these are).","Product: Panasonic RP-HC500 Noise-Canceling Headphones\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: simply the best at noise cancellation\n\nReview: My company switched offices about a month ago, and myself and a few coworkers found ourselves in a room underneath a very large and very loud air conditioner. Combining that with the network equipment in the corner made for a headache-inducing work environment. Several of my coworkers already owned the Bose QC2 and QC3 - I decided to get these since they were a third the price. After several side by side comparisons, it became obvious to all of us that these were simply the best at noise cancellation. They also have a sound quality on par with the Bose. The only downside is that they can be a little bit uncomfortable to wear for a long time (although admittedly I do have a big head). I showed them to a few other friends and everyone's reaction was the same - the world simply seems to to disappear from your ears. The amount of damage these things save your ears is incredible - I'm practically addicted to them by now.","Product: Rip Deck Rotation Workout Rip Deck invented by a U.S. Navy SEAL Perfect Fitness Rip Deck The Perfect Rip Deck takes your chest workout to the next level by combining two movements into one: the sliding chest fly and the rotating push up. The Rip Deck allows you to move in two planes of motion to engage more muscles and expand your chest – it is a total chest-building system. Use in the locked position for a standard push up workout or add the sliding body weight fly. Remove the Push up stands to use the soft foam cushion for the Forearm Fly or Punch Up movements. The safety stops and 7 locking positions provide an adjustable range of motion, so anyone can use it. The heavy-duty steel track comes apart and for abdominal movements like a Mountain Climber or Squat Thrust. The two tracks fold together for easy storage. One piece of equipment gives you multiple exercises. Invented by a US Navy SEAL. It is time to work smarter before you work harder. Perfect Fitness Workout and Rules The digital workout is a 21-Day plan to build your chest, arms, back and abdominals. You can customize your workout with beginner to advance movements. Perfect Fitness Workouts are not about speed, but about slow and controlled muscle contractions. Remember to take it slow and learn your limits safely. Quality not quantity! Proper form is critical when using the Perfect Rip Deck. Using the Rip Deck is an intense exercise and it is important to learn your limits safely. Use caution and follow product instructions at all times. Take it slow! Speed doesn't get your ripped; it's about slow and controlled muscle contractions. Pace yourself - try 2 seconds up and 2 seconds down. Moving slowly lets you focus on keeping proper form and getting results. About Perfect Fitness The training and principles and innovations behind the Perfect Fitness products originated with Alden Mills, a seven year veteran of the US Navy SEALs. While serving as platoon commander of SEAL Team TWO, Alden's platoon was chosen for a study to determine why SEALs suffered unusually high injury rates. After learning that the injuries were linked their age-old training methods, SEAL trainers switched to Functional Training. Alden learned first-hand how to incorporate these lessons into exercise routines that become the foundation of techniques used as Perfect Fitness. Rip Deck Features Sliding Track Safely Simulates Chest Fly Removable Push up StandsLocks in Place in 7 PositionsEasy-Pull Pins Quickly Separate TracksHeavy-Duty Steel Construction Adjust Range of Motion with Safety StopDigital Workout\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: good system, fairly versatile\n\nReview: I like the variety of things I can do with the rip deck. First of all take a look at the guide on their website, which for some reason didn't come in the box:\n[...]\nYou can do pushups and pushups with rotation (like the perfect push up), as well as fly, which are all the basic things you'd expect. Where I really got a lot of unexpected benefit though was doing mountain climbers. (That's where you get on all fours and move your legs in towards your core alternating legs). I do them a lot, but by putting my foot on a sliding pad so I couldn't push off the ground I really felt it in my abs a lot more than usual. The only thing I don't like about this product is that separating and putting it back together to move from one exercise to another is a little slow, so if you're doing HIIT (high intensity interval training), this is not a great choice because it takes too much time to move from one setup to another.","Product: This pack of 750 of printable address labels makes staying on top of all your bulk mailing, shipping, identification and organization jobs easy. Avery bright white labels blend better than basic labels on white envelopes. Avery labels provide greater adhesion than basic labels with Ultrahold permanent adhesive that sticks and stays, guaranteed. Printers arent perfect, so we did something about it: These mailing labels are optimized for laser printers and feature Sure Feed technology to deliver a more reliable feed through your printer and prevent misalignments and jams. These address labels have an Easy Peel design for speedy application. They're ideal for creating FBA labels, bulk mailing labels, organization labels, classroom labels and personalized gift tags for your wrapping paper, party favors or holiday cards. Theyre also wonderful for product packaging, filing, organizing items in your office, kitchen, closet, garage and classroom organization. Easily add a personal touch to your custom address labels with thousands of free designs using Avery 5160 labels template at avery.com/templates. Manage all your mailing jobs with ease and efficiency using these versatile label stickers.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: also good for organizing your closet\n\nReview: As address labels these do everything you'd expect them to do - you can print names and addresses on your printer, peel them off easily, and stick securey to envelopes. If your wordprocessor doesn't have a template for them, one can be downloaded from [...].\n\nHowever I also used these labels for another purpose - organziing several closets. No longer do I have to remember which sheld the fitted king sized sheets are on and which is the fitted queen sheets - just print out what you need on these labels, stick them to the front of the shelves, and you're done. (Just use a nice large readable font). I reorganized the linen closet, hall closet, and basement closet using them and I couldn't be happier.","Product: Easily protect your yard and garden from deer and rabbits and the damage they cause with Ortho Deer B Gon Deer & Rabbit Repellents. For liquid formulas lightly spray plant leaves, stems, flowers, and branches that need protection. Allow the long-lasting, easy-to-use, no stink formula to dry for 20 minutes before watering. Granule can be applied liberally to the soil around the plants in need of protection. Reapply these products as needed or approximately every 30 days. When you use these repellents near edible plants, do not allow these products to come in contact with those for human or animal consumption.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: it works and doesn't smell\n\nReview: I live in a heavily deer infested area. All my neighbors that garden use nets or some other enclosure to keep the deer off their flowers or plants. I think the nets are ugly and don't like them, but every time I plant a new flower, even one that claims to be \"deer resistant\", it gets eaten within a day or two. (For some reason the lesson never sticks though I keep trying again every year). After having my pansies mercilessly devoured within 48 hours of planting again this year, I decided to get serious. I wanted something to keep the deer off, but I didn't want my garden to smell like urine. I must admit I was a little skeptical at first when I read the label and noticed that this was not fit for use on plants which might get eaten (AKA vegetables and such), but when I sprayed it, it didn't smell bad at all. There was a slight smell of something sort of clove like for the first few hours, but by the next morning it was totally gone. Since then, I've seen the deer continue to walk through my yard (and seen what they leave behind if you catch my drift), but they've kept off of my flowers, which are doing better this year than ever before.","Product: This LED bulb fits most standard nightlight fixtures and it's E12 candelabra base will allow for a wide variety of other applications including accent lighting, signs, chandeliers, Christmas lighting and more. It produces just the right amount of warm white light for a nightlight while running cool to the touch. Reduces energy consumption by over 90-Percent when compared to a 5-Watt incandescent. Safe for outdoor use. Suitable for standard switch night lights and fixtures. May not be compatible with automatic dusk till dawn switches or dimmers.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Pays for itself in about 3 years\n\nReview: I obviously wouldn't use this for anything other than a nightlight, but for that it's great. It really is comparable to a 4 or 5 watt incandescent, and it gives off the light fairly omnidirectionally. The color is very good and is a true warm white (similar to incandescents), although in a nightlight it barely matters anyway.\n\nThe main reason I switched to this was cost. I realized a while ago that the nightlight in the kids room is on for about 85 hours a week. (12 hours a night, 7 days a week). Even at a low wattage, that's a lot of electricity. I'll include all my math below, but the summary of the situation is that it cost me $1.50 a year in electric costs to run a 4 watt incandescent, and only $0.13 to run this LED bulb, plus I don't have to buy a new bulb because the LED one should last for decades (by which time I hope my kids have outgrown the need for a nightlight). At a cost of $4, this bulb pays for itself in about 3 years.\n\n---the math---\nThe nightlight in the kids room is on for 85 hours a week (12 hours a day, 7 days a week, one extra hour on Sunday)\nI pay about 8.5 cents per kwh for electricity (current rate from my provider, pepco)\n\n4 watt incandescent:\n4 watt * 85 = 0.34 kwh/wk\n0.34 kwh * 52 * 0.085 = $1.50/yr\n\n0.36 watt LED\n.36 watt * 85 hr = .0306 kwh/wk\n.0306 * 52 * 0.085 = $0.135/yr\n\nYou can add to this math the fact that with an incandescent I would have to buy a new $1 bulb every two years or so, while this $4 LED bulb will last forever, giving even bigger cost savings in the long run.","Product: The WeMo LED Lighting Starter Set lets you control, schedule and dim your wireless LED lighting from anywhere. Controlling them individually or as a group is easy and all you'll need is the free WeMo App. The WeMo LED Blubs can be dimmed, set to schedules so they turn on at sunset and be set to automatically turn on and off to simulate occupancy, which is great when you're away from home. They can also be set to gradually dim at night, so you fall asleep in a more natural way. The WeMo LED Lighting Starter Set comes with two WeMo Smart LED bulbs and also includes the WeMo Link, which can control up to 50 WeMo Smart LED Bulbs. With warm light, similar to a traditional incandescent, the WeMo Smart LED Bulbs and the WeMo LED Lighting Starter Set are the perfect companion to your home. For any further queries please contact BelkinsTechnical Support Number/ Customer Support Number @ 1-800-223-5546. To Resolve the SETUP issue please folow the link http://www.belkin.com/us/support-article?articleNum=117679.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: good hardware, bad software\n\nReview: I've been a home automation person for many years, and have installed many in-wall timers in my time. This is definitely a better way to do it - no need to open a wall socket or re-wire anything, just replace the lightbulbs. The programming options are more flexible and easier to manage than most timers. There is a single box which contains all the programming, which can be accessed by smartphone app. The light quality of the bulbs is good, and the programming works even if the phone is off or not in range of a wifi signal. The only downside is that the app is terrible. I mean really really terrible. It's unresponsive, is difficult to use, and doesn't do set up well. For example wheny ou first install it it tells you what to do first - install the bulbs, turn them on, plug in the box, connect to the wifi network, and then start the app. Of course it's the app which is telling you to do this, and if you connected to the wifi network beforehand, you will have to quit the app, disconnect from the wifi network, and reconnect after starting the app so that the app detects that you've done it. Just dumb. Error messages are also not descriptive enough for any serious troubleshooting - you just have to keep trying and hope you figure out what's wrong.","Product: Give your little girl the fun of real babies with the Sips 'n Cuddles doll! This little doll drinks and wets just like a real baby. Your little one will love changing her, feeding her, and taking care of her just like a real mommy! Baby Alive and all related characters are trademarks of Hasbro.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Let's take the most annoying part of being a parents and let kids experience it! yay!\n\nReview: I have a three year old who loves a few of her dolls and loves to treat them like babies. She imitates what she sees us do with her little sister, so that means a lot of diaper changing and bottles for her dolls. In fact, we even had to move the baby diapers to a high shelf to stop her from constantly taking them and putting them on her dolls. I figured this doll would be perfect for her, and at first it was - she gets to change the diaper, feed her a bottle, and undress and redress the doll as much as she wants. Except for one thing - it actually wets its diaper. Who thought that would be a good idea? My three year old loves to undo and redo the diaper in the haphazard fashion you would expect of a three year old. Why would she want to do that when she has an actual wet diaper on her hands? And why would we want to buy more diapers so she can replace them every few hours. It makes no sense for the doll to actually wet her diaper when make believe works so well for kids. Making a mess is just a pain."],"string":"[\n \"Product: Excite your dinner guests by bringing this vibrant and fun square baking dish to the table. Whether you're baking chicken or cheesy pasta, food has never looked so stylish! You'll love using this piece often since it is dishwasher, microwave, freezer safe and oven safe to 500F for ultimate convenience and versatility.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: functional and fashionable, but hard to store\\n\\nReview: Functionally I really like this pan - it's very deep and large enough to fit a lot of food. The size is somewhat deceiving because of it's shape (I don't own many other square pans - most are rectangular and much shallower). It's great for making deeper casseroles, lasagnas, etc. It's also fashionable. No, it might not be formal enough for a formal dinner party, but for anything casual (when's the last time you had a formal dinner party anyway?), it's great. It looks nice enough to sit on the table so you don't have to take food from a pan and put it into a serving dish, avoiding every dish washer's pet peeve. The handles are large enough to comfortably hold while wearing an oven mitt. The only down side is that it doesn't stack well with all my other pots and pans in the cabinet. If you have a very limited space this might be an issue to think about.\",\n \"Product: The Rabbit Wing Corkscrew is an essential tool for any home bar or kitchen. This classic corkscrew's twin arms provide extra leverage to remove wine corks with ease. Constructed of durable plastic and stainless steel for long service life. Designed to fit any size bottle. Dishwasher-safe for easy cleaning. This corkscrew is backed with a 5-year warranty.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Best winged corkscrew I've used\\n\\nReview: I've used plenty of winged corkscrews in the past, and they're usually somewhat flimsy, need to be pulled on a lot, and the letral stress form the twisting motion you have to apply to get the cork out eventually breaks the corkscrew. This one is solid. While I can't claim I've used it enough to see if it stands the test of time, the cork comes out much easier, and the whole unit is built very solidly. It also fits snugly on the top of the wine bottle, and the screw is long enough that it pulls the cork out the whole way the first time so I don't have to apply any lateral pressure. If you want a winged corkscrew, this is the way to go.\",\n \"Product: A mini-tower UPS with line interactive topology, the CyberPower Intelligent LCD CP1500AVRLCD provides battery backup (using simulated sine wave output) and surge protection for desktop computers, workstations, networking devices, and home entertainment systems. The CP1500AVRLCD uses Automatic Voltage Regulation (AVR) to correct minor power fluctuations without switching to battery power, which extends battery life. AVR is essential in areas where power fluctuations occur frequently. The CP1500AVRLCD comes with a three-year warranty (including coverage of batteries) Battery Backup Supplies power long enough for equipment to properly shut down when utility power fails. Helps prevent loss of data and minimizes the component stress caused by a hard shutdown. Surge Protection Diverts excess voltage away from sensitive electronic equipment during an AC power surge or power spike to prevent damage. Data Line Protection Prevents power surges that travel through telephone, coaxial, and Ethernet lines from causing damage to electronics. Line Interactive Topology Exists when a line interactive UPS has an autotransformer that regulates low voltages (e.g., brownouts) and over voltages (e.g., spikes) without having to switch to battery. Automatic Voltage Regulation (AVR) Provides clean, consistent AC power by automatically regulating low voltages and over voltages, within defined tolerances, when incoming utility power has minor fluctuations. Simulated Sine Wave Output Uses pulse wave modulation to generate a stepped, approximated sine wave to supply cost-effective battery backup power for equipment that does not require sine wave output. GreenPower UPSBypass Design Is a patented design that allows utility power to bypass the UPS transformer, when AC power is stable, which reduces energy consumption, noise, and heat buildup. Multifunction LCD Panel Displays immediate, detailed information on the UPS battery and power conditions, alerting users to potential problems before they can affect critical equipment and cause downtime. Ultra Quiet Design Minimizes noise during operation for a quieter work environment. PowerPanel Personal Software Provides a user-friendly dashboard interface for controlling and monitoring the UPS. Free software download available here. ENERGY STAR This model is an ENERGY STAR certified Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) system. ENERGY STAR is the trusted, government-backed symbol for energy-efficient products and practices that help save money and protect the environment.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: had for 2 years, tested many times\\n\\nReview: For some reason my area has had more than it's fair share of power outages in the last 3 years. I used to use a simple APC UPS, but when we lost power late at night, the UPS would beep to tell me it had lost power and would wake me up. After being woken up by my UPS twice around 2am I decided it was time to upgrade. The APC models were a little too pricey, so I decided to try the cyberpower models. The first thing I did was disable the beeping. I ended up getting 3 in all and they've all been through about 5 real power outages and several momentary outages. I have two supporting computer equipment and one supporting a TV, blu-ray player, and HTPC. I've never had a single issue during either major or minor outages. They all do their jobs perfectly without a hitch and provide me with readouts on the digital display so I can see what's going on at any time. (You can see input power, output power, load, estimated battery life, etc. right on the display.)\\n\\nTwo of my systems (ReadyNAS and HTPC) monitor the UPS state via USB cable and shut down when the battery life hits 50% during an outage. This feature has been tested during several of the major outages and worked fine.\\n\\nOverall I really can't say enough about these things. I've put them through several real world tests (not deliberately of course), and they've always worked fine. (If only I could get my power company to be as responsive as these are).\",\n \"Product: Panasonic RP-HC500 Noise-Canceling Headphones\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: simply the best at noise cancellation\\n\\nReview: My company switched offices about a month ago, and myself and a few coworkers found ourselves in a room underneath a very large and very loud air conditioner. Combining that with the network equipment in the corner made for a headache-inducing work environment. Several of my coworkers already owned the Bose QC2 and QC3 - I decided to get these since they were a third the price. After several side by side comparisons, it became obvious to all of us that these were simply the best at noise cancellation. They also have a sound quality on par with the Bose. The only downside is that they can be a little bit uncomfortable to wear for a long time (although admittedly I do have a big head). I showed them to a few other friends and everyone's reaction was the same - the world simply seems to to disappear from your ears. The amount of damage these things save your ears is incredible - I'm practically addicted to them by now.\",\n \"Product: Rip Deck Rotation Workout Rip Deck invented by a U.S. Navy SEAL Perfect Fitness Rip Deck The Perfect Rip Deck takes your chest workout to the next level by combining two movements into one: the sliding chest fly and the rotating push up. The Rip Deck allows you to move in two planes of motion to engage more muscles and expand your chest – it is a total chest-building system. Use in the locked position for a standard push up workout or add the sliding body weight fly. Remove the Push up stands to use the soft foam cushion for the Forearm Fly or Punch Up movements. The safety stops and 7 locking positions provide an adjustable range of motion, so anyone can use it. The heavy-duty steel track comes apart and for abdominal movements like a Mountain Climber or Squat Thrust. The two tracks fold together for easy storage. One piece of equipment gives you multiple exercises. Invented by a US Navy SEAL. It is time to work smarter before you work harder. Perfect Fitness Workout and Rules The digital workout is a 21-Day plan to build your chest, arms, back and abdominals. You can customize your workout with beginner to advance movements. Perfect Fitness Workouts are not about speed, but about slow and controlled muscle contractions. Remember to take it slow and learn your limits safely. Quality not quantity! Proper form is critical when using the Perfect Rip Deck. Using the Rip Deck is an intense exercise and it is important to learn your limits safely. Use caution and follow product instructions at all times. Take it slow! Speed doesn't get your ripped; it's about slow and controlled muscle contractions. Pace yourself - try 2 seconds up and 2 seconds down. Moving slowly lets you focus on keeping proper form and getting results. About Perfect Fitness The training and principles and innovations behind the Perfect Fitness products originated with Alden Mills, a seven year veteran of the US Navy SEALs. While serving as platoon commander of SEAL Team TWO, Alden's platoon was chosen for a study to determine why SEALs suffered unusually high injury rates. After learning that the injuries were linked their age-old training methods, SEAL trainers switched to Functional Training. Alden learned first-hand how to incorporate these lessons into exercise routines that become the foundation of techniques used as Perfect Fitness. Rip Deck Features Sliding Track Safely Simulates Chest Fly Removable Push up StandsLocks in Place in 7 PositionsEasy-Pull Pins Quickly Separate TracksHeavy-Duty Steel Construction Adjust Range of Motion with Safety StopDigital Workout\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: good system, fairly versatile\\n\\nReview: I like the variety of things I can do with the rip deck. First of all take a look at the guide on their website, which for some reason didn't come in the box:\\n[...]\\nYou can do pushups and pushups with rotation (like the perfect push up), as well as fly, which are all the basic things you'd expect. Where I really got a lot of unexpected benefit though was doing mountain climbers. (That's where you get on all fours and move your legs in towards your core alternating legs). I do them a lot, but by putting my foot on a sliding pad so I couldn't push off the ground I really felt it in my abs a lot more than usual. The only thing I don't like about this product is that separating and putting it back together to move from one exercise to another is a little slow, so if you're doing HIIT (high intensity interval training), this is not a great choice because it takes too much time to move from one setup to another.\",\n \"Product: This pack of 750 of printable address labels makes staying on top of all your bulk mailing, shipping, identification and organization jobs easy. Avery bright white labels blend better than basic labels on white envelopes. Avery labels provide greater adhesion than basic labels with Ultrahold permanent adhesive that sticks and stays, guaranteed. Printers arent perfect, so we did something about it: These mailing labels are optimized for laser printers and feature Sure Feed technology to deliver a more reliable feed through your printer and prevent misalignments and jams. These address labels have an Easy Peel design for speedy application. They're ideal for creating FBA labels, bulk mailing labels, organization labels, classroom labels and personalized gift tags for your wrapping paper, party favors or holiday cards. Theyre also wonderful for product packaging, filing, organizing items in your office, kitchen, closet, garage and classroom organization. Easily add a personal touch to your custom address labels with thousands of free designs using Avery 5160 labels template at avery.com/templates. Manage all your mailing jobs with ease and efficiency using these versatile label stickers.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: also good for organizing your closet\\n\\nReview: As address labels these do everything you'd expect them to do - you can print names and addresses on your printer, peel them off easily, and stick securey to envelopes. If your wordprocessor doesn't have a template for them, one can be downloaded from [...].\\n\\nHowever I also used these labels for another purpose - organziing several closets. No longer do I have to remember which sheld the fitted king sized sheets are on and which is the fitted queen sheets - just print out what you need on these labels, stick them to the front of the shelves, and you're done. (Just use a nice large readable font). I reorganized the linen closet, hall closet, and basement closet using them and I couldn't be happier.\",\n \"Product: Easily protect your yard and garden from deer and rabbits and the damage they cause with Ortho Deer B Gon Deer & Rabbit Repellents. For liquid formulas lightly spray plant leaves, stems, flowers, and branches that need protection. Allow the long-lasting, easy-to-use, no stink formula to dry for 20 minutes before watering. Granule can be applied liberally to the soil around the plants in need of protection. Reapply these products as needed or approximately every 30 days. When you use these repellents near edible plants, do not allow these products to come in contact with those for human or animal consumption.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: it works and doesn't smell\\n\\nReview: I live in a heavily deer infested area. All my neighbors that garden use nets or some other enclosure to keep the deer off their flowers or plants. I think the nets are ugly and don't like them, but every time I plant a new flower, even one that claims to be \\\"deer resistant\\\", it gets eaten within a day or two. (For some reason the lesson never sticks though I keep trying again every year). After having my pansies mercilessly devoured within 48 hours of planting again this year, I decided to get serious. I wanted something to keep the deer off, but I didn't want my garden to smell like urine. I must admit I was a little skeptical at first when I read the label and noticed that this was not fit for use on plants which might get eaten (AKA vegetables and such), but when I sprayed it, it didn't smell bad at all. There was a slight smell of something sort of clove like for the first few hours, but by the next morning it was totally gone. Since then, I've seen the deer continue to walk through my yard (and seen what they leave behind if you catch my drift), but they've kept off of my flowers, which are doing better this year than ever before.\",\n \"Product: This LED bulb fits most standard nightlight fixtures and it's E12 candelabra base will allow for a wide variety of other applications including accent lighting, signs, chandeliers, Christmas lighting and more. It produces just the right amount of warm white light for a nightlight while running cool to the touch. Reduces energy consumption by over 90-Percent when compared to a 5-Watt incandescent. Safe for outdoor use. Suitable for standard switch night lights and fixtures. May not be compatible with automatic dusk till dawn switches or dimmers.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Pays for itself in about 3 years\\n\\nReview: I obviously wouldn't use this for anything other than a nightlight, but for that it's great. It really is comparable to a 4 or 5 watt incandescent, and it gives off the light fairly omnidirectionally. The color is very good and is a true warm white (similar to incandescents), although in a nightlight it barely matters anyway.\\n\\nThe main reason I switched to this was cost. I realized a while ago that the nightlight in the kids room is on for about 85 hours a week. (12 hours a night, 7 days a week). Even at a low wattage, that's a lot of electricity. I'll include all my math below, but the summary of the situation is that it cost me $1.50 a year in electric costs to run a 4 watt incandescent, and only $0.13 to run this LED bulb, plus I don't have to buy a new bulb because the LED one should last for decades (by which time I hope my kids have outgrown the need for a nightlight). At a cost of $4, this bulb pays for itself in about 3 years.\\n\\n---the math---\\nThe nightlight in the kids room is on for 85 hours a week (12 hours a day, 7 days a week, one extra hour on Sunday)\\nI pay about 8.5 cents per kwh for electricity (current rate from my provider, pepco)\\n\\n4 watt incandescent:\\n4 watt * 85 = 0.34 kwh/wk\\n0.34 kwh * 52 * 0.085 = $1.50/yr\\n\\n0.36 watt LED\\n.36 watt * 85 hr = .0306 kwh/wk\\n.0306 * 52 * 0.085 = $0.135/yr\\n\\nYou can add to this math the fact that with an incandescent I would have to buy a new $1 bulb every two years or so, while this $4 LED bulb will last forever, giving even bigger cost savings in the long run.\",\n \"Product: The WeMo LED Lighting Starter Set lets you control, schedule and dim your wireless LED lighting from anywhere. Controlling them individually or as a group is easy and all you'll need is the free WeMo App. The WeMo LED Blubs can be dimmed, set to schedules so they turn on at sunset and be set to automatically turn on and off to simulate occupancy, which is great when you're away from home. They can also be set to gradually dim at night, so you fall asleep in a more natural way. The WeMo LED Lighting Starter Set comes with two WeMo Smart LED bulbs and also includes the WeMo Link, which can control up to 50 WeMo Smart LED Bulbs. With warm light, similar to a traditional incandescent, the WeMo Smart LED Bulbs and the WeMo LED Lighting Starter Set are the perfect companion to your home. For any further queries please contact BelkinsTechnical Support Number/ Customer Support Number @ 1-800-223-5546. To Resolve the SETUP issue please folow the link http://www.belkin.com/us/support-article?articleNum=117679.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: good hardware, bad software\\n\\nReview: I've been a home automation person for many years, and have installed many in-wall timers in my time. This is definitely a better way to do it - no need to open a wall socket or re-wire anything, just replace the lightbulbs. The programming options are more flexible and easier to manage than most timers. There is a single box which contains all the programming, which can be accessed by smartphone app. The light quality of the bulbs is good, and the programming works even if the phone is off or not in range of a wifi signal. The only downside is that the app is terrible. I mean really really terrible. It's unresponsive, is difficult to use, and doesn't do set up well. For example wheny ou first install it it tells you what to do first - install the bulbs, turn them on, plug in the box, connect to the wifi network, and then start the app. Of course it's the app which is telling you to do this, and if you connected to the wifi network beforehand, you will have to quit the app, disconnect from the wifi network, and reconnect after starting the app so that the app detects that you've done it. Just dumb. Error messages are also not descriptive enough for any serious troubleshooting - you just have to keep trying and hope you figure out what's wrong.\",\n \"Product: Give your little girl the fun of real babies with the Sips 'n Cuddles doll! This little doll drinks and wets just like a real baby. Your little one will love changing her, feeding her, and taking care of her just like a real mommy! Baby Alive and all related characters are trademarks of Hasbro.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Let's take the most annoying part of being a parents and let kids experience it! yay!\\n\\nReview: I have a three year old who loves a few of her dolls and loves to treat them like babies. She imitates what she sees us do with her little sister, so that means a lot of diaper changing and bottles for her dolls. In fact, we even had to move the baby diapers to a high shelf to stop her from constantly taking them and putting them on her dolls. I figured this doll would be perfect for her, and at first it was - she gets to change the diaper, feed her a bottle, and undress and redress the doll as much as she wants. Except for one thing - it actually wets its diaper. Who thought that would be a good idea? My three year old loves to undo and redo the diaper in the haphazard fashion you would expect of a three year old. Why would she want to do that when she has an actual wet diaper on her hands? And why would we want to buy more diapers so she can replace them every few hours. It makes no sense for the doll to actually wet her diaper when make believe works so well for kids. Making a mess is just a pain.\"\n]","isConversational":false},"profile_size":{"kind":"number","value":10,"string":"10"},"task":{"kind":"string","value":"longlamp_3"},"split_kind":{"kind":"string","value":"user_based"},"id":{"kind":"number","value":963,"string":"963"}}},{"rowIdx":964,"cells":{"question_id":{"kind":"string","value":"A3U029B8Z5WGI2"},"question":{"kind":"string","value":"Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of \"3.0\" for a product with description \"I and love and you Free Ranger Bully Stix Grain Free Dog Chews, 12 Inch\". The summary of the review text is \"Little Scent, Good for Dogs to Chew, But My Dog Thought They Were Only Okay\"."},"answer":{"kind":"string","value":"Happy Pappy is often not hard to please, and when giving him the I and Love and You Good Golly Gullet Sticks, I was expecting him to take the stick, stroll over to his bed, and quietly chew his stick for the next few hours. Surprisingly, he ended up taking the stick, strolling over to his bed, then dropping the stick there and quietly abandoning it. He did later return in the day to take a few chews of it, but overall, didn't seemed thrilled to get the treat. I offered this treat again later in the week to see if it was just because he was full, but he did the same stunt again. I later offered him a bully stick, which he quickly took, retreated to his bed, and spent the remainder of the day happily gnawing away. Was there anything particularly wrong with the gullet stick? I don't think so, but for whatever reason, my dog just didn't dig this treat. The gullet sticks didn't have a particularly strong scent, were not hard for my dog to chew, and were quite uniform in size. Whether or not your dog will accept these treats or not is totally up to your dog, but in our household, while my dog would eat these, they are not his favorite treat in the snack cabinet."},"correct_answer":{"kind":"string","value":"Happy Pappy is often not hard to please, and when giving him the I and Love and You Good Golly Gullet Sticks, I was expecting him to take the stick, stroll over to his bed, and quietly chew his stick for the next few hours. Surprisingly, he ended up taking the stick, strolling over to his bed, then dropping the stick there and quietly abandoning it. He did later return in the day to take a few chews of it, but overall, didn't seemed thrilled to get the treat. I offered this treat again later in the week to see if it was just because he was full, but he did the same stunt again. I later offered him a bully stick, which he quickly took, retreated to his bed, and spent the remainder of the day happily gnawing away. Was there anything particularly wrong with the gullet stick? I don't think so, but for whatever reason, my dog just didn't dig this treat. The gullet sticks didn't have a particularly strong scent, were not hard for my dog to chew, and were quite uniform in size. Whether or not your dog will accept these treats or not is totally up to your dog, but in our household, while my dog would eat these, they are not his favorite treat in the snack cabinet."},"documents":{"kind":"list like","value":["Product: Considering that the average person walks over 8000 steps a day, a spa treatment for your feet is probably long overdue. Simply apply a foot cream, slip on our booties, and they’ll use your body heat to seal in the moisture. Remove the booties after a few hours (or overnight) and your feet will look wonderfully soft and feel refreshed. One size fits all. Wash in cold water and hang to dry. 90% unbleached cotton. 10% spandex. Urban Spa has a wide variety of spa quality exfoliating and shower accessories available to give you fresh and smooth skin with all natural products. Pair Urban Spa’s wonderful nail and skin products with Pre de Provence's delicately scented bath soaps, lotions, bubble bath, bath gels, and more for the ultimate experience.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Average Bath Mitt, Lightly Exfoliating, Large Enough to Fit Over Big Hands\n\nReview: The Urban Spa Boucle Bath Mitt is a shower accessory I was hoping I'd enjoy enough to buy again, but ended up becoming another item used occasionally and will likely ultimately end up the cabinet of random bath stuff in time. That said, the bath mitt isn't bad, it just isn't great enough for me to want to purchase over a cheap loofah or a washable small bath towel. The bath mitt is textured on both sides and exfoliates gently. It's a little more rough than a towel, and not nearly as rough as a natural loofah. The mitt is quite large, and larger hands will be able to fit in easily as long as the hand can get past the slightly small wrist area. The fabric does stretch at the wrist enough to accommodate larger hands, but starts off a bit tight, even for my smaller hands. It does get more loose with repeated use.\n\nThe mitt makes soap lather up very well, but again it's about as good as a standard loofah or wash cloth. I'm not sure if this mitt is washing machine safe as I could not find any washing instructions on it - I'm going to presume it's a no, and so far I've been simply lathering up, rinsing and allowing the mitt to dry overnight. So far there's no smell, and hopefully it retains its scent free status over time. There's no loop on the mitt to allow you to hang it up on a hook, so you will need a bar or some sort to hang it from to allow the mitt to dry effectively. Overall, for the price, It's not a bad exfoliating mitt, but I still prefer the slightly rougher standard loofahs and the rewashable wash clothes to use instead.","Product: Considering that the average person walks over 8000 steps a day, a spa treatment for your feet is probably long overdue. Simply apply a foot cream, slip on our booties, and they’ll use your body heat to seal in the moisture. Remove the booties after a few hours (or overnight) and your feet will look wonderfully soft and feel refreshed. One size fits all. Wash in cold water and hang to dry. 90% unbleached cotton. 10% spandex. Urban Spa has a wide variety of spa quality exfoliating and shower accessories available to give you fresh and smooth skin with all natural products. Pair Urban Spa’s wonderful nail and skin products with Pre de Provence's delicately scented bath soaps, lotions, bubble bath, bath gels, and more for the ultimate experience.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Average Bath Mitt, Lightly Exfoliating, Large Enough to Fit Over Big Hands\n\nReview: The Urban Spa Boucle Bath Mitt is a shower accessory I was hoping I'd enjoy enough to buy again, but ended up becoming another item used occasionally and will likely ultimately end up the cabinet of random bath stuff in time. That said, the bath mitt isn't bad, it just isn't great enough for me to want to purchase over a cheap loofah or a washable small bath towel. The bath mitt is textured on both sides and exfoliates gently. It's a little more rough than a towel, and not nearly as rough as a natural loofah. The mitt is quite large, and larger hands will be able to fit in easily as long as the hand can get past the slightly small wrist area. The fabric does stretch at the wrist enough to accommodate larger hands, but starts off a bit tight, even for my smaller hands. It does get more loose with repeated use.\n\nThe mitt makes soap lather up very well, but again it's about as good as a standard loofah or wash cloth. I'm not sure if this mitt is washing machine safe as I could not find any washing instructions on it - I'm going to presume it's a no, and so far I've been simply lathering up, rinsing and allowing the mitt to dry overnight. So far there's no smell, and hopefully it retains its scent free status over time. There's no loop on the mitt to allow you to hang it up on a hook, so you will need a bar or some sort to hang it from to allow the mitt to dry effectively. Overall, for the price, It's not a bad exfoliating mitt, but I still prefer the slightly rougher standard loofahs and the rewashable wash clothes to use instead.","Product: For centuries, the luxury of French-milled soaps has remained the gold standard of excellence. Each time you begin to lather a French made soap, you enter a time and place where quality and craftsmanship have stood still. Traditional French soap is triple-milled to produce a completely uniform and smooth soap, without impurities, thus lasting longer. Every bar of Pre de Provence soap is not only carefully made today by the dedicated soapmakers in Provence following their proud traditions, but quad-milled to be smoother and have a richer lather to create our luxurious feel. Using all pure, natural ingredients enriched with shea butter, you can feel the difference of our unique quad-milling process. Aromatic fragrances transport you to a moment of calmness, vitality, dreamin or well-being. This 150 Gram bar is a great value, the fragrance maintains until the soap is all used up. The soap creates a rich, creamy lather and rinses clean, leaving skin soft and hydrated.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Cleans Well, Smells Fresh - Leaves Skin Feeling Soft and Clean\n\nReview: In the realm of necessary items, soap ranks highly on the list. Designer soaps wasn't so much until I tried out Pre de Provence Artisanal Soap line. Millennials who gave up bar soaps for strictly liquid soaps don't know what they're missing out on. The Pre de Provence Soap cleans well, leaves skin feeling soft, and doesn't leave a greasy or heavy feel on the skin afterwards. The 150 gram bar is about the size of most soap bars - it's a little less than two decks of playing cards stacked on each other thick, and about a quarter deck of a playing card wide. The weight in grams is spot on - my scale hovered between 150-151 grams in weight for this bar.\n\nThe Pre de Provence Sea Salt French Soap Bar is a smooth bar with no added exfoliating bits in it. The soap glides over skin nicely and cleans effectively. It rinses off easily and doesn't leave a residue feeling. It does leave skin feeling soft and moisturized, even without the use of lotion. That said, if you have extra dry skin, you will still need to use lotion afterwards. The scent of the bar is fresh yet pleasant, and leaves a very faint scent after you dry off. It's not quite a \"clean smell\" such as Irish Spring type scent, but it's a fresh citrus like scent. Like most beauty bars, the scent diminishes quickly over time. The bar seems to be lasting quite a while in the shower with two people using it - I'm not sure if this is a quality that most expensive bars of soap have, but they seem to last much longer than the stuff sold in most supermarket/drugstores. Overall, these are really nice luxury bars of soap to use. They last a long time, smell pleasant, and leave skin feeling soft and moisturized.","Product: For centuries, the luxury of French-milled soaps has remained the gold standard of excellence. Each time you begin to lather a French made soap, you enter a time and place where quality and craftsmanship have stood still. Traditional French soap is triple-milled to produce a completely uniform and smooth soap, without impurities, thus lasting longer. Every bar of Pre de Provence soap is not only carefully made today by the dedicated soapmakers in Provence following their proud traditions, but quad-milled to be smoother and have a richer lather to create our luxurious feel. Using all pure, natural ingredients enriched with shea butter, you can feel the difference of our unique quad-milling process. Aromatic fragrances transport you to a moment of calmness, vitality, dreamin or well-being. This 150 Gram bar is a great value, the fragrance maintains until the soap is all used up. The soap creates a rich, creamy lather and rinses clean, leaving skin soft and hydrated.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: 250g Bars are HUGE - Pleasant Scent, Moisturizes Skin, Some Bars Have Exfoliating Qualities\n\nReview: In the realm of necessary items, soap ranks highly on the list. Designer soaps wasn't so much until I tried out Pre de Provence Shea Butter Artisanal Soap. Millennials who gave up bar soaps for strictly liquid soaps don't know what they're missing out on. The Pre de Provence Soap cleans well, leaves skin feeling soft, and in some bars it exfoliates while you wash. The 250 gram bars are HUGE - it's a little larger in size than two decks of playing cards stacked on each other, and the weight is 2-3 grams heavier than 250 grams. The sage bar is not a smooth bar and has small bits of dried sage embedded in. The dried bits give the bar some exfoliating qualities about it, but they do vary in size and scratchiness - some of those larger bit do hurt a little if positioned in the wrong way, so beware! The soap rinses off easily and doesn't leave a residue feeling. It does leave skin feeling soft and moisturized, even without the use of lotion. That said, if you have extra dry skin, you will still need to use lotion afterwards.\n\nThe scent of the sage bar is very subtle, although the sage scent is something of an acquired smell - to get a good idea of what it would smell like, just go to any supermarket with a bulk herb section and take a whiff of the dried sage there - the smell is a little less strong that the stuff you'd cook with. The bar themselves last quite a long time - the husband and I have been using the bar for month now and we still got quite a bit of bar left to use. Overall, these are really nice luxury bars of soap to use. They last a long time, smell pleasant, and leave skin feeling soft and moisturized.","Product: The Kala Color Chord Ukulele Starter Kit comes with everything you need to start playing songs today. It includes a high-quality composite plastic soprano ukulele with fret markers to show you where to put your fingers, Aquila strings, and premium open gear tuners. The kit also includes a Color Chord logo tote bag, a Quick Start Guide with information about your new ukulele and all the tips you need to get started! Learn to play songs right away with Kalas FREE, easy-to-follow online lessons through the Kala Brand Music website or on the FREE Kala Ukulele app.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Ukelele will Not Keep a Tune - App is Good, but Requires Subscription for Full Access to Songbook\n\nReview: I really wanted to like the Kala Learn to Play Color Chord Ukelele. After a visit to Hawaii this year with my husband, I found that I was completely charmed by the sound of a ukelele. Having played piano for years, I wanted to start learning an instrument that was not only pleasant sounding, but portable - it wasn't like I could haul a piano with me wherever I went, and keyboards, no matter how small, were still cumbersome to carry about. The Kala brand seemed to be a solid one, however, they completely missed the mark with this starter ukelele. While this is an attractive instrument that's conveniently set up in an \"all in one\" type learning package, there are few glaring problems with this package.\n\nThe biggest issue lies in the ukelele itself. While the body of the ukelele is very durable and extremely attractive, the instrument simply will not stay in tune. I found myself having to retune this instrument constantly as it simply will not stay in tune. I thought I didn't tune it correctly until I brought it into my local music shop and they confirmed it wasn't just me. The string, particularly the E and the A, will not stay in tune and will need to be adjusted almost after every song practiced. This alone is a deal breaker for me - as much as the rest of the package is fairly sound, if you don't have an instrument that holds it's tune, you've really got nothing. Tuning aside, this ukelele is marked for only 4 chords for you to learn - C, Am, F, and G. While this is a good starting point, later you will want to learn other chords. The markings are only good for so long before you start branching out and learning more songs. The ukelele comes with a carrying bag which is durable and works just fine.\n\nThe app itself itself isn't all that bad. There is an included tuner, a songbook that is constantly updated with new songs, and instructional videos and pictures on where chords are located, how to strum, and a learning method similar to that of playing the Rockband video game. You simply play the chord when the line goes over the note (represented as a dot, just like the video game!). At the end of the song, you ever get a score on how often you hit the correct notes! I found this engaging and fun - albeit it hit my competitive side a bit much. This app is limited use however - you get four days on a free trial where you have access to the full library of music, then you will get a limited library (Kala Songs only) unless you pay the $4.99/month or $34.99/year for access. The tuner and tutorials remain open for use even after the trial period ends.\n\nOverall, the app for this ukekele is very good, and should you pair it with some YouTube videos, you probably could learn how to play the ukelele quite proficiently by yourself. However, the actual instrument is beautiful, but can't keep a tune. This alone makes it nothing more than a glorified children's toy and would frustrate anyone who actually wants to learn this charming instrument. On the upside, after playing around with this ukelele, I found that this is the instrument for me, and I will likely do some research on some of Kala's other higher end ukeleles that have more favorable feedback as they seem to be a reputable ukelele company. It's just too bad that this starter one doesn't live up to the name.","Product: Clear 24/7 Total Care Shampoo and Conditioner replenish your scalp. Our OMEGA-3 and COCONUT MILK infused shampoo and conditioner keep hair smooth and shiny, and our formulas with NUTRIUM 10 help deeply restore the scalp. One of our most popular collections, the system helps nourish the epidermal layer of the scalp, which acts as a protective barrier. COCONUT MILK is widely used for its nourishing properties, and OMEGA-3 Essential Fatty Acids are known to improve the luster, sheen and elasticity of hair. Used daily with the conditioner, the shampoo alleviates dry, tight or greasy scalp leaving your scalp feeling moisturized and healthier.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Great 2-in-1 Shampoo for Short Hair\n\nReview: The Clear Shampoo 24/7 Total Care is a good two in one shampoo/conditioner. The shampoo is a light pinkish purple and has a soft fruity/floral scent. The scent is not overwhelmingly sweet scented though - the smell is soft and subtle, and not overly feminine. This shampoo lathers up very well with a small amount. I have slightly longer than shoulder length hair and was able to get by with the amount about the size of a quarter. My husband, who has a crew cut, didn't really more than a dime sized amount. The shampoo lathered up well, rinsed out easily, and left my hair feeling very clean. Unfortunately, with longer hair, it left my hair feeling almost \"too clean\" - as if the oils were getting stripped away. I felt that I needed a conditioner when using this shampoo. The husband, on the other hand, loved this shampoo. Because of his thick, short hair, he felt that his hair was clean, conditioned, and soft.\n\nOverall, if you have shorter hair, this would be a great 2-in-1 shampoo to consider. However, those with longer hair may need to get themselves a good conditioner to go with this.","Product: Daily face lotion with sunscreen broad spectrum SPF 15. Your face lotion should protect your skin from harsh elements and the effects of your razor. This lightweight formula absorbs quickly and locks in moisture to strengthen skin's natural moisture barrier. Perfect for post-shave, it soothes sensitive skin and helps defend skin from sun's harmful rays to help prevent early signs of aging. The result is healthy, hydrated skin all day long or all night long.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Decent Sunscreen Moisturizer Combo - Truly Unscented, Protected Well Against the Sun's Rays\n\nReview: The Cetaphil Men's Daily Face Lotion is a great lotion and sunscreen for both men and women. The lotion absorbs quickly, moisturizes well, and provides SPF 15 sun protection. I put some on before gardening, and didn't have any issues with eyes burning when sweating, burnt cheeks, or bad tans because of this product. The lotion doesn't feel overly greasy, and I didn't have any issues with breakouts after using this for several days.\n\nThe lotion works well for combination skin, although it didn't moisturize the very dry patches on my face as well as I would've liked. If your skin is on the drier side, you may want to find a more effective moisturizer. That aside, this moisturizer/sunscreen combo worked well overall. It's worth considering if you have normal/mildly dry skin and are looking for an unscented, effective sunscreen moisturizer.","Product: Swiffer 360 Heavy Duty Dusters TRAP + LOCK up to 3x more* dust & allergens.** 360 degrees of specially coated fibers grab onto dust & don't let go. They are uniquely designed to Trap + Lock dust from every direction. *vs. feather duster, **common inanimate allergens from cat and dog dander & dust mite matter\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Picks Up Dust Well, Fits in Narrow Spaces, Allows You to Dust Without Having to Move Everything\n\nReview: I hate dusting. I hate moving everything off my furniture, I hate spraying the oil everywhere, I hate having to get different cleaners to dust different items like books or wood, I really hate having to clean the blackened cloths afterwards...of all the household tasks that need to get done, dusting seriously is my least favorite chore. Because I've been vetoed on getting a housemaid (and even a housemaid won't dust furniture unless everything is cleared OFF), I quite pleased to try out something that I could use inbetween serious bouts of throwing stuff off the coffee table...I mean, dusting.\n\nThe Swiffer Duster 360 works great for getting my furniture, mantel, and all those cute knicknacks on the shelves clean without me having to actually move anything. Annoyingly perfect sister in law visiting with the mother in law and you got dust on the pictures frames on the wall? No problem! The swiffer 360 is fluffy, gathers a lot of dust (you're not going to be just moving dust around on the table), you can extends its life a little by shaking it outdoors to get some dust out, and the puffs can be easily changed once the whole thing is blackened beyond shaking. The kit comes with two dusters, and from what I've seen, lasts quite a while. Also, because the duster is so fluffy and the stick inside is skinny, this duster can fit inbetween some closely placed items and in some small places - this is especially helpful on shelves full of tradeshow tchotchkes.\n\nWhile I can't out-perfect the sister in law, I can at least have a cleanish coffee table for her to place her coffee on - she'll just have to brush away the Legos herself.","Product: Clean up your garbage with confidence using Hefty's best tall kitchen bag ever (a great fit in all Simplehuman Size J cans). Hefty Ultra Strong bags feature Triple Action Technology that allows bags to stretch so they resist tears, punctures and leaks (bags are slightly shorter when empty) and the break-resistant grip drawstring prevents bags from falling into can. Patented Arm & Hammer odor neutralizer fights nasty odors to keep your kitchen smelling fresh. Every package includes one Box Top to help you earn cash for your school. Package contains 40 white, 13-gallon, tall kitchen drawstring trash bags with Pomegranate Mist scent.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Fruity Scented Trash Bags, Durable and Holds a Good Amount of Rubbish\n\nReview: The Hefty Ultra Strong Tall Kitchen Trash Bags work effectively as trash bags. We have a tall covered trash bin that we picked up from Ikea, and the bags fit just fine in the can. For those who use Kirkland trash bags, the Hefty bags are 1\" shorter and 1\" wider than the standard Kirkland brand bags. The bags are durable, holds a good amount of rubbish, and stretch slightly to allow for larger/bulky items. The bags didn't rip when we used them, and have a very prominent fruity scent to them. These bags are so scented that they will start to scent any cabinet they are left in. In terms of price, these are not the cheapest bags out there. If you like keeping the smell of trash to a minimum, these are great, but considering that these are trash bags and will be tossed out every few days, I think I will stick with the normal unscented bags warehouse trash bags for everyday use - either that or use scented bags alternatively with unscented bags.\n\nPhoto: Warehouse Bag on left, Hefty on right","Product: Childrens Zyrtec Allergy Syrup relieves indoor and outdoor allergy symptoms in children. With 5 milligrams of cetirizine hydrochloride in each 5 mL, this over the counter childrens allergy medicine offers 24 hour relief from common symptoms of hay fever and other upper respiratory allergies. Childrens Zyrtec provides consistently powerful relief for your kids allergies and helps treat symptoms such as runny nose, sneezing, itchy watery eyes, and itchy nose and throat. Suitable for children ages two years and up, Childrens Zyrtec Allergy Syrup is dye-free, sugar-free and available in a variety of kid-friendly flavors.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Effective, Does Not Make My Kid Hyper or Drowsy - Also Doesn't Dry Out His Throat/Nose\n\nReview: It's fall in California, and my kid's allergies have swung into full blown misery. Im not sure why his allergies act up so much during this season, but hey, its California and we have allergy season practically all year long since we don't get much rain and the most prominent plants growing here seem to be weeds. After a trip to our local Bullseye Store, I bought the Zyrtec Allergy Relief medicine for him and gave him the required two teaspoon dose. Im very pleased to say that the allergy medicine worked wonders for him. It took about 30 minutes for his miserable cough to subside to a lesser cough, and within an hour, he was able to breathe easier and not cough every minute.\n\nThe effects of the allergy medicine worked very effectively for the 24 hours. My son did not cough as much, and was able to sleep without feeling absolutely miserable. I had be using a humidifier along with some essential oil to help him breathe easier, and when used in conjunction with the allergy medicine, I didn't hear him coughing all night. Since his allergies were much better the day, I offered him a half dose, and it worked just as well, albeit not quite as long. Weve been using the allergy medicine on and off as he needs it, and it works very well. The medicine does not make him drowsy, nor does it make him hyper. He also noted that it did not cause him to have dry throat or nose, as some other allergy medicine did. The only thing he didn't like about this medicine was the flavor, but he said the nasty flavor was worth not coughing and sneezing all day. Overall, the Zyrtec Allergy Medicine worked very well we will be definitely getting this again.","Product: IPG manufactures a broad range of packaging products and systems that reflect the needs of both its industrial and retail customers. These include one of the largest offerings of tape available: pressure sensitive and water-activated, carton-sealing, masking, filament, flatback, cloth/duct, double-coated, high performance specialty, electrical, automotive, and HVAC tapes. Additional products include shrink film and stretch film as well as carton-sealing equipment, ink jet printing systems and labeling systems.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Stopped My Wayward Rug from Traveling on the Carpet\n\nReview: I recently purchased a lovely rug from Home Depot to put in my family room. On top of the rug, I put a heavy Cost Plus World Market coffee table thinking that the rug wouldn't bunch or move. Wow, was I so wrong. After continual readjustments, I decided to buy carpet tape as per recommendation from a friend. The Indoor Carpet Tape works fantastically. It's essentially double sided masking tape, but it works so well! My rug no longer bunches up at the ends, lays smoothly, and was fairly easy to install. I was able to readjust the carpet after initial lay down since the tape was easily removed. From what I've read, the tape doesn't leave sticky residue on the carpet after removable, but I'll report on that later when the time comes. Until then, highly recommended for keeping my carpet in place!","Product: ARM & HAMMER Truly Radiant Battery Toothbrush + Toothpaste Pack includes our Spinbrush Truly Radiant Deep Clean battery-powered toothbrush and Truly Radiant Toothpaste. Unlike ordinary brushes, our battery brush is designed to give you the brilliant whitening you want, and the deep cleaning you need for a beautiful, more radiant smile. The toothpaste does more than just whiten teeth. This revolutionary toothpaste is the first and only toothpaste that provides exceptional whitening and unsurpassed enamel strengthening for a radiant smile in just 5 days!*\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Decent Toothbrush for the Cost\n\nReview: The Spinbrush Truly Radiant Regimen pack is a nice starter set if you're making the move from traditional manual toothbrushes to something electric. That said, this is not nearly as good as a Sonicare level toothbrush - but for the price range, this is a lot better than using a manual or tiny headed Oral-B toothbrushes. The Spinbrush does a fine job of getting teeth clean. The bristles quickly rotate to get teeth very clean. The bristles are soft, and because the head size is fairly large, I'm able to get all my teeth clean very well. The brushes are not rechargeable and you will need to purchase AA batteries, which is a downer. There are two replacement heads, and the package comes with a tube of the Truly Radiant Toothpaste.\n\nNow, while I like the convenience of buying the two pack toothbrushes, two replacement heads, and the toothpaste in one shot, I question why anyone would want to purchase it in a set when buying everything individually is more cost effective. On Amazon, purchasing two <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Spinbrush-Truly-Radiant-Toothbrush-Deep-Clean-Colors-May-Vary/dp/B00J42G2UW/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">Spinbrush Truly Radiant Toothbrush, Deep Clean, Colors May Vary</a> and one <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Spinbrush-Sonic-Power-Truly-Radiant-Soft-Replacement-Brush-Heads-2-Heads/dp/B001U9JY8O/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">Spinbrush Sonic Power Truly Radiant Soft Replacement Brush Heads, 2 Heads</a> is less than $23. The local bullseye store carried the toothpaste for ~$4 for a 4.3 ounce tube. Unless you're gifting a couple, you may want to purchase everything separately.\n\nOverall, the Truly Radiant Toothbrush set works well for the cost, and when using along with a good flossing, my teeth feel wonderfully clean.","Product: Yonanas turns frozen fruit and other flavorings into a delicious, healthy soft-serve treat. The unit combines frozen bananas and any additional fruit or chocolate and instantly churns the ingredients to produce a treat with the texture of frozen yogurt or soft-serve ice cream, but without the additional fat, sugar, or preservatives. The chute easily accepts berries, sliced mango, or cantaloupe along with frozen banana, and the integrated spinning blade mashes and incorporates the fruit into a silky-smooth confection with the texture of soft-serve ice cream or yogurt. The chute, plunger, and blade are dishwasher safe.This is only designed for US market. Yonanas model 902 includes instructions and a list of recipes. Plugs into AC. 14\"H x 7.5\"W x 6\"D. Designed for use in United States and Canada only. Warranty does not apply elsewhere.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Makes Very Smooth \"Ice Cream\"\n\nReview: I received the Yonanas Frozen Dessert Machine as a Christmas gift last year, and after half a year or use (even more now because it's 100 degrees out!), I still really enjoy using this machine. It's much easier to clean than a blender/food processor, grinds the fruit up very finely for a smooth consistency, and is safe for the 6 year old kids to use without supervision (although I would still suggest watching them if you don't want a mess in the kitchen). To make creamy fruit desserts is easy: simply freeze fruit (or buy frozen fruit), thaw a bit so it's not ice block solid, then put into your Yonanas and blend. Our favorite fruit to blend is frozen pineapple from Costco - it's almost like Dole whip from Disneyland!\n\nThe machine comes completely apart for easy cleaning, there are no seriously sharp parts on it to clean, and the ice cream that comes out is delicious - definitely try out frozen pineapple!","Product: When you want to be bold, you need T-shirt transfers that are as colorful as your personality. These Light T-shirt Transfers allow you to express yourself with a variety of fun designs, statements and logos. They're specially designed so colors look vivid on light-colored, 100% cotton or cotton/polyester blend fabric. Simply customize the transfers using your computer and free templates from avery.com, print them from your inkjet printer and then iron them on shirts, shorts, bags and even hats. Style that stands out: now that's a bright idea.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Wrong Instructions, Pretty Decent Transfer Paper\n\nReview: Like many of the other reviewers mentioned - the instructions are completely WRONG! Don't follow the instructions included in the package! You don't need to peel the transfer away from a backing paper, there is no wax sheet included, and you do need to mirror the image in order to have words show up the correct way and not backwards. That said, here are the correct instructions on how to use this transfer paper. Just click on \"Light Tee Shirt\":\n\n[]...\n\nOnce I figured out that Avery included the instructions for a Dark Tee Shirt Transfer, I looked up the info and tried the Light Tee Shirt Transfer. The transfer comes out quite nice. You really need to use a non-stretchy type of fabric for the transfer to come out clearly and not rip. In other words, a tee shirt from Michaels will work well, but a onesie by Gerber will not. I tested this out on a tote bag, and the transfer looked very nice. I haven't washed the bag yet, but once I do, I probably will turn the bag inside out so the transfer will not come off.\n\nFor those looking to put a smaller image on your clothes/bags/projects, the 4x6 paper is great. Recommended, but definitely look up the instructions before you start!","Product: In Professor Layton and the Curious Village, you’ll tackle over 130 puzzles as you unravel the mysteries of the village. Puzzles range from mazes and riddles to logic and sliding puzzles. Touch Screen controls make working through puzzles fun for players of all skill levels, and new puzzles are available weekly for download via the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. Fully voiced animated scenes bring the story to life, while the eccentric villagers and the hand-drawn art provide a charm that appeals to gamers and non-gamers alike. Only playable on Nintendo DS systems.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Fantastic Game for Puzzle/Brain Teaser Fans, Interesting Storyline, Gorgeous Cut Scenes\n\nReview: Having gone through all of the Legend of Zelda Series available for the Nintendo DS/3DS, I found myself looking for a new game to play that was more puzzle based, but still had some type of storyline involved. As per recommendation from a friend, I was able to get a used copy of the first of the Professor Layton series - Professor Layton and the Curious Village. As a fan of puzzles and Brain Teasers, I was completely enamored by this game. The puzzles range from very simple to \"I need to come back to this later\" difficult. There are a wide variety of puzzles, all of which can be solved without having any particular specialized knowledge of mathematical formulas and the like. You will need a good amount of deduction skills to solve some of these puzzles, and some puzzles are required if you want to progress in the storyline.\n\nThe storyline is engaging and interesting, and throughout the game there are beautifully animated cut scenes that look as if they came straight out of an anime. The attention to detail in the game was quite nice, and while this game was short, it was fun for me to complete. There are plenty of bonuses in the game, including additional puzzles, access to the cut scenes and music, and even an extra bonus if you get the code from the sequel game, Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box. I already ordered a copy and will be playing that soon! The character designs are whimsical, and the village backgrounds are simplistic and reminiscent of something out of a Studio Ghibli film.\n\nThe one drawback of ordering and playing this game now is that all the downloadable content that was available when this game was first released is no longer available. Apparently Nintendo stopped offering the downloadable puzzles in 2014, so if you try to access that now, it will indicate that the download connection is broken. Overall, this is a still an incredibly fun game, and I will be passing this game on to my kids to play once I finish all the bonus material.","Product: The InCharge for Wii allows you to simply put your sleeved or unsleeved Wii Remote on the charger and charge it with ease. No more checking to see if the contact points are lined up correctly. The InCharge for Wii is superior to other rechargeable solutions, it uses a contactless inductive charging solution rather than metal contacts to charge each Wii remote. Using the power of Lithium Polymer battery packs, the InCharge for Wii provides up to 25 hours of battery life on a full charge and is 50% lighter than other charge solutions for Wii. With the InCharge, gamers can save money on batteries and is better for the environment (no more throwing out dead batteries) as well as eliminate complications that arise from dirty or greasy battery contacts that occur with other Wii chargers. Charge your Nintendo Wii remotes with greater reliability!\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Charges the Wii Remote Well\n\nReview: UPDATE #2: The problems with this charger have now officially begun. Recently, we've noticed that the remotes are no longer holding a good charge. After charging the remotes, we get a good hour of game play before the remote randomly shuts off. On top of that, if we charge the remotes and then leave them off base for a couple of days, by the time we return to the remote the charge is very weak and the remote will shut off after about 30 minutes of gameplay. Occasionally, when the charge is starting to weaken, the pointers on the screen start acting erratic. Because of all these problems, I would rather stick to batteries. NOT RECOMMENDED - I would change the stars on my review if I could right now.\n\nUPDATE: So we've had this charger for a month now, and it's still working really well. There is a flaw with the remote that we were not aware of though...there is no indication that the remote is running out of charge. While playing a game one day, the connection with the Wii started getting spotty - the remote was almost out of battery! We lucked out as we were not playing a long RPG type game - but can imagine the fury if the remote died while finishing a hard level! Outside of that, we appreciate the wireless charging and the lighter feeling remotes.\n\nWe've only had the charger for a week now, but it's been doing it's job - the InCharge Dual Charger charges our Wii remotes well, we have a good amount of game play per charge, and it's possible to charge the Wii controller in sleeve. No complaints so far, so recommended.","Product: The InCharge for Wii allows you to simply put your sleeved or unsleeved Wii Remote on the charger and charge it with ease. No more checking to see if the contact points are lined up correctly. The InCharge for Wii is superior to other rechargeable solutions, it uses a contactless inductive charging solution rather than metal contacts to charge each Wii remote. Using the power of Lithium Polymer battery packs, the InCharge for Wii provides up to 25 hours of battery life on a full charge and is 50% lighter than other charge solutions for Wii. With the InCharge, gamers can save money on batteries and is better for the environment (no more throwing out dead batteries) as well as eliminate complications that arise from dirty or greasy battery contacts that occur with other Wii chargers. Charge your Nintendo Wii remotes with greater reliability!\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Charges the Wii Remote Well\n\nReview: UPDATE #2: The problems with this charger have now officially begun. Recently, we've noticed that the remotes are no longer holding a good charge. After charging the remotes, we get a good hour of game play before the remote randomly shuts off. On top of that, if we charge the remotes and then leave them off base for a couple of days, by the time we return to the remote the charge is very weak and the remote will shut off after about 30 minutes of gameplay. Occasionally, when the charge is starting to weaken, the pointers on the screen start acting erratic. Because of all these problems, I would rather stick to batteries. NOT RECOMMENDED - I would change the stars on my review if I could right now.\n\nUPDATE: So we've had this charger for a month now, and it's still working really well. There is a flaw with the remote that we were not aware of though...there is no indication that the remote is running out of charge. While playing a game one day, the connection with the Wii started getting spotty - the remote was almost out of battery! We lucked out as we were not playing a long RPG type game - but can imagine the fury if the remote died while finishing a hard level! Outside of that, we appreciate the wireless charging and the lighter feeling remotes.\n\nWe've only had the charger for a week now, but it's been doing it's job - the InCharge Dual Charger charges our Wii remotes well, we have a good amount of game play per charge, and it's possible to charge the Wii controller in sleeve. No complaints so far, so recommended.","Product: Nintendo 3DS/3DS XL/2DS AC Adapter\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Charger Works Great, Wish It Came with the Gaming System\n\nReview: Since when did Nintendo start charging for a 3DS cable by itself? Having purchased the <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Nintendo-3DS-XL-Hyrule-Gold-Limited-Edition/dp/B017FSM200/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">Nintendo 3DS XL Hyrule Gold Limited Edition</a>, I was ready to bust open the box and start playing immediately. Sadly, I had to wait a little longer before getting my full gaming on - the system didn't come with a charging cable.\n\nOnce the cable arrived, I will say, it works and it works well. My 3DS charges quickly, the cable is long enough for me to charge the system while playing a game on the couch, and most importantly - it charges my 3DS period. When I need to get my game on, this charger works just fine to get things going. Overall, great purchase because now I can play Legend of Zelda without worrying that my system will turn on mid dungeon, but really Nintendo - couldn't you including with game console purchase?","Product: C Stick for enhanced controls.Built-in amiibo compatibility and NFC support. Faster processing power than Nintendo 3DS and Face tracking 3D. Plays all Nintendo 3DS games. AC adapter not included. Use Parental Controls to restrict 3D mode for children 6 and under.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Absolutely Stunning Case, Great Gaming System!\n\nReview: It's been a mighty long time since I've purchased a portable gaming system. The last portable game system I've owned was the Game Boy Advance (in purple!), and while the system amazingly still works, it's definitely very dated in comparison to today's gaming standards. Knowing I wanted to buy the New 3DS, I quickly discovered they had special edition versions and was thrilled to find the Legend of Zelda Hyrule Gold version available on Amazon (through third party, but the markup was amazingly low and in comparison to the amount of time and gas it would take for me to pick it up from our local GameStop, this was a deal!)\n\nThe Hyrule Gold Version is simply gorgeous. The design is printed directly onto the case, it very intricately detailed, and looks absolutely stunning in person. For comparison, if you have an iPhone in gold, the coloring on the 3DS is a bit darker. The interior of the system is black. The 3D screen simply blew me away. It's amazing how advance the technology is on this system, and after testing out my first 3DS game (Legend of Zelda, Link Between Worlds) I was totally hooked. The graphics are amazing, the colors are bright and the graphics run very smoothly. The bottom touch screen is very receptive, and the front and back cameras work fantastically. The system doesn't take too long to charge, and I'm able to play for quite a long time before I'm given the indication to charge the unit. One thing I didn't like about this system is that it doesn't come with a charger, nor does the Wii U charger cable work on this unit. You WILL need to buy a designated charger.\n\nOverall, I absolutely LOVE this gaming system and am so thrilled that I was able to get the Hyrule version. It's a beautiful system, can accommodate both game cartridges or digital downloads, and is great to carry around in my purse for on the go gaming fun. If you're a Zelda fan, this is a great system to get.","Product: A dark force, shrouded in twilight, has invaded the vast land of Hyrule.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Absolutely Stunning Update to the Already Fantastic Twilight Princess\n\nReview: The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess is an amazing game for the Wii U system. There's a lot of great updates to this already awesome game in the Legend of Zelda line. The game is absolutely stunning, and like the Wind Waker, is playable using the Wii U Gamepad. From my understanding there are a couple of differences between the Wii U version and the original Gamecube version. First off - and the most obvious - is that the graphics are greatly enhanced. Link's hair has been completely reworked, there's more trees, and graphics are sharper. For the curious, there is a Youtube Video showing the difference between the three: [...].\n\nNext, things have been greatly streamlined. To change link to Wolf form, there's a single button press verses talking to Midna to change. Link also starts off with a larger wallet. There's a new item called the \"Ghost Lantern\" to help find Poes - even during the day. For those familiar with the game, there is an early quest that requires Link to collect tears of light to earn the ability to switch between human and wolf form - the number of tears to be found has been decreased from 16 to 12. Another nice change is that Link will no longer hit his sword against walls. Instead, his sword will go through them, making combat more manageable in those close quarter areas.\n\nOf the newest features, this is probably the most exciting - there is an entirely NEW DUNGEON! With the Wolf Link Amiibo, you can play a new optional dungeon called The Cave of Shadows. Instead of being a puzzle based dungeon, the Cave of Shadows is a wave-based combat challenge dungeon complete with 40 floors. You will need to complete all 40 floors in Wolf Link form since he can't turn back to Link. There is a prize at the end of the dungeon definitely worth fighting for...\n\nThe Twilight Princess HD also features Amiibo support from other Zelda Amiibos including:\n\nLink or Toon Link - Replenish Arrows\nZelda or Sheik - Restore Link's Hearts\nGanondorf - Allows Link to take twice as much damage/Will turn his red Heart gauge blue to signify the change\n\nOnly one amiibo of each character can be scanned once per day. Scanning Ganondorf's amiibo a second time will indicate that the damage has already been doubled.\n\nOverall, with all these upgraded features, better graphics, and Amiibo support this is turning out to be one awesome game. I'm really liking all these new updates to old classics that Nintendo is putting out - all we need to see now is Skyward Sword HD before getting that newest Zelda title released! If you haven't played Twilight Princess in the meantime, it's definitely worth picking up now.","Product: Join Mama, the original kitchen diva who created the cooking genre, in Cooking Mama 5: Bon Appetit and unlock 60+ recipes to perfect a kaleidoscope of foods including appetizers, drinks, main courses, and desserts.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Great Fun for Younger Audiences\n\nReview: <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Cooking-Mama-Cook-Off/dp/B000KUHR8S/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">Cooking Mama: Cook Off</a> was hailed by the kids as a super fun game on the Wii. <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Cooking-Mama-World-Kitchen/dp/B001A3ZDKS/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">Cooking Mama World Kitchen</a>was dubbed as not as good as the first, but still great. Fast Forward three years when I finally conceded and got younger kid her own game console - guess what game she wanted for her new <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/New-Nintendo-3DS-XL-Pikachu-Yellow-Edition/dp/B01N47GEOI/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">New Nintendo 3DS XL - Pikachu Yellow Edition</a> - I'll give you a hint, it wasn't Pokemon.\n\nThe newest offering from the Cooking Mama series, Cooking Mama 5: Bon Appetit! was extremely well received by Kid v2.0. This game is great for younger audiences - or for adult audiences who are looking to play a large variety of games in a short period of time. The cooking element that is present in all Cooking Mama games is included with plenty of chopping, dicing, egg cracking, and vegetable peeling. In addition to the cooking element of the game, there are also a large number of additional mini games. The games are broken up into 5 sections: \"Let's Cook\", \"Cooking Dojo\", \"Let's Help in the Shop\", \"Let's Help Mama\", and \"Let's Study\". Each game section includes multiple mini games which take about a minute each to play and which will eventually unlock little rewards including wallpapers, borders, kitchen and room furniture, clocks, and trophies. While the mini games are aplenty, they all are very similar, and I found I could plow through all of them in a short period of time. This game can't hold my attention like <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Nintendo-Selects-The-Legend-of-Zelda-Ocarina-of-Time-3D/dp/B01AC3ZDCE/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">Nintendo Selects: The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time 3D</a> does, but for a newer and more casual player like Kid v2.0, this game was right up her alley. Overall, this iteration of Cooking Mama was a lot of fun for the whole family. It may not have much play over value for experienced players, but is perfect for young/casual players.","Product: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D takes the best-reviewed game of all time for a brand-new experience. Now in 3D all of the graphic textures and colors have been vastly improved, taking advantage of the considerable graphic power of the Nintendo 3DS system. This game tells the epic story of Hyrule and Link, Zelda, and Ganondorf in remarkable depth and gives context to the many tales of their struggles. As such, this title represents a perfect entry point for players new to the Zelda franchise. Phenomenally Improved Graphics Beyond even the incredible 3D effect, every graphic texture and character model has been lovingly built from the ground up to create the most dynamic and vivid vision of Zeldas kingdom yet. This is Hyrule as youve always imagined it. Playing the Ocarina Link needs to play the eponymous Ocarina of Time many, many times over the course of the game. This involves a specific series of button presses to play one of the twelve songs in the game. In the original title, you would need to assign the ocarina to an item slot, then likely review the button prompts to your song, then play them from memory. The Nintendo 3DS version has the ocarina constantly available on the Touch Screen, and playing with the button prompts for each song right in front of you. Enhanced Game play While the greatest care has been taken to preserve the classic game play and story, a number of new features make this the definitive version of this extraordinary game. Plays on Nintendo 3DS systems sold for NTSC REGION 1 SYSTEMS\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Great Game in the Legend of Zelda Series\n\nReview: After searching high and low through multiple seller sites, I finally got my hands on a copy of the LOZ Ocarina of Time. What a game. The level of detail rendered in the visuals, the complexity of the puzzles (particularly that annoying Water Temple!), and the interesting story has made this game not only fun to play, but has kept me coming back repeatedly for more - there are many side quests to complete, tons of characters to interact with, and of course, the storyline is very compelling. One thing I really enjoy about this game is that many of the puzzles are not very obvious - some of the dungeons took me a while to completely figure out, and some of the side quests take quite a while. I love the going back in time/going forward in time aspect, and enjoy playing both young and grown up Link - this game is very well executed in so many ways. The only issue I have with this game is that there can be a lot of \"dead time\" running back and forth through Hyrule Field. This is similar to Wind Waker's boating all over the place - while I know that this is part of the playing experience, all this running around can get tedious at times.\n\nOverall, this game is very enjoyable. If you can get your hands on a used copy, it's definitely worth playing.","Product: BRAND NEW!!! 2 Super Fresh Genuine Duracell DL1632 Lithium 3V Batteries. Equivalent to: DL1632, CR1632, BR1632, KL1632, L1632, ECR1632\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Fits in the 2012 Prius Key Remote\n\nReview: After daily use, multiple road trips, and hundreds of car unlocking/locking from afar, my 2012 Prius car remote finally wore out. I got the dreaded \"Key Battery Low\" warning on my dash. Guess what I ordered via 2 day shipping immediately?\n\nThe Duracell CR-1632 was easy to install into my Prius key. The battery works great, the low battery indicator is off, and I can now confidently chauffeur my around once again without worrying that my key will run out of juice. Changing a Prius key is really simple, and there are plenty of instructional YouTube Videos out there (search for \"how to change a Prius 2012 key remote battery). Here's a quick rundown on how to change the battery for those who are curious (you will need a small flathead screwdriver - like the eyeglass size):\n\n1. Push the key release button on the left side of the key fob to remove the valet key.\n2. Once the valet key is removed, you'll see a small horizontal slot on the end of the remote. Put the valet key into the slot and gently twist to pop the remote open (it will split in half along the outer seam).\n3. Take the bottom half of the remote (with the green circuit board) and flip it over in your hand to have the circuit board drop into your hand.\n4. Remove the battery using your fingernail or small flat head screwdriver. Place the screwdriver in the opening near the single prong at the bottom of the circuit board to remove. Place the new battery in the battery compartment.\n5. Place the circuit board back into the bottom key compartment with the side where the buttons are facing up. Make sure the two buttons are at the top end of the fob (end where the Toyota Logo is/opposite end where the valet key goes in).\n6. Place the top of fob back on and push both pieces together so the fob snaps shut. Place the valet key back into the slot, then take your car out for a drive!","Product: Lock essential moisture into your skin while protecting it from damaging UVA/UVB rays for a younger-looking, better hydrated, and smoother complexion. In addition to broad spectrum sun protection, The Moisture Magnet SPF 15 incorporates healing vitamin E Oil to deliver hydration and guard against the aging dangers of free radicals. The perfect anti-aging moisturizer to use under makeup.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Absorbs Quickly, Moisturizers Well, Leaves Skin Looking Matte\n\nReview: The Mario Badescu Moisture Magnet SPF 15 Lotion works effectively as a both a facial moisturizer and light sunscreen. The lotion is very thick, but goes on smoothly, absorbs quickly, and doesn't feel heavy on the skin. There is a light scent to it that definitely has a sunscreen smell to it, but it's very subdued so neither you, nor people around you, will smell the lotion on you. The lotion slightly tinted pink, but the tint does not show up on the skin. I have normal/dry skin, and found this moisturizer worked well for me during the day. The dry flaky patches on my face haven't shown up during the day when wearing this product (I use a different moisturizer at night), and the added SPF, while low, works well at protecting my skin while I'm out and about. Makeup isn't affected when using this moisturizer as a base, and I haven't had any issues with smudging or streaking when using with various makeup products. This lotion leaves skin feeling and looking matte, and works well when using it by itself. I have slightly sensitive skin, and I haven't had any issues with breakouts or irritation. Overall, this is worth considering if you're looking for a good everyday daytime skin moisturizer/sunscreen.","Product: Lock essential moisture into your skin while protecting it from damaging UVA/UVB rays for a younger-looking, better hydrated, and smoother complexion. In addition to broad spectrum sun protection, The Moisture Magnet SPF 15 incorporates healing vitamin E Oil to deliver hydration and guard against the aging dangers of free radicals. The perfect anti-aging moisturizer to use under makeup.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Absorbs Quickly, Moisturizers Well, Leaves Skin Looking Matte\n\nReview: The Mario Badescu Moisture Magnet SPF 15 Lotion works effectively as a both a facial moisturizer and light sunscreen. The lotion is very thick, but goes on smoothly, absorbs quickly, and doesn't feel heavy on the skin. There is a light scent to it that definitely has a sunscreen smell to it, but it's very subdued so neither you, nor people around you, will smell the lotion on you. The lotion slightly tinted pink, but the tint does not show up on the skin. I have normal/dry skin, and found this moisturizer worked well for me during the day. The dry flaky patches on my face haven't shown up during the day when wearing this product (I use a different moisturizer at night), and the added SPF, while low, works well at protecting my skin while I'm out and about. Makeup isn't affected when using this moisturizer as a base, and I haven't had any issues with smudging or streaking when using with various makeup products. This lotion leaves skin feeling and looking matte, and works well when using it by itself. I have slightly sensitive skin, and I haven't had any issues with breakouts or irritation. Overall, this is worth considering if you're looking for a good everyday daytime skin moisturizer/sunscreen.","Product: ATTENTION: Touch Screen Sensitivity *Touch Sensitivity Adjustment: Go to your phone Settings menu - Advanced Features - Turn On Touch Sensitivity *Sensitivity of the Home Button: Go to your phone Settings menu - Display - Navigation Bar , youll see the Hard Press Home Button feature. The default setting is 3, but you can increase this up to a stronger setting of 5. There is a test at the bottom of the screen that lets you gauge the sensitivity at each level, so go with what works for you. Features: Material: Tempered Glass Touch screen will function as normal Prevent scratches, dust, wear and glare Anti-glare, anti-bubble, anti-fingerprint and anti-slip It provides great security at 45 degree viewing angle Offers tough and durable surface while keeping the LCD screen clean Made of high-quality material that is very lightweight and impact resistant Package Content: 2 X Tempered Glass Screen Protectors 2 X Dust Removal Stickers 2 X Wet/Dry Wipes\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: I love all animals, including this one!!\n\nReview: I would've never thought I would have an emotional attachment to one of my cleaning supplies...but I have been proven wrong by my Dyson Animal Vac! I love this vacuum. This vacuum not only sucks all the crap thats buried deep in my carpet, but it does it well, and it does it QUIETLY compared to my Eureka. It didn't even phase my dog or my lovebirds! The amount of crud that showed up in the barrel amazed me. I don't believe I was lying around on such a dusty carpet! The animal vac comes with a lot of accessories to boot--my one gripe is that it's a pain in the behind to switch them in and out. Also, some of the accessories don't attach to the vacuum--but to get my carpet that clean...wow, it's worth it.","Product: 2-tier Baker's Secret 10 by 16-Inch Non Stick Cooling Grid, Set of 2. Baker's Secret gadgets are the perfect addition to your baking needs. Complement your Baker's Secret Metal Bakeware with these cooling racks for outstanding results.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Great Cooling Rack for Baked Goods, Five Years Old and No Rust\n\nReview: The Baker's Secret two pack cooling rack works great for cooling down those hot goodies you pull from your oven. I use these racks to cool down loaves of bread, buns, and cookies fairly frequently. The grid is small enough to keep items from falling through, but wide enough where it's easy to clean and baked goods can cool properly. There is no support beam in the center of the rack, but I don't usually put anything very heavy on it, so I haven't seen any warping. The racks are easy to hand wash, and I air dry them on the dish rack, or simply put the damp racks in the warm oven after I'm done baking for faster drying. Even after five years of owning them, they still look brand new and I haven't had issues with rusting.\n\nOverall, these are a good durable set of cooling racks that have stood up to the test of time.","Product: Sear, fry, bake, sauté or stir fry your meal indoors or at the campsite with the super-convenient Combo Cooker from Lodge®. This pre-seasoned piece features a cast iron construction that ensures food cooks slowly and evenly; it can be used as a large skillet or Dutch oven, and the lid doubles as a shallow skillet and griddle.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Good Durable Cast Iron Pan, Will Require a Lot of Seasoning - Pan is NOT Initially Smooth and Will Require a Little Work\n\nReview: I have the <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Lodge-L8DD3-Cast-Iron-Double-Dutch-Oven-5-Quart/dp/B000LEXR0K/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">Lodge L8DD3 Cast Iron Double Dutch Oven, 5-Quart</a> and recently purchased this set for my sister. Like all Lodge cast iron pots, these pots are heavy, durable, and are great for cooking all sorts of great dishes in. They work well on the stove, can transfer immediately to the oven, and in this particular set, there are long handles for easy grip. While I love my Lodge cast iron, there is on huge caveat - while noted as preseasoned, this pot will require a good amount of seasoning before a shiny glass-like nonstick surface will start to show. These are not the pans of decades ago where the bottom of the pans are glass smooth as the casting methods changed over 40 years ago. Older pans were machine smoothed, and the newer Lodge pans are not and have a slightly rougher \"gravelly\" type finish. That said, this pan will take a little work to get well seasoned and properly maintained. With that in mind, my first few batches of fried eggs were NOT nonstick. The same occurred with my sister's pans and she's in the process of oiling, baking, and slowly building up the seasoning.\n\nOverall, if you're looking to gift a good cast iron pan, this is a good one to consider. It will need a bit of seasoning work to get the pan really nonstick, but it's really worth it in the long run.","Product: Sunbeam 6142 Hot Shot Hot Water Dispenser\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Heats Up Water Quickly, More Energy Efficient Than Large Hot Water Pots\n\nReview: The Sunbean Hot Shot Hot Water Dispenser is a fantastic water heater. Having grown up with one of those huge Zojirushi Hot Water dispensers on my parent's counter, I always wondered why we needed such a huge hot water pot when most of the time we only heated up a cup or two of water at a time. The SunBeam Hot Shot is a great alternative to the more energy wasting full hot water pots as it only heats up the amount of water you need at that moment - and it heats up water mighty fast. This is great for single serving amounts of hot water. Simply pour the water into the top, push the button, and the water is heated up to boiling in about a minute. Water is then dispensed by pushing the wide button on the front of the unit. The temperature of the water is perfect for hot teas, coffee, and instant noodles/soups.\n\nOne thing to note is that this unit is designed for shorter mugs/bowls, so some cups simply won't fit under the area where the water is dispensed. There is another Sunbeam Unit that is taller which works just the same as this unit, so I docked a star because the item is essentially the same thing, but a little more versatile. That aside, if you have short wide mugs/bowls, this is a great unit to have. Water is heated up quickly and efficiently.","Product: Everybody loves homemade bread, but not everybody has time to make it. Now Cuisinart does it for you! Our versatile Bread Maker offers a variety of crust colors and loaf sizes, and 12 preprogrammed menu options. Foolproof recipes include low carb and gluten-free breads, as well as jams and sauces. With a convenient 13-hour Delay Start Timer, that wonderful aroma of just-baked bread can be waiting for you when you walk in the door.\n--PLUS-- Bamboo Cutting Board\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Kneads Dough Perfectly, Consistently Evenly Browned Loaves Every Time\n\nReview: Prior to getting the Conair Cuisinart 2 lb Bread Maker, I had a <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Zojirushi-BBCC-V20-Home-Bakery-Traditional-Breadmaker/dp/B00004S56Y/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">Zojirushi BBCC-V20 Home Bakery Traditional Breadmaker</a>. In comparison to the Zo, this unit has it beat in every aspect possible. I tossed my old Zo years ago and swore off bread machines until I received one as a gift from family. I could go on and on about how bad the Zo was from the start (burnt bottoms and raw bread tops, poor mixing, etc) and how it seemed to go from bad to worse. I'm so pleased to report that the Cuisinart has restored my faith in a good bread machine. This bread machine is easy to use, easily mixes and kneads dough, and bakes up a very evenly colored loaf.\n\nThe unit is very easy to use - simply select a mode, loaf size, and crust color. After setting everything, put your ingredients in the bread maker and push start. There are multiple modes to choose from, including white, wheat, french, sweet, gluten free, packaged mix, and cake settings. There are also settings for simply making dough, pasta dough, jam, and even a bake only setting for those who like kneading their dough by hand. For those who want to have a fresh baked loaf in the morning without having to get up early, there is also a delayed start option. I tried out a delayed start for a plain white loaf the other night with great results. I put everything in (liquids on bottom, flour in middle, and yeast on top) and woke up 8 hours later to a beautifully browned loaf.\n\nIn comparison to my old machine, the machine bakes up a surprisingly even and lovely colored loaf. I've had so many failed loaves from my old Zo and didn't have high expectations for this machine. The loaves that come out of this machine are soft, tender, and so evenly colored! For rolls and filled bao, I've used the dough only option and had perfectly kneaded dough with little work. The dough doesn't stick to the inner pan, and the single large paddle seems to get everything mixed very well.\n\nOverall, while I still enjoy making a loaf using my Kitchenaid or by hand, this bread machine definitely earned its spot in my kitchen for a fast convenient bread. I can't highly recommend it enough, and am very pleased with the overall ease of operation and product that comes from it.","Product: AirBake brand has always been \"The Original Insulated Bakeware\". AirBake continues to provide the best baking results every time. Made of 100-percent aluminum, AirBake Natural provides an overall enhanced baking performance with its insulated aluminum sheets and micro-dome technology to decrease bake times by up to 15% over traditional insulated bakeware. Two heavyweight aluminum sheets surround a layer of air. The air reduces the temperature of the metal that comes in contact with the food. The bottom sheet blocks the direct oven heat while the layer of air acts as an insulator preventing the top sheet from overheating. This means better browning, no burning, and moister baked goods. Set includes Medium and Large cookie sheets. CARE INSTRUCTIONS: Before using your bakeware for the first time, wash and condition the bakeware by spreading one teaspoon of cooking oil over the interior with a clean cloth. Wipe off any excess. Avoid overheating your bakeware. In order to preserve and avoid scratches on your coating, we recommend the use of plastic utensils. Slight surface marks or abrasions are normal and will not affect the performance of the non-stick coating. With use, the non-stick surface may become slightly darker. This will not impair its performance. AirBake is designed to breathe and is not watertight. However, AirBake is dishwasher safe. DO NOT USE DISHWASHER DETERGENT TABS - the concentrated cleaning agents will damage the bakeware's finish. DO NOT SOAK - if water is inside pan layer, there is a risk of burning from steam release. If your pan has water inside the two sheets, place the pan upside down in a 250-degree oven for 30 minutes or until water is removed.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Great for Making Macarons!\n\nReview: Update 9/9/15\nIt's been 4 years and these baking sheets have not warped, are still perfectly insulated, and clean off so well I don't have any stains on them. Yes, I do bake on them and yes, I line them with parchment. These pans are awesome.\n--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------\nFor the longest time, I've been doubling up cookie sheets when baking macarons. After some research, I finally decided to throw down for some insulated cookie sheets - I'm beginning to wonder WHY I didn't do this sooner! The Airbake Ultra cookie sheets are fantastic for making macarons! When paired with a silicone mat (or parchment paper), the cookies come out perfect, without worry of overly browned or stuck bottoms. I tested out a few batches of sugar cookies, and got the same result: perfectly baked cookies with lightly browned bottoms! I can't praise these cookie sheets enough! These cookie sheets are hand washed only and should not be run in the dish washer.\n\nHighly recommended.","Product: Easily transport your midday meal or shareable snack using Sistema KLIP IT Rectangular Collection Lunch Plus Storage Containers. Ideal for keeping your food fresh and contained, each of these plastic storage containers has a lid with a flexible inner seal and easy-locking clips. Made from 100% virgin plastic, this BPA- and phthalate-free storage container set is dishwasher-safe when placed on the top rack, microwave-safe without the lids, and safe for storing in fridges and freezers. And this storage container set easily stacks together when not in use, helping you keep your kitchen nice and tidy.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: No More Lost Lids!\n\nReview: With school back in full force, and the kids demanding ham and spinach sandwiches with extra cheese, the Sistema is the genius solution to avoiding the dreaded \"smashed backpack sandwich\". The Klip It Lunch Cube is completely self contained - there's no way to lose lids, it's possible to fit a full sandwich, chips, and fruit/vegetables in the compartments, and it's secure enough to hold everything - but easy enough for a kindergartener and a first grader to open by him/herself. The cube is not leak-proof, so you probably would like to forgo putting canned mandarin oranges in there, but it's easy enough to put carrot sticks, apple slices, and other juicy (but not leaky) things in there without getting everything wet.\n\nThe containers are easy to wash, are durable (ours survived several drops without breaking), and really have sped up our mornings because we don't have to search for the lids (this is the biggest win, ever!). Pair this with a good fukoshiki (bento box wrap) and your kid will have one awesome lunch contained in a convenient to go box.","Product: The Trio Lasagna Pan from Chicago Metallic has 3 separate channels allowing cooks to be creative and makes it easy to serve vegetarians or carnivores from one pan. A custom-fit, exclusive spatula is deep enough to get that great first piece with no mess. The width and length of each channel is the same as standard lasagna noodles, making lasagna building fast and easy. Can be used to make three dinners in one batch - tonight's dinner and two for future nights or for those unexpected guests.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Awesome Pan for Variety and Crispy Edges\n\nReview: I bought the Chicago Metallic Lasagna Pan for my sister for Christmas and have heard nothing but rave reviews about this pan - so much, in fact that I'm tempted on buying a pan for myself! The Chicago pan is durable and sturdy. After several washes (we was by hand in our household), the interior liner has not scratched nor shown signs of wear. We've made lasagna, macaroni & cheese, and even loaves of bread in this pan. The lasagna noodles fit perfectly in the pan, and it is deep enough to get a good piece out of it. The edges of the lasagna always end up slightly crispy which is an added bonus, since everyone wants the edge pieces! Because of the shape, its very easy to scoop a piece out without losing all the filling.\n\nI love how there are three slots to put the lasagna in. We can have all rows of meat lasagna, three different rows of pastas, or in one case, two rows of meat and one row of vegetarian lasagna for our vegetarian friends. Loaves of bread also bake up wonderfully in this pan, although they will be long and skinny! This is a great pan for variety and for lasagna baking execution. Highly recommended!","Product: Specially designed for quilters and sewists the Oliso TG1600 Pro features Olisos patented iTouch technology. Simply touch the handle and the iron lowers ready to work! Take your hand off and the patented scorchguards lift the iron off the boardpreventing scorches burns and tipping. Less strain and 30% time savings are added benefits to this Smart Iron's 1800 watts of power and horizontal or vertical bursts of steam. The TG1600 Pro features a 30-minute extended auto-shut off for sewers and quilters a 12.7 oz. side-fill tank a beadblast stainless steel soleplate flat pressing surface detailer tip and a 12-foot cord for full range of motion. Click\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Irons Well, but Occasionally Leaks\n\nReview: The Oliso Smart Iron Pro is really a neat (and high tech!) iron. However, after using it several times, I've found that \"high tech\" doesn't always equate to \"better\". There are a lot of things to like about this iron, but there are enough reason to pass on it as well.\n\n1. Heating Up Time/Heat Retention - The Oliso heats up fairly quickly, but no more quickly than my old Black and Decker. The heat retention of the iron is good. The heat it even, irons out clothing smoothly and efficiently.\n\n2. Steam Strength - The steam strength on the Oliso is amazing. I don't think I've owned an iron with the strength of steam this thing can generate. Because it can push out steam so efficiently, I'm able to iron/steam treat clothes that's hanging up. One push of the button and steam literally blasts out of this thing...the Oliso definitely has dual purpose as a flat iron and as a garment steamer.\n\n3. iTouch Technology - This is the feature that I appreciate the most on the iron. To keep your clothes from accidentally burning, and to prevent huge burns, the iron can be left horizontal while ironing and little feet will lift the iron off the board/clothes. When you touch the handle on the top, the iron feet will retract and the plate lowers to the clothing. When you release, the feet come back out. This feature is the big selling point of this iron - it's really nice to iron without having to worry that I'll get distracted by the kids and accidentally burn something. I also like how I don't have to worry about putting up the iron vertically where it can accidentally tip over or be exposed to curious little fingers.\n\n4. Cord Length and 360 Degree Pivot - The cord on the Oliso is much longer than any iron I've owned. This actually helps quite a bit as I used to have to get an extension cord to comfortably position my board in the room in relation to the outlet. With the 360 pivot, I also don't have to worry about getting tangled up in the cord quite as badly. This was a big plus to the unit.\n\n5. Leakage - Unfortunately, in comparison to other irons I've owned, this iron tends to leak - a lot. While I didn't have any problems with it leaking while I was ironing, when I was done and let the iron cool down, when walking to the sink the iron started leaking directly out of the holes on the heating plate. This was agitating because no matter what orientation I held the iron, it leaked from one of the many openings on the iron. This is cause for concern for me simply because if the iron was hot, I'm worried that leftover water could leak out - hot water. I started loading the iron with less water to make sure I used up all the water instead of having to pour out water because I had too much. This solved the problem, but if you iron a lot, beware.\n\nAll in all, the Oliso is a great iron, but could use a few tweaks to make it better. I really love the iTouch Technology and the cord length, but am wary about the leaking issue. I'm update in a few months to see if the issue improves or gets worse. All in all, it's a good iron.","Product: Cleaning lettuce and other leafy-greens is a breeze with the Twist Salad Spinner from Leifheit. The Twist Salad Spinner has a removable twist drive for space-saving storage. The large clear bowl is ideal for serving salads and other sides/desserts and features a handy in-built basket brake. The Twist Salad Spinner is made from high-quality ABS plastic coupled with soft red thermoplastic for comfort and non-slip stability. Basket and bowl are dishwasher safe; wipe Twist drive with damp cloth. 3-year warranty.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: No Brakes and Design Not as Good as OXO\n\nReview: Leifheit made a good effort to a solid Salad Spinner, but ultimately failed to hit the mark that OXO has. Having owned an <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/OXO-Good-Grips-Salad-Spinner/dp/B00004OCKR/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">OXO Good Grips Salad Spinner</a> for a while now, I may be a little biased, but after using the Leifheit for a couple of uses now, I still find that the OXO Good Grips Salad Spinner is better. I'll be comparing the two in detail below.\n\n1. Size and Design\nThe size of both the Leifheit and the OXO are about the same. The Leifheit is a little narrower at the base in comparison to the OXO. Whether you like a more angular or rounded bowl shape is up to you - I personally like a more rounded shape. On the Leifheit, there is also a thin rubber ring on the bottom of the salad bowl to help keep the salad spinner from moving around the table. When I first received my spinner, it was already coming off. If I happened to wash this unit, whether it be in a dishwasher or by hand, this will come off and most likely be lost. You can always glue the ring on the bottom of the unit, but that defeats the purpose of buying a new product if you're going to have to fix it once you receive it.\nWINNER: TIE\n\n2. Assembly and Storage\nWith the OXO, storing the spinning mechanism is as simple as pushing down on the plunger then pushing a small switch in. To release the plunger, you slide the switch out. For the Leifheit, there is a huge plunger you have to put into the spinning mechanism to the main bowl, then unlock. To store, you have to remove the plunger and you can stow it in the basket. I don't really care for this design. If you happen to misplace that plunger for any reason, it's game over - you won't be able to use the salad spinner. There is a lock to keep the plunger down, but I don't see the point of having this as the plunger unit fits completely extended in the spinner. This seems like Leifheit added this feature on for kicks. The plunger on the Leifheit is also a little more flimsy, almost as if it will fall out if you drop it or give it too hard for a shake.\nWINNER: OXO\n\n3. Ease of Use\nBoth salad spinners will end up having the same result - you will have dry salad leaves, pasta, etc. Both spin equally fast, depending on how fast you depress the plunger. Stopping the spinner basket is another story. There are NO brakes on the Leifheit. I checked the instructions (none of which are in English on the back of the box), I checked the entire unit, I played around with the plunger and plunger lock...there are either no brakes on this thing, or I am just not figuring this thing out. On the OXO, there is a little rubber button you push to slow down/stop the spinning action. Again, this isn't a huge issue, but it does matter when you're trying to plow through a lot of salad for a party - I simply don't have the time to wait for each batch to slow down.\nWINNER: OXO\n\n4. Cleaning\nWhen it comes to cleaning, the Leifheit has the OXO beat, but only by a little. Because all the parts are separate, it's much easier to wash the lid, spinner basket, and salad bowl. The OXO has the spinner basket and the bowl to wash, but because the spinning mechanism is housed all in the lid (it's a lid within a lid - this is to allow for the braking mechanism), the top can be a little troublesome to clean. I sometimes have a little difficulty removing the inner lid, but since I'm spinning greens in water only, it's not a huge issue for me. If you're spinning anything with sauce or dressing, it will be a little more difficult.\nWINNER: Leifheit\n\nThat said, the pros for the OXO really outweigh the Leifheit's. While it does serve it's purpose, there are better operating (and looking) salad spinning units out there.","Product: BISSELL Pet Hair Eraser, Refined Bronze/Magenta, 94V5A\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Get Those Little Vacuuming Jobs Done\n\nReview: With two toddlers and a Papillon roaming the house and creating a path of destruction behind them, at times it's too much work to bust out the full sized vacuum cleaner, but just enough mess to warrant a vacuuming. The Bissell Pet Hair Eraser is the happy medium. It's just like the dustbusters of the 80's, but better....it sucks up little messes like Cheerios spills under the table, potato chip crumbles on the couch, dirt and sand from the playground on my rug, and dog hairs from the cushions. It looks great when you first get it, but like all bag less vacuums, the beautiful clear case doesn't stay clean and clear for long - good thing when it comes to getting things clean, bad when you are looking at this vacuum sitting in your room. However, since I'm all about function before style, particularly when it comes to getting my house clean, it's all good.\n\nIf you vacuum a lot, the filter does get really gross, but you can buy replacements pretty cheaply. We haven't had to replace our filter yet since we're just vacuuming up stray dog hairs and the occasional cracker crumb mess. The only complaint I can see about this vacuum is that it doesn't suck up wet messes. I never liked those vacuums (it's a bigger pain to clean out the vacuum than it is to but out a towel and wipe up), so that's all good for me.\n\nAll in all, love the vacuum - it's better than having to lug out my full sized vacuum or staring a crumbs that just won't vacuum themselves. Highly recommended!","Product: Etch is an artisan-inspired stonewash that transcends trends and lets women express their style.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Thick, Durable, and Attractive Pie Plate\n\nReview: The CorningWare Etch 9.5 Inch Pie Plate is a beautiful pie plate to bake items in, or to use as a decorative serving plate. I purchased the plate in red, and the color is vibrant and even. The top portion of the plate is a bright white, and the entire plate is glazed evenly with no bubbles, discoloration, or scratches. The edge of the plate is nicely ruffled, and pies baked in this plate come out looking beautiful. The plate has a nice hefty feel to it - it is thick and durable, insulates heat well on the sides. The plate is nonstick for the most part. If your crust sticks to the plate, it is likely because your filling leaked. Food items served in this dish really look great. If you're looking for a nice deep dished pie plate, this is a great one to consider.","Product: There are three things that drive us batty about dish duty: not having enough space, swampy messes and stacking things haphazardly (hey, were sticklers for organization). Thankfully, this customizable dish rack/ glass tray folds in half and helps keep counters clean.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Good Sized Rack, Could Use a Bigger Drain Board\n\nReview: Full Circle Smart Rack is great dish rack for people who are looking to save space. The rack folds up small, holds a good number of dishes, and drains well. Because it's dishwasher safe, it's easy to throw the whole thing into the dishwasher for a quick clean, or can be easily washed in the sink for a clean up. The rack, though appearing a bit flimsy, is quite durable. I had no issues assembling the unit, and everything drains quickly into the channel in the middle of the board. The drain board is narrow and collects the water to be emptied from a small sealable pour spout at the end.\n\nWhile I like this dish rack, I would have liked to have a larger draining board. I understand that the board is small to allow the board to be folded into the small size possible, but it would have been nice to have a larger drain board that could just as easily be stowed instead of this smaller one. This would allow one to place the cups on the side of rack as pictured without having drips all over the counter.\n\nOverall, the design is good, the unit is fairly durable, and it works as advertises. I'll update down the line to address long term durability as this unit is plastic. For now, recommended!","Product: These handy stoneware bakers make cooking and entertaining a cinch because they can be used to bake cauliflower and ham au gratin, prep a side dish like stuffed cherry peppers or serve a refreshing cucumber salad. The contemporary design and bold color make these Bubble and Brown bakers pieces that are sure to be a talking point with guests because of their unique style. Stoneware from Rachael Ray is an extension of the aesthetic she has already brought to cookware and dinnerware: bright colors, unique shapes and durable materials in versatile pieces that any home cook will appreciate. These Bubble and Brown round bakers are crafted from dependable stoneware that doesn't react to food and is safe for use in the microwave, dishwasher, freezer and oven up to 500-degree F. The bright color is great for coordinating with other kitchen pieces and they are sure to be a hit when they make their way onto the table during a dinner party.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Awkward to Cover, Overflow Risk\n\nReview: Oh Rachael Ray, there are many reasons why you told Alton Brown that \"you're a cook, not a chef\". Your Bubble and Brown Bakers help prove that point. While this baker set is very attractive, it's not very well designed for cooking food. The reasons are many:\n\n1. Any bake ware that sports several warning about \"do not soak\", \"glaze chipping\" and \"how to clean off stuck food to avoid soaking\" make me a little wary about how durable this piece really is. While I'm one to follow instructions, how many people actually do not soak an over ware piece that has food baked onto it? The main reason would be to avoid glaze deterioration because the piece is very porous. That said, if you treat the piece correctly, you shouldn't have a problem - but it's not infallible. One customer already had a problem with quality control and the glaze bubbling up. I did not, so hopefully it's a one time thing - but I'm still a little concerned about how long that glaze will stay on.\n\n2. This piece is impossible to cover/store food. There are no lids, and because of the shape (with the handles being worked into the main bowl), it's a bit awkward to cover up the food with saran wrap/foil without having those two \"venting holes\" letting all the heat out.\n\n3. Again, with those handles, you have to keep a very close eye on how high you're actually filling the dish - it's very easy to accidentally spill/have things bubble over and out those two handle holes.\n\n4. This is not a very deep dish. The images are a little misleading, as this set seems fairly large - but at 1.5 and 2 quarts respectively, these are small dishes best used for 2-4 people at max.\n\nThose issues aside, these are very nice bakers that would make a lovely addition to a family table. While they are not quite right for the needs of my family, they do make attractive servers.","Product: Granite Ware has all the canning products, tools and accessories to do it safely and successfully. The Granite Ware 20-quart Pressure Canner and Pressure Cooker/Steamer is a professional-quality tool, UL-listed, and made of hard anodized aluminum, with stay-cool handles and a locking stainless steel lid. An accompanying rack fits down into the pot to keep jars up off the bottom, and comes with folding handles for easy raising and lowering. The rack holds up to 7 one-quart jars, 8 one-pint jars or 24 half-pint jars. The steamer insert fits into the stepped portion of the vessel about 1/3 the way up from the bottom to hold foods out of the cooking liquid and can handle all your large capacity steaming needs for tamales, seafood, pulled pork, pot roast, ribs, and more. The pressure canner achieves the high temperature required for safely processing foods with the USDA endorsing it as the only safe method for canning meats, poultry, and low-acid vegetables. It can also be used as a large pressure cooker for any meal that needs to come together quickly. This Granite Ware pressure cooker preserves flavor and nutrients, tenderizes tough cuts of meat, and cooks many foods in one-third to one-tenth the time compared to traditional methods, and is large enough to create family-sized meals with ease. The unit features a pop-up pressure indicator, locking the lid in place. It cannot be opened while the canner is pressurized, even if there is just one psi of pressure. The vent pipe is located in the center of the lid and if it fails or clogs, there is an additional black capped safety valve set to go off and a second all metal safety valve will exhaust residual pressure while sounding a whistling alarm. The sturdy lid locks in place during canning or cooking with the lid gasket sealing ring forming a pressure tight seal between the body of the canner and the cover during use. The Granite Ware pressure canner, steamer, and cooker uses the UL-recommended adjustable 3-piece pressure regulator system. The pressure regulator is calibrated for three different pressure levels at 5 psi, 10 psi and 15 psi, which is ideal for canning at different altitudes. Includes Canning Jar Rack and Steamer Trivet (canning jars are not included).\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Solid Pressure Canner/Cooker That's Made in China\n\nReview: First off, be warned - this unit is made in China. If you are absolutely certain you don't want to buy anything made in China, I would pass on this. If you have no qualms about where this canner is made, I can say that it's really quite a nice unit. I'm a complete newbie when it comes to canning, so I have no basis for comparison at this time - but from my experience using the Granite Ware, it works great! I used the pressure cooker to cook up some ribs and I was able to fill the entire pot with a rack of ribs from Costco. Everything steamed up fantastically and came out \"fall off the bone\" tender. I've also tried making Chinese soups in here with great success. Meals cook up quickly and effectively in here. For canning, this unit hold a good number of jars in there. I was able to can seven jars of applesauce up without any issues. One thing I would suggest is getting a canning kit with jar lifter, funnel, and so forth to go with this cooker if you're new at this - while canning is fun, having the canning kit complete with all the additional tools really comes in handy. Overall, this is a great pot - I definitely will be canning a lot more once the summer harvest starts rolling in more!","Product: The OXO Good Grips Coffee and Tea POP Containers combine the airtight, stackable and space-efficient qualities of our classic POP Containers with UV-blocking technology to protect contents from moisture and light. The Containers have a unique push-button mechanism that creates an airtight seal with just one touch. The button also serves as a handle to lift off the lid. The Containers are designed for modular stacking so that you can efficiently organize your countertop and pantry. In addition, with their square and rectangular shapes, the POP Containers make the most of any storage space, while their corners allow for easy pouring. These tinted POP Containers are available in 3 different sizes to fit any coffee beans, ground coffee, loose leaf tea, or any other UV-sensitive foods fresh. The lid comes apart for thorough cleaning. All POP Containers are BPA-free.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Great for Holding Coffee or Other Snacks\n\nReview: The OXO 1.5 Liter Pop is fantastic to hold 1 lb of whole coffee beans, or almost 2 lbs ground. The container has a slightly more streamlined look to it than the original Pop or Pet Pop line. The container is tinted so sunlight won't oxidize the coffee quite as much, and the top of the container and lid is slightly tapered for a more stylized look. I've included a picture of the Original Pop, Pet Pop, and Coffee Pop below. Note both the Original and Coffee Pops have tapered boxes and circular buttons, while the Pet Pop has a straight sided container and square button. All boxes function exactly the same.\n\nThe Coffee Pop is effective at keep your coffees grounds and beans very fresh. The brushed aluminum top looks very stylish, and the container is very easy to open and close. This is a great container to consider to store your coffee or other snacks in.","Product: The Bank Heavy Duty upright vacuum cleaner is built to last! Designed for both home and commercial use, it has a built-in magnet bar to protect the motor from metal objects like paper clips. It features an advanced dual-row brush that agitates the carpet to remove even the most embedded dirt and hair from any carpet type. The six-step height adjustment maximizes deep cleaning for all carpet levels.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: An Industrial Vacuum Cleaner, Not Home Use Friendly\n\nReview: When given the opportunity to try out The Bank Heavy Duty, I was surprised at the vacuum - however, not in a good way. The vacuum is very much like the Hoover vacuum my mom owned back in the 80's. The Bank Heavy Duty is bag operated vs canister operated, can be put in the up or down position with a press of a foot pedal, and is turned on by pushing a button near the foot pedal. While the vacuum does suck up a lot of dirt and material, there are a lot things I just can't get over with this vacuum.\n\n1. Unpackaging and Assembly: This took me about 15 minutes, simply because I needed to figure out where everything fit, screw everything in, attach a bag, and lastly figure out where the heck these two magnets are supposed to go (something I could not figure out from what I read in the manual - the magnets are sitting on my desk as we speak). While assembly was not difficult by any means, it was time consuming, and I did mess up twice because the parts were not clearly labeled. Added frustration - the box that the vacuum was shipped in was small, but I think that attributed to the magnets coming out. That box was pretty beat up.\n\n2. Weight: Having owned a much older Dyson, a Panasonic vacuum cleaner, and most recently a Hoover Bagless Upright, I have to say The Bank is the heaviest of all. This isn't a problem because it's on wheels and I don't have stairs, but if you do have two stories in your house, you might be in for an unhappy vacuuming situation.\n\n3. Cleaning: Honestly, I wouldn't be able to tell if my husband used the The Bank, Hoover, Panasonic, or the Dyson on the carpet from just looking. Just from what I saw, it does suck up a lot of stuff though. I have a dog who sheds so much that I would expect he should be bald and a bird who likes to kick so much seed all over the house that I'm guessing he's a Johnny Appleseed reincarnate - everything was sucked up with The Bank. This vacuum can clean up the mess both of these animals make AND still have power to vacuum up the cereal and sandstorm of two preschoolers. This vacuum does not do well on bare floors though...when vacuuming up some sand off the tiles, the sand bits would fly out the back because of the rotating brushes. You're going to have to get your hose attachment out if you're doing bare floor vacuuming...\n\n4. Hose Attachment: Which leads me to a galling revelation - THERE IS NO HOSE ON THIS VACUUM. None. I use the hose for so many reasons - to vacuum hair off the couch, birdseed off the coffee table, eraser bits off my kids desks, spiders on the walls....the possibilities are endless! There is no hose on this unit though. Boo on you, Bank.\n\n5. Cord length: This vacuum has the most awesome length cord. I can plug it in my bathroom, and from there vacuum every room in my house. It's easily double the length of any retractable vacuum I've owned. That said, it does take a bit of time to wind up that cord manually.\n\n6. Ease of emptying the Bag: Okay, it's true that I don't have to see any of those ugly little lint bits, bugs, and other stuff when vacuuming when using The Bank. Everything gets sucked in very well - my carpet looks great. Does it look better than when I vacuum with a bagless vacuum though? Not really. This is primarily because I like to be eco friendly and because I don't like to buy bag replacements (aka - I'm cheap).\n\n7. Overall Design: Unfortunately for me, this vacuum handle is long, which when vacuuming = uncomfortable for a short person to start and use. While I like the sleek silver finish, being able to vacuum comfortably takes precedence, and this vacuum is just hard to vacuum with. It doesn't corner well, it doesn't turn easily, and because of the weight, it's more suited to large rooms with little furniture in it. This would be a great vacuum for a school or dance hall.\n\nThat said, this really is an industrial vacuum. If you're looking to use it for home use, I would pass on it and get something more \"household friendly\".","Product: Enjoy the high-temperature cooking that cast iron provides with this versatile casserole. It's ideal for slow-cooking stews and braised dishes on the cooktop, as well as roasts and baking in the oven. Also perfect for cobblers and cornbread. The lid doubles as a grill pan and can be used for grilling steaks, burgers, chicken, or vegetables. Plus, the porcelain enamel interior coating doesn't require seasoning.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Attractive, Easy to Clean, Retains Heat Fairly Well\n\nReview: As an owner of the Lodge Double Dutch Oven, I was interested in seeing how the Kitchenaid Casserole Cookware would compare. I must say that I'm pleased with the KitchenAid Cast Iron Casserole. The Casserole is very attractive, and the color is a very pleasant leaf/ivy green color. Like most cast iron pots, it's incredibly heavy, retains heat very well, and can be transferred from stove top to oven. Because the interior of the dutch oven is porcelain, it doesn't require any seasoning procedures like my Lodge does - this really is a great feature because I don't have to fuss with wiping it down with oil/baking it upside down/etc to season it, and I don't have to worry about it quite as much when washing it (it is okay to use soap).\n\nThe pot is large enough to fit fairly large meats inside including whole chickens (with the lid on!). The pot is easy to clean and food doesn't seem stick to it much, although you will need to use oil for that to happen. This pot is not nonstick like a well seasoned cast iron and there will be a learning curve to use it. I'm not terribly fond of the grill lid either - it seems a little gimmicky and really doesn't add great BBQ sear marks. On the upside, I can still make a very nice Dutch Baby Pancake in it.\n\nOverall, the Lodge Cast Iron Dutch Oven is a nice dutch oven to own. It's attractive, easy to care for, and can make a very good Pot Roast.","Product: Taste the difference with TAKEYA's Cold Brew Coffee Maker. The traditional hot brewing process releases undesirable acids and oils, resulting in bitter flavor and acidity that is intolerable to many. With cold brewing, only the naturally delicious coffee flavors are extracted, leaving behind the bitter oils and fatty acids, creating a perfectly balanced, smooth extraction of concentrated coffee. Once brewed, concentrated coffee can be kept fresh in the TAKEYA airtight Cold Brew Coffee Maker for up to 2 weeks and used for both hot and iced coffees. Do not freeze or microwave\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Great Cold Brew Coffee Filter, Easy to Use, Easy to Clean, Makes Very Good Coffee\n\nReview: It's officially summer (or at least feels like it in California), and while I love coffee, I don't like drinking hot coffee on 90 degree days. The Takeya Cold Brew Coffee Maker is a fantastic thing to have when brewing up some cold coffee. You simply add 14 tablespoons of coffee to the infuser, close the infuser, then pour 4 cups of water into the pitcher. You then put the infuser in the pitcher, seal, then refrigerate overnight. The next day, you'll coffee concentrate that you can use in hot or cold coffee drinks. The coffee concentrate should last about 2 weeks in the fridge, although we finish it well before that times comes.\n\nOne thing to note is that you should definitely be careful when grinding your coffee for this filter. I like grinding whole bean coffee and if you grind it too fine, the grinds will go through the filter. I give it a rough ground and it seems to stay in place just fine. Overall, if you're looking to make some really good cold coffee, this is a great filter to consider. It's simple to use and it filters out the coffee very well.","Product: Instant Pot is a smart Electric Pressure Cooker designed by Canadians aiming to be Safe, Convenient and Dependable. It speeds up cooking by 2~6 times using up to 70% less energy and, above all, produces nutritious healthy food in a convenient and consistent fashion. Instant Pot Duo is a 7-in-1 programmable cooker, it replaces 7 kitchen appliances as it has the functions of a pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, steamer, saut, yogurt maker & warmer. 14 built-in smart programs (Soup, Meat/Stew, Bean/Chili, Poultry, Saut, Steam, Rice, Porridge, Multigrain, Slow Cook, Keep-Warm, Yogurt, Pasteurize & Jiu Niang) cook your favorite dishes with the press of a button. A 24-hour timer allows for delayed cooking. Automatic keep-warm holds the temperature of the food until you serve it. Instant Pot generates almost no noise and leaks no steam. It traps all the aromas in the food without heating up the kitchen. The 3-ply bottom stainless steel inner pot is extremely durable and leaves no health concerns associated with non-stick coatings. The slim body design has lid holders for both left and right handed users. The brushed stainless steel exterior is finger print resistant. Its elegant and durable design makes it easy to clean and pleasurable to use for the years to come. Instant Pot Duo uses the latest technology with an embedded microprocessor, which monitors the pressure and temperature, keeps time and adjusts heating intensity. The cooking programs have been lab-tested hundreds of times for optimal effect. These greatly improve cooking result and maintain consistence. Instant Pot is carefully designed to eliminate many common errors that could cause harm or spoil food. It passed the stringent UL certification giving you uncompromised safety and peace of mind and protects you with 10 proven safety mechanisms and patented technologies.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: All Hail the Champion Soup Maker!\n\nReview: I love using pressure cookers because of the speed and great items it can cook, but absolutely hate having to watch the pot to make sure the temperature is correct, listening to the \"whoosh whoosh\" steamer noise as pot is cooking on the stove, and the worry that the pot would spontaneously explode because I messed something up and got the wrong heat or something. The Instant Pot seriously made my life easier.\n\nI could sing the praises of this pressure cooker for ages because it really made pressure cooking easier and helped speed up cooking healthy dinners in my kitchen. I use it primarily for soups, meats, and chili and it does a stand up job getting those meals cooked FAST. I love how I can saute items such as onions or oxtails prior in the Instant pot without having to use a second fry pan. The pressure cooker can make a bone soup with chicken feet in about an hour - something that used to take 5 hours on stove to achieve the same soup! I can even reheat the soup in the morning by pushing the saute button - by the time I'm done helping the kids get changed, the soup is piping hot for every to drink for breakfast. The slow cooker function allows me to make dinners in the morning and leave it all day to cook to be ready by the time I come home. Thing single kitchen appliance single handedly took over my slow cooker and stove top pressure cooker in one easy push of a button. I love how most of the meal settings are set, so I don't have to worry about whether I got the right pressure for the item I'm cooking.\n\nThis unit has earned its spot on my kitchen counter - it's easy to use, easy to clean up after, and cooks meals rocket fast.","Product: Zojirushi Stainless Steel 12oz. Mug has a vacuum insulation that keeps beverages hot or cold for hours. Easy-to-clean nonstick coated interior. Tight fitted flip-open lid keeps beverages hotter or colder than travel mugs. Safety lock to prevent the lid from opening accidentally (NEW pictograph lock). Lightweight design for added portability.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Lightweight, Attractive, and Keeps Beverages HOT (or Ice Cold if you Put Cold Drinks in There!)\n\nReview: After noticing a lot of people carrying the Zojirushi Stainless Steel thermoses while traveling abroad, I came back home and immediately ordered one for myself. I can see why so many people bought this particular thermos - it keeps drinks HOT for a insanely long time, is lightweight, doesn't leak, and it comes apart easily to wash. I love this mug so much that it's become my new \"take with me everywhere\" go to mug!\n\nThe thermos holds 16 ounces (2 cups) which is just shy of the amount in most bottles of water. The main body of the bottle is metal while the cap and drinking spout are plastic. The drinking spout can be pushed out for easy cleaning, and the mouth of the bottle is wide enough to allow a sponge to go in to clean the interior of the bottle. I poured in hot water into the bottle at the beginning of the morning and when I popped it open to drink by noon, the water was still extremely hot. Water poured into the bottle will remain hot for practically the entire day. I once left water in the bottle overnight, and the water was still warm when I woke up in the morning. I'm not sure how something so lightweight could be so insulated - but it works!\n\nThe lid is opened easily with a push of the silver button and the unit can be locked so you don't accidentally open the bottle in your purse or bag. Even despite being tossed into my purse with keys, pens, and other little sharp items, the bottle has not shown any signs of scratching. Overall, this is an attractive thermos that keeps beverages hot (or cold!) extremely well. I would definitely buy this thermos again.","Product: Tiger induction heat microcomputer controlled rice cooker/warmer comes with 4 in 1 functions (rice cooking, Synchro-Cooking, slow cooker, bread baking) and 11 computerized cooking menu settings. This 10 cup rice cooker and warmer not only cooks rice but also comes with the new \"tacook\" synchronized cooking function to prepare two dishes simultaneously with the power of induction heat. This unit comes with 5 layer metal plus 3 layer coating for multilayer ceramic coated inner pan that provides even heating for delicious rice every time. The lid can also be removed entirely to be disassembled so each piece can be washed.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Cooks Consistently Good Pots of Rice, Easy to Operate, Attractive Unit\n\nReview: After over a decade of rice service from our trusty Zojirushi Fuzzy Logic Rice Cooker, the cooker finally broke down and I had to search for a new rice cooker to replace the old. After hearing many great things about Tiger Rice Cookers and the effectiveness of Induction Heating, we decided to throw down for the $300 rice cooker. I'm very pleased with the purchase - the Tiger IH Rice Cooker works fantastically at cooking various varieties of rice, porridge, breads, and main dishes. The unit operates quietly, the inner pot is very thick and durable, and the unit cooks with great consistency. In terms of overall functionality, it's very similar to the Fuzzy Logic Zo, but the Tiger cooks a bit more effectively and efficiently. The rice from the Tiger is a bit better in terms of texture, and the cook time is just a bit shorter.\n\nThe features on the Tiger are great. The lid is completely removable for easy cleaning of both the lid, and the inner rim of the electronic part of the rice cooking pot. There are three parts to the lid: the venting cap, the cooking cover, and the lid itself. On the Zo, the venting cap would often get filled with gunk, and since it wasn't removable, it was difficult to clean. The Tiger's removable venting cap and lid allows you to easily clean the entire top of the rice cooker. These two components don't need to be cleaned as often as the inner cooking cover. The inner cooking cover is also removable and can be cleaned individually after each individual cook. One thing I like in particular about the removable lid is that I can access the area directly under the lid where the main body of the rice cooker is. This section often gets filled with water and food debris when the lid is opened. Unlike the Zo, I'm able to get this area completely clean. To remove the upper lid, simply remove the inner lid cover, the venting cap, then pull the lid straight up. There will be an orange section that will stay on the rice cooker - this section doesn't get dirty, and does not need to be removed to clean.\n\nThe inner cooking pot is very thick and durable. Unlike the Zo cooking pot, this pot is not easily scratched, and feels much more heavyweight. The cooking pot can cook up to (uncooked) 5.5 c of plain white rice, 5 c ultra rice, 3.5 c of brown rice, 3 c of sweet rice, 5.5 c of Jasmine rice, as well as porridge and bread. You can also slow cook main dishes in the unit with or without rice - there is a small orange steam basket that can be used in conjunction with the rice cooker to make small main dishes while the rice cooks. I've tested out various rices with this unit including sweet rice, brown rice, white sushi rice, Jasmine rice, and Basmati rice with all great results. The rice cooker soaks and cooks the rices at the appropriate temperature, and the result is always consistent: soft fluffy rice with no crust on the bottom of the pan. Because the pot is heated all over as opposed to just the bottom like most standard rice cookers, the rice is cooked very evenly, and doesn't have that brown crust on the bottom. This unit does take much longer than standard one button rice cookers (due to soak time), but cooks a bit faster than most Micom and Fuzzy Logic Cookers. For those who like to bake bread, there is also a ferment (a rise) function as well as a bake function. I've used the rice cooker to help rise my breads, and it does a fine job. As for baking, it's okay, but not nearly as good as baking bread in the oven.\n\nThe controls of the rice cooker are straight forward, and the unit is very simple to use. If you've set the rice cooker to a particular setting (such as brown rice), it will stay on that setting until you change it. It will not reset after each cook. The screen is large and easy to see, and while in operation, the unit makes a soft fan sound. The outside of the rice cooker heats up a bit while in operation, but not so hot where it would burn fingers. One thing I wasn't happy to see about this unit is that there is no retractable cord. Having enjoyed hiding the cord on my Zo, I would've liked to see the cord hidden on the Tiger unit, but because I don't deal with the cord often, it isn't a huge deal to me. This unit comes with a specially designed rice paddle that fits on the side of this cooker, an orange steamer basket, a small sturdy plastic ladle, and a standard rice measuring cup as well.\n\nOverall, this rice cooker may be expensive, but it cooks fantastic rice. Considering we eat rice every day, this unit is worth the cost for consistently good rice. It's sturdy, durable, and we're looking forward to make many rice meals for years to come.","Product: 38526 Features: -Nonstick cooking surface. -Adjustable heat. -Cool-touch handles. -Glass lid. -Dishwasher safe. Dimensions: Overall Height - Top to Bottom: -6.97\". Overall Width - Side to Side: -16.34\". Overall Depth - Front to Back: -11.3\". Overall Product Weight: -4.89 lbs.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Heated Evenly with No \"Hot Spots\", Exceptionally Non Stick, Easy to Clean - Great for Crepes and Pancakes\n\nReview: The Proctor Silex Electric Crepe Maker was a hit in our house. The crepe maker is easy to use, is absolutely non stick, and is a breeze to clean. The unit comes with the crepe making machine, a plastic crepe batter spreader, a large plastic stick spatula to turn the crepes, and a plastic measuring cup/ladle. The unit can be set to different temperatures to adjust for your preference of darkeness/crispiness. When the unit reaches the temperature set, a little green light turns on at the front of the unit under the Proctor Silex logo. To use the crepe maker, simply make your batter, plug in the unit and set to your desired temperature, pour on the batter, spread, then flip using the spatula. Crepes take about 2 minutes to make and come out beautifully. Cleaning is equally simple - just wipe off the surface and you're done.\n\nThe surface is exceptionally non stick and worked great when making crepes and pancakes. The surface has a slightly raised edge that keeps batter from spilling over, should you accidentally over pour, and the surface temperature is very evenly spread with no particular hot spots. Crepes came out evenly colored with perfectly crisped edges. I also tested this with pancakes, and loved how the pancakes came out so evenly colored - this is much more evenly heated than the griddle tops I own. Overall, if you're looking for a good crepe and pancake maker, this is definitely one worth considering. It's exceptionally nonstick, heats evenly, and is a breeze to clean.","Product: Unlike typical painted steel or chrome plated rack, this rack is made of pure stainless steel. Only stainless steel rack can be used both indoor and outdoor without becoming rusty. Its versatile foldable design allows easy storage without taking up spaces. This quality drying rack rack is covered with money back satisfaction guarantee, and 1 year manufacturer warranty.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Easy to Set up, Drys Everything Nicely\n\nReview: I recently purchased this Stainless Steel Drying Rack in order to cut back on energy use and to take advantage of our wonderfully oven hot heat in California. The Stainless Steel Drying rack works as advertised. The rack is easy to set up, lightweight, and holds a good amount of laundry to dry. The set up and breakdown is incredibly fast and easy, and I'm able to store this in the small space between my washer and the wall. The one gripe I have is that the bars are spaced fairly closely, so when I was drying multiple bath towels at once, it took a little longer than expected. To get fluffy towels, after drying on the rack I tossed everything in my dryer on \"air dry\" for 10 minutes with a laundry sheet...extra soft towels ensued and everyone in the house was happy. Overall very pleased with the purchase.","Product: The Anova Precision Cooker makes it easy to achieve professional-level cooking results at home. To use, simply attach the cooker to any water-filled pot, put your food in a sealable bag, and set the time and temperature. The Precision Cooker heats and circulates the water to a precise temperature, cooking food to an exact temperature which creates maximum tenderness and moisture retention (without worry of overcooking). The Anova Precision Cooker connects to your phone, so you can cook amazing meals by the touch of a button - spend less time tied to the kitchen by relying on the app to notify you when your food is ready to Eat.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Fantastic Tool for Making Perfectly Cooked Ribs, Steaks, Eggs...Takes the Guesswork Out of Cooking Meats\n\nReview: After debating for a year, I finally decided to pick up the Anova Sous Vide since it was on sale on Amazon. I am now wondering why I didn't pick this unit up sooner. Cooking with the Anova Sous Vide has made kitchen time much less hectic. Similar to a slow cooker, I'm able to put food items that are vacuum sealed (or water displaced) into the water bath and leave it until I'm ready to serve the item. Unlike a slow cooker, food is not boiled to mushy consistency - I've tested this out with steak, eggs, pork ribs, and chicken with great success Meats comes out perfectly cooked, very juicy, and after a short sear on a fry pan or 15 minutes in the oven to finish, dinner is ready to go. Active cooking time for me has cut down dramatically, and this unit really has taken out the guesswork of determining how long to cook a particular meat to achieve a perfectly rare, medium rare, or well done cut. Sous vide eggs are simply out of this world - for those who have had the opportunity to try an \"onsen\" egg in Japan, the texture is simply custardy fantastic.\n\nThe unit itself works very simply - just plug in the unit, immerse the metal end into the water bath, then set the temperature using the dial wheel. The unit will heat the water to the appropriate temperature very quickly, and the water is circulated effectively using the small motor inside the unit. Cleaning this unit is simple as well. I've been currently using a large stock pot to hold the water and cook the food items, but I think I will be cutting into a cooler to make an insulated cooking vessel as many others have done.\n\nOverall, this is a very easy to use cooking tool - it's something that's earned its keep to stay on my kitchen counter. As an added note - my initial unit did have a small nut loose inside - I'm not sure if it came loose from a bolt or was an extra piece, but Amazon replaced the defective unit quickly and efficiently. The replacement unit was perfect as is.","Product: Original tags attached!!\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Beautiful Sculp, Cheery Music, and Syncs Perfectly With the Rest of the Peanuts Light Show Gang\n\nReview: The Hallmark Woodstock Christmas Lights Show is an adorable addition to your holiday decor. The Woodstock Figure is lightweight, beautifully sculpted, has a fun light show, and can be synced to play music and flash lights with the other characters in this series (Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus, and Snoopy). The lights on this unit are bright and can fade/flash to various tunes. The music on the units are loud and clear, and can be turned on (and thankfully turned off) with a push of the small button in the front. To save battery life, there is also a toggled power switch on the bottom of the unit, so you can turn off the unit completely.\n\nThe Woodstock unit plays two songs - Silent Night and We Wish You a Merry Christmas. When synced with the other light show characters, only the unit that you trigger the show from will play the tune, however all units will flash their lights in sync with the tune playing. There is a slight delay when syncing the units with each other. When you push the button on the figure you want to play, you'll notice it takes a few seconds before the other figures join in. This occurred more seamlessly for previous year where all the units played music together (this was from the Peanuts Music Show Series). In that case, it made more sense because the characters were \"joining in\" with their own instruments.\n\nOne thing I didn't particularly like is the loudness of the songs - this is true to all of these units, but the music is set to play very loudly - almost too loudly. This results in the sound being a bit distorted and \"vibrating\". If you don't like the music playing super loud, you can always put a piece of mailing tape over the speaker on the base of the unit. The unit I bought in store came with batteries - Woodstock requires 3 AAA batteries, should your run out. The battery case can be accessed from the bottom of the unit with a Phillips head screwdriver.\n\nThe sculpt on Woodstock is fantastic. There are no visible screws, the paint on the tree and Woodstock are clean and there are no color bleeding issues, and there are even faux lights on the back of the unit that are made of the same clear light resin as the front. These lights on the back don't have LEDs in them, but help make the tree look aesthetically pleasant. The front lights and star work flawlessly, and it's fun to see the colors course through with the rest of the Peanuts gang. For those with an eye for details, the base of the tree even has a familiar blue blanket wrapped around the trunk of the tree. Of the five characters in this series, Woodstock's sculp really came out the best of the bunch.\n\nI'm very pleased with this unit. The entire Light Show Series Peanuts gang are adorable, and the kids really enjoy triggering the music and lights. This is a nice piece to add to any Peanuts fan's holiday collection.","Product: Original tags attached!!\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Minor Sculp Issue, Otherwise Great Sound and Addition to Your Holiday Decorations\n\nReview: The Hallmark Snoopy Christmas Lights Show is an adorable addition to your holiday decor. The Snoopy Figure is lightweight, beautifully sculpted, has a fun light show, and can be synced to play music and flash lights with the other characters in this series (Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus, and Woodstock). The lights on this unit are bright and can fade/flash to various tunes. The music on the units are loud and clear, and can be turned on (and thankfully turned off) with a push of the small button in the front. To save battery life, there is also a toggled power switch on the bottom of the unit, so you can turn off the unit completely.\n\nThe Snoopy unit plays two songs - Up on the Housetop and Toyland. Snoopy is the only character that does not have any phrases stated before a song begins. When synced with the other light show characters, only the unit that you trigger the show from will play the tune, however all units will flash their lights in sync with the tune playing. There is a slight delay when syncing the units with each other. When you push the button on the figure you want to play, you'll notice it takes a few seconds before the other figures join in. This occurred more seamlessly for previous year where all the units played music together (this was from the Peanuts Music Show Series). In that case, it made more sense because the characters were \"joining in\" with their own instruments. One more thing to note - when you put your characters down, be sure to line them up in this order: Charlie Brown, Lucy, Woodstock, Linus, then Snoopy. It's pretty neat to see the lights change in order.\n\nOne thing I didn't particularly like is the loudness of the songs - this is true to all of these units, but the music is set to play very loudly - almost too loudly. This results in the sound being a bit distorted and \"vibrating\". If you don't like the music playing super loud, you can always put a piece of mailing tape over the speaker on the base of the unit. The unit I bought in store came with batteries - Snoopy requires 3 AAA batteries, should your run out. The battery case can be accessed from the bottom of the unit with a Phillips head screwdriver.\n\nThe sculpt on Snoopy is quite good, although not quite perfect. The first issue I have with this unit is that on the back of Snoopy, you can clearly see the screws that hold him together. On the Woodstock in the tree sculp, the screws are hidden. This is isn't a huge issue, but aesthetically, it's not as pretty as it can be. Also, on my particular Snoopy, you can see a clear line going around his head to the tip of his nose and back on the other side. I'm not sure if this is on every Snoopy figure, but it's pretty obvious in the right light. If you have the chance to really look at your figure in store, I would definitely take a good close look - hopefully you'll get a cleaner sculp than I did.\n\nDespite the sculpting issues, I'm very pleased with this unit. The entire Light Show Series Peanuts gang are adorable, and the kids really enjoy triggering the music and lights. This is a nice piece to add to any Peanuts fan's holiday collection.","Product: With a 2.5-inch diameter, these large white paper baking cups are perfect for cupcakes or muffins, or for candies, appetizers, cookies, and other desserts. Great for serving treats at parties, on-the-go or to bake goodies for a friend or neighbor. Fast, easy transfer and clean up - cupcakes and muffins lift right out of the pan, no scraping and scrubbing needed. Hassle free prep - no need for grease or sprays; just pour the batter right into the cups. This pack contains 24 individual packages of 50 large white paper baking cups.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Amazing Liners - No Color Fading, Can be Used Without a Cupcake Pan, Baked Goods Come Right Out\n\nReview: The Reynolds Staybrite Cupcake Liners worked fantastically when I bake cupcakes or muffins. I tested this liner out with and without a cupcake pan and made homemade chocolate muffins in them. The liners held up amazingly well, and I had no problems filling, baking, and removing the muffins from the liners - even when the muffin was hot. The liners are sturdy enough to bake without the tray, and the outer color of the liners maintained the bright and beautiful design. There was no issues with fading of color, leaking of the liners, or oily residue on the outside. Paper liners cannot compare with these - I'm very impressed with how durable these cupcake liners are, and very pleased how the design stays on brightly. I will definitely be buying these for future cupcake projects!","Product: The InterDesign microfiber bathroom accent rug is a super soft, plush accent rug for the bathroom. Place it in front of the shower, bathtub, or sink and enjoy its luxurious comfort on your bare feet. Machine wash cold.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Soft and Decent Quality Bath Mat, Color is Not Uniformly Beige, but Dotted with White Threads\n\nReview: The InterDesign Heathered Bathroom Rug is an okay option if you're looking for a thin decorative bathmat. The color of the rug is definitely different than what is pictured. The rug is not a single colored beige, but instead comprised of singular white and beige threads. While it looks uniform from far away, up close it looks strange. The white threads peppered in the beige rug looks unfinished, and I can't say I was in love with the look. In terms of quality, this rug isn't bad - it holds up quite well after being stepped on with wet feet, and it washed without fuzzing up or losing fibers - however it is quite thin and doesn't look nearly as plush as the photos depict. Overall, it's a functional and decent quality bath rug, but not something I would purchase again had I seen it up close from the get go.","Product: Scratch resistant, highly durable, premium nano ceramic coating. 100% PTFE and PFOA free. Textured surface allows an even spread of oil and sauces in the pan for more flavorful cooking. Bright, beautiful pink color and floral pattern that is sure to dazzle anyone. Dishwasher safe . Environment-friendly. True cast aluminum manufacturing. No heavy metals used in manufacturing. Durable, heat-resistant and attractive Bakelite handle. 12\" glass lid is included with the pan. The pans are not made to work on induction stoves. Bella Flame is a 2Go Products, LLC trademark.\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: Will be Nonstick for a Few Uses, then Everything Will Stick\n\nReview: Update 9/25/14\nI purchased the Bella Flame 12\" Ceramic Coated Pan (in green) in February 2014 and within a few months needed a replacement pan. I really tried to like the Bella Flame Pan. The customer service was pretty good as they contacted me on their own accord to offer a replacement, the pan was initially nonstick, but now - it's back to square one. The pan is sticking like crazy and useless again. I did everything in my power to care for this pan, and after minimal use (eggs, vegetables, and an occasional piece of fish) the pan went right back to getting everything stuck - even with a lot of oil. While this pan will work fantastically the first few weeks, you're guaranteed to have issues after more than 6 times using the pan. I would pass on this fry pan entirely.\n___________________________________________________________________________\n\nA few days after my review posted, I was contacted by Amorè Kitchenware asking if I would like to receive a replacement pan - free of charge - as they stand firmly behind their products. I agreed, and within a few days I received a new pan to try out. I've used it a few times and so far the pan is maintaining its nonstick qualities. I'll be updating a few weeks as I use the pan more. So far I've fried lamb chops, squash, and eggs with good results. The items haven't been sticking and I've had to use only a small amount of oil. The original pan still works well, although items still stick a bit in them. As suggested by Amorè Kitchenware, I boiled water in the pan and used a scouring brush to remove bits of food. A small amount of the black coating of the pan scratched off, but the treatment improved the nonstick quality - items are not sticking as much as before. I haven't had any sticking issues with the replacement pan.\n\nOverall, I'm impressed at Amorè Kitchenware's strive for excellence. They stand behind their products and are more than happy to replace a pan should it not meet all your expectations. The replacement pan is very good, and again I will be updating as I use it more.\n\n---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------\n\nI've been using the Bella Flame 12\" Green Ceramic Fry pan for a couple of months now, and while it was really good and nonstick at first, I'm finding that its slowly losing it's nonstick abilities. I only fry eggs and vegetables in the pan. I don't deglaze the pan, I wait for it to cool before hand washing, and I don't leave the vegetables in the pan to steam either. When hand washing, I use a soft sponge with minimal abrasion (a dish sponge, not a pot sponge). After a few uses, I found that eggs started sticking to the pan when I would use it without oil (clean pan, no residue left over). Now I'm at the point where unless I use oil, things will stick on there.\n\nThe pan itself is very lovely, however I'm beginning to wonder about the longevity of the pan. Worst part is that if anything gets stuck, the floral pattern on the bottom of the pan makes it harder to clean. The pan is still very usable, but I do need to use oil to keep it nonstick. I'll update down the line on the nonstick of the pan - for now, it's only okay.","Product: Natural Area Rugs Natural Sedona Mt. Grass Fiber Rug: Mountain Grass Rug by Natural Area Rugs is the the perfect accent to any high traffic area. Mountain Grass is naturally durable, anti static, sound absorbing, and stain resistant material. This rug is perfect for the dining room, living room, and hardwood floor bedrooms. . Reflect your love for nature on the floors with these rugs. It coordinates with almost all decorating schemes and is suitable for high traffic areas. It has a solid pattern that dexterously blends with most of the room settings. Beefy ribbed construction to provide an attractive, yet durable floor covering. Crafted from finest quality Natural Mountain Grass. Each of these rugs is crafted by skilled weavers who employ a variety of traditional techniques to create these simply beautiful styles. Its fibers exhibit naturally anti-Static, insulating and moisture regulating properties. The fibers infuse classic settings with simple beauty and a breath of fresh style. Avoid using a vacuum cleaner with beater bar attachment; do not dry clean or machine wash. Avoid direct and continuous exposure to sunlight to prevent fading. We recommend a Carpet/Rug Pad (sold separately) as it will provide extra protection not only your rug but your hardwood floor as well. Do not pull out loose strands and fibers variations are part of the beauty of organic fiber. Actual color may vary due to monitor settings and natural color variations in the fiber. Natural Area Rugs are the best choice in affordable luxury flooring. Product Details: Product Type: Area Rug Construction/Technique: Hand-Made Material: Mountain Grass Style: Contemporary Backing: Non-Slip Latex Backing Rug Pad: Recommended (Sold Separately) Country of Manufacturer: United States of America - USA Crafted by: Artisan Rug Makers Number of Item included: 1 Dimensions and Weight: Size: (2 Feet 6 Inches x 8 Feet) Length x Width x Height: (30 L x 96 W x 2 H) Product Weight: 10 Pounds\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Attractive, Comfortable to Walk Over/Sit on, Material Underneath the Rug Keeps it In Place\n\nReview: The Natural Fiber Sendona Mountain Grass Rug is a love accent rug to add to any home. Our kitchen/family room area consists mainly of a large amount of tile. While this is very convenient for cleaning reasons, it's also very cold in the winter and woefully boring looking. The Sendona Mountain Grass Rug is very attractive, comfortable to walk over, and stays securely in place without having to purchase a separate rug pad/tape/mat. The 3'x5' rug I received was true to size, and featured an included 1\" canvas border.\n\nThe fibers of the rug are tightly woven, and I didn't find any poorly woven spots. The grass weave was uniform throughout the rug, and there were no loose ends on the grass so our socks didn't get caught on anything. The rug did not have any scent on it and the color of the grass is uniform. There is a good amount of padding on the underside of the rug, and the material underneath grips to our smooth tile so the rug won't slip or slide around. I tested this rug on wood floor and the rug stayed put without sliding or moving around.\n\nOverall, this is a very attractive and \"earthy\" looking rug. It adds a nice decorative accent to our family room and is comfortable to walk and sit on. This rug would be a nice addition to any home.\n\nFYI - I was selected for this opportunity to review this item free of charge. The content and opinions expressed here are all my own.","Product: Snoopy thinks \"50 years of a Charlie brown Christmas\" is really something to dance about! commemorate the beloved holiday classic with this keepsake ornament, which plays \"Lucy and Linus\" when you push the button.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Revamp of the Hallmark 2004 \"Love to Dance\" Ornament, Snoopy Clicks when He Moves\n\nReview: For those of you who collect Peanuts ornaments, this ornament may look vaguely familiar. Well, rest assured, it's not you - this 50th Anniversary ornament is a revamped version of the 2004 \"Love to Dance\" ornament that originally featured only Schroeder and Snoopy (<a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Love-to-Dance-Peanuts-Snoopy-2004-hallmark-ornament/dp/B000JF7K1I/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">Love to Dance Peanuts Snoopy 2004 hallmark ornament</a>). While this ornament has one thing I wanted on the original 2004 ornament - Lucy - I think I prefer the original over the newer model.\n\nMy biggest issue with this version of the ornament is that Snoopy is no longer dancing up and down, but instead swings side to side. Visually, this doesn't bother me much (although Snoopy does bounce up and down when he dances normally), however the clicking sound that Snoopy makes does. Each time Snoopy turns, you can hear a distinctive \"clickclickclick\" as he moves. This is distracting as you can hear the clicking over the music.\n\nThe noise aside, this ornament is very cute. I personally would have liked to see an ornament that featured Charlie Brown with Snoopy and the gang around the \"upgraded poor tree\" for the 50th Anniversary Ornament, but hey - beggars can't be choosers. This is still quite a cute ornament to add to any Peanuts fan's collection.","Product: The Breville BOV845BSS Smart Oven Pro with light and slow cook setting is the first oven with Element IQ that controls heating elements to suit whatever you are cooking with 10 preset functions. Slow Cook Function will automatically switch to Keep Warm for up to 2 hours and can be set at 'HI' 2-8 hours, or 'LO' for 4-10 hours. Key features comprise of a timer with auto shut-off and alert, temperature conversion & frozen food functions, a color changing LCD, and a magnetic auto-eject rack. Accessories included with your oven are a 12\" x 12\" enamel baking pan, a 12\" x 12\" enamel broiling rack, and a 13\" non-stick pizza pan. The 0.8 cubic foot interior allows for a 6-slice toast capacity, and as a guide, can accommodate most 3.5 quart Dutch oven vessels with lid, and 5 quart vessels with foil lid. Voltage - 110-120 volts , Power - 1800 watts.\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: Loved It While It Worked Which was a Little Over a Month\n\nReview: I purchased the Breville Smart Oven Pro on June 28, 2018 and when I first used it I absolutely loved it. The toaster oven was replacing a Krups Convection Toaster that I purchased in 2006 - while the Krups still works fine, the buttons became very finicky oven the years and requires harder pushing than I'd like. The Breville worked great the first few weeks. It heated up quickly, the temperature was accurate, and I loved the size of the toaster oven - it could easily accommodate larger items which my Krups simply couldn't. Unfortunately, at the beginning of August, the oven started having some issues.\n\nThe first issue began with the light not turning on all the time. This wasn't a big issue as I really don't need to peek into my oven that clearly - but considering I paid about $225 for the oven, it was a letdown. The light wasn't consistent, but it was something I could live with. A few days later, the oven wouldn't heat up at all, despite it looking like it was heating and working just fine. I put in some bread to toast, the oven ran it's course, and when I went to get my bread, it was not toasted at all. I fiddled with the settings a few times then unplugged the unit. After waiting a minute, I replugged the unit and it worked just fine like nothing had happened. Fast forward a week, and the same thing happened again, except this time the oven wouldn't come back to life, even after multiple unplugging and replugging. This was insanely frustrating considering I was about 2 weeks outside of the return window. Thankfully, Amazon was gracious enough to accept a return, even though I was out of the 30 day return window and threw out the box by this point. I'm still waiting to see the refund hit my account.","Product: Natural Area Rugs Delhi Jute/Hemp Rug: Made from 100 percent Hemp. Hemp typically found in the northern hemisphere, is a variety of the Cannabis sativa plant species that is grown specifically for the industrial uses of its derived products. It is one of the fastest growing plants and was one of the first plants to be spun into usable fiber 10,000 years ago. These rugs are the perfect addition to any living room, dining room, or bedroom. It also sports an elegant look. It has a charming design that is pleasing to the eye. Like any rug, Carpet/Rug Pads are recommended as they will prolong the longevity of your rug and protect your hardwood floor. Variations are part of the natural beauty of natural fiber. Natural Area Rugs are the #1 choice in affordable luxury flooring. Product Details: Product Type: Area Rug Construction/Technique: Hand-Made Material: 100% Hemp Style: Contemporary Backing: Cotton Backing Rug Pad: Recommended (Sold Separately) Country of Manufacturer: Imported Crafted by: Artisan Rug Makers Number of Item included: 1 Dimensions and Weight: Size: (8 Feet x 10 Feet) Length x Width x Height: (96 L x 120 W x 2 H) Product Weight: 45 Pounds\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Beautifully Colored Rug, Comfortable to Walk On, Requires Rug Pad/Rug Gripper\n\nReview: The NaturalAreaRugs 4x6 Jute Rug is a well made and comfortable to walk on rug. Our kitchen/family room area consists mainly of a large amount of tile. While this is very convenient for cleaning reasons, it's also very cold in the winter and woefully boring looking. This jute rug not only added a nice bit of neutral color, but it definitely added a nice bit of comfort to the room for our feet, our dog, and our kids who like to sit on the floor and play. The rug arrived well packaged and is exactly as pictured. The coloring is darker brown color, but consists of multiple variations of brown jute. The material is very tightly weaved, so in terms of texture, it feels soft and fairly smooth. There is also a 1.5\" canvas border on the back of the rug, so the edges are unlikely to fray. The rug had no scent on it when it arrived, so you won't have to air it out.\n\nThe only gripe I have with this rug is that there is no non slip material on the backing. If you lay this rug down, it will slip and slide over smooth surfaces, and if you place it on carpet it will shift around when people walk on it. You will ultimately need to purchase either rug tape or a a rug pad to keep the rug in place. Another thing to note is that you will need to \"backward roll\" the rug to avoid getting corners of the rug that point up. I left my rug on the floor for several days to see if the corners would lay flat on their own, but they didn't. After rolling the rug in the opposite direction, the corners laid flat.\n\nOverall, this is a really well made and beautiful rug. It's true to size, well woven, and comfortable to walk on. If you're looking for a neutral colored rug, this is definitely worth considering.\n\nFYI - I was selected for this opportunity to review this item free of charge. The content and opinions expressed here are all my own.","Product: Sony Mdrex51Lp/Wcu Fontopia Stereo Earbuds (White)\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Works well to block out the world\n\nReview: I'm really picky when it comes to headphones. I like my headphones to fit in my ear, to sound good, and to block out the person yammering on the phone next to me on the BART train. I finally found those headphones. The Sony Fontopia Headphones have 3 size of \"ear plugs\" to adjust around the speakerhead. I picked the midsized ones, although the small ones would work well also. Here's the important part--you have to jam these things into your ear. If you're not into pushing things into your ear, you're not going to block out the world. If you do, you will hear your music, and you'll see the chatterbox's lips moving, but not the words coming out of their mouth.","Product: While many LCD projectors suffer from a \"chicken wire\" effect, Panasonic's pursuit of the highest possible image quality has successfully overcome this device limitation through the incorporation of Smooth Screen technology, which uses the double refraction property of crystals to arrange pixels on a screen with no gaps between them. Smooth Screen technology is designed specifically to match the characteristics of the PT-AE3000's optical system, giving you the kind of smooth, vivid, and three-dimensional-like images you see in a movie theater. The PT-AE3000's new full-HD LCD panels have a double-speed drive capability that improves the projection clarity of moving images. These high-precision panels use vertically aligned liquid crystal molecules with inorganic alignment layers. When no voltage is applied, the molecules are aligned perpendicular to the glass substrate, so there is no light leakage and the substrate remains black (called \"normally black\" operation), providing higher contrast. The fifth generation intelligent iris system works by analyzing histograms to determine the brightness level of each image, then adjusting the lamp power, iris and gamma curve* accordingly to create the ideal image. The adjustments are made virtually frame by frame. This helps the projector achieve a wide dynamic range with swift smoothness for added beauty in both dark and bright scenes. Brightness - 1,600 ANSI lumens Dynamic contrast ratio - 60,000 - 1 Powered zoom (2x) / Powered focus, F 1.9 - 3.2, f 22.4 mm - 44.8 mm Power supply - 100-240 V AC, 50/60 Hz Power consumption - 240 W (Approx. 0.08 W (up to 220v) in standby mode with fan stopped) Panasonic 1 Year Parts and Labor Ltd Warranty\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Great Computer for the Price\n\nReview: After my 2009 Sony Vaio Desktop decided that it didn't want to work anymore and retired itself without giving notice, I finally decided to upgrade my computer. I got the HP Stream based on several factors - 1) I didn't need a workhorse computer at home, and really wanted a small unit to do some word processing, emails, watch videos, and possibly photo editing on. 2) I wanted a small footprint computer so it wouldn't take up too much space. 3) I wanted to hook up the computer to a HDTV so I wouldn't have to purchase a new monitor. 4) I didn't want to spend a lot on the computer.\n\nThe HP Stream 200 fit the bill perfectly - and it surpassed all expectations I had of it. The unit is very compact - larger than a Roku, but smaller than most sandwich box tupperwares. It comes with a wire keyboard and mouse, although I admit I didn't try it out at all. I did put in a wireless keyboard and mouse combo and found that it worked fantastically with the Stream, and I was able to sync everything up seamlessly. I also plugged the Stream into my TV utilizing an HDMI cable. For whatever reasons, the sound coming from the TV would come in and fade out - I later discovered this was common with HDMI/laptop hookups, so I plugged in some speakers into the stream using the audio input on the back. Not sure if a higher quality HDMI cable would make a difference, but because I plugged it into a speaker, it's not a big issue to me. Picture quality is not effected at all.\n\nBecause the Stream comes with only 2GB of RAM, I upgraded it with two 4 GB cards. Upgrading this computer is amazingly simply. There are three screws on the bottom to remove, and then you're in. The top of the unit lifts off very easily, and should you want to upgrade the RAM or put in a larger SSD, all the internal workings are easily accessed using a Phillips screwdriver. There are multiple videos on how to upgrade this computer available online - even a notice computer user should be able to upgrade the HP Stream without help.\n\nThe computer itself runs very smoothly and silently. I've been able to run multiple programs at once without crashing, the initial setup was simple and user friendly enough for my kids to set up, and the start up/shut down is fast. The one issue that I have with the Stream is that it seems to have difficultly recognizing my external hard drive in some of the USB ports. Initially I plugged in my HD into the front USB port, and the Stream couldn't recognize it. I then plugged the HD into the upper back port and it recognized it. When plugged in the lower back port, it sometimes recognizes it, sometimes not. This is a little frustrating because at times I would have to play \"musical USB ports\" to get items connected. Similarly I had to do that with my iPhone when setting up iTunes. I'm not sure if I got a bum unit, or if it's something with my HD or other peripherals, but it can get annoying. I've since left the HD plugged into the upper back port and the keyboard/mouse plugged in the front, and it's had no issues.\n\nAnother cool thing to mention about the Stream has two desktop views you can alternate by moving your mouse into the upper left corner of the screen. You can either view your desktop as a normal windows based desktop, or you can view it in the Microsoft Tablet Layout (with the multiple colored boxes on a black background). Along with the Cloud storage, this is a really user friendly computer that will appeal to both new and veteran window based computer users alike.","Product: Compact bluetooth keyboard for iPad 1 and 2 and iPhone.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Ok for Tiny Hands, Not for Man Hands\n\nReview: The iHome Bluetooth Keyboard is not a bad keyboard...it's just small. Really small. I am a petite Asian woman with small hands, and the iHome Keyboard is okay for me - the keys are spaced a little closer than I'd like, but not so much that I had problems typing with it. My husband, on the other hand, has larger hands and found it very difficult to type without accidentally pushing another key. He initially didn't think he would have problems, as he regularly uses an Apple keyboard and a slightly smaller Logitech Bluetooth keyboard regularly, however the iHome is even smaller than both of the keyboards (see photos posted of the size difference between the keyboards above).\n\nAnother problem I found with the iHome is that the batteries are rechargeable only. My iPad and iPhone don't have USB ports, so it's a pain when I need to charge my iPad/iPhone and discover that my keyboard needs charging too. The carrying case isn't all too great - it's a cheap faux velvet bag that doesn't offer much protection to the keyboard when traveling. If I had to choose between the iHome and something else, I would go with something like the <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Logitech-Tablet-Keyboard-for-iPad-Keyboard-and-Stand-Combo-920-003241/dp/B0054L8MR8/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">Logitech Tablet Keyboard for iPad (Keyboard-and-Stand Combo) (920-003241)</a>. Not only is the keyboard just slightly smaller than the Apple keyboard, but it also has an on/off switch, runs on AA batteries (and has a great battery life), and comes with a solid carrying case that doubles as a stand.\n\nAll in all, the iHome isn't bad...it serves its purpose of being a small lightweight travel keyboard and it holds a charge well enough. However, there are a lot of better options out there - I would shop around. Not recommended.","Product: The Curve 50 amplified indoor HDTV antenna propels antenna design to new heights with a clean and graceful arched structure reminiscent of popular smartphone docking stations. Catering to consumers who want access to free over-the-air OTA HDTV in their homes but desire a unique, designer feel, the modern look of the Curve 50 is on display whether its placed on a shelf, countertop or table. Made to be a simple plug-in-and-go experience, the Curve 50 amplified high definition TV antenna provides consumers with free access to over-the-air TV broadcast channels in full 1080 HDTV. The Curve 50 is intended for users in more remote locationsup to 50 miles from a tower.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: East Bay California - Antenna Works Great\n\nReview: Attention residents of East Bay, California: your basic cable television needs can be met with the Mohu Leaf Ultimate HDTV Antenna! I'm in a non mountainous, not heavy tree laden, and near a freeway house. My Leaf is currently hanging on my window using poster puddy (<a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Removable-Reusable-Non-Toxic-Poster-Putty-White/dp/B000BQMFEC/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">Removable Reusable Non-Toxic Poster Putty (White)</a>). I am happy to report that I got 89 channels to my television, including FOX, ABC, NBC, and CBS! The HD quality is amazingly clear, I have a good variety of channels, including a a handful of Chinese broadcasting channels for the cousins to watch when they come over to visit. Set up was very easy - just hang, plug in to the tv, plug into an outlet, then let your tv scan for channels. In about 5 minutes, you'll be able to watch! If you haven't owned a Leaf before, it's just great - it's a lot cheaper to get this than to keep your subscription cable.\n\nHowever, is this worth the extra $40 over the standard Mohu Leaf? Not really.\n\nI bought our Mohu Leaf about a year ago, and rescanned before taking it down to test out the Mohu Leaf Ultimate. With the original Leaf, I was about to get 81 channels easily. With the leaf Ultimate, I got 89 channels. The extra channels received were actually duplicate channels...I have an extra FOX (channel 2) channel which airs the same as HD and SD version of FOX, a few extra infomercial channels, and maybe an extra radio station channel. That was pretty much 8 more channels to surf over, as far as I'm concerned.\n\nThe picture quality in HD is only a hair different than the picture quality on the Ultimate Leaf - definitely not worth paying the extra amount for. The only channels that seemed to suffer after installing the Leaf Ultimate were the duplicate channels. I can say that ABC had the most picture quality improvement. If you're a big fan of anything on ABC, this alone may be worth the extra cost, however, again, the quality difference was only a little bit better. It was maybe the difference between SD and HD viewing...but just barely.\n\nThe one thing that I don't like about the Leaf Ultimate in comparison to the Leaf is that I have another item to plug in. You have to plug this unit into a wall outlet for it to get the \"extra boost signal\". With an almost full power strip for the DVD player, television, VCR, ROKU, cell phone charger, and so forth, I really didn't want to have an extra thing plugged in. For the extra 8 channels and slightly clearer picture, you'll have to make that call if it's worth it.\n\nThat said, by itself, the Mohu Leaf Ultimate is fabulous! It's way cheaper to get unplugged from the cable subscription, the picture quality is great, and you'll have a lot of great tv to watch. In comparison to the original Leaf, the difference are minimal...if you're on a budget, you can't go wrong with the original Leaf. All in all, this is a great antenna, even at a slightly higher price. Recommended.","Product: The NETGEAR AC1750 Wi-Fi DOCSIS 3.0 Cable Modem Router provides the fastest cable speed available with an AC1750 Wi-Fi router and integrated DOCSIS 3.0 cable modem, with up to 680 Mbps. Cable Labs certified to work with all major cable Internet providers such as Cablevision, Cox, Time Warner Cable, XFINITY and more.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Easy to Set Up, Great Speed, Great Range\n\nReview: For the past few months, I've struggling with slow internet that would occasionally drop or stall out. For whatever reasons, I was convinced that it was 1) my computer or my husband's computer's just being old or slowing down 2) Comcast throttling our internet 3) That we had too many devices on our home network. It never crossed my mind that it could possibly be our modem (purchased in January 2017) or our router (purchased many years before that modem), but after sitting at home restarting the router again, it clicked...maybe- just maybe - my router could be the root of the problem. The NetGear Nighthawk solved all of our slow internet blues.\n\nThe NetGear Nighthawk Modem/Router combo was very easy to set up and definitely helped with our slow internet speeds. It took less than 30 minutes from unboxing to contacting Comcast to update my info and get me back on the internet. The router can easily handle the multiple devices on our network and we've had no issues with stalling out and dropped internet since. The unit can have multiple devices streaming videos without any issues, and it can handle all the lights and switches we have attached with our Echo Dots. If there was a single complaint, it would be that the unit is exceptionally bright - each of those four antennas have a bright blue light on the end of them, and the box also has multiple blue lights shining like beacons into the night. Thankfully, our unit is not in a bedroom, so unless the dog complains, the lights are not an issue for anyone in our house. Overall, this is a great option if you're looking for a fast streaming modem/router unit that has a small footprint, good speed, and great wireless range.","Product: If music is your motivation, wait until you hear the Bose Sound Link Color Bluetooth speaker. It plays your favorite tunes from your favorite Bluetooth deviceout loud in clear, full audiojust about anywhere you want to go. It's small, durable and simple to use. And it comes in a spectrum of colors to match almost any style. The Sound Link Color speaker suits your active, mobile lifestyle. The body is constructed of durable materials, and its rounded, compact shape fits easily into your bag or backpack. The Sound Link Color speaker has a range of about 30 feet, so you can enjoy your music out loud, without wires. It pairs with your smartphone, tablet or other Bluetooth device. Voice prompts talk you through Bluetooth pairing, making it simple. And the speaker remembers the eight most recent devices you've used, so reconnecting is even easier. The speaker can connect to two Bluetooth devices at the same time, letting you switch between them quicklywhen the first device stops playing, the second can start. The Sound Link Color speaker lets you play your music wherever you are, whatever you're doing. It's compact and light enough (1.25 pounds) to take along even when you're traveling light. The speaker is designed for ease of use. It features power, volume and source buttons. You control other functions from your Bluetooth device. Don't let the Sound Link Color speaker's small size fool you. It may be compact, but it delivers a satisfying listening experience. Proprietary technologies and a unique design produce clear, well-balanced, full-range sound. More features: Auxiliary input enables you to connect to other audio sources, like a tablet or MP3 player, Charges with most USB power sources or the included wall charger and Micro USB port allows for charging and software updates. What's in the box: Sound Link Color Bluetooth speaker, Wall charger and Cable.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Rich Sound, Easy Set Up, Great for a Tiny Unit\n\nReview: After having returned an alarm clock bluetooth speaker that I got my mom for Christmas, I decided that less is more and all she really wanted was to hear her music well (she's a bit hard of hearing). The Bose SoundLink Bluetooth Speaker was the perfect choice for her. Once set up, it was easy enough for my mom to operate - just turn on her iPad then turn on the Bose and voila! The music she wanted to listen to comes out of the speaker.\n\nInitial set up was very simple and took less than five minutes for me. The battery life on the Bose is very good - my mom listens to her music about 2 hours a day, and the overall unit can hold a little over 8 hours of charge. The sound is very rich and sounds fantastic for such a small unit. The sound volume is definitely loud enough for what she needs - it can fill a full room with great music. I'm so happy that my mom can finally listen to her music without having to be tethered to her iPad with headphones. This is a great unit that I would definitely purchase again.","Product: Victrola Nostalgic Classic Wood 6-in-1 Bluetooth Turntable Entertainment Center, Mahogany\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Excellent Music Player, Everything Worked Great Out of Box\n\nReview: After staring at a large stack of records purchased back in 70's, my mom started lamenting on how her old record player (made in the 80's) hasn't worked in years and how she can't listen to her favorites like Bing Crosby, My Fair Lady, and Nat King Cole in all their vinyl glory. After unsuccessfully trying to get her to use Amazon Prime Music and the Bose I got her last Christmas, I did some research and got the Victrola 6-in-1 from our Bullseye Store for Christmas 2016. Mom was quite pleased with the gift. The Victrola works very effectively at playing vinyls, CDs, radio, bluetooth, and even cassette tapes from mom's Hong Kong Chinese Opera days (much to everyone's dismay). There is also an input for auxiliary items, hence there is truly six various in this one unit.\n\n1. The Vinyl/Record Player - Easily the most used player for my mom, ours didn't require any special hacking to get the unit to work properly. There is a pin for the 33 1/2 and 78 RPM records, and a small circular tab for the 45 RPM records. The pin and circular tabs can be easily removed and replaced, and the records fit in properly without forcing. There is an opening in the back of the unit to allow for larger records to fit properly, so be aware in case you have nosey little kids who like to touch moving things. The needle and arm did not require any pennies or nickels for our to play - I was able to place the needle on the record and Perry Como sang with the same richness that mom heard decades ago. Player's arm is not automatic, so you will need to place the needle on carefully, but there is a small lever on the unit that allows you to lift and lower the needle without scratching the record. While the arm is in the upper postion, you can also move the needle to the place on the record you want to play.\n\n2. Radio - The radio works well in our area and mom is able to get most all of the local stations. There is no option for AM playing, which is a slight bummer, but wasn't a deal breaker for us. There is a long wire in the back of the player that allows stations to come in, so you may need to adjust it to get stations in. We just left it bundled up in the back with good results, even despite the fact that the player is not near a window.\n\n3. CD Player - Initially I thought out CD player was broken because the tray would not come out, but I found out later that it was because I did not set the player to CD first. The CD player tray comes out of the front of the unit and is controlled using the buttons of the front of the player. The track number is displayed on the front as well, using the small LED screen that's located under the radio dial.\n\n4. Cassette Player - The cassette player is located on the right side of the unit, and it works very well. You simply insert the tape into the player and it will start playing immediately. To fast forward, you hold down the eject button half way. This unit does not rewind the tape, so if you fast forward too much, you'll have to flip the tape over, fast forward, then flip the tape back to the side you're listening to.\n\n5. Bluetooth - The bluetooth connectivity of this unit was good and it was easily set up on my mom's iPad within a minute.\n\n6. Auxiliary - There is a single Aux opening for a 3.5mm cable on the front of the unit. I haven't had to use this, so can't really comment on it.\n\nThe overall sound from the unit is good, and the unit can play at a pretty good loudness. There is the capability to add additional speakers to this unit as well, as there is two output openings on the back for R/L speakers. Overall, this is a solid music playing system that went over well for my mom. The unit is very attractive, plays various mediums properly, and is easy enough for an older lady to use.","Product: Illustrated by W. J. Aylward.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Good Variety of Colors All Packed In a Convenient Canvas Roll - Could Use More Skin Tone Options in the Roll\n\nReview: The JNW Colored Pencil Set is a very good set to get for any artist. The colored pencil set comes completely loaded in its own canvas roll holder and comes with a metal pencil extender (for when you're down to the stub), a white eraser, and a small sharpener. The pencils color and blend very well, are clearly labeled with color names so you can easily tell them apart, and make clear clean marks on the paper. The colors don't erase particularly well, however I have yet to find a colored pencil that erases very cleanly. While there is a good variety of colors, there are some colors I would've liked to see including a blush skin tone and more varieties of pure reds/oranges instead of so many varieties of pink.\n\nThe included sharpener works well, but I tend to ignore it as I prefer my closed bottle sharpener, and the included eraser works as well as it can also. The eraser erases quite well without smudging. The metal pencil extender is the best thing in the kit asides from the pencils themselves - the holder can accommodate any standard sized 2 pencil. This is great because I was able to give it to Kid 1 to use with his favorite stubby pencils, and it works great at holding the pencil in place so he can get every last bit of lead used...I plan to get it back from him to use with my colored pencil set eventually. Everything fits perfectly in the included canvas roll, and it's great that I can just toss this in my backpack and go.\n\nOverall, I'm quite happy with the set. The only major gripe is that I would've liked to see more skin tone options as well as more red/orange varieties as opposed to pinks. That aside, the pencils work very well, the accessories make sense, and everything rolls up and goes quickly. This is definitely worth considering.\n\nFYI - I was selected for this opportunity to review this item free of charge. The content and opinions expressed here are all my own.","Product: Once upon a time children were proud to tell time on their own. This just-for-kids watch will help them on their way, so they can live happily ever afterand on time.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: The One Wearable Thing I Borrow From My Preschooler\n\nReview: Like another reviewer, I'm a woman with a fairly small wrist (a little over 6\" wrist), and I can easily wear this watch when my 33 year old son doesn't feel like wearing it. The watch is durable and the strap is strong. We brought this watch with us when camping and it worked great! Also, because it's not too expensive, we weren't overly concerned if it would get scratched or dirty (it didn't get scratched, but it cleaned up well when it got dirty!) The only concern for us is the velcro strap - because it is velcro, it probably won't last as long as a good leather strap - but as long as Timex manufactures replacement straps, it shouldn't be too much of a concern.\n\nOne really great feature about this watch in comparison to other kid's watches is that all the number are right side up - on some kid's watches the 6 looks like a 9, the 7 like and L, and the like. With all the numbers right side up, it makes learning time a little easier. Highly recommended!","Product: A clean, feminine basic that performs in the elements, this active, stretch-with-you skirt features a water and stain repellent construction with built-in UPF 50 to protect you from the damaging effects of the sun. Adjustable drawstring ties at each side hemline let you dial in your look.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Comfortable, Great to Wear Every Day, Washes Well - Fits True to Size\n\nReview: The Columbia Women's Anytime Casual Skort is as comfortable as wearing shorts, but in skirt form. As a mom, I often have to bend down, squat, and otherwise get down low to help my kids out with whatever they're doing. In addition, my kids keep me active - almost too active - with bike riding, hiking, and other outdoorsy type activities.\n\nThe Columbia Skirt is the solution to all my active, but want to look cute while sweating up a storm, needs. The skort is comfortable enough to wear out while exercising or running errands, but stylish enough to wear as an every day piece. The fabric is slightly stretchy and has a light sheen to it, similar to exercise clothing, and can be ruched up on the sides. As a shorter person, I found the skort length to be very flattering as it falls a little above knee length for me. There are also pockets on this skirt which are GREAT since I can pocket those little knicknacks I get handed throughout the day and not lose them. The skort also washes very well, and does not fade, pill, or wrinkle easily. Overall, comfortable skort, washes well, and looks great. I would definitely buy this skort again.","Product: Sugar has found sweet success among the fashionably young. Whether she is sweet, sassy or sporty, Sugar offers a variety of unique and stylish accessories that are accessible to every tween and teen. Season after season, Sugar Shoes continues to be a front-runner among teen brands with its fresh, evolving designs. Floatie sandals have become a trademark of the brand since its launch in 1998 and remain a favorite today. Sugar Shoes collection features uber-feminine contemporary footwear for those who love a little whimsy.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Very cute shoe (and very comfortable!)\n\nReview: Being a \"sneakers\" type of girl, comfort is a big thing for me when choosing shoes. I need my shoe to be comfortable, relatively stable, and good enough for me to run after my toddler if I need to. Fashionable is always a big plus. Sugar's Black Tie Pie Shangri La Wedge fits the bill in all accounts. While it looks uncomfortably high, I found that these shoes wear like flats with the 1 inch height gain. I was able to run around all evening (wearing for the first time without breaking in!) and I not only didn't get any blisters of any sort, but it was comfortable and I didn't have any of those \"first time wearing\" foot pains! My only complaint: I would love to rip that bow off - fit looks too leathery for a cloth flat like this - but apparently other people think it's cute...maybe it's just me.\n\nHighly recommended!","Product: One piece watermelon connector swimsuit with cover up\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Super Cute Swimsuit and Coverup\n\nReview: My kids swim a lot thanks to year round swim lessons, so we go through swimsuits fairly quickly. Baby Buns Splash Swimwear was priced right for us (we got it on sale via Amazon), durable, and very cute. The inside of the swimsuit is lined and fits true to size. The coverup is a bit thin, but works well to keep our daughter warm and covered when walking around while in her suit. The colors are bright and cheerful, the suit and coverup wash well, and the suit design is unique with the little side openings. The only thing I don't care for is that the watermelon on the front is sewn on and a bit stiff - but it didn't seem to affect our daughter much when she was swimming. If you have a kid who gets upset at stiff tags and the like, this may bother her. Overall, this is a nice swimsuit to get for any little swimmer.","Product: Stanley's tough and durable 17 oz classic Food Jar keeps hot foods hot and cold foods cold for 12 hours so you can enjoy an outoor meal any time! Double wall stainless steel construction and durable rust proof finish stands up to any work or play environment. The stainless steel lid can also be used as a bowl and its wide mouth opening makes it easy to clean.Lifetime warranty.Size: 7.25\" x 3.75\".Weight: 1 lb. 4 oz..\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Keeps Food Hot, Jar Doesn't Leak - Jar Holds a Little Over Two Cups of Food Inside\n\nReview: The weather is finally starting to cool in California and the kids have been demanding hot lunches - not the lukewarm school hot lunches, but real bone fide good home cookin' hot lunches. The daughter has the <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Thermos-Funtainer-10-Ounce-Food-Jar-Barbie/dp/B00ND6PGS4/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">Thermos Funtainer 10 Ounce Food Jar, Barbie</a> which holds 10 ounces, but the boy complained that the funtainers were simply too small. After some research, I settled on getting him the 17 ounce Stanley Classic Food Jar. This container is a good size for a kid with an exceptional appetite. I'm able to fit a little over 2 cups of food in that container for him. This equates to a scoop of rice with plenty of curry and veg, a hearty helping of chili, a hefty pile of fried rice, a good chunk of lasagna - the possibilities are endless! Food stays good and hot in the Stanley Food Jar, and by the time lunch rolls around, his lunch is generally hotter than anything he could get in the school lunch line. If you want to have a lunch kept extra toasty, simply pour hot water in the jar and allow to sit for a while to \"prep the jar\", then pour out the water, wipe dry, then place the hot food items inside. Food stays hotter longer when you prep the jar prior to placing food items in.\n\nThe food jar comes with a metal lid that doubles as a bowl, and an interior cap that screws on and creates a good seal so even items like soup won't leak out. This is very helpful as I'm able to place more liquidy items like chicken curry on the bottom of the container and place the rice on top. My son can scoop out the rice into his lid bowl, then add curry as needed. The jar doesn't leak, even despite him tossing it around, and the entire unit is easy to clean. I have small hands that can easily fit in the jar to clean it out, although larger hands will need a sponge on a stick to get inside the jar to get it well washed.\n\nOverall, this is a great lunch food jar to consider if you're looking to bring hot food to work. The jar retains heat well, is very durable, and doesn't leak. I'll be likely buying another in the future, once the daughter starts eating more!","Product: Proven protection, proven style. The Pro-Tec Classic Certified helmet is a team favorite across every sport. It features our most durable high-impact ABS shell, EPS liner with compression molded pads, 11 open vents, and a wide array of styles to find your perfect fit. All Pro-Tec certified helmets are tested to meet ASTM 1492/1447 for multiple impacts, CE EN1078, CPSC 1203 and AS/NZS 2063:2008. Available in sizes XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Love the Look, Fits Nice and Snug\n\nReview: Within the past month, I've picked up bicycling. While I don't go terribly fast, my husband insisted that I get a helmet \"just in case\" and to be a good role model to our two kids. I ended up buying a Protec helmet and am very happy with it. I have a fairly big head, and I found that the L fit true to size. It's a little snug, but that's how I like it. It stays firmly on my head while bicycling, it's comfortable, and it should protect my head should I fall off my bike (I won't test that, thanks). The helmet looks just like the one in the picture also - super glossy and awesome! Highly recommended.","Product: Proven protection, proven style. The Pro-Tec Classic Certified helmet is a team favorite across every sport. It features our most durable high-impact ABS shell, EPS liner with compression molded pads, 11 open vents, and a wide array of styles to find your perfect fit. All Pro-Tec certified helmets are tested to meet ASTM 1492/1447 for multiple impacts, CE EN1078, CPSC 1203 and AS/NZS 2063:2008. Available in sizes XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Love the Look, Fits Nice and Snug\n\nReview: Within the past month, I've picked up bicycling. While I don't go terribly fast, my husband insisted that I get a helmet \"just in case\" and to be a good role model to our two kids. I ended up buying a Protec helmet and am very happy with it. I have a fairly big head, and I found that the L fit true to size. It's a little snug, but that's how I like it. It stays firmly on my head while bicycling, it's comfortable, and it should protect my head should I fall off my bike (I won't test that, thanks). The helmet looks just like the one in the picture also - super glossy and awesome! Highly recommended.","Product: 6 Pack; See key product features for colors included.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Good Alternative for Dot Markers - Essentially the Same Thing, but Better Value\n\nReview: Ever since they got the opportunity to play with dot markers at school, my kids have been asking me to buy them to use at home. For those who are not familiar, dot markers are essentially Bingo Daubers, but at a premium price. The Dab-O-Ink daubers go on brightly, dry relatively quickly (but not always quick enough for little sides of hands), don't leak or drip, and are easy to wash off. The colors layer very nicely, and if your kid decides they want to draw with these (such as lines), the foam tip is resilient and not prone to rip. We've owned our set since last Christmas, and even with a lot of use, they are still very full of the ink (you can hear it splashing inside the pen). These definitely last a LONG time.\n\nOverall, these are a great set of daubers. These would be great to use for their intended Bingo purposes, but also work fantastically for art and education purposes as well. We'll be definitely buying these again.","Product: The Allen XLT-X2 Aluminum 2-Child Jogger and Bike Trailer offers the perfect 2 in 1 product for the active parent. The item quickly sets up as either a fully functional fixed wheel jogger or bike trailer right out of the box. 20\" rear wheels and 16\" front wheel (for jogger mode) deliver low rolling resistance and large front and side windows let your passenger enjoy the ride. An extra large interior compartment delivers lots of room for your little riders. The XLT-X2 jogger/trailer includes a recessed foot area your children's feet and also comes with a removable three season bug and rain shield. Zippered panels on the Bug and Rain shield make for easy opening and closing. When not in use, the XLT-X2's folding design and quick release wheels offer easy storage and transportation. Allen Sports has manufactured top quality products for the outdoor industry since 1965. Still family owned, all of our items are backed by our lifetime warranty (please visit www.allensportsusa.com for complete details).\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Awesome Bike Trailer/Double Jogging Stroller\n\nReview: I admit it, my kids are a little older and can ride their own bikes now. But thankfully, they're not so old that they ride in a bike trailer - sometimes I want to get out and go fast and for a long time, and their little legs just can't keep up with the husband and me. Allen Sports Premier 2 Child Bike Trailer is the perfect solution for our family. It allows us to get out and go long distances on the bike as a family and the kids can run and play at the park then sleep all the way home. As an added bonus, the husband and I can go grocery shopping when the kids are at school and load this thing with a LOT of groceries without having to carry any on our backs in backpacks. The trailer can support up to 100 lbs of weight - our 5 year old daughter and 6 year old son can easily ride in this and not come close to the weight limit, although they both had to sit close to each other. The trailer is bright and very visible, and there is even a little orange flag to help draw more attention to the trailer. It's also features 5 point harnesses for safety. for I'll have a quick summer of the trailer near the top of my review, and more indepth comments further into the review.\n\nThe trailer is large and spacious for the kids, and even has a large space in the back to store additional items. We are able to fit a large backpack and a smaller cooler in the back with plenty of room to spare. I kid you not - the space in the back is about the size of a small carry on suitcase. You know those carry on bag measurement things at the airport? If your bag can fit in there without squishing and squeezing, it will fit in the carrying compartment. Your kids, in the meantime, will have plenty of foot room to spare, but no inflight movie (unless you bring along an iPad or something, if that's your thing).\n\nThe ride for the kids (and parents) is incredibly smooth. With 20\" wheels, the trailer rolls very well, and the kids mentioned the ride was comfortable. Our daughter even thought it was smooth enough to take a nap on one of our excursions. While it does weigh 36 lbs, it didn't feel very heavy. In fact, for a double stroller, it's very light. I personally wouldn't elect to fold this down and bring it with me to go shopping or anything, it is a good weight for a stroller of this size and capacity.\n\nAs great as this trailer/stroller is, like anything, it's not without its flaws. Many of the concerns however, are completely subjective. At 5'0 tall, I don't come close to the \"average user\", so many of my complaints are based on the stroller portion of the review.\n\nSET UP\nSet up for the bike trailer was not terribly difficult, although I can see some people having difficulty figuring out the directions. The images are small, black and white, and very close up. While I was able to set up the trailer without problem, I did have to flip back and forth in the booklet to refer to other photos to make sure what I was doing was correct. The first step of unfolding and figuring out where the frame latches was really the hardest part. After that initial step, the set up was a breeze - simply snap wheels here, pin this there...the initial set up for us took about 10 minutes, including checking the entire trailer to make sure we got it right. Hooking up the trailer to the bike too another 10 minutes at most. We had no problems attaching the bike trailer to our bikes.\n\nYou will not require any tools for set up and breakdown of the trailer - everything snaps into place and is securely locked with those metal push buttons and long pins that go through the trailer frames. You will need tools if you are looking to install the trailer to a bike (a wrench to loosen the left side rear axle), and a hex wrench if you're looking to install the parking brakes on the trailer (included).\n\nTHE WHEELS\nWith such a large wheel, this trailer drags behind a bike very smoothly. The wheels are 20\" diameter wheels and can be treated like small bike wheels. While we haven't run into this issue, all tires can be inflated like normal bike tires, and if it happens to blow out, I'm presuming you can replace the inner tube inside like most bike tires.\n\nIf you decide to use the trailer as a jogging stroller, you can attach a third wheel to the front. This wheel WILL NOT rotate, so you'll have to either lift and turn the stroller, or take really wide turns. I personally cannot run with this stroller comfortably - not because of the wheels, but primarily because of the size.\n\nOne thing to note is that the wheel release button are great. The wheels on the trailer can be released by pushing a huge button on the \"hub cap\" area of the wheel.\n\nTHE SIZE\nThis trailer is HUGE. It's like the grand chariot of trailers. I cannot image running with this thing as a jogging stroller because it's just that huge. It's 31\" wide from wheel hubcap to wheel hubcap, and should fit through most doors (our front door is 36\"). The compartment for the kids is large and comfortable. The seat back is 22\" high from top of the fabric to the seat. The seat is 10\"x20\" and can seat either one or two kids. The inner seat cabin also has a rubberize floor mat for easy clean up around the foot area. The back does not recline, so if your kids want to nap, they'll have to be in an upright position. The whole front cabin area can be covered with a zip bug/rain screen. The rain screen is attached to the bug screen and can be zipped up when not in use. The bug/rain screen can be rolled up and stored using two elastic loops at the top of the trailer when not in use.\n\nAs stated before, there is also a storage compartment in this trailer that can hold a considerable amount if you're planning on taking the kids out and going on a picnic or something. This compartment is roughly about 10\"x20\"x21\" and sit directly behind the kids. This compartment is not intended for items weighing more than 10lbs.\n\nWith all of this space, you can imagine this trailer/stroller is pretty big. I personally would pass if planning on using this as a jogging stroller because it's so big. As a trailer, it's both really nice to have all the space, but also slightly cumbersome. That said, despite it's size, it does move very smoothly when hitched up to a bike, and didn't feel like it added all too much weight despite the size. I didn't feel like it was causing much drag, either.\n\nTHE HANDLEBAR\nAlong with the size, if you're a short person, the handlebar in the back is nonadjustable. It sits at about 39\" from top of the handlebar to the ground. At 60\" tall, I find that the handlebar is too high and I have to hold the bar with my arms resting at an uncomfortable position. If you're taller, you will probably not have an issue with that.\n\nPARENT TRAY/CUPHOLDERS (or lack thereof)\nIf you were planning on using this trailer as a jogging stroller, or was hoping there would be cup holders on this unit anywhere, let me be first to tell you - there are none. There are two small pockets in the kid compartment, one small pocket on the flap that opens to the storage compartment, and that's it. The kid pockets are perfect for kids to store little snacks or books. If you're planning on going out with this with a latte in my hand, keep in mind you won't have anywhere to set it. If you're using this as a bike trailer, you shouldn't be biking with a latte anyways.\n\nBRAKING\n\nThere are no jogging brakes on this unit, but there are parking brakes included. The parking brake are set with a small lever. If used as a jogging stroller, this may be a problem for some, however since we used this primarily as a trailer, the brakes were not necessary.\n\nOverall, this is a fantastic trailer to add to your bike if you're planning on taking the little ones out on the road. It feels lightweight, is comfortable for the kids to ride, and is durable. We're definitely going to be taking more family bike rides with this trailer attached! Highly recommended.","Product: The Tailgaterz Cool-N-Carry is more than just a cooler; it is the perfect organizer for tailgating, car, camping, etc. It is constructed of 300D embossed polyester and is extremely durable. The vinyl lined center cooler section has polyethylene foam insulation and a zipper closable top. The two side compartments expand to use for storage or can be left folded when not needed. There are mesh pockets on the ends of the side compartments for additional see through organization. Convenient side carry handles and a shoulder strap for easy transport. Cooler size: 12wide x 10deep x 12high. Side compartments size: (each) 10wide x 10deep x 10high. Total deployed size: 32 x 12 x 10.5. Folded size: 3 x 11 x 12. Weight: 3 lbs. 6 oz. Import.Weight: 3 lbs. 6 oz..Import.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Great for Holding Groceries and Keeping Cold Items Cold\n\nReview: With California's \"no bag law\" in full effect, it's sometimes difficult to maintain a neat trunk - particularly when I forget the bags to bring into the store! The Tailgaterz Cool and Carry Organizer is a great item to have in your car. It hold a good amount of groceries, keeps the cold stuff cold in the middle cooler, and keeps items from rolling around my trunk when I drive home. I also appreciate the two handles on the sides - it makes it easy to carry everything in the house. The unit packs down very flat for when you're not using it, so it won't take up too much space. The material seems durable, although I haven't experienced having anything leak or spill in there. I will update the review should I find any faults with it in the future. Until then, this serves its purpose well!","Product: From Walt Disney Animation Studios comes a comedy-adventure set in the modern mammal metropolis of Zootopia. Determined to prove herself, Officer Judy Hopps, the first bunny on Zootopia s police force, jumps at the chance to crack her first case even if it means partnering with scam-artist fox Nick Wilde to solve the mystery. Bring home this hilarious adventure full of action, heart and tons of bonus extras that take you deeper into the world of Zootopia. It s big fun for all shapes and species!\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Fun Movie for the Entire Family - Loved the Many Easter Eggs Peppered In\n\nReview: Zootopia is a fast paced and heart touching story placed in the center of a society dominated by cute furry animals. I went into the movie with the expectation that I would be taking a nap - after watching a Secret Life of Pets with my kids, I really didn't have any expectations of this movie at all. Disney did a great job at making a movie of Pixar proportions. The visuals were stunning, the characters were relatable and likeable, and the story was clever and well paced. The jokes were funny and not limited to slapstick, and for those with an observant eye, there were plenty of Easter Eggs to be seen and to be spotted later. The adults particularly like the Breaking Bad Woolter and Jesse references, as well as the bootleg DVDs sold by Weaselton. For the kids, we spent time after watching the DVD to look up the harder to spot references such as the elephants dressed up like Elsa and Anna, the many hidden Mickeys, and so forth. Overall, this was a fun movie for the kids and adults alike. For people with really young kids, be warned, there are a few intense scenes.","Product: The hassle free Naztech universal car dash-mount is the most convenient way to easily fit your electronics within reach. Adaptable with most applications, this extremely portable product uses high tech anti-skid materials to create a solid mounting base that works with any surfaces, while keeping your device from sliding. Thanks to the clever swivel-head, users can change between portrait and landscape position, adjusting viewing angles in seconds with only one hand. As an added feature, the Suction Mount can also be attached to the windshield. The Naztech Dash-mount can be installed and removed in seconds, making it convenient to move from one car to another, while eliminating any threat of theft. This is a perfect accessory for anyone using a Bluetooth mobile phone, radar detectors, MP3s or GPS Navigation/Tracking application that want to keep their hands on the wheel and eyes on the Road.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: We Didn't Get a Bum Unit - and LOVE It\n\nReview: The majority of the complains about the Naztech seem to be quality control related - thankfully we did not receive such a unit. The Naztech is fabulous - we can put in any of our smartphones (not just the iPhone) and it will hold in in place. My husband just recently discovered Waze (free GPS app on iPhone...very awesome, fast, and maps are user updated so very up to date) and started using the Naztech. Because he travels a lot by car, he uses this a lot and has no problems with it. The ratcheting locking system may wear out with time, but seems very study for now, so no complaints. The only complain I have with the unit is that the bottom is a gel unit - from experience, this tends to lose it's grip with time, but we're not going to move it around much (if at all) and see if that keeps it in good condition.\n\nAll in all, this is a great mounting unit - highly recommended!","Product: Refresh Your Car Vent Sticks provide an affordable and easy-to-use approach to adding incomparable scents to your car. Available in Single and Dual scent varieties, simply insert them in your vent and enjoy the fragrance. The classic combination of Cucumber Melon and Fresh Linen brings two fragrance worlds together in the most beautiful way. One part smooth and crisp melon with the other part clean and refreshing, Cucumber Melon Fresh Linen continues to refresh vehicles and brighten the gloomiest of days.\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: Not So Fresh Linen, Vents Non Adjustable When These Are In Place\n\nReview: While I love my two Petri Dish Kids and my Little Dozy Dog, whenever they get into my car, it smells like sweaty old feet. I can attribute this to many hours on the playground, hikes in the hills, and other fun activities. Because my usual car scent (in Fresh Linen) was not available at my local Bullseye Store, I ended up picking up a package of these little stick vents thinking I might as well give them a try. How sad. How very very sad my car smells. The Refresh Your Car Vent Sticks smell nice for about an hour. We were going through a hot spell in California, and when I later returned to my car, the scent was strong, but nothing like Fresh Linen. It smells woefully chemical like, and the scent actually changes over time. When the hubbie got into the car sometime later in the week, he asked me if I forgot something in the trunk because it didn't smell good in there. I ended up tossing all the sticks out.\n\nIn addition to the sad changing scent, these sticks will not fit into a Prius vent very well. The sticks are too long, don't stay in place, and when they are placed in the two vents where they can stay relatively well (the two vents closest to the driver and passenger doors), the sticks will not allow you to position the vents in any way but directly forward. Away from my person. This is annoying because on hot sunny drives, I would rather be cool then have my car smell...well, I guess I'm not missing much since I ended up tossing these out anyways. Don't waste your time or money on these.","Product: Bell Automotive's Foose Quilted Suede Seat Cover will customize your ride. From the reality TV series Overhaulin', award winning Chip Foose is an American hot rod shop owner and highly acclaimed automotive designer and fabricator. In collaboration with Foose, Bell Automotive's team developed this durable universal bucket seat cover that will protect your seats from wear and tear while adding comfort and style to your vehicle. This seat cover features a sleek quilted black design and fits most seats with built-in or adjustable headrests.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Thin, Does not Fit Prius Plug In Seats Well\n\nReview: This seat covers looks really nice in the picture. However, like most fast food photos, the pictures often look much better than the actual product. The Bell Suede Seat Cover does not look as nice as it does in the picture when I tried to put it on my 2014 Prius Plug In. The headrest piece goes on and bunches up near the bottom. There are two little pieces of woven fabric rope you can tie to make the headrest fit much neater, however one of the ties on my particular set was already fraying at the end. The larger seat cover does fit nicely on my seat, however one part requires you to pull a 6\" fabric tab through the seat and the back so you can secure the cover in so it has that seat to back crease. This is impossible on a Prius driver seat because there is a piece of fabric sewn into the Prius that does not allow for anything to easily go through the gap. I was able to put the cover on, but the fabric does not tuck in, nor does it loo like it was installed by the dealer.\n\nThe overall feel of the suede is laughable. The material is thin, obviously not suede, and with a quilted center doesn't particularly look like it matches all that well. While this cover may protect my seat temporarily, I can't imagine it lasting for a long haul, particularly if you drive a lot. Overall, this isn't a terrible seat cover - it does get the job done to protect your seat - but it's definitely something I don't think will stay long in my car due to thin fabric and ill fit. One other thing to note is that there is only ONE seat cover in this package. If you want a matching set, you're going to have to buy two and one for the backseat area.","Product: Portable charger on the go: The Kshioe power bank will charge all of your portable electronic devices, such as smart phones, tablets, cameras, camcorders, GPS unit, MP3 players, wireless headphones and portable gaming systems. It is equipped with two 5V/2.1A USB ports that can charge two separate devices fast and simultaneously. Once fully charged it will go into sleep mode to preserve the battery. Easy to use car jump starter: Use the Kshioe power bank with the jumper cables to start your car battery in a matter of seconds. Keep it in the glove box at all times and you can use it multiple times. Portable LED flash light and emergency hammer and blade for the outdoors the super-bright LED flash light has 3 illumination modes, a flash light when yo are in the dark, a strobe light to attract attention and an sos signal flash that will last up to 120 hours on a full charge. Emergency hammer and emergency blade to keep you safe in case of emergency to leave that allows you to safely leave. Built-in protection features the kshioepower bank features over current protection, short circuit protection, overload protection and over-voltage protection to prevent damage to your vehicle and electronic devices. Attention 1) To avoid injury and/or damage to your vehicle, do not connect the red and black clamps together. 2) Do not reverse the sequence of operation when you start your car. 3) Do not start your car when there is just three or less battery indicators flashing to aovid demage to battery by human. 4) Remove battery within 20 seconds of starting your car. 5) Keep out of reach of children.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Good Heavy Duty Powerbank, Good for Charging Laptops and Other Electronic Items\n\nReview: The Kshioe Emergency Power Bank is a large sturdy powerbank that is capable of jumping a car should your battery die on you. I will honestly say I have not had the pleasure of testing out the car jumping capabilities of this unit as I haven't had my battery die on me yet (I drive a Prius, and should I accidentally leave the headlights on, they turn off automatically a few seconds after I lock my doors), nor have I tested out the window breaking spike on the end of the unit. Should my car need to be jumped, or if I get locked in my car in a life threatening situation, I'll be ready. I have tested out the charging capabilities of this battery, as well as the flashlight, and am quite pleased with the results.\n\nTo charge this unit, you will need to plug it into a standard AC outlet or you can plug it into your car using the car charger. The charger will indicate it is finish once all the bars on the battery indicator are lit and not flashing. This unit will turn off once fully charged to preserve battery. To full charge, its takes anywhere between 5-8 hours, depending on how much you've used the unit. Once charged, you flip the switch to ON, and press the function button (looks like the iPhone power button) to operate the unit. This unit can be set to 12v, 16v, or 19v. This allows you to charge larger items (laptop @ 19v) as well as smaller items (iPhone at 12v).\n\nThere is a flashlight included on this unit that can be set to steady, strobe, and SOS flashing mode. The light is very bright, and would work great when changing a tire at night. There is also a blue and red flashing light function that looks suspiciously like a police car flashing light. I'm not sure if it's legal to use those lights on the side of the road should your car break down, but I guess if it's a major emergency, it wouldn't hurt. also, on the end of the unit, there is a large metal triangle that can break glass should you need to exit your car. The entire unit is very small and lightweight. The accompanying cables come boxed up, so if you want, you could also leave the cables in the trunk for emergency use. This unit is small enough to carry in your glove compartment.\n\nOverall, while I haven't used this unit for the jump starting capabilities, as a portable battery charger, this unit works very well. Both the husband and I can charge our phones at the same time, and since we're on the road a lot, this comes in handy when charging our other electronic devices. This would be a great item to have on hand during an emergency, and it's small size would make it a great item to bring while camping. I'll update down the line should I ever need to jump a car - for now, it's definitely worth considering.\n\nFYI - I was selected for this opportunity to review this item free of charge. The content and opinions expressed here are all my own.","Product: View-Tab Transparent dividers have transparent polypropylene tabs that let you print all tab titles on one standard sheet of paper; no more tiny inserts. These are available with five count tab dividers with tabs in a multicolor square shape. Online templates available at wilsonjones.com/templates. 5 pack.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Where Were These When I Was in School?!?!\n\nReview: I hate paper binder dividers. I hate having to write on each tab, I hate having them rip by mistake, I hate putting labels on them to make them look better but not having the labels line up perfectly...I can go on and on why paper tabs are inferior to these. Wilson Jones got dividers right: the tabbed sheets are entirely made of plastic, thus making them much more durable and easier to grab onto and turn through a pile of pages. And the tab writing issue has been completely thrown out - you just print all your headers on one sheet and put it on the back of the binder - the tabs are see through so you can see your subjects through the tabs on the header sheet. Brilliant!! If you're anything like me, you probably won't even need the sheet after a while because you'll memorize the tabs (Algebra - blue, English - red, Science - green, and so forth).\n\nWith five sets of dividers in here, I'm able to have a set ready to go for my kids school work with some to spare. This is really a smart dividing system to use. Highly recommended!","Product: Brand New. Staedtler Triplus Fineliner Pen Ergonomic Barrel 0.8mm Tip 0.3mm Line Assorted Ref 334 SB10 [Pack 10]\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Bright Bold Colors, Doesn't Bleed Through the Paper, Little to No Smudging\n\nReview: Ever since I've started Bullet Journaling, I've been struggling with finding the perfect pens to use with my journals. The requirements are simple - 1. Don't bleed through the paper, 2. Don't smudge all over the place and 3. Feel comfortable to hold and use. While I've found that Microns and the Faber Castell PITT Artist pens perfect for writing and creating bold lines, I struggled to find something that would add the variety of color I desired in my journal. The Staedtler Triplus Fineliners were a great solution. The pens draw and write very smoothly, don't bleed through the paper, and the colors are bright and cheerful.\n\nThe barrel of the pens are not cylindrical like most pens, but instead have a triangular type shape. The edges of the triangles are rounded, so the grip is comfortable and the pen won't roll to the ground off your desk. One thing I'm not in love with these pens is the narrowness of the pen's barrel - this is a preference thing, but I've been using the PITT Artist and Micron pens so long that I'm used to holding a thicker barreled pen. The Staedtlers are about the thickness of a standard ball point pen. Also, the caps will not stay on the top of the pen very well. More than once I've almost lost the cap due to it flicking off. Those gripes aside, the color is brilliant, and I love the touches of color dotted throughout my journal. This is a good budget friendly pen to consider adding to your bullet journaling arsenal.","Product: The Lee SortKwik Fingertip Moistener is a powerful grip enhancer, providing a positive hold for all your counting, filing, collating and sorting tasks. With SortKwik, you are able to get all your money and paper handling tasks done with greater ease and speed. The patented antimicrobial ingredient offers superior hygienic protection. The product is non-toxic, odorless and won't stain skin, paper or clothes. Includes 2 containers of the 1.75 oz SortKwik.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Very Effective, Great for Sorting Though Papers - Will Not Leave Residue\n\nReview: As a parent helper at my kid's school, I go through a LOT of papers. I sort through class papers, projects, announcements - you name it, I've had to get it prepped. Lee Sortkwik really helps get through papers quickly. I can moisten my fingers without having to lick them (gross!), use a damp sponge, or wear those weird rubber fingertip things. Papers are easily grasped and not marked by the Sortkwik material in any way. The Sortkwik is also much cheaper to buy via Amazon - I went to the local big box office supply store, and one container of this costs as much as two on Amazon! I won't have to buy it for a while though - one container of this stuff lasts a long time! Overall, very pleased with this product - this would be a great addition to a \"back to school\" teacher basket!","Product: BIC Marking Retractable Permanent Markers are designed to leave vivid, permanent marks on virtually any surface. This permanent marker features a convenient retractable design that lets you extend and retract the tip with a simple click. Never worry about losing a cap! The Seal Guard Defends Against Dry Out technology helps ensure the fine point doesn't dry out if left exposed. The low-odor, acid-free ink* goes on smoothly and legibly and is great for marking on glass, metal, plastic, foils, photos, coated paper, and oily and damp surfaces. *No added acid, no measurable pH\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Bold Black Color, Convenient Retractable Click Top, A Little Finicky When Drawing on Balloons.\n\nReview: The Bic Marking Permanent Markers (Black) work very well for many of my pen marking needs. These pens write very smoothly, are incredibly low odor, and the color is very black in comparison to <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Sharpie-Permanent-Markers-Fine-Point-Black-Box-of-12/dp/B00006IFHD/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">Sharpie Permanent Markers, Fine Point, Black, Box of 12</a>. The pens are great for marking paper, masking tape, playing cards, red plastic cups, and the like. I've had no issues with smudging, and the ink dries quickly and effectively. The thing I love most about these pens are the fact that they are retractable - it's so much easier to use these pens without having to deal with holding a cap in my mouth or misplacing the cap.\n\nHOWEVER, as a balloon artist, while this pen marks very well on balloons, it is a bit more prone to smudge since it take just a tiny bit longer to dry, and it doesn't seem to fill in color as well as Sharpies. The pen ink seems to separate in some areas while drying, resulting in small dotted areas where the balloon color peeks through. This shows more glaringly on colors like metallic and chrome balloons. It's not enough to stop me from using the pens, but it's annoying enough for me to keep a few black Sharpies in my bag, just in case I need to clean up some fine details. That said, drawing on balloons is not something most people would use these pens for, and again, I like them for their much bolder black color and click top convenience. Overall, great permanent marker that's worth keeping on hand.","Product: BIC Marking Retractable Permanent Markers are designed to leave vivid, permanent marks on virtually any surface. This permanent marker features a convenient retractable design that lets you extend and retract the tip with a simple click. Never worry about losing a cap! The Seal Guard Defends Against Dry Out technology helps ensure the fine point doesn't dry out if left exposed. The low-odor, acid-free ink* goes on smoothly and legibly and is great for marking on glass, metal, plastic, foils, photos, coated paper, and oily and damp surfaces. *No added acid, no measurable pH\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Bold Black Color, Convenient Retractable Click Top, A Little Finicky When Drawing on Balloons.\n\nReview: The Bic Marking Permanent Markers (Black) work very well for many of my pen marking needs. These pens write very smoothly, are incredibly low odor, and the color is very black in comparison to <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Sharpie-Permanent-Markers-Fine-Point-Black-Box-of-12/dp/B00006IFHD/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">Sharpie Permanent Markers, Fine Point, Black, Box of 12</a>. The pens are great for marking paper, masking tape, playing cards, red plastic cups, and the like. I've had no issues with smudging, and the ink dries quickly and effectively. The thing I love most about these pens are the fact that they are retractable - it's so much easier to use these pens without having to deal with holding a cap in my mouth or misplacing the cap.\n\nHOWEVER, as a balloon artist, while this pen marks very well on balloons, it is a bit more prone to smudge since it take just a tiny bit longer to dry, and it doesn't seem to fill in color as well as Sharpies. The pen ink seems to separate in some areas while drying, resulting in small dotted areas where the balloon color peeks through. This shows more glaringly on colors like metallic and chrome balloons. It's not enough to stop me from using the pens, but it's annoying enough for me to keep a few black Sharpies in my bag, just in case I need to clean up some fine details. That said, drawing on balloons is not something most people would use these pens for, and again, I like them for their much bolder black color and click top convenience. Overall, great permanent marker that's worth keeping on hand.","Product: 3M Super 77 Multi-Purpose Adhesive, 4.37-Ounce\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Sprays on Evenly, Great for Paper Crafts and Scrapbooking\n\nReview: The Scotch 3M Super 77 Multi-Purpose Adhesive works very effectively as a scrapbook and paper crafts adhesive. I do a bit of scrapbooking and art projects (such as Wreck My Journal) in my spare time and found that while adhesives like rubber cement are effective, it can be difficult to manage when gluing down large pieces of paper. Rubber cement also does not work very effectively when Im trying to glitter a surface smoothly. The Super 77 sprays on very evenly, adheres paper effectively, and is the perfect adhesive to use when making thin layers of glitter. It does have a very pronounced scent, so you will want to be in a well ventilated area, and can make areas around where you spray very sticky. I ended up delegating an old cardboard box to spray items in the excess glue stays in the box, and I can get paper backings fully covered with the glue.\n\nThe nozzle does need to be cleaned after use, otherwise residual glue will end up blocking the hole and the next time you use it, glue may spray everywhere except forward. Ive found using a small pin to scratch out residual glue works very effectively. This glue is not cheap, but depending on your projects, will last quite a while. Ive done multiple paper craft and scrapbooking projects, and this bottle is still going strong after a couple of months. One thing to note if you plan of repositioning items, this glue does not release easily like rubber cement. It does dry completely without feeling tacky this is particularly helpful when glittering projects and some areas are not glittered. Overall, this is a good crafts glue. I picked up this bottle from my local crafts store, but will likely pick up from Amazon in the future as the price is comparable.","Product: The Five Star Zipper Binder Plus Multi Access File includes a 6-pocket expanding file that gives you several places to store and access sheets. A 3-ring binder holds sheets inside the zipper closure. The 6-pocket expanding file can be accessed from the inside and outside of the binder. 2-inch capacity, 13.75 x 12.12 x 3.5 Inches overall; Includes a convenient carrying handle. *ACCO Brands will replace any Five Star Zipper Binder that is returned within one year from the date of purchase. The guarantee does not cover damage due to abuse. Contact ACCO Brands Consumer Affairs at www.mead.com for instructions.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Huge Binder, Durability Questionable\n\nReview: This binder is simply HUGE. The Five Star Zipper Binder is great if you're looking for a binder that will protect your pages from all angles as all the pages will be zipped into one containable pack. The downside of this binder is that it's huge and the filing system, while useful in some situations, doesn't seem to add anything aside from additional bulk. The filing system can be accessed from both the exterior and the interior of the binder, and the large 2\" rings hold papers effectively. In terms of durability, I'm really not confident that this particular binder will make the cut. The fabric is very thin and the seams feel weak.\n\nI think I'd prefer a different zip up binder over this particular one. Five Star really has quality products, however this one is just not ready for prime time.","Product: LASTS ALL YEAR. GUARANTEED!* The unique Five Star Flex NoteBinder acts like a notebook and works like a binder. Clearview cover feature allows for customization. It features durable plastic covers and TechLock rings to store loose sheets and protect your most important pages. The covers fold back to lie flat allowing easy notetaking in class while the 3 rings open easily to quickly add or remove sheets so you always have what you need. The flexible patented rings ensure durability so they wont break or misalign from frequent use. 1\" size holds 200 sheets. Includes 20 sheets of quad ruled paper and 60 sheets of college ruled paper for convenient and ready usage. Your most important papers are protected by the NotePocket dividers (2) and NoteProtector dividers (3), which are included. Covers feature geo texture. *ACCO Brands will replace any Five Star notebinder that is returned within one year from the date of purchase. This guarantee does not cover damage due to abuse. Contact ACCO Brands Consumer Affairs for instructions.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Weak Binder Rings, Overall Good Lightweight System\n\nReview: The Five Star Flex Hybrid Notebinder is one of those \"great in theory, but not totally practical\" type product. First off, the notebinder does marry the best things about a binder and a notebook. As a notebook, it it flexible, can open up all the way so that you can write in it without having cumbersome rings getting in the way, and is very lightweight. As a binder, you can put in pages when you need to, remove pages without ripping them out, and there are dividers so you can categorize your paperwork. Two of the dividers are made of slightly thicker plastic and has folder pockets to hold additional paperwork. The remaining three dividers are made of thinner plastic and have an opening in each to store full papers in. The best part of the notebinder is that it has the three rings where you can put in paperwork that are silent when you open them. There's not resounding \"CLICK\" when you open and close the binder, and you can sneak papers in during lectures without bothering anyways. This notebinder also comes with some line and graphing paper.\n\nUnfortunately, the things that make this notebinder great also are its greatest weaknesses. The rings are all separately operated. This allows the quiet click of each one, but it also means that you're putting paper in and out, you have to unlock each ring one by one. This is problematic if you have a lot of papers to be moving around. The other problem is with the ring durability. Each ring is plastic that has a long arrow shaped end that clicks into the matching hole. While it works great now, over time the connection gets weaker and weaker. This is a binder you will not be using long term, most likely.\n\nThe overall look and feel of the notebinder is that of a standard Five Star Notebook. The only read difference is with the large rings and an expandable fabric piece that functions as a spine. Overall, this is a really decent \"one year use\" type binder. I can't imagine using it for over a year as I don't think it's quite that durable, and for the price I feel that it's really expensive for a one year use product. The one thing that would make this binder perfect is getting a better system for the binder rings - that aside, it's an interesting light use hybrid. I like it, but I'm not sure I would pay full price for it.","Product: FSK01005452 Bypass trimmer features self-sharpening blades so no replacement blades are needed. Blade cuts up to 10 sheets of paper at a time. Cutting arm lock is built-in for safe transporting and storage. Use precision printed scale and grid on base for easy alignment. Trimmer also features a paper clamp, smudge guard and anti-skid rubber feet for stability. Trimmer base is made from 100 percent recycled post-consumer resin. -Product Type: Trimmer. -Country of Origin: China. -Cutting Length: 12''. -Cutting Support: 10 Sheet. -Recycled: Yes. -Recycled Content: 100pct. -Post-consumer-wastepct: 100pct. -Assembly Required: No. -Color: Black. -Color: Orange. -Brand Name: Fiskars. -Features: Self-sharpening. -Features: Non-skid Rubber Feet. -Features: Alignment Grid. -Manufacturer: Fiskars Corporation. -Product Model: 01-005452. -Product Name: Bypass Trimmer. -Dimensions: 3'' Height x 21.30'' Width x 14.90'' Depth. -Manufacturer Part Number: 01-005452. -Packaged Quantity: 1.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Cuts Papers Quickly and Efficiently\n\nReview: The Fiskars Recylced Bypass Trimmer is a lightweight paper cutter that cuts efficiently and effectively. I'm able to cut my photos to smaller size to put in my scrapbook much faster than when I used scissors or when I used a knife and cutting mat. The one thing that I don't like much on the trimmer is the fact that the blade doesn't lock down - my kids (two years old and three years old) have figured out how to move the blade from the \"locked down\" position to the up position. Needless to say, I've been storing this trimmer on the top shelf of the closet. Outside of that, the Fiskars trimmer works well, and cuts paper cleanly. Highly recommended!","Product: Helix. Helix Angle and Circle Protractor. This item is manufactured in China. Self sharpening\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Handy Tool to Make Perfect Circles\n\nReview: The Helix Angle and Circle Maker is a simple but clever tool to use to draw circles. For years, I've relied on tracing various objects or subjecting my journals to the pointed end of a protractor in order to achieve the perfect circle. This handy little circle maker consists of a ring with a movable center plastic piece. To use, you simply place your pencil or pen in one of the little holes in the plastic piece then draw where the plastic piece guides you. You can also use the precut circles to trace smaller circles. The center guide moves fairly smoothly, but does require a firm hand so that the circles come out neatly. I would not recommend using this device with very thin tipped pens. I used a Micron 03 pen with this circle maker, but I wouldn't go any thinner than that.\n\nWhile this circle maker did work with my Leuchttum 1917 Bullet Journal, I will warn you that it does take a steady hand to use since there is a book gutter to deal with. While these journals do lay quite flat, I did have some issues with getting it to lay flat enough so that the inner circle would work smoothly. On completely flat surfaces, the circle maker had no issues. Overall, this is a useful tool if you're looking to add circles to some of your artwork.","Product: The Canon PIXMA MX922 Energy Star Wireless Inkjet Office All-in-One Printer prints in black and white at 15 ipm, in color at 10 ipm, and can output a borderless 4.0 x 6.0-inch photo in 21 seconds. Print borderless photos right at home using the 9600 x 2400 color dpi. Use the automatic double-sided print feature to print on both sides of the page and cut your paper consumption by as much as 50%. The built-in disc tray lets you design and print your own custom CDs, DVDs, and Blu-rays. Its Full HD Movie Print feature takes a frame from an HD movie recorded on a compatible EOS, PowerShot, or VIXIA camera or camcorder and prints it as a photo, ensuring you never miss a photo opportunity while shooting video. The MX922 features a scan resolution of up to 2400 x 4800 dpi optical. Plus use the built-in copy function to duplicate photos as well as documents.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Worked Great the First Two Years, Had Minor Issues then Completely Stopped Working in the Third Year\n\nReview: I purchased this printer in February 2014 and finally had to replace this printer in August 2017. The Canon worked well the first two years I owned it, but was riddled with issues the final year including paper jamming, streaking, and ultimately a message on the screen telling me that I needed to call a service center to help fix it even though it printed a page perfectly right before giving me the error. I can't say I totally hated this printer - it worked well when scanning, the auto feed and duplexing worked great, and both the photo prints and copy prints came out perfectly. Unfortunately, the ink did need to be replaced frequently, and the longevity of this printer pales in comparison to my older Canon InkJet which lasted well over a decade before I replaced it (not because I needed to, but because I wanted a 3-in-1 with scanner). For the use I put into this printer for 3 years, I don't feel terribly bad about investing this much in this unit, but am I disappointed that it didn't last at least five years.","Product: Maximize your daily efficiency with the PIXMA MX472 Wireless Office All-In-One Printer. The PIXMA MX472 excels in connectivity. With Google Cloud Print and Air Print, you can print wirelessly from your compatible smartphone or tablet from virtually anywhere around the office. It's loaded with timesaving features as well, including an automatic document feeder which holds up to 30 sheets. And when it comes time to change ink or add paper, the Fast Front feature makes it quick and easy-right at the front of the printer! Plus, the optional XL or XXL pigment black ink cartridges mean you can print longer before having to replace your cartridges.;;Another great feature of the PIXMA MX472 is My Image Garden software. My Image Garden puts all your favorite printing features, such as Special Filters and full HD Movie Print, in one convenient software application. It helps you organize your photos with calendar view and facial recognition.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Good Printer for At Home/School Use\n\nReview: I got this printer for my brother who is in college and who needs a decent printer to to light printing, scanning, and copying. Canon MX472 hasn't let him down. He's able to print term papers, scan documents, and copy without any major issues. It's a little slow to buffer in comparison to my Canon MX922, but not terribly so. He's been able to print documents via iPad, share the printer wireless over his network with his housemates, and mentioned that the ink life seems to be quite good. While he hasn't used the fax feature because there isn't a phone line, he did mention every other feature seems to work very well. Overall, this is a great \"light use\" type printer. I wouldn't suggest using it for printing out 300 page novels on, but for college and home use, it's a solid printer to have. Recommended!","Product: ALEX Toys Artist Studio Glitter Shakers lets artists add a touch of sparkle to any project. Simply spread glue over your paper or craft surface and sprinkle the glitter of your choice on top. Shake off the excess, let it dry, then you have instant shimmer! Includes 24 plastic vials each containing 0.32oz. of glitter. Recommended for children 3 years of age and older.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Great Variety of Glitters of Various Color and Size - Perfect for Holiday and Kids Crafts\n\nReview: For those looking for Professional Martha Stewart quality glitter, look elsewhere - these glitters are good, but not quite as good as those super expensive glitters. For those who are looking for a fun variety of glitters that come in a good variety of shapes and colors for your holiday crafts and kid's projects - this is the perfect set to consider. The Alex Glitter Shaker set comes with 24 .32 oz glitter shakers in ultra fine, sprinkle, fine, and large square (standard) glitter. The color mix is good, and features both single color glitters as well as a bottle of patriotic (red white and blue) mixed. The glitters are well packaged in a carrying case, easy to pour/sprinkle, and the bottle tops come off if you want to pour back in unused glitter for later use. Overall, these glitters are well priced for the amount given and variety offered. This would be a good set to consider for your kid's art box.","Product: Zebra Highlighter Mildliner\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Beautiful Colors, No Scent, No Smudging - Great for Bujo and Highlighter Calligraphy\n\nReview: The Zebra MILDLINER Set is a great set of highlighters if you're looking for a good light colored highlighter set. I use my Mildliners primarily for bullet journaling, and I love the colors and effects I can get achieve with these particular pens. The colors range from soft pastel to bright (but not neon bright) and the colors go on very smoothly and evenly. Each pen is double ended, which honestly I almost didn't notice. There is a broad side for highlighting and a pointed end if you want to write something down in a slightly smaller font. The ink colors match the cap color fairly closely, and there is no scent when using these pens. Also, the pen dry very quickly and will not smudge on the <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Leuchtturm1917-Softcover-Medium-Dotted-Notebook-Black/dp/B003EVHV6S/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">Leuchtturm1917 Softcover Medium Dotted Notebook Black</a> pages. With a pack of three, there's also a good variety for a good cost - these would be a great gift to get your bullet journaling friend or for yourself!","Product: American Greetings offers exceptional greeting cards, gift wrap and celebration products so you can connect in ways that fit your personality and authentic style.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Very Beautiful and Well Made Card, Lovely Message Inside\n\nReview: The Greatest Gift Anniversary Card by American Greetings is a very well made and beautiful card to give to your special someone. My husband and I will be celebrating our 10 year anniversary this year, and this card will round out my gift for him perfectly. The cut work on the front of the card is top notch, and there are no rough edges, breaks in the paper, or erroneous cuts. The card stock is good and heavy, and the interior foil is clean and shiny. The entire card came well packaged in a plastic protector, and was almost too well shipped - I received it in a very large bubble envelope that protected the card from being marred or bent.\n\nThe message inside of the card almost perfectly mirrored part of our wedding vows, which was \"Asides from the gift of salvation, you are the greatest gift God has given me\". It was very touching to see the \"greatest gift\" message in this card, and I'm hoping the message will bring back that fond memory for my husband. Overall, this is a very lovely card to consider for that special person in your life.","Product: HL3180CDW Digital Color Printer with Convenience Copying and Scanning. Fast, high-quality printing at up to 23ppm. Convenient, walk-up copying and high-quality color scanning. Easy to set up and share on your wireless network or connect locally via USB interface. Intuitive 3.7\" color Touchscreen display offers intuitive navigation and easy scanning to popular cloud services including DROPBOX, GOOGLE DRIVE, EVERNOTE, ONEDRIVE and more. Automatic duplex (two-sided) printing to help save paper.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Outstanding Prints, Auto Duplexing, but Scanner Doesn't Have Auto Feed - Still Love It Either Way\n\nReview: After a short run with my most recent ink jet printer purchase (a little over 3 years with the <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Canon-Office-and-Business-MX922-All-in-one-Printer-Wireless-and-mobile-printing/dp/B00AVWKUJS/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">Canon Office and Business MX922 All-in-one Printer, Wireless and mobile printing</a>) I finally decided that it's about time to try out a Laser printer and that I would \"go big or go home\". Well, since I was already at home, I figured i would go big anyways, and settled on the Brother Wireless Digital Color Laser Printer. So far, I'm impressed with what I got. The Brother Laser Printer prints out pages perfectly, and with speed that my inkjets never could muster.\n\nIn terms of size, this unit is definitely not a little desktop printer to share with your PC/Mac/Laptop/etc. This unit can hold almost a full ream of paper in it, and it houses these huge ink cartridges totally unlike the little inkjet packs. Prints come out very quickly in this unit, and all the prints are crisp and perfectly colored. There are no visible streaking, horizontal printing line, or any imperfections that I can see on the prints. This unit auto duplexes, so I don't have to baby sit it when printing items on both sides of a page, and this unit can scan/copy pages easily. One thing I do miss on this unit that was available on the inkjet 3-in-1 is the auto feed for the scanner. This isn't a huge issue for our household as we don't need to scan multiple page documents all too often, but keep this in mind if you do need to scan items frequently. For those who need to utilize the fax functions, this printer also doesn't have that feature. Again, we didn't need it in our household, so we didn't miss it.\n\nMaintenance of this minimal - simply change out the cartridges when they run out, and maybe occasionally run the printer maintenance function. If you don't print for some time, you don't have to worry about ink jet nozzles clogging up, and you don't have to worry about shutting off the printer because it goes into sleep mode perfectly. This printer hooked up easily to the wireless and stays connected well, and I'm also able to print off my iPad and iPhones without issues - this is something I struggled with constantly with my older printer, and those functions alone make it totally worth the cost. The printer works very quickly and quietly, and getting to work with the many computers (both PC and Mac) was seamless. I can't say anything regarding the longevity of this printer as of yet, but I'm expecting that it lasts longer than 3 years simply because it seems to be very durable and well built. Overall, I'm very pleased with the Brother Digital Color Printer. It's fast, quiet, and the prints that come out of this unit are clean, bold, and bright.","Product: Customize all your communications with these printable Matte Postcards. They're compatible with both laser and inkjet printers and are formatted to meet U.S. postal regulations. Create your own eye-catching engagement announcements, business ads, coupons, invitations and more. Just use the free templates and designs to add bright personalized color, graphics and text. Then print, apply the required postage and let the postal service do the rest.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Decent Cardstock for Postcards, Templates Available on Avery's Website - Item 5919\n\nReview: The Avery Postcards are good postcards to print out yourself and send for any occasion. We like sending postcards to family and friends as thank you notes with pictures of the kids on the front with the gift they received or with the person they did an activity with. Because photo paper doesn't mail very well (photos get too scratched up or easily torn in transit), we tried out the Avery Postcards. The cardstock is about the same thickness as your average Hallmark greeting card, and the paper is smooth and matte. The paper comes perforated for easy tearing and is blank on both sides. For those who don't want to use the cards for printed postcards, the paper stock is good to draw on as well using markers, crayons, etc. The postcards are thick enough to send out, and hold up in the mail fairly well, although not quite as well as the postcards you can buy on the street. There are templates for many postcards on Avery's website that you can use with these postcards - simply search for item 5919 to get a list of the many cards. You don't have to download any particular software to use the templates, and everything can be designed online. If you're looking to make and send out your own personalized postcards, these are worth considering.","Product: Sharpie Fine Point Permanent Markers, Box of 48 Markers, Black (30001)\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Great Value, Great Pens - Good Dark Color with No Smudging\n\nReview: As a family of magicians and balloon artists, we simply cannot have enough Sharpies in the house. Sharpies are use for more than just labeling - the husband goes through hundreds of playing cards that need to be signed by spectators each month, and as a balloon artist, those eyes don't get drawn on the balloons by themselves. The Sharpies work great of a large variety of surfaces including paper, masking tape, playing cards, latex balloons, plastic, wood, and so forth. The ink dries quickly and doesn't smudge once dry. Overall, this is a great permanent marker that has a solid black colored ink that dries quickly. All the pens we've tried seem to have a good amount of ink and work perfectly - I would definitely buy these again.","Product: Sound biological mosquito control - Kills within 24 hours. Kills before mosquitoes are old enough to bite. Sprinkle in any standing water\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Great for Pond in a Pot\n\nReview: Pinterest, with all of it's amazing crafty people photo postings, has done it again. This month I was seduced by the idea of upgrading my bird fountain idea to a full blown half whiskey barrel pond in a pot complete with fish, water plants, and a solar fountain. While my little backyard oasis is relaxing, the idea of mosquitoes is not, and goldfish and Rosy Cherry Minnows are not guaranteed to eat mosquito larvae fast enough. Also, my solar fountain unfortunately does not run at night, when mosquitoes are most active. The Mosquito Bits seem to be keeping those little buggers away. Because I have such a small pond set up, I drop in only a few granules into my little pond once a week. The granules don't seem to be affecting my fish or plants at all, and I haven't noticed any mosquito activity going on which is a HUGE plus in my book. Overall, this stuff seems to be keeping the mosquitoes from setting up shop in my yard, and I'm still able to enjoy my Pinterest worthy Pond in a Pot. With the size I purchased, I'm going to have more than enough bait to keep mosquitoes out of my yard for years to come.","Product: The Grow More 16 oz. Cactus juice liquid plant food contains calcium & other nutrients for feeding cacti & succulents & can be used every 2 weeks during the growing season. Simply mix 1 teaspoon of plant food with 1 gal. Of water & drench the base of your plants to Help keep them healthy.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Improved the Health of My Succulents and Cactus\n\nReview: Relatively new to growing succulents, I've been doing research on these funny little plants since I was gifted a few over the past few months.\nWhile my plants looked healthy, I figured they could use a little vitamins and other nutrients and picked up a bottle of the Grow More Cactus Juice. So far I'm impressed with what I've seen. The fertilizer has helped improve the color of the leaves on my Christmas Cacti, encouraged some new growth, and one of my succulents actually started flowering since using this fertilizer. I dilute the fertilizer so it's quite weak, and use it every couple of waterings (not too frequently right now since it's still quite cool in California). The fertilizer is easy to use - just pour a capful in a gallon of water (or less if you want), stir, then water as usual. A little bit goes a LONG way! Overall, very pleased with the results and the improved health of my plants. This bottle is highly concentrated and requires only a tiny amount per gallon, so it's likely to last my plants a good amount of time before I need to buy again.","Product: The Grow More 16 oz. Cactus juice liquid plant food contains calcium & other nutrients for feeding cacti & succulents & can be used every 2 weeks during the growing season. Simply mix 1 teaspoon of plant food with 1 gal. Of water & drench the base of your plants to Help keep them healthy.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Improved the Health of My Succulents and Cactus\n\nReview: Relatively new to growing succulents, I've been doing research on these funny little plants since I was gifted a few over the past few months.\nWhile my plants looked healthy, I figured they could use a little vitamins and other nutrients and picked up a bottle of the Grow More Cactus Juice. So far I'm impressed with what I've seen. The fertilizer has helped improve the color of the leaves on my Christmas Cacti, encouraged some new growth, and one of my succulents actually started flowering since using this fertilizer. I dilute the fertilizer so it's quite weak, and use it every couple of waterings (not too frequently right now since it's still quite cool in California). The fertilizer is easy to use - just pour a capful in a gallon of water (or less if you want), stir, then water as usual. A little bit goes a LONG way! Overall, very pleased with the results and the improved health of my plants. This bottle is highly concentrated and requires only a tiny amount per gallon, so it's likely to last my plants a good amount of time before I need to buy again.","Product: Victor M201 Rat Trap (Pack of 12)\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Kills Rats Quickly, Can Customize the Sensitivity of the Trigger\n\nReview: With a huge apple tree on my neighbor's side and a small backyard chicken coop/run on my side of the fence, it was bound to happen - we spotted evidence of rats and even saw happy little rats running up and down the fence as if they owned the joint. Since I can't handle the idea of those furry little rodents eating my chicken's feed, let alone living upstairs in the attic, desperate measures were taken - I set out a bunch of the Victor Rat Traps. I was very pleased to find that this trap does it job, and it does it super effectively - I've loaded peanut butter on the traps with great success. After catching a couple of rats, they became trap shy, so I started baiting the traps with peanut butter and almonds and left the traps outside unbaited. Once the bait started disappearing, I set all the traps again and caught a couple more.\n\nThese traps can be set to have a more sensitive trigger by simply using a pair of needlenose pliers to put in the small metal trigger a bit in. Surprisingly, with the hair trigger, I've been even able to catch a few mice in this trap (although it was pretty gruesome to see them since it would catch them mid back instead of on the neck). There have been only a few instances when I found the traps triggered with no bait on it. When that would happen, I would start the baiting without setting for a few days to get the rodents used to the traps again.\n\nOverall, if you're looking for a simple, humane, and effective trap, this works fairly well. You can use a variety of baits including peanut butter, hot dog slices, nuts, fruits, or even bacon to attract the vermin, and once you've caught something, you can reset the trap again and again as needed. While the war on the rats hasn't ended in our yard, we certainly making a dent in the population. This is a good trap to consider if you're not squeamish and want something good and reliable.","Product: Greenworks, 10 Amp 16-Inch 2 in 1, Rear Bag or Mulch Electric Lawn Mower, Converts Easily from Rear Bag to Mulch, Model # 25142\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Lightweight, Folds Down Compactly/Easily, Wish the Collection Bag Was Larger/Easier to Remove\n\nReview: Only in California can one purchase a lawn mower in the middle of December and find themselves still having to mow their lawn. My older Black and Decker finally started showing its age, and after calculating the cost of replacement parts, I figured it would be easier and cheaper to purchase a whole new mower rather than to have to buy and fix the old B&D. I'm really quite happy with this purchase. Knowing that I didn't quite need a wide mower, I settled for the 5\" narrower GreenWorks corded mower. This mower is lighter, easier to maneuver, and works just as effectively as my old mower when it was in its prime. The unit is much easier to fold down and store, and I like how the unit is not quite as loud as my old mower. One notable improvement on the GreenWorks vs the B&D is that the little flap that keeps rocks/grass/dirt from kicking up is made of plastic instead of rubber. On the B&D, that flap wore down and broke off incredibly quickly. I noticed this one not only stays in place better, but I can move the mower back and forth as needed without having to worry about it getting sucked down under the mower. One downside to this mower is that the collection bag is much smaller. This requires me to unload a lot more frequently (particularly when I have long grass to mow!), and the bag is not quite as easily removed as the B&D. The bag issue alone is worth the dock of star, but I'm thinking if I didn't have a point of reference, I wouldn't have known that bag removal could be that easy.\n\nOverall, if you're looking for a good lightweight mower that is plug in, this is a good one to consider. It mows lawns evenly and effectively, and the smaller unit is great for my easy to maintain front and backyard lawns.","Product: The Wild Harvest team is dedicated to providing products that promote complete nutrition for your birds and small animals. Using natural ingredients, Wild Harvest provides the perfect blend of food and treats to meet the distinct dietary needs of birds and small animals. This unique blend of your birds favorite premium seeds such as canary grass seed, red and white millets and wholesome grains which make the Wild Harvest Daily Blend for parakeets, canaries, finches and other similar small birds. Specially formulated with vitamins and minerals, it encourages vibrant plumage and has vital nutrients for optimum health all in a 100 percent nutritionally complete blend. Keeping your product fresh is never a concern with Wild Harvest. The seed blend comes with a resealable zipper to lock in that freshness. Wild Harvest Daily Blend for Parakeet, Canary and Finch provides the nutrients important for your bird, with a great and natural taste they cant resist.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Decent Seed Blend, Heavy Orange Scent, Arrived Fresh and Well Packaged\n\nReview: With two doves ruling the roost in our home, I wanted to offer them a goof variety of foods to eat ranging from seeds, fruits, grains, and grasses - just like they'd eat in the wild. The Spectrum Blends Wild Harvest Daily Blend Parakeet Food (same company who makes Tetra Fish Food, Dingo Dog Snacks, and Furminator, just to name a few) is a very simple seed blend consisting of White Millet, Oat Groats, Canary Grass Seed, Red Millet,\nand Rapeseed. Additional supplements and minerals are also included such as various oils - most notably orange oil - as well as preservatives and colors. I'm not very pleased to see items such as the Colors Added Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 1 included, and I'm not entirely sure just why so many additives were included. This definitely has a longer ingredients list than I've ever seen on a bird food bag, particularly for a seeded blend. I would expect a list this long for pelleted food, although many of the pelleted blends I've purchased don't include colorants.\n\nThe seeds arrived very fresh and insect free. I usually transfer the seeds for my birds into a container to ensure freshness, and noticed there was very little dust at the bottom of the bag. My doves ate the seed very enthusiastically, and didn't seem to have any ill effect after eating the food. Unlike budgies, they swallow the seeds whole, and presumably they are getting all the benefits of the added oils. I did mix this blend with some black oil sunflower seeds, barley, oats, quinoa, and lentils, but the doves seem to make a beeline for the millet. This blend is very heavily scented of orange, due primarily to the addition of the orange oil. This didn't detract the doves from eating the seeds, but it didn't seem to make them want to eat it more either. I'm guessing the addition of the orange scent really is for us humans, as I couldn't find much regarding the health benefits of orange oils on birds. Overall, this isn't a bad seed blend, but the addition of all the unnecessary preservatives and colorants is really off putting. This blend is comparably priced, and is a good food to add variety to your bird's diet.","Product: Advanced Nutrition: Wild Harvest Advanced Nutrition Diet for Parakeets provides the ultimate nutrition your bird requires for developing, maintaining and enjoying good health. Parakeets need a well rounded diet containing seeds, fruits and vegetables to help support a longer, healthier life. This specially formulated, enriched food contains important protein, fat, vitamins and minerals that support a strong and healthy body for your Parakeet. Color Amp Formula: Wild Harvest Advanced Nutrition Diet for Parakeets offers health and nutrition for your pet with the addition of our Color Amp Formula. With added antioxidant nutrients, carotene and other natural sources of beta carotene; our Advanced Nutrition Diet helps support and maintain overall good health. Great Taste Parakeets Love: The uniquely formulated Wild Harvest Advanced Nutrition Diet for Parakeets contains a tantalizing array of seeds and delicious fruits and vegetables for a delectable food mix your Parakeet will be sure to love! Directions: Keep feed cup filled with fresh food. Remove hulls of consumed seed. Always keep fresh water available.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Good Variety, Birds Ate the Blend Without Issues, Container Keeps Seeds Fresh\n\nReview: With two doves ruling the roost in our home, I wanted to offer them a goof variety of foods to eat ranging from seeds, fruits, grains, and grasses - just like they'd eat in the wild. The Wild Harvest Daily Blend Parakeet Food (same company who makes Tetra Fish Food, Dingo Dog Snacks, and Furminator, just to name a few) is a high variety seed blend consisting of White Millet, heat treated Soybeans, Oat Groats, Wheat, Cracked Corn, Red Millet Seed, Safflower Seed, Canary Grass Seed, Rapeseed, and Flax Seed. In addition to the seeds and grains, this mix also includes fruits and vegetables such as dried carrots, alfalfa flakes, raisins, cabbage flakes, as well as additional vitamins, minerals, and oils. There are also preservatives and colors included, as well as salt.. I'm not very pleased to see items such as the Colors Added Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 1 included, and I'm not entirely sure just why salt and so many additives were included. While I've been told colorants are added to make the food more visually appealing to birds, I'm not sure that it's entirely necessary since the color seeds are usually the last seeds I've seen eaten, and most of the colors my birds like to eat consist of fresh foods.\n\nThe seeds arrived very fresh and insect free. Because these seeds came packaged in a resealable container, I didn't have to transfer the seeds like I usually have to do with bagged blends. My doves ate the seed very enthusiastically, and didn't seem to have any ill effect after eating the food. Unlike budgies, they swallow the seeds whole, and presumably they are getting all the benefits of the added oils and minerals. I was impressed with the variety of seeds, fruits, and vegetables included in this mix, although there's a lot less fruit and vegetables in this mix in comparison to treat blends. Overall, this blend is comparably priced, and is a good food to add variety to your bird's diet.","Product: Equipped with the aggressive, Secure Catch design, the Tomcat Secure-Kill Rat Trap traps and kills rats quickly and effectively. It is easy to use and sets with a single touch. Escape is virtually impossible with the Secure Catch design, and the trap is non-toxic. The convenient grab-tab feature makes for easier disposal. Kills rats guaranteed! (Satisfaction guaranteed or your money back)\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Traps Rats Very Effectively, Easy to Set and Reuse\n\nReview: The Tomcat Secure Kill Rat Trap worked great at trapping the nosey little rats in our neighbor's apple tree. For weeks now, I've been seeing a rat or two running from the tree and across the fence that we share with the neighbors. Knowing that a single rat can mean many rats, I went ahead and set out the trap to see if I'd catch anything. Within a night, we ended up catching a rat using peanut butter as bait. Since setting the trap daily, we've caught a total of five of these little furry hooligans.\n\nSetting the trap is much easier than the old wooden spring traps. To bait and set the trap, simply fill the small cylinder container with some bait (peanut butter, nuts, luncheon meat, etc) then push down on the large plastic plate to set the trap. The jaws of the trap will open at this point, and the trigger plate will rise a bit. At this point, you can set the trap perpendicular to the wall (or on the fence as we did) to wait for an unsuspecting rodent to steal the bait and hopefully trap itself. The trap springs very quickly and I'm assuming kills the rodent instantaneously. You can push the plate to release the rat into the trash and reuse the trap, or if you're squeamish, you can chuck the entire thing. This is a very easy to set and operate trap - it's so much easier to reset than the old wooden traps, and works very effectively.","Product: Zoo Meds most popular Clamp Lamp fixture is available in three sizes: 5 1/2(14cm) 8 1/2\"(22cm) or 10\"(25cm) diameter domes. Made of heavy gauge painted aluminum. All three models have a ceramic socket and can be used with the Clamp Lamp Safety Cover to protect your bulbs animals and home.\"\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Used This Lamp for About Five Years and Still Going Strong\n\nReview: I purchased the ZooMed 5.5\" Heating lamp for my chicks four years ago. My chicks are long grown into hens, but the lamp has found a new purpose in our household - it now keeps my cockatiel warm and toasty during the winter months. I'm very pleased with the overall durability of this lamp. The lamp is adjustable for heat output, it's survived getting banged around while moving it from place to place, and even after using it for extended periods of time it still works as good as the day I bought it. This lamp does come with a clamp that can be easily put on or removed. The clamp is strong and allows the lamp to be adjusted in almost any direction. Currently, our lamp is sitting on top of a metal birdcage without issues.\n\nThe cord is fairly short, which isn't a big deal for me as the outlet is near my cockatiel's cage, and the unit can accommodate many bulbs. I'm currently using the same infrared bulb for my cockatiel that I used on my chicks four years ago (durability of the bulb is amazing too!), and my bird is happy and warm. Overall, very pleased with the lamp - I would definitely buy this lamp again.","Product: The Exo Terra Heat-Glo Infrared Terrarium Heat Lamp emits infrared heatwaves and is a typical heating lamp. Heat is important for reptiles, as it is essential for their activity and digestion. The red glass transmits infrared waves produced by the special filament, and the lamp has a special built-in reflector to direct the heat in any direction required. The Exo Terra Heat-Glo Infrared Terrarium Heat Lamp does not disrupt normal reptile activity, making it an excellent 24-hour radiant heat source.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Bulb Works Well, Keeps My Chicks Happy\n\nReview: UPDATE\nI purchased this bulb in 2013, and it's now almost 2016 and I'm still on the same bulb. My chicks are long grown up and no longer need the heat, so I started using the bulb to keep my cockatiel warm in his cage at night. Despite being turned on and off daily, the bulb still works. I'm very impressed with the durability and longevity of these bulbs. I will definitely be buying another bulb once (if?) this bulb burns out.\n\n--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------\n\nI used this bulb in a heat lamp in order to keep 4 chicken chicks happy and warm. The light works fabulously - it's warm without being overly bright and because everything looks red in the brooder, the chicks don't peck at each other. I've used it for for 2 batches of chicks so far, and haven't had any problems with burnout. Highly recommended.","Product: Flea and tick control when you need it The popular Zodiac line helps pet owners stop existing flea and tick problems dead -- and prevent their reoccurrence -- with a full selection of proven, affordably priced products.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Works Only \"Okay\" - Doesn't Seem to Be Effective for a Month\n\nReview: Even in the dead of California winter, the fleas do not rest. I'm not sure where they're coming from as there's no evidence of fleas in the house, and it's been cold and rainy out for the past few months, but occasionally my bro will find a rogue flea on the dogs. The Zodiac Flea and Tick Spot on seems to help keep the rogue flea or two at bay, but doesn't seem to last nearly as long as advertised. Beagle Scout and Whip Tail the Oblivious are both short haired dogs who are half indoor/outdoor. They get bathed as needed, usually once every month or two. The Zodiac Flea drops seem to work initially, but wears out quickly. My bro gave his dogs a bath and applied the drops when they were damp and mostly dried. The drops worked about for 2 weeks before he checked his dogs and spotted a rogue flea. While he noted this stuff works okay, it wasn't as good as the regular drops he's used, and concluded that these drops were \"cost effective, but only worked okay\".","Product: Birds, especially parrots, have the urge and need to chew on things. The Paradise Toys Popsicle Sticks chew toy is the perfect thing to keep your favorite feathered friend happily occupied for hours on end. The toy will make Birdy delirious as he or she gleefully attacks the wooden sticks. Its pure joy to them and theyll love you forever when you hang it in their cage. Buy this fun and funky bird toy today and give your bird the time of their life.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Great Toy for a Smaller Bird/Non Aggressive Chewer\n\nReview: My cockatiel is definitely not a big chewer. For months I've been trying to find the right toy for him because he seems so hesitant to forage and bite into things. He didn't seem to be interested in any toy until he got the Caitec Paradise Popsicle Stick toy - this was the first toy that he totally went to town on. The design is insanely simple - it's really just a metal wire with popsicle sticks and wooden beads threaded through. While I could make this myself, for $2.xx, it's budget friendly and I don't have to spend hours stringing up a toy for him. The wood fairly easy for my bird to bite through, but because he's not very destructive, it did take some time for him to work through. The colors are bright, the toy is appealing, and my little Momo had a great time playing with all the parts. The pieces are big enough where he can't accidentally swallow or choke on. Overall, this is a great toy for a small bird or one who is not an aggressive chewer like mine.","Product: Even small dogs need a large amount of nutrition. That's why every bag of PEDIGREE Small Dog Roasted Chicken, Rice & Vegetable Flavor Dry Dog Food has the vitamins and minerals small breed dogs need to be healthy and happy. Made with whole grains, protein and omega-6 fatty acids, PEDIGREE Small Dog Food helps your dog look and feel their best. Best of all, our oral care kibble gently clean their teeth with every bite. Now with no high fructose corn syrup, no artificial flavors, and no added sugar.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Filler Dog Food - Primarily Corn and By Products Dog Food, My Dog Though it was OK Only\n\nReview: The Pedigree Small Dog Adult Food was well received by the VIP (very important Papillon), but not finished by him. The food itself isn't all that bad, but it definitely is not a food I would be feeding my dog on a regular basis - it's really just a lot of fillers when it comes down to it. The first few ingredients include:\nGround Whole Grain Corn, Poultry By-Product Meal (Source Of Glucosamine & Chondroitin Sulfate), Brewers Rice, Corn Gluten Meal, Soybean Meal, Animal Fat (Source Of Omega 6 Fatty Acids [Preserved With Bha/Citric Acid]), Meat And Bone Meal (Source Of Calcium), Ground Whole Grain Wheat, Natural Flavor (Source Of Meatier Flavor), Chicken By-Product Meal, Salt\n\nLike most human diets, it's really not all that great to be filling up on all that carbohydrates - dogs are primarily meat eaters, and while my dog thrives on a raw diet, he does miss having some type of crunchy kibble like stuff in his bowl, so I like to supplement with various dog foods. This is probably the first time he didn't finish all the kibble for his afternoon snack - it's simply the equivalent to \"doggie junk food\", and while it was initially appealing to him, he didn't find the need nor desire to finish it all. That said, this kibble did not give him any type of digestive issues, so it was okay in my book. Overall, if you're looking for a cheap treat for your dogs, this would fit the bill perfectly - but I wouldn't feed this as a standalone dog food only. You truly get what you pay for, and this is mostly filler.","Product: ZiwiPeak Good-Dog Lamb Treats contain 100% air-dried natural, fresh, lamb meat. Our treats are a great training tool and a way to reward your loved companion. Like our cuisine, our treats help with a dogs digestion, energy, vitality, healthy coat and skin, reduced bad breath and other health benefits.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Minimal Ingredients, Happy Pappy Loved The Flavor\n\nReview: The ZiwiPeak Lamb Dog Treats were a hit with the Prince Papillon. The treats have a nice prominent and appealing lamb scent to them, and apparently they must taste very good as my dog was very eager to train to get more. Each piece varies in size with a majority of the pieces being about the size of a penny. The treats sounded slightly crunchy, but didn't crumble while my dog ate it. These are not quite chewy jerky treats, but definitely not biscuits either - I would say the texture is like an easier to eat jerky.\n\nMy dog enjoyed the snack and didn't have any issues during or after eating these treats. His tummy accepted the treats well and digested just fine. The ingredients are few: lamb meat, lecithin, inulin from chicory, parsley, and mixed tocopherols. I really like how these treats are so few in ingredients - with minimal processing, I feel like I'm giving my dog something tasty and healthy. This is a treat I think will stay in my dog's treat rotation.","Product: Healthy-Hide is proud to introduce Good 'n' Fun, a family of premium gourmet dog chews in a variety of flavors, shapes and sizes your pooch will relish. Entertain your dog with goodness! Whether youre canine companion is a hard-working herder, a playful Lab, or a cute and cuddly Corgi, your dogs deserve the best quality in treats and chews that entertain, reward, and nourish them. For almost 50 years, Healthy-Hide has formulated and manufactured beef hide chews in eight international food-grade facilities, earning the highest U.S. and international quality certifications in the industry. We developed the Healthy-Hide brand with our commitment to excellence in mind: it's the brand you can trust for the highest quality products that your dog will enjoy.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: My Dog LOVES These Treats - Only Drawback is that They're Made in China\n\nReview: The Good 'n' Fun Triple Flavor Wings were a HIT with the Happy Pappy. Of the many treats my dog has enjoyed over the year, these are the first treat that I've taken out that I'm slightly jealous he gets to eat - they smell delicious! The treat is made up of two parts - a meaty piece of chicken meat that's been dried, and a \"popsicle stick\" that's made of beef and pork hide. The sticks are fairly thin and easy enough for my dog to chew through within a few minutes. The chicken piece is large in size and the part that my dog makes a beeline to when he first receives the treat.\n\nOf the many dog chews I've given my papillon, this is one that has kept his interest after eating the first one. After eating one of these, he's been snubbing his bully sticks, duck feet, and only rawhide snacks in favor of these treats. The only quip I have about these particular treats is that they are made in China. If you're willing to take that small risk, then you've got a great treat option for your dog that they'll love.","Product: Good 'n' Fun brand contains a savory smorgasbord of flavors that dogs love most. These delicious chew treats are made from the finest ingredients, including premium beef hide and real chicken, to create truly delightful, long-lasting treats your dog will love. Good 'n' Fun Triple Flavor Twists contain a delicious combination of three flavors that dogs love most. These all natural chew treats are made from the finest pork and beef hides, then wrapped with real chicken jerky to create this truly delightful, long lasting treat your dog will love. These uniquely shaped treats are high in protein and 98% fat free. Satisfy your dog's natural urge to chew with a healthy and delicious gourmet dog treat. Triple flavor Twists help promote better dental hygeine by reducing tartar and calculus buildup. The natural chewing action helps reduce tartar buildup and remove plaque at the same time! Give your pup a flavorful snack you can feel good about.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: My Papillon Loved These Treats...but They Are Made in China\n\nReview: The GoodnFun Triple Flavor Ribs went over very well with the Very Important Papillon (VIP). The rolled chews were large enough for him to work on for several minutes, easy enough for him to chew through without hurting his mouth or teeth, and they apparently have a great flavor because he was very treat motivated to get these. These treats did not cause any type of digestive problems for my dog, and the input/output while and after eating this treat was normal. While my dog did enjoy these treats, like many other reviewer I am hesitant to purchase these for him to eat as these are made in China. While I don't think these will cause any problems, Id rather not take the risk of getting my little fur baby sick should he get a bad batch. Overall, a fun tasty treat for your dog, but made in a country with few food regulations.","Product: \"Work 'n Chew\" food nutritionally complete excellent foraging food great meal or treat excellent conversion food Birds need nutritional variety and foraging excitement. Great foraging food Avi-cakes were designed to provide your bird with a variety of beak and tongue sensations. Your feathered friend will love holding, pulling and tearing at each square. We believe your bird's food can be both exciting and nutritious. Nutritionally balanced Just for your Bird top avian nutritionists, veterinarians and behavioral consultants worked together creating Avi-Cakes. Avi-Cakes were specifically designed for the nutritional demands of birds: for iridescent feathers; for a strong beak and bones; and for bright eyes. Avi-Cakes are a mixture of premium seeds mixed 50-50 with nutritionally balancing pellets all held together with a great tasting molasses binder. Avi-cakes are perfect as a complete meal or as a special treat. Omega 3 & 6 Balanced Avi-Cakes Balancing the Omega Fatty Acids increases immune function. Generally, increased immune function helps the body's ability to fight disease. Avi- Cakes are now Omega 3 & 6 fatty acids balanced. Balanced omega 3 & 6's also improves the quality of the skin. More than ever, Avi-Cakes provide excellent nutrition for your loved feathered companion. Naturally Preserved Avi-Cakes Our veterinarians and nutritionist determined the best combination of natural preservatives, specifically mixed tocopherols and citric acid, to protect the nutrients of Avi-Cakes. Guaranteeing the nutritional quality you and your bird have come to expect from Lafeber Company. Keys to Making a Great Avi-Cake All the seeds and grains are hand inspected for cleanliness and freshness.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Must Crumble Up Before Serving - Treats Get Rock Hard After an Hour or So\n\nReview: The Lafeber's Fruit Delight Avi-Cakes are a tasty treat for your little hookbill. The cakes arrived to our house well within the expiration date, and the treats were well received by our resident Feathered Alarm System. The treats arrived broken in chunks, but were fresh and soft in the bag. It had a nice fruity scent to it, and after breaking it up into smaller pieces into my bird's bowl, he ate it quite happily. My bird is on a completely pelleted diet, so this was a welcome treat to add to his food, although for some reason he won't eat it when I left it in his bowl in whole chunks. I later found out that he didn't like the texture...this is because while the treats come out of the bag soft, they get rock hard after an hour or so when exposed to air. I've purchased regular Avi-Cakes before and they've never gotten hard, so I'm not sure if this is because these are the fruit variety, or because Lafeber's changed the recipe. All I know is these get really hard, and my bird doesn't like it. Now I know some birds would love this challenge of breaking it apart and chewing it to pieces, but my bird isn't really big on chewing hard items. He loves shredding those husk and jute toys apart, but chewing on wood - or rock hard treats in this case - isn't his thing. If you have a heavy chewer in your bird family, this would be a good item to get.\n\nIn terms of nutrition, these are on par with most pelleted diets. The primary ingredients of the Avi-Cakes are corn, soybean meal, and wheat flour. There are various seeds, fruit pieces, and other ingredients (including corn syrup) included. I personally would not use this as a whole diet for your bird, but instead as a treat, simply because there's too much sugar included in these cakes. If you are transitioning your bird from a whole seed diet to pellets, these would be a good bridge before converting. As always, I would suggest having plenty of fresh veg and greens available for your bird as well. Overall, if you're looking for a nice treat for your bird, or are transitioning your bird from a full seed diet, these are okay to consider.","Product: MP-8/MP-1-SCP-2 Chrome Color: Chrome Features: -33 Quart container stores up to 25 lbs. -12 Quart container stores up to 10 lbs. -Great for dog food, cat kibble and bird food. -Set includes a 25-pound airtight container, 10-pound airtight treat/travel container and a 2 cup food scoop. -Keeps food fresh and pests out. Country of Manufacture: -United States. Product Type: -Food storage container. Set Size: -4. Dimensions: -Container bottom height: 13.25\". Overall Height - Top to Bottom: -18.6\". Overall Height - Top to Bottom: -17.1\". Overall Width - Side to Side: -10.8\". Overall Depth - Front to Back: -16.5\". Overall Product Weight: -4.656 lbs.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Holds a 50 lb Bag of Rice in one Container, A Little Over 10 LB in the Other\n\nReview: The large container holds a full 50 lb bag of rice...I repeat - 50 POUNDS of glorious grainy goodness fits in the bottom container! Needless to say, I was thrilled to find that I wouldn't have to shell out $50+ for a rice dispensing container. The IRIS Pet Foot container is like any other large tupperware container. The plastic is fairly rigid with some flexibility, the lid is connected to the clear base and flips upwards on the shorter end of the container, and the latch holds the lid down firmly in place. I question if this container is truly \"airtight\" as the gasket going around the lid is not rubber, but is white foam. While this wouldn't affect my rice any (nor let any insects in), I can imagine over time that this wouldn't hold up - but I could be wrong. I will update the review as the years go by. I have another smaller container by IRIS for my dog's food that has the same gasket, and so far his food has maintained its crunchy texture.\n\nThe smaller container sits right on top of the larger container, but is not latched onto the larger container in any way. There are grooves in the lid of the larger container, so the smaller container will not shift around nor move should you nudge the top container or decide to utilize the wheels on the unit and move the entire set around. The top container holds about half of a 25 lb bag of brown rice as I speak - a 10 lb bag of rice should fit in the top container without any issues. It's dimensions are small enough where I can put the entire container on my bottom shelf since I don't want to be lifting that thing off the larger container.\n\nOverall, I'm pretty happy with these containers. They hold a lot, don't take up much space, and protect my food.","Product: These black color bags will last you a year or more!! The patent pending bags has an easy pull & cut feature that works with our special designed dispenser. In addition, it will also work with most general dog bag dispensers on the market. Please note these are core less without the spindle in the middle. Designed for less plastic waste for the environment.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Your Dog Won't Care About These, But your Neighbor Will\n\nReview: I swear, if aliens exist and happened to get a glimpse of people walking their dogs, they would swear that the dog is the dominant species on this planet. Though my dog is miniature in size, he seems to have a hidden stomach somewhere that is in constant production. You can almost see that devious little grin on his face after he's processed a fresh one for me to pick up after. With 1000 bags and one (sometimes two!) walks a day, my dog is easily set for almost 3 years! These bags are sturdy enough so I don't have to suffer the indignities of having doggie pudding on my hands, are discreet so the neighbors won't know I'm the one flinging bags of poop in the park, and while they don't smell like a rose (more like plastic), they tie up easily so I don't have to smell any of the contents inside of the bag while I'm on the mad search for a rubbish bin. Also, for the people with the larger dogs, the bags are large enough to hold some mighty large deposits. I apologize for the sheer volume of logs you need to pick up, but greatly appreciate the effort.\n\nOverall very pleased with these bags. Your dog won't care, but your neighbors will be very happy to see you flash one out and use 'em.","Product: FURminator deOdorizing Ultra Premium Shampoo for Dogs gently eliminates strong odors with a safe formulation intended for monthly use. aThis shampoo was enriched with baking soda and vegetable protein extract to naturally absorb odors and to help remove loose fur and thereby reduce excess shedding. The FURminator deOdorizing Ultra Premium Shampoo for Dogs is free of parabens and chemical dyes and was made here in the USA to ensure its quality. This bottle contains 16 fluid ounces of the shampoo, which is formulated to be safe for both cats and dogs over 6 weeks of age. Keep your pet smelling fresh and looking great with a shampoo created by grooming experts and order this FURminator deOdorizing Shampoo today Key Features: Fortified with baking soda and vegetable proteins to remove and absorb odors No parabens or chemical dyes Made in the USA\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Makes My Dog's Hair Soft, Fluffy, and Smells Nice\n\nReview: My little Papillon is such a diva that he needs to get a bath at least every other week or he'll start to getting fussy - or at least the husband will since the dog will start smelling like a dog again. The FURminator deOdorizing Shampoo does a fine job at getting my prissy little pup very clean. The shampoo has a nice fruity scent to it, doesn't lather up too much so it's easy to rinse out, doesn't irritate my dog's skin, and makes his fur very soft feeling once dry. The shampoo does get the \"doggie smell\" out of my dog's coat, but I can't say that the deodorizing aspect of this shampoo lasts any longer than his normal shampoo.\n\nOverall, this is a nice shampoo to get your dog clean, but I can't say it's my favorite shampoo for him. The deodorizing aspect doesn't work any longer than other brands, and there's simply other brands that I like better for his fur (particularly the whitening type). That said, this isn't a bad shampoo to consider - it's definitely worth a try if available.","Product: Your dog deserves the best lifethe life of a Top Dog. This nutrient-rich recipe supports overall health and strong muscles by combining two high-quality proteins: hearty, USA-sourced beef and omega-rich ocean fish meal. This satisfying meal offers a unique blend of 20 nutritious superfoods, as well as whole-grain brown rice for healthy digestion. Show the world what your dog is made of! As America's first holistic pet food, Solid Gold has over 40 years of experience developing transformative nutrition for your pet. All of the balanced recipes have 20 nutrient-dense superfoods and clean, high-quality proteins. Solid Gold's holistic approach delivers results that you can see and your dog can feel.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Good Dog Food for Your Small Dog\n\nReview: The Solid Gold Leaping Waters Salmon and Chicken Dog food was really well received by Super Papillon. The food comes in a small plastic tin that can be opened via peel top. The canister is about the size of a standard tuna can. The food is nice and chunky, and visible peas and other bits are clearly recognizable. The food doesn't smell too bad, and the dog really reacted well to this food - he enjoyed eating it and didn't have any issues after eating it.\n\nIn terms of price, the food is about $1.50 per canister - not terribly expensive considering this food is grain free, but it is still much more expensive than cooking chicken and mincing it up with fresh veg myself. With that in mind, the convenience is great, and while I still offer my dog some of my dinners with his kibble, this is a great option for when I'm too busy to even cook for myself. Overall, this is a solid dog food for your small pup - it's healthy, apparently tasty, and will not give your dog any gastronomical distress. Like all dog foods, definitely try a can before committing to buying in bulk.","Product: NUTRO KITCHEN CLASSICS Steamed Fish & Sweet Potato Dinner Premium Loaf is a tasty recipe crafted for Healthy Skin & Coat and helps support healthy digestion. This natural dog food offers complete nutrition, rich in nutrients and full of flavor. NUTRO Quality Pledge: Natural ingredients carefully sourced from our trusted network of farmers and suppliers, no chicken by-product meal, soy, artificial flavors or preservatives.\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: Gave My Dog the Runs, Vomiting\n\nReview: The Prince Papillon of our house is by no means a picky dog - he enjoys trying new foods, is open to trying new treats, and has a wonderfully cast iron stomach that can handle most treats that fall before his little nose. Unfortunately, the NUTRO Kitchen Classics did not bode well for our pup. This was the first dog food in a long time that my dog completely snubbed. Thinking that someone must've fed him earlier, I took away the food from him and returned it later for his evening meal, which he ate reluctantly. For the first time in years he had an accident in the house with the runs. Thinking it may have been that he was sick from something else and not the dog food, we switched him to a mild diet, and kept a close eye on him as he supplemented his diet with grass and some foamy heaving in the yard the next day. He recovered quickly and about a week later I tried the dog food again with him because I was in a hurry to get him something eat before heading out for the day's activities. By the afternoon, our poor pap was again in gastronomical distress and busied himself in the yard with pooping, dry/foamy heaving, and eating grass again. There was no mistaking it - this food was to blame. We unceremoniously ended up tossing the lot - it wasn't expired, but it definitely didn't agree with our dog.","Product: Pup-Peroni dog snacks have a taste dogs simply cant resist. Don't forget to take a package along so you can treat your four-legged friend wherever you pal around! Dogs Just Know.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Crack for Dogs - Picky Papillon LOVES These Snacks, but Not So Healthy Snack - Good For Occasional Treat\n\nReview: The Pup-Peroni Slow Roasted Jerky Treats are the doggie equivalent of Flamin' Hot Cheetos - they're totally unhealthy for you, you probably should eat them in small quantities, but dang they taste good and you want to eat the entire bag in a single sitting. While these aren't the healthiest treat, my Picky Little Papillon LOVED these - we're talking \"follow me around the house on his best behavior\" type stalking in order to get these treats. The treats are broken up into various sizes in the bag, and because of their soft clay like texture, these can be broken up further to use as training treats. These treats are also very heavily scented, so don't be surprised if your hands, the rug, and pretty much anything these treats touch smell like smokey dog snacks afterwards.\n\nThe ingredients include pork, beef, soy grits, sugar glycerin, salt, ground peas, garlic powder, gelatin, potassium sorbate, caramel color, paprika extract, natural smoke flavor, mixed tocopherols, onion extract, and rosemary extract. According to the package, these treats are made in Spanish Fork, Utah. My dog hasn't had any digestive issues since starting to eat these, and they don't seem to be affecting his health adversely either.\n\nAt 1.2 lbs per bag, these snacks will last a LONG time - and thankfully they come in a ziploc sealed type bag because with one spoiled dog in this house, he really can't eat all these snacks in a single sitting. Overall, while these aren't the healthiest treat out there, my dog is clearly enthusiastic to work for these and who am I to deny him what he thinks is one of the best snacks on earth.","Product: The Dingo brand combines powerful flavors and benefits to create bones, chews and treats that are sure to keep you and your dog wanting more. With a wide variety of shapes and flavors, there are options for any size companion. Reward your dog with a delicious treat that satisfies you both! Dingo Munchy Stix are delicious treats your dog can't resist! Dogs love the great taste of real chciken, and Dingo Munchy Stix are made with teh highest quality ingredients to give your dog an easy to chew munchy treat that's bursting with flavor. The natural action of chewing helps to promote clean teeth as well!\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Cute Little Treat for Small Dogs, No Actual Cheese in the Treat - Just Cheese Flavoring\n\nReview: The VIP (Very Important Papillon) found the Dingo Indulgence Cheese Mini Bones to his liking. These bones are perfectly designed for small/toy breed dogs, although these will likely work well for medium dogs who are not aggressive chewers. The bones are about 2.5\" in length, and about the thickness of a Sharpie pen. The ends are knotted to about the size of a small bounce ball, and one end is \"dipped in cheese\". While this is advertised a a cheese bone, there really isn't any cheese in this treat. The ingredients are as follows: rawhide, chicken, maltodextrin, potato starch, sorbitol, pork, salt, potassium sorbate, natural cheese flavor, FD&C red #40, dextrose, FD&C yellow 6.\n\nMy little VIP enjoyed chewing on this treat, and it did take him some time to get through it. In terms of scent, it wasn't as exciting to him as a bully stick, but it was definitely more interesting than a plain rawhide treat. My only complaint is the extraneous ingredients in this treat in comparison to plain bully sticks or dried duck feet/etc. Dogs don't really need the extra salt, preservatives, or artificial colorings, and while it's nice to have that contrasting orange and red on the bone, my dog really can't see that coloring anyways, so it's really just for us humans to look at. I noticed my dog didn't care about this added \"cheese flavor\" either - he did end up chewing it off, but he didn't make a beeline for it. After eating the treat, he didn't have any gastrointestinal issues. Overall, it's a nice treat to get your dog if you can overlook some of the unhealthier ingredients.","Product: These pink color EZ brand bags will last you a year or more!! The specially designed bags has an easy pull & cut feature that works with our specially designed dispensers. Its form follow function In addition, it will also work with most general dog bag dispensers on the market. Please note these bags are core-less without the plastic spindle in the middle. Designed for less plastic waste for the environment.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Great Bags for the Price, Durable and Holds Doggie Deposits Well\n\nReview: People who want to color coordinate everything with their beautiful Miss Fluffy rejoice! You too can get adorably pink poo poo bags to match your dog's collar, leash, jacket, dog bowls - we're talking pink-a-palooza here, people! Or, if you're like me and have a boy dog who really doesn't care, you can get over 1000 poop bags and a little bone shaped holder for less than $15...this is not only cheaper than my local pet store, but also cheaper than other brands online.\n\nThe bags themselves, while pink, do exactly the same as other pick up bags. The bags are a little thicker than a produce bag, but not quite as thick as a plastic carrying bag. I'm not terribly particular about the thickness as I am about the durability of the bags - I really don't want digested dog snacks on my hand, so as long as I can pick up the goods without actually touching it, I'm happy. The bags I received have, so far, not had any holes, tears, or tube bags in the batch. They're unscented, but I don't really care as when I take my dog for a walk I usually toss them in the trash bin at the park. For those who use their own rubbish bins to put the poop packs in, I would probably put these filled bags inside another larger plastic tab as I don't think these are thick enough to keep all the smell contained.\n\nWhile the bags by themselves are great, the thing that makes this set a bags a real winner is the white bone shaped bag dispenser. The bag dispenser not only holds the bags conveniently in one place, but when you pull a bag out, it automatically rips off thanks to a small tab on the dispenser. it's really a very clever design, and anything that makes picking up poop easier is appreciated. Added bonus: because there is no spool in the bags, reloading is really easy - just drop the bags and go!\n\nOverall, I'm pleased with the quality of the bags, and love the little bone bag holder. With this many bags, my dog and I are set for many walks to come.","Product: Provides dual filtration to ensure clean and fresh water. No drip reservoir means refilling the tank is easier with no mess and a continuous flow means continuous filtration. A great solution for your thirsty pet!.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Good Fountain for Small Dogs, Still Looking for Source for Replacement Filters\n\nReview: The Papillon dog prince of the house approved of his new water station. While my dog wasn't overly picky about drinking out of his previous no frills ceramic water bowl, I really didn't like having to constantly refill it for him, and dealing with the little bits of hair and food that he would leave behind on the bottom of the bowl. My dog hasn't used any other fountain, so I can make comparisons to other brands, but I can say that both the dog and I love this new water bowl set up. He gets filtered water that's free of hair and bits, and I don't have to refill the bowl so frequently anymore.\n\nThe fountain was easy enough to set up - after a quick wash, I inserted the white particle filter and charcoal filter, filled the bowl and reservoir with water, then plugged the whole thing in. The water comes out similar to a human drinking fountain and doesn't make much noise. The water circulation is low enough so that the water doesn't splash out, and the bowl is wide enough where my dog can drink easily without splashing water out himself. The reservoir can be removed while the fountain is running for refills, and there is an indentation in the back of the reservoir so that it is easily gripped with a single hand. There is a spring loading stopper than keeps the reservoir from emptying when you remove it, so you don't have to worry about water coming out when you remove it from the base.\n\nAesthetically, the fountain is not the most beautiful fountain I've seen, but neither my dog nor I really care - he likes drinking the fresh moving water, and I like that he's been drinking more water and I don't have to refill it every day. This is definitely a functional fountain. My only issue with the fountain is the filters. The unit is supposed to come with two charcoal filters, but I only received one in my package. In addition, it's stated that you should replace the charcoal filters every 2-4 weeks, but I could not find where you can purchase new filters. The are not available on Amazon.com, and I couldn't find them at PetsMart as per the instruction manual suggested. I am still looking for an alternative filter to use in the meantime, but for now, the instructions note that you don't need to use the filters to operate the fountain as long as you have the particle filter. The particle filter can be rinsed and cleaned as needed.\n\nOverall, with quiet operation, no splash back, and ease of use, I'm quite pleased with this unit. I definitely noticed my dog drinking more water, and he's happy to use it.","Product: Help your senior dog fight signs of aging with IAMS PROACTIVE HEALTH Senior Plus Dry Dog Food. Our hearty dog food is made with real chicken as the first ingredient, plus naturally sourced chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine, our senior dog food for dogs 11 years and older is designed to promote lean muscles and nourish healthy joints. IAMS PROACTIVE HEALTH Food for Dogs also is enriched with antioxidants for a strong immune system. Your senior dog will love the savory poultry flavors, and you will like that each bowl contains 100% complete and balanced nutrition without using any fillers. Give your senior dog our wholesome dog food with premium nutrition to help them look and feel their best.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Made My Dog Super Gassy! That Aside, Dog Did Enjoy These Tiny Nibbles\n\nReview: <div id=\"video-block-RGQW328R1CIJP\" class=\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\"></div><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/91zBRNOFlOS.mp4\" class=\"video-url\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/A1UODfbRidS.png\" class=\"video-slate-img-url\"> The Pampered Papillon loves to eat, and while he enjoys his raw diet, he likes to mix things up occasionally and snack on a crunchy treat like kibble. Happy Pappy gladly ate this kibble offering as an afternoon snack and didn't seem to have any issues until an hour or two later when the tooting began. He and I both seemed shocked when he started butt bugling from early evening until bedtime. I returned him to his normal raw diet to see if it was something I was feeding him, and he had no issues. On a different day, I gave him an afternoon treat of a different kibble and he had no issues. I tried Iams once again on yet another day, and sure enough, he started tooting to throughout the evening. It's undeniable - this stuff causes gas!\n\nThe tooting aside, Happy Pappy didn't seem to have any issues with this dog food. It didn't cause him pain or digestive issues, nor did it cause him to make a mad rush to yard to the grass (to eat or otherwise!). He really enjoyed eating the tiny kibble, and while I'm not thrilled with all the by product ingredients and inclusion of grain, we are giving this to him as a treat, so it's not a huge issue. Overall, while my dog enjoyed this food, I will likely stick to a kibble with fewer ingredients and no grain simply to avoid the gas issue this one created.","Product: Dogs know pants are overrated, and that's why they love our Naked Essentials kibble. Grains? Fillers? Artificial anything? No way. More like real meat as the first ingredient and our Happy Tummeez Prebiotics + Probiotics to keep your dog feeling just right. Bonus? It's on shelves in grocery stores for your convenience, so you can stock up on human snacks and invite us over for a game of Bark-o Polo.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Very Important Papillon Ate and Enjoyed I and love and you - Small Kibble Great for Small Dogs\n\nReview: The I and love and you Chicken Dog Food was eaten by the VIP (Very Important Papillon), digested by the VIP, and output by the VIP - and all went well. The kibble is the perfect size for small dog - each heart shaped piece is flat and about the size of a pea. Because of the flattened shape, it's easy for both small and medium dogs to eat without having to work too hard. As an added bonus, these don't roll around like round kibble does. Like most kibbles, my dog wasn't terribly excited about eating it, but he did eat it, unlike some other kibbles. When mixed with his raw diet, he ate it without spitting it out - overall, there must be something right with the flavor since he didn't spit any of it out. He didn't have any stomach issues when eating this kibble, nor did he have any issues when it came out digested.\n\nThe first few ingredients include chicken, chicken meal, turkey meat, lentils, chickpeas, pea protein, chicken fat, dried beet pulp, dried sweet potatoes, duck, pea starch, whole ground flax seed and natural flavoring. I'm not particularly thrilled about seeing the chicken meal (derived from the 4D - dead, dying, diseased, and disabled animals), as well as the beet pulp, and natural flavoring a - but in comparison to other dog foods which include excessive fillers, this dog food isn't all that bad. The remainder of the ingredients include a mix of vitamins, other dried ingredients (carrots, chicory root, lettuce, etc), and fermentation products. I'm assuming the pre and probiotics included help with digestion for my dog - similar to yogurt - and for the most part, the ingredients list is much better than conventional filler filled cheaper dog food.\n\nOverall, if you're looking for a better than average dog food, this is a good one to consider. Like all dog foods, taste for the dog is highly subjective - if you can get a sample size to try on your dog, you can see if your dog actually eats this before committing to buying a huge bag.","Product: Dingo brand combines powerful flavors and benefits to create bones, chews and treats that are sure to keep your dog wanting more. Pet parents want the best for their dogs and only the most wholesome and delicious treats will do. With a wide variety of shapes and flavors, there are options for any size companion. Dogs love the great taste of pork hide, and they'll love it even more with real chicken in the center! Dinog Porkie Rolls provide the variety your pup craves ina fun and delicious treat. Stuffed with a chewy chicken center and wrapped in real pork hide, they are irresistible and bursting with flavor! Made with the hgihest quality ingredients and 100% rawhide free, you will feel good about giving your dog this tasty treat. Each pack contains 15 roll chews. Feed one a day and always provide plenty of fresh drinking water. Select a chew slightly larger than your pet's mouth.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Not Real Chicken in the Center, Dog Snubbed After First Chew, Made in China\n\nReview: The Pampered Papillon is a fair and objective reviewer of all food items. He's very willing to try out new foods without complaint, and never snubs a food until after he's given it a fair try. The Dingo Porkie Rolls initially seemed like a winner. My dog was very enthusiastic to chew on the first roll, and because he's a small dog and these are cigar sized, the chew lasted a good day and a half for him. In the morning, I later found something in his bed that looked like an orange version of a hot glue gun stick. Apparently my dog only ate the outside of the treat because the orange stick I found was the \"chicken\". I'm not sure what real chicken looks like in China (because that's where these are made), but the stick definitely had no resemblance to chicken I've ever seen. The stick smelled nice and smoky, but my dog wouldn't couldn't be bothered with eating it. In fact, after a few days I offered him a brand new rawhide covered stick, and he completely snubbed the offering. The orange \"chicken center\" is still sitting in his bed, untouched. This was the first Dingo snack my dog outright snubbed - I'm probably going check with my brother to see if his dogs will accept these treats...\n\nOverall, this is definitely a treat I will not be getting again. For those interested - there were 15 rolls in my package, the rolls are made similar to a croissant covered hot dog (rawhide is rolled around the stick), and the treats are not very oily but the scent will transfer to fabric/carpet material as these are very smokey flavored/scented. Ingredients are as follows: Porkhide, rice meal, corn starch, chicken, glycerin, sorbitol, peas, natural smoke flavor, xanthan gum, tetra sodium pyrophosphate, sodium tripolyphosphate, sodium propionate, potassium sorbate, and FD&C Yellow #6. Like all dog snacks, doggie opinion will vary - what my dog didn't like, your dog might.","Product: Even small dogs need a large amount of nutrition. That's why every bag of PEDIGREE Small Dog Grilled Steak & Vegetable Flavor Dry Dog Food has the vitamins and minerals small breed dogs need to be healthy and happy. Made with whole grains, protein and omega-6 fatty acids, PEDIGREE Small Dog Food helps your dog look and feel their best. Best of all, our oral care kibble gently clean their teeth with every bite. Now with no high fructose corn syrup, no artificial flavors, and no added sugar.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Filler Dog Food - Primarily Corn and By Products Dog Food, My Dog Though it was OK Only\n\nReview: The Pedigree Small Dog Adult Food was well received by the VIP (very important Papillon), but not finished by him. The food itself isn't all that bad, but it definitely is not a food I would be feeding my dog on a regular basis - it's really just a lot of fillers when it comes down to it. The first few ingredients include:\nGround Whole Grain Corn, Poultry By-Product Meal (Source Of Glucosamine & Chondroitin Sulfate), Brewers Rice, Corn Gluten Meal, Soybean Meal, Animal Fat (Source Of Omega 6 Fatty Acids [Preserved With Bha/Citric Acid]), Meat And Bone Meal (Source Of Calcium), Ground Whole Grain Wheat, Natural Flavor (Source Of Meatier Flavor), Chicken By-Product Meal, Salt\n\nLike most human diets, it's really not all that great to be filling up on all that carbohydrates - dogs are primarily meat eaters, and while my dog thrives on a raw diet, he does miss having some type of crunchy kibble like stuff in his bowl, so I like to supplement with various dog foods. This is probably the first time he didn't finish all the kibble for his afternoon snack - it's simply the equivalent to \"doggie junk food\", and while it was initially appealing to him, he didn't find the need nor desire to finish it all. That said, this kibble did not give him any type of digestive issues, so it was okay in my book. Overall, if you're looking for a cheap treat for your dogs, this would fit the bill perfectly - but I wouldn't feed this as a standalone dog food only. You truly get what you pay for, and this is mostly filler.","Product: DISH Chicken & Brown Recipe from Rachael Ray Nutrish is made with simple, natural ingredients and added vitamins & minerals. Real U.S. farm-raised chicken is always the number one ingredient. And theres never any corn, wheat or soy. Youll also see weve added in whole ingredients like slow roasted chicken, carrots, peas, and apples.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Papillon Prince Approved, Good Ingredients, Doesn't Upset My Dog's Stomach\n\nReview: Rachael Ray Nutrish DISH dog food was voted \"best dry dog food\" by the Papillon Prince in this house. Well, it would be if he could talk - of the dry dog foods I've offered him, my dog was most willing to eat this food without complaint. The kibble comes in a variety of sizes (round and slightly smaller than a dime, tiny disk shaped, and tiny triangle shaped), there are dehydrated fruits and veggies in there (including carrot, peas, apple, and potato), and there are large chunks of dehydrated meat jerky in there. My dog immediately made a beeline for the jerky bits, and immediately spat every bit of carrot out of the bowl and onto the floor. This was a bit unusually since my dog usually enjoys raw carrot, but I guess the carrot tasted terrible to him. I'm not surprised by his love of the meaty bits - these bits are about the size of a quarter, and apparently taste much better than everything else in the bowl. That said, this kibble is primarily the pellets - while there are dehydrated fruits, veggies, and jerkys in there, there's definitely not as much is pictured. I'm guessing it's because most of these dehydrated bits are lightweight and get shifted to the top of the bag and used first - this isn't a huge issue to me as I usually add fresh veg to my dog's food anyways.\n\nThe food is easily digested, and my dog had no issues after eating it. The ingredients seem very good - I like the fact that there's no corn or soybean fillers, no by-products, and the fact that many of the ingredients are ones that are easily recognizable. When comparing this food to a more expensive Royal brand, this food seems actually better considering there is no corn or wheat products in it, but also the first few ingredients include ingredients like beef, chicken meal, dried peas, brown rice, and brewer's rice as opposed to Chicken meal, brewers rice, brown rice, corn, corn gluten meal. For those who looking at the percentages:\n\nCrude Protein (min): 26%\nCrude Far (min): 14%\nCrude Fiber (max): 4%\nMoisture (max): 10%\nLinoleic Acid (min): 2.2%\nCalcium (min): 1.1%\nPhosphorus (min): 0.9%\nZinc (min): 250 mg/kg\nVitamin A (min): 10,000 IU/kg\nVitamin E (min): 225 IU/kg\nAscorbic Acid (min): 55 mg/kg\nAlpha-Linolenic Acid (min): 0.4%\n\nOverall, I'm very pleased with this kibble. It's nutritionally sound for my dog, doesn't cause upset stomach, and my dog enjoys eating it. It's definitely worth considering for your pet.","Product: The Adams Flea and Tick Control Collar for Dogs kills adult fleas, ticks, flea eggs and flea larvae for up to 7 months. It prevents infestation by breaking the flea life cycle. The active ingredients work their way to the surface of the collar and is rubbed onto the fur of the animal. The active ingredients move through the oils and from hair to hair to cover the entire body and works even when wet. This collar can be fitted for all dogs with necks up to 26\".\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Seems to Keep Fleas at Bay, Effective When Used Along with Other Flea Prevention Products\n\nReview: As an owner of a bat eared, fuzzy faced Papillon, it's no secret that those big ears attract everything. Rogue burrs get stuck in the fur, matted hair is here and there, and fleas - well, they love taking refuge on those around those ears. The Adams Flea and Tick Collar for dogs is a good way to help supplement my dog's flea regimen. Along with using flea shampoo, pills, and drops, the flea collar helps keep those fleas away from his head, neck, and ears. Because we use flea drops and shampoo, I'm not entirely sure if this collar would keep fleas away from the remainder of his back and body (and I'm not going to stop to test it out), but it does seem to repel fleas from around his head.\n\nOverall, this isn't a bad item to add to your dog's flea regimen, particularly if you live in an area that has a lot of them. The collar is lightweight, easy to put on, and seems to be effective at keeping fleas at bay. However, I wouldn't utilize this as a flea control product by itself. Given that flea drops and shampoo works so well as is, this really is just an extra safeguard.","Product: LIV-A-LITTLES Chicken Breast Protein Treats let you reward your pet with the taste and benefits of a high-protein snack. They can be given whole or easily crumbled and added to food as a tasty incentive at mealtime. Naturally high in protein, these amazing treats are grain-free, gluten-free, and biologically appropriate for both dogs and cats.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Dog Doesn't Like How These Dried Treats Crumble - Made My Dog Cough\n\nReview: The Halo Liv-a-Littles are freeze dried chicken snacks for your dog. The ingredients state it all - this treat is made from chicken, water, sodium phosphate, salt, and carrageenan. There are no grain fillers, no by products, and the treats are as few ingredients as it can get. The pieces vary in size, and the Happy Pappy ate the treats and didn't have any ill effect from eating them.\n\nWhile I liked the simplicity of these treats, my dog surprisingly didn't care for that all that much - in fact, I don't think he really liked this treat at all. I'm guessing it's mainly attributed to the texture of these treats...these treats, being freeze dried, are very powdery and made my dog cough. The treats crumble very easily, and tiny bits of dust and crumb ended up on the carpet when he ate it. We have a grain free dog food that consists of freeze dried meat and vegetables, and we usually reconstitute it back with water - I may end up doing that with the rest of these treats as my dog, while he'll eat it, doesn't seem thrilled to eat them. I will likely stick with getting my dog dried liver snacks before purchasing these - while he likes the smell, the texture is definitely something he doesn't like.","Product: BLUE Wilderness Wild Rolls are irresistible, meaty rolls packed with more of the protein your dog loves. Naturally preserved and grain-free, they contain the ingredients pet parents prefer to feed. Easily add variety to mealtime with three ways to feed: as a meal topper, a rewarding treat or a complete meal.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Good Ingredients, No Ill Effect After Eating, but Expensive for Moist Food\n\nReview: The Blue Buffulo Salmon Roll Wet Dog Food was accepted graciously by the VIP (Very Important Papillon). Since my dog is 17 lbs, I used about a 1\" slice to mix in with about 1/2 cup of my dog's regular kibble. The single 1 lb loaf has about seven servings (with kibble) for my dog. If you have larger dogs, or if you plan on serving this solo, I can imagine a single dog can blow through this sausage pretty quickly.\n\nThe roll slices very easily with a sharp knife - you can keep the whole thing rolled and slice easily through the plastic wrapper. The slices were quite dry and had a nice smokey salmon scent. When smashed up with a spoon, the slices crumbled very easily and didn't stick together well. You could serve as is, or mix with some dry kibble. If you do add water to this, add very little - I put in two tablespoons of water, and the crumble turned instantly into slurry - it looked really gross, but mixed well with the kibble. VIP ate it, but didn't finish it as he didn't seemed thrilled about the flavor - that said, my dog doesn't really care all that much for fish, even when smoked. After eating the food, VIP didn't have issues with his stomach, and the output during the walk looked normal.\n\nOverall, if you're looking for a high quality wet dog food, this isn't a bad option to consider if you have a large budget for your dog's food. The rolls are easy to store, can be refrigerated easily, and unlike canned wet foods, you can control the amount of moisture going in. Otherwise, there are a lot of other good grain free canned options out there with less ingredients involved. At just under $10 per roll, I would consider getting these rolls as a treat for my dog occasionally (just not the fish flavor), but for most meals, I would be more likely to stick to canned for my dog.","Product: Some dogs develop sensitive stomachs or a food intolerance to certain grains. NUTRO MAX Adult Grain Free Dog Food contains no grain and leaves dogs satisfied. Our affordable food for dogs is all natural and is made with real salmon, plus legumes and potatoes as healthy alternatives to grains. Dogs love the savory flavors in NUTRO MAX Food for Dogs, and pet parents like that our great-tasting dog food never contains chicken by-product meal, corn, wheat or soy protein. Best of all, NUTRO MAX Adult Grain Free Recipe With Salmon Dry Dog Food is formulated with added vitamins and minerals, making it a nutritionally complete and balanced food your dog will look forward to at every meal. Let your dog try this grain-free dog food, featuring higher protein levels* and a delicious taste. * Versus NUTRO MAX Dog Food made with grains\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Pea Sized Crunchy Kibble, Beagle Scout Approved\n\nReview: The NUTRO MAX Grain Free Dog Food was happily chowed down by my brother's Beagle Scout. As he gets older, Beagle Scout has been having issues eating foods with grain in them, so bro has been trying out various grain free dog foods. Now either Beagle Scout loves his carbs, or he's missing out on flavor country, but there are few grain free dog foods he likes. The Nutro Max Chicken recipe was well received by him, but not with great gusto - that said, he ate it but didn't seem thrilled by it.\n\nThe kibble is fairly smally, and suitable for most small and medium sized breed dogs. Mr. 30 lb beagle was able to chew the kibble easily, and didn't seem to have issues eating it plain. Each kibble about the size and shape of a pea - I'm guessing most dogs can easily eat this. This is not a kibble that crumbles or breaks terribly easily. He did enjoy eating this kibble mixed with some canned food. As always, you may want to see if you can get your hands on a small sample size before committing to a large bag.\n\nIn terms of ingredients, this kibble isn't the best I've seen, but it's still okay. The first ten ingredients are chicken meal, dried potatoes, chickpeas, chicken fat (preserved with mixed Tocopherols), peas, lamb meal, chicken, potato starch, dried plain beet pulp, and dehydrated alfalfa meal. I'm not particularly thrilled about the amounts of by-products in this food, but in comparison to some other dog foods I've seen, this food still has a lot less unnecessary fillers. The remaining ingredients go into various minerals, vitamins, vegetables, fruits, and extracts. There are a TON of mineral and vitamins listed...whether or not these are good for your pooch is questionable. That said, again in comparison to other dog foods I've seen, this isn't too bad.\n\nOverall, this isn't a bad kibble to feed your dog. It isn't full of fillers, it didn't upset Beagle Scout's stomach, and most importantly - he eats it. Like all food items, taste is highly subjective, so if you can get a sample for your pampered pooch, definitely let your dog try it out first.","Product: Give your dog a natural, great-tasting meal they will look forward to with NUTRO MAX Adult Recipe With Pasture Fed Lamb Dry Dog Food. Our all natural food for dogs is made with pasture-fed lamb and is formulated with added vitamins and minerals to provide complete and balanced nutrition in every bowl. Your dog will love the savory flavors of real lamb and whole grains, and you will like that NUTRO MAX Food for Dogs never contains chicken by-product meal, corn, wheat or soy protein.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Better Than Average Dog Food, Great Little Kibble for Small Dogs\n\nReview: The NUTRO MAX Mini Chunk dog food was eaten by the VIP (Very Important Papillon), digested by the VIP, and output by the VIP - and all went well. The kibble is a great size for smaller dogs. The pieces are about the size of half a pea, and crunchy enough to help maintain good teeth without being overly hard. Like most kibbles, my dog wasn't excited about eating it, but he ate it without complaint. When mixed with canned dog food, he ate it very happily. He didn't have any stomach issues when eating this kibble, nor did he have any issues when it come out the exhaust.\n\nThe first ten ingredients include chicken meal, dried potatoes, peas, chicken fat (preserved with mixed Tocopherols), chickpeas, lamb meal, chicken, dehydrated alfalfa meal, dried beet pulp, and natural flavor. I'm not particularly thrilled about seeing the chicken & lamb meals (derived from the 4D - dead, dying, diseased, and disabled animals), as well as the alfalfa, beet pulp, and natural flavoring a - but in comparison to other dog foods which include excessive fillers, this dog food isn't all that bad. That said, nutritionally, this isn't the best dog food, nor the worst either.\n\nOverall, if you're looking for a better than average dog food, this is a decent one to consider. Like all dog foods, taste for the dog is highly subjective - if you can get a sample size to try on your dog, you can see if your dog actually eats this before committing to buying a huge bag.","Product: Real food is raw. Its that simple. And we believe feeding your dog pure nutrition should be simple too. Carefully crafted in small batches, Instinct Raw Market Meal Blends are made from real foods you can trust, all 100% freeze dried to protect and lock in nutrition and taste. Weve combined grass-fed beef with real, whole food ingredients like sweet potatoes, peas and blueberries for a nutrient rich meal your dog will love. Serving is simple! Just add water to make a meal. Complete and balanced nutrition for dogs. Made in USA facilities.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Astronaut Dog Food - Super Papillon Loved It\n\nReview: VIP (Very Important Papillon) really enjoyed Nature's Variety Raw Grain Free Freeze Dried Dog Food. Being freeze dried, the food it ultra lightweight, and the bag feels seemingly empty when you first get it. Each piece inside is completely dehydrated, and honestly the food smells pretty bad to human standard. VIP, however, found the scent amazing and was instantly drawn to the food. As per the instructions, I added some water (I used warm water) to the food, and let the food stand for 10 minutes for full rehydration. The food took the up water and my dog ate it very happily. If you don't have time, it's not required to let the food sit for that long - the 10 minute guideline is only if you want the food completely hydrated. You can also crush the food if you want it more \"canned food\" like.\n\nThe food itself is not entirely as pictured on the bag. There are definitely not as many dehyrated carrot, peas, blueberries, or apples as pictured mixed in with the meat pieces. This isn't a big issue for us, as I found my dog not entirely liking the single food dehydrated pieces anyways. He actually spit out most of the green apple and left the little pieces on the floor..this will vary from dog to dog obviously, so don't be surprised if your picky pooch leaves some bits on the floor for you to clean up. The food quality itself is pretty good. The first few ingredients include chicken, chicken liver, chicken heart, apples, sweet potatoes, peas, and pumpkin seeds. The food definitely smells of the chicken guts - I really dislike the scent, but again, the dog loves it.\n\nAs per the feeding guidelines, for a 10 lb dog, you need to feed it 1 cup food with .75 cup water. For a 20 lb dog is 1.5 cup food to 1 cup water. For a 40 lb dog, its 2.5 cup of food to 1.5 cup of water. There are also \"weight loss\" guidelines which drop the food amount by .5 cup and water by .25 cup. This food guideline is based on a two meal a day schedule - I usually mix the food with my dog's normal kibble, so it's more of a topper for him. With the food guidelines in mind, this food is fairly expensive - I can imagine getting this for my dog as a treat occasionally, but at the current cost, I'm not sure I would get this for him as a regular occurrence.\n\nOverall, this is a very healthy and apparently \"tasty to the dog\" meal. If you're looking to super spoil your dog, this is a nice food to consider.","Product: Vets Best Proactive Hip and Joint Soft Chews provide pet parents a simple and delicious way to maintain their dog's hip and joint health. Our once-a-day chews are perfect for young and adult dogs not yet exhibiting moderate or extreme hip and joint issues. A veterinarian formulated blend of glucosamine, hyaluronic acid, perma carnaliculuc (green-lipped mussel), MSM, and Omega 3 fatty acids guard against discomfort, support joint lubrication, and preserve connective tissue and cartilage health.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Great Supplement for Older Dogs, Helps with Beagle Scout's Joints\n\nReview: My brother's dog is nearing his twilight years, and recently the vet recommended supplementing his diet with glucosamine and fish oil. The Beagle Scout not only hated the pill supplements my brother gives him, but he also actively tried to spit the offending pills out. While hilarious to see him \"ptooey!\" those pills out, he really needs to take them to move around more comfortably. The Veterinarian's Best Hip and Joint Soft Chews are a great way to get Beagle Scout to eat his glucosamine and Omega 3 supplements. The chews are just under the size of a quarter, are very willingly eaten by Beagle Scout, and seem to give him the same benefits that the glucosamine and Omega 3 pills were giving him. He only needs one chew a day, and getting him to eat it isn't a problem. The chews are nice and soft, and similar to the consistency of play doh. We've noticed after eating these chews for a few weeks now, Beagle Scout is able to move around fairly well. My brother has been purchasing Vet's Best Hip & Joint Supplements since.\n\nOverall, if you have a dog that needs to take hip and joint supplements to help ease pain, this is a great supplement to consider. It's apparently tasty, doesn't cause any ill effects, and delivers the supplements your dog needs.","Product: Support and maintain your dogs digestive health with Vet's Best Probiotic Soft Chews Supplements. Our great tasting, extra moist daily chews provide a stabilized source of the probiotics your dog needs to maintain gastrointestinal balance, a healthy appetite, and proper digestion.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: A Probiotic Supplement That The Dog Will Willingly Eat\n\nReview: My brother's beagle is quickly approaching his mid teens, and being an older dog, he needs a lot less calories, but a lot more vitamins. Unfortunately, his dog doesn't particularly enjoy taking his vitamins. More often than not, he finds ways to reject the pills either from snubbing or spitting them out when offered in a well cooked piece of burger. The Veterinarian's Best Probiotics Soft Chews was very well received by Beagle Scout. Each piece is about the size of a quarter and about the thickness of an iPhone in a case. The pieces are soft and can be a bit crumbly, but Beagle Scout can eat it in one bit if he chooses to.\n\nEach bag holds 30 pieces, which is a month's supply, and contains all the probiotics Beagle Scout needs. He hasn't had any stomach issues after eating this treat, and he seems to be going about his business just fine. My brother feeds this treat along with the <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Veterinarian-s-Best-30-Count-Proactive-Hip-Joint-Soft-Chews-Supplement-for-Dogs/dp/B01DM7000M/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">Veterinarian's Best 30 Count Proactive Hip & Joint Soft Chews Supplement for Dogs</a> since Beagle Scout has joint issues. The two supplements seem to work fine when eaten together, and again, Beagle Scout hasn't shown any signs of digestion distress.\n\nOverall, if you're looking for a probiotic for your dog that s/he will take willingly, this is a great supplement to consider. The chews are easy to administer and seem to do it's job.","Product: Our Polly Wanna Pinata 's are a Bird Toy & Treat in One. They are the Ultimate Foraging toy. There ia a flap in the back that can be filled with a birds favorite toy or treat. Provides healthy exercise & lots fun playtime.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Looks Stupid, but Parakeet LOVES it!\n\nReview: I admit this, I bought this entirely on a whim because my preschooler thought it would be a nice treat for our new budgie. I didn't think our bird would actually like it - in fact, I thought that our bird would be terrified of it and that I would end up giving it to my kid. Little did I know, my kid is on the page as the bird...our budgie LOVES this toy. Initially he looked at it with a little fear, but about a day later I saw him going at it, happily ripping at the \"feathers\", sitting on the hat, and have a merry old time chewing this thing to bits (well, as fast as a little budgie can chew that is). We didn't put any treats in there, but seeing how our bird is enjoying this toy, I might end up sticking a few seeds in there to keep things interesting for him. We recently went back to the pet store and bought the sombrero wearing Parrot Pinata for him to chew up - he likes that one even more because there's little dangly bits hanging from the hat...fun stuff! Highly recommended!","Product: Quality and safety come first. High quality silicone: our pet bowls are made of heat resistant (up to 230 Celsius degree) durable non-porous and dishwasher safe silicone. Dimensions: expandable to 2.2 inches high can hold up to 14 ounces of water or liquid. 5.3 inch (top diameter) *2.1 inch (bottom diameter). BFA and FDA proved (pet friendly): your cats or dogs will love it. These pet bowls are made from BFA and FDA grade silicone, totally safe to your pets. Then extra convenience: Easy and convenient way to store water and food for your pets. Perfect for soup, salad, pasta, cereal and more. Collapsible this pet bowl is made of high quality durable silicone, which can collapse to less than inch for easy on-the-way storage and travel. Lightweight and portable. 60g/bowl for super light travel. Reusable and unbreakable silicone bowl allow you to use it thousand times without worrying it can be broken. Easy to clean. Microwave & dishwasher safe silicone. Just toss the bowl to dishwasher to clean and microwave to dry it. Now you are ready to go. Warning: InfiDeals is a registered trademark. If you're listing a non-InfiDeals item for sales against the page, you are violating: 1. Amazon listing policy. 2. Fair competition laws. 3. InfiDeals trademarks for misleading the use of its logo and name. InfiDeals reserves the right seek damages including attorney fees from any such person or business to the fullest extent permitted by law.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: The Silicone Expandable Travel Pet Food Bowls are great to carry around when traveling or hiking with my ...\n\nReview: The Silicone Expandable Travel Pet Food Bowls are great to carry around when traveling or hiking with my dog. The bowls fold down very flat (a little over half an inch) and extends to a little over 2\" tall. The bowls are not very big - about the size of a rice bowl - and can safely hold 1 1/3 c. of water without spilling. I have a 12 lb papillon, and the bowls are the perfect size for him to get a drink/snack out of. If you have a larger dog, thee bowls would work in a pinch, but I can imagine it would be easier to have a larger bowl for a larger volume of water.\n\nThese bowls are convenient to carry around with me. Because there are three, I can leave one in the car, backpack, and my pannier so wherever I go, my dog can easily get a drink. They are super light weight, and are easy to clean. They feel durable and are very convenient to have when going out with your dog - no more pouring water into my hand for my dog to drink!\n\nFYI - I was selected for this opportunity to review this item free of charge. The content and opinions expressed here are all my own.","Product: Adventure Plus stops fleas before they bite and starts working on contact. It contains the same active ingredients used in Advantage II for Dogs. Adventure Plus for Dogs is waterproof and effective even after shampooing or exposure to rain. Adventure Plus for Dogs is manufactured and packaged in the United States. It is approved for use by the U.S.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Great for Short Haired Dogs, Drops Absorb Quickly, Seems to Keep Fleas at Bay\n\nReview: With a 55-ish pound Amstaff Terrier happily barreling around my brother's backyard, having flea meds on her is a must. My bro's dog is a primarily outdoor dog, along with his beagle, and the two are a tasty target for the many insects outdoors. The Adventure Plus for Dogs flea drops seem to be keeping the fleas at bay for Mighty Mutt. She has very short hair, so application was simple and absorbed quickly. Bro doesn't use any flea pills or collars, but does use flea shampoo on the dogs. From what I've seen, Mighty Mutt hasn't had any allergic reaction to the drops, and she hasn't shown any signs of fleas on her body.\n\nOverall, the drops seem to be doing it's job. They were easy to apply and seem to be keeping the fleas away. This would be a good flea drop to consider for your large short hair dog.","Product: There is a subtle, but important difference for Bixbi between dog food and food for dogs. One is adequate. One is exceptional. Bixbi chooses exceptional. Rawbbleblends quality, nutrition and convenience in a way not previously seen in a complete and balanced food for dogs. NUTRITIOUS -- Dogs instinctively thrive on essential nutrients from the whole animal; raw animal protein, bones and vital organs. Rawbbleis a balanced ratio of protein, fat, bones, organs, vitamins and minerals to support health. CONVENIENT -- Rawbblecan be conveniently stored in its sealed bag, at room temperature, without refrigeration. The small pieces make handling and daily feeding easy and are great for training, treatingand traveling. SAFE -- Rawbbleonly uses USDA certified animal proteins from the USA. Bixbi's small batch freeze-drying technology locks in important nutrients, and their oxygen removal process ensures freshness in every bag, Raw Nutrition + Kibble Convenience. Just 2oz of Rawbble is equal to 8oz of conventional dog food.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Happy Pappy Absolutely LOVES Fish Rawbble - Human Thinks the Smell is Uber FISHY\n\nReview: I never imagined that something so absolutely noxious smelling would be so wildly appealing to the Prince Papillon- but apparently the Rawbble Freeze Dried Fish Kibble was more than just delicious, it good enough to bother me about getting seconds for. Make no mistake though - if you get the fish Rawbble, it smells exactly like that...and not in a tasty Michelin Restaurant sort of way. This is 100% \"Welcome to Cat Food Country!\" fish smell. Asides from the smell, this kibble looks like miniature brown versions of cylinder packing peanuts. Being freeze dried, this kibble is fairly lightweight, crumbles with little pressure, and will float a bit in warm water before slowly reconstituting and turning to mush with a little time. I gave this food both by itself, with a few spoons of wet food, and with a small amount of broth (all separate trials) with good response from my dog. He's had no issues after eating the food, and the only real side effect is that his breath is horrid for a short time after eating. That aside, he really likes this food.\n\nThe ingredients are few and consist primarily of whole foods and various vitamins: Salmon, Ahi Tuna, Pumpkin, Coconut Oil, Herrring Oil, Vitamin E Supplement, Liver Extract, Zinc Amino Acid Chelate, Iron Amino Acid Chelate, Selenium Yeast, Copper Amino Acid Chelate, Manganese Amino Acid Chelate, Calcium Iodate, Mixed Tocopherols (a preservative). This leads to my only gripe - this food is way more expensive than any dog food I would purchase for my dog. I like making dog food for my Happy Pappy, and I found that this is more expensive than making him food with real meat. That said, given the quality of this food, I can understand the price - there is little filler and no grain products in this food. This is the kind of food I wouldn't mind spending to get my dog while I'm out of town and having to board him at a kennel as I know it's healthy for him and it's ultimately convenient for the kennel to feed him (they hate having to bother with refrigerated foods). Overall, this is a pricey, albeit very high quality and well received food for your dog. If you're looking to spoil your dog a bit, this also works well as a treat.","Product: 4Pc LED Book Light with Magnifier. Convertible from desk to clip lamp.\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: Poorly Weighted, Overall Terrible Light\n\nReview: This \"book light\" is so riddled with flaws that I don't even know where to begin.\n\nFirst off, this thing is way too heavy to be a book light. This light is not the type of light you'd be able to sit up in bed reading with...you'd most certainly have to be sitting at a desk with the lamp sitting on it's base to use effectively. With the monster clip on this thing, I'm presuming that the clip is designed to clip something massive...say like a encyclopedia. Paperback books would most certainly bend over because of the sheer weight of the thing.\n\nSecondly, the light is a joke. When these LEDs burn out, it's game over. While they are working, they illuminate such a small portion of the page that there's really no point in using this thing. I thought that maybe I could use this lamp in an airplane, but it's more practical to use the overhead light and a small magnifying glass to read with.\n\nWhich brings me to the magnifying glass - also not very good. Go run over to Office Depot and treat yourself to a good quality, high magnification glass. This particular magnifier is not very good.\n\nWould I buy this? No. Would I recommend this? No. Did my preschoolers love playing with this thing - yes. Overall, makes a good toy for kids, but not for its actual intended purpose. Not recommended.","Product: Mini, multipurpose, & effective: the sy-cl02 is for sure a multipurpose light that can be used as an emergency light as well as and effective LED camping light. The overall device is small and compact. Thus, it is very easy to operate it in urgent situations. You can easily place it in your bag pack or keep it in your hand. Therefore, it promises not to take much of your space. Application: - power outage - hurricane - camping - night light - hiking - riding - fishing - alerting - car or home emergencies - equipment inspection specifications: - materials: aluminum and ABS plastic - power: about 1.6W - charge port: micro usb - input: 5v/700ma - color temperature: 5700k - luminous flux: 100lum - battery: li-on battery, 3.7V/1200ma - life: >36,000 hours (more than 500 charges) - work temperature:0- 40 whats in the box: - 1 x portable LED lamp - 1x micro USB cable - 2 x lanyards - 1 x user manual.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Diffuses Oils Well, Uses Tap Water, LED Light is Bright\n\nReview: With our fourth year of drought in California, nobody watering their yards, and the summer being brutally hot and dry, the family have been suffering from something we usually only experience during winter months - severely dry sinuses and throats. In addition, the seasonal pollen counts are up again, which is making life for the family with allergies pretty miserable.\n\nThe Senyoo Ultrasonic Cool Mist Diffuser helped a lot with moisturizing the air while diffusing some tap water and \"breathing friendly\" essential oils (we use Eucalyptus, Peppermint, Lemon, and Chamomile blends - there are several \"breathe\" blends on Amazon). The diffuser has helped immensely with my sleep quality - it's easy to set up and to use. Simply fill the container with water, add a few drops of essential oil, then press the MIST/TIMER button. The mister/timer button can help set the amount of mist coming out (low or high) and has a one hour timer feature if you're planning on using this prior to sleeping. The push button cycle goes from low, low/one hour timer, high, high/one hour timer, off. The mist comes out of the diffuser in 10 second intervals (10 seconds on, 10 seconds off), and the unit can hold 1/3 c. of water. I was able to fill the unit with the full 1/3 c, then run it 6 times on the low setting at one hour intervals before it almost ran out (there was enough water to maybe have it run for a bit more, but I didn't time it.) When the unit runs out of water, the diffuser will turn itself off. If you try to turn it back on, thinking it went off in error, the diffuser will flash all of its lights then turn itself off again.\n\nThere are three blue LED lights on the base that will indicate what you set your diffuser at (Small (low), Large (high), One Hour) so you'll know exactly how high your setting is, as well as if there is a timer on it. The LED lights are fairly bright, so if you like a pitch black room when you go to sleep, be warned now - even with the LED lights covered with a shirt, the light can still be seen through the lamp shade top. This doesn't bother me, but if you're the type who doesn't like the brightness of your alarm clock numbers on your digital clock, you might be at ends with these three small LED lights. This diffuser also has white LED lights in it that help function as a night light. There are three settings to the light - bright, medium, and dim. At the highest level, the light is not quite bright enough to read to, but bright enough to navigate the room easily with - about as bright as a night light, but slightly larger. The light is a warm white light and does not have any other color settings available.\n\nThe overall unit is completely plastic (the \"wooden base\" is also plastic), looks fairly unobtrusive, and works well. It's fairly easy to clean (rinse out after use, don't leave water in it for extended periods of time) and only requires a vinegar/water solution cleaning every 10 hours of use/when you change the scent of oil in the unit to avoid mixing of scents. For the most part, I enjoy this diffuser. It's simple to operate, lets out a good amount of mist, and doesn't leak. Simply plug the unit it, fill with water and oil, then you're good to go.\n\nFYI - I was selected for this opportunity to review this item free of charge. The content and opinions expressed here are all my own.","Product: When shut, Lumio masquerades as an elegant hardcover book bound in lasercut wood. When opened, it magically transforms into a sculptural light illuminated by a high-performing LED. Lumio was born from San Francisco-based designer Max Gunawan's fascination with the functional potential of origami and his desire to create a flexible lighting solution that adapts to the user's needs. Lumio's minimalist, compact form allows for maximum portability, and since its diaphanous, pleated interior is made of hard-wearing and water-resistant Tyvek, this innovative lamp is equally at home bedside, at a backyard barbeque, or on the go. The strong neodymium magnets imbedded within its covers allow this transformable light to be expanded 180 degrees to its fullest brightness, or mounted upon any magnetic surface. The included leather hanging strap enables lightweight Lumio to be suspended, offering ambient light akin to a lustrous paper lantern. A rechargeable lithium-ion battery provides wireless power for up to eight hours (rechargeable via micro-USB cord using a 2A or 3A adaptor). Brightness: 500 lumen. Light temperature: 2700K (warm white). Wipe clean with a damp cloth.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Beautifully Designed Book Lamp - Durable, Functional, and Simply Gorgeous\n\nReview: My husband recently received the Lumio Book Lamp as a gift, and I have to say that this is an absolutely beautiful lamp. The cover is one continuous piece of wood that has been carefully cut on specific spots where the spine is, so the book can actually close seamlessly, and yet not be two separate pieces with hinges or glue to keep it together. The pages are accordion folded \"Tyvek\" - apparently that's a waterproof and 100% recycled material. The LED lights are inside the pages so that you can't see the light directly and all the wires and such are housed internally - when the book is open, it really looks just like an open book with all the pages flared out.\n\nThe light is charged via USB on the cover edge of the book. When you open the book, even just a crack, the light will turn on. The light is exceptionally bright and is bright enough where you could read easily with it on. There are magnets in the book cover and book comes with several attachments you can use to hold it open. The magnets in the book serve several functions. First, it helps keep the book shut when not in use, can be used to hold the book open in a cylinder shape, and can be used in conjunction with a small magnetic \"wheel\" set. This wheel allows you to hang the book on the wall like a sconce, or can be used with the included leather strap to hang the book from a ceiling - this is surprisingly a very versatile lamp! It has a nice weighted feel to it, and is very durable. We've opened and closed the lamp many times without wearing out the pages at all.\n\nOverall, this is a very beautiful book lamp. It would be a wonderful gift for any book lover - it definitely makes an interesting conversation starter!","Product: Professional Transparent Cutaway Padlock Practice Lock With Locksmith Tools for Lock Training Trainer Practice\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Great to Teach Kids How Locks Work\n\nReview: When I ordered the KINGLAKE Crystal Cutaway Padlock, I had two objectives in mind:\n\n1. This would be great lock for my magician husband to practice lockpicking on. Because he's a true beginning lockpicker, being able to look into the lock and seeing exactly where the pins line up help immensely.\n2. This would be a great teaching item to show my kids how exactly a lock works.\n\nWith those two objectives in mind, teaching both my kids how a lock works and letting my husband go at it to learn how to pick a lock were both successful with this lock. From what it sounds like, this lock may be easy for most to pick, but for beginners like the hubs, this was exactly the perfect place to start. He was able to get a good look into the lock, get a good feel for with his lockpicks, and was slowly successful at opening the lock without the keys. He felt much more confident, and started playing around with other locks with some success. As a teaching tool for the kids, this was also a great item. I was able to show the kids exactly how a lock mechanism worked, and they had a great time inserting the key and getting a good clear look at the pins and the spring system. They were fascinated at how locks work, and were eager to show their teachers and friends.\n\nOverall, this was a great teaching tool for the family. While I wouldn't use it to lock my bike up with, it's a way to show people how locks work and is a fun conversation starter.\n\nFYI - I was selected for this opportunity to review this item free of charge. The content and opinions expressed here are all my own.","Product: The captain of the aerial acrobatics group The Wonderbolts gets her own vinyl figure! This My Little Pony Spitfire Vinyl Figure measures about 4 1/2-inches tall, and features the same look you know and love from theMy Little Pony: Friendship is MagicTV show. Because of her perfect size, you can display her anywhere, whether it's at school, work, or at home.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Tired Little Spitfire...Where's Soarin When You Need Him?\n\nReview: Finally! My Rainbow Dash has her awesome (albeit slightly tired looking) heroine to look up to: Spitfire! While Spitfire is one of my favorite ponies, I have to say that Spitfire is probably my least favorite in the Funko line - it's all about consistency, and that's something that Spitfire just doesn't have.\n\nFunko's Spitfire is a nicely sculpted figure - it has a good heavy feel to it, the detailing (particularly her goggles) is great, and she looks wonderfully show accurate. Unfortunately, there were a good number of imperfections on this pony - more than any other of the Funko Pony Line. Like the other Funko Ponies, there is a seam that shows up clearly around Spitfire's neck, on and along her mane closest to the body, potions of her tail, and around wing where it connects to her body. On my particular figure (as well as 2 other figures in the store) there was a clear varnish or glue drip/bubble where her wing connects to her body. It was small, but clearly visible and could not be wiped off. My piece also has very fine creases on the sides of her body and face. It doesn't look quite as punched in as some of the Rainbow Dash figures I've seen, but it's still there and a little annoying to look at. One big problem I saw with Spitfire is that the paint quality is miserable. Her wings, muzzle, and hair is a shiny yellow, while her chest, ears, eyelids, cutie mark, goggle straps, and hoof designs are a matte yellow. The matte yellow application was pretty bad on my Spitfire - and mine was the best at Toys R Us! The paint was not applied well and it bled out of the design areas. The lightening bolt design around her hooves don't extend all around each foot - instead it's applied a little more than halfway around each foot. Lastly, her cutie mark is just barely visible. It's almost as difficult to see as Pinkie Pie's cutie mark. Lastly, if you look at Spitfire's model photo, she looks really brightly colored...she simply isn't that bright. She's barely a darker shade than Rainbow Dash.\n\nOverall, I'm still very happy with my purchase - as mentioned before, Spitfire is a favorite pony of mine, and it's great to have her finally on my shelf for my Rainbow Dash to admire. If you can overlook these flaws, or if you're lucky enough to find a really good one in store - you win!","Product: \"Alright everypony! Let's hop on Equestria's newest dance craze. do the Navigator!\" Vinyl Scratch, or DJ Pon-3 as she's known when she's not on the 1s and 2s, looks every bit the DJ you know and love fromMy Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. Because of the My Little Pony DJ Pon-3 Vinyl Figure's perfect size, you can display her anywhere, whether it's at school, work, or at home. Measures about 4 1/2-inches tall. Ages 5 and up.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Raise the Roof! DJ PON 3 is in the House!\n\nReview: Let the party begin! DJ PON3 is here! Vinyl Scratch AKA DJ PON3 is a great vinyl figure - she has a good heavy feel to it, the coloring is smooth and consistent, and the overall design of DJ is show accurate. Unfortunately, like many other ponies from the Funko line, she isn't without several flaws - but it's DJ PON3! I can forgive them because of her awesomeness.\n\nLike the other Funko Ponies, there is a seam that shows up clearly around DJ's neck, along her mane closest to the body, and on a portion of her hair on her tail. My piece also has very fine creases on the sides of her body and face. It doesn't look quite as punched in as some of the Rainbow Dash figures I've seen, but it's still there and a little annoying to look at. One big problem I saw with S.D is that the paint quality on her mane and tail is highly inconsistent. The DJ I got was pretty good, but some spots on her mane didn't get enough paint on it (it was layered with the light blue over the dark blue vinyl) and so some of the dark blue shows through the lighter blue paint. Also, my pony had several points on her mane and tail that looked scratched up. The vinyl has a whitish rough feel to it, and I couldn't get it off.\n\nOne update to the Funko Pony Line is that the ponies now have cutie marks on both flanks. Her cutie mark is a mirror image - not sure if that's show accurate, but it looks cute either way! There is also a MLP Logo stamped to the bottom of her front right hoof.\n\nI can overlook these small flaws as a casual collector and lover of all things Pony, but if you're looking for a perfect sculp, you may want to drive over to Hot Topic and choose your own DJ if they have them in stock. Also, third party sellers are charging up the creek for these figures - I got mine for less than $16...and yes, there was plenty of stock. All in all, I'm ecstatic DJ PON3 is in my collection - with her and Octavia together, they make a beautiful set!","Product: The cellist Octavia Melody gets her own vinyl figure! This My Little Pony Octavia Vinyl Figure measures about 4 1/2-inches tall, and features the same look you know and love from theMy Little Pony: Friendship is MagicTV show. Because of her perfect size, you can display her anywhere, whether it's at school, work, or at home.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: All She Needs is Her Cello!\n\nReview: Beautiful music has started with the release of two of my favorite ponies - Octavia Melody and DJ PON3! All Octavia needs is her cello to make her complete - but until then, just having this figure is more than enough. Funko has updated some things with these two ponies, and it's refreshing to see some of the problems addressed with the previous releases. However, there are a number of things that make this sculpt not quite perfect.\n\nThe sculpt and expression on Octavia is fantastic. She looks very demure, her coloring is spot on, and one thing that I liked is that her mane and tail are both matte. The matte texture is a little rougher than the rest of her body, but the look is fantastic - it really gives her a soft appearance. The neck seam that is visible on all ponies is cleverly hidden by her tiny collar and bow tie. Like the other Funko ponies I own, my piece also has very fine creases on the sides of her body and face. It doesn't look quite as punched in as some of the Rainbow Dash figures I've seen, but it's still there and a little annoying to look at. A wonderful update to Octavia is that her cutie mark is on both flanks. On previous versions of the Funko ponies, the cutie mark was only visible on one flank. My Octavia has a slightly cut off Treble Clef on her left flank, but because its on the side of the box where you can't see it, it's not a huge issue for me. If you are planning to display, you may want to take your Octavia out of the box to double check the cutie mark.\n\nOne big issue I have with the Octavia figure is that the balance of the figure is off. Like Fluttershy, Octavia's tail is much longer and Funko made her tail so it rests on the table. On my particular figure, her tail acts as one of her legs as her right back leg doesn't reach the table. In fact, her leg is slightly skewed to the right, so it's impossible to have her standing on all four legs - it's not so far out that it looks like she's lifting her leg up, but it's enough where you can see a clear gap between her back leg and the table. This does not effect the way she looks overall, but be warned - it really looks like she's standing on three legs and her tail.\n\nI can overlook these small flaws as a casual collector and lover of all things Pony, but if you're looking for a perfect sculp, you may want to drive over to Hot Topic and actually take a good look - and possibly take your Octavia out of the box. Also, third party sellers are charging up the creek for these figures - Hot Topic has them at a reasonable price and possibly a \"buy one get one 50% off\" deal...and yes, there was plenty of stock. All in all, I'm happy that DJ PON3 has her best friend in my collection! Recommended!","Product: Zack joins Chuggington to head up the Chuggineers. This foreman is organized, hard working and extremely safety conscious, making him the perfect leader of the Chuggineer crew and mentor to Brewster. Joined by his fellow team members Tyne and Fletch, this engineering team is responsible for all the heavy lifting and loading, building of bridges, tunnels and stations, as well as laying track and making repairs. Zack is a dependable, big hearted and hard working professional with a 'can do' attitude. Off the clock loves to have fun and a good laugh. Chuggington Wooden Railway combines the charm of wooden train play with the exciting world of Chuggington! Easy-to-connect magnets are simple to connect to other vehicles. Chuggington Wooden Railway is compatible with other wooden track systems.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Fun Playset for Any Train Enthusiast\n\nReview: We have many a train fan in our house, and I'm pleased to report that the Chuggington StackTrack Big Build Adventure set was a hit here. Having built with many of the Thomas Wooden Track toys, the Chuggington Set was a welcome addition as it not only built up well, but it added in several new components to play with including the breaking bridge and the crane. While this set is not compatible with any of our wooden Thomas Sets, the kids had a good time integrating it into the creative landscape of our kitchen and built a fun \"Chuggington meets Thomas\" town.\n\nThe pieces are durable, the set is easy enough for a 5 and 6 year old to construct, and with many other playsets available, it looks like it can easily grow into something much bigger and more exciting. Already the kids are discussing what toys to add to their Christmas lists, and another Chuggington Set may be on the list! This toy is great for imaginative play and can be constructed into different layouts. It's a great toy for any train enthusiast in your house.","Product: The Joker and his goon are causing havoc in Gotham City with their crazy steam roller and are destroying everything in their path. Batgirl and Robin need backup from Batman in his fast and heavily armed Batwing to end this crime wave. Use the Batwing's 4 flick missiles to disable the rampaging steam roller and then switch the wings to attack mode and grab the bad guys before they can launch the laughing gas bombs! Can Batman and his fellow heroes save Gotham City? Includes 5 minifigures with assorted weapons: Batman, Batgirl, Robin, The Joker and Joker goon.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Fantastic Lego Set for Any Batman Fan\n\nReview: The DC Superheroes Joker Steam Roller is a fun Lego set for any Batman Fan. My son received this set for Christmas and had a great time Christmas morning assembling all 486 pieces. The set is highly detailed and comes with five mini figures including Batman in black (looks like Lego Movie Batman), Batgirl, Robin, Joker with purple fedora, and a Joker construction worker. Once completed, there are two figures - one Joker Steamroller and one transforming Batwing. This set took my son about 1.5 hours to complete. That said, he is an avid Lego builder, so time may vary depending on skill level and if you're working with another builder.\n\nThe Legos fit snugly together and are fun to play with once complete. The set comes with several decals, and have multiple places for shooting weapons. Overall, the play value for this toy is very high, both assembled and unassembled. This is a great set to get any Lego/DC fan.","Product: Simon Swipe Game\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Fun Twist on an Old Favorite Game\n\nReview: On a recent trip to the Bullseye Store, the kids noticed this game on clearance and we picked it up since the kids discovered they love the original Simon at a friend's house. The Simon Swipe game is amazingly fun and addictive. There are multiple game modes on this unit including original Simon, Simon Swipe, Simon Swipe with U Turn, and party modes. The swiping movement is intuitive to most kids of this generation - you swipe your finger over the full color bar, or over multiple color bars. The U Turn Swipe requires you to swipe down one color and let your finger leave the game play area to swipe back upwards towards another color. There are tiny marks on the black part of the game console that notate what game will play when you first start up the unit.\n\nThe game itself is quite durable and easy to hold. For people who don't like the console to be too loud, the sound volume is adjustable via the small grey button on top. The system turns off after 15 seconds of inactivity, so don't leave it on the couch and walk away! This game is easy to hold, lightweight, and a great game to bring along while traveling. The unit comes with batteries included, so you can start playing immediately out of the box. Overall, this is a great memory game for the whole family to play, and a nice new twist on an old favorite game.","Product: No team covers more ground in less time than the heroes of Protectobots Emergency Response. Wherever danger strikes, the team is there in the blink of an optical sensor. Their primary mission: protect the people of Earth from threats they cannot face alone. And if that gives the team a chance to blast some Decepticons while they're at it, all the better. Roll to the Transformers rescue with the Emergency Response pack! These Protectobot Streetsmart, Groove and First Aid figures are ready to handle whatever threatens innocent bystanders. Your Streetsmart figure converts from robot to sports care mode, while your Groove figure converts fast from robot to motorcycle mode. Your First Aid figure converts to ambulance mode, but hes still ready for a fight with the swords on his bumper. Theyve all got weapons for combat if the rescue turns bad! Your rescue adventures will never be the same once you have the Emergency Response Pack! Transformers and all related characters are trademarks of Hasbro.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Why is Groove so Tiny?\n\nReview: The Transformers Asia Kids Protectobots were a hit with the kids (and the big kid known as the husband). The Transformers were not the easiest to transform for the kids, however they are durable and could withstand the kid's attempts to get things in the right place. I only owned two Transformers as kids - these not included - and found the toys very reminiscent in feeling and size. My two gripes are that some of the pieces don't stay on as well as the older toys like the kid's Beast War Transformers, and that Groove is ridiculously tiny...like 1/3 of the size of the others. That aside, these are fun toys to play with, and my kids enjoyed playing with them immensely.","Product: Baby Alive My Baby All Gone Doll, Blonde\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Fun Interactive Doll for Young Kids\n\nReview: After finally reaching the point where all my kids out of diapers, guess what toy my youngest kid wants...a doll that drinks, eats, and then makes me need to go out and buy more diapers. Hasbro, thanks for letting the joys of diapering live on in our house - minus the stink, of course.\n\nThe Baby Alive My Baby All Gone Doll is a fun interactive talking, eating, and pooping doll for kids between 3-5. The doll is durable, cute, and speaks in a generically cutesy voice that she peed, is hungry, love you, and so forth. Instead of having the magic disappearing juice/milk bottles or the plastic disappearing food spoon like the previous Baby Alive dolls, this one can actually \"consume real food and drink\", thus resulting in a messy diaper. This is both good and bad, as it was a lot more fun for our kid to actually \"feed\" the baby and deal with the aftermath in the diaper afterwards vs the \"pretend food\" aspect of the previous version. The drawback to this, however, is that your kid may bother you for refill packs, and if you're not looking carefully, real food may end up in that doll's mouth which will result in you having to clean the doll out because dolls and real food just don't mix - good luck if your kid decides to feed the doll jello and you don't discover it until the jello has dried up and the ants have invaded baby's face and body cavity.\n\nOnce the food and drinks go through, everything ends up in the diaper, which is disposable. You can either buy refill packs, premie diapers, or if you're like me, you can just make some cloth diapers to use on the doll. Overall, the Baby Alive Doll is fun for my kids to play with, although it can be really annoying for me at times (that voice! ugh!). If you're not interested in buying refill packs, you can always put food coloring in water to get the same effect as juice and use liquid thickener to make color food out of water (http://www.amazon.com/Nestle-Thicken-Up-8oz/dp/B00617AWBI/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1406312912&sr=8-7&keywords=liquid+thickener). While I'm not in love with this doll, my youngest loves this doll a lot and has a great time playing with her little baby.","Product: My Little Pony Pop Pinkie Pie Sweet Shop Playset lets you make the perfect pony home! This delicious looking house playset comes with a fully customizable pony figure, and you can put it together. Make something great and give your Pony friends a fun place to live. Pony figure measures itself approximately 3-inches tall. Ages 4 and up.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Fun My Little Pony Model Building Set\n\nReview: I've been building models for some time now, and because my office is full of \"don't touch!\" for my kids, it was really nice to find a simplified building model for my kids to play with. The MLP Pop Sweet Shoppe is a great playset for younger kids. The sweet shop and Pinkie Pie are both customizable with other MLP Pop playsets. While my kids don't know it, it helps with hand eye coordination, following simple instructions, and fosters imaginative play. We picked up the Pop Rarity and Luna kit as well and our kids had a great time mixing and matching pieces of the ponies together.\n\nWhile it still looks strange to me, the ponies are designed with holes on their sides and easily split in half in order to change out manes, tails, and put on (or remove) wings. There are a bunch of stickers for the kids to place all over the playset and Pinkie Pie as well. To make the playset and ponies more customizable, you will need to pick up more sets. However, as a starter set, this will keep your kids pretty busy for a while. This playset is also perfect to play with my kids current standard MLP collection. If you have any pony fans in your house, you really can't go wrong with this.","Product: Together, all for one! Dora and her friends know that they can always call on each other for help and good times, and now you can call them too! This 11.5 Dora doll arrives looking just like she does on the Dora & Friends television showcomplete with soft hair, signature outfit and her magic charm bracelet! Dora also comes with her smartphone and a special one for you too! Dora will magically respond to and interact with your special phone and when she talks and sings, her shirt and charm bracelet will light up and sparkle! Use your magical smartphone to talk to Doras friends and discover new places in Playa Verde using the Map App! Over 50 phrases, sounds, and a song from the TV show add to the adventure! For more fun and features, you can look for the Fisher-Price Dora & Friends dolls! Each friend comes with an adventure charm that plays ringtones & phrases in your magical smartphone!\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Not very Poseable, Fairly Cute Little Doll\n\nReview: When I received the Fisher Price Dora and Friends Talking Dora Doll, I was expecting the doll to be a larger doll than what I received. The Dora doll stands about 11\" tall and kind of looks like a younger version of a Bratz doll with the big head little body thing going on. The doll has a plastic jeweled top which lights up along with her bracelet when pushed. This also triggers Dora to sing, talk, and work with the included smartphone. The buttons on the Dora doll are hair triggered - you don't even have to push the button in all the way for the doll to burst into song speak to you. The included smartphone is not nearly as easy to trigger - you have to mash on the map to get it to talk. Thankfully, neither the doll nor the phone was terribly loud, although like all talking toys, it can get old fast.\n\nMy daughter, while interested in the phone, was not as impressed with the Dora doll. She particularly did not like how Dora's arms are pretty much fused into one position, could not let go of her tiny smartphone, and could not figure out why Dora would have a picture of herself on her phone. She also didn't like how the included smartphone was just a light up toy versus a working \"smartphone\" like her Leapfrog toys. That said, there's nothing wrong the doll - whether or not your kid will play with it is highly dependent on if s/he likes Dora. If you have a Dora fan in the house, this toy would make your kid very happy.","Product: Funko is a pop culture licensed-focused toy company located in Everett, WA. Funko currently holds more than 150 licenses including, but not limited to; Lucas Films, Marvel, Hasbro, The Walking Dead, Game of Thrones, DC Comics, NBA, Sanrio, and Disney. Funko's Pop! Vinyl is the number one stylized vinyl collectible in the world with over 10 million units sold in the last three years.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: I Love You, oh Great and Powerful Trixie!!!\n\nReview: The clouds opened and the heavens sang when the Great and Powerful Trixie arrived in full Funko vinyl form. This figure is beautiful. The sculpting is good, the figure is well balanced, and the paint job on this figure is quite possibly the best of the MLP Funko line. There was only one imperfection on my Trixie and it was very very small (the white paint from her mane went maybe millimeter past the mane line and ended up on her body. The painted stars and spots on her cape and hat were all perfect. This figure also doesn't have the dreaded \"face dent\" that many of the other Funko ponies seem to have.\n\nAs many others stated, she has no tail, but this really only affects the figure if you have the Chase Sparkle Variant. If you have the standard variant, the lack of tail is all good, as the cape falls on her body to look as if there was a tail underneath. Overall, this is a fantastic figure. Funko has really stepped up its game with the MLP figures...it was great getting this near perfect figure. This is definitely a figure to add to any MLP fan's collection. HIGHLY recommended!","Product: Your favorite characters from My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic animated television show get the vinyl figure treatment.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: She Has the Power to Spread the Magic of Friendship Across Equestria\n\nReview: The MLP sculps by Funko just keep getting better and better. Released with her frienemy, The Great and Powerful Trixie, the Twilight alicorn sculp is detailed, well painted, and looks just like her cartoon counterpart. The overall sculpting is great: there are no divots in the cheeks like in the first few Funkos (such as Rainbow Dash and Derpy), and the paint job is clean and uniform. I had a few small scratches in her wings, which are no noticeable from afar, but can be seen up close.\n\nWhile the overall sculpt is good, Funko did make Twi suffer from a severe case of \"helmet hair\", as her hair helmets right around her horn - her bangs are so far away from her head that I can fit my thumb right underneath! That aside, the overall look of Twilight is great and is a great figure to add to any MLP fan's collection. Highly recommended.","Product: The Orb Factory Limited is a provider of award winning crafts and activity products. With over 20 years in business, we are always creating brand new lines and exciting new products. We are now sold in over 60 countries, have won numerous awards and have become a recognized and trusted name in the toy industry.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Easy to Assemble, Very Cute Cone, Jewels Prone to Falling Off with Time\n\nReview: My daughter received the OrbFactory Plush Ice Cream Pillow last year for Christmas, and she still has the pillow today. Surprisingly this pillow has up stood the test of time, even despite my daughter napping on it. The craft itself was simple enough for her to assemble by herself (even at 5 years old) and the end product is soft, durable, and very cute. This is a great project for kids, and simple enough for even younger kids to do by themselves.\n\nThe pillow comes already assembled, and has a side that is made of a soft plastic. There are small numbered \"x\"s on the pillow where you use a dull pointed plastic tool to push small squares of fabric into. The fabric pieces are not likely to come out because of the pointed ends of the \"x\" hold the fabric firmly in place. There are also jewels you can put on the pillow - I will admit that these jewels can come off (they're stuck to plastic holder pieces using adhesive). Unlike the Cupcake Pillow, the jewels on this pillow are more prone to fall out for some reason. I'm not sure if the adhesive wasn't as strong, or if there was something wrong with the jewels One thing to note - you cannot wash this pillow unless you want fabric pieces to come out.\n\nOverall, this pillow was a lot of fun for my daughter to assemble, and the end product is very cute. If there were one thing to complain about, this pillow is a bit small in size - but to a kid, it's still awesome, and apparently awesome enough to nap on. I can also safely say these pillows are durable - even after many a nap, it still looks great.","Product: \"Eeyup!\" It's Applejack's older brother, Big McIntosh, or Big Mac as his friends know him. Featuring the same look you know and love from the My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic TV show, you can display him anywhere, whether it's at school, work, or at home!\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Very Minor Molding/Paint Flaws, But Otherwise Awesome! E-Yup!\n\nReview: I've been dying for Funko to start releasing some of the other prominent figures of Ponyville asides from the Mane Six and fan favorite background ponies, and was thrilled to see Big Mac in the release. Big Mac stands much taller than the other fillies released. To account for this height difference, he also has much thicker legs, is slightly broader, and definitely heavier than the other ponies released. His color and paint is really quite well done although mine did have a very small part on his left flank cutie mark with three pinpoint spots where paint didn't transfer quite perfectly. Because his man and tail are sculpted from orange vinyl instead of red, the mane to body colors were very clearly defined. This definition was much better than the fillies whose hair was painted on as opposed to being sculpted from the correct color. The khaki color on his hooves are all painted on and done very well - there was no bleeding into his legs.\n\nThe only issue I had with my Big Mac was that on his hind hoove, there were a few point where the vinyl didn't get molded quite perfectly resulting in a small divot in his hoof. I missed this when choosing my Big Mac, but am okay with the small divot as I'm casually collecting and using this Mac to sit on my desk. Overall, the look, color, and sculp for Big Mac is fantastic. I'm thrilled to have him in my collection! One last thing - you can get the Funko ponies directly from Hot Topic at a slightly more reasonable price. The ponies will be less than $20/pony.","Product: Grand Piano- Is a musical instrument played using a keyboard consisting of 52 white keys and 36 black keys that cover a range of more than seven octaves. The Grand Piano is designed so that its frame and strings are parallel to the floor with the strings extending away from the keyboard. The piano also includes 3 foot pedals used to change the instrument's sound in various ways.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: No Glue Involved, NeedleNose Pliers Required, Gorgeous Finished Piece\n\nReview: My husband got me this puzzle from our local big box bookstore as a little gift - I love puzzles and I love building models, so he figured this would be a nice challenge for me. The puzzle is easy enough to put together - all the instructions are via illustrations similar to Lego instructions. There are numbers next to each indicated piece, so you can punch each piece out as needed. I would definitely recommend having a good pair of needlenose pliers and an X-acto knife with you when you're assembling, as some of the pieces are difficult to remove from the metal sheets and many of the pieces require very fine bending. Each metal piece is smooth on the edges, has very find detail cut into it (the piano keyboard alone is really impressive to look at), and when assembled correctly looks like it could be one piece of neatly cut metal.\n\nThe piano took me about 4 hours to assemble - granted, I was watching movies while assembling, so your time may be faster (or slower!) depending on how dexterous you are and if you're taking multiple breaks like I did. Overall, I had a really good time assembling this model. There's no glue involved, all the pieces are attached via bending small metal tabs (be careful, because if you mess up, there's no going back), and the end result is very clean and beautiful. I would recommend this to anyone who likes building models and who is meticulous when it comes to detail.","Product: Enjoy a perfect afternoon by the sea at the iconic Heart lake Lighthouse! Stephanie is going to visit her friend Kate in the ice cream shop there. Help her pick an ice cream - there are so many flavors to choose from - and enjoy it on the pier in the sunshine. Head to the bathroom to freshen up and discover the ladder. Where does it lead to? Go exploring with Stephanie and find the secret room with a treasure map to start more adventures! Look out from the top of the lighthouse with the binoculars and spot the friendly seal sitting on a rock. Then climb into the row boat and head out to take pictures of it. After a day of fun with her friend, have a rest with Kate in the attic bedroom by lantern light. Which friends will come to visit for an ice cream tomorrow? Combine with the 41097 Heart lake Air Balloon for a sightseeing tour of Heart lake City. Includes 2 mini-doll figures: Kate and Stephanie, plus a seal.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Adorable Lighthouse Set Complete with Ice Cream Parlor, Sleeping Area, and a Tiny Bathroom with Toilet!\n\nReview: The Lego Friends Heartlake Lighthouse is a fantastic Lego Set for any ice cream and boating lover. This set is narrow, but tall, and has a lot of cute details on it which make play back value high. Because of the tiny ice creams, popsicles, cute seal, and little boat for the two girls to go adventuring on (while eating ice cream, no less!) there's plenty of room for imaginative play. The set was simple for my kid to build, and she liked how this set is like a house - there's even a little bed on the second floor. One thing in particular that the kids thought was incredibly funny is that this set comes with a tiny bathroom with toilet and lid. Needless to say, apparently our little figure learned the hard way that you shouldn't eat a sundae, two ice cream cones, and a popsicle all in one sitting.\n\nOverall, this set was really fun to assemble, and a lot of fun to play with afterwards. This set would be a great gift for any Lego Friends Fan.","Product: It turns out that tying knots is good for more than just being out in the wilderness-it's actually a great brain building skill to have! The 40 knotty challenges in this game will have your neurons firing as you work to recreate the knots shown on the challenge cards with your rope. If you were never much of a scout, you may gain a new skill or two as you strengthen your spatial reasoning and dexterity skills!\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: No Instructions on How to Tie the Knots\n\nReview: The husband is in the Coast Guard, and on a whim, he purchased this game for the kids to play so they could learn some of the knots he uses on the job. First the good points - the rope is very durable, the ring is solid, and the cards are all neatly and beautifully illustrated. The cards are set in a notebook form, so you can't lose them, and there are fun little facts on each card regarding each particular knot.\n\nUnfortunately, the fun ends there. Unless you're planning on tying each knot by threading one end around and \"guess and by golly\" where to put the loops, you WILL NOT learn how to effectively tie each knot. We'll take the Beginner #2 knot for example. The Slipknot can be easily achieved by crossing the rope, then pulling the rope through. The illustration given doesn't give directions on how to tie the slipknot, but instead shows the final step only. Another example is for another beginner knot - the Ring Hitch. Nowhere does it tell you to loop the rope, put it through the ring, then pull the two loose ends through the loop to create the knot. I won't even get started on more complicated knots like the bowlines.\n\nLong story short, even Mr. Coast Guard got terribly frustrated at some of these knots. Some of the knots which are done using two ropes were finagled into using a single rope (Fisherman's Knot and Surgeon's knot for example). Other knots which are incredibly easy to do with instructions were deemed \"intermediate\", such as the Tom Fool knot - you had to make the Tom Fool knot by threading through the end of the rope, you'll take a whole lot longer than if you learned how to do it correctly. If you're really interested in learning how to tie knots correctly, you can google \"animated knots\" and there's a couple of good resources and videos on how to effectively tie the knots, and in all honesty, a hardware store will have all the materials you'll need to make said kit. I personally would not recommend getting this as a good way to learn knots on the go. I would also suggest alternative knot tying cards - <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/PROKNOT-Outdoor-Knots/dp/0922273227/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">PROKNOT Outdoor Knots</a>.\n\nFor those who are interested, here's a list of the knots included:\nOverhand knot, slip knot, figure 8 knot, ring hitch, clove hitch, overhand loop, figure eight loop, double overhand knot, reef knot, stevedore knot, harness loop, two half hitches, turn around & two half hitches, carrick bend, bowline, running bowline, lariat loop, bowline on a bight, Portuguese bowline, fisherman's knot, buntline hitch, surgeon's knot, tom fool knot, handcuff, ashley stopper knot, alpine butterfly bend, improved cinch knot, angler's loop, fisherman's bend, double sheet bend, sheepshank, cat's paw, hunter's bend, tarbuck knot, half windsor knot, square knot, water bowline, single strand plait, blood knot, Chinese button.","Product: Funko is a pop culture licensed-focused toy company located in Everett, WA. Funko currently holds more than 150 licenses including, but not limited to; Lucas Films, Marvel, Hasbro, The Walking Dead, Game of Thrones, DC Comics, NBA, Sanrio, and Disney. Funko's Pop! Vinyl is the number one stylized vinyl collectible in the world with over 10 million units sold in the last three years.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Rarity is the Best Pony - Now If Only She Didn't Have So Many Flaws\n\nReview: Rarity is simply the best pony. Her style, her grace, and her generosity is simply unmatched. Unfortunately, her Funko sculpt falls terribly short for such a fabulous pony. Frankly, I'm astounded at the number of flaws on the pony I received - this may vary depending on the sculpt you get. The sculpt I received had any divots on the mane and tail. There are multiple lines where the vinyl didn't fill in correctly, and the attaching points were sloppily done - particularly where her head attaches to her body. Quality control should get nailed for letting this pony go through!\n\nThe many divots aside, the paint job on this pony is fantastic, and her cutie mark and eyes came out perfectly. The overall sculpt is also very detailed - her hair is very well done and there was no bleeding of color between her hair and body like on some other ponies. Overall, I really love the look and overall sculpt of Rarity. It would be a good idea to check out your pony before purchasing though - hopefully you won't received a pock marked rarity as I did!","Product: Hello Kitty has entered the medical field with this large play set that features an ambulance that converts into a fully functional emergency room! Help Hello Kitty rescue patients on the stretcher and transport them to the err with the emergency helicopter where they will have most excellent care! This set includes an emergency helicopter, emergency ambulance, 6 play figures, stretcher, cable hook, Doctor case, patient bed, x-ray stand, EKG machine, stethoscope, prescription pad plus, and more! Ages 4+.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Big Airplane Playset for Hello Kitty Fans\n\nReview: The Jada Toys Hello Kitty Jet Plane Set is a great toy for any Hello Kitty fan in your household. It comes with three character - Kitty, Lulu and Jodi - and a largel collection of tiny food/accessories including a two little sandwiches that can be assembled/disassembled, four food trays, two apple, one suitcase, one carry on case, two tea cups, one tea pot with saucer, a camera, creamer, and a little food cart that cannot roll down the aisle as there is no aisle. Heed now - those little food items are TINY...we're talking an apple the size of a pea here. If you have little ones who can't keep things out of their mouths, or who will have a melting fit if they lose a piece, this is not the toy for you.\n\nWhen the accessories are not in use, they can be easily placed in a small area near the back of the plane or under one of the six seats. Note, the rolling bag can fit under the seat, but the luggage bag does not - so true to life! We gave the kid a small snack sized ziploc to store all the pieces in - again, I cannot stress enough how tiny these pieces are. There are small holes on the bottom of the characters, so you can have them seated in the pegged seats. Each seat also has a small folding down tray table.\n\nOverall, the kid loved this set. This set is compatible with the <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Jada-Toys-Hello-Kitty-Drivin-Diner/dp/B0070AK2SI/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">Jada Toys Hello Kitty Drivin Diner</a> and the <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Hello-Kitty-Rescue-Set-Medical-Helicopter-Emergency-Ambulance/dp/B00NDCO7YC/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">Hello Kitty Rescue Set Medical Helicopter Emergency Ambulance</a> - this is great because the kid has been able to interchange characters and pieces with all the sets. If you have a Hello Kitty Fan in your house, this is great big set to consider.","Product: Hello Kitty has entered the medical field with this large play set that features an ambulance that converts into a fully functional emergency room! Help Hello Kitty rescue patients on the stretcher and transport them to the err with the emergency helicopter where they will have most excellent care! This set includes an emergency helicopter, emergency ambulance, 6 play figures, stretcher, cable hook, Doctor case, patient bed, x-ray stand, EKG machine, stethoscope, prescription pad plus, and more! Ages 4+.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Fun Medical Play Set for the Hello Kitty Fan\n\nReview: The Hello Kitty Medical Helicopter Playset is a very fun playset for any Hello Kitty Fan. The kid received this for her birthday and really enjoys playing with it. This set comes with five character figures (all Hello Kitty, unfortunately), multiple little pieces including beds, medical bags, medical equipment, and so forth. This set is pretty large, and with all these little pieces, the kid has been having a good time using her imagination and putting the characters through all sorts of exciting medical scenarios.\n\nThis set comes with a lot of little pieces - not unlike any other kid's playset I've seen. If your kid it prone to losing pieces, be warned now - this set has a good number of little bits to it. We keep everything in a ziploc bag and haven't lost any pieces yet. There are a few cardboard elements to the set (including an IV stand, medical curtain, helicopter landing pad, prescription pad, and interchangeable x-ray slides), which add to the play, but ultimately can be destroyed even with gentle play. The only cardboard pieces that I wish were plastic are the x-ray slides, because once those are destroyed, the x-ray machine will not have any image to put in it - I photocopied the pictures and laminated the copies so we have a more durable set to keep on hand.\n\nThe set feels quite durable, and we haven't had any issues with loose doors or the like. The characters can be a bit difficult to put onto the seat pegs - particularly the passenger seat peg - but it's not impossible. If you have younger kids, this can be frustrating for them - my kids had a little difficulty, but not so much that they would end up in tears...their younger cousins on the other hand....\n\nOverall, this is a very fun play set, despite the passenger seat peg and cardboard x-rays. If there was one thing to change, I personally would have liked to see Tracy, Lulu, and Jody in the set. Personal preference aside, the kid really likes this set - it's definitely a lot of fun.","Product: The Heroes are having a party when suddenly Avengers Tower comes under Ultron attack from the inside! Evil Ultron Mark 1 has assembled himself in the lab and is exploding out the windows. Help Iron Man and Thor to defeat Ultron Mark 1 and the 2 Iron Legion accomplices under his control. Make plans in the JARVIS control room and treat injured Super Heroes in the sick bay. An Iron Legion is blasting out the doors and windows of the ground-floor robot bay. The other has stolen the Loki Scepter from the analysis lab so pursue him with Thor and take aim from the roof of the tower with the secret hidden drone and stud shooters. You must retrieve the Scepter and stop Ultron Mark 1! Includes 5 minifigures with a weapon and assorted accessories: Ultron Mark 1, 2 Iron Legions, Iron Man and Thor.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Very Detailed Set, Lots of Great Moving Parts, Iron Man's Mask is Even Removable!\n\nReview: The Lego Avengers Superheroes Attack on Avengers Tower is a fantastic Lego set for any Avengers fan. While this set is definitely not the largest playset of the Lego line, what is lacking is size is made up of sheer detail. There are many moving parts in this set including windows that open, panels that opens up to reveal weaponry underneath, computer screens that move aside, robotic arms that move aside, and even face masks that can be placed on (and removed!) from the various Iron Man suits. There is a Tony Stark/Iron Man and Thor mini figure included along with two hybrid Iron Man Mark 5 suits.\n\nThe level of detail involved with this set is great. From the Ultron Project labeled computer screens, to the Chitauri Scepter being analyzed, to the tiny damaged Iron Man Suit, there a many aspects about this set that would appeal to Avenger Fans. This set didn't take too long for the kid to build, but was a lot of fun to him to both assemble and play with afterwards. Play over value is high with this set.\n\nOverall, this is a very well thought out and fun Lego set to consider for your Avengers/Iron Man/Lego Fan. It may not be the biggest set, but it definitely is big on detail and fun.","Product: The product description for this item is not available at this time. It will be updated when it is available.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Smaller Lego Set, Lots of Fun for Lego Avenger Fans\n\nReview: The Lego Superheroes Iron Man vs. Ultron is a very small, but still fun set for any Iron Man fan. The set includes one Iron Man mini figure and three Ultron minifigures. The Ultron mini figures are exactly the same. There is a set of antennas and a helmet for the \"Prime Ultron\" - for those who follow the comics, Ultron has a \"hive mind\" and can control other Ultrons, so if you're wondering why there are three Ultrons, it's because it's canon and in the comics.\n\nThe set itself is very small and has only 92 pieces. This set when complete is about the size of my computer mouse. It took my kid less than 15 minutes to fully assemble the toy, but the set to him was still worth it. This set is fun to play with other Lego Avenger sets, and for those who like Ultron, it's a great set to have. The Legos are all sturdy, fit together fine, and works well with other Lego and Lego compatible sets.","Product: 500 piece puzzles featuring popular artwork by this featured artist. This puzzle when assembled measures 18\" x 24\" and features a high gloss image on package for reference. It is of quality construction and designed to be beautiful and visually appealing.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Highly Detailed and Beautiful Puzzles\n\nReview: The Thomas Kinkade/Disney Four Pack Puzzle includes four 500 piece puzzles. In this pack is a Fantasia, Lady and the Tramp, Winnie the Pooh, and Tangled puzzle. Each puzzle is very well detailed, has pieces that fit smoothly together, and lay flat once assembled. It took us about a day (or two) to complete a puzzle. The detailing on these puzzles are great - for example, in the Fantasia puzzle you can not only see Mickey and the broomsticks, but there are hidden characters included such as Jiminy Cricket and Tinkerbell. In the Tangle puzzle, the guys from the Snuggly Duckling Inn are hiding in the background along with the soldiers, Maximus, and Mother Gothel.\n\nThe printing of the puzzle was very well done, the pieces fit easily together, and the puzzles are complicated enough to keep everyone entertained, but easy enough so it's not too frustrating. This is a great puzzle to have on the coffee table for the family to complete and beautiful enough to frame and hang on the walls afterwards. Everyone in our family enjoyed these puzzles.","Product: Little ones love watching Elmo play with his friends on Sesame Street. Now its their turn to play along with Elmo: Meet Play All Day Elmo! This cuddly and interactive Elmo toy includes 8 games and activities and 150+ responses to help keep kids engaged. Play All Day Elmo has 2 modes of play (Toddler and Preschool) to encourage both younger and older children to have fun. Young children can enjoy basic cause-and-effect play in Toddler mode, like tickling Elmo or squeezing his nose to see how Elmo might respond. Preschool mode takes play to the next level by encouraging preschoolers to play games and activities, like \"Red Light Green Light,\" \"Pat-a-Cake,\" \"Freeze Dance,\" and more! When playtime is over, preschoolers can cuddle with him while listening to a lullaby. After everyone is rested, your child can start the fun again! Sesame Street and associated characters, trademarks and design elements are owned and licensed by Sesame Workshop. Hasbro and all related terms are trademarks of Hasbro.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Very Plush, Highly Interactive Elmo Doll\n\nReview: The Playskool Play All Day Elmo is a surprisingly neat toy. This is the most advanced Elmo I've seen, and it's soft and cuddly to boot! The Elmo is fairly large and stands at almost 2' tall. He is surprisingly plush and cuddly, and although I know most of the mechanics are in his belly, you can't feel it easily without squeezing him very hard. The hardest part of Elmo really lies in his neck and head region - his eyes are hard plastic, and it's easy to feel the plastic plates in his mouth and neck. While the plastic is solid, it is unlikely to harm your kid at all as all edges are rounded, and the plastic is durable enough so it seems unlikely to break. The fur on Elmo is really very soft, and the kids loved the \"minky\" feel to it. He really looks like his television counterpart to boot. The sound on Elmo is fairly clear, and I was surprised to find that the sound is emitted from his mouth as opposed to his belly. The speech on the doll is slightly louder than I'd like, but overall, it's not so loud that I can hear him across the house.\n\nThis Elmo, unlike previous dolls, is really advanced. When you squeeze his nose, he'll talk, sing, and play games with your kid. There is a motion detecting feature on him, so he seems aware of being picked up, turned upside down, bounced up and down, and so forth. This Elmo can play a fair variety of games including red light/green light, jumping, patty cake, and freeze dancing - just to name a few. My kids had a blast playing these simple games with Elmo, and while he's still limited in the number of games he can play (he has 8 games and activities), the repetitiveness of the games is not necessarily a bad thing - for toddlers and preschoolers, these simple games really help develop gross motor and intellectual skills...my younger kids seem to play with Elmo over and over again without tiring of him.\n\nOne of my favorite things about this toy is that Elmo doesn't require an arm and leg worth of batteries to operate. This toy only requires 4 AA batteries, and these seem to last quite a while. In comparison with the Leapfrog stuffed animals, Elmo is a lot more expensive, but he does a lot more - even without the USB hookups. Overall, the kids really enjoyed this Elmo. He would make an excellent plush buddy for the favorite kid in your life.","Product: From the My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic TV show, it's Princess Cadance! Princess Cadance has been given the Vinyl treatment! Cadance stands 4 1/2 Inch and comes in a window display box. Check out the other My Little Pony figures from Funko! Collect them all!.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Sunshine, sunshine, ladybugs awake. Clap your hooves and Do a Little Shake!\n\nReview: Dear Funko, you got it totally right where it counted - the Funko Princess Cadance figure is an absolutely lovely sculpt with very few flaws on her. The cutie mark and overall paint job on Cadance is very clean and well done. There is a very light layer of purple sprayed on her wings to give an ombre effect, and her mane and tail had very minimal bleeding on it. Cadance's overall cover is a soft baby pink, and amazingly I had no issues with divots or pock marks anywhere on her body, wings, or tail.\n\nThe sculpt is fairly well balanced, although my pony's left back leg is a little higher off the ground than her other three legs so she does wobble very slightly when touched. That aside, she's just a beautiful figure. Of all the Funko pony line I've picked up, I think she's possibly the best figure of the bunch.","Product: Put on a spectacular show with LEGO Friends! The modular LEGO Friends Pop Star Show Stage includes a big screen, pop star reveal and dancing functions, and musical instruments sets. Get set for a show-stopping performance with Livi the pop star! The incredible stage is set for tonight's concert. As the show starts, turn the stage panels to make Livi appear as if from nowhere. Set Andrea up on the drums or at the keyboard to accompany Livi for the first songs. Then it's time for the highlight of the show-Livi sings her hit single while Andrea plays the electric guitar like a pro. Use the dancing function to see their slick dance moves! Now it's time to rearrange the stage while Livi has a costume change before her big finale. This has been Livi's best show yet! Includes Livi the pop star and Andrea mini-doll figures. Features a modular stage with catwalk, big screen, background panels, brick-built speakers, pop star reveal function, dancing function, drums and a keyboard set.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Adorable Set, Great \"Play Again\" Value, Love the Mechics of the Moving Components of This Set\n\nReview: My daughter received the Lego Friends Pop Star Show Stage for Christmas this year, and it's easily one of her favorite presents received. The show stage set includes two Lego Friend Minifigures, multiple moving parts, and two tiny Lego instruments. The set was easy enough for her to build by herself and has great \"play again value\" once built. There is a small knob on the right end of the completed stage that you can turn to make the four panels on the stage turn.\n\nThere's a lot of detail that went into this stage set including the tiny stars, the detailing on the minifigure's dresses, and even the sparkly stick decals for the turning panel. The daughter really enjoyed building this set, and I like the fact that a turning mechanism was included - it's really quite clever how it works, and it's great to see a little engineering going on with this super girly looking set.\n\nAll the Legos fit snugly together and can work with other Lego sets. Overall, this is a great set to consider if you're buying the Legos friend kits. I love the design and mechanics of this set, and the daughter loves playing with it.","Product: Laser Pegs, 122 Tinted Construction Bricks, Power Block Power Base, Instruction Manual;Requires 3 AAA Batteries, Not Included;100% Compatible with Other Major Construction Kits;Award Winning POWERBLOCK Series STEM Educational Laser Pegs Building and Construction Toys for Boys and Girls;All Laser Pegs Lighted Construction Sets Make Excellent Holiday Gifts with their Slide, Stack and Spin play pattern. Excellent educational toy for autistic children;Includes power base, laser pegs, construction bricks and instruction manual;Compatible with other major construction kits\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Fun Lighted Building Block Set\n\nReview: My kids received this as a gift this summer and they love it! The Laser Pegs Scout Helicopter set is pretty much a clear colored Legos set (and they fit with Legos and Megabloks, too!). There is one larger clear base piece that lights up via LED light (AAA batteries not included), and you build around that. Once the construction is done, you're left with a cool light up figure. The LED is fairly bright, although the figure won't light up super bright in lighted rooms. Like any lighted toy - the darker the room, the cooler this toy will be. The pieces fit together for us quite smoothly, although in our case - a bit snugly. If you have one of these - <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/LEGO-Classic-Brick-Separator-630-Building-Kit/dp/B0076VIZBW/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">LEGO Classic Brick Separator 630 Building Kit</a> - life will be awesome. The helicopter instructions are fairly easy to follow and pretty much like any other building block set. You can also take a look at the instructions online if you want to see the complexity of each helicopter - all Laser Peg instructions are online, which is a major win if you have multiple sets and want design ideas for your kids!\n\nhttp://www.laserpegs.com/instructions-manuals/\n\nThis is one of the smaller sets, and would a good starter kit to gift or start someone out with. If you a slightly larger budget, I would get the <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Laser-Pegs-57-in-1-Dragon-Building-Set/dp/B0096R917G/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">Laser Pegs 57-in-1 Dragon Building Set</a> as that set is larger, has more figures to be made, and comes with a carrying box/building base. That aside, this kit is fun, educational, and really fun to play with before bedtime because it lights up!! If your kid loves building block sets, they'll love Laser Pegs.","Product: From the My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic TV show, it's Shining Armor! Shining Armor has been given the Vinyl treatment! Shining Armor stands 4 1/2 Inch and comes in a window display box. Check out the other My Little Pony figures from Funko! Collect them all.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: He'll Be Your B.B.B.F.F! (Big Brother Best Friend Forever!)\n\nReview: Of the Funko My Little Pony line, Funko really got two ponies right - Cadance was the first, and her handsome hubby Shining Armor was the second. Shining Armor is very well sculpt, has little to no paint issues, and he looks absolutely dashing in his wedding outfit. The sculpt of SA is very well done and my pony had no blemishes or pock marks. His coloring is uniform throughout, and the areas that were painted had no bleeding or discoloration. His cutie mark is also very cleanly done, and the transfer was perfect.\n\nThe detailing on SA is great - his jacket is probably the most detailed item in the MLP Funko line and they nailed it. There's really nothing bad to say about this figure. He's well balanced, beautifully colored, and very show accurate. SA and Cadance are probably my favorite pony sculpts in the Funko line to date - they're just that well done.","Product: Create and build Olaf's Biplane with the Lite Brix Building Set. Item #57006 Contents: 1 construction figure (3 pcs) 9 special shaped parts 77 brick blocks 1 LED Battery Power Pack 1 decal sheet 1 instruction sheet\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Small, but Very Cute Biplane - Great for any Peanuts Fan\n\nReview: The Peanuts Movie Olaf's Biplane Lite Brix is a fun building bricks set for any Peanuts fan. This set is compatible with Lego sets, feature a jumbo light up brick that you can build on, and has a cute little Olaf minifigure. This set was very simple for my kid to assemble - the instructions are clear and easy to follow, and the set took the kid about 20 minutes to build. The play over value for this set is high - both my kids had a great time assembling and disassembling the plane, and when assembled, they had a great time arranging \"dog fights\" with Snoopy on his doghouse and Olaf in his biplane.\n\nWhile this set is touted as a \"light up brick set\", I'm slightly disappointed to find that very few bricks are actually clear and light up. Most of the bricks in this set are opaque, so the set doesn't fully light up. Only the large light up brick lights up which is near the engine. The when turned on, only the engine area is lighted, while the remainder of the figure is not. My kids didn't seem to mind, but did not these are not as cool as other light up brick brands we've seen. That aside, the kids actually liked this set a bit more than the Snoopy's Doghouse set - this little figure works great as a stand alone toy, and the completed build looks really cute.\n\nOverall, this is a fun set to get for any Peanuts fan. The completed unit is simply adorable, and the kids love \"flying\" this set all over the house. One thing to note - we've seen this set at our local Bulls Eye store, and it's much more budget friendly than purchasing from third parties online...","Product: Bake and serve delicious cupcakes at the LEGO Friends Heartlake Cupcake Cafe with opening oven, baking accessories, rotating window display, cash register and delivery scooter. Relax and enjoy a delicious treat with friends on the sofa or outside on the patio. This fun toy for 6-year-olds includes Stephanie and Noemi mini-doll figures, plus a cat.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Adorable Lego Set - Lots of Tiny Details, Great To Play With When Assembled\n\nReview: Of all the Lego Friends sets my kid received over time, this is undoubtedly the Queen of all the Cupcakes - my kid really loves the Heartlake Cupcake Cafe. The set is a fairly good size, was easy to assemble, has amazing details, and is high on the play back value. After assembly, this wasn't a set that was simply placed on a shelf to be displayed - this was a set where intense baking competitions occur, last minute wedding cakes were ordered, and where the girls meet up to down overpriced lattes while getting their sugar binge on. Look out real housewives, the Heartlake City crew got so much more swag than you.\n\nThe detailing on this set is really what makes it - there are simply so many things to look at in this set. I particularly liked the dessert tower in the window, the tiny visor on the character's helmet, the little stained glass window over the door, and my personal favorite: the Kitchenaid mixer with the clear bowl and the two tan \"batter\" pieces in it! This set comes with two figures - Stephanie and Noemi - as well as a little cat figure. There is also a tiny scooter, so one of the girls can scoot off for a special cupcake delivery.\n\nOverall, my kid LOVED this set. As others noted, there are a lot of tiny pieces in this set - primarily cupcakes, cookies, and other tiny baked goods. We have no issues with losing pieces/anyone eating pieces - but if you have a really little one in the house, you may want to watch out. Otherwise, this is a great set to add to any foodie Lego Fan's collection.","Product: Join Andrea and her pets for a special LEGO Friends birthday party. Put on a show with the revolving stage area, piano and microphone and have fun on the swing. Includes stools and a table for enjoying the birthday cake and party accessories for great fun. Includes an Andrea mini-doll figure plus a rabbit and a bird.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Great Birthday Set for Any Lego Friends Fan\n\nReview: The Lego Friends Birthday Party is a fun small Lego set for any Lego Friends Fan. The set comes with 191 pieces including two small cups, one girl mini figure, a bird mini figure, and a rabbit mini figure. This set is on the simpler side, and the kid took less than an hour to assemble it. The play over value is high however - since receiving it for her birthday, the kid has been playing with it on and off with her other Lego friends set. The set does come with several extra pieces, as many of the bricks and accessories are small. This set, when complete, includes a moving swing set, a moving turn table, a large cake on a table, a piano with microphone, and even a string of lights.\n\nWhile my daughter likes this set, she did feel sorry for the character, Andrea - if you note, Andrea is celebrating her birthday ALONE. Sure, she has a bird and a rabbit to keep her company, but if you look carefully, there's only one seat at the birthday cake table. Unless those discs on the floor are cushions, Andrea is all alone on her special birthday. That said, this set could use a friend for this Lego Friend. Luckily for us, we had plenty of friends for poor little Andrea to play with, thanks to my kid's Lego Friend collection.\n\nOverall, this is a very cute set to get or to gift for any Lego Friends fan for their birthday. The set is very detailed, very cute, and is compatible with all Lego sets.","Product: It's the high-stacking, high-scoring word game. Players make words and score by playing letters across the board and adding tiles upwards for stacks of fun! The higher a player stacks, the higher their score. Play head-to-head with others, or try to improve on previous games by playing solo. The Upwords game comes with 100 letter tiles. Score the most points to win! Licensed by Rudell Design, LLC. The Hasbro Gaming and Upwords names and logos are trademarks of Hasbro.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Incredibly Fun, Interesting Twist on Scrabble Like Games\n\nReview: As huge fans of Scrabble, my family and I were really interested in trying out Upwords. This game truly did not disappoint. Like Scrabble, the object of the game is to build works on the playing board. The twist on the game is that words can be built on. In other words, words can get changed in an instant, and can almost entirely change depending on where it is on the board. The point system is also not dependent on the markings on the board, but instead on how high the stack of tiles are. For instance, a single layer word is worth two points per letter, whereas a stacked word is worth one point per tile, with a tile pile being maxed out at five tiles high. While this sounds like making single stacked longer words more valuable, its actually the opposite. Smaller properly stacked works can be work 20 or more point, and words can easily be eliminated and/or changed on the board in an instant. This works out really well for players who are not as word savvy, as there are no particularly higher pointed tile such as the Q or Z in Scrabble, but point are accumulated through clever stacking technique. With that in mind, there is still a good amount of strategy involved, and it was surprising to see how quickly a game could change depending on how a word is altered. For those who enjoy playing tiled word games, but don't have anyone to play with, there is a variation for this game where you are playing by yourself. The board is large enough to play with up to four players though.\n\nWhile we love the game play, there are two things I would change about this particular board. First off, it wouldve been great to have some kind of rotation device on the bottom of the board. Often we would find ourselves having to turn the board while stacks of letters wobbled precariously during the turn. Thankfully, the letters are designed so they won't fall over, but it was still quite a pain to constantly have to turn the board. The other thing I wouldve changed is that I wouldve liked to see a small bag included in which to draw letters out from. Its not a big deal, and its not hard to find a cheap bag to put the letter in, but it still wouldve been more convenient to have a letter bag included as oppose to turning over each letter and drawing from a draw pile.\n\nOverall, despite its small flaws, this game is incredibly fun to play, and worth including in your gaming closet. I have a feeling I will be introducing this to other family and friends very soon for an Upwards game night.","Product: Construct a LEGO brick model of one of the world's most famous palaces. Located in the heart of London, Buckingham Palace has housed Britain's sovereigns since 1837, when it became the official residence of Queen Victoria, just three weeks after her accession to the throne. The building has since played host to state visits, investitures and private audiences, and in 2015 opened its doors to the general public, offering state room tours. This detailed LEGO building block model focuses on the palace's monumental, neoclassical facade-designed by architect Sir Aston Webb in 1913, and features the famous balcony, forecourt and palace gates. A section of the Mall including a red double-decker bus, black cab and the Victoria Memorial completes this ideal gift that captures the essence of the magnificent palace and one of the world's most dynamic cities.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Nicely Detailed Addtion to the Lego Architecture Series\n\nReview: The LEGO Buckingham Palace is another great addition to the LEGO Architecture Series. With 780 pieces in the set, this isn't the Lego set that you can expect to finish within an hour - this is a very detailed set that is simple to build, but takes a significant amount of time and patience. For patient builders, the end result is a really awesome model of London's Buckingham Palace - our family completed this set in three days with each family member working on small sections in little blocks of time throughout the day. Time to complete will vary depending on individual. Like all Lego sets, the pieces fit very snugly together, the instructions are illustrated simply but effectively, and we didn't have any issues with missing blocks. The instructions also included information about the design, architecture and history of Buckingham Palace which was a nice bonus. This was a particularly nice set to put out for display - it was so nice, I ended up purchasing another for my brother who is a fan of both Lego Architecture and Buckingham Palace. This is definitely a great set to add to any Lego Architecture fan's collection.","Product: Recreate one of London's best-known landmarks with the amazing LEGO Creator Expert Big Ben set. This highly-detailed model captures the grandeur of the 96-meter neo-gothic styled Elizabeth Tower with the adjoining east wing of the Palace of Westminster, and features a sculptural facade with windows, statues and shields, the iconic clock tower with its golden spires and intricate detailing, the Ayrton Light, and 4 beautifully crafted clock dials with movable hour and minute hands. Remove the top of the tower and you'll find the Big Ben bell! A grass area, tree and sidewalk depicting the building's location add the finishing touch to this magnificent model. This fun childrens toy makes a great display piece for the home or office.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Beautiful Sculpture, Lots of Detail - Put LED Lights Inside to Make It Even More Amazing\n\nReview: The LEGO Creator Big Ben Sculpture is a monumental build for any Lego fan - this sculpture is HUGE, exceptionally detailed, and absolutely gorgeous. This is a great gift for anyone who is both a fan of Lego and the famous clock tower at the Palace of Westminster. The amount of care and detail put into this particular sculpture is fantastic - from the many statues, windows, and shields on the facade, to the intricately designed clock face that works, there's a lot to look at and admire on this building. This is a great piece to have on display in your home.\n\nWhile is a beautiful piece to look at, the build was incredibly repetitive. For those who teased me for enjoying the repetitiveness of cross stitching and knitting, let it be known - this fed the repetitive compulsion. While it is possible to finish this within a day or two with a couple of people, our family ended up breaking the work up into a couple of days simply because it's exhausting! Like all Lego sets, the build wasn't particularly difficult, but an element of patience with this build is required. One thing to note - the back of the building is not as detailed as the front, so it's not great for \"all around\" display. However, one thing we ended up doing with our set to add an extra element of \"wow\" was put LED lights inside - because there's so many windows in this build, the light shines through and makes the set look even more awesome than it already is!\n\nOverall, this a beautiful sculpture to build, and if you're looking for a set that will give you several hours of building entertainment, this is a good one to consider. It would make a great gift for anyone who loves London and Lego.","Product: This vintage-looking Scrabble game is sure to win over the entire game-night gang. It's packaged in a wooden case and features a retro-style game board.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Box is Great, Scrabble Set is Not So Great\n\nReview: I admit it - I bought this Scrabble set only because of the box. The book box looks beautiful and holds all the contents of the Scrabble set inside. I received the rounded edge box, and really love how cute it looks on my bookshelf. Unfortunately, while the box is cute, the contents is not nearly as nice. The board is tiny, the tiles are okay but the bag they're in isn't all that great, and the holders are sufficient. The board is really quite small, and while it's convenient to package in the box, Parker Brothers really should have considered making it larger, because it would've fit just fine.\n\nOverall, having played several games with tiles shifting on the board, I'm ready to buy a new Scrabble Set that comes with Tile Lock. While this Scrabble set is sufficient, you're really just buying it for the box.","Product: Match state geography cards with fact cards in order to collect the most matches. Use special Challenge cards to steal matches from other players. Trivia on each card helps players learn more about the history and culture of their states. Its the most fun card game this side of the Mississippi (no matter which side youre on)!\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: It's a Matching Card Game with a Little Twist\n\nReview: The Brain Quest States Card Game is an okay game to learn a little bit about states, their nicknames, capitals, and a tidbit of information. The cards are printed on a decent cardstock, and is about as durable as most standard playing card decks. The cards are a bit smaller than standard playing cards - I've included a picture below to show the difference in size. All the cards can be stored in a tin box that has two sections to divide up the red and blue cards.\n\nThe game is very simple - just lay out all the blue cards face down on the table, deal out five red cards per player, then take turns flipping over blue cards to see if you can find a match. The game ends when all the cards are matched. This game really is slightly more complicated version of a kid's matching card game. There are a few \"challenge cards\" peppered in, where players can attempt to steal a matched set from another player, and the challenger must name the nickname of the matched state in order to complete the steal. Our family opted to name the state capital in order to complete a steal, as this is more relevant information to know for the kid's future geography classes.\n\nWhile the kids initially liked the game, the novelty ended fairly quickly for them. First off, this game is in NO WAY possible to play during a road trip. You have to have all blue cards laying face down on the table in order to do the matching aspect of the game. This renders the game impossible to play in a car unless you're rolling in an RV. Next, the game itself isn't terribly challenging - this is a matching game. The first few card flips are interesting because you're looking for a match, but the kids quickly got bored of flipping cards over and over and over again trying to find a match. You really need to have more than two players to speed this game along, otherwise, it's going to get boring fast. Lastly, the challenge cards instruct you to name the nickname of the state. It would've been interesting to have more facts noted on the cards for more challenging game play. Again, we ended up naming the capitals for first get the kids knowing the states and capitals. Once they learned that, we moved onto nicknames - it would've been cool to have other info such as state flower, state bird, etc info on there.\n\nOverall, this is still educational, the kids occasionally play it from time to time, and the cards themselves are well packaged and durable. But is this their favorite education state game? Nope - can't say that. This game isn't a travel type card game, and matching aspect of the game didn't keep the attention of our first and second grader.","Product: Best Word Book Ever\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: More Than a Storybook for Young Readers\n\nReview: Calling Richard Scarry's \"Best Storybook Ever\" a story book is truly a misnomer. Richard Scarry's contains a handful of stories, a handful of vocabulary books, and a handful of Nursery Rhymes. In short, it's more than a storybook, it's a full on activity book for kids! That said, my kids really enjoy this book. The illustrations are detailed, well colored, and fun for kids to look at (particularly on \"Feed Big Hilda Hippo Her ABCs - the kids LOVED this story!) I copy I bought from a used book store included \"I Am a Bunny\", although it seems from other reviewers that this story is omitted from newer copies.\n\nSomething I enjoyed in particular about this book is that it covers a wide range of topics and lessons for kids. To name a few, this book covers the parts of the body, counting, ABCs, colors and color blending, seasons and months of the year, types of clothing, info on planes and trains, types of animals, and even some info on basic manners. While this isn't a traditional collection of storybooks, this is a welcome addition to our reading library. Recommended.","Product: This is a new edition of Keri Smith's bestseller, with updated material Think of Wreck. This Journal as the anarchist's Artist's Way - the book for those who've always wanted to draw outside the lines but were afraid to do it. For anyone who's ever wished to, but had trouble starting, keeping, or finishing a journal or sket\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Awesome Journal That Encourages You to TEAR IT APART! Love it!\n\nReview: First off...yes, you can do these same exercises on your own with a normal journal - but why would you, everything is laid out pretty darn nifty here! Wreck this Journal was, and still is, amazingly fun. As a type-A neat freak artist who doesn't like having anything out of place, this really helped me get out of my \"gotta keep everything looking perfect or it's not perfect\" mentality. This book encourages you to let go and just be artistic. There's a number of activities that can be construed in different ways, and many of the activities involve cutting, dirtying, ripping pages out, drawing with reckless abandonment, and simply having fun doing art for the sake of doing art.\n\nYou don't have to go in order, if you do activities as you please, and while I'm able to sneak in some really nice pieces, I've also got in a few absolutely awful looking pages in there...and its ALL GOOD because when I look at them later, they are simply awesome. This is a great book to get people to just do art and have fun with it...once I finish this book, I'm getting another from this series...they're great!","Product: Ace Collins defines himself as a storyteller. He has authored more than sixty books that have sold more than 2.5 million copies. His catalog includes novels, biographies, children&rsquo;s works as well as books on history, culture and faith. He has also been the featured speaker at the National Archives Distinguished Lecture Series, hosted a network television special and does college basketball play-by-play. Ace lives in Arkansas. Learn more about him by visiting AceCollins.com.&nbsp;\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Diluted Devotionals, Pages of Christmas Song Lyrics, and Unimpressive Crafts\n\nReview: The Most Wonderful Tine of the Year is an enjoyable Christmas devotional to follow during the holiday season. Starting from December 1 to December 31, this book includes a short devotional, history, lyrics and meaning behind popular Christmas songs, and a holiday craft corresponding to each date. The beginning of each devotional includes a bible verse which is loosely related to the devotional. While I like how Collins is trying to pack in as much historical facts regarding television shows, Christmas traditions, and random individuals, I felt that these random facts took away from the heart of the devotional and from the bible verse included. It's almost as if the bible verse was merely put there as an extra, and that Jesus was put in the back seat in comparison to the random Perry Como fact noted in the devotional.\n\nThe song lyrics/meaning section was interesting to me, and I found myself looking up the song online to hear it. While this was nice to have in the book, I felt it was mostly filler. As for the recipes and gifts, these are only okay. The majority of the gifts were body scrubs and desserts based off of cake batter mixes, premade cookies/desserts, and frozen pie crusts. There were a couple of recipes that were truly homemade and actually not bad, but none of the recipes were anything worth making multiple times.\n\nOverall, this book isn't terrible, but I think I would rather purchase individual books for each section - ie, a purely Christmas devotional, a Christmas song book, and a really good Christmas craft/recipe book. There's just too many things trying to go on in this book, and ultimately everything is diluted to the point where it's okay, but not great.","Product: The Common English Bible is a translation completed in 2011. One hundred and twenty biblical scholars from twenty-two faith traditions worked as translators. These women and men balanced rigorous accuracy in translation of the ancient texts with an equally passionate commitment to clarity of expression in contemporary English. The result is a clear, direct, and powerful English version of the scriptures for use in Bible study, devotional reading, and worship.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Easy to Read, but Loses a Bit in Translation\n\nReview: There are thousands of translations of the Bible, and for a majority of the people who own a Bible, they pick up either a King James Version or the New International Version Bible. While these are great translations, occasionally some of the wording can go easily over one's head. Modern English generally doesn't use words such as bosom or oblation, nor does modern English use prose ending with -est or -eth such as bringest, bloweth, withereth, and so forth. The Common English Bible makes reading the Bible a bit easier to understand, and in all honesty, while it's not my preferred translation (I'm all for NIV), I do find this translation very helpful when I'm having a hard time \"getting it\". The biggest gripe I would have with this version is that some of this Bible is lost in the Modern English translation, and important key bits are excluded. As an example:\n\n\"The workman melteth a graven image, and the goldsmith spreadeth it over with gold, and casteth silver chains. He that is so impoverished that he hath no oblation chooseth a tree that will not rot; he seeketh unto him a cunning workman to prepare a graven image, that shall not be moved.\" -Isaiah 40:19-20 <King James Version>\n\n\"As for an idol, a metalworker casts it, and a goldsmith overlays it with gold and fashions silver chains for it. A person too poor to present such an offering selects wood that will not rot; they look for a skilled worker to set up an idol that will not topple.\" -Isaiah 40:19-20 <New International Version>\n\n\"An idol? A craftsman pours it, a metalworker covers it with gold, and fashions silver chains. The one who sets up an image chooses wood that won't rot and then seeks a skilled artisan to set up an idol that won't move.\" -Isaiah 40:19-20 <Common English Version>\n\nThis is a very small snippet of a passage I came across, but the impoverish person - the person too poor to present the offering - was completely eliminated from this passage in the Common English Version. The exclusion of this impoverish person doesn't seem to be a big deal, but in reality making note of that person being poor yet still trying to find ways to make idols that last is of great importance in this passage. This passage is trying to emphasize that weak and frail humans still try to make idols that last, but there is only one true God and to compare Him to idols is blasphemous.\n\nPeppered throughout this bible are also \"Portraits\" of women in the Bible such as Job's Wife, Pilate's Wife, Women in the Crowd, \"Woman Wisdom\" and so forth, as well as colored boxes which feature info regarding random topics such as Jewels and Gems, Social Justice, Disability, Sin, Father, and so forth. These boxes were interesting to read and gave historical backgrounds on how these topics were viewed at that time. While these boxes didn't give as much background as I would've liked, it did encourage me to research more on the topic myself. One thing I did particularly like were the maps included in this bible as well as the easy to read \"left to right with no columns\" format.\n\nOverall, while this isn't a version I would want to give nor receive as a Bible to have as a sole Bible, it's a nice version to have as a \"supplement\" Bible to help translate difficult passages in Modern English terms. This would also be a good version to have around for those who are reluctant to read the Bible stating \"it's too difficult to understand\". As far as I'm concerned, if this is the version that will get someone to delve into the Word willingly, it's worth picking up as it's better to read God's word in this translation than to not read at all.","Product: 2005 Finalist for the Association of Educational Publishers Distinguished Achievement Award, this workbook gives children the opportunity to practice using scissors accurately. Many children have difficulty cutting exactly on the lines, so this workbook has children begin cutting on thick lines before moving gradually to thinner ones. Children will eventually be comfortable cutting straight lines, curves, and circles, and the practice will help develop their manual dexterity.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Fantastic Start to Using Scissors\n\nReview: I really can't praise Kumon enough - the simple progression these workbooks go through really help child garner the skills they need while still making it fun. The first few projects were really simple - just cutting straight lines from the top of the page to the bottom. Zig Zag lines were introduced next, then simple shapes, then curved lines. The lines get thinner and thinner, although when looking at them, it didn't seem like they were at first. My son is halfway through the book and always looks forward to do his \"cutting project\" each day. There are 40 pages to cut in the book. I will definitely buy this for my daughter later - it's amazing to see how well my son can use scissors now...and how proud he is to finish each project! Highly recommended!!!","Product: Suzuki Piano School New International Edition Piano Book and CD Volume 1. The New International Edition of Suzuki Piano School, Volume 1 includes French, German and Spanish translations as well as a newly recorded CD performed by internationally renowned recording artist Seizo Azuma. Now the book and CD can be purchased together or separately. While the music selections in Volume 1 remain the same as the earlier edition, the spacious new engraving with minimal editing generally keeps only one piece per page. Instruction material in many pieces from Volume 1 has been removed in lieu of right-hand studies at the top of the page and left-hand studies at the bottom. Tempo markings are now included on many pieces. Titles: \"Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star\" Variations (Shinichi Suzuki) Lightly Row (German Folk Song) The Honeybee (Bohemian Folk Song) Cuckoo (German Folk Song) Lightly Row (German Folk Song) French Children's Song (French Folk Song) London Bridge (English Folk Song) Mary Had a Little Lamb (American Nursery Song) Go Tell Aunt Rhody (Folk Song) Au Clair de la Lune (J. B. Lully) Long, Long Ago (T. H. Bayly) Little Playmates (F. X. Chwatal) Chant Arabe (Anonymous) Allegretto 1 (C. Czerny) Goodbye to Winter (Folk Song) Allegretto 2 (C. Czerny) Christmas-Day Secrets (T. Dutton) Allegro (S. Suzuki) Musette (Anonymous).\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Very Helpful Book in Learning How to Play Piano\n\nReview: The Suzuki Piano School Volume 1 is a great starter book in teaching your kid classical music. This book focuses on \"tonalization\" - the search for ways of producing beautiful sound from instruments in the same way that singers use vocalization to developing their singing voices. When first starting this book, the music looks (and is) very simple. The first quarter of the book focuses on multiple variations of \"Twinkle Twinkle Little Star\". While it seemed redundant to the kid initially, it really helped him hear the differences between the different tempos and dynamics. Being able to count accurately really matters in the beginning - if you don't have a teacher helping you, there is also a CD that helps you hear the song and understand what exactly is going on. The CD is very helpful, and will be much more helpful down the line once you get into the second and third volumes. Also, if you have a teacher who understands and can teach the Suzuki Method, it will help speed things greatly.\n\nThis particular volume is an international version, so there are four translations inside - English, German, French, and Spanish. This doesn't hinder nor clutter the book at all. Overall, this is a great book to have in your kid's piano lessons."],"string":"[\n \"Product: Considering that the average person walks over 8000 steps a day, a spa treatment for your feet is probably long overdue. Simply apply a foot cream, slip on our booties, and they’ll use your body heat to seal in the moisture. Remove the booties after a few hours (or overnight) and your feet will look wonderfully soft and feel refreshed. One size fits all. Wash in cold water and hang to dry. 90% unbleached cotton. 10% spandex. Urban Spa has a wide variety of spa quality exfoliating and shower accessories available to give you fresh and smooth skin with all natural products. Pair Urban Spa’s wonderful nail and skin products with Pre de Provence's delicately scented bath soaps, lotions, bubble bath, bath gels, and more for the ultimate experience.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Average Bath Mitt, Lightly Exfoliating, Large Enough to Fit Over Big Hands\\n\\nReview: The Urban Spa Boucle Bath Mitt is a shower accessory I was hoping I'd enjoy enough to buy again, but ended up becoming another item used occasionally and will likely ultimately end up the cabinet of random bath stuff in time. That said, the bath mitt isn't bad, it just isn't great enough for me to want to purchase over a cheap loofah or a washable small bath towel. The bath mitt is textured on both sides and exfoliates gently. It's a little more rough than a towel, and not nearly as rough as a natural loofah. The mitt is quite large, and larger hands will be able to fit in easily as long as the hand can get past the slightly small wrist area. The fabric does stretch at the wrist enough to accommodate larger hands, but starts off a bit tight, even for my smaller hands. It does get more loose with repeated use.\\n\\nThe mitt makes soap lather up very well, but again it's about as good as a standard loofah or wash cloth. I'm not sure if this mitt is washing machine safe as I could not find any washing instructions on it - I'm going to presume it's a no, and so far I've been simply lathering up, rinsing and allowing the mitt to dry overnight. So far there's no smell, and hopefully it retains its scent free status over time. There's no loop on the mitt to allow you to hang it up on a hook, so you will need a bar or some sort to hang it from to allow the mitt to dry effectively. Overall, for the price, It's not a bad exfoliating mitt, but I still prefer the slightly rougher standard loofahs and the rewashable wash clothes to use instead.\",\n \"Product: Considering that the average person walks over 8000 steps a day, a spa treatment for your feet is probably long overdue. Simply apply a foot cream, slip on our booties, and they’ll use your body heat to seal in the moisture. Remove the booties after a few hours (or overnight) and your feet will look wonderfully soft and feel refreshed. One size fits all. Wash in cold water and hang to dry. 90% unbleached cotton. 10% spandex. Urban Spa has a wide variety of spa quality exfoliating and shower accessories available to give you fresh and smooth skin with all natural products. Pair Urban Spa’s wonderful nail and skin products with Pre de Provence's delicately scented bath soaps, lotions, bubble bath, bath gels, and more for the ultimate experience.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Average Bath Mitt, Lightly Exfoliating, Large Enough to Fit Over Big Hands\\n\\nReview: The Urban Spa Boucle Bath Mitt is a shower accessory I was hoping I'd enjoy enough to buy again, but ended up becoming another item used occasionally and will likely ultimately end up the cabinet of random bath stuff in time. That said, the bath mitt isn't bad, it just isn't great enough for me to want to purchase over a cheap loofah or a washable small bath towel. The bath mitt is textured on both sides and exfoliates gently. It's a little more rough than a towel, and not nearly as rough as a natural loofah. The mitt is quite large, and larger hands will be able to fit in easily as long as the hand can get past the slightly small wrist area. The fabric does stretch at the wrist enough to accommodate larger hands, but starts off a bit tight, even for my smaller hands. It does get more loose with repeated use.\\n\\nThe mitt makes soap lather up very well, but again it's about as good as a standard loofah or wash cloth. I'm not sure if this mitt is washing machine safe as I could not find any washing instructions on it - I'm going to presume it's a no, and so far I've been simply lathering up, rinsing and allowing the mitt to dry overnight. So far there's no smell, and hopefully it retains its scent free status over time. There's no loop on the mitt to allow you to hang it up on a hook, so you will need a bar or some sort to hang it from to allow the mitt to dry effectively. Overall, for the price, It's not a bad exfoliating mitt, but I still prefer the slightly rougher standard loofahs and the rewashable wash clothes to use instead.\",\n \"Product: For centuries, the luxury of French-milled soaps has remained the gold standard of excellence. Each time you begin to lather a French made soap, you enter a time and place where quality and craftsmanship have stood still. Traditional French soap is triple-milled to produce a completely uniform and smooth soap, without impurities, thus lasting longer. Every bar of Pre de Provence soap is not only carefully made today by the dedicated soapmakers in Provence following their proud traditions, but quad-milled to be smoother and have a richer lather to create our luxurious feel. Using all pure, natural ingredients enriched with shea butter, you can feel the difference of our unique quad-milling process. Aromatic fragrances transport you to a moment of calmness, vitality, dreamin or well-being. This 150 Gram bar is a great value, the fragrance maintains until the soap is all used up. The soap creates a rich, creamy lather and rinses clean, leaving skin soft and hydrated.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Cleans Well, Smells Fresh - Leaves Skin Feeling Soft and Clean\\n\\nReview: In the realm of necessary items, soap ranks highly on the list. Designer soaps wasn't so much until I tried out Pre de Provence Artisanal Soap line. Millennials who gave up bar soaps for strictly liquid soaps don't know what they're missing out on. The Pre de Provence Soap cleans well, leaves skin feeling soft, and doesn't leave a greasy or heavy feel on the skin afterwards. The 150 gram bar is about the size of most soap bars - it's a little less than two decks of playing cards stacked on each other thick, and about a quarter deck of a playing card wide. The weight in grams is spot on - my scale hovered between 150-151 grams in weight for this bar.\\n\\nThe Pre de Provence Sea Salt French Soap Bar is a smooth bar with no added exfoliating bits in it. The soap glides over skin nicely and cleans effectively. It rinses off easily and doesn't leave a residue feeling. It does leave skin feeling soft and moisturized, even without the use of lotion. That said, if you have extra dry skin, you will still need to use lotion afterwards. The scent of the bar is fresh yet pleasant, and leaves a very faint scent after you dry off. It's not quite a \\\"clean smell\\\" such as Irish Spring type scent, but it's a fresh citrus like scent. Like most beauty bars, the scent diminishes quickly over time. The bar seems to be lasting quite a while in the shower with two people using it - I'm not sure if this is a quality that most expensive bars of soap have, but they seem to last much longer than the stuff sold in most supermarket/drugstores. Overall, these are really nice luxury bars of soap to use. They last a long time, smell pleasant, and leave skin feeling soft and moisturized.\",\n \"Product: For centuries, the luxury of French-milled soaps has remained the gold standard of excellence. Each time you begin to lather a French made soap, you enter a time and place where quality and craftsmanship have stood still. Traditional French soap is triple-milled to produce a completely uniform and smooth soap, without impurities, thus lasting longer. Every bar of Pre de Provence soap is not only carefully made today by the dedicated soapmakers in Provence following their proud traditions, but quad-milled to be smoother and have a richer lather to create our luxurious feel. Using all pure, natural ingredients enriched with shea butter, you can feel the difference of our unique quad-milling process. Aromatic fragrances transport you to a moment of calmness, vitality, dreamin or well-being. This 150 Gram bar is a great value, the fragrance maintains until the soap is all used up. The soap creates a rich, creamy lather and rinses clean, leaving skin soft and hydrated.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: 250g Bars are HUGE - Pleasant Scent, Moisturizes Skin, Some Bars Have Exfoliating Qualities\\n\\nReview: In the realm of necessary items, soap ranks highly on the list. Designer soaps wasn't so much until I tried out Pre de Provence Shea Butter Artisanal Soap. Millennials who gave up bar soaps for strictly liquid soaps don't know what they're missing out on. The Pre de Provence Soap cleans well, leaves skin feeling soft, and in some bars it exfoliates while you wash. The 250 gram bars are HUGE - it's a little larger in size than two decks of playing cards stacked on each other, and the weight is 2-3 grams heavier than 250 grams. The sage bar is not a smooth bar and has small bits of dried sage embedded in. The dried bits give the bar some exfoliating qualities about it, but they do vary in size and scratchiness - some of those larger bit do hurt a little if positioned in the wrong way, so beware! The soap rinses off easily and doesn't leave a residue feeling. It does leave skin feeling soft and moisturized, even without the use of lotion. That said, if you have extra dry skin, you will still need to use lotion afterwards.\\n\\nThe scent of the sage bar is very subtle, although the sage scent is something of an acquired smell - to get a good idea of what it would smell like, just go to any supermarket with a bulk herb section and take a whiff of the dried sage there - the smell is a little less strong that the stuff you'd cook with. The bar themselves last quite a long time - the husband and I have been using the bar for month now and we still got quite a bit of bar left to use. Overall, these are really nice luxury bars of soap to use. They last a long time, smell pleasant, and leave skin feeling soft and moisturized.\",\n \"Product: The Kala Color Chord Ukulele Starter Kit comes with everything you need to start playing songs today. It includes a high-quality composite plastic soprano ukulele with fret markers to show you where to put your fingers, Aquila strings, and premium open gear tuners. The kit also includes a Color Chord logo tote bag, a Quick Start Guide with information about your new ukulele and all the tips you need to get started! Learn to play songs right away with Kalas FREE, easy-to-follow online lessons through the Kala Brand Music website or on the FREE Kala Ukulele app.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Ukelele will Not Keep a Tune - App is Good, but Requires Subscription for Full Access to Songbook\\n\\nReview: I really wanted to like the Kala Learn to Play Color Chord Ukelele. After a visit to Hawaii this year with my husband, I found that I was completely charmed by the sound of a ukelele. Having played piano for years, I wanted to start learning an instrument that was not only pleasant sounding, but portable - it wasn't like I could haul a piano with me wherever I went, and keyboards, no matter how small, were still cumbersome to carry about. The Kala brand seemed to be a solid one, however, they completely missed the mark with this starter ukelele. While this is an attractive instrument that's conveniently set up in an \\\"all in one\\\" type learning package, there are few glaring problems with this package.\\n\\nThe biggest issue lies in the ukelele itself. While the body of the ukelele is very durable and extremely attractive, the instrument simply will not stay in tune. I found myself having to retune this instrument constantly as it simply will not stay in tune. I thought I didn't tune it correctly until I brought it into my local music shop and they confirmed it wasn't just me. The string, particularly the E and the A, will not stay in tune and will need to be adjusted almost after every song practiced. This alone is a deal breaker for me - as much as the rest of the package is fairly sound, if you don't have an instrument that holds it's tune, you've really got nothing. Tuning aside, this ukelele is marked for only 4 chords for you to learn - C, Am, F, and G. While this is a good starting point, later you will want to learn other chords. The markings are only good for so long before you start branching out and learning more songs. The ukelele comes with a carrying bag which is durable and works just fine.\\n\\nThe app itself itself isn't all that bad. There is an included tuner, a songbook that is constantly updated with new songs, and instructional videos and pictures on where chords are located, how to strum, and a learning method similar to that of playing the Rockband video game. You simply play the chord when the line goes over the note (represented as a dot, just like the video game!). At the end of the song, you ever get a score on how often you hit the correct notes! I found this engaging and fun - albeit it hit my competitive side a bit much. This app is limited use however - you get four days on a free trial where you have access to the full library of music, then you will get a limited library (Kala Songs only) unless you pay the $4.99/month or $34.99/year for access. The tuner and tutorials remain open for use even after the trial period ends.\\n\\nOverall, the app for this ukekele is very good, and should you pair it with some YouTube videos, you probably could learn how to play the ukelele quite proficiently by yourself. However, the actual instrument is beautiful, but can't keep a tune. This alone makes it nothing more than a glorified children's toy and would frustrate anyone who actually wants to learn this charming instrument. On the upside, after playing around with this ukelele, I found that this is the instrument for me, and I will likely do some research on some of Kala's other higher end ukeleles that have more favorable feedback as they seem to be a reputable ukelele company. It's just too bad that this starter one doesn't live up to the name.\",\n \"Product: Clear 24/7 Total Care Shampoo and Conditioner replenish your scalp. Our OMEGA-3 and COCONUT MILK infused shampoo and conditioner keep hair smooth and shiny, and our formulas with NUTRIUM 10 help deeply restore the scalp. One of our most popular collections, the system helps nourish the epidermal layer of the scalp, which acts as a protective barrier. COCONUT MILK is widely used for its nourishing properties, and OMEGA-3 Essential Fatty Acids are known to improve the luster, sheen and elasticity of hair. Used daily with the conditioner, the shampoo alleviates dry, tight or greasy scalp leaving your scalp feeling moisturized and healthier.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Great 2-in-1 Shampoo for Short Hair\\n\\nReview: The Clear Shampoo 24/7 Total Care is a good two in one shampoo/conditioner. The shampoo is a light pinkish purple and has a soft fruity/floral scent. The scent is not overwhelmingly sweet scented though - the smell is soft and subtle, and not overly feminine. This shampoo lathers up very well with a small amount. I have slightly longer than shoulder length hair and was able to get by with the amount about the size of a quarter. My husband, who has a crew cut, didn't really more than a dime sized amount. The shampoo lathered up well, rinsed out easily, and left my hair feeling very clean. Unfortunately, with longer hair, it left my hair feeling almost \\\"too clean\\\" - as if the oils were getting stripped away. I felt that I needed a conditioner when using this shampoo. The husband, on the other hand, loved this shampoo. Because of his thick, short hair, he felt that his hair was clean, conditioned, and soft.\\n\\nOverall, if you have shorter hair, this would be a great 2-in-1 shampoo to consider. However, those with longer hair may need to get themselves a good conditioner to go with this.\",\n \"Product: Daily face lotion with sunscreen broad spectrum SPF 15. Your face lotion should protect your skin from harsh elements and the effects of your razor. This lightweight formula absorbs quickly and locks in moisture to strengthen skin's natural moisture barrier. Perfect for post-shave, it soothes sensitive skin and helps defend skin from sun's harmful rays to help prevent early signs of aging. The result is healthy, hydrated skin all day long or all night long.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Decent Sunscreen Moisturizer Combo - Truly Unscented, Protected Well Against the Sun's Rays\\n\\nReview: The Cetaphil Men's Daily Face Lotion is a great lotion and sunscreen for both men and women. The lotion absorbs quickly, moisturizes well, and provides SPF 15 sun protection. I put some on before gardening, and didn't have any issues with eyes burning when sweating, burnt cheeks, or bad tans because of this product. The lotion doesn't feel overly greasy, and I didn't have any issues with breakouts after using this for several days.\\n\\nThe lotion works well for combination skin, although it didn't moisturize the very dry patches on my face as well as I would've liked. If your skin is on the drier side, you may want to find a more effective moisturizer. That aside, this moisturizer/sunscreen combo worked well overall. It's worth considering if you have normal/mildly dry skin and are looking for an unscented, effective sunscreen moisturizer.\",\n \"Product: Swiffer 360 Heavy Duty Dusters TRAP + LOCK up to 3x more* dust & allergens.** 360 degrees of specially coated fibers grab onto dust & don't let go. They are uniquely designed to Trap + Lock dust from every direction. *vs. feather duster, **common inanimate allergens from cat and dog dander & dust mite matter\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Picks Up Dust Well, Fits in Narrow Spaces, Allows You to Dust Without Having to Move Everything\\n\\nReview: I hate dusting. I hate moving everything off my furniture, I hate spraying the oil everywhere, I hate having to get different cleaners to dust different items like books or wood, I really hate having to clean the blackened cloths afterwards...of all the household tasks that need to get done, dusting seriously is my least favorite chore. Because I've been vetoed on getting a housemaid (and even a housemaid won't dust furniture unless everything is cleared OFF), I quite pleased to try out something that I could use inbetween serious bouts of throwing stuff off the coffee table...I mean, dusting.\\n\\nThe Swiffer Duster 360 works great for getting my furniture, mantel, and all those cute knicknacks on the shelves clean without me having to actually move anything. Annoyingly perfect sister in law visiting with the mother in law and you got dust on the pictures frames on the wall? No problem! The swiffer 360 is fluffy, gathers a lot of dust (you're not going to be just moving dust around on the table), you can extends its life a little by shaking it outdoors to get some dust out, and the puffs can be easily changed once the whole thing is blackened beyond shaking. The kit comes with two dusters, and from what I've seen, lasts quite a while. Also, because the duster is so fluffy and the stick inside is skinny, this duster can fit inbetween some closely placed items and in some small places - this is especially helpful on shelves full of tradeshow tchotchkes.\\n\\nWhile I can't out-perfect the sister in law, I can at least have a cleanish coffee table for her to place her coffee on - she'll just have to brush away the Legos herself.\",\n \"Product: Clean up your garbage with confidence using Hefty's best tall kitchen bag ever (a great fit in all Simplehuman Size J cans). Hefty Ultra Strong bags feature Triple Action Technology that allows bags to stretch so they resist tears, punctures and leaks (bags are slightly shorter when empty) and the break-resistant grip drawstring prevents bags from falling into can. Patented Arm & Hammer odor neutralizer fights nasty odors to keep your kitchen smelling fresh. Every package includes one Box Top to help you earn cash for your school. Package contains 40 white, 13-gallon, tall kitchen drawstring trash bags with Pomegranate Mist scent.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Fruity Scented Trash Bags, Durable and Holds a Good Amount of Rubbish\\n\\nReview: The Hefty Ultra Strong Tall Kitchen Trash Bags work effectively as trash bags. We have a tall covered trash bin that we picked up from Ikea, and the bags fit just fine in the can. For those who use Kirkland trash bags, the Hefty bags are 1\\\" shorter and 1\\\" wider than the standard Kirkland brand bags. The bags are durable, holds a good amount of rubbish, and stretch slightly to allow for larger/bulky items. The bags didn't rip when we used them, and have a very prominent fruity scent to them. These bags are so scented that they will start to scent any cabinet they are left in. In terms of price, these are not the cheapest bags out there. If you like keeping the smell of trash to a minimum, these are great, but considering that these are trash bags and will be tossed out every few days, I think I will stick with the normal unscented bags warehouse trash bags for everyday use - either that or use scented bags alternatively with unscented bags.\\n\\nPhoto: Warehouse Bag on left, Hefty on right\",\n \"Product: Childrens Zyrtec Allergy Syrup relieves indoor and outdoor allergy symptoms in children. With 5 milligrams of cetirizine hydrochloride in each 5 mL, this over the counter childrens allergy medicine offers 24 hour relief from common symptoms of hay fever and other upper respiratory allergies. Childrens Zyrtec provides consistently powerful relief for your kids allergies and helps treat symptoms such as runny nose, sneezing, itchy watery eyes, and itchy nose and throat. Suitable for children ages two years and up, Childrens Zyrtec Allergy Syrup is dye-free, sugar-free and available in a variety of kid-friendly flavors.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Effective, Does Not Make My Kid Hyper or Drowsy - Also Doesn't Dry Out His Throat/Nose\\n\\nReview: It's fall in California, and my kid's allergies have swung into full blown misery. Im not sure why his allergies act up so much during this season, but hey, its California and we have allergy season practically all year long since we don't get much rain and the most prominent plants growing here seem to be weeds. After a trip to our local Bullseye Store, I bought the Zyrtec Allergy Relief medicine for him and gave him the required two teaspoon dose. Im very pleased to say that the allergy medicine worked wonders for him. It took about 30 minutes for his miserable cough to subside to a lesser cough, and within an hour, he was able to breathe easier and not cough every minute.\\n\\nThe effects of the allergy medicine worked very effectively for the 24 hours. My son did not cough as much, and was able to sleep without feeling absolutely miserable. I had be using a humidifier along with some essential oil to help him breathe easier, and when used in conjunction with the allergy medicine, I didn't hear him coughing all night. Since his allergies were much better the day, I offered him a half dose, and it worked just as well, albeit not quite as long. Weve been using the allergy medicine on and off as he needs it, and it works very well. The medicine does not make him drowsy, nor does it make him hyper. He also noted that it did not cause him to have dry throat or nose, as some other allergy medicine did. The only thing he didn't like about this medicine was the flavor, but he said the nasty flavor was worth not coughing and sneezing all day. Overall, the Zyrtec Allergy Medicine worked very well we will be definitely getting this again.\",\n \"Product: IPG manufactures a broad range of packaging products and systems that reflect the needs of both its industrial and retail customers. These include one of the largest offerings of tape available: pressure sensitive and water-activated, carton-sealing, masking, filament, flatback, cloth/duct, double-coated, high performance specialty, electrical, automotive, and HVAC tapes. Additional products include shrink film and stretch film as well as carton-sealing equipment, ink jet printing systems and labeling systems.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Stopped My Wayward Rug from Traveling on the Carpet\\n\\nReview: I recently purchased a lovely rug from Home Depot to put in my family room. On top of the rug, I put a heavy Cost Plus World Market coffee table thinking that the rug wouldn't bunch or move. Wow, was I so wrong. After continual readjustments, I decided to buy carpet tape as per recommendation from a friend. The Indoor Carpet Tape works fantastically. It's essentially double sided masking tape, but it works so well! My rug no longer bunches up at the ends, lays smoothly, and was fairly easy to install. I was able to readjust the carpet after initial lay down since the tape was easily removed. From what I've read, the tape doesn't leave sticky residue on the carpet after removable, but I'll report on that later when the time comes. Until then, highly recommended for keeping my carpet in place!\",\n \"Product: ARM & HAMMER Truly Radiant Battery Toothbrush + Toothpaste Pack includes our Spinbrush Truly Radiant Deep Clean battery-powered toothbrush and Truly Radiant Toothpaste. Unlike ordinary brushes, our battery brush is designed to give you the brilliant whitening you want, and the deep cleaning you need for a beautiful, more radiant smile. The toothpaste does more than just whiten teeth. This revolutionary toothpaste is the first and only toothpaste that provides exceptional whitening and unsurpassed enamel strengthening for a radiant smile in just 5 days!*\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Decent Toothbrush for the Cost\\n\\nReview: The Spinbrush Truly Radiant Regimen pack is a nice starter set if you're making the move from traditional manual toothbrushes to something electric. That said, this is not nearly as good as a Sonicare level toothbrush - but for the price range, this is a lot better than using a manual or tiny headed Oral-B toothbrushes. The Spinbrush does a fine job of getting teeth clean. The bristles quickly rotate to get teeth very clean. The bristles are soft, and because the head size is fairly large, I'm able to get all my teeth clean very well. The brushes are not rechargeable and you will need to purchase AA batteries, which is a downer. There are two replacement heads, and the package comes with a tube of the Truly Radiant Toothpaste.\\n\\nNow, while I like the convenience of buying the two pack toothbrushes, two replacement heads, and the toothpaste in one shot, I question why anyone would want to purchase it in a set when buying everything individually is more cost effective. On Amazon, purchasing two <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Spinbrush-Truly-Radiant-Toothbrush-Deep-Clean-Colors-May-Vary/dp/B00J42G2UW/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Spinbrush Truly Radiant Toothbrush, Deep Clean, Colors May Vary</a> and one <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Spinbrush-Sonic-Power-Truly-Radiant-Soft-Replacement-Brush-Heads-2-Heads/dp/B001U9JY8O/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Spinbrush Sonic Power Truly Radiant Soft Replacement Brush Heads, 2 Heads</a> is less than $23. The local bullseye store carried the toothpaste for ~$4 for a 4.3 ounce tube. Unless you're gifting a couple, you may want to purchase everything separately.\\n\\nOverall, the Truly Radiant Toothbrush set works well for the cost, and when using along with a good flossing, my teeth feel wonderfully clean.\",\n \"Product: Yonanas turns frozen fruit and other flavorings into a delicious, healthy soft-serve treat. The unit combines frozen bananas and any additional fruit or chocolate and instantly churns the ingredients to produce a treat with the texture of frozen yogurt or soft-serve ice cream, but without the additional fat, sugar, or preservatives. The chute easily accepts berries, sliced mango, or cantaloupe along with frozen banana, and the integrated spinning blade mashes and incorporates the fruit into a silky-smooth confection with the texture of soft-serve ice cream or yogurt. The chute, plunger, and blade are dishwasher safe.This is only designed for US market. Yonanas model 902 includes instructions and a list of recipes. Plugs into AC. 14\\\"H x 7.5\\\"W x 6\\\"D. Designed for use in United States and Canada only. Warranty does not apply elsewhere.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Makes Very Smooth \\\"Ice Cream\\\"\\n\\nReview: I received the Yonanas Frozen Dessert Machine as a Christmas gift last year, and after half a year or use (even more now because it's 100 degrees out!), I still really enjoy using this machine. It's much easier to clean than a blender/food processor, grinds the fruit up very finely for a smooth consistency, and is safe for the 6 year old kids to use without supervision (although I would still suggest watching them if you don't want a mess in the kitchen). To make creamy fruit desserts is easy: simply freeze fruit (or buy frozen fruit), thaw a bit so it's not ice block solid, then put into your Yonanas and blend. Our favorite fruit to blend is frozen pineapple from Costco - it's almost like Dole whip from Disneyland!\\n\\nThe machine comes completely apart for easy cleaning, there are no seriously sharp parts on it to clean, and the ice cream that comes out is delicious - definitely try out frozen pineapple!\",\n \"Product: When you want to be bold, you need T-shirt transfers that are as colorful as your personality. These Light T-shirt Transfers allow you to express yourself with a variety of fun designs, statements and logos. They're specially designed so colors look vivid on light-colored, 100% cotton or cotton/polyester blend fabric. Simply customize the transfers using your computer and free templates from avery.com, print them from your inkjet printer and then iron them on shirts, shorts, bags and even hats. Style that stands out: now that's a bright idea.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Wrong Instructions, Pretty Decent Transfer Paper\\n\\nReview: Like many of the other reviewers mentioned - the instructions are completely WRONG! Don't follow the instructions included in the package! You don't need to peel the transfer away from a backing paper, there is no wax sheet included, and you do need to mirror the image in order to have words show up the correct way and not backwards. That said, here are the correct instructions on how to use this transfer paper. Just click on \\\"Light Tee Shirt\\\":\\n\\n[]...\\n\\nOnce I figured out that Avery included the instructions for a Dark Tee Shirt Transfer, I looked up the info and tried the Light Tee Shirt Transfer. The transfer comes out quite nice. You really need to use a non-stretchy type of fabric for the transfer to come out clearly and not rip. In other words, a tee shirt from Michaels will work well, but a onesie by Gerber will not. I tested this out on a tote bag, and the transfer looked very nice. I haven't washed the bag yet, but once I do, I probably will turn the bag inside out so the transfer will not come off.\\n\\nFor those looking to put a smaller image on your clothes/bags/projects, the 4x6 paper is great. Recommended, but definitely look up the instructions before you start!\",\n \"Product: In Professor Layton and the Curious Village, you’ll tackle over 130 puzzles as you unravel the mysteries of the village. Puzzles range from mazes and riddles to logic and sliding puzzles. Touch Screen controls make working through puzzles fun for players of all skill levels, and new puzzles are available weekly for download via the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. Fully voiced animated scenes bring the story to life, while the eccentric villagers and the hand-drawn art provide a charm that appeals to gamers and non-gamers alike. Only playable on Nintendo DS systems.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Fantastic Game for Puzzle/Brain Teaser Fans, Interesting Storyline, Gorgeous Cut Scenes\\n\\nReview: Having gone through all of the Legend of Zelda Series available for the Nintendo DS/3DS, I found myself looking for a new game to play that was more puzzle based, but still had some type of storyline involved. As per recommendation from a friend, I was able to get a used copy of the first of the Professor Layton series - Professor Layton and the Curious Village. As a fan of puzzles and Brain Teasers, I was completely enamored by this game. The puzzles range from very simple to \\\"I need to come back to this later\\\" difficult. There are a wide variety of puzzles, all of which can be solved without having any particular specialized knowledge of mathematical formulas and the like. You will need a good amount of deduction skills to solve some of these puzzles, and some puzzles are required if you want to progress in the storyline.\\n\\nThe storyline is engaging and interesting, and throughout the game there are beautifully animated cut scenes that look as if they came straight out of an anime. The attention to detail in the game was quite nice, and while this game was short, it was fun for me to complete. There are plenty of bonuses in the game, including additional puzzles, access to the cut scenes and music, and even an extra bonus if you get the code from the sequel game, Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box. I already ordered a copy and will be playing that soon! The character designs are whimsical, and the village backgrounds are simplistic and reminiscent of something out of a Studio Ghibli film.\\n\\nThe one drawback of ordering and playing this game now is that all the downloadable content that was available when this game was first released is no longer available. Apparently Nintendo stopped offering the downloadable puzzles in 2014, so if you try to access that now, it will indicate that the download connection is broken. Overall, this is a still an incredibly fun game, and I will be passing this game on to my kids to play once I finish all the bonus material.\",\n \"Product: The InCharge for Wii allows you to simply put your sleeved or unsleeved Wii Remote on the charger and charge it with ease. No more checking to see if the contact points are lined up correctly. The InCharge for Wii is superior to other rechargeable solutions, it uses a contactless inductive charging solution rather than metal contacts to charge each Wii remote. Using the power of Lithium Polymer battery packs, the InCharge for Wii provides up to 25 hours of battery life on a full charge and is 50% lighter than other charge solutions for Wii. With the InCharge, gamers can save money on batteries and is better for the environment (no more throwing out dead batteries) as well as eliminate complications that arise from dirty or greasy battery contacts that occur with other Wii chargers. Charge your Nintendo Wii remotes with greater reliability!\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Charges the Wii Remote Well\\n\\nReview: UPDATE #2: The problems with this charger have now officially begun. Recently, we've noticed that the remotes are no longer holding a good charge. After charging the remotes, we get a good hour of game play before the remote randomly shuts off. On top of that, if we charge the remotes and then leave them off base for a couple of days, by the time we return to the remote the charge is very weak and the remote will shut off after about 30 minutes of gameplay. Occasionally, when the charge is starting to weaken, the pointers on the screen start acting erratic. Because of all these problems, I would rather stick to batteries. NOT RECOMMENDED - I would change the stars on my review if I could right now.\\n\\nUPDATE: So we've had this charger for a month now, and it's still working really well. There is a flaw with the remote that we were not aware of though...there is no indication that the remote is running out of charge. While playing a game one day, the connection with the Wii started getting spotty - the remote was almost out of battery! We lucked out as we were not playing a long RPG type game - but can imagine the fury if the remote died while finishing a hard level! Outside of that, we appreciate the wireless charging and the lighter feeling remotes.\\n\\nWe've only had the charger for a week now, but it's been doing it's job - the InCharge Dual Charger charges our Wii remotes well, we have a good amount of game play per charge, and it's possible to charge the Wii controller in sleeve. No complaints so far, so recommended.\",\n \"Product: The InCharge for Wii allows you to simply put your sleeved or unsleeved Wii Remote on the charger and charge it with ease. No more checking to see if the contact points are lined up correctly. The InCharge for Wii is superior to other rechargeable solutions, it uses a contactless inductive charging solution rather than metal contacts to charge each Wii remote. Using the power of Lithium Polymer battery packs, the InCharge for Wii provides up to 25 hours of battery life on a full charge and is 50% lighter than other charge solutions for Wii. With the InCharge, gamers can save money on batteries and is better for the environment (no more throwing out dead batteries) as well as eliminate complications that arise from dirty or greasy battery contacts that occur with other Wii chargers. Charge your Nintendo Wii remotes with greater reliability!\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Charges the Wii Remote Well\\n\\nReview: UPDATE #2: The problems with this charger have now officially begun. Recently, we've noticed that the remotes are no longer holding a good charge. After charging the remotes, we get a good hour of game play before the remote randomly shuts off. On top of that, if we charge the remotes and then leave them off base for a couple of days, by the time we return to the remote the charge is very weak and the remote will shut off after about 30 minutes of gameplay. Occasionally, when the charge is starting to weaken, the pointers on the screen start acting erratic. Because of all these problems, I would rather stick to batteries. NOT RECOMMENDED - I would change the stars on my review if I could right now.\\n\\nUPDATE: So we've had this charger for a month now, and it's still working really well. There is a flaw with the remote that we were not aware of though...there is no indication that the remote is running out of charge. While playing a game one day, the connection with the Wii started getting spotty - the remote was almost out of battery! We lucked out as we were not playing a long RPG type game - but can imagine the fury if the remote died while finishing a hard level! Outside of that, we appreciate the wireless charging and the lighter feeling remotes.\\n\\nWe've only had the charger for a week now, but it's been doing it's job - the InCharge Dual Charger charges our Wii remotes well, we have a good amount of game play per charge, and it's possible to charge the Wii controller in sleeve. No complaints so far, so recommended.\",\n \"Product: Nintendo 3DS/3DS XL/2DS AC Adapter\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Charger Works Great, Wish It Came with the Gaming System\\n\\nReview: Since when did Nintendo start charging for a 3DS cable by itself? Having purchased the <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Nintendo-3DS-XL-Hyrule-Gold-Limited-Edition/dp/B017FSM200/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Nintendo 3DS XL Hyrule Gold Limited Edition</a>, I was ready to bust open the box and start playing immediately. Sadly, I had to wait a little longer before getting my full gaming on - the system didn't come with a charging cable.\\n\\nOnce the cable arrived, I will say, it works and it works well. My 3DS charges quickly, the cable is long enough for me to charge the system while playing a game on the couch, and most importantly - it charges my 3DS period. When I need to get my game on, this charger works just fine to get things going. Overall, great purchase because now I can play Legend of Zelda without worrying that my system will turn on mid dungeon, but really Nintendo - couldn't you including with game console purchase?\",\n \"Product: C Stick for enhanced controls.Built-in amiibo compatibility and NFC support. Faster processing power than Nintendo 3DS and Face tracking 3D. Plays all Nintendo 3DS games. AC adapter not included. Use Parental Controls to restrict 3D mode for children 6 and under.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Absolutely Stunning Case, Great Gaming System!\\n\\nReview: It's been a mighty long time since I've purchased a portable gaming system. The last portable game system I've owned was the Game Boy Advance (in purple!), and while the system amazingly still works, it's definitely very dated in comparison to today's gaming standards. Knowing I wanted to buy the New 3DS, I quickly discovered they had special edition versions and was thrilled to find the Legend of Zelda Hyrule Gold version available on Amazon (through third party, but the markup was amazingly low and in comparison to the amount of time and gas it would take for me to pick it up from our local GameStop, this was a deal!)\\n\\nThe Hyrule Gold Version is simply gorgeous. The design is printed directly onto the case, it very intricately detailed, and looks absolutely stunning in person. For comparison, if you have an iPhone in gold, the coloring on the 3DS is a bit darker. The interior of the system is black. The 3D screen simply blew me away. It's amazing how advance the technology is on this system, and after testing out my first 3DS game (Legend of Zelda, Link Between Worlds) I was totally hooked. The graphics are amazing, the colors are bright and the graphics run very smoothly. The bottom touch screen is very receptive, and the front and back cameras work fantastically. The system doesn't take too long to charge, and I'm able to play for quite a long time before I'm given the indication to charge the unit. One thing I didn't like about this system is that it doesn't come with a charger, nor does the Wii U charger cable work on this unit. You WILL need to buy a designated charger.\\n\\nOverall, I absolutely LOVE this gaming system and am so thrilled that I was able to get the Hyrule version. It's a beautiful system, can accommodate both game cartridges or digital downloads, and is great to carry around in my purse for on the go gaming fun. If you're a Zelda fan, this is a great system to get.\",\n \"Product: A dark force, shrouded in twilight, has invaded the vast land of Hyrule.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Absolutely Stunning Update to the Already Fantastic Twilight Princess\\n\\nReview: The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess is an amazing game for the Wii U system. There's a lot of great updates to this already awesome game in the Legend of Zelda line. The game is absolutely stunning, and like the Wind Waker, is playable using the Wii U Gamepad. From my understanding there are a couple of differences between the Wii U version and the original Gamecube version. First off - and the most obvious - is that the graphics are greatly enhanced. Link's hair has been completely reworked, there's more trees, and graphics are sharper. For the curious, there is a Youtube Video showing the difference between the three: [...].\\n\\nNext, things have been greatly streamlined. To change link to Wolf form, there's a single button press verses talking to Midna to change. Link also starts off with a larger wallet. There's a new item called the \\\"Ghost Lantern\\\" to help find Poes - even during the day. For those familiar with the game, there is an early quest that requires Link to collect tears of light to earn the ability to switch between human and wolf form - the number of tears to be found has been decreased from 16 to 12. Another nice change is that Link will no longer hit his sword against walls. Instead, his sword will go through them, making combat more manageable in those close quarter areas.\\n\\nOf the newest features, this is probably the most exciting - there is an entirely NEW DUNGEON! With the Wolf Link Amiibo, you can play a new optional dungeon called The Cave of Shadows. Instead of being a puzzle based dungeon, the Cave of Shadows is a wave-based combat challenge dungeon complete with 40 floors. You will need to complete all 40 floors in Wolf Link form since he can't turn back to Link. There is a prize at the end of the dungeon definitely worth fighting for...\\n\\nThe Twilight Princess HD also features Amiibo support from other Zelda Amiibos including:\\n\\nLink or Toon Link - Replenish Arrows\\nZelda or Sheik - Restore Link's Hearts\\nGanondorf - Allows Link to take twice as much damage/Will turn his red Heart gauge blue to signify the change\\n\\nOnly one amiibo of each character can be scanned once per day. Scanning Ganondorf's amiibo a second time will indicate that the damage has already been doubled.\\n\\nOverall, with all these upgraded features, better graphics, and Amiibo support this is turning out to be one awesome game. I'm really liking all these new updates to old classics that Nintendo is putting out - all we need to see now is Skyward Sword HD before getting that newest Zelda title released! If you haven't played Twilight Princess in the meantime, it's definitely worth picking up now.\",\n \"Product: Join Mama, the original kitchen diva who created the cooking genre, in Cooking Mama 5: Bon Appetit and unlock 60+ recipes to perfect a kaleidoscope of foods including appetizers, drinks, main courses, and desserts.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Great Fun for Younger Audiences\\n\\nReview: <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Cooking-Mama-Cook-Off/dp/B000KUHR8S/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Cooking Mama: Cook Off</a> was hailed by the kids as a super fun game on the Wii. <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Cooking-Mama-World-Kitchen/dp/B001A3ZDKS/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Cooking Mama World Kitchen</a>was dubbed as not as good as the first, but still great. Fast Forward three years when I finally conceded and got younger kid her own game console - guess what game she wanted for her new <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/New-Nintendo-3DS-XL-Pikachu-Yellow-Edition/dp/B01N47GEOI/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">New Nintendo 3DS XL - Pikachu Yellow Edition</a> - I'll give you a hint, it wasn't Pokemon.\\n\\nThe newest offering from the Cooking Mama series, Cooking Mama 5: Bon Appetit! was extremely well received by Kid v2.0. This game is great for younger audiences - or for adult audiences who are looking to play a large variety of games in a short period of time. The cooking element that is present in all Cooking Mama games is included with plenty of chopping, dicing, egg cracking, and vegetable peeling. In addition to the cooking element of the game, there are also a large number of additional mini games. The games are broken up into 5 sections: \\\"Let's Cook\\\", \\\"Cooking Dojo\\\", \\\"Let's Help in the Shop\\\", \\\"Let's Help Mama\\\", and \\\"Let's Study\\\". Each game section includes multiple mini games which take about a minute each to play and which will eventually unlock little rewards including wallpapers, borders, kitchen and room furniture, clocks, and trophies. While the mini games are aplenty, they all are very similar, and I found I could plow through all of them in a short period of time. This game can't hold my attention like <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Nintendo-Selects-The-Legend-of-Zelda-Ocarina-of-Time-3D/dp/B01AC3ZDCE/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Nintendo Selects: The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time 3D</a> does, but for a newer and more casual player like Kid v2.0, this game was right up her alley. Overall, this iteration of Cooking Mama was a lot of fun for the whole family. It may not have much play over value for experienced players, but is perfect for young/casual players.\",\n \"Product: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D takes the best-reviewed game of all time for a brand-new experience. Now in 3D all of the graphic textures and colors have been vastly improved, taking advantage of the considerable graphic power of the Nintendo 3DS system. This game tells the epic story of Hyrule and Link, Zelda, and Ganondorf in remarkable depth and gives context to the many tales of their struggles. As such, this title represents a perfect entry point for players new to the Zelda franchise. Phenomenally Improved Graphics Beyond even the incredible 3D effect, every graphic texture and character model has been lovingly built from the ground up to create the most dynamic and vivid vision of Zeldas kingdom yet. This is Hyrule as youve always imagined it. Playing the Ocarina Link needs to play the eponymous Ocarina of Time many, many times over the course of the game. This involves a specific series of button presses to play one of the twelve songs in the game. In the original title, you would need to assign the ocarina to an item slot, then likely review the button prompts to your song, then play them from memory. The Nintendo 3DS version has the ocarina constantly available on the Touch Screen, and playing with the button prompts for each song right in front of you. Enhanced Game play While the greatest care has been taken to preserve the classic game play and story, a number of new features make this the definitive version of this extraordinary game. Plays on Nintendo 3DS systems sold for NTSC REGION 1 SYSTEMS\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Great Game in the Legend of Zelda Series\\n\\nReview: After searching high and low through multiple seller sites, I finally got my hands on a copy of the LOZ Ocarina of Time. What a game. The level of detail rendered in the visuals, the complexity of the puzzles (particularly that annoying Water Temple!), and the interesting story has made this game not only fun to play, but has kept me coming back repeatedly for more - there are many side quests to complete, tons of characters to interact with, and of course, the storyline is very compelling. One thing I really enjoy about this game is that many of the puzzles are not very obvious - some of the dungeons took me a while to completely figure out, and some of the side quests take quite a while. I love the going back in time/going forward in time aspect, and enjoy playing both young and grown up Link - this game is very well executed in so many ways. The only issue I have with this game is that there can be a lot of \\\"dead time\\\" running back and forth through Hyrule Field. This is similar to Wind Waker's boating all over the place - while I know that this is part of the playing experience, all this running around can get tedious at times.\\n\\nOverall, this game is very enjoyable. If you can get your hands on a used copy, it's definitely worth playing.\",\n \"Product: BRAND NEW!!! 2 Super Fresh Genuine Duracell DL1632 Lithium 3V Batteries. Equivalent to: DL1632, CR1632, BR1632, KL1632, L1632, ECR1632\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Fits in the 2012 Prius Key Remote\\n\\nReview: After daily use, multiple road trips, and hundreds of car unlocking/locking from afar, my 2012 Prius car remote finally wore out. I got the dreaded \\\"Key Battery Low\\\" warning on my dash. Guess what I ordered via 2 day shipping immediately?\\n\\nThe Duracell CR-1632 was easy to install into my Prius key. The battery works great, the low battery indicator is off, and I can now confidently chauffeur my around once again without worrying that my key will run out of juice. Changing a Prius key is really simple, and there are plenty of instructional YouTube Videos out there (search for \\\"how to change a Prius 2012 key remote battery). Here's a quick rundown on how to change the battery for those who are curious (you will need a small flathead screwdriver - like the eyeglass size):\\n\\n1. Push the key release button on the left side of the key fob to remove the valet key.\\n2. Once the valet key is removed, you'll see a small horizontal slot on the end of the remote. Put the valet key into the slot and gently twist to pop the remote open (it will split in half along the outer seam).\\n3. Take the bottom half of the remote (with the green circuit board) and flip it over in your hand to have the circuit board drop into your hand.\\n4. Remove the battery using your fingernail or small flat head screwdriver. Place the screwdriver in the opening near the single prong at the bottom of the circuit board to remove. Place the new battery in the battery compartment.\\n5. Place the circuit board back into the bottom key compartment with the side where the buttons are facing up. Make sure the two buttons are at the top end of the fob (end where the Toyota Logo is/opposite end where the valet key goes in).\\n6. Place the top of fob back on and push both pieces together so the fob snaps shut. Place the valet key back into the slot, then take your car out for a drive!\",\n \"Product: Lock essential moisture into your skin while protecting it from damaging UVA/UVB rays for a younger-looking, better hydrated, and smoother complexion. In addition to broad spectrum sun protection, The Moisture Magnet SPF 15 incorporates healing vitamin E Oil to deliver hydration and guard against the aging dangers of free radicals. The perfect anti-aging moisturizer to use under makeup.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Absorbs Quickly, Moisturizers Well, Leaves Skin Looking Matte\\n\\nReview: The Mario Badescu Moisture Magnet SPF 15 Lotion works effectively as a both a facial moisturizer and light sunscreen. The lotion is very thick, but goes on smoothly, absorbs quickly, and doesn't feel heavy on the skin. There is a light scent to it that definitely has a sunscreen smell to it, but it's very subdued so neither you, nor people around you, will smell the lotion on you. The lotion slightly tinted pink, but the tint does not show up on the skin. I have normal/dry skin, and found this moisturizer worked well for me during the day. The dry flaky patches on my face haven't shown up during the day when wearing this product (I use a different moisturizer at night), and the added SPF, while low, works well at protecting my skin while I'm out and about. Makeup isn't affected when using this moisturizer as a base, and I haven't had any issues with smudging or streaking when using with various makeup products. This lotion leaves skin feeling and looking matte, and works well when using it by itself. I have slightly sensitive skin, and I haven't had any issues with breakouts or irritation. Overall, this is worth considering if you're looking for a good everyday daytime skin moisturizer/sunscreen.\",\n \"Product: Lock essential moisture into your skin while protecting it from damaging UVA/UVB rays for a younger-looking, better hydrated, and smoother complexion. In addition to broad spectrum sun protection, The Moisture Magnet SPF 15 incorporates healing vitamin E Oil to deliver hydration and guard against the aging dangers of free radicals. The perfect anti-aging moisturizer to use under makeup.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Absorbs Quickly, Moisturizers Well, Leaves Skin Looking Matte\\n\\nReview: The Mario Badescu Moisture Magnet SPF 15 Lotion works effectively as a both a facial moisturizer and light sunscreen. The lotion is very thick, but goes on smoothly, absorbs quickly, and doesn't feel heavy on the skin. There is a light scent to it that definitely has a sunscreen smell to it, but it's very subdued so neither you, nor people around you, will smell the lotion on you. The lotion slightly tinted pink, but the tint does not show up on the skin. I have normal/dry skin, and found this moisturizer worked well for me during the day. The dry flaky patches on my face haven't shown up during the day when wearing this product (I use a different moisturizer at night), and the added SPF, while low, works well at protecting my skin while I'm out and about. Makeup isn't affected when using this moisturizer as a base, and I haven't had any issues with smudging or streaking when using with various makeup products. This lotion leaves skin feeling and looking matte, and works well when using it by itself. I have slightly sensitive skin, and I haven't had any issues with breakouts or irritation. Overall, this is worth considering if you're looking for a good everyday daytime skin moisturizer/sunscreen.\",\n \"Product: ATTENTION: Touch Screen Sensitivity *Touch Sensitivity Adjustment: Go to your phone Settings menu - Advanced Features - Turn On Touch Sensitivity *Sensitivity of the Home Button: Go to your phone Settings menu - Display - Navigation Bar , youll see the Hard Press Home Button feature. The default setting is 3, but you can increase this up to a stronger setting of 5. There is a test at the bottom of the screen that lets you gauge the sensitivity at each level, so go with what works for you. Features: Material: Tempered Glass Touch screen will function as normal Prevent scratches, dust, wear and glare Anti-glare, anti-bubble, anti-fingerprint and anti-slip It provides great security at 45 degree viewing angle Offers tough and durable surface while keeping the LCD screen clean Made of high-quality material that is very lightweight and impact resistant Package Content: 2 X Tempered Glass Screen Protectors 2 X Dust Removal Stickers 2 X Wet/Dry Wipes\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: I love all animals, including this one!!\\n\\nReview: I would've never thought I would have an emotional attachment to one of my cleaning supplies...but I have been proven wrong by my Dyson Animal Vac! I love this vacuum. This vacuum not only sucks all the crap thats buried deep in my carpet, but it does it well, and it does it QUIETLY compared to my Eureka. It didn't even phase my dog or my lovebirds! The amount of crud that showed up in the barrel amazed me. I don't believe I was lying around on such a dusty carpet! The animal vac comes with a lot of accessories to boot--my one gripe is that it's a pain in the behind to switch them in and out. Also, some of the accessories don't attach to the vacuum--but to get my carpet that clean...wow, it's worth it.\",\n \"Product: 2-tier Baker's Secret 10 by 16-Inch Non Stick Cooling Grid, Set of 2. Baker's Secret gadgets are the perfect addition to your baking needs. Complement your Baker's Secret Metal Bakeware with these cooling racks for outstanding results.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Great Cooling Rack for Baked Goods, Five Years Old and No Rust\\n\\nReview: The Baker's Secret two pack cooling rack works great for cooling down those hot goodies you pull from your oven. I use these racks to cool down loaves of bread, buns, and cookies fairly frequently. The grid is small enough to keep items from falling through, but wide enough where it's easy to clean and baked goods can cool properly. There is no support beam in the center of the rack, but I don't usually put anything very heavy on it, so I haven't seen any warping. The racks are easy to hand wash, and I air dry them on the dish rack, or simply put the damp racks in the warm oven after I'm done baking for faster drying. Even after five years of owning them, they still look brand new and I haven't had issues with rusting.\\n\\nOverall, these are a good durable set of cooling racks that have stood up to the test of time.\",\n \"Product: Sear, fry, bake, sauté or stir fry your meal indoors or at the campsite with the super-convenient Combo Cooker from Lodge®. This pre-seasoned piece features a cast iron construction that ensures food cooks slowly and evenly; it can be used as a large skillet or Dutch oven, and the lid doubles as a shallow skillet and griddle.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Good Durable Cast Iron Pan, Will Require a Lot of Seasoning - Pan is NOT Initially Smooth and Will Require a Little Work\\n\\nReview: I have the <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Lodge-L8DD3-Cast-Iron-Double-Dutch-Oven-5-Quart/dp/B000LEXR0K/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Lodge L8DD3 Cast Iron Double Dutch Oven, 5-Quart</a> and recently purchased this set for my sister. Like all Lodge cast iron pots, these pots are heavy, durable, and are great for cooking all sorts of great dishes in. They work well on the stove, can transfer immediately to the oven, and in this particular set, there are long handles for easy grip. While I love my Lodge cast iron, there is on huge caveat - while noted as preseasoned, this pot will require a good amount of seasoning before a shiny glass-like nonstick surface will start to show. These are not the pans of decades ago where the bottom of the pans are glass smooth as the casting methods changed over 40 years ago. Older pans were machine smoothed, and the newer Lodge pans are not and have a slightly rougher \\\"gravelly\\\" type finish. That said, this pan will take a little work to get well seasoned and properly maintained. With that in mind, my first few batches of fried eggs were NOT nonstick. The same occurred with my sister's pans and she's in the process of oiling, baking, and slowly building up the seasoning.\\n\\nOverall, if you're looking to gift a good cast iron pan, this is a good one to consider. It will need a bit of seasoning work to get the pan really nonstick, but it's really worth it in the long run.\",\n \"Product: Sunbeam 6142 Hot Shot Hot Water Dispenser\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Heats Up Water Quickly, More Energy Efficient Than Large Hot Water Pots\\n\\nReview: The Sunbean Hot Shot Hot Water Dispenser is a fantastic water heater. Having grown up with one of those huge Zojirushi Hot Water dispensers on my parent's counter, I always wondered why we needed such a huge hot water pot when most of the time we only heated up a cup or two of water at a time. The SunBeam Hot Shot is a great alternative to the more energy wasting full hot water pots as it only heats up the amount of water you need at that moment - and it heats up water mighty fast. This is great for single serving amounts of hot water. Simply pour the water into the top, push the button, and the water is heated up to boiling in about a minute. Water is then dispensed by pushing the wide button on the front of the unit. The temperature of the water is perfect for hot teas, coffee, and instant noodles/soups.\\n\\nOne thing to note is that this unit is designed for shorter mugs/bowls, so some cups simply won't fit under the area where the water is dispensed. There is another Sunbeam Unit that is taller which works just the same as this unit, so I docked a star because the item is essentially the same thing, but a little more versatile. That aside, if you have short wide mugs/bowls, this is a great unit to have. Water is heated up quickly and efficiently.\",\n \"Product: Everybody loves homemade bread, but not everybody has time to make it. Now Cuisinart does it for you! Our versatile Bread Maker offers a variety of crust colors and loaf sizes, and 12 preprogrammed menu options. Foolproof recipes include low carb and gluten-free breads, as well as jams and sauces. With a convenient 13-hour Delay Start Timer, that wonderful aroma of just-baked bread can be waiting for you when you walk in the door.\\n--PLUS-- Bamboo Cutting Board\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Kneads Dough Perfectly, Consistently Evenly Browned Loaves Every Time\\n\\nReview: Prior to getting the Conair Cuisinart 2 lb Bread Maker, I had a <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Zojirushi-BBCC-V20-Home-Bakery-Traditional-Breadmaker/dp/B00004S56Y/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Zojirushi BBCC-V20 Home Bakery Traditional Breadmaker</a>. In comparison to the Zo, this unit has it beat in every aspect possible. I tossed my old Zo years ago and swore off bread machines until I received one as a gift from family. I could go on and on about how bad the Zo was from the start (burnt bottoms and raw bread tops, poor mixing, etc) and how it seemed to go from bad to worse. I'm so pleased to report that the Cuisinart has restored my faith in a good bread machine. This bread machine is easy to use, easily mixes and kneads dough, and bakes up a very evenly colored loaf.\\n\\nThe unit is very easy to use - simply select a mode, loaf size, and crust color. After setting everything, put your ingredients in the bread maker and push start. There are multiple modes to choose from, including white, wheat, french, sweet, gluten free, packaged mix, and cake settings. There are also settings for simply making dough, pasta dough, jam, and even a bake only setting for those who like kneading their dough by hand. For those who want to have a fresh baked loaf in the morning without having to get up early, there is also a delayed start option. I tried out a delayed start for a plain white loaf the other night with great results. I put everything in (liquids on bottom, flour in middle, and yeast on top) and woke up 8 hours later to a beautifully browned loaf.\\n\\nIn comparison to my old machine, the machine bakes up a surprisingly even and lovely colored loaf. I've had so many failed loaves from my old Zo and didn't have high expectations for this machine. The loaves that come out of this machine are soft, tender, and so evenly colored! For rolls and filled bao, I've used the dough only option and had perfectly kneaded dough with little work. The dough doesn't stick to the inner pan, and the single large paddle seems to get everything mixed very well.\\n\\nOverall, while I still enjoy making a loaf using my Kitchenaid or by hand, this bread machine definitely earned its spot in my kitchen for a fast convenient bread. I can't highly recommend it enough, and am very pleased with the overall ease of operation and product that comes from it.\",\n \"Product: AirBake brand has always been \\\"The Original Insulated Bakeware\\\". AirBake continues to provide the best baking results every time. Made of 100-percent aluminum, AirBake Natural provides an overall enhanced baking performance with its insulated aluminum sheets and micro-dome technology to decrease bake times by up to 15% over traditional insulated bakeware. Two heavyweight aluminum sheets surround a layer of air. The air reduces the temperature of the metal that comes in contact with the food. The bottom sheet blocks the direct oven heat while the layer of air acts as an insulator preventing the top sheet from overheating. This means better browning, no burning, and moister baked goods. Set includes Medium and Large cookie sheets. CARE INSTRUCTIONS: Before using your bakeware for the first time, wash and condition the bakeware by spreading one teaspoon of cooking oil over the interior with a clean cloth. Wipe off any excess. Avoid overheating your bakeware. In order to preserve and avoid scratches on your coating, we recommend the use of plastic utensils. Slight surface marks or abrasions are normal and will not affect the performance of the non-stick coating. With use, the non-stick surface may become slightly darker. This will not impair its performance. AirBake is designed to breathe and is not watertight. However, AirBake is dishwasher safe. DO NOT USE DISHWASHER DETERGENT TABS - the concentrated cleaning agents will damage the bakeware's finish. DO NOT SOAK - if water is inside pan layer, there is a risk of burning from steam release. If your pan has water inside the two sheets, place the pan upside down in a 250-degree oven for 30 minutes or until water is removed.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Great for Making Macarons!\\n\\nReview: Update 9/9/15\\nIt's been 4 years and these baking sheets have not warped, are still perfectly insulated, and clean off so well I don't have any stains on them. Yes, I do bake on them and yes, I line them with parchment. These pans are awesome.\\n--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------\\nFor the longest time, I've been doubling up cookie sheets when baking macarons. After some research, I finally decided to throw down for some insulated cookie sheets - I'm beginning to wonder WHY I didn't do this sooner! The Airbake Ultra cookie sheets are fantastic for making macarons! When paired with a silicone mat (or parchment paper), the cookies come out perfect, without worry of overly browned or stuck bottoms. I tested out a few batches of sugar cookies, and got the same result: perfectly baked cookies with lightly browned bottoms! I can't praise these cookie sheets enough! These cookie sheets are hand washed only and should not be run in the dish washer.\\n\\nHighly recommended.\",\n \"Product: Easily transport your midday meal or shareable snack using Sistema KLIP IT Rectangular Collection Lunch Plus Storage Containers. Ideal for keeping your food fresh and contained, each of these plastic storage containers has a lid with a flexible inner seal and easy-locking clips. Made from 100% virgin plastic, this BPA- and phthalate-free storage container set is dishwasher-safe when placed on the top rack, microwave-safe without the lids, and safe for storing in fridges and freezers. And this storage container set easily stacks together when not in use, helping you keep your kitchen nice and tidy.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: No More Lost Lids!\\n\\nReview: With school back in full force, and the kids demanding ham and spinach sandwiches with extra cheese, the Sistema is the genius solution to avoiding the dreaded \\\"smashed backpack sandwich\\\". The Klip It Lunch Cube is completely self contained - there's no way to lose lids, it's possible to fit a full sandwich, chips, and fruit/vegetables in the compartments, and it's secure enough to hold everything - but easy enough for a kindergartener and a first grader to open by him/herself. The cube is not leak-proof, so you probably would like to forgo putting canned mandarin oranges in there, but it's easy enough to put carrot sticks, apple slices, and other juicy (but not leaky) things in there without getting everything wet.\\n\\nThe containers are easy to wash, are durable (ours survived several drops without breaking), and really have sped up our mornings because we don't have to search for the lids (this is the biggest win, ever!). Pair this with a good fukoshiki (bento box wrap) and your kid will have one awesome lunch contained in a convenient to go box.\",\n \"Product: The Trio Lasagna Pan from Chicago Metallic has 3 separate channels allowing cooks to be creative and makes it easy to serve vegetarians or carnivores from one pan. A custom-fit, exclusive spatula is deep enough to get that great first piece with no mess. The width and length of each channel is the same as standard lasagna noodles, making lasagna building fast and easy. Can be used to make three dinners in one batch - tonight's dinner and two for future nights or for those unexpected guests.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Awesome Pan for Variety and Crispy Edges\\n\\nReview: I bought the Chicago Metallic Lasagna Pan for my sister for Christmas and have heard nothing but rave reviews about this pan - so much, in fact that I'm tempted on buying a pan for myself! The Chicago pan is durable and sturdy. After several washes (we was by hand in our household), the interior liner has not scratched nor shown signs of wear. We've made lasagna, macaroni & cheese, and even loaves of bread in this pan. The lasagna noodles fit perfectly in the pan, and it is deep enough to get a good piece out of it. The edges of the lasagna always end up slightly crispy which is an added bonus, since everyone wants the edge pieces! Because of the shape, its very easy to scoop a piece out without losing all the filling.\\n\\nI love how there are three slots to put the lasagna in. We can have all rows of meat lasagna, three different rows of pastas, or in one case, two rows of meat and one row of vegetarian lasagna for our vegetarian friends. Loaves of bread also bake up wonderfully in this pan, although they will be long and skinny! This is a great pan for variety and for lasagna baking execution. Highly recommended!\",\n \"Product: Specially designed for quilters and sewists the Oliso TG1600 Pro features Olisos patented iTouch technology. Simply touch the handle and the iron lowers ready to work! Take your hand off and the patented scorchguards lift the iron off the boardpreventing scorches burns and tipping. Less strain and 30% time savings are added benefits to this Smart Iron's 1800 watts of power and horizontal or vertical bursts of steam. The TG1600 Pro features a 30-minute extended auto-shut off for sewers and quilters a 12.7 oz. side-fill tank a beadblast stainless steel soleplate flat pressing surface detailer tip and a 12-foot cord for full range of motion. Click\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Irons Well, but Occasionally Leaks\\n\\nReview: The Oliso Smart Iron Pro is really a neat (and high tech!) iron. However, after using it several times, I've found that \\\"high tech\\\" doesn't always equate to \\\"better\\\". There are a lot of things to like about this iron, but there are enough reason to pass on it as well.\\n\\n1. Heating Up Time/Heat Retention - The Oliso heats up fairly quickly, but no more quickly than my old Black and Decker. The heat retention of the iron is good. The heat it even, irons out clothing smoothly and efficiently.\\n\\n2. Steam Strength - The steam strength on the Oliso is amazing. I don't think I've owned an iron with the strength of steam this thing can generate. Because it can push out steam so efficiently, I'm able to iron/steam treat clothes that's hanging up. One push of the button and steam literally blasts out of this thing...the Oliso definitely has dual purpose as a flat iron and as a garment steamer.\\n\\n3. iTouch Technology - This is the feature that I appreciate the most on the iron. To keep your clothes from accidentally burning, and to prevent huge burns, the iron can be left horizontal while ironing and little feet will lift the iron off the board/clothes. When you touch the handle on the top, the iron feet will retract and the plate lowers to the clothing. When you release, the feet come back out. This feature is the big selling point of this iron - it's really nice to iron without having to worry that I'll get distracted by the kids and accidentally burn something. I also like how I don't have to worry about putting up the iron vertically where it can accidentally tip over or be exposed to curious little fingers.\\n\\n4. Cord Length and 360 Degree Pivot - The cord on the Oliso is much longer than any iron I've owned. This actually helps quite a bit as I used to have to get an extension cord to comfortably position my board in the room in relation to the outlet. With the 360 pivot, I also don't have to worry about getting tangled up in the cord quite as badly. This was a big plus to the unit.\\n\\n5. Leakage - Unfortunately, in comparison to other irons I've owned, this iron tends to leak - a lot. While I didn't have any problems with it leaking while I was ironing, when I was done and let the iron cool down, when walking to the sink the iron started leaking directly out of the holes on the heating plate. This was agitating because no matter what orientation I held the iron, it leaked from one of the many openings on the iron. This is cause for concern for me simply because if the iron was hot, I'm worried that leftover water could leak out - hot water. I started loading the iron with less water to make sure I used up all the water instead of having to pour out water because I had too much. This solved the problem, but if you iron a lot, beware.\\n\\nAll in all, the Oliso is a great iron, but could use a few tweaks to make it better. I really love the iTouch Technology and the cord length, but am wary about the leaking issue. I'm update in a few months to see if the issue improves or gets worse. All in all, it's a good iron.\",\n \"Product: Cleaning lettuce and other leafy-greens is a breeze with the Twist Salad Spinner from Leifheit. The Twist Salad Spinner has a removable twist drive for space-saving storage. The large clear bowl is ideal for serving salads and other sides/desserts and features a handy in-built basket brake. The Twist Salad Spinner is made from high-quality ABS plastic coupled with soft red thermoplastic for comfort and non-slip stability. Basket and bowl are dishwasher safe; wipe Twist drive with damp cloth. 3-year warranty.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: No Brakes and Design Not as Good as OXO\\n\\nReview: Leifheit made a good effort to a solid Salad Spinner, but ultimately failed to hit the mark that OXO has. Having owned an <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/OXO-Good-Grips-Salad-Spinner/dp/B00004OCKR/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">OXO Good Grips Salad Spinner</a> for a while now, I may be a little biased, but after using the Leifheit for a couple of uses now, I still find that the OXO Good Grips Salad Spinner is better. I'll be comparing the two in detail below.\\n\\n1. Size and Design\\nThe size of both the Leifheit and the OXO are about the same. The Leifheit is a little narrower at the base in comparison to the OXO. Whether you like a more angular or rounded bowl shape is up to you - I personally like a more rounded shape. On the Leifheit, there is also a thin rubber ring on the bottom of the salad bowl to help keep the salad spinner from moving around the table. When I first received my spinner, it was already coming off. If I happened to wash this unit, whether it be in a dishwasher or by hand, this will come off and most likely be lost. You can always glue the ring on the bottom of the unit, but that defeats the purpose of buying a new product if you're going to have to fix it once you receive it.\\nWINNER: TIE\\n\\n2. Assembly and Storage\\nWith the OXO, storing the spinning mechanism is as simple as pushing down on the plunger then pushing a small switch in. To release the plunger, you slide the switch out. For the Leifheit, there is a huge plunger you have to put into the spinning mechanism to the main bowl, then unlock. To store, you have to remove the plunger and you can stow it in the basket. I don't really care for this design. If you happen to misplace that plunger for any reason, it's game over - you won't be able to use the salad spinner. There is a lock to keep the plunger down, but I don't see the point of having this as the plunger unit fits completely extended in the spinner. This seems like Leifheit added this feature on for kicks. The plunger on the Leifheit is also a little more flimsy, almost as if it will fall out if you drop it or give it too hard for a shake.\\nWINNER: OXO\\n\\n3. Ease of Use\\nBoth salad spinners will end up having the same result - you will have dry salad leaves, pasta, etc. Both spin equally fast, depending on how fast you depress the plunger. Stopping the spinner basket is another story. There are NO brakes on the Leifheit. I checked the instructions (none of which are in English on the back of the box), I checked the entire unit, I played around with the plunger and plunger lock...there are either no brakes on this thing, or I am just not figuring this thing out. On the OXO, there is a little rubber button you push to slow down/stop the spinning action. Again, this isn't a huge issue, but it does matter when you're trying to plow through a lot of salad for a party - I simply don't have the time to wait for each batch to slow down.\\nWINNER: OXO\\n\\n4. Cleaning\\nWhen it comes to cleaning, the Leifheit has the OXO beat, but only by a little. Because all the parts are separate, it's much easier to wash the lid, spinner basket, and salad bowl. The OXO has the spinner basket and the bowl to wash, but because the spinning mechanism is housed all in the lid (it's a lid within a lid - this is to allow for the braking mechanism), the top can be a little troublesome to clean. I sometimes have a little difficulty removing the inner lid, but since I'm spinning greens in water only, it's not a huge issue for me. If you're spinning anything with sauce or dressing, it will be a little more difficult.\\nWINNER: Leifheit\\n\\nThat said, the pros for the OXO really outweigh the Leifheit's. While it does serve it's purpose, there are better operating (and looking) salad spinning units out there.\",\n \"Product: BISSELL Pet Hair Eraser, Refined Bronze/Magenta, 94V5A\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Get Those Little Vacuuming Jobs Done\\n\\nReview: With two toddlers and a Papillon roaming the house and creating a path of destruction behind them, at times it's too much work to bust out the full sized vacuum cleaner, but just enough mess to warrant a vacuuming. The Bissell Pet Hair Eraser is the happy medium. It's just like the dustbusters of the 80's, but better....it sucks up little messes like Cheerios spills under the table, potato chip crumbles on the couch, dirt and sand from the playground on my rug, and dog hairs from the cushions. It looks great when you first get it, but like all bag less vacuums, the beautiful clear case doesn't stay clean and clear for long - good thing when it comes to getting things clean, bad when you are looking at this vacuum sitting in your room. However, since I'm all about function before style, particularly when it comes to getting my house clean, it's all good.\\n\\nIf you vacuum a lot, the filter does get really gross, but you can buy replacements pretty cheaply. We haven't had to replace our filter yet since we're just vacuuming up stray dog hairs and the occasional cracker crumb mess. The only complaint I can see about this vacuum is that it doesn't suck up wet messes. I never liked those vacuums (it's a bigger pain to clean out the vacuum than it is to but out a towel and wipe up), so that's all good for me.\\n\\nAll in all, love the vacuum - it's better than having to lug out my full sized vacuum or staring a crumbs that just won't vacuum themselves. Highly recommended!\",\n \"Product: Etch is an artisan-inspired stonewash that transcends trends and lets women express their style.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Thick, Durable, and Attractive Pie Plate\\n\\nReview: The CorningWare Etch 9.5 Inch Pie Plate is a beautiful pie plate to bake items in, or to use as a decorative serving plate. I purchased the plate in red, and the color is vibrant and even. The top portion of the plate is a bright white, and the entire plate is glazed evenly with no bubbles, discoloration, or scratches. The edge of the plate is nicely ruffled, and pies baked in this plate come out looking beautiful. The plate has a nice hefty feel to it - it is thick and durable, insulates heat well on the sides. The plate is nonstick for the most part. If your crust sticks to the plate, it is likely because your filling leaked. Food items served in this dish really look great. If you're looking for a nice deep dished pie plate, this is a great one to consider.\",\n \"Product: There are three things that drive us batty about dish duty: not having enough space, swampy messes and stacking things haphazardly (hey, were sticklers for organization). Thankfully, this customizable dish rack/ glass tray folds in half and helps keep counters clean.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Good Sized Rack, Could Use a Bigger Drain Board\\n\\nReview: Full Circle Smart Rack is great dish rack for people who are looking to save space. The rack folds up small, holds a good number of dishes, and drains well. Because it's dishwasher safe, it's easy to throw the whole thing into the dishwasher for a quick clean, or can be easily washed in the sink for a clean up. The rack, though appearing a bit flimsy, is quite durable. I had no issues assembling the unit, and everything drains quickly into the channel in the middle of the board. The drain board is narrow and collects the water to be emptied from a small sealable pour spout at the end.\\n\\nWhile I like this dish rack, I would have liked to have a larger draining board. I understand that the board is small to allow the board to be folded into the small size possible, but it would have been nice to have a larger drain board that could just as easily be stowed instead of this smaller one. This would allow one to place the cups on the side of rack as pictured without having drips all over the counter.\\n\\nOverall, the design is good, the unit is fairly durable, and it works as advertises. I'll update down the line to address long term durability as this unit is plastic. For now, recommended!\",\n \"Product: These handy stoneware bakers make cooking and entertaining a cinch because they can be used to bake cauliflower and ham au gratin, prep a side dish like stuffed cherry peppers or serve a refreshing cucumber salad. The contemporary design and bold color make these Bubble and Brown bakers pieces that are sure to be a talking point with guests because of their unique style. Stoneware from Rachael Ray is an extension of the aesthetic she has already brought to cookware and dinnerware: bright colors, unique shapes and durable materials in versatile pieces that any home cook will appreciate. These Bubble and Brown round bakers are crafted from dependable stoneware that doesn't react to food and is safe for use in the microwave, dishwasher, freezer and oven up to 500-degree F. The bright color is great for coordinating with other kitchen pieces and they are sure to be a hit when they make their way onto the table during a dinner party.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Awkward to Cover, Overflow Risk\\n\\nReview: Oh Rachael Ray, there are many reasons why you told Alton Brown that \\\"you're a cook, not a chef\\\". Your Bubble and Brown Bakers help prove that point. While this baker set is very attractive, it's not very well designed for cooking food. The reasons are many:\\n\\n1. Any bake ware that sports several warning about \\\"do not soak\\\", \\\"glaze chipping\\\" and \\\"how to clean off stuck food to avoid soaking\\\" make me a little wary about how durable this piece really is. While I'm one to follow instructions, how many people actually do not soak an over ware piece that has food baked onto it? The main reason would be to avoid glaze deterioration because the piece is very porous. That said, if you treat the piece correctly, you shouldn't have a problem - but it's not infallible. One customer already had a problem with quality control and the glaze bubbling up. I did not, so hopefully it's a one time thing - but I'm still a little concerned about how long that glaze will stay on.\\n\\n2. This piece is impossible to cover/store food. There are no lids, and because of the shape (with the handles being worked into the main bowl), it's a bit awkward to cover up the food with saran wrap/foil without having those two \\\"venting holes\\\" letting all the heat out.\\n\\n3. Again, with those handles, you have to keep a very close eye on how high you're actually filling the dish - it's very easy to accidentally spill/have things bubble over and out those two handle holes.\\n\\n4. This is not a very deep dish. The images are a little misleading, as this set seems fairly large - but at 1.5 and 2 quarts respectively, these are small dishes best used for 2-4 people at max.\\n\\nThose issues aside, these are very nice bakers that would make a lovely addition to a family table. While they are not quite right for the needs of my family, they do make attractive servers.\",\n \"Product: Granite Ware has all the canning products, tools and accessories to do it safely and successfully. The Granite Ware 20-quart Pressure Canner and Pressure Cooker/Steamer is a professional-quality tool, UL-listed, and made of hard anodized aluminum, with stay-cool handles and a locking stainless steel lid. An accompanying rack fits down into the pot to keep jars up off the bottom, and comes with folding handles for easy raising and lowering. The rack holds up to 7 one-quart jars, 8 one-pint jars or 24 half-pint jars. The steamer insert fits into the stepped portion of the vessel about 1/3 the way up from the bottom to hold foods out of the cooking liquid and can handle all your large capacity steaming needs for tamales, seafood, pulled pork, pot roast, ribs, and more. The pressure canner achieves the high temperature required for safely processing foods with the USDA endorsing it as the only safe method for canning meats, poultry, and low-acid vegetables. It can also be used as a large pressure cooker for any meal that needs to come together quickly. This Granite Ware pressure cooker preserves flavor and nutrients, tenderizes tough cuts of meat, and cooks many foods in one-third to one-tenth the time compared to traditional methods, and is large enough to create family-sized meals with ease. The unit features a pop-up pressure indicator, locking the lid in place. It cannot be opened while the canner is pressurized, even if there is just one psi of pressure. The vent pipe is located in the center of the lid and if it fails or clogs, there is an additional black capped safety valve set to go off and a second all metal safety valve will exhaust residual pressure while sounding a whistling alarm. The sturdy lid locks in place during canning or cooking with the lid gasket sealing ring forming a pressure tight seal between the body of the canner and the cover during use. The Granite Ware pressure canner, steamer, and cooker uses the UL-recommended adjustable 3-piece pressure regulator system. The pressure regulator is calibrated for three different pressure levels at 5 psi, 10 psi and 15 psi, which is ideal for canning at different altitudes. Includes Canning Jar Rack and Steamer Trivet (canning jars are not included).\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Solid Pressure Canner/Cooker That's Made in China\\n\\nReview: First off, be warned - this unit is made in China. If you are absolutely certain you don't want to buy anything made in China, I would pass on this. If you have no qualms about where this canner is made, I can say that it's really quite a nice unit. I'm a complete newbie when it comes to canning, so I have no basis for comparison at this time - but from my experience using the Granite Ware, it works great! I used the pressure cooker to cook up some ribs and I was able to fill the entire pot with a rack of ribs from Costco. Everything steamed up fantastically and came out \\\"fall off the bone\\\" tender. I've also tried making Chinese soups in here with great success. Meals cook up quickly and effectively in here. For canning, this unit hold a good number of jars in there. I was able to can seven jars of applesauce up without any issues. One thing I would suggest is getting a canning kit with jar lifter, funnel, and so forth to go with this cooker if you're new at this - while canning is fun, having the canning kit complete with all the additional tools really comes in handy. Overall, this is a great pot - I definitely will be canning a lot more once the summer harvest starts rolling in more!\",\n \"Product: The OXO Good Grips Coffee and Tea POP Containers combine the airtight, stackable and space-efficient qualities of our classic POP Containers with UV-blocking technology to protect contents from moisture and light. The Containers have a unique push-button mechanism that creates an airtight seal with just one touch. The button also serves as a handle to lift off the lid. The Containers are designed for modular stacking so that you can efficiently organize your countertop and pantry. In addition, with their square and rectangular shapes, the POP Containers make the most of any storage space, while their corners allow for easy pouring. These tinted POP Containers are available in 3 different sizes to fit any coffee beans, ground coffee, loose leaf tea, or any other UV-sensitive foods fresh. The lid comes apart for thorough cleaning. All POP Containers are BPA-free.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Great for Holding Coffee or Other Snacks\\n\\nReview: The OXO 1.5 Liter Pop is fantastic to hold 1 lb of whole coffee beans, or almost 2 lbs ground. The container has a slightly more streamlined look to it than the original Pop or Pet Pop line. The container is tinted so sunlight won't oxidize the coffee quite as much, and the top of the container and lid is slightly tapered for a more stylized look. I've included a picture of the Original Pop, Pet Pop, and Coffee Pop below. Note both the Original and Coffee Pops have tapered boxes and circular buttons, while the Pet Pop has a straight sided container and square button. All boxes function exactly the same.\\n\\nThe Coffee Pop is effective at keep your coffees grounds and beans very fresh. The brushed aluminum top looks very stylish, and the container is very easy to open and close. This is a great container to consider to store your coffee or other snacks in.\",\n \"Product: The Bank Heavy Duty upright vacuum cleaner is built to last! Designed for both home and commercial use, it has a built-in magnet bar to protect the motor from metal objects like paper clips. It features an advanced dual-row brush that agitates the carpet to remove even the most embedded dirt and hair from any carpet type. The six-step height adjustment maximizes deep cleaning for all carpet levels.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: An Industrial Vacuum Cleaner, Not Home Use Friendly\\n\\nReview: When given the opportunity to try out The Bank Heavy Duty, I was surprised at the vacuum - however, not in a good way. The vacuum is very much like the Hoover vacuum my mom owned back in the 80's. The Bank Heavy Duty is bag operated vs canister operated, can be put in the up or down position with a press of a foot pedal, and is turned on by pushing a button near the foot pedal. While the vacuum does suck up a lot of dirt and material, there are a lot things I just can't get over with this vacuum.\\n\\n1. Unpackaging and Assembly: This took me about 15 minutes, simply because I needed to figure out where everything fit, screw everything in, attach a bag, and lastly figure out where the heck these two magnets are supposed to go (something I could not figure out from what I read in the manual - the magnets are sitting on my desk as we speak). While assembly was not difficult by any means, it was time consuming, and I did mess up twice because the parts were not clearly labeled. Added frustration - the box that the vacuum was shipped in was small, but I think that attributed to the magnets coming out. That box was pretty beat up.\\n\\n2. Weight: Having owned a much older Dyson, a Panasonic vacuum cleaner, and most recently a Hoover Bagless Upright, I have to say The Bank is the heaviest of all. This isn't a problem because it's on wheels and I don't have stairs, but if you do have two stories in your house, you might be in for an unhappy vacuuming situation.\\n\\n3. Cleaning: Honestly, I wouldn't be able to tell if my husband used the The Bank, Hoover, Panasonic, or the Dyson on the carpet from just looking. Just from what I saw, it does suck up a lot of stuff though. I have a dog who sheds so much that I would expect he should be bald and a bird who likes to kick so much seed all over the house that I'm guessing he's a Johnny Appleseed reincarnate - everything was sucked up with The Bank. This vacuum can clean up the mess both of these animals make AND still have power to vacuum up the cereal and sandstorm of two preschoolers. This vacuum does not do well on bare floors though...when vacuuming up some sand off the tiles, the sand bits would fly out the back because of the rotating brushes. You're going to have to get your hose attachment out if you're doing bare floor vacuuming...\\n\\n4. Hose Attachment: Which leads me to a galling revelation - THERE IS NO HOSE ON THIS VACUUM. None. I use the hose for so many reasons - to vacuum hair off the couch, birdseed off the coffee table, eraser bits off my kids desks, spiders on the walls....the possibilities are endless! There is no hose on this unit though. Boo on you, Bank.\\n\\n5. Cord length: This vacuum has the most awesome length cord. I can plug it in my bathroom, and from there vacuum every room in my house. It's easily double the length of any retractable vacuum I've owned. That said, it does take a bit of time to wind up that cord manually.\\n\\n6. Ease of emptying the Bag: Okay, it's true that I don't have to see any of those ugly little lint bits, bugs, and other stuff when vacuuming when using The Bank. Everything gets sucked in very well - my carpet looks great. Does it look better than when I vacuum with a bagless vacuum though? Not really. This is primarily because I like to be eco friendly and because I don't like to buy bag replacements (aka - I'm cheap).\\n\\n7. Overall Design: Unfortunately for me, this vacuum handle is long, which when vacuuming = uncomfortable for a short person to start and use. While I like the sleek silver finish, being able to vacuum comfortably takes precedence, and this vacuum is just hard to vacuum with. It doesn't corner well, it doesn't turn easily, and because of the weight, it's more suited to large rooms with little furniture in it. This would be a great vacuum for a school or dance hall.\\n\\nThat said, this really is an industrial vacuum. If you're looking to use it for home use, I would pass on it and get something more \\\"household friendly\\\".\",\n \"Product: Enjoy the high-temperature cooking that cast iron provides with this versatile casserole. It's ideal for slow-cooking stews and braised dishes on the cooktop, as well as roasts and baking in the oven. Also perfect for cobblers and cornbread. The lid doubles as a grill pan and can be used for grilling steaks, burgers, chicken, or vegetables. Plus, the porcelain enamel interior coating doesn't require seasoning.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Attractive, Easy to Clean, Retains Heat Fairly Well\\n\\nReview: As an owner of the Lodge Double Dutch Oven, I was interested in seeing how the Kitchenaid Casserole Cookware would compare. I must say that I'm pleased with the KitchenAid Cast Iron Casserole. The Casserole is very attractive, and the color is a very pleasant leaf/ivy green color. Like most cast iron pots, it's incredibly heavy, retains heat very well, and can be transferred from stove top to oven. Because the interior of the dutch oven is porcelain, it doesn't require any seasoning procedures like my Lodge does - this really is a great feature because I don't have to fuss with wiping it down with oil/baking it upside down/etc to season it, and I don't have to worry about it quite as much when washing it (it is okay to use soap).\\n\\nThe pot is large enough to fit fairly large meats inside including whole chickens (with the lid on!). The pot is easy to clean and food doesn't seem stick to it much, although you will need to use oil for that to happen. This pot is not nonstick like a well seasoned cast iron and there will be a learning curve to use it. I'm not terribly fond of the grill lid either - it seems a little gimmicky and really doesn't add great BBQ sear marks. On the upside, I can still make a very nice Dutch Baby Pancake in it.\\n\\nOverall, the Lodge Cast Iron Dutch Oven is a nice dutch oven to own. It's attractive, easy to care for, and can make a very good Pot Roast.\",\n \"Product: Taste the difference with TAKEYA's Cold Brew Coffee Maker. The traditional hot brewing process releases undesirable acids and oils, resulting in bitter flavor and acidity that is intolerable to many. With cold brewing, only the naturally delicious coffee flavors are extracted, leaving behind the bitter oils and fatty acids, creating a perfectly balanced, smooth extraction of concentrated coffee. Once brewed, concentrated coffee can be kept fresh in the TAKEYA airtight Cold Brew Coffee Maker for up to 2 weeks and used for both hot and iced coffees. Do not freeze or microwave\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Great Cold Brew Coffee Filter, Easy to Use, Easy to Clean, Makes Very Good Coffee\\n\\nReview: It's officially summer (or at least feels like it in California), and while I love coffee, I don't like drinking hot coffee on 90 degree days. The Takeya Cold Brew Coffee Maker is a fantastic thing to have when brewing up some cold coffee. You simply add 14 tablespoons of coffee to the infuser, close the infuser, then pour 4 cups of water into the pitcher. You then put the infuser in the pitcher, seal, then refrigerate overnight. The next day, you'll coffee concentrate that you can use in hot or cold coffee drinks. The coffee concentrate should last about 2 weeks in the fridge, although we finish it well before that times comes.\\n\\nOne thing to note is that you should definitely be careful when grinding your coffee for this filter. I like grinding whole bean coffee and if you grind it too fine, the grinds will go through the filter. I give it a rough ground and it seems to stay in place just fine. Overall, if you're looking to make some really good cold coffee, this is a great filter to consider. It's simple to use and it filters out the coffee very well.\",\n \"Product: Instant Pot is a smart Electric Pressure Cooker designed by Canadians aiming to be Safe, Convenient and Dependable. It speeds up cooking by 2~6 times using up to 70% less energy and, above all, produces nutritious healthy food in a convenient and consistent fashion. Instant Pot Duo is a 7-in-1 programmable cooker, it replaces 7 kitchen appliances as it has the functions of a pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, steamer, saut, yogurt maker & warmer. 14 built-in smart programs (Soup, Meat/Stew, Bean/Chili, Poultry, Saut, Steam, Rice, Porridge, Multigrain, Slow Cook, Keep-Warm, Yogurt, Pasteurize & Jiu Niang) cook your favorite dishes with the press of a button. A 24-hour timer allows for delayed cooking. Automatic keep-warm holds the temperature of the food until you serve it. Instant Pot generates almost no noise and leaks no steam. It traps all the aromas in the food without heating up the kitchen. The 3-ply bottom stainless steel inner pot is extremely durable and leaves no health concerns associated with non-stick coatings. The slim body design has lid holders for both left and right handed users. The brushed stainless steel exterior is finger print resistant. Its elegant and durable design makes it easy to clean and pleasurable to use for the years to come. Instant Pot Duo uses the latest technology with an embedded microprocessor, which monitors the pressure and temperature, keeps time and adjusts heating intensity. The cooking programs have been lab-tested hundreds of times for optimal effect. These greatly improve cooking result and maintain consistence. Instant Pot is carefully designed to eliminate many common errors that could cause harm or spoil food. It passed the stringent UL certification giving you uncompromised safety and peace of mind and protects you with 10 proven safety mechanisms and patented technologies.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: All Hail the Champion Soup Maker!\\n\\nReview: I love using pressure cookers because of the speed and great items it can cook, but absolutely hate having to watch the pot to make sure the temperature is correct, listening to the \\\"whoosh whoosh\\\" steamer noise as pot is cooking on the stove, and the worry that the pot would spontaneously explode because I messed something up and got the wrong heat or something. The Instant Pot seriously made my life easier.\\n\\nI could sing the praises of this pressure cooker for ages because it really made pressure cooking easier and helped speed up cooking healthy dinners in my kitchen. I use it primarily for soups, meats, and chili and it does a stand up job getting those meals cooked FAST. I love how I can saute items such as onions or oxtails prior in the Instant pot without having to use a second fry pan. The pressure cooker can make a bone soup with chicken feet in about an hour - something that used to take 5 hours on stove to achieve the same soup! I can even reheat the soup in the morning by pushing the saute button - by the time I'm done helping the kids get changed, the soup is piping hot for every to drink for breakfast. The slow cooker function allows me to make dinners in the morning and leave it all day to cook to be ready by the time I come home. Thing single kitchen appliance single handedly took over my slow cooker and stove top pressure cooker in one easy push of a button. I love how most of the meal settings are set, so I don't have to worry about whether I got the right pressure for the item I'm cooking.\\n\\nThis unit has earned its spot on my kitchen counter - it's easy to use, easy to clean up after, and cooks meals rocket fast.\",\n \"Product: Zojirushi Stainless Steel 12oz. Mug has a vacuum insulation that keeps beverages hot or cold for hours. Easy-to-clean nonstick coated interior. Tight fitted flip-open lid keeps beverages hotter or colder than travel mugs. Safety lock to prevent the lid from opening accidentally (NEW pictograph lock). Lightweight design for added portability.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Lightweight, Attractive, and Keeps Beverages HOT (or Ice Cold if you Put Cold Drinks in There!)\\n\\nReview: After noticing a lot of people carrying the Zojirushi Stainless Steel thermoses while traveling abroad, I came back home and immediately ordered one for myself. I can see why so many people bought this particular thermos - it keeps drinks HOT for a insanely long time, is lightweight, doesn't leak, and it comes apart easily to wash. I love this mug so much that it's become my new \\\"take with me everywhere\\\" go to mug!\\n\\nThe thermos holds 16 ounces (2 cups) which is just shy of the amount in most bottles of water. The main body of the bottle is metal while the cap and drinking spout are plastic. The drinking spout can be pushed out for easy cleaning, and the mouth of the bottle is wide enough to allow a sponge to go in to clean the interior of the bottle. I poured in hot water into the bottle at the beginning of the morning and when I popped it open to drink by noon, the water was still extremely hot. Water poured into the bottle will remain hot for practically the entire day. I once left water in the bottle overnight, and the water was still warm when I woke up in the morning. I'm not sure how something so lightweight could be so insulated - but it works!\\n\\nThe lid is opened easily with a push of the silver button and the unit can be locked so you don't accidentally open the bottle in your purse or bag. Even despite being tossed into my purse with keys, pens, and other little sharp items, the bottle has not shown any signs of scratching. Overall, this is an attractive thermos that keeps beverages hot (or cold!) extremely well. I would definitely buy this thermos again.\",\n \"Product: Tiger induction heat microcomputer controlled rice cooker/warmer comes with 4 in 1 functions (rice cooking, Synchro-Cooking, slow cooker, bread baking) and 11 computerized cooking menu settings. This 10 cup rice cooker and warmer not only cooks rice but also comes with the new \\\"tacook\\\" synchronized cooking function to prepare two dishes simultaneously with the power of induction heat. This unit comes with 5 layer metal plus 3 layer coating for multilayer ceramic coated inner pan that provides even heating for delicious rice every time. The lid can also be removed entirely to be disassembled so each piece can be washed.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Cooks Consistently Good Pots of Rice, Easy to Operate, Attractive Unit\\n\\nReview: After over a decade of rice service from our trusty Zojirushi Fuzzy Logic Rice Cooker, the cooker finally broke down and I had to search for a new rice cooker to replace the old. After hearing many great things about Tiger Rice Cookers and the effectiveness of Induction Heating, we decided to throw down for the $300 rice cooker. I'm very pleased with the purchase - the Tiger IH Rice Cooker works fantastically at cooking various varieties of rice, porridge, breads, and main dishes. The unit operates quietly, the inner pot is very thick and durable, and the unit cooks with great consistency. In terms of overall functionality, it's very similar to the Fuzzy Logic Zo, but the Tiger cooks a bit more effectively and efficiently. The rice from the Tiger is a bit better in terms of texture, and the cook time is just a bit shorter.\\n\\nThe features on the Tiger are great. The lid is completely removable for easy cleaning of both the lid, and the inner rim of the electronic part of the rice cooking pot. There are three parts to the lid: the venting cap, the cooking cover, and the lid itself. On the Zo, the venting cap would often get filled with gunk, and since it wasn't removable, it was difficult to clean. The Tiger's removable venting cap and lid allows you to easily clean the entire top of the rice cooker. These two components don't need to be cleaned as often as the inner cooking cover. The inner cooking cover is also removable and can be cleaned individually after each individual cook. One thing I like in particular about the removable lid is that I can access the area directly under the lid where the main body of the rice cooker is. This section often gets filled with water and food debris when the lid is opened. Unlike the Zo, I'm able to get this area completely clean. To remove the upper lid, simply remove the inner lid cover, the venting cap, then pull the lid straight up. There will be an orange section that will stay on the rice cooker - this section doesn't get dirty, and does not need to be removed to clean.\\n\\nThe inner cooking pot is very thick and durable. Unlike the Zo cooking pot, this pot is not easily scratched, and feels much more heavyweight. The cooking pot can cook up to (uncooked) 5.5 c of plain white rice, 5 c ultra rice, 3.5 c of brown rice, 3 c of sweet rice, 5.5 c of Jasmine rice, as well as porridge and bread. You can also slow cook main dishes in the unit with or without rice - there is a small orange steam basket that can be used in conjunction with the rice cooker to make small main dishes while the rice cooks. I've tested out various rices with this unit including sweet rice, brown rice, white sushi rice, Jasmine rice, and Basmati rice with all great results. The rice cooker soaks and cooks the rices at the appropriate temperature, and the result is always consistent: soft fluffy rice with no crust on the bottom of the pan. Because the pot is heated all over as opposed to just the bottom like most standard rice cookers, the rice is cooked very evenly, and doesn't have that brown crust on the bottom. This unit does take much longer than standard one button rice cookers (due to soak time), but cooks a bit faster than most Micom and Fuzzy Logic Cookers. For those who like to bake bread, there is also a ferment (a rise) function as well as a bake function. I've used the rice cooker to help rise my breads, and it does a fine job. As for baking, it's okay, but not nearly as good as baking bread in the oven.\\n\\nThe controls of the rice cooker are straight forward, and the unit is very simple to use. If you've set the rice cooker to a particular setting (such as brown rice), it will stay on that setting until you change it. It will not reset after each cook. The screen is large and easy to see, and while in operation, the unit makes a soft fan sound. The outside of the rice cooker heats up a bit while in operation, but not so hot where it would burn fingers. One thing I wasn't happy to see about this unit is that there is no retractable cord. Having enjoyed hiding the cord on my Zo, I would've liked to see the cord hidden on the Tiger unit, but because I don't deal with the cord often, it isn't a huge deal to me. This unit comes with a specially designed rice paddle that fits on the side of this cooker, an orange steamer basket, a small sturdy plastic ladle, and a standard rice measuring cup as well.\\n\\nOverall, this rice cooker may be expensive, but it cooks fantastic rice. Considering we eat rice every day, this unit is worth the cost for consistently good rice. It's sturdy, durable, and we're looking forward to make many rice meals for years to come.\",\n \"Product: 38526 Features: -Nonstick cooking surface. -Adjustable heat. -Cool-touch handles. -Glass lid. -Dishwasher safe. Dimensions: Overall Height - Top to Bottom: -6.97\\\". Overall Width - Side to Side: -16.34\\\". Overall Depth - Front to Back: -11.3\\\". Overall Product Weight: -4.89 lbs.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Heated Evenly with No \\\"Hot Spots\\\", Exceptionally Non Stick, Easy to Clean - Great for Crepes and Pancakes\\n\\nReview: The Proctor Silex Electric Crepe Maker was a hit in our house. The crepe maker is easy to use, is absolutely non stick, and is a breeze to clean. The unit comes with the crepe making machine, a plastic crepe batter spreader, a large plastic stick spatula to turn the crepes, and a plastic measuring cup/ladle. The unit can be set to different temperatures to adjust for your preference of darkeness/crispiness. When the unit reaches the temperature set, a little green light turns on at the front of the unit under the Proctor Silex logo. To use the crepe maker, simply make your batter, plug in the unit and set to your desired temperature, pour on the batter, spread, then flip using the spatula. Crepes take about 2 minutes to make and come out beautifully. Cleaning is equally simple - just wipe off the surface and you're done.\\n\\nThe surface is exceptionally non stick and worked great when making crepes and pancakes. The surface has a slightly raised edge that keeps batter from spilling over, should you accidentally over pour, and the surface temperature is very evenly spread with no particular hot spots. Crepes came out evenly colored with perfectly crisped edges. I also tested this with pancakes, and loved how the pancakes came out so evenly colored - this is much more evenly heated than the griddle tops I own. Overall, if you're looking for a good crepe and pancake maker, this is definitely one worth considering. It's exceptionally nonstick, heats evenly, and is a breeze to clean.\",\n \"Product: Unlike typical painted steel or chrome plated rack, this rack is made of pure stainless steel. Only stainless steel rack can be used both indoor and outdoor without becoming rusty. Its versatile foldable design allows easy storage without taking up spaces. This quality drying rack rack is covered with money back satisfaction guarantee, and 1 year manufacturer warranty.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Easy to Set up, Drys Everything Nicely\\n\\nReview: I recently purchased this Stainless Steel Drying Rack in order to cut back on energy use and to take advantage of our wonderfully oven hot heat in California. The Stainless Steel Drying rack works as advertised. The rack is easy to set up, lightweight, and holds a good amount of laundry to dry. The set up and breakdown is incredibly fast and easy, and I'm able to store this in the small space between my washer and the wall. The one gripe I have is that the bars are spaced fairly closely, so when I was drying multiple bath towels at once, it took a little longer than expected. To get fluffy towels, after drying on the rack I tossed everything in my dryer on \\\"air dry\\\" for 10 minutes with a laundry sheet...extra soft towels ensued and everyone in the house was happy. Overall very pleased with the purchase.\",\n \"Product: The Anova Precision Cooker makes it easy to achieve professional-level cooking results at home. To use, simply attach the cooker to any water-filled pot, put your food in a sealable bag, and set the time and temperature. The Precision Cooker heats and circulates the water to a precise temperature, cooking food to an exact temperature which creates maximum tenderness and moisture retention (without worry of overcooking). The Anova Precision Cooker connects to your phone, so you can cook amazing meals by the touch of a button - spend less time tied to the kitchen by relying on the app to notify you when your food is ready to Eat.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Fantastic Tool for Making Perfectly Cooked Ribs, Steaks, Eggs...Takes the Guesswork Out of Cooking Meats\\n\\nReview: After debating for a year, I finally decided to pick up the Anova Sous Vide since it was on sale on Amazon. I am now wondering why I didn't pick this unit up sooner. Cooking with the Anova Sous Vide has made kitchen time much less hectic. Similar to a slow cooker, I'm able to put food items that are vacuum sealed (or water displaced) into the water bath and leave it until I'm ready to serve the item. Unlike a slow cooker, food is not boiled to mushy consistency - I've tested this out with steak, eggs, pork ribs, and chicken with great success Meats comes out perfectly cooked, very juicy, and after a short sear on a fry pan or 15 minutes in the oven to finish, dinner is ready to go. Active cooking time for me has cut down dramatically, and this unit really has taken out the guesswork of determining how long to cook a particular meat to achieve a perfectly rare, medium rare, or well done cut. Sous vide eggs are simply out of this world - for those who have had the opportunity to try an \\\"onsen\\\" egg in Japan, the texture is simply custardy fantastic.\\n\\nThe unit itself works very simply - just plug in the unit, immerse the metal end into the water bath, then set the temperature using the dial wheel. The unit will heat the water to the appropriate temperature very quickly, and the water is circulated effectively using the small motor inside the unit. Cleaning this unit is simple as well. I've been currently using a large stock pot to hold the water and cook the food items, but I think I will be cutting into a cooler to make an insulated cooking vessel as many others have done.\\n\\nOverall, this is a very easy to use cooking tool - it's something that's earned its keep to stay on my kitchen counter. As an added note - my initial unit did have a small nut loose inside - I'm not sure if it came loose from a bolt or was an extra piece, but Amazon replaced the defective unit quickly and efficiently. The replacement unit was perfect as is.\",\n \"Product: Original tags attached!!\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Beautiful Sculp, Cheery Music, and Syncs Perfectly With the Rest of the Peanuts Light Show Gang\\n\\nReview: The Hallmark Woodstock Christmas Lights Show is an adorable addition to your holiday decor. The Woodstock Figure is lightweight, beautifully sculpted, has a fun light show, and can be synced to play music and flash lights with the other characters in this series (Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus, and Snoopy). The lights on this unit are bright and can fade/flash to various tunes. The music on the units are loud and clear, and can be turned on (and thankfully turned off) with a push of the small button in the front. To save battery life, there is also a toggled power switch on the bottom of the unit, so you can turn off the unit completely.\\n\\nThe Woodstock unit plays two songs - Silent Night and We Wish You a Merry Christmas. When synced with the other light show characters, only the unit that you trigger the show from will play the tune, however all units will flash their lights in sync with the tune playing. There is a slight delay when syncing the units with each other. When you push the button on the figure you want to play, you'll notice it takes a few seconds before the other figures join in. This occurred more seamlessly for previous year where all the units played music together (this was from the Peanuts Music Show Series). In that case, it made more sense because the characters were \\\"joining in\\\" with their own instruments.\\n\\nOne thing I didn't particularly like is the loudness of the songs - this is true to all of these units, but the music is set to play very loudly - almost too loudly. This results in the sound being a bit distorted and \\\"vibrating\\\". If you don't like the music playing super loud, you can always put a piece of mailing tape over the speaker on the base of the unit. The unit I bought in store came with batteries - Woodstock requires 3 AAA batteries, should your run out. The battery case can be accessed from the bottom of the unit with a Phillips head screwdriver.\\n\\nThe sculpt on Woodstock is fantastic. There are no visible screws, the paint on the tree and Woodstock are clean and there are no color bleeding issues, and there are even faux lights on the back of the unit that are made of the same clear light resin as the front. These lights on the back don't have LEDs in them, but help make the tree look aesthetically pleasant. The front lights and star work flawlessly, and it's fun to see the colors course through with the rest of the Peanuts gang. For those with an eye for details, the base of the tree even has a familiar blue blanket wrapped around the trunk of the tree. Of the five characters in this series, Woodstock's sculp really came out the best of the bunch.\\n\\nI'm very pleased with this unit. The entire Light Show Series Peanuts gang are adorable, and the kids really enjoy triggering the music and lights. This is a nice piece to add to any Peanuts fan's holiday collection.\",\n \"Product: Original tags attached!!\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Minor Sculp Issue, Otherwise Great Sound and Addition to Your Holiday Decorations\\n\\nReview: The Hallmark Snoopy Christmas Lights Show is an adorable addition to your holiday decor. The Snoopy Figure is lightweight, beautifully sculpted, has a fun light show, and can be synced to play music and flash lights with the other characters in this series (Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus, and Woodstock). The lights on this unit are bright and can fade/flash to various tunes. The music on the units are loud and clear, and can be turned on (and thankfully turned off) with a push of the small button in the front. To save battery life, there is also a toggled power switch on the bottom of the unit, so you can turn off the unit completely.\\n\\nThe Snoopy unit plays two songs - Up on the Housetop and Toyland. Snoopy is the only character that does not have any phrases stated before a song begins. When synced with the other light show characters, only the unit that you trigger the show from will play the tune, however all units will flash their lights in sync with the tune playing. There is a slight delay when syncing the units with each other. When you push the button on the figure you want to play, you'll notice it takes a few seconds before the other figures join in. This occurred more seamlessly for previous year where all the units played music together (this was from the Peanuts Music Show Series). In that case, it made more sense because the characters were \\\"joining in\\\" with their own instruments. One more thing to note - when you put your characters down, be sure to line them up in this order: Charlie Brown, Lucy, Woodstock, Linus, then Snoopy. It's pretty neat to see the lights change in order.\\n\\nOne thing I didn't particularly like is the loudness of the songs - this is true to all of these units, but the music is set to play very loudly - almost too loudly. This results in the sound being a bit distorted and \\\"vibrating\\\". If you don't like the music playing super loud, you can always put a piece of mailing tape over the speaker on the base of the unit. The unit I bought in store came with batteries - Snoopy requires 3 AAA batteries, should your run out. The battery case can be accessed from the bottom of the unit with a Phillips head screwdriver.\\n\\nThe sculpt on Snoopy is quite good, although not quite perfect. The first issue I have with this unit is that on the back of Snoopy, you can clearly see the screws that hold him together. On the Woodstock in the tree sculp, the screws are hidden. This is isn't a huge issue, but aesthetically, it's not as pretty as it can be. Also, on my particular Snoopy, you can see a clear line going around his head to the tip of his nose and back on the other side. I'm not sure if this is on every Snoopy figure, but it's pretty obvious in the right light. If you have the chance to really look at your figure in store, I would definitely take a good close look - hopefully you'll get a cleaner sculp than I did.\\n\\nDespite the sculpting issues, I'm very pleased with this unit. The entire Light Show Series Peanuts gang are adorable, and the kids really enjoy triggering the music and lights. This is a nice piece to add to any Peanuts fan's holiday collection.\",\n \"Product: With a 2.5-inch diameter, these large white paper baking cups are perfect for cupcakes or muffins, or for candies, appetizers, cookies, and other desserts. Great for serving treats at parties, on-the-go or to bake goodies for a friend or neighbor. Fast, easy transfer and clean up - cupcakes and muffins lift right out of the pan, no scraping and scrubbing needed. Hassle free prep - no need for grease or sprays; just pour the batter right into the cups. This pack contains 24 individual packages of 50 large white paper baking cups.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Amazing Liners - No Color Fading, Can be Used Without a Cupcake Pan, Baked Goods Come Right Out\\n\\nReview: The Reynolds Staybrite Cupcake Liners worked fantastically when I bake cupcakes or muffins. I tested this liner out with and without a cupcake pan and made homemade chocolate muffins in them. The liners held up amazingly well, and I had no problems filling, baking, and removing the muffins from the liners - even when the muffin was hot. The liners are sturdy enough to bake without the tray, and the outer color of the liners maintained the bright and beautiful design. There was no issues with fading of color, leaking of the liners, or oily residue on the outside. Paper liners cannot compare with these - I'm very impressed with how durable these cupcake liners are, and very pleased how the design stays on brightly. I will definitely be buying these for future cupcake projects!\",\n \"Product: The InterDesign microfiber bathroom accent rug is a super soft, plush accent rug for the bathroom. Place it in front of the shower, bathtub, or sink and enjoy its luxurious comfort on your bare feet. Machine wash cold.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Soft and Decent Quality Bath Mat, Color is Not Uniformly Beige, but Dotted with White Threads\\n\\nReview: The InterDesign Heathered Bathroom Rug is an okay option if you're looking for a thin decorative bathmat. The color of the rug is definitely different than what is pictured. The rug is not a single colored beige, but instead comprised of singular white and beige threads. While it looks uniform from far away, up close it looks strange. The white threads peppered in the beige rug looks unfinished, and I can't say I was in love with the look. In terms of quality, this rug isn't bad - it holds up quite well after being stepped on with wet feet, and it washed without fuzzing up or losing fibers - however it is quite thin and doesn't look nearly as plush as the photos depict. Overall, it's a functional and decent quality bath rug, but not something I would purchase again had I seen it up close from the get go.\",\n \"Product: Scratch resistant, highly durable, premium nano ceramic coating. 100% PTFE and PFOA free. Textured surface allows an even spread of oil and sauces in the pan for more flavorful cooking. Bright, beautiful pink color and floral pattern that is sure to dazzle anyone. Dishwasher safe . Environment-friendly. True cast aluminum manufacturing. No heavy metals used in manufacturing. Durable, heat-resistant and attractive Bakelite handle. 12\\\" glass lid is included with the pan. The pans are not made to work on induction stoves. Bella Flame is a 2Go Products, LLC trademark.\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: Will be Nonstick for a Few Uses, then Everything Will Stick\\n\\nReview: Update 9/25/14\\nI purchased the Bella Flame 12\\\" Ceramic Coated Pan (in green) in February 2014 and within a few months needed a replacement pan. I really tried to like the Bella Flame Pan. The customer service was pretty good as they contacted me on their own accord to offer a replacement, the pan was initially nonstick, but now - it's back to square one. The pan is sticking like crazy and useless again. I did everything in my power to care for this pan, and after minimal use (eggs, vegetables, and an occasional piece of fish) the pan went right back to getting everything stuck - even with a lot of oil. While this pan will work fantastically the first few weeks, you're guaranteed to have issues after more than 6 times using the pan. I would pass on this fry pan entirely.\\n___________________________________________________________________________\\n\\nA few days after my review posted, I was contacted by Amorè Kitchenware asking if I would like to receive a replacement pan - free of charge - as they stand firmly behind their products. I agreed, and within a few days I received a new pan to try out. I've used it a few times and so far the pan is maintaining its nonstick qualities. I'll be updating a few weeks as I use the pan more. So far I've fried lamb chops, squash, and eggs with good results. The items haven't been sticking and I've had to use only a small amount of oil. The original pan still works well, although items still stick a bit in them. As suggested by Amorè Kitchenware, I boiled water in the pan and used a scouring brush to remove bits of food. A small amount of the black coating of the pan scratched off, but the treatment improved the nonstick quality - items are not sticking as much as before. I haven't had any sticking issues with the replacement pan.\\n\\nOverall, I'm impressed at Amorè Kitchenware's strive for excellence. They stand behind their products and are more than happy to replace a pan should it not meet all your expectations. The replacement pan is very good, and again I will be updating as I use it more.\\n\\n---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------\\n\\nI've been using the Bella Flame 12\\\" Green Ceramic Fry pan for a couple of months now, and while it was really good and nonstick at first, I'm finding that its slowly losing it's nonstick abilities. I only fry eggs and vegetables in the pan. I don't deglaze the pan, I wait for it to cool before hand washing, and I don't leave the vegetables in the pan to steam either. When hand washing, I use a soft sponge with minimal abrasion (a dish sponge, not a pot sponge). After a few uses, I found that eggs started sticking to the pan when I would use it without oil (clean pan, no residue left over). Now I'm at the point where unless I use oil, things will stick on there.\\n\\nThe pan itself is very lovely, however I'm beginning to wonder about the longevity of the pan. Worst part is that if anything gets stuck, the floral pattern on the bottom of the pan makes it harder to clean. The pan is still very usable, but I do need to use oil to keep it nonstick. I'll update down the line on the nonstick of the pan - for now, it's only okay.\",\n \"Product: Natural Area Rugs Natural Sedona Mt. Grass Fiber Rug: Mountain Grass Rug by Natural Area Rugs is the the perfect accent to any high traffic area. Mountain Grass is naturally durable, anti static, sound absorbing, and stain resistant material. This rug is perfect for the dining room, living room, and hardwood floor bedrooms. . Reflect your love for nature on the floors with these rugs. It coordinates with almost all decorating schemes and is suitable for high traffic areas. It has a solid pattern that dexterously blends with most of the room settings. Beefy ribbed construction to provide an attractive, yet durable floor covering. Crafted from finest quality Natural Mountain Grass. Each of these rugs is crafted by skilled weavers who employ a variety of traditional techniques to create these simply beautiful styles. Its fibers exhibit naturally anti-Static, insulating and moisture regulating properties. The fibers infuse classic settings with simple beauty and a breath of fresh style. Avoid using a vacuum cleaner with beater bar attachment; do not dry clean or machine wash. Avoid direct and continuous exposure to sunlight to prevent fading. We recommend a Carpet/Rug Pad (sold separately) as it will provide extra protection not only your rug but your hardwood floor as well. Do not pull out loose strands and fibers variations are part of the beauty of organic fiber. Actual color may vary due to monitor settings and natural color variations in the fiber. Natural Area Rugs are the best choice in affordable luxury flooring. Product Details: Product Type: Area Rug Construction/Technique: Hand-Made Material: Mountain Grass Style: Contemporary Backing: Non-Slip Latex Backing Rug Pad: Recommended (Sold Separately) Country of Manufacturer: United States of America - USA Crafted by: Artisan Rug Makers Number of Item included: 1 Dimensions and Weight: Size: (2 Feet 6 Inches x 8 Feet) Length x Width x Height: (30 L x 96 W x 2 H) Product Weight: 10 Pounds\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Attractive, Comfortable to Walk Over/Sit on, Material Underneath the Rug Keeps it In Place\\n\\nReview: The Natural Fiber Sendona Mountain Grass Rug is a love accent rug to add to any home. Our kitchen/family room area consists mainly of a large amount of tile. While this is very convenient for cleaning reasons, it's also very cold in the winter and woefully boring looking. The Sendona Mountain Grass Rug is very attractive, comfortable to walk over, and stays securely in place without having to purchase a separate rug pad/tape/mat. The 3'x5' rug I received was true to size, and featured an included 1\\\" canvas border.\\n\\nThe fibers of the rug are tightly woven, and I didn't find any poorly woven spots. The grass weave was uniform throughout the rug, and there were no loose ends on the grass so our socks didn't get caught on anything. The rug did not have any scent on it and the color of the grass is uniform. There is a good amount of padding on the underside of the rug, and the material underneath grips to our smooth tile so the rug won't slip or slide around. I tested this rug on wood floor and the rug stayed put without sliding or moving around.\\n\\nOverall, this is a very attractive and \\\"earthy\\\" looking rug. It adds a nice decorative accent to our family room and is comfortable to walk and sit on. This rug would be a nice addition to any home.\\n\\nFYI - I was selected for this opportunity to review this item free of charge. The content and opinions expressed here are all my own.\",\n \"Product: Snoopy thinks \\\"50 years of a Charlie brown Christmas\\\" is really something to dance about! commemorate the beloved holiday classic with this keepsake ornament, which plays \\\"Lucy and Linus\\\" when you push the button.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Revamp of the Hallmark 2004 \\\"Love to Dance\\\" Ornament, Snoopy Clicks when He Moves\\n\\nReview: For those of you who collect Peanuts ornaments, this ornament may look vaguely familiar. Well, rest assured, it's not you - this 50th Anniversary ornament is a revamped version of the 2004 \\\"Love to Dance\\\" ornament that originally featured only Schroeder and Snoopy (<a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Love-to-Dance-Peanuts-Snoopy-2004-hallmark-ornament/dp/B000JF7K1I/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Love to Dance Peanuts Snoopy 2004 hallmark ornament</a>). While this ornament has one thing I wanted on the original 2004 ornament - Lucy - I think I prefer the original over the newer model.\\n\\nMy biggest issue with this version of the ornament is that Snoopy is no longer dancing up and down, but instead swings side to side. Visually, this doesn't bother me much (although Snoopy does bounce up and down when he dances normally), however the clicking sound that Snoopy makes does. Each time Snoopy turns, you can hear a distinctive \\\"clickclickclick\\\" as he moves. This is distracting as you can hear the clicking over the music.\\n\\nThe noise aside, this ornament is very cute. I personally would have liked to see an ornament that featured Charlie Brown with Snoopy and the gang around the \\\"upgraded poor tree\\\" for the 50th Anniversary Ornament, but hey - beggars can't be choosers. This is still quite a cute ornament to add to any Peanuts fan's collection.\",\n \"Product: The Breville BOV845BSS Smart Oven Pro with light and slow cook setting is the first oven with Element IQ that controls heating elements to suit whatever you are cooking with 10 preset functions. Slow Cook Function will automatically switch to Keep Warm for up to 2 hours and can be set at 'HI' 2-8 hours, or 'LO' for 4-10 hours. Key features comprise of a timer with auto shut-off and alert, temperature conversion & frozen food functions, a color changing LCD, and a magnetic auto-eject rack. Accessories included with your oven are a 12\\\" x 12\\\" enamel baking pan, a 12\\\" x 12\\\" enamel broiling rack, and a 13\\\" non-stick pizza pan. The 0.8 cubic foot interior allows for a 6-slice toast capacity, and as a guide, can accommodate most 3.5 quart Dutch oven vessels with lid, and 5 quart vessels with foil lid. Voltage - 110-120 volts , Power - 1800 watts.\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: Loved It While It Worked Which was a Little Over a Month\\n\\nReview: I purchased the Breville Smart Oven Pro on June 28, 2018 and when I first used it I absolutely loved it. The toaster oven was replacing a Krups Convection Toaster that I purchased in 2006 - while the Krups still works fine, the buttons became very finicky oven the years and requires harder pushing than I'd like. The Breville worked great the first few weeks. It heated up quickly, the temperature was accurate, and I loved the size of the toaster oven - it could easily accommodate larger items which my Krups simply couldn't. Unfortunately, at the beginning of August, the oven started having some issues.\\n\\nThe first issue began with the light not turning on all the time. This wasn't a big issue as I really don't need to peek into my oven that clearly - but considering I paid about $225 for the oven, it was a letdown. The light wasn't consistent, but it was something I could live with. A few days later, the oven wouldn't heat up at all, despite it looking like it was heating and working just fine. I put in some bread to toast, the oven ran it's course, and when I went to get my bread, it was not toasted at all. I fiddled with the settings a few times then unplugged the unit. After waiting a minute, I replugged the unit and it worked just fine like nothing had happened. Fast forward a week, and the same thing happened again, except this time the oven wouldn't come back to life, even after multiple unplugging and replugging. This was insanely frustrating considering I was about 2 weeks outside of the return window. Thankfully, Amazon was gracious enough to accept a return, even though I was out of the 30 day return window and threw out the box by this point. I'm still waiting to see the refund hit my account.\",\n \"Product: Natural Area Rugs Delhi Jute/Hemp Rug: Made from 100 percent Hemp. Hemp typically found in the northern hemisphere, is a variety of the Cannabis sativa plant species that is grown specifically for the industrial uses of its derived products. It is one of the fastest growing plants and was one of the first plants to be spun into usable fiber 10,000 years ago. These rugs are the perfect addition to any living room, dining room, or bedroom. It also sports an elegant look. It has a charming design that is pleasing to the eye. Like any rug, Carpet/Rug Pads are recommended as they will prolong the longevity of your rug and protect your hardwood floor. Variations are part of the natural beauty of natural fiber. Natural Area Rugs are the #1 choice in affordable luxury flooring. Product Details: Product Type: Area Rug Construction/Technique: Hand-Made Material: 100% Hemp Style: Contemporary Backing: Cotton Backing Rug Pad: Recommended (Sold Separately) Country of Manufacturer: Imported Crafted by: Artisan Rug Makers Number of Item included: 1 Dimensions and Weight: Size: (8 Feet x 10 Feet) Length x Width x Height: (96 L x 120 W x 2 H) Product Weight: 45 Pounds\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Beautifully Colored Rug, Comfortable to Walk On, Requires Rug Pad/Rug Gripper\\n\\nReview: The NaturalAreaRugs 4x6 Jute Rug is a well made and comfortable to walk on rug. Our kitchen/family room area consists mainly of a large amount of tile. While this is very convenient for cleaning reasons, it's also very cold in the winter and woefully boring looking. This jute rug not only added a nice bit of neutral color, but it definitely added a nice bit of comfort to the room for our feet, our dog, and our kids who like to sit on the floor and play. The rug arrived well packaged and is exactly as pictured. The coloring is darker brown color, but consists of multiple variations of brown jute. The material is very tightly weaved, so in terms of texture, it feels soft and fairly smooth. There is also a 1.5\\\" canvas border on the back of the rug, so the edges are unlikely to fray. The rug had no scent on it when it arrived, so you won't have to air it out.\\n\\nThe only gripe I have with this rug is that there is no non slip material on the backing. If you lay this rug down, it will slip and slide over smooth surfaces, and if you place it on carpet it will shift around when people walk on it. You will ultimately need to purchase either rug tape or a a rug pad to keep the rug in place. Another thing to note is that you will need to \\\"backward roll\\\" the rug to avoid getting corners of the rug that point up. I left my rug on the floor for several days to see if the corners would lay flat on their own, but they didn't. After rolling the rug in the opposite direction, the corners laid flat.\\n\\nOverall, this is a really well made and beautiful rug. It's true to size, well woven, and comfortable to walk on. If you're looking for a neutral colored rug, this is definitely worth considering.\\n\\nFYI - I was selected for this opportunity to review this item free of charge. The content and opinions expressed here are all my own.\",\n \"Product: Sony Mdrex51Lp/Wcu Fontopia Stereo Earbuds (White)\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Works well to block out the world\\n\\nReview: I'm really picky when it comes to headphones. I like my headphones to fit in my ear, to sound good, and to block out the person yammering on the phone next to me on the BART train. I finally found those headphones. The Sony Fontopia Headphones have 3 size of \\\"ear plugs\\\" to adjust around the speakerhead. I picked the midsized ones, although the small ones would work well also. Here's the important part--you have to jam these things into your ear. If you're not into pushing things into your ear, you're not going to block out the world. If you do, you will hear your music, and you'll see the chatterbox's lips moving, but not the words coming out of their mouth.\",\n \"Product: While many LCD projectors suffer from a \\\"chicken wire\\\" effect, Panasonic's pursuit of the highest possible image quality has successfully overcome this device limitation through the incorporation of Smooth Screen technology, which uses the double refraction property of crystals to arrange pixels on a screen with no gaps between them. Smooth Screen technology is designed specifically to match the characteristics of the PT-AE3000's optical system, giving you the kind of smooth, vivid, and three-dimensional-like images you see in a movie theater. The PT-AE3000's new full-HD LCD panels have a double-speed drive capability that improves the projection clarity of moving images. These high-precision panels use vertically aligned liquid crystal molecules with inorganic alignment layers. When no voltage is applied, the molecules are aligned perpendicular to the glass substrate, so there is no light leakage and the substrate remains black (called \\\"normally black\\\" operation), providing higher contrast. The fifth generation intelligent iris system works by analyzing histograms to determine the brightness level of each image, then adjusting the lamp power, iris and gamma curve* accordingly to create the ideal image. The adjustments are made virtually frame by frame. This helps the projector achieve a wide dynamic range with swift smoothness for added beauty in both dark and bright scenes. Brightness - 1,600 ANSI lumens Dynamic contrast ratio - 60,000 - 1 Powered zoom (2x) / Powered focus, F 1.9 - 3.2, f 22.4 mm - 44.8 mm Power supply - 100-240 V AC, 50/60 Hz Power consumption - 240 W (Approx. 0.08 W (up to 220v) in standby mode with fan stopped) Panasonic 1 Year Parts and Labor Ltd Warranty\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Great Computer for the Price\\n\\nReview: After my 2009 Sony Vaio Desktop decided that it didn't want to work anymore and retired itself without giving notice, I finally decided to upgrade my computer. I got the HP Stream based on several factors - 1) I didn't need a workhorse computer at home, and really wanted a small unit to do some word processing, emails, watch videos, and possibly photo editing on. 2) I wanted a small footprint computer so it wouldn't take up too much space. 3) I wanted to hook up the computer to a HDTV so I wouldn't have to purchase a new monitor. 4) I didn't want to spend a lot on the computer.\\n\\nThe HP Stream 200 fit the bill perfectly - and it surpassed all expectations I had of it. The unit is very compact - larger than a Roku, but smaller than most sandwich box tupperwares. It comes with a wire keyboard and mouse, although I admit I didn't try it out at all. I did put in a wireless keyboard and mouse combo and found that it worked fantastically with the Stream, and I was able to sync everything up seamlessly. I also plugged the Stream into my TV utilizing an HDMI cable. For whatever reasons, the sound coming from the TV would come in and fade out - I later discovered this was common with HDMI/laptop hookups, so I plugged in some speakers into the stream using the audio input on the back. Not sure if a higher quality HDMI cable would make a difference, but because I plugged it into a speaker, it's not a big issue to me. Picture quality is not effected at all.\\n\\nBecause the Stream comes with only 2GB of RAM, I upgraded it with two 4 GB cards. Upgrading this computer is amazingly simply. There are three screws on the bottom to remove, and then you're in. The top of the unit lifts off very easily, and should you want to upgrade the RAM or put in a larger SSD, all the internal workings are easily accessed using a Phillips screwdriver. There are multiple videos on how to upgrade this computer available online - even a notice computer user should be able to upgrade the HP Stream without help.\\n\\nThe computer itself runs very smoothly and silently. I've been able to run multiple programs at once without crashing, the initial setup was simple and user friendly enough for my kids to set up, and the start up/shut down is fast. The one issue that I have with the Stream is that it seems to have difficultly recognizing my external hard drive in some of the USB ports. Initially I plugged in my HD into the front USB port, and the Stream couldn't recognize it. I then plugged the HD into the upper back port and it recognized it. When plugged in the lower back port, it sometimes recognizes it, sometimes not. This is a little frustrating because at times I would have to play \\\"musical USB ports\\\" to get items connected. Similarly I had to do that with my iPhone when setting up iTunes. I'm not sure if I got a bum unit, or if it's something with my HD or other peripherals, but it can get annoying. I've since left the HD plugged into the upper back port and the keyboard/mouse plugged in the front, and it's had no issues.\\n\\nAnother cool thing to mention about the Stream has two desktop views you can alternate by moving your mouse into the upper left corner of the screen. You can either view your desktop as a normal windows based desktop, or you can view it in the Microsoft Tablet Layout (with the multiple colored boxes on a black background). Along with the Cloud storage, this is a really user friendly computer that will appeal to both new and veteran window based computer users alike.\",\n \"Product: Compact bluetooth keyboard for iPad 1 and 2 and iPhone.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Ok for Tiny Hands, Not for Man Hands\\n\\nReview: The iHome Bluetooth Keyboard is not a bad keyboard...it's just small. Really small. I am a petite Asian woman with small hands, and the iHome Keyboard is okay for me - the keys are spaced a little closer than I'd like, but not so much that I had problems typing with it. My husband, on the other hand, has larger hands and found it very difficult to type without accidentally pushing another key. He initially didn't think he would have problems, as he regularly uses an Apple keyboard and a slightly smaller Logitech Bluetooth keyboard regularly, however the iHome is even smaller than both of the keyboards (see photos posted of the size difference between the keyboards above).\\n\\nAnother problem I found with the iHome is that the batteries are rechargeable only. My iPad and iPhone don't have USB ports, so it's a pain when I need to charge my iPad/iPhone and discover that my keyboard needs charging too. The carrying case isn't all too great - it's a cheap faux velvet bag that doesn't offer much protection to the keyboard when traveling. If I had to choose between the iHome and something else, I would go with something like the <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Logitech-Tablet-Keyboard-for-iPad-Keyboard-and-Stand-Combo-920-003241/dp/B0054L8MR8/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Logitech Tablet Keyboard for iPad (Keyboard-and-Stand Combo) (920-003241)</a>. Not only is the keyboard just slightly smaller than the Apple keyboard, but it also has an on/off switch, runs on AA batteries (and has a great battery life), and comes with a solid carrying case that doubles as a stand.\\n\\nAll in all, the iHome isn't bad...it serves its purpose of being a small lightweight travel keyboard and it holds a charge well enough. However, there are a lot of better options out there - I would shop around. Not recommended.\",\n \"Product: The Curve 50 amplified indoor HDTV antenna propels antenna design to new heights with a clean and graceful arched structure reminiscent of popular smartphone docking stations. Catering to consumers who want access to free over-the-air OTA HDTV in their homes but desire a unique, designer feel, the modern look of the Curve 50 is on display whether its placed on a shelf, countertop or table. Made to be a simple plug-in-and-go experience, the Curve 50 amplified high definition TV antenna provides consumers with free access to over-the-air TV broadcast channels in full 1080 HDTV. The Curve 50 is intended for users in more remote locationsup to 50 miles from a tower.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: East Bay California - Antenna Works Great\\n\\nReview: Attention residents of East Bay, California: your basic cable television needs can be met with the Mohu Leaf Ultimate HDTV Antenna! I'm in a non mountainous, not heavy tree laden, and near a freeway house. My Leaf is currently hanging on my window using poster puddy (<a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Removable-Reusable-Non-Toxic-Poster-Putty-White/dp/B000BQMFEC/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Removable Reusable Non-Toxic Poster Putty (White)</a>). I am happy to report that I got 89 channels to my television, including FOX, ABC, NBC, and CBS! The HD quality is amazingly clear, I have a good variety of channels, including a a handful of Chinese broadcasting channels for the cousins to watch when they come over to visit. Set up was very easy - just hang, plug in to the tv, plug into an outlet, then let your tv scan for channels. In about 5 minutes, you'll be able to watch! If you haven't owned a Leaf before, it's just great - it's a lot cheaper to get this than to keep your subscription cable.\\n\\nHowever, is this worth the extra $40 over the standard Mohu Leaf? Not really.\\n\\nI bought our Mohu Leaf about a year ago, and rescanned before taking it down to test out the Mohu Leaf Ultimate. With the original Leaf, I was about to get 81 channels easily. With the leaf Ultimate, I got 89 channels. The extra channels received were actually duplicate channels...I have an extra FOX (channel 2) channel which airs the same as HD and SD version of FOX, a few extra infomercial channels, and maybe an extra radio station channel. That was pretty much 8 more channels to surf over, as far as I'm concerned.\\n\\nThe picture quality in HD is only a hair different than the picture quality on the Ultimate Leaf - definitely not worth paying the extra amount for. The only channels that seemed to suffer after installing the Leaf Ultimate were the duplicate channels. I can say that ABC had the most picture quality improvement. If you're a big fan of anything on ABC, this alone may be worth the extra cost, however, again, the quality difference was only a little bit better. It was maybe the difference between SD and HD viewing...but just barely.\\n\\nThe one thing that I don't like about the Leaf Ultimate in comparison to the Leaf is that I have another item to plug in. You have to plug this unit into a wall outlet for it to get the \\\"extra boost signal\\\". With an almost full power strip for the DVD player, television, VCR, ROKU, cell phone charger, and so forth, I really didn't want to have an extra thing plugged in. For the extra 8 channels and slightly clearer picture, you'll have to make that call if it's worth it.\\n\\nThat said, by itself, the Mohu Leaf Ultimate is fabulous! It's way cheaper to get unplugged from the cable subscription, the picture quality is great, and you'll have a lot of great tv to watch. In comparison to the original Leaf, the difference are minimal...if you're on a budget, you can't go wrong with the original Leaf. All in all, this is a great antenna, even at a slightly higher price. Recommended.\",\n \"Product: The NETGEAR AC1750 Wi-Fi DOCSIS 3.0 Cable Modem Router provides the fastest cable speed available with an AC1750 Wi-Fi router and integrated DOCSIS 3.0 cable modem, with up to 680 Mbps. Cable Labs certified to work with all major cable Internet providers such as Cablevision, Cox, Time Warner Cable, XFINITY and more.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Easy to Set Up, Great Speed, Great Range\\n\\nReview: For the past few months, I've struggling with slow internet that would occasionally drop or stall out. For whatever reasons, I was convinced that it was 1) my computer or my husband's computer's just being old or slowing down 2) Comcast throttling our internet 3) That we had too many devices on our home network. It never crossed my mind that it could possibly be our modem (purchased in January 2017) or our router (purchased many years before that modem), but after sitting at home restarting the router again, it clicked...maybe- just maybe - my router could be the root of the problem. The NetGear Nighthawk solved all of our slow internet blues.\\n\\nThe NetGear Nighthawk Modem/Router combo was very easy to set up and definitely helped with our slow internet speeds. It took less than 30 minutes from unboxing to contacting Comcast to update my info and get me back on the internet. The router can easily handle the multiple devices on our network and we've had no issues with stalling out and dropped internet since. The unit can have multiple devices streaming videos without any issues, and it can handle all the lights and switches we have attached with our Echo Dots. If there was a single complaint, it would be that the unit is exceptionally bright - each of those four antennas have a bright blue light on the end of them, and the box also has multiple blue lights shining like beacons into the night. Thankfully, our unit is not in a bedroom, so unless the dog complains, the lights are not an issue for anyone in our house. Overall, this is a great option if you're looking for a fast streaming modem/router unit that has a small footprint, good speed, and great wireless range.\",\n \"Product: If music is your motivation, wait until you hear the Bose Sound Link Color Bluetooth speaker. It plays your favorite tunes from your favorite Bluetooth deviceout loud in clear, full audiojust about anywhere you want to go. It's small, durable and simple to use. And it comes in a spectrum of colors to match almost any style. The Sound Link Color speaker suits your active, mobile lifestyle. The body is constructed of durable materials, and its rounded, compact shape fits easily into your bag or backpack. The Sound Link Color speaker has a range of about 30 feet, so you can enjoy your music out loud, without wires. It pairs with your smartphone, tablet or other Bluetooth device. Voice prompts talk you through Bluetooth pairing, making it simple. And the speaker remembers the eight most recent devices you've used, so reconnecting is even easier. The speaker can connect to two Bluetooth devices at the same time, letting you switch between them quicklywhen the first device stops playing, the second can start. The Sound Link Color speaker lets you play your music wherever you are, whatever you're doing. It's compact and light enough (1.25 pounds) to take along even when you're traveling light. The speaker is designed for ease of use. It features power, volume and source buttons. You control other functions from your Bluetooth device. Don't let the Sound Link Color speaker's small size fool you. It may be compact, but it delivers a satisfying listening experience. Proprietary technologies and a unique design produce clear, well-balanced, full-range sound. More features: Auxiliary input enables you to connect to other audio sources, like a tablet or MP3 player, Charges with most USB power sources or the included wall charger and Micro USB port allows for charging and software updates. What's in the box: Sound Link Color Bluetooth speaker, Wall charger and Cable.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Rich Sound, Easy Set Up, Great for a Tiny Unit\\n\\nReview: After having returned an alarm clock bluetooth speaker that I got my mom for Christmas, I decided that less is more and all she really wanted was to hear her music well (she's a bit hard of hearing). The Bose SoundLink Bluetooth Speaker was the perfect choice for her. Once set up, it was easy enough for my mom to operate - just turn on her iPad then turn on the Bose and voila! The music she wanted to listen to comes out of the speaker.\\n\\nInitial set up was very simple and took less than five minutes for me. The battery life on the Bose is very good - my mom listens to her music about 2 hours a day, and the overall unit can hold a little over 8 hours of charge. The sound is very rich and sounds fantastic for such a small unit. The sound volume is definitely loud enough for what she needs - it can fill a full room with great music. I'm so happy that my mom can finally listen to her music without having to be tethered to her iPad with headphones. This is a great unit that I would definitely purchase again.\",\n \"Product: Victrola Nostalgic Classic Wood 6-in-1 Bluetooth Turntable Entertainment Center, Mahogany\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Excellent Music Player, Everything Worked Great Out of Box\\n\\nReview: After staring at a large stack of records purchased back in 70's, my mom started lamenting on how her old record player (made in the 80's) hasn't worked in years and how she can't listen to her favorites like Bing Crosby, My Fair Lady, and Nat King Cole in all their vinyl glory. After unsuccessfully trying to get her to use Amazon Prime Music and the Bose I got her last Christmas, I did some research and got the Victrola 6-in-1 from our Bullseye Store for Christmas 2016. Mom was quite pleased with the gift. The Victrola works very effectively at playing vinyls, CDs, radio, bluetooth, and even cassette tapes from mom's Hong Kong Chinese Opera days (much to everyone's dismay). There is also an input for auxiliary items, hence there is truly six various in this one unit.\\n\\n1. The Vinyl/Record Player - Easily the most used player for my mom, ours didn't require any special hacking to get the unit to work properly. There is a pin for the 33 1/2 and 78 RPM records, and a small circular tab for the 45 RPM records. The pin and circular tabs can be easily removed and replaced, and the records fit in properly without forcing. There is an opening in the back of the unit to allow for larger records to fit properly, so be aware in case you have nosey little kids who like to touch moving things. The needle and arm did not require any pennies or nickels for our to play - I was able to place the needle on the record and Perry Como sang with the same richness that mom heard decades ago. Player's arm is not automatic, so you will need to place the needle on carefully, but there is a small lever on the unit that allows you to lift and lower the needle without scratching the record. While the arm is in the upper postion, you can also move the needle to the place on the record you want to play.\\n\\n2. Radio - The radio works well in our area and mom is able to get most all of the local stations. There is no option for AM playing, which is a slight bummer, but wasn't a deal breaker for us. There is a long wire in the back of the player that allows stations to come in, so you may need to adjust it to get stations in. We just left it bundled up in the back with good results, even despite the fact that the player is not near a window.\\n\\n3. CD Player - Initially I thought out CD player was broken because the tray would not come out, but I found out later that it was because I did not set the player to CD first. The CD player tray comes out of the front of the unit and is controlled using the buttons of the front of the player. The track number is displayed on the front as well, using the small LED screen that's located under the radio dial.\\n\\n4. Cassette Player - The cassette player is located on the right side of the unit, and it works very well. You simply insert the tape into the player and it will start playing immediately. To fast forward, you hold down the eject button half way. This unit does not rewind the tape, so if you fast forward too much, you'll have to flip the tape over, fast forward, then flip the tape back to the side you're listening to.\\n\\n5. Bluetooth - The bluetooth connectivity of this unit was good and it was easily set up on my mom's iPad within a minute.\\n\\n6. Auxiliary - There is a single Aux opening for a 3.5mm cable on the front of the unit. I haven't had to use this, so can't really comment on it.\\n\\nThe overall sound from the unit is good, and the unit can play at a pretty good loudness. There is the capability to add additional speakers to this unit as well, as there is two output openings on the back for R/L speakers. Overall, this is a solid music playing system that went over well for my mom. The unit is very attractive, plays various mediums properly, and is easy enough for an older lady to use.\",\n \"Product: Illustrated by W. J. Aylward.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Good Variety of Colors All Packed In a Convenient Canvas Roll - Could Use More Skin Tone Options in the Roll\\n\\nReview: The JNW Colored Pencil Set is a very good set to get for any artist. The colored pencil set comes completely loaded in its own canvas roll holder and comes with a metal pencil extender (for when you're down to the stub), a white eraser, and a small sharpener. The pencils color and blend very well, are clearly labeled with color names so you can easily tell them apart, and make clear clean marks on the paper. The colors don't erase particularly well, however I have yet to find a colored pencil that erases very cleanly. While there is a good variety of colors, there are some colors I would've liked to see including a blush skin tone and more varieties of pure reds/oranges instead of so many varieties of pink.\\n\\nThe included sharpener works well, but I tend to ignore it as I prefer my closed bottle sharpener, and the included eraser works as well as it can also. The eraser erases quite well without smudging. The metal pencil extender is the best thing in the kit asides from the pencils themselves - the holder can accommodate any standard sized 2 pencil. This is great because I was able to give it to Kid 1 to use with his favorite stubby pencils, and it works great at holding the pencil in place so he can get every last bit of lead used...I plan to get it back from him to use with my colored pencil set eventually. Everything fits perfectly in the included canvas roll, and it's great that I can just toss this in my backpack and go.\\n\\nOverall, I'm quite happy with the set. The only major gripe is that I would've liked to see more skin tone options as well as more red/orange varieties as opposed to pinks. That aside, the pencils work very well, the accessories make sense, and everything rolls up and goes quickly. This is definitely worth considering.\\n\\nFYI - I was selected for this opportunity to review this item free of charge. The content and opinions expressed here are all my own.\",\n \"Product: Once upon a time children were proud to tell time on their own. This just-for-kids watch will help them on their way, so they can live happily ever afterand on time.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: The One Wearable Thing I Borrow From My Preschooler\\n\\nReview: Like another reviewer, I'm a woman with a fairly small wrist (a little over 6\\\" wrist), and I can easily wear this watch when my 33 year old son doesn't feel like wearing it. The watch is durable and the strap is strong. We brought this watch with us when camping and it worked great! Also, because it's not too expensive, we weren't overly concerned if it would get scratched or dirty (it didn't get scratched, but it cleaned up well when it got dirty!) The only concern for us is the velcro strap - because it is velcro, it probably won't last as long as a good leather strap - but as long as Timex manufactures replacement straps, it shouldn't be too much of a concern.\\n\\nOne really great feature about this watch in comparison to other kid's watches is that all the number are right side up - on some kid's watches the 6 looks like a 9, the 7 like and L, and the like. With all the numbers right side up, it makes learning time a little easier. Highly recommended!\",\n \"Product: A clean, feminine basic that performs in the elements, this active, stretch-with-you skirt features a water and stain repellent construction with built-in UPF 50 to protect you from the damaging effects of the sun. Adjustable drawstring ties at each side hemline let you dial in your look.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Comfortable, Great to Wear Every Day, Washes Well - Fits True to Size\\n\\nReview: The Columbia Women's Anytime Casual Skort is as comfortable as wearing shorts, but in skirt form. As a mom, I often have to bend down, squat, and otherwise get down low to help my kids out with whatever they're doing. In addition, my kids keep me active - almost too active - with bike riding, hiking, and other outdoorsy type activities.\\n\\nThe Columbia Skirt is the solution to all my active, but want to look cute while sweating up a storm, needs. The skort is comfortable enough to wear out while exercising or running errands, but stylish enough to wear as an every day piece. The fabric is slightly stretchy and has a light sheen to it, similar to exercise clothing, and can be ruched up on the sides. As a shorter person, I found the skort length to be very flattering as it falls a little above knee length for me. There are also pockets on this skirt which are GREAT since I can pocket those little knicknacks I get handed throughout the day and not lose them. The skort also washes very well, and does not fade, pill, or wrinkle easily. Overall, comfortable skort, washes well, and looks great. I would definitely buy this skort again.\",\n \"Product: Sugar has found sweet success among the fashionably young. Whether she is sweet, sassy or sporty, Sugar offers a variety of unique and stylish accessories that are accessible to every tween and teen. Season after season, Sugar Shoes continues to be a front-runner among teen brands with its fresh, evolving designs. Floatie sandals have become a trademark of the brand since its launch in 1998 and remain a favorite today. Sugar Shoes collection features uber-feminine contemporary footwear for those who love a little whimsy.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Very cute shoe (and very comfortable!)\\n\\nReview: Being a \\\"sneakers\\\" type of girl, comfort is a big thing for me when choosing shoes. I need my shoe to be comfortable, relatively stable, and good enough for me to run after my toddler if I need to. Fashionable is always a big plus. Sugar's Black Tie Pie Shangri La Wedge fits the bill in all accounts. While it looks uncomfortably high, I found that these shoes wear like flats with the 1 inch height gain. I was able to run around all evening (wearing for the first time without breaking in!) and I not only didn't get any blisters of any sort, but it was comfortable and I didn't have any of those \\\"first time wearing\\\" foot pains! My only complaint: I would love to rip that bow off - fit looks too leathery for a cloth flat like this - but apparently other people think it's cute...maybe it's just me.\\n\\nHighly recommended!\",\n \"Product: One piece watermelon connector swimsuit with cover up\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Super Cute Swimsuit and Coverup\\n\\nReview: My kids swim a lot thanks to year round swim lessons, so we go through swimsuits fairly quickly. Baby Buns Splash Swimwear was priced right for us (we got it on sale via Amazon), durable, and very cute. The inside of the swimsuit is lined and fits true to size. The coverup is a bit thin, but works well to keep our daughter warm and covered when walking around while in her suit. The colors are bright and cheerful, the suit and coverup wash well, and the suit design is unique with the little side openings. The only thing I don't care for is that the watermelon on the front is sewn on and a bit stiff - but it didn't seem to affect our daughter much when she was swimming. If you have a kid who gets upset at stiff tags and the like, this may bother her. Overall, this is a nice swimsuit to get for any little swimmer.\",\n \"Product: Stanley's tough and durable 17 oz classic Food Jar keeps hot foods hot and cold foods cold for 12 hours so you can enjoy an outoor meal any time! Double wall stainless steel construction and durable rust proof finish stands up to any work or play environment. The stainless steel lid can also be used as a bowl and its wide mouth opening makes it easy to clean.Lifetime warranty.Size: 7.25\\\" x 3.75\\\".Weight: 1 lb. 4 oz..\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Keeps Food Hot, Jar Doesn't Leak - Jar Holds a Little Over Two Cups of Food Inside\\n\\nReview: The weather is finally starting to cool in California and the kids have been demanding hot lunches - not the lukewarm school hot lunches, but real bone fide good home cookin' hot lunches. The daughter has the <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Thermos-Funtainer-10-Ounce-Food-Jar-Barbie/dp/B00ND6PGS4/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Thermos Funtainer 10 Ounce Food Jar, Barbie</a> which holds 10 ounces, but the boy complained that the funtainers were simply too small. After some research, I settled on getting him the 17 ounce Stanley Classic Food Jar. This container is a good size for a kid with an exceptional appetite. I'm able to fit a little over 2 cups of food in that container for him. This equates to a scoop of rice with plenty of curry and veg, a hearty helping of chili, a hefty pile of fried rice, a good chunk of lasagna - the possibilities are endless! Food stays good and hot in the Stanley Food Jar, and by the time lunch rolls around, his lunch is generally hotter than anything he could get in the school lunch line. If you want to have a lunch kept extra toasty, simply pour hot water in the jar and allow to sit for a while to \\\"prep the jar\\\", then pour out the water, wipe dry, then place the hot food items inside. Food stays hotter longer when you prep the jar prior to placing food items in.\\n\\nThe food jar comes with a metal lid that doubles as a bowl, and an interior cap that screws on and creates a good seal so even items like soup won't leak out. This is very helpful as I'm able to place more liquidy items like chicken curry on the bottom of the container and place the rice on top. My son can scoop out the rice into his lid bowl, then add curry as needed. The jar doesn't leak, even despite him tossing it around, and the entire unit is easy to clean. I have small hands that can easily fit in the jar to clean it out, although larger hands will need a sponge on a stick to get inside the jar to get it well washed.\\n\\nOverall, this is a great lunch food jar to consider if you're looking to bring hot food to work. The jar retains heat well, is very durable, and doesn't leak. I'll be likely buying another in the future, once the daughter starts eating more!\",\n \"Product: Proven protection, proven style. The Pro-Tec Classic Certified helmet is a team favorite across every sport. It features our most durable high-impact ABS shell, EPS liner with compression molded pads, 11 open vents, and a wide array of styles to find your perfect fit. All Pro-Tec certified helmets are tested to meet ASTM 1492/1447 for multiple impacts, CE EN1078, CPSC 1203 and AS/NZS 2063:2008. Available in sizes XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Love the Look, Fits Nice and Snug\\n\\nReview: Within the past month, I've picked up bicycling. While I don't go terribly fast, my husband insisted that I get a helmet \\\"just in case\\\" and to be a good role model to our two kids. I ended up buying a Protec helmet and am very happy with it. I have a fairly big head, and I found that the L fit true to size. It's a little snug, but that's how I like it. It stays firmly on my head while bicycling, it's comfortable, and it should protect my head should I fall off my bike (I won't test that, thanks). The helmet looks just like the one in the picture also - super glossy and awesome! Highly recommended.\",\n \"Product: Proven protection, proven style. The Pro-Tec Classic Certified helmet is a team favorite across every sport. It features our most durable high-impact ABS shell, EPS liner with compression molded pads, 11 open vents, and a wide array of styles to find your perfect fit. All Pro-Tec certified helmets are tested to meet ASTM 1492/1447 for multiple impacts, CE EN1078, CPSC 1203 and AS/NZS 2063:2008. Available in sizes XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Love the Look, Fits Nice and Snug\\n\\nReview: Within the past month, I've picked up bicycling. While I don't go terribly fast, my husband insisted that I get a helmet \\\"just in case\\\" and to be a good role model to our two kids. I ended up buying a Protec helmet and am very happy with it. I have a fairly big head, and I found that the L fit true to size. It's a little snug, but that's how I like it. It stays firmly on my head while bicycling, it's comfortable, and it should protect my head should I fall off my bike (I won't test that, thanks). The helmet looks just like the one in the picture also - super glossy and awesome! Highly recommended.\",\n \"Product: 6 Pack; See key product features for colors included.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Good Alternative for Dot Markers - Essentially the Same Thing, but Better Value\\n\\nReview: Ever since they got the opportunity to play with dot markers at school, my kids have been asking me to buy them to use at home. For those who are not familiar, dot markers are essentially Bingo Daubers, but at a premium price. The Dab-O-Ink daubers go on brightly, dry relatively quickly (but not always quick enough for little sides of hands), don't leak or drip, and are easy to wash off. The colors layer very nicely, and if your kid decides they want to draw with these (such as lines), the foam tip is resilient and not prone to rip. We've owned our set since last Christmas, and even with a lot of use, they are still very full of the ink (you can hear it splashing inside the pen). These definitely last a LONG time.\\n\\nOverall, these are a great set of daubers. These would be great to use for their intended Bingo purposes, but also work fantastically for art and education purposes as well. We'll be definitely buying these again.\",\n \"Product: The Allen XLT-X2 Aluminum 2-Child Jogger and Bike Trailer offers the perfect 2 in 1 product for the active parent. The item quickly sets up as either a fully functional fixed wheel jogger or bike trailer right out of the box. 20\\\" rear wheels and 16\\\" front wheel (for jogger mode) deliver low rolling resistance and large front and side windows let your passenger enjoy the ride. An extra large interior compartment delivers lots of room for your little riders. The XLT-X2 jogger/trailer includes a recessed foot area your children's feet and also comes with a removable three season bug and rain shield. Zippered panels on the Bug and Rain shield make for easy opening and closing. When not in use, the XLT-X2's folding design and quick release wheels offer easy storage and transportation. Allen Sports has manufactured top quality products for the outdoor industry since 1965. Still family owned, all of our items are backed by our lifetime warranty (please visit www.allensportsusa.com for complete details).\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Awesome Bike Trailer/Double Jogging Stroller\\n\\nReview: I admit it, my kids are a little older and can ride their own bikes now. But thankfully, they're not so old that they ride in a bike trailer - sometimes I want to get out and go fast and for a long time, and their little legs just can't keep up with the husband and me. Allen Sports Premier 2 Child Bike Trailer is the perfect solution for our family. It allows us to get out and go long distances on the bike as a family and the kids can run and play at the park then sleep all the way home. As an added bonus, the husband and I can go grocery shopping when the kids are at school and load this thing with a LOT of groceries without having to carry any on our backs in backpacks. The trailer can support up to 100 lbs of weight - our 5 year old daughter and 6 year old son can easily ride in this and not come close to the weight limit, although they both had to sit close to each other. The trailer is bright and very visible, and there is even a little orange flag to help draw more attention to the trailer. It's also features 5 point harnesses for safety. for I'll have a quick summer of the trailer near the top of my review, and more indepth comments further into the review.\\n\\nThe trailer is large and spacious for the kids, and even has a large space in the back to store additional items. We are able to fit a large backpack and a smaller cooler in the back with plenty of room to spare. I kid you not - the space in the back is about the size of a small carry on suitcase. You know those carry on bag measurement things at the airport? If your bag can fit in there without squishing and squeezing, it will fit in the carrying compartment. Your kids, in the meantime, will have plenty of foot room to spare, but no inflight movie (unless you bring along an iPad or something, if that's your thing).\\n\\nThe ride for the kids (and parents) is incredibly smooth. With 20\\\" wheels, the trailer rolls very well, and the kids mentioned the ride was comfortable. Our daughter even thought it was smooth enough to take a nap on one of our excursions. While it does weigh 36 lbs, it didn't feel very heavy. In fact, for a double stroller, it's very light. I personally wouldn't elect to fold this down and bring it with me to go shopping or anything, it is a good weight for a stroller of this size and capacity.\\n\\nAs great as this trailer/stroller is, like anything, it's not without its flaws. Many of the concerns however, are completely subjective. At 5'0 tall, I don't come close to the \\\"average user\\\", so many of my complaints are based on the stroller portion of the review.\\n\\nSET UP\\nSet up for the bike trailer was not terribly difficult, although I can see some people having difficulty figuring out the directions. The images are small, black and white, and very close up. While I was able to set up the trailer without problem, I did have to flip back and forth in the booklet to refer to other photos to make sure what I was doing was correct. The first step of unfolding and figuring out where the frame latches was really the hardest part. After that initial step, the set up was a breeze - simply snap wheels here, pin this there...the initial set up for us took about 10 minutes, including checking the entire trailer to make sure we got it right. Hooking up the trailer to the bike too another 10 minutes at most. We had no problems attaching the bike trailer to our bikes.\\n\\nYou will not require any tools for set up and breakdown of the trailer - everything snaps into place and is securely locked with those metal push buttons and long pins that go through the trailer frames. You will need tools if you are looking to install the trailer to a bike (a wrench to loosen the left side rear axle), and a hex wrench if you're looking to install the parking brakes on the trailer (included).\\n\\nTHE WHEELS\\nWith such a large wheel, this trailer drags behind a bike very smoothly. The wheels are 20\\\" diameter wheels and can be treated like small bike wheels. While we haven't run into this issue, all tires can be inflated like normal bike tires, and if it happens to blow out, I'm presuming you can replace the inner tube inside like most bike tires.\\n\\nIf you decide to use the trailer as a jogging stroller, you can attach a third wheel to the front. This wheel WILL NOT rotate, so you'll have to either lift and turn the stroller, or take really wide turns. I personally cannot run with this stroller comfortably - not because of the wheels, but primarily because of the size.\\n\\nOne thing to note is that the wheel release button are great. The wheels on the trailer can be released by pushing a huge button on the \\\"hub cap\\\" area of the wheel.\\n\\nTHE SIZE\\nThis trailer is HUGE. It's like the grand chariot of trailers. I cannot image running with this thing as a jogging stroller because it's just that huge. It's 31\\\" wide from wheel hubcap to wheel hubcap, and should fit through most doors (our front door is 36\\\"). The compartment for the kids is large and comfortable. The seat back is 22\\\" high from top of the fabric to the seat. The seat is 10\\\"x20\\\" and can seat either one or two kids. The inner seat cabin also has a rubberize floor mat for easy clean up around the foot area. The back does not recline, so if your kids want to nap, they'll have to be in an upright position. The whole front cabin area can be covered with a zip bug/rain screen. The rain screen is attached to the bug screen and can be zipped up when not in use. The bug/rain screen can be rolled up and stored using two elastic loops at the top of the trailer when not in use.\\n\\nAs stated before, there is also a storage compartment in this trailer that can hold a considerable amount if you're planning on taking the kids out and going on a picnic or something. This compartment is roughly about 10\\\"x20\\\"x21\\\" and sit directly behind the kids. This compartment is not intended for items weighing more than 10lbs.\\n\\nWith all of this space, you can imagine this trailer/stroller is pretty big. I personally would pass if planning on using this as a jogging stroller because it's so big. As a trailer, it's both really nice to have all the space, but also slightly cumbersome. That said, despite it's size, it does move very smoothly when hitched up to a bike, and didn't feel like it added all too much weight despite the size. I didn't feel like it was causing much drag, either.\\n\\nTHE HANDLEBAR\\nAlong with the size, if you're a short person, the handlebar in the back is nonadjustable. It sits at about 39\\\" from top of the handlebar to the ground. At 60\\\" tall, I find that the handlebar is too high and I have to hold the bar with my arms resting at an uncomfortable position. If you're taller, you will probably not have an issue with that.\\n\\nPARENT TRAY/CUPHOLDERS (or lack thereof)\\nIf you were planning on using this trailer as a jogging stroller, or was hoping there would be cup holders on this unit anywhere, let me be first to tell you - there are none. There are two small pockets in the kid compartment, one small pocket on the flap that opens to the storage compartment, and that's it. The kid pockets are perfect for kids to store little snacks or books. If you're planning on going out with this with a latte in my hand, keep in mind you won't have anywhere to set it. If you're using this as a bike trailer, you shouldn't be biking with a latte anyways.\\n\\nBRAKING\\n\\nThere are no jogging brakes on this unit, but there are parking brakes included. The parking brake are set with a small lever. If used as a jogging stroller, this may be a problem for some, however since we used this primarily as a trailer, the brakes were not necessary.\\n\\nOverall, this is a fantastic trailer to add to your bike if you're planning on taking the little ones out on the road. It feels lightweight, is comfortable for the kids to ride, and is durable. We're definitely going to be taking more family bike rides with this trailer attached! Highly recommended.\",\n \"Product: The Tailgaterz Cool-N-Carry is more than just a cooler; it is the perfect organizer for tailgating, car, camping, etc. It is constructed of 300D embossed polyester and is extremely durable. The vinyl lined center cooler section has polyethylene foam insulation and a zipper closable top. The two side compartments expand to use for storage or can be left folded when not needed. There are mesh pockets on the ends of the side compartments for additional see through organization. Convenient side carry handles and a shoulder strap for easy transport. Cooler size: 12wide x 10deep x 12high. Side compartments size: (each) 10wide x 10deep x 10high. Total deployed size: 32 x 12 x 10.5. Folded size: 3 x 11 x 12. Weight: 3 lbs. 6 oz. Import.Weight: 3 lbs. 6 oz..Import.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Great for Holding Groceries and Keeping Cold Items Cold\\n\\nReview: With California's \\\"no bag law\\\" in full effect, it's sometimes difficult to maintain a neat trunk - particularly when I forget the bags to bring into the store! The Tailgaterz Cool and Carry Organizer is a great item to have in your car. It hold a good amount of groceries, keeps the cold stuff cold in the middle cooler, and keeps items from rolling around my trunk when I drive home. I also appreciate the two handles on the sides - it makes it easy to carry everything in the house. The unit packs down very flat for when you're not using it, so it won't take up too much space. The material seems durable, although I haven't experienced having anything leak or spill in there. I will update the review should I find any faults with it in the future. Until then, this serves its purpose well!\",\n \"Product: From Walt Disney Animation Studios comes a comedy-adventure set in the modern mammal metropolis of Zootopia. Determined to prove herself, Officer Judy Hopps, the first bunny on Zootopia s police force, jumps at the chance to crack her first case even if it means partnering with scam-artist fox Nick Wilde to solve the mystery. Bring home this hilarious adventure full of action, heart and tons of bonus extras that take you deeper into the world of Zootopia. It s big fun for all shapes and species!\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Fun Movie for the Entire Family - Loved the Many Easter Eggs Peppered In\\n\\nReview: Zootopia is a fast paced and heart touching story placed in the center of a society dominated by cute furry animals. I went into the movie with the expectation that I would be taking a nap - after watching a Secret Life of Pets with my kids, I really didn't have any expectations of this movie at all. Disney did a great job at making a movie of Pixar proportions. The visuals were stunning, the characters were relatable and likeable, and the story was clever and well paced. The jokes were funny and not limited to slapstick, and for those with an observant eye, there were plenty of Easter Eggs to be seen and to be spotted later. The adults particularly like the Breaking Bad Woolter and Jesse references, as well as the bootleg DVDs sold by Weaselton. For the kids, we spent time after watching the DVD to look up the harder to spot references such as the elephants dressed up like Elsa and Anna, the many hidden Mickeys, and so forth. Overall, this was a fun movie for the kids and adults alike. For people with really young kids, be warned, there are a few intense scenes.\",\n \"Product: The hassle free Naztech universal car dash-mount is the most convenient way to easily fit your electronics within reach. Adaptable with most applications, this extremely portable product uses high tech anti-skid materials to create a solid mounting base that works with any surfaces, while keeping your device from sliding. Thanks to the clever swivel-head, users can change between portrait and landscape position, adjusting viewing angles in seconds with only one hand. As an added feature, the Suction Mount can also be attached to the windshield. The Naztech Dash-mount can be installed and removed in seconds, making it convenient to move from one car to another, while eliminating any threat of theft. This is a perfect accessory for anyone using a Bluetooth mobile phone, radar detectors, MP3s or GPS Navigation/Tracking application that want to keep their hands on the wheel and eyes on the Road.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: We Didn't Get a Bum Unit - and LOVE It\\n\\nReview: The majority of the complains about the Naztech seem to be quality control related - thankfully we did not receive such a unit. The Naztech is fabulous - we can put in any of our smartphones (not just the iPhone) and it will hold in in place. My husband just recently discovered Waze (free GPS app on iPhone...very awesome, fast, and maps are user updated so very up to date) and started using the Naztech. Because he travels a lot by car, he uses this a lot and has no problems with it. The ratcheting locking system may wear out with time, but seems very study for now, so no complaints. The only complain I have with the unit is that the bottom is a gel unit - from experience, this tends to lose it's grip with time, but we're not going to move it around much (if at all) and see if that keeps it in good condition.\\n\\nAll in all, this is a great mounting unit - highly recommended!\",\n \"Product: Refresh Your Car Vent Sticks provide an affordable and easy-to-use approach to adding incomparable scents to your car. Available in Single and Dual scent varieties, simply insert them in your vent and enjoy the fragrance. The classic combination of Cucumber Melon and Fresh Linen brings two fragrance worlds together in the most beautiful way. One part smooth and crisp melon with the other part clean and refreshing, Cucumber Melon Fresh Linen continues to refresh vehicles and brighten the gloomiest of days.\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: Not So Fresh Linen, Vents Non Adjustable When These Are In Place\\n\\nReview: While I love my two Petri Dish Kids and my Little Dozy Dog, whenever they get into my car, it smells like sweaty old feet. I can attribute this to many hours on the playground, hikes in the hills, and other fun activities. Because my usual car scent (in Fresh Linen) was not available at my local Bullseye Store, I ended up picking up a package of these little stick vents thinking I might as well give them a try. How sad. How very very sad my car smells. The Refresh Your Car Vent Sticks smell nice for about an hour. We were going through a hot spell in California, and when I later returned to my car, the scent was strong, but nothing like Fresh Linen. It smells woefully chemical like, and the scent actually changes over time. When the hubbie got into the car sometime later in the week, he asked me if I forgot something in the trunk because it didn't smell good in there. I ended up tossing all the sticks out.\\n\\nIn addition to the sad changing scent, these sticks will not fit into a Prius vent very well. The sticks are too long, don't stay in place, and when they are placed in the two vents where they can stay relatively well (the two vents closest to the driver and passenger doors), the sticks will not allow you to position the vents in any way but directly forward. Away from my person. This is annoying because on hot sunny drives, I would rather be cool then have my car smell...well, I guess I'm not missing much since I ended up tossing these out anyways. Don't waste your time or money on these.\",\n \"Product: Bell Automotive's Foose Quilted Suede Seat Cover will customize your ride. From the reality TV series Overhaulin', award winning Chip Foose is an American hot rod shop owner and highly acclaimed automotive designer and fabricator. In collaboration with Foose, Bell Automotive's team developed this durable universal bucket seat cover that will protect your seats from wear and tear while adding comfort and style to your vehicle. This seat cover features a sleek quilted black design and fits most seats with built-in or adjustable headrests.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Thin, Does not Fit Prius Plug In Seats Well\\n\\nReview: This seat covers looks really nice in the picture. However, like most fast food photos, the pictures often look much better than the actual product. The Bell Suede Seat Cover does not look as nice as it does in the picture when I tried to put it on my 2014 Prius Plug In. The headrest piece goes on and bunches up near the bottom. There are two little pieces of woven fabric rope you can tie to make the headrest fit much neater, however one of the ties on my particular set was already fraying at the end. The larger seat cover does fit nicely on my seat, however one part requires you to pull a 6\\\" fabric tab through the seat and the back so you can secure the cover in so it has that seat to back crease. This is impossible on a Prius driver seat because there is a piece of fabric sewn into the Prius that does not allow for anything to easily go through the gap. I was able to put the cover on, but the fabric does not tuck in, nor does it loo like it was installed by the dealer.\\n\\nThe overall feel of the suede is laughable. The material is thin, obviously not suede, and with a quilted center doesn't particularly look like it matches all that well. While this cover may protect my seat temporarily, I can't imagine it lasting for a long haul, particularly if you drive a lot. Overall, this isn't a terrible seat cover - it does get the job done to protect your seat - but it's definitely something I don't think will stay long in my car due to thin fabric and ill fit. One other thing to note is that there is only ONE seat cover in this package. If you want a matching set, you're going to have to buy two and one for the backseat area.\",\n \"Product: Portable charger on the go: The Kshioe power bank will charge all of your portable electronic devices, such as smart phones, tablets, cameras, camcorders, GPS unit, MP3 players, wireless headphones and portable gaming systems. It is equipped with two 5V/2.1A USB ports that can charge two separate devices fast and simultaneously. Once fully charged it will go into sleep mode to preserve the battery. Easy to use car jump starter: Use the Kshioe power bank with the jumper cables to start your car battery in a matter of seconds. Keep it in the glove box at all times and you can use it multiple times. Portable LED flash light and emergency hammer and blade for the outdoors the super-bright LED flash light has 3 illumination modes, a flash light when yo are in the dark, a strobe light to attract attention and an sos signal flash that will last up to 120 hours on a full charge. Emergency hammer and emergency blade to keep you safe in case of emergency to leave that allows you to safely leave. Built-in protection features the kshioepower bank features over current protection, short circuit protection, overload protection and over-voltage protection to prevent damage to your vehicle and electronic devices. Attention 1) To avoid injury and/or damage to your vehicle, do not connect the red and black clamps together. 2) Do not reverse the sequence of operation when you start your car. 3) Do not start your car when there is just three or less battery indicators flashing to aovid demage to battery by human. 4) Remove battery within 20 seconds of starting your car. 5) Keep out of reach of children.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Good Heavy Duty Powerbank, Good for Charging Laptops and Other Electronic Items\\n\\nReview: The Kshioe Emergency Power Bank is a large sturdy powerbank that is capable of jumping a car should your battery die on you. I will honestly say I have not had the pleasure of testing out the car jumping capabilities of this unit as I haven't had my battery die on me yet (I drive a Prius, and should I accidentally leave the headlights on, they turn off automatically a few seconds after I lock my doors), nor have I tested out the window breaking spike on the end of the unit. Should my car need to be jumped, or if I get locked in my car in a life threatening situation, I'll be ready. I have tested out the charging capabilities of this battery, as well as the flashlight, and am quite pleased with the results.\\n\\nTo charge this unit, you will need to plug it into a standard AC outlet or you can plug it into your car using the car charger. The charger will indicate it is finish once all the bars on the battery indicator are lit and not flashing. This unit will turn off once fully charged to preserve battery. To full charge, its takes anywhere between 5-8 hours, depending on how much you've used the unit. Once charged, you flip the switch to ON, and press the function button (looks like the iPhone power button) to operate the unit. This unit can be set to 12v, 16v, or 19v. This allows you to charge larger items (laptop @ 19v) as well as smaller items (iPhone at 12v).\\n\\nThere is a flashlight included on this unit that can be set to steady, strobe, and SOS flashing mode. The light is very bright, and would work great when changing a tire at night. There is also a blue and red flashing light function that looks suspiciously like a police car flashing light. I'm not sure if it's legal to use those lights on the side of the road should your car break down, but I guess if it's a major emergency, it wouldn't hurt. also, on the end of the unit, there is a large metal triangle that can break glass should you need to exit your car. The entire unit is very small and lightweight. The accompanying cables come boxed up, so if you want, you could also leave the cables in the trunk for emergency use. This unit is small enough to carry in your glove compartment.\\n\\nOverall, while I haven't used this unit for the jump starting capabilities, as a portable battery charger, this unit works very well. Both the husband and I can charge our phones at the same time, and since we're on the road a lot, this comes in handy when charging our other electronic devices. This would be a great item to have on hand during an emergency, and it's small size would make it a great item to bring while camping. I'll update down the line should I ever need to jump a car - for now, it's definitely worth considering.\\n\\nFYI - I was selected for this opportunity to review this item free of charge. The content and opinions expressed here are all my own.\",\n \"Product: View-Tab Transparent dividers have transparent polypropylene tabs that let you print all tab titles on one standard sheet of paper; no more tiny inserts. These are available with five count tab dividers with tabs in a multicolor square shape. Online templates available at wilsonjones.com/templates. 5 pack.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Where Were These When I Was in School?!?!\\n\\nReview: I hate paper binder dividers. I hate having to write on each tab, I hate having them rip by mistake, I hate putting labels on them to make them look better but not having the labels line up perfectly...I can go on and on why paper tabs are inferior to these. Wilson Jones got dividers right: the tabbed sheets are entirely made of plastic, thus making them much more durable and easier to grab onto and turn through a pile of pages. And the tab writing issue has been completely thrown out - you just print all your headers on one sheet and put it on the back of the binder - the tabs are see through so you can see your subjects through the tabs on the header sheet. Brilliant!! If you're anything like me, you probably won't even need the sheet after a while because you'll memorize the tabs (Algebra - blue, English - red, Science - green, and so forth).\\n\\nWith five sets of dividers in here, I'm able to have a set ready to go for my kids school work with some to spare. This is really a smart dividing system to use. Highly recommended!\",\n \"Product: Brand New. Staedtler Triplus Fineliner Pen Ergonomic Barrel 0.8mm Tip 0.3mm Line Assorted Ref 334 SB10 [Pack 10]\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Bright Bold Colors, Doesn't Bleed Through the Paper, Little to No Smudging\\n\\nReview: Ever since I've started Bullet Journaling, I've been struggling with finding the perfect pens to use with my journals. The requirements are simple - 1. Don't bleed through the paper, 2. Don't smudge all over the place and 3. Feel comfortable to hold and use. While I've found that Microns and the Faber Castell PITT Artist pens perfect for writing and creating bold lines, I struggled to find something that would add the variety of color I desired in my journal. The Staedtler Triplus Fineliners were a great solution. The pens draw and write very smoothly, don't bleed through the paper, and the colors are bright and cheerful.\\n\\nThe barrel of the pens are not cylindrical like most pens, but instead have a triangular type shape. The edges of the triangles are rounded, so the grip is comfortable and the pen won't roll to the ground off your desk. One thing I'm not in love with these pens is the narrowness of the pen's barrel - this is a preference thing, but I've been using the PITT Artist and Micron pens so long that I'm used to holding a thicker barreled pen. The Staedtlers are about the thickness of a standard ball point pen. Also, the caps will not stay on the top of the pen very well. More than once I've almost lost the cap due to it flicking off. Those gripes aside, the color is brilliant, and I love the touches of color dotted throughout my journal. This is a good budget friendly pen to consider adding to your bullet journaling arsenal.\",\n \"Product: The Lee SortKwik Fingertip Moistener is a powerful grip enhancer, providing a positive hold for all your counting, filing, collating and sorting tasks. With SortKwik, you are able to get all your money and paper handling tasks done with greater ease and speed. The patented antimicrobial ingredient offers superior hygienic protection. The product is non-toxic, odorless and won't stain skin, paper or clothes. Includes 2 containers of the 1.75 oz SortKwik.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Very Effective, Great for Sorting Though Papers - Will Not Leave Residue\\n\\nReview: As a parent helper at my kid's school, I go through a LOT of papers. I sort through class papers, projects, announcements - you name it, I've had to get it prepped. Lee Sortkwik really helps get through papers quickly. I can moisten my fingers without having to lick them (gross!), use a damp sponge, or wear those weird rubber fingertip things. Papers are easily grasped and not marked by the Sortkwik material in any way. The Sortkwik is also much cheaper to buy via Amazon - I went to the local big box office supply store, and one container of this costs as much as two on Amazon! I won't have to buy it for a while though - one container of this stuff lasts a long time! Overall, very pleased with this product - this would be a great addition to a \\\"back to school\\\" teacher basket!\",\n \"Product: BIC Marking Retractable Permanent Markers are designed to leave vivid, permanent marks on virtually any surface. This permanent marker features a convenient retractable design that lets you extend and retract the tip with a simple click. Never worry about losing a cap! The Seal Guard Defends Against Dry Out technology helps ensure the fine point doesn't dry out if left exposed. The low-odor, acid-free ink* goes on smoothly and legibly and is great for marking on glass, metal, plastic, foils, photos, coated paper, and oily and damp surfaces. *No added acid, no measurable pH\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Bold Black Color, Convenient Retractable Click Top, A Little Finicky When Drawing on Balloons.\\n\\nReview: The Bic Marking Permanent Markers (Black) work very well for many of my pen marking needs. These pens write very smoothly, are incredibly low odor, and the color is very black in comparison to <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Sharpie-Permanent-Markers-Fine-Point-Black-Box-of-12/dp/B00006IFHD/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Sharpie Permanent Markers, Fine Point, Black, Box of 12</a>. The pens are great for marking paper, masking tape, playing cards, red plastic cups, and the like. I've had no issues with smudging, and the ink dries quickly and effectively. The thing I love most about these pens are the fact that they are retractable - it's so much easier to use these pens without having to deal with holding a cap in my mouth or misplacing the cap.\\n\\nHOWEVER, as a balloon artist, while this pen marks very well on balloons, it is a bit more prone to smudge since it take just a tiny bit longer to dry, and it doesn't seem to fill in color as well as Sharpies. The pen ink seems to separate in some areas while drying, resulting in small dotted areas where the balloon color peeks through. This shows more glaringly on colors like metallic and chrome balloons. It's not enough to stop me from using the pens, but it's annoying enough for me to keep a few black Sharpies in my bag, just in case I need to clean up some fine details. That said, drawing on balloons is not something most people would use these pens for, and again, I like them for their much bolder black color and click top convenience. Overall, great permanent marker that's worth keeping on hand.\",\n \"Product: BIC Marking Retractable Permanent Markers are designed to leave vivid, permanent marks on virtually any surface. This permanent marker features a convenient retractable design that lets you extend and retract the tip with a simple click. Never worry about losing a cap! The Seal Guard Defends Against Dry Out technology helps ensure the fine point doesn't dry out if left exposed. The low-odor, acid-free ink* goes on smoothly and legibly and is great for marking on glass, metal, plastic, foils, photos, coated paper, and oily and damp surfaces. *No added acid, no measurable pH\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Bold Black Color, Convenient Retractable Click Top, A Little Finicky When Drawing on Balloons.\\n\\nReview: The Bic Marking Permanent Markers (Black) work very well for many of my pen marking needs. These pens write very smoothly, are incredibly low odor, and the color is very black in comparison to <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Sharpie-Permanent-Markers-Fine-Point-Black-Box-of-12/dp/B00006IFHD/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Sharpie Permanent Markers, Fine Point, Black, Box of 12</a>. The pens are great for marking paper, masking tape, playing cards, red plastic cups, and the like. I've had no issues with smudging, and the ink dries quickly and effectively. The thing I love most about these pens are the fact that they are retractable - it's so much easier to use these pens without having to deal with holding a cap in my mouth or misplacing the cap.\\n\\nHOWEVER, as a balloon artist, while this pen marks very well on balloons, it is a bit more prone to smudge since it take just a tiny bit longer to dry, and it doesn't seem to fill in color as well as Sharpies. The pen ink seems to separate in some areas while drying, resulting in small dotted areas where the balloon color peeks through. This shows more glaringly on colors like metallic and chrome balloons. It's not enough to stop me from using the pens, but it's annoying enough for me to keep a few black Sharpies in my bag, just in case I need to clean up some fine details. That said, drawing on balloons is not something most people would use these pens for, and again, I like them for their much bolder black color and click top convenience. Overall, great permanent marker that's worth keeping on hand.\",\n \"Product: 3M Super 77 Multi-Purpose Adhesive, 4.37-Ounce\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Sprays on Evenly, Great for Paper Crafts and Scrapbooking\\n\\nReview: The Scotch 3M Super 77 Multi-Purpose Adhesive works very effectively as a scrapbook and paper crafts adhesive. I do a bit of scrapbooking and art projects (such as Wreck My Journal) in my spare time and found that while adhesives like rubber cement are effective, it can be difficult to manage when gluing down large pieces of paper. Rubber cement also does not work very effectively when Im trying to glitter a surface smoothly. The Super 77 sprays on very evenly, adheres paper effectively, and is the perfect adhesive to use when making thin layers of glitter. It does have a very pronounced scent, so you will want to be in a well ventilated area, and can make areas around where you spray very sticky. I ended up delegating an old cardboard box to spray items in the excess glue stays in the box, and I can get paper backings fully covered with the glue.\\n\\nThe nozzle does need to be cleaned after use, otherwise residual glue will end up blocking the hole and the next time you use it, glue may spray everywhere except forward. Ive found using a small pin to scratch out residual glue works very effectively. This glue is not cheap, but depending on your projects, will last quite a while. Ive done multiple paper craft and scrapbooking projects, and this bottle is still going strong after a couple of months. One thing to note if you plan of repositioning items, this glue does not release easily like rubber cement. It does dry completely without feeling tacky this is particularly helpful when glittering projects and some areas are not glittered. Overall, this is a good crafts glue. I picked up this bottle from my local crafts store, but will likely pick up from Amazon in the future as the price is comparable.\",\n \"Product: The Five Star Zipper Binder Plus Multi Access File includes a 6-pocket expanding file that gives you several places to store and access sheets. A 3-ring binder holds sheets inside the zipper closure. The 6-pocket expanding file can be accessed from the inside and outside of the binder. 2-inch capacity, 13.75 x 12.12 x 3.5 Inches overall; Includes a convenient carrying handle. *ACCO Brands will replace any Five Star Zipper Binder that is returned within one year from the date of purchase. The guarantee does not cover damage due to abuse. Contact ACCO Brands Consumer Affairs at www.mead.com for instructions.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Huge Binder, Durability Questionable\\n\\nReview: This binder is simply HUGE. The Five Star Zipper Binder is great if you're looking for a binder that will protect your pages from all angles as all the pages will be zipped into one containable pack. The downside of this binder is that it's huge and the filing system, while useful in some situations, doesn't seem to add anything aside from additional bulk. The filing system can be accessed from both the exterior and the interior of the binder, and the large 2\\\" rings hold papers effectively. In terms of durability, I'm really not confident that this particular binder will make the cut. The fabric is very thin and the seams feel weak.\\n\\nI think I'd prefer a different zip up binder over this particular one. Five Star really has quality products, however this one is just not ready for prime time.\",\n \"Product: LASTS ALL YEAR. GUARANTEED!* The unique Five Star Flex NoteBinder acts like a notebook and works like a binder. Clearview cover feature allows for customization. It features durable plastic covers and TechLock rings to store loose sheets and protect your most important pages. The covers fold back to lie flat allowing easy notetaking in class while the 3 rings open easily to quickly add or remove sheets so you always have what you need. The flexible patented rings ensure durability so they wont break or misalign from frequent use. 1\\\" size holds 200 sheets. Includes 20 sheets of quad ruled paper and 60 sheets of college ruled paper for convenient and ready usage. Your most important papers are protected by the NotePocket dividers (2) and NoteProtector dividers (3), which are included. Covers feature geo texture. *ACCO Brands will replace any Five Star notebinder that is returned within one year from the date of purchase. This guarantee does not cover damage due to abuse. Contact ACCO Brands Consumer Affairs for instructions.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Weak Binder Rings, Overall Good Lightweight System\\n\\nReview: The Five Star Flex Hybrid Notebinder is one of those \\\"great in theory, but not totally practical\\\" type product. First off, the notebinder does marry the best things about a binder and a notebook. As a notebook, it it flexible, can open up all the way so that you can write in it without having cumbersome rings getting in the way, and is very lightweight. As a binder, you can put in pages when you need to, remove pages without ripping them out, and there are dividers so you can categorize your paperwork. Two of the dividers are made of slightly thicker plastic and has folder pockets to hold additional paperwork. The remaining three dividers are made of thinner plastic and have an opening in each to store full papers in. The best part of the notebinder is that it has the three rings where you can put in paperwork that are silent when you open them. There's not resounding \\\"CLICK\\\" when you open and close the binder, and you can sneak papers in during lectures without bothering anyways. This notebinder also comes with some line and graphing paper.\\n\\nUnfortunately, the things that make this notebinder great also are its greatest weaknesses. The rings are all separately operated. This allows the quiet click of each one, but it also means that you're putting paper in and out, you have to unlock each ring one by one. This is problematic if you have a lot of papers to be moving around. The other problem is with the ring durability. Each ring is plastic that has a long arrow shaped end that clicks into the matching hole. While it works great now, over time the connection gets weaker and weaker. This is a binder you will not be using long term, most likely.\\n\\nThe overall look and feel of the notebinder is that of a standard Five Star Notebook. The only read difference is with the large rings and an expandable fabric piece that functions as a spine. Overall, this is a really decent \\\"one year use\\\" type binder. I can't imagine using it for over a year as I don't think it's quite that durable, and for the price I feel that it's really expensive for a one year use product. The one thing that would make this binder perfect is getting a better system for the binder rings - that aside, it's an interesting light use hybrid. I like it, but I'm not sure I would pay full price for it.\",\n \"Product: FSK01005452 Bypass trimmer features self-sharpening blades so no replacement blades are needed. Blade cuts up to 10 sheets of paper at a time. Cutting arm lock is built-in for safe transporting and storage. Use precision printed scale and grid on base for easy alignment. Trimmer also features a paper clamp, smudge guard and anti-skid rubber feet for stability. Trimmer base is made from 100 percent recycled post-consumer resin. -Product Type: Trimmer. -Country of Origin: China. -Cutting Length: 12''. -Cutting Support: 10 Sheet. -Recycled: Yes. -Recycled Content: 100pct. -Post-consumer-wastepct: 100pct. -Assembly Required: No. -Color: Black. -Color: Orange. -Brand Name: Fiskars. -Features: Self-sharpening. -Features: Non-skid Rubber Feet. -Features: Alignment Grid. -Manufacturer: Fiskars Corporation. -Product Model: 01-005452. -Product Name: Bypass Trimmer. -Dimensions: 3'' Height x 21.30'' Width x 14.90'' Depth. -Manufacturer Part Number: 01-005452. -Packaged Quantity: 1.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Cuts Papers Quickly and Efficiently\\n\\nReview: The Fiskars Recylced Bypass Trimmer is a lightweight paper cutter that cuts efficiently and effectively. I'm able to cut my photos to smaller size to put in my scrapbook much faster than when I used scissors or when I used a knife and cutting mat. The one thing that I don't like much on the trimmer is the fact that the blade doesn't lock down - my kids (two years old and three years old) have figured out how to move the blade from the \\\"locked down\\\" position to the up position. Needless to say, I've been storing this trimmer on the top shelf of the closet. Outside of that, the Fiskars trimmer works well, and cuts paper cleanly. Highly recommended!\",\n \"Product: Helix. Helix Angle and Circle Protractor. This item is manufactured in China. Self sharpening\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Handy Tool to Make Perfect Circles\\n\\nReview: The Helix Angle and Circle Maker is a simple but clever tool to use to draw circles. For years, I've relied on tracing various objects or subjecting my journals to the pointed end of a protractor in order to achieve the perfect circle. This handy little circle maker consists of a ring with a movable center plastic piece. To use, you simply place your pencil or pen in one of the little holes in the plastic piece then draw where the plastic piece guides you. You can also use the precut circles to trace smaller circles. The center guide moves fairly smoothly, but does require a firm hand so that the circles come out neatly. I would not recommend using this device with very thin tipped pens. I used a Micron 03 pen with this circle maker, but I wouldn't go any thinner than that.\\n\\nWhile this circle maker did work with my Leuchttum 1917 Bullet Journal, I will warn you that it does take a steady hand to use since there is a book gutter to deal with. While these journals do lay quite flat, I did have some issues with getting it to lay flat enough so that the inner circle would work smoothly. On completely flat surfaces, the circle maker had no issues. Overall, this is a useful tool if you're looking to add circles to some of your artwork.\",\n \"Product: The Canon PIXMA MX922 Energy Star Wireless Inkjet Office All-in-One Printer prints in black and white at 15 ipm, in color at 10 ipm, and can output a borderless 4.0 x 6.0-inch photo in 21 seconds. Print borderless photos right at home using the 9600 x 2400 color dpi. Use the automatic double-sided print feature to print on both sides of the page and cut your paper consumption by as much as 50%. The built-in disc tray lets you design and print your own custom CDs, DVDs, and Blu-rays. Its Full HD Movie Print feature takes a frame from an HD movie recorded on a compatible EOS, PowerShot, or VIXIA camera or camcorder and prints it as a photo, ensuring you never miss a photo opportunity while shooting video. The MX922 features a scan resolution of up to 2400 x 4800 dpi optical. Plus use the built-in copy function to duplicate photos as well as documents.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Worked Great the First Two Years, Had Minor Issues then Completely Stopped Working in the Third Year\\n\\nReview: I purchased this printer in February 2014 and finally had to replace this printer in August 2017. The Canon worked well the first two years I owned it, but was riddled with issues the final year including paper jamming, streaking, and ultimately a message on the screen telling me that I needed to call a service center to help fix it even though it printed a page perfectly right before giving me the error. I can't say I totally hated this printer - it worked well when scanning, the auto feed and duplexing worked great, and both the photo prints and copy prints came out perfectly. Unfortunately, the ink did need to be replaced frequently, and the longevity of this printer pales in comparison to my older Canon InkJet which lasted well over a decade before I replaced it (not because I needed to, but because I wanted a 3-in-1 with scanner). For the use I put into this printer for 3 years, I don't feel terribly bad about investing this much in this unit, but am I disappointed that it didn't last at least five years.\",\n \"Product: Maximize your daily efficiency with the PIXMA MX472 Wireless Office All-In-One Printer. The PIXMA MX472 excels in connectivity. With Google Cloud Print and Air Print, you can print wirelessly from your compatible smartphone or tablet from virtually anywhere around the office. It's loaded with timesaving features as well, including an automatic document feeder which holds up to 30 sheets. And when it comes time to change ink or add paper, the Fast Front feature makes it quick and easy-right at the front of the printer! Plus, the optional XL or XXL pigment black ink cartridges mean you can print longer before having to replace your cartridges.;;Another great feature of the PIXMA MX472 is My Image Garden software. My Image Garden puts all your favorite printing features, such as Special Filters and full HD Movie Print, in one convenient software application. It helps you organize your photos with calendar view and facial recognition.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Good Printer for At Home/School Use\\n\\nReview: I got this printer for my brother who is in college and who needs a decent printer to to light printing, scanning, and copying. Canon MX472 hasn't let him down. He's able to print term papers, scan documents, and copy without any major issues. It's a little slow to buffer in comparison to my Canon MX922, but not terribly so. He's been able to print documents via iPad, share the printer wireless over his network with his housemates, and mentioned that the ink life seems to be quite good. While he hasn't used the fax feature because there isn't a phone line, he did mention every other feature seems to work very well. Overall, this is a great \\\"light use\\\" type printer. I wouldn't suggest using it for printing out 300 page novels on, but for college and home use, it's a solid printer to have. Recommended!\",\n \"Product: ALEX Toys Artist Studio Glitter Shakers lets artists add a touch of sparkle to any project. Simply spread glue over your paper or craft surface and sprinkle the glitter of your choice on top. Shake off the excess, let it dry, then you have instant shimmer! Includes 24 plastic vials each containing 0.32oz. of glitter. Recommended for children 3 years of age and older.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Great Variety of Glitters of Various Color and Size - Perfect for Holiday and Kids Crafts\\n\\nReview: For those looking for Professional Martha Stewart quality glitter, look elsewhere - these glitters are good, but not quite as good as those super expensive glitters. For those who are looking for a fun variety of glitters that come in a good variety of shapes and colors for your holiday crafts and kid's projects - this is the perfect set to consider. The Alex Glitter Shaker set comes with 24 .32 oz glitter shakers in ultra fine, sprinkle, fine, and large square (standard) glitter. The color mix is good, and features both single color glitters as well as a bottle of patriotic (red white and blue) mixed. The glitters are well packaged in a carrying case, easy to pour/sprinkle, and the bottle tops come off if you want to pour back in unused glitter for later use. Overall, these glitters are well priced for the amount given and variety offered. This would be a good set to consider for your kid's art box.\",\n \"Product: Zebra Highlighter Mildliner\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Beautiful Colors, No Scent, No Smudging - Great for Bujo and Highlighter Calligraphy\\n\\nReview: The Zebra MILDLINER Set is a great set of highlighters if you're looking for a good light colored highlighter set. I use my Mildliners primarily for bullet journaling, and I love the colors and effects I can get achieve with these particular pens. The colors range from soft pastel to bright (but not neon bright) and the colors go on very smoothly and evenly. Each pen is double ended, which honestly I almost didn't notice. There is a broad side for highlighting and a pointed end if you want to write something down in a slightly smaller font. The ink colors match the cap color fairly closely, and there is no scent when using these pens. Also, the pen dry very quickly and will not smudge on the <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Leuchtturm1917-Softcover-Medium-Dotted-Notebook-Black/dp/B003EVHV6S/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Leuchtturm1917 Softcover Medium Dotted Notebook Black</a> pages. With a pack of three, there's also a good variety for a good cost - these would be a great gift to get your bullet journaling friend or for yourself!\",\n \"Product: American Greetings offers exceptional greeting cards, gift wrap and celebration products so you can connect in ways that fit your personality and authentic style.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Very Beautiful and Well Made Card, Lovely Message Inside\\n\\nReview: The Greatest Gift Anniversary Card by American Greetings is a very well made and beautiful card to give to your special someone. My husband and I will be celebrating our 10 year anniversary this year, and this card will round out my gift for him perfectly. The cut work on the front of the card is top notch, and there are no rough edges, breaks in the paper, or erroneous cuts. The card stock is good and heavy, and the interior foil is clean and shiny. The entire card came well packaged in a plastic protector, and was almost too well shipped - I received it in a very large bubble envelope that protected the card from being marred or bent.\\n\\nThe message inside of the card almost perfectly mirrored part of our wedding vows, which was \\\"Asides from the gift of salvation, you are the greatest gift God has given me\\\". It was very touching to see the \\\"greatest gift\\\" message in this card, and I'm hoping the message will bring back that fond memory for my husband. Overall, this is a very lovely card to consider for that special person in your life.\",\n \"Product: HL3180CDW Digital Color Printer with Convenience Copying and Scanning. Fast, high-quality printing at up to 23ppm. Convenient, walk-up copying and high-quality color scanning. Easy to set up and share on your wireless network or connect locally via USB interface. Intuitive 3.7\\\" color Touchscreen display offers intuitive navigation and easy scanning to popular cloud services including DROPBOX, GOOGLE DRIVE, EVERNOTE, ONEDRIVE and more. Automatic duplex (two-sided) printing to help save paper.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Outstanding Prints, Auto Duplexing, but Scanner Doesn't Have Auto Feed - Still Love It Either Way\\n\\nReview: After a short run with my most recent ink jet printer purchase (a little over 3 years with the <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Canon-Office-and-Business-MX922-All-in-one-Printer-Wireless-and-mobile-printing/dp/B00AVWKUJS/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Canon Office and Business MX922 All-in-one Printer, Wireless and mobile printing</a>) I finally decided that it's about time to try out a Laser printer and that I would \\\"go big or go home\\\". Well, since I was already at home, I figured i would go big anyways, and settled on the Brother Wireless Digital Color Laser Printer. So far, I'm impressed with what I got. The Brother Laser Printer prints out pages perfectly, and with speed that my inkjets never could muster.\\n\\nIn terms of size, this unit is definitely not a little desktop printer to share with your PC/Mac/Laptop/etc. This unit can hold almost a full ream of paper in it, and it houses these huge ink cartridges totally unlike the little inkjet packs. Prints come out very quickly in this unit, and all the prints are crisp and perfectly colored. There are no visible streaking, horizontal printing line, or any imperfections that I can see on the prints. This unit auto duplexes, so I don't have to baby sit it when printing items on both sides of a page, and this unit can scan/copy pages easily. One thing I do miss on this unit that was available on the inkjet 3-in-1 is the auto feed for the scanner. This isn't a huge issue for our household as we don't need to scan multiple page documents all too often, but keep this in mind if you do need to scan items frequently. For those who need to utilize the fax functions, this printer also doesn't have that feature. Again, we didn't need it in our household, so we didn't miss it.\\n\\nMaintenance of this minimal - simply change out the cartridges when they run out, and maybe occasionally run the printer maintenance function. If you don't print for some time, you don't have to worry about ink jet nozzles clogging up, and you don't have to worry about shutting off the printer because it goes into sleep mode perfectly. This printer hooked up easily to the wireless and stays connected well, and I'm also able to print off my iPad and iPhones without issues - this is something I struggled with constantly with my older printer, and those functions alone make it totally worth the cost. The printer works very quickly and quietly, and getting to work with the many computers (both PC and Mac) was seamless. I can't say anything regarding the longevity of this printer as of yet, but I'm expecting that it lasts longer than 3 years simply because it seems to be very durable and well built. Overall, I'm very pleased with the Brother Digital Color Printer. It's fast, quiet, and the prints that come out of this unit are clean, bold, and bright.\",\n \"Product: Customize all your communications with these printable Matte Postcards. They're compatible with both laser and inkjet printers and are formatted to meet U.S. postal regulations. Create your own eye-catching engagement announcements, business ads, coupons, invitations and more. Just use the free templates and designs to add bright personalized color, graphics and text. Then print, apply the required postage and let the postal service do the rest.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Decent Cardstock for Postcards, Templates Available on Avery's Website - Item 5919\\n\\nReview: The Avery Postcards are good postcards to print out yourself and send for any occasion. We like sending postcards to family and friends as thank you notes with pictures of the kids on the front with the gift they received or with the person they did an activity with. Because photo paper doesn't mail very well (photos get too scratched up or easily torn in transit), we tried out the Avery Postcards. The cardstock is about the same thickness as your average Hallmark greeting card, and the paper is smooth and matte. The paper comes perforated for easy tearing and is blank on both sides. For those who don't want to use the cards for printed postcards, the paper stock is good to draw on as well using markers, crayons, etc. The postcards are thick enough to send out, and hold up in the mail fairly well, although not quite as well as the postcards you can buy on the street. There are templates for many postcards on Avery's website that you can use with these postcards - simply search for item 5919 to get a list of the many cards. You don't have to download any particular software to use the templates, and everything can be designed online. If you're looking to make and send out your own personalized postcards, these are worth considering.\",\n \"Product: Sharpie Fine Point Permanent Markers, Box of 48 Markers, Black (30001)\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Great Value, Great Pens - Good Dark Color with No Smudging\\n\\nReview: As a family of magicians and balloon artists, we simply cannot have enough Sharpies in the house. Sharpies are use for more than just labeling - the husband goes through hundreds of playing cards that need to be signed by spectators each month, and as a balloon artist, those eyes don't get drawn on the balloons by themselves. The Sharpies work great of a large variety of surfaces including paper, masking tape, playing cards, latex balloons, plastic, wood, and so forth. The ink dries quickly and doesn't smudge once dry. Overall, this is a great permanent marker that has a solid black colored ink that dries quickly. All the pens we've tried seem to have a good amount of ink and work perfectly - I would definitely buy these again.\",\n \"Product: Sound biological mosquito control - Kills within 24 hours. Kills before mosquitoes are old enough to bite. Sprinkle in any standing water\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Great for Pond in a Pot\\n\\nReview: Pinterest, with all of it's amazing crafty people photo postings, has done it again. This month I was seduced by the idea of upgrading my bird fountain idea to a full blown half whiskey barrel pond in a pot complete with fish, water plants, and a solar fountain. While my little backyard oasis is relaxing, the idea of mosquitoes is not, and goldfish and Rosy Cherry Minnows are not guaranteed to eat mosquito larvae fast enough. Also, my solar fountain unfortunately does not run at night, when mosquitoes are most active. The Mosquito Bits seem to be keeping those little buggers away. Because I have such a small pond set up, I drop in only a few granules into my little pond once a week. The granules don't seem to be affecting my fish or plants at all, and I haven't noticed any mosquito activity going on which is a HUGE plus in my book. Overall, this stuff seems to be keeping the mosquitoes from setting up shop in my yard, and I'm still able to enjoy my Pinterest worthy Pond in a Pot. With the size I purchased, I'm going to have more than enough bait to keep mosquitoes out of my yard for years to come.\",\n \"Product: The Grow More 16 oz. Cactus juice liquid plant food contains calcium & other nutrients for feeding cacti & succulents & can be used every 2 weeks during the growing season. Simply mix 1 teaspoon of plant food with 1 gal. Of water & drench the base of your plants to Help keep them healthy.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Improved the Health of My Succulents and Cactus\\n\\nReview: Relatively new to growing succulents, I've been doing research on these funny little plants since I was gifted a few over the past few months.\\nWhile my plants looked healthy, I figured they could use a little vitamins and other nutrients and picked up a bottle of the Grow More Cactus Juice. So far I'm impressed with what I've seen. The fertilizer has helped improve the color of the leaves on my Christmas Cacti, encouraged some new growth, and one of my succulents actually started flowering since using this fertilizer. I dilute the fertilizer so it's quite weak, and use it every couple of waterings (not too frequently right now since it's still quite cool in California). The fertilizer is easy to use - just pour a capful in a gallon of water (or less if you want), stir, then water as usual. A little bit goes a LONG way! Overall, very pleased with the results and the improved health of my plants. This bottle is highly concentrated and requires only a tiny amount per gallon, so it's likely to last my plants a good amount of time before I need to buy again.\",\n \"Product: The Grow More 16 oz. Cactus juice liquid plant food contains calcium & other nutrients for feeding cacti & succulents & can be used every 2 weeks during the growing season. Simply mix 1 teaspoon of plant food with 1 gal. Of water & drench the base of your plants to Help keep them healthy.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Improved the Health of My Succulents and Cactus\\n\\nReview: Relatively new to growing succulents, I've been doing research on these funny little plants since I was gifted a few over the past few months.\\nWhile my plants looked healthy, I figured they could use a little vitamins and other nutrients and picked up a bottle of the Grow More Cactus Juice. So far I'm impressed with what I've seen. The fertilizer has helped improve the color of the leaves on my Christmas Cacti, encouraged some new growth, and one of my succulents actually started flowering since using this fertilizer. I dilute the fertilizer so it's quite weak, and use it every couple of waterings (not too frequently right now since it's still quite cool in California). The fertilizer is easy to use - just pour a capful in a gallon of water (or less if you want), stir, then water as usual. A little bit goes a LONG way! Overall, very pleased with the results and the improved health of my plants. This bottle is highly concentrated and requires only a tiny amount per gallon, so it's likely to last my plants a good amount of time before I need to buy again.\",\n \"Product: Victor M201 Rat Trap (Pack of 12)\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Kills Rats Quickly, Can Customize the Sensitivity of the Trigger\\n\\nReview: With a huge apple tree on my neighbor's side and a small backyard chicken coop/run on my side of the fence, it was bound to happen - we spotted evidence of rats and even saw happy little rats running up and down the fence as if they owned the joint. Since I can't handle the idea of those furry little rodents eating my chicken's feed, let alone living upstairs in the attic, desperate measures were taken - I set out a bunch of the Victor Rat Traps. I was very pleased to find that this trap does it job, and it does it super effectively - I've loaded peanut butter on the traps with great success. After catching a couple of rats, they became trap shy, so I started baiting the traps with peanut butter and almonds and left the traps outside unbaited. Once the bait started disappearing, I set all the traps again and caught a couple more.\\n\\nThese traps can be set to have a more sensitive trigger by simply using a pair of needlenose pliers to put in the small metal trigger a bit in. Surprisingly, with the hair trigger, I've been even able to catch a few mice in this trap (although it was pretty gruesome to see them since it would catch them mid back instead of on the neck). There have been only a few instances when I found the traps triggered with no bait on it. When that would happen, I would start the baiting without setting for a few days to get the rodents used to the traps again.\\n\\nOverall, if you're looking for a simple, humane, and effective trap, this works fairly well. You can use a variety of baits including peanut butter, hot dog slices, nuts, fruits, or even bacon to attract the vermin, and once you've caught something, you can reset the trap again and again as needed. While the war on the rats hasn't ended in our yard, we certainly making a dent in the population. This is a good trap to consider if you're not squeamish and want something good and reliable.\",\n \"Product: Greenworks, 10 Amp 16-Inch 2 in 1, Rear Bag or Mulch Electric Lawn Mower, Converts Easily from Rear Bag to Mulch, Model # 25142\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Lightweight, Folds Down Compactly/Easily, Wish the Collection Bag Was Larger/Easier to Remove\\n\\nReview: Only in California can one purchase a lawn mower in the middle of December and find themselves still having to mow their lawn. My older Black and Decker finally started showing its age, and after calculating the cost of replacement parts, I figured it would be easier and cheaper to purchase a whole new mower rather than to have to buy and fix the old B&D. I'm really quite happy with this purchase. Knowing that I didn't quite need a wide mower, I settled for the 5\\\" narrower GreenWorks corded mower. This mower is lighter, easier to maneuver, and works just as effectively as my old mower when it was in its prime. The unit is much easier to fold down and store, and I like how the unit is not quite as loud as my old mower. One notable improvement on the GreenWorks vs the B&D is that the little flap that keeps rocks/grass/dirt from kicking up is made of plastic instead of rubber. On the B&D, that flap wore down and broke off incredibly quickly. I noticed this one not only stays in place better, but I can move the mower back and forth as needed without having to worry about it getting sucked down under the mower. One downside to this mower is that the collection bag is much smaller. This requires me to unload a lot more frequently (particularly when I have long grass to mow!), and the bag is not quite as easily removed as the B&D. The bag issue alone is worth the dock of star, but I'm thinking if I didn't have a point of reference, I wouldn't have known that bag removal could be that easy.\\n\\nOverall, if you're looking for a good lightweight mower that is plug in, this is a good one to consider. It mows lawns evenly and effectively, and the smaller unit is great for my easy to maintain front and backyard lawns.\",\n \"Product: The Wild Harvest team is dedicated to providing products that promote complete nutrition for your birds and small animals. Using natural ingredients, Wild Harvest provides the perfect blend of food and treats to meet the distinct dietary needs of birds and small animals. This unique blend of your birds favorite premium seeds such as canary grass seed, red and white millets and wholesome grains which make the Wild Harvest Daily Blend for parakeets, canaries, finches and other similar small birds. Specially formulated with vitamins and minerals, it encourages vibrant plumage and has vital nutrients for optimum health all in a 100 percent nutritionally complete blend. Keeping your product fresh is never a concern with Wild Harvest. The seed blend comes with a resealable zipper to lock in that freshness. Wild Harvest Daily Blend for Parakeet, Canary and Finch provides the nutrients important for your bird, with a great and natural taste they cant resist.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Decent Seed Blend, Heavy Orange Scent, Arrived Fresh and Well Packaged\\n\\nReview: With two doves ruling the roost in our home, I wanted to offer them a goof variety of foods to eat ranging from seeds, fruits, grains, and grasses - just like they'd eat in the wild. The Spectrum Blends Wild Harvest Daily Blend Parakeet Food (same company who makes Tetra Fish Food, Dingo Dog Snacks, and Furminator, just to name a few) is a very simple seed blend consisting of White Millet, Oat Groats, Canary Grass Seed, Red Millet,\\nand Rapeseed. Additional supplements and minerals are also included such as various oils - most notably orange oil - as well as preservatives and colors. I'm not very pleased to see items such as the Colors Added Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 1 included, and I'm not entirely sure just why so many additives were included. This definitely has a longer ingredients list than I've ever seen on a bird food bag, particularly for a seeded blend. I would expect a list this long for pelleted food, although many of the pelleted blends I've purchased don't include colorants.\\n\\nThe seeds arrived very fresh and insect free. I usually transfer the seeds for my birds into a container to ensure freshness, and noticed there was very little dust at the bottom of the bag. My doves ate the seed very enthusiastically, and didn't seem to have any ill effect after eating the food. Unlike budgies, they swallow the seeds whole, and presumably they are getting all the benefits of the added oils. I did mix this blend with some black oil sunflower seeds, barley, oats, quinoa, and lentils, but the doves seem to make a beeline for the millet. This blend is very heavily scented of orange, due primarily to the addition of the orange oil. This didn't detract the doves from eating the seeds, but it didn't seem to make them want to eat it more either. I'm guessing the addition of the orange scent really is for us humans, as I couldn't find much regarding the health benefits of orange oils on birds. Overall, this isn't a bad seed blend, but the addition of all the unnecessary preservatives and colorants is really off putting. This blend is comparably priced, and is a good food to add variety to your bird's diet.\",\n \"Product: Advanced Nutrition: Wild Harvest Advanced Nutrition Diet for Parakeets provides the ultimate nutrition your bird requires for developing, maintaining and enjoying good health. Parakeets need a well rounded diet containing seeds, fruits and vegetables to help support a longer, healthier life. This specially formulated, enriched food contains important protein, fat, vitamins and minerals that support a strong and healthy body for your Parakeet. Color Amp Formula: Wild Harvest Advanced Nutrition Diet for Parakeets offers health and nutrition for your pet with the addition of our Color Amp Formula. With added antioxidant nutrients, carotene and other natural sources of beta carotene; our Advanced Nutrition Diet helps support and maintain overall good health. Great Taste Parakeets Love: The uniquely formulated Wild Harvest Advanced Nutrition Diet for Parakeets contains a tantalizing array of seeds and delicious fruits and vegetables for a delectable food mix your Parakeet will be sure to love! Directions: Keep feed cup filled with fresh food. Remove hulls of consumed seed. Always keep fresh water available.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Good Variety, Birds Ate the Blend Without Issues, Container Keeps Seeds Fresh\\n\\nReview: With two doves ruling the roost in our home, I wanted to offer them a goof variety of foods to eat ranging from seeds, fruits, grains, and grasses - just like they'd eat in the wild. The Wild Harvest Daily Blend Parakeet Food (same company who makes Tetra Fish Food, Dingo Dog Snacks, and Furminator, just to name a few) is a high variety seed blend consisting of White Millet, heat treated Soybeans, Oat Groats, Wheat, Cracked Corn, Red Millet Seed, Safflower Seed, Canary Grass Seed, Rapeseed, and Flax Seed. In addition to the seeds and grains, this mix also includes fruits and vegetables such as dried carrots, alfalfa flakes, raisins, cabbage flakes, as well as additional vitamins, minerals, and oils. There are also preservatives and colors included, as well as salt.. I'm not very pleased to see items such as the Colors Added Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 1 included, and I'm not entirely sure just why salt and so many additives were included. While I've been told colorants are added to make the food more visually appealing to birds, I'm not sure that it's entirely necessary since the color seeds are usually the last seeds I've seen eaten, and most of the colors my birds like to eat consist of fresh foods.\\n\\nThe seeds arrived very fresh and insect free. Because these seeds came packaged in a resealable container, I didn't have to transfer the seeds like I usually have to do with bagged blends. My doves ate the seed very enthusiastically, and didn't seem to have any ill effect after eating the food. Unlike budgies, they swallow the seeds whole, and presumably they are getting all the benefits of the added oils and minerals. I was impressed with the variety of seeds, fruits, and vegetables included in this mix, although there's a lot less fruit and vegetables in this mix in comparison to treat blends. Overall, this blend is comparably priced, and is a good food to add variety to your bird's diet.\",\n \"Product: Equipped with the aggressive, Secure Catch design, the Tomcat Secure-Kill Rat Trap traps and kills rats quickly and effectively. It is easy to use and sets with a single touch. Escape is virtually impossible with the Secure Catch design, and the trap is non-toxic. The convenient grab-tab feature makes for easier disposal. Kills rats guaranteed! (Satisfaction guaranteed or your money back)\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Traps Rats Very Effectively, Easy to Set and Reuse\\n\\nReview: The Tomcat Secure Kill Rat Trap worked great at trapping the nosey little rats in our neighbor's apple tree. For weeks now, I've been seeing a rat or two running from the tree and across the fence that we share with the neighbors. Knowing that a single rat can mean many rats, I went ahead and set out the trap to see if I'd catch anything. Within a night, we ended up catching a rat using peanut butter as bait. Since setting the trap daily, we've caught a total of five of these little furry hooligans.\\n\\nSetting the trap is much easier than the old wooden spring traps. To bait and set the trap, simply fill the small cylinder container with some bait (peanut butter, nuts, luncheon meat, etc) then push down on the large plastic plate to set the trap. The jaws of the trap will open at this point, and the trigger plate will rise a bit. At this point, you can set the trap perpendicular to the wall (or on the fence as we did) to wait for an unsuspecting rodent to steal the bait and hopefully trap itself. The trap springs very quickly and I'm assuming kills the rodent instantaneously. You can push the plate to release the rat into the trash and reuse the trap, or if you're squeamish, you can chuck the entire thing. This is a very easy to set and operate trap - it's so much easier to reset than the old wooden traps, and works very effectively.\",\n \"Product: Zoo Meds most popular Clamp Lamp fixture is available in three sizes: 5 1/2(14cm) 8 1/2\\\"(22cm) or 10\\\"(25cm) diameter domes. Made of heavy gauge painted aluminum. All three models have a ceramic socket and can be used with the Clamp Lamp Safety Cover to protect your bulbs animals and home.\\\"\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Used This Lamp for About Five Years and Still Going Strong\\n\\nReview: I purchased the ZooMed 5.5\\\" Heating lamp for my chicks four years ago. My chicks are long grown into hens, but the lamp has found a new purpose in our household - it now keeps my cockatiel warm and toasty during the winter months. I'm very pleased with the overall durability of this lamp. The lamp is adjustable for heat output, it's survived getting banged around while moving it from place to place, and even after using it for extended periods of time it still works as good as the day I bought it. This lamp does come with a clamp that can be easily put on or removed. The clamp is strong and allows the lamp to be adjusted in almost any direction. Currently, our lamp is sitting on top of a metal birdcage without issues.\\n\\nThe cord is fairly short, which isn't a big deal for me as the outlet is near my cockatiel's cage, and the unit can accommodate many bulbs. I'm currently using the same infrared bulb for my cockatiel that I used on my chicks four years ago (durability of the bulb is amazing too!), and my bird is happy and warm. Overall, very pleased with the lamp - I would definitely buy this lamp again.\",\n \"Product: The Exo Terra Heat-Glo Infrared Terrarium Heat Lamp emits infrared heatwaves and is a typical heating lamp. Heat is important for reptiles, as it is essential for their activity and digestion. The red glass transmits infrared waves produced by the special filament, and the lamp has a special built-in reflector to direct the heat in any direction required. The Exo Terra Heat-Glo Infrared Terrarium Heat Lamp does not disrupt normal reptile activity, making it an excellent 24-hour radiant heat source.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Bulb Works Well, Keeps My Chicks Happy\\n\\nReview: UPDATE\\nI purchased this bulb in 2013, and it's now almost 2016 and I'm still on the same bulb. My chicks are long grown up and no longer need the heat, so I started using the bulb to keep my cockatiel warm in his cage at night. Despite being turned on and off daily, the bulb still works. I'm very impressed with the durability and longevity of these bulbs. I will definitely be buying another bulb once (if?) this bulb burns out.\\n\\n--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------\\n\\nI used this bulb in a heat lamp in order to keep 4 chicken chicks happy and warm. The light works fabulously - it's warm without being overly bright and because everything looks red in the brooder, the chicks don't peck at each other. I've used it for for 2 batches of chicks so far, and haven't had any problems with burnout. Highly recommended.\",\n \"Product: Flea and tick control when you need it The popular Zodiac line helps pet owners stop existing flea and tick problems dead -- and prevent their reoccurrence -- with a full selection of proven, affordably priced products.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Works Only \\\"Okay\\\" - Doesn't Seem to Be Effective for a Month\\n\\nReview: Even in the dead of California winter, the fleas do not rest. I'm not sure where they're coming from as there's no evidence of fleas in the house, and it's been cold and rainy out for the past few months, but occasionally my bro will find a rogue flea on the dogs. The Zodiac Flea and Tick Spot on seems to help keep the rogue flea or two at bay, but doesn't seem to last nearly as long as advertised. Beagle Scout and Whip Tail the Oblivious are both short haired dogs who are half indoor/outdoor. They get bathed as needed, usually once every month or two. The Zodiac Flea drops seem to work initially, but wears out quickly. My bro gave his dogs a bath and applied the drops when they were damp and mostly dried. The drops worked about for 2 weeks before he checked his dogs and spotted a rogue flea. While he noted this stuff works okay, it wasn't as good as the regular drops he's used, and concluded that these drops were \\\"cost effective, but only worked okay\\\".\",\n \"Product: Birds, especially parrots, have the urge and need to chew on things. The Paradise Toys Popsicle Sticks chew toy is the perfect thing to keep your favorite feathered friend happily occupied for hours on end. The toy will make Birdy delirious as he or she gleefully attacks the wooden sticks. Its pure joy to them and theyll love you forever when you hang it in their cage. Buy this fun and funky bird toy today and give your bird the time of their life.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Great Toy for a Smaller Bird/Non Aggressive Chewer\\n\\nReview: My cockatiel is definitely not a big chewer. For months I've been trying to find the right toy for him because he seems so hesitant to forage and bite into things. He didn't seem to be interested in any toy until he got the Caitec Paradise Popsicle Stick toy - this was the first toy that he totally went to town on. The design is insanely simple - it's really just a metal wire with popsicle sticks and wooden beads threaded through. While I could make this myself, for $2.xx, it's budget friendly and I don't have to spend hours stringing up a toy for him. The wood fairly easy for my bird to bite through, but because he's not very destructive, it did take some time for him to work through. The colors are bright, the toy is appealing, and my little Momo had a great time playing with all the parts. The pieces are big enough where he can't accidentally swallow or choke on. Overall, this is a great toy for a small bird or one who is not an aggressive chewer like mine.\",\n \"Product: Even small dogs need a large amount of nutrition. That's why every bag of PEDIGREE Small Dog Roasted Chicken, Rice & Vegetable Flavor Dry Dog Food has the vitamins and minerals small breed dogs need to be healthy and happy. Made with whole grains, protein and omega-6 fatty acids, PEDIGREE Small Dog Food helps your dog look and feel their best. Best of all, our oral care kibble gently clean their teeth with every bite. Now with no high fructose corn syrup, no artificial flavors, and no added sugar.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Filler Dog Food - Primarily Corn and By Products Dog Food, My Dog Though it was OK Only\\n\\nReview: The Pedigree Small Dog Adult Food was well received by the VIP (very important Papillon), but not finished by him. The food itself isn't all that bad, but it definitely is not a food I would be feeding my dog on a regular basis - it's really just a lot of fillers when it comes down to it. The first few ingredients include:\\nGround Whole Grain Corn, Poultry By-Product Meal (Source Of Glucosamine & Chondroitin Sulfate), Brewers Rice, Corn Gluten Meal, Soybean Meal, Animal Fat (Source Of Omega 6 Fatty Acids [Preserved With Bha/Citric Acid]), Meat And Bone Meal (Source Of Calcium), Ground Whole Grain Wheat, Natural Flavor (Source Of Meatier Flavor), Chicken By-Product Meal, Salt\\n\\nLike most human diets, it's really not all that great to be filling up on all that carbohydrates - dogs are primarily meat eaters, and while my dog thrives on a raw diet, he does miss having some type of crunchy kibble like stuff in his bowl, so I like to supplement with various dog foods. This is probably the first time he didn't finish all the kibble for his afternoon snack - it's simply the equivalent to \\\"doggie junk food\\\", and while it was initially appealing to him, he didn't find the need nor desire to finish it all. That said, this kibble did not give him any type of digestive issues, so it was okay in my book. Overall, if you're looking for a cheap treat for your dogs, this would fit the bill perfectly - but I wouldn't feed this as a standalone dog food only. You truly get what you pay for, and this is mostly filler.\",\n \"Product: ZiwiPeak Good-Dog Lamb Treats contain 100% air-dried natural, fresh, lamb meat. Our treats are a great training tool and a way to reward your loved companion. Like our cuisine, our treats help with a dogs digestion, energy, vitality, healthy coat and skin, reduced bad breath and other health benefits.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Minimal Ingredients, Happy Pappy Loved The Flavor\\n\\nReview: The ZiwiPeak Lamb Dog Treats were a hit with the Prince Papillon. The treats have a nice prominent and appealing lamb scent to them, and apparently they must taste very good as my dog was very eager to train to get more. Each piece varies in size with a majority of the pieces being about the size of a penny. The treats sounded slightly crunchy, but didn't crumble while my dog ate it. These are not quite chewy jerky treats, but definitely not biscuits either - I would say the texture is like an easier to eat jerky.\\n\\nMy dog enjoyed the snack and didn't have any issues during or after eating these treats. His tummy accepted the treats well and digested just fine. The ingredients are few: lamb meat, lecithin, inulin from chicory, parsley, and mixed tocopherols. I really like how these treats are so few in ingredients - with minimal processing, I feel like I'm giving my dog something tasty and healthy. This is a treat I think will stay in my dog's treat rotation.\",\n \"Product: Healthy-Hide is proud to introduce Good 'n' Fun, a family of premium gourmet dog chews in a variety of flavors, shapes and sizes your pooch will relish. Entertain your dog with goodness! Whether youre canine companion is a hard-working herder, a playful Lab, or a cute and cuddly Corgi, your dogs deserve the best quality in treats and chews that entertain, reward, and nourish them. For almost 50 years, Healthy-Hide has formulated and manufactured beef hide chews in eight international food-grade facilities, earning the highest U.S. and international quality certifications in the industry. We developed the Healthy-Hide brand with our commitment to excellence in mind: it's the brand you can trust for the highest quality products that your dog will enjoy.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: My Dog LOVES These Treats - Only Drawback is that They're Made in China\\n\\nReview: The Good 'n' Fun Triple Flavor Wings were a HIT with the Happy Pappy. Of the many treats my dog has enjoyed over the year, these are the first treat that I've taken out that I'm slightly jealous he gets to eat - they smell delicious! The treat is made up of two parts - a meaty piece of chicken meat that's been dried, and a \\\"popsicle stick\\\" that's made of beef and pork hide. The sticks are fairly thin and easy enough for my dog to chew through within a few minutes. The chicken piece is large in size and the part that my dog makes a beeline to when he first receives the treat.\\n\\nOf the many dog chews I've given my papillon, this is one that has kept his interest after eating the first one. After eating one of these, he's been snubbing his bully sticks, duck feet, and only rawhide snacks in favor of these treats. The only quip I have about these particular treats is that they are made in China. If you're willing to take that small risk, then you've got a great treat option for your dog that they'll love.\",\n \"Product: Good 'n' Fun brand contains a savory smorgasbord of flavors that dogs love most. These delicious chew treats are made from the finest ingredients, including premium beef hide and real chicken, to create truly delightful, long-lasting treats your dog will love. Good 'n' Fun Triple Flavor Twists contain a delicious combination of three flavors that dogs love most. These all natural chew treats are made from the finest pork and beef hides, then wrapped with real chicken jerky to create this truly delightful, long lasting treat your dog will love. These uniquely shaped treats are high in protein and 98% fat free. Satisfy your dog's natural urge to chew with a healthy and delicious gourmet dog treat. Triple flavor Twists help promote better dental hygeine by reducing tartar and calculus buildup. The natural chewing action helps reduce tartar buildup and remove plaque at the same time! Give your pup a flavorful snack you can feel good about.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: My Papillon Loved These Treats...but They Are Made in China\\n\\nReview: The GoodnFun Triple Flavor Ribs went over very well with the Very Important Papillon (VIP). The rolled chews were large enough for him to work on for several minutes, easy enough for him to chew through without hurting his mouth or teeth, and they apparently have a great flavor because he was very treat motivated to get these. These treats did not cause any type of digestive problems for my dog, and the input/output while and after eating this treat was normal. While my dog did enjoy these treats, like many other reviewer I am hesitant to purchase these for him to eat as these are made in China. While I don't think these will cause any problems, Id rather not take the risk of getting my little fur baby sick should he get a bad batch. Overall, a fun tasty treat for your dog, but made in a country with few food regulations.\",\n \"Product: \\\"Work 'n Chew\\\" food nutritionally complete excellent foraging food great meal or treat excellent conversion food Birds need nutritional variety and foraging excitement. Great foraging food Avi-cakes were designed to provide your bird with a variety of beak and tongue sensations. Your feathered friend will love holding, pulling and tearing at each square. We believe your bird's food can be both exciting and nutritious. Nutritionally balanced Just for your Bird top avian nutritionists, veterinarians and behavioral consultants worked together creating Avi-Cakes. Avi-Cakes were specifically designed for the nutritional demands of birds: for iridescent feathers; for a strong beak and bones; and for bright eyes. Avi-Cakes are a mixture of premium seeds mixed 50-50 with nutritionally balancing pellets all held together with a great tasting molasses binder. Avi-cakes are perfect as a complete meal or as a special treat. Omega 3 & 6 Balanced Avi-Cakes Balancing the Omega Fatty Acids increases immune function. Generally, increased immune function helps the body's ability to fight disease. Avi- Cakes are now Omega 3 & 6 fatty acids balanced. Balanced omega 3 & 6's also improves the quality of the skin. More than ever, Avi-Cakes provide excellent nutrition for your loved feathered companion. Naturally Preserved Avi-Cakes Our veterinarians and nutritionist determined the best combination of natural preservatives, specifically mixed tocopherols and citric acid, to protect the nutrients of Avi-Cakes. Guaranteeing the nutritional quality you and your bird have come to expect from Lafeber Company. Keys to Making a Great Avi-Cake All the seeds and grains are hand inspected for cleanliness and freshness.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Must Crumble Up Before Serving - Treats Get Rock Hard After an Hour or So\\n\\nReview: The Lafeber's Fruit Delight Avi-Cakes are a tasty treat for your little hookbill. The cakes arrived to our house well within the expiration date, and the treats were well received by our resident Feathered Alarm System. The treats arrived broken in chunks, but were fresh and soft in the bag. It had a nice fruity scent to it, and after breaking it up into smaller pieces into my bird's bowl, he ate it quite happily. My bird is on a completely pelleted diet, so this was a welcome treat to add to his food, although for some reason he won't eat it when I left it in his bowl in whole chunks. I later found out that he didn't like the texture...this is because while the treats come out of the bag soft, they get rock hard after an hour or so when exposed to air. I've purchased regular Avi-Cakes before and they've never gotten hard, so I'm not sure if this is because these are the fruit variety, or because Lafeber's changed the recipe. All I know is these get really hard, and my bird doesn't like it. Now I know some birds would love this challenge of breaking it apart and chewing it to pieces, but my bird isn't really big on chewing hard items. He loves shredding those husk and jute toys apart, but chewing on wood - or rock hard treats in this case - isn't his thing. If you have a heavy chewer in your bird family, this would be a good item to get.\\n\\nIn terms of nutrition, these are on par with most pelleted diets. The primary ingredients of the Avi-Cakes are corn, soybean meal, and wheat flour. There are various seeds, fruit pieces, and other ingredients (including corn syrup) included. I personally would not use this as a whole diet for your bird, but instead as a treat, simply because there's too much sugar included in these cakes. If you are transitioning your bird from a whole seed diet to pellets, these would be a good bridge before converting. As always, I would suggest having plenty of fresh veg and greens available for your bird as well. Overall, if you're looking for a nice treat for your bird, or are transitioning your bird from a full seed diet, these are okay to consider.\",\n \"Product: MP-8/MP-1-SCP-2 Chrome Color: Chrome Features: -33 Quart container stores up to 25 lbs. -12 Quart container stores up to 10 lbs. -Great for dog food, cat kibble and bird food. -Set includes a 25-pound airtight container, 10-pound airtight treat/travel container and a 2 cup food scoop. -Keeps food fresh and pests out. Country of Manufacture: -United States. Product Type: -Food storage container. Set Size: -4. Dimensions: -Container bottom height: 13.25\\\". Overall Height - Top to Bottom: -18.6\\\". Overall Height - Top to Bottom: -17.1\\\". Overall Width - Side to Side: -10.8\\\". Overall Depth - Front to Back: -16.5\\\". Overall Product Weight: -4.656 lbs.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Holds a 50 lb Bag of Rice in one Container, A Little Over 10 LB in the Other\\n\\nReview: The large container holds a full 50 lb bag of rice...I repeat - 50 POUNDS of glorious grainy goodness fits in the bottom container! Needless to say, I was thrilled to find that I wouldn't have to shell out $50+ for a rice dispensing container. The IRIS Pet Foot container is like any other large tupperware container. The plastic is fairly rigid with some flexibility, the lid is connected to the clear base and flips upwards on the shorter end of the container, and the latch holds the lid down firmly in place. I question if this container is truly \\\"airtight\\\" as the gasket going around the lid is not rubber, but is white foam. While this wouldn't affect my rice any (nor let any insects in), I can imagine over time that this wouldn't hold up - but I could be wrong. I will update the review as the years go by. I have another smaller container by IRIS for my dog's food that has the same gasket, and so far his food has maintained its crunchy texture.\\n\\nThe smaller container sits right on top of the larger container, but is not latched onto the larger container in any way. There are grooves in the lid of the larger container, so the smaller container will not shift around nor move should you nudge the top container or decide to utilize the wheels on the unit and move the entire set around. The top container holds about half of a 25 lb bag of brown rice as I speak - a 10 lb bag of rice should fit in the top container without any issues. It's dimensions are small enough where I can put the entire container on my bottom shelf since I don't want to be lifting that thing off the larger container.\\n\\nOverall, I'm pretty happy with these containers. They hold a lot, don't take up much space, and protect my food.\",\n \"Product: These black color bags will last you a year or more!! The patent pending bags has an easy pull & cut feature that works with our special designed dispenser. In addition, it will also work with most general dog bag dispensers on the market. Please note these are core less without the spindle in the middle. Designed for less plastic waste for the environment.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Your Dog Won't Care About These, But your Neighbor Will\\n\\nReview: I swear, if aliens exist and happened to get a glimpse of people walking their dogs, they would swear that the dog is the dominant species on this planet. Though my dog is miniature in size, he seems to have a hidden stomach somewhere that is in constant production. You can almost see that devious little grin on his face after he's processed a fresh one for me to pick up after. With 1000 bags and one (sometimes two!) walks a day, my dog is easily set for almost 3 years! These bags are sturdy enough so I don't have to suffer the indignities of having doggie pudding on my hands, are discreet so the neighbors won't know I'm the one flinging bags of poop in the park, and while they don't smell like a rose (more like plastic), they tie up easily so I don't have to smell any of the contents inside of the bag while I'm on the mad search for a rubbish bin. Also, for the people with the larger dogs, the bags are large enough to hold some mighty large deposits. I apologize for the sheer volume of logs you need to pick up, but greatly appreciate the effort.\\n\\nOverall very pleased with these bags. Your dog won't care, but your neighbors will be very happy to see you flash one out and use 'em.\",\n \"Product: FURminator deOdorizing Ultra Premium Shampoo for Dogs gently eliminates strong odors with a safe formulation intended for monthly use. aThis shampoo was enriched with baking soda and vegetable protein extract to naturally absorb odors and to help remove loose fur and thereby reduce excess shedding. The FURminator deOdorizing Ultra Premium Shampoo for Dogs is free of parabens and chemical dyes and was made here in the USA to ensure its quality. This bottle contains 16 fluid ounces of the shampoo, which is formulated to be safe for both cats and dogs over 6 weeks of age. Keep your pet smelling fresh and looking great with a shampoo created by grooming experts and order this FURminator deOdorizing Shampoo today Key Features: Fortified with baking soda and vegetable proteins to remove and absorb odors No parabens or chemical dyes Made in the USA\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Makes My Dog's Hair Soft, Fluffy, and Smells Nice\\n\\nReview: My little Papillon is such a diva that he needs to get a bath at least every other week or he'll start to getting fussy - or at least the husband will since the dog will start smelling like a dog again. The FURminator deOdorizing Shampoo does a fine job at getting my prissy little pup very clean. The shampoo has a nice fruity scent to it, doesn't lather up too much so it's easy to rinse out, doesn't irritate my dog's skin, and makes his fur very soft feeling once dry. The shampoo does get the \\\"doggie smell\\\" out of my dog's coat, but I can't say that the deodorizing aspect of this shampoo lasts any longer than his normal shampoo.\\n\\nOverall, this is a nice shampoo to get your dog clean, but I can't say it's my favorite shampoo for him. The deodorizing aspect doesn't work any longer than other brands, and there's simply other brands that I like better for his fur (particularly the whitening type). That said, this isn't a bad shampoo to consider - it's definitely worth a try if available.\",\n \"Product: Your dog deserves the best lifethe life of a Top Dog. This nutrient-rich recipe supports overall health and strong muscles by combining two high-quality proteins: hearty, USA-sourced beef and omega-rich ocean fish meal. This satisfying meal offers a unique blend of 20 nutritious superfoods, as well as whole-grain brown rice for healthy digestion. Show the world what your dog is made of! As America's first holistic pet food, Solid Gold has over 40 years of experience developing transformative nutrition for your pet. All of the balanced recipes have 20 nutrient-dense superfoods and clean, high-quality proteins. Solid Gold's holistic approach delivers results that you can see and your dog can feel.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Good Dog Food for Your Small Dog\\n\\nReview: The Solid Gold Leaping Waters Salmon and Chicken Dog food was really well received by Super Papillon. The food comes in a small plastic tin that can be opened via peel top. The canister is about the size of a standard tuna can. The food is nice and chunky, and visible peas and other bits are clearly recognizable. The food doesn't smell too bad, and the dog really reacted well to this food - he enjoyed eating it and didn't have any issues after eating it.\\n\\nIn terms of price, the food is about $1.50 per canister - not terribly expensive considering this food is grain free, but it is still much more expensive than cooking chicken and mincing it up with fresh veg myself. With that in mind, the convenience is great, and while I still offer my dog some of my dinners with his kibble, this is a great option for when I'm too busy to even cook for myself. Overall, this is a solid dog food for your small pup - it's healthy, apparently tasty, and will not give your dog any gastronomical distress. Like all dog foods, definitely try a can before committing to buying in bulk.\",\n \"Product: NUTRO KITCHEN CLASSICS Steamed Fish & Sweet Potato Dinner Premium Loaf is a tasty recipe crafted for Healthy Skin & Coat and helps support healthy digestion. This natural dog food offers complete nutrition, rich in nutrients and full of flavor. NUTRO Quality Pledge: Natural ingredients carefully sourced from our trusted network of farmers and suppliers, no chicken by-product meal, soy, artificial flavors or preservatives.\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: Gave My Dog the Runs, Vomiting\\n\\nReview: The Prince Papillon of our house is by no means a picky dog - he enjoys trying new foods, is open to trying new treats, and has a wonderfully cast iron stomach that can handle most treats that fall before his little nose. Unfortunately, the NUTRO Kitchen Classics did not bode well for our pup. This was the first dog food in a long time that my dog completely snubbed. Thinking that someone must've fed him earlier, I took away the food from him and returned it later for his evening meal, which he ate reluctantly. For the first time in years he had an accident in the house with the runs. Thinking it may have been that he was sick from something else and not the dog food, we switched him to a mild diet, and kept a close eye on him as he supplemented his diet with grass and some foamy heaving in the yard the next day. He recovered quickly and about a week later I tried the dog food again with him because I was in a hurry to get him something eat before heading out for the day's activities. By the afternoon, our poor pap was again in gastronomical distress and busied himself in the yard with pooping, dry/foamy heaving, and eating grass again. There was no mistaking it - this food was to blame. We unceremoniously ended up tossing the lot - it wasn't expired, but it definitely didn't agree with our dog.\",\n \"Product: Pup-Peroni dog snacks have a taste dogs simply cant resist. Don't forget to take a package along so you can treat your four-legged friend wherever you pal around! Dogs Just Know.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Crack for Dogs - Picky Papillon LOVES These Snacks, but Not So Healthy Snack - Good For Occasional Treat\\n\\nReview: The Pup-Peroni Slow Roasted Jerky Treats are the doggie equivalent of Flamin' Hot Cheetos - they're totally unhealthy for you, you probably should eat them in small quantities, but dang they taste good and you want to eat the entire bag in a single sitting. While these aren't the healthiest treat, my Picky Little Papillon LOVED these - we're talking \\\"follow me around the house on his best behavior\\\" type stalking in order to get these treats. The treats are broken up into various sizes in the bag, and because of their soft clay like texture, these can be broken up further to use as training treats. These treats are also very heavily scented, so don't be surprised if your hands, the rug, and pretty much anything these treats touch smell like smokey dog snacks afterwards.\\n\\nThe ingredients include pork, beef, soy grits, sugar glycerin, salt, ground peas, garlic powder, gelatin, potassium sorbate, caramel color, paprika extract, natural smoke flavor, mixed tocopherols, onion extract, and rosemary extract. According to the package, these treats are made in Spanish Fork, Utah. My dog hasn't had any digestive issues since starting to eat these, and they don't seem to be affecting his health adversely either.\\n\\nAt 1.2 lbs per bag, these snacks will last a LONG time - and thankfully they come in a ziploc sealed type bag because with one spoiled dog in this house, he really can't eat all these snacks in a single sitting. Overall, while these aren't the healthiest treat out there, my dog is clearly enthusiastic to work for these and who am I to deny him what he thinks is one of the best snacks on earth.\",\n \"Product: The Dingo brand combines powerful flavors and benefits to create bones, chews and treats that are sure to keep you and your dog wanting more. With a wide variety of shapes and flavors, there are options for any size companion. Reward your dog with a delicious treat that satisfies you both! Dingo Munchy Stix are delicious treats your dog can't resist! Dogs love the great taste of real chciken, and Dingo Munchy Stix are made with teh highest quality ingredients to give your dog an easy to chew munchy treat that's bursting with flavor. The natural action of chewing helps to promote clean teeth as well!\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Cute Little Treat for Small Dogs, No Actual Cheese in the Treat - Just Cheese Flavoring\\n\\nReview: The VIP (Very Important Papillon) found the Dingo Indulgence Cheese Mini Bones to his liking. These bones are perfectly designed for small/toy breed dogs, although these will likely work well for medium dogs who are not aggressive chewers. The bones are about 2.5\\\" in length, and about the thickness of a Sharpie pen. The ends are knotted to about the size of a small bounce ball, and one end is \\\"dipped in cheese\\\". While this is advertised a a cheese bone, there really isn't any cheese in this treat. The ingredients are as follows: rawhide, chicken, maltodextrin, potato starch, sorbitol, pork, salt, potassium sorbate, natural cheese flavor, FD&C red #40, dextrose, FD&C yellow 6.\\n\\nMy little VIP enjoyed chewing on this treat, and it did take him some time to get through it. In terms of scent, it wasn't as exciting to him as a bully stick, but it was definitely more interesting than a plain rawhide treat. My only complaint is the extraneous ingredients in this treat in comparison to plain bully sticks or dried duck feet/etc. Dogs don't really need the extra salt, preservatives, or artificial colorings, and while it's nice to have that contrasting orange and red on the bone, my dog really can't see that coloring anyways, so it's really just for us humans to look at. I noticed my dog didn't care about this added \\\"cheese flavor\\\" either - he did end up chewing it off, but he didn't make a beeline for it. After eating the treat, he didn't have any gastrointestinal issues. Overall, it's a nice treat to get your dog if you can overlook some of the unhealthier ingredients.\",\n \"Product: These pink color EZ brand bags will last you a year or more!! The specially designed bags has an easy pull & cut feature that works with our specially designed dispensers. Its form follow function In addition, it will also work with most general dog bag dispensers on the market. Please note these bags are core-less without the plastic spindle in the middle. Designed for less plastic waste for the environment.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Great Bags for the Price, Durable and Holds Doggie Deposits Well\\n\\nReview: People who want to color coordinate everything with their beautiful Miss Fluffy rejoice! You too can get adorably pink poo poo bags to match your dog's collar, leash, jacket, dog bowls - we're talking pink-a-palooza here, people! Or, if you're like me and have a boy dog who really doesn't care, you can get over 1000 poop bags and a little bone shaped holder for less than $15...this is not only cheaper than my local pet store, but also cheaper than other brands online.\\n\\nThe bags themselves, while pink, do exactly the same as other pick up bags. The bags are a little thicker than a produce bag, but not quite as thick as a plastic carrying bag. I'm not terribly particular about the thickness as I am about the durability of the bags - I really don't want digested dog snacks on my hand, so as long as I can pick up the goods without actually touching it, I'm happy. The bags I received have, so far, not had any holes, tears, or tube bags in the batch. They're unscented, but I don't really care as when I take my dog for a walk I usually toss them in the trash bin at the park. For those who use their own rubbish bins to put the poop packs in, I would probably put these filled bags inside another larger plastic tab as I don't think these are thick enough to keep all the smell contained.\\n\\nWhile the bags by themselves are great, the thing that makes this set a bags a real winner is the white bone shaped bag dispenser. The bag dispenser not only holds the bags conveniently in one place, but when you pull a bag out, it automatically rips off thanks to a small tab on the dispenser. it's really a very clever design, and anything that makes picking up poop easier is appreciated. Added bonus: because there is no spool in the bags, reloading is really easy - just drop the bags and go!\\n\\nOverall, I'm pleased with the quality of the bags, and love the little bone bag holder. With this many bags, my dog and I are set for many walks to come.\",\n \"Product: Provides dual filtration to ensure clean and fresh water. No drip reservoir means refilling the tank is easier with no mess and a continuous flow means continuous filtration. A great solution for your thirsty pet!.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Good Fountain for Small Dogs, Still Looking for Source for Replacement Filters\\n\\nReview: The Papillon dog prince of the house approved of his new water station. While my dog wasn't overly picky about drinking out of his previous no frills ceramic water bowl, I really didn't like having to constantly refill it for him, and dealing with the little bits of hair and food that he would leave behind on the bottom of the bowl. My dog hasn't used any other fountain, so I can make comparisons to other brands, but I can say that both the dog and I love this new water bowl set up. He gets filtered water that's free of hair and bits, and I don't have to refill the bowl so frequently anymore.\\n\\nThe fountain was easy enough to set up - after a quick wash, I inserted the white particle filter and charcoal filter, filled the bowl and reservoir with water, then plugged the whole thing in. The water comes out similar to a human drinking fountain and doesn't make much noise. The water circulation is low enough so that the water doesn't splash out, and the bowl is wide enough where my dog can drink easily without splashing water out himself. The reservoir can be removed while the fountain is running for refills, and there is an indentation in the back of the reservoir so that it is easily gripped with a single hand. There is a spring loading stopper than keeps the reservoir from emptying when you remove it, so you don't have to worry about water coming out when you remove it from the base.\\n\\nAesthetically, the fountain is not the most beautiful fountain I've seen, but neither my dog nor I really care - he likes drinking the fresh moving water, and I like that he's been drinking more water and I don't have to refill it every day. This is definitely a functional fountain. My only issue with the fountain is the filters. The unit is supposed to come with two charcoal filters, but I only received one in my package. In addition, it's stated that you should replace the charcoal filters every 2-4 weeks, but I could not find where you can purchase new filters. The are not available on Amazon.com, and I couldn't find them at PetsMart as per the instruction manual suggested. I am still looking for an alternative filter to use in the meantime, but for now, the instructions note that you don't need to use the filters to operate the fountain as long as you have the particle filter. The particle filter can be rinsed and cleaned as needed.\\n\\nOverall, with quiet operation, no splash back, and ease of use, I'm quite pleased with this unit. I definitely noticed my dog drinking more water, and he's happy to use it.\",\n \"Product: Help your senior dog fight signs of aging with IAMS PROACTIVE HEALTH Senior Plus Dry Dog Food. Our hearty dog food is made with real chicken as the first ingredient, plus naturally sourced chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine, our senior dog food for dogs 11 years and older is designed to promote lean muscles and nourish healthy joints. IAMS PROACTIVE HEALTH Food for Dogs also is enriched with antioxidants for a strong immune system. Your senior dog will love the savory poultry flavors, and you will like that each bowl contains 100% complete and balanced nutrition without using any fillers. Give your senior dog our wholesome dog food with premium nutrition to help them look and feel their best.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Made My Dog Super Gassy! That Aside, Dog Did Enjoy These Tiny Nibbles\\n\\nReview: <div id=\\\"video-block-RGQW328R1CIJP\\\" class=\\\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\\\"></div><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/91zBRNOFlOS.mp4\\\" class=\\\"video-url\\\"><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/A1UODfbRidS.png\\\" class=\\\"video-slate-img-url\\\"> The Pampered Papillon loves to eat, and while he enjoys his raw diet, he likes to mix things up occasionally and snack on a crunchy treat like kibble. Happy Pappy gladly ate this kibble offering as an afternoon snack and didn't seem to have any issues until an hour or two later when the tooting began. He and I both seemed shocked when he started butt bugling from early evening until bedtime. I returned him to his normal raw diet to see if it was something I was feeding him, and he had no issues. On a different day, I gave him an afternoon treat of a different kibble and he had no issues. I tried Iams once again on yet another day, and sure enough, he started tooting to throughout the evening. It's undeniable - this stuff causes gas!\\n\\nThe tooting aside, Happy Pappy didn't seem to have any issues with this dog food. It didn't cause him pain or digestive issues, nor did it cause him to make a mad rush to yard to the grass (to eat or otherwise!). He really enjoyed eating the tiny kibble, and while I'm not thrilled with all the by product ingredients and inclusion of grain, we are giving this to him as a treat, so it's not a huge issue. Overall, while my dog enjoyed this food, I will likely stick to a kibble with fewer ingredients and no grain simply to avoid the gas issue this one created.\",\n \"Product: Dogs know pants are overrated, and that's why they love our Naked Essentials kibble. Grains? Fillers? Artificial anything? No way. More like real meat as the first ingredient and our Happy Tummeez Prebiotics + Probiotics to keep your dog feeling just right. Bonus? It's on shelves in grocery stores for your convenience, so you can stock up on human snacks and invite us over for a game of Bark-o Polo.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Very Important Papillon Ate and Enjoyed I and love and you - Small Kibble Great for Small Dogs\\n\\nReview: The I and love and you Chicken Dog Food was eaten by the VIP (Very Important Papillon), digested by the VIP, and output by the VIP - and all went well. The kibble is the perfect size for small dog - each heart shaped piece is flat and about the size of a pea. Because of the flattened shape, it's easy for both small and medium dogs to eat without having to work too hard. As an added bonus, these don't roll around like round kibble does. Like most kibbles, my dog wasn't terribly excited about eating it, but he did eat it, unlike some other kibbles. When mixed with his raw diet, he ate it without spitting it out - overall, there must be something right with the flavor since he didn't spit any of it out. He didn't have any stomach issues when eating this kibble, nor did he have any issues when it came out digested.\\n\\nThe first few ingredients include chicken, chicken meal, turkey meat, lentils, chickpeas, pea protein, chicken fat, dried beet pulp, dried sweet potatoes, duck, pea starch, whole ground flax seed and natural flavoring. I'm not particularly thrilled about seeing the chicken meal (derived from the 4D - dead, dying, diseased, and disabled animals), as well as the beet pulp, and natural flavoring a - but in comparison to other dog foods which include excessive fillers, this dog food isn't all that bad. The remainder of the ingredients include a mix of vitamins, other dried ingredients (carrots, chicory root, lettuce, etc), and fermentation products. I'm assuming the pre and probiotics included help with digestion for my dog - similar to yogurt - and for the most part, the ingredients list is much better than conventional filler filled cheaper dog food.\\n\\nOverall, if you're looking for a better than average dog food, this is a good one to consider. Like all dog foods, taste for the dog is highly subjective - if you can get a sample size to try on your dog, you can see if your dog actually eats this before committing to buying a huge bag.\",\n \"Product: Dingo brand combines powerful flavors and benefits to create bones, chews and treats that are sure to keep your dog wanting more. Pet parents want the best for their dogs and only the most wholesome and delicious treats will do. With a wide variety of shapes and flavors, there are options for any size companion. Dogs love the great taste of pork hide, and they'll love it even more with real chicken in the center! Dinog Porkie Rolls provide the variety your pup craves ina fun and delicious treat. Stuffed with a chewy chicken center and wrapped in real pork hide, they are irresistible and bursting with flavor! Made with the hgihest quality ingredients and 100% rawhide free, you will feel good about giving your dog this tasty treat. Each pack contains 15 roll chews. Feed one a day and always provide plenty of fresh drinking water. Select a chew slightly larger than your pet's mouth.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Not Real Chicken in the Center, Dog Snubbed After First Chew, Made in China\\n\\nReview: The Pampered Papillon is a fair and objective reviewer of all food items. He's very willing to try out new foods without complaint, and never snubs a food until after he's given it a fair try. The Dingo Porkie Rolls initially seemed like a winner. My dog was very enthusiastic to chew on the first roll, and because he's a small dog and these are cigar sized, the chew lasted a good day and a half for him. In the morning, I later found something in his bed that looked like an orange version of a hot glue gun stick. Apparently my dog only ate the outside of the treat because the orange stick I found was the \\\"chicken\\\". I'm not sure what real chicken looks like in China (because that's where these are made), but the stick definitely had no resemblance to chicken I've ever seen. The stick smelled nice and smoky, but my dog wouldn't couldn't be bothered with eating it. In fact, after a few days I offered him a brand new rawhide covered stick, and he completely snubbed the offering. The orange \\\"chicken center\\\" is still sitting in his bed, untouched. This was the first Dingo snack my dog outright snubbed - I'm probably going check with my brother to see if his dogs will accept these treats...\\n\\nOverall, this is definitely a treat I will not be getting again. For those interested - there were 15 rolls in my package, the rolls are made similar to a croissant covered hot dog (rawhide is rolled around the stick), and the treats are not very oily but the scent will transfer to fabric/carpet material as these are very smokey flavored/scented. Ingredients are as follows: Porkhide, rice meal, corn starch, chicken, glycerin, sorbitol, peas, natural smoke flavor, xanthan gum, tetra sodium pyrophosphate, sodium tripolyphosphate, sodium propionate, potassium sorbate, and FD&C Yellow #6. Like all dog snacks, doggie opinion will vary - what my dog didn't like, your dog might.\",\n \"Product: Even small dogs need a large amount of nutrition. That's why every bag of PEDIGREE Small Dog Grilled Steak & Vegetable Flavor Dry Dog Food has the vitamins and minerals small breed dogs need to be healthy and happy. Made with whole grains, protein and omega-6 fatty acids, PEDIGREE Small Dog Food helps your dog look and feel their best. Best of all, our oral care kibble gently clean their teeth with every bite. Now with no high fructose corn syrup, no artificial flavors, and no added sugar.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Filler Dog Food - Primarily Corn and By Products Dog Food, My Dog Though it was OK Only\\n\\nReview: The Pedigree Small Dog Adult Food was well received by the VIP (very important Papillon), but not finished by him. The food itself isn't all that bad, but it definitely is not a food I would be feeding my dog on a regular basis - it's really just a lot of fillers when it comes down to it. The first few ingredients include:\\nGround Whole Grain Corn, Poultry By-Product Meal (Source Of Glucosamine & Chondroitin Sulfate), Brewers Rice, Corn Gluten Meal, Soybean Meal, Animal Fat (Source Of Omega 6 Fatty Acids [Preserved With Bha/Citric Acid]), Meat And Bone Meal (Source Of Calcium), Ground Whole Grain Wheat, Natural Flavor (Source Of Meatier Flavor), Chicken By-Product Meal, Salt\\n\\nLike most human diets, it's really not all that great to be filling up on all that carbohydrates - dogs are primarily meat eaters, and while my dog thrives on a raw diet, he does miss having some type of crunchy kibble like stuff in his bowl, so I like to supplement with various dog foods. This is probably the first time he didn't finish all the kibble for his afternoon snack - it's simply the equivalent to \\\"doggie junk food\\\", and while it was initially appealing to him, he didn't find the need nor desire to finish it all. That said, this kibble did not give him any type of digestive issues, so it was okay in my book. Overall, if you're looking for a cheap treat for your dogs, this would fit the bill perfectly - but I wouldn't feed this as a standalone dog food only. You truly get what you pay for, and this is mostly filler.\",\n \"Product: DISH Chicken & Brown Recipe from Rachael Ray Nutrish is made with simple, natural ingredients and added vitamins & minerals. Real U.S. farm-raised chicken is always the number one ingredient. And theres never any corn, wheat or soy. Youll also see weve added in whole ingredients like slow roasted chicken, carrots, peas, and apples.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Papillon Prince Approved, Good Ingredients, Doesn't Upset My Dog's Stomach\\n\\nReview: Rachael Ray Nutrish DISH dog food was voted \\\"best dry dog food\\\" by the Papillon Prince in this house. Well, it would be if he could talk - of the dry dog foods I've offered him, my dog was most willing to eat this food without complaint. The kibble comes in a variety of sizes (round and slightly smaller than a dime, tiny disk shaped, and tiny triangle shaped), there are dehydrated fruits and veggies in there (including carrot, peas, apple, and potato), and there are large chunks of dehydrated meat jerky in there. My dog immediately made a beeline for the jerky bits, and immediately spat every bit of carrot out of the bowl and onto the floor. This was a bit unusually since my dog usually enjoys raw carrot, but I guess the carrot tasted terrible to him. I'm not surprised by his love of the meaty bits - these bits are about the size of a quarter, and apparently taste much better than everything else in the bowl. That said, this kibble is primarily the pellets - while there are dehydrated fruits, veggies, and jerkys in there, there's definitely not as much is pictured. I'm guessing it's because most of these dehydrated bits are lightweight and get shifted to the top of the bag and used first - this isn't a huge issue to me as I usually add fresh veg to my dog's food anyways.\\n\\nThe food is easily digested, and my dog had no issues after eating it. The ingredients seem very good - I like the fact that there's no corn or soybean fillers, no by-products, and the fact that many of the ingredients are ones that are easily recognizable. When comparing this food to a more expensive Royal brand, this food seems actually better considering there is no corn or wheat products in it, but also the first few ingredients include ingredients like beef, chicken meal, dried peas, brown rice, and brewer's rice as opposed to Chicken meal, brewers rice, brown rice, corn, corn gluten meal. For those who looking at the percentages:\\n\\nCrude Protein (min): 26%\\nCrude Far (min): 14%\\nCrude Fiber (max): 4%\\nMoisture (max): 10%\\nLinoleic Acid (min): 2.2%\\nCalcium (min): 1.1%\\nPhosphorus (min): 0.9%\\nZinc (min): 250 mg/kg\\nVitamin A (min): 10,000 IU/kg\\nVitamin E (min): 225 IU/kg\\nAscorbic Acid (min): 55 mg/kg\\nAlpha-Linolenic Acid (min): 0.4%\\n\\nOverall, I'm very pleased with this kibble. It's nutritionally sound for my dog, doesn't cause upset stomach, and my dog enjoys eating it. It's definitely worth considering for your pet.\",\n \"Product: The Adams Flea and Tick Control Collar for Dogs kills adult fleas, ticks, flea eggs and flea larvae for up to 7 months. It prevents infestation by breaking the flea life cycle. The active ingredients work their way to the surface of the collar and is rubbed onto the fur of the animal. The active ingredients move through the oils and from hair to hair to cover the entire body and works even when wet. This collar can be fitted for all dogs with necks up to 26\\\".\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Seems to Keep Fleas at Bay, Effective When Used Along with Other Flea Prevention Products\\n\\nReview: As an owner of a bat eared, fuzzy faced Papillon, it's no secret that those big ears attract everything. Rogue burrs get stuck in the fur, matted hair is here and there, and fleas - well, they love taking refuge on those around those ears. The Adams Flea and Tick Collar for dogs is a good way to help supplement my dog's flea regimen. Along with using flea shampoo, pills, and drops, the flea collar helps keep those fleas away from his head, neck, and ears. Because we use flea drops and shampoo, I'm not entirely sure if this collar would keep fleas away from the remainder of his back and body (and I'm not going to stop to test it out), but it does seem to repel fleas from around his head.\\n\\nOverall, this isn't a bad item to add to your dog's flea regimen, particularly if you live in an area that has a lot of them. The collar is lightweight, easy to put on, and seems to be effective at keeping fleas at bay. However, I wouldn't utilize this as a flea control product by itself. Given that flea drops and shampoo works so well as is, this really is just an extra safeguard.\",\n \"Product: LIV-A-LITTLES Chicken Breast Protein Treats let you reward your pet with the taste and benefits of a high-protein snack. They can be given whole or easily crumbled and added to food as a tasty incentive at mealtime. Naturally high in protein, these amazing treats are grain-free, gluten-free, and biologically appropriate for both dogs and cats.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Dog Doesn't Like How These Dried Treats Crumble - Made My Dog Cough\\n\\nReview: The Halo Liv-a-Littles are freeze dried chicken snacks for your dog. The ingredients state it all - this treat is made from chicken, water, sodium phosphate, salt, and carrageenan. There are no grain fillers, no by products, and the treats are as few ingredients as it can get. The pieces vary in size, and the Happy Pappy ate the treats and didn't have any ill effect from eating them.\\n\\nWhile I liked the simplicity of these treats, my dog surprisingly didn't care for that all that much - in fact, I don't think he really liked this treat at all. I'm guessing it's mainly attributed to the texture of these treats...these treats, being freeze dried, are very powdery and made my dog cough. The treats crumble very easily, and tiny bits of dust and crumb ended up on the carpet when he ate it. We have a grain free dog food that consists of freeze dried meat and vegetables, and we usually reconstitute it back with water - I may end up doing that with the rest of these treats as my dog, while he'll eat it, doesn't seem thrilled to eat them. I will likely stick with getting my dog dried liver snacks before purchasing these - while he likes the smell, the texture is definitely something he doesn't like.\",\n \"Product: BLUE Wilderness Wild Rolls are irresistible, meaty rolls packed with more of the protein your dog loves. Naturally preserved and grain-free, they contain the ingredients pet parents prefer to feed. Easily add variety to mealtime with three ways to feed: as a meal topper, a rewarding treat or a complete meal.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Good Ingredients, No Ill Effect After Eating, but Expensive for Moist Food\\n\\nReview: The Blue Buffulo Salmon Roll Wet Dog Food was accepted graciously by the VIP (Very Important Papillon). Since my dog is 17 lbs, I used about a 1\\\" slice to mix in with about 1/2 cup of my dog's regular kibble. The single 1 lb loaf has about seven servings (with kibble) for my dog. If you have larger dogs, or if you plan on serving this solo, I can imagine a single dog can blow through this sausage pretty quickly.\\n\\nThe roll slices very easily with a sharp knife - you can keep the whole thing rolled and slice easily through the plastic wrapper. The slices were quite dry and had a nice smokey salmon scent. When smashed up with a spoon, the slices crumbled very easily and didn't stick together well. You could serve as is, or mix with some dry kibble. If you do add water to this, add very little - I put in two tablespoons of water, and the crumble turned instantly into slurry - it looked really gross, but mixed well with the kibble. VIP ate it, but didn't finish it as he didn't seemed thrilled about the flavor - that said, my dog doesn't really care all that much for fish, even when smoked. After eating the food, VIP didn't have issues with his stomach, and the output during the walk looked normal.\\n\\nOverall, if you're looking for a high quality wet dog food, this isn't a bad option to consider if you have a large budget for your dog's food. The rolls are easy to store, can be refrigerated easily, and unlike canned wet foods, you can control the amount of moisture going in. Otherwise, there are a lot of other good grain free canned options out there with less ingredients involved. At just under $10 per roll, I would consider getting these rolls as a treat for my dog occasionally (just not the fish flavor), but for most meals, I would be more likely to stick to canned for my dog.\",\n \"Product: Some dogs develop sensitive stomachs or a food intolerance to certain grains. NUTRO MAX Adult Grain Free Dog Food contains no grain and leaves dogs satisfied. Our affordable food for dogs is all natural and is made with real salmon, plus legumes and potatoes as healthy alternatives to grains. Dogs love the savory flavors in NUTRO MAX Food for Dogs, and pet parents like that our great-tasting dog food never contains chicken by-product meal, corn, wheat or soy protein. Best of all, NUTRO MAX Adult Grain Free Recipe With Salmon Dry Dog Food is formulated with added vitamins and minerals, making it a nutritionally complete and balanced food your dog will look forward to at every meal. Let your dog try this grain-free dog food, featuring higher protein levels* and a delicious taste. * Versus NUTRO MAX Dog Food made with grains\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Pea Sized Crunchy Kibble, Beagle Scout Approved\\n\\nReview: The NUTRO MAX Grain Free Dog Food was happily chowed down by my brother's Beagle Scout. As he gets older, Beagle Scout has been having issues eating foods with grain in them, so bro has been trying out various grain free dog foods. Now either Beagle Scout loves his carbs, or he's missing out on flavor country, but there are few grain free dog foods he likes. The Nutro Max Chicken recipe was well received by him, but not with great gusto - that said, he ate it but didn't seem thrilled by it.\\n\\nThe kibble is fairly smally, and suitable for most small and medium sized breed dogs. Mr. 30 lb beagle was able to chew the kibble easily, and didn't seem to have issues eating it plain. Each kibble about the size and shape of a pea - I'm guessing most dogs can easily eat this. This is not a kibble that crumbles or breaks terribly easily. He did enjoy eating this kibble mixed with some canned food. As always, you may want to see if you can get your hands on a small sample size before committing to a large bag.\\n\\nIn terms of ingredients, this kibble isn't the best I've seen, but it's still okay. The first ten ingredients are chicken meal, dried potatoes, chickpeas, chicken fat (preserved with mixed Tocopherols), peas, lamb meal, chicken, potato starch, dried plain beet pulp, and dehydrated alfalfa meal. I'm not particularly thrilled about the amounts of by-products in this food, but in comparison to some other dog foods I've seen, this food still has a lot less unnecessary fillers. The remaining ingredients go into various minerals, vitamins, vegetables, fruits, and extracts. There are a TON of mineral and vitamins listed...whether or not these are good for your pooch is questionable. That said, again in comparison to other dog foods I've seen, this isn't too bad.\\n\\nOverall, this isn't a bad kibble to feed your dog. It isn't full of fillers, it didn't upset Beagle Scout's stomach, and most importantly - he eats it. Like all food items, taste is highly subjective, so if you can get a sample for your pampered pooch, definitely let your dog try it out first.\",\n \"Product: Give your dog a natural, great-tasting meal they will look forward to with NUTRO MAX Adult Recipe With Pasture Fed Lamb Dry Dog Food. Our all natural food for dogs is made with pasture-fed lamb and is formulated with added vitamins and minerals to provide complete and balanced nutrition in every bowl. Your dog will love the savory flavors of real lamb and whole grains, and you will like that NUTRO MAX Food for Dogs never contains chicken by-product meal, corn, wheat or soy protein.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Better Than Average Dog Food, Great Little Kibble for Small Dogs\\n\\nReview: The NUTRO MAX Mini Chunk dog food was eaten by the VIP (Very Important Papillon), digested by the VIP, and output by the VIP - and all went well. The kibble is a great size for smaller dogs. The pieces are about the size of half a pea, and crunchy enough to help maintain good teeth without being overly hard. Like most kibbles, my dog wasn't excited about eating it, but he ate it without complaint. When mixed with canned dog food, he ate it very happily. He didn't have any stomach issues when eating this kibble, nor did he have any issues when it come out the exhaust.\\n\\nThe first ten ingredients include chicken meal, dried potatoes, peas, chicken fat (preserved with mixed Tocopherols), chickpeas, lamb meal, chicken, dehydrated alfalfa meal, dried beet pulp, and natural flavor. I'm not particularly thrilled about seeing the chicken & lamb meals (derived from the 4D - dead, dying, diseased, and disabled animals), as well as the alfalfa, beet pulp, and natural flavoring a - but in comparison to other dog foods which include excessive fillers, this dog food isn't all that bad. That said, nutritionally, this isn't the best dog food, nor the worst either.\\n\\nOverall, if you're looking for a better than average dog food, this is a decent one to consider. Like all dog foods, taste for the dog is highly subjective - if you can get a sample size to try on your dog, you can see if your dog actually eats this before committing to buying a huge bag.\",\n \"Product: Real food is raw. Its that simple. And we believe feeding your dog pure nutrition should be simple too. Carefully crafted in small batches, Instinct Raw Market Meal Blends are made from real foods you can trust, all 100% freeze dried to protect and lock in nutrition and taste. Weve combined grass-fed beef with real, whole food ingredients like sweet potatoes, peas and blueberries for a nutrient rich meal your dog will love. Serving is simple! Just add water to make a meal. Complete and balanced nutrition for dogs. Made in USA facilities.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Astronaut Dog Food - Super Papillon Loved It\\n\\nReview: VIP (Very Important Papillon) really enjoyed Nature's Variety Raw Grain Free Freeze Dried Dog Food. Being freeze dried, the food it ultra lightweight, and the bag feels seemingly empty when you first get it. Each piece inside is completely dehydrated, and honestly the food smells pretty bad to human standard. VIP, however, found the scent amazing and was instantly drawn to the food. As per the instructions, I added some water (I used warm water) to the food, and let the food stand for 10 minutes for full rehydration. The food took the up water and my dog ate it very happily. If you don't have time, it's not required to let the food sit for that long - the 10 minute guideline is only if you want the food completely hydrated. You can also crush the food if you want it more \\\"canned food\\\" like.\\n\\nThe food itself is not entirely as pictured on the bag. There are definitely not as many dehyrated carrot, peas, blueberries, or apples as pictured mixed in with the meat pieces. This isn't a big issue for us, as I found my dog not entirely liking the single food dehydrated pieces anyways. He actually spit out most of the green apple and left the little pieces on the floor..this will vary from dog to dog obviously, so don't be surprised if your picky pooch leaves some bits on the floor for you to clean up. The food quality itself is pretty good. The first few ingredients include chicken, chicken liver, chicken heart, apples, sweet potatoes, peas, and pumpkin seeds. The food definitely smells of the chicken guts - I really dislike the scent, but again, the dog loves it.\\n\\nAs per the feeding guidelines, for a 10 lb dog, you need to feed it 1 cup food with .75 cup water. For a 20 lb dog is 1.5 cup food to 1 cup water. For a 40 lb dog, its 2.5 cup of food to 1.5 cup of water. There are also \\\"weight loss\\\" guidelines which drop the food amount by .5 cup and water by .25 cup. This food guideline is based on a two meal a day schedule - I usually mix the food with my dog's normal kibble, so it's more of a topper for him. With the food guidelines in mind, this food is fairly expensive - I can imagine getting this for my dog as a treat occasionally, but at the current cost, I'm not sure I would get this for him as a regular occurrence.\\n\\nOverall, this is a very healthy and apparently \\\"tasty to the dog\\\" meal. If you're looking to super spoil your dog, this is a nice food to consider.\",\n \"Product: Vets Best Proactive Hip and Joint Soft Chews provide pet parents a simple and delicious way to maintain their dog's hip and joint health. Our once-a-day chews are perfect for young and adult dogs not yet exhibiting moderate or extreme hip and joint issues. A veterinarian formulated blend of glucosamine, hyaluronic acid, perma carnaliculuc (green-lipped mussel), MSM, and Omega 3 fatty acids guard against discomfort, support joint lubrication, and preserve connective tissue and cartilage health.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Great Supplement for Older Dogs, Helps with Beagle Scout's Joints\\n\\nReview: My brother's dog is nearing his twilight years, and recently the vet recommended supplementing his diet with glucosamine and fish oil. The Beagle Scout not only hated the pill supplements my brother gives him, but he also actively tried to spit the offending pills out. While hilarious to see him \\\"ptooey!\\\" those pills out, he really needs to take them to move around more comfortably. The Veterinarian's Best Hip and Joint Soft Chews are a great way to get Beagle Scout to eat his glucosamine and Omega 3 supplements. The chews are just under the size of a quarter, are very willingly eaten by Beagle Scout, and seem to give him the same benefits that the glucosamine and Omega 3 pills were giving him. He only needs one chew a day, and getting him to eat it isn't a problem. The chews are nice and soft, and similar to the consistency of play doh. We've noticed after eating these chews for a few weeks now, Beagle Scout is able to move around fairly well. My brother has been purchasing Vet's Best Hip & Joint Supplements since.\\n\\nOverall, if you have a dog that needs to take hip and joint supplements to help ease pain, this is a great supplement to consider. It's apparently tasty, doesn't cause any ill effects, and delivers the supplements your dog needs.\",\n \"Product: Support and maintain your dogs digestive health with Vet's Best Probiotic Soft Chews Supplements. Our great tasting, extra moist daily chews provide a stabilized source of the probiotics your dog needs to maintain gastrointestinal balance, a healthy appetite, and proper digestion.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: A Probiotic Supplement That The Dog Will Willingly Eat\\n\\nReview: My brother's beagle is quickly approaching his mid teens, and being an older dog, he needs a lot less calories, but a lot more vitamins. Unfortunately, his dog doesn't particularly enjoy taking his vitamins. More often than not, he finds ways to reject the pills either from snubbing or spitting them out when offered in a well cooked piece of burger. The Veterinarian's Best Probiotics Soft Chews was very well received by Beagle Scout. Each piece is about the size of a quarter and about the thickness of an iPhone in a case. The pieces are soft and can be a bit crumbly, but Beagle Scout can eat it in one bit if he chooses to.\\n\\nEach bag holds 30 pieces, which is a month's supply, and contains all the probiotics Beagle Scout needs. He hasn't had any stomach issues after eating this treat, and he seems to be going about his business just fine. My brother feeds this treat along with the <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Veterinarian-s-Best-30-Count-Proactive-Hip-Joint-Soft-Chews-Supplement-for-Dogs/dp/B01DM7000M/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Veterinarian's Best 30 Count Proactive Hip & Joint Soft Chews Supplement for Dogs</a> since Beagle Scout has joint issues. The two supplements seem to work fine when eaten together, and again, Beagle Scout hasn't shown any signs of digestion distress.\\n\\nOverall, if you're looking for a probiotic for your dog that s/he will take willingly, this is a great supplement to consider. The chews are easy to administer and seem to do it's job.\",\n \"Product: Our Polly Wanna Pinata 's are a Bird Toy & Treat in One. They are the Ultimate Foraging toy. There ia a flap in the back that can be filled with a birds favorite toy or treat. Provides healthy exercise & lots fun playtime.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Looks Stupid, but Parakeet LOVES it!\\n\\nReview: I admit this, I bought this entirely on a whim because my preschooler thought it would be a nice treat for our new budgie. I didn't think our bird would actually like it - in fact, I thought that our bird would be terrified of it and that I would end up giving it to my kid. Little did I know, my kid is on the page as the bird...our budgie LOVES this toy. Initially he looked at it with a little fear, but about a day later I saw him going at it, happily ripping at the \\\"feathers\\\", sitting on the hat, and have a merry old time chewing this thing to bits (well, as fast as a little budgie can chew that is). We didn't put any treats in there, but seeing how our bird is enjoying this toy, I might end up sticking a few seeds in there to keep things interesting for him. We recently went back to the pet store and bought the sombrero wearing Parrot Pinata for him to chew up - he likes that one even more because there's little dangly bits hanging from the hat...fun stuff! Highly recommended!\",\n \"Product: Quality and safety come first. High quality silicone: our pet bowls are made of heat resistant (up to 230 Celsius degree) durable non-porous and dishwasher safe silicone. Dimensions: expandable to 2.2 inches high can hold up to 14 ounces of water or liquid. 5.3 inch (top diameter) *2.1 inch (bottom diameter). BFA and FDA proved (pet friendly): your cats or dogs will love it. These pet bowls are made from BFA and FDA grade silicone, totally safe to your pets. Then extra convenience: Easy and convenient way to store water and food for your pets. Perfect for soup, salad, pasta, cereal and more. Collapsible this pet bowl is made of high quality durable silicone, which can collapse to less than inch for easy on-the-way storage and travel. Lightweight and portable. 60g/bowl for super light travel. Reusable and unbreakable silicone bowl allow you to use it thousand times without worrying it can be broken. Easy to clean. Microwave & dishwasher safe silicone. Just toss the bowl to dishwasher to clean and microwave to dry it. Now you are ready to go. Warning: InfiDeals is a registered trademark. If you're listing a non-InfiDeals item for sales against the page, you are violating: 1. Amazon listing policy. 2. Fair competition laws. 3. InfiDeals trademarks for misleading the use of its logo and name. InfiDeals reserves the right seek damages including attorney fees from any such person or business to the fullest extent permitted by law.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: The Silicone Expandable Travel Pet Food Bowls are great to carry around when traveling or hiking with my ...\\n\\nReview: The Silicone Expandable Travel Pet Food Bowls are great to carry around when traveling or hiking with my dog. The bowls fold down very flat (a little over half an inch) and extends to a little over 2\\\" tall. The bowls are not very big - about the size of a rice bowl - and can safely hold 1 1/3 c. of water without spilling. I have a 12 lb papillon, and the bowls are the perfect size for him to get a drink/snack out of. If you have a larger dog, thee bowls would work in a pinch, but I can imagine it would be easier to have a larger bowl for a larger volume of water.\\n\\nThese bowls are convenient to carry around with me. Because there are three, I can leave one in the car, backpack, and my pannier so wherever I go, my dog can easily get a drink. They are super light weight, and are easy to clean. They feel durable and are very convenient to have when going out with your dog - no more pouring water into my hand for my dog to drink!\\n\\nFYI - I was selected for this opportunity to review this item free of charge. The content and opinions expressed here are all my own.\",\n \"Product: Adventure Plus stops fleas before they bite and starts working on contact. It contains the same active ingredients used in Advantage II for Dogs. Adventure Plus for Dogs is waterproof and effective even after shampooing or exposure to rain. Adventure Plus for Dogs is manufactured and packaged in the United States. It is approved for use by the U.S.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Great for Short Haired Dogs, Drops Absorb Quickly, Seems to Keep Fleas at Bay\\n\\nReview: With a 55-ish pound Amstaff Terrier happily barreling around my brother's backyard, having flea meds on her is a must. My bro's dog is a primarily outdoor dog, along with his beagle, and the two are a tasty target for the many insects outdoors. The Adventure Plus for Dogs flea drops seem to be keeping the fleas at bay for Mighty Mutt. She has very short hair, so application was simple and absorbed quickly. Bro doesn't use any flea pills or collars, but does use flea shampoo on the dogs. From what I've seen, Mighty Mutt hasn't had any allergic reaction to the drops, and she hasn't shown any signs of fleas on her body.\\n\\nOverall, the drops seem to be doing it's job. They were easy to apply and seem to be keeping the fleas away. This would be a good flea drop to consider for your large short hair dog.\",\n \"Product: There is a subtle, but important difference for Bixbi between dog food and food for dogs. One is adequate. One is exceptional. Bixbi chooses exceptional. Rawbbleblends quality, nutrition and convenience in a way not previously seen in a complete and balanced food for dogs. NUTRITIOUS -- Dogs instinctively thrive on essential nutrients from the whole animal; raw animal protein, bones and vital organs. Rawbbleis a balanced ratio of protein, fat, bones, organs, vitamins and minerals to support health. CONVENIENT -- Rawbblecan be conveniently stored in its sealed bag, at room temperature, without refrigeration. The small pieces make handling and daily feeding easy and are great for training, treatingand traveling. SAFE -- Rawbbleonly uses USDA certified animal proteins from the USA. Bixbi's small batch freeze-drying technology locks in important nutrients, and their oxygen removal process ensures freshness in every bag, Raw Nutrition + Kibble Convenience. Just 2oz of Rawbble is equal to 8oz of conventional dog food.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Happy Pappy Absolutely LOVES Fish Rawbble - Human Thinks the Smell is Uber FISHY\\n\\nReview: I never imagined that something so absolutely noxious smelling would be so wildly appealing to the Prince Papillon- but apparently the Rawbble Freeze Dried Fish Kibble was more than just delicious, it good enough to bother me about getting seconds for. Make no mistake though - if you get the fish Rawbble, it smells exactly like that...and not in a tasty Michelin Restaurant sort of way. This is 100% \\\"Welcome to Cat Food Country!\\\" fish smell. Asides from the smell, this kibble looks like miniature brown versions of cylinder packing peanuts. Being freeze dried, this kibble is fairly lightweight, crumbles with little pressure, and will float a bit in warm water before slowly reconstituting and turning to mush with a little time. I gave this food both by itself, with a few spoons of wet food, and with a small amount of broth (all separate trials) with good response from my dog. He's had no issues after eating the food, and the only real side effect is that his breath is horrid for a short time after eating. That aside, he really likes this food.\\n\\nThe ingredients are few and consist primarily of whole foods and various vitamins: Salmon, Ahi Tuna, Pumpkin, Coconut Oil, Herrring Oil, Vitamin E Supplement, Liver Extract, Zinc Amino Acid Chelate, Iron Amino Acid Chelate, Selenium Yeast, Copper Amino Acid Chelate, Manganese Amino Acid Chelate, Calcium Iodate, Mixed Tocopherols (a preservative). This leads to my only gripe - this food is way more expensive than any dog food I would purchase for my dog. I like making dog food for my Happy Pappy, and I found that this is more expensive than making him food with real meat. That said, given the quality of this food, I can understand the price - there is little filler and no grain products in this food. This is the kind of food I wouldn't mind spending to get my dog while I'm out of town and having to board him at a kennel as I know it's healthy for him and it's ultimately convenient for the kennel to feed him (they hate having to bother with refrigerated foods). Overall, this is a pricey, albeit very high quality and well received food for your dog. If you're looking to spoil your dog a bit, this also works well as a treat.\",\n \"Product: 4Pc LED Book Light with Magnifier. Convertible from desk to clip lamp.\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: Poorly Weighted, Overall Terrible Light\\n\\nReview: This \\\"book light\\\" is so riddled with flaws that I don't even know where to begin.\\n\\nFirst off, this thing is way too heavy to be a book light. This light is not the type of light you'd be able to sit up in bed reading with...you'd most certainly have to be sitting at a desk with the lamp sitting on it's base to use effectively. With the monster clip on this thing, I'm presuming that the clip is designed to clip something massive...say like a encyclopedia. Paperback books would most certainly bend over because of the sheer weight of the thing.\\n\\nSecondly, the light is a joke. When these LEDs burn out, it's game over. While they are working, they illuminate such a small portion of the page that there's really no point in using this thing. I thought that maybe I could use this lamp in an airplane, but it's more practical to use the overhead light and a small magnifying glass to read with.\\n\\nWhich brings me to the magnifying glass - also not very good. Go run over to Office Depot and treat yourself to a good quality, high magnification glass. This particular magnifier is not very good.\\n\\nWould I buy this? No. Would I recommend this? No. Did my preschoolers love playing with this thing - yes. Overall, makes a good toy for kids, but not for its actual intended purpose. Not recommended.\",\n \"Product: Mini, multipurpose, & effective: the sy-cl02 is for sure a multipurpose light that can be used as an emergency light as well as and effective LED camping light. The overall device is small and compact. Thus, it is very easy to operate it in urgent situations. You can easily place it in your bag pack or keep it in your hand. Therefore, it promises not to take much of your space. Application: - power outage - hurricane - camping - night light - hiking - riding - fishing - alerting - car or home emergencies - equipment inspection specifications: - materials: aluminum and ABS plastic - power: about 1.6W - charge port: micro usb - input: 5v/700ma - color temperature: 5700k - luminous flux: 100lum - battery: li-on battery, 3.7V/1200ma - life: >36,000 hours (more than 500 charges) - work temperature:0- 40 whats in the box: - 1 x portable LED lamp - 1x micro USB cable - 2 x lanyards - 1 x user manual.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Diffuses Oils Well, Uses Tap Water, LED Light is Bright\\n\\nReview: With our fourth year of drought in California, nobody watering their yards, and the summer being brutally hot and dry, the family have been suffering from something we usually only experience during winter months - severely dry sinuses and throats. In addition, the seasonal pollen counts are up again, which is making life for the family with allergies pretty miserable.\\n\\nThe Senyoo Ultrasonic Cool Mist Diffuser helped a lot with moisturizing the air while diffusing some tap water and \\\"breathing friendly\\\" essential oils (we use Eucalyptus, Peppermint, Lemon, and Chamomile blends - there are several \\\"breathe\\\" blends on Amazon). The diffuser has helped immensely with my sleep quality - it's easy to set up and to use. Simply fill the container with water, add a few drops of essential oil, then press the MIST/TIMER button. The mister/timer button can help set the amount of mist coming out (low or high) and has a one hour timer feature if you're planning on using this prior to sleeping. The push button cycle goes from low, low/one hour timer, high, high/one hour timer, off. The mist comes out of the diffuser in 10 second intervals (10 seconds on, 10 seconds off), and the unit can hold 1/3 c. of water. I was able to fill the unit with the full 1/3 c, then run it 6 times on the low setting at one hour intervals before it almost ran out (there was enough water to maybe have it run for a bit more, but I didn't time it.) When the unit runs out of water, the diffuser will turn itself off. If you try to turn it back on, thinking it went off in error, the diffuser will flash all of its lights then turn itself off again.\\n\\nThere are three blue LED lights on the base that will indicate what you set your diffuser at (Small (low), Large (high), One Hour) so you'll know exactly how high your setting is, as well as if there is a timer on it. The LED lights are fairly bright, so if you like a pitch black room when you go to sleep, be warned now - even with the LED lights covered with a shirt, the light can still be seen through the lamp shade top. This doesn't bother me, but if you're the type who doesn't like the brightness of your alarm clock numbers on your digital clock, you might be at ends with these three small LED lights. This diffuser also has white LED lights in it that help function as a night light. There are three settings to the light - bright, medium, and dim. At the highest level, the light is not quite bright enough to read to, but bright enough to navigate the room easily with - about as bright as a night light, but slightly larger. The light is a warm white light and does not have any other color settings available.\\n\\nThe overall unit is completely plastic (the \\\"wooden base\\\" is also plastic), looks fairly unobtrusive, and works well. It's fairly easy to clean (rinse out after use, don't leave water in it for extended periods of time) and only requires a vinegar/water solution cleaning every 10 hours of use/when you change the scent of oil in the unit to avoid mixing of scents. For the most part, I enjoy this diffuser. It's simple to operate, lets out a good amount of mist, and doesn't leak. Simply plug the unit it, fill with water and oil, then you're good to go.\\n\\nFYI - I was selected for this opportunity to review this item free of charge. The content and opinions expressed here are all my own.\",\n \"Product: When shut, Lumio masquerades as an elegant hardcover book bound in lasercut wood. When opened, it magically transforms into a sculptural light illuminated by a high-performing LED. Lumio was born from San Francisco-based designer Max Gunawan's fascination with the functional potential of origami and his desire to create a flexible lighting solution that adapts to the user's needs. Lumio's minimalist, compact form allows for maximum portability, and since its diaphanous, pleated interior is made of hard-wearing and water-resistant Tyvek, this innovative lamp is equally at home bedside, at a backyard barbeque, or on the go. The strong neodymium magnets imbedded within its covers allow this transformable light to be expanded 180 degrees to its fullest brightness, or mounted upon any magnetic surface. The included leather hanging strap enables lightweight Lumio to be suspended, offering ambient light akin to a lustrous paper lantern. A rechargeable lithium-ion battery provides wireless power for up to eight hours (rechargeable via micro-USB cord using a 2A or 3A adaptor). Brightness: 500 lumen. Light temperature: 2700K (warm white). Wipe clean with a damp cloth.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Beautifully Designed Book Lamp - Durable, Functional, and Simply Gorgeous\\n\\nReview: My husband recently received the Lumio Book Lamp as a gift, and I have to say that this is an absolutely beautiful lamp. The cover is one continuous piece of wood that has been carefully cut on specific spots where the spine is, so the book can actually close seamlessly, and yet not be two separate pieces with hinges or glue to keep it together. The pages are accordion folded \\\"Tyvek\\\" - apparently that's a waterproof and 100% recycled material. The LED lights are inside the pages so that you can't see the light directly and all the wires and such are housed internally - when the book is open, it really looks just like an open book with all the pages flared out.\\n\\nThe light is charged via USB on the cover edge of the book. When you open the book, even just a crack, the light will turn on. The light is exceptionally bright and is bright enough where you could read easily with it on. There are magnets in the book cover and book comes with several attachments you can use to hold it open. The magnets in the book serve several functions. First, it helps keep the book shut when not in use, can be used to hold the book open in a cylinder shape, and can be used in conjunction with a small magnetic \\\"wheel\\\" set. This wheel allows you to hang the book on the wall like a sconce, or can be used with the included leather strap to hang the book from a ceiling - this is surprisingly a very versatile lamp! It has a nice weighted feel to it, and is very durable. We've opened and closed the lamp many times without wearing out the pages at all.\\n\\nOverall, this is a very beautiful book lamp. It would be a wonderful gift for any book lover - it definitely makes an interesting conversation starter!\",\n \"Product: Professional Transparent Cutaway Padlock Practice Lock With Locksmith Tools for Lock Training Trainer Practice\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Great to Teach Kids How Locks Work\\n\\nReview: When I ordered the KINGLAKE Crystal Cutaway Padlock, I had two objectives in mind:\\n\\n1. This would be great lock for my magician husband to practice lockpicking on. Because he's a true beginning lockpicker, being able to look into the lock and seeing exactly where the pins line up help immensely.\\n2. This would be a great teaching item to show my kids how exactly a lock works.\\n\\nWith those two objectives in mind, teaching both my kids how a lock works and letting my husband go at it to learn how to pick a lock were both successful with this lock. From what it sounds like, this lock may be easy for most to pick, but for beginners like the hubs, this was exactly the perfect place to start. He was able to get a good look into the lock, get a good feel for with his lockpicks, and was slowly successful at opening the lock without the keys. He felt much more confident, and started playing around with other locks with some success. As a teaching tool for the kids, this was also a great item. I was able to show the kids exactly how a lock mechanism worked, and they had a great time inserting the key and getting a good clear look at the pins and the spring system. They were fascinated at how locks work, and were eager to show their teachers and friends.\\n\\nOverall, this was a great teaching tool for the family. While I wouldn't use it to lock my bike up with, it's a way to show people how locks work and is a fun conversation starter.\\n\\nFYI - I was selected for this opportunity to review this item free of charge. The content and opinions expressed here are all my own.\",\n \"Product: The captain of the aerial acrobatics group The Wonderbolts gets her own vinyl figure! This My Little Pony Spitfire Vinyl Figure measures about 4 1/2-inches tall, and features the same look you know and love from theMy Little Pony: Friendship is MagicTV show. Because of her perfect size, you can display her anywhere, whether it's at school, work, or at home.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Tired Little Spitfire...Where's Soarin When You Need Him?\\n\\nReview: Finally! My Rainbow Dash has her awesome (albeit slightly tired looking) heroine to look up to: Spitfire! While Spitfire is one of my favorite ponies, I have to say that Spitfire is probably my least favorite in the Funko line - it's all about consistency, and that's something that Spitfire just doesn't have.\\n\\nFunko's Spitfire is a nicely sculpted figure - it has a good heavy feel to it, the detailing (particularly her goggles) is great, and she looks wonderfully show accurate. Unfortunately, there were a good number of imperfections on this pony - more than any other of the Funko Pony Line. Like the other Funko Ponies, there is a seam that shows up clearly around Spitfire's neck, on and along her mane closest to the body, potions of her tail, and around wing where it connects to her body. On my particular figure (as well as 2 other figures in the store) there was a clear varnish or glue drip/bubble where her wing connects to her body. It was small, but clearly visible and could not be wiped off. My piece also has very fine creases on the sides of her body and face. It doesn't look quite as punched in as some of the Rainbow Dash figures I've seen, but it's still there and a little annoying to look at. One big problem I saw with Spitfire is that the paint quality is miserable. Her wings, muzzle, and hair is a shiny yellow, while her chest, ears, eyelids, cutie mark, goggle straps, and hoof designs are a matte yellow. The matte yellow application was pretty bad on my Spitfire - and mine was the best at Toys R Us! The paint was not applied well and it bled out of the design areas. The lightening bolt design around her hooves don't extend all around each foot - instead it's applied a little more than halfway around each foot. Lastly, her cutie mark is just barely visible. It's almost as difficult to see as Pinkie Pie's cutie mark. Lastly, if you look at Spitfire's model photo, she looks really brightly colored...she simply isn't that bright. She's barely a darker shade than Rainbow Dash.\\n\\nOverall, I'm still very happy with my purchase - as mentioned before, Spitfire is a favorite pony of mine, and it's great to have her finally on my shelf for my Rainbow Dash to admire. If you can overlook these flaws, or if you're lucky enough to find a really good one in store - you win!\",\n \"Product: \\\"Alright everypony! Let's hop on Equestria's newest dance craze. do the Navigator!\\\" Vinyl Scratch, or DJ Pon-3 as she's known when she's not on the 1s and 2s, looks every bit the DJ you know and love fromMy Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. Because of the My Little Pony DJ Pon-3 Vinyl Figure's perfect size, you can display her anywhere, whether it's at school, work, or at home. Measures about 4 1/2-inches tall. Ages 5 and up.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Raise the Roof! DJ PON 3 is in the House!\\n\\nReview: Let the party begin! DJ PON3 is here! Vinyl Scratch AKA DJ PON3 is a great vinyl figure - she has a good heavy feel to it, the coloring is smooth and consistent, and the overall design of DJ is show accurate. Unfortunately, like many other ponies from the Funko line, she isn't without several flaws - but it's DJ PON3! I can forgive them because of her awesomeness.\\n\\nLike the other Funko Ponies, there is a seam that shows up clearly around DJ's neck, along her mane closest to the body, and on a portion of her hair on her tail. My piece also has very fine creases on the sides of her body and face. It doesn't look quite as punched in as some of the Rainbow Dash figures I've seen, but it's still there and a little annoying to look at. One big problem I saw with S.D is that the paint quality on her mane and tail is highly inconsistent. The DJ I got was pretty good, but some spots on her mane didn't get enough paint on it (it was layered with the light blue over the dark blue vinyl) and so some of the dark blue shows through the lighter blue paint. Also, my pony had several points on her mane and tail that looked scratched up. The vinyl has a whitish rough feel to it, and I couldn't get it off.\\n\\nOne update to the Funko Pony Line is that the ponies now have cutie marks on both flanks. Her cutie mark is a mirror image - not sure if that's show accurate, but it looks cute either way! There is also a MLP Logo stamped to the bottom of her front right hoof.\\n\\nI can overlook these small flaws as a casual collector and lover of all things Pony, but if you're looking for a perfect sculp, you may want to drive over to Hot Topic and choose your own DJ if they have them in stock. Also, third party sellers are charging up the creek for these figures - I got mine for less than $16...and yes, there was plenty of stock. All in all, I'm ecstatic DJ PON3 is in my collection - with her and Octavia together, they make a beautiful set!\",\n \"Product: The cellist Octavia Melody gets her own vinyl figure! This My Little Pony Octavia Vinyl Figure measures about 4 1/2-inches tall, and features the same look you know and love from theMy Little Pony: Friendship is MagicTV show. Because of her perfect size, you can display her anywhere, whether it's at school, work, or at home.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: All She Needs is Her Cello!\\n\\nReview: Beautiful music has started with the release of two of my favorite ponies - Octavia Melody and DJ PON3! All Octavia needs is her cello to make her complete - but until then, just having this figure is more than enough. Funko has updated some things with these two ponies, and it's refreshing to see some of the problems addressed with the previous releases. However, there are a number of things that make this sculpt not quite perfect.\\n\\nThe sculpt and expression on Octavia is fantastic. She looks very demure, her coloring is spot on, and one thing that I liked is that her mane and tail are both matte. The matte texture is a little rougher than the rest of her body, but the look is fantastic - it really gives her a soft appearance. The neck seam that is visible on all ponies is cleverly hidden by her tiny collar and bow tie. Like the other Funko ponies I own, my piece also has very fine creases on the sides of her body and face. It doesn't look quite as punched in as some of the Rainbow Dash figures I've seen, but it's still there and a little annoying to look at. A wonderful update to Octavia is that her cutie mark is on both flanks. On previous versions of the Funko ponies, the cutie mark was only visible on one flank. My Octavia has a slightly cut off Treble Clef on her left flank, but because its on the side of the box where you can't see it, it's not a huge issue for me. If you are planning to display, you may want to take your Octavia out of the box to double check the cutie mark.\\n\\nOne big issue I have with the Octavia figure is that the balance of the figure is off. Like Fluttershy, Octavia's tail is much longer and Funko made her tail so it rests on the table. On my particular figure, her tail acts as one of her legs as her right back leg doesn't reach the table. In fact, her leg is slightly skewed to the right, so it's impossible to have her standing on all four legs - it's not so far out that it looks like she's lifting her leg up, but it's enough where you can see a clear gap between her back leg and the table. This does not effect the way she looks overall, but be warned - it really looks like she's standing on three legs and her tail.\\n\\nI can overlook these small flaws as a casual collector and lover of all things Pony, but if you're looking for a perfect sculp, you may want to drive over to Hot Topic and actually take a good look - and possibly take your Octavia out of the box. Also, third party sellers are charging up the creek for these figures - Hot Topic has them at a reasonable price and possibly a \\\"buy one get one 50% off\\\" deal...and yes, there was plenty of stock. All in all, I'm happy that DJ PON3 has her best friend in my collection! Recommended!\",\n \"Product: Zack joins Chuggington to head up the Chuggineers. This foreman is organized, hard working and extremely safety conscious, making him the perfect leader of the Chuggineer crew and mentor to Brewster. Joined by his fellow team members Tyne and Fletch, this engineering team is responsible for all the heavy lifting and loading, building of bridges, tunnels and stations, as well as laying track and making repairs. Zack is a dependable, big hearted and hard working professional with a 'can do' attitude. Off the clock loves to have fun and a good laugh. Chuggington Wooden Railway combines the charm of wooden train play with the exciting world of Chuggington! Easy-to-connect magnets are simple to connect to other vehicles. Chuggington Wooden Railway is compatible with other wooden track systems.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Fun Playset for Any Train Enthusiast\\n\\nReview: We have many a train fan in our house, and I'm pleased to report that the Chuggington StackTrack Big Build Adventure set was a hit here. Having built with many of the Thomas Wooden Track toys, the Chuggington Set was a welcome addition as it not only built up well, but it added in several new components to play with including the breaking bridge and the crane. While this set is not compatible with any of our wooden Thomas Sets, the kids had a good time integrating it into the creative landscape of our kitchen and built a fun \\\"Chuggington meets Thomas\\\" town.\\n\\nThe pieces are durable, the set is easy enough for a 5 and 6 year old to construct, and with many other playsets available, it looks like it can easily grow into something much bigger and more exciting. Already the kids are discussing what toys to add to their Christmas lists, and another Chuggington Set may be on the list! This toy is great for imaginative play and can be constructed into different layouts. It's a great toy for any train enthusiast in your house.\",\n \"Product: The Joker and his goon are causing havoc in Gotham City with their crazy steam roller and are destroying everything in their path. Batgirl and Robin need backup from Batman in his fast and heavily armed Batwing to end this crime wave. Use the Batwing's 4 flick missiles to disable the rampaging steam roller and then switch the wings to attack mode and grab the bad guys before they can launch the laughing gas bombs! Can Batman and his fellow heroes save Gotham City? Includes 5 minifigures with assorted weapons: Batman, Batgirl, Robin, The Joker and Joker goon.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Fantastic Lego Set for Any Batman Fan\\n\\nReview: The DC Superheroes Joker Steam Roller is a fun Lego set for any Batman Fan. My son received this set for Christmas and had a great time Christmas morning assembling all 486 pieces. The set is highly detailed and comes with five mini figures including Batman in black (looks like Lego Movie Batman), Batgirl, Robin, Joker with purple fedora, and a Joker construction worker. Once completed, there are two figures - one Joker Steamroller and one transforming Batwing. This set took my son about 1.5 hours to complete. That said, he is an avid Lego builder, so time may vary depending on skill level and if you're working with another builder.\\n\\nThe Legos fit snugly together and are fun to play with once complete. The set comes with several decals, and have multiple places for shooting weapons. Overall, the play value for this toy is very high, both assembled and unassembled. This is a great set to get any Lego/DC fan.\",\n \"Product: Simon Swipe Game\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Fun Twist on an Old Favorite Game\\n\\nReview: On a recent trip to the Bullseye Store, the kids noticed this game on clearance and we picked it up since the kids discovered they love the original Simon at a friend's house. The Simon Swipe game is amazingly fun and addictive. There are multiple game modes on this unit including original Simon, Simon Swipe, Simon Swipe with U Turn, and party modes. The swiping movement is intuitive to most kids of this generation - you swipe your finger over the full color bar, or over multiple color bars. The U Turn Swipe requires you to swipe down one color and let your finger leave the game play area to swipe back upwards towards another color. There are tiny marks on the black part of the game console that notate what game will play when you first start up the unit.\\n\\nThe game itself is quite durable and easy to hold. For people who don't like the console to be too loud, the sound volume is adjustable via the small grey button on top. The system turns off after 15 seconds of inactivity, so don't leave it on the couch and walk away! This game is easy to hold, lightweight, and a great game to bring along while traveling. The unit comes with batteries included, so you can start playing immediately out of the box. Overall, this is a great memory game for the whole family to play, and a nice new twist on an old favorite game.\",\n \"Product: No team covers more ground in less time than the heroes of Protectobots Emergency Response. Wherever danger strikes, the team is there in the blink of an optical sensor. Their primary mission: protect the people of Earth from threats they cannot face alone. And if that gives the team a chance to blast some Decepticons while they're at it, all the better. Roll to the Transformers rescue with the Emergency Response pack! These Protectobot Streetsmart, Groove and First Aid figures are ready to handle whatever threatens innocent bystanders. Your Streetsmart figure converts from robot to sports care mode, while your Groove figure converts fast from robot to motorcycle mode. Your First Aid figure converts to ambulance mode, but hes still ready for a fight with the swords on his bumper. Theyve all got weapons for combat if the rescue turns bad! Your rescue adventures will never be the same once you have the Emergency Response Pack! Transformers and all related characters are trademarks of Hasbro.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Why is Groove so Tiny?\\n\\nReview: The Transformers Asia Kids Protectobots were a hit with the kids (and the big kid known as the husband). The Transformers were not the easiest to transform for the kids, however they are durable and could withstand the kid's attempts to get things in the right place. I only owned two Transformers as kids - these not included - and found the toys very reminiscent in feeling and size. My two gripes are that some of the pieces don't stay on as well as the older toys like the kid's Beast War Transformers, and that Groove is ridiculously tiny...like 1/3 of the size of the others. That aside, these are fun toys to play with, and my kids enjoyed playing with them immensely.\",\n \"Product: Baby Alive My Baby All Gone Doll, Blonde\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Fun Interactive Doll for Young Kids\\n\\nReview: After finally reaching the point where all my kids out of diapers, guess what toy my youngest kid wants...a doll that drinks, eats, and then makes me need to go out and buy more diapers. Hasbro, thanks for letting the joys of diapering live on in our house - minus the stink, of course.\\n\\nThe Baby Alive My Baby All Gone Doll is a fun interactive talking, eating, and pooping doll for kids between 3-5. The doll is durable, cute, and speaks in a generically cutesy voice that she peed, is hungry, love you, and so forth. Instead of having the magic disappearing juice/milk bottles or the plastic disappearing food spoon like the previous Baby Alive dolls, this one can actually \\\"consume real food and drink\\\", thus resulting in a messy diaper. This is both good and bad, as it was a lot more fun for our kid to actually \\\"feed\\\" the baby and deal with the aftermath in the diaper afterwards vs the \\\"pretend food\\\" aspect of the previous version. The drawback to this, however, is that your kid may bother you for refill packs, and if you're not looking carefully, real food may end up in that doll's mouth which will result in you having to clean the doll out because dolls and real food just don't mix - good luck if your kid decides to feed the doll jello and you don't discover it until the jello has dried up and the ants have invaded baby's face and body cavity.\\n\\nOnce the food and drinks go through, everything ends up in the diaper, which is disposable. You can either buy refill packs, premie diapers, or if you're like me, you can just make some cloth diapers to use on the doll. Overall, the Baby Alive Doll is fun for my kids to play with, although it can be really annoying for me at times (that voice! ugh!). If you're not interested in buying refill packs, you can always put food coloring in water to get the same effect as juice and use liquid thickener to make color food out of water (http://www.amazon.com/Nestle-Thicken-Up-8oz/dp/B00617AWBI/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1406312912&sr=8-7&keywords=liquid+thickener). While I'm not in love with this doll, my youngest loves this doll a lot and has a great time playing with her little baby.\",\n \"Product: My Little Pony Pop Pinkie Pie Sweet Shop Playset lets you make the perfect pony home! This delicious looking house playset comes with a fully customizable pony figure, and you can put it together. Make something great and give your Pony friends a fun place to live. Pony figure measures itself approximately 3-inches tall. Ages 4 and up.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Fun My Little Pony Model Building Set\\n\\nReview: I've been building models for some time now, and because my office is full of \\\"don't touch!\\\" for my kids, it was really nice to find a simplified building model for my kids to play with. The MLP Pop Sweet Shoppe is a great playset for younger kids. The sweet shop and Pinkie Pie are both customizable with other MLP Pop playsets. While my kids don't know it, it helps with hand eye coordination, following simple instructions, and fosters imaginative play. We picked up the Pop Rarity and Luna kit as well and our kids had a great time mixing and matching pieces of the ponies together.\\n\\nWhile it still looks strange to me, the ponies are designed with holes on their sides and easily split in half in order to change out manes, tails, and put on (or remove) wings. There are a bunch of stickers for the kids to place all over the playset and Pinkie Pie as well. To make the playset and ponies more customizable, you will need to pick up more sets. However, as a starter set, this will keep your kids pretty busy for a while. This playset is also perfect to play with my kids current standard MLP collection. If you have any pony fans in your house, you really can't go wrong with this.\",\n \"Product: Together, all for one! Dora and her friends know that they can always call on each other for help and good times, and now you can call them too! This 11.5 Dora doll arrives looking just like she does on the Dora & Friends television showcomplete with soft hair, signature outfit and her magic charm bracelet! Dora also comes with her smartphone and a special one for you too! Dora will magically respond to and interact with your special phone and when she talks and sings, her shirt and charm bracelet will light up and sparkle! Use your magical smartphone to talk to Doras friends and discover new places in Playa Verde using the Map App! Over 50 phrases, sounds, and a song from the TV show add to the adventure! For more fun and features, you can look for the Fisher-Price Dora & Friends dolls! Each friend comes with an adventure charm that plays ringtones & phrases in your magical smartphone!\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Not very Poseable, Fairly Cute Little Doll\\n\\nReview: When I received the Fisher Price Dora and Friends Talking Dora Doll, I was expecting the doll to be a larger doll than what I received. The Dora doll stands about 11\\\" tall and kind of looks like a younger version of a Bratz doll with the big head little body thing going on. The doll has a plastic jeweled top which lights up along with her bracelet when pushed. This also triggers Dora to sing, talk, and work with the included smartphone. The buttons on the Dora doll are hair triggered - you don't even have to push the button in all the way for the doll to burst into song speak to you. The included smartphone is not nearly as easy to trigger - you have to mash on the map to get it to talk. Thankfully, neither the doll nor the phone was terribly loud, although like all talking toys, it can get old fast.\\n\\nMy daughter, while interested in the phone, was not as impressed with the Dora doll. She particularly did not like how Dora's arms are pretty much fused into one position, could not let go of her tiny smartphone, and could not figure out why Dora would have a picture of herself on her phone. She also didn't like how the included smartphone was just a light up toy versus a working \\\"smartphone\\\" like her Leapfrog toys. That said, there's nothing wrong the doll - whether or not your kid will play with it is highly dependent on if s/he likes Dora. If you have a Dora fan in the house, this toy would make your kid very happy.\",\n \"Product: Funko is a pop culture licensed-focused toy company located in Everett, WA. Funko currently holds more than 150 licenses including, but not limited to; Lucas Films, Marvel, Hasbro, The Walking Dead, Game of Thrones, DC Comics, NBA, Sanrio, and Disney. Funko's Pop! Vinyl is the number one stylized vinyl collectible in the world with over 10 million units sold in the last three years.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: I Love You, oh Great and Powerful Trixie!!!\\n\\nReview: The clouds opened and the heavens sang when the Great and Powerful Trixie arrived in full Funko vinyl form. This figure is beautiful. The sculpting is good, the figure is well balanced, and the paint job on this figure is quite possibly the best of the MLP Funko line. There was only one imperfection on my Trixie and it was very very small (the white paint from her mane went maybe millimeter past the mane line and ended up on her body. The painted stars and spots on her cape and hat were all perfect. This figure also doesn't have the dreaded \\\"face dent\\\" that many of the other Funko ponies seem to have.\\n\\nAs many others stated, she has no tail, but this really only affects the figure if you have the Chase Sparkle Variant. If you have the standard variant, the lack of tail is all good, as the cape falls on her body to look as if there was a tail underneath. Overall, this is a fantastic figure. Funko has really stepped up its game with the MLP figures...it was great getting this near perfect figure. This is definitely a figure to add to any MLP fan's collection. HIGHLY recommended!\",\n \"Product: Your favorite characters from My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic animated television show get the vinyl figure treatment.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: She Has the Power to Spread the Magic of Friendship Across Equestria\\n\\nReview: The MLP sculps by Funko just keep getting better and better. Released with her frienemy, The Great and Powerful Trixie, the Twilight alicorn sculp is detailed, well painted, and looks just like her cartoon counterpart. The overall sculpting is great: there are no divots in the cheeks like in the first few Funkos (such as Rainbow Dash and Derpy), and the paint job is clean and uniform. I had a few small scratches in her wings, which are no noticeable from afar, but can be seen up close.\\n\\nWhile the overall sculpt is good, Funko did make Twi suffer from a severe case of \\\"helmet hair\\\", as her hair helmets right around her horn - her bangs are so far away from her head that I can fit my thumb right underneath! That aside, the overall look of Twilight is great and is a great figure to add to any MLP fan's collection. Highly recommended.\",\n \"Product: The Orb Factory Limited is a provider of award winning crafts and activity products. With over 20 years in business, we are always creating brand new lines and exciting new products. We are now sold in over 60 countries, have won numerous awards and have become a recognized and trusted name in the toy industry.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Easy to Assemble, Very Cute Cone, Jewels Prone to Falling Off with Time\\n\\nReview: My daughter received the OrbFactory Plush Ice Cream Pillow last year for Christmas, and she still has the pillow today. Surprisingly this pillow has up stood the test of time, even despite my daughter napping on it. The craft itself was simple enough for her to assemble by herself (even at 5 years old) and the end product is soft, durable, and very cute. This is a great project for kids, and simple enough for even younger kids to do by themselves.\\n\\nThe pillow comes already assembled, and has a side that is made of a soft plastic. There are small numbered \\\"x\\\"s on the pillow where you use a dull pointed plastic tool to push small squares of fabric into. The fabric pieces are not likely to come out because of the pointed ends of the \\\"x\\\" hold the fabric firmly in place. There are also jewels you can put on the pillow - I will admit that these jewels can come off (they're stuck to plastic holder pieces using adhesive). Unlike the Cupcake Pillow, the jewels on this pillow are more prone to fall out for some reason. I'm not sure if the adhesive wasn't as strong, or if there was something wrong with the jewels One thing to note - you cannot wash this pillow unless you want fabric pieces to come out.\\n\\nOverall, this pillow was a lot of fun for my daughter to assemble, and the end product is very cute. If there were one thing to complain about, this pillow is a bit small in size - but to a kid, it's still awesome, and apparently awesome enough to nap on. I can also safely say these pillows are durable - even after many a nap, it still looks great.\",\n \"Product: \\\"Eeyup!\\\" It's Applejack's older brother, Big McIntosh, or Big Mac as his friends know him. Featuring the same look you know and love from the My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic TV show, you can display him anywhere, whether it's at school, work, or at home!\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Very Minor Molding/Paint Flaws, But Otherwise Awesome! E-Yup!\\n\\nReview: I've been dying for Funko to start releasing some of the other prominent figures of Ponyville asides from the Mane Six and fan favorite background ponies, and was thrilled to see Big Mac in the release. Big Mac stands much taller than the other fillies released. To account for this height difference, he also has much thicker legs, is slightly broader, and definitely heavier than the other ponies released. His color and paint is really quite well done although mine did have a very small part on his left flank cutie mark with three pinpoint spots where paint didn't transfer quite perfectly. Because his man and tail are sculpted from orange vinyl instead of red, the mane to body colors were very clearly defined. This definition was much better than the fillies whose hair was painted on as opposed to being sculpted from the correct color. The khaki color on his hooves are all painted on and done very well - there was no bleeding into his legs.\\n\\nThe only issue I had with my Big Mac was that on his hind hoove, there were a few point where the vinyl didn't get molded quite perfectly resulting in a small divot in his hoof. I missed this when choosing my Big Mac, but am okay with the small divot as I'm casually collecting and using this Mac to sit on my desk. Overall, the look, color, and sculp for Big Mac is fantastic. I'm thrilled to have him in my collection! One last thing - you can get the Funko ponies directly from Hot Topic at a slightly more reasonable price. The ponies will be less than $20/pony.\",\n \"Product: Grand Piano- Is a musical instrument played using a keyboard consisting of 52 white keys and 36 black keys that cover a range of more than seven octaves. The Grand Piano is designed so that its frame and strings are parallel to the floor with the strings extending away from the keyboard. The piano also includes 3 foot pedals used to change the instrument's sound in various ways.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: No Glue Involved, NeedleNose Pliers Required, Gorgeous Finished Piece\\n\\nReview: My husband got me this puzzle from our local big box bookstore as a little gift - I love puzzles and I love building models, so he figured this would be a nice challenge for me. The puzzle is easy enough to put together - all the instructions are via illustrations similar to Lego instructions. There are numbers next to each indicated piece, so you can punch each piece out as needed. I would definitely recommend having a good pair of needlenose pliers and an X-acto knife with you when you're assembling, as some of the pieces are difficult to remove from the metal sheets and many of the pieces require very fine bending. Each metal piece is smooth on the edges, has very find detail cut into it (the piano keyboard alone is really impressive to look at), and when assembled correctly looks like it could be one piece of neatly cut metal.\\n\\nThe piano took me about 4 hours to assemble - granted, I was watching movies while assembling, so your time may be faster (or slower!) depending on how dexterous you are and if you're taking multiple breaks like I did. Overall, I had a really good time assembling this model. There's no glue involved, all the pieces are attached via bending small metal tabs (be careful, because if you mess up, there's no going back), and the end result is very clean and beautiful. I would recommend this to anyone who likes building models and who is meticulous when it comes to detail.\",\n \"Product: Enjoy a perfect afternoon by the sea at the iconic Heart lake Lighthouse! Stephanie is going to visit her friend Kate in the ice cream shop there. Help her pick an ice cream - there are so many flavors to choose from - and enjoy it on the pier in the sunshine. Head to the bathroom to freshen up and discover the ladder. Where does it lead to? Go exploring with Stephanie and find the secret room with a treasure map to start more adventures! Look out from the top of the lighthouse with the binoculars and spot the friendly seal sitting on a rock. Then climb into the row boat and head out to take pictures of it. After a day of fun with her friend, have a rest with Kate in the attic bedroom by lantern light. Which friends will come to visit for an ice cream tomorrow? Combine with the 41097 Heart lake Air Balloon for a sightseeing tour of Heart lake City. Includes 2 mini-doll figures: Kate and Stephanie, plus a seal.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Adorable Lighthouse Set Complete with Ice Cream Parlor, Sleeping Area, and a Tiny Bathroom with Toilet!\\n\\nReview: The Lego Friends Heartlake Lighthouse is a fantastic Lego Set for any ice cream and boating lover. This set is narrow, but tall, and has a lot of cute details on it which make play back value high. Because of the tiny ice creams, popsicles, cute seal, and little boat for the two girls to go adventuring on (while eating ice cream, no less!) there's plenty of room for imaginative play. The set was simple for my kid to build, and she liked how this set is like a house - there's even a little bed on the second floor. One thing in particular that the kids thought was incredibly funny is that this set comes with a tiny bathroom with toilet and lid. Needless to say, apparently our little figure learned the hard way that you shouldn't eat a sundae, two ice cream cones, and a popsicle all in one sitting.\\n\\nOverall, this set was really fun to assemble, and a lot of fun to play with afterwards. This set would be a great gift for any Lego Friends Fan.\",\n \"Product: It turns out that tying knots is good for more than just being out in the wilderness-it's actually a great brain building skill to have! The 40 knotty challenges in this game will have your neurons firing as you work to recreate the knots shown on the challenge cards with your rope. If you were never much of a scout, you may gain a new skill or two as you strengthen your spatial reasoning and dexterity skills!\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: No Instructions on How to Tie the Knots\\n\\nReview: The husband is in the Coast Guard, and on a whim, he purchased this game for the kids to play so they could learn some of the knots he uses on the job. First the good points - the rope is very durable, the ring is solid, and the cards are all neatly and beautifully illustrated. The cards are set in a notebook form, so you can't lose them, and there are fun little facts on each card regarding each particular knot.\\n\\nUnfortunately, the fun ends there. Unless you're planning on tying each knot by threading one end around and \\\"guess and by golly\\\" where to put the loops, you WILL NOT learn how to effectively tie each knot. We'll take the Beginner #2 knot for example. The Slipknot can be easily achieved by crossing the rope, then pulling the rope through. The illustration given doesn't give directions on how to tie the slipknot, but instead shows the final step only. Another example is for another beginner knot - the Ring Hitch. Nowhere does it tell you to loop the rope, put it through the ring, then pull the two loose ends through the loop to create the knot. I won't even get started on more complicated knots like the bowlines.\\n\\nLong story short, even Mr. Coast Guard got terribly frustrated at some of these knots. Some of the knots which are done using two ropes were finagled into using a single rope (Fisherman's Knot and Surgeon's knot for example). Other knots which are incredibly easy to do with instructions were deemed \\\"intermediate\\\", such as the Tom Fool knot - you had to make the Tom Fool knot by threading through the end of the rope, you'll take a whole lot longer than if you learned how to do it correctly. If you're really interested in learning how to tie knots correctly, you can google \\\"animated knots\\\" and there's a couple of good resources and videos on how to effectively tie the knots, and in all honesty, a hardware store will have all the materials you'll need to make said kit. I personally would not recommend getting this as a good way to learn knots on the go. I would also suggest alternative knot tying cards - <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/PROKNOT-Outdoor-Knots/dp/0922273227/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">PROKNOT Outdoor Knots</a>.\\n\\nFor those who are interested, here's a list of the knots included:\\nOverhand knot, slip knot, figure 8 knot, ring hitch, clove hitch, overhand loop, figure eight loop, double overhand knot, reef knot, stevedore knot, harness loop, two half hitches, turn around & two half hitches, carrick bend, bowline, running bowline, lariat loop, bowline on a bight, Portuguese bowline, fisherman's knot, buntline hitch, surgeon's knot, tom fool knot, handcuff, ashley stopper knot, alpine butterfly bend, improved cinch knot, angler's loop, fisherman's bend, double sheet bend, sheepshank, cat's paw, hunter's bend, tarbuck knot, half windsor knot, square knot, water bowline, single strand plait, blood knot, Chinese button.\",\n \"Product: Funko is a pop culture licensed-focused toy company located in Everett, WA. Funko currently holds more than 150 licenses including, but not limited to; Lucas Films, Marvel, Hasbro, The Walking Dead, Game of Thrones, DC Comics, NBA, Sanrio, and Disney. Funko's Pop! Vinyl is the number one stylized vinyl collectible in the world with over 10 million units sold in the last three years.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Rarity is the Best Pony - Now If Only She Didn't Have So Many Flaws\\n\\nReview: Rarity is simply the best pony. Her style, her grace, and her generosity is simply unmatched. Unfortunately, her Funko sculpt falls terribly short for such a fabulous pony. Frankly, I'm astounded at the number of flaws on the pony I received - this may vary depending on the sculpt you get. The sculpt I received had any divots on the mane and tail. There are multiple lines where the vinyl didn't fill in correctly, and the attaching points were sloppily done - particularly where her head attaches to her body. Quality control should get nailed for letting this pony go through!\\n\\nThe many divots aside, the paint job on this pony is fantastic, and her cutie mark and eyes came out perfectly. The overall sculpt is also very detailed - her hair is very well done and there was no bleeding of color between her hair and body like on some other ponies. Overall, I really love the look and overall sculpt of Rarity. It would be a good idea to check out your pony before purchasing though - hopefully you won't received a pock marked rarity as I did!\",\n \"Product: Hello Kitty has entered the medical field with this large play set that features an ambulance that converts into a fully functional emergency room! Help Hello Kitty rescue patients on the stretcher and transport them to the err with the emergency helicopter where they will have most excellent care! This set includes an emergency helicopter, emergency ambulance, 6 play figures, stretcher, cable hook, Doctor case, patient bed, x-ray stand, EKG machine, stethoscope, prescription pad plus, and more! Ages 4+.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Big Airplane Playset for Hello Kitty Fans\\n\\nReview: The Jada Toys Hello Kitty Jet Plane Set is a great toy for any Hello Kitty fan in your household. It comes with three character - Kitty, Lulu and Jodi - and a largel collection of tiny food/accessories including a two little sandwiches that can be assembled/disassembled, four food trays, two apple, one suitcase, one carry on case, two tea cups, one tea pot with saucer, a camera, creamer, and a little food cart that cannot roll down the aisle as there is no aisle. Heed now - those little food items are TINY...we're talking an apple the size of a pea here. If you have little ones who can't keep things out of their mouths, or who will have a melting fit if they lose a piece, this is not the toy for you.\\n\\nWhen the accessories are not in use, they can be easily placed in a small area near the back of the plane or under one of the six seats. Note, the rolling bag can fit under the seat, but the luggage bag does not - so true to life! We gave the kid a small snack sized ziploc to store all the pieces in - again, I cannot stress enough how tiny these pieces are. There are small holes on the bottom of the characters, so you can have them seated in the pegged seats. Each seat also has a small folding down tray table.\\n\\nOverall, the kid loved this set. This set is compatible with the <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Jada-Toys-Hello-Kitty-Drivin-Diner/dp/B0070AK2SI/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Jada Toys Hello Kitty Drivin Diner</a> and the <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Hello-Kitty-Rescue-Set-Medical-Helicopter-Emergency-Ambulance/dp/B00NDCO7YC/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Hello Kitty Rescue Set Medical Helicopter Emergency Ambulance</a> - this is great because the kid has been able to interchange characters and pieces with all the sets. If you have a Hello Kitty Fan in your house, this is great big set to consider.\",\n \"Product: Hello Kitty has entered the medical field with this large play set that features an ambulance that converts into a fully functional emergency room! Help Hello Kitty rescue patients on the stretcher and transport them to the err with the emergency helicopter where they will have most excellent care! This set includes an emergency helicopter, emergency ambulance, 6 play figures, stretcher, cable hook, Doctor case, patient bed, x-ray stand, EKG machine, stethoscope, prescription pad plus, and more! Ages 4+.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Fun Medical Play Set for the Hello Kitty Fan\\n\\nReview: The Hello Kitty Medical Helicopter Playset is a very fun playset for any Hello Kitty Fan. The kid received this for her birthday and really enjoys playing with it. This set comes with five character figures (all Hello Kitty, unfortunately), multiple little pieces including beds, medical bags, medical equipment, and so forth. This set is pretty large, and with all these little pieces, the kid has been having a good time using her imagination and putting the characters through all sorts of exciting medical scenarios.\\n\\nThis set comes with a lot of little pieces - not unlike any other kid's playset I've seen. If your kid it prone to losing pieces, be warned now - this set has a good number of little bits to it. We keep everything in a ziploc bag and haven't lost any pieces yet. There are a few cardboard elements to the set (including an IV stand, medical curtain, helicopter landing pad, prescription pad, and interchangeable x-ray slides), which add to the play, but ultimately can be destroyed even with gentle play. The only cardboard pieces that I wish were plastic are the x-ray slides, because once those are destroyed, the x-ray machine will not have any image to put in it - I photocopied the pictures and laminated the copies so we have a more durable set to keep on hand.\\n\\nThe set feels quite durable, and we haven't had any issues with loose doors or the like. The characters can be a bit difficult to put onto the seat pegs - particularly the passenger seat peg - but it's not impossible. If you have younger kids, this can be frustrating for them - my kids had a little difficulty, but not so much that they would end up in tears...their younger cousins on the other hand....\\n\\nOverall, this is a very fun play set, despite the passenger seat peg and cardboard x-rays. If there was one thing to change, I personally would have liked to see Tracy, Lulu, and Jody in the set. Personal preference aside, the kid really likes this set - it's definitely a lot of fun.\",\n \"Product: The Heroes are having a party when suddenly Avengers Tower comes under Ultron attack from the inside! Evil Ultron Mark 1 has assembled himself in the lab and is exploding out the windows. Help Iron Man and Thor to defeat Ultron Mark 1 and the 2 Iron Legion accomplices under his control. Make plans in the JARVIS control room and treat injured Super Heroes in the sick bay. An Iron Legion is blasting out the doors and windows of the ground-floor robot bay. The other has stolen the Loki Scepter from the analysis lab so pursue him with Thor and take aim from the roof of the tower with the secret hidden drone and stud shooters. You must retrieve the Scepter and stop Ultron Mark 1! Includes 5 minifigures with a weapon and assorted accessories: Ultron Mark 1, 2 Iron Legions, Iron Man and Thor.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Very Detailed Set, Lots of Great Moving Parts, Iron Man's Mask is Even Removable!\\n\\nReview: The Lego Avengers Superheroes Attack on Avengers Tower is a fantastic Lego set for any Avengers fan. While this set is definitely not the largest playset of the Lego line, what is lacking is size is made up of sheer detail. There are many moving parts in this set including windows that open, panels that opens up to reveal weaponry underneath, computer screens that move aside, robotic arms that move aside, and even face masks that can be placed on (and removed!) from the various Iron Man suits. There is a Tony Stark/Iron Man and Thor mini figure included along with two hybrid Iron Man Mark 5 suits.\\n\\nThe level of detail involved with this set is great. From the Ultron Project labeled computer screens, to the Chitauri Scepter being analyzed, to the tiny damaged Iron Man Suit, there a many aspects about this set that would appeal to Avenger Fans. This set didn't take too long for the kid to build, but was a lot of fun to him to both assemble and play with afterwards. Play over value is high with this set.\\n\\nOverall, this is a very well thought out and fun Lego set to consider for your Avengers/Iron Man/Lego Fan. It may not be the biggest set, but it definitely is big on detail and fun.\",\n \"Product: The product description for this item is not available at this time. It will be updated when it is available.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Smaller Lego Set, Lots of Fun for Lego Avenger Fans\\n\\nReview: The Lego Superheroes Iron Man vs. Ultron is a very small, but still fun set for any Iron Man fan. The set includes one Iron Man mini figure and three Ultron minifigures. The Ultron mini figures are exactly the same. There is a set of antennas and a helmet for the \\\"Prime Ultron\\\" - for those who follow the comics, Ultron has a \\\"hive mind\\\" and can control other Ultrons, so if you're wondering why there are three Ultrons, it's because it's canon and in the comics.\\n\\nThe set itself is very small and has only 92 pieces. This set when complete is about the size of my computer mouse. It took my kid less than 15 minutes to fully assemble the toy, but the set to him was still worth it. This set is fun to play with other Lego Avenger sets, and for those who like Ultron, it's a great set to have. The Legos are all sturdy, fit together fine, and works well with other Lego and Lego compatible sets.\",\n \"Product: 500 piece puzzles featuring popular artwork by this featured artist. This puzzle when assembled measures 18\\\" x 24\\\" and features a high gloss image on package for reference. It is of quality construction and designed to be beautiful and visually appealing.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Highly Detailed and Beautiful Puzzles\\n\\nReview: The Thomas Kinkade/Disney Four Pack Puzzle includes four 500 piece puzzles. In this pack is a Fantasia, Lady and the Tramp, Winnie the Pooh, and Tangled puzzle. Each puzzle is very well detailed, has pieces that fit smoothly together, and lay flat once assembled. It took us about a day (or two) to complete a puzzle. The detailing on these puzzles are great - for example, in the Fantasia puzzle you can not only see Mickey and the broomsticks, but there are hidden characters included such as Jiminy Cricket and Tinkerbell. In the Tangle puzzle, the guys from the Snuggly Duckling Inn are hiding in the background along with the soldiers, Maximus, and Mother Gothel.\\n\\nThe printing of the puzzle was very well done, the pieces fit easily together, and the puzzles are complicated enough to keep everyone entertained, but easy enough so it's not too frustrating. This is a great puzzle to have on the coffee table for the family to complete and beautiful enough to frame and hang on the walls afterwards. Everyone in our family enjoyed these puzzles.\",\n \"Product: Little ones love watching Elmo play with his friends on Sesame Street. Now its their turn to play along with Elmo: Meet Play All Day Elmo! This cuddly and interactive Elmo toy includes 8 games and activities and 150+ responses to help keep kids engaged. Play All Day Elmo has 2 modes of play (Toddler and Preschool) to encourage both younger and older children to have fun. Young children can enjoy basic cause-and-effect play in Toddler mode, like tickling Elmo or squeezing his nose to see how Elmo might respond. Preschool mode takes play to the next level by encouraging preschoolers to play games and activities, like \\\"Red Light Green Light,\\\" \\\"Pat-a-Cake,\\\" \\\"Freeze Dance,\\\" and more! When playtime is over, preschoolers can cuddle with him while listening to a lullaby. After everyone is rested, your child can start the fun again! Sesame Street and associated characters, trademarks and design elements are owned and licensed by Sesame Workshop. Hasbro and all related terms are trademarks of Hasbro.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Very Plush, Highly Interactive Elmo Doll\\n\\nReview: The Playskool Play All Day Elmo is a surprisingly neat toy. This is the most advanced Elmo I've seen, and it's soft and cuddly to boot! The Elmo is fairly large and stands at almost 2' tall. He is surprisingly plush and cuddly, and although I know most of the mechanics are in his belly, you can't feel it easily without squeezing him very hard. The hardest part of Elmo really lies in his neck and head region - his eyes are hard plastic, and it's easy to feel the plastic plates in his mouth and neck. While the plastic is solid, it is unlikely to harm your kid at all as all edges are rounded, and the plastic is durable enough so it seems unlikely to break. The fur on Elmo is really very soft, and the kids loved the \\\"minky\\\" feel to it. He really looks like his television counterpart to boot. The sound on Elmo is fairly clear, and I was surprised to find that the sound is emitted from his mouth as opposed to his belly. The speech on the doll is slightly louder than I'd like, but overall, it's not so loud that I can hear him across the house.\\n\\nThis Elmo, unlike previous dolls, is really advanced. When you squeeze his nose, he'll talk, sing, and play games with your kid. There is a motion detecting feature on him, so he seems aware of being picked up, turned upside down, bounced up and down, and so forth. This Elmo can play a fair variety of games including red light/green light, jumping, patty cake, and freeze dancing - just to name a few. My kids had a blast playing these simple games with Elmo, and while he's still limited in the number of games he can play (he has 8 games and activities), the repetitiveness of the games is not necessarily a bad thing - for toddlers and preschoolers, these simple games really help develop gross motor and intellectual skills...my younger kids seem to play with Elmo over and over again without tiring of him.\\n\\nOne of my favorite things about this toy is that Elmo doesn't require an arm and leg worth of batteries to operate. This toy only requires 4 AA batteries, and these seem to last quite a while. In comparison with the Leapfrog stuffed animals, Elmo is a lot more expensive, but he does a lot more - even without the USB hookups. Overall, the kids really enjoyed this Elmo. He would make an excellent plush buddy for the favorite kid in your life.\",\n \"Product: From the My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic TV show, it's Princess Cadance! Princess Cadance has been given the Vinyl treatment! Cadance stands 4 1/2 Inch and comes in a window display box. Check out the other My Little Pony figures from Funko! Collect them all!.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Sunshine, sunshine, ladybugs awake. Clap your hooves and Do a Little Shake!\\n\\nReview: Dear Funko, you got it totally right where it counted - the Funko Princess Cadance figure is an absolutely lovely sculpt with very few flaws on her. The cutie mark and overall paint job on Cadance is very clean and well done. There is a very light layer of purple sprayed on her wings to give an ombre effect, and her mane and tail had very minimal bleeding on it. Cadance's overall cover is a soft baby pink, and amazingly I had no issues with divots or pock marks anywhere on her body, wings, or tail.\\n\\nThe sculpt is fairly well balanced, although my pony's left back leg is a little higher off the ground than her other three legs so she does wobble very slightly when touched. That aside, she's just a beautiful figure. Of all the Funko pony line I've picked up, I think she's possibly the best figure of the bunch.\",\n \"Product: Put on a spectacular show with LEGO Friends! The modular LEGO Friends Pop Star Show Stage includes a big screen, pop star reveal and dancing functions, and musical instruments sets. Get set for a show-stopping performance with Livi the pop star! The incredible stage is set for tonight's concert. As the show starts, turn the stage panels to make Livi appear as if from nowhere. Set Andrea up on the drums or at the keyboard to accompany Livi for the first songs. Then it's time for the highlight of the show-Livi sings her hit single while Andrea plays the electric guitar like a pro. Use the dancing function to see their slick dance moves! Now it's time to rearrange the stage while Livi has a costume change before her big finale. This has been Livi's best show yet! Includes Livi the pop star and Andrea mini-doll figures. Features a modular stage with catwalk, big screen, background panels, brick-built speakers, pop star reveal function, dancing function, drums and a keyboard set.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Adorable Set, Great \\\"Play Again\\\" Value, Love the Mechics of the Moving Components of This Set\\n\\nReview: My daughter received the Lego Friends Pop Star Show Stage for Christmas this year, and it's easily one of her favorite presents received. The show stage set includes two Lego Friend Minifigures, multiple moving parts, and two tiny Lego instruments. The set was easy enough for her to build by herself and has great \\\"play again value\\\" once built. There is a small knob on the right end of the completed stage that you can turn to make the four panels on the stage turn.\\n\\nThere's a lot of detail that went into this stage set including the tiny stars, the detailing on the minifigure's dresses, and even the sparkly stick decals for the turning panel. The daughter really enjoyed building this set, and I like the fact that a turning mechanism was included - it's really quite clever how it works, and it's great to see a little engineering going on with this super girly looking set.\\n\\nAll the Legos fit snugly together and can work with other Lego sets. Overall, this is a great set to consider if you're buying the Legos friend kits. I love the design and mechanics of this set, and the daughter loves playing with it.\",\n \"Product: Laser Pegs, 122 Tinted Construction Bricks, Power Block Power Base, Instruction Manual;Requires 3 AAA Batteries, Not Included;100% Compatible with Other Major Construction Kits;Award Winning POWERBLOCK Series STEM Educational Laser Pegs Building and Construction Toys for Boys and Girls;All Laser Pegs Lighted Construction Sets Make Excellent Holiday Gifts with their Slide, Stack and Spin play pattern. Excellent educational toy for autistic children;Includes power base, laser pegs, construction bricks and instruction manual;Compatible with other major construction kits\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Fun Lighted Building Block Set\\n\\nReview: My kids received this as a gift this summer and they love it! The Laser Pegs Scout Helicopter set is pretty much a clear colored Legos set (and they fit with Legos and Megabloks, too!). There is one larger clear base piece that lights up via LED light (AAA batteries not included), and you build around that. Once the construction is done, you're left with a cool light up figure. The LED is fairly bright, although the figure won't light up super bright in lighted rooms. Like any lighted toy - the darker the room, the cooler this toy will be. The pieces fit together for us quite smoothly, although in our case - a bit snugly. If you have one of these - <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/LEGO-Classic-Brick-Separator-630-Building-Kit/dp/B0076VIZBW/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">LEGO Classic Brick Separator 630 Building Kit</a> - life will be awesome. The helicopter instructions are fairly easy to follow and pretty much like any other building block set. You can also take a look at the instructions online if you want to see the complexity of each helicopter - all Laser Peg instructions are online, which is a major win if you have multiple sets and want design ideas for your kids!\\n\\nhttp://www.laserpegs.com/instructions-manuals/\\n\\nThis is one of the smaller sets, and would a good starter kit to gift or start someone out with. If you a slightly larger budget, I would get the <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Laser-Pegs-57-in-1-Dragon-Building-Set/dp/B0096R917G/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Laser Pegs 57-in-1 Dragon Building Set</a> as that set is larger, has more figures to be made, and comes with a carrying box/building base. That aside, this kit is fun, educational, and really fun to play with before bedtime because it lights up!! If your kid loves building block sets, they'll love Laser Pegs.\",\n \"Product: From the My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic TV show, it's Shining Armor! Shining Armor has been given the Vinyl treatment! Shining Armor stands 4 1/2 Inch and comes in a window display box. Check out the other My Little Pony figures from Funko! Collect them all.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: He'll Be Your B.B.B.F.F! (Big Brother Best Friend Forever!)\\n\\nReview: Of the Funko My Little Pony line, Funko really got two ponies right - Cadance was the first, and her handsome hubby Shining Armor was the second. Shining Armor is very well sculpt, has little to no paint issues, and he looks absolutely dashing in his wedding outfit. The sculpt of SA is very well done and my pony had no blemishes or pock marks. His coloring is uniform throughout, and the areas that were painted had no bleeding or discoloration. His cutie mark is also very cleanly done, and the transfer was perfect.\\n\\nThe detailing on SA is great - his jacket is probably the most detailed item in the MLP Funko line and they nailed it. There's really nothing bad to say about this figure. He's well balanced, beautifully colored, and very show accurate. SA and Cadance are probably my favorite pony sculpts in the Funko line to date - they're just that well done.\",\n \"Product: Create and build Olaf's Biplane with the Lite Brix Building Set. Item #57006 Contents: 1 construction figure (3 pcs) 9 special shaped parts 77 brick blocks 1 LED Battery Power Pack 1 decal sheet 1 instruction sheet\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Small, but Very Cute Biplane - Great for any Peanuts Fan\\n\\nReview: The Peanuts Movie Olaf's Biplane Lite Brix is a fun building bricks set for any Peanuts fan. This set is compatible with Lego sets, feature a jumbo light up brick that you can build on, and has a cute little Olaf minifigure. This set was very simple for my kid to assemble - the instructions are clear and easy to follow, and the set took the kid about 20 minutes to build. The play over value for this set is high - both my kids had a great time assembling and disassembling the plane, and when assembled, they had a great time arranging \\\"dog fights\\\" with Snoopy on his doghouse and Olaf in his biplane.\\n\\nWhile this set is touted as a \\\"light up brick set\\\", I'm slightly disappointed to find that very few bricks are actually clear and light up. Most of the bricks in this set are opaque, so the set doesn't fully light up. Only the large light up brick lights up which is near the engine. The when turned on, only the engine area is lighted, while the remainder of the figure is not. My kids didn't seem to mind, but did not these are not as cool as other light up brick brands we've seen. That aside, the kids actually liked this set a bit more than the Snoopy's Doghouse set - this little figure works great as a stand alone toy, and the completed build looks really cute.\\n\\nOverall, this is a fun set to get for any Peanuts fan. The completed unit is simply adorable, and the kids love \\\"flying\\\" this set all over the house. One thing to note - we've seen this set at our local Bulls Eye store, and it's much more budget friendly than purchasing from third parties online...\",\n \"Product: Bake and serve delicious cupcakes at the LEGO Friends Heartlake Cupcake Cafe with opening oven, baking accessories, rotating window display, cash register and delivery scooter. Relax and enjoy a delicious treat with friends on the sofa or outside on the patio. This fun toy for 6-year-olds includes Stephanie and Noemi mini-doll figures, plus a cat.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Adorable Lego Set - Lots of Tiny Details, Great To Play With When Assembled\\n\\nReview: Of all the Lego Friends sets my kid received over time, this is undoubtedly the Queen of all the Cupcakes - my kid really loves the Heartlake Cupcake Cafe. The set is a fairly good size, was easy to assemble, has amazing details, and is high on the play back value. After assembly, this wasn't a set that was simply placed on a shelf to be displayed - this was a set where intense baking competitions occur, last minute wedding cakes were ordered, and where the girls meet up to down overpriced lattes while getting their sugar binge on. Look out real housewives, the Heartlake City crew got so much more swag than you.\\n\\nThe detailing on this set is really what makes it - there are simply so many things to look at in this set. I particularly liked the dessert tower in the window, the tiny visor on the character's helmet, the little stained glass window over the door, and my personal favorite: the Kitchenaid mixer with the clear bowl and the two tan \\\"batter\\\" pieces in it! This set comes with two figures - Stephanie and Noemi - as well as a little cat figure. There is also a tiny scooter, so one of the girls can scoot off for a special cupcake delivery.\\n\\nOverall, my kid LOVED this set. As others noted, there are a lot of tiny pieces in this set - primarily cupcakes, cookies, and other tiny baked goods. We have no issues with losing pieces/anyone eating pieces - but if you have a really little one in the house, you may want to watch out. Otherwise, this is a great set to add to any foodie Lego Fan's collection.\",\n \"Product: Join Andrea and her pets for a special LEGO Friends birthday party. Put on a show with the revolving stage area, piano and microphone and have fun on the swing. Includes stools and a table for enjoying the birthday cake and party accessories for great fun. Includes an Andrea mini-doll figure plus a rabbit and a bird.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Great Birthday Set for Any Lego Friends Fan\\n\\nReview: The Lego Friends Birthday Party is a fun small Lego set for any Lego Friends Fan. The set comes with 191 pieces including two small cups, one girl mini figure, a bird mini figure, and a rabbit mini figure. This set is on the simpler side, and the kid took less than an hour to assemble it. The play over value is high however - since receiving it for her birthday, the kid has been playing with it on and off with her other Lego friends set. The set does come with several extra pieces, as many of the bricks and accessories are small. This set, when complete, includes a moving swing set, a moving turn table, a large cake on a table, a piano with microphone, and even a string of lights.\\n\\nWhile my daughter likes this set, she did feel sorry for the character, Andrea - if you note, Andrea is celebrating her birthday ALONE. Sure, she has a bird and a rabbit to keep her company, but if you look carefully, there's only one seat at the birthday cake table. Unless those discs on the floor are cushions, Andrea is all alone on her special birthday. That said, this set could use a friend for this Lego Friend. Luckily for us, we had plenty of friends for poor little Andrea to play with, thanks to my kid's Lego Friend collection.\\n\\nOverall, this is a very cute set to get or to gift for any Lego Friends fan for their birthday. The set is very detailed, very cute, and is compatible with all Lego sets.\",\n \"Product: It's the high-stacking, high-scoring word game. Players make words and score by playing letters across the board and adding tiles upwards for stacks of fun! The higher a player stacks, the higher their score. Play head-to-head with others, or try to improve on previous games by playing solo. The Upwords game comes with 100 letter tiles. Score the most points to win! Licensed by Rudell Design, LLC. The Hasbro Gaming and Upwords names and logos are trademarks of Hasbro.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Incredibly Fun, Interesting Twist on Scrabble Like Games\\n\\nReview: As huge fans of Scrabble, my family and I were really interested in trying out Upwords. This game truly did not disappoint. Like Scrabble, the object of the game is to build works on the playing board. The twist on the game is that words can be built on. In other words, words can get changed in an instant, and can almost entirely change depending on where it is on the board. The point system is also not dependent on the markings on the board, but instead on how high the stack of tiles are. For instance, a single layer word is worth two points per letter, whereas a stacked word is worth one point per tile, with a tile pile being maxed out at five tiles high. While this sounds like making single stacked longer words more valuable, its actually the opposite. Smaller properly stacked works can be work 20 or more point, and words can easily be eliminated and/or changed on the board in an instant. This works out really well for players who are not as word savvy, as there are no particularly higher pointed tile such as the Q or Z in Scrabble, but point are accumulated through clever stacking technique. With that in mind, there is still a good amount of strategy involved, and it was surprising to see how quickly a game could change depending on how a word is altered. For those who enjoy playing tiled word games, but don't have anyone to play with, there is a variation for this game where you are playing by yourself. The board is large enough to play with up to four players though.\\n\\nWhile we love the game play, there are two things I would change about this particular board. First off, it wouldve been great to have some kind of rotation device on the bottom of the board. Often we would find ourselves having to turn the board while stacks of letters wobbled precariously during the turn. Thankfully, the letters are designed so they won't fall over, but it was still quite a pain to constantly have to turn the board. The other thing I wouldve changed is that I wouldve liked to see a small bag included in which to draw letters out from. Its not a big deal, and its not hard to find a cheap bag to put the letter in, but it still wouldve been more convenient to have a letter bag included as oppose to turning over each letter and drawing from a draw pile.\\n\\nOverall, despite its small flaws, this game is incredibly fun to play, and worth including in your gaming closet. I have a feeling I will be introducing this to other family and friends very soon for an Upwards game night.\",\n \"Product: Construct a LEGO brick model of one of the world's most famous palaces. Located in the heart of London, Buckingham Palace has housed Britain's sovereigns since 1837, when it became the official residence of Queen Victoria, just three weeks after her accession to the throne. The building has since played host to state visits, investitures and private audiences, and in 2015 opened its doors to the general public, offering state room tours. This detailed LEGO building block model focuses on the palace's monumental, neoclassical facade-designed by architect Sir Aston Webb in 1913, and features the famous balcony, forecourt and palace gates. A section of the Mall including a red double-decker bus, black cab and the Victoria Memorial completes this ideal gift that captures the essence of the magnificent palace and one of the world's most dynamic cities.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Nicely Detailed Addtion to the Lego Architecture Series\\n\\nReview: The LEGO Buckingham Palace is another great addition to the LEGO Architecture Series. With 780 pieces in the set, this isn't the Lego set that you can expect to finish within an hour - this is a very detailed set that is simple to build, but takes a significant amount of time and patience. For patient builders, the end result is a really awesome model of London's Buckingham Palace - our family completed this set in three days with each family member working on small sections in little blocks of time throughout the day. Time to complete will vary depending on individual. Like all Lego sets, the pieces fit very snugly together, the instructions are illustrated simply but effectively, and we didn't have any issues with missing blocks. The instructions also included information about the design, architecture and history of Buckingham Palace which was a nice bonus. This was a particularly nice set to put out for display - it was so nice, I ended up purchasing another for my brother who is a fan of both Lego Architecture and Buckingham Palace. This is definitely a great set to add to any Lego Architecture fan's collection.\",\n \"Product: Recreate one of London's best-known landmarks with the amazing LEGO Creator Expert Big Ben set. This highly-detailed model captures the grandeur of the 96-meter neo-gothic styled Elizabeth Tower with the adjoining east wing of the Palace of Westminster, and features a sculptural facade with windows, statues and shields, the iconic clock tower with its golden spires and intricate detailing, the Ayrton Light, and 4 beautifully crafted clock dials with movable hour and minute hands. Remove the top of the tower and you'll find the Big Ben bell! A grass area, tree and sidewalk depicting the building's location add the finishing touch to this magnificent model. This fun childrens toy makes a great display piece for the home or office.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Beautiful Sculpture, Lots of Detail - Put LED Lights Inside to Make It Even More Amazing\\n\\nReview: The LEGO Creator Big Ben Sculpture is a monumental build for any Lego fan - this sculpture is HUGE, exceptionally detailed, and absolutely gorgeous. This is a great gift for anyone who is both a fan of Lego and the famous clock tower at the Palace of Westminster. The amount of care and detail put into this particular sculpture is fantastic - from the many statues, windows, and shields on the facade, to the intricately designed clock face that works, there's a lot to look at and admire on this building. This is a great piece to have on display in your home.\\n\\nWhile is a beautiful piece to look at, the build was incredibly repetitive. For those who teased me for enjoying the repetitiveness of cross stitching and knitting, let it be known - this fed the repetitive compulsion. While it is possible to finish this within a day or two with a couple of people, our family ended up breaking the work up into a couple of days simply because it's exhausting! Like all Lego sets, the build wasn't particularly difficult, but an element of patience with this build is required. One thing to note - the back of the building is not as detailed as the front, so it's not great for \\\"all around\\\" display. However, one thing we ended up doing with our set to add an extra element of \\\"wow\\\" was put LED lights inside - because there's so many windows in this build, the light shines through and makes the set look even more awesome than it already is!\\n\\nOverall, this a beautiful sculpture to build, and if you're looking for a set that will give you several hours of building entertainment, this is a good one to consider. It would make a great gift for anyone who loves London and Lego.\",\n \"Product: This vintage-looking Scrabble game is sure to win over the entire game-night gang. It's packaged in a wooden case and features a retro-style game board.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Box is Great, Scrabble Set is Not So Great\\n\\nReview: I admit it - I bought this Scrabble set only because of the box. The book box looks beautiful and holds all the contents of the Scrabble set inside. I received the rounded edge box, and really love how cute it looks on my bookshelf. Unfortunately, while the box is cute, the contents is not nearly as nice. The board is tiny, the tiles are okay but the bag they're in isn't all that great, and the holders are sufficient. The board is really quite small, and while it's convenient to package in the box, Parker Brothers really should have considered making it larger, because it would've fit just fine.\\n\\nOverall, having played several games with tiles shifting on the board, I'm ready to buy a new Scrabble Set that comes with Tile Lock. While this Scrabble set is sufficient, you're really just buying it for the box.\",\n \"Product: Match state geography cards with fact cards in order to collect the most matches. Use special Challenge cards to steal matches from other players. Trivia on each card helps players learn more about the history and culture of their states. Its the most fun card game this side of the Mississippi (no matter which side youre on)!\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: It's a Matching Card Game with a Little Twist\\n\\nReview: The Brain Quest States Card Game is an okay game to learn a little bit about states, their nicknames, capitals, and a tidbit of information. The cards are printed on a decent cardstock, and is about as durable as most standard playing card decks. The cards are a bit smaller than standard playing cards - I've included a picture below to show the difference in size. All the cards can be stored in a tin box that has two sections to divide up the red and blue cards.\\n\\nThe game is very simple - just lay out all the blue cards face down on the table, deal out five red cards per player, then take turns flipping over blue cards to see if you can find a match. The game ends when all the cards are matched. This game really is slightly more complicated version of a kid's matching card game. There are a few \\\"challenge cards\\\" peppered in, where players can attempt to steal a matched set from another player, and the challenger must name the nickname of the matched state in order to complete the steal. Our family opted to name the state capital in order to complete a steal, as this is more relevant information to know for the kid's future geography classes.\\n\\nWhile the kids initially liked the game, the novelty ended fairly quickly for them. First off, this game is in NO WAY possible to play during a road trip. You have to have all blue cards laying face down on the table in order to do the matching aspect of the game. This renders the game impossible to play in a car unless you're rolling in an RV. Next, the game itself isn't terribly challenging - this is a matching game. The first few card flips are interesting because you're looking for a match, but the kids quickly got bored of flipping cards over and over and over again trying to find a match. You really need to have more than two players to speed this game along, otherwise, it's going to get boring fast. Lastly, the challenge cards instruct you to name the nickname of the state. It would've been interesting to have more facts noted on the cards for more challenging game play. Again, we ended up naming the capitals for first get the kids knowing the states and capitals. Once they learned that, we moved onto nicknames - it would've been cool to have other info such as state flower, state bird, etc info on there.\\n\\nOverall, this is still educational, the kids occasionally play it from time to time, and the cards themselves are well packaged and durable. But is this their favorite education state game? Nope - can't say that. This game isn't a travel type card game, and matching aspect of the game didn't keep the attention of our first and second grader.\",\n \"Product: Best Word Book Ever\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: More Than a Storybook for Young Readers\\n\\nReview: Calling Richard Scarry's \\\"Best Storybook Ever\\\" a story book is truly a misnomer. Richard Scarry's contains a handful of stories, a handful of vocabulary books, and a handful of Nursery Rhymes. In short, it's more than a storybook, it's a full on activity book for kids! That said, my kids really enjoy this book. The illustrations are detailed, well colored, and fun for kids to look at (particularly on \\\"Feed Big Hilda Hippo Her ABCs - the kids LOVED this story!) I copy I bought from a used book store included \\\"I Am a Bunny\\\", although it seems from other reviewers that this story is omitted from newer copies.\\n\\nSomething I enjoyed in particular about this book is that it covers a wide range of topics and lessons for kids. To name a few, this book covers the parts of the body, counting, ABCs, colors and color blending, seasons and months of the year, types of clothing, info on planes and trains, types of animals, and even some info on basic manners. While this isn't a traditional collection of storybooks, this is a welcome addition to our reading library. Recommended.\",\n \"Product: This is a new edition of Keri Smith's bestseller, with updated material Think of Wreck. This Journal as the anarchist's Artist's Way - the book for those who've always wanted to draw outside the lines but were afraid to do it. For anyone who's ever wished to, but had trouble starting, keeping, or finishing a journal or sket\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Awesome Journal That Encourages You to TEAR IT APART! Love it!\\n\\nReview: First off...yes, you can do these same exercises on your own with a normal journal - but why would you, everything is laid out pretty darn nifty here! Wreck this Journal was, and still is, amazingly fun. As a type-A neat freak artist who doesn't like having anything out of place, this really helped me get out of my \\\"gotta keep everything looking perfect or it's not perfect\\\" mentality. This book encourages you to let go and just be artistic. There's a number of activities that can be construed in different ways, and many of the activities involve cutting, dirtying, ripping pages out, drawing with reckless abandonment, and simply having fun doing art for the sake of doing art.\\n\\nYou don't have to go in order, if you do activities as you please, and while I'm able to sneak in some really nice pieces, I've also got in a few absolutely awful looking pages in there...and its ALL GOOD because when I look at them later, they are simply awesome. This is a great book to get people to just do art and have fun with it...once I finish this book, I'm getting another from this series...they're great!\",\n \"Product: Ace Collins defines himself as a storyteller. He has authored more than sixty books that have sold more than 2.5 million copies. His catalog includes novels, biographies, children&rsquo;s works as well as books on history, culture and faith. He has also been the featured speaker at the National Archives Distinguished Lecture Series, hosted a network television special and does college basketball play-by-play. Ace lives in Arkansas. Learn more about him by visiting AceCollins.com.&nbsp;\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Diluted Devotionals, Pages of Christmas Song Lyrics, and Unimpressive Crafts\\n\\nReview: The Most Wonderful Tine of the Year is an enjoyable Christmas devotional to follow during the holiday season. Starting from December 1 to December 31, this book includes a short devotional, history, lyrics and meaning behind popular Christmas songs, and a holiday craft corresponding to each date. The beginning of each devotional includes a bible verse which is loosely related to the devotional. While I like how Collins is trying to pack in as much historical facts regarding television shows, Christmas traditions, and random individuals, I felt that these random facts took away from the heart of the devotional and from the bible verse included. It's almost as if the bible verse was merely put there as an extra, and that Jesus was put in the back seat in comparison to the random Perry Como fact noted in the devotional.\\n\\nThe song lyrics/meaning section was interesting to me, and I found myself looking up the song online to hear it. While this was nice to have in the book, I felt it was mostly filler. As for the recipes and gifts, these are only okay. The majority of the gifts were body scrubs and desserts based off of cake batter mixes, premade cookies/desserts, and frozen pie crusts. There were a couple of recipes that were truly homemade and actually not bad, but none of the recipes were anything worth making multiple times.\\n\\nOverall, this book isn't terrible, but I think I would rather purchase individual books for each section - ie, a purely Christmas devotional, a Christmas song book, and a really good Christmas craft/recipe book. There's just too many things trying to go on in this book, and ultimately everything is diluted to the point where it's okay, but not great.\",\n \"Product: The Common English Bible is a translation completed in 2011. One hundred and twenty biblical scholars from twenty-two faith traditions worked as translators. These women and men balanced rigorous accuracy in translation of the ancient texts with an equally passionate commitment to clarity of expression in contemporary English. The result is a clear, direct, and powerful English version of the scriptures for use in Bible study, devotional reading, and worship.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Easy to Read, but Loses a Bit in Translation\\n\\nReview: There are thousands of translations of the Bible, and for a majority of the people who own a Bible, they pick up either a King James Version or the New International Version Bible. While these are great translations, occasionally some of the wording can go easily over one's head. Modern English generally doesn't use words such as bosom or oblation, nor does modern English use prose ending with -est or -eth such as bringest, bloweth, withereth, and so forth. The Common English Bible makes reading the Bible a bit easier to understand, and in all honesty, while it's not my preferred translation (I'm all for NIV), I do find this translation very helpful when I'm having a hard time \\\"getting it\\\". The biggest gripe I would have with this version is that some of this Bible is lost in the Modern English translation, and important key bits are excluded. As an example:\\n\\n\\\"The workman melteth a graven image, and the goldsmith spreadeth it over with gold, and casteth silver chains. He that is so impoverished that he hath no oblation chooseth a tree that will not rot; he seeketh unto him a cunning workman to prepare a graven image, that shall not be moved.\\\" -Isaiah 40:19-20 <King James Version>\\n\\n\\\"As for an idol, a metalworker casts it, and a goldsmith overlays it with gold and fashions silver chains for it. A person too poor to present such an offering selects wood that will not rot; they look for a skilled worker to set up an idol that will not topple.\\\" -Isaiah 40:19-20 <New International Version>\\n\\n\\\"An idol? A craftsman pours it, a metalworker covers it with gold, and fashions silver chains. The one who sets up an image chooses wood that won't rot and then seeks a skilled artisan to set up an idol that won't move.\\\" -Isaiah 40:19-20 <Common English Version>\\n\\nThis is a very small snippet of a passage I came across, but the impoverish person - the person too poor to present the offering - was completely eliminated from this passage in the Common English Version. The exclusion of this impoverish person doesn't seem to be a big deal, but in reality making note of that person being poor yet still trying to find ways to make idols that last is of great importance in this passage. This passage is trying to emphasize that weak and frail humans still try to make idols that last, but there is only one true God and to compare Him to idols is blasphemous.\\n\\nPeppered throughout this bible are also \\\"Portraits\\\" of women in the Bible such as Job's Wife, Pilate's Wife, Women in the Crowd, \\\"Woman Wisdom\\\" and so forth, as well as colored boxes which feature info regarding random topics such as Jewels and Gems, Social Justice, Disability, Sin, Father, and so forth. These boxes were interesting to read and gave historical backgrounds on how these topics were viewed at that time. While these boxes didn't give as much background as I would've liked, it did encourage me to research more on the topic myself. One thing I did particularly like were the maps included in this bible as well as the easy to read \\\"left to right with no columns\\\" format.\\n\\nOverall, while this isn't a version I would want to give nor receive as a Bible to have as a sole Bible, it's a nice version to have as a \\\"supplement\\\" Bible to help translate difficult passages in Modern English terms. This would also be a good version to have around for those who are reluctant to read the Bible stating \\\"it's too difficult to understand\\\". As far as I'm concerned, if this is the version that will get someone to delve into the Word willingly, it's worth picking up as it's better to read God's word in this translation than to not read at all.\",\n \"Product: 2005 Finalist for the Association of Educational Publishers Distinguished Achievement Award, this workbook gives children the opportunity to practice using scissors accurately. Many children have difficulty cutting exactly on the lines, so this workbook has children begin cutting on thick lines before moving gradually to thinner ones. Children will eventually be comfortable cutting straight lines, curves, and circles, and the practice will help develop their manual dexterity.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Fantastic Start to Using Scissors\\n\\nReview: I really can't praise Kumon enough - the simple progression these workbooks go through really help child garner the skills they need while still making it fun. The first few projects were really simple - just cutting straight lines from the top of the page to the bottom. Zig Zag lines were introduced next, then simple shapes, then curved lines. The lines get thinner and thinner, although when looking at them, it didn't seem like they were at first. My son is halfway through the book and always looks forward to do his \\\"cutting project\\\" each day. There are 40 pages to cut in the book. I will definitely buy this for my daughter later - it's amazing to see how well my son can use scissors now...and how proud he is to finish each project! Highly recommended!!!\",\n \"Product: Suzuki Piano School New International Edition Piano Book and CD Volume 1. The New International Edition of Suzuki Piano School, Volume 1 includes French, German and Spanish translations as well as a newly recorded CD performed by internationally renowned recording artist Seizo Azuma. Now the book and CD can be purchased together or separately. While the music selections in Volume 1 remain the same as the earlier edition, the spacious new engraving with minimal editing generally keeps only one piece per page. Instruction material in many pieces from Volume 1 has been removed in lieu of right-hand studies at the top of the page and left-hand studies at the bottom. Tempo markings are now included on many pieces. Titles: \\\"Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star\\\" Variations (Shinichi Suzuki) Lightly Row (German Folk Song) The Honeybee (Bohemian Folk Song) Cuckoo (German Folk Song) Lightly Row (German Folk Song) French Children's Song (French Folk Song) London Bridge (English Folk Song) Mary Had a Little Lamb (American Nursery Song) Go Tell Aunt Rhody (Folk Song) Au Clair de la Lune (J. B. Lully) Long, Long Ago (T. H. Bayly) Little Playmates (F. X. Chwatal) Chant Arabe (Anonymous) Allegretto 1 (C. Czerny) Goodbye to Winter (Folk Song) Allegretto 2 (C. Czerny) Christmas-Day Secrets (T. Dutton) Allegro (S. Suzuki) Musette (Anonymous).\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Very Helpful Book in Learning How to Play Piano\\n\\nReview: The Suzuki Piano School Volume 1 is a great starter book in teaching your kid classical music. This book focuses on \\\"tonalization\\\" - the search for ways of producing beautiful sound from instruments in the same way that singers use vocalization to developing their singing voices. When first starting this book, the music looks (and is) very simple. The first quarter of the book focuses on multiple variations of \\\"Twinkle Twinkle Little Star\\\". While it seemed redundant to the kid initially, it really helped him hear the differences between the different tempos and dynamics. Being able to count accurately really matters in the beginning - if you don't have a teacher helping you, there is also a CD that helps you hear the song and understand what exactly is going on. The CD is very helpful, and will be much more helpful down the line once you get into the second and third volumes. Also, if you have a teacher who understands and can teach the Suzuki Method, it will help speed things greatly.\\n\\nThis particular volume is an international version, so there are four translations inside - English, German, French, and Spanish. This doesn't hinder nor clutter the book at all. Overall, this is a great book to have in your kid's piano lessons.\"\n]","isConversational":false},"profile_size":{"kind":"number","value":189,"string":"189"},"task":{"kind":"string","value":"longlamp_3"},"split_kind":{"kind":"string","value":"user_based"},"id":{"kind":"number","value":964,"string":"964"}}},{"rowIdx":965,"cells":{"question_id":{"kind":"string","value":"A3N3CNQD0L3HX9"},"question":{"kind":"string","value":"Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of \"4.0\" for a product with description \"This should be the last oil filter you will ever buy made from laser cut, medical grade, 304 stainless steel micronic filter cloth, this filter provides 200 percent more filter area in many cases. Our stainless filter catches items down to 35 microns, which is about 3 times better than most good paper or brass filters. Unlike glued paper filters, the Flo Oil Filter pleat seam is welded and able to withstand up to 600 degrees. This filter maintains consistent flow under all conditions including extreme heat, the presence of water, and cold start ups where paper filters can flow so poorly that they often cause the bypass valve to open and allow unfiltered oil to enter your engine. This high tech filter technology is widely used in all types of auto racing including NASCAR, Indy type cars, Formula 1 and in the Aerospace industry where filtration is of the utmost importance. In addition to all the other benefits, our filter helps keep the land fills free of old used filters. Cleaning Instructions: Note the original filter position to ensure correct installation. Clean filter at each oil change with solvent, contact cleaner, kerosene, or any other degreasing agent; even common dish soap. Blow air through the filter from the inside out to remove any small particles or cleaning agent from the screen. Lube rubber parts with clean oil before installation. Fits: Harley Davidson Touring Twin Cam 99-13, Softail Twin Cam 00-13, Dyna Twin Cam 99-13, Touring Evo 82-98, Softail Evo 84-99, Dyna Evo 91-98, and Sportsters 85-13; Buell M2 Cyclone 97-02, S3 Thunderbolt 95-02, X1 Lightning 96-02; Aprilia Dorsoduro 750 09-12, Mana 850 08-11, Shiver 750 08-12; BMW F650 GS 08-13, F800 06-13, HP2 (without skid plate) 06-11, K100 83-93, K75 85-92, K1 89-93, K1100 90-93, K1200 99-08, S1000RR 09-13, R850 94-97, R1100 93-05, R1150 00-06, R1200 all 99-13, K1600 11-13; Moto Guzi 850 06-10, V11's (1100cc) 94-10, 940 07-10, 1200 06-12, MGS-01 Corsa 05-12, 1000 94-01.\". The summary of the review text is \"Very good filter, but time till be the real judge.\"."},"answer":{"kind":"string","value":"When I first got this, I changed the oil filter but not my oil on my Harley. I wanted to see if this could clean up the existing oil. I just changed my oil and then took this off to clean it out and then put it back on. It is simple to use and easy to clean. I used mineral spirits to wash the old oil out of the filter then used an air compressor to blow out the mineral spirits. I would have used gas to clean it out but did some reading and it was suggested that the gas wasn't the best solvent to use. I plan on cleaning out the oil filter every 3k miles so that I will always be getting a small amount of oil additives put back into the base stock. I use Royal Purple but switched to Mobile One this time for price savings. I prefer the RP but the price is getting so high that I am looking for savings wherever I can.\n\nAlso, you need a 17mm socket to take this on and off with. I was looking through all the reviews and hoping to remember what size socket I needed but couldn't find the size."},"correct_answer":{"kind":"string","value":"When I first got this, I changed the oil filter but not my oil on my Harley. I wanted to see if this could clean up the existing oil. I just changed my oil and then took this off to clean it out and then put it back on. It is simple to use and easy to clean. I used mineral spirits to wash the old oil out of the filter then used an air compressor to blow out the mineral spirits. I would have used gas to clean it out but did some reading and it was suggested that the gas wasn't the best solvent to use. I plan on cleaning out the oil filter every 3k miles so that I will always be getting a small amount of oil additives put back into the base stock. I use Royal Purple but switched to Mobile One this time for price savings. I prefer the RP but the price is getting so high that I am looking for savings wherever I can.\n\nAlso, you need a 17mm socket to take this on and off with. I was looking through all the reviews and hoping to remember what size socket I needed but couldn't find the size."},"documents":{"kind":"list like","value":["Product: Introducing the NEW! 14-inch Grand Memory Foam Mattress taking memory foam comfort to the next generation! Made with 4-layer construction: 4\" Foam, 1\" Comfort memory foam, 2\" airflow and 7\" High density foam for ultimate support base! Infused gel beads into premium memory foam; provides the ultimate solution, combining comfort, support pressure relief and improved airflow for a cooler night's sleep! Compares to name brands! Comforting rating: Medium Firm. Mattress Only! Foundation not included. Queen size: W60\" x L80\" x H14\".\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Very pleased with this product!\n\nReview: My wife is having some issue with a medical problem and we wanted a modern mattress to help her sleep more comfortably. We looked at all the big store and small mattress stores and while we like the products, the new thick memory foam mattresses were too high. My wife said we should look on Amazon and found this mattress. I was very skeptical as this is like buying a very personal product without ever getting the opportunity to test the product to determine if you like it. But the savings this product provided was great so without great risk there is no reward.\n\nWe just spent our second night on them and I can report back that they are extremely comfortable. They provide outstanding support yet feel almost like a firm yet soft cloud.\n\nWhen we opened the box, it was double wrapped. One thick plastic wrapper for shipping and another thinner gag that provided the vacuum effect needed to reduce the size of the mattress for shipping. Once air started to hit the mattress, it started to expand and took about 3 hours to get to a point where we could put some mattress pads and sheets on them.\n\nI know, you are probably saying I have only been on them 2 nights so how can I make a final determination and you would be right. This is just the first of several updates that I will provide. But my initial impression is that this is a great product and a fantastic value!\n\nProduct Update:\n8-9-2013\n\nAfter a few weeks, I still love this bed. The only problem I can report is that it is on casters. I have laminate flooring in my bed room and the two beds (two twin XL together to form a king) move everytime you get in them. Plus, they are about 3 inches too tall. I feel like a little kid getting into bed.\n\nBut the sleep quality these beds provide and the cost benefit outweigh these minor issues. I am planning on putting some different casters and lowering the bed, so I can report later on how this works out.","Product: Coolmax Technology, Inc COOLMAX HD-389-U2 3.5\" SATA ENCLOSURE 15333 Drive Cabinets\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Great way to salvage an old hard drive and recover data\n\nReview: I had an Acer small form computer that wouldn't start. I used it as my home work computer and needed some files off the old hard drive for my work. After searching around for some type of external hard drive conversion kit, I found this one on Amazon.\n\nIt was the least expensive one I could find and my initial thought was to just recover the data, not to make an external hard drive.\n\nThe box came quickly via UPS and I was very surprised to discover how easy the set up was. The master board that connects to you old hard drive was so simple to install. If you can insert a USB cord into a computer, you can do this.\n\nI plugged in the USB cord and the power supply and my new computer instantly recognized the old hard drive.\n\nIts that simple. A very low cost and inexpensive way to not only recover data, but also to give your hard drive a new life!","Product: Apricorns SATA Wire is the ideal tool to upgrade your 2.5-Inch SATA or SSD drive in a Notebook or Netbook computer.Bundled with Apricorns EZ Gig II Cloning Software for PC and Shirt Pocket Cloning Software for Macs; this kit makes upgrading the main drive in your notebook straight forward and painless.If your notebook is running out of space or you are looking to upgrade to a faster, high performance hard drive or solid state drive, Apricorns SATA Wire is the perfect tool.Providing a USB connection to a 2.5-Inch SATA drive, SATA Wire enables you to upgrade your notebooks drive in three simple steps. 1) Connect the SATA Wire to your drive and the USB port to your computer .Run the included cloning software to copy all of your data, email, settings and OS from your notebook to the new drive. Swap out your old notebook drive with your new one, and youre done\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: So simple....yet so effective\n\nReview: I had ordered a solid state drive form Newegg and tried to install it in my Toshiba laptop. This Toshiba is the prerunner to the ultra drives. It has no dvd drive so I have to use an external drive to load Windows unto the new SSD. Well, to cut to the chase, the external drive would never engage to load the OS and I was left with a new SSD and no way to get it loaded and operational in my laptop.\n\nAs usual, I turned to Amazon and searched for a data transfer system and found this one. After reading a few reviews, I purchased this kit. Two days later, the kit arrived in the mail and later in the day, I used to transfer kit to transfer the OS from my old drive to my new SSD.\n\nLesson leaned?\n\nFirst, don't buy a small SSD. I got a 120 GB and while I was able to get my Windows 7, Microsoft Office 2012, and Adobe Acrobat loaded, there is just barely enough space to manuver. Yes, I know I will use thumb drives, external drives, and any other medium to serve as the data hosts, but you really need another 100+ GB.\n\nSecond, these SSDs are really fast. So much that I am going to either build another computer for my main CPU or buy another ....larger.....SSD. They are easy to transplant.\n\nThird, this data transfer kit works really well. Its foolproof to load and set up and takes about 30 or so minutes to transfer the data from your old hardrive to the new SSD.\n\nIf you have been on the fence about buying one of these, I can relate. I was on the fence for a long time before I pulled the trigger on one. But once you jump in the pool....you are wet and never want to dry off in the old world of spinning hard drives!","Product: Arrive refreshed after a long flight, avoid distractions in a noisy office, or find peace & quiet in your living room with the ATH-ANC7b-SViS Quiet Point Active Noise-Cancelling Headphones. These lightweight, compact headphones effectively reduce distracting background noise by 90% while offering the superior audio quality that has made Audio-Technical a worldwide leader in electro-acoustic technology.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Excellent for airplane use.\n\nReview: Not too long ago, I got a plastic earphone cover caught down my ear. It hurt, but I had to pay a doctor to remove it. So I bought this to wear on airplanes. I just got back from a long plane ride and was waiting until I used it on a plane to write my review.\n\nFirst, they don't extend down far enough to cover your ears. They really need about two more inches of extension to make them accommodate everyone's head.\n\nAs for their ability to mask out airplane noise, they are excellent. I most watch movies but I also listed to my music (classic rock) and they did an excellent job. They blocked out all of the engine noise and make the trip much more enjoyable.\n\nIf they had fit a little better, I would have given 5 stars.","Product: This light weight cotton robe is made in the USA. The robe is in Kimono style and is available in his blue color & hers pink color. The design of the robe looks like amazing 'Cracked Ice'. The robe is 48 inches long and is made of 100% cotton.\nIt has a belt & belt loops as well as 2 side pockets.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Not quite as big as shown in photo\n\nReview: I bought this for me to use when traveling. I like to have a robe to take with me to wear after swimming at the pool. I wanted something lightweight so I could pack it in my medium size suitcase. I just got this in the mail today and the model in the photo has to be a short man. The arms seem like they are short sleeves rather than the 3/4 length shown in the photo. The price is very fair, but the size is not. It barely reached around and doesn't completely close in the front. If I had to guess the actual size, I would say in between a medium and a large is the real size, not one size fits all.","Product: The UTG concealed belt holster. Features: - tucked in and clipped at the right side of pant waist for right hand draw - tucked in and clipped at the back of pant waist for left hand draw - features padded fabric for comfort wear - front arch design for easy re-holster and elastic thumb strap for proper fit and security - fits all compact/Subcompact pistols. Specifications: - weight: 0.2 lb - material: polyester - color: black - firearm model: most popular standard hand guns - barrel length: 4 inch - Category: Concealement - application: inside the waist band - retention: lock down hook-and-loop strap - finish: Plain - hand: right\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Excellent holster for the price.\n\nReview: I bought this for my S&W Shield 40. I bought it on a gamble and when I got it, I immediately put my Shield in to check it for sizing. It fit perfectly! The pistol's barrel didn't extend past the end of the holster and the handgrip fit perfectly as well. I put my other S&W SE40 in to see if would fit it also and it did, however the barrel did extend out of the holster an inch or so. So in other words, I functions perfectly for the Shield and almost perfectly for the full sized 40.\n\nIt does fit inside your pants but the one thing I noticed is that once you take the pistol out of the holster, its somewhat clumsy to get it back while the holder is in you pants.\n\nFor a cheap option, you can not beat this holster!\n\nUpdate: 2/212/2013\n\nI did have to return this holster because the plastic belt clip snapped off. While I do think it is made well, they need change the plastic into a metal slip and that would make this holster really outstanding. Be careful with that plastic clip.","Product: The adventures of Counter Terrorism Unit agent Jack Bauer have rarely been dull. Yet after four series of battling the bad guys in real time, some could rightfully wonder whether 24 had lots its edge, and its ability to surprise. The fifth season should put any such doubts to shame. Set eighteen months after the dramatic finale to Season Four, things get off to a shocking and pulsating beginning. You wont find plot spoilers in this review, yet its as if the writers realised they had some serious carpet-pulling to do to keep the shows audience intrigued once again. Set, as usual, over the course of one single day, theres then a slight lull in the first third, before things spring ferociously into life. Make no mistake: if you can overcome the usual need to suspend elements of your disbelief, this is the best series of 24 since the first, and as it winds near to its equally dramatic conclusions, its simply hard to take your eyes off it. Joining the usual cast too is a procession of familiar names. Peter Weller (Roboocop), Sean Astin (The Lord Of The Rings) and C Thomas Howell (The Hitcher) are among those doing their curriculum vitae no harm, but the acting honours are taken by the wonderful combination of President Logan and his first lady, played by Gregory Itzin and Jean Smart. With a denouement that sets up a sparkling sixth season, this fifth series of 24 is a genuinely significant achievement. Its packed full of surprises, isnt afraid to take a few risks, and as all good thrillers should, it keeps you on the edge of your seat for far longer than is comfortable. A superb show, very much on top form.--Simon Brew\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Watch it as a comedy and you will enjoy it more!\n\nReview: Seriously, watching this as a comedy makes it much better. How incompetent can any agency be and this CTU group seems to just be that much worse.\n\nOne thing I watch for in a show is production value. I understand TV shows have lower production values than movies but this one almost scrapes the bottom of the barrel.\n\nJust when you think the dialogue couldn't get more stupid, they prove you wrong.\n\nThe story line is supposed to take place over a 24 hour period but little things...like jack Bauer's hair getting longer in just an hour make this a good comedy.\n\nThe whole story line revolving a US president is also good comedy. How anybody could get close enough to a first lady and drug her without the secret service reaching out and touching them is just outrageous.\n\nThis show is good drama. It gets you wrapped up in the story and does an excellent job of taking your mind off anything you are doing. I love to walk on my treadmill when watching this and the time flies by as I watch about 1.5 episodes.\n\nI did rate this as 4 stars. That is my comedy rating. As a serious drama I would rate it lower. Too much BS and horrible writing to consider this a drama. Look for the comedy and this show will provide it to you many times over.","Product: Ex-military investigator Jack Reacher (Tom Cruise) leaps off the pages of Lee Child's bestselling novel and onto the big screen in the explosive thriller the critics are calling 'taut muscular gruff and cool.' When an unspeakable crime is committed all evidence points to the suspect in custody who offers up a single note in defense: 'Get Jack Reacher!' The law has its limits but Reacher does not when his fight for the truth pits him against an unexpected enemy with a skill for violence and a secret to\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Very good movie and plot\n\nReview: We just rented this movie and I was very impressed with the storyline. My wife has read all the Lee Child books and she didn't like the movie because she couldn't get over the fact that Tom Cruise wasn't the same height as the character in the book. I have read the first one and could very easily get over this.\n\nWhen I watch a movie, one of my main requirements will be if the movie is entertaining. This movie was very entertaining. The characters were very believable and I was more impressed by the imperfections that were allowed in the characters rather than how perfect they were. The women weren't perfect 10s and the men weren't all hunks. They came across as real.\n\nCruse plays this part to perfection. I admire him for his ability to maintain his level of physical fitness for so many years. He is not that much younger than me and I have never seen him less than a perfect specimen. I know he probably has a team of servants to assist him in that and he has to pay for it, but his reward is years of employment as a leading man. His ability to play a character who can master hand to hand combat, which is used in this movie multiple times, is very believable.\n\nRobert Duvall rounds out the superstar cast as an old retired gunny running a rifle range. He is great in the movie and its easy to see why he is one of the best character actors in history.\n\nOverall a very good movie. Not a family movie mind you, but a good action packed adventure that is going to set Cruise up for for 2 or 3 more sequels to go along with all the other sequels he keeps going like a wizard.\n\nIn this era of the movie industry, there seems to be a great emphasis on horror movies. I guess they are cheap to make and you get inexpensive actors to play the parts. Movies like Jack Reacher don't come along everyday and I am very happy that this character gets to come to life and give me a couple hours of entertainment.","Product: 100% GUARANTEE!. We sell used movies from our DVD rental kiosk, every movie is visually inspected and buffed with a commercial DVD buffer before shipping if needed. We do not include any Ultra Violet codes, digital copy codes, or the 2nd extras disk. Movie may not be in original case, but will be in a standard DVD or Blu-Ray case with original artwork insert or a photo copied cover.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: A lot of star power for so little bang!\n\nReview: I rented this through Redbox so I didn't buy the movie. I was hoping with all of the stars in this movie that it would have been good, but came away very disappointed. The acting was good, but the writing was very subpar.\n\nThe entire of movie was based on a guy spending his day out of prison and the other character was supposed to whack him at the end of the day. A third \"old\" friend is thrown into the mix and magically has all his medical problems live him to drive a chase scene, wear out a hooker, and then die behind the wheel of a stolen car while waiting for his other old friends.\n\nOverall the acting was good, but the story was very weak. You would think with an actor like Pacino, whose voice is so commanding that it makes you want to buy a Jeep even though they are junk cars, the movie could have been built behind the power of his voice. But it wasn't.\n\nAs a rental, it was OK. I am glad I didn't spend $40 to go to the theater to see this and somewhat happy I didn't fork over $20 to buy the DVD.\n\nThe ending was so Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid, absent the leap, that it left you wondering if they had any real good writers typing out the script.\n\nThis just reinforces that actors are trained parrots. You put a good script in front of them and get a good director and they sound like people you would follow into battle. But just the opposite makes you wonder if they have the intelligence to brush their own teeth..","Product: United Kingdom released, PAL/Region 2.4 DVD: it WILL NOT play on standard US DVD player. You need multi-region PAL/NTSC DVD player to view it in USA/Canada: LANGUAGES: English ( Dolby Digital 5.1 ), English ( Subtitles ), ANAMORPHIC WIDESCREEN (1.78:1), SPECIAL FEATURES: 3-DVD Set, Anamorphic Widescreen, Interactive Menu, Making Of, Scene Access, SYNOPSIS: All eight episodes from the first series of the TV comedy drama, centering on a mafia mobster's attempts to start a new life in Lillehammer, Norway. After testifying against his old buddies in the mob, New York gangster Frank 'The Fixer' Tagliano (Steve Van Zandt) enters the FBI witness protection programme, choosing to be relocated to Lillehammer, Norway (he liked the look of it when he saw the 1994 Winter Olympics on TV). Now Norwegian-American immigrant Giovanni Henriksen, he quickly sets about making his new life as comfortable as he can by casually employing a mix of blackmail, extortion and threats to further his ambitions of opening his own bar, 'The Flamingo'. Unfortunately for Frank, however, his arrival in the town has not gone entirely unnoticed, as the local police soon begin to take an interest in his strangely empty background. Season 1 Reality Check The Flamingo Guantanamo Blues The Midwife My Kind of Town Pack Your Lederhosen The Babysitter Trolls ...Lilyhammer (Season 1) - 3-DVD Set ( Lilyhammer - Season One )\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Like a comedy version of the Sopranos\n\nReview: I stumbled onto this on Netflix and was instantly hypnotized by the Frankie the Fixer character. The show follows a Mafia underboss from New York to Lilyhammer, Norway as he is put into a quasi witness protection relocation of his own choosing. He incorrectly thinks that nobody will ever he find him there. I won't give away the plot because one the shows many plot lines has the mob trying to get him.\n\nI read where one person couldn't understand the show because they didn't speak the language. I watched season one on my television using Roku, which for some reason doesn't have the english subtitles. I watched season 2 on my laptop which did have the subtitles and was very good at allowing you follow the story line much better. If you are fan of Van Zandt in the Sopranos, you will love him in this show. Same character, just thrown into a different storyline and written to be humorous.\n\nThe final episode of season 2 is priceless as the world of Lilyhammer and the Sopranos pass each other in the daylight with actors from both shows turning up. There is even Dj vu scene where the characters of Lilyhammer are driving into NY with Tony Soprano SUV listening to the theme music from the opening of the Sopranos. (Woke Up This Morning\" by Alabama 3). And Frankie tells them to turn it off.\n\nI was never a big Netflix fan but they have really started to turn out some excellent television shows to watch. Lilyhammer is one of those shows and this is worth buying or subscribing to watch!","Product: Inspired by a true story, Al Pacino stars as aging 1970s rocker Danny Collins, who can't give up his hard-living ways. But when his manager (Christopher Plummer) uncovers a 40-year-old undelivered letter written to him by John Lennon, he changes course with the help of a new friend (Annette Bening) and embarks on a heartfelt journey to rediscover his family, find true love and begin a second act.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Funny, Sad, Pathetic, Drugs, Rock and Roll, Hollywood contamination\n\nReview: If you can get over the awful sound of Al Pacino being a rock singer, this move is wonderful. It have warmth and humor and shows the depth and breath of Pacino's acting. I am sure in his real life, he gets the rock star treatment everyday so playing a rock star and having people fall all over him is something he has great experience at. Bobby Cannevale, who plays his never seen before adult son by a groupie one nighter is also excellent. Cannevale also has great range as he can play the tough guy with a big heart and an evil gangster as he was in Boardwalk. Jennifer Gardner is a surprise character actor in this but she knocks it out of the ballpark.\n\nMy wife and I rarely watch a movie together and have a similar favorable opinion but in this movie's case, we both loved it! A great movie!","Product: Tackform Low Pro Magnetic Phone Mount. The Tackform Low Pro is an Adhesive backed magnetic mount for your car, work vehicle or around the house. It comes with 2 additional adhesive strips in the event you have a desire to change your mounting location. This Magnetic Phone Mount also comes with 3 metal plates for back up.\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: Very poor quality plastic stem\n\nReview: I should State at the onset that this item was bought to put on a motorcycle. A Harley Davidson Tri Glide to be exact. I read through some of the reviews and it seemed like several people had used it on a motorcycle and that it was very good for that purpose. I was just on a trip down to the Florida Keys and had my Samsung S8 attached to this mount. About halfway down US1, the stem of this device broke and my $900 phone fell to the pavement why was going about 40 miles per hour and was severely damaged. Like a fool I thought that the failure point would be the magnet so I attach rubber bands around the phone connected to the plastic mounting stem. For some reason the stem broke which allow the phone to fall to the ground. If you're planning on using this or thinking about using this to put a phone on your motorcycle, don't!","Product: Richmond Gear 83-1044-B\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: I only use Royal Purple!\n\nReview: I have a 2015 HD TriGlide and was tried of paying over $300 for an oil change at the dealership. So I thought I would try it myself and get a better grade of oil and save money in the process.\n\nI used a Flo and Go suction device to get the oil out and then put the Royal Purple in.\n\nWe had a warm day last week and we had a POW*MIA escort mission from Indianapolis to Liberty, IN and it was the first chance I had to test out my new oil change and the RP oil. Overall, not much difference in performance. I did notice some better gas mileage but that could have been the quality of the gas I bought and not the oil.\n\nI use RP in all of my engines. I only change the oil once a year in my truck and car and have never had a problem or mechanical issue. You pay a little more for RP but I really believe that it is a better grade than some of the other synthetic oils. I have tried to google synthetic oil comparisons and there are a bunch of seemingly fake companies with websites that you see that sings Amsoil's praise and superiority. I question all these slo called website companies as being sham fronts. I don't see that for RP and as a loyal customer, I will stick with it.","Product: Torin 1500 lb. Motorcycle and ATV Jack is the answer to all your motorcycle and ATV lifting needs. Lift any small vehicle from your bike to an ATV or even a snowmobile. This jack has a 1500 pound capacity, including 6 locking positions and 2 easy roll, high load, locking steel swivel casters, bottle jack and pulling bar. Jack features a wide load bearing surface and a powder coat finish.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Wonderful product. Lifts my Honda GL 500 like it is almost weightless.\n\nReview: The only negative thing I can say about this motorcycle lift is that it should have come with some better instructions for putting it together. You have to anchor the lift mechanism by attaching it to the platform. To start with, you will need to completely open the relief value to let the lift depress completely. Once you do that, it is a snap to bolt it in and finish the set up.\n\nOnce mine was set up, it worked like a champ. The safety lever can be somewhat aggravating when you are trying to slowly lower the bike down, but you learn to manage it with one hand on the bike and one of relief value while holding the safety down.\n\nI can't comment on the longevity of this product, but for helping to change the oil and change the rear tire, mine worked flawlessly. I will try to comment back after a year or so and report how this is holding up.....literally!\n\nProduct update: 12.16.2014\n\nSince I bought this lift, I bought a Honda VTX 1800, one of the heaviest bikes in the world. It picks it up like its a feather. I saw where one reviewer commented that this isn't too wide and I am guessing for some bikes, it might be a tad narrow. On my VTX, I have to make sure the two metal platforms are perfectly aligned under my bike so that it will center on the bike's frame and not lean to one side or the other. It helps to have a second person there to make sure if the like leans they can let the lift down and you can reposition the lift. It could be a lot wider and I suspect if this were a reoccurring issue, I would modify the platform.\n\nI do have to ride the rear tire over some paving stones to get the bike up an inch or two to allow for the lift to have enough room to get under the bike.\n\nSo far I am very satisfied with this product but its like anything, some people aren't happy with it.","Product: Slip over existing grips for greater comfort, or to renew worn grips Work with heated or standard grips Shock absorbing EPDM foam for a smoother ride Extra durable, ozone, UV, gas and oil resistant Small fits from 1.25 to 1.45 o.d. Large fits from 1.45 to 1.65 o.d.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Great product and soooooo easy to install!\n\nReview: I think I suffer from the same nerve problems that make my hand fall asleep and go numb while driving my motorcycle. I was looking to buy some expensive handgrips but saw this and thought it would be a cheap fix so there was all upside and no downside.\n\nThe handgrip covers came quickly and I read a few reviews to see the best way to install the grips.\n\nThe winning method? Hair spray sprayed liberally inside the grip and on the existing grip. It slid right on and after some quick twisting and turning it went right on.\n\nAs for those who think they need to trim them, I would say, NAY! Compress the handgrips on your existing grip to allow the foam to bunch up and thicken up on the hand grips. If you trim them and spread them you will decrease the cushioning effect a little.\n\nExcellent product and I can see where they have some application to other things in my house like exercise equipment or tread mills.","Product: Slip over existing grips for greater comfort, or to renew worn grips Work with heated or standard grips Shock absorbing EPDM foam for a smoother ride Extra durable, ozone, UV, gas and oil resistant Small fits from 1.25 to 1.45 o.d. Large fits from 1.45 to 1.65 o.d.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Great product and soooooo easy to install!\n\nReview: I think I suffer from the same nerve problems that make my hand fall asleep and go numb while driving my motorcycle. I was looking to buy some expensive handgrips but saw this and thought it would be a cheap fix so there was all upside and no downside.\n\nThe handgrip covers came quickly and I read a few reviews to see the best way to install the grips.\n\nThe winning method? Hair spray sprayed liberally inside the grip and on the existing grip. It slid right on and after some quick twisting and turning it went right on.\n\nAs for those who think they need to trim them, I would say, NAY! Compress the handgrips on your existing grip to allow the foam to bunch up and thicken up on the hand grips. If you trim them and spread them you will decrease the cushioning effect a little.\n\nExcellent product and I can see where they have some application to other things in my house like exercise equipment or tread mills.","Product: The DynaPro ATM is a premium aggressive all-terrain for light truck, van, and sport utility vehicles. Innovative tread and sidewall design enhances the style of your vehicle. Developed for high powered pickups, the Dynapro ATM offers the best grip and acceleration both on- and off-road.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Best Price for a 275-65-18 tire I have found!\n\nReview: I bought these because the price was just too low to pass up. They usually are about $50 or more per tire times 4. I pulled the trigger and ordered. The tires came just as expected based on the email updates sent by Amazon. The tires were black walls and had a DOT manufacturer date of about 20 weeks before I received them. They were manufactured in Indonesia so factoring in the travel time on a ship to the US and finally to my front door, it wasn't too bad. The main point is they weren't sitting on a shelf for 2 or 3 years. The photo in the Amazon ad also showed them being white lettering and that wasn't the case and accounts for my 4 and not a 5 star.\n\nI made an appointment at my local Firestone dealer and they put the tires on for just a little over $100, which is what they would charge for their own tires. They provide a smooth ride and they are fairly quiet. I have a 2013 Ford F-150 with Super Crew Cab and the OEM tires were Goodyear. They were rated for 50k miles and I would have gotten that out of them but got these just a couple of hundred miles shy of 50k because I am pretty anal about tires. The Goodyear tires gave me so so MPGs and I am hoping these Hankook are better on fuel mileage.\n\nI will update this review after I have driven on them for some time to give a more developed opinion.\n\nUpdate 4.15.2016\n\nAfter a couple of months, I am still very satisfied with these tires. They provide excellent traction on wet pavements and not very much noise on dry roads. There is one section on I-465 where the pavement makes any tire sing, but no so much with these tires. They have also been providing slightly better gas mileage over the Goodyear OEMs that these replaced. More updates to follow.\n\nUpdate 7.1.2016\n\nAfter a few more months, I am still highly satisfied. Mileage is still good and the ride quality is excellent. This is starting to look like the best tire buy of my lifetime! I have even upgraded my rating to 5 stars.","Product: KURYAKYN FLOORBOARDS: PREMIUM F/ DRIVER/PASSENGER. Part Number 4351\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Great looking and very easy to install!\n\nReview: I bought these used, so right off the bat, know that I didn't get them from Amazon. I got them from another VTX 1800 rider who had either upgraded to something else or was selling off everything. I just don't know.\n\nFor those of you who have Honda VTX 1800s. it is a bit of a mystery on how to instal these. At first glance, the stock foot pegs looks difficult to remove and the remount the new boards. Fear not, they are very easy. You will need to put the bike on a lift and get it up to be able to maneuver under the pegs. Under each one is a tiny cotter pin that you have to straighten and then remove. On the drivers side, its a snap. Once the pin is removed, you can lift out the retaining pin and the original peg can be moved out. There is a spring that will also come out but this is something that won't be needed for the Kuryakyn adapter mount. Before you put the retaining pin back in, make sure have the angle and the height that will be the most comfortable to you. Mine was top right on the left peg and top left on the right. There are 5 peg holes so you have some options on which one will give you the best position.\n\nOnce you have the right peg selected, put the retaining pin back in and then the washer and cotter pin. Split the pin back into its original configuration and you are done with the left board.\n\nThe right is not as easy, but its not hard either. You will need to remove the two bolts that are holding down the foot brake chrome covers. Once they are off, the protective plate it is sitting on can be maneuvered out and placed out of the way. There are two bolts that connect the entire foot brake assembly and you need to loosen both of them. The bottom on will have a nut on the other side of the under frame that will drop once you loosen it enough. With both loosened, (assuming you have the cotter pin out) take out the retaining pin and then put the floorboard on. I found it was necessary to press the foot brake lever all the way down to allow the pin just enough clearance to be pushed up and out.\n\nTighten the brake assembly and put the chrome covers back on and then secure the cotter pin and washer back on the retaining pin.\n\nThat is it folks! Mission complete.\n\nNow as to the quality of these footboards. They are outstanding. Solid. Heavy. Chrome. The rubber on top is firm and very durable. I can't believe one person knocked them for having rubber sticking out of the bottom that you can see when they are folded up. WHAT?\n\nThis is a quality product and I can't say how happy I am with them. They will provide you with a very comfortable ride and look good for a very long time.","Product: Change the oil in your motorcycle without the headache of the mess with the Ernst Greg's Drip-Free Oil Filter Funnel. For all Harley Davidson Evo and TwinCam 1985 to current with forward spin on oil filter. Fits all Touring, Dyna, Softail, and Sportsters. Keep oil from damaging your rubber engine mount. This superior U-shaped design fits the Harley like no other funnel can. Punch nail and tube are included for easy draining. With your motorcycle still leaning on its stand, slip in this Oil Filter Drain Funnel, punch a drain hole in the top of the filter, twist the filter 180 degrees , and then relax. When empty, finish spinning the filter off. This unique design fits most new Harley Davidson models except for V-Rods. It even fits forward control bikes or those with crankcase sensors. Included with the Funnel is a punch and tube for getting the oil past the fairings on some bikes. This multipurpose funnel is also great for refilling fluids. Fits perfect in tight places for refilling your oil, transmission, and primary fluids. Includes hang tab for use on pegboards. Made in the USA. Lifetime guarantee.\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: Not meant for a trike.\n\nReview: Not at all what I expected. First, you are supposed to position the plastic trough under the oil filter, only it won't go all the way underneath. Then you use a provided four of five inch nail to drive a hole in your old oil filter. Only on an Ultra or Ultra Trike, the filter is back about 8 inches so I used a screw drive to drive a hole in the very bottom of the filter. I let all the oil drain and then when the trickle of oil dried up I took off the filter to discover a bunch of oil now dripping on my garage floor. I am guessing it just won't work on a trike as it sits flat and not leaned over like a two wheeler.\n\nSo if you drive a trike, this won't work.","Product: The Sena SR10 Bluetooth Two-Way Radio Adapter allows you to talk wirelessly with two-way radio devices via Bluetooth 2.1+EDR. It also provides a hands-free gateway for mobile phones and is compatible with standard stereo or mono Bluetooth headsets. The SR10 will clip onto your belt or mount onto handlebars with a wired PTT button extension for handlebar grip mounting. With the optional 12V bike-powered kit, you can install it to turn on and off with the motorcycle ignition. It is also usable while charging. It also enables you to hook up non-Bluetooth devices such as radar detectors and GPS navigation via two AUX ports. The SR10 allows you to connect with up to two audio sources at the same time and works for a variety of applications, such as motorcycle group riding, outdoor sports and activities, and security. SR10 only supports HFP (Hands-Free Profile) Bluetooth connection with a Bluetooth headset. HFP is a typical and standard Bluetooth headset connection which can only transmit mono audio. If a stereo audio device like a music player is connected to the SR10, audio quality will be diminished to mono audio. Thus, connecting a stereo audio device to the SR10 is not recommended.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: High price for what it does\n\nReview: I bought this for my Midlands CB to use on group motorcycle rides. It works but it seems to have a slight delay in broadcasting the signal. When you do an overnight stay, all the Sena wireless units have to be recharged so that is always a minor issue. I think the cost of this unit, for what it does, it too high. Its more expensive than the Sena helmet unit which seems to be more complicated. But it does work well. My main beef is about the high cost and all the wires. You would think Bluetooth would be more wireless but this unit has a few cables going to the Push to Talk button and connecting to the CB.","Product: Two-year manufacturer's warranty. Note: Wait for bike to cool before applying cover. Trike Cover: Heavy-duty, top-of-the-line, all-weather cover that is designed specifically for trikes. Waterproof seams, 300 denier polyester with polyurethane coating.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Heavy and hard to fold.\n\nReview: I bought this a year ago for my trike. I have only used it once and I am doubting if I will ever use it again. It is well constructed but my issue with this cover is that once you get it out of the carrying bag, you can never get it back it. The material is heavier than I would have liked and putting it on is a real chore. I will admit that only using it once doesn't give me a lot of proficiency with it, but trying to get the genie back in the bottle so to speak is my main problem. On the road, you have to use either the pavement or wet grass to lay it on to attempt to fold it I wish they had included instructions on how to fold it to get it back in the bag. I should have bought the Harley cover as I have seen that one and it is very lightweight.","Product: • Triple chrome plated steel bumper• Bolt-on design\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Much easier to install that I thought\n\nReview: I bought this a couple of months ago and was waiting for some decent weather where I wouldn't be riding to install. Well, today was that day. I had a few misconceptions about installing this. First, I thought there were removable nuts underneath that required someone to operate the wrench above while you worked in underneath. That wasn't the case. There is a fixed nut welded into the frame and all you do is take out the existing bolt and install the longer bolt that comes with the bumper. Then you put on the bumper and use the supplied nuts to tighten it down. It was so much easier that I anticipated that I wish I had done it much sooner.\n\nIt looks good, but the real value is the protection it will provide for my Tri-Glide. This looks just like a Harley bumper and costs much less. Excellent buy!","Product: 2PK Replacement HP 56 Black & HP 28 Color Ink Cartridges / Fits printer models: FAX Series: 1240. Officejet Series: 4110; 4110v; 4215; 4215v; 4215xi. PSC Series: 1209; 1310; 1311; 1312; 1315; 1315v; 1315xi; 1317; 1318; 2100; 2170; 2200.\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: Not worth the money.\n\nReview: This is sort of a bitter sweet product. Its cheap so that makes it a fair buy, but the toner doesn't seem to last that long. I just put in new cartridges and it seems I get about 50 pages of color and then I get a low ink warning. I don't know if it this company or the HP printer that sucks up the ink. I think I need to invest in a new technology printer that gets more efficiency out of the ink but I just ordered two more so when they run out, I think I will be in the market for a new printer.\n\nUpdate: 2.10.2016\n\nI just put in two new cartridges and after 10 pages, the low ink indicator came on. Sorry, but you expect your ink to last longer than 10-20 pages. I would recommend going with a different re manufacturer if this is all you get out if it.","Product: The Genesis E-320TM gas grill features an enclosed cart with corresponding painted steel doors with stainless steel trim, stainless steel handles, and accent colored painted side and rear panels. All grills have a porcelainenameled shroud with a center-mounted thermometer and accent colored painted, cast aluminum end caps. The cooking system, rated at 42,000 BTUs, includes 3 seamless stainless steel burners and an electronic Crossover ignition system. The cooking grates are porcelain-enameled cast iron. The Flavorizer bars are porcelain-enameled. The primary cooking area measures 507 sq. inches; the warming rack area measures 130 sq. inches, giving a total cooking area of 637 sq. inches. The Genesis E-320TM gas grill also has a 12,000 BTUper- hour input flush-mount side burner. Other features include 6 tool holders, enclosed tank storage area, precision fuel gauge, 2 stainless steel work surfaces, 2 heavyduty front locking casters and 2 heavy-duty back swivel casters. Tank is not included with LP grills and all natural gas grills include a 10-ft flexible hose. Weber cookbook included. Limited warranty.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Just as dependable as a Toyota!\n\nReview: First of all, I have owned one other Weber Gas Grill. I bought it at Sears 10 years for around 500 dollars. It still works, but has a few minor issues that made me want to replace it.\n\nI didn't buy mine through Amazon. I got mine a Lowe's. The same model was $649.99 plus my wife was able to get a 10% discount certificate. So with the actual cost was a little less than20 under what I could have got it through Amazon. Plus, Lowes assembles it for free.\n\nFor the grill, it is solid....like a rock. Great looks, cooks great, and will last a very long time.\n\nI can't say anything about cons because I just don't think there is anything wrong with this grill. I wanted the all stainless steel version, but I would have to special order it and it would have cost more, so I can live with a colored one.\n\nIf you are thinking about buying another grill, talk to some people that have owned a Weber for awhile. We can swear by them, and never at them. They are quality through and through.","Product: Features 100% 2-ply polyester flag and chrome-plated steel pole. Adjustable mounting bracket fits most motorcycles. Flag measures 6\" x 9\". Pole measures 13 in. Universal fit - This item may require slight modification for your unique application and some level of mechanical skill is recommended for installation. Limited lifetime warranty on pole only. Gift boxed\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Good but could be better\n\nReview: This works, but the vibrations from a Harley cause the screws to loosen. The one I replaced fell out on a group ride so I couldn't go back and find the flag and post so I had to order a new one. The flags that come with this are cheap and not worth the trouble. I buy the ones the American Legion store sells. They are heavy duty, double stitched and last a long time. Also, I think these are made for metric luggage racks, not HDs. I had a devil of a time finding a material that I could use to wrap around my luggage rack and they tighten the pole's base around. Use some rubber repair tape I bought here on Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BSXAH06/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1). When this tape on my luggage rack, the flag poles won't move as the wind whips the flags around. I wish the manufacturer would make a size slightly smaller for HDs.","Product: The Miracle Blade III 11-pc. Knife Set is a multi-purpose collection of ultra durable kitchen tools. Crafted with revolutionary comfort handles and a unique 3-in-1 blade edge. These durable knives make quick work for meal preparation. The assortment includes 4 steak/utility knives, 1 filet knife, 1 perfection paring knife, 1 perfection kitchen shears, 1 chop n scoop cleaver, 1 rock n chop cleaver, and 1 miracle blade slicer. Great as a registry, birthday, or anniversary gift!\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Great knives for the money\n\nReview: I bought my first set of these about 3 years ago. I love the larger knives but the small steak knives are my favorite. A couple of years ago my Mom was in town and they were selling these at Kohls of about $10.00 a set. Like a fool, I didn't buy any but my Mom got four sets. She did give me 4 of the steak knives, so I have a set of 8.\n\nNow I need to get my daughter a set because the knife set she had couldn't cut butter. So here I am online looking and found that Amazon has a set.\n\nI love this knife set. All of the large knives are very good and while the plastic handles are cheap, they have held up to hundreds of dish washings. They can cut the thinnest slices of any vegetables and the meat cleaver had cut through frozen meat like a hot knife through butter.\n\nIf you are looking for a set of kitchen knives that are fool proof, get this one!","Product: \"Atlas Shrugged\" is the astounding story of a man who said that he would stop the motor of the world - and did. Tremendous in scope, breathtaking in its suspense, \"Atlas Shrugged\" stretches the boundaries further than any book you have ever read. It is a mystery, not about the murder of a man's body, but about the murder - and rebirth - of man's spirit.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Way too many words to say far too little, but very timely for today's politial environment\n\nReview: There is a lot of reviews already here, so I doubt I can say something about the book's meaning or intent that wouldn't be a duplication. What I can say is this is a very difficult read. Sometimes you can't wait to hit the advance button....KINDLE....and sometimes you get so bored with the repeating ideology that is told, and told....and told.....and told....over and over and over again.\n\nSomeone needs to edit this book down and make it more of a modern read. It took me liberally over 2 years to read this. The only reason I put the hammer down and read the last half in about a month was the Bush book was coming out and I wanted to start on that and promised myself I would finish it!\n\nI was lucky to buy it back when it was cheaper. These liberal publishers sure don't mind being a situational capitalists."],"string":"[\n \"Product: Introducing the NEW! 14-inch Grand Memory Foam Mattress taking memory foam comfort to the next generation! Made with 4-layer construction: 4\\\" Foam, 1\\\" Comfort memory foam, 2\\\" airflow and 7\\\" High density foam for ultimate support base! Infused gel beads into premium memory foam; provides the ultimate solution, combining comfort, support pressure relief and improved airflow for a cooler night's sleep! Compares to name brands! Comforting rating: Medium Firm. Mattress Only! Foundation not included. Queen size: W60\\\" x L80\\\" x H14\\\".\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Very pleased with this product!\\n\\nReview: My wife is having some issue with a medical problem and we wanted a modern mattress to help her sleep more comfortably. We looked at all the big store and small mattress stores and while we like the products, the new thick memory foam mattresses were too high. My wife said we should look on Amazon and found this mattress. I was very skeptical as this is like buying a very personal product without ever getting the opportunity to test the product to determine if you like it. But the savings this product provided was great so without great risk there is no reward.\\n\\nWe just spent our second night on them and I can report back that they are extremely comfortable. They provide outstanding support yet feel almost like a firm yet soft cloud.\\n\\nWhen we opened the box, it was double wrapped. One thick plastic wrapper for shipping and another thinner gag that provided the vacuum effect needed to reduce the size of the mattress for shipping. Once air started to hit the mattress, it started to expand and took about 3 hours to get to a point where we could put some mattress pads and sheets on them.\\n\\nI know, you are probably saying I have only been on them 2 nights so how can I make a final determination and you would be right. This is just the first of several updates that I will provide. But my initial impression is that this is a great product and a fantastic value!\\n\\nProduct Update:\\n8-9-2013\\n\\nAfter a few weeks, I still love this bed. The only problem I can report is that it is on casters. I have laminate flooring in my bed room and the two beds (two twin XL together to form a king) move everytime you get in them. Plus, they are about 3 inches too tall. I feel like a little kid getting into bed.\\n\\nBut the sleep quality these beds provide and the cost benefit outweigh these minor issues. I am planning on putting some different casters and lowering the bed, so I can report later on how this works out.\",\n \"Product: Coolmax Technology, Inc COOLMAX HD-389-U2 3.5\\\" SATA ENCLOSURE 15333 Drive Cabinets\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Great way to salvage an old hard drive and recover data\\n\\nReview: I had an Acer small form computer that wouldn't start. I used it as my home work computer and needed some files off the old hard drive for my work. After searching around for some type of external hard drive conversion kit, I found this one on Amazon.\\n\\nIt was the least expensive one I could find and my initial thought was to just recover the data, not to make an external hard drive.\\n\\nThe box came quickly via UPS and I was very surprised to discover how easy the set up was. The master board that connects to you old hard drive was so simple to install. If you can insert a USB cord into a computer, you can do this.\\n\\nI plugged in the USB cord and the power supply and my new computer instantly recognized the old hard drive.\\n\\nIts that simple. A very low cost and inexpensive way to not only recover data, but also to give your hard drive a new life!\",\n \"Product: Apricorns SATA Wire is the ideal tool to upgrade your 2.5-Inch SATA or SSD drive in a Notebook or Netbook computer.Bundled with Apricorns EZ Gig II Cloning Software for PC and Shirt Pocket Cloning Software for Macs; this kit makes upgrading the main drive in your notebook straight forward and painless.If your notebook is running out of space or you are looking to upgrade to a faster, high performance hard drive or solid state drive, Apricorns SATA Wire is the perfect tool.Providing a USB connection to a 2.5-Inch SATA drive, SATA Wire enables you to upgrade your notebooks drive in three simple steps. 1) Connect the SATA Wire to your drive and the USB port to your computer .Run the included cloning software to copy all of your data, email, settings and OS from your notebook to the new drive. Swap out your old notebook drive with your new one, and youre done\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: So simple....yet so effective\\n\\nReview: I had ordered a solid state drive form Newegg and tried to install it in my Toshiba laptop. This Toshiba is the prerunner to the ultra drives. It has no dvd drive so I have to use an external drive to load Windows unto the new SSD. Well, to cut to the chase, the external drive would never engage to load the OS and I was left with a new SSD and no way to get it loaded and operational in my laptop.\\n\\nAs usual, I turned to Amazon and searched for a data transfer system and found this one. After reading a few reviews, I purchased this kit. Two days later, the kit arrived in the mail and later in the day, I used to transfer kit to transfer the OS from my old drive to my new SSD.\\n\\nLesson leaned?\\n\\nFirst, don't buy a small SSD. I got a 120 GB and while I was able to get my Windows 7, Microsoft Office 2012, and Adobe Acrobat loaded, there is just barely enough space to manuver. Yes, I know I will use thumb drives, external drives, and any other medium to serve as the data hosts, but you really need another 100+ GB.\\n\\nSecond, these SSDs are really fast. So much that I am going to either build another computer for my main CPU or buy another ....larger.....SSD. They are easy to transplant.\\n\\nThird, this data transfer kit works really well. Its foolproof to load and set up and takes about 30 or so minutes to transfer the data from your old hardrive to the new SSD.\\n\\nIf you have been on the fence about buying one of these, I can relate. I was on the fence for a long time before I pulled the trigger on one. But once you jump in the pool....you are wet and never want to dry off in the old world of spinning hard drives!\",\n \"Product: Arrive refreshed after a long flight, avoid distractions in a noisy office, or find peace & quiet in your living room with the ATH-ANC7b-SViS Quiet Point Active Noise-Cancelling Headphones. These lightweight, compact headphones effectively reduce distracting background noise by 90% while offering the superior audio quality that has made Audio-Technical a worldwide leader in electro-acoustic technology.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Excellent for airplane use.\\n\\nReview: Not too long ago, I got a plastic earphone cover caught down my ear. It hurt, but I had to pay a doctor to remove it. So I bought this to wear on airplanes. I just got back from a long plane ride and was waiting until I used it on a plane to write my review.\\n\\nFirst, they don't extend down far enough to cover your ears. They really need about two more inches of extension to make them accommodate everyone's head.\\n\\nAs for their ability to mask out airplane noise, they are excellent. I most watch movies but I also listed to my music (classic rock) and they did an excellent job. They blocked out all of the engine noise and make the trip much more enjoyable.\\n\\nIf they had fit a little better, I would have given 5 stars.\",\n \"Product: This light weight cotton robe is made in the USA. The robe is in Kimono style and is available in his blue color & hers pink color. The design of the robe looks like amazing 'Cracked Ice'. The robe is 48 inches long and is made of 100% cotton.\\nIt has a belt & belt loops as well as 2 side pockets.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Not quite as big as shown in photo\\n\\nReview: I bought this for me to use when traveling. I like to have a robe to take with me to wear after swimming at the pool. I wanted something lightweight so I could pack it in my medium size suitcase. I just got this in the mail today and the model in the photo has to be a short man. The arms seem like they are short sleeves rather than the 3/4 length shown in the photo. The price is very fair, but the size is not. It barely reached around and doesn't completely close in the front. If I had to guess the actual size, I would say in between a medium and a large is the real size, not one size fits all.\",\n \"Product: The UTG concealed belt holster. Features: - tucked in and clipped at the right side of pant waist for right hand draw - tucked in and clipped at the back of pant waist for left hand draw - features padded fabric for comfort wear - front arch design for easy re-holster and elastic thumb strap for proper fit and security - fits all compact/Subcompact pistols. Specifications: - weight: 0.2 lb - material: polyester - color: black - firearm model: most popular standard hand guns - barrel length: 4 inch - Category: Concealement - application: inside the waist band - retention: lock down hook-and-loop strap - finish: Plain - hand: right\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Excellent holster for the price.\\n\\nReview: I bought this for my S&W Shield 40. I bought it on a gamble and when I got it, I immediately put my Shield in to check it for sizing. It fit perfectly! The pistol's barrel didn't extend past the end of the holster and the handgrip fit perfectly as well. I put my other S&W SE40 in to see if would fit it also and it did, however the barrel did extend out of the holster an inch or so. So in other words, I functions perfectly for the Shield and almost perfectly for the full sized 40.\\n\\nIt does fit inside your pants but the one thing I noticed is that once you take the pistol out of the holster, its somewhat clumsy to get it back while the holder is in you pants.\\n\\nFor a cheap option, you can not beat this holster!\\n\\nUpdate: 2/212/2013\\n\\nI did have to return this holster because the plastic belt clip snapped off. While I do think it is made well, they need change the plastic into a metal slip and that would make this holster really outstanding. Be careful with that plastic clip.\",\n \"Product: The adventures of Counter Terrorism Unit agent Jack Bauer have rarely been dull. Yet after four series of battling the bad guys in real time, some could rightfully wonder whether 24 had lots its edge, and its ability to surprise. The fifth season should put any such doubts to shame. Set eighteen months after the dramatic finale to Season Four, things get off to a shocking and pulsating beginning. You wont find plot spoilers in this review, yet its as if the writers realised they had some serious carpet-pulling to do to keep the shows audience intrigued once again. Set, as usual, over the course of one single day, theres then a slight lull in the first third, before things spring ferociously into life. Make no mistake: if you can overcome the usual need to suspend elements of your disbelief, this is the best series of 24 since the first, and as it winds near to its equally dramatic conclusions, its simply hard to take your eyes off it. Joining the usual cast too is a procession of familiar names. Peter Weller (Roboocop), Sean Astin (The Lord Of The Rings) and C Thomas Howell (The Hitcher) are among those doing their curriculum vitae no harm, but the acting honours are taken by the wonderful combination of President Logan and his first lady, played by Gregory Itzin and Jean Smart. With a denouement that sets up a sparkling sixth season, this fifth series of 24 is a genuinely significant achievement. Its packed full of surprises, isnt afraid to take a few risks, and as all good thrillers should, it keeps you on the edge of your seat for far longer than is comfortable. A superb show, very much on top form.--Simon Brew\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Watch it as a comedy and you will enjoy it more!\\n\\nReview: Seriously, watching this as a comedy makes it much better. How incompetent can any agency be and this CTU group seems to just be that much worse.\\n\\nOne thing I watch for in a show is production value. I understand TV shows have lower production values than movies but this one almost scrapes the bottom of the barrel.\\n\\nJust when you think the dialogue couldn't get more stupid, they prove you wrong.\\n\\nThe story line is supposed to take place over a 24 hour period but little things...like jack Bauer's hair getting longer in just an hour make this a good comedy.\\n\\nThe whole story line revolving a US president is also good comedy. How anybody could get close enough to a first lady and drug her without the secret service reaching out and touching them is just outrageous.\\n\\nThis show is good drama. It gets you wrapped up in the story and does an excellent job of taking your mind off anything you are doing. I love to walk on my treadmill when watching this and the time flies by as I watch about 1.5 episodes.\\n\\nI did rate this as 4 stars. That is my comedy rating. As a serious drama I would rate it lower. Too much BS and horrible writing to consider this a drama. Look for the comedy and this show will provide it to you many times over.\",\n \"Product: Ex-military investigator Jack Reacher (Tom Cruise) leaps off the pages of Lee Child's bestselling novel and onto the big screen in the explosive thriller the critics are calling 'taut muscular gruff and cool.' When an unspeakable crime is committed all evidence points to the suspect in custody who offers up a single note in defense: 'Get Jack Reacher!' The law has its limits but Reacher does not when his fight for the truth pits him against an unexpected enemy with a skill for violence and a secret to\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Very good movie and plot\\n\\nReview: We just rented this movie and I was very impressed with the storyline. My wife has read all the Lee Child books and she didn't like the movie because she couldn't get over the fact that Tom Cruise wasn't the same height as the character in the book. I have read the first one and could very easily get over this.\\n\\nWhen I watch a movie, one of my main requirements will be if the movie is entertaining. This movie was very entertaining. The characters were very believable and I was more impressed by the imperfections that were allowed in the characters rather than how perfect they were. The women weren't perfect 10s and the men weren't all hunks. They came across as real.\\n\\nCruse plays this part to perfection. I admire him for his ability to maintain his level of physical fitness for so many years. He is not that much younger than me and I have never seen him less than a perfect specimen. I know he probably has a team of servants to assist him in that and he has to pay for it, but his reward is years of employment as a leading man. His ability to play a character who can master hand to hand combat, which is used in this movie multiple times, is very believable.\\n\\nRobert Duvall rounds out the superstar cast as an old retired gunny running a rifle range. He is great in the movie and its easy to see why he is one of the best character actors in history.\\n\\nOverall a very good movie. Not a family movie mind you, but a good action packed adventure that is going to set Cruise up for for 2 or 3 more sequels to go along with all the other sequels he keeps going like a wizard.\\n\\nIn this era of the movie industry, there seems to be a great emphasis on horror movies. I guess they are cheap to make and you get inexpensive actors to play the parts. Movies like Jack Reacher don't come along everyday and I am very happy that this character gets to come to life and give me a couple hours of entertainment.\",\n \"Product: 100% GUARANTEE!. We sell used movies from our DVD rental kiosk, every movie is visually inspected and buffed with a commercial DVD buffer before shipping if needed. We do not include any Ultra Violet codes, digital copy codes, or the 2nd extras disk. Movie may not be in original case, but will be in a standard DVD or Blu-Ray case with original artwork insert or a photo copied cover.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: A lot of star power for so little bang!\\n\\nReview: I rented this through Redbox so I didn't buy the movie. I was hoping with all of the stars in this movie that it would have been good, but came away very disappointed. The acting was good, but the writing was very subpar.\\n\\nThe entire of movie was based on a guy spending his day out of prison and the other character was supposed to whack him at the end of the day. A third \\\"old\\\" friend is thrown into the mix and magically has all his medical problems live him to drive a chase scene, wear out a hooker, and then die behind the wheel of a stolen car while waiting for his other old friends.\\n\\nOverall the acting was good, but the story was very weak. You would think with an actor like Pacino, whose voice is so commanding that it makes you want to buy a Jeep even though they are junk cars, the movie could have been built behind the power of his voice. But it wasn't.\\n\\nAs a rental, it was OK. I am glad I didn't spend $40 to go to the theater to see this and somewhat happy I didn't fork over $20 to buy the DVD.\\n\\nThe ending was so Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid, absent the leap, that it left you wondering if they had any real good writers typing out the script.\\n\\nThis just reinforces that actors are trained parrots. You put a good script in front of them and get a good director and they sound like people you would follow into battle. But just the opposite makes you wonder if they have the intelligence to brush their own teeth..\",\n \"Product: United Kingdom released, PAL/Region 2.4 DVD: it WILL NOT play on standard US DVD player. You need multi-region PAL/NTSC DVD player to view it in USA/Canada: LANGUAGES: English ( Dolby Digital 5.1 ), English ( Subtitles ), ANAMORPHIC WIDESCREEN (1.78:1), SPECIAL FEATURES: 3-DVD Set, Anamorphic Widescreen, Interactive Menu, Making Of, Scene Access, SYNOPSIS: All eight episodes from the first series of the TV comedy drama, centering on a mafia mobster's attempts to start a new life in Lillehammer, Norway. After testifying against his old buddies in the mob, New York gangster Frank 'The Fixer' Tagliano (Steve Van Zandt) enters the FBI witness protection programme, choosing to be relocated to Lillehammer, Norway (he liked the look of it when he saw the 1994 Winter Olympics on TV). Now Norwegian-American immigrant Giovanni Henriksen, he quickly sets about making his new life as comfortable as he can by casually employing a mix of blackmail, extortion and threats to further his ambitions of opening his own bar, 'The Flamingo'. Unfortunately for Frank, however, his arrival in the town has not gone entirely unnoticed, as the local police soon begin to take an interest in his strangely empty background. Season 1 Reality Check The Flamingo Guantanamo Blues The Midwife My Kind of Town Pack Your Lederhosen The Babysitter Trolls ...Lilyhammer (Season 1) - 3-DVD Set ( Lilyhammer - Season One )\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Like a comedy version of the Sopranos\\n\\nReview: I stumbled onto this on Netflix and was instantly hypnotized by the Frankie the Fixer character. The show follows a Mafia underboss from New York to Lilyhammer, Norway as he is put into a quasi witness protection relocation of his own choosing. He incorrectly thinks that nobody will ever he find him there. I won't give away the plot because one the shows many plot lines has the mob trying to get him.\\n\\nI read where one person couldn't understand the show because they didn't speak the language. I watched season one on my television using Roku, which for some reason doesn't have the english subtitles. I watched season 2 on my laptop which did have the subtitles and was very good at allowing you follow the story line much better. If you are fan of Van Zandt in the Sopranos, you will love him in this show. Same character, just thrown into a different storyline and written to be humorous.\\n\\nThe final episode of season 2 is priceless as the world of Lilyhammer and the Sopranos pass each other in the daylight with actors from both shows turning up. There is even Dj vu scene where the characters of Lilyhammer are driving into NY with Tony Soprano SUV listening to the theme music from the opening of the Sopranos. (Woke Up This Morning\\\" by Alabama 3). And Frankie tells them to turn it off.\\n\\nI was never a big Netflix fan but they have really started to turn out some excellent television shows to watch. Lilyhammer is one of those shows and this is worth buying or subscribing to watch!\",\n \"Product: Inspired by a true story, Al Pacino stars as aging 1970s rocker Danny Collins, who can't give up his hard-living ways. But when his manager (Christopher Plummer) uncovers a 40-year-old undelivered letter written to him by John Lennon, he changes course with the help of a new friend (Annette Bening) and embarks on a heartfelt journey to rediscover his family, find true love and begin a second act.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Funny, Sad, Pathetic, Drugs, Rock and Roll, Hollywood contamination\\n\\nReview: If you can get over the awful sound of Al Pacino being a rock singer, this move is wonderful. It have warmth and humor and shows the depth and breath of Pacino's acting. I am sure in his real life, he gets the rock star treatment everyday so playing a rock star and having people fall all over him is something he has great experience at. Bobby Cannevale, who plays his never seen before adult son by a groupie one nighter is also excellent. Cannevale also has great range as he can play the tough guy with a big heart and an evil gangster as he was in Boardwalk. Jennifer Gardner is a surprise character actor in this but she knocks it out of the ballpark.\\n\\nMy wife and I rarely watch a movie together and have a similar favorable opinion but in this movie's case, we both loved it! A great movie!\",\n \"Product: Tackform Low Pro Magnetic Phone Mount. The Tackform Low Pro is an Adhesive backed magnetic mount for your car, work vehicle or around the house. It comes with 2 additional adhesive strips in the event you have a desire to change your mounting location. This Magnetic Phone Mount also comes with 3 metal plates for back up.\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: Very poor quality plastic stem\\n\\nReview: I should State at the onset that this item was bought to put on a motorcycle. A Harley Davidson Tri Glide to be exact. I read through some of the reviews and it seemed like several people had used it on a motorcycle and that it was very good for that purpose. I was just on a trip down to the Florida Keys and had my Samsung S8 attached to this mount. About halfway down US1, the stem of this device broke and my $900 phone fell to the pavement why was going about 40 miles per hour and was severely damaged. Like a fool I thought that the failure point would be the magnet so I attach rubber bands around the phone connected to the plastic mounting stem. For some reason the stem broke which allow the phone to fall to the ground. If you're planning on using this or thinking about using this to put a phone on your motorcycle, don't!\",\n \"Product: Richmond Gear 83-1044-B\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: I only use Royal Purple!\\n\\nReview: I have a 2015 HD TriGlide and was tried of paying over $300 for an oil change at the dealership. So I thought I would try it myself and get a better grade of oil and save money in the process.\\n\\nI used a Flo and Go suction device to get the oil out and then put the Royal Purple in.\\n\\nWe had a warm day last week and we had a POW*MIA escort mission from Indianapolis to Liberty, IN and it was the first chance I had to test out my new oil change and the RP oil. Overall, not much difference in performance. I did notice some better gas mileage but that could have been the quality of the gas I bought and not the oil.\\n\\nI use RP in all of my engines. I only change the oil once a year in my truck and car and have never had a problem or mechanical issue. You pay a little more for RP but I really believe that it is a better grade than some of the other synthetic oils. I have tried to google synthetic oil comparisons and there are a bunch of seemingly fake companies with websites that you see that sings Amsoil's praise and superiority. I question all these slo called website companies as being sham fronts. I don't see that for RP and as a loyal customer, I will stick with it.\",\n \"Product: Torin 1500 lb. Motorcycle and ATV Jack is the answer to all your motorcycle and ATV lifting needs. Lift any small vehicle from your bike to an ATV or even a snowmobile. This jack has a 1500 pound capacity, including 6 locking positions and 2 easy roll, high load, locking steel swivel casters, bottle jack and pulling bar. Jack features a wide load bearing surface and a powder coat finish.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Wonderful product. Lifts my Honda GL 500 like it is almost weightless.\\n\\nReview: The only negative thing I can say about this motorcycle lift is that it should have come with some better instructions for putting it together. You have to anchor the lift mechanism by attaching it to the platform. To start with, you will need to completely open the relief value to let the lift depress completely. Once you do that, it is a snap to bolt it in and finish the set up.\\n\\nOnce mine was set up, it worked like a champ. The safety lever can be somewhat aggravating when you are trying to slowly lower the bike down, but you learn to manage it with one hand on the bike and one of relief value while holding the safety down.\\n\\nI can't comment on the longevity of this product, but for helping to change the oil and change the rear tire, mine worked flawlessly. I will try to comment back after a year or so and report how this is holding up.....literally!\\n\\nProduct update: 12.16.2014\\n\\nSince I bought this lift, I bought a Honda VTX 1800, one of the heaviest bikes in the world. It picks it up like its a feather. I saw where one reviewer commented that this isn't too wide and I am guessing for some bikes, it might be a tad narrow. On my VTX, I have to make sure the two metal platforms are perfectly aligned under my bike so that it will center on the bike's frame and not lean to one side or the other. It helps to have a second person there to make sure if the like leans they can let the lift down and you can reposition the lift. It could be a lot wider and I suspect if this were a reoccurring issue, I would modify the platform.\\n\\nI do have to ride the rear tire over some paving stones to get the bike up an inch or two to allow for the lift to have enough room to get under the bike.\\n\\nSo far I am very satisfied with this product but its like anything, some people aren't happy with it.\",\n \"Product: Slip over existing grips for greater comfort, or to renew worn grips Work with heated or standard grips Shock absorbing EPDM foam for a smoother ride Extra durable, ozone, UV, gas and oil resistant Small fits from 1.25 to 1.45 o.d. Large fits from 1.45 to 1.65 o.d.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Great product and soooooo easy to install!\\n\\nReview: I think I suffer from the same nerve problems that make my hand fall asleep and go numb while driving my motorcycle. I was looking to buy some expensive handgrips but saw this and thought it would be a cheap fix so there was all upside and no downside.\\n\\nThe handgrip covers came quickly and I read a few reviews to see the best way to install the grips.\\n\\nThe winning method? Hair spray sprayed liberally inside the grip and on the existing grip. It slid right on and after some quick twisting and turning it went right on.\\n\\nAs for those who think they need to trim them, I would say, NAY! Compress the handgrips on your existing grip to allow the foam to bunch up and thicken up on the hand grips. If you trim them and spread them you will decrease the cushioning effect a little.\\n\\nExcellent product and I can see where they have some application to other things in my house like exercise equipment or tread mills.\",\n \"Product: Slip over existing grips for greater comfort, or to renew worn grips Work with heated or standard grips Shock absorbing EPDM foam for a smoother ride Extra durable, ozone, UV, gas and oil resistant Small fits from 1.25 to 1.45 o.d. Large fits from 1.45 to 1.65 o.d.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Great product and soooooo easy to install!\\n\\nReview: I think I suffer from the same nerve problems that make my hand fall asleep and go numb while driving my motorcycle. I was looking to buy some expensive handgrips but saw this and thought it would be a cheap fix so there was all upside and no downside.\\n\\nThe handgrip covers came quickly and I read a few reviews to see the best way to install the grips.\\n\\nThe winning method? Hair spray sprayed liberally inside the grip and on the existing grip. It slid right on and after some quick twisting and turning it went right on.\\n\\nAs for those who think they need to trim them, I would say, NAY! Compress the handgrips on your existing grip to allow the foam to bunch up and thicken up on the hand grips. If you trim them and spread them you will decrease the cushioning effect a little.\\n\\nExcellent product and I can see where they have some application to other things in my house like exercise equipment or tread mills.\",\n \"Product: The DynaPro ATM is a premium aggressive all-terrain for light truck, van, and sport utility vehicles. Innovative tread and sidewall design enhances the style of your vehicle. Developed for high powered pickups, the Dynapro ATM offers the best grip and acceleration both on- and off-road.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Best Price for a 275-65-18 tire I have found!\\n\\nReview: I bought these because the price was just too low to pass up. They usually are about $50 or more per tire times 4. I pulled the trigger and ordered. The tires came just as expected based on the email updates sent by Amazon. The tires were black walls and had a DOT manufacturer date of about 20 weeks before I received them. They were manufactured in Indonesia so factoring in the travel time on a ship to the US and finally to my front door, it wasn't too bad. The main point is they weren't sitting on a shelf for 2 or 3 years. The photo in the Amazon ad also showed them being white lettering and that wasn't the case and accounts for my 4 and not a 5 star.\\n\\nI made an appointment at my local Firestone dealer and they put the tires on for just a little over $100, which is what they would charge for their own tires. They provide a smooth ride and they are fairly quiet. I have a 2013 Ford F-150 with Super Crew Cab and the OEM tires were Goodyear. They were rated for 50k miles and I would have gotten that out of them but got these just a couple of hundred miles shy of 50k because I am pretty anal about tires. The Goodyear tires gave me so so MPGs and I am hoping these Hankook are better on fuel mileage.\\n\\nI will update this review after I have driven on them for some time to give a more developed opinion.\\n\\nUpdate 4.15.2016\\n\\nAfter a couple of months, I am still very satisfied with these tires. They provide excellent traction on wet pavements and not very much noise on dry roads. There is one section on I-465 where the pavement makes any tire sing, but no so much with these tires. They have also been providing slightly better gas mileage over the Goodyear OEMs that these replaced. More updates to follow.\\n\\nUpdate 7.1.2016\\n\\nAfter a few more months, I am still highly satisfied. Mileage is still good and the ride quality is excellent. This is starting to look like the best tire buy of my lifetime! I have even upgraded my rating to 5 stars.\",\n \"Product: KURYAKYN FLOORBOARDS: PREMIUM F/ DRIVER/PASSENGER. Part Number 4351\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Great looking and very easy to install!\\n\\nReview: I bought these used, so right off the bat, know that I didn't get them from Amazon. I got them from another VTX 1800 rider who had either upgraded to something else or was selling off everything. I just don't know.\\n\\nFor those of you who have Honda VTX 1800s. it is a bit of a mystery on how to instal these. At first glance, the stock foot pegs looks difficult to remove and the remount the new boards. Fear not, they are very easy. You will need to put the bike on a lift and get it up to be able to maneuver under the pegs. Under each one is a tiny cotter pin that you have to straighten and then remove. On the drivers side, its a snap. Once the pin is removed, you can lift out the retaining pin and the original peg can be moved out. There is a spring that will also come out but this is something that won't be needed for the Kuryakyn adapter mount. Before you put the retaining pin back in, make sure have the angle and the height that will be the most comfortable to you. Mine was top right on the left peg and top left on the right. There are 5 peg holes so you have some options on which one will give you the best position.\\n\\nOnce you have the right peg selected, put the retaining pin back in and then the washer and cotter pin. Split the pin back into its original configuration and you are done with the left board.\\n\\nThe right is not as easy, but its not hard either. You will need to remove the two bolts that are holding down the foot brake chrome covers. Once they are off, the protective plate it is sitting on can be maneuvered out and placed out of the way. There are two bolts that connect the entire foot brake assembly and you need to loosen both of them. The bottom on will have a nut on the other side of the under frame that will drop once you loosen it enough. With both loosened, (assuming you have the cotter pin out) take out the retaining pin and then put the floorboard on. I found it was necessary to press the foot brake lever all the way down to allow the pin just enough clearance to be pushed up and out.\\n\\nTighten the brake assembly and put the chrome covers back on and then secure the cotter pin and washer back on the retaining pin.\\n\\nThat is it folks! Mission complete.\\n\\nNow as to the quality of these footboards. They are outstanding. Solid. Heavy. Chrome. The rubber on top is firm and very durable. I can't believe one person knocked them for having rubber sticking out of the bottom that you can see when they are folded up. WHAT?\\n\\nThis is a quality product and I can't say how happy I am with them. They will provide you with a very comfortable ride and look good for a very long time.\",\n \"Product: Change the oil in your motorcycle without the headache of the mess with the Ernst Greg's Drip-Free Oil Filter Funnel. For all Harley Davidson Evo and TwinCam 1985 to current with forward spin on oil filter. Fits all Touring, Dyna, Softail, and Sportsters. Keep oil from damaging your rubber engine mount. This superior U-shaped design fits the Harley like no other funnel can. Punch nail and tube are included for easy draining. With your motorcycle still leaning on its stand, slip in this Oil Filter Drain Funnel, punch a drain hole in the top of the filter, twist the filter 180 degrees , and then relax. When empty, finish spinning the filter off. This unique design fits most new Harley Davidson models except for V-Rods. It even fits forward control bikes or those with crankcase sensors. Included with the Funnel is a punch and tube for getting the oil past the fairings on some bikes. This multipurpose funnel is also great for refilling fluids. Fits perfect in tight places for refilling your oil, transmission, and primary fluids. Includes hang tab for use on pegboards. Made in the USA. Lifetime guarantee.\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: Not meant for a trike.\\n\\nReview: Not at all what I expected. First, you are supposed to position the plastic trough under the oil filter, only it won't go all the way underneath. Then you use a provided four of five inch nail to drive a hole in your old oil filter. Only on an Ultra or Ultra Trike, the filter is back about 8 inches so I used a screw drive to drive a hole in the very bottom of the filter. I let all the oil drain and then when the trickle of oil dried up I took off the filter to discover a bunch of oil now dripping on my garage floor. I am guessing it just won't work on a trike as it sits flat and not leaned over like a two wheeler.\\n\\nSo if you drive a trike, this won't work.\",\n \"Product: The Sena SR10 Bluetooth Two-Way Radio Adapter allows you to talk wirelessly with two-way radio devices via Bluetooth 2.1+EDR. It also provides a hands-free gateway for mobile phones and is compatible with standard stereo or mono Bluetooth headsets. The SR10 will clip onto your belt or mount onto handlebars with a wired PTT button extension for handlebar grip mounting. With the optional 12V bike-powered kit, you can install it to turn on and off with the motorcycle ignition. It is also usable while charging. It also enables you to hook up non-Bluetooth devices such as radar detectors and GPS navigation via two AUX ports. The SR10 allows you to connect with up to two audio sources at the same time and works for a variety of applications, such as motorcycle group riding, outdoor sports and activities, and security. SR10 only supports HFP (Hands-Free Profile) Bluetooth connection with a Bluetooth headset. HFP is a typical and standard Bluetooth headset connection which can only transmit mono audio. If a stereo audio device like a music player is connected to the SR10, audio quality will be diminished to mono audio. Thus, connecting a stereo audio device to the SR10 is not recommended.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: High price for what it does\\n\\nReview: I bought this for my Midlands CB to use on group motorcycle rides. It works but it seems to have a slight delay in broadcasting the signal. When you do an overnight stay, all the Sena wireless units have to be recharged so that is always a minor issue. I think the cost of this unit, for what it does, it too high. Its more expensive than the Sena helmet unit which seems to be more complicated. But it does work well. My main beef is about the high cost and all the wires. You would think Bluetooth would be more wireless but this unit has a few cables going to the Push to Talk button and connecting to the CB.\",\n \"Product: Two-year manufacturer's warranty. Note: Wait for bike to cool before applying cover. Trike Cover: Heavy-duty, top-of-the-line, all-weather cover that is designed specifically for trikes. Waterproof seams, 300 denier polyester with polyurethane coating.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Heavy and hard to fold.\\n\\nReview: I bought this a year ago for my trike. I have only used it once and I am doubting if I will ever use it again. It is well constructed but my issue with this cover is that once you get it out of the carrying bag, you can never get it back it. The material is heavier than I would have liked and putting it on is a real chore. I will admit that only using it once doesn't give me a lot of proficiency with it, but trying to get the genie back in the bottle so to speak is my main problem. On the road, you have to use either the pavement or wet grass to lay it on to attempt to fold it I wish they had included instructions on how to fold it to get it back in the bag. I should have bought the Harley cover as I have seen that one and it is very lightweight.\",\n \"Product: • Triple chrome plated steel bumper• Bolt-on design\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Much easier to install that I thought\\n\\nReview: I bought this a couple of months ago and was waiting for some decent weather where I wouldn't be riding to install. Well, today was that day. I had a few misconceptions about installing this. First, I thought there were removable nuts underneath that required someone to operate the wrench above while you worked in underneath. That wasn't the case. There is a fixed nut welded into the frame and all you do is take out the existing bolt and install the longer bolt that comes with the bumper. Then you put on the bumper and use the supplied nuts to tighten it down. It was so much easier that I anticipated that I wish I had done it much sooner.\\n\\nIt looks good, but the real value is the protection it will provide for my Tri-Glide. This looks just like a Harley bumper and costs much less. Excellent buy!\",\n \"Product: 2PK Replacement HP 56 Black & HP 28 Color Ink Cartridges / Fits printer models: FAX Series: 1240. Officejet Series: 4110; 4110v; 4215; 4215v; 4215xi. PSC Series: 1209; 1310; 1311; 1312; 1315; 1315v; 1315xi; 1317; 1318; 2100; 2170; 2200.\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: Not worth the money.\\n\\nReview: This is sort of a bitter sweet product. Its cheap so that makes it a fair buy, but the toner doesn't seem to last that long. I just put in new cartridges and it seems I get about 50 pages of color and then I get a low ink warning. I don't know if it this company or the HP printer that sucks up the ink. I think I need to invest in a new technology printer that gets more efficiency out of the ink but I just ordered two more so when they run out, I think I will be in the market for a new printer.\\n\\nUpdate: 2.10.2016\\n\\nI just put in two new cartridges and after 10 pages, the low ink indicator came on. Sorry, but you expect your ink to last longer than 10-20 pages. I would recommend going with a different re manufacturer if this is all you get out if it.\",\n \"Product: The Genesis E-320TM gas grill features an enclosed cart with corresponding painted steel doors with stainless steel trim, stainless steel handles, and accent colored painted side and rear panels. All grills have a porcelainenameled shroud with a center-mounted thermometer and accent colored painted, cast aluminum end caps. The cooking system, rated at 42,000 BTUs, includes 3 seamless stainless steel burners and an electronic Crossover ignition system. The cooking grates are porcelain-enameled cast iron. The Flavorizer bars are porcelain-enameled. The primary cooking area measures 507 sq. inches; the warming rack area measures 130 sq. inches, giving a total cooking area of 637 sq. inches. The Genesis E-320TM gas grill also has a 12,000 BTUper- hour input flush-mount side burner. Other features include 6 tool holders, enclosed tank storage area, precision fuel gauge, 2 stainless steel work surfaces, 2 heavyduty front locking casters and 2 heavy-duty back swivel casters. Tank is not included with LP grills and all natural gas grills include a 10-ft flexible hose. Weber cookbook included. Limited warranty.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Just as dependable as a Toyota!\\n\\nReview: First of all, I have owned one other Weber Gas Grill. I bought it at Sears 10 years for around 500 dollars. It still works, but has a few minor issues that made me want to replace it.\\n\\nI didn't buy mine through Amazon. I got mine a Lowe's. The same model was $649.99 plus my wife was able to get a 10% discount certificate. So with the actual cost was a little less than20 under what I could have got it through Amazon. Plus, Lowes assembles it for free.\\n\\nFor the grill, it is solid....like a rock. Great looks, cooks great, and will last a very long time.\\n\\nI can't say anything about cons because I just don't think there is anything wrong with this grill. I wanted the all stainless steel version, but I would have to special order it and it would have cost more, so I can live with a colored one.\\n\\nIf you are thinking about buying another grill, talk to some people that have owned a Weber for awhile. We can swear by them, and never at them. They are quality through and through.\",\n \"Product: Features 100% 2-ply polyester flag and chrome-plated steel pole. Adjustable mounting bracket fits most motorcycles. Flag measures 6\\\" x 9\\\". Pole measures 13 in. Universal fit - This item may require slight modification for your unique application and some level of mechanical skill is recommended for installation. Limited lifetime warranty on pole only. Gift boxed\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Good but could be better\\n\\nReview: This works, but the vibrations from a Harley cause the screws to loosen. The one I replaced fell out on a group ride so I couldn't go back and find the flag and post so I had to order a new one. The flags that come with this are cheap and not worth the trouble. I buy the ones the American Legion store sells. They are heavy duty, double stitched and last a long time. Also, I think these are made for metric luggage racks, not HDs. I had a devil of a time finding a material that I could use to wrap around my luggage rack and they tighten the pole's base around. Use some rubber repair tape I bought here on Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BSXAH06/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1). When this tape on my luggage rack, the flag poles won't move as the wind whips the flags around. I wish the manufacturer would make a size slightly smaller for HDs.\",\n \"Product: The Miracle Blade III 11-pc. Knife Set is a multi-purpose collection of ultra durable kitchen tools. Crafted with revolutionary comfort handles and a unique 3-in-1 blade edge. These durable knives make quick work for meal preparation. The assortment includes 4 steak/utility knives, 1 filet knife, 1 perfection paring knife, 1 perfection kitchen shears, 1 chop n scoop cleaver, 1 rock n chop cleaver, and 1 miracle blade slicer. Great as a registry, birthday, or anniversary gift!\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Great knives for the money\\n\\nReview: I bought my first set of these about 3 years ago. I love the larger knives but the small steak knives are my favorite. A couple of years ago my Mom was in town and they were selling these at Kohls of about $10.00 a set. Like a fool, I didn't buy any but my Mom got four sets. She did give me 4 of the steak knives, so I have a set of 8.\\n\\nNow I need to get my daughter a set because the knife set she had couldn't cut butter. So here I am online looking and found that Amazon has a set.\\n\\nI love this knife set. All of the large knives are very good and while the plastic handles are cheap, they have held up to hundreds of dish washings. They can cut the thinnest slices of any vegetables and the meat cleaver had cut through frozen meat like a hot knife through butter.\\n\\nIf you are looking for a set of kitchen knives that are fool proof, get this one!\",\n \"Product: \\\"Atlas Shrugged\\\" is the astounding story of a man who said that he would stop the motor of the world - and did. Tremendous in scope, breathtaking in its suspense, \\\"Atlas Shrugged\\\" stretches the boundaries further than any book you have ever read. It is a mystery, not about the murder of a man's body, but about the murder - and rebirth - of man's spirit.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Way too many words to say far too little, but very timely for today's politial environment\\n\\nReview: There is a lot of reviews already here, so I doubt I can say something about the book's meaning or intent that wouldn't be a duplication. What I can say is this is a very difficult read. Sometimes you can't wait to hit the advance button....KINDLE....and sometimes you get so bored with the repeating ideology that is told, and told....and told.....and told....over and over and over again.\\n\\nSomeone needs to edit this book down and make it more of a modern read. It took me liberally over 2 years to read this. The only reason I put the hammer down and read the last half in about a month was the Bush book was coming out and I wanted to start on that and promised myself I would finish it!\\n\\nI was lucky to buy it back when it was cheaper. These liberal publishers sure don't mind being a situational capitalists.\"\n]","isConversational":false},"profile_size":{"kind":"number","value":27,"string":"27"},"task":{"kind":"string","value":"longlamp_3"},"split_kind":{"kind":"string","value":"user_based"},"id":{"kind":"number","value":965,"string":"965"}}},{"rowIdx":966,"cells":{"question_id":{"kind":"string","value":"A33D9CLL0TZ1M3"},"question":{"kind":"string","value":"Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of \"5.0\" for a product with description \"Use the active power of super-heated steam to achieve a new level clean. The Pyle Pure Clean Multi-Function Steam Cleaner combines a lightweight over-the-shoulder design that will help you achieve a natural and chemical-free clean. Plug it in and make your surroundings healthier and safer for children and pets. Let the steam and the rotating scrubbers do all the work; save yourself from the strain and discomfort of tiresome scrubbing and wiping. With just a turn of a knob, the PSTM65 produces high-heat water vapors that eliminate harmful germs, bacteria, dirt and grime. Just add water, plug it in and you're ready to clean - no harsh chemicals or cleaning solutions required. The system comes with a 10 piece steam cleaning accessory kit and the powerful rotating scrubber attachment activates with the press of a button. The shoulder strap and extra long power cable adds convenience and allows you to get rid of all built up residue and surface dirt within reach. Scrub, Deodorize and Sanitize your home, car or boat with the Pyle Pure Clean Multi-Function Steamer. Model: PSTM65.\". The summary of the review text is \"Very comprehensive steam cleaning set\"."},"answer":{"kind":"string","value":"<div id=\"video-block-RCK0Y2RWC3R2O\" class=\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\"></div><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/D1fotq-W74S.mp4\" class=\"video-url\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/71MAmD7gNmS.png\" class=\"video-slate-img-url\"> Very comprehensive steam cleaning kit. The Pyle/Pure Clean power steamer has some great attachments that make cleaning around the house very easy. Our review is based on the quality of the steamer and accessories included. We will follow-up with a functionality review this weekend. We like that this is lighter and easier to carry around than our Shark Steamer. It also has a lot more attachments and brushes. Here's an unboxing video showing all the parts that you get with the cleaner.\n\nLike many of my reviews, I was provided a discount in exchange for testing and providing my honest review. Thoughts contained in this review are based on my experience and personal opinion. I hope this helps guide you in your search for a steam cleaner - Dan"},"correct_answer":{"kind":"string","value":"<div id=\"video-block-RCK0Y2RWC3R2O\" class=\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\"></div><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/D1fotq-W74S.mp4\" class=\"video-url\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/71MAmD7gNmS.png\" class=\"video-slate-img-url\"> Very comprehensive steam cleaning kit. The Pyle/Pure Clean power steamer has some great attachments that make cleaning around the house very easy. Our review is based on the quality of the steamer and accessories included. We will follow-up with a functionality review this weekend. We like that this is lighter and easier to carry around than our Shark Steamer. It also has a lot more attachments and brushes. Here's an unboxing video showing all the parts that you get with the cleaner.\n\nLike many of my reviews, I was provided a discount in exchange for testing and providing my honest review. Thoughts contained in this review are based on my experience and personal opinion. I hope this helps guide you in your search for a steam cleaner - Dan"},"documents":{"kind":"list like","value":["Product: XHP's Mini Salad Spinner offers strong locking clips that secure the cover to the salad container, preventing it from falling off during rotation.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Just what I was looking for\n\nReview: Exactly what I was looking for! This is is the prefect size for our needs. Here is how I use this salad spinner:\nDrying cilantro/parsley/fresh herbs - I wash these fresh herbs and I do not want to add the water to my dishes. I give them a quick spin and they are dry and ready to use.\nShrimp - We make fried shrimp, and you know that your shrimp needs to be dry before coating it. I wash the shrimp and remove the shell and veins, then spin them. They come out dry and ready for dredging.\nCanned artichokes and black olives - these pizza toppings work well if they are dry when adding to your pie. Wet ingredients equal soggy dough. We dump the cans into the spinner basket, rinse and spin. Toppings are dry and ready to bake.\nThe spinner is compact, easy to clean, and easy to use.","Product: The 5 Tier Over-The-Door Pantry Organizer is quick and easy to setup. Hangs over the door with the sturdy included hooks or easily mounts to the wall. New and improved interlocking shelves provide durability and maximum storage for many different household items. Adjustable basket shelving allows you to customize which items are stored where in any room in your home. The sturdy design and the rustproof finish make this a great multi-use storage solution.\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: This thing swings like my Nuncle Russ at Fantasy Fest\n\nReview: This thing swings like my Nuncle Russ at Fantasy Fest. I should have read the reviews because even the positive ones had to jerry rig it to work properly. Some have screwed it into their door, thus ruining it forever, or bought 3M command products to help it work properly. It's a shame the seller doesn't post photos of the assembly instructions. It would probably eliminate all the frustrations that people experience when they receive this.\nMy advice is to avoid it unless you want to spend more money on hooks, or drill holes in your door.\nI'm doing a public service by posting photos of the instructions. If you still buy it, at least you are aware of what you are getting.\nThis review is based on the LARGE over the door organizer.","Product: The Samsung ME18H704SFS 1.8 Cu. Ft. Over-the-Range Microwave, in stainless steel, combines 1000W of cooking power, a powerful 400 CFM ventilation system, and two-stage programmable cooking. The Sensor Cook features does the thinking for you, ensuring soup, leftover pasta, or frozen dinners end up cooked perfectly every time, while options like auto defrost and sensor reheat are great for creating meals from scratch. The filter's convenient, easy-to-access location makes it simple to eject with a single touch and helps you remember to clean the filter. Plus, this microwave is scratch-resistant and easy-to-clean; the durable ceramic interior provides a polished surface to wipe down and the exterior's coating protects against scratches from everyday use. Additional helpful features include the clock with Daylight Savings adjustment, kitchen timer, child lock, and halogen cooktop lighting.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Great OTR microwave, looks great and works very well!\n\nReview: Even though I did not purchase this here on Amazon, I thought I would share my experience, especially because the reviews here are so negative, and on so many random things. As I read the reviews here on Amazon, I was nervous about my purchase, but thankfully, I had a very good experience.\n\nI bought this Samsung ME18H704SFS over the range microwave at Lowe's. It was an open box item, that was too good a price to pass up. It did not include the template or installation manual. After searching online, I could not locate the installation manual. I contacted Samsung via email and had the install guide the next morning. Thank you for the quick response! I was replacing an old vent hood and had to replace the upper cabinet to make room for the new microwave. I found the shorter replacement cabinet at the Habitat For Humanity Restore and thankfully, it was the perfect size, and very close in the look department. Since I was missing the install templates, I had to get out my tape measure and figure out where to install the wall mount, and where to drill the holes in the upper cabinet. I checked my math twice and it was spot on. So even without the template, it was an easy install, using the install guide.\nSo now that it is in, we are very happy with it! It is much more powerful than the 1000 watt Haier counter top microwave this replaced. There are many great features, like the light timer, the very powerful vent, the turntable on/off switch and so much more. The biggest thing is it heats up food much faster! We have a Samsung Fridge, and Dishwasher and this is a perfect match with those. It even makes the older range look a little more current. To summarize, we are very happy with this investment and recommend it to others. It's a great price point, looks fantastic, and works even better than it looks.","Product: No-slip, no-stick, and totally burn-proof. With kitchen grips pro, the ultimate silicone oven/grilling gloves, you'll never have to worry about being scalded again - perfect for both indoor and outdoor cooking, whether you're baking, grilling, barbecuing, smoking/marinating meat, or just handling raw steak before the cookout - equally useful outside the kitchen for washing dishes, opening tight jars, or even shoveling snow, to protect you from sore palms and cold temperatures - withstand up to 445 degrees Fahrenheit, allowing you to pull BBQ meat right off the grill or reach into a pot of boiling water to scoop out hot vegetables Your hands are the only ones you've got. Protect them from burns and injury with kitchen grips pro silicone oven gloves. Bonus! With your gloves, you get a free, downloadable recipe eBook exclusively from simprium (\"mouthwatering recipes for the grill\"). You also receive a free coupon to a popular restaurant near you! Never waste money on cheap oven mitts and potholders again... - Kitchen grips pro gloves last longer, grip tighter, and take far more heat than any cloth oven mitt available - Waterproof and dishwasher safe makes for an easy clean Scroll up now and click \"add to cart\" to make kitchen grips pro a part of your kitchen.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: He liked that he could tear down the pork butt while it was hot\n\nReview: This is the third set of oven gloves I've purchased in the last couple months. The design is great, the size fits my big mitts and yet, I still have the dexterity to manipulate tongs and knives. After my trial of the SimPrium gloves, I passed them along to a buddy who BBQ's every weekend. And not I'm not talking about burgers and dogs on the Weber. I'm talking slow cooked, smoked, fall off the bone brisket, pork butt, and ribs. He's serious about his craft, so I thought he'd be perfect to give them a try. He loved them, and reported back that he liked that he could pick up a roast without tearing it apart, making it easy to get the meat to the table for prepping. Speaking of prepping, he liked that he could tear down the pork butt while it was hot, with his \"hands\". He liked them so much I got a rack of ribs in return! I call that a win-win. In the spirit of full disclosure, I received a discount on this item in return for an unbiased review. Update 3/31/15 - YouTube video review added: http://amzn.com/B00PT7ZM0M","Product: Stop Using Corks!! This Elegant Wine Preserver Saves You Money! Don't always drink your bottle of wine? Wine quality is compromised if an opened bottle is left with air in it Wine is never the same when you open the bottle again Stop Wine Oxygenation That Spoils The Taste & Wastes Your Money Wine needs to breath, but if it's exposed to oxygen for too long, it will go bad. Even if you replace the screw-cap or cork, the wine will still oxidize and lose it flavor and aroma. You'll be left with a bad tasting and smelling wine that's very unpalatable. The Zazzol Wine Stopper Protects The Quality of Your Wine So You Can Still Enjoy It Days After Straight forward to use. Simply press the stopper into the bottleneck to create an airtight seal. Leave bottles on their sides in the fridge and not worry about messy leaks in the fridge Used by Restaurants, Hotels and Bars throughout the world to preserve wine quality Click ADD TO CART at the top of this page and get your Zazzol PREMIUM Wine Stopper now!\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Outstanding gift for the wine loving man in your life!\n\nReview: Zazzol does it again! This is a very cool, masculine wine stopper. Which is funny, because as a guy, I typically use the cork to save my wine on the rare occasion we don't finish the bottle. I am proud to show this wine stopper off and demonstrate my ability to be elegant and refined. This Zazzol wine stopper has heft, real weight, and a super high polish that looks like a chrome bumper on a '59 Caddy! Oh, and the sweetest part is the carbon fiber detail on the top. SEXY! Seriously, ladies, get this for your man. He'll love it's masculine style and won't feel effeminate for using your butterfly themed glass wine stopper. Like my boy Richard Rawlings says, \"GYSOT!\"","Product: Great for making cucumber salads, potato chips, french fries, carrot sticks and so much more The Useful Mandoline Slicer stays stable with non-slip feet that sit wide apart. runway is textured to prevent food from sticking, while body is curved to leave plenty of space below for food to accumulate. handle of the slicer sits lower than your body to keep your hand out of the way Food is held securely and fingers are protected with the food holder that snaps beneath body when storing Blades are easy to remove for cleaning and are safely covered when not in use, and they're stored on board for convenient storage Storage is even more convenient and compact with folding legs that simply tuck underneath\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: I like this more than my Pampered Chef mandolin\n\nReview: <div id=\"video-block-R36O7PDZI8X7BV\" class=\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\"></div><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/C1iVlxQ83VS.mp4\" class=\"video-url\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/71472besSpS.png\" class=\"video-slate-img-url\"> I like this more than my Pampered Chef mandolin. The safety holder on this is way better than the one on my other slicer. This one allows you to slice larger veggies and fruits. The selector dial on the side allows you to easily adjust the thickness, and change it to the julienne slicer blade with a quick test. The blade is super sharp, so be careful!\nUpdate 7/7/15 Please see the video showing the functionality of this mandolin.\n\nLike many of my reviews, I was provided a discount in exchange for testing and providing my honest review. Thoughts contained in this review are based on my experience and personal opinion. I hope this helps guide you in your search for mandolin slicer - Dan","Product: This digital scale has endless uses for personal or commercial environments - great for homes, kitchens, offices, mailrooms, and more. The scale has an easy-to-read LCD display. With a capacity of 6.6lb (3kg), you can weigh a variety of items with ease. The included bowl is great for measuring ingredients when cooking or baking. You will be surprised at all the uses you will have for this product. Weighing functions You can easily choose between measurement in lb(oz) or gram. This digital scale measures with a division of 0.1oz (1g) for accurate weighing. battery (included), making the scale portable and ensuring that you can easily acquire replacement batteries. auto-off The scale can be reset to zero for accurate measurement, or adjusted to weigh items in bowls or measuring containers, which is particularly useful for cooking. To save energy, the scale also features an auto-off function, allowing the scale to turn off after a period of inactivity to save energy. Specifications Maximum weight: 6.6lb (3kg) Dimensions: 7.1*5.9*1.5(inch) Bowl volume 0.8L; auto off Low Battery and over load indication Package contents 1 x 6.6lb digital scale 1 x Removable bowl 1 x User's manual 2 AAA batteries required. (included)\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: The Carelove scale is a great addition to any kitchen\n\nReview: The Carelove scale is a great addition to any kitchen. I never thought I needed one until I started making my own home-made sausage, and jerky. All the sudden, I'm making large batches, and I need to weigh the meat, and the ingredients of my spices and marinades. Now that I have this scale, I can keep accurate records of how much of what I added, so I can recreate the same recipe or make small tweaks if needed. I measured this against two other scales I have and this came up dead accurate. Now this one has a smaller capacity than my other kitchen scale, but I'm using this for my dry ingredients, and the other for the wet and or meat weighing duties. Great value at $15 (current price at time of review). Oh, I almost forgot to mention, that it does have a tare weight function which is really important when you need to use a cup, bowl, or vessel on top of the scale. It takes the weight out of the equation so you don't have to figure out the math.\n\nLike many of my reviews, I was provided a significant discount in exchange for testing and providing my honest review. Thoughts contained in this review are based on my experience and personal opinion. I hope this helps guide you in your search for a kitchen scale - Dan","Product: Steam clean it all with the Pyle PSTMH22 Clothing & Garment Steamer. Achieve a Natural and Chemical-Free clean that makes your closet fresh and wrinkle-free. Let the steam do the work and save yourself from the strain of strenuous ironing. With a flip of the switch, it produces super-heated steam water vapors that can be used to help lift dirt and grime for pre-washing. Just add water, plug it in and you're ready to steam -- no harsh chemicals or cleaning solutions required. Deodorize, sanitize and freshen, remove stubborn wrinkles or add favorable creases with the included crease clip. The system features rolling caster wheels for easy transport and an extending clip hook for clothing hanger attachment. Add some steam and keep it Pure Clean!.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Simple, easy to use steamer that works great\n\nReview: <div id=\"video-block-RHN40Y6OHOJKA\" class=\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\"></div><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/C1vBR2n19PS.mp4\" class=\"video-url\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61Pu0XysgfS.png\" class=\"video-slate-img-url\"> Here's a video showing the Pure Clean steamer by Pyle Audio in action. We take one of my problem shirts that has a thick color that always curls under. Just a few passes with the steamer and they are straight. The instructions could be better, but they aren't needed as it was very intuitive and easy to use. The kit includes a fabric brush and crease attachment. Very nice device, that is easy to use and delivers good performance.\n\nLike many of my reviews, I was provided a discount in exchange for testing and providing my honest review. Thoughts contained in this review are based on my experience and personal opinion. I hope this helps guide you in your search for a fabric steamer - Dan","Product: As a alarm clock ,it has all features you need. Carelove Digital Clock with alarm time & date display. Assorted trend colors with warm white LED backlight. Move the button in the back to set the set time, date, alarm, and snooze intervals. Sensor automatically comes on when it's dark around, because it's light-activated. It's soft, making you sleep easily or see time from a distance hands free. ESH Digital Clock can also be closed. If bright light needed, please touch the top to use nightlight, which lasts 5 seconds. Specifications: - Size: 5.3\"x1.8\"x3\" - Power Supply: 3 AAA batteries (For shipping security reason, Battery Not Included.) Package List: 1 * Alarm Clock 1 * Instruction (If you lose the instruction book or have any problems/difficult about the setup, please don't hesitate to contact us on Amazon. We can help you to solve the difficulties)!! PLEASE MIND:Our company USES a sophisticated electronic components, scientific design, combined with advanced equipment testing make alarm clock working current is very small, typically 10 to 18 ua (microamps), so please don't use digititan, duracell, panasonic, energizer and all kinds of rechargeable batteries and other large quantity of alkaline batteries, otherwise it will affect the service life of the product or abnormal.With ordinary carbon batteries. Time is more precise, the error is less than 25 seconds of a month.A year is error of 3 to 5 minutes.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: My favorite feature, that I didn't even realize that I cared about, is the light sensor.\n\nReview: What a great little clock? I've been in the habit of using my iPhone for my clock, and alarm clock, that I forgot how convenient a clock can be. We have this mounted on our entertainment center in our bedroom. Even at 8 feet, it is easy to read. My favorite feature, that I didn't even realize that I cared about, is the light sensor. It is always adjusted to the correct brightness, make it easy to ready, and doesn't have the bright back-lighting that keeps my wife up. It's compact and lightweight, making it suitable for travel, if you desired.\n\nLike many of my reviews, I was provided a discount in exchange for testing and providing my honest review. Thoughts contained in this review are based on my experience and personal opinion. I hope this helps guide you in your search for an alarm clock - Dan","Product: The NutriChef Air Fryer is your healthy oil-free frying alternative. This hassle-free cooking appliance is easy-to-use and unlocks convenient countertop food prep. Slide out the frying basket, insert your food and choose from air fry, broil, roast, bake, grill or BBQ your favorite foods. The integrated high-power heating element allows internal cooking temperatures to reach a maximum of 400 DegreeF -- for delicious and tasty results. Non-stick teflon coated cooking basket locks in the heat for thorough cooking with easy after-cleaning ability. The system has been tested to prepare significantly healthier foods than frying, all while creating the same flavorful results. It works for all types of meat, fish and vegetables, but it works especially well for perfectly cooked French fries with crispy skins. Set the time, the temp and you're ready to air fry! The NutriChef Air Fryer will help you prepare low-fat foods that taste great and help you feel good!\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: From frozen to crunchy chicken nuggets in 8 minutes! I burnt my mouth!\n\nReview: <div id=\"video-block-R2SKB2YWZWH7O\" class=\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\"></div><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/D15Aa8z8ucS.mp4\" class=\"video-url\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61jiBmEP2rS.png\" class=\"video-slate-img-url\"> Yes, that's right... I burnt my mouth, because I couldn't wait for these nuggets to cool down! The Nutrichef oil-less air fryer works great, better than advertised. We created this video to show how easy it is to use. We took frozen chicken nuggets and turned them in to crunchy, juicy treats in 8 minutes. Pretty cool! Following this video, we made waffle fries from frozen and crisped them up, without oil, in 10 minutes. I love that this is healthy and we're not deep frying, yet we get crispy treats. Looking forward to trying new recipes out in the air fryer.\n\nLike many of my reviews, I was provided a discount in exchange for testing and providing my honest review. Thoughts contained in this review are based on my experience and personal opinion. I hope this helps guide you in your search for an oil-less air fryer - Dan","Product: The NutriChef Pasta Maker allows you to make your own delicious gourmet pastas in minutes! Simply add your ingredients and let the NutriChef system do all the work. The possibilities are endless and you can create unique & fresh pasta dishes without added preservatives. The automatic mixing and pasta noodle extrusion process can't be any easier and adds hassle-free pasta preparation at the press of a button. The system includes 9 different noodle-style attachment molds that give you the ability to create a wide variety of noodle shapes, sizes & flavors! Make the noodles thin, thick, narrow, wide, square or round. The countertop design features simple touch button controls, digital LCD display, stain-resistant housing and ultra quiet operation. Enjoy convenient spaghetti noodle pasta creation with NutriChef.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: This is a winner - easy to use and we had great results the first time. Video review included.\n\nReview: <div id=\"video-block-RWCHH69QA0B9C\" class=\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\"></div><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/D1WbehSL4xS.mp4\" class=\"video-url\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/219OaKj0r-S.png\" class=\"video-slate-img-url\"> *Video showing break down, pasta mixing, extruding and finished product*\n\nWe're fans of the NutriChef pasta maker! I've never made pasta from scratch, but after receiving the pasta maker and reading the instructions, it was a no brainer. We have a gluten intolerance so we have to buy pricey GF pasta from the store. We decided our first use of the machine would be with a gluten free recipe that Keri found online. Watch the video to see how it came out.\n\nOverall synopsis of the pasta maker.\n*Very easy to disassemble for cleaning.\n*Very intuitive to use\n*Wide assortment of pasta dies (shapes)\n*Great results!\n\nI was provided a discount in exchange for testing and providing my honest review. Thoughts contained in this review are based on my experience and personal opinion. I hope this helps guide you in your search for an automatic pasta maker - Dan","Product: WE DIDN'T REMOVE THE SCREEN PROTECTOR FILM OF THE PRODUCT WHEN TAKING A PHOTO .JUST WANT TO SHOW YOU A REAL ONE.. This Carelove scale is delicately designed in a elegant white body. It also has endless uses and is really great for homes, kitchens, offices, mailrooms, etc. Take it and then you will be surprised at all the uses you will have. Weighing functions This digital scale is engineered for highly accurate weighing in precise graduations of 0.01oz/1g. It can measure up to 7kg (15lb or 240oz). Moreover, you can easily choose between measurement in pounds/ounces and grams. Auto-zero, tare, auto-off functions and warning indications The auto-zero and tare functions are incredibly helpful for accuracy when weighing items individually or in containers. To save energy, the scale also features an auto-off function after 120s' inactivity. What's more, if the scale is inaccurate, you can calibrate it by yourself. It also provides low battery and overload indication. Package Contents 1 Electronic 15lb digital scale 2 AAA Batteries 1 Users' Manual\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: When you make as much sausage as I do, you need something to weigh your meat!\n\nReview: When you make as much sausage as I do, you need something to weigh your meat! This scale does a terrific job, whether I' making sausage, or jerky. You wouldn't believe how much of a science it is, and how accurate you have to be, when making meat snacks. If you want any kind of consistency in your kitchen, you need to weigh your meat, and spices, so you can recreate the magic! This scale allows you to do a tare weight, and that my friends, is most excellent! I did actually test the accuracy by using a second scale that I already owned and compared the weights scale vs scale. It has a fast response and it is accurate!\n\nLike many of my reviews, I was provided a significant discount in exchange for testing and providing my honest review. Thoughts contained in this review are based on my experience and personal opinion. I hope this helps guide you in your search for kitchen scale - Dan","Product: Soap dispenser, automatic soap dispenser touchless hands free fingerprint and free from infrared interference stainless steel dish soap dispenser with waterproof design for kitchen and bathroomautomatic soap dispensertouch free Automatic no drip valueeasy to refill - no custom soap required! packaging dimensions: 5.70*2.95*8.78 inchesweight: 0.56 lbpackage include: 1Xsoap dispenser1x user manualuse your preferred brand of liquid soap refill - no expensive custom soap required! Just unscrew then to pour in any soap you like. It is easy and mess-free\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Looks great, works great.\n\nReview: <div id=\"video-block-RNI1QHJU5WHX3\" class=\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\"></div><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/B12MyZWUCLS.mp4\" class=\"video-url\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/A1cQxoDrbFS.png\" class=\"video-slate-img-url\"> Looks great, works great. This matches our brushed stainless faucet, and looks great in our kitchen. The dispenser is sensitive enough to recognize my hand when I need soap. It's not so sensetive that it triggers when I'm near it but not under the nozzle. I was provided a product sample for testing and review purposes and I would purchase it again. I appreciate this the most when I have raw chicken, ground beef or pork on my hands. Very convenient and sanitary. I also appreciate the stand that arches to the base. It keeps it from sitting in standing water or collecting water under it. Again, thoughtful design making it a very nice product.","Product: To-links Archer C7 comes with the next generation Wi-Fi standard - 802.11AC, 3 times faster than wireless N speeds and delivering a combined wireless data transfer rate of up to 1.75Gbps, with 1.3Gbps over 5GHz band and 450Mbps over the 2.4GHz band.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Great, right out the box!\n\nReview: I had a Cisco EA4500 but it started sucking at life about 2 weeks ago. Basically, we could only see 20MB max on a good day and we have a 100MB feed from Cox. Resistant as I was, I decided to find a new router. This was posted on SlickDeals.net and everyone raved about how good it was, plus it was at a low price of $82. I checked the reviews here on Amazon and they were very positive, so I took a chance on it. I just installed and named my SSID and pass phrase the same as the old router, and was off and running. All of our devices were able to reconnect simply by clicking the SSID. No need to re-enter the pass phrase. I am consistently seeing 80 MB now, through WiFi. Very happy with these results.","Product: Make your tablet a fixture of your modern kitchen space with CTA Digital 2-in-1 kitchen mount stand. Bundled with 2 convenient mount-anywhere bases, this tablet stand easily installs on a wall or under a cabinet, or even tucked into the seatback pocket of an airplane seat! The stand can also be displayed upright with its expanding legs on any tabletop or counter surface. It features a 360-degree rotating holder, plus multiple pivoting and rotating joints. Quick release buttons allow for easy tablet insertion and removal in the adjustable holder, and the stand folds compact for easy storage when not in use. Features: • Includes 2 mounting bases for easy install on walls or under cabinet • Remove from mount base and unfold legs for quick tabletop setup • Quick release buttons for fast tablet insertion and removal • Multiple flexible joints and 360 degree rotating holder • folds compact for easy storage and portability • stylish, lightweight aluminum design specifications: • holder adjusts 6 8.75 inches from top to bottom • Mounting base Dimensions: 5 L x 3.125 w x 0.75 D • Compatible with 12.9-Inch iPad Pro (2018), 11-inch iPad Pro (2018), iPad (2017), iPad Pro (9.7/ 10.5/ 12.9), iPad Air, iPad mini, surface Pro 4, and other 7-13 inch tablets package includes: (1) aluminum stand (1) adjustable tablet holder (2) mounting bases (2) sets of mounting hardware\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Easy to use, can hold any position\n\nReview: I use this stand to prop up my Samsung Galaxy Tab A in the kitchen while I'm looking up recipes or watching Netfix while preparing dinner. The design allows for easy positioning around the kitchen, however after a few months' use the screws have started to loosen up and you have to balance it carefully to keep the screen vertical. It does come with a wrench to tighten the resistance on the arms, however it's a little bit awkward to access. And we didn't have enough room to mount the casing under our cabinet (they have a lip that hangs down) or on the walls underneath our cabinet since there wasn't sufficient space between the counter and the cabinet. Still, I like how easily pose-able this is, and it keeps a tight, secure grip on my tablet.","Product: The Pyle PTT30 Bluetooth Turntable combines classic turntable style with modern technology. Wirelessly stream music from your device via Bluetooth or use the included connection cable to stream music from your device thanks to the AUX (3.5mm) input. The system also features USB port so you can connect to your computer for saving and editing music. The built-in speakers will fill your home with crisp stereo sounds while the vintage design will make this turntable the centerpiece to any room. Add an elegant look and feel with the PTT30 Bluetooth Classic Style Turntable.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Love it - not just a USB turntable\n\nReview: <div id=\"video-block-R2XVD4DRJUWQ8\" class=\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\"></div><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/C1IKqfgNslS.mp4\" class=\"video-url\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61aU6d-YdvS.png\" class=\"video-slate-img-url\"> Love it - not just a USB turntable, but much more functional. One of my lent me me a USB turntable. I enjoyed it for two days while I recorded my vinyl to MP3s. Then it was done, and I had no need for it. However, there is something about listening to vinyl, on a turntable, that can't be captured in an MP3 recording. I was glad that this opportunity presented itself, because I missed having a turntable. Especially when there is new music being released in 12\" format, like my Foo Fighters album. The Pyle PTT30WD turntable is a multi-function audio solution that makes itself much more useful than the old USB turntable my buddy once lent me. As you can see in my video, it has Bluetooth connectivity that is easy to pair and use to stream music from your wireless device. In my video I am using a 5 year old HTC Once phone, that I only use for Pandora. It also has a 3.5mm to RCA (composite) connections so you can plug in non-bluetooth devices into the AUX inputs on the rear of this system. It has built in speakers, and AM/FM radio tuner as well. I have to locate my records in my storage closet so I can test out the turntable feature. I will update my review at that time, but based on the other functions, this audio solution works great.\n\nLike many of my reviews, I was provided a discount in exchange for testing and providing my honest review. Thoughts contained in this review are based on my experience and personal opinion. I hope this helps guide you in your search for vintage turntable and bluetooth audio player - Dan","Product: Listen to your favorite music anywhere with the Jam Tunes Box. The durable and splash proof construction provides full range stereo sound quality built into a rubberized shock proof casing. This speaker comes equipped with Bluetooth wireless technology that allows you to easily stream and play music from virtually any Bluetooth enabled device. Compatible with all of your favorite Bluetooth devices (iPhone, Android, Smartphone, iPad, Tablet, PC, etc.) This speaker box also plugs into any 3.55 mm headphone jack or AUX-output to work as an external speaker for your audio device. Features include built-in rechargeable battery, easy-push button controls and impressive sound quality to add music anywhere, anytime.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Very solid, rugged bluetooth speaker. I like the retro volume knob.\n\nReview: Very solid, rugged bluetooth speaker. This was larger than I anticipated, but that's a good thing. I like the retro volume knob. Seriously, where did knobs go? So much easier to quickly adjust the volume. It also has regular volume buttons on the control panel if you must push a button. The instructions were very clear and made it simple to pair this up with my iPhone5+. Volume is decent for a speaker this size. Bass wasn't very deep, but it was present, and there was more of it than cheap plastic speakers. This has a solid weight and seems like it will endure many camping trips.\n\nLike many of my reviews, I was provided a discount in exchange for testing and providing my honest review. Thoughts contained in this review are based on my experience and personal opinion. I hope this helps guide you in your search for rugged bluetooth speaker - Dan","Product: We adopt the latest technology of sensor and driver. It owns the characters of high definition and stability, strong anti- jamming, rich and real color. Designed for outdoor and indoor use. Our hybrid cameras with 720p resolution are the perfect solution to keep your home, office safe.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Image quality is very nice, especially considering the value pricing\n\nReview: Original Review date: 2/7/15\nThis is a nice wide angle camera, that works great with my Zmodo DVR. Installation was simple, and plugged into my existing cabling. I had a 4.6mm lens over my front porch and it was only capturing the door and the ground beneath it. With this 3.6mm camera, it captures the entire front porch area. Image quality is very nice, especially considering the value pricing.\n\nReview Update 6/13/2015\nI still love this camera, day or night. I purchased a 2nd camera because I really like the Xsecu 3.6mm wide angle lens. I realized that I didn't post a photo of the my front door coverage that I got with this camera so I'm posting that. I'm also posting a picture of a 4.6 mm lens pointed at my truck and the new Xsecu 3.6mm lens mounted in the same location. You can see both vehicles with the 3.6mm lens. These are screen captures from my iPhone using the Zmodo mobile app.","Product: The Pyle PLDN74BT Bluetooth 6.5\" Receiver Head unit combines Bluetooth wireless music streaming and call-answering capability -- all into one convenient unit! Built-in Bluetooth and microphone allow you to enjoy hands-free calling and add another level of safety while on the road. It easily pairs to your Smart Phone and works with all your favorite Bluetooth-enabled devices (iPhone, Android, Blackberry, HTC, Samsung, Sony, etc.). This in-dash multimedia video receiver is a versatile dashboard entertainment system that adds crisp widescreen video quality at a modest size. Built-in CD/DVD player and touch screen display allows you to navigate through all your media quickly and easily. Upgrade your automobile entertainment and enjoy plenty more in-vehicle multimedia features with the Pyle PLDN74BT Bluetooth 6.5\" Receiver Head unit.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Very nice head unit - great value for everything it does.\n\nReview: <div id=\"video-block-RLKC22388NLJ5\" class=\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\"></div><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/C1MKwU4nPqS.mp4\" class=\"video-url\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/11zL7xqwCaS.png\" class=\"video-slate-img-url\"> Here's a quick video showing the Pyle PLDN74BT touch screen head unit in action. This is installed in a 1988 Toyota Land Cruiser. You can see that a reverse camera was added to the system to provide extra visibility. This is a very clean install, and the system works great, although it's time to upgrade the factory speakers. You can view my video of it in action on my YouTube page, if you have any trouble viewing the video here on the Amazon page. https://youtu.be/AZgwKedvlTM\n\nLike many of my reviews, I was provided a significant discount in exchange for testing and providing my honest review. Thoughts contained in this review are based on my experience and personal opinion. I hope this helps guide you in your search for car stereo head unit DVD player - Dan","Product: Get a handle on exposed electronics cables with a JOTO Neoprene Cable Management Sleeves. Not only do tangled cords look messy, but they can also cause accidents and make it difficult to determine which cable belongs to which device. These simple management. Organize your set-up with JOTO Cable Management Sleeves, they adhere your wires into a neat tube while still providing easy access when necessary. Cutouts every 2\" provide multiple entry/exit points for cables.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Great solution for cleaning the nest of cables on your desk.\n\nReview: I never used one of these cable sleeves before but I quickly became a fan. I used this in my office at our reception desk. There is a ton of equipment, and of course all the cables that go with it. This fabric organizer does a great job of hiding the nest of cables and keeps the desk presentable. It was longer than I needed, so I trimmed it down to fit our need I'll use the remaining 6\" to neaten up the ables behind my A/V receiver at home.\n\nLike many of my reviews, I was provided a significant discount in exchange for testing and providing my honest review. Thoughts contained in this review are based on my experience and personal opinion. I hope this helps guide you in your search for a cable sleeve - Dan","Product: The Pyle Dash Cam is a versatile HD dashboard driving camera. It mounts to your windshield and the adjustable camera lens records your driving. The compact & convenient system is easy-to-use, mounts quickly and records hi-res video in full color -- even when you're not in the vehicle. The unique 'Impact Parking Monitor Mode' will automatically power on and record, if the system senses an impact while you're out grocery shopping. Keep yourself protected and provide the proof when necessary whether on the road or parked in the lot. System features include 2.0\" Digital LCD Display, Micro SD Memory Card Slot, Built-in Rechargeable Battery, Microphone for Audio Recording, Night Vision, and much more! It's all powered by the included cigarette lighter power outlet cable, or can be charged via USB port. Connect it to computer for easy file saving & sharing. Snap crisp hi-res images, record full color HD 1080p video to drive safer and smarter with the Pyle Dash Cam HD Driving Camera System.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Upgraded from 4 to 5 stars. Great quality video, small compact footprint, 3 video links included\n\nReview: Great quality, small footprint, and once setup, is easy to use. The camera was set to record in HD, 1080p. It was a little challenging to setup the first time, but once that was done, it was plug and play in the vehicle. With the power adapter plugged in, it will turn on when the vehicle is started. It will also start recording, so it is hands-free, and I don't have to remember to hit the record button. I did notice that a 2GB memory card only records about 20 minutes, so you want to make sure you have a large card for longer record times in HD. Speaking of memory cards, I have a 64GB Sandisk MicroSD card that I use in my GoPro , but this dash cam wouldn't recognize it. Even after formatting it with the camera. The only things that I had trouble with was the setup, and the memory card, so it's getting a 4.5 rating.\n\n10/1/15 Update - Bumping this up to 5 stars. Yes, it was challenging for me to setup, but since working that out, it has been very easy to use, and to grab the card to upload the recordings. I love that I don't have to think about this, or remember to turn it on, or to set it to record. It is always recording when the vehicle is running, so should anything happen, I will have footage of it. The other thing I didn't realize is that the camera can be tilted up or down. When I first installed it, it was pointing a bit high, because of the angle of the windshield. When I realized you could tilt the camera lens, I pointed it down, and now it's perfect. Here are several videos showing the day and night recording quality, and another showing the ease of use.\n\nhttps://youtu.be/SMqi30gyP88 - This video was recorded at night\nhttps://youtu.be/42CnHq9wesQ - This video was recorded during the day\nhttps://youtu.be/9L9Xqx8HJR8 - This video was recorded a week after installation. You'll see the dash cam mounted in the vehicle, and just how easy it is to use with auto start with the vehicle start up.\n\nLike many of my reviews, I was provided a discount in exchange for testing and providing my honest review. Thoughts contained in this review are based on my experience and personal opinion. I hope this helps guide you in your search for a dash cam - Dan","Product: The Pyle PDA35BT Compact & Portable Amplifier features built-in Bluetooth for wireless audio streaming ability. Connect & stream audio from all of your favorite devices like Smartphones, Tablets, Laptops and computers. This high-efficiency and high-powered mini system produces an impressive 100 Watt MAX power into 8 Ohms, or 50 Watt per channel. You will enjoy versatile sound processing with crisp sound reproduction at a fraction of the size. Additional features include rear panel RCA (L/R) outputs, Banana Plug speaker inputs, 3.5mm (AUX) input, along with a 1/4'' headphone jack -- which makes this system double as a Headphone Amplifier. Enjoy compact, versatile and wireless sound amplifying ability with the Pyle PDA35BT Bluetooth Mini Amp.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Excellent solution that I didn't know I needed! Video included.\n\nReview: <div id=\"video-block-R2JRG5U61O012O\" class=\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\"></div><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/D160N3cUDlS.mp4\" class=\"video-url\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61Sn-tRjPjS.png\" class=\"video-slate-img-url\"> Great solution that I didn't know existed. I have a set of outdoor speakers around the pool that have connections in the house. The problem I have is the wall plate is on the opposite side of the house from where my entertainment center is. I bought a receiver to power the speakers, and I have an auxiliary input that I connect to a mobile device to run Pandora, etc. If you think about it, that works, but boy is it a lot of extra equipment and space taken up.\nI was provided the Pyle PDA35BT amplifier for review and testing purposes and I'm glad I got this. This compact device is powerful, easy to use, and not complicated at all. Check out he video I uploaded, it's 3 minutes, but it shows the ease of setup and use. I'm really impressed with the build quality, ease of use, and sound quality. And it replaces the big bulky amplifier/receiver that I had before.\n\nLike many of my reviews, I was provided a discount in exchange for testing and providing my honest review. Thoughts contained in this review are based on my experience and personal opinion. I hope this helps guide you in your search for a bluetooth amplifier - Dan","Product: The Pyle Vintage turntable system combines yesterday's classic record playing style with today's latest technology. Built-in Bluetooth and external full range stereo speakers allow you to wirelessly stream music from devices like iPhones, Androids, Smartphones, iPads, Tablets, etc. The vinyl record system is all housed in an elegantly styled cabinet that can easily become the center-piece and add flare to any room in the house. The unique Vinyl-to-MP3 recording function gives you the ability to save all of your old records into digital MP3 files -- so you can share your music with family and friends! Turn that stack of old records into a space-saving compact digital music library. Listen to all of your records thanks to the (3) speed selectable vinyl playback ability (33, 45 or 75 RPMs). Additional features include the option to connect external devices with the Aux (3.5mm) input jack, single front-loading CD player, AM/FM radio, USB flash drive and SD memory card readers; all designed to fill your room with rich stereo sounds! Enjoy the classic and iconic style along with today's latest hi-tech features with the Pyle Vintage Bluetooth Turntable Speaker System.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Very cool music player - with a little modification needed.\n\nReview: This music player is very cool. It plays everything vintage except 8 tracks! You can play vinyl, CD's and cassette tapes, and even go modern and play music from a USB drive, SD card, or bluetooth. If you want to go really old school, you can listen to am/fm radio stations. I haven't done that in years because programming is horrible and all the stations are owned by a couple companies, thus littering us with garbage. But I digress... Everything on this music player worked well, except for the turntable. Pretty frustrating when that's the real reason for purchasing it. The problem with the record player is the needle skipped on the record. I remember when I was a kid in the 70's, I had a cheap turntable that did that as well. The cure was to tape a penny to the needle head. Sure enough, once I did that, it played perfectly. I marked this as three stars as this should be dialed in at the factory and I should not need to modify it to work. Like I said, everything else worked great and it is convenient to have everything in one small bookshelf system. It's being used in my home office and is perfect for that use case. Hopefully my experience is rare, and your needle arm is balanced from the factory. I was provided a discount in exchange for testing and providing my honest review. Thoughts contained in this review are based on my experience and personal opinion.","Product: The Pyle Industrial BoomBoX adds portable, rugged & heavy-duty sound for any occasion! This high-powered Bluetooth Speaker System features wireless music streaming and built-in rechargeable battery -- fit for convenience and portability in any demanding environment. The marine grade splash proof design is reinforced with a fortified frame housing to provide protection for your sound thats perfect for anywhere from the work site to the playground. In addition to wireless streaming, this boom box stereo system also provides you with more music playback options like FM Radio, MP3 digital audio file playback via USB Flash Drive & SD Memory Card Readers, along with an Aux (3.5mm) input for connecting external devices (like Smartphones, Tablets, Laptops, etc.). Youll be able to enjoy full-range stereo sound with impressive bass response, packing power and portability with this carry-able compact system. Add some tough & towering sound with the Pyle Industrial BoomBoX!\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: I've set this up in my garage and it works great for this purpose.\n\nReview: <div id=\"video-block-R1OIRPXRTBG67U\" class=\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\"></div><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/D12aqpr5QNS.mp4\" class=\"video-url\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/919XhPJO0GS.png\" class=\"video-slate-img-url\"> I did a quick video showing some of the functionality provided by this job site boombox. It has an exoskeleton, like a roll cage, with rubber isolators which should provide the stereo with protection in the case of a small drop. I've set this up in my garage and it works great for this purpose. The speakers are decent, and the EQ allows me to change the tone for the music I'm listening to. I have connected my iPhone 6 Plus to it with no problems. The nice thing is the controls on the stereo control the phone, so I don't have to handle my phone with dirty shop hands. I was provided a discount in exchange for testing and providing my honest review. Thoughts contained in this review are based on my experience and personal opinion. I hope this helps guide you in your search for a construction site bluetooth stereo.","Product: USB 2.0 webcam with real optical zoom is the way to go for high quality USB video conferencing in the conference room or larger space. The model 3x is the ideal entry-level conferencing camera for small to medium sized rooms. The HuddleCamHD line of cameras are the perfect cameras for professional video conferencing. Designed with a wide variety of conferencing setups in mind, there is a HuddleCamHD solution that will work for any situation (see all models). Offering superior quality at an affordable price, the entire HuddleCamHD line of cameras is easy to setup and ready to use in a matter of minutes. Model 3x features - Zoom: 3X Optical; Resolution: 1920x1080p; Field of View: 81 Degree; Frames Per Second: Up to 30 fps; Connection Cable: USB 2.0; RS-232: Yes, In and Out Presets: 64 Mounts\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Great solution for the money!\n\nReview: I bought this for my office with my business account, so this may not show up as a verified purchase. We bought three of these for my office, because there is a need to have more online meetings. We use Zoom Web Conferencing primarily, with some Skype, and GoToMeeting conferencing as well.\nOur teams will have meetings in conference rooms, and they wanted to have a camera that was aimed at the attendees in the conference room. We have been using a Lifesize HD IP based system that cost $15,000. It works great and is easy to use, but we only have one on a mobile cart. So it is always in demand. We wanted to add the same funtionality to three of our conference rooms without spending that much money per room. I tested several systems and cameras, and finally settles on the HuddleCam.\nIt has a great image quality as long as you use a decent PC. We tested it with several laptops and tablets with varying image quality. We finally settled on using a MS Surface Pro 3 with 4GB RAM. We have that wall mounted with a camera mounted above it on the same wall and connected to it via USB.\nWe can now connect into the meeting with this setup, and have great HD quality imaging. It's been a huge success and our total investment per system is only $1600 per room, and there was no complicated setup, no complicated software, no subscriptions to add.\nI don't know why they have the wrong photo on the product page, but here is a photo of the connection panel showing the correct connections on our HuddleCam.\nPlease note that this isn't a very wide angle lens, and is best used in a larger conference room. The zoom is outstanding.\nHope this helps you when looking for a solution like this.","Product: Ready, set, go with the Pyle eXpo! Record full HD video and capture extra hi-res images with this versatile Mini-Cam. Download the free Pyle eXpo App to record the action with your smartphone or use the included Wi-Fi remote and capture it all. Lightweight, portable and powerful the eXpo is ready to go! Tons of recording features, image configurations and plenty of mounting options will help you capture those breath-taking experiences to share with the world! Record in the air, on land, at sea, or even underwater and give them a show with the Pyle eXpo!\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Not perfect, but the videos and pictures are excellent!\n\nReview: <div id=\"video-block-R1W0PGQ5VMOWGK\" class=\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\"></div><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/91pWwdjglkS.mp4\" class=\"video-url\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/91-Hq5wuZgS.png\" class=\"video-slate-img-url\"> Takes great pictures and videos. But don't take my word for it, check them out for yourself.\n\nMy thoughts on this action camera: I would have given this a 5-star review but there is a halo around the built-in LCD screen. It makes it hard to see the whole picture, but it's not a show stopper. I can see enough to know that I have it pointed in the right direction. I am worried about the quality of the videos and photos, and this doesn't disappoint in that capacity. There are many accessories included, that allows you to use it just about anywhere, right out of the box. That really makes this a great deal at $100 or so at the time of this review. I'm not comparing this to that super popular G*Pro brand, but I tell you what, I'm not going to cry if I bust this up, or lose it on one of my adventures. Please note, that I received a discount in exchange for my unbiased review.","Product: Two-piece hardside set from Samsonite. Contains a 20\" Spinner and a 24\" Spinner. It is extremely lighweight, maneuverable, durable and a great value. Complete with 10 year warranty.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: All around great suitcases.\n\nReview: Surprisingly roomy for such a compact product. Wasn't in the market for new suitcases, however these were on sale so we decided to try them out. The small one fits perfectly in an overhead bin. The interior pockets and zippers made it easy to organize and I felt confident that my stuff wasn't getting damaged in transit. We brought back three bottles of wine from California in the large one as a checked bag, and they transported perfectly. If that's not the test of a good suitcase, I don't know what is. Plus the four wheels are extremely convenient, and the hard top provides space to balance a purse or other bag while in transit. And they look good while doing it. Great purchase, I'm extremely satisfied with these suitcases.","Product: UTG New Gen 4 Tactical Red/Green Dot Sight, 38mm Tube, 4MOA Target Dot, Complete with Integral Picatinny Mounting Deck with Double Locking Nuts and Flip-open Lens Caps. Leapers/UTGs dot sight is designed to offer a crisp dot for professional precision shooting. By design, a reflex sight will more or less have coma effect due to the spray rays and minor ghost image caused by reflection. In general, due to the contrast, the brighter the target background, the crisper the dot appears and the least amount of ghost image will show. In addition, lowering the illuminiation intensity setting will lessen any ghost or spray imaging.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: I adjusted elevation first and then windage and was getting the 10 ring consistently\n\nReview: I purchased this back in September of 2014, and just got around to installing it. I was a bit leery about the quality of this scope because of the price and comments from gun snobs that say UTG is Airsoft toys. I ignored those comments and bought it anyway. I just finished building my 10.5\" AR pistol and installed the sight to use on its maiden voyage. In the photo I added, you can see I started in the 7 ring at 5 o'clock. I adjusted elevation first and then windage and was getting the 10 ring consistently. I was still a little left, but I decided it was good enough to finish breaking in the new rig. The dot (red) was bright and easy to acquire and I'm happy with my purchase. Will it replace the Eotech on my defensive AR? No, but this is a great option for a day at the range.","Product: Premium ventilated workout gloves with integrated wrist straps and reinforced stitching provide the power needed for a lifetime of safety and support for fingers, palms and wrists when your hands are prone to getting blisters or getting sweaty! Great for weight lifters whether you use machines or free weights. If you need any assistance doing dumbbell movements you can use our gloves to give you the best grip and extra hold on a variety of exercises including all lifts, pull-ups, pushups & shrugs. These all-purpose athlete gloves are unisex design for a man, woman or a teen. Used for many different activities including dumbbells, rowing, cycling, kayaking, canoeing, zumba, spin classes, general exercising, paintball, or working in a warehouse. The protective pads and 18 wrist straps are of ergonomic design for comfort. The best lightweight yet tough and long-lasting fabric to keep your hands dry, prevent friction and excess rubbing while helping to improve your strength and endurance. Whether youre a personal trainer, pro athletes, or a beginners level, our gloves are known to minimize the risk of getting accidental injuries. We have customers who might have torn a bicep in the past, easily get a sore forearm, or who normally have shooting pain from arthritis in their hands, joints and wrists. It doesnt matter what the sport is or what youre trying to lift! When you reduce the risk of injury youll have the confidence to push for the last few reps that make all of the difference in your growth. Supports safety above everything else. Sold as one pair of gloves in a package. No bleach needed to get your gloves clean and smelling great. Throw the gloves in with your laundry, let them wash through and then air dry. These athletic gloves make a great gift for friends and family. Also a great set of gifts for employees or co-workers in your business or organization. When using our size chart be sure to measure the circumference of your hand just below the knuckles.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Solid gloves that work great for kettle bell workouts.\n\nReview: Solid gloves that work great for kettle bell workouts. I use kettle bells to workout and if you use them, you know two things come with them; callouses, and a bruised wrist. That's why when the seller offered my a discount to try these out and give an honest review, I didn't hesitate. I used the size recommendation in the listing and the gloves fit perfectly. They have nice padding, yet maintain dexterity. The wrist wrap is a nice touch. It keeps them secure, and also provides a little padding to the back of my wrists for those high pulls. I'll update this review if there are any quality issues over the next 30 days, but barring that, they get my approval.","Product: The Judge Jerky Gun - The Final Verdict In Jerky Making Do you love eating jerky but it's just too dang expensive to buy the stuff from the store? Wouldn't it be great if you could make your own homemade jerky with healthier ingredients? And what if it were now so simple, that you were able to create your own brave new jerky flavors for friends and family to snack on. Jerky making hasn't always been easy. It used to be if you picked up a jerky gun, it would be made of all plastic. This led to all sorts of problems. Not only with the moving parts, but with pressure inside the device. As you might imagine, pressure and plastic barrel guns don't mix. Plastic barrels can't handle much pressure and will break down after one or a few uses. Which might leave you wondering if making jerky is even worth the equipment and effort. That is until JerkySpot, the world's best jerky store created The Judge. Named for its heavy duty construction and unrelenting function, The Judge Jerky Gun by JerkySpot is a jerky makers dream. Simply start by mixing your favorite ground meat and spices. Load up The Judge and twist on a flat or round attachment. Then squeeze the trigger to release perfectly shaped jerky into your dehydrator trays. That's it! The Judge makes it simple to create your own homemade snacks. And when you're done, we include an extra-long cleaning brush to make cleanup a breeze. THE JERKYSPOT GUARANTEE: Brought to you by the name you can trust, JerkySpot - the world's best beef jerky store. Our guarantee is simple: If you're not completely satisfied with the quality and function of our gun, or if you have any issues at all, send it back for a full refund.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: She admitted it was really easy and comfortable to use, and actually thought it was fun.\n\nReview: Outstanding! I am seriously impressed with this jerky gun. Last weekend I made 3 pounds of ground beef jerky strips, and this gun made it so darn easy to fill up 8 racks on my Nesco dehydrator. The results were excellent, very consistent size and portions. The next day, I was feeling inspired by this awesome Judge jerky gun and decided to get funky. This time, I made jerky sticks using the round tip that is included with the gun. This was a mix of ground pork, jalapenos, sun dried tomato, roasted peppers, and seasonings. This ended up being closer to 5 pounds and I had my wife help me with using the gun. Even though she thought the gun was too big, and would be too hard to use, she gave it a shot. She admitted it was really easy and comfortable to use, and actually thought it was fun. She even refilled the gun herself and kept going.\nThe aluminum gun held up like a champ! It was super easy to clean using the included brush.\nThankfully, the JerkySpot company provided important instructions about the proper way to pull the plunger back. Make sure you pay attention to this so you don't break your gun like the guy who left the 1 star review.\nIn summary - if you make jerky, don't use those crappy plastic cookie guns that fall apart and have to be refilled often. Get yourself or your loved one the Judge. You won't regret it!","Product: Kyasi Gladiator glass Ballistic tempered screen Protector for Apple iPhone 5, iPhone 5C or iPhone 5S, clear with Gold frame\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: I was relieved to find not a scratch, not a crack, and no damage at all\n\nReview: This is an excellent screen protector. I noticed many reviews complaining that it doesn't cover the entire screen. I was looking at other protectors and they state that it is not possible to cover the entire screen because something about the edges. I'm ok with the slight gap around the edge. It is still protecting my screen, and I actually tested it yesterday - by accident. I dropped my phone in the kitchen, on tile floor, and it hit face first. I knew it was toast and slowly picked it up expecting the worst. However, I was relieved to find not a scratch, not a crack, and no damage at all to my screen. Wow - That right there was all I needed to know that I need to use these on my phones, and the Kyasi screen looks great, and protects very well.","Product: We are proud to offer cruelty-free vegan leather which is a type of alternative, breathable, non toxic material, animal friendly with the appearance and flexibility of genuine leather, but using only man-made materials, without hurting nature or animals in its manufacturing.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: This wallet has a very nice in fit and finish.\n\nReview: This wallet has a very nice in fit and finish. It uses clear plastic to secure the phone, which is nice, because it shows off the phone. My current wallet has black plastic frame and blocks the looks of my solver iPhone 6+. I mention this in case it is important to you. The car slots are well designed and the bottom 3/4 pocket is great for holding folded cash. The monogram makes this a little more elegant than comparable cases that don't have that. In summary, solid wallet phone case that was well thought out.\n\nLike many of my reviews, I was provided a significant discount in exchange for testing and providing my honest review. Thoughts contained in this review are based on my experience and personal opinion. I hope this helps guide you in your search for an iPhone 6+ case. - Dan","Product: Rop it into water and you're ready to clean! the Pyle Pure Clean pressure Washer system provides you with quick Cleaning 'on-the-go'! the Built-in water pump can be placed into a bucket, and it sprays water through the hose just like a shower head. Charge the water pump via the included USB cable and the seal is water tight for 100% waterproof safety. Just add water and you're ready to clean. The energy and water efficient system comes with a shower head Sprayer, hose, suction cup, Holder and hook attachment -- so you can post up and clean anywhere you can find some water! clean your car, your PET or yourself!\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Great tool for washing the dogs!\n\nReview: <div id=\"video-block-R1JZFD3RDEG5UP\" class=\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\"></div><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/B1uRO1dnaqS.mp4\" class=\"video-url\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/718ahLwH2gS.png\" class=\"video-slate-img-url\"> What a great idea for a product - I love that this is rechargeable and portable. I don't have a handheld shower in our bathroom, so it's kind of a pain to wash the dogs. This is a great solution for washing them. I can fill up a gallon bucket, drop this in, and wash our little dogs easily. Plus it's pretty quiet, and gentle, so it doesn't freak them out. I added a video that I took after opening and testing it out. I'm looking forward to taking this camping and using it in a bucket of WARM water! Enjoy!\n\nLike many of my reviews, I was provided a discount in exchange for testing and providing my honest review. Thoughts contained in this review are based on my experience and personal opinion. I hope this helps guide you in your search for a portable shower - Dan","Product: This grill cover is made by high quality materials, and has innovative features that protect your grill over many seasons. The grill cover is breathable and flexible to accommodate extremely cold weather while maintaining the same strength and durability as vinyl. Equipped with Velcro straps for a perfect fit, this durable cover is built to protect your grill from the elements all year long. Water-resistant and appropriate for all weather conditions. Storage bag is provided for easy storage of the cover. Only fits Weber Spirit 210 gas grills with tables folded down.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Fits the Weber Spirt E250 like a glove.\n\nReview: I recently purchased the Weber Spirit E210 grill and needed a cover. The \"Grill Valueparts REV105GC Grill Cover with Storage Bag For Weber Spirit 210 Gas Grills With Tables Folded Down\" cover fits my Weber perfectly. It follows the contours and and shape of the Weber spirit perfectly as you can see in my photos. I like that the storage bag is seen/connected to the cover so it won't be lost. It does hang off the bottom of the cover so you have to tuck it underneath so it doesn't hang on the ground. The fabric feels a little thin and I wonder how long it will last in the Arixona sun. That's the reason for a 4 star instead of 5, but keep in mind, it's a $20 cover. I've had it for a couple weeks and we've had high winds and the cover held strong. I'm glad to have a good looking cover protecting my investment.\nI was provided a discount in order to test and provide an unbiased review. Hope you find this information helpful.\n\nDan","Product: The Pyle PHMD2 Treasure Hunter Metal Detectors will help you uncover lost valuables. Find precious metals, artifacts and more with these fully featured metal detectors. Features include Waterproof and Submergible Search Coils, Headphone Jack, High-Sensitivity Operation, Mounted View Meter Control Box, Adjustable Volume, Sensitivity and Discrimination Control and more. Compact, light-weight and easy-to-use, the Pyle PHMD2 Metal Detector will help you unearth things you have and things you may not have been looking for.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Works well but don't expect a Garrett\n\nReview: <div id=\"video-block-R1KF37KJ2QF9FR\" class=\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\"></div><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/C1FNFm4v91S.mp4\" class=\"video-url\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/81N6BZJwodS.png\" class=\"video-slate-img-url\"> This review is for the PHMD2 Treasure Hunter 2000. I say that because I noticed reviews mentioning headphones and cables, etc. But this unit does not include headphones, or any assembly like others mention. This came in two parts. I had to turn one thumb screw to attach the arm rest handle to the rest of the detector. I added 6 AA batteries and powered it up. I messed with the settings a little and then gave it a test run. I set a couple coins in my artificial grass and it found them, as you'll see in the video. Hardly a true test of the capabilities, but important to see that it does what it claims. It detects metals. In my test I noticed that it did not give any false positives, which is important in a detector. I don't want to be digging for nothing. In summary, this is a good value for the money. It works and finds metal. It is very lightweight and comfortable to operate. It was easy to assemble, and stores in a compact fashion that is nice. If you are curious about metal detecting, this might be an effective to start out.\n\nLike many of my reviews, I was provided a discount in exchange for testing and providing my honest review. Thoughts contained in this review are based on my experience and personal opinion. I hope this helps guide you in your search for a metal detector - Dan","Product: Meat shredding: pulled pork, chicken, beef - Putting meat on and off the grill - Sharp and high plastic quality material - Flip your pork, turkey, beef in the oven - Holding a large piece of meat while shredding or cutting - Shred and pull pork butt with ease to have premium cut pulled pork sandwiches! - Scoop charcoal out of or into the grill - Keep your hands protected and from getting burned - Good for holding down a whole chicken, deep fried turkey, or just about an hot piece of meat\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: For one, they have 6 claws per handle,\n\nReview: I own a set of Charcoal Companion meat claws (CC1130 5-Inch by 4-Inch Stainless Steel Meat Claws Lifter with Soft Grip Handle\nby Charcoal Companion Link: http://amzn.com/B0067YBFQQ) that I liked using for tearing up pork roasts and chicken after smokin' them. They are metal and have a rubberish grip. The think I don't like is each claw has only 4 tines, that poke holes and slice the meat, as opposed to shred the meat. When the seller offered these claws in exchange for a honest and unbiased review, I was eager to participate. I like the design of the Shayan Meat Claws much better than the stainless steel claws I own. For one, they have 6 claws per handle, and the claws are a little more triangulated, which actually tear the meat up. I like the grip better too as it makes it easier to hold even when they get greasy from all that delicious pork. The other bonus to claw devices is your hands don't get hot, like they do with some of the gloves out there. These get my seal of approval.","Product: The \"all inclusive\" iCrate, folding metal dog crate by MidWest Homes for Pets includes all of the features you will need to provide a convenient, safe & secure pet home for your best friend. This metal dog crate includes a free divider panel allowing you to adjust the size of the dog crate while your dog is still growing, a plastic leak-proof pan for easy clean-up in the event of an accident, a strong plastic carrying handle for easy portability & rubber \"roller\" feet on the bottom of the crate to protect your floors inside the home. MidWest iCrates also feature our patented side clips which reinforce the dog crate & reduce possible sharp points ensuring a safe experience for you and your pet. Every iCrate metal dog crate folds down flat for convenient storage. The 48\" iCrate (model 1548) measures 48L x 30W x 33H inches & is suitable for \"extra-large\" dog breeds. **Please note the term extra-large dog is subjective. For the best fit, we advise that you check the measurements of the actual dog crate against your dogs adult weight & measurements. Your dog should be able to comfortably sit upright, lay down & easily turn-around inside the dog crate. When in doubt we suggest you purchase the larger crate option. We at MidWest Homes for Pets understand that your dog is a part of your family & that's why we ensure our dog crates are manufactured with the highest quality control standards creating a safe home for your pet that you can feel confident with. MidWest Homes for Pets stands behind the quality of our products with our MidWest Quality Guarantee 1-Year Manufacturer's Warranty. If you have any questions about our dog crates our customer service department would be glad to help you. MidWest customer service can be contacted at: 1-800-428-8560, available 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM, Monday - Friday.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Crate training is the best - dogs love it, and owners do, too!\n\nReview: Dogs love having their own den. So when we caught our dog being naughty and not going all the way outside to take care of business at night, she got her very own condo to sleep in. And she loves it. We gave her a pillow and a plush blanket and accessorized with a hanging food bowl and hamster-style water bottle. It's pretty much pimped out. And if you've never heard a small dog licking water from a giant hamster bottle, you're missing out. It's hilarious. This crate is the perfect size for our 12-lb Chiweenie, and she loves it so much sometimes she'll just chill out in it during the day with the door open. It's now officially her spot.","Product: Love your dog to snooze with TOTAL COMFORT and relaxation? Let your beloved pet snooze in comfort with this Memory Foam dog bed, the \"Fleece Memory Ultimate Pamper\" designed for ULTIMATE pampering and relaxation. If you have a dog that likes the SNUG SUPPORT which an orthopedic memory foam dog bed gives, then this bed is for you. This bed is designed for dogs who love to experience the OPTIMAL level of support as they nap or sleep. The Sherpa Fleece top on a slightly flexible base provides an increased surface area to distribute weight more evenly and over a wider area, without the pulling uncomfortable effect of inferior non flexible and non fleece fabrics. On the inside, 2 layers of foam with 2 inches of SOLID MEMORY FOAM above and 2 inches of solid support foam below, gives the mattress optimum comfort and \"total body weight\" support. The 2-inch memory foam layer which conforms to the body shape provides relief for joints, while the support layer distributes \"total body weight\" across the ENTIRE bed surface, keeping the body on the comfort of the mattress and off the level of the floor. The textured non-slip base keeps the bed securely in place on the floor. There is a zipper on the lower edge of the cover for easy removal for EASY CLEANING and washing. And it looks gorgeous too. The textured fleece in soft 8mm pile provides a pleasing texture feel and appearance which you will not find with more common, shorter and harsher fleeces. The sides are a suede fabric for a smooth feel and appearance. The size of the quality large dog bed is 41.5 inches (105cm) length, by 25.5 inches (65cm) width, by 4 inches (10cm) high. To let you beloved pooch experience the comfort of a comfy, big Memory Foam dog bed, and to give the best for your dog, then the \"Fleece Memory Ultimate Pamper\" is for you. Our product is backed with a 100% GUARANTEE, if you have any problems, contact the email that comes with the product for replacement or refund. Enjoy! ADD TO CART NOW and BUY TODAY!\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Andi the Chiweenie loves it!\n\nReview: Arrives in a roll for compact shipping, instantly flattens out and fills with air for a plush, cushy surface. Our Chiweenie instantly curled up and quickly claimed it as her own. Generous size is perfect for one large dog (a Lab or Golden Retriever would fit comfortably) or several smaller dogs (our Chihuahua and Chiweenie will easily fit with room to spare). We've had some challenges with the dogs unstuffing cheaper beds, the memory foam is an awesome alternative.\n\nLike many of my reviews, I was provided a significant discount in exchange for testing and providing my honest review. Thoughts contained in this review are based on my experience and personal opinion. I hope this helps guide you in your search for a nice, comfy dog bed. - Keri","Product: With the excellent automatic rung locking mechanism, the 12.5' Extension Ladder could extend and close easily - it stores away at just 3ft and fully extends to a remarkable 12.5ft. Telescopic ladder is ideal for accessing lofts, cleaning windows, interior and exterior painting and decorating, also for surveyors, tradesmen and DIY use. Features: * 12.5FT Fully Extendable Telescopic Ladder * Anti-Corrosion and Lightweight 6063 Aluminum Alloy Construction * Unique Extend and Locking Mechanism with Thumb Buttons Clicks Smoothly and Effortlessly * Total 11 Steps, Adjustable in 1 Foot Increments - Great for Any Size Project * Heavy Duty Strap To fasten up for Better Storage * Comfortable Hand Pad for Easy Transporting * Non-Slip Rubber Angled Feet to Protect Floor Surfaces and Give Great Grip in All Positions. * Compact Unit, Easy to Store in the Car or at Home * Highly Versatile Design to Handle All of Your Work around Your House or even Your Business Specification: - Maximum Capacity: 330 lbs - Fully Extended Length: 12.5ft - Fully folded Height 3ft - Number of Steps: 11 Steps\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: This can be raised and collapsed very easily\n\nReview: <div id=\"video-block-R1MFDUN8XPHFZR\" class=\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\"></div><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/C1kvzM7QHGS.mp4\" class=\"video-url\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/91eh4gebGJS.png\" class=\"video-slate-img-url\"> This is my first time using a telescoping ladder and I wasn't sure how much I would trust it. I was pleased to see this advertised a 330 lb weight limit because most ladders are 250, maybe 280 lbs. Being close to that limit doesn't evoke confidence. Some people said this was lightweight, but it's 28lbs. It's kind of heavy to be honest, but it comes with a carrying bag, that has a shoulder strap. That has made it easy to move around where I needed it. I just looked at the little giant 13' ladder and it's also 28 lbs, so this looks like it's right in line with that major brand ladder. However, that one has a 250lb weight limit. Moving back on to the features, I appreciate that this has the finger savers. I've seen others that will collapse to a smaller height, but when collapsing the steps, they are easy to catch your fingers. Never fun. This can be raised and collapsed very easily. Here is a quick video showing how this ladder functions. I was provided a discount in return for my ability to test and provide my opinion on this product. This review is my own.","Product: The How Can It Be Gluten Free Cookbook\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: THE BIBLE for gluten-free cooking\n\nReview: Borrowed this book from a friend, and it was so great I had to get my own copy. The \"Drunken Noodles\" recipe alone is worth the price. It's become our new family favorite; a quick, easy, flavor-packed go-to meal. We recently discovered our gluten intolerance, and learning a whole new way to eat has been overwhelming at times. The first part of the book breaks down gluten free food options in the way you know and trust from America's Test Kitchen. Side-by-side photos, cooking tips and ranked comparisons were super helpful and saved a lot of personal trial-and-error in developing my own recipes and workarounds. We have also eliminated eggs and dairy from our diets, however even with having to substitute out those ingredients this cook book is a must have for any gluten-free kitchen."],"string":"[\n \"Product: XHP's Mini Salad Spinner offers strong locking clips that secure the cover to the salad container, preventing it from falling off during rotation.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Just what I was looking for\\n\\nReview: Exactly what I was looking for! This is is the prefect size for our needs. Here is how I use this salad spinner:\\nDrying cilantro/parsley/fresh herbs - I wash these fresh herbs and I do not want to add the water to my dishes. I give them a quick spin and they are dry and ready to use.\\nShrimp - We make fried shrimp, and you know that your shrimp needs to be dry before coating it. I wash the shrimp and remove the shell and veins, then spin them. They come out dry and ready for dredging.\\nCanned artichokes and black olives - these pizza toppings work well if they are dry when adding to your pie. Wet ingredients equal soggy dough. We dump the cans into the spinner basket, rinse and spin. Toppings are dry and ready to bake.\\nThe spinner is compact, easy to clean, and easy to use.\",\n \"Product: The 5 Tier Over-The-Door Pantry Organizer is quick and easy to setup. Hangs over the door with the sturdy included hooks or easily mounts to the wall. New and improved interlocking shelves provide durability and maximum storage for many different household items. Adjustable basket shelving allows you to customize which items are stored where in any room in your home. The sturdy design and the rustproof finish make this a great multi-use storage solution.\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: This thing swings like my Nuncle Russ at Fantasy Fest\\n\\nReview: This thing swings like my Nuncle Russ at Fantasy Fest. I should have read the reviews because even the positive ones had to jerry rig it to work properly. Some have screwed it into their door, thus ruining it forever, or bought 3M command products to help it work properly. It's a shame the seller doesn't post photos of the assembly instructions. It would probably eliminate all the frustrations that people experience when they receive this.\\nMy advice is to avoid it unless you want to spend more money on hooks, or drill holes in your door.\\nI'm doing a public service by posting photos of the instructions. If you still buy it, at least you are aware of what you are getting.\\nThis review is based on the LARGE over the door organizer.\",\n \"Product: The Samsung ME18H704SFS 1.8 Cu. Ft. Over-the-Range Microwave, in stainless steel, combines 1000W of cooking power, a powerful 400 CFM ventilation system, and two-stage programmable cooking. The Sensor Cook features does the thinking for you, ensuring soup, leftover pasta, or frozen dinners end up cooked perfectly every time, while options like auto defrost and sensor reheat are great for creating meals from scratch. The filter's convenient, easy-to-access location makes it simple to eject with a single touch and helps you remember to clean the filter. Plus, this microwave is scratch-resistant and easy-to-clean; the durable ceramic interior provides a polished surface to wipe down and the exterior's coating protects against scratches from everyday use. Additional helpful features include the clock with Daylight Savings adjustment, kitchen timer, child lock, and halogen cooktop lighting.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Great OTR microwave, looks great and works very well!\\n\\nReview: Even though I did not purchase this here on Amazon, I thought I would share my experience, especially because the reviews here are so negative, and on so many random things. As I read the reviews here on Amazon, I was nervous about my purchase, but thankfully, I had a very good experience.\\n\\nI bought this Samsung ME18H704SFS over the range microwave at Lowe's. It was an open box item, that was too good a price to pass up. It did not include the template or installation manual. After searching online, I could not locate the installation manual. I contacted Samsung via email and had the install guide the next morning. Thank you for the quick response! I was replacing an old vent hood and had to replace the upper cabinet to make room for the new microwave. I found the shorter replacement cabinet at the Habitat For Humanity Restore and thankfully, it was the perfect size, and very close in the look department. Since I was missing the install templates, I had to get out my tape measure and figure out where to install the wall mount, and where to drill the holes in the upper cabinet. I checked my math twice and it was spot on. So even without the template, it was an easy install, using the install guide.\\nSo now that it is in, we are very happy with it! It is much more powerful than the 1000 watt Haier counter top microwave this replaced. There are many great features, like the light timer, the very powerful vent, the turntable on/off switch and so much more. The biggest thing is it heats up food much faster! We have a Samsung Fridge, and Dishwasher and this is a perfect match with those. It even makes the older range look a little more current. To summarize, we are very happy with this investment and recommend it to others. It's a great price point, looks fantastic, and works even better than it looks.\",\n \"Product: No-slip, no-stick, and totally burn-proof. With kitchen grips pro, the ultimate silicone oven/grilling gloves, you'll never have to worry about being scalded again - perfect for both indoor and outdoor cooking, whether you're baking, grilling, barbecuing, smoking/marinating meat, or just handling raw steak before the cookout - equally useful outside the kitchen for washing dishes, opening tight jars, or even shoveling snow, to protect you from sore palms and cold temperatures - withstand up to 445 degrees Fahrenheit, allowing you to pull BBQ meat right off the grill or reach into a pot of boiling water to scoop out hot vegetables Your hands are the only ones you've got. Protect them from burns and injury with kitchen grips pro silicone oven gloves. Bonus! With your gloves, you get a free, downloadable recipe eBook exclusively from simprium (\\\"mouthwatering recipes for the grill\\\"). You also receive a free coupon to a popular restaurant near you! Never waste money on cheap oven mitts and potholders again... - Kitchen grips pro gloves last longer, grip tighter, and take far more heat than any cloth oven mitt available - Waterproof and dishwasher safe makes for an easy clean Scroll up now and click \\\"add to cart\\\" to make kitchen grips pro a part of your kitchen.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: He liked that he could tear down the pork butt while it was hot\\n\\nReview: This is the third set of oven gloves I've purchased in the last couple months. The design is great, the size fits my big mitts and yet, I still have the dexterity to manipulate tongs and knives. After my trial of the SimPrium gloves, I passed them along to a buddy who BBQ's every weekend. And not I'm not talking about burgers and dogs on the Weber. I'm talking slow cooked, smoked, fall off the bone brisket, pork butt, and ribs. He's serious about his craft, so I thought he'd be perfect to give them a try. He loved them, and reported back that he liked that he could pick up a roast without tearing it apart, making it easy to get the meat to the table for prepping. Speaking of prepping, he liked that he could tear down the pork butt while it was hot, with his \\\"hands\\\". He liked them so much I got a rack of ribs in return! I call that a win-win. In the spirit of full disclosure, I received a discount on this item in return for an unbiased review. Update 3/31/15 - YouTube video review added: http://amzn.com/B00PT7ZM0M\",\n \"Product: Stop Using Corks!! This Elegant Wine Preserver Saves You Money! Don't always drink your bottle of wine? Wine quality is compromised if an opened bottle is left with air in it Wine is never the same when you open the bottle again Stop Wine Oxygenation That Spoils The Taste & Wastes Your Money Wine needs to breath, but if it's exposed to oxygen for too long, it will go bad. Even if you replace the screw-cap or cork, the wine will still oxidize and lose it flavor and aroma. You'll be left with a bad tasting and smelling wine that's very unpalatable. The Zazzol Wine Stopper Protects The Quality of Your Wine So You Can Still Enjoy It Days After Straight forward to use. Simply press the stopper into the bottleneck to create an airtight seal. Leave bottles on their sides in the fridge and not worry about messy leaks in the fridge Used by Restaurants, Hotels and Bars throughout the world to preserve wine quality Click ADD TO CART at the top of this page and get your Zazzol PREMIUM Wine Stopper now!\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Outstanding gift for the wine loving man in your life!\\n\\nReview: Zazzol does it again! This is a very cool, masculine wine stopper. Which is funny, because as a guy, I typically use the cork to save my wine on the rare occasion we don't finish the bottle. I am proud to show this wine stopper off and demonstrate my ability to be elegant and refined. This Zazzol wine stopper has heft, real weight, and a super high polish that looks like a chrome bumper on a '59 Caddy! Oh, and the sweetest part is the carbon fiber detail on the top. SEXY! Seriously, ladies, get this for your man. He'll love it's masculine style and won't feel effeminate for using your butterfly themed glass wine stopper. Like my boy Richard Rawlings says, \\\"GYSOT!\\\"\",\n \"Product: Great for making cucumber salads, potato chips, french fries, carrot sticks and so much more The Useful Mandoline Slicer stays stable with non-slip feet that sit wide apart. runway is textured to prevent food from sticking, while body is curved to leave plenty of space below for food to accumulate. handle of the slicer sits lower than your body to keep your hand out of the way Food is held securely and fingers are protected with the food holder that snaps beneath body when storing Blades are easy to remove for cleaning and are safely covered when not in use, and they're stored on board for convenient storage Storage is even more convenient and compact with folding legs that simply tuck underneath\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: I like this more than my Pampered Chef mandolin\\n\\nReview: <div id=\\\"video-block-R36O7PDZI8X7BV\\\" class=\\\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\\\"></div><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/C1iVlxQ83VS.mp4\\\" class=\\\"video-url\\\"><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/71472besSpS.png\\\" class=\\\"video-slate-img-url\\\"> I like this more than my Pampered Chef mandolin. The safety holder on this is way better than the one on my other slicer. This one allows you to slice larger veggies and fruits. The selector dial on the side allows you to easily adjust the thickness, and change it to the julienne slicer blade with a quick test. The blade is super sharp, so be careful!\\nUpdate 7/7/15 Please see the video showing the functionality of this mandolin.\\n\\nLike many of my reviews, I was provided a discount in exchange for testing and providing my honest review. Thoughts contained in this review are based on my experience and personal opinion. I hope this helps guide you in your search for mandolin slicer - Dan\",\n \"Product: This digital scale has endless uses for personal or commercial environments - great for homes, kitchens, offices, mailrooms, and more. The scale has an easy-to-read LCD display. With a capacity of 6.6lb (3kg), you can weigh a variety of items with ease. The included bowl is great for measuring ingredients when cooking or baking. You will be surprised at all the uses you will have for this product. Weighing functions You can easily choose between measurement in lb(oz) or gram. This digital scale measures with a division of 0.1oz (1g) for accurate weighing. battery (included), making the scale portable and ensuring that you can easily acquire replacement batteries. auto-off The scale can be reset to zero for accurate measurement, or adjusted to weigh items in bowls or measuring containers, which is particularly useful for cooking. To save energy, the scale also features an auto-off function, allowing the scale to turn off after a period of inactivity to save energy. Specifications Maximum weight: 6.6lb (3kg) Dimensions: 7.1*5.9*1.5(inch) Bowl volume 0.8L; auto off Low Battery and over load indication Package contents 1 x 6.6lb digital scale 1 x Removable bowl 1 x User's manual 2 AAA batteries required. (included)\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: The Carelove scale is a great addition to any kitchen\\n\\nReview: The Carelove scale is a great addition to any kitchen. I never thought I needed one until I started making my own home-made sausage, and jerky. All the sudden, I'm making large batches, and I need to weigh the meat, and the ingredients of my spices and marinades. Now that I have this scale, I can keep accurate records of how much of what I added, so I can recreate the same recipe or make small tweaks if needed. I measured this against two other scales I have and this came up dead accurate. Now this one has a smaller capacity than my other kitchen scale, but I'm using this for my dry ingredients, and the other for the wet and or meat weighing duties. Great value at $15 (current price at time of review). Oh, I almost forgot to mention, that it does have a tare weight function which is really important when you need to use a cup, bowl, or vessel on top of the scale. It takes the weight out of the equation so you don't have to figure out the math.\\n\\nLike many of my reviews, I was provided a significant discount in exchange for testing and providing my honest review. Thoughts contained in this review are based on my experience and personal opinion. I hope this helps guide you in your search for a kitchen scale - Dan\",\n \"Product: Steam clean it all with the Pyle PSTMH22 Clothing & Garment Steamer. Achieve a Natural and Chemical-Free clean that makes your closet fresh and wrinkle-free. Let the steam do the work and save yourself from the strain of strenuous ironing. With a flip of the switch, it produces super-heated steam water vapors that can be used to help lift dirt and grime for pre-washing. Just add water, plug it in and you're ready to steam -- no harsh chemicals or cleaning solutions required. Deodorize, sanitize and freshen, remove stubborn wrinkles or add favorable creases with the included crease clip. The system features rolling caster wheels for easy transport and an extending clip hook for clothing hanger attachment. Add some steam and keep it Pure Clean!.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Simple, easy to use steamer that works great\\n\\nReview: <div id=\\\"video-block-RHN40Y6OHOJKA\\\" class=\\\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\\\"></div><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/C1vBR2n19PS.mp4\\\" class=\\\"video-url\\\"><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61Pu0XysgfS.png\\\" class=\\\"video-slate-img-url\\\"> Here's a video showing the Pure Clean steamer by Pyle Audio in action. We take one of my problem shirts that has a thick color that always curls under. Just a few passes with the steamer and they are straight. The instructions could be better, but they aren't needed as it was very intuitive and easy to use. The kit includes a fabric brush and crease attachment. Very nice device, that is easy to use and delivers good performance.\\n\\nLike many of my reviews, I was provided a discount in exchange for testing and providing my honest review. Thoughts contained in this review are based on my experience and personal opinion. I hope this helps guide you in your search for a fabric steamer - Dan\",\n \"Product: As a alarm clock ,it has all features you need. Carelove Digital Clock with alarm time & date display. Assorted trend colors with warm white LED backlight. Move the button in the back to set the set time, date, alarm, and snooze intervals. Sensor automatically comes on when it's dark around, because it's light-activated. It's soft, making you sleep easily or see time from a distance hands free. ESH Digital Clock can also be closed. If bright light needed, please touch the top to use nightlight, which lasts 5 seconds. Specifications: - Size: 5.3\\\"x1.8\\\"x3\\\" - Power Supply: 3 AAA batteries (For shipping security reason, Battery Not Included.) Package List: 1 * Alarm Clock 1 * Instruction (If you lose the instruction book or have any problems/difficult about the setup, please don't hesitate to contact us on Amazon. We can help you to solve the difficulties)!! PLEASE MIND:Our company USES a sophisticated electronic components, scientific design, combined with advanced equipment testing make alarm clock working current is very small, typically 10 to 18 ua (microamps), so please don't use digititan, duracell, panasonic, energizer and all kinds of rechargeable batteries and other large quantity of alkaline batteries, otherwise it will affect the service life of the product or abnormal.With ordinary carbon batteries. Time is more precise, the error is less than 25 seconds of a month.A year is error of 3 to 5 minutes.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: My favorite feature, that I didn't even realize that I cared about, is the light sensor.\\n\\nReview: What a great little clock? I've been in the habit of using my iPhone for my clock, and alarm clock, that I forgot how convenient a clock can be. We have this mounted on our entertainment center in our bedroom. Even at 8 feet, it is easy to read. My favorite feature, that I didn't even realize that I cared about, is the light sensor. It is always adjusted to the correct brightness, make it easy to ready, and doesn't have the bright back-lighting that keeps my wife up. It's compact and lightweight, making it suitable for travel, if you desired.\\n\\nLike many of my reviews, I was provided a discount in exchange for testing and providing my honest review. Thoughts contained in this review are based on my experience and personal opinion. I hope this helps guide you in your search for an alarm clock - Dan\",\n \"Product: The NutriChef Air Fryer is your healthy oil-free frying alternative. This hassle-free cooking appliance is easy-to-use and unlocks convenient countertop food prep. Slide out the frying basket, insert your food and choose from air fry, broil, roast, bake, grill or BBQ your favorite foods. The integrated high-power heating element allows internal cooking temperatures to reach a maximum of 400 DegreeF -- for delicious and tasty results. Non-stick teflon coated cooking basket locks in the heat for thorough cooking with easy after-cleaning ability. The system has been tested to prepare significantly healthier foods than frying, all while creating the same flavorful results. It works for all types of meat, fish and vegetables, but it works especially well for perfectly cooked French fries with crispy skins. Set the time, the temp and you're ready to air fry! The NutriChef Air Fryer will help you prepare low-fat foods that taste great and help you feel good!\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: From frozen to crunchy chicken nuggets in 8 minutes! I burnt my mouth!\\n\\nReview: <div id=\\\"video-block-R2SKB2YWZWH7O\\\" class=\\\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\\\"></div><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/D15Aa8z8ucS.mp4\\\" class=\\\"video-url\\\"><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61jiBmEP2rS.png\\\" class=\\\"video-slate-img-url\\\"> Yes, that's right... I burnt my mouth, because I couldn't wait for these nuggets to cool down! The Nutrichef oil-less air fryer works great, better than advertised. We created this video to show how easy it is to use. We took frozen chicken nuggets and turned them in to crunchy, juicy treats in 8 minutes. Pretty cool! Following this video, we made waffle fries from frozen and crisped them up, without oil, in 10 minutes. I love that this is healthy and we're not deep frying, yet we get crispy treats. Looking forward to trying new recipes out in the air fryer.\\n\\nLike many of my reviews, I was provided a discount in exchange for testing and providing my honest review. Thoughts contained in this review are based on my experience and personal opinion. I hope this helps guide you in your search for an oil-less air fryer - Dan\",\n \"Product: The NutriChef Pasta Maker allows you to make your own delicious gourmet pastas in minutes! Simply add your ingredients and let the NutriChef system do all the work. The possibilities are endless and you can create unique & fresh pasta dishes without added preservatives. The automatic mixing and pasta noodle extrusion process can't be any easier and adds hassle-free pasta preparation at the press of a button. The system includes 9 different noodle-style attachment molds that give you the ability to create a wide variety of noodle shapes, sizes & flavors! Make the noodles thin, thick, narrow, wide, square or round. The countertop design features simple touch button controls, digital LCD display, stain-resistant housing and ultra quiet operation. Enjoy convenient spaghetti noodle pasta creation with NutriChef.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: This is a winner - easy to use and we had great results the first time. Video review included.\\n\\nReview: <div id=\\\"video-block-RWCHH69QA0B9C\\\" class=\\\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\\\"></div><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/D1WbehSL4xS.mp4\\\" class=\\\"video-url\\\"><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/219OaKj0r-S.png\\\" class=\\\"video-slate-img-url\\\"> *Video showing break down, pasta mixing, extruding and finished product*\\n\\nWe're fans of the NutriChef pasta maker! I've never made pasta from scratch, but after receiving the pasta maker and reading the instructions, it was a no brainer. We have a gluten intolerance so we have to buy pricey GF pasta from the store. We decided our first use of the machine would be with a gluten free recipe that Keri found online. Watch the video to see how it came out.\\n\\nOverall synopsis of the pasta maker.\\n*Very easy to disassemble for cleaning.\\n*Very intuitive to use\\n*Wide assortment of pasta dies (shapes)\\n*Great results!\\n\\nI was provided a discount in exchange for testing and providing my honest review. Thoughts contained in this review are based on my experience and personal opinion. I hope this helps guide you in your search for an automatic pasta maker - Dan\",\n \"Product: WE DIDN'T REMOVE THE SCREEN PROTECTOR FILM OF THE PRODUCT WHEN TAKING A PHOTO .JUST WANT TO SHOW YOU A REAL ONE.. This Carelove scale is delicately designed in a elegant white body. It also has endless uses and is really great for homes, kitchens, offices, mailrooms, etc. Take it and then you will be surprised at all the uses you will have. Weighing functions This digital scale is engineered for highly accurate weighing in precise graduations of 0.01oz/1g. It can measure up to 7kg (15lb or 240oz). Moreover, you can easily choose between measurement in pounds/ounces and grams. Auto-zero, tare, auto-off functions and warning indications The auto-zero and tare functions are incredibly helpful for accuracy when weighing items individually or in containers. To save energy, the scale also features an auto-off function after 120s' inactivity. What's more, if the scale is inaccurate, you can calibrate it by yourself. It also provides low battery and overload indication. Package Contents 1 Electronic 15lb digital scale 2 AAA Batteries 1 Users' Manual\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: When you make as much sausage as I do, you need something to weigh your meat!\\n\\nReview: When you make as much sausage as I do, you need something to weigh your meat! This scale does a terrific job, whether I' making sausage, or jerky. You wouldn't believe how much of a science it is, and how accurate you have to be, when making meat snacks. If you want any kind of consistency in your kitchen, you need to weigh your meat, and spices, so you can recreate the magic! This scale allows you to do a tare weight, and that my friends, is most excellent! I did actually test the accuracy by using a second scale that I already owned and compared the weights scale vs scale. It has a fast response and it is accurate!\\n\\nLike many of my reviews, I was provided a significant discount in exchange for testing and providing my honest review. Thoughts contained in this review are based on my experience and personal opinion. I hope this helps guide you in your search for kitchen scale - Dan\",\n \"Product: Soap dispenser, automatic soap dispenser touchless hands free fingerprint and free from infrared interference stainless steel dish soap dispenser with waterproof design for kitchen and bathroomautomatic soap dispensertouch free Automatic no drip valueeasy to refill - no custom soap required! packaging dimensions: 5.70*2.95*8.78 inchesweight: 0.56 lbpackage include: 1Xsoap dispenser1x user manualuse your preferred brand of liquid soap refill - no expensive custom soap required! Just unscrew then to pour in any soap you like. It is easy and mess-free\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Looks great, works great.\\n\\nReview: <div id=\\\"video-block-RNI1QHJU5WHX3\\\" class=\\\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\\\"></div><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/B12MyZWUCLS.mp4\\\" class=\\\"video-url\\\"><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/A1cQxoDrbFS.png\\\" class=\\\"video-slate-img-url\\\"> Looks great, works great. This matches our brushed stainless faucet, and looks great in our kitchen. The dispenser is sensitive enough to recognize my hand when I need soap. It's not so sensetive that it triggers when I'm near it but not under the nozzle. I was provided a product sample for testing and review purposes and I would purchase it again. I appreciate this the most when I have raw chicken, ground beef or pork on my hands. Very convenient and sanitary. I also appreciate the stand that arches to the base. It keeps it from sitting in standing water or collecting water under it. Again, thoughtful design making it a very nice product.\",\n \"Product: To-links Archer C7 comes with the next generation Wi-Fi standard - 802.11AC, 3 times faster than wireless N speeds and delivering a combined wireless data transfer rate of up to 1.75Gbps, with 1.3Gbps over 5GHz band and 450Mbps over the 2.4GHz band.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Great, right out the box!\\n\\nReview: I had a Cisco EA4500 but it started sucking at life about 2 weeks ago. Basically, we could only see 20MB max on a good day and we have a 100MB feed from Cox. Resistant as I was, I decided to find a new router. This was posted on SlickDeals.net and everyone raved about how good it was, plus it was at a low price of $82. I checked the reviews here on Amazon and they were very positive, so I took a chance on it. I just installed and named my SSID and pass phrase the same as the old router, and was off and running. All of our devices were able to reconnect simply by clicking the SSID. No need to re-enter the pass phrase. I am consistently seeing 80 MB now, through WiFi. Very happy with these results.\",\n \"Product: Make your tablet a fixture of your modern kitchen space with CTA Digital 2-in-1 kitchen mount stand. Bundled with 2 convenient mount-anywhere bases, this tablet stand easily installs on a wall or under a cabinet, or even tucked into the seatback pocket of an airplane seat! The stand can also be displayed upright with its expanding legs on any tabletop or counter surface. It features a 360-degree rotating holder, plus multiple pivoting and rotating joints. Quick release buttons allow for easy tablet insertion and removal in the adjustable holder, and the stand folds compact for easy storage when not in use. Features: • Includes 2 mounting bases for easy install on walls or under cabinet • Remove from mount base and unfold legs for quick tabletop setup • Quick release buttons for fast tablet insertion and removal • Multiple flexible joints and 360 degree rotating holder • folds compact for easy storage and portability • stylish, lightweight aluminum design specifications: • holder adjusts 6 8.75 inches from top to bottom • Mounting base Dimensions: 5 L x 3.125 w x 0.75 D • Compatible with 12.9-Inch iPad Pro (2018), 11-inch iPad Pro (2018), iPad (2017), iPad Pro (9.7/ 10.5/ 12.9), iPad Air, iPad mini, surface Pro 4, and other 7-13 inch tablets package includes: (1) aluminum stand (1) adjustable tablet holder (2) mounting bases (2) sets of mounting hardware\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Easy to use, can hold any position\\n\\nReview: I use this stand to prop up my Samsung Galaxy Tab A in the kitchen while I'm looking up recipes or watching Netfix while preparing dinner. The design allows for easy positioning around the kitchen, however after a few months' use the screws have started to loosen up and you have to balance it carefully to keep the screen vertical. It does come with a wrench to tighten the resistance on the arms, however it's a little bit awkward to access. And we didn't have enough room to mount the casing under our cabinet (they have a lip that hangs down) or on the walls underneath our cabinet since there wasn't sufficient space between the counter and the cabinet. Still, I like how easily pose-able this is, and it keeps a tight, secure grip on my tablet.\",\n \"Product: The Pyle PTT30 Bluetooth Turntable combines classic turntable style with modern technology. Wirelessly stream music from your device via Bluetooth or use the included connection cable to stream music from your device thanks to the AUX (3.5mm) input. The system also features USB port so you can connect to your computer for saving and editing music. The built-in speakers will fill your home with crisp stereo sounds while the vintage design will make this turntable the centerpiece to any room. Add an elegant look and feel with the PTT30 Bluetooth Classic Style Turntable.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Love it - not just a USB turntable\\n\\nReview: <div id=\\\"video-block-R2XVD4DRJUWQ8\\\" class=\\\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\\\"></div><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/C1IKqfgNslS.mp4\\\" class=\\\"video-url\\\"><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61aU6d-YdvS.png\\\" class=\\\"video-slate-img-url\\\"> Love it - not just a USB turntable, but much more functional. One of my lent me me a USB turntable. I enjoyed it for two days while I recorded my vinyl to MP3s. Then it was done, and I had no need for it. However, there is something about listening to vinyl, on a turntable, that can't be captured in an MP3 recording. I was glad that this opportunity presented itself, because I missed having a turntable. Especially when there is new music being released in 12\\\" format, like my Foo Fighters album. The Pyle PTT30WD turntable is a multi-function audio solution that makes itself much more useful than the old USB turntable my buddy once lent me. As you can see in my video, it has Bluetooth connectivity that is easy to pair and use to stream music from your wireless device. In my video I am using a 5 year old HTC Once phone, that I only use for Pandora. It also has a 3.5mm to RCA (composite) connections so you can plug in non-bluetooth devices into the AUX inputs on the rear of this system. It has built in speakers, and AM/FM radio tuner as well. I have to locate my records in my storage closet so I can test out the turntable feature. I will update my review at that time, but based on the other functions, this audio solution works great.\\n\\nLike many of my reviews, I was provided a discount in exchange for testing and providing my honest review. Thoughts contained in this review are based on my experience and personal opinion. I hope this helps guide you in your search for vintage turntable and bluetooth audio player - Dan\",\n \"Product: Listen to your favorite music anywhere with the Jam Tunes Box. The durable and splash proof construction provides full range stereo sound quality built into a rubberized shock proof casing. This speaker comes equipped with Bluetooth wireless technology that allows you to easily stream and play music from virtually any Bluetooth enabled device. Compatible with all of your favorite Bluetooth devices (iPhone, Android, Smartphone, iPad, Tablet, PC, etc.) This speaker box also plugs into any 3.55 mm headphone jack or AUX-output to work as an external speaker for your audio device. Features include built-in rechargeable battery, easy-push button controls and impressive sound quality to add music anywhere, anytime.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Very solid, rugged bluetooth speaker. I like the retro volume knob.\\n\\nReview: Very solid, rugged bluetooth speaker. This was larger than I anticipated, but that's a good thing. I like the retro volume knob. Seriously, where did knobs go? So much easier to quickly adjust the volume. It also has regular volume buttons on the control panel if you must push a button. The instructions were very clear and made it simple to pair this up with my iPhone5+. Volume is decent for a speaker this size. Bass wasn't very deep, but it was present, and there was more of it than cheap plastic speakers. This has a solid weight and seems like it will endure many camping trips.\\n\\nLike many of my reviews, I was provided a discount in exchange for testing and providing my honest review. Thoughts contained in this review are based on my experience and personal opinion. I hope this helps guide you in your search for rugged bluetooth speaker - Dan\",\n \"Product: We adopt the latest technology of sensor and driver. It owns the characters of high definition and stability, strong anti- jamming, rich and real color. Designed for outdoor and indoor use. Our hybrid cameras with 720p resolution are the perfect solution to keep your home, office safe.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Image quality is very nice, especially considering the value pricing\\n\\nReview: Original Review date: 2/7/15\\nThis is a nice wide angle camera, that works great with my Zmodo DVR. Installation was simple, and plugged into my existing cabling. I had a 4.6mm lens over my front porch and it was only capturing the door and the ground beneath it. With this 3.6mm camera, it captures the entire front porch area. Image quality is very nice, especially considering the value pricing.\\n\\nReview Update 6/13/2015\\nI still love this camera, day or night. I purchased a 2nd camera because I really like the Xsecu 3.6mm wide angle lens. I realized that I didn't post a photo of the my front door coverage that I got with this camera so I'm posting that. I'm also posting a picture of a 4.6 mm lens pointed at my truck and the new Xsecu 3.6mm lens mounted in the same location. You can see both vehicles with the 3.6mm lens. These are screen captures from my iPhone using the Zmodo mobile app.\",\n \"Product: The Pyle PLDN74BT Bluetooth 6.5\\\" Receiver Head unit combines Bluetooth wireless music streaming and call-answering capability -- all into one convenient unit! Built-in Bluetooth and microphone allow you to enjoy hands-free calling and add another level of safety while on the road. It easily pairs to your Smart Phone and works with all your favorite Bluetooth-enabled devices (iPhone, Android, Blackberry, HTC, Samsung, Sony, etc.). This in-dash multimedia video receiver is a versatile dashboard entertainment system that adds crisp widescreen video quality at a modest size. Built-in CD/DVD player and touch screen display allows you to navigate through all your media quickly and easily. Upgrade your automobile entertainment and enjoy plenty more in-vehicle multimedia features with the Pyle PLDN74BT Bluetooth 6.5\\\" Receiver Head unit.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Very nice head unit - great value for everything it does.\\n\\nReview: <div id=\\\"video-block-RLKC22388NLJ5\\\" class=\\\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\\\"></div><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/C1MKwU4nPqS.mp4\\\" class=\\\"video-url\\\"><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/11zL7xqwCaS.png\\\" class=\\\"video-slate-img-url\\\"> Here's a quick video showing the Pyle PLDN74BT touch screen head unit in action. This is installed in a 1988 Toyota Land Cruiser. You can see that a reverse camera was added to the system to provide extra visibility. This is a very clean install, and the system works great, although it's time to upgrade the factory speakers. You can view my video of it in action on my YouTube page, if you have any trouble viewing the video here on the Amazon page. https://youtu.be/AZgwKedvlTM\\n\\nLike many of my reviews, I was provided a significant discount in exchange for testing and providing my honest review. Thoughts contained in this review are based on my experience and personal opinion. I hope this helps guide you in your search for car stereo head unit DVD player - Dan\",\n \"Product: Get a handle on exposed electronics cables with a JOTO Neoprene Cable Management Sleeves. Not only do tangled cords look messy, but they can also cause accidents and make it difficult to determine which cable belongs to which device. These simple management. Organize your set-up with JOTO Cable Management Sleeves, they adhere your wires into a neat tube while still providing easy access when necessary. Cutouts every 2\\\" provide multiple entry/exit points for cables.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Great solution for cleaning the nest of cables on your desk.\\n\\nReview: I never used one of these cable sleeves before but I quickly became a fan. I used this in my office at our reception desk. There is a ton of equipment, and of course all the cables that go with it. This fabric organizer does a great job of hiding the nest of cables and keeps the desk presentable. It was longer than I needed, so I trimmed it down to fit our need I'll use the remaining 6\\\" to neaten up the ables behind my A/V receiver at home.\\n\\nLike many of my reviews, I was provided a significant discount in exchange for testing and providing my honest review. Thoughts contained in this review are based on my experience and personal opinion. I hope this helps guide you in your search for a cable sleeve - Dan\",\n \"Product: The Pyle Dash Cam is a versatile HD dashboard driving camera. It mounts to your windshield and the adjustable camera lens records your driving. The compact & convenient system is easy-to-use, mounts quickly and records hi-res video in full color -- even when you're not in the vehicle. The unique 'Impact Parking Monitor Mode' will automatically power on and record, if the system senses an impact while you're out grocery shopping. Keep yourself protected and provide the proof when necessary whether on the road or parked in the lot. System features include 2.0\\\" Digital LCD Display, Micro SD Memory Card Slot, Built-in Rechargeable Battery, Microphone for Audio Recording, Night Vision, and much more! It's all powered by the included cigarette lighter power outlet cable, or can be charged via USB port. Connect it to computer for easy file saving & sharing. Snap crisp hi-res images, record full color HD 1080p video to drive safer and smarter with the Pyle Dash Cam HD Driving Camera System.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Upgraded from 4 to 5 stars. Great quality video, small compact footprint, 3 video links included\\n\\nReview: Great quality, small footprint, and once setup, is easy to use. The camera was set to record in HD, 1080p. It was a little challenging to setup the first time, but once that was done, it was plug and play in the vehicle. With the power adapter plugged in, it will turn on when the vehicle is started. It will also start recording, so it is hands-free, and I don't have to remember to hit the record button. I did notice that a 2GB memory card only records about 20 minutes, so you want to make sure you have a large card for longer record times in HD. Speaking of memory cards, I have a 64GB Sandisk MicroSD card that I use in my GoPro , but this dash cam wouldn't recognize it. Even after formatting it with the camera. The only things that I had trouble with was the setup, and the memory card, so it's getting a 4.5 rating.\\n\\n10/1/15 Update - Bumping this up to 5 stars. Yes, it was challenging for me to setup, but since working that out, it has been very easy to use, and to grab the card to upload the recordings. I love that I don't have to think about this, or remember to turn it on, or to set it to record. It is always recording when the vehicle is running, so should anything happen, I will have footage of it. The other thing I didn't realize is that the camera can be tilted up or down. When I first installed it, it was pointing a bit high, because of the angle of the windshield. When I realized you could tilt the camera lens, I pointed it down, and now it's perfect. Here are several videos showing the day and night recording quality, and another showing the ease of use.\\n\\nhttps://youtu.be/SMqi30gyP88 - This video was recorded at night\\nhttps://youtu.be/42CnHq9wesQ - This video was recorded during the day\\nhttps://youtu.be/9L9Xqx8HJR8 - This video was recorded a week after installation. You'll see the dash cam mounted in the vehicle, and just how easy it is to use with auto start with the vehicle start up.\\n\\nLike many of my reviews, I was provided a discount in exchange for testing and providing my honest review. Thoughts contained in this review are based on my experience and personal opinion. I hope this helps guide you in your search for a dash cam - Dan\",\n \"Product: The Pyle PDA35BT Compact & Portable Amplifier features built-in Bluetooth for wireless audio streaming ability. Connect & stream audio from all of your favorite devices like Smartphones, Tablets, Laptops and computers. This high-efficiency and high-powered mini system produces an impressive 100 Watt MAX power into 8 Ohms, or 50 Watt per channel. You will enjoy versatile sound processing with crisp sound reproduction at a fraction of the size. Additional features include rear panel RCA (L/R) outputs, Banana Plug speaker inputs, 3.5mm (AUX) input, along with a 1/4'' headphone jack -- which makes this system double as a Headphone Amplifier. Enjoy compact, versatile and wireless sound amplifying ability with the Pyle PDA35BT Bluetooth Mini Amp.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Excellent solution that I didn't know I needed! Video included.\\n\\nReview: <div id=\\\"video-block-R2JRG5U61O012O\\\" class=\\\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\\\"></div><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/D160N3cUDlS.mp4\\\" class=\\\"video-url\\\"><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61Sn-tRjPjS.png\\\" class=\\\"video-slate-img-url\\\"> Great solution that I didn't know existed. I have a set of outdoor speakers around the pool that have connections in the house. The problem I have is the wall plate is on the opposite side of the house from where my entertainment center is. I bought a receiver to power the speakers, and I have an auxiliary input that I connect to a mobile device to run Pandora, etc. If you think about it, that works, but boy is it a lot of extra equipment and space taken up.\\nI was provided the Pyle PDA35BT amplifier for review and testing purposes and I'm glad I got this. This compact device is powerful, easy to use, and not complicated at all. Check out he video I uploaded, it's 3 minutes, but it shows the ease of setup and use. I'm really impressed with the build quality, ease of use, and sound quality. And it replaces the big bulky amplifier/receiver that I had before.\\n\\nLike many of my reviews, I was provided a discount in exchange for testing and providing my honest review. Thoughts contained in this review are based on my experience and personal opinion. I hope this helps guide you in your search for a bluetooth amplifier - Dan\",\n \"Product: The Pyle Vintage turntable system combines yesterday's classic record playing style with today's latest technology. Built-in Bluetooth and external full range stereo speakers allow you to wirelessly stream music from devices like iPhones, Androids, Smartphones, iPads, Tablets, etc. The vinyl record system is all housed in an elegantly styled cabinet that can easily become the center-piece and add flare to any room in the house. The unique Vinyl-to-MP3 recording function gives you the ability to save all of your old records into digital MP3 files -- so you can share your music with family and friends! Turn that stack of old records into a space-saving compact digital music library. Listen to all of your records thanks to the (3) speed selectable vinyl playback ability (33, 45 or 75 RPMs). Additional features include the option to connect external devices with the Aux (3.5mm) input jack, single front-loading CD player, AM/FM radio, USB flash drive and SD memory card readers; all designed to fill your room with rich stereo sounds! Enjoy the classic and iconic style along with today's latest hi-tech features with the Pyle Vintage Bluetooth Turntable Speaker System.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Very cool music player - with a little modification needed.\\n\\nReview: This music player is very cool. It plays everything vintage except 8 tracks! You can play vinyl, CD's and cassette tapes, and even go modern and play music from a USB drive, SD card, or bluetooth. If you want to go really old school, you can listen to am/fm radio stations. I haven't done that in years because programming is horrible and all the stations are owned by a couple companies, thus littering us with garbage. But I digress... Everything on this music player worked well, except for the turntable. Pretty frustrating when that's the real reason for purchasing it. The problem with the record player is the needle skipped on the record. I remember when I was a kid in the 70's, I had a cheap turntable that did that as well. The cure was to tape a penny to the needle head. Sure enough, once I did that, it played perfectly. I marked this as three stars as this should be dialed in at the factory and I should not need to modify it to work. Like I said, everything else worked great and it is convenient to have everything in one small bookshelf system. It's being used in my home office and is perfect for that use case. Hopefully my experience is rare, and your needle arm is balanced from the factory. I was provided a discount in exchange for testing and providing my honest review. Thoughts contained in this review are based on my experience and personal opinion.\",\n \"Product: The Pyle Industrial BoomBoX adds portable, rugged & heavy-duty sound for any occasion! This high-powered Bluetooth Speaker System features wireless music streaming and built-in rechargeable battery -- fit for convenience and portability in any demanding environment. The marine grade splash proof design is reinforced with a fortified frame housing to provide protection for your sound thats perfect for anywhere from the work site to the playground. In addition to wireless streaming, this boom box stereo system also provides you with more music playback options like FM Radio, MP3 digital audio file playback via USB Flash Drive & SD Memory Card Readers, along with an Aux (3.5mm) input for connecting external devices (like Smartphones, Tablets, Laptops, etc.). Youll be able to enjoy full-range stereo sound with impressive bass response, packing power and portability with this carry-able compact system. Add some tough & towering sound with the Pyle Industrial BoomBoX!\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: I've set this up in my garage and it works great for this purpose.\\n\\nReview: <div id=\\\"video-block-R1OIRPXRTBG67U\\\" class=\\\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\\\"></div><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/D12aqpr5QNS.mp4\\\" class=\\\"video-url\\\"><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/919XhPJO0GS.png\\\" class=\\\"video-slate-img-url\\\"> I did a quick video showing some of the functionality provided by this job site boombox. It has an exoskeleton, like a roll cage, with rubber isolators which should provide the stereo with protection in the case of a small drop. I've set this up in my garage and it works great for this purpose. The speakers are decent, and the EQ allows me to change the tone for the music I'm listening to. I have connected my iPhone 6 Plus to it with no problems. The nice thing is the controls on the stereo control the phone, so I don't have to handle my phone with dirty shop hands. I was provided a discount in exchange for testing and providing my honest review. Thoughts contained in this review are based on my experience and personal opinion. I hope this helps guide you in your search for a construction site bluetooth stereo.\",\n \"Product: USB 2.0 webcam with real optical zoom is the way to go for high quality USB video conferencing in the conference room or larger space. The model 3x is the ideal entry-level conferencing camera for small to medium sized rooms. The HuddleCamHD line of cameras are the perfect cameras for professional video conferencing. Designed with a wide variety of conferencing setups in mind, there is a HuddleCamHD solution that will work for any situation (see all models). Offering superior quality at an affordable price, the entire HuddleCamHD line of cameras is easy to setup and ready to use in a matter of minutes. Model 3x features - Zoom: 3X Optical; Resolution: 1920x1080p; Field of View: 81 Degree; Frames Per Second: Up to 30 fps; Connection Cable: USB 2.0; RS-232: Yes, In and Out Presets: 64 Mounts\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Great solution for the money!\\n\\nReview: I bought this for my office with my business account, so this may not show up as a verified purchase. We bought three of these for my office, because there is a need to have more online meetings. We use Zoom Web Conferencing primarily, with some Skype, and GoToMeeting conferencing as well.\\nOur teams will have meetings in conference rooms, and they wanted to have a camera that was aimed at the attendees in the conference room. We have been using a Lifesize HD IP based system that cost $15,000. It works great and is easy to use, but we only have one on a mobile cart. So it is always in demand. We wanted to add the same funtionality to three of our conference rooms without spending that much money per room. I tested several systems and cameras, and finally settles on the HuddleCam.\\nIt has a great image quality as long as you use a decent PC. We tested it with several laptops and tablets with varying image quality. We finally settled on using a MS Surface Pro 3 with 4GB RAM. We have that wall mounted with a camera mounted above it on the same wall and connected to it via USB.\\nWe can now connect into the meeting with this setup, and have great HD quality imaging. It's been a huge success and our total investment per system is only $1600 per room, and there was no complicated setup, no complicated software, no subscriptions to add.\\nI don't know why they have the wrong photo on the product page, but here is a photo of the connection panel showing the correct connections on our HuddleCam.\\nPlease note that this isn't a very wide angle lens, and is best used in a larger conference room. The zoom is outstanding.\\nHope this helps you when looking for a solution like this.\",\n \"Product: Ready, set, go with the Pyle eXpo! Record full HD video and capture extra hi-res images with this versatile Mini-Cam. Download the free Pyle eXpo App to record the action with your smartphone or use the included Wi-Fi remote and capture it all. Lightweight, portable and powerful the eXpo is ready to go! Tons of recording features, image configurations and plenty of mounting options will help you capture those breath-taking experiences to share with the world! Record in the air, on land, at sea, or even underwater and give them a show with the Pyle eXpo!\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Not perfect, but the videos and pictures are excellent!\\n\\nReview: <div id=\\\"video-block-R1W0PGQ5VMOWGK\\\" class=\\\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\\\"></div><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/91pWwdjglkS.mp4\\\" class=\\\"video-url\\\"><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/91-Hq5wuZgS.png\\\" class=\\\"video-slate-img-url\\\"> Takes great pictures and videos. But don't take my word for it, check them out for yourself.\\n\\nMy thoughts on this action camera: I would have given this a 5-star review but there is a halo around the built-in LCD screen. It makes it hard to see the whole picture, but it's not a show stopper. I can see enough to know that I have it pointed in the right direction. I am worried about the quality of the videos and photos, and this doesn't disappoint in that capacity. There are many accessories included, that allows you to use it just about anywhere, right out of the box. That really makes this a great deal at $100 or so at the time of this review. I'm not comparing this to that super popular G*Pro brand, but I tell you what, I'm not going to cry if I bust this up, or lose it on one of my adventures. Please note, that I received a discount in exchange for my unbiased review.\",\n \"Product: Two-piece hardside set from Samsonite. Contains a 20\\\" Spinner and a 24\\\" Spinner. It is extremely lighweight, maneuverable, durable and a great value. Complete with 10 year warranty.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: All around great suitcases.\\n\\nReview: Surprisingly roomy for such a compact product. Wasn't in the market for new suitcases, however these were on sale so we decided to try them out. The small one fits perfectly in an overhead bin. The interior pockets and zippers made it easy to organize and I felt confident that my stuff wasn't getting damaged in transit. We brought back three bottles of wine from California in the large one as a checked bag, and they transported perfectly. If that's not the test of a good suitcase, I don't know what is. Plus the four wheels are extremely convenient, and the hard top provides space to balance a purse or other bag while in transit. And they look good while doing it. Great purchase, I'm extremely satisfied with these suitcases.\",\n \"Product: UTG New Gen 4 Tactical Red/Green Dot Sight, 38mm Tube, 4MOA Target Dot, Complete with Integral Picatinny Mounting Deck with Double Locking Nuts and Flip-open Lens Caps. Leapers/UTGs dot sight is designed to offer a crisp dot for professional precision shooting. By design, a reflex sight will more or less have coma effect due to the spray rays and minor ghost image caused by reflection. In general, due to the contrast, the brighter the target background, the crisper the dot appears and the least amount of ghost image will show. In addition, lowering the illuminiation intensity setting will lessen any ghost or spray imaging.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: I adjusted elevation first and then windage and was getting the 10 ring consistently\\n\\nReview: I purchased this back in September of 2014, and just got around to installing it. I was a bit leery about the quality of this scope because of the price and comments from gun snobs that say UTG is Airsoft toys. I ignored those comments and bought it anyway. I just finished building my 10.5\\\" AR pistol and installed the sight to use on its maiden voyage. In the photo I added, you can see I started in the 7 ring at 5 o'clock. I adjusted elevation first and then windage and was getting the 10 ring consistently. I was still a little left, but I decided it was good enough to finish breaking in the new rig. The dot (red) was bright and easy to acquire and I'm happy with my purchase. Will it replace the Eotech on my defensive AR? No, but this is a great option for a day at the range.\",\n \"Product: Premium ventilated workout gloves with integrated wrist straps and reinforced stitching provide the power needed for a lifetime of safety and support for fingers, palms and wrists when your hands are prone to getting blisters or getting sweaty! Great for weight lifters whether you use machines or free weights. If you need any assistance doing dumbbell movements you can use our gloves to give you the best grip and extra hold on a variety of exercises including all lifts, pull-ups, pushups & shrugs. These all-purpose athlete gloves are unisex design for a man, woman or a teen. Used for many different activities including dumbbells, rowing, cycling, kayaking, canoeing, zumba, spin classes, general exercising, paintball, or working in a warehouse. The protective pads and 18 wrist straps are of ergonomic design for comfort. The best lightweight yet tough and long-lasting fabric to keep your hands dry, prevent friction and excess rubbing while helping to improve your strength and endurance. Whether youre a personal trainer, pro athletes, or a beginners level, our gloves are known to minimize the risk of getting accidental injuries. We have customers who might have torn a bicep in the past, easily get a sore forearm, or who normally have shooting pain from arthritis in their hands, joints and wrists. It doesnt matter what the sport is or what youre trying to lift! When you reduce the risk of injury youll have the confidence to push for the last few reps that make all of the difference in your growth. Supports safety above everything else. Sold as one pair of gloves in a package. No bleach needed to get your gloves clean and smelling great. Throw the gloves in with your laundry, let them wash through and then air dry. These athletic gloves make a great gift for friends and family. Also a great set of gifts for employees or co-workers in your business or organization. When using our size chart be sure to measure the circumference of your hand just below the knuckles.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Solid gloves that work great for kettle bell workouts.\\n\\nReview: Solid gloves that work great for kettle bell workouts. I use kettle bells to workout and if you use them, you know two things come with them; callouses, and a bruised wrist. That's why when the seller offered my a discount to try these out and give an honest review, I didn't hesitate. I used the size recommendation in the listing and the gloves fit perfectly. They have nice padding, yet maintain dexterity. The wrist wrap is a nice touch. It keeps them secure, and also provides a little padding to the back of my wrists for those high pulls. I'll update this review if there are any quality issues over the next 30 days, but barring that, they get my approval.\",\n \"Product: The Judge Jerky Gun - The Final Verdict In Jerky Making Do you love eating jerky but it's just too dang expensive to buy the stuff from the store? Wouldn't it be great if you could make your own homemade jerky with healthier ingredients? And what if it were now so simple, that you were able to create your own brave new jerky flavors for friends and family to snack on. Jerky making hasn't always been easy. It used to be if you picked up a jerky gun, it would be made of all plastic. This led to all sorts of problems. Not only with the moving parts, but with pressure inside the device. As you might imagine, pressure and plastic barrel guns don't mix. Plastic barrels can't handle much pressure and will break down after one or a few uses. Which might leave you wondering if making jerky is even worth the equipment and effort. That is until JerkySpot, the world's best jerky store created The Judge. Named for its heavy duty construction and unrelenting function, The Judge Jerky Gun by JerkySpot is a jerky makers dream. Simply start by mixing your favorite ground meat and spices. Load up The Judge and twist on a flat or round attachment. Then squeeze the trigger to release perfectly shaped jerky into your dehydrator trays. That's it! The Judge makes it simple to create your own homemade snacks. And when you're done, we include an extra-long cleaning brush to make cleanup a breeze. THE JERKYSPOT GUARANTEE: Brought to you by the name you can trust, JerkySpot - the world's best beef jerky store. Our guarantee is simple: If you're not completely satisfied with the quality and function of our gun, or if you have any issues at all, send it back for a full refund.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: She admitted it was really easy and comfortable to use, and actually thought it was fun.\\n\\nReview: Outstanding! I am seriously impressed with this jerky gun. Last weekend I made 3 pounds of ground beef jerky strips, and this gun made it so darn easy to fill up 8 racks on my Nesco dehydrator. The results were excellent, very consistent size and portions. The next day, I was feeling inspired by this awesome Judge jerky gun and decided to get funky. This time, I made jerky sticks using the round tip that is included with the gun. This was a mix of ground pork, jalapenos, sun dried tomato, roasted peppers, and seasonings. This ended up being closer to 5 pounds and I had my wife help me with using the gun. Even though she thought the gun was too big, and would be too hard to use, she gave it a shot. She admitted it was really easy and comfortable to use, and actually thought it was fun. She even refilled the gun herself and kept going.\\nThe aluminum gun held up like a champ! It was super easy to clean using the included brush.\\nThankfully, the JerkySpot company provided important instructions about the proper way to pull the plunger back. Make sure you pay attention to this so you don't break your gun like the guy who left the 1 star review.\\nIn summary - if you make jerky, don't use those crappy plastic cookie guns that fall apart and have to be refilled often. Get yourself or your loved one the Judge. You won't regret it!\",\n \"Product: Kyasi Gladiator glass Ballistic tempered screen Protector for Apple iPhone 5, iPhone 5C or iPhone 5S, clear with Gold frame\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: I was relieved to find not a scratch, not a crack, and no damage at all\\n\\nReview: This is an excellent screen protector. I noticed many reviews complaining that it doesn't cover the entire screen. I was looking at other protectors and they state that it is not possible to cover the entire screen because something about the edges. I'm ok with the slight gap around the edge. It is still protecting my screen, and I actually tested it yesterday - by accident. I dropped my phone in the kitchen, on tile floor, and it hit face first. I knew it was toast and slowly picked it up expecting the worst. However, I was relieved to find not a scratch, not a crack, and no damage at all to my screen. Wow - That right there was all I needed to know that I need to use these on my phones, and the Kyasi screen looks great, and protects very well.\",\n \"Product: We are proud to offer cruelty-free vegan leather which is a type of alternative, breathable, non toxic material, animal friendly with the appearance and flexibility of genuine leather, but using only man-made materials, without hurting nature or animals in its manufacturing.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: This wallet has a very nice in fit and finish.\\n\\nReview: This wallet has a very nice in fit and finish. It uses clear plastic to secure the phone, which is nice, because it shows off the phone. My current wallet has black plastic frame and blocks the looks of my solver iPhone 6+. I mention this in case it is important to you. The car slots are well designed and the bottom 3/4 pocket is great for holding folded cash. The monogram makes this a little more elegant than comparable cases that don't have that. In summary, solid wallet phone case that was well thought out.\\n\\nLike many of my reviews, I was provided a significant discount in exchange for testing and providing my honest review. Thoughts contained in this review are based on my experience and personal opinion. I hope this helps guide you in your search for an iPhone 6+ case. - Dan\",\n \"Product: Rop it into water and you're ready to clean! the Pyle Pure Clean pressure Washer system provides you with quick Cleaning 'on-the-go'! the Built-in water pump can be placed into a bucket, and it sprays water through the hose just like a shower head. Charge the water pump via the included USB cable and the seal is water tight for 100% waterproof safety. Just add water and you're ready to clean. The energy and water efficient system comes with a shower head Sprayer, hose, suction cup, Holder and hook attachment -- so you can post up and clean anywhere you can find some water! clean your car, your PET or yourself!\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Great tool for washing the dogs!\\n\\nReview: <div id=\\\"video-block-R1JZFD3RDEG5UP\\\" class=\\\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\\\"></div><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/B1uRO1dnaqS.mp4\\\" class=\\\"video-url\\\"><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/718ahLwH2gS.png\\\" class=\\\"video-slate-img-url\\\"> What a great idea for a product - I love that this is rechargeable and portable. I don't have a handheld shower in our bathroom, so it's kind of a pain to wash the dogs. This is a great solution for washing them. I can fill up a gallon bucket, drop this in, and wash our little dogs easily. Plus it's pretty quiet, and gentle, so it doesn't freak them out. I added a video that I took after opening and testing it out. I'm looking forward to taking this camping and using it in a bucket of WARM water! Enjoy!\\n\\nLike many of my reviews, I was provided a discount in exchange for testing and providing my honest review. Thoughts contained in this review are based on my experience and personal opinion. I hope this helps guide you in your search for a portable shower - Dan\",\n \"Product: This grill cover is made by high quality materials, and has innovative features that protect your grill over many seasons. The grill cover is breathable and flexible to accommodate extremely cold weather while maintaining the same strength and durability as vinyl. Equipped with Velcro straps for a perfect fit, this durable cover is built to protect your grill from the elements all year long. Water-resistant and appropriate for all weather conditions. Storage bag is provided for easy storage of the cover. Only fits Weber Spirit 210 gas grills with tables folded down.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Fits the Weber Spirt E250 like a glove.\\n\\nReview: I recently purchased the Weber Spirit E210 grill and needed a cover. The \\\"Grill Valueparts REV105GC Grill Cover with Storage Bag For Weber Spirit 210 Gas Grills With Tables Folded Down\\\" cover fits my Weber perfectly. It follows the contours and and shape of the Weber spirit perfectly as you can see in my photos. I like that the storage bag is seen/connected to the cover so it won't be lost. It does hang off the bottom of the cover so you have to tuck it underneath so it doesn't hang on the ground. The fabric feels a little thin and I wonder how long it will last in the Arixona sun. That's the reason for a 4 star instead of 5, but keep in mind, it's a $20 cover. I've had it for a couple weeks and we've had high winds and the cover held strong. I'm glad to have a good looking cover protecting my investment.\\nI was provided a discount in order to test and provide an unbiased review. Hope you find this information helpful.\\n\\nDan\",\n \"Product: The Pyle PHMD2 Treasure Hunter Metal Detectors will help you uncover lost valuables. Find precious metals, artifacts and more with these fully featured metal detectors. Features include Waterproof and Submergible Search Coils, Headphone Jack, High-Sensitivity Operation, Mounted View Meter Control Box, Adjustable Volume, Sensitivity and Discrimination Control and more. Compact, light-weight and easy-to-use, the Pyle PHMD2 Metal Detector will help you unearth things you have and things you may not have been looking for.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Works well but don't expect a Garrett\\n\\nReview: <div id=\\\"video-block-R1KF37KJ2QF9FR\\\" class=\\\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\\\"></div><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/C1FNFm4v91S.mp4\\\" class=\\\"video-url\\\"><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/81N6BZJwodS.png\\\" class=\\\"video-slate-img-url\\\"> This review is for the PHMD2 Treasure Hunter 2000. I say that because I noticed reviews mentioning headphones and cables, etc. But this unit does not include headphones, or any assembly like others mention. This came in two parts. I had to turn one thumb screw to attach the arm rest handle to the rest of the detector. I added 6 AA batteries and powered it up. I messed with the settings a little and then gave it a test run. I set a couple coins in my artificial grass and it found them, as you'll see in the video. Hardly a true test of the capabilities, but important to see that it does what it claims. It detects metals. In my test I noticed that it did not give any false positives, which is important in a detector. I don't want to be digging for nothing. In summary, this is a good value for the money. It works and finds metal. It is very lightweight and comfortable to operate. It was easy to assemble, and stores in a compact fashion that is nice. If you are curious about metal detecting, this might be an effective to start out.\\n\\nLike many of my reviews, I was provided a discount in exchange for testing and providing my honest review. Thoughts contained in this review are based on my experience and personal opinion. I hope this helps guide you in your search for a metal detector - Dan\",\n \"Product: Meat shredding: pulled pork, chicken, beef - Putting meat on and off the grill - Sharp and high plastic quality material - Flip your pork, turkey, beef in the oven - Holding a large piece of meat while shredding or cutting - Shred and pull pork butt with ease to have premium cut pulled pork sandwiches! - Scoop charcoal out of or into the grill - Keep your hands protected and from getting burned - Good for holding down a whole chicken, deep fried turkey, or just about an hot piece of meat\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: For one, they have 6 claws per handle,\\n\\nReview: I own a set of Charcoal Companion meat claws (CC1130 5-Inch by 4-Inch Stainless Steel Meat Claws Lifter with Soft Grip Handle\\nby Charcoal Companion Link: http://amzn.com/B0067YBFQQ) that I liked using for tearing up pork roasts and chicken after smokin' them. They are metal and have a rubberish grip. The think I don't like is each claw has only 4 tines, that poke holes and slice the meat, as opposed to shred the meat. When the seller offered these claws in exchange for a honest and unbiased review, I was eager to participate. I like the design of the Shayan Meat Claws much better than the stainless steel claws I own. For one, they have 6 claws per handle, and the claws are a little more triangulated, which actually tear the meat up. I like the grip better too as it makes it easier to hold even when they get greasy from all that delicious pork. The other bonus to claw devices is your hands don't get hot, like they do with some of the gloves out there. These get my seal of approval.\",\n \"Product: The \\\"all inclusive\\\" iCrate, folding metal dog crate by MidWest Homes for Pets includes all of the features you will need to provide a convenient, safe & secure pet home for your best friend. This metal dog crate includes a free divider panel allowing you to adjust the size of the dog crate while your dog is still growing, a plastic leak-proof pan for easy clean-up in the event of an accident, a strong plastic carrying handle for easy portability & rubber \\\"roller\\\" feet on the bottom of the crate to protect your floors inside the home. MidWest iCrates also feature our patented side clips which reinforce the dog crate & reduce possible sharp points ensuring a safe experience for you and your pet. Every iCrate metal dog crate folds down flat for convenient storage. The 48\\\" iCrate (model 1548) measures 48L x 30W x 33H inches & is suitable for \\\"extra-large\\\" dog breeds. **Please note the term extra-large dog is subjective. For the best fit, we advise that you check the measurements of the actual dog crate against your dogs adult weight & measurements. Your dog should be able to comfortably sit upright, lay down & easily turn-around inside the dog crate. When in doubt we suggest you purchase the larger crate option. We at MidWest Homes for Pets understand that your dog is a part of your family & that's why we ensure our dog crates are manufactured with the highest quality control standards creating a safe home for your pet that you can feel confident with. MidWest Homes for Pets stands behind the quality of our products with our MidWest Quality Guarantee 1-Year Manufacturer's Warranty. If you have any questions about our dog crates our customer service department would be glad to help you. MidWest customer service can be contacted at: 1-800-428-8560, available 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM, Monday - Friday.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Crate training is the best - dogs love it, and owners do, too!\\n\\nReview: Dogs love having their own den. So when we caught our dog being naughty and not going all the way outside to take care of business at night, she got her very own condo to sleep in. And she loves it. We gave her a pillow and a plush blanket and accessorized with a hanging food bowl and hamster-style water bottle. It's pretty much pimped out. And if you've never heard a small dog licking water from a giant hamster bottle, you're missing out. It's hilarious. This crate is the perfect size for our 12-lb Chiweenie, and she loves it so much sometimes she'll just chill out in it during the day with the door open. It's now officially her spot.\",\n \"Product: Love your dog to snooze with TOTAL COMFORT and relaxation? Let your beloved pet snooze in comfort with this Memory Foam dog bed, the \\\"Fleece Memory Ultimate Pamper\\\" designed for ULTIMATE pampering and relaxation. If you have a dog that likes the SNUG SUPPORT which an orthopedic memory foam dog bed gives, then this bed is for you. This bed is designed for dogs who love to experience the OPTIMAL level of support as they nap or sleep. The Sherpa Fleece top on a slightly flexible base provides an increased surface area to distribute weight more evenly and over a wider area, without the pulling uncomfortable effect of inferior non flexible and non fleece fabrics. On the inside, 2 layers of foam with 2 inches of SOLID MEMORY FOAM above and 2 inches of solid support foam below, gives the mattress optimum comfort and \\\"total body weight\\\" support. The 2-inch memory foam layer which conforms to the body shape provides relief for joints, while the support layer distributes \\\"total body weight\\\" across the ENTIRE bed surface, keeping the body on the comfort of the mattress and off the level of the floor. The textured non-slip base keeps the bed securely in place on the floor. There is a zipper on the lower edge of the cover for easy removal for EASY CLEANING and washing. And it looks gorgeous too. The textured fleece in soft 8mm pile provides a pleasing texture feel and appearance which you will not find with more common, shorter and harsher fleeces. The sides are a suede fabric for a smooth feel and appearance. The size of the quality large dog bed is 41.5 inches (105cm) length, by 25.5 inches (65cm) width, by 4 inches (10cm) high. To let you beloved pooch experience the comfort of a comfy, big Memory Foam dog bed, and to give the best for your dog, then the \\\"Fleece Memory Ultimate Pamper\\\" is for you. Our product is backed with a 100% GUARANTEE, if you have any problems, contact the email that comes with the product for replacement or refund. Enjoy! ADD TO CART NOW and BUY TODAY!\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Andi the Chiweenie loves it!\\n\\nReview: Arrives in a roll for compact shipping, instantly flattens out and fills with air for a plush, cushy surface. Our Chiweenie instantly curled up and quickly claimed it as her own. Generous size is perfect for one large dog (a Lab or Golden Retriever would fit comfortably) or several smaller dogs (our Chihuahua and Chiweenie will easily fit with room to spare). We've had some challenges with the dogs unstuffing cheaper beds, the memory foam is an awesome alternative.\\n\\nLike many of my reviews, I was provided a significant discount in exchange for testing and providing my honest review. Thoughts contained in this review are based on my experience and personal opinion. I hope this helps guide you in your search for a nice, comfy dog bed. - Keri\",\n \"Product: With the excellent automatic rung locking mechanism, the 12.5' Extension Ladder could extend and close easily - it stores away at just 3ft and fully extends to a remarkable 12.5ft. Telescopic ladder is ideal for accessing lofts, cleaning windows, interior and exterior painting and decorating, also for surveyors, tradesmen and DIY use. Features: * 12.5FT Fully Extendable Telescopic Ladder * Anti-Corrosion and Lightweight 6063 Aluminum Alloy Construction * Unique Extend and Locking Mechanism with Thumb Buttons Clicks Smoothly and Effortlessly * Total 11 Steps, Adjustable in 1 Foot Increments - Great for Any Size Project * Heavy Duty Strap To fasten up for Better Storage * Comfortable Hand Pad for Easy Transporting * Non-Slip Rubber Angled Feet to Protect Floor Surfaces and Give Great Grip in All Positions. * Compact Unit, Easy to Store in the Car or at Home * Highly Versatile Design to Handle All of Your Work around Your House or even Your Business Specification: - Maximum Capacity: 330 lbs - Fully Extended Length: 12.5ft - Fully folded Height 3ft - Number of Steps: 11 Steps\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: This can be raised and collapsed very easily\\n\\nReview: <div id=\\\"video-block-R1MFDUN8XPHFZR\\\" class=\\\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\\\"></div><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/C1kvzM7QHGS.mp4\\\" class=\\\"video-url\\\"><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/91eh4gebGJS.png\\\" class=\\\"video-slate-img-url\\\"> This is my first time using a telescoping ladder and I wasn't sure how much I would trust it. I was pleased to see this advertised a 330 lb weight limit because most ladders are 250, maybe 280 lbs. Being close to that limit doesn't evoke confidence. Some people said this was lightweight, but it's 28lbs. It's kind of heavy to be honest, but it comes with a carrying bag, that has a shoulder strap. That has made it easy to move around where I needed it. I just looked at the little giant 13' ladder and it's also 28 lbs, so this looks like it's right in line with that major brand ladder. However, that one has a 250lb weight limit. Moving back on to the features, I appreciate that this has the finger savers. I've seen others that will collapse to a smaller height, but when collapsing the steps, they are easy to catch your fingers. Never fun. This can be raised and collapsed very easily. Here is a quick video showing how this ladder functions. I was provided a discount in return for my ability to test and provide my opinion on this product. This review is my own.\",\n \"Product: The How Can It Be Gluten Free Cookbook\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: THE BIBLE for gluten-free cooking\\n\\nReview: Borrowed this book from a friend, and it was so great I had to get my own copy. The \\\"Drunken Noodles\\\" recipe alone is worth the price. It's become our new family favorite; a quick, easy, flavor-packed go-to meal. We recently discovered our gluten intolerance, and learning a whole new way to eat has been overwhelming at times. The first part of the book breaks down gluten free food options in the way you know and trust from America's Test Kitchen. Side-by-side photos, cooking tips and ranked comparisons were super helpful and saved a lot of personal trial-and-error in developing my own recipes and workarounds. We have also eliminated eggs and dairy from our diets, however even with having to substitute out those ingredients this cook book is a must have for any gluten-free kitchen.\"\n]","isConversational":false},"profile_size":{"kind":"number","value":40,"string":"40"},"task":{"kind":"string","value":"longlamp_3"},"split_kind":{"kind":"string","value":"user_based"},"id":{"kind":"number","value":966,"string":"966"}}},{"rowIdx":967,"cells":{"question_id":{"kind":"string","value":"ATATZGNDHA5ZD"},"question":{"kind":"string","value":"Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of \"3.0\" for a product with description \"Stephenie Meyer and Meg Cabot head up this collection of 5 thrilling paranormal stories which take bad prom nights to a whole new level. Imagine discovering you're dancing with the Grim Reaper -- and he isn't there to tell you how hot you look. Worried that your Prom Night is gonna bite? In this thrilling collection, bestselling authors Stephenie Meyer and Meg Cabot take bad prom nights to a whole new level -- a paranormally bad level! Clothes disasters and falling over your own two feet are nothing compared with discovering you're dancing with the Grim Reaper -- and he isn't there to tell you how hot you look! From vampire exterminations to angels fighting demons, these 5 stories are more entertaining than any really bad DJ spinning his stuff. No corsage or limo necessary -- just good, scary, sexy fun.\". The summary of the review text is \"Some stories were good, and some were just weird\"."},"answer":{"kind":"string","value":"When I heard that two of my favorite authors--Meg Cabot and Stephenie Meyer--each had entries in this compilation, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it.\n\nI think I enjoyed \"Kiss and Tell\" the most though I had never read a book by this author before, and I found Meyer's story a little abrupt, leaving me with too many unanswered questions at the end. I must admit, though some of the stories were just a little too weird for my taste (and weird kind of is my taste), I liked the feel of the book.\n\nA little Edger Allen Poe with a little Buffy the Vampire Slayer mixed in didn't make for a bad read. And thank you for not setting a scary story on Halloween. My own bizarre prom night dissevered a little explaining, and now I have some new theories rolling around in my head."},"correct_answer":{"kind":"string","value":"When I heard that two of my favorite authors--Meg Cabot and Stephenie Meyer--each had entries in this compilation, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it.\n\nI think I enjoyed \"Kiss and Tell\" the most though I had never read a book by this author before, and I found Meyer's story a little abrupt, leaving me with too many unanswered questions at the end. I must admit, though some of the stories were just a little too weird for my taste (and weird kind of is my taste), I liked the feel of the book.\n\nA little Edger Allen Poe with a little Buffy the Vampire Slayer mixed in didn't make for a bad read. And thank you for not setting a scary story on Halloween. My own bizarre prom night dissevered a little explaining, and now I have some new theories rolling around in my head."},"documents":{"kind":"list like","value":["Product: Louis Sachar was born in New York and has published many successful children's books in the USA. Holes was the first of his novels to be published in the UK with tremendous success, both in schools and at home. There's a Boy in the Girl's Bathroom is the second of his novels to be published in Britain.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Small steps, big heart\n\nReview: It's not every day that I finish about as say, \"Wow, that's a good book,\" to an empty room. But that's what happened when I finished reading this book. I had really enjoyed <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Holes/dp/0440419468/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">Holes</a>, and completely expected to enjoy this book as well. What I didn't expect was how moved I was.\n\nSachar has a way of making the impossible seem extraordinarily believable because he has these amazing characters who can pull it off. You want to believe that these incredibly human characters can do anything because you can see the greatness within them--even when they lack faith in themselves.\n\nFrom the moment ex-convict Theodore \"Armpit\" Johnson meets pop star Kaira Spears \"DeLeon\", you hold your breath in anticipation for great things to happen. And Sachar doesn't disappoint. The plot if fast-moving, the dialogue is both delightful and realistic, and even the pop song lyrics along the way bring the plot forward rather than interrupted the story line like in so many other books.\n\nI was filled with hope for Armpits future despite the heartache, and I hope to see many more stories like this come from the boys at Camp Green Lake. I couldn't have put this book down even if I had wanted to.","Product: Madmans Daughter\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Can't wait for the next book!\n\nReview: When I first heard about this book, I knew it was going to be big. And not that I've read the final version, I'm even more excited. It's gripping and sexy, dark and mysterious. This is one you won't want to miss.\n\nJuliet Moreau doesn't know who she is anymore. Her mother is dead, her father has disappeared, most of her friends have abandoned her and she has no future prospects. Worst of all, working as a cleaning girl for the medical labs at King's College makes it impossible for her to ignore the unnatural curiosity that hums through her veins. The same unnatural curiosity that got her father labeled a madman for his gruesome experiments on animals and humans alike.\n\nThen a childhood friend turns up in London, and Juliet discovers her father is living on a remote island. Out of options and desperate for answers, she convinces Montgomery to take her to her father. With the help Montgomery and the handsome Edward, Juliet begins to piece together what happened to lead to her father's downfall and also uncovers a mystery in her own blood.\n\nAn homage to H.G. Wells' <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/The-Island-of-Dr-Moreau/dp/0812567072/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">The Island of Dr. Moreau</a>,<a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/The-Madman-s-Daughter/dp/B009QU6W52/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">The Madman's Daughter</a> is a true Gothic horror that will keep you on the edge of your seat. For the romantic, there's a bit of a love-triangle with the damsel in distress, the boy next door and the mysterious stranger, but that is far from the focus of the story. It's really about a girl discovering that she is not controlled by fate, heritage or circumstance, that she can make her own choices and be the person she wants to be. While this book can easily stand alone, I can't wait to read the next installment.","Product: Unusual book\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Resistible, but still respectable\n\nReview: SEP has a way of sucking you into her stories with promised glimpse of past characters, making you laugh and cry all at once, and driving you nuts with petty secondary characters, overprotective mothers and spoiled little rich girls. While this book turns a lot of the same tricks as SEP's other books, I still had fun reading it. I really did giggle at a few parts and loved watching Meg come into her own. Then again, I had to put up with Ted's imperfection being that he's too perfect and a town full of crazy woman I loved in other books become gossipy witches who need to learn the same lessons all over again. Far from the best SEP book out there, but I don't feel as if I wasted an evening with a little guilty-pleasure reading.","Product: Artemis Fowl\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Could make you a fan, but won't keep you as one\n\nReview: Who knew Butler is blond, Artemis is near anorexic skinny and Julius is, well, gray. I love the visuals a graphic novel can give a book to make it come alive.\n\nWhile the graphics are amazing, the story hasn't changed, in fact, it loses a lot of its depth because it is so short. The two best things about the Artemis Fowl books are the sharp dialogue and rounded characters, and both of these qualities are lost in the graphic novel.\n\nBecause I am already a huge fan of Eoin Colfer and the Artemis Fowl books, I found this an entertaining and quick reminder of what happened in the first book but not a stand-out book in its own right.\n\nHowever, if you love graphic novels but have never read the Artemis Fowl books, I think you will like this book. The best part is, if the graphic version gets you interested, you are already half way to becoming obsessed with one of the best YA fantasy series out there."],"string":"[\n \"Product: Louis Sachar was born in New York and has published many successful children's books in the USA. Holes was the first of his novels to be published in the UK with tremendous success, both in schools and at home. There's a Boy in the Girl's Bathroom is the second of his novels to be published in Britain.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Small steps, big heart\\n\\nReview: It's not every day that I finish about as say, \\\"Wow, that's a good book,\\\" to an empty room. But that's what happened when I finished reading this book. I had really enjoyed <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Holes/dp/0440419468/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Holes</a>, and completely expected to enjoy this book as well. What I didn't expect was how moved I was.\\n\\nSachar has a way of making the impossible seem extraordinarily believable because he has these amazing characters who can pull it off. You want to believe that these incredibly human characters can do anything because you can see the greatness within them--even when they lack faith in themselves.\\n\\nFrom the moment ex-convict Theodore \\\"Armpit\\\" Johnson meets pop star Kaira Spears \\\"DeLeon\\\", you hold your breath in anticipation for great things to happen. And Sachar doesn't disappoint. The plot if fast-moving, the dialogue is both delightful and realistic, and even the pop song lyrics along the way bring the plot forward rather than interrupted the story line like in so many other books.\\n\\nI was filled with hope for Armpits future despite the heartache, and I hope to see many more stories like this come from the boys at Camp Green Lake. I couldn't have put this book down even if I had wanted to.\",\n \"Product: Madmans Daughter\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Can't wait for the next book!\\n\\nReview: When I first heard about this book, I knew it was going to be big. And not that I've read the final version, I'm even more excited. It's gripping and sexy, dark and mysterious. This is one you won't want to miss.\\n\\nJuliet Moreau doesn't know who she is anymore. Her mother is dead, her father has disappeared, most of her friends have abandoned her and she has no future prospects. Worst of all, working as a cleaning girl for the medical labs at King's College makes it impossible for her to ignore the unnatural curiosity that hums through her veins. The same unnatural curiosity that got her father labeled a madman for his gruesome experiments on animals and humans alike.\\n\\nThen a childhood friend turns up in London, and Juliet discovers her father is living on a remote island. Out of options and desperate for answers, she convinces Montgomery to take her to her father. With the help Montgomery and the handsome Edward, Juliet begins to piece together what happened to lead to her father's downfall and also uncovers a mystery in her own blood.\\n\\nAn homage to H.G. Wells' <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/The-Island-of-Dr-Moreau/dp/0812567072/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">The Island of Dr. Moreau</a>,<a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/The-Madman-s-Daughter/dp/B009QU6W52/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">The Madman's Daughter</a> is a true Gothic horror that will keep you on the edge of your seat. For the romantic, there's a bit of a love-triangle with the damsel in distress, the boy next door and the mysterious stranger, but that is far from the focus of the story. It's really about a girl discovering that she is not controlled by fate, heritage or circumstance, that she can make her own choices and be the person she wants to be. While this book can easily stand alone, I can't wait to read the next installment.\",\n \"Product: Unusual book\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Resistible, but still respectable\\n\\nReview: SEP has a way of sucking you into her stories with promised glimpse of past characters, making you laugh and cry all at once, and driving you nuts with petty secondary characters, overprotective mothers and spoiled little rich girls. While this book turns a lot of the same tricks as SEP's other books, I still had fun reading it. I really did giggle at a few parts and loved watching Meg come into her own. Then again, I had to put up with Ted's imperfection being that he's too perfect and a town full of crazy woman I loved in other books become gossipy witches who need to learn the same lessons all over again. Far from the best SEP book out there, but I don't feel as if I wasted an evening with a little guilty-pleasure reading.\",\n \"Product: Artemis Fowl\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Could make you a fan, but won't keep you as one\\n\\nReview: Who knew Butler is blond, Artemis is near anorexic skinny and Julius is, well, gray. I love the visuals a graphic novel can give a book to make it come alive.\\n\\nWhile the graphics are amazing, the story hasn't changed, in fact, it loses a lot of its depth because it is so short. The two best things about the Artemis Fowl books are the sharp dialogue and rounded characters, and both of these qualities are lost in the graphic novel.\\n\\nBecause I am already a huge fan of Eoin Colfer and the Artemis Fowl books, I found this an entertaining and quick reminder of what happened in the first book but not a stand-out book in its own right.\\n\\nHowever, if you love graphic novels but have never read the Artemis Fowl books, I think you will like this book. The best part is, if the graphic version gets you interested, you are already half way to becoming obsessed with one of the best YA fantasy series out there.\"\n]","isConversational":false},"profile_size":{"kind":"number","value":4,"string":"4"},"task":{"kind":"string","value":"longlamp_3"},"split_kind":{"kind":"string","value":"user_based"},"id":{"kind":"number","value":967,"string":"967"}}},{"rowIdx":968,"cells":{"question_id":{"kind":"string","value":"AI0PLL5DQAHRG"},"question":{"kind":"string","value":"Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of \"5.0\" for a product with description \"A perfect mix of size, form, and performance, the HP7 Flashlight is rightfully one of our most popular handheld lights. It combines our Pure Beam Focusing System with Slide Focus with high, medium, and low output modes to illuminate with either a super wide flood beam or spot mode with transition halo at varying distances and brightness all controllable with one hand. Its anti-roll tailcap allows you to set it on uneven surfaces without rolling off and it even allows you to stand the light up on its cap for vertical lighting situations. With Coasts commitment to quality, the HP7 Flashlight is impact resistant, weather resistant and its LED is virtually unbreakable. The HP7 Flashlight is backed by Coasts lifetime warranty against defects in materials and workmanship. Tested and rated to ANSI/FL1 standards.\". The summary of the review text is \"Brightest flashlight I've ever owned with an incredibly compact design\"."},"answer":{"kind":"string","value":"Upon opening the packaging it's immediately obvious this is a quality product that the manufacturer is proud of, as the flashlight is lovingly placed inside a sturdy presentation-style box that's both for show and for storage.\n\nOn the illumination front, the Coast HP7 is easily the brightest flashlight I've ever owned, and it's startlingly bright for a device this compact that only uses AAA batteries. To compare with other LED flashlights, I've also got an LED Lenser P7, which is brighter than most handheld flashlights you'll find at the store, and the Coast HP7 is nearly twice as bright.\n\nLike other \"click-on\" style LED flashlights, this one uses a button at the bottom that lets you cycle through different brightness settings if you don't need the brightest possible option. By sliding the head of the flashlight in or out you can also widen or narrow the beam to focus the light on a specific object or use a broader light for illuminating a general area.\n\nIf you need an extremely bright flashlight, but don't want to carry around a large, bulky lantern, you can't really go wrong with this one. Although the HP7 costs more than what you might get at the sporting goods section of the local store, the quality, strong construction, and intense illumination can't really be beat."},"correct_answer":{"kind":"string","value":"Upon opening the packaging it's immediately obvious this is a quality product that the manufacturer is proud of, as the flashlight is lovingly placed inside a sturdy presentation-style box that's both for show and for storage.\n\nOn the illumination front, the Coast HP7 is easily the brightest flashlight I've ever owned, and it's startlingly bright for a device this compact that only uses AAA batteries. To compare with other LED flashlights, I've also got an LED Lenser P7, which is brighter than most handheld flashlights you'll find at the store, and the Coast HP7 is nearly twice as bright.\n\nLike other \"click-on\" style LED flashlights, this one uses a button at the bottom that lets you cycle through different brightness settings if you don't need the brightest possible option. By sliding the head of the flashlight in or out you can also widen or narrow the beam to focus the light on a specific object or use a broader light for illuminating a general area.\n\nIf you need an extremely bright flashlight, but don't want to carry around a large, bulky lantern, you can't really go wrong with this one. Although the HP7 costs more than what you might get at the sporting goods section of the local store, the quality, strong construction, and intense illumination can't really be beat."},"documents":{"kind":"list like","value":["Product: Easily research and organize your family history / Explore rich storytelling tools / Access billions of historical records from Ancestry Familiar A/B deck and crossfader make using DJ2GO a snap Includes integrated Virtual DJ LE Lite Software Includes - DJ 2 GO Controller USB Cable Quick start guide\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Overly complicated and hard to navigate, but overall a decent way to store family history data\n\nReview: For keeping track of many different members from any side of the family, a genealogy program like Family Tree Maker can be an invaluable and time-saving tool. While family history fanatics will likely still get a lot out of it, this particular program is unfortunately bogged down by an unwieldy interface and complicated design.\n\nThere are simply too many screens to navigate through to get to any given option, and frequently they are arranged in odd ways. Once data has been entered in the main family tree, it can also be difficult to scroll through the tree and get back to previous entries for other family members earlier in the tree. Performing searches for birth or death certificates and moving back or forward through results also gets unnecessarily complicated.\n\nOn the plus side, there are many features available for arranging your family tree in just about any configuration imaginable. Anyone wanting to print off a professional looking tree to show off at family gatherings will have everything they need, and then some.\n\nFamily Tree Maker 2011 comes with a free one month subscription to Ancestry.com, which offsets the cost of the software itself. While there is a huge amount of information to be found through the Ancestry website, it's not a simple matter of going back through your history and immediately finding all the names and locations. Finding specific information on a family member is time consuming and there often isn't any helpful data available. If you don't already know the full name, date of birth, and a location where the person lived, it's likely you'll never be able to find the next member in your family tree.\n\nOverall Family Tree Maker 2011 is a decent, if overly complicated, means of storing all the information from your family's history. The free month Ancestry.com subscription is a nice bonus, but a user really needs to keep paying for the service in order to continue finding information, so unfortunately the software comes off a bit like an advertisement for the web service.","Product: With two speed settings for optimal comfort, this Cool Mist Humidifier is ideal for small rooms. It produces a refreshingly cool, invisible mist. Model HM1761TG-UM. Item holds 1 gallon of water.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Works great and doubles as background white noise\n\nReview: Setup and re-filling is easy on this humidifier, and while its not super stylish or modern or anything, it looks fine sitting on the counter top. Within about two minutes of turning it on the air in our bedroom was noticeably different, and leaving it on all night I've noticed when I wake up that I'm far less congested and stuffy in the morning. It is fairly loud however, but this actually works for our needs. Normally the wife and I keep a fan on all night for noise, but with Winter hitting that's not really feasible anymore. We tried a white noise machine (with different options like heartbeats and rain forests) and hated it, but fortunately this humidifier is about as loud as our previous fan, so it's a win/win. If you don't dig a noisy machine though, you may want to try a different model.","Product: Paula Deen's newest stoneware is crafted In a unique hobnail design, this stoneware casserole is designed to bake and entertain Southern style. Each stoneware casserole is uniquely glazed so that no two pieces are alike. Her stoneware is designed for oven, microwave, refrigerator and freezer use. It's also dishwasher safe and oven safe to 500-degree farenheit.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Combines form and function for an attractive and useful baking dish\n\nReview: Having used primarily metal or glass cookware up until now, giving Paula Deen's southern stoneware baking dish a spin in the kitchen was a real treat. Our first run with it was cheese stuffed manicotti, with some delicious baked treats follwoing, and now it's quickly becoming our go-to baking dish.\n\nThe stoneware dish is seriously heavy duty and feels much sturdier than the average baking pan. The rounded edges and curved in structure makes it easier to clean by hand as foods don't cling to the surfaces like they would with a metal baking pan.\n\nThis is also a fantastic multitasking kitchen addition, as besides working as a baking dish and doubling as a storage device that can stay in the fridge or freezer, it's also an attractive centerpiece that works well for presentation on the dinner table. In a great combination of form, function, and relatively low price, Paula Deen's stoneware baker is a definite winner.","Product: Prep the kitchen and home bakery for more baking ease and enjoyment, using the Cake Boss Stainless Steel Tools and Gadgets 5-Piece Kitchen Prep Tool Set. The set includes five essential kitchen tools, including a slotted spoon, solid spoon, slotted turner, brownie spatula and cake server. The tool heads are made from durable stainless steel that's both strong and easy to clean and the soft-grip rubberized handles are crafted for confident grasp and comfort whether you're a righty or lefty. The slotted and solid spoon are perfect for lifting and draining washed berries from colander to mixing bowl and the turner is perfect for transferring hot biscotti or cookies from cooling rack to plate. Both the brownie spatula and cake server are able help serve a panful of thick, chewy butterscotch blondies or a rich double-fudge cake and still keep portions intact for beautiful presentation. The prep tools are all heat safe to 500DegreeF and hand washing is recommended. Start a Cake Boss collection at home with this kitchen prep tool set, or boost it with the assortment of other great Cake Boss products. Kit out the home bakery for every task and treat, with the essential pieces in the versatile Cake Boss Stainless Steel Tools and Gadgets 5-Piece Kitchen Prep Tool Set.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Far better than I was expecting\n\nReview: Having been let down by branded cookware below, I wasn't expecting this Cake Boss set to be worthwhile at all. The Cake Boss part especially had me leery. While I liked the first couple of seasons of the show, the Cake Boss brand cakes sold in stores are frankly overpriced and not very tasty, so I was expecting shoddy workmanship.\n\nTo my great surprise, each item in this set is high quality and these have quickly become my go-to kitchen tools. The grips are nice, the metal is sturdy, and the thin edges easily slide under whatever you're cooking. The slotted turner even works better for eggs than the silicone Oxo omelet turner I picked up specifically for that purpose. If you need a new set, definitely give this one a try.","Product: Drizzle flavorful vinegars and buttery olive oils on delicious foods using the Rachael Ray Cucina Stoneware 2-Piece Vinegar Bottle Set. Crafted from durable, solid stoneware and glazed with earthy color, the 13-ounce vinegar bottles feature subtle, handcrafted texture with rustic, antiqued character. The relaxed Old World charm of the stoneware bottle set makes an inviting tabletop statement when set out with mixed green salads at the dinner table. The bottles' spouts are proportioned to help deliver the ideal balance of flavor and the freeform handle integrated into the bottle's design provides an ample, ingenious handhold. The perfect duo to have on hand near the stovetop when cooking, the handsome bottles are also ideal for use at a dinner party for guests to enjoy balsamic vinegar and EVOO with freshly baked sourdough slices and piping hot bruschetta. Dishwasher safe for convenience, the eye-catching bottles match artisan-styled Cucina dinnerware to bring a harmonious look to the kitchen and dining room and also make the perfect partners for stoneware dipping cups, salad plates and serve ware pieces in Rachael's Cucina collections. Add the Rachael Ray Cucina Stoneware 2-Piece Vinegar Bottle Set to the dining room table to serve tangy vinegars and luscious oils alongside culinary favorites.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Pretty, but the pour spout is problematic\n\nReview: As far as appearance goes, these are top notch, and they match the Rachel Ray plates I got from Albertson's last summer during their big contest giveaway. They look fantastic as a centerpiece and have the bonus of actually doing something instead of just taking up space for aesthetic value.\n\nNow the downside: the actual pouring mechanism. If they are less than half full you have to old them at a truly odd angle (almost upside down) to get anything to come out at all. When you finally do get something to come out, it's not at all a drizzle that's going to make a pretty pattern on a plate for garnishing, and instead it comes out in big unpredictable spurts.\n\nIf you practiced and took the time to get the angle and tilt just right they might be worth it, but on the whole they're less useful than just using a bottle and a spoon to pour olive oil or balsamic vinegar.","Product: Revitalize is a whole new way to deep clean from Oreck. The powerful Duo Scrub Technology makes it easy to remove years of set-in stains from your carpet. Refreshing your home is simple from start to finish with convenient features like Two Tank Technology, Smart Suction Technology and a 26 ft. power cord. You can even take the power of Revitalize to stairs, furniture and hard-to-clean areas with the 8 ft. hose and Upholstery Tool.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Nice sturdy carpet cleaner\n\nReview: The cost of renting a carpet cleaner can really add up over time, so investing in a home unit of your own can actually save money in the long term if you like to give your carpets a thorough cleaning regularly. This Oreck model comes together very easily (everything just snaps together) and its about the same size and weight as a vacuum cleaner. As far as cleaning power goes, it actually works really well (although don't expect miracles if you've got years old stains you'll need to go over those several times to make a dent). The included cleaning solution gets the job done and actually smells great. The only downside is the size of the clean water tank. Depending on how large your carpeted rooms are, you'll very likely have to refill at least once a room, and you'll definitely have to refill multiple times to clean a full apartment or house. While meant for floors and rugs, it also has a hose attachment so you can clean up sofas and chairs as well.","Product: A beautiful marriage of form and functionality, the Totally Bamboo Family Tree Bamboo Carving Board with Etched Juice Groove is a gorgeous solution for carving and cutting. The etched tree in the center of the board directs juices away from food as it's cut to the generous collection well. A deep groove runs along the interior edge of board to further collect and store and excess juice ensuring the table or countertop stay clean! Crafted with parquet end-grain bamboo, this board is gentle on knives while providing an outstanding cutting surface. This board is large enough to handle any carving job at 19-1/2 inches by 15-3/4 inches; over 300 square inches! When it's time for cleanup, the board quickly wipes clean; it should not be soaked or washed in the dishwasher. Backed by a one-year manufacturer's warranty. Start a new family tradition with the Totally Bamboo Family Tree Carver!\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Use the bottom for cutting and the top for displaying\n\nReview: This cutting board is absolutely massive and you aren't ever going to run out of room for cutting meat or veggies. The side tunnels for catching juices (or swiping away unwanted parts, like for instance the seeds of a pepper) are an excellent addition, and the huge laser etched tree is absolutely beautiful. The only problem here is also the biggest draw: the etching sort of makes it pointless to cut anything that isn't a huge chunk of meat. Vegetables get stuck in the etchings and make smaller things very awkward to cut. There's a really easy workaround though just cut on the bottom, and use the top for displaying. You can make some really stunning meal centerpieces by laying out a family style meal on top of the etching and having everybody serve up their own plates.","Product: It is with great excitement that we introduce you to the newest masterpiece available on the market that confidently boasts to be the last coffee grinder you will ever need to handle all of your coffee grinding needs. The TANORS stainless steel ceramic conical burr manual coffee grinder. Distinguished by a smooth yet durable stainless steel body. Inside you will find a combination of practicality with simplicity: an easily accessible knob that can be turned clockwise or counterclockwise for precision grinding, whether you desire an espresso or French press, and easy cleaning. The bottom of this gem doubles as a vacuum sealed storage compartment to store your fresh grounds and maintain their freshness. The TANORS stainless steel manual coffee grinder was designed to be compatible with the AEROPRESS to make it a great traveling companion. The sophisticated yet rugged design makes the TANORS manual coffee grinder an equally great addition to your home, kitchen, executive office or outdoor lifestyle.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Good quality construction, but mostly only useful for single cups while traveling\n\nReview: Based on the picture above I didn't realize just how small this grinder really is this is definitely more for taking on the road to grind a single cup of coffee at a hotel than for home use where more than one person will be drinking. Unfortunately its really not suitable for grinding enough coffee for a full pot, as you'd have to do it in several batches you'd just end up with a dead tired arm half an hour later.\n\nIf you only need one or two cups however, this is a good option, as all the components are high quality and they easily pull apart to throw in the travel bag and take with you. The connected collection tube at the bottom means you won't ever lose or spill any grounds after going through the work of manually grinding beans. Although advertised for coffee, this also works equally well for grinding herbs, and the travel size bag makes it useful for campers who need a little liquid wake up juice in the morning. When at home or staying somewhere with electricity though, frankly I'd recommend any cheap electric grinder instead, as they don't take up that much more space and they require significantly less work.","Product: Farberware is the #1 selling cutlery brand in the U.S. (Source: The NPD Group, Inc./Retail Tracking Service. 52 weeks ending March 2016). Farberware EdgeKeeper Knives feature a sheath with innovated technology that is designed to automatically sharpen the blade with each use. The EdgeKeeper protective sheath contains a built-in mechanism that hones the blade before and after each use, maintaining a blade's razor-sharp edge. The blade is made from high-carbon steel that lends strength, sharpness, and durability. Knives are not dishwasher safe. Hand-wash with warm water and a mild detergent; rinse and dry immediately.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Great idea for keeping a knife sharp\n\nReview: I cook at home for almost every meal and I've never had any luck getting a sharpening rod to actually work for me, so this self-sharpening sheath is a fabulous idea for helping to keep a frequently used knife working well over time. I've been using it every day for a few weeks now and while it has slightly lost its edge (it used to go straight through a tomato like butter, but now there's a slight resistance when first going through the skin), overall its remained much sharper than any of the other knives I've bought recently. The sheath isn't perfect you have to slide it in at just the right angle or it will get caught on the sharpener edge but overall I'm very satisfied, and the price point is incredibly reasonable. Now we play the waiting game to see if the sharpener actually keeps it cutting well over the next few months and I'll update this again if there's any major deterioration in the blade's edge.","Product: Bring a touch of fun and style to your kitchen with the compact countertop microwave from Bella. This small but mighty 0.7-cubic foot microwave oven offers 700 watts of power and 10 power levels for versatile food prep. The compact model features a removable 10-inch turntable to ensure even heating for most standard-sized dinner plates. The Bella Compact microwave includes an easy to use digital interface with an LED clock and kitchen timer. One-touch cooking is at your fingertips with 1-6 minute Express Cook controls, convenient +30 second control and 6 Quick Start one-touch cooking functions for popcorn, beverage, dinner plate and more. The Bella microwave allows you to defrost by time or weight and offers multi-stage cooking that adjusts power level during the cooking cycle for greater control. Thanks to a memory-function you can save and recall custom controls. For safety, the microwave is equipped with a keypad lockout to prevent unauthorized use. The Bella Microwave carries a 1 year manufacturer's warranty.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Compact and powerful with a few minor issues\n\nReview: We had our previous microwave for something like 12 years, and it served faithfully right up until the end, but the time finally arrived for a replacement so we decided to go with a more compact version for saving shelf space. What I like about this Bella model is that it uses about half to three quarters the space of our old giant microwave but still actually has the same interior heating area. Our previous one must have been wearing down over the years as well, because I've noticed a reduction in the heating times - bagged popcorn in particular takes 30 - 40 fewer seconds to finish than before.\n\nNow on the downsides, and there are a few. The most noticeable is that the top feels less sturdy than our old microwave, and of course we'd pile things on top of there. With this smaller, flimsier-feeling model, we don't do that anymore just in case. The button setup is also different than I'm used to and there's an extra button to get microwaving. Rather than typing in your time and hitting start, instead you've got to hit the Time Start button, then the time, then start. On the flip side, the number buttons serve as a \"quick start,\" so for instance if you just press 3, it will automatically start heating for 3 minutes. Finally, and this maybe only bugs me, but it took me a while to get used to the fact that the : symbol between the hours and minutes blinks. Normally you think of blinking on a clock meaning it needs to be set and isn't working, but instead here it blinks normally and doesn't blink while you set the time. Took me a couple of days before that stopped annoying me everytime I walked into the kitchen.\n\nThose issues aside, I'm liking this cute little microwave that does just as well as our old one. Can't speak to the longevity yet as we've only had it a few weeks, but I'll check back in with an update if anything breaks down.","Product: Commercial Shelving Unit 36\"W x 12\"D x 75\"H with box beam shelf design and double-sided compression clips support loads up to 750 lbs. per shelf, evenly loaded. Unit includes 4 posts and cross braces. Shelves can be easily repositioned in one-inch increments. Shelves feature corner brackets which help prevent rocking and improve overall stability and rigidity. A hat channel under every shelf increases overall strength. Steel construction with durable powder coat finish.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Sturdy and heavy duty\n\nReview: Talk about heavy duty! These shelves are great either for tools out in the garage or for using inside if you have things you don't want to leave up to chance with flimsy wood bookcases. There's no back segment, which can be a positive or negative depending on what you need to store a positive if you want to display objects say in a library or game room, but a negative if you want to pile on paperbacks and not have them fall through the back side. For large coffee table books or hardcovers though, this works pretty well. Just keep in mind that putting this together is more of a task than with a bookcase that includes all the tools in the box, so be sure you've got a second person around to help you with lifting and assembling the heavier pieces.","Product: Ncredible NPulse over-ear headphones\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Crystal clear sound at the highest volumes\n\nReview: I'm always in need of high quality headphones, as a large part of my job consists of reviewing music and transcribing recorded interviews with bands. I've tried `em all, from the cheapest ear buds to the bulkiest and most expensive over ear monstrosities, and I can say the NCredible NPulse lives up to its name.\n\nVolume is not even remotely a problem here - interviews I could barely hear while transcribing before are too loud when played at full volume now. There's no distortion or loss of quality even with the high volume though. Everything comes through crystal clear no matter I'm listening to, from highly produced melodic death metal to lo-fi kvlt black metal and even on to the atmospheric and symphonic stuff like Anathema or Therion. The Npulse also features great sound cancellation, so outside sounds don't come through as much when you've got the music blasting.\n\nThe ear pads are soft and comfortable, however the headphones overall are very heavy, which is probably the only potential downside. If you are only using them for half an hour at a time it won't matter, but they do get uncomfortable if you are using them for hours-long listening sessions. That being said, they do include the option to both extend and rotate in different directions, so with a little fiddling it's not too hard to find that sweet spot for the most comfort.\n\nIf you need clear sound, the potential for very loud volume, and prefer over ear headphones to the in-ear design, definitely pick these up.","Product: NETGEAR ReadyNAS 100 Series Network Attached Storage is the safest way to store, stream and share your valuable content. Perfect for all your data including large photo and movie collections, ReadyNAS makes it easy to backup all your valuable content in one secure location where you can then stream it, share it, and access it from anywhere. Not only does ReadyNAS automatically store previous versions of files with hourly backups, it is also fully compatible with the Apple Time Machine for remote or local file backup and recovery from Mac computers. Your files are safe and sound with NETGEAR ReadyNAS.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Easy backup and storage on your home network\n\nReview: Netgears new network attached storage devices have a great design that look sleek sitting on a desk, and they have a pull open front door to quickly access the drives. Installing or removing drives is incredibly easy and its really as simple as pressing and pulling. This particular model comes pre-loaded with two 1 terabyte drives that support RAID configurations so you won't lose your data, but you can also upgrade with your own drives for up to 8TB of storage space. The only thing about the design I didn't care for is the very bright blue light on the front definitely put it on the floor and turn it towards the wall if its in your bedroom!\n\nThe storage drives are accessible by any computer on your network for easy backup, and you can setup user profiles with passwords for extra security. While its meant to be accessed through your browser, you can of course also just access the network drive through the My Computer screen for faster drag and dropping. Connecting to a computer is incredibly fast and easy, but hooking up with other network devices like say your Xbox 360 to stream audio or video - requires quite a bit more work. Overall this is a great option if you need lots of storage space for saving important data or you want to share data across a home network and don't want to walk a USB flash drive back and forth between computers.","Product: Experience big sound with enhanced portability from XMI's We Speaker. Pair it up with your Bluetooth device for wireless playback, or use the provided cable to bring the sweet sound of music to your ears. This speaker features a 1.5 watt speaker in a ultra compact, 48 gram speaker that clips easily and inconspicuously to belts, bags, and keychains.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Surprisingly good sound quality from an amazingly small wireless unit\n\nReview: Before plugging this tiny little speaker unit into my laptop, I decided to give the manual a glance over, and was treated to some of the most hilariously ridiculous instructions I've ever seen for an electronic device. Some of the highlights include:\n\n#3 Take note that your speaker is not edible and should not be placed in your mouth. (Has this been a serious problem in the past?!?)\n\n#10 Refrain from dropping the speaker as this will damage the unit. (Uh....no duh....?)\n\n#11 Do not use the speaker in hazardous locations. (Well, guess I'll have to find a different speaker for my trek to Mordor then.)\n\n#12 Should any abnormal situations occur while using the speaker, discontinue using the speaker immediately. (So if an old friend I haven't seen in years gives me a call should I toss this in the trash?)\n\nWeird instructions that were probably translated from another language aside, the X-Mini portable speaker is an awesome little unit that's so small it can literally fit on your key chain. It charges straight through a USB cable, so you don't need to plug it into a wall outlet: just hook it up to your mobile device and you're good to go. There's also Bluetooth capability, so it can play audio wirelessly.\n\nBut now on to the only question that really matters: how does it sound? Obviously it's not going to be the same quality as say a Logitech 7.1 surround sound computer speaker set, so you can't expect sonic perfection. That being said, my music playlist coming through the X-Mini is noticeably better quality than what comes from my laptop's internal speaker, and its even better than the mid-range two-speaker set I picked up at Walmart. It's also a good deal louder than either the internal laptop speaker or the external speakers I've been using up until now.\n\nSimply put: it's great sound quality, with impressive volume range, all in an extremely portable package.","Product: The Sport-Brella Chair combines the technology of the Sport-Brella by SKLZ with the convenience of a portable fold-up chair. The detachable umbrella can be placed on either side of the chair and swivels at three different points for complete coverage from UV rays no matter where, or at what angle, the sun is shining. Also includes a cup holder, bottle opener, and compact carry bag.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Comfortable, portable, and has plenty of bells and whistles\n\nReview: For grilling, picnics, sunny days in the park, or even fishing, the \"Sport Brella\" chair provides a simple and portable way to sit comfortably outdoors. The chair is slightly wider than many of the standard fold-out chairs found in supermarkets or chain stores, and setup is incredibly fast. An instruction manual is included, but it isn't necessary. Pull the chair out of the fabric bag, open it up, and you're good to go. The bag has a shoulder strap and can be carried like a backpack, so it isn't difficult to carry to campsites or across parks.\n\nWhat sets the \"Sport Brella\" chair apart from others is the extra bells and whistles, which are well worth it. An umbrella comes attached to the side of the chair (no extra assembly required) that can be moved a full 360 degrees to hit any angle. The top of the umbrella can also swivel in different directions, so you're covered no matter which direction the sun is coming from. Moving either part only requires pressing in a button and manually moving the part in any given direction.\n\nThe arm that holds the umbrella is connected by a piece of sturdy plastic that held up perfectly fine for me during a normal summer day, but I'd be hesitant to use the umbrella during especially windy or rainy days. It seems more suited for shade than actual bad weather. A standard cup holder is included on the arm rest, and the bottom of the chair has a zipper pocket for holding fishing or grilling supplies. The zipper also features a handy bottle opener.\n\nComfort, portability, and loads of extra features make the \"Sport Brella\" chair the way to go for afternoon family outings or overnight camping trips.","Product: The Beyond\n\nLucio Fulci\n\n1981\n\nAnchor Bay\n\nDVD\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Occasionally great, but mostly mediocre to sub par\n\nReview: \"The Beyond\" is the flagship film for director Lucio Fulci. Hailed by many as his best work, it has all the qualities standard to Italian horror from the era. Style is given much more attention than substance, plot continuity and story development are ignored in favor of the advancement of a particular tone, and above all, gore is the means of delivering that tone to the audience. For those not familiar with Fulci's work or other Italian horror films done in the same style, The Beyond will probably be baffling and nonsensical to the point of actually angering the casual viewer. Be forewarned - storyline arcs will appear and disappear without any kind of proper resolution, events will occur for no adequately explainable reason, and eye gouging will most definitely happen much more than is necessary.\n\nWhat little story exists in this film actually reinforces the nonsensical juxtaposition of random scenes. A gateway to hell hidden under an old hotel in Louisiana has been opened, and reality is subsequently breaking down. Undoubtedly this was just a fortunate coincidence, and not any actual purposeful decision on Fulci's part, but at least it's there. In some respects however, it may have actually been better it Fulci had chosen a different background story for his mood specific gore fest. The idea of Hell slowly seeping into the world, turning everything inside out and upside down, re-animating the dead, corrupting the innocent and perverting the holy, really should have absolutely terrified the viewer beyond anything they had previously experienced. Instead, the viewer will mostly just be slightly uncomfortable because of all the gross-out, face dissolving, eye-gouging gore scenes. To be fair, a thoroughly creepy mood is occasionally achieved successfully, most often when the blind prophetic woman Emily appears, accompanied with the fabulous score by genre favorite Fabio Frizzi. Of course, even the musical score isn't all good. The last scene of the film, which is intended to push the viewer over the edge into despair and insanity, is actually irritating and annoying, because the music is strangely upbeat, completely destroying the all important mood.\n\nThe Beyond is occasionally great, but mostly mediocre and sometimes sub par. I suggest all horror fans watch this movie at least once to decide whether Italian horror turns their crank or not. If this movie frustrates you, you can officially junk the idea of any other Fulci or Argento style work - they only get more bizarre and nonsensical from here. However, if The Beyond gets you all hot and bothered, \"welcome to the sea of darkness, and all therein that can be explored\"!","Product: Lucio \"King of the Eyeball Gag\" Fulci made his name with a series of gory, gooey horror epics, and The Beyond stands above all as his outr masterpiece. The largely incoherent plot has something to do with a turn-of-the-century curse and a doorway to hell in the cellar of an old New Orleans hotel. Fulci shows his usual sensitivity with wooden acting, clumsy dialogue, and buckets of oozing blood and pus, but don't let that get in the way of enjoying this mad tale of zombies from hell invading Earth and eating their way through a cast of humans: crucified martyrs, blind visionaries, creepy hotel handymen, befuddled cops, and a plucky pair of heroes desperately fleeing a horde of hungry undead. The blood-red art direction is eerily beautiful, and Fulci's relentless long takes, punctuated by jolting shock cuts and eruptions of grotesque violence, create a mood of sheer paranoid horror right down to the final, mind-bending image. And don't forget the Fulci claim to fame: eyes are gouged out, eaten away, melted with acid, and (shudder) popped out by a spike through the back of the skull. Yech! If you dare ignore such piddling details as narrative logic and let yourself get carried away on the creepy visuals, it's a deliciously stylish treat, an edgy bit of gothic gore pitched in all its bone-crunching, flesh-ripping, organ-splatting glory. This sadistic, sanguinary hell-spawn tale is for gore-hounds only.\nThe DVD features chatty but largely jokey commentary by David Warbeck and Catriona MacColl and an alternate German credits sequence featuring Fulci's preferred sepia-tinged prologue (but no alternate footage). --Sean Axmaker\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Occasionally great, but mostly mediocre to sub par\n\nReview: \"The Beyond\" is the flagship film for director Lucio Fulci. Hailed by many as his best work, it has all the qualities standard to Italian horror from the era. Style is given much more attention than substance, plot continuity and story development are ignored in favor of the advancement of a particular tone, and above all, gore is the means of delivering that tone to the audience. For those not familiar with Fulci's work or other Italian horror films done in the same style, The Beyond will probably be baffling and nonsensical to the point of actually angering the casual viewer. Be forewarned - storyline arcs will appear and disappear without any kind of proper resolution, events will occur for no adequately explainable reason, and eye gouging will most definitely happen much more than is necessary.\n\nWhat little story exists in this film actually reinforces the nonsensical juxtaposition of random scenes. A gateway to hell hidden under an old hotel in Louisiana has been opened, and reality is subsequently breaking down. Undoubtedly this was just a fortunate coincidence, and not any actual purposeful decision on Fulci's part, but at least it's there. In some respects however, it may have actually been better it Fulci had chosen a different background story for his mood specific gore fest. The idea of Hell slowly seeping into the world, turning everything inside out and upside down, re-animating the dead, corrupting the innocent and perverting the holy, really should have absolutely terrified the viewer beyond anything they had previously experienced. Instead, the viewer will mostly just be slightly uncomfortable because of all the gross-out, face dissolving, eye-gouging gore scenes. To be fair, a thoroughly creepy mood is occasionally achieved successfully, most often when the blind prophetic woman Emily appears, accompanied with the fabulous score by genre favorite Fabio Frizzi. Of course, even the musical score isn't all good. The last scene of the film, which is intended to push the viewer over the edge into despair and insanity, is actually irritating and annoying, because the music is strangely upbeat, completely destroying the all important mood.\n\nThe Beyond is occasionally great, but mostly mediocre and sometimes sub par. I suggest all horror fans watch this movie at least once to decide whether Italian horror turns their crank or not. If this movie frustrates you, you can officially junk the idea of any other Fulci or Argento style work - they only get more bizarre and nonsensical from here. However, if The Beyond gets you all hot and bothered, \"welcome to the sea of darkness, and all therein that can be explored\"!","Product: When their child dies at a young age in an accident, a couple turns to a maverick and his cutting edge stem cell research to bring their son back through cloning. The resultant child is very similar to their original son, but something has changed.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Severely misrepresented, but at least watchable\n\nReview: Viewing the trailers for the movie \"Godsend\", it is abundantly clear that the individuals marketing this movie would like to show their potential audience that the film is a thought provoking thriller that raises all sorts of questions about the nature of humanity and the moral implications of cloning a previously deceased human being (and presumably presenting some kind of answer to those questions). Those individuals were gleefully lying through their teeth.\n\nGodsend starts off with plenty of potential to be a great movie. The viewers are introduced to the happily married Paul and Jessie Duncan, and their young son Adam, who is celebrating his birthday. All the cutesy young son birthday antics occur, letting everyone know just how much the couple loves their only child. After everyone is sufficiently indoctrinated with the fact that these people *really* love their kid, he is of course offed by a wayward vehicle that apparently felt like flying through the air and crushing a poor youngster in front of his mother. Enter genius doctor specializing in fertility, Robert De Niro to seemingly resurrect the dead through advanced cloning techniques. Herein it would appear the movie is about to start making some kind of point. Five seconds later about 3/4 of the people watching Godsend are going to understand the \"twist\" that occurs later on, all they while hoping fervently that they are wrong, they just misread the signs, this couldn't possibly happen in this film. Of course, they are unfortunately all correct.\n\nFor no apparent reason Godsend descends from intelligent ethical questioning of modern day science into a \"jump at the sudden sound\" quasi-horror movie with no purpose whatsoever. If only it had been marketed as such from the beginning! As a sudden shock style horror movie, it actually isn't all that bad. There have certainly been much, much worse scary flicks. Godsend does fall prey to the same pitfalls of all \"BOO!\" horror movies, such as the same scare occuring over and over, people running after someone screaming their name repeatedly even though it is quite clear they are neither going to turn around nor answer, and the characters doing blatantly stupid things that make the audience throw their popcorn and yell \"Don't go down in the basement!!\". Despite all this, there are some geniunely effective uses of interesting camerawork coupled with slowly building music to produce a few noteworthy scenes. However, anyone wanting to have a viewpoint expressed on the issues of mortality, cloning, resurrection, familial ties, destiny, or man's ability to play God should definitely pass by Godsend, as it doesn't even attempt to answer any of these questions that it half-heartedly raises.\n\nFor those fortunate enough to know absolutely nothing about this movie, feel free to watch and enjoy a decent ride with pretty good acting by some big name stars. Anyone one who was subjected to the insanely blatant lies of the trailers should understand that Godsend is simply a horror/thriller along the same vein as \"The Omen\" or \"The Good Son\" wrapped around a current hot issue to help it sell.","Product: A group of kids break down while driving on a remote country road. They stumble upon Camp Hiawatha in full swing and packed with seemingly happy teenagers. However, the teens and the camp are trapped back in 1981. The clothes, the music, the hair are 24 years back in time. Take a trip back to the 80s in this over-the-top, slasher film that delivers blood, mayhem and death 80s style!\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: Move over atomic bombs and cell phones, Camp Slaughter has now replaced you as \"worst thing to ever happend to mankind\"\n\nReview: Some horror movies are so bad the audience laughs. Others are so bad the audience can do naught but stare, slack jawed and with glazed over eyes, wondering what the producers and director were smoking to make them think this movie would be a good idea. Then there is the third category, which Camp Slaughter falls firmly into, that are so bad one might wonder if there is some sort of bizarre plot to resurrect a long forgotten dark deity of death and despair by getting enough people to watch something as horrible as this. Other than to wearily discuss the whole train wreck with your coworkers the next day around the water cooler, there is literally no entertainment value whatsoever to be derived from Camp Slaughter.\n\nApparently this is supposed to be a tribute to the whodunit style of teen slasher films of years long gone. How something can be labeled a tribute, when it is worse than every single teen slasher movie put together, is a question that should be put to Alex Pucci, who directed the whole gods-forsaken mess. Savvy horror movie buyers will notice there are actually film festival awards listed on the back of the DVD case, indicating the movie was actually praised by an independent panel of judges, leading many to believe the film might be worth buying. After viewing Camp Slaughter, it will become painfully obvious that either the film festivals referenced don't exist, or Pucci himself oversaw them.\n\nNone of this criticism is intended in any way to discourage Pucci and co from doing any future films. After all, you've gotta crawl before you can run. Camp Slaughter just happened to not even be out of the womb yet. It's clear that this was intended to be a great slasher flick, and that a lot of work went into it, it's just that every single facet of the movie failed on a level never seen before. The word \"acting\" can't even be used in reference to camp slaughter, it's really more like a bunch of young kids goofing off in front of a camera. Almost every scene of the movie is an extreme close up of someone's face. Add to this the fact that when the camera cuts from one extreme close up to another of people who are supposedly in the same scene talking to each other, the time of day and sounds in the background obviously change, it becomes apparent that the director couldn't even get all of the cast to show up at the same place at the same time for shooting. Anytime some sort of assumed action is occurring, the camera switches to comical warp speed reminiscent of ultra low budget TV shows to try to hide the fact that nothing is actually happening.\n\nThe standard elements of a slasher style horror movie are all used throughout the script, but they all inevitably fail, each more spectacularly bad than the last. It all starts by the number, with a group of teens driving down an empty expanse of the Great American Highway System. Of course, the vehicle breaks down at an inopportune time leaving the teens stranded in strange surroundings. The intrepid travelers soon discover there is a killer amongst them (but who?), there's a lot of unnecessary dialogue and explaining of why the killing is happening, and then finally the whole thing ends with the \"oh no the terror isn't really over\" ending that should have been dumped with the Friday the 13th series. To discuss the specifics of what is going on in this particular slasher entry would be to lend some sort of legitimacy to the plot, which anyone who enjoys horror movies should staunchly refuse to do.\n\nMaybe with an expanded budget, some actors who have at least a modicum of talent, a script that doesn't lead viewers to randomly commit suicide, and a little more experience under their belts, the criminals responsible for Camp Slaughter will give us something that fits in the \"so bad it's funny\" category. In the meantime, don't be surprised if Cthulhu rises from his watery sleep to rest control of the earth from the gods of light once again.","Product: Jeremy Sisto (Thirteen, TV's \"Six Feet Under\") and Limp Bizkit lead singer Fred Durst (Be Cool) star in this thrilling story about a U.S. census taker who is assigned to assess the population in a remote mountain community. The census taker becomes trapped in this prison-like town full of \"golden rules\" (that no one ever breaks) that doesn't allow its population to drop below or exceed exactly 436 citizens, a number in accordance with \"God's Law.\" He eventually learns that NO ONE is ever allowed to leave Rockwell Falls and that the town citizens will do whatever it takes to maintain the status quo. After fending off a lobotomy and pretending to go along with the program, the U.S. census taker eventually tries to escape. Will the population finally be altered, or will the story of Rockwell Falls live on? Director/producer of TV's long-running science fiction thriller \"X-Files,\" Michelle MacLaren (TV's \"Night Stalker,\" \"Without A Trace\") directs this bone-chilling film. The people of Roc\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Cheap knockoff of a movie that wasn't any good to begin with\n\nReview: Population 436, not so cleverly disguised as an original horror film, is really three parts \"Wicker Man\", one part \"Frailty\", poured over ice and served in a crappy CGI created glass. Any viewer who has already seen either version of the Wicker Man can officially pass on this movie, as they've already seen it. Population 436 follows the Wicker Man's plot almost scene for scene, with only slight changes to names and places. A guy shows up in the secluded villiage where no outsiders ever go. People are strange and generally produce a creepy vibe. It becomes apparent the townsfolk follow some sort of whacked out religion. A little girl is in danger. Hero guy sees creepy children being indoctrinated into relgious rituals in the school house. Everything is leading up to a big festival where it's obvious to everyone something very bad is going to happen. The ending is even an exact carbon copy of the ending of the remake of the Wicker Man.\n\nThe acting and characterization aren't much better in Population 436 than in the film it emulates. The hero is played by Jeremy Sisto, who does an amiable job playing the character he's been given, but the problem is that his character is annoying. He's calm when he should flip out, and he flips out when he should be calm. By the end of the movie the audience will literally be shouting at the screen, \"Just shoot someone already! Run them over! It's well within your rights at this point!\" The other actors really aren't worth even mentioning. None of them give any oscar winning, let alone even noteworthy, performances. Oh yes, and then there's the horrible CGI created fire scene. Movie directors please take note : if you don't have the budget for superb, completely convincing CGI effects, please don't use CGI at all! It just ruins any sense of immersion the viewer may have been experiencing previously. The entire movie has a very \"made for TV\" feel to it, which makes sense, as this is director Michelle MacLaren's first foray out of television and into full length movies. If MacLaren learns from the mistakes of this movie, hopefully the next one will at least be watchable.\n\nPopulation 436 is a big waste of time. Almost any other horror film is recommended over this.","Product: At a rural bar, a motley bunch of patrons struggle to survive a ravenous family of flying beasts bent on devouring every last one of them.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: First timer pwns the whole genre\n\nReview: First time director John Gulager takes the helm of what could have been an overly prosaic and boring B style horror flick, and instead steers himself into fame with a tour de force of blood, guts, and black comedy that should sate even the most jaded of gore hounds. The premise of Feast is as simple as it is effective. Average joes from all walks of life are barricaded inside a bar while monstrous hungry beasts try to get in and eat everyone. No attempt is made to explain where these creatures originate or even what they truly are, and this is on purpose. Feast breaks down all the horror genre's standard attributes into its component parts and drops all the extraneous pieces by the wayside, focusing solely on the parts that matter - the setting, the antagonists, and the gore. The characters themselves aren't even graced with actual names; they are simply referred to by their genre cliche characterizations. Nancy and Glen, Brenda and Jack have all been replaced with \"Beer Guy\", \"Bozo\", \"Hero\", and \"Honey Pie\". The lack of setup and background story actually works in the films favor. Who needs to see twenty-five minutes of a bunch of teen kids taking a road trip down the great American highway when we know they are all going to end up getting gutted by the end of the movie anyway? Feast capitalizes on the fact that people want to see the actual gutting more than the bantering of annoying and oversexed characters. Unfortunately this approach does lead to the films only real flaw. As there is no emotional attachment to any given character, no one is going to find themselves screaming, crying, or even being slightly moved by anything in the film. However, it's obvious Feast isn't trying to connect with the viewers in any meaningful way, it's just trying to entertain, which it does superbly.\n\nThe gore in Feast might as well be a character in the movie all it's own. It is both ever present and extremely well done. Limbs will be removed, blood will spurt by the gallon, guts will go flying, and by God people will find many ways to die quite painfully. Feast isn't interested in pulling any punches either. Just because a character is young, innocent, beautiful, or resourceful doesn't mean they can't be offed, extremely graphically, at any given moment. Anyone who has ever found themselves wondering why the hell they can't just kill that one annoying or cuddly character in a slasher flick will be pleasantly surprised with the sheer volume, and frequency, of deaths in Feast.\n\nWhile horror (or more specifically, gore), is the main focus of Feast, there is a good deal of dark humor. As each character is introduced, a set of statistics flashes up on the screen. The character's name, a fun fact or two about them, and then their average horror movie life expectancy is gleefully displayed without a shred of remorse or tastefulness. It's all one big joke to the viewers, as it is obvious the characters in the movie have no idea their lives and rapidly approaching deaths are on display for a dispassionate audience that will find entertainment in their suffering. Even the actions of the monsters and some of the kills are done in a humorous style, such as the extreme sexual overtones in how the creatures operate. All comedic elements are done just right so that things never go to far and fall into the dark pit of Hollywood cheesiness, or not far enough and fall flat without being funny.\n\nTo put it simply, Feast entirely pwns the horror genre. Gulager's off to a great start and I can't wait to see what he has to offer up next.\n\nUPDATE: Years later all I can say is, for the love of Zeus and all that is holy, don't watch the sequels. They nose dive, badly, and aren't worth your time, even in a \"so-bad-it's-good\" capacity.","Product: ZOO is an extraordinary glimpse into the life of a seemingly normal Seattle family man whose secret sexual appetites led to his shocking death. Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Robinson Devor (Woman Chaser, Police Beat), the film explores the ensuing media coverage and public outcry that uncovered a secret community of zoophiles, who call themselves \"zoos.\" This expressionistic rendering of how apparently upstanding citizens banded together and videotaped their journey into the most taboo realms of behavior, reveals the enormous gulf between what we appear to be and who we really are.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: More David Lynch than Michael Moore\n\nReview: Many people were probably very angry upon reaching the end of Zoo when they realized that they had not just watched a documentary, they had watched an art house film deceptively packaged as a documentary. Zoo eschews all standards of documentary filming such as factual content or video interviews, and instead strives to amaze viewers with flashy cinematography, a haunting musical score, and existential self-referential segments that have little or no connection with the subject matter of the documentary. The potential audience for this film should be warned ahead of time that it provides few solid facts about the events in question, sheds no new light on the subject of bestiality, and fails to provide any insight into why human beings would choose to make love with animals.\n\nZoo is nominally about the events leading up to Kenneth Pinyan's death due to a perforated colon when he engaged in anal intercourse with an Arabian stallion on videotape, as well as the individuals in Pinyan's life who encouraged or were at least indifferent to his interest in bestiality. The word \"nominally\" may be giving Zoo too much credit, as it never even provides Pinyan's name, instead solely using his online moniker \"Mr. Hands\". None of the individuals associated with Pinyan, from the group of people who identify themselves as living the zoo lifestyle that he met with regularly to engage in acts of bestiality, to his ex-wife and child, or even the police and prosecutors involved in the aftermath of his death, are ever shown on screen. Director Robinson Devor choose to use actors to create reenactments of events coupled with the occasional voiceover from audio interviews with a scant few people willing to talk about the issue. These audio tracks and reenactments do not even constitute the bulk of the film, which would have been acceptable if they gave any decent information. The vast majority of Zoo is simply long trailing shots of scenery or people matched with odd color schemes or eerie music. If these non-essential segments were all edited out, Zoo's runtime would be cut down from 80 minutes to somewhere around 30 minutes. There is no denying that Devor has a great talent for camera work and editing, but his talent is not suited to making documentaries.\n\nDevor is so obsessed with producing a specific mood and theme, to the complete detriment of the \"plot\", that he might as well be directing an Italian giallo. Halfway through the film the actor who portrays a police officer is shown in front of an entirely white background while he talks about his reaction to being asked to act in the film that he is currently acting in. Occasionally throughout this monologue the screen flashes black, leaving a white ghost trail of the actor's silhouette. This sort of ploy crosses the line from artsy to self indulgent, especially considering that the monologue has only the most tenuous of connections to Pinyan or the zoo lifestyle. Perhaps Devor was trying to show that a subject as bizarre as animal love and the men who would risk potential death to take part in it could not successfully be explained by a straight forward exposition of events, but instead required a broader look at people and their environments in general that requires multiple viewings to really sink in.\n\nLooking for an avant garde or artsy film to blow your mind with odd camera angles and off the wall color schemes? Look no further than Zoo. Those who actually wanted to learn something about Kenneth Pinyan or the mindset of people who would engage in such deviant acts can pass on this one.","Product: AN ALPHABETICAL ARSENAL OF DESTRUCTION This explosive film is comprised of 26 individual "chapters" on the topic of death, each helmed by a different director assigned to a specific letter of the alphabet. Provocative, funny and shocking, this anthology is the deffinitive vision of modern horror diversity. Get ready to learn your ABCs!\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: \"U\" is for \"Unwatchable\"\n\nReview: Upon hearing of the premise of \"The ABCs of Death\" I was immediately intrigued, although a bit skeptical - could they really work 26 different stories into a single movie effectively? My hopes were high though, expecting something like \"VHS\" or one of those `90s anthologies like \"Tales From the Darkside.\" The end result unfortunately isn't just disappointing - it may actually be the worst horror film I've ever had the displeasure of watching. Honestly, something like \"Entrails of a Beautiful Woman\" is a more coherent and watchable movie than this.\n\nMost of the clips are intensely juvenile, and of course there isn't nearly enough time in one to four minutes to offer up any sort of satisfying story. \"G is for Gravity\" is utterly pointless and might as well not have even been filmed, and it just gets worse from there. To know whether the flick is worth viewing, all you have to do is consider if you want to see something called \"F is for Fart.\" The segment consists of the world dying because God lets off some atomic flatulence, and then a Japanese schoolgirl with a fart fetish spends her last moments sniffing the bright yellow toots from her teacher's behind. If that sort of thing floats your boat, then by all means enjoy, but I think it's clear the rest of the world can safely skip \"The ABCs of Death.\"\n\nNow to be fair I kept watching after \"F is Fart,\" thinking maybe this was some sort of high concept but low-brow execution of social commentary on how women's bodily functions are viewed in Japan. I shouldn't have. Afterwards you get things like \"K is for Klutz\" (sigh) in which a woman defecates into a toilet, the feces becomes sentient and refuses to be flushed, and then tries to work its way back into the uh, \"birthing canal\" it came from. Does that sound like something you want to watch?\n\nThe one that will likely be the final straw for many viewers though is \"L is for Libido,\" in which men are forced into a masturbation race to the death. The one who loses gets a pointy object shoved into in an unpleasant place. If you've ever wanted to see two guys furiously masturbate while a small boy is raped by an overweight man, well, here you go I guess.\n\nSo is it all bad and totally without redeeming value? Essentially yes. \"C is for Cycle\" is the only clip that's even remotely interesting (with a storyline similar to the flick \"Triangle\") but of course at a minute and a half it doesn't have time to go anywhere. A minute and a half of somewhat decent material just simply isn't worth the other hour and a half of non-stop awful.","Product: Award-Winning Chilean director, Sebastin Silva, invites you on this thrilling journey to the deepest reaches of your darkest fears. In a foreign country, far from home, Alicia (Juno Temple) arrives in South America to vacation with her cousin, Sarah (Emily Browning). When Sarah is suddenly called away, Alicia is stuck on a remote island off Chile with three of Sarahs friends, including Barbara (Catalina Sandino Moreno) and Brink (Michael Cera), an American exchange student with a sadistic streak. Bewildered, frightened, and unable to sleep, Alicias reality becomes a nightmare from which there is no waking. Ancient indigenous rites, disturbing animal behavior, and captivating hypnotic trances come together in an intense exploration into the darkest corners.. when the games go too far, reality unravels with astonishing and deadly consequences.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: More awkward than \"May\" with some (unintentional) comedy gold\n\nReview: Lets get something out of the way right off the bat this isn't a particularly good movie. Frankly its kind of a bad one, but Magic Magic also happens to land in that category of bizarro flicks that are sort of worth seeing anyway, if for no other reason than to expand your cinematic horizons and tell people you actually made it to the end.\n\nOn the good side, the acting in Magic Magic is phenomenal, especially from the main actress. But with that stellar acting comes an important question: do you really want to see people convincingly behave in awkward and incredibly off-putting ways for an hour and a half? Because thats essentially the entire movie. Its just people being uncomfortable around one another and saying or doing cringe-inducing things while spending the weekend in a house by a lake in South America. Theres a side story about someone getting an abortion and covering it up, but like nearly everything else in this movie it amounts to nothing and might as well not have happened at all. Contrary to what the trailer implies or what other reviewers have stated, this is neither a horror movie nor a psychological thriller.\n\nSo why the three stars? Because of adorable Michael Cera being amazingly creepy and awkward, and the (completely unintentional) comedy gold that appears two-thirds of the way through the flick. In a truly baffling scene that had my wife and I just staring slack-jawed at the screen, the main character sneaks into Michael Ceras room at night, pulls down her pants, and shoves his face into her crotch, then promptly leaves. Why? Theres no reason, its just something weird that happens in a movie with no plot. Cut to the next scene, and Cera acting his heart out looks absolutely dead inside. His eyes give off a soulless and defeated quality for the rest of the movie, because apparently having his face in a vagina just utterly broke him. We were both unable to contain our laughter every time his face appeared for the remaining run time, and Im still suppressing giggles just thinking about it now.\n\nThe final segment brings to mind Kill List, in that something bizarre happens for no adequately explainable reason and then the movie doesnt so much end as it sort of just sheepishly stops happening as it realizes its been wasting the audiences time. Because the movie doesnt make any sense and has no resolution, there will no doubt be many people who will label it genius and assume it has some deeper meaning. It doesnt. But for the right group of people who dig weird movies or will appreciate the unintentional humor, it can actually still be worth sitting through anyway.","Product: Color:DIP DOT (CANDY PINK/POLKA DOT GOLD DIP GRAPHIC) | Product Packaging:Standard Packaging When it comes to your iPhone 8 & iPhone 7, its not just about protection. Its also about you your style, your personality, your life. With Symmetry Series, you dont have to choose between a protective case and a stylish one. You can make a fashion statement while you protect your phone.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Good grip, great protection\n\nReview: I'm a new iPhone user, having just finally jumped on the Apple bandwagon when switching carriers earlier this month. I'm only 10 years late to the party, but finally got my first device that starts with a lowercase \"i.\" Went with a cheapo case from Walmart at frist that was alright but not stellar, so decided to try OtterBox since everyone raves about them. Love this case. The beveled edge is a bit bigger so its well protected (as I can attest after dropping it at the Gates Of The Mountains while taking pictures of the scenery). Case fits perfect, has a good grip, and will protect your phone from falls. Just make sure to get a clear screen protector to slap on the front as well.","Product: Camco's Xtreme Deluxe Car Care 5-piece Kit has everything you need to clean, shine and protect the automobile. This complete car care solution comes with everything you need in one convenient package. It includes one 32 ounce bottle of Xtreme Classic Car Wash, one 16 ounce bottle of Xtreme Classic Tire Shine, one 16 ounce bottle of Xtreme Premium Protectant Spray, one 7\" x 4.5\" x 2\" sponge, and one 14\" microfiber towel.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Takes a lot more effort than the automated car wash, but it's worth it\n\nReview: Compared to the drive through gas station car washes, this kit is actually significantly more cost effective, although granted, it's also a whole lot more work. That's the real kicker here are you devoted enough to your vehicle to put in the time to make it shine? If so, this is a great set. Spray off your vehicle first with the hose, pour some of the cleaner in a bucket with water, and get to scrubbing for a shiny clean look. The tire shine spray is particularly effective, giving you spotless, jet black tires. Just be prepared to put the time in, as unlike with an automated car wash you'll need to do multiple scrub passes and make sure to keep wiping in one direction to avoid streaks.","Product: Led by Ihsahn from Emperor and backed by his wife Ihriel and Lord PZ from Source of Tide. Black/Atmospheric Metal. 9 tracks including, 'Murder', 'Rise, Ye Humans' and 'Between TheLiving And The Dead'. 2000 release. Standard jewelcase.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Artistry Given Form and Flesh\n\nReview: Discord, disorder, and strife are staples of the black metal genre. Music in this vein tends to be chaotic and aggressive. Composure, harmony, and cohesion are staples of the classical genre. Music in this vein tends to be unified and subdued. When classically minded musicians decide that black metal will be their chosen form of artistic expression, bands like Emperor are born. They produce disturbingly chaotic and insanely aggressive music that is bound together by an overall cohesive unity that is not always immediately apparent, but that clearly comes into view as the music is explored more fully. When bands like Emperor tire of catering to their fans expectations and being as minimally mainstream as they are; when they decide to cast aside all preconceived notions of what genre or type of music they should be creating; when their only goal becomes to rip their desires, emotions, and fears directly out of their souls and display them in all their ugly glory through the medium of music, then bands like Peccatum are born.\n\nPeccatum is composed of Emperor front man Ihsahn and his wife Ihriel, and it is clear that neither of them at any point contemplated whether anyone else would enjoy this album, or play it's tracks on the radio, or if they should have added or removed certain elements to make it more popular to sell more copies. Amor Fati successfully marries the technical and complicated guitar work that Ihshan tried to integrate into Emperor, much to the fans consternation and general hatred of Emperor's final album, with Ihriel's disturbingly beautiful shrieks and purposefully off-key singing that also would have never been accepted in a standard black metal album. People who despise black metal and other forms of non-mainstream music will likewise be united with adherents to traditional black and death metal in absolutely hating Peccatum for its unique sound, and that is most definitely a sign that this band is at the forefront of advancing music into the next era.\n\nAmor Fati is in no way concerned with sticking to one typified genre of music throughout its 44 minute and 30 second auditory experience. What may start as a hauntingly lovely violin piece, the very height of heavenly sound for the higher class listener, will suddenly descend into unknowable screams and growls or perhaps a maddeningly complex guitar arrangement, or even an unbelievable combination of all three elements. The guitar work never ties itself down to any one style either, frequently moving smoothly from heavily distorted thrash riffs to more benign and soothing song structures. The whole thing is really carried by Ihriel's vocals, which usually punctuate important moments during each song and serve to draw the listener further into the music.\n\nTaking the journey into Amor Fati is an exploration in the deeper regions of experience. It will be considered angelic to some, and demonic to others. Those who will truly appreciate this music will understand that the two labels are really one and the same, and that it is only the listener's point of view that will determine whether they choose to label it the former or the latter.","Product: OXO Good Grips Flip and Fold Omelet Turner, High heat Resistant Silicone\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Perfect omelets every time\n\nReview: Another silly and overly-specialized kitchen gadget you don't need? Not so fast - this one's actually pretty useful if you make omelets regularly but have trouble getting them looking perfect without falling apart while flipping.\n\nThis silicone turner has a wide (but thin) soft side that is incredibly pliable, and then a thicker and stockier center to give proper lift. This lets you slide the edge under something soft and finicky like the bottom of a cooking omelet, but then still be able to pull it up and flip it over without losing your grip or having anything fall apart.\n\nYes, this is a specialized tool, but it's not completely one-use, as you could easily substitute \"omelet\" for anything else with soft edges, like a quesadilla. It definitely makes omelet cooking easier and is far better at flipping than the standard wood, plastic, or bamboo turners.","Product: Miracle-Gro Gro-ables veggie and herb kit: contains everything you need to start growing your own veggies and herbs: Guaranteeds to grow!.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Fun starter kit with a good variety\n\nReview: Something like this can be a bit difficult to review, as you're unlikely to have the same experience as anyone else depending on the type of soil available to you, your local climate, whether you are growing indoor or outdoor, and so on. These do sprout and grow well, and if you'd like a wide variety of tasty herbs and vegetables this is a good starting point, although this definitely isn't going to be growing enough to be using as a reliable food source or to actively replace your dried herbs from the supermarket. Overall its a fun gift or a nice starter project for the family, but not a serious means of getting an actual vegetable garden growing in the back yard.","Product: New Push Pull Rotate technology-the hands-full door lock from Brinks. The only door lock that opens 3 ways. Push it, pull it, or rotate it. With an elbow, hip or finger you can open the door by simply pushing or pulling on the knob or lever. They are also ADA compliant. Despite being so easy to use, these locks are built to achieve the most rigorous residential security standards you would expect from Brinks. You can rest assured they will keep intruders out and your family and valuables safe. All Push Pull Rotate door locks are built on a commercial grade chassis to withstand repeated use and abuse; making them perfect front and back doors and for all interior rooms like bathrooms, laundry rooms, and pantries. Installation is easy. They fit all standard doors. You only need a Phillips screwdriver and a few minutes to dramatically improve the function and appearance of your home. Made with superior craftsmanship, Push Pull Rotate door locks have dual torsion springs for smooth rotation, hidden screws for a more decorative appearance, 75mm diameter roses to hide the blemish from old hardware and removable interior knobs or levers for scratch-free installation. All items in this line come with a lifetime warranty for defects in material or workmanship\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Neat design for easy opening\n\nReview: This Brinks metal door knob looks great and has a nifty design that lets you turn, pull out, or even just push in the knob with your hip (like say if you've got an arm full of groceries or are carrying a laundry bag). Installation is simple and only requires a screwdriver, but the knob is heavy duty and will last. This is definitely an indoor knob, not one you'd use for the main outside entrance into your home, since it can be opened just by pushing in. Be sure to use it on an inward swinging door, like a bedroom or bathroom, and not an outward swinging door like a closet (especially if you've got little kids running around who might decide to lock themselves in), although technically you could just reverse it for out swinging doors.","Product: Enter the world of Westeros with A Game of Thrones: The Card Game Second Edition! In this second edition of our longest-running Living Card Game (LCG), you command iconic characters from A Song of Ice and Fire in treacherous battles for the Iron Throne. Every turn, you hatch a new plot, then attack your foes in three types of deadly challenges. Whether you play a head-to-head joust or a multiplayer melee, your struggles span the field of battle, cunning intrigues, and political machinations. Call your banners and battle for the Iron Throne!\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Typical high quality Fantasy Flight card game\n\nReview: I've never played the first edition of Game Of Thrones, so I can't comment on how it's changed or whether this second edition is worth picking up if you have the original, but I can say for newcomers it's well worth trying. I'm a big fan of Fantasy Flight's various RPGs and board/card games and this one doesn't disappoint it has all the high production values and fun mechanics you'd normally expect from the company.\n\nFor people coming into this more as fans of the books / T.V. show rather than as gamers, you should be aware the ruleset is quite complex and this is very much not a casual game to just jump into with a group of friends who don't know the rules. On the other hand, you'll pick it up fairly quickly if you are a veteran of other Fantasy Flight games or play anything like Magic: The Gathering. Of course as a Fantasy Flight gamer there's a ton of tokens, but it's not nearly as out of hand as with Arkham Horror or Elder Sign, so you won't need to buy a box of ziplock bags just to keep them all separated.\n\nThere are plenty of familiar concepts, but they're all filtered through the Game Of Thrones mindset rather than tapped or untapped for instance you have kneeling and standing. Rather than something like mana you've got gold to use, with unspent gold going back into the box at the end of each turn due to taxation.\n\nThe basic idea of the game is amass a set amount of power and influence to take the throne, which is typically earned by initiating a military, intrigue, or power challenge against another player in each round. That's where all the different cards come into play, letting you set up various combos and strategies for attack or defense. Of course all the characters from the series are represented with varying abilities, like wildling hordes being good for military challenges and the onion knight Davos Seaworth being good at avoiding or surviving them.\n\nGame Of Thrones is a living card game rather than a collectible one, so while that means there are fewer strategies overall to employ, it also means you don't have to keep buying an endless supply of new booster packs, and that's a plus in my book. For fans of the show or gamers who want something new to try during your weekly session, this one's a fun entry that's worth picking up.","Product: The sky's the limit in Apples to Apples Freestyle! Branching out from classic Apples to Apples game play, Apples to Apples Freestyle introduces a whole new kind of creative fun - players get to make up their own hilarious answers! Each round, a different player is the \"judge\" and turns over a card to reveal a fill-in-the-blank statement. Everyone else comes up with a word or phrase to fill in that blank and writes it down on their personal apple slate - and what they choose to write can be as crazy as they want it to be! The judge selects the best answer and decides the winner of that round. First player to win 4 rounds wins the game! Offering customization, creativity, and constant laughter, Apples to Apples Freestyle is perfect for the whole family! Includes 216 cards, 5 writing slates, 5 dry-erase markers and instructions.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Great twist on the regular game, and easy to go either clean or dirty depending on your group of gamers\n\nReview: Overall I'm a fan of the original Apples To Apples, but I've found it can get very repetitive fairly quickly as the same types of cards are used over time. This new edition aims to remove that problem by letting players write in their own answers.\n\nThere's two ways to play here: either one judge pulls a freestyle card with a blank spot in a sentence and reads it aloud, then everyone else writes whatever word they think is funniest on the dry erase apple boards, or instead one judge writes any word on an apple card and the rest of the players choose a freestyle card that humorously matches. The first mode is more fun for people who like to come up with silly things on the fly, while the second is better for those who don't want to be put on the spot.\n\nWith the blank spots and ability to write in answers, it appears this is sort of a sly attempt for Apples To Apples to take on the Cards Against Humanity crowd, because the game goes out of its way to make it easy to be dirty. Without question, the vast majority of the blank spots on the cards are aimed at easily being filled with any given euphemism for penis. Here's a sampling of random freestyle cards I just pulled from the deck:\n\nI wouldn't want to be caught holding BLANK, It feels good to rub your face against a smooth BLANK, Nothing feels better than BLANK, The most important ingredient in a romantic evening is BLANK, I would never want a monkey to get its paws on my BLANK, and so on. For the twisted Cards Against Humanity players, there's then also cards like A family reunion is a great place to find BLANK.\n\nThat being said, this is solid fun for younger kids or adults who aren't interested in that kind of game, as you can tailor it to any given group just by changing what you write. Our group did some non-horrifyingly offensive rounds just for fun and it worked just as well. It's a laugh riot having people try to come up with cards that match the random phrases you come up with - time traveling nazi assassin or homeless badgers for instance.\n\nThere's only two downsides to the game first up, the packaging is terrible. The box is clearly not meant to continue holding the cards and markers after being opened. Get yourself some ziploc bags or a plastic carrying case with dividers to store the game's parts. Second, for no apparent reason two of the apple cards meant to be written on have sample text printed on them, which was a terrible idea, as it essentially means you've got two less cards for extra players. You could technically use them in a game, but you'll have to shuffle the apple cards each round and re-hand them out, otherwise it will be obvious who is handing in the cards with the pre-printed text at the top every single round.","Product: Looney Labs has created a sweet card game all about serving some very picky guests. No soup, no salad, no entree... it's just desserts! Compete with your fellow waiters to serve guests their favorite goodies before someone else gets to them first. With a kitchen full of mouth-watering offerings, and the cafe filling up with customers, you'll have your hands full making sure everyone gets their just desserts.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Simple, Casual Fare For Kids Or Adults\n\nReview: Just Desserts comes from the designers of Fluxx, so it shouldn't come as a surprise that there's a lot of similarities in card design and rules. Gameplay is somewhat similar to Fluxx, but rather than constantly changing the rules, new guests will be added and old ones will be removed, changing the win conditions.\n\nThe goal is to serve something the guest wants while avoiding things they don't like. There's no maximum hand size, so eventually while drawing cards over the course of each turn you're guaranteed to hit the right combination for one or more guests. A player wins by successfully satisfying three guests of the same suit (in this case suits being things like a rolling pin or muffin, rather than spades or hearts) or five guest of all different suits. With the changing guests its possible to win quickly or have a game keep going for 20 minutes, but its not as crazy a fluctuation as with Fluxx.\n\nJust Desserts features very simple rules, making it more appealing for the casual gamer. The basic rules make for fast gameplay that anyone (even kids) can pick up, but if you want more fast paced fun for adults you can add in advanced rules, like poaching guests from other players just as they think they are taking them, or setting up a buffet of four single serve items to return previously won guests back to the main dining area.","Product: Come on, grab your friends, and play some Adventure Time Fluxx! Join Jake The Dog and Finn The Human for some ever-changing fun. Draw a card, play a card, and change the rules. Get mathematical against candy zombies, visit the City of Thieves to steal from your friends, and maybe, if things work out just right, you might even get to Floop the Pig.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: If you dig Fluxx, you'll enjoy this just as much\n\nReview: Having loved the base Fluxx (as well as Just Desserts and various other games from this company) I decided to finally try out one of the themed expansions, and I wasn't disappointed. It's the same rule-swapping mayhem of Fluxx, but with some fun additions and more interesting art.\n\nFor those wondering, you don't have to actually know anything about Adventure Time to play or enjoy this version of Fluxx, so pick it up and go crazy. You could technically mix these cards in with the original Fluxx for a massive game deck, but doing so might have the unintended consequence of making games drag on too long, since it becomes less likely you'll get the right combination of keepers for a goal.\n\nWhile lots of the game is the same, some parts have changed in this version. For instance, goals tend to be more open ended this time around, so rather than having this specific keeper and that specific keeper to win, it might be have this specific keeper and ANY two princess keepers, which can help cut down on those games that keep going because no one pulls the right combination of cards in the chaos that is Fluxx.\n\nCreepers add a new wrench in the works by preventing you from winning any given goal meaning you'll be searching for ways to get rid of the card or force it on another player, but in true Fluxx form, sometimes you need a Creeper to win instead. Surprise! cards are also new and a welcome addition, letting you interrupt an action (such as preventing someone from stealing your keepers) much like the satisfying I Don't Think So! cards from Red Dragon Inn or a counterspell from Magic: The Gathering.\n\nA few new rule and action cards are also around, leading to very interesting combinations. One rule for instance lets you pick any action card from the discard pile and set in play so that any player can use it once a turn as a free action. This can lead to hilarious and downright manic play if you choose an action that allows people to swap hands with other players, as every player will be forcing the others to swap hands on every turn until the rule goes away.\n\nThe bottom line is that if you like Fluxx (and I do!), you'll definitely like this, but if you don't enjoy the overall lack of strategy and completely random nature of how some games can be 5 minutes and some can be 35, that doesn't change a whole lot here.","Product: Book by Goodkind, Terry\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: And Goodkind takes the gloves off!\n\nReview: Reading through the Amazon reviews of Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth series, the average reader will come to find that apparently this is both the absolute best, and absolute worst, fantasy series of all time. While some will bestow glowing reviews detailing how every part of this series is the culmination of everything a fantasy novel could ever aspire towards, others will divulge that all Sword of Truth novels are nothing but a ridiculous rip off of Tolkien, filled with horribly offensive imagery and cardboard characters. The Truth of the matter is that both parties are entirely, unequivocally incorrect.\n\nWhile the Sword of Truth series can stand on it's own as a decent fantasy series, it's never actually been about straight forward fantasy entertainment. These are books on philosophy which happen to use fantasy as their method of delivery, which is an excellent idea, because who wants to tread through long boring, dry books about philosophy, when they could be reading a rousing tale of adventure instead? Terry Goodkind has been preaching a modified version of Objectivism, the philosophy of Ayn Rand, reformatted to fit his particular world view. Overall, it's worked out pretty well. Each novel manages to be both emotionally engaging and philosophically enlightening, if the reader is willing to open himself up to some new ideas. Objectivism is necessarily either wary of, or outright hostile towards, standard organized religion, as it rejects the idea of a metaphysical outside Source that must be accepted on faith and has no basis in logic or reason. Goodkind generally is rather tasteful or light-hearted in his treating of this subject throughout the series. There are few snippets here and there that tip the reader off about the ideas, though, such as how certain characters reject both the Keeper of the Underworld and the Creator of Life as irrelevant powers, and in the previous novel Chainfire when the wizard Zedd explains that the Imperial Order's blind faith in their beliefs is what truly makes them the enemy. When writing \"Phantom\", Goodkind took the gloves off, and picked up the brass knuckles and a spiked bat. There is no question here about where he stands in regards to the monotheistic religions that rule the modern world. The highly religious, or those who are unwilling to question their beliefs, should probably stay far way from Phantom, as they will most certainly be offended.\n\nPhantom progresses the story towards the inevitable end that must occur (unless we are to endure the dreaded Robert Jordan syndrome), and it does manage to sustain and propagate the overall feel of the previous novels acceptably. The authors tendency to recap past events and re-explain key ideas does become a bit tedious here, however. While the rehashing was generally done just enough in the past to keep everyone up to speed, it gets a little out of hand in Phantom, which is unfortunate, as Phantom is shorter than most of the previous novels. Hopefully the final tome in this series will be massive enough to make up for it. Some of the characters we thought had been forgotten about are thankfully either present or are at least talked about. As the series gets closer and closer to it's end, things start to get more brutal. While there has always been adult material, from violence all the way to rape, all the stops are pulled out here. You won't find Goodkind pulling any punches at all in his depictions of the atrocities that are occurring in this final war to end all wars.\n\nPhantom is a passably entertaining fantasy novel that fans of the other novels will certainly enjoy. When viewed as it was intended however, as a method of delivering ideas and challenging beliefs, Phantom becomes much more. If Goodkind drops the endless recaps, the next and final book should be the best yet.","Product: trade paperback; no marks (amov14)\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: 300 pages of nothing happening, padded by 300 extra pages recapping how nothing happened\n\nReview: Having enjoyed Hobb's other series as a teenager I was really looking forward to returning to this world and these characters, but having now finished Fool's Assassin I'm absolutely baffled by the 5 star reviews. Without question, this has been one of the most tedious, least interesting novels I've ever had the displeasure of reading.\n\nRather than Fool's Assassin, the first half of the book could have more accurately been titled The Life and Worries of an Elderly Couple. Throughout this latest entry in the Assassin series you'll get to read exciting description of how the kids don't stop by as much as they used to! Be astounded by an old man's distrust of technology that eases life's burdens! Watch an elderly person learn to take care of himself after his spouse passes away from natural causes! See a small child complain about not wanting to go to school with the bullies! Read about a little girl learning to dress like a proper lady! Riveting stuff, to be sure.\n\nHobb is not a bad writer by any stretch of the imagination (she does 1st person better than other fantasy novelists), but the problem is not with the writing, it's with the content and the pacing. There are segments where you can clearly see the classic themes she's going for a kid learning the secret passageways in the castle while hunting mice, children learning in a medieval school, and so on and there have been books that have made these concepts interesting in the past. Bran skulking about Winterfell, any number of books involving kids learning magic in a castle, and so on, but the problem here is that this sort of thing is what constitutes literally the entire book. Imagine if the first Game of Thrones book was just Bran skulking around and Arya playing for 600 pages. That's essentially what you're getting with Fool's Assassin. There's no intrigue, no bad guy, no problems to be overcome. It's essentially just a description of the day-to-day life of a retired guy and his family, albeit with some fantasy tropes hung on for good measure.\n\nRepetition absolutely kills this book (and then for good measure it kills it again, and again). You'll read the same arguments, over, and over, and over. People try to get the main character to bring on dogs and house guards. Someone else argues the same thing. Later another person argues the same thing again. When they run out of people to make that argument, someone tries to get the main character's daughter to get dogs and house guards. Chade tries to convince Fitz to return to political life. 50 pages later the same thing happens. 50 pages after that it happens again. In another 50 pages the main character writes a letter to himself reiterating the arguments and why he's not accepting them. The main character worries his kid is too small and may be disabled. His wife worries their kid is too small and may be disabled. Their adult child talks to them about how their kid is too small and may be disabled. The house staff whispers about how their child is too small and may be disabled. Someone uses skill magic to telepathically talk about how their child is too small and may be disabled.\n\nIf the unnecessary repetition in my description of this story is annoying, try multiplying that by 40+ pages at every plot point and you understand why it was such a chore to actually read to the end of the novel. Then again, using the term plot point may be giving Fool's Assassin too much credit. 250 pages into the book, the most exciting thing that's occurred is that someone died of natural causes due to old age. It's not unreasonable to expect there to be an antagonist or any semblance of an actual plot before the book's halfway mark. At one point a mystery shows up about a prophecy of an unexpected son that has an appallingly obvious answer. Every time Fitz recapped how he couldn't figure it out I had to force myself not to throw the book across the room and never pick it up again.\n\nThe plot of Fool's Assassin doesn't actually start until about page 300, and it doesn't kick into high gear until the very, very end. This book could have been hundreds of pages shorter and much more engaging by trimming out the recaps, reiterations, and unnecessary repeated arguments. While clearly based on the other reviews some die hard fans are going to love this no matter what, I can't possibly recommend it to anyone, and frankly Hobb deserves some kind of award for writing the most boring book to ever include the word Assassin in the title."],"string":"[\n \"Product: Easily research and organize your family history / Explore rich storytelling tools / Access billions of historical records from Ancestry Familiar A/B deck and crossfader make using DJ2GO a snap Includes integrated Virtual DJ LE Lite Software Includes - DJ 2 GO Controller USB Cable Quick start guide\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Overly complicated and hard to navigate, but overall a decent way to store family history data\\n\\nReview: For keeping track of many different members from any side of the family, a genealogy program like Family Tree Maker can be an invaluable and time-saving tool. While family history fanatics will likely still get a lot out of it, this particular program is unfortunately bogged down by an unwieldy interface and complicated design.\\n\\nThere are simply too many screens to navigate through to get to any given option, and frequently they are arranged in odd ways. Once data has been entered in the main family tree, it can also be difficult to scroll through the tree and get back to previous entries for other family members earlier in the tree. Performing searches for birth or death certificates and moving back or forward through results also gets unnecessarily complicated.\\n\\nOn the plus side, there are many features available for arranging your family tree in just about any configuration imaginable. Anyone wanting to print off a professional looking tree to show off at family gatherings will have everything they need, and then some.\\n\\nFamily Tree Maker 2011 comes with a free one month subscription to Ancestry.com, which offsets the cost of the software itself. While there is a huge amount of information to be found through the Ancestry website, it's not a simple matter of going back through your history and immediately finding all the names and locations. Finding specific information on a family member is time consuming and there often isn't any helpful data available. If you don't already know the full name, date of birth, and a location where the person lived, it's likely you'll never be able to find the next member in your family tree.\\n\\nOverall Family Tree Maker 2011 is a decent, if overly complicated, means of storing all the information from your family's history. The free month Ancestry.com subscription is a nice bonus, but a user really needs to keep paying for the service in order to continue finding information, so unfortunately the software comes off a bit like an advertisement for the web service.\",\n \"Product: With two speed settings for optimal comfort, this Cool Mist Humidifier is ideal for small rooms. It produces a refreshingly cool, invisible mist. Model HM1761TG-UM. Item holds 1 gallon of water.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Works great and doubles as background white noise\\n\\nReview: Setup and re-filling is easy on this humidifier, and while its not super stylish or modern or anything, it looks fine sitting on the counter top. Within about two minutes of turning it on the air in our bedroom was noticeably different, and leaving it on all night I've noticed when I wake up that I'm far less congested and stuffy in the morning. It is fairly loud however, but this actually works for our needs. Normally the wife and I keep a fan on all night for noise, but with Winter hitting that's not really feasible anymore. We tried a white noise machine (with different options like heartbeats and rain forests) and hated it, but fortunately this humidifier is about as loud as our previous fan, so it's a win/win. If you don't dig a noisy machine though, you may want to try a different model.\",\n \"Product: Paula Deen's newest stoneware is crafted In a unique hobnail design, this stoneware casserole is designed to bake and entertain Southern style. Each stoneware casserole is uniquely glazed so that no two pieces are alike. Her stoneware is designed for oven, microwave, refrigerator and freezer use. It's also dishwasher safe and oven safe to 500-degree farenheit.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Combines form and function for an attractive and useful baking dish\\n\\nReview: Having used primarily metal or glass cookware up until now, giving Paula Deen's southern stoneware baking dish a spin in the kitchen was a real treat. Our first run with it was cheese stuffed manicotti, with some delicious baked treats follwoing, and now it's quickly becoming our go-to baking dish.\\n\\nThe stoneware dish is seriously heavy duty and feels much sturdier than the average baking pan. The rounded edges and curved in structure makes it easier to clean by hand as foods don't cling to the surfaces like they would with a metal baking pan.\\n\\nThis is also a fantastic multitasking kitchen addition, as besides working as a baking dish and doubling as a storage device that can stay in the fridge or freezer, it's also an attractive centerpiece that works well for presentation on the dinner table. In a great combination of form, function, and relatively low price, Paula Deen's stoneware baker is a definite winner.\",\n \"Product: Prep the kitchen and home bakery for more baking ease and enjoyment, using the Cake Boss Stainless Steel Tools and Gadgets 5-Piece Kitchen Prep Tool Set. The set includes five essential kitchen tools, including a slotted spoon, solid spoon, slotted turner, brownie spatula and cake server. The tool heads are made from durable stainless steel that's both strong and easy to clean and the soft-grip rubberized handles are crafted for confident grasp and comfort whether you're a righty or lefty. The slotted and solid spoon are perfect for lifting and draining washed berries from colander to mixing bowl and the turner is perfect for transferring hot biscotti or cookies from cooling rack to plate. Both the brownie spatula and cake server are able help serve a panful of thick, chewy butterscotch blondies or a rich double-fudge cake and still keep portions intact for beautiful presentation. The prep tools are all heat safe to 500DegreeF and hand washing is recommended. Start a Cake Boss collection at home with this kitchen prep tool set, or boost it with the assortment of other great Cake Boss products. Kit out the home bakery for every task and treat, with the essential pieces in the versatile Cake Boss Stainless Steel Tools and Gadgets 5-Piece Kitchen Prep Tool Set.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Far better than I was expecting\\n\\nReview: Having been let down by branded cookware below, I wasn't expecting this Cake Boss set to be worthwhile at all. The Cake Boss part especially had me leery. While I liked the first couple of seasons of the show, the Cake Boss brand cakes sold in stores are frankly overpriced and not very tasty, so I was expecting shoddy workmanship.\\n\\nTo my great surprise, each item in this set is high quality and these have quickly become my go-to kitchen tools. The grips are nice, the metal is sturdy, and the thin edges easily slide under whatever you're cooking. The slotted turner even works better for eggs than the silicone Oxo omelet turner I picked up specifically for that purpose. If you need a new set, definitely give this one a try.\",\n \"Product: Drizzle flavorful vinegars and buttery olive oils on delicious foods using the Rachael Ray Cucina Stoneware 2-Piece Vinegar Bottle Set. Crafted from durable, solid stoneware and glazed with earthy color, the 13-ounce vinegar bottles feature subtle, handcrafted texture with rustic, antiqued character. The relaxed Old World charm of the stoneware bottle set makes an inviting tabletop statement when set out with mixed green salads at the dinner table. The bottles' spouts are proportioned to help deliver the ideal balance of flavor and the freeform handle integrated into the bottle's design provides an ample, ingenious handhold. The perfect duo to have on hand near the stovetop when cooking, the handsome bottles are also ideal for use at a dinner party for guests to enjoy balsamic vinegar and EVOO with freshly baked sourdough slices and piping hot bruschetta. Dishwasher safe for convenience, the eye-catching bottles match artisan-styled Cucina dinnerware to bring a harmonious look to the kitchen and dining room and also make the perfect partners for stoneware dipping cups, salad plates and serve ware pieces in Rachael's Cucina collections. Add the Rachael Ray Cucina Stoneware 2-Piece Vinegar Bottle Set to the dining room table to serve tangy vinegars and luscious oils alongside culinary favorites.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Pretty, but the pour spout is problematic\\n\\nReview: As far as appearance goes, these are top notch, and they match the Rachel Ray plates I got from Albertson's last summer during their big contest giveaway. They look fantastic as a centerpiece and have the bonus of actually doing something instead of just taking up space for aesthetic value.\\n\\nNow the downside: the actual pouring mechanism. If they are less than half full you have to old them at a truly odd angle (almost upside down) to get anything to come out at all. When you finally do get something to come out, it's not at all a drizzle that's going to make a pretty pattern on a plate for garnishing, and instead it comes out in big unpredictable spurts.\\n\\nIf you practiced and took the time to get the angle and tilt just right they might be worth it, but on the whole they're less useful than just using a bottle and a spoon to pour olive oil or balsamic vinegar.\",\n \"Product: Revitalize is a whole new way to deep clean from Oreck. The powerful Duo Scrub Technology makes it easy to remove years of set-in stains from your carpet. Refreshing your home is simple from start to finish with convenient features like Two Tank Technology, Smart Suction Technology and a 26 ft. power cord. You can even take the power of Revitalize to stairs, furniture and hard-to-clean areas with the 8 ft. hose and Upholstery Tool.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Nice sturdy carpet cleaner\\n\\nReview: The cost of renting a carpet cleaner can really add up over time, so investing in a home unit of your own can actually save money in the long term if you like to give your carpets a thorough cleaning regularly. This Oreck model comes together very easily (everything just snaps together) and its about the same size and weight as a vacuum cleaner. As far as cleaning power goes, it actually works really well (although don't expect miracles if you've got years old stains you'll need to go over those several times to make a dent). The included cleaning solution gets the job done and actually smells great. The only downside is the size of the clean water tank. Depending on how large your carpeted rooms are, you'll very likely have to refill at least once a room, and you'll definitely have to refill multiple times to clean a full apartment or house. While meant for floors and rugs, it also has a hose attachment so you can clean up sofas and chairs as well.\",\n \"Product: A beautiful marriage of form and functionality, the Totally Bamboo Family Tree Bamboo Carving Board with Etched Juice Groove is a gorgeous solution for carving and cutting. The etched tree in the center of the board directs juices away from food as it's cut to the generous collection well. A deep groove runs along the interior edge of board to further collect and store and excess juice ensuring the table or countertop stay clean! Crafted with parquet end-grain bamboo, this board is gentle on knives while providing an outstanding cutting surface. This board is large enough to handle any carving job at 19-1/2 inches by 15-3/4 inches; over 300 square inches! When it's time for cleanup, the board quickly wipes clean; it should not be soaked or washed in the dishwasher. Backed by a one-year manufacturer's warranty. Start a new family tradition with the Totally Bamboo Family Tree Carver!\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Use the bottom for cutting and the top for displaying\\n\\nReview: This cutting board is absolutely massive and you aren't ever going to run out of room for cutting meat or veggies. The side tunnels for catching juices (or swiping away unwanted parts, like for instance the seeds of a pepper) are an excellent addition, and the huge laser etched tree is absolutely beautiful. The only problem here is also the biggest draw: the etching sort of makes it pointless to cut anything that isn't a huge chunk of meat. Vegetables get stuck in the etchings and make smaller things very awkward to cut. There's a really easy workaround though just cut on the bottom, and use the top for displaying. You can make some really stunning meal centerpieces by laying out a family style meal on top of the etching and having everybody serve up their own plates.\",\n \"Product: It is with great excitement that we introduce you to the newest masterpiece available on the market that confidently boasts to be the last coffee grinder you will ever need to handle all of your coffee grinding needs. The TANORS stainless steel ceramic conical burr manual coffee grinder. Distinguished by a smooth yet durable stainless steel body. Inside you will find a combination of practicality with simplicity: an easily accessible knob that can be turned clockwise or counterclockwise for precision grinding, whether you desire an espresso or French press, and easy cleaning. The bottom of this gem doubles as a vacuum sealed storage compartment to store your fresh grounds and maintain their freshness. The TANORS stainless steel manual coffee grinder was designed to be compatible with the AEROPRESS to make it a great traveling companion. The sophisticated yet rugged design makes the TANORS manual coffee grinder an equally great addition to your home, kitchen, executive office or outdoor lifestyle.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Good quality construction, but mostly only useful for single cups while traveling\\n\\nReview: Based on the picture above I didn't realize just how small this grinder really is this is definitely more for taking on the road to grind a single cup of coffee at a hotel than for home use where more than one person will be drinking. Unfortunately its really not suitable for grinding enough coffee for a full pot, as you'd have to do it in several batches you'd just end up with a dead tired arm half an hour later.\\n\\nIf you only need one or two cups however, this is a good option, as all the components are high quality and they easily pull apart to throw in the travel bag and take with you. The connected collection tube at the bottom means you won't ever lose or spill any grounds after going through the work of manually grinding beans. Although advertised for coffee, this also works equally well for grinding herbs, and the travel size bag makes it useful for campers who need a little liquid wake up juice in the morning. When at home or staying somewhere with electricity though, frankly I'd recommend any cheap electric grinder instead, as they don't take up that much more space and they require significantly less work.\",\n \"Product: Farberware is the #1 selling cutlery brand in the U.S. (Source: The NPD Group, Inc./Retail Tracking Service. 52 weeks ending March 2016). Farberware EdgeKeeper Knives feature a sheath with innovated technology that is designed to automatically sharpen the blade with each use. The EdgeKeeper protective sheath contains a built-in mechanism that hones the blade before and after each use, maintaining a blade's razor-sharp edge. The blade is made from high-carbon steel that lends strength, sharpness, and durability. Knives are not dishwasher safe. Hand-wash with warm water and a mild detergent; rinse and dry immediately.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Great idea for keeping a knife sharp\\n\\nReview: I cook at home for almost every meal and I've never had any luck getting a sharpening rod to actually work for me, so this self-sharpening sheath is a fabulous idea for helping to keep a frequently used knife working well over time. I've been using it every day for a few weeks now and while it has slightly lost its edge (it used to go straight through a tomato like butter, but now there's a slight resistance when first going through the skin), overall its remained much sharper than any of the other knives I've bought recently. The sheath isn't perfect you have to slide it in at just the right angle or it will get caught on the sharpener edge but overall I'm very satisfied, and the price point is incredibly reasonable. Now we play the waiting game to see if the sharpener actually keeps it cutting well over the next few months and I'll update this again if there's any major deterioration in the blade's edge.\",\n \"Product: Bring a touch of fun and style to your kitchen with the compact countertop microwave from Bella. This small but mighty 0.7-cubic foot microwave oven offers 700 watts of power and 10 power levels for versatile food prep. The compact model features a removable 10-inch turntable to ensure even heating for most standard-sized dinner plates. The Bella Compact microwave includes an easy to use digital interface with an LED clock and kitchen timer. One-touch cooking is at your fingertips with 1-6 minute Express Cook controls, convenient +30 second control and 6 Quick Start one-touch cooking functions for popcorn, beverage, dinner plate and more. The Bella microwave allows you to defrost by time or weight and offers multi-stage cooking that adjusts power level during the cooking cycle for greater control. Thanks to a memory-function you can save and recall custom controls. For safety, the microwave is equipped with a keypad lockout to prevent unauthorized use. The Bella Microwave carries a 1 year manufacturer's warranty.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Compact and powerful with a few minor issues\\n\\nReview: We had our previous microwave for something like 12 years, and it served faithfully right up until the end, but the time finally arrived for a replacement so we decided to go with a more compact version for saving shelf space. What I like about this Bella model is that it uses about half to three quarters the space of our old giant microwave but still actually has the same interior heating area. Our previous one must have been wearing down over the years as well, because I've noticed a reduction in the heating times - bagged popcorn in particular takes 30 - 40 fewer seconds to finish than before.\\n\\nNow on the downsides, and there are a few. The most noticeable is that the top feels less sturdy than our old microwave, and of course we'd pile things on top of there. With this smaller, flimsier-feeling model, we don't do that anymore just in case. The button setup is also different than I'm used to and there's an extra button to get microwaving. Rather than typing in your time and hitting start, instead you've got to hit the Time Start button, then the time, then start. On the flip side, the number buttons serve as a \\\"quick start,\\\" so for instance if you just press 3, it will automatically start heating for 3 minutes. Finally, and this maybe only bugs me, but it took me a while to get used to the fact that the : symbol between the hours and minutes blinks. Normally you think of blinking on a clock meaning it needs to be set and isn't working, but instead here it blinks normally and doesn't blink while you set the time. Took me a couple of days before that stopped annoying me everytime I walked into the kitchen.\\n\\nThose issues aside, I'm liking this cute little microwave that does just as well as our old one. Can't speak to the longevity yet as we've only had it a few weeks, but I'll check back in with an update if anything breaks down.\",\n \"Product: Commercial Shelving Unit 36\\\"W x 12\\\"D x 75\\\"H with box beam shelf design and double-sided compression clips support loads up to 750 lbs. per shelf, evenly loaded. Unit includes 4 posts and cross braces. Shelves can be easily repositioned in one-inch increments. Shelves feature corner brackets which help prevent rocking and improve overall stability and rigidity. A hat channel under every shelf increases overall strength. Steel construction with durable powder coat finish.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Sturdy and heavy duty\\n\\nReview: Talk about heavy duty! These shelves are great either for tools out in the garage or for using inside if you have things you don't want to leave up to chance with flimsy wood bookcases. There's no back segment, which can be a positive or negative depending on what you need to store a positive if you want to display objects say in a library or game room, but a negative if you want to pile on paperbacks and not have them fall through the back side. For large coffee table books or hardcovers though, this works pretty well. Just keep in mind that putting this together is more of a task than with a bookcase that includes all the tools in the box, so be sure you've got a second person around to help you with lifting and assembling the heavier pieces.\",\n \"Product: Ncredible NPulse over-ear headphones\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Crystal clear sound at the highest volumes\\n\\nReview: I'm always in need of high quality headphones, as a large part of my job consists of reviewing music and transcribing recorded interviews with bands. I've tried `em all, from the cheapest ear buds to the bulkiest and most expensive over ear monstrosities, and I can say the NCredible NPulse lives up to its name.\\n\\nVolume is not even remotely a problem here - interviews I could barely hear while transcribing before are too loud when played at full volume now. There's no distortion or loss of quality even with the high volume though. Everything comes through crystal clear no matter I'm listening to, from highly produced melodic death metal to lo-fi kvlt black metal and even on to the atmospheric and symphonic stuff like Anathema or Therion. The Npulse also features great sound cancellation, so outside sounds don't come through as much when you've got the music blasting.\\n\\nThe ear pads are soft and comfortable, however the headphones overall are very heavy, which is probably the only potential downside. If you are only using them for half an hour at a time it won't matter, but they do get uncomfortable if you are using them for hours-long listening sessions. That being said, they do include the option to both extend and rotate in different directions, so with a little fiddling it's not too hard to find that sweet spot for the most comfort.\\n\\nIf you need clear sound, the potential for very loud volume, and prefer over ear headphones to the in-ear design, definitely pick these up.\",\n \"Product: NETGEAR ReadyNAS 100 Series Network Attached Storage is the safest way to store, stream and share your valuable content. Perfect for all your data including large photo and movie collections, ReadyNAS makes it easy to backup all your valuable content in one secure location where you can then stream it, share it, and access it from anywhere. Not only does ReadyNAS automatically store previous versions of files with hourly backups, it is also fully compatible with the Apple Time Machine for remote or local file backup and recovery from Mac computers. Your files are safe and sound with NETGEAR ReadyNAS.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Easy backup and storage on your home network\\n\\nReview: Netgears new network attached storage devices have a great design that look sleek sitting on a desk, and they have a pull open front door to quickly access the drives. Installing or removing drives is incredibly easy and its really as simple as pressing and pulling. This particular model comes pre-loaded with two 1 terabyte drives that support RAID configurations so you won't lose your data, but you can also upgrade with your own drives for up to 8TB of storage space. The only thing about the design I didn't care for is the very bright blue light on the front definitely put it on the floor and turn it towards the wall if its in your bedroom!\\n\\nThe storage drives are accessible by any computer on your network for easy backup, and you can setup user profiles with passwords for extra security. While its meant to be accessed through your browser, you can of course also just access the network drive through the My Computer screen for faster drag and dropping. Connecting to a computer is incredibly fast and easy, but hooking up with other network devices like say your Xbox 360 to stream audio or video - requires quite a bit more work. Overall this is a great option if you need lots of storage space for saving important data or you want to share data across a home network and don't want to walk a USB flash drive back and forth between computers.\",\n \"Product: Experience big sound with enhanced portability from XMI's We Speaker. Pair it up with your Bluetooth device for wireless playback, or use the provided cable to bring the sweet sound of music to your ears. This speaker features a 1.5 watt speaker in a ultra compact, 48 gram speaker that clips easily and inconspicuously to belts, bags, and keychains.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Surprisingly good sound quality from an amazingly small wireless unit\\n\\nReview: Before plugging this tiny little speaker unit into my laptop, I decided to give the manual a glance over, and was treated to some of the most hilariously ridiculous instructions I've ever seen for an electronic device. Some of the highlights include:\\n\\n#3 Take note that your speaker is not edible and should not be placed in your mouth. (Has this been a serious problem in the past?!?)\\n\\n#10 Refrain from dropping the speaker as this will damage the unit. (Uh....no duh....?)\\n\\n#11 Do not use the speaker in hazardous locations. (Well, guess I'll have to find a different speaker for my trek to Mordor then.)\\n\\n#12 Should any abnormal situations occur while using the speaker, discontinue using the speaker immediately. (So if an old friend I haven't seen in years gives me a call should I toss this in the trash?)\\n\\nWeird instructions that were probably translated from another language aside, the X-Mini portable speaker is an awesome little unit that's so small it can literally fit on your key chain. It charges straight through a USB cable, so you don't need to plug it into a wall outlet: just hook it up to your mobile device and you're good to go. There's also Bluetooth capability, so it can play audio wirelessly.\\n\\nBut now on to the only question that really matters: how does it sound? Obviously it's not going to be the same quality as say a Logitech 7.1 surround sound computer speaker set, so you can't expect sonic perfection. That being said, my music playlist coming through the X-Mini is noticeably better quality than what comes from my laptop's internal speaker, and its even better than the mid-range two-speaker set I picked up at Walmart. It's also a good deal louder than either the internal laptop speaker or the external speakers I've been using up until now.\\n\\nSimply put: it's great sound quality, with impressive volume range, all in an extremely portable package.\",\n \"Product: The Sport-Brella Chair combines the technology of the Sport-Brella by SKLZ with the convenience of a portable fold-up chair. The detachable umbrella can be placed on either side of the chair and swivels at three different points for complete coverage from UV rays no matter where, or at what angle, the sun is shining. Also includes a cup holder, bottle opener, and compact carry bag.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Comfortable, portable, and has plenty of bells and whistles\\n\\nReview: For grilling, picnics, sunny days in the park, or even fishing, the \\\"Sport Brella\\\" chair provides a simple and portable way to sit comfortably outdoors. The chair is slightly wider than many of the standard fold-out chairs found in supermarkets or chain stores, and setup is incredibly fast. An instruction manual is included, but it isn't necessary. Pull the chair out of the fabric bag, open it up, and you're good to go. The bag has a shoulder strap and can be carried like a backpack, so it isn't difficult to carry to campsites or across parks.\\n\\nWhat sets the \\\"Sport Brella\\\" chair apart from others is the extra bells and whistles, which are well worth it. An umbrella comes attached to the side of the chair (no extra assembly required) that can be moved a full 360 degrees to hit any angle. The top of the umbrella can also swivel in different directions, so you're covered no matter which direction the sun is coming from. Moving either part only requires pressing in a button and manually moving the part in any given direction.\\n\\nThe arm that holds the umbrella is connected by a piece of sturdy plastic that held up perfectly fine for me during a normal summer day, but I'd be hesitant to use the umbrella during especially windy or rainy days. It seems more suited for shade than actual bad weather. A standard cup holder is included on the arm rest, and the bottom of the chair has a zipper pocket for holding fishing or grilling supplies. The zipper also features a handy bottle opener.\\n\\nComfort, portability, and loads of extra features make the \\\"Sport Brella\\\" chair the way to go for afternoon family outings or overnight camping trips.\",\n \"Product: The Beyond\\n\\nLucio Fulci\\n\\n1981\\n\\nAnchor Bay\\n\\nDVD\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Occasionally great, but mostly mediocre to sub par\\n\\nReview: \\\"The Beyond\\\" is the flagship film for director Lucio Fulci. Hailed by many as his best work, it has all the qualities standard to Italian horror from the era. Style is given much more attention than substance, plot continuity and story development are ignored in favor of the advancement of a particular tone, and above all, gore is the means of delivering that tone to the audience. For those not familiar with Fulci's work or other Italian horror films done in the same style, The Beyond will probably be baffling and nonsensical to the point of actually angering the casual viewer. Be forewarned - storyline arcs will appear and disappear without any kind of proper resolution, events will occur for no adequately explainable reason, and eye gouging will most definitely happen much more than is necessary.\\n\\nWhat little story exists in this film actually reinforces the nonsensical juxtaposition of random scenes. A gateway to hell hidden under an old hotel in Louisiana has been opened, and reality is subsequently breaking down. Undoubtedly this was just a fortunate coincidence, and not any actual purposeful decision on Fulci's part, but at least it's there. In some respects however, it may have actually been better it Fulci had chosen a different background story for his mood specific gore fest. The idea of Hell slowly seeping into the world, turning everything inside out and upside down, re-animating the dead, corrupting the innocent and perverting the holy, really should have absolutely terrified the viewer beyond anything they had previously experienced. Instead, the viewer will mostly just be slightly uncomfortable because of all the gross-out, face dissolving, eye-gouging gore scenes. To be fair, a thoroughly creepy mood is occasionally achieved successfully, most often when the blind prophetic woman Emily appears, accompanied with the fabulous score by genre favorite Fabio Frizzi. Of course, even the musical score isn't all good. The last scene of the film, which is intended to push the viewer over the edge into despair and insanity, is actually irritating and annoying, because the music is strangely upbeat, completely destroying the all important mood.\\n\\nThe Beyond is occasionally great, but mostly mediocre and sometimes sub par. I suggest all horror fans watch this movie at least once to decide whether Italian horror turns their crank or not. If this movie frustrates you, you can officially junk the idea of any other Fulci or Argento style work - they only get more bizarre and nonsensical from here. However, if The Beyond gets you all hot and bothered, \\\"welcome to the sea of darkness, and all therein that can be explored\\\"!\",\n \"Product: Lucio \\\"King of the Eyeball Gag\\\" Fulci made his name with a series of gory, gooey horror epics, and The Beyond stands above all as his outr masterpiece. The largely incoherent plot has something to do with a turn-of-the-century curse and a doorway to hell in the cellar of an old New Orleans hotel. Fulci shows his usual sensitivity with wooden acting, clumsy dialogue, and buckets of oozing blood and pus, but don't let that get in the way of enjoying this mad tale of zombies from hell invading Earth and eating their way through a cast of humans: crucified martyrs, blind visionaries, creepy hotel handymen, befuddled cops, and a plucky pair of heroes desperately fleeing a horde of hungry undead. The blood-red art direction is eerily beautiful, and Fulci's relentless long takes, punctuated by jolting shock cuts and eruptions of grotesque violence, create a mood of sheer paranoid horror right down to the final, mind-bending image. And don't forget the Fulci claim to fame: eyes are gouged out, eaten away, melted with acid, and (shudder) popped out by a spike through the back of the skull. Yech! If you dare ignore such piddling details as narrative logic and let yourself get carried away on the creepy visuals, it's a deliciously stylish treat, an edgy bit of gothic gore pitched in all its bone-crunching, flesh-ripping, organ-splatting glory. This sadistic, sanguinary hell-spawn tale is for gore-hounds only.\\nThe DVD features chatty but largely jokey commentary by David Warbeck and Catriona MacColl and an alternate German credits sequence featuring Fulci's preferred sepia-tinged prologue (but no alternate footage). --Sean Axmaker\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Occasionally great, but mostly mediocre to sub par\\n\\nReview: \\\"The Beyond\\\" is the flagship film for director Lucio Fulci. Hailed by many as his best work, it has all the qualities standard to Italian horror from the era. Style is given much more attention than substance, plot continuity and story development are ignored in favor of the advancement of a particular tone, and above all, gore is the means of delivering that tone to the audience. For those not familiar with Fulci's work or other Italian horror films done in the same style, The Beyond will probably be baffling and nonsensical to the point of actually angering the casual viewer. Be forewarned - storyline arcs will appear and disappear without any kind of proper resolution, events will occur for no adequately explainable reason, and eye gouging will most definitely happen much more than is necessary.\\n\\nWhat little story exists in this film actually reinforces the nonsensical juxtaposition of random scenes. A gateway to hell hidden under an old hotel in Louisiana has been opened, and reality is subsequently breaking down. Undoubtedly this was just a fortunate coincidence, and not any actual purposeful decision on Fulci's part, but at least it's there. In some respects however, it may have actually been better it Fulci had chosen a different background story for his mood specific gore fest. The idea of Hell slowly seeping into the world, turning everything inside out and upside down, re-animating the dead, corrupting the innocent and perverting the holy, really should have absolutely terrified the viewer beyond anything they had previously experienced. Instead, the viewer will mostly just be slightly uncomfortable because of all the gross-out, face dissolving, eye-gouging gore scenes. To be fair, a thoroughly creepy mood is occasionally achieved successfully, most often when the blind prophetic woman Emily appears, accompanied with the fabulous score by genre favorite Fabio Frizzi. Of course, even the musical score isn't all good. The last scene of the film, which is intended to push the viewer over the edge into despair and insanity, is actually irritating and annoying, because the music is strangely upbeat, completely destroying the all important mood.\\n\\nThe Beyond is occasionally great, but mostly mediocre and sometimes sub par. I suggest all horror fans watch this movie at least once to decide whether Italian horror turns their crank or not. If this movie frustrates you, you can officially junk the idea of any other Fulci or Argento style work - they only get more bizarre and nonsensical from here. However, if The Beyond gets you all hot and bothered, \\\"welcome to the sea of darkness, and all therein that can be explored\\\"!\",\n \"Product: When their child dies at a young age in an accident, a couple turns to a maverick and his cutting edge stem cell research to bring their son back through cloning. The resultant child is very similar to their original son, but something has changed.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Severely misrepresented, but at least watchable\\n\\nReview: Viewing the trailers for the movie \\\"Godsend\\\", it is abundantly clear that the individuals marketing this movie would like to show their potential audience that the film is a thought provoking thriller that raises all sorts of questions about the nature of humanity and the moral implications of cloning a previously deceased human being (and presumably presenting some kind of answer to those questions). Those individuals were gleefully lying through their teeth.\\n\\nGodsend starts off with plenty of potential to be a great movie. The viewers are introduced to the happily married Paul and Jessie Duncan, and their young son Adam, who is celebrating his birthday. All the cutesy young son birthday antics occur, letting everyone know just how much the couple loves their only child. After everyone is sufficiently indoctrinated with the fact that these people *really* love their kid, he is of course offed by a wayward vehicle that apparently felt like flying through the air and crushing a poor youngster in front of his mother. Enter genius doctor specializing in fertility, Robert De Niro to seemingly resurrect the dead through advanced cloning techniques. Herein it would appear the movie is about to start making some kind of point. Five seconds later about 3/4 of the people watching Godsend are going to understand the \\\"twist\\\" that occurs later on, all they while hoping fervently that they are wrong, they just misread the signs, this couldn't possibly happen in this film. Of course, they are unfortunately all correct.\\n\\nFor no apparent reason Godsend descends from intelligent ethical questioning of modern day science into a \\\"jump at the sudden sound\\\" quasi-horror movie with no purpose whatsoever. If only it had been marketed as such from the beginning! As a sudden shock style horror movie, it actually isn't all that bad. There have certainly been much, much worse scary flicks. Godsend does fall prey to the same pitfalls of all \\\"BOO!\\\" horror movies, such as the same scare occuring over and over, people running after someone screaming their name repeatedly even though it is quite clear they are neither going to turn around nor answer, and the characters doing blatantly stupid things that make the audience throw their popcorn and yell \\\"Don't go down in the basement!!\\\". Despite all this, there are some geniunely effective uses of interesting camerawork coupled with slowly building music to produce a few noteworthy scenes. However, anyone wanting to have a viewpoint expressed on the issues of mortality, cloning, resurrection, familial ties, destiny, or man's ability to play God should definitely pass by Godsend, as it doesn't even attempt to answer any of these questions that it half-heartedly raises.\\n\\nFor those fortunate enough to know absolutely nothing about this movie, feel free to watch and enjoy a decent ride with pretty good acting by some big name stars. Anyone one who was subjected to the insanely blatant lies of the trailers should understand that Godsend is simply a horror/thriller along the same vein as \\\"The Omen\\\" or \\\"The Good Son\\\" wrapped around a current hot issue to help it sell.\",\n \"Product: A group of kids break down while driving on a remote country road. They stumble upon Camp Hiawatha in full swing and packed with seemingly happy teenagers. However, the teens and the camp are trapped back in 1981. The clothes, the music, the hair are 24 years back in time. Take a trip back to the 80s in this over-the-top, slasher film that delivers blood, mayhem and death 80s style!\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: Move over atomic bombs and cell phones, Camp Slaughter has now replaced you as \\\"worst thing to ever happend to mankind\\\"\\n\\nReview: Some horror movies are so bad the audience laughs. Others are so bad the audience can do naught but stare, slack jawed and with glazed over eyes, wondering what the producers and director were smoking to make them think this movie would be a good idea. Then there is the third category, which Camp Slaughter falls firmly into, that are so bad one might wonder if there is some sort of bizarre plot to resurrect a long forgotten dark deity of death and despair by getting enough people to watch something as horrible as this. Other than to wearily discuss the whole train wreck with your coworkers the next day around the water cooler, there is literally no entertainment value whatsoever to be derived from Camp Slaughter.\\n\\nApparently this is supposed to be a tribute to the whodunit style of teen slasher films of years long gone. How something can be labeled a tribute, when it is worse than every single teen slasher movie put together, is a question that should be put to Alex Pucci, who directed the whole gods-forsaken mess. Savvy horror movie buyers will notice there are actually film festival awards listed on the back of the DVD case, indicating the movie was actually praised by an independent panel of judges, leading many to believe the film might be worth buying. After viewing Camp Slaughter, it will become painfully obvious that either the film festivals referenced don't exist, or Pucci himself oversaw them.\\n\\nNone of this criticism is intended in any way to discourage Pucci and co from doing any future films. After all, you've gotta crawl before you can run. Camp Slaughter just happened to not even be out of the womb yet. It's clear that this was intended to be a great slasher flick, and that a lot of work went into it, it's just that every single facet of the movie failed on a level never seen before. The word \\\"acting\\\" can't even be used in reference to camp slaughter, it's really more like a bunch of young kids goofing off in front of a camera. Almost every scene of the movie is an extreme close up of someone's face. Add to this the fact that when the camera cuts from one extreme close up to another of people who are supposedly in the same scene talking to each other, the time of day and sounds in the background obviously change, it becomes apparent that the director couldn't even get all of the cast to show up at the same place at the same time for shooting. Anytime some sort of assumed action is occurring, the camera switches to comical warp speed reminiscent of ultra low budget TV shows to try to hide the fact that nothing is actually happening.\\n\\nThe standard elements of a slasher style horror movie are all used throughout the script, but they all inevitably fail, each more spectacularly bad than the last. It all starts by the number, with a group of teens driving down an empty expanse of the Great American Highway System. Of course, the vehicle breaks down at an inopportune time leaving the teens stranded in strange surroundings. The intrepid travelers soon discover there is a killer amongst them (but who?), there's a lot of unnecessary dialogue and explaining of why the killing is happening, and then finally the whole thing ends with the \\\"oh no the terror isn't really over\\\" ending that should have been dumped with the Friday the 13th series. To discuss the specifics of what is going on in this particular slasher entry would be to lend some sort of legitimacy to the plot, which anyone who enjoys horror movies should staunchly refuse to do.\\n\\nMaybe with an expanded budget, some actors who have at least a modicum of talent, a script that doesn't lead viewers to randomly commit suicide, and a little more experience under their belts, the criminals responsible for Camp Slaughter will give us something that fits in the \\\"so bad it's funny\\\" category. In the meantime, don't be surprised if Cthulhu rises from his watery sleep to rest control of the earth from the gods of light once again.\",\n \"Product: Jeremy Sisto (Thirteen, TV's \\\"Six Feet Under\\\") and Limp Bizkit lead singer Fred Durst (Be Cool) star in this thrilling story about a U.S. census taker who is assigned to assess the population in a remote mountain community. The census taker becomes trapped in this prison-like town full of \\\"golden rules\\\" (that no one ever breaks) that doesn't allow its population to drop below or exceed exactly 436 citizens, a number in accordance with \\\"God's Law.\\\" He eventually learns that NO ONE is ever allowed to leave Rockwell Falls and that the town citizens will do whatever it takes to maintain the status quo. After fending off a lobotomy and pretending to go along with the program, the U.S. census taker eventually tries to escape. Will the population finally be altered, or will the story of Rockwell Falls live on? Director/producer of TV's long-running science fiction thriller \\\"X-Files,\\\" Michelle MacLaren (TV's \\\"Night Stalker,\\\" \\\"Without A Trace\\\") directs this bone-chilling film. The people of Roc\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Cheap knockoff of a movie that wasn't any good to begin with\\n\\nReview: Population 436, not so cleverly disguised as an original horror film, is really three parts \\\"Wicker Man\\\", one part \\\"Frailty\\\", poured over ice and served in a crappy CGI created glass. Any viewer who has already seen either version of the Wicker Man can officially pass on this movie, as they've already seen it. Population 436 follows the Wicker Man's plot almost scene for scene, with only slight changes to names and places. A guy shows up in the secluded villiage where no outsiders ever go. People are strange and generally produce a creepy vibe. It becomes apparent the townsfolk follow some sort of whacked out religion. A little girl is in danger. Hero guy sees creepy children being indoctrinated into relgious rituals in the school house. Everything is leading up to a big festival where it's obvious to everyone something very bad is going to happen. The ending is even an exact carbon copy of the ending of the remake of the Wicker Man.\\n\\nThe acting and characterization aren't much better in Population 436 than in the film it emulates. The hero is played by Jeremy Sisto, who does an amiable job playing the character he's been given, but the problem is that his character is annoying. He's calm when he should flip out, and he flips out when he should be calm. By the end of the movie the audience will literally be shouting at the screen, \\\"Just shoot someone already! Run them over! It's well within your rights at this point!\\\" The other actors really aren't worth even mentioning. None of them give any oscar winning, let alone even noteworthy, performances. Oh yes, and then there's the horrible CGI created fire scene. Movie directors please take note : if you don't have the budget for superb, completely convincing CGI effects, please don't use CGI at all! It just ruins any sense of immersion the viewer may have been experiencing previously. The entire movie has a very \\\"made for TV\\\" feel to it, which makes sense, as this is director Michelle MacLaren's first foray out of television and into full length movies. If MacLaren learns from the mistakes of this movie, hopefully the next one will at least be watchable.\\n\\nPopulation 436 is a big waste of time. Almost any other horror film is recommended over this.\",\n \"Product: At a rural bar, a motley bunch of patrons struggle to survive a ravenous family of flying beasts bent on devouring every last one of them.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: First timer pwns the whole genre\\n\\nReview: First time director John Gulager takes the helm of what could have been an overly prosaic and boring B style horror flick, and instead steers himself into fame with a tour de force of blood, guts, and black comedy that should sate even the most jaded of gore hounds. The premise of Feast is as simple as it is effective. Average joes from all walks of life are barricaded inside a bar while monstrous hungry beasts try to get in and eat everyone. No attempt is made to explain where these creatures originate or even what they truly are, and this is on purpose. Feast breaks down all the horror genre's standard attributes into its component parts and drops all the extraneous pieces by the wayside, focusing solely on the parts that matter - the setting, the antagonists, and the gore. The characters themselves aren't even graced with actual names; they are simply referred to by their genre cliche characterizations. Nancy and Glen, Brenda and Jack have all been replaced with \\\"Beer Guy\\\", \\\"Bozo\\\", \\\"Hero\\\", and \\\"Honey Pie\\\". The lack of setup and background story actually works in the films favor. Who needs to see twenty-five minutes of a bunch of teen kids taking a road trip down the great American highway when we know they are all going to end up getting gutted by the end of the movie anyway? Feast capitalizes on the fact that people want to see the actual gutting more than the bantering of annoying and oversexed characters. Unfortunately this approach does lead to the films only real flaw. As there is no emotional attachment to any given character, no one is going to find themselves screaming, crying, or even being slightly moved by anything in the film. However, it's obvious Feast isn't trying to connect with the viewers in any meaningful way, it's just trying to entertain, which it does superbly.\\n\\nThe gore in Feast might as well be a character in the movie all it's own. It is both ever present and extremely well done. Limbs will be removed, blood will spurt by the gallon, guts will go flying, and by God people will find many ways to die quite painfully. Feast isn't interested in pulling any punches either. Just because a character is young, innocent, beautiful, or resourceful doesn't mean they can't be offed, extremely graphically, at any given moment. Anyone who has ever found themselves wondering why the hell they can't just kill that one annoying or cuddly character in a slasher flick will be pleasantly surprised with the sheer volume, and frequency, of deaths in Feast.\\n\\nWhile horror (or more specifically, gore), is the main focus of Feast, there is a good deal of dark humor. As each character is introduced, a set of statistics flashes up on the screen. The character's name, a fun fact or two about them, and then their average horror movie life expectancy is gleefully displayed without a shred of remorse or tastefulness. It's all one big joke to the viewers, as it is obvious the characters in the movie have no idea their lives and rapidly approaching deaths are on display for a dispassionate audience that will find entertainment in their suffering. Even the actions of the monsters and some of the kills are done in a humorous style, such as the extreme sexual overtones in how the creatures operate. All comedic elements are done just right so that things never go to far and fall into the dark pit of Hollywood cheesiness, or not far enough and fall flat without being funny.\\n\\nTo put it simply, Feast entirely pwns the horror genre. Gulager's off to a great start and I can't wait to see what he has to offer up next.\\n\\nUPDATE: Years later all I can say is, for the love of Zeus and all that is holy, don't watch the sequels. They nose dive, badly, and aren't worth your time, even in a \\\"so-bad-it's-good\\\" capacity.\",\n \"Product: ZOO is an extraordinary glimpse into the life of a seemingly normal Seattle family man whose secret sexual appetites led to his shocking death. Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Robinson Devor (Woman Chaser, Police Beat), the film explores the ensuing media coverage and public outcry that uncovered a secret community of zoophiles, who call themselves \\\"zoos.\\\" This expressionistic rendering of how apparently upstanding citizens banded together and videotaped their journey into the most taboo realms of behavior, reveals the enormous gulf between what we appear to be and who we really are.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: More David Lynch than Michael Moore\\n\\nReview: Many people were probably very angry upon reaching the end of Zoo when they realized that they had not just watched a documentary, they had watched an art house film deceptively packaged as a documentary. Zoo eschews all standards of documentary filming such as factual content or video interviews, and instead strives to amaze viewers with flashy cinematography, a haunting musical score, and existential self-referential segments that have little or no connection with the subject matter of the documentary. The potential audience for this film should be warned ahead of time that it provides few solid facts about the events in question, sheds no new light on the subject of bestiality, and fails to provide any insight into why human beings would choose to make love with animals.\\n\\nZoo is nominally about the events leading up to Kenneth Pinyan's death due to a perforated colon when he engaged in anal intercourse with an Arabian stallion on videotape, as well as the individuals in Pinyan's life who encouraged or were at least indifferent to his interest in bestiality. The word \\\"nominally\\\" may be giving Zoo too much credit, as it never even provides Pinyan's name, instead solely using his online moniker \\\"Mr. Hands\\\". None of the individuals associated with Pinyan, from the group of people who identify themselves as living the zoo lifestyle that he met with regularly to engage in acts of bestiality, to his ex-wife and child, or even the police and prosecutors involved in the aftermath of his death, are ever shown on screen. Director Robinson Devor choose to use actors to create reenactments of events coupled with the occasional voiceover from audio interviews with a scant few people willing to talk about the issue. These audio tracks and reenactments do not even constitute the bulk of the film, which would have been acceptable if they gave any decent information. The vast majority of Zoo is simply long trailing shots of scenery or people matched with odd color schemes or eerie music. If these non-essential segments were all edited out, Zoo's runtime would be cut down from 80 minutes to somewhere around 30 minutes. There is no denying that Devor has a great talent for camera work and editing, but his talent is not suited to making documentaries.\\n\\nDevor is so obsessed with producing a specific mood and theme, to the complete detriment of the \\\"plot\\\", that he might as well be directing an Italian giallo. Halfway through the film the actor who portrays a police officer is shown in front of an entirely white background while he talks about his reaction to being asked to act in the film that he is currently acting in. Occasionally throughout this monologue the screen flashes black, leaving a white ghost trail of the actor's silhouette. This sort of ploy crosses the line from artsy to self indulgent, especially considering that the monologue has only the most tenuous of connections to Pinyan or the zoo lifestyle. Perhaps Devor was trying to show that a subject as bizarre as animal love and the men who would risk potential death to take part in it could not successfully be explained by a straight forward exposition of events, but instead required a broader look at people and their environments in general that requires multiple viewings to really sink in.\\n\\nLooking for an avant garde or artsy film to blow your mind with odd camera angles and off the wall color schemes? Look no further than Zoo. Those who actually wanted to learn something about Kenneth Pinyan or the mindset of people who would engage in such deviant acts can pass on this one.\",\n \"Product: AN ALPHABETICAL ARSENAL OF DESTRUCTION This explosive film is comprised of 26 individual "chapters" on the topic of death, each helmed by a different director assigned to a specific letter of the alphabet. Provocative, funny and shocking, this anthology is the deffinitive vision of modern horror diversity. Get ready to learn your ABCs!\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: \\\"U\\\" is for \\\"Unwatchable\\\"\\n\\nReview: Upon hearing of the premise of \\\"The ABCs of Death\\\" I was immediately intrigued, although a bit skeptical - could they really work 26 different stories into a single movie effectively? My hopes were high though, expecting something like \\\"VHS\\\" or one of those `90s anthologies like \\\"Tales From the Darkside.\\\" The end result unfortunately isn't just disappointing - it may actually be the worst horror film I've ever had the displeasure of watching. Honestly, something like \\\"Entrails of a Beautiful Woman\\\" is a more coherent and watchable movie than this.\\n\\nMost of the clips are intensely juvenile, and of course there isn't nearly enough time in one to four minutes to offer up any sort of satisfying story. \\\"G is for Gravity\\\" is utterly pointless and might as well not have even been filmed, and it just gets worse from there. To know whether the flick is worth viewing, all you have to do is consider if you want to see something called \\\"F is for Fart.\\\" The segment consists of the world dying because God lets off some atomic flatulence, and then a Japanese schoolgirl with a fart fetish spends her last moments sniffing the bright yellow toots from her teacher's behind. If that sort of thing floats your boat, then by all means enjoy, but I think it's clear the rest of the world can safely skip \\\"The ABCs of Death.\\\"\\n\\nNow to be fair I kept watching after \\\"F is Fart,\\\" thinking maybe this was some sort of high concept but low-brow execution of social commentary on how women's bodily functions are viewed in Japan. I shouldn't have. Afterwards you get things like \\\"K is for Klutz\\\" (sigh) in which a woman defecates into a toilet, the feces becomes sentient and refuses to be flushed, and then tries to work its way back into the uh, \\\"birthing canal\\\" it came from. Does that sound like something you want to watch?\\n\\nThe one that will likely be the final straw for many viewers though is \\\"L is for Libido,\\\" in which men are forced into a masturbation race to the death. The one who loses gets a pointy object shoved into in an unpleasant place. If you've ever wanted to see two guys furiously masturbate while a small boy is raped by an overweight man, well, here you go I guess.\\n\\nSo is it all bad and totally without redeeming value? Essentially yes. \\\"C is for Cycle\\\" is the only clip that's even remotely interesting (with a storyline similar to the flick \\\"Triangle\\\") but of course at a minute and a half it doesn't have time to go anywhere. A minute and a half of somewhat decent material just simply isn't worth the other hour and a half of non-stop awful.\",\n \"Product: Award-Winning Chilean director, Sebastin Silva, invites you on this thrilling journey to the deepest reaches of your darkest fears. In a foreign country, far from home, Alicia (Juno Temple) arrives in South America to vacation with her cousin, Sarah (Emily Browning). When Sarah is suddenly called away, Alicia is stuck on a remote island off Chile with three of Sarahs friends, including Barbara (Catalina Sandino Moreno) and Brink (Michael Cera), an American exchange student with a sadistic streak. Bewildered, frightened, and unable to sleep, Alicias reality becomes a nightmare from which there is no waking. Ancient indigenous rites, disturbing animal behavior, and captivating hypnotic trances come together in an intense exploration into the darkest corners.. when the games go too far, reality unravels with astonishing and deadly consequences.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: More awkward than \\\"May\\\" with some (unintentional) comedy gold\\n\\nReview: Lets get something out of the way right off the bat this isn't a particularly good movie. Frankly its kind of a bad one, but Magic Magic also happens to land in that category of bizarro flicks that are sort of worth seeing anyway, if for no other reason than to expand your cinematic horizons and tell people you actually made it to the end.\\n\\nOn the good side, the acting in Magic Magic is phenomenal, especially from the main actress. But with that stellar acting comes an important question: do you really want to see people convincingly behave in awkward and incredibly off-putting ways for an hour and a half? Because thats essentially the entire movie. Its just people being uncomfortable around one another and saying or doing cringe-inducing things while spending the weekend in a house by a lake in South America. Theres a side story about someone getting an abortion and covering it up, but like nearly everything else in this movie it amounts to nothing and might as well not have happened at all. Contrary to what the trailer implies or what other reviewers have stated, this is neither a horror movie nor a psychological thriller.\\n\\nSo why the three stars? Because of adorable Michael Cera being amazingly creepy and awkward, and the (completely unintentional) comedy gold that appears two-thirds of the way through the flick. In a truly baffling scene that had my wife and I just staring slack-jawed at the screen, the main character sneaks into Michael Ceras room at night, pulls down her pants, and shoves his face into her crotch, then promptly leaves. Why? Theres no reason, its just something weird that happens in a movie with no plot. Cut to the next scene, and Cera acting his heart out looks absolutely dead inside. His eyes give off a soulless and defeated quality for the rest of the movie, because apparently having his face in a vagina just utterly broke him. We were both unable to contain our laughter every time his face appeared for the remaining run time, and Im still suppressing giggles just thinking about it now.\\n\\nThe final segment brings to mind Kill List, in that something bizarre happens for no adequately explainable reason and then the movie doesnt so much end as it sort of just sheepishly stops happening as it realizes its been wasting the audiences time. Because the movie doesnt make any sense and has no resolution, there will no doubt be many people who will label it genius and assume it has some deeper meaning. It doesnt. But for the right group of people who dig weird movies or will appreciate the unintentional humor, it can actually still be worth sitting through anyway.\",\n \"Product: Color:DIP DOT (CANDY PINK/POLKA DOT GOLD DIP GRAPHIC) | Product Packaging:Standard Packaging When it comes to your iPhone 8 & iPhone 7, its not just about protection. Its also about you your style, your personality, your life. With Symmetry Series, you dont have to choose between a protective case and a stylish one. You can make a fashion statement while you protect your phone.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Good grip, great protection\\n\\nReview: I'm a new iPhone user, having just finally jumped on the Apple bandwagon when switching carriers earlier this month. I'm only 10 years late to the party, but finally got my first device that starts with a lowercase \\\"i.\\\" Went with a cheapo case from Walmart at frist that was alright but not stellar, so decided to try OtterBox since everyone raves about them. Love this case. The beveled edge is a bit bigger so its well protected (as I can attest after dropping it at the Gates Of The Mountains while taking pictures of the scenery). Case fits perfect, has a good grip, and will protect your phone from falls. Just make sure to get a clear screen protector to slap on the front as well.\",\n \"Product: Camco's Xtreme Deluxe Car Care 5-piece Kit has everything you need to clean, shine and protect the automobile. This complete car care solution comes with everything you need in one convenient package. It includes one 32 ounce bottle of Xtreme Classic Car Wash, one 16 ounce bottle of Xtreme Classic Tire Shine, one 16 ounce bottle of Xtreme Premium Protectant Spray, one 7\\\" x 4.5\\\" x 2\\\" sponge, and one 14\\\" microfiber towel.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Takes a lot more effort than the automated car wash, but it's worth it\\n\\nReview: Compared to the drive through gas station car washes, this kit is actually significantly more cost effective, although granted, it's also a whole lot more work. That's the real kicker here are you devoted enough to your vehicle to put in the time to make it shine? If so, this is a great set. Spray off your vehicle first with the hose, pour some of the cleaner in a bucket with water, and get to scrubbing for a shiny clean look. The tire shine spray is particularly effective, giving you spotless, jet black tires. Just be prepared to put the time in, as unlike with an automated car wash you'll need to do multiple scrub passes and make sure to keep wiping in one direction to avoid streaks.\",\n \"Product: Led by Ihsahn from Emperor and backed by his wife Ihriel and Lord PZ from Source of Tide. Black/Atmospheric Metal. 9 tracks including, 'Murder', 'Rise, Ye Humans' and 'Between TheLiving And The Dead'. 2000 release. Standard jewelcase.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Artistry Given Form and Flesh\\n\\nReview: Discord, disorder, and strife are staples of the black metal genre. Music in this vein tends to be chaotic and aggressive. Composure, harmony, and cohesion are staples of the classical genre. Music in this vein tends to be unified and subdued. When classically minded musicians decide that black metal will be their chosen form of artistic expression, bands like Emperor are born. They produce disturbingly chaotic and insanely aggressive music that is bound together by an overall cohesive unity that is not always immediately apparent, but that clearly comes into view as the music is explored more fully. When bands like Emperor tire of catering to their fans expectations and being as minimally mainstream as they are; when they decide to cast aside all preconceived notions of what genre or type of music they should be creating; when their only goal becomes to rip their desires, emotions, and fears directly out of their souls and display them in all their ugly glory through the medium of music, then bands like Peccatum are born.\\n\\nPeccatum is composed of Emperor front man Ihsahn and his wife Ihriel, and it is clear that neither of them at any point contemplated whether anyone else would enjoy this album, or play it's tracks on the radio, or if they should have added or removed certain elements to make it more popular to sell more copies. Amor Fati successfully marries the technical and complicated guitar work that Ihshan tried to integrate into Emperor, much to the fans consternation and general hatred of Emperor's final album, with Ihriel's disturbingly beautiful shrieks and purposefully off-key singing that also would have never been accepted in a standard black metal album. People who despise black metal and other forms of non-mainstream music will likewise be united with adherents to traditional black and death metal in absolutely hating Peccatum for its unique sound, and that is most definitely a sign that this band is at the forefront of advancing music into the next era.\\n\\nAmor Fati is in no way concerned with sticking to one typified genre of music throughout its 44 minute and 30 second auditory experience. What may start as a hauntingly lovely violin piece, the very height of heavenly sound for the higher class listener, will suddenly descend into unknowable screams and growls or perhaps a maddeningly complex guitar arrangement, or even an unbelievable combination of all three elements. The guitar work never ties itself down to any one style either, frequently moving smoothly from heavily distorted thrash riffs to more benign and soothing song structures. The whole thing is really carried by Ihriel's vocals, which usually punctuate important moments during each song and serve to draw the listener further into the music.\\n\\nTaking the journey into Amor Fati is an exploration in the deeper regions of experience. It will be considered angelic to some, and demonic to others. Those who will truly appreciate this music will understand that the two labels are really one and the same, and that it is only the listener's point of view that will determine whether they choose to label it the former or the latter.\",\n \"Product: OXO Good Grips Flip and Fold Omelet Turner, High heat Resistant Silicone\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Perfect omelets every time\\n\\nReview: Another silly and overly-specialized kitchen gadget you don't need? Not so fast - this one's actually pretty useful if you make omelets regularly but have trouble getting them looking perfect without falling apart while flipping.\\n\\nThis silicone turner has a wide (but thin) soft side that is incredibly pliable, and then a thicker and stockier center to give proper lift. This lets you slide the edge under something soft and finicky like the bottom of a cooking omelet, but then still be able to pull it up and flip it over without losing your grip or having anything fall apart.\\n\\nYes, this is a specialized tool, but it's not completely one-use, as you could easily substitute \\\"omelet\\\" for anything else with soft edges, like a quesadilla. It definitely makes omelet cooking easier and is far better at flipping than the standard wood, plastic, or bamboo turners.\",\n \"Product: Miracle-Gro Gro-ables veggie and herb kit: contains everything you need to start growing your own veggies and herbs: Guaranteeds to grow!.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Fun starter kit with a good variety\\n\\nReview: Something like this can be a bit difficult to review, as you're unlikely to have the same experience as anyone else depending on the type of soil available to you, your local climate, whether you are growing indoor or outdoor, and so on. These do sprout and grow well, and if you'd like a wide variety of tasty herbs and vegetables this is a good starting point, although this definitely isn't going to be growing enough to be using as a reliable food source or to actively replace your dried herbs from the supermarket. Overall its a fun gift or a nice starter project for the family, but not a serious means of getting an actual vegetable garden growing in the back yard.\",\n \"Product: New Push Pull Rotate technology-the hands-full door lock from Brinks. The only door lock that opens 3 ways. Push it, pull it, or rotate it. With an elbow, hip or finger you can open the door by simply pushing or pulling on the knob or lever. They are also ADA compliant. Despite being so easy to use, these locks are built to achieve the most rigorous residential security standards you would expect from Brinks. You can rest assured they will keep intruders out and your family and valuables safe. All Push Pull Rotate door locks are built on a commercial grade chassis to withstand repeated use and abuse; making them perfect front and back doors and for all interior rooms like bathrooms, laundry rooms, and pantries. Installation is easy. They fit all standard doors. You only need a Phillips screwdriver and a few minutes to dramatically improve the function and appearance of your home. Made with superior craftsmanship, Push Pull Rotate door locks have dual torsion springs for smooth rotation, hidden screws for a more decorative appearance, 75mm diameter roses to hide the blemish from old hardware and removable interior knobs or levers for scratch-free installation. All items in this line come with a lifetime warranty for defects in material or workmanship\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Neat design for easy opening\\n\\nReview: This Brinks metal door knob looks great and has a nifty design that lets you turn, pull out, or even just push in the knob with your hip (like say if you've got an arm full of groceries or are carrying a laundry bag). Installation is simple and only requires a screwdriver, but the knob is heavy duty and will last. This is definitely an indoor knob, not one you'd use for the main outside entrance into your home, since it can be opened just by pushing in. Be sure to use it on an inward swinging door, like a bedroom or bathroom, and not an outward swinging door like a closet (especially if you've got little kids running around who might decide to lock themselves in), although technically you could just reverse it for out swinging doors.\",\n \"Product: Enter the world of Westeros with A Game of Thrones: The Card Game Second Edition! In this second edition of our longest-running Living Card Game (LCG), you command iconic characters from A Song of Ice and Fire in treacherous battles for the Iron Throne. Every turn, you hatch a new plot, then attack your foes in three types of deadly challenges. Whether you play a head-to-head joust or a multiplayer melee, your struggles span the field of battle, cunning intrigues, and political machinations. Call your banners and battle for the Iron Throne!\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Typical high quality Fantasy Flight card game\\n\\nReview: I've never played the first edition of Game Of Thrones, so I can't comment on how it's changed or whether this second edition is worth picking up if you have the original, but I can say for newcomers it's well worth trying. I'm a big fan of Fantasy Flight's various RPGs and board/card games and this one doesn't disappoint it has all the high production values and fun mechanics you'd normally expect from the company.\\n\\nFor people coming into this more as fans of the books / T.V. show rather than as gamers, you should be aware the ruleset is quite complex and this is very much not a casual game to just jump into with a group of friends who don't know the rules. On the other hand, you'll pick it up fairly quickly if you are a veteran of other Fantasy Flight games or play anything like Magic: The Gathering. Of course as a Fantasy Flight gamer there's a ton of tokens, but it's not nearly as out of hand as with Arkham Horror or Elder Sign, so you won't need to buy a box of ziplock bags just to keep them all separated.\\n\\nThere are plenty of familiar concepts, but they're all filtered through the Game Of Thrones mindset rather than tapped or untapped for instance you have kneeling and standing. Rather than something like mana you've got gold to use, with unspent gold going back into the box at the end of each turn due to taxation.\\n\\nThe basic idea of the game is amass a set amount of power and influence to take the throne, which is typically earned by initiating a military, intrigue, or power challenge against another player in each round. That's where all the different cards come into play, letting you set up various combos and strategies for attack or defense. Of course all the characters from the series are represented with varying abilities, like wildling hordes being good for military challenges and the onion knight Davos Seaworth being good at avoiding or surviving them.\\n\\nGame Of Thrones is a living card game rather than a collectible one, so while that means there are fewer strategies overall to employ, it also means you don't have to keep buying an endless supply of new booster packs, and that's a plus in my book. For fans of the show or gamers who want something new to try during your weekly session, this one's a fun entry that's worth picking up.\",\n \"Product: The sky's the limit in Apples to Apples Freestyle! Branching out from classic Apples to Apples game play, Apples to Apples Freestyle introduces a whole new kind of creative fun - players get to make up their own hilarious answers! Each round, a different player is the \\\"judge\\\" and turns over a card to reveal a fill-in-the-blank statement. Everyone else comes up with a word or phrase to fill in that blank and writes it down on their personal apple slate - and what they choose to write can be as crazy as they want it to be! The judge selects the best answer and decides the winner of that round. First player to win 4 rounds wins the game! Offering customization, creativity, and constant laughter, Apples to Apples Freestyle is perfect for the whole family! Includes 216 cards, 5 writing slates, 5 dry-erase markers and instructions.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Great twist on the regular game, and easy to go either clean or dirty depending on your group of gamers\\n\\nReview: Overall I'm a fan of the original Apples To Apples, but I've found it can get very repetitive fairly quickly as the same types of cards are used over time. This new edition aims to remove that problem by letting players write in their own answers.\\n\\nThere's two ways to play here: either one judge pulls a freestyle card with a blank spot in a sentence and reads it aloud, then everyone else writes whatever word they think is funniest on the dry erase apple boards, or instead one judge writes any word on an apple card and the rest of the players choose a freestyle card that humorously matches. The first mode is more fun for people who like to come up with silly things on the fly, while the second is better for those who don't want to be put on the spot.\\n\\nWith the blank spots and ability to write in answers, it appears this is sort of a sly attempt for Apples To Apples to take on the Cards Against Humanity crowd, because the game goes out of its way to make it easy to be dirty. Without question, the vast majority of the blank spots on the cards are aimed at easily being filled with any given euphemism for penis. Here's a sampling of random freestyle cards I just pulled from the deck:\\n\\nI wouldn't want to be caught holding BLANK, It feels good to rub your face against a smooth BLANK, Nothing feels better than BLANK, The most important ingredient in a romantic evening is BLANK, I would never want a monkey to get its paws on my BLANK, and so on. For the twisted Cards Against Humanity players, there's then also cards like A family reunion is a great place to find BLANK.\\n\\nThat being said, this is solid fun for younger kids or adults who aren't interested in that kind of game, as you can tailor it to any given group just by changing what you write. Our group did some non-horrifyingly offensive rounds just for fun and it worked just as well. It's a laugh riot having people try to come up with cards that match the random phrases you come up with - time traveling nazi assassin or homeless badgers for instance.\\n\\nThere's only two downsides to the game first up, the packaging is terrible. The box is clearly not meant to continue holding the cards and markers after being opened. Get yourself some ziploc bags or a plastic carrying case with dividers to store the game's parts. Second, for no apparent reason two of the apple cards meant to be written on have sample text printed on them, which was a terrible idea, as it essentially means you've got two less cards for extra players. You could technically use them in a game, but you'll have to shuffle the apple cards each round and re-hand them out, otherwise it will be obvious who is handing in the cards with the pre-printed text at the top every single round.\",\n \"Product: Looney Labs has created a sweet card game all about serving some very picky guests. No soup, no salad, no entree... it's just desserts! Compete with your fellow waiters to serve guests their favorite goodies before someone else gets to them first. With a kitchen full of mouth-watering offerings, and the cafe filling up with customers, you'll have your hands full making sure everyone gets their just desserts.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Simple, Casual Fare For Kids Or Adults\\n\\nReview: Just Desserts comes from the designers of Fluxx, so it shouldn't come as a surprise that there's a lot of similarities in card design and rules. Gameplay is somewhat similar to Fluxx, but rather than constantly changing the rules, new guests will be added and old ones will be removed, changing the win conditions.\\n\\nThe goal is to serve something the guest wants while avoiding things they don't like. There's no maximum hand size, so eventually while drawing cards over the course of each turn you're guaranteed to hit the right combination for one or more guests. A player wins by successfully satisfying three guests of the same suit (in this case suits being things like a rolling pin or muffin, rather than spades or hearts) or five guest of all different suits. With the changing guests its possible to win quickly or have a game keep going for 20 minutes, but its not as crazy a fluctuation as with Fluxx.\\n\\nJust Desserts features very simple rules, making it more appealing for the casual gamer. The basic rules make for fast gameplay that anyone (even kids) can pick up, but if you want more fast paced fun for adults you can add in advanced rules, like poaching guests from other players just as they think they are taking them, or setting up a buffet of four single serve items to return previously won guests back to the main dining area.\",\n \"Product: Come on, grab your friends, and play some Adventure Time Fluxx! Join Jake The Dog and Finn The Human for some ever-changing fun. Draw a card, play a card, and change the rules. Get mathematical against candy zombies, visit the City of Thieves to steal from your friends, and maybe, if things work out just right, you might even get to Floop the Pig.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: If you dig Fluxx, you'll enjoy this just as much\\n\\nReview: Having loved the base Fluxx (as well as Just Desserts and various other games from this company) I decided to finally try out one of the themed expansions, and I wasn't disappointed. It's the same rule-swapping mayhem of Fluxx, but with some fun additions and more interesting art.\\n\\nFor those wondering, you don't have to actually know anything about Adventure Time to play or enjoy this version of Fluxx, so pick it up and go crazy. You could technically mix these cards in with the original Fluxx for a massive game deck, but doing so might have the unintended consequence of making games drag on too long, since it becomes less likely you'll get the right combination of keepers for a goal.\\n\\nWhile lots of the game is the same, some parts have changed in this version. For instance, goals tend to be more open ended this time around, so rather than having this specific keeper and that specific keeper to win, it might be have this specific keeper and ANY two princess keepers, which can help cut down on those games that keep going because no one pulls the right combination of cards in the chaos that is Fluxx.\\n\\nCreepers add a new wrench in the works by preventing you from winning any given goal meaning you'll be searching for ways to get rid of the card or force it on another player, but in true Fluxx form, sometimes you need a Creeper to win instead. Surprise! cards are also new and a welcome addition, letting you interrupt an action (such as preventing someone from stealing your keepers) much like the satisfying I Don't Think So! cards from Red Dragon Inn or a counterspell from Magic: The Gathering.\\n\\nA few new rule and action cards are also around, leading to very interesting combinations. One rule for instance lets you pick any action card from the discard pile and set in play so that any player can use it once a turn as a free action. This can lead to hilarious and downright manic play if you choose an action that allows people to swap hands with other players, as every player will be forcing the others to swap hands on every turn until the rule goes away.\\n\\nThe bottom line is that if you like Fluxx (and I do!), you'll definitely like this, but if you don't enjoy the overall lack of strategy and completely random nature of how some games can be 5 minutes and some can be 35, that doesn't change a whole lot here.\",\n \"Product: Book by Goodkind, Terry\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: And Goodkind takes the gloves off!\\n\\nReview: Reading through the Amazon reviews of Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth series, the average reader will come to find that apparently this is both the absolute best, and absolute worst, fantasy series of all time. While some will bestow glowing reviews detailing how every part of this series is the culmination of everything a fantasy novel could ever aspire towards, others will divulge that all Sword of Truth novels are nothing but a ridiculous rip off of Tolkien, filled with horribly offensive imagery and cardboard characters. The Truth of the matter is that both parties are entirely, unequivocally incorrect.\\n\\nWhile the Sword of Truth series can stand on it's own as a decent fantasy series, it's never actually been about straight forward fantasy entertainment. These are books on philosophy which happen to use fantasy as their method of delivery, which is an excellent idea, because who wants to tread through long boring, dry books about philosophy, when they could be reading a rousing tale of adventure instead? Terry Goodkind has been preaching a modified version of Objectivism, the philosophy of Ayn Rand, reformatted to fit his particular world view. Overall, it's worked out pretty well. Each novel manages to be both emotionally engaging and philosophically enlightening, if the reader is willing to open himself up to some new ideas. Objectivism is necessarily either wary of, or outright hostile towards, standard organized religion, as it rejects the idea of a metaphysical outside Source that must be accepted on faith and has no basis in logic or reason. Goodkind generally is rather tasteful or light-hearted in his treating of this subject throughout the series. There are few snippets here and there that tip the reader off about the ideas, though, such as how certain characters reject both the Keeper of the Underworld and the Creator of Life as irrelevant powers, and in the previous novel Chainfire when the wizard Zedd explains that the Imperial Order's blind faith in their beliefs is what truly makes them the enemy. When writing \\\"Phantom\\\", Goodkind took the gloves off, and picked up the brass knuckles and a spiked bat. There is no question here about where he stands in regards to the monotheistic religions that rule the modern world. The highly religious, or those who are unwilling to question their beliefs, should probably stay far way from Phantom, as they will most certainly be offended.\\n\\nPhantom progresses the story towards the inevitable end that must occur (unless we are to endure the dreaded Robert Jordan syndrome), and it does manage to sustain and propagate the overall feel of the previous novels acceptably. The authors tendency to recap past events and re-explain key ideas does become a bit tedious here, however. While the rehashing was generally done just enough in the past to keep everyone up to speed, it gets a little out of hand in Phantom, which is unfortunate, as Phantom is shorter than most of the previous novels. Hopefully the final tome in this series will be massive enough to make up for it. Some of the characters we thought had been forgotten about are thankfully either present or are at least talked about. As the series gets closer and closer to it's end, things start to get more brutal. While there has always been adult material, from violence all the way to rape, all the stops are pulled out here. You won't find Goodkind pulling any punches at all in his depictions of the atrocities that are occurring in this final war to end all wars.\\n\\nPhantom is a passably entertaining fantasy novel that fans of the other novels will certainly enjoy. When viewed as it was intended however, as a method of delivering ideas and challenging beliefs, Phantom becomes much more. If Goodkind drops the endless recaps, the next and final book should be the best yet.\",\n \"Product: trade paperback; no marks (amov14)\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: 300 pages of nothing happening, padded by 300 extra pages recapping how nothing happened\\n\\nReview: Having enjoyed Hobb's other series as a teenager I was really looking forward to returning to this world and these characters, but having now finished Fool's Assassin I'm absolutely baffled by the 5 star reviews. Without question, this has been one of the most tedious, least interesting novels I've ever had the displeasure of reading.\\n\\nRather than Fool's Assassin, the first half of the book could have more accurately been titled The Life and Worries of an Elderly Couple. Throughout this latest entry in the Assassin series you'll get to read exciting description of how the kids don't stop by as much as they used to! Be astounded by an old man's distrust of technology that eases life's burdens! Watch an elderly person learn to take care of himself after his spouse passes away from natural causes! See a small child complain about not wanting to go to school with the bullies! Read about a little girl learning to dress like a proper lady! Riveting stuff, to be sure.\\n\\nHobb is not a bad writer by any stretch of the imagination (she does 1st person better than other fantasy novelists), but the problem is not with the writing, it's with the content and the pacing. There are segments where you can clearly see the classic themes she's going for a kid learning the secret passageways in the castle while hunting mice, children learning in a medieval school, and so on and there have been books that have made these concepts interesting in the past. Bran skulking about Winterfell, any number of books involving kids learning magic in a castle, and so on, but the problem here is that this sort of thing is what constitutes literally the entire book. Imagine if the first Game of Thrones book was just Bran skulking around and Arya playing for 600 pages. That's essentially what you're getting with Fool's Assassin. There's no intrigue, no bad guy, no problems to be overcome. It's essentially just a description of the day-to-day life of a retired guy and his family, albeit with some fantasy tropes hung on for good measure.\\n\\nRepetition absolutely kills this book (and then for good measure it kills it again, and again). You'll read the same arguments, over, and over, and over. People try to get the main character to bring on dogs and house guards. Someone else argues the same thing. Later another person argues the same thing again. When they run out of people to make that argument, someone tries to get the main character's daughter to get dogs and house guards. Chade tries to convince Fitz to return to political life. 50 pages later the same thing happens. 50 pages after that it happens again. In another 50 pages the main character writes a letter to himself reiterating the arguments and why he's not accepting them. The main character worries his kid is too small and may be disabled. His wife worries their kid is too small and may be disabled. Their adult child talks to them about how their kid is too small and may be disabled. The house staff whispers about how their child is too small and may be disabled. Someone uses skill magic to telepathically talk about how their child is too small and may be disabled.\\n\\nIf the unnecessary repetition in my description of this story is annoying, try multiplying that by 40+ pages at every plot point and you understand why it was such a chore to actually read to the end of the novel. Then again, using the term plot point may be giving Fool's Assassin too much credit. 250 pages into the book, the most exciting thing that's occurred is that someone died of natural causes due to old age. It's not unreasonable to expect there to be an antagonist or any semblance of an actual plot before the book's halfway mark. At one point a mystery shows up about a prophecy of an unexpected son that has an appallingly obvious answer. Every time Fitz recapped how he couldn't figure it out I had to force myself not to throw the book across the room and never pick it up again.\\n\\nThe plot of Fool's Assassin doesn't actually start until about page 300, and it doesn't kick into high gear until the very, very end. This book could have been hundreds of pages shorter and much more engaging by trimming out the recaps, reiterations, and unnecessary repeated arguments. While clearly based on the other reviews some die hard fans are going to love this no matter what, I can't possibly recommend it to anyone, and frankly Hobb deserves some kind of award for writing the most boring book to ever include the word Assassin in the title.\"\n]","isConversational":false},"profile_size":{"kind":"number","value":36,"string":"36"},"task":{"kind":"string","value":"longlamp_3"},"split_kind":{"kind":"string","value":"user_based"},"id":{"kind":"number","value":968,"string":"968"}}},{"rowIdx":969,"cells":{"question_id":{"kind":"string","value":"A1RMHZSWZ7ZEQO"},"question":{"kind":"string","value":"Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of \"4.0\" for a product with description \"J.A. Konrath is the author of the Jacqueline “Jack” Daniels series that includes “Whiskey Sour,” “Bloody Mary,” “Rusty Nail,” “Dirty Martini,” “Fuzzy Navel” and “Cherry Bomb.”\". The summary of the review text is \"Very Good Quick Read\"."},"answer":{"kind":"string","value":"This is great airplane or beach reading. You won't become a better person for having read it, but boy, will you be entertained.\n\nThis is a Jack Daniels mystery (my first). Jack (a/k/a Jacqueline) is a retired detective now in private investigative practice. The book tells three stories in short chapters that bounce among them. This format allows for a lot of cliffhanging as so many chapters end with an \"oh no! What will...?\" and then off to another segment.\n\nThe stories are of three different eras of Jack's career. The first is from 21 years ago when she is first introduced to a serial killer as a patrolman. The next is three years ago when she just missed catching the same killer. The third is present day.\n\nEach of the mysteries is good in and of itself. Combined they equal more than the sum of the parts as the tension ratchets as they move from one to another. The writing is good. The mysteries each have good twists and turns even though they are short. Jack is a well-developed character and her supporting cast is also very good - the good cop and the crude cop.\n\nThis is a fun thriller. It also sets up a sequel very well. I will be looking forward to it in anticipation that it will be as good as Shaken."},"correct_answer":{"kind":"string","value":"This is great airplane or beach reading. You won't become a better person for having read it, but boy, will you be entertained.\n\nThis is a Jack Daniels mystery (my first). Jack (a/k/a Jacqueline) is a retired detective now in private investigative practice. The book tells three stories in short chapters that bounce among them. This format allows for a lot of cliffhanging as so many chapters end with an \"oh no! What will...?\" and then off to another segment.\n\nThe stories are of three different eras of Jack's career. The first is from 21 years ago when she is first introduced to a serial killer as a patrolman. The next is three years ago when she just missed catching the same killer. The third is present day.\n\nEach of the mysteries is good in and of itself. Combined they equal more than the sum of the parts as the tension ratchets as they move from one to another. The writing is good. The mysteries each have good twists and turns even though they are short. Jack is a well-developed character and her supporting cast is also very good - the good cop and the crude cop.\n\nThis is a fun thriller. It also sets up a sequel very well. I will be looking forward to it in anticipation that it will be as good as Shaken."},"documents":{"kind":"list like","value":["Product: Shipped from UK, please allow 10 to 21 business days for arrival. Very Good, A very good, near fine copy in black cloth boards, gilt title on spine with a very good, near fine dust jacket. Mayflower: a voyage to war. xvii, 461 p. : ill., ports. ; 24 cm.. . Includes bibliographical references (p. [415]-443).. .\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Maybe a Misnomer - But It Does Not Matter\n\nReview: The reviews that say the title is misleading are correct. This book chronicles the Pilgrims from England to Holland and then to America on the Mayflower. The longer portion of the book, however, chronicles the new colony through King Phillip's War - which embroiled the children and grandchildren of the Mayflower's passengers.\n\nThe misnomer does not take away from the book. It is a terrific history of the Pilgrims and especially the unique relationship the earliest New Englanders had with the Indians.\n\nBest of all, it is an even-handed description of that relationship and the particiapants. I strongly disagree with those who said that Mr. Philbrick had an agenda. He was hyper-critical of both Puritans and Indians, especially King Phillip himself, who allowed King Phillip's War to occur. He added some terrific insights of the long-range implications of that war as well. Mr. Philbrick called a spade a spade - there were good men and incompetent egomaniacs on both sides, white and Indian. Anyone who read his derisive descriptions of King Phillip's propensity to cut and run in everry battle could not say he favored the Indians to the English.\n\nBest about this book are the unique perspectives. I thought I knew quite a bit about Plymouth. However, due to Mr. Philbrick's different ways of looking at the colony, he divulged much that is not commonly known. In the first part of the book, where he tracks the emigration from Europe, he gives good insight into the people on the Mayflower, both Pilgrim and \"stranger\". He continues with a good look at their views on the colony including religion, their role in their new society and the economics of the community. He then, for the larger remainder of the book, looks at the Plymouth colonists through their relationship with the native Indians. After reading this book, it is easy to see that although King Phillip's War was one of America's least known wars, it had a tremendous far-reaching effects on America. The ratio of casualties to total population alone is staggering, but Mr. Philbrick shows the long range effects through more than mere statistics.\n\nThis is by no means a politically correct book. It is even-handed and enlightening. Best of all, it is a very readable history of Plymouth and southern New England's earliest years.","Product: High adventure, mind--blowing suspense. Tom Kirk, the world's greatest art thief, is back on another life--threatening mission. In London, an Auschwitz survivor is murdered in his hospital bed, his killers making off with a macabre trophy -- his severed left arm. In Fort Mead, Maryland, a vicious gang breaks into the NSA museum and steals a World War II Enigma machine, lynching the guard who happens to cross their path. Meanwhile, in Prague, a frenzied and mindless anti-Semitic attack on a synagogue culminates in the theft of a seemingly worthless painting by a little known Czech artist called Karel Bellak. A year has passed since Tom Kirk, the world's greatest art thief, decided to put his criminal past behind him and embark on a new career, on the right side of the law . Then three major thefts occur, and suddenly Tom is confronted with a deadly mystery and a sinister face from the past.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Suspend Belief to Enjoy\n\nReview: This is a fast-paced historical mystery/thriller. The star, Kirk, must ahve made an appearance in an earlier book, because there are frequent mentions to his past. Possibly that would have added depth to the character, because he is a mere cardboard character, as is partner. The most interesting character, Dominique, is given only frustratingly short shrift. The supporting cast come and go so quickly that there is no relationship built with them.\n\nThe history in the book is its redeeming quality. All the characters, good and bad, are looking for the lost gold train the Nazis hid at the end of WWII. The references to the SS, Enigma and the like are interesting.\n\nAs one might expect with any mystery concerning old and modern-day Nazis there is plenty of danger for the good guys. The worst part of the book is the cartoonish manner Kirk constantly gets out of these life-threatening dilemmas. Every time his butt gets in a sling, some foruitous quirk comes to his rescue. Many times he was saved by people he hardly knew but somehow had been watching him.\n\nOverall, the book is amusing if you can suspend all belief in reality and just go with the flow. Regretably, Kirk is not very engaging - no Bond he - so the rooting interest is not as high as it might be. The parts based on WWII are interesting and carry this to a fairly good read.","Product: Masterful, Pulitzer-prize winning literary epic about the painful and complex realities of slave life on a Southern plantation. An utterly original exploration of race, trust and the cruel truths of human nature, this is a landmark in modern American literature. Henry Townsend, a black farmer, boot maker, and former slave, becomes proprietor of his own plantation -- as well as his own slaves. When he dies, his widow, Caldonia, succumbs to profound grief, and things begin to fall apart: slaves take to escaping under the cover of night, and families who had once found love beneath the weight of slavery begin to betray one another. Beyond the Townsend household, the known world also unravels: low-paid white patrollers stand watch as slave 'speculators' sell free black people into slavery, and rumours of slave rebellions set white families against slaves who have served them for years. An ambitious, luminously written novel that ranges from the past to the present, The Known World seamlessly weaves together the lives of the freed and the enslaved -- and allows all of us a deeper understanding of the enduring multi-dimensional world created by the institution of slavery.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Haunting Characters from a Haunting Subject\n\nReview: First off, this novel is not written in a lineal fashion. At times the author jumps decades, even a century into the future. It took me a while to warm to the style, but not only does it work, it is the way one person would tell the a story about another person: \"He did this and this. Little did we know that he would become a ...\"\nThere are few authors who can portray characters as well as Mr. Jones. I would put him in Steinbeck's class. The reader gets to know all the characters in this book well. At first, I thought Mr. Jones was merely introducing the people who populate this book (and there is a significant population of characters). I then realized that this was what the book was all about - the lives of these people in Madison County Virginia. And what interesting lives they were.\nThe central theme is slave-owning blacks. The slave-owners, white and black, are followed as are free blacks and free whites. At the center is the plantation and its denizens of a slave-owning black named Henry. He was bought out of slavery as a boy by his father who now disapproves of his son's holding slaves. When Henry dies, his widow tries unsuccessfully to hold the plantation together with what she perceives is the benevolence that would allow her to follow her husband to heaven. Heaven accepted benevolent slave-owners. One ned not free his slaves to get through the Pearly Gates. It should be noted that some of the descriptions of this book portray the central theme as this disintegration. However, it comes near at the end of the book and is almost an afterthought.\nThe heart of this book is the tenuous intertwining of whites and blacks in the ante-bellum south. Rather than the usual handling of these tensions, this book adds the compelling component of blacks owning blacks. This addition of a fourth class of southern citizen after rich whites, poor whites and slaves enriches this book and makes it a five star read. The rich character portraits carry the story-line rather than vice versa.\nI strongly recommend this book. It was wonderfully written, the characters hauntingly unforgettable and the topic a little known one that is compelling.","Product: A typist uncovers a man's body from behind the sofa! As instructed, stenographer Sheila Webb let herself into the house at 19 Wilbraham Crescent. It was then that she made a grisly discovery: the body of a dead man sprawled across the living room floor. What intrigued Poirot about the case was the time factor. Although in a state of shock, Sheila clearly remembered having heard a cuckoo clock strike three o'clock. Yet, the four other clocks in the living room all showed the time as 4.13. Even more strangely, only one of these clocks belonged to the owner of the house!\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Christie is Always Solid\n\nReview: Agatha Christie's novels are always written in a straight-forward manner and have plots that are thoughtful and plausible. This one is no different in those positive attributes.\n\nWhat is different is the book is written in two voices. One a third person narrative and the other the narrative in the first person of Colin Lamb, one of the investigators of the murder.\n\nThe book also has two story-lines/mysteries, which takes Mr. lamb in and out of both.\n\nAs is so frequently the case with Agatha Christie, the murder is set up well. A typist is requested by a blind woman who gives instructions to enter the house if she is not yet home. When the typist enters the house she finds the body. Of course, the blind woman never called her to type, the man was not identifiable and the inspector and Lamb are off on the hunt. Lamb brings in Peroit, who does not take much space in the book, but, of course, solves the crime from his armchair.\n\nAs usual, a thoroughly enjoyable novel by Christie who never writes the same story twice and always, as here, seems to have an added twistl.","Product: A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah. Farrar, Straus & Giroux,2008\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Would Never Work as Fiction\n\nReview: Sadly, this is a memoir that would never work as fiction. No one would believe the story of a twelve year old who loses his parents, becomes a violent, effective, drug-using soldier and then becomes rehabilitated.\n\nMr. Beah tells his memoir in a style so straight-forward and sparse that his voice adds to the credibility of his story. It has a built-in realism that borders on the shell-shocked and propels the reader through page after page of litanies of war horrors.\n\nThere is also a self-knowledge by the author rare in a man of his tender years. Perhaps because he has gone through three or four different lives already (he begins the narrative while in high school) he has gained insight beyond his years.\n\nDuring the rehabilitation process the counselors and UN types keep telling the boy soldiers: \"It is not your fault\". The reader gets the idea that although Mr. Beah believes this in his head, he is still having a hard time believing it in his heart. There seems to be a lurking guilt and horror behind his words, even after going through what he and the authorities call his rehabilitation. This may be why the reader is compelled to root for the youth even as he is performing such very barbaric acts of warfare.\n\nThis is a terrific book on several levels: modern day warfare using children, the affairs of Sierra Leone, a boy's struggles, loss of youth and innocence, warfare in today's third world countries where all the fighting is on the ground, and the author's candid introspection. It is the kind of book that could keep a reading club discussion going into the wee hours. It is also the kind of book that will stay with the reader, in a haunting way, for a very long time.","Product: \"The Risk Pool\" is a thirty-year journey through the lives of Sam Hall, a small-town gambling hellraiser, and his watchful, introspective son Ned. When Ned's mother Jenny suffers a breakdown and retreats from her husband's carelessness into a dream world, Ned becomes part of his father's seedy nocturnal world, touring the town's bars and pool halls, struggling to win Sam's affections while avoiding his sins.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Improved as it Went Along\n\nReview: This book is divided into four parts by the author based upon a quote about the dying town of Mohawk by the narrator's grandfather. In reality, it is in three parts: When the narrator is 12-14 years old, when he is just out of college at age 24, and a decade later. The part told by the youthful Ned is more than half the book.\nThe characters are all introduced by the teenager. As he tells the story, the characters are like cut-out cardboard figures. This is true even of his father who is the main character and motivator behind the telling of the story. Although one would not expect a 12 year old to depict characters with depth and sympathy, the voice telling the story was ot that of a twelve year, thus the incongruity. This was a major disappointment to a reader who found the characters to be the best part of \"Empire Falls.\" The disappointment was so deep that I almost put the book down for good.\nWhen the narrator leaves college and heads back home to Mohawk and renews his relationship with his alcoholic father the entire book turns around. Suddenly the characters have some depth so there can be empathy with them - particularly the father.\nWhen Ned resumes the story ten years later, the characters have been completely fleshed out and the relationship between father and son is completely compelling. At that point I did not want to see the story end, but knew that if it had been lengthened it would have been cheapened.\nThis novel depicting the relationship between a dysfunctional (and somewhat bizarre) father and his son finally became gripping. There is some humor to the book as you would expect from Russo. However, the characters are so down in the dumps it rarely reaches the light-hearted nature of his books.\nAlthough \"Risk Pool\" is not nearly as good as \"Empire Falls\" due to its major problem getting the reader to know and sympathize with its characters, I was glad I stuck with it to get to the narrator's adult years. The last third of the book lifted it from a two star to a four star.","Product: John Preston is a former Arts Editor of the Evening Standard and the Sunday Telegraph. For ten years he was the Sunday Telegraph's television critic and one of its chief feature writers. He is the author of a travel book and four novels. His most recent novel, The Dig, is about to be made into a feature film starring Cate Blanchett.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: I Just Didn't Get It\n\nReview: I just couldn't get it. This was a novelization of the archaeological find at Sutton Hoo. It is told in the voices of three participants: Basil Brown, the local archaeologist who first worked the dig, Mrs. Pretty, the owner of Sutton Hoo and Peggy Piggett, one of the archaeologists who came to the dig as a \"professional\". I couldn't figure out if this book were meant to be witty (one description on the cover), an Edwardian romance, or some combination. The writing was excellent, almost ethereal. It allowed a different light in telling the story, but a distant disconnect from the characters even as they were relating their own stories. All of the characters were depressed, even in the face of their successes. One is ill, the other's success is taken away and the third has an unhappy marriage. The only happy character, Robert Pretty, is a boy whose enthusiasm is constantly dampened.\n\nThe shortness of the novel prevented not only a distinct voice and development of any of the characters, but also any real information about the find itself. As interesting as the writing is, a novel that does not find voice, develop characters or tell a history does not make it except as a vehicle for really decent writing. This is the kind of book that makes good book fodder - interesting, but not really enjoyable.","Product: Call it murdertube ...Minneapolis homicide cops Leo Magozzi and Gino Rolseth fish a murdered drag queen out of the Mississippi. Another day, another corpse. Except the victim's death throes quickly appear in a video posted online. And there are other videos, other murders. Unable to trace who is posting the videos, the cops turn to Grace MacBride and her crew of eccentric computer mavericks. But as the bodies and videos stack up, the team desperately try and answer a terrifying question: Is this the work of a lone individual? Or of several killers who have taken social networking to the darkest extreme...\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Solid Mystery Until th End\n\nReview: This is my first Monkeewrench Gang novel. Although it stood alone well, I think I would have gotten more out of it had I read the prior books.\n\nThe FBI is stymied when they learn of a series of murders captured on film and disbursed on the internet. It cannot break the encryptions, so it enlists the help of known hackers. Number one on that list is the Monkeewrench Gang, a gang of four social misfits who are computer geniuses. All have distinct personalities. This is where reading the prior books, where they developed personal histories, would have helped. The murders seem to have Minnesota as a theme, so the Gang teams up Gino and Marzotti, two street-wise cops. The combination of the street knowledge and hi-tech abilities prove especially strong.\n\nThe concept of crimes committed only for the fame of being on YouTube, MySpace and Facebook is an intriguing and thought-provoking one. It is explored by the characters who bring very different perspectives - the professional hackers' and the professional crime fighters.\n\nThe plot, especially as it pertains to these computer inspired crimes is very good. The end weakened with a highly improbable resolution. However, it is the characters who really carry this book. All are unique, from the two cops - who have very good senses of humor - to the odd band of geeks, these characters are unique and have depth. The reader immediately has an affinity with them. It has made me want to go back and read the earlier books to get to know them even better.\n\nThis is an enjoyable good mystery with some thought-provoking issues (rest assured though, the authors don't whack the reader over the head with the issues). The characters are superb and the mystery good. Highly recommended.","Product: 2006 Penguin good art cover edition paperback new condition book In stock shipped from our UK warehouse\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: The Derring Do and the Shaken Martini\n\nReview: This is the classic Bond of the 007 movies - lots of action, a gorgeous woman and the martinis shaken not stirred.\n\nFollowing diamond smuggling into the world of American gangsters, Bond goes to New York, Saratoga for the races, Las Vegas and the luxurious Queen Elizabeth. Having underestimated the American gangsters - as M said he would - he gets into and out of a heap of trouble. In this novel he uses more of his physical than mental attributes.\n\nThis is a fun read. Almost a screenplay for a movie, by gosh! It does not have the tension and suspense of others, such as From Russia With love, but it has plenty of action instead.\n\nFleming is a terrific writer who can turn a phrase and describe a scene as well as anyone in this genre.\n\nHighly recommended for a light romp.","Product: In Amsterdam, an Israeli terrorist analyst is murdered. The police believe the killer is a deranged Muslim extremist, but Israeli intelligence knows better. Art-restorer, assassin and spy Gabriel Allon is dispatched to investigate, uncovering a major terrorist operation in London. Gabriel arrives too late to prevent the kidnapping of the daughter of the US ambassador. With time running out, Allon has no choice but to plunge into a desperate search, both for the woman and for those responsible, but the truth, when he finds it, is more terrible than he could expect. It will endanger his life and shake him to the core.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Another Solid Allon Yarn\n\nReview: Mr. Silva is one of the most consistent writers today. Even this, another installment of the Gabriel Allon series, is fresh and remains exciting. Although this is a series, the novel stands alone. It is nice to know the players, but you can start with this one and go back to the older ones without a problem.\n\nThis time Allon, an Israeli operative, starts in Denmark and ends up in London - or Londonistan as it seems. There are the usual bouts of intrique, sleuthing and thrills as he seeks his quarry. The tension builds to a fever pitch as Allon is knowingly thrown into the brink with little to no support. He is left to go where no government will sanction.\n\nWhat separates Mr. Silva from the usual writers of the spy novel genre writers is his underlying message. Without beating the reader over the head or proselytizing, he alerts the reader to the state of the world and terrorist threats today. His afterword is a very understated emphasis of the threat of Islamist terrorists in Europe. This novel posits the theory, espoused by many, that Britain is now the primary target for jihadists.\n\nDespite the sobering context, this is an intelligent and exciting spy thriller. Highly recommended.","Product: Unusual book\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: A Great Start to the Series\n\nReview: This is obviously the first in the series. Bond is not a fleshed out character and Mr. Fleming seems almost to be feeling out what he wants to make him. Regardless, it is a very good spy novel. Having read later Bond novels, a few old friends appear, giving it that homey feel.\n\nThere is what will become the mandatory formula: a beautiful woman, the coolness under fire, chase scene, entrapment and escape that make these novels all work so well. Fleming's writing is superior to most in this genre.\n\nThere is a great sequence of events surrounding and involving a big-time game of baccarat. Having read prior reviews, I went to my Hoyle's before starting so I would knoe the rules. That is not necessary. The game is simple and Bond conveniently explains it to his beautiful cohort. The game is probably the highlight to the book.\n\nA very good stepping off to a great series. An excellent light read.","Product: \"Penguin Decades\" bring you the novels that helped shape modern Britain. When they were published, some were bestsellers, some were considered scandalous, and others were simply misunderstood. All represent their time and helped define their generation, while today each is considered a landmark work of storytelling. Ian Fleming's \"From Russia with Love\" was published in 1957 and made suave, steely secret agent James Bond an icon. Here 007 encounters the deadly machinations of Russian organisation SMERSH, the fiendish Colonel Rosa Klebb - and the irresistible beauty Tatiana Romanova - in one of the most thrilling classic novels of the Cold War.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Wow! Not Just a Movie Script\n\nReview: I grew up being taken to the Bond flicks by my parents. I guess that made me think that the books they were based upon were mere vehicles for screenplays. I do not remember much of this movie (except the final scene) but I can not imagine it was nearly as good as the book.\n\nI was amazed at the quality of writing. Fleming can portray bad guys as well as anyone, if not better. He built suspense from the first page and never let it diminish. Amazingly, we do not see James Bond until the book is about a third of the way through. Once we do, he is classic Bond. Fleming throws a bit of tongue-in-cheek to add to the charm of the hero.\n\nThe gambit as devised by the Russians is terrific and nuanced. Bond's floundering then overcoming then....well can't give the end is classic, yet still \"delicious\".\n\nMy one disappointment is that Bond never ordered a martini.\n\nA fun and terrific read. Fleming does spies as well as anyone, including LeCarre, but he does it with excitement and a bit of humor. Highly, highly recommended.","Product: ROBERT B. PARKER was the author of seventy books.Winner of the Mystery Writers of America Grand Master Award and long considered the undisputed dean of American crime fiction, he died in January 2010.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: So Close to Being Good\n\nReview: In this Spenser mystery, Spenser is backing up Hawk, who, having been shot and nearly killed, is out for retribution. The plot looks to take a great turn as the killers are revealed to be part of a Ukrainian mob with an Afghani connection. What had so much promise withered.\n\nThere is everything you expect from Parker and these classic characters - good dialogue and witty repartee in particular. Unfortunately, that could not overcome the thinness of what should have been an excellent plot. Hawk shot. Revenge. Tony Marcus' territory of books and prostitutes being infringed. A questionable alliance with Marcus. More questionable alliances with other crime types and traslators - it's all there, but comes up way short.\n\nThere is instant resolution with very little sleuthing. Little tension is produced although the odds look to be precipitously against the good guys. The ending was so stereotypic as to be maddening. So what went wrong?\n\nAs in Sudden Mischief, Parker spends WAY too much time analyzing the relationships of Susan and Spenser and Hawk and his girlfriend. He then goes on to analyze Hawk and Spenser on their own. Too much therapy couch, too little mystery and action.\n\nSo why three stars? Parker still does great dialogue. He is almost singular in his ability to move a plot by dialogue. This is also a nice fast relaxing read - beach reading type. So if you've got a few hours to kill and don't want anything too taxing, this will fit the bill. It certainly is not up to Parker's usual good fare, however."],"string":"[\n \"Product: Shipped from UK, please allow 10 to 21 business days for arrival. Very Good, A very good, near fine copy in black cloth boards, gilt title on spine with a very good, near fine dust jacket. Mayflower: a voyage to war. xvii, 461 p. : ill., ports. ; 24 cm.. . Includes bibliographical references (p. [415]-443).. .\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Maybe a Misnomer - But It Does Not Matter\\n\\nReview: The reviews that say the title is misleading are correct. This book chronicles the Pilgrims from England to Holland and then to America on the Mayflower. The longer portion of the book, however, chronicles the new colony through King Phillip's War - which embroiled the children and grandchildren of the Mayflower's passengers.\\n\\nThe misnomer does not take away from the book. It is a terrific history of the Pilgrims and especially the unique relationship the earliest New Englanders had with the Indians.\\n\\nBest of all, it is an even-handed description of that relationship and the particiapants. I strongly disagree with those who said that Mr. Philbrick had an agenda. He was hyper-critical of both Puritans and Indians, especially King Phillip himself, who allowed King Phillip's War to occur. He added some terrific insights of the long-range implications of that war as well. Mr. Philbrick called a spade a spade - there were good men and incompetent egomaniacs on both sides, white and Indian. Anyone who read his derisive descriptions of King Phillip's propensity to cut and run in everry battle could not say he favored the Indians to the English.\\n\\nBest about this book are the unique perspectives. I thought I knew quite a bit about Plymouth. However, due to Mr. Philbrick's different ways of looking at the colony, he divulged much that is not commonly known. In the first part of the book, where he tracks the emigration from Europe, he gives good insight into the people on the Mayflower, both Pilgrim and \\\"stranger\\\". He continues with a good look at their views on the colony including religion, their role in their new society and the economics of the community. He then, for the larger remainder of the book, looks at the Plymouth colonists through their relationship with the native Indians. After reading this book, it is easy to see that although King Phillip's War was one of America's least known wars, it had a tremendous far-reaching effects on America. The ratio of casualties to total population alone is staggering, but Mr. Philbrick shows the long range effects through more than mere statistics.\\n\\nThis is by no means a politically correct book. It is even-handed and enlightening. Best of all, it is a very readable history of Plymouth and southern New England's earliest years.\",\n \"Product: High adventure, mind--blowing suspense. Tom Kirk, the world's greatest art thief, is back on another life--threatening mission. In London, an Auschwitz survivor is murdered in his hospital bed, his killers making off with a macabre trophy -- his severed left arm. In Fort Mead, Maryland, a vicious gang breaks into the NSA museum and steals a World War II Enigma machine, lynching the guard who happens to cross their path. Meanwhile, in Prague, a frenzied and mindless anti-Semitic attack on a synagogue culminates in the theft of a seemingly worthless painting by a little known Czech artist called Karel Bellak. A year has passed since Tom Kirk, the world's greatest art thief, decided to put his criminal past behind him and embark on a new career, on the right side of the law . Then three major thefts occur, and suddenly Tom is confronted with a deadly mystery and a sinister face from the past.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Suspend Belief to Enjoy\\n\\nReview: This is a fast-paced historical mystery/thriller. The star, Kirk, must ahve made an appearance in an earlier book, because there are frequent mentions to his past. Possibly that would have added depth to the character, because he is a mere cardboard character, as is partner. The most interesting character, Dominique, is given only frustratingly short shrift. The supporting cast come and go so quickly that there is no relationship built with them.\\n\\nThe history in the book is its redeeming quality. All the characters, good and bad, are looking for the lost gold train the Nazis hid at the end of WWII. The references to the SS, Enigma and the like are interesting.\\n\\nAs one might expect with any mystery concerning old and modern-day Nazis there is plenty of danger for the good guys. The worst part of the book is the cartoonish manner Kirk constantly gets out of these life-threatening dilemmas. Every time his butt gets in a sling, some foruitous quirk comes to his rescue. Many times he was saved by people he hardly knew but somehow had been watching him.\\n\\nOverall, the book is amusing if you can suspend all belief in reality and just go with the flow. Regretably, Kirk is not very engaging - no Bond he - so the rooting interest is not as high as it might be. The parts based on WWII are interesting and carry this to a fairly good read.\",\n \"Product: Masterful, Pulitzer-prize winning literary epic about the painful and complex realities of slave life on a Southern plantation. An utterly original exploration of race, trust and the cruel truths of human nature, this is a landmark in modern American literature. Henry Townsend, a black farmer, boot maker, and former slave, becomes proprietor of his own plantation -- as well as his own slaves. When he dies, his widow, Caldonia, succumbs to profound grief, and things begin to fall apart: slaves take to escaping under the cover of night, and families who had once found love beneath the weight of slavery begin to betray one another. Beyond the Townsend household, the known world also unravels: low-paid white patrollers stand watch as slave 'speculators' sell free black people into slavery, and rumours of slave rebellions set white families against slaves who have served them for years. An ambitious, luminously written novel that ranges from the past to the present, The Known World seamlessly weaves together the lives of the freed and the enslaved -- and allows all of us a deeper understanding of the enduring multi-dimensional world created by the institution of slavery.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Haunting Characters from a Haunting Subject\\n\\nReview: First off, this novel is not written in a lineal fashion. At times the author jumps decades, even a century into the future. It took me a while to warm to the style, but not only does it work, it is the way one person would tell the a story about another person: \\\"He did this and this. Little did we know that he would become a ...\\\"\\nThere are few authors who can portray characters as well as Mr. Jones. I would put him in Steinbeck's class. The reader gets to know all the characters in this book well. At first, I thought Mr. Jones was merely introducing the people who populate this book (and there is a significant population of characters). I then realized that this was what the book was all about - the lives of these people in Madison County Virginia. And what interesting lives they were.\\nThe central theme is slave-owning blacks. The slave-owners, white and black, are followed as are free blacks and free whites. At the center is the plantation and its denizens of a slave-owning black named Henry. He was bought out of slavery as a boy by his father who now disapproves of his son's holding slaves. When Henry dies, his widow tries unsuccessfully to hold the plantation together with what she perceives is the benevolence that would allow her to follow her husband to heaven. Heaven accepted benevolent slave-owners. One ned not free his slaves to get through the Pearly Gates. It should be noted that some of the descriptions of this book portray the central theme as this disintegration. However, it comes near at the end of the book and is almost an afterthought.\\nThe heart of this book is the tenuous intertwining of whites and blacks in the ante-bellum south. Rather than the usual handling of these tensions, this book adds the compelling component of blacks owning blacks. This addition of a fourth class of southern citizen after rich whites, poor whites and slaves enriches this book and makes it a five star read. The rich character portraits carry the story-line rather than vice versa.\\nI strongly recommend this book. It was wonderfully written, the characters hauntingly unforgettable and the topic a little known one that is compelling.\",\n \"Product: A typist uncovers a man's body from behind the sofa! As instructed, stenographer Sheila Webb let herself into the house at 19 Wilbraham Crescent. It was then that she made a grisly discovery: the body of a dead man sprawled across the living room floor. What intrigued Poirot about the case was the time factor. Although in a state of shock, Sheila clearly remembered having heard a cuckoo clock strike three o'clock. Yet, the four other clocks in the living room all showed the time as 4.13. Even more strangely, only one of these clocks belonged to the owner of the house!\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Christie is Always Solid\\n\\nReview: Agatha Christie's novels are always written in a straight-forward manner and have plots that are thoughtful and plausible. This one is no different in those positive attributes.\\n\\nWhat is different is the book is written in two voices. One a third person narrative and the other the narrative in the first person of Colin Lamb, one of the investigators of the murder.\\n\\nThe book also has two story-lines/mysteries, which takes Mr. lamb in and out of both.\\n\\nAs is so frequently the case with Agatha Christie, the murder is set up well. A typist is requested by a blind woman who gives instructions to enter the house if she is not yet home. When the typist enters the house she finds the body. Of course, the blind woman never called her to type, the man was not identifiable and the inspector and Lamb are off on the hunt. Lamb brings in Peroit, who does not take much space in the book, but, of course, solves the crime from his armchair.\\n\\nAs usual, a thoroughly enjoyable novel by Christie who never writes the same story twice and always, as here, seems to have an added twistl.\",\n \"Product: A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah. Farrar, Straus & Giroux,2008\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Would Never Work as Fiction\\n\\nReview: Sadly, this is a memoir that would never work as fiction. No one would believe the story of a twelve year old who loses his parents, becomes a violent, effective, drug-using soldier and then becomes rehabilitated.\\n\\nMr. Beah tells his memoir in a style so straight-forward and sparse that his voice adds to the credibility of his story. It has a built-in realism that borders on the shell-shocked and propels the reader through page after page of litanies of war horrors.\\n\\nThere is also a self-knowledge by the author rare in a man of his tender years. Perhaps because he has gone through three or four different lives already (he begins the narrative while in high school) he has gained insight beyond his years.\\n\\nDuring the rehabilitation process the counselors and UN types keep telling the boy soldiers: \\\"It is not your fault\\\". The reader gets the idea that although Mr. Beah believes this in his head, he is still having a hard time believing it in his heart. There seems to be a lurking guilt and horror behind his words, even after going through what he and the authorities call his rehabilitation. This may be why the reader is compelled to root for the youth even as he is performing such very barbaric acts of warfare.\\n\\nThis is a terrific book on several levels: modern day warfare using children, the affairs of Sierra Leone, a boy's struggles, loss of youth and innocence, warfare in today's third world countries where all the fighting is on the ground, and the author's candid introspection. It is the kind of book that could keep a reading club discussion going into the wee hours. It is also the kind of book that will stay with the reader, in a haunting way, for a very long time.\",\n \"Product: \\\"The Risk Pool\\\" is a thirty-year journey through the lives of Sam Hall, a small-town gambling hellraiser, and his watchful, introspective son Ned. When Ned's mother Jenny suffers a breakdown and retreats from her husband's carelessness into a dream world, Ned becomes part of his father's seedy nocturnal world, touring the town's bars and pool halls, struggling to win Sam's affections while avoiding his sins.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Improved as it Went Along\\n\\nReview: This book is divided into four parts by the author based upon a quote about the dying town of Mohawk by the narrator's grandfather. In reality, it is in three parts: When the narrator is 12-14 years old, when he is just out of college at age 24, and a decade later. The part told by the youthful Ned is more than half the book.\\nThe characters are all introduced by the teenager. As he tells the story, the characters are like cut-out cardboard figures. This is true even of his father who is the main character and motivator behind the telling of the story. Although one would not expect a 12 year old to depict characters with depth and sympathy, the voice telling the story was ot that of a twelve year, thus the incongruity. This was a major disappointment to a reader who found the characters to be the best part of \\\"Empire Falls.\\\" The disappointment was so deep that I almost put the book down for good.\\nWhen the narrator leaves college and heads back home to Mohawk and renews his relationship with his alcoholic father the entire book turns around. Suddenly the characters have some depth so there can be empathy with them - particularly the father.\\nWhen Ned resumes the story ten years later, the characters have been completely fleshed out and the relationship between father and son is completely compelling. At that point I did not want to see the story end, but knew that if it had been lengthened it would have been cheapened.\\nThis novel depicting the relationship between a dysfunctional (and somewhat bizarre) father and his son finally became gripping. There is some humor to the book as you would expect from Russo. However, the characters are so down in the dumps it rarely reaches the light-hearted nature of his books.\\nAlthough \\\"Risk Pool\\\" is not nearly as good as \\\"Empire Falls\\\" due to its major problem getting the reader to know and sympathize with its characters, I was glad I stuck with it to get to the narrator's adult years. The last third of the book lifted it from a two star to a four star.\",\n \"Product: John Preston is a former Arts Editor of the Evening Standard and the Sunday Telegraph. For ten years he was the Sunday Telegraph's television critic and one of its chief feature writers. He is the author of a travel book and four novels. His most recent novel, The Dig, is about to be made into a feature film starring Cate Blanchett.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: I Just Didn't Get It\\n\\nReview: I just couldn't get it. This was a novelization of the archaeological find at Sutton Hoo. It is told in the voices of three participants: Basil Brown, the local archaeologist who first worked the dig, Mrs. Pretty, the owner of Sutton Hoo and Peggy Piggett, one of the archaeologists who came to the dig as a \\\"professional\\\". I couldn't figure out if this book were meant to be witty (one description on the cover), an Edwardian romance, or some combination. The writing was excellent, almost ethereal. It allowed a different light in telling the story, but a distant disconnect from the characters even as they were relating their own stories. All of the characters were depressed, even in the face of their successes. One is ill, the other's success is taken away and the third has an unhappy marriage. The only happy character, Robert Pretty, is a boy whose enthusiasm is constantly dampened.\\n\\nThe shortness of the novel prevented not only a distinct voice and development of any of the characters, but also any real information about the find itself. As interesting as the writing is, a novel that does not find voice, develop characters or tell a history does not make it except as a vehicle for really decent writing. This is the kind of book that makes good book fodder - interesting, but not really enjoyable.\",\n \"Product: Call it murdertube ...Minneapolis homicide cops Leo Magozzi and Gino Rolseth fish a murdered drag queen out of the Mississippi. Another day, another corpse. Except the victim's death throes quickly appear in a video posted online. And there are other videos, other murders. Unable to trace who is posting the videos, the cops turn to Grace MacBride and her crew of eccentric computer mavericks. But as the bodies and videos stack up, the team desperately try and answer a terrifying question: Is this the work of a lone individual? Or of several killers who have taken social networking to the darkest extreme...\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Solid Mystery Until th End\\n\\nReview: This is my first Monkeewrench Gang novel. Although it stood alone well, I think I would have gotten more out of it had I read the prior books.\\n\\nThe FBI is stymied when they learn of a series of murders captured on film and disbursed on the internet. It cannot break the encryptions, so it enlists the help of known hackers. Number one on that list is the Monkeewrench Gang, a gang of four social misfits who are computer geniuses. All have distinct personalities. This is where reading the prior books, where they developed personal histories, would have helped. The murders seem to have Minnesota as a theme, so the Gang teams up Gino and Marzotti, two street-wise cops. The combination of the street knowledge and hi-tech abilities prove especially strong.\\n\\nThe concept of crimes committed only for the fame of being on YouTube, MySpace and Facebook is an intriguing and thought-provoking one. It is explored by the characters who bring very different perspectives - the professional hackers' and the professional crime fighters.\\n\\nThe plot, especially as it pertains to these computer inspired crimes is very good. The end weakened with a highly improbable resolution. However, it is the characters who really carry this book. All are unique, from the two cops - who have very good senses of humor - to the odd band of geeks, these characters are unique and have depth. The reader immediately has an affinity with them. It has made me want to go back and read the earlier books to get to know them even better.\\n\\nThis is an enjoyable good mystery with some thought-provoking issues (rest assured though, the authors don't whack the reader over the head with the issues). The characters are superb and the mystery good. Highly recommended.\",\n \"Product: 2006 Penguin good art cover edition paperback new condition book In stock shipped from our UK warehouse\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: The Derring Do and the Shaken Martini\\n\\nReview: This is the classic Bond of the 007 movies - lots of action, a gorgeous woman and the martinis shaken not stirred.\\n\\nFollowing diamond smuggling into the world of American gangsters, Bond goes to New York, Saratoga for the races, Las Vegas and the luxurious Queen Elizabeth. Having underestimated the American gangsters - as M said he would - he gets into and out of a heap of trouble. In this novel he uses more of his physical than mental attributes.\\n\\nThis is a fun read. Almost a screenplay for a movie, by gosh! It does not have the tension and suspense of others, such as From Russia With love, but it has plenty of action instead.\\n\\nFleming is a terrific writer who can turn a phrase and describe a scene as well as anyone in this genre.\\n\\nHighly recommended for a light romp.\",\n \"Product: In Amsterdam, an Israeli terrorist analyst is murdered. The police believe the killer is a deranged Muslim extremist, but Israeli intelligence knows better. Art-restorer, assassin and spy Gabriel Allon is dispatched to investigate, uncovering a major terrorist operation in London. Gabriel arrives too late to prevent the kidnapping of the daughter of the US ambassador. With time running out, Allon has no choice but to plunge into a desperate search, both for the woman and for those responsible, but the truth, when he finds it, is more terrible than he could expect. It will endanger his life and shake him to the core.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Another Solid Allon Yarn\\n\\nReview: Mr. Silva is one of the most consistent writers today. Even this, another installment of the Gabriel Allon series, is fresh and remains exciting. Although this is a series, the novel stands alone. It is nice to know the players, but you can start with this one and go back to the older ones without a problem.\\n\\nThis time Allon, an Israeli operative, starts in Denmark and ends up in London - or Londonistan as it seems. There are the usual bouts of intrique, sleuthing and thrills as he seeks his quarry. The tension builds to a fever pitch as Allon is knowingly thrown into the brink with little to no support. He is left to go where no government will sanction.\\n\\nWhat separates Mr. Silva from the usual writers of the spy novel genre writers is his underlying message. Without beating the reader over the head or proselytizing, he alerts the reader to the state of the world and terrorist threats today. His afterword is a very understated emphasis of the threat of Islamist terrorists in Europe. This novel posits the theory, espoused by many, that Britain is now the primary target for jihadists.\\n\\nDespite the sobering context, this is an intelligent and exciting spy thriller. Highly recommended.\",\n \"Product: Unusual book\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: A Great Start to the Series\\n\\nReview: This is obviously the first in the series. Bond is not a fleshed out character and Mr. Fleming seems almost to be feeling out what he wants to make him. Regardless, it is a very good spy novel. Having read later Bond novels, a few old friends appear, giving it that homey feel.\\n\\nThere is what will become the mandatory formula: a beautiful woman, the coolness under fire, chase scene, entrapment and escape that make these novels all work so well. Fleming's writing is superior to most in this genre.\\n\\nThere is a great sequence of events surrounding and involving a big-time game of baccarat. Having read prior reviews, I went to my Hoyle's before starting so I would knoe the rules. That is not necessary. The game is simple and Bond conveniently explains it to his beautiful cohort. The game is probably the highlight to the book.\\n\\nA very good stepping off to a great series. An excellent light read.\",\n \"Product: \\\"Penguin Decades\\\" bring you the novels that helped shape modern Britain. When they were published, some were bestsellers, some were considered scandalous, and others were simply misunderstood. All represent their time and helped define their generation, while today each is considered a landmark work of storytelling. Ian Fleming's \\\"From Russia with Love\\\" was published in 1957 and made suave, steely secret agent James Bond an icon. Here 007 encounters the deadly machinations of Russian organisation SMERSH, the fiendish Colonel Rosa Klebb - and the irresistible beauty Tatiana Romanova - in one of the most thrilling classic novels of the Cold War.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Wow! Not Just a Movie Script\\n\\nReview: I grew up being taken to the Bond flicks by my parents. I guess that made me think that the books they were based upon were mere vehicles for screenplays. I do not remember much of this movie (except the final scene) but I can not imagine it was nearly as good as the book.\\n\\nI was amazed at the quality of writing. Fleming can portray bad guys as well as anyone, if not better. He built suspense from the first page and never let it diminish. Amazingly, we do not see James Bond until the book is about a third of the way through. Once we do, he is classic Bond. Fleming throws a bit of tongue-in-cheek to add to the charm of the hero.\\n\\nThe gambit as devised by the Russians is terrific and nuanced. Bond's floundering then overcoming then....well can't give the end is classic, yet still \\\"delicious\\\".\\n\\nMy one disappointment is that Bond never ordered a martini.\\n\\nA fun and terrific read. Fleming does spies as well as anyone, including LeCarre, but he does it with excitement and a bit of humor. Highly, highly recommended.\",\n \"Product: ROBERT B. PARKER was the author of seventy books.Winner of the Mystery Writers of America Grand Master Award and long considered the undisputed dean of American crime fiction, he died in January 2010.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: So Close to Being Good\\n\\nReview: In this Spenser mystery, Spenser is backing up Hawk, who, having been shot and nearly killed, is out for retribution. The plot looks to take a great turn as the killers are revealed to be part of a Ukrainian mob with an Afghani connection. What had so much promise withered.\\n\\nThere is everything you expect from Parker and these classic characters - good dialogue and witty repartee in particular. Unfortunately, that could not overcome the thinness of what should have been an excellent plot. Hawk shot. Revenge. Tony Marcus' territory of books and prostitutes being infringed. A questionable alliance with Marcus. More questionable alliances with other crime types and traslators - it's all there, but comes up way short.\\n\\nThere is instant resolution with very little sleuthing. Little tension is produced although the odds look to be precipitously against the good guys. The ending was so stereotypic as to be maddening. So what went wrong?\\n\\nAs in Sudden Mischief, Parker spends WAY too much time analyzing the relationships of Susan and Spenser and Hawk and his girlfriend. He then goes on to analyze Hawk and Spenser on their own. Too much therapy couch, too little mystery and action.\\n\\nSo why three stars? Parker still does great dialogue. He is almost singular in his ability to move a plot by dialogue. This is also a nice fast relaxing read - beach reading type. So if you've got a few hours to kill and don't want anything too taxing, this will fit the bill. It certainly is not up to Parker's usual good fare, however.\"\n]","isConversational":false},"profile_size":{"kind":"number","value":13,"string":"13"},"task":{"kind":"string","value":"longlamp_3"},"split_kind":{"kind":"string","value":"user_based"},"id":{"kind":"number","value":969,"string":"969"}}},{"rowIdx":970,"cells":{"question_id":{"kind":"string","value":"A11875GIYDPPWV"},"question":{"kind":"string","value":"Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of \"4.0\" for a product with description \"Drop this in the chamber, pull the trigger and the laser will tell you how well you shoot. The caliber-specific laser trainer cartridge inserts into the chamber and is ready to train in seconds. The dual o-rings keep the laser centered and accurate. The built-in rubber snap cap protects your firing pin. The firing pin activates the laser that flashes for 1/10th of a second. If the laser is a dot, great shot. If the laser is a streak, bad technique. The virtual ammo will not run out, you will only need to change the batteries after a few thousand shots. Train at home with the comfort of your favorite couch and air conditioning. Save time on trips to the range. Save money on ammo and gas. Power Output: 650nm, 5mW, Class IIIa Power Output: 650nm, 5mW, Class IIIA Batteries: 3 x 377 Battery Life: 3000 shots\". The summary of the review text is \"AWSOME training device - a bit pricey.\"."},"answer":{"kind":"string","value":"Fits perfectly in my 9mm Ruger P85. Was a bit hesitant after reading reviews about not fitting in some hand guns. This is not a problem on the P85. I can see how after long use the switch can go bad. So far after about 100 strike, no signs of any issues. After playing with it for a while, I have changed how I hold and pull trigger. Will try a few more things with it then hit the range and see the results.\nThings I have noticed by using it:\n1) The part of my finger that is pulling the trigger has now changed. The more of the tip used, the less pulling to the side I get.\n2) The squarer my body is to the target gets me more stable.\nNever realized how such small changes make a difference.\n\nSo it has changed how I shoot - making this well worth the cost. Plus it came with a spare set of batteries.\n\nThe down side: not to crazy about how I have to get the thing out of the hand gun. For the price, one would think it could eject just like any other round. Although that would be nice, I can see how it could get damaged. The price is a little steep, as I think the real value should be around $40-50 max."},"correct_answer":{"kind":"string","value":"Fits perfectly in my 9mm Ruger P85. Was a bit hesitant after reading reviews about not fitting in some hand guns. This is not a problem on the P85. I can see how after long use the switch can go bad. So far after about 100 strike, no signs of any issues. After playing with it for a while, I have changed how I hold and pull trigger. Will try a few more things with it then hit the range and see the results.\nThings I have noticed by using it:\n1) The part of my finger that is pulling the trigger has now changed. The more of the tip used, the less pulling to the side I get.\n2) The squarer my body is to the target gets me more stable.\nNever realized how such small changes make a difference.\n\nSo it has changed how I shoot - making this well worth the cost. Plus it came with a spare set of batteries.\n\nThe down side: not to crazy about how I have to get the thing out of the hand gun. For the price, one would think it could eject just like any other round. Although that would be nice, I can see how it could get damaged. The price is a little steep, as I think the real value should be around $40-50 max."},"documents":{"kind":"list like","value":["Product: HGST Travelstar Z5K320 HTS543232A7A384 320 GB 2.5 Internal Hard Drive\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Great Drive - thinner than others.\n\nReview: Very nice drive. It is thinner than most which the laptop I had required. A normal drive was just a hair too think. This replaced the exact same drive which had an issue when I got it, but held on for 3 years before death. The new one was very quiet, fast and formatted with ease.\n\nIf I had the choice, I would have put a much larger drive in the laptop. Since this is what came in it, and the way the computer is used, for the $40, it was hard to beat. No sense in tossing in a $150 1T drive when the original was doing the job and space was not an issue.\n\nSo - over all, if you are in need of a thinner drive that is not huge in capacity, this drive will fit your needs.","Product: Piano Apprentice with Lighted Mini-Keys for iPad, iPod and iPhone is portable and so easy to use that you can learn to play piano virtually anywhere! Piano Apprentice is the ultimate piano teaching tool, providing light up mini-keys that show you where to place your hands. There's even a headphone jack for quiet practice. \n\nSimply connect your iPad, iPod or iPhone, download the free Piano Apprentice app, and start playing piano instantly! Piano Apprentice is a lightweight, highly portable 25-note keyboard and features mini-keys that respond to your touch for maximum expression. It's easy to follow along as acclaimed piano instructor Scott Houston, aka the Piano Guy, appears on the screen demonstrating how to play while the actual keys on Piano Apprentice light up. The Piano Apprentice will even teach you how to read real music notation. The built-in stereo speakers deliver a rich, authentic piano sound.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Worth the fun of learning.\n\nReview: Unit really should of been one octave larger. To play some of the songs requires you to cross your left hand into the path of what your right hand is playing. The playing of your right hand is easy to follow, but the instruction on what your left hand is to play is poorly explained. The included songs are easy to learn, but it is not learned from this unit having you practice parts, it just plays and you have to pay close attention and repeat what it is doing, lacks a structured practice session for learning. Either way, it is fun to learn to play Happy Birthday in about 10 minutes. The Sting is much harder to learn, but still fun to keep practicing. Worth the $35 or so I paid for it, not worth the $100+ I've seen this on line before. Note it requires a Ipad/Iphone plugged into it for it to play, otherwise no sound comes out. The app also is limited when not plugged into the keyboard. Good luck and have fun learning songs!","Product: Visual image and infrared heat map blending help you identify the exact location of the potential issue. Center-point temperature and hot and cold markers let you identify hottest and coldest spots within field of view. Pocket-size design - Handy when you need it; easily fits in your tool bag or pocket. Intuitive interface - Get to work as soon as you take it out of the box. SmartView reporting software enables you to create customizable reports to document your findings or prove repairs have been made.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: AWESOME - well worth the $$$\n\nReview: After using a 4 year old imager ($9,000), I was sure about using the less expensive ones. Fluke sold me on their brand years ago with the quality and dependability. So I decided to give this one a try, as it is with in my personal budget. I mostly work on refrigeration systems, and seeing warm spots in cases helps determine the problems. The screen is smaller than the one I was use to, but large enough to see anything I need to see. The resolution is fantastic. Sensor speed is very fast. Boot time take a minute or two, but worth the wait. The screen adjusts to what you are looking at, so the hot to cold spots could be a few degrees. For walk in coolers, you can find the one item that is 3 degrees warmer than the others. Most of what I do is ranging from 3 to 20 feet. After spending several days with it, I like it better than the more expensive one I used in the past.\nOver all - I give this an extremely high rating. Well worth every penny it cost. It does have its limits, you just need to understand how it works and stay within those limits.\n\nFor example-aiming at a shiny surface will results in a reflective heat image. So shiny ceramic tile, stainless steel, water, glass and so forth can actual return an image of your self.\nFlat or non-shiny objects will give you the best results. Aiming at for or product works very well and you can see even surface temps rising above the product.\n\nThis imager is one very impressive device! Thanks Fluke for getting this one right and with in a price reach that most can afford.\nNote: As I prefer the battery operated one vs rechargeable batteries. The reason why us AA batteries are easy to come by, cheap and simple to replace. If you do not use this a ton, the rechargeable battery will not hold up and the cost is not cheap. So before you purchase, keep that in mind.\n\nAs for those with negative reviews, you are either not understanding the technology or have no clue what you are doing - i.e. wrong application.","Product: Dual Wall heat shrink tubing is suitable for use on wires and cords etc, which will be exposed to harsh environments. This kit contains 85 pieces of dual wall heat shrink in 4\" lengths with a thin adhesive lining for air tight seals, in a reusable box.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Great quality product - not the best quality case\n\nReview: Alright, So after looking at when seemed to be endless types, sizes and lengths of heat shrink, I thought to by some thing that kept them all together so not to get lost and a quantity large enough to last me a few years. The length of these are perfect for my RC stuff and what not projects. Size range covers just about anything you can come up with. The few I used so far seem to be a better quality than ones I used in the past. Just a note, the case looks better than it is. Don't get me wrong, it does the job, but is very cheaply made. Then again, I keep this on a shelf in my shop - it does not get pounded on like my tools do, so it fits. Then again, for the price you can hardly find a case, so I figure it was a freebe and the price of the tube was well with in reason. Good value, I would buy it again.","Product: This DHT11 Temperature and Humidity Sensor features a calibrated digital signal output with the temperature and humidity sensor complex. Its technology ensures the high reliability and excellent long-term stability. A high-performance 8-bit microcontroller is connected. This sensor includes a resistive element and a sense of wet NTC temperature measuring devices. It has excellent quality, fast response, anti-interference ability and high cost performance advantages. Each DHT11 sensors features extremely accurate calibration of humidity calibration chamber. The calibration coefficients stored in the OTP program memory, internal sensors detect signals in the process, we should call these calibration coefficients. The single-wire serial interface system is integrated to become quick and easy. Small size, low power, signal transmission distance up to 20 meters, making it a variety of applications and even the most demanding applications. The product is 4-pin single row pin package. Convenient connection, special packages can be provided according to users need.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Real nice - Uses 1 pin for both readings - Priced right.\n\nReview: What a nice little temp/Hum sensor. Code is very easy, and it uses just 1 pin for both internal sensors. The only issue I had preventing 5 stars was the readings are just a little bit off, leaving the only way to adjust is an offset in your code. Although not a big issue, but it leaves open how consistent the reading will be over time. If I notice it floating, I will update the post.\n\nFor those needing the code used, it can be found all over the net. I just pulled it off the net from somewhere. But in a nutshell - you need the following in your code.\n\n#include <dht.h> // For HHT11\ndht DHT;\n#define DHT11_PIN 7\nint chk = 0; // * DHT11 read setup\nvoid setup() { } // your setup code\nvoid loop() {\nint chk = DHT.read11(DHT11_PIN);\nint Tmp = ( DHT.temperature * 1.8 ) + 32; // convert to Degrees F\nint Hum = DHT.humidity;\n// So Tmp is your temperature and Hum is humidity\n}\n\nIf you want to print to the serial port, there are plenty of examples on that code to add.\nSame to print to LCD\n\nGood Luck","Product: Experience free flight as you soar through the skies of Paris and engage in heart-pounding aerial dogfights in virtual reality. Fly solo or team up for exhilarating multiplayer action with up to six players. Agility and precision are necessary to gain advantages. Master flight quickly and comfortably using accessible and intuitive flight controls in VR.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: WOW - GREAT VR demo - needs some improvements.\n\nReview: WOW! - You want to step into VR, this does a really good job. If you fear heights, you may not want to try this. You are the Eagle perched high above the ground. You fly around Paris in the future when there are no humans there, but many different types of animals. You will fly over the water catching fish, in tunnels, in very tight spaces. Easy to control, as you tip your head to bank the bird. Look up and you fly up, look down and you dive. Triggers speed you up and slow you down.\nI would suggest sitting in a chair in front of the TV, you will get light headed and you need to move your head way beyond normal. This is the reason for 4 stars - WAY too much head movement to control bird. There are many challenges you can do, it will keep you entertained for about 30 minutes before you need a break.\nIf I were to make improvements they would be\n1) option to control bird with handset\n2) ability to land where ever I wanted\n3) smaller head movements to control bird or at least the option to adjust how sensitive the head set is for turning.\n\nGreat VR game - fun for any age - careful if you choose to stand and play this.","Product: The Soda Stream Fizz Home Soda Maker is a must have item for soda lovers. The idea is simple. Making your own soda gives you ultimate flexibility in your flavoring options without having to buy, carry and store large quantities of cans or plastic bottles. Not only will you save money, but the Soda Stream is eco-friendly because you will also reduce the amount of cans or plastic bottles needing to be recycled or added to landfills. No electricity or batteries required. This fun soda maker turns fresh filtered water into your favorite soda or tonic water within seconds. Featuring the Fizz Chip, this carbonating machine has a gauge to display the CO2 level remaining in the canister, ensuring drinks are made correctly each time. Its fun and easy to use. Simply attach the BPA-free plastic carbonating bottles, press the carbonating button until you hear three buzzes, add your preferred flavoring from over 60 flavors and enjoy. You can even make flavored tonic waters or just enjoy sparking water.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Great Value - Good Quality - Can be expensive\n\nReview: Purchased mine a few weeks ago from Best Buy for $91. Retail according to the web site is $129.99 Came as a starter system with several samples. After weeks of research, I came to buy the \"Fizz\" because it has a meter telling you the CO2 levels in the tank and how much CO2 you put into the drink. The others do not have this option. With enough experimenting, I found you do not need to put as much mix into the bottle as they suggest, also smaller amounts of Fizz, or CO2 works well which will increase the amount of drinks the CO2 can create. With further research, I found a kit on line that will let me fill my tanks with a CO2 tank I purchased from a welding supply house making the cost of CO2 refills go from $20 a bottle to about 50-75 cents a bottle. This option is not for everyone, but if you like to tinker with stuff, it is a good way to save a lot of money.\n\nNow as for the taste of the products - The sample pack gives you a good selection and idea what to buy. The flavor is a bit off from what you would find in a soda can, but after a few weeks or so, you will adjust to it and think it is just normal. The cheaper root beer I found had a better flavor that the more expensive one and creates 2x more drinks. The diet drinks .... well, what can one say about diet drinks. They are just about the same to me.\n\nOperation - - A few notes you need to know about these if you have not used them before. They use special high pressure bottles. You put cold water in the bottle, would suggest keeping them in the refrigerator keeping the water cold prior to use. Noting the mark on the bottle for water level, screw it onto the machine. There is a button on top of this one which gives you a better angle to install. Press the lever a few short times and you have the water carbonated. Now if you put warm mix onto a cold bottle of soda water, one gets a fountain shooting out of it. Keep the mixes in the refrigerator also. Poor in the mix in very slowly, put the cap on and slowly turn the bottle in several directions to mix it.\n\nCLEANING - DO NOT - Repeat - DO NOT wash the bottles in hot water. It will distort the plastic causing the bottle to no longer hold the high pressure carbonated water. Use soapy warm water. The unit wipes up easy also with warm soapy water. Keep the CO2 tank away from hot places as the pressure will increase and possibly blow the relief valve loosing the charge. It also could possibly explode, but not likely if the relief valve is working properly.\n\nHope this helps everyone out, as I searched for info like this and found nothing - GOOD luck making soda's\n\nUPDATE:_____ (18 months Later)\nThe unit still works great! The refill CO2 tanks save me a lot of money. Since I like Root Beer mostly, I get my mix directly in 1 gallon jugs from Ssprecher's for around $25, As far I can tell, this is still the best Root Beer out there. Their cola's are also really good. You can buy these on line from their on line store or other Beer sources. If you live near Milwaukee, just stop at their store, they stock all of them.","Product: GRILL USING YOUR MICROWAVE: Range Mate Pro Microwave Grill 5-Piece Cookware Set is the ONLY microwave grill & cookware that can grill, bake, steam, roast, poach & make one pot meals providing delicious cooking results. Convert your microwave into a turbo-charged ultra-fast & ultra-tasty grilling machine!\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: WOW - not what I expected - BETTER. - UPDATED!!!\n\nReview: WOW - not what I expected. I saw this on QVC and like everything else they have, thought it would be a disappointment. Seen reviews that were good and bad. So it came in the mail, it was $40 with shipping. Tonight I was too lazey to fire up the grill, cold windy weather - not much fun, so I gave this a shot. Took the time to READ the directions carefully, like keep the top on tight, 1200 watts = reduce time by 20-30%....... Results on my Ribeye was WOW. Not quite like the grill, but this was not a microwave steak, it was cooked perfectly, the grill marls and all. It does also tell you to let it cool before cooking with it again, and I can see why. The cook surface was HOT, yes, very hot.\n\nUPDATE:_____________ (3 weeks later)\nWell, after making several items, like chicken breasts, hamburgers and other meat. It still works wonderful, but the cheapness is starting to show. The paint or what ever the color coating on the bottom is starting to bubble and break off. I will have to be careful as I continue to use it, but I knocked it down from 5 stars to 4 because of this reason.\n\nThe book is very close on cook times. My 1200 watt Microwave cooks faster and the 20% reduction on time (giver or take) works well. It does still clean up easy, just wish the paint was not coming off.","Product: Esky - Sky of Electronics This remote key finder (key tracker) helps to locate items you often lose. Attach the receiver to your keys, a remote, a purse, glasses, canes, umbrella etc. To use, simply push the colored-buttons on the remote control and follow the audio beep sound attached to the receiver. The sound will help locate your lost item(s) with a range of up to 30 meters away. The remote control also comes with an LED light (a handy feature when looking for your items in the dark) as well as a remote stand. Specifications: - Transmitter size: 4.13x1.81x0.51 in (105 x 46 x 13mm) - Receiver size: 1.97x1.42x0.43in (50 x 36 x 11 mm) - Frequency: 433.92 MHz - Sound volume: 75-80 dB - Working range: 30-40 meters(open space) - Gross weight: 5.40oz (153g) - Battery: 2 x 1.5V AAA (for transmitter, not included), CR2032(for receiver, included) - Housing materia\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: JUNK. works less than 1/2 the time even if they are right in from of you!\n\nReview: This item is JUNK! I had one similar to it that worked very well, seeing that this one looks nearly identical to it, it should be fine. My old one worked great until the cat lost it. OK, so now your confused.... I put the finder on the cat, if he roams too far I can quickly locate him and get him back. Well he went too far one day and the collar came off, thus now need a new one. I put this on him, he can be 10' right in front of me and the finder will not beep. Tried different ones (it came with 4), same results. I also tried this in my house. with the fobs in front of me, they worked less than 30% of the time. This is not going to work. I do not know why, should not to too tuff, but they fail.\n\nLOOKS ELSE WHERE..... do not buy these. it is possible I got a bad one, but will contact them and see what happens. Will update......","Product: Triple Format DVD-RW/CD-RW Mobile Slim Drive. Features Mobile Slim Design. USB 2.0 Connectivity. Supports DVD-RAM Media. Perfect for Netbooks/Notebooks. Bonus Software Included. Specifications: Supports USB 2.0 (backward compatible with USB 1.1). Buffer Size: 2MB. Plug and Play and Hot Swappable. Write Speed: 5X DVD-RAM, 6X DVD+/-R DL, 8X DVD+/-R, 24X CD-R. Read Speed: 5X DVD-RAM, 6X DVD DL, 8x DVD, 24X CD-RW, 24X CD-RW. Package Contents: Triple Format DVD-RW/CD-RW Mobil Slim Drive. USB \"Y\" Cable. Nero 7 Essentials Featuring Nero Showtime. User's Manual. Warranty Information. System Requirements: Windows 2000, XP, Vista. Intel Pentium lV 1.5GHZ or Above. 256MB of system RAM or Above. 5GB or More Available HDD Space for Burning a Single Layer Recordable DVD. 9GB or More Available Space For Burning a Double Layer Recordable DVD. Two Available USB 2.0 Ports. Sound Card For Recording/Playback of Files with Audio. Video Card with 8MB RAM or Above.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Great Value - Good Quality\n\nReview: I purchased this for my GF to replace a failed drive on her laptop - she loved it. Then I found I needed one as my laptop drive will not burn DVD-DLs. I ran this unit through some tuff tests. It executed everything with ease. Since it does run off of the USB buss, you might have to use a power adapter to run it. A USB Hub may not have enough power to run it, but a power supply off of one should. As for software, it comes with Nero which functions just fine and only takes over your laptop if you let it. Those options come up when installing it. That software was designed as a basic burner program. In no way was it set up to read DVDs or anything else. This software is normally in your computer already. I've run this in XP/Win 7 and Mac OS 10.7, all without issue. Mac has all needed software in it on newer models.\n\nSo if you are looking for a tuff burner at a reasonable price - This IS the CD/DVD burner for you. Anyone rating this less than 4 stars is clueless or has a defective unit. I rarely rate items this high, as since I burn DVDs daily, this one is holding up well.","Product: Video-2-Mac kit. Includes all items required to link your VCR or camcorder to your Mac. Works with macOS High Sierra 10.13, Sierra 10.12, El Capitan 10.11, Yosemite 10.10, Mavericks 10.9.5, Mountain Lion 10.8.5, Lion 10.7.5 & Snow Leopard 10.6.8. Works with all the current iMac, Mini, Macbook & Pro models. Captured video can be imported into iMovie or Final Cut Pro for editing or copied straight to iPad/DVD. Captures at full DVD resolution. Will keep capturing for as long as you have hard drive space available. Kit includes: * USB video & audio capture device * One metre RCA phono lead (yellow, red & white plugs) * Printed instructions. * DVD with software and tutorial video. * Download web link included for Macs without DVD drives * Includes phone and email support. * Works fine with USB2 or USB3 ports.Return for a full refund within 28 days of receipt if not 100% completely delighted. Some extra features for expert users: Change video resolution for tablets, phones, etc. Crop unwanted black bands from top, sides or bottom of video. De-interlace video. Rip videos back from the DVDs you create. (Just to be crystal clear: You're buying a kit that links the Mac you already own to the VCR or Camcorder you already own. Mac should be less than six years old.) This kit isn't available from any other Amazon vendor.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Best Value - Works Well - picture quality a little off.\n\nReview: Although I had no issues with this, the quality was about 80% - 90% of the original. It works very well, loaded properly in the computer. Programs ran perfect. There was no S/N issues, just used the one on the DVD sleave. The numbers were hard to read, but it worked 1st time. I will continue to play with the settings to increase quality, but either way, it digitizes the videos saving me a lot of stewing around. Other converters I used were not as impressive, making this far better than the others.\nSo if are looking for a quick way to convert and you need a reasonable price - this is the unit for you.\nIt did take 2 weeks for delivery - keep that in mind when ordering.","Product: Protect yourself in the event of an accident and from false liability claims with the Polaroid Dash Cam PD-E53H. This device provides creditable documentation of incidents, acting as your personal witness. The PD-E53H personal dash cam has automatic recording that starts and stops along with the engine, so you won't get caught out when you forget to turn it on specifically. After an event has occurred, you can use photo mode to get 1MP stills of the results, for complete, comprehensive coverage of what happened. This HD dash cam includes audio recording, so nothing is left out.\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: not a good deal in the end\n\nReview: Well, high hopes = failure. Got this from HSN thinking it was a deal, not a good deal in the end. The manual was converted from some other language by someone that did not know english very well. With that said, I was able to get through it and set it up in my service truck. Everything seemed OK, auto record over oldest file ..... Then a few days ago it said memory full. So pulled the card out and popped it in the computer. Only a few files could be found and the card was not full. Also noted that while it was in my truck it stayed on all the time while plugged in. If I unplugged it, a few a few short seconds it shut down from lack of G-force or motion. Plug back in, it stayed on. Not a deal breaker, I lived with it. But now I can no longer access the settings file, no video was taken over the past several weeks. One other issue I had a few weeks ago, it said battery low while plugged in. I found the contacts on the plug that goes into the car was bad. Took it apart and back together and it worked. Possibly a poor contact? It is nothing but worthless. Sorry Polaroid - you failed on this one.\n\nA good idea, seemed to have good picture quality - priced right\nJust a pile of junk - STAY AWAY from it.","Product: This sun bucket has a no see um head net that protects your face and neck from insects. It can be rolled up over the brim of the hat or tucked under the crown when it s not needed, and it can be stuffed into a hidden pocket in the crown when it s time to pack up.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Perfect bug net, just needs a tie strap to keep it on - WORTH the $\n\nReview: I did a lot of looking for a good bug net. I did not want one than just went over the head, or was hard to put away. This one was awesome. I guessed on size and was dead on. It folds up very small, perfect for my BWCA trip. The only issue was there is no string to hold onto your head. A few times the wind too it off and I had to go fishing for it. I did float, so it could be worse. I loved the size of the hat as it protected me from the sun well. If it had a way to hold it to my head, it would have gotten 5 stars. It worked so well, there were times I had swarms of biting bugs in flight around my head and ZERO bites. A very strange sound and not having to swat them.","Product: The MSR Guardian Water Purifier Pump was originally designed for the U.S. Military, who turned to MSRs advanced water filtration technology to keep troops safe and healthy in every remote corner of the globe. Six years of research and development went into engineering the pump purifier, which removes viruses (such as norovirus, rotavirus, hepatitis A), bacteria (such as E. coli. Shigella, salmonella, cholera), protozoa (such as giardia, cryptosporidium, amoebae), and sediment from contaminated water sources anywhere on earth. It meets the strict NSF protocol P248 testing standard for the U.S. Military, using medical-grade fibers to provide protection from the tiniest microbiological waterborne threats. Designed to be fast, simple, and safe, it pumps at a rapid 2.5 liters per minute, has a long-lasting advanced filter that treats up to 10,000 liters of water, and withstands freezing temperatures, drops, heavy use, and harsh environments. A self-cleaning mechanism ensures reliability, flushing contaminants in the filter back into the source, so there is no backflushing or scrubbing cartridges to maintain flow. The MSR Guardian Water Purifier Pump is ideal for wilderness, backcountry use, expeditions, global travel, and emergency preparedness. It measures 8.2 x 4.7 inches and weights 17.3 ounces. Made in the USA.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Biggest Bang for the Buck, nothing less than perfect!\n\nReview: Well, Just got back from BWCA, 8 people, consuming about 12+ liters per day. In the past 30+ years we have used several different types of filters, normally changing the cartridge once or twice in the 5 day trip. Those filters had us working hard to create enough water to supply us what we needed. Researched filters for over 3 months, and kept coming back to this one. I really did not want to spend this kind of cash, but let me tell ya, this filter performed flawlessly. The group could not believe it. pumped 2 liters with ease. In the past that was 5+ minutes of hard pumping, while with this it was a minute with ease. Because we had a lot of bugs and stuff in the water, we ran the water through a large coffee filter that set into a strainer. This took out a lot of crap, then ran the filter. Water came out clear and the taste was good. After pumping well over 50 liters (13+ gallons), there was no increased resistance. It was just like a new filter. After I got home, I ran clean water through it, put the cap on and back in storage. Others in the group decided to buy one when we got back, very impressed.\n\nPros:\nFAST pumping - fills 2 liters in about a minute with very little effort\nAuto purge of filter face to keep and flush the surface increasing filter life\n.02 micron - WOW - Cripto is 2 micron in size, most nasties are much larger - = make very safe water\nComes in a very nice and compact case\nFilter is good for 10,000 liters (2641.72 gallons). Most filters plug up in under 100 liters (26.4 gallons)\nHandle does come off, unit comes apart easy\nPre-filter is very nice - not only is it a cleanable pre-filter, but its design sucks water even if its 1/2 out of the water\nParts - all parts are available - easy to get and priced fairly.\n\nCons -\nPrice - $300 - $350 us\n\nEven if you take all of this in consideration, the normal filter I used did about 25 gallons of water- this filter is rated for 2641 gallons or around 105 times the water at just over 2 times the price. Filters on my old unit were $40 each, so each trip in the BWCA costs $120, 3 trip and this cost was covered, and then still have it for years to come. Awesome deal, worth every penny.\n\nConclusion: This filter is by far the best filter on the market, and at its price gives you the biggest bang for the buck, you will not be disappointed. By the way, I bought mine from a site with a 1 day deal at $290 in April 2017. For some reason. possible just not enough margin, these things are not discounted much. Good luck!","Product: The Limelight 3P follows the keep it simple principle for quick set-up, weight-minimization and camping in style. A roomy side vestibule keeps gear dry in wet weather.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Very nice but small - Not a 3 man unless you are very small\n\nReview: Well, I bought this several months ago for my BWCA trip. If you know the area, you will know that once you get in, there is only one way out making this a very important decision. So here it goes.....\n\nVery fast set up. The fly is awsome as it covers the entire tent keeping rain and cold out. In turn it is harder to ventilate with out removing the fly, but thats OK. The rods are real tuff and handle more stress that one would think. The Fly rod took more force than I thought is should have, and it took it with out issue. The stakes are well built and had no issues holding the tent and fly down in a rather strong wind/rain. The fly leaves some space for your gear, kept my shoes - misc. items dry including the ground under it. The materials the tent is made from is very strong, water proof and shows its quality. The only thing I did not like was the size. It is made in China ;( which was a disappointment, but may explain why only 2 people can fit into a 3 man, should be rated as a 2 man.\n\nPros - light weight - strong - protected space outside of tent for small gear - large fly - stays warm inside when fly is on - compact when put away.\n\nCons - small inside as no way could 3 fit, even 2 is a challenge with some gear - expensive - made in China\n\nWish I would have bought the 4 man tent rather than the 3 man for 2 people.","Product: Why load your revolver one cartridge at a time With one slight twist, the HKS Speed Loader instantly loads all the cartridges into your revolver. Strong metal points hold cartridges securely in the loader until you release them into the revolver with a turn of the speed loader knob.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Not the best fit for the Ruger SP101 .357 mag\n\nReview: Bought this from Ruger - got a discount when i registered my SP101 - .357 mag with them. From what I read, it should be fine, but when I got it - not very happy. It does work, but the fit is poor at best. Yes it holds the rounds nice, yes it does fit, but the clearances are off. So it takes a little bit of work getting it in there. There is always the option to release the rounds without them being inserted all the way in, which seems to be my solution. The unit is well built and does hold the rounds tight. Can't say how well they fit in any other pistol.\n\nGood design, well built, great idea\n\nJust does not mate with the Ruger SP101 .357 mag very well.","Product: Tap into the suns radiance and power up your gadgets with freedom.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Kind of pricey, but works well\n\nReview: So far, the few times I used this, it works very well. Tried to compare with a 3 panel version that was $20 cheaper. Still have not found the advantage, but will have a lot better test on my long trip away in the wilderness in a few months.... Will try to update then.\n\nUPDATED - June 2016\n\nOK - was out in the BWCA a few times, using this to charge everything from cell phones (even though mostly no service), to cameras and iPods.\n\nThe unit is tough. I put it in my back pack with little protection and it holds up well. Since it folds up, it makes it much more rigid for transport. In order to get enough power out of it, you must have it pointed in direct sunlight. This means watching it and keep moving it to prevent shade from hitting it. Running a meter on it showed that in direct sunlight I was able to pull out 2 amps on one of the cell phones. If any shade hots it, the output drops fairly quickly.\n\nOne of the main reasons I wanted this was in the BWCA there is no power period. Running the GoPro. Since they use up lots of power, recharging was needed. Again, in direct sunlight, they charged as if plugged in an outlet.\n\nAWSOME panel.\n\nPros - Folds up small - Tough, strong panels - well built - able to put out 3 amps (2 amps on one, and 1 amp on the other). Case is well built.\n\nCons - Direct sunlight is needed - Must angle to the sun - pricey.","Product: 1200X1200DPI A3 USB 512MB\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Totally Excellent Printer - UPDATED\n\nReview: Shop around, I got this for under $3,000 with shipping to my door step. It does weigh in at 200+ pounds, but once I set it up - I was stunned at the quality. Note the dimensions, it barely fit through my back door. Rather than spend $500 on their wheels, I bought a 2' x 2' -3/4\" Oak plywood and put wheels on it for a cost of $30. Fast, really fast, duplex pages out faster than I get up to go to the printer. I tried the 12\" x 12\" coated 100# paper, it works well with no issues and the pictures put most ink jets to shame. Extra drawers are a bit pricey, but I think all high end printers have that issue. Love the extreme low cost per page printing, but the unit ships with low count toner, and the high capacity set is $550. considering I pay that in 3 months on ink jets, that toner will hold out for over 2 years = major savings. Also when setting up, you will need a password, which I could not find anywhere. Looked on line to find it was the same on all machines until you change it (admin). If you are sick of Ink Jet Junk, want a Laser that will last you for 10+ years, sick of the disposable lasers and high cost of maintaining, THEN this IS the printer for you. It replaced my worn out HP4500DN that was 10+ years old. Other parts I found on this machine I loved was the energy save mode. Still working on the fine details with it, but since I may go a day or so without printing, shutting down on its own is a great idea. The build in screen was larger than I expected and very clear to read, but I still used my computer to set it up as you can see more options at one time.\n\nLast comments - Fast - clean - user friendly - VERY low cost to run - software options beyond what you will ever need all equal the best printer I have ever seen for the money. Spend the extra cash, you will not regret it.\n\nUPDATED:_____(2 years Later)\nThis printer is still awesome! Printed off countless reams of paper in several sizes. Many color pictures as large as 11 x 17 all came out great. Have not quite burned up a toner tube yet, but getting close. So my cost per page is so cheap, it is hard to believe. Well worth the price. By now if this was a ink jet, I would have gone through well over $3,00o in ink, and still not happy.\n\nOVERALL - Buy this, you will never be happier.","Product: Cartridges are produced with genuine Reemay filter media and durable polyurethane end caps. Prevents harmful bacteria from growing on the cartridge. Less bacteria results in a reduction of foul odors, algae, black mold and other harmful contaminants which foul a cartridge. Antimicrobial protection lasts as long as the cartridge itself. Easier to clean than any other filter. 100 percent polyester core for strength and durability. Polyester Microban sheath for ease of maintenance. Extruded and reinforced PVC center cores. Embossed part numbers. Break-resistant bands. No pad adapters needed. Fits Rainbow/Pentair Dynamic 25 pool and spa filter. Measures 4-15/16-inch diameter by 13-5/16-inch length. 2-1/8-Inch top hole, 2-1/8-inch bottom hole. Top 2-1/8-inch open style, 2-1/8-inch open bottom style. 25-Square feet area and weighs 3-ounce. Replaces Unicel Pleatco and Aladdin filter cartridge models C-4326, PRB25-IN, 12502.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Perfect for the filtering of my Hot Tub\n\nReview: I have these for my hot tub (130 gallon). It filters very well. Normally I wash it once a month, unless a dirty person enters. Then I had to clean it 3 times in 4 days. The filter holds up well, but will pass the gunk when over loaded. A quick wash and it is good to go. So far I change these once every 18 months or so. At the 18 month point, it seems like the filter starts to break down at this point. The usage of the hot tub is rather low compared to most. So a more frequenty used hot tub may require the changing more often. My trick to keeping it clean is to go in clean.","Product: Clorox Pool&Spa XtraBlue Chlorinating Granules protect against algae and bacteria for water that stays clean, clear & free of visible algae. Protected against sunlight to last longer.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Very good value - great product for hot tubs - Cost = pennies a month - ** updated **\n\nReview: After weeks of looking for less expensive alternatives for my hot tub, reading through countless reviews, I ended up giving this a try. This has impressed me. My hot tub holds about 270 gallons of water. Following the directions, give or take 1 ounce per treatment. For me a treatment normally holds good for around a week. I check my chemicals every 5 - 7 days. After around a month, my chemical balance has been more stable, no large swings anymore. No more dumping in what I considered a ton of chemicals. My water did NOT turn blue, as it stayed clear. In past, my PH always seem to drop, it no longer drops as much as before. The 1 ounce rating must be by weight, as 1 fluid ounce = 6 teaspoon. So I started with 1 teaspoon, it was over kill, but lasted a very long time (2 weeks) before getting back in line. Next about 1/2 teaspoon, and it seems to be pretty close. At that rate, this jug has enough to last me 3+ years! Before I would go through a container of this size in about 6 months. I have noting bad to say about this product except, where have you been in my hot tub's life.\n\nAfter having success I decided to invest in step 1 and step 3 of this product line. After 4 - 6 weeks I will review them also, and of course update this review if needed.\n\nOver All - AWSOME product - Really Good Value\nGOOD JOB CLOROX!\n\n*** UPDATE - April 2017 ***\nWell, after 2 months I came to a solution of how much chemical to put in hot tubs.\nAbout 1 oz. by weight or 2 Table Spoons (per 250 gallons) every week for a usage of 2-4 times per week. This seems to hold out well for me. I can see if you use it more it will take more, same if you use it less. So to break this down better I made a chart.\nFor a usage of approximately 4 times per week.\n150 gallons = 1 table spoon or 1/2 ounce (by weight)\n250 gallons = 2 table spoons or 1 ounce (by weight)\n400 gallons = 3-1/4 table spoons or 1.6 ounce (by weight)\n700 gallons = 5-1/2 table spoons or 2.8 ounces (by weight)\n\nAs I can not tell you about pools - only hot tubs, I can only assume the ratios are going to be fairly close.\n\nGood Luck!","Product: For the complete solution to HVAC troubleshooting the extra value-packed HVAC Technician's Combo Kit, provides the ability to troubleshoot and solve problems more efficiently by providing all the needed accessories an HVAC professional would need in a compact carry case.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Awesome HVAC meter - priced right for the application\n\nReview: As always - Fluke is Top of the Line. There are 3 series of meters in this class, 115.116 & 117. The 116 is made for Steamfittes (HVAC Techs). It has all the feature you need except one, amps (0-20a & 0-25ma). It does have Micro amps for Measuring flame rods. Min/Max recording to help in trouble shooting always helps. Unlike some of the other cheaper meters, the ohms scale goes way past what you need. So measuring a 10k ohm sensor can be done accurately. Cat 3 so measuring up to 600 volts, Capacitance (1nF to 500 Micro F), and a backlight.\nMeter is compact and takes a lot smaller space than most meters., yet large enough to make handling it just right.\n\nStrongly suggest this meter to any HVAC tech.\n\nPersonally - I own many Fluke meters, going back into the late 1980s. The 87 & 33 as my favorites. Even owning more than 10 of them, each of them have different purposes, not one can replace the other. That said, the 116 comes the closest, which works well with a T5-1000 as a secondary backup. If you need the 0-25ma, then an 87 is a good backup - but pricey.","Product: \"See your electricity usage and costs in real-time from any web browser Easy non-invasive installation High resolution data. Captures appliance start-up spikes Free monitoring via MyEyedro.com MyEyedro features: Responsive real-time graphs Maintains full 24/7 usage history Hourly, daily, weekly and monthly consumption and costs Supports fixed, tiered, and time-of-use rate structures Estimates what your current electrical bill will cost Be notified of power or network failure Compatible with Amazon Echo\" As above plus wireless functionality module to module\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Great concept - many flaws - does the job.\n\nReview: Great concept - many flaws - does the job.\nLets start with how they were shipped - in a box that was unsealed. Anyone could have popped it open and took stuff out. Which they did - it came with parts missing. Amazon promptly sent another one out. AGAIN - the box was unsealed, no tape / glue or anything stopping the box from being open. This was very poor quality control.\nNow for the product - The current probes are a poor design. Being a DDC Service Steamfitter, I use current transducers all the time, and never had issues. These open kind of hard, but one of them would not snap closed. Good thing I had not sent back the first one missing parts yet. A zip tie helped keep them closed. Next issue is the electrical codes - you can not have wire inside the breaker box with a lesser rating than the box. It does not look like the wires on the X-former is up to that code. Also code about getting that wire out of the box. Then to have an outlet next to the box. Well, as a solution, I mounted a plastic box on the breaker panel, put the com boxes in there, then out the bottom to an outlet I installed.\nNow that I have it installed, it was very easy setting up on the web site. If this works out, I will be installed 2 more for my hot tub to see exactly what it is costing me. Being in Wisconsin, these -8 deg days will make the tub much more expensive, by how much is what I would like to know. When and if I get that far, I will update.\nOperation - Seems to track and work very well. It seems at my electric dryer draws around 25 amps, this puts me on the edge of the RED (85%) area. Kind of strange to have it set that low. AC/Oven/Dryer on would be 60+ amps, way beyond the 100%. I have 200 amp service, it is unknown what this thing would do or even pick up such power. Time will tell.\n\nGood - unit does track well - easy set up - priced ok\nBad - Cheap plastic on current X-ducers - only web based - no app or way to track without internet.","Product: Conveniently regulate fan speed and illumination via remote control on this elegant Petersford 52 in. Brushed Nickel Ceiling Fan from Home Decorators Collection. Choose among two blade finishes medium maple or dark walnut and select from three speed settings for refreshing, whisper-quiet airflow in an indoor space no larger than 20 ft. x 20 ft. This modern fixture has an integrated light covered by a white lens and includes a 17-Watt LED bulb.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Nice fan - crappy remote system.\n\nReview: Don't know what other got, but the one I got was no 5 star, only gave it two stars because the fan is ok, the electronic remote set up is worthless. The receiver I got was so large, it would not even come close to fitting under the top dome cover. Ended up cutting a hole in the ceiling to fit the receiver. With out the remote, there is no speed control. So unless you have 2 power wires from your wall switch, you have few options. The remote uses a 123 (12 volt) battery which it comes with and you can get at a local store - not a big deal.\n\nPros - moves a ton of air on high, very stable - no wobbles, good looking, LED light\n\nCons - Remote receiver too large to fit under housing, The LED light shines downward - unable to light up a larger room,\n\nIn a nut shell - not worth it.","Product: Gas regulator supply has cylinder type, gas service: nitrogen, stages: single, series: 30, inlet connection: CGA-580, outlet connection: 7/16-20 flared, regulator capacity: medium duty, gauges delivery pressure: 600 psi.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: WELL built, tuff, quality regulator.\n\nReview: Nice regulator. I use it to pressurize refrigeration systems for leak testing. The larger handle is easier to adjust than my other regulators. It is by far once of the best regulator I have used on Nitrogen and CO2. To use on CO2, use an adapter (Uniweld F36). Some of the cheaper regulators have a hard time with the mixed liquid that CO2 has, but this regulator handles it without issues. Once set to what I want, it holds it very well. There is no locking screw/nut, but that is not what this type of regulator is used for. It was designed for testing, moving the settings a lot, and keep it portable, small & compact. I do own a larger regulator with locking nuts, but does not work well for my purpose or as well. So if you are looking for a good regulator for refrigeration or pressure testing things with CO2 or Nitrogen, this regulator is your answer.","Product: This is the radio controlled, brushless electric powered, almost ready to fly ElectriFly Extra 330SC 3D Foam Plane. For indoor or outdoor flying. Park Pilot Program Legal Aircraft.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Has it's Good and Bad parts-Over all it gets an OK rating\n\nReview: I enjoyed building this plane as it was a challenge. Getting the motor on right was not an easy task. I used the correct glue and quick set recommended for this model. It helped a lot, a must do. Plan a head, read the directions carefully all the way through. On to my flights......\nI started flying at a large indoor roller rink. More than enough room for 3D flight. It took off flawlessly. I was able to fly it real slowly across the room and turn it with out trouble. The landings at such slow speed were hard as it came down hard on the front gear. After a few flights I was able to control this better. Inverted flight was easy, and over all, this is a great indoor plane. I have not attempted to fly outdoors. On my last flight, about 10 over all flights, the model did not turn enough when on the ground and the wing bumped a wall. The entire body broke into two parts. I could not believe what I just saw. The materials are very fragile. So to repair, I used a few types of carbon fiber pieces to glue it back to getting and reenforce the weak parts of the model. This worked rather well, but was still disapointed with the materials it was build out of. Since then, a few flights later, it still flies fine. Still run it indoors only as I am afraid what could happen if any wind takes it, loosing control, could make it totally broken.\nSo, would I recommend this model? Well, pending on you expeiriance and where you plan to fly.\nPros:\nGood for a beginner leaving the simple planes and want to attempt 3D flight indoors\nVery light and has more power than required\nWith the proper battery it gives you a good flight time\nCan control 3D flight with ease.\nCost is very low for this type of plane.\n\nCons\nFragile - VERY fragile\nHard to repair if you brake it unless you get creative.\n\nGood luck if you want to venture into this type of plane.","Product: Welcome to the world of Multi-rotor flight! The all new QR X350 PRO is a great introductory platform ready to elevate you to a whole new world of flying and video capture. With a model to accommodate most budgets and purposes, Walker has you covered. The QR X350 PRO platform is feature rich and employs the latest in GPS control systems. This allows for GPS position holding, automatic return to home and failsafe return to home functions to help protect your investment. Designed to carry a light weight action camera such as GoPro or Walker's exclusive iLook system and a high performance gimbal system, this platform can help to capture all of your favorite personal moments from a new and awe inspiring perspective. Packed in to every QR X350 PRO RTF is a rich electronics package with everything you need to get off the ground, including a battery, charger, radio system, control system and much more! Without a payload, the QR X350 PRO can achieve up to 25 minutes of hover time. Find out what all the buzz is about and get your QR X350 PRO today!\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: AWSOME - well worth it over other 350 size units. FULL updated Reviews\n\nReview: Well - Here it is\nFirst Flight (Dec 2015) - Took it out, calibrated it. This thing flew PERFECTLY - ZERO issues. Before I get into more, I would like to explain that there are MANY versions of this Quad. I almost made a mistake and got the wrong one, good thing I double checked.\nThere is a BNF ( Bind and Fly version which is just the quad, no receiver, radio, battery, charger - Just the quad\nThen the countless versions that have the radio which comes in 4 base version. Two of which have a monitor display on them (F7 & F12). The F7 comes in a version with and without the monitor on it. The F12 has 3 versions. The F12E is the newest one and well worth it. Look at the web site for details on it. The Gimbal comes in 4 versions. A non-motorized fixed position, a 2D in plastic and one in metal and a 3D version. I do not know why a 3D one is worth it as you can just rotate the Qaud and with IOC on, it will not make any difference.\n\nNow that we covered that confusing issue there is also a older version, and the newer Pro version. The Pro has a ton of upgrades making it an only option.\n\nSet up - they make it easy to put together (unless you got the BNF). The BNF will require ONLY the RX703A receiver as it uses the Data bus to talk to the Devo M Controller. I would not suggest using any other receiver and it would be very difficault to make work, thus for $30 - $100 more you can get a battery, charger, receiver and X-mitter. The alan screws that hold this together are a special size, one that I could not find, and the screws are VERY tight, you can easily break something in the disassembly. So be very careful and use the provided tools if you must take it apart.\nAlso on the BNF the instructions do not show you the mounting location of the RX703A, not fun to figure out. (will post a picture in near future).\n\nThe battery is rather large and will take many hours to fully charge. There is a 6600 ma you can buy to have a back up to the 5200 ma it comes with. The plug on the battery is known as a 3.5 mm banana plug. You will need to find adapters if you get a version without the charger. My normal charger is a very high end unit, and I perfer to use it over the cheap one that it comes with making that adapter important.\n\nREAD the directions very cqrefully on what toggle on the radio does what. There are two toggles that you need to understand.\nThe Fmod (3 pos) all the way up is normal flight, mid pos is hold. In the Hold position, the quad will stay is place providing the throttle is at 50%. Moving it left right, back forward all works but when you let go it stops in place. 3rd pos(pos 2) is go home. The IOC is a Wonderfull feature, as it does not make a difference what direction the quad is facing, moving the stick forward moves it away, left is always left to you and so forth. Doing this lets to keep the camera pointed on subject and yet you can control position easy.\n\nNow we need to understand that this is NOT A TOY. the rotors are plastic which can break on contact, as you can get Carbon Fiber rotors, but they will not break easy and WILL cut through anything (Like your Arm or Leg). I have been flying RC for over 30 years now, and started with a Husban to learn the way these fly before spending cash on a bigger unit. Also I must have spent over 20 hours researching these before settling on the X350 Pro. The main reasons are parts are cheap and easy to get. On the DJI a camera cable is $80 if you can find it, and the Manufacture wants you to send it in to them for a $300 repair. That cable on the X350 is $5.00.\n\nAs I fly this over the next few weeks, I will update info on the performance of the unit and any issues it may have.\n\nUpdate - Mid Dec 2015\nNow I have flown this several times. With no payload the run time is around 22 minutes. With no gimbal and a GoPro, run time is under 15 minutes. The Copter would not come home on low voltage, just 75 feet or so in the air, all power off and gravity takes over. If ou have a GoPro under it, kiss it good by as the number of peices to to large for a repair. As for the Quad, the only damage at the 75' fall was a cracked housing, chipped rotor and broken rear LED protector cap. A bit of CA glue, new rotors and back to flight again. Timer now set to 12 minutes then warns me of low battery.\nThe all metal Gimbal showed up today - the quality seems fairly good, BUT - the mounting SUCKS! This should be on some type of slide mount. Also I now need to take the Quad apart as the cable to the Tilt is on the incorrect channel. This mean ordering out a screw replacement kit as odds are, some of the screw heads WILL strip out.\n\nUnlike the DJI and others, ALL of these parts are available and at a cheap price. In addition I ordered out the extended leg set to protect the GoPro. With that said, I no longer order from China B**gG**d, tired of the 4 week wait and incorrect parts sent. Amazon is the only way now.\n\nLate Dec 2015\nHad a few small issues, the quad decided to take off and fly upside down and crashed. No damage done as I was close to the ground. Took a close look and found the plug loose on the compass. Cause I assume was vibration. The rotor balancer I ordered for this came in so I checked the rotors and wow - they were way off, not even close. So lesson learned - BALANCE YOUR ROTORS. Since then,no other issues. Still waiting for the extended leg set to keep the GoPro clear from hitting.\nMore updates to come."],"string":"[\n \"Product: HGST Travelstar Z5K320 HTS543232A7A384 320 GB 2.5 Internal Hard Drive\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Great Drive - thinner than others.\\n\\nReview: Very nice drive. It is thinner than most which the laptop I had required. A normal drive was just a hair too think. This replaced the exact same drive which had an issue when I got it, but held on for 3 years before death. The new one was very quiet, fast and formatted with ease.\\n\\nIf I had the choice, I would have put a much larger drive in the laptop. Since this is what came in it, and the way the computer is used, for the $40, it was hard to beat. No sense in tossing in a $150 1T drive when the original was doing the job and space was not an issue.\\n\\nSo - over all, if you are in need of a thinner drive that is not huge in capacity, this drive will fit your needs.\",\n \"Product: Piano Apprentice with Lighted Mini-Keys for iPad, iPod and iPhone is portable and so easy to use that you can learn to play piano virtually anywhere! Piano Apprentice is the ultimate piano teaching tool, providing light up mini-keys that show you where to place your hands. There's even a headphone jack for quiet practice. \\n\\nSimply connect your iPad, iPod or iPhone, download the free Piano Apprentice app, and start playing piano instantly! Piano Apprentice is a lightweight, highly portable 25-note keyboard and features mini-keys that respond to your touch for maximum expression. It's easy to follow along as acclaimed piano instructor Scott Houston, aka the Piano Guy, appears on the screen demonstrating how to play while the actual keys on Piano Apprentice light up. The Piano Apprentice will even teach you how to read real music notation. The built-in stereo speakers deliver a rich, authentic piano sound.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Worth the fun of learning.\\n\\nReview: Unit really should of been one octave larger. To play some of the songs requires you to cross your left hand into the path of what your right hand is playing. The playing of your right hand is easy to follow, but the instruction on what your left hand is to play is poorly explained. The included songs are easy to learn, but it is not learned from this unit having you practice parts, it just plays and you have to pay close attention and repeat what it is doing, lacks a structured practice session for learning. Either way, it is fun to learn to play Happy Birthday in about 10 minutes. The Sting is much harder to learn, but still fun to keep practicing. Worth the $35 or so I paid for it, not worth the $100+ I've seen this on line before. Note it requires a Ipad/Iphone plugged into it for it to play, otherwise no sound comes out. The app also is limited when not plugged into the keyboard. Good luck and have fun learning songs!\",\n \"Product: Visual image and infrared heat map blending help you identify the exact location of the potential issue. Center-point temperature and hot and cold markers let you identify hottest and coldest spots within field of view. Pocket-size design - Handy when you need it; easily fits in your tool bag or pocket. Intuitive interface - Get to work as soon as you take it out of the box. SmartView reporting software enables you to create customizable reports to document your findings or prove repairs have been made.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: AWESOME - well worth the $$$\\n\\nReview: After using a 4 year old imager ($9,000), I was sure about using the less expensive ones. Fluke sold me on their brand years ago with the quality and dependability. So I decided to give this one a try, as it is with in my personal budget. I mostly work on refrigeration systems, and seeing warm spots in cases helps determine the problems. The screen is smaller than the one I was use to, but large enough to see anything I need to see. The resolution is fantastic. Sensor speed is very fast. Boot time take a minute or two, but worth the wait. The screen adjusts to what you are looking at, so the hot to cold spots could be a few degrees. For walk in coolers, you can find the one item that is 3 degrees warmer than the others. Most of what I do is ranging from 3 to 20 feet. After spending several days with it, I like it better than the more expensive one I used in the past.\\nOver all - I give this an extremely high rating. Well worth every penny it cost. It does have its limits, you just need to understand how it works and stay within those limits.\\n\\nFor example-aiming at a shiny surface will results in a reflective heat image. So shiny ceramic tile, stainless steel, water, glass and so forth can actual return an image of your self.\\nFlat or non-shiny objects will give you the best results. Aiming at for or product works very well and you can see even surface temps rising above the product.\\n\\nThis imager is one very impressive device! Thanks Fluke for getting this one right and with in a price reach that most can afford.\\nNote: As I prefer the battery operated one vs rechargeable batteries. The reason why us AA batteries are easy to come by, cheap and simple to replace. If you do not use this a ton, the rechargeable battery will not hold up and the cost is not cheap. So before you purchase, keep that in mind.\\n\\nAs for those with negative reviews, you are either not understanding the technology or have no clue what you are doing - i.e. wrong application.\",\n \"Product: Dual Wall heat shrink tubing is suitable for use on wires and cords etc, which will be exposed to harsh environments. This kit contains 85 pieces of dual wall heat shrink in 4\\\" lengths with a thin adhesive lining for air tight seals, in a reusable box.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Great quality product - not the best quality case\\n\\nReview: Alright, So after looking at when seemed to be endless types, sizes and lengths of heat shrink, I thought to by some thing that kept them all together so not to get lost and a quantity large enough to last me a few years. The length of these are perfect for my RC stuff and what not projects. Size range covers just about anything you can come up with. The few I used so far seem to be a better quality than ones I used in the past. Just a note, the case looks better than it is. Don't get me wrong, it does the job, but is very cheaply made. Then again, I keep this on a shelf in my shop - it does not get pounded on like my tools do, so it fits. Then again, for the price you can hardly find a case, so I figure it was a freebe and the price of the tube was well with in reason. Good value, I would buy it again.\",\n \"Product: This DHT11 Temperature and Humidity Sensor features a calibrated digital signal output with the temperature and humidity sensor complex. Its technology ensures the high reliability and excellent long-term stability. A high-performance 8-bit microcontroller is connected. This sensor includes a resistive element and a sense of wet NTC temperature measuring devices. It has excellent quality, fast response, anti-interference ability and high cost performance advantages. Each DHT11 sensors features extremely accurate calibration of humidity calibration chamber. The calibration coefficients stored in the OTP program memory, internal sensors detect signals in the process, we should call these calibration coefficients. The single-wire serial interface system is integrated to become quick and easy. Small size, low power, signal transmission distance up to 20 meters, making it a variety of applications and even the most demanding applications. The product is 4-pin single row pin package. Convenient connection, special packages can be provided according to users need.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Real nice - Uses 1 pin for both readings - Priced right.\\n\\nReview: What a nice little temp/Hum sensor. Code is very easy, and it uses just 1 pin for both internal sensors. The only issue I had preventing 5 stars was the readings are just a little bit off, leaving the only way to adjust is an offset in your code. Although not a big issue, but it leaves open how consistent the reading will be over time. If I notice it floating, I will update the post.\\n\\nFor those needing the code used, it can be found all over the net. I just pulled it off the net from somewhere. But in a nutshell - you need the following in your code.\\n\\n#include <dht.h> // For HHT11\\ndht DHT;\\n#define DHT11_PIN 7\\nint chk = 0; // * DHT11 read setup\\nvoid setup() { } // your setup code\\nvoid loop() {\\nint chk = DHT.read11(DHT11_PIN);\\nint Tmp = ( DHT.temperature * 1.8 ) + 32; // convert to Degrees F\\nint Hum = DHT.humidity;\\n// So Tmp is your temperature and Hum is humidity\\n}\\n\\nIf you want to print to the serial port, there are plenty of examples on that code to add.\\nSame to print to LCD\\n\\nGood Luck\",\n \"Product: Experience free flight as you soar through the skies of Paris and engage in heart-pounding aerial dogfights in virtual reality. Fly solo or team up for exhilarating multiplayer action with up to six players. Agility and precision are necessary to gain advantages. Master flight quickly and comfortably using accessible and intuitive flight controls in VR.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: WOW - GREAT VR demo - needs some improvements.\\n\\nReview: WOW! - You want to step into VR, this does a really good job. If you fear heights, you may not want to try this. You are the Eagle perched high above the ground. You fly around Paris in the future when there are no humans there, but many different types of animals. You will fly over the water catching fish, in tunnels, in very tight spaces. Easy to control, as you tip your head to bank the bird. Look up and you fly up, look down and you dive. Triggers speed you up and slow you down.\\nI would suggest sitting in a chair in front of the TV, you will get light headed and you need to move your head way beyond normal. This is the reason for 4 stars - WAY too much head movement to control bird. There are many challenges you can do, it will keep you entertained for about 30 minutes before you need a break.\\nIf I were to make improvements they would be\\n1) option to control bird with handset\\n2) ability to land where ever I wanted\\n3) smaller head movements to control bird or at least the option to adjust how sensitive the head set is for turning.\\n\\nGreat VR game - fun for any age - careful if you choose to stand and play this.\",\n \"Product: The Soda Stream Fizz Home Soda Maker is a must have item for soda lovers. The idea is simple. Making your own soda gives you ultimate flexibility in your flavoring options without having to buy, carry and store large quantities of cans or plastic bottles. Not only will you save money, but the Soda Stream is eco-friendly because you will also reduce the amount of cans or plastic bottles needing to be recycled or added to landfills. No electricity or batteries required. This fun soda maker turns fresh filtered water into your favorite soda or tonic water within seconds. Featuring the Fizz Chip, this carbonating machine has a gauge to display the CO2 level remaining in the canister, ensuring drinks are made correctly each time. Its fun and easy to use. Simply attach the BPA-free plastic carbonating bottles, press the carbonating button until you hear three buzzes, add your preferred flavoring from over 60 flavors and enjoy. You can even make flavored tonic waters or just enjoy sparking water.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Great Value - Good Quality - Can be expensive\\n\\nReview: Purchased mine a few weeks ago from Best Buy for $91. Retail according to the web site is $129.99 Came as a starter system with several samples. After weeks of research, I came to buy the \\\"Fizz\\\" because it has a meter telling you the CO2 levels in the tank and how much CO2 you put into the drink. The others do not have this option. With enough experimenting, I found you do not need to put as much mix into the bottle as they suggest, also smaller amounts of Fizz, or CO2 works well which will increase the amount of drinks the CO2 can create. With further research, I found a kit on line that will let me fill my tanks with a CO2 tank I purchased from a welding supply house making the cost of CO2 refills go from $20 a bottle to about 50-75 cents a bottle. This option is not for everyone, but if you like to tinker with stuff, it is a good way to save a lot of money.\\n\\nNow as for the taste of the products - The sample pack gives you a good selection and idea what to buy. The flavor is a bit off from what you would find in a soda can, but after a few weeks or so, you will adjust to it and think it is just normal. The cheaper root beer I found had a better flavor that the more expensive one and creates 2x more drinks. The diet drinks .... well, what can one say about diet drinks. They are just about the same to me.\\n\\nOperation - - A few notes you need to know about these if you have not used them before. They use special high pressure bottles. You put cold water in the bottle, would suggest keeping them in the refrigerator keeping the water cold prior to use. Noting the mark on the bottle for water level, screw it onto the machine. There is a button on top of this one which gives you a better angle to install. Press the lever a few short times and you have the water carbonated. Now if you put warm mix onto a cold bottle of soda water, one gets a fountain shooting out of it. Keep the mixes in the refrigerator also. Poor in the mix in very slowly, put the cap on and slowly turn the bottle in several directions to mix it.\\n\\nCLEANING - DO NOT - Repeat - DO NOT wash the bottles in hot water. It will distort the plastic causing the bottle to no longer hold the high pressure carbonated water. Use soapy warm water. The unit wipes up easy also with warm soapy water. Keep the CO2 tank away from hot places as the pressure will increase and possibly blow the relief valve loosing the charge. It also could possibly explode, but not likely if the relief valve is working properly.\\n\\nHope this helps everyone out, as I searched for info like this and found nothing - GOOD luck making soda's\\n\\nUPDATE:_____ (18 months Later)\\nThe unit still works great! The refill CO2 tanks save me a lot of money. Since I like Root Beer mostly, I get my mix directly in 1 gallon jugs from Ssprecher's for around $25, As far I can tell, this is still the best Root Beer out there. Their cola's are also really good. You can buy these on line from their on line store or other Beer sources. If you live near Milwaukee, just stop at their store, they stock all of them.\",\n \"Product: GRILL USING YOUR MICROWAVE: Range Mate Pro Microwave Grill 5-Piece Cookware Set is the ONLY microwave grill & cookware that can grill, bake, steam, roast, poach & make one pot meals providing delicious cooking results. Convert your microwave into a turbo-charged ultra-fast & ultra-tasty grilling machine!\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: WOW - not what I expected - BETTER. - UPDATED!!!\\n\\nReview: WOW - not what I expected. I saw this on QVC and like everything else they have, thought it would be a disappointment. Seen reviews that were good and bad. So it came in the mail, it was $40 with shipping. Tonight I was too lazey to fire up the grill, cold windy weather - not much fun, so I gave this a shot. Took the time to READ the directions carefully, like keep the top on tight, 1200 watts = reduce time by 20-30%....... Results on my Ribeye was WOW. Not quite like the grill, but this was not a microwave steak, it was cooked perfectly, the grill marls and all. It does also tell you to let it cool before cooking with it again, and I can see why. The cook surface was HOT, yes, very hot.\\n\\nUPDATE:_____________ (3 weeks later)\\nWell, after making several items, like chicken breasts, hamburgers and other meat. It still works wonderful, but the cheapness is starting to show. The paint or what ever the color coating on the bottom is starting to bubble and break off. I will have to be careful as I continue to use it, but I knocked it down from 5 stars to 4 because of this reason.\\n\\nThe book is very close on cook times. My 1200 watt Microwave cooks faster and the 20% reduction on time (giver or take) works well. It does still clean up easy, just wish the paint was not coming off.\",\n \"Product: Esky - Sky of Electronics This remote key finder (key tracker) helps to locate items you often lose. Attach the receiver to your keys, a remote, a purse, glasses, canes, umbrella etc. To use, simply push the colored-buttons on the remote control and follow the audio beep sound attached to the receiver. The sound will help locate your lost item(s) with a range of up to 30 meters away. The remote control also comes with an LED light (a handy feature when looking for your items in the dark) as well as a remote stand. Specifications: - Transmitter size: 4.13x1.81x0.51 in (105 x 46 x 13mm) - Receiver size: 1.97x1.42x0.43in (50 x 36 x 11 mm) - Frequency: 433.92 MHz - Sound volume: 75-80 dB - Working range: 30-40 meters(open space) - Gross weight: 5.40oz (153g) - Battery: 2 x 1.5V AAA (for transmitter, not included), CR2032(for receiver, included) - Housing materia\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: JUNK. works less than 1/2 the time even if they are right in from of you!\\n\\nReview: This item is JUNK! I had one similar to it that worked very well, seeing that this one looks nearly identical to it, it should be fine. My old one worked great until the cat lost it. OK, so now your confused.... I put the finder on the cat, if he roams too far I can quickly locate him and get him back. Well he went too far one day and the collar came off, thus now need a new one. I put this on him, he can be 10' right in front of me and the finder will not beep. Tried different ones (it came with 4), same results. I also tried this in my house. with the fobs in front of me, they worked less than 30% of the time. This is not going to work. I do not know why, should not to too tuff, but they fail.\\n\\nLOOKS ELSE WHERE..... do not buy these. it is possible I got a bad one, but will contact them and see what happens. Will update......\",\n \"Product: Triple Format DVD-RW/CD-RW Mobile Slim Drive. Features Mobile Slim Design. USB 2.0 Connectivity. Supports DVD-RAM Media. Perfect for Netbooks/Notebooks. Bonus Software Included. Specifications: Supports USB 2.0 (backward compatible with USB 1.1). Buffer Size: 2MB. Plug and Play and Hot Swappable. Write Speed: 5X DVD-RAM, 6X DVD+/-R DL, 8X DVD+/-R, 24X CD-R. Read Speed: 5X DVD-RAM, 6X DVD DL, 8x DVD, 24X CD-RW, 24X CD-RW. Package Contents: Triple Format DVD-RW/CD-RW Mobil Slim Drive. USB \\\"Y\\\" Cable. Nero 7 Essentials Featuring Nero Showtime. User's Manual. Warranty Information. System Requirements: Windows 2000, XP, Vista. Intel Pentium lV 1.5GHZ or Above. 256MB of system RAM or Above. 5GB or More Available HDD Space for Burning a Single Layer Recordable DVD. 9GB or More Available Space For Burning a Double Layer Recordable DVD. Two Available USB 2.0 Ports. Sound Card For Recording/Playback of Files with Audio. Video Card with 8MB RAM or Above.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Great Value - Good Quality\\n\\nReview: I purchased this for my GF to replace a failed drive on her laptop - she loved it. Then I found I needed one as my laptop drive will not burn DVD-DLs. I ran this unit through some tuff tests. It executed everything with ease. Since it does run off of the USB buss, you might have to use a power adapter to run it. A USB Hub may not have enough power to run it, but a power supply off of one should. As for software, it comes with Nero which functions just fine and only takes over your laptop if you let it. Those options come up when installing it. That software was designed as a basic burner program. In no way was it set up to read DVDs or anything else. This software is normally in your computer already. I've run this in XP/Win 7 and Mac OS 10.7, all without issue. Mac has all needed software in it on newer models.\\n\\nSo if you are looking for a tuff burner at a reasonable price - This IS the CD/DVD burner for you. Anyone rating this less than 4 stars is clueless or has a defective unit. I rarely rate items this high, as since I burn DVDs daily, this one is holding up well.\",\n \"Product: Video-2-Mac kit. Includes all items required to link your VCR or camcorder to your Mac. Works with macOS High Sierra 10.13, Sierra 10.12, El Capitan 10.11, Yosemite 10.10, Mavericks 10.9.5, Mountain Lion 10.8.5, Lion 10.7.5 & Snow Leopard 10.6.8. Works with all the current iMac, Mini, Macbook & Pro models. Captured video can be imported into iMovie or Final Cut Pro for editing or copied straight to iPad/DVD. Captures at full DVD resolution. Will keep capturing for as long as you have hard drive space available. Kit includes: * USB video & audio capture device * One metre RCA phono lead (yellow, red & white plugs) * Printed instructions. * DVD with software and tutorial video. * Download web link included for Macs without DVD drives * Includes phone and email support. * Works fine with USB2 or USB3 ports.Return for a full refund within 28 days of receipt if not 100% completely delighted. Some extra features for expert users: Change video resolution for tablets, phones, etc. Crop unwanted black bands from top, sides or bottom of video. De-interlace video. Rip videos back from the DVDs you create. (Just to be crystal clear: You're buying a kit that links the Mac you already own to the VCR or Camcorder you already own. Mac should be less than six years old.) This kit isn't available from any other Amazon vendor.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Best Value - Works Well - picture quality a little off.\\n\\nReview: Although I had no issues with this, the quality was about 80% - 90% of the original. It works very well, loaded properly in the computer. Programs ran perfect. There was no S/N issues, just used the one on the DVD sleave. The numbers were hard to read, but it worked 1st time. I will continue to play with the settings to increase quality, but either way, it digitizes the videos saving me a lot of stewing around. Other converters I used were not as impressive, making this far better than the others.\\nSo if are looking for a quick way to convert and you need a reasonable price - this is the unit for you.\\nIt did take 2 weeks for delivery - keep that in mind when ordering.\",\n \"Product: Protect yourself in the event of an accident and from false liability claims with the Polaroid Dash Cam PD-E53H. This device provides creditable documentation of incidents, acting as your personal witness. The PD-E53H personal dash cam has automatic recording that starts and stops along with the engine, so you won't get caught out when you forget to turn it on specifically. After an event has occurred, you can use photo mode to get 1MP stills of the results, for complete, comprehensive coverage of what happened. This HD dash cam includes audio recording, so nothing is left out.\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: not a good deal in the end\\n\\nReview: Well, high hopes = failure. Got this from HSN thinking it was a deal, not a good deal in the end. The manual was converted from some other language by someone that did not know english very well. With that said, I was able to get through it and set it up in my service truck. Everything seemed OK, auto record over oldest file ..... Then a few days ago it said memory full. So pulled the card out and popped it in the computer. Only a few files could be found and the card was not full. Also noted that while it was in my truck it stayed on all the time while plugged in. If I unplugged it, a few a few short seconds it shut down from lack of G-force or motion. Plug back in, it stayed on. Not a deal breaker, I lived with it. But now I can no longer access the settings file, no video was taken over the past several weeks. One other issue I had a few weeks ago, it said battery low while plugged in. I found the contacts on the plug that goes into the car was bad. Took it apart and back together and it worked. Possibly a poor contact? It is nothing but worthless. Sorry Polaroid - you failed on this one.\\n\\nA good idea, seemed to have good picture quality - priced right\\nJust a pile of junk - STAY AWAY from it.\",\n \"Product: This sun bucket has a no see um head net that protects your face and neck from insects. It can be rolled up over the brim of the hat or tucked under the crown when it s not needed, and it can be stuffed into a hidden pocket in the crown when it s time to pack up.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Perfect bug net, just needs a tie strap to keep it on - WORTH the $\\n\\nReview: I did a lot of looking for a good bug net. I did not want one than just went over the head, or was hard to put away. This one was awesome. I guessed on size and was dead on. It folds up very small, perfect for my BWCA trip. The only issue was there is no string to hold onto your head. A few times the wind too it off and I had to go fishing for it. I did float, so it could be worse. I loved the size of the hat as it protected me from the sun well. If it had a way to hold it to my head, it would have gotten 5 stars. It worked so well, there were times I had swarms of biting bugs in flight around my head and ZERO bites. A very strange sound and not having to swat them.\",\n \"Product: The MSR Guardian Water Purifier Pump was originally designed for the U.S. Military, who turned to MSRs advanced water filtration technology to keep troops safe and healthy in every remote corner of the globe. Six years of research and development went into engineering the pump purifier, which removes viruses (such as norovirus, rotavirus, hepatitis A), bacteria (such as E. coli. Shigella, salmonella, cholera), protozoa (such as giardia, cryptosporidium, amoebae), and sediment from contaminated water sources anywhere on earth. It meets the strict NSF protocol P248 testing standard for the U.S. Military, using medical-grade fibers to provide protection from the tiniest microbiological waterborne threats. Designed to be fast, simple, and safe, it pumps at a rapid 2.5 liters per minute, has a long-lasting advanced filter that treats up to 10,000 liters of water, and withstands freezing temperatures, drops, heavy use, and harsh environments. A self-cleaning mechanism ensures reliability, flushing contaminants in the filter back into the source, so there is no backflushing or scrubbing cartridges to maintain flow. The MSR Guardian Water Purifier Pump is ideal for wilderness, backcountry use, expeditions, global travel, and emergency preparedness. It measures 8.2 x 4.7 inches and weights 17.3 ounces. Made in the USA.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Biggest Bang for the Buck, nothing less than perfect!\\n\\nReview: Well, Just got back from BWCA, 8 people, consuming about 12+ liters per day. In the past 30+ years we have used several different types of filters, normally changing the cartridge once or twice in the 5 day trip. Those filters had us working hard to create enough water to supply us what we needed. Researched filters for over 3 months, and kept coming back to this one. I really did not want to spend this kind of cash, but let me tell ya, this filter performed flawlessly. The group could not believe it. pumped 2 liters with ease. In the past that was 5+ minutes of hard pumping, while with this it was a minute with ease. Because we had a lot of bugs and stuff in the water, we ran the water through a large coffee filter that set into a strainer. This took out a lot of crap, then ran the filter. Water came out clear and the taste was good. After pumping well over 50 liters (13+ gallons), there was no increased resistance. It was just like a new filter. After I got home, I ran clean water through it, put the cap on and back in storage. Others in the group decided to buy one when we got back, very impressed.\\n\\nPros:\\nFAST pumping - fills 2 liters in about a minute with very little effort\\nAuto purge of filter face to keep and flush the surface increasing filter life\\n.02 micron - WOW - Cripto is 2 micron in size, most nasties are much larger - = make very safe water\\nComes in a very nice and compact case\\nFilter is good for 10,000 liters (2641.72 gallons). Most filters plug up in under 100 liters (26.4 gallons)\\nHandle does come off, unit comes apart easy\\nPre-filter is very nice - not only is it a cleanable pre-filter, but its design sucks water even if its 1/2 out of the water\\nParts - all parts are available - easy to get and priced fairly.\\n\\nCons -\\nPrice - $300 - $350 us\\n\\nEven if you take all of this in consideration, the normal filter I used did about 25 gallons of water- this filter is rated for 2641 gallons or around 105 times the water at just over 2 times the price. Filters on my old unit were $40 each, so each trip in the BWCA costs $120, 3 trip and this cost was covered, and then still have it for years to come. Awesome deal, worth every penny.\\n\\nConclusion: This filter is by far the best filter on the market, and at its price gives you the biggest bang for the buck, you will not be disappointed. By the way, I bought mine from a site with a 1 day deal at $290 in April 2017. For some reason. possible just not enough margin, these things are not discounted much. Good luck!\",\n \"Product: The Limelight 3P follows the keep it simple principle for quick set-up, weight-minimization and camping in style. A roomy side vestibule keeps gear dry in wet weather.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Very nice but small - Not a 3 man unless you are very small\\n\\nReview: Well, I bought this several months ago for my BWCA trip. If you know the area, you will know that once you get in, there is only one way out making this a very important decision. So here it goes.....\\n\\nVery fast set up. The fly is awsome as it covers the entire tent keeping rain and cold out. In turn it is harder to ventilate with out removing the fly, but thats OK. The rods are real tuff and handle more stress that one would think. The Fly rod took more force than I thought is should have, and it took it with out issue. The stakes are well built and had no issues holding the tent and fly down in a rather strong wind/rain. The fly leaves some space for your gear, kept my shoes - misc. items dry including the ground under it. The materials the tent is made from is very strong, water proof and shows its quality. The only thing I did not like was the size. It is made in China ;( which was a disappointment, but may explain why only 2 people can fit into a 3 man, should be rated as a 2 man.\\n\\nPros - light weight - strong - protected space outside of tent for small gear - large fly - stays warm inside when fly is on - compact when put away.\\n\\nCons - small inside as no way could 3 fit, even 2 is a challenge with some gear - expensive - made in China\\n\\nWish I would have bought the 4 man tent rather than the 3 man for 2 people.\",\n \"Product: Why load your revolver one cartridge at a time With one slight twist, the HKS Speed Loader instantly loads all the cartridges into your revolver. Strong metal points hold cartridges securely in the loader until you release them into the revolver with a turn of the speed loader knob.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Not the best fit for the Ruger SP101 .357 mag\\n\\nReview: Bought this from Ruger - got a discount when i registered my SP101 - .357 mag with them. From what I read, it should be fine, but when I got it - not very happy. It does work, but the fit is poor at best. Yes it holds the rounds nice, yes it does fit, but the clearances are off. So it takes a little bit of work getting it in there. There is always the option to release the rounds without them being inserted all the way in, which seems to be my solution. The unit is well built and does hold the rounds tight. Can't say how well they fit in any other pistol.\\n\\nGood design, well built, great idea\\n\\nJust does not mate with the Ruger SP101 .357 mag very well.\",\n \"Product: Tap into the suns radiance and power up your gadgets with freedom.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Kind of pricey, but works well\\n\\nReview: So far, the few times I used this, it works very well. Tried to compare with a 3 panel version that was $20 cheaper. Still have not found the advantage, but will have a lot better test on my long trip away in the wilderness in a few months.... Will try to update then.\\n\\nUPDATED - June 2016\\n\\nOK - was out in the BWCA a few times, using this to charge everything from cell phones (even though mostly no service), to cameras and iPods.\\n\\nThe unit is tough. I put it in my back pack with little protection and it holds up well. Since it folds up, it makes it much more rigid for transport. In order to get enough power out of it, you must have it pointed in direct sunlight. This means watching it and keep moving it to prevent shade from hitting it. Running a meter on it showed that in direct sunlight I was able to pull out 2 amps on one of the cell phones. If any shade hots it, the output drops fairly quickly.\\n\\nOne of the main reasons I wanted this was in the BWCA there is no power period. Running the GoPro. Since they use up lots of power, recharging was needed. Again, in direct sunlight, they charged as if plugged in an outlet.\\n\\nAWSOME panel.\\n\\nPros - Folds up small - Tough, strong panels - well built - able to put out 3 amps (2 amps on one, and 1 amp on the other). Case is well built.\\n\\nCons - Direct sunlight is needed - Must angle to the sun - pricey.\",\n \"Product: 1200X1200DPI A3 USB 512MB\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Totally Excellent Printer - UPDATED\\n\\nReview: Shop around, I got this for under $3,000 with shipping to my door step. It does weigh in at 200+ pounds, but once I set it up - I was stunned at the quality. Note the dimensions, it barely fit through my back door. Rather than spend $500 on their wheels, I bought a 2' x 2' -3/4\\\" Oak plywood and put wheels on it for a cost of $30. Fast, really fast, duplex pages out faster than I get up to go to the printer. I tried the 12\\\" x 12\\\" coated 100# paper, it works well with no issues and the pictures put most ink jets to shame. Extra drawers are a bit pricey, but I think all high end printers have that issue. Love the extreme low cost per page printing, but the unit ships with low count toner, and the high capacity set is $550. considering I pay that in 3 months on ink jets, that toner will hold out for over 2 years = major savings. Also when setting up, you will need a password, which I could not find anywhere. Looked on line to find it was the same on all machines until you change it (admin). If you are sick of Ink Jet Junk, want a Laser that will last you for 10+ years, sick of the disposable lasers and high cost of maintaining, THEN this IS the printer for you. It replaced my worn out HP4500DN that was 10+ years old. Other parts I found on this machine I loved was the energy save mode. Still working on the fine details with it, but since I may go a day or so without printing, shutting down on its own is a great idea. The build in screen was larger than I expected and very clear to read, but I still used my computer to set it up as you can see more options at one time.\\n\\nLast comments - Fast - clean - user friendly - VERY low cost to run - software options beyond what you will ever need all equal the best printer I have ever seen for the money. Spend the extra cash, you will not regret it.\\n\\nUPDATED:_____(2 years Later)\\nThis printer is still awesome! Printed off countless reams of paper in several sizes. Many color pictures as large as 11 x 17 all came out great. Have not quite burned up a toner tube yet, but getting close. So my cost per page is so cheap, it is hard to believe. Well worth the price. By now if this was a ink jet, I would have gone through well over $3,00o in ink, and still not happy.\\n\\nOVERALL - Buy this, you will never be happier.\",\n \"Product: Cartridges are produced with genuine Reemay filter media and durable polyurethane end caps. Prevents harmful bacteria from growing on the cartridge. Less bacteria results in a reduction of foul odors, algae, black mold and other harmful contaminants which foul a cartridge. Antimicrobial protection lasts as long as the cartridge itself. Easier to clean than any other filter. 100 percent polyester core for strength and durability. Polyester Microban sheath for ease of maintenance. Extruded and reinforced PVC center cores. Embossed part numbers. Break-resistant bands. No pad adapters needed. Fits Rainbow/Pentair Dynamic 25 pool and spa filter. Measures 4-15/16-inch diameter by 13-5/16-inch length. 2-1/8-Inch top hole, 2-1/8-inch bottom hole. Top 2-1/8-inch open style, 2-1/8-inch open bottom style. 25-Square feet area and weighs 3-ounce. Replaces Unicel Pleatco and Aladdin filter cartridge models C-4326, PRB25-IN, 12502.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Perfect for the filtering of my Hot Tub\\n\\nReview: I have these for my hot tub (130 gallon). It filters very well. Normally I wash it once a month, unless a dirty person enters. Then I had to clean it 3 times in 4 days. The filter holds up well, but will pass the gunk when over loaded. A quick wash and it is good to go. So far I change these once every 18 months or so. At the 18 month point, it seems like the filter starts to break down at this point. The usage of the hot tub is rather low compared to most. So a more frequenty used hot tub may require the changing more often. My trick to keeping it clean is to go in clean.\",\n \"Product: Clorox Pool&Spa XtraBlue Chlorinating Granules protect against algae and bacteria for water that stays clean, clear & free of visible algae. Protected against sunlight to last longer.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Very good value - great product for hot tubs - Cost = pennies a month - ** updated **\\n\\nReview: After weeks of looking for less expensive alternatives for my hot tub, reading through countless reviews, I ended up giving this a try. This has impressed me. My hot tub holds about 270 gallons of water. Following the directions, give or take 1 ounce per treatment. For me a treatment normally holds good for around a week. I check my chemicals every 5 - 7 days. After around a month, my chemical balance has been more stable, no large swings anymore. No more dumping in what I considered a ton of chemicals. My water did NOT turn blue, as it stayed clear. In past, my PH always seem to drop, it no longer drops as much as before. The 1 ounce rating must be by weight, as 1 fluid ounce = 6 teaspoon. So I started with 1 teaspoon, it was over kill, but lasted a very long time (2 weeks) before getting back in line. Next about 1/2 teaspoon, and it seems to be pretty close. At that rate, this jug has enough to last me 3+ years! Before I would go through a container of this size in about 6 months. I have noting bad to say about this product except, where have you been in my hot tub's life.\\n\\nAfter having success I decided to invest in step 1 and step 3 of this product line. After 4 - 6 weeks I will review them also, and of course update this review if needed.\\n\\nOver All - AWSOME product - Really Good Value\\nGOOD JOB CLOROX!\\n\\n*** UPDATE - April 2017 ***\\nWell, after 2 months I came to a solution of how much chemical to put in hot tubs.\\nAbout 1 oz. by weight or 2 Table Spoons (per 250 gallons) every week for a usage of 2-4 times per week. This seems to hold out well for me. I can see if you use it more it will take more, same if you use it less. So to break this down better I made a chart.\\nFor a usage of approximately 4 times per week.\\n150 gallons = 1 table spoon or 1/2 ounce (by weight)\\n250 gallons = 2 table spoons or 1 ounce (by weight)\\n400 gallons = 3-1/4 table spoons or 1.6 ounce (by weight)\\n700 gallons = 5-1/2 table spoons or 2.8 ounces (by weight)\\n\\nAs I can not tell you about pools - only hot tubs, I can only assume the ratios are going to be fairly close.\\n\\nGood Luck!\",\n \"Product: For the complete solution to HVAC troubleshooting the extra value-packed HVAC Technician's Combo Kit, provides the ability to troubleshoot and solve problems more efficiently by providing all the needed accessories an HVAC professional would need in a compact carry case.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Awesome HVAC meter - priced right for the application\\n\\nReview: As always - Fluke is Top of the Line. There are 3 series of meters in this class, 115.116 & 117. The 116 is made for Steamfittes (HVAC Techs). It has all the feature you need except one, amps (0-20a & 0-25ma). It does have Micro amps for Measuring flame rods. Min/Max recording to help in trouble shooting always helps. Unlike some of the other cheaper meters, the ohms scale goes way past what you need. So measuring a 10k ohm sensor can be done accurately. Cat 3 so measuring up to 600 volts, Capacitance (1nF to 500 Micro F), and a backlight.\\nMeter is compact and takes a lot smaller space than most meters., yet large enough to make handling it just right.\\n\\nStrongly suggest this meter to any HVAC tech.\\n\\nPersonally - I own many Fluke meters, going back into the late 1980s. The 87 & 33 as my favorites. Even owning more than 10 of them, each of them have different purposes, not one can replace the other. That said, the 116 comes the closest, which works well with a T5-1000 as a secondary backup. If you need the 0-25ma, then an 87 is a good backup - but pricey.\",\n \"Product: \\\"See your electricity usage and costs in real-time from any web browser Easy non-invasive installation High resolution data. Captures appliance start-up spikes Free monitoring via MyEyedro.com MyEyedro features: Responsive real-time graphs Maintains full 24/7 usage history Hourly, daily, weekly and monthly consumption and costs Supports fixed, tiered, and time-of-use rate structures Estimates what your current electrical bill will cost Be notified of power or network failure Compatible with Amazon Echo\\\" As above plus wireless functionality module to module\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Great concept - many flaws - does the job.\\n\\nReview: Great concept - many flaws - does the job.\\nLets start with how they were shipped - in a box that was unsealed. Anyone could have popped it open and took stuff out. Which they did - it came with parts missing. Amazon promptly sent another one out. AGAIN - the box was unsealed, no tape / glue or anything stopping the box from being open. This was very poor quality control.\\nNow for the product - The current probes are a poor design. Being a DDC Service Steamfitter, I use current transducers all the time, and never had issues. These open kind of hard, but one of them would not snap closed. Good thing I had not sent back the first one missing parts yet. A zip tie helped keep them closed. Next issue is the electrical codes - you can not have wire inside the breaker box with a lesser rating than the box. It does not look like the wires on the X-former is up to that code. Also code about getting that wire out of the box. Then to have an outlet next to the box. Well, as a solution, I mounted a plastic box on the breaker panel, put the com boxes in there, then out the bottom to an outlet I installed.\\nNow that I have it installed, it was very easy setting up on the web site. If this works out, I will be installed 2 more for my hot tub to see exactly what it is costing me. Being in Wisconsin, these -8 deg days will make the tub much more expensive, by how much is what I would like to know. When and if I get that far, I will update.\\nOperation - Seems to track and work very well. It seems at my electric dryer draws around 25 amps, this puts me on the edge of the RED (85%) area. Kind of strange to have it set that low. AC/Oven/Dryer on would be 60+ amps, way beyond the 100%. I have 200 amp service, it is unknown what this thing would do or even pick up such power. Time will tell.\\n\\nGood - unit does track well - easy set up - priced ok\\nBad - Cheap plastic on current X-ducers - only web based - no app or way to track without internet.\",\n \"Product: Conveniently regulate fan speed and illumination via remote control on this elegant Petersford 52 in. Brushed Nickel Ceiling Fan from Home Decorators Collection. Choose among two blade finishes medium maple or dark walnut and select from three speed settings for refreshing, whisper-quiet airflow in an indoor space no larger than 20 ft. x 20 ft. This modern fixture has an integrated light covered by a white lens and includes a 17-Watt LED bulb.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Nice fan - crappy remote system.\\n\\nReview: Don't know what other got, but the one I got was no 5 star, only gave it two stars because the fan is ok, the electronic remote set up is worthless. The receiver I got was so large, it would not even come close to fitting under the top dome cover. Ended up cutting a hole in the ceiling to fit the receiver. With out the remote, there is no speed control. So unless you have 2 power wires from your wall switch, you have few options. The remote uses a 123 (12 volt) battery which it comes with and you can get at a local store - not a big deal.\\n\\nPros - moves a ton of air on high, very stable - no wobbles, good looking, LED light\\n\\nCons - Remote receiver too large to fit under housing, The LED light shines downward - unable to light up a larger room,\\n\\nIn a nut shell - not worth it.\",\n \"Product: Gas regulator supply has cylinder type, gas service: nitrogen, stages: single, series: 30, inlet connection: CGA-580, outlet connection: 7/16-20 flared, regulator capacity: medium duty, gauges delivery pressure: 600 psi.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: WELL built, tuff, quality regulator.\\n\\nReview: Nice regulator. I use it to pressurize refrigeration systems for leak testing. The larger handle is easier to adjust than my other regulators. It is by far once of the best regulator I have used on Nitrogen and CO2. To use on CO2, use an adapter (Uniweld F36). Some of the cheaper regulators have a hard time with the mixed liquid that CO2 has, but this regulator handles it without issues. Once set to what I want, it holds it very well. There is no locking screw/nut, but that is not what this type of regulator is used for. It was designed for testing, moving the settings a lot, and keep it portable, small & compact. I do own a larger regulator with locking nuts, but does not work well for my purpose or as well. So if you are looking for a good regulator for refrigeration or pressure testing things with CO2 or Nitrogen, this regulator is your answer.\",\n \"Product: This is the radio controlled, brushless electric powered, almost ready to fly ElectriFly Extra 330SC 3D Foam Plane. For indoor or outdoor flying. Park Pilot Program Legal Aircraft.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Has it's Good and Bad parts-Over all it gets an OK rating\\n\\nReview: I enjoyed building this plane as it was a challenge. Getting the motor on right was not an easy task. I used the correct glue and quick set recommended for this model. It helped a lot, a must do. Plan a head, read the directions carefully all the way through. On to my flights......\\nI started flying at a large indoor roller rink. More than enough room for 3D flight. It took off flawlessly. I was able to fly it real slowly across the room and turn it with out trouble. The landings at such slow speed were hard as it came down hard on the front gear. After a few flights I was able to control this better. Inverted flight was easy, and over all, this is a great indoor plane. I have not attempted to fly outdoors. On my last flight, about 10 over all flights, the model did not turn enough when on the ground and the wing bumped a wall. The entire body broke into two parts. I could not believe what I just saw. The materials are very fragile. So to repair, I used a few types of carbon fiber pieces to glue it back to getting and reenforce the weak parts of the model. This worked rather well, but was still disapointed with the materials it was build out of. Since then, a few flights later, it still flies fine. Still run it indoors only as I am afraid what could happen if any wind takes it, loosing control, could make it totally broken.\\nSo, would I recommend this model? Well, pending on you expeiriance and where you plan to fly.\\nPros:\\nGood for a beginner leaving the simple planes and want to attempt 3D flight indoors\\nVery light and has more power than required\\nWith the proper battery it gives you a good flight time\\nCan control 3D flight with ease.\\nCost is very low for this type of plane.\\n\\nCons\\nFragile - VERY fragile\\nHard to repair if you brake it unless you get creative.\\n\\nGood luck if you want to venture into this type of plane.\",\n \"Product: Welcome to the world of Multi-rotor flight! The all new QR X350 PRO is a great introductory platform ready to elevate you to a whole new world of flying and video capture. With a model to accommodate most budgets and purposes, Walker has you covered. The QR X350 PRO platform is feature rich and employs the latest in GPS control systems. This allows for GPS position holding, automatic return to home and failsafe return to home functions to help protect your investment. Designed to carry a light weight action camera such as GoPro or Walker's exclusive iLook system and a high performance gimbal system, this platform can help to capture all of your favorite personal moments from a new and awe inspiring perspective. Packed in to every QR X350 PRO RTF is a rich electronics package with everything you need to get off the ground, including a battery, charger, radio system, control system and much more! Without a payload, the QR X350 PRO can achieve up to 25 minutes of hover time. Find out what all the buzz is about and get your QR X350 PRO today!\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: AWSOME - well worth it over other 350 size units. FULL updated Reviews\\n\\nReview: Well - Here it is\\nFirst Flight (Dec 2015) - Took it out, calibrated it. This thing flew PERFECTLY - ZERO issues. Before I get into more, I would like to explain that there are MANY versions of this Quad. I almost made a mistake and got the wrong one, good thing I double checked.\\nThere is a BNF ( Bind and Fly version which is just the quad, no receiver, radio, battery, charger - Just the quad\\nThen the countless versions that have the radio which comes in 4 base version. Two of which have a monitor display on them (F7 & F12). The F7 comes in a version with and without the monitor on it. The F12 has 3 versions. The F12E is the newest one and well worth it. Look at the web site for details on it. The Gimbal comes in 4 versions. A non-motorized fixed position, a 2D in plastic and one in metal and a 3D version. I do not know why a 3D one is worth it as you can just rotate the Qaud and with IOC on, it will not make any difference.\\n\\nNow that we covered that confusing issue there is also a older version, and the newer Pro version. The Pro has a ton of upgrades making it an only option.\\n\\nSet up - they make it easy to put together (unless you got the BNF). The BNF will require ONLY the RX703A receiver as it uses the Data bus to talk to the Devo M Controller. I would not suggest using any other receiver and it would be very difficault to make work, thus for $30 - $100 more you can get a battery, charger, receiver and X-mitter. The alan screws that hold this together are a special size, one that I could not find, and the screws are VERY tight, you can easily break something in the disassembly. So be very careful and use the provided tools if you must take it apart.\\nAlso on the BNF the instructions do not show you the mounting location of the RX703A, not fun to figure out. (will post a picture in near future).\\n\\nThe battery is rather large and will take many hours to fully charge. There is a 6600 ma you can buy to have a back up to the 5200 ma it comes with. The plug on the battery is known as a 3.5 mm banana plug. You will need to find adapters if you get a version without the charger. My normal charger is a very high end unit, and I perfer to use it over the cheap one that it comes with making that adapter important.\\n\\nREAD the directions very cqrefully on what toggle on the radio does what. There are two toggles that you need to understand.\\nThe Fmod (3 pos) all the way up is normal flight, mid pos is hold. In the Hold position, the quad will stay is place providing the throttle is at 50%. Moving it left right, back forward all works but when you let go it stops in place. 3rd pos(pos 2) is go home. The IOC is a Wonderfull feature, as it does not make a difference what direction the quad is facing, moving the stick forward moves it away, left is always left to you and so forth. Doing this lets to keep the camera pointed on subject and yet you can control position easy.\\n\\nNow we need to understand that this is NOT A TOY. the rotors are plastic which can break on contact, as you can get Carbon Fiber rotors, but they will not break easy and WILL cut through anything (Like your Arm or Leg). I have been flying RC for over 30 years now, and started with a Husban to learn the way these fly before spending cash on a bigger unit. Also I must have spent over 20 hours researching these before settling on the X350 Pro. The main reasons are parts are cheap and easy to get. On the DJI a camera cable is $80 if you can find it, and the Manufacture wants you to send it in to them for a $300 repair. That cable on the X350 is $5.00.\\n\\nAs I fly this over the next few weeks, I will update info on the performance of the unit and any issues it may have.\\n\\nUpdate - Mid Dec 2015\\nNow I have flown this several times. With no payload the run time is around 22 minutes. With no gimbal and a GoPro, run time is under 15 minutes. The Copter would not come home on low voltage, just 75 feet or so in the air, all power off and gravity takes over. If ou have a GoPro under it, kiss it good by as the number of peices to to large for a repair. As for the Quad, the only damage at the 75' fall was a cracked housing, chipped rotor and broken rear LED protector cap. A bit of CA glue, new rotors and back to flight again. Timer now set to 12 minutes then warns me of low battery.\\nThe all metal Gimbal showed up today - the quality seems fairly good, BUT - the mounting SUCKS! This should be on some type of slide mount. Also I now need to take the Quad apart as the cable to the Tilt is on the incorrect channel. This mean ordering out a screw replacement kit as odds are, some of the screw heads WILL strip out.\\n\\nUnlike the DJI and others, ALL of these parts are available and at a cheap price. In addition I ordered out the extended leg set to protect the GoPro. With that said, I no longer order from China B**gG**d, tired of the 4 week wait and incorrect parts sent. Amazon is the only way now.\\n\\nLate Dec 2015\\nHad a few small issues, the quad decided to take off and fly upside down and crashed. No damage done as I was close to the ground. Took a close look and found the plug loose on the compass. Cause I assume was vibration. The rotor balancer I ordered for this came in so I checked the rotors and wow - they were way off, not even close. So lesson learned - BALANCE YOUR ROTORS. Since then,no other issues. Still waiting for the extended leg set to keep the GoPro clear from hitting.\\nMore updates to come.\"\n]","isConversational":false},"profile_size":{"kind":"number","value":26,"string":"26"},"task":{"kind":"string","value":"longlamp_3"},"split_kind":{"kind":"string","value":"user_based"},"id":{"kind":"number","value":970,"string":"970"}}},{"rowIdx":971,"cells":{"question_id":{"kind":"string","value":"A1K97BMLKKASEO"},"question":{"kind":"string","value":"Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of \"5.0\" for a product with description \"Gary lives in a small coastal town in NSW, Australia. There's open ocean on one side, a massive saltwater lake on the other and enough virgin bushland in the surrounding areas to lose yourself for a week. When he's not writing, Gary's hunting deer for the freezer or putting around the lake fishing for flathead. He's a Toolmaker by trade, a successful inventor and now, a writer. Urban Hunters is the culmination of his inventiveness, his enthusiasm for the outdoors and his fun-filled sense of humour. There are thirteen books in the Urban Hunters series. Enter your email address on his website to be the first to hear of special events and new releases. www.UrbanHunters.com.au www.BunyaPublishing.com\". The summary of the review text is \"Great start to what promises to be an interesting series....\"."},"answer":{"kind":"string","value":"I loved this novel. It was vividly written with the feeling of education on Aboriginal history as well as life in the Outback. I once heard Peter Jackson say that the success of the Lord of the Rings trilogy was born from the sense that it is accessible foreign world with language and routine to which the reader can relate. This concept holds true for Taaffe's work. Kids will not have lived in Billy's world but the way that Taaffe sets the story, young readers will think and likely relate their own lives with that of Billy. Billy has mischievous and sometimes bothersome older brothers looking to one-up each other and him. He has a Grandfather who loves him an shares an oral history. He has a family who has had to do what it has to do to survive and Billy will do anything to help them.\n\nThe first novel doesn't send Billy into the wide world instead keeping him at home an providing the reader with a clear view of what a culture shock Billy will face. There are no corner shops in the Australian bush. If you want to get somewhere you go by feet. This first instalment of the series is simply fun and instructive. After reading this novel, my 11-year-old Canadian Alex expressed sympathy for the Aborigines in the story and an interest in learning more about the history of the people."},"correct_answer":{"kind":"string","value":"I loved this novel. It was vividly written with the feeling of education on Aboriginal history as well as life in the Outback. I once heard Peter Jackson say that the success of the Lord of the Rings trilogy was born from the sense that it is accessible foreign world with language and routine to which the reader can relate. This concept holds true for Taaffe's work. Kids will not have lived in Billy's world but the way that Taaffe sets the story, young readers will think and likely relate their own lives with that of Billy. Billy has mischievous and sometimes bothersome older brothers looking to one-up each other and him. He has a Grandfather who loves him an shares an oral history. He has a family who has had to do what it has to do to survive and Billy will do anything to help them.\n\nThe first novel doesn't send Billy into the wide world instead keeping him at home an providing the reader with a clear view of what a culture shock Billy will face. There are no corner shops in the Australian bush. If you want to get somewhere you go by feet. This first instalment of the series is simply fun and instructive. After reading this novel, my 11-year-old Canadian Alex expressed sympathy for the Aborigines in the story and an interest in learning more about the history of the people."},"documents":{"kind":"list like","value":["Product: Saladin Ahmeds short stories have been nominated for the Nebula and Campbell awards, have appeared in numerous magazines & podcasts. He has also written nonfiction for The Escapist, Fantasy Magazine & Tor.com. Peter S. Beagle is the Hugo, Nebula, Inkpot, and World Fantasy Award for Life Achievement winning author of The Last Unicorn and Two Hearts. The Last Unicorn was adapted to an animated movie. Peter also wrote the screenplay for the 1978 movie version of The Lord of the Rings. Heather Brewer is the NY Times bestselling author of the Vladimir Tod series. She grew up on a diet of Twilight Zone and books by Stephen King. She chased them down with every drop of horror she could findin books, movie theaters, on television. The most delicious parts of her banquet, however, she found lurking in the shadowed corners of her dark imagination. Jim Butcher is the NY Times bestselling author of the Dresden Files series, the Codex Alera, and a new steampunk series, the Cinder Spires. His resume includes a laundry list of skills which were useful a couple of centuries ago, and he plays guitar quite badly. Since 2003, NY Times and USA Today bestselling author Rachel Caine has written in the adult Urban Fantasy genre (the Weather Warden, Outcast Season, Revivalist and Red Letter Days series) as well as in Young Adult fiction (the Morganville Vampires series and the upcoming novel Prince of Shadows). Kami Garcia is the NY Times bestselling coauthor of the Beautiful Creatures novels and the Bram Stoker Award nominated novel Unbreakable, and the sequel Unmarked, in the Legion series. Kami is fascinated by the paranormal, and shes very superstitious. Nancy Holder is a Bram Stoker Award winning and NY Times bestselling author (the Wicked Saga) also known for her novels and episode guides based on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Teen Wolf, Beauty and the Beast, and other TV shows. Gillian Philips books include Crossing the Line, Bad Faith, The Opposite of Amber and the Rebel Angels series. She has been nominated and shortlisted for awards including the Carnegie Medal, the Scottish Childrens Book Award and the David Gemmell Legend Award. Jane Yolen is the author of over 300 books, including Owl Moon, The Devils Arithmetic & How do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight? Her books and stories have won two Nebulas, a World Fantasy Award, a Caldecott, the Golden Kite Award, three Mythopoeic awards, two Christopher Medals, and a nomination for the National Book Award among others.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Excellent anthology for lovers of dark fantasy....\n\nReview: The editor of this novel, Henry Herz, gave me a copy in exchange for participating in this blog tour.\n\nI am a huge fan of The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher so when the editor of the piece approached me to write a review, that author was the one I was most looking forward to reading. Id heard of some of the others but had never read them and wasn't really interested in learning more about that work. Everything changed upon finishing this wonderfully laid out anthology. The stories leave readers wanting more when they shift to the next but the arrangement makes for a good flow while the sameness of dark tone peppered with humor keeps readers in the moment.\n\nMy favorite story was by old favorite, Jim Butcher. As many authors do, he chose to use his anthology story to expand on a character from the Dresden world. Johnny Marcone is a mobster who makes life more interesting for Harry Dresden and Butcher gives us a closer look at his character in Even Hand. Butcher shows the readers Marcones view of himself as a professional monster and yet shows us a deeper side that has to be consciously kept at bay. In a classic economy of words, Butcher gives us a compelling story that easily stands on its own while thrilling existing fans.\n\nThe Adventures of Lightning Merriemouse-Jones by Nancy & Belle Holder was a great way to finish the anthology. It was nice and light and fun. The authors crafted a classic story (Dracula) and set it at sea using mice so theres a Secret of Nihm gone wrong feeling throughout and it was just wonderfully hilarious. Miss Lightning Merriemouse-Jones is a Penelope Pitstop for a new generation.\n\nIf you're a fan of fantasy or the paranormal, I urge you to buy Beyond the Pale today. Its a delightful look into a scarier world than our own with delicious flashes of brilliance from the authors. Im a huge fan of short stories and fantasy in general and Beyond the Pale falls directly into the wheelhouse of fans of those genres.","Product: Best Selling Science Fiction & Paranormal Romance author and SciFi Encounters columnist for the USA Today Happily Ever After blog, Veronica Scott grew up in a house with a library as its heart. Dad loved science fiction, Mom loved ancient history and Veronica thought there needed to be more romance in everything. When she ran out of books to read, she started writing her own stories. Married young to her high school sweetheart then widowed, Veronica has two grown daughters, one grandson and cats Keanu and Jake. Veronicas life has taken many twists and turns, but she always makes time to keep reading and writing. Everything is good source material for the next novel or the one after that, right? Shes been through earthquakes, tornadoes and near death experiencesAlways more stories to tell, new adventures to experienceVeronicas personal motto is, Never boring. MISC FACTS ABOUT VERONICA Two time winner ~ SFR Galaxy Award (for ESCAPE FROM ZULAIRE and WRECK OF THE NEBULA DREAM). National Excellence in Romance Fiction Award 2014 Golden Quill Finalist 2014 Proud recipient ~ NASA Exceptional Service Medal but must hasten to add the honor was not for her romantic fiction!\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Scott just keeps getting better....\n\nReview: The author, Veronica Scott, gave me a copy of this novel in exchange for my review.\n\nScott wastes no time once the novel begins. We meet Princess Shaliras stepmother. When Mike meets her we see through his eyes an overdone and haughty woman convinced of her absolute control. Also through his eyes we see the Princess unsure and clinging to her horse in a seeming metaphor to her approach for life. Her control is limited and she clings to whatever she can. They meet in an impossibly dangerous moment and one of the first in which Princess Shalira leans on him for both literal and metaphorical support in a tangible and believable trust built by a skilled author with record speed.\n\nMike is typical of Scotts male characters. Hes a soldier with a soldiers mind and with a quick instinct to help those in his charge. Mike wants to protect Princess Shalira but has the self-awareness not to belabour the point. He knows why he wants to do it and as it has as much to do with his admiration for her as his need to protect her. Again, the realism in this sort of storyline is important. There has to be more of a reason for the attraction than compatible private parts and Scott gives that to her readers without the overdone will they or won't they. Can you have strong and decisive characters that an audience will believe if they're not self-aware? That said, theres a softness in each character rounding them out and further endearing them to the reader.\n\nScott writes wonderful action. Her fight scenes are exquisitely framed and lead the reader on a fast paced wild ride. Scotts settings are majestic. In Mission to Mahjundar\" readers are treated to an ancient world in the future ruled by gods and goddesses. Mission to Mahjundar\" is a beautiful read. The book is a delightful treat to anyone with an unplanned afternoon and a cozy chair.\n\nVeronica Scott is a wonderful author and with each novel only gets better. Pick Mission to Mahjundar up today.","Product: Ellie Campbell is a pseudonym for sisters, Pam Burks and Lorraine Campbell who collaborate across the mighty Atlantic, finding writing together the perfect excuse for endless phone conversations. They are equally passionate about travel, animals and the great outdoors. Although Pam lives near London, with husband, three children and a dog, while Lorraine is on a Colorado ranch near wild and wonderful Boulder with husband, five horses, five cats, one dog and four chickens - they both believe in enjoying life to the fullest, be it discovering new remote locations or going on trail rides in the beautiful Rocky Mountains. They love any chance to connect with their readers. Get in touch with Pam and Lorraine on: Web: www.chicklitsisters.com Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/EllieCampbellBooks Twitter: @ecampbellbooks Blog: www.chicklitsisters.com Email: chicklitsisters@gmail.com\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Best work by Ellie Campbell yet!\n\nReview: The author, Ellie Campbell, gave me a copy of this work in exchange for my review.\n\nEllie Campbell brings woman a strong sense of empowerment in one woman who feels as though shes lost it all and another who really had little left to lose.\n\nReaders meet Rosie at her lowest. Her husband has left her and shes on her own with twins. She had a comfortable life with Charlie but now that hes gone, shes living on a Council Estate while he lives the high life paying child support only when the whim strikes.\n\nOlivia is living the high life attending a charity event when we meet her. She appears to flow through her life concealing a manic nature under the surface. When she loses the money, power and relationship she held in high esteem upon learning that her boss has scammed everyone, she discovers how truly out of touch with her life shes become.\n\nCampbells characters are well developed and fully realized. All of the background characters and people that Olivia and Rosie meet in their lives are fleshed out and developed so that each scene is wholly integral to the overall effect of the work.\n\nHaving been a fan of Campbell`s for a while, there is a seamlessness in the way the sister team writes that is perfected in Million Dollar Question. Technically very cleanly written, the setting is clearly English but all slang used will be recognizable to US and Canadian readers.\n\nMillion Dollar Question is a down to earth and intelligent kind of story. While encouraging women to look at the bigger picture of life it also urges us to seek the strength from within.","Product: Cary Attwell lives in Seattle, Washington, where it rains and rains like the dickens, except when it doesn't. Fretting occurs on a daily basis, and small acts of idiocy are perpetrated with stunning proficiency much more often.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Truly beautiful romance novel....\n\nReview: From the moment we met Emory James, he was awesome. Self effacing, funny, insightful...though maybe not about himself. We meet Emory at one of the lowest moments of his life - seconds after his fiance and the Good Looking Bastard flee the church - and I challenge any reader to say that they didn't want to reach into the pages and hug him. Emory, from the very start, is simply a beautifully written character and so human. From the moment we meet Nate Harris the chemistry between the two men is palpable. They're testing the waters and, for Emory, experiencing something new and the hesitance speaks to that awkward first date you or I might have had. They're meant to be. When Nate says to Emory at one point in the novel that he'd break his heart, I desperately wished that wouldn't come to pass. These characters are just too likable. When a tear \"sleeted down Nate's cheek,\" one of my own followed.\n\nThe flow of the novel was very easy. This was a quick read while standing at 232 pages (Kindle Version). There are up and downs and plot twists but nothing that really stops the reader. I noted one typo and there were no formatting flaws in my Kindle copy.\n\nI'm not a person who enjoys first person POV as a rule - I find only seeing the story through the eyes of one of the players restrictive. In the case of \"The Other Guy,\" Emory was the perfect person to be telling us what happened. He takes us on his personal quest to find out not only who he is but who he truly wants to be. One of the better background characters is Emory's friend, Linnea, who tells him \"You know the people who matter will just look at you like you're you.\" There's such wisdom in that line. It's something I say all the time to people but am not bright enough to say so well.\n\nI loved this novel and I hope that all of you pick it up and enjoy it just as much as I did.","Product: Fleur Gaskin is from New Zealand. She was an international model for six years, working in over ten countries, mainly in Asia and Europe. She has been in TV commercials, walked on runways and appeared in many magazines including Elle, Marie Claire and Vogue. Fleur suffered from a very serious depression as a teenager. Though she was very sick at times she never stopped fighting her disease. She read a mountain of books, went through years of self-reflection and healing. Fleur will always be sensitive but these days she's surrounded by great people and finally knows that she is loved. She has been living in China for the past seven years. She currently lives in Shanghai with her husband and her two cats.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Hard to find a better written expose of modeling life...\n\nReview: \"Arrabelle's Shadows\" is written in the style of diary and brings us to the heart of an insecure young model. She fights failure, depression and the sense of really truly wanting someone to approve of and love her. Her relationship with her father is summed up in a dinner when she returns to New Zealand. He tells her he's proud of her and her heart swells until she realizes that he's drunk. Suddenly her relationships within the novel are put into perspective. This is a woman who needs a hug from someone who means that hug just for her.\n\nArrabelle's story isn't chronologically written but the switches between years are segregated by chapter so easy to follow. Each line follows a personal disappointment. A time when Arrabelle feels she's failed and the \"shadows\" creep in. Based on Gaskin's own life, the story does have a very personal feel. You are reading the often harsh and sometimes destructive life of a model first hand. The sort of life that America's Next Top Model hints at but struggles to convey with bubbly and adoring Tyra at the helm. A model must not be too curvy, they must be interesting. Arrabelle, who is more of an editorial model and can't pull off the big money commercial jobs, is given diet pills by a photographer when she's deemed too fat. Modeling, it appears, is all about constantly working on ones shape and image and nothing is up to par. The life is devastating for someone who wants something as simple as just being good enough.\n\nArrabelle's story is in the spirit of such classics as \"Bright Lights, Big City.\" It's well written and well told from an insider's view looking back. There's a feeling of other-worldliness in setting which is very well described. Arrabella is growing up before our eyes and we can't help but cheer for her.\n\nIf you like coming of age stories, human struggle stories and generally raw looks into a field where most people have a short shelf life, I think you'd have a hard time finding a better example than \"Arrabelle's Shadows.\"","Product: J. Aleksandr Wootton is a poet & author of the 5-star YA fantasy series FAYBORN. An incurable bookworm (\"hoards books in shelves & spare rooms; likes to sleep surrounded by them\" - derivation, Old Tolkienic), Jack chairs the Folklore Department at Lightfoot College in his spare time. Find him on the web at www.JackWootton.com!\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Very smart novel for children of all ages....\n\nReview: \"Her Unwelcome Inheritance\" is a cheeky wink at literature lovers. The inside joke of the piece is that there are several literature based references. The most overt of them played out in the home of James Oberon as he returns from his journey to find Christine Goodfellow he finds that his manservant has labeled varied things on a tray \"eat me\" and \"drink me\" as though James has returned from his own trip down the rabbit hole. The references are smart and subtle opening this novel to children who have entered high school and are now reading the very works that Wootton references in his wholly unique tale.\n\nPetra Goodfellow, when we meet her, is a perfectly normal girl. Her mother has banned her from social media out of the fear that Oberon will find them and she, of course, has a secret account. She underestimates the threat thinking that the stupid adults are over-reacting as stupid adults do. She even has a perfectly in character fit of pique. How dare they not have told her about this stalker before! Of course, despite little glimpses of memory she was too young to remember their life before they escaped. Because of this initial naivety, Wootton is able to build the bond between young reader and character and teenagers will become invested in the fate of this character.\n\nWootton's narrative covers a lot of ground in quite a short number of worlds and manages to convey the information needed while keeping the reader engaged and entertained. As previously stated, Wootton is obviously quite well read and seems to have studied the overall construction of those novels. He gives the reader credit for intelligence and writes up to his audience instead of modulating his voice for a middle grade understanding.\n\n\"Her Unwelcome Inheritance\" is a fabulous novel for children of all ages.","Product: Brett Battles is the author of over a dozen novels and several short stories. His second novel, The Deceived (part of his Jonathan Quinn series), won the Barry Award for Best Thriller. He is one of the founding members of Killer Year, and is a member of International Thriller Writers. He lives and writes in Los Angeles.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Excellent character back story!\n\nReview: \"Becoming Quinn\" by Brett Battles is the novella featuring Jack Oliver who would later become the cleaner known as Jonathon Quinn. We meet Jake as a young Phoenix police officer following the loose thread of a crime. Jake, a 22 year old rookie cop on patrol responds with his partner when a barn goes up in flames. Once the flames are extinguished a murder victim is found. Working on pure instinct, Jake tracks the killers but the killers are also tracking Jake.\n\nI really like Brett Battles style and Jonathon Quinn is a favourite character. I imagine that all authors have a back story written when they create a character and Battles has presented us Jonathon Quinn's backstory in a compelling and thrilling way. There are worse things than dying, you know. In my opinion, Oliver/Quinn is as relatable as he gets in this book where we're finally learning real information and seeing the real man before the training. He's a kid running on emotion, ambition and just unable to not pursue the killers no matter the personal cost - and danger - to himself. We read how Durrie finds him and why he trusts Durrie, despite what we learned of him in earlier books. This is a truly wonderful read and I recommend it as an excellent starting point for this series.....and I do recommend this series for any fan of thrillers. My sincere hope is that Mr. Battles writes follow up training novellas.","Product: Jeffrey Perren wrote his first short story at age 12 and went on to win the Bank of America Fine Arts award at 17. Since then he has published numerous short stories and three highly-praised novels.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Very well written and intriguing story\n\nReview: Clonmacs Bridge is a globetrotting thriller featuring an archaeologist who will stop at nothing to solve a historical mystery. Perren cites in a footnote to the story that the tale was inspired by an actual archaeological discovery while all else is fiction. The story is written with a strong sense of authenticity. Perren invites the reader to point out errors that he might have made in the 9th century chapters of the novel. The language, care and invitation to readers speak of an author with a deep investment in history and accuracy of his narrative.\n\nGriffin Clonmac is a well-rounded character. At the start of the story we get a picture of a man who is perhaps a bit wonderful. Too good looking, too charming and too willing to do absolutely anything to find what that which he seeks. As we get to know the character we discover that while he has flaws, Griffins challenge is to stay ahead of the people trying to stop him. In order to stay ahead Griffin is canny, quick witted and ideally suited to his challenge. A lessor man wouldnt stand a chance because Perren isn't likely to cut this character a break. He may survive by his wits but Griffin has to work to make his story happen and everyone is looking to stop him from those closest to colleagues hes always despised.\n\nPerrens plot is information heavy. For this highly detailed story to make sense the reader has to know what Perren knows and the author does so with a skill that doesnt slow the story. The last third of Clonmacs Bridge barrels to an eventual conclusion without leaving the reader in the dark. There are no stones unturned, no threads untied. Every element is natural, logical and something of a surprise.\n\nIf you like thrillers, Clonmacs Bridge is a wonderful and complete read.","Product: A.J. York is a middle grade fantasy author and teacher from the UK. Her books include Eliza Bluebell, Delilah Dusticle, Delilah Dusticle's Transylvanian Adventures and A Fairy Extraordinary Christmas Story. She has a BA in Theatre with Visual Arts, a PGCE in Drama and Masters in Arts Administration and Cultural Policy. A.J. York currently lives in Gothenburg, Sweden. Website: www.ajyork.com\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Great characters, great story....\n\nReview: Delilah Dusticle is delightful. The first book in the Dustbuster series (click here for my review) dealt with Delilahs recovery from heartbreak and finding happiness and peace within her special skills. This second novel is Delilah Dusticles Transylvanian Adventure is light, fun, sweet and thoroughly entertaining. Delilah is the Pippi Longstocking for the modern child sharing the same innocent and sweet nature with the iconic character with a solid sense of good fun and good friends.\n\nGavin Childs is to be commended for the illustrations. They were well drawn, very suited to the story and quite humorous.\n\nMy daughter, Alex, is now 12-years-old and the upper end of this market. When I gave her the novel to read she thought it very wise of York to make Dracula a friendly character as leaving out the horror element broadens the market. Alex likes that the story is set in the past and finds Delilah fun and sweet. I watched as she read curled up on the couch with a huge smile on her face and the occasional giggle. Delilah Dusticles Transylvanian Adventure is truly a fun and feel good piece perfect for the middle grade child and the young at heart.","Product: Leslie Langtry is the USA Today bestselling author of the Greatest Hits Mysteries, the Merry Wrath Mysteries, Sex, Lies, & Family Vacations, and several books she hasn't finished yet, because she's very lazy. Leslie loves puppies and cake (but she will not share her cake with puppies) and lives with her family and assorted animals in the Midwest.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: His giddy happiness at the idea of a mystery is somewhat confounding ...\n\nReview: I have not read the 6 preceding novels in the Aloha Lagoon Mysteries. Ukulele Deadly stands well on its own as a mystery but theres a feeling of something lacking for the reader in character development. Nani is a woman with clear history with the police.\n\nTheres a definite sense of Hawaii in Ukulele Deadly by virtue of Nanis Hawaiiphile mother who is so obsessed with the islands that shes changed her name and identity. Haliaka (as shes renamed herself) is the standard issue cozy mystery wacky old lady in Ukulele Deadly. Haliakas unique twist is that shes younger than most of her genre peers and also more of a reality based giggle than a sight gag. She is fully entrenched in Nanis life and also fully dismissive of anything she plans. Nanis life is Haliakas to manipulate and she revels in the challenge.\n\nAnother unique twist is Ukulele Deadly is that Nani is the reticent sleuth while its her boyfriend, Nick, thats raring to do what he can to involve himself in the crime solving business. His giddy happiness at the idea of a mystery is somewhat confounding at first. The thing I liked best about Ukulele Deadly is the strength of the main character. Nani may seem to have given up on a lot of things if you listen to what shes saying but if you look at what shes doing shes a person that allows life happen to her when it suits her but is an active participant in her own existence. She is not the weepy, flaky, falling apart at the drop of a fake eyelash main character were accustomed to seeing in the genre. Shes also not the woman so vehemently trying to be a girl power icon that her efforts come off as more superhero making ploy than plot point. The style choice is well edited and if there were errors, this reader missed them.\n\nIf you're looking for an interesting, quick, read and enjoy the stream of consciousness style, pick Ukulele Deadly up today.","Product: Elizabeth Guizzetti is a life-long Washingtonian and currently lives in Seattle with her husband and their two poodles. When not writing, she is also an avid outdoorswoman who enjoys hiking, bird watching, and photographing the Cascades Mountains and shorelines of the Puget Sound.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Very unique read that flows well.\n\nReview: \"Other Systems\" is a very unique sci-fi story. The Earth is dying when aliens arrive looking for immigrants to their planet where reproduction is a problem. The author paints a stark picture of what Seattle has become. There's overpopulation and Abby and her family live in what they call a \"commune\" which is actually an overcrowded slum with whole families living by the thousands in rooms in a building. The newcomers paint a lush paradise and the testing and actual technical savvy conveyed to get these immigrants to their new planet is quite detailed and vivid. There are so shimmery waves that take you up to a ship and into space. The aliens build elevators with robotics. They take the best and the brightest. Abby learns over time who the aliens are and how much they actually knew. The writing style flows well and the story unfolds in such a way that the reader has a need to see the character helped and to flourish and to reach in the pages and give her a hug.","Product: Paulette Mahurin lives with her husband Terry and two dogs, Max and Bella, in Ventura County, California. She grew up in West Los Angeles and attended UCLA, where she received a Masters Degree in Science. While in college, she won awards and was published for her short-story writing. One of these stories, Something Wonderful, was based on the real couple later presented in her fictionalized novel, His Name Was Ben, in 2014. Her first novel, The Persecution of Mildred Dunlap, made it to Amazon bestseller lists and won awards, including best historical fiction of the year 2012 in Turning the Pages Magazine. Semi-retired, she continues to work part-time as a Nurse Practitioner in Ventura County. When shes not writing, she does pro-bono consultation work with women with cancer, works in the Westminster Free Clinic as a volunteer provider, volunteers as a mediator in the Ventura County Courthouse for small claims cases, and involves herself, along with her husband, in dog rescue. Profits from her books go to help rescue dogs.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Great historical fiction based on a true story.\n\nReview: In fiction there are absolutes. Good vs Evil is a simply concept. To Live Out Loud takes a true injustice that happened to a real person and simplifies it to its base qualities for an introduction to an audience that may never have learned about the Dreyfus Affair in their primary level history class. In a truth being stranger than fiction sense, Mahurin takes the facts of the case and lays them out in an easy to follow format with the ultimate result being more of Zolas involvement in the case and his ploy to free the falsely convicted Captain.\n\nMahurins writing style is very direct. Her simplistic style allows the author to tell a complete and very complicated story in a scant 178 pages. Fiction allows leeway for human motivations and conclusions but while Mahurin does add her own take on Zolas motivations she sticks fairly close to the generally accepted narrative. Mahruins word picture of the environment of antisemitism and no holds barred suppression of those that knew the truth is both awful and factual. Historically speaking the Dreyfus Affair was a intricate and insidious conspiracy. What Zola did, he did to bring the case to light despite those desperately trying to keep it under wraps to force the government to do the just thing through public exposure. People suspect today that his ultimate passing as a consequence of involvement though experts consider that unlikely despite the multiple attempts made on his life during the height of his fervent involvement in Captain Dreyfus case.\n\nTo Live Out Loud is an outstanding work of historical fiction and a must read for everyone, especially those interested in a the history of human rights violations. Pick it up today.","Product: Embahra Maat is Hmt NTR of the Temple of Anu, an Afra-Kemetic spiritual house which focuses on cultural restoration. She serves as co-teacher for First Eye on Kemet, a course that introduces students to the Kemetic tradition, and as head teacher of KMWT, preparing women for spiritual initiation. Embahra is a member of the Global Sacred Woman Village, a process she underwent while simultaneously enrolled in courses for fiction writing at the School of Professional Studies at NYU. Prior to the start of her Kemetic journey, she majored in English at Douglass College of Rutgers University, concentrating in Creative Writing. This is her first novel.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: The language of the piece is ancient and beautiful. The author is a teacher of Kemetic tradition ...\n\nReview: The author, Embahara Maart, gave me a copy of this novel in exchange for my review.\n\nHidden by Moonlight is a classic Egyptian Neopaganism story from the perspective of Nebt-Het. The language of the piece is ancient and beautiful. The author is a teacher of Kemetic tradition and her comfort with the subject and traditions glows throughout the piece.\n\n Hidden by Moonlight is smart literature that brings oral history to life and embraces a world audience. Maats writing style is fluid lending itself to a quick read. The editing of the piece is flawless. There are moments when the reader gets a bit bogged down in the musings of Neb-Het but the whole of the work rises above those spare distractions.\n\nHidden by Moonlight is a good read that will add to your knowledge base while providing entertaining content for a lazy afternoon.","Product: Cornell Thomas is a basketball coach, trainer, life coach, motivational speaker, and author. Through his program Crossroads Basketball he has helped hundred of kids in the last nine years reach their goals. For the last four years Cornell has been inspiring and motivating people of all ages through his own motivational quotes and blog site at www.powerofpositivity.net\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: The Power of Positivity is well edited and beautifully composed. The quick read will leave readers uplifted ...\n\nReview: The Power of Positivity is a bite sized read standing at 60-pages that packs a punch. In the first chapter, The Power of Me, Thomas writes that as we age we learn to doubt ourselves. In a style sometimes conversational and sometimes to business bullet pointed, we are given examples relatable to our own lives by the author of why we as humans are programmed the way we are and how we can break that cycle and learn from the past while living for the future.\n\nIn 10 themed chapters, Thomas walks readers through his life and influences. The authors brother is also a motivational speaker and his father a well-regarded member of the law-enforcement community who died when Thomas was small. His mother took the family reigns and led the family working multiple jobs and being there whenever her children needed her.\n\nThomas lives his message. I first came across the author on Periscope, a social media app owned by Twitter. Thomas is a regular broadcaster who inspires his followers in the morning with Quotes of the Day while managing an Inspirational Improv session at night that often exceeds 90 minutes. Thomas is well spoken and consistent in his positive message.\n\nThe Power of Positivity is well edited and beautifully composed. The quick read will leave readers uplifted and inspired. If you like human-interest stories or inspirational/self-help works, pick The Power of Positivity up today."],"string":"[\n \"Product: Saladin Ahmeds short stories have been nominated for the Nebula and Campbell awards, have appeared in numerous magazines & podcasts. He has also written nonfiction for The Escapist, Fantasy Magazine & Tor.com. Peter S. Beagle is the Hugo, Nebula, Inkpot, and World Fantasy Award for Life Achievement winning author of The Last Unicorn and Two Hearts. The Last Unicorn was adapted to an animated movie. Peter also wrote the screenplay for the 1978 movie version of The Lord of the Rings. Heather Brewer is the NY Times bestselling author of the Vladimir Tod series. She grew up on a diet of Twilight Zone and books by Stephen King. She chased them down with every drop of horror she could findin books, movie theaters, on television. The most delicious parts of her banquet, however, she found lurking in the shadowed corners of her dark imagination. Jim Butcher is the NY Times bestselling author of the Dresden Files series, the Codex Alera, and a new steampunk series, the Cinder Spires. His resume includes a laundry list of skills which were useful a couple of centuries ago, and he plays guitar quite badly. Since 2003, NY Times and USA Today bestselling author Rachel Caine has written in the adult Urban Fantasy genre (the Weather Warden, Outcast Season, Revivalist and Red Letter Days series) as well as in Young Adult fiction (the Morganville Vampires series and the upcoming novel Prince of Shadows). Kami Garcia is the NY Times bestselling coauthor of the Beautiful Creatures novels and the Bram Stoker Award nominated novel Unbreakable, and the sequel Unmarked, in the Legion series. Kami is fascinated by the paranormal, and shes very superstitious. Nancy Holder is a Bram Stoker Award winning and NY Times bestselling author (the Wicked Saga) also known for her novels and episode guides based on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Teen Wolf, Beauty and the Beast, and other TV shows. Gillian Philips books include Crossing the Line, Bad Faith, The Opposite of Amber and the Rebel Angels series. She has been nominated and shortlisted for awards including the Carnegie Medal, the Scottish Childrens Book Award and the David Gemmell Legend Award. Jane Yolen is the author of over 300 books, including Owl Moon, The Devils Arithmetic & How do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight? Her books and stories have won two Nebulas, a World Fantasy Award, a Caldecott, the Golden Kite Award, three Mythopoeic awards, two Christopher Medals, and a nomination for the National Book Award among others.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Excellent anthology for lovers of dark fantasy....\\n\\nReview: The editor of this novel, Henry Herz, gave me a copy in exchange for participating in this blog tour.\\n\\nI am a huge fan of The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher so when the editor of the piece approached me to write a review, that author was the one I was most looking forward to reading. Id heard of some of the others but had never read them and wasn't really interested in learning more about that work. Everything changed upon finishing this wonderfully laid out anthology. The stories leave readers wanting more when they shift to the next but the arrangement makes for a good flow while the sameness of dark tone peppered with humor keeps readers in the moment.\\n\\nMy favorite story was by old favorite, Jim Butcher. As many authors do, he chose to use his anthology story to expand on a character from the Dresden world. Johnny Marcone is a mobster who makes life more interesting for Harry Dresden and Butcher gives us a closer look at his character in Even Hand. Butcher shows the readers Marcones view of himself as a professional monster and yet shows us a deeper side that has to be consciously kept at bay. In a classic economy of words, Butcher gives us a compelling story that easily stands on its own while thrilling existing fans.\\n\\nThe Adventures of Lightning Merriemouse-Jones by Nancy & Belle Holder was a great way to finish the anthology. It was nice and light and fun. The authors crafted a classic story (Dracula) and set it at sea using mice so theres a Secret of Nihm gone wrong feeling throughout and it was just wonderfully hilarious. Miss Lightning Merriemouse-Jones is a Penelope Pitstop for a new generation.\\n\\nIf you're a fan of fantasy or the paranormal, I urge you to buy Beyond the Pale today. Its a delightful look into a scarier world than our own with delicious flashes of brilliance from the authors. Im a huge fan of short stories and fantasy in general and Beyond the Pale falls directly into the wheelhouse of fans of those genres.\",\n \"Product: Best Selling Science Fiction & Paranormal Romance author and SciFi Encounters columnist for the USA Today Happily Ever After blog, Veronica Scott grew up in a house with a library as its heart. Dad loved science fiction, Mom loved ancient history and Veronica thought there needed to be more romance in everything. When she ran out of books to read, she started writing her own stories. Married young to her high school sweetheart then widowed, Veronica has two grown daughters, one grandson and cats Keanu and Jake. Veronicas life has taken many twists and turns, but she always makes time to keep reading and writing. Everything is good source material for the next novel or the one after that, right? Shes been through earthquakes, tornadoes and near death experiencesAlways more stories to tell, new adventures to experienceVeronicas personal motto is, Never boring. MISC FACTS ABOUT VERONICA Two time winner ~ SFR Galaxy Award (for ESCAPE FROM ZULAIRE and WRECK OF THE NEBULA DREAM). National Excellence in Romance Fiction Award 2014 Golden Quill Finalist 2014 Proud recipient ~ NASA Exceptional Service Medal but must hasten to add the honor was not for her romantic fiction!\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Scott just keeps getting better....\\n\\nReview: The author, Veronica Scott, gave me a copy of this novel in exchange for my review.\\n\\nScott wastes no time once the novel begins. We meet Princess Shaliras stepmother. When Mike meets her we see through his eyes an overdone and haughty woman convinced of her absolute control. Also through his eyes we see the Princess unsure and clinging to her horse in a seeming metaphor to her approach for life. Her control is limited and she clings to whatever she can. They meet in an impossibly dangerous moment and one of the first in which Princess Shalira leans on him for both literal and metaphorical support in a tangible and believable trust built by a skilled author with record speed.\\n\\nMike is typical of Scotts male characters. Hes a soldier with a soldiers mind and with a quick instinct to help those in his charge. Mike wants to protect Princess Shalira but has the self-awareness not to belabour the point. He knows why he wants to do it and as it has as much to do with his admiration for her as his need to protect her. Again, the realism in this sort of storyline is important. There has to be more of a reason for the attraction than compatible private parts and Scott gives that to her readers without the overdone will they or won't they. Can you have strong and decisive characters that an audience will believe if they're not self-aware? That said, theres a softness in each character rounding them out and further endearing them to the reader.\\n\\nScott writes wonderful action. Her fight scenes are exquisitely framed and lead the reader on a fast paced wild ride. Scotts settings are majestic. In Mission to Mahjundar\\\" readers are treated to an ancient world in the future ruled by gods and goddesses. Mission to Mahjundar\\\" is a beautiful read. The book is a delightful treat to anyone with an unplanned afternoon and a cozy chair.\\n\\nVeronica Scott is a wonderful author and with each novel only gets better. Pick Mission to Mahjundar up today.\",\n \"Product: Ellie Campbell is a pseudonym for sisters, Pam Burks and Lorraine Campbell who collaborate across the mighty Atlantic, finding writing together the perfect excuse for endless phone conversations. They are equally passionate about travel, animals and the great outdoors. Although Pam lives near London, with husband, three children and a dog, while Lorraine is on a Colorado ranch near wild and wonderful Boulder with husband, five horses, five cats, one dog and four chickens - they both believe in enjoying life to the fullest, be it discovering new remote locations or going on trail rides in the beautiful Rocky Mountains. They love any chance to connect with their readers. Get in touch with Pam and Lorraine on: Web: www.chicklitsisters.com Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/EllieCampbellBooks Twitter: @ecampbellbooks Blog: www.chicklitsisters.com Email: chicklitsisters@gmail.com\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Best work by Ellie Campbell yet!\\n\\nReview: The author, Ellie Campbell, gave me a copy of this work in exchange for my review.\\n\\nEllie Campbell brings woman a strong sense of empowerment in one woman who feels as though shes lost it all and another who really had little left to lose.\\n\\nReaders meet Rosie at her lowest. Her husband has left her and shes on her own with twins. She had a comfortable life with Charlie but now that hes gone, shes living on a Council Estate while he lives the high life paying child support only when the whim strikes.\\n\\nOlivia is living the high life attending a charity event when we meet her. She appears to flow through her life concealing a manic nature under the surface. When she loses the money, power and relationship she held in high esteem upon learning that her boss has scammed everyone, she discovers how truly out of touch with her life shes become.\\n\\nCampbells characters are well developed and fully realized. All of the background characters and people that Olivia and Rosie meet in their lives are fleshed out and developed so that each scene is wholly integral to the overall effect of the work.\\n\\nHaving been a fan of Campbell`s for a while, there is a seamlessness in the way the sister team writes that is perfected in Million Dollar Question. Technically very cleanly written, the setting is clearly English but all slang used will be recognizable to US and Canadian readers.\\n\\nMillion Dollar Question is a down to earth and intelligent kind of story. While encouraging women to look at the bigger picture of life it also urges us to seek the strength from within.\",\n \"Product: Cary Attwell lives in Seattle, Washington, where it rains and rains like the dickens, except when it doesn't. Fretting occurs on a daily basis, and small acts of idiocy are perpetrated with stunning proficiency much more often.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Truly beautiful romance novel....\\n\\nReview: From the moment we met Emory James, he was awesome. Self effacing, funny, insightful...though maybe not about himself. We meet Emory at one of the lowest moments of his life - seconds after his fiance and the Good Looking Bastard flee the church - and I challenge any reader to say that they didn't want to reach into the pages and hug him. Emory, from the very start, is simply a beautifully written character and so human. From the moment we meet Nate Harris the chemistry between the two men is palpable. They're testing the waters and, for Emory, experiencing something new and the hesitance speaks to that awkward first date you or I might have had. They're meant to be. When Nate says to Emory at one point in the novel that he'd break his heart, I desperately wished that wouldn't come to pass. These characters are just too likable. When a tear \\\"sleeted down Nate's cheek,\\\" one of my own followed.\\n\\nThe flow of the novel was very easy. This was a quick read while standing at 232 pages (Kindle Version). There are up and downs and plot twists but nothing that really stops the reader. I noted one typo and there were no formatting flaws in my Kindle copy.\\n\\nI'm not a person who enjoys first person POV as a rule - I find only seeing the story through the eyes of one of the players restrictive. In the case of \\\"The Other Guy,\\\" Emory was the perfect person to be telling us what happened. He takes us on his personal quest to find out not only who he is but who he truly wants to be. One of the better background characters is Emory's friend, Linnea, who tells him \\\"You know the people who matter will just look at you like you're you.\\\" There's such wisdom in that line. It's something I say all the time to people but am not bright enough to say so well.\\n\\nI loved this novel and I hope that all of you pick it up and enjoy it just as much as I did.\",\n \"Product: Fleur Gaskin is from New Zealand. She was an international model for six years, working in over ten countries, mainly in Asia and Europe. She has been in TV commercials, walked on runways and appeared in many magazines including Elle, Marie Claire and Vogue. Fleur suffered from a very serious depression as a teenager. Though she was very sick at times she never stopped fighting her disease. She read a mountain of books, went through years of self-reflection and healing. Fleur will always be sensitive but these days she's surrounded by great people and finally knows that she is loved. She has been living in China for the past seven years. She currently lives in Shanghai with her husband and her two cats.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Hard to find a better written expose of modeling life...\\n\\nReview: \\\"Arrabelle's Shadows\\\" is written in the style of diary and brings us to the heart of an insecure young model. She fights failure, depression and the sense of really truly wanting someone to approve of and love her. Her relationship with her father is summed up in a dinner when she returns to New Zealand. He tells her he's proud of her and her heart swells until she realizes that he's drunk. Suddenly her relationships within the novel are put into perspective. This is a woman who needs a hug from someone who means that hug just for her.\\n\\nArrabelle's story isn't chronologically written but the switches between years are segregated by chapter so easy to follow. Each line follows a personal disappointment. A time when Arrabelle feels she's failed and the \\\"shadows\\\" creep in. Based on Gaskin's own life, the story does have a very personal feel. You are reading the often harsh and sometimes destructive life of a model first hand. The sort of life that America's Next Top Model hints at but struggles to convey with bubbly and adoring Tyra at the helm. A model must not be too curvy, they must be interesting. Arrabelle, who is more of an editorial model and can't pull off the big money commercial jobs, is given diet pills by a photographer when she's deemed too fat. Modeling, it appears, is all about constantly working on ones shape and image and nothing is up to par. The life is devastating for someone who wants something as simple as just being good enough.\\n\\nArrabelle's story is in the spirit of such classics as \\\"Bright Lights, Big City.\\\" It's well written and well told from an insider's view looking back. There's a feeling of other-worldliness in setting which is very well described. Arrabella is growing up before our eyes and we can't help but cheer for her.\\n\\nIf you like coming of age stories, human struggle stories and generally raw looks into a field where most people have a short shelf life, I think you'd have a hard time finding a better example than \\\"Arrabelle's Shadows.\\\"\",\n \"Product: J. Aleksandr Wootton is a poet & author of the 5-star YA fantasy series FAYBORN. An incurable bookworm (\\\"hoards books in shelves & spare rooms; likes to sleep surrounded by them\\\" - derivation, Old Tolkienic), Jack chairs the Folklore Department at Lightfoot College in his spare time. Find him on the web at www.JackWootton.com!\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Very smart novel for children of all ages....\\n\\nReview: \\\"Her Unwelcome Inheritance\\\" is a cheeky wink at literature lovers. The inside joke of the piece is that there are several literature based references. The most overt of them played out in the home of James Oberon as he returns from his journey to find Christine Goodfellow he finds that his manservant has labeled varied things on a tray \\\"eat me\\\" and \\\"drink me\\\" as though James has returned from his own trip down the rabbit hole. The references are smart and subtle opening this novel to children who have entered high school and are now reading the very works that Wootton references in his wholly unique tale.\\n\\nPetra Goodfellow, when we meet her, is a perfectly normal girl. Her mother has banned her from social media out of the fear that Oberon will find them and she, of course, has a secret account. She underestimates the threat thinking that the stupid adults are over-reacting as stupid adults do. She even has a perfectly in character fit of pique. How dare they not have told her about this stalker before! Of course, despite little glimpses of memory she was too young to remember their life before they escaped. Because of this initial naivety, Wootton is able to build the bond between young reader and character and teenagers will become invested in the fate of this character.\\n\\nWootton's narrative covers a lot of ground in quite a short number of worlds and manages to convey the information needed while keeping the reader engaged and entertained. As previously stated, Wootton is obviously quite well read and seems to have studied the overall construction of those novels. He gives the reader credit for intelligence and writes up to his audience instead of modulating his voice for a middle grade understanding.\\n\\n\\\"Her Unwelcome Inheritance\\\" is a fabulous novel for children of all ages.\",\n \"Product: Brett Battles is the author of over a dozen novels and several short stories. His second novel, The Deceived (part of his Jonathan Quinn series), won the Barry Award for Best Thriller. He is one of the founding members of Killer Year, and is a member of International Thriller Writers. He lives and writes in Los Angeles.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Excellent character back story!\\n\\nReview: \\\"Becoming Quinn\\\" by Brett Battles is the novella featuring Jack Oliver who would later become the cleaner known as Jonathon Quinn. We meet Jake as a young Phoenix police officer following the loose thread of a crime. Jake, a 22 year old rookie cop on patrol responds with his partner when a barn goes up in flames. Once the flames are extinguished a murder victim is found. Working on pure instinct, Jake tracks the killers but the killers are also tracking Jake.\\n\\nI really like Brett Battles style and Jonathon Quinn is a favourite character. I imagine that all authors have a back story written when they create a character and Battles has presented us Jonathon Quinn's backstory in a compelling and thrilling way. There are worse things than dying, you know. In my opinion, Oliver/Quinn is as relatable as he gets in this book where we're finally learning real information and seeing the real man before the training. He's a kid running on emotion, ambition and just unable to not pursue the killers no matter the personal cost - and danger - to himself. We read how Durrie finds him and why he trusts Durrie, despite what we learned of him in earlier books. This is a truly wonderful read and I recommend it as an excellent starting point for this series.....and I do recommend this series for any fan of thrillers. My sincere hope is that Mr. Battles writes follow up training novellas.\",\n \"Product: Jeffrey Perren wrote his first short story at age 12 and went on to win the Bank of America Fine Arts award at 17. Since then he has published numerous short stories and three highly-praised novels.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Very well written and intriguing story\\n\\nReview: Clonmacs Bridge is a globetrotting thriller featuring an archaeologist who will stop at nothing to solve a historical mystery. Perren cites in a footnote to the story that the tale was inspired by an actual archaeological discovery while all else is fiction. The story is written with a strong sense of authenticity. Perren invites the reader to point out errors that he might have made in the 9th century chapters of the novel. The language, care and invitation to readers speak of an author with a deep investment in history and accuracy of his narrative.\\n\\nGriffin Clonmac is a well-rounded character. At the start of the story we get a picture of a man who is perhaps a bit wonderful. Too good looking, too charming and too willing to do absolutely anything to find what that which he seeks. As we get to know the character we discover that while he has flaws, Griffins challenge is to stay ahead of the people trying to stop him. In order to stay ahead Griffin is canny, quick witted and ideally suited to his challenge. A lessor man wouldnt stand a chance because Perren isn't likely to cut this character a break. He may survive by his wits but Griffin has to work to make his story happen and everyone is looking to stop him from those closest to colleagues hes always despised.\\n\\nPerrens plot is information heavy. For this highly detailed story to make sense the reader has to know what Perren knows and the author does so with a skill that doesnt slow the story. The last third of Clonmacs Bridge barrels to an eventual conclusion without leaving the reader in the dark. There are no stones unturned, no threads untied. Every element is natural, logical and something of a surprise.\\n\\nIf you like thrillers, Clonmacs Bridge is a wonderful and complete read.\",\n \"Product: A.J. York is a middle grade fantasy author and teacher from the UK. Her books include Eliza Bluebell, Delilah Dusticle, Delilah Dusticle's Transylvanian Adventures and A Fairy Extraordinary Christmas Story. She has a BA in Theatre with Visual Arts, a PGCE in Drama and Masters in Arts Administration and Cultural Policy. A.J. York currently lives in Gothenburg, Sweden. Website: www.ajyork.com\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Great characters, great story....\\n\\nReview: Delilah Dusticle is delightful. The first book in the Dustbuster series (click here for my review) dealt with Delilahs recovery from heartbreak and finding happiness and peace within her special skills. This second novel is Delilah Dusticles Transylvanian Adventure is light, fun, sweet and thoroughly entertaining. Delilah is the Pippi Longstocking for the modern child sharing the same innocent and sweet nature with the iconic character with a solid sense of good fun and good friends.\\n\\nGavin Childs is to be commended for the illustrations. They were well drawn, very suited to the story and quite humorous.\\n\\nMy daughter, Alex, is now 12-years-old and the upper end of this market. When I gave her the novel to read she thought it very wise of York to make Dracula a friendly character as leaving out the horror element broadens the market. Alex likes that the story is set in the past and finds Delilah fun and sweet. I watched as she read curled up on the couch with a huge smile on her face and the occasional giggle. Delilah Dusticles Transylvanian Adventure is truly a fun and feel good piece perfect for the middle grade child and the young at heart.\",\n \"Product: Leslie Langtry is the USA Today bestselling author of the Greatest Hits Mysteries, the Merry Wrath Mysteries, Sex, Lies, & Family Vacations, and several books she hasn't finished yet, because she's very lazy. Leslie loves puppies and cake (but she will not share her cake with puppies) and lives with her family and assorted animals in the Midwest.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: His giddy happiness at the idea of a mystery is somewhat confounding ...\\n\\nReview: I have not read the 6 preceding novels in the Aloha Lagoon Mysteries. Ukulele Deadly stands well on its own as a mystery but theres a feeling of something lacking for the reader in character development. Nani is a woman with clear history with the police.\\n\\nTheres a definite sense of Hawaii in Ukulele Deadly by virtue of Nanis Hawaiiphile mother who is so obsessed with the islands that shes changed her name and identity. Haliaka (as shes renamed herself) is the standard issue cozy mystery wacky old lady in Ukulele Deadly. Haliakas unique twist is that shes younger than most of her genre peers and also more of a reality based giggle than a sight gag. She is fully entrenched in Nanis life and also fully dismissive of anything she plans. Nanis life is Haliakas to manipulate and she revels in the challenge.\\n\\nAnother unique twist is Ukulele Deadly is that Nani is the reticent sleuth while its her boyfriend, Nick, thats raring to do what he can to involve himself in the crime solving business. His giddy happiness at the idea of a mystery is somewhat confounding at first. The thing I liked best about Ukulele Deadly is the strength of the main character. Nani may seem to have given up on a lot of things if you listen to what shes saying but if you look at what shes doing shes a person that allows life happen to her when it suits her but is an active participant in her own existence. She is not the weepy, flaky, falling apart at the drop of a fake eyelash main character were accustomed to seeing in the genre. Shes also not the woman so vehemently trying to be a girl power icon that her efforts come off as more superhero making ploy than plot point. The style choice is well edited and if there were errors, this reader missed them.\\n\\nIf you're looking for an interesting, quick, read and enjoy the stream of consciousness style, pick Ukulele Deadly up today.\",\n \"Product: Elizabeth Guizzetti is a life-long Washingtonian and currently lives in Seattle with her husband and their two poodles. When not writing, she is also an avid outdoorswoman who enjoys hiking, bird watching, and photographing the Cascades Mountains and shorelines of the Puget Sound.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Very unique read that flows well.\\n\\nReview: \\\"Other Systems\\\" is a very unique sci-fi story. The Earth is dying when aliens arrive looking for immigrants to their planet where reproduction is a problem. The author paints a stark picture of what Seattle has become. There's overpopulation and Abby and her family live in what they call a \\\"commune\\\" which is actually an overcrowded slum with whole families living by the thousands in rooms in a building. The newcomers paint a lush paradise and the testing and actual technical savvy conveyed to get these immigrants to their new planet is quite detailed and vivid. There are so shimmery waves that take you up to a ship and into space. The aliens build elevators with robotics. They take the best and the brightest. Abby learns over time who the aliens are and how much they actually knew. The writing style flows well and the story unfolds in such a way that the reader has a need to see the character helped and to flourish and to reach in the pages and give her a hug.\",\n \"Product: Paulette Mahurin lives with her husband Terry and two dogs, Max and Bella, in Ventura County, California. She grew up in West Los Angeles and attended UCLA, where she received a Masters Degree in Science. While in college, she won awards and was published for her short-story writing. One of these stories, Something Wonderful, was based on the real couple later presented in her fictionalized novel, His Name Was Ben, in 2014. Her first novel, The Persecution of Mildred Dunlap, made it to Amazon bestseller lists and won awards, including best historical fiction of the year 2012 in Turning the Pages Magazine. Semi-retired, she continues to work part-time as a Nurse Practitioner in Ventura County. When shes not writing, she does pro-bono consultation work with women with cancer, works in the Westminster Free Clinic as a volunteer provider, volunteers as a mediator in the Ventura County Courthouse for small claims cases, and involves herself, along with her husband, in dog rescue. Profits from her books go to help rescue dogs.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Great historical fiction based on a true story.\\n\\nReview: In fiction there are absolutes. Good vs Evil is a simply concept. To Live Out Loud takes a true injustice that happened to a real person and simplifies it to its base qualities for an introduction to an audience that may never have learned about the Dreyfus Affair in their primary level history class. In a truth being stranger than fiction sense, Mahurin takes the facts of the case and lays them out in an easy to follow format with the ultimate result being more of Zolas involvement in the case and his ploy to free the falsely convicted Captain.\\n\\nMahurins writing style is very direct. Her simplistic style allows the author to tell a complete and very complicated story in a scant 178 pages. Fiction allows leeway for human motivations and conclusions but while Mahurin does add her own take on Zolas motivations she sticks fairly close to the generally accepted narrative. Mahruins word picture of the environment of antisemitism and no holds barred suppression of those that knew the truth is both awful and factual. Historically speaking the Dreyfus Affair was a intricate and insidious conspiracy. What Zola did, he did to bring the case to light despite those desperately trying to keep it under wraps to force the government to do the just thing through public exposure. People suspect today that his ultimate passing as a consequence of involvement though experts consider that unlikely despite the multiple attempts made on his life during the height of his fervent involvement in Captain Dreyfus case.\\n\\nTo Live Out Loud is an outstanding work of historical fiction and a must read for everyone, especially those interested in a the history of human rights violations. Pick it up today.\",\n \"Product: Embahra Maat is Hmt NTR of the Temple of Anu, an Afra-Kemetic spiritual house which focuses on cultural restoration. She serves as co-teacher for First Eye on Kemet, a course that introduces students to the Kemetic tradition, and as head teacher of KMWT, preparing women for spiritual initiation. Embahra is a member of the Global Sacred Woman Village, a process she underwent while simultaneously enrolled in courses for fiction writing at the School of Professional Studies at NYU. Prior to the start of her Kemetic journey, she majored in English at Douglass College of Rutgers University, concentrating in Creative Writing. This is her first novel.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: The language of the piece is ancient and beautiful. The author is a teacher of Kemetic tradition ...\\n\\nReview: The author, Embahara Maart, gave me a copy of this novel in exchange for my review.\\n\\nHidden by Moonlight is a classic Egyptian Neopaganism story from the perspective of Nebt-Het. The language of the piece is ancient and beautiful. The author is a teacher of Kemetic tradition and her comfort with the subject and traditions glows throughout the piece.\\n\\n Hidden by Moonlight is smart literature that brings oral history to life and embraces a world audience. Maats writing style is fluid lending itself to a quick read. The editing of the piece is flawless. There are moments when the reader gets a bit bogged down in the musings of Neb-Het but the whole of the work rises above those spare distractions.\\n\\nHidden by Moonlight is a good read that will add to your knowledge base while providing entertaining content for a lazy afternoon.\",\n \"Product: Cornell Thomas is a basketball coach, trainer, life coach, motivational speaker, and author. Through his program Crossroads Basketball he has helped hundred of kids in the last nine years reach their goals. For the last four years Cornell has been inspiring and motivating people of all ages through his own motivational quotes and blog site at www.powerofpositivity.net\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: The Power of Positivity is well edited and beautifully composed. The quick read will leave readers uplifted ...\\n\\nReview: The Power of Positivity is a bite sized read standing at 60-pages that packs a punch. In the first chapter, The Power of Me, Thomas writes that as we age we learn to doubt ourselves. In a style sometimes conversational and sometimes to business bullet pointed, we are given examples relatable to our own lives by the author of why we as humans are programmed the way we are and how we can break that cycle and learn from the past while living for the future.\\n\\nIn 10 themed chapters, Thomas walks readers through his life and influences. The authors brother is also a motivational speaker and his father a well-regarded member of the law-enforcement community who died when Thomas was small. His mother took the family reigns and led the family working multiple jobs and being there whenever her children needed her.\\n\\nThomas lives his message. I first came across the author on Periscope, a social media app owned by Twitter. Thomas is a regular broadcaster who inspires his followers in the morning with Quotes of the Day while managing an Inspirational Improv session at night that often exceeds 90 minutes. Thomas is well spoken and consistent in his positive message.\\n\\nThe Power of Positivity is well edited and beautifully composed. The quick read will leave readers uplifted and inspired. If you like human-interest stories or inspirational/self-help works, pick The Power of Positivity up today.\"\n]","isConversational":false},"profile_size":{"kind":"number","value":14,"string":"14"},"task":{"kind":"string","value":"longlamp_3"},"split_kind":{"kind":"string","value":"user_based"},"id":{"kind":"number","value":971,"string":"971"}}},{"rowIdx":972,"cells":{"question_id":{"kind":"string","value":"A3FHDBBXZFNQUK"},"question":{"kind":"string","value":"Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of \"3.0\" for a product with description \"AmazonBasics Wired Keyboard (Black) An Amazon Brand.\". The summary of the review text is \"Nice Lightweight Keyboard but keys are Too Far Apart\"."},"answer":{"kind":"string","value":"I hooked up this keyboard and tried it out on my old computer with a dirty keyboard. Very soon I was hooking the old keyboard back up. My old keyboard has keys that are set in what I call a \"Selectric\" setup, with the keys close together and tapered to accept your fingers. The new keyboard has \"chiclet\" keys - keys that are small with spaces between them and no tapering of the keys' surface. If you, as did I, learned to type on an IBM Selectric or most any electric typewriter, you know what I mean. With the \"chiclet\" keys you can't feel if you're hitting the right key at all. This may just be an idiosyncrasy or a quirk with me, however I have typed more than 40 years on all sorts of typewriters and keyboards and I know what doesn't work for me. Flat, square keys don't work for me. I will keep this keyboard to save in case I get lemonade in the regular keyboard again."},"correct_answer":{"kind":"string","value":"I hooked up this keyboard and tried it out on my old computer with a dirty keyboard. Very soon I was hooking the old keyboard back up. My old keyboard has keys that are set in what I call a \"Selectric\" setup, with the keys close together and tapered to accept your fingers. The new keyboard has \"chiclet\" keys - keys that are small with spaces between them and no tapering of the keys' surface. If you, as did I, learned to type on an IBM Selectric or most any electric typewriter, you know what I mean. With the \"chiclet\" keys you can't feel if you're hitting the right key at all. This may just be an idiosyncrasy or a quirk with me, however I have typed more than 40 years on all sorts of typewriters and keyboards and I know what doesn't work for me. Flat, square keys don't work for me. I will keep this keyboard to save in case I get lemonade in the regular keyboard again."},"documents":{"kind":"list like","value":["Product: Rubbermaid Commercial Products Microburst 3000 with LumeCel Technology, Black, is a sleek, high-performance aerosol dispenser that delivers air freshener with Microtrans Odor Neutralizer to eliminate odors. Completely powered by LumeCel Technology, it uses available light inside the washroom for near 100% efficiency. 1 LumeCel Rechargeable Energy cell will last as long as 30 conventional batteries meaning staff will no longer need to purchase, store, replace, and dispose of alkaline batteries, saving time and money while reducing the potential of workplace mishaps. A pharmaceutical-grade steel valve distributes a diverse selection of the highest quality fragrances in the industrys finest mist to effectively terminate unavoidable washroom odors. Easy and ready to use right out of the box, Microburst 3000 with LumeCel Technology features smart chip technology for maximum odor control for 30 to 168 days with flexible programming options that allow users to select 12/24 hours per day; or 5, 6, or 7 days per week for better cost control. With a \"Days to Refill\" indicator to remind staff when needed refills are approaching, the Microburst 3000 with LumeCel Technology is virtually maintenance free, guaranteed to run automatically for at least 15 years, and is fully recyclable.\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: A Subtle Device to Make Your House Fresher - For One Month\n\nReview: This Rubbermaid device was easy to use. All I did was stick it to the edge of a bookshelf. Within a few hours I noticed a fresher smell in the dining room where I had located the device. I understand the frequency of its sprays can be adjusted, but I didn't have to adjust it because it seems to do its spraying at the perfect times. My dining room and even other rooms nearby have a sweet, fresh fragrance. When the fragrance is gone, I look forward to seeing what other odors it comes in. I am considering the purchase of this device for my large bathroom, and also for my kitchen. It's very helpful in destroying odors and it makes the whole house smell better. And no one has complained of the odor or mentioned it.\n\nOK. One month later. It has gone through its second canister of fragrance. And now the battery is gone. It has no battery, or charger you can buy. It is permanently stuck where it is, in my dining room which has 3 windows. It is bright in there, so the solar cell should have recharged the battery. But, it didn't. So I am declaring this thing worthless. It smelled nice when it worked. But now I give up. I guess I would have to mount it in a southern window for it to recharge itself. But once you mount it, it is stuck there permanently.","Product: Pinata rose has it all; vigorous growth, double fluffy apricot-orange flowers that are highly fragrant, and disease resistant foliage. This small climbing rose reaches 6-7 feet tall and 5-6 feet wide making it versatile enough to use as a large shrub rose. Plant a grouping of Pinata rose to create a flowering hedge or screen. Train this compact climbing rose over a garden trellis, or plant in a large patio container with an architectural structure for support. This rose ships in a 4 inch container actively growing and ready to be planted in your garden. Our premium roses will thrive in the garden.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Excellent Rose at an Affordable Cost\n\nReview: I ordered the Pinata rose bush from Stargazer, and it was much less expensive than Wayside Gardens who charge as much for shipping as the plants cost! In any case I will not buy from Wayside again as their plants croak! I had bought a hardy Rugosa rose from them and it promptly croaked! It arrived damaged with a broken stem, and I tried to trim it so it could live. They would not give me a refund. Anyway, the Pinata arrived and as soon as I got it, I soaked it with water and let it sit in the shade for a day or two to get acclimated to our environment (zone 7, New Jersey).. It is now planted near my driveway fence where I have a patch of butterfly weed. I've had it about a week, and it has already bloomed one small apricot rose. I still have to get out there and I plan to treat it with Bayer Rose fertilizer with disease control, but so far I have been watering it every evening to keep it happy in this hot weather. It will look beautiful growing along my fence, and also screen the neighbor's filthy piles of trash they thrown down from upper floors. I now have close to 20 rose bushes. This is my first Amazon/Stargazer rose,and I anticipate that it will have a successful summer. For winter I will trim it back after blooming stops, and put a lot more mulch around it, and I think it will be fine.","Product: The FHI Heat Technique Nano Weight Pro 1850 Tech Hair Dryer combines the conditioning elements of ceramic and tourmaline with the power of a professional DC motor for a salon-quality experience. This lightweight dryer produces negative ions and gentle far infrared heat to help eliminate static and reduce frizz for perfect blow outs with body, movement and incredible shine. Ergonomically designed with a 9 foot professional cord. Triple heat setting for even heat distribution, dual-air setting for fast even air flow and a Cool Shot button to lock in style. For optimal results, use with Stylus thermal hair care line to protect hair and maximize styling benefits\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: This Hair Dryer is too Heavy and not Hot Enough\n\nReview: I'm sorry to say that I was disappointed by this hair dryer. My old hair dryer needed replacing because it got too old, and I looked forward to receiving this model. However, I used it and don't like it for the following reasons. First of all, it is too large and heavy for me to hold over and around my head. It is a bit of an awkward shape, but mostly it was just too heavy. Secondly, even on the highest heat setting, it does not seem to get hot enough. It seems more like my old hair dryer on low heat setting. And for third, the attachments were useless for me. With the big diffuser attachment, running it through my medium-long hair was almost impossible. I tried to do it like the booklet said, but it just wasn't practical and also the big diffuser would keep popping off. The other attachment, the concentrator, I didn't really need. So I put a volumizer lotion in my just-washed hair, tried the attachments, and finally just used the hair dryer without any attachments to get my hair dry. The speed of the fan in the dryer was alright, but it just did not get hot enough for me. It did not dry my hair enough so that the volumizer lotion worked. So I looked sort of flat haired all day. I expected the dryer to puff my hair right up, but it didn't, and I was disappointed. Ordinarily while using a dryer, I would hold the dryer in one hand and the hair brush in the other, so I could smooth out my hair as it was being dried, but the weight of the dryer was just too heavy. I realize the dryer advertises infrared heat and other new innovations, but I'd rather use my old, mini hair dryer that had a brush attachment built in so that I only needed one hand. I'm sorry to say but I cannot recommend this hair dryer.","Product: Sleep more soundly with the help of this Comfort Clinic memory foam topper. Available in Queen and King sizes, the 3-inch topper can be placed on top of either a traditional innerspring or a memory foam mattress. The visco elastic memory foam responds to the individual’s body weight and temperature, molding around the contours of one’s body for enhanced comfort and support. With this curve-hugging capability, the memory foam facilitates proper spinal alignment and relieve pressure points to increase circulation. Additionally, memory foam minimizes motion transfer so that a fidgety sleeper can go unnoticed by bed companions. The mattress topper is crafted out of naturally hypoallergenic 100-percent polyurethane memory foam with a 2-1/2-pound density. Vacuum packed for compact packing, allow up to 72 hours for the topper to expand fully. Factors such as temperature and humidity may affect the rate of expansion. As the topper may continue to expand over time, the topper is sized small in relation to its designated mattress size. This also enables the topper to fit neatly under standard fitted sheets. This King-sized memory foam topper measures 77 inches long by 74 inches wide by 3 inches high.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Sliced in a dirty warehouse ... target practice ...\n\nReview: I received my king size memory foam mattress topper today. I was discouraged when upon unfolding I discovered a rip on one side, and a slice in the middle that went all the way through. If you are going to sell me a piece of foam, at least don't use it for target practive first! Also one edge of the foam was dirty as if from a warehouse floor. This is not the way to handle products for a mattress. Who knows where this foam has been? I need to know my foam is clean if I am going to put it on my bed. I am discouraged. I doubt if I can get the product back in its box to return it. It arrives compressed in a hard ball and expands when you open it to the air. Amazon, any suggestions?","Product: With BUNN Speed Brew Technology, making great tasting coffee is not only fast, but simple. After the one time initial set-up process, simply add your favorite coffee to the filter basket, pour in fresh water, close the lid and the coffeemaker begins to brew immediately. The secret is that BUNN Speed/Velocity Brew home coffeemakers feature a stainless steel water tank that is always on and ready to brew hot coffee on demand. In fact, they brew a 10-cup pot of coffee in about three minutes. Thats fast!\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Recommended by a friend\n\nReview: I bought this coffee pot after throwing out a succession of cheap drip coffee makers (Mr. Coffee, etc.). This is the best coffee maker I ever had. It really does make a pot of coffee in about 3 minutes. I usually wait at least 5 minutes though to make sure it is finished dripping and no leaks. It makes excellent tasting coffee. The one thing it does not do well is decaf. Decaf has grounds that are finer and they wind up being mixed with the coffee. So if you want strong hot coffee in a flash this is the investment you should make. One warning: The set-up instructions are a bit complicated as you have to fill the entire reservoir and give the coffee maker time to heat its water. But that is a one-time thing. I have no trouble, I can make coffee very fast in the morning just when I need it before running out the door.","Product: Tommy Hilfiger Luxury Soft Towel collection is made of 100% ringspun long staple cotton for added softness and absorbency. The fibers are low twist with a hydrophilic softening process that will not wash out and is environmentally certified. The oversized Bath Towel offers luxury at a competitive price point, features a two inch dobby with hemmed edges on all four sides. This towel is available in twelve colors that all coordinate back to Tommy Hilfiger bedding collections.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Beautiful, vivid colors !\n\nReview: I'm an older person and have a lot of experience with all the towels I've purchased down through the years. These Tommy Hilfiger towels are the brightest and most vivid colors I have ever seen in towels. I started out buying a set in Coral and a set in Lilac: to match my newly decorated bathroom that has purple and coral walls. Meanwhile I also bought a set of bath towels from JC Penney, their standard Jet Blue bath towels, I got a dozen so I would always have enough towels (and they were on sale at half price). The blue towels are nice for everyday but for guest towels I have the TH vivid towels and washcloths. I have just ordered more TH towels in Classic Red and Millet Yellow. I love the colored towels.\n\nNow about the washing concerns. Any towel, even the best of them, will suffer some washing damage. Take a scissors and trim off where the fabric has pulled. Shake them good and shake off the fuzz. If you have a vivid color, preserve the color by washing in cold or only slightly warm water. I have had yellow towels in the past that had been washed so many times they turned white. Towels only last so long. Be gentle with washing them and they will last longer. I use liquid laundry detergent so I can wash the colored towels in cold water. These TH towels are not any better or worse than any other towel. Treat them well and you'll get a couple years' use out of them at least.","Product: Lasko's #758000 Cyclonic Ceramic Heater circulates 1500 watts of warmth evenly throughout the room. Easy-to-use electronic controls; adjustable thermostat; 7-hour timer\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Does the job for me\n\nReview: My bedroom is the coldest room in the house. The central oil-fired steam heat is not very efficient in this room while other rooms get quite warm. Anyway the usual temperature of my bedroom is 61 o F. I bought this Lasko heater and set it on 65 o F. I have two quilts and an electric blanket on my bed. I find that 65 o is perfect temperature for sleeping. 61 was way too cold. The Lasko brings the temperature up to 65 in an hour or two and I am confortable through the night. The heater shuts off when it gets to 66 o and then runs again if the temperature drops. I think it is a great heater and so far it seems to cost me $2 a night. (My electric bill went up by $60 in the last month I have used the machine.)","Product: Get big streaming power in a pocket-sized, easy-to-use stick. The 2016 Roku Streaming Stick delivers fast performance with a quad-core processor and dual-band wireless. Device works with all top movie and TV streaming services, including Amazon Instant Video, VUDU, Google Play, Netflix, Hulu, HBO, and 3,000 more channels. Access 300,000+ movies and TV episodes plus music, sports, games, international content, and kids' programming. Unbiased search across top channels shows you where content is free or cheapest to watch. And because Roku Streaming Stick is portable, you can stream to different HDTVs in your home, dorm, or hotel room. The Roku Streaming Stick delivers fast performance with a quad-core processor and dual-band wireless. Simple. Access your own subscriptions like Amazon Instant Video, VUDU, Google Play, Netflix, or Hulu. Rent or buy on-demand, and enjoy hundreds of free channels. Save time and money with search results that show you where movies and TV shows are free or cheapest to watch. Totally portable, and streams to different HDTVs in your home, dorm, or hotel room. Private listening via mobile. Use your smartphone or tablet and the Roku mobile app for iOS and Android to enjoy private listening anytime via your Bluetooth or plug-in headphones. Mobile control transforms your iOS or Android mobile device into a Roku remote, search with voice or text, and send photos, video or music, to your TV from your phone or tablet.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: A lot of Power in a Little Stick\n\nReview: I received the Roku streaming stick and didn't realize the power that I held in my hands. At first it didn't work but I had to call my internet provider (Xfinity Comcast) and have the security code changed on my wifi. And after I did that, in minutes it worked and I was able to start streaming movies and all kinds of things. The 30 day trial is great. There are old movies that I missed and old series that I want to watch. It looks like this weekend I will be catching up on some great television entertainment.\n\nI am leaving one star off for the very slow way that is built in to search for movies online, and for the complicated time with Roku.com in understanding me and what I wanted to do. And I do not like to give my credit card information out to just anyone.","Product: IOGEAR's 3.5 Tri-Select Combo ION Drive is the most stylish and practical solution for storing and protecting your documents, as well as audio, video and other media files at a push of a button. Tri-Select technology utilizes the power of Dantz Retrospect Express providing you with the most powerful and customizable backup solution for any home or office. This attractive enclosure boasts both FireWire 400 ( iLink & IEEE 1394 )and USB 2.0 compatibility and offers a very small-footprint. The ION Drive supports extremely high data transfer rates of up to 400 Mbps (FireWire) and 480Mbps (USB 2.0) for blazing fast transfer of large multimedia files. It is also backward compatible with FireWire 400 and USB 1.1 specifications. This external hard drive is very easy to connect to your PC or Mac desktop or notebook, is hot-swappable and Plug-n-Play. The 3.5 USB 2.0 ION Drive is backed by IOGEAR's 1-year Limited Warranty. Can also be used to backup your main hard drive so if it crashes you won't have lost your precious files Whether backing up a single file or an entire directory, once set up the Tri-Select button activates each specific backup as it is needed Combined with Dantz Retrospect, this ION drive provides you with a corporate level back-up solution ready to tackle the smallest or the largest of back-ups necessary to give you piece of mind; Dantz Retrospect included Free, a $99.00 value. Compact size, perfect for the desktop professional 1 Year Limited Warranty Works with Windows or Macintosh computer\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Works Perfectly Unlike Some Other Drives - Update 11/15/09\n\nReview: I have two of these Iogear 320 GB external hard drives. Both are in perfect working order. One is almost a year old - that is the breaking point for some other drives I have used. So we will see if the Iogear drives continue to work year after year. I have my most important data burned onto DVDs so I am not too worried. Best to play it safe. Anyway, the Iogears are very good and they have the most GBs for the money. I recommend to all.\n\nUpdate 11/15/09 - the Iogear hard drives that I bought in 2005 still work perfectly. They are the only ones that still work after such a long time. However, of course they no longer make them! I wish they would make some 2 TB external hard drives that would last as long as their 320 GB drives. It figures - if they forget to build in planned obsolescence then they stop making them! Frustrating!","Product: The ViewSonic LightStream PJD7831HDL 1080p projector features 3,200 lumens, Full HD 1920x1080 native resolution, an intuitive, user-friendly design and a sleek white chassis. Exclusive SuperColor technology offers a wider color range for true-to-life image projection in any light, while SonicExpert, ViewSonic's proprietary sound enhancement technology, powers a 10W speaker to deliver incredibly clear and audible sound. PortAll - a neatly designed enclosed HDMI/MHL connection compartment, supports wireless HDMI dongles or MHL connectors, while a cable management hood eliminates unsightly cable clutter. With shorter throw ratio, 1.3x optical zoom, HV keystone, four corner adjustment, and extensive connectivity, the PJD7831HDL provides flexible and quick set-up. The PJD7831HDL is the ideal projector for both high definition presentations and vibrant multimedia entertainment.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Good Tool for Presentations\n\nReview: This is basically a very fancified overhead projector. You know in the old days, you could have slides prepared on a color laserjet printer and then just use an overhead projector to project the slide onto a screen or a blank wall in a conference room, and then you could write on the slides what you wanted to call attention to. However, of course, there was no sound so the presenter had to talk about what the attendees were seeing and point out the important points. The ViewSonic projector has the capability to just project a movie onto a screen and the details and points to be seen can be right in the movie so that the presenter can just sit back and answer questions. It takes a lot of work out of the process of informative meetings. All the work can be done on the computer and this simplifies the conference.\n\nThis type of machine replaces the overhead projectors of old. You can project anything that is on your computer or laptop screen, from text to movies, via a multitude of convenient connections. The color and detail are excellent.\n\nHowever, I would be very cautious and would warn not to use it as a replacement for a large screen tv, because the bulb gets extremely hot. There is even a separate warning light for an overheating of the bulb. The owner's manually actually and surprisingly tells you not to leave the machine alone and in case of malfunction due to heat to be immediately ready to rip out the electric cord either from the machine or from the outlet. I think this is quite worrisome and points to a fire hazard. I would not leave this machine on for an extended period of time as most people would leave their tv sets on. It would be fine to project a single movie to a large screen or wall. The bulb also seems to be very expensive and I do not know what its life expectancy is but I would suspect it's not very long. The machine has a nice button-based utility to correct for distortions from projections at an angle.\n\nThe remote control is basic, it includes a laser pointer which is a bit light and narrow. The laser pointer from my \"cat exerciser\" would do a better job.\n\nOne odd thing is that in all the accompanying material, the highest version of Windows that is mentioned is Windows XP. However I used it on Windows 8.1 and it worked fine. I don't know how it would work with Windows 10. The operating system of your computer should actually have little impact on the projector, except for the interface with the remote control. I rated the machine down 2 stars because of the extreme heat of the bulb.","Product: classic 50's and 60's classics\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Some movies are not in good shape - not digitally remastered\n\nReview: I ordered this DVD set and was disappointed to see that the film quality of some of the movies (Kansas City Confidential, The Red House) was poor. There were many dropouts and it looked like the film had faded. On the other hand, some of these movies are rarely shown on tv, not even Turner Classics, so many of these movies I had never heard of before. I would rather have a poor version of the movie than no version. At least one of the movies is a good copy (Suspicion) which looks like it was remastered. On the whole, not a bad deal, but I am a noir fanatic, so you should also read the other reviews before purchasing.","Product: This Rainbow antenna ball topper can help you locate your car in a crowded parking lot really fast. If you add the cool Buddies spring stand accessory it can also become a automobile dashboard or computer toy. Not for use with retractable antennas. Show your pride and come on over and see our huge selection of other antenna ball toppers at our Amazon storefront: http://www.amazon.com/s.html/002-2627897-3651218?ie=UTF8&index=merchants&me=A1FS99TXK5K04A\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Looked great until it faded\n\nReview: I put this ball on my car's antenna. Well after a couple months it faded so that you could not tell if it was rainbow colored. It just looked like a bluish colored blob. The worse thing I did (and this was my own fault) - I superglued the ball onto the antenna when I put it on because I thought otherwise it would blow off. Well, I had a surprise when I took the car through the car wash - the car wash tried to grab the whole antenna off my car because the ball was stuck on so tight. Finally the ball came off and left my antenna bent. Anyway, I didn't learn my lesson because I just got another ball and superglued it on. I have given up automatic car washes. :-)","Product: This Rainbow antenna ball topper can help you locate your car in a crowded parking lot really fast. If you add the cool Buddies spring stand accessory it can also become a automobile dashboard or computer toy. Not for use with retractable antennas. Show your pride and come on over and see our huge selection of other antenna ball toppers at our Amazon storefront: http://www.amazon.com/s.html/002-2627897-3651218?ie=UTF8&index=merchants&me=A1FS99TXK5K04A\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Looked great until it faded\n\nReview: I put this ball on my car's antenna. Well after a couple months it faded so that you could not tell if it was rainbow colored. It just looked like a bluish colored blob. The worse thing I did (and this was my own fault) - I superglued the ball onto the antenna when I put it on because I thought otherwise it would blow off. Well, I had a surprise when I took the car through the car wash - the car wash tried to grab the whole antenna off my car because the ball was stuck on so tight. Finally the ball came off and left my antenna bent. Anyway, I didn't learn my lesson because I just got another ball and superglued it on. I have given up automatic car washes. :-)","Product: The Yard Machines electric mower is a powerful rear bag mower perfect for the smaller lawn. This mower features a 1000 watt, 8 Amp electric motor, 5-inch front and 6-inch rear wheels, and a 13-inch molded rear bag deck. The three-position manual height adjustment allows the operator to tailor cutting heights from one to three inches to meet any lawn condition, with no tools required. The lightweight plastic deck also includes a hard-top bag, and the mower also comes with a standard 2-year limited warranty.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Difficult to put together but works just as I expected\n\nReview: Yardmachines Lawn Mower (Electric)\n\nI chose this mower as it seemed the ultimate in lightweight and easy to handle lawn mowers. I have never owned an electric mower before. I have owned a multitude of gas powered mowers and since my recent 2nd heart attack, I have given up gas mowers with their pull cords and fooling with gas and oil etc. I figured this 13\" mower would be something I could handle easily and not put myself at risk.\n\nTo start with, I received the machine from UPS and the UPS man refused to take the box to my door. He delivered it to the curb and therefore I had to drag the box into the house. It weighed about 50 lbs. so I am glad Amazon gave me free shipping. While opening the box and assembling the unit, I was disimpressed because the two screws that hold the lower handles onto the mower did not fit into the proper holes correctly. I had to find two screws that were narrower to fit the holes. The instructions for assembly were not well written and I had to enlist a friend to help me assemble the mower properly. Although the instructions advise to start using the mower with the wheels in the high position (to avoid \"scalping\" the grass), the wheels arrived in the low position, and to adjust the grass cutting height one must remove all 4 wheels and reposition them. Once I figured how to do this, it wasn't a big deal, but this was less convenient than the gas mowers which usually have an adjustable bracket over each wheel.\n\nUsing the mower: It is lighter than a gas mower and so easily maneuverable, it was just as expected and I had hoped for. I can mow for 20 minutes without getting too tired. It is bothersome to keep fooling around with the electric cord but you get used to this. The machine came with a diagram of how to minimize cord frustrations, and I am learning. I mow in the middle height position - the highest position left my grass too high (in my opinion). The grass catcher is small and needs emptying often, but it is lighter than the grass catcher on my old Sears Craftsman gas mower.\n\nOverall I am happy with my electric lawn mower. You can't let the grass get too high or else this machine will keep stalling out. I was in the hospital again and the grass grew very thick and high while I was out of commission. So I had to pay the neighborhood boys $25 to cut it with a gas mower because this one wouldn't do the job. But the way I usually do it is I cut a portion of the lawn and then in the next 2 or 3 days continue, to keep the lawn maintained, cutting all the time. This machine is lightweight and I can mow all the time and it is good walking exercise, with a minimum of arm strain. I recommend this mower to everyone in my condition, and to anyone who has a small lawn.","Product: Inspired by the diet of the lynx, a tireless and legendary hunter, BLUE Wilderness is a protein-rich, grain-free food that contains more of the delicious meat cats love. BLUE Wilderness is a product of the Blue Buffalo company. Based in the United States, Blue Buffalo makes premium-quality pet foods featuring real meat, fruit and vegetables.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: My Cats Love It!\n\nReview: My cats just love this catfood! They get canned catfood, which they usually prefer, but if I set a dish of this dry catfood down, they will go to it. It must be delicious for them. I will buy it occasionally as a treat, because it's a bit expensive and I have so many cats I can't afford it every day.\n\nUpdate 9/2016: I have continued to buy Blue Buffalo products as I can sometimes afford them. I have 3 housecats who are very well fed. However, I have a semi-feral cat who lives in my backyard. I especially want her to get the good food - but it has attracted every bored housecat in the neighborhood. I'm not sure what to do. Little Apache (the semi-feral's name) has been looking very thin and her fur is scraggly looking. She eats what she wants and then the neighborhood cats take over. I give her two evening snacks, and feed her probably twice as much as my housecats. I want to bring Apache inside. I feel responsible for her, and she does not look like she will survive another fierce winter like we have in New Jersey. She does prefer the Blue Buffalo food so I keep buying it for her. She also gets Sheba and Fancy Feast wet cat food, a bowl of water and a bowl of milk (she always has drunk her milk). I've got to catch her and take her to the vet. I am afraid she is sick as she's so skinny, it's pathetic. She is 7 years old. Her brother and litter mate, Teddy, I put in my pocket one day when we were out in the snow. I wish I had put Apache in my pocket too. Teddy is a good housecat. Any recommendations as to how to bring in a semi-feral cat with razor-sharp claws would be much appreciated! She runs if I approach her, but when she is eating her food, she purrs loudly and I pet her while she is eating. I have held the kitchen door open for her - she comes in, then turns right around and runs out. I have been giving her tapeworm medicine and flea killer regularly, mixed with her wet food. ANY advice would be appreciated.","Product: Eliminates Odors, Cleans and Freshens.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Smells Great and Got Rid of Oil Stain\n\nReview: I have three cats so the carpets have to be shampooed regularly to keep the cat smells down. This product works great for this, it gets out the cat odor and the whole house smells fresh. Recently I had the technician come in to perform maintenance on the oil furnace in the basement. The basement floor is dirty and he found an oil stain to step in. Well then he came upstairs and tracked the oil stain onto my new foyer rug. The idiot. Anyway I used an oil solvent to get the stain out mostly but there was still a residue that didn't come out. However, using the Febreze Oxy Formula in my Hoover steam vac, it got out the remains of the stain. I am impressed. I am going to purchase this product for future use, Five Stars.","Product: Sunlite LED lamps are extremely energy efficient and will greatly reduce your energy costs. These lamps can last up to 25,000 hours making them virtually maintenance free. They contain no mercury elements and do not release any hazardous gasses so there no need to worry in case a bulb breaks and no need for any special recycling as with CFLs. With their high efficiency, their low wattage does not mean you lose out on brightness. This 120 volt, 7.5 watt, par20 reflector he series features a medium base, produces a stunning warm white light at 400 lumens, and can fit right into your living room or into the most cutting edge, state of the art, lighting design project.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Adequate as a Spotlight\n\nReview: I'm giving this a lower rating because apparently it is sold as a general purpose light bulb, but it is really more of a spotlight that lights up a light cone in front of it, while regular bulbs light up in all directions. As a spotlight it is fine, I am using it in the light above my front door which is on a timer - lights come on when it gets dark, and go off at dawn. I cannot measure if the light output or energy ratings are true, so I take their word for it. The same for the lifetime of the bulb - 25 k hours would be about 6 years for my use - so ask me again in 2023. The name of the bulb is Sunlite but it is hard to compare it to real sun light. Compared to the other, older model energy saving bulbs, the color is warm and pleasant. I'm glad that it has no mercury in it and is easy to dispose of. I'm thinking that I should change the other older model energy saving bulbs I am using that are attached to the outside of my house because I think spotlights would be better. I live in a dark neighborhood and I have outside lights on all sides of my house. I would recommend this product."],"string":"[\n \"Product: Rubbermaid Commercial Products Microburst 3000 with LumeCel Technology, Black, is a sleek, high-performance aerosol dispenser that delivers air freshener with Microtrans Odor Neutralizer to eliminate odors. Completely powered by LumeCel Technology, it uses available light inside the washroom for near 100% efficiency. 1 LumeCel Rechargeable Energy cell will last as long as 30 conventional batteries meaning staff will no longer need to purchase, store, replace, and dispose of alkaline batteries, saving time and money while reducing the potential of workplace mishaps. A pharmaceutical-grade steel valve distributes a diverse selection of the highest quality fragrances in the industrys finest mist to effectively terminate unavoidable washroom odors. Easy and ready to use right out of the box, Microburst 3000 with LumeCel Technology features smart chip technology for maximum odor control for 30 to 168 days with flexible programming options that allow users to select 12/24 hours per day; or 5, 6, or 7 days per week for better cost control. With a \\\"Days to Refill\\\" indicator to remind staff when needed refills are approaching, the Microburst 3000 with LumeCel Technology is virtually maintenance free, guaranteed to run automatically for at least 15 years, and is fully recyclable.\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: A Subtle Device to Make Your House Fresher - For One Month\\n\\nReview: This Rubbermaid device was easy to use. All I did was stick it to the edge of a bookshelf. Within a few hours I noticed a fresher smell in the dining room where I had located the device. I understand the frequency of its sprays can be adjusted, but I didn't have to adjust it because it seems to do its spraying at the perfect times. My dining room and even other rooms nearby have a sweet, fresh fragrance. When the fragrance is gone, I look forward to seeing what other odors it comes in. I am considering the purchase of this device for my large bathroom, and also for my kitchen. It's very helpful in destroying odors and it makes the whole house smell better. And no one has complained of the odor or mentioned it.\\n\\nOK. One month later. It has gone through its second canister of fragrance. And now the battery is gone. It has no battery, or charger you can buy. It is permanently stuck where it is, in my dining room which has 3 windows. It is bright in there, so the solar cell should have recharged the battery. But, it didn't. So I am declaring this thing worthless. It smelled nice when it worked. But now I give up. I guess I would have to mount it in a southern window for it to recharge itself. But once you mount it, it is stuck there permanently.\",\n \"Product: Pinata rose has it all; vigorous growth, double fluffy apricot-orange flowers that are highly fragrant, and disease resistant foliage. This small climbing rose reaches 6-7 feet tall and 5-6 feet wide making it versatile enough to use as a large shrub rose. Plant a grouping of Pinata rose to create a flowering hedge or screen. Train this compact climbing rose over a garden trellis, or plant in a large patio container with an architectural structure for support. This rose ships in a 4 inch container actively growing and ready to be planted in your garden. Our premium roses will thrive in the garden.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Excellent Rose at an Affordable Cost\\n\\nReview: I ordered the Pinata rose bush from Stargazer, and it was much less expensive than Wayside Gardens who charge as much for shipping as the plants cost! In any case I will not buy from Wayside again as their plants croak! I had bought a hardy Rugosa rose from them and it promptly croaked! It arrived damaged with a broken stem, and I tried to trim it so it could live. They would not give me a refund. Anyway, the Pinata arrived and as soon as I got it, I soaked it with water and let it sit in the shade for a day or two to get acclimated to our environment (zone 7, New Jersey).. It is now planted near my driveway fence where I have a patch of butterfly weed. I've had it about a week, and it has already bloomed one small apricot rose. I still have to get out there and I plan to treat it with Bayer Rose fertilizer with disease control, but so far I have been watering it every evening to keep it happy in this hot weather. It will look beautiful growing along my fence, and also screen the neighbor's filthy piles of trash they thrown down from upper floors. I now have close to 20 rose bushes. This is my first Amazon/Stargazer rose,and I anticipate that it will have a successful summer. For winter I will trim it back after blooming stops, and put a lot more mulch around it, and I think it will be fine.\",\n \"Product: The FHI Heat Technique Nano Weight Pro 1850 Tech Hair Dryer combines the conditioning elements of ceramic and tourmaline with the power of a professional DC motor for a salon-quality experience. This lightweight dryer produces negative ions and gentle far infrared heat to help eliminate static and reduce frizz for perfect blow outs with body, movement and incredible shine. Ergonomically designed with a 9 foot professional cord. Triple heat setting for even heat distribution, dual-air setting for fast even air flow and a Cool Shot button to lock in style. For optimal results, use with Stylus thermal hair care line to protect hair and maximize styling benefits\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: This Hair Dryer is too Heavy and not Hot Enough\\n\\nReview: I'm sorry to say that I was disappointed by this hair dryer. My old hair dryer needed replacing because it got too old, and I looked forward to receiving this model. However, I used it and don't like it for the following reasons. First of all, it is too large and heavy for me to hold over and around my head. It is a bit of an awkward shape, but mostly it was just too heavy. Secondly, even on the highest heat setting, it does not seem to get hot enough. It seems more like my old hair dryer on low heat setting. And for third, the attachments were useless for me. With the big diffuser attachment, running it through my medium-long hair was almost impossible. I tried to do it like the booklet said, but it just wasn't practical and also the big diffuser would keep popping off. The other attachment, the concentrator, I didn't really need. So I put a volumizer lotion in my just-washed hair, tried the attachments, and finally just used the hair dryer without any attachments to get my hair dry. The speed of the fan in the dryer was alright, but it just did not get hot enough for me. It did not dry my hair enough so that the volumizer lotion worked. So I looked sort of flat haired all day. I expected the dryer to puff my hair right up, but it didn't, and I was disappointed. Ordinarily while using a dryer, I would hold the dryer in one hand and the hair brush in the other, so I could smooth out my hair as it was being dried, but the weight of the dryer was just too heavy. I realize the dryer advertises infrared heat and other new innovations, but I'd rather use my old, mini hair dryer that had a brush attachment built in so that I only needed one hand. I'm sorry to say but I cannot recommend this hair dryer.\",\n \"Product: Sleep more soundly with the help of this Comfort Clinic memory foam topper. Available in Queen and King sizes, the 3-inch topper can be placed on top of either a traditional innerspring or a memory foam mattress. The visco elastic memory foam responds to the individual’s body weight and temperature, molding around the contours of one’s body for enhanced comfort and support. With this curve-hugging capability, the memory foam facilitates proper spinal alignment and relieve pressure points to increase circulation. Additionally, memory foam minimizes motion transfer so that a fidgety sleeper can go unnoticed by bed companions. The mattress topper is crafted out of naturally hypoallergenic 100-percent polyurethane memory foam with a 2-1/2-pound density. Vacuum packed for compact packing, allow up to 72 hours for the topper to expand fully. Factors such as temperature and humidity may affect the rate of expansion. As the topper may continue to expand over time, the topper is sized small in relation to its designated mattress size. This also enables the topper to fit neatly under standard fitted sheets. This King-sized memory foam topper measures 77 inches long by 74 inches wide by 3 inches high.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Sliced in a dirty warehouse ... target practice ...\\n\\nReview: I received my king size memory foam mattress topper today. I was discouraged when upon unfolding I discovered a rip on one side, and a slice in the middle that went all the way through. If you are going to sell me a piece of foam, at least don't use it for target practive first! Also one edge of the foam was dirty as if from a warehouse floor. This is not the way to handle products for a mattress. Who knows where this foam has been? I need to know my foam is clean if I am going to put it on my bed. I am discouraged. I doubt if I can get the product back in its box to return it. It arrives compressed in a hard ball and expands when you open it to the air. Amazon, any suggestions?\",\n \"Product: With BUNN Speed Brew Technology, making great tasting coffee is not only fast, but simple. After the one time initial set-up process, simply add your favorite coffee to the filter basket, pour in fresh water, close the lid and the coffeemaker begins to brew immediately. The secret is that BUNN Speed/Velocity Brew home coffeemakers feature a stainless steel water tank that is always on and ready to brew hot coffee on demand. In fact, they brew a 10-cup pot of coffee in about three minutes. Thats fast!\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Recommended by a friend\\n\\nReview: I bought this coffee pot after throwing out a succession of cheap drip coffee makers (Mr. Coffee, etc.). This is the best coffee maker I ever had. It really does make a pot of coffee in about 3 minutes. I usually wait at least 5 minutes though to make sure it is finished dripping and no leaks. It makes excellent tasting coffee. The one thing it does not do well is decaf. Decaf has grounds that are finer and they wind up being mixed with the coffee. So if you want strong hot coffee in a flash this is the investment you should make. One warning: The set-up instructions are a bit complicated as you have to fill the entire reservoir and give the coffee maker time to heat its water. But that is a one-time thing. I have no trouble, I can make coffee very fast in the morning just when I need it before running out the door.\",\n \"Product: Tommy Hilfiger Luxury Soft Towel collection is made of 100% ringspun long staple cotton for added softness and absorbency. The fibers are low twist with a hydrophilic softening process that will not wash out and is environmentally certified. The oversized Bath Towel offers luxury at a competitive price point, features a two inch dobby with hemmed edges on all four sides. This towel is available in twelve colors that all coordinate back to Tommy Hilfiger bedding collections.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Beautiful, vivid colors !\\n\\nReview: I'm an older person and have a lot of experience with all the towels I've purchased down through the years. These Tommy Hilfiger towels are the brightest and most vivid colors I have ever seen in towels. I started out buying a set in Coral and a set in Lilac: to match my newly decorated bathroom that has purple and coral walls. Meanwhile I also bought a set of bath towels from JC Penney, their standard Jet Blue bath towels, I got a dozen so I would always have enough towels (and they were on sale at half price). The blue towels are nice for everyday but for guest towels I have the TH vivid towels and washcloths. I have just ordered more TH towels in Classic Red and Millet Yellow. I love the colored towels.\\n\\nNow about the washing concerns. Any towel, even the best of them, will suffer some washing damage. Take a scissors and trim off where the fabric has pulled. Shake them good and shake off the fuzz. If you have a vivid color, preserve the color by washing in cold or only slightly warm water. I have had yellow towels in the past that had been washed so many times they turned white. Towels only last so long. Be gentle with washing them and they will last longer. I use liquid laundry detergent so I can wash the colored towels in cold water. These TH towels are not any better or worse than any other towel. Treat them well and you'll get a couple years' use out of them at least.\",\n \"Product: Lasko's #758000 Cyclonic Ceramic Heater circulates 1500 watts of warmth evenly throughout the room. Easy-to-use electronic controls; adjustable thermostat; 7-hour timer\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Does the job for me\\n\\nReview: My bedroom is the coldest room in the house. The central oil-fired steam heat is not very efficient in this room while other rooms get quite warm. Anyway the usual temperature of my bedroom is 61 o F. I bought this Lasko heater and set it on 65 o F. I have two quilts and an electric blanket on my bed. I find that 65 o is perfect temperature for sleeping. 61 was way too cold. The Lasko brings the temperature up to 65 in an hour or two and I am confortable through the night. The heater shuts off when it gets to 66 o and then runs again if the temperature drops. I think it is a great heater and so far it seems to cost me $2 a night. (My electric bill went up by $60 in the last month I have used the machine.)\",\n \"Product: Get big streaming power in a pocket-sized, easy-to-use stick. The 2016 Roku Streaming Stick delivers fast performance with a quad-core processor and dual-band wireless. Device works with all top movie and TV streaming services, including Amazon Instant Video, VUDU, Google Play, Netflix, Hulu, HBO, and 3,000 more channels. Access 300,000+ movies and TV episodes plus music, sports, games, international content, and kids' programming. Unbiased search across top channels shows you where content is free or cheapest to watch. And because Roku Streaming Stick is portable, you can stream to different HDTVs in your home, dorm, or hotel room. The Roku Streaming Stick delivers fast performance with a quad-core processor and dual-band wireless. Simple. Access your own subscriptions like Amazon Instant Video, VUDU, Google Play, Netflix, or Hulu. Rent or buy on-demand, and enjoy hundreds of free channels. Save time and money with search results that show you where movies and TV shows are free or cheapest to watch. Totally portable, and streams to different HDTVs in your home, dorm, or hotel room. Private listening via mobile. Use your smartphone or tablet and the Roku mobile app for iOS and Android to enjoy private listening anytime via your Bluetooth or plug-in headphones. Mobile control transforms your iOS or Android mobile device into a Roku remote, search with voice or text, and send photos, video or music, to your TV from your phone or tablet.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: A lot of Power in a Little Stick\\n\\nReview: I received the Roku streaming stick and didn't realize the power that I held in my hands. At first it didn't work but I had to call my internet provider (Xfinity Comcast) and have the security code changed on my wifi. And after I did that, in minutes it worked and I was able to start streaming movies and all kinds of things. The 30 day trial is great. There are old movies that I missed and old series that I want to watch. It looks like this weekend I will be catching up on some great television entertainment.\\n\\nI am leaving one star off for the very slow way that is built in to search for movies online, and for the complicated time with Roku.com in understanding me and what I wanted to do. And I do not like to give my credit card information out to just anyone.\",\n \"Product: IOGEAR's 3.5 Tri-Select Combo ION Drive is the most stylish and practical solution for storing and protecting your documents, as well as audio, video and other media files at a push of a button. Tri-Select technology utilizes the power of Dantz Retrospect Express providing you with the most powerful and customizable backup solution for any home or office. This attractive enclosure boasts both FireWire 400 ( iLink & IEEE 1394 )and USB 2.0 compatibility and offers a very small-footprint. The ION Drive supports extremely high data transfer rates of up to 400 Mbps (FireWire) and 480Mbps (USB 2.0) for blazing fast transfer of large multimedia files. It is also backward compatible with FireWire 400 and USB 1.1 specifications. This external hard drive is very easy to connect to your PC or Mac desktop or notebook, is hot-swappable and Plug-n-Play. The 3.5 USB 2.0 ION Drive is backed by IOGEAR's 1-year Limited Warranty. Can also be used to backup your main hard drive so if it crashes you won't have lost your precious files Whether backing up a single file or an entire directory, once set up the Tri-Select button activates each specific backup as it is needed Combined with Dantz Retrospect, this ION drive provides you with a corporate level back-up solution ready to tackle the smallest or the largest of back-ups necessary to give you piece of mind; Dantz Retrospect included Free, a $99.00 value. Compact size, perfect for the desktop professional 1 Year Limited Warranty Works with Windows or Macintosh computer\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Works Perfectly Unlike Some Other Drives - Update 11/15/09\\n\\nReview: I have two of these Iogear 320 GB external hard drives. Both are in perfect working order. One is almost a year old - that is the breaking point for some other drives I have used. So we will see if the Iogear drives continue to work year after year. I have my most important data burned onto DVDs so I am not too worried. Best to play it safe. Anyway, the Iogears are very good and they have the most GBs for the money. I recommend to all.\\n\\nUpdate 11/15/09 - the Iogear hard drives that I bought in 2005 still work perfectly. They are the only ones that still work after such a long time. However, of course they no longer make them! I wish they would make some 2 TB external hard drives that would last as long as their 320 GB drives. It figures - if they forget to build in planned obsolescence then they stop making them! Frustrating!\",\n \"Product: The ViewSonic LightStream PJD7831HDL 1080p projector features 3,200 lumens, Full HD 1920x1080 native resolution, an intuitive, user-friendly design and a sleek white chassis. Exclusive SuperColor technology offers a wider color range for true-to-life image projection in any light, while SonicExpert, ViewSonic's proprietary sound enhancement technology, powers a 10W speaker to deliver incredibly clear and audible sound. PortAll - a neatly designed enclosed HDMI/MHL connection compartment, supports wireless HDMI dongles or MHL connectors, while a cable management hood eliminates unsightly cable clutter. With shorter throw ratio, 1.3x optical zoom, HV keystone, four corner adjustment, and extensive connectivity, the PJD7831HDL provides flexible and quick set-up. The PJD7831HDL is the ideal projector for both high definition presentations and vibrant multimedia entertainment.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Good Tool for Presentations\\n\\nReview: This is basically a very fancified overhead projector. You know in the old days, you could have slides prepared on a color laserjet printer and then just use an overhead projector to project the slide onto a screen or a blank wall in a conference room, and then you could write on the slides what you wanted to call attention to. However, of course, there was no sound so the presenter had to talk about what the attendees were seeing and point out the important points. The ViewSonic projector has the capability to just project a movie onto a screen and the details and points to be seen can be right in the movie so that the presenter can just sit back and answer questions. It takes a lot of work out of the process of informative meetings. All the work can be done on the computer and this simplifies the conference.\\n\\nThis type of machine replaces the overhead projectors of old. You can project anything that is on your computer or laptop screen, from text to movies, via a multitude of convenient connections. The color and detail are excellent.\\n\\nHowever, I would be very cautious and would warn not to use it as a replacement for a large screen tv, because the bulb gets extremely hot. There is even a separate warning light for an overheating of the bulb. The owner's manually actually and surprisingly tells you not to leave the machine alone and in case of malfunction due to heat to be immediately ready to rip out the electric cord either from the machine or from the outlet. I think this is quite worrisome and points to a fire hazard. I would not leave this machine on for an extended period of time as most people would leave their tv sets on. It would be fine to project a single movie to a large screen or wall. The bulb also seems to be very expensive and I do not know what its life expectancy is but I would suspect it's not very long. The machine has a nice button-based utility to correct for distortions from projections at an angle.\\n\\nThe remote control is basic, it includes a laser pointer which is a bit light and narrow. The laser pointer from my \\\"cat exerciser\\\" would do a better job.\\n\\nOne odd thing is that in all the accompanying material, the highest version of Windows that is mentioned is Windows XP. However I used it on Windows 8.1 and it worked fine. I don't know how it would work with Windows 10. The operating system of your computer should actually have little impact on the projector, except for the interface with the remote control. I rated the machine down 2 stars because of the extreme heat of the bulb.\",\n \"Product: classic 50's and 60's classics\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Some movies are not in good shape - not digitally remastered\\n\\nReview: I ordered this DVD set and was disappointed to see that the film quality of some of the movies (Kansas City Confidential, The Red House) was poor. There were many dropouts and it looked like the film had faded. On the other hand, some of these movies are rarely shown on tv, not even Turner Classics, so many of these movies I had never heard of before. I would rather have a poor version of the movie than no version. At least one of the movies is a good copy (Suspicion) which looks like it was remastered. On the whole, not a bad deal, but I am a noir fanatic, so you should also read the other reviews before purchasing.\",\n \"Product: This Rainbow antenna ball topper can help you locate your car in a crowded parking lot really fast. If you add the cool Buddies spring stand accessory it can also become a automobile dashboard or computer toy. Not for use with retractable antennas. Show your pride and come on over and see our huge selection of other antenna ball toppers at our Amazon storefront: http://www.amazon.com/s.html/002-2627897-3651218?ie=UTF8&index=merchants&me=A1FS99TXK5K04A\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Looked great until it faded\\n\\nReview: I put this ball on my car's antenna. Well after a couple months it faded so that you could not tell if it was rainbow colored. It just looked like a bluish colored blob. The worse thing I did (and this was my own fault) - I superglued the ball onto the antenna when I put it on because I thought otherwise it would blow off. Well, I had a surprise when I took the car through the car wash - the car wash tried to grab the whole antenna off my car because the ball was stuck on so tight. Finally the ball came off and left my antenna bent. Anyway, I didn't learn my lesson because I just got another ball and superglued it on. I have given up automatic car washes. :-)\",\n \"Product: This Rainbow antenna ball topper can help you locate your car in a crowded parking lot really fast. If you add the cool Buddies spring stand accessory it can also become a automobile dashboard or computer toy. Not for use with retractable antennas. Show your pride and come on over and see our huge selection of other antenna ball toppers at our Amazon storefront: http://www.amazon.com/s.html/002-2627897-3651218?ie=UTF8&index=merchants&me=A1FS99TXK5K04A\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Looked great until it faded\\n\\nReview: I put this ball on my car's antenna. Well after a couple months it faded so that you could not tell if it was rainbow colored. It just looked like a bluish colored blob. The worse thing I did (and this was my own fault) - I superglued the ball onto the antenna when I put it on because I thought otherwise it would blow off. Well, I had a surprise when I took the car through the car wash - the car wash tried to grab the whole antenna off my car because the ball was stuck on so tight. Finally the ball came off and left my antenna bent. Anyway, I didn't learn my lesson because I just got another ball and superglued it on. I have given up automatic car washes. :-)\",\n \"Product: The Yard Machines electric mower is a powerful rear bag mower perfect for the smaller lawn. This mower features a 1000 watt, 8 Amp electric motor, 5-inch front and 6-inch rear wheels, and a 13-inch molded rear bag deck. The three-position manual height adjustment allows the operator to tailor cutting heights from one to three inches to meet any lawn condition, with no tools required. The lightweight plastic deck also includes a hard-top bag, and the mower also comes with a standard 2-year limited warranty.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Difficult to put together but works just as I expected\\n\\nReview: Yardmachines Lawn Mower (Electric)\\n\\nI chose this mower as it seemed the ultimate in lightweight and easy to handle lawn mowers. I have never owned an electric mower before. I have owned a multitude of gas powered mowers and since my recent 2nd heart attack, I have given up gas mowers with their pull cords and fooling with gas and oil etc. I figured this 13\\\" mower would be something I could handle easily and not put myself at risk.\\n\\nTo start with, I received the machine from UPS and the UPS man refused to take the box to my door. He delivered it to the curb and therefore I had to drag the box into the house. It weighed about 50 lbs. so I am glad Amazon gave me free shipping. While opening the box and assembling the unit, I was disimpressed because the two screws that hold the lower handles onto the mower did not fit into the proper holes correctly. I had to find two screws that were narrower to fit the holes. The instructions for assembly were not well written and I had to enlist a friend to help me assemble the mower properly. Although the instructions advise to start using the mower with the wheels in the high position (to avoid \\\"scalping\\\" the grass), the wheels arrived in the low position, and to adjust the grass cutting height one must remove all 4 wheels and reposition them. Once I figured how to do this, it wasn't a big deal, but this was less convenient than the gas mowers which usually have an adjustable bracket over each wheel.\\n\\nUsing the mower: It is lighter than a gas mower and so easily maneuverable, it was just as expected and I had hoped for. I can mow for 20 minutes without getting too tired. It is bothersome to keep fooling around with the electric cord but you get used to this. The machine came with a diagram of how to minimize cord frustrations, and I am learning. I mow in the middle height position - the highest position left my grass too high (in my opinion). The grass catcher is small and needs emptying often, but it is lighter than the grass catcher on my old Sears Craftsman gas mower.\\n\\nOverall I am happy with my electric lawn mower. You can't let the grass get too high or else this machine will keep stalling out. I was in the hospital again and the grass grew very thick and high while I was out of commission. So I had to pay the neighborhood boys $25 to cut it with a gas mower because this one wouldn't do the job. But the way I usually do it is I cut a portion of the lawn and then in the next 2 or 3 days continue, to keep the lawn maintained, cutting all the time. This machine is lightweight and I can mow all the time and it is good walking exercise, with a minimum of arm strain. I recommend this mower to everyone in my condition, and to anyone who has a small lawn.\",\n \"Product: Inspired by the diet of the lynx, a tireless and legendary hunter, BLUE Wilderness is a protein-rich, grain-free food that contains more of the delicious meat cats love. BLUE Wilderness is a product of the Blue Buffalo company. Based in the United States, Blue Buffalo makes premium-quality pet foods featuring real meat, fruit and vegetables.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: My Cats Love It!\\n\\nReview: My cats just love this catfood! They get canned catfood, which they usually prefer, but if I set a dish of this dry catfood down, they will go to it. It must be delicious for them. I will buy it occasionally as a treat, because it's a bit expensive and I have so many cats I can't afford it every day.\\n\\nUpdate 9/2016: I have continued to buy Blue Buffalo products as I can sometimes afford them. I have 3 housecats who are very well fed. However, I have a semi-feral cat who lives in my backyard. I especially want her to get the good food - but it has attracted every bored housecat in the neighborhood. I'm not sure what to do. Little Apache (the semi-feral's name) has been looking very thin and her fur is scraggly looking. She eats what she wants and then the neighborhood cats take over. I give her two evening snacks, and feed her probably twice as much as my housecats. I want to bring Apache inside. I feel responsible for her, and she does not look like she will survive another fierce winter like we have in New Jersey. She does prefer the Blue Buffalo food so I keep buying it for her. She also gets Sheba and Fancy Feast wet cat food, a bowl of water and a bowl of milk (she always has drunk her milk). I've got to catch her and take her to the vet. I am afraid she is sick as she's so skinny, it's pathetic. She is 7 years old. Her brother and litter mate, Teddy, I put in my pocket one day when we were out in the snow. I wish I had put Apache in my pocket too. Teddy is a good housecat. Any recommendations as to how to bring in a semi-feral cat with razor-sharp claws would be much appreciated! She runs if I approach her, but when she is eating her food, she purrs loudly and I pet her while she is eating. I have held the kitchen door open for her - she comes in, then turns right around and runs out. I have been giving her tapeworm medicine and flea killer regularly, mixed with her wet food. ANY advice would be appreciated.\",\n \"Product: Eliminates Odors, Cleans and Freshens.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Smells Great and Got Rid of Oil Stain\\n\\nReview: I have three cats so the carpets have to be shampooed regularly to keep the cat smells down. This product works great for this, it gets out the cat odor and the whole house smells fresh. Recently I had the technician come in to perform maintenance on the oil furnace in the basement. The basement floor is dirty and he found an oil stain to step in. Well then he came upstairs and tracked the oil stain onto my new foyer rug. The idiot. Anyway I used an oil solvent to get the stain out mostly but there was still a residue that didn't come out. However, using the Febreze Oxy Formula in my Hoover steam vac, it got out the remains of the stain. I am impressed. I am going to purchase this product for future use, Five Stars.\",\n \"Product: Sunlite LED lamps are extremely energy efficient and will greatly reduce your energy costs. These lamps can last up to 25,000 hours making them virtually maintenance free. They contain no mercury elements and do not release any hazardous gasses so there no need to worry in case a bulb breaks and no need for any special recycling as with CFLs. With their high efficiency, their low wattage does not mean you lose out on brightness. This 120 volt, 7.5 watt, par20 reflector he series features a medium base, produces a stunning warm white light at 400 lumens, and can fit right into your living room or into the most cutting edge, state of the art, lighting design project.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Adequate as a Spotlight\\n\\nReview: I'm giving this a lower rating because apparently it is sold as a general purpose light bulb, but it is really more of a spotlight that lights up a light cone in front of it, while regular bulbs light up in all directions. As a spotlight it is fine, I am using it in the light above my front door which is on a timer - lights come on when it gets dark, and go off at dawn. I cannot measure if the light output or energy ratings are true, so I take their word for it. The same for the lifetime of the bulb - 25 k hours would be about 6 years for my use - so ask me again in 2023. The name of the bulb is Sunlite but it is hard to compare it to real sun light. Compared to the other, older model energy saving bulbs, the color is warm and pleasant. I'm glad that it has no mercury in it and is easy to dispose of. I'm thinking that I should change the other older model energy saving bulbs I am using that are attached to the outside of my house because I think spotlights would be better. I live in a dark neighborhood and I have outside lights on all sides of my house. I would recommend this product.\"\n]","isConversational":false},"profile_size":{"kind":"number","value":17,"string":"17"},"task":{"kind":"string","value":"longlamp_3"},"split_kind":{"kind":"string","value":"user_based"},"id":{"kind":"number","value":972,"string":"972"}}},{"rowIdx":973,"cells":{"question_id":{"kind":"string","value":"A1AKAC8VSCS824"},"question":{"kind":"string","value":"Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of \"3.0\" for a product with description \"Igaging 6 inch polycarbonate digital caliper.\". The summary of the review text is \"Accurate and Inexpensive but zero is unstable\"."},"answer":{"kind":"string","value":"This was a under $8.00 item when bought. It has a readout with 10mm high main numbers and reads out in inches, mm or inches and 1/128\" fractions of an inch. I am not too sure of the usefulness of the fractional readout. Accuracy claimed is +/- .008\" but when checked with my Craftsman micrometer set calibration rods of 1\", 2\" and 3\" lengths all lengths were correct within +/- .001\". I figure that this is excellent accuracy for a basically 100% plastic caliper that cost under $10. It is in the same accuracy range as claimed for the SPI Swiss made carbon fiber dial caliper I also have which cost about 4X more than this. However there is a defect in the head or the track embedded in the bar such as there is a common, and repeatable, loss of zero which becomes worse as battery voltage drops.\n\nOne of few plastic digital calipers with a resolution of 0.001\" and that includes a slider lock screw. Uses a CR2032 battery and based on the battery life current draw is continuous whether the caliper is on or off. The 357 battery in my Mitutoyo caliper lasts much longer.\n\nIMO the main use for a non-metallic caliper is for checking items which are soft or delicate enough so that a metal caliper might cause scratching. I have seen them used in body piercing shops for checking jewelry gauges for this reason. They do also have the advantage of being light and possibly being less subject to damage if dropped. Also not electrically conductive so can be used for measuring live electronics."},"correct_answer":{"kind":"string","value":"This was a under $8.00 item when bought. It has a readout with 10mm high main numbers and reads out in inches, mm or inches and 1/128\" fractions of an inch. I am not too sure of the usefulness of the fractional readout. Accuracy claimed is +/- .008\" but when checked with my Craftsman micrometer set calibration rods of 1\", 2\" and 3\" lengths all lengths were correct within +/- .001\". I figure that this is excellent accuracy for a basically 100% plastic caliper that cost under $10. It is in the same accuracy range as claimed for the SPI Swiss made carbon fiber dial caliper I also have which cost about 4X more than this. However there is a defect in the head or the track embedded in the bar such as there is a common, and repeatable, loss of zero which becomes worse as battery voltage drops.\n\nOne of few plastic digital calipers with a resolution of 0.001\" and that includes a slider lock screw. Uses a CR2032 battery and based on the battery life current draw is continuous whether the caliper is on or off. The 357 battery in my Mitutoyo caliper lasts much longer.\n\nIMO the main use for a non-metallic caliper is for checking items which are soft or delicate enough so that a metal caliper might cause scratching. I have seen them used in body piercing shops for checking jewelry gauges for this reason. They do also have the advantage of being light and possibly being less subject to damage if dropped. Also not electrically conductive so can be used for measuring live electronics."},"documents":{"kind":"list like","value":["Product: Make extremely precise measurements with this high quality stainless steel caliper. The EZ Cal digital caliper is fast and accurate - no more eyestrain or guesswork, thanks to its Super large LCD display. It features adjustable jaws that read inside and outside dimensions, and also has an extension rod for depth measurements. The readout shows the entire measurement in inches to 0.0005 inch, millimeters to 0.01mm and Fractions of an inch to 1/128 inch. Auto off/on and auto zero functions are available at the touch of a button. Its humidity and dust resistance. Comes packaged in a sturdy plastic storage case with an extra 3V CR2032 battery.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Large Display and Smooth Operation\n\nReview: About the nicest Chinese origin digital calipers I have seen, both the 4\" and this 12\" capacity versions. Both use the same basic slider so far as I can tell with the 12\" just having deeper jaws. They even use the same dimension beams as far as width and thickness are concerned. Much cleaner machining and smoother operation as received than Chinese digital calipers I have purchased from other sources in the past. Considering the cost of a similar capacity Mitutoyo, SPI or American made digital caliper this is quite a bargain if it lasts any time at all.\n\nThe display is about 15mm high and 52mm long with 14mm high digits so it is huge compared to most. Presumably not a problem with a 12\" or 300mm capacity caliper but it may be a concern with the smaller capacity versions for some users.\n\nInstructions are minimal but the units have automatic off after about 5 minutes of inactivity. In fractional operating mode they increment in 1/128\" steps or every .008\" approximately. The battery fits in a sliding drawer on the head with a rubber seal that appears to be subject to possible mispositioning or damage during drawer closure which could, I suspect, possibly affect the claimed IP54 dust and coolant resistance rating.","Product: Professional high precision tool! depth measuring base allows the conversion of a standard caliper to a depth gauge. It attaches to the bottom end of calipers to aid depth measurement. Its locking nut secures the base to the caliper. Made of stainless steel, high precision ground and hardened easily attached with screw knob. No modification to caliper. Allow using a standard caliper as a depth gauge accommodates blades up to 5/8 inch or 16mm wide total span 2.93 inch.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: A Handy Caliper Accessory\n\nReview: A very useful accessory that fits most calipers with a standard 16mm or 5/8\" beam width. This includes 4\" through 8\" Mitutoyo and IGaging digital calipers and most other calipers in this range, though not all. Some 4\" digital calipers have a narrower beam and 12\" and wider calipers have a wider beam at 20mm. Do not over tighten the thumb screw clamp as the clamp end on it is metal and risks damaging the caliper beam if over tightened, particularly if installed on a inexpensive polycarbonate or carbon fiber calipers.\n\n^This is a best buy if purchased with the IGaging 6\" Absolute Origin \"With Fractions\" caliper as it is included with it for a price premium of only $10.00.","Product: Communicate. Collaborate. Connect to the World. Delivering the power you need with the ease of use you want, Corel WordPerfect Suite 8 unleashes your full productivity potential. Take advantage of leading-edge collaboration and productivity tools and advanced Web technology that lets you connect to the world. Corel WordPerfect Suite 8. It's pure communication power.\n\nWhy Corel WordPerfect Suite 8 Pro? Because it's easy to use, it's streamlined interface helps productivity, it's rapid start is speedy, it integrates well between core applications, and it gets you on the web by writing HTML. Includes:\n\n* Corel WordPerfect * Corel Quattro Pro * Corel Presentations * Corel Paradox * CorelCENTRAL * Corel WEB.SiteBuilder * Corel Time Line * Corel Barista * Envoy Viewer * Envoy Printer Driver * SGML * Netscape Browsing * Quick View Plus * Bitstream Font Navigator 2.0 * SDK * 1000+ Fonts, Photos, Clipart * Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia Deluxe Edition\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Old Version For Older Operating Systems\n\nReview: Unless you are running a very old version of Windows this version of Wordperfect is not recommended. I have an old dual processor HP VX6/200 upraded to 333 MHZ P2 Overdrive processors that still runs Windows 2000. It is also set up dual boot on the hard drive with DOS 6.22 as one of the available operating systems. It has WP DOS 6.2 installed in the DOS boot area and WP Suite 8 is about the most stable and similar version of WP available for older versions of Windows per the WPUniverse WP support site. This is a 16 bit Windows version so needs a 32 bit processor as the newest that can run it in a native mode per my understanding. That means very few new computers are likely to run this old version.\n\nThe version I received is the still sealed full commercial CD package of \"Corel Wordperfect Suite 8 Professional\" with full printed documentation which weighs 4.5 pounds as delivered. IMO too bad that documentation for programs has vanished as something included with them.","Product: Use the Kuhn Rikon Energy Saver/Flame Protector to disperse heat from gas burners evenly. They actually help speed cooking. This oversized aluminum disk concentrates flame and directs it to where it's needed for greater energy efficiency even on the smallest pots or pans. Prevents scorching of your fine stainless steel cookware, Swiss Durotherm cookware or Duromatic Pressure Cooker by gas flames. Non-stick coated for easy cleaning. For use on gas stoves ONLY. 11-inch diameter\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Works well depending on pans used with it.\n\nReview: Appears to be simply a black hard anodized aluminum disc that is 240mm or 9.5\" in diameter and 6mm or just under .250\" thick. For true flat bottomed pots and pans it will work quite well at eliminating hot spots. It may not work as well though for older thin metal or warped bottom pots and pans that do not make even contact with it. Such items will still develop hot spots at points of best contact with the plate.\n\nIt is an effective enough heat sink and heat retainer so that when using it the quick response to changed settings of a gas burner is greatly slowed down so lowering the flame takes much longer to have a noticeable effect on the contents of a pan that is on the Kuhn Rikon plate. IMO this can be a disadvantage and needs to be planned for.\n\nLooking at it I do feel that it is overpriced for what it is as I suspect that a simple flat piece of aluminum plate of similar thickness, as offered by Amazon in 12\" squares and larger pieces, should do about as well. The operating physics is the same. The hard anodized finish on this may well be more easily kept clean though.","Product: Simax 4 cup Cooking and Measuring Cup combines elegant design and transparency with excellent heat and chemical resistance. Heat resistant Borosilicate Glass is resistant to thermal shock, plus this glass will not chemically interact with your food in any way. Each piece is made of recycled glass and does not contain any Cadmium or Lead. The hard surface of the glass ensures hygienic and health conscious cooking and is dishwasher safe.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Nice But Needs Symbols Explanation and ounce and liter markings are inaccurate\n\nReview: Very nicely made but thin enough glass so you DO NOT want to treat it like one of the old very thick and heavy Corning Pyrex glass measuring cups. One reviewer complained that it did not show imperial measures. It does have fluid ounces markings which if you know your conversions means that theoretically it can be used for either American or Imperial measurement recipes. Unfortunately the ounces and milliliters markings are incorrect. The 1 liter mark is actually about 1 quart while the 1 quart mark is at about 28 ounces. 1 liter fills the container just to the point that liquid is just about to run out the spout. This inaccurate marking was verified both with a old American made steel 2 cup measure and a current Pyrex 2 quart measuring pitcher. A nice utility 1 liter pitcher but do not measure with it.\n\nAs for acceptability for stove use. My version as of 2/8/15 has symbols that if I interpret correctly shows that it is safe to use on an electric glass top, a Gas stove with a burner plate or heat diffuser between the glass and flame and in a microwave. Also freezer safe and food safe. For a standard coil electric range I would also use a heat diffuser and I would not put it on any stove top or heat diffuser that was already hot. I found several of the use symbols documented via a Google search but not all of them and they are not shown or explained on the packaging so minus one star.\n\nBTW per the packaging this is made in the Czech Republic in an ISO 9001 approved manufacturing plant.","Product: This is a 5-cup stovetop coffee syphon, 20-ounce. For brewing and serving the perfect-cup of coffee. A wire grid is included for use on electric stoves, the grid is not required for gas stoves. Always use medium or medium high heat. Dishwasher and microwave safe. This is a great price for this style of coffee brewing.. Plus we always carry replacement parts. Directions for use; use a slightly finer grind of coffee. Drop the washable, reusable cloth covered filter into the infussion chamber with the chain hanging down into the glass syphon tube. Pull the chain down until you can hook it to the bottom of the siphon tube. Fill the bottom carafe to the 5 mark with hot water and place 5 measuring spoons of coffee in top chamber. This model works on gas and electric rangetops, and comes with a wire diffuser for use on electric coil burners. Use medium-high heat. It takes about 4 minutes to heat the water, all the water is siphoned to the top chamber and then allow 2 minutes to brew. Once you remove from the heat source, the coffee comes back down to the bottom carafe. Remove the top, placing it in its convertible lid/stand, and bring the pot to the table for serving.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Versatile, ALLOWS OPERATOR CONTROL!\n\nReview: This is a review of the Yama 22 ounce, so called 5 cup stove top brewer. Afraid I find the Yama, Haro and Cona table top vacuum coffee makers obsolete and silly looking items from the Victorian era. In fact the French originals for those designs date back to about 1840.\n\nDoes a outstanding job of brewing coffee and allows adjustments to the brewing process impossible with automatic drip coffee makers. Everything is under the operators control so the amount of coffee used and steeping time are up to you, the operator. This control can at least partly compensate for high altitude which lowers the water brewing temperature, making for \"BLAH\" coffee. The one silly item in the Yama 5 cup design is that there is a slight lip inside the upper area of the carafe making it almost impossible to pour all of the contents when pouring coffee. I am using mine with the Diguo Permanent Coffee Filter (available on Amazon) which does an outstanding job.\n\nI have also added the 8 cup Yama unit to the collection. This is so far as I can find the largest vacuum siphon coffee maker currently made. American makers used to make 12 cup versions in glass or stainless steel which still show up on ebay and Etsy on occasion. Actual water capacity of the Yama lower when filled to the 8 cup line is 42 ounces measured. This gives 2 ounces of water for loss to coffee absorption and evaporation during brewing to end up with approximately 40 ounces of finished coffee.\n\nBoth the 22 and 40 nominal ounce Yama units are excellent vacuum pots but nothing in their technology has changed since about 1940 and IMO there were lots more convenient and easily cleaned filters available with the old American vacuum pots than the cloth filters that Yama still ships as standard. The large gasket American vacuum coffee maker carafes were also a lot easier to clean than the narrow opening Yama vacuum carafes.","Product: The perfect cup of coffee is easy to brew with the Proctor Silex 12 cup Coffeemaker. Enjoy conveniences like auto pause and serve, lighted \"on\" switch, dishwasher safe filter basket and carafe, and easy view water window .\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: A Replacement For Old Faithful!\n\nReview: Subject to change. I just ordered this as a replacement for my Proctor-Silex model A607A which is equally simple, if not more so, and has lasted well over 10 years if memory serves. Even still has the same glass carafe as came with it. The white plastic brewing parts and carafe lid are badly stained where coffee touches them and the reservoir cover pivot pins (plastic) are long gone. The only obvious enhancement on this one compared to my old model is the valve on the carafe fill assembly which allows pouring a cup of coffee before brewing is complete. Hopefully not a disadvantage as it will be if it causes problems down the road. I apparently live in a relatively low water minerals area as I only descaled the original coffee maker once in the time I owned it. I am in Reno, NV. This is being bought primarily as a cheap backup as I also just bought a Cuisinart 14 cup DCC-3200, a quite fancy larger machine. We shall see which lasts the best.\n\nThe old machine was even more idiot proof than this. Look in the filler to check water level and it used a slide in basket to hold the filter and ground coffee so no moveable shower head for water. No valve on the filter basket so it could use any coffee pot at all. A totally unintelligent drip coffee maker with almost nothing to go wrong as long as the water heater and hot plate did not fail. Not a microprocessor in sight. Built on the KISS principle and I hope that the new one will do as well. BTW the old unit was \"Assembled in Mexico\" I note. Can the current makers do as well? We shall see.","Product: Exclusively designed for the Ozeri Collection of Earth Pans (Green Earth, Stone Earth and Stainless Steel Earth Pans), each pan lid is made of professional grade tempered glass and features a steam pressure-release vent. The transparent glass lets you monitor cooking progress without delaying cooking or losing moisture. Each lid is oven-safe to 392 F for the most demanding cooking and baking projects, and includes an insulating Bakelite knob handle that resists heating for safer handling. Dishwasher-safe and lightweight. Satisfaction Guaranteed.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Nicely Made But Hard To Clean\n\nReview: This is a glass lid with a metal edge installed which forms the lip to correctly fit the pan. It has a small non-adjustable vent installed in the glass.\n\nThe noted design problem is that there is a narrow space between the glass and the metal lip where the lip steps in to be the correct diameter to fit the pan. Any food that gets into the narrow area between lid glass and lip is difficult to remove, at least with hand washing. If not removed this could become a health hazard. IMO the lid would be better if all glass construction at the edges or if the glass was smaller in diameter so that the metal edge did not include the step-in and resulting narrow food trapping gap. As is the lid works fine but is a PITA to clean thoroughly, particularly if there has been any boil over or splatter into the noted gap area.\n\nThis also applies to the 8\" lid which I have and presumably to the 10\" size too.","Product: Exclusively designed for the Ozeri Collection of Earth Pans (Green Earth, Stone Earth and Stainless Steel Earth Pans), each pan lid is made of professional grade tempered glass and features a steam pressure-release vent. The transparent glass lets you monitor cooking progress without delaying cooking or losing moisture. Each lid is oven-safe to 392 F for the most demanding cooking and baking projects, and includes an insulating Bakelite knob handle that resists heating for safer handling. Dishwasher-safe and lightweight. Satisfaction Guaranteed.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Well Made but Poor Design\n\nReview: This is a glass lid with a metal edge installed which forms the lip to correctly fit the pan. It has a small vent installed in the glass.\n\nThe noted design problem is that there is a narrow space between the glass and the lip where the lip steps in to be the correct diameter to fit the pan. Any food that gets into the narrow area between lid glass and lip is difficult to remove, at least with hand washing. If not removed this could become a health hazard. IMO the lid would be better if all glass construction at the edges or if the glass was smaller in diameter so that the metal edge did not include the step-in and resulting narrow food trapping gap. As is the lid works fine but is a PITA to clean thoroughly, particularly if there has been any boil over or splatter into the noted gap area.\n\nThis also applies to the 12\" lid which I have and presumably to the 10\" size too.","Product: Sharp is dedicated to improving people's lives through the use of advanced technology and a commitment to innovation, quality, value, and design. The classic dial timer can be set anywhere from 10 seconds to 6 minutes and includes bright LED indicators that permits \"at-a-glace\" monitoring. The 1.0 cubic ft. capacity can accommodate a 13-1/2'' platter, prepackaged foods, single servings or a half-size pan in either direction. When the door is opened during cooking, the remaining time is cancelled; saving energy and increasing the magnetron's life. Stainless steel exterior wrap and interior for easy cleaning and a commercial look. A handy \"on-the-spot\" reference for timesaving convenience is located above the timer with recommended times for heating a variety of popular foods.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Basic and Hopefully Reliable.\n\nReview: A dead simple microwave bought for warming things. So far the one thing I miss is variable power to also give it convenient defrosting capability. Bought primarily for reliability as there are lots of less expensive Microwave ovens with more features at lower prices. Prior microwave ovens in the family have lasted for 20 years to 5 or so. The simplest was the longest lasting and was made in Japan or the USA in about 1975. Indestructible little monster with the same basic 1 dial control as this one.\n\nHopefully the \"Commercial\" means long term reliability. If it does not I will be back to revise this. Considering my age if it survives me it will have done the job.","Product: Features mirror finish opening lever lid with knob black riveted handle and whistles when the water is ready. Limited lifetime warranty. White box.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: NOT IMPLANT GRADE SURGICAL STAINLESS STEEL\n\nReview: A very nice heavy gauge stainless steel water kettle BUT NOT SURGICAL STAINLESS STEEL. It says right on the bottom that it is T304 stainless steel and true implant grade surgical stainless steel is type \"316 LVM ASTM F-138 Certified\" stainless steel. One of the commonest uses of implant grade stainless steel is for the best stainless steel body jewelry as made by Anatometal and Industrial Strength. Very expensive and totally not necessary for this application. The implant grade steel actually typically has a higher percentage of Nickel in the alloy. The 304 grade is slightly magnetic typically, which this kettle is. Type 316 grades are typically totally non magnetic. Both are 18 - 8 family grades of stainless steel and 316 grade is slightly more corrosion resistant. Type 304 is about the most commonly used non hardenable stainless steel used in manufacturing.\n\nAppears to be very well made and polished, also heavy weight. Should be an excellent daily use kettle which should last generations if not mistreated. For best preserving the appearance I suggest removing it from the stove top when cooking items which could spatter on the surface such as when frying things. No point in cooking contaminants onto the very nicely polished and beautiful surface then cleaning them off with abrasive scouring pads and cleaners. Per at least one other review the kettle bottom can be damaged by boiling the kettle dry and continuing to leave the empty kettle on a burner. Under the same conditions a glass kettle will likely break and an aluminum one can melt a hole in itself so no kettle is immune from such mistreatment. Some people can ruin anything!","Product: Hoist your grog aloft in this fiendishly fun tankard! The hearty skull-shaped cup is the perfect vessel to hold 15 oz. of your favorite beverage! Polyresin with steel cup.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Fun Mug With Limited Capacity\n\nReview: Measured capacity is 14 ounces to absolutely full so it is better considered to be about a 12 ounce useable capacity mug in my judgement. It is also quite heavy for the capacity as it weighs about 1.9 pounds when empty.\n\nThe resin body is a well done detailed casting but the fit of the stainless steel insert is looser than I expected. I will try shimming it for a tighter fit as the insert will fall out if the mug is in other than the upright position and it can rattle when being carried or drunk from.\n\nIn my opinion it would be better and look more authentic without the tongue. Who has ever seen a skull that still has an intact tongue? It would also look better if the stainless steel insert was not visible through the eye holes.","Product: SANOXY Micro SDHC to to Memory Stick Pro Duo (Bulk Static Package) Taking advantage of the fact that different digital products today support different memory card specifications, this adapter converts microSD to Memory Stick Pro Duo Adapter. When the Memory Stick Pro Duo Adapter is paired with the microSD card, it becomes compatible with with all devices supporting Sony Memory Pro Duo - including your beloved PSPs. digital cameras, and mobile phones But if you don't want to use it for your sony products, you can select the SD adapter and use it for SD Digital cameras, PDAs, some mobile phones. About the Memory Stick Pro Duo Memory Stick Duo & Memory Stick Pro Duo can be used in digital cameras, mobile phones, PDA's and gaming consoles such as the Sony PSP (Playstation Portable) Memory Stick Duo & Pro Duo are smaller than standard Memory Stick and specifically designed to enable manufacturers to make their new products even smaller. When used in conjunction with an adapter they can be used as a full size Memory Stick Pro in devices such as readers or cameras. Micro SD card to Memory Stick Duo Adapter Features/Specifications: General Features: Fits Memory Stick Duo cards\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Works in older Sony E-book Readers.\n\nReview: Works fine with Sony PRS E-book readers that have a Sony Memory Stick Duo memory expansion slot, dating all the way back to the PRS-505. The PRS-505 had slots both for the Memory Stick Duo and the full size SD card but could take a larger Sony card, up to 8 GB while per the manual while the maximum size for the SD card slot is 2 GB. The later pre T series Sony readers so far as I know could handle memory expansion cards to 32 GB in both expansion slots. Tried in the Sony PRS-505, PRS-600, PRS-650, PRS-900 and PRS-950. This adapter plus a Micro SDHC card up to 32 GB works fine in all but the PRS-505. The old Sony E-book readers are not compatible with a SDXC card per my understanding and the PRS-300 and PRS-350 do not have memory expansion capabilities.","Product: SANOXY Micro SDHC to to Memory Stick Pro Duo (Bulk Static Package) Taking advantage of the fact that different digital products today support different memory card specifications, this adapter converts microSD to Memory Stick Pro Duo Adapter. When the Memory Stick Pro Duo Adapter is paired with the microSD card, it becomes compatible with with all devices supporting Sony Memory Pro Duo - including your beloved PSPs. digital cameras, and mobile phones But if you don't want to use it for your sony products, you can select the SD adapter and use it for SD Digital cameras, PDAs, some mobile phones. About the Memory Stick Pro Duo Memory Stick Duo & Memory Stick Pro Duo can be used in digital cameras, mobile phones, PDA's and gaming consoles such as the Sony PSP (Playstation Portable) Memory Stick Duo & Pro Duo are smaller than standard Memory Stick and specifically designed to enable manufacturers to make their new products even smaller. When used in conjunction with an adapter they can be used as a full size Memory Stick Pro in devices such as readers or cameras. Micro SD card to Memory Stick Duo Adapter Features/Specifications: General Features: Fits Memory Stick Duo cards\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Works in older Sony E-book Readers.\n\nReview: Works fine with Sony PRS E-book readers that have a Sony Memory Stick Duo memory expansion slot, dating all the way back to the PRS-505. The PRS-505 had slots both for the Memory Stick Duo and the full size SD card but could take a larger Sony card, up to 8 GB while per the manual while the maximum size for the SD card slot is 2 GB. The later pre T series Sony readers so far as I know could handle memory expansion cards to 32 GB in both expansion slots. Tried in the Sony PRS-505, PRS-600, PRS-650, PRS-900 and PRS-950. This adapter plus a Micro SDHC card up to 32 GB works fine in all but the PRS-505. The old Sony E-book readers are not compatible with a SDXC card per my understanding and the PRS-300 and PRS-350 do not have memory expansion capabilities.","Product: One stainless steel bracelet. 31mm wide curb chain design, tongue clasp. Very heavy, about 270g for 8.3\" (21.1cm) bracelet. Highly polished surface. Comes with a gift bag.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Heavy Duty And Thick\n\nReview: This is a very heavy weight and heavy duty bracelet. I bought the longest version which turned out to be too loose but after removing one link, which shortened it by 3/4\" actual, it is just right. Laid out flat mine is now a measured 8.625\" long to the flat stop behind the male locking tongue. This provides a snug fit on my 7.5\" wrist, tight enough so no possibility of getting a finger between the bracelet and wrist when worn. The greater length required for the bracelet is due to the thickness of it which means that when placed on the wrist the effective bracelet radius is greater than the wrist size. Take this into consideration when ordering. For these long heavy bracelets allow a inch or a bit more of additional length compared to your measured wrist circumference. Otherwise the bracelet may be too snug.\n\nIMO a very good looking item but it is thick and heavy. Definitely noticeable when worn. Before shortening mine weighed 11 ounces.","Product: Pletscher Double Leg Bottom Bracket Mount Bicycle Kickstand\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: I like it !\n\nReview: An excellent and stable design. I had no problem installing it on my Swobo Dixon. It does require trimming of the legs if you want to minimize the height of the bike when on the stand but IMO this adds to the versatility as to the frame sizes it will fit. The mounting bolt was plenty long for me.\n\nUsers should note that with the foldup design of the stand it is not possible to just roll the bike off of the stand as can be done with dual leg bicycle stands that more closely resemble motorcycle center stands such as the Hebie Bipod and clones. The design of the Esge Plescher stand though is such that it is much more out of the way when folded up.","Product: Blackburn's most powerful rear flasher - 1 Watt Ultra Bright Red LED - 2 Amber Side LED's - 50 hour runtime steady; 150 hour runtime flash - No tool battery installation - Two AAA batteries included - Versatile mounting system with rack adaptor\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Very Bright But Could Be Improved\n\nReview: The brightest integrated battery taillight I have seen when viewed directly from behind. Much brighter than the Planet Bike Superflash by direct comparison. Can even be used as a night vision flashlight when off of the bike and it is brighter than most dedicated night vision flashlights I have tried when so used. Quite compact design similar in overall size to the Planet Bike Superflash. As another reviewer noted the only taillight that is brighter is the DiNotte and it starts at $130 or so and requires an external battery pack.\n\nLike most bright bike taillights the brightest beam is quite narrow so it is less visible when viewed from a side angle. I would prefer that the two side LEDs be brighter than they are for added side visibility. The side LEDs on my unit appear to be more green than amber in color.\n\nThe light includes a rack mount compatible with two vertical hole reflector mounts as found on many bike cargo racks sold in the USA. The rack mount is not compatible with European bike racks which have two horizontal holes typically spaced 50mm apart for reflector or light mounting such as Tubus racks. The optional Planet bike tail light rack mount is in contrast designed to fit either type of rack light mount but is not included as standard with the Planet bike light.\n\nThe on/off/mode select switch is quite small and difficult to use with gloves on, an annoyance in my opinion.\n\nImprovements I would like to see:\n\nBrighter side LEDs\nLarger switch\nMore versatile rack mount bracket\n\nOverall I am impressed with the light output of the unit for its size and weight. If you want a bright taillight at reasonable cost this is currently THE brightest I am aware of. I have not had it long enough to see what battery life is going to be.","Product: Alfine Dynamo front hub with an ultra-efficient and virtually drag-free 3.0 watt power supply can be used to power front lights and comes with a center lock rotor option if this brakes are desired.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Works Well With Proper Headlight Choice\n\nReview: I have the Shimano Alfine dynamo hub on my Civia Hyland bike. It works well and is capable of providing enough current to give plenty of light with the proper choice of headlight. I like the convenience of not having to worry about carrying fresh batteries or making sure a rechargeable battery has enough charge.\n\nPerformance is dependent on the headlight you choose. The brightest Dynamo headlights available include the following ones: All are LED dynamo headlights.\n\nSupernova E3 Triple\nSupernova E3 Pro\nSchmidt Edelux\nBusch & Muller IQ Cyo\nLight On Dynamo Light\n\nAll of these have a \"Standlight\" function which keeps the light shining for some time after stopping, a safety feature. All of them also have a connector on the headlight to run a dynamo taillight too.","Product: The Fury Butterfly Trainer from Joy Enterprises is all you need from a trainer. A blade from 440C stainless and blunted completely around so it will not cut you as you swing and fling. The handle is matte finished and features a skelatonized frame. The trainer also has a latch to secure the knife in the open and closed position.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Excellent For The Price!\n\nReview: This is an all stainless steel Balisong trainer, except for the aluminum latch, which means the blade is blunt and not designed to actually cut anything, including you the user! The handles are sandwich construction rather than one piece, typical for most balisongs construction including some quite expensive ones. The handle parts and blade are nicely machined and have a bead blasted matte finish. Assembly is by the use of round head hex drive metric fasteners, not Torx ones. This allows tightening and adjustment of the assembly fasteners but for reliability the fasteners MUST BE LOCTITED TO PREVENT FREQUENT LOOSENING and potential loss.\n\nThe loosening problem is noted by several reviewers and has lead to poor ratings from them. This is an inherent problem with many knives that use screws for assembly, as many modern ones do. Due to the forces involved in Balisong \"flipping\" fastener loosening is even more common on Balisongs than most other knife designs. Considering the low cost of this trainer invest in some Loctite and do the job yourself before any extensive use. Otherwise it almost certainly will give problems.\n\nThe other potential problem is loosening of the pressed in tang pins which are the pins that prevent blade side movement with the handles closed together. There are two of them on this knife. These can potentially loosen. If they do I can fix things on mine as I am a hobbyist machinist and can fit replacement pins. If you cannot fix them then contact the importer to see if there is a warranty on the knife or buy another for less than $10. IMO this is a decent product for the price if given reasonable care.","Product: Type: lockback; closed: 3.75\"; blade: 2.5\" L AUS-8A stainless L standard edge L satin finish; handle: black L Griv-Ex; other info: thumb Slot L lanyard hole L pocket clip. Tri-ad lock. Boxed.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Very secure in hand when opened\n\nReview: Very comfortable and secure when open. The two finger choil, with the front one half on the blade rear extension behind the cutting edge, make for a very secure grip and make the handle feel even larger than it is.\n\nFor Nevada residents the blade is legally just under 2\", the actual measured sharpened edge length. This makes it legal for carry in Reno parks which have a <2\" blade sharpened length ordinance. This Nevada interpretation of legal blade length is based on state supreme court decisions per the Nevada knife laws web site.\n\nThe only negative I have noted is that the blade lock spring is a bit on the stiff side IMO, making closing more difficult than necessary. Also the blade shape will be considered a bit odd by some as it puts the sharpened edge in the same position as on a standard box cutter utility knife.","Product: GE Enbrighten 360 Bright White Latern, 350 Lumens\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Disappointing Output For It's Size and Claimed Brightness\n\nReview: The design minimizes glare unless you stare directly at the emitter but the output is lower than I expected. I did a direct comparison of this with a new Streamlight 44931 The Siege Compact Lantern and the Streamlight has greater output based on how well it lit up my bedroom with all other lights off and both lanterns in the same position. They are rated as almost identical Lumens output as the Streamlight claims 340 Lumens out while the GE claims 350. Both were running on NiMH rechargeable high capacity D batteries, just charged. I also compared it with the Coleman 1000 Lumen CPX 6 lantern at it's medium output level which is specifies as being 330 Lumens and the Coleman had quite noticeably higher output. Again the Coleman was powered by high capacity D size NiMH batteries. The Coleman lists shorter run time at medium output than the GE for the same number and type of batteries but that can be expected based on it's very noticeable greater light output. There is no free lunch!\n\nBased on claimed run times and outputs the LED and circuitry in the GE is equal to the Streamlight in efficiency. On Max with three alkaline batteries the Streamlight claims a 30 hour run time while with one additional battery of the same size and type the GE claims 40 hours at it's maximum output level. Still as noted above the Streamlight seems to have quite noticeably greater output on maximum. When fully loaded with eight batteries the GE has much longer run times but it is also MUCH LARGER and heavier than the Streamlight. A consideration for camping but not as much so for use as an emergency light. The GE lantern is in most dimensions actually larger and heavier than the 1000 Lumens Coleman!\n\nAll the lights are plastic except for the electronics but the GE has been given a finish that makes it look like chromed steel. It does make for a distinctive and flashy appearance.\n\nOverall a good lantern with interesting features such as the opening top handle for ease of hanging it up and the ability to run on either 4 or 8 batteries at full brightness. To me the major disappointment is that it appears to have a noticeably exaggerated output listed or the Streamlight and Coleman lanterns are considerably under rated, unlikely in my opinion. At Amazon's price for both the GE is less expensive but if you are buying per actual Lumens output or for camping use the Streamlight is a better buy in my opinion while if absolute maximum output is wanted, at a higher price, the 1000 Lumens Coleman is currently the brightest LED lantern available.","Product: The LumiLoupe Ultra from Carson is the perfect aid for reading fine print or examining intricate details on coins, stamps and so much more. The LumiLoupe Ultra is a 5x power ergonomically designed acrylic stand magnifier. It has a 2.5 inch lens diameter that is ideal for table-top usage. The LumiLoupe Ultra has three specially aligned, pre-focused acrylic lenses for high power magnifying capabilities. There are six ultra bright LED lights spaced around the base with three different brightness levels for a customizable viewing experience. Its ergonomic design offers textured finger grips at either side of the device and a tapered base with a conveniently located on/off toggle switch. The LL-88 allows one to read for an extended period of time without having to hold a magnifier. This magnifier is powered by 3 AAA batteries (not included) and is backed by Carson's limited lifetime warranty. At Carson, we strive to make sure our customers are 100% satisfied with the quality of our magnifiers. We are so confident in our magnifiers that we back them with a Lifetime Limited Warranty! Carson will repair or replace your magnifier if it is found to have manufacturing defects in materials or workmanship. Please contact Carson for additional warranty details.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: For Best Results the Eye to Magnifier Distance is Important.\n\nReview: Based on the 65mm or 2.5\" diameter top lens and the non adjustable factory focus setting this is designed primarily for reading small print rather than as a loupe used close to the eye. Best focus is achieved when the magnifier base is against the item being examined and the eye about 10\" or so above the top lens so it is used more like a magnifying glass than a loupe. Attempted use with the eye close to the lens causes items to be out of focus and the focus is not adjustable other than by lifting the magnifier away from the item being examined. The illumination works well and I expect the three AAA batteries to last for a long time due to large capacity compared to coin cells.\n\nDecent optical quality with minimal distortion if used as noted. If you want a similar relatively low power large loupe style magnifier designed for use close to the eye then get the Carson LumiLoupe Plus 6x Power Focusable Stand Loupe Magnifier (LO-06).","Product: Staedtler Mechanical Pencil 771, 1.3mm Lead\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Good Pencil For Large Hands\n\nReview: Great if you like fat pens and pencils though it is mostly plastic construction. The grp area is rubberized. Seems to be well made and it has a good long eraser. I note that one question asked was about the eraser. The Pentel Clic eraser is the same diameter and over twice as long so two full length replacement erasers for the Graphite 771 can be cut from one of the Pentel Clic erasers or Clic eraser refills. Press the red end to advance the lead and twist it to adjust eraser protrusion. I got the lead reservoir under the eraser holder to hold five leads in addition to the one in the advance mechanism. Pull the eraser and red holder straight up to access the reservoir.","Product: Micro Bit 1/4 Drive Tool Adapter - 2.3L WARNING: This product can expose you to chemicals which is [are] known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm. For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: System 4 Bits to 1/4\" Hex Driver Adapter\n\nReview: A must have if you want to get maximum use from Wiha System 4 4mm hex bits. It also fits other 4mm diameter hex bits such as the Maxtech bits sold by Amazon. The double ended 4mm bits made by Victorinox for the bit holders on some of their larger Swiss Army knives will not fit this holder/adapter which is only for single ended bits.\n\nThis adapter allows the 4mm bits to be used with standard 1/4\" hex bit holders and drive handles such as Brownells Magna-Tip, Wiha and Wera drive handles and bit holders. Considering the size of many of the 4mm bits tips I would be very careful about trying to use them in a power driver with this adapter even though it is called a power tool adapter.\n\nThe adapter fits into the Wiha bits plastic box that has spaces for up to 24 bits. It fits in the area above the bit storage slots.","Product: People say the SlimJim XL is so light and compact they forget its in their pocket that is, until they need it. And, when they do, a quick flick of the thumb and the worlds slimmest assisted folding knife springs into action. Thats thanks to SOG Assisted Technology (S.A.T.), a system of opposing high-tension springs that propels the blade open instantly once you give it a flick.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Folded Sheet Steel Stampings Design\n\nReview: This is a thin bladed knife with the frame made almost completely from sheet steel stampings. Overall thinness and light weight for the blade length seem to have been the overriding design factors and they appear to have overruled both practicality and strength. The opening assist spring only propels the blade for about 45 to 60 degrees of it's 180 degree opening travel arc so the blade does not always open fully to the locked open position. This is risky for a knife carried for utility purposes and could be fatal if it is needed for defensive use.\n\nWhile the safety lock on mine is secure for now the design is such that it looks like it will become loose, as noted by other reviewers, fairly quickly if the knife is actually carried and used. Again it is folded thin gauge sheet steel and a minimalist design, like the rest of the knife overall.\n\nUnless minimalist weight and thickness are overriding purchase considerations take a look at some of the similar priced Kershaw or Gerber spring assist knives offered by Amazon and Amazon sellers as they are more satisfactory and stronger folding knives IMO.","Product: Designed as the ultimate EDC (every day carry), the Atom collection features a simple two-mode interface, extended runtimes, and a neodymium magnet embedded in the tail for quick attachment to any ferrous surface. The ultra-thin and durable bead-blasted stainless steel casing is barely bigger than the battery it contains. Sleek and fashionable, the Atom is the most practical FOURSEVENS flashlight. Every keychain should have an Atom.\n\nUnlike most of our lights, the lights in the Atom collection are flood-type lights and do not have a parabolic reflector. This removes the hot spot and gives you a very smooth, wide viewing angle, allowing you to get the most out of your peripheral vision. Atom lights are ideal for doing close-up work such as automotive repair, where seeing everything nearby is more important than seeing at a distance.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Smallest CR123 Light I Know Of\n\nReview: Very wide beam with no center hot spot visible so Lux reading is going to be low compared to a narrower beam flashlight with a normal reflector layout. What is the reflector around the LED in a normal light is a glow in the dark plastic disc on this one and the beam angle is in the 127 degree range per Four Sevens specifications. At 20\" from a flat surface the beam is 80 inches in diameter. This makes for an excellent keychain light for illuminating relatively close objects without blinding the user with glare. The smallest CR123 light in my collection so the most practical for a key chain or neck lanyard carry light IMO but probably not good for those with arthritis limited grip strength or hand mobility limitations due to the small size. If you find twisting operation too stiff then lubricate the O ring and threads with silicone grease. Eases operation and keep the O ring from breaking. The best price I have found for CR123 batteries is Battery Junction which has them for a buck apiece + shipping.","Product: Ryobi 1322401 18V 1.5 Ah Ni-Cd Battery by Titan 18 Volt NiCad Powertool Battery for Ryobi Titan Brand- 100% Compatible CTH1802K Power Tools. 1.5Ah, Nicad, Compatible with the following OEM part numbers Ryobi 1322401 Ryobi 1400672 Ryobi 1323303 This product also fits these models Ryobi CTH1802K Ryobi 2 year warranty - 100% compatible - High Quality Plastics and Cells\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Different P/N But it Fits & Works\n\nReview: I ordered Ryobi 18V NiCd battery 1322401 for an old Ryobi HP1802M drill and a VC180 hand vacuum. The battery received is a Ryobi One+ NiCd battery with P/N 130224028 marked on the label.\n\nEven though it is not the listed part number the battery charged fine in my old P/N 1423701 18V Ryobi charger, fits in both the drill and vacuum cleaner and seems to operate them fine.\n\nThis is good to find out as Ryobi's web site does not even list my old part number drill, battery or charger and I have not been able to find a listing of what are supposed to be cross compatible batteries and chargers for older Ryobi equipment. My chargers, drill, vacuum and original batteries are all from 2002. At least for 18V NiCd battery equipment it appears that the One+ NiCd batteries are compatible back to 2002 age Ryobi equipment.","Product: Wera Kraftform handles features a large contact zone that provides a large amount of friction with the soft zones. Integrated soft zones in handle bulge, transfer high tightening/loosening forces without losing contact with screws. Precision zone at blade provides better feel for rotational angle during fine adjustment work. Anti-roll protection stops screwdrivers from rolling away at the workplace. Wera The Best Tools For The Job!\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Nice but Needs Clearer Description\n\nReview: The only way to know that this is a \"bayonet\" feature Wera screwdriver is from the photos which show the bit holder in both the fully inserted and extended positions. No where in the listing is this feature made clear. The same is true of the Wera web site description though. Also note that the quick release bit holder assembly is removeable from the handle and can be used in other 1/4\" hex driver handles if desired. It is even available on Amazon as a separate item. It is the Wera 889/4 R bit holder.\n\nThe bit holder when extended increases the overall length of the driver by about 45mm or just under 2\". This is handy in situations where more hand clearance is needed.\n\nOverall typical Wera German quality at a also typical German premium price but you get what you pay for when it comes to tools I have generally found.","Product: Ginsberg Scientific Precision Gyroscope is a high quality gyroscope that runs 3 min string started and 5 min with mechanical starter. Low-cost gyroscope with brass rotor is dynamically balanced and rotates in adjustable teflon bearings. It comes with plastic gimbal, rocker, weight set and detailed instructions.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Built To A Price\n\nReview: This is a demonstration gyroscope with gimbals designed to be used in a teaching environment rather than as a toy. Toy gyroscopes do not include gimbals and have a guard ring around the rotor so that the rotor will not hit the surface when the gyroscope slows down and tips over.\n\nI found a much better price than the Amazon vendor offers so did not buy through Amazon. Based on photos though this one is identical to what I bought.\n\nThe low rating is based on what I consider to be poor constrution of the unit. The rotor is not well balanced so vibrates at high rotating speed and the bearing cones on the end of the rotor shaft are poorly machined and rough. The run down time is thus quite short compared to my other gyroscopes including a under $8.00 toy one which runs over twice as long.","Product: These are highly polished solid metal flip over tops. They have a chrome like finish and are excellently machined. Simply spin it as normal and watch it suddenly flip over and then continue to spin upside-down. These flip over tops (often known as a The Tippe Top) were originally invented in 1950 by the Danish engineer Werner Ostberg. His inspiration can from a visit to South America where he had seen local people playing with a small, round fruit. When they turned it by the stalk like an old-fashioned spinning top, it would spin for a second and then invert and spin on the stalk. However some credit should be given to Helene Sperl who in 1891 patented a Wendekreisel in Germany. However the patent ran out and it was never mass produced. These tops are made from polished aluminium and are 29mm in diameter.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: A Neat Little Top\n\nReview: An interesting toy that, when given a good spin using the stem, flips over and balances on the stem due to weight distribution and shape. It needs a fair amount of smooth table top until you gain experience in starting it to minimize skating around on the flat surface. The smoother the table top the better. The way it ends up on the narrow end when spun is similar to how a hard boiled egg, when spun fast enough on its side, has the vertical axis move so it stands up on the narrow end while spinning.\n\nThe one received is silver color rather than black and is high polished machined aluminum so far as I can tell. A quality and smooth machining job. It looks virtually unbreakable unless you step on it with hard soled shoes as it is relatively thick walled metal.\n\nBTW it is shipped from England so do not expect extremely fast arrival. Mine took about 8 days via Royal Air Mail.","Product: The Super Precision Gyroscope has been designed and built to the highest precision from the very start, made from solid brass with a light-weight aluminium frame. Carefully chosen stainless-steel miniature ball bearings allow it to run smoothly and almost silently. The gyroscope operates up to 12,000 revolutions per minute using the provided electric motor and battery pack. The motor can be fastened to the gyroscope with two screws providing hours of continuous use or it can be used briefly to start it, allowing you to perform experiments for around 7 minutes. The gyroscope comes with a number of attachments allowing numerous configurations to perform scientific, educational or simply mesmerising experiments. \n\n\n\nThe gyroscope comes with 2 x 50 mm long stainless steel extension rods, 2 x ball ends, 1 x slotted end. The rods when screwed together will extend 100mm, they can be screwed in other positions to create gimbals etc. There are 7 places on the frame of gyroscope that the attachments can be screwed into. Electric motor and battery pack. Batteries are not included.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: A True Precision Instrument\n\nReview: In my view this gyroscope is NOT really a toy but a educational demonstration unit. I did not buy it from Amazon but directly from gyroscope.com in England as I wanted the gimbals accessory and the spare rotor bearings and replacement tool set, items not yet listed on Amazon. Hopefully they will be available here shortly.\n\nSo far as I have been able to find this is the only currently available gyroscope that uses a motor to spin it up. The motor is powered by 4 AA cells, not included. The rotor is quite massive at about 112 grams and per the manufacturer the motor spins it up to 12,000 RPM. Due to precision build the gyroscope is surprisingly quiet and smooth operating at that speed and the massive rotor, and good bearings, give a considerable run time even with the motor detached after it gets the gyro up to speed.\n\nThis is the most versatile gyroscope Amazon offers in that it can be configured the same as \"toy\" gyroscopes without gimbals for mounting or with the gimbals accessory available from gyroscope.com. In the basic \"toy\" configuration it can balance on a glass, a string or do any of the other gyroscope tricks seen in illustrations of toy gyroscopes. With the gimbals accessory setup it becomes a typical college lab type demonstration gyroscope useful in teaching Physics mechanics principles. An additional accessory is available to configure it to illustrate the principles of a \"rate gyro\" as used in aircraft instrumentation too.\n\nIt should be the most reliable unit available as replacement rotor support minature ball bearings are available from the manufacturer. He does warn that the bearings can be damaged if the unit is dropped or mistreated which is why replacements are offered.\n\nBased on appearance, feel and documentation this is THE Gyroscope to get if you appreciate precision engineering and like very nice quality \"toys\", either for serious educational purposes or as an executive toy for science geeks. In my opinion this is NOT a kids toy and considering the rotor rotational speed and energy in it I would not recommend it for kids under 12 or so without close adult supervision. Price alone moves it outside the normal \"toy gyroscope\" category."],"string":"[\n \"Product: Make extremely precise measurements with this high quality stainless steel caliper. The EZ Cal digital caliper is fast and accurate - no more eyestrain or guesswork, thanks to its Super large LCD display. It features adjustable jaws that read inside and outside dimensions, and also has an extension rod for depth measurements. The readout shows the entire measurement in inches to 0.0005 inch, millimeters to 0.01mm and Fractions of an inch to 1/128 inch. Auto off/on and auto zero functions are available at the touch of a button. Its humidity and dust resistance. Comes packaged in a sturdy plastic storage case with an extra 3V CR2032 battery.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Large Display and Smooth Operation\\n\\nReview: About the nicest Chinese origin digital calipers I have seen, both the 4\\\" and this 12\\\" capacity versions. Both use the same basic slider so far as I can tell with the 12\\\" just having deeper jaws. They even use the same dimension beams as far as width and thickness are concerned. Much cleaner machining and smoother operation as received than Chinese digital calipers I have purchased from other sources in the past. Considering the cost of a similar capacity Mitutoyo, SPI or American made digital caliper this is quite a bargain if it lasts any time at all.\\n\\nThe display is about 15mm high and 52mm long with 14mm high digits so it is huge compared to most. Presumably not a problem with a 12\\\" or 300mm capacity caliper but it may be a concern with the smaller capacity versions for some users.\\n\\nInstructions are minimal but the units have automatic off after about 5 minutes of inactivity. In fractional operating mode they increment in 1/128\\\" steps or every .008\\\" approximately. The battery fits in a sliding drawer on the head with a rubber seal that appears to be subject to possible mispositioning or damage during drawer closure which could, I suspect, possibly affect the claimed IP54 dust and coolant resistance rating.\",\n \"Product: Professional high precision tool! depth measuring base allows the conversion of a standard caliper to a depth gauge. It attaches to the bottom end of calipers to aid depth measurement. Its locking nut secures the base to the caliper. Made of stainless steel, high precision ground and hardened easily attached with screw knob. No modification to caliper. Allow using a standard caliper as a depth gauge accommodates blades up to 5/8 inch or 16mm wide total span 2.93 inch.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: A Handy Caliper Accessory\\n\\nReview: A very useful accessory that fits most calipers with a standard 16mm or 5/8\\\" beam width. This includes 4\\\" through 8\\\" Mitutoyo and IGaging digital calipers and most other calipers in this range, though not all. Some 4\\\" digital calipers have a narrower beam and 12\\\" and wider calipers have a wider beam at 20mm. Do not over tighten the thumb screw clamp as the clamp end on it is metal and risks damaging the caliper beam if over tightened, particularly if installed on a inexpensive polycarbonate or carbon fiber calipers.\\n\\n^This is a best buy if purchased with the IGaging 6\\\" Absolute Origin \\\"With Fractions\\\" caliper as it is included with it for a price premium of only $10.00.\",\n \"Product: Communicate. Collaborate. Connect to the World. Delivering the power you need with the ease of use you want, Corel WordPerfect Suite 8 unleashes your full productivity potential. Take advantage of leading-edge collaboration and productivity tools and advanced Web technology that lets you connect to the world. Corel WordPerfect Suite 8. It's pure communication power.\\n\\nWhy Corel WordPerfect Suite 8 Pro? Because it's easy to use, it's streamlined interface helps productivity, it's rapid start is speedy, it integrates well between core applications, and it gets you on the web by writing HTML. Includes:\\n\\n* Corel WordPerfect * Corel Quattro Pro * Corel Presentations * Corel Paradox * CorelCENTRAL * Corel WEB.SiteBuilder * Corel Time Line * Corel Barista * Envoy Viewer * Envoy Printer Driver * SGML * Netscape Browsing * Quick View Plus * Bitstream Font Navigator 2.0 * SDK * 1000+ Fonts, Photos, Clipart * Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia Deluxe Edition\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Old Version For Older Operating Systems\\n\\nReview: Unless you are running a very old version of Windows this version of Wordperfect is not recommended. I have an old dual processor HP VX6/200 upraded to 333 MHZ P2 Overdrive processors that still runs Windows 2000. It is also set up dual boot on the hard drive with DOS 6.22 as one of the available operating systems. It has WP DOS 6.2 installed in the DOS boot area and WP Suite 8 is about the most stable and similar version of WP available for older versions of Windows per the WPUniverse WP support site. This is a 16 bit Windows version so needs a 32 bit processor as the newest that can run it in a native mode per my understanding. That means very few new computers are likely to run this old version.\\n\\nThe version I received is the still sealed full commercial CD package of \\\"Corel Wordperfect Suite 8 Professional\\\" with full printed documentation which weighs 4.5 pounds as delivered. IMO too bad that documentation for programs has vanished as something included with them.\",\n \"Product: Use the Kuhn Rikon Energy Saver/Flame Protector to disperse heat from gas burners evenly. They actually help speed cooking. This oversized aluminum disk concentrates flame and directs it to where it's needed for greater energy efficiency even on the smallest pots or pans. Prevents scorching of your fine stainless steel cookware, Swiss Durotherm cookware or Duromatic Pressure Cooker by gas flames. Non-stick coated for easy cleaning. For use on gas stoves ONLY. 11-inch diameter\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Works well depending on pans used with it.\\n\\nReview: Appears to be simply a black hard anodized aluminum disc that is 240mm or 9.5\\\" in diameter and 6mm or just under .250\\\" thick. For true flat bottomed pots and pans it will work quite well at eliminating hot spots. It may not work as well though for older thin metal or warped bottom pots and pans that do not make even contact with it. Such items will still develop hot spots at points of best contact with the plate.\\n\\nIt is an effective enough heat sink and heat retainer so that when using it the quick response to changed settings of a gas burner is greatly slowed down so lowering the flame takes much longer to have a noticeable effect on the contents of a pan that is on the Kuhn Rikon plate. IMO this can be a disadvantage and needs to be planned for.\\n\\nLooking at it I do feel that it is overpriced for what it is as I suspect that a simple flat piece of aluminum plate of similar thickness, as offered by Amazon in 12\\\" squares and larger pieces, should do about as well. The operating physics is the same. The hard anodized finish on this may well be more easily kept clean though.\",\n \"Product: Simax 4 cup Cooking and Measuring Cup combines elegant design and transparency with excellent heat and chemical resistance. Heat resistant Borosilicate Glass is resistant to thermal shock, plus this glass will not chemically interact with your food in any way. Each piece is made of recycled glass and does not contain any Cadmium or Lead. The hard surface of the glass ensures hygienic and health conscious cooking and is dishwasher safe.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Nice But Needs Symbols Explanation and ounce and liter markings are inaccurate\\n\\nReview: Very nicely made but thin enough glass so you DO NOT want to treat it like one of the old very thick and heavy Corning Pyrex glass measuring cups. One reviewer complained that it did not show imperial measures. It does have fluid ounces markings which if you know your conversions means that theoretically it can be used for either American or Imperial measurement recipes. Unfortunately the ounces and milliliters markings are incorrect. The 1 liter mark is actually about 1 quart while the 1 quart mark is at about 28 ounces. 1 liter fills the container just to the point that liquid is just about to run out the spout. This inaccurate marking was verified both with a old American made steel 2 cup measure and a current Pyrex 2 quart measuring pitcher. A nice utility 1 liter pitcher but do not measure with it.\\n\\nAs for acceptability for stove use. My version as of 2/8/15 has symbols that if I interpret correctly shows that it is safe to use on an electric glass top, a Gas stove with a burner plate or heat diffuser between the glass and flame and in a microwave. Also freezer safe and food safe. For a standard coil electric range I would also use a heat diffuser and I would not put it on any stove top or heat diffuser that was already hot. I found several of the use symbols documented via a Google search but not all of them and they are not shown or explained on the packaging so minus one star.\\n\\nBTW per the packaging this is made in the Czech Republic in an ISO 9001 approved manufacturing plant.\",\n \"Product: This is a 5-cup stovetop coffee syphon, 20-ounce. For brewing and serving the perfect-cup of coffee. A wire grid is included for use on electric stoves, the grid is not required for gas stoves. Always use medium or medium high heat. Dishwasher and microwave safe. This is a great price for this style of coffee brewing.. Plus we always carry replacement parts. Directions for use; use a slightly finer grind of coffee. Drop the washable, reusable cloth covered filter into the infussion chamber with the chain hanging down into the glass syphon tube. Pull the chain down until you can hook it to the bottom of the siphon tube. Fill the bottom carafe to the 5 mark with hot water and place 5 measuring spoons of coffee in top chamber. This model works on gas and electric rangetops, and comes with a wire diffuser for use on electric coil burners. Use medium-high heat. It takes about 4 minutes to heat the water, all the water is siphoned to the top chamber and then allow 2 minutes to brew. Once you remove from the heat source, the coffee comes back down to the bottom carafe. Remove the top, placing it in its convertible lid/stand, and bring the pot to the table for serving.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Versatile, ALLOWS OPERATOR CONTROL!\\n\\nReview: This is a review of the Yama 22 ounce, so called 5 cup stove top brewer. Afraid I find the Yama, Haro and Cona table top vacuum coffee makers obsolete and silly looking items from the Victorian era. In fact the French originals for those designs date back to about 1840.\\n\\nDoes a outstanding job of brewing coffee and allows adjustments to the brewing process impossible with automatic drip coffee makers. Everything is under the operators control so the amount of coffee used and steeping time are up to you, the operator. This control can at least partly compensate for high altitude which lowers the water brewing temperature, making for \\\"BLAH\\\" coffee. The one silly item in the Yama 5 cup design is that there is a slight lip inside the upper area of the carafe making it almost impossible to pour all of the contents when pouring coffee. I am using mine with the Diguo Permanent Coffee Filter (available on Amazon) which does an outstanding job.\\n\\nI have also added the 8 cup Yama unit to the collection. This is so far as I can find the largest vacuum siphon coffee maker currently made. American makers used to make 12 cup versions in glass or stainless steel which still show up on ebay and Etsy on occasion. Actual water capacity of the Yama lower when filled to the 8 cup line is 42 ounces measured. This gives 2 ounces of water for loss to coffee absorption and evaporation during brewing to end up with approximately 40 ounces of finished coffee.\\n\\nBoth the 22 and 40 nominal ounce Yama units are excellent vacuum pots but nothing in their technology has changed since about 1940 and IMO there were lots more convenient and easily cleaned filters available with the old American vacuum pots than the cloth filters that Yama still ships as standard. The large gasket American vacuum coffee maker carafes were also a lot easier to clean than the narrow opening Yama vacuum carafes.\",\n \"Product: The perfect cup of coffee is easy to brew with the Proctor Silex 12 cup Coffeemaker. Enjoy conveniences like auto pause and serve, lighted \\\"on\\\" switch, dishwasher safe filter basket and carafe, and easy view water window .\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: A Replacement For Old Faithful!\\n\\nReview: Subject to change. I just ordered this as a replacement for my Proctor-Silex model A607A which is equally simple, if not more so, and has lasted well over 10 years if memory serves. Even still has the same glass carafe as came with it. The white plastic brewing parts and carafe lid are badly stained where coffee touches them and the reservoir cover pivot pins (plastic) are long gone. The only obvious enhancement on this one compared to my old model is the valve on the carafe fill assembly which allows pouring a cup of coffee before brewing is complete. Hopefully not a disadvantage as it will be if it causes problems down the road. I apparently live in a relatively low water minerals area as I only descaled the original coffee maker once in the time I owned it. I am in Reno, NV. This is being bought primarily as a cheap backup as I also just bought a Cuisinart 14 cup DCC-3200, a quite fancy larger machine. We shall see which lasts the best.\\n\\nThe old machine was even more idiot proof than this. Look in the filler to check water level and it used a slide in basket to hold the filter and ground coffee so no moveable shower head for water. No valve on the filter basket so it could use any coffee pot at all. A totally unintelligent drip coffee maker with almost nothing to go wrong as long as the water heater and hot plate did not fail. Not a microprocessor in sight. Built on the KISS principle and I hope that the new one will do as well. BTW the old unit was \\\"Assembled in Mexico\\\" I note. Can the current makers do as well? We shall see.\",\n \"Product: Exclusively designed for the Ozeri Collection of Earth Pans (Green Earth, Stone Earth and Stainless Steel Earth Pans), each pan lid is made of professional grade tempered glass and features a steam pressure-release vent. The transparent glass lets you monitor cooking progress without delaying cooking or losing moisture. Each lid is oven-safe to 392 F for the most demanding cooking and baking projects, and includes an insulating Bakelite knob handle that resists heating for safer handling. Dishwasher-safe and lightweight. Satisfaction Guaranteed.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Nicely Made But Hard To Clean\\n\\nReview: This is a glass lid with a metal edge installed which forms the lip to correctly fit the pan. It has a small non-adjustable vent installed in the glass.\\n\\nThe noted design problem is that there is a narrow space between the glass and the metal lip where the lip steps in to be the correct diameter to fit the pan. Any food that gets into the narrow area between lid glass and lip is difficult to remove, at least with hand washing. If not removed this could become a health hazard. IMO the lid would be better if all glass construction at the edges or if the glass was smaller in diameter so that the metal edge did not include the step-in and resulting narrow food trapping gap. As is the lid works fine but is a PITA to clean thoroughly, particularly if there has been any boil over or splatter into the noted gap area.\\n\\nThis also applies to the 8\\\" lid which I have and presumably to the 10\\\" size too.\",\n \"Product: Exclusively designed for the Ozeri Collection of Earth Pans (Green Earth, Stone Earth and Stainless Steel Earth Pans), each pan lid is made of professional grade tempered glass and features a steam pressure-release vent. The transparent glass lets you monitor cooking progress without delaying cooking or losing moisture. Each lid is oven-safe to 392 F for the most demanding cooking and baking projects, and includes an insulating Bakelite knob handle that resists heating for safer handling. Dishwasher-safe and lightweight. Satisfaction Guaranteed.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Well Made but Poor Design\\n\\nReview: This is a glass lid with a metal edge installed which forms the lip to correctly fit the pan. It has a small vent installed in the glass.\\n\\nThe noted design problem is that there is a narrow space between the glass and the lip where the lip steps in to be the correct diameter to fit the pan. Any food that gets into the narrow area between lid glass and lip is difficult to remove, at least with hand washing. If not removed this could become a health hazard. IMO the lid would be better if all glass construction at the edges or if the glass was smaller in diameter so that the metal edge did not include the step-in and resulting narrow food trapping gap. As is the lid works fine but is a PITA to clean thoroughly, particularly if there has been any boil over or splatter into the noted gap area.\\n\\nThis also applies to the 12\\\" lid which I have and presumably to the 10\\\" size too.\",\n \"Product: Sharp is dedicated to improving people's lives through the use of advanced technology and a commitment to innovation, quality, value, and design. The classic dial timer can be set anywhere from 10 seconds to 6 minutes and includes bright LED indicators that permits \\\"at-a-glace\\\" monitoring. The 1.0 cubic ft. capacity can accommodate a 13-1/2'' platter, prepackaged foods, single servings or a half-size pan in either direction. When the door is opened during cooking, the remaining time is cancelled; saving energy and increasing the magnetron's life. Stainless steel exterior wrap and interior for easy cleaning and a commercial look. A handy \\\"on-the-spot\\\" reference for timesaving convenience is located above the timer with recommended times for heating a variety of popular foods.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Basic and Hopefully Reliable.\\n\\nReview: A dead simple microwave bought for warming things. So far the one thing I miss is variable power to also give it convenient defrosting capability. Bought primarily for reliability as there are lots of less expensive Microwave ovens with more features at lower prices. Prior microwave ovens in the family have lasted for 20 years to 5 or so. The simplest was the longest lasting and was made in Japan or the USA in about 1975. Indestructible little monster with the same basic 1 dial control as this one.\\n\\nHopefully the \\\"Commercial\\\" means long term reliability. If it does not I will be back to revise this. Considering my age if it survives me it will have done the job.\",\n \"Product: Features mirror finish opening lever lid with knob black riveted handle and whistles when the water is ready. Limited lifetime warranty. White box.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: NOT IMPLANT GRADE SURGICAL STAINLESS STEEL\\n\\nReview: A very nice heavy gauge stainless steel water kettle BUT NOT SURGICAL STAINLESS STEEL. It says right on the bottom that it is T304 stainless steel and true implant grade surgical stainless steel is type \\\"316 LVM ASTM F-138 Certified\\\" stainless steel. One of the commonest uses of implant grade stainless steel is for the best stainless steel body jewelry as made by Anatometal and Industrial Strength. Very expensive and totally not necessary for this application. The implant grade steel actually typically has a higher percentage of Nickel in the alloy. The 304 grade is slightly magnetic typically, which this kettle is. Type 316 grades are typically totally non magnetic. Both are 18 - 8 family grades of stainless steel and 316 grade is slightly more corrosion resistant. Type 304 is about the most commonly used non hardenable stainless steel used in manufacturing.\\n\\nAppears to be very well made and polished, also heavy weight. Should be an excellent daily use kettle which should last generations if not mistreated. For best preserving the appearance I suggest removing it from the stove top when cooking items which could spatter on the surface such as when frying things. No point in cooking contaminants onto the very nicely polished and beautiful surface then cleaning them off with abrasive scouring pads and cleaners. Per at least one other review the kettle bottom can be damaged by boiling the kettle dry and continuing to leave the empty kettle on a burner. Under the same conditions a glass kettle will likely break and an aluminum one can melt a hole in itself so no kettle is immune from such mistreatment. Some people can ruin anything!\",\n \"Product: Hoist your grog aloft in this fiendishly fun tankard! The hearty skull-shaped cup is the perfect vessel to hold 15 oz. of your favorite beverage! Polyresin with steel cup.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Fun Mug With Limited Capacity\\n\\nReview: Measured capacity is 14 ounces to absolutely full so it is better considered to be about a 12 ounce useable capacity mug in my judgement. It is also quite heavy for the capacity as it weighs about 1.9 pounds when empty.\\n\\nThe resin body is a well done detailed casting but the fit of the stainless steel insert is looser than I expected. I will try shimming it for a tighter fit as the insert will fall out if the mug is in other than the upright position and it can rattle when being carried or drunk from.\\n\\nIn my opinion it would be better and look more authentic without the tongue. Who has ever seen a skull that still has an intact tongue? It would also look better if the stainless steel insert was not visible through the eye holes.\",\n \"Product: SANOXY Micro SDHC to to Memory Stick Pro Duo (Bulk Static Package) Taking advantage of the fact that different digital products today support different memory card specifications, this adapter converts microSD to Memory Stick Pro Duo Adapter. When the Memory Stick Pro Duo Adapter is paired with the microSD card, it becomes compatible with with all devices supporting Sony Memory Pro Duo - including your beloved PSPs. digital cameras, and mobile phones But if you don't want to use it for your sony products, you can select the SD adapter and use it for SD Digital cameras, PDAs, some mobile phones. About the Memory Stick Pro Duo Memory Stick Duo & Memory Stick Pro Duo can be used in digital cameras, mobile phones, PDA's and gaming consoles such as the Sony PSP (Playstation Portable) Memory Stick Duo & Pro Duo are smaller than standard Memory Stick and specifically designed to enable manufacturers to make their new products even smaller. When used in conjunction with an adapter they can be used as a full size Memory Stick Pro in devices such as readers or cameras. Micro SD card to Memory Stick Duo Adapter Features/Specifications: General Features: Fits Memory Stick Duo cards\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Works in older Sony E-book Readers.\\n\\nReview: Works fine with Sony PRS E-book readers that have a Sony Memory Stick Duo memory expansion slot, dating all the way back to the PRS-505. The PRS-505 had slots both for the Memory Stick Duo and the full size SD card but could take a larger Sony card, up to 8 GB while per the manual while the maximum size for the SD card slot is 2 GB. The later pre T series Sony readers so far as I know could handle memory expansion cards to 32 GB in both expansion slots. Tried in the Sony PRS-505, PRS-600, PRS-650, PRS-900 and PRS-950. This adapter plus a Micro SDHC card up to 32 GB works fine in all but the PRS-505. The old Sony E-book readers are not compatible with a SDXC card per my understanding and the PRS-300 and PRS-350 do not have memory expansion capabilities.\",\n \"Product: SANOXY Micro SDHC to to Memory Stick Pro Duo (Bulk Static Package) Taking advantage of the fact that different digital products today support different memory card specifications, this adapter converts microSD to Memory Stick Pro Duo Adapter. When the Memory Stick Pro Duo Adapter is paired with the microSD card, it becomes compatible with with all devices supporting Sony Memory Pro Duo - including your beloved PSPs. digital cameras, and mobile phones But if you don't want to use it for your sony products, you can select the SD adapter and use it for SD Digital cameras, PDAs, some mobile phones. About the Memory Stick Pro Duo Memory Stick Duo & Memory Stick Pro Duo can be used in digital cameras, mobile phones, PDA's and gaming consoles such as the Sony PSP (Playstation Portable) Memory Stick Duo & Pro Duo are smaller than standard Memory Stick and specifically designed to enable manufacturers to make their new products even smaller. When used in conjunction with an adapter they can be used as a full size Memory Stick Pro in devices such as readers or cameras. Micro SD card to Memory Stick Duo Adapter Features/Specifications: General Features: Fits Memory Stick Duo cards\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Works in older Sony E-book Readers.\\n\\nReview: Works fine with Sony PRS E-book readers that have a Sony Memory Stick Duo memory expansion slot, dating all the way back to the PRS-505. The PRS-505 had slots both for the Memory Stick Duo and the full size SD card but could take a larger Sony card, up to 8 GB while per the manual while the maximum size for the SD card slot is 2 GB. The later pre T series Sony readers so far as I know could handle memory expansion cards to 32 GB in both expansion slots. Tried in the Sony PRS-505, PRS-600, PRS-650, PRS-900 and PRS-950. This adapter plus a Micro SDHC card up to 32 GB works fine in all but the PRS-505. The old Sony E-book readers are not compatible with a SDXC card per my understanding and the PRS-300 and PRS-350 do not have memory expansion capabilities.\",\n \"Product: One stainless steel bracelet. 31mm wide curb chain design, tongue clasp. Very heavy, about 270g for 8.3\\\" (21.1cm) bracelet. Highly polished surface. Comes with a gift bag.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Heavy Duty And Thick\\n\\nReview: This is a very heavy weight and heavy duty bracelet. I bought the longest version which turned out to be too loose but after removing one link, which shortened it by 3/4\\\" actual, it is just right. Laid out flat mine is now a measured 8.625\\\" long to the flat stop behind the male locking tongue. This provides a snug fit on my 7.5\\\" wrist, tight enough so no possibility of getting a finger between the bracelet and wrist when worn. The greater length required for the bracelet is due to the thickness of it which means that when placed on the wrist the effective bracelet radius is greater than the wrist size. Take this into consideration when ordering. For these long heavy bracelets allow a inch or a bit more of additional length compared to your measured wrist circumference. Otherwise the bracelet may be too snug.\\n\\nIMO a very good looking item but it is thick and heavy. Definitely noticeable when worn. Before shortening mine weighed 11 ounces.\",\n \"Product: Pletscher Double Leg Bottom Bracket Mount Bicycle Kickstand\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: I like it !\\n\\nReview: An excellent and stable design. I had no problem installing it on my Swobo Dixon. It does require trimming of the legs if you want to minimize the height of the bike when on the stand but IMO this adds to the versatility as to the frame sizes it will fit. The mounting bolt was plenty long for me.\\n\\nUsers should note that with the foldup design of the stand it is not possible to just roll the bike off of the stand as can be done with dual leg bicycle stands that more closely resemble motorcycle center stands such as the Hebie Bipod and clones. The design of the Esge Plescher stand though is such that it is much more out of the way when folded up.\",\n \"Product: Blackburn's most powerful rear flasher - 1 Watt Ultra Bright Red LED - 2 Amber Side LED's - 50 hour runtime steady; 150 hour runtime flash - No tool battery installation - Two AAA batteries included - Versatile mounting system with rack adaptor\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Very Bright But Could Be Improved\\n\\nReview: The brightest integrated battery taillight I have seen when viewed directly from behind. Much brighter than the Planet Bike Superflash by direct comparison. Can even be used as a night vision flashlight when off of the bike and it is brighter than most dedicated night vision flashlights I have tried when so used. Quite compact design similar in overall size to the Planet Bike Superflash. As another reviewer noted the only taillight that is brighter is the DiNotte and it starts at $130 or so and requires an external battery pack.\\n\\nLike most bright bike taillights the brightest beam is quite narrow so it is less visible when viewed from a side angle. I would prefer that the two side LEDs be brighter than they are for added side visibility. The side LEDs on my unit appear to be more green than amber in color.\\n\\nThe light includes a rack mount compatible with two vertical hole reflector mounts as found on many bike cargo racks sold in the USA. The rack mount is not compatible with European bike racks which have two horizontal holes typically spaced 50mm apart for reflector or light mounting such as Tubus racks. The optional Planet bike tail light rack mount is in contrast designed to fit either type of rack light mount but is not included as standard with the Planet bike light.\\n\\nThe on/off/mode select switch is quite small and difficult to use with gloves on, an annoyance in my opinion.\\n\\nImprovements I would like to see:\\n\\nBrighter side LEDs\\nLarger switch\\nMore versatile rack mount bracket\\n\\nOverall I am impressed with the light output of the unit for its size and weight. If you want a bright taillight at reasonable cost this is currently THE brightest I am aware of. I have not had it long enough to see what battery life is going to be.\",\n \"Product: Alfine Dynamo front hub with an ultra-efficient and virtually drag-free 3.0 watt power supply can be used to power front lights and comes with a center lock rotor option if this brakes are desired.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Works Well With Proper Headlight Choice\\n\\nReview: I have the Shimano Alfine dynamo hub on my Civia Hyland bike. It works well and is capable of providing enough current to give plenty of light with the proper choice of headlight. I like the convenience of not having to worry about carrying fresh batteries or making sure a rechargeable battery has enough charge.\\n\\nPerformance is dependent on the headlight you choose. The brightest Dynamo headlights available include the following ones: All are LED dynamo headlights.\\n\\nSupernova E3 Triple\\nSupernova E3 Pro\\nSchmidt Edelux\\nBusch & Muller IQ Cyo\\nLight On Dynamo Light\\n\\nAll of these have a \\\"Standlight\\\" function which keeps the light shining for some time after stopping, a safety feature. All of them also have a connector on the headlight to run a dynamo taillight too.\",\n \"Product: The Fury Butterfly Trainer from Joy Enterprises is all you need from a trainer. A blade from 440C stainless and blunted completely around so it will not cut you as you swing and fling. The handle is matte finished and features a skelatonized frame. The trainer also has a latch to secure the knife in the open and closed position.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Excellent For The Price!\\n\\nReview: This is an all stainless steel Balisong trainer, except for the aluminum latch, which means the blade is blunt and not designed to actually cut anything, including you the user! The handles are sandwich construction rather than one piece, typical for most balisongs construction including some quite expensive ones. The handle parts and blade are nicely machined and have a bead blasted matte finish. Assembly is by the use of round head hex drive metric fasteners, not Torx ones. This allows tightening and adjustment of the assembly fasteners but for reliability the fasteners MUST BE LOCTITED TO PREVENT FREQUENT LOOSENING and potential loss.\\n\\nThe loosening problem is noted by several reviewers and has lead to poor ratings from them. This is an inherent problem with many knives that use screws for assembly, as many modern ones do. Due to the forces involved in Balisong \\\"flipping\\\" fastener loosening is even more common on Balisongs than most other knife designs. Considering the low cost of this trainer invest in some Loctite and do the job yourself before any extensive use. Otherwise it almost certainly will give problems.\\n\\nThe other potential problem is loosening of the pressed in tang pins which are the pins that prevent blade side movement with the handles closed together. There are two of them on this knife. These can potentially loosen. If they do I can fix things on mine as I am a hobbyist machinist and can fit replacement pins. If you cannot fix them then contact the importer to see if there is a warranty on the knife or buy another for less than $10. IMO this is a decent product for the price if given reasonable care.\",\n \"Product: Type: lockback; closed: 3.75\\\"; blade: 2.5\\\" L AUS-8A stainless L standard edge L satin finish; handle: black L Griv-Ex; other info: thumb Slot L lanyard hole L pocket clip. Tri-ad lock. Boxed.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Very secure in hand when opened\\n\\nReview: Very comfortable and secure when open. The two finger choil, with the front one half on the blade rear extension behind the cutting edge, make for a very secure grip and make the handle feel even larger than it is.\\n\\nFor Nevada residents the blade is legally just under 2\\\", the actual measured sharpened edge length. This makes it legal for carry in Reno parks which have a <2\\\" blade sharpened length ordinance. This Nevada interpretation of legal blade length is based on state supreme court decisions per the Nevada knife laws web site.\\n\\nThe only negative I have noted is that the blade lock spring is a bit on the stiff side IMO, making closing more difficult than necessary. Also the blade shape will be considered a bit odd by some as it puts the sharpened edge in the same position as on a standard box cutter utility knife.\",\n \"Product: GE Enbrighten 360 Bright White Latern, 350 Lumens\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Disappointing Output For It's Size and Claimed Brightness\\n\\nReview: The design minimizes glare unless you stare directly at the emitter but the output is lower than I expected. I did a direct comparison of this with a new Streamlight 44931 The Siege Compact Lantern and the Streamlight has greater output based on how well it lit up my bedroom with all other lights off and both lanterns in the same position. They are rated as almost identical Lumens output as the Streamlight claims 340 Lumens out while the GE claims 350. Both were running on NiMH rechargeable high capacity D batteries, just charged. I also compared it with the Coleman 1000 Lumen CPX 6 lantern at it's medium output level which is specifies as being 330 Lumens and the Coleman had quite noticeably higher output. Again the Coleman was powered by high capacity D size NiMH batteries. The Coleman lists shorter run time at medium output than the GE for the same number and type of batteries but that can be expected based on it's very noticeable greater light output. There is no free lunch!\\n\\nBased on claimed run times and outputs the LED and circuitry in the GE is equal to the Streamlight in efficiency. On Max with three alkaline batteries the Streamlight claims a 30 hour run time while with one additional battery of the same size and type the GE claims 40 hours at it's maximum output level. Still as noted above the Streamlight seems to have quite noticeably greater output on maximum. When fully loaded with eight batteries the GE has much longer run times but it is also MUCH LARGER and heavier than the Streamlight. A consideration for camping but not as much so for use as an emergency light. The GE lantern is in most dimensions actually larger and heavier than the 1000 Lumens Coleman!\\n\\nAll the lights are plastic except for the electronics but the GE has been given a finish that makes it look like chromed steel. It does make for a distinctive and flashy appearance.\\n\\nOverall a good lantern with interesting features such as the opening top handle for ease of hanging it up and the ability to run on either 4 or 8 batteries at full brightness. To me the major disappointment is that it appears to have a noticeably exaggerated output listed or the Streamlight and Coleman lanterns are considerably under rated, unlikely in my opinion. At Amazon's price for both the GE is less expensive but if you are buying per actual Lumens output or for camping use the Streamlight is a better buy in my opinion while if absolute maximum output is wanted, at a higher price, the 1000 Lumens Coleman is currently the brightest LED lantern available.\",\n \"Product: The LumiLoupe Ultra from Carson is the perfect aid for reading fine print or examining intricate details on coins, stamps and so much more. The LumiLoupe Ultra is a 5x power ergonomically designed acrylic stand magnifier. It has a 2.5 inch lens diameter that is ideal for table-top usage. The LumiLoupe Ultra has three specially aligned, pre-focused acrylic lenses for high power magnifying capabilities. There are six ultra bright LED lights spaced around the base with three different brightness levels for a customizable viewing experience. Its ergonomic design offers textured finger grips at either side of the device and a tapered base with a conveniently located on/off toggle switch. The LL-88 allows one to read for an extended period of time without having to hold a magnifier. This magnifier is powered by 3 AAA batteries (not included) and is backed by Carson's limited lifetime warranty. At Carson, we strive to make sure our customers are 100% satisfied with the quality of our magnifiers. We are so confident in our magnifiers that we back them with a Lifetime Limited Warranty! Carson will repair or replace your magnifier if it is found to have manufacturing defects in materials or workmanship. Please contact Carson for additional warranty details.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: For Best Results the Eye to Magnifier Distance is Important.\\n\\nReview: Based on the 65mm or 2.5\\\" diameter top lens and the non adjustable factory focus setting this is designed primarily for reading small print rather than as a loupe used close to the eye. Best focus is achieved when the magnifier base is against the item being examined and the eye about 10\\\" or so above the top lens so it is used more like a magnifying glass than a loupe. Attempted use with the eye close to the lens causes items to be out of focus and the focus is not adjustable other than by lifting the magnifier away from the item being examined. The illumination works well and I expect the three AAA batteries to last for a long time due to large capacity compared to coin cells.\\n\\nDecent optical quality with minimal distortion if used as noted. If you want a similar relatively low power large loupe style magnifier designed for use close to the eye then get the Carson LumiLoupe Plus 6x Power Focusable Stand Loupe Magnifier (LO-06).\",\n \"Product: Staedtler Mechanical Pencil 771, 1.3mm Lead\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Good Pencil For Large Hands\\n\\nReview: Great if you like fat pens and pencils though it is mostly plastic construction. The grp area is rubberized. Seems to be well made and it has a good long eraser. I note that one question asked was about the eraser. The Pentel Clic eraser is the same diameter and over twice as long so two full length replacement erasers for the Graphite 771 can be cut from one of the Pentel Clic erasers or Clic eraser refills. Press the red end to advance the lead and twist it to adjust eraser protrusion. I got the lead reservoir under the eraser holder to hold five leads in addition to the one in the advance mechanism. Pull the eraser and red holder straight up to access the reservoir.\",\n \"Product: Micro Bit 1/4 Drive Tool Adapter - 2.3L WARNING: This product can expose you to chemicals which is [are] known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm. For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: System 4 Bits to 1/4\\\" Hex Driver Adapter\\n\\nReview: A must have if you want to get maximum use from Wiha System 4 4mm hex bits. It also fits other 4mm diameter hex bits such as the Maxtech bits sold by Amazon. The double ended 4mm bits made by Victorinox for the bit holders on some of their larger Swiss Army knives will not fit this holder/adapter which is only for single ended bits.\\n\\nThis adapter allows the 4mm bits to be used with standard 1/4\\\" hex bit holders and drive handles such as Brownells Magna-Tip, Wiha and Wera drive handles and bit holders. Considering the size of many of the 4mm bits tips I would be very careful about trying to use them in a power driver with this adapter even though it is called a power tool adapter.\\n\\nThe adapter fits into the Wiha bits plastic box that has spaces for up to 24 bits. It fits in the area above the bit storage slots.\",\n \"Product: People say the SlimJim XL is so light and compact they forget its in their pocket that is, until they need it. And, when they do, a quick flick of the thumb and the worlds slimmest assisted folding knife springs into action. Thats thanks to SOG Assisted Technology (S.A.T.), a system of opposing high-tension springs that propels the blade open instantly once you give it a flick.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Folded Sheet Steel Stampings Design\\n\\nReview: This is a thin bladed knife with the frame made almost completely from sheet steel stampings. Overall thinness and light weight for the blade length seem to have been the overriding design factors and they appear to have overruled both practicality and strength. The opening assist spring only propels the blade for about 45 to 60 degrees of it's 180 degree opening travel arc so the blade does not always open fully to the locked open position. This is risky for a knife carried for utility purposes and could be fatal if it is needed for defensive use.\\n\\nWhile the safety lock on mine is secure for now the design is such that it looks like it will become loose, as noted by other reviewers, fairly quickly if the knife is actually carried and used. Again it is folded thin gauge sheet steel and a minimalist design, like the rest of the knife overall.\\n\\nUnless minimalist weight and thickness are overriding purchase considerations take a look at some of the similar priced Kershaw or Gerber spring assist knives offered by Amazon and Amazon sellers as they are more satisfactory and stronger folding knives IMO.\",\n \"Product: Designed as the ultimate EDC (every day carry), the Atom collection features a simple two-mode interface, extended runtimes, and a neodymium magnet embedded in the tail for quick attachment to any ferrous surface. The ultra-thin and durable bead-blasted stainless steel casing is barely bigger than the battery it contains. Sleek and fashionable, the Atom is the most practical FOURSEVENS flashlight. Every keychain should have an Atom.\\n\\nUnlike most of our lights, the lights in the Atom collection are flood-type lights and do not have a parabolic reflector. This removes the hot spot and gives you a very smooth, wide viewing angle, allowing you to get the most out of your peripheral vision. Atom lights are ideal for doing close-up work such as automotive repair, where seeing everything nearby is more important than seeing at a distance.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Smallest CR123 Light I Know Of\\n\\nReview: Very wide beam with no center hot spot visible so Lux reading is going to be low compared to a narrower beam flashlight with a normal reflector layout. What is the reflector around the LED in a normal light is a glow in the dark plastic disc on this one and the beam angle is in the 127 degree range per Four Sevens specifications. At 20\\\" from a flat surface the beam is 80 inches in diameter. This makes for an excellent keychain light for illuminating relatively close objects without blinding the user with glare. The smallest CR123 light in my collection so the most practical for a key chain or neck lanyard carry light IMO but probably not good for those with arthritis limited grip strength or hand mobility limitations due to the small size. If you find twisting operation too stiff then lubricate the O ring and threads with silicone grease. Eases operation and keep the O ring from breaking. The best price I have found for CR123 batteries is Battery Junction which has them for a buck apiece + shipping.\",\n \"Product: Ryobi 1322401 18V 1.5 Ah Ni-Cd Battery by Titan 18 Volt NiCad Powertool Battery for Ryobi Titan Brand- 100% Compatible CTH1802K Power Tools. 1.5Ah, Nicad, Compatible with the following OEM part numbers Ryobi 1322401 Ryobi 1400672 Ryobi 1323303 This product also fits these models Ryobi CTH1802K Ryobi 2 year warranty - 100% compatible - High Quality Plastics and Cells\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Different P/N But it Fits & Works\\n\\nReview: I ordered Ryobi 18V NiCd battery 1322401 for an old Ryobi HP1802M drill and a VC180 hand vacuum. The battery received is a Ryobi One+ NiCd battery with P/N 130224028 marked on the label.\\n\\nEven though it is not the listed part number the battery charged fine in my old P/N 1423701 18V Ryobi charger, fits in both the drill and vacuum cleaner and seems to operate them fine.\\n\\nThis is good to find out as Ryobi's web site does not even list my old part number drill, battery or charger and I have not been able to find a listing of what are supposed to be cross compatible batteries and chargers for older Ryobi equipment. My chargers, drill, vacuum and original batteries are all from 2002. At least for 18V NiCd battery equipment it appears that the One+ NiCd batteries are compatible back to 2002 age Ryobi equipment.\",\n \"Product: Wera Kraftform handles features a large contact zone that provides a large amount of friction with the soft zones. Integrated soft zones in handle bulge, transfer high tightening/loosening forces without losing contact with screws. Precision zone at blade provides better feel for rotational angle during fine adjustment work. Anti-roll protection stops screwdrivers from rolling away at the workplace. Wera The Best Tools For The Job!\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Nice but Needs Clearer Description\\n\\nReview: The only way to know that this is a \\\"bayonet\\\" feature Wera screwdriver is from the photos which show the bit holder in both the fully inserted and extended positions. No where in the listing is this feature made clear. The same is true of the Wera web site description though. Also note that the quick release bit holder assembly is removeable from the handle and can be used in other 1/4\\\" hex driver handles if desired. It is even available on Amazon as a separate item. It is the Wera 889/4 R bit holder.\\n\\nThe bit holder when extended increases the overall length of the driver by about 45mm or just under 2\\\". This is handy in situations where more hand clearance is needed.\\n\\nOverall typical Wera German quality at a also typical German premium price but you get what you pay for when it comes to tools I have generally found.\",\n \"Product: Ginsberg Scientific Precision Gyroscope is a high quality gyroscope that runs 3 min string started and 5 min with mechanical starter. Low-cost gyroscope with brass rotor is dynamically balanced and rotates in adjustable teflon bearings. It comes with plastic gimbal, rocker, weight set and detailed instructions.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Built To A Price\\n\\nReview: This is a demonstration gyroscope with gimbals designed to be used in a teaching environment rather than as a toy. Toy gyroscopes do not include gimbals and have a guard ring around the rotor so that the rotor will not hit the surface when the gyroscope slows down and tips over.\\n\\nI found a much better price than the Amazon vendor offers so did not buy through Amazon. Based on photos though this one is identical to what I bought.\\n\\nThe low rating is based on what I consider to be poor constrution of the unit. The rotor is not well balanced so vibrates at high rotating speed and the bearing cones on the end of the rotor shaft are poorly machined and rough. The run down time is thus quite short compared to my other gyroscopes including a under $8.00 toy one which runs over twice as long.\",\n \"Product: These are highly polished solid metal flip over tops. They have a chrome like finish and are excellently machined. Simply spin it as normal and watch it suddenly flip over and then continue to spin upside-down. These flip over tops (often known as a The Tippe Top) were originally invented in 1950 by the Danish engineer Werner Ostberg. His inspiration can from a visit to South America where he had seen local people playing with a small, round fruit. When they turned it by the stalk like an old-fashioned spinning top, it would spin for a second and then invert and spin on the stalk. However some credit should be given to Helene Sperl who in 1891 patented a Wendekreisel in Germany. However the patent ran out and it was never mass produced. These tops are made from polished aluminium and are 29mm in diameter.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: A Neat Little Top\\n\\nReview: An interesting toy that, when given a good spin using the stem, flips over and balances on the stem due to weight distribution and shape. It needs a fair amount of smooth table top until you gain experience in starting it to minimize skating around on the flat surface. The smoother the table top the better. The way it ends up on the narrow end when spun is similar to how a hard boiled egg, when spun fast enough on its side, has the vertical axis move so it stands up on the narrow end while spinning.\\n\\nThe one received is silver color rather than black and is high polished machined aluminum so far as I can tell. A quality and smooth machining job. It looks virtually unbreakable unless you step on it with hard soled shoes as it is relatively thick walled metal.\\n\\nBTW it is shipped from England so do not expect extremely fast arrival. Mine took about 8 days via Royal Air Mail.\",\n \"Product: The Super Precision Gyroscope has been designed and built to the highest precision from the very start, made from solid brass with a light-weight aluminium frame. Carefully chosen stainless-steel miniature ball bearings allow it to run smoothly and almost silently. The gyroscope operates up to 12,000 revolutions per minute using the provided electric motor and battery pack. The motor can be fastened to the gyroscope with two screws providing hours of continuous use or it can be used briefly to start it, allowing you to perform experiments for around 7 minutes. The gyroscope comes with a number of attachments allowing numerous configurations to perform scientific, educational or simply mesmerising experiments. \\n\\n\\n\\nThe gyroscope comes with 2 x 50 mm long stainless steel extension rods, 2 x ball ends, 1 x slotted end. The rods when screwed together will extend 100mm, they can be screwed in other positions to create gimbals etc. There are 7 places on the frame of gyroscope that the attachments can be screwed into. Electric motor and battery pack. Batteries are not included.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: A True Precision Instrument\\n\\nReview: In my view this gyroscope is NOT really a toy but a educational demonstration unit. I did not buy it from Amazon but directly from gyroscope.com in England as I wanted the gimbals accessory and the spare rotor bearings and replacement tool set, items not yet listed on Amazon. Hopefully they will be available here shortly.\\n\\nSo far as I have been able to find this is the only currently available gyroscope that uses a motor to spin it up. The motor is powered by 4 AA cells, not included. The rotor is quite massive at about 112 grams and per the manufacturer the motor spins it up to 12,000 RPM. Due to precision build the gyroscope is surprisingly quiet and smooth operating at that speed and the massive rotor, and good bearings, give a considerable run time even with the motor detached after it gets the gyro up to speed.\\n\\nThis is the most versatile gyroscope Amazon offers in that it can be configured the same as \\\"toy\\\" gyroscopes without gimbals for mounting or with the gimbals accessory available from gyroscope.com. In the basic \\\"toy\\\" configuration it can balance on a glass, a string or do any of the other gyroscope tricks seen in illustrations of toy gyroscopes. With the gimbals accessory setup it becomes a typical college lab type demonstration gyroscope useful in teaching Physics mechanics principles. An additional accessory is available to configure it to illustrate the principles of a \\\"rate gyro\\\" as used in aircraft instrumentation too.\\n\\nIt should be the most reliable unit available as replacement rotor support minature ball bearings are available from the manufacturer. He does warn that the bearings can be damaged if the unit is dropped or mistreated which is why replacements are offered.\\n\\nBased on appearance, feel and documentation this is THE Gyroscope to get if you appreciate precision engineering and like very nice quality \\\"toys\\\", either for serious educational purposes or as an executive toy for science geeks. In my opinion this is NOT a kids toy and considering the rotor rotational speed and energy in it I would not recommend it for kids under 12 or so without close adult supervision. Price alone moves it outside the normal \\\"toy gyroscope\\\" category.\"\n]","isConversational":false},"profile_size":{"kind":"number","value":31,"string":"31"},"task":{"kind":"string","value":"longlamp_3"},"split_kind":{"kind":"string","value":"user_based"},"id":{"kind":"number","value":973,"string":"973"}}},{"rowIdx":974,"cells":{"question_id":{"kind":"string","value":"A33EVEMS61JYRQ"},"question":{"kind":"string","value":"Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of \"4.0\" for a product with description \"BOMC edition.\". The summary of the review text is \"A Sweeping (Fictional) History of the Holy Land\"."},"answer":{"kind":"string","value":"A friend recommended The Source to me when I mentioned how much I loved Leon Uris's Exodus. While Exodus gave me a whole new appreciation for the Nation of Israel, The Source looked at the land in a much greater scale. There were always Jews present in the Holy Land, but Michener looks at all of the people who occupied the area, specifically Makor, where an archeological dig uncovers evidence from thousands of years of history. From the first cave dweller to the days of Roman occupation to the Crusades to the Arab-Israeli conflict, Michener explores the lives of Jews, Christians and Muslims during various periods of history. As it followed a particular family line from the original Caveman to the Arab fighting for Israel's independence, the narrative returns back to the dig where the archeologist are trying to gain understanding of the times and the people they are revealing. But with so many narratives spanning 1,100 pages, I often lost track of earlier stories and forgot about connections that were made through the centuries. This being my first experience with Michener, I will remember to take notes when I next embark on one of his massive tomes. Overall, though, I enjoyed the Source and it enhanced my appreciation if the Holy Land and struggles it has endured throughout the ages."},"correct_answer":{"kind":"string","value":"A friend recommended The Source to me when I mentioned how much I loved Leon Uris's Exodus. While Exodus gave me a whole new appreciation for the Nation of Israel, The Source looked at the land in a much greater scale. There were always Jews present in the Holy Land, but Michener looks at all of the people who occupied the area, specifically Makor, where an archeological dig uncovers evidence from thousands of years of history. From the first cave dweller to the days of Roman occupation to the Crusades to the Arab-Israeli conflict, Michener explores the lives of Jews, Christians and Muslims during various periods of history. As it followed a particular family line from the original Caveman to the Arab fighting for Israel's independence, the narrative returns back to the dig where the archeologist are trying to gain understanding of the times and the people they are revealing. But with so many narratives spanning 1,100 pages, I often lost track of earlier stories and forgot about connections that were made through the centuries. This being my first experience with Michener, I will remember to take notes when I next embark on one of his massive tomes. Overall, though, I enjoyed the Source and it enhanced my appreciation if the Holy Land and struggles it has endured throughout the ages."},"documents":{"kind":"list like","value":["Product: trade edition paperback, fine (as new) as new\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: A Prophet's Humanity Revealed\n\nReview: The Prophet Elijah has quite a story to tell, but The Fifth Mountain only focuses on a small part of his life. After he is exiled from Israel as the enemy of Princess Jezebel, he goes to Akbar where God has instructed him to find a widow who will give him shelter. While discussions with angels and orders from the voice of God are not uncommon in Elijah's life, he still experiences doubt and frustration at God's ambiguous guidance. Elijah becomes even more disillusioned with the predicament of falling in love with the widow. He is unsure how to include this emotion into his obligations to God. His struggles are a demonstration of his imperfections and his humanity.\n\nWhile we witness Elijah's miracles and his endeavors in Akbar, we never witness his greatest miracles in his defeat of Jezebel and her gods, we still get a great sense of the adversity Elijah overcame and how it shaped him into the prophet he became. We get to witness his conversations with angels and his resurrection of the widow's son, along with his prudence in the face of battle and his insight overcoming obstacles. This is a great narrative of one of the Old Testament's most prolific prophets.","Product: THIS IS BRAND NEW BOOK.WE PROVIDE 100% CUSTOMER SATISFACTION.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Into the Lion's Den\n\nReview: Each Gabriel Allon book seems to get more and more intense, and this was no exception. There was so much going on here that kept me engrossed, from a plot against the Vatican, to a lost Van Gogh painting. But Gabriels biggest challenge is infiltrating a powerful circle of Saudis who finance terrorism. His newest recruit is an American art curator named Sarah Bancroft, and putting her into the den of lions is his greatest challenge yet. Everything is at stake when Sarah boards the luxury yacht of their enemy and even the idyllic setting of cruising around the Caribbean cannot diffuse the tension of her mission. Even the best laid plans can go wrong, and the climax is nail-biting, but the satisfying conclusion is so worth the anxiety that kept me riveted to the last 50 pages.","Product: BRAND NEW, Exactly same ISBN as listed, Please double check ISBN carefully before ordering.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Best in the series so far!\n\nReview: When the Israeli Embassy in Rome is bombed, who else but Gabriel Allon can find the perpetrator and seek justice on behalf of his people? This may be the most intense novel in the series so far, and it delves into the historical hostilities of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict and its inherent violence. Usually Allon is recruited as a contract player to uncover some nefarious plot lingering from WWII. But now that his cover as an art restorer is blown, he must return to Israel to work directly for the Office to track down a ruthless terrorist. For once his enemy is two steps ahead of him and Allon is at his most vulnerable. I was intrigued by the historical justification of Palestinian entitlement and Israeli defensiveness. This book certainly conveyed the complexities of the region and Allons own reticence about the role he plays protecting his nation.","Product: Brothers Ron and Dan Lafferty insist they were commanded to kill by God. Krakauer's investigation is a meticulously researched, bone-chilling narrative of polygamy, savage violence and unyielding faith: an incisive, gripping work of non-fiction that illuminates an otherwise confounding realm of human behaviour. 'A provocative look at the twisted roots of American fundamentalism' Will Self, Evening Standard Books of the Year 'Excellent ...a lucid, judicious, even sympathetic account not just of Mormon Fundamentalism but of the seductive power of fanaticism in general' Daily Telegraph 'Krakauer writes exceptionally well: as thrilling as Capote on true crime, as devastating as Nietzsche on religious fundamentalism' Scotland on Sunday 'Remarkable ...for anyone interested in the wilder frontiers of spiritual conviction, this book is a must' Independent 'Krakauer is an adept chronicler of extremists, and he's as intent on understanding religious fanatics as he was in his earlier books on exploring the obsessions of monomaniacal adventurers' Los Angeles Times\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: An American Religion Exposed\n\nReview: Krakauer delivers a great snapshot of Mormon life. Under the Banner of Heaven chronicles the dual murders committed by Ron and Dan Lafferty of their sister-in-law and her infant daughter, claiming God divinely inspired them to carry out these brutal slayings. The book not only looks at the brothers' lives and how they came into Mormon Fundamentalism, but also the history of the Mormon Church in America. Beginning with Joseph Smith and his prophesies, it follows the formation and migration of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and their establishment in Utah. There are also detailed accounts of how fundamental branches have tried to keep polygamy alive in remote corners of the country. The plot often gets bogged down with names, both in Mormon history and in polygamous family trees, but that's just the details of the story, not Krakauer's writing. I feel like I got a great American history lesson, because Mormonism is truly an American religion that often escapes history books. I was not aware until reading Banner the influence Mormons had in shaping the American west. Stories of persecution and betrayal litter the Mormon history, but ultimately the story is about Fundamentalism and its effects on the Lafferty brothers, their actions, and their justification of their crime. Should religious beliefs and communication with God be considered insanity? If so, wouldn't everyone with any religious beliefs be considered insane? Draw what conclusions you want, but the cases of Ron and Dan Lafferty are shocking to the core. I enjoyed this book, its history, and the questions it raised about religion and fundamentalism.","Product: Will be shipped from US. Used books may not include companion materials, may have some shelf wear, may contain highlighting/notes, may not include CDs or access codes. 100% money back guarantee.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: An Incredible and Original Story\n\nReview: When May Dodd is thrown into an insane asylum by her well-to-do family for having children out of wedlock with a man beneath her station (being \"promiscuous\") she takes a drastic measure to escape from her confinement. She enlists in a government program, which promised 1,000 white women to the Native Americans to help them assimilate with the white culture. Her adventures take her far beyond anything she could have imagined. She meets an array of characters among her fellow white brides who all have their justifications for joining this party. When she finally encounters her new home and new husband, she has to adapt to a way of life so extremely different than her own, but she does so with pride, strength, and even humor.\n\nMay's voice is very distinct and believable for the period. Her sensibilities are passionate and as she learns more about the Cheyenne culture, she begins to sympathize with \"the savages\" and their struggles with the white men. It really illustrates the injustices they faced and the conclusion is a dramatic and tragic portrayal of what many tribes faced. May Dodd and her supporting characters are engaging and I was swept away by Fergus's highly original narrative.","Product: Hallie Ephron is the author of Writing and Selling Your Mystery Novel: How to Knock 'Em Dead with Style (Writers Digest Books, 2005), the book about mystery writing that cracks the code. She grew up in Los Angeles, her parents were screenwriters Henry and Phoebe Ephron who wrote classic movies like The Desk Set and Carousel.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: A Bargain for Bibliophiles!\n\nReview: I am a self-confessed sucker for book lists and books about books. So when I saw this bargain on Amazon, I had to get it. Considering it was published in 2008, it is already outdated, and the major example I cite is in the section \"...to Hug your Dog,\" which did not include The Art of Racing in the Rain or A Dog's Purpose. I did find it hysterical that two Virginia Woolfe books were in the chapter \"...for a Wallowing in a Slough of Despond.\" There were many other very fitting books in relation to the moods (Mosquito Coast in \"...to Remember Dear Ol' Dad) and there were also some fun tidbits, quizzes and lists interspersed throughout. I especially loved the symbol guide, which told me which books were page turners, which were easy or challenging, which had been made into movies, etc. I totally got my nerd on with my highlighter and deduced that I had read approximately 127 of the books featured. More than anything else, though, it really beefed up my wish list!"],"string":"[\n \"Product: trade edition paperback, fine (as new) as new\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: A Prophet's Humanity Revealed\\n\\nReview: The Prophet Elijah has quite a story to tell, but The Fifth Mountain only focuses on a small part of his life. After he is exiled from Israel as the enemy of Princess Jezebel, he goes to Akbar where God has instructed him to find a widow who will give him shelter. While discussions with angels and orders from the voice of God are not uncommon in Elijah's life, he still experiences doubt and frustration at God's ambiguous guidance. Elijah becomes even more disillusioned with the predicament of falling in love with the widow. He is unsure how to include this emotion into his obligations to God. His struggles are a demonstration of his imperfections and his humanity.\\n\\nWhile we witness Elijah's miracles and his endeavors in Akbar, we never witness his greatest miracles in his defeat of Jezebel and her gods, we still get a great sense of the adversity Elijah overcame and how it shaped him into the prophet he became. We get to witness his conversations with angels and his resurrection of the widow's son, along with his prudence in the face of battle and his insight overcoming obstacles. This is a great narrative of one of the Old Testament's most prolific prophets.\",\n \"Product: THIS IS BRAND NEW BOOK.WE PROVIDE 100% CUSTOMER SATISFACTION.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Into the Lion's Den\\n\\nReview: Each Gabriel Allon book seems to get more and more intense, and this was no exception. There was so much going on here that kept me engrossed, from a plot against the Vatican, to a lost Van Gogh painting. But Gabriels biggest challenge is infiltrating a powerful circle of Saudis who finance terrorism. His newest recruit is an American art curator named Sarah Bancroft, and putting her into the den of lions is his greatest challenge yet. Everything is at stake when Sarah boards the luxury yacht of their enemy and even the idyllic setting of cruising around the Caribbean cannot diffuse the tension of her mission. Even the best laid plans can go wrong, and the climax is nail-biting, but the satisfying conclusion is so worth the anxiety that kept me riveted to the last 50 pages.\",\n \"Product: BRAND NEW, Exactly same ISBN as listed, Please double check ISBN carefully before ordering.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Best in the series so far!\\n\\nReview: When the Israeli Embassy in Rome is bombed, who else but Gabriel Allon can find the perpetrator and seek justice on behalf of his people? This may be the most intense novel in the series so far, and it delves into the historical hostilities of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict and its inherent violence. Usually Allon is recruited as a contract player to uncover some nefarious plot lingering from WWII. But now that his cover as an art restorer is blown, he must return to Israel to work directly for the Office to track down a ruthless terrorist. For once his enemy is two steps ahead of him and Allon is at his most vulnerable. I was intrigued by the historical justification of Palestinian entitlement and Israeli defensiveness. This book certainly conveyed the complexities of the region and Allons own reticence about the role he plays protecting his nation.\",\n \"Product: Brothers Ron and Dan Lafferty insist they were commanded to kill by God. Krakauer's investigation is a meticulously researched, bone-chilling narrative of polygamy, savage violence and unyielding faith: an incisive, gripping work of non-fiction that illuminates an otherwise confounding realm of human behaviour. 'A provocative look at the twisted roots of American fundamentalism' Will Self, Evening Standard Books of the Year 'Excellent ...a lucid, judicious, even sympathetic account not just of Mormon Fundamentalism but of the seductive power of fanaticism in general' Daily Telegraph 'Krakauer writes exceptionally well: as thrilling as Capote on true crime, as devastating as Nietzsche on religious fundamentalism' Scotland on Sunday 'Remarkable ...for anyone interested in the wilder frontiers of spiritual conviction, this book is a must' Independent 'Krakauer is an adept chronicler of extremists, and he's as intent on understanding religious fanatics as he was in his earlier books on exploring the obsessions of monomaniacal adventurers' Los Angeles Times\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: An American Religion Exposed\\n\\nReview: Krakauer delivers a great snapshot of Mormon life. Under the Banner of Heaven chronicles the dual murders committed by Ron and Dan Lafferty of their sister-in-law and her infant daughter, claiming God divinely inspired them to carry out these brutal slayings. The book not only looks at the brothers' lives and how they came into Mormon Fundamentalism, but also the history of the Mormon Church in America. Beginning with Joseph Smith and his prophesies, it follows the formation and migration of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and their establishment in Utah. There are also detailed accounts of how fundamental branches have tried to keep polygamy alive in remote corners of the country. The plot often gets bogged down with names, both in Mormon history and in polygamous family trees, but that's just the details of the story, not Krakauer's writing. I feel like I got a great American history lesson, because Mormonism is truly an American religion that often escapes history books. I was not aware until reading Banner the influence Mormons had in shaping the American west. Stories of persecution and betrayal litter the Mormon history, but ultimately the story is about Fundamentalism and its effects on the Lafferty brothers, their actions, and their justification of their crime. Should religious beliefs and communication with God be considered insanity? If so, wouldn't everyone with any religious beliefs be considered insane? Draw what conclusions you want, but the cases of Ron and Dan Lafferty are shocking to the core. I enjoyed this book, its history, and the questions it raised about religion and fundamentalism.\",\n \"Product: Will be shipped from US. Used books may not include companion materials, may have some shelf wear, may contain highlighting/notes, may not include CDs or access codes. 100% money back guarantee.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: An Incredible and Original Story\\n\\nReview: When May Dodd is thrown into an insane asylum by her well-to-do family for having children out of wedlock with a man beneath her station (being \\\"promiscuous\\\") she takes a drastic measure to escape from her confinement. She enlists in a government program, which promised 1,000 white women to the Native Americans to help them assimilate with the white culture. Her adventures take her far beyond anything she could have imagined. She meets an array of characters among her fellow white brides who all have their justifications for joining this party. When she finally encounters her new home and new husband, she has to adapt to a way of life so extremely different than her own, but she does so with pride, strength, and even humor.\\n\\nMay's voice is very distinct and believable for the period. Her sensibilities are passionate and as she learns more about the Cheyenne culture, she begins to sympathize with \\\"the savages\\\" and their struggles with the white men. It really illustrates the injustices they faced and the conclusion is a dramatic and tragic portrayal of what many tribes faced. May Dodd and her supporting characters are engaging and I was swept away by Fergus's highly original narrative.\",\n \"Product: Hallie Ephron is the author of Writing and Selling Your Mystery Novel: How to Knock 'Em Dead with Style (Writers Digest Books, 2005), the book about mystery writing that cracks the code. She grew up in Los Angeles, her parents were screenwriters Henry and Phoebe Ephron who wrote classic movies like The Desk Set and Carousel.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: A Bargain for Bibliophiles!\\n\\nReview: I am a self-confessed sucker for book lists and books about books. So when I saw this bargain on Amazon, I had to get it. Considering it was published in 2008, it is already outdated, and the major example I cite is in the section \\\"...to Hug your Dog,\\\" which did not include The Art of Racing in the Rain or A Dog's Purpose. I did find it hysterical that two Virginia Woolfe books were in the chapter \\\"...for a Wallowing in a Slough of Despond.\\\" There were many other very fitting books in relation to the moods (Mosquito Coast in \\\"...to Remember Dear Ol' Dad) and there were also some fun tidbits, quizzes and lists interspersed throughout. I especially loved the symbol guide, which told me which books were page turners, which were easy or challenging, which had been made into movies, etc. I totally got my nerd on with my highlighter and deduced that I had read approximately 127 of the books featured. More than anything else, though, it really beefed up my wish list!\"\n]","isConversational":false},"profile_size":{"kind":"number","value":6,"string":"6"},"task":{"kind":"string","value":"longlamp_3"},"split_kind":{"kind":"string","value":"user_based"},"id":{"kind":"number","value":974,"string":"974"}}},{"rowIdx":975,"cells":{"question_id":{"kind":"string","value":"AF7CWQNEAW1UZ"},"question":{"kind":"string","value":"Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of \"5.0\" for a product with description \"This CrazyOnDigital iPad leather case features a textured black exterior leather with a matching black soft micro fiber padding in the interior. The leather case provides complete protection for your Apple iPad tablet reading device. The case has flexible straps on each corner to secure Apple iPad device in the case. The straps look and feel sturdy. It holds the device in place snugly. The quality of the leather cover is excellent and feels good in your hand. The micro-fiber interior is also attractive and functional. The case is lightweight, with a business-like look to it. It is perfect for carrying around your iPad wherever you go.\". The summary of the review text is \"Great temporary or backup case and good primary case. . .\"."},"answer":{"kind":"string","value":"I purchased this as an interim case to protect my iPad until my much nicer case comes in when it's made in a few weeks (it's on backorder). I was just looking for something to get me by for a month or so, but was pleased to find that this really is a quality item. The other reviews indicated as much, but you never really know until you get it in your own hands. This has a nice, solid feel to it. The outside of the case is textured faux-leather and the interior is felt-like material as you would find on a jewelry box. The overall impression is one of clean simplicity. This case is very nice for the price, and it is substantially better than the Apple case that is sold for the iPad which is, to be honest, a huge let down.\n\nThe best way I can describe this is to point at the Amazon Kindle 2 case. If you are familiar with that case, then you've got an excellent idea of the materials/quality of this case. The cover is firm but flexible, the interior is black and soft to the touch but has an unfortunate tendency to pick up specks of dirt if placed on a dirty surface, the exterior is comfortable to touch and carry, and the whole package is very light and slim, adding little to the overall size. At first glance, this would appear to be a thin and oddly sized portfolio/planner.\n\nThis case does not have a \"stand\" feature to angle the screen up off the flat surface it may be laying on, thus it's not really good for such use. This is the only advantage the first party case has over this one. Other disadvantages are that three of the four sides are fairly exposed. The iPad is held in place by four elastic straps. Everything else not covered by these straps is open to scratches, etc. The good news is that the cover extends a few millimeters beyond the edges of the iPad, making the iPad's sides fairly recessed and kept mostly out of harm's way. Unless you have a habit of sticking your iPad in a bag along with other loose items (say, a purse or backpack), I would think this to be adequate protection. The other slight disadvantage to this design is that if observed from the side, it's obvious that this case is not holding paper, but is holding an iPad or some other such device. Thus it may not be the best camouflage for the device that will be going with many people pretty much everywhere. The up side is that the ports/buttons are easily accessed.\n\nOverall, if you think of this as a slightly larger version of the Kindle 2 case then you'll have a spot-on assessment of this case. It makes for an excellent backup case or temporary case and would even serve full-time duty well if this is what you're looking for. It would be worth it even if it cost twice as much (as much as the Apple case, for example)."},"correct_answer":{"kind":"string","value":"I purchased this as an interim case to protect my iPad until my much nicer case comes in when it's made in a few weeks (it's on backorder). I was just looking for something to get me by for a month or so, but was pleased to find that this really is a quality item. The other reviews indicated as much, but you never really know until you get it in your own hands. This has a nice, solid feel to it. The outside of the case is textured faux-leather and the interior is felt-like material as you would find on a jewelry box. The overall impression is one of clean simplicity. This case is very nice for the price, and it is substantially better than the Apple case that is sold for the iPad which is, to be honest, a huge let down.\n\nThe best way I can describe this is to point at the Amazon Kindle 2 case. If you are familiar with that case, then you've got an excellent idea of the materials/quality of this case. The cover is firm but flexible, the interior is black and soft to the touch but has an unfortunate tendency to pick up specks of dirt if placed on a dirty surface, the exterior is comfortable to touch and carry, and the whole package is very light and slim, adding little to the overall size. At first glance, this would appear to be a thin and oddly sized portfolio/planner.\n\nThis case does not have a \"stand\" feature to angle the screen up off the flat surface it may be laying on, thus it's not really good for such use. This is the only advantage the first party case has over this one. Other disadvantages are that three of the four sides are fairly exposed. The iPad is held in place by four elastic straps. Everything else not covered by these straps is open to scratches, etc. The good news is that the cover extends a few millimeters beyond the edges of the iPad, making the iPad's sides fairly recessed and kept mostly out of harm's way. Unless you have a habit of sticking your iPad in a bag along with other loose items (say, a purse or backpack), I would think this to be adequate protection. The other slight disadvantage to this design is that if observed from the side, it's obvious that this case is not holding paper, but is holding an iPad or some other such device. Thus it may not be the best camouflage for the device that will be going with many people pretty much everywhere. The up side is that the ports/buttons are easily accessed.\n\nOverall, if you think of this as a slightly larger version of the Kindle 2 case then you'll have a spot-on assessment of this case. It makes for an excellent backup case or temporary case and would even serve full-time duty well if this is what you're looking for. It would be worth it even if it cost twice as much (as much as the Apple case, for example)."},"documents":{"kind":"list like","value":["Product: CTA Digital PSP Leather Case. Powerful magnetic button closure system, Carry strap and 2 slots for UMD disks included. It also has a custom designed enclosure that provides a snug fit for your PSP to prevent sliding and moving while your PSP is being carried or stored. The CTAs leather case is the perfect travel mate for your PSP. It is made from genuine soft leather to compliment your PSP slick design. it has a powerful magnetic button closure to securely lock your PSP. It also has a custom designed enclosure that provides a snug fit for your PSP to prevent sliding and moving while your PSP is being carried or stored\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Very nice case. . .\n\nReview: I wasn't quite sure what to expect when ordering this seeing no other reviews for it on Amazon (this is the first). That said, I'm pretty pleased with this PSP case. Due to the dearth of information on the page, here's the rundown:\n\n1. This case fits both PSP (PSP-1000) and PSP Slim (PSP-2000). I have both and they both fit. It was designed this way.\n2. This case has two pockets (mesh type) for two UMDs.\n3. This case is padded, but I wouldn't trust it to protect from a high drop.\n3. It is leather and is very reminiscent of a pocketbook or checkbook cover (the leather ones).\n4. Has a pocketbook-like magnetic clip that keeps it securely shut. It doesn't matter which size PSP you put in it.\n5. It has a rather cheaply made lanyard with clip to attach to the case itself (not the PSP), but this could be easily replaced. The material seems to be rough nylon and appears to be somewhat frail. I'll probably remove it.\n6. The interior is soft cloth that shouldn't scratch or damage the screen or surface of the PSP.\n\nFor the price alone, this case should be considered. I've looked at a lot of other cases before and never seen one quite like this. If you're looking for a nice leather case for your PSP, either the original or the slim design, that will keep it a little anonymous and provide some padding and storage, then this is an excellent choice.","Product: Ever since the introduction of the first and only 7-day alarm clock in December 2004, American Innovative has been logging feature requests and product improvement suggestions from our customers. Nearly every aspect of the neverlate executive is fully customizable. We've introduced the concept of alarm banks - three in all. The two 7-day banks provide two, completely independent seven-day wake schedules - his and hers for example. In addition, we've included a daily reminder bank. We are also pleased to introduce the first-ever preferences menu in a clock radio. Everything from the backlight brightness, to the alarm duration is fully adjustable. Wake to NPR news at 7:00am weekdays, your Saturday morning talk show on a different station and the buzzer on Sunday. There's no other clock radio in the world with this capability. Line-in, headphone jack and more - a powered USB port on the back accommodates an electric fan or laptop boom lamp. Each time you hit the snooze button the snooze time is cut in half until finally the neverlate executive won't let you snooze any more. You can even disable the tempting snooze button.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Solid, if not perfect, contender.\n\nReview: I've been hunting for a new alarm clock since my Polk iSonic died a couple of months back. I had a few requirements, none of which could I find in a single alarm clock to my satisfaction, but this unit comes closest. After reading all the reviews, I was a little hesitant to spend $50 (Amazon's price as of this review) on it, but I'm glad I did.\n\nPros:\n-This is an insanely customizable alarm clock. You can set up something like 21 different, independent alarms on this thing, each with a different buzzer or radio preset. You can set separate alarms for each day of the week.\n\n-It has gradual wake capability. This is crucial in my book. As I don't get to sleep on a regular schedule, sometimes I wake up quickly at the first inkling of a noise from the alarm clock. Other times, it has to be going pretty loudly for a bit to get me awake. The gradual wake feature slowly ramps up the volume of the alarm over a few seconds rather than hitting like a sledgehammer instantly. In the interim after losing the iSonic (which had this feature), I lived with a Sony clock that was generally very good, but didn't have this gradual wake feature (and a couple of other bothers). I found that I was generally more tired and had a harder time getting going in the mornings when so abruptly shocked out of slumber.\n\n-Nap function. This is something you don't see much on alarms. This lets you set a quickie alarm timer that counts down from your preferred starting point with 5-min increments of time. Fabulous for catching a power nap or recharging yourself. It's sort of the opposite of a \"sleep\" function that turns off the radio after a selectable number of minutes (which this also has).\n\n-Date display. I've never had an alarm clock that also showed the date. I've heard of them, but never owned one. Minor plus, but a plus. A byproduct of having day-by-day alarm sets.\n\n-Small size. It's actually much smaller than I expected it to be. It's about the size of the old Sony cube \"Dream Machine\" alarms.\n\n-Informative display. It has a lot of data on display at one time, if necessary, and I find this useful.\n\n-Lots of clever features. Too many to really go into here, but this was a generally well thought-out alarm clock.\n\nCons:\n\n-Complexity. With great power comes great need to read the instructions. This is not a straightforward, easy to set up alarm clock. It's a pain in the rear to turn this nob, push this button, twist that dial, etc. just to move your alarm time up or back by a bit. It's easier just to have a couple of preset alarms and toggle them both off/on as needed. There really should just be a simple A/B alarm mode to quickly disable one and enable the other (or both). It'd be quicker than setting up individual days.\n\n-Cheaply built. This thing is not confidence inspiring. It's all plastic, goofy looking, and kinda cheap feeling. The color selection doesn't help this much. I don't think it'd just chuck it in the back of the car along with the rest of your junk as you move from dorm room to dorm room and expect it to survive for long. One other reviewer complained about the ring used to set various things by rotating it. Yes, it's a little stiff, but I found it perfectly functional and not too stiff. I am not sure if this is because mine is built a little looser or if it's personal preference. Another reviewer mentioned that the display would \"glitch\" out on him if he pressed the dial/knob/buttons on top. Mine doesn't do this. It is very suggestive that the build quality is not that good from unit to unit.\n\n-Sound quality. Um, well, it's kinda not good. I know one of the other reviewers said it was good/better than he expected, but it's still pretty darn bad. I've listened to a lot of cheaper iPod docs and iPod dock/alarm combos (that I also cross-shopped with this) and I haven't found one of them that cost more than $30 that didn't sound a whole lot better than this thing. There is no bass to speak of, though the midrange and highs aren't horrendous. It isn't the sort of thing that tempts you to just lay in bed and listen to music on it. Maybe that's a good thing in a device that's supposed to get you out of bed. It's not horrendous, just not up to par with it's $60 MSRP. Not even close.\n\n-Brightness. It's too bright, even on the lowest setting. It could be worse, and it's manageable (and not as bad as some alarms), but it's certainly quite a bit brighter than I'd personally prefer (I like my room very dark).\n\nIt's really surprising that, given the obvious amount of thought that went into this little box, they messed up on some of the more obvious things.\n\nOverall, I like this clock. If the negatives above aren't a big deal to you, definitely check it out. If this is a bit steep of a price for you, I'd highly recommend a little Sony gem, the ICF-C180 which can also be found on Amazon. It's got an even brighter display, and no gradual wake, which were deal-breakers for me, but it's a great little alarm clock, too, with a lot of customizability yet is much more rugged and easier to use/set.","Product: Ever since the introduction of the first and only 7-day alarm clock in December 2004, American Innovative has been logging feature requests and product improvement suggestions from our customers. Nearly every aspect of the neverlate executive is fully customizable. We've introduced the concept of alarm banks - three in all. The two 7-day banks provide two, completely independent seven-day wake schedules - his and hers for example. In addition, we've included a daily reminder bank. We are also pleased to introduce the first-ever preferences menu in a clock radio. Everything from the backlight brightness, to the alarm duration is fully adjustable. Wake to NPR news at 7:00am weekdays, your Saturday morning talk show on a different station and the buzzer on Sunday. There's no other clock radio in the world with this capability. Line-in, headphone jack and more - a powered USB port on the back accommodates an electric fan or laptop boom lamp. Each time you hit the snooze button the snooze time is cut in half until finally the neverlate executive won't let you snooze any more. You can even disable the tempting snooze button.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Solid, if not perfect, contender.\n\nReview: I've been hunting for a new alarm clock since my Polk iSonic died a couple of months back. I had a few requirements, none of which could I find in a single alarm clock to my satisfaction, but this unit comes closest. After reading all the reviews, I was a little hesitant to spend $50 (Amazon's price as of this review) on it, but I'm glad I did.\n\nPros:\n-This is an insanely customizable alarm clock. You can set up something like 21 different, independent alarms on this thing, each with a different buzzer or radio preset. You can set separate alarms for each day of the week.\n\n-It has gradual wake capability. This is crucial in my book. As I don't get to sleep on a regular schedule, sometimes I wake up quickly at the first inkling of a noise from the alarm clock. Other times, it has to be going pretty loudly for a bit to get me awake. The gradual wake feature slowly ramps up the volume of the alarm over a few seconds rather than hitting like a sledgehammer instantly. In the interim after losing the iSonic (which had this feature), I lived with a Sony clock that was generally very good, but didn't have this gradual wake feature (and a couple of other bothers). I found that I was generally more tired and had a harder time getting going in the mornings when so abruptly shocked out of slumber.\n\n-Nap function. This is something you don't see much on alarms. This lets you set a quickie alarm timer that counts down from your preferred starting point with 5-min increments of time. Fabulous for catching a power nap or recharging yourself. It's sort of the opposite of a \"sleep\" function that turns off the radio after a selectable number of minutes (which this also has).\n\n-Date display. I've never had an alarm clock that also showed the date. I've heard of them, but never owned one. Minor plus, but a plus. A byproduct of having day-by-day alarm sets.\n\n-Small size. It's actually much smaller than I expected it to be. It's about the size of the old Sony cube \"Dream Machine\" alarms.\n\n-Informative display. It has a lot of data on display at one time, if necessary, and I find this useful.\n\n-Lots of clever features. Too many to really go into here, but this was a generally well thought-out alarm clock.\n\nCons:\n\n-Complexity. With great power comes great need to read the instructions. This is not a straightforward, easy to set up alarm clock. It's a pain in the rear to turn this nob, push this button, twist that dial, etc. just to move your alarm time up or back by a bit. It's easier just to have a couple of preset alarms and toggle them both off/on as needed. There really should just be a simple A/B alarm mode to quickly disable one and enable the other (or both). It'd be quicker than setting up individual days.\n\n-Cheaply built. This thing is not confidence inspiring. It's all plastic, goofy looking, and kinda cheap feeling. The color selection doesn't help this much. I don't think it'd just chuck it in the back of the car along with the rest of your junk as you move from dorm room to dorm room and expect it to survive for long. One other reviewer complained about the ring used to set various things by rotating it. Yes, it's a little stiff, but I found it perfectly functional and not too stiff. I am not sure if this is because mine is built a little looser or if it's personal preference. Another reviewer mentioned that the display would \"glitch\" out on him if he pressed the dial/knob/buttons on top. Mine doesn't do this. It is very suggestive that the build quality is not that good from unit to unit.\n\n-Sound quality. Um, well, it's kinda not good. I know one of the other reviewers said it was good/better than he expected, but it's still pretty darn bad. I've listened to a lot of cheaper iPod docs and iPod dock/alarm combos (that I also cross-shopped with this) and I haven't found one of them that cost more than $30 that didn't sound a whole lot better than this thing. There is no bass to speak of, though the midrange and highs aren't horrendous. It isn't the sort of thing that tempts you to just lay in bed and listen to music on it. Maybe that's a good thing in a device that's supposed to get you out of bed. It's not horrendous, just not up to par with it's $60 MSRP. Not even close.\n\n-Brightness. It's too bright, even on the lowest setting. It could be worse, and it's manageable (and not as bad as some alarms), but it's certainly quite a bit brighter than I'd personally prefer (I like my room very dark).\n\nIt's really surprising that, given the obvious amount of thought that went into this little box, they messed up on some of the more obvious things.\n\nOverall, I like this clock. If the negatives above aren't a big deal to you, definitely check it out. If this is a bit steep of a price for you, I'd highly recommend a little Sony gem, the ICF-C180 which can also be found on Amazon. It's got an even brighter display, and no gradual wake, which were deal-breakers for me, but it's a great little alarm clock, too, with a lot of customizability yet is much more rugged and easier to use/set.","Product: Stylish Design - takes up a minimum of space on the nightstand, desk or dresser.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Quintissential College Alarm Clock\n\nReview: This is the updated version of the classic Sony cube \"Dream Station\" alarm clock that everyone you knew had in college. It's a bit smaller and has a lot more features, but it's the same old Sony alarm clock you know and trust.\n\nPros:\n- Nigh on indestructible. This one is built for abuse.\n- Dual. . .no, make that. . .Quad alarms. It has two separate alarms, but also has a weekend mode that switches these over to weekend settings which are independent of the other alarms. Result? 4 semi-independent alarms.\n- Simple to use. Many dual alarm clocks are a pain to set, reset, and turn off, often requiring some complex sequence of button presses while dancing a jig just to turn of one alarm and turn the other on. This one is much more straightforward and the instructions aren't even all that necessary.\n - Easy to read display. 'Nuff said.\n- Nap mode. Hit the button and the alarm is set to go off in 10 min increments with each press.\n- Battery backup alarm. If the power goes out, it'll sound the buzzer at the alarm time and try to wake you up at least.\n\nCons:\n- Sound quality. What sound quality? I think I could make out that there was music on that radio station, but I'm still not sure.\n- Two brightness settings. Blinding and nuclear explosion blinding. If you can't sleep b/c this thing's so bright, at least you'll be able to entertain yourself all night making shadow puppets. Might want to wear sunscreen to bed, though.\n- No progressive wake up alarm. This feature is getting to be more common, yet is missing on this one. It's essentially a progressively increasing volume on the alarm (either radio or buzzer) that is much less jarring to wake up to than sudden-on alarms.\n\nFor the cost, it's definitely worth trying out. It's completely functional and will likely survive Judgment Day. You can't really ask for much more at this price point, but I wish there was a better sounding, higher end model with all these features plus a progressive wakeup. 4-stars.","Product: Boston Acoustics Hsolomdnt Horizon Solo Am/Fm Radio Wtih Auxiliary Input (Midnight)Precision Am/Fm Tuner With Noise-Free Reception; High-Performance 3.5\" Full-Range Speaker; Includes Remote, Fm Antenna & Detachable Ac Cord; Midnight\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Finally, the (almost) perfect clock/radio/alarm. . .\n\nReview: I've been hunting for a good quality, dual alarm radio since my Polk Audio iSonic went out (good radio, bad build quality) a few months ago. I had to have dual alarms, given my schedule, and a gradual wake (progressive wake) function. I really wanted something that sounded decent as well, as the iSonic it is replacing had very good audio quality. If you've ever owned a Bose Wave Radio, it's that sort of form factor but with vastly superior sound quality.\n\nI decided to take a slight chance on this radio as it was at a lower price than MSRP when I purchased it here from Amazon. I'm glad I did. Here's what I've found:\n\nPros:\n\n-Sound quality is very good for a single-speaker radio. It won't compete with a dedicated home stereo, but it easily keeps up with a Bose Wave Radio for a fraction of the cost. This will fill a good sized bedroom without much effort and no distortion, even at higher volumes. You can get pretty good clarity/separation of the instruments, though being monaural, it's not going to give you much of a soundstage.\n-Dual alarms are very handy for anyone whose schedule changes from day to day (college student, various work schedules, his/hers, etc.)\n-Gradual wake/progressive wake alarm will slowly increase the volume of the radio to more gently wake you from sleep. It's a pretty rapid ramp up, but still gradual.\n-Intuitive controls are very easy to figure out without the manual, but the manual is very short and easy to read with a couple of other things I would have missed at first glance. Menu system isn't deep or complex to navigate, and everything is pretty self-explanatory.\n-Excellent Snooze feature. Just touch the chrome bezel that rings the unit on the front (the rectangular one, not the ring around the face) and it snoozes for 10 min, each additional touch adds 5 minutes. No need to fumble around for the snooze button when half awake. Works exceptionally well. It's not a button, just a sensor.\n-Adjustable brightness (daytime only) with a built-in light sensor that dims the display to the minimum when the lights go down.\n-Built heavy and solid with a nice grippy-touch enclosure on the sides and back making it easy to handle. This feels like a quality piece of work, which it is.\n-Solid radio reception that pulls in more stations than I realized we had in the area. It tends to be sensitive to the placement of the included long antenna whether or not you get a lot of interference, but if you have room to stretch it out fairly straight, you're in good shape. No need to hang it on a wall or anything. It's about 4 ft. long anyway.\n-Small footprint on the nightstand. Will sit vertically or horizontally with a rotating bezel (that takes a little more oomph than I expected to rotate).\n-Has an AUX in and a headphone out if you need such things\n-Has a sleep mode timer on it if you need this\n-Won't lose the time if power goes out. I have not tested the length of this capability, but when you unplug it for a couple of minutes and plug it back in, it doesn't lose the time. This is great for those little brown-outs and brief power outages that often hit certain areas. I don't believe it will sound the alarm, though, if power is gone.\n\nCons:\n-Bass is a little limited. At lower volumes, bass is adequate, but as you increase the volume, the mids and highs outpace the ability of the tiny speaker to output balanced bass. It never gets distorted, just out of balance in this regard.\n-Multi-function knobs can be a little bit of a hassle. All three knobs are press-able as well as rotate. Sometimes you'll find yourself trying to press one and you turn it instead, or vice versa. Very minor complaint, but notable if you have clumsy fingers.\n-Sleep function is not a priority. I include this b/c two other reviewers mentioned it. It's true that the sleep function is buried under the menu system, but it's only about 2 clicks away and is very easy to access. If you use the sleep function a lot, I could see this as a minor drawback. If you never use the sleep function, like 99% of the people I know, then you'll never notice.\n-Brightness doesn't go quite low enough. Compared to most alarm clocks these days, this one is positively Cimmerian. However, I would have appreciated a few lower levels of brightness than what's provided. It doesn't light up the room like the others I've tried, but it's still brighter than I would prefer. Minor complaint that can be addressed with the cheap window tint film you purchase from a car parts store for $10 and a drop of water to seat it nicely.\n-No battery backup alarm in case the power goes off in the middle of the night.\n-I noticed that one of the other reviewers had some trouble with volume settings and time displays not matching up correctly. My guess is that he got a bad unit as mine has been perfect from the get go.\n\nI'm so impressed with this unit that I'm considering either buying another or buying one of the up-model Horizon Duo units to get the stereo sound and using it in my office at work. I can't recommend this enough as the negatives are so slight and likely to be rare issues for most people.\n\nIf you're in the market for a good sounding, high-quality dual alarm clock but don't want to spend over $100 (or possibly less), this is a great buy, and I can't recommend it enough.\n\nNote: I would add one more point regarding the information provided on the Amazon web page. Under \"Technical Details\" it lists that it includes a remote. It doesn't. It doesn't appear to be designed to operate with one, either, as no such function/item is mentioned in the manual, either.","Product: Boston Acoustics Hsolomdnt Horizon Solo Am/Fm Radio Wtih Auxiliary Input (Midnight)Precision Am/Fm Tuner With Noise-Free Reception; High-Performance 3.5\" Full-Range Speaker; Includes Remote, Fm Antenna & Detachable Ac Cord; Midnight\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Finally, the (almost) perfect clock/radio/alarm. . .\n\nReview: I've been hunting for a good quality, dual alarm radio since my Polk Audio iSonic went out (good radio, bad build quality) a few months ago. I had to have dual alarms, given my schedule, and a gradual wake (progressive wake) function. I really wanted something that sounded decent as well, as the iSonic it is replacing had very good audio quality. If you've ever owned a Bose Wave Radio, it's that sort of form factor but with vastly superior sound quality.\n\nI decided to take a slight chance on this radio as it was at a lower price than MSRP when I purchased it here from Amazon. I'm glad I did. Here's what I've found:\n\nPros:\n\n-Sound quality is very good for a single-speaker radio. It won't compete with a dedicated home stereo, but it easily keeps up with a Bose Wave Radio for a fraction of the cost. This will fill a good sized bedroom without much effort and no distortion, even at higher volumes. You can get pretty good clarity/separation of the instruments, though being monaural, it's not going to give you much of a soundstage.\n-Dual alarms are very handy for anyone whose schedule changes from day to day (college student, various work schedules, his/hers, etc.)\n-Gradual wake/progressive wake alarm will slowly increase the volume of the radio to more gently wake you from sleep. It's a pretty rapid ramp up, but still gradual.\n-Intuitive controls are very easy to figure out without the manual, but the manual is very short and easy to read with a couple of other things I would have missed at first glance. Menu system isn't deep or complex to navigate, and everything is pretty self-explanatory.\n-Excellent Snooze feature. Just touch the chrome bezel that rings the unit on the front (the rectangular one, not the ring around the face) and it snoozes for 10 min, each additional touch adds 5 minutes. No need to fumble around for the snooze button when half awake. Works exceptionally well. It's not a button, just a sensor.\n-Adjustable brightness (daytime only) with a built-in light sensor that dims the display to the minimum when the lights go down.\n-Built heavy and solid with a nice grippy-touch enclosure on the sides and back making it easy to handle. This feels like a quality piece of work, which it is.\n-Solid radio reception that pulls in more stations than I realized we had in the area. It tends to be sensitive to the placement of the included long antenna whether or not you get a lot of interference, but if you have room to stretch it out fairly straight, you're in good shape. No need to hang it on a wall or anything. It's about 4 ft. long anyway.\n-Small footprint on the nightstand. Will sit vertically or horizontally with a rotating bezel (that takes a little more oomph than I expected to rotate).\n-Has an AUX in and a headphone out if you need such things\n-Has a sleep mode timer on it if you need this\n-Won't lose the time if power goes out. I have not tested the length of this capability, but when you unplug it for a couple of minutes and plug it back in, it doesn't lose the time. This is great for those little brown-outs and brief power outages that often hit certain areas. I don't believe it will sound the alarm, though, if power is gone.\n\nCons:\n-Bass is a little limited. At lower volumes, bass is adequate, but as you increase the volume, the mids and highs outpace the ability of the tiny speaker to output balanced bass. It never gets distorted, just out of balance in this regard.\n-Multi-function knobs can be a little bit of a hassle. All three knobs are press-able as well as rotate. Sometimes you'll find yourself trying to press one and you turn it instead, or vice versa. Very minor complaint, but notable if you have clumsy fingers.\n-Sleep function is not a priority. I include this b/c two other reviewers mentioned it. It's true that the sleep function is buried under the menu system, but it's only about 2 clicks away and is very easy to access. If you use the sleep function a lot, I could see this as a minor drawback. If you never use the sleep function, like 99% of the people I know, then you'll never notice.\n-Brightness doesn't go quite low enough. Compared to most alarm clocks these days, this one is positively Cimmerian. However, I would have appreciated a few lower levels of brightness than what's provided. It doesn't light up the room like the others I've tried, but it's still brighter than I would prefer. Minor complaint that can be addressed with the cheap window tint film you purchase from a car parts store for $10 and a drop of water to seat it nicely.\n-No battery backup alarm in case the power goes off in the middle of the night.\n-I noticed that one of the other reviewers had some trouble with volume settings and time displays not matching up correctly. My guess is that he got a bad unit as mine has been perfect from the get go.\n\nI'm so impressed with this unit that I'm considering either buying another or buying one of the up-model Horizon Duo units to get the stereo sound and using it in my office at work. I can't recommend this enough as the negatives are so slight and likely to be rare issues for most people.\n\nIf you're in the market for a good sounding, high-quality dual alarm clock but don't want to spend over $100 (or possibly less), this is a great buy, and I can't recommend it enough.\n\nNote: I would add one more point regarding the information provided on the Amazon web page. Under \"Technical Details\" it lists that it includes a remote. It doesn't. It doesn't appear to be designed to operate with one, either, as no such function/item is mentioned in the manual, either.","Product: Is the Apple MacBook Pro original A1281 battery life too short for you? Unable to finish your blog at the Starbucks? Unable to finish watching your favor movie on the airplane? Now, the wait is over. The 6-cell 52Whr(4800mAh) replacement battery is here. Using this high quality 6-cell battery, Your Apple Aluminum Unibody 15\" MacBook Pro laptop (MB470LL/A and MB471LL/A) could last up a whopping 7 hours and 31 minutes even with WI-FI on when under minimum load and Bluetooth off (individual result may vary). You can have almost a full working day without the need to plug in for charge. Your Aluminum Unibody MacBook Pro will be on all the time with this 6-cell 56whr Li-Poly battery.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: It'll pass, but nothing special. . .\n\nReview: For the money, it'll suffice. It's not, by any means, an extended battery. In fact, after following the instructions (fully charge and deplete the brand new battery 3x) to the letter, I find that I'm working with only about 2 hours of battery life whereas the Apple original battery tended to give me 3-3.5 hours on a full charge. But this one is also significantly cheaper, so you get what you pay for, I suppose.\n\nI'm not upset, as I expected less than optimal performance. Fit and finish are perfect, and it's an easy and direct replacement for the MacBook Pro 15\" \"unibody\" laptops (before they went to the integrated batteries).\n\nIf you're looking for extended battery life, look elsewhere. If you're looking to save a few bucks and can do without the full battery charge provided by an OEM battery, then this is a reasonable replacement.","Product: Anti-glare Type Protective Film for iPad\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Excellent solution, but not perfect.\n\nReview: I first heard about this product from a podcast of Steve Gibson's, who wrote the current #1 review of this product. I feel that his review is accurate, but I wanted to add my own experience to the collected knowledge.\n\n1. Effectiveness\n\nThe single biggest problem I have with the iPad is finding a comfortable viewing angle. If you work in an area with fluorescent lighting overhead, or if you take it near a window, you'll have to work at it to find a position that doesn't have much glare. The screen is beautiful with nice contrast but at the expense of being highly reflective and smudge prone.\n\nThe iLuv Anti-Glare film not only addresses the glare/reflectivity aspect, it also helps reduce the oil fingerprint smudge factor as well. Though not perfect in this regard, I'd estimate that it reduces glare by at least 50%, if not more, and the smudge problem by even greater, perhaps 90%. This is excellent, and for that reason alone I agree with Steve in that everyone should at least consider this purchase.\n\nAs for being a \"protective\" film, I'm not sure that the flimsy plastic sheet will be that much more protective than the hardened glass that's already there. However, since they are easy to remove, you can, in theory, just swap on a new film whenever you so desire.\n\n2. Ease of Use\n\nThis is where it takes the greatest hit in terms of score. I've put many screen films on many items, mostly iPhones, in the past, and this one is no better or worse than any of those. The complicating factor is that it is so large an area that it dramatically increases your chances of messing up.\n\nAs opposed to a few films, the method this one uses to stay attached is the more common combination of static cling type attraction and some mild adhesive. It will peel of cleanly the first time with no residue left. It also means that it's not movable as you apply it, so you have to be very careful how you line it up when you first put it on, as it's difficult to manipulate afterwards. Some films apply with the help of a spritzer/mister that sprays a solution onto the screen or film and causes it to \"float\" over the screen until the fluid is squeegeed out. This makes alignment much easier, but also tends to produce more bubbles.\n\n3. Application Tips\n\nFirst, find a nice, well lit, dust free location with as little moving air as possible. Any dust particles floating in the air will seemingly seek out your new screen film and stick to the underside like a magnet. I did it on my dining room table under the light and had no problems.\n\nSecond, take the iPad out of any case that you may have and rest it on a relatively firm surface that provides good support. Since the back of the iPad is curved, this means that you may need some sort of firm cushion/pad to put it on rather than laying its back on a perfectly flat surface. It just so happened that my padded leather Marware case worked fine.\n\nThird, clean, clean, and then clean again. You'll need to clean the glass as well as you can before applying the film, but I'd also suggest cleaning your hands to remove any dust or other accumulated particles off of them, too. You'll also need to clean the surface upon which you're working. You'll also need some sort of lens cleaning cloth or lint-free wipe to wipe down the screen once you've cleaned it because there will still be smudges and whatnot on the screen itself. Once clean, hold the iPad up and angle the screen towards a light so that you see the reflection of the light and then scan the surface visually looking for smudges, swirls, specs, etc. and wipe them off. This stage is critical.\n\nFourth, the film is stuck to a clear plastic backing in shipping. DO NOT PEEL THE WHOLE FILM OFF AT ONCE! You'll be tempted to do so, especially if you've never put on a film before, but then you'll have nothing to hold the film by that won't leave behind fingerprints on the sticky side of the film. Instead, Starting at the end with the hole in the film for the Home Button, PEEL BACK ABOUT 1 INCH of the backing sheet and fold it over. If you can, make a crease in it so that it stays out of the way. Using the home button as a guide, line up the hole in the film as precisely as you can over the Home Button. Take your finger and \"anchor\" it at the spot between the home button and the bottom edge of the iPad. This helps you then line up the film properly. It also means you can unstick it and stick it back easily since the stuck-down portion will only be a very small area. At this point, you should have a very small area on the film tacked down to the glass surface of the iPad and the plastic backing of the film peeled back, away from the film and against the iPad surface forming a sort of spring holding the film up off the surface of the iPad.\n\nFifth, with the small area below the Home Button anchored down, try and align the bottom of the film as precisely as possible with the bottom of the iPad glass, making sure that the hole around the Home Button stays aligned as well. The film is cut so precisely that you have little room for error. It should be lined up within a fraction of a millimeter, if you can manage it. Stick down the edge of the film as best you can and double-check the alignment. This is your last chance to easily readjust the alignment. Take your time.\n\nSixth, holding down the end of the film by the Home Button, using your other hand, slowly peel the backing away from the rest of the film. I found the best way to do this was to keep the film itself as flat as possible and close to the screen surface, thus making the backing curl back at a fairly sharp angle. I trapped the backing between my index finger and the surface of the iPad and just sort of scooted it along the iPad screen a little at a time. Don't get in a hurry, and follow the film a little bit with your other hand up from the Home Button area, keeping it more-or-less in the center of the screen. Watch as the film itself lays down flat on the iPad surface and if any bubbles get trapped, stop peeling, gently pull the film away from the screen (kind of working backwards) just a little bit to get the bubbles out, and then carefully proceed forward.\n\nThe key here is to be smooth. The negative charge imparted to the film as the backing is peeled away causes it to tend to just suddenly stick to the glass and trap bubbles. The smoother and slower you let it glide onto the glass surface, the less chance you'll get bubbles. By keeping the film as flat as possible, and peeling the backing away at as great an angle as possible, you're reducing the amount of film peeled off the backing and exposed to air at any given time. Given the static cling effect, the film will tend to also attract any dust particles in the air immediately around it. Thus, keeping this exposed area as small as possible is going to reduce your chances of trapping a piece of dust between the film and the screen. The package includes 2 films, so you can get another shot at it if you mess up pretty bad the first time.\n\nThere is definitely a trick to this. I don't see that there would be any way to make it apply any better than this. The best option, of course, would have been for Apple to make a model with a matte finish on it, but that's not currently an option. If applied correctly, though, this film is the next best thing.\n\nYou will lose a very small amount of clarity and brightness with this film, or any film that provides anti-glare, but I feel it's worth the tradeoff in being able to use the iPad in many more circumstances than before. Thus, 4 out of 5 stars.","Product: The ZAGGmate is an aircraft-grade aluminum iPad 1 case with a built-in wireless Bluetooth keyboard. Its exclusive features and sleek design give your iPad 1 durable protection, added functionality and style. You'll wonder how you ever used your iPad 1 without it. ZAGGmate is made from aircraft aluminum with a bead-blasted, anodized finish matching the design, look and feel of your iPad 1. The ZAGGmate is the thinnest hard cover protector for the front of the iPad. Its simple yet innovative hinge provides viewing and typing angles in both portrait and landscape mode. The built-in physical Bluetooth keyboard allows for fast, responsive typing. Sleek and stylish design with unique and useful features makes ZAGGmate the essential accessory for your Apple iPad 1.Note: ZAGGmate with keyboard uses a 510 mAh rechargeable lithium polymer battery that will last several weeks of normal use without charging. Embedded wireless Bluetooth physical keyboard.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Best iPad keyboard-case currently available.\n\nReview: In the interest of brevity.\n\nPros:\n-top notch quality materials\n-hard case makes it feel very protective\n-very stylish companion to the iPad\n-keyboard is easy to pair with iPad\n-keyboard is easy to type on (no repetition of keystrokes as with most other keyboards I've used)\n-battery lasts a long time on a charge\n-lots of special keys such as home button, volume controls, etc. built right into the keyboard, even arrow keys!\n-adds minimal bulk/weight to iPad\n\nCons:\n-keyboard keys are small (think netbook size) due to having all those extra keys\n-to use as a stand, requires you to pop up a little plastic A-shaped stand, but this seems rather flimsy and may break if not careful\n-actually has minimal padding on it so if you were to drop the iPad, I'm not sure that it would be all that protective. More protective against screen scratches or assault than drops\n-a bit expensive and late to the party considering the iPad 2 is probably about to be announced (why didn't this come out last summer?)\n-keyboard is recessed into the frame of the case requiring you \"reach over\" the lip of the case and dip your fingers down into it, not too dissimilar from proper typing technique, though\n-awkward to go between touching screen and typing since your hand is momentarily obstructing what it is you're trying to interact with (vs. using a mouse)\n-no convenient way to flip the iPad in the case to face the screen outwards, thus requiring you to keep up with two separate pieces, instead of one unified device, if you simply want to use it as a touch tablet without keyboard (games, internet browsing, reading books, etc.)\n\nThis keyboard/case combo single-handedly converts an iPad into an almost-laptop. Generating content, such as papers and notes, becomes vastly simpler to do. It unleashes a whole side of the iPad usage model that was heretofore difficult and frustrating to tap in to. Typing long form content on the onscreen touch keyboard is a horrible experience for the most part, and should only be done if you have no other options. This eliminates that problem almost entirely. I can now see the iPad becoming a workable substitute for most laptop duties, provided you have the proper apps installed.\n\nI really like this keyboard and wish it had come out months ago. As it is, I can see it as a huge sales success for ZAGG for any 1st gen iPad owners. Unfortunately, it took them nearly a year to develop and release it and now there's about to be a new iPad model which will almost certainly not fit into this one.\n\nHowever, I am also forced to question the sensibility of spending this much money on an iPad and iPad keyboard when you can step up to a real laptop (MacBook Air) for just a little more. As soon as the iPad crosses the line from content consumer to content producer, its weaknesses, and those of iOS, really start to show. That, though, is a comment for the iPad, not the ZAGGmate. The latter accomplishes its intended purpose brilliantly, and I can think of no better solution for this problem currently available.","Product: Put your slides, movies, photos, and everything else that fills your iPad 2 screen on an even bigger screen your HDTV. The Apple Digital AV Adapter mirrors exactly what you see on iPad 2 so that everyone in the room can enjoy it on your widescreen TV, video projection screen, or other HDMI-compatible display. The Apple Digital AV Adapter also supports video out for iPad, iPhone 4, or iPod touch (4th generation). General Information Manufacturer: Apple, Inc Manufacturer Part Number: Manufacturer Website Address: Brand Name: Apple Product Model: Product Name: HDMI Cable Adapter Marketing Information: Put your slides, movies, photos, and everything else that fills your iPad 2 screen on an even bigger screen your HDTV. The Apple Digital AV Adapter mirrors exactly what you see on iPad 2 so that everyone in the room can enjoy it on your widescreen TV, video projection screen, or other HDMI-compatible display. The Apple Digital AV Adapter also supports video out for iPad, iPhone 4, or iPod touch (4th generation).Product Type: A/V Cable Technical Information Cable Type: HDMI Fiber Optic Mode: Not Applicable Core/Cladding Diameter: Not Applicable Connector on First End: 1 x 30-pin Male Proprietary Connector on Second End: 1 x 19-pin HDMI (Type A) Male Digital Audio/Video Connector on Second End: 1 x 30-pin Female Proprietary Conductor: Copper Miscellaneous Compatibility: Apple: iPad, iPad 2, iPhone 4, iPod touch (4th generation)\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Does work with iPad 1 and iPhone 4 to some degree. . .\n\nReview: Though released with the iPad 2, this adapter will, in fact, pipe both video and audio out of an iPad 1 and an iPhone 4 through HDMI without any problem as long as the app you wish to view supports it.\n\nMy main interest in this adapter was to have the ability to watch Netflix streaming on family TVs who do not have Internet service. The Netflix app works beautifully over AT&T 3G connections on both the iPad and iPhone 4, but I wished to have a way to use the service at older family member's houses who do not have Internet of any sort. I had read most of the reviews here on Amazon and done some other digging around, but no one was very clear as to what this adapter could and could not do on older hardware. Here's my assessment to date:\n\niPad 2 - You get true \"mirroring\" performance. This essentially means that whatever you see and hear from the iPad 2 on screen gets put through the HDMI connection, including the home screen icons, sound effects, etc. This is what the adapter was created for.\n\niPad 1 - When plugged in, you do not get to see anything on the TV screen, but the TV will recognize that it is receiving an HDMI signal. It will simply be blank. The iPad 1 screen will behave normally until you open an app that is compatible with video/audio out and that's when the magic starts. In the Netflix app, which is the only one I've tested so far, you still get the menus and whatnot on the iPad 1 screen as always, but as soon as you start playing streaming video, the iPad 1 screen displays a red screen with the Netflix logo. All the video and sound gets piped through the HDMI output to the TV.\n\nI did not have sophisticated testing equipment or ability to display the signal's resolution on the TV, but the resolution appears to be, at least for iPad 1, 720p. There was no distortion or stretching of the picture and it filled the TV screen properly with very small horizontal bars to keep the aspect ratio correct. With three bars of signal, the movie streamed just fine and quality was perfectly viewable with no grossly obvious compression artifacts. Better than VHS and loosely in the ballpark of DVD (though upconverted to 720p, apparently).\n\niPhone 4 - I tried the same thing on my iPhone 4. It all works essentially the same as on an iPad 1, which makes perfect sense given the similarities in hardware. I did notice much worse compression artifact errors, though, when output to TV. My guess is that the video signal being streamed to the iPhone 4 is scaled down to fit the small screen, where such artifacting would be less noticeable, and that this small-screen version does not scale well to a 42\" HDTV. Though both sound and video were output just fine, the quality of the video left much to be desired. In fact, I would describe the video as essentially unwatchable.\n\nIt's my understanding that other apps work essentially the same. I don't have a list of apps, other than Netflix, which will work in this way. I wouldn't be surprised if the YouTube app, iPod video, etc. worked and even possibly a game or two. My main need was Netflix, and it works just fine for that purpose.\n\nThe adapter itself has two ports, one HDMI female port and one standard female iPod connector port. This permits you to power/charge the iPad or iPhone while simultaneously outputting video and audio. Not included, of course, is an HDMI cable. I would suggest you get at least a 3' cable, possibly a 6' cable, with which to connect to the TV or projector since you'll have to account for needing to physically manipulate the touch screen to start up video output. Build quality is typical Apple, which is to say excellent.\n\nVery pleased with my gamble to purchase this. Didn't want others to have to worry if their intended use was similar.","Product: Mohu Leaf 30 is the award-winning digital antenna that jump started the cord cutting revolution. Launched in 2011, Leaf 30 established the trend of paper-thin antennas with many others striving to achieve the same quality and design. Leaf 30 was the first and continues to be one of the top-rated and most popular HDTV antennas available on the market. Antenna Made in USA Derived from US Military Technology The patented Leaf 30 was modeled after life-saving technology designed and developed for the US Military to discreetly detect IEDs, making it the most reliable and sophisticated indoor HDTV antenna on the market today. We are proud of our military connection, and it is evident in our design, quality, and stability. We are also proud to say that our Leaf antennas are made in USA. Watch 100% Free TV in HD Leaf 30 lets you enjoy over-the-air networks in your area without paying a monthly fee. That means you can watch 94 of the 100 most-watched TV shows for free from networks like ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, PBS, The CW, Univision and more. And because over-the-air broadcasts are uncompressed, you will experience the clearest picture quality possible with your HDTV antenna. Highest Quality, Sleek Design, Easy Installation Mohu Leaf 30 is now tested to reach up to a 40-mile radius and includes a high performance 10 ft. detachable coaxial cable, giving users the flexibility to place the antenna much higher on a wall or close to a window for optimal reception. Leaf 30 TV antenna indoor is also paintable and reversible to match decor, and much easier on the eyes than a traditional antenna. Setup is as easy as plugging it in, turning on your TV, and scanning for channels.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Probably your best bet for a small indoor TV antenna.\n\nReview: I'll admit. After reading all the reviews, I was willing to bite. I currently have a large and rather hideous outdoor antenna sitting on my 2nd floor balcony. I don't have the means to get a real outdoor antenna placed up high. It does the job, but I'd rather get it out of the way and eliminate the coax running to the outside. It'd just be simpler. I thought this might give me comparable, or at least close, reception to the older antenna. I was disappointed.\n\nI live in a bit of a strange location when it comes to broadcast TV. Some of the TV towers are north of me, some are south, a few or to the east. Thus a directional antenna is not really a good option (dangit). I live in a mid-size city (~70k) sandwiched between two other mid-sized cities, all of which have their own towers within about a 30 mile radius of me. My balcony is only about 4 feet from where I was testing the Leaf, though was outside vs. inside (very important).\n\nI have a TiVo Series 3 (from the days of yore when I had, and gave a crap about, cable), which has a nice visual signal strength meter (scale of 0-100) with audible tone displayed on screen when desired. I took a survey of several of the channels I receive with my current setup to get a sense of what I had to begin with. I then hooked up the Leaf antenna to see how it would perform.\n\nEssentially, on every channel I lost about 20-30 \"points\" of signal strength. Those with 85 would drop to 55-60. Those with 50 would drop to 20. Those with 30 would drop too low to be usable (the TiVo displays a picture behind the signal meter for visual confirmation). Being portable, the Leaf was adjustable to direction (even though an omnidirectional antenna, most still do better when aimed a little bit). I never could get the signal strength to match the \"before\" strengths even if I had it precisely aimed to provide the greatest signal strength.\n\nSo effectively what does this tell us? Only that the Leaf is not able to break the laws of physics. No surprise there. Indoor signals are attenuated by walls. Even though the outdoor antenna is not line-of-sight to any antennas either, it has fewer things in the way.\n\nA more realistic test is this Leaf vs. other quality indoor antennas I have had in the recent past. In this comparison, this unit does no better of a job than those, but it does it with one particular advantage, it's small and flat and easy to place. Most of the better indoor antennas have bases/stands and have to be placed on a flat table or something. The leaf can be mounted or taped to a wall, like an old-school FM antenna. It doesn't seem to care. The main body is no thicker than a laminated sheet of paper, though the plastic piece on the bottom with the wire coming out adds some thickness. It's even intentionally designed with a light side and a dark side, in order to match wall colors or decor (yes, like The Force).\n\nSo, it is hugely superior to most other HDTV antennas in reception? Not at all. Is it impressive for its size and intended use? Definitely. You'll still do better with a quality outdoor antenna placed up high, if possible, but this is an excellent option for anyone who cannot pull off better setups.","Product: Finally, there exists an amazing mechanical key switch keyboard without the noise normally associated with mechanical keyboards! The Quiet Pro Keyboard uses Matias' new Quiet Click mechanical key switches, which were over 2 years in the making. They deliver a feel that is unmatched for comfort, without sacrificing the tactile feedback you need to type really fast. Also includes 3 port USB 2.0 hub, Mac option symbols printed on keys, special anti-ghosting circuitry so that the keyboard keeps up with the fastest Mac typists, laser etched keys so the characters don't wear off, and traditional sculpted keytops for comfort and speed.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Good but room for improvement. . .\n\nReview: Given that many people are not familiar with this style of keyboard, I'm going to break this review down into two sections, first about the style of keyboard that this is, with plusses and minuses, and secondly about this particular product from Matias.\n\nThe keyboard style:\n\nLike many others, I too missed the clickity-clack of older buckle-spring key switches. I learned to type on a variety of devices ranging from electric and electronic keyboards to computer keyboards including the classic IBM Model M. This keyboard is very close to that one and, supposedly, is very similar to an old Apple keyboard, the Apple Extended Keyboard, which I never had an opportunity to try.\n\nThe reason this is called a \"Tactile\" keyboard is that there is a significant amount of fingertip feedback generated by the individual keys. Modern keyboards tend to forgo individual mechanical switches in favor of membrane-style sensors that are similar to pressing on little sponges. It's both cheaper and quieter, but is not very finger friendly. Additionally, the keys on new keyboards tend to be fairly flat, such that your fingers may be pressing the edge of a key rather than the center and your hands can start to get out of alignment a little more easily.\n\nKeyboards like the Tactile Pro have much more key travel and sensory feedback than the newer keyboards. Your fingers seem to bounce along as you type rather than hammering a flat surface. As a result, your hands don't move as much as the keys absorb the impact of your fingers much better. Additionally, you tend to get a better sense of your typing speed and, typically, find yourself typing much faster and smoother with fewer errors (though this is debatable) as you go along. As someone else said, this is a great keyboard for people who are high-speed touch typists or who work in a field where lots of text output is part of the job (journalist, writer, blogger, etc.).\n\nThere will definitely be downsides for some people, though. First, of course, is the noise. This keyboard is great if you're in a room by yourself and are generating a lot of text. However, if you're in a coffee shop, or a classroom, or have a roommate/spouse/etc. in the immediate area, the constant clickity-clack can become annoying to them. I suspect this is the main reason, along with cost, that these sorts of keyboards have fallen out of style. Don't get me wrong, they're not particularly loud, but the constant, repetitive noise can get bothersome, especially if your environment is intended to be quiet (e.g., a library). Of course, this is a big keyboard, so you're not likely to be toting it around with you outside of your home/office anyway, but take this into consideration. For comparison's sake, I would say that this is significantly quieter than an old manual typewriter and somewhat quieter than an electronic typewriter as well. In fact, each click is much quieter than your average ball point pen click. But there will be a lot of them, and if you're cruising along at 100 wpm, that adds up.\n\nAlso, as mentioned, this is a full-sized keyboard with number pad. It's not heavy, but it is not stylishly thin and smooth like an Apple keyboard is. These things aren't really meant for portability and are ideally suited to a desktop environment. If you put this in your bag, you're going to hear the keys clicking away as your bag rocks back and forth. This can get old pretty quickly. You'll also notice that there's a little \"play\" in the keytops. You can rest your fingertips on the surface of the keys and slightly wiggle them back and forth. This is normal for this style of keyboard and shouldn't be taken as a defect. It's simply a product of the longer-than-usual key travel that these keys have and actually seem to serve a purpose as a sort of automatic adjustment to your fingertip angles. For some people used to the membrane-style keyboards, though, this could be disconcerting at first.\n\nTherefore, for anyone who does a lot of typing, you should really consider getting one of the buckle-spring keyboards for your machine. Currently, this one and one other (I'll mention in a moment) exist, to my knowledge.\n\nThis specific Matias keyboard:\n\nI think I've soured a little bit on Matias products. This is the third different keyboard I've purchased from them, the other two being folding portables, and they all have problems. I'll start, though, with the positives.\n\nThe buckle-spring mechanism on the keys is classic and exactly as I recall the old IBM Model M keyboards behaving. Of course, that was 20 years ago, so I could be off by a little, but regardless, this keyboard is very nice to type on. It's making me wonder why I didn't do the switch years ago. The angle at which the keyboard sits (adjustable slightly with the built in feet), is also conducive to rapid typing with the wrists up off the table in proper, just-like-I-was-taught-in-school position. That should help with repetitive motion injuries some as well. Also, something I haven't had before is a USB port on the keyboard itself. Two of them, in fact. I think this will come in handy for things like USB thumb drives and whatnot given that the iMac USB ports are way around back and hard to reach. I like the idea, in concept, and I'm sure I'll make use of it a lot.\n\nNow, for the downsides.\n\nThe whole keyboard feels cheap. The old Model M keyboards to which I am comparing this to were built like tanks. You got the sense that they could take a .45 round in the back and still keep typing away. They were also heavy, much heavier than this keyboard, which also gave you a sense of durability. This, on the other hand, is very plasticky. The keys themselves are fine, but the surrounding material makes the whole keyboard feel like a $20 keyboard rather than one well over $100.\n\nI've also noticed that at least one key, the number pad's \"0\" key, is much harder to press than all the other keys on the keyboard, including the space bar. When your fingers get accustomed to pressing only so hard to type a key and then have to press twice as hard to belt out a zero, something's wrong. I haven't \"tested\" every other key on the keyboard, but so far, that's the only one with a problem out of 90+ keys I have used.\n\nLastly, as mentioned by another reviewer, the function keys are labelled only with the F1-F15 numbers. No idea what they do otherwise. There's no marks for Expose or any of the other default Mac shortcuts. I'm not even exactly sure how to make them do their alternate function as there is no function key on the keyboard. The manual that came with the keyboard is endearingly short (basically, \"to install keyboard, plug it in\" and that's it), but not very helpful in this regard. Thankfully, the volume controls and eject key ARE labelled and sit just over the number pad. That's the main thing you need, and you can easily switch your keymappings in OS X to be whatever you want, but it would be nice for them to label these keys as well if they're going to go so far as to label the copyright and trademark symbols on the other keys.\n\nOh, and about that installation thing. OS X doesn't recognize this as a Mac keyboard per se. In fact, it asks that you press a couple of keys on the keyboard and identify the layout of the shift-return-backslash keys on the right. This is common with third party keyboards, but I've had several keyboards just be recognized automatically by OS X and was surprised when this one wasn't. Not a deal breaker, just strange.\n\nOverall, this is the best typing experience I've had on a Mac since I became a convert. This also beats all the PC keyboards I've tried back to the older IBM keyboards about 20 years ago. That alone earned it 4 stars. I had to deduct some for the cheapness of the experience, however, and the faulty 0 key on the numberpad. I may call customer service and see what they can do about that.\n\nOh, and by the way, the other buckle-spring keyboard I know of available for purchase is the \"Das Keyboard.\" It's a PC keyboard but can be had with key swap-outs for Mac keys (or Linux) so you can replace the Windows keys with Mac keys. It looks to be better built than this for about the same money, and I may have to try it, now that I've fallen back in love with the buckle-spring. We'll see. I do believe there are some smaller manufacturers out there as well who either make or convert these style keyboards, but I don't have any names for you.","Product: Galco International was founded by Richard N. Gallagher in 1969 as a small family business in Chicago, Illinois. Known then as the famous jackass leather company, Gallagher specialized in holsters constructed of horsehide. In 1980 the business was moved from Chicago to its present home in Phoenix, Arizona, and in 1983 the name of the company was changed to galco International. ALREADY famous for high quality and innovative designs, galco gained worldwide notoriety when the jackass shoulder system became a recurring character on the popular 1980's TV Series Miami vice. In the new century, galco continues to be a favorite choice of Hollywood, appearing in more films and TV shows than any other holster maker. Perhaps more importantly, galco remains a Major force in real-world firearms usage. Law enforcement personnel around the nation and across the world - from local departments to the largest Federal agencies - are issued and use galco products. Galco's array of law enforcement products ranges from concealment holsters to rifle slings approved by the National Tactical officer's Association.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Close but no cigar.\n\nReview: Wow. I was really hoping I'd like this one, but it ended up a major fail. One safety point, though, NEVER TEST OUT A NEW HOLSTER WITH YOUR WEAPON LOADED! Always, always unload the weapon and either leave the mag out or put in an empty mag (after double-checking safety/unloaded status). I have always unloaded/cleared my guns before first trying out a new holster (wearing it around the house, etc.) and tested the draw and performance with a safe weapon.\n\nFirst, the good. This appears to be a pretty well made holster. Good quality materials. I like the belt clips a lot. Fairly comfortable (Not the best, but above average). Provides a decent forward cant to the weapon as is.\n\nThe fit to my weapon was pretty much perfect. It swallows the firearm nicely and is clearly molded to the form of the gun quite well. The leather provided a fair bit of grip, and the kydex sort of \"clicks\" when the weapon is inserted.\n\nUnfortunately, the fit is so custom and perfect that when I wear the holster, I literally cannot remove the weapon from the holster. Turns out, the simple act of placing some pressure on the outside of the kydex compresses it sufficiently that it locks into the grooves/bumps on the side of the weapon and pinches it against the leather. With my pants buttoned and belt buckled, the gun would not come out of the holster no matter how hard I pulled. I'm not positive, but I'm fairly certain I could suspend my entire weight from the grip of the pistol while it was in this holster.\n\nAt first I thought it was possibly the angle I was pulling it out at, but no matter which angle I pulled on it, no draw. Then I tried undoing my belt buckle. Though this gave the weapon a little more play, I still could not draw the weapon from the holster. When I unbuttoned my pants and unzipped the top portion, finally I could get the weapon to draw with a little effort. When completely removed from my body, the weapon holsters and draws pretty smoothly. Thus I was surprised at how fickle this thing was to actually use. I do not know if it would be amenable to any sort of reshaping, but I'm not certain I'd want to fool with it since it may create a rough surface that would scratch the finish on the gun. I will likely try contacting Galco and seeing what they can do for me since this is obviously a manufacturing defect.\n\nThe particular model holster I have was designed to fit multiple weapons in the same series (full frame, compact, a couple of different calibers, etc.), so I may try a few other pieces that I own in it to see if they function better, but my intended concealed weapon will not work with this holster, so it will not serve the purpose I wished it to.\n\nThus, my bit of advice on this otherwise solid holster is to test fit it with an empty/safe gun as soon as you can and be ready to send it back just in case. I believe my experience to be the exception, not the rule.","Product: This critically acclaimed epic trilogy follows the quest undertaken by the hobbit, Frodo Baggins, and his fellowship of companions to save Middle-earth by destroying the One Ring and defeating the evil forces of the Dark Lord Sauron.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: June 28, 2011 Extended Edition Blu-Ray review\n\nReview: I'll first say that there is some misleading information on the Amazon page regarding comparing this set with older versions of the movies. I own all the older versions, both original and extended editions, on DVD and have been eagerly awaiting the release of the extended editions on Blu-Ray, believing them to be simply the Blu-Ray editions of the older DVD Extended Editions. They are not. They are significantly better.\n\nAll three of these movies contain scenes and extensions that I have never seen before, and I have seen the original Extended Editions on DVD at least three times, each. This set more fully fleshes out the story from the books, and it makes the whole story make that much more sense to those who haven't read the book (I have, several times).\n\nFirst, note that Blu-Ray is perfect for these movies. The detail, color, clarity, and film-like quality is spectacular. I can't rate this highly enough. These are the best looking Blu-Rays I own.\n\nSecond, and perhaps the only fault I can find, each movie is spread across two dedicated Blu-Ray discs. This is a storage capacity problem, and nothing else. Blu-Ray has its limits. The break between discs is chosen well as to interrupt the flow minimally. It actually serves as a nice intermission when you're watching a 4 hour movie.\n\nThird, each movie comes with 3 extra DVDs (not Blu-Rays) with extra features. I have not viewed these yet as I wanted to get this review out once I saw the errors in the description of the Blu-Ray Extended Edition info on Amazon.\n\nLastly, The Fellowship of the Ring is the only movie of the three that doesn't have huge extra scenes added. It is close to the older Extended Edition DVD version in makeup, which is not bad at all. Apparently there was less extra footage to add back. Both The Two Towers and The Return of the King are extended to over 4 hours each. Total run time for all three films is around 12 hours. All the extras are seamlessly inserted/added as if they were there the whole time.\n\nAnyone who is a LOTR fan must get this latest version as they're missing out on huge swaths of story that have been left out of previous editions. Don't assume that if you already own the DVD Extended Editions you have seen it all. I was expecting this to just be a higher-res version of that set. I was wrong. It's so much better.","Product: Protect your iPhone 4/4S with the new stainless steel iNoxCase by visionary industrial designer Ryan Glasgow. This ultra-thin and functionally stylish iNoxCase cell phone accessory is your extra insurance for flops and drops. The iNoxCase features a 307.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Very pretty but nearly useless.\n\nReview: First off, I will say that I've tried a lot of iPhone cases in the past and have yet to find that perfect one. The one that provides protection while not adding much bulk and while compromising the phone function as little as possible. Not only does this case fail at all of those, it may be the single worst iPhone case I've ever used, which is a shame because it's beautifully made out of quality materials. It's all about the design.\n\nLet me start, though, with the positives.\n\n1. The material that this case is made out of is impeccable. It's solid stainless steel with real screws and a few plastic bits connecting the front plate with the back. In my opinion, as long as the screws and the little plastic bits hold out, which I expect them to, this case would likely last for years. Even the hinge seems to be built to last.\n\n2. The case adds very little bulk or weight to the phone. It's one of the lightest iPhone cases out there, despite being made of stainless steel. It's also barely thicker than the iPhone itself and only very slightly wider and taller.\n\n3. You have full access to all the ports on the phone as well as switches around the edges of the phone with minimal hindrance to fingers as well.\n\n4. Extremely close tolerances and snug fit gives the impression of solid design. Best fitting case I've ever seen on an iPhone.\n\nHowever, all of this is spoiled by the actual design itself.\n\n1. The case is designed almost like a flip-phone. There are two plates of steel with cutouts (nicely deburred) for the screen, camera, home button, etc. with another steel plate on a hinge that flips 180 degrees from protecting the screen to straight up. However, the flap will neither stay closed nor open on its own. There is no sort of closure or clasp, magnetic or otherwise, that keeps the flap down, and there is no locking notch or other system that will keep it in the fully open position. It's designed to be talked on with the flap closed, but if you want to do more than one thing, such as use speaker phone and also be accessing other functions on the phone, the flap is constantly in the way. You'll also discover that the flap is hard to open one-handed yet will sometimes flip itself open, with gravity assist, precisely when you don't want it to. It's possible that this could have been remedied by having a flap that moved a complete 360 degrees to rest against the back plate, but this is not in the design, and would likely compromise something else functionally.\n\n2. Speaking of plates made out of thin stainless steel, this is an uncomfortable case to hold for very long. The edges are very thin, though nicely smoothed out. However, you tend to still get a lot of pressure applied to a small area even if you are just holding the phone normally (e.g., not squeezing hard) for just a few minutes up to your ear. Even worse is working on the phone screen itself where you have to have a finger supporting it from the bottom, near the dock connector, to keep it slipping. It feels as though it's cutting into your hand slowly, though it's not actually doing any harm. It's somewhat painful to hold for very long.\n\n3. The flap blocks the screen, yet strangely there's a cut-out on the screen to display the time/caller ID. While clever and very precisely cut, it sort of defeats the purpose of having a screen cover. Similarly, when the flap is in the fully open position, it makes the phone-case combo more than twice as tall and a bit unwieldy. If you want to take photos, you've got to figure out a way to hold the flap open and still operate the camera. Worse, you lose the ability to type in landscape mode because the flap blocks your hand from grasping from one side, even if you open it only 90 degrees or so. Lastly, to answer the phone you actually have to open the case all the way up. This can be done one-handed but often requires fiddling with because your holding hand may have a stray finger wrapping around an edge slightly and pinning the flap down.\n\n4. The sharp edges and the screw heads tend to catch in the folds of clothing, especially pockets. This makes retrieving it from your pants pocket a bit more of a challenge than it should be. It's not bad, and the limited additional bulk overall helps in this regard, but was definitely noticeable over my other case. It's not as bad as an Otter Box, but nowhere near as clean as, say, a bumper case. Similarly, most iPhone holders, such as windshield mounts, struggle more with the oddball shaped edges of this case.\n\n5. As mentioned before, the sides are completely open. Now that means the stainless steel antennae are exposed along with the ports, and that's not TOO bad, but there is no protection offered for the buttons or switches at all. Lots of nice grit and detritus will get pinned between the case and the screen/back as well, providing for that dirty look you've always wanted.\n\n6. Strangely, the back is very open. Instead of covering and protecting the whole back, the stainless back plate only covers the top part of the phone down past the camera (with cutout for camera and flash) and then has an X-brace bridging the sides of the metal plate across the back glass. This provides effectively no protection for the back of your iPhone, you know, the other part made of glass. Other than for styling purposes, I cannot imagine why this was done.\n\n7. Rubber band is included for retaining credit cards, IDs, etc. seems added on as an afterthought. It really doesn't go well with the overall design but, more importantly, it tends to make the flap not close all the way and make it that much easier to accidentally flip all the way open under gravity assist. The rubber band would have been put to better use as some sort of mechanism to keep the flap closed or open.\n\n8. The iPhone is inserted into the case from the top. It just slides right in. There is a small felt pad that you must stick onto the inside of the top of the case itself to provide a little more snug of a fit for the iPhone once in the case, and it does do this job somewhat well, but the phone can still quite easily slip right out of the top of the case, even with the felt pad in place, if tossed or dropped just right. There's nothing stopping the iPhone from flying right out other than a slight bit of friction between the felt pad and the back of the iPhone. This could have been remedied by a small latch or flap at the top of the case serving as a closure, but none was designed.\n\n9. Which brings me back to the main failure of this case. Protection. It offers none whatsoever. The case is solid and rigid. There are no soft edges, no crumple zones, no place for it to give. The tolerances are so tight that every bit of force received by the case will be transferred directly to the iPhone body, too. If you drop it in this case, you might as well have not had a case at all. Not only are the sides and back not protected, because the flap over the screen is not retained by any sort of closure, it is free to flip right open and uncover the screen. The most protective thing about it is the plastic screen protector film that came with the package.\n\nUnfortunately the case succeeds as an object of industrial art and design but fails miserably as a case. I'm keeping that on and going back to my old case. I really wanted to like this case, and I generally love CRKT stuff, but this is a colossal failure of a design.","Product: Stant locking gas caps are OEM quality both in construction and materials as well as deterrent to fuel theft and vandalism. A gas/fuel cap performs three very important functions; safety of the vehicle's occupants, fuel economy and reduce emissions. Safety: Without a fuel cap, gasoline vapors will be present around your car at all times. Those vapors can be ignited by a random spark or flame and are very dangerous if you are involved in an accident or rollover. Fuel Economy: According to Sun Oil Company research, a vehicle with a missing or inoperative fuel cap will allow 176 pounds (22 gallons) of gasoline to evaporate over the period of one year. Emissions: Gasoline vapors emit hydrocarbons which dissolve the earth's ozone layer and cause smog.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Might be nice if it worked. . .\n\nReview: I ordered this as well as the Motorad locking cap for my truck for comparison's sake. Well, the first Stant locking cap I received from Amazon did not actually lock. The locking mechanism was apparently broken. Now bear in mind that I had no trouble with the other locking cap AND I've had plenty of locking gas caps in the past, from various manufacturers, and never had any trouble with them, either. I can say that the key in this first one did, in fact, turn 90-degrees stop to stop, but it seemingly had no effect on the cap whatsoever. I tried this both with the cap on the fuel filler tube as well as by hand. It worked neither place, though it did fit my truck perfectly well.\n\nOf note, the \"instructions\" for the cap are actually printed on the cap itself, though strangely not on the box. It's a strange mechanism, but I suppose it works. To \"lock\" the cap, just put the cap on the filler tube and tighten until it clicks three times. No key necessary (a plus compared to most locking gas caps). At this point, the cap spins freely to the left (unscrew) but tightens if turned to the right, only to a point before it then clicks to release the tension. To unlock, insert the key, turn counterclockwise 1/4 turn and then back, remove the key and unscrew the cap.\n\nNone of this, of course, worked on the first cap I received. So I asked Amazon to swap it out for me, and they did (quickly and painlessly, thanks Amazon!).\n\nThe second cap worked as it is supposed to. The moral to this story is that quality control is critical, especially on a locking cap. This does, in fact, make me a little nervous about using this cap long term. We'll see.\n\nAnyway, this cap is going on a 2008 GMC Sierra Denali. Note that you MUST make sure you have the right cap for the application. One cap does not fit all. Amazon fitment guide did steer me to this cap and it fits just fine.\n\nThis cap looks very similar to the stock GM cap except with a key mechanism in the top. The key is bare metal, which makes it slimmer, but also may scratch up the key fob (if you care about such things).\n\nOtherwise, this appears to be effective but nothing fancy. I'm not sure what it'd take to get a 5-star review (chrome? spinners? rhinestones?), but given the apparent dud I got the first go round, I'm not comfortable giving this one a 4-star review, either. Thus a 3-star review for a 3-star product.","Product: Bosch bracketless wiper blades are designed without brackets or hinges, offering improved design and performance over conventional wiper blades. The award-winning design of Bosch ICON distributes more uniform pressure along the entire length of the blade for ultimate all-season performance that lasts up to 20% longer than other premium wiper blades. The integrated wind spoiler design increases the down force on the wiper blade to prevent lift-off at highway speeds. The bracketless design and enclosed tension springs provide superior wiping performance in all weather conditions. Bosch ICON blades are the best you can buy!\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Good blade, bad connector. . .\n\nReview: I'm not sure if I'm the only one who has had this problem, but I have been using these wipers on my 2008 GMC Sierra for about 10 months now and have noticed one glaring problem.\n\nThe new style wipers have a new connector to the wiper arm. The whole wiper is held on by two little spring-loaded plastic tabs that hook into two notches on the wiper arm. Unfortunately, if these little plastic tabs lose their springiness, which mine did within a couple of months, the whole blade just comes off if you rotate the wiper arm hinge away from the windshield.\n\nNumerous times, almost every time, when I move the wipers away from the windshield to clean them while I'm gassing up, one or both of them will swing out and then disconnect from the hook at the other end of the connector and fall on my hood. At other times, I'll just be driving along and notice the joint between the connector and the wiper arm has about a 1/4\" gap. I'll have to stop, at my next opportunity, and reseat the connector. Very annoying. This is particularly difficult when there's ice/snow on the windshield (as there was today) and trying to knock the ice off of them. I had to just take them off and knock the ice off, then reconnect, hoping that the connector wasn't too covered in ice to properly latch.\n\nAs long as the wiper arm is applying pressure to the blade on the windshield, which is when it's in the down/normal position, the blade tends to stay put, even if not fully connected. I have had it pop off in use only once. That is once too many for a safety device like a wiper blade.\n\nThis is a shame. I really like the performance of the blades on my windshield when they are properly connected. They provide a smooth, chatter free wipe and do perform much better than the stock blades. However, the stock blades never disconnected on their own, even when cleaning them.\n\nI'm off to find more dependable blades.","Product: Deters vandalism and fuel theft. Manufactured with OEM quality materials and safety standards by an OE Supplier. Manufactured to pass all state and federal emissions requirements. Specifically designed pressure and vacuum relief valves to prevent evaporation of fuel. A leaking fuel cap can allow up to 30 gallons of gasoline to evaporate over the period of a year.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: It's a gas cap, that locks!\n\nReview: So I've had numerous locking gas caps through the years, not because they break or are unreliable but because I've had numerous vehicles on which I put them. This brings up my first point, please make sure you get the right cap for the right application. Not all fuel filler tubes are the same, nor are the retaining mechanisms the same. I've had good luck with Amazon's fitment check (\"Make Sure It Fits!\" thing at the top of the page), so I'd start there. If possible, also check the manufacturer's website for a fitment guide and compare the model number to what Amazon shows. Nice to double check.\n\nAnyway, This is a fine locking cap. It's traditional in the sense that the key is double-sided and will insert either way to lock/unlock the cap. It also does require two hands to operate, as the top of the cap will spin freely from the base when locked, which is, of course, how these things work. To engage the lock, though, and unlock it, you'll typically need both hands free or be very dextrous with one hand. You have to insert the key to unlock the cap and it is then, thus, trapped in the cap (i.e., you can't pull the key out of the cap) until you lock the cap back. That means you've got to make sure you keep track of it since any other keys on the key ring will generally go with the cap itself as well while you're filling up the tank. Not a big deal, but something to remember. Also, note that the key is coated in a rubberized plastic. This is good in that it's a little grippier than a bare metal key, but bad in that it makes the thickness of the key much greater and, therefore, may not work as well on your key ring. I found it a bit of a pain since it didn't lay flat with the other keys on the keyring in my pocket.\n\nI think the mechanism of this one is sound and simple. Should last for years. If the above minor complaints are a concern, then I'd suggest looking into the Stant model locking gas cap. It has a little more sophisticated mechanism that doesn't require the key to lock it back BUT it also doesn't seem to be as durable a mechanism, as the first one I got was broken right out of the box. For simplicity and durability I rate this one as a 4 out of 5. I'm not sure what it would take to get a 5/5 other than, perhaps, better style and/or ease of use (one handed use please?).","Product: The Open Face helmet is designed by riders, for the rider that wants the wind at their face, but more protection than a standard half helmet. It has front intake vents that help with air circulation to reduce heat and moisture. The chin strap also incorporates an easy to use snap to keep excess length from bothering you while riding. The helmets are shipped in a scratch resistant helmet bag and then double boxed to ensure your helmet arrives in great condition.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Sized too small. . .\n\nReview: I suspect helmet sizes are sort of like any other piece of clothing, the actual size on the sticker is not consistent between manufacturers. Unfortunately, I just learned this the hard way with this helmet. At least it was on sale.\n\nI picked up the XX-Large Helmet here on sale. I can normally wear an X-Large helmet, but the XX feels a bit more comfortable. My thinking was that I'd rather it be too large than too small.\n\nHowever, even picking one size over what I can wear at a minimum, this was far too small. Compared to other helmets I've put on (not a large number, mind you), this one feels about like a Large, not even an X-Large. Essentially, it's about 2 sizes too small. I don't know that this was intentional or just poor design, but my impression is the latter, as the box was marked properly and the helmet fit in the box just right.\n\nAdditionally, it's not very padded inside and has pressure points. Definitely not what I was looking for in a helmet. It looks good, nothing special. The face shield is nice and is detachable, with some effort (again, good). Aside from the wrong sizing and the lack of proper padding, this is actually a pretty reasonable helmet. I'm keeping it around as a spare for someone with microcephaly, but it won't work on my noggin.\n\nStill searching for the correct helmet. Oh, well.","Product: TRICO NeoForm wiper blades are the gold standard in beam blade technology. Original factory quality, modern styling and superior performance for all-weather conditions. Innovative Memory Curve Steel will wrap to highly curved windshields to provide uniform pressure to deliver high cleaning quality.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Adequate OEM replacement. Nothing more.\n\nReview: In my search for the perfect wiper, I have only found one brand that really stands out as head and shoulders above the rest. PIAA. Unfortunately, they don't currently make wipers that fit the new style wiper arms on the 07-present GMC Sierra (and many other newer cars). That's a shame, because I can't seem to find truly superior blades from any other manufacturer. With the Trico blades, the search goes on.\n\nThe blades fit well, and the connecting mechanism is pretty good so that I don't have to worry about them coming loose from the wiper arm, unlike the Bosch blades I had immediately before these. Aside from this, though, these are fairly standard and unimpressive blades no better than the OEM blades.\n\nThe biggest problem they have is chatter. They love to bounce across the windshield making that loud drumming sound as they go. This will happen in anything less than a steady rain. So road mist or sprinkling results in intermittent, loud noise. My windshield is cleaned regularly, so it's not a matter of a thin layer of dirt triggering the oscillations in the frame. It seems to be that the blade material is sub-par, possibly just too inflexible. The material in the Bosch blades did a much better job in this regard, though the connector was poorly designed on those.\n\nIn moderate or heavy rain, they perform adequately. The colder it is outside, though, the worse they seem to do. Again, it seems that the material stiffens up too easily (sub 40 degrees, it seems). I've had these on for less than a month, though, but I'm already looking for something else.\n\nLet's call their performance as a blade average, their noise as poor, and their cold tolerance as below average based on 4 weeks of use in a mix of snow and rain.","Product: Each TYC replacement lamp is manufactured with similar materials as the original equipment and undergoes rigorous testing to ensure your safety during day and night use. Your vehicle's lamps are an essential part of its safety features, so TYC replacement lamps meet SAE/DOT regulations.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Only for regular Sierra models (not Denali)\n\nReview: This is a direct, high quality drop-in replacement for the tail light housing on the current-gen GMC Sierra 1500 pickup trucks. It includes bulbs and the wiring back to the plug (about 2 ft) inside the fender. This is visually identical to the stock unit once installed and all the mounting hardware, clips, brackets, etc. are identical, as far as I can tell. Fits well. No complaints.\n\nThis is not designed to fit on a Sierra Denali, for anyone interested. Those have subtly different tail lights in that the border around the outside of them is black as is the background behind the reflectors in between the 3 large reflecting units.\n\nOne thing to keep in mind, this took quite a while to arrive. Once ordered, it took several days to even get shipped and then several more days to get delivered. If you're in a hurry, you might want to go straight to the dealership parts counter.","Product: Help protect your Toyota's original factory carpet with durable all-weather mats. The mats feature a ribbed channel design that helps contain moisture, dirt and other debris. Retention clips (on the driver's side) and nibbed backing on all mats help hold them in position. Designed to help protect from dirt, mud, snow and slush, the all-weather floor mats feature a multi-dimensional surface, custom channel design and perimeter lip that combine to keep clothing and shoes clean, dry and stain-free. All-weather floor mats are custom-fitted to the vehicle's interior and front mats are embellished with a custom molded vehicle logo. The mats also feature an aggressive \"nib\" backing and positive retention clips (front driver only) to help prevent sliding.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Good quality and fit for a Land Cruiser. Doesn't cover cargo area.\n\nReview: These do fit perfectly for a 2016 Toyota Land Cruiser. It includes two front seat floor mats with the quarter-turn lock down holes, two second-row mats that cover most of the center tunnel as well, and a single-piece third-row mat that is full-width but extends roughly 1 foot front to back such that it does not reach underneath the third row seat, much less to the rear tailgate. Neither the second nor third row mats have tie-downs. There seems to be a cargo-area rubber mat also available that would cover the distance between where this mat ends and the tailgate area. From the photos I've seen of them, the cut-outs for the front floor latches for the third row seats are roughly where the front of this cargo area all weather mat ends.\n\nAll are rubber-like material, very grippy on the carpet, with underside rubbery nubbins/spikes molded into the material to further resist sliding. The front seat mats are also labeled on the mats themselves with their intended location and they are embossed with \"Land Cruiser\" on them. Thankfully, these are not slippery/greasy out-of-the-box like some mats I've gotten for other vehicles in the past.\n\nThough these seem well made, the rubber material is slightly thinner than what I've had with other rubber floor mats. This makes them more floppy, but also makes them a little easier to install. They are less likely to retain any creases from folding/shipping position. I cannot comment on how durable they actually are as I just got them, but they seem like they would withstand pretty regular, hard use. I've seen other reviewers mention this factor vs. older versions of these OEM mats for other Toyota vehicle models (i.e., that the older mats were thicker). This may be a valid complaint, and is the main reason I'm docking them one star on these newer mats. I'd rather they be thicker as well. However, I can see these lasting many years, and handling much mud and dirt, as they are now.\n\nThat said, quality otherwise is top notch, as is the fit. If you're looking for thick rubberized mats, you should make sure that if they're for the front seats, they have provisions for the in-floor tie-down locks if your vehicle has them from the factory. Some aftermarket brands do and some do not.","Product: The WORX WG517 Electric blower features WORX patented new Turbine Technology for increase air movement. This allows you to move more leaves fast and more efficiently. The 120 Mph, 450 CFM air force makes this light weight blower capable of many jobs around your home. The variable speed setting gives your more control in corners and tight spots.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Easily the best electric corded leaf blower I've used.\n\nReview: I have been looking for a strong electric leaf blower for this season's great leaf roundup. I have used corded and cordless blowers and their less powerful cousins \"sweepers\" for years. The last few years I've been using the Black and Decker LeafHog blower/mulcher. It's been a persistent pain in the butt ever since I got it, but it consistently gets higher reviews than any of the other mulcher/blower combos. After wrestling with the attachments for 30 minutes trying to convert from mulcher to blower and then another 15 minutes going back to mulching mode, I decided I needed a more powerful and dedicated blower so I could just use the B&D for mulching alone. An online comparison test ranked this WORX model the highest, and now I see why.\n\nLeaf blowers are tricky to compare without actually using them firsthand. Do you trust the ratings on the box? Which is more important, CFM or air velocity? How can you tell how easy it is to use? What about ergonomics? That's why you're reading reviews.\n\nPower: This is MUCH more powerful than the B&D LeafHog. At full speed, this easily doubles the straight-line performance of the B&D I own. It has a much larger opening for the tube, but the air being forced out seems to be moving the leaves a lot better. Even wet, pancaked on leaves caught against the curb that the B&D couldn't budge moved with ease once I got the WORX on the job. I can't compare it to a gas powered blower, but if you have a yard that a 150' or less power cord can easily reach, I can't imagine needing any more than this. Even for the BIG piles.\n\nDesign/Ergonomics: I haven't weighed them, but this feels much lighter than the B&D and is much better balanced. The B&D is nose-heavy, and the handle on top makes it a little tougher and more fatiguing to handle for long periods of time. The B&D has a on/off and speed knob within reach of the tips of my fingers below the handle on the main housing, but the WORX has a thumb-controlled switch that is slightly superior and permits smooth adjustments of power from minimum to maximum. The WORX is also much easier to assemble and likely would not require disassembly in the future unless for storage, whereas the B&D becomes impossible to disassemble after a few uses because the joints get full of dust and grit and do not permit nozzle pieces to slide onto each other. The one minor WORX design issue is that the air intake is on the back of the unit and air flows straight through. This is great for moving the air, but it also means that it tends to suck your shirt/jacket up against the rear grill every time you switch hands or swing the unit in front of yourself. It's a minor complaint, and easy to get used to, but the B&D has a downward-facing air intake which avoids this problem entirely.\n\nNoise: This unit is considerably quieter than the B&D LeafHog I have. Though not whisper quiet, and not quiet enough to carry on a conversation over, it's still my quietest blower, even compared to my little sweepers (a corded Toro and a cordless Ryobi). It's on par with a vacuum cleaner, I would say, whereas the B&D verges on needing earplugs.\n\nBuild quality: This seems pretty simple in design and the housing is fairly rugged plastic. I don't think there's a whole lot to go wrong with this unit, so I suspect it will last many, many years.\n\nDownsides: Other than the aforementioned intake placement sucking in your shirt/jacket (not dangerous, just annoying), the only real shortcoming is that this is not a dual-function mulcher and blower. Due to the design of the blower, I don't think it ever could be. Thus you would need a separate mulching tool if you wanted to mulch and bag the leaves up. I'll be using the B&D for mulching exclusively and this WORX will permit me to collect the leaves in a pile first much more easily. One potential downside is that the exit nozzle of the WORX is pretty large compared to some blowers. Thus you won't get pinpoint control over the airflow. However, I found that simply dropping the airspeed/power down to minimum permitted me to easily blow leaves out of my flower beds without blowing away the mulch as well. Just keep a little distance between it and the target and you'll find it no problem.","Product: Smaller doesnt mean weaker with this durable, long-reaching flashlight. E05 takes compact on the road with reliable Fenix performance under extreme conditions.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Comparison E05 vs. E01\n\nReview: Recently I was in the market for an every day carry (EDC) flashlight. I had seen Fenix mentioned as a popular option due to quality build and low cost. I had specifically heard of the E05 model, but when I got on to Amazon, I also discovered the E01 model.\n\nAs usual, I started doing some reading of the reviews and comparing the specs. Both are AAA powered pocket flashlights. Both are from the same manufacturer. Both are within a few dollars of each other in cost. Which was better? I couldn't tell by the reviews, so I decided to get both.\n\nBefore I go any further, I'll save you some reading time. Which one is in my pocket right now? It's the E05. But I keep the E01 nearby as well.\n\nWhat I was originally looking for was something that used off-the-shelf batteries and was as compact as possible to fit in dress pants along with keys and a pocket knife. I didn't want a lot of bulk or weight added. I knew I was looking for a AAA pen light. I also knew it had to be LED for brightness and long life. Both of these fit the bill.\n\nIn terms of specs, both looked fairly similar on Amazon, though the specs for the E01 were not very in depth. Here's my best effort at generating a comparison:\n\n E01 E05\nLength 3\" 2.5\"\nDiameter 0.5\" 0.5\"\nLumens 10 27\nBat Life (hr) 21 2.8\nLens No Yes\n\nBoth lights operate by twisting the bulb end of the flashlight, screwing it down onto the battery. This is handy in an EDC situation as it can be operated one-handed easily but is unlikely to be accidentally turned on and, thereby, drain the battery in your pocket. (Is that a flashlight in your pocket or are you just delighted to see me?)\n\nThe subjective brightness of both lights is noticeably different, though not dramatically so. I do not know if lumens is a linear representation of brightness or not (e.g., is 20 lumens twice as bright as 10 lumens?). However, the E05 is rated at 27 lumens and IS brighter, but I wouldn't say it is almost 3x as bright as the 10 lumen E01. Perhaps 1.5x as bright would be better. The E05 also has a more even spread of the beam of light, producing a larger diameter beam of light at 20 feet that is more evenly distributed than the E01, which had a halo effect generating a \"hot\" ring with a cooler area in the middle and rapidly falling off on the outside of that ring. Still very usable, though. Both lights are more than able to light up a sidewalk in otherwise complete darkness 10 yards ahead. The E05 does a better job, though, given it has a more even distribution of light, a slightly whiter light, and a stronger light. The E01 has a slight bluish tinge to the light and can leave certain areas dimly lit while well-lighting things only a short distance to the left or right. Also, the old trick of pointing the flashlight at the ceiling of a room to light the whole room up works well with the E05, not so much with the E01, in a 20\" x 20\" room with an 11' white ceiling.\n\nFor the sake of comparison, I will mention that I also have a 2x AA mini Mag Light that has the older style, non-LED bulb. Both of these lights have a far better pattern of light output to them with a much better color as well, making them much easier to use at night to find things on the ground since they are less likely to be hiding in the dim spots of the flashlight's output. The E05 also seems to put out more light compared to the old miniMag, which is impressive considering the single AAA vs. 2x AA batteries AND the much longer battery life the LED provides.\n\nBuild quality seems to be pretty good. The twist-on/off mechanism seems quite sturdy and the tubes are aluminum painted black. They have checkering so that you can get a pretty decent grip on them, though if you have really greasy hands at some point, it might be too much. They are both pretty much perfect cylinders, so they tend to roll when placed on a flat surface. If you attach the small metal key ring onto them, though (which is included for both), that'll work well enough. I've had the E05 in my pocket a week now and already the paint on some areas is taking a beating. However, the metal itself looks like it will hold up to many months or years of abuse. I don't expect to have to replace this light for a long time, unless I lose it due to it being so small.\n\nIn terms of size, the E01 is 0.5\" longer than the E05, which is immediately noticeable. Both lights are identical in diameter and build material, but the E01 is, for whatever reason, longer. Not much in the grand scheme of things and really not that big a difference even in dress pants pockets. Note that the E05 is only very slightly larger than the AAA battery itself.\n\nNo that wasn't a typo above on the battery life. The E01 is rated almost 10x the battery life of the E05. I haven't formally tested this since I generally don't want to stay up 21 hours straight watching a flashlight dim. However, perhaps more impressive is that you can get nearly a day's worth of life out of a AAA battery in the E01. This only a few years after when flashlight battery life was measured in minutes, not hours. By that measure, even the nearly 3 hours of battery life of the E05 is very long.\n\nAlso, the E01 lacks any sort of lens or diffuser. The reflector is completely exposed, as is the tiny LED bulb. The E05 has a hard plastic lens/diffuser that covers the LED and reflector and is not removable. This is pretty important in my circumstances as I planned to carry the light in a pocket containing keys. Keys have a tendency to poke and jab and generally play havoc with anything else in their proximity. I wasn't convinced that the E01's bulb would survive more than a week in my pocket. Both lights have an O-ring sealing out the weather, to a great degree, but I'm not sure how sealed the reflector end of the E01 is vs the E05 with its lens/diffuser that appears to completely seal that end of the light.\n\nI will say that I have been pleasantly surprised at how often I have found a use for the tiny flashlight, now that it's handy. It's much easier than pulling out my iPhone and using it as a light, and it works far better. It has definitely been worth it to have one of these handy.\n\nUltimately, I really like both lights. I wanted to do a head-to-head comparison for my specific needs. In all honesty, I think you'll be happy with either of them. The main advantage of the E01 is its rated much longer battery life. If Fenix spent just a little more to put a lens over the bulb to protect it and diffuse the light better, it would probably be the one I'm carrying right now. However, nearly 3 hours is quite a long time for a flashlight, and AAA batteries are cheap and ubiquitous. I'm more worried about durability in my pocket and prefer the light output of the E05. Thus I am carrying it preferentially right now. Given the low price of the E01, though, you could always buy more than one. Problem is, though, that if you really NEED that light, I'd hate to pull it out of the pocket and find that the bulb has been shredded and is inoperable. Yes there are higher end lights available (SureFire comes to mind), but the beauty of these is that I can get a AAA battery very easily.\n\nI've now got a flashlight and I'm not afraid to use it.","Product: CREE XM-L U2 LED, with a lifetime of up to 50,000 hours; Output and Runtime of three constant output modes (uses one CR123A) 180 Lumens (1.5hrs) - 60 Lumens (10hrs) - 4 Lumens (70hrs) Turbo Mode: 230 Lumens (uses one 16340 battery, do not run the light continuously at turbo mode for more than 10 minutes) Two Hidden Modes: Strobe, SOSDigital Sensor Magnetic Control system, slightly twist the rotator ring to select from different modes Constant current circuit, constant output Effective range of 130 meters Uses one single CR123A (RCR123A/16340) battery Working voltage: 0.9-4.2VHigh quality OP reflector maintains great throw distance and spread with an ideal beam pattern. Dimensions: 75mm (length) x 23.2mm (head diameter)Weight: 45.5g (battery excluded)Aerospace-grade aluminum alloy Military Specification Type III- hard anodized body Waterproof, in accordance with IPX-8 standard Ultra-clear tempered glass lens resists scratches and impacts Tail stand capable- can be used as a candle Accessories: Clip, Holster, O-ring, lanyard.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Very bright, pretty, but flawed design.\n\nReview: I really wanted to like this light. It's small and powerful and pretty good looking. However, it has a fatal design flaw. The on/off switch is a ring just behind the flashlight head, not a button and certainly not a tailcap button.\n\nWhat this means is that while riding around in your pocket, either clipped or loose (I've tried both ways), it will inadvertently get turned on and use up the CR123A battery. My first day using this as my daily carry I arrived home from work 8 hours later with a dead battery and the switch in the on position.\n\nIt's a very smooth action in the switch, and it's easy to turn on with a brush of the thumb or index finger, but it's also immensely easy to turn it on just moving around in your pocket or as your hand passes by while reaching past it while clipped to your pocket. If only they had made a tailcap button option, or possibly even a real side button.","Product: This is definitely the perfect pet to have around! Soft, cuddly and cute. He is sure to put a smile on your face. 7\" tall. German Shepherd with tan and black markings. Navy bandana with white VW logo\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Small and a little disappointing.\n\nReview: The theme behind this is that it's a German Shepherd Dog with a Volkswagen bandana around it's neck. Get it? German car company. German dog.\n\nProblem is, this thing is not very large. I was a bit disappointed when I found out it's only about 7\" or so tall, though the height was listed in the description all along. Still, though, it's pretty good quality for a piece of tchotchke. It's soft and rather floppy, but just barely rigid enough to get it to \"sit\" on its own legs. The bandana is sized just right and is not sewn onto the dog, so it moves freely.\n\nThe main reason I rated the product itself at only 3 stars was because of value. It's a bit overpriced to begin with and then once you add in shipping it becomes expensive. If this weren't from VW, a similar plush German Shepherd Dog would probably cost $5 and ship for free. You could likely get a much larger one for less money, too, and just find or make your own bandana with a VW patch."],"string":"[\n \"Product: CTA Digital PSP Leather Case. Powerful magnetic button closure system, Carry strap and 2 slots for UMD disks included. It also has a custom designed enclosure that provides a snug fit for your PSP to prevent sliding and moving while your PSP is being carried or stored. The CTAs leather case is the perfect travel mate for your PSP. It is made from genuine soft leather to compliment your PSP slick design. it has a powerful magnetic button closure to securely lock your PSP. It also has a custom designed enclosure that provides a snug fit for your PSP to prevent sliding and moving while your PSP is being carried or stored\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Very nice case. . .\\n\\nReview: I wasn't quite sure what to expect when ordering this seeing no other reviews for it on Amazon (this is the first). That said, I'm pretty pleased with this PSP case. Due to the dearth of information on the page, here's the rundown:\\n\\n1. This case fits both PSP (PSP-1000) and PSP Slim (PSP-2000). I have both and they both fit. It was designed this way.\\n2. This case has two pockets (mesh type) for two UMDs.\\n3. This case is padded, but I wouldn't trust it to protect from a high drop.\\n3. It is leather and is very reminiscent of a pocketbook or checkbook cover (the leather ones).\\n4. Has a pocketbook-like magnetic clip that keeps it securely shut. It doesn't matter which size PSP you put in it.\\n5. It has a rather cheaply made lanyard with clip to attach to the case itself (not the PSP), but this could be easily replaced. The material seems to be rough nylon and appears to be somewhat frail. I'll probably remove it.\\n6. The interior is soft cloth that shouldn't scratch or damage the screen or surface of the PSP.\\n\\nFor the price alone, this case should be considered. I've looked at a lot of other cases before and never seen one quite like this. If you're looking for a nice leather case for your PSP, either the original or the slim design, that will keep it a little anonymous and provide some padding and storage, then this is an excellent choice.\",\n \"Product: Ever since the introduction of the first and only 7-day alarm clock in December 2004, American Innovative has been logging feature requests and product improvement suggestions from our customers. Nearly every aspect of the neverlate executive is fully customizable. We've introduced the concept of alarm banks - three in all. The two 7-day banks provide two, completely independent seven-day wake schedules - his and hers for example. In addition, we've included a daily reminder bank. We are also pleased to introduce the first-ever preferences menu in a clock radio. Everything from the backlight brightness, to the alarm duration is fully adjustable. Wake to NPR news at 7:00am weekdays, your Saturday morning talk show on a different station and the buzzer on Sunday. There's no other clock radio in the world with this capability. Line-in, headphone jack and more - a powered USB port on the back accommodates an electric fan or laptop boom lamp. Each time you hit the snooze button the snooze time is cut in half until finally the neverlate executive won't let you snooze any more. You can even disable the tempting snooze button.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Solid, if not perfect, contender.\\n\\nReview: I've been hunting for a new alarm clock since my Polk iSonic died a couple of months back. I had a few requirements, none of which could I find in a single alarm clock to my satisfaction, but this unit comes closest. After reading all the reviews, I was a little hesitant to spend $50 (Amazon's price as of this review) on it, but I'm glad I did.\\n\\nPros:\\n-This is an insanely customizable alarm clock. You can set up something like 21 different, independent alarms on this thing, each with a different buzzer or radio preset. You can set separate alarms for each day of the week.\\n\\n-It has gradual wake capability. This is crucial in my book. As I don't get to sleep on a regular schedule, sometimes I wake up quickly at the first inkling of a noise from the alarm clock. Other times, it has to be going pretty loudly for a bit to get me awake. The gradual wake feature slowly ramps up the volume of the alarm over a few seconds rather than hitting like a sledgehammer instantly. In the interim after losing the iSonic (which had this feature), I lived with a Sony clock that was generally very good, but didn't have this gradual wake feature (and a couple of other bothers). I found that I was generally more tired and had a harder time getting going in the mornings when so abruptly shocked out of slumber.\\n\\n-Nap function. This is something you don't see much on alarms. This lets you set a quickie alarm timer that counts down from your preferred starting point with 5-min increments of time. Fabulous for catching a power nap or recharging yourself. It's sort of the opposite of a \\\"sleep\\\" function that turns off the radio after a selectable number of minutes (which this also has).\\n\\n-Date display. I've never had an alarm clock that also showed the date. I've heard of them, but never owned one. Minor plus, but a plus. A byproduct of having day-by-day alarm sets.\\n\\n-Small size. It's actually much smaller than I expected it to be. It's about the size of the old Sony cube \\\"Dream Machine\\\" alarms.\\n\\n-Informative display. It has a lot of data on display at one time, if necessary, and I find this useful.\\n\\n-Lots of clever features. Too many to really go into here, but this was a generally well thought-out alarm clock.\\n\\nCons:\\n\\n-Complexity. With great power comes great need to read the instructions. This is not a straightforward, easy to set up alarm clock. It's a pain in the rear to turn this nob, push this button, twist that dial, etc. just to move your alarm time up or back by a bit. It's easier just to have a couple of preset alarms and toggle them both off/on as needed. There really should just be a simple A/B alarm mode to quickly disable one and enable the other (or both). It'd be quicker than setting up individual days.\\n\\n-Cheaply built. This thing is not confidence inspiring. It's all plastic, goofy looking, and kinda cheap feeling. The color selection doesn't help this much. I don't think it'd just chuck it in the back of the car along with the rest of your junk as you move from dorm room to dorm room and expect it to survive for long. One other reviewer complained about the ring used to set various things by rotating it. Yes, it's a little stiff, but I found it perfectly functional and not too stiff. I am not sure if this is because mine is built a little looser or if it's personal preference. Another reviewer mentioned that the display would \\\"glitch\\\" out on him if he pressed the dial/knob/buttons on top. Mine doesn't do this. It is very suggestive that the build quality is not that good from unit to unit.\\n\\n-Sound quality. Um, well, it's kinda not good. I know one of the other reviewers said it was good/better than he expected, but it's still pretty darn bad. I've listened to a lot of cheaper iPod docs and iPod dock/alarm combos (that I also cross-shopped with this) and I haven't found one of them that cost more than $30 that didn't sound a whole lot better than this thing. There is no bass to speak of, though the midrange and highs aren't horrendous. It isn't the sort of thing that tempts you to just lay in bed and listen to music on it. Maybe that's a good thing in a device that's supposed to get you out of bed. It's not horrendous, just not up to par with it's $60 MSRP. Not even close.\\n\\n-Brightness. It's too bright, even on the lowest setting. It could be worse, and it's manageable (and not as bad as some alarms), but it's certainly quite a bit brighter than I'd personally prefer (I like my room very dark).\\n\\nIt's really surprising that, given the obvious amount of thought that went into this little box, they messed up on some of the more obvious things.\\n\\nOverall, I like this clock. If the negatives above aren't a big deal to you, definitely check it out. If this is a bit steep of a price for you, I'd highly recommend a little Sony gem, the ICF-C180 which can also be found on Amazon. It's got an even brighter display, and no gradual wake, which were deal-breakers for me, but it's a great little alarm clock, too, with a lot of customizability yet is much more rugged and easier to use/set.\",\n \"Product: Ever since the introduction of the first and only 7-day alarm clock in December 2004, American Innovative has been logging feature requests and product improvement suggestions from our customers. Nearly every aspect of the neverlate executive is fully customizable. We've introduced the concept of alarm banks - three in all. The two 7-day banks provide two, completely independent seven-day wake schedules - his and hers for example. In addition, we've included a daily reminder bank. We are also pleased to introduce the first-ever preferences menu in a clock radio. Everything from the backlight brightness, to the alarm duration is fully adjustable. Wake to NPR news at 7:00am weekdays, your Saturday morning talk show on a different station and the buzzer on Sunday. There's no other clock radio in the world with this capability. Line-in, headphone jack and more - a powered USB port on the back accommodates an electric fan or laptop boom lamp. Each time you hit the snooze button the snooze time is cut in half until finally the neverlate executive won't let you snooze any more. You can even disable the tempting snooze button.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Solid, if not perfect, contender.\\n\\nReview: I've been hunting for a new alarm clock since my Polk iSonic died a couple of months back. I had a few requirements, none of which could I find in a single alarm clock to my satisfaction, but this unit comes closest. After reading all the reviews, I was a little hesitant to spend $50 (Amazon's price as of this review) on it, but I'm glad I did.\\n\\nPros:\\n-This is an insanely customizable alarm clock. You can set up something like 21 different, independent alarms on this thing, each with a different buzzer or radio preset. You can set separate alarms for each day of the week.\\n\\n-It has gradual wake capability. This is crucial in my book. As I don't get to sleep on a regular schedule, sometimes I wake up quickly at the first inkling of a noise from the alarm clock. Other times, it has to be going pretty loudly for a bit to get me awake. The gradual wake feature slowly ramps up the volume of the alarm over a few seconds rather than hitting like a sledgehammer instantly. In the interim after losing the iSonic (which had this feature), I lived with a Sony clock that was generally very good, but didn't have this gradual wake feature (and a couple of other bothers). I found that I was generally more tired and had a harder time getting going in the mornings when so abruptly shocked out of slumber.\\n\\n-Nap function. This is something you don't see much on alarms. This lets you set a quickie alarm timer that counts down from your preferred starting point with 5-min increments of time. Fabulous for catching a power nap or recharging yourself. It's sort of the opposite of a \\\"sleep\\\" function that turns off the radio after a selectable number of minutes (which this also has).\\n\\n-Date display. I've never had an alarm clock that also showed the date. I've heard of them, but never owned one. Minor plus, but a plus. A byproduct of having day-by-day alarm sets.\\n\\n-Small size. It's actually much smaller than I expected it to be. It's about the size of the old Sony cube \\\"Dream Machine\\\" alarms.\\n\\n-Informative display. It has a lot of data on display at one time, if necessary, and I find this useful.\\n\\n-Lots of clever features. Too many to really go into here, but this was a generally well thought-out alarm clock.\\n\\nCons:\\n\\n-Complexity. With great power comes great need to read the instructions. This is not a straightforward, easy to set up alarm clock. It's a pain in the rear to turn this nob, push this button, twist that dial, etc. just to move your alarm time up or back by a bit. It's easier just to have a couple of preset alarms and toggle them both off/on as needed. There really should just be a simple A/B alarm mode to quickly disable one and enable the other (or both). It'd be quicker than setting up individual days.\\n\\n-Cheaply built. This thing is not confidence inspiring. It's all plastic, goofy looking, and kinda cheap feeling. The color selection doesn't help this much. I don't think it'd just chuck it in the back of the car along with the rest of your junk as you move from dorm room to dorm room and expect it to survive for long. One other reviewer complained about the ring used to set various things by rotating it. Yes, it's a little stiff, but I found it perfectly functional and not too stiff. I am not sure if this is because mine is built a little looser or if it's personal preference. Another reviewer mentioned that the display would \\\"glitch\\\" out on him if he pressed the dial/knob/buttons on top. Mine doesn't do this. It is very suggestive that the build quality is not that good from unit to unit.\\n\\n-Sound quality. Um, well, it's kinda not good. I know one of the other reviewers said it was good/better than he expected, but it's still pretty darn bad. I've listened to a lot of cheaper iPod docs and iPod dock/alarm combos (that I also cross-shopped with this) and I haven't found one of them that cost more than $30 that didn't sound a whole lot better than this thing. There is no bass to speak of, though the midrange and highs aren't horrendous. It isn't the sort of thing that tempts you to just lay in bed and listen to music on it. Maybe that's a good thing in a device that's supposed to get you out of bed. It's not horrendous, just not up to par with it's $60 MSRP. Not even close.\\n\\n-Brightness. It's too bright, even on the lowest setting. It could be worse, and it's manageable (and not as bad as some alarms), but it's certainly quite a bit brighter than I'd personally prefer (I like my room very dark).\\n\\nIt's really surprising that, given the obvious amount of thought that went into this little box, they messed up on some of the more obvious things.\\n\\nOverall, I like this clock. If the negatives above aren't a big deal to you, definitely check it out. If this is a bit steep of a price for you, I'd highly recommend a little Sony gem, the ICF-C180 which can also be found on Amazon. It's got an even brighter display, and no gradual wake, which were deal-breakers for me, but it's a great little alarm clock, too, with a lot of customizability yet is much more rugged and easier to use/set.\",\n \"Product: Stylish Design - takes up a minimum of space on the nightstand, desk or dresser.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Quintissential College Alarm Clock\\n\\nReview: This is the updated version of the classic Sony cube \\\"Dream Station\\\" alarm clock that everyone you knew had in college. It's a bit smaller and has a lot more features, but it's the same old Sony alarm clock you know and trust.\\n\\nPros:\\n- Nigh on indestructible. This one is built for abuse.\\n- Dual. . .no, make that. . .Quad alarms. It has two separate alarms, but also has a weekend mode that switches these over to weekend settings which are independent of the other alarms. Result? 4 semi-independent alarms.\\n- Simple to use. Many dual alarm clocks are a pain to set, reset, and turn off, often requiring some complex sequence of button presses while dancing a jig just to turn of one alarm and turn the other on. This one is much more straightforward and the instructions aren't even all that necessary.\\n - Easy to read display. 'Nuff said.\\n- Nap mode. Hit the button and the alarm is set to go off in 10 min increments with each press.\\n- Battery backup alarm. If the power goes out, it'll sound the buzzer at the alarm time and try to wake you up at least.\\n\\nCons:\\n- Sound quality. What sound quality? I think I could make out that there was music on that radio station, but I'm still not sure.\\n- Two brightness settings. Blinding and nuclear explosion blinding. If you can't sleep b/c this thing's so bright, at least you'll be able to entertain yourself all night making shadow puppets. Might want to wear sunscreen to bed, though.\\n- No progressive wake up alarm. This feature is getting to be more common, yet is missing on this one. It's essentially a progressively increasing volume on the alarm (either radio or buzzer) that is much less jarring to wake up to than sudden-on alarms.\\n\\nFor the cost, it's definitely worth trying out. It's completely functional and will likely survive Judgment Day. You can't really ask for much more at this price point, but I wish there was a better sounding, higher end model with all these features plus a progressive wakeup. 4-stars.\",\n \"Product: Boston Acoustics Hsolomdnt Horizon Solo Am/Fm Radio Wtih Auxiliary Input (Midnight)Precision Am/Fm Tuner With Noise-Free Reception; High-Performance 3.5\\\" Full-Range Speaker; Includes Remote, Fm Antenna & Detachable Ac Cord; Midnight\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Finally, the (almost) perfect clock/radio/alarm. . .\\n\\nReview: I've been hunting for a good quality, dual alarm radio since my Polk Audio iSonic went out (good radio, bad build quality) a few months ago. I had to have dual alarms, given my schedule, and a gradual wake (progressive wake) function. I really wanted something that sounded decent as well, as the iSonic it is replacing had very good audio quality. If you've ever owned a Bose Wave Radio, it's that sort of form factor but with vastly superior sound quality.\\n\\nI decided to take a slight chance on this radio as it was at a lower price than MSRP when I purchased it here from Amazon. I'm glad I did. Here's what I've found:\\n\\nPros:\\n\\n-Sound quality is very good for a single-speaker radio. It won't compete with a dedicated home stereo, but it easily keeps up with a Bose Wave Radio for a fraction of the cost. This will fill a good sized bedroom without much effort and no distortion, even at higher volumes. You can get pretty good clarity/separation of the instruments, though being monaural, it's not going to give you much of a soundstage.\\n-Dual alarms are very handy for anyone whose schedule changes from day to day (college student, various work schedules, his/hers, etc.)\\n-Gradual wake/progressive wake alarm will slowly increase the volume of the radio to more gently wake you from sleep. It's a pretty rapid ramp up, but still gradual.\\n-Intuitive controls are very easy to figure out without the manual, but the manual is very short and easy to read with a couple of other things I would have missed at first glance. Menu system isn't deep or complex to navigate, and everything is pretty self-explanatory.\\n-Excellent Snooze feature. Just touch the chrome bezel that rings the unit on the front (the rectangular one, not the ring around the face) and it snoozes for 10 min, each additional touch adds 5 minutes. No need to fumble around for the snooze button when half awake. Works exceptionally well. It's not a button, just a sensor.\\n-Adjustable brightness (daytime only) with a built-in light sensor that dims the display to the minimum when the lights go down.\\n-Built heavy and solid with a nice grippy-touch enclosure on the sides and back making it easy to handle. This feels like a quality piece of work, which it is.\\n-Solid radio reception that pulls in more stations than I realized we had in the area. It tends to be sensitive to the placement of the included long antenna whether or not you get a lot of interference, but if you have room to stretch it out fairly straight, you're in good shape. No need to hang it on a wall or anything. It's about 4 ft. long anyway.\\n-Small footprint on the nightstand. Will sit vertically or horizontally with a rotating bezel (that takes a little more oomph than I expected to rotate).\\n-Has an AUX in and a headphone out if you need such things\\n-Has a sleep mode timer on it if you need this\\n-Won't lose the time if power goes out. I have not tested the length of this capability, but when you unplug it for a couple of minutes and plug it back in, it doesn't lose the time. This is great for those little brown-outs and brief power outages that often hit certain areas. I don't believe it will sound the alarm, though, if power is gone.\\n\\nCons:\\n-Bass is a little limited. At lower volumes, bass is adequate, but as you increase the volume, the mids and highs outpace the ability of the tiny speaker to output balanced bass. It never gets distorted, just out of balance in this regard.\\n-Multi-function knobs can be a little bit of a hassle. All three knobs are press-able as well as rotate. Sometimes you'll find yourself trying to press one and you turn it instead, or vice versa. Very minor complaint, but notable if you have clumsy fingers.\\n-Sleep function is not a priority. I include this b/c two other reviewers mentioned it. It's true that the sleep function is buried under the menu system, but it's only about 2 clicks away and is very easy to access. If you use the sleep function a lot, I could see this as a minor drawback. If you never use the sleep function, like 99% of the people I know, then you'll never notice.\\n-Brightness doesn't go quite low enough. Compared to most alarm clocks these days, this one is positively Cimmerian. However, I would have appreciated a few lower levels of brightness than what's provided. It doesn't light up the room like the others I've tried, but it's still brighter than I would prefer. Minor complaint that can be addressed with the cheap window tint film you purchase from a car parts store for $10 and a drop of water to seat it nicely.\\n-No battery backup alarm in case the power goes off in the middle of the night.\\n-I noticed that one of the other reviewers had some trouble with volume settings and time displays not matching up correctly. My guess is that he got a bad unit as mine has been perfect from the get go.\\n\\nI'm so impressed with this unit that I'm considering either buying another or buying one of the up-model Horizon Duo units to get the stereo sound and using it in my office at work. I can't recommend this enough as the negatives are so slight and likely to be rare issues for most people.\\n\\nIf you're in the market for a good sounding, high-quality dual alarm clock but don't want to spend over $100 (or possibly less), this is a great buy, and I can't recommend it enough.\\n\\nNote: I would add one more point regarding the information provided on the Amazon web page. Under \\\"Technical Details\\\" it lists that it includes a remote. It doesn't. It doesn't appear to be designed to operate with one, either, as no such function/item is mentioned in the manual, either.\",\n \"Product: Boston Acoustics Hsolomdnt Horizon Solo Am/Fm Radio Wtih Auxiliary Input (Midnight)Precision Am/Fm Tuner With Noise-Free Reception; High-Performance 3.5\\\" Full-Range Speaker; Includes Remote, Fm Antenna & Detachable Ac Cord; Midnight\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Finally, the (almost) perfect clock/radio/alarm. . .\\n\\nReview: I've been hunting for a good quality, dual alarm radio since my Polk Audio iSonic went out (good radio, bad build quality) a few months ago. I had to have dual alarms, given my schedule, and a gradual wake (progressive wake) function. I really wanted something that sounded decent as well, as the iSonic it is replacing had very good audio quality. If you've ever owned a Bose Wave Radio, it's that sort of form factor but with vastly superior sound quality.\\n\\nI decided to take a slight chance on this radio as it was at a lower price than MSRP when I purchased it here from Amazon. I'm glad I did. Here's what I've found:\\n\\nPros:\\n\\n-Sound quality is very good for a single-speaker radio. It won't compete with a dedicated home stereo, but it easily keeps up with a Bose Wave Radio for a fraction of the cost. This will fill a good sized bedroom without much effort and no distortion, even at higher volumes. You can get pretty good clarity/separation of the instruments, though being monaural, it's not going to give you much of a soundstage.\\n-Dual alarms are very handy for anyone whose schedule changes from day to day (college student, various work schedules, his/hers, etc.)\\n-Gradual wake/progressive wake alarm will slowly increase the volume of the radio to more gently wake you from sleep. It's a pretty rapid ramp up, but still gradual.\\n-Intuitive controls are very easy to figure out without the manual, but the manual is very short and easy to read with a couple of other things I would have missed at first glance. Menu system isn't deep or complex to navigate, and everything is pretty self-explanatory.\\n-Excellent Snooze feature. Just touch the chrome bezel that rings the unit on the front (the rectangular one, not the ring around the face) and it snoozes for 10 min, each additional touch adds 5 minutes. No need to fumble around for the snooze button when half awake. Works exceptionally well. It's not a button, just a sensor.\\n-Adjustable brightness (daytime only) with a built-in light sensor that dims the display to the minimum when the lights go down.\\n-Built heavy and solid with a nice grippy-touch enclosure on the sides and back making it easy to handle. This feels like a quality piece of work, which it is.\\n-Solid radio reception that pulls in more stations than I realized we had in the area. It tends to be sensitive to the placement of the included long antenna whether or not you get a lot of interference, but if you have room to stretch it out fairly straight, you're in good shape. No need to hang it on a wall or anything. It's about 4 ft. long anyway.\\n-Small footprint on the nightstand. Will sit vertically or horizontally with a rotating bezel (that takes a little more oomph than I expected to rotate).\\n-Has an AUX in and a headphone out if you need such things\\n-Has a sleep mode timer on it if you need this\\n-Won't lose the time if power goes out. I have not tested the length of this capability, but when you unplug it for a couple of minutes and plug it back in, it doesn't lose the time. This is great for those little brown-outs and brief power outages that often hit certain areas. I don't believe it will sound the alarm, though, if power is gone.\\n\\nCons:\\n-Bass is a little limited. At lower volumes, bass is adequate, but as you increase the volume, the mids and highs outpace the ability of the tiny speaker to output balanced bass. It never gets distorted, just out of balance in this regard.\\n-Multi-function knobs can be a little bit of a hassle. All three knobs are press-able as well as rotate. Sometimes you'll find yourself trying to press one and you turn it instead, or vice versa. Very minor complaint, but notable if you have clumsy fingers.\\n-Sleep function is not a priority. I include this b/c two other reviewers mentioned it. It's true that the sleep function is buried under the menu system, but it's only about 2 clicks away and is very easy to access. If you use the sleep function a lot, I could see this as a minor drawback. If you never use the sleep function, like 99% of the people I know, then you'll never notice.\\n-Brightness doesn't go quite low enough. Compared to most alarm clocks these days, this one is positively Cimmerian. However, I would have appreciated a few lower levels of brightness than what's provided. It doesn't light up the room like the others I've tried, but it's still brighter than I would prefer. Minor complaint that can be addressed with the cheap window tint film you purchase from a car parts store for $10 and a drop of water to seat it nicely.\\n-No battery backup alarm in case the power goes off in the middle of the night.\\n-I noticed that one of the other reviewers had some trouble with volume settings and time displays not matching up correctly. My guess is that he got a bad unit as mine has been perfect from the get go.\\n\\nI'm so impressed with this unit that I'm considering either buying another or buying one of the up-model Horizon Duo units to get the stereo sound and using it in my office at work. I can't recommend this enough as the negatives are so slight and likely to be rare issues for most people.\\n\\nIf you're in the market for a good sounding, high-quality dual alarm clock but don't want to spend over $100 (or possibly less), this is a great buy, and I can't recommend it enough.\\n\\nNote: I would add one more point regarding the information provided on the Amazon web page. Under \\\"Technical Details\\\" it lists that it includes a remote. It doesn't. It doesn't appear to be designed to operate with one, either, as no such function/item is mentioned in the manual, either.\",\n \"Product: Is the Apple MacBook Pro original A1281 battery life too short for you? Unable to finish your blog at the Starbucks? Unable to finish watching your favor movie on the airplane? Now, the wait is over. The 6-cell 52Whr(4800mAh) replacement battery is here. Using this high quality 6-cell battery, Your Apple Aluminum Unibody 15\\\" MacBook Pro laptop (MB470LL/A and MB471LL/A) could last up a whopping 7 hours and 31 minutes even with WI-FI on when under minimum load and Bluetooth off (individual result may vary). You can have almost a full working day without the need to plug in for charge. Your Aluminum Unibody MacBook Pro will be on all the time with this 6-cell 56whr Li-Poly battery.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: It'll pass, but nothing special. . .\\n\\nReview: For the money, it'll suffice. It's not, by any means, an extended battery. In fact, after following the instructions (fully charge and deplete the brand new battery 3x) to the letter, I find that I'm working with only about 2 hours of battery life whereas the Apple original battery tended to give me 3-3.5 hours on a full charge. But this one is also significantly cheaper, so you get what you pay for, I suppose.\\n\\nI'm not upset, as I expected less than optimal performance. Fit and finish are perfect, and it's an easy and direct replacement for the MacBook Pro 15\\\" \\\"unibody\\\" laptops (before they went to the integrated batteries).\\n\\nIf you're looking for extended battery life, look elsewhere. If you're looking to save a few bucks and can do without the full battery charge provided by an OEM battery, then this is a reasonable replacement.\",\n \"Product: Anti-glare Type Protective Film for iPad\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Excellent solution, but not perfect.\\n\\nReview: I first heard about this product from a podcast of Steve Gibson's, who wrote the current #1 review of this product. I feel that his review is accurate, but I wanted to add my own experience to the collected knowledge.\\n\\n1. Effectiveness\\n\\nThe single biggest problem I have with the iPad is finding a comfortable viewing angle. If you work in an area with fluorescent lighting overhead, or if you take it near a window, you'll have to work at it to find a position that doesn't have much glare. The screen is beautiful with nice contrast but at the expense of being highly reflective and smudge prone.\\n\\nThe iLuv Anti-Glare film not only addresses the glare/reflectivity aspect, it also helps reduce the oil fingerprint smudge factor as well. Though not perfect in this regard, I'd estimate that it reduces glare by at least 50%, if not more, and the smudge problem by even greater, perhaps 90%. This is excellent, and for that reason alone I agree with Steve in that everyone should at least consider this purchase.\\n\\nAs for being a \\\"protective\\\" film, I'm not sure that the flimsy plastic sheet will be that much more protective than the hardened glass that's already there. However, since they are easy to remove, you can, in theory, just swap on a new film whenever you so desire.\\n\\n2. Ease of Use\\n\\nThis is where it takes the greatest hit in terms of score. I've put many screen films on many items, mostly iPhones, in the past, and this one is no better or worse than any of those. The complicating factor is that it is so large an area that it dramatically increases your chances of messing up.\\n\\nAs opposed to a few films, the method this one uses to stay attached is the more common combination of static cling type attraction and some mild adhesive. It will peel of cleanly the first time with no residue left. It also means that it's not movable as you apply it, so you have to be very careful how you line it up when you first put it on, as it's difficult to manipulate afterwards. Some films apply with the help of a spritzer/mister that sprays a solution onto the screen or film and causes it to \\\"float\\\" over the screen until the fluid is squeegeed out. This makes alignment much easier, but also tends to produce more bubbles.\\n\\n3. Application Tips\\n\\nFirst, find a nice, well lit, dust free location with as little moving air as possible. Any dust particles floating in the air will seemingly seek out your new screen film and stick to the underside like a magnet. I did it on my dining room table under the light and had no problems.\\n\\nSecond, take the iPad out of any case that you may have and rest it on a relatively firm surface that provides good support. Since the back of the iPad is curved, this means that you may need some sort of firm cushion/pad to put it on rather than laying its back on a perfectly flat surface. It just so happened that my padded leather Marware case worked fine.\\n\\nThird, clean, clean, and then clean again. You'll need to clean the glass as well as you can before applying the film, but I'd also suggest cleaning your hands to remove any dust or other accumulated particles off of them, too. You'll also need to clean the surface upon which you're working. You'll also need some sort of lens cleaning cloth or lint-free wipe to wipe down the screen once you've cleaned it because there will still be smudges and whatnot on the screen itself. Once clean, hold the iPad up and angle the screen towards a light so that you see the reflection of the light and then scan the surface visually looking for smudges, swirls, specs, etc. and wipe them off. This stage is critical.\\n\\nFourth, the film is stuck to a clear plastic backing in shipping. DO NOT PEEL THE WHOLE FILM OFF AT ONCE! You'll be tempted to do so, especially if you've never put on a film before, but then you'll have nothing to hold the film by that won't leave behind fingerprints on the sticky side of the film. Instead, Starting at the end with the hole in the film for the Home Button, PEEL BACK ABOUT 1 INCH of the backing sheet and fold it over. If you can, make a crease in it so that it stays out of the way. Using the home button as a guide, line up the hole in the film as precisely as you can over the Home Button. Take your finger and \\\"anchor\\\" it at the spot between the home button and the bottom edge of the iPad. This helps you then line up the film properly. It also means you can unstick it and stick it back easily since the stuck-down portion will only be a very small area. At this point, you should have a very small area on the film tacked down to the glass surface of the iPad and the plastic backing of the film peeled back, away from the film and against the iPad surface forming a sort of spring holding the film up off the surface of the iPad.\\n\\nFifth, with the small area below the Home Button anchored down, try and align the bottom of the film as precisely as possible with the bottom of the iPad glass, making sure that the hole around the Home Button stays aligned as well. The film is cut so precisely that you have little room for error. It should be lined up within a fraction of a millimeter, if you can manage it. Stick down the edge of the film as best you can and double-check the alignment. This is your last chance to easily readjust the alignment. Take your time.\\n\\nSixth, holding down the end of the film by the Home Button, using your other hand, slowly peel the backing away from the rest of the film. I found the best way to do this was to keep the film itself as flat as possible and close to the screen surface, thus making the backing curl back at a fairly sharp angle. I trapped the backing between my index finger and the surface of the iPad and just sort of scooted it along the iPad screen a little at a time. Don't get in a hurry, and follow the film a little bit with your other hand up from the Home Button area, keeping it more-or-less in the center of the screen. Watch as the film itself lays down flat on the iPad surface and if any bubbles get trapped, stop peeling, gently pull the film away from the screen (kind of working backwards) just a little bit to get the bubbles out, and then carefully proceed forward.\\n\\nThe key here is to be smooth. The negative charge imparted to the film as the backing is peeled away causes it to tend to just suddenly stick to the glass and trap bubbles. The smoother and slower you let it glide onto the glass surface, the less chance you'll get bubbles. By keeping the film as flat as possible, and peeling the backing away at as great an angle as possible, you're reducing the amount of film peeled off the backing and exposed to air at any given time. Given the static cling effect, the film will tend to also attract any dust particles in the air immediately around it. Thus, keeping this exposed area as small as possible is going to reduce your chances of trapping a piece of dust between the film and the screen. The package includes 2 films, so you can get another shot at it if you mess up pretty bad the first time.\\n\\nThere is definitely a trick to this. I don't see that there would be any way to make it apply any better than this. The best option, of course, would have been for Apple to make a model with a matte finish on it, but that's not currently an option. If applied correctly, though, this film is the next best thing.\\n\\nYou will lose a very small amount of clarity and brightness with this film, or any film that provides anti-glare, but I feel it's worth the tradeoff in being able to use the iPad in many more circumstances than before. Thus, 4 out of 5 stars.\",\n \"Product: The ZAGGmate is an aircraft-grade aluminum iPad 1 case with a built-in wireless Bluetooth keyboard. Its exclusive features and sleek design give your iPad 1 durable protection, added functionality and style. You'll wonder how you ever used your iPad 1 without it. ZAGGmate is made from aircraft aluminum with a bead-blasted, anodized finish matching the design, look and feel of your iPad 1. The ZAGGmate is the thinnest hard cover protector for the front of the iPad. Its simple yet innovative hinge provides viewing and typing angles in both portrait and landscape mode. The built-in physical Bluetooth keyboard allows for fast, responsive typing. Sleek and stylish design with unique and useful features makes ZAGGmate the essential accessory for your Apple iPad 1.Note: ZAGGmate with keyboard uses a 510 mAh rechargeable lithium polymer battery that will last several weeks of normal use without charging. Embedded wireless Bluetooth physical keyboard.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Best iPad keyboard-case currently available.\\n\\nReview: In the interest of brevity.\\n\\nPros:\\n-top notch quality materials\\n-hard case makes it feel very protective\\n-very stylish companion to the iPad\\n-keyboard is easy to pair with iPad\\n-keyboard is easy to type on (no repetition of keystrokes as with most other keyboards I've used)\\n-battery lasts a long time on a charge\\n-lots of special keys such as home button, volume controls, etc. built right into the keyboard, even arrow keys!\\n-adds minimal bulk/weight to iPad\\n\\nCons:\\n-keyboard keys are small (think netbook size) due to having all those extra keys\\n-to use as a stand, requires you to pop up a little plastic A-shaped stand, but this seems rather flimsy and may break if not careful\\n-actually has minimal padding on it so if you were to drop the iPad, I'm not sure that it would be all that protective. More protective against screen scratches or assault than drops\\n-a bit expensive and late to the party considering the iPad 2 is probably about to be announced (why didn't this come out last summer?)\\n-keyboard is recessed into the frame of the case requiring you \\\"reach over\\\" the lip of the case and dip your fingers down into it, not too dissimilar from proper typing technique, though\\n-awkward to go between touching screen and typing since your hand is momentarily obstructing what it is you're trying to interact with (vs. using a mouse)\\n-no convenient way to flip the iPad in the case to face the screen outwards, thus requiring you to keep up with two separate pieces, instead of one unified device, if you simply want to use it as a touch tablet without keyboard (games, internet browsing, reading books, etc.)\\n\\nThis keyboard/case combo single-handedly converts an iPad into an almost-laptop. Generating content, such as papers and notes, becomes vastly simpler to do. It unleashes a whole side of the iPad usage model that was heretofore difficult and frustrating to tap in to. Typing long form content on the onscreen touch keyboard is a horrible experience for the most part, and should only be done if you have no other options. This eliminates that problem almost entirely. I can now see the iPad becoming a workable substitute for most laptop duties, provided you have the proper apps installed.\\n\\nI really like this keyboard and wish it had come out months ago. As it is, I can see it as a huge sales success for ZAGG for any 1st gen iPad owners. Unfortunately, it took them nearly a year to develop and release it and now there's about to be a new iPad model which will almost certainly not fit into this one.\\n\\nHowever, I am also forced to question the sensibility of spending this much money on an iPad and iPad keyboard when you can step up to a real laptop (MacBook Air) for just a little more. As soon as the iPad crosses the line from content consumer to content producer, its weaknesses, and those of iOS, really start to show. That, though, is a comment for the iPad, not the ZAGGmate. The latter accomplishes its intended purpose brilliantly, and I can think of no better solution for this problem currently available.\",\n \"Product: Put your slides, movies, photos, and everything else that fills your iPad 2 screen on an even bigger screen your HDTV. The Apple Digital AV Adapter mirrors exactly what you see on iPad 2 so that everyone in the room can enjoy it on your widescreen TV, video projection screen, or other HDMI-compatible display. The Apple Digital AV Adapter also supports video out for iPad, iPhone 4, or iPod touch (4th generation). General Information Manufacturer: Apple, Inc Manufacturer Part Number: Manufacturer Website Address: Brand Name: Apple Product Model: Product Name: HDMI Cable Adapter Marketing Information: Put your slides, movies, photos, and everything else that fills your iPad 2 screen on an even bigger screen your HDTV. The Apple Digital AV Adapter mirrors exactly what you see on iPad 2 so that everyone in the room can enjoy it on your widescreen TV, video projection screen, or other HDMI-compatible display. The Apple Digital AV Adapter also supports video out for iPad, iPhone 4, or iPod touch (4th generation).Product Type: A/V Cable Technical Information Cable Type: HDMI Fiber Optic Mode: Not Applicable Core/Cladding Diameter: Not Applicable Connector on First End: 1 x 30-pin Male Proprietary Connector on Second End: 1 x 19-pin HDMI (Type A) Male Digital Audio/Video Connector on Second End: 1 x 30-pin Female Proprietary Conductor: Copper Miscellaneous Compatibility: Apple: iPad, iPad 2, iPhone 4, iPod touch (4th generation)\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Does work with iPad 1 and iPhone 4 to some degree. . .\\n\\nReview: Though released with the iPad 2, this adapter will, in fact, pipe both video and audio out of an iPad 1 and an iPhone 4 through HDMI without any problem as long as the app you wish to view supports it.\\n\\nMy main interest in this adapter was to have the ability to watch Netflix streaming on family TVs who do not have Internet service. The Netflix app works beautifully over AT&T 3G connections on both the iPad and iPhone 4, but I wished to have a way to use the service at older family member's houses who do not have Internet of any sort. I had read most of the reviews here on Amazon and done some other digging around, but no one was very clear as to what this adapter could and could not do on older hardware. Here's my assessment to date:\\n\\niPad 2 - You get true \\\"mirroring\\\" performance. This essentially means that whatever you see and hear from the iPad 2 on screen gets put through the HDMI connection, including the home screen icons, sound effects, etc. This is what the adapter was created for.\\n\\niPad 1 - When plugged in, you do not get to see anything on the TV screen, but the TV will recognize that it is receiving an HDMI signal. It will simply be blank. The iPad 1 screen will behave normally until you open an app that is compatible with video/audio out and that's when the magic starts. In the Netflix app, which is the only one I've tested so far, you still get the menus and whatnot on the iPad 1 screen as always, but as soon as you start playing streaming video, the iPad 1 screen displays a red screen with the Netflix logo. All the video and sound gets piped through the HDMI output to the TV.\\n\\nI did not have sophisticated testing equipment or ability to display the signal's resolution on the TV, but the resolution appears to be, at least for iPad 1, 720p. There was no distortion or stretching of the picture and it filled the TV screen properly with very small horizontal bars to keep the aspect ratio correct. With three bars of signal, the movie streamed just fine and quality was perfectly viewable with no grossly obvious compression artifacts. Better than VHS and loosely in the ballpark of DVD (though upconverted to 720p, apparently).\\n\\niPhone 4 - I tried the same thing on my iPhone 4. It all works essentially the same as on an iPad 1, which makes perfect sense given the similarities in hardware. I did notice much worse compression artifact errors, though, when output to TV. My guess is that the video signal being streamed to the iPhone 4 is scaled down to fit the small screen, where such artifacting would be less noticeable, and that this small-screen version does not scale well to a 42\\\" HDTV. Though both sound and video were output just fine, the quality of the video left much to be desired. In fact, I would describe the video as essentially unwatchable.\\n\\nIt's my understanding that other apps work essentially the same. I don't have a list of apps, other than Netflix, which will work in this way. I wouldn't be surprised if the YouTube app, iPod video, etc. worked and even possibly a game or two. My main need was Netflix, and it works just fine for that purpose.\\n\\nThe adapter itself has two ports, one HDMI female port and one standard female iPod connector port. This permits you to power/charge the iPad or iPhone while simultaneously outputting video and audio. Not included, of course, is an HDMI cable. I would suggest you get at least a 3' cable, possibly a 6' cable, with which to connect to the TV or projector since you'll have to account for needing to physically manipulate the touch screen to start up video output. Build quality is typical Apple, which is to say excellent.\\n\\nVery pleased with my gamble to purchase this. Didn't want others to have to worry if their intended use was similar.\",\n \"Product: Mohu Leaf 30 is the award-winning digital antenna that jump started the cord cutting revolution. Launched in 2011, Leaf 30 established the trend of paper-thin antennas with many others striving to achieve the same quality and design. Leaf 30 was the first and continues to be one of the top-rated and most popular HDTV antennas available on the market. Antenna Made in USA Derived from US Military Technology The patented Leaf 30 was modeled after life-saving technology designed and developed for the US Military to discreetly detect IEDs, making it the most reliable and sophisticated indoor HDTV antenna on the market today. We are proud of our military connection, and it is evident in our design, quality, and stability. We are also proud to say that our Leaf antennas are made in USA. Watch 100% Free TV in HD Leaf 30 lets you enjoy over-the-air networks in your area without paying a monthly fee. That means you can watch 94 of the 100 most-watched TV shows for free from networks like ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, PBS, The CW, Univision and more. And because over-the-air broadcasts are uncompressed, you will experience the clearest picture quality possible with your HDTV antenna. Highest Quality, Sleek Design, Easy Installation Mohu Leaf 30 is now tested to reach up to a 40-mile radius and includes a high performance 10 ft. detachable coaxial cable, giving users the flexibility to place the antenna much higher on a wall or close to a window for optimal reception. Leaf 30 TV antenna indoor is also paintable and reversible to match decor, and much easier on the eyes than a traditional antenna. Setup is as easy as plugging it in, turning on your TV, and scanning for channels.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Probably your best bet for a small indoor TV antenna.\\n\\nReview: I'll admit. After reading all the reviews, I was willing to bite. I currently have a large and rather hideous outdoor antenna sitting on my 2nd floor balcony. I don't have the means to get a real outdoor antenna placed up high. It does the job, but I'd rather get it out of the way and eliminate the coax running to the outside. It'd just be simpler. I thought this might give me comparable, or at least close, reception to the older antenna. I was disappointed.\\n\\nI live in a bit of a strange location when it comes to broadcast TV. Some of the TV towers are north of me, some are south, a few or to the east. Thus a directional antenna is not really a good option (dangit). I live in a mid-size city (~70k) sandwiched between two other mid-sized cities, all of which have their own towers within about a 30 mile radius of me. My balcony is only about 4 feet from where I was testing the Leaf, though was outside vs. inside (very important).\\n\\nI have a TiVo Series 3 (from the days of yore when I had, and gave a crap about, cable), which has a nice visual signal strength meter (scale of 0-100) with audible tone displayed on screen when desired. I took a survey of several of the channels I receive with my current setup to get a sense of what I had to begin with. I then hooked up the Leaf antenna to see how it would perform.\\n\\nEssentially, on every channel I lost about 20-30 \\\"points\\\" of signal strength. Those with 85 would drop to 55-60. Those with 50 would drop to 20. Those with 30 would drop too low to be usable (the TiVo displays a picture behind the signal meter for visual confirmation). Being portable, the Leaf was adjustable to direction (even though an omnidirectional antenna, most still do better when aimed a little bit). I never could get the signal strength to match the \\\"before\\\" strengths even if I had it precisely aimed to provide the greatest signal strength.\\n\\nSo effectively what does this tell us? Only that the Leaf is not able to break the laws of physics. No surprise there. Indoor signals are attenuated by walls. Even though the outdoor antenna is not line-of-sight to any antennas either, it has fewer things in the way.\\n\\nA more realistic test is this Leaf vs. other quality indoor antennas I have had in the recent past. In this comparison, this unit does no better of a job than those, but it does it with one particular advantage, it's small and flat and easy to place. Most of the better indoor antennas have bases/stands and have to be placed on a flat table or something. The leaf can be mounted or taped to a wall, like an old-school FM antenna. It doesn't seem to care. The main body is no thicker than a laminated sheet of paper, though the plastic piece on the bottom with the wire coming out adds some thickness. It's even intentionally designed with a light side and a dark side, in order to match wall colors or decor (yes, like The Force).\\n\\nSo, it is hugely superior to most other HDTV antennas in reception? Not at all. Is it impressive for its size and intended use? Definitely. You'll still do better with a quality outdoor antenna placed up high, if possible, but this is an excellent option for anyone who cannot pull off better setups.\",\n \"Product: Finally, there exists an amazing mechanical key switch keyboard without the noise normally associated with mechanical keyboards! The Quiet Pro Keyboard uses Matias' new Quiet Click mechanical key switches, which were over 2 years in the making. They deliver a feel that is unmatched for comfort, without sacrificing the tactile feedback you need to type really fast. Also includes 3 port USB 2.0 hub, Mac option symbols printed on keys, special anti-ghosting circuitry so that the keyboard keeps up with the fastest Mac typists, laser etched keys so the characters don't wear off, and traditional sculpted keytops for comfort and speed.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Good but room for improvement. . .\\n\\nReview: Given that many people are not familiar with this style of keyboard, I'm going to break this review down into two sections, first about the style of keyboard that this is, with plusses and minuses, and secondly about this particular product from Matias.\\n\\nThe keyboard style:\\n\\nLike many others, I too missed the clickity-clack of older buckle-spring key switches. I learned to type on a variety of devices ranging from electric and electronic keyboards to computer keyboards including the classic IBM Model M. This keyboard is very close to that one and, supposedly, is very similar to an old Apple keyboard, the Apple Extended Keyboard, which I never had an opportunity to try.\\n\\nThe reason this is called a \\\"Tactile\\\" keyboard is that there is a significant amount of fingertip feedback generated by the individual keys. Modern keyboards tend to forgo individual mechanical switches in favor of membrane-style sensors that are similar to pressing on little sponges. It's both cheaper and quieter, but is not very finger friendly. Additionally, the keys on new keyboards tend to be fairly flat, such that your fingers may be pressing the edge of a key rather than the center and your hands can start to get out of alignment a little more easily.\\n\\nKeyboards like the Tactile Pro have much more key travel and sensory feedback than the newer keyboards. Your fingers seem to bounce along as you type rather than hammering a flat surface. As a result, your hands don't move as much as the keys absorb the impact of your fingers much better. Additionally, you tend to get a better sense of your typing speed and, typically, find yourself typing much faster and smoother with fewer errors (though this is debatable) as you go along. As someone else said, this is a great keyboard for people who are high-speed touch typists or who work in a field where lots of text output is part of the job (journalist, writer, blogger, etc.).\\n\\nThere will definitely be downsides for some people, though. First, of course, is the noise. This keyboard is great if you're in a room by yourself and are generating a lot of text. However, if you're in a coffee shop, or a classroom, or have a roommate/spouse/etc. in the immediate area, the constant clickity-clack can become annoying to them. I suspect this is the main reason, along with cost, that these sorts of keyboards have fallen out of style. Don't get me wrong, they're not particularly loud, but the constant, repetitive noise can get bothersome, especially if your environment is intended to be quiet (e.g., a library). Of course, this is a big keyboard, so you're not likely to be toting it around with you outside of your home/office anyway, but take this into consideration. For comparison's sake, I would say that this is significantly quieter than an old manual typewriter and somewhat quieter than an electronic typewriter as well. In fact, each click is much quieter than your average ball point pen click. But there will be a lot of them, and if you're cruising along at 100 wpm, that adds up.\\n\\nAlso, as mentioned, this is a full-sized keyboard with number pad. It's not heavy, but it is not stylishly thin and smooth like an Apple keyboard is. These things aren't really meant for portability and are ideally suited to a desktop environment. If you put this in your bag, you're going to hear the keys clicking away as your bag rocks back and forth. This can get old pretty quickly. You'll also notice that there's a little \\\"play\\\" in the keytops. You can rest your fingertips on the surface of the keys and slightly wiggle them back and forth. This is normal for this style of keyboard and shouldn't be taken as a defect. It's simply a product of the longer-than-usual key travel that these keys have and actually seem to serve a purpose as a sort of automatic adjustment to your fingertip angles. For some people used to the membrane-style keyboards, though, this could be disconcerting at first.\\n\\nTherefore, for anyone who does a lot of typing, you should really consider getting one of the buckle-spring keyboards for your machine. Currently, this one and one other (I'll mention in a moment) exist, to my knowledge.\\n\\nThis specific Matias keyboard:\\n\\nI think I've soured a little bit on Matias products. This is the third different keyboard I've purchased from them, the other two being folding portables, and they all have problems. I'll start, though, with the positives.\\n\\nThe buckle-spring mechanism on the keys is classic and exactly as I recall the old IBM Model M keyboards behaving. Of course, that was 20 years ago, so I could be off by a little, but regardless, this keyboard is very nice to type on. It's making me wonder why I didn't do the switch years ago. The angle at which the keyboard sits (adjustable slightly with the built in feet), is also conducive to rapid typing with the wrists up off the table in proper, just-like-I-was-taught-in-school position. That should help with repetitive motion injuries some as well. Also, something I haven't had before is a USB port on the keyboard itself. Two of them, in fact. I think this will come in handy for things like USB thumb drives and whatnot given that the iMac USB ports are way around back and hard to reach. I like the idea, in concept, and I'm sure I'll make use of it a lot.\\n\\nNow, for the downsides.\\n\\nThe whole keyboard feels cheap. The old Model M keyboards to which I am comparing this to were built like tanks. You got the sense that they could take a .45 round in the back and still keep typing away. They were also heavy, much heavier than this keyboard, which also gave you a sense of durability. This, on the other hand, is very plasticky. The keys themselves are fine, but the surrounding material makes the whole keyboard feel like a $20 keyboard rather than one well over $100.\\n\\nI've also noticed that at least one key, the number pad's \\\"0\\\" key, is much harder to press than all the other keys on the keyboard, including the space bar. When your fingers get accustomed to pressing only so hard to type a key and then have to press twice as hard to belt out a zero, something's wrong. I haven't \\\"tested\\\" every other key on the keyboard, but so far, that's the only one with a problem out of 90+ keys I have used.\\n\\nLastly, as mentioned by another reviewer, the function keys are labelled only with the F1-F15 numbers. No idea what they do otherwise. There's no marks for Expose or any of the other default Mac shortcuts. I'm not even exactly sure how to make them do their alternate function as there is no function key on the keyboard. The manual that came with the keyboard is endearingly short (basically, \\\"to install keyboard, plug it in\\\" and that's it), but not very helpful in this regard. Thankfully, the volume controls and eject key ARE labelled and sit just over the number pad. That's the main thing you need, and you can easily switch your keymappings in OS X to be whatever you want, but it would be nice for them to label these keys as well if they're going to go so far as to label the copyright and trademark symbols on the other keys.\\n\\nOh, and about that installation thing. OS X doesn't recognize this as a Mac keyboard per se. In fact, it asks that you press a couple of keys on the keyboard and identify the layout of the shift-return-backslash keys on the right. This is common with third party keyboards, but I've had several keyboards just be recognized automatically by OS X and was surprised when this one wasn't. Not a deal breaker, just strange.\\n\\nOverall, this is the best typing experience I've had on a Mac since I became a convert. This also beats all the PC keyboards I've tried back to the older IBM keyboards about 20 years ago. That alone earned it 4 stars. I had to deduct some for the cheapness of the experience, however, and the faulty 0 key on the numberpad. I may call customer service and see what they can do about that.\\n\\nOh, and by the way, the other buckle-spring keyboard I know of available for purchase is the \\\"Das Keyboard.\\\" It's a PC keyboard but can be had with key swap-outs for Mac keys (or Linux) so you can replace the Windows keys with Mac keys. It looks to be better built than this for about the same money, and I may have to try it, now that I've fallen back in love with the buckle-spring. We'll see. I do believe there are some smaller manufacturers out there as well who either make or convert these style keyboards, but I don't have any names for you.\",\n \"Product: Galco International was founded by Richard N. Gallagher in 1969 as a small family business in Chicago, Illinois. Known then as the famous jackass leather company, Gallagher specialized in holsters constructed of horsehide. In 1980 the business was moved from Chicago to its present home in Phoenix, Arizona, and in 1983 the name of the company was changed to galco International. ALREADY famous for high quality and innovative designs, galco gained worldwide notoriety when the jackass shoulder system became a recurring character on the popular 1980's TV Series Miami vice. In the new century, galco continues to be a favorite choice of Hollywood, appearing in more films and TV shows than any other holster maker. Perhaps more importantly, galco remains a Major force in real-world firearms usage. Law enforcement personnel around the nation and across the world - from local departments to the largest Federal agencies - are issued and use galco products. Galco's array of law enforcement products ranges from concealment holsters to rifle slings approved by the National Tactical officer's Association.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Close but no cigar.\\n\\nReview: Wow. I was really hoping I'd like this one, but it ended up a major fail. One safety point, though, NEVER TEST OUT A NEW HOLSTER WITH YOUR WEAPON LOADED! Always, always unload the weapon and either leave the mag out or put in an empty mag (after double-checking safety/unloaded status). I have always unloaded/cleared my guns before first trying out a new holster (wearing it around the house, etc.) and tested the draw and performance with a safe weapon.\\n\\nFirst, the good. This appears to be a pretty well made holster. Good quality materials. I like the belt clips a lot. Fairly comfortable (Not the best, but above average). Provides a decent forward cant to the weapon as is.\\n\\nThe fit to my weapon was pretty much perfect. It swallows the firearm nicely and is clearly molded to the form of the gun quite well. The leather provided a fair bit of grip, and the kydex sort of \\\"clicks\\\" when the weapon is inserted.\\n\\nUnfortunately, the fit is so custom and perfect that when I wear the holster, I literally cannot remove the weapon from the holster. Turns out, the simple act of placing some pressure on the outside of the kydex compresses it sufficiently that it locks into the grooves/bumps on the side of the weapon and pinches it against the leather. With my pants buttoned and belt buckled, the gun would not come out of the holster no matter how hard I pulled. I'm not positive, but I'm fairly certain I could suspend my entire weight from the grip of the pistol while it was in this holster.\\n\\nAt first I thought it was possibly the angle I was pulling it out at, but no matter which angle I pulled on it, no draw. Then I tried undoing my belt buckle. Though this gave the weapon a little more play, I still could not draw the weapon from the holster. When I unbuttoned my pants and unzipped the top portion, finally I could get the weapon to draw with a little effort. When completely removed from my body, the weapon holsters and draws pretty smoothly. Thus I was surprised at how fickle this thing was to actually use. I do not know if it would be amenable to any sort of reshaping, but I'm not certain I'd want to fool with it since it may create a rough surface that would scratch the finish on the gun. I will likely try contacting Galco and seeing what they can do for me since this is obviously a manufacturing defect.\\n\\nThe particular model holster I have was designed to fit multiple weapons in the same series (full frame, compact, a couple of different calibers, etc.), so I may try a few other pieces that I own in it to see if they function better, but my intended concealed weapon will not work with this holster, so it will not serve the purpose I wished it to.\\n\\nThus, my bit of advice on this otherwise solid holster is to test fit it with an empty/safe gun as soon as you can and be ready to send it back just in case. I believe my experience to be the exception, not the rule.\",\n \"Product: This critically acclaimed epic trilogy follows the quest undertaken by the hobbit, Frodo Baggins, and his fellowship of companions to save Middle-earth by destroying the One Ring and defeating the evil forces of the Dark Lord Sauron.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: June 28, 2011 Extended Edition Blu-Ray review\\n\\nReview: I'll first say that there is some misleading information on the Amazon page regarding comparing this set with older versions of the movies. I own all the older versions, both original and extended editions, on DVD and have been eagerly awaiting the release of the extended editions on Blu-Ray, believing them to be simply the Blu-Ray editions of the older DVD Extended Editions. They are not. They are significantly better.\\n\\nAll three of these movies contain scenes and extensions that I have never seen before, and I have seen the original Extended Editions on DVD at least three times, each. This set more fully fleshes out the story from the books, and it makes the whole story make that much more sense to those who haven't read the book (I have, several times).\\n\\nFirst, note that Blu-Ray is perfect for these movies. The detail, color, clarity, and film-like quality is spectacular. I can't rate this highly enough. These are the best looking Blu-Rays I own.\\n\\nSecond, and perhaps the only fault I can find, each movie is spread across two dedicated Blu-Ray discs. This is a storage capacity problem, and nothing else. Blu-Ray has its limits. The break between discs is chosen well as to interrupt the flow minimally. It actually serves as a nice intermission when you're watching a 4 hour movie.\\n\\nThird, each movie comes with 3 extra DVDs (not Blu-Rays) with extra features. I have not viewed these yet as I wanted to get this review out once I saw the errors in the description of the Blu-Ray Extended Edition info on Amazon.\\n\\nLastly, The Fellowship of the Ring is the only movie of the three that doesn't have huge extra scenes added. It is close to the older Extended Edition DVD version in makeup, which is not bad at all. Apparently there was less extra footage to add back. Both The Two Towers and The Return of the King are extended to over 4 hours each. Total run time for all three films is around 12 hours. All the extras are seamlessly inserted/added as if they were there the whole time.\\n\\nAnyone who is a LOTR fan must get this latest version as they're missing out on huge swaths of story that have been left out of previous editions. Don't assume that if you already own the DVD Extended Editions you have seen it all. I was expecting this to just be a higher-res version of that set. I was wrong. It's so much better.\",\n \"Product: Protect your iPhone 4/4S with the new stainless steel iNoxCase by visionary industrial designer Ryan Glasgow. This ultra-thin and functionally stylish iNoxCase cell phone accessory is your extra insurance for flops and drops. The iNoxCase features a 307.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Very pretty but nearly useless.\\n\\nReview: First off, I will say that I've tried a lot of iPhone cases in the past and have yet to find that perfect one. The one that provides protection while not adding much bulk and while compromising the phone function as little as possible. Not only does this case fail at all of those, it may be the single worst iPhone case I've ever used, which is a shame because it's beautifully made out of quality materials. It's all about the design.\\n\\nLet me start, though, with the positives.\\n\\n1. The material that this case is made out of is impeccable. It's solid stainless steel with real screws and a few plastic bits connecting the front plate with the back. In my opinion, as long as the screws and the little plastic bits hold out, which I expect them to, this case would likely last for years. Even the hinge seems to be built to last.\\n\\n2. The case adds very little bulk or weight to the phone. It's one of the lightest iPhone cases out there, despite being made of stainless steel. It's also barely thicker than the iPhone itself and only very slightly wider and taller.\\n\\n3. You have full access to all the ports on the phone as well as switches around the edges of the phone with minimal hindrance to fingers as well.\\n\\n4. Extremely close tolerances and snug fit gives the impression of solid design. Best fitting case I've ever seen on an iPhone.\\n\\nHowever, all of this is spoiled by the actual design itself.\\n\\n1. The case is designed almost like a flip-phone. There are two plates of steel with cutouts (nicely deburred) for the screen, camera, home button, etc. with another steel plate on a hinge that flips 180 degrees from protecting the screen to straight up. However, the flap will neither stay closed nor open on its own. There is no sort of closure or clasp, magnetic or otherwise, that keeps the flap down, and there is no locking notch or other system that will keep it in the fully open position. It's designed to be talked on with the flap closed, but if you want to do more than one thing, such as use speaker phone and also be accessing other functions on the phone, the flap is constantly in the way. You'll also discover that the flap is hard to open one-handed yet will sometimes flip itself open, with gravity assist, precisely when you don't want it to. It's possible that this could have been remedied by having a flap that moved a complete 360 degrees to rest against the back plate, but this is not in the design, and would likely compromise something else functionally.\\n\\n2. Speaking of plates made out of thin stainless steel, this is an uncomfortable case to hold for very long. The edges are very thin, though nicely smoothed out. However, you tend to still get a lot of pressure applied to a small area even if you are just holding the phone normally (e.g., not squeezing hard) for just a few minutes up to your ear. Even worse is working on the phone screen itself where you have to have a finger supporting it from the bottom, near the dock connector, to keep it slipping. It feels as though it's cutting into your hand slowly, though it's not actually doing any harm. It's somewhat painful to hold for very long.\\n\\n3. The flap blocks the screen, yet strangely there's a cut-out on the screen to display the time/caller ID. While clever and very precisely cut, it sort of defeats the purpose of having a screen cover. Similarly, when the flap is in the fully open position, it makes the phone-case combo more than twice as tall and a bit unwieldy. If you want to take photos, you've got to figure out a way to hold the flap open and still operate the camera. Worse, you lose the ability to type in landscape mode because the flap blocks your hand from grasping from one side, even if you open it only 90 degrees or so. Lastly, to answer the phone you actually have to open the case all the way up. This can be done one-handed but often requires fiddling with because your holding hand may have a stray finger wrapping around an edge slightly and pinning the flap down.\\n\\n4. The sharp edges and the screw heads tend to catch in the folds of clothing, especially pockets. This makes retrieving it from your pants pocket a bit more of a challenge than it should be. It's not bad, and the limited additional bulk overall helps in this regard, but was definitely noticeable over my other case. It's not as bad as an Otter Box, but nowhere near as clean as, say, a bumper case. Similarly, most iPhone holders, such as windshield mounts, struggle more with the oddball shaped edges of this case.\\n\\n5. As mentioned before, the sides are completely open. Now that means the stainless steel antennae are exposed along with the ports, and that's not TOO bad, but there is no protection offered for the buttons or switches at all. Lots of nice grit and detritus will get pinned between the case and the screen/back as well, providing for that dirty look you've always wanted.\\n\\n6. Strangely, the back is very open. Instead of covering and protecting the whole back, the stainless back plate only covers the top part of the phone down past the camera (with cutout for camera and flash) and then has an X-brace bridging the sides of the metal plate across the back glass. This provides effectively no protection for the back of your iPhone, you know, the other part made of glass. Other than for styling purposes, I cannot imagine why this was done.\\n\\n7. Rubber band is included for retaining credit cards, IDs, etc. seems added on as an afterthought. It really doesn't go well with the overall design but, more importantly, it tends to make the flap not close all the way and make it that much easier to accidentally flip all the way open under gravity assist. The rubber band would have been put to better use as some sort of mechanism to keep the flap closed or open.\\n\\n8. The iPhone is inserted into the case from the top. It just slides right in. There is a small felt pad that you must stick onto the inside of the top of the case itself to provide a little more snug of a fit for the iPhone once in the case, and it does do this job somewhat well, but the phone can still quite easily slip right out of the top of the case, even with the felt pad in place, if tossed or dropped just right. There's nothing stopping the iPhone from flying right out other than a slight bit of friction between the felt pad and the back of the iPhone. This could have been remedied by a small latch or flap at the top of the case serving as a closure, but none was designed.\\n\\n9. Which brings me back to the main failure of this case. Protection. It offers none whatsoever. The case is solid and rigid. There are no soft edges, no crumple zones, no place for it to give. The tolerances are so tight that every bit of force received by the case will be transferred directly to the iPhone body, too. If you drop it in this case, you might as well have not had a case at all. Not only are the sides and back not protected, because the flap over the screen is not retained by any sort of closure, it is free to flip right open and uncover the screen. The most protective thing about it is the plastic screen protector film that came with the package.\\n\\nUnfortunately the case succeeds as an object of industrial art and design but fails miserably as a case. I'm keeping that on and going back to my old case. I really wanted to like this case, and I generally love CRKT stuff, but this is a colossal failure of a design.\",\n \"Product: Stant locking gas caps are OEM quality both in construction and materials as well as deterrent to fuel theft and vandalism. A gas/fuel cap performs three very important functions; safety of the vehicle's occupants, fuel economy and reduce emissions. Safety: Without a fuel cap, gasoline vapors will be present around your car at all times. Those vapors can be ignited by a random spark or flame and are very dangerous if you are involved in an accident or rollover. Fuel Economy: According to Sun Oil Company research, a vehicle with a missing or inoperative fuel cap will allow 176 pounds (22 gallons) of gasoline to evaporate over the period of one year. Emissions: Gasoline vapors emit hydrocarbons which dissolve the earth's ozone layer and cause smog.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Might be nice if it worked. . .\\n\\nReview: I ordered this as well as the Motorad locking cap for my truck for comparison's sake. Well, the first Stant locking cap I received from Amazon did not actually lock. The locking mechanism was apparently broken. Now bear in mind that I had no trouble with the other locking cap AND I've had plenty of locking gas caps in the past, from various manufacturers, and never had any trouble with them, either. I can say that the key in this first one did, in fact, turn 90-degrees stop to stop, but it seemingly had no effect on the cap whatsoever. I tried this both with the cap on the fuel filler tube as well as by hand. It worked neither place, though it did fit my truck perfectly well.\\n\\nOf note, the \\\"instructions\\\" for the cap are actually printed on the cap itself, though strangely not on the box. It's a strange mechanism, but I suppose it works. To \\\"lock\\\" the cap, just put the cap on the filler tube and tighten until it clicks three times. No key necessary (a plus compared to most locking gas caps). At this point, the cap spins freely to the left (unscrew) but tightens if turned to the right, only to a point before it then clicks to release the tension. To unlock, insert the key, turn counterclockwise 1/4 turn and then back, remove the key and unscrew the cap.\\n\\nNone of this, of course, worked on the first cap I received. So I asked Amazon to swap it out for me, and they did (quickly and painlessly, thanks Amazon!).\\n\\nThe second cap worked as it is supposed to. The moral to this story is that quality control is critical, especially on a locking cap. This does, in fact, make me a little nervous about using this cap long term. We'll see.\\n\\nAnyway, this cap is going on a 2008 GMC Sierra Denali. Note that you MUST make sure you have the right cap for the application. One cap does not fit all. Amazon fitment guide did steer me to this cap and it fits just fine.\\n\\nThis cap looks very similar to the stock GM cap except with a key mechanism in the top. The key is bare metal, which makes it slimmer, but also may scratch up the key fob (if you care about such things).\\n\\nOtherwise, this appears to be effective but nothing fancy. I'm not sure what it'd take to get a 5-star review (chrome? spinners? rhinestones?), but given the apparent dud I got the first go round, I'm not comfortable giving this one a 4-star review, either. Thus a 3-star review for a 3-star product.\",\n \"Product: Bosch bracketless wiper blades are designed without brackets or hinges, offering improved design and performance over conventional wiper blades. The award-winning design of Bosch ICON distributes more uniform pressure along the entire length of the blade for ultimate all-season performance that lasts up to 20% longer than other premium wiper blades. The integrated wind spoiler design increases the down force on the wiper blade to prevent lift-off at highway speeds. The bracketless design and enclosed tension springs provide superior wiping performance in all weather conditions. Bosch ICON blades are the best you can buy!\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Good blade, bad connector. . .\\n\\nReview: I'm not sure if I'm the only one who has had this problem, but I have been using these wipers on my 2008 GMC Sierra for about 10 months now and have noticed one glaring problem.\\n\\nThe new style wipers have a new connector to the wiper arm. The whole wiper is held on by two little spring-loaded plastic tabs that hook into two notches on the wiper arm. Unfortunately, if these little plastic tabs lose their springiness, which mine did within a couple of months, the whole blade just comes off if you rotate the wiper arm hinge away from the windshield.\\n\\nNumerous times, almost every time, when I move the wipers away from the windshield to clean them while I'm gassing up, one or both of them will swing out and then disconnect from the hook at the other end of the connector and fall on my hood. At other times, I'll just be driving along and notice the joint between the connector and the wiper arm has about a 1/4\\\" gap. I'll have to stop, at my next opportunity, and reseat the connector. Very annoying. This is particularly difficult when there's ice/snow on the windshield (as there was today) and trying to knock the ice off of them. I had to just take them off and knock the ice off, then reconnect, hoping that the connector wasn't too covered in ice to properly latch.\\n\\nAs long as the wiper arm is applying pressure to the blade on the windshield, which is when it's in the down/normal position, the blade tends to stay put, even if not fully connected. I have had it pop off in use only once. That is once too many for a safety device like a wiper blade.\\n\\nThis is a shame. I really like the performance of the blades on my windshield when they are properly connected. They provide a smooth, chatter free wipe and do perform much better than the stock blades. However, the stock blades never disconnected on their own, even when cleaning them.\\n\\nI'm off to find more dependable blades.\",\n \"Product: Deters vandalism and fuel theft. Manufactured with OEM quality materials and safety standards by an OE Supplier. Manufactured to pass all state and federal emissions requirements. Specifically designed pressure and vacuum relief valves to prevent evaporation of fuel. A leaking fuel cap can allow up to 30 gallons of gasoline to evaporate over the period of a year.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: It's a gas cap, that locks!\\n\\nReview: So I've had numerous locking gas caps through the years, not because they break or are unreliable but because I've had numerous vehicles on which I put them. This brings up my first point, please make sure you get the right cap for the right application. Not all fuel filler tubes are the same, nor are the retaining mechanisms the same. I've had good luck with Amazon's fitment check (\\\"Make Sure It Fits!\\\" thing at the top of the page), so I'd start there. If possible, also check the manufacturer's website for a fitment guide and compare the model number to what Amazon shows. Nice to double check.\\n\\nAnyway, This is a fine locking cap. It's traditional in the sense that the key is double-sided and will insert either way to lock/unlock the cap. It also does require two hands to operate, as the top of the cap will spin freely from the base when locked, which is, of course, how these things work. To engage the lock, though, and unlock it, you'll typically need both hands free or be very dextrous with one hand. You have to insert the key to unlock the cap and it is then, thus, trapped in the cap (i.e., you can't pull the key out of the cap) until you lock the cap back. That means you've got to make sure you keep track of it since any other keys on the key ring will generally go with the cap itself as well while you're filling up the tank. Not a big deal, but something to remember. Also, note that the key is coated in a rubberized plastic. This is good in that it's a little grippier than a bare metal key, but bad in that it makes the thickness of the key much greater and, therefore, may not work as well on your key ring. I found it a bit of a pain since it didn't lay flat with the other keys on the keyring in my pocket.\\n\\nI think the mechanism of this one is sound and simple. Should last for years. If the above minor complaints are a concern, then I'd suggest looking into the Stant model locking gas cap. It has a little more sophisticated mechanism that doesn't require the key to lock it back BUT it also doesn't seem to be as durable a mechanism, as the first one I got was broken right out of the box. For simplicity and durability I rate this one as a 4 out of 5. I'm not sure what it would take to get a 5/5 other than, perhaps, better style and/or ease of use (one handed use please?).\",\n \"Product: The Open Face helmet is designed by riders, for the rider that wants the wind at their face, but more protection than a standard half helmet. It has front intake vents that help with air circulation to reduce heat and moisture. The chin strap also incorporates an easy to use snap to keep excess length from bothering you while riding. The helmets are shipped in a scratch resistant helmet bag and then double boxed to ensure your helmet arrives in great condition.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Sized too small. . .\\n\\nReview: I suspect helmet sizes are sort of like any other piece of clothing, the actual size on the sticker is not consistent between manufacturers. Unfortunately, I just learned this the hard way with this helmet. At least it was on sale.\\n\\nI picked up the XX-Large Helmet here on sale. I can normally wear an X-Large helmet, but the XX feels a bit more comfortable. My thinking was that I'd rather it be too large than too small.\\n\\nHowever, even picking one size over what I can wear at a minimum, this was far too small. Compared to other helmets I've put on (not a large number, mind you), this one feels about like a Large, not even an X-Large. Essentially, it's about 2 sizes too small. I don't know that this was intentional or just poor design, but my impression is the latter, as the box was marked properly and the helmet fit in the box just right.\\n\\nAdditionally, it's not very padded inside and has pressure points. Definitely not what I was looking for in a helmet. It looks good, nothing special. The face shield is nice and is detachable, with some effort (again, good). Aside from the wrong sizing and the lack of proper padding, this is actually a pretty reasonable helmet. I'm keeping it around as a spare for someone with microcephaly, but it won't work on my noggin.\\n\\nStill searching for the correct helmet. Oh, well.\",\n \"Product: TRICO NeoForm wiper blades are the gold standard in beam blade technology. Original factory quality, modern styling and superior performance for all-weather conditions. Innovative Memory Curve Steel will wrap to highly curved windshields to provide uniform pressure to deliver high cleaning quality.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Adequate OEM replacement. Nothing more.\\n\\nReview: In my search for the perfect wiper, I have only found one brand that really stands out as head and shoulders above the rest. PIAA. Unfortunately, they don't currently make wipers that fit the new style wiper arms on the 07-present GMC Sierra (and many other newer cars). That's a shame, because I can't seem to find truly superior blades from any other manufacturer. With the Trico blades, the search goes on.\\n\\nThe blades fit well, and the connecting mechanism is pretty good so that I don't have to worry about them coming loose from the wiper arm, unlike the Bosch blades I had immediately before these. Aside from this, though, these are fairly standard and unimpressive blades no better than the OEM blades.\\n\\nThe biggest problem they have is chatter. They love to bounce across the windshield making that loud drumming sound as they go. This will happen in anything less than a steady rain. So road mist or sprinkling results in intermittent, loud noise. My windshield is cleaned regularly, so it's not a matter of a thin layer of dirt triggering the oscillations in the frame. It seems to be that the blade material is sub-par, possibly just too inflexible. The material in the Bosch blades did a much better job in this regard, though the connector was poorly designed on those.\\n\\nIn moderate or heavy rain, they perform adequately. The colder it is outside, though, the worse they seem to do. Again, it seems that the material stiffens up too easily (sub 40 degrees, it seems). I've had these on for less than a month, though, but I'm already looking for something else.\\n\\nLet's call their performance as a blade average, their noise as poor, and their cold tolerance as below average based on 4 weeks of use in a mix of snow and rain.\",\n \"Product: Each TYC replacement lamp is manufactured with similar materials as the original equipment and undergoes rigorous testing to ensure your safety during day and night use. Your vehicle's lamps are an essential part of its safety features, so TYC replacement lamps meet SAE/DOT regulations.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Only for regular Sierra models (not Denali)\\n\\nReview: This is a direct, high quality drop-in replacement for the tail light housing on the current-gen GMC Sierra 1500 pickup trucks. It includes bulbs and the wiring back to the plug (about 2 ft) inside the fender. This is visually identical to the stock unit once installed and all the mounting hardware, clips, brackets, etc. are identical, as far as I can tell. Fits well. No complaints.\\n\\nThis is not designed to fit on a Sierra Denali, for anyone interested. Those have subtly different tail lights in that the border around the outside of them is black as is the background behind the reflectors in between the 3 large reflecting units.\\n\\nOne thing to keep in mind, this took quite a while to arrive. Once ordered, it took several days to even get shipped and then several more days to get delivered. If you're in a hurry, you might want to go straight to the dealership parts counter.\",\n \"Product: Help protect your Toyota's original factory carpet with durable all-weather mats. The mats feature a ribbed channel design that helps contain moisture, dirt and other debris. Retention clips (on the driver's side) and nibbed backing on all mats help hold them in position. Designed to help protect from dirt, mud, snow and slush, the all-weather floor mats feature a multi-dimensional surface, custom channel design and perimeter lip that combine to keep clothing and shoes clean, dry and stain-free. All-weather floor mats are custom-fitted to the vehicle's interior and front mats are embellished with a custom molded vehicle logo. The mats also feature an aggressive \\\"nib\\\" backing and positive retention clips (front driver only) to help prevent sliding.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Good quality and fit for a Land Cruiser. Doesn't cover cargo area.\\n\\nReview: These do fit perfectly for a 2016 Toyota Land Cruiser. It includes two front seat floor mats with the quarter-turn lock down holes, two second-row mats that cover most of the center tunnel as well, and a single-piece third-row mat that is full-width but extends roughly 1 foot front to back such that it does not reach underneath the third row seat, much less to the rear tailgate. Neither the second nor third row mats have tie-downs. There seems to be a cargo-area rubber mat also available that would cover the distance between where this mat ends and the tailgate area. From the photos I've seen of them, the cut-outs for the front floor latches for the third row seats are roughly where the front of this cargo area all weather mat ends.\\n\\nAll are rubber-like material, very grippy on the carpet, with underside rubbery nubbins/spikes molded into the material to further resist sliding. The front seat mats are also labeled on the mats themselves with their intended location and they are embossed with \\\"Land Cruiser\\\" on them. Thankfully, these are not slippery/greasy out-of-the-box like some mats I've gotten for other vehicles in the past.\\n\\nThough these seem well made, the rubber material is slightly thinner than what I've had with other rubber floor mats. This makes them more floppy, but also makes them a little easier to install. They are less likely to retain any creases from folding/shipping position. I cannot comment on how durable they actually are as I just got them, but they seem like they would withstand pretty regular, hard use. I've seen other reviewers mention this factor vs. older versions of these OEM mats for other Toyota vehicle models (i.e., that the older mats were thicker). This may be a valid complaint, and is the main reason I'm docking them one star on these newer mats. I'd rather they be thicker as well. However, I can see these lasting many years, and handling much mud and dirt, as they are now.\\n\\nThat said, quality otherwise is top notch, as is the fit. If you're looking for thick rubberized mats, you should make sure that if they're for the front seats, they have provisions for the in-floor tie-down locks if your vehicle has them from the factory. Some aftermarket brands do and some do not.\",\n \"Product: The WORX WG517 Electric blower features WORX patented new Turbine Technology for increase air movement. This allows you to move more leaves fast and more efficiently. The 120 Mph, 450 CFM air force makes this light weight blower capable of many jobs around your home. The variable speed setting gives your more control in corners and tight spots.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Easily the best electric corded leaf blower I've used.\\n\\nReview: I have been looking for a strong electric leaf blower for this season's great leaf roundup. I have used corded and cordless blowers and their less powerful cousins \\\"sweepers\\\" for years. The last few years I've been using the Black and Decker LeafHog blower/mulcher. It's been a persistent pain in the butt ever since I got it, but it consistently gets higher reviews than any of the other mulcher/blower combos. After wrestling with the attachments for 30 minutes trying to convert from mulcher to blower and then another 15 minutes going back to mulching mode, I decided I needed a more powerful and dedicated blower so I could just use the B&D for mulching alone. An online comparison test ranked this WORX model the highest, and now I see why.\\n\\nLeaf blowers are tricky to compare without actually using them firsthand. Do you trust the ratings on the box? Which is more important, CFM or air velocity? How can you tell how easy it is to use? What about ergonomics? That's why you're reading reviews.\\n\\nPower: This is MUCH more powerful than the B&D LeafHog. At full speed, this easily doubles the straight-line performance of the B&D I own. It has a much larger opening for the tube, but the air being forced out seems to be moving the leaves a lot better. Even wet, pancaked on leaves caught against the curb that the B&D couldn't budge moved with ease once I got the WORX on the job. I can't compare it to a gas powered blower, but if you have a yard that a 150' or less power cord can easily reach, I can't imagine needing any more than this. Even for the BIG piles.\\n\\nDesign/Ergonomics: I haven't weighed them, but this feels much lighter than the B&D and is much better balanced. The B&D is nose-heavy, and the handle on top makes it a little tougher and more fatiguing to handle for long periods of time. The B&D has a on/off and speed knob within reach of the tips of my fingers below the handle on the main housing, but the WORX has a thumb-controlled switch that is slightly superior and permits smooth adjustments of power from minimum to maximum. The WORX is also much easier to assemble and likely would not require disassembly in the future unless for storage, whereas the B&D becomes impossible to disassemble after a few uses because the joints get full of dust and grit and do not permit nozzle pieces to slide onto each other. The one minor WORX design issue is that the air intake is on the back of the unit and air flows straight through. This is great for moving the air, but it also means that it tends to suck your shirt/jacket up against the rear grill every time you switch hands or swing the unit in front of yourself. It's a minor complaint, and easy to get used to, but the B&D has a downward-facing air intake which avoids this problem entirely.\\n\\nNoise: This unit is considerably quieter than the B&D LeafHog I have. Though not whisper quiet, and not quiet enough to carry on a conversation over, it's still my quietest blower, even compared to my little sweepers (a corded Toro and a cordless Ryobi). It's on par with a vacuum cleaner, I would say, whereas the B&D verges on needing earplugs.\\n\\nBuild quality: This seems pretty simple in design and the housing is fairly rugged plastic. I don't think there's a whole lot to go wrong with this unit, so I suspect it will last many, many years.\\n\\nDownsides: Other than the aforementioned intake placement sucking in your shirt/jacket (not dangerous, just annoying), the only real shortcoming is that this is not a dual-function mulcher and blower. Due to the design of the blower, I don't think it ever could be. Thus you would need a separate mulching tool if you wanted to mulch and bag the leaves up. I'll be using the B&D for mulching exclusively and this WORX will permit me to collect the leaves in a pile first much more easily. One potential downside is that the exit nozzle of the WORX is pretty large compared to some blowers. Thus you won't get pinpoint control over the airflow. However, I found that simply dropping the airspeed/power down to minimum permitted me to easily blow leaves out of my flower beds without blowing away the mulch as well. Just keep a little distance between it and the target and you'll find it no problem.\",\n \"Product: Smaller doesnt mean weaker with this durable, long-reaching flashlight. E05 takes compact on the road with reliable Fenix performance under extreme conditions.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Comparison E05 vs. E01\\n\\nReview: Recently I was in the market for an every day carry (EDC) flashlight. I had seen Fenix mentioned as a popular option due to quality build and low cost. I had specifically heard of the E05 model, but when I got on to Amazon, I also discovered the E01 model.\\n\\nAs usual, I started doing some reading of the reviews and comparing the specs. Both are AAA powered pocket flashlights. Both are from the same manufacturer. Both are within a few dollars of each other in cost. Which was better? I couldn't tell by the reviews, so I decided to get both.\\n\\nBefore I go any further, I'll save you some reading time. Which one is in my pocket right now? It's the E05. But I keep the E01 nearby as well.\\n\\nWhat I was originally looking for was something that used off-the-shelf batteries and was as compact as possible to fit in dress pants along with keys and a pocket knife. I didn't want a lot of bulk or weight added. I knew I was looking for a AAA pen light. I also knew it had to be LED for brightness and long life. Both of these fit the bill.\\n\\nIn terms of specs, both looked fairly similar on Amazon, though the specs for the E01 were not very in depth. Here's my best effort at generating a comparison:\\n\\n E01 E05\\nLength 3\\\" 2.5\\\"\\nDiameter 0.5\\\" 0.5\\\"\\nLumens 10 27\\nBat Life (hr) 21 2.8\\nLens No Yes\\n\\nBoth lights operate by twisting the bulb end of the flashlight, screwing it down onto the battery. This is handy in an EDC situation as it can be operated one-handed easily but is unlikely to be accidentally turned on and, thereby, drain the battery in your pocket. (Is that a flashlight in your pocket or are you just delighted to see me?)\\n\\nThe subjective brightness of both lights is noticeably different, though not dramatically so. I do not know if lumens is a linear representation of brightness or not (e.g., is 20 lumens twice as bright as 10 lumens?). However, the E05 is rated at 27 lumens and IS brighter, but I wouldn't say it is almost 3x as bright as the 10 lumen E01. Perhaps 1.5x as bright would be better. The E05 also has a more even spread of the beam of light, producing a larger diameter beam of light at 20 feet that is more evenly distributed than the E01, which had a halo effect generating a \\\"hot\\\" ring with a cooler area in the middle and rapidly falling off on the outside of that ring. Still very usable, though. Both lights are more than able to light up a sidewalk in otherwise complete darkness 10 yards ahead. The E05 does a better job, though, given it has a more even distribution of light, a slightly whiter light, and a stronger light. The E01 has a slight bluish tinge to the light and can leave certain areas dimly lit while well-lighting things only a short distance to the left or right. Also, the old trick of pointing the flashlight at the ceiling of a room to light the whole room up works well with the E05, not so much with the E01, in a 20\\\" x 20\\\" room with an 11' white ceiling.\\n\\nFor the sake of comparison, I will mention that I also have a 2x AA mini Mag Light that has the older style, non-LED bulb. Both of these lights have a far better pattern of light output to them with a much better color as well, making them much easier to use at night to find things on the ground since they are less likely to be hiding in the dim spots of the flashlight's output. The E05 also seems to put out more light compared to the old miniMag, which is impressive considering the single AAA vs. 2x AA batteries AND the much longer battery life the LED provides.\\n\\nBuild quality seems to be pretty good. The twist-on/off mechanism seems quite sturdy and the tubes are aluminum painted black. They have checkering so that you can get a pretty decent grip on them, though if you have really greasy hands at some point, it might be too much. They are both pretty much perfect cylinders, so they tend to roll when placed on a flat surface. If you attach the small metal key ring onto them, though (which is included for both), that'll work well enough. I've had the E05 in my pocket a week now and already the paint on some areas is taking a beating. However, the metal itself looks like it will hold up to many months or years of abuse. I don't expect to have to replace this light for a long time, unless I lose it due to it being so small.\\n\\nIn terms of size, the E01 is 0.5\\\" longer than the E05, which is immediately noticeable. Both lights are identical in diameter and build material, but the E01 is, for whatever reason, longer. Not much in the grand scheme of things and really not that big a difference even in dress pants pockets. Note that the E05 is only very slightly larger than the AAA battery itself.\\n\\nNo that wasn't a typo above on the battery life. The E01 is rated almost 10x the battery life of the E05. I haven't formally tested this since I generally don't want to stay up 21 hours straight watching a flashlight dim. However, perhaps more impressive is that you can get nearly a day's worth of life out of a AAA battery in the E01. This only a few years after when flashlight battery life was measured in minutes, not hours. By that measure, even the nearly 3 hours of battery life of the E05 is very long.\\n\\nAlso, the E01 lacks any sort of lens or diffuser. The reflector is completely exposed, as is the tiny LED bulb. The E05 has a hard plastic lens/diffuser that covers the LED and reflector and is not removable. This is pretty important in my circumstances as I planned to carry the light in a pocket containing keys. Keys have a tendency to poke and jab and generally play havoc with anything else in their proximity. I wasn't convinced that the E01's bulb would survive more than a week in my pocket. Both lights have an O-ring sealing out the weather, to a great degree, but I'm not sure how sealed the reflector end of the E01 is vs the E05 with its lens/diffuser that appears to completely seal that end of the light.\\n\\nI will say that I have been pleasantly surprised at how often I have found a use for the tiny flashlight, now that it's handy. It's much easier than pulling out my iPhone and using it as a light, and it works far better. It has definitely been worth it to have one of these handy.\\n\\nUltimately, I really like both lights. I wanted to do a head-to-head comparison for my specific needs. In all honesty, I think you'll be happy with either of them. The main advantage of the E01 is its rated much longer battery life. If Fenix spent just a little more to put a lens over the bulb to protect it and diffuse the light better, it would probably be the one I'm carrying right now. However, nearly 3 hours is quite a long time for a flashlight, and AAA batteries are cheap and ubiquitous. I'm more worried about durability in my pocket and prefer the light output of the E05. Thus I am carrying it preferentially right now. Given the low price of the E01, though, you could always buy more than one. Problem is, though, that if you really NEED that light, I'd hate to pull it out of the pocket and find that the bulb has been shredded and is inoperable. Yes there are higher end lights available (SureFire comes to mind), but the beauty of these is that I can get a AAA battery very easily.\\n\\nI've now got a flashlight and I'm not afraid to use it.\",\n \"Product: CREE XM-L U2 LED, with a lifetime of up to 50,000 hours; Output and Runtime of three constant output modes (uses one CR123A) 180 Lumens (1.5hrs) - 60 Lumens (10hrs) - 4 Lumens (70hrs) Turbo Mode: 230 Lumens (uses one 16340 battery, do not run the light continuously at turbo mode for more than 10 minutes) Two Hidden Modes: Strobe, SOSDigital Sensor Magnetic Control system, slightly twist the rotator ring to select from different modes Constant current circuit, constant output Effective range of 130 meters Uses one single CR123A (RCR123A/16340) battery Working voltage: 0.9-4.2VHigh quality OP reflector maintains great throw distance and spread with an ideal beam pattern. Dimensions: 75mm (length) x 23.2mm (head diameter)Weight: 45.5g (battery excluded)Aerospace-grade aluminum alloy Military Specification Type III- hard anodized body Waterproof, in accordance with IPX-8 standard Ultra-clear tempered glass lens resists scratches and impacts Tail stand capable- can be used as a candle Accessories: Clip, Holster, O-ring, lanyard.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Very bright, pretty, but flawed design.\\n\\nReview: I really wanted to like this light. It's small and powerful and pretty good looking. However, it has a fatal design flaw. The on/off switch is a ring just behind the flashlight head, not a button and certainly not a tailcap button.\\n\\nWhat this means is that while riding around in your pocket, either clipped or loose (I've tried both ways), it will inadvertently get turned on and use up the CR123A battery. My first day using this as my daily carry I arrived home from work 8 hours later with a dead battery and the switch in the on position.\\n\\nIt's a very smooth action in the switch, and it's easy to turn on with a brush of the thumb or index finger, but it's also immensely easy to turn it on just moving around in your pocket or as your hand passes by while reaching past it while clipped to your pocket. If only they had made a tailcap button option, or possibly even a real side button.\",\n \"Product: This is definitely the perfect pet to have around! Soft, cuddly and cute. He is sure to put a smile on your face. 7\\\" tall. German Shepherd with tan and black markings. Navy bandana with white VW logo\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Small and a little disappointing.\\n\\nReview: The theme behind this is that it's a German Shepherd Dog with a Volkswagen bandana around it's neck. Get it? German car company. German dog.\\n\\nProblem is, this thing is not very large. I was a bit disappointed when I found out it's only about 7\\\" or so tall, though the height was listed in the description all along. Still, though, it's pretty good quality for a piece of tchotchke. It's soft and rather floppy, but just barely rigid enough to get it to \\\"sit\\\" on its own legs. The bandana is sized just right and is not sewn onto the dog, so it moves freely.\\n\\nThe main reason I rated the product itself at only 3 stars was because of value. It's a bit overpriced to begin with and then once you add in shipping it becomes expensive. If this weren't from VW, a similar plush German Shepherd Dog would probably cost $5 and ship for free. You could likely get a much larger one for less money, too, and just find or make your own bandana with a VW patch.\"\n]","isConversational":false},"profile_size":{"kind":"number","value":26,"string":"26"},"task":{"kind":"string","value":"longlamp_3"},"split_kind":{"kind":"string","value":"user_based"},"id":{"kind":"number","value":975,"string":"975"}}},{"rowIdx":976,"cells":{"question_id":{"kind":"string","value":"A1NS6O584WD5FJ"},"question":{"kind":"string","value":"Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of \"5.0\" for a product with description \"Poetica planning pages have a nostalgic look with light green planner covers are and the pages are beige. Planner covers 13 months from January - January to deliver a full year of weekly / monthly planning. Weekly and monthly two page layouts for easy planning. One week per two page spread includes an equal amount of lined planning space for all 7 days, perfect for jotting down reminders, to-dos and appointments. Past, current and future month calendar block also included on weekly pages for reference. One month per two page spread features unruled daily blocks, notes space and reference calendars to help with managing upcoming events and deadlines. Monthly spreads are tabbed to allow you to quickly flip to any date in the planner. Contact pages are included so that important telephone numbers are always accessible. Printed on quality paper containing 30% post-consumer waste recycled material. Planner is wirebound with a green Poetica cover. 5.5 in. x 8.5 in. page size.\". The summary of the review text is \"Pleasant planner well-designed, lots of room for appointments, etc.\"."},"answer":{"kind":"string","value":"Quality construction in an attractive planner that has plenty of room for notes, appointments, reminders, todo's, etc. for the coming year, January 2016 through January 2017. The first page has a calendar for 2015, 2016, and 2017. There are plastic month tabs for each month (Jan. through Dec.), and each 3 months of gets its own colored pages. The colors are a pleasant pastel that doesn't get in the way of reading your writing. Also, each month is a section that includes 2 initial pages that cover the whole month, following by more pages, a 2-page spread for each week of that month--lots of room for detailed notes.\nThere's also several pages for notes at the back, including Important dates, names and addresses and a list of holidays for the next 3 years.\nAt the top of each spread is a little wise quote--a nice touch\nThe cover is made of durable plastic and has a nice cloth feel to it on the outside. The binding is a double wire binding with white wire. The color of the cover is a mild pastel green. It's size is about 6 3/8 x 8 7/8 x 1/2\" (at the wire binding).\nRecommended for anyone who wants to keep track of notes and events this way."},"correct_answer":{"kind":"string","value":"Quality construction in an attractive planner that has plenty of room for notes, appointments, reminders, todo's, etc. for the coming year, January 2016 through January 2017. The first page has a calendar for 2015, 2016, and 2017. There are plastic month tabs for each month (Jan. through Dec.), and each 3 months of gets its own colored pages. The colors are a pleasant pastel that doesn't get in the way of reading your writing. Also, each month is a section that includes 2 initial pages that cover the whole month, following by more pages, a 2-page spread for each week of that month--lots of room for detailed notes.\nThere's also several pages for notes at the back, including Important dates, names and addresses and a list of holidays for the next 3 years.\nAt the top of each spread is a little wise quote--a nice touch\nThe cover is made of durable plastic and has a nice cloth feel to it on the outside. The binding is a double wire binding with white wire. The color of the cover is a mild pastel green. It's size is about 6 3/8 x 8 7/8 x 1/2\" (at the wire binding).\nRecommended for anyone who wants to keep track of notes and events this way."},"documents":{"kind":"list like","value":["Product: Turn your iPad, iPhone or Mac in to a real musical instrumentLearn to Play Guitar with the Bundled JamTutor appReal Strings, Real Frets, Real Picking... No tuning requiredConnect wirelessly via WIFI, no cable necessaryMobile ready, Backpack friendly, 100% portable to Learn, Create and Play music anywhereFREE shipping in both Canada and the US and free local pickup available.Slightly used with very minimal wear. All accessories included. Guaranteed to work.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: this was an easy setup. It worked right off\n\nReview: One thing first off, this was an easy setup. It worked right off, after downloading the connection software. We set it up with an iPhone (5C). The plastic bridge fits on easily but is easy to knock off the guitar, not a big problem, of course, but a bit annoying. The sound through the iPhone is good. I'm sure it will be good too, if not even better via our iPad, (when we get that set up).\n\nI think the software which you download into your IOS device, like the connection software, I think will be helpful to first time learners (haven't checked it out in practice just yet--if I find any problems or need to add further information, I will edit this review).\n\nIt comes with a velvet like bag the fits over the guitar, a guitar pick and a strap so that you can hang it from your neck/shoulder. There is also a USB cable included, which I think most of the time you will not need.\n\nThe instructions are on a small folded sheet and pretty sparse. I recommended going to the website, which you need to do to download the software anyway, and check out the information there (it goes into your iPhone or iPad, etc. and not the guitar). Hopefully the manufacturer will expand soon on both the printed instructions included in the package and at the website, which will be helpful to beginners and those less knowledgeable in MIDI issues, and for full use of this guitar. A user's manual in printed booklet form or online would be a good thing.\n\nRecommended","Product: Get sonic power at an affordable price! Spinbrush Truly Radiant Sonic with advanced micro-cleaning is clinically proven to remove up to 95% of plaque in hard-to-reach places.* Dynamic fluid action cleans deep in between teeth to remove plaque and promote healthy gums. Delivers up to 16,000 micro-sweeps per minute.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: This brush does a good job cleaning teeth\n\nReview: This brush does a good job cleaning teeth. The vibration is quite strong, and the sound it makes is a bit loud. The brush head is large, and children will have trouble reaching to back teeth. Additional heads are available at Amazon, curentlhy at about $9 for 2, which seems fairly reasonable. The bristles are colored, so that you can determine a good time to repllace the head.\n\nThe top button is for continuous operation: press it and the brush keeeps going until you press the bottom button. You can also start with the bottom button which will turn on the brush and keep it on as long as you hold it down.\n\nAs far as I can tell, the bristles vibrate back and forth but do not spin at all (like the title suggests).\n\nThe battery compartment cap is difficult to get off. I was able to make it come off by not pulling it away from the brush bottom but instead prying it sideways from its wide side to pop it off.\n\nRecommended, if you don't mind a struggle when replacing batteries.","Product: PITT Artist Pens are acid free, archival, smudge-proof, waterproof and contain black India Ink. This Extra Superfine nib is .01mm and gives a precise line for all design, lettering and paper crafts.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Smooth writing, permanent, fine line\n\nReview: I enjoy using PITT artist pens. They are convenient and reliable. This pen is an extra fine point, around 0.3 or 0.4mm.\n\nI do a lot of small ink sketches that I like to color with watercolor. It's a challenge frequently to find a paper or sketchbook with paper that will take both ink and watercolor equally well. One I found and my favorite is Arches Text Wove (renamed a while back to Velin Arches), which is used also for text printing. This paper has a bit of tooth to it, which means that most fountain pens are tough going to draw and write with. Only a broad fountain pen tip doesn't drag noticeably. But for a small sketch a broad point produces an ink line that's too unattractively thick. However, this PITT pen works very well on this toothy paper, providing a smooth, free-flowing, reliable thin line. (It also works well on smoother paper too.) And I don't have to press down hard to get a line; a light tough does it. After a brief wait for it to dry, like a minute or less, I can float in the quite wet watercolors and the waterproof ink stays put, doesn't come up a bit.\n\nI wouldn't particularly recommend it for a lot of handwriting (to me, too thin), although I do take notes with it next to my sketches, and it's fine for that. But for extensive handwriting, I think an F or M would be better.\n\nBut I highly recommend this pen to anyone who wants a thin, waterproof ink line in drawing, whether for artwork or even mechanical drawing. It's a joy to use.","Product: Pentel Arts Aquash Fine Point Water Brush, Medium (FRHMBP)\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: My absolute favorite waterbrush\n\nReview: I tried waterbrushes a few years back and quit, concluding they were just too much trouble and mainly because I couldn't get much water out of the barrel and onto the tip.\n\nBut recently I read a review about the main brands, and this one came out one of the best. So I decided to give it another try, and I'm glad I did.\nI use this one for sketching outdoors. Wouldn't be without it.\n\nIt has an nicely flowing watersupply, which I like. I work with this by blotting on a paper towel when I want less water on the tip. To me, more water available when painting is better than less.\n\nI bought the large and the small. But the large alone would be enough because the tip is synthetic and the best synthetic brush tip I have found on any brush. You can get very thin lines to quite wide lines easily. You do not have to reform the tip each time either for the next stroke.\n\nI use the small, though, with small ink-wash studies, using water-soluble ink in an ink pen (also, a black Flair has wonderful ink for this). I draw with the ink pen, then wash over the lines with the waterbrush to create monochrome watercolor-like wash effects. Gives a neat and very quick little study that simulates how a watercolor of the scene would look.\n\nFor traveling light and compact, a waterbrush is ideal. This brush works well with small watercolor boxes and half-pans. My favorite sketchbook is Aquabee's Super Deluxe. Wonderful paper for pen and ink, watercolor (not too heavily wet), pencil, colored pencil, pastels. When I plan to color my sketches with watercolor, I use Noodler's bulletproof black or Lexington Gray waterproof ink.\n\nHighly recommended.","Product: DRP-RZ0401400500R3U\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: This headset is beautifully styled and delivers clear\n\nReview: This headset is beautifully styled and delivers clear, powerful sound, including music. The earphones tilt back and forth within their headpiece mount, adding to their flexibility and comfort. The pads that fit between your ear and the headphone are soft and quite comfortable. We tried them and they work very well with an iPhone (and hence should work well with any iOS device, which they are made for). They also work well with our laptop. However, we got an echo effect when listening to them plugged into the headphone jack of a regular PC (one with two sound jacks, one for the headphones and another for a mike).\nRecommended for use with iPhones and iPADs and other iOS devices and PCs with a single headphone/microphone line.","Product: Designed especially for professional photographers and passionate hobbyists, the ColorMunki Photo is an all-in-one spectrophotometer that allows you to adjust and match colors between devices. The ColorMunki is the only device you need to calibrate your computer monitors, projectors, and printers so that the color you see on screen is precisely the same as the color you'll get in print. With ColorMunki, you'll finally be able to stop wasting ink, paper, and valuable time with trial-and-error color correction, and enjoy the benefits of precise color from the beginning. As a photographer, you know perfect color is essential. But with today's complex digital imaging workflows, getting colors to match between devices can be a challenge. ColorMunki simplifies this challenge with its easy-to-use interface and self-guided system, streamlining the process while still delivering optimal results. In just minutes, you'll be able to synchronize your monitor's colors with the colors of your printer or projector. To calibrate your monitor, all you have to do is point the ColorMunki' s sensor at the screen and allow it to measure the colors your screen displays. The device will then compare the measured colors with \"ideal\" colors, and create a color profile accordingly. Printer profiling is easy, too. By using RGB and CMYK printer profiling technology, the ColorMunki is able to deliver a high-quality profile in seconds. Simply scan a printed test chart with the device, and ColorMunki will detect your printer's coloration tendencies and dynamically correct them. You can even use ColorMunki to optimize your color profile based on images for black-and-white, sepia tones, flesh tones, and more. ColorMunki also features AppSet software, which allows it to interact with a variety of different design applications. Once you've finished creating a color profile, AppSet will automatically synchronize it.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: I got it to work, but it didn't improve my two monitors' color.\n\nReview: I used this device and software on 3 monitors. On the first monitor (my son-in-law's) he couldn't get it to work aftyer trying for about an hour. His wife checked the reviews and learned that the room might have had too much light (normal daylight coming in a window). It did work on the next two monitors, mine, but in each case I didn't like the results. Both of my monitors' color seemed slightly less bright and cooler. So I switched back to my pre-calibration settings--on both. Fortinately the program gave me that option, and it was no trouble switching back, just a click did it.\n\nI can't say that if I did this on more monitors that the results would be the same--that is, no real improvement or results not as good as my monitors before I used this system.\n\nIt'.s a great idea, but I think this product needs work.\n\nI can't in all honesty recommend this product.","Product: Designed especially for professional photographers and passionate hobbyists, the ColorMunki Photo is an all-in-one spectrophotometer that allows you to adjust and match colors between devices. The ColorMunki is the only device you need to calibrate your computer monitors, projectors, and printers so that the color you see on screen is precisely the same as the color you'll get in print. With ColorMunki, you'll finally be able to stop wasting ink, paper, and valuable time with trial-and-error color correction, and enjoy the benefits of precise color from the beginning. As a photographer, you know perfect color is essential. But with today's complex digital imaging workflows, getting colors to match between devices can be a challenge. ColorMunki simplifies this challenge with its easy-to-use interface and self-guided system, streamlining the process while still delivering optimal results. In just minutes, you'll be able to synchronize your monitor's colors with the colors of your printer or projector. To calibrate your monitor, all you have to do is point the ColorMunki' s sensor at the screen and allow it to measure the colors your screen displays. The device will then compare the measured colors with \"ideal\" colors, and create a color profile accordingly. Printer profiling is easy, too. By using RGB and CMYK printer profiling technology, the ColorMunki is able to deliver a high-quality profile in seconds. Simply scan a printed test chart with the device, and ColorMunki will detect your printer's coloration tendencies and dynamically correct them. You can even use ColorMunki to optimize your color profile based on images for black-and-white, sepia tones, flesh tones, and more. ColorMunki also features AppSet software, which allows it to interact with a variety of different design applications. Once you've finished creating a color profile, AppSet will automatically synchronize it.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: I got it to work, but it didn't improve my two monitors' color.\n\nReview: I used this device and software on 3 monitors. On the first monitor (my son-in-law's) he couldn't get it to work aftyer trying for about an hour. His wife checked the reviews and learned that the room might have had too much light (normal daylight coming in a window). It did work on the next two monitors, mine, but in each case I didn't like the results. Both of my monitors' color seemed slightly less bright and cooler. So I switched back to my pre-calibration settings--on both. Fortinately the program gave me that option, and it was no trouble switching back, just a click did it.\n\nI can't say that if I did this on more monitors that the results would be the same--that is, no real improvement or results not as good as my monitors before I used this system.\n\nIt'.s a great idea, but I think this product needs work.\n\nI can't in all honesty recommend this product.","Product: Quicken Will Maker Plus is the easiest way to create your estate plan, whether you're just getting started or you want to update your previous arrangements. This powerful software guides you through the process from beginning to end, giving you the practical and legal information you need to make the best decisions for you and your family. The benefits of using Quicken Will Maker Plus include: A customized estate plan, including a will, health care directive and other essential documents An easy-to-use interview format that lets you complete documents at your own pace A user-friendly legal manual answers common questions A team of lawyer-editors working to ensure each document reflects the laws of your state Note: Estate planning documents are not valid in Canada, Louisiana or U.S. Territories Quicken Will Maker Plus is the original will-writing software, created and updated regularly by Nolo's experts. Free legal updates will keep your program current through 2016. Technical support is also available. Plus, get a free living trust and five other valuable online documents! Registering your copy of Quicken Will Maker Plus 2016 gives you a free one-year subscription to Nolo's Online Living Trust. In addition, you also get free one-year subscriptions to five other valuable online forms: Nolo's Promissory Note, Limited Power of Attorney for Finances, Temporary Guardianship Authorization for Minor, Authorization for Minor's Medical Treatment, and Authorization for Foreign Travel. New for 2016: You can now use the Quicken Will Maker Plus to give your executor and attorney-in-fact authority over your digital assets.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Easy to install and use, extensive help for wills and other documents\n\nReview: Quicken WillMaker Plus 2016 installed easily on my Windows 10 computer.\n\nThe software walks you through each document you wish to create step by step. It explains each step in depth with online access for additional information in cl.uding a Legal Answer Book for Families. This software is a very good value compared to the costs of hiring an attorney to draw up legal documents. It also comes in handy when you need to make changes to your documents you don't have to pay a fee for corrections or updates.\n\nIncluded in the WillMaker Plus are Estate Planning documents (Legal Will, Health Care Directive, Power of Attorney, Revocation Documents, Property Worksheet, Information for Caregivers & Survivors, Final Arrangements, and Letter to Survivor), Executor documents Executor's Checklist, General Notice of Death and Affidavit of Domicile), Personal Finance documents (General Bill of Sale, Security Agreement for Borrowing Money, Promissory Notes, and Limited Power of Attorney for Finances) and Home & Family documents (Temporary Guardianship Authorization, Authorization for Foreign Travel with Minor, Pet Care Agreement, Child Care and Elder Care Agreements, and Authorization for Minor's Medical Treatment). The list of forms and documents included is pretty extensive and can handle the most commonly needed legal documents.\n\nRecommended.","Product: 31334HB Features: -Includes bake pan and broil rack with 2 rack positions. -Easy Reach collection. -Removable roll-top door for easy cleanup. -Capacity: 4 Slice. Product Type: -Toaster oven. Finish: -Gray. Number of Slices: -4. Dimensions: Overall Height - Top to Bottom: -8.97 Inches. Overall Width - Side to Side: -16.12 Inches. Overall Depth - Front to Back: -11.93 Inches.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Best toaster oven we've owned\n\nReview: The first thing I noticed is that the heating is plenty potent. In fact, I advise taking care to keep tabs frequently on how the heating is going, the first few times, since the oven cooks quickly.\n\nSome serious thought went into the design of this oven. The trays can be removed easily for cleaning or re-positioning. Also they can slide out partially, making it easy to take out items that are done. The round shape of the door helps too, providing more internal room, and it stays open and out of the way when you need it open.\n\nIt worked great right out of the box. Packaging was excellent, and the oven arrived safely with no damage.\n\nHighly recommended.","Product: TEKwriterUSA 100 count high quality Gelwriter pens are packaged in a pop up rotating carrying case to keep your pens organized and easily accessible and are perfect for scrapbooking, journaling, drawing, or anything else you can create with tip sizes ranging from 0.7mm to 1.0mm and the check safe ink is fade and water resistant. All pens feature a durable pocket clip along with a latex free comfort grip for precision pen control. High quality gel pens at a great value.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Lovely colors, good value.\n\nReview: There are great gel pens.\n\nThe pens write smoothly, like most gel pens, and they are water- and fade-resistant and contain acid-free archival ink. Such qualities are important to those of us who like to do artwork, journaling, sketching with them. They are non-toxic, a good feature since kids will like to use these pens too. Also, they're safe to use on checks (but realize that some colors may not read well when checks are deposited via ATM machines). Best to use dark inks for that.\n\nIn this set you get 8 basic pens (0.7 mm), 16 pastel pens (0.8 mm), 12 neon pens (0.8 mm), 34 metallic pens (0.8 mm), and 30 glitter pens (1.0 mm)--a versatile set for people who journal and who like to decorate their pages. Or for those who just like to write or take notes with several colors.\n\nI tested out several of the pens for water resistance and found that it is important to let some of them dry a bit longer than others. In other words, the drying time is quick, but it varies a bit with the different colors. So, arts and crafts people, if you plan on applying any water or moisture over the ink, it's best to wait a few extra seconds to assure that the ink is good and dry.\n\nThe revolving tray is a nice touch. You can easily turn it to select the color you want. Another nice feature is the comfortable grip on each pen.\n\nOverall all an excellent value.\nHighly recommended for those who like gel pens.","Product: The OXO good grips chopped salad scissors are the perfect companion for chopping and tossing homemade salads. The sharp, micro-serrated, stainless steel blades easily chop salad ingredients, and the rounded blades mean you can chop right in the bowl without scratching your bowl. The wide, curved blades of the chopped salad scissors provide a wide surface when closed, optimized for tossing ingredients once you chop them. The spring-loaded handle features a soft, non-slip grip for comfortable, continuous use, whether you're making a light snack or a big salad to serve. The locking tab snaps into the handle and out of the way while the chopped salad scissors are in use, and keeps the blades closed for safe storage.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Their blades are thick and sturdy and sharp\n\nReview: These salad scissors work well for chopping up lettuce and vegetables (larger or thicker vegetables you might have to cut down to a manageablesize first). Their blades are thick and sturdy and sharp. The handle has only a loop for your fingers, no loop for your thumb, which takes a little getting used to, but is not really a problem.\nThey wash up quickly, and should be washed by hand and dried afterward (not dishwasher safe).\nThere is a safety latch at the end of the handles you can use to keep the blades closed when storing, a good idea.\nAlso the blades are curved at the end, which means the will fit and cut at the bottom of a salad bowl.\nReasonable price.\nRecommended.","Product: This party-friendly Crock-Pot Metallic Cooker with Hinged Lid allows you to conveniently serve your dish straight from your slow cooker without worrying about where to put the lid. The durable hinged lid of this 6-quart slow cooker opens easily and stays in place while guests help themselves. When the party is over, the dishwasher-safe lid detaches for easy cleaning. With High, Low, and and Warm heat settings, this manual slow cooker keeps every dish at the perfect serving temperature. Enjoy an easier way to serve slow-cooked foods to your family and friends!\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Good basic Crockpot with a detachable hinged lid\n\nReview: This is a good basic Crockpot with a detachable, hinged lid. The hinge is plastic and 3 thick fingers on it slip into the back of the heating unit (the lid dis easy to remove for cleaning, just pull it up and is dishwasher safe). The hinged lid is handy in that you don't have to look around for a place to set it and is that helps keep your counter clean. 4 instead of 5 stars due to the limited heat settings: Low, High, and Warm. For example another Crockpot (same brand, without the hinged lid) we have has these settings from left to right: 4 hour, High, 6 hour, 8 hour, Low, Warm--obviously that's twice heating options. Otherwise, this Crockpot seems to be made well and should be durable. It comes with a 1 year warranty. But if you're looking for a basic low cooker, this should serve you well.","Product: A fresh spin on citrus! The Juice man Citrus Juicer features spinning cones that extract maximum juice and flavor from lemons, oranges, and all your favorite citrus. Create delicious homemade orange juice and lemonade in no time, or add a splash of fresh juice into smoothies, mixed drinks, and more. The 40-watt motor powers large and small juicing cones, and the auto-reverse function guarantees you get every last drop. Plus, all removable parts are dishwasher-safe for simple cleanup, and a storage lid keeps the juicer dust-free and ready to go whenever you need it.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: A versatile machine but the juicer is weak.\n\nReview: This is basically a good machine, versatile too.\n\nAs far as it juicing capacity goes, it's a weaker version of the prior Juiceman juicer. The problem is that the motor spins the juicing blade so fast that it shoots (expels) the pulp so forcefully that too much juice is left in the pulp (and therefore wasted). Even if we put the wet pulp back in the cutter area to try to extract more juice, it just spins it out without extracting the juice. So for a juicer, we prefer the older version of the Juiceman which produced more juice and nearly dry pulp..\n\nOn the other hand, all the other attachments work well. It's easy to clean. Also, the suction cups work well to hold the unit in place on our counter while it operates.","Product: Start your day off right with the Juiceman Express Whole Juicer. Compact and powerful, this new addition to the Juiceman lineup crushes fruit and veggies into delicious nutrient-packed juices! Combine those juices with your favorite yogurts, protein powders, and other nutritious add-ins (you cant go wrong with nut butter!), and youre left with a smooth, creamy blend with a healthy blast of vitamins! Juicing begins as soon as you twist the juicing cup into place on the motor base, giving you control over the consistency of your beverage. Once complete, the travel lid twists onto the BPA-free cup and youre ready to enjoy a delicious and nourishing treat! All removable parts are dishwasher-safe, making cleanup easy breezy.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: A versatile machine but the juicer is weak.\n\nReview: This is basically a good machine, versatile too.\n\nAs far as it juicing capacity goes, it's a weaker version of the prior Juiceman juicer. The problem is that the motor spins the juicing blade so fast that it shoots (expels) the pulp so forcefully that too much juice is left in the pulp (and therefore wasted). Even if we put the wet pulp back in the cutter area to try to extract more juice, it just spins it out without extracting the juice. So for a juicer, we prefer the older version of the Juiceman which produced more juice and nearly dry pulp..\n\nOn the other hand, all the other attachments work well. It's easy to clean. Also, the suction cups work well to hold the unit in place on our counter while it operates.","Product: This iLIVING 24\" BLDC mobile fan is designed to move a large amount of air for offices, factories, warehouses, loading docks and auto shops. Its brushless DC electric motor has a fan speed that ranges from 10 CFM to 5800 CFM, allowing the user to have a wider range of choice, yet still cost efficient, using only 210W at maximum speed. This fan has a 3-blade aluminum propeller with a built-in 360 Degree tilt feature; and the fan housing is constructed of heavy-duty steel with powder-coated wire guards in compliance with the United States OSHA Standard 1910.212, 1/2\" opening requirements. BLDC Motor Speeds Continuous variable, Voltage 115, Hz60, 210W Watts, Phase1, Low 10CFM and High 5800CFM, Air Velocity (FPM) at 20 Ft. 390/340, Motor HP1/2, Motor RPM200-1150, Operating Amps3.1, Fan RPM200-1150, Industrial Applications, Partially Assembled, Sound Level5-68dB, Max. Ambient Temp 104 Degrees F, Totally Enclosed Air-Over Motor Enclosure, Class B Motor Insulation, Auto Thermal Protection, Bearing Type Ball, 28\"H x 34 1/4\"W x 19 3/4\"D, 9 ft. cord, NEMA plug 5-15P, 3 Aluminum Blade, Steel Housing, 7\" Plastic and Rubber Casters, Steel Guard, Spot cooling and people cooling, Standards UL/CSA/OSHA.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Well-built, useful heavy-duty fan\n\nReview: I am quite happy with this fan. Assembly was quick and easy and consisted of merely installing the wheels. What I noticed right away was the quality materials and solid construction. It is built to last. The wheels make it easy to move, and the fan can be tilted a full 360 degrees, so you can move it and aim its air flow pretty-much wherever you want it. The speed control is continuous (no stops) and can be adjusted from a very slow speed, almost stopped, to quite high. There is a wind sound at the highest speed but not annoyingly loud.\nThis fan should work well in most small to medium sized shops or garages. I will be using it at home--where we have hot Summers, coming up in a couple months.\nRecommended.","Product: Enjoy hour after hour of wireless music or calls with Philips wireless headphones. Featuring NFC, Bluetooth connectivity, superior 40mm neodymium drivers and soft, over-ear cushions, this is freedom of movement and comfort at its finest.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Good sound, they work well, a few hassles getting them to work with a Windows PC\n\nReview: These headphones work well. I like the quality of the sound, even for music (but I'm not picky nor insist on professional level sound). The builtin mike will pick up surrounding sounds and NOTE: the mike does not pick up your voice well if you speak quietly (probably due to it's placement on the rim of the earphone).\nThey fit well. They are light and well cushioned. There is a convenient volume control on the headset.\n\nI am using these earphones only with computers, not with phones (from other reviews I gather that they connect up and get functional easily with iPhones, for example).\n\nBut note this: If your plan on using these with your computer, and you computer specs do NOT say Bluetooth enabled, you will likely have to purchase separately a USB adapter and software. The good news is that most such adapters and accompanying software are not expensive. I bought the Kinivo BTD-400, and once we got these devices working together, the headphones work fine.\n\nAlso be advised, though, if you are not familiar with getting Bluetooh devices up and running, OR if you are not tech savvy, have a PC with Windows and don't have experience getting a new device working, you will probably need help. The Kinivo instructions supplied contact information and invited clients to contact them for help. However my son-in-law is more tech savvy than me, and was able to get them working.\n\nWe tried these with 4 computers. The newer laptop (which is about 6 months old and advertised right on its box that it is Bluetooth enabled) connected with the headphones easily. The other computers required the USB adapter and software and some trial and errorto get them working.\n\nI like it that I can use them with a cord when I want (the cord is rather short). For example, if I want to use them with my digital recorder and don't want to go through set up issues, I can just temporarily connect the cord and they work fine that way.\n\nRecommended.","Product: There are a lot of good headphones out there but few have the credentials for sound quality that AKG enjoys - with over 65 years of Grammy-recognized achievement and the respect of musicians everywhere. Hearing them is only part of the magic of AKG - as the AKG Y50s represent a new breed of exceptional on-ear headphone for people demanding more: more quality, more convenience, more flexibility. Their inspirational performance is matched by a bold styling and a lightweight, comfortable fit that redefines the category. Slip them on. Feel yourself escape into the luxury of rich sound with enhanced bass. Of hands-free controls placed just right for an ease of operation whether you're plugged into your smartphone or other device of your choice. Their closed-back design eliminates any other sounds but the ones you want to be hearing, providing a snug, comfortable fit that won't wear you down like many headphones. Choose a look and color to complement your personal touch - while you become a catalyst for quality and taste.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: These headphones provide great sound that has a definite live\n\nReview: These headphones provide great sound that has a definite live, stereo feel to it. They are light and comfortable to wear, with soft foam ear pads that are not too tight against your ear. They are also nicely foldable for taking along in the provided bag. With the exception of the cable, which is thin and may not last, these headphones seem to be made with quality materials, including the gold plated cable connections.\n\nNow concerning the cable, I found its in-line button a bit tricky to operate. The area on this button you need to click to activate it is hard to find by feel. And clicking it seems to do different things depending on which device it is connected to. There were no instrucions provided, so I had to figure this out by experimentation.\n\nAlso, this cable is short, a little over a meter in length. So if you plan to use these headphone with a computer, how comfortably you can do that depends on how close your computer is to you. On the other hand, these head phones work well with portable devices like iPods, iPhones, iPads etc.\n\nRecommended.","Product: An Amazon Brand.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Easy assembly. Works great.\n\nReview: We mounted this on the wall behind my desk. I have two monitors, and now my monitor on the right swings outward to the right as well as turning to the right (revolving) so that I can use it for photos I want to refer to while painting (my painting table and easel are to the right of my computer desk).\nPackaging was fine, so it arrived without any damage, and the package was fairly easy to open.\nThe only difficulty in mounting was finding the studs in the wall to screw the large screws into. The monitor plate has holes that fit perfectly to the back of the monitor. So once the wall mount was attached to the wall and the plate to the monitor, it was just a matter of a few seconds to assemble the arm--super easy--and it functioned perfectly. I can rotate the monitor (landscape to portrait position), easily swing it left or right, up, and push it back to close to flush with the wall.\nNote: I would consider carefully whether you want to mount its base on a wall (that is with the base positioned vertically) or flat on a surface like a desk and make sure you purchase the correct version. The Arms and the hardware of the two versions differ.\nRecommended","Product: Now that entire music libraries have come off the living room shelves and travel with us in purses and pockets, our personal entertainment has become a part of our everyday lives like never before. And we all know that the weak link in the chain is the audio cables. After only a few months of use they can make any genre sound like a commercial for Rice Krispies, \"Snap, Crackle, Pop!\" Sending you to the store for a new one. Not the case with Zeskit! Manufactured to the highest standards of quality, durability and design, your Zeskit audio cable will be with you through generations of iPods, tablets and mp3 players! Zeskit cables have a sturdy, easy to grasp aluminum housing at each end that adds style and protects the union between the cable and connectors. A braided, woven nylon sheath wraps the length of the cable making it stronger and more durable yet flexible and tangle free. Even at the extended length of 12 feet, Zeskits unwind easily, every time! A 24K gold-plated male connector delivers pure sound, will not corrode and boasts the \"step\" feature, one of the most graceful points of the Zeskit design. This enables you to plug-in to your device while it remains in its protective case. Cables without \"step\" either wear out quickly or require you to take your case off, and that's when scratches start to pile up and drops become deadly. With Zeskit you keep your case on, always! Your Zeskit female to male audio cable will mate perfectly with premium headphones or add needed length to an existing cable set-up. No matter your need, Zeskit audio cables maintain the high quality of your sound all the way to your ears. Protect your device while enjoying the best sound, a smooth design and the perfect length. Buy Zeskit and rest easy!\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Seems durable, works well, a little stiff.\n\nReview: I have the male to female type.\nI have had it and have been suing it daily for the past month, so I cannot verify the cable's long-range durability. But it has worked for me every time with no problems whatsoever.\nIt seems durable and well-made.\nI gave 4 stars instead of 5, not because of any defect, but because I prefer a flexible cable (not the coiled ones that constantly tangle themselves up)--and this cable is a bit stiff, making it a bit unwieldy as well. For example, when I bend it, it tends to retain the bent shape. On the other hand, I keep it coiled up when I don't need all 12 feet of its length, and it fights me on that--it wants to spring out of any coil I try to force it into (I use a piece of velcro ribbon to hold it in the coil).\nOtherwise, good service. Good packaging. The cable came as predicted and on time.\nRecommended for anyone who doesn't mind a cable with stiffness to it.","Product: A fresh design with signature Dura Base protection make it easy to bring your camera and accessories on any location.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Well-made and well-designed medium sized camera bag\n\nReview: This is a well-made and nice-looking camera bag. It is a compromise between storage capacity and size. You can have a lot of storage in a bag, but it can easily become a bulky bag awkward to tote around with you. So the result here is a medium-sized bag that is fairly sleek but not with a lot of storage--but probably enough for photographers willing to pack carefully.\nThere are two noteworthy features: (1) The add says, \"Water-resistant Dura Base offers protection and stability from the ground up.\" It does offer stability and probably is waterproof (though I haven't tested it yet). (2 The ad also says, \"Innovative hammock system suspends camera body for superior impact protection\"--this means that your camera sits in this hammock with the lens facing down toward the padded bottom of the case. The distance from where the camera body's front sits in the hammock to the bottom of the case is about 4\". The width of the hammock opening where your camera lens slides through is also about 4\" (maximum). Both the hammock and the padding are attached with Velcro can can be removed or their position adjusted some (See the second photo below that shows the inside of the main compartment with the hammock on the left and the padding on the right. The top of the photo also shows an inside accessories pocket.\nThe first photo below shows one of the two side pockets and the rear pocket both open.\nI have had good luck with Case Logic products, and I expect this one to work well and be durable.\nSo if you are looking for a medium-sized camera bag that will hold and protect a small to medium DSLR camera and some accessories, I would check out this case.","Product: The ZAGG Limitless Keyboard makes the hassle of pairing and re-pairing each time you change devices a distant memory. Able to pair with three devices at the same time, the Zagg Limitless Keyboard uses simple keystrokes to change devices so you can keep up with email, notes, and more on all your devices - including your desktop - with ease.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Nice little keyboard for use with portable devices\n\nReview: Nice little keyboard for use with portable devices. We tried it out with an iPad, and iPhone and and Acer Iconia 8 tablet (Android OS). We were able to get it working in 3 steps with each device. Simple and easy. You do need to make sure the keyboard is charged up and turned on, and it does take a few seconds for your device's Bluetooth to recognize the keyboard, but nevertheless it is the simplest setup I've seen--takes a couple minutes.\n\nIn order for your tablet or phone to fit in and be propped up in the top slot on the keyboard, you may have to remove any case you're covering you phone or tablet with.\n\nIt is light and small (but comfortable to type on). It measures about 12\" wide 8 \" front to back, and 1/2\" thick at the back. You can set it up to recognize 3 different devices.\n\nHighly recommended.\n\nIf you want to be able to type on a \"regular\" keyboard when using a tablet of phone, I think this is a good way to go.","Product: With so many 10-inch tablets available in the market, finding a keyboard case that's versatile enough to fit all the slight dimension changes is more important than ever. That's why we developed the Key Folio Fit for Android tablets like Samsung Galaxy Tab 3, Tab 4, Tab S, Tab Pro, Galaxy Note, and Google Nexus 7, among others . A silicone 4-corner base uses 'stay-straps' to securely keep your Android Tablet in place. But the most exciting feature has to be Tap Launch(TM), which lets you easily customize three shortcut keys so you can quickly start your favorite Android apps straight from your keyboard. And speaking of the Bluetooth keyboard, it's integrated right into the case and syncs quickly to your Android tablet. With 6 rows of high-performance scissor keys, you can type with optimal productivity. Soft interior lining keeps your Android tablet protected from scratches and damage, and a magnetic flap keeps the case securely closed when you're on the go.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: which fortunately proved to be the correct instructions\n\nReview: I got this keyboard working but it was a bit of a struggle.\n\nFirst off, I went to the website, as instructed, to get setup information. I searched for this model and couldn't find it, so I chose a pdf that was close to it (in model number), which fortunately proved to be the correct instructions.\n\nThe unstructions were sparse for sure. (By the way, they do include decoding info for that row of keys along the top of the keyboard--the icons).\n\nI tried to pair this with my tablet with no luck, so I decided to see if the keyboard needed charging. It did. Now the cable supplied doesn't include an adapter to use to plug into a wall socket, so I used my tablet's AC adapter, which worked. After charging, I was able to get the keyboard paired with my tablet.\n\nNote: My tablet is an 8\" so it doesn't fit securely in this case. Nevertheless, while the case closes securely with its magnetic fastener, as a stand to prop up a tablet, it doesn't seem to me to be all that secure. That is, it stands too upright and tends to tip over backward too easily. (It probably works better with a 10\" tablet.)\n\nSo, it works well when you get it working.\n\n3 stars because of (1) the lack of an AC adapter; (2) very limited instructions; (3) having to go to a website for startup instructions (and not finding instructions for this model there!)","Product: From the bravo collection of soft, unstructured and more casual business and travel designs comes this slim and well-organized commuter brief. It offers a dedicated laptop compartment and another compartment for accessories and files. Features an iPad pocket and numerous interior and exterior pockets. Top carry handles and a removable, adjustable shoulder strap. Made from soft-yet-tough ballistic nylon.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: like the name tag you can register with the manufacturer ...\n\nReview: My first impression w hen I took this bag out of its box was quality: the ballistic nylon its made of, the large gauge zippers (the thickes I've seen), and the many pockets. This case is made to last.\n\nGoing from front to back...\nThere are 3 pockets on the front: (1) a long one, about 14\" wide by 7\" tall and about 2\" deep with expandable sides--and inside 2 business card pockets, 2 pen pockets and 2 larger pockets about 6.5\" wide. and 5\" high. (2, 3) The 2 remaining pockets are 7\" wide and 6.5\" wide, both 5\" tall. The one on the left has inside it a strap with a small carabiner that can hold keys, for example.\n\nThe main compartment is 11 x 14\" x 2\" deep. The zipper runs down both sides in case you want to expand the interior some. There's a large thin pocket inside that would hold an iPad. There are 3 other on the opposite side: a long zippered one about 6.5 x 13\", and 2 others about 7\" wide by 6.5\" high.\n\nAnother zippered compartment is located between the main compartment and the back of the case. It's about 11 x 14 x 1\".\n\nAnd now on the back, one more zippered pocket, about 6 x 11\".\n\nAbsolute quality construction and materials throughout, from the reinforced stitching of the handles to the beefy snaps that hold the should strap, with plenty of thoughtful little extras, like the name tag you can register with the manufacturer (so someone finding your case can contact the company to reach you).\n\nThe price tag is high.\n\nRecommended.","Product: From the bravo collection of soft, unstructured and more casual business and travel designs comes this slim and well-organized commuter brief. It offers a dedicated laptop compartment and another compartment for accessories and files. Features an iPad pocket and numerous interior and exterior pockets. Top carry handles and a removable, adjustable shoulder strap. Made from soft-yet-tough ballistic nylon.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: like the name tag you can register with the manufacturer ...\n\nReview: My first impression w hen I took this bag out of its box was quality: the ballistic nylon its made of, the large gauge zippers (the thickes I've seen), and the many pockets. This case is made to last.\n\nGoing from front to back...\nThere are 3 pockets on the front: (1) a long one, about 14\" wide by 7\" tall and about 2\" deep with expandable sides--and inside 2 business card pockets, 2 pen pockets and 2 larger pockets about 6.5\" wide. and 5\" high. (2, 3) The 2 remaining pockets are 7\" wide and 6.5\" wide, both 5\" tall. The one on the left has inside it a strap with a small carabiner that can hold keys, for example.\n\nThe main compartment is 11 x 14\" x 2\" deep. The zipper runs down both sides in case you want to expand the interior some. There's a large thin pocket inside that would hold an iPad. There are 3 other on the opposite side: a long zippered one about 6.5 x 13\", and 2 others about 7\" wide by 6.5\" high.\n\nAnother zippered compartment is located between the main compartment and the back of the case. It's about 11 x 14 x 1\".\n\nAnd now on the back, one more zippered pocket, about 6 x 11\".\n\nAbsolute quality construction and materials throughout, from the reinforced stitching of the handles to the beefy snaps that hold the should strap, with plenty of thoughtful little extras, like the name tag you can register with the manufacturer (so someone finding your case can contact the company to reach you).\n\nThe price tag is high.\n\nRecommended.","Product: The Pro X Tee Triple is a multi-position instructional tee that provides unmatched durability for professional use. This tee improves bat path, swing mechanics and body positioning. The self-guided illustrated instructions on the tee allow players to work the entire hitting zone through a multitude of drills.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Sturdy, easily adjustable, and portable.\n\nReview: This tee looks to me to be very well made. It is made mainly of steel and seems very sturdy. I gather that the folding base is made to fit over home plate (or at least most home plates).\n\nIt can be folded easily and taken apart slightly (the cone-rods slide out) and will fit into the supplied storage bag for easy transport. It is a bit on the heavy side, but on the positive side, that makes for more stability.\n\nThere are 2 ways to adjust the height of the cones that hold the baseball.. You can adjust the top horizontal bar's height and also you can slide the white cone-rods in their holes in the bar up and down. They fit snugly but are not difficult to slide. This means this tee will work. height-wise and otherwise,for small children as well as tall adults. Very flexible.\n\nIt was easy and quick to put together. Took just a few minutes.\n\nThe baseball (or softball) sits atop \"neoprene and nylon dual-wrapped tee tops\" that look to me like they will last a long time. Very flexible. And nothing to break if you miss a bit when trying to hit the baseball.\n\nThis is not a cheap sports practice item, so I recommend it for those who are seriously into baseball or softball.\n\nRecommended.","Product: Relax and hydrate with this vessel of tranquility. The NEW Tranquil water bottle provides calming, Zen-like moments to your busy, hectic day.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: I use it daily\n\nReview: I live in a two story home, so I like to keep my drinking water at my desk. This bottle is handy in a number of ways. There are two unscrewable parts to the top. One for drinking or pouring and a second wider one, which makes it easy to add ice cubes or pour in powdered drink solutions, for example. It like too the little loop carrying handle that's part of the cap. Often I'm carrying a number of things upstairs, and this makes it easy to include the bottle. Also, when hiking, I can clip it onto a backpack or belt clip, rather than having it take up room in my daypack.\n\nThe insulated cover does keep my water cooler longer. And is a bit easier on the hand to hold a really cold drink.\n\nIt is also well made, good thick plastic, and doesn't have give my water a plastic taste at all. It's not cheap, but I think the quality is worth the price.\n\nThe only improvement I would suggest, and it's not a fault necessarily, so as to deduct a star in the rating above, but I would prefer a top that's easier to open to take a drink. Having to unscrew the lid each time is a bit tedious. But I will buy another if this one ever wears out.\n\nHighly recommended.","Product: AMERICAN EMPIRE is an indictment on the country that has supposedly nurtured us, but is slowly destroying us. Beginning with the founding of the Federal Reserve our economy is controlled by a system of debt and inflation. It has become an economic empire that is destroying our planet and all its natural resources driven by a relentless need to amass money and power.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: If you're concerned about the future of the USA, not to be missed\n\nReview: An eye-opening and informative and rather shocking documentary on US imperialism. Our politicians do not talk plainly about all these aspects. No doubt they don't want you and me to know. The video covers a lot of ground, contains interviews with key experts in the various fields. As to the content, this blurb at the Amazon page says it quite well: \"An expansive and provocative documentary covering the Federal Reserve, U.S. foreign policy, corporate collusion and destructive agriculture, weaving together interviews with top thinkers to deliver an urgent yet hopeful message.\"\n\nI found it disturbing but I'm glad I watched it. I think it contains vital info every US citizen should be actively aware of. I like the way the video traces the cause and effect relationships of all the corporate meddling in other countries and the effect on our food and water. Believe me, it made me want to shop locally for our food and grow our own as much as is practical.\n\nHighly recommended.","Product: In Disney's riveting mystery adventure TOMORROWLAND, a jaded inventor and an optimistic teen embark on a danger-filled mission to unearth the secrets of an enigmatic place somewhere in time and space.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Not perfect but thoroughly entertaining and meaningful\n\nReview: I love this movie. There's a lot of cynicism and pessimism concerning the future going around these days, and a lot of people seem to enjoy, even find entertaining, zombies and dystopias left and right. Instead, here is a movie with lots of optimism that says it's okay to be a dreamer and to not give up. Sure, the movie is not perfect; there are a number of things that could have been done differently and better. But I don't choose movies because I think they will be classics or are stunning examples of cinema technique. I don't even choose movies to see because reviewers rate them highly. Reviewers are too often dead wrong. I choose movies because they intrigue me. And this one certainly did that. It is delightfully entertaining.\nThe acting is great. George Clooney is great as a cynical, disillusioned and grumpy middle aged man. Britt Robertson is excellent as an optimistic and scientifically brilliant teen, Hugh Laurie comes across convincingly as a determined villain. And what can I say about Raffey Cassidy? A performance worthy of an academy award, brilliant and captivating.\nIf you enjoy Disney themes and an optimistic look at the future--the possibilities, don't miss this one.","Product: Fits LG(R) Accolade 5600 Custom tailored leather case Handcrafted from the finest materials Added belt clip for convenient carrying on belt, handbag or backpack\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Fits the Accolade phone Perfectly\n\nReview: This affordable and well-made leather phone case fits the Accolade 5600 snugly and securely. It has plastic windows that cover and protect the outer and inner screens from scratches but that do not get in the way of reading the brightly lit screens.\n\nThe belt clip, obviously designed for a male user, fits tightly enough over a belt to make loss of the phone unlikely. And this, to me, is an important strength of the design.\n\nTo answer a call, while wearing it in its case on a belt, you can unsnap the button at the top rear of the case (near the clip). You then can slip the phone upward out of the case's bottom clip portion, basically splitting the case in half. The top half of the case remains protectively over the screen portions of the phone while you answer the call. After the call, you can easily slip the phone back into the bottom portion of its case and snap it in place. (With some cases, you pull a phone completely out of its case to answer or make a call, thus exposing it to damage should you drop it.)\n\nOf course, when the phone is not on your belt, you can make and answer calls with the phone completely enclosed in the case. Clear plastic also covers the dialing and function buttons, so they are covered protectively but are also readable and accessible.\n\nAll in all, a quite well-designed case. Just what I was looking for.\n\nHighly recommended.","Product: Leather Case Holster Cover Side Pouch with Belt Clip for Verizon Samsung Brightside U380\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Great little case and great price\n\nReview: I works well, seems to be made well too.\nIt fits the phone nicely, without a case on the phone.\nThe only suggestions I would have for improvement would be: (1) make it a little large (interior capaticy dimensions) so that you can put the rubberized attachable case on the phone. I like the rubberized case a lot (this one: http://www.amazon.com/Rubberized-Faceplate-Samsung-Brightside-U380/dp/B007OZIYXO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1355428210&sr=8-1&keywords=rubberized+case+for+samsung+phone) because it makes it easier to open the keyboard and also makes the side buttons less easy to accidentally push. With the rubberized attached makes the fit too tight.\n\nThe other suggestions would be, perhaps, to choose one or the other: either belt loops or a belt clip. They two together on the back of the case is not ideal.\n\nBut overall a great little case for the money.\n\nRecommended.","Product: The Flamelesss Safety Flare is a Battery-operated flare that provides a brightly illuminated, flashing RED signal that will be seen up to 1,000 feet away. Keep this handy device in your car in case of emergencies.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Small,, light, and useful\n\nReview: This flare is small and light like a small flashlight. It is made of plastic and runs on two AAA batteries (supplied). It has a button on the side. Push it once, and the flare begins to flash red like a red lensed flashlight. Push it again, and it gives a steady red glow. One more push on the button, and it turns off.\n\nThe main thing is its convenience. The size makes it possible to fit in most places, including a jacket or even shirt or plants pocket. Certainly it will find in a glove compartment, handy and accessible for use in case of need.\n\nAlthough I haven't had an occasion to test it, its batteries are supposed to last a long time. Unlike a burning flare, you can use it over and over again. Say you're done changing your tire, you can turn it off and put it back in the glove compartment.\n\nA clever idea and a useful tool. Recommended.","Product: In the vast world of vocal music available to us today, there is precious little out there to claim our ears. When a singer like Jaimee Paul comes along, we remember that musical artistry and good taste can produce wonderful music in any decade. Jaimee has listened to, and learned, from the singers of the past but she is aware that there is already an Ella, a Rosie, a Lena and a Billie. Her job now is to use all those wonderful influences in a new way. She has all the tools; the voice, the ear, the feel and the spirit, and though you can hear echoes of many people in her voice, she really sounds like nobody but herself. Attribution, without mimicry, is the greatest compliment any singer can pay to the people who have blazed the trail. It is a rare pleasure to play for a singer with the taste, musicality and plain old good sense that Jaimee Paul has. She does great tribute to the iconic girl singers on this project by taking on some of their signature songs. I'm very proud to be a part of this project.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: One in a million or more\n\nReview: If you like female vocalists and good old tunes, like those listed on this album,then by all means take a listen.\nEvery once in a while a singer comes along that leaves you nearly breathless and with one word in your mouth (and heart): \"Wow!\"\nI noticed at Amazon.com that pianist Beegie Adair was the accompanist for this album. That was a strong clue because Beegie is the best, when it comes to pop piano and light jazz, a total joy to listen to, over and over again. Her taste is flawless.\nThis lady, Jaimee Paul, is just like that, and so much warmth, so much feeling, and a voice to die for. What a career this wonderful singer will have.\nHighest recommendation.","Product: Portrait of the Grammy award-winning American violinist in performance with some of the world's top philharmonic orchestras. Performance footage is interspersed with clips of the artist traveling in some exotic locales including Hong Kong as well as relaxing at her home.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: For those who like Hilary Hahn's work, not to be missed!\n\nReview: If you are at all interested in the lives and personalities of gifted and accomplished classical musicians--and in this case, Hilary Hahn--then I highly recommend getting this DVD. I do not think you will be disappointed.\n\nShe's an exceptional musician and a delightful person. This is a rather intimate portrait.\n\nThe DVD does present clips of concertos interspersed with commentary, which seems to be a turnoff to some. But the good news is that the entire Korngold concerto is included nonstop with the bonus material, along with a video of her playing with long-time friend Natalie Zhu a Mozart sonata duet (from their audio CD \"Violin Sonatas\")--which is a gift, since you get to see them playing, not so of course with the CD. By the way, the Korngold Concerto is gorgeous.\n\nTo me, a lovely DVD. Ms. Hahn's musicality and warmth and personal honesty are a joy to witness.\n For classical music lovers, and particularly fans of key classical musicians, this one is not to be missed.\n\nAgain, highly recommended.","Product: Have a lot of documents to organize? Then you need a strong binder. This Heavy-Duty View Binder provides a convenient place to store important documents. It features four durable interior pockets to store handouts and unpunched pages. The strong 1.5-Inch One Touch EZD Gap Free rings hold up to 400 sheets of paper and can be opened and closed easily when you need to add or remove pages. And with free templates from avery.com, you can customize a cover page with text and graphics. Cover material is PVC-free polypropylene. Made with 100% recycled chipboard. An efficient organizational solutionthat's exercising good judgment.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: This is a good way to indicate a notebook's content and differentiate it ...\n\nReview: These notebooks seem to be well made.\n\nYou can \"customize\" the front and back covers and spine by slipping sheets of paper under the clear plastic outer covers.\nThis is a good way to indicate a notebook's content and differentiate it from others.\n\nInside there are two pockets for loose sheets, both on the inside front cover and the inside back cover. Alwaysa a good idea for notebooks lilke these.\nThe D rings hold more paper and open and close easily and accurately by pulling or shoving the lever at the bottom. (The rings on cheaper notebooks often do not snap closed accurately, causing notebook paper sheets to tear at their holes.)\n\nAt the current price of $33.26, that means about $8.32 per notebook--a little steep, but I think the quality of this notebook means it will last a good while and therefore the cost will be worth it.\n\nNote: I received 4 of these notebooks for free for review. Some companies advertize a package but stingily send only one item for a review. This company is generous, a good sign that they are willing to invest wisely to gain loyal customers.\n\nRcommended..","Product: This three ring view binder is a perfect organizational tool, with round rings to allow for easier page turning. Specialty size, this binder holds 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 inch size sheets. Features include customizable clear cover and spine, 175 sheet capacity in the 1 inch binder size, and durable PVC Free polypropylene material. White only.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Well-made but with a thick spine\n\nReview: This is a well-made binder, built to last. The round rings do make for easier page turning (as opposed to \"D\" type rings. Inside there are pockets on the front and back covers, although the back cover pocket is limited in size due to the placement of the rings assembly on the left.\nThis is a good little notebook for those seeking a smaller-sized one.\nPersonally, I prefer a narrower spine in this sized notebook. In other words, if you want a small notebook that takes 5.5 x 8.5 paper, why have a thick 1 5/8\" spine (measured on the outside)? A while back, I bought a notebook this sized, made by Avery, but it has a 1 1/4\" spine--to me more compact and portable, easy to fit into a messenger bag, etc.\nRecommended if you're looking for a notebook this size and don't mind the thick spine.","Product: Bottle Style May Vary, May Come in Glass or Plastic\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Perfect brown ink for me\n\nReview: This is the ink I settled on after looking at several other brown hues. I like a rich dark brown that is easy to read, including on buff or off-white paper. The color of this ink is a rich, slightly reddish brown. It looks nicely antique.\n\nSearch in Youtube for this ink's name and you can find some videos that show it's color pretty accurately.\n\nNoodler's ink is simply the best, and Noodler's bulletproof ink is waterproof and permanent and can't be beat, at least in my opinion.\n\nI use this ink for my fountain pens and for my Speedball dip pen. It works great with either.\nI have been using Noodler's inks for several years in several different colors. It's my preferred brand.","Product: Ideal for oil, watercolor, and acrylic paints. These unique palettes have a rubber gasket around the edge to seal the paint inside which greatly reduces the chance of drying out between uses. Mixing trays and wells are removable for easy cleaning. 33 wells, 12 1/2 inches l x 6 1/4 inches w.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Well made and functions well in the field or studio\n\nReview: I became aware of this palette when it was described by one of my favorite watercolorists, Brenda Swenson. So when I needed a new palette for the field, I bought it and filled it with my pigments. I have used it in the field 3 times now, and it has worked well.\n\nIt is sturdily made, with thick plastic, not the all-too-usual thin variety. It closes tight enough to prevent any wet watercolor from leaking out during transport. 18 to me is a good number of pigments for painting just about anything (though I usually select 3-6 of them for any given painting). There's plenty of mixing room, especially with a portable palette--most have considerably less. And it's light and compact, fits into my field day backpack easily.\n\nIt will be going to the field with me for onsite sketching all through Summer and Fall (until the next rainy season around November here in the Pacific Norhtwest--though I'll go out then too but less frequently).\n\nHighly recommended.","Product: Noodler's Ink is 100% made in the USA from cap to glass to ink. Archival quality inks in large 3oz. bottles for vintage or new fountain pens. Yellow base with vibrant orange and red tones. Lovely on white or ivory papers.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Perfect brown ink for me\n\nReview: This is the ink I settled on after looking at several other brown hues. I like a rich dark brown that is easy to read, including on buff or off-white paper. The color of this ink is a rich, slightly reddish brown. It looks nicely antique.\n\nSearch in Youtube for this ink's name and you can find some videos that show it's color pretty accurately.\n\nNoodler's ink is simply the best, and Noodler's bulletproof ink is waterproof and permanent and can't be beat, at least in my opinion.\n\nI use this ink for my fountain pens and for my Speedball dip pen. It works great with either.\nI have been using Noodler's inks for several years in several different colors. It's my preferred brand.","Product: 96 piece marker set in desk stand. Preferred by fine artists and crafters. Each brush pen has two tips - a versatile, flexible, nylon fiber brush tip and a fine, hard tip - with a single ink chamber ensuring exact color match. Create fine, medium or bold strokes with a change in brush pressure; or use the fine tip to make consistent fine lines perfect for drawing embellishments, intricate designs, details, and writing. Easily mix and blend ink to create an array of new colors. Blend two ink colors together or use the colorless blender pen to create a watercolor effect. Includes: 95 colors, 1 blender, 1 desk stand. Made in Vietnam and stand made in the USA.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Great for a lot of color applications\n\nReview: These are watersoluble so don't expect them to be waterproof. But they are easily blendable with water. If you want to use them for small sketches I suggest using a watercolor or watercolor/mixed-medai sketching paper that will hold up to a bit of scrubbing for the best results. In fact, I recommend using better quality paper generally--you will like the results more.\n\nNor are the colors lightfast, like a lot of quality watercolors, acrylics or oils. But if you use them like in a journal or closed book, I suspect that they will last a long time. But they are not recommended for fine art that is to be framed and thus exposed to light over time.\n\nAlso, they do not bleed through a lot of decent papers like permanent markers do.\n\nI find these brush pens especially for quick small sketches. For years I have used the grays for doing little studies in preparation for larger art work, like paintings.\n\nHighly recommended.","Product: Noodler's Ink is 100% made in the USA from cap to glass to ink. Archival quality inks in large 3oz. bottles for vintage or new fountain pens. Yellow base with vibrant orange and red tones. Lovely on white or ivory papers.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Perfect brown ink for me\n\nReview: This is the ink I settled on after looking at several other brown hues. I like a rich dark brown that is easy to read, including on buff or off-white paper. The color of this ink is a rich, slightly reddish brown. It looks nicely antique.\n\nSearch in Youtube for this ink's name and you can find some videos that show it's color pretty accurately.\n\nNoodler's ink is simply the best, and Noodler's bulletproof ink is waterproof and permanent and can't be beat, at least in my opinion.\n\nI use this ink for my fountain pens and for my Speedball dip pen. It works great with either.\nI have been using Noodler's inks for several years in several different colors. It's my preferred brand.","Product: 96 piece marker set in desk stand. Preferred by fine artists and crafters. Each brush pen has two tips - a versatile, flexible, nylon fiber brush tip and a fine, hard tip - with a single ink chamber ensuring exact color match. Create fine, medium or bold strokes with a change in brush pressure; or use the fine tip to make consistent fine lines perfect for drawing embellishments, intricate designs, details, and writing. Easily mix and blend ink to create an array of new colors. Blend two ink colors together or use the colorless blender pen to create a watercolor effect. Includes: 95 colors, 1 blender, 1 desk stand. Made in Vietnam and stand made in the USA.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Great for a lot of color applications\n\nReview: These are watersoluble so don't expect them to be waterproof. But they are easily blendable with water. If you want to use them for small sketches I suggest using a watercolor or watercolor/mixed-medai sketching paper that will hold up to a bit of scrubbing for the best results. In fact, I recommend using better quality paper generally--you will like the results more.\n\nNor are the colors lightfast, like a lot of quality watercolors, acrylics or oils. But if you use them like in a journal or closed book, I suspect that they will last a long time. But they are not recommended for fine art that is to be framed and thus exposed to light over time.\n\nAlso, they do not bleed through a lot of decent papers like permanent markers do.\n\nI find these brush pens especially for quick small sketches. For years I have used the grays for doing little studies in preparation for larger art work, like paintings.\n\nHighly recommended.","Product: Noodler's Ink is 100% made in the USA from cap to glass to ink. Archival quality inks in large 3oz. bottles for vintage or new fountain pens. With nice shading, this dark blue-black is great for use in professional writing. Partially bulletproof, and both forgery-resistant and water-resistant.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Perfect brown ink for me\n\nReview: This is the ink I settled on after looking at several other brown hues. I like a rich dark brown that is easy to read, including on buff or off-white paper. The color of this ink is a rich, slightly reddish brown. It looks nicely antique.\n\nSearch in Youtube for this ink's name and you can find some videos that show it's color pretty accurately.\n\nNoodler's ink is simply the best, and Noodler's bulletproof ink is waterproof and permanent and can't be beat, at least in my opinion.\n\nI use this ink for my fountain pens and for my Speedball dip pen. It works great with either.\nI have been using Noodler's inks for several years in several different colors. It's my preferred brand.","Product: Incredibly smooth and colorful, the new Acroball Colors Pen from Pilot has it all - A stylish design, comfortable contoured grip, and incredibly smooth effortless writing! Acroballs advanced ink allows you to express yourself brilliantly with ultra-smooth, colorful, smear-resistant formula. Not only is the Acroball pen fun to write with, it is also retractable and refillable, so you won't have to worry about losing a cap or running out of ink. Pilot Acroball Color pens are available in a variety of different barrel colors, with an advanced ink in a matching color and a medium (1.0mm) point. See what everyone is talking about - Buy a pack today!\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Good ball points but not as rich a line as a G2\n\nReview: These are comfortable pens to write with. The rubber grip makes the pen feel secure to hold.\n\nI have been using Pilot G2s for years and prefer them to any other gel pen.\n\nWith these Acroball gels I find myself wanting to press harder. The line is more a fine width than medium, and the writing is not as smooth as some ball points and definitely not as smooth or richly colored as the G2. This is especially true with the pink and orange, lighter colors.\nI like it that this set includes additional colors, more the usual black, red and blue, and thus adds to range of colors I have. Useful for doing mind mapping and journaling, for example. And each pen wrote right off rightr out of its bubble packaging.\n\nRecommended for those liking fine lines and a rich dark line is not mandagory.","Product: Westcott Electric iPoint Evolution Axis Heavy Duty Pencil Sharpener features ultra-quiet operation, fast sharpening with auto stop, and accommodates multiple pencil sizes. From the Manufacturer: Westcott develops home and office products unmatched in style, design and performance. We continue to deliver results that are both inspirational and functional, earning the title of \"The World's Favorite Scissors\" year after year.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: It's quiet, hardy, and does the job\n\nReview: I replaced my Panasonic Auto Stop pencil sharpener with this one. I gave the Panasonic too my granddaughter. I had it a couple years, and it worked well, but I like this new one better. It looks attractive sitting between two monitors on my deak. I do a lot of drawing with wooden pencils, different sized, so I like it closeby.\n\nI especially like the auto stop feature that works very well, actually stopping the cutting motion completely when the point is sharp. A little startling at first--you think the electricity died. So far it has prevented any point breaking or that grinding on and on that can quickly shorten the life of a pencil. The different sized holes for pencils work well too, which certainly are handy.\n\nIt is a large pencil sharpener, about 5 1/2\" high and 5 7/8\" wide its front and about 7 1/4\" deep front to back. It's nice and heavy, which means it doesn't move much on its clear/white rubber feet (before I had to velcro the Panasonic down so it would not move every time I sharpened a pencil).\n\nIt is solidly made, so I expect it to last a long time. I like the ten year warranty. The shavings tray removes easily for dumping and catches most of the shavings. It's powerful too, hasn't slowed down once, even with larger diameter pencils.\n\nIt is quiet, quieter than any previous electric sharpener I have owned.\n\nHighly recommended.","Product: The Canon PIXMA MX922 Energy Star Wireless Inkjet Office All-in-One Printer prints in black and white at 15 ipm, in color at 10 ipm, and can output a borderless 4.0 x 6.0-inch photo in 21 seconds. Print borderless photos right at home using the 9600 x 2400 color dpi. Use the automatic double-sided print feature to print on both sides of the page and cut your paper consumption by as much as 50%. The built-in disc tray lets you design and print your own custom CDs, DVDs, and Blu-rays. Its Full HD Movie Print feature takes a frame from an HD movie recorded on a compatible EOS, PowerShot, or VIXIA camera or camcorder and prints it as a photo, ensuring you never miss a photo opportunity while shooting video. The MX922 features a scan resolution of up to 2400 x 4800 dpi optical. Plus use the built-in copy function to duplicate photos as well as documents.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Excellent print quality, but a few issues\n\nReview: I've had this printer for a 3 weeks now, using it daily. Here's what I have noticed.\n\nIncidentally, for a few years now, I had bought only Canon printers and have had good luck with them.\n\nNote: I do not use the fax function, so I didn't set it up, but I do use wireless.\n\nSetup: Was easy and went smoothly. I had to have my son in law make a couple choices with the Wireless set up. But we were able to get it going without using the supplied CD.\n\nFeatures: Regarding the scan function, I like to use the grayscale mode at times, and I found I did have to install the CD drivers, which prompted me to download an update (to update the Windows 7 driver that worked fine otherwise), to get the grayscale mode to show up. I should say that I usually use Photoshop Elements 5 to do my scanning with, so maybe that was why I had to install the CD. But I suspect the printer needed the updated driver for the grayscale option to show up.\n\nPrint quality: Is very high. I was able to print some beautiful photos borderless at 8.5x11\" for visiting relatives.\n\nTwo Issues: (1) As other reviewers have pointed out, it is noisy, especially on startup and at times when feeding paper, clunky sounding. And it is noticeably slower than my other printer: Canon Pixma MG5220. The noisiness to me is not a problem except when I want to print late at night when family members are sleeping. So far, none have woken up due to the printer sounds. The slowness is a bit aggravating, since I am used to my older model faster printer. The other evening it took about 10 minutes to prepare a preview for a color photo at high quality printing on photo paper. It was long enough that I cancelled the printing and tried again in case something had gone wrong. Nothing had gone wrong; it was just unexpectedly slow.\n (2) The paper feeder is not flawless. When I was printing another 8.5x11\" color photo, this one at standard quality, I placed a Canon sheet of Photo Paper Plus Glossy II in the printer with regular printer paper. The design of the paper cassettes/trays and feeding path is such that you must place the side you want to print on facing down, that is in contact with any other paper in the cassette/tray. So the glossy side of the photo paper came into contact with the regular printer paper. Consequently when the printer fed the paper in for printing, it took two sheets, instead of only the photo paper sheet, and printed mainly on the regular printer paper, not the photo paper. Thus wasting a considerable amount of ink. It worked fine when I removed the regular printer paper and placed only one sheet of the glossy paper into the cassette/tray. I have not had this problem with my other Canon printer.\n\nSo, basically, a good printer that produces high quality prints. Recommended for those who can live with the issues I mentioned above.","Product: VISCONTI Travelling Inkwell Universal Black\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Clever device but terrible instructions\n\nReview: I had started the process for returning this ink pot for a possible refund. After wasting about a quarter of a bottle of ink trying to get it to work right, I had given up. And I didn't want to take a loss of $70 for an ink pot that didn't work for me.\n\nBut after initiating the return procedure, I decided to spend some time on Google to see if I could find some help. After a couple hours of reading, I did. I came across tips that helped me learn how to use the pot successfully (see below).\n\nMain point: the instructions that came with the pot were hopelessly inadequate and terse. I find it hard to understand why a manufacturer that puts out such an ingenious product would also be responsible for such lousy half-complete instructions.\n\nNow it's my fault for not following the advice of several reviewers who urged a buyer (in this case, me) to practice with water first. That's excellent advice.\n\nIf you buy this product, what you need to know is:\n\n(1) Before inserting your fountain pen into the pot and inverting it, expel any air trapped inside your pen's converter or ink barrel (wherever the ink is stored in the pen). You to this, of course, by screwing down the plunger by turning its knob--usually counter-clockwise. If you don't do this, you can send air into the Visconti chamber where the ink is, building pressure there. Too much pressure can break the seal between your pen nib and the chamnber opening, causing ink to leak down onto your hands and anything underneath.\n\n(2) I also advise filling the Visconti pot ONLY 2/3rds full of ink (not all the way up to the line with the writing \"MAX INK LEVEL DO NOT OVERFILL.\" That is, 2/3rds of the way up from the bottom of the pot to this line. This is added insurance that there will not be too much pressure build up in the chamber. You will still have plenty of ink in the Visconti for several ink-pen fillings.\n\n(3) Also, make sure you shove the nib into the pot until it fits snuggly. Don't jam it in super-hard, just enough for a snug fit. To get the feel of it, I strongly advise practicing with water first.\n\nNow I have read a number of reviews of this ink pot. Most people seem to have no trouble with it. But, personally, I am keeping it for use at home for its ability to fill my ink pens completely--no air bubbles (something this ink pot does quite well). But I will NOT use it while traveling. I've had too many spills with it to trust it that much. I will carry an extra pen in case my main pen runs out or a small regular-type bottle of ink for filling my pen in the field.\n\nSo 4 stars for a pretty-good ink pot. 2 stars for the instructions. That averages out to 3.\n\n3/18/2012. I wanted to add that I have filled my ink pen using this ink pot several times carefully, and have not had a problem doing so, no ink spills. So I have changed my mind and will carry it with me to the field. I will have a long a small rag or paper towel to wipe the nib area, since it can come out of the pot with a little ink on it. So now I'll give it 4 stars.","Product: The STEELMASTER Lock It Desktop Inbox has a key locking compartment to provide privacy and security for confidential papers and files. Constructed of durable steel, this lockable inbox is coated with a black, scratch-and chip-resistant finish and features non-slip, non-mar feet that will not scratch surfaces. The locking compartment measures 11 inches wide x 14-1/8 inches deep; providing security to items such as standard mail, delivery envelopes, large inter-office mail envelopes and file folders. Behind the STEELMASTER name stands 70 plus years of metal fabrication experience. Serving the consumer, retail, specialty, hospitality, and banking industries, STEELMASTER products are built to perform and made to last.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: This is a sturdy, well-made and well-finished steel box\n\nReview: This is a sturdy, well-made and well-finished steel box. It is also fairly light and measures from front to back about 14 1/8th inches (including the lock on the hinged drawer-flap that protrudes a bit from the front); it is just slightly over 11 inches wide and just under 5 5/8th high at the highest point. It should fit well with just about any desk/office decor. The \"in-box\" on the top is handy and easy to reach, and the drawer provides privacy and security should you want it.\nNote the \"drawer\"--as the ad calls it--is really not a drawer but is a compartment or wide cubby area covered by a top-hinged door-flap. The cubby's interior measures 10 7/8th\" wide and about 13 3/4th\" deep.\nI have one small criticism, which is not serious enough to knock off a star above, but the front hinged drawer-flap can be tricky to get open. That is, there is really no place to grab on to it to pull the door up. But if you use the key, then it's easy to open it by pulling it open by the key.while it is in the lock.\nRecommended for those who would like an inbox with a compartment you can lock.","Product: Convenient notebook 3 pack includes slim, durable notebooks in three different sizes to meet your various needs. All feature the contemporary style and modernized look that is the signature of the AT-A-GLANCE Collection line of products. Notebooks lie flat when open for maximum ease of use during notetaking. Each is wirebound with a textured cover; small and large notebooks have pewter covers and the medium notebook has a black cover. Medium and large notebooks feature days of the week along the top so you can easily associate a date to your notes. Small notebook includes 48 lined pages; 3.5 in. x 5.5 in. page size. Medium notebook includes 96 grid pages; 6 in. x 8.25 in. page size. Large notebook includes 96 grid pages with lined notes space on right side; 8.5 in. x 11 in. page size.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Somewhat elegant, well-made, a bit pricey\n\nReview: These are attractive notebooks. The paper in them seems to be of good quality. I wrote in the smallest one with my fountain pen, and the ink did not seep through to the other side. The binding is a sewn binding, and the notebooks will lay open flat with a little training.\nOn the other hand, I think the price is a little steep. There are less pages compared to a lot of notebooks you can find in a stationary store--and for less. Also, I must agree with the reviewers that pointed out that the lines/grid lines are too dark. As they are, they could easily make what you write or draw in them harder to read than would be the case with lighter lines.\nSo, overall, well-made notebooks. Recommended for those that like a slightly more elegant notebook and don't mind dark guide-lines and a bit extra expense.","Product: BIC Mark-it Permanent Marker is a durable permanent marker with long-lasting color. It wont dry out when the cap if left off for 2 weeks (classic colors only: Blue, Black, Red and Green). The marker features a soft grip for all day comfort. It marks on most hard-to-mark surfaces with low-odor, vivid ink that is fade resistant. BIC Mark-it Permanent Marker has acid free ink and is ACMI approved non-toxic. Made in the USA of US and foreign parts (fine and ultra fine only).\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Lots of colors and they work fine\n\nReview: My granddaughter has been writing and drawing with these fine point markers for a few weeks now. She likes them and they have been working well for her with no problems. The ink is permanent and also nontoxic . And 36 colors, including pastels, with permanent ink is an excellent range. The will leak through slightly when used on cheap papers like common tablets, printer paper, and 3x5 card stock (very slightly) for example. They write smoothly and dry quickly. Also, for a test I tried them on plastic surfaces and they wrote just as well and dried in a couple seconds and seem to be permanent. If you have a use for a lot of colors, I would check these out.\n\nRecommended.","Product: The ultimate pencil sharpener - home, office, art, school and more never again put up with your manual hand sharpener. Your bulky, loud and obnoxious electric pencil sharpener. Rough and uneven points left on your pencil. Huge messes made when cleaning. At evergreen art supply we take pride in providing exactly what you need in a product and we go above and beyond to ensure we deliver the best products with all the features you want triple power - with the option to power by USB cable, wall charger or go mobile with 4 AA batteries this sharpener allows you to remain extremely versatile (batteries not included)3 sharpness settings - get extremely sharp, needle-like points for extra-fine use or choose the blunt tip and sketch out your next piece of art perfectly even points - the adjustable heavy duty stainless steel helical blade is built to provide fast, evenly sharpened pencils, day-in and day-out and provides a point like no other no-mess cleaning - the days of pencil shavings all over the desk and floor are over simply remove the shavings tray which keeps all the shavings in place and dump it. No mess safe for kids - we have a built in auto-stop system. The instant the shavings tray is removed the feature prevents the blade from operating extreme mobility.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Doesn't break my colored pencils. Good value, reliable.\n\nReview: The pencil sharpener came on time. I set it up and put it to work immediately. It sharpens quickly and well. I tired it out on some Prismacolor Premier color pencils, since they are notorious for breakage problems. So far no breaking whatsoever. After sharpening a few more pencils (including Faber-Castell Polychromos), I find that the best way for me to sharpen them is to sharpen them a little at a time(like in spurts), since there is not autostop. That way I can get the sharpness and point I want. The switch on the side goes from dull to partly-dull to sharp. I find it's best to test it out, at each position, so that you know what you'll get at each setting. Once you know what to expect, then choose your setting and go for it!\nThe 3-way power hookups is great. You can use batteries within the sharpener, or the cable to connects via USB to a computer or to a wall AC outlet.. It doesn't get more convenient than that. This sharpener is light, compact, but powerful and relatively quiet.\nRecommended.","Product: The product is BLK FLWR Box Holder. Easy to use. The product is manufactured in China.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Well made but has a design issue\n\nReview: As to its construction, this is a sturdy little holder/rack, with a length that is easily expandable. In certain mounting areas it should work quite well.\n\nThe actual measurements (as measured with my tape measure) are: unexpanded outer length 24\", inner length 23\"; expanded outer length36.5\", inner length 35 3/4\" maximum. It can be adjusted within these two ranges as to its length. The width (front to back) is not adjustable and measures 8\" outer, 7\" inner. So any flower pot measuring from 23 to 35 3/4\" long and 7\" wide or smaller will fit.\n\nThe instructions are in French, not English. But it's not a complicated item, and there is a helpful illustration showing how to attach the adjustable mounting bracket pieces.\n\nThe problem with the design is that it will not easily fit all railings or window sills or other possible mounting areas.\n\nThe problem is that a bracing piece on the rack gets in the way of the railing or area the rack in mounted on. This is difficult to describe here in easily-understood writing. If you will look at the top left of the Amazon ad above, you can see what I am referring to in the second image from the top, in the middle bottom of the image. It's a metal square piece that jutts backward, hitting against the area where you would mount the rack. (The mounting brackets that go over a railing, for example, are adustable but not enough to accomodate this bracing piece in all situations.)\n\nFor example, I plan to mount this flower box/rack on our front porch railing, but since the studs (balusters) under the railing are close together, this bracing piece with not fit between them and will get in the way of a flush fit (instead, as is, it would sit at a horizontal angle, too high at its outward edge, and probably not be stable--as well as look just plain odd). Now, we have plenthy of tools onhand, so what I will do is either bend this little section down or use a hacksaw to cut it off enough so that the box/rack fits flush.\n\nThis brace (mentioned above) needs to be adjustable like other parts of this box/rack so that it will be easily adaptable to more mounting situations.\n\nThis brace piece I've been discussing sticks back 3 1/4\" from the bottom back of the box/rack and is 6 1/4\" wide. It is welded to the box/rack and, again, is not adjustable.\n\nAlso, for a strong mount, I would screw down the mounting backet at the back of this box to wherever you mount it, and not depend on the mounting brackets alone to hold it in place, especially with a full sized pot of flowers.","Product: Miracle-Gro LiquaFeed Universal Feeder is the efficient way to feed. Simply attach it to the spigot and turn any watering device into a garden feeder. Plus, the feeder automatically mixes the right amount of nutrients and applies plant food evenly at the correct rate. Use it with a hand sprayer, sprinkler, or soaker hose, and let Miracle-Gro help your flowers, vegetables, trees, shrubs, and houseplants grow bigger and stronger than unfed plants.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Great idea by Miracle-Gro\n\nReview: I have used Miracle-Gro products through the years with excellent results.\nThis is a great idea, in that you can fertilize with Miracle-Gro's rich nuitrients easily and accurately.\nYou simply attach the Liquafeed device to a faucet, screw in the bottle of Miracle-Gro, and screw a hose onto the bottom of the device and then to, for example, a watering device, like a hand-held sprikler. To simply water without any fertilizer, you set the dial to \"Water.\" But to include the Miracle-Gro, you set the dial to \"Feed.\"\nI expect this feeder to be a boon for our vegetable garden. But since it is at the beginnning of our planting season, I can't really comment regarding results at this time.\nIn case I need to add comments in a month or two, I will do so.\nRecommended.","Product: Now you can have a ceiling light that looks great when its lit or turned off. The GE LED 6 Recessed Downlights sleek integrated bulb/fixture design blends aesthetically into the ceiling, helping conceal the fixture. It fits in the same size opening as an R30 bulb. Simply replace your medium-base light bulb and the existing fixtures trim ring for a new look. Youll enjoy GE LEDs outstanding energy efficiency, long-lasting performance and just-right brightness for years to come. GE LEDs offer outstanding energy efficiency, long-lasting performance and just-right brightness, all in one package. Theyre dimmable and illuminate your home with soft, warm light. Use this GE LED 6 Recessed Downlight in indoor recessed fixtures. Its perfect for hard-to-reach sockets that are frequently left on. GE LEDs offer outstanding energy efficiency, long-lasting performance and just-right brightness, all in one package. Theyre dimmable and illuminate your home with soft, warm light. Use this GE LED 6 Downlight in indoor recessed fixtures. Its perfect for hard-to-reach sockets that are frequently left on. 65 watt replacement using only 10 watts Lasts 31.9 years based on 3 hours per day usage Estimated yearly energy costs $1.20 based on 3 hours per day $0.11 per kWh $211 in energy savings over the life of the bulb based on 3 hours per day usage 2700K-soft white color appearance 6\" recessed downlight integrated bulb/fixture with medium base for use in indoor recessed fixtures General Characteristics: Lamp type: Replacement Lamps, Directional Bulb: BR30 Base: Medium Screw (E26) ENERGY STAR Qualified: Yes Bulb Shape: BR30 Dimming Capability: Yes Equivalent Wattage (NOM): 65 W Lamp Type: LED-BR Life in Years (NOM): 32 Rated Life (NOM): 35000 hrs Photometric Characteristics: Color Rendering Index (CRI) (NOM): 80 Color Temperature (NOM): 2700 K Initial Lumens (NOM): 700 Nomina\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: It installs in just a few minutes easily. Recommended for those with the right type of ...\n\nReview: Note: This light will not fit everywhere. For example, and in particular, some ceiling mounted lamps that are not recessed.\n\nThat said, the current Amazon Prime price of $35.99 seems, to me, to be in the ballpark, since it is long lasting and energy efficient.\n\nIf you have recessed lighting, with a 6-inch wide recess opening, this should work well for you. It can be hooked up to a dimmer (we did not test this).\n It boasts low energy consumption, and that over time of course can save you money--the lamp can pay for itself. And it has a long-life blub.\n The light is warm in color but not hot.\n It is brighter than a 60 watt incandescent bulb.\n It installs in just a few minutes easily.\n\nRecommended for those with the right type of recessed lighting fixture.","Product: The Bosch AG60-125 6-Inch 12.5-Amp High-Performance Cut-Off Grinder, features a new motor design with direct motor cooling and more air vents to reduce hand blockage to extend tool life and provide higher overload capabilities to prevent overheating. Results from independent testing revealed that Bosch grinders outlast the competition to deliver the best tool lifetime in the market- up to 60 percent more life than competitors. A new motor design featuring direct motor cooling and more air vents to reduce hand blockage help extend the tool life and provide higher overload capabilities to prevent overheating. Additionally, improved carbon brushes offer more than double the lifetime of predecessor brushes, which means less downtime for maintenance. The new AG60-125 grinder offers up to 2 amps more power than previous generation models to deliver the robust performance demanded by professionals in industries such as metal fabrication, energy, masonry and restoration. Kit Includes: AG60-125 Tool, Grinding Guard, Cutting Guard, Side Handle, Flange Kit and Spanner Wrench.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: A quality power tool\n\nReview: Bosch products have a well-deserved reputation for quality.\nThis grinder has a powerful motor that will handle a lot of grinding and cutting jobs. The side handle provided is important, since the motor vibrates the tool when running. I believe that for any appropriate job, this tool with work quite well.\n\nI have tested this grinder and it definitely works.\n\nWhat I didn't like has nothing to do with the quality of the powertool itself. For the price (not to mention the list price of just over $300), they could have included a couple grinding/cutting wheels. I went to Lowe's and bought one, so that I could make sure the grinder worked. The metal cutting wheel I bought cost me just under $5.\n\nAnother complaint has to do with the packaging. The grinder came in its brand box, which was made of cheap (though beautifully printed) cardboard. And that box was contained with another box for shipping with a few bubble wrap items included for cushioning. Not enough of them. During shipping of this heavy item, the brand box opened and tore. However, the sturdily made powertool was not damaged.\n\nRecommended.","Product: Launch an all-out secret attack with the Nerf Rebelle Rapid Red Blaster! Fast-fire 12 darts with awesome secret messages you write. Use the marker and decoder to get the message across in a hurry. Step up and stand out! Requires 4 'AA' batteries, not included. Measures approximately 13-inches long. For ages 8 and up.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: I think it's a good idea to instruct children to avoid aiming at an ...\n\nReview: I noticed one thing about this nerf blaster immediately: it shoots faster and farther than models without batteries.\nWe have had no problem with jamming, although one reviewer reported some jamming after using the blaster all day--probably because the darts got worn and weakened, which seems to occur frequently with nerf darts.\nThe note-code aspect is rather silly, and I suspect it will not be used by most. But the blaster overall seems well made. You will, with heavy use, likely have to replace the darts soon with new ones.\nI think it's a good idea to instruct children to avoid aiming at an opponent's face and also not stand close to those shot at. Or better yet, have them wear protective goggles to protect their eyes--if you can get them to!\nRecommended.","Product: Maisto easy-to-control Harley-Davidson motorcycle captures the thrill of the open road. Authentic looking RC with plenty of RC power.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Works well, does tip over fairly easilly\n\nReview: This remote control motorcycle unpacked quickly. Mainly you need to cut the plastic ties. You will need to supply batteries yourself. The Amazon ad (at the top of the page) says you will need 4 AA batteries for the vehicle and 2 AA batteries for the controller. That's not exactly right: you do need 4 AA batteries for the vehicle but you need 2 AAA batteries for the controller (not AAs).\nJust put in the batteries and work the controlled and off you go. The ad says full-function radio control, and that is what you get. Forward with turns and a reverse.\nThere are two \"trainer\" wheels under the pedals that help keep the motorcycle upright. It does, however, tip over fairly easily, like when it goes over a bump, even a small one. So it is best to use it on smooth surfaces, like carpet, a sidewalk, a linoleum or hardwood floor.\nA fun toy for child age 8 and up.\nRecommended.","Product: BOOMco. - BLAST BETTER! SPINSANITY 3X takes blasting to a new level with 3 awesome, rotating barrels for 3 times the firepower and ultra-rapid reload speeds! Features 3, 10 dart chambers for 30 darts total and is motorized for rapid fire blasting action! Once youve blasted through one chamber, use the pump-action mechanism to move to the next chamber and keep the action going without having to reload blast, pump, repeat! SPINSANITY 3X has a 30-dart capacity and fires up to an epic 70 feet. It comes with three different dart colors 10 of each - for awesome variety, and SPINSANITY 3X features a blaster rail to attach other BOOMco. accessories for even more firepower! Also includes 1 Smart Stick target. Requires 6 AA batteries, not included. Colors and decorations may vary.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: The rifle works like this. It has 3 chambers (flywheels) and each ...\n\nReview: Unpacking was fairly fast. You will need 6 AA batteries.\nThis rifle shoots up to 70 feet, that is rather strong firepower for a toy, In other words these darts can hurt it you get hit medium-to-close range. So some rules are in order.\nThe rifle works like this. It has 3 chambers (flywheels) and each holds 10 smart-stick darts (there's a warning that say to not shoot these darts at a wall or furniture). You pull back the lever (located under the front section) to cock one of the 3 chambers into place. Then you shoot as quickly as you can pull the trigger (pulling it all the way back and releasing it all the way each time) for 10 shots. That's what \"rapid-fire\" means. You can fire each time without having to re-cock the rifle (like you do with other versions of these toys). It's not a machine gun action, and you do have to cock/move another chamber into firing position by pulling back the lever to start on the next 10 darts.\nThe rifle comes with 30 darts, red, blue and black enough for a full load. It seems to work well.","Product: The classic triangular domino game. Score points by matching numbers on the three sided tiles with brass spinners. For 2 to 4 players. Ages 8 and up.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Fun game for all family members\n\nReview: The set arrived intact with no damage. 4 player trays are included so if you have 6 players 2 of them will have to play without a tray for hold their pieces. Each piece/tile has a brass bead in the center. which makes it easy to pick it up (especially helpful for a player who doesn't have a tray). It's a good idea to read the rules all the way through, including the bonus point aspects, so that you are aware of them during play.\nThe game does require some math, simple arithmetic, so is good practice for children (though the very young will require help), but generally this game should be enjoyable or all members of the family.\nAll pieces seem to be quality made and should be durable.\nRecommended.","Product: ALEX Toys Craft 3D Stellar String Art takes string art to a new dimension! Just wrap the yarn on each piece, then snap the unique frame together to create a 3D star to hang in your room. The Finished piece measures 12 x 12 x 2.5 (30.5cm x 30.5cm x 6.35cm). Personalize it by using your favorite color combinations. The kit includes 11 interlocking plastic star pieces, 5 colors of embroidery floss (including silver), metallic beads, beading needle and easy instructions. Recommended for children 8 years of age and older.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Colorful string art kit that requires limited creativity\n\nReview: This kit came intact and undamaged. The parts seem well-made and colorful. The instructions are presented in color on one glossy two-sided sheet (8.25 x 11.25\") and include 10 steps, all pictured clearly. They are a bit complicated, so if you get this kit for an 8-9 year old, you (the adult) may need to provide some help. There are 5 different neon-colored embroidery strings included (blue, yellow, green, pink/orange, and silver/metallic), so you may wish to buy more colors. There is a hanging piece you can attach so that the finished piece can be mounted on a wall.\nThis is a fun set to put together, but creativity is limited: (1) due to the few colors included and (2) the design. There is really only one way to put this kit together. So the challenge is to understand the directions and get it together; there is no designing required.","Product: **Popular Journal Illustrating Book < Redesigned With An Attractive New Cover < & Illustration and Is Now Available In < See Through Shrink Wrap. < **Postponed Till Spring 99\"**\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: A readable and useful book for journal writers\n\nReview: I've read and am reading several books on journal writing, having decided to take on that task in earnest. Often these books are heavily into a kind of exploratory self-analysis of the psychological sort as an aid to figuring out one's personal issues. They can also be lengthy and involved.\n\nBut Hannah Hinchman's book is readable, delightfully brief and nicely illustrated with her art work. It covers the field sufficiently but not exhaustively, and provides enough examples from accomplished journalists to give the newcomer models he or she needs to get going in the right direction. And there is constant helpful and practical advice. I find myself going back to it over and over again to remind myself of the fine points of her wise guidance.\n\nIf you're new or fairly new to the journal-writing endeavor, I highly recommend this book."],"string":"[\n \"Product: Turn your iPad, iPhone or Mac in to a real musical instrumentLearn to Play Guitar with the Bundled JamTutor appReal Strings, Real Frets, Real Picking... No tuning requiredConnect wirelessly via WIFI, no cable necessaryMobile ready, Backpack friendly, 100% portable to Learn, Create and Play music anywhereFREE shipping in both Canada and the US and free local pickup available.Slightly used with very minimal wear. All accessories included. Guaranteed to work.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: this was an easy setup. It worked right off\\n\\nReview: One thing first off, this was an easy setup. It worked right off, after downloading the connection software. We set it up with an iPhone (5C). The plastic bridge fits on easily but is easy to knock off the guitar, not a big problem, of course, but a bit annoying. The sound through the iPhone is good. I'm sure it will be good too, if not even better via our iPad, (when we get that set up).\\n\\nI think the software which you download into your IOS device, like the connection software, I think will be helpful to first time learners (haven't checked it out in practice just yet--if I find any problems or need to add further information, I will edit this review).\\n\\nIt comes with a velvet like bag the fits over the guitar, a guitar pick and a strap so that you can hang it from your neck/shoulder. There is also a USB cable included, which I think most of the time you will not need.\\n\\nThe instructions are on a small folded sheet and pretty sparse. I recommended going to the website, which you need to do to download the software anyway, and check out the information there (it goes into your iPhone or iPad, etc. and not the guitar). Hopefully the manufacturer will expand soon on both the printed instructions included in the package and at the website, which will be helpful to beginners and those less knowledgeable in MIDI issues, and for full use of this guitar. A user's manual in printed booklet form or online would be a good thing.\\n\\nRecommended\",\n \"Product: Get sonic power at an affordable price! Spinbrush Truly Radiant Sonic with advanced micro-cleaning is clinically proven to remove up to 95% of plaque in hard-to-reach places.* Dynamic fluid action cleans deep in between teeth to remove plaque and promote healthy gums. Delivers up to 16,000 micro-sweeps per minute.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: This brush does a good job cleaning teeth\\n\\nReview: This brush does a good job cleaning teeth. The vibration is quite strong, and the sound it makes is a bit loud. The brush head is large, and children will have trouble reaching to back teeth. Additional heads are available at Amazon, curentlhy at about $9 for 2, which seems fairly reasonable. The bristles are colored, so that you can determine a good time to repllace the head.\\n\\nThe top button is for continuous operation: press it and the brush keeeps going until you press the bottom button. You can also start with the bottom button which will turn on the brush and keep it on as long as you hold it down.\\n\\nAs far as I can tell, the bristles vibrate back and forth but do not spin at all (like the title suggests).\\n\\nThe battery compartment cap is difficult to get off. I was able to make it come off by not pulling it away from the brush bottom but instead prying it sideways from its wide side to pop it off.\\n\\nRecommended, if you don't mind a struggle when replacing batteries.\",\n \"Product: PITT Artist Pens are acid free, archival, smudge-proof, waterproof and contain black India Ink. This Extra Superfine nib is .01mm and gives a precise line for all design, lettering and paper crafts.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Smooth writing, permanent, fine line\\n\\nReview: I enjoy using PITT artist pens. They are convenient and reliable. This pen is an extra fine point, around 0.3 or 0.4mm.\\n\\nI do a lot of small ink sketches that I like to color with watercolor. It's a challenge frequently to find a paper or sketchbook with paper that will take both ink and watercolor equally well. One I found and my favorite is Arches Text Wove (renamed a while back to Velin Arches), which is used also for text printing. This paper has a bit of tooth to it, which means that most fountain pens are tough going to draw and write with. Only a broad fountain pen tip doesn't drag noticeably. But for a small sketch a broad point produces an ink line that's too unattractively thick. However, this PITT pen works very well on this toothy paper, providing a smooth, free-flowing, reliable thin line. (It also works well on smoother paper too.) And I don't have to press down hard to get a line; a light tough does it. After a brief wait for it to dry, like a minute or less, I can float in the quite wet watercolors and the waterproof ink stays put, doesn't come up a bit.\\n\\nI wouldn't particularly recommend it for a lot of handwriting (to me, too thin), although I do take notes with it next to my sketches, and it's fine for that. But for extensive handwriting, I think an F or M would be better.\\n\\nBut I highly recommend this pen to anyone who wants a thin, waterproof ink line in drawing, whether for artwork or even mechanical drawing. It's a joy to use.\",\n \"Product: Pentel Arts Aquash Fine Point Water Brush, Medium (FRHMBP)\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: My absolute favorite waterbrush\\n\\nReview: I tried waterbrushes a few years back and quit, concluding they were just too much trouble and mainly because I couldn't get much water out of the barrel and onto the tip.\\n\\nBut recently I read a review about the main brands, and this one came out one of the best. So I decided to give it another try, and I'm glad I did.\\nI use this one for sketching outdoors. Wouldn't be without it.\\n\\nIt has an nicely flowing watersupply, which I like. I work with this by blotting on a paper towel when I want less water on the tip. To me, more water available when painting is better than less.\\n\\nI bought the large and the small. But the large alone would be enough because the tip is synthetic and the best synthetic brush tip I have found on any brush. You can get very thin lines to quite wide lines easily. You do not have to reform the tip each time either for the next stroke.\\n\\nI use the small, though, with small ink-wash studies, using water-soluble ink in an ink pen (also, a black Flair has wonderful ink for this). I draw with the ink pen, then wash over the lines with the waterbrush to create monochrome watercolor-like wash effects. Gives a neat and very quick little study that simulates how a watercolor of the scene would look.\\n\\nFor traveling light and compact, a waterbrush is ideal. This brush works well with small watercolor boxes and half-pans. My favorite sketchbook is Aquabee's Super Deluxe. Wonderful paper for pen and ink, watercolor (not too heavily wet), pencil, colored pencil, pastels. When I plan to color my sketches with watercolor, I use Noodler's bulletproof black or Lexington Gray waterproof ink.\\n\\nHighly recommended.\",\n \"Product: DRP-RZ0401400500R3U\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: This headset is beautifully styled and delivers clear\\n\\nReview: This headset is beautifully styled and delivers clear, powerful sound, including music. The earphones tilt back and forth within their headpiece mount, adding to their flexibility and comfort. The pads that fit between your ear and the headphone are soft and quite comfortable. We tried them and they work very well with an iPhone (and hence should work well with any iOS device, which they are made for). They also work well with our laptop. However, we got an echo effect when listening to them plugged into the headphone jack of a regular PC (one with two sound jacks, one for the headphones and another for a mike).\\nRecommended for use with iPhones and iPADs and other iOS devices and PCs with a single headphone/microphone line.\",\n \"Product: Designed especially for professional photographers and passionate hobbyists, the ColorMunki Photo is an all-in-one spectrophotometer that allows you to adjust and match colors between devices. The ColorMunki is the only device you need to calibrate your computer monitors, projectors, and printers so that the color you see on screen is precisely the same as the color you'll get in print. With ColorMunki, you'll finally be able to stop wasting ink, paper, and valuable time with trial-and-error color correction, and enjoy the benefits of precise color from the beginning. As a photographer, you know perfect color is essential. But with today's complex digital imaging workflows, getting colors to match between devices can be a challenge. ColorMunki simplifies this challenge with its easy-to-use interface and self-guided system, streamlining the process while still delivering optimal results. In just minutes, you'll be able to synchronize your monitor's colors with the colors of your printer or projector. To calibrate your monitor, all you have to do is point the ColorMunki' s sensor at the screen and allow it to measure the colors your screen displays. The device will then compare the measured colors with \\\"ideal\\\" colors, and create a color profile accordingly. Printer profiling is easy, too. By using RGB and CMYK printer profiling technology, the ColorMunki is able to deliver a high-quality profile in seconds. Simply scan a printed test chart with the device, and ColorMunki will detect your printer's coloration tendencies and dynamically correct them. You can even use ColorMunki to optimize your color profile based on images for black-and-white, sepia tones, flesh tones, and more. ColorMunki also features AppSet software, which allows it to interact with a variety of different design applications. Once you've finished creating a color profile, AppSet will automatically synchronize it.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: I got it to work, but it didn't improve my two monitors' color.\\n\\nReview: I used this device and software on 3 monitors. On the first monitor (my son-in-law's) he couldn't get it to work aftyer trying for about an hour. His wife checked the reviews and learned that the room might have had too much light (normal daylight coming in a window). It did work on the next two monitors, mine, but in each case I didn't like the results. Both of my monitors' color seemed slightly less bright and cooler. So I switched back to my pre-calibration settings--on both. Fortinately the program gave me that option, and it was no trouble switching back, just a click did it.\\n\\nI can't say that if I did this on more monitors that the results would be the same--that is, no real improvement or results not as good as my monitors before I used this system.\\n\\nIt'.s a great idea, but I think this product needs work.\\n\\nI can't in all honesty recommend this product.\",\n \"Product: Designed especially for professional photographers and passionate hobbyists, the ColorMunki Photo is an all-in-one spectrophotometer that allows you to adjust and match colors between devices. The ColorMunki is the only device you need to calibrate your computer monitors, projectors, and printers so that the color you see on screen is precisely the same as the color you'll get in print. With ColorMunki, you'll finally be able to stop wasting ink, paper, and valuable time with trial-and-error color correction, and enjoy the benefits of precise color from the beginning. As a photographer, you know perfect color is essential. But with today's complex digital imaging workflows, getting colors to match between devices can be a challenge. ColorMunki simplifies this challenge with its easy-to-use interface and self-guided system, streamlining the process while still delivering optimal results. In just minutes, you'll be able to synchronize your monitor's colors with the colors of your printer or projector. To calibrate your monitor, all you have to do is point the ColorMunki' s sensor at the screen and allow it to measure the colors your screen displays. The device will then compare the measured colors with \\\"ideal\\\" colors, and create a color profile accordingly. Printer profiling is easy, too. By using RGB and CMYK printer profiling technology, the ColorMunki is able to deliver a high-quality profile in seconds. Simply scan a printed test chart with the device, and ColorMunki will detect your printer's coloration tendencies and dynamically correct them. You can even use ColorMunki to optimize your color profile based on images for black-and-white, sepia tones, flesh tones, and more. ColorMunki also features AppSet software, which allows it to interact with a variety of different design applications. Once you've finished creating a color profile, AppSet will automatically synchronize it.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: I got it to work, but it didn't improve my two monitors' color.\\n\\nReview: I used this device and software on 3 monitors. On the first monitor (my son-in-law's) he couldn't get it to work aftyer trying for about an hour. His wife checked the reviews and learned that the room might have had too much light (normal daylight coming in a window). It did work on the next two monitors, mine, but in each case I didn't like the results. Both of my monitors' color seemed slightly less bright and cooler. So I switched back to my pre-calibration settings--on both. Fortinately the program gave me that option, and it was no trouble switching back, just a click did it.\\n\\nI can't say that if I did this on more monitors that the results would be the same--that is, no real improvement or results not as good as my monitors before I used this system.\\n\\nIt'.s a great idea, but I think this product needs work.\\n\\nI can't in all honesty recommend this product.\",\n \"Product: Quicken Will Maker Plus is the easiest way to create your estate plan, whether you're just getting started or you want to update your previous arrangements. This powerful software guides you through the process from beginning to end, giving you the practical and legal information you need to make the best decisions for you and your family. The benefits of using Quicken Will Maker Plus include: A customized estate plan, including a will, health care directive and other essential documents An easy-to-use interview format that lets you complete documents at your own pace A user-friendly legal manual answers common questions A team of lawyer-editors working to ensure each document reflects the laws of your state Note: Estate planning documents are not valid in Canada, Louisiana or U.S. Territories Quicken Will Maker Plus is the original will-writing software, created and updated regularly by Nolo's experts. Free legal updates will keep your program current through 2016. Technical support is also available. Plus, get a free living trust and five other valuable online documents! Registering your copy of Quicken Will Maker Plus 2016 gives you a free one-year subscription to Nolo's Online Living Trust. In addition, you also get free one-year subscriptions to five other valuable online forms: Nolo's Promissory Note, Limited Power of Attorney for Finances, Temporary Guardianship Authorization for Minor, Authorization for Minor's Medical Treatment, and Authorization for Foreign Travel. New for 2016: You can now use the Quicken Will Maker Plus to give your executor and attorney-in-fact authority over your digital assets.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Easy to install and use, extensive help for wills and other documents\\n\\nReview: Quicken WillMaker Plus 2016 installed easily on my Windows 10 computer.\\n\\nThe software walks you through each document you wish to create step by step. It explains each step in depth with online access for additional information in cl.uding a Legal Answer Book for Families. This software is a very good value compared to the costs of hiring an attorney to draw up legal documents. It also comes in handy when you need to make changes to your documents you don't have to pay a fee for corrections or updates.\\n\\nIncluded in the WillMaker Plus are Estate Planning documents (Legal Will, Health Care Directive, Power of Attorney, Revocation Documents, Property Worksheet, Information for Caregivers & Survivors, Final Arrangements, and Letter to Survivor), Executor documents Executor's Checklist, General Notice of Death and Affidavit of Domicile), Personal Finance documents (General Bill of Sale, Security Agreement for Borrowing Money, Promissory Notes, and Limited Power of Attorney for Finances) and Home & Family documents (Temporary Guardianship Authorization, Authorization for Foreign Travel with Minor, Pet Care Agreement, Child Care and Elder Care Agreements, and Authorization for Minor's Medical Treatment). The list of forms and documents included is pretty extensive and can handle the most commonly needed legal documents.\\n\\nRecommended.\",\n \"Product: 31334HB Features: -Includes bake pan and broil rack with 2 rack positions. -Easy Reach collection. -Removable roll-top door for easy cleanup. -Capacity: 4 Slice. Product Type: -Toaster oven. Finish: -Gray. Number of Slices: -4. Dimensions: Overall Height - Top to Bottom: -8.97 Inches. Overall Width - Side to Side: -16.12 Inches. Overall Depth - Front to Back: -11.93 Inches.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Best toaster oven we've owned\\n\\nReview: The first thing I noticed is that the heating is plenty potent. In fact, I advise taking care to keep tabs frequently on how the heating is going, the first few times, since the oven cooks quickly.\\n\\nSome serious thought went into the design of this oven. The trays can be removed easily for cleaning or re-positioning. Also they can slide out partially, making it easy to take out items that are done. The round shape of the door helps too, providing more internal room, and it stays open and out of the way when you need it open.\\n\\nIt worked great right out of the box. Packaging was excellent, and the oven arrived safely with no damage.\\n\\nHighly recommended.\",\n \"Product: TEKwriterUSA 100 count high quality Gelwriter pens are packaged in a pop up rotating carrying case to keep your pens organized and easily accessible and are perfect for scrapbooking, journaling, drawing, or anything else you can create with tip sizes ranging from 0.7mm to 1.0mm and the check safe ink is fade and water resistant. All pens feature a durable pocket clip along with a latex free comfort grip for precision pen control. High quality gel pens at a great value.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Lovely colors, good value.\\n\\nReview: There are great gel pens.\\n\\nThe pens write smoothly, like most gel pens, and they are water- and fade-resistant and contain acid-free archival ink. Such qualities are important to those of us who like to do artwork, journaling, sketching with them. They are non-toxic, a good feature since kids will like to use these pens too. Also, they're safe to use on checks (but realize that some colors may not read well when checks are deposited via ATM machines). Best to use dark inks for that.\\n\\nIn this set you get 8 basic pens (0.7 mm), 16 pastel pens (0.8 mm), 12 neon pens (0.8 mm), 34 metallic pens (0.8 mm), and 30 glitter pens (1.0 mm)--a versatile set for people who journal and who like to decorate their pages. Or for those who just like to write or take notes with several colors.\\n\\nI tested out several of the pens for water resistance and found that it is important to let some of them dry a bit longer than others. In other words, the drying time is quick, but it varies a bit with the different colors. So, arts and crafts people, if you plan on applying any water or moisture over the ink, it's best to wait a few extra seconds to assure that the ink is good and dry.\\n\\nThe revolving tray is a nice touch. You can easily turn it to select the color you want. Another nice feature is the comfortable grip on each pen.\\n\\nOverall all an excellent value.\\nHighly recommended for those who like gel pens.\",\n \"Product: The OXO good grips chopped salad scissors are the perfect companion for chopping and tossing homemade salads. The sharp, micro-serrated, stainless steel blades easily chop salad ingredients, and the rounded blades mean you can chop right in the bowl without scratching your bowl. The wide, curved blades of the chopped salad scissors provide a wide surface when closed, optimized for tossing ingredients once you chop them. The spring-loaded handle features a soft, non-slip grip for comfortable, continuous use, whether you're making a light snack or a big salad to serve. The locking tab snaps into the handle and out of the way while the chopped salad scissors are in use, and keeps the blades closed for safe storage.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Their blades are thick and sturdy and sharp\\n\\nReview: These salad scissors work well for chopping up lettuce and vegetables (larger or thicker vegetables you might have to cut down to a manageablesize first). Their blades are thick and sturdy and sharp. The handle has only a loop for your fingers, no loop for your thumb, which takes a little getting used to, but is not really a problem.\\nThey wash up quickly, and should be washed by hand and dried afterward (not dishwasher safe).\\nThere is a safety latch at the end of the handles you can use to keep the blades closed when storing, a good idea.\\nAlso the blades are curved at the end, which means the will fit and cut at the bottom of a salad bowl.\\nReasonable price.\\nRecommended.\",\n \"Product: This party-friendly Crock-Pot Metallic Cooker with Hinged Lid allows you to conveniently serve your dish straight from your slow cooker without worrying about where to put the lid. The durable hinged lid of this 6-quart slow cooker opens easily and stays in place while guests help themselves. When the party is over, the dishwasher-safe lid detaches for easy cleaning. With High, Low, and and Warm heat settings, this manual slow cooker keeps every dish at the perfect serving temperature. Enjoy an easier way to serve slow-cooked foods to your family and friends!\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Good basic Crockpot with a detachable hinged lid\\n\\nReview: This is a good basic Crockpot with a detachable, hinged lid. The hinge is plastic and 3 thick fingers on it slip into the back of the heating unit (the lid dis easy to remove for cleaning, just pull it up and is dishwasher safe). The hinged lid is handy in that you don't have to look around for a place to set it and is that helps keep your counter clean. 4 instead of 5 stars due to the limited heat settings: Low, High, and Warm. For example another Crockpot (same brand, without the hinged lid) we have has these settings from left to right: 4 hour, High, 6 hour, 8 hour, Low, Warm--obviously that's twice heating options. Otherwise, this Crockpot seems to be made well and should be durable. It comes with a 1 year warranty. But if you're looking for a basic low cooker, this should serve you well.\",\n \"Product: A fresh spin on citrus! The Juice man Citrus Juicer features spinning cones that extract maximum juice and flavor from lemons, oranges, and all your favorite citrus. Create delicious homemade orange juice and lemonade in no time, or add a splash of fresh juice into smoothies, mixed drinks, and more. The 40-watt motor powers large and small juicing cones, and the auto-reverse function guarantees you get every last drop. Plus, all removable parts are dishwasher-safe for simple cleanup, and a storage lid keeps the juicer dust-free and ready to go whenever you need it.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: A versatile machine but the juicer is weak.\\n\\nReview: This is basically a good machine, versatile too.\\n\\nAs far as it juicing capacity goes, it's a weaker version of the prior Juiceman juicer. The problem is that the motor spins the juicing blade so fast that it shoots (expels) the pulp so forcefully that too much juice is left in the pulp (and therefore wasted). Even if we put the wet pulp back in the cutter area to try to extract more juice, it just spins it out without extracting the juice. So for a juicer, we prefer the older version of the Juiceman which produced more juice and nearly dry pulp..\\n\\nOn the other hand, all the other attachments work well. It's easy to clean. Also, the suction cups work well to hold the unit in place on our counter while it operates.\",\n \"Product: Start your day off right with the Juiceman Express Whole Juicer. Compact and powerful, this new addition to the Juiceman lineup crushes fruit and veggies into delicious nutrient-packed juices! Combine those juices with your favorite yogurts, protein powders, and other nutritious add-ins (you cant go wrong with nut butter!), and youre left with a smooth, creamy blend with a healthy blast of vitamins! Juicing begins as soon as you twist the juicing cup into place on the motor base, giving you control over the consistency of your beverage. Once complete, the travel lid twists onto the BPA-free cup and youre ready to enjoy a delicious and nourishing treat! All removable parts are dishwasher-safe, making cleanup easy breezy.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: A versatile machine but the juicer is weak.\\n\\nReview: This is basically a good machine, versatile too.\\n\\nAs far as it juicing capacity goes, it's a weaker version of the prior Juiceman juicer. The problem is that the motor spins the juicing blade so fast that it shoots (expels) the pulp so forcefully that too much juice is left in the pulp (and therefore wasted). Even if we put the wet pulp back in the cutter area to try to extract more juice, it just spins it out without extracting the juice. So for a juicer, we prefer the older version of the Juiceman which produced more juice and nearly dry pulp..\\n\\nOn the other hand, all the other attachments work well. It's easy to clean. Also, the suction cups work well to hold the unit in place on our counter while it operates.\",\n \"Product: This iLIVING 24\\\" BLDC mobile fan is designed to move a large amount of air for offices, factories, warehouses, loading docks and auto shops. Its brushless DC electric motor has a fan speed that ranges from 10 CFM to 5800 CFM, allowing the user to have a wider range of choice, yet still cost efficient, using only 210W at maximum speed. This fan has a 3-blade aluminum propeller with a built-in 360 Degree tilt feature; and the fan housing is constructed of heavy-duty steel with powder-coated wire guards in compliance with the United States OSHA Standard 1910.212, 1/2\\\" opening requirements. BLDC Motor Speeds Continuous variable, Voltage 115, Hz60, 210W Watts, Phase1, Low 10CFM and High 5800CFM, Air Velocity (FPM) at 20 Ft. 390/340, Motor HP1/2, Motor RPM200-1150, Operating Amps3.1, Fan RPM200-1150, Industrial Applications, Partially Assembled, Sound Level5-68dB, Max. Ambient Temp 104 Degrees F, Totally Enclosed Air-Over Motor Enclosure, Class B Motor Insulation, Auto Thermal Protection, Bearing Type Ball, 28\\\"H x 34 1/4\\\"W x 19 3/4\\\"D, 9 ft. cord, NEMA plug 5-15P, 3 Aluminum Blade, Steel Housing, 7\\\" Plastic and Rubber Casters, Steel Guard, Spot cooling and people cooling, Standards UL/CSA/OSHA.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Well-built, useful heavy-duty fan\\n\\nReview: I am quite happy with this fan. Assembly was quick and easy and consisted of merely installing the wheels. What I noticed right away was the quality materials and solid construction. It is built to last. The wheels make it easy to move, and the fan can be tilted a full 360 degrees, so you can move it and aim its air flow pretty-much wherever you want it. The speed control is continuous (no stops) and can be adjusted from a very slow speed, almost stopped, to quite high. There is a wind sound at the highest speed but not annoyingly loud.\\nThis fan should work well in most small to medium sized shops or garages. I will be using it at home--where we have hot Summers, coming up in a couple months.\\nRecommended.\",\n \"Product: Enjoy hour after hour of wireless music or calls with Philips wireless headphones. Featuring NFC, Bluetooth connectivity, superior 40mm neodymium drivers and soft, over-ear cushions, this is freedom of movement and comfort at its finest.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Good sound, they work well, a few hassles getting them to work with a Windows PC\\n\\nReview: These headphones work well. I like the quality of the sound, even for music (but I'm not picky nor insist on professional level sound). The builtin mike will pick up surrounding sounds and NOTE: the mike does not pick up your voice well if you speak quietly (probably due to it's placement on the rim of the earphone).\\nThey fit well. They are light and well cushioned. There is a convenient volume control on the headset.\\n\\nI am using these earphones only with computers, not with phones (from other reviews I gather that they connect up and get functional easily with iPhones, for example).\\n\\nBut note this: If your plan on using these with your computer, and you computer specs do NOT say Bluetooth enabled, you will likely have to purchase separately a USB adapter and software. The good news is that most such adapters and accompanying software are not expensive. I bought the Kinivo BTD-400, and once we got these devices working together, the headphones work fine.\\n\\nAlso be advised, though, if you are not familiar with getting Bluetooh devices up and running, OR if you are not tech savvy, have a PC with Windows and don't have experience getting a new device working, you will probably need help. The Kinivo instructions supplied contact information and invited clients to contact them for help. However my son-in-law is more tech savvy than me, and was able to get them working.\\n\\nWe tried these with 4 computers. The newer laptop (which is about 6 months old and advertised right on its box that it is Bluetooth enabled) connected with the headphones easily. The other computers required the USB adapter and software and some trial and errorto get them working.\\n\\nI like it that I can use them with a cord when I want (the cord is rather short). For example, if I want to use them with my digital recorder and don't want to go through set up issues, I can just temporarily connect the cord and they work fine that way.\\n\\nRecommended.\",\n \"Product: There are a lot of good headphones out there but few have the credentials for sound quality that AKG enjoys - with over 65 years of Grammy-recognized achievement and the respect of musicians everywhere. Hearing them is only part of the magic of AKG - as the AKG Y50s represent a new breed of exceptional on-ear headphone for people demanding more: more quality, more convenience, more flexibility. Their inspirational performance is matched by a bold styling and a lightweight, comfortable fit that redefines the category. Slip them on. Feel yourself escape into the luxury of rich sound with enhanced bass. Of hands-free controls placed just right for an ease of operation whether you're plugged into your smartphone or other device of your choice. Their closed-back design eliminates any other sounds but the ones you want to be hearing, providing a snug, comfortable fit that won't wear you down like many headphones. Choose a look and color to complement your personal touch - while you become a catalyst for quality and taste.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: These headphones provide great sound that has a definite live\\n\\nReview: These headphones provide great sound that has a definite live, stereo feel to it. They are light and comfortable to wear, with soft foam ear pads that are not too tight against your ear. They are also nicely foldable for taking along in the provided bag. With the exception of the cable, which is thin and may not last, these headphones seem to be made with quality materials, including the gold plated cable connections.\\n\\nNow concerning the cable, I found its in-line button a bit tricky to operate. The area on this button you need to click to activate it is hard to find by feel. And clicking it seems to do different things depending on which device it is connected to. There were no instrucions provided, so I had to figure this out by experimentation.\\n\\nAlso, this cable is short, a little over a meter in length. So if you plan to use these headphone with a computer, how comfortably you can do that depends on how close your computer is to you. On the other hand, these head phones work well with portable devices like iPods, iPhones, iPads etc.\\n\\nRecommended.\",\n \"Product: An Amazon Brand.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Easy assembly. Works great.\\n\\nReview: We mounted this on the wall behind my desk. I have two monitors, and now my monitor on the right swings outward to the right as well as turning to the right (revolving) so that I can use it for photos I want to refer to while painting (my painting table and easel are to the right of my computer desk).\\nPackaging was fine, so it arrived without any damage, and the package was fairly easy to open.\\nThe only difficulty in mounting was finding the studs in the wall to screw the large screws into. The monitor plate has holes that fit perfectly to the back of the monitor. So once the wall mount was attached to the wall and the plate to the monitor, it was just a matter of a few seconds to assemble the arm--super easy--and it functioned perfectly. I can rotate the monitor (landscape to portrait position), easily swing it left or right, up, and push it back to close to flush with the wall.\\nNote: I would consider carefully whether you want to mount its base on a wall (that is with the base positioned vertically) or flat on a surface like a desk and make sure you purchase the correct version. The Arms and the hardware of the two versions differ.\\nRecommended\",\n \"Product: Now that entire music libraries have come off the living room shelves and travel with us in purses and pockets, our personal entertainment has become a part of our everyday lives like never before. And we all know that the weak link in the chain is the audio cables. After only a few months of use they can make any genre sound like a commercial for Rice Krispies, \\\"Snap, Crackle, Pop!\\\" Sending you to the store for a new one. Not the case with Zeskit! Manufactured to the highest standards of quality, durability and design, your Zeskit audio cable will be with you through generations of iPods, tablets and mp3 players! Zeskit cables have a sturdy, easy to grasp aluminum housing at each end that adds style and protects the union between the cable and connectors. A braided, woven nylon sheath wraps the length of the cable making it stronger and more durable yet flexible and tangle free. Even at the extended length of 12 feet, Zeskits unwind easily, every time! A 24K gold-plated male connector delivers pure sound, will not corrode and boasts the \\\"step\\\" feature, one of the most graceful points of the Zeskit design. This enables you to plug-in to your device while it remains in its protective case. Cables without \\\"step\\\" either wear out quickly or require you to take your case off, and that's when scratches start to pile up and drops become deadly. With Zeskit you keep your case on, always! Your Zeskit female to male audio cable will mate perfectly with premium headphones or add needed length to an existing cable set-up. No matter your need, Zeskit audio cables maintain the high quality of your sound all the way to your ears. Protect your device while enjoying the best sound, a smooth design and the perfect length. Buy Zeskit and rest easy!\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Seems durable, works well, a little stiff.\\n\\nReview: I have the male to female type.\\nI have had it and have been suing it daily for the past month, so I cannot verify the cable's long-range durability. But it has worked for me every time with no problems whatsoever.\\nIt seems durable and well-made.\\nI gave 4 stars instead of 5, not because of any defect, but because I prefer a flexible cable (not the coiled ones that constantly tangle themselves up)--and this cable is a bit stiff, making it a bit unwieldy as well. For example, when I bend it, it tends to retain the bent shape. On the other hand, I keep it coiled up when I don't need all 12 feet of its length, and it fights me on that--it wants to spring out of any coil I try to force it into (I use a piece of velcro ribbon to hold it in the coil).\\nOtherwise, good service. Good packaging. The cable came as predicted and on time.\\nRecommended for anyone who doesn't mind a cable with stiffness to it.\",\n \"Product: A fresh design with signature Dura Base protection make it easy to bring your camera and accessories on any location.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Well-made and well-designed medium sized camera bag\\n\\nReview: This is a well-made and nice-looking camera bag. It is a compromise between storage capacity and size. You can have a lot of storage in a bag, but it can easily become a bulky bag awkward to tote around with you. So the result here is a medium-sized bag that is fairly sleek but not with a lot of storage--but probably enough for photographers willing to pack carefully.\\nThere are two noteworthy features: (1) The add says, \\\"Water-resistant Dura Base offers protection and stability from the ground up.\\\" It does offer stability and probably is waterproof (though I haven't tested it yet). (2 The ad also says, \\\"Innovative hammock system suspends camera body for superior impact protection\\\"--this means that your camera sits in this hammock with the lens facing down toward the padded bottom of the case. The distance from where the camera body's front sits in the hammock to the bottom of the case is about 4\\\". The width of the hammock opening where your camera lens slides through is also about 4\\\" (maximum). Both the hammock and the padding are attached with Velcro can can be removed or their position adjusted some (See the second photo below that shows the inside of the main compartment with the hammock on the left and the padding on the right. The top of the photo also shows an inside accessories pocket.\\nThe first photo below shows one of the two side pockets and the rear pocket both open.\\nI have had good luck with Case Logic products, and I expect this one to work well and be durable.\\nSo if you are looking for a medium-sized camera bag that will hold and protect a small to medium DSLR camera and some accessories, I would check out this case.\",\n \"Product: The ZAGG Limitless Keyboard makes the hassle of pairing and re-pairing each time you change devices a distant memory. Able to pair with three devices at the same time, the Zagg Limitless Keyboard uses simple keystrokes to change devices so you can keep up with email, notes, and more on all your devices - including your desktop - with ease.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Nice little keyboard for use with portable devices\\n\\nReview: Nice little keyboard for use with portable devices. We tried it out with an iPad, and iPhone and and Acer Iconia 8 tablet (Android OS). We were able to get it working in 3 steps with each device. Simple and easy. You do need to make sure the keyboard is charged up and turned on, and it does take a few seconds for your device's Bluetooth to recognize the keyboard, but nevertheless it is the simplest setup I've seen--takes a couple minutes.\\n\\nIn order for your tablet or phone to fit in and be propped up in the top slot on the keyboard, you may have to remove any case you're covering you phone or tablet with.\\n\\nIt is light and small (but comfortable to type on). It measures about 12\\\" wide 8 \\\" front to back, and 1/2\\\" thick at the back. You can set it up to recognize 3 different devices.\\n\\nHighly recommended.\\n\\nIf you want to be able to type on a \\\"regular\\\" keyboard when using a tablet of phone, I think this is a good way to go.\",\n \"Product: With so many 10-inch tablets available in the market, finding a keyboard case that's versatile enough to fit all the slight dimension changes is more important than ever. That's why we developed the Key Folio Fit for Android tablets like Samsung Galaxy Tab 3, Tab 4, Tab S, Tab Pro, Galaxy Note, and Google Nexus 7, among others . A silicone 4-corner base uses 'stay-straps' to securely keep your Android Tablet in place. But the most exciting feature has to be Tap Launch(TM), which lets you easily customize three shortcut keys so you can quickly start your favorite Android apps straight from your keyboard. And speaking of the Bluetooth keyboard, it's integrated right into the case and syncs quickly to your Android tablet. With 6 rows of high-performance scissor keys, you can type with optimal productivity. Soft interior lining keeps your Android tablet protected from scratches and damage, and a magnetic flap keeps the case securely closed when you're on the go.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: which fortunately proved to be the correct instructions\\n\\nReview: I got this keyboard working but it was a bit of a struggle.\\n\\nFirst off, I went to the website, as instructed, to get setup information. I searched for this model and couldn't find it, so I chose a pdf that was close to it (in model number), which fortunately proved to be the correct instructions.\\n\\nThe unstructions were sparse for sure. (By the way, they do include decoding info for that row of keys along the top of the keyboard--the icons).\\n\\nI tried to pair this with my tablet with no luck, so I decided to see if the keyboard needed charging. It did. Now the cable supplied doesn't include an adapter to use to plug into a wall socket, so I used my tablet's AC adapter, which worked. After charging, I was able to get the keyboard paired with my tablet.\\n\\nNote: My tablet is an 8\\\" so it doesn't fit securely in this case. Nevertheless, while the case closes securely with its magnetic fastener, as a stand to prop up a tablet, it doesn't seem to me to be all that secure. That is, it stands too upright and tends to tip over backward too easily. (It probably works better with a 10\\\" tablet.)\\n\\nSo, it works well when you get it working.\\n\\n3 stars because of (1) the lack of an AC adapter; (2) very limited instructions; (3) having to go to a website for startup instructions (and not finding instructions for this model there!)\",\n \"Product: From the bravo collection of soft, unstructured and more casual business and travel designs comes this slim and well-organized commuter brief. It offers a dedicated laptop compartment and another compartment for accessories and files. Features an iPad pocket and numerous interior and exterior pockets. Top carry handles and a removable, adjustable shoulder strap. Made from soft-yet-tough ballistic nylon.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: like the name tag you can register with the manufacturer ...\\n\\nReview: My first impression w hen I took this bag out of its box was quality: the ballistic nylon its made of, the large gauge zippers (the thickes I've seen), and the many pockets. This case is made to last.\\n\\nGoing from front to back...\\nThere are 3 pockets on the front: (1) a long one, about 14\\\" wide by 7\\\" tall and about 2\\\" deep with expandable sides--and inside 2 business card pockets, 2 pen pockets and 2 larger pockets about 6.5\\\" wide. and 5\\\" high. (2, 3) The 2 remaining pockets are 7\\\" wide and 6.5\\\" wide, both 5\\\" tall. The one on the left has inside it a strap with a small carabiner that can hold keys, for example.\\n\\nThe main compartment is 11 x 14\\\" x 2\\\" deep. The zipper runs down both sides in case you want to expand the interior some. There's a large thin pocket inside that would hold an iPad. There are 3 other on the opposite side: a long zippered one about 6.5 x 13\\\", and 2 others about 7\\\" wide by 6.5\\\" high.\\n\\nAnother zippered compartment is located between the main compartment and the back of the case. It's about 11 x 14 x 1\\\".\\n\\nAnd now on the back, one more zippered pocket, about 6 x 11\\\".\\n\\nAbsolute quality construction and materials throughout, from the reinforced stitching of the handles to the beefy snaps that hold the should strap, with plenty of thoughtful little extras, like the name tag you can register with the manufacturer (so someone finding your case can contact the company to reach you).\\n\\nThe price tag is high.\\n\\nRecommended.\",\n \"Product: From the bravo collection of soft, unstructured and more casual business and travel designs comes this slim and well-organized commuter brief. It offers a dedicated laptop compartment and another compartment for accessories and files. Features an iPad pocket and numerous interior and exterior pockets. Top carry handles and a removable, adjustable shoulder strap. Made from soft-yet-tough ballistic nylon.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: like the name tag you can register with the manufacturer ...\\n\\nReview: My first impression w hen I took this bag out of its box was quality: the ballistic nylon its made of, the large gauge zippers (the thickes I've seen), and the many pockets. This case is made to last.\\n\\nGoing from front to back...\\nThere are 3 pockets on the front: (1) a long one, about 14\\\" wide by 7\\\" tall and about 2\\\" deep with expandable sides--and inside 2 business card pockets, 2 pen pockets and 2 larger pockets about 6.5\\\" wide. and 5\\\" high. (2, 3) The 2 remaining pockets are 7\\\" wide and 6.5\\\" wide, both 5\\\" tall. The one on the left has inside it a strap with a small carabiner that can hold keys, for example.\\n\\nThe main compartment is 11 x 14\\\" x 2\\\" deep. The zipper runs down both sides in case you want to expand the interior some. There's a large thin pocket inside that would hold an iPad. There are 3 other on the opposite side: a long zippered one about 6.5 x 13\\\", and 2 others about 7\\\" wide by 6.5\\\" high.\\n\\nAnother zippered compartment is located between the main compartment and the back of the case. It's about 11 x 14 x 1\\\".\\n\\nAnd now on the back, one more zippered pocket, about 6 x 11\\\".\\n\\nAbsolute quality construction and materials throughout, from the reinforced stitching of the handles to the beefy snaps that hold the should strap, with plenty of thoughtful little extras, like the name tag you can register with the manufacturer (so someone finding your case can contact the company to reach you).\\n\\nThe price tag is high.\\n\\nRecommended.\",\n \"Product: The Pro X Tee Triple is a multi-position instructional tee that provides unmatched durability for professional use. This tee improves bat path, swing mechanics and body positioning. The self-guided illustrated instructions on the tee allow players to work the entire hitting zone through a multitude of drills.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Sturdy, easily adjustable, and portable.\\n\\nReview: This tee looks to me to be very well made. It is made mainly of steel and seems very sturdy. I gather that the folding base is made to fit over home plate (or at least most home plates).\\n\\nIt can be folded easily and taken apart slightly (the cone-rods slide out) and will fit into the supplied storage bag for easy transport. It is a bit on the heavy side, but on the positive side, that makes for more stability.\\n\\nThere are 2 ways to adjust the height of the cones that hold the baseball.. You can adjust the top horizontal bar's height and also you can slide the white cone-rods in their holes in the bar up and down. They fit snugly but are not difficult to slide. This means this tee will work. height-wise and otherwise,for small children as well as tall adults. Very flexible.\\n\\nIt was easy and quick to put together. Took just a few minutes.\\n\\nThe baseball (or softball) sits atop \\\"neoprene and nylon dual-wrapped tee tops\\\" that look to me like they will last a long time. Very flexible. And nothing to break if you miss a bit when trying to hit the baseball.\\n\\nThis is not a cheap sports practice item, so I recommend it for those who are seriously into baseball or softball.\\n\\nRecommended.\",\n \"Product: Relax and hydrate with this vessel of tranquility. The NEW Tranquil water bottle provides calming, Zen-like moments to your busy, hectic day.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: I use it daily\\n\\nReview: I live in a two story home, so I like to keep my drinking water at my desk. This bottle is handy in a number of ways. There are two unscrewable parts to the top. One for drinking or pouring and a second wider one, which makes it easy to add ice cubes or pour in powdered drink solutions, for example. It like too the little loop carrying handle that's part of the cap. Often I'm carrying a number of things upstairs, and this makes it easy to include the bottle. Also, when hiking, I can clip it onto a backpack or belt clip, rather than having it take up room in my daypack.\\n\\nThe insulated cover does keep my water cooler longer. And is a bit easier on the hand to hold a really cold drink.\\n\\nIt is also well made, good thick plastic, and doesn't have give my water a plastic taste at all. It's not cheap, but I think the quality is worth the price.\\n\\nThe only improvement I would suggest, and it's not a fault necessarily, so as to deduct a star in the rating above, but I would prefer a top that's easier to open to take a drink. Having to unscrew the lid each time is a bit tedious. But I will buy another if this one ever wears out.\\n\\nHighly recommended.\",\n \"Product: AMERICAN EMPIRE is an indictment on the country that has supposedly nurtured us, but is slowly destroying us. Beginning with the founding of the Federal Reserve our economy is controlled by a system of debt and inflation. It has become an economic empire that is destroying our planet and all its natural resources driven by a relentless need to amass money and power.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: If you're concerned about the future of the USA, not to be missed\\n\\nReview: An eye-opening and informative and rather shocking documentary on US imperialism. Our politicians do not talk plainly about all these aspects. No doubt they don't want you and me to know. The video covers a lot of ground, contains interviews with key experts in the various fields. As to the content, this blurb at the Amazon page says it quite well: \\\"An expansive and provocative documentary covering the Federal Reserve, U.S. foreign policy, corporate collusion and destructive agriculture, weaving together interviews with top thinkers to deliver an urgent yet hopeful message.\\\"\\n\\nI found it disturbing but I'm glad I watched it. I think it contains vital info every US citizen should be actively aware of. I like the way the video traces the cause and effect relationships of all the corporate meddling in other countries and the effect on our food and water. Believe me, it made me want to shop locally for our food and grow our own as much as is practical.\\n\\nHighly recommended.\",\n \"Product: In Disney's riveting mystery adventure TOMORROWLAND, a jaded inventor and an optimistic teen embark on a danger-filled mission to unearth the secrets of an enigmatic place somewhere in time and space.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Not perfect but thoroughly entertaining and meaningful\\n\\nReview: I love this movie. There's a lot of cynicism and pessimism concerning the future going around these days, and a lot of people seem to enjoy, even find entertaining, zombies and dystopias left and right. Instead, here is a movie with lots of optimism that says it's okay to be a dreamer and to not give up. Sure, the movie is not perfect; there are a number of things that could have been done differently and better. But I don't choose movies because I think they will be classics or are stunning examples of cinema technique. I don't even choose movies to see because reviewers rate them highly. Reviewers are too often dead wrong. I choose movies because they intrigue me. And this one certainly did that. It is delightfully entertaining.\\nThe acting is great. George Clooney is great as a cynical, disillusioned and grumpy middle aged man. Britt Robertson is excellent as an optimistic and scientifically brilliant teen, Hugh Laurie comes across convincingly as a determined villain. And what can I say about Raffey Cassidy? A performance worthy of an academy award, brilliant and captivating.\\nIf you enjoy Disney themes and an optimistic look at the future--the possibilities, don't miss this one.\",\n \"Product: Fits LG(R) Accolade 5600 Custom tailored leather case Handcrafted from the finest materials Added belt clip for convenient carrying on belt, handbag or backpack\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Fits the Accolade phone Perfectly\\n\\nReview: This affordable and well-made leather phone case fits the Accolade 5600 snugly and securely. It has plastic windows that cover and protect the outer and inner screens from scratches but that do not get in the way of reading the brightly lit screens.\\n\\nThe belt clip, obviously designed for a male user, fits tightly enough over a belt to make loss of the phone unlikely. And this, to me, is an important strength of the design.\\n\\nTo answer a call, while wearing it in its case on a belt, you can unsnap the button at the top rear of the case (near the clip). You then can slip the phone upward out of the case's bottom clip portion, basically splitting the case in half. The top half of the case remains protectively over the screen portions of the phone while you answer the call. After the call, you can easily slip the phone back into the bottom portion of its case and snap it in place. (With some cases, you pull a phone completely out of its case to answer or make a call, thus exposing it to damage should you drop it.)\\n\\nOf course, when the phone is not on your belt, you can make and answer calls with the phone completely enclosed in the case. Clear plastic also covers the dialing and function buttons, so they are covered protectively but are also readable and accessible.\\n\\nAll in all, a quite well-designed case. Just what I was looking for.\\n\\nHighly recommended.\",\n \"Product: Leather Case Holster Cover Side Pouch with Belt Clip for Verizon Samsung Brightside U380\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Great little case and great price\\n\\nReview: I works well, seems to be made well too.\\nIt fits the phone nicely, without a case on the phone.\\nThe only suggestions I would have for improvement would be: (1) make it a little large (interior capaticy dimensions) so that you can put the rubberized attachable case on the phone. I like the rubberized case a lot (this one: http://www.amazon.com/Rubberized-Faceplate-Samsung-Brightside-U380/dp/B007OZIYXO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1355428210&sr=8-1&keywords=rubberized+case+for+samsung+phone) because it makes it easier to open the keyboard and also makes the side buttons less easy to accidentally push. With the rubberized attached makes the fit too tight.\\n\\nThe other suggestions would be, perhaps, to choose one or the other: either belt loops or a belt clip. They two together on the back of the case is not ideal.\\n\\nBut overall a great little case for the money.\\n\\nRecommended.\",\n \"Product: The Flamelesss Safety Flare is a Battery-operated flare that provides a brightly illuminated, flashing RED signal that will be seen up to 1,000 feet away. Keep this handy device in your car in case of emergencies.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Small,, light, and useful\\n\\nReview: This flare is small and light like a small flashlight. It is made of plastic and runs on two AAA batteries (supplied). It has a button on the side. Push it once, and the flare begins to flash red like a red lensed flashlight. Push it again, and it gives a steady red glow. One more push on the button, and it turns off.\\n\\nThe main thing is its convenience. The size makes it possible to fit in most places, including a jacket or even shirt or plants pocket. Certainly it will find in a glove compartment, handy and accessible for use in case of need.\\n\\nAlthough I haven't had an occasion to test it, its batteries are supposed to last a long time. Unlike a burning flare, you can use it over and over again. Say you're done changing your tire, you can turn it off and put it back in the glove compartment.\\n\\nA clever idea and a useful tool. Recommended.\",\n \"Product: In the vast world of vocal music available to us today, there is precious little out there to claim our ears. When a singer like Jaimee Paul comes along, we remember that musical artistry and good taste can produce wonderful music in any decade. Jaimee has listened to, and learned, from the singers of the past but she is aware that there is already an Ella, a Rosie, a Lena and a Billie. Her job now is to use all those wonderful influences in a new way. She has all the tools; the voice, the ear, the feel and the spirit, and though you can hear echoes of many people in her voice, she really sounds like nobody but herself. Attribution, without mimicry, is the greatest compliment any singer can pay to the people who have blazed the trail. It is a rare pleasure to play for a singer with the taste, musicality and plain old good sense that Jaimee Paul has. She does great tribute to the iconic girl singers on this project by taking on some of their signature songs. I'm very proud to be a part of this project.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: One in a million or more\\n\\nReview: If you like female vocalists and good old tunes, like those listed on this album,then by all means take a listen.\\nEvery once in a while a singer comes along that leaves you nearly breathless and with one word in your mouth (and heart): \\\"Wow!\\\"\\nI noticed at Amazon.com that pianist Beegie Adair was the accompanist for this album. That was a strong clue because Beegie is the best, when it comes to pop piano and light jazz, a total joy to listen to, over and over again. Her taste is flawless.\\nThis lady, Jaimee Paul, is just like that, and so much warmth, so much feeling, and a voice to die for. What a career this wonderful singer will have.\\nHighest recommendation.\",\n \"Product: Portrait of the Grammy award-winning American violinist in performance with some of the world's top philharmonic orchestras. Performance footage is interspersed with clips of the artist traveling in some exotic locales including Hong Kong as well as relaxing at her home.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: For those who like Hilary Hahn's work, not to be missed!\\n\\nReview: If you are at all interested in the lives and personalities of gifted and accomplished classical musicians--and in this case, Hilary Hahn--then I highly recommend getting this DVD. I do not think you will be disappointed.\\n\\nShe's an exceptional musician and a delightful person. This is a rather intimate portrait.\\n\\nThe DVD does present clips of concertos interspersed with commentary, which seems to be a turnoff to some. But the good news is that the entire Korngold concerto is included nonstop with the bonus material, along with a video of her playing with long-time friend Natalie Zhu a Mozart sonata duet (from their audio CD \\\"Violin Sonatas\\\")--which is a gift, since you get to see them playing, not so of course with the CD. By the way, the Korngold Concerto is gorgeous.\\n\\nTo me, a lovely DVD. Ms. Hahn's musicality and warmth and personal honesty are a joy to witness.\\n For classical music lovers, and particularly fans of key classical musicians, this one is not to be missed.\\n\\nAgain, highly recommended.\",\n \"Product: Have a lot of documents to organize? Then you need a strong binder. This Heavy-Duty View Binder provides a convenient place to store important documents. It features four durable interior pockets to store handouts and unpunched pages. The strong 1.5-Inch One Touch EZD Gap Free rings hold up to 400 sheets of paper and can be opened and closed easily when you need to add or remove pages. And with free templates from avery.com, you can customize a cover page with text and graphics. Cover material is PVC-free polypropylene. Made with 100% recycled chipboard. An efficient organizational solutionthat's exercising good judgment.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: This is a good way to indicate a notebook's content and differentiate it ...\\n\\nReview: These notebooks seem to be well made.\\n\\nYou can \\\"customize\\\" the front and back covers and spine by slipping sheets of paper under the clear plastic outer covers.\\nThis is a good way to indicate a notebook's content and differentiate it from others.\\n\\nInside there are two pockets for loose sheets, both on the inside front cover and the inside back cover. Alwaysa a good idea for notebooks lilke these.\\nThe D rings hold more paper and open and close easily and accurately by pulling or shoving the lever at the bottom. (The rings on cheaper notebooks often do not snap closed accurately, causing notebook paper sheets to tear at their holes.)\\n\\nAt the current price of $33.26, that means about $8.32 per notebook--a little steep, but I think the quality of this notebook means it will last a good while and therefore the cost will be worth it.\\n\\nNote: I received 4 of these notebooks for free for review. Some companies advertize a package but stingily send only one item for a review. This company is generous, a good sign that they are willing to invest wisely to gain loyal customers.\\n\\nRcommended..\",\n \"Product: This three ring view binder is a perfect organizational tool, with round rings to allow for easier page turning. Specialty size, this binder holds 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 inch size sheets. Features include customizable clear cover and spine, 175 sheet capacity in the 1 inch binder size, and durable PVC Free polypropylene material. White only.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Well-made but with a thick spine\\n\\nReview: This is a well-made binder, built to last. The round rings do make for easier page turning (as opposed to \\\"D\\\" type rings. Inside there are pockets on the front and back covers, although the back cover pocket is limited in size due to the placement of the rings assembly on the left.\\nThis is a good little notebook for those seeking a smaller-sized one.\\nPersonally, I prefer a narrower spine in this sized notebook. In other words, if you want a small notebook that takes 5.5 x 8.5 paper, why have a thick 1 5/8\\\" spine (measured on the outside)? A while back, I bought a notebook this sized, made by Avery, but it has a 1 1/4\\\" spine--to me more compact and portable, easy to fit into a messenger bag, etc.\\nRecommended if you're looking for a notebook this size and don't mind the thick spine.\",\n \"Product: Bottle Style May Vary, May Come in Glass or Plastic\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Perfect brown ink for me\\n\\nReview: This is the ink I settled on after looking at several other brown hues. I like a rich dark brown that is easy to read, including on buff or off-white paper. The color of this ink is a rich, slightly reddish brown. It looks nicely antique.\\n\\nSearch in Youtube for this ink's name and you can find some videos that show it's color pretty accurately.\\n\\nNoodler's ink is simply the best, and Noodler's bulletproof ink is waterproof and permanent and can't be beat, at least in my opinion.\\n\\nI use this ink for my fountain pens and for my Speedball dip pen. It works great with either.\\nI have been using Noodler's inks for several years in several different colors. It's my preferred brand.\",\n \"Product: Ideal for oil, watercolor, and acrylic paints. These unique palettes have a rubber gasket around the edge to seal the paint inside which greatly reduces the chance of drying out between uses. Mixing trays and wells are removable for easy cleaning. 33 wells, 12 1/2 inches l x 6 1/4 inches w.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Well made and functions well in the field or studio\\n\\nReview: I became aware of this palette when it was described by one of my favorite watercolorists, Brenda Swenson. So when I needed a new palette for the field, I bought it and filled it with my pigments. I have used it in the field 3 times now, and it has worked well.\\n\\nIt is sturdily made, with thick plastic, not the all-too-usual thin variety. It closes tight enough to prevent any wet watercolor from leaking out during transport. 18 to me is a good number of pigments for painting just about anything (though I usually select 3-6 of them for any given painting). There's plenty of mixing room, especially with a portable palette--most have considerably less. And it's light and compact, fits into my field day backpack easily.\\n\\nIt will be going to the field with me for onsite sketching all through Summer and Fall (until the next rainy season around November here in the Pacific Norhtwest--though I'll go out then too but less frequently).\\n\\nHighly recommended.\",\n \"Product: Noodler's Ink is 100% made in the USA from cap to glass to ink. Archival quality inks in large 3oz. bottles for vintage or new fountain pens. Yellow base with vibrant orange and red tones. Lovely on white or ivory papers.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Perfect brown ink for me\\n\\nReview: This is the ink I settled on after looking at several other brown hues. I like a rich dark brown that is easy to read, including on buff or off-white paper. The color of this ink is a rich, slightly reddish brown. It looks nicely antique.\\n\\nSearch in Youtube for this ink's name and you can find some videos that show it's color pretty accurately.\\n\\nNoodler's ink is simply the best, and Noodler's bulletproof ink is waterproof and permanent and can't be beat, at least in my opinion.\\n\\nI use this ink for my fountain pens and for my Speedball dip pen. It works great with either.\\nI have been using Noodler's inks for several years in several different colors. It's my preferred brand.\",\n \"Product: 96 piece marker set in desk stand. Preferred by fine artists and crafters. Each brush pen has two tips - a versatile, flexible, nylon fiber brush tip and a fine, hard tip - with a single ink chamber ensuring exact color match. Create fine, medium or bold strokes with a change in brush pressure; or use the fine tip to make consistent fine lines perfect for drawing embellishments, intricate designs, details, and writing. Easily mix and blend ink to create an array of new colors. Blend two ink colors together or use the colorless blender pen to create a watercolor effect. Includes: 95 colors, 1 blender, 1 desk stand. Made in Vietnam and stand made in the USA.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Great for a lot of color applications\\n\\nReview: These are watersoluble so don't expect them to be waterproof. But they are easily blendable with water. If you want to use them for small sketches I suggest using a watercolor or watercolor/mixed-medai sketching paper that will hold up to a bit of scrubbing for the best results. In fact, I recommend using better quality paper generally--you will like the results more.\\n\\nNor are the colors lightfast, like a lot of quality watercolors, acrylics or oils. But if you use them like in a journal or closed book, I suspect that they will last a long time. But they are not recommended for fine art that is to be framed and thus exposed to light over time.\\n\\nAlso, they do not bleed through a lot of decent papers like permanent markers do.\\n\\nI find these brush pens especially for quick small sketches. For years I have used the grays for doing little studies in preparation for larger art work, like paintings.\\n\\nHighly recommended.\",\n \"Product: Noodler's Ink is 100% made in the USA from cap to glass to ink. Archival quality inks in large 3oz. bottles for vintage or new fountain pens. Yellow base with vibrant orange and red tones. Lovely on white or ivory papers.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Perfect brown ink for me\\n\\nReview: This is the ink I settled on after looking at several other brown hues. I like a rich dark brown that is easy to read, including on buff or off-white paper. The color of this ink is a rich, slightly reddish brown. It looks nicely antique.\\n\\nSearch in Youtube for this ink's name and you can find some videos that show it's color pretty accurately.\\n\\nNoodler's ink is simply the best, and Noodler's bulletproof ink is waterproof and permanent and can't be beat, at least in my opinion.\\n\\nI use this ink for my fountain pens and for my Speedball dip pen. It works great with either.\\nI have been using Noodler's inks for several years in several different colors. It's my preferred brand.\",\n \"Product: 96 piece marker set in desk stand. Preferred by fine artists and crafters. Each brush pen has two tips - a versatile, flexible, nylon fiber brush tip and a fine, hard tip - with a single ink chamber ensuring exact color match. Create fine, medium or bold strokes with a change in brush pressure; or use the fine tip to make consistent fine lines perfect for drawing embellishments, intricate designs, details, and writing. Easily mix and blend ink to create an array of new colors. Blend two ink colors together or use the colorless blender pen to create a watercolor effect. Includes: 95 colors, 1 blender, 1 desk stand. Made in Vietnam and stand made in the USA.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Great for a lot of color applications\\n\\nReview: These are watersoluble so don't expect them to be waterproof. But they are easily blendable with water. If you want to use them for small sketches I suggest using a watercolor or watercolor/mixed-medai sketching paper that will hold up to a bit of scrubbing for the best results. In fact, I recommend using better quality paper generally--you will like the results more.\\n\\nNor are the colors lightfast, like a lot of quality watercolors, acrylics or oils. But if you use them like in a journal or closed book, I suspect that they will last a long time. But they are not recommended for fine art that is to be framed and thus exposed to light over time.\\n\\nAlso, they do not bleed through a lot of decent papers like permanent markers do.\\n\\nI find these brush pens especially for quick small sketches. For years I have used the grays for doing little studies in preparation for larger art work, like paintings.\\n\\nHighly recommended.\",\n \"Product: Noodler's Ink is 100% made in the USA from cap to glass to ink. Archival quality inks in large 3oz. bottles for vintage or new fountain pens. With nice shading, this dark blue-black is great for use in professional writing. Partially bulletproof, and both forgery-resistant and water-resistant.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Perfect brown ink for me\\n\\nReview: This is the ink I settled on after looking at several other brown hues. I like a rich dark brown that is easy to read, including on buff or off-white paper. The color of this ink is a rich, slightly reddish brown. It looks nicely antique.\\n\\nSearch in Youtube for this ink's name and you can find some videos that show it's color pretty accurately.\\n\\nNoodler's ink is simply the best, and Noodler's bulletproof ink is waterproof and permanent and can't be beat, at least in my opinion.\\n\\nI use this ink for my fountain pens and for my Speedball dip pen. It works great with either.\\nI have been using Noodler's inks for several years in several different colors. It's my preferred brand.\",\n \"Product: Incredibly smooth and colorful, the new Acroball Colors Pen from Pilot has it all - A stylish design, comfortable contoured grip, and incredibly smooth effortless writing! Acroballs advanced ink allows you to express yourself brilliantly with ultra-smooth, colorful, smear-resistant formula. Not only is the Acroball pen fun to write with, it is also retractable and refillable, so you won't have to worry about losing a cap or running out of ink. Pilot Acroball Color pens are available in a variety of different barrel colors, with an advanced ink in a matching color and a medium (1.0mm) point. See what everyone is talking about - Buy a pack today!\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Good ball points but not as rich a line as a G2\\n\\nReview: These are comfortable pens to write with. The rubber grip makes the pen feel secure to hold.\\n\\nI have been using Pilot G2s for years and prefer them to any other gel pen.\\n\\nWith these Acroball gels I find myself wanting to press harder. The line is more a fine width than medium, and the writing is not as smooth as some ball points and definitely not as smooth or richly colored as the G2. This is especially true with the pink and orange, lighter colors.\\nI like it that this set includes additional colors, more the usual black, red and blue, and thus adds to range of colors I have. Useful for doing mind mapping and journaling, for example. And each pen wrote right off rightr out of its bubble packaging.\\n\\nRecommended for those liking fine lines and a rich dark line is not mandagory.\",\n \"Product: Westcott Electric iPoint Evolution Axis Heavy Duty Pencil Sharpener features ultra-quiet operation, fast sharpening with auto stop, and accommodates multiple pencil sizes. From the Manufacturer: Westcott develops home and office products unmatched in style, design and performance. We continue to deliver results that are both inspirational and functional, earning the title of \\\"The World's Favorite Scissors\\\" year after year.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: It's quiet, hardy, and does the job\\n\\nReview: I replaced my Panasonic Auto Stop pencil sharpener with this one. I gave the Panasonic too my granddaughter. I had it a couple years, and it worked well, but I like this new one better. It looks attractive sitting between two monitors on my deak. I do a lot of drawing with wooden pencils, different sized, so I like it closeby.\\n\\nI especially like the auto stop feature that works very well, actually stopping the cutting motion completely when the point is sharp. A little startling at first--you think the electricity died. So far it has prevented any point breaking or that grinding on and on that can quickly shorten the life of a pencil. The different sized holes for pencils work well too, which certainly are handy.\\n\\nIt is a large pencil sharpener, about 5 1/2\\\" high and 5 7/8\\\" wide its front and about 7 1/4\\\" deep front to back. It's nice and heavy, which means it doesn't move much on its clear/white rubber feet (before I had to velcro the Panasonic down so it would not move every time I sharpened a pencil).\\n\\nIt is solidly made, so I expect it to last a long time. I like the ten year warranty. The shavings tray removes easily for dumping and catches most of the shavings. It's powerful too, hasn't slowed down once, even with larger diameter pencils.\\n\\nIt is quiet, quieter than any previous electric sharpener I have owned.\\n\\nHighly recommended.\",\n \"Product: The Canon PIXMA MX922 Energy Star Wireless Inkjet Office All-in-One Printer prints in black and white at 15 ipm, in color at 10 ipm, and can output a borderless 4.0 x 6.0-inch photo in 21 seconds. Print borderless photos right at home using the 9600 x 2400 color dpi. Use the automatic double-sided print feature to print on both sides of the page and cut your paper consumption by as much as 50%. The built-in disc tray lets you design and print your own custom CDs, DVDs, and Blu-rays. Its Full HD Movie Print feature takes a frame from an HD movie recorded on a compatible EOS, PowerShot, or VIXIA camera or camcorder and prints it as a photo, ensuring you never miss a photo opportunity while shooting video. The MX922 features a scan resolution of up to 2400 x 4800 dpi optical. Plus use the built-in copy function to duplicate photos as well as documents.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Excellent print quality, but a few issues\\n\\nReview: I've had this printer for a 3 weeks now, using it daily. Here's what I have noticed.\\n\\nIncidentally, for a few years now, I had bought only Canon printers and have had good luck with them.\\n\\nNote: I do not use the fax function, so I didn't set it up, but I do use wireless.\\n\\nSetup: Was easy and went smoothly. I had to have my son in law make a couple choices with the Wireless set up. But we were able to get it going without using the supplied CD.\\n\\nFeatures: Regarding the scan function, I like to use the grayscale mode at times, and I found I did have to install the CD drivers, which prompted me to download an update (to update the Windows 7 driver that worked fine otherwise), to get the grayscale mode to show up. I should say that I usually use Photoshop Elements 5 to do my scanning with, so maybe that was why I had to install the CD. But I suspect the printer needed the updated driver for the grayscale option to show up.\\n\\nPrint quality: Is very high. I was able to print some beautiful photos borderless at 8.5x11\\\" for visiting relatives.\\n\\nTwo Issues: (1) As other reviewers have pointed out, it is noisy, especially on startup and at times when feeding paper, clunky sounding. And it is noticeably slower than my other printer: Canon Pixma MG5220. The noisiness to me is not a problem except when I want to print late at night when family members are sleeping. So far, none have woken up due to the printer sounds. The slowness is a bit aggravating, since I am used to my older model faster printer. The other evening it took about 10 minutes to prepare a preview for a color photo at high quality printing on photo paper. It was long enough that I cancelled the printing and tried again in case something had gone wrong. Nothing had gone wrong; it was just unexpectedly slow.\\n (2) The paper feeder is not flawless. When I was printing another 8.5x11\\\" color photo, this one at standard quality, I placed a Canon sheet of Photo Paper Plus Glossy II in the printer with regular printer paper. The design of the paper cassettes/trays and feeding path is such that you must place the side you want to print on facing down, that is in contact with any other paper in the cassette/tray. So the glossy side of the photo paper came into contact with the regular printer paper. Consequently when the printer fed the paper in for printing, it took two sheets, instead of only the photo paper sheet, and printed mainly on the regular printer paper, not the photo paper. Thus wasting a considerable amount of ink. It worked fine when I removed the regular printer paper and placed only one sheet of the glossy paper into the cassette/tray. I have not had this problem with my other Canon printer.\\n\\nSo, basically, a good printer that produces high quality prints. Recommended for those who can live with the issues I mentioned above.\",\n \"Product: VISCONTI Travelling Inkwell Universal Black\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Clever device but terrible instructions\\n\\nReview: I had started the process for returning this ink pot for a possible refund. After wasting about a quarter of a bottle of ink trying to get it to work right, I had given up. And I didn't want to take a loss of $70 for an ink pot that didn't work for me.\\n\\nBut after initiating the return procedure, I decided to spend some time on Google to see if I could find some help. After a couple hours of reading, I did. I came across tips that helped me learn how to use the pot successfully (see below).\\n\\nMain point: the instructions that came with the pot were hopelessly inadequate and terse. I find it hard to understand why a manufacturer that puts out such an ingenious product would also be responsible for such lousy half-complete instructions.\\n\\nNow it's my fault for not following the advice of several reviewers who urged a buyer (in this case, me) to practice with water first. That's excellent advice.\\n\\nIf you buy this product, what you need to know is:\\n\\n(1) Before inserting your fountain pen into the pot and inverting it, expel any air trapped inside your pen's converter or ink barrel (wherever the ink is stored in the pen). You to this, of course, by screwing down the plunger by turning its knob--usually counter-clockwise. If you don't do this, you can send air into the Visconti chamber where the ink is, building pressure there. Too much pressure can break the seal between your pen nib and the chamnber opening, causing ink to leak down onto your hands and anything underneath.\\n\\n(2) I also advise filling the Visconti pot ONLY 2/3rds full of ink (not all the way up to the line with the writing \\\"MAX INK LEVEL DO NOT OVERFILL.\\\" That is, 2/3rds of the way up from the bottom of the pot to this line. This is added insurance that there will not be too much pressure build up in the chamber. You will still have plenty of ink in the Visconti for several ink-pen fillings.\\n\\n(3) Also, make sure you shove the nib into the pot until it fits snuggly. Don't jam it in super-hard, just enough for a snug fit. To get the feel of it, I strongly advise practicing with water first.\\n\\nNow I have read a number of reviews of this ink pot. Most people seem to have no trouble with it. But, personally, I am keeping it for use at home for its ability to fill my ink pens completely--no air bubbles (something this ink pot does quite well). But I will NOT use it while traveling. I've had too many spills with it to trust it that much. I will carry an extra pen in case my main pen runs out or a small regular-type bottle of ink for filling my pen in the field.\\n\\nSo 4 stars for a pretty-good ink pot. 2 stars for the instructions. That averages out to 3.\\n\\n3/18/2012. I wanted to add that I have filled my ink pen using this ink pot several times carefully, and have not had a problem doing so, no ink spills. So I have changed my mind and will carry it with me to the field. I will have a long a small rag or paper towel to wipe the nib area, since it can come out of the pot with a little ink on it. So now I'll give it 4 stars.\",\n \"Product: The STEELMASTER Lock It Desktop Inbox has a key locking compartment to provide privacy and security for confidential papers and files. Constructed of durable steel, this lockable inbox is coated with a black, scratch-and chip-resistant finish and features non-slip, non-mar feet that will not scratch surfaces. The locking compartment measures 11 inches wide x 14-1/8 inches deep; providing security to items such as standard mail, delivery envelopes, large inter-office mail envelopes and file folders. Behind the STEELMASTER name stands 70 plus years of metal fabrication experience. Serving the consumer, retail, specialty, hospitality, and banking industries, STEELMASTER products are built to perform and made to last.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: This is a sturdy, well-made and well-finished steel box\\n\\nReview: This is a sturdy, well-made and well-finished steel box. It is also fairly light and measures from front to back about 14 1/8th inches (including the lock on the hinged drawer-flap that protrudes a bit from the front); it is just slightly over 11 inches wide and just under 5 5/8th high at the highest point. It should fit well with just about any desk/office decor. The \\\"in-box\\\" on the top is handy and easy to reach, and the drawer provides privacy and security should you want it.\\nNote the \\\"drawer\\\"--as the ad calls it--is really not a drawer but is a compartment or wide cubby area covered by a top-hinged door-flap. The cubby's interior measures 10 7/8th\\\" wide and about 13 3/4th\\\" deep.\\nI have one small criticism, which is not serious enough to knock off a star above, but the front hinged drawer-flap can be tricky to get open. That is, there is really no place to grab on to it to pull the door up. But if you use the key, then it's easy to open it by pulling it open by the key.while it is in the lock.\\nRecommended for those who would like an inbox with a compartment you can lock.\",\n \"Product: Convenient notebook 3 pack includes slim, durable notebooks in three different sizes to meet your various needs. All feature the contemporary style and modernized look that is the signature of the AT-A-GLANCE Collection line of products. Notebooks lie flat when open for maximum ease of use during notetaking. Each is wirebound with a textured cover; small and large notebooks have pewter covers and the medium notebook has a black cover. Medium and large notebooks feature days of the week along the top so you can easily associate a date to your notes. Small notebook includes 48 lined pages; 3.5 in. x 5.5 in. page size. Medium notebook includes 96 grid pages; 6 in. x 8.25 in. page size. Large notebook includes 96 grid pages with lined notes space on right side; 8.5 in. x 11 in. page size.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Somewhat elegant, well-made, a bit pricey\\n\\nReview: These are attractive notebooks. The paper in them seems to be of good quality. I wrote in the smallest one with my fountain pen, and the ink did not seep through to the other side. The binding is a sewn binding, and the notebooks will lay open flat with a little training.\\nOn the other hand, I think the price is a little steep. There are less pages compared to a lot of notebooks you can find in a stationary store--and for less. Also, I must agree with the reviewers that pointed out that the lines/grid lines are too dark. As they are, they could easily make what you write or draw in them harder to read than would be the case with lighter lines.\\nSo, overall, well-made notebooks. Recommended for those that like a slightly more elegant notebook and don't mind dark guide-lines and a bit extra expense.\",\n \"Product: BIC Mark-it Permanent Marker is a durable permanent marker with long-lasting color. It wont dry out when the cap if left off for 2 weeks (classic colors only: Blue, Black, Red and Green). The marker features a soft grip for all day comfort. It marks on most hard-to-mark surfaces with low-odor, vivid ink that is fade resistant. BIC Mark-it Permanent Marker has acid free ink and is ACMI approved non-toxic. Made in the USA of US and foreign parts (fine and ultra fine only).\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Lots of colors and they work fine\\n\\nReview: My granddaughter has been writing and drawing with these fine point markers for a few weeks now. She likes them and they have been working well for her with no problems. The ink is permanent and also nontoxic . And 36 colors, including pastels, with permanent ink is an excellent range. The will leak through slightly when used on cheap papers like common tablets, printer paper, and 3x5 card stock (very slightly) for example. They write smoothly and dry quickly. Also, for a test I tried them on plastic surfaces and they wrote just as well and dried in a couple seconds and seem to be permanent. If you have a use for a lot of colors, I would check these out.\\n\\nRecommended.\",\n \"Product: The ultimate pencil sharpener - home, office, art, school and more never again put up with your manual hand sharpener. Your bulky, loud and obnoxious electric pencil sharpener. Rough and uneven points left on your pencil. Huge messes made when cleaning. At evergreen art supply we take pride in providing exactly what you need in a product and we go above and beyond to ensure we deliver the best products with all the features you want triple power - with the option to power by USB cable, wall charger or go mobile with 4 AA batteries this sharpener allows you to remain extremely versatile (batteries not included)3 sharpness settings - get extremely sharp, needle-like points for extra-fine use or choose the blunt tip and sketch out your next piece of art perfectly even points - the adjustable heavy duty stainless steel helical blade is built to provide fast, evenly sharpened pencils, day-in and day-out and provides a point like no other no-mess cleaning - the days of pencil shavings all over the desk and floor are over simply remove the shavings tray which keeps all the shavings in place and dump it. No mess safe for kids - we have a built in auto-stop system. The instant the shavings tray is removed the feature prevents the blade from operating extreme mobility.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Doesn't break my colored pencils. Good value, reliable.\\n\\nReview: The pencil sharpener came on time. I set it up and put it to work immediately. It sharpens quickly and well. I tired it out on some Prismacolor Premier color pencils, since they are notorious for breakage problems. So far no breaking whatsoever. After sharpening a few more pencils (including Faber-Castell Polychromos), I find that the best way for me to sharpen them is to sharpen them a little at a time(like in spurts), since there is not autostop. That way I can get the sharpness and point I want. The switch on the side goes from dull to partly-dull to sharp. I find it's best to test it out, at each position, so that you know what you'll get at each setting. Once you know what to expect, then choose your setting and go for it!\\nThe 3-way power hookups is great. You can use batteries within the sharpener, or the cable to connects via USB to a computer or to a wall AC outlet.. It doesn't get more convenient than that. This sharpener is light, compact, but powerful and relatively quiet.\\nRecommended.\",\n \"Product: The product is BLK FLWR Box Holder. Easy to use. The product is manufactured in China.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Well made but has a design issue\\n\\nReview: As to its construction, this is a sturdy little holder/rack, with a length that is easily expandable. In certain mounting areas it should work quite well.\\n\\nThe actual measurements (as measured with my tape measure) are: unexpanded outer length 24\\\", inner length 23\\\"; expanded outer length36.5\\\", inner length 35 3/4\\\" maximum. It can be adjusted within these two ranges as to its length. The width (front to back) is not adjustable and measures 8\\\" outer, 7\\\" inner. So any flower pot measuring from 23 to 35 3/4\\\" long and 7\\\" wide or smaller will fit.\\n\\nThe instructions are in French, not English. But it's not a complicated item, and there is a helpful illustration showing how to attach the adjustable mounting bracket pieces.\\n\\nThe problem with the design is that it will not easily fit all railings or window sills or other possible mounting areas.\\n\\nThe problem is that a bracing piece on the rack gets in the way of the railing or area the rack in mounted on. This is difficult to describe here in easily-understood writing. If you will look at the top left of the Amazon ad above, you can see what I am referring to in the second image from the top, in the middle bottom of the image. It's a metal square piece that jutts backward, hitting against the area where you would mount the rack. (The mounting brackets that go over a railing, for example, are adustable but not enough to accomodate this bracing piece in all situations.)\\n\\nFor example, I plan to mount this flower box/rack on our front porch railing, but since the studs (balusters) under the railing are close together, this bracing piece with not fit between them and will get in the way of a flush fit (instead, as is, it would sit at a horizontal angle, too high at its outward edge, and probably not be stable--as well as look just plain odd). Now, we have plenthy of tools onhand, so what I will do is either bend this little section down or use a hacksaw to cut it off enough so that the box/rack fits flush.\\n\\nThis brace (mentioned above) needs to be adjustable like other parts of this box/rack so that it will be easily adaptable to more mounting situations.\\n\\nThis brace piece I've been discussing sticks back 3 1/4\\\" from the bottom back of the box/rack and is 6 1/4\\\" wide. It is welded to the box/rack and, again, is not adjustable.\\n\\nAlso, for a strong mount, I would screw down the mounting backet at the back of this box to wherever you mount it, and not depend on the mounting brackets alone to hold it in place, especially with a full sized pot of flowers.\",\n \"Product: Miracle-Gro LiquaFeed Universal Feeder is the efficient way to feed. Simply attach it to the spigot and turn any watering device into a garden feeder. Plus, the feeder automatically mixes the right amount of nutrients and applies plant food evenly at the correct rate. Use it with a hand sprayer, sprinkler, or soaker hose, and let Miracle-Gro help your flowers, vegetables, trees, shrubs, and houseplants grow bigger and stronger than unfed plants.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Great idea by Miracle-Gro\\n\\nReview: I have used Miracle-Gro products through the years with excellent results.\\nThis is a great idea, in that you can fertilize with Miracle-Gro's rich nuitrients easily and accurately.\\nYou simply attach the Liquafeed device to a faucet, screw in the bottle of Miracle-Gro, and screw a hose onto the bottom of the device and then to, for example, a watering device, like a hand-held sprikler. To simply water without any fertilizer, you set the dial to \\\"Water.\\\" But to include the Miracle-Gro, you set the dial to \\\"Feed.\\\"\\nI expect this feeder to be a boon for our vegetable garden. But since it is at the beginnning of our planting season, I can't really comment regarding results at this time.\\nIn case I need to add comments in a month or two, I will do so.\\nRecommended.\",\n \"Product: Now you can have a ceiling light that looks great when its lit or turned off. The GE LED 6 Recessed Downlights sleek integrated bulb/fixture design blends aesthetically into the ceiling, helping conceal the fixture. It fits in the same size opening as an R30 bulb. Simply replace your medium-base light bulb and the existing fixtures trim ring for a new look. Youll enjoy GE LEDs outstanding energy efficiency, long-lasting performance and just-right brightness for years to come. GE LEDs offer outstanding energy efficiency, long-lasting performance and just-right brightness, all in one package. Theyre dimmable and illuminate your home with soft, warm light. Use this GE LED 6 Recessed Downlight in indoor recessed fixtures. Its perfect for hard-to-reach sockets that are frequently left on. GE LEDs offer outstanding energy efficiency, long-lasting performance and just-right brightness, all in one package. Theyre dimmable and illuminate your home with soft, warm light. Use this GE LED 6 Downlight in indoor recessed fixtures. Its perfect for hard-to-reach sockets that are frequently left on. 65 watt replacement using only 10 watts Lasts 31.9 years based on 3 hours per day usage Estimated yearly energy costs $1.20 based on 3 hours per day $0.11 per kWh $211 in energy savings over the life of the bulb based on 3 hours per day usage 2700K-soft white color appearance 6\\\" recessed downlight integrated bulb/fixture with medium base for use in indoor recessed fixtures General Characteristics: Lamp type: Replacement Lamps, Directional Bulb: BR30 Base: Medium Screw (E26) ENERGY STAR Qualified: Yes Bulb Shape: BR30 Dimming Capability: Yes Equivalent Wattage (NOM): 65 W Lamp Type: LED-BR Life in Years (NOM): 32 Rated Life (NOM): 35000 hrs Photometric Characteristics: Color Rendering Index (CRI) (NOM): 80 Color Temperature (NOM): 2700 K Initial Lumens (NOM): 700 Nomina\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: It installs in just a few minutes easily. Recommended for those with the right type of ...\\n\\nReview: Note: This light will not fit everywhere. For example, and in particular, some ceiling mounted lamps that are not recessed.\\n\\nThat said, the current Amazon Prime price of $35.99 seems, to me, to be in the ballpark, since it is long lasting and energy efficient.\\n\\nIf you have recessed lighting, with a 6-inch wide recess opening, this should work well for you. It can be hooked up to a dimmer (we did not test this).\\n It boasts low energy consumption, and that over time of course can save you money--the lamp can pay for itself. And it has a long-life blub.\\n The light is warm in color but not hot.\\n It is brighter than a 60 watt incandescent bulb.\\n It installs in just a few minutes easily.\\n\\nRecommended for those with the right type of recessed lighting fixture.\",\n \"Product: The Bosch AG60-125 6-Inch 12.5-Amp High-Performance Cut-Off Grinder, features a new motor design with direct motor cooling and more air vents to reduce hand blockage to extend tool life and provide higher overload capabilities to prevent overheating. Results from independent testing revealed that Bosch grinders outlast the competition to deliver the best tool lifetime in the market- up to 60 percent more life than competitors. A new motor design featuring direct motor cooling and more air vents to reduce hand blockage help extend the tool life and provide higher overload capabilities to prevent overheating. Additionally, improved carbon brushes offer more than double the lifetime of predecessor brushes, which means less downtime for maintenance. The new AG60-125 grinder offers up to 2 amps more power than previous generation models to deliver the robust performance demanded by professionals in industries such as metal fabrication, energy, masonry and restoration. Kit Includes: AG60-125 Tool, Grinding Guard, Cutting Guard, Side Handle, Flange Kit and Spanner Wrench.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: A quality power tool\\n\\nReview: Bosch products have a well-deserved reputation for quality.\\nThis grinder has a powerful motor that will handle a lot of grinding and cutting jobs. The side handle provided is important, since the motor vibrates the tool when running. I believe that for any appropriate job, this tool with work quite well.\\n\\nI have tested this grinder and it definitely works.\\n\\nWhat I didn't like has nothing to do with the quality of the powertool itself. For the price (not to mention the list price of just over $300), they could have included a couple grinding/cutting wheels. I went to Lowe's and bought one, so that I could make sure the grinder worked. The metal cutting wheel I bought cost me just under $5.\\n\\nAnother complaint has to do with the packaging. The grinder came in its brand box, which was made of cheap (though beautifully printed) cardboard. And that box was contained with another box for shipping with a few bubble wrap items included for cushioning. Not enough of them. During shipping of this heavy item, the brand box opened and tore. However, the sturdily made powertool was not damaged.\\n\\nRecommended.\",\n \"Product: Launch an all-out secret attack with the Nerf Rebelle Rapid Red Blaster! Fast-fire 12 darts with awesome secret messages you write. Use the marker and decoder to get the message across in a hurry. Step up and stand out! Requires 4 'AA' batteries, not included. Measures approximately 13-inches long. For ages 8 and up.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: I think it's a good idea to instruct children to avoid aiming at an ...\\n\\nReview: I noticed one thing about this nerf blaster immediately: it shoots faster and farther than models without batteries.\\nWe have had no problem with jamming, although one reviewer reported some jamming after using the blaster all day--probably because the darts got worn and weakened, which seems to occur frequently with nerf darts.\\nThe note-code aspect is rather silly, and I suspect it will not be used by most. But the blaster overall seems well made. You will, with heavy use, likely have to replace the darts soon with new ones.\\nI think it's a good idea to instruct children to avoid aiming at an opponent's face and also not stand close to those shot at. Or better yet, have them wear protective goggles to protect their eyes--if you can get them to!\\nRecommended.\",\n \"Product: Maisto easy-to-control Harley-Davidson motorcycle captures the thrill of the open road. Authentic looking RC with plenty of RC power.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Works well, does tip over fairly easilly\\n\\nReview: This remote control motorcycle unpacked quickly. Mainly you need to cut the plastic ties. You will need to supply batteries yourself. The Amazon ad (at the top of the page) says you will need 4 AA batteries for the vehicle and 2 AA batteries for the controller. That's not exactly right: you do need 4 AA batteries for the vehicle but you need 2 AAA batteries for the controller (not AAs).\\nJust put in the batteries and work the controlled and off you go. The ad says full-function radio control, and that is what you get. Forward with turns and a reverse.\\nThere are two \\\"trainer\\\" wheels under the pedals that help keep the motorcycle upright. It does, however, tip over fairly easily, like when it goes over a bump, even a small one. So it is best to use it on smooth surfaces, like carpet, a sidewalk, a linoleum or hardwood floor.\\nA fun toy for child age 8 and up.\\nRecommended.\",\n \"Product: BOOMco. - BLAST BETTER! SPINSANITY 3X takes blasting to a new level with 3 awesome, rotating barrels for 3 times the firepower and ultra-rapid reload speeds! Features 3, 10 dart chambers for 30 darts total and is motorized for rapid fire blasting action! Once youve blasted through one chamber, use the pump-action mechanism to move to the next chamber and keep the action going without having to reload blast, pump, repeat! SPINSANITY 3X has a 30-dart capacity and fires up to an epic 70 feet. It comes with three different dart colors 10 of each - for awesome variety, and SPINSANITY 3X features a blaster rail to attach other BOOMco. accessories for even more firepower! Also includes 1 Smart Stick target. Requires 6 AA batteries, not included. Colors and decorations may vary.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: The rifle works like this. It has 3 chambers (flywheels) and each ...\\n\\nReview: Unpacking was fairly fast. You will need 6 AA batteries.\\nThis rifle shoots up to 70 feet, that is rather strong firepower for a toy, In other words these darts can hurt it you get hit medium-to-close range. So some rules are in order.\\nThe rifle works like this. It has 3 chambers (flywheels) and each holds 10 smart-stick darts (there's a warning that say to not shoot these darts at a wall or furniture). You pull back the lever (located under the front section) to cock one of the 3 chambers into place. Then you shoot as quickly as you can pull the trigger (pulling it all the way back and releasing it all the way each time) for 10 shots. That's what \\\"rapid-fire\\\" means. You can fire each time without having to re-cock the rifle (like you do with other versions of these toys). It's not a machine gun action, and you do have to cock/move another chamber into firing position by pulling back the lever to start on the next 10 darts.\\nThe rifle comes with 30 darts, red, blue and black enough for a full load. It seems to work well.\",\n \"Product: The classic triangular domino game. Score points by matching numbers on the three sided tiles with brass spinners. For 2 to 4 players. Ages 8 and up.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Fun game for all family members\\n\\nReview: The set arrived intact with no damage. 4 player trays are included so if you have 6 players 2 of them will have to play without a tray for hold their pieces. Each piece/tile has a brass bead in the center. which makes it easy to pick it up (especially helpful for a player who doesn't have a tray). It's a good idea to read the rules all the way through, including the bonus point aspects, so that you are aware of them during play.\\nThe game does require some math, simple arithmetic, so is good practice for children (though the very young will require help), but generally this game should be enjoyable or all members of the family.\\nAll pieces seem to be quality made and should be durable.\\nRecommended.\",\n \"Product: ALEX Toys Craft 3D Stellar String Art takes string art to a new dimension! Just wrap the yarn on each piece, then snap the unique frame together to create a 3D star to hang in your room. The Finished piece measures 12 x 12 x 2.5 (30.5cm x 30.5cm x 6.35cm). Personalize it by using your favorite color combinations. The kit includes 11 interlocking plastic star pieces, 5 colors of embroidery floss (including silver), metallic beads, beading needle and easy instructions. Recommended for children 8 years of age and older.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Colorful string art kit that requires limited creativity\\n\\nReview: This kit came intact and undamaged. The parts seem well-made and colorful. The instructions are presented in color on one glossy two-sided sheet (8.25 x 11.25\\\") and include 10 steps, all pictured clearly. They are a bit complicated, so if you get this kit for an 8-9 year old, you (the adult) may need to provide some help. There are 5 different neon-colored embroidery strings included (blue, yellow, green, pink/orange, and silver/metallic), so you may wish to buy more colors. There is a hanging piece you can attach so that the finished piece can be mounted on a wall.\\nThis is a fun set to put together, but creativity is limited: (1) due to the few colors included and (2) the design. There is really only one way to put this kit together. So the challenge is to understand the directions and get it together; there is no designing required.\",\n \"Product: **Popular Journal Illustrating Book < Redesigned With An Attractive New Cover < & Illustration and Is Now Available In < See Through Shrink Wrap. < **Postponed Till Spring 99\\\"**\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: A readable and useful book for journal writers\\n\\nReview: I've read and am reading several books on journal writing, having decided to take on that task in earnest. Often these books are heavily into a kind of exploratory self-analysis of the psychological sort as an aid to figuring out one's personal issues. They can also be lengthy and involved.\\n\\nBut Hannah Hinchman's book is readable, delightfully brief and nicely illustrated with her art work. It covers the field sufficiently but not exhaustively, and provides enough examples from accomplished journalists to give the newcomer models he or she needs to get going in the right direction. And there is constant helpful and practical advice. I find myself going back to it over and over again to remind myself of the fine points of her wise guidance.\\n\\nIf you're new or fairly new to the journal-writing endeavor, I highly recommend this book.\"\n]","isConversational":false},"profile_size":{"kind":"number","value":60,"string":"60"},"task":{"kind":"string","value":"longlamp_3"},"split_kind":{"kind":"string","value":"user_based"},"id":{"kind":"number","value":976,"string":"976"}}},{"rowIdx":977,"cells":{"question_id":{"kind":"string","value":"A19KOAGQJUXL18"},"question":{"kind":"string","value":"Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of \"5.0\" for a product with description \"The Ophelia East/West Status Satchel will add the perfect sassy touch to all of your favorite looks.\nMade of synthetic leather.\nMagnetic closure.\nDual rolled carry handles.\nRemovable and adjustable crossbody strap.\nExterior features brand plaque at front, hanging charm detail, and polished hardware.\nFlat base.\nLined interior flaunts back wall zip pocket and slip pockets.\nImported.\nMeasurements:\n\n Bottom Width: 9 1⁄2 in\n Depth: 5 in\n Height: 9 in\n Strap Length: 48 in\n Strap Drop: 22 in\n Handle Length: 15 in\n Handle Drop: 5 in\n Weight: 1 lb 13 oz\n \n\nThis product may have a manufacturer's warranty. Please visit the manufacturer's website or contact us at warranty@support.zappos.com for full manufacturer warranty details.\". The summary of the review text is \"Elegant and glamorous, user-friendly too!\"."},"answer":{"kind":"string","value":"I love this bag; it is so elegant and glamorous but also very practical. It doesn't appear large but it will hold just about anything because of the way it is designed. There is a spacious, leopard fabric lined main compartment, with a zippered compartment and three slide pockets. Then, on the front and back top of the bag, there are attractive zippers which open up to two additional leopard fabric lined spaces for items you may want to store apart from the main section, perhaps for extra security. There is an open slip pocket on the back exterior of the bag. The main compartment closes with two little pieces that are magnetic and they snap together. And yes, it is easy to close. In addition, the bag is very lightweight - thank you, Guess!!! And it comes with a Guess dust cover. The hardware is a very lovely pale gold, and there is a purse charm in the style of a lock, that matches the bag. I purchased the black and it is gorgeous. The \"G\" is quite shiny on the pattern, and what the outside of my new black bag reminds me of is a shiny black limousine with raindrops on it. That's the way I would describe it. However, I'm sure the other colors are nice too depending on your preference. In fact, I am going to buy one of the other colors, since I like the design so much. I recommend this bag highly and if you buy it I think you will be very happy with your purchase!"},"correct_answer":{"kind":"string","value":"I love this bag; it is so elegant and glamorous but also very practical. It doesn't appear large but it will hold just about anything because of the way it is designed. There is a spacious, leopard fabric lined main compartment, with a zippered compartment and three slide pockets. Then, on the front and back top of the bag, there are attractive zippers which open up to two additional leopard fabric lined spaces for items you may want to store apart from the main section, perhaps for extra security. There is an open slip pocket on the back exterior of the bag. The main compartment closes with two little pieces that are magnetic and they snap together. And yes, it is easy to close. In addition, the bag is very lightweight - thank you, Guess!!! And it comes with a Guess dust cover. The hardware is a very lovely pale gold, and there is a purse charm in the style of a lock, that matches the bag. I purchased the black and it is gorgeous. The \"G\" is quite shiny on the pattern, and what the outside of my new black bag reminds me of is a shiny black limousine with raindrops on it. That's the way I would describe it. However, I'm sure the other colors are nice too depending on your preference. In fact, I am going to buy one of the other colors, since I like the design so much. I recommend this bag highly and if you buy it I think you will be very happy with your purchase!"},"documents":{"kind":"list like","value":["Product: Make every moment count with the Time Timer Original 8 inch. This 60-minute visual analog timer has helped people manage time for over 20 years. Its simple: when the red is gone, time is up making lifes routines easy and productive! Designed to help manage the age-old question, how much longer, the Time Timer reinforces the concept of elapsed time better than any other tool. The Original Time Timer 8 is the ideal visual timer for kids, kids with autism / adhd and as a meeting timer for speaking. This large timer for kids and professionals also has easy-to-read, large numbers. To use the Time Timer Original 8 inch, move the red disk counter-clockwise to the duration of your choice (up to 60 minutes). The Timer is now set and the quiet countdown has begun. No ticking no distractions! As time expires, the red disk disappears moving in a clockwise direction providing an understanding of time left with just a quick glance of the red-disk. An on/off optional alert helps reinforce when time is up. The alert can be turned off for silent work environments. The Time Timer 8 has two foldable feet to stand the Timer on a desktop or flat surface, or alternatively the Timer can be hung on the wall and out of reach. The Time Timer Original 8 inch is a great way to promote efficient time management and focused concentration for individuals or medium to large groups at the office, school, and home.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Not just for youngsters...\n\nReview: I am an adult and find the 8\" Time Timer very helpful. Because of severe depression, I have difficulty motivating myself to do anything. I tried working with a regular timer - set it for 15 or 30 minutes, trying to work and focus for that length of time - but this proved very frustrating. It was hard to see how much time was left unless I looked really closely at it. With the Time Timer, I can easily see it across the room. I set it for thirty minutes and work on a project and before I know it I have accomplished quite a bit. It's so nice that I can glance up and see how much time remains. And it rings a few rings at the end of the time period. Also, I tested it's timing accuracy against one of my regular timers and it was the same. I would wholeheartedly recommend the Time Timer to adults like myself.","Product: The Dublin crystal soap tray, by Godinger Crystal, shows that you can have an elegant look in the bathroom to match your most treasured stemware. This lovely piece will complment any dcor, and makes a great hostess gift.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Not just for soap\n\nReview: This is a beautiful soap dish and very affordably priced. When I looked at the photo on my monitor it looked as though the inside were carved out for soap, but when I received it today I saw the inside is flat. That is even better, because it can be used for a myriad of purposes. Right now, I am thinking of keeping it on my bathroom vanity to hold lipstick and nail polish. This would also be great for people who collect miniature perfume bottles or tiny figurines. Whatever you use it for, it is very lovely and will add a touch of luxury to your home, or it will make an excellent gift. I will probably order another one.","Product: Jazz bath rugs by Garland Rug are soft and stylish. The shag design lends a classic understated touch to your bath coordinates collection. This 3-piece rug set comes with a 21 inch x 34 inch bath mat, 21 inch x 24 inch toilet contour and a 17 inch x 14 inch universal toilet lid cover designed to fit most toilet lids. The soft pile of this rug is made of 100% Nylon and features a washable skid resistant latex backing. Like all products made by Garland Rug these Jazz rugs are proudly made in the USA.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Received the wrong color, mislabeled - twice!\n\nReview: My bathroom is decorated in pink and when I saw the pretty pink set shown here I ordered it. When I received it, it was an orange-red color. A friend of mine wanted the red rug set so I re-ordered the pink set again, thinking that surely this time I would receive the right color. To my shock, I again received the red set! Not only that, but it was marked \"Pink\" on the package. I showed it to other people and asked them what color it was and the answer was \"red\". It bears no resemblance to the pretty pink color shown on my monitor, or any color of pink for that matter. I don't know what is going on in Quality Control but I am returning the orange-red set. I see that this rug also comes in \"chili pepper red\" and I think somehow \"chili pepper red\" rugs were mistakenly labeled as \"pink\". I am very disappointed because I really wanted the pink set.","Product: Great Plate is perfect for wherever food and drinks are served together. With one hand you can enjoy your food without leaving your drink. Frees up your hands to eat and drink. Great for tailgating, barbeques, picnics, parties, lunches, poolside, sporting events, buffets. Works great for kids and adults of all ages. Works great for coasters on the couch or floor. Made of flexible and durable dishwasher safe FDA virgin resin polypropylene. Recyclable and reusable. Made in the USA.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Great Plates are a great idea!\n\nReview: I don't entertain much, but I find these \"Great Plates\" to be very convenient for my own use. I frequently sit on the side of my bed to watch television, and these are so convenient for holding a sandwich and chips with either a glass or a can of soda in the middle. It's also nice to put some cut up veggies on them, put a dip in the center, and enjoy a healthy snack. My set has four bright cheerful colors: red, green, blue and yellow. As I looked at them, I thought how the colors would fit in if you were entertaining at different holidays, such as using the red and green at Christmas, the blue at Hanukkah, the red on Valentine's Day, the Green on St. Patrick's Day and the red and blue on July 4th. These plates are very sturdy and dishwasher safe, and stack for convenience and to save space. I know they will be a conversation piece the next time I have a get-together!","Product: The rain vanity storage collection offers versatile organization options for the home. Use in the bathroom for cosmetics & hygiene products, in a kitchen drawer for utensils, or for office supplies.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Great vanity drawer organizer!\n\nReview: At approximately 6-7/8\" by 15-7/8\" by 1-3/4\" high, this organizer was larger than I thought it would be. When I first saw it I didn't think it would fit inside my bathroom vanity drawer, but - surprise! - it fit in perfectly lengthwise, with room to spare on the side and even some in front. It is made of strong, shiny white plastic with a pebbled surface on the inside \"floor\". (I'm not sure, but I think the reason for the pebbled interior may be so that things don't slide or roll around as easily. Whatever the reason, the \"pebbles\" give this organizer a richer look.) It is divided into five spacious compartments: two which measure about 7-3/4\" by 3-1/4\", two which are around 4-3/4\" by 4-1/8\", and one which is approximately 6-7/8\" by 3-3/4\". The longer compartments are especially suited for my eyebrow and lip-liner pencils and longer tubes, and the other compartments I use for my foundation, blush, eye shadows, lipsticks, nail polishes, etc. It really simplifies my life to pull open a drawer and everything I need to get ready is right at my fingertips, neatly organized. It wipes off easily with a damp cloth. Love my new cosmetic organizer!","Product: The Cuisinart silicone oven mitt offers comfortable & safe protection when handling hot cookware in your kitchen. Lined with 100% cotton padding on the inside and 100% heat-proof silicone on the outside. Silicone is heat resistant up to 450 degrees F.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Feels awkward, doesn't fit right\n\nReview: First, I would like to say that the aqua color is very attractive and the cotton lining is thick and feels comfortable. It can be hand-washed and let dry. The silicone exterior feels like rubber, so things would be less likely to slip.\nWhat I don't like about this mitt is: I have to pull it all the way on, or my fingers do not even come close to reaching near the bottom of the mitt (admittedly, I do have shorter fingers). When the mitt is all the way on, approximately 3 inches below my elbow, it is extremely snug. I am a woman slightly over 5' tall. If I were a large-boned man with a muscular forearm, I doubt if it would fit. In my opinion, the sleeve of the mitt is way too long. Also, it does not have a loop for hanging. Inside the top of the mitt, there is a cloth \"Cuisinart\" label sewn on by one long side. It could easily have been sewn on by both short sides, and thus might have been used as a loop.\nOverall, this mitt feels very awkward to me. I doubt if I will use it again. It might work for people with very long, slim arms. But in my opinion, an oven mitt should be a \"one-size-fits-all\".","Product: This Sabatier Box Grater is a signature piece needed in every kitchen. A convenient 3-cup storage container attaches to the bottom of the grater and catches the food as you grate. Then, after you've emptied the container, it slips up inside the grater for compact storage. Features high quality stainless steel grating surface and slicing blade and a durable handle for superior comfort and grip. Dishwasher safe.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Excellent tool for the kitchen\n\nReview: This is one of the most well-designed kitchen tools I have seen in a long time. First of all, the handle: it is very easy and comfortable to grasp so that you can stabilize the grater when using it. This grater comes with a plastic container, marked with measurements, which fits on the bottom so that the food you are grating goes neatly into it. There is a top for the plastic container which stores inside the grater itself when not in use, to minimize the chance of misplacing it. And when I say \"plastic\" it has nothing in common with my plastic food storage containers, in that the grater container is extremely sturdy and strong. In addition, both the grater and the container are dishwasher safe. When I run the grater through the dishwasher there is absolutely no discoloration, as there is with some other metal kitchenware I have washed. The bottom of the grater has a silicone gasket which helps to seal it to the container or stabilize it if you are using it on a flat surface. In addition to the different grating options, there is a slicer on one side. One thing I appreciated is that the manufacturer covered the slicer opening with a strip of blue plastic, presumably so consumers would not accidentally scrape their hand or fingers when first removing this from it's cardboard overwrap. In short, I really like this grater. It's been a long time since I baked a carrot cake, but now that I have this grater I plan on making one, as soon as I can locate my favorite carrot cake with cream cheese frosting recipe!","Product: The GreenLife Everyday Value 12 ceramic non-stick open frypan in black makes the perfect addition to any kitchen. This lightweight 12 ceramic non-stick open frypan has a solid base that offers good heat distribution and guarantees stability. The ergonomic Bakelite handle has a comfortable grip and stays cool during use. The collection has a Thermolon ceramic non-stick coating and is manufactured without PFAS and PFOA, does not contain any lead or cadmium and allows for less fats and oils to be used. In addition, the Thermolon ceramic non-stick coating makes cooking easy, and the ceramic aluminum body makes cleaning a breeze. The glass lids allow for convenient monitoring while cooking and the dishwasher-safe construction makes cleanup a breeze.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: My first non-stick ceramic pan\n\nReview: I have never owned a ceramic non-stick pan before, so the first thing I did was to read the manufacturer's instructions. I was happy to learn that I don't have to season it. Metal utensils should not be used, and although it is dishwasher safe, hand-washing is recommended \"to keep the durability of your non-stick\". It is recommended to always use a little bit of butter or oil for best results, but cooking sprays and extra-virgin olive oil are to be avoided as they \"cannot withstand high heat\". And speaking of high heat, the manufacturer states that it be used with low to medium heat only.\nThe first meal I cooked was breakfast - spam and eggs over-easy. I didn't use any fat for the spam because it already has it, and I was amazed at the way the spam slices \"skedaddled\" around the pan - it really is non-stick! In fact, it was almost difficult at first to turn the pieces over with my nylon spatula, because as soon as the spatula touched the slices they would slide away. (I've since got the knack of it). Next I added some butter before cooking the eggs, and it was then that I realized how quickly this pan heats up and how very hot it gets. To my surprise the butter immediately turned brown, so I turned the heat down to \"simmer\" before adding the eggs. That is something to be aware of - this pan heats up, and becomes hot, very quickly, and that is why the manufacturer says to use low to medium heat only.\nAnyway, I'm happy with this pan and look forward to many delicious meals cooked in it.","Product: Sort all your bathroom supplies in order using the Medium Stackable Bathroom Tote. This bathroom storage organizer is made of durable plastic that allows you to conveniently store and access your belongings. Use it to store a wide range of bath supplies such as shampoo bottles, soaps, scrubbers, towels, shower caps, make-up or for storing essential accessories in the kitchen or craft room. This bathroom organizer is lightweight and comes with a chrome-plated handles that will not rust, even with constant exposure to water. Stackable design lets you maximize the available storage space. You can now store and carry your essential toiletries wherever you go with this clear bathroom tote.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Not the color shown...\n\nReview: I ordered these particular baskets because my decor is in pink, and these \"honeysuckle\" baskets appeared to be a rosey pink to me on my monitor. I opened the box today and was very disappointed to see that they are in fact a beet red/burgundy color, not pink at all. The sticker on them said \"Honeysuckle\" so I had been sent the \"right\" ones. I will keep them but I would not have ordered them if I had known that they were a completely different color than the pretty pink shade on my monitor. On the positive side, I was glad to see that they are made in the USA. They will definitely be used, but I am disappointed because of the color discrepancy.","Product: Authentic crunch leather, rich floral emboss heiress convertible billfold features a front snap closure, gusseted coin purse, snap closure 5 place window/i.D. Section and a large divided currency pocket.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Just like I had when I was in my teens!\n\nReview: I just love this wallet! It doesn't take up much room in my handbag, for one thing. Best of all, it is so easy to use - everything seems to be in the most convenient place, for example the coin pocket right in front of where the bills are. I used this kind of wallet when I was growing up, but for some reason for many years I used clutch wallets that are about 8\" long and have all kinds of interior compartments. Now that I am using this billfold style again, I wonder why I ever bought anything else. This is so simple and convenient. And I love the wide choice of colors - I bought pink, my favorite. Anyway, ladies, I would give this one a try. I'm so glad I did!","Product: The Best Extra, Extra Wide Fit Womens Slippers with adjustable closures accommodate even the most swollen feet and swollen ankles in fabulous comfort. ***ORDER YOUR EXACT SIZE TO ENSURE PROPER FIT - IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO GO UP A SIZE TO ACCOMMODATE WIDTH OR SWELLING.*** A great choice for elderly with bunions, corns, hammer toes, foot edema, diabetes and podiatry foot problems. The wide width slipper opening features a hook and loop fastener. Skid-resistant non slip slipper soles. Memory foam insoles for the ultimate in comfort! Anti-bacterial to control odor and stains. This slipper has been worn as a shoe. Terrific for those with arthritis or lowered hand dexterity. These adjustable wide width slippers make the best diabetic slipper for women. Extra-roomy deep WW wide width slippers for swollen feet and ankles are great for patients in hospitals, post surgery, nursing home patients residents and retirement homes. These Extra Wide Width Womens Bedroom or House Slippers are perfect for comfortable casual use in the home and for home care settings.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Finally, something that fits!\n\nReview: Even in good health, wide feet and a high arch always made selecting a well-fitting shoe or slipper difficult. However, now that some current health issues have left me with edema in the feet and ankles it has become extremely difficult to find anything that fits. I am embarrassed to admit that in the last two months I have had to return over half a dozen pairs of shoes and slippers that just didn't fit. One pair of slippers fit after I \"altered\" them with scissors. Not a look I wanted. Naturally, I was hesitant to order these because I was afraid it would be the same story - plus, the price seemed rather high for slippers. Well, I can tell you that I am so happy I purchased these and I am considering getting a second pair. They fit perfectly, even over the swollen arches of my feet. They are super comfortable and I forget that I have them on. In the picture they look like many other slippers but when I received them I could tell they were very high quality and well worth every penny. I like the deep rose color (thank goodness they didn't make them in some drab shade) and they resemble a certain kind of high-end boiled wool shoe that is made in Germany. The only issue I had is that the top of the shoe, by the side of the ankle, tended to bend over and turn in when I put them on, but I fixed that by folding that portion toward the outside when slipping them on. The sole is very good and has excellent traction on non-carpeted floors. I could probably wear them outside in a pinch, although I wouldn't. They also have some kind of treatment that is supposed to keep them fresh and sanitary - sorry, I don't know much about that but it definitely sounds like a good thing. I would wholeheartedly recommend these shoes to anyone with wide or swollen feet.","Product: A soft leather billfold with a rich floral embossing accented in Italian inked edge.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Just like I had when I was in my teens!\n\nReview: I just love this wallet! It doesn't take up much room in my handbag, for one thing. Best of all, it is so easy to use - everything seems to be in the most convenient place, for example the coin pocket right in front of where the bills are. I used this kind of wallet when I was growing up, but for some reason for many years I used clutch wallets that are about 8\" long and have all kinds of interior compartments. Now that I am using this billfold style again, I wonder why I ever bought anything else. This is so simple and convenient. And I love the wide choice of colors - I bought pink, my favorite. Anyway, ladies, I would give this one a try. I'm so glad I did!","Product: Bold jewelry adds interest and a bit of drama to even the most basic outfit. Our sizeable and stunning Vintage Style ribbon brooch is a sensational example of a fashion pin that is guaranteed to make a statement when you wear it. Dress up an everyday simple dress or a favorite jacket with our Antique Style bow brooch. It is shaped like a perfect bow. Most women are passionate about jewelry and love receiving jewelry gifts. Although bow brooches and pins can be given as gifts to any occasion, they also make elegant gifts for a wedding or a bridal party. Consider purchasing our very affordable crystal brooch for several ladies on your gift list this year who love jewelry, especially jewelry that evokes a Vintage Style.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Exquisite and Elegant, and a great price to boot!\n\nReview: I received this pin today and it is absolutely beautiful. I enjoy collecting pins and brooches, and I've seen similar ones at more than twice the price. It is a good size - which I like, because it will show up that way - and it sparkles brilliantly. Although it is a larger pin, it is also very dainty and delicate-looking because of the airy, semi-filigree design. Bling packaged it in a beautiful dark purple velvet gift bag with a picture on it of their logo and a gold crown with diamonds - it would make a lovely presentation if you decide to give this as a gift. And the bag was wrapped in bubble plastic to protect it. I really appreciate it when a seller wraps something so carefully. I will wear this pin on cardigans and coats but I also think it would look adorable on a hat or on the front of a clutch, You could buy an inexpensive black fabric clutch and turn it into a glamorous evening bag just by pinning this bow on the front. By the way, the seller also enclosed a coupon for 10% off my next Bling purchase on Amazon, which I thought was very generous.","Product: The beautiful Original Star K Sterling Silver 6mm Heart Shape Double Halo Pendant Necklace ,crafted in .925 Sterling Silver. This amazing design is mounted with 1 stone prong set Heart Shape Stones, 54 stones prong set colorless Round Cubic Zirconia. This style measures 16.00 mm wide, 20.00 mm long.18 inches chain includedDesigner: Star K - This beautiful design, is part of the exclusive Star K. jewelry collection. Star K. designs are copyrighted, so please be aware of cheap imitations selling online. Only original Star K. creations are made using the highest quality materials and craftsmanship, backed by an exclusive Lifetime Warranty. Warranty: - This item is covered by our exclusive Silver Shield Lifetime Warranty. This exclusive lifetime coverage is offered ONLY by us so please shop with confidence, our quality is guaranteed for life!\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Even prettier than the web photo...\n\nReview: I was dazzled when I opened the box and saw this pendant. It looks like real diamonds and the pink sapphire looks exactly like a \"pigeon blood red\" ruby. The CZs surrounding the pink heart are extremely tiny and they sparkle in the light sending off different rainbow colors, creating a look of complete authenticity. And the packaging - first was a beautiful midnight blue satin bag, then a beribboned midnight blue gift box, and last of all a tiny midnight blue \"treasure chest\" with a latch containing this lovely pendant. There was also a card enclosed advising me on how to register my pendant because I received a free lifetime warranty! The chain appears a little fragile so I will probably put one of my own silver chains on it. It is obvious that when the jewelers made this they put as much care into it as if they were using the finest ruby and diamonds. I would most definitely buy from this company again.","Product: Sophisticated and just the right size for any excursion, this swanky satchel with multiple storage options will leave you well-prepared for meetings or spontaneous outings.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Not just for travelers!\n\nReview: This is the first Baggallini I have purchased, but it definitely won't be my last. For health reasons I have wanted to buy a lightweight nylon bag for quite a while, but most of them looked a little \"sporty\" for my taste since I usually enjoy wearing dresses and skirts. Not so the Elizabeth! It is a lovely, extremely lightweight and comfortable bag which is also very elegant and pretty. It is exactly the right size - large enough, but not overly large. Since I do not wear shoulder bags, I was delighted that the Elizabeth offers the handheld or over-the-arm option which I need. I purchased the Wisteria which is a beautiful shade, and I wanted to reassure anyone out there considering purchasing the Wisteria - it is almost a neutral and would go with just about any color you might wear. When I received the bag the tag said it was part of the Baggallini \"Uptown\" collection and this lovely handbag certainly looks \"Uptown\" - but is also very \"user friendly\". Now I am considering purchasing a second one in a different color. I am so thrilled with my new \"Elizabeth Satchel\"!","Product: The BIC For Her is a pen designed just for her. It is a sleek pen silhouette and jeweled accents add style. It has a soft contoured grip for all day comfort and also features the Easy-Glide System (BIC's exclusive ink technology), for beautifully smooth writing. Also available in Blue & Black Ink.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Luxury at an affordable price\n\nReview: When I am in my local office supply store, I have often wistfully admired the beautiful - and very expensive - pens displayed in glass cases, fearing that were I to ever purchase one I would probably lose it. Fortunately, Bic has solved the problem and has created a truly exquisite pen at a price anyone can afford. This pen rivals in aesthetics any I have seen in the luxury market. The top and bottom are faux mother of pearl, there are two matching \"jewels\" on either side of the pen, the body of the pen has lovely, monochromatic flowers on the barrel and the chrome portion near the writing tip is etched with matching flowers. In addition, the weight of the pen and the easiness of the grip all contribute to a wonderful writing experience. This particular pen set writes in two colors, the purple in purple ink and the pink in a dark pink ink. This pen would certainly be appreciated by any woman of any age, from 5 to 105. Bic, please don't ever stop making these lovely pens!","Product: Scotch High Heavy Duty Packaging Tape is designed to meet your moving and shipping needs. A clear tape, with hot melt rubber resin adhesive for heavy boxes. Dispenser designed to ensure the tape will not fall back on the roll, and the tape has an easy unwind. Meets U.S. postal regulations for standard packages.Great for general shipping or moving needs, such as packing boxes in the office. Made in the USA.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Good, but could be improved...\n\nReview: I like the Scotch Heavy Duty Shipping Packaging tape and have used it for years. Because it is clear I can safely tape over labels and bar codes and know that they will still be seen. However, I believe there is room for improvement in the packaging regarding two things. 1) Getting the tape off the roll. You have to look very carefully for where there is a serrated edge on the tape, scrape it with your thumbnail, and then finally pull it to a place about 1/2\" wide where it is not attached and pull it free. This could be made much simpler by just having a small strip of the tape with non-stick backing at the start of the tape. 2) The cardboard portion which fits around the cutting edge. It is easy to pull off the main part of the cardboard, but at the end there are always two little pieces stuck on either side which usually require me to get a pair of tweezers and remove. Again, I think there could be a more user-friendly way of doing this. So, yes, it is good tape, but I think the company could make some improvements in the way it is packaged, for added consumer convenience.","Product: Do you have a little girl that is overwhelmed with imagination? Then have her put down her emotions and daze off into her world of imagination by writing in this special butterfly diary. This secret diary is especially designed for girls.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Nice for us big girls, too!\n\nReview: Reading the other reviews, it appears that many people purchased this to give to little girls. Well, I am in my 60's and I thought it was so pretty, I bought it for myself! I use it as a journal and a place to write my thoughts and prayers. It is very lovely, and the picture does not do it justice. It looks much, much nicer in person. The cover is decorated with sequins, tiny seed pearls and bugle beads. The lock is also decorated. The pages are pink, have wide-ruled easy-to-write-in lines, a space for the date, and have drawings of happy-looking flowers. The back of the pages are white. The only complaint I have is that it appears my copy may have gotten damp at some point, as the pages lay a little bit unevenly and the first ten or so pages were stuck together and had to be separated. However, it still deserves five stars! And it would make a great gift for a girl of any age!","Product: Do you have a little girl that is overwhelmed with imagination? Then have her put down her emotions and daze off into her world of imagination by writing in this special butterfly diary. This secret diary is especially designed for girls.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Nice for us big girls, too!\n\nReview: Reading the other reviews, it appears that many people purchased this to give to little girls. Well, I am in my 60's and I thought it was so pretty, I bought it for myself! I use it as a journal and a place to write my thoughts and prayers. It is very lovely, and the picture does not do it justice. It looks much, much nicer in person. The cover is decorated with sequins, tiny seed pearls and bugle beads. The lock is also decorated. The pages are pink, have wide-ruled easy-to-write-in lines, a space for the date, and have drawings of happy-looking flowers. The back of the pages are white. The only complaint I have is that it appears my copy may have gotten damp at some point, as the pages lay a little bit unevenly and the first ten or so pages were stuck together and had to be separated. However, it still deserves five stars! And it would make a great gift for a girl of any age!","Product: Crock Pot Dump Meals Cookbook makes preparing dinner easier than ever before. Each recipe in Crock Pot Dump Meals Cookbook uses no more than five simple ingredients and takes less than five minutes to prepare. Simply dump the ingredients into your crock pot and let your slow cooker do all the work. Choose from Crock Pot recipes like: Seasoned Pork Chops, Juicy Meatloaf and Baked Potatoes, Teriyaki Chicken with Rice, Pulled Pork Sandwiches, and Cheesy Dump Dish Pizza. Each slow cooker recipe book comes with over 150 recipes that save time and money without sacrificing flavor.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: My kind of cookbook!\n\nReview: There are so many things I like about this cookbook that I hardly know where to start. First of all, the meals are tasty, comfort-food type foods that are simple to prepare, and the ingredients are easily obtainable from your supermarket. Every recipe has a beautiful color photo beside it. The recipes are in readable-size print, with a lot of \"white space\" around them - everything isn't just crammed together on the page. The book is spiral bound so it will lay flat, with a nice sturdy cover. There are handy, short tips that help in preparing the recipes. At the front of the book, there is a simply-written section about crock-pots, their sizes and how best to cook in them. I am so happy that I purchased this cookbook, and I recommend it to anyone looking for an easy, no-fuss way to cook tasty and nutritious meals."],"string":"[\n \"Product: Make every moment count with the Time Timer Original 8 inch. This 60-minute visual analog timer has helped people manage time for over 20 years. Its simple: when the red is gone, time is up making lifes routines easy and productive! Designed to help manage the age-old question, how much longer, the Time Timer reinforces the concept of elapsed time better than any other tool. The Original Time Timer 8 is the ideal visual timer for kids, kids with autism / adhd and as a meeting timer for speaking. This large timer for kids and professionals also has easy-to-read, large numbers. To use the Time Timer Original 8 inch, move the red disk counter-clockwise to the duration of your choice (up to 60 minutes). The Timer is now set and the quiet countdown has begun. No ticking no distractions! As time expires, the red disk disappears moving in a clockwise direction providing an understanding of time left with just a quick glance of the red-disk. An on/off optional alert helps reinforce when time is up. The alert can be turned off for silent work environments. The Time Timer 8 has two foldable feet to stand the Timer on a desktop or flat surface, or alternatively the Timer can be hung on the wall and out of reach. The Time Timer Original 8 inch is a great way to promote efficient time management and focused concentration for individuals or medium to large groups at the office, school, and home.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Not just for youngsters...\\n\\nReview: I am an adult and find the 8\\\" Time Timer very helpful. Because of severe depression, I have difficulty motivating myself to do anything. I tried working with a regular timer - set it for 15 or 30 minutes, trying to work and focus for that length of time - but this proved very frustrating. It was hard to see how much time was left unless I looked really closely at it. With the Time Timer, I can easily see it across the room. I set it for thirty minutes and work on a project and before I know it I have accomplished quite a bit. It's so nice that I can glance up and see how much time remains. And it rings a few rings at the end of the time period. Also, I tested it's timing accuracy against one of my regular timers and it was the same. I would wholeheartedly recommend the Time Timer to adults like myself.\",\n \"Product: The Dublin crystal soap tray, by Godinger Crystal, shows that you can have an elegant look in the bathroom to match your most treasured stemware. This lovely piece will complment any dcor, and makes a great hostess gift.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Not just for soap\\n\\nReview: This is a beautiful soap dish and very affordably priced. When I looked at the photo on my monitor it looked as though the inside were carved out for soap, but when I received it today I saw the inside is flat. That is even better, because it can be used for a myriad of purposes. Right now, I am thinking of keeping it on my bathroom vanity to hold lipstick and nail polish. This would also be great for people who collect miniature perfume bottles or tiny figurines. Whatever you use it for, it is very lovely and will add a touch of luxury to your home, or it will make an excellent gift. I will probably order another one.\",\n \"Product: Jazz bath rugs by Garland Rug are soft and stylish. The shag design lends a classic understated touch to your bath coordinates collection. This 3-piece rug set comes with a 21 inch x 34 inch bath mat, 21 inch x 24 inch toilet contour and a 17 inch x 14 inch universal toilet lid cover designed to fit most toilet lids. The soft pile of this rug is made of 100% Nylon and features a washable skid resistant latex backing. Like all products made by Garland Rug these Jazz rugs are proudly made in the USA.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Received the wrong color, mislabeled - twice!\\n\\nReview: My bathroom is decorated in pink and when I saw the pretty pink set shown here I ordered it. When I received it, it was an orange-red color. A friend of mine wanted the red rug set so I re-ordered the pink set again, thinking that surely this time I would receive the right color. To my shock, I again received the red set! Not only that, but it was marked \\\"Pink\\\" on the package. I showed it to other people and asked them what color it was and the answer was \\\"red\\\". It bears no resemblance to the pretty pink color shown on my monitor, or any color of pink for that matter. I don't know what is going on in Quality Control but I am returning the orange-red set. I see that this rug also comes in \\\"chili pepper red\\\" and I think somehow \\\"chili pepper red\\\" rugs were mistakenly labeled as \\\"pink\\\". I am very disappointed because I really wanted the pink set.\",\n \"Product: Great Plate is perfect for wherever food and drinks are served together. With one hand you can enjoy your food without leaving your drink. Frees up your hands to eat and drink. Great for tailgating, barbeques, picnics, parties, lunches, poolside, sporting events, buffets. Works great for kids and adults of all ages. Works great for coasters on the couch or floor. Made of flexible and durable dishwasher safe FDA virgin resin polypropylene. Recyclable and reusable. Made in the USA.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Great Plates are a great idea!\\n\\nReview: I don't entertain much, but I find these \\\"Great Plates\\\" to be very convenient for my own use. I frequently sit on the side of my bed to watch television, and these are so convenient for holding a sandwich and chips with either a glass or a can of soda in the middle. It's also nice to put some cut up veggies on them, put a dip in the center, and enjoy a healthy snack. My set has four bright cheerful colors: red, green, blue and yellow. As I looked at them, I thought how the colors would fit in if you were entertaining at different holidays, such as using the red and green at Christmas, the blue at Hanukkah, the red on Valentine's Day, the Green on St. Patrick's Day and the red and blue on July 4th. These plates are very sturdy and dishwasher safe, and stack for convenience and to save space. I know they will be a conversation piece the next time I have a get-together!\",\n \"Product: The rain vanity storage collection offers versatile organization options for the home. Use in the bathroom for cosmetics & hygiene products, in a kitchen drawer for utensils, or for office supplies.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Great vanity drawer organizer!\\n\\nReview: At approximately 6-7/8\\\" by 15-7/8\\\" by 1-3/4\\\" high, this organizer was larger than I thought it would be. When I first saw it I didn't think it would fit inside my bathroom vanity drawer, but - surprise! - it fit in perfectly lengthwise, with room to spare on the side and even some in front. It is made of strong, shiny white plastic with a pebbled surface on the inside \\\"floor\\\". (I'm not sure, but I think the reason for the pebbled interior may be so that things don't slide or roll around as easily. Whatever the reason, the \\\"pebbles\\\" give this organizer a richer look.) It is divided into five spacious compartments: two which measure about 7-3/4\\\" by 3-1/4\\\", two which are around 4-3/4\\\" by 4-1/8\\\", and one which is approximately 6-7/8\\\" by 3-3/4\\\". The longer compartments are especially suited for my eyebrow and lip-liner pencils and longer tubes, and the other compartments I use for my foundation, blush, eye shadows, lipsticks, nail polishes, etc. It really simplifies my life to pull open a drawer and everything I need to get ready is right at my fingertips, neatly organized. It wipes off easily with a damp cloth. Love my new cosmetic organizer!\",\n \"Product: The Cuisinart silicone oven mitt offers comfortable & safe protection when handling hot cookware in your kitchen. Lined with 100% cotton padding on the inside and 100% heat-proof silicone on the outside. Silicone is heat resistant up to 450 degrees F.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Feels awkward, doesn't fit right\\n\\nReview: First, I would like to say that the aqua color is very attractive and the cotton lining is thick and feels comfortable. It can be hand-washed and let dry. The silicone exterior feels like rubber, so things would be less likely to slip.\\nWhat I don't like about this mitt is: I have to pull it all the way on, or my fingers do not even come close to reaching near the bottom of the mitt (admittedly, I do have shorter fingers). When the mitt is all the way on, approximately 3 inches below my elbow, it is extremely snug. I am a woman slightly over 5' tall. If I were a large-boned man with a muscular forearm, I doubt if it would fit. In my opinion, the sleeve of the mitt is way too long. Also, it does not have a loop for hanging. Inside the top of the mitt, there is a cloth \\\"Cuisinart\\\" label sewn on by one long side. It could easily have been sewn on by both short sides, and thus might have been used as a loop.\\nOverall, this mitt feels very awkward to me. I doubt if I will use it again. It might work for people with very long, slim arms. But in my opinion, an oven mitt should be a \\\"one-size-fits-all\\\".\",\n \"Product: This Sabatier Box Grater is a signature piece needed in every kitchen. A convenient 3-cup storage container attaches to the bottom of the grater and catches the food as you grate. Then, after you've emptied the container, it slips up inside the grater for compact storage. Features high quality stainless steel grating surface and slicing blade and a durable handle for superior comfort and grip. Dishwasher safe.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Excellent tool for the kitchen\\n\\nReview: This is one of the most well-designed kitchen tools I have seen in a long time. First of all, the handle: it is very easy and comfortable to grasp so that you can stabilize the grater when using it. This grater comes with a plastic container, marked with measurements, which fits on the bottom so that the food you are grating goes neatly into it. There is a top for the plastic container which stores inside the grater itself when not in use, to minimize the chance of misplacing it. And when I say \\\"plastic\\\" it has nothing in common with my plastic food storage containers, in that the grater container is extremely sturdy and strong. In addition, both the grater and the container are dishwasher safe. When I run the grater through the dishwasher there is absolutely no discoloration, as there is with some other metal kitchenware I have washed. The bottom of the grater has a silicone gasket which helps to seal it to the container or stabilize it if you are using it on a flat surface. In addition to the different grating options, there is a slicer on one side. One thing I appreciated is that the manufacturer covered the slicer opening with a strip of blue plastic, presumably so consumers would not accidentally scrape their hand or fingers when first removing this from it's cardboard overwrap. In short, I really like this grater. It's been a long time since I baked a carrot cake, but now that I have this grater I plan on making one, as soon as I can locate my favorite carrot cake with cream cheese frosting recipe!\",\n \"Product: The GreenLife Everyday Value 12 ceramic non-stick open frypan in black makes the perfect addition to any kitchen. This lightweight 12 ceramic non-stick open frypan has a solid base that offers good heat distribution and guarantees stability. The ergonomic Bakelite handle has a comfortable grip and stays cool during use. The collection has a Thermolon ceramic non-stick coating and is manufactured without PFAS and PFOA, does not contain any lead or cadmium and allows for less fats and oils to be used. In addition, the Thermolon ceramic non-stick coating makes cooking easy, and the ceramic aluminum body makes cleaning a breeze. The glass lids allow for convenient monitoring while cooking and the dishwasher-safe construction makes cleanup a breeze.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: My first non-stick ceramic pan\\n\\nReview: I have never owned a ceramic non-stick pan before, so the first thing I did was to read the manufacturer's instructions. I was happy to learn that I don't have to season it. Metal utensils should not be used, and although it is dishwasher safe, hand-washing is recommended \\\"to keep the durability of your non-stick\\\". It is recommended to always use a little bit of butter or oil for best results, but cooking sprays and extra-virgin olive oil are to be avoided as they \\\"cannot withstand high heat\\\". And speaking of high heat, the manufacturer states that it be used with low to medium heat only.\\nThe first meal I cooked was breakfast - spam and eggs over-easy. I didn't use any fat for the spam because it already has it, and I was amazed at the way the spam slices \\\"skedaddled\\\" around the pan - it really is non-stick! In fact, it was almost difficult at first to turn the pieces over with my nylon spatula, because as soon as the spatula touched the slices they would slide away. (I've since got the knack of it). Next I added some butter before cooking the eggs, and it was then that I realized how quickly this pan heats up and how very hot it gets. To my surprise the butter immediately turned brown, so I turned the heat down to \\\"simmer\\\" before adding the eggs. That is something to be aware of - this pan heats up, and becomes hot, very quickly, and that is why the manufacturer says to use low to medium heat only.\\nAnyway, I'm happy with this pan and look forward to many delicious meals cooked in it.\",\n \"Product: Sort all your bathroom supplies in order using the Medium Stackable Bathroom Tote. This bathroom storage organizer is made of durable plastic that allows you to conveniently store and access your belongings. Use it to store a wide range of bath supplies such as shampoo bottles, soaps, scrubbers, towels, shower caps, make-up or for storing essential accessories in the kitchen or craft room. This bathroom organizer is lightweight and comes with a chrome-plated handles that will not rust, even with constant exposure to water. Stackable design lets you maximize the available storage space. You can now store and carry your essential toiletries wherever you go with this clear bathroom tote.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Not the color shown...\\n\\nReview: I ordered these particular baskets because my decor is in pink, and these \\\"honeysuckle\\\" baskets appeared to be a rosey pink to me on my monitor. I opened the box today and was very disappointed to see that they are in fact a beet red/burgundy color, not pink at all. The sticker on them said \\\"Honeysuckle\\\" so I had been sent the \\\"right\\\" ones. I will keep them but I would not have ordered them if I had known that they were a completely different color than the pretty pink shade on my monitor. On the positive side, I was glad to see that they are made in the USA. They will definitely be used, but I am disappointed because of the color discrepancy.\",\n \"Product: Authentic crunch leather, rich floral emboss heiress convertible billfold features a front snap closure, gusseted coin purse, snap closure 5 place window/i.D. Section and a large divided currency pocket.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Just like I had when I was in my teens!\\n\\nReview: I just love this wallet! It doesn't take up much room in my handbag, for one thing. Best of all, it is so easy to use - everything seems to be in the most convenient place, for example the coin pocket right in front of where the bills are. I used this kind of wallet when I was growing up, but for some reason for many years I used clutch wallets that are about 8\\\" long and have all kinds of interior compartments. Now that I am using this billfold style again, I wonder why I ever bought anything else. This is so simple and convenient. And I love the wide choice of colors - I bought pink, my favorite. Anyway, ladies, I would give this one a try. I'm so glad I did!\",\n \"Product: The Best Extra, Extra Wide Fit Womens Slippers with adjustable closures accommodate even the most swollen feet and swollen ankles in fabulous comfort. ***ORDER YOUR EXACT SIZE TO ENSURE PROPER FIT - IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO GO UP A SIZE TO ACCOMMODATE WIDTH OR SWELLING.*** A great choice for elderly with bunions, corns, hammer toes, foot edema, diabetes and podiatry foot problems. The wide width slipper opening features a hook and loop fastener. Skid-resistant non slip slipper soles. Memory foam insoles for the ultimate in comfort! Anti-bacterial to control odor and stains. This slipper has been worn as a shoe. Terrific for those with arthritis or lowered hand dexterity. These adjustable wide width slippers make the best diabetic slipper for women. Extra-roomy deep WW wide width slippers for swollen feet and ankles are great for patients in hospitals, post surgery, nursing home patients residents and retirement homes. These Extra Wide Width Womens Bedroom or House Slippers are perfect for comfortable casual use in the home and for home care settings.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Finally, something that fits!\\n\\nReview: Even in good health, wide feet and a high arch always made selecting a well-fitting shoe or slipper difficult. However, now that some current health issues have left me with edema in the feet and ankles it has become extremely difficult to find anything that fits. I am embarrassed to admit that in the last two months I have had to return over half a dozen pairs of shoes and slippers that just didn't fit. One pair of slippers fit after I \\\"altered\\\" them with scissors. Not a look I wanted. Naturally, I was hesitant to order these because I was afraid it would be the same story - plus, the price seemed rather high for slippers. Well, I can tell you that I am so happy I purchased these and I am considering getting a second pair. They fit perfectly, even over the swollen arches of my feet. They are super comfortable and I forget that I have them on. In the picture they look like many other slippers but when I received them I could tell they were very high quality and well worth every penny. I like the deep rose color (thank goodness they didn't make them in some drab shade) and they resemble a certain kind of high-end boiled wool shoe that is made in Germany. The only issue I had is that the top of the shoe, by the side of the ankle, tended to bend over and turn in when I put them on, but I fixed that by folding that portion toward the outside when slipping them on. The sole is very good and has excellent traction on non-carpeted floors. I could probably wear them outside in a pinch, although I wouldn't. They also have some kind of treatment that is supposed to keep them fresh and sanitary - sorry, I don't know much about that but it definitely sounds like a good thing. I would wholeheartedly recommend these shoes to anyone with wide or swollen feet.\",\n \"Product: A soft leather billfold with a rich floral embossing accented in Italian inked edge.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Just like I had when I was in my teens!\\n\\nReview: I just love this wallet! It doesn't take up much room in my handbag, for one thing. Best of all, it is so easy to use - everything seems to be in the most convenient place, for example the coin pocket right in front of where the bills are. I used this kind of wallet when I was growing up, but for some reason for many years I used clutch wallets that are about 8\\\" long and have all kinds of interior compartments. Now that I am using this billfold style again, I wonder why I ever bought anything else. This is so simple and convenient. And I love the wide choice of colors - I bought pink, my favorite. Anyway, ladies, I would give this one a try. I'm so glad I did!\",\n \"Product: Bold jewelry adds interest and a bit of drama to even the most basic outfit. Our sizeable and stunning Vintage Style ribbon brooch is a sensational example of a fashion pin that is guaranteed to make a statement when you wear it. Dress up an everyday simple dress or a favorite jacket with our Antique Style bow brooch. It is shaped like a perfect bow. Most women are passionate about jewelry and love receiving jewelry gifts. Although bow brooches and pins can be given as gifts to any occasion, they also make elegant gifts for a wedding or a bridal party. Consider purchasing our very affordable crystal brooch for several ladies on your gift list this year who love jewelry, especially jewelry that evokes a Vintage Style.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Exquisite and Elegant, and a great price to boot!\\n\\nReview: I received this pin today and it is absolutely beautiful. I enjoy collecting pins and brooches, and I've seen similar ones at more than twice the price. It is a good size - which I like, because it will show up that way - and it sparkles brilliantly. Although it is a larger pin, it is also very dainty and delicate-looking because of the airy, semi-filigree design. Bling packaged it in a beautiful dark purple velvet gift bag with a picture on it of their logo and a gold crown with diamonds - it would make a lovely presentation if you decide to give this as a gift. And the bag was wrapped in bubble plastic to protect it. I really appreciate it when a seller wraps something so carefully. I will wear this pin on cardigans and coats but I also think it would look adorable on a hat or on the front of a clutch, You could buy an inexpensive black fabric clutch and turn it into a glamorous evening bag just by pinning this bow on the front. By the way, the seller also enclosed a coupon for 10% off my next Bling purchase on Amazon, which I thought was very generous.\",\n \"Product: The beautiful Original Star K Sterling Silver 6mm Heart Shape Double Halo Pendant Necklace ,crafted in .925 Sterling Silver. This amazing design is mounted with 1 stone prong set Heart Shape Stones, 54 stones prong set colorless Round Cubic Zirconia. This style measures 16.00 mm wide, 20.00 mm long.18 inches chain includedDesigner: Star K - This beautiful design, is part of the exclusive Star K. jewelry collection. Star K. designs are copyrighted, so please be aware of cheap imitations selling online. Only original Star K. creations are made using the highest quality materials and craftsmanship, backed by an exclusive Lifetime Warranty. Warranty: - This item is covered by our exclusive Silver Shield Lifetime Warranty. This exclusive lifetime coverage is offered ONLY by us so please shop with confidence, our quality is guaranteed for life!\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Even prettier than the web photo...\\n\\nReview: I was dazzled when I opened the box and saw this pendant. It looks like real diamonds and the pink sapphire looks exactly like a \\\"pigeon blood red\\\" ruby. The CZs surrounding the pink heart are extremely tiny and they sparkle in the light sending off different rainbow colors, creating a look of complete authenticity. And the packaging - first was a beautiful midnight blue satin bag, then a beribboned midnight blue gift box, and last of all a tiny midnight blue \\\"treasure chest\\\" with a latch containing this lovely pendant. There was also a card enclosed advising me on how to register my pendant because I received a free lifetime warranty! The chain appears a little fragile so I will probably put one of my own silver chains on it. It is obvious that when the jewelers made this they put as much care into it as if they were using the finest ruby and diamonds. I would most definitely buy from this company again.\",\n \"Product: Sophisticated and just the right size for any excursion, this swanky satchel with multiple storage options will leave you well-prepared for meetings or spontaneous outings.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Not just for travelers!\\n\\nReview: This is the first Baggallini I have purchased, but it definitely won't be my last. For health reasons I have wanted to buy a lightweight nylon bag for quite a while, but most of them looked a little \\\"sporty\\\" for my taste since I usually enjoy wearing dresses and skirts. Not so the Elizabeth! It is a lovely, extremely lightweight and comfortable bag which is also very elegant and pretty. It is exactly the right size - large enough, but not overly large. Since I do not wear shoulder bags, I was delighted that the Elizabeth offers the handheld or over-the-arm option which I need. I purchased the Wisteria which is a beautiful shade, and I wanted to reassure anyone out there considering purchasing the Wisteria - it is almost a neutral and would go with just about any color you might wear. When I received the bag the tag said it was part of the Baggallini \\\"Uptown\\\" collection and this lovely handbag certainly looks \\\"Uptown\\\" - but is also very \\\"user friendly\\\". Now I am considering purchasing a second one in a different color. I am so thrilled with my new \\\"Elizabeth Satchel\\\"!\",\n \"Product: The BIC For Her is a pen designed just for her. It is a sleek pen silhouette and jeweled accents add style. It has a soft contoured grip for all day comfort and also features the Easy-Glide System (BIC's exclusive ink technology), for beautifully smooth writing. Also available in Blue & Black Ink.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Luxury at an affordable price\\n\\nReview: When I am in my local office supply store, I have often wistfully admired the beautiful - and very expensive - pens displayed in glass cases, fearing that were I to ever purchase one I would probably lose it. Fortunately, Bic has solved the problem and has created a truly exquisite pen at a price anyone can afford. This pen rivals in aesthetics any I have seen in the luxury market. The top and bottom are faux mother of pearl, there are two matching \\\"jewels\\\" on either side of the pen, the body of the pen has lovely, monochromatic flowers on the barrel and the chrome portion near the writing tip is etched with matching flowers. In addition, the weight of the pen and the easiness of the grip all contribute to a wonderful writing experience. This particular pen set writes in two colors, the purple in purple ink and the pink in a dark pink ink. This pen would certainly be appreciated by any woman of any age, from 5 to 105. Bic, please don't ever stop making these lovely pens!\",\n \"Product: Scotch High Heavy Duty Packaging Tape is designed to meet your moving and shipping needs. A clear tape, with hot melt rubber resin adhesive for heavy boxes. Dispenser designed to ensure the tape will not fall back on the roll, and the tape has an easy unwind. Meets U.S. postal regulations for standard packages.Great for general shipping or moving needs, such as packing boxes in the office. Made in the USA.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Good, but could be improved...\\n\\nReview: I like the Scotch Heavy Duty Shipping Packaging tape and have used it for years. Because it is clear I can safely tape over labels and bar codes and know that they will still be seen. However, I believe there is room for improvement in the packaging regarding two things. 1) Getting the tape off the roll. You have to look very carefully for where there is a serrated edge on the tape, scrape it with your thumbnail, and then finally pull it to a place about 1/2\\\" wide where it is not attached and pull it free. This could be made much simpler by just having a small strip of the tape with non-stick backing at the start of the tape. 2) The cardboard portion which fits around the cutting edge. It is easy to pull off the main part of the cardboard, but at the end there are always two little pieces stuck on either side which usually require me to get a pair of tweezers and remove. Again, I think there could be a more user-friendly way of doing this. So, yes, it is good tape, but I think the company could make some improvements in the way it is packaged, for added consumer convenience.\",\n \"Product: Do you have a little girl that is overwhelmed with imagination? Then have her put down her emotions and daze off into her world of imagination by writing in this special butterfly diary. This secret diary is especially designed for girls.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Nice for us big girls, too!\\n\\nReview: Reading the other reviews, it appears that many people purchased this to give to little girls. Well, I am in my 60's and I thought it was so pretty, I bought it for myself! I use it as a journal and a place to write my thoughts and prayers. It is very lovely, and the picture does not do it justice. It looks much, much nicer in person. The cover is decorated with sequins, tiny seed pearls and bugle beads. The lock is also decorated. The pages are pink, have wide-ruled easy-to-write-in lines, a space for the date, and have drawings of happy-looking flowers. The back of the pages are white. The only complaint I have is that it appears my copy may have gotten damp at some point, as the pages lay a little bit unevenly and the first ten or so pages were stuck together and had to be separated. However, it still deserves five stars! And it would make a great gift for a girl of any age!\",\n \"Product: Do you have a little girl that is overwhelmed with imagination? Then have her put down her emotions and daze off into her world of imagination by writing in this special butterfly diary. This secret diary is especially designed for girls.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Nice for us big girls, too!\\n\\nReview: Reading the other reviews, it appears that many people purchased this to give to little girls. Well, I am in my 60's and I thought it was so pretty, I bought it for myself! I use it as a journal and a place to write my thoughts and prayers. It is very lovely, and the picture does not do it justice. It looks much, much nicer in person. The cover is decorated with sequins, tiny seed pearls and bugle beads. The lock is also decorated. The pages are pink, have wide-ruled easy-to-write-in lines, a space for the date, and have drawings of happy-looking flowers. The back of the pages are white. The only complaint I have is that it appears my copy may have gotten damp at some point, as the pages lay a little bit unevenly and the first ten or so pages were stuck together and had to be separated. However, it still deserves five stars! And it would make a great gift for a girl of any age!\",\n \"Product: Crock Pot Dump Meals Cookbook makes preparing dinner easier than ever before. Each recipe in Crock Pot Dump Meals Cookbook uses no more than five simple ingredients and takes less than five minutes to prepare. Simply dump the ingredients into your crock pot and let your slow cooker do all the work. Choose from Crock Pot recipes like: Seasoned Pork Chops, Juicy Meatloaf and Baked Potatoes, Teriyaki Chicken with Rice, Pulled Pork Sandwiches, and Cheesy Dump Dish Pizza. Each slow cooker recipe book comes with over 150 recipes that save time and money without sacrificing flavor.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: My kind of cookbook!\\n\\nReview: There are so many things I like about this cookbook that I hardly know where to start. First of all, the meals are tasty, comfort-food type foods that are simple to prepare, and the ingredients are easily obtainable from your supermarket. Every recipe has a beautiful color photo beside it. The recipes are in readable-size print, with a lot of \\\"white space\\\" around them - everything isn't just crammed together on the page. The book is spiral bound so it will lay flat, with a nice sturdy cover. There are handy, short tips that help in preparing the recipes. At the front of the book, there is a simply-written section about crock-pots, their sizes and how best to cook in them. I am so happy that I purchased this cookbook, and I recommend it to anyone looking for an easy, no-fuss way to cook tasty and nutritious meals.\"\n]","isConversational":false},"profile_size":{"kind":"number","value":20,"string":"20"},"task":{"kind":"string","value":"longlamp_3"},"split_kind":{"kind":"string","value":"user_based"},"id":{"kind":"number","value":977,"string":"977"}}},{"rowIdx":978,"cells":{"question_id":{"kind":"string","value":"A23Q1T4MXZHFM7"},"question":{"kind":"string","value":"Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of \"5.0\" for a product with description \"INXS ~ Listen Like Thieves\". The summary of the review text is \"The Band With Legendary Michael Hutchence Kissed the American Dirt\"."},"answer":{"kind":"string","value":"Aussie rock superstar's 1985 breakthrough album that hit America is charactereized with heavily beating drums and uptempo rhythms. After untimely death of legendary vocalist Micheal Hutchence in 1997 they miraculously returned with the latest \"Switch\" in 2005.\n\nThis 1985 piece of work really rocks, yet with catchy pop songs such as WHAT YOU NEED which became #5 hit and extensily radio-airplayed tracks such as LISTEN LIKE THIEVES, THIS TIME, and KISS THE DIRT. THREE SISTERS is amusing instrumental featuring the image of the wild nature of Australia. SHINE LIKE IT DOES and SAME DIRECTION are fine tracks as well.\n\nVerdict: Fine and rockin' album.\n\nRating: 89 out of 100\n\nRecommended for: Every Aussie pop fans, 80s pop rock fans. Essential for anyone who listened SWITCH and their greatest hits package."},"correct_answer":{"kind":"string","value":"Aussie rock superstar's 1985 breakthrough album that hit America is charactereized with heavily beating drums and uptempo rhythms. After untimely death of legendary vocalist Micheal Hutchence in 1997 they miraculously returned with the latest \"Switch\" in 2005.\n\nThis 1985 piece of work really rocks, yet with catchy pop songs such as WHAT YOU NEED which became #5 hit and extensily radio-airplayed tracks such as LISTEN LIKE THIEVES, THIS TIME, and KISS THE DIRT. THREE SISTERS is amusing instrumental featuring the image of the wild nature of Australia. SHINE LIKE IT DOES and SAME DIRECTION are fine tracks as well.\n\nVerdict: Fine and rockin' album.\n\nRating: 89 out of 100\n\nRecommended for: Every Aussie pop fans, 80s pop rock fans. Essential for anyone who listened SWITCH and their greatest hits package."},"documents":{"kind":"list like","value":["Product: Star Wars - Episode VI, Return of the Jedi [VHS]\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Grand Finale with Some Added Scenes\n\nReview: 2007 DVD version of the concluding episode of one of the most popular star opera series has some added or altered scenes not in the original theatrical release in 1983.\n\nAlthough this one is the last of the original Luke trilogy I am not that impressed with this compared with the previous episode THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, or fourth episode THE NEW HOPE, the originally the first Star Wars series. This episode is made up of four parts: Rescue Mission of Han Solo, Luke's Return to Dagobah system, Endor Mission to inactivate the barrier system of Death Star #2, Luke's own mission to face Darth Vader and evil Emperor. Now let's see how each part is done.\n\n1. Mission to Save Incarbonated Han Solo...4.5 out of 5\nThis part was done really brilliantly, it is seen from the eyes of the C-3PO and R2D2, even the viewers are not aware of what the Luke's plan is all about. Really thrilling and monsters as well as Java The Hut, Boba Fett were done quite well. I love Princess Leia in metal bathing suit.\n\n2. Luke Returns to Dagobah System...3 out of 5\nAlthough it is really touching scene involving the new revelation about the \"other hope\" and the death of Yoda, this scene could have been better. It is sad and unfortunate to see that Yoda passes away. It seems that Lucas team has little idea what conquering the dark side of the force really means when the movie was made. The original plot was far too simple and the dark forces merely meant Luke's inner weakness which is in the way for eliminating the evil. The viewers who started seeing the SW through Anakin Trilogy in particular may feel it should not be like this. Yoda should have warned Luke that dark force would not simply go away just by eliminating the emperor and darth vader's dark side.\n\n3. Endor Mission...4 out of 5\nIronically the best part of Endor mission scene is speeder racing. It really is thrilling to us even today's viewers accustomed to CG-generated scenes. But after Ewok appear the story become a bit slack. I do not see if Ewok characters fit in the Star Wars universe well. Maybe the fantasy movies such as Caravan of Courage may better do this adorable creature justice rather than being in a part of Star Wars battle scenes. Imperial troopers look really dumb by easily entrapped by Ewoks. Last celebration scene addition was minor improvement. Without it, it looks just the victory of the local battle.\n\n4. Luke's Own Mission to Conquer the dark Force...4 out of 5\nDespite the insufficient Dagobah scene, this final battle was done quite well. Particularly the scene that Father and Son got strongly spiritually reunited is really touching. It's good in a stand-alone episode. As the initial title was \"Revenge of the Jedi\" the producers might not have been aware of how strong the dark side of the force could be.\n\nVerdict: Good to see the grand finale but some parts seem hasty and insufficient.\nRating: 82 out of 100\nRecommended for: Sci-fi movie fans.","Product: Guaranteed to work or your money back - PLEASE NOTE ALL MONIES FROM THIS SALE GO TO A 501 (C)3 NO KILL ANIMAL SHELTER\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: A New Look Into a 30-year-old Sci-Fi Classic\n\nReview: I never expected that I would see the film again as a sequel of the newest Star Wars series more than 20 years after I saw it at first. Even in this newer edition of the 1977 classic you can find some of the discrepancy from the Anakin Skywalker trilogy.\nNever mind. It's part of the fun and another reason to watch this film again.\n\nFirst of all, I felt the first half of original 1977 version a bit dull and with the exception of a few of the scenes such as Princess Leia's hologrammed message recorded in R2D2 had remained in my memory. But thanks to Ani-trilogy I am more eager to watch the first scenes particularly the re-appearance of Obi-Wan kenobi introduced by Luke Skywalker as Old Ben.\n\nAfter the appearance of Han Solo a Hollywood counterpart of Captain Harlock, the show begins and I can never take my eyes away from the scene until the end. Some of the scene was added to this newer one. But not much to ruin the old classic.\n\nVerdict: Fourth episode finally found a home in the entire series.\nRating: 90 out of 100\nRecommended for wide range of sci-fi movies fans.","Product: Los Angeles is enduring a heat wave and a crime wave, so the pressure on police officer Michael Harrigan (Danny Glover) to solve a strange string of murders is mounting. Harrigan thinks the culprit can be found among the warring gangs and drug cartels, but FBI Special Agent Peter Keyes (Gary Busey) knows the horrible truth: Their killer is a fearsome extraterrestrial (Kevin Peter Hall) with keen hunting abilities that include superior night vision and the power to make itself invisible.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Lethal Weapon Meets X-files\n\nReview: The previous film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger left a lot of questions unanswered. The sequel is set in Los Angeles and the film starts with the shooting between drug cartel groups and L.A.P.D. officers just like one of the scenes in Lethal Weapon series. While they are trying to find out what had happened after the bloody murders they are stopped by Federal Agents who are working on their agenda. Then the story turns up like a part of X-files. Special Agent Peter Keys is a Cigarette Smoking Man of this government cover-up mystery. Later it was found out that unidentified invisible monsters are actually warriors from another planet and has their own code of rules such as not attacking people unarmed. And the latter part of movie suggests that these creatures involved in historical battles such as Iwo Jima or Colonial days battles. What I was frustrated is not the film itself. The way the series left us in the dark. It is like ending the series in Back To The Future part 2 and left mysteries unsolved. I hope recent film Predators can answer some of the mysteries.\n\nVerdict: Predators are not indiscriminate killers\nRating: 74 out of 100\nRecommended for: The fans of action-involved sci-fi films.","Product: The \"Italian Stallion\" rediscovers his roots in this exciting, thrill-packed drama that reunites Sylvester Stallone with the Oscar(r)-winning* director of the original Rocky(r). Upon returning home from his latest triumph, Rocky Balboa (Stallone) learns that all his money has been lost by an unscrupulous financial advisor. To make matters worse, his fight-relatedinjuries force his retirement from the ring. So Rocky, his wife, Adrian (Talia Shire), and his son,Rocky Jr. (Sage Stallone), move to their old, low-rent neighborhood in South Philadelphia. There, the fighter must resolve the deep-rooted resentment held by his son, a bitterness that grows when Rocky trains Tommy Gunn (Tommy Morrison), a young boxer who soon rises to national prominence. When Tommy turns against his mentor and publicly taunts him, Rocky knows he must fight once more. *John G. Avildsen, 1976\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: You Can't Turn Back The Clock...\n\nReview: Rocky V, the fifth series of Rocky series, in 1990, ended up proving that you can't get back the gist of what the earlier Rocky series had.\nThe street of Philadelphia where Rocky was born and bred still is there. However, the time has changed that much even the same place looks different. Rocky Balboa donning his favorite hat when he was the unknown fighter in Philadelphia looks a bit out of place. The storyline is shaky as Rocky Balboa the retired former champion might have been like. He meets a young man and teaches everything he had to the Tommy Gunn. After Tommy betrays Rocky, there will be an unexpected street-fighting scene that caused uproar from Rocky fans. I can have no clues to what the coming Rocky movie will be like. I give this movie three stars because of nostalgia you can find from this movie particularly ol' Micky. (He surely got old).","Product: Open otherwise good condition\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Enjoyable Epic With The Beauty of Good Ol' Japan\n\nReview: It is very fun to watch the Bond film in which some of the beautiful locations of my country were shown. Particularly the idea that the secret specter base is located under the crater pond of an active volcano SHINMOEDAKE part of KIRISHIMA volcanic range in KYUSHU was fascinating. And views of major volcanoes in Kyushu including Aso and Sakurajima. When HIMEJI castle popped up from screen I could not contain my chuckles. It is indeed a fitting place for modern ninjas... As Japanese samurai movie fans know well, HIMEJI castle is often used in samurai dramas and in TV mini-series <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/James-Clavell-s-Shogun/dp/B0000A2ZNX/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">James Clavell's Shogun</a> it was used as Osaka castle.\n\nSean Connery is one of the first western actors (excluding Japanese Americans) who lived a life as a Japanese in non-Japanese dramas. Naturally when TV mini-series Shogun was to be produced the top candidate for English pilot Blackthorne was Sean. I suspect Bond strictly followed a Japanese agent Tanaka's advice to become a real Japanese though. Could have used more subtitles for local language and let Bond show his achievement of language skill courses in Cambridge.\n\nOn the whole really enjoyable both in plot and actions.\n\nVerdict: Neatly describing good old Japan with the exception of Ninja.\nRating: 90 out of 100. James Bond being a Japanese not that convincing enough.\nRecommended for Ninja movies and action movies fans as well as Bond movie fans.","Product: The animated adventure VHS movie of Sinbad and his seventh voyage.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Enjoyable Film by the Master of Special Effects\n\nReview: The adventures of Captain Sinbad are some of the most well known stories from One Thousand One Nights a.k.a. Arabian Nights, one of the most popular classic Arabian Literature works. This movie is loosely based on the second voyage seeking the eggs of legendary imaginary bird \"Roc\". It also takes in some of the elements from Arabian night stories such as Aladdin for evil sorcerer and the genie lamp. Other than that the movie has its original plot showcasing expertise of special effects called Dynarama. Some of the scenes might have been inspired from classic monster films such as King Kong and Toho's Godzilla series. Particularly the fighting scenes with One-Eyed Monster and the Dragon is outstanding. The film's another climax can be the duel scene between skeleton fighter and Sinbad. I could hardly contain my chuckles.\n\nVerdict: Ray Harryhausen's work of wonder\nRating: 92 out of 100\nRecommended for fans of classic sci-fi films with monsters.","Product: Castle of Cagliostro VHS. 1992 Streamline Pictures release.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: First Animation Film Directed By Miyazaki\n\nReview: This cult Animation film in 1981 is the debut work for Hayao Miyazaki as a movie director.\n\nDuring 70s Miyazaki often collaborated with Isao Takabata in masterpiece anime works such as Heidi--the Girl In the Alps(1974), one-year weekly run TV animation film based on Johanna Spyri's well known children's story. After collaborating with Takabata's TV animation series of Anne of The Green Gables until the midstage, he became independent from Takabata and went on his own. First one he did was the Lupin The Third series film sure-to-be-hit anime series in Japan.\n\nThis work I feel is not in concert with other Lupin III works though Miyazaki took up earlier Lupin III episodes around 1973. And some anime fans might find the influence from FUTURE BOY CONAN(1979) HEIDI(1974), and even Paul Grimault's mastepiece animation film \"Le Roi et l'oiseau(The King and the Mockingbird)\" . Basic settings are as Miyazaki himself acknowledges came from \"Le Roi et L'oiseau\" And some of the beautiful landscape of Italian sides of European Alps reminds me of Heidi. Also Lupin's superhuman mobility reminds me of Conan, the Future Boy.\n\nAs a fan of Lupin III series I found Lupin a bit too good-natured, and surprised at Lupin's archirival Zenigata a bit too cool. If you are Miyazaki fans you may find this work interesting as you can see how his directing method evolved if you know his pre-Ghibli works so much.\n\nVerdict: Enjoyable but not as organized as his later works\nRating: 88 out of 100\nRecommended: Essential for those who might want to find Miyazaki's pre-Ghibli works.","Product: A film adaption of the myth of Perseus and his quest to battle both Medusa and the Kraken monster to save the Princess Andromeda.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: The Last of the Special-Effects Titan\n\nReview: 1981 film based on Greek Mythology on Perseus saving the Princess Andromeda from the Monster is the last film involvement of special effects wizard Ray Harryheusen, who created a number of monsters just as Eiji Tsuburaya of Godzilla did. It is often picked as the material to introduce Greek Mythology to the uninitiated. The film also has some special appearance of some notable actors and actresses such as Maggie Smith one of the staple figures in British films known by the Harry Potters' Professor McGonall, Laurence Olivier the legendary Shakespearean actor and Burgess Meredith known by the role of Rocky Balboa's coach Mickey. Ammon, a poet played by Meredith assists and guides young Perseus to the right track.\n\nThe film plot adds original characters not in Greek Mythology such as the mechanical owl Bubo, Calibos, human-turned monster due to the curse.\nThen the story goes like typical Ray Harryhausen-involved fantasy films. A boy ventures into a given quest, saves the damsel in mistress, Andromeda and conquers the monsters. As far as you like the cliches of Harryheusen world you will definitely love the film. Among the Harryhausen involved films I have seen Titans is one of the best. The biggest plot hole, however, might be the title itself. From the title you might expect the fantasy adventure involving different giant monsters taking each side of the warring parties. The only Titan worthy of being called a \"titan\" is Harken, a typical Harryhausen-created Kaiju. Its Pegasus is no Falcor (Neverending Story) which may not give so much craving to mount yourself. Although the film was a great success, it became the swan song for him and with ILM team booming, maybe it was the right time for him to retire.\n\nVerdict: Good adventure film that marked the end of Harryhausen Days\nRating: 86 of 100 Some loose parts in plot.\nRecommended for the fans of classic fantasy films","Product: Here's the latest chapter in the popular film trilogy, starring Jason James Richter (FREE WILLY) as Bastian, a teenager whose life is turned upside down when his father remarries. On his first day at a new school, Bastian is chased by a vicious gang called the Nasties. He hides in the school library where he finds a magic book that writes itself according to the imagination of the reader. To escape the Nasties (and his troubles at home), Bastian wishes himself into Fantasia, the storybook's phantasmic world of incredible creatures. It's here, away from the pressures of the real world, that Bastian thinks he's safe. But when the Nasties take control of the book, his Fantasian friends get stuck on earth, and it's up to Bastian to save them. And in order to do that, he must defeat the Nasties! With great music by some of your favorite rockers, this awesome fantasy-adventure celebrates the joy of reading and the magic books create within our own imagination!\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: The Most Misunderstood Story\n\nReview: I read the novel Neverending story and also enjoyed the first movie. The first two series of Neverending story are based on Michael Ende's masterpiece juvenile literature. This one is purely original story using the theme and characters from this book. The first movie was so successful that the very concept of the original story is left neglected. Second and third series tried to get things right only in vain. Fantasia is a creation of human mind so when we changes the story changes that is what neverending story is. Auryn is as second series nicely put it, not a magic stick. Third series is no exception. Bastian's new sister used Auryn to buy what she wanted then the side effect was their newly-wed parents are in danger of divorce. This story's not a fantasy story at all. It is more real than you imagine. It is too bad a time to make neverending story movie at all during dark 90s. Maybe this time will be more acceptable to have another series. First movie is outstanding but just be back to reality. Its theme has unending stories to make. We are part of neverending story so just let new things add to let fantasia alive.","Product: A poor boy wins the opportunity to tour the most eccentric and wonderful candy factory of all.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Well-Witted, and Well Performed\n\nReview: I saw the film after seeing Tim Burton version in 2005, and I really enjoyed this 1971 version starring GENE WILDER.\n\nGene Wilder's Willy Wonka is really witty and performing the role of the legendary chocolate bar factory owner brilliantly. The first appearance with somersault which is the Wilder's own idea, tells the Wilder's sense of humor quite well. Wonka is an old man in the book but Wilder was still in his 30s. Wilder wants to stress that the book and the film is different? Punishments of the naughty kids are done really well and its lesson can be seen a lot more clearly than the 2005 version. And what is impressive is that the invited children as well as adults truly enjoy the fantastic garden compensating for a bit poorly designed sets. Another factor making the storyline quite convincing is that even Charlie shares the mistakes by tasting the body-floating candies. The process by which the Charlie wins the factory is well described and quite impressive.\n\nWilder's Wonka is by no means true to the original book but the appealing one for sure.\n\nVerdict: Compromise the sets and outdated F/X and you may feel like being one of the luckiest kids or their accomapanying adults.\nRating: 88 out of 100\nRecommended for: Classic movies fans and fantasy novels fans.","Product: TALES FROM THE NEVERENDING STORY: THE BE\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Reorganizing The Long-Selling Fantasy\n\nReview: This is fairly well organized dramatization of Michael Ende's everlasting fantasy. I must admit it deviates so much from the original story but this dramatization rather make up for what original story left behind. Parallel stories interconnecting each other reflects troubling state of mind Bastian suffers in his real life. He lost his mother in a very tragic accident and his school life goes heywire. He has to move his home and have to face with stranger his father is planning to get married. What an ordeal 12-year old boy has to face. Gmork takes the form of the substitute teacher who always give Bastian a hard time. Why moonchild is adult-like here? I guess moonchild is the reflection of Bastian's mother and Xayide reflects Bastian's fear of facing reality. As a 1984 version of NES fan it really hurts to see the Falkor chained and tortured by Xayide. And Fly Girl (Stefani Buxton) and Atreyu (Tyler Hynes) reminds me of Nausicaa and Asbel in \"Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind\". I am really surprised to see Atreyu skateboarding in Bastian's world. It is very entertaining version and I like the way Bastian get over with his real world problems though Neverending Story.\n\nVerdict: A bit deviated from original story but is finely reorganized.\nRating: 89 out of 100. Cracking password is a crime! Five points taken.\nRecommened for Fantasy Novel fans in general who likes Ghibli works or Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter and The Chronicles of Narnia series.","Product: SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO - IT'S 2199. TERRESTRIALS LIVE IN UNDERGROUND CITIES TO SURVIVE RADIATION FROM NUCLEAR PLANET BOMBS. JAPAN'S LEGENDARY BATTLESHIP YAMATO, IS REFITTED AS A SPACESHIP AND WARPS 148,000 LIGHT YEARS TO ISCANDAR FOR A POWER PLANT THAT WILL CLEANSE EARTH'S ATMOSPHERE. THIS IS THE STORY THAT STARTED IT ALL. HERE IS WHERE WE FIRST MEET SUSUMU KODAI, YUKI MORI, CAPTAIN OKITA, DR. SADO, SHIRO SANADA, IQ-9, LORD DESLER AND THE MYSTERIOUS STASHA OF ISCANDAR. IT'S THE FEATURE VERSION OF THE STAR BLAZERS' \"QUEST FOR ISCANDAR\". FEATURES: NEVER BEFORE SEEN BATTLE FOOTAGE.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: The Quest for Iscandar, 148,000 Light Years Away From Earth\n\nReview: 1977 animation film Battle Spaceship Yamato(Star Cruisers) is the short-edited version of 1974 TV series(26 episodes) of the same title which was made into English-dub animation series Star Blazers in 1979. US release edited out WW2 account of Battleship Yamato but otherwise the storyline is almost the same as Japanese theatrical version. As Star Blazer series turned out some of the character names have been anglicized and human-type robot Analyzer was introduced as IQ-9.\n\nDuring mid 70s pollutions, natural disasters, the fear of the nuke wars was so intense around the world, the films with apocalyptic themes such as \"Japan Sinks\" or \"Prophesy of Nostradamus\" became huge success in Japan. The film starts with lifeless dried-up surface of the earth in AD 2199 as the result of alien attacks by Gamillons from their Pluto outpost. Human beings survived underground but it has only one year before the radiation wipes out all human existence. It is the message from Iscandar 148,000-light-year away from Earth which is the last hope. Given the Wave Motion Engine plans attached in the message from Iscandar. Former WW2 flagship Yamato was reformed into Space Cruiser and with a number of extraterrestrial techs built into the ship Yamato(Argo) set out to the intergallactic journey.\n\nThe film's success paved the way for sci-fi animation series such as Gundam series or Neon Genesis Evangelion and Miyazaki fantazy films.\n\nWhile it is similar to Star Wars, Yamato is not entirely militaristic as you see in conversation between Jason(Derek) and Yuki(Nova) when they saw the ruins of what used to be the Gamillas civilization. Leiji Matsumoto who took part in character designs and key role in production hate being interpreted as glorifying wars. The series was ahead of time and used mostly existing heavenly bodies and used latest astronomical discoveries(it was planned before Pioneer and Voyager uncovered the truth about Jupiter and Saturns.) The series also materialized what lie beyond Pluto in solar system(helioscope). Despite its gloomy tones I enjoyed both the TV series and the film version because it expands our mind beyond Solar System and future space exploration light years away when mankind could only dispatch unmanned space plobes out to Jupiter and Saturns.\n\nVerdict: Outstanding sci-fi drama ahead of time. Good for Yamato(Star Blazers) starters.\nRating: 95 out of 100\nRecommended for: Yamato(Star Blazer) fans' must-have. Fans of sci-fi films such as Star Wars, Star Trek, and Galactica series.","Product: 2004 DVD Release of the 1997 Special Edition Version of Return of the Jedi. Wide Screen : Region 1 DVD.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Grand Finale with Some Added Scenes\n\nReview: 2007 DVD version of the concluding episode of one of the most popular star opera series has some added or altered scenes not in the original theatrical release in 1983.\n\nAlthough this one is the last of the original Luke trilogy I am not that impressed with this compared with the previous episode THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, or fourth episode THE NEW HOPE, the originally the first Star Wars series. This episode is made up of four parts: Rescue Mission of Han Solo, Luke's Return to Dagobah system, Endor Mission to inactivate the barrier system of Death Star #2, Luke's own mission to face Darth Vader and evil Emperor. Now let's see how each part is done.\n\n1. Mission to Save Incarbonated Han Solo...4.5 out of 5\nThis part was done really brilliantly, it is seen from the eyes of the C-3PO and R2D2, even the viewers are not aware of what the Luke's plan is all about. Really thrilling and monsters as well as Java The Hut, Boba Fett were done quite well. I love Princess Leia in metal bathing suit.\n\n2. Luke Returns to Dagobah System...3 out of 5\nAlthough it is really touching scene involving the new revelation about the \"other hope\" and the death of Yoda, this scene could have been better. It is sad and unfortunate to see that Yoda passes away. It seems that Lucas team has little idea what conquering the dark side of the force really means when the movie was made. The original plot was far too simple and the dark forces merely meant Luke's inner weakness which is in the way for eliminating the evil. The viewers who started seeing the SW through Anakin Trilogy in particular may feel it should not be like this. Yoda should have warned Luke that dark force would not simply go away just by eliminating the emperor and darth vader's dark side.\n\n3. Endor Mission...4 out of 5\nIronically the best part of Endor mission scene is speeder racing. It really is thrilling to us even today's viewers accustomed to CG-generated scenes. But after Ewok appear the story become a bit slack. I do not see if Ewok characters fit in the Star Wars universe well. Maybe the fantasy movies such as Caravan of Courage may better do this adorable creature justice rather than being in a part of Star Wars battle scenes. Imperial troopers look really dumb by easily entrapped by Ewoks. Last celebration scene addition was minor improvement. Without it, it looks just the victory of the local battle.\n\n4. Luke's Own Mission to Conquer the dark Force...4 out of 5\nDespite the insufficient Dagobah scene, this final battle was done quite well. Particularly the scene that Father and Son got strongly spiritually reunited is really touching. It's good in a stand-alone episode. As the initial title was \"Revenge of the Jedi\" the producers might not have been aware of how strong the dark side of the force could be.\n\nVerdict: Good to see the grand finale but some parts seem hasty and insufficient.\nRating: 82 out of 100\nRecommended for: Sci-fi movie fans.","Product: Based on the novel by Soh Kitamura, the character of The Fiend with Twenty Faces is known to all of Japan and is the central figure in this thrilling story. The cast includes some of the most recognized names including Takeshi Kaneshiro, an actor consistently cast in the biggest films across Asia, and Takako Matsu, one of Japans most sophisticated and respected actresses. The acclaimed writer-director Shimako Sato and the incredible retro futuristic visuals make this film an action spectacular not to be missed. It is 1949 in Japan, in a world where World War II never happened and the nobility system established in the Meiji Era is still in place. An extreme divide exists between the upper and lower classes, with 90 percent of the countrys wealth being held by the upper class. The capital of Teito is in crisis with the emergence of a phantom thief known as \"The Fiend (Kaijin) with Twenty Faces\" or simply \"K-20.\" Heikichi Endo (Takeshi Kaneshiro) is a circus acrobat who is deceived by K-20 and is set up to take the fall for the phantom thief. Using his incredible physical dexterity, Heikichi wages war against K-20 in order to clear his name, fighting alongside K-20's next wealthy target, Duchess Yoko Hashiba (Takako Matsu), and her fiance, brilliant detective Kogoro Akechi (Toru Nakamura). But what is the ultimate decision Heikichi has to make?\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: The Legend of Popular Japanese Fictional Heroes Comes Alive\n\nReview: When asked about \"which fictional private detective do you like best?\", Japanese young adults of 00s might respond: \"Edogawa Konan! No Hajime Kindaichi\". It is an amusing fact that both comic book detective heroes never forget to refer some of legendary private detectives such as Kogoro Akechi who appears in Ranpo Edogawa's detective novels.\n\nKaijin Nijumenso or \"Fiend with twenty faces\" is an archrival of Akechi and legendary fictional thief who is still popular among Japanese aged 30 or older generation. K-20 is an abbreviation for the legendary thief and the story is based on the theory that Heikichi Endo who is said to be the K-20 is not the original K-20 and must be inherited from the first K-20. K-20 in Edogawa's novels is just like what is described in this movie. He gives the warning letter right before stealing the target treasure and steal after all evading all the protection devices and guarding police. He is said to have been modeled after Arsene Lupin, the French fictional thief.\n\nThe movie itself is entirely original story based on no original Ranpo's novels so even though you are familiar with Ranpo's detective novels you may enjoy and be sure to be surprised. There are full of actions and if you are the fans of Takeshi Kaneshiro who are popular as an Asian action star, you will enjoy the movie.\n\nTakeshi Keneshiro, Taiwan-born action star, plays the role of the man who was taken in to be pursued as Kaijin Nijumenso and consequently take over as the successor of the original K-20. The most notable recent Kaneshiro film is John Woo's <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Red-Cliff-International-Version-Part-I-Part-II/dp/B0030A6ICG/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">Red Cliff International Version - Part I & Part II</a> as Zhuge Liang the strategist of Liu Bei.\n\nNote: Oasis's \"The Shock of the Lightning\" was used as the ending title for the movie.\n\nVerdict: Full of actions and thrills.\nRating: 90 out of 100\nRecommended for: Takeshi Kaneshiro fans. Fans of detective movies.","Product: OFFICIALLY LICENSED IMPORT VERSION! THIS IS AN AUTHENTIC, LICENSED DVD. Contains both the Japanese language version with English subtitles and the English language versions! Plays on all DVD players. The peaceful planet of Jillucia has been nearly wiped out by the metal skinned Gavanas, who's leader Rockseia XLL takes orders from his old wretched mother. King Kaiba sends out eight Liabe holy seeds, each one to be received by a chosen one. Its up to these special warriors to save mankind from the Galvanas attack. Starring Sonny Chiba, Vic Morrow, Hiriyuki Sanada, and Tetsuro Tanba. Directed by Kinji Fukasaku (Battle Royale)\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Japanese Sci-fi film during late 70s\n\nReview: Message in Space(1978) is one of the cult sci-fi films in late 70s produced by Japanese film makers. Previous year Toho also released similar space opera film, \"The War in Space\" also inspired by Star Wars. It was indeed the time Japanese film makers eagerly tried to beat the Hollywood in sci-fi area but since then animation series like Star Blazers, Gundam, took the heart of both sci-fi fans and young audience. Sadly space sci-fi opera in live-action movies are no longer a mainstream genre for Japanese film makers today.\n\nIt is really enjoyable movie as a parody of great sci-fi films and animation such as Star Wars, Star Blazers(particularly opening is similar to Star Blazers), Chinese classic \"Water Margin\" and its Japanese adaptation in 19th century Nanso Satomi Hakkennden(The Eight Dog Chronicles). As other works by Fukasaku, he excellently bring in youth culture during late 70s to his film when Tsuppari(bad boy style) was recongnized as cool for young adults. Special effects and action sequence is well-made considering it was made in late 70s. Even ILM staffs who visited the studio were said to have been impressed by their works.\nSonny(Shinichi) Chiba is doing brilliantly for sword action as expected.\n\nVerdict: One of the fine action sci-fi films by Japanese film makers during late 70s\nRating: 78 out of 100\nRecommended for: Late 70s Japanese sci-fi film fans and the fans of Japanese sci-fi animation such as Star Blazers. Also for fans of Sonny(Shinichi) Chiba.","Product: Hard-boiled, cocky, classy and silly. These words only begin to describe the amazing master thief Lupin the Third. With the help of some quick gunplay by his partner Jigen, Lupin takes on the world in elaborate heists, classic car chases, and nasty explosions. Fujiko, a buxom redhead with a penchant for betrayal, always gets tangled up in Lupin's capers. The stoic but swift swordsman Goemon is just as inclined to kill Lupin as he is to help him. And Lupin can never seem to lose the relentless Tokyo Police Inspector Zenigata. What sort of trouble will this band of misfits get into next?\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: The First of One of the Most Beloved TV Animation Series in Japan\n\nReview: Lupin the Third series is one of the long running TV animation series in Japan. Its TV-special programs are also an annual fixture in Japan and its film releases have been countering well even with Ghibli and Doraemon ones. The first season aired in 1971 is also known as Miyazaki-Takabata team's early works before they formed Ghibli. To be more exact both Miyazaki and Takabata worked as A-production partly from early episodes and their names are not credited in either Opening or Ending theme endrolls. They got involved with this TV animation on condition that their names are not credited. While its early episodes are faithful to Monkey Punch's original comic book stories which are rather tailored to adult audience, the latter episodes directed by A-production led by Takabata-Miyazaki team made it comprehensible even understandable to children.\n\nThree different openings are used and the latter two of them are no doubt by A-production which are really comprehensive. The first four episodes are raw in animation sequence but the story line is well-structured and impressive. The protagonist Lupin the third is the grandson of Arsene Lupin the popular French hero and a great thief created by Maurice Leblanc. Daisuke Jigen is the A-1 gunman who always assists Lupin's work. Goemon Ishikawa XIII is the swordsman who uses iron-cutting sword. Goemon first appears in this series on episode #5 as Lupin's adversary. But he eventually joins Lupin team in episode #7. Inspector Zenigata is the archrival of Lupin who devotes his life to capture Lupin. As episode #4 shows he actually likes Lupin and does not want Lupin to get executed. Fujiko Mine is Lupin's current girlfriend but she often moves in her own accord and often uses Lupin team for her own plan. Fujiko first appears as long-haired sexy girl typical heroine Yasuo Otsuka the director of the animation series love. But when drawn by Miyazaki Fujiko has red short hair and intelligent look and often operates kyte-plane. When Miyazaki-style Fujiko appeared for the first time in episode 14 most of the viewers might have wondered \"who is that girl?\". So latter episodes sometimes miss Fujiko partly because Miyazaki was not satisfied with his version of Fujiko. A-production led latter half is filled with action after another.\n\nVerdict: Lupin series with two different styles but both are nice in its own right.\nRating: 90 out of 100\nRecommended for: The fans of James Bond styled action dramas, fans of Japanese animation.","Product: Shot in 2007, Finding Rin Tin Tin is based on the true story of an American corporal and his world renowned German Sheppard dog, Rin Tin Tin. The story begins with Corporal Lee Duncan, stationed in France during World War 1, who rescues a mother and her three German Sheppard puppies. Lee gives the mother and two puppies away, but keeps his favorite puppy, which he lovingly names Rin Tin Tin. When the General warns that keeping a young rambunctious dog is not permitted, Duncan discovers a solution is at hand expert dog handler, German Nikolaus Egger, Rin Tin Tin s mother s original owner, is being held as a POW on their base. At first, Egger is hesitant to help Duncan, but soon warms to him, and though on opposite sides of the war the two men become friends. Egger teaches Rin Tin Tin with patience and kindness, and soon the dog learns amazing skills, such as bringing first aid to soldiers on the battlefield. After the Great War is over, Rin Tin Tin returns home with Duncan and goes on to star in 14 feature films from 1920 - 1931 and was considered to be one of Hollywood s top movie stars.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Legendary Dog is Back\n\nReview: Rin Tin Tin is one of the most popular legendary dogs often compared with Lassie, Hachi. The dog is best known as the Hollywood star dog appearing in a number of films during 20s and 30s. This Rin Tin Tin, however, is loosely based on real story. But besides the fact, that the German Shepherd was found in France during World World I by American Battalion soldiers and sent to the U.S. The exploits shown in this film are most totally a fiction. (Saving a penny is the biggest reason, I guess). The film captures the good ol' film style during the golden age of the Hollywood reminding me of Keaton and Chaplin.\n\nIt is very entertaining film for the dog lovers.","Product: SUPERNATURAL BY SANTANA\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Impressed More By Spanish Tracks\n\nReview: Supernatural is one of the best selling albums of 1999. It is a great album. But escaped from my annual top 10.\nThis album is marked by good mix of Spanish and English songs. That itself is cool, because even Julio Iglesias tried to sing most of the tracks in English when he tried to bust out multimillion selling albums. English tracks are not bad and Smooth and Put Your Lights On surely rocks. Other English language tracks are either Ok to so-so. But Spanish language tracks are really excellent particularly Africa Bamba and Migra which will sure to become great source for learning Spanish. Overall three and a half for English tracks and five stars for Spanish tracks. Calling may be great for live but a bit too long for ordinary music fans like me particularly when listening in CD.","Product: CD\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Wrapping up Billy Ocean's 80s Glory Days\n\nReview: Although this greatest hits compilation misses his early hits such as LOVE REALLY HURTS YOU and L.O.D.(Love on Delivery), it has almost every hit single he had produced during 80s from his album SUDDENLY, LOVE ZONE and TEAR DOWN THESE WALLS. It includes four No. 1 singles CARIBBEAN QUEEN in 1984, WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH, TOUGH GETS GOING in 1985-86 which was used as the theme song for JEWEL OF THE NILE, THERE'LL BE SAD SONGS in 1986 and GET OUTTA MY DREAMS in 1988. For music fans who love the music during 80s, Billy Ocean hits songs are definitely a part of it. Particularly I love LOVERBOY with some rockin' guitar solo. During mid 80s he and Lionel Richie are the kings of adult contemporary field. This album is a nice place to get to know him but I hope 2CD compilation may cover his early songs too.\n\nVerdict: Compilation covering hits from mid to late 80s.\nRating: 90 out of 100\nRecommended for 80s pop rock and classic soul fans.","Product: GEFFEN 24217-2 DON HENLEY SEALED CD. Ships From FL With Delivery Confirmation. Box B\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Giving the Best Out of Eagles Vocalist\n\nReview: Don Henley is best known as the vocalist of legendary rock band, the Eagles. After the band broke up, he still managed to stay on top of the corporate music world through three solo efforts, Dirty Laundry in 1982, Building the Perfect Beast in 1984 and the End of Innocence in 1989. Among his solo efforts during 80s this album showcases his vocal appeal better than his previous works. Since most of the hit tracks from the album are ballads such as the title track co-written with Bruce Hornsby, THE LAST WORTHLESS EVENING, NEW YORK MINUTE and THE HEART OF THE MATTER, many music fans miss his blues rock track such as I WILL NOT GO QUIETLY, groovy track such as IF DIRT WERE DOLLARS, reggaeish track LITTLE TIN GOD. Five years after the huge success of this album the miraculous Eagles reunion followed. DVD version of 1994 Eagles reunion work HELL FREEZES OVER you can listen to Eagles version of THE HEART OF THE MATTER.\n\nVerdict: The best out of the voice of the Eagles\nRating: 96 out of 100\nRecommended for: 80s pop and rock fans, Eagles and Don Henley fans.","Product: 1983 album\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Asia's Second Is the Work of Art\n\nReview: With this second album Asia super band made up of progressive masters take the shape of its own. It is less glossy previous progressive form but more into melodic rock, which has been reaching its commercial peak. It became much more closer to American melodic rock masters such as Journey, Survivor, and Foreigner. Don't Cry its first single and The Smile Has Left Your Eyes its second single show their brilliant songwriting and the rest of the tracks are no less excellent. The Last To Know in particular is dynamic yet well-crafted melodic rock masterpiece track and John Wetton's persuasive vocal with brilliant chorus is just what true melodic fans would want. Just a bit of complaint to this version is the sound itself has been a bit murky to do this masterwork justice. Maybe remastering is required.","Product: Survivor ~ Vital Signs\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Your Search Is Not Over Yet. Right, Jim?\n\nReview: Vital Signs is an absolute rock masterpiece of 80s and I like it far better than 80s gem rock counterparts such as Journey's Escape, REO Speedwagon's Hi Infidelity, Def Leppard's Hysteria, Whitesnake's Serpens Album(released in the U.S as WHITESNAKE), and TOTO's IV.\nOpening track I Can't Hold Back shows what Survivor makes Survivor. It starts with acoustic guitar intro and then gradually becomes uptempo bit by bit then comes impressive Jimi Jamison's emoptional vocal of I Can't Hold Back part. And the song turns dramatically calmer and 1/16 second hush between \"Pictures of you and me\" and abrupt rush of \"AND...\" It seems like Jim have mastered the techiniques of Japanese martial arts.\nAnd as you know impressive tracks goes on and on until I See You In Everyone. It's A Singer Not The Song is my second pick from this album. It is one of my favorite rock tracks of Survivor.\nRecently Jim Peterik one of the founder of the band and main songwriter of Survivor left the band and became solo. He enjoys creating great songs with talented artists such as Kevin Cronin of REO Speedwagon, Don Barnes of 38 Special and Brian Wilson. You can find some of Jim's recent works in 38 Special's \"Resolution\", Lynard Skynard's \"Edge Of Forever\", Brian Wilson's \"Imaginator\" Fergie Fredericksen's \"Equilibrium\" Captive Heart's \"Home Of The Brave\" , \"Two Fires\" and his recent solo work \"Jim Peterik and World Stage\". Jim has just joined Two Fires led by Kevin Chalfant but I do hope Jim will return to Survivor where Jim's Search Should Be Over.","Product: Winwood outdid his earlier '80s success with his biggest album ever, this #1 smash from '88. He fused melodic pop-rock with soulful R&B, scoring the hits Don't You Know What the Night Can Do?; Holding On; Hearts on Fire , and the #1-hit title tune!\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: What An Adult Rock Can Do\n\nReview: Although being hard rock fans for a long time, sometimes I need time to relax a bit. Particularly at night. In that occasion I turn to Dan Forgelburg, Inside Job(Don Henley), Jackson Browne and Steve Winwood.\nAm I a minority that thinks Talking Back To The Night is the best Steve Winwood album I have heard so far? Roll With It is nearly as good as that masterpiece. If your first encounter with Steve Winwood is Back In The High Life it might be true that this album sounds bland. But the rest of five tracks which didn't become singles are great in its own right. Particularly I like Put On Your Dancing Shoes a lot.\nThis Steve Winwood has subtle beauty and that is what adult rock is all about.","Product: Truly The Love Songs by Lionel Richie\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Finest Love Songs from Lionel Richie Solo + Commodores\n\nReview: Lionel Richie's 1997 compilation includes some of the Commodore hits such as STILL, THREE TIMES A LADY, EASY, OH NO, EASY, and SAIL ON. Of course it has major Lionel Richie ballad hits such as HELLO, STUCK ON YOU, ENDLESS LOVE SAY YOU SAY ME and TRULY. His ballad extended the genre called Adult Contemporary. His songs also appealed to wide range of music fans including rock, soft rock, pop and rhythm and blues. And even some country rock fans. His music with adult audience appeal was often compared with Kenny Rogers, the king of country music. Most of the song included here are before 1992 compilation BACK TO FRONT. To fans seeking newer material this one may not have given huge satisfaction. It is a nice start for Lionel Richie music.","Product: Bon Jovi These Days Canadian CD album\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Bon Jovi in Mid 90s\n\nReview: Bon Jovi is a veteran rock band from New Jersey to celebrate 30th anniversary of their debut release in 1984 and is known by a number of great hits such as LIVIN' ON A PRAYER, ALWAYS, YOU GIVE LOVE A BAD NAME, BED OF ROSES. After they put out some ballad hits such as BED OF ROSES, and ALWAYS, they reorganized their rock style into more modern and acoustic to fit in the tide of music trend these days. So if your favorite Bon Jovi album are early three albums and No. 1 hit LIVING ON A PRAYER, it will be hard for you to like this album. The album aparently lacks hit producing catchy tracks for sure. HEY GOD is a fine rocking track though it sounds more like NICKELBACK or FOO FIGHTERS. DAMNED is another great rockin track.\n\nVerdict: Bon Jovi into 90s rock sound\nRating: 80 out of 100\nRecommended for: 90s rock fans who also like Goo Goo Doll, Nickelback and Foo Fighters. Post Cross-Road Bon Jovi fans.","Product: LEVEL 42 LEVEL BEST\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Essential For UK Pop Fans\n\nReview: Level 42 is one of the greatest UK pop bands during 80s but they could only make a few hits in the US such as SOMETHING ABOUT YOU, LESSON IN LOVE, HOT WATER, and RUNNING IN THE FAMILY. Their music style is often compared with Earth Wind and Fire excellently blending Jazz element with power pop. They are what TOTO to the American music is to UK pop rock. They also show an excellent guitar solo a bit rare for UK pop bands.\n\nUS hits SOMETHING ABOUT YOU, LESSONS IN LOVE of course are no doubt some of the best during their career but the compilation introduces a lot more of their great music. LEAVING ME NOW, my #1 favorite songs from them is an excellently made ballad. HOT WATER shows funky side of their music. CHINESE WAY shows their huge interest in Chinese ancient legends and the way people at that time treasured righteousness. I bet they love The Romance of Three Kingdoms legend. MICRO KIDS shows some sarcacism on modern kids dependent on techno gudgets. As a Japanese I am glad they chose Mt. Fuji as the jacket cover for this compilation. (I guess it is taken from Hakone).\n\nVerdict: Well-done job to introduce their music to American music fans.\nRating: 93 out of 100. One of the finest compilations ever.\nRecommended for: UK pop fans who love Pet Shop Boys, Duran Duran Tears For Fears and Outfield, A-ha appreciators as well as 80s pop fans in general.","Product: Journey ~ Infinity\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Welcome Aboard Steve Perry!\n\nReview: Steve Perry joined Journey as a lead singer from the band's fourth album in 1978. Since Steve Perry joined the band Journey would see the glorious career which would continue until mid 80s. The new singer with passionate crystal-clear high-tone vocal changed the band for the better. With the exception of LA DU DA and CAN DO(hustler variation) which see the last album's prog sound, most of the tracks are quite new showing that Steve Perry extended the band's music and made the band's music more attractive for ordinary music fans. Particularly Steve did well in power ballads that paved the way for the rock bands to commercial success. LIGHTS, ANYTIME, WHEEL IN THE SKY are the gem tracks. In this album Steve did not entirely sing lead solo and some tracks share the vocal parts with Gregg Rolie such as ANYTIME, FEELING THAT WAY. WINGS OF MARCH starting as ordinary ballads belies their rockin' spirit shown in agressive interlude in mid part. This is not only nice album to add for Steve Perry fans but for Gregg Rolie fans that like Storm or Abraxas Pool materials.","Product: JOURNEY Next CD\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Expedition To Pre-Perry Journey\n\nReview: It is like jumping into completely different world. The difference between Journey until Next and after Infinity is not just a vocal change from Gregg Rolie to Steve Perry. The sound heard in Next is avant-garde vivid, mythic, dynamic rock we have probably never heard before. Rock music like no other. Spaceman is a most catchy song reminiscent of early Chicago rock. Here We Are after careful listening you will find that it serves somewhat prototype of later Journey hits such as Lights and Touching, Squeezing... if you just imagine that the arrangements are more upbeat. The opening riff of Next is really familiar for 80's Journey fans. I do not know if Journey fans that are used to Steve Perry vocal will like this one, but you will find it refreshing and invigorating in different manner after repeated listens.","Product: Toto ~ Toto\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Well Representing What Was Hot in 1978\n\nReview: Toto's debut album is really the representation of the era. The opening track Child's Anthem is a thrilling progressive hard rock track which were sort of rock trend in those days. \"Hold The Line\" and \"I Will Supply the Love\" shows the upcoming trend of pop hard rock which would eventually become the mainstay during 80s.\n\"Georgy Porgy\" is the closest to what most 80's fan may think closest to \"Toto\" :very nice jazz flavored song. It even has Earth Wind and Fire styled song \"You Are The Flower\" and disco styled \"Girl Goodbye\". And melancholic Ambrosia styled ballad \"Talking It Back\" and Boz Scagg's \"Look What You've Done To Me\" styled \"Angela\" (later dramatic turn is what made Toto \"TOTO\").\nSo the debut has the whole air of 1978 music. But it is no wonder. They are originally session musicians who worked for other people's works. And they still have been so. They need more releasses to acquire their identity. So if you are blaming their recent album for just cover songs, take this one. And your view of Through The Looking Glass may be different.","Product: Toto ~ Toto Iv\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Melodic \"Jazz\" Rock Captures Grammy\n\nReview: Toto's fourth album in 1982 that saw both commercial and artistic success is my third favorite Toto album following The Seventh One, Tambu. Toto in previous albums tried to show themselves as progressive hard rockers just like Kansas, Styx, Boston, and Journey. Hydra in 1979 in particular is such a stuff. In Toto IV, jazz element has given more space than the predecessors. Their modification was paid off, putting Porcaros' outstanding rhythm section maximum use. ROSANNA and AFRICA are such jazzy gems that endowed them with crossover appeal. It must be noted, however, they actually didn't give up on melodic hard rock sound as seen in latter part of the album such as AFRAID OF LOVE and LOVERS IN THE NIGHT.\nTo sum up, they jazzed up their sound while retaining melodic pop appeal rivalling Foreigner, Kansas, Styx and Journey. To Toto fans surprise, however, commercial success cost the band the key members such as Bobby Kimballs and David Hungate. The band could go on with the new lead singer that was credited as the background vocalist of their 1982 Grammy condender album \"Eye Of The Tiger\" by Survivor. Yeah, that's Fergie Frederiksen, high-toned vocalist of Trillion and Le Roux.\nRecommended for wide variety of pop music fans.","Product: E ENVIA RAPIDO. FAST SERVICE. (SHIP FROM FLORIDA). NUEVO. USED ONCE. DISK HAS BEEN INSPECTED NO IMPERFECTIONS . ORIGINAL CASE & BOOKLET . CLICK OUR NAME TO SEE OUR STORE FRONT FOR MORE GREAT CDS, DVDS & BOOKS. IN ENGLISH & SPANISH.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Excellent Introduction To Heart Before 1984 Hit Sensation\n\nReview: Greatest Hits Live originally recorded in 1980 was one of my early CD purchases during early 90s but I happened to miss simply because it was dubbed as \"Live\" and I thought that was not I had been looking for. (At that time I was looking for Definitive collection of Heart including 80s hits). Time has changed and I happened to uncover this CD from the heap of my dusted CD collections.\n\nIt has nine best tracks from their early works such as Dreamboat Annie(1976), Little Queen(1977), Magazine(1978), Dogs and Butterfly(1978), Bebe Le Strange(1980). On the back jacket name of the albums the each tracks are from are shown. Then the album become live recording collection during August and September 1980 tour. Live recording of BEBE LE STRANGE takes place at the stage side where the chat among members before the show can be heard. Interesting intrigue. TELL IT LIKE IT IS is unusually not live but studio recording and became single cut from this greatest CD. And then the ending live performance is LED ZEPPELIN classic ROCK'N ROLL. Alas, it shows their rock spirit.\nYes, it misses PRIVATE AUDITION(1982) and PASSIONWORK material to be the early Heart collection. But the timing for the release was excellent because it was made when HEART was at their artistic height.\n\nVerdict: It is no doubt Heart fans' essential and 70s rock fans' paradise. Showing well how HEART had been during their early prime.\nRating: 88 out of 100. Well-edited (particularly Silver Wheel and Crazy On You combination just as their live performance) and consistent. Transition from studio recording part and live recording part has been done excellently.\nRecommended for: Every Heart fan. Lots of 70s rock fans and the appreciators of recent Heart releases such as Desire Walks On(1993) and Jupiters Darling(2004).","Product: 9 songs\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Solo Debut That Did Not Pan Out\n\nReview: Michael Bolton's debut album in 1983 is so-so enjoyable but is not so strikingly impressive as his later works such as Hunger.\n\nFOOL'S GAME is a nice rocker showing that Bolton used to be a hard rocker. That track ironically represents the album's flaw as well. Bolton has strong voice of his own that does not need strong backing music so there must be the delicate balance between the vocal and back music. On this track he must have restrained his voice to take the balance, that is hard for him to accept. SHE DID THE SAME THING TO ME did this really better. 4th track CAN'T HOLD ON, CAN'T LET GO. and the last track I ALMOST BELIEVED YOU have the ideal balance.\n\nAnother problem here is this is nearly self-produced and lacks professional assistance, his later work let other great songwriters make songs and Bolton could concentrate on his vocals which was the secret of his later success.\n\nOverall, this is the hardest effort for Bolton as a solo singer and for Michael Bolton fans who like his earlier hard rock days.\n\nVerdict: Transition from a hard rocker to an adult rocker.\nRating: 64 out of 100, Enjoyable but not well produced.\nRecommended for: Michael Bolton fans who want to get the brief picture of him as a hard rocker.","Product: Toto Fahrenheit US CD album\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Pop Rock Approach Doesn't Fit For Them\n\nReview: During 80s pop rock album which sounds as if all tracks can become hits were sort of fad among hard rock artists. Some are successful such as Survivor's Vital Signs or Starship's Knee Deep In A Hoopla. But as far as Toto this is killing the very aspect of what Toto is. Although Fehrenheit is marked with excellent tracks such as I'll Be Over You, Could This Be Love, Till The End or Lea, as Toto I do not think they are showing what they are truly worth.\nGrumbling aside if you are just pop rock collectors who likes Outfield's Play Deep, A ha's Hunting High And Low, Nelson's After The Rain it is a must for your collection because it is the most pop album of Toto I have ever heard so far.","Product: Music From The Edge\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Most Missed 80s Duo\n\nReview: In music history bands and duos often break up during the peak of their music career. Wham! the duo by George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley is one of such cases. Music from the Edge of Heaven released in 1986 became the farewell album for North American music fans. Japanese music fans could have another one the Final released nearly the same time. The album serves as the transition from Wham to George Michael solo. While the Edge of Heaven and I Am Your Man is a typical Wham music, Different Corner, (single released as George Michael) and Where Did Your Heart Go are more of George Michael material. For George Michael the transition went well and his first solo Faith released in 1987 became a huge success. For Andrew Ridgeley fans, however, the things turned sour. Andrew only had one solo album Son of Albert in 1990. George Michael made four studio albums since Faith. Many of the materials from this album had already been released as singles so fans can enjoy the different takes. Nevertheless, it is a nice album to reminisce good old 80s music for sure.","Product: [Note: This product is an authorized CD-R and is manufactured on demand]\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: More Worthy of Two Hits from the Album\n\nReview: 1982 compilation released in Japan around 1987 missed my favorite Dan Fogelberg song \"Language of Love\". So I searched the original album the song is included and finally got one. The album relased in 1984 includes two hit songs Language of Love which went to #13 and Believe in Me which went to #48. In this album Dan Fogelberg tried to modernize his sound to fit mid 80s trend when Michael Jackson and Madonna dominated the charts. Language of Love featuring crunching guitar solo in that regard was successful. \"Gone Too Far\" is also a fine rock track. But to me ballads or country-flavor tracks such as Believe In Me, or Sweet Magnolia remniscent of his hit song Same Auld Lang Syne impress me more.\n\nVerdict: Nice try for rock approach\nRating: 91 out of 100\nRecommended for: Late 70s to early 80s pop rock fans, country rock fans who love the Eagles, Jackson Browne and Willie Nelson.","Product: Outfield ~ Play Deep\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: One of All-time Favorites\n\nReview: The Outfield's 1985 hit album lured me into the western pop music world much deeper. I bought the cassette version in 1985 because I loved their hit singles YOUR LOVE which went to #5 on the Billboard Top 100 and the follow up ALL THE LOVE IN THE WORLD which became top 20 hit.\n\nThe songs of the album are as great as the featured singles and particularly I love 61 SECONDS which should have been another hit. Most of the songs are upbeat, catchy and well-hooked. I regret I haven't had their following albums because now it is really hard to find them here in Japan.\n\nIf your most favorite music era is mid 80s particularly around 82-87. You must get this album. It is no doubt the most readily available album by the band.\n\nVerdict: Represents upbeat 80s\nRating: 93 out of 100\nRecommended for: Wide range of 80s pop rock fans","Product: 1. Satellite \n2. Karla With A K\n3. Johnny B.\n4. Graveyard Waltz \n5. Fightin' On The Same Side \n6. One Way Home \n7. Washington's Day \n8. Hard Rockin Summer \t\n9. Engine 999\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Hooters At Its Artistic Best\n\nReview: Hooters will be back! Surely it will this year 2007. Unfortunately most of 80s pop fans remember Hooters only through their debut Nervous Night in 1985 that produced two top-20 hits AND WE DANCED and DAY BY DAY. Though debut is an outstanding classic, if you really want to know Hooters, the second purchase might be this one ONE WAY HOME in 1987.\n\nWhile NERVOUS NIGHT pursued their pop rock side at this full length, ONE WAY HOME pursued thier own style of music probably inspired and encouraged by similarly styled great artists and bands they might have been touring with such as HUEY LEWIS AND THE NEWS and JOHN COUGAR MELLENCAMP. Opening track SATELLITE well represents the album tinged with good-ol' American traditional music and this reminds me of DISNEY PARADE MUSIC. JOHNNY B is the most popular Hooters songs in Japan and introduced in a lot of 80s-pop compilations. GRAVEYARD WALTZ is well-structured, dynamic and melancholic masterpiece track which requires repeated listens. FIGHT ON THE SAME SIDE in constrast is upbeat one though themed with Civil War era America. HARD ROCKIN' SUMMER is somewhat similar in style to JOHN CAFFERTY, hard-crunching rock song. ENGINE 999 is pure pop song extension of their debut album.\n\nVerdict: Hooters at this artistic height. Essential item to know Hooters.\nRating: 94 out of 100\nRecomended for: American music fans who also love American traditional music and fans of John Melencamp, Bob Segar, John Cafferty, Bruce Hornsby, Huey Lewis, and Bruce Springsteen.","Product: 1. I Don't Want to Lose You \t\n2. Here With Me \tListen\n3. Roll with the Changes \n4. Keep on Loving You \t\n5. That Ain't Love \n6. Take It on the Run \t\n7. In My Dreams \t\n8. Don't Let Him Go \n9. Can't Fight This Feeling \t\n10. Keep Pushin' \t\n11. Time for Me to Fly \t\n12. One Lonely Night \t\n13. Back on the Road Again \t\n14. Ridin' the Storm Out\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Solid Collection Which Stood The Test Of Time\n\nReview: REO Speedwagon is one of my favorite rock bands of all time. Whenever I listen to their music I just wonder how can they do it? Kevin Cronin has mellow voice which can easily turn into Christopher Cross or Air Supply clone. The band never let him do that with tight background music. Their great balance has shown in thier masterpiece Hi Infidelity in 1981. He really shows sweet voice which put out huge ballad hits such as Keep On Loving You, In Your Letter, and Take It On The Run but the band's excellence has more seen in rockier Don't Let Go. But his mellow voice turned thier back in 1982. Good Trouble was too much sugarcoated for hard rock bands like REO. So the decision of leaving out Keep The Fire Burning from this collection is a good one. Hard edge of REO came back a bit in Wheels Are Turning in 1984. Can't Fight This Feeling is a ballad of course but hard edged guitar solo as shown in Survivor or Journey power ballad proved that they are still rocking however sweet it may seem. Their 1987 hit That Ain't Love is well balanced song. But sad part is while they are trying hard stuff people still want mellow stuff like Here With Me or In My Dreams.\n\nRecently Kevin Cronin find solace in collaborating with Jim Peterik known by Survivor and Ides if March who also was an icon for Kevin to start rock band career. You can find his great voice in Jim Peterik and World Stage album.\n\nIf you miss hits such as Keep The Fire Burning, In Your Letter, and Live Every Moment and has extra money try Japan edited Premium best with nice package.","Product: Audio CD\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Representing Upbeat 80s Rock\n\nReview: Loverboy is one of my favorite 80s rock bands and since I bought this compilation around 90 I liked them even better.\nIt is well known that Bon Jovi emulated their fun roller coaster rock'n roll style and their third album Slippery When Wet was directed by the guy who did early Loverboy albums. Notorious, co-written by John Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora shows their influence given on BJ.(John Bon Jovi shows as their background vocals).\nMy favorite tracks include When It's Over, Working For The Weekend, Notorious, Heaven In Your Eyes and This Could Be The Night. If you like 80s bands such as Journey, Survivor or Night Ranger you will be sure to enjoy this album. But why the track listing of Super Hits is almost the same as this?","Product: audio cassette\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Journey: Steve Perry Era 1978-1988\n\nReview: When I was going on a picnic with a bunch of college kids around 1997. I heard Brian Adams song from the album \"18 Til I Die\" though their CD player. I was glad that the younger generation enjoy Brian Adams and talked to them \"Do you also listen to Journey?\" I shouldn't have said that. \"Sorry I don't know Journey at all\" came the reply which was really shock to me. It was the time Journey's comeback album \"Trial By Fire\" was released with huge chart success.\nJourney was formed in 1971 by Neal Schon and Gregg Rorie who were the members of early Santana. Since Steve Perry joined with their fourth album Infinity they have been producing hits after hits. Their 1981 masterpiece ESCAPE sold more than 9 million copies in US alone and produced three top ten hits such as \"Open Arms\" their biggest hits so far. Frontier in 1982 became more keyboard featured and heavier than Escape but also produced three huge hits Seperate Ways, Send Her My Love and Faithfully. Raised On Radio in 1986 also produced five chart hits.\nIn general Journey is more remembered by ballad hits on the radio than by their excellent production of melodic rock. I recommend this album or Essential Journey(songs from Trial by Fire included) for music fans who are new to Journey. If you like Bon Jovi, Def Leppard, Survivor(known by Rocky III theme Eye Of The Tiger) you can easily venture into their original albums such as Arrival, Frontiers and Escape. Good investment for modern alternative rock fans who love Train, Lifehouse, Vertical Horizon, Aerosmith, Bon Jovi, U2, and Goo Goo Dolls.","Product: Japanese pressing of Firehouse's self-titled album comes with two bonus tracks, live version of 'Overnight Sensation' & 'All She Wrote'. Sony. 2008.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: The Fire Keeps Burning\n\nReview: Debut album of Firehouse in 1991 is one of my all time favorites. Just like vintage wine it gets better with age. I happen to miss this excellent rock album when this album was first released. I encountered with Firehouse when I listened to I LIVE MY LOVE FOR YOU in 1996. Since then this rock group captivates me. After I bought 3 where this nice rock ballad is from, Hold Your Fire(1992), Good Acoustics, O2(2001) and this debut followed. This album is no doubt the legend.\n\nThe opening ROCK ON THE RADIO is such a thrilling rock track somewhat like the combination of KISS, WHITESNAKE and BON JOVI. Then comes up the first of the catchy rocker ALL SHE WROTE. SHAKE AND TUMBLE is GUN's styled rock anthem. Then they shoot the killer power ballad, DON'T TREAT ME BAD. After a couple of nice rock tracks OUGHTA BE A LAW and LOVER'S LANE comes another heartwarming song HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS. Wow this band knows what makes great American rock. With the TNT like instrumental interlude SEASONS OF CHANGE, they burn up with the rocker OVERNIGHT SENSATION and the last perfect ballad LOVE OF THE LIFETIME.\n\nFor rock fans young and old this album can never be missed. Also check out their latest effort PRIME TIME.","Product: Remastered reissue of 1992 album from Bad Reputation is a collector's edition in slipcase. Includes as a bonus 4 tracks from Down & Dirty Live - 'Boys Will Be Boys', 'Bang Bang', 'Groove or Die' & 'Naughty Naughty' plus the previously unreleased track 'Ro\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: D2's Best So Far\n\nReview: Danger Danger's second effort in 1991 established their very style wild yet refined solid rock. And it appeals to the general rock fans far deeper than the debut I bet. They tries to grab what it's like to be the kingdom of rock'n roll previously well sought by the number of rockers including Journey, Kiss, Def Leppard, Foreigner and Survivor. They blend the classic rock foundation with newer twists well tried by Gun's & Roses, Poison. Also Bon Jovi or early Lover Boy styled fun pop elements well tucked in.\n\nMONKEY BUSINESS well represents what such D2 rock is. It's catchy yet wild side rock is burned hot. SLIPPED HER THE BIG ONE pursues the wild side further and fourth track mellows with acoustic ballad well memorable and remnicent of similar styled Firehouse's LOVE OF THE LIFETIME. Then the next track roars with wild and aggressive rocker GET YOUR S##T TOGETHER which is also refained in the last track D.F.N.S. And their drive goes again in CRAZY NIGHTS an uplifting roller coaster rocker. EVERYBODY WANTS SOME is really a classic tone somewhat like WHITESNAKE. The next one DON'T BLAME IT ON LOVE again a taste of classic rock somewhat like BON JOVI and LOVERBOY combined. Then they surges with killer ballad Gun's and Roses might excel. COMIN' HOME. Then HORNY SOB is wow punk pop somewhat like GREEN DAY.It's incredible that they still charm us with the final ballad FIND YOUR WAY BACK HOME. Last two tracks can be treated just as epilogues and some listeners can skip them. In a nutshell, this piece of rock work could be the best the era might ever have got.\n\nVerdict: Underrated yet a masterpiece rock of 1991.\n\nRating: 97 out of 100. Without the last S##T tracks this could have been 100.\n\nRecommended for: Wide range of late 80s to early 90s rock fans who also love 80s and 70s classic rock.","Product: On THE ONE THING, Michael showcases his powerful voice and songwriting expertise to full effect. \"I Said I Loved You...But I Lied\" is one of the best songs of his career. Understated and emotional, his poignant vocal expresses the one thing that the word \"love\" isn't strong enough to state: his feelings.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Soulful Piece of Work\n\nReview: This 1993 release from Michael Bolton is not as appreciated as his previous titles such as SOUL PROVIDER. Yeah I feel it is not as excellent as those. Not as commercial for sure. But if you listen to this one by one still great music goes on.\n\nMy personal favorite is SOUL OF MY SOUL fitting snugly with his vocal style. Dynamic power ballad I'M NOT MADE OF STEEL is also my favarote track. Michael Bolton is known by revitalizing classic hits such as WHEN A MAN LOVES A WOMAN. On this album he made an excellent cover of Bill Withers' classic LEAN ON ME. AIN'T GOT NOTHING IF YOU AIN'T GOT LOVE also has the taste of pure classic pop song.\n\nVerdict: Still the nice Bolton work.\n\nRating: 88 out of 100\n\nRecommended for every Sony's middle-of-the-road rock appreciator as well as Michael Bolton fans.","Product: Limited edition Japanese pressing of this album comes housed in a miniature LP sleeve.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Including Blue Angel Days Tracks\n\nReview: Twelve Deadly Syns released in 1994 has still been comprehensive guide to Cyndi Lauper music. Interestingly though she let the compilation include two of the Blue Angel days' tracks I'm Gonna Be Strong and Come on Home by which you can enjoy the different color of Cyndi music. Particularly I'M GONNA BE STRONG is an excellent addition showcasing Cyndi's intensive vocal countering well with Bette Midler or Barbara Streisand. HEY NOW is the self-rendition of GIRLS JUST WANT TO HAVE FUN. But I feel this one just ruins the original and should have had a different song instead. Two of collaboration with HOOTERS works fine in this CD. One of which TIME AFTER TIME is the very song which gave the Hooters an opportunity to debut with amazing result. The more recent collaboration THAT'S WHAT I THINK is fun pop track and I also love this.\n\nVerdict: Great and Comprehensive compilation and has interesting approach to include unknown days tracks for fans. Well done.\n\nRating: 88 out of 100. HEY NOW contributed the loss of points.\n\nAlso Japanese version has three more tracks and that would add to the relative minus to this 14-track version.\n\nRecommended for: Wide range of 80s pop rock fans.","Product: First CD issue of this album from 1983 by Kansas.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Kansas or Not It's a Great Piece of Work\n\nReview: 1983 Kansas album with melodic hard rock bent is as the title implies deviates from previous Kansas works. Gone are Kansas trademark sound. It is in a way extension of <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Vinyl-Confessions/dp/B000002ARS/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">Vinyl Confessions</a> and this album got closer to what Journey, Styx, Foreigner and Survivor had been desperately pursuing for. Kansas even risked the band identity to create the gist of Album-Oriented-Rock.\n\nOne of the reasons why I bought this album is that I liked the opening track FIGHT FIRE WITH FIRE which is also a part of <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Best-of/dp/B00000I5Y6/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">Best of</a>Kansas. In this hit track the use of keyboard is aptly restrained making the soaring high-toned vocal of John Elephante shine. EVERYBODY'S MY FRIEND is also a pop song but this does not deliver the appeal of the lead vocalist so well compared with the opening track. After nice tracks such as MAINSTREAM and ANDI, comes the track with dynamic progressive sound, GOING THROUGH THE MOTION. And after dynamic power ballad DON'T TAKE YOUR LOVE AWAY, thrill never dies until the last great song INCIDENT ON A BRIDGE.\n\nVerdict: Although this work cost the band its signature sound, the end result was very fine.\nRating: 89 out of 100. With the exception of the second and sixth tracks the album is well-created.\nRecommended for: John Elephante and Mastedon fans. Some Survivor, Styx, Foreigner and Journey fans. Kansas fans like it or not.","Product: Born to Run Thunder Road The River 18 Tracks Total\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: America's Real Life Hero\n\nReview: Bruce Springsteen is an American hero in a different way from fictional Rocky Balboa. While the boxer shows his invincibility by beating one rival after another, our boss beats the music chart by his excellent songwriting and his heartful message. And he's only flesh and bone and even at his height he recognizes that his fame will not last long as shown in Glory Days. Bruce is and should be the icon for American's blue-collar mass and after 80s' glory days he returned with the place he belongs. He may not go on producing catchy hit-making songs but his Born To Run motto will stay. Besides hit tracks I like Atlantic City. A nice introduction to music fans new to the Boss. Curious music fans may dig in his 1973 debut. ...And a number of live collections.","Product: Journey ~ Trial By Fire\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Consider This As Journey's Greatest Hits Vol. 2\n\nReview: Journey is one of my favorite artists of all time. And their 1981 masterpiece Escape is one of my all time favorite albums.\nTrial By Fire is an outstanding album and it is almost comparable to their greatest hits album. But the year 1996 was still bad for melodic rockers like Journey allowing only one top 20 hit When You Love A Woman. But many music fans who haven't bought this album are missing too much great music. Message of Love remnicent a bit of Seperate Ways is outstanding rocker, and Can't Tame A Lion are magnificent uptempo pop rock, also missing are Steve Perry's masterful ballad works such as When I Think Of You. It had been a crime that such great songs had been neglected. So only way to have them is to buy this album. A must for Survivor, Journey and Two Fires(Kevin Chalfant band) fans.","Product: Catalog reissue.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: The Essence of Bryan\n\nReview: This compilation in 1993 misses Bryan's two #1 hits All For Love and Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman after this release. Yet I strongly recommend this album for wide range of music fans young or old over Best of Me. It really has most of hits that truly show the very reason why he has been loved by tens of million of rock fans around the globe.\nBryan Adams with songwriting collaboration with Jim Vallance debuted in 1979 and his third album \"Cuts Like A Knife\" in 1983 yielded three big hits and the 1984 follow-up \"Reckless\" exploded with six consecutive huge hits including his first #1 hit Heaven and super duet with Tine Turner in It's Only Love. And hit parade went on and on and now Bryan came back with Spirit soundtrack. Six tracks from Reckless, three each from \"Cuts Like A Knife\" and \"Waking Up The Neighbors\"(sort of Reckless sequel) respectively.\nAlthough I had known most of the songs because I previously had Reckless, Into The Fire, and Waking Up the Neighbors, the songs to me are still fresh and consequently made me turned on CD player hundreds of times. Recommended for wide range of pop rock fans.","Product: BRYAN ADAMS - YOU WANT IT YOU GOT IT - CD\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Jealousy(1981) Establishing His Own Style\n\nReview: Canadian rock legend who recently returned with long-selling soundtrack \"Spirit\" was unknown to the world in 1981 when this second album was released. Japanese label titled this JEALOUSY probably because it was the title of the single for Japanese release. His debut album is quite catchy pop music with varied style just as those of TOTO, Survivor. This album again is catchy power pop album but its arrangement style got closer to what we are well aware of. FITS YA GOOD is such great track which could easily be one of RECKLESS track. COMING HOME has close style of STRAIGHT FROM THE HEART, huge hit from his next album CUTS LIKE A KNIFE. ONE GOOD REASON is great showcase of his groovy stuff. Most amazing is TONIGHT. By this he almost established his own vocal style aptly using subtle keyboard arrangemnt with economized vocal part. So although it did not sell well it has full of hidden explosives that led to his huge success for twenty years.\n\nRecommended for early 80s power pop fans.","Product: Certified Multi-Platinum (2 times) by the RIAA. (4/02)\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: A Great 1981 Album\n\nReview: Boy, the 1981 saw a number of great pop rock albums that remain music fans all time favorites. Foreigner released \"4\" , Loverboy did \"Get Lucky\" and Journey \"Escape\". The cars has been categorized as new wave band but music fans who love aforementioned bands also love this band and melodicrock.com follows this band's newest releases. The album produced two big hits SINCE YOU'RE GONE and dance-pop SHAKE IT UP but rock fans' favorite is definitely the fifth track CRUISER. With the vocal of Benjamin Orr, this rock tune turns out fine. Orr also did outstanding vocal on THIS COULD BE LOVE and THINK IT OVER. This album also has the original version of beautiful ballad I'M NOT THE ONE released as a single a few years later as a second single from THE GREATEST HITS. Shake it Up is no doubt an outstanding album.\n\nVerdict: Great early 80s pop rock music\nRating: 91 out of 100\nRecommended for: early 80s pop rock fans","Product: Out of print in the U.S.!\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Jackson Browne with 80s beat\n\nReview: Today, Jackson Browne may be much more conspicuous as an anti-nuclear activist rather than a rock musician. He was one of the rock musicians who joined Musicians United For Safe Energy after Fukushima nuclear disasters in 2011. His 1983 album is overall upbeat 80s pop rock particularly the title track LAWYERS IN LOVE. But his upbeat music belies his cynical message just like his first major hit DOCTOR MY EYES in 1972. This album proved that upbeat rock and deep-down messages can go hand in hand and his longtime friend BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN made a megahit album BORN IN THE U.S.A. the next year to uphold this trend. It is true that this may not be his best album to date but I really enjoy this album. DOWNTOWN is his way of tribute to PETULA CLARK's SIGNATURE HIT of the same title. He took the same theme with much more reality to it. FOR A ROCKER the third single from this album mentions session musicians for his music such as CRAIG DOERGE, RUSS KUNKEL and DANNY KORTCHMAR. This album may be easier to get in for the starters who love his compilation works.\n\nVerdict: Jackson Browne with 80s radio-friendly beat\nRating: 88 out of 100\nRecommended for: 1983 album completists, and early 80s rock fans in general.","Product: Bryan Adams was played a great deal on the radio in 1984/5; his music was the most radio-friendly rock to have been heard in a long time and where on earlier records Adams had spiced up his songs with traces of social consciousness, this set is back squarely in love-and-lust territory.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: The Return of Roughhouse Rock\n\nReview: Veteran Canadian rocker's sixth album in 1991 is the second most successful album for Bryan that put out four major hits such as CAN'T STOP THIS THING WE STARTED, THOUGHT I'D DIED AND GONE TO HEAVEN, DO I HAVE TO SAY THE WORDS, and (EVERYTHING I DO) I DO IT FOR YOU which was previously featured as the main theme track for Kevin Costner's \"Robin Hood\". Previous album INTO THE FIRE showed mature and adult rock side of Bryan but this one again tried to recapture the roughhousing rock vibe just like his most successful album RECKLESS in 1984. The most prominent example could be HOUSE ARREST with the lines from which the title of the album came.\n Mutt Lange who also did Def Leppard's HYSTERIA was instrumental in adding glam feel to this album, less keyboard, and more guitar parts. IS YOUR MAMA GONNA MISS YA and HOUSE ARREST might have been the answer to glam metal turks popped out since the Guns' APPETITE FOR DESTRUCTION. DO I HAVE TO SAY THE WORDS, THOUGHT I'D DIED AND GONE TO HEAVEN, and VANISHING in contrast are the refined ballads but with solid beat just as Def's HYSTERIA ballads were. I also love ALL I WANT IS YOU and DEPEND ON ME. On the whole this album is filled with the great solid songs the reason I love Bryan Adams' music.\n\n*Re-reviewed in January 28, 2014\n\nVerdict: Excellent rock album with great sing-along songs\nRating: 95 out of 100\nRecommended for: Bryan Adams fans and late 80s to early 90s pop rock fans.","Product: It hardly seems possible that, after 25 years of writing and recording hits and selling more than 15 million albums, Jackson Browne's never been anthologized. Includes two brand-new songs, plus 13 of his best hits, including Somebody's Baby; Doctor My Eyes; Running on Empty; The Pretender; Tender Is the Night , and more.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Not Yet Full But Close\n\nReview: The Next Voice You Hear, 1997, compilation showing Browne's excellent songwriting having heartfelt messages that heal our minds hurt by such wild world. It's true that this version misses some of the major hits such as LAWYERS IN LOVE and major songs that should have been there such as TAKE IT EASY, known by the huge hit by the EAGLES. This particular version further left out two tracks THE LOAD OUT and STAY recorded live that the version available in Japan have. That being said, this compilation excellently shows his message-driven songs particularly first half of country rock flavored songs are excellent. TOTO members also appears some of the tracks. DAVID PAICH plays the piano part in THESE DAYS and JEFF PORCARO plays drums in THE PRETENDER. Since RUNNING ON EMPTY his music became more rock flavored somewhat like EDDIE MONEY. Since mid 80s his songs begin to show direct anger toward Reagan Administration wielding military power to solve the dispute. Later that he become enchanted with easten philosophy as shown in LIVES IN THE BALANCE. Recommended for wide range of pop rock fans.","Product: CD reissue of this 1987 solo album from the lead vocalist of Foreigner. Ready Or Not reached #27 on the Billboard charts when originally issued on Atlantic Records. 10 tracks including 'Midnight Blue'. Wounded Bird. 2010.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Feel of Early Foreigner\n\nReview: Ready or Not, first solo album by the lead vocalist of Foreigner in 1987 is one of my all time favorite rock albums during 80s.\nWhile \"Agent Provocateur\" with glossy synth arrangement produced the band's first #1 hit \"I Want To Know What Love Is\" inconsistency as an album was obvious. This solo effort could be Lou's revolt against previous Foreigner album.\nOpening track \"Ready Or Not\" has neatly tight arrangement, closer to earlier Foreigner stuff or Jim Peterik led Survivor. Heartache and Time are uptempo pop rocker reminding me some of earlier Foreigner hits such as \"Cold as Ice\" and \"Dirty White Boys\" respectively. \"If I Don't Have You\" is a typical Foreigner style album but the use of synth is quite restrained. \"She's got To Know\" is mid tempo tight pop rocker and my #1 favorite album track. \"Midnight Blue\" which became #3 is quite excellent pop rocker and may fit for Survivor's \"When Seconds Count\" appreciators. The rest is as excellent as aforementioned tracks.\nHighly recommended for Foreigner, Survivor and Damn Yankees fans.","Product: Cd > Popular Music > Rock & Pop\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Yes Collection for Non-Prog Fans\n\nReview: But it is a good introduction to an ordinary music fans who are not accustomed to grand scale prog masterpieces. As it was released in 1993 when people still remember the glories of 80s great melodic rock masters. And for most of music fans Yes was part of melodic rock history represented by Asia/Survivor styled hits such as Owner of A Lonely Heart, and Love Will Find A Way. If you like 80s melodic rock superstars such as Asia, Survivor, Journey, Styx and Foreigner, it is definitely a must have because it shows progressive rock was fathers to those bands. Particularly Yes influence is immense for the development of melodic rock during late 70s. My favorites from this collection include Survival(very melodic indeed!) and I've Seen All Good People and Leave It as well as No. 1 hit Owner of A Lonely Heart. Modern day prog appreciators who love Dream Theater or Transatlantic may, however, need different collections such as Classic Yes.","Product: Their only album with Johnny Edwards as lead vocalist-originally released in 1991.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Unusual Foreigner But Fine\n\nReview: What's wrong with Foreigner without Lou Gramm? Maybe the band with a new singer will be hard time churning out \"Girl Like You\" or \"I Wanna Know..\" styled ballad hits. It lacks some brilliant blues-rock flavor mainly because of Lou's loss. Album is on the whole raw and sounding like the stuff before they saw the glorious debut or collection of secondhand B-side tracks of hit singles but listenable. I would give this album four or five stars if I listened to this album as by an unknown band say, \"Rengier of\". But I really find Mick's great contribution to this band through this album. My favorite tracks include \"When Night Comes Down\" excellent emotional ballad, nostalgic ballad \"Ready For The Rain\" having a bit of \"Blue Morning\" touch and \"Moment Of Truth\" a rocker similarly styled as \"Reaction To Action\" but much better than \"Reaction..\" Although some of the die-hard Lou Gramm fans or 4 or Agent Provocateur appreciators may hate this album, but I believe that it is OK release for most of 80's rock fans.","Product: What A Fool Believes highlights this 1978 smash!\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Not just for Grammy-awarded Song\n\nReview: Doobie Brother's 8th album released in 1978 is best known by grammy-awarded #1 hit WHAT A FOOL BELIEVES and a number of hits such as MINUTE BY MINUTE and DEPENDING ON YOU. First four song which became single hit (Here to You from Greatest Hits Vol. 2), are great for sure. But the rest of songs are well-crafted showing how the band matured during 70s. Particularly I love 7th track SWEET FEELING with impressive additional vocal of Nicolette Larson. Tracks in the latter half of the album are blues flavored and not that catchy as the first four songs but it grows on me gradually minute by minute.\n\nVerdict: Last of good ol' 70s music\nRating: 91 out of 100\nRecommended for: late 70s pop music fans in general","Product: Chicago ~ Chicago 18\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: If only Peter Cetera Had Been There!\n\nReview: 18 is the least impressed Chicago album during 80s for me. One of the biggest reasons is no doubt absence of Peter Cetera who fit perfectly well for Chicago under David Foster directorship. New lead singer Jason Scheff was doing fine but unfortunately the materials for 18 was prepared for Peter Cetera and Jason had been undergoing uphill battle for being constantly compared with the former lead singer. Overall material sounds like the second helping of Chicago 17 and few adventures had been carried out except for the newer version of \"25 or 6 to 4\". Jason's finest moment could be IT'S ALRIGHT giving new Chicago another hope. 18 in retrospect was a transitional work before the new singer can come up to what he is truly worth. 19 in contrast is in my opinion the best Chicago material with Jason Scheff vocal. IF SHE ONLY HAD BEEN FAITHFUL could be the best track of this album.\n\nVerdict: First Chicago album under Jason Scheff vocal\nRating: 81 out of 100\nRecommended for: Post-Cetera Chicago fans.","Product: Chicago ~ Night & Day\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: The Roots of Chicago\n\nReview: Chicago's Twenty Third (22nd Stone of Sisyphus being unreleased) became a sort of tribute album to so-called Big Bands (some famous of which are orchestras by Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller, and Duke Ellington) which were the icons for most of the band members during their youth. The band's signature horn arrangement and its insistence also came from such Big Bands.\n\nIt is not regular rock and pop Chicago but could be a nice respite for Chicago fans. And a nice introduction to Big Bands made by one of the most successful American pop rock band.\n\nHighlights include tightly arranged CARAVAN, MOONLIGHT SERENADE with excellent chorus and SOPHISTICATED LADY which can even have a place in their regular albums.\n\nVerdict: A nice introduction to Big Bands\n\nRating: 78 out of 100\n\nRecommended for: Chicago fans and the fans of Big Bands and wide range of good music fans.","Product: .\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Mark Knopfler's Dire Straits Days\n\nReview: Money For Nothing is the first compilation album for Dire Straits the band led by Mark Knopfler. The band spanned from 1977-1995 and since the band broke up Mark Knopfler have released some solo albums to this day. The album includes most of their major hits except SO FAR AWAY which went to #19 in Billboard Hot 100. US version also misses SOLID ROCK included for extra track for Japanese version. I love SOLID ROCK so much that I hope newer edition will have this song, too. Most of the music fans who love 70s and 80s pop songs might be familiar with SULTANS OF SWING, MONEY FOR NOTHING, WALK OF LIFE. Other songs included here may take some time to sink in. ROMEO AND JULIET, and TUNNEL OF LOVE are my favorite among less known tracks.\n\nVerdict: Good compilation to wrap up Mark Knopfler's Dire Straits days\nRating: 85 out of 100. Missing some great tracks to be included.\nRecommended for: Mark Knopfler fans and some of late 70s to 80s pop fans in general.","Product: Chicago ~ Chicago 17\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: The Last Chicago Album for Peter Cetera\n\nReview: This masterpiece album in 1984 was created by the band carrying the name of the very city that nurtured a great number of talented musicians such as Jim Peterik of Survivor, Kevin Cronin of REO Speedwagon, Styx, Cheap Trick, Kevin Chalfant(Storm) and Fergie Frederiksen(Toto's vocalist in Isolation). Chicago started as a rock band featuring the horn section. But since 1977 super hit IF YOU LEAVE ME NOW, the band turned to adult oritented rock and 1982 album XVI with HARD TO SAY I'M SORRY is the culmination of the direction.\n\n17th album is the fruit of Peter Cetera and David Foster collaboration and ballad hits such as HARD HABIT TO BREAK and YOU'RE THE INSPIRATION are some of my all time favorite songs. But the album contrary to the general image is their effort to the rock return rivaling Kevin Cronin led REO Speedwagon and Jim Peterik led Survivor. The telltale proof of it is the leading single STAY THE NIGHT tight catchy rock song. And fourth single ALONG COMES THE WOMAN featuring high-toned edgy vocal by Perer Cetera. HARD HABIT TO BREAK is of course along the line of IF YOU LEAVE ME NOW and HARD TO SAY I'M SORRY but possibly inspired by KEVIN CRONIN's power ballads in HI INFIDELITY, the arrangement is tight and guitar insert in latter part is impressive. If allowed the band might have made much more heavy album but must have deterred by record company that want more ballads like HARD TO SAY I'M SORRY. REMEMBER THE FEELING is another memorable power ballad also with tight arrangement. Soulful tracks are also memorable such as WE CAN STOP THE HURTING, ONLY YOU and PLEASE HOLD ON. The last track ONCE IN A LIFETIME is possibly the prototype of Peter Cetera's solo hit THE GLORY OF LOVE used for KARATE KIDS PART 2.\n\nVerdict: Shows the glory of FOSTER/CETERA days\nRating: 96 out of 100. One of the finest 80s albums.\nRecommended for wide range of 80s pop rock fans.","Product: FLEETWOOD MAC TANGO IN THE NIGHT\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: The Last of The Band's Golden Line-up\n\nReview: Tango In The Night is the fourteenth original album released in 1987 by the UK pop rock band best known by its superhit album THE RUMOR in 1977 . This was also the last album that the band's key members Lindsey Buckingham, Stevie Nicks, and Christine McVie got together. After the band released MIRAGE in 1982, the band broke apart and each member released their solo albums. Particularly Stevie Nicks made successful albums one after another. So the news that the band would make a new album with three main members together was just incredible for music fans at that time and it turned out to be a nice way to celebrate the band's 20th anniversary.\n\nIndeed the album is filled with such festive mood, enough to blow away the scandals around them. Lindsey's made a great job to organize three different talents' works and put them together as a consistent album and not just the sums of their solo works. Particularly BIG LOVE and the last track YOU AND I PART II share the same rhythm giving the album lasting impression after listening. Although the vocal performance of Christine McVie is brilliant particularly LITTLE LIES and EVERYWHERE, Stevie Nicks also did great in SEVEN WONDERS and WELCOME TO THE ROOM, SARA. I wish Stevie had more participation in this one. TANGO IN THE NIGHT tries Latin rock approach. Non-hit tracks such as CAROLINE, MYSTIFIED, and FAMILY MAN are also excellent. Unfortunately after the album release Lindsey left the band and the albums after that such as BEHIND THE TUSK(1990), TIME(1995), and SAY YOU WILL(2003) never won the appreciation as much as this work had.\n\nVerdict: Last of Great Line-up. Very enjoyable.\nRating: 95 out of 100\nRecommended for: 80s pop rock fans.","Product: Chicago 21 Chicago 1.Explain It to My Heart 2.If It Were You 3.You Come to My Senses 4.Somebody Somewhere 5.What Does It Take 6.One from the Heart 7.Chasin' the Wind 8.God Save the Queen 9.Man to Woman 10.Only Time Can Heal the Wounded 11.Who Do You Love 12.Holdin' On\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Another Great Chicago Album\n\nReview: How can a long-careered band keep on creating great music without becoming stifle? Twenty 1 in 1991 is such a challenge.\n\nOverall they try to erase out Peter Cetera influence during 80s and get back to their rocking 70s. Ron Nevison who directed 19 did the great job on reconstructing what they are great at. TELL IT TO MY HEART and ONE FROM THE HEART has quite classic feel. New vocalist Jason Chef brings freshness as shown in GOD SAVE THE QUEEN. It is quite similarly styled with LA MOVIES from legendary rock project Radioactive in 1991 just uncovered recently. Jeson Scheff was part of such grand project together with David Foster, Jeff Porcaro and Fergie Fredericksen.\n\nIt is lamentable, though that since then Chicago have released mostly greatest Hits packages with the exception of Night And Day.\n\nRecommended for 80s pop rock fans.","Product: CD Album\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Belinda Rocks The World\n\nReview: Former Go-Go's vocalist's second solo in 1987 is truly the album made in heaven. It is also well-produced one. Title track HEAVEN IS A PLACE ON EARTH became #1 so this album has been remembered by this huge hit but album has more of great sing-along tracks. Started her music career as a punker some of the track choice is really punkish as shown in I FEEL FREE or NOBODY OWNS ME. GO-GOs styled FOOL FOR LOVE will get your feet dancing. Great songwriters adds the album grace such as Diane Warren penning I GET WEAK which became another huge hit.\n\nMust-have album for female vocalist connoisseurs and highly recommended for Avril Lavigne, Michelle Branch, Carly Simons\n\nand Alanis Morissette fans.","Product: Richard Marx ~ Richard Marx\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Nice Hit Producing Debut Album\n\nReview: Richard Marx's self-titled debut in 1987 was sensational indeed. He kept on making hits starting from Don't Mean Nothing, Endless Summer Nights, Should've Known Better, and Hold On To The Night which became his first #1. But when I heard his album at that time I didn't think that he continue to get on the hit road for another 5 or 6 years. As an album as a whole some of the song is catchy and excellent as the all first five tracks of the album but after Have Mercy only memorable track is Heaven Only Knows. It is a good album but most of my favorite tracks became already hits and you can listen to them by Greatest Hits. Lonely Heart is excellent though. Recommendable for 80s rock fans, who want to know him more other than Greatest Hits.","Product: Abraxas Pool is a 1997 album by ex-Santana members Mike Shrieve, Neal Schon, Gregg Rolie, Jose 'Chepito' Areas, Alphonso Johnson, and Mike Carabello.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Almost As Enjoyable As Supernatural\n\nReview: Imagine you play \"A Million Miles Away\" to teenagers and make them guess who are singing. Some would say\"Enrique?\" and others might say \"Ricky!\" and finally a lad concludes \"No, it's Santana\".\nSuch was almost unthinkable in 1998 when this album was released. Naturally this CD was exclusive for old Santana fans or some of the Neal Schon appreciators. Now this fantastic album should be open to wider range of music fans.\nComparing this with Supernatural, Neal's guitar is more straightforward than that of Carlos's and Carlos has the edge on hypnotic solo as in Migra. Songwriting is superb and it has great standard latin pop tracks such as Baila Me Cha-Cha(my #1 favorite), Waiting For You which has the similar style of Black Magic Woman, and Don't Give Up is great uptempo pop track which might have been a huge hit. Guajirona is an excellent track as well. Overall songwriting itself has Neal's advantage. So as far as the number of stars both have four.\nRecommemdable for wide range of music fans who enjoy both melodic rock and latin rock music.","Product: Huey & The News Lewis ~ Sports\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Just Before Power of Love\n\nReview: Huey Lewis and the News' 1983 release has been the band's biggest commercial success to date with four top 10 hits (The Heart of Rockn' Roll, Heart and Soul, I Want A New Drug, If This Is It) and one top 20 hit (Walking On The Thin Line). Indeed this album on the whole is all-pop album with a bit of heavier edge. Right After this hit parade they made #1 hit with Back To The Future theme song POWER OF LOVE.\n\nThe Opener THE HEART OF ROCKN' ROLL starts with upbeat heart rhythm giving tribute to the places where the great rockn' roll music was born. HEART AND SOUL is their trademark rock sounds with rhythm and blues flavor. BAD IS BAD and HONKY TONK BLUES also are nice blues flavored tracks. I WANT A NEW DRUG tries heavier rock sound with an excelellent guitar solo. WALKING ON THE THIN LINE blends techno pop beats while IF THIS IS IT nicely mixes blues and power ballad with guitar solo.\n\nVerdict: Typical 80s All-Hits Album but an excellent one.\n\nRating: 92 out of 100\n\nRecommended for wide range of 80s rock fans","Product: Unique Collection from 1994 Compiles their Hits plus Puts a Few Key LP Tracks Into the Mix.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Eagles In One CD?\n\nReview: No, never do this to one of the greatest band in history. The reason I bought this CD in 1993 to 4 was that I was lured by some of the tracks that Part I and II missed such as Tequila Sunrise or James Dean. If you are a decent music fan and know it well about how to appreciate music this compilation is the one to avoid. Nevertheless if you are new to Eagles and enjoy current artists like Backstreet Boys, Enimem Westlife or so it can be recommendable. At least buying Eagles is better than buying none.\nMy favorite Eagles tracks of all time are included such as Take It Easy, Peaceful Easy Feeling, Desperado, One Of These Nights, and New Kid In Town.","Product: Cassette edition .Out of Print and extremely rare.\nTrack Listing\n1.Jingo\n2.Evil Ways\n3.Black Magic Woman / Gypsy Queen\n4.Oye Como Va\n5.Samba Pa Ti\n6.She's Not There\n7.No One to Depend On\n8.Open Invitation\n9.Hold On\n10.Bella\n11.Winning\n12.All I Ever Wanted\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Discover Santana You Did Not Know\n\nReview: The Best of Santana released in 1998 served as a premonition something wonderful might happen to a long-careered(more than 30 years)latin rock superstar. Before buying this CD I had known Santana only through the hits Evil Ways and Black Magic Woman.\"Santana? It's the band which were big thirty years ago\". That was the image I had toward Santana. I was wrong. The Best Of Santana told me Santana is a lot more than a collection of 70s hits.\nThe hits parade Evil Ways, Black Magic Woman and Oye Como Va is great of course. But Santana's allure does not end there. Samba Pa Ti is a great melancholic instrumental. Hold On a great pop music. Winning and All I Ever Wanted. Is It Santana? The band rocks hard! Winning is a very ironic title probably directed toward Neal Schon, who left Santana in 1971 and formed Journey. Europa became superhit in Japan holding the record of the biggest selling single by a non-Japanese artist. If you love Supernatural you will love this band more through this best album.","Product: Japanese Only Re-Release.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Forerunners of Melodic Rock\n\nReview: Trillion's debut in 1978 is too refined to be the debut. It is surely the masterpiece at the beginning of melodic rock era. They made progressive hard rock more palpable to ordinary music listeners. Their achievement can be compared to Kansas, Journey, Foreigner and Styx who then were running at the top of the game but Trillion was tragically underrated. This album was deleted for so long and left to be forgotten but thanks to Japanese music fans that want it back as CD form it was reissued in 1998 and both progressive and melodic rock fans can now enjoy it.\nFergie Fredericksenfs high-toned voice gives this album fresh and feel-good atmosphere. My favorite tracks include catchy pop songs such as Give Me Your Money Money and Bright Night Lights. May As Well Go and Hand It To The Wind well represent the appeal of Fergiefs high-tone voice. Overall the album is lighter than TOTO's Isolation and Fergie's solo Equilibrium but as listenable as these melodic rock masterpieces.\nToo bad he soon left the band. Maybe the bands like Styx or Survivor might have given Fergie fuller opportunity. Since then he moved from one band after another such as Re Loux, Toto, and a number of solo works such as Equilibrium. This year his high-tone voice can be heard again in excellent manner in Jim Peterik/Joe Vana project MECCA due around May.","Product: All of Eric Carmen's Greatest Hits One CD! Includes songs including \"Hungry Eyes\", \"Make Ne Lose Control\", \"All By Myself\" and many more..\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: GONNA FALL IN LOVE WITH HIS MUSIC\n\nReview: During 70s and 80s there are a bunch of great songwriters which made memorable hits and Eric Carmen is one of them. Eric Carmen particularly during late 70s was really popular among Japanese Yogaku fans and he even appeared in Japanese TV show. He made a number of memorable hits such as ALL BY MYSELF, NEVER GONNA FALL IN LOVE AGAIN, and CHANGE OF HEART during 70s and HUNGRY EYES (from DIRTY DANCING SOUNDTRACK) and MAKE ME LOSE CONTROL during 80s. Most of the titles available for Eric Carmen are compilations and his original albums are hard to come by. If you listen to this compilation I am sure you will want to explore more of his music much more than his compilation works.\n\nVerdict: Nice Introduction\nRating: 94 out of 100\nRecommended for: Music fans who loves late 70s to 80s pop music.","Product: Nelson (Rock) - After The Rain - Cd\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Nelson Twin's Sensational Debut\n\nReview: Twin brothers whose father is the late pop superstar Rick Nelson made sensational debut in 1990. LOVE AND AFFECTION became international superhit including Japan where their popularity lingers on even today.\n\nMatthew and Gunner Nelson created eight albums so far including compilation.\n\nAFTER THE RAIN 1990\n\nBECAUSE THEY CAN 1995\n\nIMAGINATOR 1996\n\nSILENCE IS BROKEN 1998\n\nLIFE 1999\n\nLIKE FATHER LIKE SONS 2000\n\nBROTHER HARMONY 2001\n\n20th Century Masters Collection 2004\n\n#Imaginator was to be released between AFTER THE RAIN and BECAUSE THEY CAN\n\n#Brother Harmony was produced between SILENCE IS BROKEN and LIFE.\n\nLOVE AND AFFECTION still is their signature hit but I feel it is overplayed and worn out. For me album starts from I CAN HARDLY WAIT nice catchy song. AFTER THE RAIN is the most impressive and this also must represent NELSON. I requested this song to local FM station twice while raining and right after the rain was over my requested song was on the air! TRACY SONG is a beautiful interlude to connect to the ONLY TIME WILL TELL another great song. DESIRE is the typical of Roller-Coaster rockin' style of the twin brothers.\n\nJapanese version also have two more songs TOO MANY DREAMS and KEEP ONE HEART. Serious Nelson fans should find it if any.\n\nVerdict: Catchy and well-directed debut.\n\nRating: 91 out of 100\n\nRecommended for 80s and early 90s pop rock fans.","Product: CD\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Rick's Last 80s work\n\nReview: I happened to find Rick Springfield's 1988 album only recently. This is one of the mid 80s album I missed possibly because the album produced only one minor hit ROCK OF LIFE from that album and his first compilation was out shortly after that. I am really happy that I could get the lost gem. This album is really fantastic album. ROCK OF LIFE is great track regaining his early happy-go-lucky style. But this album is never another WORKING CLASS DOG, nor THE SUCCESS HASN'T SPOILED ME YET. Honeymoon In Beirut shows its mature side of him while the next song THE WORLD START TURNING, sixth track TEAR IT ALL DOWN show he can still rock hard. WOMAN, an excellent ballad is my top favorite of this album and my second favorite DREAM IN COLOUR comes next. HOLD ON TO YOUR DREAM is somewhat like the staff Phil Collins may be strong at but Rick can sing well for this classic pop styled song.\n\nVerdict: Forgotten 80s gem\nRating: 90 out of 100\nRecommended for mid to late 80s pop rock fans.","Product: Music Audio CD\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Steve Augeri Back In 1990\n\nReview: Steve Augeri a Journey vocalist since 1998 has amazing voice having both traits of Steve Perry and Jimi Jamison(Survivor). He is also known as the vocalist of legendary early 90s band TALL STORIES. I am really lucky that I could get that rare piece of gem!\n\nDebut album of TALL STORIES sounds a bit like TWO FIRES debut a melodic rock classic by STORM's KEVIN CHALFANT. And the latter part sounds similar to HARDLINE. First four tracks really is classic early 80s JOURNEY sound. Particularly I love CRAWLING BACK which should have been their signature hit. Also I love the hard-edged guitar riff of CLOSE YOUR EYES. Guitar solo by Jack Morer in STAY WITH ME is just brilliant.\n\nVerdict: Journey/Storm/Two Fires fans essential.\nRating: 92 out of 100\nRecommended for: Journey, Survivor, Two Fires, and Pride of Lions fans.","Product: KISS - CRAZY NIGHTS (RM) - CD\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Want To Know What \"Kiss\" Is?\n\nReview: Kiss's 1987 release has a number of songs that 80s pop rock fans feel they heard \"somewhere\". Yeah, that's produced by Ron Nevision at the helm of 80s pop rock albums such as Heart's 1984 self titled album and Survivor's 1984 hit album VITAL SIGNS. If you love the music of Survivor, Foreigner, Starship, Van Halen and Heart you will also love this CD. But for long time fans, I am not so sure.\n\nCRAZY CRAZY NIGHTS is wow just like SURVIVOR. I'LL FIGHT THE HELL TO HOLD YOU might fit better for HEART I think. BANG BANG YOU is really a pop anthem for KISS. NO NO NO is 100 percent kiss. Guitar riff is just excellent. MY WAY opens like VAN HALEN and extends like BON JOVI. My #1 favorite from this album. REASON TO BE has the very ballad style RON NEVISON loves. It has the best combination of Foreigner's I WANT TO KNOW WHAT LOVE IS and HEART's WHAT ABOUT LOVE. TURN ON THE NIGHT is another highlight and Kiss made this pop anthem really well.\n\nVerdict: Full of \"Heard-Somewheres\" but excellently done.\nRating: 91 out of 100\nRecommended for: 80s pop fans in general who is not familiar with metal works.","Product: cd\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Best of Mickey Thomas Era\n\nReview: Starship is a long-careered band with its history dates back as far as 60s. Right after Nuclear Furniture album in 1984 Paul Kantner one of the original members left the band with the ownership of half of the former band's name \"Jefferson\". Since then their music direction turned toward more catchy pop rock as seen in Knee Deep In A Hoopla sounding similar to Heart(1984) or Survivor's Vital Signs(1984) with Mickey Thomas participating as background vocal. This album also invites finest songwiters at that time including Diane Warren, known for Heart or Michael Bolton works, penning \"Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now\", #1 hit from Mannequin soundtrack. Comparing with ...Hoopla, the sound became much edgier and closer to Survivor yet with pop-beat rhythm which makes the song memorable. Beat Patrol is a nice example of beat-pop. Ballads are super equipped with nothing's-gonna-stop-them combination of Mickey Thomas, high-toned emotional male vocalist and Grace Slick, one of the finest female rock vocalists ever born. Particularly I love Set The Night To Music nice slow ballad. Minor, less impressive tracks are fine as well such as Transatlantic. Overall this is the best they can get so far and unmissable.\nEssential for Vital Signs and Heart(1984) appreciators. Good news for Starship fans is that Mickey Thomas will be back with his brand-new solo album.","Product: This release moves boldly from the down and dirty groove of \"Electrified\" and the heavy Hendrix styled \"Static\" to the bright and bluesy \"A Rose Alone\". [Note: This product is an authorized CD-R and is manufactured on demand]\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Bluer Than Foreigner, Deeper Than Purple\n\nReview: Mr. Big is a pop hard rock band who has captured hearts of huge Japanese rock fans since their debut in 1989. They started as one of R&B flavored hard rock band but since they became popular among Japanese pop rock fans they turned their music toward more Bon Jovi styled rock. This album which again became huge hit in Japan is a bit back to their true self, pursuing what they really wanted to do with the new member Richie Kotzen master of R&B.\nAlbum as a whole became less pop rock but bluer and deeper. Electrified is an great opener reminding me a bit of early Foreigner stuff. Superfantastic huge hit in Japan is great ballad which may overshadow To Be With You their biggest hit in 1991. A Rose Alone blues flavor pop rock is my #1 pick of the album showing their best extract. Hole In The Sun is a nicely funky stuff and you will love it if you like groovy sound represented by James Brown or Sly & The Family Stone. My New Religion my second favorite is another great ballad having great hit potential.\nHighly recommended if you like blues flavored rock'n roll.","Product: DION CELINE ALL THE WAY...A DECADE OF SONG\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Celine the Finest Extract of 90's Pop\n\nReview: 90's music will be remembered by excellent female vocalists such as Shania Twain, Faith Hill, Mariah Carey and Celine Dion. Celine is a versatile Canadian singer who can sing Broadway musical styled Beauty and Beast rock songs such as All By Myself (Eric Carmen cover) and It's All Coming Back To Me Now (my #1 favorite Celine song) and groovy Because You Loved Me. Personally I would like to hear more of rocky-edged songs but her dynamic vocal appeal is irresistible. Unlike any other compilations this has seven newer tracks including That's The Way It Is featured as single. This latter part of this compilation is somewhat similar in softer tone with latest A New Day Has Come. I am really glad that she came back and will enchant us for sure during this decade as well.","Product: 76 minutes of \"thinking-man's metal,\" courtesy of Blue Oyster Cult! Includes all their hits- (Don't Fear) The Reaper; Burnin' for You; In Thee , and Shooting Shark -plus Godzilla; Joan Crawford; Black Blade; The Red & the Black; I Love the Night; Astronomy , and six more Cult classics.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: The \"Godzilla\" of Classic Heavy Metal\n\nReview: In Japan, Blue Oyster Cult is best known as the band who sang the song for Godzilla, well-known Japanese imaginary monster destroying the metropolitan Tokyo. Their biggest hit DON'T FEAR THE REAPER is popular here though.\n\nThe band started as heavy metal band just as their contemporary DEEP PURPLE, BLACK SABBATH. But during mid 70s they put their melodic hook to their maximum use and put out a number of catchy song such as GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS, GODZILLA and IN THEE. THE MARSHAL PLAN is from the live record mixing the riff of DEEP PURPLE's SMOKE ON THE WATER. SHOOTING SHARK also has the memorable hook but never become a hit.\n\nVerdict: Bruce Dickinson did an excellent job of extracting what they are best at.\n\nRating: 98 out of 100 One of top compilation favorites.\n\nRecommended for any classic metal fans. Also for Survivor, Def Leppard, Deep Purple and Meatloaf appreciators.","Product: Japanese pressing of the 1999 & fourth album by Matthew & Gunnar Nelson, the successful hard rock duo formed by the late Ricky Nelson's twin sons. Features earlier availability than the U.S. release. 10 tracks.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: \"Vital Signs\" of the 90s\n\nReview: Nelson's \"Life\" is an essential 90s pop rock release for music fans who favor 80s great pop rock such as Survivor's Vital Signs, Hooter's Nervous Night, Starship's Knee Deep In A Hoopla, Mr. Mister's Welcome To The Real World or Outfield's Play Deep. And it is even better than their masterpiece debut album After The Rain.\nThe difference between After The Rain and Life is obvious. In After The Rain the music was not theirs. They were basically performers. But in Life they created music of their own and it is hilarious.\nMy #1 favorite is She Sheila. It reminds me a bit of Vital Signs/When Seconds Count era Survivor or 80s Bon Jovi. It is typical but best so far of Nelson twin's Roller Coaster Rock'n Roll. Everybody Cries Sometimes and I would If You Want Me To are excellent tracks as well. All tracks are excellent and having no fillers. You may not expect such a fine work these days from similar styled rock artists.\nI would say it is a commercial album worth 10 million sales worldwide.","Product: Japanese version featuring a bonus track: Deep Dark Secret.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Their Best and Last\n\nReview: It was really shocking news for melodic rock fans that Mr. Big one of the greatest American rock bands broke up. Now some of the members are doing fine in solos such as Eric Martin's I'm Going Sane.\nActual Size one of the finest in 2001 has full of upbeat straight American rock'n roll with soul flavor. Particularly I love Wake Up, and Shine. For their fans who favor blues flavored songs this album privides excellent soulful ballads such as Arrow and Merry Goes Around. It even has darker modern rock flavored track Suffocation which beats most of current rock bands. Crawl Over Me is typical of Mr. Big's groovy rocker.\nRecommended for wide variety of rock fans and a must-domestic-release.","Product: First New Giant Album Since 1991's \"Time to Burn.\"\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: The CD's Price? \"Sky Is The Limit\"\n\nReview: Giant is one of the greatest find in a last few years. They produced the albums with great reputation during the late 80s and early 90s while I was almost away from American music with the exception of Bad English, Brian Adams and Richard Marx. (Sorry Giant was still not in my dictionary in 1992).\nIt took no time before I love this CD. It is really an excellent combination of wildness and catchy aspect of hard rock reminding me of early Loverboy, Survivor and Foreigner. My #1 favorite is Love Can't Help You Now, which should become their comeback US hit. Sky Is The Limit that follows is great fun pop. Wow and their Robart Palmer cover \"Bad Case of Loving You\" is a nice case of covering Robert. If you love 80's rock, you will definitely love it.","Product: Japanese Version featuring an Introduction Written by Mike Portnoy, the Drummer from Dream Theater.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Unlimited To Seasoned Rush Fans\n\nReview: Being new to Rush with this album, I found the album not easy to grasp at first. But as I listen again and again I began to feel elated with relatively catchy \"Ceiling Unlimited\" and Kashmir flavored \"Earthshine\". Particularly \"Ceiling Unlimited\" is what \"Owner Of A Lonely Heart\" is to YES, \"Smooth\" to Santana and \"I Don't Want To Miss A Thing\" to Aerosmith, all of which made old-rock fans faves closer to ordinary music fans. Songs like \"Ceiling...\" is what today's music need most...vigorous upbeat rock music. The album still have the area for core Rush fans such as \"The Star Looks Down\". It may not be extraordinary for casual Rush fans accustomed to their style but provides ordinary music fans with the joy of exploring the zenith of rock music.","Product: Japanese 2002 release, their first in three years. With two bonus tracks added 'Kiss The Day' & 'Long Long Way To Go' (Acoustic). Please note these bonus tracks are also featured on the UK edition. 15 tracks in all.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Should Have Been Between Pyromania and Hysteria\n\nReview: Def Leppard's tenth studio album having catchy 80s power pop vibe is a nice album if you are a fan of the genre. It is surprisingly mellower extension of the last album, Euphoria.\n\nI had expected more hard-edged sound but I may have to wait that from the next one.\n\nGrumbling aside, it really have excellently catchy songs and you will be sure to love it if you love Def Leppard in the same manner as Survivor, Billy Joel, Aerosmith, Cheap Trick, and Electric Light Orchestra. But my best pick is not on those catchy gems such as YOU ARE SO BEAUTIFUL, UNBELIEVABLE, LONG LONG WAY TO GO, EVERYDAY but CRY, and SCAR.\n\nBest fit for mid 80's power pop fans but if you are looking for hard-edged DEF LEPPARD maybe you can skip this and wait for a new one.","Product: Long awaited sophomore album for melodic hard rock act, the followup to 1992's Double Eclipse. The lineup includes original members Johnny & Joey Gioeli along with new additions Bob Rock (Nelson, Vinnie Vincent's Invasion), Josh Ramos (The Storm, Two Fires) & Michael T. Ross (Accomplice). Classic hard rock in the Whitesnake/Van Halen tradition. Highlights include 'This Gift', written & performed with ex-guitarist Neil Schon (Journey/Bad English). Frontiers Records. 2002.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: The Legend Is Back!\n\nReview: Although missing Neal Schon replaced by Josh Ramos another legendary guitarist of the Storm, Hardline's second album after a ten year break is as great as ever.\nHardline was originally a band project by Geoli Brothers collaborated with Neal Schon who liked the band's concept and its hard-edged sound. Their 1992 debut album \"Double Eclipse\" is one of the finest melodic rock albums ever made. Now Neal is busy as a key member of rebanded Journey and with a number of rock projects including his own. Neal gladly wrote a song for them \"the Gift\" featuring his impressive guitar solo. My #1 pick from the album is \"Y\" catchy hard-edged song fit for huge radio airplay. Pop rock song \"Only A Night\" , excellent ballad \"Face The Night\", dramatic power ballad \"Hey Girls\" are excellent as well.\nOverall they still live up to their legend and will attract a huge number of 80's rock fans' attention for sure.","Product: Their 1983 crossover smash, a #5 LP with the #1 hit Owner of a Lonely Heart . There's also an unissued remix of that tune plus five other bonus tracks.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Progressive Rock Icon's Pop Effort\n\nReview: As the year 1983 right in the midst of \"The Second British Invasion\" era was going to end, music fans had very good surprises such as late John Lennon's posthumous top 10 hit NOBODY TOLD ME and progressive rock legend YES's unlikely pop hit moving up the charts. OWNER OF THE LONELY HEARTS which became the first #1 song for the band is very upbeat British rock anthem. The album 90125 indeed includes some radio-friendly songs such as IT CAN HAPPEN, LEAVE IT, and HOLD ON but instrumental track CINEMA is also memorable one winning the 1984 Grammy's Best Instrumental Track award.\nThe success of Asia albums and Yes's 90125 paved the way for another prog rockers unit GTR later on.\nI am not sure if die-hard YES fans love or hate it. But if you love 80s pop rock and also love early Asia works this album is a must-have.","Product: 2004 kicks off with John & Geoff in the studio working on the follow up to Aura. Entitled /Silent Nation', the album is a deliberate return to the rock roots from which Asia was born. With solid rock tracks like \"Ghost In The Mirror\" & \"What About Love\", Silent Nation is poised to bring Asia's distinctive brand of music back to the masses. Silent Nation also heralds the first album released under Asia's new record label, Inside Out Music. \"Inside Out seems like the perfect home for Asia\" an enthusiastic John Payne beams, \"I can't wait to play some of these new songs live\". Silent Nation will be released in August of 2004.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: What About That Asia?\n\nReview: Having known Asia only through John Wetton trilogy ASIA, ALPHA and ASTRA, the latest of the band's release to me is listening to the different band. Not Asia I know. As title track and most impressive track DARKNESS DAY show that the arrangement no longer has Wetton days' upbeat rhythm. But just forgetting Wetton past and listen to this album as it is the greatness emerges a bit by bit.\n\nWHAT ABOUT LOVE the leading single is trying to regain their 80s rock just in vain. Not appropriate for the single choice.\n\nLONG WAY FROM HOME is close to 80's Asia upbeat one. Radio station might rather choose this one to introduce this album.\n\nMIDNIGHT is old and new Asia meet together. Excellently arranged and fit and represent the album concept pretty well.\n\nBLUE MOON MONDAY might receive split opinions I enjoyed this one but some of the fans might have felt boring.\n\nSILENT NATION is well themed one. Nice track with repeated listens.\n\nGHOST IN THE MIRROR is again upbeat 80s Asia but not full enough to convince old time fans.\n\nGONE TOO FAR should be the one track extensively played on the adult rock radio stations and Launchcast web station. Message is well expressed and very impressive and contributes very well to convey the album concept.\n\nI WILL BE THERE FOR YOU to me is a fan service track. That's fully 80s Asia.\n\nDARKNESS DAY also is well structured and fit to be extensively played. Very nicely mixes oriental mood.\n\nTHE PROPHET is moody and excellent emotional ballad.\n\nJACKET AND THEME\n\nAlbum jacket seems part of New York City (of course the 50s styled car and the passers-by are using models and production).\n\nSilent Nation refers to the United States of America. Very ironic.\n\nVerdict: Well themed and consistent album. But some of the first half tracks are a bit weak I think.\n\nRating: 81 out of 100\n\nRecommended for: Post Wetton days Asia fans. And Dream Theater fans.","Product: All Around the World is a collection of hits from one of the steadiest selling artists in the world! Newly remastered by Jeff Lynne and including liner notes written by Lynne. 20 total tracks including 'Evil Woman', 'Turn to Stone', 'Hold on Tight', 'Showdown', 'Rockaria', 'Alright', 'Rock N' Roll Is King' and many more hits! Epic. 2005.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Nice E.L.O. Compilation for Starters\n\nReview: There are a number of compilations for Electric Light Orchestra, but this one seems to be by far the most popular among them. To me this is the third E.L.O. compilation. First one is <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/ELO-S-Greatest-Hits/dp/B0000025HO/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">ELO'S Greatest Hits</a> and 2CD <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Strange-Magic-The-Best-Of-Electric-Light-Orchestra/dp/B00138H86C/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">Strange Magic: The Best Of Electric Light Orchestra</a>. But either of them miss my #1 favorite ELO song, ALL OVER THE WORLD. This compilation not only has the great song from XANADU soundtrack remastering is done by Jeff Lynne the band leader. Also it includes most of 70s and 80s hits such as TELEPHONE LINE, EVIL WOMAN, SHINE A LITTLE LOVE, DON'T BRING ME DOWN, TURN TO STONE, HOLD ON TIGHT, and ROCK'N ROLL IS THE KING. Some fans may miss CAN'T GET IT OUT OF MY HEAD, LAST TRAIN TO LONDON or OLIVIA version of XANADU but overall it is excellently done for single-disc compilation.\n\nElectric Light Orchestra is often categorized as Symphonic Rock sub-genre of Progressive Rock. One of their early hits include ROLL OVER BEETHOVEN, typical of marriage between pop rock and classical music. This compilation, however, focuses on hit tracks during mid-70s to early 80s when they were geared toward pop rock material. But even with pop material a bit of symphonic rock bent can be found such as THE LIVING THING.\n\nVerdict: Nice compilation to reminisce great 70s and 80s hits. Remastering of classic songs are excellently done.\nRating: 94 out of 100\nRecommended for: 70s music fans in general. Some Boston, Queen, Styx, Supertramp, Kansas, Moody Blues and 10cc fans.","Product: Advanced Japanese release of the 2006 album from Toto. This is their first release of new, original material in nearly seven years, and is set to show off the amazing skill and power of one of the longest living names in rock and roll. Set to be a masterpiece. Japanese edition also includes the bonus track 'Reeferman'. Nexus.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Consistent and Refined Comeback Work\n\nReview: Toto's first original album in 7 years turned out to be the most refined and solid Toto effort since maybe the tragic death of Jeff Porcaro. It is somewhat similar to Mindfield back in 1999 but with more finesse and consistency.\n\nThe title track FALLING IN BETWEEN still contains the blues flavor as seen in Mindfield but it deeply penetrates our mind and keeps echoing our mind and soul. DYING ON MY FEET relieves us by trademark TOTO backing sound at the bridge part. BOTTOM OF YOUR SOUL became hit in Europe and Japan and has the typical grace of TOTO ballad. Rock tracks such as HOOKED and TAINT YOUR WORLD give ballads that comes after that much brilliance and NO END IN SIGHT strikes our mind well with Bobby Kimball's everlasting vocal appeal. And the album ends with the instrumental THE REEFERMAN that could be a nice spice in current tours.\n\nVerdict: One of the finest comeback efforts by 80s giants.\n\nRating: 91 out of 100\n\nRecommended for: Wide range of music fans as well as 80s pop fans.","Product: Well-known all over the world for their hit song 'Eye of the Tiger' for the movie 'Rocky III,' SURVIVOR singles have since consistently topped the charts worldwide. These hits included 'Burning Heart,' 'Vital Signs,' and 'Is This Love.' Now, 17 years after their last studio album, Survivor are back with a brand new studio album. This album meets the great demand of the existing fans who have been asking for years for new songs that could continue in the legacy of the great sound the band created in the past! Frontiers Records. 2005.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Comeback Album For Wider Listeners\n\nReview: Long-awaited Survivor comeback album became more adult rock oriented than any of fans had expected but with fine twist.\n\nMost of the fans might be expecting TOO HOT TO SLEEP like hard-edged one. So fans may at first find it a bit soft and easy listening. Suppose this one was released right after When Seconds Count fans might more readily accept this one for sure.\n\nThe opener REACH is an upbeat pop rocker with message of hope which is what 80s Survivor had been very good at. FIRE MAKES STEEL is another pop rocker but with more blues flavor. Fourth track SECONDS AWAY will in future added in their Greatest Hit albums. It should be extensively played at adult rock stations.\nTALKIN' BOUT LOVE is another excellent song with typical Survivor hook but surprisingly it is Frankie Sullivan on vocals.\nHOME is emotional slow country rock flavored ballad.\n\nVerdict: Fine comeback album which attracts wider listeners than before.\nRating: 89 out of 100. For lack of Jim Peterik they did a fine job.\nRecommeded for: Wide range of 80s pop rock fans who love recent comeback albums by TOTO, Chicago and Journey.","Product: 2007 release from the AOR outfit, their first studio album in nine years! Features original members Jack Blades, Jeff Watson, Kelly Keagy and Brad Gillis. From the guitar attack of the opener 'Tell Your Vision', reminiscent of Damn Yankees, to the grandeur of a power ballad like 'There Is Life', plus straight ahead rock numbers like 'Drama Queen' and the title track, Night Ranger's Hole In The Sun album has everything the fans could ask. Frontiers Records. 2007.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Even Harder Than 80s' Works\n\nReview: Night Ranger never ceases to surprise me!\n\nTo really enjoy the newest Night Ranger work in 2007 you have to forget their 80s works particularly first three masterpiece works, Dawn Patrol, Midnight Madness and Seven Wishes. It's crunching straight heavy metal reminding me of earlier Led Zeppelin works.\n\nTheir band developent can be categorized as follows.\n\nStage 1: Pop Metal Days 1982-89\nAlan Fitzerland's pompous keyboard was the key creating synth-featured pop and melodious hard rock. Well seizing the trend during 80s. After their sixth and their first compilation in 1989 they called it quit.\n\nStage 2: Damn Yankees Days 1989-92\nAfter the initial band dissolvement, the band leader Jack Blades organizes a new band DAMN YANKEES which failed to capture the glory of former band but two albums put out are no doubt the masterpiece. Wilder aspect of Jack Blades music was stressed out.\n\nStage 3: First Reunion 1997-99\nThe band suddenly came to life again in 1997 by their Neverland release in 1997. Next year Seven followed well blending the element of both Danm Yankees and classic Night Ranger sound.\n\nStage 4: Solo Days 1999-2007\nKelly Keagy, Jack Blades, Brad Gillis and Jeff Watson made great solo effort during the second break.\n\nStage 5: New Era 2007-\nThe band is alive again and the sound is tighter and heavier than the predesessors.\n\nTELL YOUR VISION opens the album with heavy guitar riff. It is staright rock anthem comparable to Led Zeppelin's COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN.\nDRAMA QUEEN could have been in cancelled DAMN YANKEES third album. I love this uptempo classic-Night Ranger and Damn Yankees blend.\nTHERE IS LIFE is surprise. It is classic Night Ranger ballad reminding me of both SISTER CHRISTIAN and RESTLESS KIND. But in this heavy crunching album sounding really fresh. ROCK STAR is another blaster! It could have been given place for the soundtrack of the same title. BEING is another ballad but is it necessary? I really hoped they ended this album bombastically.\n\nVerdict: Night Ranger's great comeback with heavier development.\nRating: 91 out of 100\nReccomended for: Night Ranger, Damn Yankees fans and heavy metal fans in general.","Product: Shinedown's highly anticipated third album, \"The Sound Of Madness,\" opens with lead single \"Devour.\" Its heavy onslaught of ripping guitars and relentless drums would not sound out of place on a Guitar Hero soundtrack. Of the album, frontman Brent Smith says \"in the seven years of this thing called Shinedown, I've seen a lot of different things - what we've all gone through on teh road, things in our personal lives or witnessed firsthand through the fans that we've made and the relationships we've built with our audience.\" Their face-melting rock comes as no surprise, considering that the band hails from sultry Jacksonville, Florida.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: One of the Best rock albums in 2000s\n\nReview: Shinedown is one of the metal acts with punk elements also loved by the 70s and 80s rock fans. Their third album released in 2008 has been given classic status and maybe one of the best rock album released after year 2000. like many other rock/metal acts Shinedown also gained pop chart success with ballad hits such as \"Second Chance\" their biggest Billboard Hot 100 hit so far. The album also has a number of excellent ballads such as IF YOU ONLY KNEW which went to #42 in Billboard Hot 100 and WHAT A SHAME, THE CROW AND THE BUTTERFLY and CALL ME. Particularly I love WHAT A SHAME with impressive video clip. Rock tracks are also energetic particularly DEVOUR and SOUND OF MADNESS are hilarious. CRY FOR HELP showcases the band's explosive appeal. I love every track of this album.\n\nVerdict: Shinedown Shines and Devours the huge market with this album\nRating: 96 out of 100\nRecommended for wide range of rock fans","Product: Shinedown's highly anticipated third album, \"The Sound Of Madness,\" opens with lead single \"Devour.\" Its heavy onslaught of ripping guitars and relentless drums would not sound out of place on a Guitar Hero soundtrack. Of the album, frontman Brent Smith says \"in the seven years of this thing called Shinedown, I've seen a lot of different things - what we've all gone through on teh road, things in our personal lives or witnessed firsthand through the fans that we've made and the relationships we've built with our audience.\" Their face-melting rock comes as no surprise, considering that the band hails from sultry Jacksonville, Florida.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: One of the Best rock albums in 2000s\n\nReview: Shinedown is one of the metal acts with punk elements also loved by the 70s and 80s rock fans. Their third album released in 2008 has been given classic status and maybe one of the best rock album released after year 2000. like many other rock/metal acts Shinedown also gained pop chart success with ballad hits such as \"Second Chance\" their biggest Billboard Hot 100 hit so far. The album also has a number of excellent ballads such as IF YOU ONLY KNEW which went to #42 in Billboard Hot 100 and WHAT A SHAME, THE CROW AND THE BUTTERFLY and CALL ME. Particularly I love WHAT A SHAME with impressive video clip. Rock tracks are also energetic particularly DEVOUR and SOUND OF MADNESS are hilarious. CRY FOR HELP showcases the band's explosive appeal. I love every track of this album.\n\nVerdict: Shinedown Shines and Devours the huge market with this album\nRating: 96 out of 100\nRecommended for wide range of rock fans","Product: The Cars: Ric Ocasek (vocals, guitar); Benjamin Orr (vocals, bass); Elliot Easton (guitar, background vocals); Gregg Hawkes (keyboards, saxophone, percussion, background vocals); David Robinson (drums, percussion, background vocals). Recorded at AIR Studios, London, England in Feburary, 1978. All tracks have been digitally remastered using HDCD technology. The Cars: Ric Ocasek (guitar, vocals), Elliot Easton (lead guitar, background vocals), Gregg Hawkes (keyboards, saxophone, percussion, background vocals), Benjamin Orr (bass, vocals), David Robinson (drums, percussion, background vocals). Recorded at AIR Recording Studios, London, England in February, 1978. Digitally remastered by Steve Hoffman (February 1993). The Cars: Ric Ocasek (vocals, guitar); Benjamin Orr (vocals, bass); Elliot Easton (guitar); Greg Hawkes (keyboards); David Robinson (drums). Producer: Roy Thomas Baker. Compilation producer: David McLees. Ric Ocasek's songs were influenced by the Velvet Underground and the punk rock movement, but had a slick pop/rock sheen which proved very successful. After a demo version of \"Just What I Needed\" became a listener favorite on WBCN in Boston (the bands' homebase), they were pursued by record companies. THE CARS was recorded in 2 weeks in London, England. This ranks as one of the best debut albums from a rock band. The Cars are filed under rock, but they are closer to power pop than any other genre. Ric Ocasek sounded like a cross between the Raspberries and Television, punk sound with a pop attitude. The giveaway was the irresistible harmony-ridden hooks in just about every one of his songs. Listen again to \"You're All I've Got Tonight,\" \"Just What I Needed\" or \"My Best Friend's Girl\" and be thrilled. Lots of chunka chunka guitar and Mamas And Papas harmonies, and rarely a dull moment. They managed only six albums in 20 years, but they never bettered this.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: The Drive to The Unknown\n\nReview: The Car's debut album in 1978 represents the good ol' days of American rock. They are categorized as a NEW WAVE artist but to them, they were struggling to create what American rock compared to UK rock should be evolved. With the huge success of Boston, Foreigner, Styx and Kansas they were trying to do something different while retaining mainstream pop vibe. The band challenges Foreigner with hard-edged and upbeat track JUST WHAT I NEEDED. While creating radio friendly first three songs, they were experimenting what music fans at that time might never been experienced. Fourth track I'M IN TOUCH WITH YOUR WORLD invites listeners to the uncharted territories. Then at fifth track they again put out upbeat track DON'T CHA STOP, then they turn to progressive hard rock edged YOU ARE ALL I'VE GOT TONIGHT. Listeners might have enjoyed what they might call mystery drive tour. The last two tracks often aired in pairs are truly what make the band's debut album a legend.\n\nVerdict: Impeccable and Exciting debut album by another new giant.\nRating: 93 out of 100\nRecommended for late 70s pop rock fans.","Product: Includes Only Time Will Tell; Heat of the Moment; Wildest Dreams; Don't Cry; The Smille Has Left Your Face , and five more.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Including Four Newer Tracks\n\nReview: Asia's fourth album released in 1990 is very strange work. First off, it is not what it says. It was supposed to be five classic hits and five newer ones but what it turned out was six classic tracks and four newer ones. At that era many of the 80s great artist rushed into releasing greatest hits compilation with one or two newer tracks and in many of the cases newer ones didn't add up to the quality the rest of the tracks had. So four newer tracks itself is rather surprising.\n\nTHEN SIDE\nI can't complain on this side. Some might say it could have SOLE SURVIVOR but with WILDEST DREAMS it was excellently done.\nNOW SIDE\nDAYS LIKE THESE opens gracefully, but it lacks cutting edge appeal the band in early days had. The chorus, bridge is generic at best.\nPRAYING' 4 A MIRACLE is a bit better than previous track but overall it is mellow in tone. Good track to be air-played in adult AOR station but lacks hit potential.\nAM I IN LOVE is again a mellow adult contemporary track. What happened to their progressive rock spirit? By becoming a hit maker they have lost something special.\nSUMMER CAN'T LAST TOO LONG: At last it is an ASIA. Should have been the closing track.\nVOICE OF AMERICA: Unnecessary. Ruins the whole album concept.\n\nVerdict: Although the second half side is not that satisfactory, it is still Wettons and Downes Asia.\nRating: 75 out of 100. Marred by concept failure and one unnecessary addition.\nRecommended for: Wetton/Downes fans. 80s rock fans who like to collect original releases.","Product: Moody Blues - Greatest Hits - Cd\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Focusing on Pop Side of the Band\n\nReview: Moody Blues is one of the trailblazers of what we now call \"progressive rock\" particularly of symphonic rock department. They started as a blues rock band. But from the second album released from the record company strong on classical music items the band switched to rock music with symphony orchestra which was still new attempt. Unfortunately with time constraint at that time this 1989 compilation features only pop side of the band with no instrumental music except Last Lament followed by their biggest hit NIGHTS IN WHITE SATIN uncredited (this must infuriate the core fan of the band). As a 80s pop rock fans the omission of 1983 hit SITTING AT THE WHEEL is a bit of disappointment. So to be more marketable for current music fans perhaps newer extended remaster for the album with LAST LAMENT credited is highly awaited.\n\nRecommended for compilation completists of 70s and 80s rock.","Product: 17 Live & studio tracks recorded between 1983 & 1990 incl. \"Keep On Loving You '89\" (Reggae Version!)\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Closing Their Glory Days\n\nReview: While the Decade of Rock N Roll released in 1981 paved the way for the coming rock star days, the Second Decade wrapping up live recordings from 1981-1991 ironically marked the end of their career and they went into a hiatus until they release unsuccessful Building The Bridge album in 1996. Their latest studio album is Finding Your Way Home in 2007.\n\nAlthough it is not as popular as HITS in 1989 which aptly covered their major hits, this live compilation could be the supplementary release to show what is like in their live performance. In my opinion this compilation is much more interesting than HITS, though it misses some of their great hits such as IN YOUR LETTER, ONE LONELY NIGHTS, IN MY DREAMS, and HERE WITH ME.\n\nParticularly I am happy that they included some from THE EARTH, A SMALL MAN, HIS DOG and a CHICKEN, their unsuccessful studio album in 1990. As other reviewer pointed out I do not like their inclusion of 89 reggae version of KEEP ON LOVIN' YOU which should be kept as a secret track. Other than that I love the whole album particularly TOUGH GUYS, starting from one of the OUR GANG short sound clip. I personally like live version of KEEP THE FIRE BURNING from Good Trouble the least favorite REO album. To fit the concept of this album I personally wanted to hear the live version of ROCK'N ROLL STAR from WHEELS ARE TURNING. Pre-Hi Infidelity tracks shine well here and particularly BACK ON THE ROAD AGAIN, non hit track but one of the staples of REO concerts.\n\nVerdict: Well made live compilation really under-appreciated\nRating: 85 out of 100\nRecommended for: Every REO Speedwagon fan, Fans of 80s pop rock.","Product: Music Audio CD\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Less Ballads and More Meaty Rocks\n\nReview: Kix is one of the underrated 80s to early 90s glam metal band best known by the ballad hit \"Don't Close Your Eyes\" from Blow My Fuse album released in 1988. Its follow up Hot Wire didn't become huge as its predecessor and its first single Girl Honey did not even chart Billboard Hot 100. And the tracks in this album may not be as catchy as the band's contemporaries such as Danger Danger, Firehouse, and Slaughter. You need to listen over and over again to see why this album is regarded as one of the best Kix albums to date. The album turned out to be the metal rock lovers dreams come true, not relying on ballads and more hefty rockers to demonstrate the band's appeal. I guess that's what every heavy metal band dreams about and the band did just that and I am sure it is the best of its kind. It is particularly true after the sixth track ROCK'N ROLL OVERDOSE and killer tracks such as COLD CHILLS, SAME JANE, and PANTS ON FIRE (LIAR LIAR) follow. If you simply expect the metal band to rock hard. give this album a chance.\n\nRating 95 out of 100","Product: YES Big Generator CD\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Excellent Follow Up To 90125\n\nReview: Big Generator released in 1987 is to me the finest album of the prog rock icon in the pop department. While 90125 produced #1 and #24 hits, this album produced only two top 40 hits LOVE WILL FIND A WAY and RHYTHM OF LOVE. But these songs are merely a part of the album's overall appeal which is much refined than the last one. Standout track is FINAL EYES which did not become a single hit but my top favorite of this album. SHOOT HIGH AIM LOW is another highlight. BIG GENERATOR the title track reprises the opening riff of OWNER OF THE LONELY HEART but overall it is much heavier and deeper than the band's biggest hit. ALMOST LIKE LOVE has the blues flavored metal feel while I AM RUNNING is meticulously produced multilayered opus. HOLY LAMB closes the album gracefully. The album surely rekindled the prospect of progressive rock as a genre and paved the way for the newer talents such as Queensryche and Dream Theater.\n\nVerdict: Excellent album of Yes in the pop era.\nRating: 97 out of 100\nRecommended for 80s pop rock fans who also love the pompous rock style such as Boston, Styx and Dream Theater","Product: Aria [Audio CD] Asia\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Asia During mid 90s\n\nReview: Asia started as the super-band made up of who's who of progressive rockers with sensational debut in 1982 and made successful career until their third album ASTRA in 1985. After the lead vocalist John Wetton's departure in 1991, John Payne joined the band as a lead vocalist and then they went on their band career. Asia with John Payne had been neglected commercially except Japan and some European countries. ARIA released in 1995 is the second album with John Payne as a lead vocalist. First four tracks are not that impressive particularly opener ANYTIME which shows overproduction. But the fifth track SAD SITUATION is a turnaround because it fits perfectly with new vocalist's style and vocal range. The album gets better and better with each track culminating in REMEMBRANCE DAY. MILITARY MAN and the last track ARIA are really touching.\n\nVerdict: Latter Half is truly a classic!\nRating: 88 out of 100\nRecommended for: 90s melodic rock fans in general.","Product: Canadian pop rocker's 1983 debut, includes the hit 'Sunglasses At Night'. Standard jewelcase.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Debut Album With Two Great Hits\n\nReview: Corey Hart is one of the most popular 80s Canadian rock artists best known by mid 80s hits such as NEVER SURRENDER from \"Boy In The Box\", SUNGLASSES AT NIGHT and IT AIN'T ENOUGH from this 1983 debut album, and Elvis cover I CAN'T HELP FALLING IN LOVE from his third album \"Field of Fire\". He and his rival Bryan Adams aptly bridge the gap between UK pop rock and that of American mainstream pop rock.\n\nAlthough it has two US hits I haven't been impressed this album so much comparing with BOY IN THE BOX and FIELD OF FIRE. The reason may be that in this album it seems that he was struggling with the best mix of instrumet arrangement fitting best for his vocal style. Both Sunglasses at Night and It Ain't Enough are standouts because these songs have brilliant balance with vocal and instrumental part. But when he starts to mix guitar part it doesn't seem to work well. Corey's voice is edgy so when the song uses guitar part it should be used only in solo but his voice works well with keyboard and sax. When you compare the similarly structured songs such as PERUVIAN LADY and EURASEAN EYES from the next album you will see why. Most of the rest of the songs are good but not as strikingly great as aforementioned hits. With the next album BOY IN THE BOX he really shines.\n\nVerdict: Nice album to start the career but with some flaws\nRating: 80 out of 100\nRecmmended for: Canadian rock fans, mid 80s pop rock fans.","Product: INCLUDES BONUS TRACKS.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Asia During mid 90s\n\nReview: Asia started as the super-band made up of who's who of progressive rockers with sensational debut in 1982 and made successful career until their third album ASTRA in 1985. After the lead vocalist John Wetton's departure in 1991, John Payne joined the band as a lead vocalist and then they went on their band career. Asia with John Payne had been neglected commercially except Japan and some European countries. ARIA released in 1995 is the second album with John Payne as a lead vocalist. First four tracks are not that impressive particularly opener ANYTIME which shows overproduction. But the fifth track SAD SITUATION is a turnaround because it fits perfectly with new vocalist's style and vocal range. The album gets better and better with each track culminating in REMEMBRANCE DAY. MILITARY MAN and the last track ARIA are really touching.\n\nVerdict: Latter Half is truly a classic!\nRating: 88 out of 100\nRecommended for: 90s melodic rock fans in general.","Product: Survivor, Target, Cobra\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Forgotten Jimi Jamison's Solo\n\nReview: Jimi Jamison is best known by the vocalist of Survivor since Vital Signs album but before that he had been doing some of the obscure hard/melodic rock bands such as Target and Cobra that have already been deleted. Since his latest work Empires in 1999 is almost like Survivor, Jim's debut solo album in 1991 might be of more help if you want to find his music tastes and influence. Of course not comparable to Survivor and Empires but it is not so bad album. This is more blues-flavored hard rock than Survivor maybe somewhere between Lou Gramm and David Coverdale. My favorite is True Lovers and Believe In Love. Recommended for die-hard Jimi Jamison fans and some of Ready Or Not and Too Hot To Sleep appreciators.","Product: Steptacular CD JIVE, 519442, 14 Track\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Should Enjoy The CD As It Is\n\nReview: Steptacular is a collection of pop rock gem tracks which becamehuge hit in UK/Europe and Japan. But in the US selected tracks fromtheir first album STEP One and this album was dubbed as Step One. Andthat was the biggest mistake record label ever did to themusic. Steptacular,their second CD, should be listened as it is andthis order. In the US, When I Said Good Bye will be suited forsingle. It is a slow ballad which fit American adult pop fanstaste. Even recommended for fans who already got Step One. You will beknocked over by brilliant performance and excellentsongwriting. Other recommendation include After The Love Has Gone,Say You'll Be Mine, Love Got A Hold On To My Heart, Moving On, ISurrender. Essential for European Dance Disco fans,UK mainstream popfans and fans of S Club 7, N'Sync, Backstreet Boys styled pop rockmusic.","Product: Digitally remastered reissue of their eponymous debut. Digipak. Tracks include, 'Some of My Lies are True (Sooner or Later)'. 2000 release.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Sooner or Later They Would Be Big\n\nReview: Huey Lewis and the News' debut album released in 1980 is really hard to find. I am truly lucky I could get this at all. Their debut album was commercially a failure and two singles from the album SOME OF THE LIES ARE TRUE(SOONER OR LATER), NOW HERE'S TO YOU didn't even get charted on Billboard Hot 100. And my personal favorite track TROUBLE IN PARADISE which was later used for USA For Africa soundtrack in 1985 was't even released as a single.\n\nThe album on the whole is somewhat like unrefined SPORTS album, and it is rather surprising to find the basic style of their music had been unchanged up to late 80s. And unlike their contemporary bands they never experienced the member replacements during 80s. The opener SOME OF THE LIES ARE TRUE is crunchy, upbeat rock song featuring Chris Hayes's excellent guitar solo. But they got the title wrong. It should have been SOONER OR LATER. (In Japan, it was released under the title of SOONER OR LATER). NOW HERE'S TO YOU is another great song, somewhat similar in style to IF THIS IS IT from SPORTS. TROUBLE IN PARADISE is another commitment song which could even fit into SPORTS or FORE.\n\nVerdict: Unrefined but it's still Heuy Lewis and the News 80s rock fans love.\nRating: 83 out of 100\nRecommended for: Every Heuy Lewis fan, Early 80s rock fans and debut album collectors.","Product: Sophomore album for melodic hard rock act featuring vocalist Kevin Chalfant (707, Steel Breeze, The VU) & guitarist Josh Ramos (The Storm). The followup to the self titled debut, one of the biggest independent melodic rock successes of 2000. Frontiers Records.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: 80's Great Rock Survives\n\nReview: ...By the efforts of Kevin Chalfant and Josh Ramos the remaining two members of the Storm. Although I do not feel it's so great as their debut or legendary Eye of The Storm, they still can rock very nicely. \"Ignition\" is the nice uptempo opener and truly the reincarnation of prime-time Journey. Fine songs include Somewhere Far Away, You're Bringing Me Down, The Man I Want To Be(my #1 favorite and fit for the lead single). A little bit of my letdown is Jim Peterik songwriting is not as fabulous as it used to be with the exception of The Man I Want To Be and What The Whole World Need To Know. Compared with their self-titled debut it became more like the combination of Kevin Chalfant solo and Survivor/Foreigner styled rock with some influence of Journey. Music became a bit diverse: What The Whole World Need To Know shows Kevin's inclination for Rhythm and Blues and the album's secret track \"Rhythm Of The World\" is a latin-pop song remnicent a bit of Gloria Estefan.\nRecommended for Journey, Survivor, Two Fires, and Storm fans.","Product: 2002 debut album for melodic rock act inspired by Toto, Survivor & Foreigner. Ten tracks written by the band & Survivor singer/songwriter/guitarist/keyboardist Jim Peterik who also produced.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Time To Get Velocitized\n\nReview: Mecca is a superband made up of finest musicians from older and newer generation. It is like handing down to excellent rock legacy during 70s and 80s to the newer generation of the new millenium.\nJim Peterik(ex Survivor) co-writes all the songs and produces the album. David Hungate(ex Toto) is the bassist of the band and Isolation vocalist Fergie Fredericksen lead-sings six songs including Velocitized one of the unreleased Survivor tracks. Newer unknown members are super as well. Joe Vana, the lead singer of the band is an excellent singer who can sing blues flavored ballad such as Close That Gap excellently. You can see the difference in vocal style of Fergie and Joe in Can't Stop Love. Shannon Forrest is an excellent Nashville drummer introduced to Joe by David Hungate as \"the drummer who can play like Jeff Pocaro\", legendary TOTO drummer who was killed by the accident in 1992. Mecca the title tracks proves that David is right. Other recommendable tracks include Falling Down, Temptation/Hall and Oates styled blues track, Blinded By Emotion charactereized by excellent song structure.\nRecommended for wide range of 80s pop rock fans who like Mr. Mister, Survivor and Toto.","Product: Japanese Version featuring Three Bonus Tracks: \"Surrender to the Night\", \"Stand by You\", and \"so Deadly\".\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Survivor/Jim Peterik Fans Must Have This!\n\nReview: Pride of Lions is the Jim Peterikfs latest melodic rock project featuring 25-year-old bud Toby Hitchcock who has four-octave amazing voice. Because Jim Peterik is best known by the founder, songwriter, keyboardist, and guitarist of Survivor, it has already received high ratings from melodic rock community such as melodicrock.com and BURRN!. However, it must be pointed out that Jim Peterik is beyond Survivor. Because he has been a top songwriter even outside Survivor as some of 38 Special hits and some of the recent albums he had deeply involved such as Mecca prove.\nThis album has striking difference from previous associated works and even Survivor gems. On Pride of Lions, Jim himself takes lead vocalist role and countering fairly well with such talented bud Toby Hitchcock. During Survivor time Jim took lead vocal only in gLove Has Got Meh, one of the debut album track. Jim Peterik and Toby Hitchcock exchanging vocals is what the album is all about. PRIDELAND in particular is an excellent showcase of Jim/Toby duet. Toby Hitchcock vocal style is versatile but somewhat reminding me of Richard Marxfs debut album. In Survivor terminology, it could serve as missing link between Premonition/Caught In A Game/Too Hot To Sleep edginess and Vital Signs/When Seconds Count catchiness.\nJapanese version has three more tracks than European 12-track release. Among them STAND BY YOU and SO DEADLY are included in single EP gSound Of Homeh. So to be precise, SURRENDER TO THE NIGHT, Richard Marx styled ballad is a Japan-only track.\nIf you pursue Vital Signs/When Seconds Count like catchiness, GONE, INTERUPPTED MELODY, TURN TO ME, LAST SAFE PLACE will please you. If you pursue ROCKY like track I recommend ITfS CRIMINAL, UNBREAKABLE ( I suspect both were Rocky IV candidates). MADNESS OF LOVE could have a place in Too Hot To Sleep. If you like Mecca like song FIRST TIME AROUND THE SUN might fit your taste. MUSIC AND ME is heavy at times but mid-bridge is dramatic and catchy as well. SO DEADLY is a sort of experimental stuff having European metal feel.\nEssential for Survivor and mid-80fs melodic rock fans.","Product: JOHN ELTON\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: 1990 Compilation Americans might have Missed (with original version of CANDLE IN THE WIND)\n\nReview: A 2CD, compilation released in 1990 anywhere but U.S by one of the living legend of UK Pop who has been actively generating hits for nearly half a century. Indeed Elton John is more than a pop star. His presence is huge enough to make some source of news and he was also knighted.. He even guest-starred in Simpsons. In U.S. 4CD \"To Be Continued\" was released instead but ended up with the peak of #82 in album chart.\nIn the first volume there is the very original version of Candle in the Wind from Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, which was re-featured in 1987 (live) and 1997 (as a tribute to late Princess Diana). And the volume 1 also has the original version of Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me which was later redone as as a duet with George Michael in 1991.\n\nEssential for 80s pop rock fans and for import collectors.","Product: 2004 album from melodic rock act featuring Survivor frontman James Peterik. Frontiers.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: The Odd Duo Worked Another Wonder!\n\nReview: How can the duo made up by rock veteran Jim Peterik known as great songs by Survivor, 38 Special and a lot more and 25-year-old bud Toby Hitchcock work? It is truly unprecedented combination. Yep similar things are tried in Santana's SUPERNATURAL album when the rock legend Carlos Santana made great combination with Rob Thomas young talented rocker of Matchbox Twenty. With Pride of Lions debut two years ago and\nthis one just released, Jim Peterik competes fairly well with talented new singer Toby Hitchcock having strong vocal the rock world has been waiting for. Before Survivor Jim did sing during Ides of March and latter-day Chase. But after finding great singer Dave Vickler he was content with background role concentrating on songwriting. For most of Survivor and 80's rock fans Jim Peterik taking co-lead vocalist role is quite fresh somewhat like meeting a new singer. Not only uncovering his great talent as vocalist but his songwriting shown in this album is better than ever. All the track included are well-written and well-hooked. Among the great songs I would pick LIGHT FROM DISTANT SHORE, BORN TO BELIEVE IN YOU, and MAN BEHIND THE MASK as my top favorites.\n\nMust-have album if you are a rock connoisseur.","Product: Takahiro Matsumoto (B'z) solo project TMG's 1st album. Contains 14 songs collaborated with non-Japanese artists (Eric Martin, Jack Blade, Brian Tichy, et al). Frontiers. 2004.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: From Sukiyaki to TMG\n\nReview: Although Japanese musicians and rock lovers have similar music taste as those of Americans, in corporate music world it was really rare that Japanese musicians ever break out in American music scene with the exception of ....\n\nKYU SAKAMOTO...Sukiyaki song in 1963 still has the record of biggest selling single from the Japanese musicians.\n\nYMO...Yellow Magic Orchestra did break a bit of US chart during late 70s.\n\nPINK LADY...Japanese pop sensation during late 70s had the one Top 40 hit. They appeared on the TV show as well.\n\nLOUDNESS...Thunder In the East is no doubt biggest selling album from Japanese musicians to date.\n\nUTADA...Her career is still in the making in the U.S. EXODUS made minor dance hits.\n\nNow I am sure Tak Matsumoto Group would be the next if such rare breakout ever happen to Japanese musicians.\n\nSupporting Tak Matsumoto great guitarist of the popular Japanese rock band \"Bz\" is Jack Blades known for the leader of both Night Ranger and Damm Yankees. And Eric Martin known as the lead vocalist of Mr. Big does excellent work on its vocals.\n\nAs the CD jacket implies their music inside is themed with exotism of Japanese beauty and mascular straight rock Americans are proud of. Sword the kimono woman has is the cutting edge sound it has and the music inside really live up to the cover image.\n\nOH JAPAN is the pop rock anthem but influenced a bit by J-pop. EVERYTHING PASSES AWAY is borrowed from the very theme of Tale of Heike Clan an epic of Rivalling two major clans Heike and Genji during 11th and 12th century Japan. It has a hint of Zen Bhuddism but the awesome trio expanded its theme into a grand scale song. Just wonderful. KING FOR A DAY is another J-popish rock anthem and I WISH YOU WERE HERE sounds fit to Mr. Big very soulful but edgy and cathy song. THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH is themed on circus world. No doubt the live concert highlight. SIGN OF LIFE has Jack Blades feel to it, reminding me of some of late 90s Night Ranger material. NEVER GOOD-BYE is no doubt the best of all tracks. Bon Jovi and Mr. Big fans would surely love this power ballad.\n\nVerdict: Solid and Catchy Rock Masterpiece with high commercial potential.\nRating: 90 out of 100.\nRecommended for: Eric Martin and Mr. Big fans, Jack Blades fans and wide range of rock fans.","Product: 2009 release from these melodic Hard Rockers. Hardline is a band centered around the talent of singer Johnny Gioeli (Axel Rudi Pell). Their debut album Double Eclipse saw Neal Schon and Deen Castronovo (Journey/Bad English)) in the line up and is still considered one of the highlights of melodic Hard Rock music in the 90's. Hardline's 2009 album Leaving The End Open sees the band go back to a more concise and straight ahead Melodic Hard Rock style. The first reactions are unanimously positive and it looks like the band has another winner in their wrists. A new masterpiece is born! Frontiers.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Takes The Shape of Its Own\n\nReview: To many rock fans Hardline may still be something like a Journey off-shoot just like Storm, Two Fires and such. Their 2003 reunion, however, lacked Neal Schon best known as Journey guitarist, replaced by Josh Ramos one of the key members of Two Fires. Nevertheless the second album became a solid work proving the band grew out of Neal Schon. Their third effort in 2009 solidified that direction which means that the band launched a new path. This year(2012) sees their fourth album, DANGER ZONE.\n\nIf this album can match up to their debut and one of the rock masterpieces, Double Eclipse, released in 1992 may depend on who you are talking to. If you expect this album to be hard-edged just like DR. LOVE from their debut not so quite. But if you like pop material such as HOT CHERIE, LOVE LEADS THE WAY, I'LL BE THERE and CHANGE OF HEART, this album has great songs to add to their not-yet released their greatest hits. START AGAIN is upbeat pop song which should be aired extensively in adult rock stations. BITTERSWEET is also impressive and by far the best ballad song the band has ever created so far. This song SHE SLEEPS IN MADNESS and another beautiful ballad IN THIS MOMENT are the highlight of this album. SHE SLEEPS IN MADNESS shows that the band still has the founding spirit. But I am not that enchanted by the last pop ballad LEAVING THE END OPEN it sounds a bit too generic. To complement this they should have added a secret track or anything surprising.\n\nVerdict: Glad that Hardline still lives on without Neal Schon.\nRating: 93 out of 100. Slightly better than II but not great as their debut.\nRecommended for: 80s rock fans who likes the works of Journey, Toto, Survivor, Foreigner and some AC/DC fans. Melodic rock fans who likes Work of Art, H.E.A.T. and Houston works.","Product: For the first time in their career, Bobby Kimball and Jimi Jamison have joined forces on a \"duets\" album, which features their signature vocal style in a familiar musical environment created for them by such songwriters as Richard Page (Mr Mister), Jim Pe\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Does It Really Work?\n\nReview: Jimi Jamison has been releasing a number of great releases during 2000s either as a vocalist of reunited Survivor in Reach(2006), his solo works such as Crossroad Moments(2008) and Never Too Late(2012) and a lot more. Kimball Jamison is one of his latest releases dueting with Bobby Kimball of Toto.\n\nActually I didn't have high expectation for this album particularly after seeing the video clips of CAN'T WAIT FOR LOVE, and WORTH FIGHTING FOR in youtube. Both vocalists have different singing styles and to me both tracks didn't show their best particularly when they sing together. But if they sing alternately it seems to work better. The fifth track FIND ANOTHER WAY is a great example. 9th track HEARTS BEAT AGAIN starts with lead vocal of Bobby Kimball and also alternate vocal style. On the whole production could have been better and on chorus part, the team should have used some appropriate backing vocals who can do a great job of high-note area. Other great songs include SAIL AWAY and KICKING and SCREAMING. Sorry, the first two tracks aren't even my Top 5 pick in this album.\n\nVerdict: Mixed results.\nRating: 78 out of 100\nRecommended for: Jimi Jamison fans. Fans of Survivor/Toto/Journey inspired bands such as H.E.A.T. Work of Art, Pride of Lions and Mecca.","Product: After a cyclone transports her to the land of Oz, Dorothy must seek out the great wizard in order to return to Kansas.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: You Must Earn To Claim What You Want\n\nReview: The Wizard of Oz is a well-made children's literature and very American fairy tale.\n\nOz's answer to Dorothy and her companion is quite a right one.\n\nTo win \"hearts\", \"brains\" and \"courage\" and \"returning to home\" they should make efforts and do something worthwhile. Unlike European fairy tales use of magic power is quite restrained or limited. Even Dorothy wearing her magic boots and hat, the writer made her unaware of the effect. Power, strength or ability you need to make a living is not something automatically confered upon from the witch nor wizard. Through a number of adventures they eventually earn rights to claim what they desire.\n\nThe storyline and the moral of the story quite fit the founding principles of America and presented to the child in such a charming manner. The movie in 1939 based on this story is also impressive and can be recommendable.","Product: L. M. Montgomery was born in Clifton, Prince Edward Island, in 1874. A prolific writer, she published many short stories, poems and novels but she is best known for Anne of Green Gables and its sequels, inspired by the years she spent on the beautiful Prince Edward Island. Montgomery died in Toronto in 1942 and was buried in Cavendish on her beloved island.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: From \"Carrots\" to Splendid Animation Series\n\nReview: My encounter with Anne the red-haired girl was when I accidentally found a book called NINJIN(Carrots). I was barely going to elementary school but I enjoyed the story very much particularly episodes like \"Dying her hair green\", \"Walking on top of the roof and fell\". My elder sister really loved the story and read a full series of Anne. It was then the animation series of Anne started. It was so great and changed the image of the story from the book I read when I was little. Though I never share my sister's enthusiasm but when I was a high school student my sister gave me English paperback of this novel for my English study. I never finish the book at that time. It took more than 20 years before I finish the English version of the book and I began to enjoy the minor episodes or vivid description of beautiful landscape of PEI. And I was curious when Anne and Guilvert make amends. It still gives children boys or girl a lot about life, friendship, and hope.\nI hope American children will love both this book and Japanese animation series. Recommended for children over 10 years old.","Product: Translated by V. Harris. Japan's answer to the Harvard MBA...Written over three centuries ago by a Samurai warrior, the book has been hailed as a limitless source of psychological insight for businessmen-or anyone who relies on strategy and tactics for outwitting the competition.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Musashi vs Yagyus: Duels In Writing\n\nReview: MUSASHI is no doubt the legendary Samurai hero dramatized into a number of plays and novels most famous of which is by Yoshikawa Eiji. Thomas Cleary not only translated this classic by Musashi's own writing into English, but he also introduced Musashi's archrival bushido school by Yagyus' chief Munenori's \"The Book of Family Traditions of Book of War\". Such coupling should cause much uproars from pure bushido followers which take sides of either ideas of the way of sword.\n\nMusashi and Yagyus have contrasting idea of the way of the samurai. For loner undefeated Musashi the goal of the school is winning the opponent alone. But for Yagyu family who has much favor from Shoguns: the goal is to get rid of the evil to do justice. Yagyus favor distinctions while Musashi abhors it. But with such striking difference they share the fundamentals. Both are influenced by Sun Zi's The Art of War and Zen Buddhism.\n\nEssential for THE ART OF WAR appreciators and Samurai fans as well as anyone who get involved into competition in business or sports. They may give you a clue to how to win the oppponent with careful examination and readily mindset.","Product: This collection features \"Everything She Wants,\" \"I'm Your Man,\" \"Club Tropicana,\" \"Wham Rap!,\" \"Freedom,\" \"Where Did Your Heart Go,\" \"Young Guns,\" \"Edge of Heaven\" and more. 14 tracks in all.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: 1997 UK Compilation with two Re-recorded Hits George Michael Loved\n\nReview: Although Wham! is undoubtedly one of the most successful UK duos which made three consecutive #1 Billboard hits from 1984-85, no official compilations for U.S market have been released thus far. Both the Final, the compilation with chronological order released in 1986 and this release in 1997 has been for UK and world market except in the U.S. 80s music fans must get either of these from import market.\n\nThe Best of Wham! with two newer version of the duo's 80s hits has been often criticized because it misses Wham!'s two major hits such as Careless Whisper (are there any compilations ever without Billboard #1 hit?) and Bad Boy from the debut album possibly because of technicalities. Careless Whisper has been part of George Michael's compilations and Bad Boy is from the debut album released from Columbia record. Naturally this Epic label compilation has two more Make it Big tracks and they are neatly placed to make the album as a whole enjoyable. IF YOU WERE THERE from Make it Big album is placed as the opener while another Make it Big track LIKE A BABY as a interlude between two upbeat hit tracks WAKE ME UP BEFORE YOU GO-GO and FREEDOM. Another surprise is EVERYTHING SHE WANTS comes before WAKE ME UP BEFORE YOU GO-GO. Everything She Wants is one of George Michael's favorite song from Make it Big. George Michael loved this compilation and to him both Careless Whisper and Different Corner may not belong there.\nIt is a must-have for George Michael fans. And Essential Wham! from Epic highly awaited."],"string":"[\n \"Product: Star Wars - Episode VI, Return of the Jedi [VHS]\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Grand Finale with Some Added Scenes\\n\\nReview: 2007 DVD version of the concluding episode of one of the most popular star opera series has some added or altered scenes not in the original theatrical release in 1983.\\n\\nAlthough this one is the last of the original Luke trilogy I am not that impressed with this compared with the previous episode THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, or fourth episode THE NEW HOPE, the originally the first Star Wars series. This episode is made up of four parts: Rescue Mission of Han Solo, Luke's Return to Dagobah system, Endor Mission to inactivate the barrier system of Death Star #2, Luke's own mission to face Darth Vader and evil Emperor. Now let's see how each part is done.\\n\\n1. Mission to Save Incarbonated Han Solo...4.5 out of 5\\nThis part was done really brilliantly, it is seen from the eyes of the C-3PO and R2D2, even the viewers are not aware of what the Luke's plan is all about. Really thrilling and monsters as well as Java The Hut, Boba Fett were done quite well. I love Princess Leia in metal bathing suit.\\n\\n2. Luke Returns to Dagobah System...3 out of 5\\nAlthough it is really touching scene involving the new revelation about the \\\"other hope\\\" and the death of Yoda, this scene could have been better. It is sad and unfortunate to see that Yoda passes away. It seems that Lucas team has little idea what conquering the dark side of the force really means when the movie was made. The original plot was far too simple and the dark forces merely meant Luke's inner weakness which is in the way for eliminating the evil. The viewers who started seeing the SW through Anakin Trilogy in particular may feel it should not be like this. Yoda should have warned Luke that dark force would not simply go away just by eliminating the emperor and darth vader's dark side.\\n\\n3. Endor Mission...4 out of 5\\nIronically the best part of Endor mission scene is speeder racing. It really is thrilling to us even today's viewers accustomed to CG-generated scenes. But after Ewok appear the story become a bit slack. I do not see if Ewok characters fit in the Star Wars universe well. Maybe the fantasy movies such as Caravan of Courage may better do this adorable creature justice rather than being in a part of Star Wars battle scenes. Imperial troopers look really dumb by easily entrapped by Ewoks. Last celebration scene addition was minor improvement. Without it, it looks just the victory of the local battle.\\n\\n4. Luke's Own Mission to Conquer the dark Force...4 out of 5\\nDespite the insufficient Dagobah scene, this final battle was done quite well. Particularly the scene that Father and Son got strongly spiritually reunited is really touching. It's good in a stand-alone episode. As the initial title was \\\"Revenge of the Jedi\\\" the producers might not have been aware of how strong the dark side of the force could be.\\n\\nVerdict: Good to see the grand finale but some parts seem hasty and insufficient.\\nRating: 82 out of 100\\nRecommended for: Sci-fi movie fans.\",\n \"Product: Guaranteed to work or your money back - PLEASE NOTE ALL MONIES FROM THIS SALE GO TO A 501 (C)3 NO KILL ANIMAL SHELTER\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: A New Look Into a 30-year-old Sci-Fi Classic\\n\\nReview: I never expected that I would see the film again as a sequel of the newest Star Wars series more than 20 years after I saw it at first. Even in this newer edition of the 1977 classic you can find some of the discrepancy from the Anakin Skywalker trilogy.\\nNever mind. It's part of the fun and another reason to watch this film again.\\n\\nFirst of all, I felt the first half of original 1977 version a bit dull and with the exception of a few of the scenes such as Princess Leia's hologrammed message recorded in R2D2 had remained in my memory. But thanks to Ani-trilogy I am more eager to watch the first scenes particularly the re-appearance of Obi-Wan kenobi introduced by Luke Skywalker as Old Ben.\\n\\nAfter the appearance of Han Solo a Hollywood counterpart of Captain Harlock, the show begins and I can never take my eyes away from the scene until the end. Some of the scene was added to this newer one. But not much to ruin the old classic.\\n\\nVerdict: Fourth episode finally found a home in the entire series.\\nRating: 90 out of 100\\nRecommended for wide range of sci-fi movies fans.\",\n \"Product: Los Angeles is enduring a heat wave and a crime wave, so the pressure on police officer Michael Harrigan (Danny Glover) to solve a strange string of murders is mounting. Harrigan thinks the culprit can be found among the warring gangs and drug cartels, but FBI Special Agent Peter Keyes (Gary Busey) knows the horrible truth: Their killer is a fearsome extraterrestrial (Kevin Peter Hall) with keen hunting abilities that include superior night vision and the power to make itself invisible.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Lethal Weapon Meets X-files\\n\\nReview: The previous film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger left a lot of questions unanswered. The sequel is set in Los Angeles and the film starts with the shooting between drug cartel groups and L.A.P.D. officers just like one of the scenes in Lethal Weapon series. While they are trying to find out what had happened after the bloody murders they are stopped by Federal Agents who are working on their agenda. Then the story turns up like a part of X-files. Special Agent Peter Keys is a Cigarette Smoking Man of this government cover-up mystery. Later it was found out that unidentified invisible monsters are actually warriors from another planet and has their own code of rules such as not attacking people unarmed. And the latter part of movie suggests that these creatures involved in historical battles such as Iwo Jima or Colonial days battles. What I was frustrated is not the film itself. The way the series left us in the dark. It is like ending the series in Back To The Future part 2 and left mysteries unsolved. I hope recent film Predators can answer some of the mysteries.\\n\\nVerdict: Predators are not indiscriminate killers\\nRating: 74 out of 100\\nRecommended for: The fans of action-involved sci-fi films.\",\n \"Product: The \\\"Italian Stallion\\\" rediscovers his roots in this exciting, thrill-packed drama that reunites Sylvester Stallone with the Oscar(r)-winning* director of the original Rocky(r). Upon returning home from his latest triumph, Rocky Balboa (Stallone) learns that all his money has been lost by an unscrupulous financial advisor. To make matters worse, his fight-relatedinjuries force his retirement from the ring. So Rocky, his wife, Adrian (Talia Shire), and his son,Rocky Jr. (Sage Stallone), move to their old, low-rent neighborhood in South Philadelphia. There, the fighter must resolve the deep-rooted resentment held by his son, a bitterness that grows when Rocky trains Tommy Gunn (Tommy Morrison), a young boxer who soon rises to national prominence. When Tommy turns against his mentor and publicly taunts him, Rocky knows he must fight once more. *John G. Avildsen, 1976\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: You Can't Turn Back The Clock...\\n\\nReview: Rocky V, the fifth series of Rocky series, in 1990, ended up proving that you can't get back the gist of what the earlier Rocky series had.\\nThe street of Philadelphia where Rocky was born and bred still is there. However, the time has changed that much even the same place looks different. Rocky Balboa donning his favorite hat when he was the unknown fighter in Philadelphia looks a bit out of place. The storyline is shaky as Rocky Balboa the retired former champion might have been like. He meets a young man and teaches everything he had to the Tommy Gunn. After Tommy betrays Rocky, there will be an unexpected street-fighting scene that caused uproar from Rocky fans. I can have no clues to what the coming Rocky movie will be like. I give this movie three stars because of nostalgia you can find from this movie particularly ol' Micky. (He surely got old).\",\n \"Product: Open otherwise good condition\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Enjoyable Epic With The Beauty of Good Ol' Japan\\n\\nReview: It is very fun to watch the Bond film in which some of the beautiful locations of my country were shown. Particularly the idea that the secret specter base is located under the crater pond of an active volcano SHINMOEDAKE part of KIRISHIMA volcanic range in KYUSHU was fascinating. And views of major volcanoes in Kyushu including Aso and Sakurajima. When HIMEJI castle popped up from screen I could not contain my chuckles. It is indeed a fitting place for modern ninjas... As Japanese samurai movie fans know well, HIMEJI castle is often used in samurai dramas and in TV mini-series <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/James-Clavell-s-Shogun/dp/B0000A2ZNX/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">James Clavell's Shogun</a> it was used as Osaka castle.\\n\\nSean Connery is one of the first western actors (excluding Japanese Americans) who lived a life as a Japanese in non-Japanese dramas. Naturally when TV mini-series Shogun was to be produced the top candidate for English pilot Blackthorne was Sean. I suspect Bond strictly followed a Japanese agent Tanaka's advice to become a real Japanese though. Could have used more subtitles for local language and let Bond show his achievement of language skill courses in Cambridge.\\n\\nOn the whole really enjoyable both in plot and actions.\\n\\nVerdict: Neatly describing good old Japan with the exception of Ninja.\\nRating: 90 out of 100. James Bond being a Japanese not that convincing enough.\\nRecommended for Ninja movies and action movies fans as well as Bond movie fans.\",\n \"Product: The animated adventure VHS movie of Sinbad and his seventh voyage.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Enjoyable Film by the Master of Special Effects\\n\\nReview: The adventures of Captain Sinbad are some of the most well known stories from One Thousand One Nights a.k.a. Arabian Nights, one of the most popular classic Arabian Literature works. This movie is loosely based on the second voyage seeking the eggs of legendary imaginary bird \\\"Roc\\\". It also takes in some of the elements from Arabian night stories such as Aladdin for evil sorcerer and the genie lamp. Other than that the movie has its original plot showcasing expertise of special effects called Dynarama. Some of the scenes might have been inspired from classic monster films such as King Kong and Toho's Godzilla series. Particularly the fighting scenes with One-Eyed Monster and the Dragon is outstanding. The film's another climax can be the duel scene between skeleton fighter and Sinbad. I could hardly contain my chuckles.\\n\\nVerdict: Ray Harryhausen's work of wonder\\nRating: 92 out of 100\\nRecommended for fans of classic sci-fi films with monsters.\",\n \"Product: Castle of Cagliostro VHS. 1992 Streamline Pictures release.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: First Animation Film Directed By Miyazaki\\n\\nReview: This cult Animation film in 1981 is the debut work for Hayao Miyazaki as a movie director.\\n\\nDuring 70s Miyazaki often collaborated with Isao Takabata in masterpiece anime works such as Heidi--the Girl In the Alps(1974), one-year weekly run TV animation film based on Johanna Spyri's well known children's story. After collaborating with Takabata's TV animation series of Anne of The Green Gables until the midstage, he became independent from Takabata and went on his own. First one he did was the Lupin The Third series film sure-to-be-hit anime series in Japan.\\n\\nThis work I feel is not in concert with other Lupin III works though Miyazaki took up earlier Lupin III episodes around 1973. And some anime fans might find the influence from FUTURE BOY CONAN(1979) HEIDI(1974), and even Paul Grimault's mastepiece animation film \\\"Le Roi et l'oiseau(The King and the Mockingbird)\\\" . Basic settings are as Miyazaki himself acknowledges came from \\\"Le Roi et L'oiseau\\\" And some of the beautiful landscape of Italian sides of European Alps reminds me of Heidi. Also Lupin's superhuman mobility reminds me of Conan, the Future Boy.\\n\\nAs a fan of Lupin III series I found Lupin a bit too good-natured, and surprised at Lupin's archirival Zenigata a bit too cool. If you are Miyazaki fans you may find this work interesting as you can see how his directing method evolved if you know his pre-Ghibli works so much.\\n\\nVerdict: Enjoyable but not as organized as his later works\\nRating: 88 out of 100\\nRecommended: Essential for those who might want to find Miyazaki's pre-Ghibli works.\",\n \"Product: A film adaption of the myth of Perseus and his quest to battle both Medusa and the Kraken monster to save the Princess Andromeda.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: The Last of the Special-Effects Titan\\n\\nReview: 1981 film based on Greek Mythology on Perseus saving the Princess Andromeda from the Monster is the last film involvement of special effects wizard Ray Harryheusen, who created a number of monsters just as Eiji Tsuburaya of Godzilla did. It is often picked as the material to introduce Greek Mythology to the uninitiated. The film also has some special appearance of some notable actors and actresses such as Maggie Smith one of the staple figures in British films known by the Harry Potters' Professor McGonall, Laurence Olivier the legendary Shakespearean actor and Burgess Meredith known by the role of Rocky Balboa's coach Mickey. Ammon, a poet played by Meredith assists and guides young Perseus to the right track.\\n\\nThe film plot adds original characters not in Greek Mythology such as the mechanical owl Bubo, Calibos, human-turned monster due to the curse.\\nThen the story goes like typical Ray Harryhausen-involved fantasy films. A boy ventures into a given quest, saves the damsel in mistress, Andromeda and conquers the monsters. As far as you like the cliches of Harryheusen world you will definitely love the film. Among the Harryhausen involved films I have seen Titans is one of the best. The biggest plot hole, however, might be the title itself. From the title you might expect the fantasy adventure involving different giant monsters taking each side of the warring parties. The only Titan worthy of being called a \\\"titan\\\" is Harken, a typical Harryhausen-created Kaiju. Its Pegasus is no Falcor (Neverending Story) which may not give so much craving to mount yourself. Although the film was a great success, it became the swan song for him and with ILM team booming, maybe it was the right time for him to retire.\\n\\nVerdict: Good adventure film that marked the end of Harryhausen Days\\nRating: 86 of 100 Some loose parts in plot.\\nRecommended for the fans of classic fantasy films\",\n \"Product: Here's the latest chapter in the popular film trilogy, starring Jason James Richter (FREE WILLY) as Bastian, a teenager whose life is turned upside down when his father remarries. On his first day at a new school, Bastian is chased by a vicious gang called the Nasties. He hides in the school library where he finds a magic book that writes itself according to the imagination of the reader. To escape the Nasties (and his troubles at home), Bastian wishes himself into Fantasia, the storybook's phantasmic world of incredible creatures. It's here, away from the pressures of the real world, that Bastian thinks he's safe. But when the Nasties take control of the book, his Fantasian friends get stuck on earth, and it's up to Bastian to save them. And in order to do that, he must defeat the Nasties! With great music by some of your favorite rockers, this awesome fantasy-adventure celebrates the joy of reading and the magic books create within our own imagination!\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: The Most Misunderstood Story\\n\\nReview: I read the novel Neverending story and also enjoyed the first movie. The first two series of Neverending story are based on Michael Ende's masterpiece juvenile literature. This one is purely original story using the theme and characters from this book. The first movie was so successful that the very concept of the original story is left neglected. Second and third series tried to get things right only in vain. Fantasia is a creation of human mind so when we changes the story changes that is what neverending story is. Auryn is as second series nicely put it, not a magic stick. Third series is no exception. Bastian's new sister used Auryn to buy what she wanted then the side effect was their newly-wed parents are in danger of divorce. This story's not a fantasy story at all. It is more real than you imagine. It is too bad a time to make neverending story movie at all during dark 90s. Maybe this time will be more acceptable to have another series. First movie is outstanding but just be back to reality. Its theme has unending stories to make. We are part of neverending story so just let new things add to let fantasia alive.\",\n \"Product: A poor boy wins the opportunity to tour the most eccentric and wonderful candy factory of all.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Well-Witted, and Well Performed\\n\\nReview: I saw the film after seeing Tim Burton version in 2005, and I really enjoyed this 1971 version starring GENE WILDER.\\n\\nGene Wilder's Willy Wonka is really witty and performing the role of the legendary chocolate bar factory owner brilliantly. The first appearance with somersault which is the Wilder's own idea, tells the Wilder's sense of humor quite well. Wonka is an old man in the book but Wilder was still in his 30s. Wilder wants to stress that the book and the film is different? Punishments of the naughty kids are done really well and its lesson can be seen a lot more clearly than the 2005 version. And what is impressive is that the invited children as well as adults truly enjoy the fantastic garden compensating for a bit poorly designed sets. Another factor making the storyline quite convincing is that even Charlie shares the mistakes by tasting the body-floating candies. The process by which the Charlie wins the factory is well described and quite impressive.\\n\\nWilder's Wonka is by no means true to the original book but the appealing one for sure.\\n\\nVerdict: Compromise the sets and outdated F/X and you may feel like being one of the luckiest kids or their accomapanying adults.\\nRating: 88 out of 100\\nRecommended for: Classic movies fans and fantasy novels fans.\",\n \"Product: TALES FROM THE NEVERENDING STORY: THE BE\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Reorganizing The Long-Selling Fantasy\\n\\nReview: This is fairly well organized dramatization of Michael Ende's everlasting fantasy. I must admit it deviates so much from the original story but this dramatization rather make up for what original story left behind. Parallel stories interconnecting each other reflects troubling state of mind Bastian suffers in his real life. He lost his mother in a very tragic accident and his school life goes heywire. He has to move his home and have to face with stranger his father is planning to get married. What an ordeal 12-year old boy has to face. Gmork takes the form of the substitute teacher who always give Bastian a hard time. Why moonchild is adult-like here? I guess moonchild is the reflection of Bastian's mother and Xayide reflects Bastian's fear of facing reality. As a 1984 version of NES fan it really hurts to see the Falkor chained and tortured by Xayide. And Fly Girl (Stefani Buxton) and Atreyu (Tyler Hynes) reminds me of Nausicaa and Asbel in \\\"Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind\\\". I am really surprised to see Atreyu skateboarding in Bastian's world. It is very entertaining version and I like the way Bastian get over with his real world problems though Neverending Story.\\n\\nVerdict: A bit deviated from original story but is finely reorganized.\\nRating: 89 out of 100. Cracking password is a crime! Five points taken.\\nRecommened for Fantasy Novel fans in general who likes Ghibli works or Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter and The Chronicles of Narnia series.\",\n \"Product: SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO - IT'S 2199. TERRESTRIALS LIVE IN UNDERGROUND CITIES TO SURVIVE RADIATION FROM NUCLEAR PLANET BOMBS. JAPAN'S LEGENDARY BATTLESHIP YAMATO, IS REFITTED AS A SPACESHIP AND WARPS 148,000 LIGHT YEARS TO ISCANDAR FOR A POWER PLANT THAT WILL CLEANSE EARTH'S ATMOSPHERE. THIS IS THE STORY THAT STARTED IT ALL. HERE IS WHERE WE FIRST MEET SUSUMU KODAI, YUKI MORI, CAPTAIN OKITA, DR. SADO, SHIRO SANADA, IQ-9, LORD DESLER AND THE MYSTERIOUS STASHA OF ISCANDAR. IT'S THE FEATURE VERSION OF THE STAR BLAZERS' \\\"QUEST FOR ISCANDAR\\\". FEATURES: NEVER BEFORE SEEN BATTLE FOOTAGE.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: The Quest for Iscandar, 148,000 Light Years Away From Earth\\n\\nReview: 1977 animation film Battle Spaceship Yamato(Star Cruisers) is the short-edited version of 1974 TV series(26 episodes) of the same title which was made into English-dub animation series Star Blazers in 1979. US release edited out WW2 account of Battleship Yamato but otherwise the storyline is almost the same as Japanese theatrical version. As Star Blazer series turned out some of the character names have been anglicized and human-type robot Analyzer was introduced as IQ-9.\\n\\nDuring mid 70s pollutions, natural disasters, the fear of the nuke wars was so intense around the world, the films with apocalyptic themes such as \\\"Japan Sinks\\\" or \\\"Prophesy of Nostradamus\\\" became huge success in Japan. The film starts with lifeless dried-up surface of the earth in AD 2199 as the result of alien attacks by Gamillons from their Pluto outpost. Human beings survived underground but it has only one year before the radiation wipes out all human existence. It is the message from Iscandar 148,000-light-year away from Earth which is the last hope. Given the Wave Motion Engine plans attached in the message from Iscandar. Former WW2 flagship Yamato was reformed into Space Cruiser and with a number of extraterrestrial techs built into the ship Yamato(Argo) set out to the intergallactic journey.\\n\\nThe film's success paved the way for sci-fi animation series such as Gundam series or Neon Genesis Evangelion and Miyazaki fantazy films.\\n\\nWhile it is similar to Star Wars, Yamato is not entirely militaristic as you see in conversation between Jason(Derek) and Yuki(Nova) when they saw the ruins of what used to be the Gamillas civilization. Leiji Matsumoto who took part in character designs and key role in production hate being interpreted as glorifying wars. The series was ahead of time and used mostly existing heavenly bodies and used latest astronomical discoveries(it was planned before Pioneer and Voyager uncovered the truth about Jupiter and Saturns.) The series also materialized what lie beyond Pluto in solar system(helioscope). Despite its gloomy tones I enjoyed both the TV series and the film version because it expands our mind beyond Solar System and future space exploration light years away when mankind could only dispatch unmanned space plobes out to Jupiter and Saturns.\\n\\nVerdict: Outstanding sci-fi drama ahead of time. Good for Yamato(Star Blazers) starters.\\nRating: 95 out of 100\\nRecommended for: Yamato(Star Blazer) fans' must-have. Fans of sci-fi films such as Star Wars, Star Trek, and Galactica series.\",\n \"Product: 2004 DVD Release of the 1997 Special Edition Version of Return of the Jedi. Wide Screen : Region 1 DVD.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Grand Finale with Some Added Scenes\\n\\nReview: 2007 DVD version of the concluding episode of one of the most popular star opera series has some added or altered scenes not in the original theatrical release in 1983.\\n\\nAlthough this one is the last of the original Luke trilogy I am not that impressed with this compared with the previous episode THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, or fourth episode THE NEW HOPE, the originally the first Star Wars series. This episode is made up of four parts: Rescue Mission of Han Solo, Luke's Return to Dagobah system, Endor Mission to inactivate the barrier system of Death Star #2, Luke's own mission to face Darth Vader and evil Emperor. Now let's see how each part is done.\\n\\n1. Mission to Save Incarbonated Han Solo...4.5 out of 5\\nThis part was done really brilliantly, it is seen from the eyes of the C-3PO and R2D2, even the viewers are not aware of what the Luke's plan is all about. Really thrilling and monsters as well as Java The Hut, Boba Fett were done quite well. I love Princess Leia in metal bathing suit.\\n\\n2. Luke Returns to Dagobah System...3 out of 5\\nAlthough it is really touching scene involving the new revelation about the \\\"other hope\\\" and the death of Yoda, this scene could have been better. It is sad and unfortunate to see that Yoda passes away. It seems that Lucas team has little idea what conquering the dark side of the force really means when the movie was made. The original plot was far too simple and the dark forces merely meant Luke's inner weakness which is in the way for eliminating the evil. The viewers who started seeing the SW through Anakin Trilogy in particular may feel it should not be like this. Yoda should have warned Luke that dark force would not simply go away just by eliminating the emperor and darth vader's dark side.\\n\\n3. Endor Mission...4 out of 5\\nIronically the best part of Endor mission scene is speeder racing. It really is thrilling to us even today's viewers accustomed to CG-generated scenes. But after Ewok appear the story become a bit slack. I do not see if Ewok characters fit in the Star Wars universe well. Maybe the fantasy movies such as Caravan of Courage may better do this adorable creature justice rather than being in a part of Star Wars battle scenes. Imperial troopers look really dumb by easily entrapped by Ewoks. Last celebration scene addition was minor improvement. Without it, it looks just the victory of the local battle.\\n\\n4. Luke's Own Mission to Conquer the dark Force...4 out of 5\\nDespite the insufficient Dagobah scene, this final battle was done quite well. Particularly the scene that Father and Son got strongly spiritually reunited is really touching. It's good in a stand-alone episode. As the initial title was \\\"Revenge of the Jedi\\\" the producers might not have been aware of how strong the dark side of the force could be.\\n\\nVerdict: Good to see the grand finale but some parts seem hasty and insufficient.\\nRating: 82 out of 100\\nRecommended for: Sci-fi movie fans.\",\n \"Product: Based on the novel by Soh Kitamura, the character of The Fiend with Twenty Faces is known to all of Japan and is the central figure in this thrilling story. The cast includes some of the most recognized names including Takeshi Kaneshiro, an actor consistently cast in the biggest films across Asia, and Takako Matsu, one of Japans most sophisticated and respected actresses. The acclaimed writer-director Shimako Sato and the incredible retro futuristic visuals make this film an action spectacular not to be missed. It is 1949 in Japan, in a world where World War II never happened and the nobility system established in the Meiji Era is still in place. An extreme divide exists between the upper and lower classes, with 90 percent of the countrys wealth being held by the upper class. The capital of Teito is in crisis with the emergence of a phantom thief known as \\\"The Fiend (Kaijin) with Twenty Faces\\\" or simply \\\"K-20.\\\" Heikichi Endo (Takeshi Kaneshiro) is a circus acrobat who is deceived by K-20 and is set up to take the fall for the phantom thief. Using his incredible physical dexterity, Heikichi wages war against K-20 in order to clear his name, fighting alongside K-20's next wealthy target, Duchess Yoko Hashiba (Takako Matsu), and her fiance, brilliant detective Kogoro Akechi (Toru Nakamura). But what is the ultimate decision Heikichi has to make?\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: The Legend of Popular Japanese Fictional Heroes Comes Alive\\n\\nReview: When asked about \\\"which fictional private detective do you like best?\\\", Japanese young adults of 00s might respond: \\\"Edogawa Konan! No Hajime Kindaichi\\\". It is an amusing fact that both comic book detective heroes never forget to refer some of legendary private detectives such as Kogoro Akechi who appears in Ranpo Edogawa's detective novels.\\n\\nKaijin Nijumenso or \\\"Fiend with twenty faces\\\" is an archrival of Akechi and legendary fictional thief who is still popular among Japanese aged 30 or older generation. K-20 is an abbreviation for the legendary thief and the story is based on the theory that Heikichi Endo who is said to be the K-20 is not the original K-20 and must be inherited from the first K-20. K-20 in Edogawa's novels is just like what is described in this movie. He gives the warning letter right before stealing the target treasure and steal after all evading all the protection devices and guarding police. He is said to have been modeled after Arsene Lupin, the French fictional thief.\\n\\nThe movie itself is entirely original story based on no original Ranpo's novels so even though you are familiar with Ranpo's detective novels you may enjoy and be sure to be surprised. There are full of actions and if you are the fans of Takeshi Kaneshiro who are popular as an Asian action star, you will enjoy the movie.\\n\\nTakeshi Keneshiro, Taiwan-born action star, plays the role of the man who was taken in to be pursued as Kaijin Nijumenso and consequently take over as the successor of the original K-20. The most notable recent Kaneshiro film is John Woo's <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Red-Cliff-International-Version-Part-I-Part-II/dp/B0030A6ICG/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Red Cliff International Version - Part I & Part II</a> as Zhuge Liang the strategist of Liu Bei.\\n\\nNote: Oasis's \\\"The Shock of the Lightning\\\" was used as the ending title for the movie.\\n\\nVerdict: Full of actions and thrills.\\nRating: 90 out of 100\\nRecommended for: Takeshi Kaneshiro fans. Fans of detective movies.\",\n \"Product: OFFICIALLY LICENSED IMPORT VERSION! THIS IS AN AUTHENTIC, LICENSED DVD. Contains both the Japanese language version with English subtitles and the English language versions! Plays on all DVD players. The peaceful planet of Jillucia has been nearly wiped out by the metal skinned Gavanas, who's leader Rockseia XLL takes orders from his old wretched mother. King Kaiba sends out eight Liabe holy seeds, each one to be received by a chosen one. Its up to these special warriors to save mankind from the Galvanas attack. Starring Sonny Chiba, Vic Morrow, Hiriyuki Sanada, and Tetsuro Tanba. Directed by Kinji Fukasaku (Battle Royale)\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Japanese Sci-fi film during late 70s\\n\\nReview: Message in Space(1978) is one of the cult sci-fi films in late 70s produced by Japanese film makers. Previous year Toho also released similar space opera film, \\\"The War in Space\\\" also inspired by Star Wars. It was indeed the time Japanese film makers eagerly tried to beat the Hollywood in sci-fi area but since then animation series like Star Blazers, Gundam, took the heart of both sci-fi fans and young audience. Sadly space sci-fi opera in live-action movies are no longer a mainstream genre for Japanese film makers today.\\n\\nIt is really enjoyable movie as a parody of great sci-fi films and animation such as Star Wars, Star Blazers(particularly opening is similar to Star Blazers), Chinese classic \\\"Water Margin\\\" and its Japanese adaptation in 19th century Nanso Satomi Hakkennden(The Eight Dog Chronicles). As other works by Fukasaku, he excellently bring in youth culture during late 70s to his film when Tsuppari(bad boy style) was recongnized as cool for young adults. Special effects and action sequence is well-made considering it was made in late 70s. Even ILM staffs who visited the studio were said to have been impressed by their works.\\nSonny(Shinichi) Chiba is doing brilliantly for sword action as expected.\\n\\nVerdict: One of the fine action sci-fi films by Japanese film makers during late 70s\\nRating: 78 out of 100\\nRecommended for: Late 70s Japanese sci-fi film fans and the fans of Japanese sci-fi animation such as Star Blazers. Also for fans of Sonny(Shinichi) Chiba.\",\n \"Product: Hard-boiled, cocky, classy and silly. These words only begin to describe the amazing master thief Lupin the Third. With the help of some quick gunplay by his partner Jigen, Lupin takes on the world in elaborate heists, classic car chases, and nasty explosions. Fujiko, a buxom redhead with a penchant for betrayal, always gets tangled up in Lupin's capers. The stoic but swift swordsman Goemon is just as inclined to kill Lupin as he is to help him. And Lupin can never seem to lose the relentless Tokyo Police Inspector Zenigata. What sort of trouble will this band of misfits get into next?\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: The First of One of the Most Beloved TV Animation Series in Japan\\n\\nReview: Lupin the Third series is one of the long running TV animation series in Japan. Its TV-special programs are also an annual fixture in Japan and its film releases have been countering well even with Ghibli and Doraemon ones. The first season aired in 1971 is also known as Miyazaki-Takabata team's early works before they formed Ghibli. To be more exact both Miyazaki and Takabata worked as A-production partly from early episodes and their names are not credited in either Opening or Ending theme endrolls. They got involved with this TV animation on condition that their names are not credited. While its early episodes are faithful to Monkey Punch's original comic book stories which are rather tailored to adult audience, the latter episodes directed by A-production led by Takabata-Miyazaki team made it comprehensible even understandable to children.\\n\\nThree different openings are used and the latter two of them are no doubt by A-production which are really comprehensive. The first four episodes are raw in animation sequence but the story line is well-structured and impressive. The protagonist Lupin the third is the grandson of Arsene Lupin the popular French hero and a great thief created by Maurice Leblanc. Daisuke Jigen is the A-1 gunman who always assists Lupin's work. Goemon Ishikawa XIII is the swordsman who uses iron-cutting sword. Goemon first appears in this series on episode #5 as Lupin's adversary. But he eventually joins Lupin team in episode #7. Inspector Zenigata is the archrival of Lupin who devotes his life to capture Lupin. As episode #4 shows he actually likes Lupin and does not want Lupin to get executed. Fujiko Mine is Lupin's current girlfriend but she often moves in her own accord and often uses Lupin team for her own plan. Fujiko first appears as long-haired sexy girl typical heroine Yasuo Otsuka the director of the animation series love. But when drawn by Miyazaki Fujiko has red short hair and intelligent look and often operates kyte-plane. When Miyazaki-style Fujiko appeared for the first time in episode 14 most of the viewers might have wondered \\\"who is that girl?\\\". So latter episodes sometimes miss Fujiko partly because Miyazaki was not satisfied with his version of Fujiko. A-production led latter half is filled with action after another.\\n\\nVerdict: Lupin series with two different styles but both are nice in its own right.\\nRating: 90 out of 100\\nRecommended for: The fans of James Bond styled action dramas, fans of Japanese animation.\",\n \"Product: Shot in 2007, Finding Rin Tin Tin is based on the true story of an American corporal and his world renowned German Sheppard dog, Rin Tin Tin. The story begins with Corporal Lee Duncan, stationed in France during World War 1, who rescues a mother and her three German Sheppard puppies. Lee gives the mother and two puppies away, but keeps his favorite puppy, which he lovingly names Rin Tin Tin. When the General warns that keeping a young rambunctious dog is not permitted, Duncan discovers a solution is at hand expert dog handler, German Nikolaus Egger, Rin Tin Tin s mother s original owner, is being held as a POW on their base. At first, Egger is hesitant to help Duncan, but soon warms to him, and though on opposite sides of the war the two men become friends. Egger teaches Rin Tin Tin with patience and kindness, and soon the dog learns amazing skills, such as bringing first aid to soldiers on the battlefield. After the Great War is over, Rin Tin Tin returns home with Duncan and goes on to star in 14 feature films from 1920 - 1931 and was considered to be one of Hollywood s top movie stars.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Legendary Dog is Back\\n\\nReview: Rin Tin Tin is one of the most popular legendary dogs often compared with Lassie, Hachi. The dog is best known as the Hollywood star dog appearing in a number of films during 20s and 30s. This Rin Tin Tin, however, is loosely based on real story. But besides the fact, that the German Shepherd was found in France during World World I by American Battalion soldiers and sent to the U.S. The exploits shown in this film are most totally a fiction. (Saving a penny is the biggest reason, I guess). The film captures the good ol' film style during the golden age of the Hollywood reminding me of Keaton and Chaplin.\\n\\nIt is very entertaining film for the dog lovers.\",\n \"Product: SUPERNATURAL BY SANTANA\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Impressed More By Spanish Tracks\\n\\nReview: Supernatural is one of the best selling albums of 1999. It is a great album. But escaped from my annual top 10.\\nThis album is marked by good mix of Spanish and English songs. That itself is cool, because even Julio Iglesias tried to sing most of the tracks in English when he tried to bust out multimillion selling albums. English tracks are not bad and Smooth and Put Your Lights On surely rocks. Other English language tracks are either Ok to so-so. But Spanish language tracks are really excellent particularly Africa Bamba and Migra which will sure to become great source for learning Spanish. Overall three and a half for English tracks and five stars for Spanish tracks. Calling may be great for live but a bit too long for ordinary music fans like me particularly when listening in CD.\",\n \"Product: CD\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Wrapping up Billy Ocean's 80s Glory Days\\n\\nReview: Although this greatest hits compilation misses his early hits such as LOVE REALLY HURTS YOU and L.O.D.(Love on Delivery), it has almost every hit single he had produced during 80s from his album SUDDENLY, LOVE ZONE and TEAR DOWN THESE WALLS. It includes four No. 1 singles CARIBBEAN QUEEN in 1984, WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH, TOUGH GETS GOING in 1985-86 which was used as the theme song for JEWEL OF THE NILE, THERE'LL BE SAD SONGS in 1986 and GET OUTTA MY DREAMS in 1988. For music fans who love the music during 80s, Billy Ocean hits songs are definitely a part of it. Particularly I love LOVERBOY with some rockin' guitar solo. During mid 80s he and Lionel Richie are the kings of adult contemporary field. This album is a nice place to get to know him but I hope 2CD compilation may cover his early songs too.\\n\\nVerdict: Compilation covering hits from mid to late 80s.\\nRating: 90 out of 100\\nRecommended for 80s pop rock and classic soul fans.\",\n \"Product: GEFFEN 24217-2 DON HENLEY SEALED CD. Ships From FL With Delivery Confirmation. Box B\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Giving the Best Out of Eagles Vocalist\\n\\nReview: Don Henley is best known as the vocalist of legendary rock band, the Eagles. After the band broke up, he still managed to stay on top of the corporate music world through three solo efforts, Dirty Laundry in 1982, Building the Perfect Beast in 1984 and the End of Innocence in 1989. Among his solo efforts during 80s this album showcases his vocal appeal better than his previous works. Since most of the hit tracks from the album are ballads such as the title track co-written with Bruce Hornsby, THE LAST WORTHLESS EVENING, NEW YORK MINUTE and THE HEART OF THE MATTER, many music fans miss his blues rock track such as I WILL NOT GO QUIETLY, groovy track such as IF DIRT WERE DOLLARS, reggaeish track LITTLE TIN GOD. Five years after the huge success of this album the miraculous Eagles reunion followed. DVD version of 1994 Eagles reunion work HELL FREEZES OVER you can listen to Eagles version of THE HEART OF THE MATTER.\\n\\nVerdict: The best out of the voice of the Eagles\\nRating: 96 out of 100\\nRecommended for: 80s pop and rock fans, Eagles and Don Henley fans.\",\n \"Product: 1983 album\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Asia's Second Is the Work of Art\\n\\nReview: With this second album Asia super band made up of progressive masters take the shape of its own. It is less glossy previous progressive form but more into melodic rock, which has been reaching its commercial peak. It became much more closer to American melodic rock masters such as Journey, Survivor, and Foreigner. Don't Cry its first single and The Smile Has Left Your Eyes its second single show their brilliant songwriting and the rest of the tracks are no less excellent. The Last To Know in particular is dynamic yet well-crafted melodic rock masterpiece track and John Wetton's persuasive vocal with brilliant chorus is just what true melodic fans would want. Just a bit of complaint to this version is the sound itself has been a bit murky to do this masterwork justice. Maybe remastering is required.\",\n \"Product: Survivor ~ Vital Signs\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Your Search Is Not Over Yet. Right, Jim?\\n\\nReview: Vital Signs is an absolute rock masterpiece of 80s and I like it far better than 80s gem rock counterparts such as Journey's Escape, REO Speedwagon's Hi Infidelity, Def Leppard's Hysteria, Whitesnake's Serpens Album(released in the U.S as WHITESNAKE), and TOTO's IV.\\nOpening track I Can't Hold Back shows what Survivor makes Survivor. It starts with acoustic guitar intro and then gradually becomes uptempo bit by bit then comes impressive Jimi Jamison's emoptional vocal of I Can't Hold Back part. And the song turns dramatically calmer and 1/16 second hush between \\\"Pictures of you and me\\\" and abrupt rush of \\\"AND...\\\" It seems like Jim have mastered the techiniques of Japanese martial arts.\\nAnd as you know impressive tracks goes on and on until I See You In Everyone. It's A Singer Not The Song is my second pick from this album. It is one of my favorite rock tracks of Survivor.\\nRecently Jim Peterik one of the founder of the band and main songwriter of Survivor left the band and became solo. He enjoys creating great songs with talented artists such as Kevin Cronin of REO Speedwagon, Don Barnes of 38 Special and Brian Wilson. You can find some of Jim's recent works in 38 Special's \\\"Resolution\\\", Lynard Skynard's \\\"Edge Of Forever\\\", Brian Wilson's \\\"Imaginator\\\" Fergie Fredericksen's \\\"Equilibrium\\\" Captive Heart's \\\"Home Of The Brave\\\" , \\\"Two Fires\\\" and his recent solo work \\\"Jim Peterik and World Stage\\\". Jim has just joined Two Fires led by Kevin Chalfant but I do hope Jim will return to Survivor where Jim's Search Should Be Over.\",\n \"Product: Winwood outdid his earlier '80s success with his biggest album ever, this #1 smash from '88. He fused melodic pop-rock with soulful R&B, scoring the hits Don't You Know What the Night Can Do?; Holding On; Hearts on Fire , and the #1-hit title tune!\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: What An Adult Rock Can Do\\n\\nReview: Although being hard rock fans for a long time, sometimes I need time to relax a bit. Particularly at night. In that occasion I turn to Dan Forgelburg, Inside Job(Don Henley), Jackson Browne and Steve Winwood.\\nAm I a minority that thinks Talking Back To The Night is the best Steve Winwood album I have heard so far? Roll With It is nearly as good as that masterpiece. If your first encounter with Steve Winwood is Back In The High Life it might be true that this album sounds bland. But the rest of five tracks which didn't become singles are great in its own right. Particularly I like Put On Your Dancing Shoes a lot.\\nThis Steve Winwood has subtle beauty and that is what adult rock is all about.\",\n \"Product: Truly The Love Songs by Lionel Richie\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Finest Love Songs from Lionel Richie Solo + Commodores\\n\\nReview: Lionel Richie's 1997 compilation includes some of the Commodore hits such as STILL, THREE TIMES A LADY, EASY, OH NO, EASY, and SAIL ON. Of course it has major Lionel Richie ballad hits such as HELLO, STUCK ON YOU, ENDLESS LOVE SAY YOU SAY ME and TRULY. His ballad extended the genre called Adult Contemporary. His songs also appealed to wide range of music fans including rock, soft rock, pop and rhythm and blues. And even some country rock fans. His music with adult audience appeal was often compared with Kenny Rogers, the king of country music. Most of the song included here are before 1992 compilation BACK TO FRONT. To fans seeking newer material this one may not have given huge satisfaction. It is a nice start for Lionel Richie music.\",\n \"Product: Bon Jovi These Days Canadian CD album\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Bon Jovi in Mid 90s\\n\\nReview: Bon Jovi is a veteran rock band from New Jersey to celebrate 30th anniversary of their debut release in 1984 and is known by a number of great hits such as LIVIN' ON A PRAYER, ALWAYS, YOU GIVE LOVE A BAD NAME, BED OF ROSES. After they put out some ballad hits such as BED OF ROSES, and ALWAYS, they reorganized their rock style into more modern and acoustic to fit in the tide of music trend these days. So if your favorite Bon Jovi album are early three albums and No. 1 hit LIVING ON A PRAYER, it will be hard for you to like this album. The album aparently lacks hit producing catchy tracks for sure. HEY GOD is a fine rocking track though it sounds more like NICKELBACK or FOO FIGHTERS. DAMNED is another great rockin track.\\n\\nVerdict: Bon Jovi into 90s rock sound\\nRating: 80 out of 100\\nRecommended for: 90s rock fans who also like Goo Goo Doll, Nickelback and Foo Fighters. Post Cross-Road Bon Jovi fans.\",\n \"Product: LEVEL 42 LEVEL BEST\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Essential For UK Pop Fans\\n\\nReview: Level 42 is one of the greatest UK pop bands during 80s but they could only make a few hits in the US such as SOMETHING ABOUT YOU, LESSON IN LOVE, HOT WATER, and RUNNING IN THE FAMILY. Their music style is often compared with Earth Wind and Fire excellently blending Jazz element with power pop. They are what TOTO to the American music is to UK pop rock. They also show an excellent guitar solo a bit rare for UK pop bands.\\n\\nUS hits SOMETHING ABOUT YOU, LESSONS IN LOVE of course are no doubt some of the best during their career but the compilation introduces a lot more of their great music. LEAVING ME NOW, my #1 favorite songs from them is an excellently made ballad. HOT WATER shows funky side of their music. CHINESE WAY shows their huge interest in Chinese ancient legends and the way people at that time treasured righteousness. I bet they love The Romance of Three Kingdoms legend. MICRO KIDS shows some sarcacism on modern kids dependent on techno gudgets. As a Japanese I am glad they chose Mt. Fuji as the jacket cover for this compilation. (I guess it is taken from Hakone).\\n\\nVerdict: Well-done job to introduce their music to American music fans.\\nRating: 93 out of 100. One of the finest compilations ever.\\nRecommended for: UK pop fans who love Pet Shop Boys, Duran Duran Tears For Fears and Outfield, A-ha appreciators as well as 80s pop fans in general.\",\n \"Product: Journey ~ Infinity\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Welcome Aboard Steve Perry!\\n\\nReview: Steve Perry joined Journey as a lead singer from the band's fourth album in 1978. Since Steve Perry joined the band Journey would see the glorious career which would continue until mid 80s. The new singer with passionate crystal-clear high-tone vocal changed the band for the better. With the exception of LA DU DA and CAN DO(hustler variation) which see the last album's prog sound, most of the tracks are quite new showing that Steve Perry extended the band's music and made the band's music more attractive for ordinary music fans. Particularly Steve did well in power ballads that paved the way for the rock bands to commercial success. LIGHTS, ANYTIME, WHEEL IN THE SKY are the gem tracks. In this album Steve did not entirely sing lead solo and some tracks share the vocal parts with Gregg Rolie such as ANYTIME, FEELING THAT WAY. WINGS OF MARCH starting as ordinary ballads belies their rockin' spirit shown in agressive interlude in mid part. This is not only nice album to add for Steve Perry fans but for Gregg Rolie fans that like Storm or Abraxas Pool materials.\",\n \"Product: JOURNEY Next CD\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Expedition To Pre-Perry Journey\\n\\nReview: It is like jumping into completely different world. The difference between Journey until Next and after Infinity is not just a vocal change from Gregg Rolie to Steve Perry. The sound heard in Next is avant-garde vivid, mythic, dynamic rock we have probably never heard before. Rock music like no other. Spaceman is a most catchy song reminiscent of early Chicago rock. Here We Are after careful listening you will find that it serves somewhat prototype of later Journey hits such as Lights and Touching, Squeezing... if you just imagine that the arrangements are more upbeat. The opening riff of Next is really familiar for 80's Journey fans. I do not know if Journey fans that are used to Steve Perry vocal will like this one, but you will find it refreshing and invigorating in different manner after repeated listens.\",\n \"Product: Toto ~ Toto\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Well Representing What Was Hot in 1978\\n\\nReview: Toto's debut album is really the representation of the era. The opening track Child's Anthem is a thrilling progressive hard rock track which were sort of rock trend in those days. \\\"Hold The Line\\\" and \\\"I Will Supply the Love\\\" shows the upcoming trend of pop hard rock which would eventually become the mainstay during 80s.\\n\\\"Georgy Porgy\\\" is the closest to what most 80's fan may think closest to \\\"Toto\\\" :very nice jazz flavored song. It even has Earth Wind and Fire styled song \\\"You Are The Flower\\\" and disco styled \\\"Girl Goodbye\\\". And melancholic Ambrosia styled ballad \\\"Talking It Back\\\" and Boz Scagg's \\\"Look What You've Done To Me\\\" styled \\\"Angela\\\" (later dramatic turn is what made Toto \\\"TOTO\\\").\\nSo the debut has the whole air of 1978 music. But it is no wonder. They are originally session musicians who worked for other people's works. And they still have been so. They need more releasses to acquire their identity. So if you are blaming their recent album for just cover songs, take this one. And your view of Through The Looking Glass may be different.\",\n \"Product: Toto ~ Toto Iv\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Melodic \\\"Jazz\\\" Rock Captures Grammy\\n\\nReview: Toto's fourth album in 1982 that saw both commercial and artistic success is my third favorite Toto album following The Seventh One, Tambu. Toto in previous albums tried to show themselves as progressive hard rockers just like Kansas, Styx, Boston, and Journey. Hydra in 1979 in particular is such a stuff. In Toto IV, jazz element has given more space than the predecessors. Their modification was paid off, putting Porcaros' outstanding rhythm section maximum use. ROSANNA and AFRICA are such jazzy gems that endowed them with crossover appeal. It must be noted, however, they actually didn't give up on melodic hard rock sound as seen in latter part of the album such as AFRAID OF LOVE and LOVERS IN THE NIGHT.\\nTo sum up, they jazzed up their sound while retaining melodic pop appeal rivalling Foreigner, Kansas, Styx and Journey. To Toto fans surprise, however, commercial success cost the band the key members such as Bobby Kimballs and David Hungate. The band could go on with the new lead singer that was credited as the background vocalist of their 1982 Grammy condender album \\\"Eye Of The Tiger\\\" by Survivor. Yeah, that's Fergie Frederiksen, high-toned vocalist of Trillion and Le Roux.\\nRecommended for wide variety of pop music fans.\",\n \"Product: E ENVIA RAPIDO. FAST SERVICE. (SHIP FROM FLORIDA). NUEVO. USED ONCE. DISK HAS BEEN INSPECTED NO IMPERFECTIONS . ORIGINAL CASE & BOOKLET . CLICK OUR NAME TO SEE OUR STORE FRONT FOR MORE GREAT CDS, DVDS & BOOKS. IN ENGLISH & SPANISH.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Excellent Introduction To Heart Before 1984 Hit Sensation\\n\\nReview: Greatest Hits Live originally recorded in 1980 was one of my early CD purchases during early 90s but I happened to miss simply because it was dubbed as \\\"Live\\\" and I thought that was not I had been looking for. (At that time I was looking for Definitive collection of Heart including 80s hits). Time has changed and I happened to uncover this CD from the heap of my dusted CD collections.\\n\\nIt has nine best tracks from their early works such as Dreamboat Annie(1976), Little Queen(1977), Magazine(1978), Dogs and Butterfly(1978), Bebe Le Strange(1980). On the back jacket name of the albums the each tracks are from are shown. Then the album become live recording collection during August and September 1980 tour. Live recording of BEBE LE STRANGE takes place at the stage side where the chat among members before the show can be heard. Interesting intrigue. TELL IT LIKE IT IS is unusually not live but studio recording and became single cut from this greatest CD. And then the ending live performance is LED ZEPPELIN classic ROCK'N ROLL. Alas, it shows their rock spirit.\\nYes, it misses PRIVATE AUDITION(1982) and PASSIONWORK material to be the early Heart collection. But the timing for the release was excellent because it was made when HEART was at their artistic height.\\n\\nVerdict: It is no doubt Heart fans' essential and 70s rock fans' paradise. Showing well how HEART had been during their early prime.\\nRating: 88 out of 100. Well-edited (particularly Silver Wheel and Crazy On You combination just as their live performance) and consistent. Transition from studio recording part and live recording part has been done excellently.\\nRecommended for: Every Heart fan. Lots of 70s rock fans and the appreciators of recent Heart releases such as Desire Walks On(1993) and Jupiters Darling(2004).\",\n \"Product: 9 songs\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Solo Debut That Did Not Pan Out\\n\\nReview: Michael Bolton's debut album in 1983 is so-so enjoyable but is not so strikingly impressive as his later works such as Hunger.\\n\\nFOOL'S GAME is a nice rocker showing that Bolton used to be a hard rocker. That track ironically represents the album's flaw as well. Bolton has strong voice of his own that does not need strong backing music so there must be the delicate balance between the vocal and back music. On this track he must have restrained his voice to take the balance, that is hard for him to accept. SHE DID THE SAME THING TO ME did this really better. 4th track CAN'T HOLD ON, CAN'T LET GO. and the last track I ALMOST BELIEVED YOU have the ideal balance.\\n\\nAnother problem here is this is nearly self-produced and lacks professional assistance, his later work let other great songwriters make songs and Bolton could concentrate on his vocals which was the secret of his later success.\\n\\nOverall, this is the hardest effort for Bolton as a solo singer and for Michael Bolton fans who like his earlier hard rock days.\\n\\nVerdict: Transition from a hard rocker to an adult rocker.\\nRating: 64 out of 100, Enjoyable but not well produced.\\nRecommended for: Michael Bolton fans who want to get the brief picture of him as a hard rocker.\",\n \"Product: Toto Fahrenheit US CD album\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Pop Rock Approach Doesn't Fit For Them\\n\\nReview: During 80s pop rock album which sounds as if all tracks can become hits were sort of fad among hard rock artists. Some are successful such as Survivor's Vital Signs or Starship's Knee Deep In A Hoopla. But as far as Toto this is killing the very aspect of what Toto is. Although Fehrenheit is marked with excellent tracks such as I'll Be Over You, Could This Be Love, Till The End or Lea, as Toto I do not think they are showing what they are truly worth.\\nGrumbling aside if you are just pop rock collectors who likes Outfield's Play Deep, A ha's Hunting High And Low, Nelson's After The Rain it is a must for your collection because it is the most pop album of Toto I have ever heard so far.\",\n \"Product: Music From The Edge\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Most Missed 80s Duo\\n\\nReview: In music history bands and duos often break up during the peak of their music career. Wham! the duo by George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley is one of such cases. Music from the Edge of Heaven released in 1986 became the farewell album for North American music fans. Japanese music fans could have another one the Final released nearly the same time. The album serves as the transition from Wham to George Michael solo. While the Edge of Heaven and I Am Your Man is a typical Wham music, Different Corner, (single released as George Michael) and Where Did Your Heart Go are more of George Michael material. For George Michael the transition went well and his first solo Faith released in 1987 became a huge success. For Andrew Ridgeley fans, however, the things turned sour. Andrew only had one solo album Son of Albert in 1990. George Michael made four studio albums since Faith. Many of the materials from this album had already been released as singles so fans can enjoy the different takes. Nevertheless, it is a nice album to reminisce good old 80s music for sure.\",\n \"Product: [Note: This product is an authorized CD-R and is manufactured on demand]\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: More Worthy of Two Hits from the Album\\n\\nReview: 1982 compilation released in Japan around 1987 missed my favorite Dan Fogelberg song \\\"Language of Love\\\". So I searched the original album the song is included and finally got one. The album relased in 1984 includes two hit songs Language of Love which went to #13 and Believe in Me which went to #48. In this album Dan Fogelberg tried to modernize his sound to fit mid 80s trend when Michael Jackson and Madonna dominated the charts. Language of Love featuring crunching guitar solo in that regard was successful. \\\"Gone Too Far\\\" is also a fine rock track. But to me ballads or country-flavor tracks such as Believe In Me, or Sweet Magnolia remniscent of his hit song Same Auld Lang Syne impress me more.\\n\\nVerdict: Nice try for rock approach\\nRating: 91 out of 100\\nRecommended for: Late 70s to early 80s pop rock fans, country rock fans who love the Eagles, Jackson Browne and Willie Nelson.\",\n \"Product: Outfield ~ Play Deep\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: One of All-time Favorites\\n\\nReview: The Outfield's 1985 hit album lured me into the western pop music world much deeper. I bought the cassette version in 1985 because I loved their hit singles YOUR LOVE which went to #5 on the Billboard Top 100 and the follow up ALL THE LOVE IN THE WORLD which became top 20 hit.\\n\\nThe songs of the album are as great as the featured singles and particularly I love 61 SECONDS which should have been another hit. Most of the songs are upbeat, catchy and well-hooked. I regret I haven't had their following albums because now it is really hard to find them here in Japan.\\n\\nIf your most favorite music era is mid 80s particularly around 82-87. You must get this album. It is no doubt the most readily available album by the band.\\n\\nVerdict: Represents upbeat 80s\\nRating: 93 out of 100\\nRecommended for: Wide range of 80s pop rock fans\",\n \"Product: 1. Satellite \\n2. Karla With A K\\n3. Johnny B.\\n4. Graveyard Waltz \\n5. Fightin' On The Same Side \\n6. One Way Home \\n7. Washington's Day \\n8. Hard Rockin Summer \\t\\n9. Engine 999\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Hooters At Its Artistic Best\\n\\nReview: Hooters will be back! Surely it will this year 2007. Unfortunately most of 80s pop fans remember Hooters only through their debut Nervous Night in 1985 that produced two top-20 hits AND WE DANCED and DAY BY DAY. Though debut is an outstanding classic, if you really want to know Hooters, the second purchase might be this one ONE WAY HOME in 1987.\\n\\nWhile NERVOUS NIGHT pursued their pop rock side at this full length, ONE WAY HOME pursued thier own style of music probably inspired and encouraged by similarly styled great artists and bands they might have been touring with such as HUEY LEWIS AND THE NEWS and JOHN COUGAR MELLENCAMP. Opening track SATELLITE well represents the album tinged with good-ol' American traditional music and this reminds me of DISNEY PARADE MUSIC. JOHNNY B is the most popular Hooters songs in Japan and introduced in a lot of 80s-pop compilations. GRAVEYARD WALTZ is well-structured, dynamic and melancholic masterpiece track which requires repeated listens. FIGHT ON THE SAME SIDE in constrast is upbeat one though themed with Civil War era America. HARD ROCKIN' SUMMER is somewhat similar in style to JOHN CAFFERTY, hard-crunching rock song. ENGINE 999 is pure pop song extension of their debut album.\\n\\nVerdict: Hooters at this artistic height. Essential item to know Hooters.\\nRating: 94 out of 100\\nRecomended for: American music fans who also love American traditional music and fans of John Melencamp, Bob Segar, John Cafferty, Bruce Hornsby, Huey Lewis, and Bruce Springsteen.\",\n \"Product: 1. I Don't Want to Lose You \\t\\n2. Here With Me \\tListen\\n3. Roll with the Changes \\n4. Keep on Loving You \\t\\n5. That Ain't Love \\n6. Take It on the Run \\t\\n7. In My Dreams \\t\\n8. Don't Let Him Go \\n9. Can't Fight This Feeling \\t\\n10. Keep Pushin' \\t\\n11. Time for Me to Fly \\t\\n12. One Lonely Night \\t\\n13. Back on the Road Again \\t\\n14. Ridin' the Storm Out\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Solid Collection Which Stood The Test Of Time\\n\\nReview: REO Speedwagon is one of my favorite rock bands of all time. Whenever I listen to their music I just wonder how can they do it? Kevin Cronin has mellow voice which can easily turn into Christopher Cross or Air Supply clone. The band never let him do that with tight background music. Their great balance has shown in thier masterpiece Hi Infidelity in 1981. He really shows sweet voice which put out huge ballad hits such as Keep On Loving You, In Your Letter, and Take It On The Run but the band's excellence has more seen in rockier Don't Let Go. But his mellow voice turned thier back in 1982. Good Trouble was too much sugarcoated for hard rock bands like REO. So the decision of leaving out Keep The Fire Burning from this collection is a good one. Hard edge of REO came back a bit in Wheels Are Turning in 1984. Can't Fight This Feeling is a ballad of course but hard edged guitar solo as shown in Survivor or Journey power ballad proved that they are still rocking however sweet it may seem. Their 1987 hit That Ain't Love is well balanced song. But sad part is while they are trying hard stuff people still want mellow stuff like Here With Me or In My Dreams.\\n\\nRecently Kevin Cronin find solace in collaborating with Jim Peterik known by Survivor and Ides if March who also was an icon for Kevin to start rock band career. You can find his great voice in Jim Peterik and World Stage album.\\n\\nIf you miss hits such as Keep The Fire Burning, In Your Letter, and Live Every Moment and has extra money try Japan edited Premium best with nice package.\",\n \"Product: Audio CD\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Representing Upbeat 80s Rock\\n\\nReview: Loverboy is one of my favorite 80s rock bands and since I bought this compilation around 90 I liked them even better.\\nIt is well known that Bon Jovi emulated their fun roller coaster rock'n roll style and their third album Slippery When Wet was directed by the guy who did early Loverboy albums. Notorious, co-written by John Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora shows their influence given on BJ.(John Bon Jovi shows as their background vocals).\\nMy favorite tracks include When It's Over, Working For The Weekend, Notorious, Heaven In Your Eyes and This Could Be The Night. If you like 80s bands such as Journey, Survivor or Night Ranger you will be sure to enjoy this album. But why the track listing of Super Hits is almost the same as this?\",\n \"Product: audio cassette\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Journey: Steve Perry Era 1978-1988\\n\\nReview: When I was going on a picnic with a bunch of college kids around 1997. I heard Brian Adams song from the album \\\"18 Til I Die\\\" though their CD player. I was glad that the younger generation enjoy Brian Adams and talked to them \\\"Do you also listen to Journey?\\\" I shouldn't have said that. \\\"Sorry I don't know Journey at all\\\" came the reply which was really shock to me. It was the time Journey's comeback album \\\"Trial By Fire\\\" was released with huge chart success.\\nJourney was formed in 1971 by Neal Schon and Gregg Rorie who were the members of early Santana. Since Steve Perry joined with their fourth album Infinity they have been producing hits after hits. Their 1981 masterpiece ESCAPE sold more than 9 million copies in US alone and produced three top ten hits such as \\\"Open Arms\\\" their biggest hits so far. Frontier in 1982 became more keyboard featured and heavier than Escape but also produced three huge hits Seperate Ways, Send Her My Love and Faithfully. Raised On Radio in 1986 also produced five chart hits.\\nIn general Journey is more remembered by ballad hits on the radio than by their excellent production of melodic rock. I recommend this album or Essential Journey(songs from Trial by Fire included) for music fans who are new to Journey. If you like Bon Jovi, Def Leppard, Survivor(known by Rocky III theme Eye Of The Tiger) you can easily venture into their original albums such as Arrival, Frontiers and Escape. Good investment for modern alternative rock fans who love Train, Lifehouse, Vertical Horizon, Aerosmith, Bon Jovi, U2, and Goo Goo Dolls.\",\n \"Product: Japanese pressing of Firehouse's self-titled album comes with two bonus tracks, live version of 'Overnight Sensation' & 'All She Wrote'. Sony. 2008.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: The Fire Keeps Burning\\n\\nReview: Debut album of Firehouse in 1991 is one of my all time favorites. Just like vintage wine it gets better with age. I happen to miss this excellent rock album when this album was first released. I encountered with Firehouse when I listened to I LIVE MY LOVE FOR YOU in 1996. Since then this rock group captivates me. After I bought 3 where this nice rock ballad is from, Hold Your Fire(1992), Good Acoustics, O2(2001) and this debut followed. This album is no doubt the legend.\\n\\nThe opening ROCK ON THE RADIO is such a thrilling rock track somewhat like the combination of KISS, WHITESNAKE and BON JOVI. Then comes up the first of the catchy rocker ALL SHE WROTE. SHAKE AND TUMBLE is GUN's styled rock anthem. Then they shoot the killer power ballad, DON'T TREAT ME BAD. After a couple of nice rock tracks OUGHTA BE A LAW and LOVER'S LANE comes another heartwarming song HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS. Wow this band knows what makes great American rock. With the TNT like instrumental interlude SEASONS OF CHANGE, they burn up with the rocker OVERNIGHT SENSATION and the last perfect ballad LOVE OF THE LIFETIME.\\n\\nFor rock fans young and old this album can never be missed. Also check out their latest effort PRIME TIME.\",\n \"Product: Remastered reissue of 1992 album from Bad Reputation is a collector's edition in slipcase. Includes as a bonus 4 tracks from Down & Dirty Live - 'Boys Will Be Boys', 'Bang Bang', 'Groove or Die' & 'Naughty Naughty' plus the previously unreleased track 'Ro\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: D2's Best So Far\\n\\nReview: Danger Danger's second effort in 1991 established their very style wild yet refined solid rock. And it appeals to the general rock fans far deeper than the debut I bet. They tries to grab what it's like to be the kingdom of rock'n roll previously well sought by the number of rockers including Journey, Kiss, Def Leppard, Foreigner and Survivor. They blend the classic rock foundation with newer twists well tried by Gun's & Roses, Poison. Also Bon Jovi or early Lover Boy styled fun pop elements well tucked in.\\n\\nMONKEY BUSINESS well represents what such D2 rock is. It's catchy yet wild side rock is burned hot. SLIPPED HER THE BIG ONE pursues the wild side further and fourth track mellows with acoustic ballad well memorable and remnicent of similar styled Firehouse's LOVE OF THE LIFETIME. Then the next track roars with wild and aggressive rocker GET YOUR S##T TOGETHER which is also refained in the last track D.F.N.S. And their drive goes again in CRAZY NIGHTS an uplifting roller coaster rocker. EVERYBODY WANTS SOME is really a classic tone somewhat like WHITESNAKE. The next one DON'T BLAME IT ON LOVE again a taste of classic rock somewhat like BON JOVI and LOVERBOY combined. Then they surges with killer ballad Gun's and Roses might excel. COMIN' HOME. Then HORNY SOB is wow punk pop somewhat like GREEN DAY.It's incredible that they still charm us with the final ballad FIND YOUR WAY BACK HOME. Last two tracks can be treated just as epilogues and some listeners can skip them. In a nutshell, this piece of rock work could be the best the era might ever have got.\\n\\nVerdict: Underrated yet a masterpiece rock of 1991.\\n\\nRating: 97 out of 100. Without the last S##T tracks this could have been 100.\\n\\nRecommended for: Wide range of late 80s to early 90s rock fans who also love 80s and 70s classic rock.\",\n \"Product: On THE ONE THING, Michael showcases his powerful voice and songwriting expertise to full effect. \\\"I Said I Loved You...But I Lied\\\" is one of the best songs of his career. Understated and emotional, his poignant vocal expresses the one thing that the word \\\"love\\\" isn't strong enough to state: his feelings.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Soulful Piece of Work\\n\\nReview: This 1993 release from Michael Bolton is not as appreciated as his previous titles such as SOUL PROVIDER. Yeah I feel it is not as excellent as those. Not as commercial for sure. But if you listen to this one by one still great music goes on.\\n\\nMy personal favorite is SOUL OF MY SOUL fitting snugly with his vocal style. Dynamic power ballad I'M NOT MADE OF STEEL is also my favarote track. Michael Bolton is known by revitalizing classic hits such as WHEN A MAN LOVES A WOMAN. On this album he made an excellent cover of Bill Withers' classic LEAN ON ME. AIN'T GOT NOTHING IF YOU AIN'T GOT LOVE also has the taste of pure classic pop song.\\n\\nVerdict: Still the nice Bolton work.\\n\\nRating: 88 out of 100\\n\\nRecommended for every Sony's middle-of-the-road rock appreciator as well as Michael Bolton fans.\",\n \"Product: Limited edition Japanese pressing of this album comes housed in a miniature LP sleeve.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Including Blue Angel Days Tracks\\n\\nReview: Twelve Deadly Syns released in 1994 has still been comprehensive guide to Cyndi Lauper music. Interestingly though she let the compilation include two of the Blue Angel days' tracks I'm Gonna Be Strong and Come on Home by which you can enjoy the different color of Cyndi music. Particularly I'M GONNA BE STRONG is an excellent addition showcasing Cyndi's intensive vocal countering well with Bette Midler or Barbara Streisand. HEY NOW is the self-rendition of GIRLS JUST WANT TO HAVE FUN. But I feel this one just ruins the original and should have had a different song instead. Two of collaboration with HOOTERS works fine in this CD. One of which TIME AFTER TIME is the very song which gave the Hooters an opportunity to debut with amazing result. The more recent collaboration THAT'S WHAT I THINK is fun pop track and I also love this.\\n\\nVerdict: Great and Comprehensive compilation and has interesting approach to include unknown days tracks for fans. Well done.\\n\\nRating: 88 out of 100. HEY NOW contributed the loss of points.\\n\\nAlso Japanese version has three more tracks and that would add to the relative minus to this 14-track version.\\n\\nRecommended for: Wide range of 80s pop rock fans.\",\n \"Product: First CD issue of this album from 1983 by Kansas.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Kansas or Not It's a Great Piece of Work\\n\\nReview: 1983 Kansas album with melodic hard rock bent is as the title implies deviates from previous Kansas works. Gone are Kansas trademark sound. It is in a way extension of <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Vinyl-Confessions/dp/B000002ARS/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Vinyl Confessions</a> and this album got closer to what Journey, Styx, Foreigner and Survivor had been desperately pursuing for. Kansas even risked the band identity to create the gist of Album-Oriented-Rock.\\n\\nOne of the reasons why I bought this album is that I liked the opening track FIGHT FIRE WITH FIRE which is also a part of <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Best-of/dp/B00000I5Y6/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Best of</a>Kansas. In this hit track the use of keyboard is aptly restrained making the soaring high-toned vocal of John Elephante shine. EVERYBODY'S MY FRIEND is also a pop song but this does not deliver the appeal of the lead vocalist so well compared with the opening track. After nice tracks such as MAINSTREAM and ANDI, comes the track with dynamic progressive sound, GOING THROUGH THE MOTION. And after dynamic power ballad DON'T TAKE YOUR LOVE AWAY, thrill never dies until the last great song INCIDENT ON A BRIDGE.\\n\\nVerdict: Although this work cost the band its signature sound, the end result was very fine.\\nRating: 89 out of 100. With the exception of the second and sixth tracks the album is well-created.\\nRecommended for: John Elephante and Mastedon fans. Some Survivor, Styx, Foreigner and Journey fans. Kansas fans like it or not.\",\n \"Product: Born to Run Thunder Road The River 18 Tracks Total\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: America's Real Life Hero\\n\\nReview: Bruce Springsteen is an American hero in a different way from fictional Rocky Balboa. While the boxer shows his invincibility by beating one rival after another, our boss beats the music chart by his excellent songwriting and his heartful message. And he's only flesh and bone and even at his height he recognizes that his fame will not last long as shown in Glory Days. Bruce is and should be the icon for American's blue-collar mass and after 80s' glory days he returned with the place he belongs. He may not go on producing catchy hit-making songs but his Born To Run motto will stay. Besides hit tracks I like Atlantic City. A nice introduction to music fans new to the Boss. Curious music fans may dig in his 1973 debut. ...And a number of live collections.\",\n \"Product: Journey ~ Trial By Fire\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Consider This As Journey's Greatest Hits Vol. 2\\n\\nReview: Journey is one of my favorite artists of all time. And their 1981 masterpiece Escape is one of my all time favorite albums.\\nTrial By Fire is an outstanding album and it is almost comparable to their greatest hits album. But the year 1996 was still bad for melodic rockers like Journey allowing only one top 20 hit When You Love A Woman. But many music fans who haven't bought this album are missing too much great music. Message of Love remnicent a bit of Seperate Ways is outstanding rocker, and Can't Tame A Lion are magnificent uptempo pop rock, also missing are Steve Perry's masterful ballad works such as When I Think Of You. It had been a crime that such great songs had been neglected. So only way to have them is to buy this album. A must for Survivor, Journey and Two Fires(Kevin Chalfant band) fans.\",\n \"Product: Catalog reissue.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: The Essence of Bryan\\n\\nReview: This compilation in 1993 misses Bryan's two #1 hits All For Love and Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman after this release. Yet I strongly recommend this album for wide range of music fans young or old over Best of Me. It really has most of hits that truly show the very reason why he has been loved by tens of million of rock fans around the globe.\\nBryan Adams with songwriting collaboration with Jim Vallance debuted in 1979 and his third album \\\"Cuts Like A Knife\\\" in 1983 yielded three big hits and the 1984 follow-up \\\"Reckless\\\" exploded with six consecutive huge hits including his first #1 hit Heaven and super duet with Tine Turner in It's Only Love. And hit parade went on and on and now Bryan came back with Spirit soundtrack. Six tracks from Reckless, three each from \\\"Cuts Like A Knife\\\" and \\\"Waking Up The Neighbors\\\"(sort of Reckless sequel) respectively.\\nAlthough I had known most of the songs because I previously had Reckless, Into The Fire, and Waking Up the Neighbors, the songs to me are still fresh and consequently made me turned on CD player hundreds of times. Recommended for wide range of pop rock fans.\",\n \"Product: BRYAN ADAMS - YOU WANT IT YOU GOT IT - CD\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Jealousy(1981) Establishing His Own Style\\n\\nReview: Canadian rock legend who recently returned with long-selling soundtrack \\\"Spirit\\\" was unknown to the world in 1981 when this second album was released. Japanese label titled this JEALOUSY probably because it was the title of the single for Japanese release. His debut album is quite catchy pop music with varied style just as those of TOTO, Survivor. This album again is catchy power pop album but its arrangement style got closer to what we are well aware of. FITS YA GOOD is such great track which could easily be one of RECKLESS track. COMING HOME has close style of STRAIGHT FROM THE HEART, huge hit from his next album CUTS LIKE A KNIFE. ONE GOOD REASON is great showcase of his groovy stuff. Most amazing is TONIGHT. By this he almost established his own vocal style aptly using subtle keyboard arrangemnt with economized vocal part. So although it did not sell well it has full of hidden explosives that led to his huge success for twenty years.\\n\\nRecommended for early 80s power pop fans.\",\n \"Product: Certified Multi-Platinum (2 times) by the RIAA. (4/02)\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: A Great 1981 Album\\n\\nReview: Boy, the 1981 saw a number of great pop rock albums that remain music fans all time favorites. Foreigner released \\\"4\\\" , Loverboy did \\\"Get Lucky\\\" and Journey \\\"Escape\\\". The cars has been categorized as new wave band but music fans who love aforementioned bands also love this band and melodicrock.com follows this band's newest releases. The album produced two big hits SINCE YOU'RE GONE and dance-pop SHAKE IT UP but rock fans' favorite is definitely the fifth track CRUISER. With the vocal of Benjamin Orr, this rock tune turns out fine. Orr also did outstanding vocal on THIS COULD BE LOVE and THINK IT OVER. This album also has the original version of beautiful ballad I'M NOT THE ONE released as a single a few years later as a second single from THE GREATEST HITS. Shake it Up is no doubt an outstanding album.\\n\\nVerdict: Great early 80s pop rock music\\nRating: 91 out of 100\\nRecommended for: early 80s pop rock fans\",\n \"Product: Out of print in the U.S.!\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Jackson Browne with 80s beat\\n\\nReview: Today, Jackson Browne may be much more conspicuous as an anti-nuclear activist rather than a rock musician. He was one of the rock musicians who joined Musicians United For Safe Energy after Fukushima nuclear disasters in 2011. His 1983 album is overall upbeat 80s pop rock particularly the title track LAWYERS IN LOVE. But his upbeat music belies his cynical message just like his first major hit DOCTOR MY EYES in 1972. This album proved that upbeat rock and deep-down messages can go hand in hand and his longtime friend BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN made a megahit album BORN IN THE U.S.A. the next year to uphold this trend. It is true that this may not be his best album to date but I really enjoy this album. DOWNTOWN is his way of tribute to PETULA CLARK's SIGNATURE HIT of the same title. He took the same theme with much more reality to it. FOR A ROCKER the third single from this album mentions session musicians for his music such as CRAIG DOERGE, RUSS KUNKEL and DANNY KORTCHMAR. This album may be easier to get in for the starters who love his compilation works.\\n\\nVerdict: Jackson Browne with 80s radio-friendly beat\\nRating: 88 out of 100\\nRecommended for: 1983 album completists, and early 80s rock fans in general.\",\n \"Product: Bryan Adams was played a great deal on the radio in 1984/5; his music was the most radio-friendly rock to have been heard in a long time and where on earlier records Adams had spiced up his songs with traces of social consciousness, this set is back squarely in love-and-lust territory.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: The Return of Roughhouse Rock\\n\\nReview: Veteran Canadian rocker's sixth album in 1991 is the second most successful album for Bryan that put out four major hits such as CAN'T STOP THIS THING WE STARTED, THOUGHT I'D DIED AND GONE TO HEAVEN, DO I HAVE TO SAY THE WORDS, and (EVERYTHING I DO) I DO IT FOR YOU which was previously featured as the main theme track for Kevin Costner's \\\"Robin Hood\\\". Previous album INTO THE FIRE showed mature and adult rock side of Bryan but this one again tried to recapture the roughhousing rock vibe just like his most successful album RECKLESS in 1984. The most prominent example could be HOUSE ARREST with the lines from which the title of the album came.\\n Mutt Lange who also did Def Leppard's HYSTERIA was instrumental in adding glam feel to this album, less keyboard, and more guitar parts. IS YOUR MAMA GONNA MISS YA and HOUSE ARREST might have been the answer to glam metal turks popped out since the Guns' APPETITE FOR DESTRUCTION. DO I HAVE TO SAY THE WORDS, THOUGHT I'D DIED AND GONE TO HEAVEN, and VANISHING in contrast are the refined ballads but with solid beat just as Def's HYSTERIA ballads were. I also love ALL I WANT IS YOU and DEPEND ON ME. On the whole this album is filled with the great solid songs the reason I love Bryan Adams' music.\\n\\n*Re-reviewed in January 28, 2014\\n\\nVerdict: Excellent rock album with great sing-along songs\\nRating: 95 out of 100\\nRecommended for: Bryan Adams fans and late 80s to early 90s pop rock fans.\",\n \"Product: It hardly seems possible that, after 25 years of writing and recording hits and selling more than 15 million albums, Jackson Browne's never been anthologized. Includes two brand-new songs, plus 13 of his best hits, including Somebody's Baby; Doctor My Eyes; Running on Empty; The Pretender; Tender Is the Night , and more.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Not Yet Full But Close\\n\\nReview: The Next Voice You Hear, 1997, compilation showing Browne's excellent songwriting having heartfelt messages that heal our minds hurt by such wild world. It's true that this version misses some of the major hits such as LAWYERS IN LOVE and major songs that should have been there such as TAKE IT EASY, known by the huge hit by the EAGLES. This particular version further left out two tracks THE LOAD OUT and STAY recorded live that the version available in Japan have. That being said, this compilation excellently shows his message-driven songs particularly first half of country rock flavored songs are excellent. TOTO members also appears some of the tracks. DAVID PAICH plays the piano part in THESE DAYS and JEFF PORCARO plays drums in THE PRETENDER. Since RUNNING ON EMPTY his music became more rock flavored somewhat like EDDIE MONEY. Since mid 80s his songs begin to show direct anger toward Reagan Administration wielding military power to solve the dispute. Later that he become enchanted with easten philosophy as shown in LIVES IN THE BALANCE. Recommended for wide range of pop rock fans.\",\n \"Product: CD reissue of this 1987 solo album from the lead vocalist of Foreigner. Ready Or Not reached #27 on the Billboard charts when originally issued on Atlantic Records. 10 tracks including 'Midnight Blue'. Wounded Bird. 2010.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Feel of Early Foreigner\\n\\nReview: Ready or Not, first solo album by the lead vocalist of Foreigner in 1987 is one of my all time favorite rock albums during 80s.\\nWhile \\\"Agent Provocateur\\\" with glossy synth arrangement produced the band's first #1 hit \\\"I Want To Know What Love Is\\\" inconsistency as an album was obvious. This solo effort could be Lou's revolt against previous Foreigner album.\\nOpening track \\\"Ready Or Not\\\" has neatly tight arrangement, closer to earlier Foreigner stuff or Jim Peterik led Survivor. Heartache and Time are uptempo pop rocker reminding me some of earlier Foreigner hits such as \\\"Cold as Ice\\\" and \\\"Dirty White Boys\\\" respectively. \\\"If I Don't Have You\\\" is a typical Foreigner style album but the use of synth is quite restrained. \\\"She's got To Know\\\" is mid tempo tight pop rocker and my #1 favorite album track. \\\"Midnight Blue\\\" which became #3 is quite excellent pop rocker and may fit for Survivor's \\\"When Seconds Count\\\" appreciators. The rest is as excellent as aforementioned tracks.\\nHighly recommended for Foreigner, Survivor and Damn Yankees fans.\",\n \"Product: Cd > Popular Music > Rock & Pop\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Yes Collection for Non-Prog Fans\\n\\nReview: But it is a good introduction to an ordinary music fans who are not accustomed to grand scale prog masterpieces. As it was released in 1993 when people still remember the glories of 80s great melodic rock masters. And for most of music fans Yes was part of melodic rock history represented by Asia/Survivor styled hits such as Owner of A Lonely Heart, and Love Will Find A Way. If you like 80s melodic rock superstars such as Asia, Survivor, Journey, Styx and Foreigner, it is definitely a must have because it shows progressive rock was fathers to those bands. Particularly Yes influence is immense for the development of melodic rock during late 70s. My favorites from this collection include Survival(very melodic indeed!) and I've Seen All Good People and Leave It as well as No. 1 hit Owner of A Lonely Heart. Modern day prog appreciators who love Dream Theater or Transatlantic may, however, need different collections such as Classic Yes.\",\n \"Product: Their only album with Johnny Edwards as lead vocalist-originally released in 1991.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Unusual Foreigner But Fine\\n\\nReview: What's wrong with Foreigner without Lou Gramm? Maybe the band with a new singer will be hard time churning out \\\"Girl Like You\\\" or \\\"I Wanna Know..\\\" styled ballad hits. It lacks some brilliant blues-rock flavor mainly because of Lou's loss. Album is on the whole raw and sounding like the stuff before they saw the glorious debut or collection of secondhand B-side tracks of hit singles but listenable. I would give this album four or five stars if I listened to this album as by an unknown band say, \\\"Rengier of\\\". But I really find Mick's great contribution to this band through this album. My favorite tracks include \\\"When Night Comes Down\\\" excellent emotional ballad, nostalgic ballad \\\"Ready For The Rain\\\" having a bit of \\\"Blue Morning\\\" touch and \\\"Moment Of Truth\\\" a rocker similarly styled as \\\"Reaction To Action\\\" but much better than \\\"Reaction..\\\" Although some of the die-hard Lou Gramm fans or 4 or Agent Provocateur appreciators may hate this album, but I believe that it is OK release for most of 80's rock fans.\",\n \"Product: What A Fool Believes highlights this 1978 smash!\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Not just for Grammy-awarded Song\\n\\nReview: Doobie Brother's 8th album released in 1978 is best known by grammy-awarded #1 hit WHAT A FOOL BELIEVES and a number of hits such as MINUTE BY MINUTE and DEPENDING ON YOU. First four song which became single hit (Here to You from Greatest Hits Vol. 2), are great for sure. But the rest of songs are well-crafted showing how the band matured during 70s. Particularly I love 7th track SWEET FEELING with impressive additional vocal of Nicolette Larson. Tracks in the latter half of the album are blues flavored and not that catchy as the first four songs but it grows on me gradually minute by minute.\\n\\nVerdict: Last of good ol' 70s music\\nRating: 91 out of 100\\nRecommended for: late 70s pop music fans in general\",\n \"Product: Chicago ~ Chicago 18\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: If only Peter Cetera Had Been There!\\n\\nReview: 18 is the least impressed Chicago album during 80s for me. One of the biggest reasons is no doubt absence of Peter Cetera who fit perfectly well for Chicago under David Foster directorship. New lead singer Jason Scheff was doing fine but unfortunately the materials for 18 was prepared for Peter Cetera and Jason had been undergoing uphill battle for being constantly compared with the former lead singer. Overall material sounds like the second helping of Chicago 17 and few adventures had been carried out except for the newer version of \\\"25 or 6 to 4\\\". Jason's finest moment could be IT'S ALRIGHT giving new Chicago another hope. 18 in retrospect was a transitional work before the new singer can come up to what he is truly worth. 19 in contrast is in my opinion the best Chicago material with Jason Scheff vocal. IF SHE ONLY HAD BEEN FAITHFUL could be the best track of this album.\\n\\nVerdict: First Chicago album under Jason Scheff vocal\\nRating: 81 out of 100\\nRecommended for: Post-Cetera Chicago fans.\",\n \"Product: Chicago ~ Night & Day\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: The Roots of Chicago\\n\\nReview: Chicago's Twenty Third (22nd Stone of Sisyphus being unreleased) became a sort of tribute album to so-called Big Bands (some famous of which are orchestras by Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller, and Duke Ellington) which were the icons for most of the band members during their youth. The band's signature horn arrangement and its insistence also came from such Big Bands.\\n\\nIt is not regular rock and pop Chicago but could be a nice respite for Chicago fans. And a nice introduction to Big Bands made by one of the most successful American pop rock band.\\n\\nHighlights include tightly arranged CARAVAN, MOONLIGHT SERENADE with excellent chorus and SOPHISTICATED LADY which can even have a place in their regular albums.\\n\\nVerdict: A nice introduction to Big Bands\\n\\nRating: 78 out of 100\\n\\nRecommended for: Chicago fans and the fans of Big Bands and wide range of good music fans.\",\n \"Product: .\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Mark Knopfler's Dire Straits Days\\n\\nReview: Money For Nothing is the first compilation album for Dire Straits the band led by Mark Knopfler. The band spanned from 1977-1995 and since the band broke up Mark Knopfler have released some solo albums to this day. The album includes most of their major hits except SO FAR AWAY which went to #19 in Billboard Hot 100. US version also misses SOLID ROCK included for extra track for Japanese version. I love SOLID ROCK so much that I hope newer edition will have this song, too. Most of the music fans who love 70s and 80s pop songs might be familiar with SULTANS OF SWING, MONEY FOR NOTHING, WALK OF LIFE. Other songs included here may take some time to sink in. ROMEO AND JULIET, and TUNNEL OF LOVE are my favorite among less known tracks.\\n\\nVerdict: Good compilation to wrap up Mark Knopfler's Dire Straits days\\nRating: 85 out of 100. Missing some great tracks to be included.\\nRecommended for: Mark Knopfler fans and some of late 70s to 80s pop fans in general.\",\n \"Product: Chicago ~ Chicago 17\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: The Last Chicago Album for Peter Cetera\\n\\nReview: This masterpiece album in 1984 was created by the band carrying the name of the very city that nurtured a great number of talented musicians such as Jim Peterik of Survivor, Kevin Cronin of REO Speedwagon, Styx, Cheap Trick, Kevin Chalfant(Storm) and Fergie Frederiksen(Toto's vocalist in Isolation). Chicago started as a rock band featuring the horn section. But since 1977 super hit IF YOU LEAVE ME NOW, the band turned to adult oritented rock and 1982 album XVI with HARD TO SAY I'M SORRY is the culmination of the direction.\\n\\n17th album is the fruit of Peter Cetera and David Foster collaboration and ballad hits such as HARD HABIT TO BREAK and YOU'RE THE INSPIRATION are some of my all time favorite songs. But the album contrary to the general image is their effort to the rock return rivaling Kevin Cronin led REO Speedwagon and Jim Peterik led Survivor. The telltale proof of it is the leading single STAY THE NIGHT tight catchy rock song. And fourth single ALONG COMES THE WOMAN featuring high-toned edgy vocal by Perer Cetera. HARD HABIT TO BREAK is of course along the line of IF YOU LEAVE ME NOW and HARD TO SAY I'M SORRY but possibly inspired by KEVIN CRONIN's power ballads in HI INFIDELITY, the arrangement is tight and guitar insert in latter part is impressive. If allowed the band might have made much more heavy album but must have deterred by record company that want more ballads like HARD TO SAY I'M SORRY. REMEMBER THE FEELING is another memorable power ballad also with tight arrangement. Soulful tracks are also memorable such as WE CAN STOP THE HURTING, ONLY YOU and PLEASE HOLD ON. The last track ONCE IN A LIFETIME is possibly the prototype of Peter Cetera's solo hit THE GLORY OF LOVE used for KARATE KIDS PART 2.\\n\\nVerdict: Shows the glory of FOSTER/CETERA days\\nRating: 96 out of 100. One of the finest 80s albums.\\nRecommended for wide range of 80s pop rock fans.\",\n \"Product: FLEETWOOD MAC TANGO IN THE NIGHT\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: The Last of The Band's Golden Line-up\\n\\nReview: Tango In The Night is the fourteenth original album released in 1987 by the UK pop rock band best known by its superhit album THE RUMOR in 1977 . This was also the last album that the band's key members Lindsey Buckingham, Stevie Nicks, and Christine McVie got together. After the band released MIRAGE in 1982, the band broke apart and each member released their solo albums. Particularly Stevie Nicks made successful albums one after another. So the news that the band would make a new album with three main members together was just incredible for music fans at that time and it turned out to be a nice way to celebrate the band's 20th anniversary.\\n\\nIndeed the album is filled with such festive mood, enough to blow away the scandals around them. Lindsey's made a great job to organize three different talents' works and put them together as a consistent album and not just the sums of their solo works. Particularly BIG LOVE and the last track YOU AND I PART II share the same rhythm giving the album lasting impression after listening. Although the vocal performance of Christine McVie is brilliant particularly LITTLE LIES and EVERYWHERE, Stevie Nicks also did great in SEVEN WONDERS and WELCOME TO THE ROOM, SARA. I wish Stevie had more participation in this one. TANGO IN THE NIGHT tries Latin rock approach. Non-hit tracks such as CAROLINE, MYSTIFIED, and FAMILY MAN are also excellent. Unfortunately after the album release Lindsey left the band and the albums after that such as BEHIND THE TUSK(1990), TIME(1995), and SAY YOU WILL(2003) never won the appreciation as much as this work had.\\n\\nVerdict: Last of Great Line-up. Very enjoyable.\\nRating: 95 out of 100\\nRecommended for: 80s pop rock fans.\",\n \"Product: Chicago 21 Chicago 1.Explain It to My Heart 2.If It Were You 3.You Come to My Senses 4.Somebody Somewhere 5.What Does It Take 6.One from the Heart 7.Chasin' the Wind 8.God Save the Queen 9.Man to Woman 10.Only Time Can Heal the Wounded 11.Who Do You Love 12.Holdin' On\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Another Great Chicago Album\\n\\nReview: How can a long-careered band keep on creating great music without becoming stifle? Twenty 1 in 1991 is such a challenge.\\n\\nOverall they try to erase out Peter Cetera influence during 80s and get back to their rocking 70s. Ron Nevison who directed 19 did the great job on reconstructing what they are great at. TELL IT TO MY HEART and ONE FROM THE HEART has quite classic feel. New vocalist Jason Chef brings freshness as shown in GOD SAVE THE QUEEN. It is quite similarly styled with LA MOVIES from legendary rock project Radioactive in 1991 just uncovered recently. Jeson Scheff was part of such grand project together with David Foster, Jeff Porcaro and Fergie Fredericksen.\\n\\nIt is lamentable, though that since then Chicago have released mostly greatest Hits packages with the exception of Night And Day.\\n\\nRecommended for 80s pop rock fans.\",\n \"Product: CD Album\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Belinda Rocks The World\\n\\nReview: Former Go-Go's vocalist's second solo in 1987 is truly the album made in heaven. It is also well-produced one. Title track HEAVEN IS A PLACE ON EARTH became #1 so this album has been remembered by this huge hit but album has more of great sing-along tracks. Started her music career as a punker some of the track choice is really punkish as shown in I FEEL FREE or NOBODY OWNS ME. GO-GOs styled FOOL FOR LOVE will get your feet dancing. Great songwriters adds the album grace such as Diane Warren penning I GET WEAK which became another huge hit.\\n\\nMust-have album for female vocalist connoisseurs and highly recommended for Avril Lavigne, Michelle Branch, Carly Simons\\n\\nand Alanis Morissette fans.\",\n \"Product: Richard Marx ~ Richard Marx\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Nice Hit Producing Debut Album\\n\\nReview: Richard Marx's self-titled debut in 1987 was sensational indeed. He kept on making hits starting from Don't Mean Nothing, Endless Summer Nights, Should've Known Better, and Hold On To The Night which became his first #1. But when I heard his album at that time I didn't think that he continue to get on the hit road for another 5 or 6 years. As an album as a whole some of the song is catchy and excellent as the all first five tracks of the album but after Have Mercy only memorable track is Heaven Only Knows. It is a good album but most of my favorite tracks became already hits and you can listen to them by Greatest Hits. Lonely Heart is excellent though. Recommendable for 80s rock fans, who want to know him more other than Greatest Hits.\",\n \"Product: Abraxas Pool is a 1997 album by ex-Santana members Mike Shrieve, Neal Schon, Gregg Rolie, Jose 'Chepito' Areas, Alphonso Johnson, and Mike Carabello.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Almost As Enjoyable As Supernatural\\n\\nReview: Imagine you play \\\"A Million Miles Away\\\" to teenagers and make them guess who are singing. Some would say\\\"Enrique?\\\" and others might say \\\"Ricky!\\\" and finally a lad concludes \\\"No, it's Santana\\\".\\nSuch was almost unthinkable in 1998 when this album was released. Naturally this CD was exclusive for old Santana fans or some of the Neal Schon appreciators. Now this fantastic album should be open to wider range of music fans.\\nComparing this with Supernatural, Neal's guitar is more straightforward than that of Carlos's and Carlos has the edge on hypnotic solo as in Migra. Songwriting is superb and it has great standard latin pop tracks such as Baila Me Cha-Cha(my #1 favorite), Waiting For You which has the similar style of Black Magic Woman, and Don't Give Up is great uptempo pop track which might have been a huge hit. Guajirona is an excellent track as well. Overall songwriting itself has Neal's advantage. So as far as the number of stars both have four.\\nRecommemdable for wide range of music fans who enjoy both melodic rock and latin rock music.\",\n \"Product: Huey & The News Lewis ~ Sports\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Just Before Power of Love\\n\\nReview: Huey Lewis and the News' 1983 release has been the band's biggest commercial success to date with four top 10 hits (The Heart of Rockn' Roll, Heart and Soul, I Want A New Drug, If This Is It) and one top 20 hit (Walking On The Thin Line). Indeed this album on the whole is all-pop album with a bit of heavier edge. Right After this hit parade they made #1 hit with Back To The Future theme song POWER OF LOVE.\\n\\nThe Opener THE HEART OF ROCKN' ROLL starts with upbeat heart rhythm giving tribute to the places where the great rockn' roll music was born. HEART AND SOUL is their trademark rock sounds with rhythm and blues flavor. BAD IS BAD and HONKY TONK BLUES also are nice blues flavored tracks. I WANT A NEW DRUG tries heavier rock sound with an excelellent guitar solo. WALKING ON THE THIN LINE blends techno pop beats while IF THIS IS IT nicely mixes blues and power ballad with guitar solo.\\n\\nVerdict: Typical 80s All-Hits Album but an excellent one.\\n\\nRating: 92 out of 100\\n\\nRecommended for wide range of 80s rock fans\",\n \"Product: Unique Collection from 1994 Compiles their Hits plus Puts a Few Key LP Tracks Into the Mix.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Eagles In One CD?\\n\\nReview: No, never do this to one of the greatest band in history. The reason I bought this CD in 1993 to 4 was that I was lured by some of the tracks that Part I and II missed such as Tequila Sunrise or James Dean. If you are a decent music fan and know it well about how to appreciate music this compilation is the one to avoid. Nevertheless if you are new to Eagles and enjoy current artists like Backstreet Boys, Enimem Westlife or so it can be recommendable. At least buying Eagles is better than buying none.\\nMy favorite Eagles tracks of all time are included such as Take It Easy, Peaceful Easy Feeling, Desperado, One Of These Nights, and New Kid In Town.\",\n \"Product: Cassette edition .Out of Print and extremely rare.\\nTrack Listing\\n1.Jingo\\n2.Evil Ways\\n3.Black Magic Woman / Gypsy Queen\\n4.Oye Como Va\\n5.Samba Pa Ti\\n6.She's Not There\\n7.No One to Depend On\\n8.Open Invitation\\n9.Hold On\\n10.Bella\\n11.Winning\\n12.All I Ever Wanted\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Discover Santana You Did Not Know\\n\\nReview: The Best of Santana released in 1998 served as a premonition something wonderful might happen to a long-careered(more than 30 years)latin rock superstar. Before buying this CD I had known Santana only through the hits Evil Ways and Black Magic Woman.\\\"Santana? It's the band which were big thirty years ago\\\". That was the image I had toward Santana. I was wrong. The Best Of Santana told me Santana is a lot more than a collection of 70s hits.\\nThe hits parade Evil Ways, Black Magic Woman and Oye Como Va is great of course. But Santana's allure does not end there. Samba Pa Ti is a great melancholic instrumental. Hold On a great pop music. Winning and All I Ever Wanted. Is It Santana? The band rocks hard! Winning is a very ironic title probably directed toward Neal Schon, who left Santana in 1971 and formed Journey. Europa became superhit in Japan holding the record of the biggest selling single by a non-Japanese artist. If you love Supernatural you will love this band more through this best album.\",\n \"Product: Japanese Only Re-Release.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Forerunners of Melodic Rock\\n\\nReview: Trillion's debut in 1978 is too refined to be the debut. It is surely the masterpiece at the beginning of melodic rock era. They made progressive hard rock more palpable to ordinary music listeners. Their achievement can be compared to Kansas, Journey, Foreigner and Styx who then were running at the top of the game but Trillion was tragically underrated. This album was deleted for so long and left to be forgotten but thanks to Japanese music fans that want it back as CD form it was reissued in 1998 and both progressive and melodic rock fans can now enjoy it.\\nFergie Fredericksenfs high-toned voice gives this album fresh and feel-good atmosphere. My favorite tracks include catchy pop songs such as Give Me Your Money Money and Bright Night Lights. May As Well Go and Hand It To The Wind well represent the appeal of Fergiefs high-tone voice. Overall the album is lighter than TOTO's Isolation and Fergie's solo Equilibrium but as listenable as these melodic rock masterpieces.\\nToo bad he soon left the band. Maybe the bands like Styx or Survivor might have given Fergie fuller opportunity. Since then he moved from one band after another such as Re Loux, Toto, and a number of solo works such as Equilibrium. This year his high-tone voice can be heard again in excellent manner in Jim Peterik/Joe Vana project MECCA due around May.\",\n \"Product: All of Eric Carmen's Greatest Hits One CD! Includes songs including \\\"Hungry Eyes\\\", \\\"Make Ne Lose Control\\\", \\\"All By Myself\\\" and many more..\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: GONNA FALL IN LOVE WITH HIS MUSIC\\n\\nReview: During 70s and 80s there are a bunch of great songwriters which made memorable hits and Eric Carmen is one of them. Eric Carmen particularly during late 70s was really popular among Japanese Yogaku fans and he even appeared in Japanese TV show. He made a number of memorable hits such as ALL BY MYSELF, NEVER GONNA FALL IN LOVE AGAIN, and CHANGE OF HEART during 70s and HUNGRY EYES (from DIRTY DANCING SOUNDTRACK) and MAKE ME LOSE CONTROL during 80s. Most of the titles available for Eric Carmen are compilations and his original albums are hard to come by. If you listen to this compilation I am sure you will want to explore more of his music much more than his compilation works.\\n\\nVerdict: Nice Introduction\\nRating: 94 out of 100\\nRecommended for: Music fans who loves late 70s to 80s pop music.\",\n \"Product: Nelson (Rock) - After The Rain - Cd\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Nelson Twin's Sensational Debut\\n\\nReview: Twin brothers whose father is the late pop superstar Rick Nelson made sensational debut in 1990. LOVE AND AFFECTION became international superhit including Japan where their popularity lingers on even today.\\n\\nMatthew and Gunner Nelson created eight albums so far including compilation.\\n\\nAFTER THE RAIN 1990\\n\\nBECAUSE THEY CAN 1995\\n\\nIMAGINATOR 1996\\n\\nSILENCE IS BROKEN 1998\\n\\nLIFE 1999\\n\\nLIKE FATHER LIKE SONS 2000\\n\\nBROTHER HARMONY 2001\\n\\n20th Century Masters Collection 2004\\n\\n#Imaginator was to be released between AFTER THE RAIN and BECAUSE THEY CAN\\n\\n#Brother Harmony was produced between SILENCE IS BROKEN and LIFE.\\n\\nLOVE AND AFFECTION still is their signature hit but I feel it is overplayed and worn out. For me album starts from I CAN HARDLY WAIT nice catchy song. AFTER THE RAIN is the most impressive and this also must represent NELSON. I requested this song to local FM station twice while raining and right after the rain was over my requested song was on the air! TRACY SONG is a beautiful interlude to connect to the ONLY TIME WILL TELL another great song. DESIRE is the typical of Roller-Coaster rockin' style of the twin brothers.\\n\\nJapanese version also have two more songs TOO MANY DREAMS and KEEP ONE HEART. Serious Nelson fans should find it if any.\\n\\nVerdict: Catchy and well-directed debut.\\n\\nRating: 91 out of 100\\n\\nRecommended for 80s and early 90s pop rock fans.\",\n \"Product: CD\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Rick's Last 80s work\\n\\nReview: I happened to find Rick Springfield's 1988 album only recently. This is one of the mid 80s album I missed possibly because the album produced only one minor hit ROCK OF LIFE from that album and his first compilation was out shortly after that. I am really happy that I could get the lost gem. This album is really fantastic album. ROCK OF LIFE is great track regaining his early happy-go-lucky style. But this album is never another WORKING CLASS DOG, nor THE SUCCESS HASN'T SPOILED ME YET. Honeymoon In Beirut shows its mature side of him while the next song THE WORLD START TURNING, sixth track TEAR IT ALL DOWN show he can still rock hard. WOMAN, an excellent ballad is my top favorite of this album and my second favorite DREAM IN COLOUR comes next. HOLD ON TO YOUR DREAM is somewhat like the staff Phil Collins may be strong at but Rick can sing well for this classic pop styled song.\\n\\nVerdict: Forgotten 80s gem\\nRating: 90 out of 100\\nRecommended for mid to late 80s pop rock fans.\",\n \"Product: Music Audio CD\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Steve Augeri Back In 1990\\n\\nReview: Steve Augeri a Journey vocalist since 1998 has amazing voice having both traits of Steve Perry and Jimi Jamison(Survivor). He is also known as the vocalist of legendary early 90s band TALL STORIES. I am really lucky that I could get that rare piece of gem!\\n\\nDebut album of TALL STORIES sounds a bit like TWO FIRES debut a melodic rock classic by STORM's KEVIN CHALFANT. And the latter part sounds similar to HARDLINE. First four tracks really is classic early 80s JOURNEY sound. Particularly I love CRAWLING BACK which should have been their signature hit. Also I love the hard-edged guitar riff of CLOSE YOUR EYES. Guitar solo by Jack Morer in STAY WITH ME is just brilliant.\\n\\nVerdict: Journey/Storm/Two Fires fans essential.\\nRating: 92 out of 100\\nRecommended for: Journey, Survivor, Two Fires, and Pride of Lions fans.\",\n \"Product: KISS - CRAZY NIGHTS (RM) - CD\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Want To Know What \\\"Kiss\\\" Is?\\n\\nReview: Kiss's 1987 release has a number of songs that 80s pop rock fans feel they heard \\\"somewhere\\\". Yeah, that's produced by Ron Nevision at the helm of 80s pop rock albums such as Heart's 1984 self titled album and Survivor's 1984 hit album VITAL SIGNS. If you love the music of Survivor, Foreigner, Starship, Van Halen and Heart you will also love this CD. But for long time fans, I am not so sure.\\n\\nCRAZY CRAZY NIGHTS is wow just like SURVIVOR. I'LL FIGHT THE HELL TO HOLD YOU might fit better for HEART I think. BANG BANG YOU is really a pop anthem for KISS. NO NO NO is 100 percent kiss. Guitar riff is just excellent. MY WAY opens like VAN HALEN and extends like BON JOVI. My #1 favorite from this album. REASON TO BE has the very ballad style RON NEVISON loves. It has the best combination of Foreigner's I WANT TO KNOW WHAT LOVE IS and HEART's WHAT ABOUT LOVE. TURN ON THE NIGHT is another highlight and Kiss made this pop anthem really well.\\n\\nVerdict: Full of \\\"Heard-Somewheres\\\" but excellently done.\\nRating: 91 out of 100\\nRecommended for: 80s pop fans in general who is not familiar with metal works.\",\n \"Product: cd\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Best of Mickey Thomas Era\\n\\nReview: Starship is a long-careered band with its history dates back as far as 60s. Right after Nuclear Furniture album in 1984 Paul Kantner one of the original members left the band with the ownership of half of the former band's name \\\"Jefferson\\\". Since then their music direction turned toward more catchy pop rock as seen in Knee Deep In A Hoopla sounding similar to Heart(1984) or Survivor's Vital Signs(1984) with Mickey Thomas participating as background vocal. This album also invites finest songwiters at that time including Diane Warren, known for Heart or Michael Bolton works, penning \\\"Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now\\\", #1 hit from Mannequin soundtrack. Comparing with ...Hoopla, the sound became much edgier and closer to Survivor yet with pop-beat rhythm which makes the song memorable. Beat Patrol is a nice example of beat-pop. Ballads are super equipped with nothing's-gonna-stop-them combination of Mickey Thomas, high-toned emotional male vocalist and Grace Slick, one of the finest female rock vocalists ever born. Particularly I love Set The Night To Music nice slow ballad. Minor, less impressive tracks are fine as well such as Transatlantic. Overall this is the best they can get so far and unmissable.\\nEssential for Vital Signs and Heart(1984) appreciators. Good news for Starship fans is that Mickey Thomas will be back with his brand-new solo album.\",\n \"Product: This release moves boldly from the down and dirty groove of \\\"Electrified\\\" and the heavy Hendrix styled \\\"Static\\\" to the bright and bluesy \\\"A Rose Alone\\\". [Note: This product is an authorized CD-R and is manufactured on demand]\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Bluer Than Foreigner, Deeper Than Purple\\n\\nReview: Mr. Big is a pop hard rock band who has captured hearts of huge Japanese rock fans since their debut in 1989. They started as one of R&B flavored hard rock band but since they became popular among Japanese pop rock fans they turned their music toward more Bon Jovi styled rock. This album which again became huge hit in Japan is a bit back to their true self, pursuing what they really wanted to do with the new member Richie Kotzen master of R&B.\\nAlbum as a whole became less pop rock but bluer and deeper. Electrified is an great opener reminding me a bit of early Foreigner stuff. Superfantastic huge hit in Japan is great ballad which may overshadow To Be With You their biggest hit in 1991. A Rose Alone blues flavor pop rock is my #1 pick of the album showing their best extract. Hole In The Sun is a nicely funky stuff and you will love it if you like groovy sound represented by James Brown or Sly & The Family Stone. My New Religion my second favorite is another great ballad having great hit potential.\\nHighly recommended if you like blues flavored rock'n roll.\",\n \"Product: DION CELINE ALL THE WAY...A DECADE OF SONG\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Celine the Finest Extract of 90's Pop\\n\\nReview: 90's music will be remembered by excellent female vocalists such as Shania Twain, Faith Hill, Mariah Carey and Celine Dion. Celine is a versatile Canadian singer who can sing Broadway musical styled Beauty and Beast rock songs such as All By Myself (Eric Carmen cover) and It's All Coming Back To Me Now (my #1 favorite Celine song) and groovy Because You Loved Me. Personally I would like to hear more of rocky-edged songs but her dynamic vocal appeal is irresistible. Unlike any other compilations this has seven newer tracks including That's The Way It Is featured as single. This latter part of this compilation is somewhat similar in softer tone with latest A New Day Has Come. I am really glad that she came back and will enchant us for sure during this decade as well.\",\n \"Product: 76 minutes of \\\"thinking-man's metal,\\\" courtesy of Blue Oyster Cult! Includes all their hits- (Don't Fear) The Reaper; Burnin' for You; In Thee , and Shooting Shark -plus Godzilla; Joan Crawford; Black Blade; The Red & the Black; I Love the Night; Astronomy , and six more Cult classics.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: The \\\"Godzilla\\\" of Classic Heavy Metal\\n\\nReview: In Japan, Blue Oyster Cult is best known as the band who sang the song for Godzilla, well-known Japanese imaginary monster destroying the metropolitan Tokyo. Their biggest hit DON'T FEAR THE REAPER is popular here though.\\n\\nThe band started as heavy metal band just as their contemporary DEEP PURPLE, BLACK SABBATH. But during mid 70s they put their melodic hook to their maximum use and put out a number of catchy song such as GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS, GODZILLA and IN THEE. THE MARSHAL PLAN is from the live record mixing the riff of DEEP PURPLE's SMOKE ON THE WATER. SHOOTING SHARK also has the memorable hook but never become a hit.\\n\\nVerdict: Bruce Dickinson did an excellent job of extracting what they are best at.\\n\\nRating: 98 out of 100 One of top compilation favorites.\\n\\nRecommended for any classic metal fans. Also for Survivor, Def Leppard, Deep Purple and Meatloaf appreciators.\",\n \"Product: Japanese pressing of the 1999 & fourth album by Matthew & Gunnar Nelson, the successful hard rock duo formed by the late Ricky Nelson's twin sons. Features earlier availability than the U.S. release. 10 tracks.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: \\\"Vital Signs\\\" of the 90s\\n\\nReview: Nelson's \\\"Life\\\" is an essential 90s pop rock release for music fans who favor 80s great pop rock such as Survivor's Vital Signs, Hooter's Nervous Night, Starship's Knee Deep In A Hoopla, Mr. Mister's Welcome To The Real World or Outfield's Play Deep. And it is even better than their masterpiece debut album After The Rain.\\nThe difference between After The Rain and Life is obvious. In After The Rain the music was not theirs. They were basically performers. But in Life they created music of their own and it is hilarious.\\nMy #1 favorite is She Sheila. It reminds me a bit of Vital Signs/When Seconds Count era Survivor or 80s Bon Jovi. It is typical but best so far of Nelson twin's Roller Coaster Rock'n Roll. Everybody Cries Sometimes and I would If You Want Me To are excellent tracks as well. All tracks are excellent and having no fillers. You may not expect such a fine work these days from similar styled rock artists.\\nI would say it is a commercial album worth 10 million sales worldwide.\",\n \"Product: Japanese version featuring a bonus track: Deep Dark Secret.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Their Best and Last\\n\\nReview: It was really shocking news for melodic rock fans that Mr. Big one of the greatest American rock bands broke up. Now some of the members are doing fine in solos such as Eric Martin's I'm Going Sane.\\nActual Size one of the finest in 2001 has full of upbeat straight American rock'n roll with soul flavor. Particularly I love Wake Up, and Shine. For their fans who favor blues flavored songs this album privides excellent soulful ballads such as Arrow and Merry Goes Around. It even has darker modern rock flavored track Suffocation which beats most of current rock bands. Crawl Over Me is typical of Mr. Big's groovy rocker.\\nRecommended for wide variety of rock fans and a must-domestic-release.\",\n \"Product: First New Giant Album Since 1991's \\\"Time to Burn.\\\"\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: The CD's Price? \\\"Sky Is The Limit\\\"\\n\\nReview: Giant is one of the greatest find in a last few years. They produced the albums with great reputation during the late 80s and early 90s while I was almost away from American music with the exception of Bad English, Brian Adams and Richard Marx. (Sorry Giant was still not in my dictionary in 1992).\\nIt took no time before I love this CD. It is really an excellent combination of wildness and catchy aspect of hard rock reminding me of early Loverboy, Survivor and Foreigner. My #1 favorite is Love Can't Help You Now, which should become their comeback US hit. Sky Is The Limit that follows is great fun pop. Wow and their Robart Palmer cover \\\"Bad Case of Loving You\\\" is a nice case of covering Robert. If you love 80's rock, you will definitely love it.\",\n \"Product: Japanese Version featuring an Introduction Written by Mike Portnoy, the Drummer from Dream Theater.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Unlimited To Seasoned Rush Fans\\n\\nReview: Being new to Rush with this album, I found the album not easy to grasp at first. But as I listen again and again I began to feel elated with relatively catchy \\\"Ceiling Unlimited\\\" and Kashmir flavored \\\"Earthshine\\\". Particularly \\\"Ceiling Unlimited\\\" is what \\\"Owner Of A Lonely Heart\\\" is to YES, \\\"Smooth\\\" to Santana and \\\"I Don't Want To Miss A Thing\\\" to Aerosmith, all of which made old-rock fans faves closer to ordinary music fans. Songs like \\\"Ceiling...\\\" is what today's music need most...vigorous upbeat rock music. The album still have the area for core Rush fans such as \\\"The Star Looks Down\\\". It may not be extraordinary for casual Rush fans accustomed to their style but provides ordinary music fans with the joy of exploring the zenith of rock music.\",\n \"Product: Japanese 2002 release, their first in three years. With two bonus tracks added 'Kiss The Day' & 'Long Long Way To Go' (Acoustic). Please note these bonus tracks are also featured on the UK edition. 15 tracks in all.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Should Have Been Between Pyromania and Hysteria\\n\\nReview: Def Leppard's tenth studio album having catchy 80s power pop vibe is a nice album if you are a fan of the genre. It is surprisingly mellower extension of the last album, Euphoria.\\n\\nI had expected more hard-edged sound but I may have to wait that from the next one.\\n\\nGrumbling aside, it really have excellently catchy songs and you will be sure to love it if you love Def Leppard in the same manner as Survivor, Billy Joel, Aerosmith, Cheap Trick, and Electric Light Orchestra. But my best pick is not on those catchy gems such as YOU ARE SO BEAUTIFUL, UNBELIEVABLE, LONG LONG WAY TO GO, EVERYDAY but CRY, and SCAR.\\n\\nBest fit for mid 80's power pop fans but if you are looking for hard-edged DEF LEPPARD maybe you can skip this and wait for a new one.\",\n \"Product: Long awaited sophomore album for melodic hard rock act, the followup to 1992's Double Eclipse. The lineup includes original members Johnny & Joey Gioeli along with new additions Bob Rock (Nelson, Vinnie Vincent's Invasion), Josh Ramos (The Storm, Two Fires) & Michael T. Ross (Accomplice). Classic hard rock in the Whitesnake/Van Halen tradition. Highlights include 'This Gift', written & performed with ex-guitarist Neil Schon (Journey/Bad English). Frontiers Records. 2002.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: The Legend Is Back!\\n\\nReview: Although missing Neal Schon replaced by Josh Ramos another legendary guitarist of the Storm, Hardline's second album after a ten year break is as great as ever.\\nHardline was originally a band project by Geoli Brothers collaborated with Neal Schon who liked the band's concept and its hard-edged sound. Their 1992 debut album \\\"Double Eclipse\\\" is one of the finest melodic rock albums ever made. Now Neal is busy as a key member of rebanded Journey and with a number of rock projects including his own. Neal gladly wrote a song for them \\\"the Gift\\\" featuring his impressive guitar solo. My #1 pick from the album is \\\"Y\\\" catchy hard-edged song fit for huge radio airplay. Pop rock song \\\"Only A Night\\\" , excellent ballad \\\"Face The Night\\\", dramatic power ballad \\\"Hey Girls\\\" are excellent as well.\\nOverall they still live up to their legend and will attract a huge number of 80's rock fans' attention for sure.\",\n \"Product: Their 1983 crossover smash, a #5 LP with the #1 hit Owner of a Lonely Heart . There's also an unissued remix of that tune plus five other bonus tracks.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Progressive Rock Icon's Pop Effort\\n\\nReview: As the year 1983 right in the midst of \\\"The Second British Invasion\\\" era was going to end, music fans had very good surprises such as late John Lennon's posthumous top 10 hit NOBODY TOLD ME and progressive rock legend YES's unlikely pop hit moving up the charts. OWNER OF THE LONELY HEARTS which became the first #1 song for the band is very upbeat British rock anthem. The album 90125 indeed includes some radio-friendly songs such as IT CAN HAPPEN, LEAVE IT, and HOLD ON but instrumental track CINEMA is also memorable one winning the 1984 Grammy's Best Instrumental Track award.\\nThe success of Asia albums and Yes's 90125 paved the way for another prog rockers unit GTR later on.\\nI am not sure if die-hard YES fans love or hate it. But if you love 80s pop rock and also love early Asia works this album is a must-have.\",\n \"Product: 2004 kicks off with John & Geoff in the studio working on the follow up to Aura. Entitled /Silent Nation', the album is a deliberate return to the rock roots from which Asia was born. With solid rock tracks like \\\"Ghost In The Mirror\\\" & \\\"What About Love\\\", Silent Nation is poised to bring Asia's distinctive brand of music back to the masses. Silent Nation also heralds the first album released under Asia's new record label, Inside Out Music. \\\"Inside Out seems like the perfect home for Asia\\\" an enthusiastic John Payne beams, \\\"I can't wait to play some of these new songs live\\\". Silent Nation will be released in August of 2004.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: What About That Asia?\\n\\nReview: Having known Asia only through John Wetton trilogy ASIA, ALPHA and ASTRA, the latest of the band's release to me is listening to the different band. Not Asia I know. As title track and most impressive track DARKNESS DAY show that the arrangement no longer has Wetton days' upbeat rhythm. But just forgetting Wetton past and listen to this album as it is the greatness emerges a bit by bit.\\n\\nWHAT ABOUT LOVE the leading single is trying to regain their 80s rock just in vain. Not appropriate for the single choice.\\n\\nLONG WAY FROM HOME is close to 80's Asia upbeat one. Radio station might rather choose this one to introduce this album.\\n\\nMIDNIGHT is old and new Asia meet together. Excellently arranged and fit and represent the album concept pretty well.\\n\\nBLUE MOON MONDAY might receive split opinions I enjoyed this one but some of the fans might have felt boring.\\n\\nSILENT NATION is well themed one. Nice track with repeated listens.\\n\\nGHOST IN THE MIRROR is again upbeat 80s Asia but not full enough to convince old time fans.\\n\\nGONE TOO FAR should be the one track extensively played on the adult rock radio stations and Launchcast web station. Message is well expressed and very impressive and contributes very well to convey the album concept.\\n\\nI WILL BE THERE FOR YOU to me is a fan service track. That's fully 80s Asia.\\n\\nDARKNESS DAY also is well structured and fit to be extensively played. Very nicely mixes oriental mood.\\n\\nTHE PROPHET is moody and excellent emotional ballad.\\n\\nJACKET AND THEME\\n\\nAlbum jacket seems part of New York City (of course the 50s styled car and the passers-by are using models and production).\\n\\nSilent Nation refers to the United States of America. Very ironic.\\n\\nVerdict: Well themed and consistent album. But some of the first half tracks are a bit weak I think.\\n\\nRating: 81 out of 100\\n\\nRecommended for: Post Wetton days Asia fans. And Dream Theater fans.\",\n \"Product: All Around the World is a collection of hits from one of the steadiest selling artists in the world! Newly remastered by Jeff Lynne and including liner notes written by Lynne. 20 total tracks including 'Evil Woman', 'Turn to Stone', 'Hold on Tight', 'Showdown', 'Rockaria', 'Alright', 'Rock N' Roll Is King' and many more hits! Epic. 2005.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Nice E.L.O. Compilation for Starters\\n\\nReview: There are a number of compilations for Electric Light Orchestra, but this one seems to be by far the most popular among them. To me this is the third E.L.O. compilation. First one is <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/ELO-S-Greatest-Hits/dp/B0000025HO/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">ELO'S Greatest Hits</a> and 2CD <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Strange-Magic-The-Best-Of-Electric-Light-Orchestra/dp/B00138H86C/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Strange Magic: The Best Of Electric Light Orchestra</a>. But either of them miss my #1 favorite ELO song, ALL OVER THE WORLD. This compilation not only has the great song from XANADU soundtrack remastering is done by Jeff Lynne the band leader. Also it includes most of 70s and 80s hits such as TELEPHONE LINE, EVIL WOMAN, SHINE A LITTLE LOVE, DON'T BRING ME DOWN, TURN TO STONE, HOLD ON TIGHT, and ROCK'N ROLL IS THE KING. Some fans may miss CAN'T GET IT OUT OF MY HEAD, LAST TRAIN TO LONDON or OLIVIA version of XANADU but overall it is excellently done for single-disc compilation.\\n\\nElectric Light Orchestra is often categorized as Symphonic Rock sub-genre of Progressive Rock. One of their early hits include ROLL OVER BEETHOVEN, typical of marriage between pop rock and classical music. This compilation, however, focuses on hit tracks during mid-70s to early 80s when they were geared toward pop rock material. But even with pop material a bit of symphonic rock bent can be found such as THE LIVING THING.\\n\\nVerdict: Nice compilation to reminisce great 70s and 80s hits. Remastering of classic songs are excellently done.\\nRating: 94 out of 100\\nRecommended for: 70s music fans in general. Some Boston, Queen, Styx, Supertramp, Kansas, Moody Blues and 10cc fans.\",\n \"Product: Advanced Japanese release of the 2006 album from Toto. This is their first release of new, original material in nearly seven years, and is set to show off the amazing skill and power of one of the longest living names in rock and roll. Set to be a masterpiece. Japanese edition also includes the bonus track 'Reeferman'. Nexus.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Consistent and Refined Comeback Work\\n\\nReview: Toto's first original album in 7 years turned out to be the most refined and solid Toto effort since maybe the tragic death of Jeff Porcaro. It is somewhat similar to Mindfield back in 1999 but with more finesse and consistency.\\n\\nThe title track FALLING IN BETWEEN still contains the blues flavor as seen in Mindfield but it deeply penetrates our mind and keeps echoing our mind and soul. DYING ON MY FEET relieves us by trademark TOTO backing sound at the bridge part. BOTTOM OF YOUR SOUL became hit in Europe and Japan and has the typical grace of TOTO ballad. Rock tracks such as HOOKED and TAINT YOUR WORLD give ballads that comes after that much brilliance and NO END IN SIGHT strikes our mind well with Bobby Kimball's everlasting vocal appeal. And the album ends with the instrumental THE REEFERMAN that could be a nice spice in current tours.\\n\\nVerdict: One of the finest comeback efforts by 80s giants.\\n\\nRating: 91 out of 100\\n\\nRecommended for: Wide range of music fans as well as 80s pop fans.\",\n \"Product: Well-known all over the world for their hit song 'Eye of the Tiger' for the movie 'Rocky III,' SURVIVOR singles have since consistently topped the charts worldwide. These hits included 'Burning Heart,' 'Vital Signs,' and 'Is This Love.' Now, 17 years after their last studio album, Survivor are back with a brand new studio album. This album meets the great demand of the existing fans who have been asking for years for new songs that could continue in the legacy of the great sound the band created in the past! Frontiers Records. 2005.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Comeback Album For Wider Listeners\\n\\nReview: Long-awaited Survivor comeback album became more adult rock oriented than any of fans had expected but with fine twist.\\n\\nMost of the fans might be expecting TOO HOT TO SLEEP like hard-edged one. So fans may at first find it a bit soft and easy listening. Suppose this one was released right after When Seconds Count fans might more readily accept this one for sure.\\n\\nThe opener REACH is an upbeat pop rocker with message of hope which is what 80s Survivor had been very good at. FIRE MAKES STEEL is another pop rocker but with more blues flavor. Fourth track SECONDS AWAY will in future added in their Greatest Hit albums. It should be extensively played at adult rock stations.\\nTALKIN' BOUT LOVE is another excellent song with typical Survivor hook but surprisingly it is Frankie Sullivan on vocals.\\nHOME is emotional slow country rock flavored ballad.\\n\\nVerdict: Fine comeback album which attracts wider listeners than before.\\nRating: 89 out of 100. For lack of Jim Peterik they did a fine job.\\nRecommeded for: Wide range of 80s pop rock fans who love recent comeback albums by TOTO, Chicago and Journey.\",\n \"Product: 2007 release from the AOR outfit, their first studio album in nine years! Features original members Jack Blades, Jeff Watson, Kelly Keagy and Brad Gillis. From the guitar attack of the opener 'Tell Your Vision', reminiscent of Damn Yankees, to the grandeur of a power ballad like 'There Is Life', plus straight ahead rock numbers like 'Drama Queen' and the title track, Night Ranger's Hole In The Sun album has everything the fans could ask. Frontiers Records. 2007.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Even Harder Than 80s' Works\\n\\nReview: Night Ranger never ceases to surprise me!\\n\\nTo really enjoy the newest Night Ranger work in 2007 you have to forget their 80s works particularly first three masterpiece works, Dawn Patrol, Midnight Madness and Seven Wishes. It's crunching straight heavy metal reminding me of earlier Led Zeppelin works.\\n\\nTheir band developent can be categorized as follows.\\n\\nStage 1: Pop Metal Days 1982-89\\nAlan Fitzerland's pompous keyboard was the key creating synth-featured pop and melodious hard rock. Well seizing the trend during 80s. After their sixth and their first compilation in 1989 they called it quit.\\n\\nStage 2: Damn Yankees Days 1989-92\\nAfter the initial band dissolvement, the band leader Jack Blades organizes a new band DAMN YANKEES which failed to capture the glory of former band but two albums put out are no doubt the masterpiece. Wilder aspect of Jack Blades music was stressed out.\\n\\nStage 3: First Reunion 1997-99\\nThe band suddenly came to life again in 1997 by their Neverland release in 1997. Next year Seven followed well blending the element of both Danm Yankees and classic Night Ranger sound.\\n\\nStage 4: Solo Days 1999-2007\\nKelly Keagy, Jack Blades, Brad Gillis and Jeff Watson made great solo effort during the second break.\\n\\nStage 5: New Era 2007-\\nThe band is alive again and the sound is tighter and heavier than the predesessors.\\n\\nTELL YOUR VISION opens the album with heavy guitar riff. It is staright rock anthem comparable to Led Zeppelin's COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN.\\nDRAMA QUEEN could have been in cancelled DAMN YANKEES third album. I love this uptempo classic-Night Ranger and Damn Yankees blend.\\nTHERE IS LIFE is surprise. It is classic Night Ranger ballad reminding me of both SISTER CHRISTIAN and RESTLESS KIND. But in this heavy crunching album sounding really fresh. ROCK STAR is another blaster! It could have been given place for the soundtrack of the same title. BEING is another ballad but is it necessary? I really hoped they ended this album bombastically.\\n\\nVerdict: Night Ranger's great comeback with heavier development.\\nRating: 91 out of 100\\nReccomended for: Night Ranger, Damn Yankees fans and heavy metal fans in general.\",\n \"Product: Shinedown's highly anticipated third album, \\\"The Sound Of Madness,\\\" opens with lead single \\\"Devour.\\\" Its heavy onslaught of ripping guitars and relentless drums would not sound out of place on a Guitar Hero soundtrack. Of the album, frontman Brent Smith says \\\"in the seven years of this thing called Shinedown, I've seen a lot of different things - what we've all gone through on teh road, things in our personal lives or witnessed firsthand through the fans that we've made and the relationships we've built with our audience.\\\" Their face-melting rock comes as no surprise, considering that the band hails from sultry Jacksonville, Florida.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: One of the Best rock albums in 2000s\\n\\nReview: Shinedown is one of the metal acts with punk elements also loved by the 70s and 80s rock fans. Their third album released in 2008 has been given classic status and maybe one of the best rock album released after year 2000. like many other rock/metal acts Shinedown also gained pop chart success with ballad hits such as \\\"Second Chance\\\" their biggest Billboard Hot 100 hit so far. The album also has a number of excellent ballads such as IF YOU ONLY KNEW which went to #42 in Billboard Hot 100 and WHAT A SHAME, THE CROW AND THE BUTTERFLY and CALL ME. Particularly I love WHAT A SHAME with impressive video clip. Rock tracks are also energetic particularly DEVOUR and SOUND OF MADNESS are hilarious. CRY FOR HELP showcases the band's explosive appeal. I love every track of this album.\\n\\nVerdict: Shinedown Shines and Devours the huge market with this album\\nRating: 96 out of 100\\nRecommended for wide range of rock fans\",\n \"Product: Shinedown's highly anticipated third album, \\\"The Sound Of Madness,\\\" opens with lead single \\\"Devour.\\\" Its heavy onslaught of ripping guitars and relentless drums would not sound out of place on a Guitar Hero soundtrack. Of the album, frontman Brent Smith says \\\"in the seven years of this thing called Shinedown, I've seen a lot of different things - what we've all gone through on teh road, things in our personal lives or witnessed firsthand through the fans that we've made and the relationships we've built with our audience.\\\" Their face-melting rock comes as no surprise, considering that the band hails from sultry Jacksonville, Florida.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: One of the Best rock albums in 2000s\\n\\nReview: Shinedown is one of the metal acts with punk elements also loved by the 70s and 80s rock fans. Their third album released in 2008 has been given classic status and maybe one of the best rock album released after year 2000. like many other rock/metal acts Shinedown also gained pop chart success with ballad hits such as \\\"Second Chance\\\" their biggest Billboard Hot 100 hit so far. The album also has a number of excellent ballads such as IF YOU ONLY KNEW which went to #42 in Billboard Hot 100 and WHAT A SHAME, THE CROW AND THE BUTTERFLY and CALL ME. Particularly I love WHAT A SHAME with impressive video clip. Rock tracks are also energetic particularly DEVOUR and SOUND OF MADNESS are hilarious. CRY FOR HELP showcases the band's explosive appeal. I love every track of this album.\\n\\nVerdict: Shinedown Shines and Devours the huge market with this album\\nRating: 96 out of 100\\nRecommended for wide range of rock fans\",\n \"Product: The Cars: Ric Ocasek (vocals, guitar); Benjamin Orr (vocals, bass); Elliot Easton (guitar, background vocals); Gregg Hawkes (keyboards, saxophone, percussion, background vocals); David Robinson (drums, percussion, background vocals). Recorded at AIR Studios, London, England in Feburary, 1978. All tracks have been digitally remastered using HDCD technology. The Cars: Ric Ocasek (guitar, vocals), Elliot Easton (lead guitar, background vocals), Gregg Hawkes (keyboards, saxophone, percussion, background vocals), Benjamin Orr (bass, vocals), David Robinson (drums, percussion, background vocals). Recorded at AIR Recording Studios, London, England in February, 1978. Digitally remastered by Steve Hoffman (February 1993). The Cars: Ric Ocasek (vocals, guitar); Benjamin Orr (vocals, bass); Elliot Easton (guitar); Greg Hawkes (keyboards); David Robinson (drums). Producer: Roy Thomas Baker. Compilation producer: David McLees. Ric Ocasek's songs were influenced by the Velvet Underground and the punk rock movement, but had a slick pop/rock sheen which proved very successful. After a demo version of \\\"Just What I Needed\\\" became a listener favorite on WBCN in Boston (the bands' homebase), they were pursued by record companies. THE CARS was recorded in 2 weeks in London, England. This ranks as one of the best debut albums from a rock band. The Cars are filed under rock, but they are closer to power pop than any other genre. Ric Ocasek sounded like a cross between the Raspberries and Television, punk sound with a pop attitude. The giveaway was the irresistible harmony-ridden hooks in just about every one of his songs. Listen again to \\\"You're All I've Got Tonight,\\\" \\\"Just What I Needed\\\" or \\\"My Best Friend's Girl\\\" and be thrilled. Lots of chunka chunka guitar and Mamas And Papas harmonies, and rarely a dull moment. They managed only six albums in 20 years, but they never bettered this.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: The Drive to The Unknown\\n\\nReview: The Car's debut album in 1978 represents the good ol' days of American rock. They are categorized as a NEW WAVE artist but to them, they were struggling to create what American rock compared to UK rock should be evolved. With the huge success of Boston, Foreigner, Styx and Kansas they were trying to do something different while retaining mainstream pop vibe. The band challenges Foreigner with hard-edged and upbeat track JUST WHAT I NEEDED. While creating radio friendly first three songs, they were experimenting what music fans at that time might never been experienced. Fourth track I'M IN TOUCH WITH YOUR WORLD invites listeners to the uncharted territories. Then at fifth track they again put out upbeat track DON'T CHA STOP, then they turn to progressive hard rock edged YOU ARE ALL I'VE GOT TONIGHT. Listeners might have enjoyed what they might call mystery drive tour. The last two tracks often aired in pairs are truly what make the band's debut album a legend.\\n\\nVerdict: Impeccable and Exciting debut album by another new giant.\\nRating: 93 out of 100\\nRecommended for late 70s pop rock fans.\",\n \"Product: Includes Only Time Will Tell; Heat of the Moment; Wildest Dreams; Don't Cry; The Smille Has Left Your Face , and five more.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Including Four Newer Tracks\\n\\nReview: Asia's fourth album released in 1990 is very strange work. First off, it is not what it says. It was supposed to be five classic hits and five newer ones but what it turned out was six classic tracks and four newer ones. At that era many of the 80s great artist rushed into releasing greatest hits compilation with one or two newer tracks and in many of the cases newer ones didn't add up to the quality the rest of the tracks had. So four newer tracks itself is rather surprising.\\n\\nTHEN SIDE\\nI can't complain on this side. Some might say it could have SOLE SURVIVOR but with WILDEST DREAMS it was excellently done.\\nNOW SIDE\\nDAYS LIKE THESE opens gracefully, but it lacks cutting edge appeal the band in early days had. The chorus, bridge is generic at best.\\nPRAYING' 4 A MIRACLE is a bit better than previous track but overall it is mellow in tone. Good track to be air-played in adult AOR station but lacks hit potential.\\nAM I IN LOVE is again a mellow adult contemporary track. What happened to their progressive rock spirit? By becoming a hit maker they have lost something special.\\nSUMMER CAN'T LAST TOO LONG: At last it is an ASIA. Should have been the closing track.\\nVOICE OF AMERICA: Unnecessary. Ruins the whole album concept.\\n\\nVerdict: Although the second half side is not that satisfactory, it is still Wettons and Downes Asia.\\nRating: 75 out of 100. Marred by concept failure and one unnecessary addition.\\nRecommended for: Wetton/Downes fans. 80s rock fans who like to collect original releases.\",\n \"Product: Moody Blues - Greatest Hits - Cd\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Focusing on Pop Side of the Band\\n\\nReview: Moody Blues is one of the trailblazers of what we now call \\\"progressive rock\\\" particularly of symphonic rock department. They started as a blues rock band. But from the second album released from the record company strong on classical music items the band switched to rock music with symphony orchestra which was still new attempt. Unfortunately with time constraint at that time this 1989 compilation features only pop side of the band with no instrumental music except Last Lament followed by their biggest hit NIGHTS IN WHITE SATIN uncredited (this must infuriate the core fan of the band). As a 80s pop rock fans the omission of 1983 hit SITTING AT THE WHEEL is a bit of disappointment. So to be more marketable for current music fans perhaps newer extended remaster for the album with LAST LAMENT credited is highly awaited.\\n\\nRecommended for compilation completists of 70s and 80s rock.\",\n \"Product: 17 Live & studio tracks recorded between 1983 & 1990 incl. \\\"Keep On Loving You '89\\\" (Reggae Version!)\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Closing Their Glory Days\\n\\nReview: While the Decade of Rock N Roll released in 1981 paved the way for the coming rock star days, the Second Decade wrapping up live recordings from 1981-1991 ironically marked the end of their career and they went into a hiatus until they release unsuccessful Building The Bridge album in 1996. Their latest studio album is Finding Your Way Home in 2007.\\n\\nAlthough it is not as popular as HITS in 1989 which aptly covered their major hits, this live compilation could be the supplementary release to show what is like in their live performance. In my opinion this compilation is much more interesting than HITS, though it misses some of their great hits such as IN YOUR LETTER, ONE LONELY NIGHTS, IN MY DREAMS, and HERE WITH ME.\\n\\nParticularly I am happy that they included some from THE EARTH, A SMALL MAN, HIS DOG and a CHICKEN, their unsuccessful studio album in 1990. As other reviewer pointed out I do not like their inclusion of 89 reggae version of KEEP ON LOVIN' YOU which should be kept as a secret track. Other than that I love the whole album particularly TOUGH GUYS, starting from one of the OUR GANG short sound clip. I personally like live version of KEEP THE FIRE BURNING from Good Trouble the least favorite REO album. To fit the concept of this album I personally wanted to hear the live version of ROCK'N ROLL STAR from WHEELS ARE TURNING. Pre-Hi Infidelity tracks shine well here and particularly BACK ON THE ROAD AGAIN, non hit track but one of the staples of REO concerts.\\n\\nVerdict: Well made live compilation really under-appreciated\\nRating: 85 out of 100\\nRecommended for: Every REO Speedwagon fan, Fans of 80s pop rock.\",\n \"Product: Music Audio CD\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Less Ballads and More Meaty Rocks\\n\\nReview: Kix is one of the underrated 80s to early 90s glam metal band best known by the ballad hit \\\"Don't Close Your Eyes\\\" from Blow My Fuse album released in 1988. Its follow up Hot Wire didn't become huge as its predecessor and its first single Girl Honey did not even chart Billboard Hot 100. And the tracks in this album may not be as catchy as the band's contemporaries such as Danger Danger, Firehouse, and Slaughter. You need to listen over and over again to see why this album is regarded as one of the best Kix albums to date. The album turned out to be the metal rock lovers dreams come true, not relying on ballads and more hefty rockers to demonstrate the band's appeal. I guess that's what every heavy metal band dreams about and the band did just that and I am sure it is the best of its kind. It is particularly true after the sixth track ROCK'N ROLL OVERDOSE and killer tracks such as COLD CHILLS, SAME JANE, and PANTS ON FIRE (LIAR LIAR) follow. If you simply expect the metal band to rock hard. give this album a chance.\\n\\nRating 95 out of 100\",\n \"Product: YES Big Generator CD\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Excellent Follow Up To 90125\\n\\nReview: Big Generator released in 1987 is to me the finest album of the prog rock icon in the pop department. While 90125 produced #1 and #24 hits, this album produced only two top 40 hits LOVE WILL FIND A WAY and RHYTHM OF LOVE. But these songs are merely a part of the album's overall appeal which is much refined than the last one. Standout track is FINAL EYES which did not become a single hit but my top favorite of this album. SHOOT HIGH AIM LOW is another highlight. BIG GENERATOR the title track reprises the opening riff of OWNER OF THE LONELY HEART but overall it is much heavier and deeper than the band's biggest hit. ALMOST LIKE LOVE has the blues flavored metal feel while I AM RUNNING is meticulously produced multilayered opus. HOLY LAMB closes the album gracefully. The album surely rekindled the prospect of progressive rock as a genre and paved the way for the newer talents such as Queensryche and Dream Theater.\\n\\nVerdict: Excellent album of Yes in the pop era.\\nRating: 97 out of 100\\nRecommended for 80s pop rock fans who also love the pompous rock style such as Boston, Styx and Dream Theater\",\n \"Product: Aria [Audio CD] Asia\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Asia During mid 90s\\n\\nReview: Asia started as the super-band made up of who's who of progressive rockers with sensational debut in 1982 and made successful career until their third album ASTRA in 1985. After the lead vocalist John Wetton's departure in 1991, John Payne joined the band as a lead vocalist and then they went on their band career. Asia with John Payne had been neglected commercially except Japan and some European countries. ARIA released in 1995 is the second album with John Payne as a lead vocalist. First four tracks are not that impressive particularly opener ANYTIME which shows overproduction. But the fifth track SAD SITUATION is a turnaround because it fits perfectly with new vocalist's style and vocal range. The album gets better and better with each track culminating in REMEMBRANCE DAY. MILITARY MAN and the last track ARIA are really touching.\\n\\nVerdict: Latter Half is truly a classic!\\nRating: 88 out of 100\\nRecommended for: 90s melodic rock fans in general.\",\n \"Product: Canadian pop rocker's 1983 debut, includes the hit 'Sunglasses At Night'. Standard jewelcase.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Debut Album With Two Great Hits\\n\\nReview: Corey Hart is one of the most popular 80s Canadian rock artists best known by mid 80s hits such as NEVER SURRENDER from \\\"Boy In The Box\\\", SUNGLASSES AT NIGHT and IT AIN'T ENOUGH from this 1983 debut album, and Elvis cover I CAN'T HELP FALLING IN LOVE from his third album \\\"Field of Fire\\\". He and his rival Bryan Adams aptly bridge the gap between UK pop rock and that of American mainstream pop rock.\\n\\nAlthough it has two US hits I haven't been impressed this album so much comparing with BOY IN THE BOX and FIELD OF FIRE. The reason may be that in this album it seems that he was struggling with the best mix of instrumet arrangement fitting best for his vocal style. Both Sunglasses at Night and It Ain't Enough are standouts because these songs have brilliant balance with vocal and instrumental part. But when he starts to mix guitar part it doesn't seem to work well. Corey's voice is edgy so when the song uses guitar part it should be used only in solo but his voice works well with keyboard and sax. When you compare the similarly structured songs such as PERUVIAN LADY and EURASEAN EYES from the next album you will see why. Most of the rest of the songs are good but not as strikingly great as aforementioned hits. With the next album BOY IN THE BOX he really shines.\\n\\nVerdict: Nice album to start the career but with some flaws\\nRating: 80 out of 100\\nRecmmended for: Canadian rock fans, mid 80s pop rock fans.\",\n \"Product: INCLUDES BONUS TRACKS.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Asia During mid 90s\\n\\nReview: Asia started as the super-band made up of who's who of progressive rockers with sensational debut in 1982 and made successful career until their third album ASTRA in 1985. After the lead vocalist John Wetton's departure in 1991, John Payne joined the band as a lead vocalist and then they went on their band career. Asia with John Payne had been neglected commercially except Japan and some European countries. ARIA released in 1995 is the second album with John Payne as a lead vocalist. First four tracks are not that impressive particularly opener ANYTIME which shows overproduction. But the fifth track SAD SITUATION is a turnaround because it fits perfectly with new vocalist's style and vocal range. The album gets better and better with each track culminating in REMEMBRANCE DAY. MILITARY MAN and the last track ARIA are really touching.\\n\\nVerdict: Latter Half is truly a classic!\\nRating: 88 out of 100\\nRecommended for: 90s melodic rock fans in general.\",\n \"Product: Survivor, Target, Cobra\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Forgotten Jimi Jamison's Solo\\n\\nReview: Jimi Jamison is best known by the vocalist of Survivor since Vital Signs album but before that he had been doing some of the obscure hard/melodic rock bands such as Target and Cobra that have already been deleted. Since his latest work Empires in 1999 is almost like Survivor, Jim's debut solo album in 1991 might be of more help if you want to find his music tastes and influence. Of course not comparable to Survivor and Empires but it is not so bad album. This is more blues-flavored hard rock than Survivor maybe somewhere between Lou Gramm and David Coverdale. My favorite is True Lovers and Believe In Love. Recommended for die-hard Jimi Jamison fans and some of Ready Or Not and Too Hot To Sleep appreciators.\",\n \"Product: Steptacular CD JIVE, 519442, 14 Track\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Should Enjoy The CD As It Is\\n\\nReview: Steptacular is a collection of pop rock gem tracks which becamehuge hit in UK/Europe and Japan. But in the US selected tracks fromtheir first album STEP One and this album was dubbed as Step One. Andthat was the biggest mistake record label ever did to themusic. Steptacular,their second CD, should be listened as it is andthis order. In the US, When I Said Good Bye will be suited forsingle. It is a slow ballad which fit American adult pop fanstaste. Even recommended for fans who already got Step One. You will beknocked over by brilliant performance and excellentsongwriting. Other recommendation include After The Love Has Gone,Say You'll Be Mine, Love Got A Hold On To My Heart, Moving On, ISurrender. Essential for European Dance Disco fans,UK mainstream popfans and fans of S Club 7, N'Sync, Backstreet Boys styled pop rockmusic.\",\n \"Product: Digitally remastered reissue of their eponymous debut. Digipak. Tracks include, 'Some of My Lies are True (Sooner or Later)'. 2000 release.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Sooner or Later They Would Be Big\\n\\nReview: Huey Lewis and the News' debut album released in 1980 is really hard to find. I am truly lucky I could get this at all. Their debut album was commercially a failure and two singles from the album SOME OF THE LIES ARE TRUE(SOONER OR LATER), NOW HERE'S TO YOU didn't even get charted on Billboard Hot 100. And my personal favorite track TROUBLE IN PARADISE which was later used for USA For Africa soundtrack in 1985 was't even released as a single.\\n\\nThe album on the whole is somewhat like unrefined SPORTS album, and it is rather surprising to find the basic style of their music had been unchanged up to late 80s. And unlike their contemporary bands they never experienced the member replacements during 80s. The opener SOME OF THE LIES ARE TRUE is crunchy, upbeat rock song featuring Chris Hayes's excellent guitar solo. But they got the title wrong. It should have been SOONER OR LATER. (In Japan, it was released under the title of SOONER OR LATER). NOW HERE'S TO YOU is another great song, somewhat similar in style to IF THIS IS IT from SPORTS. TROUBLE IN PARADISE is another commitment song which could even fit into SPORTS or FORE.\\n\\nVerdict: Unrefined but it's still Heuy Lewis and the News 80s rock fans love.\\nRating: 83 out of 100\\nRecommended for: Every Heuy Lewis fan, Early 80s rock fans and debut album collectors.\",\n \"Product: Sophomore album for melodic hard rock act featuring vocalist Kevin Chalfant (707, Steel Breeze, The VU) & guitarist Josh Ramos (The Storm). The followup to the self titled debut, one of the biggest independent melodic rock successes of 2000. Frontiers Records.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: 80's Great Rock Survives\\n\\nReview: ...By the efforts of Kevin Chalfant and Josh Ramos the remaining two members of the Storm. Although I do not feel it's so great as their debut or legendary Eye of The Storm, they still can rock very nicely. \\\"Ignition\\\" is the nice uptempo opener and truly the reincarnation of prime-time Journey. Fine songs include Somewhere Far Away, You're Bringing Me Down, The Man I Want To Be(my #1 favorite and fit for the lead single). A little bit of my letdown is Jim Peterik songwriting is not as fabulous as it used to be with the exception of The Man I Want To Be and What The Whole World Need To Know. Compared with their self-titled debut it became more like the combination of Kevin Chalfant solo and Survivor/Foreigner styled rock with some influence of Journey. Music became a bit diverse: What The Whole World Need To Know shows Kevin's inclination for Rhythm and Blues and the album's secret track \\\"Rhythm Of The World\\\" is a latin-pop song remnicent a bit of Gloria Estefan.\\nRecommended for Journey, Survivor, Two Fires, and Storm fans.\",\n \"Product: 2002 debut album for melodic rock act inspired by Toto, Survivor & Foreigner. Ten tracks written by the band & Survivor singer/songwriter/guitarist/keyboardist Jim Peterik who also produced.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Time To Get Velocitized\\n\\nReview: Mecca is a superband made up of finest musicians from older and newer generation. It is like handing down to excellent rock legacy during 70s and 80s to the newer generation of the new millenium.\\nJim Peterik(ex Survivor) co-writes all the songs and produces the album. David Hungate(ex Toto) is the bassist of the band and Isolation vocalist Fergie Fredericksen lead-sings six songs including Velocitized one of the unreleased Survivor tracks. Newer unknown members are super as well. Joe Vana, the lead singer of the band is an excellent singer who can sing blues flavored ballad such as Close That Gap excellently. You can see the difference in vocal style of Fergie and Joe in Can't Stop Love. Shannon Forrest is an excellent Nashville drummer introduced to Joe by David Hungate as \\\"the drummer who can play like Jeff Pocaro\\\", legendary TOTO drummer who was killed by the accident in 1992. Mecca the title tracks proves that David is right. Other recommendable tracks include Falling Down, Temptation/Hall and Oates styled blues track, Blinded By Emotion charactereized by excellent song structure.\\nRecommended for wide range of 80s pop rock fans who like Mr. Mister, Survivor and Toto.\",\n \"Product: Japanese Version featuring Three Bonus Tracks: \\\"Surrender to the Night\\\", \\\"Stand by You\\\", and \\\"so Deadly\\\".\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Survivor/Jim Peterik Fans Must Have This!\\n\\nReview: Pride of Lions is the Jim Peterikfs latest melodic rock project featuring 25-year-old bud Toby Hitchcock who has four-octave amazing voice. Because Jim Peterik is best known by the founder, songwriter, keyboardist, and guitarist of Survivor, it has already received high ratings from melodic rock community such as melodicrock.com and BURRN!. However, it must be pointed out that Jim Peterik is beyond Survivor. Because he has been a top songwriter even outside Survivor as some of 38 Special hits and some of the recent albums he had deeply involved such as Mecca prove.\\nThis album has striking difference from previous associated works and even Survivor gems. On Pride of Lions, Jim himself takes lead vocalist role and countering fairly well with such talented bud Toby Hitchcock. During Survivor time Jim took lead vocal only in gLove Has Got Meh, one of the debut album track. Jim Peterik and Toby Hitchcock exchanging vocals is what the album is all about. PRIDELAND in particular is an excellent showcase of Jim/Toby duet. Toby Hitchcock vocal style is versatile but somewhat reminding me of Richard Marxfs debut album. In Survivor terminology, it could serve as missing link between Premonition/Caught In A Game/Too Hot To Sleep edginess and Vital Signs/When Seconds Count catchiness.\\nJapanese version has three more tracks than European 12-track release. Among them STAND BY YOU and SO DEADLY are included in single EP gSound Of Homeh. So to be precise, SURRENDER TO THE NIGHT, Richard Marx styled ballad is a Japan-only track.\\nIf you pursue Vital Signs/When Seconds Count like catchiness, GONE, INTERUPPTED MELODY, TURN TO ME, LAST SAFE PLACE will please you. If you pursue ROCKY like track I recommend ITfS CRIMINAL, UNBREAKABLE ( I suspect both were Rocky IV candidates). MADNESS OF LOVE could have a place in Too Hot To Sleep. If you like Mecca like song FIRST TIME AROUND THE SUN might fit your taste. MUSIC AND ME is heavy at times but mid-bridge is dramatic and catchy as well. SO DEADLY is a sort of experimental stuff having European metal feel.\\nEssential for Survivor and mid-80fs melodic rock fans.\",\n \"Product: JOHN ELTON\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: 1990 Compilation Americans might have Missed (with original version of CANDLE IN THE WIND)\\n\\nReview: A 2CD, compilation released in 1990 anywhere but U.S by one of the living legend of UK Pop who has been actively generating hits for nearly half a century. Indeed Elton John is more than a pop star. His presence is huge enough to make some source of news and he was also knighted.. He even guest-starred in Simpsons. In U.S. 4CD \\\"To Be Continued\\\" was released instead but ended up with the peak of #82 in album chart.\\nIn the first volume there is the very original version of Candle in the Wind from Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, which was re-featured in 1987 (live) and 1997 (as a tribute to late Princess Diana). And the volume 1 also has the original version of Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me which was later redone as as a duet with George Michael in 1991.\\n\\nEssential for 80s pop rock fans and for import collectors.\",\n \"Product: 2004 album from melodic rock act featuring Survivor frontman James Peterik. Frontiers.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: The Odd Duo Worked Another Wonder!\\n\\nReview: How can the duo made up by rock veteran Jim Peterik known as great songs by Survivor, 38 Special and a lot more and 25-year-old bud Toby Hitchcock work? It is truly unprecedented combination. Yep similar things are tried in Santana's SUPERNATURAL album when the rock legend Carlos Santana made great combination with Rob Thomas young talented rocker of Matchbox Twenty. With Pride of Lions debut two years ago and\\nthis one just released, Jim Peterik competes fairly well with talented new singer Toby Hitchcock having strong vocal the rock world has been waiting for. Before Survivor Jim did sing during Ides of March and latter-day Chase. But after finding great singer Dave Vickler he was content with background role concentrating on songwriting. For most of Survivor and 80's rock fans Jim Peterik taking co-lead vocalist role is quite fresh somewhat like meeting a new singer. Not only uncovering his great talent as vocalist but his songwriting shown in this album is better than ever. All the track included are well-written and well-hooked. Among the great songs I would pick LIGHT FROM DISTANT SHORE, BORN TO BELIEVE IN YOU, and MAN BEHIND THE MASK as my top favorites.\\n\\nMust-have album if you are a rock connoisseur.\",\n \"Product: Takahiro Matsumoto (B'z) solo project TMG's 1st album. Contains 14 songs collaborated with non-Japanese artists (Eric Martin, Jack Blade, Brian Tichy, et al). Frontiers. 2004.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: From Sukiyaki to TMG\\n\\nReview: Although Japanese musicians and rock lovers have similar music taste as those of Americans, in corporate music world it was really rare that Japanese musicians ever break out in American music scene with the exception of ....\\n\\nKYU SAKAMOTO...Sukiyaki song in 1963 still has the record of biggest selling single from the Japanese musicians.\\n\\nYMO...Yellow Magic Orchestra did break a bit of US chart during late 70s.\\n\\nPINK LADY...Japanese pop sensation during late 70s had the one Top 40 hit. They appeared on the TV show as well.\\n\\nLOUDNESS...Thunder In the East is no doubt biggest selling album from Japanese musicians to date.\\n\\nUTADA...Her career is still in the making in the U.S. EXODUS made minor dance hits.\\n\\nNow I am sure Tak Matsumoto Group would be the next if such rare breakout ever happen to Japanese musicians.\\n\\nSupporting Tak Matsumoto great guitarist of the popular Japanese rock band \\\"Bz\\\" is Jack Blades known for the leader of both Night Ranger and Damm Yankees. And Eric Martin known as the lead vocalist of Mr. Big does excellent work on its vocals.\\n\\nAs the CD jacket implies their music inside is themed with exotism of Japanese beauty and mascular straight rock Americans are proud of. Sword the kimono woman has is the cutting edge sound it has and the music inside really live up to the cover image.\\n\\nOH JAPAN is the pop rock anthem but influenced a bit by J-pop. EVERYTHING PASSES AWAY is borrowed from the very theme of Tale of Heike Clan an epic of Rivalling two major clans Heike and Genji during 11th and 12th century Japan. It has a hint of Zen Bhuddism but the awesome trio expanded its theme into a grand scale song. Just wonderful. KING FOR A DAY is another J-popish rock anthem and I WISH YOU WERE HERE sounds fit to Mr. Big very soulful but edgy and cathy song. THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH is themed on circus world. No doubt the live concert highlight. SIGN OF LIFE has Jack Blades feel to it, reminding me of some of late 90s Night Ranger material. NEVER GOOD-BYE is no doubt the best of all tracks. Bon Jovi and Mr. Big fans would surely love this power ballad.\\n\\nVerdict: Solid and Catchy Rock Masterpiece with high commercial potential.\\nRating: 90 out of 100.\\nRecommended for: Eric Martin and Mr. Big fans, Jack Blades fans and wide range of rock fans.\",\n \"Product: 2009 release from these melodic Hard Rockers. Hardline is a band centered around the talent of singer Johnny Gioeli (Axel Rudi Pell). Their debut album Double Eclipse saw Neal Schon and Deen Castronovo (Journey/Bad English)) in the line up and is still considered one of the highlights of melodic Hard Rock music in the 90's. Hardline's 2009 album Leaving The End Open sees the band go back to a more concise and straight ahead Melodic Hard Rock style. The first reactions are unanimously positive and it looks like the band has another winner in their wrists. A new masterpiece is born! Frontiers.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Takes The Shape of Its Own\\n\\nReview: To many rock fans Hardline may still be something like a Journey off-shoot just like Storm, Two Fires and such. Their 2003 reunion, however, lacked Neal Schon best known as Journey guitarist, replaced by Josh Ramos one of the key members of Two Fires. Nevertheless the second album became a solid work proving the band grew out of Neal Schon. Their third effort in 2009 solidified that direction which means that the band launched a new path. This year(2012) sees their fourth album, DANGER ZONE.\\n\\nIf this album can match up to their debut and one of the rock masterpieces, Double Eclipse, released in 1992 may depend on who you are talking to. If you expect this album to be hard-edged just like DR. LOVE from their debut not so quite. But if you like pop material such as HOT CHERIE, LOVE LEADS THE WAY, I'LL BE THERE and CHANGE OF HEART, this album has great songs to add to their not-yet released their greatest hits. START AGAIN is upbeat pop song which should be aired extensively in adult rock stations. BITTERSWEET is also impressive and by far the best ballad song the band has ever created so far. This song SHE SLEEPS IN MADNESS and another beautiful ballad IN THIS MOMENT are the highlight of this album. SHE SLEEPS IN MADNESS shows that the band still has the founding spirit. But I am not that enchanted by the last pop ballad LEAVING THE END OPEN it sounds a bit too generic. To complement this they should have added a secret track or anything surprising.\\n\\nVerdict: Glad that Hardline still lives on without Neal Schon.\\nRating: 93 out of 100. Slightly better than II but not great as their debut.\\nRecommended for: 80s rock fans who likes the works of Journey, Toto, Survivor, Foreigner and some AC/DC fans. Melodic rock fans who likes Work of Art, H.E.A.T. and Houston works.\",\n \"Product: For the first time in their career, Bobby Kimball and Jimi Jamison have joined forces on a \\\"duets\\\" album, which features their signature vocal style in a familiar musical environment created for them by such songwriters as Richard Page (Mr Mister), Jim Pe\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Does It Really Work?\\n\\nReview: Jimi Jamison has been releasing a number of great releases during 2000s either as a vocalist of reunited Survivor in Reach(2006), his solo works such as Crossroad Moments(2008) and Never Too Late(2012) and a lot more. Kimball Jamison is one of his latest releases dueting with Bobby Kimball of Toto.\\n\\nActually I didn't have high expectation for this album particularly after seeing the video clips of CAN'T WAIT FOR LOVE, and WORTH FIGHTING FOR in youtube. Both vocalists have different singing styles and to me both tracks didn't show their best particularly when they sing together. But if they sing alternately it seems to work better. The fifth track FIND ANOTHER WAY is a great example. 9th track HEARTS BEAT AGAIN starts with lead vocal of Bobby Kimball and also alternate vocal style. On the whole production could have been better and on chorus part, the team should have used some appropriate backing vocals who can do a great job of high-note area. Other great songs include SAIL AWAY and KICKING and SCREAMING. Sorry, the first two tracks aren't even my Top 5 pick in this album.\\n\\nVerdict: Mixed results.\\nRating: 78 out of 100\\nRecommended for: Jimi Jamison fans. Fans of Survivor/Toto/Journey inspired bands such as H.E.A.T. Work of Art, Pride of Lions and Mecca.\",\n \"Product: After a cyclone transports her to the land of Oz, Dorothy must seek out the great wizard in order to return to Kansas.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: You Must Earn To Claim What You Want\\n\\nReview: The Wizard of Oz is a well-made children's literature and very American fairy tale.\\n\\nOz's answer to Dorothy and her companion is quite a right one.\\n\\nTo win \\\"hearts\\\", \\\"brains\\\" and \\\"courage\\\" and \\\"returning to home\\\" they should make efforts and do something worthwhile. Unlike European fairy tales use of magic power is quite restrained or limited. Even Dorothy wearing her magic boots and hat, the writer made her unaware of the effect. Power, strength or ability you need to make a living is not something automatically confered upon from the witch nor wizard. Through a number of adventures they eventually earn rights to claim what they desire.\\n\\nThe storyline and the moral of the story quite fit the founding principles of America and presented to the child in such a charming manner. The movie in 1939 based on this story is also impressive and can be recommendable.\",\n \"Product: L. M. Montgomery was born in Clifton, Prince Edward Island, in 1874. A prolific writer, she published many short stories, poems and novels but she is best known for Anne of Green Gables and its sequels, inspired by the years she spent on the beautiful Prince Edward Island. Montgomery died in Toronto in 1942 and was buried in Cavendish on her beloved island.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: From \\\"Carrots\\\" to Splendid Animation Series\\n\\nReview: My encounter with Anne the red-haired girl was when I accidentally found a book called NINJIN(Carrots). I was barely going to elementary school but I enjoyed the story very much particularly episodes like \\\"Dying her hair green\\\", \\\"Walking on top of the roof and fell\\\". My elder sister really loved the story and read a full series of Anne. It was then the animation series of Anne started. It was so great and changed the image of the story from the book I read when I was little. Though I never share my sister's enthusiasm but when I was a high school student my sister gave me English paperback of this novel for my English study. I never finish the book at that time. It took more than 20 years before I finish the English version of the book and I began to enjoy the minor episodes or vivid description of beautiful landscape of PEI. And I was curious when Anne and Guilvert make amends. It still gives children boys or girl a lot about life, friendship, and hope.\\nI hope American children will love both this book and Japanese animation series. Recommended for children over 10 years old.\",\n \"Product: Translated by V. Harris. Japan's answer to the Harvard MBA...Written over three centuries ago by a Samurai warrior, the book has been hailed as a limitless source of psychological insight for businessmen-or anyone who relies on strategy and tactics for outwitting the competition.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Musashi vs Yagyus: Duels In Writing\\n\\nReview: MUSASHI is no doubt the legendary Samurai hero dramatized into a number of plays and novels most famous of which is by Yoshikawa Eiji. Thomas Cleary not only translated this classic by Musashi's own writing into English, but he also introduced Musashi's archrival bushido school by Yagyus' chief Munenori's \\\"The Book of Family Traditions of Book of War\\\". Such coupling should cause much uproars from pure bushido followers which take sides of either ideas of the way of sword.\\n\\nMusashi and Yagyus have contrasting idea of the way of the samurai. For loner undefeated Musashi the goal of the school is winning the opponent alone. But for Yagyu family who has much favor from Shoguns: the goal is to get rid of the evil to do justice. Yagyus favor distinctions while Musashi abhors it. But with such striking difference they share the fundamentals. Both are influenced by Sun Zi's The Art of War and Zen Buddhism.\\n\\nEssential for THE ART OF WAR appreciators and Samurai fans as well as anyone who get involved into competition in business or sports. They may give you a clue to how to win the oppponent with careful examination and readily mindset.\",\n \"Product: This collection features \\\"Everything She Wants,\\\" \\\"I'm Your Man,\\\" \\\"Club Tropicana,\\\" \\\"Wham Rap!,\\\" \\\"Freedom,\\\" \\\"Where Did Your Heart Go,\\\" \\\"Young Guns,\\\" \\\"Edge of Heaven\\\" and more. 14 tracks in all.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: 1997 UK Compilation with two Re-recorded Hits George Michael Loved\\n\\nReview: Although Wham! is undoubtedly one of the most successful UK duos which made three consecutive #1 Billboard hits from 1984-85, no official compilations for U.S market have been released thus far. Both the Final, the compilation with chronological order released in 1986 and this release in 1997 has been for UK and world market except in the U.S. 80s music fans must get either of these from import market.\\n\\nThe Best of Wham! with two newer version of the duo's 80s hits has been often criticized because it misses Wham!'s two major hits such as Careless Whisper (are there any compilations ever without Billboard #1 hit?) and Bad Boy from the debut album possibly because of technicalities. Careless Whisper has been part of George Michael's compilations and Bad Boy is from the debut album released from Columbia record. Naturally this Epic label compilation has two more Make it Big tracks and they are neatly placed to make the album as a whole enjoyable. IF YOU WERE THERE from Make it Big album is placed as the opener while another Make it Big track LIKE A BABY as a interlude between two upbeat hit tracks WAKE ME UP BEFORE YOU GO-GO and FREEDOM. Another surprise is EVERYTHING SHE WANTS comes before WAKE ME UP BEFORE YOU GO-GO. Everything She Wants is one of George Michael's favorite song from Make it Big. George Michael loved this compilation and to him both Careless Whisper and Different Corner may not belong there.\\nIt is a must-have for George Michael fans. And Essential Wham! from Epic highly awaited.\"\n]","isConversational":false},"profile_size":{"kind":"number","value":117,"string":"117"},"task":{"kind":"string","value":"longlamp_3"},"split_kind":{"kind":"string","value":"user_based"},"id":{"kind":"number","value":978,"string":"978"}}},{"rowIdx":979,"cells":{"question_id":{"kind":"string","value":"A2I6MHMAZZDCRX"},"question":{"kind":"string","value":"Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of \"3.0\" for a product with description \"Remake of Agatha Christie's \"Ten Little Iindians.\" Ten people are invited on an African safari and find themselves being picked off one by one by a mysterious killer.\". The summary of the review text is \"Classic Mystery Turned into Early Slasher\"."},"answer":{"kind":"string","value":"Earlier this year, I realized that Agatha Christie's stand alone book published now as And Then There Were None was actually a precursor to the slasher films that became popular in the late 70's and 80's. I haven't seen any movie versions of the story until now, when I watched the 1965 version that goes by a previous title, Ten Little Indians.\n\nThis version of the story takes place at a remote castle high up a snowy mountain. 8 strangers and a married pair of servants arrive and quickly compare notes to learn they have all been invited there by Mr. Owen. That night, their unseen host's voice starts to come over a recording and accuses each of them of committing a previous murder. And then, one by one, they begin to drop dead. Is there someone else in the house, or is one of them the killer? Will anyone survive?\n\nBefore I get into the movie itself, I want to spend a little more time explaining my premise comparing this to a slasher film. Very true, any blood is kept to a minimum, and there really aren't any stalking scenes. One or two give you a little suspense before the person dies, but that's all. Those who hate horror films will still enjoy this since the emphasis is on the puzzle of who is killing these people.\n\nHowever, we do see the killer's hands appear a few times and there are some killer point of view shots. The power goes out for the final evening of the film, so everything is happening in candle light. Some of the conventions of a slasher are in place here, while other are avoided. (I'm being vague here not to spoil anything). Heck, we see a woman in her underwear a couple of times, rather shocking for the 1960's. Finally, there's a cat around to provide those classic misdirection sounds. (I can't figure out why else a cat would be at this location.)\n\nAm I stretching things? Most likely. But my mind couldn't help but make the comparisons as I was watching it.\n\nOkay, now that we have that behind us, how does this work as a mystery movie? First of all, this follows the ending of the play, not the ending of the book. I have mixed emotions on both endings, so I'm not sure which I like better. There are other changes, like character names and manners of death, but for the most part it works.\n\nThis is probably one of Christie's most devilish puzzles. Now maybe it's because I know who the killer is, but I felt this one actually emphasized the clues a bit too much. My roommate figured it out after watching about 10 minutes. When I listened to the book on tape, I never would have figured it out without being told at the end. Of course, the plot does have to cheat since it requires the killer to confess instead of anyone figuring it out, but that's a complaint I have with the story in general.\n\nThe movie was filmed in black and white, but I think it works well. The scenes are still vibrant and it adds a mysterious and threatening air to the proceedings.\n\nAside from the women screaming and getting hysterical at various times, I found most of the acting to be believable. Fabian is the biggest ham of the cast, but he isn't a big part of things, so it's easy to forgive the movie that. Others in the cast include Hugh O'Brian, Shirley Eaton, Stanley Holloway, Wilfrid Hyde-White, and Dennis Price.\n\nThe DVD was released a few years back, and I've got to take a star off for it. There is dust and grain almost the entire way through the film. It's very noticeable. The film is widescreen and it claims to be full surround, although I never noticed anything coming from my back speakers. The only extra is the \"Whodunit Minute.\" Apparently, this was part of the film in the theaters where the movie paused right before the climax and asked you who you thought it was. It then gave you \"clues,\" when in reality, it just showed you all the murders to date again. I'm glad it's not part of the film here since I thought it was rather stupid, but those who remember it and like it will be glad to have it, I'm sure.\n\nWhether you know the story or not, this version of Ten Little Indians is certainly an enjoyable way to get acquainted with the basic concept. It's too bad the DVD doesn't live up to the film's potential."},"correct_answer":{"kind":"string","value":"Earlier this year, I realized that Agatha Christie's stand alone book published now as And Then There Were None was actually a precursor to the slasher films that became popular in the late 70's and 80's. I haven't seen any movie versions of the story until now, when I watched the 1965 version that goes by a previous title, Ten Little Indians.\n\nThis version of the story takes place at a remote castle high up a snowy mountain. 8 strangers and a married pair of servants arrive and quickly compare notes to learn they have all been invited there by Mr. Owen. That night, their unseen host's voice starts to come over a recording and accuses each of them of committing a previous murder. And then, one by one, they begin to drop dead. Is there someone else in the house, or is one of them the killer? Will anyone survive?\n\nBefore I get into the movie itself, I want to spend a little more time explaining my premise comparing this to a slasher film. Very true, any blood is kept to a minimum, and there really aren't any stalking scenes. One or two give you a little suspense before the person dies, but that's all. Those who hate horror films will still enjoy this since the emphasis is on the puzzle of who is killing these people.\n\nHowever, we do see the killer's hands appear a few times and there are some killer point of view shots. The power goes out for the final evening of the film, so everything is happening in candle light. Some of the conventions of a slasher are in place here, while other are avoided. (I'm being vague here not to spoil anything). Heck, we see a woman in her underwear a couple of times, rather shocking for the 1960's. Finally, there's a cat around to provide those classic misdirection sounds. (I can't figure out why else a cat would be at this location.)\n\nAm I stretching things? Most likely. But my mind couldn't help but make the comparisons as I was watching it.\n\nOkay, now that we have that behind us, how does this work as a mystery movie? First of all, this follows the ending of the play, not the ending of the book. I have mixed emotions on both endings, so I'm not sure which I like better. There are other changes, like character names and manners of death, but for the most part it works.\n\nThis is probably one of Christie's most devilish puzzles. Now maybe it's because I know who the killer is, but I felt this one actually emphasized the clues a bit too much. My roommate figured it out after watching about 10 minutes. When I listened to the book on tape, I never would have figured it out without being told at the end. Of course, the plot does have to cheat since it requires the killer to confess instead of anyone figuring it out, but that's a complaint I have with the story in general.\n\nThe movie was filmed in black and white, but I think it works well. The scenes are still vibrant and it adds a mysterious and threatening air to the proceedings.\n\nAside from the women screaming and getting hysterical at various times, I found most of the acting to be believable. Fabian is the biggest ham of the cast, but he isn't a big part of things, so it's easy to forgive the movie that. Others in the cast include Hugh O'Brian, Shirley Eaton, Stanley Holloway, Wilfrid Hyde-White, and Dennis Price.\n\nThe DVD was released a few years back, and I've got to take a star off for it. There is dust and grain almost the entire way through the film. It's very noticeable. The film is widescreen and it claims to be full surround, although I never noticed anything coming from my back speakers. The only extra is the \"Whodunit Minute.\" Apparently, this was part of the film in the theaters where the movie paused right before the climax and asked you who you thought it was. It then gave you \"clues,\" when in reality, it just showed you all the murders to date again. I'm glad it's not part of the film here since I thought it was rather stupid, but those who remember it and like it will be glad to have it, I'm sure.\n\nWhether you know the story or not, this version of Ten Little Indians is certainly an enjoyable way to get acquainted with the basic concept. It's too bad the DVD doesn't live up to the film's potential."},"documents":{"kind":"list like","value":["Product: NOTICE: Polish Release, cover may contain Polish text/markings. The disk has English audio and subtitles. Spoiled billionaire playboy Oliver Queen is missing and presumed dead when his yacht is lost at sea. He returns five years later a changed man, ...\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: \"We Have to Work on Your Excuses.\" \"I Know.\"\n\nReview: After quickly getting addicted to the CWs new superhero show Arrow, I couldn't wait for season two to start. Fortunately, it continued to build on the wonderful first season with more action and drama.\n\nThe show is based on the DC Comics character of Green Arrow. Honestly, I know little about him outside of this series, but thats okay. What is here works so well I don't need to know much more.\n\nIn the aftermath of the season one finale, Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell) returned to the island where hed been stranded for five years. However, it isn't long before Diggle (David Ramsey) and Felicity (Emily Rett Rickards) head back there to track him down and get him to return to Starling City. With his mother, Moyra (Susanna Thompson), in jail, it falls to him to run Queen Consolidated, and his return has come just in time since Isabel Rochev (guest star Summer Glau) has been brought in by the board and doesnt seem to have the same vision for the future of the business as Oliver does. Meanwhile his sister Thea (Willa Holland) is running the nightclub he started.\n\nUnfortunately, Olivers return is just in time since someone has arrived in town with designs to destroy the city. However, this time it is much more personal than Oliver knows. Will he figure out the plot in time to stop it? Who is behind everything?\n\nActually, the second season is even more complicated than this since I haven't really talked about Roy (Colton Haynes), Theas boyfriend and Olivers secret apprentice in the justice business. Then theres the Lance family. Quentin (Paul Blackthorne) has been demoted to patrol while Laurel (Katie Cassidy) has joined the DAs office and is targeting the Vigilante (aka Oliver). But the big surprise is the new superhero in town with some ties to Olivers time on the island.\n\nOnce again, those flashbacks to Olivers time on the island proved to be the weakness to the show. They definitely tie in more to what happened this year, but I just don't see the point of them most of the time and felt they slowed down the present day story.\n\nHowever, the present day story more than makes up for any weakness. You might have figured out that there are a ton of characters in this show, but thats because there are tons of things happening. There are some case of the week type episodes, but they are fewer this season, instead tying in much of what happens to the overall season arc or at least the character development. The show is very suspenseful at times, too, with the characters facing overwhelming odds. I had a hard time figuring out how they were going to succeed.\n\nThere is plenty of character growth here this season. Just about everyone gets grow to a certain extent, and watching them deal with everything they are facing is incredible.\n\nWhich means all the actors have stepped up their game this season. We might have one or two scenes that aren't the best, but there wasn't anything that threw me out of the show. I especially love Felicity, who gets the funniest lines and some serious growth this season.\n\nBecause the show is more grounded in reality, it relies more on stunts than special effects, although both are handled perfectly when they appear.\n\nAs a fun note, they set up the CWs new series The Flash with a couple episode guest spot early in the season. I cant wait for that show to appear this fall.\n\nThe second season is being released in the DVD only set and a Blu-Ray/DVD/UltraViolet combo set priced at only $10 more than the regular set. Both sets feature all 23 episodes from season 2 in their native wide screen and full surround. The sets also have the same extras, which include an episode commentary, deleted scenes, a gag reel, and three featurettes, one that chronicles Oliver's journey in the eyes of Starling City so far, one that looks at the action and special effects of the show, and one that focuses even more on the stunt work of the show.\n\nArrow is exactly what it sets out to be a strong and fun superhero show. You won't be disappointed with season two at all.","Product: There's trouble in paradise for former CIA operative Michael Westen and his cohorts, and the streets of Miami are hotter--and deadlier--than ever before in the action-packed, adrenaline-charged sixth season of Burn Notice! In hot pursuit of his old nemesis, Michael must take down Anson Fullerton and find a way to free Fiona from prison, where she is being targeted by a murderous foe. Michael goes full force to save Fiona as he takes on cold-blooded assassins, diabolical drug cartels, uneasy alliances, and explosive danger at every turn, until an unthinkable tragedy leaves him reeling and rocks his team to the very core.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: When Youre a TV Viewer Looking for a Spy Show.\n\nReview: As a self-described USA Network addict, I automatically start watching any new show they put on the air. The last time I didn't do that was with Burn Notice. Once I started hearing such raves for it, I tuned in to the season one reruns just before season two started and Ive been hooked ever since.\n\nThe series revolved around Michael Westen (Jeffrey Donovan). He used to be a spy until he got a phone call in the middle of an operation. Suddenly, he had to get out on his own, something he just barely managed to do. Next thing he knows, hes been dumped in Miami. For better or worse, its his home town, which means having to deal with his chain smoking mother Madeline (Sharon Gless), a woman he doesnt necessarily get along with all that well with. The only people who are still talking to him are his ex-girlfriend Fiona Glenanne (Gabrielle Anwar), a gun runner for the NRA, and Sam Axe (Bruce Campbell), an ex-Navy Seal who also happens to be reporting on Michael to the feds.\n\nWith no job history that he can report, Michael has to start earning money however he can, so he reluctantly takes jobs to help those in need. He takes on your average problems if your average problems happen to be drug runners or gun smugglers or kidnappers or gang members or extortionists or any other number of things. Along the way, he meets Jesse Porter (Coby Bell), a man in a situation much like his own. Meanwhile, he also is trying to figure out who burned him and why so he can go back to work for the CIA. However, that conspiracy may be much more complicated than he ever expected.\n\nFor the most part, the episodes followed a pattern. Two-thirds would be devoted to the case of the week while one-third would be devoted to the latest development in Michael trying to clear his name from the burn notice. Of course, that formula wasn't always true (mid-season and season finales, for example, were almost always burn notice exclusive). The two plot lines would overlap each other as the episode progressed. This meant that there was something for the casual or new viewer in every episode, although you obviously wouldnt follow everything that was happening. They got away from this in the last season, but it held true for most of the shows run.\n\nThis show was something you didn't find much on TV, or at least I didn't pure action and adventure. Every episode had stunts and chases and explosions. Okay, so they might be on a smaller scale than youd find in the movies, but I often felt like I was watching an action movie as I watched an episode. Occasionally, the low budget would come into play, but most of the time Id believe what I was seeing, too. While you knew the good guys would win in the end, the odds were often so overwhelming I was left wondering exactly how that would happen.\n\nOf course, when I think about action, I tend to think the characters will be shallow. Thats not the case here at all. Granted, there is more time with a TV show to develop characters, but I felt all of the main characters were great. Even a few of the recurring characters got some development, which made me love them, too. The main actors were great at bringing their characters to live every week. I never found a poor performance in the bunch.\n\nAnd I cant leave out the humor. Despite the high stakes and the action, this show mixed in a liberal dose of dry wit, either in Michaels voiceover narration or in the banter between the regulars. No, it wasn't a comedy, but it did help lighten the mood, and I often laughed at a line or exchange.\n\nWhile they did occasionally leave Miami in the later seasons, most of the episodes were set and filmed in Miami. The gorgeous weather and tropical feel certainly helped give this an escapist feel that I enjoyed.\n\nUnfortunately, the show did have its flaws. The first was the on-going story of Michaels burn notice. Somewhere around season 3 or 4, it got pretty convoluted and hard to follow. It even seemed like what happened one week contradicted what happened in a previous episode, but maybe that was just me. Either way, I just gave up trying to follow that storyline too closely and just enjoyed the case of the week. Eventually, they did get the burn notice back under control and it started making sense again.\n\nThe other flaw was probably more personal, but I found it got darker in tone in the second half of season six through the end of the series. For a show that dealt with some pretty hardened criminals each week, the show had managed to stay light up until then. However, as the odds went from overwhelming to staggering, I didn't enjoy it quite as much. I did like how the series ended, on the other hand, and I definitely plan to watch and enjoy it again.\n\nThe show lasted for seven seasons on the USA Network, and each season had roughly sixteen episodes (some had more and a couple had less). This set combines all the previous released, so you get 111 episodes of the show. Extras include a very few commentaries, deleted scenes, bloopers, and a few featurettes on the stunts and other behind the scenes fun of the show. There is nothing new if you've been collecting the series all the way along. The only thing you are missing is the Sam Axe prequel movie which was filmed, aired, and released separately.\n\nDespite the flaws, I really did enjoy Burn Notice. If you are looking for some fun action with great characters, you will find you enjoy the series as well. Fans new and old will enjoy being able to watch these episodes whenever they feel like it thanks to this complete series set.","Product: Shawn (James Roday) and Gus (Dul Hill) brave uncharted territory when they add music to a murder mystery centered around Jack the Ripper. When a mad playwright escapes from a psychiatric hospital, the body count begins to stack up. All signs point to Zachary Zander, or Z, whose Ripper-inspired play went down in flames years prior. Could it be that Z is out to exact revenge on those associated with his failed production? Toes will tap and heads will roll in this suspenseful yet comical feature-length musical, featuring the long awaited return of Yang (Ally Sheedy, The Breakfast Club), who holds the key to Zs master plan.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: I See Singing, Dancing, and Laughs in Your Future\n\nReview: There have been whispers for years. Then it was a sure thing. Then the hype started. Finally, the world was treated to the best singing and dancing murder mystery in December 2013. Im talking, of course, about psych: The Musical. And two days after it hit airways, its already hit DVD. Rush out and buy it.\n\nIn fact, if youve been wanting to get into this show but were afraid of being lost after seven seasons this wouldnt be a bad place to start. While a former villain plays a major role in things (and makes references to previous appearances), the first song gives much of the set up for the show.\n\nAnd what is that set up? Shawn Spencer (James Roday), is a thirty something clown who has found a way to use the super observations skills drilled into him by his father, former cop Henry (Corbin Bernsen). Instead of becoming a cop like his dad, he pretends to be a psychic and helps solve murders for the Santa Barbara police department. In on the charade is his best friend and partner in crime solving Gus (Dule Hill). While his now girlfriend Juliette OHare (Maggie Lawson) believes him and Captain Vick (Kirsten Nelson) goes along with things because of Shawns results (while being skeptical at times), its Chief Detective Lassiter (Timothy Omundson) who is openly disbelieving in Shawns ability.\n\nWhich brings us to this case. Zachary Wallace Zander, aka Z, (Anthony Rapp) has escaped from the psychiatric prison where hes been held captive for seven years. He was arrested after killing a critic of his new musical play about Jack the Ripper and by locking him in the theater and setting it on fire. The only person who can help them track this danger man down is Yang (Ally Sheedy), a serial killer that Shawn and Gus have tangled with before. But will she provide them real clues or is she toying with them again? Can they catch Z before he kills again?\n\nNow fans of the show are already yelling at my description of the set-up. Before you watch this episode, just know that it was originally filmed and designed to air during the recently completed seventh season. The fact that it was held until December for a big event means that a few things that happened late in season seven haven't happened yet. Know that going in, and youll be fine.\n\nWhat this show always does brilliantly is combine mystery with comedy. In fact, I often think of this show as a comedy more than a mystery. That combination is in perfect unison here. Yes, there is a mystery. Yes, we want to know how Shawn will solve it and what is really going on. However, there are so many great moments, lines, and gags that I was laughing the entire way through. While season seven wasn't the strongest for the show, this two hour movie is the perfect example of just how wonderful the show can be when it is working on all cylinders.\n\nWhat about the singing and dancing? Im glad you asked. Yes, they do set it up a bit as to why the characters are treating this as a musical, however, most of that doesnt come until the end. Either way, by the end of the first song, I didn't care I was already having that much fun. The cast is very talented and they pull off the singing and dancing without missing a beat. The first two songs are brilliantly funny, and there are some other classic moments later related to singing and dancing. The only cast member who doesnt participate in the musical part is Corbin Bernsen, and according to him, thats a good thing for us. Ill just take his word for it, but even his non-participation gives us a laugh.\n\nCasting a Broadway star as the main suspect in this episode makes sense, and Anthony Rapp fits into the world of psych perfectly. While I wasn't always a fan of the original Yang episodes, I did enjoy seeing her again here. And the rest of the guest stars are good. The main cast is great as always. They are once again obviously having fun, and thats translates perfectly for us.\n\nThis DVD contains not only the two hour episode itself (well, 88 minutes if you don't count the commercials), but also includes a CD of the soundtrack. Not bad for the price of a movie.\n\nSo if you are looking for a light musical comedy with murder (and who isnt?), be sure to check out psych: The Musical. Youll be laughing and tapping your toes before you know it.","Product: After Castle's stunning romantic proposal to Beckett, what happens next? TV's magnetic crime-fighting couple faces a whole new set of challenges as they juggle wedding plans and their most intriguing cases yet in ABC's CASTLE: THE COMPLETE SIXTH SEASON. Beckett's new job with the Justice Department takes her away from the wisecracking love of her life. But Castle's devotion to his new fiancee -- and her fascinating line of work -- jeopardizes her career and creates a chain of events that might separate them forever. Back on the home front, Castle is none too pleased to discover his daughter has seemingly been captivated by, and now living with, her new, free-spirited boyfriend. It's a season of surprises you won't want to miss! Experience every engaging moment of CASTLE's brilliant sixth season, complete with all 23 unforgettable episodes, plus never-before-seen bonus features only available on DVD.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: \"When We Do This, Let's Not Do the Dead Body in the Middle of the Aisle.\"\n\nReview: There seems to be this superstition about a show going downhill when you get the main characters together, and many shows fight against it for far longer than they should. But ultimately, it is all about how you handle the characters as a couple, and the sixth season of Castle proves just how great it can be.\n\nThe season picks up at the season five cliffhanger. Author Richard Castle (Nathan Fillion), unaware that Detective Kate Beckett (Stana Katic) has decided to take a job with the FBI in DC, proposed to her. In typical Castle fashion, the response was equally parts funny and touching. The result is that we get a season of Castle and Beckett planning a wedding. (Really, did you expect her to say no? The whole premise of this show is about their relationship.) However, Beckett also takes the job with the FBI, and we spend a few episodes with that before things get back to normal.\n\nNormal, of course, being Castle following Beckett around helping her solve murders in New York City and getting ideas for his Nikki Heat books. Over the course of the season, they solve such mysteries as a former TV star, a case the FBI is interested in. Theres a case where their prime suspect claims to be from the future. Someone is killing the doppelgangers of the members of the precinct. Theres a murder at Castles high school (well, one of his high schools). And Who do they believe when multiple people confess to a murder knowing details only the killer would know.\n\nNathan Fillion decided as the season began that he wanted to work fewer hours, a move I can understand since being the lead in a show and pretty much in every scene can make for a very exhausting schedule. As a result, Detectives Javier Esposito (Jon Huertas) and Kevin Ryan (Seamus Dever) get more screen time, even getting some sub-plots in various episodes while they took more of an active role in solving the cases. Honestly, I appreciated seeing more of them and watching how their characters developed. They are actually featured in one of the best episodes of the season, which finds them trapped in a burning building as Ryans wife (played by Seamuss real life wife Juliana Dever) goes into labor. This didn't hold true for Captain Gates (Penny Johnson), who was still around in her usual number of episodes this season. She doesnt seem to get quite the same amount of development she did last season, but when they give her moments to shine, she really does. Medical examiner Lanie (Tamala Jones) is still around like shes always been and provides some great moments as well.\n\nUnfortunately, Fillions reduced schedule meant a bit less screen time for Castles mother Martha (Susan Sullivan) and daughter Alexis (Molly Quinn). Alexis in particular was missing in much of the second half of the season. Im wondering if, like her character, Molly Quinn is in college.\n\nThe episodes themselves continue to entertain. The mysteries are rather formulaic but decent, and really they are just an excuse to visit the characters each week. We get the usual assortment of quips and one liners as the characters solve the mystery of the week; that humor is one reason I have always enjoyed this show. There are the darker episodes, most noticeably surrounding one particular ongoing story, but they always surround them with some of the lighter episodes of the year.\n\nBut as I hinted at earlier, Castle and Becketts relationship is still at the heart of the show. However, now that they are engaged, the writers have given the characters more depth than ever before. It is truly remarkable watching them interact with each other in their private moments. Castle is showing remarkable maturity when the situation calls for it, and Beckett is showing a vulnerability I never would have expected from her. In fact, some of these scenes are my favorites from the season and one in particular could land in the top 5 overall for me. (That first kiss between them as a couple will always be number one.)\n\nThis added depth is no problem for the actors at all. By this point, they know the characters and are able to put everything they have into the performances. Everyone in the main cast is top notch again this year.\n\nNot to say that this season doesnt have some issues. Many (probably most) fans hated Pi, the new boyfriend that comes home with Alexis from her trip over the summer. His fruitarian ways are designed to annoy Castle. Frankly, I found him a fun foil for Castle, but many fans hated his guts, wanting to see him become the victim of a killer in an episode. As you are watching, just keep in mind that he is only a guest star, not a new main character.\n\nThen theres the season finale. It sets up a problem that is supposed to be fun but seems out of character for Beckett. When that is resolved, we then get a cliffhanger. Again, Im not as annoyed as some fans are (I was actually kind of expecting it). However, if they don't resolve it correctly come the season seven premier, I will be revising my opinion of the show runners.\n\nOn the other hand, a long running story was successfully wrapped up this season. Im glad to see them know when they had dragged it out long enough. I was thrilled with how they resolved it and think they made the right call.\n\nThere were 23 total episodes in season 6, and all of them are collected in this set in their native wide screen and full surround. Extras include commentaries on four of the episodes, including one from the point of view of the characters Ryan and Esposito. There are also deleted scenes, bloopers, a day in the life featurette, and one where cast and crew talk about their favorite parts of the show, which includes a never before seen scene from season 4.\n\nWhile there are some flaws for some fans, I found season six of Castle to still be very entertaining. Even if you don't like the elements I named, they are easy enough to skip over so you can still enjoy the new highs and lows for the characters in this set. After six years, the show is still fun and entertaining, and I cant wait to see what happens next.","Product: An aspiring nun in pre-WWII Austria leaves the abbey to become a governess for the widower Captain von Trapp's seven children and finds herself falling in love. Beloved worldwide, The Sound of Music includes unforgettable songs including Edelweiss, Do-Re-Mi, My Favorite Things, and The Sound of Music.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: The Hills Are Indeed Still Alive with the Sound of Music\n\nReview: Over the last decade, TV has become about serialized dramas and reality TV. Thats why NBC took a big risk with their recently aired The Sound of Music Live! It was a one night only performance of a classic stage musical. And it was aired live (well, on the East Coast). Plus it was family friendly entertainment. While this kind of thing used to be a staple of TV, it hasn't been done in years. The gamble paid off ratings wise, and I enjoyed it as well.\n\nJust in case you aren't familiar with the musical, it tells the story of Maria (Carrie Underwood). She is planning to become a nun in 1930s Austria, but she doesnt quite fit in to the convent. The Mother Abbess (Audra McDonald) sends her to Captain Von Trapp (Stephen Moyer) to be the governess for his seven children. While she wins their heart, the captain is winning hers. But with Germany threatening to invade any day, does any of it matter?\n\nNow before I go any further, there are some complaints I have seen about this musical that I need to set straight.\n\nTHIS WAS A FILMED VERSION OF THE STAGE MUSICAL. THIS WAS NOT A NEW VERSION OF THE MOVIE.\n\nAnd yes, that is an important distinction and it comes into play in two important places.\n\nThe first is the music. The famous Julie Andrews movie rearranged a couple of the songs, added one, changed one, and took out two. This version stuck to the original stage play. That means Maria and Mother Abbess sing My Favorite Things before Maria leaves the convent and Maria sings The Lonely Goatherd to distract the kids during the lightning storm her first night with them. Additionally, you won't see I Have Confidence at all. The only change from the movie they kept was the love song. The Captain and Maria sing Something Good instead of An Ordinary Couple. Honestly, neither of these songs rises to the level of the rest of the classics from this play, but I do prefer Something Good a bit more.\n\nThe other place the fact this is a play comes into production is the sets. This was filmed in a soundstage, so yes, the times when the characters are supposed to be outside look fake. But I expected that going into it. They didn't spend a year in another country filming on location. They spent three hours filming the entire thing from start to finish. When you consider that, the sets look pretty good to me. Think of something youd see for some sitcoms, and youll be fine. And honestly, when Ive seen this play down before, Maria sings The Sound of Music with just a curtain behind her and we have to use our imagination to come up with the mountain shes on. This is already a huge step ahead of that.\n\nCan you tell I feel passionately about this? Thats because after being an extra in the party scene, I have long wanted someone to create a filmed version of the play. Yes, I love the Julie Andrews movie. I will always love the Julie Andrews movie. I consider it a classic. But that doesnt mean it isn't untouchable. That is how one group of people interpreted the story, but others can do it again. (Yes, its the play goer in me talking.) As I said, the original movie took out two songs, both of which I love, but this version put them back in the story. Both are fun, and they help develop Elsa and the Captain, which makes him a better love interest and us care a bit when he and Elsa break up. The reordered songs reveal different things about different characters. And the play is more grounded in the German/Austria politics of the time than the movie, which make the climax feel more like part of the story. Oh, and the play is also kinder to Rolf and Liesel at the end than the movie.\n\nOf course, the movie shows a bit more of Maria and the Captain falling in love than the play does. Its very little, but it does help. And the filming on location absolutely helps. While the dance numbers here are certainly fun (I was smiling as I watched them), they don't compare to the ones from the movie because a movie used many more locations and inventive dance moves.\n\nSo lets discuss the biggest weakness of this filmed play version of the story Carrie Underwood. Those who criticize her acting are correct. I certainly found her watchable, and she seemed to relax as the play went forward, but she was stiff early on. Really, I would call it unpolished more than bad. Then again, others in the cast had their moments that seemed a bit awkward. For the most part, they were fine, however, and Stephen Moyer really impressed me with how he made the Captain so much more real than Christopher Plummer ever did. I can actually see why Maria would fall for him here.\n\nHonestly, one thing that would have helped the actors is a live audience in the studio. There is nothing like a live audience to help bring a performance to life. Ive found that with the little bit of skits and plays Ive done. There are laugh lines in this play that fall flat no matter who says them without an audience to laugh at them. The energy of an audience makes a huge difference. While the cast did a good job, it could have been so much better with someone there to encourage the actors.\n\nOne place I cant fault anyone is the musical numbers. All the classics you love are here, and they sound wonderful. If I didn't know Carrie was a country singer, Id never know it from this play she lost all of her twang for the part. The choreography is fun, too.\n\nSo which is better? As I said, the Julie Andrews version is a classic, and this filmed play is not going to shake that at all. But that doesnt mean we cant enjoy this one, too. I plan to enjoy both for years to come depending on which one I am in the mood to watch. Its nice to have a choice since I like both the stage version and the movie version of this story.\n\nSo sit down with an open mind and give the filmed play a chance. You just might find some new moments in The Sound of Music Live! that youll enjoy.","Product: In a distant corner of the galaxy, Luntar the Looter is menacing passing ships and stealing their power sources. When a dark shadow falls on the sunny, beach-filled planet of Tootanny, the USS Applepies fleet is deployed to put a stop to this space pirate. Captain Cuke (Larry) and first officer, Mr. Spork (Bob) hop in their space-ion wagon posing as undercover Tootany tourists to find Luntar. Along the way, Cuke and Spork discover that the villain is himself a victim, desperately trying to save his planet from solar burst popcorn meteorites. When Luntar s nephew splits his sandwich and juice box with the captured Applepies crew, he presents a simple solution to everyone s problem. Will Captain Cuke invoke the Galactic Law of Finder s Keepers, or will he finally learn that when you have enough to spare, you have enough to share ?\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: \"In Space, No One Can Hear You Scream Excessively Loud.\"\n\nReview: Its been quite a few years since we have Veggies in space, so when I saw the newest episode in the long running VeggieTales series would be Veggies in Space: The Fennel Frontier, I was excited. I was hoping it would prove plenty of laughs, and it did.\n\nAs the episode opens, Larry the Cucumber is hanging from a rope over the countertop. Despite his requests for help getting down or getting warm or getting something to eat, all his friends aren't willing to share what they have with him. That reminds Bob the Tomato of an e-mail asking about sharing, and it sends us off to space.\n\nWe join the crew of the USS Applepie as they get involved in a dispute over some newly discovered mewantium. But thats just a precursor (I suspect really a time filler) to the main story in which Captain Cuke (Larry) and his first mate Mr. Spork (Bob) set off to discover why the planet Fennel is stealing all power from anything that comes close to it. When they arrive, they find that the planet is not the resort community it once was and it appears that it's ruler, Luntar the Looter (Mr. Lunt) has turned into a space pirate. Why is he stealing all the power? And can sharing really help solve the problem?\n\nIts been a while since there was an episode that had humor clearly geared for the parents in the audience. Dont misunderstand, the video is still completely clean and appropriate for all ages. But being a scifi spoof (Star Trek most prominently, but there are plenty of other references), there are spoof jokes that the kids won't get but will crack up their parents. I know I was laughing at quite a bit of the show.\n\nAt times, the lessons in these shorts can be pretty heavy handed these days. While it is obvious here that sharing is good, it is worked into the show in such a way that I didn't feel preached at. And there is certainly nothing wrong with teaching kids that sharing is a good thing.\n\nThe new silly song is Asteroid Cowboys, with original verses and a chorus inspired by Home on the Range. Its pretty amusing if not quite a silly song classic.\n\nAll told, Veggies in Space: The Fennel Frontier is a great addition to the VeggieTales series. Youll laugh and be reminded that God wants us to share.","Product: Thousands of years ago, a race of beings known as Dark Elves tried to send the universe into darkness by using a weapon known as the Aether. Warriors from Asgard stop them but their leader Malekith escapes to wait for another opportunity. The warriors find the Aether and since it cannot be destroyed, they try to hide it. In the present day, Jane Foster awaits the return of Thor although it has been two years since they last saw once another. In the meantime, Thor has been trying to bring peace to the nine realms. Jane discovers an anomaly similar to the one that brought Thor to Earth. She goes to investigate, finds a wormhole, and is sucked into it. Back on Asgard, Thor wishes to return to Earth but his father, Odin refuses to let him. Thor learns from Heimdall, who can see into all of the realms, that Jane disappeared. Thor then returns to Earth just as Jane reappears. However, when some policemen try to arrest her, an unknown energy repulses them. Thor then brings Jane to Asgard to find out what happened to her. When the energy is released again, they discover that when Jane disappeared, she crossed paths with the Aether and it entered her. Malekith, upon sensing that the time to strike is now, seeks out the Aether. He attacks Asgard and Thor's mother Frigga is killed protecting Jane. Odin wants to keep Jane on Asgard so that Malekith will come. Thor disagrees with his plan, so with his cohorts, he decides to take Jane away. He enlists the aid of his brother, Loki. Unfortunately, Loki's motivations remain unknown.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: \"Do You Even Know What These Things Do?\" \"No.\" \"Neither Do I.\"\n\nReview: I'm still trying to catch up on movies I missed in the theater in 2013. One of those was Thor: The Dark World, so when I saw a friend had bought it, I snagged it right away. (Yeah, I watched it that week and returned it.)\n\nThe story picks up after TheAvengers. Thor (Chris Hemsworth) is busy fighting across all the realms to keep any dark and powerful forces at bay. As a result, he is being treated as a hero and his father Odin (Anthony Hopkins) thinks that he might be ready to become king.\n\nThe one thing holding him back is Jane Foster (Natalie Portman). He loved this mortal woman, much to Odin's dismay. However, she has just stumbled on an anomaly in London that could kill her. Even worse, it means the Dark Elves, a race that had supposedly been defeated a millennia ago, want her to drain this anomaly from her and use it to take over the nine realms.\n\nI have noticed some issues with superhero movies. The first one is always an origin story, and it slows the movie down while we wait for the hero to gain their powers and come to terms with it. Then, in the sequel, they have to up the stakes by giving us two villains. I actually have to respect this movie because it doesn't try to do that. Instead, it just tells us the next chapter of the story with the next villain. Okay, so you could argue there is an army, but they act as one, therefore one villain.\n\nThis allows time for some character development, which I felt was a strong point of the film. Through the action, we got to know many of these characters better, which made us care about the outcome.\n\nHowever, I must admit I was disappointed with Jane in this movie. Yes, the love interest is pretty much there just to get in trouble and provide motivation for the hero. However, I felt her character was weak and worse than normal. Definitely wish she had played a bigger role before the climax.\n\nOn the other hand, there's Tom Hiddleston's Loki. The character is so rich and troubled, you can't help but sympathize with him even though he's the villain. Yes, I do love to hate him.\n\nThe acting by everyone is wonderful no matter how big or small a part they play in the overall film. As a Chuck fan, I have to give a special shout out to Zachary Levi who took over the Fandral role since Josh Dallas was tied up with Once Upon a Time. (An interesting bit of trivia, Zachary was the first choice for the character in the first movie, but he couldn't do it because of Chuck. Full circle and all that.)\n\nLikewise, the special effects are wonderful. While I wouldn't expect anything less from a movie of this magnitude, I wasn't disappointed.\n\nWhich brings us to my other minor complaint about the film, the climax. Yes, the final battle has to be epic, but here I felt like it was a bit too frenzied with too much going on. As a result, I also felt like it went on a tad to long. I'm being nitpicky here, I realize, but that is how I felt.\n\nOverall, Thor: The Dark World was a fun sequel that was well worth watching, and one that extends the Marvel Universe. I'm enjoying watching this universe expand with each film.","Product: Case-cracking psychic detective Shawn Spencer (James Roday) and his best friend Burton Gus Guster (Dul Hill) have their hands full getting to the bottom of crime-filled conundrums around Santa Barbara. From a prestigious paranormal police consultant convention to zombie nightmares, Shawn and Gus need all the help they can get as new hijinks and tests arise for your favorite sleuths in this eighth and final season of Psych. Witness every episode back-to-back and uninterrupted of the final hilarious season featuring a gaggle of guest stars including Mira Sorvino (Romy and Micheles High School Reunion), Tom Arnold (Sons of Anarchy), Loretta Devine (The Client List), and Bruce Campbell (Burn Notice).\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Bit Over the Top, but Ultimately Satisfying End to psych\n\nReview: All good things must come to an end. The trick for a TV series if figuring out when that end should be. For psych, that end came with the shortened eighth season. And while some of us fans definitely think the show went on a little too long, it went out on a high note.\n\nWhen last we saw our heroes, life in Santa Barbara was changing, and not for the better. Chief Vick (Kirsten Nelson) had been replaced as chief of police and head detective Carlton Lassiter (Timothy Omundson) had been demoted to beat cop. The only person the changes had helped was Juliet O'Hara (Maggie Lawson) who was now head detective. And our heroes? There was no place for consultants and especially psychics, so fake psychic Shawn Spencer (James Roday) and his best friend Gus (Dule Hill) were definitely out on their own.\n\nBut don't count them out so fast. Shawn and Gus manage to worm their way into a case when Lassiter gets great news that turns him into a coward. And when coroner Woody (Kurt Fuller) gets taken hostage, Shawn and Gus are again in the thick of things. Before the season is out, a new chief of police is named, we meet up with a recurring character in England, Shawn's dad Henry (Corbin Bernsen) sells the house where Shawn grew up, and everyone flashes back to the 1960's to solve the murder of the mayor's uncle. In one of the best episodes of the season, Shawn and Gus go undercover to find out who killed their favorite food truck owner. Trust me, this one was hilarious.\n\nThe season was mostly enjoyable, but was a bit over the top. Looking back on the show, the writers have been letting Shawn and Gus's antics get crazier and crazier as the series has progressed. They are certainly funny, and I enjoy watching them, however, they need to be reigned in at times. Many of these episodes would improve if they just didn't let the characters get quite so out of hand.\n\nIn an interesting choice, one of the first season episodes is remade. Yes, it is even set back in 2006. I watched both episodes back to back, and frankly, I'm not sure what the point was. Again, there were more antics (not necessarily a good thing, although some were amusing), and it was interesting to watch them spin things with a different killer. A few of the in jokes and stabs at remakes were certainly fun, however.\n\nAnother issue the season had was the cast. I'm not talking about the acting, which was always good. But Maggie Lawson was just some of the episodes because she had taken a job on Back in the Game on ABC. Frankly, that hurt because her character often provides some of the much needed grounding of the show. Likewise, Kristen Nelson's Chief Vick wasn't in enough episodes.\n\nBut honestly, to get a good glimpse at this season, you need to take a look at the final two episodes. The penultimate episode was \"A Nightmare on State Street.\" I was expecting one of their horror movie spoofs with Bruce Campbell as a guest star. This episode involved zombies and a mystery that made no sense at all. Between the dreams and the reality, it was almost impossible to follow any semblance of a story.\n\nThen there's \"The Breakup.\" The series ender was perfect. There was a good mystery to solve as everything was brought to a close. There were some great shout outs to the fans and plenty of good moments between the characters. The final scene was possibly one of the funniest of the series. I couldn't have been happier with how it ended.\n\nAnd honestly, with how this season was structured, I'm surprised it took everyone so long to officially announce this as the final season of the show. With fewer episodes than normal and an actual story arc to the season, I saw this coming months ago and felt certain of it as the season progressed. It would have been very hard to keep the series running even if they had cut out the final episode and saved it for another time. I do think they made the right call. While I enjoyed most of the season, it is time to say goodbye, and as I said, the finale was perfect.\n\nThe season includes all 10 episodes on 3 discs in their native wide screen and surround sound. Extras include some deleted scenes, a gag reel, and a podcast with various members of the cast and crew on almost every episode. The biggest surprise to me was the inclusion of the wonderful musical episode that aired back in December. It was filmed as part of season seven but held until December and then released on DVD by itself. I'm glad I waited so I can get it as part of this set. Finally, there's a behind the scenes on the musical and a goodbye featurette.\n\nThe over the top antics of Shawn and Gus were a bit too much during the final season of psych. Still, the loyal fans will be happy with these episodes and happy with how the show ends. I will definitely be rewatching several of them over the years and will gladly welcome season eight to my DVD collection.","Product: Two Frogs! One Pig! Intrigue! Music! Mayhem! Muppets! Theres plenty of fun for the whole family as Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Animal and the entire Muppets gang head out on a world tour. But mayhem follows the Muppets, as they find themselves unwittingly entangled in an international crime caper. Now Kermit is behind bars at the mercy of prison warden Nadya (Tina Fey), and the Worlds Number One Criminal, Constantinea dead ringer for Kermithas taken his place. As Constantine and his dastardly sidekick Dominic (Ricky Gervais) plot the robbery of the century, they are pursued by Sam Eagle and Interpol agent Jean Pierre Napoleon (Ty Burrell). Will Constantine get away with his nefarious scheme? Will Kermit escape in time to save the day? Disneys Muppets Most Wanted is the most hilarious, most wanted Muppet movie ever! Mickey Short "No Service"\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Looks Like They Put the Reviews Up Early. Or is That the Suggestion Box?\n\nReview: I was one of the few (it seems) who wasn't thrilled with the recent attempts to bring back The Muppets franchise, so I didn't rush out to watch Muppets Most Wanted. I did, however, go ahead and buy the movie when it first hit Blu-Ray. And I just got it watched if that tells you anything. But I am thrilled I bought it and am kicking myself for not watching it sooner because this movie is wonderful.\n\nThe movie picks up right after the end of the last one. Literally. I mean, it opens with the The End fireworks. Clearly, this means that studio has ordered a sequel. And as the Muppets brainstorm a plot, they hit on a perfect story and things get under way.\n\nFlushed with the success of their come back (from the last movie), The Muppets have decided to go on an international tour. They have signed up with Dominic Badguy (its French and not pronounced as it looks. Really! Would he like to us?) (Oh, and hes played by Ricky Gervais.) who will help arrange the dates and locations for this tour. And they start in Europe Germany to be exact.\n\nHowever, Constantine, the number 1 villain and worlds most dangerous frog, has managed to escape from the Russian gulag where hes been held. Hes a ringer for Kermit the Frog except for a mole. As Kermit gets captured in Constantines place, Constantine pretends to be Kermit and uses their tour as cover for his evil scheme. Will anyone realize the switch in time to free Kermit and save the day?\n\nOkay, so its not the most original plot, but I didn't care. You know why? I was having so much fun along the way it really didn't matter. The action was fast moving and actually held up pretty well with no major plot holes. Okay, I don't expect perfection from the Muppets, but still, there wasn't anything that made me roll my eyes. There are even some tender moments between the characters as the movie went along.\n\nFirst and foremost, this movie remembered that it was a comedy, and thats why I loved it. The jokes were plentiful and rapid fire. In fact, Im sure I missed some as I was laughing at the one that had just come before. The laughs start with the opening number and continue right until the end.\n\nAs always, there are plenty of cameos that added to the fun. Ill leave it to you to figure out who appeared. The main three human stars are Ricky Gervais, Ty Burrell, who plays an inspector that teams up with Sam the Eagle to try to track the mysterious bad guys, and Tina Fey, who plays the chief at the gulag. The song Tina sings when we first meet her is hysterical. All three of them are top notch making us believe in the magic of the Muppet world. The Muppet performers are great as well. Truly, there isn't a bad moment in the film.\n\nThat includes the songs which never slow things down but always advance the story or provide us with wonderful laughs (usually both).\n\nThe Blu-Ray has three versions of the film. Theres the original theater cut, the Unnecessarily Extended Edition, and the Statler and Waldorf cut. Youve already spent longer reading this review than it would take to watch the Statler and Waldorf cut (and I think you). Still, its good for a quick laugh. And I must take exception to the name of the Unnecessarily Extended Edition. Thats actually the one I chose to watch. Afterwards, I watched the opening scene in the theatrical edition. Some of my favorite jokes in that first scene had been cut for theaters. Seriously, you need to watch those extra 14 minutes. You will thank me as the jokes are so funny.\n\nAnd really, thats what makes or breaks a Muppet movie or show of any kind. As I said at the outset, Im glad I bought Muppets Most Wanted because I will definitely be watching it again. Its light, fun entertainment that will leave you laughing.","Product: JENNIFER SHANNON loves scouring garage sales to look for items to sell in her resell shop, but when she realizes a series of burglaries and a friend s murder may have a connection to the sales, she not only helps the cops, but does some undercover sleuthing of her own. As she gets closer to the truth, she becomes the murderers next target. Now she must fight for her own survival in order to solve the mystery and bring her friend s killer to justice.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Not a Rare Fine, but a Fun Movie\n\nReview: Of the Hallmark Mystery and Movie Channel franchises, the one that seems to be doing the best features a woman who loves garage sales. I find that ironic since it is based on a series of books I haven't heard of. In fact, best I can tell, there are now more movies than books in the series. But since I am a fan of star Lori Loughlin thanks to her days on Full House, I sat down to watch the first, Garage Sale Mystery. I found it entertaining but lacking.\n\nJennifer Shannon (Lori Loughlin) loves garage sales, heading out every Saturday hunting for any bargain she can find. Most of those bargains she then sells at her second hand shop. Since she is out every week, she often sees the same people over and over again.\n\nWhich is why she becomes curious when she hears of a string of robberies in the area she usually shops. Some of the houses that have sales are being hit the next week. When she finds an old friend dead a couple of days after another sale, Jennifer really becomes concerned. Is another regular a killer?\n\nMy main issue is that the mystery is fairly light. Yes, there are a couple of cool connections that are made, but I had the main plot pretty much figured out before the half-way point. That never happens since I tend to over think things, so I found that disappointing.\n\nAdd to that the usual Hallmark original movie syndrome. There are a couple of jumps that the movie made I had to struggle to follow, and a romance between the detective in charge and Jennifers daughter, while certainly cute, felt a bit rushed.\n\nHaving said that, I did enjoy watching this movie. It was nice to see a mystery with a main character who is happily married and who is old enough to have a daughter in college and a teenage son. Most of the time, the main characters in the books I read are late 20s or early 30s and single. While the romance with the daughter felt forced, the scenes between her and the detective were very cute and made me laugh. And I absolutely love how Jennifer and her husband interacted and the obvious love between them.\n\nI don't know what it is about Hallmark productions, but they exude a certain atmosphere both in the production and the acting. That certainly creeps into the acting here as well; its not that the acting is bad, but it isn't the best it could be either.\n\nWhile Garage Sale Mystery wasn't an outstanding beginning, I certainly did enjoy it and the characters enough to be willing to revisit them. Since I have the rest of the films on my DVR, Im sure I will be doing that soon.","Product: Jackie Chan stars as Asian Hawk, a master adventurer tasked with retrieving lost bronze heads, originally a part of an ancient Chinese collection of zodiac busts. While wealthy entrepreneur Lawrence (Oliver Platt) dangles an enormous reward for such a find, Hawk deploys his array of high tech devices as he travels the world to help unearth the missing relics. Caught between a monster payday and the restoration of Chinas past, Hawk jumps into battle, using his death-defying skills to help thwart Lawrences destructive plans, while hoping to secure the remaining bronze heads before its too late.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: A Mess of a Movie - See it for the Fight Scenes Only\n\nReview: Back in the day, I saw several of Jackie Chan's movies and enjoyed them, however, I'd hesitate to call myself a big fan of his work. Still, I remembered the fantastic fight sequences, so when my roommate brought home Chinese Zodiac and asked if I wanted to watch it, too, I agreed. Sadly, it should have been much, much better.\n\nJC (Jackie Chan) has been hired to track down the twelve bronze statues of the animals from the Chinese Zodiac any way necessary. That's a good thing since he is a thief for hire. These particular statues were stolen from the Chinese one hundred and fifty years ago. A few are popping up in the market, but no one knows where all of them are. Can JC and his team follow clues to track them down?\n\nNow often, I will say that the plot is just an excuse for the action. That doesn't necessarily mean the plot is bad, it just means the plot is just setting up the action. In this case, it means the plot is bad. It jumps from plot point to plot point with no real explanation or at times logic. A few of the complications felt like the writers saying, \"We need to have another fight sequences, so let's introduce pirates.\" Yes, you read that right, real day pirates make an appearance. The climax, while thrilling, also made little sense and came out of nowhere just to give us an awesome final fight scene.\n\nCharacter development? Again, much of that is forced. Things are thrown in at random that are supposed to help us identify with the characters better. This was still happening in the final, wrap up scene of the film. Instead of liking the characters, it made me laugh at the clumsy way it was handled.\n\nI'm willing to give the actors a pass on the acting. The film was a mix of sub-titles, accented English, and voice over. Between the three, I was so busy trying to follow the story that the acting wasn't a big issue for me. It wasn't good, but it was horrible, either.\n\nWhat was horrible was much of the voice over work. Many of the actors delivered it with such flat voices that I was pushed away by the woodenness of it. I felt like these \"actors\" just wanted a paycheck and didn't care about the final outcome.\n\nAlong with this, we get preached at about who should really have stolen artifacts taken from the original peoples are displayed in European cities. I actually agree with what the film was trying to say, I just hated the way it was said.\n\nSo why watch the film? For the action sequences. The opening epic scene is worth it for the sheer fun of the film alone. There are many other great scenes scattered throughout the film, including a fight entirely on a couch. No, I'm not joking. And the climatic moments just be seen to be believed.\n\nEven so, I highly suggest renting the film, or better yet borrowing it from someone else who has rented it like I did. There is no reason to watch this film more than once. After you've seen the action scenes, you'll have no desire to watch Chinese Zodiac again.","Product: After being gone for five years, during which he suffered unimaginable ordeals, billionaire Oliver Queen returned home to Starling City with a mysterious agenda and a set of new skills that he uses in a war on crime in this hard-hitting action series. Reinventing the DC Entertainment character for a modern-day audience, the Arrow is not a super hero ... but a hero -- every bit as formidable as the criminals he's hunting. Determined to right his city's wrongs and sworn to bring justice to those who have corrupted it, Oliver (aka The Arrow) -- with the help of his iron-fisted right hand, John Diggle, the tech-savvy Felicity Smoak and the newest member of the team, Roy Harper -- narrowly defeats the vengeful Slade Wilson, his onetime ally and mentor on the island of Lian Yu. But like all wars, there are casualties. Sacrificing herself for her children, Moira Queen falls at the hand of Deathstroke, sending Oliver's sister, Thea, into self-imposed exile with her biological father, Malcolm Merlyn. Now, to honor his fallen friends and family and protect the people he loves, Oliver must rededicate himself to his cause -- to become a beacon of hope for those most in need, and a weapon of justice against those who prey upon them. He is The Arrow.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: You Arent SCPD. Unless Police Uniforms Have Gotten Very Interesting, Neither Are You.\n\nReview: Ive discovered just how hooked I am on superhero shows. Granted, I always knew I liked the genre, but they are taking up an increasing amount of my TV viewing time, and Im not complaining. Its been a recent development, too, since Arrow is the oldest of the shows Im watching, and it just finished up season three, which was another season well worth watching.\n\nSeason three picks up a few months after the second season ended. Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell) is hoping to buy back control of Queen Consolidated, but he fails when the company goes to billionaire Ray Palmer (recurring guest star Brandon Routh). Felicity (Emily Bett Rickards), however, continues to work for team Arrow while helping Ray on secret projects at his company as his second in command.\n\nMeanwhile, Olivers sister Thea (Willa Holland) has been out training with her father Malcom (John Barrowman), and Oliver and Diggle (David Ramsey) go out to bring her home. Things are actually looking relatively quiet until a murder rocks everyones world. With a new villain coming to town screaming for justice, Oliver has to figure out what happened. Meanwhile, Laurels (Katie Cassidy) world is rocked and she takes another step toward her destiny. But who is the killer? And what can Oliver and his secret identity do about it?\n\nAs if often the case with TV shows these days, it would be really hard to jump in here. Yes, its only season 3, but due to the ongoing nature of the story, youll miss out on a lot of character development. With all the characters involved (and Ive left a couple out, actually), the season hits the ground running. So start from season 1. Not that youll regret it.\n\nWhile Arrow has never been a light show, this season definitely went even darker than the previous two. At times, that was good. We got to see great growth in the characters and some wonderful acting by the cast. On the other hand, it reached a tipping point late in the season, and I began to feel like it was just too much. Fortunately, the season did turn around and end on a lighter note, and the rumors Im hearing about season four indicate it will keep that lighter tone.\n\nNot that this season was completely dark. Ray Palmer added some fun as he tinkers with his inventions and works on seducing Felicity. Speaking of Felicity, her mom shows up for two episodes, and Charlotte Rosss performance in this guest role was absolutely wonderful.\n\nIn some ways, this season of Arrow was overshadowed by its spinoff, The Flash. I absolutely loved that show, too, but why am I bringing it up now? There was a crossover event early in the season and the characters popped up on each others shows several times, often revealing key plot points when they did that. You don't absolutely have to watch both shows, but its so much fun youll definitely want to do so.\n\nThe show continues to be filled with great stunts and effects. Its amazing what this show does on a TV budget each week. The actors are at the top of their game as well. I get the impression that they really do love their jobs, and it comes through in their work.\n\nThe flashback storyline this season does wind up tying into the season storyline, but, as always, I felt it was the weakest part of the show. On the other hand, watch out for that mid-season cliffhanger. Its a doozy. And as you quickly move on to the next episode, remember I had to wait 6 weeks to watch the next episode.\n\nThe season consisted of 23 episodes, and naturally they are all here in their native widescreen and full surround sound. Extras include two commentaries, deleted scenes, and a gag reel. In the way of featurettes, theres one on the 2014 Comic-Con panel, one on the suits the superheroes wear, one on the set for this seasons villains lair, and one on creating Ray Palmers biggest gadget.\n\nWhile season 3 of Arrow did grow too dark for a while, it was still well worth watching. If you have been enjoying this show, youll be thrilled to add this season to your collection.","Product: Leonard and Sheldon are brilliant physicists--geniuses in the laboratory, but socially challenged everywhere else. Enter their beautiful, street-smart neighbor, Penny, who aims to teach them a thing or two about life. Despite their on-again, off-again relationship in the past, Leonard believes he's found true love with Penny and they have finally gotten engaged. Even Sheldon has found a female companion, entering into a \"Relationship Agreement\" with neurobiologist Amy Farrah Fowler. In their free time, Leonard and Sheldon continue to enjoy frequent trips to the comic book store and fantasy role-playing games with their ever-expanding universe of friends, including fellow scientists Koothrappali, Wolowitz and Wolowitz's adorable microbiologist wife, Bernadette.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Are They Making Fun of Us? Yep. I Miss the Old Days When I Couldnt Tell.\n\nReview: At some point, all shows go through a slump. Its almost impossible to keep the quality of the laughs up year and year no matter how great the team is behind the show. Honestly, Im still waiting for that to happen with The Big Bang Theory. Here we are at season 8, and Im still loving it.\n\nFor those who have missed the show, it centers on a bunch of physicist. Leading the pack are roommates Leonard (Johnny Galecki) and Sheldon (Jim Parons) who are friends with Raj (Kunal Nayyar) and Howard (Simon Helberg), Howard being the only engineer of the core group. The series started when Penny (Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting) moved in across the hall from Leonard and Sheldon. Things have changed, and now Leonard and Penny are engaged, although they still have the same living arrangements. Over the years, Howard has married Bernadette (Melissa Rauch) and Sheldon has started dating Amy (Mayim Bailik). Even Raj has a steady girlfriend this year in the form of recurring character Emily (Laura Spencer).\n\nAt the end of season seven, Sheldons reaction to changes in his life lead him to leave town on a cross country train trip. As the season opens, he calls requesting to be picked up. Why? Hes been robbed. That brings him back to the characters home base of Pasadena, California, but he has to start processing the changes in his life. One of those changes finds him teaching a class at CalTech for the first time. The catch? His only student is Howard. Howard, meanwhile, has to find a way to throw out the first pitch at a baseball game. Penny leaves behind her dream of acting for a job working pharmaceutical sales at the same company where Bernadette works, although the door might not quite be closed on acting. Raj has to deal with the fall out of his parents divorce. The ladies spend an evening uncovering each others shameful secrets. And the entire gang puts on a prom on their roof with hilarious results. And we got more of Stuart (Kevin Sussman), the owner of the local comic book store, who was living with Howards mother while his store was rebuilt, much to Howards dismay.\n\nThe season took a bit of a somber note when actress Carol Ann Susi died in November. While never seen, she had provided the off screen voice of Howards mother since the start of the show. As a result, the writers killed off her character mid-season, providing some well done more somber moments. It also provided some great storylines late in the season as Howard and Bernadette started working on moving into her home. I especially loved a ping pong battle episode.\n\nThe shows detractors complain that, while it started out as a love letter to geeks, it has now evolved into a show about the characters and their relationships with their significant others. They do have a valid point. If you go back and watch the early episodes, the subject matter is often different.\n\nBut heres the thing I don't care. And why not? Because Im still laughing. The jokes are just as funny. Even if I see them coming, I still cant help but laugh as the characters deliver the lines.\n\nAnd heres another reason it is a good thing. Humans grow and change. The best characters, the ones I love the most, grow and change as well. If the show tried to stay to the same with the same characters and relationships they had in the first few years, I would be bored with it by now. Instead, its a show I look forward to watching every Thursday night and the only show I have my DVR record the reruns for. Thats right, I laugh just as hard at the reruns as I do the first airings of the show, and I never miss a chance to watch the reruns.\n\nDespite the changes, there are still plenty of jokes at geek culture and geeky things. After all, they built an entire episode around Leonard and Sheldon trying to visit Skywalker Ranch. The ladies know more than they are willing to admit about the things their men love. Its a fun show with a fun dynamic.\n\nAnd the acting continues to be great. All the main actors know their characters by this point, and their portrayals are perfect. The recurring characters are fantastic as well and Laura Spencers Emily fits right in as well. Honestly, I wish wed see more of her.\n\nThis season consisted of 24 episodes, which are all included here in their wide screen and full surround. Extras include a salute to the fans, highlights from the 2014 ComicCon panel, a tribute to Carol Ann Susi, and a gag reel.\n\nSo if you need to laugh, I highly recommend The Big Bang Theorys eighth season. These episodes will fly by all too quickly, and youll be left wanting to know what happens to everyones favorite geeks next.","Product: Veggie pals Laura Carrot and Junior Asparagus have a big job to dosave their beloved Celery Park from being destroyed! Laura and Junior plan a fundraising concert with the formerly famous Groovy Brothers, but the bandmates refuse to play together because of an old grudge. All hope of saving the park seems lost until the group remembers that God forgives without question, so why can't they do the same? Will the band reunite to save Celery Park? Find out in this fun, music-filled VeggieTales adventure.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Groovy Lesson in Forgiveness\n\nReview: Maybe it has happened before, but right now I cant think of a time that VeggieTales covered a lesson a second time. But thats the case with Celery Night Fever, the latest offering from this long running series. And with how long it has been running, Im only surprised they haven't circled back around to forgiveness before now since they last tackled this topic in their second video. Anyway, this is a great new story.\n\nWe open on the countertop as Bob the Tomato and Larry the Cucumber are about to introduce the new story. Only they are interrupted by Jerry and Jimmy Gourd who are upset because Larry ate the entire pie that the trio had made together and were supposed to share. (And since Jerry and Jimmy and their appetite were introduced in that long ago third episode, I find it appropriate.) Jerry and Jimmy are furious and say they will never forgive Larry, but Bob thinks he has just the story for them.\n\nAnd so we roll film to hear the story of Laura Carrot who is fighting to save Celery Park from a developer. After Junior Asparagus doesnt follow through (again) with his part of the plan to save the park, she breaks off her friendship with him and tries to come up with a new plan on her own.\n\nThat plan involves her grandfather (Larry the Cucumber, and I don't think I want to know how that is possible). See, back in the day he was one of the leads in The Groovy Brothers, a disco band who got their start in Celery Park. If Laura can reunite the band, maybe they can raise the funds to buy the note from the developer. But why did the group break up? Will it keep them from coming back together? Can Laura save the park? And what about her friendship with Junior?\n\nThe story really shows how unforgiveness can keep you apart from people you love, and I like that. The actual forgiveness part seems to happen pretty quickly and for no real reason, but thats a minor complaint. Overall, the message is clear and strong without being too preachy.\n\nAlong the way, we get plenty of fun moments, most of which the adults will probably enjoy more than the kids. There are lots of references and throwbacks to the 70s since this is a disco themed episode. While still not the peak of the series, I grinned several times throughout the story. Heck, I got a huge kick out of Archibald being one of the other members of the Groovy Brothers. Plus they brought Kalil back as well.\n\nThe music certainly adds to the fun. There are quite a few new songs, and they are all good. Several of them have a disco flavor, and they will get stuck in your head, so be forewarned.\n\nUnfortunately, the new Silly Song is the weak point of the disc. Perfect Puppy actually does star Larry and Bob as Larry is anxious to get a new puppy. (I really thought it might star Achmetha who has been obsessed with puppies since Esther.) Its amusing, especially at the end, but its not one of the better ones.\n\nOne word of warning. There is a brief interview with Terry Crew, who plays the onion developer who is trying to buy and close the park. As he is talking about how excited he was to get the call to play the part, he takes the Lords name in vain. Now if you read my blog regularly, you will see positive reviews of plenty of things with swearing in them. However, in something aimed at Christian kids, this was a surprise and totally out of place. But if you just avoid that special feature (and its easy to do), youll be fine.\n\nOn the whole, Celery Night Fever proves to be entertaining and it shows why we need to forgive others. Kids will definitely enjoy it and be singing the songs before you know it.","Product: Mirabelle and her traveling family band, the Veggie Tones, are determined to make their next gig at Vegetable Square Garden. On their journey, a fierce winter snowstorm hits, and the family gets stuck at a run-down resort! Mr. Beet, the grumpy manager, makes them sing - and clean - for their supper. Why is Mr. Beet such a beast? And can Mirabelle s kindness change him? Find out in this hilarious and heartwarming tale of unconditional love!\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Sure. Lets Just Stay Here Because Nothing Bad Ever Happens at a Creepy, Dark Hotel.\n\nReview: Last October, I bemoaned yet about Christmas story from the folks at VeggieTales and hoped theyd give us something new this year. I was delighted this year to see them release Beauty and the Beet. Yes, there are some Christmas lights and evergreens in the background, but this is a story that can be watched and enjoyed any time.\n\nAs Bob the Tomato is introducing this episode, Larry the Cucumber runs in. Hes gotten an emergency letter (you can tell because it was handwritten in crayon!) from a girl who is wondering how to handle the new mean girl at her school. Larry has just the story and introduces their take on a familiar fairytale.\n\nMirabelle (voiced by Kelly Pickler) is the lead vocalist for her familys traveling band, the Veggie Tones. They are just starting out, but with a hit song, their fame is rising, and theyve just been invited to perform at Vegetable Square Garden. Certain this will make their career, her father (played by Larry the Cucumber), sets out just as a snow storm is hitting.\n\nUnfortunately, the storm is worse than expected, and the family is stranded at a creepy hotel in the middle of nowhere. With no money and no bus (dont ask), they just clean and sing for a place to stay under the nasty eye of Mr. Beet, the owner. However, Mirabelle feels the need to reach out to him with Gods love. Can she melt the heart of this man? Will they ever get out of the hotel?\n\nAs if the title didn't give it away, this is obviously a take on Beauty and the Beast. However, they have stripped out any romantic love and made it all about showing Gods love to others. The familiar elements of the story make appearances in different ways that those familiar with the original will have fun spotting. (No magic is involved, however.) The result is very heart warming and really illustrates the lesson that God wants us to show His love to others and just how that can transform them and us.\n\nWhile the lesson is part of the story, this isn't quite as funny as some of the previous entries in the long running series. That said, there is one gag late in the story that is absolutely priceless. It may be my favorite for the last several videos in fact. Im also not quite sure how boys will react to this one, although I certainly enjoyed it.\n\nWith Kellie Pickler voicing the lead character and the story revolving around singers, it should be no surprise that there are lots of new songs. They are enjoyable and really fit into the theme of the story well.\n\nAnd yes, there is a new silly song. Every wondered about the birth of Mac and Cheese? Larry sets the record straight as we go back to his great, great, greatgrandparents and learn how this combination came to be. Its fun.\n\nSpeaking of fun, the one acknowledgement to the season is Deck the Halls, a Veggie Tones video that plays after the show ends. Its pretty funny with a few twists on the classic carol that everyone will enjoy.\n\nUltimate, Beauty and the Beet is sweet and endearing while reminding us that God wants us to love everyone, even those who are hardest to love. It might not be as funny as some entries, but it is still a great lesson told in an entertaining way.","Product: In the high-stakes legal world, contentment doesn't last long. Though Mike (Patrick J. Adams, TV's Lost) has officially left Pearson Specter in favor of a cutthroat investment firm, temporarily placating the pressure of covering his elaborate lie, all is not well. Harvey (Gabriel Macht, Love and Other Drugs) and Mike quickly find themselves on opposite sides of an intense takeover battle. And, with the SEC's fervent advances on Pearson Specter increasing in severity, Mike and Rachel's (Meghan Markle, Horrible Bosses) relationship facing the ultimate test, and Jessica's (Gina Torres, TV's Gossip Girl) impartiality being questioned, personal and professional boundaries are crossed by all. But just when all the pieces begin to fall into place, an innocent conversation between Louis (Rick Hoffman, TV's Samantha Who?) and Mike leads to a potentially lethal revelation. Watch every episode of your favorite legal drama back-to-back and uninterrupted!\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: \"Ready the Dictaphone. We're Going to Need it.\"\n\nReview: This season picks up with Mike Ross (Patrick J. Adams) starting his new job away from Pearson Spector. Hes now working in the world of high finance as a takeover artists for businesses helping with mergers and acquisitions, some of them friendly, some of them not. One of his first clients is desperately trying to hold on to the business hes spent this entire life building against people who want to take it over.\n\nAnd the lawyers working for the other side? You guessed it, its Mikes old friends and co-workers from Pearson Spector as lead by his mentor Harvey Spector (Gabriel Macht). That just complicates life for everyone as they already know each others moves. Caught in the middle is Mikes girlfriend Rachel (Meghan Markle), who also happens to be an associate working under Harvey. Harveys secretary Donna (Sarah Rafferty) is still attempting to keep all the friendships from going nuclear. Also this season, Jessica Pearson (Gina Torres) gets a love interest who wants to work for the firm and Louis (Rick Hoffman) makes a decision that might destroy his life.\n\nThey actually played out the Mike as corporate raider story longer than I thought they would. But that didn't dampen the season at all. This show is always high stakes high drama, and that was the case again. And since we saw both sides, it was hard to really come down on one side or the other, which was nice for a change. Well, until the back half of the season, which picks up a new story arc from the back of the first half.\n\nI actually did have an issue with a character in the back half. Yes, I could see where they were coming from, but their actions were so self-destructive it was hard to watch. Likewise, Im really over Mikes secret and hope they give that a rest for a little while. Yes, I know that is the premise of the show, but Id like it to play a backseat to some other story line again for a while.\n\nHaving said that, yes, I did still love this season. I cant turn away when this show is on the air, and the twists and surprises just keep coming. I never know where a story is going to lead, and I love that.\n\nAnd the actors are still in top form. They know these characters inside and out and hit every note demanded by the scripts. Thats not an easy task, and Im sure the actors are exhausted at the end of a day or work. The results for us are completely worth it. Plus they make their characters likable. It would be easy to hate these characters at times because of what they do, but we always see the humanity behind their choices, especially as they deal with the consequences.\n\nAs usual, the season consisted of sixteen episodes, and they are presented here in their native wide screen and full surround. Extras are light with just deleted scenes, a gag reel, and an extra called Suits Recruits: The Paper Trail.\n\nOnce again, the season ended with a surprise, so I am anxious to see where things go from here. But in the meantime, I will continue to enjoy season four of Suits. Its compelling drama done so well.","Product: Disney proudly presents the award-winning first season of DISNEY MICKEY MOUSE. The whole family will adore these wonderful new cartoons, complete with an exciting \"Making Of\" bonus feature. Join Mickey, Donald, Goofy, Minnie, Daisy and Pluto in a spectacular collection of hilarious animated adventures. Your favorite Disney pals find laughter, adventure and a little mischief as they team up for a whole lot of fun. Bring the family together and create a magical world of entertainment with nineteen unforgettable cartoons on Disney DVD!\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Mickey Makes a Wonderful Return to Shorts\n\nReview: While short animated pieces are beginning to make a bit of a comeback before Pixar and Disney animated features, they don't have the audience they once did. Disney is looking to change that with a series of shorts on The Disney Channel focusing on their original star, Mickey Mouse. The first group of those cartoons are collected in Mickey Mouse Season 1, and any fan of the classic Disney characters will love it.\n\nNow, if you sit down expecting a TV show, you will be disappointed. These harken back to the golden age of the shorts, the late 1930s. There is no continuity between shorts, and there is no attempt to create any. In one, Mickey is making a delivery of croissants in Paris. In the next, hes climbing the Swiss Alps. Goofy is a friend in one, running a lunch counter in another, and a spooky character in a third. Treat each as its own story, and youll be fine.\n\nAnd youll want to treat each one separately because there are some great shorts here. For some of them, Mickey is on his own, such as the short that finds him trying to take a picture of a baby panda at a zoo. Others involve him and Minnie, such as the one where he is trying to avoid causing an avalanche in the Alps while he climbs up to meet her. The rest of the gang can get into the act, such as one where Mickey and Minnie try to fix Donald and Daisys relationship and cause more problems. Then theres poor Goofy who comes along on a date and becomes a third wheel. Speaking of Goofy, he finally has to act like a dog when taking Plutos place at a dog show.\n\nThere are a couple of these shorts that are just weird, or end weirdly, but they are the exception. I find most of them to be fun and creative. Like the old shorts, they aren't necessarily dialogue heavy. You need to be watching to follow the story and catch all the gags. There are some wonderful sight gags in these shorts you will absolutely love, too, worthy of the classics. They do include brief gags that include jabs at characters from Disney animated movies or the parks, and these Easter eggs are always fun to spot.\n\nAbout the only thing that doesnt work for me is the style. They designed it to harken back to the 30s animated shorts, but theyve also included a bit more modern feel to it. Even after watching all of these shorts, it still doesnt quite work for me. I cant completely place my finger on why, but its a small issue.\n\nThis first season consisted of 19 shorts, and they are all included in this collection. All but one are 4 minutes long. That exception is Potatoland, which is close to 8 minutes long. This one finds Donald and Mickey going to great lengths to make Goofys lifelong dream of visiting the potato themed amusement park come true. Fans of Disney parks will absolutely love it.\n\nBecause these are shorts, everything is on one disc. In the way of extras, we get a five minutes behind the scenes featurette with interesting info from the people behind the scenes on how they came to create this new series.\n\nIm now thinking I need to pay more attention to watch the new shorts when they appear on The Disney Channel, and I hoping we get more releases from the series. Mickey Mouse Season 1 is a delight.","Product: The Minions, breakout stars from \"Despicable Me,\" are presented in an origin story that showcases their unpredictable personality and physicality, and pairs them with equally memorable human characters. As it turns out, Minions have existed since the beginning of time. They have evolved from single (yellow) cell organisms into the familiar beings we know, and they live for a collective purpose: to seek out and serve the most despicable master they can find. Academy Award winner Sandra Bullock will lead the voice cast of the human characters as Scarlett Overkill, the world's reigning super-villain of the 1960s.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: The Minions Take Over the World (or at Least a Movie)\n\nReview: Anyone who has seen either of the Despicable Me movies knows about the Minions. They are those scene stealing little yellow guys who mumble mostly unintelligibly and provide many laughs. Because of how hugely popular they are, I wasn't surprised when it was announced they were going to get their own movie. Yet I worried that they wouldnt be able to star in a film. After all, we really cant understand what they are saying. I needed not have worried.\n\nThe movie starts way back in time when the Minions land on Earth and immediately begin searching for the biggest, baddest, most evil person on the planet to serve. After several disasters, they retreat to a cave in the ice to live. However, when they get bored, Kevin hatches a plan to go forth and find them a new boss. Along with Stewart and Bob, he sets off to do just that.\n\nWhen the trio hear about Scarlet Overkill (voiced by Sandra Bullock), they think theyve found the perfect new boss. Shes the worlds first female supervillain pushing boundaries for the 1960s. To prove themselves to her, she asks the trio to steal the crown jewels from the Tower of London. With some gadgets provided by her husband Herb (Jon Hamm), what could possibly go wrong?\n\nThis movie is set in the 1968, and honestly, that is part of the charm. We get some wonderful laughs at the culture of the time, including how the Minions interact with it. The movie also has fun with the idea that bad is good, with plenty of laughs that play on our expectations.\n\nNo, we don't understand more of the Minions language than we did in the past. Geoffrey Rush narrates the extended prologue set in the past. Once the story really gets going in 1968, the interaction with the humans and the actions of our main trio provide all the context we need to understand what is going on.\n\nNow I will freely admit the plot wanders all over the place. Honestly, I still don't quite understand what Overkills master plan was, and a few twists seemed out of left field to me.\n\nBut I just went with it because I was having so much fun. Heck, in a normal movie, I would call the first part of the film rather slow. Instead, I found it incredibly funny. The jokes are plentiful and constant. And the Minions continue to charm no matter that we got a significantly larger dose of them than normal. I laughed the entire way through the film and wasn't ready for it to be over when it ended.\n\nThe voice actors do a fantastic job bringing their characters to life. This goes double for Pierre Coffin, who voices all the Minions. Okay, so he has some help creating the gibberish, Im sure, but he still manages to get some emotion into their lines that makes it all feel real while providing multiple laughs along the way.\n\nWhile the animation style is more caricature than some movies, it works and looks great. Youll be lost in the story before you know it.\n\nSo if youve let hesitation keep you from watching Minions, set that aside today. Pick up this movie and get ready to laugh.","Product: Disney's heartwarming comedy will have your entire family laughing out loud. Based on the best-selling book, it follows the exploits of Alexander as he experiences the most terrible and horrible day of his young life and wonders if bad things only happen to him. But he discovers he's not alone when his dad (Steve Carrell), mom (Jennifer Garner) and family live through their own terrible -- and hilarious -- day. It will tickle everyone's funny bone and warm their hearts as they discover how even on rotten days, families can grow closer.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Family Bonding Over a Terrible, Horrible Day\n\nReview: Alexander Cooper (Ed Oxenbould) is convinced that he is cursed to have nothing but bad days. This morning, for example, he wakes up with gum in his hair and an invitation to a party from the most popular kid in school. The problem? The party is opposite his own twelfth birthday party. Meanwhile, the rest of his family has amazing things happen to them constantly. That night, he makes himself a birthday cake and a wish that his family would see what it is like to have a bad day.\n\nAnd boy do things do downhill quickly for the rest of them. His older brother Anthony (Dylan Minnette) wakes up to a pimple on prom day while sister Emily (Kerris Dorsey) has a cold on opening night of her class play. The promising day his parents had also goes wrong as Ben (Steve Carell) has problems with a job interview and Kelly (Jennifer Garner) hits a major snag in a book launch at her job. Meanwhile, Alexanders life is going right for once. But will any of them survive the as the chaos builds?\n\nAs always when a picture book is turned into a feature film, the writers have to really expand on the premise. Here, the similarities are there, but they could have changed a few names and made this movie without any reference to the book. Still, there are a few nods to the book early on that fans will enjoy.\n\nWhich leaves us to look at this film on its own merits. Its amusing at times, but I cringed at much of the embarrassment humor the film contained. The two balanced each other out as the film progressed.\n\nThe film is fairly predictable, especially since it opens with a shot of the family near the end of the day. Still, it is fast paced enough to keep us interested in seeing just how the family gets there. The characters are developed just enough for us to care, although they are types weve seen before. I did enjoy the ultimate message about the importance of family, however, and I found the acting good.\n\nUltimately, I think this is a film that kids will enjoy more than their parents. Adults might find it amusing once, but they won't see a need to watch it more than that.","Product: Fly into adventure as NBC presents a bold new production of the classic Broadway musical that has delighted audiences for generations. Filmed and broadcast live from New York, this wondrous adaptation of the original Broadway musical tells the beloved story of Peter Pan (Allison Williams, HBO's Girls), a mischievous boy who ran away to have adventures in Neverland and never grow up! This family classic from the producers of Chicago, Hairspray, and Footloose features Academy Award Winner Christopher Walken as Captain Hook and unforgettable songs including \"Im Flying,\" \"I Wont Grow Up,\" and \"Never Never Land\" that will have everyone singing along for years to come!\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: I Dont Think This Version of Peter Pan Will Ever Grow Up on Me\n\nReview: I have long loved the Disney animated version of Peter Pan, and even the live action version from a few years back was fun. (At least I thought so, anyway.) However, the one time I saw the Mary Martin version, I was less than impressed. That was almost enough to get me to skip last weeks showing of Peter Pan Live!, but I decided to give it a try. I should have skipped it.\n\nThis is a musical retelling of the story of Peter Pan, and anyone who is familiar with the story will know what happens here. Peter (Allison Williams) is the boy who won't grow up, and hes found this is possible in Neverland, a land filled with pirates, Indians, mermaids, and adventure. He has found the window of the Darling family and loves listening to the stories Wendy (Taylor Louderman) tells her brothers John (Jake Lucas) and Michael (John Allyn). When they meet Peter, he teaches them all to fly and takes them to Neverland. However, his enemy Captain Hook (Christopher Walken) has just returned to the island with plans to get his revenge. Will Wendy be safe? Will Peter prevail?\n\nOnce again, this is an all new, live performance of a classic musical designed to be broadcast on one night only. The sets were wonderful and were a huge visual draw. In addition to looking great, they allowed for the song and dance numbers and still left room for the camera to capture it all. Pretty impressive.\n\nAnd the story itself is still good. Despite my complaints to come, I cant fault that in the slightest. In fact, Peter is slightly less self-absorbed than he is in other versions of the story, so that is a definite plus.\n\nSo where does this version fail? Part of it is the music. There were two songs I liked, Im Flying and I Wont Grow Up. The rest of them were pretty bad and boring. They didn't make me want to sing along. The dancing was more impressive, and it helped make the songs more bearable, but it could only do so much.\n\nWhile the acting was mostly good, another huge flaw was Christopher Walken as Captain Hook. To me, he looked like he was bored with the entire thing from start to finish. Im not saying that Hook has to be over the top, but he needs some life and menace to him. Any scene he was in was flat. No, he wasn't as bad as Carrie Underwood last year, but it was certainly close.\n\nJust like last year, the performances seemed a little nervous and rushed at the beginning, but as the cast got over their nerves, things smoothed out. Im not going to fault them there at all. In keeping with tradition, a woman played Peter Pan, and Allison Williams was great as the boy who won't grow up. She even made the part where she had to break the fourth wall work, something that Mary Martin certainly didn't do. In a tweak of tradition, Christian Borle played both Mr. Darling and Smee (instead of Hook). Honestly, if I hadnt known, I wouldnt have guessed. The two characters looked and acted so different. He was great. And Taylor Louderman was fantastic in what can be the thankless role of Wendy, breathing life into the character.\n\nSome people complained about seeing the wires when the characters were flying. That didn't bother me in the slightest. Its a staple of Broadway productions, and that is essentially what this is. Even in the old version, you could see those wires, and I found this charming to a certain extent. Besides, how were they supposed to cover them?\n\nThere is one more thing I have to take this production to task for, however the crocodile. No, I didn't expect them to have a real one on stage with the actors. But who came up with that blue monstrosity? No, Im not kidding, it was blue. And it was very robotic in its movements. It was completely laughable and detracted as well.\n\nAs you can imagine, I won't be rushing back to watch Peter Pan Live! again. Instead, Ill stick with the ones I already have when I want to visit Neverland.","Product: Best Buy (USA) Exclusive limited edition.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: \"There's One Other Name You May Know Me By - Star Lord.\" \"Who?\"\n\nReview: Our story follows Peter Quinn, aka Star Lord, (Chris Pratt) a rogue retriever (or thief and smuggler depending on who you ask) who has headed out on his own to retrieve a sphere from a mysterious planet. However, by double crossing the rest of his retriever clan, they now want to punish him. Meanwhile, other people show up to try to get it from him.\n\nThe result is a chase across space and a fight when he tries to sell this sphere. See, it turns out that the sphere is actually wanted in an intergalactic ethnic fight, and it could help one side destroy the other. With so much on the line, Quinn must team up with the very people he was just fighting against, including assassin Gamora (Zoe Saldana), Drax (Dave Bautista), Rocket the Raccoon (voiced by Bradley Cooper), and Groot (voiced by Vin Diesel), to break out of prison and get the sphere into the right hands. Can this new team learn to trust each other enough to succeed?\n\nHaving never even heard of these characters until I started hearing about the movie, I didn't really know what to expect. But before I even got into the theater, I'd started hearing great things about it. They were all correct.\n\nEven without any background going into the film, I thought it did a great job of giving us the background we needed to fill in the pieces of the story. I don't have all the species names quite down, but I could easily follow which side the characters were on, so it was easy to root for the heroes and against the villains.\n\nThe movie never bogs down in exposition. The characters are introduced and the background given as the story unfolds. While it meant I had to pay close attention early on to get everything, I found it entertaining throughout.\n\nThe characters are wonderful. Over the course of the film, we get to know our five heroes quite well, and I like them and the relationships they form. While I didn't quite feel the emotion we were supposed to at the end, that was a minor quibble.\n\nMeanwhile, there's the wonderful humor. There are tons of funny one liners, and at times even a character's expression got a laugh from me and the rest of the audience.\n\nThe acting was great as well. Whether an actual actor or just a voice actor, there was not a false moment to take you out of the fun.\n\nLikewise with the action and special effects. Two of the main characters are computer generated. The movie is set in space. Plus there are several action sequences. Never once did I stop to think about what I was watching; instead, I was pulled into the story and enjoyed every second of it.\n\nBecause Peter left Earth in the late 80's, he's got a cassette tape of music from the 70's and 80's. This forms the basis of the soundtrack, and the producers use it perfectly to reflect the mood and draw even more laughs from the audience.\n\nMy one complaint was the crude language. It wasn't swearing as much as it was other off color words. I'm not quite sure why it bothered me so much here, but it did. Just be aware of the PG-13 rating going in and you'll be fine. (The rating also comes from the violence, which was about what I expected.)\n\nIf you are like me and have no real idea who the Guardians of the Galaxy are, don't miss your chance to find out. This is a fun movie that will entertain everyone who goes to watch it.","Product: From Marvel, the studio that brought you the global blockbuster franchises of Iron Man, Thor, Captain America and The Avengers, comes a new team the Guardians of the Galaxy. An action-packed, epic space adventure, Marvels Guardians of the Galaxy expands the Marvel Cinematic Universe into the cosmos, where brash adventurer Peter Quill finds himself the object of an unrelenting bounty hunt after stealing a mysterious orb coveted by Ronan, a powerful villain with ambitions that threaten the entire universe. To evade the ever-persistent Ronan, Quill is forced into an uneasy truce with an uneasy truce with a quarter of disparate misfits Rocket, a gun-toting racoon, Groot, a tree-like humanoid, the deadly and enigmatic Gamora and the revenge-driven Drax the Destroyer. But when Peter discovers the true power of the orb and the menace it poses to the cosmos, he must do his best to rally his ragtag rivals for a last, desperate stand with the galaxys fate in the balance.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: \"There's One Other Name You May Know Me By - Star Lord.\" \"Who?\"\n\nReview: Our story follows Peter Quinn, aka Star Lord, (Chris Pratt) a rogue retriever (or thief and smuggler depending on who you ask) who has headed out on his own to retrieve a sphere from a mysterious planet. However, by double crossing the rest of his retriever clan, they now want to punish him. Meanwhile, other people show up to try to get it from him.\n\nThe result is a chase across space and a fight when he tries to sell this sphere. See, it turns out that the sphere is actually wanted in an intergalactic ethnic fight, and it could help one side destroy the other. With so much on the line, Quinn must team up with the very people he was just fighting against, including assassin Gamora (Zoe Saldana), Drax (Dave Bautista), Rocket the Raccoon (voiced by Bradley Cooper), and Groot (voiced by Vin Diesel), to break out of prison and get the sphere into the right hands. Can this new team learn to trust each other enough to succeed?\n\nHaving never even heard of these characters until I started hearing about the movie, I didn't really know what to expect. But before I even got into the theater, I'd started hearing great things about it. They were all correct.\n\nEven without any background going into the film, I thought it did a great job of giving us the background we needed to fill in the pieces of the story. I don't have all the species names quite down, but I could easily follow which side the characters were on, so it was easy to root for the heroes and against the villains.\n\nThe movie never bogs down in exposition. The characters are introduced and the background given as the story unfolds. While it meant I had to pay close attention early on to get everything, I found it entertaining throughout.\n\nThe characters are wonderful. Over the course of the film, we get to know our five heroes quite well, and I like them and the relationships they form. While I didn't quite feel the emotion we were supposed to at the end, that was a minor quibble.\n\nMeanwhile, there's the wonderful humor. There are tons of funny one liners, and at times even a character's expression got a laugh from me and the rest of the audience.\n\nThe acting was great as well. Whether an actual actor or just a voice actor, there was not a false moment to take you out of the fun.\n\nLikewise with the action and special effects. Two of the main characters are computer generated. The movie is set in space. Plus there are several action sequences. Never once did I stop to think about what I was watching; instead, I was pulled into the story and enjoyed every second of it.\n\nBecause Peter left Earth in the late 80's, he's got a cassette tape of music from the 70's and 80's. This forms the basis of the soundtrack, and the producers use it perfectly to reflect the mood and draw even more laughs from the audience.\n\nMy one complaint was the crude language. It wasn't swearing as much as it was other off color words. I'm not quite sure why it bothered me so much here, but it did. Just be aware of the PG-13 rating going in and you'll be fine. (The rating also comes from the violence, which was about what I expected.)\n\nIf you are like me and have no real idea who the Guardians of the Galaxy are, don't miss your chance to find out. This is a fun movie that will entertain everyone who goes to watch it.","Product: Noah and his family along with a zoo full of animals take an adventure aboard an orange slice ark.After 40 days and nights of rain, everyones faith has been tested, and they are ready to jump ship.Will they chart a new course, or will they remember to trust God s promises?Grab your umbrellas and find out in this VeggieTales re-telling of the beloved Bible story!\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: The Latest VeggieTales is Flooded with Problems\n\nReview: Its hard for me to write this review. Ive long been a fan of VeggieTales, and I love the story of Noahs Ark, so a combination of the two should be a home run, right? Sadly, thats not the case with this DVD release.\n\nIn answer to a letter to a boy who was hoping for a baby brother but got a baby sister instead, Larry the Cucumber has decided that they should tell the story of Noahs Ark. After all, it shows the importance of trusting God over our own plans.\n\nThis retelling of the story focuses on Noahs son Shem (voiced by special guest Wayne Brady). Hes just returned from his honeymoon and is making all kinds of plans for the house he intends to build for his new wife. However, when he arrives home, he finds the rest of his family building a giant boat in the exact spot where he wanted to build his house. Even crazier, animals start to show up two by two. Will his plans for his new life ever happen?\n\nSo what went wrong? Where to even start. Shem spends the entire video trying to get out of the ark, be it before the rain starts or after the rain has finally stopped. I get that it was designed to build some kind of plot, however that really bothered me. Okay, so Im not the most flexible person in the world, and maybe it was hitting too close to home, but the lack of faith that Shem showed for most of the video really bothered me especially since no one else was questioning what God told them at all. Were talking to the point of trying to rappel out of the ark right before the rain starts. It just seems out of character for anyone in the story.\n\nMaybe my problem with this change is that they use Shem to preach the moral, so instead of feeling natural or entertaining, they have no purpose with it but to drive their point home. If its forced on us and the story, it won't work as entertainment.\n\nCouple that will a complete lack of humor. It used to be that these shows had jokes adults and kids would like sometimes they would even both laugh at the same joke. Jokes for either age are nowhere to be found here. I laughed once or twice, but that was it in the 50 minute video.\n\nThen theres the music. As in there is too much of it. With seven new songs, theres too much time spent singing, slowing down the story. (Wait, maybe thats a good thing since how they told the story failed so miserably.) The songs were just okay at best none are memorable enough to make me wish I had them and a couple get repetitive very quickly.\n\nSadly, that applies to the new Silly Song. My Golden Egg follows Larry as he searches for a special golden egg during an Easter Egg hunt. Theres really nothing silly or fun about it.\n\nThe animation continues to be fine for the series. This isn't big budget animation, but it works. The voices are fun like always as well. Many people are commenting on the new look of the characters, to the point that this new look is scaring their kids. Honestly, I thought Pa Grape and Madame Blueberry (Mr. and Mrs. Noah) seemed a little off, but I really didn't nothing anything major.\n\nAnd I do get the point they were trying to make about Gods plans always being the best. Its an important lesson and one I often need to be reminded of myself. However, this story doesnt serve that purpose at all.\n\nI am actually okay with some of the changes they made to the Noah story. The ark looks like a giant orange, they really, really (really) compress the time it took to rebuild the ark. And we don't see anyone mocking Noah for it. That last one would introduce death into VeggieTales, and I think given the audience they were right to leave it out. They do mention why God is bringing the flood after all. Even the sea serpent wasn't a bad thing (although it felt forced just to add humor when it wasn't as funny as they wanted it to be). They have never stuck faithfully to the Biblical story, so all of these changes alone wouldnt have bothered me. However, the humor and fun they intend to have with these changes just doesnt work. At all. And, again, the way they present Shem to force home the moral just doesnt work for the story they are trying to tell at all.\n\nEven when I don't love a VeggieTales episode, I can usually find something worthwhile in it. In this case, there is no reason to watch Noahs Ark. Skip it and rewatch some of the older, better Bible stories theyve done instead.","Product: From the director of CHICAGO and the producer of WICKED comes a modern twist on the beloved fairy tales you thought you knew. Meryl Streep stars in this epic musical saga about daring to venture INTO THE WOODS. Iconic characters, such as Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk and Rapunzel, find their fates intertwined with a humble baker and his wife, whose longing to have a child sends them on a quest to reverse a witch's (Streep) curse. With an all-star cast, this spellbinding adventure is everything you could ever wish for.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: I Wish to Rewatch Into the Woods as Soon as Possible\n\nReview: With the resurgence of fairytale mash ups in TV shows, middle grade novels, and other pop culture, its hardly surprising that a studio decided it was time to make a big screen version of the musical Into the Woods. After all, it was mixing up fairytales on Broadway back in the late 80s, and has developed a large fan base. I count myself among them since I was introduced to a filmed version of the original Broadway cast production about 15 years ago. As a result, Ive been looking forward to this film all year. I am very happy with the results.\n\nThis movie tells the story of a Baker (James Corden) and his Wife (Emily Blunt) who wish to have a child. As our story opens, they learn from their neighbor, a Witch (Meryl Streep), that they are under a curse from something that the Bakers father had done years before. However, they have a chance to reverse the curse by getting items for a potion for her. They need a cow as white a milk, hair as yellow as corn, a cape as red as blood, and a slipper as pure as gold.\n\nAs luck would have it, their search for those items in the nearby woods coincides with the stories of Jack of Beanstalk fame (Daniel Huttleston), Red Riding Hood (Lilla Crawford), and Cinderella (Anna Kendrick). Will the Baker and his Wife get all the items by the deadline? Will they keep the others from getting their happy ending?\n\nThis is a very fun mash up of all these stories held together by the new tale of the Baker and his Wife. Things pretty much go the way youd expect, but there is plenty of fun to be had along the way. I and the audience I was with were laughing at several of the scenes and lines.\n\nAbout two thirds of the way through the film, things do take an unexpected turn and become darker. This is where I like to say the story turns more adult, but just because of the more serious nature of the story. I absolutely agree with the PG rating of the movie, but there is nothing that comes close to warrant it getting something higher. The darker moments are tastefully done and in keeping with other PG movies.\n\nThe cast truly shines in this film. I was expecting a great performance from Meryl Streep because, lets face it, can she give a bad performance? The rest of the cast matched her performance completely. Even though I was already familiar with the story, I was surprised by some of the nuances that the actors put into their performances just subtle things that made the film much better than the Broadway performance Ive watched numerous times. (Of course, the stage doesnt allow for some of that subtly, but thats a different issue.) This praise flows all the way down to the young cast of Daniel Huttleston and Lilla Crawford. A special note for Johnny Depp fans - despite how he was billed in the movie, he really only has a couple of small scenes near the beginning.\n\nThe fact that this is a movie allowed them to stage some of the musical numbers more creatively. We actually got to see a touch of Jacks journey up the beanstalk in his big song, for example. However, the song that stood out to me the most was The Steps of the Palace. The creative way they did it added some fun to a song Ive always enjoyed and made it much better.\n\nI must also praise Agony. Again, Ive always liked the humor of this song, but this song now brings down the house. Chris Pratt and Billy Magnussen absolutely kill it in this scene. Honestly, it makes me very sad that they left out the reprise of the song from the second act.\n\nYes, fans of the musical will certainly notice differences. Its most noticeable in the second act when they compress the time between acts and cuts parts of this section of the story. Even with the cuts, the emotional punch of this section is just as strong. I saw it with my roommate, who knew little of the story, and he loved it, too. Obviously, this section isn't weakened by the cuts. Yes, there are moments I wish theyd included, and Cinderella seems a bit quick in some of her actions, but its a minor point. This is something only those who love the stage show will miss, and even then its a small point.\n\nOf course, the one thing I was definitely looking forward to with a big screen version was the sets and special effects. Here, the movie completely hit it out of the park. It looks like they are really in the woods. The magic is perfect. We see the beanstalk. You couldn't ask for a better movie visually if you tried.\n\nWhile fans of the stage show will certainly miss a few moments, everyone will be glad they took this trip Into the Woods. I will definitely be buying this movie when it his Blu-Ray and enjoying many repeat trips through this enchanted and musical forest.","Product: From Marvel, the studio that brought you the global blockbuster franchises of Iron Man, Thor, Captain America and The Avengers, comes a new team-the Guardians of the Galaxy. An action-packed, epic space adventure, Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy expands the Marvel Cinematic Universe into the cosmos, where brash adventurer Peter Quill finds himself the object of an unrelenting bounty hunt after stealing a mysterious orb coveted by Ronan, a powerful villain with ambitions that threaten the entire universe. To evade the ever-persistent Ronan, Quill is forced into an uneasy truce with a quartet of disparate misfits-Rocket, a gun-toting raccoon, Groot, a tree-like humanoid, the deadly and enigmatic Gamora and the revenge-driven Drax the Destroyer. But when Quill discovers the true power of the orb and the menace it poses to the cosmos, he must do his best to rally his ragtag rivals for a last, desperate stand-with the galaxy's fate in the balance.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: \"There's One Other Name You May Know Me By - Star Lord.\" \"Who?\"\n\nReview: Our story follows Peter Quinn, aka Star Lord, (Chris Pratt) a rogue retriever (or thief and smuggler depending on who you ask) who has headed out on his own to retrieve a sphere from a mysterious planet. However, by double crossing the rest of his retriever clan, they now want to punish him. Meanwhile, other people show up to try to get it from him.\n\nThe result is a chase across space and a fight when he tries to sell this sphere. See, it turns out that the sphere is actually wanted in an intergalactic ethnic fight, and it could help one side destroy the other. With so much on the line, Quinn must team up with the very people he was just fighting against, including assassin Gamora (Zoe Saldana), Drax (Dave Bautista), Rocket the Raccoon (voiced by Bradley Cooper), and Groot (voiced by Vin Diesel), to break out of prison and get the sphere into the right hands. Can this new team learn to trust each other enough to succeed?\n\nHaving never even heard of these characters until I started hearing about the movie, I didn't really know what to expect. But before I even got into the theater, I'd started hearing great things about it. They were all correct.\n\nEven without any background going into the film, I thought it did a great job of giving us the background we needed to fill in the pieces of the story. I don't have all the species names quite down, but I could easily follow which side the characters were on, so it was easy to root for the heroes and against the villains.\n\nThe movie never bogs down in exposition. The characters are introduced and the background given as the story unfolds. While it meant I had to pay close attention early on to get everything, I found it entertaining throughout.\n\nThe characters are wonderful. Over the course of the film, we get to know our five heroes quite well, and I like them and the relationships they form. While I didn't quite feel the emotion we were supposed to at the end, that was a minor quibble.\n\nMeanwhile, there's the wonderful humor. There are tons of funny one liners, and at times even a character's expression got a laugh from me and the rest of the audience.\n\nThe acting was great as well. Whether an actual actor or just a voice actor, there was not a false moment to take you out of the fun.\n\nLikewise with the action and special effects. Two of the main characters are computer generated. The movie is set in space. Plus there are several action sequences. Never once did I stop to think about what I was watching; instead, I was pulled into the story and enjoyed every second of it.\n\nBecause Peter left Earth in the late 80's, he's got a cassette tape of music from the 70's and 80's. This forms the basis of the soundtrack, and the producers use it perfectly to reflect the mood and draw even more laughs from the audience.\n\nMy one complaint was the crude language. It wasn't swearing as much as it was other off color words. I'm not quite sure why it bothered me so much here, but it did. Just be aware of the PG-13 rating going in and you'll be fine. (The rating also comes from the violence, which was about what I expected.)\n\nIf you are like me and have no real idea who the Guardians of the Galaxy are, don't miss your chance to find out. This is a fun movie that will entertain everyone who goes to watch it.","Product: Experience the thrills, one last time, with Season 6 of television's slickest, most seductive crime drama -- White Collar. The tension has never been greater as Neal Caffrey (Matt Bomer) re-teams with FBI agent Peter Burke (Tim DeKay) in their most ambitious sting operation yet -- infiltrating a sophisticated gang of deadly thieves. With Elizabeth Burke (Tiffani Thiessen) pregnant, Neal desperate for his freedom, and amidst pressure from Mozzie (Willie Garson) for Neal to cut ties with the FBI, the scheme unfolds, culminating in the series' most shocking plot twist of all. Also, only on DVD, join the cast and crew as they discuss their favorite moments from the show's six seasons in the moving retrospective White Collar: Case Closed.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: This is as Close as We can Get to a Happy Ending, I Think.\n\nReview: At the end of the fifth season of White Collar, the shows creator and the USA Network decided to bring the show back for a final season of just six episodes. While it was time for the show to end, I was sorry since I have loved it from day one. Fortunately, with everyone agreeing this was the final season, they were able to go out with the incredibly fun season six.\n\nPlus they were able to resolve that cliffhanger. After all, we had to know just who it was who kidnapped former con man turned FBI asset Neal Cafferty (Matt Bomer). Meanwhile, his FBI handler Peter Burke (Tim DeKay) is doing everything he can to find Neal with the help of Neals non-fed trusting friend Mozzie (Willie Garson). When they do find him, Neal unfolds a very risky plan to take down the most notorious criminal organization in exchange for his freedom. Will Neal finally earn his freedom? Or will the plan backfire?\n\nIf you aren't familiar with the show, you really don't want to jump in here. There are connections, comments, and relationships that won't mean much to you. But really, would you want to jump in to the end of any story? I wouldnt.\n\nHowever, fans of the show will love the way they tie up six years of such a great show. The ending wasn't the one I had hoped for, but it works perfectly for the characters, so I really don't mind. Along the way, we get twists, turns, and suspense that will keep you glued to the TV for every second. In other words, its just like always.\n\nWhat isn't like always is the lack of standalone episodes. With only six episodes to wrap things up, five of them tie directly into this final story arc. The only exception focuses on fan favorite Mozzie, and it is the most fun episode of the season. The rest have their fun moments but are mostly compelling and suspenseful.\n\nWhile Jones (Sharif Atkins) and Diana (Marsha Thomason) pretty much are involved in the main story and nothing else, Peters wife Elizabeth (Tiffani Thiessen) does get her own sub-plot, one that brings her back to New York City. Again, it will please fans, but thats all Im saying.\n\nThe acting and writing on this show have always been spectacular, and this final season doesnt drop the ball at all. Its smart, fast moving, and laced with humor at all the right places brought to life by a talented and amazing cast. You won't be disappointed in the slightest.\n\nThe six episodes from season six are included in this two disc set. They originally aired in widescreen and full surround, and thats how they are presented here. The bonus features include a retrospective from the cast and crew, deleted scenes, a gag reel, and two audio commentaries on the series finale, both featuring creator Jeff Eastin who is joined on one by stars Tim DeKay and Willie Garson and the other by Matt Bomer.\n\nIts always sad to see a favorite show end, but thats why TV on DVD sets were invented. I look forward to spending time reliving Neal and Peters cases again, and White Collar season six is the perfect end to their story.","Product: Kung Fu Panda 2 [Blu-ray]\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: \"Tell Those Musicians to Start Playing Some Action Music Because It Is On.\"\n\nReview: I'll admit I had to get talked into going to see the original Kung Fu Panda, but I quickly got caught up in the story. So when they started advertising Kung Fu Panda 2, I knew I would have to see it. While not as funny as the original, it is still quite entertaining.\n\nThe story picks up at some point after the first movie ends. Now officially accepted as the Dragon Warrior, Po (voiced by Jack Black) is known as a national hero. He regularly joins the Furious Five as they use Kung Fu to defend China from enemies.\n\nUnfortunately, a new enemy is about to return. Shen (Gary Oldman) was banished because of his desire to use fireworks for evil. But there is a prophecy that Shen will be defeated by a black and white warrior.\n\nMeanwhile, Po is beginning to think that he might not be related to his father the goose. He is seeing flashbacks of his old life and begins to think that Shen might hold the answers. Will Po learn the truth? And if so, will Po find the inner peace to defeat Shen?\n\nIn my opinion, there are two kinds of sequels - those that basically rehash the plot and those that try to continue the story. This is definitely a sequel in the later category. Yes, Po still has much training to learn. No, he's not a perfect fighter. But he can hold his own, and the Furious Five have accepted him as an equal. In fact, it is clear early on that he is a much loved member of the group.\n\nHaving said that, the Furious Five are hardly better developed than they were before. Angelina Jolie's Tigress and Seth Rogan's Mantis get the best development, but it's honestly hard to remember who is who from the rest of the five. Really, Po and Shen are the only characters who get a decent amount of development this time around.\n\nI mentioned that this movie wasn't quite as funny as the original, and that's true. There are still plenty of laughs. There are great one liners, sometimes in a least expected places. And the action scenes are often funny as well while still taking the Kung Fu seriously. In fact, I'd argue that the action scenes hold up better here than some of them do in live action movies.\n\nThe computer animation is good, but that's hardly surprising. While there are no breathtaking shots, everything looks fine and there is nothing to push you out of the story.\n\nAnd the voice cast is wonderful. The fact that almost everyone in the cast is a well known actor doesn't get in the way at all. I hardly recognized their voices, instead getting caught up in the story unfolding on the screen in front of me.\n\nSo Kung Fu Panda 2 is a worthy follow up to the original. No, it's not quite as good, but it still entertains.","Product: Snap your fingers, tap your toes and swing into the jazziest jungle of them all in Walt Disney's coolest Classic, The Jungle Book! This animated gem springs brilliantly to life when Mowgli, an orphan boy raised by wolves, is encouraged by his animal friends to leave the jungle before the return of the fearsome man-eating tiger, Shere Khan. With Bagheera (his loyal panther friend) at his side, Mowgli's journey back to the "man-village" begins. Along the way, he is befriended by a free-spirited bear named Baloo, who rescues him from hilarious run-ins with some of the wildest Disney characters ever created - eccentric elephants, a bewitching boa and a be-boppin' orangutan named King Louie! Through it all, it's lovable Baloo who teaches Mowgli the "Bare Necessities" of life and the true meaning of friendship. Filled with wonderful music and thrilling adventures, The Jungle Book is a swingin', singin', song-filled celebration you'll never forget!\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: A Swinging Time in the Jungle\n\nReview: When Bagheera the panther (voiced by Sebastian Cabot) finds a man cub alone in the jungle, his first instinct is to leave it. But he can't stand to do that, so he makes sure the boy is adopted by a family of wolves. As a result, Mowgli (Bruce Reitherman) feels completely comfortable in the jungle. He loves his home.\n\nUnfortunately, trouble is brewing. The tiger Shere Khan (George Sanders) has returned to the area and wants to kill Mowgli. For his own good, the wolf pack decides to have Mowgli return to the man village.\n\nMowgli doesn't want to go, however, and makes life very difficult on Bagheera, who has agreed to take him. In his efforts to stay in the jungle, he crosses paths with Baloo, a jungle bum of a bear (Phil Harris), King Louie the monkey (Louis Prima), a military pack of elephants, a boa constrictor with sinus problems (Sterling Holloway), and four vultures with perfect harmony. But will he leave the jungle? Is Shere Khan on his trail?\n\nThe part of me that is still a kid still loves this movie. It's got some great laughs and lots of fun songs. The main characters are a little underdeveloped, but they are still fun and lovable.\n\nHowever, watching this as an adult, I do notice some flaws. The animation is simpler then it needs to be, although they have some amazing shots of water here. And the voices of some of the supporting characters seem a little flat, like they are reading a script and not really trying.\n\nYes, these are the complaints of an adult looking at the film now. As a kid, however, I loved it. And I'm sure today's kids will love it just as much as I did.","Product: Dive in and rock out with the hottest surf sequel under the sun! Now that summer's over and school has begun, Brady (Ross Lynch) and Mack's (Maia Mitchell) relationship seems headed for a wipeout -- until Lela, Tanner and the \"Wet Side Story\" kids show up! Dazzled by the novelty and variety of the modern world, Lela wants to stay, but the real world and the \"reel\" world just don't mix. Can Mack and Brady find the magic to get the kids home and get their own romance back on track before it's too late? Packed with electrifying song & dance numbers and hilarious fish-out-of-water wackiness, TEEN BEACH 2 is \"wow-abunga\" fun for everyone!\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: It Was Going Great Until the End\n\nReview: Summer is ending for Brady (Ross Lynch) and Mack (Maia Mitchell), which means theyve been dating 3 months now. They have completely bonded over Wet Side Story and their adventure when they found themselves in the movie. However, navigating their new relationship at school proves to be harder than they thought, especially since Mack is so driven by academics and Brady is hiding a secret.\n\nMeanwhile, inside the world of Wet Side Story, things are going wrong as well. Lela (Grace Phipps) has grown disenchanted with her part in the movie. Sure, shes the female lead, but she wants more than just wanting a guy. When she swims off into the ocean, followed by male lead Tanner (Garrett Clayton), the craziest thing happens they find themselves in the real world. Now Brady and Mack have to figure out a way to convince the two characters to return home before they and the movie are erased from existence.\n\nSince I enjoyed the first one, I was looking forward to this sequel. The plot was hinted at with the tag scene of the last film, and it was fun to see how they actually pulled it off. They made lots of references to the first, which is great for the fans, although they did change Brady and Macks relationship some, which was too bad.\n\nThere are several new songs, and they are plenty of fun. The choreography is great as well. The acting is on par with the earlier film, which means some of the characters are over the top, but they are supposed to be given the genre of film we are spoofing.\n\nThen comes the ending. Not to give anything away, but it left me flat. I get what they wanted to do theme wise, but I don't like what it did to two of the main characters. They tried to make it up, but it just wasn't what it should have been given the genre of the film.\n\nThe ending is enough to make me hesitate to watch this film again, but most of the movie is still quite enjoyable.","Product: From Walt Disney Animation Studios comes an extraordinary new collection of award-winning and beloved short films featuring Disney's \"Frozen Fever,\" starring Anna, Elsa, Olaf, Sven and Kristoff, and the Oscar(R)-nominated \"Lorenzo\" (Best Animated Short, 2004). The SHORT FILMS COLLECTION includes contemporary shorts starring classic cartoon characters, such as the groundbreaking 2013 Mickey Mouse Cartoon \"Get A Horse!\" as well as celebrated Oscar winners \"Paperman\" (2012) and \"Feast\" (2014). Enjoy them together for the first time in this must-own collection, with all-new extras, including introductions and interviews with the Disney Animation filmmakers themselves. \"This clever collection of modern era Disney animated shorts is a must-have for any serious film fan.\" (Jim Hill, Huffington Post)\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Twelve Shorts Brimming with Disney Magic\n\nReview: I must admit that I was hesitant to buy the two Pixar shorts compilations that have been released. I had most of them from the various Blu-Ray releases of the films. (Okay, so I didn't hesitate too long, but the thought did cross my mind.) However, the instant I heard about the Walt Disney Animation Studios Short Film Collection I knew I had to get it because I hadnt seen many of the shorts and knew I didn't own them. Im glad I did because there are some wonderful shorts here.\n\nThis disc contains 12 shorts, with release dates ranging from 1999 up to 2015. Yes, that means weve got some hand drawn animation mixed in with computer animation. The shorts range from one about American legend John Henry to a new Goofy short How to Hook Up Your Home Theater and Mickey and Friends in Get a Horse! as well as the sequel shorts Tangled Ever After and Frozen Fever.\n\nThere are quite a variety of styles and subject matters covered in these 12 shorts, but all of them are good. You can definitely tell that some of them are experiments in style. That is especially true of John Henry, which features some artwork that has stitching on the edges and rough sketches on the characters faces. It works for the short, although I don't know that I would want an entire animated feature that way.\n\nA couple of the ones I hadnt seen before feel like they could be part of either of the Fantasia movies. Lorenzo is set to a Tango and features a cat whose tail comes to life thanks to a curse. In classic Disney shorts fashion, it has a few Dont do this at home moments, but it is lots of fun. The Little Matchgirl is also all set to music, but it is a much more somber piece, in fact the most somber short on the disc.\n\nThe ones I had seen before, I really enjoyed watching again. How to Set Up Your Home Theater harkens back to some of the classic Goofy how to shorts, and the results are hilariously funny, partially because they are so true.\n\nThen theres Get a Horse! which is a brilliant piece of animation. It starts out like an old black and white Mickey short, complete with Peg Leg Pete, Minnie, Horace, and Clarabelle. However, suddenly the characters start popping through the screen and winding up as 3D computer animated characters. Any fan of classic Mickey needs to watch it. The gags are wonderful and the result is a new classic short.\n\nFans of Tangled and Frozen will enjoy the respective sequels. In the first, Flynn and Rapunzels wedding day almost turns into a disaster when the rings start to roll away. You won't believe what Pascal and Maximus go through to get them back. There are so many great cameos from the film in this one. Frozen Fever shows us that one kind of cold can still bother Elsa as she tries to create the perfect birthday for Anna. Both shorts feature the return of all the original voices for a true treat.\n\nFinally, there are the brilliant Paperman and Feast. One features love at first sight and how paper plays a part in the couple getting together. In the second, we see a mans relationships grow and change from the viewpoint of his dog and the meals the dog gets. Both are funny and touching and both are well deserved Oscar winners.\n\nAll the shorts here average 7 minutes or so, but they manage to give us full stories, good characters, laughs, and tender moments in that time period. Obviously, some focus more on one than the other, but just because these are short doesnt mean you aren't getting a full story.\n\nIn addition to the 12 shorts in the set, you also get optional introductions to each short by the producers, directors, and writers (or some combination thereof) who worked on each short. Each intro is just under a minute and gives some fun backstory and/or things to watch for. The only other extra is a short documentary hosted by T.J. Miller on the process of creating these shorts. At only seven minutes long, it feels like one of these shorts and really could have been much longer. Still, its worth watching if you are a Disney animations fan.\n\nThe shorts included in the Short Films Collection are fun, and Im glad I have them as part of my collection. Ill enjoy pulling this out from time and time and watching them again, and any fan of Disney animation will feel the same way.","Product: Meet the next generation of villains in Disney's DESCENDANTS! Imprisoned on the Isle of the Lost, home of the most infamous villains who ever lived, the kids of Maleficent (Kristen Chenoweth), the Evil Queen, Jafar and Cruella De Vil have never ventured off the island... until now. Sent to idyllic Auradon to attend prep school alongside the children of beloved Disney heroes, these villainous kids must execute a plan that helps their evil parents achieve \"world domination\" once again! Will Maleficent's daughter (Dove Cameron) and the other rebel teens follow in their rotten parents' footsteps or will they choose to embrace their innate goodness and save the kingdom? Co-starring Booboo Stewart, Cameron Boyce and introducing newcomer Sofia Carson, this wickedly cool comedy adventure is awesome to the core!\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Never Ascended to the Heights I Expected\n\nReview: Ive been hearing for months about the new Disney Channel movie Descendants. I thought it sounded like a lot of fun, and Ive was really looking forward to its premier last Friday night. Wow, was it disappointing.\n\nThe movie tells the story of Mal (Dove Cameron), Carlos (Cameron Boyce), Jay (Booboo Stewart), and Evie (Sofia Carson), the kids of Maleficent (Kristin Chenoweth), Cruella de Vil (Wendy Raquel Robinson), Jafar (Maz Jobrani), and Evil Queen (Kathy Najimy) respectively. Because their parents have been banished to the Isle of the Lost, theyve grown up there and never seen the rest of the kingdom.\n\nHowever, Prince Ben (Mitchell Hope) is about to take the throne of the united kingdom of Auradon, and he wants to give these kids of villains a chance to prove they can be good. Hes selected these four as the first batch to come and go to school, sometimes with the kids of the very people their own parents tried to harm.\n\nBut Maleficent has a plan of her own. If these four kids can just get the Fairy Godmothers (Malanie Paxson) wand, then their parents can escape the island and get their ultimate revenge. Will the kids be able to get the wand?\n\nNow lets dispel the idea that I was upset by this film being predictable. Yes, it went where I expected it to go, but that was fine. I don't mind predictable if I am enjoying the film. It was the rest that went wrong.\n\nFor one thing, there are too many characters. I mean, look at the list of characters I mentioned above, and thats just the start. Each of the descendants have their own sub-plot of character growth, but they aren't developed enough for us to care. The only one that comes close is Mal, and thats because she is really our main character. They should have axed the other three and just really focused on her. As it is, I never got to know the characters enough to care about the outcome.\n\nThen theres the acting. Mitchell Hope, Dove Cameron, and Kristin Chenoweth were all fine, but the rest of the cast hammed it up. This is especially true of the adult villains, who didn't feel like the villains we already love to hate at all. Now, if you check out my reviews, youll quickly see that I can get into cheesy and corny acting and really enjoy it. Here, it was just painful.\n\nOnce Kenny Ortega of High School Musical and Newsies fame was attached to direct, this movie turned into a musical. The songs weren't bad, but they didn't really add much to the film. If that screen time had been spent on character development, the movie would have been better.\n\nReally, it just comes down to character development. We don't know the characters enough to care about the outcome we know is coming, so we are bored waiting for the film to get there.\n\nI had such high hopes for Descendant, but the film just couldn't meet them. I won't be wasting my time on it again in the future.","Product: From the imaginative minds of Disney-Pixar comes a major \"emotion\" picture beyond compare. Experience the hilarious and heartwarming film Peter Travers of Rolling Stone calls \"a flat out masterpiece.\" Do you ever look at someone and wonder what's going on inside their head? Disney-Pixar's INSIDE OUT takes a rollicking journey into the mind to find the answer. Based in Headquarters, the control center of 11-year-old Riley's mind, five emotions are hard at work, led by lighthearted optimist Joy. She strives to make sure Riley stays happy as she operates alongside fellow emotions Fear, Anger, Disgust and Sadness. It's \"an instant classic,\" raves Richard Roeper, Chicago Sun-Times.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: You Will Experience Joy While Watching Inside Out\n\nReview: While I have continued to enjoy Pixars movies, its been a couple of years since they had one that really stood out and was something unique and special. Im happy to say thats just what we get with Inside Out. This is a film that youll be talking about and enjoying for a long time to come.\n\nWe spend most of this movie inside the brain of Riley (voiced by Kaitlyn Dias). Our guide to her brain is Joy (Amy Poehler), Rileys lead emotion. Joy makes sure that Riley is always feeling upbeat no matter what is happening in her life. Okay, so there are some other emotions in Rileys brain, but Joy is the dominant one.\n\nAll that changes when Rileys family moves from Minnesota to San Francisco. Suddenly, Riley is at a loss in this new town where she knows no one. And, to complicate matters, Sadness (Phyllis Smith) is taking over memories without even trying. When Joy and Sadness accidentally get stuck outside the master control center, they have to find their way back. Meanwhile, Rileys other emotions try to fill in for Joy. Will Joy make it home in time to keep Riley from doing something really bad?\n\nAs you might have guessed from that description, this movie isn't all laughs. There are some pretty serious moments, too, so be prepared for that going into the film. But actually, that fits into the theme of the film nicely. Im not going to get into that any more so I don't spoil anything, but I really did like the point the film was ultimately making.\n\nParents will want to know that Riley does make some bad choices in the film. But, they are all treated as such by the story. Just know that going in, and be prepared to talk to your kids afterwards. The film is rated PG, and its a very mild PG film, so there is nothing too bad in it.\n\nBoy, this is sounding like a downer. Lets fix that because this really is a funny movie. There are lots of laughs at situations that Joy finds herself in or how Riley is reacting to what is going on inside her head. No, we don't see too much of the other characters thoughts, although when we do, that is hysterical as well. Speaking of which, watch the scenes as the credits begin for some more great laughs.\n\nAnd the creativity that Pixar has always been known for is in full display here. The places that Joy and Sadness go on their journey home are absolutely brilliant and so much fun. No, Im not spoiling anything here either, but trust me, youll love it.\n\nEverything builds to one of Pixars patented climaxes that will no quit. Okay, so its not as full blown as Toy Story, for example, but there are plenty of complications along the way as everything begins to come together. And yes, they do a wonderful job of setting things up early in the film. This is storytelling at its best. Writer/director Pete Docter and his team deserve full credit for that. (Pete has always directed my two favorite Pixar films, Monsters, Inc., and Up.)\n\nComplementing the story perfectly is the voice talent. Im not super familiar with anyone in the cast, but they are all perfect at bringing their characters to life. Heck, Sadness gets some wonderful laughs, and you know that comes from great acting.\n\nThe animation is wonderful as well. Obviously, most of it is stylized, but the style always fits what is happening to the characters or where they are perfectly. And the few glamour shots they have in the film are breath taking as always.\n\nOpening with this film in the theater is the short Lava. The animation here is stunning, and the story and song are great fun. Youll love it.\n\nPixar truly has knocked it out of the park with Inside Out. You will laugh, you might shed a tear or two, and youll appreciate your emotions that much more. It truly is a winner all the way around.","Product: The next evolution of the Marvel Cinematic Universe harnesses the tiniest but mightiest force know to man and introduces the newest member of the Avengers: MARVEL'S ANT-MAN. Armed with the amazing ability to shrink in scale but increase in strength, master thief Scott Lang joins forces with his new mentor Dr. Hank Pym to protect the secret behind his spectacular Ant-Man suit from ruthless villains! With humanity's fate in the balance, Pym and Lang must plan and pull off a daring heist against insurmountable odds. Filled with humor, awesome special effects and exclusive bonus features, this action-packed adventure takes you to new levels of pulse-pounding excitement!\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: This is Not the Andy Griffith Show. No Whistling.\n\nReview: As Marvel continues to release movies, I am realizing how few of their characters Id even heard of. For example, Ant-Man hadnt even crossed my radar until I heard the film was in development. But, since Ive been enjoying the Marvel movies and knew it would be part of the larger Marvel Cinematic Universe, I planned to watch it.\n\nOur hero this time is Scott Lang (Paul Rudd), a man with a past. Specifically, we meet him on the day he gets out of jail for time he spent after stealing money from a former employer to give back to those who had lost money with the company. This brands him as a hero to some but still makes it very hard to find a job that pays enough to live on and pay the child support he needs to pay in order to be in his daughters life.\n\nWhich is why Scott finally gives in and joins his former cell mate Luis (Michael Pena) on a robbery job. However, when he gets into the vault, he just finds a strange costume. He decides to try it on and next thing he knows, hes shrunk to a very small size.\n\nIt turns out the suit was created by Dr. Hank Pym (Michael Douglas), who wants to recruit Scott to use it to help him stop Darren Cross (Corey Stoll) from using the technology for evil. The two team up with Dr. Pyms daughter Hope van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly), who isn't sure this is a good idea. Can Scott learn to use the powers of the suit before it is too late?\n\nHonestly, I must admit I wasn't sure what to think about this movie before going in. A man who shrinks to the size of an ant? Yes, ants are powerful, but is it really that great a power? Turns out, it really is. This movie is a lot of fun, and they use his powers to great advantage over the course of the film. The science of it all is probably questionable, but it sounded logical enough to me when I was watching it, and I don't care about the rest.\n\nAnt-Man isn't just because Scott shrinks down. Ants are a regular feature of the movie, and I actually like how the various types of ants are incorporated into the film. If you don't like bugs, you will find this a little creepy, but for the most part this is enjoyable as well.\n\nBecause of the size adjustments that Scott goes through, we get even more special effects than normal for a superhero film, or at least different types of special effects. I actually enjoyed seeing the world from an ants perspective, and I found all the effects completely believable. The size differences actually make for some fun and creative action scenes that I really enjoyed.\n\nThe acting is strong as well, with the cast doing a great job of bringing their characters to life. The main trio of Scott, Dr. Pym, and Hope are wonderful characters. While their story arcs are fairly predictable here, I still got caught up in the story rooting for them. Scotts relationship with this daughter is wonderful, and makes a great motivation for his character.\n\nUnfortunately, this movie does fall into the first movie of a superhero franchise trap. It spends so much time on the origins and we know all those beats already. Granted, since I don't know the characters at all, I did need to know what we learned here, so its a very hard line to walk. I definitely did feel that the villain was short changed; hes a very two-dimensional character.\n\nOn the other hand, the references to the Avengers was a lot of fun, and a great way to tie in to the larger movie franchise. There are also some great one-liners that made me laugh. This sense of fun is one reason I keep coming back to the Marvel movies.\n\nNow that Ive met Ant-Man, Im anxious to learn more about him. Im looking forward to seeing him pop up in more movies and even getting his own sequel in a couple of years. Thats pretty big stuff for such a small guy.","Product: Buck Denver has a simple dream - to save the galaxy. Working for the Galactic Mission Board, Buck dreams of carrying God's love to every corner of the Milky Way! Except he doesn't have a starship. Or a crew. Or even a captain's license. He just needs a chance. But when that chance comes and Buck finds himself leading a real mission into deep space, things don't go at ALL like he imagined! Mission to Sector 9 is a wild galactic adventure that teaches kids a powerful lesson about trusting God with everything - even our dreams!\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Boldly Taking the Gospel Where No Man Has Gone Before\n\nReview: This 40 minute video reunites many of the major characters we got to know through Whats in the Bible?, but forget everything you thought you knew about them. Much like how the characters of VeggieTales change their role based on the story, we now find Buck Denver and most of the gang working for Pastor Paul, who has an intergalactic broadcast sending the Gospel to the far reaches of the solar system. Buck and the rest of the crew work in the phone banks, helping people get their tote bags and other goodies. But Buck isn't satisfied. He knows God wants him to do great things.\n\nBuck thinks his opportunity has come when a report of a down transponder comes in from Sector 9. So, under the supervision of Sunday School lady, Buck leads Clive, Owen, and Marcy out to this distant uninhabited planet to fix the transponder so that Pastor Pauls message can still go out. Only when they get there, they encounter danger and aliens. Will Buck succeed in his mission? Or has he doomed his friends?\n\nI honestly had a hard time getting past the new jobs everyone had. It took me longer than expected to get into the story as a result, although it didn't help that the story was slow, period. Yes, Im familiar enough with Star Wars and Star Trek to get the fact that we were getting some spoofs of them, but it just wasn't that funny to me. Instead, I kept waiting for something to happen.\n\nSince we are talking about spreading the Good News we learned about in the earlier videos, I was expecting a little more about that, too. Honestly, I think the initial idea of Buck and his crew working a phone bank a pretty good indictment of many Christians today. However, I didn't feel like the story went much beyond that. But since this is the first of these videos, maybe I was expecting everything at once.\n\nI will say I loved the moral. Buck has to learn that God wants him just to be available, not to look for big things to do Himself. Thats very Biblical. Plus, when you are open to God and His leading, youll find yourself doing bigger things than you ever dreamed even if they aren't what you think are big things.\n\nYes, I am looking at this as an adult, but an adult who has enjoyed much of Phil Vischers previous work. Ive always found good lessons mixed in with fun stories and great jokes. This video had one out of three, at least as far as I was concerned. Kids might enjoy it more.\n\nIts a shame that Galaxy Buck: Mission to Sector 9 isn't more entertaining because it absolutely has a great message for all to learn. Heres hoping that the next Galaxy Buck adventure has more entertainment with its lesson.","Product: When aliens misinterpret video-feeds of classic arcade games as a declaration of war against them, they attack the Earth, using the games like PAC-MAN, Donkey Kong, Galaga, Centipede and Space Invaders as models for their various assaults. President Will Cooper (Kevin James) has to call on his childhood best friend, 80s video game champion Sam Brenner (Adam Sandler) to lead a team of old-school arcaders (Peter Dinklage and Josh Gad) to defeat the aliens and save the planet.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Wonderful Idea Brought Down by Antics of the Cast\n\nReview: Usually, when I see a preview for a disaster or alien invasion flick, I pass on it. That genre just isn't my thing. I feel the same when I see a preview for an Adam Sandler flick since the previews for those usually annoy me. But I had to make an exception for Pixels. A film with classic video games the games I grew up playing come to life? I knew I had to watch it. Sadly, it wasn't as good as I hoped it would be.\n\nBack in the 80s, Brenner was one of the top video game players of the era thanks to his innate ability to recognize the patterns in the games. However, that didn't translate to a well-paying job as the Brenner of today (Adam Sandler) makes his living installing home theater and electronics equipment.\n\nHowever, one day the US Naval base in Guam is attacked by a mysterious enemy, and Brenners best friend Cooper (Kevin James), who also happens to be President of the United States, calls on Brenner for help. He recognize the pattern for what it is, Galaga. With help from conspiracy nut Ludlow (Josh Gad) and his old video game nemesis Eddie (Peter Dinklage), he must help repel attacks from an alien force using 1982 video games against us. Can this unlikely group of geeks succeed?\n\nI had to smile as each new video game enemy was revealed. These were some of my favorite games as a kid, and I could spend hours playing them on my Atari 2600. (I didn't spend as much time in arcades playing the real games, but I loved my Atari.) There are some great lines based on that nostalgia, and the battles were great. Heck, the fight against Pac-Man alone will make any member of my generation smile.\n\nHowever, the nostalgic fun was covered in the haze of usual Adam Sandler immaturity. The main characters are just what youd picture if youve seen one of his movies (or the previews) with the typical immature but supposed to be funny antics, and the movie is filled with PG-13 level sexual jokes. I often found these parts painful to watch; I certainly didn't find them funny, and the very little bit of predictable character development we got wasn't enough to save this aspect of the movie. I will give the actors credit for being good in their various roles, I just didn't like the characters.\n\nI was very impressed with the effects. Naturally, there were a lot of them in the film, and they were very well done. I especially appreciated the fact that the effects for the video game characters were very blocky, perfectly representing the level of graphics we had back in the day.\n\nDo I regret watching Pixels? Not in the least. I think anyone who enjoyed playing the video games of the 80s is going to want to watch it at some point for the pure nostalgia of it. However, the immature characters will keep me from rewatching the film.","Product: Disney and Pixar proudly present a hilarious new animated TOY STORY adventure. During one of Bonnie's post-Christmas playdates, the TOY STORY crew find themselves in uncharted territory when the coolest set of action figures ever turn out to be dangerously delusional. It's all up to Trixie the triceratops if the gang hopes to ever return to Bonnie's room. TOY STORY THAT TIME FORGOT is an unforgettable tale packed with family fun!\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Have I Mentioned What a Fantastic Time Im Having? Its as Plain as the Horn on Your Face.\n\nReview: Disney and Pixar really aren't ready to let the Toy Story gang go. Since the final film came out a few years back, weve been several shorts with the gang and two TV specials (not to mention confirmation that they are making a fourth movie). Not that Im complaining since I love these characters myself. Toy Story That Time Forgot is the second TV special, and fans of these characters will definitely want to watch it.\n\nIts after Christmas, and Bonnie (Emily Hahn) is going on a playdate to her friend Masons (R. C. Cope) house. Shes grab a few of her toys to take along, including Woody (Tom Hanks), Buzz (Tim Allen), and her two dinosaurs Trixie (Kristen Schall) and Rex (Wallace Shawn). Trixie is currently frustrated because she is never cast as a dinosaur in Bonnies play. In fact, she is currently a baby reindeer while other toys get to be the dinosaurs.\n\nMason got a cool new video game for Christmas, and he and Bonnie quickly get absorbed. However, the toys discover that Mason also got a BattleSaurs play set complete with many action figures. Trixie and Rex are excited to be making so many new dinosaur friends. But danger is lurking for Woody and Buzz. Will they survive this play date?\n\nI watched this special when it first aired last year, and my initial impression was that it was a little dark. Rewatching it this year, I found more of the comedy, although a couple of scenes might be too much for extremely sensitive children. Its nothing worse than weve seen in the films, however.\n\nWe can pretty much guess where the plot is going early on, and it doesnt really break any new ground for the franchise, but thats okay because its plenty of fun. There are laughs and memorable moments that fans of the series will enjoy.\n\nIt is a shame we don't get to see more of the regular gang. They do have cameos at the beginning and end, but thats it. However, this is just a half hour special. There just wasn't room for the rest of the toys, especially when you consider the many new toys that we meet along the way.\n\nThe voice cast does a remarkable job bringing the characters to life. You can tell they love these characters as much as we do. The new cast jumps right in and fits perfectly into the story. And while this may be a TV special, the animation looks great.\n\nFans of the Toy Story characters (and really, who isnt) will be glad they sat down to watch Toy Story that Time Forgot. I think I will always enjoy checking in with these friends no matter what format the story takes.","Product: Starring world-class performers and recording artists including Queen Latifah, Mary J. Blige, David Alan Grier, and Ne-Yo, this is NBC's musical television production of The Wiz Live! Staying true to the groundbreaking Broadway show that put a vivid urban spin on the land of Oz, get ready for a fresh, eye-popping new trip down the yellow brick road. Winner of seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical, the original hit Broadway show became a cultural touchstone that also spawned the classic film starring Diana Ross and Michael Jackson. Here, a Tony-winning creative team has brought together the imaginative acrobats of Cirque du Soleil and a cast of extraordinary singers and dancers to create an exciting new version of The Wiz unlike anything seen before.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Ease on Down the Road Again with The Wiz Live!\n\nReview: I must confess, I had never seen The Wiz until NBCs production of The Wiz Live! last week. (Actually, when you consider the number of classic musicals Ive never seen or just seen for the first time in the last couple of years, thats not so surprising). So when I sat down to watch the new version, I had no expectations or preconceived notions. What I discovered was that I was transported into the story within minutes and was having a marvelous time.\n\nEven if youve never seen this musical, you are familiar with the story. Originally created for Broadway and turned into a film in the 1970s, this is the story of The Wizard of Oz. The twist is that it has an all African American cast (there was one exception in the chorus here). Its been updated with some 70s urban jokes and references, and the songs all have a 70s Motown flavor.\n\nJust in case you aren't familiar with the story at all, we follow Dorothy (Shanice Williams), a teen who is living on her aunts farm in Kansas but desperately wants to return to her friends in Omaha. When she gets caught up in a storm, she finds herself in Oz. Her only hope of getting home lies in meeting The Wiz (Queen Latifah), who rules over The Emerald City. Along the way, she meets Scarecrow (Elijah Kelley), Tin Man (Ne-Yo), and Cowardly Lion (David Alan Grier), and they join her, searching for rewards of their own. Will The Wiz be able to help them?\n\nThis is the third in NBCs annual productions where they take a classic stage musical and film a live production of it. Its met with mixed results since live theater without an audience and filmed doesnt always translate well to the screen. In my mind, this production was the best one yet.\n\nAs is always the case, the sets, makeup, and costumes were fantastic. No expense was spared and they looked great. Yes, they are still obviously soundstages, but thats part of the charm of these productions. They are meant to be soundstages and not sets for another film version. Put yourself in that mindset, and youll get swept up into the story before you know it.\n\nThe actors were all top notch this year as well. Of course, thats not surprising when you consider all the greats in the cast. Still, no one was nervous or just going through the motions like Ive felt over the last two years. They were engaging and fun to watch, bringing their characters to life perfectly. The new comers, like lead Shanice Williams, were all perfect as well. In fact, I predict a long, bright career for Shanice; she was fabulous! And in a fun note, Aunt Em was played by Stephanie Mills, who originally played Dorothy when the show moved to Broadway in 1975.\n\nIn fact, that would be my only real complaint about the film. It is obvious that the musical was created 40 years ago, and if you don't like Motown, you won't like the music. Additionally, a few of the jokes were dates. However, I found myself laughing through much of the production since most of the jokes still work, and smiling at the music. Again, know the roots of the film going in and youll be fine.\n\nThere are plenty of dance numbers; this is a musical after all. They were all fantastic, and the cast was a lot of fun to watch as they danced across the various stages.\n\nSince this is essentially a filmed play and not a true movie in the traditional sense, you won't find that many special effects. Smoke and lights help cover some entrances and exits, and you can see the wires when the cast members are flying. The giant puppet used for the Wiz early on is absolutely fantastic and the best effect in the piece. Again, thats how it is supposed to be. About the only thing that seemed a bit odd to me was the storm that transported Dorothy to Oz, but its a minor issue.\n\nIn fact, any quibble I had with this production is a minor issue. It was fun from start to finish. If, like me, you aren't familiar with The Wiz, this live production is the perfect way to view this retelling of an American classic.","Product: From Jerry Bruckheimer, producer of PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN, and Jon Turteltaub, director of PHENOMENON, comes NATIONAL TREASURE. It's the thrilling, edge-of-your-seat adventure starring Academy Award(R) winner Nicolas Cage (1995 Best Actor, LEAVING LAS VEGAS) as Benjamin Franklin Gates. Ever since he was a boy, Gates has been obsessed with finding the legendary Knights Templar Treasure, the greatest fortune known to man. As Gates tries to find and decipher ancient riddles that will lead him to it, he's dogged by a ruthless enemy (Sean Bean, THE LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy) who wants the riches for himself. Now in a race against time, Gates must steal one of America's most sacred and guarded documents -- the Declaration of Independence -- or let it, and a key clue to the mystery, fall into dangerous hands. Heart-pounding chases, close calls, and the FBI turn Gates's quest into a high-stakes crime caper and the most exciting treasure hunt you've ever experienced.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Enjoyable for what it is\n\nReview: Benjamin Franklin Gates is the latest in a long line of treasure hunters. The Gates family has been searching for a treasure hidden by the founders of the United States since the last founder told one of them the first clue many years ago. There's just one difference. Ben has solved the first riddle and that leads him to believe the next clue is on the back of the Declaration of Independence. When his financiers decided to steal the document, Ben realizes he's on his own to find the treasure and keep America's historical document safe. But in a race again time, will Ben and his friends win?\n\nOk, so maybe this movie isn't great cinema or the best movie ever made. It really doesn't matter, and you know why? Because the movie is fun. I had a smile on my face from start to finish and was often on the edge of my seat waiting to see what happened next. Yes, I'm annoyed that we never found out how Ben tracked down the first clue. And there's at least one plot hole that will jump off the screen at you. But in the end, I didn't care. The story engaged me, and the characters were fun. I found their banter very entertaining. Plus setting the story around so much American history certainly didn't hurt this US history buff.\n\nThe DVD could have been better done. The widescreen and surround sound are wonderful. It's the extras where I have my problem. There is a treasure hunt motif to them, with at least two different levels. The booklet does provide clues to get to the second layer, but I keep hearing rumors of a final level, and that's very annoying. What is easily found is nice. There are two deleted scenes and an alternate ending, each with an optional commentary. We get a brief behind the filming documentary and an animated early version of the opening story to give the director an idea how it was supposed to look. Layer two brings an encryption game and two brief documentaries on real life treasure hunters (interesting) and the Knights Templar (mostly useless.) Noticeably missing, at least in the obvious parts of the disc, are such standard features as an audio commentary and the original trailers.\n\nThis movie is exactly what it sets out to be, a fun escape. If looked at that way, you'll be entertained.","Product: Join the rollicking gang at Rydell High with GREASE LIVE, a one-night musical television adaptation of the popular crossover musical 'Grease' performed LIVE before a studio audience! Featuring a talented young ensemble cast, GREASE LIVE will reintroduce and reimagine the unforgettable moments, great music, and timeless love story to an entirely new generation.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: There Was a Reason I Had Been Avoiding This Musical\n\nReview: There is a long list of classic American musicals I had never seen or hadnt seen until the last few years. One of those was Grease. Id avoided it because of some of what Id heard about the storyline. But I couldn't pass when I saw that Fox was joining the live musical bandwagon and producing Grease Live! With people I am familiar with in the cast, I figured this was as good a time as any to watch the movie. Sadly, it was pretty much exactly what I was expecting.\n\nThe musical takes up back to 1959 and tells the story of Sandy (Julianne Hough) and Danny (Aaron Tveit), high school seniors who had met the summer before on the beach. They figure they are going their separate ways until Sandys family moves from Salt Lake City and she attends a new school, the school where Danny just happens to go.\n\nOf course, they cant just get back together. Sandys a good girl with strict parents. Dannys a greaser. Sandy makes friends with a group of girls lead by Rizzo (Vanessa Hudgens), who seems to have a bit of a crush on Danny. Will their very different backgrounds keep them from making their relationship work in the real world?\n\nI can certainly see the appeal of the musical. Even today, 1950s nostalgia is strong, and it was certainly strong in the 1970s, when this musical was first written. The music is fun, and the dancing is top notch. This is an example of the best in the genre from that standpoint.\n\nAnd NCB could learn a thing or two from the production here. Yes, it was all done on soundstages live, but that didn't mean it was anything less than glorious. The costumes and the sets were both wonderful. The effects shots, pretty much reserved for a drag race late in the movie, were top notch. This was a huge step up from the three NBC efforts. There are also some awesome costume changes that compare to the best of Broadway.\n\nLikewise, the acting was better. Oh, Im not comparing it to any of the performances from the classic movie since Ive never seen that. Again, Im comparing it to the NBC live shows weve gotten so far, which have featured acting that can be a bit stiff. And it was a blast watching the cast, which included such people as Boys II Men, Carlos PanaVega, and even Eve Plumb as the female mechanics teacher at the school. I felt everyone did a great job.\n\nI think one different was the live audience, which gave the performers someone to react against. Of course, it was a double edged sword when they used the audience as part of the action. For some scenes it work, but for others, it left me scratching my head. One scene in particular with two sets of bleachers on front lawn of the school springs immediately to mind in the head scratcher category.\n\nNo, my issues with the movie are more with the story. First, theres the question of the timeline. I guess the story takes place over the course of a school year, but it felt to me like maybe a month had passed at most. Either I didn't follow the story as much as I thought I did or they weren't clear on the passage of time in this version.\n\nBut thats not nearly as big a deal to me as the moral of the story. All the conflict goes away when Sandy changes herself and her values to match Dannys. What relationship will last when you change that much for someone? Whats even worse is that from the very beginning, Danny and his friends are shown as shallow teens who degrade women. Trust me, they will not have a healthy relationship. And we even get an object lesson in how they treat women with a storyline involving Rizzo. Considering I hear Never change for a man preached to teenage women, Im surprised this is such a popular musical since it has the exact opposite moral.\n\nSo I guess Im one of the few who will never be a fan of this story. For a new generation, this product is fun, but the moral keeps me from fully recommending Grease Live!","Product: Immerse yourself in a whole new dimension of family entertainment. Bring the 3D experience home with this hilariously uplifting adventure from the creators of MONSTERS, INC. and FINDING NEMO. Part rascal, part dreamer, retired balloon salesman Carl Fredricksen is ready for his last chance at high-flying excitement. Tying thousands of balloons to his house, Carl sets off to the lost world of his childhood dreams. But unbeknownst to Carl, Russell, an overeager 8-year-old Wilderness Explorer who has never ventured beyond his backyard, is in the wrong place at the wrong time -- Carl's front porch! Experience every thrilling moment of their adventure as it comes to life before your eyes in spectacular Disney Blu-ray 3D that will send your spirits soaring UP, up and away!\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Funny in Parts, but Serious in Others. Ultimately, it Satisfies.\n\nReview: When Carl Fredricksen was young, his hero was Charles Muntz. Charles was a world renowned explorer. It was that love that lead him to Ellie, a girl who also idolized Charles. The two eventually married.\n\nThe years went by, and the two never did fulfill their life long dream of visiting Paradise Falls in South America. Buy the time our story really begins, Carl (voiced now by Ed Asner) is a lonely old man. The land around his house has been sold to a developer who seizes on one action by Carl to take away his house, too.\n\nThe night before Carl has to leave, however, he seizes on an opportunity. He blows up hundreds of helium balloons and sets out for South America. He has a stowaway in the form of Russell (Jordan Nagai), a Wilderness Explorer looking to get his badge for helping the elderly. Together, the two set out on a wild adventure that includes a giant bird and Dug, a talking dog (Bob Peterson). Will they reach Paradise Falls?\n\nI've got to admit that the last couple of Pixar movies haven't been the homeruns I've come to expect from them. This movie was perfect in every way, however.\n\nSo let's get the negative out of the way first. This movie is fairly predictable. I guessed most of the major plot points for the first two thirds of the film not too far into it. But, as always, the ride through those elements is absolutely wonderful. And the movie features the return of Pixar's patented climax that will not quit.\n\nThe movie expertly balances comedic and tender moments. This is especially true when Dug shows up. I can't stop laughing at his antics. But a musical montage of Carl and Ellie's life together and the climax also moved me to tears. Some have found it too serious, but I think the two are blended perfectly to present us with an uplifting message on the power of people who love us in our lives.\n\nOf course, they bring all this together with the perfect visuals. Once again, there are some truly breathtaking moments. I don't know how they keep topping themselves in this department, but they do every time.\n\nThe movie is rated PG for mild peril related to a storm early on and elements of the climax. I think only the easily frightened will have a problem with it. Additionally, the movie does touch on death and divorce as it relates to our two main characters. Frankly, I think both are handled well, but parents might want to be prepared to discuss that with their kids.\n\nThis truly is an uplifting movie that will make you laugh and send leave you wanting to hug the ones you love. I may just have a new Pixar favorite.","Product: Experience the epic 13-episode event series, Heroes Reborn, from Tim Kring, the creator of the global phenomenon, Heroes. Kring creates a wildly imaginative and thrilling new volume in the Heroes universe featuring a host of new characters with startling powers. After a massive terrorist attack in Odessa, Texas, evolved humans are blamed for the tragic event, forcing them into hiding or on the run from those seeking retribution. The conflict between humans and evolved humans - dubbed \"Evos\" - escalates into all out civil warfare. Timely, thought-provoking, and startling inventive, Heroes Reborn recaptures the magic of the original series and lays the foundation for the next volume in the Heroes mythology.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Just Like You Remembered It For Good and For Bad\n\nReview: I was one of the loyal few who stuck with Heroes until the bitter end mainly because I knew it was going to be the bitter end. As a result, I was going to skip Heroes Reborn that is until they cast Zachary Levi in the show. I had to give it a chance to see him in another role since I was such a huge fan of Chuck. This show reminded me exactly what the strengths and weaknesses of the original series could be.\n\nOur series opens several years after the events of the Heroes series finale. Evos, as those with abilities have become to be known, were living among us normal people until a horrible disaster strikes and Suresh (guest star Sendhil Ramamurthy) takes responsibility in the name of all evos. Suddenly, they are now enemy number one, and must go into hiding to avoid being tracked down as part of a government program.\n\nOur story opens a year after this horrible attack and follows Tommy (Robbie Kay) and his mother (Krista Bridges), who have spent the last year moving from place to place to hide his ability. Then theres Luke Collins (Zachary Levi) and his wife Joanne (Judith Shekoni) who are hunting down all the evos they can to kill them. Over in Japan, Ren (Toru Uchikado) and Miko (Kiki Sukezane) have made a startling discovery about who she really is. Then theres the young girl in the far north with a strange ability (Danika Yarosh). In the familiar faces department, we have Noah Bennett (Jack Coleman), who doesnt remember anything from the past.\n\nWhat no one realizes is that our world is facing annihilation, and these evos are our only hope. Will they be able to work together to save the world?\n\nAs you can see, the old formula of having a variety of characters eventually coming together for one mission is still in place. At times this was entertaining since the stories were so scattered it was hard to see how everything would come together. And other times, it was just as frustrating because it seemed like the stories were distracting more than anything else. Usually, this frustration came when I felt wed begun to get some traction on our story the previous week only to have very little forward progress the next. Heck, there was one story that still felt like it was just filling time on the show when everything ended.\n\nA few of the old characters did pop up for a few episodes, which was fun at first. I actually began to dread that since I didn't like what they did with many of these old friends.\n\nI already mentioned being a fan of Zachary Levi thanks to his days on Chuck. It was interesting watching him play a very different character. I thought he was great. Likewise, I enjoyed seeing Robbie Kay outside of Once Upon a Time, where he made an awesome Peter Pan. The returning cast slipped into their characters perfectly, and the rest of the new cast were just as great.\n\nIt continues to amaze me when I see how far TV special effects have come. I bought everything I saw on the screen week after week, and since this is a fantasy/sci-fi show there are plenty of effects.\n\nWhen the show was on point, it was still fun. The fantasy filled with some very creative powers works. Unfortunately, the plot still wanders with sub-plots and characters that could have been trimmed or cut altogether. One week Id love the show, and the next Id be bored. In other words, it was just like the old Heroes.\n\nOh, and can we mentioned that they left us with a bit of a teaser cliffhanger even though this was supposed to be a 13 episode event series? Yeah, not impressed.\n\nThe 13 episode event series is captured on four DVDs or three Blu-rays. Extras include two featurettes and some deleted scenes.\n\nDie hard fans of the franchise will want to watch Heroes Reborn. The rest of us can skip this in favor of something that is consistently entertaining.\n\nEnd of volume","Product: Librarian Aurora Teagarden is known around her small town as a master sleuth. When her friend Jane unexpectedly dies and leaves Aurora everything in her will, she also leaves a troubling murder mystery. It is up to Aurora to piece together the clues and solve the murder before she becomes the next victim.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: The Skull in the Window Seat\n\nReview: One of the reasons I switched cable companies this year was so I could get the Hallmark Movies and Mystery channel. (Yes, it was also a little bit cheaper.) Theyve started making some movies I was anxious to see based on cozy mystery series. Within a couple of months, Id recorded a bunch of them, and there they sat on my DVR waiting for me to watch them. I finally got around to watching the first Aurora Teagarden mystery, A Bone to Pick, and I enjoyed it.\n\nAurora (Candace Cameron Bure), Roe to her friends, is a librarian in a small Georgia town who is obsessed with real life murder. In fact, shes a member of the local Real Murders club, which is how she had kept in touch with former librarian Jane Engles (Barbara Wallace) who has always seen a lot of herself in Roe.\n\nWhen Jane dies due to health problems shed kept secret from all but her closest friends, Roe is shocked to learn that she has inherited everything, including Janes house. When Roe heads to the house, she interrupts a burglar. Then Roe finds a skull in the window seat. A note from Jane convinces Roe that her friend didn't commit the murder. But who is the victim? And is one of her new neighbors a killer?\n\nThis sets up a great mystery as Roe must not only figure out who the victim might be but then figure out who had motive to kill this person. The twists and turns were pretty good and kept me guessing until the end.\n\nThis movie is based on a book by Charlene Harris (and if the name is familiar, thats because she wrote the Sookie Stackhouse books that were turned into the TV show True Blood). I have never read the books this film is based on, but I do know that, while this is first movie made from the books, this is actually the second book in the series. I don't know why they chose to do that, but Im not too surprised based on how they are constantly changing the order for the series of movies based on the Hannah Swensen series. Fans of the books will recognize any changes they had to make as a result, but I just went on what I saw here.\n\nI will say I was overwhelmed a bit by the number of characters near the beginning. In addition to meeting the suspects, we also get the characters that make up Roes life. However, by the time the movie was over, I had everyone straight.\n\nHallmark has a reputation for a certain feel from their movies which includes a certain amount of cheese. That is here in full force, and it seeps into the acting a bit. Its certainly acceptable for a made for TV movie, but there is nothing here that will win any awards. Aside from Candace Cameron Bure, the only other name in the cast I recognized was Merilu Henner who plays Roes mother Aida.\n\nIve got to admit, I also had a problem with the premise of the story. Jane is really little more than an acquaintance of Roe, yet she leaves her entire state to the main character? Yes, its so Roe will find the skull and solve the mystery, but it still seemed a bit farfetched. Having said that, once I let that go, I really enjoyed the film.\n\nSo no, this isn't great cinema. But it is a diverting made for TV movie. If that sounds appealing to you, then you will enjoy A Bone to Pick.","Product: What starts as a YouTube video going viral, soon leads to problems for the teenagers of Lakewood and serves as the catalyst for a murder that opens up a window to the town's troubled past.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: You Cant Do a Slasher Movie as a TV Series.\n\nReview: Hidden around my blog, youll find a few reviews of one of my guilty pleasures the slasher film. While most of them are fairly bad, the one franchise Ive really enjoyed is the Scream movies. (Yes, Im the weirdo who likes 3 and 4 while acknowledging they are much weaker than the first two.) So when it was announced that MTV was going to create a TV show version of the franchise, I was in. While definitely not as good as the movies, there is still plenty of fun to be had here.\n\nLike the first movie, this film opens with a young woman (Bella Thorne) home alone at night. However, her threatening messages come via text message and an ap. This is the 21st century after all. Oh, and she and her boyfriend had just released a video of a classmate. Not that they get to enjoy any of the fallout from that video since they are our opening victioms.\n\nWhen news of the brutal murder breaks the next day, the students at the school in town are understandably shocked and upset. However, the killer seems to be contacting Emma Duval (Willa Fitzgerald) and teasing her with information about her mothers past. It seems her mother (Tracy Middendorf) has a secret that someone is determined to reveal. Does it have anything to do with the killings that took place 20 years ago? As the body count begins to rise, Emma realizes she needs to solve this mystery if she wants to stay alive and protect her friends.\n\nTo be honest, this could have been called anything and it still would have worked well. There is no connection to the Scream film franchise in character or looks. Heck, the killer even wears a different mask. While I did miss the iconic Ghostface mask, there is a reason for the mask the killer wears here, and I liked that aspect of things.\n\nThe one connection this has to the films is the tone. The characters know they are in a horror story and reference the conventions of the genre every so often. Its not as self-aware or biting as the first film, but it is fun. They even make a nice reference to the first film in passing that I loved.\n\nBlood thirsty fans will be disappointed with the toned down violence, but this is a TV show after all even if it is on MTV. Frankly, I still found the deaths plenty bloody for my tastes, which are decidedly tame for a fan of the genre. The chase scenes aren't as elaborate as a movie, but they still work well to build up some good suspense.\n\nThe biggest problem that a TV show of this nature has is how many characters to kill off and when. While the recent show Scream Queens boasted about one death an episode, some of those killed were only introduced in the episode where they died. This show went to the other extreme and had some episodes where no one died. Im not sure which side is correct. The episodes without any murders definitely advanced the plot and gave us plenty of tension, however, so I still enjoyed them.\n\nAt its heart, the Scream franchise has always been a mystery story (maybe one reason I like them), and we get some good twists and surprises on the way to unmasking the killer. Im still not quite sure I buy that revelation, mainly because of the twist they put on screen during the final few moments. Ill probably decide how I feel about it as season two unspools since it will have to address that.\n\nAnd I will definitely be back since the characters are good. The producers have said they had a hard time killing people off since they grew to love the cast and their characters, and I can see why. While they initially fall into high school stereotypes, those who live long enough begin to be very real, which upped the tension on the show I didn't want any of them to die either. Obviously, this means the cast does a great job bringing them to life.\n\nThere were 10 episodes in the first season, and they are preserved here in their native wide screen and full surround. Extras include a gag reel and cut scenes.\n\nWhile Scream The TV Series won't appeal to everyone, fans who give it a chance will find themselves caught up in an entertaining, and deadly, story. Im looking forward to seeing the next deadly chapter unfold soon.","Product: new with slip cover\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Butchering History Again in this Direct to Video Sequel\n\nReview: Since Ive never been a fan of Disneys Pocahontas, I never made watching the sequel a priority. But since Disney combined the two for the recent Blu-Ray release, I decided it was time to give Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World a try. Yep, it was pretty much what I expected, and thats not a good thing.\n\nPocahontas (voiced by Irene Bedard) is trying to figure out her next step in life now that John Smith (Donal Gibson) has returned to England. As she is contemplating this, she meets the new leader of the Jamestown settlement, John Rolfe (Billy Zane). He is looking to bring the leader of the Native Americans to England as an emissary to King James (Jim Cummings). When her father is reluctant to go, Pocahontas volunteers.\n\nWhat no one knows is that Ratcliffe (David Ogden Stiers) has spread lies about what happened in the first film. He thinks hes killed John Smith and convinced King James to take an army to attack Pocahontas tribe. Her presence in London upsets him greatly, and he begins to scheme about how to get her discredited. Will it work, or will Pocahontas be able to save her people?\n\nOnce again, there are issues with the historical accuracy of the piece. For starters, Pocahontas was married to John Rolfe before she went to England. And nothing I can find shows a plan to attack her tribe that she thwarted. However, Im willing to let some of this go as historical fiction and leave it at that. After all, the plot is interesting enough that I was concerned with how they would resolve things in the last quarter after spending the first three quarters watching the predictable plot complications arise. On the other hand, the plot does make King James out to be a laughable idiot. He might have been, but this was something that didn't sit well with me.\n\nThe political correctness of the first movie rears its head again, mainly when Pocahontas goes off about respecting my culture at one point. Hello 90s buzz phrases. While there is an uncomfortable scene where Ratcliffe is attempting to provoke her, but since he is using it as pure evil, Im okay with it.\n\nThe problems with the film run much deeper than that, however. Its just not that well written. The dialogue is adequate at best and painful much of the time. They always go for the obvious line instead of trying to come up with something new.\n\nThe songs are bland and forgettable. Nothing will stay in your head after youve finished watching the film. In fact, youll probably want to fast forward most of them. The one exception is Where do I Go from here? Pocahontas sings this ballad early in the film, and its beautiful. The words aren't that original, but the music is grand.\n\nThis was done by the TV animation department, and it doesnt show the depth or artistry that the first film had.\n\nAnd our three animal friends also make the trip with Pocahontas. Theyre still amusing but distract for the overall story.\n\nI will give the voice talent credit. They do their best to make this movie watchable. They are always believable. While Mel Gibson didn't return to voice John Smith, I liked the fact that they gave that job to his brother Donal. He does a great job here.\n\nOverall, this movie is typical direct to home video quality all the way around. If you like the first movie, you might find yourself enjoying Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World. Otherwise, feel free to skip this one.","Product: new with slip cover\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Mid-90's Political Correctness Run Amuck\n\nReview: The Disney animation resurgence reached its peak with The Lion King. The next year saw a movie that began to mark the decline. While still a financial success, its easy to point to Pocahontas as the moment when things started to go south. The thing is, the movie isn't helped by the political agenda hidden in the beautiful animation.\n\nThe story is a very, very loose interpretation of history. As such, it follows the voyage of the first settlers to land in Virginia. The movie actually opens in England as John Smith (voiced by Mel Gibson) joins an expedition to found the colony. The expedition is under the leadership of Ratcliffe (David Ogden Stiers). We even meet a crewman named Thomas (Christian Bale). As we travel the sea, we get to experience first hand how brave and noble John Smith is.\n\nThen we join Pocahontas (Irene Bedard) in the ideal world of uncolonized America. Her father, the chief, has just returned from a victory over their foes. His right hand man, Kocoum (James Apaumut Fall), has just asked for Pocahontas hand in marriage. But Pocahontas is not happy with that arrangement. She is restless and a free spirit, longing for adventure.\n\nAnd thats when she sees the strange clouds that are the sails of the ship arriving. While out scouting, John Smith meets her. The two form an instant connection and start sharing parts of their language and culture with each other. Will they be able to form a peace between their people when so many are clamoring for war?\n\nTry as I might, I have a hard time separating myself from the bad history here to enjoy the movie as pure entertainment. I will say that the songs are gorgeous, well most of them. They certainly help advance the story, and I can get Colors of the Wind stuck in my head for days. There was a love song written for Pocahontas and John Smith that is available as a bonus feature, at least on the new Blu-Ray release. Why it wasn't incorporated back into the movie like was done on the last DVD is a mystery to me.\n\nI must also give the film credit for the gorgeous animation. This movie is a perfect example of why we must not let the art of hand drawn animation die. The forests of the new world are so beautiful to look at.\n\nAnd the voice cast does a fine job with their parts. The Native Americans were all voiced by real Native Americans, who praised the film for the authenticity of the portrayals of Native American culture. (Ironically, other Native American groups complained about the stereotypes. Proves you just cant win.)\n\nThen there are the animal characters. They add some humor to the proceedings and the film is fairly serious, so I certainly think the film needs it. And the way they parallel what is happening or should be happening between the humans is a nice bit of storytelling.\n\nHowever, they are also a prime example of what was going wrong with Disney animation at this point. They had become too formulaic. In their efforts to crank out one movie a year, they went to the same well to create characters. Dashing, virtuous hero? Check. Independent woman who wants adventure and won't settle for just any husband? Check. Cute animal sidekicks to provide some laughs? Check. Change the names and the setting and weve got a new movie.\n\nSo, now lets get into the history or lack there of. I will grant you not much is known about Pocahontas until later in her life (after this film was set), but what is suspected is far different from what is presented here. For one thing, she was most likely about 8 years younger. There was never romance between her and John Smith. And while she did save his life, some historians even protest that much. Add to that the fact that they kill off a character who doesnt die during this time period, and youve got a work of fiction.\n\nNow, I have no problem with historical fiction; in fact, I love the genre. However, you need to adhere to the truth as much as you can. In reality, this was nothing like reality. Since the Disney version of things gets so engrained in our culture, thats dangerous. Its one thing when looking at time periods but something completely different when real people are changed so dramatically. And with no disclaimer to warn people that what they are seeing is purely fiction.\n\nAnd don't even get me started on Grandmother Willow, the living, talking tree that gives Pocahontas advice. In a fairy tale context, Id have no problems with this character, but again we've got that history thing going on.\n\nCouple this with the other messages in the film. There is the pro-environmental message contains in Colors of the Wind and the way the two cultures are presented. The English are obviously bad for wanting to take resources and the Indians are good for wanting to keep them around to enjoy. Mind you, I firmly believe that destroying the Earth is a horrid idea and should never be done. But there needs to be a balance between the two sides, and that balance isn't presented here.\n\nFurthermore, our villain of the piece, Ratcliffe, is a one note, greedy jerk. And because of him, the only white man not painted with a horrid brush is John Smith. I mean, look at the song Savages, which both sides sing as they are going off to war. The white men are singing it because they think the Native Americans are hiding gold and are going to kill Smith out of spite. The Native Americans are singing it because one of their own was just killed and they want revenge. Which of these motives can you get behind?\n\nNever mind the fact that Ratcliffe, while admittedly a weak governor, wasn't even in the colony during the time that the film was set. He came a few years later.\n\nLook, Im not going to sit here and say that the white man was perfect in our relations with the Native Americans when we came to this country. Far from it, as anyone who has studied history certainly knows. (Although the idea that we would all still be in Europe and the Native Americans would be living here in their idealic world with the exploring period of history is ludicrous.) But the characters were created as strawmen that could easily be knocked down as examples of the good (Native American) and bad (white man). It is so painfully obvious it ruins much of the movie.\n\nAm I expecting too much from an animated movie aimed at kids? Maybe. Usually, I just sit down, relax, and enjoy. But since this one took on history and messed with it so much, it really bothers me. Besides, with the historical background and serious nature of the film, I don't see it appealing to kids that much. The animals, while cute and funny, will only carry things so far. Whether they want to admit it or not, I think this movie was aimed at adults.\n\nSo for the hatchet job of history and the blatant political correctness of the movie, I cant recommend Pocahontas at all. Good visuals and music only get you so far. If you do decide to view the film, make sure you think about the messages you are getting.","Product: Free spirited cookie baker Hannah Swensen jumps in to help a handsome new detective track down the culprit and uncover the mystery surrounding the death of her friend and local milk delivery man.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Fun Film Version of a Delicious Mystery\n\nReview: I am always intrigued when a series I love is turned into a movie, so I knew Id have to watch Murder She Baked: Chocolate Chip Cookie Mystery as soon as I heard about it. After all, Ive been reading Joanne Flukes Hannah Swensen series since that book, the first in the series, came out. As I expected, they definitely made some changes to the book and characters, but I really did enjoy it.\n\nHannah Swensen (Alison Sweeney) lives in Eden Lake, Minnesota, where she runs The Cookie Jar, a popular cookie shop. The worst thing she faces is her mother Deloress (Barbara Niven) attempts to set her up. The latest is the new dentist in town, Norman (Gabriel Hogan).\n\nHowever, one day Ron LaSalle (Jason Cremak), the deliveryman from the local dairy, is late with the order for The Cookie Jar. When Hannah goes out back, she finds Ron shot next to some of her Chocolate Chip Crunch Cookies. Despite warnings from Mike (Cameron Mathison), a state detective brought in to work the case, Hannah starts poking her nose into the mystery. Will she figure out what happened?\n\nDespite the fact that I first read the book back in 2001, I actually remember the plot fairly well (my reread in 2006 might help with that), and Im happy to say the movie stuck close to it. Im sure there were details and suspects they cut out for time, but it unfolded pretty much as I remembered it. Thats impressive since they played up the new romances that begin between Hannah and both Mike and Norman here.\n\nOf course, in almost any movie, the details are going to be changed. I can sit here and start listing them for you. Hannah lives in a house instead of a condo. Lisa, Hannahs employee later partner at the bakery played by Juliana Wimbles, is too old for the character in the series. And on and on.\n\nBut you know what? It really didn't care. Every time a new character from the series popped up, I smiled. I was just having too much fun seeing these characters I love brought to life. And there were plenty of great nods to the series in the movie. I loved that all the desserts and cookies mentioned have been made it in the series. While the actual recipes are missing (obviously), we even heard the secret ingredient in the title cookies.\n\nThe characters were a tad off from how I picture their personalities, but I think that was a result of the acting. Everyone just seemed a tad over enthusiastic. It was the style they were going for, and as I got in to the movie, it didn't bother me nearly as much.\n\nNo, this isn't a great movie, but it is fun. If you are a fan of Hannah, youll enjoy it. And if you are looking for a light, fun mystery, then Murder She Baked: Chocolate Chip Cookie Mystery will fill that need and leave you craving the books.","Product: Based on Deborah Donnelly's novel "Veiled Threats," Carnegie Kincaid is a wedding planner and a perfectionist in both work and romance. When a murder occurs and a bride (Chelan Simmons) is kidnapped surrounding the wedding of a prominent family embroiled in a high profile fraud scandal, Carnegie becomes a suspect. She is questioned by police and pursued by shady news reporter Aaron Gold (Andrew W. Walker). To make matters more terrifying, Carnegie is pretty certain whoever is responsible for the crime is out to get rid of her. As she struggles to clear her name, Carnegie is hounded by a hard-boiled detective and wooed by a handsome lawyer. With her life exploding into a whirlwind mix of danger, mystery, and romance, Carnegie begins to realize that love does not always arrive in a pretty package and that the perfect "Prince Charming" she's been waiting for may not have her best interests in mind.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Every Eventuality is Planned for Except the Murder\n\nReview: Im sure it will be no surprise to you that I have piles of books around the condo that Ive never found time to read. They sound good, and I fully intend to read them, but other books come along and bump them down my TBR list. One of those is the book Veiled Threats, the first in a series about a wedding planner by Deborah Donnelly. No, I still haven't read the book, but I have seen the movie that Hallmark made based on it called Wedding Planner Mystery, and I really enjoyed it.\n\nCarnegie Kincaid (Erica Durance) is a wedding planner who has just hit the mother lode for her business, the back to back weddings of two cousins in the Parry family. They are rich and fairly famous in Seattle or is that infamous? Doug Parry (Billy Mitchel), father of the second bride Nicky (Chelan Simmons), is under investigation for tax fraud, and that has added a complication to both weddings.\n\nBut Nickys wedding is second and she is a bridesmaid in the wedding of her cousin Diane (Chelsey Reist). However, that wedding ends in tragedy when their third cousin, Michelle (Barbara Kottmeier), takes off from the wedding early in Nickys car, crashes a block away, and dies. Suddenly, the police are nosing around and Carnegie feels the heat of the investigation. Can she solve the crime and save her businesss reputation?\n\nThis plot was quite complicated, and the way it twisted around kept me off guard. However, it all made perfect sense in the end. Well, one or two details got overlooked, although we can make educated guesses about them. Still, the story was fun, and how everything unfolded was very easy to follow.\n\nAnd I was surprised at how much I came to care for the characters. When a book is turned into a movie, often the characters are the first casualty. While Im sure they are all richer in the novel, there were several that stood out to me enough that I truly cared about how they would fare by the time the story ended. Heck, even when Carnegie was alienating people over the course of her investigation, I understood her motives and truly felt sorry for her.\n\nAnd the acting was decent. I especially enjoyed seeing Erica Durance starring in this since Ive been watching her as Lois Lane is Smallville. Even more fun, she has a constant nemesis in Aaron Gold (Andrew W. Walker), a reporter that would give Lois a run for her money.\n\nOf course, this does have a liberal dose of the usual Hallmark cheese, and Carnegies narration didn't help with that. But if you know that going in, youll enjoy it.\n\nSo far, this is the only movie I can find in the franchise, but I hope Hallmark changes that since Wedding Planner Mystery was so much fun. And I definitely need to make the time to get the book read now, too. (If I can find it, of course.)","Product: Their fiery love affair has kept your pulse pounding week after week for the past eight seasons. Now, the heartfelt final chapter of Rick Castle and Kate Beckett comes to an end as one of the most beloved couples in television history match wits with their ultimate rival in a fight that will define their future. Experience every riveting moment and sizzling, emotional encounter with CASTLE: THE COMPLETE EIGHTH AND FINAL SEASON, including exclusive, never-before-seen bonus features! The season begins with a bang as a call from a mysterious stranger puts Beckett on the run and sets off an explosive chain of events. The action heats up when Castle's daughter, Alexis, joins her father to solve the case of a lifetime. Fresh faces and unforgettable characters from the past join the precinct in a year full of devastating twists and turns. It all leads to the stunning series finale that will keep you on the edge of your seat and close the book on the incredible story of Castle and Beckett.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: You, Me, and a Crime Scene Just as Nature Intended.\n\nReview: I have been a fan of Castle since season one, episode one, day one. The mix of banter, romance, and mystery was perfect for me. Okay, so the mysteries weren't the strongest, but I fell in love with these characters and couldn't wait to revisit them week after week.\n\nWhich is why I am still trying to wrap my head around what the writers did to them in season 8.\n\nYes, I was actually one of the many who was glad the show was canceled when this season ended so we were all put out of our misery. There were parts I enjoyed, but for the most part it felt very forced this season.\n\nAnd Ill warn you now that this review might devolve into rants a few times.\n\nThe season opens with a brilliant two part episode that finds mystery writer Richard Castle (Nathan Fillion) investigating the disappearance of his wife, newly promoted NYPD Captain Kate Beckett (Stana Kantic), with the help of two of her detectives, Kevin Ryan and Javier Esposito (Seamus Dever and Jon Huertas). Then, in the second part, we get Becketts side of things until both halves come together for a wonderful climax. Well, it would have been wonderful if they hadnt decided to completely mess with the show.\n\nSee, the plot of this two parter revolved around Beckett learning there was more to the conspiracy surrounding her mothers murder, something I thought we had finally put to bed a couple of seasons ago. Beckett learns that she is in danger, and in an attempt to keep Castle and his mother and daughter, Martha and Alexis (Susan Sullivan and Molly Quinn) safe, she announces she needs a break for their marriage and moves out. No explanation to Castle about what is really going on. Nothing.\n\nNow, this is supposed to recapture the old magic of the show when Castle was pursuing Beckett and she was resisting. And they returned to Castle working as a PI to bring him into these cases of the week. But seriously, lets go back to that premise for a minute. What bad guy is going to stop going after your family because you left them a week ago? A month ago? Seriously? You think thats going to keep them safe? They are going to go after them to get at you just as much today as they did before you left. Plus, with no warning to them, they are in more danger. If you stayed or at least told them why you left, theyd be more on their guard, so better protected, than if you just walk out of their lives.\n\nNot to mention that this show is as much romantic comedy as it is mystery show. After watching the will they/wont they tension and the building of their relationship leading up to their marriage last season, I don't want to see things go backwards. I actually liked the show after it got Castle and Beckett together because it showed growth for their characters and built a solid relationship between them. This was a huge step backwards.\n\nAnd frankly, this overshadowed the case of the week aspect of the series. While might have had a bit more overarching storyline this year, there were still plenty of cases of the week, but the spark wasn't there because I was so frustrated by the breakup. Still, over the course of the season, we get mysteries such as the death of Castles writing idol, a murder aboard a cruise ship that has just set sail, and a corpse that the theater where Marthas latest show is rehearsing. Many of these individual episodes are good and have great moments, but overall they cant rise about the premise of the season.\n\nOf course, with Beckett as a captain now, Castle shares more detecting scenes with Ryan and Esposito, and that chemistry isn't the same, which doesnt nothing to help the show. Mind you, I love the characters, but they aren't Castle and Beckett together.\n\nFortunately, the complete breakup didn't last all season as Beckett did finally clue Castle in to what was happening, leading to a repeat of season 5 where the two where sneaking around. Are you sensing a theme here? Reruns. No new ground, nothing but reruns. The writers did try to tie in Castles missing memory from last season to the mystery this season, but it just felt forced.\n\nAnd speaking of forced, this seasons big bad is also very forced. The payoff for all the angst was so underwhelming it left me scratching my head as to why anyone thought it would be a good idea.\n\nNow Im not pointing my finger at any of the actors. They all did a great job with what they were given, and when they had a moment to shine, they took full advantage of it. Praise also much go to new actors Toks Olagundoye and Sunkrish Bala who had the thankless job of stepping into roles in a season that the fans didn't like. I have nothing against them, but the changes they represent to the show on the other hand.\n\nLate in the season, word came down that Tamala Jones, the actress who plays medical examiner Lanie Parish, as well as Stana Katic were not going to be back for next season. While some started cries of sexism (and that might be the case, I don't know), I spent all of my time trying to wrap my head around doing this show without Beckett. Oh, I know the show is called Castle. But reference my earlier comments about this being a romantic comedy. If budget constraints were the reason (and thats the reason ABC gave), then you fire the rest of the cast and retool the show to just be about Castle and Beckett.\n\nFortunately, ABC came to the right decision and canceled the show at the last possible moment, giving us a chance to see the ending that wrapped things up instead of the cliffhanger. (Two different endings for the season were shot.) However, that ending felt so tacked on and forced that it left me feeling cold. You want a good ending for this series? Look back at the season finale for season 7. That was a great ending to the show, and thats where I intend to stop with Castle. This last season? It was a fevered dream I had about fan fiction featuring the characters and nothing more.\n\nFor the record, if you are looking for this set, youll find 22 episodes here in widescreen and full surround sound. In the way of extras, youll find a couple of audio commentaries, deleted scenes, a gag reel, and a featurette showing the cast of the show trying to solve puzzles to get out of an escape room.\n\nIf you are a fan of Castle, do yourself a favor and skip season 8. It is a mess that ruins the characters and the legacy of the show. Even this completest collector plans to skip this season with a clear conscious, which tells you just had bad it truly was.","Product: Our HankMed team returns for its final season in Royal Pains: Season Eight! While Evan (Paulo Costanzo) and Paige (Brooke D'Orsay) attempt alternative methods to have a baby, Evan juggles HankMed and running the hospital. Meanwhile, Divya (Reshma Shetty) contemplates the best location for med school, as Jeremiah (Ben Shenkman) finds that research success is more complicated than he anticipated. Hank (Mark Feuerstein) begins to examine what more is missing from his life when the team no longer needs his leadership. Enjoy all the final moments of the critically acclaimed series back-to-back and uninterrupted!\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: HankMeds Final House Calls\n\nReview: I think everyone knew it was coming. Two years ago, the USA Network renewed Royals Pains for season 7 and 8, but each season would only be eight episodes. While they waited until this spring to officially announce that season 8 would be the final season, I wasn't surprised to hear the announcement. However, the writers and creators took advantage of this news to craft a wonderful final season that will leave all fans thrilled.\n\nAs this season opens, its the start of a new summer, and the HankMed gang is getting ready for business as usual. Hank Lawson (Mark Feuerstein) has a new potential girlfriend. His brother Evan (Paulo Costanzo) is still trying to balance the demands of HankMed and his job running the hospital. Meanwhile he and his wife Paige (Brooke DOrsay) are still trying to have a child. Dr. Jeremiah Sacani (Ben Shenkman) is attempting to get back to treating patients after spending most of the year in the lab. And physician assistant Divya Katdare (Reshma Shetty) is anxiously waiting for word on getting into medical school while expecting a child with her new husband Raj (Rupak Ginn).\n\nWhile the HankMed gang deals with all this going on in their lives, Hank accompanies Boris (Campbell Scott) on a trip to Hong Kong, Jeremiah treats his favorite author, and we meet a family of kids who need help.\n\nBut there is definitely change in the air. First, Hank and Evans father Eddie (Henry Winkler) reappears announcing his upcoming marriage to Ms. Newburg (Christine Ebersole) before he vanishes. Then a surprise reappearance from Jill (Jill Flint) captures Hanks interest again. Are things changing for our characters? Where will everyone end up?\n\nYes, there really are only 8 episodes in the season, and they are jam packed full. As always, the emphasis is as much if not more on what is going on with the characters as it is the medical mystery of the week. Oh, we get some new clients and their ailments, but we tune in because of these characters.\n\nAnd the final episode nails why. (No, Im not going to spoil anything.) These characters are a family. They have stood by each other through thick and thin, and they truly care for each other. Oh, they may fight and have disagreements (we do need conflict on a TV show after all), but they work things out in the end. I have loved watching their relationships grow and change as the characters grew over these eight seasons. For fans like me, this didn't disappoint.\n\nWhich brings us to the final episode. It was perfect! Im actually a little surprised I didn't bawl all the way through it, but there were so many wonderful moments between the characters as everything was wrapped up. And I am absolutely thrilled with how they wrapped things up for the characters.\n\nSince the writers were treating it as a final season, they brought in quite a few past characters for cameos. Many of them showed up in the musical episode, which was a lot of fun. And let me just say, the female cast is super talented. The men hold their own when it came to singing, but the ladies shine.\n\nOf course, Im going to keep the praise going by talking about the great acting. The stars and the recurring actors nail their parts once again. The guest stars rise to the occasion as well.\n\nIf you are a fan of this show, youll be thrilled with how it ended. Buy Royal Pains Season 8 today so you can enjoy it over and over again.","Product: In the tradition of VeggieTales. It's just another day at The Daily Bumble. Or is it? Larry the Cucumber, armed with his two-way radio mop, quietly and inconspicuously monitors the pulse of his fair city. But when he receives word that super-villain Awful Alvin has unleashed his latest plague a swarm of angry eyebrows - on the tranquil town of Bumblyburg, our mild-mannered janitor transforms into crime-fighting cucumber crusader, Larryboy! Descending upon any citizen who \"lets the sun go down on their anger, \"will Larryboy discover the eyebrows' one weakness? Will these hairy hooligans--this litany of lashes--forever plague this otherwise friendly hamlet? Or will the one cucumber capable of wielding a radar-guided spatula restore order and goodness to Bumblyburg once and for all? Find out about the importance of letting go of anger and forgiving others in \"Larryboy And The Angry Eyebrows!\" Includes the hilarious BONUS short; \"Fly By Might!\"\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Change Isn't Always Good, But That's Not Something to Get Angry About\n\nReview: I hadn't been into VeggieTales too long when they started releasing The Cartoon Adventures of Larry-Boy. I bought the first one and watching it. Honestly, Larry-Boy and the Angry Eyebrows didn't impress me that much, and I never watched the other three entries. I've decided to fix this lack in my VeggieTales experience, so I sat down to watch The Angry Eyebrows again. It's still not that great.\n\nLarry-Boy finds regular cast member Larry the Cucumber taking on the part of the title superhero. Larry-Boy is fashioned after Batman, although for this short, he also takes on some characteristics from Superman. He's working at the Bumblyburg newspaper, but he's working as a janitor since that was the only thing he was qualified to do. So, basically poor Larry has three identities in these stories.\n\nThe story features the return of Awful Alvin, a villain we've never heard of before. He's determined to exact his revenge of Bumblyburg in particular and Larry-Boy in particular. And how's he going to do that? He's invented eyebrows that attach to anyone who is angry and keep them from ever letting go of their anger. Will his dastardly plan work? Or will Larry-Boy's superhero classes help him defeat this villain?\n\nThe first thing to note is that these are traditional, hand-drawn animation and not the computer animated we normally get from Big Idea. That change right there is enough to keep some people away. The voice cast is the same, so once you get used to seeing the characters you know and love with a slightly new look, it's easy to enjoy.\n\nHonestly, my biggest problem with this show is that it feels like we are jumping into something in the middle. We have no clue who Awful Alvin is or why he feels a need for revenge. If we did, I have a feeling I would care more about the outcome. I'm sure they were trying to create an arch-nemesis in the great superhero tradition, but the problem is we need some back ground on them before they become an arch-nemesis.\n\nFor the first time in Larry-Boy mythology, they've found something for Bob the Tomato to do, he's the editor of the paper. And Junior Asparagus is a reporter. Even though these two characters didn't have much to do, it was fun to see these fan favorites here.\n\nThen there's Bok Choy. He's the teacher of the superhero class that Larry-Boy is taking. He's quite obviously supposed to be modeled after Far Eastern gurus. He's also how they work the Bible verse of the story into the episode, although he quotes form the superhero handbook. Honestly, I would have liked him and that scene more if he had actually quoted from the Bible.\n\nAnd there's the narrator. He's obviously an attempt to provide a classic comic book feel, but he's more of a distraction than a help in getting the story.\n\nThose looking for VeggieTales trademark humor will be satisfied. I loved Larry-Boy's interaction with a fellow superhero and the way he communicates with his butler Alfred while working at the paper. The way he gets rid of the eyebrows is also brilliant.\n\nThe main story is 22 minutes long. The rest of the half hour is filled out with \"Fly by Might,\" a short that finds Larry-Boy battling a fly that just won't leave him alone. It reminds me of a classic Donald Duck short. Even though there is no moral, state or otherwise, it does reinforce the theme.\n\nMaybe The Cartoon Adventures of Larry-Boy get better as they go along. The Angry Eyebrows is watchable and has moments of fun. But ultimately it tries too hard and doesn't live up to its full potential.","Product: There's trouble in Bumblyburg as Greta Von Gruesome, evil ruler of Zuchinia, terrorizes music fans everywhere by kidnapping the world's greatest yodelers! To unravel this dastardly scheme, Larryboy must disguise himself as \"famous\" yodeler Noodle Blabberbop and bravely become Greta's next victim! But will our plunger-headed hero's clever plan succeed? Will the yodelers yodel freely again? It's laugh-filled, action-packed fun that teaches kids an important lesson about greed!\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: \"I Don't Care How Bad He Is, We Do Not Throw Tomatoes in This Town.\"\n\nReview: When Big Idea started doing 2D animation of their popular character Larry-Boy, I had a hard time making the transition. Maybe if I'd just gone a little further down the line I would have given the others a better chance. The Yodel Napper was the second in the Cartoon Adventures series, and it is actually surprisingly funny.\n\nWhat am I talking about? Big Idea is the company behind VeggieTales. And after two successful videos in their regular line that featured series regular Larry the Cucumber as a Batman inspired superhero, they spun him off into four traditionally animated shorts. I only watched one when they were first released about a decade ago, but I've decided it was time to correct that oversight.\n\nThis video finds the town of Bumblyburg excited to be welcoming the world famous yodelers as part of a festival to celebrate this musical style. But just as the first night is kicking off, the yodeler is taken right from the stage.\n\nThe next day finds Larry's trusted butler working at the Larry-computer. He discovers that other yodelers have been kidnapped as well. And it appears to be the work of one Greta Von Gruesome, a woman who has decided she won't be happy until she has all the yodelers in the world to sing for her whenever she wants.\n\nThere's only one way to stop her. Larry-boy goes undercover as yodeler Noodle Blabberbop in an attempt to be kidnapped himself to rescue the yodelers. Will his plan succeed?\n\nThe message about greed and materialism is a bit heavy handed here. Or maybe it just hit a little too close to home since I am a collector, so wanting to get the last part of a collection hit a little too close to home. Okay, obviously Greta's scheme is wrong, but there is a sub-plot with Larry trying to get the newest Hula doll to complete his collection. As I say, maybe it just hit a little too close to home.\n\nAnyway, this adventure is very silly. Greta might frighten a few kids, but most will find her over the top antics more funny than frightening. They've got lots of puns and silliness through the whole thing. I especially loved it when Larry was on the stage trying to yodel, the crowd starts to boo, and suddenly Bob the Tomato is thrown at him. Great bit of fun.\n\nAs with the first one, they use the superhero class that Larry-Boy is taking to teach the moral part of the lesson. It was funnier this time around, although I still wish they'd actually provide the Biblical reference instead of pretending it is from a superhero handbook.\n\nAs with the first one, the 30 minute DVD is rounded out by an 8 minute short. This one is \"The Polar Pickle\" and finds Larry-boy trying to rescue a child's fish toy that has fallen in the penguin enclosure. I don't see it tying into the theme of greed, but it's pretty funny.\n\nOverall, The Yodel Napper is a step up for The Cartoon Adventures of Larry-boy franchise. Maybe I gave up on these too quickly.","Product: Crime mavens Awful Alvin, Greta Von Gruesome and Lampy join evil forces to steal a top-secret, over-easy egg raygun, with the plan of turning all of Bumblyburg into over-easy eggs. To make matters worse, Larryboy and fellow superhero, the Dark Crow can't seem to agree to work together. Will Bumblyburg turn into one giant omelet? Or will Larryboy and the Dark Crow learn that when you work together, you can accomplish many things you cannot do alone? Find out in the cartoon adventures of Larryboy, The Good, The Bad and The Eggly.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Not an Eggellent Larry-Boy DVD\n\nReview: We've come to the final entry in The Cartoon Adventures of Larry-Boy. The Good, the Bad, and the Eggly ends things on an average note, which isn't that surprising since most of these videos have been average.\n\nAs always, this offshoot from VeggieTales is hand drawn and centers around the alter ego of the show's regular host, Larry the Cucumber. In this world, Larry is a rich millionaire who moonlights as Larry-Boy. He always works at the local newspaper, the Daily Bumble, as the janitor to keep a pulse on what is happening so he can stop crime better.\n\nTrouble is afoot in the town of Bumblyburg yet again. This time around, Larry-Boy's rivals Greta Von Gruesome and Awful Alvin (and Lampy) have teamed up to steal a ray gun. But it's not just any ray gun. This one turns any inanimate object into over-easy eggs.\n\nNaturally, Larry-Boy is on the case. But fellow superhero Dark Crow is also in town, and both of them are trying to capture the villains by themselves. Will that work, or do they need to team up to save the day?\n\nObviously, the theme of this one is working together. And I can't complain about the theme at all since teamwork is important in all aspects of life.\n\nHowever, once again the video isn't up to Big Ideas standards. Yes, there are some fun jokes. I loved watching Alvin (and Lampy) doing victory dances of evil. Some of the things that got turned into eggs were pretty funny. Heck, the scene where they are trying to explain to Larry-Boy what would and wouldn't turn into eggs was also great.\n\nYet I found the story all too predictable. You can pretty much plot the entire story out from the summary I've given you. Normally, a half hour with VeggieTales flies by. Here, it doesn't.\n\nThere's the usual 8 minute short on the end to bring the story to a full half hour. This time around, the short actually centers on two minor characters we've only seen from the superhero class before. They proceed to destroy a fair until Larry-Boy shows up and convinces them to work together to restore things. Again, there were some amusing bits, it overall it wasn't that funny.\n\nThese might be good for a very young audience, but they don't show the care and creativity that the original VeggieTales series has. Only the most die-hard fan needs to see The Good, the Bad, and the Eggly.","Product: VHS Tape of Veggie Tales.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Change Isn't Always Good, But That's Not Something to Get Angry About\n\nReview: I hadn't been into VeggieTales too long when they started releasing The Cartoon Adventures of Larry-Boy. I bought the first one and watching it. Honestly, Larry-Boy and the Angry Eyebrows didn't impress me that much, and I never watched the other three entries. I've decided to fix this lack in my VeggieTales experience, so I sat down to watch The Angry Eyebrows again. It's still not that great.\n\nLarry-Boy finds regular cast member Larry the Cucumber taking on the part of the title superhero. Larry-Boy is fashioned after Batman, although for this short, he also takes on some characteristics from Superman. He's working at the Bumblyburg newspaper, but he's working as a janitor since that was the only thing he was qualified to do. So, basically poor Larry has three identities in these stories.\n\nThe story features the return of Awful Alvin, a villain we've never heard of before. He's determined to exact his revenge of Bumblyburg in particular and Larry-Boy in particular. And how's he going to do that? He's invented eyebrows that attach to anyone who is angry and keep them from ever letting go of their anger. Will his dastardly plan work? Or will Larry-Boy's superhero classes help him defeat this villain?\n\nThe first thing to note is that these are traditional, hand-drawn animation and not the computer animated we normally get from Big Idea. That change right there is enough to keep some people away. The voice cast is the same, so once you get used to seeing the characters you know and love with a slightly new look, it's easy to enjoy.\n\nHonestly, my biggest problem with this show is that it feels like we are jumping into something in the middle. We have no clue who Awful Alvin is or why he feels a need for revenge. If we did, I have a feeling I would care more about the outcome. I'm sure they were trying to create an arch-nemesis in the great superhero tradition, but the problem is we need some back ground on them before they become an arch-nemesis.\n\nFor the first time in Larry-Boy mythology, they've found something for Bob the Tomato to do, he's the editor of the paper. And Junior Asparagus is a reporter. Even though these two characters didn't have much to do, it was fun to see these fan favorites here.\n\nThen there's Bok Choy. He's the teacher of the superhero class that Larry-Boy is taking. He's quite obviously supposed to be modeled after Far Eastern gurus. He's also how they work the Bible verse of the story into the episode, although he quotes form the superhero handbook. Honestly, I would have liked him and that scene more if he had actually quoted from the Bible.\n\nAnd there's the narrator. He's obviously an attempt to provide a classic comic book feel, but he's more of a distraction than a help in getting the story.\n\nThose looking for VeggieTales trademark humor will be satisfied. I loved Larry-Boy's interaction with a fellow superhero and the way he communicates with his butler Alfred while working at the paper. The way he gets rid of the eyebrows is also brilliant.\n\nThe main story is 22 minutes long. The rest of the half hour is filled out with \"Fly by Might,\" a short that finds Larry-Boy battling a fly that just won't leave him alone. It reminds me of a classic Donald Duck short. Even though there is no moral, state or otherwise, it does reinforce the theme.\n\nMaybe The Cartoon Adventures of Larry-Boy get better as they go along. The Angry Eyebrows is watchable and has moments of fun. But ultimately it tries too hard and doesn't live up to its full potential.","Product: When The Three Pigs roll into town looking to build some new houses, they meet one builder with a plan and two without a clue! Larry builds with hay, Mr. Lunt builds with bricks, but only Bob builds his houses on a firm foundation - following the wise plans from the "Master Builder's Handbook!"Each pig has very particular ideas about what they want for their houses, but will their choices be good ones when the rains come tumblin' down? Find out in this pig's tale that shows kids that when we follow God's blueprints, we can make the right choices! PLUS: Ever wonder what happened before Humpty cracked? Humpty (Bob the Tomato) is the mayor of Gooseville, a quiet little town filled with a bunch of lively characters! From Jack & Jill's missing crayons, to the Three Bears' lawn problems, all the way to Little Bo Peep's lost sheep, Mayor Humpty is literally driven up the wall with this pickled pack of problems! Now far away from the gripes and complaints of his neighbors, Humpty declares "with all these neighbors in need, I'm better helping just me!" Will all the town's heroines and all the town's men help bring Humpty to his senses again?\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: \"Larry Liked to Make Up Statistics.\" \"That's Only 50% True.\"\n\nReview: Every so often, VeggieTales deviates from its formula. Usually, that means it has no wrap around, but for their latest video, it means there is no one central theme to the stories. Instead, the two segments in The Little House That Stood are themed around a mash up of Mother Goose with Biblical parables.\n\nOf course, if you are a fan of these computer animated Vegetables, you know to expect plenty of fun with your Biblical lessons. Thats certainly the case here in both cases. Heck, it starts at the very beginning when we see Larry the Cucumber and Bob the Tomato in some pretty fun costumes and meet Mother Goose (okay, just a normal goose) as our two hosts discuss the two letters from kids they are prepared to satisfy. And in a throw back to the old days, these are actual letters and not a kid on the computer. One letter asks for a parable while the other wants something fun from Mother Goose. And its Larry who comes up with the perfect solution.\n\nThe first segment is the title one. In The Little House that Stood, we meet three builders in the town of Cabbageville. Larry builds with straw, Mr. Lunt with brick, and Bob with sticks. But Bob also picks his location carefully and follows the master builder blue print, including creating a firm foundation.\n\nJust as three pigs move to town, there is a contest for new builder, with our three main characters hoping to win Builder of the Year. Oh yeah, and a storm comes, flooding Wolf Creek and putting pressure on Huff n Puff Dam. Im sure you can see where this one is going.\n\nOur second story is The Good Egg of Gooseville and finds Bob the one in need of a lesson. Hes playing mayor Humpty Dumpty and is completely stressed out by the amount of work he has to do keeping peace in the village. One Jack is practicing his candle jumping while Little Miss Muffet is finding a thorn in her tuffet and Little Bo Peeps sheep are running around town again. The other Jack and Jill are constantly looking for something in the well. Meanwhile, Mama Bear is upset because she lives next to the Old Woman who Lived in a Shoe, and she doesnt like having all those kids around. Think of what they are doing to property values. The pressure is making Humpty/Bob start to crack, so he goes on a vacation on the top of the wall. What will happen next?\n\nAnd yes, between these two stories we get a brand new silly song. Happy Tooth Day finds Larry celebrating the day he got his tooth. And he has a special gift for his tooth. The results? Pretty funny when Bob is around.\n\nAll told, this is another fun video. Both mash ups actually work, and the clever way they did it, especially in the first one, will entertain adults even if their kids don't get all the jokes. There are several references adults will get and should really make them laugh. I will admit, I didn't catch the parable they were retelling in the second story (Good Samaritan) until the wrap up, but I certainly caught the lesson.\n\nAnd that is my only complaint about the video. I like it when they have one coherent lesson they are teaching. Here, even the verse that Qwerty spits out at the end is actually the references for both parables. But then again, it provides the opportunity for parents to read the original parable with their kids. Really, its a minor issue overall. I mean, weve got a fun 45 minutes that does teach Bible lessons in creative ways. What else do you really want?\n\nAs always, the voice talent is great. Original creators Mike Nawrocki and Phil Vischer provide many of the voices, and they are fun. Theyve expanded the cast quite a bit here, and all the voices match the new characters.\n\nThe animation is a good as well. Its not the big budget quality wed see from Pixar or Dreamworks, but it tells the story well and never gets in the way.\n\nSo, ultimately, its another fun lesson or two in The Little House That Stood. If youve got kids (or are young at heart yourself), this is a must get VeggieTales.","Product: Come on down to the Bar None Ranch for more fun on the range! All 13 episodes of Season 4! Benjamin Ernst (David Brisbin) rounds up his crew for another season of hay, horses and hilarity down at the Bar None Ranch! Season Four episode highlights include Mr. Ernst becoming Sheriff, Danny getting a job as a cartoonist for the local paper, Brad and Kyle finding themselves stranded in the desert and Ted escaping summer school to return to the ranch! This series of fun-filled adventures stars Christine Taylor as lifeguard Melody, David Lascher as senior staff member Ted, Kelly Brown as horse trainer Brad, Joe Torres as Hopi Indian native Danny, Debra Kalman as ranch hand Lucy, Josh Tygiel as Ernst's son, Buddy, Jonathan Galkin as Ernst's nephew, Jake, and Geoffrey Coy as the amiable cowboy Kyle. Hey Dude ran on Nickelodeon from 19891991 and has since become a cult sitcom favorite. So wrangle up your pardners and get on down to the Bar None Ranch for another season of hilarious fun!\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: More Fun on the Bar None\n\nReview: The last season of Nickelodeons comedy Hey Dude! included some cast changes as one of the cast members left and two more were written in to take his place. While I never quite warm to the new characters the way I do the original, I was surprised to find just how fun season 4 is.\n\nThe action takes place on the Bar None, a dude ranch in Arizona. The ranch is owned by Benjamin Ernst, aka Mr. E. (David Brisbin). The only other regular adult on the show is Lucy (Debrah Kalman) who is in charge of the stables. The rest of the cast are the teenagers who are on staff. Theres Danny the Native American (Joe Torres), Jake who just happens to be Mr. Es nephew (Jonathan Galkin), Kyle (Geoffrey Coy), Brad who is an expert at horses (Kelly Brown), and Melody the lifeguard (Christine Taylor). Rounding out the cast is Buddy (Josh Tygiel), Mr. Es son who is just a little younger than the rest of the cast but is treated as an equal most of the time.\n\nSo what is the cast up to in these thirteen episodes? Brad finds her heart softening when she visits a neighboring ranch that caters to those with disabilities. Kyle and Brad lead some young kids into the desert for an over night but wind up lost instead Danny creates a comic strip based on life at the Bar None, and his friends don't take kindly to their characters. We meet another neighboring ranch on a couple of different occasions when the Vlecks come to stay with disastrous results. And Jake and Buddy try to track down the monster in the lake on the ranch.\n\nThen theres Ted (David Lascher). He was written out in the middle of the last season when the actor got a part on a different show. But the show was canceled so he winds up back for three of these episodes. Of these, the best is easily the season finale with finds Ted and Melody returning from the local infirmary to find everyone on the ranch plotting to kill Mr. E. What they don't realize is it is part of a dinner theater. The results are hilarious.\n\nAnd, frankly, fun is the name of the game here. The multi-camera no laugh track format predates the popular sitcoms of today. The antics of the characters are always funny, and I cant help but smile if not laugh the entire time Im watching. There is plenty of slapstick humor as well as witty lines as the characters tease each other.\n\nAll of this is served with a healthy dose of cheese. These episodes premiered in 1990, but the late 80s influence is still strong. Youve got to be in the right mood to enjoy the episodes, but if you are, youll enjoy them.\n\nThat also applies to the acting. Its a bit over the top and broad, but somehow it fits the show and audience perfectly. I really cant imagine this show acted in a more serious way and working as well.\n\nMr. E. has always been a bit of a goofy character. If it weren't for Lucy (who is only in about half the episodes), there would be no serious adult role models. And yet, I found myself impressed here with several times where they went out of their way to show us that Mr. E. isn't quite as stupid as he always appears. Hes still a goof most of the time, but it may be more for show than anything else.\n\nThe seasons of this show were super short, so the set consists of thirteen half hour episodes spread out over two discs. The picture quality and sound are fine. Yes, it could be sharper and clearer, but it works to give us the show. Only die hard home theater people will be complaining. Like the last couple of seasons, there are no extras here.\n\nThis show is definitely an acquired taste, but I was just at the age to fall in love with it the few times I watched it with friends as a kid. So I was very happy to travel back to the Bar None with Hey Dude - Season 4.","Product: Start Your Horse And Come Along For The Fifth And Final Season Of Heeeey Duuuuude! Saddle up with Benjamin Ernst (David Brisbin) and his fun-loving crew for one last season of laughs, adventures, and life lessons down the The Bar None Ranch! The Final Season starts at full-gallop when Melody becomes obsessed with a beauty contest, Ted mysteriously begins shrinking, Kyle and Ted get lost in the desert and Jake gets threatened by a wild guest! Hey Dude stars Christine Taylor as lifeguard Melody, David Lascher as senior staff member Ted, Kelly Brown as horse trainer Brad, Joe Torres as Hopi Indian native Danny, Debra Kalman as ranch hand Lucy, Josh Tygiel as Ernst's son, Buddy, Jonathan Galkin as Ernst's nephew, Jake, and Geoffrey Coy as the amiable cowboy Kyle Hey Dude ran on Nickelodeon from 1989-1991 and has since become a cult sitcom favorite. Yippie-kay-ay-ay for Hey Dude: The Final Season\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: \"Are You Going to Help Me, or Are You Going to Drive Me Crazy?\" \"I Hate Multiple Choice.\"\n\nReview: Weve reached the final season of Hey Dude, the Nickelodeon comedy from 1989-1991 that centered on the teenage staff of a dude ranch over the course of a summer. This is also the only season to include all the characters in the opening credits. And while there are still plenty of laughs, the poor episodes are weaker this time around.\n\nI must admit that not many of these shows were familiar to me, which was a bit of a surprise. True, I was never a faithful watcher of the show, but I did catch quite a few reruns when it was airing on Nickelodeon. All that meant was I got to enjoy some laughs for the first time.\n\nAnd the characters are still fun. Theres senior staff Ted (David Lascher), lifeguard Melody (Christine Taylor), riding instructor Brad (Kelly Brown), and ranch hands Danny (Joe Torres), Jake (Jonathan Galkin), and Kyle (Geoffrey Coy). Rounding out the cast are ranch owner Benjamin Ernst (David Brisbin), his son Buddy (Josh Tygiel), and Lucy (Debrah Kalman), the adult in charge of the horses.\n\nSo what actually happens in these thirteen episodes? The highlights include the teens inventing a new staff member named Jed and then having to keep the illusion going. After one practical joke too many, the rest of the group decides to convince Ted that hes shrinking. A double date goes very wrong for four of the members of the gang. When Brads father loses his job, she suddenly has to live on what she makes at the Bar None. And in the series finale, the old staff and the new staff square off in a game of capture the flag to determine who gets to be senior staff next summer.\n\nOn the other hand, there are some episodes where the show just doesnt work so well. Mr. E. getting amnesia was one of those. It was almost funny, but it was more painful than funny. But the worst episode involved a mother leaving one of her twins behind at the ranch because she is so forgetful. Yes, the characters interacting with the baby was fun, but I never could get past the premise.\n\nThe show is definitely a product of the late 80s and early 90s. A couple of the guys sport mullets. Their clothes scream the time period. And one episode finds Ted trying to earn extra money so he can buy a tricked out tape and CD player. I just had to laugh at that one, although the episode was good.\n\nNow if Im being honest, Ill freely admit that none of these episodes break any new ground. Even though I hadnt seen them before, I could predict what was going to happen early on. Its a sitcom, unexpected plot twists just aren't the genres specialty.\n\nLikewise, the acting is still bad. The main casts acting works, although it is a bit over the top. But the guest stars can really be bad. This is especially true in an episode that finds Jake having to fight a bully. Wow was there some overacting there.\n\nBut if you grew up with the show, none of that will matter. These characters are old friends, and I enjoyed getting to visit with them again. This is a single camera comedy, which means no laugh track, but I still found myself laughing at their antics. Its still entertaining, and thats all that matters.\n\nThose who have bought the previous sets will know what to expect here. Weve got 13 episodes on two discs, just like always. And just like always, the shows are in full frame, stereo, with no extras. But if you want to watch this show again, youll snap it up.\n\nAnd if you have fond memories of the show, youll enjoy catching the final adventures of the Bar None gang. While there are a few clunkers, there is still fun to be had in Hey Dude Season Five.","Product: Quick Shipping !!! New And Sealed !!! This Disc WILL NOT play on standard US DVD player. A multi-region PAL/NTSC DVD player is request to view it in USA/Canada. Please Review Description.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Extreme Treks through Some Beautiful and Dangerous Country\n\nReview: I don't normally go for travel logs or documentaries, so I was hesitant when I was offered a copy of Extreme Treks: Sacred Mountains of China for review. Yet something about it appealed to me, so I decided to give it a try and I really enjoyed it.\n\nThis was also my introduction to Ryan Pyle, a photographer, our host, and the adventurer who sets out to travel around four of the sacred mountains in China. These are remote, mostly in the Tibet region, and the only way to do so it to hike them. Oh, and did I mention the altitude? This is not a simple day stroll but a multi-day adventure that could turn deadly if proper precautions aren't taken.\n\nThe disc consists of four episodes, each dedicated to a different mountain. The format is pretty much the same. He arrives and spends a little time acclimating to the altitude and explaining to us a bit about how this mountain is considered sacred. Then he sets out with his support crew, and we get breathtaking shots along the way as he encounters obstacles ranging from weather to exhaustion and hints of altitude sickness.\n\nAs I was watching, all I could think was Id never survive this. What he went through in his treks is awe inspiring. But Im glad he did because the shots are absolutely beautiful, and I doubt Id ever learn about this region any other way.\n\nBecause these are roughly 45 minute made for TV episodes (and I don't know where they initially aired), we get just an overview of what he saw and experienced over the multiple days he spent filming and hiking. Honestly, at times, I felt like I could have watched more just to see the landscape.\n\nAt other times, however, I felt like things were a little repetitive, maybe because I watched them several nights in a row. If I had spaced them out, I don't think I would have felt this way.\n\nWhile Ryan did travel with a support crew made up of locals, this is definitely his show. Almost all the dialogue is him telling us about what has happened, either in voiceover or directly into the camera from the trail.\n\nThis Blu-Ray consists of four episodes of the show, so roughly 3 hours of material. There are no bonus features. However, you do get the shots in glorious HD, which helps you feel like you are right there. The sound is in stereo, and it is great as well.\n\nA quick note (that is also included on the disc packaging) that there are a couple of uses of unbleeped language on the shows. He also strips down to take a dip in a creek at one point. Keep that in mind if you are thinking of watching with your kids.\n\nRyans passion for China comes through on this disc, and I certainly learned about these mountains and the culture surrounding them while I was watching. It was well worth taking these vicarious Extreme Treks.\n\nNOTE: I was sent a copy of this Blu-Ray in exchange for my honest review.","Product: Each new generation of kids loves Boris Karloff's devilishly delightful telling of the Dr. Seuss classic-and each new generation of parents is more than happy to enjoy it with them! Here's the soundtrack to the 1966 animated classic: Karloff's narration plus You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch and the other Grinch songs.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: I Think Even the Grinch Would Like This Disc\n\nReview: I've been a fan of the TV show for years, but didn't even know this disc existed until last year. I immediately bought it, and I love it.\n\nIt claims to be the soundtrack for the 1966 TV special of Dr. Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas. I see some reviewers say it is different. I've only noticed one difference. Whether it is note for note exactly the same or not doesn't matter to me. It's still a great disc.\n\nIt only has 5 tracks. The first is Boris Karloff reading the story. It sounds remarkably like the TV special. It even has the songs edited into the story. The only change I noticed is here. Boris does all the narration, including Cindy Lou Who.\n\nThe other four tracks are the songs from the special by themselves. \"Welcome Christmas\" gets two tracks, with the second being a longer reprise. That track has additional words and an instrumental bridge. \"Trim Up the Tree\" is just as nonsensical as in the special.\n\nWhich brings us to \"You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch.\" I love this song in the special, and it is preserved exactly as it is here, including Thurl Ravenscroft wonderful voice. It's one of my favorite parts of the special, and I love having it here. I'll confess, I often listen to it two or three times in a row.\n\nSo if you are a fan of the TV show and love the songs, you'll be glad you got this CD.","Product: 17 songs\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: A Classic Best Of\n\nReview: It's hard to believe that this CD came out after only a decade in Christian music. It's impressive for what is included, as well as all the stuff that could not fit.\nThe CD starts with two new tracks, included to entice the fans to buy this project. \"Stay for Awhile\" has become a classic in its own right with its themes of old friends reunited. \"Love Can Do\" focuses on the commitment love requires and the pain and joy it can bring.\nThe rest of the songs are not to be missed standouts from her early career. Every song was popular in its day and has a fond place in my heart from the years of listening to them. \"Age to Age,\" her best selling album at that time, has an impressive four songs on the list, all well deserved. Even with other versions, these recordings of \"Sing Your Praise to the Lord\" and \"El Shaddai\" will remain the definite recordings.\nI'm a little surprised that \"Emmanuel\" was included from her first Christmas album, but it seems to fits right in. Also surprising is the lack of a full song from her debut CD. While included in the fun \"Ageless Medley,\" seems like \"Old Man's Rubble\" deserved a spot of its own. Or \"Beautiful Music\" or \"Mountain Top\" could have been included. And, as always with a collection, I've got favorites I miss from these projects that would never have been able to fit because of length requirements.\nWhile some of these songs seem a bit dated, they are still important milestones in a mega career and CCM in general. My only real complaint? Every time I dig this CD out, I have to listen to all the CD's represented here in rapid succession. Not that I really mind too much.","Product: Original Issue 1994 ----------------- 10 TRACKS: 1- They Say It's Wonderful (2:21) 2- If I Could Be With You One Hour Tonight (2:23) 3- Angry (1:40) 4- Down By The Old Mill Stream (3:09) 5- Why Do I Love You (2:48) 6- Down Among The Sheltering Palms (1:37) 7- As Time Goes By (3:16) 8- Fit As A Fiddle (1:52) 9- I Believe (2:17) 10- Your Eyes Have Told Me So (2:22)\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Great Collection of Two Giants in the Genre\n\nReview: I recently discovered how much I liked barbershop music and decided to add some barbershop CD to my collection. One of the first names I had recommended to me was the Buffalo Bills. So I got this CD featuring them and The Chordettes.\nFrom what I know of barbershop, this contains several standards of the genre. Unfortunately, I didn't like the version of \"Down by the Old Mill Stream\" presented here.\nThe other tracks are wonderful, however ranging from the upbeat \"Angry\" to the slower \"I Believe.\" The Buffalo Bills are joined by instruments on \"If I could be with You One Hour Tonight\" and \"Fit as a Fiddle.\" And I love their rendition of \"As Time Goes By.\"\nThe other drawback to this CD is that it's only 24 minutes long. As a result, it's quite easy to wear it out after a few listens. Still, it was money well spent and a good introduction to two giants in the barbershop genre from days gone by.","Product: 4 Him ~ Best Ones\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Definitely Not One Hit Wonders\n\nReview: 4 Him exploded on the Christian music scene in 1990 and continued to be at the top of the charts for the next decade. This CD collects 14 of their #1 songs in one place for easy access. It offers a mix of songs from all 6 projects released before this came out.\nEven the casual listener to Christian radio during the 90's will recognize some of the classics collected here. \"Basics of Life,\" \"Where There is Faith,\" \"Why?,\" and \"For Future Generations\" are just some highlights of this CD stuffed full of great songs that will be familiar to everyone.\nLike any best of project, loyal fans (like me) will have some argument with the song selection. My biggest complaint here is that the song selection leans toward the newer recordings, with 9 of the 14 from their last three CD's. This leaves little room for their early hits. \"Basics of Life\" is only represented by the title song, but there were lots of great songs on it. And how could they leave out \"Man You Would Write About\" from their second CD? Still, I do find myself listening to this CD more then enough times to justify the money I spent on it.\n4 Him's balance of solid lyrics with great harmony earned them a legion of well deserved fans. Anyone interested in their music will love this CD, a collection of one of Christian music's classic acts.","Product: Here's the acclaimed original 1967 off-Broadway cast recording starring Gary Burghoff and Bob Balaban-plus a bonus 1966 demo, the very recording that composer Clark Gesner sent to Charles Schulz to obtain permission to create the show!\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: A Song in the Life of Peanuts\n\nReview: I must admit I haven't listened to this CD quite often enough. When I'm in the mood for these songs, I tend to listen to the 1999 Revival Cast since it has some great songs on it that this one doesn't. However, that's a mistake. This one has its own fun charm.\n\nThis disc is a 2000 release of a recording from 1967. Frankly, the recording is rather simple. The main instrument is the piano. However, it sounds like there is more thanks to the wide range of percussion used. Heck, I love how they make the opening notes sound like a kid's piano.\n\nThe songs are absolutely wonderful. The encouraging anthem \"You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown\" always gets me in the mood for what is to come. I love Lucy singing counterpoint to Moonlight Sonata in \"Schroeder.\" The various ways the characters tackle \"The Book Report\" are hilarious. And I can't leave out Charlie Brown's attempts to fly a \"Kite.\" Being used to the new arrangements, I was surprised by the tempo changes in \"T-E-A-M,\" but I really like the contrast. Try as I might, however, I still can't get into \"My Blanket and Me.\"\n\nWhat struck me the most, however, are the tracks exclusive to this disc. Granted, I'd be hard pressed to call any of them songs. They are more dialogue with music in the background. But I love them. We get to listen to Snoopy fight off \"The Red Baron.\" \"Queen Lucy\" isn't happy when Linus points out it is an inherited title. \"Peanuts Potpourri\" is mainly given over to Snoopy, but it will still make you laugh.\n\nThen there are the bonus tracks. Four of the songs are presented in their original demo with composer Chuck Gesner and Barbara Minkus providing the vocals. Frankly, the only real change is a final joke from Lucy on \"Kite.\"\n\nMy only true complaint with this disc is the background noise. There is a noticeable hiss on all the tracks, almost like the noise an old tape machine would make.\n\nOverall, this is a good recording of fun songs. While it won't replace my Revival Cast disc, I do see a need to pull this one out more often.","Product: Candle in the Rain [Audio CD] Meece, David\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Not His Best Work By Far\n\nReview: I've been a fan of David Meece's work for years. I even tracked down his old 70's records so I could have a complete set. Yet this CD is not my favorite of his works by far and seldom gets listened to.\nThe problem seems to be that it differs too much in style from his other stuff. It was originally released in 1987 and musically, it shows. Also, David wrote fewer songs on this CD then any of his others. \"Nothing to Forgive\" and \"The Water is Fine\" are much weaker then normal for him as a result. I do still enjoy \"All is God's Creation,\" and the CD gets strong once you reach the songs he wrote himself. \"His Love Was Reaching\" is a powerful ballad that deserved more recognition then it gets and is followed by the fun \"Amor Conquesta Todo.\"\nLong time fans will want to get this CD to complete their collection. There are several songs that definitely make it worth the effort. If you're new to David's wonderful music, start with his much stronger CD's \"Learning to Trust\" or \"Once in a Lifetime\" or either of his best of collections. And there's always \"There I Go Again,\" his new release that it actually in print.","Product: Dove Award Winners\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Sophomore Slumps Are Hard to Avoid. Just Ask Selah\n\nReview: This year, I have delved into the world of Selah. Don't ask me why I didn't get into this Christian group sooner, but I am making up for lost time. Recently, I've been listening to their sophomore release, Press On. While it has some good moments, it's not as strong as the other I've heard.\n\nAt this point, the trio was still made up of brother and sister Todd and Nichol and their friend Allan. Todd and Nichol usually take on the singing, leaving Allan to play piano. That's not always the case, however.\n\nFor example, the disc opens with all three of them singing \"Oh Draw Me, Lord.\" It's a very simple chorus, but the arrangement is haunting with Allan's piano playing and strings in the background.\n\nFrom there, they go into one of the many classic hymns on the disc. Nichol and Todd are the only vocalists on \"There is a Fountain.\" Once again, Allan plays piano, and the strings are more pronounced here. I love this hymn, and their arrangement is outstanding. The same can really be said for the modern praise song \"Wonderful Merciful Savior.\"\n\nAllan takes the stage completely for \"In My Life/If We Never Meet Again.\" The only thing he doesn't do is the cello. The piano and both main and background vocals are all his, showing just how talented he really is. This medley focuses on the power of friends in our lives and the joy of knowing that we will see them again in Heaven even if we are separated here on earth.\n\nI got a kick out of seeing \"Hold On\" here. Turns out Nichol and Todd are also fans of the old Christian artist Evie, and this is a cover of her song. They give it a slight gospel flavor that adds some fun to this song of encouragement. The gospel arrangement is even more pronounced on their version of the classic hymn \"Amazing Grace.\" And you can't help but tapping your toes along with \"Deep Way Down.\"\n\nBut not everything is good here. One misstep in my eyes is the inclusion of the hymn \"Were You There.\" This is just a personal thing since I really don't like the hymn. I guess I'm just too literal, so the answer to the question the hymns as (\"Were you there when they crucified my Lord\") is a resounding \"NO!\" Having said that, if you like the hymn, you'll love this arrangement. It's beautiful to listen to with a dramatic build toward the last verse.\n\nThen there's \"How Great Thou Art.\" Occasionally, they like to sing in Kituba, the native language for the part of Africa where Todd and Nichol grew up as missionary kids. In fact, they have a very fun praise chorus here in \"Yesu Azali Awa,\" complete with heavy percussion that makes you feel like you are part of a village praise service. But I digress. For their arrangement of the classic hymn, they do the first verse of \"How Great Thou Art,\" but then they do a second version in Kituba. I wish they'd included more in English because I love this hymn so much. The arrangement itself is good, so I can't really complain. It just seems like a bit of a strange choice.\n\nLikewise, I like \"Timeless,\" an original song presented here, but they have done better original songs. Still, I do like the idea that God will always be there for us no matter how life changes.\n\nThe disc closes out with the title track. I was familiar with \"Press On\" thanks to my church choir doing the song numerous times over the years. This is a quieter reflective version, but it does build toward the anthem I'm used to hearing. Again, the use of strings is really beautiful.\n\nSo Press On isn't all bad, but some choices do weaken it. If, like me, you are just now building a Selah library, I'd recommend starting with some of their other releases and filling in with this one last.","Product: Ori. Release '02 Thirtennth album form the CCM Singersonwriter who worked with Gino Vanelli in the early 90s.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Here He Comes Again\n\nReview: After a much too long absence from the Christian Music scene, David Meece has finally put out a new CD. Fans will be thrilled, and it just might win over a new fan or two.\nThe years have not dulled David's pen in the least. These songs are filled with honest lyrics, just like always. The prevailing theme seems to be the need to depend on God, as expressed in such songs as \"No Other Hope,\" \"I Just Want to be with You,\" \"Run,\" \"By the Water,\" and \"Help Me Stand.\" Yet, he also touches on God's promise to be there for us (\"I'll be Waiting for You.\"), struggles with sin (\"There I Go Again\"), and being thankful for God's sovereignty (\"Things You Never Gave Me\"). Musically, the songs range from fun, retro-80's sounding rock to modern Adult contemporary and ballads. The one thing I missed was David's outstanding piano playing. It's there on a few songs, most notable \"By the Waters,\" but it should have been featured more then it was.\nDavid Meece has proven he still has something to say. He's as powerful and entertaining as ever. Hopefully, the wait until his next CD won't be nearly this long, even if it was worth it in the end.","Product: CD\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Twila Still Writes Great Worship Music\n\nReview: With all the artists releasing CD's devoted to worship music, it only makes sense that Twila Paris would release one of her own. Ever since her first CD came out over 20 years ago, she's has been known for her worshipful lyrics and has contributed a number of songs to modern hymn books and worship services.\nIn fact, two of the twelve new songs featured here are new recording of her classics \"We Bow Down\" and \"We Will Glorify.\" The other 10 songs are all new and all penned by this master songwriter. This CD probably represents the greatest range of topics for a worship CD. There are songs that focus on who God is (\"God of All,\" \"For Eternity,\" \"Glory and Honor,\") but also songs that are prayers to live as God would have us live (\"Come Emmanuel,\" \"Fill My Heart,\" \"Make Us One\") and reminders that we as Christians live new lives (\"Not My Own\" and \"Christ in Us.\")\nMy only complaint about this project will be nothing new to Twila's fans (and I consider myself one.) Her worship songs have always had a lot of repetition to them. Before, it hasn't been as noticeable because they've been mixed in with regular songs. Here, it's much more obvious and begins to wear on my before it's all over. Still, there are some great songs that I'm sure will become church standards in the near future.","Product: ncludes DVD with video clips of studio sessions and live performances.Personnel includes: Rich Mullins, Steve Cudworth (vocals, guitar).Rich Mullins had ascended to one of the most respected planes in the Contempory Christian world before his death in a 1997 Illinois car accident. Six years later, HERE IN AMERICA collects some unrecorded material, some live tracks and throws in a DVD of live footage. Mullins's music owes much to '70s pop, equal parts Cat Stevens, Billy Joel, Todd Rundgren, Bruce Springsteen and Kenny Loggins, accentuated by lyrics both intricate and startlingly simple, sometimes incisive and often possessed of a rapier wit often absent in the genre.It is particularly in the live tracks where one is treated to a truly engaging personality. Mullins's self-deprecating, genial, and often cutting humor is particularly present on his most famous composition \"Awesome God,\" as he gently teaches the song to a gathered group, gently encouraging while intermittently quipping \"either pray that God gives you extra breath or helps you to quit smoking to get through this verse.\" Mullins's wide-eyed passion is both simple and earnest and glows endearingly through his intelligent songs. HERE IN AMERICA offers a nice introduction to the late Christian singer.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: A Must for Rich's Fans\n\nReview: This CD/DVD set is a collection of rare, mostly live, moments from Rich Mullins that any of his fans will be thrilled to have.\nThe first disc is a CD that collects many fun moments from his concerts. Most of the recordings are from 1987 and include Rich introducing some of his early hits. One of the highlights is listening to Rich teach an audience to sing \"Awesome God.\" The biggest disappointment here is that he doesn't actually sing it. Other highlights include \"Verge of a Miracle\" and \"Be With You.\" Also included are some demos of songs that were never released as well as the title song.\nThe second disc is a DVD and is broken into two parts. The first is an hour long concert that Rich gave in March of 1997 that features many of the songs he was famous for. While its lots of fun watching him and the Ragamuffins perform, I really wish they hadn't cut away so much during \"Screen Door.\" Unfortunately, Rich doesn't talk nearly as much as I'd hoped in this section. The second part features comments on various subjects from a series of Q&A times in 1993. There's some interesting stuff here that will make you stop and think. Plus you get to see a few shots of Beaker.\nThe biggest drawback to this collection is that it doesn't hold up to repeat listening/viewing. You can only hear these stories so many times before you're ready to move on. This will never replace my other CD's, but it does help provide a bigger picture of Rich.\nFans will enjoy this CD for a chance to see the man behind their favorite songs, even if it doesn't get the play his other CD's do. If you're just discovering Rich's music, I suggest you start with SONGS. Once you've discovered his music, you'll get so much more out of this set.","Product: Sophomore album from one of Canada's finest Christian rock bands on Curb Records. 2003.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Not Up to Their Debut\n\nReview: After hearing people rave about their debut, I went out and got downhere's debut CD. My first listen through it, I enjoyed it, and it still continued to grow on me. If I could write my review of it over again, I'd give it the full 5 stars.\nNaturally, when this CD came out, I rushed out to buy it. Boy was I disappointed right off the bat. Not only had they changed their style to sound (For the worse, in my opinion. They've lost what made them special.), but the lyrics just didn't grab me as their last CD had done. Over the last few months, I've pulled this CD out to see if I feel differently about it.\nFortunately, I've stuck it out, because the CD has grown on me. While sounding more like many other light rock bands now instead of sounding unique, the words have grown on me. There's some good stuff in there, it's just a bit more buried. My favorites are still the ones I gravitated to first, \"What it's Like\" and \"Starspin.\" I especially love the rocks cry out feel of that song since it fits with the words so well. Like their previous effort, this one includes a hidden track that is my ultimate favorite from the disc. They've got a great challenge for Christians in \"How They Love Each Other,\" and I've also grown to like \"Feels like Winter\" and \"Last Night's Daydream.\"\nObviously, I'm one of the few fans who felt this way about the disc initially. All I can say is, if you liked their first one, give this one time. I'm glad I did.","Product: Across The Sky ~ Across The Sky\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: New Artists to Watch\n\nReview: This is duo Across the Sky's first project, and it's fun. Their music is a cross between pop and rock, making for a fun, easy to listen to sound. Their songs talk about such things as how God searches and finds us (\"Found by You,\" \"Shooting Star,\" and \"Persistence\") God working in life (\"Exciting Times\"), and living the Christian life as a result (\"Give it All Away\" and my favorite from the CD \"Not so You Will Love Me\"). They even throw in a couple love songs like \"Everywhere She Goes,\" \"First Love Song,\" and a cover of Michael W. Smith's \"Do You Dream of Me?\"\nThe lyrics are good but do tend a little toward the light side of things, but the music is fun and makes up for this lack. This album continues to grow on me. With the artists writing or co-writing many of the songs here, I look forward to watching their talent grow on future CD's.","Product: This alternative pop rock gathering stars the awes ome sounds of Simple Plan's remake of the Turtles \"Happy Together,\" Bowling for Soup genius renditio n of Britney Spears \"Hit Me Baby One More Time\" and the classic \"What a Wonderful World \" performe d by Joey Ramone.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Not My Normal Sound, But I Love It\n\nReview: When I went to see this movie in the theater, I loved every second of it. And part of the fun was the soundtrack. As I left the theater, I decided that I might have to bend my policy about buying soundtracks to get this. I thought about it for months, and finally picked it up today on my lunch hour. Am I ever glad I did!\nThe CD opens with Lindsay Lohan's song from the closing credits, \"Ultimate.\" She has so much talent. Is there anything she can't do? (Possible celebrity crush? Except for the age difference, you bet!) The CD continues with one fun upbeat song after another, from covers of \"Happy Together\" and \"What a Wonderful World\" to such songs as \"Me Vs. the World,\" \"I Wonder,\" and \"...Baby One More Time.\" I was especially happy to get \"What I Like About You\" since I've fallen in love with it on the sit-com of the same name.\nI've been tapping along with the music all afternoon around my office. I can tell this is going to be a dangerous CD to have as I'll probably catch myself singing some of these at inopportune moments in public. But it's such fun it's well worth the risk. I may not normally choose a CD like this, but it will be nice for a change of pace.","Product: The artist's first album since 'This Is Your Time', perfectly blends the pop music for which he is so well known with the worship music endearing him to over one million new listeners in recent years.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Praise focused Pop Release\n\nReview: With two hugely successful praise CD's under his belt, Michael W. Smith decided to return to his pop roots for this CD. The result is still influenced by praise music.\n\nMichael's career has been known for praise music from the very beginning. His first CD (PROJECT) produced the modern classic \"Great Are You, Lord.\" He's also written praise-focused songs for Sandi Patty and Scott Wesley Brown among others. Here, he's got several more to add to the fold, including the title song. Not only can I see this song of renewal being sung in churches in the near future, but also the first track, \"Here I Am,\" is a ready-made praise chorus about surrender. And while \"All I Want\" might not fit as easily into some churches, it falls into this category as well.\n\nNot all the songs are new praise choruses, however. \"Hang On\" is a fun song of encouragement. \"Live Forever\" is another on a common theme for him, death of a loved one who is in Heaven. \"We Can't Wait Any Longer\" is reminiscent of many songs recorded over the years as a reminder of the needs around the world. Also included is a cover of the ballad \"Bridge Over Troubled Water,\" the only song on here not co-written by Michael.\n\nOver all, this CD seems to be missing something. I don't see it having any of the big hits from some of his other CD's. Maybe it's because there isn't a good mix of upbeat and slower songs. It has grown on me, and I like it better then THIS IS YOUR TIME. Still, not his best release.","Product: Steven Curtis Chapman ~ All Things New\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Some Things New, Same Great Artist\n\nReview: I've been a Steven Curtis Chapman fan since I first discovered his music in the early 90's with \"For the Sake of the Call.\" Since then, I have eagerly awaited each new release, and I continue to be rewarded. This CD is no exception.\n\nThe first few notes of this CD made me stop. They were piano! And that isn't the only time we get treated to piano on this disc. It's most obvious in \"Angels Wish\" and \"Treasure of Jesus.\" We also get more ballads and some wonderful melodies. Not that there aren't some fun upbeat songs like \"Only Getting Started\" and \"Coming Attractions.\" Through it all, the words are still wonderful.\n\nHonestly, if I were going to list favorite songs, it would probably be easiest to list least favorite songs. \"Big Story\" is really the only one I haven't connected with yet. He tackles quite a range of subject here, from praise in \"All Things New\" and \"Much of You\" to the very serious subject of living for eternity in \"Last Day on Earth,\" finding Jesus in the least of these in \"What Now,\" and surrendering to Him in \"Coming Attractions\" and \"Please Only You.\" While some of these are familiar themes for Mr. Chapman, he manages to breathe new life and provide a new challenge with them.\n\nMy favorite song on here is \"Believe Me Now.\" This song is written from God's point of view and is a reminder that the God we worship, serve, and believe in is the same God that spoke the world into being and performed all the miracles we read about in the Bible. Seems to me no matter how often I think of this and say I know it, I still need reminders constantly of where my faith should be.\n\nThis is a disc that will appeal to the adult contemporary crowd. Fans will love it and be begging for more. If you wonder why Steven Curtis Chapman has such a big following after all these years, you need look no further then this CD to find your answer.","Product: I Choose You (Re-Issue) by POINT OF GRACE\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Choose This Great CD\n\nReview: As a long time fan, I've been waiting for this CD with mixed feelings. I've really enjoyed all of Point of Grace's CD's, yet would Leigh Cappillino coming in to replace Terry Jones make a huge difference? Furthermore, would the reported tweaking of their sound wind up giving us a bad CD? I'm glad to say the answer to both questions is a resounding no.\n\nThe attempts to change their sound are noticeable on several tracks, most noticeably \"Down.\" It's got a fun upbeat sound that I just love. And the reminder that God is so far above us takes on a fun new flavor.\n\nI'm a sucker for any song dealing with the wonder of God being so much greater then we are, and \"Who Am I,\" the second Point of Grace song with that title, fits the bill. This time, they wonder who we think we are to ever fully understand God. Realizing how big He is makes it easy to praise him.\n\nI also really like \"Do It Again,\" a song about God's perfect timing in our lives to encourage us and remind us He's still in charge. \"Waiting in the Wings\" discusses the fact that God is ultimately in control no matter who seems to be winning. And the CD closes with a beautiful ballad about Heaven called \"This is Your Land.\"\n\nOverall, the CD has more of an upbeat flavor then Free to Fly. Still, long time fans need not worry. This is still the same great Point of Grace we all know and love.","Product: Newsboys ~ Devotion\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Not as Good as Adoration, but Close\n\nReview: This CD took me a few listens before I began to enjoy it. In fact, I didn't like it at first. I'm not a big Newboys fan, but Adoration had grabbed me with some standout new songs and a few covers I recognized. This CD has no truly great stand out song, and I didn't recognize any of the songs right off the bat. Still, I decided recently to give it a second listen. That's when I discovered how good it was.\n\nWhile the project does have covers of new Matt Redman and Tim Hughes songs, most of the songs are original. Many of the songs are pure praise, like \"God of Nations,\" \"Name Above All Names,\" \"Strong Tower,\" and \"Blessed be Your Name.\" These songs sound like many of the modern praise songs, and are good.\n\nSeveral of the songs, however, do touch on the pain in life. I like the theme of praising God in spite of the pain, something that is often missing in modern worship music. This especially comes out in the last song, \"When the Tears Fall,\" with lines such as \"When hope is lost/I'll call you Savior. When pain surrounds/I'll call you Healer.\"\n\nThis CD might not be as good as Adoration or immediately catch your ear. But it's worth giving it some time. I will certainly be enjoying my copy for a long time to come.","Product: As a founding member of the 3.5 million selling group 4HIM, Andy Chrisman has been ONE of the voices that help them garner over 22 hit singles in their illustrious career. Andys debut effort (aptly entitled ONE) delivers pure pop music inspired by his love of Scripture, his heart for ministry, and his zeal for worship, including his experiences as a worship pastor in a local Orlando, Florida church. Tapping into his passion for the One who created us all, Andy has written songs for this project that carry out Ephesians 5:19, \"Be filled with the Spirit by reciting psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs for your own good. Sing and make music to the Lord with your hearts.\" (GODS WORD Translation) While continuing to tour with 4HIM, Andy will also support ONE with numerous concert and promotional appearances.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Good if not Perfect Solo Debut\n\nReview: Even though I'm a 4 Him fan, I probably would have passed right by this CD if it hadn't been for the sticker on it advertising it as a solo debut of one of their members. Naturally curious, I picked it up.\n\nThe problem with this CD is that it tries a little too hard to be a pop music CD. While Andy's vocals sound fine, the songs begin to all sound the same. Still, there is much here to recommend it.\n\nThe disc starts off strong with \"Believe.\" This catchy song talks about the faith required to believe in Jesus two thousand years after he came to earth.\n\nThe main theme is worship of God for who He is and what He's given us. This is especially amplified in \"Atmosphere,\" \"Adore You,\" \"Debt of Gratitude,\" \"The One,\" and \"King Above All.\"\n\nAnd I must mention my favorite song on here, \"Love Remains.\" This moving ballad is a private prayer of thanks to Abba Father for His constant love in our lives. It's truly a wonderful song that I can listen to over and over and over again.\n\nI'm glad this CD caught my eye because there are some great songs on here. While a little more variety would have been nice, I'll certainly keep my eye open for anything else he might release solo.","Product: She needs no introduction. Widely known as pop megastar, gospel's stunning-yet-relatable girl next door, selfless humanitarian, wife and mother-Amy Grant has been positively affecting culture with her love of song for nearly 30 years. Word. 2005.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Pulling It Out Again Reminds Me Why I Don't Listen to it Much\n\nReview: I first bought this CD back in 2005 when it came out. I gave it a few listens and then stuck it away. I decided to pull it out again and give it another listen. Now I remember why I had listened to it in four years.\n\nYes, part of the problem is me. I'm not a big hymns CD person. I'm not sure exactly why since I love hymns and have several CDs of them that I enjoy listening to when the mood strikes. This CD focuses in on some of the lesser known hymns. Yes, we've got \"Rock of Ages\" and \"Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus.\" But we also have \"Sweet Will of God\" and \"Abide with Me.\" They just don't appeal to me as much as the songs I already know.\n\nBut then there's the style. I'm not a Country of Bluegrass fan, so you can imagine the problem when I put in the disc and immediately notice the twang of opening track \"Anywhere with Jesus.\" It's even worse on \"Rock of Ages\" and \"Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus.\" Amy obviously let husband Vince Gill have free reign with the production, and that was a poor choice on her part.\n\nHaving said that, there are a couple tracks I do like. The slightly updated version of \"El Shaddai\" is beautiful, although it does through me off when she changes the wording slightly.\n\nThe best song here is the only original track, \"Carry You.\" It's also one of the lesser Country selections. This Amy Grant original is a song of encouragement straight from God to those who are struggling. It was worth pulling the disc out again to rediscover.\n\nAside from that one song, however, there truly isn't much of interest here. Unless you absolutely must own every Amy Grant CD, feel free to skip this one.","Product: 10 tracks\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Wonderful Song Selection, Disappointing Style Selection\n\nReview: In the last couple of years, I've jumped on the Mercy Me bandwagon, buying all three of their CD's. Naturally, when I found out the lead singer was planning to release a solo hymns CD, I was excited. The buzz around it was fantastic, and looking at the selections, I saw several of my lesser-recorded favorites among the list. When I popped it in, I was disappointed.\n\nInstead of doing an adult contemporary recording, which is what I expected, this is a country recording of these hymns. Banjo is prominent on several tracks. These songs sound like they would fit well in a small backwoods church from 100 years ago. While I find myself singing along, it's not with the enjoyment I had expected.\n\nIronically enough, the song that works best here is the semi-original song \"Mawmaw's Song.\" While taking the chorus of \"Sweet By and By\" for his chorus, he sings a loving tribute to his grandmother's faith.\n\nI don't know why established artists feel the need to \"go country\" when releasing a hymns project. While this could have become a favorite of mine, it will hardly be listened to in the future.","Product: Veggietales ~ Incredible Singing Christmas Tree\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Another Fun Veggie Holiday Treat\n\nReview: The VeggieTales gang is getting ready to put on a Christmas spectacular - a singing Christmas tree. They just need to decide who gets to be the star on top. While Bob will make the ultimate decision, he wants the help of some judges - Archibald, Madame Blueberry, and Mr. Lunt, who wants to be the snarly judge everyone loves to despise. Everyone wants the job, including Miss Achmetha, who is still hung up on puppies; the Boyz in the Sink; and Blind Lemon Lincoln. And, in the funniest song on here, the Peas and the Pirates fight over who should sing \"We Three Kings.\"\n\nI was a bit concerned since I just loved their first Christmas CD if this would live up to it. I'm happy to report it's just as silly and fun as the first one. The second half stays more on the series side with the focus on familiar Christmas songs. There are lots of new songs or song parodies as well, including three new outstanding songs, \"Was He a Boy Like Me?\" \"What My Father Did on Christmas Eve,\" and \"It's About Love.\"\n\nThis is another Christmas CD that kids and parents will love because it is truly funny. It might be a fight to see who can wear this one out first.","Product: Track Listing 1. Bless The Broken Road (w/Melodie Crittenden) 2. Glory (w/Nicole Nordeman) 3. I Will Sing Of My Redeemer (w/Barlowgirl) 4. Aint No Grave (w/Jason Crabb) 5. Mary Sweet Mary (w/Plumb) 6. Follow Jesus (w/Nicole C. Mullen) 7. Be Thou Near To Me (w/Amy Perry) 8. Softly And Tenderly (w/Cynthia Clawson) 9. All My Tears (w/Kim Hill) 10. Faithful One (w/Christy Nockles) 11. Gentle Healer (w/Amy Perry)\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Selah's Transition Disc is a Blessing\n\nReview: 2005 and 2006 say some transitions for the trio Selah. Founding member Nicol Smith decided to leave and pursue a solo career. While Todd Smith and Allan Hall worked to find a new female to join the group, they released Bless the Broken Road: The Duets Album. While I've just found the group in the last year, I'm sure it was proof to their fans that the group had lost none of their magic.\n\nAs the title implies, each song on the disc is a duet with a different artists. And yes, all but one of them is female. The different artists mesh well with Selah's style. Of course, while most of Selah's songs fall into the inspirational category, they branch out quite regularly, so that's not that hard to do, really.\n\nThe disc opens with the title song and an appearance by Melodie Crittenden, who almost joined the trio as the third member. While the \"to you\" of the chorus can be interepted many ways, the idea that \"God blessed the broken road/And led me straight to you\" is a great reminder of His sovereignty in all things. The strings on this one are beautiful, and Todd and Melodie harmonize so well together.\n\nThe very first time I heard \"Glory,\" I said to myself that it sounded just like a Nichole Nordeman song. I knew she was duet for the song, but when I looked at the booklet I confirmed she also wrote it. The melody is what gave it away. It's a great song about the hope of the day that the entire world will be singing Glory to God.\n\nFor some reason, \"All My Tears\" had never grabbed me when Jars of Clay covered it (the same year), but I love the song here. An upbeat song in a minor key, I'm really drawn to the idea that once we're dead, nothing here is going to matter any more. It helps that the song is hauntingly beautiful with Kim Hill's lush vocals being the perfect match for the arrangement. The background vocals really add to the pleasure of the song.\n\nThat song is followed up with \"Ain't No Grave.\" This time the gust vocals are from Jason and Adam Crabb. It's got a similar theme in the hope of the resurrection. It's probably the most uptempo piece on the disc, and the blues harp Adam plays gives it a fun hint of country.\n\nThe guest vocal list is actually pretty impressive, including the likes of Barlowgirl, Nicole C. Mullen, Plub, and Christy Nockels, then of Watermark before she set out on a solo career of her own. The variety doesn't make for a disjointed disc at all. Instead, things flow along well despite the differences in styles.\n\nAllan Hall usually adds some background vocals and excellent piano work to Selah releases, but here he steps into the male lead vocal role twice. One of these is on the disc closer, \"Softly and Tenderly.\" This is a fresh arrangement of the classic hymn, and yes, Allan does provide some amazing piano for it, although it takes a back seat to the amazing strings much of the time.\n\nThe other time is much earlier in the disc. \"Gentle Healer\" is a cover of a song by Michael Card about the power of Jesus in a small village during His earthly ministry. The duet this time is with Amy Perry, who had joined the group as the third member of the trio by the time they recorded parts of the disc. You can hear her hear but also in the background vocals of many of the songs.\n\nShe does a duet with Todd as well on \"Be thou Near to Me,\" a simple song of prayer asking for God's presence in daily life. It's a mid tempo blend of guitar and piano, and I love it.\n\nThe only real misstep on the disc is the coda to \"I Will Sing of My Redeemer\" where Todd has his three year old daughters sing the chorus. It's cute once, but after that I don't care for it. That probably makes me a grump, right?\n\nAt this point in their career, Selah had a reputation for lifting the hearts of their listeners in praise to God. Bless the Broken Road proved that they were going to be focusing on that going forward. There are many awesome songs here, and their fans will not be disappointed in the disc at all.","Product: 7 never-before-released tracks including 2 duets with R&B singer Peabo Bryson. Also includes 5 signature Christmas songs from her perennial bestsellers. Merry Christmas With Love and O Holy Night! The Voice Of Christmas is sure to fill any room with yuletide joy for the holidays.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Rare and Familiar Christmas Moments\n\nReview: I'm a big fan of Sandi Patty's Christmas projects. Considering she released one last year, I was a little surprised to find another one this year, but I just had to have it. Unfortunately, it's a bit of a disappointment.\n\nThis release is a compilation of several different previous Christmas releases. It has four songs from her first Christmas release, one from her second official release, and the rest are from her two Hallmark releases. Since I never bothered to get them, I was thrilled to get the songs. Especially since \"O Come, O Come, Emmanuel\" and \"Hark! The Herald Angels Sing\" are two of my favorites.\n\nUnfortunately, many of the songs here suffer from Sandi's operatic tendencies. While I love her voice and don't mind her occasional trips into the upper octaves for extended periods of time, I find it can get tedious when she does it song after song. That's exactly what happens here. She's managed to produce some of my least favorite versions of the favorite classics.\n\nNot to say that everything is a loss. I still love the songs I already know. And the two duets with Peabo Bryson (\"How Great Our Joy!\" and \"Go Tell it on the Mountain\") are fun. I doubt I'll give this CD more then one spin a year in favor of her better Christmas recordings.","Product: FFHUs greatest musical moments to date have found a home together on the ten-track \"Far From Home: The FFH Collection.\" Combining the band's best signature harmonies and upbeat, acoustic-pop sounds in one place, the project is one fans will not want to miss.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Well, It's Almost the Best\n\nReview: I'll admit I enjoy FFH, but I often go a long time without listening to anything they did at all. Still, like with all artists I enjoy, I got their best of. Unlike more artists I enjoy, I found this one a tad disappointing.\n\nRight off the bat, I discovered that there were only ten tracks, and none of them were new. Honestly, I can't remember the last time I saw a Best Of with no new track. As with most compilations, the CD focuses on the radio hits. Most of my favorite FFH songs were never on the radio.\n\nBut what is here is enjoyable. The CD kicks off with the fun \"Big Fish.\" My favorite song they've ever done is included, \"I Want to be Like You.\" \"Fly Away\" and \"Ready to Fly\" represent their songs about Heaven.\n\nTheir last couple releases haven't been as good as their first few. Obviously, I'm not the only one who feels that way since they get one track each. \"Still the Cross\" and \"Worth it All\" are definitely the best of those two releases.\n\nFor those wanting the radio hits, this disc will satisfy. I will probably forgo it most of the time in favor of the full releases that have the songs I like better","Product: [Note: This product is an authorized CD-R and is manufactured on demand]\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Hardly Definitive, but Wonderful\n\nReview: When making a list of artists I wish were still recording, David Meece would be near the top. And, even though I knew this was a best of release, I had to get it.\n\nThe disc consists of 10 songs from David's years as a recording artist for Word Records. And there in lies my only real complaints with the disc. It's hard to consider something \"definitive\" when there are only 10 tracks and 7 of them come from two releases. Additionally, if you are hoping for stuff that hasn't been made available on CD before, you will be disappointed. Then again, since his stuff was hard to find on CD, there might be songs here that you don't have.\n\nWhat is here is wonderful. Since it focuses on \"Count the Cost\" and \"Are You Ready?\" you get plenty of 80's pop programming. But the songs are still great. \"Follow You\" is one of my favorite from his early years. \"Making My Life Brand New\" surprised me the first few times I listened to it. But it really grew on me as well. \"Never Gonna Serve Anyone Else but You\" is a fun song that allows David to show off his low voice and his falsetto. This is the live version from the \"Front Row\" disc.\n\nAnd of course there are true hits on here. \"Everybody Needs a Little Help\" was a cross over hit in the late 70's. And I would seriously throw a fit if they left out \"We are the Reason.\" I mean, that's the song he's best known for.\n\nYes, I am giving it four stars based solely on the name. The songs themselves are great. They just suffer from false advertising.","Product: I feel closest to God whenever I'm leading people in worship, when I can step away from the microphone and it appears that a sea of people are singing to God from the bottom of their hearts and the top of their lungs.\" Crafting songs that make this happen was the goal with \"Whispered and Shouted\", the follow-up to Shust's chart topping debut \"Anything Worth Saying\". As a teenager, Aaron was influenced by the sounds of the sixties and Motown. In college he studied music theory, developed an aptitude for the likes of Bach and Mozart, and soaked up the sounds of more recent masters like his favorite band U2. These influences come to bear on this release; an exploration of new musical territory for what is at its heart, another praise and worship album from this exciting newcomer. It'll make you want to sing along whether you are standing in church or riding in your car.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Just Not As Good As His First\n\nReview: I discovered Aaron Shust while he was touring with Shane & Shane. In fact, I thought he was the best part of that evening, and I've enjoyed his debut ever since. I haven't enjoyed this CD nearly as much. I even tried setting it aside for a while and coming back to it. It didn't work.\n\nDon't get me wrong, there are some good tracks here. I love the pop/rock style. The disc opener, \"Long Live the King\" is fun. He's finished \"Give Me Words to Speak,\" and it is easily my favorite track on the disc. It's a quieter ballad that really works. And I find the melody of \"Can't Hide from Your Love\" hauntingly beautiful. Plus the lyrics catch my spirit with the prayer of surrender.\n\nAnd while there are several songs that work so well, the overall CD is disappointing. Everything really blends together. Part of that is on purpose as the tracks are designed to meld one into the other. But they all have that guitar based pop/rock feel with very little to distinguish one song from the other. Some of the songs have good lyrics and the focus of all of them is still on God. But the music does nothing to grab my ear and keep me focused on the songs. After about one or two, I find my mind wandering. And there are several songs I don't like, like the hip hop inspired \"Like I Never Felt Before\" or the psychedelic last track.\n\nMost of the songs themselves are good. It's just a case where the CD is less then the sum of its parts.","Product: I will ship by EMS or SAL items in stock in Japan. It is approximately 7-14days on delivery date. You wholeheartedly support customers as satisfactory. Thank you for you seeing it.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: These Great Songs Would be Better if He'd Stick to One Style\n\nReview: When I first heard David Phelps, I immediately fell in love with his music. He has a powerful tenor voice that is a joy to listen to. I quickly went out and bought all of his CD's to date, including his first Christmas release. I found that one didn't excite me, and I quickly put it aside. So it was with some hesitation that I bought this new Christmas CD. I have to say I like it better even if it is uneven.\n\nThe disc consists of 15 tracks made up of mostly new material. True, there are old standbys like \"Silent Night\" and \"O Holy Night\" here. But most of the traditional songs have new arrangements, so they sound fresh. David had a hand in almost every song on this disc. The new ones he wrote himself, and he arranged all the traditional ones. As you'd expect, they are expertly crafted to take full advantage of his vocals.\n\nIndividually, these songs sound great. You've got the haunting \"O Come, O come Emmanuel\" that opens the CD. The title track is a beautiful, soaring ballad about that first Christmas. And for the completely fun, there's the fun, upbeat \"Santa Claus Tonight\" that closes the disc.\n\nThe problem comes when you take these songs and put them together. The majority of the songs are inspirational - slower and reflective. This makes the few upbeat, pop offerings seem jarring. The gospel choir take on \"Hallelujah!\" is fine, but following up on the reflective \"The Singer\" is makes for a weird transition. The same goes for \"If Everyone Believed\" which is in a completely different vein then \"One Wintry Night.\" The two really don't belong next to each other.\n\nDavid's strength is in the inspirational sub-genre. While his occasional ventures into pop are fine, they aren't as memorable. And mixing the two together makes for a disjointed effort.\n\nThese songs are great, and I know I will enjoy listening to them for many years to come. But I wish they flowed together better.","Product: Fifteen timeless classics in Christian music, but not so old classics. Songs like: God Is In Control, Another Time Another Place, People Need The Lord, and Testify To Love are so well performed by Avalon. Quite possibly their best album.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Christian Music Hits Reborn\n\nReview: For this release, Avalon has decided to take 14 classic Christian songs from other singers and one of their own and rerecord them in their own style. The result is surprisingly enjoyable for this fan of the originals.\n\nI say surprisingly because I worried about how some of these songs would fair. Take \"God is in Control.\" Twila's original version is just about perfect. Yet Avalon adds their vocal harmonies and bumps the tempo up just slightly and makes a great version to open this disc.\n\nAnd most of these really are great versions. Don't worry, their trademark harmonies and electro-pop are still intact. You can definitely tell these are Avalon songs. But they sound wonderful this way, too.\n\nI think I especially liked the string plucking on \"Friend of a Wounded Heart.\" And the fast strums that open \"For the Sake of the Call.\"\n\nSeveral of these songs become power ballads. That works well for \"Place in This World\" and \"The Reason We Sing.\" It doesn't work out quite as well for \"People Need the Lord.\"\n\nI have come to the conclusion that I just do not care for Bebe and Cece Winans' music no matter who is singing it. Avalon's version of \"Addictive Love\" does nothing for me. On the other hand, I never much cared for Chrystal Lewis' song \"People Get Ready...Jesus is Comin',\" but I really like their version.\n\nThe one thing that seems odd to me is they end the disc with a new version of \"Testify to Love.\" Don't get me wrong, the song is a definite classic. But covering their own song on a disc that is supposed to pay tribute to Christian musicians seems off to me. But that's probably just me.\n\nSo if you enjoy Christian classics, you'll want to get this disc. Avalon will make you listen to your old favorites in a whole new way.","Product: CD Timeless: The Selah Collection (4 CD)\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Timeless Box Set of Selah Music\n\nReview: When my birthday rolled around this year, I'd just barely bought any Selah music, but I but them on my wish list. Soon after, I discovered the set Timeless: The Selah Collection. It looked like a great deal to me, and I planned to buy it soon after my birthday if I didn't get any of the music. My parents came through, however, and I've been enjoying it ever since.\n\nReleased in 2007, this is a four disc CD set. The last disc is a bonus disc, but the first three are their first three studio releases. Since I didn't have any of these discs, it made a perfect way to get them.\n\nSelah has several trademarks. They've got great harmonies, and they are known for creating passionate arrangements of classic hymns that make them seem alive in a new way. The trio consists of Todd Smith, his sister Nicol Sponberg, and their friend Allan Hall. Todd and Nicol do most of the vocals, although Allan gets into the act every so often. Allan's main contribution is his wonderful piano playing which is just as much a part of their sound as their harmonies. Another thing they like to do is include a song or two on each disc in Kituba, the native language in the part of Zaire where Todd and Nicol grew up as missionary kids.\n\nDisc one is their 1999 debut, Be Still My Soul. This disc is almost nothing but hymns, with versions of \"Great is Thy Faithfulness,\" \"When I Survey the Wondrous Cross,\" and \"Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus\" here. They do include some more modern classics like Larry Norman's \"Sweet, Sweet Song of Salvation\" and Andre Crouch's \"The Blood will Never Lose Its Power.\" While most of the songs are fairly inspirational in their arrangements, they do get into Gospel once or twice. It makes for an eclectic mix, but it works to hold your attention.\n\nThe second disc is 2001's Press On. Again, we've got hymns like \"There is a Fountain\" and \"Were You There.\" They incorporate a bit more modern songs like covers of Evie's \"Hold On\" and modern worship classic \"Wonderful Merciful Savior.\" The gospel flavor to \"Amazing Grace\" really helps it stand out from all the versions that have been recorded over the years. I was disappointed that they included some Kituba verses to \"How Great Thou Art\" since it's one of my favorite hymns and I, selfishly, would prefer it all in English. However, I do enjoy the chanted \"Yesu Azali Awa.\"\n\n2004 saw the release of Hiding Place, the third disc in this set. This disc stands out because of Nicol and Todd's amazing duet on the title track. I could listen to it all day. They've got a great arrangement of \"O the Deep Deep Love of Jesus\" on here as well. They cover Josh Groban's \"You Raise Me Up\" and include newer songs \"All My Praise\" and \"All of Me.\"\n\nBut all of this stuff, fans have already had. What about the bonus content that makes this set stand out?\n\nI'm glad you asked. Disc 4 is the bonus disc, and it includes some previously released stuff as well as some new material only available here. Among the previous released material, we've got \"Be Thou My Vision\" and \"Be Thou Near to Me\" from their Best of release Greatest Hymns, which means there is only one song from that disc not in this collection. They also include several songs from their duets album Bless the Broken Road like the title track and \"Mary Sweet Mary.\"\n\nSeven of the eleven tracks here are newly released, and they haven't shown up on any other project they've done since. There's a fun gospel version of \"I Didn't Think it Could Be\" as well as a simpler demo version of \"Through it All,\" a song that showed up with a Gospel version on Hiding Place. While Im not a fan of the hymn \"Were You There,\" there is an amazing live version of just Todd singing it a cappella. I much prefer it to the version of the hymn that showed up on Press On. I dare you to listen to it without getting goosebumps.\n\nThe bonus songs on this set were put together about the time that Amy Perry joined the group, formally replacing Nicol, who left for a solo career. The new recordings all feature here. I was amazed at just how low her voice gets in \"There is a Redeemer.\" \"Revive Us Again\" gets a Gospel revival tent treatment, and it's lots of fun. But what really stands out to me is \"Rescue Me,\" an original song that begs God for help is facing the trials of life.\n\nWhat ties all these discs together, even with the change in personnel by the last disc is the passion behind the vocals. No matter what mood you are in, it is impossible not to have your spirit lifted in worship by the time you are done with one of these discs. The hymns are classics for a reason - the timeless truths they contain. And you can tell that the members of Selah truly believe what they are singing. It's wonderfully amazing to hear. And their voices are so strong.\n\nBut we aren't done yet. The four discs come in a sturdy cardboard book (for lack of a better term). In the middle is an extensive booklet that contains a history of the group, all the lyrics with thoughts on the songs by their members, and lots of pictures.\n\nFor anyone just getting into Selah's music, I can't recommend Timeless: The Selah Collection enough. There is nothing better for the price, and the rare stuff on the last disc is well worth getting. Long time fans will have to decide if the bonus material is worth getting the duplicate discs for. Then again, maybe you can give away your original copies and get more people hooked on Selah.","Product: 2007 holiday release from one of the most popular Contemporary Christian Music artists of all time. It's A Wonderful Christmas features nine original songs and one standard performed by Michael and a 67-piece orchestra, recorded at London's famous Abbey Road Studios. This album is perhaps the most anticipated seasonal release this year, so don't be left out in the cold without it! Columbia.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: A Third Wonderful Christmas Release\n\nReview: Michael W. Smith has released two previous Christmas CDs, and they are staples of my December. This new release will be taking an honored place beside them in my December rotation.\n\nThis release is a combination of his two previous releases. It mixes the choral feeling of the first one with the pop of the second one. And, as something new, he mixes in lots of instrumental pieces. 5 of the 11 songs are fully instrumental. But the orchestra sounds wonderful.\n\nWhat is truly amazing is that this release sounds Christmassy from start to finish from the very first listen. Only one track, \"What Child is This\" is a traditional piece. Michael wrote or co-wrote everything else. Yet everything feels like an old familiar friend.\n\nSome of the instrumental tracks sound like the soundtrack to a movie. And one feels like a missing piece from the Nutcracker.\n\nOf the other songs, most focus on the birth of Christ. They are wonderful choir pieces. \"Christmas Day\" focuses on our modern Christmas celebration, and it brings a smile to my face as I think about all the traditions. Finally, the disc closes with \"All Year Long,\" a quiet song that wishes us the happiness of Christmas the rest of the year.\n\nThis is a great release. Buy it and enjoy it for Christmases to come.","Product: Soundtrack to the 2008 VeggieTales motion picture adventure. Features performances by well-known, Christian Pop artists tobyMac, Newsboys, Relient K and a new original song, 'The Right Thing', from American Idol finalist Mandisa. From the creators of 2002's wildly successful Jonah A VeggieTales Movie comes a new story of heroism in the beloved VeggieTales' world, The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything. Now, we follow the comic misadventures of three animated veggie pals who reluctantly set sail for adventure and discover that real heroes don't have to be tall, strong, handsome or even human. The latest in a franchise that has sold over 50 million DVDs/videos since its 1993 inception, The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything A VeggieTales Movie continues the hit series' values-based lessons in teaching kids what it really means to be a hero.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: \"Grab You Root Beer\" and Enjoy This Soundtrack\n\nReview: One of the highlights of each VeggieTales episode is the songs. So, while I don't normally buy movie soundtracks, I made an exception for this disc. And it's a great combination of fun songs and instrumental pieces.\n\nThe first half of the disc is made up of songs with lyrics. They're about half and half Veggie and Christian artists. We've got \"Spanish Gold,\" the song from the dinner theater show and \"Jolly Joe's\" from the pirate hangout they visit. If you sat through the credits, you found the video for \"Rock Monster,\" a spoof on \"Rock Lobster\" that tells part of the story. You'll be glad to know it is here as well.\n\nMy favorite track on here is \"Yo Ho Hero,\" the song sung by Steve Taylor and the Newsboys. The song was actually used during the movie, and I find it fun. It makes fun of how lazy our heroes are. I'm not normally a fan of tobyMac, but I do like his contribution, \"What we Gonna Do?\" It's still got the hip hop feel he's known for, but it isn't so over the top it annoys me. Finally, there's Mandisa's song \"The Right Thing.\" Best I can tell, it was never in the film, which is a shame because it is a great summary of the message of the film.\n\nNow if you thought this soundtrack wouldn't have \"The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything,\" you were dead wrong. We get two versions of it here, the classic Silly Song version that started it all, and the Reliant K punked up version done for Jonah.\n\nSpeaking of Jonah, the include \"Second Chances\" from that soundtrack as a bonus song.\n\nThe second half of the disc is made up of instrumental pieces. They usually include a line or two of dialog surrounded by several minutes of full orchestra. This stuff is beautiful.\n\nAnd this is an enhanced CD, which means there are three videos you can find on your computer. There's the silly song version of \"Pirates Who Don't Do Anything\" and \"Do the Moo Shoo.\" Finally, they give us the video they made for \"Rock Monster\" which is half the fun of the song.\n\nAll told, this is a fun soundtrack that will make fans of the Veggies very happy.","Product: Jars of Clay launched their career in 1995 with their universal hit Flood. Since then the band has amassed more than six million sales along with several RIAA certifications (5 Gold, 2 Platinum and 1 Double-Platinum) an American Music Award nomination, 17 No.1 radio hits and numerous film credits and BMI honors for songwriting and performing. The Jars Of Clay Greatest Hits package is a collection of 14 songs made hits by this groundbreaking band.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: A Brave Attempt at a Collection\n\nReview: I am one of those obsessive collectors bands love. I buy every CD they release and every greatest hits collection as well. And I have found that very few collections truly capture everything I love from an artist. And the longer the career, the harder it becomes.\n\nThis CD makes a brave attempt at collection 13 years of hits from Jars of Clay. These songs were spread out over seven studio releases. And they've got 13 slots, plus the requisite new track. Talk about an impossible mission.\n\nThe disc goes in chronological order and starts with the band's mega hit, \"Flood.\" In fact, their debut is the best represented release with four songs, including my favorite \"Like a Child.\" From there it's a sprint through their other releases including such hits as \"Frail,\" \"I Need You,\" \"Unforgetful You,\" and \"Dead Man (Carry Me).\"\n\nThe problem really becomes that, with seven releases, there's bound to be something left out. As an example, \"If I Left the Zoo\" and \"The Eleventh Hour\" both only have one track appease. Frankly, that means I am mourning the loss of \"Grace\" and \"The Eleventh Hour.\" And I would have loved to see more then one song from \"Redemption Songs\" since I loved that disc.\n\nFinally, the disc closes with the new track, \"Love is the Protest.\" It's a strong rocker that sounds like it would have fit in on \"Good Monsters,\" which is hardly a surprise since that was their last release. I enjoy the song, but it's not one of their best ever.\n\nI will admit I am a marginal Jars of Clay fan. When I am in the mood, I enjoy them, but I get tired of them easily. These are great songs. But even I can see they have so many great songs that were left off the list.\n\nIf you are looking to get a few Jars of Clay songs, this is a good disc. But if you expected the impossible, a collection of all their truly great songs in one place, this one disc will disappoint.","Product: 2007 holiday release from one of the most popular Contemporary Christian Music artists of all time. It's A Wonderful Christmas features nine original songs and one standard performed by Michael and a 67-piece orchestra, recorded at London's famous Abbey Road Studios. This album is perhaps the most anticipated seasonal release this year, so don't be left out in the cold without it! Columbia.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: A Third Wonderful Christmas Release\n\nReview: Michael W. Smith has released two previous Christmas CDs, and they are staples of my December. This new release will be taking an honored place beside them in my December rotation.\n\nThis release is a combination of his two previous releases. It mixes the choral feeling of the first one with the pop of the second one. And, as something new, he mixes in lots of instrumental pieces. 5 of the 11 songs are fully instrumental. But the orchestra sounds wonderful.\n\nWhat is truly amazing is that this release sounds Christmassy from start to finish from the very first listen. Only one track, \"What Child is This\" is a traditional piece. Michael wrote or co-wrote everything else. Yet everything feels like an old familiar friend.\n\nSome of the instrumental tracks sound like the soundtrack to a movie. And one feels like a missing piece from the Nutcracker.\n\nOf the other songs, most focus on the birth of Christ. They are wonderful choir pieces. \"Christmas Day\" focuses on our modern Christmas celebration, and it brings a smile to my face as I think about all the traditions. Finally, the disc closes with \"All Year Long,\" a quiet song that wishes us the happiness of Christmas the rest of the year.\n\nThis is a great release. Buy it and enjoy it for Christmases to come.","Product: Soundtrack to the 2008 VeggieTales motion picture adventure. Features performances by well-known, Christian Pop artists tobyMac, Newsboys, Relient K and a new original song, 'The Right Thing', from American Idol finalist Mandisa. From the creators of 2002's wildly successful Jonah A VeggieTales Movie comes a new story of heroism in the beloved VeggieTales' world, The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything. Now, we follow the comic misadventures of three animated veggie pals who reluctantly set sail for adventure and discover that real heroes don't have to be tall, strong, handsome or even human. The latest in a franchise that has sold over 50 million DVDs/videos since its 1993 inception, The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything A VeggieTales Movie continues the hit series' values-based lessons in teaching kids what it really means to be a hero.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: \"Grab You Root Beer\" and Enjoy This Soundtrack\n\nReview: One of the highlights of each VeggieTales episode is the songs. So, while I don't normally buy movie soundtracks, I made an exception for this disc. And it's a great combination of fun songs and instrumental pieces.\n\nThe first half of the disc is made up of songs with lyrics. They're about half and half Veggie and Christian artists. We've got \"Spanish Gold,\" the song from the dinner theater show and \"Jolly Joe's\" from the pirate hangout they visit. If you sat through the credits, you found the video for \"Rock Monster,\" a spoof on \"Rock Lobster\" that tells part of the story. You'll be glad to know it is here as well.\n\nMy favorite track on here is \"Yo Ho Hero,\" the song sung by Steve Taylor and the Newsboys. The song was actually used during the movie, and I find it fun. It makes fun of how lazy our heroes are. I'm not normally a fan of tobyMac, but I do like his contribution, \"What we Gonna Do?\" It's still got the hip hop feel he's known for, but it isn't so over the top it annoys me. Finally, there's Mandisa's song \"The Right Thing.\" Best I can tell, it was never in the film, which is a shame because it is a great summary of the message of the film.\n\nNow if you thought this soundtrack wouldn't have \"The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything,\" you were dead wrong. We get two versions of it here, the classic Silly Song version that started it all, and the Reliant K punked up version done for Jonah.\n\nSpeaking of Jonah, the include \"Second Chances\" from that soundtrack as a bonus song.\n\nThe second half of the disc is made up of instrumental pieces. They usually include a line or two of dialog surrounded by several minutes of full orchestra. This stuff is beautiful.\n\nAnd this is an enhanced CD, which means there are three videos you can find on your computer. There's the silly song version of \"Pirates Who Don't Do Anything\" and \"Do the Moo Shoo.\" Finally, they give us the video they made for \"Rock Monster\" which is half the fun of the song.\n\nAll told, this is a fun soundtrack that will make fans of the Veggies very happy.","Product: Jars of Clay launched their career in 1995 with their universal hit Flood. Since then the band has amassed more than six million sales along with several RIAA certifications (5 Gold, 2 Platinum and 1 Double-Platinum) an American Music Award nomination, 17 No.1 radio hits and numerous film credits and BMI honors for songwriting and performing. The Jars Of Clay Greatest Hits package is a collection of 14 songs made hits by this groundbreaking band.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: A Brave Attempt at a Collection\n\nReview: I am one of those obsessive collectors bands love. I buy every CD they release and every greatest hits collection as well. And I have found that very few collections truly capture everything I love from an artist. And the longer the career, the harder it becomes.\n\nThis CD makes a brave attempt at collection 13 years of hits from Jars of Clay. These songs were spread out over seven studio releases. And they've got 13 slots, plus the requisite new track. Talk about an impossible mission.\n\nThe disc goes in chronological order and starts with the band's mega hit, \"Flood.\" In fact, their debut is the best represented release with four songs, including my favorite \"Like a Child.\" From there it's a sprint through their other releases including such hits as \"Frail,\" \"I Need You,\" \"Unforgetful You,\" and \"Dead Man (Carry Me).\"\n\nThe problem really becomes that, with seven releases, there's bound to be something left out. As an example, \"If I Left the Zoo\" and \"The Eleventh Hour\" both only have one track appease. Frankly, that means I am mourning the loss of \"Grace\" and \"The Eleventh Hour.\" And I would have loved to see more then one song from \"Redemption Songs\" since I loved that disc.\n\nFinally, the disc closes with the new track, \"Love is the Protest.\" It's a strong rocker that sounds like it would have fit in on \"Good Monsters,\" which is hardly a surprise since that was their last release. I enjoy the song, but it's not one of their best ever.\n\nI will admit I am a marginal Jars of Clay fan. When I am in the mood, I enjoy them, but I get tired of them easily. These are great songs. But even I can see they have so many great songs that were left off the list.\n\nIf you are looking to get a few Jars of Clay songs, this is a good disc. But if you expected the impossible, a collection of all their truly great songs in one place, this one disc will disappoint.","Product: My Paper Heart. CD.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: A Rock Chick Debuts\n\nReview: Francesca Battistelli debuts with this CD. She may be young, but she brings impressive work to the disc.\n\nIt took me a few listens to fully appreciate some of the songs here. But as I started really listening to them, the words blew me away. Everyone talks about the first song, and I'm going to be no exception. \"Free to Be Me\" starts us off with a funky rhythm that catches your ear as Francesca reminds us that God and freedom go hand in hand despite our human weaknesses. Along a similar line, \"I'm Letting Go\" gives God full control of her life.\n\nThe song that gets stuck in my head the most is \"My Paper Heart,\" a hard rocker that contrasts human \"love\" and God's love. The flip side, written from God's point of view, is \"Blue Sky.\"\n\n\"It's Your Life\" is a fun challenge to live out your convictions because others are watching.\n\nUnfortunately, the CD does have a few flaws. A few of the tracks are a bit trite and too familiar. This is especially the case with the love song \"Someday Soon.\" That song has never grown on me. I'm also not too big a fan of \"Forever Love,\" one of those \"Jesus is my boyfriend\" type of songs.\n\nStylistically, most of this disc is hard rockers with plenty of electric guitar. The slower ballads like \"Beautiful, Beautiful\" and \"Time in Between\" feature heavy keyboard.\n\nDespite a few weak tracks, this CD shows real promise for a long successful career.","Product: Very special collection of Christmas songs from their 2005 smash hit Winter Wonderland and 1999's Gold-certified A Christmas Story, plus a brand new recording of 'Tennessee Christmas'. Another highlight is the song 'Hope Is Born Again', which originally appeared on Jim Brickman's The Gift.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: What's Here is Good, But It Could Have Been Better\n\nReview: In a trend I must admit I hope doesn't continue, I have now bought two Christmas collections this year. I almost didn't buy Point of Grace's, but I love the title song so much I just had to get it. The songs included here are good and fun. But the collection could have been so much more.\n\nLet's start with the last song on the disc. This is the first single I've heard from the group as a trio (one of their members just left the group to be a full time mother.) With just a hint of country twang, their tight harmonies still shine through. It's a great rendition of a Christmas favorite and a good addition to their Christmas repertoire.\n\nAnd, again, I do love the song included here. All of them are their original versions, which means we get four part harmony. Their version of \"O Holy Night\" is amazing. This is one of my favorites as the ladies sing one line over the other during the verses. \"Santa Claus is Comin' to Town\" is upbeat and jazzy. \"Breath of Heaven\" is a beautiful version of another Amy Grant classic.\n\nBut here's where the disc falls apart for me. Their first Christmas release had several good original songs that no one else had done. And only one of them makes this disc. They do include the one original track from their second release as well. Instead of including more of their originals, they include the often covered and even some rarely covered songs. If you really want to make a definitive collection, include the songs no one else does.\n\nAnd don't even get me started on them including the one minute instrumental version of \"Joy to the World.\" I liked it as an intro to their first Christmas disc. But there was no reason to put it near the end of this one.\n\nDespite how harsh I'm sounding, I do like what is here. There are just better songs they could have included.","Product: Put away all the pigeonholes and boxes that Downhere has been put in over the years and open your ears to a significant creative leap for this Canadian band. Ending Is Beginning is catchy without being slick, uplifting without being pretentious, rocking without being raucous. Through relentless touring the band has added to their powerful sound while dual lead vocalists Marc Martel and Jason Germain deliver carefully crafted lyrics filled with optimism and hope.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Challenges to Keep Living No Matter What\n\nReview: I'll admit when I first put downhere's fourth CD in the player, I wasn't that impressed. It just didn't seem to have the spark their last project had. And while I do still feel that their third CD was better, this one has really grown on me.\n\nAs with most CD's, it's hard to pin down on overall theme. But if I had to, I'd say that the idea of facing life's challenges head on no matter what seems to be predominant. It's evident from the very beginning with \"Bleed for This Love.\" The song is written from Jesus' point of view as He reminds us He will always be there for us. \"Cathedral Made of People\" reminds us that, even under persecution, Christians are victorious. And \"Don't Miss Now\" challenges us to enjoy life while we long for Heaven. Speaking of longing for Heaven, \"My Last Amen\" speaks of just that thing.\n\nThe struggle to live as God calls us to live becomes the topic of several songs as well. \"Something Heavenly\" really lays out the issue as they admit \"I really am my own worst enemy.\" And \"Coming Back Home\" could be sung by the prodigal as he attempts to make things right again. For a lighter take on the issue, look no further than \"The Problem.\" Yep, all the problems of the world are finally solved in this song - Me.\n\nAs a bonus track, the disc closes with their Christmas hit \"How Many Kings.\" I love this ballad.\n\nStylistically, they range from rock to ballad and back again. And having Marc and Jason as two lead vocalists allows for some fun moments vocally.\n\nThis disc had the impossible task of following downhere's best release to date. And it succeeds pretty well. 4.5 stars rounded up.","Product: 2008 release of Peace On Earth by Casting Crowns. Following the highly successful The Altar and The Door album and tour, Grammy Award-winning group Casting Crowns release its first Christmas record. Known for its life-changing ministry of renewal and discipleship, Casting Crowns continues that mission with an album of songs dedicated to the meaning behind this holy season.Casting Crowns has received an American Music Award and 20 GMA Dove Awards collectively between band and lead-singer Mark Hall.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Managed Expectations Make This a Good Christmas CD\n\nReview: When I heard Casting Crowns was releasing a Christmas CD, I couldn't wait. I love their music for taking the familiar and making me look at it in a fresh way. So when I got this CD I was a little disappointed with the play list. It is mostly familiar carols. But once I started listening to it, that feeling went away.\n\nYes, the familiar carols are here and are plentiful. Yet they sound beautiful. There are gorgeous harmonies on \"O Come All Ye Faithful.\" The guitar is fun on \"Joy to the World.\" \"Sweet Little Jesus Boy\" gets a new melody. With a string background, it sounds like a lullaby. And the instrumental version of \"O Come, O Come Emmanuel\" is absolutely breathtaking. It is written for violin but the interplay between it and the piano (and to a lesser extent the orchestra) is haunting.\n\nOnly one song on here is truly new. \"Christmas Offering\" is a praise song, and I truly enjoy it. I've only heard \"God is with Us\" recorded one other place, by Amy Grant on the Gloria project. This version doesn't stray far away from the original. In fact, it is sung entirely by one of the female members of the group.\n\nAnd that brings us to \"While You Were Sleeping.\" When I first heard them sing it on LIFESONG, I thought it sounded like a Christmas song. Apparently, it originally was. The only change here is the second verse. Instead of going to Jerusalem, it focuses on the hardships of Mary and the baby that first night. The song sounds the same. And it includes the third verse that focuses on America. I'm still not a fan of that verse, but I have softened to it some over the years.\n\nBut I've saved the best for last. The disc opens with a new melody for \"I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day,\" including a new chorus sung by a boy's choir. It really makes the song come alive in a new way.\n\nI wish they had taken the time to write a few more original tracks for this disc. But what is here is certainly enjoyable. I know I will listen to this CD for many years to come.","Product: Recorded live on June 20, 2008 in Houston, Texas with more than 12,000 worshippers in attendance. Artist, composer, author and worship leader Michael W. Smith recorded his third highly-anticipated worship album A New Hallelujah featuring Israel Houghton, the world renowned African Children's Choir, an incredible young worship leader names Coalo Zamorano and a 250 voice choir elevated the songs to amazing moments of praise and worship.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Smitty Continues the Worship\n\nReview: Once again, Michael has lifted us to the throne room to deliver praise. And he still does a great job of it.\n\nLike the previous two, this CD is a recording of a live worship event that Michael led. There are two differences from the previous releases. There are no studio tracks, here. More importantly, Michael wrote about half the song on here. A few originally appeared on his last couple of studio releases, but they fit right in here.\n\nOf the familiar songs, I really am thrilled to get \"Mighty to Save\" a song I learned this summer. And I can't get enough copies of \"Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone).\" Michael has arranged the classic hymn \"I Surrender All\" to switch from English to Spanish, which is kind of cool.\n\nAnd that's another thing that sets this CD apart. Several friends show up to help with the songs. Caolo Zamorano does the Spanish singing I just discussed. Israel Houghton does a duet on the gospel flavored \"Help is on the Way\" that he co-wrote. Finally, the African Children's Choir back up Michael on two songs, both with a fun African flavor.\n\nMy one complaint is the same one I've had with his other Worship projects. At times, he just takes a few lines and repeats them. If I am paying close attention to the disc, that gets annoying. Fortunately, most of the time I tune it out at that point and come back for the next song.\n\nIf you were a fan of Michael's previous worship oriented releases, you'll enjoy having this one in your collection as well.","Product: Originally formed a dozen years ago while students together at Indiana University, the a cappella group has reassembled and reemerged after their video for 'The 12 Days of Christmas' became a phenomenon with almost 8 million views on YouTube. In an era when so much pop music is the product of digital processing and vocal pro-tooling, Straight No Chaser is the real deal- the captivating sound of ten unadulterated human voices coming together to make extraordinary music that is moving people in a fundamental sense...and with a sense of humor.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Straight No Chaser's Debut Will Definitely Put You in the Holiday Spirit\n\nReview: I don't need any more Christmas music. Really! I've got enough Christmas music that I don't even get through it all in December. But that doesn't stop me from buying more. This last year, I discovered the a cappella group Straight No Chaser and just had to get their first CD. Holiday Spirits is a collection of Christmas songs that you are guaranteed to love.\n\nStraight No Chaser rose to fame based on a You Tube video of a live performance of \"The Twelve Days of Christmas.\" That live version is included in this disc. Now just in case you are thinking, \"I've heard this song a million times,\" trust me, you've never heard it like this. Yes, the first 45 seconds or so seem fairly normal. But then they start going crazy, throwing in such songs as \"Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer,\" \"Carol of the Bells,\" \"The Boar's Head Carol,\" and even \"I Have a Little Dreidel\" and \"Africa.\" The audience loves it, and frankly listening to their reactions is half the fun. I know where all the jokes are, and I still don't get tired of it.\n\nThe rest of the songs are more traditionally done, although the group still puts a distinctive touch to them. \"Santa Claus Is Coming to Town\" starts things off, and don't let those first few seconds of slow harmony fool you. This is an upbeat, toe tapping arrangement. Or, if you prefer, you can snap your fingers along with the guys. It really gives you a good feel for the joys you can expect for the rest of the disc since the harmonies are tight.\n\n\"Jingle Bell Rock\" does slow things down a little, but it feels like the traditional speed for the song. You can still definitely tap along with it and those amazing harmonies.\n\nEveryone seems to do their own version of \"The Christmas Song,\" and the guys take it on here. It's appropriately slow. This is mostly a traditional version of the song with one of the guys singing and the rest humming the instruments in the background. It's not the best version of the song or the best song on the disc, but it is pleasant.\n\nDespite my extensive Christmas music collection, there are several songs on here I'm not that familiar with. \"This Christmas\" is one of those. It's a nice mid-tempo song about how special a first Christmas with the one you love is.\n\nThat song is followed by one of two completely original songs. \"Christmas Wish\" hits home a little as a single guy asks for a woman for Christmas. It's another mid-tempo song with a really catchy melody. I found myself singing along after not too many times through the disc.\n\nThe other original song is \"Indiana Christmas.\" While the song is original, the sentiment is familiar as it sings about the longing to be home for Christmas. Listening to it makes me long for those cozy nights by the tree with my own family and friends.\n\nThe Beach Boys would be proud of their cover of \"Little Saint Nick\" complete with jingle bells keeping the beat. Of course, since the Beach Boys had such great harmonies, this song is a natural fit for Straight No Chaser.\n\nThey also cover \"Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)\" and include the bells again. I find the sadness of the lyrics an interesting contrast to the upbeat melody. I always find myself tapping my toes to this one.\n\nBack on the traditional front, they chose to include \"Sweet Little Jesus Boy.\" I don't have very many versions of this song, and I thought I didn't like it. Maybe I just hadn't heard the right version yet. It's still not a favorite, but the slow, thoughtful version they do here makes me appreciate it more. Of course, those great harmonies don't hurt things either.\n\nI'm conflicted about their version of \"Carol of the Bells.\" They spend about half of the two and a quarter minutes with the basses singing \"Ding Dong\" while other members hum either the melody of this song or \"God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.\" It's beautiful and haunting. Then they do start actually singing the song, and I like it even more. I guess really I just wish the song were longer. It's dramatic, perfect for this group.\n\nThey close things out with a slightly upbeat version of \"Auld Lang Syne.\" This traditional New Years song is back to the fun of the earlier songs on the disc. It's still a pretty straight version of the song, and I like that fact since I do like this song.\n\nReally, this whole disc is very fun, and it's a shame to only dig it out once a year. I have a feeling that I will be pulling it out earlier than December most years.\n\nYet it is also perfect for mid-December. I have quite a few Christmas discs that begin to sound the same after a while. This one definitely stands out and makes you really start listening to Christmas music again.\n\nSo if you want something fun and original to add to your Christmas music collection, give the guys of Straight No Chaser a shot. Holiday Spirits will entertain anyone who likes a cappella music and give everyone a break from the more traditional arrangements.","Product: 2009 PROVIDENT LABEL GROUP CD\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: An Old Title but New Songs\n\nReview: I almost bypassed John Waller's second CD because of the title. I recognized it right away from his enjoyable first release. Fortunately, I stopped to look at the tracks and saw there was plenty of new material here.\n\nBut let's start with the old. \"While I'm Waiting\" has become huge because it was on the soundtrack for Fireproof. It is included here sounding identical to how it sounded on the first release. I'll admit it does bug me when an artist does that. I can almost understand it in this case since it has become a hit in the last two years. Anyway, the song itself is great. The final track is a mix of that song including dialogue from the movie. It's skip able in my opinion, but maybe I'll feel differently if I ever get a chance to see the movie.\n\nNow, let's move on to the other 10 tracks here. He's kept the same pop/rock sound. He gets most rocking on \"Our God Reigns Here,\" but is appropriately quiet on \"Perfect Peace.\" Heck, there's even a slight hint of country on \"Cling to the Call\" (although that might just be me).\n\nLyrically, he touches on such topics as dying to self (\"Dead Man Walking\"), the search for God (\"Quest\"), and the wonder of Jesus humbling himself for us (\"Of All the Places\").\n\nThere are two songs I absolutely love. \"Faith is Living\" reminds us of our call to put our faith in God at all times. It does admit the struggles with doubt which I must admit I have more than I should.\n\nEqually honest is \"Cling to the Call.\" Written at a time of struggle, it contrasts past victories with current defeat while resolving to cling to Jesus to get us through.\n\nUnfortunately, there are some moments of the trite and cliche that he struggled with before. \"House of God\" and \"Dead Man Walking\" are really nothing new. One says that God's house is his people, while the second uses Colossians as its chorus. As much as I enjoy \"Our God Reigns Here,\" I'm a little uncomfortable with the second verse which seems to be approaching Charismatic territory for this Baptist boy.\n\nSo no, this still isn't a perfect release. However, it does have some strong songs on it I will be enjoying for some time to come.","Product: 1. Life Light Up 2. A Mighty Fortress 3. Choose 4. Hosanna 5. In Your Hands 6. My Master 7. No Not One 8. Song of the Beautiful 9. You Are Able 10. Marvelous Light\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: This Disc Will Light Up Your Worship\n\nReview: I always enjoyed Watermark's releases, so when I found out that half the husband and wife duo would be releasing a solo CD, I immediately knew I'd buy it. And it was a decision I am thrilled I made.\n\nIn her solo debut, Christy takes her standard praise and worship fare and infuses it with a pop flavor. While there are slower moments, this feels light and free, much more upbeat than anything she and Nathan ever did as Watermark.\n\nTake the first track, for example. I've been a fan of \"No Not One\" since I heard it as the disc closer on co-author Brandon Heath's CD. Christy takes the song and ups the tempo, making it much more infection and fun.\n\nAnd yet it's two of the slower tracks I am most drawn to. \"A Might Fortress\" isn't the familiar hymn, although it does borrow a line or two from it. The idea is still the same, God is a refuge to those who choose to dwell in Him. Yet the music elevates it to a level of triumphant praise.\n\n\"My Master,\" on the other hand, is a song of surrender. It's a beautiful ballad that draws on an idea from the Old Testament of a servant choosing to stay with a master for all time.\n\nThere are two covers of popular praise choruses here. \"Marvelous Light\" is an upbeat cover that makes you want to move as you worship. I'm not as big a fan of \"Hosanna.\" The version here is mid tempo and quite good. The lyrics just seem a bit generic compared to the rest of the disc to me.\n\nMy only real problem with the disc is that, even with tempo changes, the songs begin to sound the same after a while. There's just a bit too much reliance on electric instruments.\n\nFans of any of Christy's previous work will certainly enjoy this disc. And if you are looking for a new worship artist, be sure to check her out.","Product: Aaron Shust delivers his third album in classic Shust style. Produced by Jason Ingram and Rusty Varenkamp, Take Over continues his Praise & Worship legacy, while expanding the songwriting boundaries. For this outing, Aaron co-wrote songs with Ingram, Brandon Heath, Matthew West ,Ian Eskelin, Matt Bronleewe and others. The first single, "To God Alone", is climbing the radio charts and will rival the success of "My Savior My God". Take Over is a perennial seller in the making.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Aaron's Amazing Third CD\n\nReview: Since I've felt that Aaron Shust's first two releases were uneven, I wasn't sure what I would think of his latest release. I've been listening to it for a few days now, and I've got to say I love it.\n\nSince Aaron is also a music pastor at a church, there is a high focus on worship songs. But they aren't always corporate worship songs, but more songs of individual worship. Some would certainly work in both settings. For example, disc opener \"To God Alone\" could easily become a worship song in contemporary church services. But the lyrics are actually a personal prayer to be used by God and give Him the glory no matter what. Think of it as a contemporary \"Take My Life.\"\n\nReally, I guess most of these songs would work in a corporate worship setting. Even so, \"Live to Lose\" and \"Still You Love Me\" seem very personal songs. I especially love the second one as it takes its themes from the reminder that God knows all our faults in Psalm 139, one of my favorite Psalms.\n\nMost of the disc is the soft rock/pop that we've come to expect from Aaron. He changes things up enough to make the disc interesting to listen to. It's all piano and guitar based.\n\nThe big exception to that is \"Come and Save Us.\" This is a driving rock song with screaming guitar. And I can't get enough of it.\n\n\"Stars Will Fall\" is an interesting take on the familiar theme of God's power. The verses actually talk about times of struggle with little to no hope. But the chorus reminds us of the incredible power of the name of Jesus.\n\nAn early favorite is \"Rest in the Arms.\" It's a simple melody with a powerful reminder that we can always depend on God.\n\nBut my favorite song on the disc by far is \"Ever After.\" It's an upbeat pop song written from a parent to his or her child telling him that happy endings and Never Never Land aren't real. It doesn't come out and talk about God and Heaven, but it hints that our happy ending comes after this life. I absolutely love this song.\n\nIronically, the only song I'm not crazy about is the title song. \"Take Over\" is a great song of surrender, but the melody is too repetitive and boring.\n\nIf you don't normally buy physical discs any more, I highly recommend you make an exception for this one. The booklet that comes with it include some extensive thoughts on each song from Aaron and are well worth having.\n\nAll told, this is my favorite release from Aaron. I know I'll be enjoying it for a long time to come.","Product: CD How Many Kings\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Modern Christmas Collection to Get\n\nReview: I hadn't given much thought to what kind of Christmas CD downhere might produce, but I got excited when I found out that release was on the way. My faith was rewarded with a great disc.\n\nIt's really no surprise that downhere included the two songs from the group CD \"Bethlehem Skyline\" from a few years back. While \"Glory to God\" is a fine song, it has never grabbed me. The same can't be said of their modern Christmas classic, \"How Many Kings.\" It opens and closes the disc. If somehow you've missed it, it marvels in the facts of Christmas, God becoming man. The first version is the one we've been enjoying for a few years now, but the second one is a complete reimagining. They emphasis strings and the harmonies, making it sound very different.\n\nOther new songs include the reminder that Christmas is about how God has changed our hearts in \"Christmas in Our Hearts\" and \"Gift Carol\" is about God's gift of Jesus to us. I especially love that second one.\n\nThe rest of the tracks may be traditional songs, but they certainly aren't familiar. True, they play it mostly safe with songs such as \"Silent Night\" and \"Angels from the Realms of Glory,\" but the true delights are the others. \"God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen\" has been turned into a rock anthem, and Marc and Jason's vocals compliment each other so well here. \"What Child is This?\" is brought to life by more great harmonies and just some acoustic guitar.\n\nAnd then there are the moments that are just plain fun. \"Five Golden Rings\" never fails to make me laugh as it passes by (quite quickly since it is just 11 seconds). \"Good King Wenceslas\" is a funky version that makes this little recorded version stand out (I'm still trying to decide if I like it or not). And they do all the verses for \"We Wish You a Merry Christmas\" in four part harmony with drums and trombone accompanying them.\n\nSome people might not gravitate to this disc right away, but if you give it enough time, I think you'll enjoy it. Downhere's many fans will certainly love it. I know this will give me another reason to look forward to December every year.","Product: 2010 release from the Gospel music vet containing six brand new songs, two previously unreleased tracks, three of her best loved story-songs and a new recording of the classic 'Arms Of Love'. The theme for the album is stories and journeys. Amy has always been a great storyteller and many of her most impactful songs have come from her own journey as she sings about the honesty of life, its joys and struggles, and ultimately the hope she has found in faith and love. The songs on Somewhere Down The Road read like journal entries that will resonate with anyone who grapples with wanting answers to life's toughest questions.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Amy Grant's Return is One Her Fans Will Enjoy\n\nReview: Amy Grant's Return is One Her Fans Will Enjoy\n\nWhen this disc came out in 2010, It had been seven years since we had a new studio album from Amy Grant. Not that she's been completely absent during that time. We've gotten a second hymns project, two best of's, a concert CD/DVD combo, and one Christmas best of. But Somewhere Down the Road is the first time we've had some truly new music from the artist.\n\nI've got to admit, I wasn't impressed by the release at first. But I kept listening to it, and slowly the songs have grown on me. I'm really enjoying most of them now, and think I will be listening to it for quite a while.\n\nOne strike against the disc is the number of retread songs. Three of the songs, including the title track, are copies from previous releases Behind the Eyes and Rock of Ages...Hymns and Faith. Additionally, \"Arms of Love\" is a new, more contemplative recording of a lesser classic from Age to Age. I've always loved this song, and the new version comes close to matching the first one for me. But these recycled tracks put me off a little bit. It does seem to be that after seven years she could come up with a completely new release.\n\nBut once I started listening to the 8 new tracks, I really liked them. In many ways this is a follow up to 1997's Behind the Eyes, which was a great disc. Once again, we've got a bit of the folk sound going on here. While the songs on the previous release were a bit focused on the hardships of life, this disc is looking at them from the other side of things. It acknowledges the hard times, but it reminds us there is hope in the midst of them and on the other side.\n\nThe disc opens with the first single, \"Better Than a Hallelujah.\" It's a nice mid-tempo opener heavy on the piano and guitar. The song reminds us that God loves to hear our pleas for help as much (or more) than our pure praise. I don't quite know why this song struck me as it did, but this was an early favorite because I so often forget that God loves to hear us surrender to Him.\n\nAmy's daughter Sarah Chapman joins her for the next track. (And does it ever make me feel old to find out that Sarah is now 17.) \"Overnight\" reminds us that we will only truly enjoy the joys of life after going through darker times. What amazes me is that Sarah's voice appears to be even deeper than Amy's.\n\n\"Unafraid\" is a very slow, quiet song as it celebrates the true freedom that unconditional love from any source gives someone. The last verse about Amy's mother is packed with emotion. The strings behind the plucked guitar really add to the beauty of the song.\n\n\"Hard Times\" picks things up a few notches. There's nothing especially amazing about the lyrics that simply remind us that we will always face hard times. But it focuses on the wisdom passed from one generation to another that love and dreams will get you through them. And the mini choir behind her on the chorus really helps add some joy to the song.\n\n\"What is the Change of That\" is the first of two songs written in 1996 but not released until now. This is the only true soft rock song on the disc, but the harmonicas add a hint of country flavor, too. Considering how much of the song talks about trains, those harmonicas add a fun touch there.\n\n\"Third World Woman\" contemplates the luxuries we have in America and, in a subtle way to take some action to help those in poverty around the world. It's got a catchy beat and melody.\n\nI've got to admit that I cringed a little the first time I heard \"Find What You're Looking For.\" But I was listening to a song to find deep theological truths. Um, that's probably not the best place for it, right? Once I got over that, I really began to enjoy it. The song, inspired by Amy's ex-mother-in-law, reminds us that we can find good or bad in anyone around us. In fact, what we go looking for is what we will find. This song isn't about how sinful man can be but about our need to open our eyes and hearts to those around us, trying to find the good. The guitar heavy, mid-tempo music really catches your ear and lets you meditate on the message.\n\nThe final new track was originally recorded in 1996. It's a simple recording with just Amy and her guitar. But anything more would ruin the simple power of the song. \"Come Into My World\" is a plea to who love someone to get involved in their messy, hurting life. The simplicity makes it that much more vulnerable.\n\nI truly do wish we were getting 12 new to us songs here. But I can't complain about the power of the new songs we do get. The older songs blend in well, making this a complete package. Somewhere Down the Road may never hit the level of Amy's 80's classics in my eyes, but I have a feeling it will get lots of play time as I travel the road of life.","Product: Grammy-nominated and RIAA multi-Gold selling artist Jeremy Camp is set to release his seventh studio project, We Cry Out - The Worship Project. Once again Camp teamed up with award-winning producer Brown Bannister to create a heartfelt, worshipful project. Returning to his worship music roots, he co-wrote with other notable worship leaders Matt Maher, Reuben Morgan (Hillsong) and Brenton Brown. \"It is an overwhelming joy to see how the Lord has been faithful even though I am undeserving of it,\" shared Camp thinking back on his career. \"I just want to continue to seek Him in all that I do, and want to always remember that it's the Lord doing the work...not me!\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: We Cry Out, We Cry Out, We Cry Out Repetitively\n\nReview: When I heard that Jeremy Camp was coming out with another worship CD, I was excited. His original worship CD is my favorite of his releases. Naturally, I pre-ordered We Cry Out and rushed out to pick it up on release day. So far, I've been underwhelmed. The parts of the CD aren't bad, but they don't come together for a good whole.\n\nWhen it comes to music, I like variety. Otherwise, my ear just tunes the CD out. This CD pretty much consists of pop/rock heavy on the electric guitar. Tempos are pretty much upbeat. It's not that it sounds bad, it's just that there is little to distinguish one song from the next.\n\nThe lyrics fall into the same boat. Worship songs as a whole can be more repetitive than most songs, but the ones here seem to be worse than normal. Often, the chorus seems to be a couple lines repeated with a word or two changed. The worst of the lot is \"Everlasting God.\" The chorus is one line repeated over and over, and the only verse doesn't add much variety to the mix.\n\nAs bad as this sounds, the songs are fine on their own. They aren't bad, and mixed in with other stuff, they actually sound good. But it's when you listen to them straight through that you begin to see the problem.\n\nThe songs are a mix of covers by well known worship writers and Jeremy's original songs. The disc opens with \"Jesus Saves,\" a cover of a Tim Hughes song. And it's a great example of what I was just talking about. The song celebrates the salvation found in Jesus, and the verses are a great reflection on that. But then you get to the chorus. \"Shout it out/To let all the world know that Jesus saves/Raise a shout/To let all the world know that Jesus saves.\" I could actually picture myself getting caught up in the moment singing this song, but couples with the rest, that chorus gets annoying.\n\nThe one cover on here I recognized right off the bat was \"Mighty to Save.\" I've sung this one multiple times in church, and I do like it despite the repetition. Again, the song is strong on the guitars as Jeremy sings of the wonders of God saving us.\n\n\"The Way\" is one of Jeremy Camp's original songs on here and looks at creation and how it points of God. This song actually makes very good use of the keyboard to providing a haunting counter melody on the verses before the guitar takes over on the chorus.\n\nJeremy also wrote the title track. \"We Cry Out\" jumps off from the idea of creation proclaiming God's glory to talk about how we have even more reason to cry out to God because of all he has done for us. Again, it's heavy on the drums and guitar, but it does have a very catchy melody.\n\n\"Unrestrained\" is a slower song without truly slowing things down. This is a song of surrender, praying to not hold back anything from God. While this song is definitely guitar based, the keyboard in the background certainly makes for a nice touch.\n\nMy favorite track here is a cover of Matt and Beth Redman's \"You Never Let Go.\" It borrows heavily from the Psalms for it's lyrics as it talks about trusting God in the middle of the trials of life. I like the fact that the chorus talks about God holding us through the highs and lows of life. I so often only focus on God during the hard times, and I need that reminder.\n\nAs you can see, there are some great individual songs on We Cry Out. I want to like this CD more, I really do. But it just gets too repetitive to be one I'll pull out very often.","Product: The album, The Generous Mr. Lovewell, revolves around a fictional character we created who reminds us that we simply need to love others well. For some of us, it means that we need to put hands and feet on our ideology and rhetoric. For others, it means that we need to continue in doing well, but to not stop there. We need to let people know why we are called to make a difference. Our prayer is that this album would mobilize the body of Christ to encourage people in word and deed. It's almost like a 'pay-it-forward' idea that revolves around the Cross. We are called to be servants to our neighbors, but if we don't share the gospel with them, it's almost offensive and we have only accomplished a part of what God has called us to do. We need to stop letting the world teach us theology about how to act or speak. We need to encourage one another to provide a helping hand to our neighbor, offer up random acts of kindness and share with others how our lives have been transformed by the power of the Cross. It doesn't take much action - or even many words - to make a difference both here and forever. - Bart Millard, MercyMe\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: MercyMe Calls Us to a Radical Love in the Name of Jesus\n\nReview: MercyMe Calls Us to a Radical Love in the Name of Jesus\n\nMercyMe is back with The Generous Mr. Lovewell, their sixth studio release, and it's sure to please fans. It's definitely on the rockier side of their releases, but its fun with so many great messages.\n\nThe biggest message of this disc is love. It weaves its way through several of the songs, both explicitly and implicitly. Quite obviously, the title track really emphasizes this theme. \"The Generous Mr. Lovewell\" actually reminds us that love isn't about the big things we do for others. The second verse talks about how just a kind word can brighten someone's day. Of course, it does also talk about bigger offers of help. And I like the reminder to always be on the lookout for ways to help. It's an upbeat song and has the catchiest melody on the disc. No matter what song I stop listen to the disc with, I always find myself humming this particular song.\n\n\"Crazy Enough\" also picks up on this theme. It looks at the idea of truly loving our \"brother for nothing in return\" and how it might impact the world. This song is definitely a pop anthem, but it uses a minor key to really stand out from the rest of the disc.\n\n\"Won't You Be My Love\" is written from Jesus' point of view and reminds us that we are called to love others in His name. While never directly quoting Matthew, it borrows heavily from the passage about \"Loving the least of these in My name.\" This guitar heavy ballad incorporates strings for a nice, quieter moment.\n\nAs they often will, MercyMe closes the disc with a very short song. In fact, the minute and a half \"This So Called Love\" feels like a first verse looking to be expanded. But as a Coda to the rest of the disc, it works very well. It's actually a sobering reminder that no matter what we do and how we help others, without Jesus, it means nothing. It's a slow song with some haunting sounds.\n\nThe theme of radical love (which is what this call really boils down to) influences some of the other tracks as well. For example, the disc opener, \"This Life\" is a call to get out of our comfort zone and see what God would do with us there. And if love doesn't do that for you, I don't know what will. The song uses heavy electric instruments and a touch of vocal distortion to really help drive the point home. Plus it's just plain fun to listen to. I can't help but nod my head or tap my toe along with this upbeat number.\n\nYou could even argue \"Beautiful\" fits in with the theme. It's an upbeat ballad written to those who don't think they are worth anything. No, it's not terribly original, but at times you just need the simple reminders to get through a trial.\n\nSpeaking of trials, MercyMe tackles that favorite subject in \"Move.\" I'd argue this is the rockiest song on the disc as they rely on God's promise to see us through the bad times to the brighter days. I dare you to listen to this song without getting a smile and tapping your toes.\n\nThere are a couple songs of pure praise as well on the disc. \"All of Creation\" finds us back in the ballad territory the band has always done so well. Keyboard is the dominate instrument here as they lead all creation in praise for God redeeming us from the sin that separates us from Him.\n\n\"Only You Remain\" actually sounds like a modern praise song we could hear in church soon. Again, we're on the slow side of things with the full band playing here. There isn't anything super original about the lyrics, but the way it praises God for who He is makes it a great track.\n\nThe disc does come a bit close to all the songs sounding the same at times. The music is either guitar or keyboard driven and the differences between songs are more subtle when you listen to the disc in order. But after a few listens, things really do begin to stand out, mainly because of the great lyrics.\n\nMercyMe really burst onto the Christian music scene, and they don't show any signs of slowing down. The Generous Mr. Lovewell is another strong disc that will help keep them in the spotlight for many years to come.","Product: For his new record, Matthew West did something unusual: He turned the microphone around. Rather than write about what he was experiencing in his life, he asked his fans to submit the stories of their lives. When he opened up this opportunity to his fans, the message spread quickly - and soon almost 10,000 stories were submitted. Radio stations, media outlets, and retailers caught the vision and helped spread the word of this unique album. The stories gave Matthew a window into what his fans had experienced in their lives. And they covered a wide range of human experiences and emotions. From joy to sorrow, struggle to victory, and life and death. The song \"Family Tree\" describes how Christ gives us a new identity and legacy and life, while \"One Less' chronicles the joy of adoption and helping those most in need. \"Broken Girl\" tragically recounts the countless stories Matthew received about sexual abuse - and describes the healing and redemption that Christ promises. \"My Own Little World\" perhaps serves as a capstone to the entire album, describing a person who lived in their own \"little world\" and then was awakened to the bigger picture of need and God's work in the world.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Musical Encouragement to Face the Story of Your Life\n\nReview: Earlier this year, Matthew West decided to spend some time in a cabin writing songs. But before he left, he asked his fans to send him stories from their lives to help inspire his writing. The result of this unique collaboration is The Story of Your Life.\n\nI'll admit, when I first heard about the disc, I was pretty skeptical. Event discs like this can be bad as often as they are good. But I had nothing to worry about. This is Matthew's strongest release to date by a large margin.\n\nOne reason I like the disc is that it is constantly filled with the hope of God's love. Okay, so it isn't cheesy or forced. Sometimes it's very subtle. But it is part of every song on the disc. Take the title track for example. \"The Story of Your Life\" starts out the disc with a mid-tempo anthem that reminds us to leave the past behind and take today as a new beginning. The song never once mentions God; in fact, the only line that comes close is a reminder in the second verse that \"love is up to something.\" I could see this song and several others being cross over hits if the right stations pick them up.\n\nWhile most of the songs are encouraging, \"My Own Little World\" is a song of conviction. In fact, it's the only song Matthew wrote inspired by his experiences reading the e-mails he got. It's a challenge to remember the least of these we pass everyday and open up our world to those who hurt.\n\nThree songs of encouragement are my favorites on the disc. The first of those is \"Strong Enough.\" The song starts with the lines \"You must think I'm strong/to give me what I'm going through.\" The song caught me from the opening line. Yes, it's a song from the point of view of someone struggling with a heavy trial as they surrender and ask God to help them through it. I've been there several times, and this song perfectly captures the feelings. Yet the music is upbeat and seems to be more encouraging than you'd expect from a song of surrender.\n\nSpeaking of upbeat songs, \"To Me\" is a fun, guitar picked ditty that offers encouragement from parent to child (or Heavenly Father to us). The focus is on a child being bullied and serves as a reminder that there is something special in every child. With all the news about bullying right now, this song would be an instant hit. And it's got a very catchy melody. You'll find yourself humming along before you know it.\n\nRounding out my trio of favorites is actually a slow song. \"The Reason for the World\" takes a look at the pain death brings into our lives. It doesn't try to force answers on us, but ultimately just points us to Heaven and God's love. The piano and strings are beautiful and the words are a good reminder of our hope in God without being so filled with cliches that it turns off those hurting.\n\nSome of the other songs touch on letting go of harmful family legacies, the hope of adoption, and the pain a child goes through in a divorce.\n\nThe most interesting song musically is \"Broken Girl.\" The song is aimed at those who have suffered from sexual abuse, and Matthew does a great job of poetically making it obvious what he's talking about. But it's the music I love. This is the only song that isn't a pop song but is a driving rock ballad in a minor key. It's loud with electric guitar and driving drums. It's a great song.\n\nThe final song on the disc is \"The Healing Has Begun.\" While it is aimed at those recovering from having an abortion, it really does work as a finale for the entire disc. It's a nice piano anthem that reminds us that God forgives anything and is willing to help us move forward with our lives.\n\nIt's fairly obvious what most of these songs are about, but the booklet that comes with the CD does talk about the stories that inspired Matthew to write the songs. He is currently sharing even more on his web site, but I like the permanence of the book to have in the future.\n\nIt's impossible to get through this disc without feeling encouraged and uplifted. Yes, some of the songs do move me to tears, but they never leave me this way. The Story of Your Life is going to be a huge hit for Matthew West, and all the praise he gets will be well deserved.","Product: Mary Poppins is bringing its own brand of Broadway magic to theaters across the country, which has Variety raving, This is the rare touring production that over-delivers on every level Featuring the irresistible story and unforgettable songs from one of the most popular Disney films of all time, plus brand- new breathtaking dance numbers and spectacular stage-craft, Mary Poppins is everything you could ever want in a hit Broadway show! So get swept up in the fun of this high-flying musical the New York Post gives 4 out of 4 stars and calls a perfect piece of musical theater.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: A Second Broadway Cast Recording for Mary Poppins\n\nReview: Last year, I finally got to see Disney's Broadway musical Mary Poppins. Not surprising since I love the movie, but I loved the play version as well. And since I love to get soundtracks for plays I've seen, I bought the Original Live Cast Recording afterward.\n\nThere are already two cast recordings floating around out there, which is surprising for a show that isn't that old. I chose this one because they have made some tweaks to the show since it first opened, including adding the song \"Playing the Game.\" Since this is the version I saw, this was the version I decided to get.\n\nYou might have noticed that this is a live recording, something I don't remember seeing for other soundtracks before. I was recording down in Australia over the course of five nights. The sound quality is excellent, and you'd never know it wasn't recording in the studio while the cast is singing. You do get applause between most of the songs, which doesn't bother me at all. The only time you get the audience over the singers is during the final \"Bows\" track. No big deal there since they should be clapping. The only real issue I have is that they used five different sets of kids to play Jane and Michael Banks over the course of those five nights, and you can tell since their voices keep changing between songs. A minor point.\n\nIf you haven't seen the Broadway version of the show, you are in for some surprises. Yes, you'll recognize many of the song titles from the movie, although not all the songs make it over. However, their place in the play and at times the words of the songs are often quite different. True, you get some songs like \"A Spoonful of Sugar\" that haven't been touched. The same is true of the lyrics of \"Jolly Holiday,\" although the setting is different and there's an interlude with the kids. \"Let's Go Fly a Kite\" is lyrically the same as well. The heart of \"Step in Time\" remains the same, and outside of a few pronouns, the didn't mess with \"Feed the Birds.\"\n\nBut then there are the songs that are very different. The best example is \"Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.\" There are so many new lyrics to this song, it is an absolute delight. I can't help but laugh at some of what they came up with. And Mary Poppins really does say the word backwards here, not syllable by syllable like in the movie but actually taking the letters backward. It's quite impressive.\n\nAnd of course, there are the new songs. \"Anything Can Happen\" is my favorite, and I think it's a song that Disney himself would have loved with it's optimistic look at life. They repeat melodies and lyrics from some of the songs, most noticeably \"Precision and Order\" and \"A Man Has Dreams\" in multiple tracks. It really helps give the soundtrack a more unified feel.\n\nThen there's the song \"Playing the Game.\" It's a pretty song with a haunting melody in a minor key. Yet it's a bit creepy as Mary seems to turn a bit mean as she brings Jane and Michael's toys to life to try to get the kids to treat them properly. It was definitely the scariest part of the play, and that comes across in the song.\n\nAnd that includes the songs sung by Miss Andrew, Mr. Bank's old nanny who appears at one point here. Her two tracks, both entitled \"Brimstone and Treacle\" are so over the top they are kind of fun. Okay, so they don't work out of the context of the play like so many of the classic songs do, but I like them. The second time around is her showdown with Mary Poppins, and much of that is lost without the actual action on stage, but I would have been disappointed if they had left it out.\n\nOne thing I appreciate is that there is enough music here you can follow the story. It helps that I had seen it first, but as I listen to the sound track again, bits and pieces of it come back to me. Between the dialogue they include and the 25 tracks, you get a good chunk of the play.\n\nSo let's talk accents. Despite the fact that this was recorded down under, I feel the characters sound British. And those accents never get in the way of understanding the lyrics. Bert's voice can sound nasally at times; I miss Dick Van Dyke's Bert, bad accent and all.\n\nThe CD comes with a think booklet with all the lyrics and spoken bits from the CD attributed to the correct character. That's helpful on a couple of songs, although after a couple of listens it's easy to tell who is who. There are also pictures of those songs from the stage on each page, which is a fun bonus.\n\nWhile I will also love the songs from the original movie, this version of them is fun, too. I'm glad to have Mary Poppins: The Original Live Cast Recording in my collection.","Product: Following in the footsteps of her freshman release, the critically acclaimed Great God Who Saves, Blessings is a worship project at heart with constant threads of pop energy and singer/songwriter warmth. The album was recorded in Georgia at Chris Tomlin's studio and produced by Nathan Nockels (Passion, Philips, Craig & Dean, Point of Grace). Story penned most of the ten songs herself but also partnered with co-writers including Brenton Brown and Third Day's Mac Powell. Story also recently received her third consecutive GMA nomination for "Female Vocalist of the Year." But amidst all of her success she has her fair share of struggles when a brain tumor hospitalized her husband in 2006 and took her on a ride that no one could have ever prepared her for. In Blessings, Story sings about her faith that was put through the unexpected fires of fear and loneliness; most young newlyweds don't imagine being kept alive at one point by breathing machines or having to find their way through significant post-operative vision and memory loss.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: I Wish This Entire Disc Were as Much a Blessing as the Title Track\n\nReview: My first introduction to Laura Story was the title track from this CD. I feel in love and had to get the disc, especially when I found it on sale. However, the rest of it has never grabbed me. I've listened to Blessings off and on for over a year, and I still find the majority of the CD only average.\n\nPart of the problem with this CD is the genre. Laura is very focused on worship music, and that's what this disc mostly is. I tend to find that genre rather weak and repetitive. I like the songs in small doses, but if I listen to an entire disc of them, I get bored.\n\nAnd there's certainly nothing wrong with the lyrics to any of the songs here. \"This is the Day\" celebrates the changes salvation brings to our lives. \"Friend of Sinners\" marvels at Jesus' sacrifice for us. \"Remember\" is a great song for communion. And \"Faithful God\" praises Him for keeping His promises no matter what we do. Even \"Prodigal Song\" offers a touching look at the father as he waits for his son to return home.\n\nLike with the lyrics, the music is fine but nothing impressive. It is mostly piano based with a few guitar oriented songs. However, it is also very repetitive and on the slower mid-tempo side.\n\nThis is one of those discs that tends to all blend together. Individually, I do like the songs, but when I listen to it as a whole, I get tired of it quickly.\n\nThen there's the title track. \"Blessings\" is a reminder and prayer that God is using the trials to bring us to Him. \"What if your blessings some through raindrops/What if your healing comes through tears/What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near.\" The powerful lyrics are coupled with moving piano ballad backing. It's the slowest track here and the only one that stands out from the others. I absolutely love it.\n\nThis was the first of Laura's releases I bought, and I had written her off. However, after catching her in concert with Steven Curtis Chapman and Jason Gray, I was persuaded to give her another chance, and I've liked her other CD's better.\n\nSo it looks like Laura Story fell victim to the sophomore slump. I highly recommend the title track from Blessings, but the rest of the disc is just average.","Product: 25 of the wackiest, the funniest and the most sing-able silly songs from the VeggieTales vault of fun! It s the most silliness allowed to be on one collection!\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Creative and Funny Silly Songs on This Ape...I Mean CD\n\nReview: A few years back, I was wishing that VeggieTales would release a new disc of their silly songs. I must not have been the only one since not too long afterward I found 25 Favorite Silly Songs! And it's just what I wanted.\n\nThe silly songs are a fan favorite section of each VeggieTales video, and they are just what they sound like. Occasionally, they might have a slight connection to the video (okay, there's only one time I can really think of). Most of the time, they are just a chance to bewellsilly.\n\nThe disc starts off with the classics. While personally, I wouldn't have minded if they'd been skipped since they were part of an older disc I already have, I can see why they were included. I mean, really, how can you have a disc of favorite silly songs without including the one that started it all, \"The Water Buffalo Song.\" And so many of those early ones are classics (and at almost 20 years old, it's not too much off base to say that). There's \"The Hairbrush Song,\" \"The Dance of the Cucumber,\" and \"The Pirates Who Dont Do Anything.\" They play around with other genres a bit with the 70's ballad \"His Cheeseburger\" and the mash up of barbershop quartet with yodeling that is \"The Yodeling Veterinarian of the Alps.\"\n\nBut I was thrilled to get some of the newer songs in my collection. This part of the disc starts out with \"Belly Button,\" which introduces the boy band The Boyz in the Sink. We learn all about homophones in \"School House Polka.\" I thought that one might not be as funny without the words on the screen, but it still works well.\n\nAnd if you want to talk about funny, you can't go wrong with \"Larry's Blues.\" Blind Lemon Lincoln tries to help Larry sing the blues, but it doesn't work out all that well. Parents will definitely be able to identify with \"Goodnight Junior\" as Junior Asparagus tries everything he can delay bedtime. Bob and Larry go hunting for a \"Monkey\" or an ape and Larry teaches Bob the difference between the two. (Hint, if it doesn't have a tail it's not a monkey it's an ape. And it doesn't matter what it is, if it doesn't have a tail it's an ape.) We are treated to a home shopping network selling \"Pants.\" We learn the newest dance craze, \"The Hopperena.\" And Larry does a fine Elfish impression with \"My Baby Elf.\"\n\nSince there are only 25 tracks, not all the silly songs are on here. Personally, I miss \"Sippy Cup.\" Surely we could have done without \"Endangered Love\" or \"Larry's High Silk Hat.\" Definitely \"The New and Improved Bunny Song\" should have given up a spot since it's not really a silly song at all. On the other hand, I certainly don't miss \"Gated Community\" or \"Sports Utility Vehicle.\"\n\nWhile there is certainly some variety of styles, the songs really do have a similar feel. They're fairly simple with mainly piano and guitar behind them, although they do throw in a few other instruments when the occasion calls for it. But these songs are aimed at kids and from an animated show about singing vegetables. Really, if you are expecting anything other than what you get, you'll be disappointed.\n\nNot that the singing is bad. I'm constantly amazed that the voice actors hit the notes well while still staying in character.\n\nIf you are looking for a little silliness for your music collection, this is the disc to get. And if you already know just how much fun VeggieTales silly songs can be, definitely pick up 25 Favorite Silly Songs!","Product: When Jason inked a contract with Centricity Records in 2006 after a run of more than a decade as a hard-touring indie artist, he did so after a lot of soul-searching, wondering how his highly relational artistry would translate to a broader audience. Now with the release of his third studio album for Centricity, A Way To See In The Dark, that tension can probably be laid to rest. What emerges on the new project is a thought-provoking collection of artful, emotional and radio-friendly tunes that achieve a high level of accessibility without sacrificing any of Gray's personality or creativity. Jason Gray's songwriting has consistently earned the respect of his artist peers, largely for his uncanny ability to absorb images, emotions and truths from a variety of sources: theology, literature, relationships, his own struggles, pop culture, poetry, etc., and to pull together those diverse strands into a unified whole. Over the years he has developed a razor sharp knack for saying deep things in a way that the rest of us can relate to.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Faith and Love Versus Fear\n\nReview: I've had an interesting relationship with the music of Jason Gray. I first heard of him when he was opening for a band I love a few years back. I loved the songs he did and rushed to his table at the break to get the CD. To this day I love that one. Most of his others have produced one or two songs I liked. And yet I still keep buying his music. He's just released a new CD entitled A Way To See In The Dark. It's not going to top that first CD I bought, but I'm really liking it.\n\nThe disc comes close to falling into the trap some of his other discs do. He is a very guitar heavy artist, and many of the songs begin to sound the same. They're mid-tempo and can blend together if I'm not paying attention. He has greater variety here that helps distinguish them for me and keep me actively listening, which really helps things out.\n\nLike that first release I got, it's the lyrics here that capture me and make several of the song stand out to me. My favorite two are actually back to back late in the disc. \"A Way to See in the Dark\" is about the struggle between faith and certainty. As a planner, that struggle is something I fight every day of my life, and the lyrics capture that so perfectly from the opening line. \"Here I am/Begging for certainly again/But simple/Trust is what You're asking me to give.\" Later, he does talk about that faith with lines like \"The question mark/Hung with every fear/Is answered by/The promise that You are with me here.\" The song has a light, upbeat melodious sound to it, which really helps get the message across as well.\n\nA similar theme runs through the next track, \"The Other Side.\" This has so many lyrics that the song feels faster than it's real beat. This song talks about how much smaller the hills of life are when we look at them in retrospect. He starts by talking about a real life hill his school was on and how it seems smaller as an adult. Then he carries the analogy over to the more serious problems of hospital visits and tight finances and how God helps us get through those mountains as well. It's the bridge and final chorus where this song really hits me. \"How many times am I destined to prove/I can't do this all on my own.\" And he continues, \"So I won't be afraid/No matter what the trouble I see today/The maker of the mountains He will make a way/To lead me through the darkness to the other side.\" I wish I lived in that faith all the time.\n\nReally, the conflict of faith and love versus fear is a big part of the disc. Two songs deal directly with fear. There's the fun, upbeat \"No Thief Like Fear.\" It's in a minor key and has a driving beat that makes it stand out from the rest of the tracks on the disc. The chorus is a bit repetitive, but the melody is so fun I can't stop humming it even when I don't have the disc playing.\n\nLater on in the disc he challenges us with \"Fear is Easy, Love is Hard.\" The song talks about the divisions people great between political opponents by scaring them. But it also talks about the fear of humbling yourself to apologize for something and how that destroys love.\n\nThe disc actually starts out with \"Remind Me Who I Am,\" a song that talks about our position with God when we've repented no matter what sin we've committed or how many times we repent from it. There are also songs of praise like \"The Sound of Our Breathing\" and \"Jesus We Are Grateful.\"\n\nOf course, some of those songs to present the other minor issue with the disc. Several of the songs feature fairly short but repetitive choruses, \"Jesus We Are Grateful\" being the worst. Those tend to annoy me, so those aren't my favorite songs here.\n\nI debated about buying this disc since I don't tend to listen to most of the Jason Gray discs I have, but I'm glad I did. A Way To See In The Dark will get plenty of play time in the future.","Product: 2011 release from the Christian singer/songwriter. As one of the most-sung artists in the church, Chris Tomlin writes music that connects people to the heart of Jesus and leads them to a greater worship of him. After six studio albums and numerous appearances on Passion live worship albums, Chris releases his first-ever greatest hits collection Of the 14 songs on the album, three are all-new recordings of classic Tomlin worship songs. Included is a new recording of the #1 song 'How Great Is Our God', which features guest appearances from renowned international worship leaders, singing parts of the song in their native language.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: So Many Wonderful Worship Songs on One Disc\n\nReview: While I have a few worship oriented discs in my collection, they don't tend to make it to my CD player that often. Thats even true of powerhouse artist Chris Tomlin, and I absolutely love some of his songs that we sing in church every week. So when I saw he was releasing How Great Is Our God: The Essential Collection, I figured this was a chance to get all the songs I love in one place.\n\nMost best of collections like this feature a new song or two. Thats not the case here, although several songs have been rerecorded. Im not familiar enough with Chris music to know for sure which tracks those are, although I can make a couple of guesses.\n\nOne of those is the World Edition of How Great is Our God. While Chris starts it off and sings some lines here and there, he turns the majority of the track over to worship leaders from around the world who sing a line or two in their native language. Its different and takes a few listens to appreciate, but I do like it as it shows just how universal the body of Christ is. And the African chanting during the chorus is a great touch.\n\nBut don't despair if you are looking for this song. Chris also closes the disc out with the song, and this time its all in English. I believe this is a new recording as well and builds from piano to full on drums and guitar. This anthem is a current favorite of mine, and I love it.\n\nAnother new recording is Forever. A choir joins Chris on this chorus taken from the Psalms. The new drum pattern is lots of fun and makes a great song even more powerful.\n\nTwo of Chris updating of hymns are present here. First up is The Wonderful Cross with features fellow worship leader Matt Redman. The verses here are the familiar hymn, but there is a new chorus that makes it feel modern. Of course, the drums and guitar help with that, too. Chris does the same thing with Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone), and if possible I love this hymn even more with the new chorus. The song is mostly piano, but it somehow makes the lyrics even more powerful.\n\nSpeaking of powerful, theres one of his newer songs, Our God. This anthem is based on the idea from Romans that If God is for us, who can be against us? It starts off with strings before more traditional piano and guitar come in and the tempo increases. Its a great song.\n\nIts funny some of the songs I didn't know I know until I got this disc. Songs like Holy is the Lord and Made to Worship are songs that Ive heard without even knowing who had made them popular. And speaking of popular, this disc does have his classic take on Indescribable and We Fall Down.\n\nIm sure someone better versed in Chris music will have complaints about some songs that were included or excluded. All I know is that most of the songs here I like.\n\nYes, I did say most. There are a couple of songs that are weak. Famous One has never struck me as a great song. It just seems disrespectful to call God the famous one. Maybe its how cheap weve made fame in our society, but He is so much more than that. God of This City also doesnt sit quite right with me since I feels like telling God what to do. Im probably missing something in those songs since the rest of this disc has a proper reverence for God, but those are the tracks I skip over.\n\nThe rest of the disc is great, however. So if, like me, you want Chris Tomlins best songs in one place, How Great Is Our God: The Essential Collection is the disc to get.","Product: Great Music to Hear!!!!\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Mixed Styles. Still Mostly Good\n\nReview: Season 3 of NBCs singing competition The Sing-Off featured their largest collection of all vocal groups with a very wide collection of styles. Frankly, that wide selection of styles hurt my enjoyment of the season, and it also hurts this years Christmas CD Songs of The Season.\n\nThe disc features 13 tracks, one each by the top twelve contestants from the season plus a bonus track by Committed season twos winners. The songs cover a wide range from Santa Baby to Infant Holy, Infant Lowly or I Saw Three Ships. There is something for everyone.\n\nBut there is something that will bother just about everyone. For example, I was never a fan of the more experimental groups of the season like Urban Method that included rap with their a cappella music. I am not a fan of rap, as my pop/soft rock reviews should have proved by now. So their strange take on I Saw Three Ships drives me up a wall. If you are at all familiar with this Christmas song, you will not recognize it. In my opinion it is a disaster.\n\nFairly only slightly better is Sonos take on Coventry Carol. Again, a group that tries to mix in an urban flavor to their music, and it just leaves the song a mess.\n\nSo it might surprise you to find that I don't mind Pentatoniks take on We Three Kings. As with all the songs the season 3 winners did on the show, they have put a very unique spin on it. I won't say its my favorite version of the song, but it works. Its upbeat and right at that cross between hip hop and pop, which is probably why I don't mind it.\n\nBut the songs by the groups I loved? They are great. I was actually rooting for Vocal Point, the male group from Brigham Young. They chose the under recorded Infant Holy, Infant Lowly, a song Ive loved sing I sang it as part of a school Christmas program. They keep it slow and reverent with incredible harmonies. Its great.\n\nI also love Afro Blues take on Christmas Time is Here. Granted, nothing will ever top the version from A Charlie Brown Christmas, but this jazz/pop group is perfectly suited to take it on with a slightly increased tempo that serves the song well.\n\nAnother favorite group from the season was the Doo Wop groupNorthShore, and their Winter Wonderland doesnt disappoint with the smooth rhythm they give this chestnut.\n\nLooking for more collegiate male groups? Weve got two fun tracks with theUniversityofRochester YellowJacketssinging Carol of the Bells and runners up Dartmouth Aires singing Up on the Housetop. While the YellowJackets don't use the words in their song, the harmonies and changing dynamics are great. Meanwhile, Up on the Housetop is very upbeat and vocal percussion heavy for a arrangement you won't forget.\n\nAll female group Delilah actually opens the disc with a pop version of All I Want for Chirstmas is You. The vocals are stunning, and youll forget you are missing instruments as you listen.\n\nIm only a marginal fan of Santa Baby, the choice of The Collective, but Rubys solo here is not to be missed. Its so sultry I can almost picture her slinking across a stage with a microphone in hand.\n\nThere are enough good tracks to recommend this disc for fans of a cappella music and especially season 3 of The Sing-Off. But when a track goes wrong, it really misses. Ill definitely be skipping some tracks on Songs of The Season every year.","Product: Blue Mountain is the fourth studio album by contemporary Christian musician Brandon Heath. It was released on October 9, 2012 through Reunion Records. This album has had success on the chart, so has the song \"Jesus in Disguise\". It also debuted at No. 5 o\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Brandon Heath Invites Us to Come on Up Blue Mountain\n\nReview: I got so focused on which artists I listen to were releasing new Christmas music this year that I almost missed the fact that Brandon Heath was releasing a new disc. Fortunately, I happened to catch a Tweet talking about Blue Mountain, so I got it. This one takes a few listens, but the effort is worth it.\n\nThere is a bit of a theme or a story to the songs here, at least according to Brandon. These songs are written from the point of view of the citizens of a fictional town called Blue Mountain somewhere in the Appalachians. Honestly, if I hadn't read that in the notes that came with my CD, I wouldn't have gotten it since many of these songs work on their own. It does explain a couple of them, however. \"Paul Brown Petty,\" a tribute to the everyman who leaves behind a legacy, is a prime example. \"Dyin' Day\" is the strangest song here - a song about a man about to be executed sharing his hope in God. It's a nice idea, but it doesn't quite work. Frankly, I don't think it even works as an extended metaphor.\n\nThe fact that we're in the Appalachians also explains the style here. Brandon has taken his normal soft rock and infused just a hint of country. That's the part that takes some getting used to. While songs like \"The Harvest,\" \"Jesus in Disguise,\" and \"Love Does\" have plenty of Brandon's classic rock, songs like \"Diamond,\" \"Love Will be Enough for Us\" and \"He Paid It All\" definitely have some country flavor to them. It's just a hint, so don't go running from the mountain until you give it a shot. Just be prepared for something a little different.\n\nThere are plenty of great gems here. Three of them are easily favorites, and they all have a little country tinge. What does that say about me since I don't normally listen to country? Anyway, \"Diamond\" is a toe tapping number written from the point of view of a miner who is comparing the precious stones he looks for to the diamond God is trying to uncover inside him. It's not the more original idea, but it really works well. Next up is \"Hands of the Healer,\" which reminds us that if we are going to pray about something, we then need to let it go. Finally, there's \"He Paid It All,\" a song of praise to Jesus for all He has done for us.\n\nAnd there are several more songs that I enjoy. \"The Harvester\" is a challenge to share our faith. \"Blue Mountain,\" the third song on the disc (don't ask me why) paints a very pretty picture of this town we're visiting. And \"In the Dust\" reminds us of our hope of the resurrection.\n\nIt's not that there are any bad songs here. Some of them just don't work that well. I already talked about \"Dyin' Day.\" \"Love Will be Enough for Us\" is a decent enough love song, but it doesn't really grab me. And \"Jesus in Disguise\" is another song that just doesn't quite feel fully developed to me.\n\nBlue Mountain is definitely a bold choice thematically and stylistically for Brandon Heath. While I don't think it quite works out as well as he wanted it to work, it's still a collection of songs worth owning.","Product: 2013 release from the Contemporary Christian outfit. Experience some of your favorite Casting Crowns songs in a fresh way on The Acoustic Sessions: Volume 1. Inspired in part by the acoustic medley portion of the Come To The Well Tour, this collection of eight re-imagined songs and two new songs to the Casting Crowns catalog is perfect for old and new fans alike.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Casting Crowns Goes Acoustic on Some Classic Songs\n\nReview: For the last several years, the acoustic release seems to have become the trend for best of releases. After all, it is something new enough to entice long time fans to buy the disc. Yet all the best (read radio) songs are included, so the casual fan will buy it. It's the approach that Casting Crowns used with The Acoustic Sessions Volume 1. I feel for it, and I've been enjoying it.\n\nThe disc consists of 10 tracks, 8 of which are some of their classic songs. Even more interesting, four of them are from their self titled debut disc. That release is still probably their best known, so it makes sense. And the songs are still so good.\n\nI have often found acoustic discs by groups to be a bit too similar to what they have released before. After all, if the band is playing together again. One thing I appreciate here is that Casting Crowns limits the instruments on most of the songs to just one or two, which does make the song feel different.\n\nTake \"If We are the Body.\" This song opens the disc, and the instrument you predominately here is piano. In fact, if you aren't listening closely, you'd think that was all they played. \"East to West\" continues the piano trend, but this time the violin is a very strong secondary instrument.\n\nNo, it's not all piano. The next two tracks are guitar based, with violin helping out on \"Who Am I\" while \"American Dream\" sounds like a guitar solo. You can definitely hear some percussion in some tracks like \"Praise You in this Storm\" and \"Set Me Free.\"\n\nActually, \"Praise You in this Storm\" is an interesting case. It starts out with piano, and the counter melody they use sounds very different than normal. Once things get going, you do hear violin and light percussion. It's a great mix.\n\nAnd, frankly, these eight tracks would be great no matter what. From the challenge of treating others like Jesus wants us to in \"If We are the Body\" to the attack on our money obsessed culture that is \"American Dream\" to the more encouraging tracks \"East to West\" and \"Who Am I,\" there are so many great lyrics here. All these tracks originally appeared on their first three releases, and I'm so ready to pull out the full disc for a listen now.\n\nThere are two new tracks, and unfortunately they are the weakest tracks here. Casting Crowns has always been a mix of traditional radio friendly tracks and praise oriented songs. The praise songs have always been the weakest links on their discs, and here that is no exception. And both of the new songs are praise songs. These were originally written by others, Casting Crowns is just covering them here.\n\nUp first is \"Delivered,\" which praises God for delivering us from sin. The second is \"Only You\" about how only God can truly satisfy us. The problem with both these songs is they are weaker lyrically than the rest of the disc. And they repeat the lyrics multiple times to draw the song out to full song length. I would have much rather seen the space go to acoustic versions of other hits (a couple spring to mind) or even completely new songs. It's not that these songs are bad, but they aren't as great as the rest of the disc.\n\nComplaint aside, this is still a strong disc that fans of all stripes will enjoy having in their collection. I know I'm glad I bought Casting Crowns' The Acoustic Sessions Volume 1.","Product: Album features 2 new orginal tracks, 3 duets and 2 covers.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Straight No Chaser Invites Some Friends for Their New Christmas CD\n\nReview: Considering the male acappella group Straight No Chaser got discovered because of a Christmas song (their very fun take on \"The Twelve Days of Christmas\"), it's not surprise they've released so much Christmas music. Following up their duets disc this year, they have released Under the Influence: Holiday Edition, and it's another fun disc their fans will love.\n\nThis is a short disc (and priced accordingly) with only 8 tracks on it, and the first 4 of those feature guest vocalists. I will repeat what I said on the regular Under the Influence edition - these songs are good, but I much prefer these guys when they are blending with each other. Too often with the guest vocalists, they take a back seat and let the guest shine.\n\nAnyway, they start out with a love song duet with Colbie Caillat on \"Every Day is Christmas.\" It's a fun mid-tempoed start that makes love into an every day Christmas present. The images are very fun on this song, and I really like it. Since this is a duet, the entire group gets into an act a bit more than on some of the others in this first half.\n\nNext up is the only truly traditional song on the disc. CeeLo Green joins them for \"White Christmas.\" IT is a fun, toe tapping version of the classic.\n\nThe most interesting song on the disc is \"Merry Christmas Baby.\" They take a recording of Otis Redding from the sixties and create new background vocals/music for it. I'm sure his fans will really enjoy it, but this is probably my least favorite song on here since the guys don't really get a chance to shine.\n\nThey close out the first half with Paul McCartney joining them for \"Wonderful Christmas Time.\" I must admit I don't have that many copies of this song, so it's good to get another one, and there are some fun harmonies on it.\n\nAs we enter the second half, these songs are all Straight No Chaser. And three of the songs are originals. \"Home by Christmas Day\" is another good upbeat Christmas themed love song. The kid in me really loves \"Song for Santa\" which, despite efforts to honor Santa, keeps turning into a song about presents.\n\nWhich brings us to \"Nutcracker.\" I have a feeling this song will fall into the love or hate category. They take some of the most familiar sections of the classic Nutcracker ballet and create words to it. These words? Well, they tell the story of a guy who wants to be home watching the football game but is dragged to the Nutcracker by his wife. It's not exactly complimentary to this Christmas classic. I've never actually scene it, but I still find this song pretty funny.\n\nThe disc closes with an odd choice - \"Amazing Grace.\" I only call it odd because I don't think I've ever seen it connected with Christmas before. It certainly fits since it is God's grace that sent Jesus to earth in the first place. Having said that, the guys do an amazing job on it. The harmonies are great and I fully enjoy it. I'll be mixing it into my regular music and enjoying it all year long for sure.\n\nEven though I prefer the guys doing their own thing, I really do like Under the Influence: Holiday Edition, and I'm sure that Straight No Chaser's many fans will as well. It's one I'll be pulling out each December for sure.","Product: The Glorious Unfolding is the first full album of original songs from Steven Curtis Chapman in seven years. The highly anticipated album centers around the idea that God is at work telling a story through the wonderful and amazing as well as the painful chapters of our lives, something Chapman understands first hand. As he explains, "As I've journeyed through this story, I'm more convinced than ever that He does know the plans that He has for us and He will finish what He started. God is telling an amazing, glorious, epic story and we must decide if we will trust Him with it."\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Steven Curtis Chapman Shines Light on the Hope of the Glorious Unfolding\n\nReview: Its been a number of years since Steven Curtis Chapman released a new CD of regular music. A lot of that has had to do with him coming to terms with the tragedy in his life of his daughters fatal accident. But the lessons he has learned come through loud and clear in this, his eighteenth studio recording, The Glorious Unfolding.\n\nIf there is one message that comes through in this disc, it is hope. Steven sings time and time again about how God will take any situation and circumstance and work through it. At times, I get the feeling that these truths are meant as much for him as us. But Im okay with that. I find lessons from someone who still struggles much easier to accept than lessons from someone who has something like this mastered.\n\nIf you are at all familiar with Stevens music, you pretty much know what to expect here. Weve got guitar based pop with some piano based songs thrown in for good measure. We never get beyond mid-tempo on this disc, but its only at the end where the songs blend together at all.\n\nThe disc opens with the title track, a souring anthem that reminds us that what we are facing is not Gods final word in our lives. Instead, it is part of a much bigger picture.\n\nOur response to knowing God is still working in dark times is to Take Another Step. This song draws a parallel involving a marching band on a day that goes from sunlight to darkness and reminds us to keep marching. The beat on this one makes it a steady marching song as well, and the call to faith is great. Admittedly the chorus is very simple, and at first I didn't like the song because of that, but after a few listens, I really grew to like it.\n\nThere are some songs that fall outside of the main theme, like Love Take Me Over. This is a call to action to spread Gods love to others, and yet it acknowledges that we need to let God fill us up before we can fill up others with his love. This is also the first single and a fun pop song.\n\nOnly One and Only You is a song written for his middle school daughter to remind her how special she is despite what she sees in the mirror. Its a very melodic song although the rhythm takes a couple listens to fully appreciate.\n\nThen theres the latest song written for his wife Mary Beth. \"Together\" a wonderful testament to their 29 year marriage and how God has helped them weather all that life throws at you. It gives full honor to God for it, but it also talks in general terms about the good and bad in life. The piano and strings on this song are beautiful together.\n\nSpeaking of the bad you experience in life, there are two songs about people hes lost in recent years. Of these, I prefer See You in a Little While, a song to his grandmother. It focuses on the hope of Heaven and being reunited with those we love there. Its a light, mid-tempo song. On the other hand, theres Michael and Maria. This one focuses a bit more on loss, and it feels slower although I don't think it is that much slower than the first. Frankly, I think this one could have been left off. Either that, or at least fill us in on who Michael is (assuming Maria is his daughter, of course).\n\nAs I mentioned earlier, the last few songs are also a drag on the CD. They are slow tempoed and run together a bit. Its a shame because there are some good songs individually, like Feet of Jesus.\n\nStill, overall this fan is happy to have some new music from Steven Curtis Chapman. Like many of his other projects, I know Ill be listening to The Glorious Unfolding for years to come.","Product: DescriptionTalented worship leader and songwriter Laura Story is best known for her inspirational hit ?Blessings? . With only two albums to her credit, she?s already an award winner several times over. ?Blessings? was certified Digital Gold and nabbed a 2012 Billboard Music Award, GRAMMY? and helped Story to four Dove Award wins. She also co-wrote ?Indescribable,? a Chris Tomlin anthem.Now, with her third studio album, God Of Every Story, Laura returns to that deep place of spiritual vulnerability and personal honesty. Award-winning producer Ed Cash helmed the deeply personal project, and their shared Carolina roots led to the incorporation of acoustic and epic instruments into this worshipful pop album.Lyrically, God Of Every Story draws from Story?s own life. Her husband?s brain tumor early in their marriage led the young family down a painful path she wouldn?t have chosen, but one that deepened her faith and her music. The resulting songs show God?s love and grace intersecting with real life. The album is a wonderful reminder that despite our questions or circumstances, God is the ultimate author of our story.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Praise to the God Who is Bigger Than Any Story\n\nReview: While I had heard of Laura Story, I wasn't really a fan until I saw her with Stephen Curtis Chapman and Jason Gray at the end of 2013. I liked her set enough to buy God of Every Story, and I've really been enjoying it.\n\nThe reason I have struggled with Laura's music is her genre - inspirational/worship. It's not my go to genre, and it does provide the biggest con for me with the disc. The music tends toward the slower side of things with an emphasis on Laura's piano playing. I'm not saying it's bad, but it does tend to sound the same after a time or two through the disc.\n\nBut the lyrics. Oh, the lyrics. They can pull me through many a CD I'm ambivalent about, and here is where Laura really shines.\n\nTake the title track. Yes, it is on a theme I love, trusting God, yet that's never once mentioned in the song. Instead, we are reminded that God is there when we hurt and He is still faithful. The first couple of verses are inspired by people Laura has met who are struggling. The only person who has come through to the other side is Laura herself, and the story of her husband's illness and their miracle daughter forms the basis of that verse. And the fact that Laura is on the other side and able to point out how God is faithful makes it even more powerful. This is a mid-tempo'd track with a really catchy melody - one I'm very likely to be singing the rest of the day.\n\nAnother song I really like is the anthem \"I Can Just Be Me.\" It's one of those songs that hits you because of how simple the idea is. Laura sings about her struggles to hold it all together and put a brave face on at times. And then she goes to God and surrenders, being broken and afraid but letting God be God. As I say, it's a simple idea, but one that I really need to hear many times.\n\n\"Grace\" is a song of encouragement and it reminds us that God is always there willing to forgive and pick us up no matter how often we sin as long as we are trying to live for him. This is a very personal ballad and it almost feels like an intrusion into Laura's personal thoughts; frankly, that adds to the power of the song.\n\nAnd I really do love \"Keeper of the Stars\" which is again a song of trust and surrender as Laura sings \"I'm giving it all to the Keeper of the Stars/I won't be afraid cause You're holding every part of this world.\" Yeah, if God is holding the universe in place, I can certainly trust Him with my life.\n\nI mentioned earlier the worship part of the recording, and that shows up in such tracks as \"There is a Kingdom,\" \"O Love of God,\" Who but Jesus,\" and \"You Gave Your Life.\" Of course, it's hard to not listen to the songs I've already talked about without worshipping God as well.\n\nSo I'm glad I got to see Laura Story in concert because I doubt I would have bought this CD otherwise. There are some powerful lyrics on God of Every Story that God will use in my life for a long time to come.","Product: 2014 album from the popular Christian band. Thrive is packed with the band's signature style of songs about real life that redefine our identity in Christ, pointing us to our purpose from Him so that we may carry it out through Him. So many of us today are simply surviving. But we were not made to survive, we were made to Thrive. Like a tree planted by the water (Jeremiah 17:7-8) we should be digging into God's word to know Him and know who He has made us to be. We should be reaching out to the world and showing others who He is through our lives and our stories - knowing Him and making Him known.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Casting Crowns Thrives with Their New Release\n\nReview: I have been hooked on Casting Crowns since their self-title debut a decade or so ago. Their lyrics have amazing abilities to challenge me and uplift me. I've heard it argued that their lyrics aren't necessarily anything new, but something in how they write touches me. And that continues with Thrive.\n\nThe disc starts out with the title track and what it is easy to argue is the theme of the disc. In this song, lead vocalist Mark Hall sings of our need to be plugged into God because He is the one who will sustain us in the world so we can do more than just survive. I'll admit it's not a terribly deep song, but it is a fun mid-tempo anthem that really starts the disc off right. And the choir that sings much of the chorus is a fun addition, too.\n\nIt might be a stretch to say how all the rest of the songs on the disc fit into this theme, but it is easy with many of them. There are songs of encouragement - an easy fit. And yes, they do include some of those songs of challenge as well. Honestly, for some of these it is easy to argue that if we are not living in God's word, we won't be able to thrive. In fact, while they don't say it outright, that's the theme of the closer for sure. But we'll get there in a moment.\n\n\"All You've Ever Wanted\" is a typical Casting Crowns anthem. It's piano driven but clearly supported by the rest of the band. This is a song of confession where Mark sings about the desire to live the Christian life on his own strength when all God is really looking for is our heart. He's already done all we need, which is a pretty powerful reminder.\n\nI really love \"Just Be Held.\" They're entering mid-tempo ballad territory here. The song is written from God's point of view as He tells us to just let Him hold us during the storms of life. I especially love the line from the chorus, \"Your worlds not falling apart it's falling into place.\" I do love songs about trusting God, and this falls into that camp. It's a powerful reminder of just who God truly is and should be in our lives.\n\nAnother powerful song is \"This is Now.\" The song is written from Peter's point of view after he's denied Jesus and is struggling with what he's done. What is really amazing about this is the third verse when Jesus counters Peter's thoughts and puts his betrayal in the past. It's a great reminder of just how much Jesus loves and forgives us.\n\nAlong similar lines is \"Follow Me,\" a song that one of the women in the group sings. It looks at many of the lives Jesus touched while on the Earth and the power of his love and forgiveness. You have to really pay attention to the lyrics as each verse starts out with a few lines from the person and then Jesus' response, yet when you pay attention, it's a beautiful song.\n\nEncouragement of another kind comes in \"Dream for You.\" Written from God's point of view, it looks at how He had much bigger plans for David and Mary than they were dreaming. The idea that God can give us more than we could ever dream is very special. And it doesn't hurt that this song is very fun and upbeat with a great guitar lead instrument. The choir is back for the chorus. Matthew West actually co-wrote several songs on the disc, and this is one of them. His fans will definitely notice the influence in the lyrics and song style. I could see this on one of his discs as easily as it fits in here.\n\nAlong similar lines is \"Heroes.\" It's a song that offers encouragement to those who are living with struggles in their daily lives yet choosing to do the right thing and live for God in the midst of trials and persecution. How is it the same? To me it feels like the flip side of the coin. While \"Dream for You\" is about God taking the ordinary and making it something more than the person dreamed, \"Heroes\" reminds us that doing the right thing for the right reasons is still following God. As the bridge says, \"You may never know their names/But they're moving mountains just the same.\" It makes me want to tackle a few mountains in my own life.\n\nNot every song on the disc speaks to me, but even the lesser ones have their good qualities. \"Broken Together\" speaks to the idea that all marriages are between two sinful people. While the one pictured here is obviously very broken, the idea that the two would come back together and build something from the lives of two broken people is beautiful. It's definitely one of the slower songs on the disc. Probably it's because I'm single, but it doesn't grab me quite like the others.\n\nThen there's \"House of Their Dreams.\" It pictures a family drifting apart by sin and the busyness of life. I like the chorus, but somehow the verses seemed labored, but maybe that's just me. And when I say that, I mean both musically and lyrically. This is another of the slow songs, and it just seems that Mark is speaking more than singing. That impression is probably helped by the fact that there is minimal piano and even less guitar behind him on the verses. I will admit I like the third verse although it still suffers from the same musical problems the first two do.\n\nEarlier, I mentioned challenge in some of Casting Crowns songs, and there are two that definitely fit that category here. The first is \"Love You with the Truth,\" a song that reminds us if we truly love our unsaved family and friends we will be speaking the truth of the Gospel to them. However, I love the line from the chorus, \"I'm not pointing my finger, I'm holding out my hand.\" Too often, we can do just the opposite (please say that isn't just me), so this is a good reminder of how we should approach those we care about who are still trapped in sin.\n\nSpeaking of being trapped in sin, the disc closes with \"Waiting on the Night to Fall,\" an extended word picture of the old man of sin waiting for a chance to drag us back into sin. Talk about convicting and powerful! It's a serious warning wrapped in a slow and thoughtful power ballad that compliments Mark's vocals perfectly. You can really hear the strings on this one as the song grows in intensity.\n\nWhile there are a couple of songs that don't grab me, even they have their moments. Overall, this is one of Casting Crown's best releases. If you are a fan, rush out to get Thrive. And if you haven't given them a chance yet, this might be the perfect disc to change your mind.","Product: Welcome To The New Gotta Let It Go Shake Greater Finish What He Started Flawless New Lease On Life Wishful Thinking Burn Baby Burn Dear Younger Me\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: I'm Trying to Embrace the New, but It Doesn't Feel That Exciting to Me\n\nReview: Ever since I started listening to MercyMe, I've enjoyed their blend of fun music with good lyrics. Rarely do they ever have anything truly outstanding to say, but the mix is still very enjoyable. Unfortunately, Welcome to the New doesn't quite have that same mix to it. It is their first release that has left me under impressed.\n\nOver the years, the group has evolved from an adult pop/soft rock feel toward more rock and less pop. That change is evidenced here with the rockiest release they've had yet. There are lots of upbeat tracks here with only a few slower moments. Unfortunately, they haven't found a way to differentiate the rock tracks from one another, and that is probably one of the biggest weaknesses of the disc. These songs just sound too much alike to me. Even after a week of listening, it's hard to remember which song is which.\n\nUnfortunately, the lyrics don't help at all. The songs are about the new life we can have in Jesus and the changes that brings into our lives. Again, it's nothing especially original (or should I say new?), but it is a theme worth exploring. Unfortunately, none of the lyrics ever go too deep and many could be exchanged with any other song.\n\nNow before I get any more negative, I should point out that I do actually enjoy some of the songs here individually. It's just taken as a whole where they start to get too repetitive. For example, the title track starts things off with a wonderfully upbeat number that is hard not to like. \"Gotta Let Go\" reminds us to leave our past back there and press on to live for God now. \"Greater\" is based on the reminder from I Peter that God is greater than anything we will face in the world. And \"Flawless\" reminds us that thanks to the mercy and grace of the cross, God doesn't see the sin in our past.\n\nOh wait, even with those four songs, I've already hit on two very similar themes, haven't I?\n\nMy favorite song on the disc is the final track. \"Dear Younger Me\" find the band looking at the past and wondering what they could say to smooth out life without changing who they are. Ultimately, it's about remembering who God has made us then about what we've done along the way.\n\nSeveral of these songs will be enjoyed mix in with other artists in iTunes, but the rest of the disc is just average. Hopefully MercyMe goes back to penning better songs because Welcome to the New wasn't one of their better efforts.","Product: Kristin Chenoweth is recognized across the full spectrum of entertainment as an Emmy and Tony Award-winning actress of stage ("You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown," "Wicked," & the upcoming "On the Twentieth Century"), television ("Pushing Daisies," "Glee," "West Wing") film (Disney's "Descendants," "The Boy Next Door") in addition to her career as an accomplished singer. With the recording of Coming Home, she returns to her Broken Arrow, OK, home to perform songs in the Performing Arts Center housing the aptly-named Kristin Chenoweth Theater. Kristin performs her most memorable songs of Broadway, television, film & American classics.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Kristin Chenoweth is Coming Home Triumphantly\n\nReview: Ive been a fan of Kristin Chenoweth since I heard her in the soundtrack to the revival of Youre a Good Man, Charlie Brown. I even went to see her on concert many years ago. Every time she releases a new CD, I buy it, and love it, and Coming Home is no exception.\n\nThis CD is a recording of a concert she did in her old home town of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. It was produced and recorded for PBS, and I must admit I am kicking myself for not having seen the special at least not yet. There are a few times she brings someone up to sing with her, and I feel like I should know who they are and I dont. But that is my only complaint at the disc. And, honestly, I don't need to know who they are to enjoy the great music.\n\nAnd there is plenty of great music on here. We get plenty of Broadway tunes from I Could Have Danced All Night to Bring Him Home and Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again. Yes, she does the two biggest songs from Wicked, although she does Popular is several languages along the way. As the only person on the planet who doesnt have the song memorized, I was slightly annoyed the first time through. However, by the end, shed won me over, and it really is a lot of fun. Dont worry, she still does sing it plenty of times in English. She brings up someone from the audience for the duet that is For Good. Axyl sounds a bit nervous when she first starts to sing, but trust me, she more than holds her own when singing with Kristin. Anyway, she covers a couple country and Christian songs as well as some older works; all these songs are amazing and feel contemporary.\n\nWhat long time fans won't find are lots of songs theyve already heard her sing. Yes, we get the two songs from Wicked. By my count, there are three other tracks that have been on her other CDs. The rest are new, at least new with Kristin singing them. Thats a pretty good track record, and it makes the disc well worth buying for the die hard fans.\n\nThere are only a couple of songs where Kristin doesnt do something by way of introduction before she starts to sing. And in all of those cases, these bits are kept short and entertaining. The result will hold up to repeated listens unlike some live albums I have that feature sections that are fun live and listening to once but don't hold up well the more times you listen to them.\n\nKristin is backed up by a wonderful orchestra, and those musicians truly deliver. The arrangements are world class, showing off her wonderful voice. There are times I am listening to the disc and I get goose bumps. Yes, its that amazing.\nAnd that includes her old high school choir. She has the current students in the Broken Arrow High School choir join her on a couple of songs, and they are outstanding. In fact, they contribute the backing vocals to what is now my favorite version of Upon This Rock, and I have three, including Sandi Pattys original version and Kristins first cover. This is the best by far.\n\nAll this material will thrill Kristins long term fans and bring her a legion of new fans. Coming Home is an invitation to a great concert that everyone will enjoy.","Product: Track list:No Turning BackOnly Just Met YouWhen You Look At MeWhen I Was YoungOne Way To HeavenAll I NeedSing BraveEverything Must GoBehold Our GodGirl Of My Dreams\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Reflections Back While Looking Forward\n\nReview: 2015 marks a milestone for Brandon Heath. It was 20 years ago, in 1995, that Brandon Heath gave his life to Jesus while attending a summer camp. While No Turning Back is not all about that summer, it absolutely influences several of the songs on this disc. The result is a great CD that his longtime fans will love.\n\nThe disc starts off strongly with One Way to Heaven. Brandons folk/rock style is in fine form here as he sings:\nAint no doorway\nOr a stairway\nAint no your way\nAint no my way\nAint no shortcut\nOr a highway to Heaven.\n\nI also love the title track. Anyone who grew up in the church will absolutely recognize the theme of the lyrics to No Turning Back. Yes, it borrows heavily from the Sunday School song I Have Decided, but the additions to it are strong and fun. Its a great song of commitment. Hes joined by the group All Sons & Daughters, and the resulting song tips more toward his country side of things, but the beat is strong and its just plain fun.\n\nUnfortunately, a couple of the songs tilt toward the Jesus is my girlfriend style of song writing. You know the songs talking about love and really the chorus feels like it could be any love song. Only Just Met You is definitely one of them, but When You Look at Me suffers the same fate, especially since it comes after Girl of My Dreams. If you listen carefully to both songs, especially the verses, there really is some good meat to the songs, so don't write them off. But those choruses. And I do say unfortunately because I actually do like both of those songs.\n\nNot all the songs are about the summer Brandon gave his life to Jesus. A perfect example is the songs I just mentioned Girl of My Dreams. Its a love song about how he met and married his wife. Brandons guitar is strong on this one the entire way through, and some of those lines definitely make me smile. Its a great song.\n\nEverything Must Go is about simplifying life. It really does make you stop and think about all the things we collect. I also love the fact that the music on this one is extremely simple, mostly one guitar with eventually piano and drums when he hits the first chorus after the minute mark.\n\nThen theres When I Was Young, where Brandon sings about how fearless we are to do and try anything before we start worrying about how others view us. Even more, he brings it home to our grown up faith in God. It reminds me of Jesus talking about having the faith of a child. This song has a bit of an unusual melody to it, but that just makes you listen to it more. I love it.\n\nHonestly, Im hard pressed to find a song I don't like here. Yes, I really do like those two I mentioned earlier. Brandon continues to take some risks musically that really pay off. This disc is unlike anything you have in your collection, and thats a good thing. Its fun to listen to with great lyrics to think about.\n\nSo if you haven't discovered Brandons music yet, No Turning Back is a great place to start. And Brandons established fan base will love his strongest release yet.","Product: Josh Wilson, a 2012 ASCAP Singer/Songwriter of the Year and Dove award nominee, is set to release 'That Was Then, This Is Now' on July 31, featuring the single of the same name. It is a bold declaration to the transformation that takes place in the hearts of lives of people, the old has gone and the new has come. The album shows the complete breadth of Joshs songwriting all the way from the celebratory pop-driven tracks, to the intimate and reflective ballads.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Josh Wilsons Newest CD is a Must Buy\n\nReview: I was fortunate enough to find Josh Wilson when he was first starting out. I fell in love with that debut, and Im been anxiously awaiting each of his releases ever since. Naturally, that meant I was there on release day getting That was Then, This is Now. Ive enjoyed seeing his growth through those releases, and this is easily his best release to date.\n\nThe title single has been on Christian radio for a couple months now, and I was fortunate enough to get to hear it when I was in Atlanta on business about six weeks ago. (Dont get me started on how I cant find a Christian music station in my part of Southern California). I fell in love with it the first time I heard it. It opens the disc here, and it is just amazing. That was Then, This is Now is about the new life we have in Jesus the instant we repent of our sins. While there is some amazing theological truths in the entire thing, I love how he works I John 1:9 into the bridge.\nIf we turn and confess every unrighteousness\nHe is faithful and just to forgive.\n\nAnd this is the perfect song to start out the disc because it is an upbeat anthem. Seriously, I challenge you to sit and listen to it without moving. Its infectious and makes you just want to smile and sing along. And considering what we are singing about, thats a good thing.\n\nOnce youve stop repeating that first track 10 or 15 times (trust me on that), youll find the rest of the disc is just as good.\n\nThe theme of Gods amazing forgiveness is continued in No More. A mid-tempo track, it marvels at the fact that we are condemned no more. The imagery of a prison cell is great, and the soaring chorus lifts my heart in praise.\n\nAnother theme in the disc is our response to Gods mercy going out and living for Him. This is first brought up in This is the Day, an upbeat song that commits to living fully for God starting today. He goes back to the topic in Say Yes. This time around, its a commitment to trusting God one step at a time and saying yes to wherever He leads even if it isn't our plan.\n\nAlong the way, we also get Blown Away, which looks at the way we live life and instead asks God to blow us away with not only the beautiful world He created for us to enjoy, but also His grace. This is another fun, upbeat song and will have your toes tapping before you know it.\n\nHonestly, about the only song that doesnt quite work for me is The Songs I Need to Hear. To me, it feels like it is unfinished. I must say, it is growing on me. Its not a bad song, but it is the weakest on the disc.\n\nThere are two staples of Josh Wilson releases. Yes, we get another new instrumental version of a classic hymn. This time around, it is Ode to Joy, and, as always, the arrangement is amazing. Its electric guitar and keyboard and a bunch of other, most of which Josh played. Josh is amazingly talented. You might want to check the credits on this one to see a fun cameo.\n\n(The other staple of a Josh Wilson release? Be sure to read all of the Thank You section very carefully. Thats all Im saying.)\n\nThe disc closes out with four more amazing tracks. House Divided is a solid rocker that expresses the conflict between the old sinful man and the heart that Jesus has given us so perfectly. Think Paul in Romans 6. Youve got to pay attention to these lyrics because they really are amazing.\n\nThings really do slow down for the last three songs. Up first is Dont Let Go, a plea to God to hold on to us during the trials and times when we start questioning our faith. Josh has written some amazing songs of brokenness in the past, but this song is the most honest yet.\n\nWere back to the theme of grace for Coming Home. While this doesnt specifically reference The Prodigal Son, it is written from the point of view of someone who has repeatedly turned their back on God but is now returning to Him. I love songs with this theme, and this is another winner. Again, the lyrics are powerfully honest.\n\nWe close out the disc reflecting once again on Grace Upon Grace. He does speed things up for this final disc, but its still mid-tempo. This is a pure song of praise for the grace God continues to give us.\n\nThe lyrics in this disc really are amazing. Josh has always been gifted with crafting great lyrics, but he is in top form here. The imagery he manages to evoke make these familiar truths new again. The music is wonderful and compliments the lyrics perfectly.\n\nI pull out all of Joshs discs on a regular basis, but I don't see That was Then, This is Now leaving my CD player in the next few weeks. Every time I listen to it, I like it better. If you haven't bought this disc yet, drop everything and do so now. You will not be sorry.","Product: CD\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: A Real Let Down for This Fan\n\nReview: Like so many others, I discovered Casting Crowns with their debut CD. Their mix of worship, challenge, and encouragement have made all three of their previous releases some of my favorites in recent years.\n\nTheir latest disc focuses almost exclusively on worship music. Frankly, I've always felt that was their weakest element. This disc doesn't do much to change my mind.\n\nIt's not that the lyrics and the ideas are bad. They just aren't nearly as solid as they are when they are calling out the church or encouraging us. There is no \"What If His People Prayed\" or even \"East to West\" here.\n\nNot that the songs here are bad. \"Until the Whole World Hears\" is a call to keep preaching the gospel. \"To Know You\" reminds us of all we can have in Christ. \"Holy One\" is a fast praise song based partially around Psalm 63. And as a bonus 12th track, we get \"Shadow of Your Wings,\" which is an early incarnation of that song. Frankly, I like both versions. And they have a new arrangement of the classic \"Joyful, Joyful\" that I really enjoy.\n\nBut my favorite song on the disc is \"Jesus, Hold Me Now.\" What's interesting is the verses are from their song \"The Prodigal\" from their second disc. They've given it an all new chorus and melody. If you didn't know, you'd say they wrote this song from scratch.\n\nThe other problem this disc has is the music. Too many of the songs use the same tempo and instruments. It lets them blend together instead of standing out so I can really connect with them.\n\nAfter listening to it constantly for two days, I can say I like it. I just don't love it like I have their previous releases. Hopefully, this is an anomaly and not a sign of things to come from this great group.","Product: Talented worship leader, artist, speaker, songwriter and author Laura Story brings a beautiful record to celebrate the Christmas season. Her 4th album, "God With Us," features reverent takes on classics such as "O Come All Ye Faithful," "Silent Night" and "Angels We Have Heard On High" along with some original tracks that are sure to become instant favorites for the Holiday season. Laura is best known for her inspirational hit "Blessings" which won her awards several times over, including a 2012 Billboard Music Award, GRAMMY, four Dove Award wins and an RIAA Digital Gold Single Award.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Sadly, Not as Good as I Hoped It Would Be\n\nReview: I have so much Christmas music, that I don't need any more. Still, every year, I seem to add a few discs when artists I like release new music. Thats how I got God with Us, the first Christmas release from Laura Story. Sadly, its not as good as I hoped it would be.\n\nThere are two things I look for in a new Christmas disc. The first is impressive new songs. Unfortunately, this disc is a mixed bag in that department. The disc starts out with the upbeat Love Is Here, which celebrates Jesus coming to earth. Its a great way to kick off the disc because its fun. The other new song I like is Emmanuel. Theres nothing terribly new in the lyrics, but I love many songs that remind us of just what Christmas is all about as the title of the disc says, God with us.\n\nUnfortunately, the rest of the new tracks aren't that impressive. Just Another Christmas is a prayer that we won't get so caught up in the events and demands of the season that we won't focus on what it really means. Unfortunately, its a mid-tempo song that doesnt really catch me melodically or lyrically. Behold the Lamb of God is too repetitive for my tastes, and I find myself zoning out. While I love Psalm 121, I Lift My Eyes is way too slow. Plus, it feels like it should have been on a regular disc, not a Christmas disc.\n\nSo that leaves us with the five traditional carols. Come Thou Long Expected Jesus is great to have since its not a commonly recorded song. Plus Laura has added a new chorus to it that is wonderful. Many of the arrangements of the classics are simple, but it really works for them. Angels We Have Heard on High is a perfect example. The heavy piano and slower than normal pace allow the lyrics to really capture us. O Come All Ye Faithful is heavy on guitar with a more upbeat pace that makes this version fun. And the disc closes with Silent Night, which is beautiful as always.\n\nThat just leaves us with O Come, O Come Emmanuel. The version Laura offers here is absolutely stunning. The track is completely a cappella, and Laura is joined by a choir. It is haunting and will give you goosebumps as you listen to it.\n\nIts not that God with Us is bad, but its also not outstanding. Ill mix these tracks in with the rest of my Christmas music digitally, but it won't be one I pull out and listen to often on its own.","Product: MercyMe is a band synonymous with Christmas. Their last Christmas album, The Christmas Sessions, has been heralded as an instant classic and spawned innumerable hits including \"Joseph's Lullaby\" and \"O Holy Night.\" This year MercyMe returns to pick up where The Christmas Sessions left off. MercyMe, It's Christmas! reinterprets classic Holiday songs mixed with originals that are worthy to become classics themselves. Soaring emotive ballads, fun up-tempo music and original compositions make this album a must for listening while decorating the tree or reflecting on the importance of the season.Track List:The Newborn Has ComeChristmastime AgainSleigh RideI'll Be Home For ChristmasHold On ChristmasA Holly Jolly ChristmasGo Tell It On The MountainDo You Hear What I HearOur LullabyJoy\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Once Again, a Christmas Disc that Grows on You\n\nReview: While MercyMes first Christmas CD is not one I pull out as soon as Christmas hits each year, I do find myself enjoying it when I pull it out. Thats why, when I saw they were releasing MercyMe, Its Christmas this year, I knew I had to buy it. Once again, it took a little time to grow on me, but Im definitely enjoying it.\n\nUnlike their first release, MercyMe has included several new tracks mixed in with the old standards. In fact, the disc opens with two of those new tracks. Up first is Newborn, this midtempo song mixes a few new lines together with Away in the Manger and Hark! The Hearld Angels Sing Unfortunately, I don't quite find it that fresh. I think I would have preferred them to do the songs individually.\n\nI do enjoy the next track, Christmastime Again, which revels in the joys of the season even if December seems to come faster and faster each year. This is a fun upbeat track that will definitely get you into the mood. Linked in my mind is another new track Hold On, Christmas, a song about wanting to get home for the holiday.\n\nRounding out the new tracks is Our Lullaby. For a lullaby, its surprisingly upbeat, but it is fun and it touches on who Jesus is and what he came to do. Its actually my favorite of the original songs on this disc.\n\nWhich leaves us with the traditional songs. Now, you may know the words, and you may think you know the melody, but trust me, theyve all gotten a MercyMe makeover.\n\nTake, for example, Sleigh Ride. This song is arranged just differently enough to make it feel fresh, yet youll definitely recognize it. Its got MercyMes soft rock stamped all over it, and the result is fantastic. Its just so much fun. Ill be Home for Christmas is slightly faster than normal, but it works. Holly Jolly Christmas is a soft rock song, not the folk track that Burl Ives made famous, but it is probably the closest to a version you would recognize. And, since they have to go slightly country at some point, theres Go Tell It on the Mountain.\n\nAbout the only traditional song that doesnt work is Joy, their take on Joy to the World. Its just too slow for my taste. This is a song thats supposed to be joyful, right?\nLeading the pack for most unusual is O Come, O Come. Theyve given this song a complete makeover, including a major key and an arrangement that sounds more like a traditional hymn. This one takes a listen or two to appreciate, but I do like it for something different.\n\nAnd, honestly, thats what works well for the many traditional songs on here. They don't sound like every other version of the song you have, which is great come December 15th.\n\nWhile these traditional songs are fun, I do with the originals were better. Overall, I know I will enjoy MercyMe, Its Christmas this December and many more to come, and I think you will as well.","Product: Jason Gray s new album, Where the Light Gets In, is a stirring weave of sorrow, light, hope, and even of celebration. The sonic cohesiveness of the thirteen-song project is nonetheless remarkable, considering the tracks were built simultaneously by nine different producers (Jason Ingram, Ben Glover, & others) with one or two songs apiece. Jason s new radio single, Sparrows , went for early adds on K-Love, Sirius XM, among others with an official add date of 4/1 and is climbing the NCA charts.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Let the Light of Hope In with Jason Grays New Release\n\nReview: Its been a decade since I discovered Jason Grays music, and I have become addicted to it. His discs are always infused with such hope and encouragement wrapped in catchy pop music. Where the Light Gets In is his newest release and its another wonderful addition to my music collection.\n\nThe disc starts right off with the toe tapping Learning. The song is built around the idea that what others might consider failure isn't failure if we actually learn from it. Its a reason to shake off fear and follow Gods love anywhere, learning for anything that happens along the way. And if the words of encouragement don't make you smile, the fun up-tempo beat will definitely put a smile on your face.\n\nThe idea behind Sparrows is nothing new. It centers around Jesuss comments from the Sermon on the Mount about why we shouldnt worry. Yet Jason proves that even the familiar can have new life breathed into it with this song about how we have no need to worry because If He can hold the world He can hold this moment. But its the music that really makes this one. Again, its got a catchy upbeat melody that makes it a blast to sing along. And if we are reminded of a timeless truth, so much the better, right?\n\nStarting over in the face of disappointment or sin is a huge theme of the disc. Theres the determined I Will Rise Again that is an anthem of determination in the face of the dark places of life. Then theres Resurrection which talks about the second chances we get because of Gods grace and forgiveness in the face of our sin. This song is another toe tapping upbeat song that is just a blast to listen to. This is a theme that is driven home even more in Where We Go From Here, which marvels at how God continues to use broken things to make broken things beautiful things.\n\nMuch of this disc is filled with upbeat songs that really boost the themes of hope and redemption that Jason is singing about. Yet they are all different enough that they don't blend together.\n\nThe slowest track on the disc is, appropriately, Death Without a Funeral. This is a song of mourning for what might have been in a failed relationship. Violin comes in and provides a nice counterbalance to Jasons vocals and guitar. And the lyrics are haunting as they deal with the struggle of a death that isn't physical.\n\nThe lyrics to More Yours struck me because of their honesty. Heres how it starts:\nHow many times have I said you can have my life?\nHow many times have I said you have it all?\nJust to take it back another time?\nYeah, thats me. So as the song builds to the driving chorus, I have to pray along with Jason:\nIm gonna give you my life, my life\nAs many times as it takes, it takes\n\nThe title of the disc comes from The Wound is Where the Light Gets in, which talks about how God uses the hard times in life to remind us of His love and make us more like us. Its on the slower side with a beautiful melody and some lyrics that really make you stop and think.\n\nThere are a total of 13 tracks on this disc, and every one of them is a winner. Jasons lyrics are sharp as always, yet filled with hope and encouragement, reminding us of Gods grace and mercy plus His strength to get us through life. His guitar driven pop is just as fun to listen to as ever.\n\nSo if you need a balm for your sole, pick up Where the Light Gets In. It fill you with reminders that God is right there with you in songs that are fun to hear.","Product: Ill Lead You Home\nMichael W. Smith\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Michael W. Smith Came Home with I'll Lead You Home\n\nReview: The early 90s were an interesting time in the career of Michael W. Smith. After the success of his single Place in This World on the pop charts, he tried to go rockier and less overtly Christian with his next release. But he returned to the Christian music fold with 1995s I'll Lead You Home. (And from there, hed wind up with some highly successful worship oriented discs. Talk about a pendulum swing.)\n\nThis disc finds Michael doing what he does best, mid-tempo pop with thoughtful lyrics. The first track was also the first radio hit at the time, Cry for Love. Its got a catchy rhythm and melody but the lyrics are on the serious side. While on the surface, it sounds like someone looking for love, when you really listen to it, youll see that its the call of someone repenting and turning to God. The bridge really drives that home with Father hear my call/I hope you catch me when I fall.\n\nThen theres Breakdown. It contrasts the legacy of our founding with where we were then as a country. I would say the contrast is even starker almost 20 years later. The song itself is the only rock track on the disc, and it incorporates bits of Martin Luther Kings famous I Have a Dream Speech. Its a very effective song, and fun to listen to as well. The theme is revisited again in Someday, a duet with Susan Aston that contrasts the problems in our modern world (again of 1995 but still applicable) to the kingdom of God that will come someday.\n\nNot surprisingly, As it is in Heaven is a new take on The Lords Prayer. It starts slow and quiet and builds as it goes along. Its just over 5 minutes long, which surprises me. I never would have guessed it was that long.\n\nA couple of the songs focus directly on friendship. Straight to the Heart is a slower track that speaks to the power of friendship in our times of need. Ill be Around is the flip side, the stronger friend who is going to be there no matter what you are facing or what you have done. This second one especially sounds very much like God talking, but it would apply equally to His unconditional love for those who repent and our efforts to help those around us in need.\n\nFinally, we get to the title track. Ill Lead You Home is an anthem written from Gods point of view and is a promise to come and find those who have wandered away from Him and want to come back. Its such a comfort to be reminded that we can never truly run from God. This was another huge hit on radio, and its obvious why all these years later. The message is still that good.\n\nThen we come to the trilogy three songs with heavy orchestration and slow tempos that blend into each other. The Other Side of Me could be a generic love song, but Breathe in Me is definitely a cry to God for a renewal of love for Him and renewal. Then theres Angels Unaware. Im still not quite sure about the song, but the lyrics are filled with some interesting poetic images. To be honestly, Im ambivalent about these tracks. They are pretty. They have some of the most poetic lyrics I think hes ever done. But I could easily skip them. Other people think they are the best songs on the disc, so opinions obvious vary.\n\nWe come out of those songs and this the home stretch. Were back to upbeat pop with Calling Heaven, heavy on drum machine and keyboard. The upbeat nature belies the more serious side of the lyrics that look at the abused in our society and asks Heaven to help them.\n\nYou cant help but smile at A Little Stronger Everyday. Its got a fun beat and some entertaining lyrics as Michael sings about his the daily battle to be more like Christ.\n\nAnd for something completely different, theres Crown Him with Many Crowns. Anointed, at the time, a quartet, joins him for this Southern Gospel version of the classic hymn. Its so incredibly fun you will be tapping your toes before you know it.\n\nThe disc ends with the unassuming Im Waiting for You. Its a quiet song with almost no music behind his voice. Its mainly keyboard, in fact. Written from Jesus point of view, its a call to repent and turn to Him. Something about it grabbed me from the first listen and hasn't let go yet. As much as I love some of the earlier songs (and I really do), this is my favorite song on the disc by far.\n\nSome will probably point to the dated production on here. It was released in 1995, after all. Ive got to admit, I have a hard time hearing much that dates it outside some songs like Breakdown where he tries to get . Its certainly not as dated as some of his 80s releases, thats for sure. With the focus on his keyboard playing backed by some drum, guitar, and bass, its not so bad you wouldnt be able to enjoy it.\n\nAnd enjoy it I still do. I'll Lead You Home was a very solid release from Michael W. Smith that I continue to enjoy today.","Product: Audio CD\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: A Merry Christmas Indeed\n\nReview: I didn't realize just how much this CD meant Christmas to me until I got it last year. My parents had the record (you know, the round things that had music on them before the days of the CD), and I listened to it every year growing up. I stumbled across it and decided to buy it. From the opening note I was transported to Christmases past as a kid waiting for Santa to come.\nThe CD opens with a version of \"Jingle Bells\" that lives up to its name - it truly is nutty. But I love it. The rest of the CD is more traditional arrangements of Christmas classics in a Dixieland style. Mr. Hirt is backed up by an orchestra and occasionally helped by a small choir. While the first six songs are upbeat toe tappers, the last three slow it down. Still, the trumpet playing shines through loud and clear. I don't normally listen to instrumental music of any kind, but I just didn't know you could do some of that stuff with a trumpet.\nWith only 9 tracks, it's a bit short, especially by today's standards. Still, I'm glad I reconnected with this classic from my childhood. If you enjoy jazz, this CD will thrill you.","Product: The soundtrack includes all the songs from the mov ie performed by the hugely popular Veggie characte rs, along with songs featuring Newsboys, Anointed, Chris Rice and Relient K. Producers include Steve Taylor, David Mullen and Monroe Jones.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Fun, But Not Completely Singable\n\nReview: Big Idea's first full length movie gets a complete CD all to itself. 7 of the tracks are instrumentals from the movie's score, but the other 12 are songs from the movie.\nMy biggest complaint is that we get a few half songs. \"Bald Bunny\" and \"Steak and Shrimp\" are really more pointless then normal, even for Big Ideas. However, these are off-set by the songs recorded by regular Christian artists.\n\"Second Chances,\" straight from the movie and sung by Anointed, is a fun toe taping song. Chris Rice provides all 12 verses for \"Billy Joe McGuffrey.\" Relient K does a wonderful cover of \"The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything.\" I'll admit, it too me a couple listens to fully appreciate it, but I love it. Probably my favorite is \"In the Belly of the Whale\" by Newsboys. It makes me laugh so much.\nOf course, there are songs recorded by the \"veggies\" on here as well. The best song related to the movie is \"Jonah was a Prophet.\" And if you're looking for this movie's version of a silly song, skip to \"Credits Song.\" I was laughing so hard when I first heard it, I had to pull my car to the side of the road.\nI'm not usually a fan of soundtrack albums, but I'm certainly glad I bought this one. The songs I've highlighted make it more then worth while.","Product: 2003 issue/includes lyrics\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Happily, This was the Start of Matthew West's Career\n\nReview: Considering how many pop/rock singer/songwriters I listen to, I'm surprised it took me so long to get into Matthew West. But after enjoying his last couple of discs, I'm going back and fixing this oversight. Happy is his debut, and it shows the promise of things to come.\n\nThe song starts off with the lead single, \"More.\" Don't let that first little bit of strings and quiet piano fool you. When he hits the chorus he really starts rocking out. While the lyrics are fairly generic, the imagery from the Bible makes it obvious he is singing from God's point of view about His endless love for us. That love is something to celebrate, and it's easy to do that since the melody is enough to make you smile.\n\nSpeaking of smiling, next up is the title track. \"Happy\" finds Matthew chanting the verses. It's not rap, but he's definitely not singing. But he breaks into a soaring melody on the chorus as he sings about our reaction to God's love. The verses are honest about the things that rob of us our joy like circumstances and fear and sin. While the style wouldn't normally be my first choice, it actually does work for this upbeat song.\n\nMatthew slows things down to mid-tempo and switches to a minor key for \"The Turnaround,\" although it is still heavy on the drums. It's actually the first in a series of songs that begin to explore more serious themes. \"The Turnaround\" is talking about how much we need God to save us from sin and pain. It's very poetic with images of drowning in rivers. Trust me, it's great. Likewise, \"I Can't Hear You\" is about the times we can't seem to find God no matter how much we try. \"You Know Where to Find Me\" is one friend offering help to another going through a major trial in life. It's a ballad, but even at that, it's mid-tempo.\n\nThings get fun again with \"The End.\" Don't worry, this isn't the end of the CD. The song is simple reminder that the bad days we have are \"not the end/The end of the world/It's just about day, don't sleep it all away.\" What makes this fun is that, at the end, he starts playing around with the end of the song, singing things like \"I bet you wonder when this song is gonna end/But it's not the end.\" It can get a little tiring if you listen to the song too many times in a row, but it usually makes me smile.\n\nThe second half of the disc talk about such things as trusting God when life doesn't go as we plan, resisting temptation, and the hope and promise of Heaven. He even has a love song in \"Every Second.\"\n\nWhat's interesting to note is that the lyrics in this disc aren't overtly Christian. I can't find one reference to God or Jesus. There are lots of references to You and He, however. That's probably at least partially because Matthew is signed to Universal South, which isn't a Christian label. That doesn't seem to have hurt his popularity in Christian circles, however. I can remember a time when this would have been a huge scandal. I certainly don't mind the lack of blatant Christian language when the meaning behind the lyrics is still so strong.\n\nMy only real complaint with this disc is the music. It's heavy on the rock side of the pop/rock spectrum. However, Matthew doesn't feel the need to fix things up much. Almost all the songs are strong on the guitar and in the mid-tempo to heavy rock range. The one exception to that is the beautiful ballad \"My Finest Hour.\" These songs alone are quite fun, but they do have a tendency to run together. Yes, even rock discs need some variety in tempo and style. Fortunately, that's something he's incorporated into later discs.\n\nListening to Happy, it's easy to see why Matthew West's career has taken off. It's music that is fun to listen to while still incorporating some great messages. If you've missed out on it, get it today.","Product: Near Mint Christian CD and Inserts\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Wonderful First Best of Collection\n\nReview: Originally released in 1986, this disc compiles the early hits of an outstanding Christian artist. Logging in at only 10 tracks, it doesn't have everything, but it's a good introduction to David Meece's early work.\nIn a rare move for a best of this small, it includes two new songs. \"Seventy Times Seven\" is a powerful song of a sinner asking God for forgiveness. \"Come That Day\" focuses on the events of the Day of the Lord. Stylistically, they are closest to \"Candle in the Rain,\" the release that followed this one, then anything else he's done.\nThe rest of the songs cover David's career in reverse order. \"The Unknown Soldier\" represents \"7.\" I was expecting a sad song, but was blown away by this song about the power of prayer. I immediately fell in love with it.\n\"Count the Cost\" gets two songs. The first is \"Falling Down,\" another song about the many chances God gives us in our struggles with sin. The second is the praise song \"Gloria.\"\n\"Are You Ready?\" has the most songs with the title track and two more. \"Follow You\" is a nice upbeat song that is easy to sing along to. And no collection of David Meece's best would be complete without \"We Are the Reason.\" Even with all the times it's been recorded, this song that bridges the gap between Christmas and Easter is still outstanding.\nNext up is the title track from his third album, \"Everybody Needs a Little Help.\" This song of friendship in the midst of trial has gotten forgotten in the years since its release, but it was a major hit in its day.\nFinally, \"Jesus\" gets to do double duty. This song of commitment to our Savior originally appeared on the record \"David,\" but this recording is the live version from \"Front Row.\"\nThe linear notes are very interesting. They recount milestones in his career. I found them interested reading.\nWith only 10 tracks, there are obviously many great songs that got left out. In fact, nothing appears from his great second album, \"I Just Call on You.\" But this is still a great way to get many of David's early hits.","Product: Brand New\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Most of These Songs Don't Work Outside the DVD\n\nReview: It used to be that after every few DVD's, VeggieTales would release a CD with songs from those episodes. They stopped not too long after VeggieTunes 4 came out. And it might give us an idea why.\n\nThis CD contains songs from The Ballad of Little Joe, A Snoodle's Tale, and An Easter Carol. I got it for one particular song, and I'm glad I have it. But it's not something I would sit down and listen to all the way through.\n\nThe Ballad of Little Joe recasts the story of Joseph from the Bible in an old Western setting. As you can imagine, the songs from that story are very country. You've got the French Peas singing \"Happy Ki-Yi Birthday,\" or the ballads as Joe shares his \"Dream of a Dozen Cactus.\" I really like the feel of the \"Oh Little Joe\" songs (they've got three reprises). They use an old timey piano sound that makes it feel like the soundtrack to a silent movie. Surprisingly, they don't include the silly song from this DVD (\"Belly Button\" in case you are keeping track). None of these songs are over 1:10. And while there is a bit of humor to them, they just aren't as fun outside of the context of the story.\n\nA Snoodle's Tale didn't have too many songs, so it doesn't take up too much time on the disc. The only Silly Song is from this episode. \"Sports Utility Vehicle\" mocks all of us who drive SUV's around town. Yes, there are some pretty funny jabs, but I doubt that pre-school kids, the intended audience, will get them. The other two songs are \"I Want to Dance\" and the reprise. And frankly, again, the songs don't work that well outside the story. Although the soaring melody of the first one and the disco reprise make them a little more fun.\n\nThe songs that actually do work are the ones from An Easter Carol. \"Another Easter Day\" starts with some beautiful instrumentals before the singing vegetables come in and introduce the setting. It feels like the opening number of a musical. \"113 Years Ago\" is filled with lots of story points. It starts out rather simple with piano at the forefront, but the orchestra takes over as the drama amps up near the end. For pure fun, \"You Didn't Listen Ebenezer,\" the vision Nezzer has about the upcoming visit to set him straight, is filled with lines that make me laugh. \"Boids\" is mostly talking with percussion behind the characters. It reminds me of the opening song from The Music Man.\n\nBut the song I bought the disc for is \"Hope's Song.\" As far as I know, this is the only place to get the original recording as sung by Rebecca St. James, who voiced the character who sang the song in that video. There's no talking, just Rebecca's great vocals backed by a beautiful orchestra. It's a powerful song with a simple Gospel message in it. And it was worth getting the disc so I could have the song.\n\nOf course, the disc starts with the VeggieTales theme song, which I had elsewhere. It does end with a slightly different version of the \"What We Have Learned\" song. This time, it's the Western version from the end of the Little Joe episode.\n\nEven though there are 19 tracks, it's less than 32 minutes long. That's because so many of the tracks are really brief.\n\nAnd I guess it's those short tracks that irritate me so much here. I'm just beginning to get into the song, and then it's over. Of course, I'm not the target audience, and kids might enjoy it more than I do.\n\nSo maybe it was a good thing that they stopped the VeggieTunes series after volume 4 came out. Outside of \"Hope's Song,\" I know it won't get much play in my CD players.","Product: 01. Hosanna Loud Hosanna 02. All Around The World 03. Christ The Lord Is Risen Today 04. Easter Bunny Hop 05. The Easter Song (featuring Matthew Ward) 06. How Now Easter Cow 07. Count Your Eggs 08. An Empty Egg 09. Hope's Song 10. First Things First 11. Christ The Lord (reprise) 12. I Know That My Redeemer Liveth\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Join Bob and Larry for Easter Sunday School\n\nReview: I have often bemoaned the lack of Easter albums. It seems to me that Christians especially should truly celebrate this holiday because it means so much to us. Obviously, the guys at Big Idea agreed with me because they gave us this entry in the VeggieTales CD library.\n\nSince this release is aimed at kids, there is a story to go along with the songs. Bob the Tomato and Larry the Cucumber are all set to teach Easter Sunday Sunday School, but Bob is overwhelmed by the number of new kids they have. In fact, they haven't had this many kids since Christmas Eve. How can he teach the Easter story to so many kids?\n\nFortunately, there are lots of friends around to help. Archibald Asparagus has prepared a song or five about Easter traditions all around the world. Madame Blueberry leads the kids in an upbeat version of the classic hymn \"Christ the Lord is Risen Today.\" The Boyz in the Sink premier this new song \"Easter Bunny Hop.\" And Larry finally gets to tell the kids the sad story of the Easter Cow.\n\nWhen Bob finally does come up with an idea, it's an Easter egg hunt. But how can that teach the kids about the first Easter?\n\nAs always, the Veggies have produced a fun CD. While the lead vocals are the cartoon voices from the videos, a kid's choir backs them on this CD. The song styles range from boy band on \"Easter Bunny Hop\" to a western feel for the silly \"How Now Eater Cow,\" but most stick with a contemporary sound.\n\nOf special note, Second Chapter of Acts member Matthew Ward makes an appearance to teach the kids \"The Easter Song,\" a song that was a huge hit for his group over 30 years ago.\n\nMaybe I was expecting too much from the CD, but I felt it dropped the ball when it came to explaining the Easter story. I'm sure part of it is because EASTER CAROL did such a great job of it and I thought they'd do it again. \"An Empty Egg\" and a new recording of \"Hope's Song\" from that video do discuss the empty tomb, but I expected more from the dialog. And Junior Asparagus' sub-plot of missing his dad didn't work to highlight the story for me either.\n\nOn the other hand, the first half of the CD is fun. The songs are upbeat, and the dialog appropriately silly. The serious Easter songs are treated as such, but they really let loose and have fun with the fun songs.\n\nThis won't join the list of top VeggieTales projects, but it is still a release kids will love and their parents enjoy. I fully intend to pull it out every Easter as part of my celebration of the holiday.","Product: Time Again...Amy Grant Live was captured during two sold out performances April 11th and 12th, 2006 at the exquisite Bass Hall in Fort Worth, TX. Weaving a retrospective journey through a lifetime's worth of her most treasured songs, Amy invited audiences into her \"living room\" for a live concert experience unlike any other.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Collection of Musical Memories\n\nReview: Amy Grant has enjoyed a 28 year career and was among the first artists to cross over from Christian music to enjoy some pop success. In all that time, her only live recordings were from earlier in the career. So, to correct that, she released this CD.\n\nWhile she does some of her earlier hits, the focus is on the second half of her catalog. Frankly, this makes sense since this is most likely what she does in concert these days. Still, I was disappointed not to see such classics as \"El Shaddai\" and \"My Father's Eyes\" not make the CD, although I do understand they are on the DVD.\n\nWhat is here is great. The songs mostly sound like they did when first recorded. And most of them stand up well all these years later. The biggest change is to \"In a Little While,\" which she gives a modern pop sound. I like the new version just as much as the 24 year old classic version. But I don't think we needed to have the live version and a studio version on the disc. Another highlight is \"Believe,\" the theme from her short lived TV show \"Three Wishes,\" which hasn't been released anywhere else to my knowledge.\n\nLong talking breaks can make or break a concert CD. While Amy talks occasionally, it's only for a few seconds at a time. There are no long stories that give additional insight into these songs. At the same time, there are no jokes that were funny the first few times but fall flat on repeated listens.\n\nThe CD comes with a bonus DVD that includes five songs from the DVD release of this concert.\n\nThis is a great collection of songs from a long pop career. I was reminded just how much I love some of these songs. By no means perfect, it will certainly please her many fans.","Product: Join Bob, Larry and friends as they sing some of todays top Christian hits! This new release will include favorite CCM artists and the entire VeggieTales crew singing duets of everyones favorite Christian songs. Just as fans loved Veggie Rocks, expect VeggieTales Christian Hit Music to be a top seller in stores!\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: The Core Audience Might Like It\n\nReview: VeggieTales has always been known for their music. For this release, they decide to cover classics from adult Christian music. They cover a range of styles from the rock of \"Big House\" and \"Meant to Live\" to the pop of \"Baby, Baby\" and the R&B of \"I'll Take You There.\"\n\nThe one interesting thing is there is no story linking the songs together. Each song stands on its own, with the occasional dialog during the song. Some of it works, like Pa Grape playing his accordion during Mr. Lunt's moody song \"Flood.\" At times it doesn't work, like Bob telling Larry and Peter Furler they are doing a good job during \"Shine,\" Archibald's talking during \"Dive,\" and the French Peas complaining about how loud their song, \"Meant to Live\" is.\n\nWhat is amazing is that most of these songs sound exactly like their original versions. If I didn't know better, I'd say they used the original tracks. The only exception is \"Smellin' Coffee.\" For some reason, they tried to make it rockier then the folk original. Trust me, it doesn't work.\n\nAdding to the fun (and there is plenty of fun here), four of the artists covered show up to help out. Audio Adrenaline, newsboys, Steven Curtis Chapman, and Amy Grant all sing on their songs, and Steven and Amy interact a little with the veggies, and those moments are fun.\n\nMany of these songs do work. Of course, I like the originals. And I guess that's my main reason for not liking this disc. While listening to Larry and company singing these songs is fun once or twice, if I want to listen to them, I'd rather listen to the original versions. I can see kids enjoying having \"their\" versions of some of their parent's songs. And parents will enjoy having some adult music their kids will enjoy listening to. But for those without kids, there is really little need to pick up this disc.","Product: CD Vota\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Turning My World into a Rock World? Probably Not, But This Disc is Fun\n\nReview: Okay, let's be clear right up front. This pop/rock guy is giving an alternative rock CD high marks. Trust me, no one is more surprised than I am. But I just can't deny the fun energy of this debut.\n\nDebut is a bit misleading. VOTA starts life as Casting Pearls. They've changed record labels and added a keyboardist since then, so they decided to change names. Whatever that makes this disc, it's good.\n\nVOTA has infused their rock sound with dance elements. In fact, I dare you to listen to disc opener \"Hard to Believe\" without moving. At a bare minimum, you will be tapping your toes before the first verse. That same energy infects \"Not Finished\" \"I'll Go,\" and \"Save Ourselves.\" And yes, they do have slower moments like \"In My Heart\" and most noticeably \"Honestly.\"\n\nThe most important thing to me on a CD is the lyrics. And this is the only strike against the band. The music is so fun I have a hard time connecting with the lyrics. But I am being picky, and I know it. We get reminders that God is at work in our lives during trials, how much he loves us even when we fail, wonder that God loves us, and songs of commitment to God.\n\nAnd then there's \"Honestly.\" This song blows every other one on the disc out of the water. By far the slowest song on the disc (maybe I haven't changed my ways as much as it looks like), it is a firm reminder that we need to be honest with each other to truly see what God is doing in our lives. It's a powerfully sung ballad that caught my ear on the first listen and hasn't let go yet.\n\nI bought this CD on a whim, and am I ever glad I did. It is so much fun. It is going to get regular spins for quite some time to come.","Product: One of the most familiar voices in Christian music, lauded hit-maker of 22 number one songs, an eight-time DOVE winner and a singer/songwriter with the legendary 4HIM, MARK HARRIS continues to warm hearts just in time for Christmas. Featuring annual favorites like \"Silent Night, Holy Night\" and \"Little Drummer Boy\" in addition to the original 4Him classic \"Strange Way to Save the World,\" Christmas Is finds Harris' textured vocal against an acoustic backdrop that will take listeners from seasonal worship to fireside celebration.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Christmas Is Non-Traditional with Mark Harris\n\nReview: I was a long time fan of the Christian music group 4Him, so when the members started releasing solo projects, I bought them as well. I don't tend to pull them out often, but when I do, I wind up enjoying them. As a result, I waited until after Christmas last year to get his solo Christmas release Christmas Is. When I stuck it in out of curiosity this year, I was pleasantly surprised.\n\nThe thing with this disc is that few of the arrangements are remotely traditional, yet it still feels familiar. Take the first track, for example. \"Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas\" is a favorite of mine. But there's none of that slow, almost melancholy sound to it here. It's mid tempo with upbeat guitars and drums and lots of \"Dah dee dums\" serving as a chorus of sorts. It works, although it took me a listen to fully get it.\n\nSimilarly upbeat is \"Silent Night.\" It's still a slow song, but it's definitely faster than normal. The guitar and piano make a great background to this one, and Mark changes the melody a bit as well. It's actually a fun version and a refreshing take on this classic. Meanwhile, he actually tones down \"Little Drummer Boy.\" It doesn't have quite the percussive punch most versions of the song have, but the drums are still very much there. I really like it.\n\nSince I have so many Christmas discs already, one key for me is what new songs are offered. By my count, four of the songs are completely new and one is little recorded. I'm not that big a fan of the title track. \"Christmas Is\" tries to capture the magic of the season, but it leaves me a bit empty, probably because it plays with being a Christian song by mentioning \"A sacred birth\" in the chorus but just doesn't really deliver. It's pretty to listen to. Jim Brickman co-wrote it, so it doesn't surprise me that it features some very pretty piano. While Mark does sing here, he is mostly singing backup to some unnamed young female. I'm guessing it's his daughter but don't know for sure.\n\nAlso disappointing is \"Emmanuel\" because it is over repetitive. The verses are different names for God, but the chorus just repeats \"Emmanuel\" a few times then concludes with \"God is with us.\" It's a pure pop song that could have been fun, too.\n\nThe other two originals are better. \"All is Well at Christmas\" is mid tempo and reminds us of the hope that Jesus coming to save us from our sins gives us.\n\nBut my favorite song is \"Caroler's Song/Angels We Have Heard on High.\" Another piano based song, the verses talk about Jesus' birth or our modern celebration before launching into a chorus that incorporates lines from three familiar carols. It's lots of fun. My only question is the title. No where is \"Angels We Have Heard on High\" referenced. Instead, \"Hark! The Heard Angels Sing\" is referenced in the chorus and again as a bridge after the second chorus.\n\nI'm not surprised to see that Mark closed the disc with \"A Strange Way to Save the World.\" Originally recorded on 4Him's Christmas CD, this song is a classic. Written from Joseph's point of view, this ballad explores the mysteries of the Christmas story, like why Jesus was born in a manager to a poor girl. No, it doesn't offer any answers. The piano is supplemented by beautiful strings. Yes, I do miss the harmonies of the original, but this one is still pretty good.\n\nChristmas Is won't be one of the discs I pull out the day after Thanksgiving, but its fun take on traditional Christmas songs and two great new offerings definite merit a place in the rotation of anyone who loves Christmas music.","Product: 2010 release from the contemporary Christian singer/songwriter. Twelve new songs pack this new MWS project with subject matter that is sure to pierce your heart, backed by a relevant music journey. Smitty says, ''These songs on this project are hopeful, anthemic and healing, musically and lyrically. I had a lot I wanted to say and the songs on this album allowed me to open up and do just that.''\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Makes Me Wonder Why I Continue to Buy Michael W. Smith's Releases\n\nReview: I started listening to Christian music in the early 90's, and back then if you wanted to call yourself a Christian music fan, you needed to be a fan of Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith. Whether or not it was peer pressure, I started to really enjoy their music. I've kept up with both artists over the years, automatically buying their new releases.\n\nI've almost stopped buying Michael W. Smith's new releases, however. Over the last few years, the only ones I've truly enjoyed have been his worship discs (and I'm not normally a fan of worship releases). But I started hearing that Wonder, his 22nd release, was going back to his earlier work and would be the best thing he'd done in years. Excited by the hype, I went and bought it. I wish it had lived up to the hype.\n\nNow don't get me wrong, there are some good tracks here. For example, it starts off well with the upbeat \"Save Me From Myself.\" The lyrics are a bit simple as he sings about how God saves us from our sinful nature. However, it's a fun melody that makes me want to sing along.\n\nI also really like \"Wonder (Not Far Away).\" Again, it's upbeat with some synthesizer and guitar as the song reminds us that God is not that far away from us when we're in pain. The chorus turns the song into an anthem that celebrates the mysteries of the God who is always there for us. The verses are a bit weird as Michael seems to be talking more than he is singing. I'm not quite sure the lyrics fit the melody there, but on the chorus it works.\n\nHowever, those are the best tracks. Many of the rest are just mediocre. \"Take My Breath Away\" is an attempt as a new worship song, and if the chorus were the pattern for the song, it would be great. However, the verses don't work with the melody. He often has to break the lines into two or three parts, but none of the breaks are in logical spots. Instead, it leaves me struggling to follow his thoughts.\n\n\"Run to You\" runs into one of my biggest complaints with lyrics, repetition. Not only is the chorus very repetitive, but the lyrics repeat words two or three times in a row. It's just not that great a song.\n\nThen there are the two love songs on the disc. \"Forever Yours\" and \"You Belong to Me\" are attempts on romantic songs. The first one is a very slow piano song, but the melody doesn't seem at all connected to the piano behind it. You belong to me incorporates strings into the piano, and the melody is much prettier here. I could actually picture this one becoming a wedding staple in years to come. But \"Forever Yours?\" Instantly forgettable.\n\nFinally, there's the duo of \"Leave\" and \"One More Time.\" These songs are on the disc back to back and are obviously intended to be combined. \"Leave\" is written from the point of view of a teenage girl going through a lot between physical abuse at home and being picked on at school. There is even talk of suicide in the second verse, but it ends with the speaker crying out to God for just a shred of hope. The music consists mainly of guitar with piano behind it, and it's a very haunting song even if the melody isn't very singable. My main problem with the song is, by itself, it doesn't offer any hope. I can the point of the song and why it would speak to people, but something about how hopeless it feels really bothers me.\n\nAs I said, the song is immediately followed by the piano based \"One More Time.\" It's mid tempo but much happier in tone. It's a call to never give up despite the trials we face in life. I'll admit I kind of like this one, although if it supposed to truly be a bit of encouragement to the speaker in the last song, I don't think it will work. It's on the shallow and cliched side if I am going to be honest.\n\nMichael W. Smith has fallen pretty far from his best releases during the 80's and early 90's. Wonder is not a return to form. I hate to give up on him, but I'm going to have to think long and hard before I buy his next release.","Product: As a founding member of the legendary ensemble Point of Grace, Heather Payne's voice has become synonymous with gospel music. 'Sweet Exchange' features Heather's signature vocals paired with timeless hymns and anthems of the church while adding an updated style to create her signature sound. Featuring songs like 'Rock of Ages,' 'Holy Holy Holy,' and the heartfelt anthem 'My Jesus,' Heather's soaring yet intimate voice takes us on a journey of a 'sweet exchange.'\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Modern Arrangements of Classic Hymns from a Former Member of Point of Grace\n\nReview: In 2008, Heather Payne announced her plans to retire from hit Christian group Point of Grace, saying he wanted to spend more time with her family. Obviously, she can't quite give up the music bug because in 2010 she released a solo project. Sweet Exchange features new arrangements of hymns, and it is wonderful.\n\nI've sung most of the songs on this disc for years, and they are old friends. Fortunately, you can sing along from the very first listen. But Heather does little tweaks to them and often adds an original chorus, which makes you pay attention to the words. They feel fresh and new even while being old.\n\nThe disc starts out with \"Holy, Holy, Holy\" and the sounds of electric guitar. It's slightly more upbeat than I normally sing it in church. And Heather has added one of those new choruses I mentioned earlier, which further praises our Holy God.\n\nMy favorite track on here is \"Rock of Ages.\" Again, it's fairly upbeat and guitar heavy. But here's the genius of this arrangement. She uses \"My Hope is Built on Nothing Less\" as the chorus. Since I absolutely love both hymns, you can imagine how often this track gets repeated.\n\nThings slow down for the piano based \"Hallelujah What a Savior.\" While singing the verses, it's just Heather's passionate voice and the piano, but when she gets to the chorus, she brings in a full orchestra to really blow things out. It's a great arrangement.\n\nHeather asks friend and the only other member of Point of Grace to leave the group, Terry Jones, to do a duet with her on \"O the Deep, Deep Love.\" This song's melody has changed the most, but since I already know two or three different melodies for the song, I don't mind. It's mid-tempo and guitar heavy again. It's great to hear these two ladies singing together again.\n\nShe does a fairly straight rendition of \"Be Thou My Vision.\" There are no added choruses, although she does sing it to an upbeat guitar. I've got to admit, I've been spoiled by Ginny Owen's awesome version, and this one just doesn't quite measure up. There's nothing wrong with it; I just like the other better.\n\nIt's back to adding choruses to the upbeat \"Jesus Paid It All.\" I can't help but worship along with her celebration \"I am free\" on that new chorus. Of course, the hymn is pretty powerful if you listen to the words about Jesus paying for our sin. I don't sing this one nearly often enough. Fortunately, I can change that now.\n\nShe does a slow, reflective version of \"Alas My Savior Did Bleed,\" which you might be more familiar with as \"Alas and Did My Savior Bleed.\" Heather sings over finger picked guitar and violin, one of the few times you find something outside of normal guitar, keyboard, and drums on the disc. It's funny because I'm used to singing this one fast, but I really like this slow version of it.\n\nThe last two songs I'm not super familiar with. Of course, \"The Gospel Song\" takes lines from three different hymns; I only recognize one of them. \"Come Ye Sinners\" is weird just because she has a preacher start out the song and break in at one point all fired up. The song doesn't need.\n\nI first really listened to this disc on a road trip, and I noticed that the songs were sounding a little repetitive by the time I reached the end. There is a lot of guitar here, and most of the songs are upbeat, so that doesn't surprise me too much. I stuck it in again around town where I was making frequent stops. I loved every song that way, so the problem isn't as bad as on some discs I have.\n\nFrankly, that's a minor complaint. Sweet Exchange will appeal to those who love hymns but want something with a new spin on it. I know I will enjoy these songs for a long time to come.","Product: In preparation for the upcoming holiday season, the GRAMMY-nominated and Dove Award-winning band Newsboys will release their first-ever seasonal recording, Christmas! A Newsboys Holiday (Inpop records). This 6-song EP will include five Christmas standards as well as one brand new Christmas tune. The EP is produced by Juan Otero (Born Again-Newsboys)\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: No Originals but Plenty of Fun with the Short Newsboys Christmas!\n\nReview: Somehow last year, I missed the fact that the Newsboys released a Christmas EP. But when I was browsing for something to buy to hit a limit to use a coupon, I stumbled across it. Since it was only $5 for 5 songs, I figured I couldn't go wrong by trying Christmas! A Newsboys Holiday.\n\nBefore we go any further, I should point out that this disc features new Newsboys front man Michael Tait. While Ive never been the biggest Newsboys fan, Ive always associated Peter Furlers distinctive vocals with the group and will miss them as the band moves forward.\n\nThose looking for original songs will be highly disappointed. All five of these songs are traditional songs that everyone records. Well, the first track the less often recorded All I Want for Christmas is You. It gets things off to a run rock start. Similarly upbeat are Jingle Bell Rock and Winter Wonderland. This may be the most upbeat Ive ever seen Winter Wonderland. And they do both verses for this song, too. Nothing about these arrangements is that surprising. Theyre rock versions of the songs.\n\nThey do slow things down of the one song about Jesus birth on the disc. O Holy Night is properly reverent and respectful even though they do still use their electric guitars and drums for the music. Im a little surprised that this is the only religious song from a Christian band. Not that Im really going to complain because I do enjoy the disc.\n\nIf you don't have the final track, it is worth every penny youd spend alone. The song was recorded several years ago when Tait was a solo artist and is a cover of the famous The Christmas Song. This song feels very different from the first four on the disc because it uses an orchestra and even a harp. And Taits voice is amazing here as he channels Nat King Cole, the man who made the song famous. His voice is rich and lush and absolutely beautiful. Im not sure where all this recording was included; I do know I had it on one of my compilations discs that I rarely pull out. Id forgotten just how much I love it until I heard it again.\n\nIn place of a full length Christmas release, Newsboys fans will be pleased with Christmas! A Newsboys Holiday. Hopefully, next time they will include some original songs to round out a release.","Product: The reigning GMA/Dove 'Female Vocalist of the Year' returns with a follow-up to her best-selling debut, 'My Paper Heart.' It's been a busy couple of years for Francesca, who between touring non-stop, getting married, and having her first child, still found time to write and record her sophomore album. 'Hundred More Years' embodies Francesca's signature sound fans have come to love, while exploring topics of family, friendship and life's joys and frustrations.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Francesca Battistelli's Sophomore CD Will Not be Listened to for a Hundred More Years\n\nReview: A couple years back, I found myself with the new CD from a Christian artists. While I didn't warm to it right away, it grew on me. So when Francesca Battistelli released her second disc, Hundred More Years, I made a point of getting it. I was looking forward to it; I want to love it. But the more I listen to it, the more I notice the flaws.\n\nActually, the disc starts out with what will easily stay one of my favorite songs. \"This is the Stuff\" is about those days. You know, the days when everything go horribly wrong. But it's a reminder that God uses that stuff to make us more like Him. It's got a nice, upbeat rhythm, and for something different, the main instrument is an ukulele. Yeah, that's one you don't hear very often.\n\nIf only the rest of the disc were this good.\n\nMy problems with the rest of the disc are twofold. The biggest is the music. The songs are mid tempo numbers big on guitar. And all of them sound the same. You can argue that some of them are ballads or feature keyboard, and you'd be right. But it still feels like too small a difference to me. When I'm listening to this CD, all the songs blend together for me.\n\nWhen I reviewed her first disc, I commented that several of the songs there had weak lyrics. Unfortunately, that seems to be the case again here. I feel like all the themes touched on here have been done better before.\n\nThere are several songs on here about God's grace, mercy, and love. \"Constant\" deals with the changes that come in life, but reminds us that God will never leave us. \"You Never Are\" is directed at someone who has wandered away from God and says, \"You think that you're too far/But you never are/You never are/You never are.\" In a mirror to that song, \"Good to Know\" is written from the point of view of that person repenting and coming back to God.\n\nThere are a couple of songs on here that I could see easily being huge crossover hits for Francesca. \"Angel by your Side\" is a slower piano ballad from one friend to another promising help during the hard times. Dave Barnes joins her for \"Emily (It's Love).\" We're back in upbeat pop/rock territory here for a song that encourages someone to keep striving in life because \"seasons change.\"\n\nBetween releases, Francesca has gotten married, and that is obviously the inspiration behind the title track. This slow guitar ballad closes out the track. Maybe it's the placement on the disc, but it's a bit too sappy for my tastes.\n\nThen again, maybe I'm just not the audience Francesca is trying to reach. I've been playing this disc in my car off and on for the last couple of months while I've been driving my roommate around. He loves it and doesn't see any of the problems I do with it. He's closer to Francesca's 23 years. Maybe I'm just 12 years too old to enjoy the music here.\n\nOne great song and ten mediocre ones leave me feeling very disappointed with Hundred More Years. I will probably pass on future releases from Francesca Battistelli unless I've had a chance to really listen to them first.","Product: 2012 album from the Canadian Christian band. If their last record was a light-in-the-darkest-places announcement that \"the end is really just the beginning,\" then On The Altar Of Love arrives as an artfully textured but heartfelt declaration that, \"True progress might mean we have to go backwards.\" As students of history, Downhere have come to recognize and appreciate the fact that their faith is not simply their own--but that it's part of a much larger communion of believers that stretches across cultures and thousands of years. And while we might have the privilege of bearing that torch during the short span of our own lives, they would say it's important to recognize it's not a torch we lit. It's one that was passed to us by generations of faithful saints, and it's one that we'll soon enough be passing on to those who follow us.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Lyrically, downhere Leaves it all On the Altar of Love\n\nReview: It's hard to believe it's been almost a decade since the Canadian Christian band downhere popped up on my radar. In that decade, their music has become some of my most played with several songs being standouts. On the Altar of Love is their fifth regular studio release (sixth studio release if you count their awesome Christmas disc), and it is another good one.\n\nOver the years, the band has found their sweet spot in the soft rock/pop convergence, sometimes heading a little in the rock direction and sometimes leaning pop. This is definitely a pop oriented release with mostly mid-tempo offerings and plenty of ballads.\n\nOne of the things I love about the band is the fact that it has two lead vocalists. While most people would probably point to Marc Martel as the lead because his falsettos are so prominent on their bigger hits, Jason Germain provides plenty of deeper vocals. Their contrasting styles (Jason's vocals are more traditional rock star) complement each other very well and produce some great harmonies. And these guys don't just sing. Jason also plays guitar and piano while Marc plays guitar. Rounding out the band, Glen Lavender plays the bass and Jeremy Thiessen plays drums.\n\nBut enough background. What do you say we did into this release.\n\nAppropriately enough, the disc opens with \"Only the Beginning,\" a reminder that every day is a fresh beginning because of the forgiveness of God. It starts with simple piano but quickly adds in the other layers of the band. It's also a perfect example of Marc and Jason sharing lead vocal duties. On the chorus, they blend perfectly.\n\nFrom there, the guys immediately transition to a song of encouragement. \"Rest\" builds itself around Jesus' promise in the gospels that He will give rest to those who are weary. The verses focus on those who are \"weary in well-doing\" and those who have fallen so far from God that they feel can never come back. It's easy to let the words and music wash over you and lift your spirit in praise.\n\nBut \"Let Me Rediscover You\" focuses on our response to God. Wrapped in a reminder about how little we really know God comes the cry to know Him better. We have driving drums on this anthem that I have a feeling will be a highlight in their concerts for years to come.\n\nThere's a pair of songs on here that perfectly mirror each other. \"For Life\" praises God for the simple joys of life, such things as \"For frosted pines shining like diamonds in the morning sun/For a pretty girl and for falling love/For spring ice churning the driftwood shore.\" It has a driving rhythm that gives it some force, but it doesn't have the soaring melody that I would normally associate with a song like this. That alone makes it stand out.\n\nThe other side of this duo is \"For the Heartbreak.\" Surprisingly, the melody on this one feels much lighter. Of course, that's partially because Marc has lead vocal duties here while Jason sings that first song. But this song also feels happier. And yet, the lyrics are focused on a much more serious topic as they thank God for the hard times in life because they make the sweet times seem sweeter still. And yes, there is a reminder that \"When there's no sign of You/When I'm lost, hurt, and used/You are there hurting, too.\"\n\n\"Glory by Way of Shame\" is the track that's had to grow on me the most. With verses that bring to mind the parable of the Prodigal Son and the story of Hosea, it reminds us how great forgiveness feels. I think part of my problem with the song is actually musical. The verses seemed forced and rushed into the song. The chorus works well, however.\n\nThose missing their rockier sound will be pleased with \"Seek,\" a song about God's efforts to find and redeem us. The song is fast with a strong beat and is heavy on the electric guitars. It's a fun song, but like everything else on here, still has great lyrics.\n\nBut there's a flip side to this one, at least stylistically. \"The Altar of Love\" features fiddles and banjo for a folk music feel. The lyrics focus on the sacrifice that love requires in all aspects of life. Even with the obvious nod to folk music, this one still builds to a very fast, fun beat on the bridge.\n\nFrankly, I wish there were more fast moments here. I miss the energy of some of their previous releases. On the other hand, I continue to be amazed at the lyrics. These are not the simple lyrics of many artists; there is much here to challenge and encourage you.\n\nAnd so downhere continues to prove they are artists with something to say. If you've missed this gem of a Christian band, On the Altar of Love is as good a place as any to fix that.","Product: All We Need 02. Remedy 03. Savior's Face 04. Beauty's Just A Word 05. No Escape 06. Uncharted Territory 07. Elevate 08. My One And Only 09. Run To You 10. Feel 11. Human (Feat. Jonny Lang) (Bonus Track) 12. Live For You (2011)\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: All We Needed Was Rachael Lampa's Welcome Return to Christian Music\n\nReview: When I started to learn about the groups on Season 3 of The Sing-Off, I was surprised to find that one of the newly formed groups included Rachael Lampa. She exploded onto the Christian music scene at 15 in 2000, but pretty much vanished after a third disc was released in 2004. But there she was on the show in the group The Collective, a group of solo artists who have put their careers on hold to try the a cappella thing. And, in a stroke of irony, the very next day saw the release of Rachael's new studio disc, All We Need.\n\nWhen Rachael debuted in 2000, she was part of the wave of Christian female ten pop artists trying to be the answer to Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera. She has stayed with the strong pop sound, and it's very hard not to find yourself taping and humming along almost immediately.\n\nWhile Rachael is still a pop artist, her sound has matured some and definitely updated. The disc opens with \"All We Need,\" a slick track filled with drums, guitar, and light piano. Like many of the tracks on this disc, the song is upbeat and fun.\n\nBut Rachael has never been content to stick with just pop, as she shows with \"Remedy,\" which also is the first single. There's a definitely hip hop bent to this song as she sings about Jesus being the remedy for sin.\n\nThe hip hop doesn't stick around for too long, and Rachael is back to pure pop with \"Savior's Face,\" a song that reminds us that all of us are sinners who need God's grace.\n\nMy one complaint with Rachael's music over the years is that it can be shallow lyrically. There's certainly some of that here. The first two tracks alone are fairly familiar ideas with little depth. But the pop is so slick that it makes the familiar fun. Likewise, \"No Escape,\" her cover of Taio Cruz's \"Run to You\" and the song for her new husband, \"My One and Only,\" are more flash than substance. Not that I mind since I'm humming along tapping my toes without even thinking about it.\n\nSome of the other songs, however, are amazing when you really listen to them. \"Beauty's Just a Word\" talks about the hard times in life and how we appreciate the good things more because of them. No, not a new idea. But just check out the lyrics. \"It's dark so you can see the light and it's hard so you can know it's right/And pain beauty's just a word without you.\" Something about the way the lyrics are set up makes it seem more poetic than many of the songs I know on the subject. Couple that with the strings on the slower verses that discover into the faster chorus and you've got a beautiful song.\n\nI also really like \"Uncharted Territory.\" A mid-tempo track, this one looks at someone facing a major change in their lives. It's a song of encouragement to take those \"baby steps\" into the unknown.\n\n\"Feel\" closes the original tracks on the disc, and it is written from the point of view of someone in pain who just wants a friendly shoulder to lean on. \"I don't need you to try to fix the world this time/I just want your heart to break every time I cry.\" Again, it feels wonderfully fresh to me.\n\nThere are a total of 12 tracks on the disc, but the final two are songs she's already released. \"Human\" was actually the title of an EP she released through her website last year (that I'm going to have to track down after learning about it). It's a duet with Jonny Lang and speaks of the disparity between who we truly are and the face we put on to hide our weaknesses. It's the slowest track here and has a pop/blues vibe that I find interesting.\n\nFinally, the disc closes with a completely new version of \"Live for You.\" This was originally the title track from her debut disc in 2000, and a huge hit at the time. It's a bit simpler musically with your basic drums, piano, and guitar, but it's been mixed so it still sounds like a contemporary pop track. I'm often disappointed by an artist trying to cover their own classic, but this one is such a fun update that I like it. I think it will appeal to Rachael's fans old and new.\n\nYes, I wish many of the lyrics were deeper and more poetic. But the pop music is so much fun I can't complain too much. All We Need is going to be another disc I'll enjoy for some time to come.","Product: Rising singer/songwriter Josh Wilson releases his first full length Christmas album, Noel, this October as a follow up to last year s hugely successful Christmas tour (Noel: A Unique Christmas Experience) and the #1 Christmas single of 2011, Jesus is Alive . Known for being one of the top songwriters and multi-instrumentalists in the industry, Wilson has been hailed as the future of Christian pop by media and his albums are regularly named to Year-End Top Ten Album lists. He has released numerous No. 1 hits including Savior Please and the powerful track Before the Morning, which landed the No. 4 spot on Billboard s Year-End Christian Songs chart.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Celebrate Noel with Josh Wilson's Great CD\n\nReview: I wasn't super surprised when I learned that Josh Wilson was releasing a Christmas CD this year. After all, he's done a small Christmas tour the last two years. I was super excited, however, and Noel is exactly what I wanted it to be.\n\nThe disc starts off with one of the two instrumental tracks on the disc. Both of them are mostly guitar, although \"The First Noel\" starts off with some piano. It's a nice introduction to the disc. But hang on to your hats when you get to \"Carol of the Bells.\" It's a dueling guitar style song with acoustic and electric battling it out with bells for the percussion. It's a great arrangement.\n\nThere are four new tracks here. Of those, my least favorite is \"Once a Year.\" Don't get me wrong, I like the idea behind it. It's a reminder that, while helping people during the holidays is good, the poor is in need of our help all year long. I think it's just that the song is so obvious.\n\nOn the other hand, the other three songs are awesome. \"Jesus is Alive\" focuses on the hope that Jesus' birth gives us in our struggles with sin and death. It's a song of celebration that features bells and guitar in an upbeat piece that lifts my spirits in praise for what God has done. \"Christmas Changes Everything\" has a similar theme to it, but despite a bombastic opening, it has a slower tempo that leads itself even more to worship.\n\nAnd that leaves us with \"Almost Christmas.\" This is really the only song on the disc that talks about the holiday from a traditions point of view, and I love it. His excitement is contagious and perfectly captures the holiday for me. There's sax on this song that adds some fun to this toe tapping number.\n\nWhich leaves us with the four traditional songs on the disc. \"Do You Hear What I Hear?\" and \"Angels We Have Heard on High\" are fairly traditional versions. Yes, they have Josh's twists on things and his wonderful guitar playing, but it's easy to sing along right away. Josh is joined by Mandisa for a fun Southern Gospel flavored take on \"Go, Tell it on the Mountain.\"\n\nBut my favorite of the traditional songs is \"O Come, O Come Emmanuel.\" It's got a dramatic rock underpinning driving by electric guitar. It's a lot of fun and really fits the song perfectly. I really enjoy it when he goes into what I am guessing is Hebrew near the end for some added flair.\n\nI was a little surprised that he didn't chose to include his song \"Sing\" from Life is Not a Snapshot since it has a Christmas theme. But that's a minor issues.\n\nThis disc has a great combination of traditional songs and original tracks, which fresh arrangements to liven things up. I have a feeling I will be reaching for this disc early for many Christmases to come.\n\nAnd so if you are looking to buy just one new Christmas CD this year, I can't recommend Josh Wilson's Noel highly enough. This is a great project you'll enjoy for years to come.","Product: Steve Curtis Chapman, the most award-winning artist in Christian music history, releases a brand new Christmas album. This album features 12 newly recorded songs including 5 originals and some new and fresh approaches to Christmas classics we all love.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Steven Curtis Chapman Wishes Us a Joyful Christmas\n\nReview: The last few of Steven Curtis Chapman's releases have been themed. Rumor is he is working on something new for his fans in 2013, but to tide us over until that happens, he is presenting Joy, his third full length Christmas CD.\n\nSix of the 13 songs on here are original compilations, and you can certainly get the joy of the season from many of them. \"Christmas Time Again,\" written with son Caleb, and \"Christmas inKentucky\" certainly fit the bill as they celebrate the warm memories of snow and family together time everyone associates with the season. Both songs are upbeat and fun as well.\n\nOf the new songs, my favorite is \"I Am Joseph (God is With Us),\" which takes a look at the characters from the familiar story and draws parallels with our lives today before reminding us that God is always with us. Again, it's a light, bouncy song that is sure to make you smile.\n\nBut even on a disc of joy, Steven can't resist putting in a more bittersweet song. \"Christmas Card\" is written for someone who is struggling to find the joy in the season because of personal trials going on in their lives. Even so, this anthem reminds us that the season really is about God's love for us.\n\n\"Happy New Year\" closes out the disc. As Steven often does, he ends things on a slow, reflective note. This time it looks at the blank page that a new year brings and reminds us that God can make great things out of our lives in the next 12 months.\n\nThe final new song actually starts a trio of jazz inspired songs. \"Christmas Kiss\" is a fun tribute to love. I can imagine Steven singing this to his wife with candlelight glowing on Christmas Eve.\n\nOf the jazz trio, \"Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow\" is the fastest. It's a fun piano based arrangement that will have your toes tapping before you know it. This section closes off with a slow, guitar based version of \"Christmas Time is Here.\" While the Peanuts' version will always be my favorite version, I do find this one nice as well.\n\nSteven has worked hard to put his stamp on the traditional songs here. \"Joy to the World\" starts things off on a nice upbeat note. I absolutely love the bells on \"Do You Hear What I Hear?\" \"What Child is This?\" gets not only a more upbeat guitar arrangement, but as coda that affirms who the Child really is. Again, it's a great version. \"In the Bleak Midwinter\" is slow and prayerful. The song that gets the most change is \"We Three Kings.\" Again, it's more upbeat than we're used to hearing, but Steven also plays around with the melody. It takes a couple of listens to fully appreciate, but I really do like it.\n\nFor many of these songs, Steven plays acoustic guitar, which gives the entire disc a more relaxed feel than some of his other discs. There is no mistaking his guitar driven pop style, and it's in full force here. Of course, he does have piano and drums on most songs, but he brings in strings at times to liven things up as well.\n\nMy only real complaint with the disc lies in the original songs. With the exception of \"I Am Joseph,\" I like them but I don't love them. He's done better on his previous two Christmas releases. Of the three, this is my least favorite. Having said that, there are still some enjoyable songs and fun arrangements of classics here, so I will be pulling it out every year.\n\nSo Joy is a Christmas release that Steven Curtis Chapman's many fans will enjoy. It's not his best, but it's still very good.","Product: 2013 holiday release from the Christian singer/songwriter. Brandon Heath, beloved male vocalist and award-winning songwriter, releases his first Christmas album on October 15th, 2013. Featuring newly recorded classics including \"O Little Town Of Bethlehem,\" \"Away In A Manger,\" \"Silent Night,\" and many more, Brandon also offers THREE brand new original songs: \"The Day After Thanksgiving,\" \"Just A Girl,\" and \"Momma Wouldn't Lie To Me.\" This special collection combining both new and nostalgic favorites is sure to brighten the Christmas season.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: I Really Wanted to Love This Disc, but the New Songs Drag It Down\n\nReview: Every year in late summer, I start anxiously looking to see who is releasing new Christmas music this fall. I was thrilled to see that Brandon Heath was releasing one this year, and I rushed out to buy it. Sadly, Christmas Is Here didn't live up to my expectations.\n\nI own enough Christmas music that I look for the original songs to make or break a disc for me. And this is where the disc falls flat. Two of the songs are more Bah Humbug than Christmas cheer.\n\nFirst up is \"The Day After Thanksgiving.\" And I know many people agree with the sentiment in the song - wait until Black Friday to start playing Christmas music and selling stuff in the stores. It's a catchy tune and a good mid-tempo song. I have a feeling he was trying to go for funny, but it just comes across as grumpy.\n\nThen there's the irony that I am complaining about this song in October on a disc that has been out for two weeks already.\n\nThen there's \"Momma Wouldn't Lie to Me.\" Written from the point of view of a kid who still believes in Santa, I do think it makes a good point about what can happen to kids from being lied to about Santa. But first, if parents aren't aware, the song could spill the beans. And again, it feels more like a grumpy song that a song full of Christmas cheer. That is despite the very upbeat, jazzy music.\n\nThen there's \"Just a Girl.\" I'm still trying to figure out what Brandon was trying to say with this song written from the point of view of the innkeeper.\n\nFortunately, the rest of the tracks are great. In fact, they more than make up for these three songs. Brandon tried to capture the sound of the crooners of old on these tracks, so many of them feel very familiar to me already, and I love it. For example the instruments on \"The Christmas Song\" sound so much like Nat King Cole's classic version I have to remind myself that he did rerecord them. He channels Bing Crosby on \"Silent Night.\" And while the medley of \"O Come All Ye Faithful/Angels We Have Heard on High\" is new, it too sounds like the old crooners at work.\n\nAmong these tracks, my favorite is \"Go Tell It on the Mountain.\" I'm not usually a fan of this song, and Brandon's bluegrass version might have worked against it. However, somehow it fits the song, and I love the way that he sings too verses together before going back to the chorus. This might become my favorite version of the song.\n\nThe bluegrass band also appears on \"In the Bleak Midwinter.\" It doesn't work quite as well here, but it is a good take on a lesser recorded song.\n\nThis is a disc to wait to buy until after Christmas. Even then, buy it for the old standbys because the new songs aren't that great. Christmas Is Here will get mixed in with my Christmas music on iTunes, but it won't be one I rush to pull out each year.","Product: Corduroy the bear goes to the launderette with Lisa. He overhears her mother warn her about taking things out of her pockets before washing her clothes. When Corduroy discovers he does not have a pocket, he begins his search to find one.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Sweet and Fun Sequel\n\nReview: One day, Corduroy, a stuffed bear, goes with Lisa, his owner, and her mother to do laundry at the laundromat. As Lisas mom reminds her to empty her pockets, Corduroy decides he needs a pocket on his overalls and sets out on a search to find one. What might he find along the way? Will he wander completely away from Lisa?\n\nThis is a sweet and fun book that I think I might like better than the original. The reason for this is the creativity of what Corduroy runs across in the laundromat and what he thinks it might be. We, of course, know better, but his guesses make perfect sense from his experiences. The pictures are wonderful and expertly capture the story.\n\nIf you are a fan of this stuffed bears first adventure, don't hesitate to get this one. And if youve missed Corduroy, by all means meet him soon.","Product: The BIC Round Stic Xtra Life Ballpoint Pen is a dependable favorite that offers performance and value, making it the #1 selling Ballpoint Pen in the US*. Great for daily use at home, school, or the office, this pen writes 90% longer on average than Papermate InkJoy 100 Ball Stick Pen.** It features a versatile 1.0mm medium point that creates vivid lines and has a reliable tungsten carbide ball point that spreads the ink smoothly and evenly, making this pen ideal for a variety of writing applications from note-taking to doodling. The flexible round barrel rests comfortably in your hand, while the translucent barrel shows the remaining ink supply, so you know when you're running low. BIC Round Stic Xtra Life Ballpoint Pens are non-refillable. *Source: The NPD Group/ Retail Tracking Service/ U.S. Actual Unit Sales (Retail & Commercial Combined)/ Jul 2016-Jun 2017 ** Paper Mate and InkJoy are trademarks of Newell or an affiliate. Newell has not sponsored or approved and is not affiliated with this BIC branded product.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Good Luck Getting My Grip off This Pen\n\nReview: I am a brand loyalist. When I find something I like, I stick with it forever, and only switch if I absolutely have no other choice. (Imagine the reaction I got when I bought a different brand of shoes after wearing the same style for 10 years.) But I don't normally care about pens. I'll use whatever is handy and buy whatever is cheapest. So you can imagine my surprise to find a pen I really like.\n\nAnd I'd love to say it was because of awesome research, but that's not the case. We started using the BIC Round Stic Ball Pen at work. As a result, I use this pen every day, and I am pretty happy with it.\n\nThe pen itself isn't that different from a normal pen. It's a four inch long clear cylinder made out of plastic. A cap fits snuggly on both ends, so if you aren't writing you don't get ink on things but when you are writing you don't lose the cap. If you push the cap on too hard, it can be rather hard to take it off again, but there's really no need to do that. The cap stays on if you've put it on with any effort at all. At the writing end of the pen is a rubber grip to make it easier on your hand to hold the pen. I don't use the pen enough to know for sure if it helps or not, but it does feel nicer than standard plastic when I grab the pen.\n\nThese pens come in multiple colors like red, blue, and black. At my office, we stick with boring old black. We also get the fine point pen, which I love. My hand writing is small as it is, and if the tip of the pen I am using is too big, it tends to make my already sloppy penmanship even worse. (Really, it's the pen's fault.)\n\nI use my pen in bits and pieces throughout the day, and the ink is always ready to flow. It comes out perfectly with no globs or messes. I don't even think about it like I do fancier pens; I just grab it and write.\n\nThis pen is absolutely disposable; in fact, I'm not sure you can get the little stopper off the back to get into the pen. In these days of environmentalism, it does bother me a bit to just throw away a pen when I'm done with it. On the other hand, since you can buy 12 packs for roughly 20 cents a pen or less, I don't feel too badly about it.\n\nNow I'll admit most of my writing is done on a computer these days, so I'm probably not the best just of how long the ink will last. But I do use the pen at least once a day and usually more. I am on the same pen I've been using for the last year. Obviously, there's plenty of ink here no matter how much you use this pen.\n\nI've actually started buying the BIC Round Stic Ball Pen for home and my car as well. They work better than anything else I've found. So maybe I do have a brand loyalty for pens now, too.","Product: The BIC Round Stic Xtra Life Ballpoint Pen is a dependable favorite that offers performance and value, making it the #1 selling Ballpoint Pen in the US*. Great for daily use at home, school, or the office, this pen writes 90% longer on average than Papermate InkJoy 100 Ball Stick Pen.** It features a versatile 1.0mm medium point that creates vivid lines and has a reliable tungsten carbide ball point that spreads the ink smoothly and evenly, making this pen ideal for a variety of writing applications from note-taking to doodling. The flexible round barrel rests comfortably in your hand, while the translucent barrel shows the remaining ink supply, so you know when you're running low. BIC Round Stic Xtra Life Ballpoint Pens are non-refillable. *Source: The NPD Group/ Retail Tracking Service/ U.S. Actual Unit Sales (Retail & Commercial Combined)/ Jul 2016-Jun 2017 ** Paper Mate and InkJoy are trademarks of Newell or an affiliate. Newell has not sponsored or approved and is not affiliated with this BIC branded product.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Good Luck Getting My Grip off This Pen\n\nReview: I am a brand loyalist. When I find something I like, I stick with it forever, and only switch if I absolutely have no other choice. (Imagine the reaction I got when I bought a different brand of shoes after wearing the same style for 10 years.) But I don't normally care about pens. I'll use whatever is handy and buy whatever is cheapest. So you can imagine my surprise to find a pen I really like.\n\nAnd I'd love to say it was because of awesome research, but that's not the case. We started using the BIC Round Stic Ball Pen at work. As a result, I use this pen every day, and I am pretty happy with it.\n\nThe pen itself isn't that different from a normal pen. It's a four inch long clear cylinder made out of plastic. A cap fits snuggly on both ends, so if you aren't writing you don't get ink on things but when you are writing you don't lose the cap. If you push the cap on too hard, it can be rather hard to take it off again, but there's really no need to do that. The cap stays on if you've put it on with any effort at all. At the writing end of the pen is a rubber grip to make it easier on your hand to hold the pen. I don't use the pen enough to know for sure if it helps or not, but it does feel nicer than standard plastic when I grab the pen.\n\nThese pens come in multiple colors like red, blue, and black. At my office, we stick with boring old black. We also get the fine point pen, which I love. My hand writing is small as it is, and if the tip of the pen I am using is too big, it tends to make my already sloppy penmanship even worse. (Really, it's the pen's fault.)\n\nI use my pen in bits and pieces throughout the day, and the ink is always ready to flow. It comes out perfectly with no globs or messes. I don't even think about it like I do fancier pens; I just grab it and write.\n\nThis pen is absolutely disposable; in fact, I'm not sure you can get the little stopper off the back to get into the pen. In these days of environmentalism, it does bother me a bit to just throw away a pen when I'm done with it. On the other hand, since you can buy 12 packs for roughly 20 cents a pen or less, I don't feel too badly about it.\n\nNow I'll admit most of my writing is done on a computer these days, so I'm probably not the best just of how long the ink will last. But I do use the pen at least once a day and usually more. I am on the same pen I've been using for the last year. Obviously, there's plenty of ink here no matter how much you use this pen.\n\nI've actually started buying the BIC Round Stic Ball Pen for home and my car as well. They work better than anything else I've found. So maybe I do have a brand loyalty for pens now, too.","Product: Keep loose paperwork neatly categorized in this attractive desktop file. Use this 1-31 plus Jan-Dec indexed file to organize papers by the date follow-up action needs to be taken. Cover contains 35% recycled content, and 10% post-consumer material.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Perfect for Temporary Storage in Alphabetical Order\n\nReview: I have no idea how my office found and started using Smead's Deluxe Indexed Desk File, but its invaluable for us for holding invoices.\n\nThese files are fairly simple when you look at them. Theyre just over letter size, so most standard pieces of paper would fit into them. There are twenty tabs on the top from left to right. Most of these tabs have one letter of the alphabet on them, but a few of the lesser popular letters are bunched together. I and J are coupled up as are U and V, for example.\n\nThe idea behind these files is that you can sort and store documents in alphabetical order in a draw. We use this for our unpaid invoices. That way, if you need to find something quickly, just go to the tab and pull it up. I pull the back up once weve run checks, and its very easy to find them. Plus, you don't have to put them in alphabetical order before you file, just grab the top one and add it to the appropriate slot. This could also be used for customer invoices that have not been paid. Employee information could be put here until it is properly processed and filed and still be easy to find. The uses for these sorter files are quite extensive.\n\nHowever, they do have some drawbacks. While they do expand some, they don't grow much beyond six inches think. And when you realize they are three inches think to start with, thats really not that much space. Actually, we have two folders, one for each half of the alphabet. Even then, if the bills come in too quickly, they can be bursting at the seams.\n\nThats another issue. The accordion nature of the files is rather weak. These seem to last for about two years of daily use several times a day, and then you need to replace them. For the price of roughly $15, that isn't too bad, but it would be nice if they lasted longer.\n\nFinally, the files need some form of support. You either need to wedge them in a draw or find a place to lay them flat. They are too thick for most file folders and don't come with hangers to hang them in a file cabinet. Then again, they are usually so heavy they would probably break most hangers quickly.\n\nThese complaints can be annoying at times, but if you have a need for filing and sorting material temporarily, Smead's Deluxe Indexed Desk File is invaluable. There really is no good substitute, and they make life much easier.","Product: There's nothing more American than the game of Monopoly, except maybe a special America Edition of this popular board game. You can own pieces of American culture and history; learn about American people and places; and move around the board using tokens that are as American as apple pie. Enjoy classic play or experience a new variation with the Corner Squares Games. Answer American Challenge questions and you may get a property for free! This is an American road trip you don't want to miss! For 6 players. Ages 8 and up. Made in USA.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Mr. Monopoly celebrates America\n\nReview: Parker Brothers has released yet another theme version of their classic board game Monopoly. This time, the theme is America, our past, and what we've accomplished. The property sets focus on history (Yorktown, Gettysburg, and the Constitution) or inventions (baseball and basketball to the telephone.) Other sets highlight national parks or our development of entertainment, and the railroads have become milestones in transportation.\nThis version stands above the rest because of the attention to detail that has been included. The dice are red and blue. There are fun facts on the mortgage side of each title deed card. The tokens are right in keeping with the theme as well. After all, what's more American then Apple Pie?\nAs a change, the corner squares can be altered to make the game more interesting. Some of these involve trivia questions that require knowledge of American history and geography. The cards are quite challenging, but also a great way to gain a better knowledge of our country. This provides a fun alternative way to play as well.\nThis version is a fun way to learn about America while still playing the classic board game. I plan to make it a regular part of my Fourth of July festivities, but it's great year round.","Product: With the Little People A Deluxe Christmas Story playset, little ones can bring the magic of the nativity to the palms of their hands! Push down on the angel to hear a sweet song & make the light-up star shine bright. 12 Little People figures, 5 accessory pieces and the sweet baby manger round out this perfect holiday play set. You and your family will love recreating this beautiful story in the comfort of your home.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Cute First Nativity Set\n\nReview: My niece is just over a year old, and we are looking forward to seeing how she reacts to Christmas this year. One thing she got for this Christmas is Fisher-Price's A Little People Christmas. If you are looking for a great nativity set for your little ones to play with, this is one to consider.\n\nThere are lots of big pieces in this set. It starts off with the stable, a big rectangular building with straw roof. While the back of the nativity is solid, when you are looking through the front, you can see the stars in the night sky, including the one that shown down on the manger. There are two pieces that hook on to the sides of the stable, making a slightly larger enclosure. They are interchangeable and snap into place quite solidly. Aside from the figures in plastic bags, this was the only thing that needed to be put together.\n\nThen there are the figures, and you get lots of them. Naturally, there are Mary and Joseph. Jesus is firmly attached to a small manger. The three wise men are present. You get two donkeys, a little lamb, a cow, and a camel. Plus, there's a bigger manger (with removable hay) and a cart that will attached to the bigger animals so they can drag it around. Finally, there's an angel.\n\nYou'll notice the one thing that is missing - shepherds. Joseph could double as a shepherd, but it's not quite the same.\n\nThere is a light and sound component as well. When you have installed three AA batteries (not included) in the back compartment, you can press the button on the top of the stable to hear \"a soothing song\" (one verse of \"Away in a Manger\") and see the star on the front of the stable light up. Any of the figures can easily fit on the button on the top since they all have holes just the right size in them, but my niece likes to take the figure off first and press the button by hand.\n\nAnd boy does she like to play the music. She'll turn it on and dance around to it. It's very cute to watch. My brother and sister-in-law might not be liking it by Christmas, but so far we all think it is cute. There is a switch in the back to turn the music and light off, however, my niece figured that out right away.\n\nSince this is a Little People set, all the figures and accessories are quite large in size. Obviously, my niece doesn't quite grasp what it is yet, and several pieces (usually the lamb or camel) go into her mouth almost immediately. So far she loves the music aspect the best.\n\nThe rest of us like it because it is cute. The figures are pleasant to look at with their rosy cheeks. It's solid, so it will withstand being played with by anyone over the age of one (which is the recommended age on the box). Yes, the stable is based on the romanticized, American version of the Biblical story and not the way things really were. Since most nativity scenes are like that, I don't mind in the least. It would have been nice if they hadn't used very white people for the characters since that also isn't realistic, but it's the only real complaint\n\nWhile the story aspect of the set doesn't really register with my niece yet, I'm sure she'll get that in the next few years as she grows up and starts to understand who all the figures are.\n\nIt seems that Fisher-Price updates this set regularly. They say right on the box that contents might appear different from those pictured. Sure enough, the contents of the cart are slightly different. Who knows how it will change in the future. Maybe we'll even get the missing shepherd.\n\nNativity sets are an important part of many Christmas celebrations. If you are looking for one for your kids, I don't see how you can go wrong with A Little People Christmas.","Product: Stomp Rocket Ultra is 100% KID powered! Run, jump and STOMP to launch these rockets up to 200 feet in the air -- thats 20 stories high! Stomp Rocket Ultra is strong and durable, and great for active, outdoor play. It has won the Dr. Toy Award, iParenting Medias Hot Toy Award, Creative Child Magazines Preferred Choice Award and iParenting Medias Excellent Product Award. Includes 4 foam-tipped Ultra Stomp Rockets and a Stomp Launcher. Refill rockets also available (item #20002). For kids ages 5 and up.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: How High and How Far Can You Stomp This Rocket?\n\nReview: Im just a big kid, so whenever I visit my family, I enjoy seeing what toys and books my niece loves to play with. Yes, we had several tea parties while I was last there. But a trip to the park introduced me to the absolute fun that is the Ultra Stomp Rocket. My brother and I had just as much fun with it as my niece did.\n\nThe idea is so simple its hard to believe this hasn't been around for a long time. Several metal bars create a stand. Attached to this stand is a hollow tube that is attached to a giant soft plastic box. I really don't know how else to describe it since the outside is plastic and it compressed as you stomp on it.\n\nOnce this is set up on the ground, you slide a rocket on the tube. When you're ready to let it fly, just stomp on that plastic box and watch the rocket shoot off into the air. You can adjust the angle of the tube, so sometimes it will shoot out further and sometimes it will shoot up higher.\n\nAnd right there is something that will help kids understand physics. No, we didn't try to understand anything but having fun playing with it, but you can easily see how the angle of the launching tube greatly affects where the rocket goes. Whether you discuss it or not, I'm sure this will click with kids when they study that in school.\n\nIt definitely goes. My brother and I were able to launch it pretty fair and pretty high.\n\nThe rockets themselves are a light plastic with a rubbery nerf like material on the end. (No, this is not an official nerf product.) They land softly, although I wouldnt want to have one shot directly at me. With the force they launch, Im sure that would hurt.\n\nThe box recommends this for ages 8 and up with supervision. Im sure one of the reasons is to make sure kids don't get hurt shooting these at each other. Another reason is that the launching stand takes a bit of work to get together. Its just a matter of screwing a few pieces together, and my brother did it in a few minutes. Im sure an 8-year-old could handle it on their own.\n\nBut heres the thing my niece is 3 - obviously, much younger than the suggested age. To make the rockets fly, she had to jump on the plastic box instead of step on it, and she doesnt have the weight to make it go as far as my brother and I do. And yet she was having a blast with it. She'd launch one and then run and get it and bring it back, grinning the entire time. Would I recommend leaving her alone with this? No. But with adults watching closely, I think this could be enjoyed by younger kids. Adult supervision is the key.\n\nThe Stomp Rocket comes with the assembly to launch the rockets and four rockets. They seem bit flimsy, but so far none have broken. This might not be the most durable toy, but it is fun.\n\nObviously, youll need a large tree free area to launch the rockets into. Since we played with it at the park, that wasn't an issue at all.\n\nSo I recommend the Ultra Stomp Rocket as a fun toy that will entertain kids of all ages. Its so simple and yet loads of fun.","Product: Create a Doodle with a few rolls of the Doodle dice. Theres a different Doodle pictured on each card in the deck. When you build a Doodle that matches one of the cards, you take that card. Block an opponents turn or take one of their cards away. Collect one card of each color and you win! its the fun challenging way for everyone in your family to a be a Doodle artist!\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Unique, Creative, and Fun Dice Game\n\nReview: Many games seem to be variations on a theme. So when you run across a creative game that stands out from the crowd, its time to investigate. And when that game turns out to be fun, its even better. Thats been the case for Doodle Dice for my family.\n\nOkay, I should be honest. My brother and sister-in-law found it and gave it to our parents. But we all love it.\n\nThe game is for 2 to 6 players age 6 and up, although really as soon as a child is able to handle taking and waiting their turn and a little frustration they can play.\n\nThe game comes with a deck of cards, a plastic cup for shaking the dice, and six six sided dice. Each dice has six different shapes on it dot, dash, slash, arc, squiggle, and face.\n\nThe object of the game is to be the first player to collect six cards, one of each color, by rolling the dice and getting the combinations of shapes to create the doodle on the card. The colors represent different number of dice required. For example, the easiest, orange, just requires one die, like a dash. The most difficult, purple, requires all six dice to win. Examples here are a good dog (4 dashes, one dot, and a slash), Swimming Sue (face, two slashes, two squiggles, and a dash) or Singin in the Rain (two arcs, a dash, two slashes and a face). Dont worry, each card not only shows you what dice combinations you need but how they assemble to create the named item on the card. Surprisingly given the six simple shapes, most of them look fairly accurate, especially for a doodle.\n\nYou start the game with six cards from the deck face up, one of each color. As each player goes, they start by taking a new card and turning it face up. Then they have three rolls to create any doodle turned face up. You don't have to announce what you are going for, so you can change at any point. And if you are going for a six dice card but wind up with a three dice card at the end of your turn, you can take that card instead.\n\nJust to add a little more interest, there are a few extra roll and lose a turn cards in the deck. You can also steal someone elses card, but for those you have to declare your intent before your first roll.\n\nAll five of us have played this game several times over the last few years, and we enjoy it. The game seems to go to the first person who can get a six and five dice card because the rest are fairly easy to get. I rare win, but I enjoy the challenge. Its fun to roll and see what picture you can create.\n\nAs you can imagine, there are many more six and five dice cards than there are two dice cards. Not only are the lower cards easier to get, but there just aren't that many combinations. Never have we looked at a picture and not been able to figure out what the picture is supposed to be.\n\nThis game requires more luck than true strategy, but its fun none the less. I have a feeling that well keep doodling with Doodle Dice for a long time to come.","Product: Full set of 5 disney wireless band members\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Get the Whole Gang Together for This Fun Wireless Band\n\nReview: Hallmark loves their wireless band. In the four years I've been collecting, they've released four different bands. And, collector that I am, I have two of them. Two years ago, I bought the Peanuts band. And this year, I bought the Disney Wireless Band. No, I didn't need both. But I sure have been enjoying Mickey and friends.\n\nThese pieces are bigger than your typical ornament. They stand several inches tall and each character is on a separate silver package. There is no hook to hang them, so they are designed to be displayed on a shelf or a floor.\n\nThe five Disney characters in the band are Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, and Goofy. Each has a separate instrument, and when you press a button on one member of the band, they all start to play along. That's what makes them so much fun, and that's the reason to buy all five of them. Each member of the band starts two songs, so when you have all five pieces, they play 10 songs total. To interact, they need to be within a three foot circle. I thought the band in previous years could be further apart than that, but since I like to display a band under one of my Christmas trees, that isn't an issue for me either way.\n\nWhat songs are included? You've got such classics as \"Jingle Bells,\" \"Deck the Halls,\" \"Twelve Days of Christmas,\" and \"O Christmas Tree.\" The only religious song included is \"It Came Upon the Midnight Clear.\" And on the rarer side are \"Nutcracker March\" and \"Carol of the Bells.\" While those aren't songs I would have expected to hear from the set, I love them. In fact, they are my favorites of the songs that are played.\n\nAll the instruments played are electronic versions, but they still sound good. At various times, you can really hear all the instruments in the band playing, and at others they are supporting background. The combination is wonderful. The songs only last about 20 seconds apiece, but they are worth it.\n\nThe arrangements of the songs are fun mostly jazz. They are different than we heard on the Peanuts Wireless Band, so that makes it worth better. All the songs are recognizable but fresh at the same time. Once you've listened to it, you'll understand.\n\nTo start the band playing, hit the button on any member. That member starts one of his or her two songs, and the others join in after a second or two. Hit that member's button again to hear the other song, or hit a different character to hear something else. Another option is to get the characters playing in concert mode. There, they start a new song after 30 or 40 seconds and rotate through all 10 songs.\n\nIn addition to the music, the characters move in time to the music. They just rock back and forth, but it is a nice addition. Minnie on her keyboard and Daisy on her flute really get into the songs. You need to make sure they are located on a secure surface because they rock enough that they scoot. I put mine on the floor under my tree, and they have stayed in place there no problem.\n\nEach member of the band operates on 3 AAA batteries, and the first set came with the pieces. How long the batteries last depend on how much you use them. Just playing them occasionally, the batteries have lasted me all year with no problem. Of course, if you play them on concert mode, the batteries would drain much more quickly. The batters fit into the bottom of the package base no problem.\n\nThese have been a fun addition to my Christmas decorations this year, and I know I'll enjoy the Disney Wireless Band for years to come. Snag these however you can because you'll enjoy them, too.","Product: Each character in the wireless Peanuts Band plays one of two holiday tunes with the press of a button. Put all four together, and they wirelessly interact to play eight different songs in sync - even up to 25 feet apart!\n \nThe characters also sway with the music!\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Peanuts Wireless Band Makes Beautiful Music Together\n\nReview: Each year, Hallmark has several of what they call continuity series. The idea is to release several related items over the course of two or three months in order to get you coming back into the story and buying more things. For 2011, they released the first four members of the Peanuts Wireless Band, and then in 2012 they released a fifth.\n\nThe members of this band are a bit larger than Hallmark ornaments and are not designed to hang on a tree. Instead, they are designed to be set around a room or all together. Personally, I have all five of mine under a tree. But they will still communicate with each other if they are set in the four corners of a room.\n\nThis band isn't just decoration they actually do play music together. There is a button on the front of each one. Each member of the band starts two different songs, but all the others join in and add their instrument to the mix, making a fun harmony.\n\nJust who are the members of the band? Theres Schroeder on piano (obviously), Lucy on flute, Charlie Brown on sax, and Snoopy on guitar. This year, they added Linus on trumpet.\n\nAnd what songs might you hear? Up on the Housetop, Silent Night, We Wish You a Merry Christmas, one verse of \"The Twelve Days of Christmas,\" and \"Deck the Halls\" to name a few. All told, these guys can play a total of 10 songs. As I said, each member leads two different songs, but everyone chimes in. Most of the songs are upbeat renditions, and they only last about 20 seconds or so, but they are fun. I enjoy playing one or two at random every so often.\n\nEach member of the band requires 3 AAA batteries to operate. I still have the batteries from the ones I bought last year, and they are working just fine. If I set them up to play continuously (which is an option), Im sure Id drain the batteries faster. (My roommate and I would also be annoyed since they're in the same room as the TV, but thats another story.)\n\nEach piece features the member of the Peanuts gang on a base made to look like a hardwood floor. Schroeder is sitting, but everyone else is standing. Snoopy is even standing on an amp, so hes the tallest. Everyone is decked out in festive red and green. Each piece is roughly 4 inches tall, so they aren't especially large, but they are bit enough to enjoy.\n\nAnd how do they sound? All of the instruments sound like electronic versions of themselves, not the real thing. And the flute, trumpet, and sax can sound very similar to each other at times. However, all the parts do blend together well, and they make for a nice combination.\n\nEach member of the band was originally $29.95 or $14.95 with a purchase. Of course, they've been out of stores for a couple years now, so tracking them down will be a bit problematic.\n\nBut they are worth it. Im enjoying my Peanuts Wireless Band for the second year and plan to enjoy them for many more years to come.","Product: 2008 Handcrafted Hallmark Keepsake\nEmperor Palpatine Star Wars :Return of the Jedi\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Hallmark's Star Wars Ornament Series Turns to the Dark Side\n\nReview: While Hallmark's official Star Wars ornament series has focused mainly on the heroes from the original trilogy, they have included two villains. Early in the run, they did Darth Vader. For the twelfth ornament in the line, they went even further into the dark side and gave us Emperor Palpatine.\n\nThis ornament is the largest in the series to date because it's not just Emperor Palpatine. Since he spends most of his on screen time sitting in his massive chair, they've included that as well. It's a big, black thing with a round stand. The back circles up over his head, so his face is sitting in shadow. He's got some controls by his right hand, and the padding for his back is brown. But the rest of the chair is black.\n\nThe Emperor himself is mostly black as well. (The movies aren't subtle in their symbolism, are they?) That's because he's wearing a black robe and black shoes that pretty much covers his body. You can see his hands sticking out fairly easily. You have to really tip back the ornament to see his face, which is properly scarred and disfigured, although not quite as bad as it is in the film.\n\nFrankly, this ornament doesn't really grab me. It's not depicting any famous scene, although the Emperor himself is important enough that I understand why he is included in this series. What bothers me more is just how black it is. Yes, it does accurately depict him in his chair, but couldn't they have found some other pose to give us a little more color.\n\nI don't think I'm geeky enough to like having this character on my tree. Yes, I get Darth Vader, and love that ornament. But the Emperor doesn't have quite the same appeal for me. Not quite sure why that is, but there you have it.\n\nMost of the base of this ornament is the round base of the chair. That provides a nice platform, so the ornament sits flat if you chose to display it on a table or shelf. That's also where the series marking and copyright information are located.\n\nThe top of the ornament has the hook you can use to hang it on your Christmas tree. He hangs straight, which isn't a big surprise since they had so much room to play with on top that they could put the hook wherever they wanted it.\n\nThis isn't one of my favorites in the series. I can understand why it was included, but I don't quite get the appeal of Emperor Palpatine on my Christmas tree.","Product: In the B Book, the youngest child will be entertained by a hilarious build-up of words beginning with the letter B. It's an ideal introduction to the realisation that letters represent sounds, and end with a bang! Ages 3+\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Your Kids Will Be Bouncing to Read This Book Again\n\nReview: My family discovered this book when my younger brother was the age for picture books, and we all loved it. In fact, we can still quote it by heart.\n\nThe book is really just a list of things that start with the letter B, but the Berenstains have managed to create a story that's a lot of fun with it. We follow the results when a bear, a bull, and a baboon blow bubbles and bike backwards. What happens? Well, they bump into all kinds of things. And the more they bump, the more absurd the book gets and the more fun it truly is.\n\nAs I said, we all loved this book. It was clever and charming and so out there you can't help but laugh at it. Each page pretty much repeats what came before while adding a new layer to the chaos. And the illustrations capture what is happening perfectly.\n\nThis is a true classic picture book. If you can find a copy, you're family will love it.","Product: By P. D. Eastman, Illustrated by P. D. Eastman\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Still a Fun Beginning Reader\n\nReview: I remember loving this book as a kid, but even then I recognized one thing about it. Rereading it as an adult, I am still surprised by something.\n\nThe book pretty much lacks a plot. Yes, there are a couple of recurring bits, but almost every page until the end is separate from what went before.\n\nHowever, the book has simple sentences and simple vocabulary. And the pictures that go along with the text are fun. Maybe it's the fun of the story that appeals to kids and still appeals to adults. Or maybe it's just the dogs in every day activities that works well.\n\nWhatever the case, I definitely do recommend this book for kids. It's a picture book classic and sure to entertain kids for generations to come.","Product: Berenstains Children's Book. A Dr. Suess favorite.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Your Kids Will Be Bouncing to Read This Book Again\n\nReview: My family discovered this book when my younger brother was the age for picture books, and we all loved it. In fact, we can still quote it by heart.\n\nThe book is really just a list of things that start with the letter B, but the Berenstains have managed to create a story that's a lot of fun with it. We follow the results when a bear, a bull, and a baboon blow bubbles and bike backwards. What happens? Well, they bump into all kinds of things. And the more they bump, the more absurd the book gets and the more fun it truly is.\n\nAs I said, we all loved this book. It was clever and charming and so out there you can't help but laugh at it. Each page pretty much repeats what came before while adding a new layer to the chaos. And the illustrations capture what is happening perfectly.\n\nThis is a true classic picture book. If you can find a copy, you're family will love it.","Product: London. 27cm. 174p. : ill,some col. Encuadernacin en tapa blanda de editorial ilustrada. Idioma Ingls. C. S. Lewis ; illustrations by Pauline Baynes. [Chronicles of Narnia ][The lion, the witch and the wardrobe. ]. Narnia novels. Chronicles of Narnia 1. Chronicles of Narnia. Ill. on lining papers. First published : Geoffrey Bles, 1950 .. Este libro es de segunda mano y tiene o puede tener marcas y seales de su anterior propietario. ISBN: 0001831526; 9780001831520\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: My Favorite of the Narnia Tales\n\nReview: Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy have been sent to live with a professor in the country during the London air-raids. While exploring the large house, Lucy finds that the wardrobe in the spare room transports her to the magical land of Narnia. The country is under the spell of a terrible witch who has made it always winter but never Christmas. At first, her siblings don't believe her, but soon they, too, find themselves in this new country. With danger around every turn, they must survive treachery to join Aslan the lion in the fight to free Narnia and break the spell.\nI read this book for the first time in third grade, and it holds up just as well today. The pace of the writing is a bit slow, but the adventure is sure to hook readers. Lewis creates a wonderful fanciful world that is lots of fun to visit. This is the first I read and still my favorite. There's something about this book that captures the wonder of finding a new, magical world that the other books don't have.\nLewis also created just the right spell for his land to horrify kids and to a lesser extend adults. The idea of always having winter and all it brings but never getting to celebrate Christmas is too awful to mention.\nA brief word about book order. When I read this book, it was considered the first in the series. Now, some people have put the books in chronological order, making it the second. While I fell that reading them in the original order is the best approach, it really doesn't matter that much. Nothing about the other books is spoiled here since this was the first one written, but not much about this book is spoiled if you read them in the order events occur.\nNarnia is one of several classic kids' series about mythical countries and is still my favorite. It's perfect for anyone wanting to leave our world behind for a touch of fantasy.","Product: Agatha Christie's most famous murder mystery, reissued with a striking new cover designed to appeal to the latest generation of Agatha Christie fans and book lovers. Just after midnight, a snowdrift stops the Orient Express in its tracks. The luxurious train is surprisingly full for the time of the year, but by the morning it is one passenger fewer. An American tycoon lies dead in his compartment, stabbed a dozen times, his door locked from the inside. Isolated and with a killer in their midst, detective Hercule Poirot must identify the murderer -- in case he or she decides to strike again.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Even Knowing the End, This is a Wonderful Mystery\n\nReview: While I love mysteries, I must admit my knowledge of the early masters of the genre is very limited. Ive only listened to a handful of Agatha Christie stories on CD over the years, for example. Still, over the years Id had the ending to Murder on the Orient Express spoiled for me. When I decided to listen to it on CD recently, I was wondering how that would affect my impression of the story. I need not have worried; I still loved it.\n\nHercule Poirot had hoped to have a few days to spend in Istanbul on his way home from a case in Syria, but when he arrives, he finds himself being summoned back to England. Even though travel is usually light in the winter months, he still has a hard time finding passage on the next train, only getting on because he is friends with someone who works for that particular line.\n\nOn the train the first day, he is recognized by Mr. Ratchett, an American who asks for Poirots help since Ratchett is in fear for his life. Poirot refuses for one simple reason, he doesnt like the mans looks. Something about him really bothers the detective.\n\nHowever, that night, Ratchett is indeed murdered in his first class sleeping compartment. Since the train is stuck in a snow storm, Poirot is asked to help find the killer. It is quickly determined that the killer is still on the train, but the clues at the crime scene point to two very different killers, and all the passengers seem to have alibis. Can Poirot solve this case?\n\nIt was actually fun reading this story knowing the ending. (No, Im not going to spoil anything.) Even then, I couldn't quite see how Poirot was going to figure it all out. I was in awe as he worked the solution out over the course of the book. And yes, it is a logical ending. Even knowing what it was, I wasn't sure if I would buy it or not, but I did completely.\n\nIve heard that Agatha Christie isn't super strong when it comes to characters, but I didn't feel that here at all. We have a large cast, and I didn't have any trouble keeping them all straight. They were real enough to make me care about the outcome, and I felt for some of them as the story progressed. Thats important as the case draws to its climax.\n\nSo Im glad to finally know the full story of Murder on the Orient Express. No matter whether you go into the story spoiled or not, this is a book youll enjoy reading.","Product: Mini version of the hard covered book\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Where Will Giving a Moose a Muffin Lead?\n\nReview: When you see a moose out your kitchen window, you might be tempted to give him a muffin. That is, of course, a nice gesture. But can you really eat a muffin without jam? And that jam might make a mess, and then who knows where that might lead. Somehow, I think it will be a fun tale (or is that tail).\n\nOnce again, this imaginative author has written a good that is fun. The progression is pretty wild, but it also seems logical as you are going along. The illustrations are wonderful as well and really help tell the story, which is told in just a couple of sentences on a page.\n\nThe wild imagination is great for all ages, but kids especially will enjoy seeing where things lead. Pick this up today and see just what feeding a moose might get you into.","Product: HardCover. Pub Date :2004-10-18 Pages: 400 Language: English Publisher: HarperCollins UK This deluxe slipcased edition of The Hobbit. printed and bound using superior materials including a silk ribbon marker. features the definitive text. plus Tolkien's paintings and drawings in full colour. and a special fold-out version of Thror's Map.Bilbo Baggins enjoys a quiet and contented life. with no desire to travel far from the comforts of home; then one day the wizard Gandalf and a band of dwarves arrive unexpectedly and enlist his services - as a burglar - on a dangerous expedition to raid the treasure-hoard of Smaug the dragon.Bilbo 's life is never to be the same again.Seldom has any book been so widely read and loved as JRRTolkien's classic tale. The Hobbit.Since its first publication in 1937 it has remained in print to delight each new generation of readers all over the worl...\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Adventuring we will go\n\nReview: Bilbo Baggins was perfectly content with his life. The last thing he wanted was to be involved in an adventure. But when the wizard Gandalf invites a group of dwarves over, he find himself drawn into their quest to reclaim their mountain and fortune that a dragon stole from them years ago. Now Bilbo will have to adjust to new situations daily as they encounter wolves, goblins, giant eagles and spiders, and other creatures just to get to the mountain. Once they get there, they have to face the fierce dragon. Can they survive?\nThis is a fun adventure. It's very easy to feel for Bilbo as they face one obstacle after another. \"He thought of his home, not for the last time.\" I smiled every time I saw that line. My biggest complaint about the book is that it is a bit episodic in nature. Their many adventures don't seem that interrelated for most of the book. This is a minor issue, however, and it's very hard not to like the characters and root them on in their quest to reclaim their rightful place.\nI've read this book twice, and hope to get to the Lord of the Rings soon. The fun story and likeable characters make it easy to see why there are so many fans of these books","Product: The first Miss Marple novel. The first of a new-look series of audio books for the 21st century. Beautifully re-packaged with stunning new cover illustrations and design that rival some of the best jackets and audio collections out there! Story telling at it's best, that makes them a delight to listen to. 'Anyone who murdered Colonel Protheroe,' declared the parson, brandishing a carving knife above a joint of roast beef, 'would be doing the world at large a service!' It was a careless remark for a man of the cloth. And one which was to come back and haunt the clergyman just a few hours later. From seven potential murderers, Miss Marple must seek out the suspect who has both motive and opportunity.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Classic Mystery as You'd Expect\n\nReview: It's no secret that no one in St. Mary Mead likes Colonel Protheroe. He is strict, somber, and by the numbers. But when the vicar returns home late for a meeting, he's surprised to find Colonel Protheroe shot through the head. The local police are called in and two people confess. Yet something doesn't seem quite right. Fortunately, Miss Marple lives next door. With her sharp mind talent for learning gossip, she just might make sense of everything that's happening.\n\nOk, I confess. I love a good cozy mystery but have yet to read much Christie. I can tell I need to change that. This book had me confused from the get go. There were so many red herrings it was hard to tell what was really happening. Yet it all came together at the end in a logical conclusion.\n\nI checked this audio version out of the local library for a trip and only after listening to it discovered that it was abridged. While disappointed, I never would have noticed. It was expertly cut, and everything was there I need to enjoy the story. Ian Masters did a great job of bring the characters and story to life.\n\nAgatha Christie is a class mystery writer for a reason. Anyone who loves a good puzzle with a surprising conclusion will love this book.","Product: Witch trials in seventeeth-century Connecticut -- a Newbery-Medal winning classic. Kit Tyler is marked by suspicion and disapproval from the moment she arrives on the unfamiliar shores of colonial Connecticut in 1687. Alone and desperate, she has been forced to leave her beloved home on the island of Barbados and join a family she has never met. Kit's unconventional background and high-spirited ways immediately clash with the Puritanical lifestyle of her uncle's household, and despite her best efforts to adjust, it seems Kit will never win the favour of those around her. Torn between her quest for belonging and her desire to be true to herself, Kit struggles to survive in a hostile place, and just when it seems she must give up, she finds a kindred spirit. But Kit's friendship with old Hannah Tupper, who is believed by the colonists to be a witch, proves more taboo than she could have imagined, and ultimately Kit is forced to choose between her heart and her duty. Elizabeth George Speare's Newbery Medal-winning novel portrays the life of a girl uprooted from her birthplace and yet unbound by the suppression of her new home, a heroine whom readers will admire for her unwavering sense of truth as well as her infinite capacity to love.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: A Bewitching Story for Kids of All Ages\n\nReview: It's April of 1687 when Kit Tyler steps on shore in Connecticut. Having recently lost her grandfather, she's come to the colonies to live with her uncle and aunt. But her new town is completely different from her old life in Barbados. Not only does she have to do the chores she used to have servants do, but her Puritan relatives are much stricter then her previous upbringing has taught her to be.\nBut her life isn't all bad. There is the interest William, the most eligible bachelor in town, has shown in her. And there's the refuge she's managed to find in Hannah, the town outcast suspected of being a witch. But will she ever truly adjust to her new life?\nI found this book in Jr. High, and have read it four or five times since then. I recently reread it again, and was completely drawn into the story. I couldn't put it down, and I already knew how it ended. The characters are sympathetic and interesting, especially Kit. You can help but root for her to find some happiness in her new life. The plot is engrossing, with several sub-plots expertly woven through the book. And the time and place of the setting is brought to life in such an amazing way it feels like you are actually in the town of Wethersfield.\nThis book is so engrossing that anyone will love it. And the theme about judging others will stick with you long after you've read the last page. I can not recommend this book highly enough. Ms. Speare is an excellent author.","Product: Everyone laughs when Horton the Elephant offers to sit on Mayzie bird's egg while she goes on holiday. Horton's kindness and faithfulness are sorely tested when he, and the egg, are kidnapped and sold to a circus -- but his reward for being faithful is more wonderful than he could ever have dreamed! With his unique combination of hilarious stories, zany pictures and riotous rhymes, Dr Suess has been delighting young children and helping them learn to read for over fifty years. Creator of the wonderfully anarchic Cat in the Hat, and ranked among the UK's top ten favourite children's authors, Dr. Seuss is a global best-seller, with nearly half a billion books sold worldwide. As part of a major rebrand programme, HarperCollins is relaunching Dr Seuss's best-selling books. In response to consumer demand, bright new cover designs incorporate much-needed guidance on reading levels. The standard paperbacks divide into three reading strands -- Blue Back Books for parents to share with young children, Green Back Books for budding readers to tackle on their own, and Yellow Back Books for older, more fluent readers to enjoy. This is a Yellow Back book.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: An Elephants Faithful One Hundred Percent\n\nReview: Dr. Seuss created a few very memorable characters over the course of his many picture books, and Horton the elephant is certainly one of them. He made his first appearance in Horton Hatches the Egg. I loved this book as a kid, and I find it holds up just as well now.\n\nOne day Horton stumbles upon Mayzie, a bird trying to hatch an egg. Mayzie is ready for a vacation, so Horton agrees to keep her egg warm. However, Mayzie has no intention of coming back, but instead enjoy a permanent trip to sunnier realms. Will Horton stay on the egg? What will he face while he does?\n\nIts always nice to find a childhood favorite that stands the test of time, and this book does that splendidly. Yes, as an adult, I did have to question just how long it took Horton to hatch the egg, but it just makes for a better story. None of the complications last very long, this is a picture book after all, but there is some fun and imagination at work in the story. Horton is a great characters, and its easy to like him. Plus we get a great moral about sticking to your word, something that comes about naturally from the story.\n\nDr. Seuss was a marvelous illustrator as well. This book is filled with his pen and ink illustrations. Most have minimal color, but they are still great to look at. They really capture the humor in an elephant sitting in a tree on a nest and a few of the other things that happen along the way. And the pictures at the climax really sell the story.\n\nAnd this story is told in classic Seuss rhyme. The cadence is perfect for reading aloud, and the amount of words on a page isn't overwhelming. It should keep those with short attention spans entertained.\n\nWhile this book isn't usually classified as one of Seusss easy reader books, Id argue it could be. Its not quite as simple as Green Eggs and Ham, but most of the words are easy enough. This might not be a good book for very beginning readers, but I think a young reader who is ready for something slightly more challenging will do great at this book with an adult to help them read the very few harder words.\n\nAnd so I recommend Horton Hatches the Egg. Its just as much fun now as it was when I read it as a child and when Dr. Seuss first wrote it 75 years ago.","Product: With his unique combination of hilarious stories, zany pictures and riotous rhymes, Dr. Seuss has been delighting young children and helping them learn to read for over fifty years. Creator of the wonderfully anarchic Cat in the Hat, and ranked among the UK's top ten favourite children's authors, Dr. Seuss is a global best-seller, with over half a billion books sold worldwide.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Can Bartholomew Remove His Hat?\n\nReview: Bartholomew Cubbins, lowest of the subject of King Derwin has gone into town to sell some cranberries for his parents. When the king passes by, he doffs his hat, only have the king stop and accuse him of not taking his hat off. Surprised to find it is true, he takes his hat off, only to find a third hat on his head. The king has him arrested and begins trying to figure out ways to keep the hat off. His wise men and magicians are certainly no help. Meanwhile, Bartholomew must figure out a way to get his hat to stay off his head before the consequences become drastic.\nThis is an early Dr. Seuss book, and a lesser known of his works. Still, it tells a fun story about a boy in trouble for something he didn't do. Everyone can relate to that. Even when the king becomes obsessed with the hat, Bartholomew never looses his respect for the king.\nThis doesn't have the charm, creativity, or poetry of some of his other works, but is still fun for kids because of the absurd length they reach to try to get rid of that hat.","Product: C. S. Lewis was one of the greatest Christian Writers of our age. His \"Screwtape Letters\" still stirs considerable controversy. He wrote from the perspective of a devil giving advice to another devil in how to tempt a Christian. In doing so, he reveals to us how we let evil into our own lives. Lewis's work has influenced three generations of Christian thinkers and will continue to be a seminal Christian work.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Fresh Look at Temptation and Spiritual Warfare from the Other Side\n\nReview: I love The Chronicles of Narnia. Seriously, in any form Ive encountered them, Ive fallen under the spell of them. But Ive never moved on to any of C. S. Lewiss other books until this month, when I listened to The Screwtape Letters. Naturally, Id heard about this book for years, and I can certainly see why people talk about it so much.\n\nThe premise of the book is unique. Its a series of letters from Screwtape, a senior devil, to his nephew Wormwood, who is on his first assignment as a tempter. We don't get many details on the man Wormwood is trying to lead astray (he is always called the Patient), but as we go through the roughly 30 letters, a story begins to unfold. The Patient is a new Christian, and it is Wormwoods job to keep that conversion from sticking. Screwtape offers advice on just about anything from his home life to his new love and even the growing European war. As he does so, we get insight into how even good things can be easily twisted for evil and how the enemy thinks.\n\nOr maybe not. The thing to remember while reading the book is that this is all one mans conjecture on how things are in the spiritual realm. As I was listening, I kept having to remind myself that this is not necessarily the way things are. Having said that, what is here is actually quite logical and makes a lot of sense with what Ive seen in my own life. There is much to think about and chew on, and the book is well worth reading for that reason alone. Just keep in mind that it is fiction as you think about it.\n\nWhat I think struck me the most is how easily good things can be twisted around to make them sinful. That is hit upon several times over the course of the book, and I could certainly see the point Lewis was making. For example, pride can easily crop up in a group that is right on an issue. Its not anything I didn't already know before, but seeing it laid out from the other side made hit me in a different way.\n\nThe book was originally published in 1941, meaning that World War II plays a huge part in the events unfolding. That may date a few of the references, but none of the real issues brought up are at all dated.\n\nIn fact, as Screwtape was expounding on the way the demons are trying to influence the population at large, I recognized much in our world today. The book may be almost 75 years old, but the vision that Lewis had of our culture and how it would unfold in the future is downright scary at times. The book concludes with Screwtape Proposes a Toast, a speech Lewis wrote in the early 60s reviving the Screwtape character. Again, his observations are spot on even all these years later.\n\nWhich is why I feel I am sorry to have to point out a theological flaw to the book. It is obvious as you read that Screwtape thinks a person can lose their salvation. Thats dangerous theology, and not the way I read the Bible. I certainly think that Christians can still be lead into sin, however, but the idea that the demons can claim a Christians soul goes against what I think the Bible teaches.\n\nThe audio version I listened to was from Blackstone Audio and narrated by Ralph Cosham. He did a great job keeping my interest, which considering the lack of dialogue and other normal fiction trappings was quite a feat. In a lot of ways, this is non-fiction disguised as fiction, and the mix is just right to keep it interesting and make you think.\n\nSo be sure to read The Screwtape Letters with discernment, but by all means read it and think about what is presented in this short novel. There is a reason that it has been read and talked about for all these years.","Product: Jon Scieszka introduces some really stupid off-the-wall fairy tales including: \"Chicken Licken\", \"The Princess and the Bowling Ball\"; \"The Really Ugly Duckling\", and \"Jack's Bean Problem\". Chosen by children as the Book of the Year for the Federation of Children's Book Groups, this book was described by \"She magazine\" as, 'The most delightful collection of stories a young cynic could hope to read'.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Fairy Tales Like You've Never Heard Before\n\nReview: The title of this book alone was enough to get me to pick it up. As a picture book, it's a fairly simple read, although I think it's mainly aimed at kids in the 4 or 5 year old range and up. They're the ones who will get the humor the best.\n\nWhy? Well, this book is a collection of twisted fairy tales. We've got \"Chicken Licken,\" who is convinced the sky is falling - only it's not the sky. We learn what was really happening behind the scenes with the \"Princess and the Pea\" and how the prince overcame it. \"Little Red Running Shorts\" tells an interesting story about the importance of running. \"The Tortoise and the Hair\" introduces us to the stupidest contest of all time. Plus our narrator Jack gets into more trouble with his Giant, the Little Red Hen wanders through the book, and the title story creates quite a stink.\n\nAll told, there are roughly 10 stories here ranging from one page to eight pages. Overall, the book is around 50 pages. There is more text than your average picture book as well, so this one will take a little while to read. But the giggles and laughs at the twists in the story will more than make up for it.\n\nSo if your child is moving beyond simple picture books, this is one to get. You'll find both of you laughing the entire way through.","Product: This is the number one, bestselling title in this new spin-off series from Percy Jackson creator, Rick Riordan. Old enemies awaken as camp half-blood's new arrivals prepare for war. When Jason, Piper and Leo crash land at Camp Half-Blood, they have no idea what to expect. Apparently this is the only safe place for children of the Greek Gods - despite the monsters roaming the woods and demigods practising archery with flaming arrows and explosives. But rumours of a terrible curse - and a missing hero - are flying around camp. It seems Jason, Piper and Leo are the chosen ones to embark on a terrifying new quest, which they must complete by the winter solstice in just four days time. Can the trio succeed on this deadly mission - and what must they sacrifice in order to survive?\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: New Chapter in Greek Mythology\n\nReview: Jason is on a bus in the middle of the desert. He is with Piper, his girlfriend, and Leo, his best friend. The only problem is, he has no recollection of anything that happened to him before waking up on the bus. Then the trio are attacked by a monster and rushed off to Camp Half-Blood, where they learn they are demigods.\n\nBut all three of them have secrets, potentially deadly secrets. They must ban together on a quest to free the goddess Hera before the winter solstice. But will their secrets tear them apart?\n\nWhile this may be the first in a new series, it definitely is a follow up to the Percy Jackson series. While Percy is missing in this book, several other characters from that series make appearances, and the events of book 5 are discussed. So don't start here.\n\nBut do read this book. Yes, at times it seemed over long, but I'm not sure what I would cut out. The action and mystery never lets up until the end. The characters were wonderful. I love all three of the main ones and wanted to see them succeed even against overwhelming odds.\n\nIf this is any indication of what we have to look forward to with the rest of this series, I can't wait to read more. It's a great adventure novel for kids of all ages.","Product: Brand NEW. We ship worldwide\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Battling the Forces of Gaea One Last Time\n\nReview: It is now 10 days until the forces of Gaea intend to wake her and overthrow the gods. The resulting battle and Gaea and her minions plans for Earth will kill all of humanity. Jason, Piper, Leo, and the other four demigods are racing around ancient Greece trying to find the last few things they need to potentially defeat her. Of course, if the Greek and Roman sides of the gods don't merge, they will have no hope at all.\n\nWhich is why Reyna, Nico, and Coach Hedge are trying to get the Athena Parthenos back to Camp Half-Blood before the deadline. Octavian is sitting outside the camp ready to attack on August 1st. With each shadow jump he makes, Nico fades a little bit more, and the trio are being chased by the might hunter Orion. Will Nicos strength give out? Even if they get the statue back to the camp, will they be in time to save the day and heal the rift between the two demigod camps?\n\nIf none of what Ive just said makes sense to you, don't even think about picking up this book yet. This is the fifth and climatic book in a series, and it assumes you have already met the characters and are familiar with the situation. After all, the entire series has been leading up to this moments, so its a pretty fair assumption.\n\nFor those who have read the rest of the books, they will love this one. Yes, it is possible that one or two of the side trips didn't really need to take place, but I never felt like things were truly dragging. It helped that we were constantly switching back and forth between the two groups, and there was something always happening when we popped in on them. The great character development continues as well, and yes, that includes Nico and his revelation from the previous book.\n\nThis is a wonderful climax to an engaging series. Fans who have been enjoying the books all along will love the latest chapter. Everyone else will enjoy it, too, as soon as they catch up with the previous books in the series.","Product: Brand NEW. We ship worldwide\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Percy Jackson Sets Out to Save a Friend in Another Fun Quest\n\nReview: Earlier this year, I discovered the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, and was immediately hooked. Percy, our thirteen year old hero, is a demigod, the son of a mortal woman and the ancient Greek god Poseidon. The Sea of Monsters is the second book in the series, and it's another fun ride through ancient mythology with a modern twist.\n\nIt's been nine months since we last checked in on Percy, and he's managed to make it through an entire school year without any major incidents. But his world is about to be turned upside down. His class is attacked by monsters on the last day of school. He is rescued by his friend Annabeth only to learn things aren't so good back at Camp Half-Blood, the camp for demigods. Someone has poisoned the tree that creates the magical perimeter, and the camp is under attack.\n\nAnd there are the dreams. Percy keeps dreaming about his satyr friend Grover. Last we knew, Grove set out on a quest to find the god Pan, but he's fallen into a trap and needs Percy to come rescue him or the consequences will be dire. Can Percy, Annabeth, and Percy's new half brother Tyson survive the sea of monsters to complete their new quest?\n\nI've got to admit I had fun reading this book. The juxtaposition of ancient Greek myths on modern American life is quite fun. I love how so much of what we know is explained in these books, like why the Bermuda Triangle exists.\n\nThe characters continue to grow here. All the ones we love (or love to hate) put in appearances, some more so than others. I felt like their growth was a direct result of who they are and what they go through.\n\nThere is an underlying story building in the series, which by necessity spoils some events from the first book. If you don't want that to happen, don't start here. My main point, however, is how nicely this overarching story is building. It's obviously important and drives much of the action here. But I still felt like we got a complete story here, although the last page left me anxious to get to the next book.\n\nHowever, I didn't enjoy this book quite as much as the first. It took me a little while to put my finger on why. Part of the problem is mine. More than the first in the series, I felt this was a series of adventures keeping Percy from getting to his final destination. That may just be my mystery wired brain expecting something from a different genre. I also felt like the story here was a little too familiar. It borrowed a couple plot points from the first book (already), and I even found a couple parallels between this book and the second Harry Potter book. I'm sure that last one is a coincidence, but it did stick out to me. Finally, the climax is a dues ex machina that would make the ancient Greeks proud.\n\nDespite the flaws, I did still enjoy the majority of the book. Now that I've survived The Sea of Monsters, I will be moving on to see where Percy's journey takes him next.","Product: Donald J. Sobol was the author of the highly acclaimed Encyclopedia Brown series and many other books. His awards include a special Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America for his contribution to mystery writing in the United States, and the Pacific Northwest Library Association Young Readers’ Choice Award for Encyclopedia Brown Keeps the Peace.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: 50 Years Later, Still the Smartest Guy in the Room\n\nReview: This is the first book about Encyclopedia Brown, a fifth grade genius who catches criminals in the act by noticing their lies. The book is filled with 10 stories, each one around seven pages long. While the first one has the solution as part of the story, the rest invite you to catch the clue that Encyclopedia did and has the solution in the back of the book.\n\nSo what kind of cases does Encyclopedia solve? There's a thief who was on a cross country road trip when the crime took place. A bank robbery takes place in town, and Encyclopedia fingers the robbers. And for the kids in the neighborhood, he proves who really owns a tent, determines if a sword is really from the Civil War, and steps in at an egg spinning contest.\n\nI read this book years ago, but I must admit I had forgotten many of these cases. A couple came back to me as I read, but for the rest, I must admit I could often almost guess the solution, but I didn't really know for sure what the clue was.\n\nSince this book is now 50 years old, some of the references are dated, as is the amount of money Encyclopedia charges for his services. The characters are also a little flat, but I didn't mind as a kid, and I doubt today's kids would mind either.\n\nSo you still can't go wrong with this detective. Encyclopedia entertains, amazes, and astonishes all while wearing sneakers.","Product: Mike Wingate is a happy guy, with a wife, a child, and a booming business in green housing development. Then suspicious characters start trailing him, and his past returns with a vengeance. Seems that the father who abandoned him as a child was a bad guy indeed.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Fleeing From an Unknown Past\n\nReview: As a four year old, Mike was abandoned at a playground. Entering foster care, he has only murky recollections of his parents. Despite his rough start, he manages to grow up, adopt the last name Wingate, and become a successful contractor with a happy marriage and a daughter of his own.\n\nBut then one day, a woman claiming to be a neighbor from Mike's baby days comes forward with information about his family. Meanwhile, two sinister men are shadowing him and his family. What secret from his past is making him a target? Can he survive long enough to find out?\n\nI'd like to say this book starts off with a bang, but actually the beginning is my biggest complaint. It seems slow and felt pointless to me. Once the story does get going, it is a thrill ride that kept me turning pages. Actually, I planned to read the bulk of this on a plane ride, and I was glad for the non-interrupted reading time because I didn't want to put it down.\n\nThe characters are great, especially Mike. He was easy to root for, and his backstory, told in two longish flashbacks, it sad yet compelling.\n\nDespite the slow start, this is pulse pounding and emotionally compelling. Definitely worth reading.","Product: book\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: With Kidnapping Comes Murder\n\nReview: When Archie Goodwin ushers former stage actress Althea Vail into Nero Wolfe's office, he assumes she will be dismissed in just a few minutes. Instead, Althea lays out a tale of kidnapping that Nero can't resist.\n\nIt seems that Althea's current husband, Jimmy Vail, has been kidnapped. Althea is more then willing to pay the ransom, but she wants to hire Nero in case something goes wrong.\n\nThe ransom payment goes fine and Jimmy returns. In fact, everything seems to be going well. Until the police call and ask Althea to identify a body. Nero has put his reputation on the line for this case, so he can't let it go. But what is really going on? Meanwhile, Nero is also hired to find the missing ransom money. Can he do that without leaving home?\n\nThis is only my second outing with Nero Wolfe, but I really enjoyed it. Nero is an interesting character. I must admit I tend to like him in spite of his harsh demeanor. I'm sure that Archie really helps in that regard. The plot moves swiftly from one event to another. The solution was obvious yet so covered with red herrings I never saw it coming.\n\nThe book was written in the 60's, so that makes the occasional reference dated. On the whole, this is a strong mystery that will please any fan of the genre.","Product: Another calvin and hobbs adventure\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: \"What Could Possibly Go Wrong?\" \"Whenever You Ask That, My Tail Gets All Bushy.\"\n\nReview: The Indispensable Calvin and Hobbes is the third treasury of this classic comic strip. It contains all the strips from the original, smaller books The Revenge of the Baby-Sat and Scientific Progress Goes \"Boink.\" It has all the Sunday cartoons in their original color and includes some poems at the beginning that are also new to this book.\n\nAnd if you are new to Calvin and Hobbes, you are in for a treat. Calvin is a hyper-active, overly imaginative six-year-old. Looking for proof? His best friend is Hobbes. Now to everyone else in the world, Hobbes is a stuffed tiger. But to Calvin, he's a real tiger that walks upright and talks. Somehow, Hobbes does seem to be the smarter one of the duo. Other characters populating the strip are Calvin's parents, next door neighbor Susie, school bully Moe, Rosaline the babysitter, and his teacher Miss Wormwood.\n\nThe strips in this book represent a year and a half of time (although the characters never age). Some of the strips are one offs with a punch line at the end of the panels. Others tell a story with a joke each day leading up to a climax of some sort.\n\nThis book seems to be pretty big on Calvin's imagination. For example, we get lots of stories involving Spaceman Spiff, Calvin's astronaut alter ego and his fight with the aliens who want to make him do his homework of go to bed (ie., Miss Wormwood or his parents). This book also contains a classic series where Calvin must write a report on bats for school, and he tries to make it up as he goes along. We get plenty of appearances by Calvin's superhero identity Stupendous Man (Calvin in a cap and mask) as he tries to defeat Rosaline or get out of homework. Speaking of homework, there's a long sequence when poor Calvin gets in trouble for not doing his homework after his personal gravity reverses so he falls up. Once that is resolved, Calvin finds himself growing to the size of a galaxy. And Calvin invents a duplicator that makes enough copies of himself so he only has to go to school one day a week.\n\nThis book also features two first that would later become common themes in the strip. This is the first time we see a meeting of G.R.O.S.S. (Get Rid Of Slimy girlS). Before the tree house became their meeting place, they tried to meet in the garage with disastrous results. Finally, we get the first few strips involving Calvinball, the only sport where you can't play it the same way twice.\n\nAs you might have guessed by now, I love this strip. It doesn't matter how many times I've read it, I also laugh at some of them. Calvin can get pretty philosophical at times, especially while careening down a hill on a sled or wagon, and the results of those are usually pretty funny as well. Yes, there is general humor, but there are also jokes that take stabs at our culture with dead on results.\n\nThe strips collected here are some the late 80's and early 90's, so some of the references are a bit dated. Calvin talks about renting a VCR for example, instead of having a DVD player to watch movies. Outside of that, most of the jokes are something that will appeal to all ages. True, Calvin is not a good role model, but his antics are so wacky that I think most kids would recognize that fact.\n\nEven after 20 years and countless reads, I still find something to laugh at every time I read The Indispensable Calvin and Hobbes. If you haven't read anything from classic comic strip, do yourself a favor and pick up a book today. You'll be laughing before you know it.","Product: Another calvin and hobbs adventure\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Your collection isn't complete without this book\n\nReview: As a fan of Calvin and Hobbes, I put off getting this book because I thought it was merely a best of collection I didn't need since I had all the others. Boy was I wrong! This book is a wonderful insight into the mind behind my favorite strip of all time.\nBill Watterson spends the first part of the book talking about everything from character names and personalities to his fights to keep his characters from being over commercialized. While I wish there were more products available, I do respect him for sticking to his principles on this. He also talks about the format of the Sunday strips.\nThe rest of the book is a collection of strips, starting with the very first. What is interesting here is Mr. Watterson's commentary. Whether it's the idea behind or an amusing story that happened because of a strip, it's all very entertaining. It also brings out some of the themes talked about it the strip. He also discusses the ideas behind such staples as the wagon, Calvin's box, and Spaceman Spiff.\nI truly miss this wonderful strip because of its creativity and insights into our American culture. This book shows the behinds the scene story in an entertaining and informative way.","Product: Richard Castle is the best-selling author of the Nikki Heat and Derrick Storm novels. He is played by actor Nathan Fillion. Tom Straw is an Emmy-nominated TV writer and producer. He has written and produced for the television shows COSBY, WHOOPI, GRACE UNDER FIRE, and more, and is currently writing for THE LATE LATE SHOW WITH CRAIG FERGUSON. He is the author of the mystery THE TRIGGER EPISODE.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Can Nikki Solve a Frozen Case?\n\nReview: At first, it looks like just another bazaar murder to NYPD Detective Nikki Heat. A woman has been found in a suitcase in a delivery truck's freezer compartment. But then Nikki takes a closer look at the suitcase and discovers her initials in the top. She carved them there when she was a little girl. And the suitcase was stolen when her own mother was murdered a decade ago.\n\nPulling in every available person, including writer and boyfriend Jameson Rook, Nikki begins investigating the fresh murder and reopening the cold case of her own mother's murder. Will this new corpse help her solve the one case she most wants to solve?\n\nI was surprised when I realize where the plot of this book was going since on the TV show Castle, Beckett wasn't quite to this point when the book came out. But since the plot goes in a very different direction than the TV series, it makes sense. And the end will definitely leave you wanting more.\n\nAs always, catching the references to the show and watching the characters based on those characters adds to the fun. But if you aren't a fan of the show, you'll still get a great mystery out of it. There are plenty of twists and things don't resolve until the last few pages.\n\nUnfortunately, the writing is still a factor. It's lazy, telling instead of showing and head hopping like crazy between Nikki and Rook. It seemed better in the last one, but it's worse again here.\n\nFans of the series certainly won't mind, and if you enjoy a good book you'll still enjoy this one. Just know it isn't as fast a read as it could be as a result of the poor writing.","Product: Pictorial boards, Christian series, Fictional\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Powerful Story of God's Love and Forgiveness\n\nReview: It's been a year since the end of A VOICE IN THE WIND. Marcus is feeling restless. His life of pleasure no longer holds any happiness for him. Julia is finding that her friends really don't care for her, and she is fighting an illness that no one seems to be able to cure. Their mother, Phoebe, prays constantly for their salvation. Fortunately, God has not given up on them. And the answer might come from the strange woman hidden in veils who assists the young doctor Alexander at his shop in the poor part of town.\nFrancine Rivers has once again captured the Roman empire of the 1st century AD. Rome, Ephesus, and Israel come alive with compelling people and small historic details. The theme of God's love and the power of forgiveness are beautifully shown through the lives of these characters. The ending was so powerful, I'm sure it will stay with me for quite some time.\nThis novel is definitely a sequel to the first book in the series, A VOICE IN THE WIND. Enough of the first book is explained so you won't be lost if you choose to read this one first. However, since you'll ultimately want to read the first one, I recommend starting with it so none of the surprises will be spoiled.\nThese novels are some of the best Christian fiction I've ever read. If you enjoy a good story with strong characters, you'll want to pick these up and read them today.","Product: QUALITY USED BOOK\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: \"What Did I Just Tell You?\" \"Beats Me. Weren't You Listening Either?\"\n\nReview: And so it began.\n\nThis treasury included the strips from the first two collections of the comic strip Calvin and Hobbes. And if you don't know what you have been missing, you are in for a treat.\n\nThe comic strip follows the misadventures of Calvin, a highly imaginative, hyperactive six year old. How imaginative? His only real friend is Hobbes, his stuff tiger. But that isn't a problem because Hobbes is really a real tiger, at least in Calvin's mind.\n\nSince this is the first book, things are still being established. But many of the strips staples are here already. We meet Calvin's parents, teacher Miss Wormwood, neighbor Susie Derkins, and bully Moe. We even get the first couple of run ins with babysitter Rosalyn. While we don't get the hilarious social satire that would show up later, we do get some comments on the environment and Calvin's obsession with polls. (He is constantly trying to get his dad to bend to political pressure by showing his standings with household six year olds and tigers.) And we get plenty of adventures from Spaceman Spiff, Calvin's imagination again as he tries to deal with the various aliens in his life like his parents or teacher.\n\nI tend to read the later books more often, so I had forgotten just how go the early strips are until I picked this up. There are so true classics here, most of the time at Calvin's six year old nature. Not that I'd want my kids getting any ideas from Calvin. He doesn't see anything wrong with pounding nails into coffee tables or popping popcorn without the lid on the pot.\n\nAnd that does bring up the only possible flaw with the book. These strips originally appeared in 1985-1987, so at times they are a little dated. Calvin makes reference to renting a VCR or wanting to get cable. But that doesn't bother me in the slightest.\n\nThis \"treasury\" collects the strips from the first two books. As a bonus, there is a story told in poem form at the beginning and the Sunday strips are in color. If you have the two books, you probably don't need this one. But if you don't have them, this is the way to go.\n\nThe day this strip ended was a sad day indeed. But thanks to books like this one, we can relive it over and over again.","Product: Preparations are underway for Lake Eden, Minnesota's annual Winter Carnival - and Hannah Swensen is set to bake up a storm at her popular shop, The Cookie Jar. Too bad the honour of creating the official Winter Carnival cake went to famous lifestyle maven Connie Mac - a half-baked idea, in Hannah's opinion. She suspects Connie Mac is a lot like the confections she whips up on her cable TV cooking show - sweet, light, and scrumptious-looking, but likely to leave a bitter taste in your mouth.Hannah's suspicions are confirmed when Connie Mac's limo rolls into town. Turns out America's 'cooking sweetheart' is a bossy, bad-tempered, and downright domineering. Things finally boil over when Hannah arrives at The Cookie Jar to find the Winter Carnival cake burnt to a crisp - and Connie Mac lying dead in her pantry, struck down while eating one of Hannah's famous blueberry muffins.Next thing Hannah knows, the police have declared The Cookie Jar's kitchen crime scene off-limits. She's a baker without an oven - and the Carnival is right around the corner. Hannah's only alternative is to cook up a plan to save her business - by finding the killer herself.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Wonderful Addition to this Cozy Series\n\nReview: Hoping to boost their winter economy, Lake Eden Minnesota is holding it's first annual Winter Carnival. Hannah Swensen is delighted about the extra revenue this will bring to her cookie shop. The town is thrilled to have Connie MacIntyre, celebrated TV chef and cookbook author, designing and baking their Winter Carnival cake. But when Connie Mac arrives, she quickly makes enemies with her overbearing personality. Hannah reluctantly agrees to let Connie use her shop to bake the cake, but arrives the next morning to find the cake burned and Connie face down in a tin of Hannah's Blue Blueberry Muffins. With her shop closed off as a crime scene and a very good friend, Connie Mac's personal assistant Janie, the prime suspect, Hannah starts investigating the murder. But can she provide the cookies for the carnival, solve the murder, and find Janie?\nThis is the third Hannah Swensen mystery, and the series has only gotten stronger. Hannah and her sister Andrea make a great detective team. All the supporting characters are back and used well in the plot. They're really starting to feel like good friends. I especially enjoyed watching the love triangle with dentist Norman and police detective Mike heat up. The mystery itself was very enjoyable. I had a hard time figuring out where this one was going, but the solution made perfect sense. And the climax kept me glued to the book trying to figure out how Hannah would escape with her life. There are 7 more delicious sounding recipes included. Someday I'm going to make them.\nMy only complaint with the book was that it ended too soon. If you're already a fan of the series, you'll love this book. If you have yet to meet Hannah, start with the first, Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder, and enjoy this delightful culinary themed mystery series.","Product: Relentless (Dominion Trilogy)\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: You Won't Want to Put Down This Fantasy Thriller\n\nReview: On that particular rainy morning, Collin Boyd was walking down a rainy street on his way to work and sees himself across the street. We're talking the same clothes, same briefcase, everything. As Collin runs to catch up with himself, he catches his reflection in the mirror and sees...a complete stranger staring back.\n\nAs he stares at the new him, a woman appears and warns him and he is now part of something huge. He must figure out who are his friends and who are his enemies because there is an assassin after him. And with that warning, she vanishes.\n\nThrust into a world he hardly knows, the now named Grant Borrows must figure out what is happening to him and how to control the powers he suddenly seems to have. Because the answers hold the key to a long ago prophecy that he just might fulfill. If he can stay alive long enough, that is.\n\nI've had this book since it came out, but only picked it up recently. I wish I had picked it up sooner. I was hooked on page one. And just when I got one answer or Grant survived one problem, two more took their place. As a result, I had a very hard time putting it down. The characters were interesting. And the multiple view points added to the story.\n\nThis is a fantasy novel of sorts. While most of the action involves fantasy, it takes place to real humans in modern day Los Angeles. I certainly enjoyed the aspect of watching the action take place in a world I knew. And there is a conspiracy behind things that I have a feeling will become much bigger in future books.\n\nThe only weakness is the writing. It was obviously a first novel, and at times it could have used a tad more polish. But it was still highly readable. I certainly flew through the pages.\n\nI can hardly wait to get my hands on the next two books in the series and see where Grant's path truly lies.","Product: Robin Parrish has written for over a decade as a journalist on the cutting-edge of Christian culture, from books and music to film. Robin, his wife, and their son live in High Point, North Carolina.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Can Oblivion Be Stopped?\n\nReview: The Secretum's end game has been fulfilled. Oblivion has risen from the pit and begun to unleash his reign of terror on the Earth. His power is so great he is drawing the Loci to himself and turning them into mindless zombies as he leads them on a march from Turkey to Jerusalem.\n\nMeanwhile, former FBI agent Ethan leads Daniel and Lisa on an impossible mission to figure out some way to stop Oblivion from executing his end game. Can he be stopped? Can they stay alive long enough to figure out how?\n\nNow if most of what you've just read makes no sense to you, it means you haven't read the first two books in the trilogy. As a result, I don't recommend you start here. With only a one page recap of the previous two books, you will be very lost.\n\nBut for those looking to finish the trilogy, you'll be very happy with the conclusion. Like the first, this book is action packed from page one. Because most of the Loci are under Oblivion's control, there are actually fewer characters, giving those who we do see a much better chance at truly getting to shine. The writing still has occasional rough spots, but it is much more polished than in book one. And a couple elements made me roll my eyes, but I was caught up in the story again in just a few moments.\n\nAnd the book finally tackles some Christian themes here, too. While it doesn't pretend to be a complete treatise on free will (and I wouldn't expect one in a novel), what is presented here is interesting to consider. The fantasy underpinning allows for some neat analogies as well. I was bothered by a Bible verse misquoted, but I just considered the source. I wouldn't expect a villain to get it right.\n\nBut my complaints about the book are minor. This is a fast paced fantasy thriller that will leave readers ready for more from this author.","Product: A native-born Floridian, Glynn was raised on a farm among the swamps and live oaks near Tallahassee, where she spent humid summers reading mysteries and swimming in creeks where alligators and snakes lurked in the foliage. She knows the sink holes and often swims in the cold, clear springs above the openings to fathomless caves. These are the settings for her Luanne Fogarty mystery series and for her literary novel, River Whispers.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Secrets on Moon Island\n\nReview: Luanne is enjoying a summer afternoon at her home in the swamp when Sissy Moon, a little girl, shows up asking for help. Her great-granddaddy has fallen into the lake on the family island and she's been sent to get Luanne to dive down and find him. With a great sense of urgency, Luanne heads out, calling the police along the way.\n\nOnly when Luanne arrives at the destination does she learn that Oscar Moon did indeed fall into that lake, in 1959. A quick dive doesn't turn up any traces of his body. But the questions just keep coming. Why search for the body after 50 years? What is Oscar's wife hearing on the island? And what other sinister forces are at work there?\n\nAuthor Glynn Marsh Alam has written another book to be savored. It truly transports you to the wilds of the fresh water swamp. The characters are as real as ever, especially Luanne and Pasquin. Sissy will steal your heart of you let her. The plot moves forward at a steady pace while allowing you time to experience the wildlife and climate of the summer. Don't misunderstand, the book never side tracks or bogs down. It finds the perfect balance of story and atmosphere to keep you engaged until the climax.\n\nSo grab some deep fat fried fish and a beverage and return to the deadly and enjoyable swamp world of Luanne Fogarty.","Product: This is a very fun card game similar to rummy but has a different twist. Fun for all ages young and old.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Fun, Challenging, and Long\n\nReview: It sounds simple at first. Be the first to complete 10 melds, or phases, in order. You can only complete one phase per hand, and if you fail before the round ends, you must try again. And it is, at first.\n\nAs you go along, each round gets harder to complete, giving those who are behind a chance to catch up. But each hand also starts to take longer. And that's my biggest complaint against the game. It takes forever to finish. In fact, I don't know if I've ever finished a game because of time constraints.\n\nThis is a challenging and creative card game. Just be ready to play for a while, because you'll need the time to complete all 10 phases.","Product: Art Taylor has won many of the mystery world's major honors, including three Agatha Awards, an Anthony, a Macavity, and three consecutive Derringer Awards. A native of Richlands, NC, Art lives in Northern Virginia, where he is a professor of English at George Mason University and writes frequently on crime fiction for The Washington Post, Mystery Scene, and other publications. He's married to the writer Tara Laskowski, and together they spend most evenings chasing a toddler (or being chased, depending). In his free time...wait, what free time?\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Character Growth on a Road Trip\n\nReview: On the Road with Del and Louise is a very different book from what I normally read. As the subtitle says, it is a novel in stories. The book is a collection of six short stories that follow the same characters across the country. Along the way, we get to know them and root for them to get a happy ending.\n\nThese main characters are Del and Louise. We meet them as Del is about to pull one last job. You see, hes a thief, and Louise meets him when he robs her at the 7-11 where she is currently working. She gives him her number, and the two of them start dating. But the book starts as they are about to hit the road, and Del is hoping that the money from this one last job will set them up in their future.\n\nIts that future that seems to be in constant jeopardy. Del really wants to leave this life of crime behind so Louise isn't dragged further into it, but things never seem to go as planned. We catch up with them in Victorville, California, the Napa wine country, Las Vegas, and North Dakota before the duo head to Louises hometown in North Carolina to get married.\n\nThe six stories and the trouble that Del and Louise find are all very different, and Im not going to spoil any of that for you. Most of them fall into the caper side of the crime genre spectrum, but there is one traditional mystery along the way.\n\nAll of them are platforms for us to really get to know Del and Louise, especially Louise as she is our narrator. They are both very complex characters, which is one reason I grew to like them. Yes, my main complaint with the book is that our main characters, very sympathetic main characters, should be in jail. Yet I constantly found myself rooting for them to do the right thing and avoid jail time. Fortunately, their crimes are minimal, and that makes it better for me.\n\nEach story starts slowly, building up to the tease that opened that section. But once we get to the main plot of the chapter, things really get interesting. With each chapter being a different plot, theres no repetition so no reason to get bored.\n\nBecause this book is more a character study than a mystery novel (even though it is classified as a mystery), the novel in stories approach works well. There are themes that weave through all the stories, which help tie things together. Del and Louise are really the only characters in all the stories, although we get references to some in multiple stories, and Louise usually does talk to her mother (or at least about her mother) in all the stories. If I could compare it to anything, it would be to a series of books where tiny things from each entry pop up in the others. And all the time, Del and Louise are growing as characters, which helps keep us invested.\n\nAnd I know Im probably the only one who will talk about this being more character study than mystery. Yes, the plots of the stories are crime related, but that aren't the focus at all. I maintained the same thing about Lisa Lutzs Spellman Files series while devouring each one. Yet several of them were nominated for top mystery awards, just like this book has been. I guess Im just extremely picky in my classifications.\n\nMy reservations about our heroes aside, On the Road with Del and Louise is an interesting road trip with two characters who you truly come to care about. If you are looking for something different in the crime genre, this book is for you.","Product: The enchanting prelude to \"The Lord of the Rings\"\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Adventuring we will go\n\nReview: Bilbo Baggins was perfectly content with his life. The last thing he wanted was to be involved in an adventure. But when the wizard Gandalf invites a group of dwarves over, he find himself drawn into their quest to reclaim their mountain and fortune that a dragon stole from them years ago. Now Bilbo will have to adjust to new situations daily as they encounter wolves, goblins, giant eagles and spiders, and other creatures just to get to the mountain. Once they get there, they have to face the fierce dragon. Can they survive?\nThis is a fun adventure. It's very easy to feel for Bilbo as they face one obstacle after another. \"He thought of his home, not for the last time.\" I smiled every time I saw that line. My biggest complaint about the book is that it is a bit episodic in nature. Their many adventures don't seem that interrelated for most of the book. This is a minor issue, however, and it's very hard not to like the characters and root them on in their quest to reclaim their rightful place.\nI've read this book twice, and hope to get to the Lord of the Rings soon. The fun story and likeable characters make it easy to see why there are so many fans of these books","Product: Nice vintage set, have books 6,7,8, and 31 available\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Glimpses of the Past\n\nReview: Life is hard living on the frontier of Wisconsin in the 1870's. Laura is only a little girl, but she still needs to help with chorus around her family's log cabin. There are wild animals in the woods, and they must provide for themselves since the nearest town in hours away. But it's not all hard work. If Pa's not tired, he might entertain his daughters with a story or by playing his fiddle. With family relatively nearby to visit, life is certainly never dull.\nI had not read these books since I was a child until picking this up to reread. I had forgotten how entertaining they really are. There is no real plot, just a collection of stories covering a year in the life of the Ingalls family. This makes sense since they really are an autobiographical work. Still, the simple charm of the stories sucked me right in and I had a hard time putting the book down. There is plenty of detail here to give anyone a good picture of daily life during this time. And I must mention the illustrations by Garth Williams that greatly add to the book.\nThere's a reason these books are so well loved 70 years after they were written. They are an entertaining look at everyday life in a different time and place. This is a book to treasure.","Product: MOVIE TIE IN BOOKS WITH BEAUTIFUL COVERS: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING WITH FRODO ON COVER, TWO TWO TOWERS WITH ELF ON COVER SHOOTING BOW AND ARROW AND THE RETURN OF THE KING WITH MORDOR ON COVER. BIGGER WELL MADE SOFTCOVER BOOKS. One Ring to rule them all. One Ring to find them. One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Adventuring we will go\n\nReview: Bilbo Baggins was perfectly content with his life. The last thing he wanted was to be involved in an adventure. But when the wizard Gandalf invites a group of dwarves over, he find himself drawn into their quest to reclaim their mountain and fortune that a dragon stole from them years ago. Now Bilbo will have to adjust to new situations daily as they encounter wolves, goblins, giant eagles and spiders, and other creatures just to get to the mountain. Once they get there, they have to face the fierce dragon. Can they survive?\nThis is a fun adventure. It's very easy to feel for Bilbo as they face one obstacle after another. \"He thought of his home, not for the last time.\" I smiled every time I saw that line. My biggest complaint about the book is that it is a bit episodic in nature. Their many adventures don't seem that interrelated for most of the book. This is a minor issue, however, and it's very hard not to like the characters and root them on in their quest to reclaim their rightful place.\nI've read this book twice, and hope to get to the Lord of the Rings soon. The fun story and likeable characters make it easy to see why there are so many fans of these books","Product: Will be shipped from US. Used books may not include companion materials, may have some shelf wear, may contain highlighting/notes, may not include CDs or access codes. 100% money back guarantee.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: A Wild and Crazy Ride\n\nReview: Sea Haven, New Jersey, is just as wonderful as it sounds. Located on a small island just off the coast, it is a popular vacation destination with a huge summer population of tourists. In an attempt to help with the summer crowds, the local police hire a bunch of summer cops.\n\nThis summer, one of them is Danny Boyle. 24 years old, he's still trying to decide what he wants to be when he grows up. He's partnered with John Ceepak, a retired military policeman who has just gotten back from Iraq.\n\nThe partners are just starting their shift when a girl comes running down the street covered in blood. She says her dad was shot on the tilt-a-whirl in the local amusement park. Her father turns out to be billionaire Reginald Hart. Boyle is in over his head, but Ceepak is right in his element. With only the girl as witness, they begin to work hard to find the killer.\n\nThings only get more complicated that night when the girl is kidnapped. The normal July crowds are dropping fast for fear of the maniac on the island. Ceepak takes the case personally and follows every lead to track down the missing girl. Will he be in time?\n\nEvery so often, I like to branch out of my cozy sub-genre and experiment with a little darker book. This was one such experimentation, and I enjoyed it. The plot in the first half is fairly straight forward, but the second half begins to take as many twists and turns as the title ride. I found myself working hard to keep up and loving every minute of it. There is one fairly major plot point that wasn't explained to my complete satisfaction, but the story still works.\n\nDespite the fact that Doyle narrates the story, Ceepak is our main character. It's a classic Holmes/Watson relationship, which works to keep the audience in the dark and confused until the final pages. Ceepak is well developed with a background to explain his serious nature. Doyle is a bit more fun loving and provides some good comic relief with his narration and occasional spoken quip. Even so, he is able to provide a few puzzle pieces that ultimate help Ceepak solve the case. Doyle also grows more as a result of the story. He's not nearly as innocent at the end, but he's definitely stronger for it.\n\nThe most unique aspect of the story is the narration. It is written is present tense. I can't remember the last novel I read that was written this way. It took me several chapters to get used to this narrative style. I'm not sure why the author chose to go this route, but by the end of the novel I was used to it.\n\nIn keeping with the darker tone, there is also significantly more foul language then I am used to reading. It did bother me in some scenes, but its something else worth noting in passing.\n\nUltimate, I am glad I went on this wild ride. I plan to take another vacation in Sea Haven really soon.","Product: Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare. Dell Publishing,1983\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Lesser Knows Classic from Elizabeth George Speare\n\nReview: Matt and his father have gone ahead of the rest of the family to build a cabin on their new land in Maine. Now, his father is returning to Massachusetts to get Matt's mother and siblings, leaving Matt to guard the new home and garden. Matt's dad expects to be gone only seven weeks. What could happen in that time?\n\nFirst, someone steals the gun that Matt's dad left behind for him. Then Matt meets some of the Indians in the area. The chief wants Matt to teach his grandson, Attean, to read English. Attean is two years older than the twelve-year-old Matt, and Matt looks up to him. As the weeks progress, Attean begins to show Matt how to live off the land. Will that help Matt survive until his family returns?\n\nWhile this book isn't as famous as the author's two Newbery Award winners, it's still a great read. The characters of Matt and Attean are so real, and watching them change step by step is captivating. Even though I've read this book several times, I had a hard time putting it down on my latest reread.\n\nReally, this is two coming of age stories, Matt's and Attean's. But underneath that is the story of race relations in 1768 Maine. There are so many layers to the story, which is part of what makes it easy to get into the story.\n\nIf you are looking for more books b Elizabeth George Speare, definitely pick this one up. You'll be captivated before you know it.","Product: Will be shipped from US. Used books may not include companion materials, may have some shelf wear, may contain highlighting/notes, may not include CDs or access codes. 100% money back guarantee.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: A Wild and Crazy Ride\n\nReview: Sea Haven, New Jersey, is just as wonderful as it sounds. Located on a small island just off the coast, it is a popular vacation destination with a huge summer population of tourists. In an attempt to help with the summer crowds, the local police hire a bunch of summer cops.\n\nThis summer, one of them is Danny Boyle. 24 years old, he's still trying to decide what he wants to be when he grows up. He's partnered with John Ceepak, a retired military policeman who has just gotten back from Iraq.\n\nThe partners are just starting their shift when a girl comes running down the street covered in blood. She says her dad was shot on the tilt-a-whirl in the local amusement park. Her father turns out to be billionaire Reginald Hart. Boyle is in over his head, but Ceepak is right in his element. With only the girl as witness, they begin to work hard to find the killer.\n\nThings only get more complicated that night when the girl is kidnapped. The normal July crowds are dropping fast for fear of the maniac on the island. Ceepak takes the case personally and follows every lead to track down the missing girl. Will he be in time?\n\nEvery so often, I like to branch out of my cozy sub-genre and experiment with a little darker book. This was one such experimentation, and I enjoyed it. The plot in the first half is fairly straight forward, but the second half begins to take as many twists and turns as the title ride. I found myself working hard to keep up and loving every minute of it. There is one fairly major plot point that wasn't explained to my complete satisfaction, but the story still works.\n\nDespite the fact that Doyle narrates the story, Ceepak is our main character. It's a classic Holmes/Watson relationship, which works to keep the audience in the dark and confused until the final pages. Ceepak is well developed with a background to explain his serious nature. Doyle is a bit more fun loving and provides some good comic relief with his narration and occasional spoken quip. Even so, he is able to provide a few puzzle pieces that ultimate help Ceepak solve the case. Doyle also grows more as a result of the story. He's not nearly as innocent at the end, but he's definitely stronger for it.\n\nThe most unique aspect of the story is the narration. It is written is present tense. I can't remember the last novel I read that was written this way. It took me several chapters to get used to this narrative style. I'm not sure why the author chose to go this route, but by the end of the novel I was used to it.\n\nIn keeping with the darker tone, there is also significantly more foul language then I am used to reading. It did bother me in some scenes, but its something else worth noting in passing.\n\nUltimate, I am glad I went on this wild ride. I plan to take another vacation in Sea Haven really soon.","Product: Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare. Dell Publishing,1983\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Lesser Knows Classic from Elizabeth George Speare\n\nReview: Matt and his father have gone ahead of the rest of the family to build a cabin on their new land in Maine. Now, his father is returning to Massachusetts to get Matt's mother and siblings, leaving Matt to guard the new home and garden. Matt's dad expects to be gone only seven weeks. What could happen in that time?\n\nFirst, someone steals the gun that Matt's dad left behind for him. Then Matt meets some of the Indians in the area. The chief wants Matt to teach his grandson, Attean, to read English. Attean is two years older than the twelve-year-old Matt, and Matt looks up to him. As the weeks progress, Attean begins to show Matt how to live off the land. Will that help Matt survive until his family returns?\n\nWhile this book isn't as famous as the author's two Newbery Award winners, it's still a great read. The characters of Matt and Attean are so real, and watching them change step by step is captivating. Even though I've read this book several times, I had a hard time putting it down on my latest reread.\n\nReally, this is two coming of age stories, Matt's and Attean's. But underneath that is the story of race relations in 1768 Maine. There are so many layers to the story, which is part of what makes it easy to get into the story.\n\nIf you are looking for more books b Elizabeth George Speare, definitely pick this one up. You'll be captivated before you know it.","Product: Box set of JRR Tolkien's incomparable classic\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Adventuring we will go\n\nReview: Bilbo Baggins was perfectly content with his life. The last thing he wanted was to be involved in an adventure. But when the wizard Gandalf invites a group of dwarves over, he find himself drawn into their quest to reclaim their mountain and fortune that a dragon stole from them years ago. Now Bilbo will have to adjust to new situations daily as they encounter wolves, goblins, giant eagles and spiders, and other creatures just to get to the mountain. Once they get there, they have to face the fierce dragon. Can they survive?\nThis is a fun adventure. It's very easy to feel for Bilbo as they face one obstacle after another. \"He thought of his home, not for the last time.\" I smiled every time I saw that line. My biggest complaint about the book is that it is a bit episodic in nature. Their many adventures don't seem that interrelated for most of the book. This is a minor issue, however, and it's very hard not to like the characters and root them on in their quest to reclaim their rightful place.\nI've read this book twice, and hope to get to the Lord of the Rings soon. The fun story and likeable characters make it easy to see why there are so many fans of these books","Product: NYPD Homicide Detective Nikki Heat feels sparks from ride-along, journalist Jameson Rook. A real estate tycoon plunges to his death. A trophy wife with a past survives a brazen attack. Mobsters and moguls with motives all have alibis. Dirty little secrets of the wealthy hide until Nikki shines a light.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: A New, Blockbuster Bestseller for Castle\n\nReview: New York City is suffering from record breaking heat when Matthew Starr jumps to his death from his luxury condo. NYPD detective Nikki Heat quickly determines that it was murder. And since Matthew was one of the richest developers in the city, the case will be a top priority.\n\nOnly Nikki quickly discovers that Matthew wasn't as well off as everyone thought he was. As the secrets come out, Nikki begins to find multiple motives. Then her own life is threatened. Can she solve the crime before another attempt is made?\n\nIt's always a danger killing off a popular character, but if that's what it took to give us this new book, than I am glad Richard Castle took that risk....\n\nOkay, okay, so the whole Richard Castle thing is not true. This book is really a very cleverly done tie in to the ABC show Castle. Heck, the author photo on the back of the book is actor who plays him on the show. And the blurbs are from authors who have appeared on the show. Frankly, this fan couldn't stop laughing at the similarities.\n\nThose similarities continue on to the characters. Nikki Heat is being shadowed by a news reporter for an in depth feature on the police force. The other detectives are quite obviously based on the characters in the show.\n\nHowever, I must wonder just how much non-fans of the show would appreciate things. I got lots of humor from characters and comparing the two. If I didn't know the show, I wouldn't have found it amusing at all.\n\nThe plot holds together reasonably well. The beginning of the book was overwritten, however. Some of those sentences got in the way of actually understanding the description. Things did get better as the book progressed, fortunately.\n\nFans of the TV show will get a kick out of this book, especially with how they've been advertising it on the show. Others might enjoy it, but they won't get the same kick out of it I did.","Product: Norma Cournow Camp has published numerous stories and articles in Christian publications including "Child Evangelism" magazine, Power and Venture. She has served on the editorial staff of Young Ambassador magazine with Back to the Bible Broadcast and of The Journal of Educational Research. For several years she was editor of the Sunday school take-home papers for preschoolers through adults published by Union Gospel Press. Presently she edits the Sower Series for Mott Media. Mrs. Camp is a graduate of The King's College, Briarcliff Manor, New York, and Piedmont Bible College, Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Her background as a native Virginian, history buff and Christian writer has combined to produce a unique book on the life and spiritual stand of George Washington.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Average Biography of a Great Man\n\nReview: Starting with George Washington as a boy, this book follows him throughout his life. It focuses on his early military career fighting with the British against the French and Indians, working his plantation, and responding when his new country needed a general and first President.\nUnfortunately, this book aimed at kids could have been better. The narrative is uneven, making it hard to follow how much time has passed between stories we're reading. Furthermore, the style is choppy with too many simple sentences strung together. On the other hand, there are some thrilling stories from his days fighting in armies that will keep young readers interested. And his writing is used creatively to show his belief in God without interrupting the flow.\nGeorge Washington was a great man we can all learn from. This biography gives some interesting information and a good overview of his life and times. Unfortunately, it's not quite polished enough to get a full recommendation.","Product: Glynn was raised on a farm among the swamps and live oaks, where she spent humid summers swimming in creeks where alligators and snakes lurked in the foliage. She has been a decoder/translator for the National Security Agency, a university instructor and teaches English Literature now in Los Angeles.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Listen to the Whispers\n\nReview: When Mae Pope's grandma died, Mae promises to scatter her ashes on the St. Margaret River. The journey becomes more then she bargained for when she begins to have run-ins with the Gruman family. Memories of time with her grandma mingle with the present happenings. But will she make sense of it all?\nOnce again, Glynn Marsh Alam has proven what an outstanding writer she is. The swamp, river creatures, and characters come boldly to life. It's hard not to get lost in this world. I had no trouble switching from the past to modern day happenings as the story unfolded. The only reason I gave this book four stars is because of two scenes that detracted from my over all enjoyment of the story.\nWith that warning out of the way, I recommend all of Ms. Alam's books. Her use of language to draw the reader in and make him feel a part of the surroundings makes her books stand out from many of her peers. I hope to enjoy her writing for many years to come.","Product: A native Floridian, Glynn was raised on a farm among the swamps and live oaks near Tallahassee, where she spent humid summers reading mysteries and swimming in creeks where alligators and snakes lurked in the foliage. She has been a decoder/translator for the Natl. Security Agency, a university instructor, and now teaches English literature in Los Angeles. Twice a year, she journeys back to N. Florida to live among the critters, moss, and deep clear springs--where she calls upon eel grass and river currents to inspire sinister goings on in her stories. Glynn has published two mysteries as well as numerous short stories.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Tracking a Cold Blooded Killer\n\nReview: Luanne and Pasquin are on their way to pick up alligator meat for the sheriff department's booth at the local fair when they discover a woman's body floating in the shallows. The coroner makes the connection with several other murders in various locations, including a skeleton that Luanne found while working another case two years earlier. Then a traveling carnival worker in the area for the fair is found murdered in the same manner. What was his connection with the women killed? Why did the killer change his or her pattern? Will Luanne figure out the answer before the fair leaves town?\nThis is the third Luanne Fogarty mystery, and it's just as great as the others. The characters have grown and continue to develop in this story. I'm very interested to see where the author goes with a couple characters. And I loved watching Tony fight his pride whenever Luanne provided a good direction to go. The story moved along well with a couple sub-plots weaved expertly throughout. And the writing is still top notch. This book is set during the beginnings of winter, and Ms. Alam expertly brings the changing warm and cold weather and the changes to the swamps to life.\nThis series is wonderful. The mysteries are intriguing and the writing is outstanding. I just finished this book and already I can't wait for the next. Don't miss out.","Product: Dan Clark began his career as an athlete, playing football for the Los Angeles Rams and in Europe. He later starred as Nitro on the extraordinarily popular reality television show American Gladiators. Clark then turned to acting and screenwriting. He wrote, directed, and starred in the independent film Looking for Bruce. He recently hosted ESPN Classic's American Gladiators marathon, and he continues to consult on the revamped American Gladiators franchise. He lives in Los Angeles, where he is working on his next book.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Honest Confessions from a Steroids Addict\n\nReview: As a child, Dan Clark was very close with his older brother. When that brother died tragically, he felt compelled to make something of himself. His quest led him to football, but an injury could have sidelined him.\n\nThats when, at the age of eighteen, Dan heard about steroids, which promised to help heal him faster and help him build more muscle to be even better on the field. When he saw the gains he wanted, he continued to take them, ignoring the warnings signs. His massive size and desire for fame eventually led him to American Gladiators where he starred as Nitro. But will he ignore the warning signs his body is giving him about the damage it is taking?\n\nWhile I know Ive seen some of the episodes of the original American Gladiators, I actually came to this book because Dan Clark founded one of the mud runs I love to do. I found the book an interesting look at the life of someone driven to achieve fame and make something of himself no matter what the cost. It reads at times like a Greek tragedy, although part of that is the ability of Dan as narrator to point out the signs he ignored when he lived through these events.\n\nThe book is brutally honest about the highs and lows of his life. And that is my only real complaint with the book. At times this honesty comes with the price of sharing too much about his sex life and the changes his body was going through. Of course, since he is trying to issue a warning so others don't follow in his steps, that is important. Still, it did make me uncomfortable.\n\nIf you want a warning about the dangers of steroids, youve come to the right place. Fans of American Gladiators will also like the book. Just be prepared for the more graphic moments."],"string":"[\n \"Product: NOTICE: Polish Release, cover may contain Polish text/markings. The disk has English audio and subtitles. Spoiled billionaire playboy Oliver Queen is missing and presumed dead when his yacht is lost at sea. He returns five years later a changed man, ...\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: \\\"We Have to Work on Your Excuses.\\\" \\\"I Know.\\\"\\n\\nReview: After quickly getting addicted to the CWs new superhero show Arrow, I couldn't wait for season two to start. Fortunately, it continued to build on the wonderful first season with more action and drama.\\n\\nThe show is based on the DC Comics character of Green Arrow. Honestly, I know little about him outside of this series, but thats okay. What is here works so well I don't need to know much more.\\n\\nIn the aftermath of the season one finale, Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell) returned to the island where hed been stranded for five years. However, it isn't long before Diggle (David Ramsey) and Felicity (Emily Rett Rickards) head back there to track him down and get him to return to Starling City. With his mother, Moyra (Susanna Thompson), in jail, it falls to him to run Queen Consolidated, and his return has come just in time since Isabel Rochev (guest star Summer Glau) has been brought in by the board and doesnt seem to have the same vision for the future of the business as Oliver does. Meanwhile his sister Thea (Willa Holland) is running the nightclub he started.\\n\\nUnfortunately, Olivers return is just in time since someone has arrived in town with designs to destroy the city. However, this time it is much more personal than Oliver knows. Will he figure out the plot in time to stop it? Who is behind everything?\\n\\nActually, the second season is even more complicated than this since I haven't really talked about Roy (Colton Haynes), Theas boyfriend and Olivers secret apprentice in the justice business. Then theres the Lance family. Quentin (Paul Blackthorne) has been demoted to patrol while Laurel (Katie Cassidy) has joined the DAs office and is targeting the Vigilante (aka Oliver). But the big surprise is the new superhero in town with some ties to Olivers time on the island.\\n\\nOnce again, those flashbacks to Olivers time on the island proved to be the weakness to the show. They definitely tie in more to what happened this year, but I just don't see the point of them most of the time and felt they slowed down the present day story.\\n\\nHowever, the present day story more than makes up for any weakness. You might have figured out that there are a ton of characters in this show, but thats because there are tons of things happening. There are some case of the week type episodes, but they are fewer this season, instead tying in much of what happens to the overall season arc or at least the character development. The show is very suspenseful at times, too, with the characters facing overwhelming odds. I had a hard time figuring out how they were going to succeed.\\n\\nThere is plenty of character growth here this season. Just about everyone gets grow to a certain extent, and watching them deal with everything they are facing is incredible.\\n\\nWhich means all the actors have stepped up their game this season. We might have one or two scenes that aren't the best, but there wasn't anything that threw me out of the show. I especially love Felicity, who gets the funniest lines and some serious growth this season.\\n\\nBecause the show is more grounded in reality, it relies more on stunts than special effects, although both are handled perfectly when they appear.\\n\\nAs a fun note, they set up the CWs new series The Flash with a couple episode guest spot early in the season. I cant wait for that show to appear this fall.\\n\\nThe second season is being released in the DVD only set and a Blu-Ray/DVD/UltraViolet combo set priced at only $10 more than the regular set. Both sets feature all 23 episodes from season 2 in their native wide screen and full surround. The sets also have the same extras, which include an episode commentary, deleted scenes, a gag reel, and three featurettes, one that chronicles Oliver's journey in the eyes of Starling City so far, one that looks at the action and special effects of the show, and one that focuses even more on the stunt work of the show.\\n\\nArrow is exactly what it sets out to be a strong and fun superhero show. You won't be disappointed with season two at all.\",\n \"Product: There's trouble in paradise for former CIA operative Michael Westen and his cohorts, and the streets of Miami are hotter--and deadlier--than ever before in the action-packed, adrenaline-charged sixth season of Burn Notice! In hot pursuit of his old nemesis, Michael must take down Anson Fullerton and find a way to free Fiona from prison, where she is being targeted by a murderous foe. Michael goes full force to save Fiona as he takes on cold-blooded assassins, diabolical drug cartels, uneasy alliances, and explosive danger at every turn, until an unthinkable tragedy leaves him reeling and rocks his team to the very core.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: When Youre a TV Viewer Looking for a Spy Show.\\n\\nReview: As a self-described USA Network addict, I automatically start watching any new show they put on the air. The last time I didn't do that was with Burn Notice. Once I started hearing such raves for it, I tuned in to the season one reruns just before season two started and Ive been hooked ever since.\\n\\nThe series revolved around Michael Westen (Jeffrey Donovan). He used to be a spy until he got a phone call in the middle of an operation. Suddenly, he had to get out on his own, something he just barely managed to do. Next thing he knows, hes been dumped in Miami. For better or worse, its his home town, which means having to deal with his chain smoking mother Madeline (Sharon Gless), a woman he doesnt necessarily get along with all that well with. The only people who are still talking to him are his ex-girlfriend Fiona Glenanne (Gabrielle Anwar), a gun runner for the NRA, and Sam Axe (Bruce Campbell), an ex-Navy Seal who also happens to be reporting on Michael to the feds.\\n\\nWith no job history that he can report, Michael has to start earning money however he can, so he reluctantly takes jobs to help those in need. He takes on your average problems if your average problems happen to be drug runners or gun smugglers or kidnappers or gang members or extortionists or any other number of things. Along the way, he meets Jesse Porter (Coby Bell), a man in a situation much like his own. Meanwhile, he also is trying to figure out who burned him and why so he can go back to work for the CIA. However, that conspiracy may be much more complicated than he ever expected.\\n\\nFor the most part, the episodes followed a pattern. Two-thirds would be devoted to the case of the week while one-third would be devoted to the latest development in Michael trying to clear his name from the burn notice. Of course, that formula wasn't always true (mid-season and season finales, for example, were almost always burn notice exclusive). The two plot lines would overlap each other as the episode progressed. This meant that there was something for the casual or new viewer in every episode, although you obviously wouldnt follow everything that was happening. They got away from this in the last season, but it held true for most of the shows run.\\n\\nThis show was something you didn't find much on TV, or at least I didn't pure action and adventure. Every episode had stunts and chases and explosions. Okay, so they might be on a smaller scale than youd find in the movies, but I often felt like I was watching an action movie as I watched an episode. Occasionally, the low budget would come into play, but most of the time Id believe what I was seeing, too. While you knew the good guys would win in the end, the odds were often so overwhelming I was left wondering exactly how that would happen.\\n\\nOf course, when I think about action, I tend to think the characters will be shallow. Thats not the case here at all. Granted, there is more time with a TV show to develop characters, but I felt all of the main characters were great. Even a few of the recurring characters got some development, which made me love them, too. The main actors were great at bringing their characters to live every week. I never found a poor performance in the bunch.\\n\\nAnd I cant leave out the humor. Despite the high stakes and the action, this show mixed in a liberal dose of dry wit, either in Michaels voiceover narration or in the banter between the regulars. No, it wasn't a comedy, but it did help lighten the mood, and I often laughed at a line or exchange.\\n\\nWhile they did occasionally leave Miami in the later seasons, most of the episodes were set and filmed in Miami. The gorgeous weather and tropical feel certainly helped give this an escapist feel that I enjoyed.\\n\\nUnfortunately, the show did have its flaws. The first was the on-going story of Michaels burn notice. Somewhere around season 3 or 4, it got pretty convoluted and hard to follow. It even seemed like what happened one week contradicted what happened in a previous episode, but maybe that was just me. Either way, I just gave up trying to follow that storyline too closely and just enjoyed the case of the week. Eventually, they did get the burn notice back under control and it started making sense again.\\n\\nThe other flaw was probably more personal, but I found it got darker in tone in the second half of season six through the end of the series. For a show that dealt with some pretty hardened criminals each week, the show had managed to stay light up until then. However, as the odds went from overwhelming to staggering, I didn't enjoy it quite as much. I did like how the series ended, on the other hand, and I definitely plan to watch and enjoy it again.\\n\\nThe show lasted for seven seasons on the USA Network, and each season had roughly sixteen episodes (some had more and a couple had less). This set combines all the previous released, so you get 111 episodes of the show. Extras include a very few commentaries, deleted scenes, bloopers, and a few featurettes on the stunts and other behind the scenes fun of the show. There is nothing new if you've been collecting the series all the way along. The only thing you are missing is the Sam Axe prequel movie which was filmed, aired, and released separately.\\n\\nDespite the flaws, I really did enjoy Burn Notice. If you are looking for some fun action with great characters, you will find you enjoy the series as well. Fans new and old will enjoy being able to watch these episodes whenever they feel like it thanks to this complete series set.\",\n \"Product: Shawn (James Roday) and Gus (Dul Hill) brave uncharted territory when they add music to a murder mystery centered around Jack the Ripper. When a mad playwright escapes from a psychiatric hospital, the body count begins to stack up. All signs point to Zachary Zander, or Z, whose Ripper-inspired play went down in flames years prior. Could it be that Z is out to exact revenge on those associated with his failed production? Toes will tap and heads will roll in this suspenseful yet comical feature-length musical, featuring the long awaited return of Yang (Ally Sheedy, The Breakfast Club), who holds the key to Zs master plan.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: I See Singing, Dancing, and Laughs in Your Future\\n\\nReview: There have been whispers for years. Then it was a sure thing. Then the hype started. Finally, the world was treated to the best singing and dancing murder mystery in December 2013. Im talking, of course, about psych: The Musical. And two days after it hit airways, its already hit DVD. Rush out and buy it.\\n\\nIn fact, if youve been wanting to get into this show but were afraid of being lost after seven seasons this wouldnt be a bad place to start. While a former villain plays a major role in things (and makes references to previous appearances), the first song gives much of the set up for the show.\\n\\nAnd what is that set up? Shawn Spencer (James Roday), is a thirty something clown who has found a way to use the super observations skills drilled into him by his father, former cop Henry (Corbin Bernsen). Instead of becoming a cop like his dad, he pretends to be a psychic and helps solve murders for the Santa Barbara police department. In on the charade is his best friend and partner in crime solving Gus (Dule Hill). While his now girlfriend Juliette OHare (Maggie Lawson) believes him and Captain Vick (Kirsten Nelson) goes along with things because of Shawns results (while being skeptical at times), its Chief Detective Lassiter (Timothy Omundson) who is openly disbelieving in Shawns ability.\\n\\nWhich brings us to this case. Zachary Wallace Zander, aka Z, (Anthony Rapp) has escaped from the psychiatric prison where hes been held captive for seven years. He was arrested after killing a critic of his new musical play about Jack the Ripper and by locking him in the theater and setting it on fire. The only person who can help them track this danger man down is Yang (Ally Sheedy), a serial killer that Shawn and Gus have tangled with before. But will she provide them real clues or is she toying with them again? Can they catch Z before he kills again?\\n\\nNow fans of the show are already yelling at my description of the set-up. Before you watch this episode, just know that it was originally filmed and designed to air during the recently completed seventh season. The fact that it was held until December for a big event means that a few things that happened late in season seven haven't happened yet. Know that going in, and youll be fine.\\n\\nWhat this show always does brilliantly is combine mystery with comedy. In fact, I often think of this show as a comedy more than a mystery. That combination is in perfect unison here. Yes, there is a mystery. Yes, we want to know how Shawn will solve it and what is really going on. However, there are so many great moments, lines, and gags that I was laughing the entire way through. While season seven wasn't the strongest for the show, this two hour movie is the perfect example of just how wonderful the show can be when it is working on all cylinders.\\n\\nWhat about the singing and dancing? Im glad you asked. Yes, they do set it up a bit as to why the characters are treating this as a musical, however, most of that doesnt come until the end. Either way, by the end of the first song, I didn't care I was already having that much fun. The cast is very talented and they pull off the singing and dancing without missing a beat. The first two songs are brilliantly funny, and there are some other classic moments later related to singing and dancing. The only cast member who doesnt participate in the musical part is Corbin Bernsen, and according to him, thats a good thing for us. Ill just take his word for it, but even his non-participation gives us a laugh.\\n\\nCasting a Broadway star as the main suspect in this episode makes sense, and Anthony Rapp fits into the world of psych perfectly. While I wasn't always a fan of the original Yang episodes, I did enjoy seeing her again here. And the rest of the guest stars are good. The main cast is great as always. They are once again obviously having fun, and thats translates perfectly for us.\\n\\nThis DVD contains not only the two hour episode itself (well, 88 minutes if you don't count the commercials), but also includes a CD of the soundtrack. Not bad for the price of a movie.\\n\\nSo if you are looking for a light musical comedy with murder (and who isnt?), be sure to check out psych: The Musical. Youll be laughing and tapping your toes before you know it.\",\n \"Product: After Castle's stunning romantic proposal to Beckett, what happens next? TV's magnetic crime-fighting couple faces a whole new set of challenges as they juggle wedding plans and their most intriguing cases yet in ABC's CASTLE: THE COMPLETE SIXTH SEASON. Beckett's new job with the Justice Department takes her away from the wisecracking love of her life. But Castle's devotion to his new fiancee -- and her fascinating line of work -- jeopardizes her career and creates a chain of events that might separate them forever. Back on the home front, Castle is none too pleased to discover his daughter has seemingly been captivated by, and now living with, her new, free-spirited boyfriend. It's a season of surprises you won't want to miss! Experience every engaging moment of CASTLE's brilliant sixth season, complete with all 23 unforgettable episodes, plus never-before-seen bonus features only available on DVD.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: \\\"When We Do This, Let's Not Do the Dead Body in the Middle of the Aisle.\\\"\\n\\nReview: There seems to be this superstition about a show going downhill when you get the main characters together, and many shows fight against it for far longer than they should. But ultimately, it is all about how you handle the characters as a couple, and the sixth season of Castle proves just how great it can be.\\n\\nThe season picks up at the season five cliffhanger. Author Richard Castle (Nathan Fillion), unaware that Detective Kate Beckett (Stana Katic) has decided to take a job with the FBI in DC, proposed to her. In typical Castle fashion, the response was equally parts funny and touching. The result is that we get a season of Castle and Beckett planning a wedding. (Really, did you expect her to say no? The whole premise of this show is about their relationship.) However, Beckett also takes the job with the FBI, and we spend a few episodes with that before things get back to normal.\\n\\nNormal, of course, being Castle following Beckett around helping her solve murders in New York City and getting ideas for his Nikki Heat books. Over the course of the season, they solve such mysteries as a former TV star, a case the FBI is interested in. Theres a case where their prime suspect claims to be from the future. Someone is killing the doppelgangers of the members of the precinct. Theres a murder at Castles high school (well, one of his high schools). And Who do they believe when multiple people confess to a murder knowing details only the killer would know.\\n\\nNathan Fillion decided as the season began that he wanted to work fewer hours, a move I can understand since being the lead in a show and pretty much in every scene can make for a very exhausting schedule. As a result, Detectives Javier Esposito (Jon Huertas) and Kevin Ryan (Seamus Dever) get more screen time, even getting some sub-plots in various episodes while they took more of an active role in solving the cases. Honestly, I appreciated seeing more of them and watching how their characters developed. They are actually featured in one of the best episodes of the season, which finds them trapped in a burning building as Ryans wife (played by Seamuss real life wife Juliana Dever) goes into labor. This didn't hold true for Captain Gates (Penny Johnson), who was still around in her usual number of episodes this season. She doesnt seem to get quite the same amount of development she did last season, but when they give her moments to shine, she really does. Medical examiner Lanie (Tamala Jones) is still around like shes always been and provides some great moments as well.\\n\\nUnfortunately, Fillions reduced schedule meant a bit less screen time for Castles mother Martha (Susan Sullivan) and daughter Alexis (Molly Quinn). Alexis in particular was missing in much of the second half of the season. Im wondering if, like her character, Molly Quinn is in college.\\n\\nThe episodes themselves continue to entertain. The mysteries are rather formulaic but decent, and really they are just an excuse to visit the characters each week. We get the usual assortment of quips and one liners as the characters solve the mystery of the week; that humor is one reason I have always enjoyed this show. There are the darker episodes, most noticeably surrounding one particular ongoing story, but they always surround them with some of the lighter episodes of the year.\\n\\nBut as I hinted at earlier, Castle and Becketts relationship is still at the heart of the show. However, now that they are engaged, the writers have given the characters more depth than ever before. It is truly remarkable watching them interact with each other in their private moments. Castle is showing remarkable maturity when the situation calls for it, and Beckett is showing a vulnerability I never would have expected from her. In fact, some of these scenes are my favorites from the season and one in particular could land in the top 5 overall for me. (That first kiss between them as a couple will always be number one.)\\n\\nThis added depth is no problem for the actors at all. By this point, they know the characters and are able to put everything they have into the performances. Everyone in the main cast is top notch again this year.\\n\\nNot to say that this season doesnt have some issues. Many (probably most) fans hated Pi, the new boyfriend that comes home with Alexis from her trip over the summer. His fruitarian ways are designed to annoy Castle. Frankly, I found him a fun foil for Castle, but many fans hated his guts, wanting to see him become the victim of a killer in an episode. As you are watching, just keep in mind that he is only a guest star, not a new main character.\\n\\nThen theres the season finale. It sets up a problem that is supposed to be fun but seems out of character for Beckett. When that is resolved, we then get a cliffhanger. Again, Im not as annoyed as some fans are (I was actually kind of expecting it). However, if they don't resolve it correctly come the season seven premier, I will be revising my opinion of the show runners.\\n\\nOn the other hand, a long running story was successfully wrapped up this season. Im glad to see them know when they had dragged it out long enough. I was thrilled with how they resolved it and think they made the right call.\\n\\nThere were 23 total episodes in season 6, and all of them are collected in this set in their native wide screen and full surround. Extras include commentaries on four of the episodes, including one from the point of view of the characters Ryan and Esposito. There are also deleted scenes, bloopers, a day in the life featurette, and one where cast and crew talk about their favorite parts of the show, which includes a never before seen scene from season 4.\\n\\nWhile there are some flaws for some fans, I found season six of Castle to still be very entertaining. Even if you don't like the elements I named, they are easy enough to skip over so you can still enjoy the new highs and lows for the characters in this set. After six years, the show is still fun and entertaining, and I cant wait to see what happens next.\",\n \"Product: An aspiring nun in pre-WWII Austria leaves the abbey to become a governess for the widower Captain von Trapp's seven children and finds herself falling in love. Beloved worldwide, The Sound of Music includes unforgettable songs including Edelweiss, Do-Re-Mi, My Favorite Things, and The Sound of Music.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: The Hills Are Indeed Still Alive with the Sound of Music\\n\\nReview: Over the last decade, TV has become about serialized dramas and reality TV. Thats why NBC took a big risk with their recently aired The Sound of Music Live! It was a one night only performance of a classic stage musical. And it was aired live (well, on the East Coast). Plus it was family friendly entertainment. While this kind of thing used to be a staple of TV, it hasn't been done in years. The gamble paid off ratings wise, and I enjoyed it as well.\\n\\nJust in case you aren't familiar with the musical, it tells the story of Maria (Carrie Underwood). She is planning to become a nun in 1930s Austria, but she doesnt quite fit in to the convent. The Mother Abbess (Audra McDonald) sends her to Captain Von Trapp (Stephen Moyer) to be the governess for his seven children. While she wins their heart, the captain is winning hers. But with Germany threatening to invade any day, does any of it matter?\\n\\nNow before I go any further, there are some complaints I have seen about this musical that I need to set straight.\\n\\nTHIS WAS A FILMED VERSION OF THE STAGE MUSICAL. THIS WAS NOT A NEW VERSION OF THE MOVIE.\\n\\nAnd yes, that is an important distinction and it comes into play in two important places.\\n\\nThe first is the music. The famous Julie Andrews movie rearranged a couple of the songs, added one, changed one, and took out two. This version stuck to the original stage play. That means Maria and Mother Abbess sing My Favorite Things before Maria leaves the convent and Maria sings The Lonely Goatherd to distract the kids during the lightning storm her first night with them. Additionally, you won't see I Have Confidence at all. The only change from the movie they kept was the love song. The Captain and Maria sing Something Good instead of An Ordinary Couple. Honestly, neither of these songs rises to the level of the rest of the classics from this play, but I do prefer Something Good a bit more.\\n\\nThe other place the fact this is a play comes into production is the sets. This was filmed in a soundstage, so yes, the times when the characters are supposed to be outside look fake. But I expected that going into it. They didn't spend a year in another country filming on location. They spent three hours filming the entire thing from start to finish. When you consider that, the sets look pretty good to me. Think of something youd see for some sitcoms, and youll be fine. And honestly, when Ive seen this play down before, Maria sings The Sound of Music with just a curtain behind her and we have to use our imagination to come up with the mountain shes on. This is already a huge step ahead of that.\\n\\nCan you tell I feel passionately about this? Thats because after being an extra in the party scene, I have long wanted someone to create a filmed version of the play. Yes, I love the Julie Andrews movie. I will always love the Julie Andrews movie. I consider it a classic. But that doesnt mean it isn't untouchable. That is how one group of people interpreted the story, but others can do it again. (Yes, its the play goer in me talking.) As I said, the original movie took out two songs, both of which I love, but this version put them back in the story. Both are fun, and they help develop Elsa and the Captain, which makes him a better love interest and us care a bit when he and Elsa break up. The reordered songs reveal different things about different characters. And the play is more grounded in the German/Austria politics of the time than the movie, which make the climax feel more like part of the story. Oh, and the play is also kinder to Rolf and Liesel at the end than the movie.\\n\\nOf course, the movie shows a bit more of Maria and the Captain falling in love than the play does. Its very little, but it does help. And the filming on location absolutely helps. While the dance numbers here are certainly fun (I was smiling as I watched them), they don't compare to the ones from the movie because a movie used many more locations and inventive dance moves.\\n\\nSo lets discuss the biggest weakness of this filmed play version of the story Carrie Underwood. Those who criticize her acting are correct. I certainly found her watchable, and she seemed to relax as the play went forward, but she was stiff early on. Really, I would call it unpolished more than bad. Then again, others in the cast had their moments that seemed a bit awkward. For the most part, they were fine, however, and Stephen Moyer really impressed me with how he made the Captain so much more real than Christopher Plummer ever did. I can actually see why Maria would fall for him here.\\n\\nHonestly, one thing that would have helped the actors is a live audience in the studio. There is nothing like a live audience to help bring a performance to life. Ive found that with the little bit of skits and plays Ive done. There are laugh lines in this play that fall flat no matter who says them without an audience to laugh at them. The energy of an audience makes a huge difference. While the cast did a good job, it could have been so much better with someone there to encourage the actors.\\n\\nOne place I cant fault anyone is the musical numbers. All the classics you love are here, and they sound wonderful. If I didn't know Carrie was a country singer, Id never know it from this play she lost all of her twang for the part. The choreography is fun, too.\\n\\nSo which is better? As I said, the Julie Andrews version is a classic, and this filmed play is not going to shake that at all. But that doesnt mean we cant enjoy this one, too. I plan to enjoy both for years to come depending on which one I am in the mood to watch. Its nice to have a choice since I like both the stage version and the movie version of this story.\\n\\nSo sit down with an open mind and give the filmed play a chance. You just might find some new moments in The Sound of Music Live! that youll enjoy.\",\n \"Product: In a distant corner of the galaxy, Luntar the Looter is menacing passing ships and stealing their power sources. When a dark shadow falls on the sunny, beach-filled planet of Tootanny, the USS Applepies fleet is deployed to put a stop to this space pirate. Captain Cuke (Larry) and first officer, Mr. Spork (Bob) hop in their space-ion wagon posing as undercover Tootany tourists to find Luntar. Along the way, Cuke and Spork discover that the villain is himself a victim, desperately trying to save his planet from solar burst popcorn meteorites. When Luntar s nephew splits his sandwich and juice box with the captured Applepies crew, he presents a simple solution to everyone s problem. Will Captain Cuke invoke the Galactic Law of Finder s Keepers, or will he finally learn that when you have enough to spare, you have enough to share ?\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: \\\"In Space, No One Can Hear You Scream Excessively Loud.\\\"\\n\\nReview: Its been quite a few years since we have Veggies in space, so when I saw the newest episode in the long running VeggieTales series would be Veggies in Space: The Fennel Frontier, I was excited. I was hoping it would prove plenty of laughs, and it did.\\n\\nAs the episode opens, Larry the Cucumber is hanging from a rope over the countertop. Despite his requests for help getting down or getting warm or getting something to eat, all his friends aren't willing to share what they have with him. That reminds Bob the Tomato of an e-mail asking about sharing, and it sends us off to space.\\n\\nWe join the crew of the USS Applepie as they get involved in a dispute over some newly discovered mewantium. But thats just a precursor (I suspect really a time filler) to the main story in which Captain Cuke (Larry) and his first mate Mr. Spork (Bob) set off to discover why the planet Fennel is stealing all power from anything that comes close to it. When they arrive, they find that the planet is not the resort community it once was and it appears that it's ruler, Luntar the Looter (Mr. Lunt) has turned into a space pirate. Why is he stealing all the power? And can sharing really help solve the problem?\\n\\nIts been a while since there was an episode that had humor clearly geared for the parents in the audience. Dont misunderstand, the video is still completely clean and appropriate for all ages. But being a scifi spoof (Star Trek most prominently, but there are plenty of other references), there are spoof jokes that the kids won't get but will crack up their parents. I know I was laughing at quite a bit of the show.\\n\\nAt times, the lessons in these shorts can be pretty heavy handed these days. While it is obvious here that sharing is good, it is worked into the show in such a way that I didn't feel preached at. And there is certainly nothing wrong with teaching kids that sharing is a good thing.\\n\\nThe new silly song is Asteroid Cowboys, with original verses and a chorus inspired by Home on the Range. Its pretty amusing if not quite a silly song classic.\\n\\nAll told, Veggies in Space: The Fennel Frontier is a great addition to the VeggieTales series. Youll laugh and be reminded that God wants us to share.\",\n \"Product: Thousands of years ago, a race of beings known as Dark Elves tried to send the universe into darkness by using a weapon known as the Aether. Warriors from Asgard stop them but their leader Malekith escapes to wait for another opportunity. The warriors find the Aether and since it cannot be destroyed, they try to hide it. In the present day, Jane Foster awaits the return of Thor although it has been two years since they last saw once another. In the meantime, Thor has been trying to bring peace to the nine realms. Jane discovers an anomaly similar to the one that brought Thor to Earth. She goes to investigate, finds a wormhole, and is sucked into it. Back on Asgard, Thor wishes to return to Earth but his father, Odin refuses to let him. Thor learns from Heimdall, who can see into all of the realms, that Jane disappeared. Thor then returns to Earth just as Jane reappears. However, when some policemen try to arrest her, an unknown energy repulses them. Thor then brings Jane to Asgard to find out what happened to her. When the energy is released again, they discover that when Jane disappeared, she crossed paths with the Aether and it entered her. Malekith, upon sensing that the time to strike is now, seeks out the Aether. He attacks Asgard and Thor's mother Frigga is killed protecting Jane. Odin wants to keep Jane on Asgard so that Malekith will come. Thor disagrees with his plan, so with his cohorts, he decides to take Jane away. He enlists the aid of his brother, Loki. Unfortunately, Loki's motivations remain unknown.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: \\\"Do You Even Know What These Things Do?\\\" \\\"No.\\\" \\\"Neither Do I.\\\"\\n\\nReview: I'm still trying to catch up on movies I missed in the theater in 2013. One of those was Thor: The Dark World, so when I saw a friend had bought it, I snagged it right away. (Yeah, I watched it that week and returned it.)\\n\\nThe story picks up after TheAvengers. Thor (Chris Hemsworth) is busy fighting across all the realms to keep any dark and powerful forces at bay. As a result, he is being treated as a hero and his father Odin (Anthony Hopkins) thinks that he might be ready to become king.\\n\\nThe one thing holding him back is Jane Foster (Natalie Portman). He loved this mortal woman, much to Odin's dismay. However, she has just stumbled on an anomaly in London that could kill her. Even worse, it means the Dark Elves, a race that had supposedly been defeated a millennia ago, want her to drain this anomaly from her and use it to take over the nine realms.\\n\\nI have noticed some issues with superhero movies. The first one is always an origin story, and it slows the movie down while we wait for the hero to gain their powers and come to terms with it. Then, in the sequel, they have to up the stakes by giving us two villains. I actually have to respect this movie because it doesn't try to do that. Instead, it just tells us the next chapter of the story with the next villain. Okay, so you could argue there is an army, but they act as one, therefore one villain.\\n\\nThis allows time for some character development, which I felt was a strong point of the film. Through the action, we got to know many of these characters better, which made us care about the outcome.\\n\\nHowever, I must admit I was disappointed with Jane in this movie. Yes, the love interest is pretty much there just to get in trouble and provide motivation for the hero. However, I felt her character was weak and worse than normal. Definitely wish she had played a bigger role before the climax.\\n\\nOn the other hand, there's Tom Hiddleston's Loki. The character is so rich and troubled, you can't help but sympathize with him even though he's the villain. Yes, I do love to hate him.\\n\\nThe acting by everyone is wonderful no matter how big or small a part they play in the overall film. As a Chuck fan, I have to give a special shout out to Zachary Levi who took over the Fandral role since Josh Dallas was tied up with Once Upon a Time. (An interesting bit of trivia, Zachary was the first choice for the character in the first movie, but he couldn't do it because of Chuck. Full circle and all that.)\\n\\nLikewise, the special effects are wonderful. While I wouldn't expect anything less from a movie of this magnitude, I wasn't disappointed.\\n\\nWhich brings us to my other minor complaint about the film, the climax. Yes, the final battle has to be epic, but here I felt like it was a bit too frenzied with too much going on. As a result, I also felt like it went on a tad to long. I'm being nitpicky here, I realize, but that is how I felt.\\n\\nOverall, Thor: The Dark World was a fun sequel that was well worth watching, and one that extends the Marvel Universe. I'm enjoying watching this universe expand with each film.\",\n \"Product: Case-cracking psychic detective Shawn Spencer (James Roday) and his best friend Burton Gus Guster (Dul Hill) have their hands full getting to the bottom of crime-filled conundrums around Santa Barbara. From a prestigious paranormal police consultant convention to zombie nightmares, Shawn and Gus need all the help they can get as new hijinks and tests arise for your favorite sleuths in this eighth and final season of Psych. Witness every episode back-to-back and uninterrupted of the final hilarious season featuring a gaggle of guest stars including Mira Sorvino (Romy and Micheles High School Reunion), Tom Arnold (Sons of Anarchy), Loretta Devine (The Client List), and Bruce Campbell (Burn Notice).\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Bit Over the Top, but Ultimately Satisfying End to psych\\n\\nReview: All good things must come to an end. The trick for a TV series if figuring out when that end should be. For psych, that end came with the shortened eighth season. And while some of us fans definitely think the show went on a little too long, it went out on a high note.\\n\\nWhen last we saw our heroes, life in Santa Barbara was changing, and not for the better. Chief Vick (Kirsten Nelson) had been replaced as chief of police and head detective Carlton Lassiter (Timothy Omundson) had been demoted to beat cop. The only person the changes had helped was Juliet O'Hara (Maggie Lawson) who was now head detective. And our heroes? There was no place for consultants and especially psychics, so fake psychic Shawn Spencer (James Roday) and his best friend Gus (Dule Hill) were definitely out on their own.\\n\\nBut don't count them out so fast. Shawn and Gus manage to worm their way into a case when Lassiter gets great news that turns him into a coward. And when coroner Woody (Kurt Fuller) gets taken hostage, Shawn and Gus are again in the thick of things. Before the season is out, a new chief of police is named, we meet up with a recurring character in England, Shawn's dad Henry (Corbin Bernsen) sells the house where Shawn grew up, and everyone flashes back to the 1960's to solve the murder of the mayor's uncle. In one of the best episodes of the season, Shawn and Gus go undercover to find out who killed their favorite food truck owner. Trust me, this one was hilarious.\\n\\nThe season was mostly enjoyable, but was a bit over the top. Looking back on the show, the writers have been letting Shawn and Gus's antics get crazier and crazier as the series has progressed. They are certainly funny, and I enjoy watching them, however, they need to be reigned in at times. Many of these episodes would improve if they just didn't let the characters get quite so out of hand.\\n\\nIn an interesting choice, one of the first season episodes is remade. Yes, it is even set back in 2006. I watched both episodes back to back, and frankly, I'm not sure what the point was. Again, there were more antics (not necessarily a good thing, although some were amusing), and it was interesting to watch them spin things with a different killer. A few of the in jokes and stabs at remakes were certainly fun, however.\\n\\nAnother issue the season had was the cast. I'm not talking about the acting, which was always good. But Maggie Lawson was just some of the episodes because she had taken a job on Back in the Game on ABC. Frankly, that hurt because her character often provides some of the much needed grounding of the show. Likewise, Kristen Nelson's Chief Vick wasn't in enough episodes.\\n\\nBut honestly, to get a good glimpse at this season, you need to take a look at the final two episodes. The penultimate episode was \\\"A Nightmare on State Street.\\\" I was expecting one of their horror movie spoofs with Bruce Campbell as a guest star. This episode involved zombies and a mystery that made no sense at all. Between the dreams and the reality, it was almost impossible to follow any semblance of a story.\\n\\nThen there's \\\"The Breakup.\\\" The series ender was perfect. There was a good mystery to solve as everything was brought to a close. There were some great shout outs to the fans and plenty of good moments between the characters. The final scene was possibly one of the funniest of the series. I couldn't have been happier with how it ended.\\n\\nAnd honestly, with how this season was structured, I'm surprised it took everyone so long to officially announce this as the final season of the show. With fewer episodes than normal and an actual story arc to the season, I saw this coming months ago and felt certain of it as the season progressed. It would have been very hard to keep the series running even if they had cut out the final episode and saved it for another time. I do think they made the right call. While I enjoyed most of the season, it is time to say goodbye, and as I said, the finale was perfect.\\n\\nThe season includes all 10 episodes on 3 discs in their native wide screen and surround sound. Extras include some deleted scenes, a gag reel, and a podcast with various members of the cast and crew on almost every episode. The biggest surprise to me was the inclusion of the wonderful musical episode that aired back in December. It was filmed as part of season seven but held until December and then released on DVD by itself. I'm glad I waited so I can get it as part of this set. Finally, there's a behind the scenes on the musical and a goodbye featurette.\\n\\nThe over the top antics of Shawn and Gus were a bit too much during the final season of psych. Still, the loyal fans will be happy with these episodes and happy with how the show ends. I will definitely be rewatching several of them over the years and will gladly welcome season eight to my DVD collection.\",\n \"Product: Two Frogs! One Pig! Intrigue! Music! Mayhem! Muppets! Theres plenty of fun for the whole family as Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Animal and the entire Muppets gang head out on a world tour. But mayhem follows the Muppets, as they find themselves unwittingly entangled in an international crime caper. Now Kermit is behind bars at the mercy of prison warden Nadya (Tina Fey), and the Worlds Number One Criminal, Constantinea dead ringer for Kermithas taken his place. As Constantine and his dastardly sidekick Dominic (Ricky Gervais) plot the robbery of the century, they are pursued by Sam Eagle and Interpol agent Jean Pierre Napoleon (Ty Burrell). Will Constantine get away with his nefarious scheme? Will Kermit escape in time to save the day? Disneys Muppets Most Wanted is the most hilarious, most wanted Muppet movie ever! Mickey Short "No Service"\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Looks Like They Put the Reviews Up Early. Or is That the Suggestion Box?\\n\\nReview: I was one of the few (it seems) who wasn't thrilled with the recent attempts to bring back The Muppets franchise, so I didn't rush out to watch Muppets Most Wanted. I did, however, go ahead and buy the movie when it first hit Blu-Ray. And I just got it watched if that tells you anything. But I am thrilled I bought it and am kicking myself for not watching it sooner because this movie is wonderful.\\n\\nThe movie picks up right after the end of the last one. Literally. I mean, it opens with the The End fireworks. Clearly, this means that studio has ordered a sequel. And as the Muppets brainstorm a plot, they hit on a perfect story and things get under way.\\n\\nFlushed with the success of their come back (from the last movie), The Muppets have decided to go on an international tour. They have signed up with Dominic Badguy (its French and not pronounced as it looks. Really! Would he like to us?) (Oh, and hes played by Ricky Gervais.) who will help arrange the dates and locations for this tour. And they start in Europe Germany to be exact.\\n\\nHowever, Constantine, the number 1 villain and worlds most dangerous frog, has managed to escape from the Russian gulag where hes been held. Hes a ringer for Kermit the Frog except for a mole. As Kermit gets captured in Constantines place, Constantine pretends to be Kermit and uses their tour as cover for his evil scheme. Will anyone realize the switch in time to free Kermit and save the day?\\n\\nOkay, so its not the most original plot, but I didn't care. You know why? I was having so much fun along the way it really didn't matter. The action was fast moving and actually held up pretty well with no major plot holes. Okay, I don't expect perfection from the Muppets, but still, there wasn't anything that made me roll my eyes. There are even some tender moments between the characters as the movie went along.\\n\\nFirst and foremost, this movie remembered that it was a comedy, and thats why I loved it. The jokes were plentiful and rapid fire. In fact, Im sure I missed some as I was laughing at the one that had just come before. The laughs start with the opening number and continue right until the end.\\n\\nAs always, there are plenty of cameos that added to the fun. Ill leave it to you to figure out who appeared. The main three human stars are Ricky Gervais, Ty Burrell, who plays an inspector that teams up with Sam the Eagle to try to track the mysterious bad guys, and Tina Fey, who plays the chief at the gulag. The song Tina sings when we first meet her is hysterical. All three of them are top notch making us believe in the magic of the Muppet world. The Muppet performers are great as well. Truly, there isn't a bad moment in the film.\\n\\nThat includes the songs which never slow things down but always advance the story or provide us with wonderful laughs (usually both).\\n\\nThe Blu-Ray has three versions of the film. Theres the original theater cut, the Unnecessarily Extended Edition, and the Statler and Waldorf cut. Youve already spent longer reading this review than it would take to watch the Statler and Waldorf cut (and I think you). Still, its good for a quick laugh. And I must take exception to the name of the Unnecessarily Extended Edition. Thats actually the one I chose to watch. Afterwards, I watched the opening scene in the theatrical edition. Some of my favorite jokes in that first scene had been cut for theaters. Seriously, you need to watch those extra 14 minutes. You will thank me as the jokes are so funny.\\n\\nAnd really, thats what makes or breaks a Muppet movie or show of any kind. As I said at the outset, Im glad I bought Muppets Most Wanted because I will definitely be watching it again. Its light, fun entertainment that will leave you laughing.\",\n \"Product: JENNIFER SHANNON loves scouring garage sales to look for items to sell in her resell shop, but when she realizes a series of burglaries and a friend s murder may have a connection to the sales, she not only helps the cops, but does some undercover sleuthing of her own. As she gets closer to the truth, she becomes the murderers next target. Now she must fight for her own survival in order to solve the mystery and bring her friend s killer to justice.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Not a Rare Fine, but a Fun Movie\\n\\nReview: Of the Hallmark Mystery and Movie Channel franchises, the one that seems to be doing the best features a woman who loves garage sales. I find that ironic since it is based on a series of books I haven't heard of. In fact, best I can tell, there are now more movies than books in the series. But since I am a fan of star Lori Loughlin thanks to her days on Full House, I sat down to watch the first, Garage Sale Mystery. I found it entertaining but lacking.\\n\\nJennifer Shannon (Lori Loughlin) loves garage sales, heading out every Saturday hunting for any bargain she can find. Most of those bargains she then sells at her second hand shop. Since she is out every week, she often sees the same people over and over again.\\n\\nWhich is why she becomes curious when she hears of a string of robberies in the area she usually shops. Some of the houses that have sales are being hit the next week. When she finds an old friend dead a couple of days after another sale, Jennifer really becomes concerned. Is another regular a killer?\\n\\nMy main issue is that the mystery is fairly light. Yes, there are a couple of cool connections that are made, but I had the main plot pretty much figured out before the half-way point. That never happens since I tend to over think things, so I found that disappointing.\\n\\nAdd to that the usual Hallmark original movie syndrome. There are a couple of jumps that the movie made I had to struggle to follow, and a romance between the detective in charge and Jennifers daughter, while certainly cute, felt a bit rushed.\\n\\nHaving said that, I did enjoy watching this movie. It was nice to see a mystery with a main character who is happily married and who is old enough to have a daughter in college and a teenage son. Most of the time, the main characters in the books I read are late 20s or early 30s and single. While the romance with the daughter felt forced, the scenes between her and the detective were very cute and made me laugh. And I absolutely love how Jennifer and her husband interacted and the obvious love between them.\\n\\nI don't know what it is about Hallmark productions, but they exude a certain atmosphere both in the production and the acting. That certainly creeps into the acting here as well; its not that the acting is bad, but it isn't the best it could be either.\\n\\nWhile Garage Sale Mystery wasn't an outstanding beginning, I certainly did enjoy it and the characters enough to be willing to revisit them. Since I have the rest of the films on my DVR, Im sure I will be doing that soon.\",\n \"Product: Jackie Chan stars as Asian Hawk, a master adventurer tasked with retrieving lost bronze heads, originally a part of an ancient Chinese collection of zodiac busts. While wealthy entrepreneur Lawrence (Oliver Platt) dangles an enormous reward for such a find, Hawk deploys his array of high tech devices as he travels the world to help unearth the missing relics. Caught between a monster payday and the restoration of Chinas past, Hawk jumps into battle, using his death-defying skills to help thwart Lawrences destructive plans, while hoping to secure the remaining bronze heads before its too late.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: A Mess of a Movie - See it for the Fight Scenes Only\\n\\nReview: Back in the day, I saw several of Jackie Chan's movies and enjoyed them, however, I'd hesitate to call myself a big fan of his work. Still, I remembered the fantastic fight sequences, so when my roommate brought home Chinese Zodiac and asked if I wanted to watch it, too, I agreed. Sadly, it should have been much, much better.\\n\\nJC (Jackie Chan) has been hired to track down the twelve bronze statues of the animals from the Chinese Zodiac any way necessary. That's a good thing since he is a thief for hire. These particular statues were stolen from the Chinese one hundred and fifty years ago. A few are popping up in the market, but no one knows where all of them are. Can JC and his team follow clues to track them down?\\n\\nNow often, I will say that the plot is just an excuse for the action. That doesn't necessarily mean the plot is bad, it just means the plot is just setting up the action. In this case, it means the plot is bad. It jumps from plot point to plot point with no real explanation or at times logic. A few of the complications felt like the writers saying, \\\"We need to have another fight sequences, so let's introduce pirates.\\\" Yes, you read that right, real day pirates make an appearance. The climax, while thrilling, also made little sense and came out of nowhere just to give us an awesome final fight scene.\\n\\nCharacter development? Again, much of that is forced. Things are thrown in at random that are supposed to help us identify with the characters better. This was still happening in the final, wrap up scene of the film. Instead of liking the characters, it made me laugh at the clumsy way it was handled.\\n\\nI'm willing to give the actors a pass on the acting. The film was a mix of sub-titles, accented English, and voice over. Between the three, I was so busy trying to follow the story that the acting wasn't a big issue for me. It wasn't good, but it was horrible, either.\\n\\nWhat was horrible was much of the voice over work. Many of the actors delivered it with such flat voices that I was pushed away by the woodenness of it. I felt like these \\\"actors\\\" just wanted a paycheck and didn't care about the final outcome.\\n\\nAlong with this, we get preached at about who should really have stolen artifacts taken from the original peoples are displayed in European cities. I actually agree with what the film was trying to say, I just hated the way it was said.\\n\\nSo why watch the film? For the action sequences. The opening epic scene is worth it for the sheer fun of the film alone. There are many other great scenes scattered throughout the film, including a fight entirely on a couch. No, I'm not joking. And the climatic moments just be seen to be believed.\\n\\nEven so, I highly suggest renting the film, or better yet borrowing it from someone else who has rented it like I did. There is no reason to watch this film more than once. After you've seen the action scenes, you'll have no desire to watch Chinese Zodiac again.\",\n \"Product: After being gone for five years, during which he suffered unimaginable ordeals, billionaire Oliver Queen returned home to Starling City with a mysterious agenda and a set of new skills that he uses in a war on crime in this hard-hitting action series. Reinventing the DC Entertainment character for a modern-day audience, the Arrow is not a super hero ... but a hero -- every bit as formidable as the criminals he's hunting. Determined to right his city's wrongs and sworn to bring justice to those who have corrupted it, Oliver (aka The Arrow) -- with the help of his iron-fisted right hand, John Diggle, the tech-savvy Felicity Smoak and the newest member of the team, Roy Harper -- narrowly defeats the vengeful Slade Wilson, his onetime ally and mentor on the island of Lian Yu. But like all wars, there are casualties. Sacrificing herself for her children, Moira Queen falls at the hand of Deathstroke, sending Oliver's sister, Thea, into self-imposed exile with her biological father, Malcolm Merlyn. Now, to honor his fallen friends and family and protect the people he loves, Oliver must rededicate himself to his cause -- to become a beacon of hope for those most in need, and a weapon of justice against those who prey upon them. He is The Arrow.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: You Arent SCPD. Unless Police Uniforms Have Gotten Very Interesting, Neither Are You.\\n\\nReview: Ive discovered just how hooked I am on superhero shows. Granted, I always knew I liked the genre, but they are taking up an increasing amount of my TV viewing time, and Im not complaining. Its been a recent development, too, since Arrow is the oldest of the shows Im watching, and it just finished up season three, which was another season well worth watching.\\n\\nSeason three picks up a few months after the second season ended. Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell) is hoping to buy back control of Queen Consolidated, but he fails when the company goes to billionaire Ray Palmer (recurring guest star Brandon Routh). Felicity (Emily Bett Rickards), however, continues to work for team Arrow while helping Ray on secret projects at his company as his second in command.\\n\\nMeanwhile, Olivers sister Thea (Willa Holland) has been out training with her father Malcom (John Barrowman), and Oliver and Diggle (David Ramsey) go out to bring her home. Things are actually looking relatively quiet until a murder rocks everyones world. With a new villain coming to town screaming for justice, Oliver has to figure out what happened. Meanwhile, Laurels (Katie Cassidy) world is rocked and she takes another step toward her destiny. But who is the killer? And what can Oliver and his secret identity do about it?\\n\\nAs if often the case with TV shows these days, it would be really hard to jump in here. Yes, its only season 3, but due to the ongoing nature of the story, youll miss out on a lot of character development. With all the characters involved (and Ive left a couple out, actually), the season hits the ground running. So start from season 1. Not that youll regret it.\\n\\nWhile Arrow has never been a light show, this season definitely went even darker than the previous two. At times, that was good. We got to see great growth in the characters and some wonderful acting by the cast. On the other hand, it reached a tipping point late in the season, and I began to feel like it was just too much. Fortunately, the season did turn around and end on a lighter note, and the rumors Im hearing about season four indicate it will keep that lighter tone.\\n\\nNot that this season was completely dark. Ray Palmer added some fun as he tinkers with his inventions and works on seducing Felicity. Speaking of Felicity, her mom shows up for two episodes, and Charlotte Rosss performance in this guest role was absolutely wonderful.\\n\\nIn some ways, this season of Arrow was overshadowed by its spinoff, The Flash. I absolutely loved that show, too, but why am I bringing it up now? There was a crossover event early in the season and the characters popped up on each others shows several times, often revealing key plot points when they did that. You don't absolutely have to watch both shows, but its so much fun youll definitely want to do so.\\n\\nThe show continues to be filled with great stunts and effects. Its amazing what this show does on a TV budget each week. The actors are at the top of their game as well. I get the impression that they really do love their jobs, and it comes through in their work.\\n\\nThe flashback storyline this season does wind up tying into the season storyline, but, as always, I felt it was the weakest part of the show. On the other hand, watch out for that mid-season cliffhanger. Its a doozy. And as you quickly move on to the next episode, remember I had to wait 6 weeks to watch the next episode.\\n\\nThe season consisted of 23 episodes, and naturally they are all here in their native widescreen and full surround sound. Extras include two commentaries, deleted scenes, and a gag reel. In the way of featurettes, theres one on the 2014 Comic-Con panel, one on the suits the superheroes wear, one on the set for this seasons villains lair, and one on creating Ray Palmers biggest gadget.\\n\\nWhile season 3 of Arrow did grow too dark for a while, it was still well worth watching. If you have been enjoying this show, youll be thrilled to add this season to your collection.\",\n \"Product: Leonard and Sheldon are brilliant physicists--geniuses in the laboratory, but socially challenged everywhere else. Enter their beautiful, street-smart neighbor, Penny, who aims to teach them a thing or two about life. Despite their on-again, off-again relationship in the past, Leonard believes he's found true love with Penny and they have finally gotten engaged. Even Sheldon has found a female companion, entering into a \\\"Relationship Agreement\\\" with neurobiologist Amy Farrah Fowler. In their free time, Leonard and Sheldon continue to enjoy frequent trips to the comic book store and fantasy role-playing games with their ever-expanding universe of friends, including fellow scientists Koothrappali, Wolowitz and Wolowitz's adorable microbiologist wife, Bernadette.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Are They Making Fun of Us? Yep. I Miss the Old Days When I Couldnt Tell.\\n\\nReview: At some point, all shows go through a slump. Its almost impossible to keep the quality of the laughs up year and year no matter how great the team is behind the show. Honestly, Im still waiting for that to happen with The Big Bang Theory. Here we are at season 8, and Im still loving it.\\n\\nFor those who have missed the show, it centers on a bunch of physicist. Leading the pack are roommates Leonard (Johnny Galecki) and Sheldon (Jim Parons) who are friends with Raj (Kunal Nayyar) and Howard (Simon Helberg), Howard being the only engineer of the core group. The series started when Penny (Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting) moved in across the hall from Leonard and Sheldon. Things have changed, and now Leonard and Penny are engaged, although they still have the same living arrangements. Over the years, Howard has married Bernadette (Melissa Rauch) and Sheldon has started dating Amy (Mayim Bailik). Even Raj has a steady girlfriend this year in the form of recurring character Emily (Laura Spencer).\\n\\nAt the end of season seven, Sheldons reaction to changes in his life lead him to leave town on a cross country train trip. As the season opens, he calls requesting to be picked up. Why? Hes been robbed. That brings him back to the characters home base of Pasadena, California, but he has to start processing the changes in his life. One of those changes finds him teaching a class at CalTech for the first time. The catch? His only student is Howard. Howard, meanwhile, has to find a way to throw out the first pitch at a baseball game. Penny leaves behind her dream of acting for a job working pharmaceutical sales at the same company where Bernadette works, although the door might not quite be closed on acting. Raj has to deal with the fall out of his parents divorce. The ladies spend an evening uncovering each others shameful secrets. And the entire gang puts on a prom on their roof with hilarious results. And we got more of Stuart (Kevin Sussman), the owner of the local comic book store, who was living with Howards mother while his store was rebuilt, much to Howards dismay.\\n\\nThe season took a bit of a somber note when actress Carol Ann Susi died in November. While never seen, she had provided the off screen voice of Howards mother since the start of the show. As a result, the writers killed off her character mid-season, providing some well done more somber moments. It also provided some great storylines late in the season as Howard and Bernadette started working on moving into her home. I especially loved a ping pong battle episode.\\n\\nThe shows detractors complain that, while it started out as a love letter to geeks, it has now evolved into a show about the characters and their relationships with their significant others. They do have a valid point. If you go back and watch the early episodes, the subject matter is often different.\\n\\nBut heres the thing I don't care. And why not? Because Im still laughing. The jokes are just as funny. Even if I see them coming, I still cant help but laugh as the characters deliver the lines.\\n\\nAnd heres another reason it is a good thing. Humans grow and change. The best characters, the ones I love the most, grow and change as well. If the show tried to stay to the same with the same characters and relationships they had in the first few years, I would be bored with it by now. Instead, its a show I look forward to watching every Thursday night and the only show I have my DVR record the reruns for. Thats right, I laugh just as hard at the reruns as I do the first airings of the show, and I never miss a chance to watch the reruns.\\n\\nDespite the changes, there are still plenty of jokes at geek culture and geeky things. After all, they built an entire episode around Leonard and Sheldon trying to visit Skywalker Ranch. The ladies know more than they are willing to admit about the things their men love. Its a fun show with a fun dynamic.\\n\\nAnd the acting continues to be great. All the main actors know their characters by this point, and their portrayals are perfect. The recurring characters are fantastic as well and Laura Spencers Emily fits right in as well. Honestly, I wish wed see more of her.\\n\\nThis season consisted of 24 episodes, which are all included here in their wide screen and full surround. Extras include a salute to the fans, highlights from the 2014 ComicCon panel, a tribute to Carol Ann Susi, and a gag reel.\\n\\nSo if you need to laugh, I highly recommend The Big Bang Theorys eighth season. These episodes will fly by all too quickly, and youll be left wanting to know what happens to everyones favorite geeks next.\",\n \"Product: Veggie pals Laura Carrot and Junior Asparagus have a big job to dosave their beloved Celery Park from being destroyed! Laura and Junior plan a fundraising concert with the formerly famous Groovy Brothers, but the bandmates refuse to play together because of an old grudge. All hope of saving the park seems lost until the group remembers that God forgives without question, so why can't they do the same? Will the band reunite to save Celery Park? Find out in this fun, music-filled VeggieTales adventure.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Groovy Lesson in Forgiveness\\n\\nReview: Maybe it has happened before, but right now I cant think of a time that VeggieTales covered a lesson a second time. But thats the case with Celery Night Fever, the latest offering from this long running series. And with how long it has been running, Im only surprised they haven't circled back around to forgiveness before now since they last tackled this topic in their second video. Anyway, this is a great new story.\\n\\nWe open on the countertop as Bob the Tomato and Larry the Cucumber are about to introduce the new story. Only they are interrupted by Jerry and Jimmy Gourd who are upset because Larry ate the entire pie that the trio had made together and were supposed to share. (And since Jerry and Jimmy and their appetite were introduced in that long ago third episode, I find it appropriate.) Jerry and Jimmy are furious and say they will never forgive Larry, but Bob thinks he has just the story for them.\\n\\nAnd so we roll film to hear the story of Laura Carrot who is fighting to save Celery Park from a developer. After Junior Asparagus doesnt follow through (again) with his part of the plan to save the park, she breaks off her friendship with him and tries to come up with a new plan on her own.\\n\\nThat plan involves her grandfather (Larry the Cucumber, and I don't think I want to know how that is possible). See, back in the day he was one of the leads in The Groovy Brothers, a disco band who got their start in Celery Park. If Laura can reunite the band, maybe they can raise the funds to buy the note from the developer. But why did the group break up? Will it keep them from coming back together? Can Laura save the park? And what about her friendship with Junior?\\n\\nThe story really shows how unforgiveness can keep you apart from people you love, and I like that. The actual forgiveness part seems to happen pretty quickly and for no real reason, but thats a minor complaint. Overall, the message is clear and strong without being too preachy.\\n\\nAlong the way, we get plenty of fun moments, most of which the adults will probably enjoy more than the kids. There are lots of references and throwbacks to the 70s since this is a disco themed episode. While still not the peak of the series, I grinned several times throughout the story. Heck, I got a huge kick out of Archibald being one of the other members of the Groovy Brothers. Plus they brought Kalil back as well.\\n\\nThe music certainly adds to the fun. There are quite a few new songs, and they are all good. Several of them have a disco flavor, and they will get stuck in your head, so be forewarned.\\n\\nUnfortunately, the new Silly Song is the weak point of the disc. Perfect Puppy actually does star Larry and Bob as Larry is anxious to get a new puppy. (I really thought it might star Achmetha who has been obsessed with puppies since Esther.) Its amusing, especially at the end, but its not one of the better ones.\\n\\nOne word of warning. There is a brief interview with Terry Crew, who plays the onion developer who is trying to buy and close the park. As he is talking about how excited he was to get the call to play the part, he takes the Lords name in vain. Now if you read my blog regularly, you will see positive reviews of plenty of things with swearing in them. However, in something aimed at Christian kids, this was a surprise and totally out of place. But if you just avoid that special feature (and its easy to do), youll be fine.\\n\\nOn the whole, Celery Night Fever proves to be entertaining and it shows why we need to forgive others. Kids will definitely enjoy it and be singing the songs before you know it.\",\n \"Product: Mirabelle and her traveling family band, the Veggie Tones, are determined to make their next gig at Vegetable Square Garden. On their journey, a fierce winter snowstorm hits, and the family gets stuck at a run-down resort! Mr. Beet, the grumpy manager, makes them sing - and clean - for their supper. Why is Mr. Beet such a beast? And can Mirabelle s kindness change him? Find out in this hilarious and heartwarming tale of unconditional love!\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Sure. Lets Just Stay Here Because Nothing Bad Ever Happens at a Creepy, Dark Hotel.\\n\\nReview: Last October, I bemoaned yet about Christmas story from the folks at VeggieTales and hoped theyd give us something new this year. I was delighted this year to see them release Beauty and the Beet. Yes, there are some Christmas lights and evergreens in the background, but this is a story that can be watched and enjoyed any time.\\n\\nAs Bob the Tomato is introducing this episode, Larry the Cucumber runs in. Hes gotten an emergency letter (you can tell because it was handwritten in crayon!) from a girl who is wondering how to handle the new mean girl at her school. Larry has just the story and introduces their take on a familiar fairytale.\\n\\nMirabelle (voiced by Kelly Pickler) is the lead vocalist for her familys traveling band, the Veggie Tones. They are just starting out, but with a hit song, their fame is rising, and theyve just been invited to perform at Vegetable Square Garden. Certain this will make their career, her father (played by Larry the Cucumber), sets out just as a snow storm is hitting.\\n\\nUnfortunately, the storm is worse than expected, and the family is stranded at a creepy hotel in the middle of nowhere. With no money and no bus (dont ask), they just clean and sing for a place to stay under the nasty eye of Mr. Beet, the owner. However, Mirabelle feels the need to reach out to him with Gods love. Can she melt the heart of this man? Will they ever get out of the hotel?\\n\\nAs if the title didn't give it away, this is obviously a take on Beauty and the Beast. However, they have stripped out any romantic love and made it all about showing Gods love to others. The familiar elements of the story make appearances in different ways that those familiar with the original will have fun spotting. (No magic is involved, however.) The result is very heart warming and really illustrates the lesson that God wants us to show His love to others and just how that can transform them and us.\\n\\nWhile the lesson is part of the story, this isn't quite as funny as some of the previous entries in the long running series. That said, there is one gag late in the story that is absolutely priceless. It may be my favorite for the last several videos in fact. Im also not quite sure how boys will react to this one, although I certainly enjoyed it.\\n\\nWith Kellie Pickler voicing the lead character and the story revolving around singers, it should be no surprise that there are lots of new songs. They are enjoyable and really fit into the theme of the story well.\\n\\nAnd yes, there is a new silly song. Every wondered about the birth of Mac and Cheese? Larry sets the record straight as we go back to his great, great, greatgrandparents and learn how this combination came to be. Its fun.\\n\\nSpeaking of fun, the one acknowledgement to the season is Deck the Halls, a Veggie Tones video that plays after the show ends. Its pretty funny with a few twists on the classic carol that everyone will enjoy.\\n\\nUltimate, Beauty and the Beet is sweet and endearing while reminding us that God wants us to love everyone, even those who are hardest to love. It might not be as funny as some entries, but it is still a great lesson told in an entertaining way.\",\n \"Product: In the high-stakes legal world, contentment doesn't last long. Though Mike (Patrick J. Adams, TV's Lost) has officially left Pearson Specter in favor of a cutthroat investment firm, temporarily placating the pressure of covering his elaborate lie, all is not well. Harvey (Gabriel Macht, Love and Other Drugs) and Mike quickly find themselves on opposite sides of an intense takeover battle. And, with the SEC's fervent advances on Pearson Specter increasing in severity, Mike and Rachel's (Meghan Markle, Horrible Bosses) relationship facing the ultimate test, and Jessica's (Gina Torres, TV's Gossip Girl) impartiality being questioned, personal and professional boundaries are crossed by all. But just when all the pieces begin to fall into place, an innocent conversation between Louis (Rick Hoffman, TV's Samantha Who?) and Mike leads to a potentially lethal revelation. Watch every episode of your favorite legal drama back-to-back and uninterrupted!\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: \\\"Ready the Dictaphone. We're Going to Need it.\\\"\\n\\nReview: This season picks up with Mike Ross (Patrick J. Adams) starting his new job away from Pearson Spector. Hes now working in the world of high finance as a takeover artists for businesses helping with mergers and acquisitions, some of them friendly, some of them not. One of his first clients is desperately trying to hold on to the business hes spent this entire life building against people who want to take it over.\\n\\nAnd the lawyers working for the other side? You guessed it, its Mikes old friends and co-workers from Pearson Spector as lead by his mentor Harvey Spector (Gabriel Macht). That just complicates life for everyone as they already know each others moves. Caught in the middle is Mikes girlfriend Rachel (Meghan Markle), who also happens to be an associate working under Harvey. Harveys secretary Donna (Sarah Rafferty) is still attempting to keep all the friendships from going nuclear. Also this season, Jessica Pearson (Gina Torres) gets a love interest who wants to work for the firm and Louis (Rick Hoffman) makes a decision that might destroy his life.\\n\\nThey actually played out the Mike as corporate raider story longer than I thought they would. But that didn't dampen the season at all. This show is always high stakes high drama, and that was the case again. And since we saw both sides, it was hard to really come down on one side or the other, which was nice for a change. Well, until the back half of the season, which picks up a new story arc from the back of the first half.\\n\\nI actually did have an issue with a character in the back half. Yes, I could see where they were coming from, but their actions were so self-destructive it was hard to watch. Likewise, Im really over Mikes secret and hope they give that a rest for a little while. Yes, I know that is the premise of the show, but Id like it to play a backseat to some other story line again for a while.\\n\\nHaving said that, yes, I did still love this season. I cant turn away when this show is on the air, and the twists and surprises just keep coming. I never know where a story is going to lead, and I love that.\\n\\nAnd the actors are still in top form. They know these characters inside and out and hit every note demanded by the scripts. Thats not an easy task, and Im sure the actors are exhausted at the end of a day or work. The results for us are completely worth it. Plus they make their characters likable. It would be easy to hate these characters at times because of what they do, but we always see the humanity behind their choices, especially as they deal with the consequences.\\n\\nAs usual, the season consisted of sixteen episodes, and they are presented here in their native wide screen and full surround. Extras are light with just deleted scenes, a gag reel, and an extra called Suits Recruits: The Paper Trail.\\n\\nOnce again, the season ended with a surprise, so I am anxious to see where things go from here. But in the meantime, I will continue to enjoy season four of Suits. Its compelling drama done so well.\",\n \"Product: Disney proudly presents the award-winning first season of DISNEY MICKEY MOUSE. The whole family will adore these wonderful new cartoons, complete with an exciting \\\"Making Of\\\" bonus feature. Join Mickey, Donald, Goofy, Minnie, Daisy and Pluto in a spectacular collection of hilarious animated adventures. Your favorite Disney pals find laughter, adventure and a little mischief as they team up for a whole lot of fun. Bring the family together and create a magical world of entertainment with nineteen unforgettable cartoons on Disney DVD!\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Mickey Makes a Wonderful Return to Shorts\\n\\nReview: While short animated pieces are beginning to make a bit of a comeback before Pixar and Disney animated features, they don't have the audience they once did. Disney is looking to change that with a series of shorts on The Disney Channel focusing on their original star, Mickey Mouse. The first group of those cartoons are collected in Mickey Mouse Season 1, and any fan of the classic Disney characters will love it.\\n\\nNow, if you sit down expecting a TV show, you will be disappointed. These harken back to the golden age of the shorts, the late 1930s. There is no continuity between shorts, and there is no attempt to create any. In one, Mickey is making a delivery of croissants in Paris. In the next, hes climbing the Swiss Alps. Goofy is a friend in one, running a lunch counter in another, and a spooky character in a third. Treat each as its own story, and youll be fine.\\n\\nAnd youll want to treat each one separately because there are some great shorts here. For some of them, Mickey is on his own, such as the short that finds him trying to take a picture of a baby panda at a zoo. Others involve him and Minnie, such as the one where he is trying to avoid causing an avalanche in the Alps while he climbs up to meet her. The rest of the gang can get into the act, such as one where Mickey and Minnie try to fix Donald and Daisys relationship and cause more problems. Then theres poor Goofy who comes along on a date and becomes a third wheel. Speaking of Goofy, he finally has to act like a dog when taking Plutos place at a dog show.\\n\\nThere are a couple of these shorts that are just weird, or end weirdly, but they are the exception. I find most of them to be fun and creative. Like the old shorts, they aren't necessarily dialogue heavy. You need to be watching to follow the story and catch all the gags. There are some wonderful sight gags in these shorts you will absolutely love, too, worthy of the classics. They do include brief gags that include jabs at characters from Disney animated movies or the parks, and these Easter eggs are always fun to spot.\\n\\nAbout the only thing that doesnt work for me is the style. They designed it to harken back to the 30s animated shorts, but theyve also included a bit more modern feel to it. Even after watching all of these shorts, it still doesnt quite work for me. I cant completely place my finger on why, but its a small issue.\\n\\nThis first season consisted of 19 shorts, and they are all included in this collection. All but one are 4 minutes long. That exception is Potatoland, which is close to 8 minutes long. This one finds Donald and Mickey going to great lengths to make Goofys lifelong dream of visiting the potato themed amusement park come true. Fans of Disney parks will absolutely love it.\\n\\nBecause these are shorts, everything is on one disc. In the way of extras, we get a five minutes behind the scenes featurette with interesting info from the people behind the scenes on how they came to create this new series.\\n\\nIm now thinking I need to pay more attention to watch the new shorts when they appear on The Disney Channel, and I hoping we get more releases from the series. Mickey Mouse Season 1 is a delight.\",\n \"Product: The Minions, breakout stars from \\\"Despicable Me,\\\" are presented in an origin story that showcases their unpredictable personality and physicality, and pairs them with equally memorable human characters. As it turns out, Minions have existed since the beginning of time. They have evolved from single (yellow) cell organisms into the familiar beings we know, and they live for a collective purpose: to seek out and serve the most despicable master they can find. Academy Award winner Sandra Bullock will lead the voice cast of the human characters as Scarlett Overkill, the world's reigning super-villain of the 1960s.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: The Minions Take Over the World (or at Least a Movie)\\n\\nReview: Anyone who has seen either of the Despicable Me movies knows about the Minions. They are those scene stealing little yellow guys who mumble mostly unintelligibly and provide many laughs. Because of how hugely popular they are, I wasn't surprised when it was announced they were going to get their own movie. Yet I worried that they wouldnt be able to star in a film. After all, we really cant understand what they are saying. I needed not have worried.\\n\\nThe movie starts way back in time when the Minions land on Earth and immediately begin searching for the biggest, baddest, most evil person on the planet to serve. After several disasters, they retreat to a cave in the ice to live. However, when they get bored, Kevin hatches a plan to go forth and find them a new boss. Along with Stewart and Bob, he sets off to do just that.\\n\\nWhen the trio hear about Scarlet Overkill (voiced by Sandra Bullock), they think theyve found the perfect new boss. Shes the worlds first female supervillain pushing boundaries for the 1960s. To prove themselves to her, she asks the trio to steal the crown jewels from the Tower of London. With some gadgets provided by her husband Herb (Jon Hamm), what could possibly go wrong?\\n\\nThis movie is set in the 1968, and honestly, that is part of the charm. We get some wonderful laughs at the culture of the time, including how the Minions interact with it. The movie also has fun with the idea that bad is good, with plenty of laughs that play on our expectations.\\n\\nNo, we don't understand more of the Minions language than we did in the past. Geoffrey Rush narrates the extended prologue set in the past. Once the story really gets going in 1968, the interaction with the humans and the actions of our main trio provide all the context we need to understand what is going on.\\n\\nNow I will freely admit the plot wanders all over the place. Honestly, I still don't quite understand what Overkills master plan was, and a few twists seemed out of left field to me.\\n\\nBut I just went with it because I was having so much fun. Heck, in a normal movie, I would call the first part of the film rather slow. Instead, I found it incredibly funny. The jokes are plentiful and constant. And the Minions continue to charm no matter that we got a significantly larger dose of them than normal. I laughed the entire way through the film and wasn't ready for it to be over when it ended.\\n\\nThe voice actors do a fantastic job bringing their characters to life. This goes double for Pierre Coffin, who voices all the Minions. Okay, so he has some help creating the gibberish, Im sure, but he still manages to get some emotion into their lines that makes it all feel real while providing multiple laughs along the way.\\n\\nWhile the animation style is more caricature than some movies, it works and looks great. Youll be lost in the story before you know it.\\n\\nSo if youve let hesitation keep you from watching Minions, set that aside today. Pick up this movie and get ready to laugh.\",\n \"Product: Disney's heartwarming comedy will have your entire family laughing out loud. Based on the best-selling book, it follows the exploits of Alexander as he experiences the most terrible and horrible day of his young life and wonders if bad things only happen to him. But he discovers he's not alone when his dad (Steve Carrell), mom (Jennifer Garner) and family live through their own terrible -- and hilarious -- day. It will tickle everyone's funny bone and warm their hearts as they discover how even on rotten days, families can grow closer.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Family Bonding Over a Terrible, Horrible Day\\n\\nReview: Alexander Cooper (Ed Oxenbould) is convinced that he is cursed to have nothing but bad days. This morning, for example, he wakes up with gum in his hair and an invitation to a party from the most popular kid in school. The problem? The party is opposite his own twelfth birthday party. Meanwhile, the rest of his family has amazing things happen to them constantly. That night, he makes himself a birthday cake and a wish that his family would see what it is like to have a bad day.\\n\\nAnd boy do things do downhill quickly for the rest of them. His older brother Anthony (Dylan Minnette) wakes up to a pimple on prom day while sister Emily (Kerris Dorsey) has a cold on opening night of her class play. The promising day his parents had also goes wrong as Ben (Steve Carell) has problems with a job interview and Kelly (Jennifer Garner) hits a major snag in a book launch at her job. Meanwhile, Alexanders life is going right for once. But will any of them survive the as the chaos builds?\\n\\nAs always when a picture book is turned into a feature film, the writers have to really expand on the premise. Here, the similarities are there, but they could have changed a few names and made this movie without any reference to the book. Still, there are a few nods to the book early on that fans will enjoy.\\n\\nWhich leaves us to look at this film on its own merits. Its amusing at times, but I cringed at much of the embarrassment humor the film contained. The two balanced each other out as the film progressed.\\n\\nThe film is fairly predictable, especially since it opens with a shot of the family near the end of the day. Still, it is fast paced enough to keep us interested in seeing just how the family gets there. The characters are developed just enough for us to care, although they are types weve seen before. I did enjoy the ultimate message about the importance of family, however, and I found the acting good.\\n\\nUltimately, I think this is a film that kids will enjoy more than their parents. Adults might find it amusing once, but they won't see a need to watch it more than that.\",\n \"Product: Fly into adventure as NBC presents a bold new production of the classic Broadway musical that has delighted audiences for generations. Filmed and broadcast live from New York, this wondrous adaptation of the original Broadway musical tells the beloved story of Peter Pan (Allison Williams, HBO's Girls), a mischievous boy who ran away to have adventures in Neverland and never grow up! This family classic from the producers of Chicago, Hairspray, and Footloose features Academy Award Winner Christopher Walken as Captain Hook and unforgettable songs including \\\"Im Flying,\\\" \\\"I Wont Grow Up,\\\" and \\\"Never Never Land\\\" that will have everyone singing along for years to come!\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: I Dont Think This Version of Peter Pan Will Ever Grow Up on Me\\n\\nReview: I have long loved the Disney animated version of Peter Pan, and even the live action version from a few years back was fun. (At least I thought so, anyway.) However, the one time I saw the Mary Martin version, I was less than impressed. That was almost enough to get me to skip last weeks showing of Peter Pan Live!, but I decided to give it a try. I should have skipped it.\\n\\nThis is a musical retelling of the story of Peter Pan, and anyone who is familiar with the story will know what happens here. Peter (Allison Williams) is the boy who won't grow up, and hes found this is possible in Neverland, a land filled with pirates, Indians, mermaids, and adventure. He has found the window of the Darling family and loves listening to the stories Wendy (Taylor Louderman) tells her brothers John (Jake Lucas) and Michael (John Allyn). When they meet Peter, he teaches them all to fly and takes them to Neverland. However, his enemy Captain Hook (Christopher Walken) has just returned to the island with plans to get his revenge. Will Wendy be safe? Will Peter prevail?\\n\\nOnce again, this is an all new, live performance of a classic musical designed to be broadcast on one night only. The sets were wonderful and were a huge visual draw. In addition to looking great, they allowed for the song and dance numbers and still left room for the camera to capture it all. Pretty impressive.\\n\\nAnd the story itself is still good. Despite my complaints to come, I cant fault that in the slightest. In fact, Peter is slightly less self-absorbed than he is in other versions of the story, so that is a definite plus.\\n\\nSo where does this version fail? Part of it is the music. There were two songs I liked, Im Flying and I Wont Grow Up. The rest of them were pretty bad and boring. They didn't make me want to sing along. The dancing was more impressive, and it helped make the songs more bearable, but it could only do so much.\\n\\nWhile the acting was mostly good, another huge flaw was Christopher Walken as Captain Hook. To me, he looked like he was bored with the entire thing from start to finish. Im not saying that Hook has to be over the top, but he needs some life and menace to him. Any scene he was in was flat. No, he wasn't as bad as Carrie Underwood last year, but it was certainly close.\\n\\nJust like last year, the performances seemed a little nervous and rushed at the beginning, but as the cast got over their nerves, things smoothed out. Im not going to fault them there at all. In keeping with tradition, a woman played Peter Pan, and Allison Williams was great as the boy who won't grow up. She even made the part where she had to break the fourth wall work, something that Mary Martin certainly didn't do. In a tweak of tradition, Christian Borle played both Mr. Darling and Smee (instead of Hook). Honestly, if I hadnt known, I wouldnt have guessed. The two characters looked and acted so different. He was great. And Taylor Louderman was fantastic in what can be the thankless role of Wendy, breathing life into the character.\\n\\nSome people complained about seeing the wires when the characters were flying. That didn't bother me in the slightest. Its a staple of Broadway productions, and that is essentially what this is. Even in the old version, you could see those wires, and I found this charming to a certain extent. Besides, how were they supposed to cover them?\\n\\nThere is one more thing I have to take this production to task for, however the crocodile. No, I didn't expect them to have a real one on stage with the actors. But who came up with that blue monstrosity? No, Im not kidding, it was blue. And it was very robotic in its movements. It was completely laughable and detracted as well.\\n\\nAs you can imagine, I won't be rushing back to watch Peter Pan Live! again. Instead, Ill stick with the ones I already have when I want to visit Neverland.\",\n \"Product: Best Buy (USA) Exclusive limited edition.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: \\\"There's One Other Name You May Know Me By - Star Lord.\\\" \\\"Who?\\\"\\n\\nReview: Our story follows Peter Quinn, aka Star Lord, (Chris Pratt) a rogue retriever (or thief and smuggler depending on who you ask) who has headed out on his own to retrieve a sphere from a mysterious planet. However, by double crossing the rest of his retriever clan, they now want to punish him. Meanwhile, other people show up to try to get it from him.\\n\\nThe result is a chase across space and a fight when he tries to sell this sphere. See, it turns out that the sphere is actually wanted in an intergalactic ethnic fight, and it could help one side destroy the other. With so much on the line, Quinn must team up with the very people he was just fighting against, including assassin Gamora (Zoe Saldana), Drax (Dave Bautista), Rocket the Raccoon (voiced by Bradley Cooper), and Groot (voiced by Vin Diesel), to break out of prison and get the sphere into the right hands. Can this new team learn to trust each other enough to succeed?\\n\\nHaving never even heard of these characters until I started hearing about the movie, I didn't really know what to expect. But before I even got into the theater, I'd started hearing great things about it. They were all correct.\\n\\nEven without any background going into the film, I thought it did a great job of giving us the background we needed to fill in the pieces of the story. I don't have all the species names quite down, but I could easily follow which side the characters were on, so it was easy to root for the heroes and against the villains.\\n\\nThe movie never bogs down in exposition. The characters are introduced and the background given as the story unfolds. While it meant I had to pay close attention early on to get everything, I found it entertaining throughout.\\n\\nThe characters are wonderful. Over the course of the film, we get to know our five heroes quite well, and I like them and the relationships they form. While I didn't quite feel the emotion we were supposed to at the end, that was a minor quibble.\\n\\nMeanwhile, there's the wonderful humor. There are tons of funny one liners, and at times even a character's expression got a laugh from me and the rest of the audience.\\n\\nThe acting was great as well. Whether an actual actor or just a voice actor, there was not a false moment to take you out of the fun.\\n\\nLikewise with the action and special effects. Two of the main characters are computer generated. The movie is set in space. Plus there are several action sequences. Never once did I stop to think about what I was watching; instead, I was pulled into the story and enjoyed every second of it.\\n\\nBecause Peter left Earth in the late 80's, he's got a cassette tape of music from the 70's and 80's. This forms the basis of the soundtrack, and the producers use it perfectly to reflect the mood and draw even more laughs from the audience.\\n\\nMy one complaint was the crude language. It wasn't swearing as much as it was other off color words. I'm not quite sure why it bothered me so much here, but it did. Just be aware of the PG-13 rating going in and you'll be fine. (The rating also comes from the violence, which was about what I expected.)\\n\\nIf you are like me and have no real idea who the Guardians of the Galaxy are, don't miss your chance to find out. This is a fun movie that will entertain everyone who goes to watch it.\",\n \"Product: From Marvel, the studio that brought you the global blockbuster franchises of Iron Man, Thor, Captain America and The Avengers, comes a new team the Guardians of the Galaxy. An action-packed, epic space adventure, Marvels Guardians of the Galaxy expands the Marvel Cinematic Universe into the cosmos, where brash adventurer Peter Quill finds himself the object of an unrelenting bounty hunt after stealing a mysterious orb coveted by Ronan, a powerful villain with ambitions that threaten the entire universe. To evade the ever-persistent Ronan, Quill is forced into an uneasy truce with an uneasy truce with a quarter of disparate misfits Rocket, a gun-toting racoon, Groot, a tree-like humanoid, the deadly and enigmatic Gamora and the revenge-driven Drax the Destroyer. But when Peter discovers the true power of the orb and the menace it poses to the cosmos, he must do his best to rally his ragtag rivals for a last, desperate stand with the galaxys fate in the balance.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: \\\"There's One Other Name You May Know Me By - Star Lord.\\\" \\\"Who?\\\"\\n\\nReview: Our story follows Peter Quinn, aka Star Lord, (Chris Pratt) a rogue retriever (or thief and smuggler depending on who you ask) who has headed out on his own to retrieve a sphere from a mysterious planet. However, by double crossing the rest of his retriever clan, they now want to punish him. Meanwhile, other people show up to try to get it from him.\\n\\nThe result is a chase across space and a fight when he tries to sell this sphere. See, it turns out that the sphere is actually wanted in an intergalactic ethnic fight, and it could help one side destroy the other. With so much on the line, Quinn must team up with the very people he was just fighting against, including assassin Gamora (Zoe Saldana), Drax (Dave Bautista), Rocket the Raccoon (voiced by Bradley Cooper), and Groot (voiced by Vin Diesel), to break out of prison and get the sphere into the right hands. Can this new team learn to trust each other enough to succeed?\\n\\nHaving never even heard of these characters until I started hearing about the movie, I didn't really know what to expect. But before I even got into the theater, I'd started hearing great things about it. They were all correct.\\n\\nEven without any background going into the film, I thought it did a great job of giving us the background we needed to fill in the pieces of the story. I don't have all the species names quite down, but I could easily follow which side the characters were on, so it was easy to root for the heroes and against the villains.\\n\\nThe movie never bogs down in exposition. The characters are introduced and the background given as the story unfolds. While it meant I had to pay close attention early on to get everything, I found it entertaining throughout.\\n\\nThe characters are wonderful. Over the course of the film, we get to know our five heroes quite well, and I like them and the relationships they form. While I didn't quite feel the emotion we were supposed to at the end, that was a minor quibble.\\n\\nMeanwhile, there's the wonderful humor. There are tons of funny one liners, and at times even a character's expression got a laugh from me and the rest of the audience.\\n\\nThe acting was great as well. Whether an actual actor or just a voice actor, there was not a false moment to take you out of the fun.\\n\\nLikewise with the action and special effects. Two of the main characters are computer generated. The movie is set in space. Plus there are several action sequences. Never once did I stop to think about what I was watching; instead, I was pulled into the story and enjoyed every second of it.\\n\\nBecause Peter left Earth in the late 80's, he's got a cassette tape of music from the 70's and 80's. This forms the basis of the soundtrack, and the producers use it perfectly to reflect the mood and draw even more laughs from the audience.\\n\\nMy one complaint was the crude language. It wasn't swearing as much as it was other off color words. I'm not quite sure why it bothered me so much here, but it did. Just be aware of the PG-13 rating going in and you'll be fine. (The rating also comes from the violence, which was about what I expected.)\\n\\nIf you are like me and have no real idea who the Guardians of the Galaxy are, don't miss your chance to find out. This is a fun movie that will entertain everyone who goes to watch it.\",\n \"Product: Noah and his family along with a zoo full of animals take an adventure aboard an orange slice ark.After 40 days and nights of rain, everyones faith has been tested, and they are ready to jump ship.Will they chart a new course, or will they remember to trust God s promises?Grab your umbrellas and find out in this VeggieTales re-telling of the beloved Bible story!\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: The Latest VeggieTales is Flooded with Problems\\n\\nReview: Its hard for me to write this review. Ive long been a fan of VeggieTales, and I love the story of Noahs Ark, so a combination of the two should be a home run, right? Sadly, thats not the case with this DVD release.\\n\\nIn answer to a letter to a boy who was hoping for a baby brother but got a baby sister instead, Larry the Cucumber has decided that they should tell the story of Noahs Ark. After all, it shows the importance of trusting God over our own plans.\\n\\nThis retelling of the story focuses on Noahs son Shem (voiced by special guest Wayne Brady). Hes just returned from his honeymoon and is making all kinds of plans for the house he intends to build for his new wife. However, when he arrives home, he finds the rest of his family building a giant boat in the exact spot where he wanted to build his house. Even crazier, animals start to show up two by two. Will his plans for his new life ever happen?\\n\\nSo what went wrong? Where to even start. Shem spends the entire video trying to get out of the ark, be it before the rain starts or after the rain has finally stopped. I get that it was designed to build some kind of plot, however that really bothered me. Okay, so Im not the most flexible person in the world, and maybe it was hitting too close to home, but the lack of faith that Shem showed for most of the video really bothered me especially since no one else was questioning what God told them at all. Were talking to the point of trying to rappel out of the ark right before the rain starts. It just seems out of character for anyone in the story.\\n\\nMaybe my problem with this change is that they use Shem to preach the moral, so instead of feeling natural or entertaining, they have no purpose with it but to drive their point home. If its forced on us and the story, it won't work as entertainment.\\n\\nCouple that will a complete lack of humor. It used to be that these shows had jokes adults and kids would like sometimes they would even both laugh at the same joke. Jokes for either age are nowhere to be found here. I laughed once or twice, but that was it in the 50 minute video.\\n\\nThen theres the music. As in there is too much of it. With seven new songs, theres too much time spent singing, slowing down the story. (Wait, maybe thats a good thing since how they told the story failed so miserably.) The songs were just okay at best none are memorable enough to make me wish I had them and a couple get repetitive very quickly.\\n\\nSadly, that applies to the new Silly Song. My Golden Egg follows Larry as he searches for a special golden egg during an Easter Egg hunt. Theres really nothing silly or fun about it.\\n\\nThe animation continues to be fine for the series. This isn't big budget animation, but it works. The voices are fun like always as well. Many people are commenting on the new look of the characters, to the point that this new look is scaring their kids. Honestly, I thought Pa Grape and Madame Blueberry (Mr. and Mrs. Noah) seemed a little off, but I really didn't nothing anything major.\\n\\nAnd I do get the point they were trying to make about Gods plans always being the best. Its an important lesson and one I often need to be reminded of myself. However, this story doesnt serve that purpose at all.\\n\\nI am actually okay with some of the changes they made to the Noah story. The ark looks like a giant orange, they really, really (really) compress the time it took to rebuild the ark. And we don't see anyone mocking Noah for it. That last one would introduce death into VeggieTales, and I think given the audience they were right to leave it out. They do mention why God is bringing the flood after all. Even the sea serpent wasn't a bad thing (although it felt forced just to add humor when it wasn't as funny as they wanted it to be). They have never stuck faithfully to the Biblical story, so all of these changes alone wouldnt have bothered me. However, the humor and fun they intend to have with these changes just doesnt work. At all. And, again, the way they present Shem to force home the moral just doesnt work for the story they are trying to tell at all.\\n\\nEven when I don't love a VeggieTales episode, I can usually find something worthwhile in it. In this case, there is no reason to watch Noahs Ark. Skip it and rewatch some of the older, better Bible stories theyve done instead.\",\n \"Product: From the director of CHICAGO and the producer of WICKED comes a modern twist on the beloved fairy tales you thought you knew. Meryl Streep stars in this epic musical saga about daring to venture INTO THE WOODS. Iconic characters, such as Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk and Rapunzel, find their fates intertwined with a humble baker and his wife, whose longing to have a child sends them on a quest to reverse a witch's (Streep) curse. With an all-star cast, this spellbinding adventure is everything you could ever wish for.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: I Wish to Rewatch Into the Woods as Soon as Possible\\n\\nReview: With the resurgence of fairytale mash ups in TV shows, middle grade novels, and other pop culture, its hardly surprising that a studio decided it was time to make a big screen version of the musical Into the Woods. After all, it was mixing up fairytales on Broadway back in the late 80s, and has developed a large fan base. I count myself among them since I was introduced to a filmed version of the original Broadway cast production about 15 years ago. As a result, Ive been looking forward to this film all year. I am very happy with the results.\\n\\nThis movie tells the story of a Baker (James Corden) and his Wife (Emily Blunt) who wish to have a child. As our story opens, they learn from their neighbor, a Witch (Meryl Streep), that they are under a curse from something that the Bakers father had done years before. However, they have a chance to reverse the curse by getting items for a potion for her. They need a cow as white a milk, hair as yellow as corn, a cape as red as blood, and a slipper as pure as gold.\\n\\nAs luck would have it, their search for those items in the nearby woods coincides with the stories of Jack of Beanstalk fame (Daniel Huttleston), Red Riding Hood (Lilla Crawford), and Cinderella (Anna Kendrick). Will the Baker and his Wife get all the items by the deadline? Will they keep the others from getting their happy ending?\\n\\nThis is a very fun mash up of all these stories held together by the new tale of the Baker and his Wife. Things pretty much go the way youd expect, but there is plenty of fun to be had along the way. I and the audience I was with were laughing at several of the scenes and lines.\\n\\nAbout two thirds of the way through the film, things do take an unexpected turn and become darker. This is where I like to say the story turns more adult, but just because of the more serious nature of the story. I absolutely agree with the PG rating of the movie, but there is nothing that comes close to warrant it getting something higher. The darker moments are tastefully done and in keeping with other PG movies.\\n\\nThe cast truly shines in this film. I was expecting a great performance from Meryl Streep because, lets face it, can she give a bad performance? The rest of the cast matched her performance completely. Even though I was already familiar with the story, I was surprised by some of the nuances that the actors put into their performances just subtle things that made the film much better than the Broadway performance Ive watched numerous times. (Of course, the stage doesnt allow for some of that subtly, but thats a different issue.) This praise flows all the way down to the young cast of Daniel Huttleston and Lilla Crawford. A special note for Johnny Depp fans - despite how he was billed in the movie, he really only has a couple of small scenes near the beginning.\\n\\nThe fact that this is a movie allowed them to stage some of the musical numbers more creatively. We actually got to see a touch of Jacks journey up the beanstalk in his big song, for example. However, the song that stood out to me the most was The Steps of the Palace. The creative way they did it added some fun to a song Ive always enjoyed and made it much better.\\n\\nI must also praise Agony. Again, Ive always liked the humor of this song, but this song now brings down the house. Chris Pratt and Billy Magnussen absolutely kill it in this scene. Honestly, it makes me very sad that they left out the reprise of the song from the second act.\\n\\nYes, fans of the musical will certainly notice differences. Its most noticeable in the second act when they compress the time between acts and cuts parts of this section of the story. Even with the cuts, the emotional punch of this section is just as strong. I saw it with my roommate, who knew little of the story, and he loved it, too. Obviously, this section isn't weakened by the cuts. Yes, there are moments I wish theyd included, and Cinderella seems a bit quick in some of her actions, but its a minor point. This is something only those who love the stage show will miss, and even then its a small point.\\n\\nOf course, the one thing I was definitely looking forward to with a big screen version was the sets and special effects. Here, the movie completely hit it out of the park. It looks like they are really in the woods. The magic is perfect. We see the beanstalk. You couldn't ask for a better movie visually if you tried.\\n\\nWhile fans of the stage show will certainly miss a few moments, everyone will be glad they took this trip Into the Woods. I will definitely be buying this movie when it his Blu-Ray and enjoying many repeat trips through this enchanted and musical forest.\",\n \"Product: From Marvel, the studio that brought you the global blockbuster franchises of Iron Man, Thor, Captain America and The Avengers, comes a new team-the Guardians of the Galaxy. An action-packed, epic space adventure, Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy expands the Marvel Cinematic Universe into the cosmos, where brash adventurer Peter Quill finds himself the object of an unrelenting bounty hunt after stealing a mysterious orb coveted by Ronan, a powerful villain with ambitions that threaten the entire universe. To evade the ever-persistent Ronan, Quill is forced into an uneasy truce with a quartet of disparate misfits-Rocket, a gun-toting raccoon, Groot, a tree-like humanoid, the deadly and enigmatic Gamora and the revenge-driven Drax the Destroyer. But when Quill discovers the true power of the orb and the menace it poses to the cosmos, he must do his best to rally his ragtag rivals for a last, desperate stand-with the galaxy's fate in the balance.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: \\\"There's One Other Name You May Know Me By - Star Lord.\\\" \\\"Who?\\\"\\n\\nReview: Our story follows Peter Quinn, aka Star Lord, (Chris Pratt) a rogue retriever (or thief and smuggler depending on who you ask) who has headed out on his own to retrieve a sphere from a mysterious planet. However, by double crossing the rest of his retriever clan, they now want to punish him. Meanwhile, other people show up to try to get it from him.\\n\\nThe result is a chase across space and a fight when he tries to sell this sphere. See, it turns out that the sphere is actually wanted in an intergalactic ethnic fight, and it could help one side destroy the other. With so much on the line, Quinn must team up with the very people he was just fighting against, including assassin Gamora (Zoe Saldana), Drax (Dave Bautista), Rocket the Raccoon (voiced by Bradley Cooper), and Groot (voiced by Vin Diesel), to break out of prison and get the sphere into the right hands. Can this new team learn to trust each other enough to succeed?\\n\\nHaving never even heard of these characters until I started hearing about the movie, I didn't really know what to expect. But before I even got into the theater, I'd started hearing great things about it. They were all correct.\\n\\nEven without any background going into the film, I thought it did a great job of giving us the background we needed to fill in the pieces of the story. I don't have all the species names quite down, but I could easily follow which side the characters were on, so it was easy to root for the heroes and against the villains.\\n\\nThe movie never bogs down in exposition. The characters are introduced and the background given as the story unfolds. While it meant I had to pay close attention early on to get everything, I found it entertaining throughout.\\n\\nThe characters are wonderful. Over the course of the film, we get to know our five heroes quite well, and I like them and the relationships they form. While I didn't quite feel the emotion we were supposed to at the end, that was a minor quibble.\\n\\nMeanwhile, there's the wonderful humor. There are tons of funny one liners, and at times even a character's expression got a laugh from me and the rest of the audience.\\n\\nThe acting was great as well. Whether an actual actor or just a voice actor, there was not a false moment to take you out of the fun.\\n\\nLikewise with the action and special effects. Two of the main characters are computer generated. The movie is set in space. Plus there are several action sequences. Never once did I stop to think about what I was watching; instead, I was pulled into the story and enjoyed every second of it.\\n\\nBecause Peter left Earth in the late 80's, he's got a cassette tape of music from the 70's and 80's. This forms the basis of the soundtrack, and the producers use it perfectly to reflect the mood and draw even more laughs from the audience.\\n\\nMy one complaint was the crude language. It wasn't swearing as much as it was other off color words. I'm not quite sure why it bothered me so much here, but it did. Just be aware of the PG-13 rating going in and you'll be fine. (The rating also comes from the violence, which was about what I expected.)\\n\\nIf you are like me and have no real idea who the Guardians of the Galaxy are, don't miss your chance to find out. This is a fun movie that will entertain everyone who goes to watch it.\",\n \"Product: Experience the thrills, one last time, with Season 6 of television's slickest, most seductive crime drama -- White Collar. The tension has never been greater as Neal Caffrey (Matt Bomer) re-teams with FBI agent Peter Burke (Tim DeKay) in their most ambitious sting operation yet -- infiltrating a sophisticated gang of deadly thieves. With Elizabeth Burke (Tiffani Thiessen) pregnant, Neal desperate for his freedom, and amidst pressure from Mozzie (Willie Garson) for Neal to cut ties with the FBI, the scheme unfolds, culminating in the series' most shocking plot twist of all. Also, only on DVD, join the cast and crew as they discuss their favorite moments from the show's six seasons in the moving retrospective White Collar: Case Closed.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: This is as Close as We can Get to a Happy Ending, I Think.\\n\\nReview: At the end of the fifth season of White Collar, the shows creator and the USA Network decided to bring the show back for a final season of just six episodes. While it was time for the show to end, I was sorry since I have loved it from day one. Fortunately, with everyone agreeing this was the final season, they were able to go out with the incredibly fun season six.\\n\\nPlus they were able to resolve that cliffhanger. After all, we had to know just who it was who kidnapped former con man turned FBI asset Neal Cafferty (Matt Bomer). Meanwhile, his FBI handler Peter Burke (Tim DeKay) is doing everything he can to find Neal with the help of Neals non-fed trusting friend Mozzie (Willie Garson). When they do find him, Neal unfolds a very risky plan to take down the most notorious criminal organization in exchange for his freedom. Will Neal finally earn his freedom? Or will the plan backfire?\\n\\nIf you aren't familiar with the show, you really don't want to jump in here. There are connections, comments, and relationships that won't mean much to you. But really, would you want to jump in to the end of any story? I wouldnt.\\n\\nHowever, fans of the show will love the way they tie up six years of such a great show. The ending wasn't the one I had hoped for, but it works perfectly for the characters, so I really don't mind. Along the way, we get twists, turns, and suspense that will keep you glued to the TV for every second. In other words, its just like always.\\n\\nWhat isn't like always is the lack of standalone episodes. With only six episodes to wrap things up, five of them tie directly into this final story arc. The only exception focuses on fan favorite Mozzie, and it is the most fun episode of the season. The rest have their fun moments but are mostly compelling and suspenseful.\\n\\nWhile Jones (Sharif Atkins) and Diana (Marsha Thomason) pretty much are involved in the main story and nothing else, Peters wife Elizabeth (Tiffani Thiessen) does get her own sub-plot, one that brings her back to New York City. Again, it will please fans, but thats all Im saying.\\n\\nThe acting and writing on this show have always been spectacular, and this final season doesnt drop the ball at all. Its smart, fast moving, and laced with humor at all the right places brought to life by a talented and amazing cast. You won't be disappointed in the slightest.\\n\\nThe six episodes from season six are included in this two disc set. They originally aired in widescreen and full surround, and thats how they are presented here. The bonus features include a retrospective from the cast and crew, deleted scenes, a gag reel, and two audio commentaries on the series finale, both featuring creator Jeff Eastin who is joined on one by stars Tim DeKay and Willie Garson and the other by Matt Bomer.\\n\\nIts always sad to see a favorite show end, but thats why TV on DVD sets were invented. I look forward to spending time reliving Neal and Peters cases again, and White Collar season six is the perfect end to their story.\",\n \"Product: Kung Fu Panda 2 [Blu-ray]\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: \\\"Tell Those Musicians to Start Playing Some Action Music Because It Is On.\\\"\\n\\nReview: I'll admit I had to get talked into going to see the original Kung Fu Panda, but I quickly got caught up in the story. So when they started advertising Kung Fu Panda 2, I knew I would have to see it. While not as funny as the original, it is still quite entertaining.\\n\\nThe story picks up at some point after the first movie ends. Now officially accepted as the Dragon Warrior, Po (voiced by Jack Black) is known as a national hero. He regularly joins the Furious Five as they use Kung Fu to defend China from enemies.\\n\\nUnfortunately, a new enemy is about to return. Shen (Gary Oldman) was banished because of his desire to use fireworks for evil. But there is a prophecy that Shen will be defeated by a black and white warrior.\\n\\nMeanwhile, Po is beginning to think that he might not be related to his father the goose. He is seeing flashbacks of his old life and begins to think that Shen might hold the answers. Will Po learn the truth? And if so, will Po find the inner peace to defeat Shen?\\n\\nIn my opinion, there are two kinds of sequels - those that basically rehash the plot and those that try to continue the story. This is definitely a sequel in the later category. Yes, Po still has much training to learn. No, he's not a perfect fighter. But he can hold his own, and the Furious Five have accepted him as an equal. In fact, it is clear early on that he is a much loved member of the group.\\n\\nHaving said that, the Furious Five are hardly better developed than they were before. Angelina Jolie's Tigress and Seth Rogan's Mantis get the best development, but it's honestly hard to remember who is who from the rest of the five. Really, Po and Shen are the only characters who get a decent amount of development this time around.\\n\\nI mentioned that this movie wasn't quite as funny as the original, and that's true. There are still plenty of laughs. There are great one liners, sometimes in a least expected places. And the action scenes are often funny as well while still taking the Kung Fu seriously. In fact, I'd argue that the action scenes hold up better here than some of them do in live action movies.\\n\\nThe computer animation is good, but that's hardly surprising. While there are no breathtaking shots, everything looks fine and there is nothing to push you out of the story.\\n\\nAnd the voice cast is wonderful. The fact that almost everyone in the cast is a well known actor doesn't get in the way at all. I hardly recognized their voices, instead getting caught up in the story unfolding on the screen in front of me.\\n\\nSo Kung Fu Panda 2 is a worthy follow up to the original. No, it's not quite as good, but it still entertains.\",\n \"Product: Snap your fingers, tap your toes and swing into the jazziest jungle of them all in Walt Disney's coolest Classic, The Jungle Book! This animated gem springs brilliantly to life when Mowgli, an orphan boy raised by wolves, is encouraged by his animal friends to leave the jungle before the return of the fearsome man-eating tiger, Shere Khan. With Bagheera (his loyal panther friend) at his side, Mowgli's journey back to the "man-village" begins. Along the way, he is befriended by a free-spirited bear named Baloo, who rescues him from hilarious run-ins with some of the wildest Disney characters ever created - eccentric elephants, a bewitching boa and a be-boppin' orangutan named King Louie! Through it all, it's lovable Baloo who teaches Mowgli the "Bare Necessities" of life and the true meaning of friendship. Filled with wonderful music and thrilling adventures, The Jungle Book is a swingin', singin', song-filled celebration you'll never forget!\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: A Swinging Time in the Jungle\\n\\nReview: When Bagheera the panther (voiced by Sebastian Cabot) finds a man cub alone in the jungle, his first instinct is to leave it. But he can't stand to do that, so he makes sure the boy is adopted by a family of wolves. As a result, Mowgli (Bruce Reitherman) feels completely comfortable in the jungle. He loves his home.\\n\\nUnfortunately, trouble is brewing. The tiger Shere Khan (George Sanders) has returned to the area and wants to kill Mowgli. For his own good, the wolf pack decides to have Mowgli return to the man village.\\n\\nMowgli doesn't want to go, however, and makes life very difficult on Bagheera, who has agreed to take him. In his efforts to stay in the jungle, he crosses paths with Baloo, a jungle bum of a bear (Phil Harris), King Louie the monkey (Louis Prima), a military pack of elephants, a boa constrictor with sinus problems (Sterling Holloway), and four vultures with perfect harmony. But will he leave the jungle? Is Shere Khan on his trail?\\n\\nThe part of me that is still a kid still loves this movie. It's got some great laughs and lots of fun songs. The main characters are a little underdeveloped, but they are still fun and lovable.\\n\\nHowever, watching this as an adult, I do notice some flaws. The animation is simpler then it needs to be, although they have some amazing shots of water here. And the voices of some of the supporting characters seem a little flat, like they are reading a script and not really trying.\\n\\nYes, these are the complaints of an adult looking at the film now. As a kid, however, I loved it. And I'm sure today's kids will love it just as much as I did.\",\n \"Product: Dive in and rock out with the hottest surf sequel under the sun! Now that summer's over and school has begun, Brady (Ross Lynch) and Mack's (Maia Mitchell) relationship seems headed for a wipeout -- until Lela, Tanner and the \\\"Wet Side Story\\\" kids show up! Dazzled by the novelty and variety of the modern world, Lela wants to stay, but the real world and the \\\"reel\\\" world just don't mix. Can Mack and Brady find the magic to get the kids home and get their own romance back on track before it's too late? Packed with electrifying song & dance numbers and hilarious fish-out-of-water wackiness, TEEN BEACH 2 is \\\"wow-abunga\\\" fun for everyone!\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: It Was Going Great Until the End\\n\\nReview: Summer is ending for Brady (Ross Lynch) and Mack (Maia Mitchell), which means theyve been dating 3 months now. They have completely bonded over Wet Side Story and their adventure when they found themselves in the movie. However, navigating their new relationship at school proves to be harder than they thought, especially since Mack is so driven by academics and Brady is hiding a secret.\\n\\nMeanwhile, inside the world of Wet Side Story, things are going wrong as well. Lela (Grace Phipps) has grown disenchanted with her part in the movie. Sure, shes the female lead, but she wants more than just wanting a guy. When she swims off into the ocean, followed by male lead Tanner (Garrett Clayton), the craziest thing happens they find themselves in the real world. Now Brady and Mack have to figure out a way to convince the two characters to return home before they and the movie are erased from existence.\\n\\nSince I enjoyed the first one, I was looking forward to this sequel. The plot was hinted at with the tag scene of the last film, and it was fun to see how they actually pulled it off. They made lots of references to the first, which is great for the fans, although they did change Brady and Macks relationship some, which was too bad.\\n\\nThere are several new songs, and they are plenty of fun. The choreography is great as well. The acting is on par with the earlier film, which means some of the characters are over the top, but they are supposed to be given the genre of film we are spoofing.\\n\\nThen comes the ending. Not to give anything away, but it left me flat. I get what they wanted to do theme wise, but I don't like what it did to two of the main characters. They tried to make it up, but it just wasn't what it should have been given the genre of the film.\\n\\nThe ending is enough to make me hesitate to watch this film again, but most of the movie is still quite enjoyable.\",\n \"Product: From Walt Disney Animation Studios comes an extraordinary new collection of award-winning and beloved short films featuring Disney's \\\"Frozen Fever,\\\" starring Anna, Elsa, Olaf, Sven and Kristoff, and the Oscar(R)-nominated \\\"Lorenzo\\\" (Best Animated Short, 2004). The SHORT FILMS COLLECTION includes contemporary shorts starring classic cartoon characters, such as the groundbreaking 2013 Mickey Mouse Cartoon \\\"Get A Horse!\\\" as well as celebrated Oscar winners \\\"Paperman\\\" (2012) and \\\"Feast\\\" (2014). Enjoy them together for the first time in this must-own collection, with all-new extras, including introductions and interviews with the Disney Animation filmmakers themselves. \\\"This clever collection of modern era Disney animated shorts is a must-have for any serious film fan.\\\" (Jim Hill, Huffington Post)\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Twelve Shorts Brimming with Disney Magic\\n\\nReview: I must admit that I was hesitant to buy the two Pixar shorts compilations that have been released. I had most of them from the various Blu-Ray releases of the films. (Okay, so I didn't hesitate too long, but the thought did cross my mind.) However, the instant I heard about the Walt Disney Animation Studios Short Film Collection I knew I had to get it because I hadnt seen many of the shorts and knew I didn't own them. Im glad I did because there are some wonderful shorts here.\\n\\nThis disc contains 12 shorts, with release dates ranging from 1999 up to 2015. Yes, that means weve got some hand drawn animation mixed in with computer animation. The shorts range from one about American legend John Henry to a new Goofy short How to Hook Up Your Home Theater and Mickey and Friends in Get a Horse! as well as the sequel shorts Tangled Ever After and Frozen Fever.\\n\\nThere are quite a variety of styles and subject matters covered in these 12 shorts, but all of them are good. You can definitely tell that some of them are experiments in style. That is especially true of John Henry, which features some artwork that has stitching on the edges and rough sketches on the characters faces. It works for the short, although I don't know that I would want an entire animated feature that way.\\n\\nA couple of the ones I hadnt seen before feel like they could be part of either of the Fantasia movies. Lorenzo is set to a Tango and features a cat whose tail comes to life thanks to a curse. In classic Disney shorts fashion, it has a few Dont do this at home moments, but it is lots of fun. The Little Matchgirl is also all set to music, but it is a much more somber piece, in fact the most somber short on the disc.\\n\\nThe ones I had seen before, I really enjoyed watching again. How to Set Up Your Home Theater harkens back to some of the classic Goofy how to shorts, and the results are hilariously funny, partially because they are so true.\\n\\nThen theres Get a Horse! which is a brilliant piece of animation. It starts out like an old black and white Mickey short, complete with Peg Leg Pete, Minnie, Horace, and Clarabelle. However, suddenly the characters start popping through the screen and winding up as 3D computer animated characters. Any fan of classic Mickey needs to watch it. The gags are wonderful and the result is a new classic short.\\n\\nFans of Tangled and Frozen will enjoy the respective sequels. In the first, Flynn and Rapunzels wedding day almost turns into a disaster when the rings start to roll away. You won't believe what Pascal and Maximus go through to get them back. There are so many great cameos from the film in this one. Frozen Fever shows us that one kind of cold can still bother Elsa as she tries to create the perfect birthday for Anna. Both shorts feature the return of all the original voices for a true treat.\\n\\nFinally, there are the brilliant Paperman and Feast. One features love at first sight and how paper plays a part in the couple getting together. In the second, we see a mans relationships grow and change from the viewpoint of his dog and the meals the dog gets. Both are funny and touching and both are well deserved Oscar winners.\\n\\nAll the shorts here average 7 minutes or so, but they manage to give us full stories, good characters, laughs, and tender moments in that time period. Obviously, some focus more on one than the other, but just because these are short doesnt mean you aren't getting a full story.\\n\\nIn addition to the 12 shorts in the set, you also get optional introductions to each short by the producers, directors, and writers (or some combination thereof) who worked on each short. Each intro is just under a minute and gives some fun backstory and/or things to watch for. The only other extra is a short documentary hosted by T.J. Miller on the process of creating these shorts. At only seven minutes long, it feels like one of these shorts and really could have been much longer. Still, its worth watching if you are a Disney animations fan.\\n\\nThe shorts included in the Short Films Collection are fun, and Im glad I have them as part of my collection. Ill enjoy pulling this out from time and time and watching them again, and any fan of Disney animation will feel the same way.\",\n \"Product: Meet the next generation of villains in Disney's DESCENDANTS! Imprisoned on the Isle of the Lost, home of the most infamous villains who ever lived, the kids of Maleficent (Kristen Chenoweth), the Evil Queen, Jafar and Cruella De Vil have never ventured off the island... until now. Sent to idyllic Auradon to attend prep school alongside the children of beloved Disney heroes, these villainous kids must execute a plan that helps their evil parents achieve \\\"world domination\\\" once again! Will Maleficent's daughter (Dove Cameron) and the other rebel teens follow in their rotten parents' footsteps or will they choose to embrace their innate goodness and save the kingdom? Co-starring Booboo Stewart, Cameron Boyce and introducing newcomer Sofia Carson, this wickedly cool comedy adventure is awesome to the core!\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Never Ascended to the Heights I Expected\\n\\nReview: Ive been hearing for months about the new Disney Channel movie Descendants. I thought it sounded like a lot of fun, and Ive was really looking forward to its premier last Friday night. Wow, was it disappointing.\\n\\nThe movie tells the story of Mal (Dove Cameron), Carlos (Cameron Boyce), Jay (Booboo Stewart), and Evie (Sofia Carson), the kids of Maleficent (Kristin Chenoweth), Cruella de Vil (Wendy Raquel Robinson), Jafar (Maz Jobrani), and Evil Queen (Kathy Najimy) respectively. Because their parents have been banished to the Isle of the Lost, theyve grown up there and never seen the rest of the kingdom.\\n\\nHowever, Prince Ben (Mitchell Hope) is about to take the throne of the united kingdom of Auradon, and he wants to give these kids of villains a chance to prove they can be good. Hes selected these four as the first batch to come and go to school, sometimes with the kids of the very people their own parents tried to harm.\\n\\nBut Maleficent has a plan of her own. If these four kids can just get the Fairy Godmothers (Malanie Paxson) wand, then their parents can escape the island and get their ultimate revenge. Will the kids be able to get the wand?\\n\\nNow lets dispel the idea that I was upset by this film being predictable. Yes, it went where I expected it to go, but that was fine. I don't mind predictable if I am enjoying the film. It was the rest that went wrong.\\n\\nFor one thing, there are too many characters. I mean, look at the list of characters I mentioned above, and thats just the start. Each of the descendants have their own sub-plot of character growth, but they aren't developed enough for us to care. The only one that comes close is Mal, and thats because she is really our main character. They should have axed the other three and just really focused on her. As it is, I never got to know the characters enough to care about the outcome.\\n\\nThen theres the acting. Mitchell Hope, Dove Cameron, and Kristin Chenoweth were all fine, but the rest of the cast hammed it up. This is especially true of the adult villains, who didn't feel like the villains we already love to hate at all. Now, if you check out my reviews, youll quickly see that I can get into cheesy and corny acting and really enjoy it. Here, it was just painful.\\n\\nOnce Kenny Ortega of High School Musical and Newsies fame was attached to direct, this movie turned into a musical. The songs weren't bad, but they didn't really add much to the film. If that screen time had been spent on character development, the movie would have been better.\\n\\nReally, it just comes down to character development. We don't know the characters enough to care about the outcome we know is coming, so we are bored waiting for the film to get there.\\n\\nI had such high hopes for Descendant, but the film just couldn't meet them. I won't be wasting my time on it again in the future.\",\n \"Product: From the imaginative minds of Disney-Pixar comes a major \\\"emotion\\\" picture beyond compare. Experience the hilarious and heartwarming film Peter Travers of Rolling Stone calls \\\"a flat out masterpiece.\\\" Do you ever look at someone and wonder what's going on inside their head? Disney-Pixar's INSIDE OUT takes a rollicking journey into the mind to find the answer. Based in Headquarters, the control center of 11-year-old Riley's mind, five emotions are hard at work, led by lighthearted optimist Joy. She strives to make sure Riley stays happy as she operates alongside fellow emotions Fear, Anger, Disgust and Sadness. It's \\\"an instant classic,\\\" raves Richard Roeper, Chicago Sun-Times.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: You Will Experience Joy While Watching Inside Out\\n\\nReview: While I have continued to enjoy Pixars movies, its been a couple of years since they had one that really stood out and was something unique and special. Im happy to say thats just what we get with Inside Out. This is a film that youll be talking about and enjoying for a long time to come.\\n\\nWe spend most of this movie inside the brain of Riley (voiced by Kaitlyn Dias). Our guide to her brain is Joy (Amy Poehler), Rileys lead emotion. Joy makes sure that Riley is always feeling upbeat no matter what is happening in her life. Okay, so there are some other emotions in Rileys brain, but Joy is the dominant one.\\n\\nAll that changes when Rileys family moves from Minnesota to San Francisco. Suddenly, Riley is at a loss in this new town where she knows no one. And, to complicate matters, Sadness (Phyllis Smith) is taking over memories without even trying. When Joy and Sadness accidentally get stuck outside the master control center, they have to find their way back. Meanwhile, Rileys other emotions try to fill in for Joy. Will Joy make it home in time to keep Riley from doing something really bad?\\n\\nAs you might have guessed from that description, this movie isn't all laughs. There are some pretty serious moments, too, so be prepared for that going into the film. But actually, that fits into the theme of the film nicely. Im not going to get into that any more so I don't spoil anything, but I really did like the point the film was ultimately making.\\n\\nParents will want to know that Riley does make some bad choices in the film. But, they are all treated as such by the story. Just know that going in, and be prepared to talk to your kids afterwards. The film is rated PG, and its a very mild PG film, so there is nothing too bad in it.\\n\\nBoy, this is sounding like a downer. Lets fix that because this really is a funny movie. There are lots of laughs at situations that Joy finds herself in or how Riley is reacting to what is going on inside her head. No, we don't see too much of the other characters thoughts, although when we do, that is hysterical as well. Speaking of which, watch the scenes as the credits begin for some more great laughs.\\n\\nAnd the creativity that Pixar has always been known for is in full display here. The places that Joy and Sadness go on their journey home are absolutely brilliant and so much fun. No, Im not spoiling anything here either, but trust me, youll love it.\\n\\nEverything builds to one of Pixars patented climaxes that will no quit. Okay, so its not as full blown as Toy Story, for example, but there are plenty of complications along the way as everything begins to come together. And yes, they do a wonderful job of setting things up early in the film. This is storytelling at its best. Writer/director Pete Docter and his team deserve full credit for that. (Pete has always directed my two favorite Pixar films, Monsters, Inc., and Up.)\\n\\nComplementing the story perfectly is the voice talent. Im not super familiar with anyone in the cast, but they are all perfect at bringing their characters to life. Heck, Sadness gets some wonderful laughs, and you know that comes from great acting.\\n\\nThe animation is wonderful as well. Obviously, most of it is stylized, but the style always fits what is happening to the characters or where they are perfectly. And the few glamour shots they have in the film are breath taking as always.\\n\\nOpening with this film in the theater is the short Lava. The animation here is stunning, and the story and song are great fun. Youll love it.\\n\\nPixar truly has knocked it out of the park with Inside Out. You will laugh, you might shed a tear or two, and youll appreciate your emotions that much more. It truly is a winner all the way around.\",\n \"Product: The next evolution of the Marvel Cinematic Universe harnesses the tiniest but mightiest force know to man and introduces the newest member of the Avengers: MARVEL'S ANT-MAN. Armed with the amazing ability to shrink in scale but increase in strength, master thief Scott Lang joins forces with his new mentor Dr. Hank Pym to protect the secret behind his spectacular Ant-Man suit from ruthless villains! With humanity's fate in the balance, Pym and Lang must plan and pull off a daring heist against insurmountable odds. Filled with humor, awesome special effects and exclusive bonus features, this action-packed adventure takes you to new levels of pulse-pounding excitement!\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: This is Not the Andy Griffith Show. No Whistling.\\n\\nReview: As Marvel continues to release movies, I am realizing how few of their characters Id even heard of. For example, Ant-Man hadnt even crossed my radar until I heard the film was in development. But, since Ive been enjoying the Marvel movies and knew it would be part of the larger Marvel Cinematic Universe, I planned to watch it.\\n\\nOur hero this time is Scott Lang (Paul Rudd), a man with a past. Specifically, we meet him on the day he gets out of jail for time he spent after stealing money from a former employer to give back to those who had lost money with the company. This brands him as a hero to some but still makes it very hard to find a job that pays enough to live on and pay the child support he needs to pay in order to be in his daughters life.\\n\\nWhich is why Scott finally gives in and joins his former cell mate Luis (Michael Pena) on a robbery job. However, when he gets into the vault, he just finds a strange costume. He decides to try it on and next thing he knows, hes shrunk to a very small size.\\n\\nIt turns out the suit was created by Dr. Hank Pym (Michael Douglas), who wants to recruit Scott to use it to help him stop Darren Cross (Corey Stoll) from using the technology for evil. The two team up with Dr. Pyms daughter Hope van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly), who isn't sure this is a good idea. Can Scott learn to use the powers of the suit before it is too late?\\n\\nHonestly, I must admit I wasn't sure what to think about this movie before going in. A man who shrinks to the size of an ant? Yes, ants are powerful, but is it really that great a power? Turns out, it really is. This movie is a lot of fun, and they use his powers to great advantage over the course of the film. The science of it all is probably questionable, but it sounded logical enough to me when I was watching it, and I don't care about the rest.\\n\\nAnt-Man isn't just because Scott shrinks down. Ants are a regular feature of the movie, and I actually like how the various types of ants are incorporated into the film. If you don't like bugs, you will find this a little creepy, but for the most part this is enjoyable as well.\\n\\nBecause of the size adjustments that Scott goes through, we get even more special effects than normal for a superhero film, or at least different types of special effects. I actually enjoyed seeing the world from an ants perspective, and I found all the effects completely believable. The size differences actually make for some fun and creative action scenes that I really enjoyed.\\n\\nThe acting is strong as well, with the cast doing a great job of bringing their characters to life. The main trio of Scott, Dr. Pym, and Hope are wonderful characters. While their story arcs are fairly predictable here, I still got caught up in the story rooting for them. Scotts relationship with this daughter is wonderful, and makes a great motivation for his character.\\n\\nUnfortunately, this movie does fall into the first movie of a superhero franchise trap. It spends so much time on the origins and we know all those beats already. Granted, since I don't know the characters at all, I did need to know what we learned here, so its a very hard line to walk. I definitely did feel that the villain was short changed; hes a very two-dimensional character.\\n\\nOn the other hand, the references to the Avengers was a lot of fun, and a great way to tie in to the larger movie franchise. There are also some great one-liners that made me laugh. This sense of fun is one reason I keep coming back to the Marvel movies.\\n\\nNow that Ive met Ant-Man, Im anxious to learn more about him. Im looking forward to seeing him pop up in more movies and even getting his own sequel in a couple of years. Thats pretty big stuff for such a small guy.\",\n \"Product: Buck Denver has a simple dream - to save the galaxy. Working for the Galactic Mission Board, Buck dreams of carrying God's love to every corner of the Milky Way! Except he doesn't have a starship. Or a crew. Or even a captain's license. He just needs a chance. But when that chance comes and Buck finds himself leading a real mission into deep space, things don't go at ALL like he imagined! Mission to Sector 9 is a wild galactic adventure that teaches kids a powerful lesson about trusting God with everything - even our dreams!\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Boldly Taking the Gospel Where No Man Has Gone Before\\n\\nReview: This 40 minute video reunites many of the major characters we got to know through Whats in the Bible?, but forget everything you thought you knew about them. Much like how the characters of VeggieTales change their role based on the story, we now find Buck Denver and most of the gang working for Pastor Paul, who has an intergalactic broadcast sending the Gospel to the far reaches of the solar system. Buck and the rest of the crew work in the phone banks, helping people get their tote bags and other goodies. But Buck isn't satisfied. He knows God wants him to do great things.\\n\\nBuck thinks his opportunity has come when a report of a down transponder comes in from Sector 9. So, under the supervision of Sunday School lady, Buck leads Clive, Owen, and Marcy out to this distant uninhabited planet to fix the transponder so that Pastor Pauls message can still go out. Only when they get there, they encounter danger and aliens. Will Buck succeed in his mission? Or has he doomed his friends?\\n\\nI honestly had a hard time getting past the new jobs everyone had. It took me longer than expected to get into the story as a result, although it didn't help that the story was slow, period. Yes, Im familiar enough with Star Wars and Star Trek to get the fact that we were getting some spoofs of them, but it just wasn't that funny to me. Instead, I kept waiting for something to happen.\\n\\nSince we are talking about spreading the Good News we learned about in the earlier videos, I was expecting a little more about that, too. Honestly, I think the initial idea of Buck and his crew working a phone bank a pretty good indictment of many Christians today. However, I didn't feel like the story went much beyond that. But since this is the first of these videos, maybe I was expecting everything at once.\\n\\nI will say I loved the moral. Buck has to learn that God wants him just to be available, not to look for big things to do Himself. Thats very Biblical. Plus, when you are open to God and His leading, youll find yourself doing bigger things than you ever dreamed even if they aren't what you think are big things.\\n\\nYes, I am looking at this as an adult, but an adult who has enjoyed much of Phil Vischers previous work. Ive always found good lessons mixed in with fun stories and great jokes. This video had one out of three, at least as far as I was concerned. Kids might enjoy it more.\\n\\nIts a shame that Galaxy Buck: Mission to Sector 9 isn't more entertaining because it absolutely has a great message for all to learn. Heres hoping that the next Galaxy Buck adventure has more entertainment with its lesson.\",\n \"Product: When aliens misinterpret video-feeds of classic arcade games as a declaration of war against them, they attack the Earth, using the games like PAC-MAN, Donkey Kong, Galaga, Centipede and Space Invaders as models for their various assaults. President Will Cooper (Kevin James) has to call on his childhood best friend, 80s video game champion Sam Brenner (Adam Sandler) to lead a team of old-school arcaders (Peter Dinklage and Josh Gad) to defeat the aliens and save the planet.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Wonderful Idea Brought Down by Antics of the Cast\\n\\nReview: Usually, when I see a preview for a disaster or alien invasion flick, I pass on it. That genre just isn't my thing. I feel the same when I see a preview for an Adam Sandler flick since the previews for those usually annoy me. But I had to make an exception for Pixels. A film with classic video games the games I grew up playing come to life? I knew I had to watch it. Sadly, it wasn't as good as I hoped it would be.\\n\\nBack in the 80s, Brenner was one of the top video game players of the era thanks to his innate ability to recognize the patterns in the games. However, that didn't translate to a well-paying job as the Brenner of today (Adam Sandler) makes his living installing home theater and electronics equipment.\\n\\nHowever, one day the US Naval base in Guam is attacked by a mysterious enemy, and Brenners best friend Cooper (Kevin James), who also happens to be President of the United States, calls on Brenner for help. He recognize the pattern for what it is, Galaga. With help from conspiracy nut Ludlow (Josh Gad) and his old video game nemesis Eddie (Peter Dinklage), he must help repel attacks from an alien force using 1982 video games against us. Can this unlikely group of geeks succeed?\\n\\nI had to smile as each new video game enemy was revealed. These were some of my favorite games as a kid, and I could spend hours playing them on my Atari 2600. (I didn't spend as much time in arcades playing the real games, but I loved my Atari.) There are some great lines based on that nostalgia, and the battles were great. Heck, the fight against Pac-Man alone will make any member of my generation smile.\\n\\nHowever, the nostalgic fun was covered in the haze of usual Adam Sandler immaturity. The main characters are just what youd picture if youve seen one of his movies (or the previews) with the typical immature but supposed to be funny antics, and the movie is filled with PG-13 level sexual jokes. I often found these parts painful to watch; I certainly didn't find them funny, and the very little bit of predictable character development we got wasn't enough to save this aspect of the movie. I will give the actors credit for being good in their various roles, I just didn't like the characters.\\n\\nI was very impressed with the effects. Naturally, there were a lot of them in the film, and they were very well done. I especially appreciated the fact that the effects for the video game characters were very blocky, perfectly representing the level of graphics we had back in the day.\\n\\nDo I regret watching Pixels? Not in the least. I think anyone who enjoyed playing the video games of the 80s is going to want to watch it at some point for the pure nostalgia of it. However, the immature characters will keep me from rewatching the film.\",\n \"Product: Disney and Pixar proudly present a hilarious new animated TOY STORY adventure. During one of Bonnie's post-Christmas playdates, the TOY STORY crew find themselves in uncharted territory when the coolest set of action figures ever turn out to be dangerously delusional. It's all up to Trixie the triceratops if the gang hopes to ever return to Bonnie's room. TOY STORY THAT TIME FORGOT is an unforgettable tale packed with family fun!\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Have I Mentioned What a Fantastic Time Im Having? Its as Plain as the Horn on Your Face.\\n\\nReview: Disney and Pixar really aren't ready to let the Toy Story gang go. Since the final film came out a few years back, weve been several shorts with the gang and two TV specials (not to mention confirmation that they are making a fourth movie). Not that Im complaining since I love these characters myself. Toy Story That Time Forgot is the second TV special, and fans of these characters will definitely want to watch it.\\n\\nIts after Christmas, and Bonnie (Emily Hahn) is going on a playdate to her friend Masons (R. C. Cope) house. Shes grab a few of her toys to take along, including Woody (Tom Hanks), Buzz (Tim Allen), and her two dinosaurs Trixie (Kristen Schall) and Rex (Wallace Shawn). Trixie is currently frustrated because she is never cast as a dinosaur in Bonnies play. In fact, she is currently a baby reindeer while other toys get to be the dinosaurs.\\n\\nMason got a cool new video game for Christmas, and he and Bonnie quickly get absorbed. However, the toys discover that Mason also got a BattleSaurs play set complete with many action figures. Trixie and Rex are excited to be making so many new dinosaur friends. But danger is lurking for Woody and Buzz. Will they survive this play date?\\n\\nI watched this special when it first aired last year, and my initial impression was that it was a little dark. Rewatching it this year, I found more of the comedy, although a couple of scenes might be too much for extremely sensitive children. Its nothing worse than weve seen in the films, however.\\n\\nWe can pretty much guess where the plot is going early on, and it doesnt really break any new ground for the franchise, but thats okay because its plenty of fun. There are laughs and memorable moments that fans of the series will enjoy.\\n\\nIt is a shame we don't get to see more of the regular gang. They do have cameos at the beginning and end, but thats it. However, this is just a half hour special. There just wasn't room for the rest of the toys, especially when you consider the many new toys that we meet along the way.\\n\\nThe voice cast does a remarkable job bringing the characters to life. You can tell they love these characters as much as we do. The new cast jumps right in and fits perfectly into the story. And while this may be a TV special, the animation looks great.\\n\\nFans of the Toy Story characters (and really, who isnt) will be glad they sat down to watch Toy Story that Time Forgot. I think I will always enjoy checking in with these friends no matter what format the story takes.\",\n \"Product: Starring world-class performers and recording artists including Queen Latifah, Mary J. Blige, David Alan Grier, and Ne-Yo, this is NBC's musical television production of The Wiz Live! Staying true to the groundbreaking Broadway show that put a vivid urban spin on the land of Oz, get ready for a fresh, eye-popping new trip down the yellow brick road. Winner of seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical, the original hit Broadway show became a cultural touchstone that also spawned the classic film starring Diana Ross and Michael Jackson. Here, a Tony-winning creative team has brought together the imaginative acrobats of Cirque du Soleil and a cast of extraordinary singers and dancers to create an exciting new version of The Wiz unlike anything seen before.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Ease on Down the Road Again with The Wiz Live!\\n\\nReview: I must confess, I had never seen The Wiz until NBCs production of The Wiz Live! last week. (Actually, when you consider the number of classic musicals Ive never seen or just seen for the first time in the last couple of years, thats not so surprising). So when I sat down to watch the new version, I had no expectations or preconceived notions. What I discovered was that I was transported into the story within minutes and was having a marvelous time.\\n\\nEven if youve never seen this musical, you are familiar with the story. Originally created for Broadway and turned into a film in the 1970s, this is the story of The Wizard of Oz. The twist is that it has an all African American cast (there was one exception in the chorus here). Its been updated with some 70s urban jokes and references, and the songs all have a 70s Motown flavor.\\n\\nJust in case you aren't familiar with the story at all, we follow Dorothy (Shanice Williams), a teen who is living on her aunts farm in Kansas but desperately wants to return to her friends in Omaha. When she gets caught up in a storm, she finds herself in Oz. Her only hope of getting home lies in meeting The Wiz (Queen Latifah), who rules over The Emerald City. Along the way, she meets Scarecrow (Elijah Kelley), Tin Man (Ne-Yo), and Cowardly Lion (David Alan Grier), and they join her, searching for rewards of their own. Will The Wiz be able to help them?\\n\\nThis is the third in NBCs annual productions where they take a classic stage musical and film a live production of it. Its met with mixed results since live theater without an audience and filmed doesnt always translate well to the screen. In my mind, this production was the best one yet.\\n\\nAs is always the case, the sets, makeup, and costumes were fantastic. No expense was spared and they looked great. Yes, they are still obviously soundstages, but thats part of the charm of these productions. They are meant to be soundstages and not sets for another film version. Put yourself in that mindset, and youll get swept up into the story before you know it.\\n\\nThe actors were all top notch this year as well. Of course, thats not surprising when you consider all the greats in the cast. Still, no one was nervous or just going through the motions like Ive felt over the last two years. They were engaging and fun to watch, bringing their characters to life perfectly. The new comers, like lead Shanice Williams, were all perfect as well. In fact, I predict a long, bright career for Shanice; she was fabulous! And in a fun note, Aunt Em was played by Stephanie Mills, who originally played Dorothy when the show moved to Broadway in 1975.\\n\\nIn fact, that would be my only real complaint about the film. It is obvious that the musical was created 40 years ago, and if you don't like Motown, you won't like the music. Additionally, a few of the jokes were dates. However, I found myself laughing through much of the production since most of the jokes still work, and smiling at the music. Again, know the roots of the film going in and youll be fine.\\n\\nThere are plenty of dance numbers; this is a musical after all. They were all fantastic, and the cast was a lot of fun to watch as they danced across the various stages.\\n\\nSince this is essentially a filmed play and not a true movie in the traditional sense, you won't find that many special effects. Smoke and lights help cover some entrances and exits, and you can see the wires when the cast members are flying. The giant puppet used for the Wiz early on is absolutely fantastic and the best effect in the piece. Again, thats how it is supposed to be. About the only thing that seemed a bit odd to me was the storm that transported Dorothy to Oz, but its a minor issue.\\n\\nIn fact, any quibble I had with this production is a minor issue. It was fun from start to finish. If, like me, you aren't familiar with The Wiz, this live production is the perfect way to view this retelling of an American classic.\",\n \"Product: From Jerry Bruckheimer, producer of PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN, and Jon Turteltaub, director of PHENOMENON, comes NATIONAL TREASURE. It's the thrilling, edge-of-your-seat adventure starring Academy Award(R) winner Nicolas Cage (1995 Best Actor, LEAVING LAS VEGAS) as Benjamin Franklin Gates. Ever since he was a boy, Gates has been obsessed with finding the legendary Knights Templar Treasure, the greatest fortune known to man. As Gates tries to find and decipher ancient riddles that will lead him to it, he's dogged by a ruthless enemy (Sean Bean, THE LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy) who wants the riches for himself. Now in a race against time, Gates must steal one of America's most sacred and guarded documents -- the Declaration of Independence -- or let it, and a key clue to the mystery, fall into dangerous hands. Heart-pounding chases, close calls, and the FBI turn Gates's quest into a high-stakes crime caper and the most exciting treasure hunt you've ever experienced.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Enjoyable for what it is\\n\\nReview: Benjamin Franklin Gates is the latest in a long line of treasure hunters. The Gates family has been searching for a treasure hidden by the founders of the United States since the last founder told one of them the first clue many years ago. There's just one difference. Ben has solved the first riddle and that leads him to believe the next clue is on the back of the Declaration of Independence. When his financiers decided to steal the document, Ben realizes he's on his own to find the treasure and keep America's historical document safe. But in a race again time, will Ben and his friends win?\\n\\nOk, so maybe this movie isn't great cinema or the best movie ever made. It really doesn't matter, and you know why? Because the movie is fun. I had a smile on my face from start to finish and was often on the edge of my seat waiting to see what happened next. Yes, I'm annoyed that we never found out how Ben tracked down the first clue. And there's at least one plot hole that will jump off the screen at you. But in the end, I didn't care. The story engaged me, and the characters were fun. I found their banter very entertaining. Plus setting the story around so much American history certainly didn't hurt this US history buff.\\n\\nThe DVD could have been better done. The widescreen and surround sound are wonderful. It's the extras where I have my problem. There is a treasure hunt motif to them, with at least two different levels. The booklet does provide clues to get to the second layer, but I keep hearing rumors of a final level, and that's very annoying. What is easily found is nice. There are two deleted scenes and an alternate ending, each with an optional commentary. We get a brief behind the filming documentary and an animated early version of the opening story to give the director an idea how it was supposed to look. Layer two brings an encryption game and two brief documentaries on real life treasure hunters (interesting) and the Knights Templar (mostly useless.) Noticeably missing, at least in the obvious parts of the disc, are such standard features as an audio commentary and the original trailers.\\n\\nThis movie is exactly what it sets out to be, a fun escape. If looked at that way, you'll be entertained.\",\n \"Product: Join the rollicking gang at Rydell High with GREASE LIVE, a one-night musical television adaptation of the popular crossover musical 'Grease' performed LIVE before a studio audience! Featuring a talented young ensemble cast, GREASE LIVE will reintroduce and reimagine the unforgettable moments, great music, and timeless love story to an entirely new generation.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: There Was a Reason I Had Been Avoiding This Musical\\n\\nReview: There is a long list of classic American musicals I had never seen or hadnt seen until the last few years. One of those was Grease. Id avoided it because of some of what Id heard about the storyline. But I couldn't pass when I saw that Fox was joining the live musical bandwagon and producing Grease Live! With people I am familiar with in the cast, I figured this was as good a time as any to watch the movie. Sadly, it was pretty much exactly what I was expecting.\\n\\nThe musical takes up back to 1959 and tells the story of Sandy (Julianne Hough) and Danny (Aaron Tveit), high school seniors who had met the summer before on the beach. They figure they are going their separate ways until Sandys family moves from Salt Lake City and she attends a new school, the school where Danny just happens to go.\\n\\nOf course, they cant just get back together. Sandys a good girl with strict parents. Dannys a greaser. Sandy makes friends with a group of girls lead by Rizzo (Vanessa Hudgens), who seems to have a bit of a crush on Danny. Will their very different backgrounds keep them from making their relationship work in the real world?\\n\\nI can certainly see the appeal of the musical. Even today, 1950s nostalgia is strong, and it was certainly strong in the 1970s, when this musical was first written. The music is fun, and the dancing is top notch. This is an example of the best in the genre from that standpoint.\\n\\nAnd NCB could learn a thing or two from the production here. Yes, it was all done on soundstages live, but that didn't mean it was anything less than glorious. The costumes and the sets were both wonderful. The effects shots, pretty much reserved for a drag race late in the movie, were top notch. This was a huge step up from the three NBC efforts. There are also some awesome costume changes that compare to the best of Broadway.\\n\\nLikewise, the acting was better. Oh, Im not comparing it to any of the performances from the classic movie since Ive never seen that. Again, Im comparing it to the NBC live shows weve gotten so far, which have featured acting that can be a bit stiff. And it was a blast watching the cast, which included such people as Boys II Men, Carlos PanaVega, and even Eve Plumb as the female mechanics teacher at the school. I felt everyone did a great job.\\n\\nI think one different was the live audience, which gave the performers someone to react against. Of course, it was a double edged sword when they used the audience as part of the action. For some scenes it work, but for others, it left me scratching my head. One scene in particular with two sets of bleachers on front lawn of the school springs immediately to mind in the head scratcher category.\\n\\nNo, my issues with the movie are more with the story. First, theres the question of the timeline. I guess the story takes place over the course of a school year, but it felt to me like maybe a month had passed at most. Either I didn't follow the story as much as I thought I did or they weren't clear on the passage of time in this version.\\n\\nBut thats not nearly as big a deal to me as the moral of the story. All the conflict goes away when Sandy changes herself and her values to match Dannys. What relationship will last when you change that much for someone? Whats even worse is that from the very beginning, Danny and his friends are shown as shallow teens who degrade women. Trust me, they will not have a healthy relationship. And we even get an object lesson in how they treat women with a storyline involving Rizzo. Considering I hear Never change for a man preached to teenage women, Im surprised this is such a popular musical since it has the exact opposite moral.\\n\\nSo I guess Im one of the few who will never be a fan of this story. For a new generation, this product is fun, but the moral keeps me from fully recommending Grease Live!\",\n \"Product: Immerse yourself in a whole new dimension of family entertainment. Bring the 3D experience home with this hilariously uplifting adventure from the creators of MONSTERS, INC. and FINDING NEMO. Part rascal, part dreamer, retired balloon salesman Carl Fredricksen is ready for his last chance at high-flying excitement. Tying thousands of balloons to his house, Carl sets off to the lost world of his childhood dreams. But unbeknownst to Carl, Russell, an overeager 8-year-old Wilderness Explorer who has never ventured beyond his backyard, is in the wrong place at the wrong time -- Carl's front porch! Experience every thrilling moment of their adventure as it comes to life before your eyes in spectacular Disney Blu-ray 3D that will send your spirits soaring UP, up and away!\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Funny in Parts, but Serious in Others. Ultimately, it Satisfies.\\n\\nReview: When Carl Fredricksen was young, his hero was Charles Muntz. Charles was a world renowned explorer. It was that love that lead him to Ellie, a girl who also idolized Charles. The two eventually married.\\n\\nThe years went by, and the two never did fulfill their life long dream of visiting Paradise Falls in South America. Buy the time our story really begins, Carl (voiced now by Ed Asner) is a lonely old man. The land around his house has been sold to a developer who seizes on one action by Carl to take away his house, too.\\n\\nThe night before Carl has to leave, however, he seizes on an opportunity. He blows up hundreds of helium balloons and sets out for South America. He has a stowaway in the form of Russell (Jordan Nagai), a Wilderness Explorer looking to get his badge for helping the elderly. Together, the two set out on a wild adventure that includes a giant bird and Dug, a talking dog (Bob Peterson). Will they reach Paradise Falls?\\n\\nI've got to admit that the last couple of Pixar movies haven't been the homeruns I've come to expect from them. This movie was perfect in every way, however.\\n\\nSo let's get the negative out of the way first. This movie is fairly predictable. I guessed most of the major plot points for the first two thirds of the film not too far into it. But, as always, the ride through those elements is absolutely wonderful. And the movie features the return of Pixar's patented climax that will not quit.\\n\\nThe movie expertly balances comedic and tender moments. This is especially true when Dug shows up. I can't stop laughing at his antics. But a musical montage of Carl and Ellie's life together and the climax also moved me to tears. Some have found it too serious, but I think the two are blended perfectly to present us with an uplifting message on the power of people who love us in our lives.\\n\\nOf course, they bring all this together with the perfect visuals. Once again, there are some truly breathtaking moments. I don't know how they keep topping themselves in this department, but they do every time.\\n\\nThe movie is rated PG for mild peril related to a storm early on and elements of the climax. I think only the easily frightened will have a problem with it. Additionally, the movie does touch on death and divorce as it relates to our two main characters. Frankly, I think both are handled well, but parents might want to be prepared to discuss that with their kids.\\n\\nThis truly is an uplifting movie that will make you laugh and send leave you wanting to hug the ones you love. I may just have a new Pixar favorite.\",\n \"Product: Experience the epic 13-episode event series, Heroes Reborn, from Tim Kring, the creator of the global phenomenon, Heroes. Kring creates a wildly imaginative and thrilling new volume in the Heroes universe featuring a host of new characters with startling powers. After a massive terrorist attack in Odessa, Texas, evolved humans are blamed for the tragic event, forcing them into hiding or on the run from those seeking retribution. The conflict between humans and evolved humans - dubbed \\\"Evos\\\" - escalates into all out civil warfare. Timely, thought-provoking, and startling inventive, Heroes Reborn recaptures the magic of the original series and lays the foundation for the next volume in the Heroes mythology.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Just Like You Remembered It For Good and For Bad\\n\\nReview: I was one of the loyal few who stuck with Heroes until the bitter end mainly because I knew it was going to be the bitter end. As a result, I was going to skip Heroes Reborn that is until they cast Zachary Levi in the show. I had to give it a chance to see him in another role since I was such a huge fan of Chuck. This show reminded me exactly what the strengths and weaknesses of the original series could be.\\n\\nOur series opens several years after the events of the Heroes series finale. Evos, as those with abilities have become to be known, were living among us normal people until a horrible disaster strikes and Suresh (guest star Sendhil Ramamurthy) takes responsibility in the name of all evos. Suddenly, they are now enemy number one, and must go into hiding to avoid being tracked down as part of a government program.\\n\\nOur story opens a year after this horrible attack and follows Tommy (Robbie Kay) and his mother (Krista Bridges), who have spent the last year moving from place to place to hide his ability. Then theres Luke Collins (Zachary Levi) and his wife Joanne (Judith Shekoni) who are hunting down all the evos they can to kill them. Over in Japan, Ren (Toru Uchikado) and Miko (Kiki Sukezane) have made a startling discovery about who she really is. Then theres the young girl in the far north with a strange ability (Danika Yarosh). In the familiar faces department, we have Noah Bennett (Jack Coleman), who doesnt remember anything from the past.\\n\\nWhat no one realizes is that our world is facing annihilation, and these evos are our only hope. Will they be able to work together to save the world?\\n\\nAs you can see, the old formula of having a variety of characters eventually coming together for one mission is still in place. At times this was entertaining since the stories were so scattered it was hard to see how everything would come together. And other times, it was just as frustrating because it seemed like the stories were distracting more than anything else. Usually, this frustration came when I felt wed begun to get some traction on our story the previous week only to have very little forward progress the next. Heck, there was one story that still felt like it was just filling time on the show when everything ended.\\n\\nA few of the old characters did pop up for a few episodes, which was fun at first. I actually began to dread that since I didn't like what they did with many of these old friends.\\n\\nI already mentioned being a fan of Zachary Levi thanks to his days on Chuck. It was interesting watching him play a very different character. I thought he was great. Likewise, I enjoyed seeing Robbie Kay outside of Once Upon a Time, where he made an awesome Peter Pan. The returning cast slipped into their characters perfectly, and the rest of the new cast were just as great.\\n\\nIt continues to amaze me when I see how far TV special effects have come. I bought everything I saw on the screen week after week, and since this is a fantasy/sci-fi show there are plenty of effects.\\n\\nWhen the show was on point, it was still fun. The fantasy filled with some very creative powers works. Unfortunately, the plot still wanders with sub-plots and characters that could have been trimmed or cut altogether. One week Id love the show, and the next Id be bored. In other words, it was just like the old Heroes.\\n\\nOh, and can we mentioned that they left us with a bit of a teaser cliffhanger even though this was supposed to be a 13 episode event series? Yeah, not impressed.\\n\\nThe 13 episode event series is captured on four DVDs or three Blu-rays. Extras include two featurettes and some deleted scenes.\\n\\nDie hard fans of the franchise will want to watch Heroes Reborn. The rest of us can skip this in favor of something that is consistently entertaining.\\n\\nEnd of volume\",\n \"Product: Librarian Aurora Teagarden is known around her small town as a master sleuth. When her friend Jane unexpectedly dies and leaves Aurora everything in her will, she also leaves a troubling murder mystery. It is up to Aurora to piece together the clues and solve the murder before she becomes the next victim.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: The Skull in the Window Seat\\n\\nReview: One of the reasons I switched cable companies this year was so I could get the Hallmark Movies and Mystery channel. (Yes, it was also a little bit cheaper.) Theyve started making some movies I was anxious to see based on cozy mystery series. Within a couple of months, Id recorded a bunch of them, and there they sat on my DVR waiting for me to watch them. I finally got around to watching the first Aurora Teagarden mystery, A Bone to Pick, and I enjoyed it.\\n\\nAurora (Candace Cameron Bure), Roe to her friends, is a librarian in a small Georgia town who is obsessed with real life murder. In fact, shes a member of the local Real Murders club, which is how she had kept in touch with former librarian Jane Engles (Barbara Wallace) who has always seen a lot of herself in Roe.\\n\\nWhen Jane dies due to health problems shed kept secret from all but her closest friends, Roe is shocked to learn that she has inherited everything, including Janes house. When Roe heads to the house, she interrupts a burglar. Then Roe finds a skull in the window seat. A note from Jane convinces Roe that her friend didn't commit the murder. But who is the victim? And is one of her new neighbors a killer?\\n\\nThis sets up a great mystery as Roe must not only figure out who the victim might be but then figure out who had motive to kill this person. The twists and turns were pretty good and kept me guessing until the end.\\n\\nThis movie is based on a book by Charlene Harris (and if the name is familiar, thats because she wrote the Sookie Stackhouse books that were turned into the TV show True Blood). I have never read the books this film is based on, but I do know that, while this is first movie made from the books, this is actually the second book in the series. I don't know why they chose to do that, but Im not too surprised based on how they are constantly changing the order for the series of movies based on the Hannah Swensen series. Fans of the books will recognize any changes they had to make as a result, but I just went on what I saw here.\\n\\nI will say I was overwhelmed a bit by the number of characters near the beginning. In addition to meeting the suspects, we also get the characters that make up Roes life. However, by the time the movie was over, I had everyone straight.\\n\\nHallmark has a reputation for a certain feel from their movies which includes a certain amount of cheese. That is here in full force, and it seeps into the acting a bit. Its certainly acceptable for a made for TV movie, but there is nothing here that will win any awards. Aside from Candace Cameron Bure, the only other name in the cast I recognized was Merilu Henner who plays Roes mother Aida.\\n\\nIve got to admit, I also had a problem with the premise of the story. Jane is really little more than an acquaintance of Roe, yet she leaves her entire state to the main character? Yes, its so Roe will find the skull and solve the mystery, but it still seemed a bit farfetched. Having said that, once I let that go, I really enjoyed the film.\\n\\nSo no, this isn't great cinema. But it is a diverting made for TV movie. If that sounds appealing to you, then you will enjoy A Bone to Pick.\",\n \"Product: What starts as a YouTube video going viral, soon leads to problems for the teenagers of Lakewood and serves as the catalyst for a murder that opens up a window to the town's troubled past.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: You Cant Do a Slasher Movie as a TV Series.\\n\\nReview: Hidden around my blog, youll find a few reviews of one of my guilty pleasures the slasher film. While most of them are fairly bad, the one franchise Ive really enjoyed is the Scream movies. (Yes, Im the weirdo who likes 3 and 4 while acknowledging they are much weaker than the first two.) So when it was announced that MTV was going to create a TV show version of the franchise, I was in. While definitely not as good as the movies, there is still plenty of fun to be had here.\\n\\nLike the first movie, this film opens with a young woman (Bella Thorne) home alone at night. However, her threatening messages come via text message and an ap. This is the 21st century after all. Oh, and she and her boyfriend had just released a video of a classmate. Not that they get to enjoy any of the fallout from that video since they are our opening victioms.\\n\\nWhen news of the brutal murder breaks the next day, the students at the school in town are understandably shocked and upset. However, the killer seems to be contacting Emma Duval (Willa Fitzgerald) and teasing her with information about her mothers past. It seems her mother (Tracy Middendorf) has a secret that someone is determined to reveal. Does it have anything to do with the killings that took place 20 years ago? As the body count begins to rise, Emma realizes she needs to solve this mystery if she wants to stay alive and protect her friends.\\n\\nTo be honest, this could have been called anything and it still would have worked well. There is no connection to the Scream film franchise in character or looks. Heck, the killer even wears a different mask. While I did miss the iconic Ghostface mask, there is a reason for the mask the killer wears here, and I liked that aspect of things.\\n\\nThe one connection this has to the films is the tone. The characters know they are in a horror story and reference the conventions of the genre every so often. Its not as self-aware or biting as the first film, but it is fun. They even make a nice reference to the first film in passing that I loved.\\n\\nBlood thirsty fans will be disappointed with the toned down violence, but this is a TV show after all even if it is on MTV. Frankly, I still found the deaths plenty bloody for my tastes, which are decidedly tame for a fan of the genre. The chase scenes aren't as elaborate as a movie, but they still work well to build up some good suspense.\\n\\nThe biggest problem that a TV show of this nature has is how many characters to kill off and when. While the recent show Scream Queens boasted about one death an episode, some of those killed were only introduced in the episode where they died. This show went to the other extreme and had some episodes where no one died. Im not sure which side is correct. The episodes without any murders definitely advanced the plot and gave us plenty of tension, however, so I still enjoyed them.\\n\\nAt its heart, the Scream franchise has always been a mystery story (maybe one reason I like them), and we get some good twists and surprises on the way to unmasking the killer. Im still not quite sure I buy that revelation, mainly because of the twist they put on screen during the final few moments. Ill probably decide how I feel about it as season two unspools since it will have to address that.\\n\\nAnd I will definitely be back since the characters are good. The producers have said they had a hard time killing people off since they grew to love the cast and their characters, and I can see why. While they initially fall into high school stereotypes, those who live long enough begin to be very real, which upped the tension on the show I didn't want any of them to die either. Obviously, this means the cast does a great job bringing them to life.\\n\\nThere were 10 episodes in the first season, and they are preserved here in their native wide screen and full surround. Extras include a gag reel and cut scenes.\\n\\nWhile Scream The TV Series won't appeal to everyone, fans who give it a chance will find themselves caught up in an entertaining, and deadly, story. Im looking forward to seeing the next deadly chapter unfold soon.\",\n \"Product: new with slip cover\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Butchering History Again in this Direct to Video Sequel\\n\\nReview: Since Ive never been a fan of Disneys Pocahontas, I never made watching the sequel a priority. But since Disney combined the two for the recent Blu-Ray release, I decided it was time to give Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World a try. Yep, it was pretty much what I expected, and thats not a good thing.\\n\\nPocahontas (voiced by Irene Bedard) is trying to figure out her next step in life now that John Smith (Donal Gibson) has returned to England. As she is contemplating this, she meets the new leader of the Jamestown settlement, John Rolfe (Billy Zane). He is looking to bring the leader of the Native Americans to England as an emissary to King James (Jim Cummings). When her father is reluctant to go, Pocahontas volunteers.\\n\\nWhat no one knows is that Ratcliffe (David Ogden Stiers) has spread lies about what happened in the first film. He thinks hes killed John Smith and convinced King James to take an army to attack Pocahontas tribe. Her presence in London upsets him greatly, and he begins to scheme about how to get her discredited. Will it work, or will Pocahontas be able to save her people?\\n\\nOnce again, there are issues with the historical accuracy of the piece. For starters, Pocahontas was married to John Rolfe before she went to England. And nothing I can find shows a plan to attack her tribe that she thwarted. However, Im willing to let some of this go as historical fiction and leave it at that. After all, the plot is interesting enough that I was concerned with how they would resolve things in the last quarter after spending the first three quarters watching the predictable plot complications arise. On the other hand, the plot does make King James out to be a laughable idiot. He might have been, but this was something that didn't sit well with me.\\n\\nThe political correctness of the first movie rears its head again, mainly when Pocahontas goes off about respecting my culture at one point. Hello 90s buzz phrases. While there is an uncomfortable scene where Ratcliffe is attempting to provoke her, but since he is using it as pure evil, Im okay with it.\\n\\nThe problems with the film run much deeper than that, however. Its just not that well written. The dialogue is adequate at best and painful much of the time. They always go for the obvious line instead of trying to come up with something new.\\n\\nThe songs are bland and forgettable. Nothing will stay in your head after youve finished watching the film. In fact, youll probably want to fast forward most of them. The one exception is Where do I Go from here? Pocahontas sings this ballad early in the film, and its beautiful. The words aren't that original, but the music is grand.\\n\\nThis was done by the TV animation department, and it doesnt show the depth or artistry that the first film had.\\n\\nAnd our three animal friends also make the trip with Pocahontas. Theyre still amusing but distract for the overall story.\\n\\nI will give the voice talent credit. They do their best to make this movie watchable. They are always believable. While Mel Gibson didn't return to voice John Smith, I liked the fact that they gave that job to his brother Donal. He does a great job here.\\n\\nOverall, this movie is typical direct to home video quality all the way around. If you like the first movie, you might find yourself enjoying Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World. Otherwise, feel free to skip this one.\",\n \"Product: new with slip cover\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Mid-90's Political Correctness Run Amuck\\n\\nReview: The Disney animation resurgence reached its peak with The Lion King. The next year saw a movie that began to mark the decline. While still a financial success, its easy to point to Pocahontas as the moment when things started to go south. The thing is, the movie isn't helped by the political agenda hidden in the beautiful animation.\\n\\nThe story is a very, very loose interpretation of history. As such, it follows the voyage of the first settlers to land in Virginia. The movie actually opens in England as John Smith (voiced by Mel Gibson) joins an expedition to found the colony. The expedition is under the leadership of Ratcliffe (David Ogden Stiers). We even meet a crewman named Thomas (Christian Bale). As we travel the sea, we get to experience first hand how brave and noble John Smith is.\\n\\nThen we join Pocahontas (Irene Bedard) in the ideal world of uncolonized America. Her father, the chief, has just returned from a victory over their foes. His right hand man, Kocoum (James Apaumut Fall), has just asked for Pocahontas hand in marriage. But Pocahontas is not happy with that arrangement. She is restless and a free spirit, longing for adventure.\\n\\nAnd thats when she sees the strange clouds that are the sails of the ship arriving. While out scouting, John Smith meets her. The two form an instant connection and start sharing parts of their language and culture with each other. Will they be able to form a peace between their people when so many are clamoring for war?\\n\\nTry as I might, I have a hard time separating myself from the bad history here to enjoy the movie as pure entertainment. I will say that the songs are gorgeous, well most of them. They certainly help advance the story, and I can get Colors of the Wind stuck in my head for days. There was a love song written for Pocahontas and John Smith that is available as a bonus feature, at least on the new Blu-Ray release. Why it wasn't incorporated back into the movie like was done on the last DVD is a mystery to me.\\n\\nI must also give the film credit for the gorgeous animation. This movie is a perfect example of why we must not let the art of hand drawn animation die. The forests of the new world are so beautiful to look at.\\n\\nAnd the voice cast does a fine job with their parts. The Native Americans were all voiced by real Native Americans, who praised the film for the authenticity of the portrayals of Native American culture. (Ironically, other Native American groups complained about the stereotypes. Proves you just cant win.)\\n\\nThen there are the animal characters. They add some humor to the proceedings and the film is fairly serious, so I certainly think the film needs it. And the way they parallel what is happening or should be happening between the humans is a nice bit of storytelling.\\n\\nHowever, they are also a prime example of what was going wrong with Disney animation at this point. They had become too formulaic. In their efforts to crank out one movie a year, they went to the same well to create characters. Dashing, virtuous hero? Check. Independent woman who wants adventure and won't settle for just any husband? Check. Cute animal sidekicks to provide some laughs? Check. Change the names and the setting and weve got a new movie.\\n\\nSo, now lets get into the history or lack there of. I will grant you not much is known about Pocahontas until later in her life (after this film was set), but what is suspected is far different from what is presented here. For one thing, she was most likely about 8 years younger. There was never romance between her and John Smith. And while she did save his life, some historians even protest that much. Add to that the fact that they kill off a character who doesnt die during this time period, and youve got a work of fiction.\\n\\nNow, I have no problem with historical fiction; in fact, I love the genre. However, you need to adhere to the truth as much as you can. In reality, this was nothing like reality. Since the Disney version of things gets so engrained in our culture, thats dangerous. Its one thing when looking at time periods but something completely different when real people are changed so dramatically. And with no disclaimer to warn people that what they are seeing is purely fiction.\\n\\nAnd don't even get me started on Grandmother Willow, the living, talking tree that gives Pocahontas advice. In a fairy tale context, Id have no problems with this character, but again we've got that history thing going on.\\n\\nCouple this with the other messages in the film. There is the pro-environmental message contains in Colors of the Wind and the way the two cultures are presented. The English are obviously bad for wanting to take resources and the Indians are good for wanting to keep them around to enjoy. Mind you, I firmly believe that destroying the Earth is a horrid idea and should never be done. But there needs to be a balance between the two sides, and that balance isn't presented here.\\n\\nFurthermore, our villain of the piece, Ratcliffe, is a one note, greedy jerk. And because of him, the only white man not painted with a horrid brush is John Smith. I mean, look at the song Savages, which both sides sing as they are going off to war. The white men are singing it because they think the Native Americans are hiding gold and are going to kill Smith out of spite. The Native Americans are singing it because one of their own was just killed and they want revenge. Which of these motives can you get behind?\\n\\nNever mind the fact that Ratcliffe, while admittedly a weak governor, wasn't even in the colony during the time that the film was set. He came a few years later.\\n\\nLook, Im not going to sit here and say that the white man was perfect in our relations with the Native Americans when we came to this country. Far from it, as anyone who has studied history certainly knows. (Although the idea that we would all still be in Europe and the Native Americans would be living here in their idealic world with the exploring period of history is ludicrous.) But the characters were created as strawmen that could easily be knocked down as examples of the good (Native American) and bad (white man). It is so painfully obvious it ruins much of the movie.\\n\\nAm I expecting too much from an animated movie aimed at kids? Maybe. Usually, I just sit down, relax, and enjoy. But since this one took on history and messed with it so much, it really bothers me. Besides, with the historical background and serious nature of the film, I don't see it appealing to kids that much. The animals, while cute and funny, will only carry things so far. Whether they want to admit it or not, I think this movie was aimed at adults.\\n\\nSo for the hatchet job of history and the blatant political correctness of the movie, I cant recommend Pocahontas at all. Good visuals and music only get you so far. If you do decide to view the film, make sure you think about the messages you are getting.\",\n \"Product: Free spirited cookie baker Hannah Swensen jumps in to help a handsome new detective track down the culprit and uncover the mystery surrounding the death of her friend and local milk delivery man.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Fun Film Version of a Delicious Mystery\\n\\nReview: I am always intrigued when a series I love is turned into a movie, so I knew Id have to watch Murder She Baked: Chocolate Chip Cookie Mystery as soon as I heard about it. After all, Ive been reading Joanne Flukes Hannah Swensen series since that book, the first in the series, came out. As I expected, they definitely made some changes to the book and characters, but I really did enjoy it.\\n\\nHannah Swensen (Alison Sweeney) lives in Eden Lake, Minnesota, where she runs The Cookie Jar, a popular cookie shop. The worst thing she faces is her mother Deloress (Barbara Niven) attempts to set her up. The latest is the new dentist in town, Norman (Gabriel Hogan).\\n\\nHowever, one day Ron LaSalle (Jason Cremak), the deliveryman from the local dairy, is late with the order for The Cookie Jar. When Hannah goes out back, she finds Ron shot next to some of her Chocolate Chip Crunch Cookies. Despite warnings from Mike (Cameron Mathison), a state detective brought in to work the case, Hannah starts poking her nose into the mystery. Will she figure out what happened?\\n\\nDespite the fact that I first read the book back in 2001, I actually remember the plot fairly well (my reread in 2006 might help with that), and Im happy to say the movie stuck close to it. Im sure there were details and suspects they cut out for time, but it unfolded pretty much as I remembered it. Thats impressive since they played up the new romances that begin between Hannah and both Mike and Norman here.\\n\\nOf course, in almost any movie, the details are going to be changed. I can sit here and start listing them for you. Hannah lives in a house instead of a condo. Lisa, Hannahs employee later partner at the bakery played by Juliana Wimbles, is too old for the character in the series. And on and on.\\n\\nBut you know what? It really didn't care. Every time a new character from the series popped up, I smiled. I was just having too much fun seeing these characters I love brought to life. And there were plenty of great nods to the series in the movie. I loved that all the desserts and cookies mentioned have been made it in the series. While the actual recipes are missing (obviously), we even heard the secret ingredient in the title cookies.\\n\\nThe characters were a tad off from how I picture their personalities, but I think that was a result of the acting. Everyone just seemed a tad over enthusiastic. It was the style they were going for, and as I got in to the movie, it didn't bother me nearly as much.\\n\\nNo, this isn't a great movie, but it is fun. If you are a fan of Hannah, youll enjoy it. And if you are looking for a light, fun mystery, then Murder She Baked: Chocolate Chip Cookie Mystery will fill that need and leave you craving the books.\",\n \"Product: Based on Deborah Donnelly's novel "Veiled Threats," Carnegie Kincaid is a wedding planner and a perfectionist in both work and romance. When a murder occurs and a bride (Chelan Simmons) is kidnapped surrounding the wedding of a prominent family embroiled in a high profile fraud scandal, Carnegie becomes a suspect. She is questioned by police and pursued by shady news reporter Aaron Gold (Andrew W. Walker). To make matters more terrifying, Carnegie is pretty certain whoever is responsible for the crime is out to get rid of her. As she struggles to clear her name, Carnegie is hounded by a hard-boiled detective and wooed by a handsome lawyer. With her life exploding into a whirlwind mix of danger, mystery, and romance, Carnegie begins to realize that love does not always arrive in a pretty package and that the perfect "Prince Charming" she's been waiting for may not have her best interests in mind.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Every Eventuality is Planned for Except the Murder\\n\\nReview: Im sure it will be no surprise to you that I have piles of books around the condo that Ive never found time to read. They sound good, and I fully intend to read them, but other books come along and bump them down my TBR list. One of those is the book Veiled Threats, the first in a series about a wedding planner by Deborah Donnelly. No, I still haven't read the book, but I have seen the movie that Hallmark made based on it called Wedding Planner Mystery, and I really enjoyed it.\\n\\nCarnegie Kincaid (Erica Durance) is a wedding planner who has just hit the mother lode for her business, the back to back weddings of two cousins in the Parry family. They are rich and fairly famous in Seattle or is that infamous? Doug Parry (Billy Mitchel), father of the second bride Nicky (Chelan Simmons), is under investigation for tax fraud, and that has added a complication to both weddings.\\n\\nBut Nickys wedding is second and she is a bridesmaid in the wedding of her cousin Diane (Chelsey Reist). However, that wedding ends in tragedy when their third cousin, Michelle (Barbara Kottmeier), takes off from the wedding early in Nickys car, crashes a block away, and dies. Suddenly, the police are nosing around and Carnegie feels the heat of the investigation. Can she solve the crime and save her businesss reputation?\\n\\nThis plot was quite complicated, and the way it twisted around kept me off guard. However, it all made perfect sense in the end. Well, one or two details got overlooked, although we can make educated guesses about them. Still, the story was fun, and how everything unfolded was very easy to follow.\\n\\nAnd I was surprised at how much I came to care for the characters. When a book is turned into a movie, often the characters are the first casualty. While Im sure they are all richer in the novel, there were several that stood out to me enough that I truly cared about how they would fare by the time the story ended. Heck, even when Carnegie was alienating people over the course of her investigation, I understood her motives and truly felt sorry for her.\\n\\nAnd the acting was decent. I especially enjoyed seeing Erica Durance starring in this since Ive been watching her as Lois Lane is Smallville. Even more fun, she has a constant nemesis in Aaron Gold (Andrew W. Walker), a reporter that would give Lois a run for her money.\\n\\nOf course, this does have a liberal dose of the usual Hallmark cheese, and Carnegies narration didn't help with that. But if you know that going in, youll enjoy it.\\n\\nSo far, this is the only movie I can find in the franchise, but I hope Hallmark changes that since Wedding Planner Mystery was so much fun. And I definitely need to make the time to get the book read now, too. (If I can find it, of course.)\",\n \"Product: Their fiery love affair has kept your pulse pounding week after week for the past eight seasons. Now, the heartfelt final chapter of Rick Castle and Kate Beckett comes to an end as one of the most beloved couples in television history match wits with their ultimate rival in a fight that will define their future. Experience every riveting moment and sizzling, emotional encounter with CASTLE: THE COMPLETE EIGHTH AND FINAL SEASON, including exclusive, never-before-seen bonus features! The season begins with a bang as a call from a mysterious stranger puts Beckett on the run and sets off an explosive chain of events. The action heats up when Castle's daughter, Alexis, joins her father to solve the case of a lifetime. Fresh faces and unforgettable characters from the past join the precinct in a year full of devastating twists and turns. It all leads to the stunning series finale that will keep you on the edge of your seat and close the book on the incredible story of Castle and Beckett.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: You, Me, and a Crime Scene Just as Nature Intended.\\n\\nReview: I have been a fan of Castle since season one, episode one, day one. The mix of banter, romance, and mystery was perfect for me. Okay, so the mysteries weren't the strongest, but I fell in love with these characters and couldn't wait to revisit them week after week.\\n\\nWhich is why I am still trying to wrap my head around what the writers did to them in season 8.\\n\\nYes, I was actually one of the many who was glad the show was canceled when this season ended so we were all put out of our misery. There were parts I enjoyed, but for the most part it felt very forced this season.\\n\\nAnd Ill warn you now that this review might devolve into rants a few times.\\n\\nThe season opens with a brilliant two part episode that finds mystery writer Richard Castle (Nathan Fillion) investigating the disappearance of his wife, newly promoted NYPD Captain Kate Beckett (Stana Kantic), with the help of two of her detectives, Kevin Ryan and Javier Esposito (Seamus Dever and Jon Huertas). Then, in the second part, we get Becketts side of things until both halves come together for a wonderful climax. Well, it would have been wonderful if they hadnt decided to completely mess with the show.\\n\\nSee, the plot of this two parter revolved around Beckett learning there was more to the conspiracy surrounding her mothers murder, something I thought we had finally put to bed a couple of seasons ago. Beckett learns that she is in danger, and in an attempt to keep Castle and his mother and daughter, Martha and Alexis (Susan Sullivan and Molly Quinn) safe, she announces she needs a break for their marriage and moves out. No explanation to Castle about what is really going on. Nothing.\\n\\nNow, this is supposed to recapture the old magic of the show when Castle was pursuing Beckett and she was resisting. And they returned to Castle working as a PI to bring him into these cases of the week. But seriously, lets go back to that premise for a minute. What bad guy is going to stop going after your family because you left them a week ago? A month ago? Seriously? You think thats going to keep them safe? They are going to go after them to get at you just as much today as they did before you left. Plus, with no warning to them, they are in more danger. If you stayed or at least told them why you left, theyd be more on their guard, so better protected, than if you just walk out of their lives.\\n\\nNot to mention that this show is as much romantic comedy as it is mystery show. After watching the will they/wont they tension and the building of their relationship leading up to their marriage last season, I don't want to see things go backwards. I actually liked the show after it got Castle and Beckett together because it showed growth for their characters and built a solid relationship between them. This was a huge step backwards.\\n\\nAnd frankly, this overshadowed the case of the week aspect of the series. While might have had a bit more overarching storyline this year, there were still plenty of cases of the week, but the spark wasn't there because I was so frustrated by the breakup. Still, over the course of the season, we get mysteries such as the death of Castles writing idol, a murder aboard a cruise ship that has just set sail, and a corpse that the theater where Marthas latest show is rehearsing. Many of these individual episodes are good and have great moments, but overall they cant rise about the premise of the season.\\n\\nOf course, with Beckett as a captain now, Castle shares more detecting scenes with Ryan and Esposito, and that chemistry isn't the same, which doesnt nothing to help the show. Mind you, I love the characters, but they aren't Castle and Beckett together.\\n\\nFortunately, the complete breakup didn't last all season as Beckett did finally clue Castle in to what was happening, leading to a repeat of season 5 where the two where sneaking around. Are you sensing a theme here? Reruns. No new ground, nothing but reruns. The writers did try to tie in Castles missing memory from last season to the mystery this season, but it just felt forced.\\n\\nAnd speaking of forced, this seasons big bad is also very forced. The payoff for all the angst was so underwhelming it left me scratching my head as to why anyone thought it would be a good idea.\\n\\nNow Im not pointing my finger at any of the actors. They all did a great job with what they were given, and when they had a moment to shine, they took full advantage of it. Praise also much go to new actors Toks Olagundoye and Sunkrish Bala who had the thankless job of stepping into roles in a season that the fans didn't like. I have nothing against them, but the changes they represent to the show on the other hand.\\n\\nLate in the season, word came down that Tamala Jones, the actress who plays medical examiner Lanie Parish, as well as Stana Katic were not going to be back for next season. While some started cries of sexism (and that might be the case, I don't know), I spent all of my time trying to wrap my head around doing this show without Beckett. Oh, I know the show is called Castle. But reference my earlier comments about this being a romantic comedy. If budget constraints were the reason (and thats the reason ABC gave), then you fire the rest of the cast and retool the show to just be about Castle and Beckett.\\n\\nFortunately, ABC came to the right decision and canceled the show at the last possible moment, giving us a chance to see the ending that wrapped things up instead of the cliffhanger. (Two different endings for the season were shot.) However, that ending felt so tacked on and forced that it left me feeling cold. You want a good ending for this series? Look back at the season finale for season 7. That was a great ending to the show, and thats where I intend to stop with Castle. This last season? It was a fevered dream I had about fan fiction featuring the characters and nothing more.\\n\\nFor the record, if you are looking for this set, youll find 22 episodes here in widescreen and full surround sound. In the way of extras, youll find a couple of audio commentaries, deleted scenes, a gag reel, and a featurette showing the cast of the show trying to solve puzzles to get out of an escape room.\\n\\nIf you are a fan of Castle, do yourself a favor and skip season 8. It is a mess that ruins the characters and the legacy of the show. Even this completest collector plans to skip this season with a clear conscious, which tells you just had bad it truly was.\",\n \"Product: Our HankMed team returns for its final season in Royal Pains: Season Eight! While Evan (Paulo Costanzo) and Paige (Brooke D'Orsay) attempt alternative methods to have a baby, Evan juggles HankMed and running the hospital. Meanwhile, Divya (Reshma Shetty) contemplates the best location for med school, as Jeremiah (Ben Shenkman) finds that research success is more complicated than he anticipated. Hank (Mark Feuerstein) begins to examine what more is missing from his life when the team no longer needs his leadership. Enjoy all the final moments of the critically acclaimed series back-to-back and uninterrupted!\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: HankMeds Final House Calls\\n\\nReview: I think everyone knew it was coming. Two years ago, the USA Network renewed Royals Pains for season 7 and 8, but each season would only be eight episodes. While they waited until this spring to officially announce that season 8 would be the final season, I wasn't surprised to hear the announcement. However, the writers and creators took advantage of this news to craft a wonderful final season that will leave all fans thrilled.\\n\\nAs this season opens, its the start of a new summer, and the HankMed gang is getting ready for business as usual. Hank Lawson (Mark Feuerstein) has a new potential girlfriend. His brother Evan (Paulo Costanzo) is still trying to balance the demands of HankMed and his job running the hospital. Meanwhile he and his wife Paige (Brooke DOrsay) are still trying to have a child. Dr. Jeremiah Sacani (Ben Shenkman) is attempting to get back to treating patients after spending most of the year in the lab. And physician assistant Divya Katdare (Reshma Shetty) is anxiously waiting for word on getting into medical school while expecting a child with her new husband Raj (Rupak Ginn).\\n\\nWhile the HankMed gang deals with all this going on in their lives, Hank accompanies Boris (Campbell Scott) on a trip to Hong Kong, Jeremiah treats his favorite author, and we meet a family of kids who need help.\\n\\nBut there is definitely change in the air. First, Hank and Evans father Eddie (Henry Winkler) reappears announcing his upcoming marriage to Ms. Newburg (Christine Ebersole) before he vanishes. Then a surprise reappearance from Jill (Jill Flint) captures Hanks interest again. Are things changing for our characters? Where will everyone end up?\\n\\nYes, there really are only 8 episodes in the season, and they are jam packed full. As always, the emphasis is as much if not more on what is going on with the characters as it is the medical mystery of the week. Oh, we get some new clients and their ailments, but we tune in because of these characters.\\n\\nAnd the final episode nails why. (No, Im not going to spoil anything.) These characters are a family. They have stood by each other through thick and thin, and they truly care for each other. Oh, they may fight and have disagreements (we do need conflict on a TV show after all), but they work things out in the end. I have loved watching their relationships grow and change as the characters grew over these eight seasons. For fans like me, this didn't disappoint.\\n\\nWhich brings us to the final episode. It was perfect! Im actually a little surprised I didn't bawl all the way through it, but there were so many wonderful moments between the characters as everything was wrapped up. And I am absolutely thrilled with how they wrapped things up for the characters.\\n\\nSince the writers were treating it as a final season, they brought in quite a few past characters for cameos. Many of them showed up in the musical episode, which was a lot of fun. And let me just say, the female cast is super talented. The men hold their own when it came to singing, but the ladies shine.\\n\\nOf course, Im going to keep the praise going by talking about the great acting. The stars and the recurring actors nail their parts once again. The guest stars rise to the occasion as well.\\n\\nIf you are a fan of this show, youll be thrilled with how it ended. Buy Royal Pains Season 8 today so you can enjoy it over and over again.\",\n \"Product: In the tradition of VeggieTales. It's just another day at The Daily Bumble. Or is it? Larry the Cucumber, armed with his two-way radio mop, quietly and inconspicuously monitors the pulse of his fair city. But when he receives word that super-villain Awful Alvin has unleashed his latest plague a swarm of angry eyebrows - on the tranquil town of Bumblyburg, our mild-mannered janitor transforms into crime-fighting cucumber crusader, Larryboy! Descending upon any citizen who \\\"lets the sun go down on their anger, \\\"will Larryboy discover the eyebrows' one weakness? Will these hairy hooligans--this litany of lashes--forever plague this otherwise friendly hamlet? Or will the one cucumber capable of wielding a radar-guided spatula restore order and goodness to Bumblyburg once and for all? Find out about the importance of letting go of anger and forgiving others in \\\"Larryboy And The Angry Eyebrows!\\\" Includes the hilarious BONUS short; \\\"Fly By Might!\\\"\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Change Isn't Always Good, But That's Not Something to Get Angry About\\n\\nReview: I hadn't been into VeggieTales too long when they started releasing The Cartoon Adventures of Larry-Boy. I bought the first one and watching it. Honestly, Larry-Boy and the Angry Eyebrows didn't impress me that much, and I never watched the other three entries. I've decided to fix this lack in my VeggieTales experience, so I sat down to watch The Angry Eyebrows again. It's still not that great.\\n\\nLarry-Boy finds regular cast member Larry the Cucumber taking on the part of the title superhero. Larry-Boy is fashioned after Batman, although for this short, he also takes on some characteristics from Superman. He's working at the Bumblyburg newspaper, but he's working as a janitor since that was the only thing he was qualified to do. So, basically poor Larry has three identities in these stories.\\n\\nThe story features the return of Awful Alvin, a villain we've never heard of before. He's determined to exact his revenge of Bumblyburg in particular and Larry-Boy in particular. And how's he going to do that? He's invented eyebrows that attach to anyone who is angry and keep them from ever letting go of their anger. Will his dastardly plan work? Or will Larry-Boy's superhero classes help him defeat this villain?\\n\\nThe first thing to note is that these are traditional, hand-drawn animation and not the computer animated we normally get from Big Idea. That change right there is enough to keep some people away. The voice cast is the same, so once you get used to seeing the characters you know and love with a slightly new look, it's easy to enjoy.\\n\\nHonestly, my biggest problem with this show is that it feels like we are jumping into something in the middle. We have no clue who Awful Alvin is or why he feels a need for revenge. If we did, I have a feeling I would care more about the outcome. I'm sure they were trying to create an arch-nemesis in the great superhero tradition, but the problem is we need some back ground on them before they become an arch-nemesis.\\n\\nFor the first time in Larry-Boy mythology, they've found something for Bob the Tomato to do, he's the editor of the paper. And Junior Asparagus is a reporter. Even though these two characters didn't have much to do, it was fun to see these fan favorites here.\\n\\nThen there's Bok Choy. He's the teacher of the superhero class that Larry-Boy is taking. He's quite obviously supposed to be modeled after Far Eastern gurus. He's also how they work the Bible verse of the story into the episode, although he quotes form the superhero handbook. Honestly, I would have liked him and that scene more if he had actually quoted from the Bible.\\n\\nAnd there's the narrator. He's obviously an attempt to provide a classic comic book feel, but he's more of a distraction than a help in getting the story.\\n\\nThose looking for VeggieTales trademark humor will be satisfied. I loved Larry-Boy's interaction with a fellow superhero and the way he communicates with his butler Alfred while working at the paper. The way he gets rid of the eyebrows is also brilliant.\\n\\nThe main story is 22 minutes long. The rest of the half hour is filled out with \\\"Fly by Might,\\\" a short that finds Larry-Boy battling a fly that just won't leave him alone. It reminds me of a classic Donald Duck short. Even though there is no moral, state or otherwise, it does reinforce the theme.\\n\\nMaybe The Cartoon Adventures of Larry-Boy get better as they go along. The Angry Eyebrows is watchable and has moments of fun. But ultimately it tries too hard and doesn't live up to its full potential.\",\n \"Product: There's trouble in Bumblyburg as Greta Von Gruesome, evil ruler of Zuchinia, terrorizes music fans everywhere by kidnapping the world's greatest yodelers! To unravel this dastardly scheme, Larryboy must disguise himself as \\\"famous\\\" yodeler Noodle Blabberbop and bravely become Greta's next victim! But will our plunger-headed hero's clever plan succeed? Will the yodelers yodel freely again? It's laugh-filled, action-packed fun that teaches kids an important lesson about greed!\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: \\\"I Don't Care How Bad He Is, We Do Not Throw Tomatoes in This Town.\\\"\\n\\nReview: When Big Idea started doing 2D animation of their popular character Larry-Boy, I had a hard time making the transition. Maybe if I'd just gone a little further down the line I would have given the others a better chance. The Yodel Napper was the second in the Cartoon Adventures series, and it is actually surprisingly funny.\\n\\nWhat am I talking about? Big Idea is the company behind VeggieTales. And after two successful videos in their regular line that featured series regular Larry the Cucumber as a Batman inspired superhero, they spun him off into four traditionally animated shorts. I only watched one when they were first released about a decade ago, but I've decided it was time to correct that oversight.\\n\\nThis video finds the town of Bumblyburg excited to be welcoming the world famous yodelers as part of a festival to celebrate this musical style. But just as the first night is kicking off, the yodeler is taken right from the stage.\\n\\nThe next day finds Larry's trusted butler working at the Larry-computer. He discovers that other yodelers have been kidnapped as well. And it appears to be the work of one Greta Von Gruesome, a woman who has decided she won't be happy until she has all the yodelers in the world to sing for her whenever she wants.\\n\\nThere's only one way to stop her. Larry-boy goes undercover as yodeler Noodle Blabberbop in an attempt to be kidnapped himself to rescue the yodelers. Will his plan succeed?\\n\\nThe message about greed and materialism is a bit heavy handed here. Or maybe it just hit a little too close to home since I am a collector, so wanting to get the last part of a collection hit a little too close to home. Okay, obviously Greta's scheme is wrong, but there is a sub-plot with Larry trying to get the newest Hula doll to complete his collection. As I say, maybe it just hit a little too close to home.\\n\\nAnyway, this adventure is very silly. Greta might frighten a few kids, but most will find her over the top antics more funny than frightening. They've got lots of puns and silliness through the whole thing. I especially loved it when Larry was on the stage trying to yodel, the crowd starts to boo, and suddenly Bob the Tomato is thrown at him. Great bit of fun.\\n\\nAs with the first one, they use the superhero class that Larry-Boy is taking to teach the moral part of the lesson. It was funnier this time around, although I still wish they'd actually provide the Biblical reference instead of pretending it is from a superhero handbook.\\n\\nAs with the first one, the 30 minute DVD is rounded out by an 8 minute short. This one is \\\"The Polar Pickle\\\" and finds Larry-boy trying to rescue a child's fish toy that has fallen in the penguin enclosure. I don't see it tying into the theme of greed, but it's pretty funny.\\n\\nOverall, The Yodel Napper is a step up for The Cartoon Adventures of Larry-boy franchise. Maybe I gave up on these too quickly.\",\n \"Product: Crime mavens Awful Alvin, Greta Von Gruesome and Lampy join evil forces to steal a top-secret, over-easy egg raygun, with the plan of turning all of Bumblyburg into over-easy eggs. To make matters worse, Larryboy and fellow superhero, the Dark Crow can't seem to agree to work together. Will Bumblyburg turn into one giant omelet? Or will Larryboy and the Dark Crow learn that when you work together, you can accomplish many things you cannot do alone? Find out in the cartoon adventures of Larryboy, The Good, The Bad and The Eggly.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Not an Eggellent Larry-Boy DVD\\n\\nReview: We've come to the final entry in The Cartoon Adventures of Larry-Boy. The Good, the Bad, and the Eggly ends things on an average note, which isn't that surprising since most of these videos have been average.\\n\\nAs always, this offshoot from VeggieTales is hand drawn and centers around the alter ego of the show's regular host, Larry the Cucumber. In this world, Larry is a rich millionaire who moonlights as Larry-Boy. He always works at the local newspaper, the Daily Bumble, as the janitor to keep a pulse on what is happening so he can stop crime better.\\n\\nTrouble is afoot in the town of Bumblyburg yet again. This time around, Larry-Boy's rivals Greta Von Gruesome and Awful Alvin (and Lampy) have teamed up to steal a ray gun. But it's not just any ray gun. This one turns any inanimate object into over-easy eggs.\\n\\nNaturally, Larry-Boy is on the case. But fellow superhero Dark Crow is also in town, and both of them are trying to capture the villains by themselves. Will that work, or do they need to team up to save the day?\\n\\nObviously, the theme of this one is working together. And I can't complain about the theme at all since teamwork is important in all aspects of life.\\n\\nHowever, once again the video isn't up to Big Ideas standards. Yes, there are some fun jokes. I loved watching Alvin (and Lampy) doing victory dances of evil. Some of the things that got turned into eggs were pretty funny. Heck, the scene where they are trying to explain to Larry-Boy what would and wouldn't turn into eggs was also great.\\n\\nYet I found the story all too predictable. You can pretty much plot the entire story out from the summary I've given you. Normally, a half hour with VeggieTales flies by. Here, it doesn't.\\n\\nThere's the usual 8 minute short on the end to bring the story to a full half hour. This time around, the short actually centers on two minor characters we've only seen from the superhero class before. They proceed to destroy a fair until Larry-Boy shows up and convinces them to work together to restore things. Again, there were some amusing bits, it overall it wasn't that funny.\\n\\nThese might be good for a very young audience, but they don't show the care and creativity that the original VeggieTales series has. Only the most die-hard fan needs to see The Good, the Bad, and the Eggly.\",\n \"Product: VHS Tape of Veggie Tales.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Change Isn't Always Good, But That's Not Something to Get Angry About\\n\\nReview: I hadn't been into VeggieTales too long when they started releasing The Cartoon Adventures of Larry-Boy. I bought the first one and watching it. Honestly, Larry-Boy and the Angry Eyebrows didn't impress me that much, and I never watched the other three entries. I've decided to fix this lack in my VeggieTales experience, so I sat down to watch The Angry Eyebrows again. It's still not that great.\\n\\nLarry-Boy finds regular cast member Larry the Cucumber taking on the part of the title superhero. Larry-Boy is fashioned after Batman, although for this short, he also takes on some characteristics from Superman. He's working at the Bumblyburg newspaper, but he's working as a janitor since that was the only thing he was qualified to do. So, basically poor Larry has three identities in these stories.\\n\\nThe story features the return of Awful Alvin, a villain we've never heard of before. He's determined to exact his revenge of Bumblyburg in particular and Larry-Boy in particular. And how's he going to do that? He's invented eyebrows that attach to anyone who is angry and keep them from ever letting go of their anger. Will his dastardly plan work? Or will Larry-Boy's superhero classes help him defeat this villain?\\n\\nThe first thing to note is that these are traditional, hand-drawn animation and not the computer animated we normally get from Big Idea. That change right there is enough to keep some people away. The voice cast is the same, so once you get used to seeing the characters you know and love with a slightly new look, it's easy to enjoy.\\n\\nHonestly, my biggest problem with this show is that it feels like we are jumping into something in the middle. We have no clue who Awful Alvin is or why he feels a need for revenge. If we did, I have a feeling I would care more about the outcome. I'm sure they were trying to create an arch-nemesis in the great superhero tradition, but the problem is we need some back ground on them before they become an arch-nemesis.\\n\\nFor the first time in Larry-Boy mythology, they've found something for Bob the Tomato to do, he's the editor of the paper. And Junior Asparagus is a reporter. Even though these two characters didn't have much to do, it was fun to see these fan favorites here.\\n\\nThen there's Bok Choy. He's the teacher of the superhero class that Larry-Boy is taking. He's quite obviously supposed to be modeled after Far Eastern gurus. He's also how they work the Bible verse of the story into the episode, although he quotes form the superhero handbook. Honestly, I would have liked him and that scene more if he had actually quoted from the Bible.\\n\\nAnd there's the narrator. He's obviously an attempt to provide a classic comic book feel, but he's more of a distraction than a help in getting the story.\\n\\nThose looking for VeggieTales trademark humor will be satisfied. I loved Larry-Boy's interaction with a fellow superhero and the way he communicates with his butler Alfred while working at the paper. The way he gets rid of the eyebrows is also brilliant.\\n\\nThe main story is 22 minutes long. The rest of the half hour is filled out with \\\"Fly by Might,\\\" a short that finds Larry-Boy battling a fly that just won't leave him alone. It reminds me of a classic Donald Duck short. Even though there is no moral, state or otherwise, it does reinforce the theme.\\n\\nMaybe The Cartoon Adventures of Larry-Boy get better as they go along. The Angry Eyebrows is watchable and has moments of fun. But ultimately it tries too hard and doesn't live up to its full potential.\",\n \"Product: When The Three Pigs roll into town looking to build some new houses, they meet one builder with a plan and two without a clue! Larry builds with hay, Mr. Lunt builds with bricks, but only Bob builds his houses on a firm foundation - following the wise plans from the "Master Builder's Handbook!"Each pig has very particular ideas about what they want for their houses, but will their choices be good ones when the rains come tumblin' down? Find out in this pig's tale that shows kids that when we follow God's blueprints, we can make the right choices! PLUS: Ever wonder what happened before Humpty cracked? Humpty (Bob the Tomato) is the mayor of Gooseville, a quiet little town filled with a bunch of lively characters! From Jack & Jill's missing crayons, to the Three Bears' lawn problems, all the way to Little Bo Peep's lost sheep, Mayor Humpty is literally driven up the wall with this pickled pack of problems! Now far away from the gripes and complaints of his neighbors, Humpty declares "with all these neighbors in need, I'm better helping just me!" Will all the town's heroines and all the town's men help bring Humpty to his senses again?\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: \\\"Larry Liked to Make Up Statistics.\\\" \\\"That's Only 50% True.\\\"\\n\\nReview: Every so often, VeggieTales deviates from its formula. Usually, that means it has no wrap around, but for their latest video, it means there is no one central theme to the stories. Instead, the two segments in The Little House That Stood are themed around a mash up of Mother Goose with Biblical parables.\\n\\nOf course, if you are a fan of these computer animated Vegetables, you know to expect plenty of fun with your Biblical lessons. Thats certainly the case here in both cases. Heck, it starts at the very beginning when we see Larry the Cucumber and Bob the Tomato in some pretty fun costumes and meet Mother Goose (okay, just a normal goose) as our two hosts discuss the two letters from kids they are prepared to satisfy. And in a throw back to the old days, these are actual letters and not a kid on the computer. One letter asks for a parable while the other wants something fun from Mother Goose. And its Larry who comes up with the perfect solution.\\n\\nThe first segment is the title one. In The Little House that Stood, we meet three builders in the town of Cabbageville. Larry builds with straw, Mr. Lunt with brick, and Bob with sticks. But Bob also picks his location carefully and follows the master builder blue print, including creating a firm foundation.\\n\\nJust as three pigs move to town, there is a contest for new builder, with our three main characters hoping to win Builder of the Year. Oh yeah, and a storm comes, flooding Wolf Creek and putting pressure on Huff n Puff Dam. Im sure you can see where this one is going.\\n\\nOur second story is The Good Egg of Gooseville and finds Bob the one in need of a lesson. Hes playing mayor Humpty Dumpty and is completely stressed out by the amount of work he has to do keeping peace in the village. One Jack is practicing his candle jumping while Little Miss Muffet is finding a thorn in her tuffet and Little Bo Peeps sheep are running around town again. The other Jack and Jill are constantly looking for something in the well. Meanwhile, Mama Bear is upset because she lives next to the Old Woman who Lived in a Shoe, and she doesnt like having all those kids around. Think of what they are doing to property values. The pressure is making Humpty/Bob start to crack, so he goes on a vacation on the top of the wall. What will happen next?\\n\\nAnd yes, between these two stories we get a brand new silly song. Happy Tooth Day finds Larry celebrating the day he got his tooth. And he has a special gift for his tooth. The results? Pretty funny when Bob is around.\\n\\nAll told, this is another fun video. Both mash ups actually work, and the clever way they did it, especially in the first one, will entertain adults even if their kids don't get all the jokes. There are several references adults will get and should really make them laugh. I will admit, I didn't catch the parable they were retelling in the second story (Good Samaritan) until the wrap up, but I certainly caught the lesson.\\n\\nAnd that is my only complaint about the video. I like it when they have one coherent lesson they are teaching. Here, even the verse that Qwerty spits out at the end is actually the references for both parables. But then again, it provides the opportunity for parents to read the original parable with their kids. Really, its a minor issue overall. I mean, weve got a fun 45 minutes that does teach Bible lessons in creative ways. What else do you really want?\\n\\nAs always, the voice talent is great. Original creators Mike Nawrocki and Phil Vischer provide many of the voices, and they are fun. Theyve expanded the cast quite a bit here, and all the voices match the new characters.\\n\\nThe animation is a good as well. Its not the big budget quality wed see from Pixar or Dreamworks, but it tells the story well and never gets in the way.\\n\\nSo, ultimately, its another fun lesson or two in The Little House That Stood. If youve got kids (or are young at heart yourself), this is a must get VeggieTales.\",\n \"Product: Come on down to the Bar None Ranch for more fun on the range! All 13 episodes of Season 4! Benjamin Ernst (David Brisbin) rounds up his crew for another season of hay, horses and hilarity down at the Bar None Ranch! Season Four episode highlights include Mr. Ernst becoming Sheriff, Danny getting a job as a cartoonist for the local paper, Brad and Kyle finding themselves stranded in the desert and Ted escaping summer school to return to the ranch! This series of fun-filled adventures stars Christine Taylor as lifeguard Melody, David Lascher as senior staff member Ted, Kelly Brown as horse trainer Brad, Joe Torres as Hopi Indian native Danny, Debra Kalman as ranch hand Lucy, Josh Tygiel as Ernst's son, Buddy, Jonathan Galkin as Ernst's nephew, Jake, and Geoffrey Coy as the amiable cowboy Kyle. Hey Dude ran on Nickelodeon from 19891991 and has since become a cult sitcom favorite. So wrangle up your pardners and get on down to the Bar None Ranch for another season of hilarious fun!\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: More Fun on the Bar None\\n\\nReview: The last season of Nickelodeons comedy Hey Dude! included some cast changes as one of the cast members left and two more were written in to take his place. While I never quite warm to the new characters the way I do the original, I was surprised to find just how fun season 4 is.\\n\\nThe action takes place on the Bar None, a dude ranch in Arizona. The ranch is owned by Benjamin Ernst, aka Mr. E. (David Brisbin). The only other regular adult on the show is Lucy (Debrah Kalman) who is in charge of the stables. The rest of the cast are the teenagers who are on staff. Theres Danny the Native American (Joe Torres), Jake who just happens to be Mr. Es nephew (Jonathan Galkin), Kyle (Geoffrey Coy), Brad who is an expert at horses (Kelly Brown), and Melody the lifeguard (Christine Taylor). Rounding out the cast is Buddy (Josh Tygiel), Mr. Es son who is just a little younger than the rest of the cast but is treated as an equal most of the time.\\n\\nSo what is the cast up to in these thirteen episodes? Brad finds her heart softening when she visits a neighboring ranch that caters to those with disabilities. Kyle and Brad lead some young kids into the desert for an over night but wind up lost instead Danny creates a comic strip based on life at the Bar None, and his friends don't take kindly to their characters. We meet another neighboring ranch on a couple of different occasions when the Vlecks come to stay with disastrous results. And Jake and Buddy try to track down the monster in the lake on the ranch.\\n\\nThen theres Ted (David Lascher). He was written out in the middle of the last season when the actor got a part on a different show. But the show was canceled so he winds up back for three of these episodes. Of these, the best is easily the season finale with finds Ted and Melody returning from the local infirmary to find everyone on the ranch plotting to kill Mr. E. What they don't realize is it is part of a dinner theater. The results are hilarious.\\n\\nAnd, frankly, fun is the name of the game here. The multi-camera no laugh track format predates the popular sitcoms of today. The antics of the characters are always funny, and I cant help but smile if not laugh the entire time Im watching. There is plenty of slapstick humor as well as witty lines as the characters tease each other.\\n\\nAll of this is served with a healthy dose of cheese. These episodes premiered in 1990, but the late 80s influence is still strong. Youve got to be in the right mood to enjoy the episodes, but if you are, youll enjoy them.\\n\\nThat also applies to the acting. Its a bit over the top and broad, but somehow it fits the show and audience perfectly. I really cant imagine this show acted in a more serious way and working as well.\\n\\nMr. E. has always been a bit of a goofy character. If it weren't for Lucy (who is only in about half the episodes), there would be no serious adult role models. And yet, I found myself impressed here with several times where they went out of their way to show us that Mr. E. isn't quite as stupid as he always appears. Hes still a goof most of the time, but it may be more for show than anything else.\\n\\nThe seasons of this show were super short, so the set consists of thirteen half hour episodes spread out over two discs. The picture quality and sound are fine. Yes, it could be sharper and clearer, but it works to give us the show. Only die hard home theater people will be complaining. Like the last couple of seasons, there are no extras here.\\n\\nThis show is definitely an acquired taste, but I was just at the age to fall in love with it the few times I watched it with friends as a kid. So I was very happy to travel back to the Bar None with Hey Dude - Season 4.\",\n \"Product: Start Your Horse And Come Along For The Fifth And Final Season Of Heeeey Duuuuude! Saddle up with Benjamin Ernst (David Brisbin) and his fun-loving crew for one last season of laughs, adventures, and life lessons down the The Bar None Ranch! The Final Season starts at full-gallop when Melody becomes obsessed with a beauty contest, Ted mysteriously begins shrinking, Kyle and Ted get lost in the desert and Jake gets threatened by a wild guest! Hey Dude stars Christine Taylor as lifeguard Melody, David Lascher as senior staff member Ted, Kelly Brown as horse trainer Brad, Joe Torres as Hopi Indian native Danny, Debra Kalman as ranch hand Lucy, Josh Tygiel as Ernst's son, Buddy, Jonathan Galkin as Ernst's nephew, Jake, and Geoffrey Coy as the amiable cowboy Kyle Hey Dude ran on Nickelodeon from 1989-1991 and has since become a cult sitcom favorite. Yippie-kay-ay-ay for Hey Dude: The Final Season\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: \\\"Are You Going to Help Me, or Are You Going to Drive Me Crazy?\\\" \\\"I Hate Multiple Choice.\\\"\\n\\nReview: Weve reached the final season of Hey Dude, the Nickelodeon comedy from 1989-1991 that centered on the teenage staff of a dude ranch over the course of a summer. This is also the only season to include all the characters in the opening credits. And while there are still plenty of laughs, the poor episodes are weaker this time around.\\n\\nI must admit that not many of these shows were familiar to me, which was a bit of a surprise. True, I was never a faithful watcher of the show, but I did catch quite a few reruns when it was airing on Nickelodeon. All that meant was I got to enjoy some laughs for the first time.\\n\\nAnd the characters are still fun. Theres senior staff Ted (David Lascher), lifeguard Melody (Christine Taylor), riding instructor Brad (Kelly Brown), and ranch hands Danny (Joe Torres), Jake (Jonathan Galkin), and Kyle (Geoffrey Coy). Rounding out the cast are ranch owner Benjamin Ernst (David Brisbin), his son Buddy (Josh Tygiel), and Lucy (Debrah Kalman), the adult in charge of the horses.\\n\\nSo what actually happens in these thirteen episodes? The highlights include the teens inventing a new staff member named Jed and then having to keep the illusion going. After one practical joke too many, the rest of the group decides to convince Ted that hes shrinking. A double date goes very wrong for four of the members of the gang. When Brads father loses his job, she suddenly has to live on what she makes at the Bar None. And in the series finale, the old staff and the new staff square off in a game of capture the flag to determine who gets to be senior staff next summer.\\n\\nOn the other hand, there are some episodes where the show just doesnt work so well. Mr. E. getting amnesia was one of those. It was almost funny, but it was more painful than funny. But the worst episode involved a mother leaving one of her twins behind at the ranch because she is so forgetful. Yes, the characters interacting with the baby was fun, but I never could get past the premise.\\n\\nThe show is definitely a product of the late 80s and early 90s. A couple of the guys sport mullets. Their clothes scream the time period. And one episode finds Ted trying to earn extra money so he can buy a tricked out tape and CD player. I just had to laugh at that one, although the episode was good.\\n\\nNow if Im being honest, Ill freely admit that none of these episodes break any new ground. Even though I hadnt seen them before, I could predict what was going to happen early on. Its a sitcom, unexpected plot twists just aren't the genres specialty.\\n\\nLikewise, the acting is still bad. The main casts acting works, although it is a bit over the top. But the guest stars can really be bad. This is especially true in an episode that finds Jake having to fight a bully. Wow was there some overacting there.\\n\\nBut if you grew up with the show, none of that will matter. These characters are old friends, and I enjoyed getting to visit with them again. This is a single camera comedy, which means no laugh track, but I still found myself laughing at their antics. Its still entertaining, and thats all that matters.\\n\\nThose who have bought the previous sets will know what to expect here. Weve got 13 episodes on two discs, just like always. And just like always, the shows are in full frame, stereo, with no extras. But if you want to watch this show again, youll snap it up.\\n\\nAnd if you have fond memories of the show, youll enjoy catching the final adventures of the Bar None gang. While there are a few clunkers, there is still fun to be had in Hey Dude Season Five.\",\n \"Product: Quick Shipping !!! New And Sealed !!! This Disc WILL NOT play on standard US DVD player. A multi-region PAL/NTSC DVD player is request to view it in USA/Canada. Please Review Description.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Extreme Treks through Some Beautiful and Dangerous Country\\n\\nReview: I don't normally go for travel logs or documentaries, so I was hesitant when I was offered a copy of Extreme Treks: Sacred Mountains of China for review. Yet something about it appealed to me, so I decided to give it a try and I really enjoyed it.\\n\\nThis was also my introduction to Ryan Pyle, a photographer, our host, and the adventurer who sets out to travel around four of the sacred mountains in China. These are remote, mostly in the Tibet region, and the only way to do so it to hike them. Oh, and did I mention the altitude? This is not a simple day stroll but a multi-day adventure that could turn deadly if proper precautions aren't taken.\\n\\nThe disc consists of four episodes, each dedicated to a different mountain. The format is pretty much the same. He arrives and spends a little time acclimating to the altitude and explaining to us a bit about how this mountain is considered sacred. Then he sets out with his support crew, and we get breathtaking shots along the way as he encounters obstacles ranging from weather to exhaustion and hints of altitude sickness.\\n\\nAs I was watching, all I could think was Id never survive this. What he went through in his treks is awe inspiring. But Im glad he did because the shots are absolutely beautiful, and I doubt Id ever learn about this region any other way.\\n\\nBecause these are roughly 45 minute made for TV episodes (and I don't know where they initially aired), we get just an overview of what he saw and experienced over the multiple days he spent filming and hiking. Honestly, at times, I felt like I could have watched more just to see the landscape.\\n\\nAt other times, however, I felt like things were a little repetitive, maybe because I watched them several nights in a row. If I had spaced them out, I don't think I would have felt this way.\\n\\nWhile Ryan did travel with a support crew made up of locals, this is definitely his show. Almost all the dialogue is him telling us about what has happened, either in voiceover or directly into the camera from the trail.\\n\\nThis Blu-Ray consists of four episodes of the show, so roughly 3 hours of material. There are no bonus features. However, you do get the shots in glorious HD, which helps you feel like you are right there. The sound is in stereo, and it is great as well.\\n\\nA quick note (that is also included on the disc packaging) that there are a couple of uses of unbleeped language on the shows. He also strips down to take a dip in a creek at one point. Keep that in mind if you are thinking of watching with your kids.\\n\\nRyans passion for China comes through on this disc, and I certainly learned about these mountains and the culture surrounding them while I was watching. It was well worth taking these vicarious Extreme Treks.\\n\\nNOTE: I was sent a copy of this Blu-Ray in exchange for my honest review.\",\n \"Product: Each new generation of kids loves Boris Karloff's devilishly delightful telling of the Dr. Seuss classic-and each new generation of parents is more than happy to enjoy it with them! Here's the soundtrack to the 1966 animated classic: Karloff's narration plus You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch and the other Grinch songs.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: I Think Even the Grinch Would Like This Disc\\n\\nReview: I've been a fan of the TV show for years, but didn't even know this disc existed until last year. I immediately bought it, and I love it.\\n\\nIt claims to be the soundtrack for the 1966 TV special of Dr. Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas. I see some reviewers say it is different. I've only noticed one difference. Whether it is note for note exactly the same or not doesn't matter to me. It's still a great disc.\\n\\nIt only has 5 tracks. The first is Boris Karloff reading the story. It sounds remarkably like the TV special. It even has the songs edited into the story. The only change I noticed is here. Boris does all the narration, including Cindy Lou Who.\\n\\nThe other four tracks are the songs from the special by themselves. \\\"Welcome Christmas\\\" gets two tracks, with the second being a longer reprise. That track has additional words and an instrumental bridge. \\\"Trim Up the Tree\\\" is just as nonsensical as in the special.\\n\\nWhich brings us to \\\"You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch.\\\" I love this song in the special, and it is preserved exactly as it is here, including Thurl Ravenscroft wonderful voice. It's one of my favorite parts of the special, and I love having it here. I'll confess, I often listen to it two or three times in a row.\\n\\nSo if you are a fan of the TV show and love the songs, you'll be glad you got this CD.\",\n \"Product: 17 songs\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: A Classic Best Of\\n\\nReview: It's hard to believe that this CD came out after only a decade in Christian music. It's impressive for what is included, as well as all the stuff that could not fit.\\nThe CD starts with two new tracks, included to entice the fans to buy this project. \\\"Stay for Awhile\\\" has become a classic in its own right with its themes of old friends reunited. \\\"Love Can Do\\\" focuses on the commitment love requires and the pain and joy it can bring.\\nThe rest of the songs are not to be missed standouts from her early career. Every song was popular in its day and has a fond place in my heart from the years of listening to them. \\\"Age to Age,\\\" her best selling album at that time, has an impressive four songs on the list, all well deserved. Even with other versions, these recordings of \\\"Sing Your Praise to the Lord\\\" and \\\"El Shaddai\\\" will remain the definite recordings.\\nI'm a little surprised that \\\"Emmanuel\\\" was included from her first Christmas album, but it seems to fits right in. Also surprising is the lack of a full song from her debut CD. While included in the fun \\\"Ageless Medley,\\\" seems like \\\"Old Man's Rubble\\\" deserved a spot of its own. Or \\\"Beautiful Music\\\" or \\\"Mountain Top\\\" could have been included. And, as always with a collection, I've got favorites I miss from these projects that would never have been able to fit because of length requirements.\\nWhile some of these songs seem a bit dated, they are still important milestones in a mega career and CCM in general. My only real complaint? Every time I dig this CD out, I have to listen to all the CD's represented here in rapid succession. Not that I really mind too much.\",\n \"Product: Original Issue 1994 ----------------- 10 TRACKS: 1- They Say It's Wonderful (2:21) 2- If I Could Be With You One Hour Tonight (2:23) 3- Angry (1:40) 4- Down By The Old Mill Stream (3:09) 5- Why Do I Love You (2:48) 6- Down Among The Sheltering Palms (1:37) 7- As Time Goes By (3:16) 8- Fit As A Fiddle (1:52) 9- I Believe (2:17) 10- Your Eyes Have Told Me So (2:22)\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Great Collection of Two Giants in the Genre\\n\\nReview: I recently discovered how much I liked barbershop music and decided to add some barbershop CD to my collection. One of the first names I had recommended to me was the Buffalo Bills. So I got this CD featuring them and The Chordettes.\\nFrom what I know of barbershop, this contains several standards of the genre. Unfortunately, I didn't like the version of \\\"Down by the Old Mill Stream\\\" presented here.\\nThe other tracks are wonderful, however ranging from the upbeat \\\"Angry\\\" to the slower \\\"I Believe.\\\" The Buffalo Bills are joined by instruments on \\\"If I could be with You One Hour Tonight\\\" and \\\"Fit as a Fiddle.\\\" And I love their rendition of \\\"As Time Goes By.\\\"\\nThe other drawback to this CD is that it's only 24 minutes long. As a result, it's quite easy to wear it out after a few listens. Still, it was money well spent and a good introduction to two giants in the barbershop genre from days gone by.\",\n \"Product: 4 Him ~ Best Ones\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Definitely Not One Hit Wonders\\n\\nReview: 4 Him exploded on the Christian music scene in 1990 and continued to be at the top of the charts for the next decade. This CD collects 14 of their #1 songs in one place for easy access. It offers a mix of songs from all 6 projects released before this came out.\\nEven the casual listener to Christian radio during the 90's will recognize some of the classics collected here. \\\"Basics of Life,\\\" \\\"Where There is Faith,\\\" \\\"Why?,\\\" and \\\"For Future Generations\\\" are just some highlights of this CD stuffed full of great songs that will be familiar to everyone.\\nLike any best of project, loyal fans (like me) will have some argument with the song selection. My biggest complaint here is that the song selection leans toward the newer recordings, with 9 of the 14 from their last three CD's. This leaves little room for their early hits. \\\"Basics of Life\\\" is only represented by the title song, but there were lots of great songs on it. And how could they leave out \\\"Man You Would Write About\\\" from their second CD? Still, I do find myself listening to this CD more then enough times to justify the money I spent on it.\\n4 Him's balance of solid lyrics with great harmony earned them a legion of well deserved fans. Anyone interested in their music will love this CD, a collection of one of Christian music's classic acts.\",\n \"Product: Here's the acclaimed original 1967 off-Broadway cast recording starring Gary Burghoff and Bob Balaban-plus a bonus 1966 demo, the very recording that composer Clark Gesner sent to Charles Schulz to obtain permission to create the show!\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: A Song in the Life of Peanuts\\n\\nReview: I must admit I haven't listened to this CD quite often enough. When I'm in the mood for these songs, I tend to listen to the 1999 Revival Cast since it has some great songs on it that this one doesn't. However, that's a mistake. This one has its own fun charm.\\n\\nThis disc is a 2000 release of a recording from 1967. Frankly, the recording is rather simple. The main instrument is the piano. However, it sounds like there is more thanks to the wide range of percussion used. Heck, I love how they make the opening notes sound like a kid's piano.\\n\\nThe songs are absolutely wonderful. The encouraging anthem \\\"You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown\\\" always gets me in the mood for what is to come. I love Lucy singing counterpoint to Moonlight Sonata in \\\"Schroeder.\\\" The various ways the characters tackle \\\"The Book Report\\\" are hilarious. And I can't leave out Charlie Brown's attempts to fly a \\\"Kite.\\\" Being used to the new arrangements, I was surprised by the tempo changes in \\\"T-E-A-M,\\\" but I really like the contrast. Try as I might, however, I still can't get into \\\"My Blanket and Me.\\\"\\n\\nWhat struck me the most, however, are the tracks exclusive to this disc. Granted, I'd be hard pressed to call any of them songs. They are more dialogue with music in the background. But I love them. We get to listen to Snoopy fight off \\\"The Red Baron.\\\" \\\"Queen Lucy\\\" isn't happy when Linus points out it is an inherited title. \\\"Peanuts Potpourri\\\" is mainly given over to Snoopy, but it will still make you laugh.\\n\\nThen there are the bonus tracks. Four of the songs are presented in their original demo with composer Chuck Gesner and Barbara Minkus providing the vocals. Frankly, the only real change is a final joke from Lucy on \\\"Kite.\\\"\\n\\nMy only true complaint with this disc is the background noise. There is a noticeable hiss on all the tracks, almost like the noise an old tape machine would make.\\n\\nOverall, this is a good recording of fun songs. While it won't replace my Revival Cast disc, I do see a need to pull this one out more often.\",\n \"Product: Candle in the Rain [Audio CD] Meece, David\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Not His Best Work By Far\\n\\nReview: I've been a fan of David Meece's work for years. I even tracked down his old 70's records so I could have a complete set. Yet this CD is not my favorite of his works by far and seldom gets listened to.\\nThe problem seems to be that it differs too much in style from his other stuff. It was originally released in 1987 and musically, it shows. Also, David wrote fewer songs on this CD then any of his others. \\\"Nothing to Forgive\\\" and \\\"The Water is Fine\\\" are much weaker then normal for him as a result. I do still enjoy \\\"All is God's Creation,\\\" and the CD gets strong once you reach the songs he wrote himself. \\\"His Love Was Reaching\\\" is a powerful ballad that deserved more recognition then it gets and is followed by the fun \\\"Amor Conquesta Todo.\\\"\\nLong time fans will want to get this CD to complete their collection. There are several songs that definitely make it worth the effort. If you're new to David's wonderful music, start with his much stronger CD's \\\"Learning to Trust\\\" or \\\"Once in a Lifetime\\\" or either of his best of collections. And there's always \\\"There I Go Again,\\\" his new release that it actually in print.\",\n \"Product: Dove Award Winners\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Sophomore Slumps Are Hard to Avoid. Just Ask Selah\\n\\nReview: This year, I have delved into the world of Selah. Don't ask me why I didn't get into this Christian group sooner, but I am making up for lost time. Recently, I've been listening to their sophomore release, Press On. While it has some good moments, it's not as strong as the other I've heard.\\n\\nAt this point, the trio was still made up of brother and sister Todd and Nichol and their friend Allan. Todd and Nichol usually take on the singing, leaving Allan to play piano. That's not always the case, however.\\n\\nFor example, the disc opens with all three of them singing \\\"Oh Draw Me, Lord.\\\" It's a very simple chorus, but the arrangement is haunting with Allan's piano playing and strings in the background.\\n\\nFrom there, they go into one of the many classic hymns on the disc. Nichol and Todd are the only vocalists on \\\"There is a Fountain.\\\" Once again, Allan plays piano, and the strings are more pronounced here. I love this hymn, and their arrangement is outstanding. The same can really be said for the modern praise song \\\"Wonderful Merciful Savior.\\\"\\n\\nAllan takes the stage completely for \\\"In My Life/If We Never Meet Again.\\\" The only thing he doesn't do is the cello. The piano and both main and background vocals are all his, showing just how talented he really is. This medley focuses on the power of friends in our lives and the joy of knowing that we will see them again in Heaven even if we are separated here on earth.\\n\\nI got a kick out of seeing \\\"Hold On\\\" here. Turns out Nichol and Todd are also fans of the old Christian artist Evie, and this is a cover of her song. They give it a slight gospel flavor that adds some fun to this song of encouragement. The gospel arrangement is even more pronounced on their version of the classic hymn \\\"Amazing Grace.\\\" And you can't help but tapping your toes along with \\\"Deep Way Down.\\\"\\n\\nBut not everything is good here. One misstep in my eyes is the inclusion of the hymn \\\"Were You There.\\\" This is just a personal thing since I really don't like the hymn. I guess I'm just too literal, so the answer to the question the hymns as (\\\"Were you there when they crucified my Lord\\\") is a resounding \\\"NO!\\\" Having said that, if you like the hymn, you'll love this arrangement. It's beautiful to listen to with a dramatic build toward the last verse.\\n\\nThen there's \\\"How Great Thou Art.\\\" Occasionally, they like to sing in Kituba, the native language for the part of Africa where Todd and Nichol grew up as missionary kids. In fact, they have a very fun praise chorus here in \\\"Yesu Azali Awa,\\\" complete with heavy percussion that makes you feel like you are part of a village praise service. But I digress. For their arrangement of the classic hymn, they do the first verse of \\\"How Great Thou Art,\\\" but then they do a second version in Kituba. I wish they'd included more in English because I love this hymn so much. The arrangement itself is good, so I can't really complain. It just seems like a bit of a strange choice.\\n\\nLikewise, I like \\\"Timeless,\\\" an original song presented here, but they have done better original songs. Still, I do like the idea that God will always be there for us no matter how life changes.\\n\\nThe disc closes out with the title track. I was familiar with \\\"Press On\\\" thanks to my church choir doing the song numerous times over the years. This is a quieter reflective version, but it does build toward the anthem I'm used to hearing. Again, the use of strings is really beautiful.\\n\\nSo Press On isn't all bad, but some choices do weaken it. If, like me, you are just now building a Selah library, I'd recommend starting with some of their other releases and filling in with this one last.\",\n \"Product: Ori. Release '02 Thirtennth album form the CCM Singersonwriter who worked with Gino Vanelli in the early 90s.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Here He Comes Again\\n\\nReview: After a much too long absence from the Christian Music scene, David Meece has finally put out a new CD. Fans will be thrilled, and it just might win over a new fan or two.\\nThe years have not dulled David's pen in the least. These songs are filled with honest lyrics, just like always. The prevailing theme seems to be the need to depend on God, as expressed in such songs as \\\"No Other Hope,\\\" \\\"I Just Want to be with You,\\\" \\\"Run,\\\" \\\"By the Water,\\\" and \\\"Help Me Stand.\\\" Yet, he also touches on God's promise to be there for us (\\\"I'll be Waiting for You.\\\"), struggles with sin (\\\"There I Go Again\\\"), and being thankful for God's sovereignty (\\\"Things You Never Gave Me\\\"). Musically, the songs range from fun, retro-80's sounding rock to modern Adult contemporary and ballads. The one thing I missed was David's outstanding piano playing. It's there on a few songs, most notable \\\"By the Waters,\\\" but it should have been featured more then it was.\\nDavid Meece has proven he still has something to say. He's as powerful and entertaining as ever. Hopefully, the wait until his next CD won't be nearly this long, even if it was worth it in the end.\",\n \"Product: CD\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Twila Still Writes Great Worship Music\\n\\nReview: With all the artists releasing CD's devoted to worship music, it only makes sense that Twila Paris would release one of her own. Ever since her first CD came out over 20 years ago, she's has been known for her worshipful lyrics and has contributed a number of songs to modern hymn books and worship services.\\nIn fact, two of the twelve new songs featured here are new recording of her classics \\\"We Bow Down\\\" and \\\"We Will Glorify.\\\" The other 10 songs are all new and all penned by this master songwriter. This CD probably represents the greatest range of topics for a worship CD. There are songs that focus on who God is (\\\"God of All,\\\" \\\"For Eternity,\\\" \\\"Glory and Honor,\\\") but also songs that are prayers to live as God would have us live (\\\"Come Emmanuel,\\\" \\\"Fill My Heart,\\\" \\\"Make Us One\\\") and reminders that we as Christians live new lives (\\\"Not My Own\\\" and \\\"Christ in Us.\\\")\\nMy only complaint about this project will be nothing new to Twila's fans (and I consider myself one.) Her worship songs have always had a lot of repetition to them. Before, it hasn't been as noticeable because they've been mixed in with regular songs. Here, it's much more obvious and begins to wear on my before it's all over. Still, there are some great songs that I'm sure will become church standards in the near future.\",\n \"Product: ncludes DVD with video clips of studio sessions and live performances.Personnel includes: Rich Mullins, Steve Cudworth (vocals, guitar).Rich Mullins had ascended to one of the most respected planes in the Contempory Christian world before his death in a 1997 Illinois car accident. Six years later, HERE IN AMERICA collects some unrecorded material, some live tracks and throws in a DVD of live footage. Mullins's music owes much to '70s pop, equal parts Cat Stevens, Billy Joel, Todd Rundgren, Bruce Springsteen and Kenny Loggins, accentuated by lyrics both intricate and startlingly simple, sometimes incisive and often possessed of a rapier wit often absent in the genre.It is particularly in the live tracks where one is treated to a truly engaging personality. Mullins's self-deprecating, genial, and often cutting humor is particularly present on his most famous composition \\\"Awesome God,\\\" as he gently teaches the song to a gathered group, gently encouraging while intermittently quipping \\\"either pray that God gives you extra breath or helps you to quit smoking to get through this verse.\\\" Mullins's wide-eyed passion is both simple and earnest and glows endearingly through his intelligent songs. HERE IN AMERICA offers a nice introduction to the late Christian singer.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: A Must for Rich's Fans\\n\\nReview: This CD/DVD set is a collection of rare, mostly live, moments from Rich Mullins that any of his fans will be thrilled to have.\\nThe first disc is a CD that collects many fun moments from his concerts. Most of the recordings are from 1987 and include Rich introducing some of his early hits. One of the highlights is listening to Rich teach an audience to sing \\\"Awesome God.\\\" The biggest disappointment here is that he doesn't actually sing it. Other highlights include \\\"Verge of a Miracle\\\" and \\\"Be With You.\\\" Also included are some demos of songs that were never released as well as the title song.\\nThe second disc is a DVD and is broken into two parts. The first is an hour long concert that Rich gave in March of 1997 that features many of the songs he was famous for. While its lots of fun watching him and the Ragamuffins perform, I really wish they hadn't cut away so much during \\\"Screen Door.\\\" Unfortunately, Rich doesn't talk nearly as much as I'd hoped in this section. The second part features comments on various subjects from a series of Q&A times in 1993. There's some interesting stuff here that will make you stop and think. Plus you get to see a few shots of Beaker.\\nThe biggest drawback to this collection is that it doesn't hold up to repeat listening/viewing. You can only hear these stories so many times before you're ready to move on. This will never replace my other CD's, but it does help provide a bigger picture of Rich.\\nFans will enjoy this CD for a chance to see the man behind their favorite songs, even if it doesn't get the play his other CD's do. If you're just discovering Rich's music, I suggest you start with SONGS. Once you've discovered his music, you'll get so much more out of this set.\",\n \"Product: Sophomore album from one of Canada's finest Christian rock bands on Curb Records. 2003.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Not Up to Their Debut\\n\\nReview: After hearing people rave about their debut, I went out and got downhere's debut CD. My first listen through it, I enjoyed it, and it still continued to grow on me. If I could write my review of it over again, I'd give it the full 5 stars.\\nNaturally, when this CD came out, I rushed out to buy it. Boy was I disappointed right off the bat. Not only had they changed their style to sound (For the worse, in my opinion. They've lost what made them special.), but the lyrics just didn't grab me as their last CD had done. Over the last few months, I've pulled this CD out to see if I feel differently about it.\\nFortunately, I've stuck it out, because the CD has grown on me. While sounding more like many other light rock bands now instead of sounding unique, the words have grown on me. There's some good stuff in there, it's just a bit more buried. My favorites are still the ones I gravitated to first, \\\"What it's Like\\\" and \\\"Starspin.\\\" I especially love the rocks cry out feel of that song since it fits with the words so well. Like their previous effort, this one includes a hidden track that is my ultimate favorite from the disc. They've got a great challenge for Christians in \\\"How They Love Each Other,\\\" and I've also grown to like \\\"Feels like Winter\\\" and \\\"Last Night's Daydream.\\\"\\nObviously, I'm one of the few fans who felt this way about the disc initially. All I can say is, if you liked their first one, give this one time. I'm glad I did.\",\n \"Product: Across The Sky ~ Across The Sky\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: New Artists to Watch\\n\\nReview: This is duo Across the Sky's first project, and it's fun. Their music is a cross between pop and rock, making for a fun, easy to listen to sound. Their songs talk about such things as how God searches and finds us (\\\"Found by You,\\\" \\\"Shooting Star,\\\" and \\\"Persistence\\\") God working in life (\\\"Exciting Times\\\"), and living the Christian life as a result (\\\"Give it All Away\\\" and my favorite from the CD \\\"Not so You Will Love Me\\\"). They even throw in a couple love songs like \\\"Everywhere She Goes,\\\" \\\"First Love Song,\\\" and a cover of Michael W. Smith's \\\"Do You Dream of Me?\\\"\\nThe lyrics are good but do tend a little toward the light side of things, but the music is fun and makes up for this lack. This album continues to grow on me. With the artists writing or co-writing many of the songs here, I look forward to watching their talent grow on future CD's.\",\n \"Product: This alternative pop rock gathering stars the awes ome sounds of Simple Plan's remake of the Turtles \\\"Happy Together,\\\" Bowling for Soup genius renditio n of Britney Spears \\\"Hit Me Baby One More Time\\\" and the classic \\\"What a Wonderful World \\\" performe d by Joey Ramone.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Not My Normal Sound, But I Love It\\n\\nReview: When I went to see this movie in the theater, I loved every second of it. And part of the fun was the soundtrack. As I left the theater, I decided that I might have to bend my policy about buying soundtracks to get this. I thought about it for months, and finally picked it up today on my lunch hour. Am I ever glad I did!\\nThe CD opens with Lindsay Lohan's song from the closing credits, \\\"Ultimate.\\\" She has so much talent. Is there anything she can't do? (Possible celebrity crush? Except for the age difference, you bet!) The CD continues with one fun upbeat song after another, from covers of \\\"Happy Together\\\" and \\\"What a Wonderful World\\\" to such songs as \\\"Me Vs. the World,\\\" \\\"I Wonder,\\\" and \\\"...Baby One More Time.\\\" I was especially happy to get \\\"What I Like About You\\\" since I've fallen in love with it on the sit-com of the same name.\\nI've been tapping along with the music all afternoon around my office. I can tell this is going to be a dangerous CD to have as I'll probably catch myself singing some of these at inopportune moments in public. But it's such fun it's well worth the risk. I may not normally choose a CD like this, but it will be nice for a change of pace.\",\n \"Product: The artist's first album since 'This Is Your Time', perfectly blends the pop music for which he is so well known with the worship music endearing him to over one million new listeners in recent years.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Praise focused Pop Release\\n\\nReview: With two hugely successful praise CD's under his belt, Michael W. Smith decided to return to his pop roots for this CD. The result is still influenced by praise music.\\n\\nMichael's career has been known for praise music from the very beginning. His first CD (PROJECT) produced the modern classic \\\"Great Are You, Lord.\\\" He's also written praise-focused songs for Sandi Patty and Scott Wesley Brown among others. Here, he's got several more to add to the fold, including the title song. Not only can I see this song of renewal being sung in churches in the near future, but also the first track, \\\"Here I Am,\\\" is a ready-made praise chorus about surrender. And while \\\"All I Want\\\" might not fit as easily into some churches, it falls into this category as well.\\n\\nNot all the songs are new praise choruses, however. \\\"Hang On\\\" is a fun song of encouragement. \\\"Live Forever\\\" is another on a common theme for him, death of a loved one who is in Heaven. \\\"We Can't Wait Any Longer\\\" is reminiscent of many songs recorded over the years as a reminder of the needs around the world. Also included is a cover of the ballad \\\"Bridge Over Troubled Water,\\\" the only song on here not co-written by Michael.\\n\\nOver all, this CD seems to be missing something. I don't see it having any of the big hits from some of his other CD's. Maybe it's because there isn't a good mix of upbeat and slower songs. It has grown on me, and I like it better then THIS IS YOUR TIME. Still, not his best release.\",\n \"Product: Steven Curtis Chapman ~ All Things New\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Some Things New, Same Great Artist\\n\\nReview: I've been a Steven Curtis Chapman fan since I first discovered his music in the early 90's with \\\"For the Sake of the Call.\\\" Since then, I have eagerly awaited each new release, and I continue to be rewarded. This CD is no exception.\\n\\nThe first few notes of this CD made me stop. They were piano! And that isn't the only time we get treated to piano on this disc. It's most obvious in \\\"Angels Wish\\\" and \\\"Treasure of Jesus.\\\" We also get more ballads and some wonderful melodies. Not that there aren't some fun upbeat songs like \\\"Only Getting Started\\\" and \\\"Coming Attractions.\\\" Through it all, the words are still wonderful.\\n\\nHonestly, if I were going to list favorite songs, it would probably be easiest to list least favorite songs. \\\"Big Story\\\" is really the only one I haven't connected with yet. He tackles quite a range of subject here, from praise in \\\"All Things New\\\" and \\\"Much of You\\\" to the very serious subject of living for eternity in \\\"Last Day on Earth,\\\" finding Jesus in the least of these in \\\"What Now,\\\" and surrendering to Him in \\\"Coming Attractions\\\" and \\\"Please Only You.\\\" While some of these are familiar themes for Mr. Chapman, he manages to breathe new life and provide a new challenge with them.\\n\\nMy favorite song on here is \\\"Believe Me Now.\\\" This song is written from God's point of view and is a reminder that the God we worship, serve, and believe in is the same God that spoke the world into being and performed all the miracles we read about in the Bible. Seems to me no matter how often I think of this and say I know it, I still need reminders constantly of where my faith should be.\\n\\nThis is a disc that will appeal to the adult contemporary crowd. Fans will love it and be begging for more. If you wonder why Steven Curtis Chapman has such a big following after all these years, you need look no further then this CD to find your answer.\",\n \"Product: I Choose You (Re-Issue) by POINT OF GRACE\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Choose This Great CD\\n\\nReview: As a long time fan, I've been waiting for this CD with mixed feelings. I've really enjoyed all of Point of Grace's CD's, yet would Leigh Cappillino coming in to replace Terry Jones make a huge difference? Furthermore, would the reported tweaking of their sound wind up giving us a bad CD? I'm glad to say the answer to both questions is a resounding no.\\n\\nThe attempts to change their sound are noticeable on several tracks, most noticeably \\\"Down.\\\" It's got a fun upbeat sound that I just love. And the reminder that God is so far above us takes on a fun new flavor.\\n\\nI'm a sucker for any song dealing with the wonder of God being so much greater then we are, and \\\"Who Am I,\\\" the second Point of Grace song with that title, fits the bill. This time, they wonder who we think we are to ever fully understand God. Realizing how big He is makes it easy to praise him.\\n\\nI also really like \\\"Do It Again,\\\" a song about God's perfect timing in our lives to encourage us and remind us He's still in charge. \\\"Waiting in the Wings\\\" discusses the fact that God is ultimately in control no matter who seems to be winning. And the CD closes with a beautiful ballad about Heaven called \\\"This is Your Land.\\\"\\n\\nOverall, the CD has more of an upbeat flavor then Free to Fly. Still, long time fans need not worry. This is still the same great Point of Grace we all know and love.\",\n \"Product: Newsboys ~ Devotion\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Not as Good as Adoration, but Close\\n\\nReview: This CD took me a few listens before I began to enjoy it. In fact, I didn't like it at first. I'm not a big Newboys fan, but Adoration had grabbed me with some standout new songs and a few covers I recognized. This CD has no truly great stand out song, and I didn't recognize any of the songs right off the bat. Still, I decided recently to give it a second listen. That's when I discovered how good it was.\\n\\nWhile the project does have covers of new Matt Redman and Tim Hughes songs, most of the songs are original. Many of the songs are pure praise, like \\\"God of Nations,\\\" \\\"Name Above All Names,\\\" \\\"Strong Tower,\\\" and \\\"Blessed be Your Name.\\\" These songs sound like many of the modern praise songs, and are good.\\n\\nSeveral of the songs, however, do touch on the pain in life. I like the theme of praising God in spite of the pain, something that is often missing in modern worship music. This especially comes out in the last song, \\\"When the Tears Fall,\\\" with lines such as \\\"When hope is lost/I'll call you Savior. When pain surrounds/I'll call you Healer.\\\"\\n\\nThis CD might not be as good as Adoration or immediately catch your ear. But it's worth giving it some time. I will certainly be enjoying my copy for a long time to come.\",\n \"Product: As a founding member of the 3.5 million selling group 4HIM, Andy Chrisman has been ONE of the voices that help them garner over 22 hit singles in their illustrious career. Andys debut effort (aptly entitled ONE) delivers pure pop music inspired by his love of Scripture, his heart for ministry, and his zeal for worship, including his experiences as a worship pastor in a local Orlando, Florida church. Tapping into his passion for the One who created us all, Andy has written songs for this project that carry out Ephesians 5:19, \\\"Be filled with the Spirit by reciting psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs for your own good. Sing and make music to the Lord with your hearts.\\\" (GODS WORD Translation) While continuing to tour with 4HIM, Andy will also support ONE with numerous concert and promotional appearances.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Good if not Perfect Solo Debut\\n\\nReview: Even though I'm a 4 Him fan, I probably would have passed right by this CD if it hadn't been for the sticker on it advertising it as a solo debut of one of their members. Naturally curious, I picked it up.\\n\\nThe problem with this CD is that it tries a little too hard to be a pop music CD. While Andy's vocals sound fine, the songs begin to all sound the same. Still, there is much here to recommend it.\\n\\nThe disc starts off strong with \\\"Believe.\\\" This catchy song talks about the faith required to believe in Jesus two thousand years after he came to earth.\\n\\nThe main theme is worship of God for who He is and what He's given us. This is especially amplified in \\\"Atmosphere,\\\" \\\"Adore You,\\\" \\\"Debt of Gratitude,\\\" \\\"The One,\\\" and \\\"King Above All.\\\"\\n\\nAnd I must mention my favorite song on here, \\\"Love Remains.\\\" This moving ballad is a private prayer of thanks to Abba Father for His constant love in our lives. It's truly a wonderful song that I can listen to over and over and over again.\\n\\nI'm glad this CD caught my eye because there are some great songs on here. While a little more variety would have been nice, I'll certainly keep my eye open for anything else he might release solo.\",\n \"Product: She needs no introduction. Widely known as pop megastar, gospel's stunning-yet-relatable girl next door, selfless humanitarian, wife and mother-Amy Grant has been positively affecting culture with her love of song for nearly 30 years. Word. 2005.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Pulling It Out Again Reminds Me Why I Don't Listen to it Much\\n\\nReview: I first bought this CD back in 2005 when it came out. I gave it a few listens and then stuck it away. I decided to pull it out again and give it another listen. Now I remember why I had listened to it in four years.\\n\\nYes, part of the problem is me. I'm not a big hymns CD person. I'm not sure exactly why since I love hymns and have several CDs of them that I enjoy listening to when the mood strikes. This CD focuses in on some of the lesser known hymns. Yes, we've got \\\"Rock of Ages\\\" and \\\"Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus.\\\" But we also have \\\"Sweet Will of God\\\" and \\\"Abide with Me.\\\" They just don't appeal to me as much as the songs I already know.\\n\\nBut then there's the style. I'm not a Country of Bluegrass fan, so you can imagine the problem when I put in the disc and immediately notice the twang of opening track \\\"Anywhere with Jesus.\\\" It's even worse on \\\"Rock of Ages\\\" and \\\"Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus.\\\" Amy obviously let husband Vince Gill have free reign with the production, and that was a poor choice on her part.\\n\\nHaving said that, there are a couple tracks I do like. The slightly updated version of \\\"El Shaddai\\\" is beautiful, although it does through me off when she changes the wording slightly.\\n\\nThe best song here is the only original track, \\\"Carry You.\\\" It's also one of the lesser Country selections. This Amy Grant original is a song of encouragement straight from God to those who are struggling. It was worth pulling the disc out again to rediscover.\\n\\nAside from that one song, however, there truly isn't much of interest here. Unless you absolutely must own every Amy Grant CD, feel free to skip this one.\",\n \"Product: 10 tracks\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Wonderful Song Selection, Disappointing Style Selection\\n\\nReview: In the last couple of years, I've jumped on the Mercy Me bandwagon, buying all three of their CD's. Naturally, when I found out the lead singer was planning to release a solo hymns CD, I was excited. The buzz around it was fantastic, and looking at the selections, I saw several of my lesser-recorded favorites among the list. When I popped it in, I was disappointed.\\n\\nInstead of doing an adult contemporary recording, which is what I expected, this is a country recording of these hymns. Banjo is prominent on several tracks. These songs sound like they would fit well in a small backwoods church from 100 years ago. While I find myself singing along, it's not with the enjoyment I had expected.\\n\\nIronically enough, the song that works best here is the semi-original song \\\"Mawmaw's Song.\\\" While taking the chorus of \\\"Sweet By and By\\\" for his chorus, he sings a loving tribute to his grandmother's faith.\\n\\nI don't know why established artists feel the need to \\\"go country\\\" when releasing a hymns project. While this could have become a favorite of mine, it will hardly be listened to in the future.\",\n \"Product: Veggietales ~ Incredible Singing Christmas Tree\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Another Fun Veggie Holiday Treat\\n\\nReview: The VeggieTales gang is getting ready to put on a Christmas spectacular - a singing Christmas tree. They just need to decide who gets to be the star on top. While Bob will make the ultimate decision, he wants the help of some judges - Archibald, Madame Blueberry, and Mr. Lunt, who wants to be the snarly judge everyone loves to despise. Everyone wants the job, including Miss Achmetha, who is still hung up on puppies; the Boyz in the Sink; and Blind Lemon Lincoln. And, in the funniest song on here, the Peas and the Pirates fight over who should sing \\\"We Three Kings.\\\"\\n\\nI was a bit concerned since I just loved their first Christmas CD if this would live up to it. I'm happy to report it's just as silly and fun as the first one. The second half stays more on the series side with the focus on familiar Christmas songs. There are lots of new songs or song parodies as well, including three new outstanding songs, \\\"Was He a Boy Like Me?\\\" \\\"What My Father Did on Christmas Eve,\\\" and \\\"It's About Love.\\\"\\n\\nThis is another Christmas CD that kids and parents will love because it is truly funny. It might be a fight to see who can wear this one out first.\",\n \"Product: Track Listing 1. Bless The Broken Road (w/Melodie Crittenden) 2. Glory (w/Nicole Nordeman) 3. I Will Sing Of My Redeemer (w/Barlowgirl) 4. Aint No Grave (w/Jason Crabb) 5. Mary Sweet Mary (w/Plumb) 6. Follow Jesus (w/Nicole C. Mullen) 7. Be Thou Near To Me (w/Amy Perry) 8. Softly And Tenderly (w/Cynthia Clawson) 9. All My Tears (w/Kim Hill) 10. Faithful One (w/Christy Nockles) 11. Gentle Healer (w/Amy Perry)\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Selah's Transition Disc is a Blessing\\n\\nReview: 2005 and 2006 say some transitions for the trio Selah. Founding member Nicol Smith decided to leave and pursue a solo career. While Todd Smith and Allan Hall worked to find a new female to join the group, they released Bless the Broken Road: The Duets Album. While I've just found the group in the last year, I'm sure it was proof to their fans that the group had lost none of their magic.\\n\\nAs the title implies, each song on the disc is a duet with a different artists. And yes, all but one of them is female. The different artists mesh well with Selah's style. Of course, while most of Selah's songs fall into the inspirational category, they branch out quite regularly, so that's not that hard to do, really.\\n\\nThe disc opens with the title song and an appearance by Melodie Crittenden, who almost joined the trio as the third member. While the \\\"to you\\\" of the chorus can be interepted many ways, the idea that \\\"God blessed the broken road/And led me straight to you\\\" is a great reminder of His sovereignty in all things. The strings on this one are beautiful, and Todd and Melodie harmonize so well together.\\n\\nThe very first time I heard \\\"Glory,\\\" I said to myself that it sounded just like a Nichole Nordeman song. I knew she was duet for the song, but when I looked at the booklet I confirmed she also wrote it. The melody is what gave it away. It's a great song about the hope of the day that the entire world will be singing Glory to God.\\n\\nFor some reason, \\\"All My Tears\\\" had never grabbed me when Jars of Clay covered it (the same year), but I love the song here. An upbeat song in a minor key, I'm really drawn to the idea that once we're dead, nothing here is going to matter any more. It helps that the song is hauntingly beautiful with Kim Hill's lush vocals being the perfect match for the arrangement. The background vocals really add to the pleasure of the song.\\n\\nThat song is followed up with \\\"Ain't No Grave.\\\" This time the gust vocals are from Jason and Adam Crabb. It's got a similar theme in the hope of the resurrection. It's probably the most uptempo piece on the disc, and the blues harp Adam plays gives it a fun hint of country.\\n\\nThe guest vocal list is actually pretty impressive, including the likes of Barlowgirl, Nicole C. Mullen, Plub, and Christy Nockels, then of Watermark before she set out on a solo career of her own. The variety doesn't make for a disjointed disc at all. Instead, things flow along well despite the differences in styles.\\n\\nAllan Hall usually adds some background vocals and excellent piano work to Selah releases, but here he steps into the male lead vocal role twice. One of these is on the disc closer, \\\"Softly and Tenderly.\\\" This is a fresh arrangement of the classic hymn, and yes, Allan does provide some amazing piano for it, although it takes a back seat to the amazing strings much of the time.\\n\\nThe other time is much earlier in the disc. \\\"Gentle Healer\\\" is a cover of a song by Michael Card about the power of Jesus in a small village during His earthly ministry. The duet this time is with Amy Perry, who had joined the group as the third member of the trio by the time they recorded parts of the disc. You can hear her hear but also in the background vocals of many of the songs.\\n\\nShe does a duet with Todd as well on \\\"Be thou Near to Me,\\\" a simple song of prayer asking for God's presence in daily life. It's a mid tempo blend of guitar and piano, and I love it.\\n\\nThe only real misstep on the disc is the coda to \\\"I Will Sing of My Redeemer\\\" where Todd has his three year old daughters sing the chorus. It's cute once, but after that I don't care for it. That probably makes me a grump, right?\\n\\nAt this point in their career, Selah had a reputation for lifting the hearts of their listeners in praise to God. Bless the Broken Road proved that they were going to be focusing on that going forward. There are many awesome songs here, and their fans will not be disappointed in the disc at all.\",\n \"Product: 7 never-before-released tracks including 2 duets with R&B singer Peabo Bryson. Also includes 5 signature Christmas songs from her perennial bestsellers. Merry Christmas With Love and O Holy Night! The Voice Of Christmas is sure to fill any room with yuletide joy for the holidays.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Rare and Familiar Christmas Moments\\n\\nReview: I'm a big fan of Sandi Patty's Christmas projects. Considering she released one last year, I was a little surprised to find another one this year, but I just had to have it. Unfortunately, it's a bit of a disappointment.\\n\\nThis release is a compilation of several different previous Christmas releases. It has four songs from her first Christmas release, one from her second official release, and the rest are from her two Hallmark releases. Since I never bothered to get them, I was thrilled to get the songs. Especially since \\\"O Come, O Come, Emmanuel\\\" and \\\"Hark! The Herald Angels Sing\\\" are two of my favorites.\\n\\nUnfortunately, many of the songs here suffer from Sandi's operatic tendencies. While I love her voice and don't mind her occasional trips into the upper octaves for extended periods of time, I find it can get tedious when she does it song after song. That's exactly what happens here. She's managed to produce some of my least favorite versions of the favorite classics.\\n\\nNot to say that everything is a loss. I still love the songs I already know. And the two duets with Peabo Bryson (\\\"How Great Our Joy!\\\" and \\\"Go Tell it on the Mountain\\\") are fun. I doubt I'll give this CD more then one spin a year in favor of her better Christmas recordings.\",\n \"Product: FFHUs greatest musical moments to date have found a home together on the ten-track \\\"Far From Home: The FFH Collection.\\\" Combining the band's best signature harmonies and upbeat, acoustic-pop sounds in one place, the project is one fans will not want to miss.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Well, It's Almost the Best\\n\\nReview: I'll admit I enjoy FFH, but I often go a long time without listening to anything they did at all. Still, like with all artists I enjoy, I got their best of. Unlike more artists I enjoy, I found this one a tad disappointing.\\n\\nRight off the bat, I discovered that there were only ten tracks, and none of them were new. Honestly, I can't remember the last time I saw a Best Of with no new track. As with most compilations, the CD focuses on the radio hits. Most of my favorite FFH songs were never on the radio.\\n\\nBut what is here is enjoyable. The CD kicks off with the fun \\\"Big Fish.\\\" My favorite song they've ever done is included, \\\"I Want to be Like You.\\\" \\\"Fly Away\\\" and \\\"Ready to Fly\\\" represent their songs about Heaven.\\n\\nTheir last couple releases haven't been as good as their first few. Obviously, I'm not the only one who feels that way since they get one track each. \\\"Still the Cross\\\" and \\\"Worth it All\\\" are definitely the best of those two releases.\\n\\nFor those wanting the radio hits, this disc will satisfy. I will probably forgo it most of the time in favor of the full releases that have the songs I like better\",\n \"Product: [Note: This product is an authorized CD-R and is manufactured on demand]\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Hardly Definitive, but Wonderful\\n\\nReview: When making a list of artists I wish were still recording, David Meece would be near the top. And, even though I knew this was a best of release, I had to get it.\\n\\nThe disc consists of 10 songs from David's years as a recording artist for Word Records. And there in lies my only real complaints with the disc. It's hard to consider something \\\"definitive\\\" when there are only 10 tracks and 7 of them come from two releases. Additionally, if you are hoping for stuff that hasn't been made available on CD before, you will be disappointed. Then again, since his stuff was hard to find on CD, there might be songs here that you don't have.\\n\\nWhat is here is wonderful. Since it focuses on \\\"Count the Cost\\\" and \\\"Are You Ready?\\\" you get plenty of 80's pop programming. But the songs are still great. \\\"Follow You\\\" is one of my favorite from his early years. \\\"Making My Life Brand New\\\" surprised me the first few times I listened to it. But it really grew on me as well. \\\"Never Gonna Serve Anyone Else but You\\\" is a fun song that allows David to show off his low voice and his falsetto. This is the live version from the \\\"Front Row\\\" disc.\\n\\nAnd of course there are true hits on here. \\\"Everybody Needs a Little Help\\\" was a cross over hit in the late 70's. And I would seriously throw a fit if they left out \\\"We are the Reason.\\\" I mean, that's the song he's best known for.\\n\\nYes, I am giving it four stars based solely on the name. The songs themselves are great. They just suffer from false advertising.\",\n \"Product: I feel closest to God whenever I'm leading people in worship, when I can step away from the microphone and it appears that a sea of people are singing to God from the bottom of their hearts and the top of their lungs.\\\" Crafting songs that make this happen was the goal with \\\"Whispered and Shouted\\\", the follow-up to Shust's chart topping debut \\\"Anything Worth Saying\\\". As a teenager, Aaron was influenced by the sounds of the sixties and Motown. In college he studied music theory, developed an aptitude for the likes of Bach and Mozart, and soaked up the sounds of more recent masters like his favorite band U2. These influences come to bear on this release; an exploration of new musical territory for what is at its heart, another praise and worship album from this exciting newcomer. It'll make you want to sing along whether you are standing in church or riding in your car.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Just Not As Good As His First\\n\\nReview: I discovered Aaron Shust while he was touring with Shane & Shane. In fact, I thought he was the best part of that evening, and I've enjoyed his debut ever since. I haven't enjoyed this CD nearly as much. I even tried setting it aside for a while and coming back to it. It didn't work.\\n\\nDon't get me wrong, there are some good tracks here. I love the pop/rock style. The disc opener, \\\"Long Live the King\\\" is fun. He's finished \\\"Give Me Words to Speak,\\\" and it is easily my favorite track on the disc. It's a quieter ballad that really works. And I find the melody of \\\"Can't Hide from Your Love\\\" hauntingly beautiful. Plus the lyrics catch my spirit with the prayer of surrender.\\n\\nAnd while there are several songs that work so well, the overall CD is disappointing. Everything really blends together. Part of that is on purpose as the tracks are designed to meld one into the other. But they all have that guitar based pop/rock feel with very little to distinguish one song from the other. Some of the songs have good lyrics and the focus of all of them is still on God. But the music does nothing to grab my ear and keep me focused on the songs. After about one or two, I find my mind wandering. And there are several songs I don't like, like the hip hop inspired \\\"Like I Never Felt Before\\\" or the psychedelic last track.\\n\\nMost of the songs themselves are good. It's just a case where the CD is less then the sum of its parts.\",\n \"Product: I will ship by EMS or SAL items in stock in Japan. It is approximately 7-14days on delivery date. You wholeheartedly support customers as satisfactory. Thank you for you seeing it.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: These Great Songs Would be Better if He'd Stick to One Style\\n\\nReview: When I first heard David Phelps, I immediately fell in love with his music. He has a powerful tenor voice that is a joy to listen to. I quickly went out and bought all of his CD's to date, including his first Christmas release. I found that one didn't excite me, and I quickly put it aside. So it was with some hesitation that I bought this new Christmas CD. I have to say I like it better even if it is uneven.\\n\\nThe disc consists of 15 tracks made up of mostly new material. True, there are old standbys like \\\"Silent Night\\\" and \\\"O Holy Night\\\" here. But most of the traditional songs have new arrangements, so they sound fresh. David had a hand in almost every song on this disc. The new ones he wrote himself, and he arranged all the traditional ones. As you'd expect, they are expertly crafted to take full advantage of his vocals.\\n\\nIndividually, these songs sound great. You've got the haunting \\\"O Come, O come Emmanuel\\\" that opens the CD. The title track is a beautiful, soaring ballad about that first Christmas. And for the completely fun, there's the fun, upbeat \\\"Santa Claus Tonight\\\" that closes the disc.\\n\\nThe problem comes when you take these songs and put them together. The majority of the songs are inspirational - slower and reflective. This makes the few upbeat, pop offerings seem jarring. The gospel choir take on \\\"Hallelujah!\\\" is fine, but following up on the reflective \\\"The Singer\\\" is makes for a weird transition. The same goes for \\\"If Everyone Believed\\\" which is in a completely different vein then \\\"One Wintry Night.\\\" The two really don't belong next to each other.\\n\\nDavid's strength is in the inspirational sub-genre. While his occasional ventures into pop are fine, they aren't as memorable. And mixing the two together makes for a disjointed effort.\\n\\nThese songs are great, and I know I will enjoy listening to them for many years to come. But I wish they flowed together better.\",\n \"Product: Fifteen timeless classics in Christian music, but not so old classics. Songs like: God Is In Control, Another Time Another Place, People Need The Lord, and Testify To Love are so well performed by Avalon. Quite possibly their best album.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Christian Music Hits Reborn\\n\\nReview: For this release, Avalon has decided to take 14 classic Christian songs from other singers and one of their own and rerecord them in their own style. The result is surprisingly enjoyable for this fan of the originals.\\n\\nI say surprisingly because I worried about how some of these songs would fair. Take \\\"God is in Control.\\\" Twila's original version is just about perfect. Yet Avalon adds their vocal harmonies and bumps the tempo up just slightly and makes a great version to open this disc.\\n\\nAnd most of these really are great versions. Don't worry, their trademark harmonies and electro-pop are still intact. You can definitely tell these are Avalon songs. But they sound wonderful this way, too.\\n\\nI think I especially liked the string plucking on \\\"Friend of a Wounded Heart.\\\" And the fast strums that open \\\"For the Sake of the Call.\\\"\\n\\nSeveral of these songs become power ballads. That works well for \\\"Place in This World\\\" and \\\"The Reason We Sing.\\\" It doesn't work out quite as well for \\\"People Need the Lord.\\\"\\n\\nI have come to the conclusion that I just do not care for Bebe and Cece Winans' music no matter who is singing it. Avalon's version of \\\"Addictive Love\\\" does nothing for me. On the other hand, I never much cared for Chrystal Lewis' song \\\"People Get Ready...Jesus is Comin',\\\" but I really like their version.\\n\\nThe one thing that seems odd to me is they end the disc with a new version of \\\"Testify to Love.\\\" Don't get me wrong, the song is a definite classic. But covering their own song on a disc that is supposed to pay tribute to Christian musicians seems off to me. But that's probably just me.\\n\\nSo if you enjoy Christian classics, you'll want to get this disc. Avalon will make you listen to your old favorites in a whole new way.\",\n \"Product: CD Timeless: The Selah Collection (4 CD)\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Timeless Box Set of Selah Music\\n\\nReview: When my birthday rolled around this year, I'd just barely bought any Selah music, but I but them on my wish list. Soon after, I discovered the set Timeless: The Selah Collection. It looked like a great deal to me, and I planned to buy it soon after my birthday if I didn't get any of the music. My parents came through, however, and I've been enjoying it ever since.\\n\\nReleased in 2007, this is a four disc CD set. The last disc is a bonus disc, but the first three are their first three studio releases. Since I didn't have any of these discs, it made a perfect way to get them.\\n\\nSelah has several trademarks. They've got great harmonies, and they are known for creating passionate arrangements of classic hymns that make them seem alive in a new way. The trio consists of Todd Smith, his sister Nicol Sponberg, and their friend Allan Hall. Todd and Nicol do most of the vocals, although Allan gets into the act every so often. Allan's main contribution is his wonderful piano playing which is just as much a part of their sound as their harmonies. Another thing they like to do is include a song or two on each disc in Kituba, the native language in the part of Zaire where Todd and Nicol grew up as missionary kids.\\n\\nDisc one is their 1999 debut, Be Still My Soul. This disc is almost nothing but hymns, with versions of \\\"Great is Thy Faithfulness,\\\" \\\"When I Survey the Wondrous Cross,\\\" and \\\"Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus\\\" here. They do include some more modern classics like Larry Norman's \\\"Sweet, Sweet Song of Salvation\\\" and Andre Crouch's \\\"The Blood will Never Lose Its Power.\\\" While most of the songs are fairly inspirational in their arrangements, they do get into Gospel once or twice. It makes for an eclectic mix, but it works to hold your attention.\\n\\nThe second disc is 2001's Press On. Again, we've got hymns like \\\"There is a Fountain\\\" and \\\"Were You There.\\\" They incorporate a bit more modern songs like covers of Evie's \\\"Hold On\\\" and modern worship classic \\\"Wonderful Merciful Savior.\\\" The gospel flavor to \\\"Amazing Grace\\\" really helps it stand out from all the versions that have been recorded over the years. I was disappointed that they included some Kituba verses to \\\"How Great Thou Art\\\" since it's one of my favorite hymns and I, selfishly, would prefer it all in English. However, I do enjoy the chanted \\\"Yesu Azali Awa.\\\"\\n\\n2004 saw the release of Hiding Place, the third disc in this set. This disc stands out because of Nicol and Todd's amazing duet on the title track. I could listen to it all day. They've got a great arrangement of \\\"O the Deep Deep Love of Jesus\\\" on here as well. They cover Josh Groban's \\\"You Raise Me Up\\\" and include newer songs \\\"All My Praise\\\" and \\\"All of Me.\\\"\\n\\nBut all of this stuff, fans have already had. What about the bonus content that makes this set stand out?\\n\\nI'm glad you asked. Disc 4 is the bonus disc, and it includes some previously released stuff as well as some new material only available here. Among the previous released material, we've got \\\"Be Thou My Vision\\\" and \\\"Be Thou Near to Me\\\" from their Best of release Greatest Hymns, which means there is only one song from that disc not in this collection. They also include several songs from their duets album Bless the Broken Road like the title track and \\\"Mary Sweet Mary.\\\"\\n\\nSeven of the eleven tracks here are newly released, and they haven't shown up on any other project they've done since. There's a fun gospel version of \\\"I Didn't Think it Could Be\\\" as well as a simpler demo version of \\\"Through it All,\\\" a song that showed up with a Gospel version on Hiding Place. While Im not a fan of the hymn \\\"Were You There,\\\" there is an amazing live version of just Todd singing it a cappella. I much prefer it to the version of the hymn that showed up on Press On. I dare you to listen to it without getting goosebumps.\\n\\nThe bonus songs on this set were put together about the time that Amy Perry joined the group, formally replacing Nicol, who left for a solo career. The new recordings all feature here. I was amazed at just how low her voice gets in \\\"There is a Redeemer.\\\" \\\"Revive Us Again\\\" gets a Gospel revival tent treatment, and it's lots of fun. But what really stands out to me is \\\"Rescue Me,\\\" an original song that begs God for help is facing the trials of life.\\n\\nWhat ties all these discs together, even with the change in personnel by the last disc is the passion behind the vocals. No matter what mood you are in, it is impossible not to have your spirit lifted in worship by the time you are done with one of these discs. The hymns are classics for a reason - the timeless truths they contain. And you can tell that the members of Selah truly believe what they are singing. It's wonderfully amazing to hear. And their voices are so strong.\\n\\nBut we aren't done yet. The four discs come in a sturdy cardboard book (for lack of a better term). In the middle is an extensive booklet that contains a history of the group, all the lyrics with thoughts on the songs by their members, and lots of pictures.\\n\\nFor anyone just getting into Selah's music, I can't recommend Timeless: The Selah Collection enough. There is nothing better for the price, and the rare stuff on the last disc is well worth getting. Long time fans will have to decide if the bonus material is worth getting the duplicate discs for. Then again, maybe you can give away your original copies and get more people hooked on Selah.\",\n \"Product: 2007 holiday release from one of the most popular Contemporary Christian Music artists of all time. It's A Wonderful Christmas features nine original songs and one standard performed by Michael and a 67-piece orchestra, recorded at London's famous Abbey Road Studios. This album is perhaps the most anticipated seasonal release this year, so don't be left out in the cold without it! Columbia.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: A Third Wonderful Christmas Release\\n\\nReview: Michael W. Smith has released two previous Christmas CDs, and they are staples of my December. This new release will be taking an honored place beside them in my December rotation.\\n\\nThis release is a combination of his two previous releases. It mixes the choral feeling of the first one with the pop of the second one. And, as something new, he mixes in lots of instrumental pieces. 5 of the 11 songs are fully instrumental. But the orchestra sounds wonderful.\\n\\nWhat is truly amazing is that this release sounds Christmassy from start to finish from the very first listen. Only one track, \\\"What Child is This\\\" is a traditional piece. Michael wrote or co-wrote everything else. Yet everything feels like an old familiar friend.\\n\\nSome of the instrumental tracks sound like the soundtrack to a movie. And one feels like a missing piece from the Nutcracker.\\n\\nOf the other songs, most focus on the birth of Christ. They are wonderful choir pieces. \\\"Christmas Day\\\" focuses on our modern Christmas celebration, and it brings a smile to my face as I think about all the traditions. Finally, the disc closes with \\\"All Year Long,\\\" a quiet song that wishes us the happiness of Christmas the rest of the year.\\n\\nThis is a great release. Buy it and enjoy it for Christmases to come.\",\n \"Product: Soundtrack to the 2008 VeggieTales motion picture adventure. Features performances by well-known, Christian Pop artists tobyMac, Newsboys, Relient K and a new original song, 'The Right Thing', from American Idol finalist Mandisa. From the creators of 2002's wildly successful Jonah A VeggieTales Movie comes a new story of heroism in the beloved VeggieTales' world, The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything. Now, we follow the comic misadventures of three animated veggie pals who reluctantly set sail for adventure and discover that real heroes don't have to be tall, strong, handsome or even human. The latest in a franchise that has sold over 50 million DVDs/videos since its 1993 inception, The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything A VeggieTales Movie continues the hit series' values-based lessons in teaching kids what it really means to be a hero.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: \\\"Grab You Root Beer\\\" and Enjoy This Soundtrack\\n\\nReview: One of the highlights of each VeggieTales episode is the songs. So, while I don't normally buy movie soundtracks, I made an exception for this disc. And it's a great combination of fun songs and instrumental pieces.\\n\\nThe first half of the disc is made up of songs with lyrics. They're about half and half Veggie and Christian artists. We've got \\\"Spanish Gold,\\\" the song from the dinner theater show and \\\"Jolly Joe's\\\" from the pirate hangout they visit. If you sat through the credits, you found the video for \\\"Rock Monster,\\\" a spoof on \\\"Rock Lobster\\\" that tells part of the story. You'll be glad to know it is here as well.\\n\\nMy favorite track on here is \\\"Yo Ho Hero,\\\" the song sung by Steve Taylor and the Newsboys. The song was actually used during the movie, and I find it fun. It makes fun of how lazy our heroes are. I'm not normally a fan of tobyMac, but I do like his contribution, \\\"What we Gonna Do?\\\" It's still got the hip hop feel he's known for, but it isn't so over the top it annoys me. Finally, there's Mandisa's song \\\"The Right Thing.\\\" Best I can tell, it was never in the film, which is a shame because it is a great summary of the message of the film.\\n\\nNow if you thought this soundtrack wouldn't have \\\"The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything,\\\" you were dead wrong. We get two versions of it here, the classic Silly Song version that started it all, and the Reliant K punked up version done for Jonah.\\n\\nSpeaking of Jonah, the include \\\"Second Chances\\\" from that soundtrack as a bonus song.\\n\\nThe second half of the disc is made up of instrumental pieces. They usually include a line or two of dialog surrounded by several minutes of full orchestra. This stuff is beautiful.\\n\\nAnd this is an enhanced CD, which means there are three videos you can find on your computer. There's the silly song version of \\\"Pirates Who Don't Do Anything\\\" and \\\"Do the Moo Shoo.\\\" Finally, they give us the video they made for \\\"Rock Monster\\\" which is half the fun of the song.\\n\\nAll told, this is a fun soundtrack that will make fans of the Veggies very happy.\",\n \"Product: Jars of Clay launched their career in 1995 with their universal hit Flood. Since then the band has amassed more than six million sales along with several RIAA certifications (5 Gold, 2 Platinum and 1 Double-Platinum) an American Music Award nomination, 17 No.1 radio hits and numerous film credits and BMI honors for songwriting and performing. The Jars Of Clay Greatest Hits package is a collection of 14 songs made hits by this groundbreaking band.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: A Brave Attempt at a Collection\\n\\nReview: I am one of those obsessive collectors bands love. I buy every CD they release and every greatest hits collection as well. And I have found that very few collections truly capture everything I love from an artist. And the longer the career, the harder it becomes.\\n\\nThis CD makes a brave attempt at collection 13 years of hits from Jars of Clay. These songs were spread out over seven studio releases. And they've got 13 slots, plus the requisite new track. Talk about an impossible mission.\\n\\nThe disc goes in chronological order and starts with the band's mega hit, \\\"Flood.\\\" In fact, their debut is the best represented release with four songs, including my favorite \\\"Like a Child.\\\" From there it's a sprint through their other releases including such hits as \\\"Frail,\\\" \\\"I Need You,\\\" \\\"Unforgetful You,\\\" and \\\"Dead Man (Carry Me).\\\"\\n\\nThe problem really becomes that, with seven releases, there's bound to be something left out. As an example, \\\"If I Left the Zoo\\\" and \\\"The Eleventh Hour\\\" both only have one track appease. Frankly, that means I am mourning the loss of \\\"Grace\\\" and \\\"The Eleventh Hour.\\\" And I would have loved to see more then one song from \\\"Redemption Songs\\\" since I loved that disc.\\n\\nFinally, the disc closes with the new track, \\\"Love is the Protest.\\\" It's a strong rocker that sounds like it would have fit in on \\\"Good Monsters,\\\" which is hardly a surprise since that was their last release. I enjoy the song, but it's not one of their best ever.\\n\\nI will admit I am a marginal Jars of Clay fan. When I am in the mood, I enjoy them, but I get tired of them easily. These are great songs. But even I can see they have so many great songs that were left off the list.\\n\\nIf you are looking to get a few Jars of Clay songs, this is a good disc. But if you expected the impossible, a collection of all their truly great songs in one place, this one disc will disappoint.\",\n \"Product: 2007 holiday release from one of the most popular Contemporary Christian Music artists of all time. It's A Wonderful Christmas features nine original songs and one standard performed by Michael and a 67-piece orchestra, recorded at London's famous Abbey Road Studios. This album is perhaps the most anticipated seasonal release this year, so don't be left out in the cold without it! Columbia.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: A Third Wonderful Christmas Release\\n\\nReview: Michael W. Smith has released two previous Christmas CDs, and they are staples of my December. This new release will be taking an honored place beside them in my December rotation.\\n\\nThis release is a combination of his two previous releases. It mixes the choral feeling of the first one with the pop of the second one. And, as something new, he mixes in lots of instrumental pieces. 5 of the 11 songs are fully instrumental. But the orchestra sounds wonderful.\\n\\nWhat is truly amazing is that this release sounds Christmassy from start to finish from the very first listen. Only one track, \\\"What Child is This\\\" is a traditional piece. Michael wrote or co-wrote everything else. Yet everything feels like an old familiar friend.\\n\\nSome of the instrumental tracks sound like the soundtrack to a movie. And one feels like a missing piece from the Nutcracker.\\n\\nOf the other songs, most focus on the birth of Christ. They are wonderful choir pieces. \\\"Christmas Day\\\" focuses on our modern Christmas celebration, and it brings a smile to my face as I think about all the traditions. Finally, the disc closes with \\\"All Year Long,\\\" a quiet song that wishes us the happiness of Christmas the rest of the year.\\n\\nThis is a great release. Buy it and enjoy it for Christmases to come.\",\n \"Product: Soundtrack to the 2008 VeggieTales motion picture adventure. Features performances by well-known, Christian Pop artists tobyMac, Newsboys, Relient K and a new original song, 'The Right Thing', from American Idol finalist Mandisa. From the creators of 2002's wildly successful Jonah A VeggieTales Movie comes a new story of heroism in the beloved VeggieTales' world, The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything. Now, we follow the comic misadventures of three animated veggie pals who reluctantly set sail for adventure and discover that real heroes don't have to be tall, strong, handsome or even human. The latest in a franchise that has sold over 50 million DVDs/videos since its 1993 inception, The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything A VeggieTales Movie continues the hit series' values-based lessons in teaching kids what it really means to be a hero.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: \\\"Grab You Root Beer\\\" and Enjoy This Soundtrack\\n\\nReview: One of the highlights of each VeggieTales episode is the songs. So, while I don't normally buy movie soundtracks, I made an exception for this disc. And it's a great combination of fun songs and instrumental pieces.\\n\\nThe first half of the disc is made up of songs with lyrics. They're about half and half Veggie and Christian artists. We've got \\\"Spanish Gold,\\\" the song from the dinner theater show and \\\"Jolly Joe's\\\" from the pirate hangout they visit. If you sat through the credits, you found the video for \\\"Rock Monster,\\\" a spoof on \\\"Rock Lobster\\\" that tells part of the story. You'll be glad to know it is here as well.\\n\\nMy favorite track on here is \\\"Yo Ho Hero,\\\" the song sung by Steve Taylor and the Newsboys. The song was actually used during the movie, and I find it fun. It makes fun of how lazy our heroes are. I'm not normally a fan of tobyMac, but I do like his contribution, \\\"What we Gonna Do?\\\" It's still got the hip hop feel he's known for, but it isn't so over the top it annoys me. Finally, there's Mandisa's song \\\"The Right Thing.\\\" Best I can tell, it was never in the film, which is a shame because it is a great summary of the message of the film.\\n\\nNow if you thought this soundtrack wouldn't have \\\"The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything,\\\" you were dead wrong. We get two versions of it here, the classic Silly Song version that started it all, and the Reliant K punked up version done for Jonah.\\n\\nSpeaking of Jonah, the include \\\"Second Chances\\\" from that soundtrack as a bonus song.\\n\\nThe second half of the disc is made up of instrumental pieces. They usually include a line or two of dialog surrounded by several minutes of full orchestra. This stuff is beautiful.\\n\\nAnd this is an enhanced CD, which means there are three videos you can find on your computer. There's the silly song version of \\\"Pirates Who Don't Do Anything\\\" and \\\"Do the Moo Shoo.\\\" Finally, they give us the video they made for \\\"Rock Monster\\\" which is half the fun of the song.\\n\\nAll told, this is a fun soundtrack that will make fans of the Veggies very happy.\",\n \"Product: Jars of Clay launched their career in 1995 with their universal hit Flood. Since then the band has amassed more than six million sales along with several RIAA certifications (5 Gold, 2 Platinum and 1 Double-Platinum) an American Music Award nomination, 17 No.1 radio hits and numerous film credits and BMI honors for songwriting and performing. The Jars Of Clay Greatest Hits package is a collection of 14 songs made hits by this groundbreaking band.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: A Brave Attempt at a Collection\\n\\nReview: I am one of those obsessive collectors bands love. I buy every CD they release and every greatest hits collection as well. And I have found that very few collections truly capture everything I love from an artist. And the longer the career, the harder it becomes.\\n\\nThis CD makes a brave attempt at collection 13 years of hits from Jars of Clay. These songs were spread out over seven studio releases. And they've got 13 slots, plus the requisite new track. Talk about an impossible mission.\\n\\nThe disc goes in chronological order and starts with the band's mega hit, \\\"Flood.\\\" In fact, their debut is the best represented release with four songs, including my favorite \\\"Like a Child.\\\" From there it's a sprint through their other releases including such hits as \\\"Frail,\\\" \\\"I Need You,\\\" \\\"Unforgetful You,\\\" and \\\"Dead Man (Carry Me).\\\"\\n\\nThe problem really becomes that, with seven releases, there's bound to be something left out. As an example, \\\"If I Left the Zoo\\\" and \\\"The Eleventh Hour\\\" both only have one track appease. Frankly, that means I am mourning the loss of \\\"Grace\\\" and \\\"The Eleventh Hour.\\\" And I would have loved to see more then one song from \\\"Redemption Songs\\\" since I loved that disc.\\n\\nFinally, the disc closes with the new track, \\\"Love is the Protest.\\\" It's a strong rocker that sounds like it would have fit in on \\\"Good Monsters,\\\" which is hardly a surprise since that was their last release. I enjoy the song, but it's not one of their best ever.\\n\\nI will admit I am a marginal Jars of Clay fan. When I am in the mood, I enjoy them, but I get tired of them easily. These are great songs. But even I can see they have so many great songs that were left off the list.\\n\\nIf you are looking to get a few Jars of Clay songs, this is a good disc. But if you expected the impossible, a collection of all their truly great songs in one place, this one disc will disappoint.\",\n \"Product: My Paper Heart. CD.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: A Rock Chick Debuts\\n\\nReview: Francesca Battistelli debuts with this CD. She may be young, but she brings impressive work to the disc.\\n\\nIt took me a few listens to fully appreciate some of the songs here. But as I started really listening to them, the words blew me away. Everyone talks about the first song, and I'm going to be no exception. \\\"Free to Be Me\\\" starts us off with a funky rhythm that catches your ear as Francesca reminds us that God and freedom go hand in hand despite our human weaknesses. Along a similar line, \\\"I'm Letting Go\\\" gives God full control of her life.\\n\\nThe song that gets stuck in my head the most is \\\"My Paper Heart,\\\" a hard rocker that contrasts human \\\"love\\\" and God's love. The flip side, written from God's point of view, is \\\"Blue Sky.\\\"\\n\\n\\\"It's Your Life\\\" is a fun challenge to live out your convictions because others are watching.\\n\\nUnfortunately, the CD does have a few flaws. A few of the tracks are a bit trite and too familiar. This is especially the case with the love song \\\"Someday Soon.\\\" That song has never grown on me. I'm also not too big a fan of \\\"Forever Love,\\\" one of those \\\"Jesus is my boyfriend\\\" type of songs.\\n\\nStylistically, most of this disc is hard rockers with plenty of electric guitar. The slower ballads like \\\"Beautiful, Beautiful\\\" and \\\"Time in Between\\\" feature heavy keyboard.\\n\\nDespite a few weak tracks, this CD shows real promise for a long successful career.\",\n \"Product: Very special collection of Christmas songs from their 2005 smash hit Winter Wonderland and 1999's Gold-certified A Christmas Story, plus a brand new recording of 'Tennessee Christmas'. Another highlight is the song 'Hope Is Born Again', which originally appeared on Jim Brickman's The Gift.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: What's Here is Good, But It Could Have Been Better\\n\\nReview: In a trend I must admit I hope doesn't continue, I have now bought two Christmas collections this year. I almost didn't buy Point of Grace's, but I love the title song so much I just had to get it. The songs included here are good and fun. But the collection could have been so much more.\\n\\nLet's start with the last song on the disc. This is the first single I've heard from the group as a trio (one of their members just left the group to be a full time mother.) With just a hint of country twang, their tight harmonies still shine through. It's a great rendition of a Christmas favorite and a good addition to their Christmas repertoire.\\n\\nAnd, again, I do love the song included here. All of them are their original versions, which means we get four part harmony. Their version of \\\"O Holy Night\\\" is amazing. This is one of my favorites as the ladies sing one line over the other during the verses. \\\"Santa Claus is Comin' to Town\\\" is upbeat and jazzy. \\\"Breath of Heaven\\\" is a beautiful version of another Amy Grant classic.\\n\\nBut here's where the disc falls apart for me. Their first Christmas release had several good original songs that no one else had done. And only one of them makes this disc. They do include the one original track from their second release as well. Instead of including more of their originals, they include the often covered and even some rarely covered songs. If you really want to make a definitive collection, include the songs no one else does.\\n\\nAnd don't even get me started on them including the one minute instrumental version of \\\"Joy to the World.\\\" I liked it as an intro to their first Christmas disc. But there was no reason to put it near the end of this one.\\n\\nDespite how harsh I'm sounding, I do like what is here. There are just better songs they could have included.\",\n \"Product: Put away all the pigeonholes and boxes that Downhere has been put in over the years and open your ears to a significant creative leap for this Canadian band. Ending Is Beginning is catchy without being slick, uplifting without being pretentious, rocking without being raucous. Through relentless touring the band has added to their powerful sound while dual lead vocalists Marc Martel and Jason Germain deliver carefully crafted lyrics filled with optimism and hope.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Challenges to Keep Living No Matter What\\n\\nReview: I'll admit when I first put downhere's fourth CD in the player, I wasn't that impressed. It just didn't seem to have the spark their last project had. And while I do still feel that their third CD was better, this one has really grown on me.\\n\\nAs with most CD's, it's hard to pin down on overall theme. But if I had to, I'd say that the idea of facing life's challenges head on no matter what seems to be predominant. It's evident from the very beginning with \\\"Bleed for This Love.\\\" The song is written from Jesus' point of view as He reminds us He will always be there for us. \\\"Cathedral Made of People\\\" reminds us that, even under persecution, Christians are victorious. And \\\"Don't Miss Now\\\" challenges us to enjoy life while we long for Heaven. Speaking of longing for Heaven, \\\"My Last Amen\\\" speaks of just that thing.\\n\\nThe struggle to live as God calls us to live becomes the topic of several songs as well. \\\"Something Heavenly\\\" really lays out the issue as they admit \\\"I really am my own worst enemy.\\\" And \\\"Coming Back Home\\\" could be sung by the prodigal as he attempts to make things right again. For a lighter take on the issue, look no further than \\\"The Problem.\\\" Yep, all the problems of the world are finally solved in this song - Me.\\n\\nAs a bonus track, the disc closes with their Christmas hit \\\"How Many Kings.\\\" I love this ballad.\\n\\nStylistically, they range from rock to ballad and back again. And having Marc and Jason as two lead vocalists allows for some fun moments vocally.\\n\\nThis disc had the impossible task of following downhere's best release to date. And it succeeds pretty well. 4.5 stars rounded up.\",\n \"Product: 2008 release of Peace On Earth by Casting Crowns. Following the highly successful The Altar and The Door album and tour, Grammy Award-winning group Casting Crowns release its first Christmas record. Known for its life-changing ministry of renewal and discipleship, Casting Crowns continues that mission with an album of songs dedicated to the meaning behind this holy season.Casting Crowns has received an American Music Award and 20 GMA Dove Awards collectively between band and lead-singer Mark Hall.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Managed Expectations Make This a Good Christmas CD\\n\\nReview: When I heard Casting Crowns was releasing a Christmas CD, I couldn't wait. I love their music for taking the familiar and making me look at it in a fresh way. So when I got this CD I was a little disappointed with the play list. It is mostly familiar carols. But once I started listening to it, that feeling went away.\\n\\nYes, the familiar carols are here and are plentiful. Yet they sound beautiful. There are gorgeous harmonies on \\\"O Come All Ye Faithful.\\\" The guitar is fun on \\\"Joy to the World.\\\" \\\"Sweet Little Jesus Boy\\\" gets a new melody. With a string background, it sounds like a lullaby. And the instrumental version of \\\"O Come, O Come Emmanuel\\\" is absolutely breathtaking. It is written for violin but the interplay between it and the piano (and to a lesser extent the orchestra) is haunting.\\n\\nOnly one song on here is truly new. \\\"Christmas Offering\\\" is a praise song, and I truly enjoy it. I've only heard \\\"God is with Us\\\" recorded one other place, by Amy Grant on the Gloria project. This version doesn't stray far away from the original. In fact, it is sung entirely by one of the female members of the group.\\n\\nAnd that brings us to \\\"While You Were Sleeping.\\\" When I first heard them sing it on LIFESONG, I thought it sounded like a Christmas song. Apparently, it originally was. The only change here is the second verse. Instead of going to Jerusalem, it focuses on the hardships of Mary and the baby that first night. The song sounds the same. And it includes the third verse that focuses on America. I'm still not a fan of that verse, but I have softened to it some over the years.\\n\\nBut I've saved the best for last. The disc opens with a new melody for \\\"I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day,\\\" including a new chorus sung by a boy's choir. It really makes the song come alive in a new way.\\n\\nI wish they had taken the time to write a few more original tracks for this disc. But what is here is certainly enjoyable. I know I will listen to this CD for many years to come.\",\n \"Product: Recorded live on June 20, 2008 in Houston, Texas with more than 12,000 worshippers in attendance. Artist, composer, author and worship leader Michael W. Smith recorded his third highly-anticipated worship album A New Hallelujah featuring Israel Houghton, the world renowned African Children's Choir, an incredible young worship leader names Coalo Zamorano and a 250 voice choir elevated the songs to amazing moments of praise and worship.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Smitty Continues the Worship\\n\\nReview: Once again, Michael has lifted us to the throne room to deliver praise. And he still does a great job of it.\\n\\nLike the previous two, this CD is a recording of a live worship event that Michael led. There are two differences from the previous releases. There are no studio tracks, here. More importantly, Michael wrote about half the song on here. A few originally appeared on his last couple of studio releases, but they fit right in here.\\n\\nOf the familiar songs, I really am thrilled to get \\\"Mighty to Save\\\" a song I learned this summer. And I can't get enough copies of \\\"Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone).\\\" Michael has arranged the classic hymn \\\"I Surrender All\\\" to switch from English to Spanish, which is kind of cool.\\n\\nAnd that's another thing that sets this CD apart. Several friends show up to help with the songs. Caolo Zamorano does the Spanish singing I just discussed. Israel Houghton does a duet on the gospel flavored \\\"Help is on the Way\\\" that he co-wrote. Finally, the African Children's Choir back up Michael on two songs, both with a fun African flavor.\\n\\nMy one complaint is the same one I've had with his other Worship projects. At times, he just takes a few lines and repeats them. If I am paying close attention to the disc, that gets annoying. Fortunately, most of the time I tune it out at that point and come back for the next song.\\n\\nIf you were a fan of Michael's previous worship oriented releases, you'll enjoy having this one in your collection as well.\",\n \"Product: Originally formed a dozen years ago while students together at Indiana University, the a cappella group has reassembled and reemerged after their video for 'The 12 Days of Christmas' became a phenomenon with almost 8 million views on YouTube. In an era when so much pop music is the product of digital processing and vocal pro-tooling, Straight No Chaser is the real deal- the captivating sound of ten unadulterated human voices coming together to make extraordinary music that is moving people in a fundamental sense...and with a sense of humor.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Straight No Chaser's Debut Will Definitely Put You in the Holiday Spirit\\n\\nReview: I don't need any more Christmas music. Really! I've got enough Christmas music that I don't even get through it all in December. But that doesn't stop me from buying more. This last year, I discovered the a cappella group Straight No Chaser and just had to get their first CD. Holiday Spirits is a collection of Christmas songs that you are guaranteed to love.\\n\\nStraight No Chaser rose to fame based on a You Tube video of a live performance of \\\"The Twelve Days of Christmas.\\\" That live version is included in this disc. Now just in case you are thinking, \\\"I've heard this song a million times,\\\" trust me, you've never heard it like this. Yes, the first 45 seconds or so seem fairly normal. But then they start going crazy, throwing in such songs as \\\"Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer,\\\" \\\"Carol of the Bells,\\\" \\\"The Boar's Head Carol,\\\" and even \\\"I Have a Little Dreidel\\\" and \\\"Africa.\\\" The audience loves it, and frankly listening to their reactions is half the fun. I know where all the jokes are, and I still don't get tired of it.\\n\\nThe rest of the songs are more traditionally done, although the group still puts a distinctive touch to them. \\\"Santa Claus Is Coming to Town\\\" starts things off, and don't let those first few seconds of slow harmony fool you. This is an upbeat, toe tapping arrangement. Or, if you prefer, you can snap your fingers along with the guys. It really gives you a good feel for the joys you can expect for the rest of the disc since the harmonies are tight.\\n\\n\\\"Jingle Bell Rock\\\" does slow things down a little, but it feels like the traditional speed for the song. You can still definitely tap along with it and those amazing harmonies.\\n\\nEveryone seems to do their own version of \\\"The Christmas Song,\\\" and the guys take it on here. It's appropriately slow. This is mostly a traditional version of the song with one of the guys singing and the rest humming the instruments in the background. It's not the best version of the song or the best song on the disc, but it is pleasant.\\n\\nDespite my extensive Christmas music collection, there are several songs on here I'm not that familiar with. \\\"This Christmas\\\" is one of those. It's a nice mid-tempo song about how special a first Christmas with the one you love is.\\n\\nThat song is followed by one of two completely original songs. \\\"Christmas Wish\\\" hits home a little as a single guy asks for a woman for Christmas. It's another mid-tempo song with a really catchy melody. I found myself singing along after not too many times through the disc.\\n\\nThe other original song is \\\"Indiana Christmas.\\\" While the song is original, the sentiment is familiar as it sings about the longing to be home for Christmas. Listening to it makes me long for those cozy nights by the tree with my own family and friends.\\n\\nThe Beach Boys would be proud of their cover of \\\"Little Saint Nick\\\" complete with jingle bells keeping the beat. Of course, since the Beach Boys had such great harmonies, this song is a natural fit for Straight No Chaser.\\n\\nThey also cover \\\"Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)\\\" and include the bells again. I find the sadness of the lyrics an interesting contrast to the upbeat melody. I always find myself tapping my toes to this one.\\n\\nBack on the traditional front, they chose to include \\\"Sweet Little Jesus Boy.\\\" I don't have very many versions of this song, and I thought I didn't like it. Maybe I just hadn't heard the right version yet. It's still not a favorite, but the slow, thoughtful version they do here makes me appreciate it more. Of course, those great harmonies don't hurt things either.\\n\\nI'm conflicted about their version of \\\"Carol of the Bells.\\\" They spend about half of the two and a quarter minutes with the basses singing \\\"Ding Dong\\\" while other members hum either the melody of this song or \\\"God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.\\\" It's beautiful and haunting. Then they do start actually singing the song, and I like it even more. I guess really I just wish the song were longer. It's dramatic, perfect for this group.\\n\\nThey close things out with a slightly upbeat version of \\\"Auld Lang Syne.\\\" This traditional New Years song is back to the fun of the earlier songs on the disc. It's still a pretty straight version of the song, and I like that fact since I do like this song.\\n\\nReally, this whole disc is very fun, and it's a shame to only dig it out once a year. I have a feeling that I will be pulling it out earlier than December most years.\\n\\nYet it is also perfect for mid-December. I have quite a few Christmas discs that begin to sound the same after a while. This one definitely stands out and makes you really start listening to Christmas music again.\\n\\nSo if you want something fun and original to add to your Christmas music collection, give the guys of Straight No Chaser a shot. Holiday Spirits will entertain anyone who likes a cappella music and give everyone a break from the more traditional arrangements.\",\n \"Product: 2009 PROVIDENT LABEL GROUP CD\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: An Old Title but New Songs\\n\\nReview: I almost bypassed John Waller's second CD because of the title. I recognized it right away from his enjoyable first release. Fortunately, I stopped to look at the tracks and saw there was plenty of new material here.\\n\\nBut let's start with the old. \\\"While I'm Waiting\\\" has become huge because it was on the soundtrack for Fireproof. It is included here sounding identical to how it sounded on the first release. I'll admit it does bug me when an artist does that. I can almost understand it in this case since it has become a hit in the last two years. Anyway, the song itself is great. The final track is a mix of that song including dialogue from the movie. It's skip able in my opinion, but maybe I'll feel differently if I ever get a chance to see the movie.\\n\\nNow, let's move on to the other 10 tracks here. He's kept the same pop/rock sound. He gets most rocking on \\\"Our God Reigns Here,\\\" but is appropriately quiet on \\\"Perfect Peace.\\\" Heck, there's even a slight hint of country on \\\"Cling to the Call\\\" (although that might just be me).\\n\\nLyrically, he touches on such topics as dying to self (\\\"Dead Man Walking\\\"), the search for God (\\\"Quest\\\"), and the wonder of Jesus humbling himself for us (\\\"Of All the Places\\\").\\n\\nThere are two songs I absolutely love. \\\"Faith is Living\\\" reminds us of our call to put our faith in God at all times. It does admit the struggles with doubt which I must admit I have more than I should.\\n\\nEqually honest is \\\"Cling to the Call.\\\" Written at a time of struggle, it contrasts past victories with current defeat while resolving to cling to Jesus to get us through.\\n\\nUnfortunately, there are some moments of the trite and cliche that he struggled with before. \\\"House of God\\\" and \\\"Dead Man Walking\\\" are really nothing new. One says that God's house is his people, while the second uses Colossians as its chorus. As much as I enjoy \\\"Our God Reigns Here,\\\" I'm a little uncomfortable with the second verse which seems to be approaching Charismatic territory for this Baptist boy.\\n\\nSo no, this still isn't a perfect release. However, it does have some strong songs on it I will be enjoying for some time to come.\",\n \"Product: 1. Life Light Up 2. A Mighty Fortress 3. Choose 4. Hosanna 5. In Your Hands 6. My Master 7. No Not One 8. Song of the Beautiful 9. You Are Able 10. Marvelous Light\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: This Disc Will Light Up Your Worship\\n\\nReview: I always enjoyed Watermark's releases, so when I found out that half the husband and wife duo would be releasing a solo CD, I immediately knew I'd buy it. And it was a decision I am thrilled I made.\\n\\nIn her solo debut, Christy takes her standard praise and worship fare and infuses it with a pop flavor. While there are slower moments, this feels light and free, much more upbeat than anything she and Nathan ever did as Watermark.\\n\\nTake the first track, for example. I've been a fan of \\\"No Not One\\\" since I heard it as the disc closer on co-author Brandon Heath's CD. Christy takes the song and ups the tempo, making it much more infection and fun.\\n\\nAnd yet it's two of the slower tracks I am most drawn to. \\\"A Might Fortress\\\" isn't the familiar hymn, although it does borrow a line or two from it. The idea is still the same, God is a refuge to those who choose to dwell in Him. Yet the music elevates it to a level of triumphant praise.\\n\\n\\\"My Master,\\\" on the other hand, is a song of surrender. It's a beautiful ballad that draws on an idea from the Old Testament of a servant choosing to stay with a master for all time.\\n\\nThere are two covers of popular praise choruses here. \\\"Marvelous Light\\\" is an upbeat cover that makes you want to move as you worship. I'm not as big a fan of \\\"Hosanna.\\\" The version here is mid tempo and quite good. The lyrics just seem a bit generic compared to the rest of the disc to me.\\n\\nMy only real problem with the disc is that, even with tempo changes, the songs begin to sound the same after a while. There's just a bit too much reliance on electric instruments.\\n\\nFans of any of Christy's previous work will certainly enjoy this disc. And if you are looking for a new worship artist, be sure to check her out.\",\n \"Product: Aaron Shust delivers his third album in classic Shust style. Produced by Jason Ingram and Rusty Varenkamp, Take Over continues his Praise & Worship legacy, while expanding the songwriting boundaries. For this outing, Aaron co-wrote songs with Ingram, Brandon Heath, Matthew West ,Ian Eskelin, Matt Bronleewe and others. The first single, "To God Alone", is climbing the radio charts and will rival the success of "My Savior My God". Take Over is a perennial seller in the making.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Aaron's Amazing Third CD\\n\\nReview: Since I've felt that Aaron Shust's first two releases were uneven, I wasn't sure what I would think of his latest release. I've been listening to it for a few days now, and I've got to say I love it.\\n\\nSince Aaron is also a music pastor at a church, there is a high focus on worship songs. But they aren't always corporate worship songs, but more songs of individual worship. Some would certainly work in both settings. For example, disc opener \\\"To God Alone\\\" could easily become a worship song in contemporary church services. But the lyrics are actually a personal prayer to be used by God and give Him the glory no matter what. Think of it as a contemporary \\\"Take My Life.\\\"\\n\\nReally, I guess most of these songs would work in a corporate worship setting. Even so, \\\"Live to Lose\\\" and \\\"Still You Love Me\\\" seem very personal songs. I especially love the second one as it takes its themes from the reminder that God knows all our faults in Psalm 139, one of my favorite Psalms.\\n\\nMost of the disc is the soft rock/pop that we've come to expect from Aaron. He changes things up enough to make the disc interesting to listen to. It's all piano and guitar based.\\n\\nThe big exception to that is \\\"Come and Save Us.\\\" This is a driving rock song with screaming guitar. And I can't get enough of it.\\n\\n\\\"Stars Will Fall\\\" is an interesting take on the familiar theme of God's power. The verses actually talk about times of struggle with little to no hope. But the chorus reminds us of the incredible power of the name of Jesus.\\n\\nAn early favorite is \\\"Rest in the Arms.\\\" It's a simple melody with a powerful reminder that we can always depend on God.\\n\\nBut my favorite song on the disc by far is \\\"Ever After.\\\" It's an upbeat pop song written from a parent to his or her child telling him that happy endings and Never Never Land aren't real. It doesn't come out and talk about God and Heaven, but it hints that our happy ending comes after this life. I absolutely love this song.\\n\\nIronically, the only song I'm not crazy about is the title song. \\\"Take Over\\\" is a great song of surrender, but the melody is too repetitive and boring.\\n\\nIf you don't normally buy physical discs any more, I highly recommend you make an exception for this one. The booklet that comes with it include some extensive thoughts on each song from Aaron and are well worth having.\\n\\nAll told, this is my favorite release from Aaron. I know I'll be enjoying it for a long time to come.\",\n \"Product: CD How Many Kings\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Modern Christmas Collection to Get\\n\\nReview: I hadn't given much thought to what kind of Christmas CD downhere might produce, but I got excited when I found out that release was on the way. My faith was rewarded with a great disc.\\n\\nIt's really no surprise that downhere included the two songs from the group CD \\\"Bethlehem Skyline\\\" from a few years back. While \\\"Glory to God\\\" is a fine song, it has never grabbed me. The same can't be said of their modern Christmas classic, \\\"How Many Kings.\\\" It opens and closes the disc. If somehow you've missed it, it marvels in the facts of Christmas, God becoming man. The first version is the one we've been enjoying for a few years now, but the second one is a complete reimagining. They emphasis strings and the harmonies, making it sound very different.\\n\\nOther new songs include the reminder that Christmas is about how God has changed our hearts in \\\"Christmas in Our Hearts\\\" and \\\"Gift Carol\\\" is about God's gift of Jesus to us. I especially love that second one.\\n\\nThe rest of the tracks may be traditional songs, but they certainly aren't familiar. True, they play it mostly safe with songs such as \\\"Silent Night\\\" and \\\"Angels from the Realms of Glory,\\\" but the true delights are the others. \\\"God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen\\\" has been turned into a rock anthem, and Marc and Jason's vocals compliment each other so well here. \\\"What Child is This?\\\" is brought to life by more great harmonies and just some acoustic guitar.\\n\\nAnd then there are the moments that are just plain fun. \\\"Five Golden Rings\\\" never fails to make me laugh as it passes by (quite quickly since it is just 11 seconds). \\\"Good King Wenceslas\\\" is a funky version that makes this little recorded version stand out (I'm still trying to decide if I like it or not). And they do all the verses for \\\"We Wish You a Merry Christmas\\\" in four part harmony with drums and trombone accompanying them.\\n\\nSome people might not gravitate to this disc right away, but if you give it enough time, I think you'll enjoy it. Downhere's many fans will certainly love it. I know this will give me another reason to look forward to December every year.\",\n \"Product: 2010 release from the Gospel music vet containing six brand new songs, two previously unreleased tracks, three of her best loved story-songs and a new recording of the classic 'Arms Of Love'. The theme for the album is stories and journeys. Amy has always been a great storyteller and many of her most impactful songs have come from her own journey as she sings about the honesty of life, its joys and struggles, and ultimately the hope she has found in faith and love. The songs on Somewhere Down The Road read like journal entries that will resonate with anyone who grapples with wanting answers to life's toughest questions.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Amy Grant's Return is One Her Fans Will Enjoy\\n\\nReview: Amy Grant's Return is One Her Fans Will Enjoy\\n\\nWhen this disc came out in 2010, It had been seven years since we had a new studio album from Amy Grant. Not that she's been completely absent during that time. We've gotten a second hymns project, two best of's, a concert CD/DVD combo, and one Christmas best of. But Somewhere Down the Road is the first time we've had some truly new music from the artist.\\n\\nI've got to admit, I wasn't impressed by the release at first. But I kept listening to it, and slowly the songs have grown on me. I'm really enjoying most of them now, and think I will be listening to it for quite a while.\\n\\nOne strike against the disc is the number of retread songs. Three of the songs, including the title track, are copies from previous releases Behind the Eyes and Rock of Ages...Hymns and Faith. Additionally, \\\"Arms of Love\\\" is a new, more contemplative recording of a lesser classic from Age to Age. I've always loved this song, and the new version comes close to matching the first one for me. But these recycled tracks put me off a little bit. It does seem to be that after seven years she could come up with a completely new release.\\n\\nBut once I started listening to the 8 new tracks, I really liked them. In many ways this is a follow up to 1997's Behind the Eyes, which was a great disc. Once again, we've got a bit of the folk sound going on here. While the songs on the previous release were a bit focused on the hardships of life, this disc is looking at them from the other side of things. It acknowledges the hard times, but it reminds us there is hope in the midst of them and on the other side.\\n\\nThe disc opens with the first single, \\\"Better Than a Hallelujah.\\\" It's a nice mid-tempo opener heavy on the piano and guitar. The song reminds us that God loves to hear our pleas for help as much (or more) than our pure praise. I don't quite know why this song struck me as it did, but this was an early favorite because I so often forget that God loves to hear us surrender to Him.\\n\\nAmy's daughter Sarah Chapman joins her for the next track. (And does it ever make me feel old to find out that Sarah is now 17.) \\\"Overnight\\\" reminds us that we will only truly enjoy the joys of life after going through darker times. What amazes me is that Sarah's voice appears to be even deeper than Amy's.\\n\\n\\\"Unafraid\\\" is a very slow, quiet song as it celebrates the true freedom that unconditional love from any source gives someone. The last verse about Amy's mother is packed with emotion. The strings behind the plucked guitar really add to the beauty of the song.\\n\\n\\\"Hard Times\\\" picks things up a few notches. There's nothing especially amazing about the lyrics that simply remind us that we will always face hard times. But it focuses on the wisdom passed from one generation to another that love and dreams will get you through them. And the mini choir behind her on the chorus really helps add some joy to the song.\\n\\n\\\"What is the Change of That\\\" is the first of two songs written in 1996 but not released until now. This is the only true soft rock song on the disc, but the harmonicas add a hint of country flavor, too. Considering how much of the song talks about trains, those harmonicas add a fun touch there.\\n\\n\\\"Third World Woman\\\" contemplates the luxuries we have in America and, in a subtle way to take some action to help those in poverty around the world. It's got a catchy beat and melody.\\n\\nI've got to admit that I cringed a little the first time I heard \\\"Find What You're Looking For.\\\" But I was listening to a song to find deep theological truths. Um, that's probably not the best place for it, right? Once I got over that, I really began to enjoy it. The song, inspired by Amy's ex-mother-in-law, reminds us that we can find good or bad in anyone around us. In fact, what we go looking for is what we will find. This song isn't about how sinful man can be but about our need to open our eyes and hearts to those around us, trying to find the good. The guitar heavy, mid-tempo music really catches your ear and lets you meditate on the message.\\n\\nThe final new track was originally recorded in 1996. It's a simple recording with just Amy and her guitar. But anything more would ruin the simple power of the song. \\\"Come Into My World\\\" is a plea to who love someone to get involved in their messy, hurting life. The simplicity makes it that much more vulnerable.\\n\\nI truly do wish we were getting 12 new to us songs here. But I can't complain about the power of the new songs we do get. The older songs blend in well, making this a complete package. Somewhere Down the Road may never hit the level of Amy's 80's classics in my eyes, but I have a feeling it will get lots of play time as I travel the road of life.\",\n \"Product: Grammy-nominated and RIAA multi-Gold selling artist Jeremy Camp is set to release his seventh studio project, We Cry Out - The Worship Project. Once again Camp teamed up with award-winning producer Brown Bannister to create a heartfelt, worshipful project. Returning to his worship music roots, he co-wrote with other notable worship leaders Matt Maher, Reuben Morgan (Hillsong) and Brenton Brown. \\\"It is an overwhelming joy to see how the Lord has been faithful even though I am undeserving of it,\\\" shared Camp thinking back on his career. \\\"I just want to continue to seek Him in all that I do, and want to always remember that it's the Lord doing the work...not me!\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: We Cry Out, We Cry Out, We Cry Out Repetitively\\n\\nReview: When I heard that Jeremy Camp was coming out with another worship CD, I was excited. His original worship CD is my favorite of his releases. Naturally, I pre-ordered We Cry Out and rushed out to pick it up on release day. So far, I've been underwhelmed. The parts of the CD aren't bad, but they don't come together for a good whole.\\n\\nWhen it comes to music, I like variety. Otherwise, my ear just tunes the CD out. This CD pretty much consists of pop/rock heavy on the electric guitar. Tempos are pretty much upbeat. It's not that it sounds bad, it's just that there is little to distinguish one song from the next.\\n\\nThe lyrics fall into the same boat. Worship songs as a whole can be more repetitive than most songs, but the ones here seem to be worse than normal. Often, the chorus seems to be a couple lines repeated with a word or two changed. The worst of the lot is \\\"Everlasting God.\\\" The chorus is one line repeated over and over, and the only verse doesn't add much variety to the mix.\\n\\nAs bad as this sounds, the songs are fine on their own. They aren't bad, and mixed in with other stuff, they actually sound good. But it's when you listen to them straight through that you begin to see the problem.\\n\\nThe songs are a mix of covers by well known worship writers and Jeremy's original songs. The disc opens with \\\"Jesus Saves,\\\" a cover of a Tim Hughes song. And it's a great example of what I was just talking about. The song celebrates the salvation found in Jesus, and the verses are a great reflection on that. But then you get to the chorus. \\\"Shout it out/To let all the world know that Jesus saves/Raise a shout/To let all the world know that Jesus saves.\\\" I could actually picture myself getting caught up in the moment singing this song, but couples with the rest, that chorus gets annoying.\\n\\nThe one cover on here I recognized right off the bat was \\\"Mighty to Save.\\\" I've sung this one multiple times in church, and I do like it despite the repetition. Again, the song is strong on the guitars as Jeremy sings of the wonders of God saving us.\\n\\n\\\"The Way\\\" is one of Jeremy Camp's original songs on here and looks at creation and how it points of God. This song actually makes very good use of the keyboard to providing a haunting counter melody on the verses before the guitar takes over on the chorus.\\n\\nJeremy also wrote the title track. \\\"We Cry Out\\\" jumps off from the idea of creation proclaiming God's glory to talk about how we have even more reason to cry out to God because of all he has done for us. Again, it's heavy on the drums and guitar, but it does have a very catchy melody.\\n\\n\\\"Unrestrained\\\" is a slower song without truly slowing things down. This is a song of surrender, praying to not hold back anything from God. While this song is definitely guitar based, the keyboard in the background certainly makes for a nice touch.\\n\\nMy favorite track here is a cover of Matt and Beth Redman's \\\"You Never Let Go.\\\" It borrows heavily from the Psalms for it's lyrics as it talks about trusting God in the middle of the trials of life. I like the fact that the chorus talks about God holding us through the highs and lows of life. I so often only focus on God during the hard times, and I need that reminder.\\n\\nAs you can see, there are some great individual songs on We Cry Out. I want to like this CD more, I really do. But it just gets too repetitive to be one I'll pull out very often.\",\n \"Product: The album, The Generous Mr. Lovewell, revolves around a fictional character we created who reminds us that we simply need to love others well. For some of us, it means that we need to put hands and feet on our ideology and rhetoric. For others, it means that we need to continue in doing well, but to not stop there. We need to let people know why we are called to make a difference. Our prayer is that this album would mobilize the body of Christ to encourage people in word and deed. It's almost like a 'pay-it-forward' idea that revolves around the Cross. We are called to be servants to our neighbors, but if we don't share the gospel with them, it's almost offensive and we have only accomplished a part of what God has called us to do. We need to stop letting the world teach us theology about how to act or speak. We need to encourage one another to provide a helping hand to our neighbor, offer up random acts of kindness and share with others how our lives have been transformed by the power of the Cross. It doesn't take much action - or even many words - to make a difference both here and forever. - Bart Millard, MercyMe\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: MercyMe Calls Us to a Radical Love in the Name of Jesus\\n\\nReview: MercyMe Calls Us to a Radical Love in the Name of Jesus\\n\\nMercyMe is back with The Generous Mr. Lovewell, their sixth studio release, and it's sure to please fans. It's definitely on the rockier side of their releases, but its fun with so many great messages.\\n\\nThe biggest message of this disc is love. It weaves its way through several of the songs, both explicitly and implicitly. Quite obviously, the title track really emphasizes this theme. \\\"The Generous Mr. Lovewell\\\" actually reminds us that love isn't about the big things we do for others. The second verse talks about how just a kind word can brighten someone's day. Of course, it does also talk about bigger offers of help. And I like the reminder to always be on the lookout for ways to help. It's an upbeat song and has the catchiest melody on the disc. No matter what song I stop listen to the disc with, I always find myself humming this particular song.\\n\\n\\\"Crazy Enough\\\" also picks up on this theme. It looks at the idea of truly loving our \\\"brother for nothing in return\\\" and how it might impact the world. This song is definitely a pop anthem, but it uses a minor key to really stand out from the rest of the disc.\\n\\n\\\"Won't You Be My Love\\\" is written from Jesus' point of view and reminds us that we are called to love others in His name. While never directly quoting Matthew, it borrows heavily from the passage about \\\"Loving the least of these in My name.\\\" This guitar heavy ballad incorporates strings for a nice, quieter moment.\\n\\nAs they often will, MercyMe closes the disc with a very short song. In fact, the minute and a half \\\"This So Called Love\\\" feels like a first verse looking to be expanded. But as a Coda to the rest of the disc, it works very well. It's actually a sobering reminder that no matter what we do and how we help others, without Jesus, it means nothing. It's a slow song with some haunting sounds.\\n\\nThe theme of radical love (which is what this call really boils down to) influences some of the other tracks as well. For example, the disc opener, \\\"This Life\\\" is a call to get out of our comfort zone and see what God would do with us there. And if love doesn't do that for you, I don't know what will. The song uses heavy electric instruments and a touch of vocal distortion to really help drive the point home. Plus it's just plain fun to listen to. I can't help but nod my head or tap my toe along with this upbeat number.\\n\\nYou could even argue \\\"Beautiful\\\" fits in with the theme. It's an upbeat ballad written to those who don't think they are worth anything. No, it's not terribly original, but at times you just need the simple reminders to get through a trial.\\n\\nSpeaking of trials, MercyMe tackles that favorite subject in \\\"Move.\\\" I'd argue this is the rockiest song on the disc as they rely on God's promise to see us through the bad times to the brighter days. I dare you to listen to this song without getting a smile and tapping your toes.\\n\\nThere are a couple songs of pure praise as well on the disc. \\\"All of Creation\\\" finds us back in the ballad territory the band has always done so well. Keyboard is the dominate instrument here as they lead all creation in praise for God redeeming us from the sin that separates us from Him.\\n\\n\\\"Only You Remain\\\" actually sounds like a modern praise song we could hear in church soon. Again, we're on the slow side of things with the full band playing here. There isn't anything super original about the lyrics, but the way it praises God for who He is makes it a great track.\\n\\nThe disc does come a bit close to all the songs sounding the same at times. The music is either guitar or keyboard driven and the differences between songs are more subtle when you listen to the disc in order. But after a few listens, things really do begin to stand out, mainly because of the great lyrics.\\n\\nMercyMe really burst onto the Christian music scene, and they don't show any signs of slowing down. The Generous Mr. Lovewell is another strong disc that will help keep them in the spotlight for many years to come.\",\n \"Product: For his new record, Matthew West did something unusual: He turned the microphone around. Rather than write about what he was experiencing in his life, he asked his fans to submit the stories of their lives. When he opened up this opportunity to his fans, the message spread quickly - and soon almost 10,000 stories were submitted. Radio stations, media outlets, and retailers caught the vision and helped spread the word of this unique album. The stories gave Matthew a window into what his fans had experienced in their lives. And they covered a wide range of human experiences and emotions. From joy to sorrow, struggle to victory, and life and death. The song \\\"Family Tree\\\" describes how Christ gives us a new identity and legacy and life, while \\\"One Less' chronicles the joy of adoption and helping those most in need. \\\"Broken Girl\\\" tragically recounts the countless stories Matthew received about sexual abuse - and describes the healing and redemption that Christ promises. \\\"My Own Little World\\\" perhaps serves as a capstone to the entire album, describing a person who lived in their own \\\"little world\\\" and then was awakened to the bigger picture of need and God's work in the world.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Musical Encouragement to Face the Story of Your Life\\n\\nReview: Earlier this year, Matthew West decided to spend some time in a cabin writing songs. But before he left, he asked his fans to send him stories from their lives to help inspire his writing. The result of this unique collaboration is The Story of Your Life.\\n\\nI'll admit, when I first heard about the disc, I was pretty skeptical. Event discs like this can be bad as often as they are good. But I had nothing to worry about. This is Matthew's strongest release to date by a large margin.\\n\\nOne reason I like the disc is that it is constantly filled with the hope of God's love. Okay, so it isn't cheesy or forced. Sometimes it's very subtle. But it is part of every song on the disc. Take the title track for example. \\\"The Story of Your Life\\\" starts out the disc with a mid-tempo anthem that reminds us to leave the past behind and take today as a new beginning. The song never once mentions God; in fact, the only line that comes close is a reminder in the second verse that \\\"love is up to something.\\\" I could see this song and several others being cross over hits if the right stations pick them up.\\n\\nWhile most of the songs are encouraging, \\\"My Own Little World\\\" is a song of conviction. In fact, it's the only song Matthew wrote inspired by his experiences reading the e-mails he got. It's a challenge to remember the least of these we pass everyday and open up our world to those who hurt.\\n\\nThree songs of encouragement are my favorites on the disc. The first of those is \\\"Strong Enough.\\\" The song starts with the lines \\\"You must think I'm strong/to give me what I'm going through.\\\" The song caught me from the opening line. Yes, it's a song from the point of view of someone struggling with a heavy trial as they surrender and ask God to help them through it. I've been there several times, and this song perfectly captures the feelings. Yet the music is upbeat and seems to be more encouraging than you'd expect from a song of surrender.\\n\\nSpeaking of upbeat songs, \\\"To Me\\\" is a fun, guitar picked ditty that offers encouragement from parent to child (or Heavenly Father to us). The focus is on a child being bullied and serves as a reminder that there is something special in every child. With all the news about bullying right now, this song would be an instant hit. And it's got a very catchy melody. You'll find yourself humming along before you know it.\\n\\nRounding out my trio of favorites is actually a slow song. \\\"The Reason for the World\\\" takes a look at the pain death brings into our lives. It doesn't try to force answers on us, but ultimately just points us to Heaven and God's love. The piano and strings are beautiful and the words are a good reminder of our hope in God without being so filled with cliches that it turns off those hurting.\\n\\nSome of the other songs touch on letting go of harmful family legacies, the hope of adoption, and the pain a child goes through in a divorce.\\n\\nThe most interesting song musically is \\\"Broken Girl.\\\" The song is aimed at those who have suffered from sexual abuse, and Matthew does a great job of poetically making it obvious what he's talking about. But it's the music I love. This is the only song that isn't a pop song but is a driving rock ballad in a minor key. It's loud with electric guitar and driving drums. It's a great song.\\n\\nThe final song on the disc is \\\"The Healing Has Begun.\\\" While it is aimed at those recovering from having an abortion, it really does work as a finale for the entire disc. It's a nice piano anthem that reminds us that God forgives anything and is willing to help us move forward with our lives.\\n\\nIt's fairly obvious what most of these songs are about, but the booklet that comes with the CD does talk about the stories that inspired Matthew to write the songs. He is currently sharing even more on his web site, but I like the permanence of the book to have in the future.\\n\\nIt's impossible to get through this disc without feeling encouraged and uplifted. Yes, some of the songs do move me to tears, but they never leave me this way. The Story of Your Life is going to be a huge hit for Matthew West, and all the praise he gets will be well deserved.\",\n \"Product: Mary Poppins is bringing its own brand of Broadway magic to theaters across the country, which has Variety raving, This is the rare touring production that over-delivers on every level Featuring the irresistible story and unforgettable songs from one of the most popular Disney films of all time, plus brand- new breathtaking dance numbers and spectacular stage-craft, Mary Poppins is everything you could ever want in a hit Broadway show! So get swept up in the fun of this high-flying musical the New York Post gives 4 out of 4 stars and calls a perfect piece of musical theater.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: A Second Broadway Cast Recording for Mary Poppins\\n\\nReview: Last year, I finally got to see Disney's Broadway musical Mary Poppins. Not surprising since I love the movie, but I loved the play version as well. And since I love to get soundtracks for plays I've seen, I bought the Original Live Cast Recording afterward.\\n\\nThere are already two cast recordings floating around out there, which is surprising for a show that isn't that old. I chose this one because they have made some tweaks to the show since it first opened, including adding the song \\\"Playing the Game.\\\" Since this is the version I saw, this was the version I decided to get.\\n\\nYou might have noticed that this is a live recording, something I don't remember seeing for other soundtracks before. I was recording down in Australia over the course of five nights. The sound quality is excellent, and you'd never know it wasn't recording in the studio while the cast is singing. You do get applause between most of the songs, which doesn't bother me at all. The only time you get the audience over the singers is during the final \\\"Bows\\\" track. No big deal there since they should be clapping. The only real issue I have is that they used five different sets of kids to play Jane and Michael Banks over the course of those five nights, and you can tell since their voices keep changing between songs. A minor point.\\n\\nIf you haven't seen the Broadway version of the show, you are in for some surprises. Yes, you'll recognize many of the song titles from the movie, although not all the songs make it over. However, their place in the play and at times the words of the songs are often quite different. True, you get some songs like \\\"A Spoonful of Sugar\\\" that haven't been touched. The same is true of the lyrics of \\\"Jolly Holiday,\\\" although the setting is different and there's an interlude with the kids. \\\"Let's Go Fly a Kite\\\" is lyrically the same as well. The heart of \\\"Step in Time\\\" remains the same, and outside of a few pronouns, the didn't mess with \\\"Feed the Birds.\\\"\\n\\nBut then there are the songs that are very different. The best example is \\\"Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.\\\" There are so many new lyrics to this song, it is an absolute delight. I can't help but laugh at some of what they came up with. And Mary Poppins really does say the word backwards here, not syllable by syllable like in the movie but actually taking the letters backward. It's quite impressive.\\n\\nAnd of course, there are the new songs. \\\"Anything Can Happen\\\" is my favorite, and I think it's a song that Disney himself would have loved with it's optimistic look at life. They repeat melodies and lyrics from some of the songs, most noticeably \\\"Precision and Order\\\" and \\\"A Man Has Dreams\\\" in multiple tracks. It really helps give the soundtrack a more unified feel.\\n\\nThen there's the song \\\"Playing the Game.\\\" It's a pretty song with a haunting melody in a minor key. Yet it's a bit creepy as Mary seems to turn a bit mean as she brings Jane and Michael's toys to life to try to get the kids to treat them properly. It was definitely the scariest part of the play, and that comes across in the song.\\n\\nAnd that includes the songs sung by Miss Andrew, Mr. Bank's old nanny who appears at one point here. Her two tracks, both entitled \\\"Brimstone and Treacle\\\" are so over the top they are kind of fun. Okay, so they don't work out of the context of the play like so many of the classic songs do, but I like them. The second time around is her showdown with Mary Poppins, and much of that is lost without the actual action on stage, but I would have been disappointed if they had left it out.\\n\\nOne thing I appreciate is that there is enough music here you can follow the story. It helps that I had seen it first, but as I listen to the sound track again, bits and pieces of it come back to me. Between the dialogue they include and the 25 tracks, you get a good chunk of the play.\\n\\nSo let's talk accents. Despite the fact that this was recorded down under, I feel the characters sound British. And those accents never get in the way of understanding the lyrics. Bert's voice can sound nasally at times; I miss Dick Van Dyke's Bert, bad accent and all.\\n\\nThe CD comes with a think booklet with all the lyrics and spoken bits from the CD attributed to the correct character. That's helpful on a couple of songs, although after a couple of listens it's easy to tell who is who. There are also pictures of those songs from the stage on each page, which is a fun bonus.\\n\\nWhile I will also love the songs from the original movie, this version of them is fun, too. I'm glad to have Mary Poppins: The Original Live Cast Recording in my collection.\",\n \"Product: Following in the footsteps of her freshman release, the critically acclaimed Great God Who Saves, Blessings is a worship project at heart with constant threads of pop energy and singer/songwriter warmth. The album was recorded in Georgia at Chris Tomlin's studio and produced by Nathan Nockels (Passion, Philips, Craig & Dean, Point of Grace). Story penned most of the ten songs herself but also partnered with co-writers including Brenton Brown and Third Day's Mac Powell. Story also recently received her third consecutive GMA nomination for "Female Vocalist of the Year." But amidst all of her success she has her fair share of struggles when a brain tumor hospitalized her husband in 2006 and took her on a ride that no one could have ever prepared her for. In Blessings, Story sings about her faith that was put through the unexpected fires of fear and loneliness; most young newlyweds don't imagine being kept alive at one point by breathing machines or having to find their way through significant post-operative vision and memory loss.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: I Wish This Entire Disc Were as Much a Blessing as the Title Track\\n\\nReview: My first introduction to Laura Story was the title track from this CD. I feel in love and had to get the disc, especially when I found it on sale. However, the rest of it has never grabbed me. I've listened to Blessings off and on for over a year, and I still find the majority of the CD only average.\\n\\nPart of the problem with this CD is the genre. Laura is very focused on worship music, and that's what this disc mostly is. I tend to find that genre rather weak and repetitive. I like the songs in small doses, but if I listen to an entire disc of them, I get bored.\\n\\nAnd there's certainly nothing wrong with the lyrics to any of the songs here. \\\"This is the Day\\\" celebrates the changes salvation brings to our lives. \\\"Friend of Sinners\\\" marvels at Jesus' sacrifice for us. \\\"Remember\\\" is a great song for communion. And \\\"Faithful God\\\" praises Him for keeping His promises no matter what we do. Even \\\"Prodigal Song\\\" offers a touching look at the father as he waits for his son to return home.\\n\\nLike with the lyrics, the music is fine but nothing impressive. It is mostly piano based with a few guitar oriented songs. However, it is also very repetitive and on the slower mid-tempo side.\\n\\nThis is one of those discs that tends to all blend together. Individually, I do like the songs, but when I listen to it as a whole, I get tired of it quickly.\\n\\nThen there's the title track. \\\"Blessings\\\" is a reminder and prayer that God is using the trials to bring us to Him. \\\"What if your blessings some through raindrops/What if your healing comes through tears/What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near.\\\" The powerful lyrics are coupled with moving piano ballad backing. It's the slowest track here and the only one that stands out from the others. I absolutely love it.\\n\\nThis was the first of Laura's releases I bought, and I had written her off. However, after catching her in concert with Steven Curtis Chapman and Jason Gray, I was persuaded to give her another chance, and I've liked her other CD's better.\\n\\nSo it looks like Laura Story fell victim to the sophomore slump. I highly recommend the title track from Blessings, but the rest of the disc is just average.\",\n \"Product: 25 of the wackiest, the funniest and the most sing-able silly songs from the VeggieTales vault of fun! It s the most silliness allowed to be on one collection!\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Creative and Funny Silly Songs on This Ape...I Mean CD\\n\\nReview: A few years back, I was wishing that VeggieTales would release a new disc of their silly songs. I must not have been the only one since not too long afterward I found 25 Favorite Silly Songs! And it's just what I wanted.\\n\\nThe silly songs are a fan favorite section of each VeggieTales video, and they are just what they sound like. Occasionally, they might have a slight connection to the video (okay, there's only one time I can really think of). Most of the time, they are just a chance to bewellsilly.\\n\\nThe disc starts off with the classics. While personally, I wouldn't have minded if they'd been skipped since they were part of an older disc I already have, I can see why they were included. I mean, really, how can you have a disc of favorite silly songs without including the one that started it all, \\\"The Water Buffalo Song.\\\" And so many of those early ones are classics (and at almost 20 years old, it's not too much off base to say that). There's \\\"The Hairbrush Song,\\\" \\\"The Dance of the Cucumber,\\\" and \\\"The Pirates Who Dont Do Anything.\\\" They play around with other genres a bit with the 70's ballad \\\"His Cheeseburger\\\" and the mash up of barbershop quartet with yodeling that is \\\"The Yodeling Veterinarian of the Alps.\\\"\\n\\nBut I was thrilled to get some of the newer songs in my collection. This part of the disc starts out with \\\"Belly Button,\\\" which introduces the boy band The Boyz in the Sink. We learn all about homophones in \\\"School House Polka.\\\" I thought that one might not be as funny without the words on the screen, but it still works well.\\n\\nAnd if you want to talk about funny, you can't go wrong with \\\"Larry's Blues.\\\" Blind Lemon Lincoln tries to help Larry sing the blues, but it doesn't work out all that well. Parents will definitely be able to identify with \\\"Goodnight Junior\\\" as Junior Asparagus tries everything he can delay bedtime. Bob and Larry go hunting for a \\\"Monkey\\\" or an ape and Larry teaches Bob the difference between the two. (Hint, if it doesn't have a tail it's not a monkey it's an ape. And it doesn't matter what it is, if it doesn't have a tail it's an ape.) We are treated to a home shopping network selling \\\"Pants.\\\" We learn the newest dance craze, \\\"The Hopperena.\\\" And Larry does a fine Elfish impression with \\\"My Baby Elf.\\\"\\n\\nSince there are only 25 tracks, not all the silly songs are on here. Personally, I miss \\\"Sippy Cup.\\\" Surely we could have done without \\\"Endangered Love\\\" or \\\"Larry's High Silk Hat.\\\" Definitely \\\"The New and Improved Bunny Song\\\" should have given up a spot since it's not really a silly song at all. On the other hand, I certainly don't miss \\\"Gated Community\\\" or \\\"Sports Utility Vehicle.\\\"\\n\\nWhile there is certainly some variety of styles, the songs really do have a similar feel. They're fairly simple with mainly piano and guitar behind them, although they do throw in a few other instruments when the occasion calls for it. But these songs are aimed at kids and from an animated show about singing vegetables. Really, if you are expecting anything other than what you get, you'll be disappointed.\\n\\nNot that the singing is bad. I'm constantly amazed that the voice actors hit the notes well while still staying in character.\\n\\nIf you are looking for a little silliness for your music collection, this is the disc to get. And if you already know just how much fun VeggieTales silly songs can be, definitely pick up 25 Favorite Silly Songs!\",\n \"Product: When Jason inked a contract with Centricity Records in 2006 after a run of more than a decade as a hard-touring indie artist, he did so after a lot of soul-searching, wondering how his highly relational artistry would translate to a broader audience. Now with the release of his third studio album for Centricity, A Way To See In The Dark, that tension can probably be laid to rest. What emerges on the new project is a thought-provoking collection of artful, emotional and radio-friendly tunes that achieve a high level of accessibility without sacrificing any of Gray's personality or creativity. Jason Gray's songwriting has consistently earned the respect of his artist peers, largely for his uncanny ability to absorb images, emotions and truths from a variety of sources: theology, literature, relationships, his own struggles, pop culture, poetry, etc., and to pull together those diverse strands into a unified whole. Over the years he has developed a razor sharp knack for saying deep things in a way that the rest of us can relate to.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Faith and Love Versus Fear\\n\\nReview: I've had an interesting relationship with the music of Jason Gray. I first heard of him when he was opening for a band I love a few years back. I loved the songs he did and rushed to his table at the break to get the CD. To this day I love that one. Most of his others have produced one or two songs I liked. And yet I still keep buying his music. He's just released a new CD entitled A Way To See In The Dark. It's not going to top that first CD I bought, but I'm really liking it.\\n\\nThe disc comes close to falling into the trap some of his other discs do. He is a very guitar heavy artist, and many of the songs begin to sound the same. They're mid-tempo and can blend together if I'm not paying attention. He has greater variety here that helps distinguish them for me and keep me actively listening, which really helps things out.\\n\\nLike that first release I got, it's the lyrics here that capture me and make several of the song stand out to me. My favorite two are actually back to back late in the disc. \\\"A Way to See in the Dark\\\" is about the struggle between faith and certainty. As a planner, that struggle is something I fight every day of my life, and the lyrics capture that so perfectly from the opening line. \\\"Here I am/Begging for certainly again/But simple/Trust is what You're asking me to give.\\\" Later, he does talk about that faith with lines like \\\"The question mark/Hung with every fear/Is answered by/The promise that You are with me here.\\\" The song has a light, upbeat melodious sound to it, which really helps get the message across as well.\\n\\nA similar theme runs through the next track, \\\"The Other Side.\\\" This has so many lyrics that the song feels faster than it's real beat. This song talks about how much smaller the hills of life are when we look at them in retrospect. He starts by talking about a real life hill his school was on and how it seems smaller as an adult. Then he carries the analogy over to the more serious problems of hospital visits and tight finances and how God helps us get through those mountains as well. It's the bridge and final chorus where this song really hits me. \\\"How many times am I destined to prove/I can't do this all on my own.\\\" And he continues, \\\"So I won't be afraid/No matter what the trouble I see today/The maker of the mountains He will make a way/To lead me through the darkness to the other side.\\\" I wish I lived in that faith all the time.\\n\\nReally, the conflict of faith and love versus fear is a big part of the disc. Two songs deal directly with fear. There's the fun, upbeat \\\"No Thief Like Fear.\\\" It's in a minor key and has a driving beat that makes it stand out from the rest of the tracks on the disc. The chorus is a bit repetitive, but the melody is so fun I can't stop humming it even when I don't have the disc playing.\\n\\nLater on in the disc he challenges us with \\\"Fear is Easy, Love is Hard.\\\" The song talks about the divisions people great between political opponents by scaring them. But it also talks about the fear of humbling yourself to apologize for something and how that destroys love.\\n\\nThe disc actually starts out with \\\"Remind Me Who I Am,\\\" a song that talks about our position with God when we've repented no matter what sin we've committed or how many times we repent from it. There are also songs of praise like \\\"The Sound of Our Breathing\\\" and \\\"Jesus We Are Grateful.\\\"\\n\\nOf course, some of those songs to present the other minor issue with the disc. Several of the songs feature fairly short but repetitive choruses, \\\"Jesus We Are Grateful\\\" being the worst. Those tend to annoy me, so those aren't my favorite songs here.\\n\\nI debated about buying this disc since I don't tend to listen to most of the Jason Gray discs I have, but I'm glad I did. A Way To See In The Dark will get plenty of play time in the future.\",\n \"Product: 2011 release from the Christian singer/songwriter. As one of the most-sung artists in the church, Chris Tomlin writes music that connects people to the heart of Jesus and leads them to a greater worship of him. After six studio albums and numerous appearances on Passion live worship albums, Chris releases his first-ever greatest hits collection Of the 14 songs on the album, three are all-new recordings of classic Tomlin worship songs. Included is a new recording of the #1 song 'How Great Is Our God', which features guest appearances from renowned international worship leaders, singing parts of the song in their native language.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: So Many Wonderful Worship Songs on One Disc\\n\\nReview: While I have a few worship oriented discs in my collection, they don't tend to make it to my CD player that often. Thats even true of powerhouse artist Chris Tomlin, and I absolutely love some of his songs that we sing in church every week. So when I saw he was releasing How Great Is Our God: The Essential Collection, I figured this was a chance to get all the songs I love in one place.\\n\\nMost best of collections like this feature a new song or two. Thats not the case here, although several songs have been rerecorded. Im not familiar enough with Chris music to know for sure which tracks those are, although I can make a couple of guesses.\\n\\nOne of those is the World Edition of How Great is Our God. While Chris starts it off and sings some lines here and there, he turns the majority of the track over to worship leaders from around the world who sing a line or two in their native language. Its different and takes a few listens to appreciate, but I do like it as it shows just how universal the body of Christ is. And the African chanting during the chorus is a great touch.\\n\\nBut don't despair if you are looking for this song. Chris also closes the disc out with the song, and this time its all in English. I believe this is a new recording as well and builds from piano to full on drums and guitar. This anthem is a current favorite of mine, and I love it.\\n\\nAnother new recording is Forever. A choir joins Chris on this chorus taken from the Psalms. The new drum pattern is lots of fun and makes a great song even more powerful.\\n\\nTwo of Chris updating of hymns are present here. First up is The Wonderful Cross with features fellow worship leader Matt Redman. The verses here are the familiar hymn, but there is a new chorus that makes it feel modern. Of course, the drums and guitar help with that, too. Chris does the same thing with Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone), and if possible I love this hymn even more with the new chorus. The song is mostly piano, but it somehow makes the lyrics even more powerful.\\n\\nSpeaking of powerful, theres one of his newer songs, Our God. This anthem is based on the idea from Romans that If God is for us, who can be against us? It starts off with strings before more traditional piano and guitar come in and the tempo increases. Its a great song.\\n\\nIts funny some of the songs I didn't know I know until I got this disc. Songs like Holy is the Lord and Made to Worship are songs that Ive heard without even knowing who had made them popular. And speaking of popular, this disc does have his classic take on Indescribable and We Fall Down.\\n\\nIm sure someone better versed in Chris music will have complaints about some songs that were included or excluded. All I know is that most of the songs here I like.\\n\\nYes, I did say most. There are a couple of songs that are weak. Famous One has never struck me as a great song. It just seems disrespectful to call God the famous one. Maybe its how cheap weve made fame in our society, but He is so much more than that. God of This City also doesnt sit quite right with me since I feels like telling God what to do. Im probably missing something in those songs since the rest of this disc has a proper reverence for God, but those are the tracks I skip over.\\n\\nThe rest of the disc is great, however. So if, like me, you want Chris Tomlins best songs in one place, How Great Is Our God: The Essential Collection is the disc to get.\",\n \"Product: Great Music to Hear!!!!\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Mixed Styles. Still Mostly Good\\n\\nReview: Season 3 of NBCs singing competition The Sing-Off featured their largest collection of all vocal groups with a very wide collection of styles. Frankly, that wide selection of styles hurt my enjoyment of the season, and it also hurts this years Christmas CD Songs of The Season.\\n\\nThe disc features 13 tracks, one each by the top twelve contestants from the season plus a bonus track by Committed season twos winners. The songs cover a wide range from Santa Baby to Infant Holy, Infant Lowly or I Saw Three Ships. There is something for everyone.\\n\\nBut there is something that will bother just about everyone. For example, I was never a fan of the more experimental groups of the season like Urban Method that included rap with their a cappella music. I am not a fan of rap, as my pop/soft rock reviews should have proved by now. So their strange take on I Saw Three Ships drives me up a wall. If you are at all familiar with this Christmas song, you will not recognize it. In my opinion it is a disaster.\\n\\nFairly only slightly better is Sonos take on Coventry Carol. Again, a group that tries to mix in an urban flavor to their music, and it just leaves the song a mess.\\n\\nSo it might surprise you to find that I don't mind Pentatoniks take on We Three Kings. As with all the songs the season 3 winners did on the show, they have put a very unique spin on it. I won't say its my favorite version of the song, but it works. Its upbeat and right at that cross between hip hop and pop, which is probably why I don't mind it.\\n\\nBut the songs by the groups I loved? They are great. I was actually rooting for Vocal Point, the male group from Brigham Young. They chose the under recorded Infant Holy, Infant Lowly, a song Ive loved sing I sang it as part of a school Christmas program. They keep it slow and reverent with incredible harmonies. Its great.\\n\\nI also love Afro Blues take on Christmas Time is Here. Granted, nothing will ever top the version from A Charlie Brown Christmas, but this jazz/pop group is perfectly suited to take it on with a slightly increased tempo that serves the song well.\\n\\nAnother favorite group from the season was the Doo Wop groupNorthShore, and their Winter Wonderland doesnt disappoint with the smooth rhythm they give this chestnut.\\n\\nLooking for more collegiate male groups? Weve got two fun tracks with theUniversityofRochester YellowJacketssinging Carol of the Bells and runners up Dartmouth Aires singing Up on the Housetop. While the YellowJackets don't use the words in their song, the harmonies and changing dynamics are great. Meanwhile, Up on the Housetop is very upbeat and vocal percussion heavy for a arrangement you won't forget.\\n\\nAll female group Delilah actually opens the disc with a pop version of All I Want for Chirstmas is You. The vocals are stunning, and youll forget you are missing instruments as you listen.\\n\\nIm only a marginal fan of Santa Baby, the choice of The Collective, but Rubys solo here is not to be missed. Its so sultry I can almost picture her slinking across a stage with a microphone in hand.\\n\\nThere are enough good tracks to recommend this disc for fans of a cappella music and especially season 3 of The Sing-Off. But when a track goes wrong, it really misses. Ill definitely be skipping some tracks on Songs of The Season every year.\",\n \"Product: Blue Mountain is the fourth studio album by contemporary Christian musician Brandon Heath. It was released on October 9, 2012 through Reunion Records. This album has had success on the chart, so has the song \\\"Jesus in Disguise\\\". It also debuted at No. 5 o\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Brandon Heath Invites Us to Come on Up Blue Mountain\\n\\nReview: I got so focused on which artists I listen to were releasing new Christmas music this year that I almost missed the fact that Brandon Heath was releasing a new disc. Fortunately, I happened to catch a Tweet talking about Blue Mountain, so I got it. This one takes a few listens, but the effort is worth it.\\n\\nThere is a bit of a theme or a story to the songs here, at least according to Brandon. These songs are written from the point of view of the citizens of a fictional town called Blue Mountain somewhere in the Appalachians. Honestly, if I hadn't read that in the notes that came with my CD, I wouldn't have gotten it since many of these songs work on their own. It does explain a couple of them, however. \\\"Paul Brown Petty,\\\" a tribute to the everyman who leaves behind a legacy, is a prime example. \\\"Dyin' Day\\\" is the strangest song here - a song about a man about to be executed sharing his hope in God. It's a nice idea, but it doesn't quite work. Frankly, I don't think it even works as an extended metaphor.\\n\\nThe fact that we're in the Appalachians also explains the style here. Brandon has taken his normal soft rock and infused just a hint of country. That's the part that takes some getting used to. While songs like \\\"The Harvest,\\\" \\\"Jesus in Disguise,\\\" and \\\"Love Does\\\" have plenty of Brandon's classic rock, songs like \\\"Diamond,\\\" \\\"Love Will be Enough for Us\\\" and \\\"He Paid It All\\\" definitely have some country flavor to them. It's just a hint, so don't go running from the mountain until you give it a shot. Just be prepared for something a little different.\\n\\nThere are plenty of great gems here. Three of them are easily favorites, and they all have a little country tinge. What does that say about me since I don't normally listen to country? Anyway, \\\"Diamond\\\" is a toe tapping number written from the point of view of a miner who is comparing the precious stones he looks for to the diamond God is trying to uncover inside him. It's not the more original idea, but it really works well. Next up is \\\"Hands of the Healer,\\\" which reminds us that if we are going to pray about something, we then need to let it go. Finally, there's \\\"He Paid It All,\\\" a song of praise to Jesus for all He has done for us.\\n\\nAnd there are several more songs that I enjoy. \\\"The Harvester\\\" is a challenge to share our faith. \\\"Blue Mountain,\\\" the third song on the disc (don't ask me why) paints a very pretty picture of this town we're visiting. And \\\"In the Dust\\\" reminds us of our hope of the resurrection.\\n\\nIt's not that there are any bad songs here. Some of them just don't work that well. I already talked about \\\"Dyin' Day.\\\" \\\"Love Will be Enough for Us\\\" is a decent enough love song, but it doesn't really grab me. And \\\"Jesus in Disguise\\\" is another song that just doesn't quite feel fully developed to me.\\n\\nBlue Mountain is definitely a bold choice thematically and stylistically for Brandon Heath. While I don't think it quite works out as well as he wanted it to work, it's still a collection of songs worth owning.\",\n \"Product: 2013 release from the Contemporary Christian outfit. Experience some of your favorite Casting Crowns songs in a fresh way on The Acoustic Sessions: Volume 1. Inspired in part by the acoustic medley portion of the Come To The Well Tour, this collection of eight re-imagined songs and two new songs to the Casting Crowns catalog is perfect for old and new fans alike.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Casting Crowns Goes Acoustic on Some Classic Songs\\n\\nReview: For the last several years, the acoustic release seems to have become the trend for best of releases. After all, it is something new enough to entice long time fans to buy the disc. Yet all the best (read radio) songs are included, so the casual fan will buy it. It's the approach that Casting Crowns used with The Acoustic Sessions Volume 1. I feel for it, and I've been enjoying it.\\n\\nThe disc consists of 10 tracks, 8 of which are some of their classic songs. Even more interesting, four of them are from their self titled debut disc. That release is still probably their best known, so it makes sense. And the songs are still so good.\\n\\nI have often found acoustic discs by groups to be a bit too similar to what they have released before. After all, if the band is playing together again. One thing I appreciate here is that Casting Crowns limits the instruments on most of the songs to just one or two, which does make the song feel different.\\n\\nTake \\\"If We are the Body.\\\" This song opens the disc, and the instrument you predominately here is piano. In fact, if you aren't listening closely, you'd think that was all they played. \\\"East to West\\\" continues the piano trend, but this time the violin is a very strong secondary instrument.\\n\\nNo, it's not all piano. The next two tracks are guitar based, with violin helping out on \\\"Who Am I\\\" while \\\"American Dream\\\" sounds like a guitar solo. You can definitely hear some percussion in some tracks like \\\"Praise You in this Storm\\\" and \\\"Set Me Free.\\\"\\n\\nActually, \\\"Praise You in this Storm\\\" is an interesting case. It starts out with piano, and the counter melody they use sounds very different than normal. Once things get going, you do hear violin and light percussion. It's a great mix.\\n\\nAnd, frankly, these eight tracks would be great no matter what. From the challenge of treating others like Jesus wants us to in \\\"If We are the Body\\\" to the attack on our money obsessed culture that is \\\"American Dream\\\" to the more encouraging tracks \\\"East to West\\\" and \\\"Who Am I,\\\" there are so many great lyrics here. All these tracks originally appeared on their first three releases, and I'm so ready to pull out the full disc for a listen now.\\n\\nThere are two new tracks, and unfortunately they are the weakest tracks here. Casting Crowns has always been a mix of traditional radio friendly tracks and praise oriented songs. The praise songs have always been the weakest links on their discs, and here that is no exception. And both of the new songs are praise songs. These were originally written by others, Casting Crowns is just covering them here.\\n\\nUp first is \\\"Delivered,\\\" which praises God for delivering us from sin. The second is \\\"Only You\\\" about how only God can truly satisfy us. The problem with both these songs is they are weaker lyrically than the rest of the disc. And they repeat the lyrics multiple times to draw the song out to full song length. I would have much rather seen the space go to acoustic versions of other hits (a couple spring to mind) or even completely new songs. It's not that these songs are bad, but they aren't as great as the rest of the disc.\\n\\nComplaint aside, this is still a strong disc that fans of all stripes will enjoy having in their collection. I know I'm glad I bought Casting Crowns' The Acoustic Sessions Volume 1.\",\n \"Product: Album features 2 new orginal tracks, 3 duets and 2 covers.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Straight No Chaser Invites Some Friends for Their New Christmas CD\\n\\nReview: Considering the male acappella group Straight No Chaser got discovered because of a Christmas song (their very fun take on \\\"The Twelve Days of Christmas\\\"), it's not surprise they've released so much Christmas music. Following up their duets disc this year, they have released Under the Influence: Holiday Edition, and it's another fun disc their fans will love.\\n\\nThis is a short disc (and priced accordingly) with only 8 tracks on it, and the first 4 of those feature guest vocalists. I will repeat what I said on the regular Under the Influence edition - these songs are good, but I much prefer these guys when they are blending with each other. Too often with the guest vocalists, they take a back seat and let the guest shine.\\n\\nAnyway, they start out with a love song duet with Colbie Caillat on \\\"Every Day is Christmas.\\\" It's a fun mid-tempoed start that makes love into an every day Christmas present. The images are very fun on this song, and I really like it. Since this is a duet, the entire group gets into an act a bit more than on some of the others in this first half.\\n\\nNext up is the only truly traditional song on the disc. CeeLo Green joins them for \\\"White Christmas.\\\" IT is a fun, toe tapping version of the classic.\\n\\nThe most interesting song on the disc is \\\"Merry Christmas Baby.\\\" They take a recording of Otis Redding from the sixties and create new background vocals/music for it. I'm sure his fans will really enjoy it, but this is probably my least favorite song on here since the guys don't really get a chance to shine.\\n\\nThey close out the first half with Paul McCartney joining them for \\\"Wonderful Christmas Time.\\\" I must admit I don't have that many copies of this song, so it's good to get another one, and there are some fun harmonies on it.\\n\\nAs we enter the second half, these songs are all Straight No Chaser. And three of the songs are originals. \\\"Home by Christmas Day\\\" is another good upbeat Christmas themed love song. The kid in me really loves \\\"Song for Santa\\\" which, despite efforts to honor Santa, keeps turning into a song about presents.\\n\\nWhich brings us to \\\"Nutcracker.\\\" I have a feeling this song will fall into the love or hate category. They take some of the most familiar sections of the classic Nutcracker ballet and create words to it. These words? Well, they tell the story of a guy who wants to be home watching the football game but is dragged to the Nutcracker by his wife. It's not exactly complimentary to this Christmas classic. I've never actually scene it, but I still find this song pretty funny.\\n\\nThe disc closes with an odd choice - \\\"Amazing Grace.\\\" I only call it odd because I don't think I've ever seen it connected with Christmas before. It certainly fits since it is God's grace that sent Jesus to earth in the first place. Having said that, the guys do an amazing job on it. The harmonies are great and I fully enjoy it. I'll be mixing it into my regular music and enjoying it all year long for sure.\\n\\nEven though I prefer the guys doing their own thing, I really do like Under the Influence: Holiday Edition, and I'm sure that Straight No Chaser's many fans will as well. It's one I'll be pulling out each December for sure.\",\n \"Product: The Glorious Unfolding is the first full album of original songs from Steven Curtis Chapman in seven years. The highly anticipated album centers around the idea that God is at work telling a story through the wonderful and amazing as well as the painful chapters of our lives, something Chapman understands first hand. As he explains, "As I've journeyed through this story, I'm more convinced than ever that He does know the plans that He has for us and He will finish what He started. God is telling an amazing, glorious, epic story and we must decide if we will trust Him with it."\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Steven Curtis Chapman Shines Light on the Hope of the Glorious Unfolding\\n\\nReview: Its been a number of years since Steven Curtis Chapman released a new CD of regular music. A lot of that has had to do with him coming to terms with the tragedy in his life of his daughters fatal accident. But the lessons he has learned come through loud and clear in this, his eighteenth studio recording, The Glorious Unfolding.\\n\\nIf there is one message that comes through in this disc, it is hope. Steven sings time and time again about how God will take any situation and circumstance and work through it. At times, I get the feeling that these truths are meant as much for him as us. But Im okay with that. I find lessons from someone who still struggles much easier to accept than lessons from someone who has something like this mastered.\\n\\nIf you are at all familiar with Stevens music, you pretty much know what to expect here. Weve got guitar based pop with some piano based songs thrown in for good measure. We never get beyond mid-tempo on this disc, but its only at the end where the songs blend together at all.\\n\\nThe disc opens with the title track, a souring anthem that reminds us that what we are facing is not Gods final word in our lives. Instead, it is part of a much bigger picture.\\n\\nOur response to knowing God is still working in dark times is to Take Another Step. This song draws a parallel involving a marching band on a day that goes from sunlight to darkness and reminds us to keep marching. The beat on this one makes it a steady marching song as well, and the call to faith is great. Admittedly the chorus is very simple, and at first I didn't like the song because of that, but after a few listens, I really grew to like it.\\n\\nThere are some songs that fall outside of the main theme, like Love Take Me Over. This is a call to action to spread Gods love to others, and yet it acknowledges that we need to let God fill us up before we can fill up others with his love. This is also the first single and a fun pop song.\\n\\nOnly One and Only You is a song written for his middle school daughter to remind her how special she is despite what she sees in the mirror. Its a very melodic song although the rhythm takes a couple listens to fully appreciate.\\n\\nThen theres the latest song written for his wife Mary Beth. \\\"Together\\\" a wonderful testament to their 29 year marriage and how God has helped them weather all that life throws at you. It gives full honor to God for it, but it also talks in general terms about the good and bad in life. The piano and strings on this song are beautiful together.\\n\\nSpeaking of the bad you experience in life, there are two songs about people hes lost in recent years. Of these, I prefer See You in a Little While, a song to his grandmother. It focuses on the hope of Heaven and being reunited with those we love there. Its a light, mid-tempo song. On the other hand, theres Michael and Maria. This one focuses a bit more on loss, and it feels slower although I don't think it is that much slower than the first. Frankly, I think this one could have been left off. Either that, or at least fill us in on who Michael is (assuming Maria is his daughter, of course).\\n\\nAs I mentioned earlier, the last few songs are also a drag on the CD. They are slow tempoed and run together a bit. Its a shame because there are some good songs individually, like Feet of Jesus.\\n\\nStill, overall this fan is happy to have some new music from Steven Curtis Chapman. Like many of his other projects, I know Ill be listening to The Glorious Unfolding for years to come.\",\n \"Product: DescriptionTalented worship leader and songwriter Laura Story is best known for her inspirational hit ?Blessings? . With only two albums to her credit, she?s already an award winner several times over. ?Blessings? was certified Digital Gold and nabbed a 2012 Billboard Music Award, GRAMMY? and helped Story to four Dove Award wins. She also co-wrote ?Indescribable,? a Chris Tomlin anthem.Now, with her third studio album, God Of Every Story, Laura returns to that deep place of spiritual vulnerability and personal honesty. Award-winning producer Ed Cash helmed the deeply personal project, and their shared Carolina roots led to the incorporation of acoustic and epic instruments into this worshipful pop album.Lyrically, God Of Every Story draws from Story?s own life. Her husband?s brain tumor early in their marriage led the young family down a painful path she wouldn?t have chosen, but one that deepened her faith and her music. The resulting songs show God?s love and grace intersecting with real life. The album is a wonderful reminder that despite our questions or circumstances, God is the ultimate author of our story.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Praise to the God Who is Bigger Than Any Story\\n\\nReview: While I had heard of Laura Story, I wasn't really a fan until I saw her with Stephen Curtis Chapman and Jason Gray at the end of 2013. I liked her set enough to buy God of Every Story, and I've really been enjoying it.\\n\\nThe reason I have struggled with Laura's music is her genre - inspirational/worship. It's not my go to genre, and it does provide the biggest con for me with the disc. The music tends toward the slower side of things with an emphasis on Laura's piano playing. I'm not saying it's bad, but it does tend to sound the same after a time or two through the disc.\\n\\nBut the lyrics. Oh, the lyrics. They can pull me through many a CD I'm ambivalent about, and here is where Laura really shines.\\n\\nTake the title track. Yes, it is on a theme I love, trusting God, yet that's never once mentioned in the song. Instead, we are reminded that God is there when we hurt and He is still faithful. The first couple of verses are inspired by people Laura has met who are struggling. The only person who has come through to the other side is Laura herself, and the story of her husband's illness and their miracle daughter forms the basis of that verse. And the fact that Laura is on the other side and able to point out how God is faithful makes it even more powerful. This is a mid-tempo'd track with a really catchy melody - one I'm very likely to be singing the rest of the day.\\n\\nAnother song I really like is the anthem \\\"I Can Just Be Me.\\\" It's one of those songs that hits you because of how simple the idea is. Laura sings about her struggles to hold it all together and put a brave face on at times. And then she goes to God and surrenders, being broken and afraid but letting God be God. As I say, it's a simple idea, but one that I really need to hear many times.\\n\\n\\\"Grace\\\" is a song of encouragement and it reminds us that God is always there willing to forgive and pick us up no matter how often we sin as long as we are trying to live for him. This is a very personal ballad and it almost feels like an intrusion into Laura's personal thoughts; frankly, that adds to the power of the song.\\n\\nAnd I really do love \\\"Keeper of the Stars\\\" which is again a song of trust and surrender as Laura sings \\\"I'm giving it all to the Keeper of the Stars/I won't be afraid cause You're holding every part of this world.\\\" Yeah, if God is holding the universe in place, I can certainly trust Him with my life.\\n\\nI mentioned earlier the worship part of the recording, and that shows up in such tracks as \\\"There is a Kingdom,\\\" \\\"O Love of God,\\\" Who but Jesus,\\\" and \\\"You Gave Your Life.\\\" Of course, it's hard to not listen to the songs I've already talked about without worshipping God as well.\\n\\nSo I'm glad I got to see Laura Story in concert because I doubt I would have bought this CD otherwise. There are some powerful lyrics on God of Every Story that God will use in my life for a long time to come.\",\n \"Product: 2014 album from the popular Christian band. Thrive is packed with the band's signature style of songs about real life that redefine our identity in Christ, pointing us to our purpose from Him so that we may carry it out through Him. So many of us today are simply surviving. But we were not made to survive, we were made to Thrive. Like a tree planted by the water (Jeremiah 17:7-8) we should be digging into God's word to know Him and know who He has made us to be. We should be reaching out to the world and showing others who He is through our lives and our stories - knowing Him and making Him known.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Casting Crowns Thrives with Their New Release\\n\\nReview: I have been hooked on Casting Crowns since their self-title debut a decade or so ago. Their lyrics have amazing abilities to challenge me and uplift me. I've heard it argued that their lyrics aren't necessarily anything new, but something in how they write touches me. And that continues with Thrive.\\n\\nThe disc starts out with the title track and what it is easy to argue is the theme of the disc. In this song, lead vocalist Mark Hall sings of our need to be plugged into God because He is the one who will sustain us in the world so we can do more than just survive. I'll admit it's not a terribly deep song, but it is a fun mid-tempo anthem that really starts the disc off right. And the choir that sings much of the chorus is a fun addition, too.\\n\\nIt might be a stretch to say how all the rest of the songs on the disc fit into this theme, but it is easy with many of them. There are songs of encouragement - an easy fit. And yes, they do include some of those songs of challenge as well. Honestly, for some of these it is easy to argue that if we are not living in God's word, we won't be able to thrive. In fact, while they don't say it outright, that's the theme of the closer for sure. But we'll get there in a moment.\\n\\n\\\"All You've Ever Wanted\\\" is a typical Casting Crowns anthem. It's piano driven but clearly supported by the rest of the band. This is a song of confession where Mark sings about the desire to live the Christian life on his own strength when all God is really looking for is our heart. He's already done all we need, which is a pretty powerful reminder.\\n\\nI really love \\\"Just Be Held.\\\" They're entering mid-tempo ballad territory here. The song is written from God's point of view as He tells us to just let Him hold us during the storms of life. I especially love the line from the chorus, \\\"Your worlds not falling apart it's falling into place.\\\" I do love songs about trusting God, and this falls into that camp. It's a powerful reminder of just who God truly is and should be in our lives.\\n\\nAnother powerful song is \\\"This is Now.\\\" The song is written from Peter's point of view after he's denied Jesus and is struggling with what he's done. What is really amazing about this is the third verse when Jesus counters Peter's thoughts and puts his betrayal in the past. It's a great reminder of just how much Jesus loves and forgives us.\\n\\nAlong similar lines is \\\"Follow Me,\\\" a song that one of the women in the group sings. It looks at many of the lives Jesus touched while on the Earth and the power of his love and forgiveness. You have to really pay attention to the lyrics as each verse starts out with a few lines from the person and then Jesus' response, yet when you pay attention, it's a beautiful song.\\n\\nEncouragement of another kind comes in \\\"Dream for You.\\\" Written from God's point of view, it looks at how He had much bigger plans for David and Mary than they were dreaming. The idea that God can give us more than we could ever dream is very special. And it doesn't hurt that this song is very fun and upbeat with a great guitar lead instrument. The choir is back for the chorus. Matthew West actually co-wrote several songs on the disc, and this is one of them. His fans will definitely notice the influence in the lyrics and song style. I could see this on one of his discs as easily as it fits in here.\\n\\nAlong similar lines is \\\"Heroes.\\\" It's a song that offers encouragement to those who are living with struggles in their daily lives yet choosing to do the right thing and live for God in the midst of trials and persecution. How is it the same? To me it feels like the flip side of the coin. While \\\"Dream for You\\\" is about God taking the ordinary and making it something more than the person dreamed, \\\"Heroes\\\" reminds us that doing the right thing for the right reasons is still following God. As the bridge says, \\\"You may never know their names/But they're moving mountains just the same.\\\" It makes me want to tackle a few mountains in my own life.\\n\\nNot every song on the disc speaks to me, but even the lesser ones have their good qualities. \\\"Broken Together\\\" speaks to the idea that all marriages are between two sinful people. While the one pictured here is obviously very broken, the idea that the two would come back together and build something from the lives of two broken people is beautiful. It's definitely one of the slower songs on the disc. Probably it's because I'm single, but it doesn't grab me quite like the others.\\n\\nThen there's \\\"House of Their Dreams.\\\" It pictures a family drifting apart by sin and the busyness of life. I like the chorus, but somehow the verses seemed labored, but maybe that's just me. And when I say that, I mean both musically and lyrically. This is another of the slow songs, and it just seems that Mark is speaking more than singing. That impression is probably helped by the fact that there is minimal piano and even less guitar behind him on the verses. I will admit I like the third verse although it still suffers from the same musical problems the first two do.\\n\\nEarlier, I mentioned challenge in some of Casting Crowns songs, and there are two that definitely fit that category here. The first is \\\"Love You with the Truth,\\\" a song that reminds us if we truly love our unsaved family and friends we will be speaking the truth of the Gospel to them. However, I love the line from the chorus, \\\"I'm not pointing my finger, I'm holding out my hand.\\\" Too often, we can do just the opposite (please say that isn't just me), so this is a good reminder of how we should approach those we care about who are still trapped in sin.\\n\\nSpeaking of being trapped in sin, the disc closes with \\\"Waiting on the Night to Fall,\\\" an extended word picture of the old man of sin waiting for a chance to drag us back into sin. Talk about convicting and powerful! It's a serious warning wrapped in a slow and thoughtful power ballad that compliments Mark's vocals perfectly. You can really hear the strings on this one as the song grows in intensity.\\n\\nWhile there are a couple of songs that don't grab me, even they have their moments. Overall, this is one of Casting Crown's best releases. If you are a fan, rush out to get Thrive. And if you haven't given them a chance yet, this might be the perfect disc to change your mind.\",\n \"Product: Welcome To The New Gotta Let It Go Shake Greater Finish What He Started Flawless New Lease On Life Wishful Thinking Burn Baby Burn Dear Younger Me\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: I'm Trying to Embrace the New, but It Doesn't Feel That Exciting to Me\\n\\nReview: Ever since I started listening to MercyMe, I've enjoyed their blend of fun music with good lyrics. Rarely do they ever have anything truly outstanding to say, but the mix is still very enjoyable. Unfortunately, Welcome to the New doesn't quite have that same mix to it. It is their first release that has left me under impressed.\\n\\nOver the years, the group has evolved from an adult pop/soft rock feel toward more rock and less pop. That change is evidenced here with the rockiest release they've had yet. There are lots of upbeat tracks here with only a few slower moments. Unfortunately, they haven't found a way to differentiate the rock tracks from one another, and that is probably one of the biggest weaknesses of the disc. These songs just sound too much alike to me. Even after a week of listening, it's hard to remember which song is which.\\n\\nUnfortunately, the lyrics don't help at all. The songs are about the new life we can have in Jesus and the changes that brings into our lives. Again, it's nothing especially original (or should I say new?), but it is a theme worth exploring. Unfortunately, none of the lyrics ever go too deep and many could be exchanged with any other song.\\n\\nNow before I get any more negative, I should point out that I do actually enjoy some of the songs here individually. It's just taken as a whole where they start to get too repetitive. For example, the title track starts things off with a wonderfully upbeat number that is hard not to like. \\\"Gotta Let Go\\\" reminds us to leave our past back there and press on to live for God now. \\\"Greater\\\" is based on the reminder from I Peter that God is greater than anything we will face in the world. And \\\"Flawless\\\" reminds us that thanks to the mercy and grace of the cross, God doesn't see the sin in our past.\\n\\nOh wait, even with those four songs, I've already hit on two very similar themes, haven't I?\\n\\nMy favorite song on the disc is the final track. \\\"Dear Younger Me\\\" find the band looking at the past and wondering what they could say to smooth out life without changing who they are. Ultimately, it's about remembering who God has made us then about what we've done along the way.\\n\\nSeveral of these songs will be enjoyed mix in with other artists in iTunes, but the rest of the disc is just average. Hopefully MercyMe goes back to penning better songs because Welcome to the New wasn't one of their better efforts.\",\n \"Product: Kristin Chenoweth is recognized across the full spectrum of entertainment as an Emmy and Tony Award-winning actress of stage ("You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown," "Wicked," & the upcoming "On the Twentieth Century"), television ("Pushing Daisies," "Glee," "West Wing") film (Disney's "Descendants," "The Boy Next Door") in addition to her career as an accomplished singer. With the recording of Coming Home, she returns to her Broken Arrow, OK, home to perform songs in the Performing Arts Center housing the aptly-named Kristin Chenoweth Theater. Kristin performs her most memorable songs of Broadway, television, film & American classics.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Kristin Chenoweth is Coming Home Triumphantly\\n\\nReview: Ive been a fan of Kristin Chenoweth since I heard her in the soundtrack to the revival of Youre a Good Man, Charlie Brown. I even went to see her on concert many years ago. Every time she releases a new CD, I buy it, and love it, and Coming Home is no exception.\\n\\nThis CD is a recording of a concert she did in her old home town of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. It was produced and recorded for PBS, and I must admit I am kicking myself for not having seen the special at least not yet. There are a few times she brings someone up to sing with her, and I feel like I should know who they are and I dont. But that is my only complaint at the disc. And, honestly, I don't need to know who they are to enjoy the great music.\\n\\nAnd there is plenty of great music on here. We get plenty of Broadway tunes from I Could Have Danced All Night to Bring Him Home and Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again. Yes, she does the two biggest songs from Wicked, although she does Popular is several languages along the way. As the only person on the planet who doesnt have the song memorized, I was slightly annoyed the first time through. However, by the end, shed won me over, and it really is a lot of fun. Dont worry, she still does sing it plenty of times in English. She brings up someone from the audience for the duet that is For Good. Axyl sounds a bit nervous when she first starts to sing, but trust me, she more than holds her own when singing with Kristin. Anyway, she covers a couple country and Christian songs as well as some older works; all these songs are amazing and feel contemporary.\\n\\nWhat long time fans won't find are lots of songs theyve already heard her sing. Yes, we get the two songs from Wicked. By my count, there are three other tracks that have been on her other CDs. The rest are new, at least new with Kristin singing them. Thats a pretty good track record, and it makes the disc well worth buying for the die hard fans.\\n\\nThere are only a couple of songs where Kristin doesnt do something by way of introduction before she starts to sing. And in all of those cases, these bits are kept short and entertaining. The result will hold up to repeated listens unlike some live albums I have that feature sections that are fun live and listening to once but don't hold up well the more times you listen to them.\\n\\nKristin is backed up by a wonderful orchestra, and those musicians truly deliver. The arrangements are world class, showing off her wonderful voice. There are times I am listening to the disc and I get goose bumps. Yes, its that amazing.\\nAnd that includes her old high school choir. She has the current students in the Broken Arrow High School choir join her on a couple of songs, and they are outstanding. In fact, they contribute the backing vocals to what is now my favorite version of Upon This Rock, and I have three, including Sandi Pattys original version and Kristins first cover. This is the best by far.\\n\\nAll this material will thrill Kristins long term fans and bring her a legion of new fans. Coming Home is an invitation to a great concert that everyone will enjoy.\",\n \"Product: Track list:No Turning BackOnly Just Met YouWhen You Look At MeWhen I Was YoungOne Way To HeavenAll I NeedSing BraveEverything Must GoBehold Our GodGirl Of My Dreams\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Reflections Back While Looking Forward\\n\\nReview: 2015 marks a milestone for Brandon Heath. It was 20 years ago, in 1995, that Brandon Heath gave his life to Jesus while attending a summer camp. While No Turning Back is not all about that summer, it absolutely influences several of the songs on this disc. The result is a great CD that his longtime fans will love.\\n\\nThe disc starts off strongly with One Way to Heaven. Brandons folk/rock style is in fine form here as he sings:\\nAint no doorway\\nOr a stairway\\nAint no your way\\nAint no my way\\nAint no shortcut\\nOr a highway to Heaven.\\n\\nI also love the title track. Anyone who grew up in the church will absolutely recognize the theme of the lyrics to No Turning Back. Yes, it borrows heavily from the Sunday School song I Have Decided, but the additions to it are strong and fun. Its a great song of commitment. Hes joined by the group All Sons & Daughters, and the resulting song tips more toward his country side of things, but the beat is strong and its just plain fun.\\n\\nUnfortunately, a couple of the songs tilt toward the Jesus is my girlfriend style of song writing. You know the songs talking about love and really the chorus feels like it could be any love song. Only Just Met You is definitely one of them, but When You Look at Me suffers the same fate, especially since it comes after Girl of My Dreams. If you listen carefully to both songs, especially the verses, there really is some good meat to the songs, so don't write them off. But those choruses. And I do say unfortunately because I actually do like both of those songs.\\n\\nNot all the songs are about the summer Brandon gave his life to Jesus. A perfect example is the songs I just mentioned Girl of My Dreams. Its a love song about how he met and married his wife. Brandons guitar is strong on this one the entire way through, and some of those lines definitely make me smile. Its a great song.\\n\\nEverything Must Go is about simplifying life. It really does make you stop and think about all the things we collect. I also love the fact that the music on this one is extremely simple, mostly one guitar with eventually piano and drums when he hits the first chorus after the minute mark.\\n\\nThen theres When I Was Young, where Brandon sings about how fearless we are to do and try anything before we start worrying about how others view us. Even more, he brings it home to our grown up faith in God. It reminds me of Jesus talking about having the faith of a child. This song has a bit of an unusual melody to it, but that just makes you listen to it more. I love it.\\n\\nHonestly, Im hard pressed to find a song I don't like here. Yes, I really do like those two I mentioned earlier. Brandon continues to take some risks musically that really pay off. This disc is unlike anything you have in your collection, and thats a good thing. Its fun to listen to with great lyrics to think about.\\n\\nSo if you haven't discovered Brandons music yet, No Turning Back is a great place to start. And Brandons established fan base will love his strongest release yet.\",\n \"Product: Josh Wilson, a 2012 ASCAP Singer/Songwriter of the Year and Dove award nominee, is set to release 'That Was Then, This Is Now' on July 31, featuring the single of the same name. It is a bold declaration to the transformation that takes place in the hearts of lives of people, the old has gone and the new has come. The album shows the complete breadth of Joshs songwriting all the way from the celebratory pop-driven tracks, to the intimate and reflective ballads.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Josh Wilsons Newest CD is a Must Buy\\n\\nReview: I was fortunate enough to find Josh Wilson when he was first starting out. I fell in love with that debut, and Im been anxiously awaiting each of his releases ever since. Naturally, that meant I was there on release day getting That was Then, This is Now. Ive enjoyed seeing his growth through those releases, and this is easily his best release to date.\\n\\nThe title single has been on Christian radio for a couple months now, and I was fortunate enough to get to hear it when I was in Atlanta on business about six weeks ago. (Dont get me started on how I cant find a Christian music station in my part of Southern California). I fell in love with it the first time I heard it. It opens the disc here, and it is just amazing. That was Then, This is Now is about the new life we have in Jesus the instant we repent of our sins. While there is some amazing theological truths in the entire thing, I love how he works I John 1:9 into the bridge.\\nIf we turn and confess every unrighteousness\\nHe is faithful and just to forgive.\\n\\nAnd this is the perfect song to start out the disc because it is an upbeat anthem. Seriously, I challenge you to sit and listen to it without moving. Its infectious and makes you just want to smile and sing along. And considering what we are singing about, thats a good thing.\\n\\nOnce youve stop repeating that first track 10 or 15 times (trust me on that), youll find the rest of the disc is just as good.\\n\\nThe theme of Gods amazing forgiveness is continued in No More. A mid-tempo track, it marvels at the fact that we are condemned no more. The imagery of a prison cell is great, and the soaring chorus lifts my heart in praise.\\n\\nAnother theme in the disc is our response to Gods mercy going out and living for Him. This is first brought up in This is the Day, an upbeat song that commits to living fully for God starting today. He goes back to the topic in Say Yes. This time around, its a commitment to trusting God one step at a time and saying yes to wherever He leads even if it isn't our plan.\\n\\nAlong the way, we also get Blown Away, which looks at the way we live life and instead asks God to blow us away with not only the beautiful world He created for us to enjoy, but also His grace. This is another fun, upbeat song and will have your toes tapping before you know it.\\n\\nHonestly, about the only song that doesnt quite work for me is The Songs I Need to Hear. To me, it feels like it is unfinished. I must say, it is growing on me. Its not a bad song, but it is the weakest on the disc.\\n\\nThere are two staples of Josh Wilson releases. Yes, we get another new instrumental version of a classic hymn. This time around, it is Ode to Joy, and, as always, the arrangement is amazing. Its electric guitar and keyboard and a bunch of other, most of which Josh played. Josh is amazingly talented. You might want to check the credits on this one to see a fun cameo.\\n\\n(The other staple of a Josh Wilson release? Be sure to read all of the Thank You section very carefully. Thats all Im saying.)\\n\\nThe disc closes out with four more amazing tracks. House Divided is a solid rocker that expresses the conflict between the old sinful man and the heart that Jesus has given us so perfectly. Think Paul in Romans 6. Youve got to pay attention to these lyrics because they really are amazing.\\n\\nThings really do slow down for the last three songs. Up first is Dont Let Go, a plea to God to hold on to us during the trials and times when we start questioning our faith. Josh has written some amazing songs of brokenness in the past, but this song is the most honest yet.\\n\\nWere back to the theme of grace for Coming Home. While this doesnt specifically reference The Prodigal Son, it is written from the point of view of someone who has repeatedly turned their back on God but is now returning to Him. I love songs with this theme, and this is another winner. Again, the lyrics are powerfully honest.\\n\\nWe close out the disc reflecting once again on Grace Upon Grace. He does speed things up for this final disc, but its still mid-tempo. This is a pure song of praise for the grace God continues to give us.\\n\\nThe lyrics in this disc really are amazing. Josh has always been gifted with crafting great lyrics, but he is in top form here. The imagery he manages to evoke make these familiar truths new again. The music is wonderful and compliments the lyrics perfectly.\\n\\nI pull out all of Joshs discs on a regular basis, but I don't see That was Then, This is Now leaving my CD player in the next few weeks. Every time I listen to it, I like it better. If you haven't bought this disc yet, drop everything and do so now. You will not be sorry.\",\n \"Product: CD\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: A Real Let Down for This Fan\\n\\nReview: Like so many others, I discovered Casting Crowns with their debut CD. Their mix of worship, challenge, and encouragement have made all three of their previous releases some of my favorites in recent years.\\n\\nTheir latest disc focuses almost exclusively on worship music. Frankly, I've always felt that was their weakest element. This disc doesn't do much to change my mind.\\n\\nIt's not that the lyrics and the ideas are bad. They just aren't nearly as solid as they are when they are calling out the church or encouraging us. There is no \\\"What If His People Prayed\\\" or even \\\"East to West\\\" here.\\n\\nNot that the songs here are bad. \\\"Until the Whole World Hears\\\" is a call to keep preaching the gospel. \\\"To Know You\\\" reminds us of all we can have in Christ. \\\"Holy One\\\" is a fast praise song based partially around Psalm 63. And as a bonus 12th track, we get \\\"Shadow of Your Wings,\\\" which is an early incarnation of that song. Frankly, I like both versions. And they have a new arrangement of the classic \\\"Joyful, Joyful\\\" that I really enjoy.\\n\\nBut my favorite song on the disc is \\\"Jesus, Hold Me Now.\\\" What's interesting is the verses are from their song \\\"The Prodigal\\\" from their second disc. They've given it an all new chorus and melody. If you didn't know, you'd say they wrote this song from scratch.\\n\\nThe other problem this disc has is the music. Too many of the songs use the same tempo and instruments. It lets them blend together instead of standing out so I can really connect with them.\\n\\nAfter listening to it constantly for two days, I can say I like it. I just don't love it like I have their previous releases. Hopefully, this is an anomaly and not a sign of things to come from this great group.\",\n \"Product: Talented worship leader, artist, speaker, songwriter and author Laura Story brings a beautiful record to celebrate the Christmas season. Her 4th album, "God With Us," features reverent takes on classics such as "O Come All Ye Faithful," "Silent Night" and "Angels We Have Heard On High" along with some original tracks that are sure to become instant favorites for the Holiday season. Laura is best known for her inspirational hit "Blessings" which won her awards several times over, including a 2012 Billboard Music Award, GRAMMY, four Dove Award wins and an RIAA Digital Gold Single Award.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Sadly, Not as Good as I Hoped It Would Be\\n\\nReview: I have so much Christmas music, that I don't need any more. Still, every year, I seem to add a few discs when artists I like release new music. Thats how I got God with Us, the first Christmas release from Laura Story. Sadly, its not as good as I hoped it would be.\\n\\nThere are two things I look for in a new Christmas disc. The first is impressive new songs. Unfortunately, this disc is a mixed bag in that department. The disc starts out with the upbeat Love Is Here, which celebrates Jesus coming to earth. Its a great way to kick off the disc because its fun. The other new song I like is Emmanuel. Theres nothing terribly new in the lyrics, but I love many songs that remind us of just what Christmas is all about as the title of the disc says, God with us.\\n\\nUnfortunately, the rest of the new tracks aren't that impressive. Just Another Christmas is a prayer that we won't get so caught up in the events and demands of the season that we won't focus on what it really means. Unfortunately, its a mid-tempo song that doesnt really catch me melodically or lyrically. Behold the Lamb of God is too repetitive for my tastes, and I find myself zoning out. While I love Psalm 121, I Lift My Eyes is way too slow. Plus, it feels like it should have been on a regular disc, not a Christmas disc.\\n\\nSo that leaves us with the five traditional carols. Come Thou Long Expected Jesus is great to have since its not a commonly recorded song. Plus Laura has added a new chorus to it that is wonderful. Many of the arrangements of the classics are simple, but it really works for them. Angels We Have Heard on High is a perfect example. The heavy piano and slower than normal pace allow the lyrics to really capture us. O Come All Ye Faithful is heavy on guitar with a more upbeat pace that makes this version fun. And the disc closes with Silent Night, which is beautiful as always.\\n\\nThat just leaves us with O Come, O Come Emmanuel. The version Laura offers here is absolutely stunning. The track is completely a cappella, and Laura is joined by a choir. It is haunting and will give you goosebumps as you listen to it.\\n\\nIts not that God with Us is bad, but its also not outstanding. Ill mix these tracks in with the rest of my Christmas music digitally, but it won't be one I pull out and listen to often on its own.\",\n \"Product: MercyMe is a band synonymous with Christmas. Their last Christmas album, The Christmas Sessions, has been heralded as an instant classic and spawned innumerable hits including \\\"Joseph's Lullaby\\\" and \\\"O Holy Night.\\\" This year MercyMe returns to pick up where The Christmas Sessions left off. MercyMe, It's Christmas! reinterprets classic Holiday songs mixed with originals that are worthy to become classics themselves. Soaring emotive ballads, fun up-tempo music and original compositions make this album a must for listening while decorating the tree or reflecting on the importance of the season.Track List:The Newborn Has ComeChristmastime AgainSleigh RideI'll Be Home For ChristmasHold On ChristmasA Holly Jolly ChristmasGo Tell It On The MountainDo You Hear What I HearOur LullabyJoy\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Once Again, a Christmas Disc that Grows on You\\n\\nReview: While MercyMes first Christmas CD is not one I pull out as soon as Christmas hits each year, I do find myself enjoying it when I pull it out. Thats why, when I saw they were releasing MercyMe, Its Christmas this year, I knew I had to buy it. Once again, it took a little time to grow on me, but Im definitely enjoying it.\\n\\nUnlike their first release, MercyMe has included several new tracks mixed in with the old standards. In fact, the disc opens with two of those new tracks. Up first is Newborn, this midtempo song mixes a few new lines together with Away in the Manger and Hark! The Hearld Angels Sing Unfortunately, I don't quite find it that fresh. I think I would have preferred them to do the songs individually.\\n\\nI do enjoy the next track, Christmastime Again, which revels in the joys of the season even if December seems to come faster and faster each year. This is a fun upbeat track that will definitely get you into the mood. Linked in my mind is another new track Hold On, Christmas, a song about wanting to get home for the holiday.\\n\\nRounding out the new tracks is Our Lullaby. For a lullaby, its surprisingly upbeat, but it is fun and it touches on who Jesus is and what he came to do. Its actually my favorite of the original songs on this disc.\\n\\nWhich leaves us with the traditional songs. Now, you may know the words, and you may think you know the melody, but trust me, theyve all gotten a MercyMe makeover.\\n\\nTake, for example, Sleigh Ride. This song is arranged just differently enough to make it feel fresh, yet youll definitely recognize it. Its got MercyMes soft rock stamped all over it, and the result is fantastic. Its just so much fun. Ill be Home for Christmas is slightly faster than normal, but it works. Holly Jolly Christmas is a soft rock song, not the folk track that Burl Ives made famous, but it is probably the closest to a version you would recognize. And, since they have to go slightly country at some point, theres Go Tell It on the Mountain.\\n\\nAbout the only traditional song that doesnt work is Joy, their take on Joy to the World. Its just too slow for my taste. This is a song thats supposed to be joyful, right?\\nLeading the pack for most unusual is O Come, O Come. Theyve given this song a complete makeover, including a major key and an arrangement that sounds more like a traditional hymn. This one takes a listen or two to appreciate, but I do like it for something different.\\n\\nAnd, honestly, thats what works well for the many traditional songs on here. They don't sound like every other version of the song you have, which is great come December 15th.\\n\\nWhile these traditional songs are fun, I do with the originals were better. Overall, I know I will enjoy MercyMe, Its Christmas this December and many more to come, and I think you will as well.\",\n \"Product: Jason Gray s new album, Where the Light Gets In, is a stirring weave of sorrow, light, hope, and even of celebration. The sonic cohesiveness of the thirteen-song project is nonetheless remarkable, considering the tracks were built simultaneously by nine different producers (Jason Ingram, Ben Glover, & others) with one or two songs apiece. Jason s new radio single, Sparrows , went for early adds on K-Love, Sirius XM, among others with an official add date of 4/1 and is climbing the NCA charts.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Let the Light of Hope In with Jason Grays New Release\\n\\nReview: Its been a decade since I discovered Jason Grays music, and I have become addicted to it. His discs are always infused with such hope and encouragement wrapped in catchy pop music. Where the Light Gets In is his newest release and its another wonderful addition to my music collection.\\n\\nThe disc starts right off with the toe tapping Learning. The song is built around the idea that what others might consider failure isn't failure if we actually learn from it. Its a reason to shake off fear and follow Gods love anywhere, learning for anything that happens along the way. And if the words of encouragement don't make you smile, the fun up-tempo beat will definitely put a smile on your face.\\n\\nThe idea behind Sparrows is nothing new. It centers around Jesuss comments from the Sermon on the Mount about why we shouldnt worry. Yet Jason proves that even the familiar can have new life breathed into it with this song about how we have no need to worry because If He can hold the world He can hold this moment. But its the music that really makes this one. Again, its got a catchy upbeat melody that makes it a blast to sing along. And if we are reminded of a timeless truth, so much the better, right?\\n\\nStarting over in the face of disappointment or sin is a huge theme of the disc. Theres the determined I Will Rise Again that is an anthem of determination in the face of the dark places of life. Then theres Resurrection which talks about the second chances we get because of Gods grace and forgiveness in the face of our sin. This song is another toe tapping upbeat song that is just a blast to listen to. This is a theme that is driven home even more in Where We Go From Here, which marvels at how God continues to use broken things to make broken things beautiful things.\\n\\nMuch of this disc is filled with upbeat songs that really boost the themes of hope and redemption that Jason is singing about. Yet they are all different enough that they don't blend together.\\n\\nThe slowest track on the disc is, appropriately, Death Without a Funeral. This is a song of mourning for what might have been in a failed relationship. Violin comes in and provides a nice counterbalance to Jasons vocals and guitar. And the lyrics are haunting as they deal with the struggle of a death that isn't physical.\\n\\nThe lyrics to More Yours struck me because of their honesty. Heres how it starts:\\nHow many times have I said you can have my life?\\nHow many times have I said you have it all?\\nJust to take it back another time?\\nYeah, thats me. So as the song builds to the driving chorus, I have to pray along with Jason:\\nIm gonna give you my life, my life\\nAs many times as it takes, it takes\\n\\nThe title of the disc comes from The Wound is Where the Light Gets in, which talks about how God uses the hard times in life to remind us of His love and make us more like us. Its on the slower side with a beautiful melody and some lyrics that really make you stop and think.\\n\\nThere are a total of 13 tracks on this disc, and every one of them is a winner. Jasons lyrics are sharp as always, yet filled with hope and encouragement, reminding us of Gods grace and mercy plus His strength to get us through life. His guitar driven pop is just as fun to listen to as ever.\\n\\nSo if you need a balm for your sole, pick up Where the Light Gets In. It fill you with reminders that God is right there with you in songs that are fun to hear.\",\n \"Product: Ill Lead You Home\\nMichael W. Smith\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Michael W. Smith Came Home with I'll Lead You Home\\n\\nReview: The early 90s were an interesting time in the career of Michael W. Smith. After the success of his single Place in This World on the pop charts, he tried to go rockier and less overtly Christian with his next release. But he returned to the Christian music fold with 1995s I'll Lead You Home. (And from there, hed wind up with some highly successful worship oriented discs. Talk about a pendulum swing.)\\n\\nThis disc finds Michael doing what he does best, mid-tempo pop with thoughtful lyrics. The first track was also the first radio hit at the time, Cry for Love. Its got a catchy rhythm and melody but the lyrics are on the serious side. While on the surface, it sounds like someone looking for love, when you really listen to it, youll see that its the call of someone repenting and turning to God. The bridge really drives that home with Father hear my call/I hope you catch me when I fall.\\n\\nThen theres Breakdown. It contrasts the legacy of our founding with where we were then as a country. I would say the contrast is even starker almost 20 years later. The song itself is the only rock track on the disc, and it incorporates bits of Martin Luther Kings famous I Have a Dream Speech. Its a very effective song, and fun to listen to as well. The theme is revisited again in Someday, a duet with Susan Aston that contrasts the problems in our modern world (again of 1995 but still applicable) to the kingdom of God that will come someday.\\n\\nNot surprisingly, As it is in Heaven is a new take on The Lords Prayer. It starts slow and quiet and builds as it goes along. Its just over 5 minutes long, which surprises me. I never would have guessed it was that long.\\n\\nA couple of the songs focus directly on friendship. Straight to the Heart is a slower track that speaks to the power of friendship in our times of need. Ill be Around is the flip side, the stronger friend who is going to be there no matter what you are facing or what you have done. This second one especially sounds very much like God talking, but it would apply equally to His unconditional love for those who repent and our efforts to help those around us in need.\\n\\nFinally, we get to the title track. Ill Lead You Home is an anthem written from Gods point of view and is a promise to come and find those who have wandered away from Him and want to come back. Its such a comfort to be reminded that we can never truly run from God. This was another huge hit on radio, and its obvious why all these years later. The message is still that good.\\n\\nThen we come to the trilogy three songs with heavy orchestration and slow tempos that blend into each other. The Other Side of Me could be a generic love song, but Breathe in Me is definitely a cry to God for a renewal of love for Him and renewal. Then theres Angels Unaware. Im still not quite sure about the song, but the lyrics are filled with some interesting poetic images. To be honestly, Im ambivalent about these tracks. They are pretty. They have some of the most poetic lyrics I think hes ever done. But I could easily skip them. Other people think they are the best songs on the disc, so opinions obvious vary.\\n\\nWe come out of those songs and this the home stretch. Were back to upbeat pop with Calling Heaven, heavy on drum machine and keyboard. The upbeat nature belies the more serious side of the lyrics that look at the abused in our society and asks Heaven to help them.\\n\\nYou cant help but smile at A Little Stronger Everyday. Its got a fun beat and some entertaining lyrics as Michael sings about his the daily battle to be more like Christ.\\n\\nAnd for something completely different, theres Crown Him with Many Crowns. Anointed, at the time, a quartet, joins him for this Southern Gospel version of the classic hymn. Its so incredibly fun you will be tapping your toes before you know it.\\n\\nThe disc ends with the unassuming Im Waiting for You. Its a quiet song with almost no music behind his voice. Its mainly keyboard, in fact. Written from Jesus point of view, its a call to repent and turn to Him. Something about it grabbed me from the first listen and hasn't let go yet. As much as I love some of the earlier songs (and I really do), this is my favorite song on the disc by far.\\n\\nSome will probably point to the dated production on here. It was released in 1995, after all. Ive got to admit, I have a hard time hearing much that dates it outside some songs like Breakdown where he tries to get . Its certainly not as dated as some of his 80s releases, thats for sure. With the focus on his keyboard playing backed by some drum, guitar, and bass, its not so bad you wouldnt be able to enjoy it.\\n\\nAnd enjoy it I still do. I'll Lead You Home was a very solid release from Michael W. Smith that I continue to enjoy today.\",\n \"Product: Audio CD\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: A Merry Christmas Indeed\\n\\nReview: I didn't realize just how much this CD meant Christmas to me until I got it last year. My parents had the record (you know, the round things that had music on them before the days of the CD), and I listened to it every year growing up. I stumbled across it and decided to buy it. From the opening note I was transported to Christmases past as a kid waiting for Santa to come.\\nThe CD opens with a version of \\\"Jingle Bells\\\" that lives up to its name - it truly is nutty. But I love it. The rest of the CD is more traditional arrangements of Christmas classics in a Dixieland style. Mr. Hirt is backed up by an orchestra and occasionally helped by a small choir. While the first six songs are upbeat toe tappers, the last three slow it down. Still, the trumpet playing shines through loud and clear. I don't normally listen to instrumental music of any kind, but I just didn't know you could do some of that stuff with a trumpet.\\nWith only 9 tracks, it's a bit short, especially by today's standards. Still, I'm glad I reconnected with this classic from my childhood. If you enjoy jazz, this CD will thrill you.\",\n \"Product: The soundtrack includes all the songs from the mov ie performed by the hugely popular Veggie characte rs, along with songs featuring Newsboys, Anointed, Chris Rice and Relient K. Producers include Steve Taylor, David Mullen and Monroe Jones.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Fun, But Not Completely Singable\\n\\nReview: Big Idea's first full length movie gets a complete CD all to itself. 7 of the tracks are instrumentals from the movie's score, but the other 12 are songs from the movie.\\nMy biggest complaint is that we get a few half songs. \\\"Bald Bunny\\\" and \\\"Steak and Shrimp\\\" are really more pointless then normal, even for Big Ideas. However, these are off-set by the songs recorded by regular Christian artists.\\n\\\"Second Chances,\\\" straight from the movie and sung by Anointed, is a fun toe taping song. Chris Rice provides all 12 verses for \\\"Billy Joe McGuffrey.\\\" Relient K does a wonderful cover of \\\"The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything.\\\" I'll admit, it too me a couple listens to fully appreciate it, but I love it. Probably my favorite is \\\"In the Belly of the Whale\\\" by Newsboys. It makes me laugh so much.\\nOf course, there are songs recorded by the \\\"veggies\\\" on here as well. The best song related to the movie is \\\"Jonah was a Prophet.\\\" And if you're looking for this movie's version of a silly song, skip to \\\"Credits Song.\\\" I was laughing so hard when I first heard it, I had to pull my car to the side of the road.\\nI'm not usually a fan of soundtrack albums, but I'm certainly glad I bought this one. The songs I've highlighted make it more then worth while.\",\n \"Product: 2003 issue/includes lyrics\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Happily, This was the Start of Matthew West's Career\\n\\nReview: Considering how many pop/rock singer/songwriters I listen to, I'm surprised it took me so long to get into Matthew West. But after enjoying his last couple of discs, I'm going back and fixing this oversight. Happy is his debut, and it shows the promise of things to come.\\n\\nThe song starts off with the lead single, \\\"More.\\\" Don't let that first little bit of strings and quiet piano fool you. When he hits the chorus he really starts rocking out. While the lyrics are fairly generic, the imagery from the Bible makes it obvious he is singing from God's point of view about His endless love for us. That love is something to celebrate, and it's easy to do that since the melody is enough to make you smile.\\n\\nSpeaking of smiling, next up is the title track. \\\"Happy\\\" finds Matthew chanting the verses. It's not rap, but he's definitely not singing. But he breaks into a soaring melody on the chorus as he sings about our reaction to God's love. The verses are honest about the things that rob of us our joy like circumstances and fear and sin. While the style wouldn't normally be my first choice, it actually does work for this upbeat song.\\n\\nMatthew slows things down to mid-tempo and switches to a minor key for \\\"The Turnaround,\\\" although it is still heavy on the drums. It's actually the first in a series of songs that begin to explore more serious themes. \\\"The Turnaround\\\" is talking about how much we need God to save us from sin and pain. It's very poetic with images of drowning in rivers. Trust me, it's great. Likewise, \\\"I Can't Hear You\\\" is about the times we can't seem to find God no matter how much we try. \\\"You Know Where to Find Me\\\" is one friend offering help to another going through a major trial in life. It's a ballad, but even at that, it's mid-tempo.\\n\\nThings get fun again with \\\"The End.\\\" Don't worry, this isn't the end of the CD. The song is simple reminder that the bad days we have are \\\"not the end/The end of the world/It's just about day, don't sleep it all away.\\\" What makes this fun is that, at the end, he starts playing around with the end of the song, singing things like \\\"I bet you wonder when this song is gonna end/But it's not the end.\\\" It can get a little tiring if you listen to the song too many times in a row, but it usually makes me smile.\\n\\nThe second half of the disc talk about such things as trusting God when life doesn't go as we plan, resisting temptation, and the hope and promise of Heaven. He even has a love song in \\\"Every Second.\\\"\\n\\nWhat's interesting to note is that the lyrics in this disc aren't overtly Christian. I can't find one reference to God or Jesus. There are lots of references to You and He, however. That's probably at least partially because Matthew is signed to Universal South, which isn't a Christian label. That doesn't seem to have hurt his popularity in Christian circles, however. I can remember a time when this would have been a huge scandal. I certainly don't mind the lack of blatant Christian language when the meaning behind the lyrics is still so strong.\\n\\nMy only real complaint with this disc is the music. It's heavy on the rock side of the pop/rock spectrum. However, Matthew doesn't feel the need to fix things up much. Almost all the songs are strong on the guitar and in the mid-tempo to heavy rock range. The one exception to that is the beautiful ballad \\\"My Finest Hour.\\\" These songs alone are quite fun, but they do have a tendency to run together. Yes, even rock discs need some variety in tempo and style. Fortunately, that's something he's incorporated into later discs.\\n\\nListening to Happy, it's easy to see why Matthew West's career has taken off. It's music that is fun to listen to while still incorporating some great messages. If you've missed out on it, get it today.\",\n \"Product: Near Mint Christian CD and Inserts\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Wonderful First Best of Collection\\n\\nReview: Originally released in 1986, this disc compiles the early hits of an outstanding Christian artist. Logging in at only 10 tracks, it doesn't have everything, but it's a good introduction to David Meece's early work.\\nIn a rare move for a best of this small, it includes two new songs. \\\"Seventy Times Seven\\\" is a powerful song of a sinner asking God for forgiveness. \\\"Come That Day\\\" focuses on the events of the Day of the Lord. Stylistically, they are closest to \\\"Candle in the Rain,\\\" the release that followed this one, then anything else he's done.\\nThe rest of the songs cover David's career in reverse order. \\\"The Unknown Soldier\\\" represents \\\"7.\\\" I was expecting a sad song, but was blown away by this song about the power of prayer. I immediately fell in love with it.\\n\\\"Count the Cost\\\" gets two songs. The first is \\\"Falling Down,\\\" another song about the many chances God gives us in our struggles with sin. The second is the praise song \\\"Gloria.\\\"\\n\\\"Are You Ready?\\\" has the most songs with the title track and two more. \\\"Follow You\\\" is a nice upbeat song that is easy to sing along to. And no collection of David Meece's best would be complete without \\\"We Are the Reason.\\\" Even with all the times it's been recorded, this song that bridges the gap between Christmas and Easter is still outstanding.\\nNext up is the title track from his third album, \\\"Everybody Needs a Little Help.\\\" This song of friendship in the midst of trial has gotten forgotten in the years since its release, but it was a major hit in its day.\\nFinally, \\\"Jesus\\\" gets to do double duty. This song of commitment to our Savior originally appeared on the record \\\"David,\\\" but this recording is the live version from \\\"Front Row.\\\"\\nThe linear notes are very interesting. They recount milestones in his career. I found them interested reading.\\nWith only 10 tracks, there are obviously many great songs that got left out. In fact, nothing appears from his great second album, \\\"I Just Call on You.\\\" But this is still a great way to get many of David's early hits.\",\n \"Product: Brand New\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Most of These Songs Don't Work Outside the DVD\\n\\nReview: It used to be that after every few DVD's, VeggieTales would release a CD with songs from those episodes. They stopped not too long after VeggieTunes 4 came out. And it might give us an idea why.\\n\\nThis CD contains songs from The Ballad of Little Joe, A Snoodle's Tale, and An Easter Carol. I got it for one particular song, and I'm glad I have it. But it's not something I would sit down and listen to all the way through.\\n\\nThe Ballad of Little Joe recasts the story of Joseph from the Bible in an old Western setting. As you can imagine, the songs from that story are very country. You've got the French Peas singing \\\"Happy Ki-Yi Birthday,\\\" or the ballads as Joe shares his \\\"Dream of a Dozen Cactus.\\\" I really like the feel of the \\\"Oh Little Joe\\\" songs (they've got three reprises). They use an old timey piano sound that makes it feel like the soundtrack to a silent movie. Surprisingly, they don't include the silly song from this DVD (\\\"Belly Button\\\" in case you are keeping track). None of these songs are over 1:10. And while there is a bit of humor to them, they just aren't as fun outside of the context of the story.\\n\\nA Snoodle's Tale didn't have too many songs, so it doesn't take up too much time on the disc. The only Silly Song is from this episode. \\\"Sports Utility Vehicle\\\" mocks all of us who drive SUV's around town. Yes, there are some pretty funny jabs, but I doubt that pre-school kids, the intended audience, will get them. The other two songs are \\\"I Want to Dance\\\" and the reprise. And frankly, again, the songs don't work that well outside the story. Although the soaring melody of the first one and the disco reprise make them a little more fun.\\n\\nThe songs that actually do work are the ones from An Easter Carol. \\\"Another Easter Day\\\" starts with some beautiful instrumentals before the singing vegetables come in and introduce the setting. It feels like the opening number of a musical. \\\"113 Years Ago\\\" is filled with lots of story points. It starts out rather simple with piano at the forefront, but the orchestra takes over as the drama amps up near the end. For pure fun, \\\"You Didn't Listen Ebenezer,\\\" the vision Nezzer has about the upcoming visit to set him straight, is filled with lines that make me laugh. \\\"Boids\\\" is mostly talking with percussion behind the characters. It reminds me of the opening song from The Music Man.\\n\\nBut the song I bought the disc for is \\\"Hope's Song.\\\" As far as I know, this is the only place to get the original recording as sung by Rebecca St. James, who voiced the character who sang the song in that video. There's no talking, just Rebecca's great vocals backed by a beautiful orchestra. It's a powerful song with a simple Gospel message in it. And it was worth getting the disc so I could have the song.\\n\\nOf course, the disc starts with the VeggieTales theme song, which I had elsewhere. It does end with a slightly different version of the \\\"What We Have Learned\\\" song. This time, it's the Western version from the end of the Little Joe episode.\\n\\nEven though there are 19 tracks, it's less than 32 minutes long. That's because so many of the tracks are really brief.\\n\\nAnd I guess it's those short tracks that irritate me so much here. I'm just beginning to get into the song, and then it's over. Of course, I'm not the target audience, and kids might enjoy it more than I do.\\n\\nSo maybe it was a good thing that they stopped the VeggieTunes series after volume 4 came out. Outside of \\\"Hope's Song,\\\" I know it won't get much play in my CD players.\",\n \"Product: 01. Hosanna Loud Hosanna 02. All Around The World 03. Christ The Lord Is Risen Today 04. Easter Bunny Hop 05. The Easter Song (featuring Matthew Ward) 06. How Now Easter Cow 07. Count Your Eggs 08. An Empty Egg 09. Hope's Song 10. First Things First 11. Christ The Lord (reprise) 12. I Know That My Redeemer Liveth\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Join Bob and Larry for Easter Sunday School\\n\\nReview: I have often bemoaned the lack of Easter albums. It seems to me that Christians especially should truly celebrate this holiday because it means so much to us. Obviously, the guys at Big Idea agreed with me because they gave us this entry in the VeggieTales CD library.\\n\\nSince this release is aimed at kids, there is a story to go along with the songs. Bob the Tomato and Larry the Cucumber are all set to teach Easter Sunday Sunday School, but Bob is overwhelmed by the number of new kids they have. In fact, they haven't had this many kids since Christmas Eve. How can he teach the Easter story to so many kids?\\n\\nFortunately, there are lots of friends around to help. Archibald Asparagus has prepared a song or five about Easter traditions all around the world. Madame Blueberry leads the kids in an upbeat version of the classic hymn \\\"Christ the Lord is Risen Today.\\\" The Boyz in the Sink premier this new song \\\"Easter Bunny Hop.\\\" And Larry finally gets to tell the kids the sad story of the Easter Cow.\\n\\nWhen Bob finally does come up with an idea, it's an Easter egg hunt. But how can that teach the kids about the first Easter?\\n\\nAs always, the Veggies have produced a fun CD. While the lead vocals are the cartoon voices from the videos, a kid's choir backs them on this CD. The song styles range from boy band on \\\"Easter Bunny Hop\\\" to a western feel for the silly \\\"How Now Eater Cow,\\\" but most stick with a contemporary sound.\\n\\nOf special note, Second Chapter of Acts member Matthew Ward makes an appearance to teach the kids \\\"The Easter Song,\\\" a song that was a huge hit for his group over 30 years ago.\\n\\nMaybe I was expecting too much from the CD, but I felt it dropped the ball when it came to explaining the Easter story. I'm sure part of it is because EASTER CAROL did such a great job of it and I thought they'd do it again. \\\"An Empty Egg\\\" and a new recording of \\\"Hope's Song\\\" from that video do discuss the empty tomb, but I expected more from the dialog. And Junior Asparagus' sub-plot of missing his dad didn't work to highlight the story for me either.\\n\\nOn the other hand, the first half of the CD is fun. The songs are upbeat, and the dialog appropriately silly. The serious Easter songs are treated as such, but they really let loose and have fun with the fun songs.\\n\\nThis won't join the list of top VeggieTales projects, but it is still a release kids will love and their parents enjoy. I fully intend to pull it out every Easter as part of my celebration of the holiday.\",\n \"Product: Time Again...Amy Grant Live was captured during two sold out performances April 11th and 12th, 2006 at the exquisite Bass Hall in Fort Worth, TX. Weaving a retrospective journey through a lifetime's worth of her most treasured songs, Amy invited audiences into her \\\"living room\\\" for a live concert experience unlike any other.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Collection of Musical Memories\\n\\nReview: Amy Grant has enjoyed a 28 year career and was among the first artists to cross over from Christian music to enjoy some pop success. In all that time, her only live recordings were from earlier in the career. So, to correct that, she released this CD.\\n\\nWhile she does some of her earlier hits, the focus is on the second half of her catalog. Frankly, this makes sense since this is most likely what she does in concert these days. Still, I was disappointed not to see such classics as \\\"El Shaddai\\\" and \\\"My Father's Eyes\\\" not make the CD, although I do understand they are on the DVD.\\n\\nWhat is here is great. The songs mostly sound like they did when first recorded. And most of them stand up well all these years later. The biggest change is to \\\"In a Little While,\\\" which she gives a modern pop sound. I like the new version just as much as the 24 year old classic version. But I don't think we needed to have the live version and a studio version on the disc. Another highlight is \\\"Believe,\\\" the theme from her short lived TV show \\\"Three Wishes,\\\" which hasn't been released anywhere else to my knowledge.\\n\\nLong talking breaks can make or break a concert CD. While Amy talks occasionally, it's only for a few seconds at a time. There are no long stories that give additional insight into these songs. At the same time, there are no jokes that were funny the first few times but fall flat on repeated listens.\\n\\nThe CD comes with a bonus DVD that includes five songs from the DVD release of this concert.\\n\\nThis is a great collection of songs from a long pop career. I was reminded just how much I love some of these songs. By no means perfect, it will certainly please her many fans.\",\n \"Product: Join Bob, Larry and friends as they sing some of todays top Christian hits! This new release will include favorite CCM artists and the entire VeggieTales crew singing duets of everyones favorite Christian songs. Just as fans loved Veggie Rocks, expect VeggieTales Christian Hit Music to be a top seller in stores!\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: The Core Audience Might Like It\\n\\nReview: VeggieTales has always been known for their music. For this release, they decide to cover classics from adult Christian music. They cover a range of styles from the rock of \\\"Big House\\\" and \\\"Meant to Live\\\" to the pop of \\\"Baby, Baby\\\" and the R&B of \\\"I'll Take You There.\\\"\\n\\nThe one interesting thing is there is no story linking the songs together. Each song stands on its own, with the occasional dialog during the song. Some of it works, like Pa Grape playing his accordion during Mr. Lunt's moody song \\\"Flood.\\\" At times it doesn't work, like Bob telling Larry and Peter Furler they are doing a good job during \\\"Shine,\\\" Archibald's talking during \\\"Dive,\\\" and the French Peas complaining about how loud their song, \\\"Meant to Live\\\" is.\\n\\nWhat is amazing is that most of these songs sound exactly like their original versions. If I didn't know better, I'd say they used the original tracks. The only exception is \\\"Smellin' Coffee.\\\" For some reason, they tried to make it rockier then the folk original. Trust me, it doesn't work.\\n\\nAdding to the fun (and there is plenty of fun here), four of the artists covered show up to help out. Audio Adrenaline, newsboys, Steven Curtis Chapman, and Amy Grant all sing on their songs, and Steven and Amy interact a little with the veggies, and those moments are fun.\\n\\nMany of these songs do work. Of course, I like the originals. And I guess that's my main reason for not liking this disc. While listening to Larry and company singing these songs is fun once or twice, if I want to listen to them, I'd rather listen to the original versions. I can see kids enjoying having \\\"their\\\" versions of some of their parent's songs. And parents will enjoy having some adult music their kids will enjoy listening to. But for those without kids, there is really little need to pick up this disc.\",\n \"Product: CD Vota\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Turning My World into a Rock World? Probably Not, But This Disc is Fun\\n\\nReview: Okay, let's be clear right up front. This pop/rock guy is giving an alternative rock CD high marks. Trust me, no one is more surprised than I am. But I just can't deny the fun energy of this debut.\\n\\nDebut is a bit misleading. VOTA starts life as Casting Pearls. They've changed record labels and added a keyboardist since then, so they decided to change names. Whatever that makes this disc, it's good.\\n\\nVOTA has infused their rock sound with dance elements. In fact, I dare you to listen to disc opener \\\"Hard to Believe\\\" without moving. At a bare minimum, you will be tapping your toes before the first verse. That same energy infects \\\"Not Finished\\\" \\\"I'll Go,\\\" and \\\"Save Ourselves.\\\" And yes, they do have slower moments like \\\"In My Heart\\\" and most noticeably \\\"Honestly.\\\"\\n\\nThe most important thing to me on a CD is the lyrics. And this is the only strike against the band. The music is so fun I have a hard time connecting with the lyrics. But I am being picky, and I know it. We get reminders that God is at work in our lives during trials, how much he loves us even when we fail, wonder that God loves us, and songs of commitment to God.\\n\\nAnd then there's \\\"Honestly.\\\" This song blows every other one on the disc out of the water. By far the slowest song on the disc (maybe I haven't changed my ways as much as it looks like), it is a firm reminder that we need to be honest with each other to truly see what God is doing in our lives. It's a powerfully sung ballad that caught my ear on the first listen and hasn't let go yet.\\n\\nI bought this CD on a whim, and am I ever glad I did. It is so much fun. It is going to get regular spins for quite some time to come.\",\n \"Product: One of the most familiar voices in Christian music, lauded hit-maker of 22 number one songs, an eight-time DOVE winner and a singer/songwriter with the legendary 4HIM, MARK HARRIS continues to warm hearts just in time for Christmas. Featuring annual favorites like \\\"Silent Night, Holy Night\\\" and \\\"Little Drummer Boy\\\" in addition to the original 4Him classic \\\"Strange Way to Save the World,\\\" Christmas Is finds Harris' textured vocal against an acoustic backdrop that will take listeners from seasonal worship to fireside celebration.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Christmas Is Non-Traditional with Mark Harris\\n\\nReview: I was a long time fan of the Christian music group 4Him, so when the members started releasing solo projects, I bought them as well. I don't tend to pull them out often, but when I do, I wind up enjoying them. As a result, I waited until after Christmas last year to get his solo Christmas release Christmas Is. When I stuck it in out of curiosity this year, I was pleasantly surprised.\\n\\nThe thing with this disc is that few of the arrangements are remotely traditional, yet it still feels familiar. Take the first track, for example. \\\"Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas\\\" is a favorite of mine. But there's none of that slow, almost melancholy sound to it here. It's mid tempo with upbeat guitars and drums and lots of \\\"Dah dee dums\\\" serving as a chorus of sorts. It works, although it took me a listen to fully get it.\\n\\nSimilarly upbeat is \\\"Silent Night.\\\" It's still a slow song, but it's definitely faster than normal. The guitar and piano make a great background to this one, and Mark changes the melody a bit as well. It's actually a fun version and a refreshing take on this classic. Meanwhile, he actually tones down \\\"Little Drummer Boy.\\\" It doesn't have quite the percussive punch most versions of the song have, but the drums are still very much there. I really like it.\\n\\nSince I have so many Christmas discs already, one key for me is what new songs are offered. By my count, four of the songs are completely new and one is little recorded. I'm not that big a fan of the title track. \\\"Christmas Is\\\" tries to capture the magic of the season, but it leaves me a bit empty, probably because it plays with being a Christian song by mentioning \\\"A sacred birth\\\" in the chorus but just doesn't really deliver. It's pretty to listen to. Jim Brickman co-wrote it, so it doesn't surprise me that it features some very pretty piano. While Mark does sing here, he is mostly singing backup to some unnamed young female. I'm guessing it's his daughter but don't know for sure.\\n\\nAlso disappointing is \\\"Emmanuel\\\" because it is over repetitive. The verses are different names for God, but the chorus just repeats \\\"Emmanuel\\\" a few times then concludes with \\\"God is with us.\\\" It's a pure pop song that could have been fun, too.\\n\\nThe other two originals are better. \\\"All is Well at Christmas\\\" is mid tempo and reminds us of the hope that Jesus coming to save us from our sins gives us.\\n\\nBut my favorite song is \\\"Caroler's Song/Angels We Have Heard on High.\\\" Another piano based song, the verses talk about Jesus' birth or our modern celebration before launching into a chorus that incorporates lines from three familiar carols. It's lots of fun. My only question is the title. No where is \\\"Angels We Have Heard on High\\\" referenced. Instead, \\\"Hark! The Heard Angels Sing\\\" is referenced in the chorus and again as a bridge after the second chorus.\\n\\nI'm not surprised to see that Mark closed the disc with \\\"A Strange Way to Save the World.\\\" Originally recorded on 4Him's Christmas CD, this song is a classic. Written from Joseph's point of view, this ballad explores the mysteries of the Christmas story, like why Jesus was born in a manager to a poor girl. No, it doesn't offer any answers. The piano is supplemented by beautiful strings. Yes, I do miss the harmonies of the original, but this one is still pretty good.\\n\\nChristmas Is won't be one of the discs I pull out the day after Thanksgiving, but its fun take on traditional Christmas songs and two great new offerings definite merit a place in the rotation of anyone who loves Christmas music.\",\n \"Product: 2010 release from the contemporary Christian singer/songwriter. Twelve new songs pack this new MWS project with subject matter that is sure to pierce your heart, backed by a relevant music journey. Smitty says, ''These songs on this project are hopeful, anthemic and healing, musically and lyrically. I had a lot I wanted to say and the songs on this album allowed me to open up and do just that.''\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Makes Me Wonder Why I Continue to Buy Michael W. Smith's Releases\\n\\nReview: I started listening to Christian music in the early 90's, and back then if you wanted to call yourself a Christian music fan, you needed to be a fan of Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith. Whether or not it was peer pressure, I started to really enjoy their music. I've kept up with both artists over the years, automatically buying their new releases.\\n\\nI've almost stopped buying Michael W. Smith's new releases, however. Over the last few years, the only ones I've truly enjoyed have been his worship discs (and I'm not normally a fan of worship releases). But I started hearing that Wonder, his 22nd release, was going back to his earlier work and would be the best thing he'd done in years. Excited by the hype, I went and bought it. I wish it had lived up to the hype.\\n\\nNow don't get me wrong, there are some good tracks here. For example, it starts off well with the upbeat \\\"Save Me From Myself.\\\" The lyrics are a bit simple as he sings about how God saves us from our sinful nature. However, it's a fun melody that makes me want to sing along.\\n\\nI also really like \\\"Wonder (Not Far Away).\\\" Again, it's upbeat with some synthesizer and guitar as the song reminds us that God is not that far away from us when we're in pain. The chorus turns the song into an anthem that celebrates the mysteries of the God who is always there for us. The verses are a bit weird as Michael seems to be talking more than he is singing. I'm not quite sure the lyrics fit the melody there, but on the chorus it works.\\n\\nHowever, those are the best tracks. Many of the rest are just mediocre. \\\"Take My Breath Away\\\" is an attempt as a new worship song, and if the chorus were the pattern for the song, it would be great. However, the verses don't work with the melody. He often has to break the lines into two or three parts, but none of the breaks are in logical spots. Instead, it leaves me struggling to follow his thoughts.\\n\\n\\\"Run to You\\\" runs into one of my biggest complaints with lyrics, repetition. Not only is the chorus very repetitive, but the lyrics repeat words two or three times in a row. It's just not that great a song.\\n\\nThen there are the two love songs on the disc. \\\"Forever Yours\\\" and \\\"You Belong to Me\\\" are attempts on romantic songs. The first one is a very slow piano song, but the melody doesn't seem at all connected to the piano behind it. You belong to me incorporates strings into the piano, and the melody is much prettier here. I could actually picture this one becoming a wedding staple in years to come. But \\\"Forever Yours?\\\" Instantly forgettable.\\n\\nFinally, there's the duo of \\\"Leave\\\" and \\\"One More Time.\\\" These songs are on the disc back to back and are obviously intended to be combined. \\\"Leave\\\" is written from the point of view of a teenage girl going through a lot between physical abuse at home and being picked on at school. There is even talk of suicide in the second verse, but it ends with the speaker crying out to God for just a shred of hope. The music consists mainly of guitar with piano behind it, and it's a very haunting song even if the melody isn't very singable. My main problem with the song is, by itself, it doesn't offer any hope. I can the point of the song and why it would speak to people, but something about how hopeless it feels really bothers me.\\n\\nAs I said, the song is immediately followed by the piano based \\\"One More Time.\\\" It's mid tempo but much happier in tone. It's a call to never give up despite the trials we face in life. I'll admit I kind of like this one, although if it supposed to truly be a bit of encouragement to the speaker in the last song, I don't think it will work. It's on the shallow and cliched side if I am going to be honest.\\n\\nMichael W. Smith has fallen pretty far from his best releases during the 80's and early 90's. Wonder is not a return to form. I hate to give up on him, but I'm going to have to think long and hard before I buy his next release.\",\n \"Product: As a founding member of the legendary ensemble Point of Grace, Heather Payne's voice has become synonymous with gospel music. 'Sweet Exchange' features Heather's signature vocals paired with timeless hymns and anthems of the church while adding an updated style to create her signature sound. Featuring songs like 'Rock of Ages,' 'Holy Holy Holy,' and the heartfelt anthem 'My Jesus,' Heather's soaring yet intimate voice takes us on a journey of a 'sweet exchange.'\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Modern Arrangements of Classic Hymns from a Former Member of Point of Grace\\n\\nReview: In 2008, Heather Payne announced her plans to retire from hit Christian group Point of Grace, saying he wanted to spend more time with her family. Obviously, she can't quite give up the music bug because in 2010 she released a solo project. Sweet Exchange features new arrangements of hymns, and it is wonderful.\\n\\nI've sung most of the songs on this disc for years, and they are old friends. Fortunately, you can sing along from the very first listen. But Heather does little tweaks to them and often adds an original chorus, which makes you pay attention to the words. They feel fresh and new even while being old.\\n\\nThe disc starts out with \\\"Holy, Holy, Holy\\\" and the sounds of electric guitar. It's slightly more upbeat than I normally sing it in church. And Heather has added one of those new choruses I mentioned earlier, which further praises our Holy God.\\n\\nMy favorite track on here is \\\"Rock of Ages.\\\" Again, it's fairly upbeat and guitar heavy. But here's the genius of this arrangement. She uses \\\"My Hope is Built on Nothing Less\\\" as the chorus. Since I absolutely love both hymns, you can imagine how often this track gets repeated.\\n\\nThings slow down for the piano based \\\"Hallelujah What a Savior.\\\" While singing the verses, it's just Heather's passionate voice and the piano, but when she gets to the chorus, she brings in a full orchestra to really blow things out. It's a great arrangement.\\n\\nHeather asks friend and the only other member of Point of Grace to leave the group, Terry Jones, to do a duet with her on \\\"O the Deep, Deep Love.\\\" This song's melody has changed the most, but since I already know two or three different melodies for the song, I don't mind. It's mid-tempo and guitar heavy again. It's great to hear these two ladies singing together again.\\n\\nShe does a fairly straight rendition of \\\"Be Thou My Vision.\\\" There are no added choruses, although she does sing it to an upbeat guitar. I've got to admit, I've been spoiled by Ginny Owen's awesome version, and this one just doesn't quite measure up. There's nothing wrong with it; I just like the other better.\\n\\nIt's back to adding choruses to the upbeat \\\"Jesus Paid It All.\\\" I can't help but worship along with her celebration \\\"I am free\\\" on that new chorus. Of course, the hymn is pretty powerful if you listen to the words about Jesus paying for our sin. I don't sing this one nearly often enough. Fortunately, I can change that now.\\n\\nShe does a slow, reflective version of \\\"Alas My Savior Did Bleed,\\\" which you might be more familiar with as \\\"Alas and Did My Savior Bleed.\\\" Heather sings over finger picked guitar and violin, one of the few times you find something outside of normal guitar, keyboard, and drums on the disc. It's funny because I'm used to singing this one fast, but I really like this slow version of it.\\n\\nThe last two songs I'm not super familiar with. Of course, \\\"The Gospel Song\\\" takes lines from three different hymns; I only recognize one of them. \\\"Come Ye Sinners\\\" is weird just because she has a preacher start out the song and break in at one point all fired up. The song doesn't need.\\n\\nI first really listened to this disc on a road trip, and I noticed that the songs were sounding a little repetitive by the time I reached the end. There is a lot of guitar here, and most of the songs are upbeat, so that doesn't surprise me too much. I stuck it in again around town where I was making frequent stops. I loved every song that way, so the problem isn't as bad as on some discs I have.\\n\\nFrankly, that's a minor complaint. Sweet Exchange will appeal to those who love hymns but want something with a new spin on it. I know I will enjoy these songs for a long time to come.\",\n \"Product: In preparation for the upcoming holiday season, the GRAMMY-nominated and Dove Award-winning band Newsboys will release their first-ever seasonal recording, Christmas! A Newsboys Holiday (Inpop records). This 6-song EP will include five Christmas standards as well as one brand new Christmas tune. The EP is produced by Juan Otero (Born Again-Newsboys)\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: No Originals but Plenty of Fun with the Short Newsboys Christmas!\\n\\nReview: Somehow last year, I missed the fact that the Newsboys released a Christmas EP. But when I was browsing for something to buy to hit a limit to use a coupon, I stumbled across it. Since it was only $5 for 5 songs, I figured I couldn't go wrong by trying Christmas! A Newsboys Holiday.\\n\\nBefore we go any further, I should point out that this disc features new Newsboys front man Michael Tait. While Ive never been the biggest Newsboys fan, Ive always associated Peter Furlers distinctive vocals with the group and will miss them as the band moves forward.\\n\\nThose looking for original songs will be highly disappointed. All five of these songs are traditional songs that everyone records. Well, the first track the less often recorded All I Want for Christmas is You. It gets things off to a run rock start. Similarly upbeat are Jingle Bell Rock and Winter Wonderland. This may be the most upbeat Ive ever seen Winter Wonderland. And they do both verses for this song, too. Nothing about these arrangements is that surprising. Theyre rock versions of the songs.\\n\\nThey do slow things down of the one song about Jesus birth on the disc. O Holy Night is properly reverent and respectful even though they do still use their electric guitars and drums for the music. Im a little surprised that this is the only religious song from a Christian band. Not that Im really going to complain because I do enjoy the disc.\\n\\nIf you don't have the final track, it is worth every penny youd spend alone. The song was recorded several years ago when Tait was a solo artist and is a cover of the famous The Christmas Song. This song feels very different from the first four on the disc because it uses an orchestra and even a harp. And Taits voice is amazing here as he channels Nat King Cole, the man who made the song famous. His voice is rich and lush and absolutely beautiful. Im not sure where all this recording was included; I do know I had it on one of my compilations discs that I rarely pull out. Id forgotten just how much I love it until I heard it again.\\n\\nIn place of a full length Christmas release, Newsboys fans will be pleased with Christmas! A Newsboys Holiday. Hopefully, next time they will include some original songs to round out a release.\",\n \"Product: The reigning GMA/Dove 'Female Vocalist of the Year' returns with a follow-up to her best-selling debut, 'My Paper Heart.' It's been a busy couple of years for Francesca, who between touring non-stop, getting married, and having her first child, still found time to write and record her sophomore album. 'Hundred More Years' embodies Francesca's signature sound fans have come to love, while exploring topics of family, friendship and life's joys and frustrations.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Francesca Battistelli's Sophomore CD Will Not be Listened to for a Hundred More Years\\n\\nReview: A couple years back, I found myself with the new CD from a Christian artists. While I didn't warm to it right away, it grew on me. So when Francesca Battistelli released her second disc, Hundred More Years, I made a point of getting it. I was looking forward to it; I want to love it. But the more I listen to it, the more I notice the flaws.\\n\\nActually, the disc starts out with what will easily stay one of my favorite songs. \\\"This is the Stuff\\\" is about those days. You know, the days when everything go horribly wrong. But it's a reminder that God uses that stuff to make us more like Him. It's got a nice, upbeat rhythm, and for something different, the main instrument is an ukulele. Yeah, that's one you don't hear very often.\\n\\nIf only the rest of the disc were this good.\\n\\nMy problems with the rest of the disc are twofold. The biggest is the music. The songs are mid tempo numbers big on guitar. And all of them sound the same. You can argue that some of them are ballads or feature keyboard, and you'd be right. But it still feels like too small a difference to me. When I'm listening to this CD, all the songs blend together for me.\\n\\nWhen I reviewed her first disc, I commented that several of the songs there had weak lyrics. Unfortunately, that seems to be the case again here. I feel like all the themes touched on here have been done better before.\\n\\nThere are several songs on here about God's grace, mercy, and love. \\\"Constant\\\" deals with the changes that come in life, but reminds us that God will never leave us. \\\"You Never Are\\\" is directed at someone who has wandered away from God and says, \\\"You think that you're too far/But you never are/You never are/You never are.\\\" In a mirror to that song, \\\"Good to Know\\\" is written from the point of view of that person repenting and coming back to God.\\n\\nThere are a couple of songs on here that I could see easily being huge crossover hits for Francesca. \\\"Angel by your Side\\\" is a slower piano ballad from one friend to another promising help during the hard times. Dave Barnes joins her for \\\"Emily (It's Love).\\\" We're back in upbeat pop/rock territory here for a song that encourages someone to keep striving in life because \\\"seasons change.\\\"\\n\\nBetween releases, Francesca has gotten married, and that is obviously the inspiration behind the title track. This slow guitar ballad closes out the track. Maybe it's the placement on the disc, but it's a bit too sappy for my tastes.\\n\\nThen again, maybe I'm just not the audience Francesca is trying to reach. I've been playing this disc in my car off and on for the last couple of months while I've been driving my roommate around. He loves it and doesn't see any of the problems I do with it. He's closer to Francesca's 23 years. Maybe I'm just 12 years too old to enjoy the music here.\\n\\nOne great song and ten mediocre ones leave me feeling very disappointed with Hundred More Years. I will probably pass on future releases from Francesca Battistelli unless I've had a chance to really listen to them first.\",\n \"Product: 2012 album from the Canadian Christian band. If their last record was a light-in-the-darkest-places announcement that \\\"the end is really just the beginning,\\\" then On The Altar Of Love arrives as an artfully textured but heartfelt declaration that, \\\"True progress might mean we have to go backwards.\\\" As students of history, Downhere have come to recognize and appreciate the fact that their faith is not simply their own--but that it's part of a much larger communion of believers that stretches across cultures and thousands of years. And while we might have the privilege of bearing that torch during the short span of our own lives, they would say it's important to recognize it's not a torch we lit. It's one that was passed to us by generations of faithful saints, and it's one that we'll soon enough be passing on to those who follow us.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Lyrically, downhere Leaves it all On the Altar of Love\\n\\nReview: It's hard to believe it's been almost a decade since the Canadian Christian band downhere popped up on my radar. In that decade, their music has become some of my most played with several songs being standouts. On the Altar of Love is their fifth regular studio release (sixth studio release if you count their awesome Christmas disc), and it is another good one.\\n\\nOver the years, the band has found their sweet spot in the soft rock/pop convergence, sometimes heading a little in the rock direction and sometimes leaning pop. This is definitely a pop oriented release with mostly mid-tempo offerings and plenty of ballads.\\n\\nOne of the things I love about the band is the fact that it has two lead vocalists. While most people would probably point to Marc Martel as the lead because his falsettos are so prominent on their bigger hits, Jason Germain provides plenty of deeper vocals. Their contrasting styles (Jason's vocals are more traditional rock star) complement each other very well and produce some great harmonies. And these guys don't just sing. Jason also plays guitar and piano while Marc plays guitar. Rounding out the band, Glen Lavender plays the bass and Jeremy Thiessen plays drums.\\n\\nBut enough background. What do you say we did into this release.\\n\\nAppropriately enough, the disc opens with \\\"Only the Beginning,\\\" a reminder that every day is a fresh beginning because of the forgiveness of God. It starts with simple piano but quickly adds in the other layers of the band. It's also a perfect example of Marc and Jason sharing lead vocal duties. On the chorus, they blend perfectly.\\n\\nFrom there, the guys immediately transition to a song of encouragement. \\\"Rest\\\" builds itself around Jesus' promise in the gospels that He will give rest to those who are weary. The verses focus on those who are \\\"weary in well-doing\\\" and those who have fallen so far from God that they feel can never come back. It's easy to let the words and music wash over you and lift your spirit in praise.\\n\\nBut \\\"Let Me Rediscover You\\\" focuses on our response to God. Wrapped in a reminder about how little we really know God comes the cry to know Him better. We have driving drums on this anthem that I have a feeling will be a highlight in their concerts for years to come.\\n\\nThere's a pair of songs on here that perfectly mirror each other. \\\"For Life\\\" praises God for the simple joys of life, such things as \\\"For frosted pines shining like diamonds in the morning sun/For a pretty girl and for falling love/For spring ice churning the driftwood shore.\\\" It has a driving rhythm that gives it some force, but it doesn't have the soaring melody that I would normally associate with a song like this. That alone makes it stand out.\\n\\nThe other side of this duo is \\\"For the Heartbreak.\\\" Surprisingly, the melody on this one feels much lighter. Of course, that's partially because Marc has lead vocal duties here while Jason sings that first song. But this song also feels happier. And yet, the lyrics are focused on a much more serious topic as they thank God for the hard times in life because they make the sweet times seem sweeter still. And yes, there is a reminder that \\\"When there's no sign of You/When I'm lost, hurt, and used/You are there hurting, too.\\\"\\n\\n\\\"Glory by Way of Shame\\\" is the track that's had to grow on me the most. With verses that bring to mind the parable of the Prodigal Son and the story of Hosea, it reminds us how great forgiveness feels. I think part of my problem with the song is actually musical. The verses seemed forced and rushed into the song. The chorus works well, however.\\n\\nThose missing their rockier sound will be pleased with \\\"Seek,\\\" a song about God's efforts to find and redeem us. The song is fast with a strong beat and is heavy on the electric guitars. It's a fun song, but like everything else on here, still has great lyrics.\\n\\nBut there's a flip side to this one, at least stylistically. \\\"The Altar of Love\\\" features fiddles and banjo for a folk music feel. The lyrics focus on the sacrifice that love requires in all aspects of life. Even with the obvious nod to folk music, this one still builds to a very fast, fun beat on the bridge.\\n\\nFrankly, I wish there were more fast moments here. I miss the energy of some of their previous releases. On the other hand, I continue to be amazed at the lyrics. These are not the simple lyrics of many artists; there is much here to challenge and encourage you.\\n\\nAnd so downhere continues to prove they are artists with something to say. If you've missed this gem of a Christian band, On the Altar of Love is as good a place as any to fix that.\",\n \"Product: All We Need 02. Remedy 03. Savior's Face 04. Beauty's Just A Word 05. No Escape 06. Uncharted Territory 07. Elevate 08. My One And Only 09. Run To You 10. Feel 11. Human (Feat. Jonny Lang) (Bonus Track) 12. Live For You (2011)\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: All We Needed Was Rachael Lampa's Welcome Return to Christian Music\\n\\nReview: When I started to learn about the groups on Season 3 of The Sing-Off, I was surprised to find that one of the newly formed groups included Rachael Lampa. She exploded onto the Christian music scene at 15 in 2000, but pretty much vanished after a third disc was released in 2004. But there she was on the show in the group The Collective, a group of solo artists who have put their careers on hold to try the a cappella thing. And, in a stroke of irony, the very next day saw the release of Rachael's new studio disc, All We Need.\\n\\nWhen Rachael debuted in 2000, she was part of the wave of Christian female ten pop artists trying to be the answer to Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera. She has stayed with the strong pop sound, and it's very hard not to find yourself taping and humming along almost immediately.\\n\\nWhile Rachael is still a pop artist, her sound has matured some and definitely updated. The disc opens with \\\"All We Need,\\\" a slick track filled with drums, guitar, and light piano. Like many of the tracks on this disc, the song is upbeat and fun.\\n\\nBut Rachael has never been content to stick with just pop, as she shows with \\\"Remedy,\\\" which also is the first single. There's a definitely hip hop bent to this song as she sings about Jesus being the remedy for sin.\\n\\nThe hip hop doesn't stick around for too long, and Rachael is back to pure pop with \\\"Savior's Face,\\\" a song that reminds us that all of us are sinners who need God's grace.\\n\\nMy one complaint with Rachael's music over the years is that it can be shallow lyrically. There's certainly some of that here. The first two tracks alone are fairly familiar ideas with little depth. But the pop is so slick that it makes the familiar fun. Likewise, \\\"No Escape,\\\" her cover of Taio Cruz's \\\"Run to You\\\" and the song for her new husband, \\\"My One and Only,\\\" are more flash than substance. Not that I mind since I'm humming along tapping my toes without even thinking about it.\\n\\nSome of the other songs, however, are amazing when you really listen to them. \\\"Beauty's Just a Word\\\" talks about the hard times in life and how we appreciate the good things more because of them. No, not a new idea. But just check out the lyrics. \\\"It's dark so you can see the light and it's hard so you can know it's right/And pain beauty's just a word without you.\\\" Something about the way the lyrics are set up makes it seem more poetic than many of the songs I know on the subject. Couple that with the strings on the slower verses that discover into the faster chorus and you've got a beautiful song.\\n\\nI also really like \\\"Uncharted Territory.\\\" A mid-tempo track, this one looks at someone facing a major change in their lives. It's a song of encouragement to take those \\\"baby steps\\\" into the unknown.\\n\\n\\\"Feel\\\" closes the original tracks on the disc, and it is written from the point of view of someone in pain who just wants a friendly shoulder to lean on. \\\"I don't need you to try to fix the world this time/I just want your heart to break every time I cry.\\\" Again, it feels wonderfully fresh to me.\\n\\nThere are a total of 12 tracks on the disc, but the final two are songs she's already released. \\\"Human\\\" was actually the title of an EP she released through her website last year (that I'm going to have to track down after learning about it). It's a duet with Jonny Lang and speaks of the disparity between who we truly are and the face we put on to hide our weaknesses. It's the slowest track here and has a pop/blues vibe that I find interesting.\\n\\nFinally, the disc closes with a completely new version of \\\"Live for You.\\\" This was originally the title track from her debut disc in 2000, and a huge hit at the time. It's a bit simpler musically with your basic drums, piano, and guitar, but it's been mixed so it still sounds like a contemporary pop track. I'm often disappointed by an artist trying to cover their own classic, but this one is such a fun update that I like it. I think it will appeal to Rachael's fans old and new.\\n\\nYes, I wish many of the lyrics were deeper and more poetic. But the pop music is so much fun I can't complain too much. All We Need is going to be another disc I'll enjoy for some time to come.\",\n \"Product: Rising singer/songwriter Josh Wilson releases his first full length Christmas album, Noel, this October as a follow up to last year s hugely successful Christmas tour (Noel: A Unique Christmas Experience) and the #1 Christmas single of 2011, Jesus is Alive . Known for being one of the top songwriters and multi-instrumentalists in the industry, Wilson has been hailed as the future of Christian pop by media and his albums are regularly named to Year-End Top Ten Album lists. He has released numerous No. 1 hits including Savior Please and the powerful track Before the Morning, which landed the No. 4 spot on Billboard s Year-End Christian Songs chart.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Celebrate Noel with Josh Wilson's Great CD\\n\\nReview: I wasn't super surprised when I learned that Josh Wilson was releasing a Christmas CD this year. After all, he's done a small Christmas tour the last two years. I was super excited, however, and Noel is exactly what I wanted it to be.\\n\\nThe disc starts off with one of the two instrumental tracks on the disc. Both of them are mostly guitar, although \\\"The First Noel\\\" starts off with some piano. It's a nice introduction to the disc. But hang on to your hats when you get to \\\"Carol of the Bells.\\\" It's a dueling guitar style song with acoustic and electric battling it out with bells for the percussion. It's a great arrangement.\\n\\nThere are four new tracks here. Of those, my least favorite is \\\"Once a Year.\\\" Don't get me wrong, I like the idea behind it. It's a reminder that, while helping people during the holidays is good, the poor is in need of our help all year long. I think it's just that the song is so obvious.\\n\\nOn the other hand, the other three songs are awesome. \\\"Jesus is Alive\\\" focuses on the hope that Jesus' birth gives us in our struggles with sin and death. It's a song of celebration that features bells and guitar in an upbeat piece that lifts my spirits in praise for what God has done. \\\"Christmas Changes Everything\\\" has a similar theme to it, but despite a bombastic opening, it has a slower tempo that leads itself even more to worship.\\n\\nAnd that leaves us with \\\"Almost Christmas.\\\" This is really the only song on the disc that talks about the holiday from a traditions point of view, and I love it. His excitement is contagious and perfectly captures the holiday for me. There's sax on this song that adds some fun to this toe tapping number.\\n\\nWhich leaves us with the four traditional songs on the disc. \\\"Do You Hear What I Hear?\\\" and \\\"Angels We Have Heard on High\\\" are fairly traditional versions. Yes, they have Josh's twists on things and his wonderful guitar playing, but it's easy to sing along right away. Josh is joined by Mandisa for a fun Southern Gospel flavored take on \\\"Go, Tell it on the Mountain.\\\"\\n\\nBut my favorite of the traditional songs is \\\"O Come, O Come Emmanuel.\\\" It's got a dramatic rock underpinning driving by electric guitar. It's a lot of fun and really fits the song perfectly. I really enjoy it when he goes into what I am guessing is Hebrew near the end for some added flair.\\n\\nI was a little surprised that he didn't chose to include his song \\\"Sing\\\" from Life is Not a Snapshot since it has a Christmas theme. But that's a minor issues.\\n\\nThis disc has a great combination of traditional songs and original tracks, which fresh arrangements to liven things up. I have a feeling I will be reaching for this disc early for many Christmases to come.\\n\\nAnd so if you are looking to buy just one new Christmas CD this year, I can't recommend Josh Wilson's Noel highly enough. This is a great project you'll enjoy for years to come.\",\n \"Product: Steve Curtis Chapman, the most award-winning artist in Christian music history, releases a brand new Christmas album. This album features 12 newly recorded songs including 5 originals and some new and fresh approaches to Christmas classics we all love.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Steven Curtis Chapman Wishes Us a Joyful Christmas\\n\\nReview: The last few of Steven Curtis Chapman's releases have been themed. Rumor is he is working on something new for his fans in 2013, but to tide us over until that happens, he is presenting Joy, his third full length Christmas CD.\\n\\nSix of the 13 songs on here are original compilations, and you can certainly get the joy of the season from many of them. \\\"Christmas Time Again,\\\" written with son Caleb, and \\\"Christmas inKentucky\\\" certainly fit the bill as they celebrate the warm memories of snow and family together time everyone associates with the season. Both songs are upbeat and fun as well.\\n\\nOf the new songs, my favorite is \\\"I Am Joseph (God is With Us),\\\" which takes a look at the characters from the familiar story and draws parallels with our lives today before reminding us that God is always with us. Again, it's a light, bouncy song that is sure to make you smile.\\n\\nBut even on a disc of joy, Steven can't resist putting in a more bittersweet song. \\\"Christmas Card\\\" is written for someone who is struggling to find the joy in the season because of personal trials going on in their lives. Even so, this anthem reminds us that the season really is about God's love for us.\\n\\n\\\"Happy New Year\\\" closes out the disc. As Steven often does, he ends things on a slow, reflective note. This time it looks at the blank page that a new year brings and reminds us that God can make great things out of our lives in the next 12 months.\\n\\nThe final new song actually starts a trio of jazz inspired songs. \\\"Christmas Kiss\\\" is a fun tribute to love. I can imagine Steven singing this to his wife with candlelight glowing on Christmas Eve.\\n\\nOf the jazz trio, \\\"Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow\\\" is the fastest. It's a fun piano based arrangement that will have your toes tapping before you know it. This section closes off with a slow, guitar based version of \\\"Christmas Time is Here.\\\" While the Peanuts' version will always be my favorite version, I do find this one nice as well.\\n\\nSteven has worked hard to put his stamp on the traditional songs here. \\\"Joy to the World\\\" starts things off on a nice upbeat note. I absolutely love the bells on \\\"Do You Hear What I Hear?\\\" \\\"What Child is This?\\\" gets not only a more upbeat guitar arrangement, but as coda that affirms who the Child really is. Again, it's a great version. \\\"In the Bleak Midwinter\\\" is slow and prayerful. The song that gets the most change is \\\"We Three Kings.\\\" Again, it's more upbeat than we're used to hearing, but Steven also plays around with the melody. It takes a couple of listens to fully appreciate, but I really do like it.\\n\\nFor many of these songs, Steven plays acoustic guitar, which gives the entire disc a more relaxed feel than some of his other discs. There is no mistaking his guitar driven pop style, and it's in full force here. Of course, he does have piano and drums on most songs, but he brings in strings at times to liven things up as well.\\n\\nMy only real complaint with the disc lies in the original songs. With the exception of \\\"I Am Joseph,\\\" I like them but I don't love them. He's done better on his previous two Christmas releases. Of the three, this is my least favorite. Having said that, there are still some enjoyable songs and fun arrangements of classics here, so I will be pulling it out every year.\\n\\nSo Joy is a Christmas release that Steven Curtis Chapman's many fans will enjoy. It's not his best, but it's still very good.\",\n \"Product: 2013 holiday release from the Christian singer/songwriter. Brandon Heath, beloved male vocalist and award-winning songwriter, releases his first Christmas album on October 15th, 2013. Featuring newly recorded classics including \\\"O Little Town Of Bethlehem,\\\" \\\"Away In A Manger,\\\" \\\"Silent Night,\\\" and many more, Brandon also offers THREE brand new original songs: \\\"The Day After Thanksgiving,\\\" \\\"Just A Girl,\\\" and \\\"Momma Wouldn't Lie To Me.\\\" This special collection combining both new and nostalgic favorites is sure to brighten the Christmas season.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: I Really Wanted to Love This Disc, but the New Songs Drag It Down\\n\\nReview: Every year in late summer, I start anxiously looking to see who is releasing new Christmas music this fall. I was thrilled to see that Brandon Heath was releasing one this year, and I rushed out to buy it. Sadly, Christmas Is Here didn't live up to my expectations.\\n\\nI own enough Christmas music that I look for the original songs to make or break a disc for me. And this is where the disc falls flat. Two of the songs are more Bah Humbug than Christmas cheer.\\n\\nFirst up is \\\"The Day After Thanksgiving.\\\" And I know many people agree with the sentiment in the song - wait until Black Friday to start playing Christmas music and selling stuff in the stores. It's a catchy tune and a good mid-tempo song. I have a feeling he was trying to go for funny, but it just comes across as grumpy.\\n\\nThen there's the irony that I am complaining about this song in October on a disc that has been out for two weeks already.\\n\\nThen there's \\\"Momma Wouldn't Lie to Me.\\\" Written from the point of view of a kid who still believes in Santa, I do think it makes a good point about what can happen to kids from being lied to about Santa. But first, if parents aren't aware, the song could spill the beans. And again, it feels more like a grumpy song that a song full of Christmas cheer. That is despite the very upbeat, jazzy music.\\n\\nThen there's \\\"Just a Girl.\\\" I'm still trying to figure out what Brandon was trying to say with this song written from the point of view of the innkeeper.\\n\\nFortunately, the rest of the tracks are great. In fact, they more than make up for these three songs. Brandon tried to capture the sound of the crooners of old on these tracks, so many of them feel very familiar to me already, and I love it. For example the instruments on \\\"The Christmas Song\\\" sound so much like Nat King Cole's classic version I have to remind myself that he did rerecord them. He channels Bing Crosby on \\\"Silent Night.\\\" And while the medley of \\\"O Come All Ye Faithful/Angels We Have Heard on High\\\" is new, it too sounds like the old crooners at work.\\n\\nAmong these tracks, my favorite is \\\"Go Tell It on the Mountain.\\\" I'm not usually a fan of this song, and Brandon's bluegrass version might have worked against it. However, somehow it fits the song, and I love the way that he sings too verses together before going back to the chorus. This might become my favorite version of the song.\\n\\nThe bluegrass band also appears on \\\"In the Bleak Midwinter.\\\" It doesn't work quite as well here, but it is a good take on a lesser recorded song.\\n\\nThis is a disc to wait to buy until after Christmas. Even then, buy it for the old standbys because the new songs aren't that great. Christmas Is Here will get mixed in with my Christmas music on iTunes, but it won't be one I rush to pull out each year.\",\n \"Product: Corduroy the bear goes to the launderette with Lisa. He overhears her mother warn her about taking things out of her pockets before washing her clothes. When Corduroy discovers he does not have a pocket, he begins his search to find one.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Sweet and Fun Sequel\\n\\nReview: One day, Corduroy, a stuffed bear, goes with Lisa, his owner, and her mother to do laundry at the laundromat. As Lisas mom reminds her to empty her pockets, Corduroy decides he needs a pocket on his overalls and sets out on a search to find one. What might he find along the way? Will he wander completely away from Lisa?\\n\\nThis is a sweet and fun book that I think I might like better than the original. The reason for this is the creativity of what Corduroy runs across in the laundromat and what he thinks it might be. We, of course, know better, but his guesses make perfect sense from his experiences. The pictures are wonderful and expertly capture the story.\\n\\nIf you are a fan of this stuffed bears first adventure, don't hesitate to get this one. And if youve missed Corduroy, by all means meet him soon.\",\n \"Product: The BIC Round Stic Xtra Life Ballpoint Pen is a dependable favorite that offers performance and value, making it the #1 selling Ballpoint Pen in the US*. Great for daily use at home, school, or the office, this pen writes 90% longer on average than Papermate InkJoy 100 Ball Stick Pen.** It features a versatile 1.0mm medium point that creates vivid lines and has a reliable tungsten carbide ball point that spreads the ink smoothly and evenly, making this pen ideal for a variety of writing applications from note-taking to doodling. The flexible round barrel rests comfortably in your hand, while the translucent barrel shows the remaining ink supply, so you know when you're running low. BIC Round Stic Xtra Life Ballpoint Pens are non-refillable. *Source: The NPD Group/ Retail Tracking Service/ U.S. Actual Unit Sales (Retail & Commercial Combined)/ Jul 2016-Jun 2017 ** Paper Mate and InkJoy are trademarks of Newell or an affiliate. Newell has not sponsored or approved and is not affiliated with this BIC branded product.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Good Luck Getting My Grip off This Pen\\n\\nReview: I am a brand loyalist. When I find something I like, I stick with it forever, and only switch if I absolutely have no other choice. (Imagine the reaction I got when I bought a different brand of shoes after wearing the same style for 10 years.) But I don't normally care about pens. I'll use whatever is handy and buy whatever is cheapest. So you can imagine my surprise to find a pen I really like.\\n\\nAnd I'd love to say it was because of awesome research, but that's not the case. We started using the BIC Round Stic Ball Pen at work. As a result, I use this pen every day, and I am pretty happy with it.\\n\\nThe pen itself isn't that different from a normal pen. It's a four inch long clear cylinder made out of plastic. A cap fits snuggly on both ends, so if you aren't writing you don't get ink on things but when you are writing you don't lose the cap. If you push the cap on too hard, it can be rather hard to take it off again, but there's really no need to do that. The cap stays on if you've put it on with any effort at all. At the writing end of the pen is a rubber grip to make it easier on your hand to hold the pen. I don't use the pen enough to know for sure if it helps or not, but it does feel nicer than standard plastic when I grab the pen.\\n\\nThese pens come in multiple colors like red, blue, and black. At my office, we stick with boring old black. We also get the fine point pen, which I love. My hand writing is small as it is, and if the tip of the pen I am using is too big, it tends to make my already sloppy penmanship even worse. (Really, it's the pen's fault.)\\n\\nI use my pen in bits and pieces throughout the day, and the ink is always ready to flow. It comes out perfectly with no globs or messes. I don't even think about it like I do fancier pens; I just grab it and write.\\n\\nThis pen is absolutely disposable; in fact, I'm not sure you can get the little stopper off the back to get into the pen. In these days of environmentalism, it does bother me a bit to just throw away a pen when I'm done with it. On the other hand, since you can buy 12 packs for roughly 20 cents a pen or less, I don't feel too badly about it.\\n\\nNow I'll admit most of my writing is done on a computer these days, so I'm probably not the best just of how long the ink will last. But I do use the pen at least once a day and usually more. I am on the same pen I've been using for the last year. Obviously, there's plenty of ink here no matter how much you use this pen.\\n\\nI've actually started buying the BIC Round Stic Ball Pen for home and my car as well. They work better than anything else I've found. So maybe I do have a brand loyalty for pens now, too.\",\n \"Product: The BIC Round Stic Xtra Life Ballpoint Pen is a dependable favorite that offers performance and value, making it the #1 selling Ballpoint Pen in the US*. Great for daily use at home, school, or the office, this pen writes 90% longer on average than Papermate InkJoy 100 Ball Stick Pen.** It features a versatile 1.0mm medium point that creates vivid lines and has a reliable tungsten carbide ball point that spreads the ink smoothly and evenly, making this pen ideal for a variety of writing applications from note-taking to doodling. The flexible round barrel rests comfortably in your hand, while the translucent barrel shows the remaining ink supply, so you know when you're running low. BIC Round Stic Xtra Life Ballpoint Pens are non-refillable. *Source: The NPD Group/ Retail Tracking Service/ U.S. Actual Unit Sales (Retail & Commercial Combined)/ Jul 2016-Jun 2017 ** Paper Mate and InkJoy are trademarks of Newell or an affiliate. Newell has not sponsored or approved and is not affiliated with this BIC branded product.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Good Luck Getting My Grip off This Pen\\n\\nReview: I am a brand loyalist. When I find something I like, I stick with it forever, and only switch if I absolutely have no other choice. (Imagine the reaction I got when I bought a different brand of shoes after wearing the same style for 10 years.) But I don't normally care about pens. I'll use whatever is handy and buy whatever is cheapest. So you can imagine my surprise to find a pen I really like.\\n\\nAnd I'd love to say it was because of awesome research, but that's not the case. We started using the BIC Round Stic Ball Pen at work. As a result, I use this pen every day, and I am pretty happy with it.\\n\\nThe pen itself isn't that different from a normal pen. It's a four inch long clear cylinder made out of plastic. A cap fits snuggly on both ends, so if you aren't writing you don't get ink on things but when you are writing you don't lose the cap. If you push the cap on too hard, it can be rather hard to take it off again, but there's really no need to do that. The cap stays on if you've put it on with any effort at all. At the writing end of the pen is a rubber grip to make it easier on your hand to hold the pen. I don't use the pen enough to know for sure if it helps or not, but it does feel nicer than standard plastic when I grab the pen.\\n\\nThese pens come in multiple colors like red, blue, and black. At my office, we stick with boring old black. We also get the fine point pen, which I love. My hand writing is small as it is, and if the tip of the pen I am using is too big, it tends to make my already sloppy penmanship even worse. (Really, it's the pen's fault.)\\n\\nI use my pen in bits and pieces throughout the day, and the ink is always ready to flow. It comes out perfectly with no globs or messes. I don't even think about it like I do fancier pens; I just grab it and write.\\n\\nThis pen is absolutely disposable; in fact, I'm not sure you can get the little stopper off the back to get into the pen. In these days of environmentalism, it does bother me a bit to just throw away a pen when I'm done with it. On the other hand, since you can buy 12 packs for roughly 20 cents a pen or less, I don't feel too badly about it.\\n\\nNow I'll admit most of my writing is done on a computer these days, so I'm probably not the best just of how long the ink will last. But I do use the pen at least once a day and usually more. I am on the same pen I've been using for the last year. Obviously, there's plenty of ink here no matter how much you use this pen.\\n\\nI've actually started buying the BIC Round Stic Ball Pen for home and my car as well. They work better than anything else I've found. So maybe I do have a brand loyalty for pens now, too.\",\n \"Product: Keep loose paperwork neatly categorized in this attractive desktop file. Use this 1-31 plus Jan-Dec indexed file to organize papers by the date follow-up action needs to be taken. Cover contains 35% recycled content, and 10% post-consumer material.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Perfect for Temporary Storage in Alphabetical Order\\n\\nReview: I have no idea how my office found and started using Smead's Deluxe Indexed Desk File, but its invaluable for us for holding invoices.\\n\\nThese files are fairly simple when you look at them. Theyre just over letter size, so most standard pieces of paper would fit into them. There are twenty tabs on the top from left to right. Most of these tabs have one letter of the alphabet on them, but a few of the lesser popular letters are bunched together. I and J are coupled up as are U and V, for example.\\n\\nThe idea behind these files is that you can sort and store documents in alphabetical order in a draw. We use this for our unpaid invoices. That way, if you need to find something quickly, just go to the tab and pull it up. I pull the back up once weve run checks, and its very easy to find them. Plus, you don't have to put them in alphabetical order before you file, just grab the top one and add it to the appropriate slot. This could also be used for customer invoices that have not been paid. Employee information could be put here until it is properly processed and filed and still be easy to find. The uses for these sorter files are quite extensive.\\n\\nHowever, they do have some drawbacks. While they do expand some, they don't grow much beyond six inches think. And when you realize they are three inches think to start with, thats really not that much space. Actually, we have two folders, one for each half of the alphabet. Even then, if the bills come in too quickly, they can be bursting at the seams.\\n\\nThats another issue. The accordion nature of the files is rather weak. These seem to last for about two years of daily use several times a day, and then you need to replace them. For the price of roughly $15, that isn't too bad, but it would be nice if they lasted longer.\\n\\nFinally, the files need some form of support. You either need to wedge them in a draw or find a place to lay them flat. They are too thick for most file folders and don't come with hangers to hang them in a file cabinet. Then again, they are usually so heavy they would probably break most hangers quickly.\\n\\nThese complaints can be annoying at times, but if you have a need for filing and sorting material temporarily, Smead's Deluxe Indexed Desk File is invaluable. There really is no good substitute, and they make life much easier.\",\n \"Product: There's nothing more American than the game of Monopoly, except maybe a special America Edition of this popular board game. You can own pieces of American culture and history; learn about American people and places; and move around the board using tokens that are as American as apple pie. Enjoy classic play or experience a new variation with the Corner Squares Games. Answer American Challenge questions and you may get a property for free! This is an American road trip you don't want to miss! For 6 players. Ages 8 and up. Made in USA.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Mr. Monopoly celebrates America\\n\\nReview: Parker Brothers has released yet another theme version of their classic board game Monopoly. This time, the theme is America, our past, and what we've accomplished. The property sets focus on history (Yorktown, Gettysburg, and the Constitution) or inventions (baseball and basketball to the telephone.) Other sets highlight national parks or our development of entertainment, and the railroads have become milestones in transportation.\\nThis version stands above the rest because of the attention to detail that has been included. The dice are red and blue. There are fun facts on the mortgage side of each title deed card. The tokens are right in keeping with the theme as well. After all, what's more American then Apple Pie?\\nAs a change, the corner squares can be altered to make the game more interesting. Some of these involve trivia questions that require knowledge of American history and geography. The cards are quite challenging, but also a great way to gain a better knowledge of our country. This provides a fun alternative way to play as well.\\nThis version is a fun way to learn about America while still playing the classic board game. I plan to make it a regular part of my Fourth of July festivities, but it's great year round.\",\n \"Product: With the Little People A Deluxe Christmas Story playset, little ones can bring the magic of the nativity to the palms of their hands! Push down on the angel to hear a sweet song & make the light-up star shine bright. 12 Little People figures, 5 accessory pieces and the sweet baby manger round out this perfect holiday play set. You and your family will love recreating this beautiful story in the comfort of your home.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Cute First Nativity Set\\n\\nReview: My niece is just over a year old, and we are looking forward to seeing how she reacts to Christmas this year. One thing she got for this Christmas is Fisher-Price's A Little People Christmas. If you are looking for a great nativity set for your little ones to play with, this is one to consider.\\n\\nThere are lots of big pieces in this set. It starts off with the stable, a big rectangular building with straw roof. While the back of the nativity is solid, when you are looking through the front, you can see the stars in the night sky, including the one that shown down on the manger. There are two pieces that hook on to the sides of the stable, making a slightly larger enclosure. They are interchangeable and snap into place quite solidly. Aside from the figures in plastic bags, this was the only thing that needed to be put together.\\n\\nThen there are the figures, and you get lots of them. Naturally, there are Mary and Joseph. Jesus is firmly attached to a small manger. The three wise men are present. You get two donkeys, a little lamb, a cow, and a camel. Plus, there's a bigger manger (with removable hay) and a cart that will attached to the bigger animals so they can drag it around. Finally, there's an angel.\\n\\nYou'll notice the one thing that is missing - shepherds. Joseph could double as a shepherd, but it's not quite the same.\\n\\nThere is a light and sound component as well. When you have installed three AA batteries (not included) in the back compartment, you can press the button on the top of the stable to hear \\\"a soothing song\\\" (one verse of \\\"Away in a Manger\\\") and see the star on the front of the stable light up. Any of the figures can easily fit on the button on the top since they all have holes just the right size in them, but my niece likes to take the figure off first and press the button by hand.\\n\\nAnd boy does she like to play the music. She'll turn it on and dance around to it. It's very cute to watch. My brother and sister-in-law might not be liking it by Christmas, but so far we all think it is cute. There is a switch in the back to turn the music and light off, however, my niece figured that out right away.\\n\\nSince this is a Little People set, all the figures and accessories are quite large in size. Obviously, my niece doesn't quite grasp what it is yet, and several pieces (usually the lamb or camel) go into her mouth almost immediately. So far she loves the music aspect the best.\\n\\nThe rest of us like it because it is cute. The figures are pleasant to look at with their rosy cheeks. It's solid, so it will withstand being played with by anyone over the age of one (which is the recommended age on the box). Yes, the stable is based on the romanticized, American version of the Biblical story and not the way things really were. Since most nativity scenes are like that, I don't mind in the least. It would have been nice if they hadn't used very white people for the characters since that also isn't realistic, but it's the only real complaint\\n\\nWhile the story aspect of the set doesn't really register with my niece yet, I'm sure she'll get that in the next few years as she grows up and starts to understand who all the figures are.\\n\\nIt seems that Fisher-Price updates this set regularly. They say right on the box that contents might appear different from those pictured. Sure enough, the contents of the cart are slightly different. Who knows how it will change in the future. Maybe we'll even get the missing shepherd.\\n\\nNativity sets are an important part of many Christmas celebrations. If you are looking for one for your kids, I don't see how you can go wrong with A Little People Christmas.\",\n \"Product: Stomp Rocket Ultra is 100% KID powered! Run, jump and STOMP to launch these rockets up to 200 feet in the air -- thats 20 stories high! Stomp Rocket Ultra is strong and durable, and great for active, outdoor play. It has won the Dr. Toy Award, iParenting Medias Hot Toy Award, Creative Child Magazines Preferred Choice Award and iParenting Medias Excellent Product Award. Includes 4 foam-tipped Ultra Stomp Rockets and a Stomp Launcher. Refill rockets also available (item #20002). For kids ages 5 and up.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: How High and How Far Can You Stomp This Rocket?\\n\\nReview: Im just a big kid, so whenever I visit my family, I enjoy seeing what toys and books my niece loves to play with. Yes, we had several tea parties while I was last there. But a trip to the park introduced me to the absolute fun that is the Ultra Stomp Rocket. My brother and I had just as much fun with it as my niece did.\\n\\nThe idea is so simple its hard to believe this hasn't been around for a long time. Several metal bars create a stand. Attached to this stand is a hollow tube that is attached to a giant soft plastic box. I really don't know how else to describe it since the outside is plastic and it compressed as you stomp on it.\\n\\nOnce this is set up on the ground, you slide a rocket on the tube. When you're ready to let it fly, just stomp on that plastic box and watch the rocket shoot off into the air. You can adjust the angle of the tube, so sometimes it will shoot out further and sometimes it will shoot up higher.\\n\\nAnd right there is something that will help kids understand physics. No, we didn't try to understand anything but having fun playing with it, but you can easily see how the angle of the launching tube greatly affects where the rocket goes. Whether you discuss it or not, I'm sure this will click with kids when they study that in school.\\n\\nIt definitely goes. My brother and I were able to launch it pretty fair and pretty high.\\n\\nThe rockets themselves are a light plastic with a rubbery nerf like material on the end. (No, this is not an official nerf product.) They land softly, although I wouldnt want to have one shot directly at me. With the force they launch, Im sure that would hurt.\\n\\nThe box recommends this for ages 8 and up with supervision. Im sure one of the reasons is to make sure kids don't get hurt shooting these at each other. Another reason is that the launching stand takes a bit of work to get together. Its just a matter of screwing a few pieces together, and my brother did it in a few minutes. Im sure an 8-year-old could handle it on their own.\\n\\nBut heres the thing my niece is 3 - obviously, much younger than the suggested age. To make the rockets fly, she had to jump on the plastic box instead of step on it, and she doesnt have the weight to make it go as far as my brother and I do. And yet she was having a blast with it. She'd launch one and then run and get it and bring it back, grinning the entire time. Would I recommend leaving her alone with this? No. But with adults watching closely, I think this could be enjoyed by younger kids. Adult supervision is the key.\\n\\nThe Stomp Rocket comes with the assembly to launch the rockets and four rockets. They seem bit flimsy, but so far none have broken. This might not be the most durable toy, but it is fun.\\n\\nObviously, youll need a large tree free area to launch the rockets into. Since we played with it at the park, that wasn't an issue at all.\\n\\nSo I recommend the Ultra Stomp Rocket as a fun toy that will entertain kids of all ages. Its so simple and yet loads of fun.\",\n \"Product: Create a Doodle with a few rolls of the Doodle dice. Theres a different Doodle pictured on each card in the deck. When you build a Doodle that matches one of the cards, you take that card. Block an opponents turn or take one of their cards away. Collect one card of each color and you win! its the fun challenging way for everyone in your family to a be a Doodle artist!\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Unique, Creative, and Fun Dice Game\\n\\nReview: Many games seem to be variations on a theme. So when you run across a creative game that stands out from the crowd, its time to investigate. And when that game turns out to be fun, its even better. Thats been the case for Doodle Dice for my family.\\n\\nOkay, I should be honest. My brother and sister-in-law found it and gave it to our parents. But we all love it.\\n\\nThe game is for 2 to 6 players age 6 and up, although really as soon as a child is able to handle taking and waiting their turn and a little frustration they can play.\\n\\nThe game comes with a deck of cards, a plastic cup for shaking the dice, and six six sided dice. Each dice has six different shapes on it dot, dash, slash, arc, squiggle, and face.\\n\\nThe object of the game is to be the first player to collect six cards, one of each color, by rolling the dice and getting the combinations of shapes to create the doodle on the card. The colors represent different number of dice required. For example, the easiest, orange, just requires one die, like a dash. The most difficult, purple, requires all six dice to win. Examples here are a good dog (4 dashes, one dot, and a slash), Swimming Sue (face, two slashes, two squiggles, and a dash) or Singin in the Rain (two arcs, a dash, two slashes and a face). Dont worry, each card not only shows you what dice combinations you need but how they assemble to create the named item on the card. Surprisingly given the six simple shapes, most of them look fairly accurate, especially for a doodle.\\n\\nYou start the game with six cards from the deck face up, one of each color. As each player goes, they start by taking a new card and turning it face up. Then they have three rolls to create any doodle turned face up. You don't have to announce what you are going for, so you can change at any point. And if you are going for a six dice card but wind up with a three dice card at the end of your turn, you can take that card instead.\\n\\nJust to add a little more interest, there are a few extra roll and lose a turn cards in the deck. You can also steal someone elses card, but for those you have to declare your intent before your first roll.\\n\\nAll five of us have played this game several times over the last few years, and we enjoy it. The game seems to go to the first person who can get a six and five dice card because the rest are fairly easy to get. I rare win, but I enjoy the challenge. Its fun to roll and see what picture you can create.\\n\\nAs you can imagine, there are many more six and five dice cards than there are two dice cards. Not only are the lower cards easier to get, but there just aren't that many combinations. Never have we looked at a picture and not been able to figure out what the picture is supposed to be.\\n\\nThis game requires more luck than true strategy, but its fun none the less. I have a feeling that well keep doodling with Doodle Dice for a long time to come.\",\n \"Product: Full set of 5 disney wireless band members\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Get the Whole Gang Together for This Fun Wireless Band\\n\\nReview: Hallmark loves their wireless band. In the four years I've been collecting, they've released four different bands. And, collector that I am, I have two of them. Two years ago, I bought the Peanuts band. And this year, I bought the Disney Wireless Band. No, I didn't need both. But I sure have been enjoying Mickey and friends.\\n\\nThese pieces are bigger than your typical ornament. They stand several inches tall and each character is on a separate silver package. There is no hook to hang them, so they are designed to be displayed on a shelf or a floor.\\n\\nThe five Disney characters in the band are Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, and Goofy. Each has a separate instrument, and when you press a button on one member of the band, they all start to play along. That's what makes them so much fun, and that's the reason to buy all five of them. Each member of the band starts two songs, so when you have all five pieces, they play 10 songs total. To interact, they need to be within a three foot circle. I thought the band in previous years could be further apart than that, but since I like to display a band under one of my Christmas trees, that isn't an issue for me either way.\\n\\nWhat songs are included? You've got such classics as \\\"Jingle Bells,\\\" \\\"Deck the Halls,\\\" \\\"Twelve Days of Christmas,\\\" and \\\"O Christmas Tree.\\\" The only religious song included is \\\"It Came Upon the Midnight Clear.\\\" And on the rarer side are \\\"Nutcracker March\\\" and \\\"Carol of the Bells.\\\" While those aren't songs I would have expected to hear from the set, I love them. In fact, they are my favorites of the songs that are played.\\n\\nAll the instruments played are electronic versions, but they still sound good. At various times, you can really hear all the instruments in the band playing, and at others they are supporting background. The combination is wonderful. The songs only last about 20 seconds apiece, but they are worth it.\\n\\nThe arrangements of the songs are fun mostly jazz. They are different than we heard on the Peanuts Wireless Band, so that makes it worth better. All the songs are recognizable but fresh at the same time. Once you've listened to it, you'll understand.\\n\\nTo start the band playing, hit the button on any member. That member starts one of his or her two songs, and the others join in after a second or two. Hit that member's button again to hear the other song, or hit a different character to hear something else. Another option is to get the characters playing in concert mode. There, they start a new song after 30 or 40 seconds and rotate through all 10 songs.\\n\\nIn addition to the music, the characters move in time to the music. They just rock back and forth, but it is a nice addition. Minnie on her keyboard and Daisy on her flute really get into the songs. You need to make sure they are located on a secure surface because they rock enough that they scoot. I put mine on the floor under my tree, and they have stayed in place there no problem.\\n\\nEach member of the band operates on 3 AAA batteries, and the first set came with the pieces. How long the batteries last depend on how much you use them. Just playing them occasionally, the batteries have lasted me all year with no problem. Of course, if you play them on concert mode, the batteries would drain much more quickly. The batters fit into the bottom of the package base no problem.\\n\\nThese have been a fun addition to my Christmas decorations this year, and I know I'll enjoy the Disney Wireless Band for years to come. Snag these however you can because you'll enjoy them, too.\",\n \"Product: Each character in the wireless Peanuts Band plays one of two holiday tunes with the press of a button. Put all four together, and they wirelessly interact to play eight different songs in sync - even up to 25 feet apart!\\n \\nThe characters also sway with the music!\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Peanuts Wireless Band Makes Beautiful Music Together\\n\\nReview: Each year, Hallmark has several of what they call continuity series. The idea is to release several related items over the course of two or three months in order to get you coming back into the story and buying more things. For 2011, they released the first four members of the Peanuts Wireless Band, and then in 2012 they released a fifth.\\n\\nThe members of this band are a bit larger than Hallmark ornaments and are not designed to hang on a tree. Instead, they are designed to be set around a room or all together. Personally, I have all five of mine under a tree. But they will still communicate with each other if they are set in the four corners of a room.\\n\\nThis band isn't just decoration they actually do play music together. There is a button on the front of each one. Each member of the band starts two different songs, but all the others join in and add their instrument to the mix, making a fun harmony.\\n\\nJust who are the members of the band? Theres Schroeder on piano (obviously), Lucy on flute, Charlie Brown on sax, and Snoopy on guitar. This year, they added Linus on trumpet.\\n\\nAnd what songs might you hear? Up on the Housetop, Silent Night, We Wish You a Merry Christmas, one verse of \\\"The Twelve Days of Christmas,\\\" and \\\"Deck the Halls\\\" to name a few. All told, these guys can play a total of 10 songs. As I said, each member leads two different songs, but everyone chimes in. Most of the songs are upbeat renditions, and they only last about 20 seconds or so, but they are fun. I enjoy playing one or two at random every so often.\\n\\nEach member of the band requires 3 AAA batteries to operate. I still have the batteries from the ones I bought last year, and they are working just fine. If I set them up to play continuously (which is an option), Im sure Id drain the batteries faster. (My roommate and I would also be annoyed since they're in the same room as the TV, but thats another story.)\\n\\nEach piece features the member of the Peanuts gang on a base made to look like a hardwood floor. Schroeder is sitting, but everyone else is standing. Snoopy is even standing on an amp, so hes the tallest. Everyone is decked out in festive red and green. Each piece is roughly 4 inches tall, so they aren't especially large, but they are bit enough to enjoy.\\n\\nAnd how do they sound? All of the instruments sound like electronic versions of themselves, not the real thing. And the flute, trumpet, and sax can sound very similar to each other at times. However, all the parts do blend together well, and they make for a nice combination.\\n\\nEach member of the band was originally $29.95 or $14.95 with a purchase. Of course, they've been out of stores for a couple years now, so tracking them down will be a bit problematic.\\n\\nBut they are worth it. Im enjoying my Peanuts Wireless Band for the second year and plan to enjoy them for many more years to come.\",\n \"Product: 2008 Handcrafted Hallmark Keepsake\\nEmperor Palpatine Star Wars :Return of the Jedi\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Hallmark's Star Wars Ornament Series Turns to the Dark Side\\n\\nReview: While Hallmark's official Star Wars ornament series has focused mainly on the heroes from the original trilogy, they have included two villains. Early in the run, they did Darth Vader. For the twelfth ornament in the line, they went even further into the dark side and gave us Emperor Palpatine.\\n\\nThis ornament is the largest in the series to date because it's not just Emperor Palpatine. Since he spends most of his on screen time sitting in his massive chair, they've included that as well. It's a big, black thing with a round stand. The back circles up over his head, so his face is sitting in shadow. He's got some controls by his right hand, and the padding for his back is brown. But the rest of the chair is black.\\n\\nThe Emperor himself is mostly black as well. (The movies aren't subtle in their symbolism, are they?) That's because he's wearing a black robe and black shoes that pretty much covers his body. You can see his hands sticking out fairly easily. You have to really tip back the ornament to see his face, which is properly scarred and disfigured, although not quite as bad as it is in the film.\\n\\nFrankly, this ornament doesn't really grab me. It's not depicting any famous scene, although the Emperor himself is important enough that I understand why he is included in this series. What bothers me more is just how black it is. Yes, it does accurately depict him in his chair, but couldn't they have found some other pose to give us a little more color.\\n\\nI don't think I'm geeky enough to like having this character on my tree. Yes, I get Darth Vader, and love that ornament. But the Emperor doesn't have quite the same appeal for me. Not quite sure why that is, but there you have it.\\n\\nMost of the base of this ornament is the round base of the chair. That provides a nice platform, so the ornament sits flat if you chose to display it on a table or shelf. That's also where the series marking and copyright information are located.\\n\\nThe top of the ornament has the hook you can use to hang it on your Christmas tree. He hangs straight, which isn't a big surprise since they had so much room to play with on top that they could put the hook wherever they wanted it.\\n\\nThis isn't one of my favorites in the series. I can understand why it was included, but I don't quite get the appeal of Emperor Palpatine on my Christmas tree.\",\n \"Product: In the B Book, the youngest child will be entertained by a hilarious build-up of words beginning with the letter B. It's an ideal introduction to the realisation that letters represent sounds, and end with a bang! Ages 3+\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Your Kids Will Be Bouncing to Read This Book Again\\n\\nReview: My family discovered this book when my younger brother was the age for picture books, and we all loved it. In fact, we can still quote it by heart.\\n\\nThe book is really just a list of things that start with the letter B, but the Berenstains have managed to create a story that's a lot of fun with it. We follow the results when a bear, a bull, and a baboon blow bubbles and bike backwards. What happens? Well, they bump into all kinds of things. And the more they bump, the more absurd the book gets and the more fun it truly is.\\n\\nAs I said, we all loved this book. It was clever and charming and so out there you can't help but laugh at it. Each page pretty much repeats what came before while adding a new layer to the chaos. And the illustrations capture what is happening perfectly.\\n\\nThis is a true classic picture book. If you can find a copy, you're family will love it.\",\n \"Product: By P. D. Eastman, Illustrated by P. D. Eastman\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Still a Fun Beginning Reader\\n\\nReview: I remember loving this book as a kid, but even then I recognized one thing about it. Rereading it as an adult, I am still surprised by something.\\n\\nThe book pretty much lacks a plot. Yes, there are a couple of recurring bits, but almost every page until the end is separate from what went before.\\n\\nHowever, the book has simple sentences and simple vocabulary. And the pictures that go along with the text are fun. Maybe it's the fun of the story that appeals to kids and still appeals to adults. Or maybe it's just the dogs in every day activities that works well.\\n\\nWhatever the case, I definitely do recommend this book for kids. It's a picture book classic and sure to entertain kids for generations to come.\",\n \"Product: Berenstains Children's Book. A Dr. Suess favorite.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Your Kids Will Be Bouncing to Read This Book Again\\n\\nReview: My family discovered this book when my younger brother was the age for picture books, and we all loved it. In fact, we can still quote it by heart.\\n\\nThe book is really just a list of things that start with the letter B, but the Berenstains have managed to create a story that's a lot of fun with it. We follow the results when a bear, a bull, and a baboon blow bubbles and bike backwards. What happens? Well, they bump into all kinds of things. And the more they bump, the more absurd the book gets and the more fun it truly is.\\n\\nAs I said, we all loved this book. It was clever and charming and so out there you can't help but laugh at it. Each page pretty much repeats what came before while adding a new layer to the chaos. And the illustrations capture what is happening perfectly.\\n\\nThis is a true classic picture book. If you can find a copy, you're family will love it.\",\n \"Product: London. 27cm. 174p. : ill,some col. Encuadernacin en tapa blanda de editorial ilustrada. Idioma Ingls. C. S. Lewis ; illustrations by Pauline Baynes. [Chronicles of Narnia ][The lion, the witch and the wardrobe. ]. Narnia novels. Chronicles of Narnia 1. Chronicles of Narnia. Ill. on lining papers. First published : Geoffrey Bles, 1950 .. Este libro es de segunda mano y tiene o puede tener marcas y seales de su anterior propietario. ISBN: 0001831526; 9780001831520\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: My Favorite of the Narnia Tales\\n\\nReview: Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy have been sent to live with a professor in the country during the London air-raids. While exploring the large house, Lucy finds that the wardrobe in the spare room transports her to the magical land of Narnia. The country is under the spell of a terrible witch who has made it always winter but never Christmas. At first, her siblings don't believe her, but soon they, too, find themselves in this new country. With danger around every turn, they must survive treachery to join Aslan the lion in the fight to free Narnia and break the spell.\\nI read this book for the first time in third grade, and it holds up just as well today. The pace of the writing is a bit slow, but the adventure is sure to hook readers. Lewis creates a wonderful fanciful world that is lots of fun to visit. This is the first I read and still my favorite. There's something about this book that captures the wonder of finding a new, magical world that the other books don't have.\\nLewis also created just the right spell for his land to horrify kids and to a lesser extend adults. The idea of always having winter and all it brings but never getting to celebrate Christmas is too awful to mention.\\nA brief word about book order. When I read this book, it was considered the first in the series. Now, some people have put the books in chronological order, making it the second. While I fell that reading them in the original order is the best approach, it really doesn't matter that much. Nothing about the other books is spoiled here since this was the first one written, but not much about this book is spoiled if you read them in the order events occur.\\nNarnia is one of several classic kids' series about mythical countries and is still my favorite. It's perfect for anyone wanting to leave our world behind for a touch of fantasy.\",\n \"Product: Agatha Christie's most famous murder mystery, reissued with a striking new cover designed to appeal to the latest generation of Agatha Christie fans and book lovers. Just after midnight, a snowdrift stops the Orient Express in its tracks. The luxurious train is surprisingly full for the time of the year, but by the morning it is one passenger fewer. An American tycoon lies dead in his compartment, stabbed a dozen times, his door locked from the inside. Isolated and with a killer in their midst, detective Hercule Poirot must identify the murderer -- in case he or she decides to strike again.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Even Knowing the End, This is a Wonderful Mystery\\n\\nReview: While I love mysteries, I must admit my knowledge of the early masters of the genre is very limited. Ive only listened to a handful of Agatha Christie stories on CD over the years, for example. Still, over the years Id had the ending to Murder on the Orient Express spoiled for me. When I decided to listen to it on CD recently, I was wondering how that would affect my impression of the story. I need not have worried; I still loved it.\\n\\nHercule Poirot had hoped to have a few days to spend in Istanbul on his way home from a case in Syria, but when he arrives, he finds himself being summoned back to England. Even though travel is usually light in the winter months, he still has a hard time finding passage on the next train, only getting on because he is friends with someone who works for that particular line.\\n\\nOn the train the first day, he is recognized by Mr. Ratchett, an American who asks for Poirots help since Ratchett is in fear for his life. Poirot refuses for one simple reason, he doesnt like the mans looks. Something about him really bothers the detective.\\n\\nHowever, that night, Ratchett is indeed murdered in his first class sleeping compartment. Since the train is stuck in a snow storm, Poirot is asked to help find the killer. It is quickly determined that the killer is still on the train, but the clues at the crime scene point to two very different killers, and all the passengers seem to have alibis. Can Poirot solve this case?\\n\\nIt was actually fun reading this story knowing the ending. (No, Im not going to spoil anything.) Even then, I couldn't quite see how Poirot was going to figure it all out. I was in awe as he worked the solution out over the course of the book. And yes, it is a logical ending. Even knowing what it was, I wasn't sure if I would buy it or not, but I did completely.\\n\\nIve heard that Agatha Christie isn't super strong when it comes to characters, but I didn't feel that here at all. We have a large cast, and I didn't have any trouble keeping them all straight. They were real enough to make me care about the outcome, and I felt for some of them as the story progressed. Thats important as the case draws to its climax.\\n\\nSo Im glad to finally know the full story of Murder on the Orient Express. No matter whether you go into the story spoiled or not, this is a book youll enjoy reading.\",\n \"Product: Mini version of the hard covered book\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Where Will Giving a Moose a Muffin Lead?\\n\\nReview: When you see a moose out your kitchen window, you might be tempted to give him a muffin. That is, of course, a nice gesture. But can you really eat a muffin without jam? And that jam might make a mess, and then who knows where that might lead. Somehow, I think it will be a fun tale (or is that tail).\\n\\nOnce again, this imaginative author has written a good that is fun. The progression is pretty wild, but it also seems logical as you are going along. The illustrations are wonderful as well and really help tell the story, which is told in just a couple of sentences on a page.\\n\\nThe wild imagination is great for all ages, but kids especially will enjoy seeing where things lead. Pick this up today and see just what feeding a moose might get you into.\",\n \"Product: HardCover. Pub Date :2004-10-18 Pages: 400 Language: English Publisher: HarperCollins UK This deluxe slipcased edition of The Hobbit. printed and bound using superior materials including a silk ribbon marker. features the definitive text. plus Tolkien's paintings and drawings in full colour. and a special fold-out version of Thror's Map.Bilbo Baggins enjoys a quiet and contented life. with no desire to travel far from the comforts of home; then one day the wizard Gandalf and a band of dwarves arrive unexpectedly and enlist his services - as a burglar - on a dangerous expedition to raid the treasure-hoard of Smaug the dragon.Bilbo 's life is never to be the same again.Seldom has any book been so widely read and loved as JRRTolkien's classic tale. The Hobbit.Since its first publication in 1937 it has remained in print to delight each new generation of readers all over the worl...\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Adventuring we will go\\n\\nReview: Bilbo Baggins was perfectly content with his life. The last thing he wanted was to be involved in an adventure. But when the wizard Gandalf invites a group of dwarves over, he find himself drawn into their quest to reclaim their mountain and fortune that a dragon stole from them years ago. Now Bilbo will have to adjust to new situations daily as they encounter wolves, goblins, giant eagles and spiders, and other creatures just to get to the mountain. Once they get there, they have to face the fierce dragon. Can they survive?\\nThis is a fun adventure. It's very easy to feel for Bilbo as they face one obstacle after another. \\\"He thought of his home, not for the last time.\\\" I smiled every time I saw that line. My biggest complaint about the book is that it is a bit episodic in nature. Their many adventures don't seem that interrelated for most of the book. This is a minor issue, however, and it's very hard not to like the characters and root them on in their quest to reclaim their rightful place.\\nI've read this book twice, and hope to get to the Lord of the Rings soon. The fun story and likeable characters make it easy to see why there are so many fans of these books\",\n \"Product: The first Miss Marple novel. The first of a new-look series of audio books for the 21st century. Beautifully re-packaged with stunning new cover illustrations and design that rival some of the best jackets and audio collections out there! Story telling at it's best, that makes them a delight to listen to. 'Anyone who murdered Colonel Protheroe,' declared the parson, brandishing a carving knife above a joint of roast beef, 'would be doing the world at large a service!' It was a careless remark for a man of the cloth. And one which was to come back and haunt the clergyman just a few hours later. From seven potential murderers, Miss Marple must seek out the suspect who has both motive and opportunity.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Classic Mystery as You'd Expect\\n\\nReview: It's no secret that no one in St. Mary Mead likes Colonel Protheroe. He is strict, somber, and by the numbers. But when the vicar returns home late for a meeting, he's surprised to find Colonel Protheroe shot through the head. The local police are called in and two people confess. Yet something doesn't seem quite right. Fortunately, Miss Marple lives next door. With her sharp mind talent for learning gossip, she just might make sense of everything that's happening.\\n\\nOk, I confess. I love a good cozy mystery but have yet to read much Christie. I can tell I need to change that. This book had me confused from the get go. There were so many red herrings it was hard to tell what was really happening. Yet it all came together at the end in a logical conclusion.\\n\\nI checked this audio version out of the local library for a trip and only after listening to it discovered that it was abridged. While disappointed, I never would have noticed. It was expertly cut, and everything was there I need to enjoy the story. Ian Masters did a great job of bring the characters and story to life.\\n\\nAgatha Christie is a class mystery writer for a reason. Anyone who loves a good puzzle with a surprising conclusion will love this book.\",\n \"Product: Witch trials in seventeeth-century Connecticut -- a Newbery-Medal winning classic. Kit Tyler is marked by suspicion and disapproval from the moment she arrives on the unfamiliar shores of colonial Connecticut in 1687. Alone and desperate, she has been forced to leave her beloved home on the island of Barbados and join a family she has never met. Kit's unconventional background and high-spirited ways immediately clash with the Puritanical lifestyle of her uncle's household, and despite her best efforts to adjust, it seems Kit will never win the favour of those around her. Torn between her quest for belonging and her desire to be true to herself, Kit struggles to survive in a hostile place, and just when it seems she must give up, she finds a kindred spirit. But Kit's friendship with old Hannah Tupper, who is believed by the colonists to be a witch, proves more taboo than she could have imagined, and ultimately Kit is forced to choose between her heart and her duty. Elizabeth George Speare's Newbery Medal-winning novel portrays the life of a girl uprooted from her birthplace and yet unbound by the suppression of her new home, a heroine whom readers will admire for her unwavering sense of truth as well as her infinite capacity to love.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: A Bewitching Story for Kids of All Ages\\n\\nReview: It's April of 1687 when Kit Tyler steps on shore in Connecticut. Having recently lost her grandfather, she's come to the colonies to live with her uncle and aunt. But her new town is completely different from her old life in Barbados. Not only does she have to do the chores she used to have servants do, but her Puritan relatives are much stricter then her previous upbringing has taught her to be.\\nBut her life isn't all bad. There is the interest William, the most eligible bachelor in town, has shown in her. And there's the refuge she's managed to find in Hannah, the town outcast suspected of being a witch. But will she ever truly adjust to her new life?\\nI found this book in Jr. High, and have read it four or five times since then. I recently reread it again, and was completely drawn into the story. I couldn't put it down, and I already knew how it ended. The characters are sympathetic and interesting, especially Kit. You can help but root for her to find some happiness in her new life. The plot is engrossing, with several sub-plots expertly woven through the book. And the time and place of the setting is brought to life in such an amazing way it feels like you are actually in the town of Wethersfield.\\nThis book is so engrossing that anyone will love it. And the theme about judging others will stick with you long after you've read the last page. I can not recommend this book highly enough. Ms. Speare is an excellent author.\",\n \"Product: Everyone laughs when Horton the Elephant offers to sit on Mayzie bird's egg while she goes on holiday. Horton's kindness and faithfulness are sorely tested when he, and the egg, are kidnapped and sold to a circus -- but his reward for being faithful is more wonderful than he could ever have dreamed! With his unique combination of hilarious stories, zany pictures and riotous rhymes, Dr Suess has been delighting young children and helping them learn to read for over fifty years. Creator of the wonderfully anarchic Cat in the Hat, and ranked among the UK's top ten favourite children's authors, Dr. Seuss is a global best-seller, with nearly half a billion books sold worldwide. As part of a major rebrand programme, HarperCollins is relaunching Dr Seuss's best-selling books. In response to consumer demand, bright new cover designs incorporate much-needed guidance on reading levels. The standard paperbacks divide into three reading strands -- Blue Back Books for parents to share with young children, Green Back Books for budding readers to tackle on their own, and Yellow Back Books for older, more fluent readers to enjoy. This is a Yellow Back book.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: An Elephants Faithful One Hundred Percent\\n\\nReview: Dr. Seuss created a few very memorable characters over the course of his many picture books, and Horton the elephant is certainly one of them. He made his first appearance in Horton Hatches the Egg. I loved this book as a kid, and I find it holds up just as well now.\\n\\nOne day Horton stumbles upon Mayzie, a bird trying to hatch an egg. Mayzie is ready for a vacation, so Horton agrees to keep her egg warm. However, Mayzie has no intention of coming back, but instead enjoy a permanent trip to sunnier realms. Will Horton stay on the egg? What will he face while he does?\\n\\nIts always nice to find a childhood favorite that stands the test of time, and this book does that splendidly. Yes, as an adult, I did have to question just how long it took Horton to hatch the egg, but it just makes for a better story. None of the complications last very long, this is a picture book after all, but there is some fun and imagination at work in the story. Horton is a great characters, and its easy to like him. Plus we get a great moral about sticking to your word, something that comes about naturally from the story.\\n\\nDr. Seuss was a marvelous illustrator as well. This book is filled with his pen and ink illustrations. Most have minimal color, but they are still great to look at. They really capture the humor in an elephant sitting in a tree on a nest and a few of the other things that happen along the way. And the pictures at the climax really sell the story.\\n\\nAnd this story is told in classic Seuss rhyme. The cadence is perfect for reading aloud, and the amount of words on a page isn't overwhelming. It should keep those with short attention spans entertained.\\n\\nWhile this book isn't usually classified as one of Seusss easy reader books, Id argue it could be. Its not quite as simple as Green Eggs and Ham, but most of the words are easy enough. This might not be a good book for very beginning readers, but I think a young reader who is ready for something slightly more challenging will do great at this book with an adult to help them read the very few harder words.\\n\\nAnd so I recommend Horton Hatches the Egg. Its just as much fun now as it was when I read it as a child and when Dr. Seuss first wrote it 75 years ago.\",\n \"Product: With his unique combination of hilarious stories, zany pictures and riotous rhymes, Dr. Seuss has been delighting young children and helping them learn to read for over fifty years. Creator of the wonderfully anarchic Cat in the Hat, and ranked among the UK's top ten favourite children's authors, Dr. Seuss is a global best-seller, with over half a billion books sold worldwide.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Can Bartholomew Remove His Hat?\\n\\nReview: Bartholomew Cubbins, lowest of the subject of King Derwin has gone into town to sell some cranberries for his parents. When the king passes by, he doffs his hat, only have the king stop and accuse him of not taking his hat off. Surprised to find it is true, he takes his hat off, only to find a third hat on his head. The king has him arrested and begins trying to figure out ways to keep the hat off. His wise men and magicians are certainly no help. Meanwhile, Bartholomew must figure out a way to get his hat to stay off his head before the consequences become drastic.\\nThis is an early Dr. Seuss book, and a lesser known of his works. Still, it tells a fun story about a boy in trouble for something he didn't do. Everyone can relate to that. Even when the king becomes obsessed with the hat, Bartholomew never looses his respect for the king.\\nThis doesn't have the charm, creativity, or poetry of some of his other works, but is still fun for kids because of the absurd length they reach to try to get rid of that hat.\",\n \"Product: C. S. Lewis was one of the greatest Christian Writers of our age. His \\\"Screwtape Letters\\\" still stirs considerable controversy. He wrote from the perspective of a devil giving advice to another devil in how to tempt a Christian. In doing so, he reveals to us how we let evil into our own lives. Lewis's work has influenced three generations of Christian thinkers and will continue to be a seminal Christian work.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Fresh Look at Temptation and Spiritual Warfare from the Other Side\\n\\nReview: I love The Chronicles of Narnia. Seriously, in any form Ive encountered them, Ive fallen under the spell of them. But Ive never moved on to any of C. S. Lewiss other books until this month, when I listened to The Screwtape Letters. Naturally, Id heard about this book for years, and I can certainly see why people talk about it so much.\\n\\nThe premise of the book is unique. Its a series of letters from Screwtape, a senior devil, to his nephew Wormwood, who is on his first assignment as a tempter. We don't get many details on the man Wormwood is trying to lead astray (he is always called the Patient), but as we go through the roughly 30 letters, a story begins to unfold. The Patient is a new Christian, and it is Wormwoods job to keep that conversion from sticking. Screwtape offers advice on just about anything from his home life to his new love and even the growing European war. As he does so, we get insight into how even good things can be easily twisted for evil and how the enemy thinks.\\n\\nOr maybe not. The thing to remember while reading the book is that this is all one mans conjecture on how things are in the spiritual realm. As I was listening, I kept having to remind myself that this is not necessarily the way things are. Having said that, what is here is actually quite logical and makes a lot of sense with what Ive seen in my own life. There is much to think about and chew on, and the book is well worth reading for that reason alone. Just keep in mind that it is fiction as you think about it.\\n\\nWhat I think struck me the most is how easily good things can be twisted around to make them sinful. That is hit upon several times over the course of the book, and I could certainly see the point Lewis was making. For example, pride can easily crop up in a group that is right on an issue. Its not anything I didn't already know before, but seeing it laid out from the other side made hit me in a different way.\\n\\nThe book was originally published in 1941, meaning that World War II plays a huge part in the events unfolding. That may date a few of the references, but none of the real issues brought up are at all dated.\\n\\nIn fact, as Screwtape was expounding on the way the demons are trying to influence the population at large, I recognized much in our world today. The book may be almost 75 years old, but the vision that Lewis had of our culture and how it would unfold in the future is downright scary at times. The book concludes with Screwtape Proposes a Toast, a speech Lewis wrote in the early 60s reviving the Screwtape character. Again, his observations are spot on even all these years later.\\n\\nWhich is why I feel I am sorry to have to point out a theological flaw to the book. It is obvious as you read that Screwtape thinks a person can lose their salvation. Thats dangerous theology, and not the way I read the Bible. I certainly think that Christians can still be lead into sin, however, but the idea that the demons can claim a Christians soul goes against what I think the Bible teaches.\\n\\nThe audio version I listened to was from Blackstone Audio and narrated by Ralph Cosham. He did a great job keeping my interest, which considering the lack of dialogue and other normal fiction trappings was quite a feat. In a lot of ways, this is non-fiction disguised as fiction, and the mix is just right to keep it interesting and make you think.\\n\\nSo be sure to read The Screwtape Letters with discernment, but by all means read it and think about what is presented in this short novel. There is a reason that it has been read and talked about for all these years.\",\n \"Product: Jon Scieszka introduces some really stupid off-the-wall fairy tales including: \\\"Chicken Licken\\\", \\\"The Princess and the Bowling Ball\\\"; \\\"The Really Ugly Duckling\\\", and \\\"Jack's Bean Problem\\\". Chosen by children as the Book of the Year for the Federation of Children's Book Groups, this book was described by \\\"She magazine\\\" as, 'The most delightful collection of stories a young cynic could hope to read'.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Fairy Tales Like You've Never Heard Before\\n\\nReview: The title of this book alone was enough to get me to pick it up. As a picture book, it's a fairly simple read, although I think it's mainly aimed at kids in the 4 or 5 year old range and up. They're the ones who will get the humor the best.\\n\\nWhy? Well, this book is a collection of twisted fairy tales. We've got \\\"Chicken Licken,\\\" who is convinced the sky is falling - only it's not the sky. We learn what was really happening behind the scenes with the \\\"Princess and the Pea\\\" and how the prince overcame it. \\\"Little Red Running Shorts\\\" tells an interesting story about the importance of running. \\\"The Tortoise and the Hair\\\" introduces us to the stupidest contest of all time. Plus our narrator Jack gets into more trouble with his Giant, the Little Red Hen wanders through the book, and the title story creates quite a stink.\\n\\nAll told, there are roughly 10 stories here ranging from one page to eight pages. Overall, the book is around 50 pages. There is more text than your average picture book as well, so this one will take a little while to read. But the giggles and laughs at the twists in the story will more than make up for it.\\n\\nSo if your child is moving beyond simple picture books, this is one to get. You'll find both of you laughing the entire way through.\",\n \"Product: This is the number one, bestselling title in this new spin-off series from Percy Jackson creator, Rick Riordan. Old enemies awaken as camp half-blood's new arrivals prepare for war. When Jason, Piper and Leo crash land at Camp Half-Blood, they have no idea what to expect. Apparently this is the only safe place for children of the Greek Gods - despite the monsters roaming the woods and demigods practising archery with flaming arrows and explosives. But rumours of a terrible curse - and a missing hero - are flying around camp. It seems Jason, Piper and Leo are the chosen ones to embark on a terrifying new quest, which they must complete by the winter solstice in just four days time. Can the trio succeed on this deadly mission - and what must they sacrifice in order to survive?\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: New Chapter in Greek Mythology\\n\\nReview: Jason is on a bus in the middle of the desert. He is with Piper, his girlfriend, and Leo, his best friend. The only problem is, he has no recollection of anything that happened to him before waking up on the bus. Then the trio are attacked by a monster and rushed off to Camp Half-Blood, where they learn they are demigods.\\n\\nBut all three of them have secrets, potentially deadly secrets. They must ban together on a quest to free the goddess Hera before the winter solstice. But will their secrets tear them apart?\\n\\nWhile this may be the first in a new series, it definitely is a follow up to the Percy Jackson series. While Percy is missing in this book, several other characters from that series make appearances, and the events of book 5 are discussed. So don't start here.\\n\\nBut do read this book. Yes, at times it seemed over long, but I'm not sure what I would cut out. The action and mystery never lets up until the end. The characters were wonderful. I love all three of the main ones and wanted to see them succeed even against overwhelming odds.\\n\\nIf this is any indication of what we have to look forward to with the rest of this series, I can't wait to read more. It's a great adventure novel for kids of all ages.\",\n \"Product: Brand NEW. We ship worldwide\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Battling the Forces of Gaea One Last Time\\n\\nReview: It is now 10 days until the forces of Gaea intend to wake her and overthrow the gods. The resulting battle and Gaea and her minions plans for Earth will kill all of humanity. Jason, Piper, Leo, and the other four demigods are racing around ancient Greece trying to find the last few things they need to potentially defeat her. Of course, if the Greek and Roman sides of the gods don't merge, they will have no hope at all.\\n\\nWhich is why Reyna, Nico, and Coach Hedge are trying to get the Athena Parthenos back to Camp Half-Blood before the deadline. Octavian is sitting outside the camp ready to attack on August 1st. With each shadow jump he makes, Nico fades a little bit more, and the trio are being chased by the might hunter Orion. Will Nicos strength give out? Even if they get the statue back to the camp, will they be in time to save the day and heal the rift between the two demigod camps?\\n\\nIf none of what Ive just said makes sense to you, don't even think about picking up this book yet. This is the fifth and climatic book in a series, and it assumes you have already met the characters and are familiar with the situation. After all, the entire series has been leading up to this moments, so its a pretty fair assumption.\\n\\nFor those who have read the rest of the books, they will love this one. Yes, it is possible that one or two of the side trips didn't really need to take place, but I never felt like things were truly dragging. It helped that we were constantly switching back and forth between the two groups, and there was something always happening when we popped in on them. The great character development continues as well, and yes, that includes Nico and his revelation from the previous book.\\n\\nThis is a wonderful climax to an engaging series. Fans who have been enjoying the books all along will love the latest chapter. Everyone else will enjoy it, too, as soon as they catch up with the previous books in the series.\",\n \"Product: Brand NEW. We ship worldwide\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Percy Jackson Sets Out to Save a Friend in Another Fun Quest\\n\\nReview: Earlier this year, I discovered the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, and was immediately hooked. Percy, our thirteen year old hero, is a demigod, the son of a mortal woman and the ancient Greek god Poseidon. The Sea of Monsters is the second book in the series, and it's another fun ride through ancient mythology with a modern twist.\\n\\nIt's been nine months since we last checked in on Percy, and he's managed to make it through an entire school year without any major incidents. But his world is about to be turned upside down. His class is attacked by monsters on the last day of school. He is rescued by his friend Annabeth only to learn things aren't so good back at Camp Half-Blood, the camp for demigods. Someone has poisoned the tree that creates the magical perimeter, and the camp is under attack.\\n\\nAnd there are the dreams. Percy keeps dreaming about his satyr friend Grover. Last we knew, Grove set out on a quest to find the god Pan, but he's fallen into a trap and needs Percy to come rescue him or the consequences will be dire. Can Percy, Annabeth, and Percy's new half brother Tyson survive the sea of monsters to complete their new quest?\\n\\nI've got to admit I had fun reading this book. The juxtaposition of ancient Greek myths on modern American life is quite fun. I love how so much of what we know is explained in these books, like why the Bermuda Triangle exists.\\n\\nThe characters continue to grow here. All the ones we love (or love to hate) put in appearances, some more so than others. I felt like their growth was a direct result of who they are and what they go through.\\n\\nThere is an underlying story building in the series, which by necessity spoils some events from the first book. If you don't want that to happen, don't start here. My main point, however, is how nicely this overarching story is building. It's obviously important and drives much of the action here. But I still felt like we got a complete story here, although the last page left me anxious to get to the next book.\\n\\nHowever, I didn't enjoy this book quite as much as the first. It took me a little while to put my finger on why. Part of the problem is mine. More than the first in the series, I felt this was a series of adventures keeping Percy from getting to his final destination. That may just be my mystery wired brain expecting something from a different genre. I also felt like the story here was a little too familiar. It borrowed a couple plot points from the first book (already), and I even found a couple parallels between this book and the second Harry Potter book. I'm sure that last one is a coincidence, but it did stick out to me. Finally, the climax is a dues ex machina that would make the ancient Greeks proud.\\n\\nDespite the flaws, I did still enjoy the majority of the book. Now that I've survived The Sea of Monsters, I will be moving on to see where Percy's journey takes him next.\",\n \"Product: Donald J. Sobol was the author of the highly acclaimed Encyclopedia Brown series and many other books. His awards include a special Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America for his contribution to mystery writing in the United States, and the Pacific Northwest Library Association Young Readers’ Choice Award for Encyclopedia Brown Keeps the Peace.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: 50 Years Later, Still the Smartest Guy in the Room\\n\\nReview: This is the first book about Encyclopedia Brown, a fifth grade genius who catches criminals in the act by noticing their lies. The book is filled with 10 stories, each one around seven pages long. While the first one has the solution as part of the story, the rest invite you to catch the clue that Encyclopedia did and has the solution in the back of the book.\\n\\nSo what kind of cases does Encyclopedia solve? There's a thief who was on a cross country road trip when the crime took place. A bank robbery takes place in town, and Encyclopedia fingers the robbers. And for the kids in the neighborhood, he proves who really owns a tent, determines if a sword is really from the Civil War, and steps in at an egg spinning contest.\\n\\nI read this book years ago, but I must admit I had forgotten many of these cases. A couple came back to me as I read, but for the rest, I must admit I could often almost guess the solution, but I didn't really know for sure what the clue was.\\n\\nSince this book is now 50 years old, some of the references are dated, as is the amount of money Encyclopedia charges for his services. The characters are also a little flat, but I didn't mind as a kid, and I doubt today's kids would mind either.\\n\\nSo you still can't go wrong with this detective. Encyclopedia entertains, amazes, and astonishes all while wearing sneakers.\",\n \"Product: Mike Wingate is a happy guy, with a wife, a child, and a booming business in green housing development. Then suspicious characters start trailing him, and his past returns with a vengeance. Seems that the father who abandoned him as a child was a bad guy indeed.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Fleeing From an Unknown Past\\n\\nReview: As a four year old, Mike was abandoned at a playground. Entering foster care, he has only murky recollections of his parents. Despite his rough start, he manages to grow up, adopt the last name Wingate, and become a successful contractor with a happy marriage and a daughter of his own.\\n\\nBut then one day, a woman claiming to be a neighbor from Mike's baby days comes forward with information about his family. Meanwhile, two sinister men are shadowing him and his family. What secret from his past is making him a target? Can he survive long enough to find out?\\n\\nI'd like to say this book starts off with a bang, but actually the beginning is my biggest complaint. It seems slow and felt pointless to me. Once the story does get going, it is a thrill ride that kept me turning pages. Actually, I planned to read the bulk of this on a plane ride, and I was glad for the non-interrupted reading time because I didn't want to put it down.\\n\\nThe characters are great, especially Mike. He was easy to root for, and his backstory, told in two longish flashbacks, it sad yet compelling.\\n\\nDespite the slow start, this is pulse pounding and emotionally compelling. Definitely worth reading.\",\n \"Product: book\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: With Kidnapping Comes Murder\\n\\nReview: When Archie Goodwin ushers former stage actress Althea Vail into Nero Wolfe's office, he assumes she will be dismissed in just a few minutes. Instead, Althea lays out a tale of kidnapping that Nero can't resist.\\n\\nIt seems that Althea's current husband, Jimmy Vail, has been kidnapped. Althea is more then willing to pay the ransom, but she wants to hire Nero in case something goes wrong.\\n\\nThe ransom payment goes fine and Jimmy returns. In fact, everything seems to be going well. Until the police call and ask Althea to identify a body. Nero has put his reputation on the line for this case, so he can't let it go. But what is really going on? Meanwhile, Nero is also hired to find the missing ransom money. Can he do that without leaving home?\\n\\nThis is only my second outing with Nero Wolfe, but I really enjoyed it. Nero is an interesting character. I must admit I tend to like him in spite of his harsh demeanor. I'm sure that Archie really helps in that regard. The plot moves swiftly from one event to another. The solution was obvious yet so covered with red herrings I never saw it coming.\\n\\nThe book was written in the 60's, so that makes the occasional reference dated. On the whole, this is a strong mystery that will please any fan of the genre.\",\n \"Product: Another calvin and hobbs adventure\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: \\\"What Could Possibly Go Wrong?\\\" \\\"Whenever You Ask That, My Tail Gets All Bushy.\\\"\\n\\nReview: The Indispensable Calvin and Hobbes is the third treasury of this classic comic strip. It contains all the strips from the original, smaller books The Revenge of the Baby-Sat and Scientific Progress Goes \\\"Boink.\\\" It has all the Sunday cartoons in their original color and includes some poems at the beginning that are also new to this book.\\n\\nAnd if you are new to Calvin and Hobbes, you are in for a treat. Calvin is a hyper-active, overly imaginative six-year-old. Looking for proof? His best friend is Hobbes. Now to everyone else in the world, Hobbes is a stuffed tiger. But to Calvin, he's a real tiger that walks upright and talks. Somehow, Hobbes does seem to be the smarter one of the duo. Other characters populating the strip are Calvin's parents, next door neighbor Susie, school bully Moe, Rosaline the babysitter, and his teacher Miss Wormwood.\\n\\nThe strips in this book represent a year and a half of time (although the characters never age). Some of the strips are one offs with a punch line at the end of the panels. Others tell a story with a joke each day leading up to a climax of some sort.\\n\\nThis book seems to be pretty big on Calvin's imagination. For example, we get lots of stories involving Spaceman Spiff, Calvin's astronaut alter ego and his fight with the aliens who want to make him do his homework of go to bed (ie., Miss Wormwood or his parents). This book also contains a classic series where Calvin must write a report on bats for school, and he tries to make it up as he goes along. We get plenty of appearances by Calvin's superhero identity Stupendous Man (Calvin in a cap and mask) as he tries to defeat Rosaline or get out of homework. Speaking of homework, there's a long sequence when poor Calvin gets in trouble for not doing his homework after his personal gravity reverses so he falls up. Once that is resolved, Calvin finds himself growing to the size of a galaxy. And Calvin invents a duplicator that makes enough copies of himself so he only has to go to school one day a week.\\n\\nThis book also features two first that would later become common themes in the strip. This is the first time we see a meeting of G.R.O.S.S. (Get Rid Of Slimy girlS). Before the tree house became their meeting place, they tried to meet in the garage with disastrous results. Finally, we get the first few strips involving Calvinball, the only sport where you can't play it the same way twice.\\n\\nAs you might have guessed by now, I love this strip. It doesn't matter how many times I've read it, I also laugh at some of them. Calvin can get pretty philosophical at times, especially while careening down a hill on a sled or wagon, and the results of those are usually pretty funny as well. Yes, there is general humor, but there are also jokes that take stabs at our culture with dead on results.\\n\\nThe strips collected here are some the late 80's and early 90's, so some of the references are a bit dated. Calvin talks about renting a VCR for example, instead of having a DVD player to watch movies. Outside of that, most of the jokes are something that will appeal to all ages. True, Calvin is not a good role model, but his antics are so wacky that I think most kids would recognize that fact.\\n\\nEven after 20 years and countless reads, I still find something to laugh at every time I read The Indispensable Calvin and Hobbes. If you haven't read anything from classic comic strip, do yourself a favor and pick up a book today. You'll be laughing before you know it.\",\n \"Product: Another calvin and hobbs adventure\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Your collection isn't complete without this book\\n\\nReview: As a fan of Calvin and Hobbes, I put off getting this book because I thought it was merely a best of collection I didn't need since I had all the others. Boy was I wrong! This book is a wonderful insight into the mind behind my favorite strip of all time.\\nBill Watterson spends the first part of the book talking about everything from character names and personalities to his fights to keep his characters from being over commercialized. While I wish there were more products available, I do respect him for sticking to his principles on this. He also talks about the format of the Sunday strips.\\nThe rest of the book is a collection of strips, starting with the very first. What is interesting here is Mr. Watterson's commentary. Whether it's the idea behind or an amusing story that happened because of a strip, it's all very entertaining. It also brings out some of the themes talked about it the strip. He also discusses the ideas behind such staples as the wagon, Calvin's box, and Spaceman Spiff.\\nI truly miss this wonderful strip because of its creativity and insights into our American culture. This book shows the behinds the scene story in an entertaining and informative way.\",\n \"Product: Richard Castle is the best-selling author of the Nikki Heat and Derrick Storm novels. He is played by actor Nathan Fillion. Tom Straw is an Emmy-nominated TV writer and producer. He has written and produced for the television shows COSBY, WHOOPI, GRACE UNDER FIRE, and more, and is currently writing for THE LATE LATE SHOW WITH CRAIG FERGUSON. He is the author of the mystery THE TRIGGER EPISODE.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Can Nikki Solve a Frozen Case?\\n\\nReview: At first, it looks like just another bazaar murder to NYPD Detective Nikki Heat. A woman has been found in a suitcase in a delivery truck's freezer compartment. But then Nikki takes a closer look at the suitcase and discovers her initials in the top. She carved them there when she was a little girl. And the suitcase was stolen when her own mother was murdered a decade ago.\\n\\nPulling in every available person, including writer and boyfriend Jameson Rook, Nikki begins investigating the fresh murder and reopening the cold case of her own mother's murder. Will this new corpse help her solve the one case she most wants to solve?\\n\\nI was surprised when I realize where the plot of this book was going since on the TV show Castle, Beckett wasn't quite to this point when the book came out. But since the plot goes in a very different direction than the TV series, it makes sense. And the end will definitely leave you wanting more.\\n\\nAs always, catching the references to the show and watching the characters based on those characters adds to the fun. But if you aren't a fan of the show, you'll still get a great mystery out of it. There are plenty of twists and things don't resolve until the last few pages.\\n\\nUnfortunately, the writing is still a factor. It's lazy, telling instead of showing and head hopping like crazy between Nikki and Rook. It seemed better in the last one, but it's worse again here.\\n\\nFans of the series certainly won't mind, and if you enjoy a good book you'll still enjoy this one. Just know it isn't as fast a read as it could be as a result of the poor writing.\",\n \"Product: Pictorial boards, Christian series, Fictional\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Powerful Story of God's Love and Forgiveness\\n\\nReview: It's been a year since the end of A VOICE IN THE WIND. Marcus is feeling restless. His life of pleasure no longer holds any happiness for him. Julia is finding that her friends really don't care for her, and she is fighting an illness that no one seems to be able to cure. Their mother, Phoebe, prays constantly for their salvation. Fortunately, God has not given up on them. And the answer might come from the strange woman hidden in veils who assists the young doctor Alexander at his shop in the poor part of town.\\nFrancine Rivers has once again captured the Roman empire of the 1st century AD. Rome, Ephesus, and Israel come alive with compelling people and small historic details. The theme of God's love and the power of forgiveness are beautifully shown through the lives of these characters. The ending was so powerful, I'm sure it will stay with me for quite some time.\\nThis novel is definitely a sequel to the first book in the series, A VOICE IN THE WIND. Enough of the first book is explained so you won't be lost if you choose to read this one first. However, since you'll ultimately want to read the first one, I recommend starting with it so none of the surprises will be spoiled.\\nThese novels are some of the best Christian fiction I've ever read. If you enjoy a good story with strong characters, you'll want to pick these up and read them today.\",\n \"Product: QUALITY USED BOOK\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: \\\"What Did I Just Tell You?\\\" \\\"Beats Me. Weren't You Listening Either?\\\"\\n\\nReview: And so it began.\\n\\nThis treasury included the strips from the first two collections of the comic strip Calvin and Hobbes. And if you don't know what you have been missing, you are in for a treat.\\n\\nThe comic strip follows the misadventures of Calvin, a highly imaginative, hyperactive six year old. How imaginative? His only real friend is Hobbes, his stuff tiger. But that isn't a problem because Hobbes is really a real tiger, at least in Calvin's mind.\\n\\nSince this is the first book, things are still being established. But many of the strips staples are here already. We meet Calvin's parents, teacher Miss Wormwood, neighbor Susie Derkins, and bully Moe. We even get the first couple of run ins with babysitter Rosalyn. While we don't get the hilarious social satire that would show up later, we do get some comments on the environment and Calvin's obsession with polls. (He is constantly trying to get his dad to bend to political pressure by showing his standings with household six year olds and tigers.) And we get plenty of adventures from Spaceman Spiff, Calvin's imagination again as he tries to deal with the various aliens in his life like his parents or teacher.\\n\\nI tend to read the later books more often, so I had forgotten just how go the early strips are until I picked this up. There are so true classics here, most of the time at Calvin's six year old nature. Not that I'd want my kids getting any ideas from Calvin. He doesn't see anything wrong with pounding nails into coffee tables or popping popcorn without the lid on the pot.\\n\\nAnd that does bring up the only possible flaw with the book. These strips originally appeared in 1985-1987, so at times they are a little dated. Calvin makes reference to renting a VCR or wanting to get cable. But that doesn't bother me in the slightest.\\n\\nThis \\\"treasury\\\" collects the strips from the first two books. As a bonus, there is a story told in poem form at the beginning and the Sunday strips are in color. If you have the two books, you probably don't need this one. But if you don't have them, this is the way to go.\\n\\nThe day this strip ended was a sad day indeed. But thanks to books like this one, we can relive it over and over again.\",\n \"Product: Preparations are underway for Lake Eden, Minnesota's annual Winter Carnival - and Hannah Swensen is set to bake up a storm at her popular shop, The Cookie Jar. Too bad the honour of creating the official Winter Carnival cake went to famous lifestyle maven Connie Mac - a half-baked idea, in Hannah's opinion. She suspects Connie Mac is a lot like the confections she whips up on her cable TV cooking show - sweet, light, and scrumptious-looking, but likely to leave a bitter taste in your mouth.Hannah's suspicions are confirmed when Connie Mac's limo rolls into town. Turns out America's 'cooking sweetheart' is a bossy, bad-tempered, and downright domineering. Things finally boil over when Hannah arrives at The Cookie Jar to find the Winter Carnival cake burnt to a crisp - and Connie Mac lying dead in her pantry, struck down while eating one of Hannah's famous blueberry muffins.Next thing Hannah knows, the police have declared The Cookie Jar's kitchen crime scene off-limits. She's a baker without an oven - and the Carnival is right around the corner. Hannah's only alternative is to cook up a plan to save her business - by finding the killer herself.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Wonderful Addition to this Cozy Series\\n\\nReview: Hoping to boost their winter economy, Lake Eden Minnesota is holding it's first annual Winter Carnival. Hannah Swensen is delighted about the extra revenue this will bring to her cookie shop. The town is thrilled to have Connie MacIntyre, celebrated TV chef and cookbook author, designing and baking their Winter Carnival cake. But when Connie Mac arrives, she quickly makes enemies with her overbearing personality. Hannah reluctantly agrees to let Connie use her shop to bake the cake, but arrives the next morning to find the cake burned and Connie face down in a tin of Hannah's Blue Blueberry Muffins. With her shop closed off as a crime scene and a very good friend, Connie Mac's personal assistant Janie, the prime suspect, Hannah starts investigating the murder. But can she provide the cookies for the carnival, solve the murder, and find Janie?\\nThis is the third Hannah Swensen mystery, and the series has only gotten stronger. Hannah and her sister Andrea make a great detective team. All the supporting characters are back and used well in the plot. They're really starting to feel like good friends. I especially enjoyed watching the love triangle with dentist Norman and police detective Mike heat up. The mystery itself was very enjoyable. I had a hard time figuring out where this one was going, but the solution made perfect sense. And the climax kept me glued to the book trying to figure out how Hannah would escape with her life. There are 7 more delicious sounding recipes included. Someday I'm going to make them.\\nMy only complaint with the book was that it ended too soon. If you're already a fan of the series, you'll love this book. If you have yet to meet Hannah, start with the first, Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder, and enjoy this delightful culinary themed mystery series.\",\n \"Product: Relentless (Dominion Trilogy)\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: You Won't Want to Put Down This Fantasy Thriller\\n\\nReview: On that particular rainy morning, Collin Boyd was walking down a rainy street on his way to work and sees himself across the street. We're talking the same clothes, same briefcase, everything. As Collin runs to catch up with himself, he catches his reflection in the mirror and sees...a complete stranger staring back.\\n\\nAs he stares at the new him, a woman appears and warns him and he is now part of something huge. He must figure out who are his friends and who are his enemies because there is an assassin after him. And with that warning, she vanishes.\\n\\nThrust into a world he hardly knows, the now named Grant Borrows must figure out what is happening to him and how to control the powers he suddenly seems to have. Because the answers hold the key to a long ago prophecy that he just might fulfill. If he can stay alive long enough, that is.\\n\\nI've had this book since it came out, but only picked it up recently. I wish I had picked it up sooner. I was hooked on page one. And just when I got one answer or Grant survived one problem, two more took their place. As a result, I had a very hard time putting it down. The characters were interesting. And the multiple view points added to the story.\\n\\nThis is a fantasy novel of sorts. While most of the action involves fantasy, it takes place to real humans in modern day Los Angeles. I certainly enjoyed the aspect of watching the action take place in a world I knew. And there is a conspiracy behind things that I have a feeling will become much bigger in future books.\\n\\nThe only weakness is the writing. It was obviously a first novel, and at times it could have used a tad more polish. But it was still highly readable. I certainly flew through the pages.\\n\\nI can hardly wait to get my hands on the next two books in the series and see where Grant's path truly lies.\",\n \"Product: Robin Parrish has written for over a decade as a journalist on the cutting-edge of Christian culture, from books and music to film. Robin, his wife, and their son live in High Point, North Carolina.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Can Oblivion Be Stopped?\\n\\nReview: The Secretum's end game has been fulfilled. Oblivion has risen from the pit and begun to unleash his reign of terror on the Earth. His power is so great he is drawing the Loci to himself and turning them into mindless zombies as he leads them on a march from Turkey to Jerusalem.\\n\\nMeanwhile, former FBI agent Ethan leads Daniel and Lisa on an impossible mission to figure out some way to stop Oblivion from executing his end game. Can he be stopped? Can they stay alive long enough to figure out how?\\n\\nNow if most of what you've just read makes no sense to you, it means you haven't read the first two books in the trilogy. As a result, I don't recommend you start here. With only a one page recap of the previous two books, you will be very lost.\\n\\nBut for those looking to finish the trilogy, you'll be very happy with the conclusion. Like the first, this book is action packed from page one. Because most of the Loci are under Oblivion's control, there are actually fewer characters, giving those who we do see a much better chance at truly getting to shine. The writing still has occasional rough spots, but it is much more polished than in book one. And a couple elements made me roll my eyes, but I was caught up in the story again in just a few moments.\\n\\nAnd the book finally tackles some Christian themes here, too. While it doesn't pretend to be a complete treatise on free will (and I wouldn't expect one in a novel), what is presented here is interesting to consider. The fantasy underpinning allows for some neat analogies as well. I was bothered by a Bible verse misquoted, but I just considered the source. I wouldn't expect a villain to get it right.\\n\\nBut my complaints about the book are minor. This is a fast paced fantasy thriller that will leave readers ready for more from this author.\",\n \"Product: A native-born Floridian, Glynn was raised on a farm among the swamps and live oaks near Tallahassee, where she spent humid summers reading mysteries and swimming in creeks where alligators and snakes lurked in the foliage. She knows the sink holes and often swims in the cold, clear springs above the openings to fathomless caves. These are the settings for her Luanne Fogarty mystery series and for her literary novel, River Whispers.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Secrets on Moon Island\\n\\nReview: Luanne is enjoying a summer afternoon at her home in the swamp when Sissy Moon, a little girl, shows up asking for help. Her great-granddaddy has fallen into the lake on the family island and she's been sent to get Luanne to dive down and find him. With a great sense of urgency, Luanne heads out, calling the police along the way.\\n\\nOnly when Luanne arrives at the destination does she learn that Oscar Moon did indeed fall into that lake, in 1959. A quick dive doesn't turn up any traces of his body. But the questions just keep coming. Why search for the body after 50 years? What is Oscar's wife hearing on the island? And what other sinister forces are at work there?\\n\\nAuthor Glynn Marsh Alam has written another book to be savored. It truly transports you to the wilds of the fresh water swamp. The characters are as real as ever, especially Luanne and Pasquin. Sissy will steal your heart of you let her. The plot moves forward at a steady pace while allowing you time to experience the wildlife and climate of the summer. Don't misunderstand, the book never side tracks or bogs down. It finds the perfect balance of story and atmosphere to keep you engaged until the climax.\\n\\nSo grab some deep fat fried fish and a beverage and return to the deadly and enjoyable swamp world of Luanne Fogarty.\",\n \"Product: This is a very fun card game similar to rummy but has a different twist. Fun for all ages young and old.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Fun, Challenging, and Long\\n\\nReview: It sounds simple at first. Be the first to complete 10 melds, or phases, in order. You can only complete one phase per hand, and if you fail before the round ends, you must try again. And it is, at first.\\n\\nAs you go along, each round gets harder to complete, giving those who are behind a chance to catch up. But each hand also starts to take longer. And that's my biggest complaint against the game. It takes forever to finish. In fact, I don't know if I've ever finished a game because of time constraints.\\n\\nThis is a challenging and creative card game. Just be ready to play for a while, because you'll need the time to complete all 10 phases.\",\n \"Product: Art Taylor has won many of the mystery world's major honors, including three Agatha Awards, an Anthony, a Macavity, and three consecutive Derringer Awards. A native of Richlands, NC, Art lives in Northern Virginia, where he is a professor of English at George Mason University and writes frequently on crime fiction for The Washington Post, Mystery Scene, and other publications. He's married to the writer Tara Laskowski, and together they spend most evenings chasing a toddler (or being chased, depending). In his free time...wait, what free time?\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Character Growth on a Road Trip\\n\\nReview: On the Road with Del and Louise is a very different book from what I normally read. As the subtitle says, it is a novel in stories. The book is a collection of six short stories that follow the same characters across the country. Along the way, we get to know them and root for them to get a happy ending.\\n\\nThese main characters are Del and Louise. We meet them as Del is about to pull one last job. You see, hes a thief, and Louise meets him when he robs her at the 7-11 where she is currently working. She gives him her number, and the two of them start dating. But the book starts as they are about to hit the road, and Del is hoping that the money from this one last job will set them up in their future.\\n\\nIts that future that seems to be in constant jeopardy. Del really wants to leave this life of crime behind so Louise isn't dragged further into it, but things never seem to go as planned. We catch up with them in Victorville, California, the Napa wine country, Las Vegas, and North Dakota before the duo head to Louises hometown in North Carolina to get married.\\n\\nThe six stories and the trouble that Del and Louise find are all very different, and Im not going to spoil any of that for you. Most of them fall into the caper side of the crime genre spectrum, but there is one traditional mystery along the way.\\n\\nAll of them are platforms for us to really get to know Del and Louise, especially Louise as she is our narrator. They are both very complex characters, which is one reason I grew to like them. Yes, my main complaint with the book is that our main characters, very sympathetic main characters, should be in jail. Yet I constantly found myself rooting for them to do the right thing and avoid jail time. Fortunately, their crimes are minimal, and that makes it better for me.\\n\\nEach story starts slowly, building up to the tease that opened that section. But once we get to the main plot of the chapter, things really get interesting. With each chapter being a different plot, theres no repetition so no reason to get bored.\\n\\nBecause this book is more a character study than a mystery novel (even though it is classified as a mystery), the novel in stories approach works well. There are themes that weave through all the stories, which help tie things together. Del and Louise are really the only characters in all the stories, although we get references to some in multiple stories, and Louise usually does talk to her mother (or at least about her mother) in all the stories. If I could compare it to anything, it would be to a series of books where tiny things from each entry pop up in the others. And all the time, Del and Louise are growing as characters, which helps keep us invested.\\n\\nAnd I know Im probably the only one who will talk about this being more character study than mystery. Yes, the plots of the stories are crime related, but that aren't the focus at all. I maintained the same thing about Lisa Lutzs Spellman Files series while devouring each one. Yet several of them were nominated for top mystery awards, just like this book has been. I guess Im just extremely picky in my classifications.\\n\\nMy reservations about our heroes aside, On the Road with Del and Louise is an interesting road trip with two characters who you truly come to care about. If you are looking for something different in the crime genre, this book is for you.\",\n \"Product: The enchanting prelude to \\\"The Lord of the Rings\\\"\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Adventuring we will go\\n\\nReview: Bilbo Baggins was perfectly content with his life. The last thing he wanted was to be involved in an adventure. But when the wizard Gandalf invites a group of dwarves over, he find himself drawn into their quest to reclaim their mountain and fortune that a dragon stole from them years ago. Now Bilbo will have to adjust to new situations daily as they encounter wolves, goblins, giant eagles and spiders, and other creatures just to get to the mountain. Once they get there, they have to face the fierce dragon. Can they survive?\\nThis is a fun adventure. It's very easy to feel for Bilbo as they face one obstacle after another. \\\"He thought of his home, not for the last time.\\\" I smiled every time I saw that line. My biggest complaint about the book is that it is a bit episodic in nature. Their many adventures don't seem that interrelated for most of the book. This is a minor issue, however, and it's very hard not to like the characters and root them on in their quest to reclaim their rightful place.\\nI've read this book twice, and hope to get to the Lord of the Rings soon. The fun story and likeable characters make it easy to see why there are so many fans of these books\",\n \"Product: Nice vintage set, have books 6,7,8, and 31 available\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Glimpses of the Past\\n\\nReview: Life is hard living on the frontier of Wisconsin in the 1870's. Laura is only a little girl, but she still needs to help with chorus around her family's log cabin. There are wild animals in the woods, and they must provide for themselves since the nearest town in hours away. But it's not all hard work. If Pa's not tired, he might entertain his daughters with a story or by playing his fiddle. With family relatively nearby to visit, life is certainly never dull.\\nI had not read these books since I was a child until picking this up to reread. I had forgotten how entertaining they really are. There is no real plot, just a collection of stories covering a year in the life of the Ingalls family. This makes sense since they really are an autobiographical work. Still, the simple charm of the stories sucked me right in and I had a hard time putting the book down. There is plenty of detail here to give anyone a good picture of daily life during this time. And I must mention the illustrations by Garth Williams that greatly add to the book.\\nThere's a reason these books are so well loved 70 years after they were written. They are an entertaining look at everyday life in a different time and place. This is a book to treasure.\",\n \"Product: MOVIE TIE IN BOOKS WITH BEAUTIFUL COVERS: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING WITH FRODO ON COVER, TWO TWO TOWERS WITH ELF ON COVER SHOOTING BOW AND ARROW AND THE RETURN OF THE KING WITH MORDOR ON COVER. BIGGER WELL MADE SOFTCOVER BOOKS. One Ring to rule them all. One Ring to find them. One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Adventuring we will go\\n\\nReview: Bilbo Baggins was perfectly content with his life. The last thing he wanted was to be involved in an adventure. But when the wizard Gandalf invites a group of dwarves over, he find himself drawn into their quest to reclaim their mountain and fortune that a dragon stole from them years ago. Now Bilbo will have to adjust to new situations daily as they encounter wolves, goblins, giant eagles and spiders, and other creatures just to get to the mountain. Once they get there, they have to face the fierce dragon. Can they survive?\\nThis is a fun adventure. It's very easy to feel for Bilbo as they face one obstacle after another. \\\"He thought of his home, not for the last time.\\\" I smiled every time I saw that line. My biggest complaint about the book is that it is a bit episodic in nature. Their many adventures don't seem that interrelated for most of the book. This is a minor issue, however, and it's very hard not to like the characters and root them on in their quest to reclaim their rightful place.\\nI've read this book twice, and hope to get to the Lord of the Rings soon. The fun story and likeable characters make it easy to see why there are so many fans of these books\",\n \"Product: Will be shipped from US. Used books may not include companion materials, may have some shelf wear, may contain highlighting/notes, may not include CDs or access codes. 100% money back guarantee.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: A Wild and Crazy Ride\\n\\nReview: Sea Haven, New Jersey, is just as wonderful as it sounds. Located on a small island just off the coast, it is a popular vacation destination with a huge summer population of tourists. In an attempt to help with the summer crowds, the local police hire a bunch of summer cops.\\n\\nThis summer, one of them is Danny Boyle. 24 years old, he's still trying to decide what he wants to be when he grows up. He's partnered with John Ceepak, a retired military policeman who has just gotten back from Iraq.\\n\\nThe partners are just starting their shift when a girl comes running down the street covered in blood. She says her dad was shot on the tilt-a-whirl in the local amusement park. Her father turns out to be billionaire Reginald Hart. Boyle is in over his head, but Ceepak is right in his element. With only the girl as witness, they begin to work hard to find the killer.\\n\\nThings only get more complicated that night when the girl is kidnapped. The normal July crowds are dropping fast for fear of the maniac on the island. Ceepak takes the case personally and follows every lead to track down the missing girl. Will he be in time?\\n\\nEvery so often, I like to branch out of my cozy sub-genre and experiment with a little darker book. This was one such experimentation, and I enjoyed it. The plot in the first half is fairly straight forward, but the second half begins to take as many twists and turns as the title ride. I found myself working hard to keep up and loving every minute of it. There is one fairly major plot point that wasn't explained to my complete satisfaction, but the story still works.\\n\\nDespite the fact that Doyle narrates the story, Ceepak is our main character. It's a classic Holmes/Watson relationship, which works to keep the audience in the dark and confused until the final pages. Ceepak is well developed with a background to explain his serious nature. Doyle is a bit more fun loving and provides some good comic relief with his narration and occasional spoken quip. Even so, he is able to provide a few puzzle pieces that ultimate help Ceepak solve the case. Doyle also grows more as a result of the story. He's not nearly as innocent at the end, but he's definitely stronger for it.\\n\\nThe most unique aspect of the story is the narration. It is written is present tense. I can't remember the last novel I read that was written this way. It took me several chapters to get used to this narrative style. I'm not sure why the author chose to go this route, but by the end of the novel I was used to it.\\n\\nIn keeping with the darker tone, there is also significantly more foul language then I am used to reading. It did bother me in some scenes, but its something else worth noting in passing.\\n\\nUltimate, I am glad I went on this wild ride. I plan to take another vacation in Sea Haven really soon.\",\n \"Product: Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare. Dell Publishing,1983\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Lesser Knows Classic from Elizabeth George Speare\\n\\nReview: Matt and his father have gone ahead of the rest of the family to build a cabin on their new land in Maine. Now, his father is returning to Massachusetts to get Matt's mother and siblings, leaving Matt to guard the new home and garden. Matt's dad expects to be gone only seven weeks. What could happen in that time?\\n\\nFirst, someone steals the gun that Matt's dad left behind for him. Then Matt meets some of the Indians in the area. The chief wants Matt to teach his grandson, Attean, to read English. Attean is two years older than the twelve-year-old Matt, and Matt looks up to him. As the weeks progress, Attean begins to show Matt how to live off the land. Will that help Matt survive until his family returns?\\n\\nWhile this book isn't as famous as the author's two Newbery Award winners, it's still a great read. The characters of Matt and Attean are so real, and watching them change step by step is captivating. Even though I've read this book several times, I had a hard time putting it down on my latest reread.\\n\\nReally, this is two coming of age stories, Matt's and Attean's. But underneath that is the story of race relations in 1768 Maine. There are so many layers to the story, which is part of what makes it easy to get into the story.\\n\\nIf you are looking for more books b Elizabeth George Speare, definitely pick this one up. You'll be captivated before you know it.\",\n \"Product: Will be shipped from US. Used books may not include companion materials, may have some shelf wear, may contain highlighting/notes, may not include CDs or access codes. 100% money back guarantee.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: A Wild and Crazy Ride\\n\\nReview: Sea Haven, New Jersey, is just as wonderful as it sounds. Located on a small island just off the coast, it is a popular vacation destination with a huge summer population of tourists. In an attempt to help with the summer crowds, the local police hire a bunch of summer cops.\\n\\nThis summer, one of them is Danny Boyle. 24 years old, he's still trying to decide what he wants to be when he grows up. He's partnered with John Ceepak, a retired military policeman who has just gotten back from Iraq.\\n\\nThe partners are just starting their shift when a girl comes running down the street covered in blood. She says her dad was shot on the tilt-a-whirl in the local amusement park. Her father turns out to be billionaire Reginald Hart. Boyle is in over his head, but Ceepak is right in his element. With only the girl as witness, they begin to work hard to find the killer.\\n\\nThings only get more complicated that night when the girl is kidnapped. The normal July crowds are dropping fast for fear of the maniac on the island. Ceepak takes the case personally and follows every lead to track down the missing girl. Will he be in time?\\n\\nEvery so often, I like to branch out of my cozy sub-genre and experiment with a little darker book. This was one such experimentation, and I enjoyed it. The plot in the first half is fairly straight forward, but the second half begins to take as many twists and turns as the title ride. I found myself working hard to keep up and loving every minute of it. There is one fairly major plot point that wasn't explained to my complete satisfaction, but the story still works.\\n\\nDespite the fact that Doyle narrates the story, Ceepak is our main character. It's a classic Holmes/Watson relationship, which works to keep the audience in the dark and confused until the final pages. Ceepak is well developed with a background to explain his serious nature. Doyle is a bit more fun loving and provides some good comic relief with his narration and occasional spoken quip. Even so, he is able to provide a few puzzle pieces that ultimate help Ceepak solve the case. Doyle also grows more as a result of the story. He's not nearly as innocent at the end, but he's definitely stronger for it.\\n\\nThe most unique aspect of the story is the narration. It is written is present tense. I can't remember the last novel I read that was written this way. It took me several chapters to get used to this narrative style. I'm not sure why the author chose to go this route, but by the end of the novel I was used to it.\\n\\nIn keeping with the darker tone, there is also significantly more foul language then I am used to reading. It did bother me in some scenes, but its something else worth noting in passing.\\n\\nUltimate, I am glad I went on this wild ride. I plan to take another vacation in Sea Haven really soon.\",\n \"Product: Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare. Dell Publishing,1983\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Lesser Knows Classic from Elizabeth George Speare\\n\\nReview: Matt and his father have gone ahead of the rest of the family to build a cabin on their new land in Maine. Now, his father is returning to Massachusetts to get Matt's mother and siblings, leaving Matt to guard the new home and garden. Matt's dad expects to be gone only seven weeks. What could happen in that time?\\n\\nFirst, someone steals the gun that Matt's dad left behind for him. Then Matt meets some of the Indians in the area. The chief wants Matt to teach his grandson, Attean, to read English. Attean is two years older than the twelve-year-old Matt, and Matt looks up to him. As the weeks progress, Attean begins to show Matt how to live off the land. Will that help Matt survive until his family returns?\\n\\nWhile this book isn't as famous as the author's two Newbery Award winners, it's still a great read. The characters of Matt and Attean are so real, and watching them change step by step is captivating. Even though I've read this book several times, I had a hard time putting it down on my latest reread.\\n\\nReally, this is two coming of age stories, Matt's and Attean's. But underneath that is the story of race relations in 1768 Maine. There are so many layers to the story, which is part of what makes it easy to get into the story.\\n\\nIf you are looking for more books b Elizabeth George Speare, definitely pick this one up. You'll be captivated before you know it.\",\n \"Product: Box set of JRR Tolkien's incomparable classic\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Adventuring we will go\\n\\nReview: Bilbo Baggins was perfectly content with his life. The last thing he wanted was to be involved in an adventure. But when the wizard Gandalf invites a group of dwarves over, he find himself drawn into their quest to reclaim their mountain and fortune that a dragon stole from them years ago. Now Bilbo will have to adjust to new situations daily as they encounter wolves, goblins, giant eagles and spiders, and other creatures just to get to the mountain. Once they get there, they have to face the fierce dragon. Can they survive?\\nThis is a fun adventure. It's very easy to feel for Bilbo as they face one obstacle after another. \\\"He thought of his home, not for the last time.\\\" I smiled every time I saw that line. My biggest complaint about the book is that it is a bit episodic in nature. Their many adventures don't seem that interrelated for most of the book. This is a minor issue, however, and it's very hard not to like the characters and root them on in their quest to reclaim their rightful place.\\nI've read this book twice, and hope to get to the Lord of the Rings soon. The fun story and likeable characters make it easy to see why there are so many fans of these books\",\n \"Product: NYPD Homicide Detective Nikki Heat feels sparks from ride-along, journalist Jameson Rook. A real estate tycoon plunges to his death. A trophy wife with a past survives a brazen attack. Mobsters and moguls with motives all have alibis. Dirty little secrets of the wealthy hide until Nikki shines a light.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: A New, Blockbuster Bestseller for Castle\\n\\nReview: New York City is suffering from record breaking heat when Matthew Starr jumps to his death from his luxury condo. NYPD detective Nikki Heat quickly determines that it was murder. And since Matthew was one of the richest developers in the city, the case will be a top priority.\\n\\nOnly Nikki quickly discovers that Matthew wasn't as well off as everyone thought he was. As the secrets come out, Nikki begins to find multiple motives. Then her own life is threatened. Can she solve the crime before another attempt is made?\\n\\nIt's always a danger killing off a popular character, but if that's what it took to give us this new book, than I am glad Richard Castle took that risk....\\n\\nOkay, okay, so the whole Richard Castle thing is not true. This book is really a very cleverly done tie in to the ABC show Castle. Heck, the author photo on the back of the book is actor who plays him on the show. And the blurbs are from authors who have appeared on the show. Frankly, this fan couldn't stop laughing at the similarities.\\n\\nThose similarities continue on to the characters. Nikki Heat is being shadowed by a news reporter for an in depth feature on the police force. The other detectives are quite obviously based on the characters in the show.\\n\\nHowever, I must wonder just how much non-fans of the show would appreciate things. I got lots of humor from characters and comparing the two. If I didn't know the show, I wouldn't have found it amusing at all.\\n\\nThe plot holds together reasonably well. The beginning of the book was overwritten, however. Some of those sentences got in the way of actually understanding the description. Things did get better as the book progressed, fortunately.\\n\\nFans of the TV show will get a kick out of this book, especially with how they've been advertising it on the show. Others might enjoy it, but they won't get the same kick out of it I did.\",\n \"Product: Norma Cournow Camp has published numerous stories and articles in Christian publications including "Child Evangelism" magazine, Power and Venture. She has served on the editorial staff of Young Ambassador magazine with Back to the Bible Broadcast and of The Journal of Educational Research. For several years she was editor of the Sunday school take-home papers for preschoolers through adults published by Union Gospel Press. Presently she edits the Sower Series for Mott Media. Mrs. Camp is a graduate of The King's College, Briarcliff Manor, New York, and Piedmont Bible College, Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Her background as a native Virginian, history buff and Christian writer has combined to produce a unique book on the life and spiritual stand of George Washington.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Average Biography of a Great Man\\n\\nReview: Starting with George Washington as a boy, this book follows him throughout his life. It focuses on his early military career fighting with the British against the French and Indians, working his plantation, and responding when his new country needed a general and first President.\\nUnfortunately, this book aimed at kids could have been better. The narrative is uneven, making it hard to follow how much time has passed between stories we're reading. Furthermore, the style is choppy with too many simple sentences strung together. On the other hand, there are some thrilling stories from his days fighting in armies that will keep young readers interested. And his writing is used creatively to show his belief in God without interrupting the flow.\\nGeorge Washington was a great man we can all learn from. This biography gives some interesting information and a good overview of his life and times. Unfortunately, it's not quite polished enough to get a full recommendation.\",\n \"Product: Glynn was raised on a farm among the swamps and live oaks, where she spent humid summers swimming in creeks where alligators and snakes lurked in the foliage. She has been a decoder/translator for the National Security Agency, a university instructor and teaches English Literature now in Los Angeles.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Listen to the Whispers\\n\\nReview: When Mae Pope's grandma died, Mae promises to scatter her ashes on the St. Margaret River. The journey becomes more then she bargained for when she begins to have run-ins with the Gruman family. Memories of time with her grandma mingle with the present happenings. But will she make sense of it all?\\nOnce again, Glynn Marsh Alam has proven what an outstanding writer she is. The swamp, river creatures, and characters come boldly to life. It's hard not to get lost in this world. I had no trouble switching from the past to modern day happenings as the story unfolded. The only reason I gave this book four stars is because of two scenes that detracted from my over all enjoyment of the story.\\nWith that warning out of the way, I recommend all of Ms. Alam's books. Her use of language to draw the reader in and make him feel a part of the surroundings makes her books stand out from many of her peers. I hope to enjoy her writing for many years to come.\",\n \"Product: A native Floridian, Glynn was raised on a farm among the swamps and live oaks near Tallahassee, where she spent humid summers reading mysteries and swimming in creeks where alligators and snakes lurked in the foliage. She has been a decoder/translator for the Natl. Security Agency, a university instructor, and now teaches English literature in Los Angeles. Twice a year, she journeys back to N. Florida to live among the critters, moss, and deep clear springs--where she calls upon eel grass and river currents to inspire sinister goings on in her stories. Glynn has published two mysteries as well as numerous short stories.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Tracking a Cold Blooded Killer\\n\\nReview: Luanne and Pasquin are on their way to pick up alligator meat for the sheriff department's booth at the local fair when they discover a woman's body floating in the shallows. The coroner makes the connection with several other murders in various locations, including a skeleton that Luanne found while working another case two years earlier. Then a traveling carnival worker in the area for the fair is found murdered in the same manner. What was his connection with the women killed? Why did the killer change his or her pattern? Will Luanne figure out the answer before the fair leaves town?\\nThis is the third Luanne Fogarty mystery, and it's just as great as the others. The characters have grown and continue to develop in this story. I'm very interested to see where the author goes with a couple characters. And I loved watching Tony fight his pride whenever Luanne provided a good direction to go. The story moved along well with a couple sub-plots weaved expertly throughout. And the writing is still top notch. This book is set during the beginnings of winter, and Ms. Alam expertly brings the changing warm and cold weather and the changes to the swamps to life.\\nThis series is wonderful. The mysteries are intriguing and the writing is outstanding. I just finished this book and already I can't wait for the next. Don't miss out.\",\n \"Product: Dan Clark began his career as an athlete, playing football for the Los Angeles Rams and in Europe. He later starred as Nitro on the extraordinarily popular reality television show American Gladiators. Clark then turned to acting and screenwriting. He wrote, directed, and starred in the independent film Looking for Bruce. He recently hosted ESPN Classic's American Gladiators marathon, and he continues to consult on the revamped American Gladiators franchise. He lives in Los Angeles, where he is working on his next book.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Honest Confessions from a Steroids Addict\\n\\nReview: As a child, Dan Clark was very close with his older brother. When that brother died tragically, he felt compelled to make something of himself. His quest led him to football, but an injury could have sidelined him.\\n\\nThats when, at the age of eighteen, Dan heard about steroids, which promised to help heal him faster and help him build more muscle to be even better on the field. When he saw the gains he wanted, he continued to take them, ignoring the warnings signs. His massive size and desire for fame eventually led him to American Gladiators where he starred as Nitro. But will he ignore the warning signs his body is giving him about the damage it is taking?\\n\\nWhile I know Ive seen some of the episodes of the original American Gladiators, I actually came to this book because Dan Clark founded one of the mud runs I love to do. I found the book an interesting look at the life of someone driven to achieve fame and make something of himself no matter what the cost. It reads at times like a Greek tragedy, although part of that is the ability of Dan as narrator to point out the signs he ignored when he lived through these events.\\n\\nThe book is brutally honest about the highs and lows of his life. And that is my only real complaint with the book. At times this honesty comes with the price of sharing too much about his sex life and the changes his body was going through. Of course, since he is trying to issue a warning so others don't follow in his steps, that is important. Still, it did make me uncomfortable.\\n\\nIf you want a warning about the dangers of steroids, youve come to the right place. Fans of American Gladiators will also like the book. Just be prepared for the more graphic moments.\"\n]","isConversational":false},"profile_size":{"kind":"number","value":200,"string":"200"},"task":{"kind":"string","value":"longlamp_3"},"split_kind":{"kind":"string","value":"user_based"},"id":{"kind":"number","value":979,"string":"979"}}},{"rowIdx":980,"cells":{"question_id":{"kind":"string","value":"A37R3P5JFNQG8S"},"question":{"kind":"string","value":"Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of \"5.0\" for a product with description \"Hasbro is bringing Furby to the world of Star Wars with this Furbacca figure! This fully integrated toy and app makes wookiee sounds like Chewbacca, hums Star Wars theme songs, and plays virtual activities! This Furbacca figure takes kids into a Star Wars themed digital world via their mobile device as they explore the galaxy and collect virtual Star Wars Furby Furblings. The Furbacca companion app will be available for download in the App Store and Google Play in Fall 2015. The Furbacca companion app is not required for Furbacca figure play. Includes bandolier accessory. Star Wars products are produced by Hasbro under license from Lucasfilm Ltd. Hasbro and all related terms are trademarks of Hasbro.\". The summary of the review text is \"Fun, interactive Star Wars tie-in toy\"."},"answer":{"kind":"string","value":"My kids love Star Wars. My kids love interactive toys. They're 8 and 10 and this was a huge hit in our household. You can play with Furbacca just by himself. He chirps. He groans. He purrs. His voice is not as deep and throaty as the Chewbacca character, but it's cute. (Though Mom was wishing for an off switch after awhile.) His eyes change graphics as he makes various noises and his ears and beak move as well. Part of the fun is discovering his response to different interactions: scratching him behind the ears, tilting him, holding him upside down, talking to him up close. We don't have any other Furbies so we can't comment on their interactivity.\n\nThe free app allows you to play with Furbacca by feeding him, \"bathing\" him, and having him watch you make creations like an egg bomb or guitar lightsaber. He'll sing or laugh or make other noises in response to the app. (He gargles in the shower.)\n\nWithin the app you hatch Furblings and take care of them. We have a Han Solo Furbling that needs food, bathing, and entertainment. If Furbacca or the Furblings like what you're offering them, they make happy noises and reward you with Furbucks. You can use the app with Furbacca or just play it on its own. If you play the app with Furbacca nearby, he appears to be watching you interacting with the screen and responds with different noises, movements, and eye graphics.\n\nThis does not appear to be a very rugged toy, so it would not be appropriate for a small child (preschooler or toddler). Right now this is tons of fun. I think the Furbacca alone would not keep their interest after the newness wears off, but Furbacca with the app will keep them playing for a long time."},"correct_answer":{"kind":"string","value":"My kids love Star Wars. My kids love interactive toys. They're 8 and 10 and this was a huge hit in our household. You can play with Furbacca just by himself. He chirps. He groans. He purrs. His voice is not as deep and throaty as the Chewbacca character, but it's cute. (Though Mom was wishing for an off switch after awhile.) His eyes change graphics as he makes various noises and his ears and beak move as well. Part of the fun is discovering his response to different interactions: scratching him behind the ears, tilting him, holding him upside down, talking to him up close. We don't have any other Furbies so we can't comment on their interactivity.\n\nThe free app allows you to play with Furbacca by feeding him, \"bathing\" him, and having him watch you make creations like an egg bomb or guitar lightsaber. He'll sing or laugh or make other noises in response to the app. (He gargles in the shower.)\n\nWithin the app you hatch Furblings and take care of them. We have a Han Solo Furbling that needs food, bathing, and entertainment. If Furbacca or the Furblings like what you're offering them, they make happy noises and reward you with Furbucks. You can use the app with Furbacca or just play it on its own. If you play the app with Furbacca nearby, he appears to be watching you interacting with the screen and responds with different noises, movements, and eye graphics.\n\nThis does not appear to be a very rugged toy, so it would not be appropriate for a small child (preschooler or toddler). Right now this is tons of fun. I think the Furbacca alone would not keep their interest after the newness wears off, but Furbacca with the app will keep them playing for a long time."},"documents":{"kind":"list like","value":["Product: This Eb Alto Saxophone is a great choice of instrument for anyone looking to learn an appreciation for music. Perfect for kids starting in fourth grade band or adults looking to impress with some Cannonball Adderley Jazz Sax solos. This Alto Saxophone is a great low cost instrument to get you started on a fun and empowering musical experience. Fully RoHS and Pro65 compliant means our instrument will not kill you or make you sick. This instrument has been tested by professional musicians and repair technicians to be a solid build with great tone and intonation. We understand the importance of having a quality instrument that will not bust our ever tightening budgets. We also understand the frustration that comes with playing an instrument that is not functioning properly. When your instrument is working against you it is hard to learn or have fun. Learning to play music should be a fun and enriching experience that helps you grow mentally and spiritually.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Good value student saxophone and case\n\nReview: We needed a student saxophone for our elementary aged son to use. We're pleased that this saxophone comes with all he needs to get started in beginning band: an attractive instrument with a mouthpiece and reed, a neck strap, a cleaning rod, and a pretty decent case. The case comes with clip-on straps that enable him to carry it on his back like a backpack or by the handle like a suitcase.\n\nMechanically, the saxophone works well. My son has been able to play a couple of simple songs (Hot Cross Buns, Mary Had a Little Lamb) which was exciting for him. From our experience with other instruments we know that getting a decent sound is important to keep a beginner motivated. It will also save our ears while he practices.\n\nAs parents who don't want to sink too much money into a beginning instrument, we found this saxophone to be a great value for our young musician.","Product: Swiffer 360 Heavy Duty Dusters TRAP + LOCK up to 3x more* dust & allergens.** 360 degrees of specially coated fibers grab onto dust & don't let go. They are uniquely designed to Trap + Lock dust from every direction. *vs. feather duster, **common inanimate allergens from cat and dog dander & dust mite matter\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Grabs most of the dust\n\nReview: I used this on a particularly dusty job: fan blades and bookshelves that hadn't been dusted in months. When I used it on the fan blades, I found that this duster picked up most of the dust and held it. It didn't collect everything: I had to go back over the blades again with a wipe. However, it did shorten up the job.\n\nI like these dusters for bookcases. They'll compress and fit in and around books and knick-knacks so that I can dust quickly. I'm prolonging the life of this by taking it outside to shake off the dust.\n\nI like this better than a feather duster, which just moves dust around. I don't like it as well as a wipe, which is more thorough. But this is a great timesaver for touch ups and for getting into tight spaces. I have another Swiffer duster product, but I like the 360 dusters since they'll clean items like blinds that get dusty on top and underneath.","Product: The Scotts Outdoor Cleaner Plus OxiCleaner Ready-To-Use 32 oz bottle is the perfect size for spot treating outdoor areas. The Fast Foaming Action lifts dirt and wipes out stains caused by moss, mold, mildew, and algae.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Mild cleaner. Needs a lot of elbow grease for results\n\nReview: I didn't get the dramatic results that some of the promo pictures show. Still this was a fairly good cleaner and none of my plants or grass have showed any ill effects. 3 star rating doesn't mean I didn't like it. I was just expecting more. Here are some of the things I've cleaned.\n\nTrim around outside windows\nThe windows, trim, and sills in one corner were filthy. I cleaned the coated-metal trim around the windows and the cleaner took off all the dirt. Excellent.\n\nSwings\nCleaned bird poop off of the kids plastic swings. The foaming action of the OxiClean also lifted off some dirt and grime. Drips onto the grass did not harm the grass. Nice.\n\nFaux Wood Bench\nThis bench isn't even a composite wood, but some sort of coated aluminum. The cleaner lifted off bird poop, grime and some of the oxidized coloring. Didn't hurt the bench--any cleaner takes off some of the color.\n\nGarden statue and flower pots\nWe have a small garden statue (cast concrete?) that has accumulated a lot of algae. Cleaner really foamed up on the statue and I scrubbed it with a brush. Much of the algae came off, but it took several applications and a great deal of scrubbing. Likewise the algae on the terracotta flowerpots. Almost all algae came off, but I had to scrub a long time.\n\nIn short, this is not a miracle cleaner. You're going to have to do a lot of work scrubbing and rising to get rid of built up algae, dirt, mildew, etc. However, it has been safe around our plants and grass and doesn't smell too strong.","Product: Featuring Hoover WindTunnel technology, this sleek, lightweight, and affordably-priced vacuum is loaded with intuitive on-board features and tools to help you rewind to a clean home!\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Stood up to some heavy testing this past week\n\nReview: I didn't anticipate being this hard on my new Hoover WindTunnel so soon, but I've used it pretty heavily this past week to restore some wall-to-wall carpet in the rooms adjacent to my kitchen. It picked up more cat hair than my previous vacuum (an earlier model WindTunnel) leaving my carpet clean and ready for an unexpected test: a leak that flooded part of our house. After extracting water from the carpet with a carpet shampooer, I used the WindTunnel to vacuum up the baking soda and borax that I'd put down to absorb odors and stop mildew.\n\nThe WindTunnel recovered most of the substances I'd applied to my carpet, leaving fresh carpet behind. NOTE: The Hoover was NOT used to pick up water; use on DRY carpet only!\n\nPrior to our household accident I tested the switch that stops the brush from moving. This makes it easy to go from carpet to hard flooring (tile, slate, wood) without worrying about the brush damaging anything. The \"stop brush\" pedal also allows me to stop the brush's rotation while I use the various attachments. Nice feature.\n\nThe bagless canister is easy to detach and empty and is wide enough to allow me to remove various miniscule Lego pieces that make it past the brush.\n\nThis has been a terrific vacuum for our 3 cat, 2 little boy household. The only reason I'm giving it 4 stars is that I wish the hose for the attachments was a little longer. If I had to buy another vacuum tomorrow...I'd get this same model.","Product: TTI Floorcare Dirt Devil Express V6 Cordless Bagless Handheld Vacuum. Sleek design, cordless technology this vacuum is great for quick spills, crumbs, and countertop messes. Bagless technology and Quick Flip crevice tool make it easy to pick up and dispose of dirt. Express V6 is lightweight for everyday chores and home projects. RED.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Adequate for small jobs\n\nReview: I had given up on handheld vacs until I had an opportunity to test this one. Overall I found that it does what I need it to do and it's nice to not have to pull out the vacuum just to tackle a small mess. It's not as powerful as my full size vacuum, but I don't expect it to be. What it's good for is tackling the small everyday jobs that are typical of a household with small children and pets.\n\nMisc. kid messes: This handheld vac picks up crumbs, shredded paper bits, dirt, bits of mulch, and unidentified little piles of \"stuff\" with ease. My kids like using it--so I can have them clean up. Good for daily quick touch-ups.\n\nThe car: Big jobs require a trip to the gas station vac (and $1 in quarters). But, I was able to clean the seats, under the seats, some crevices, and pick up little discarded bits of trash and school projects pretty easily. The crevice tool was particularly useful here.\n\nCats: We keep some cardboard scratching pads around to discourage scratching the furniture. This vac quickly cleans up the cardboard bits that come loose. I haven't tried vacuuming up cat litter, but since it picks up large kid crumbs (and small rocks that get tracked in) I think it would handle litter.\n\nIt took 24 hours to charge this vacuum the first time and the full charge didn't last long (15 minutes?). I like that it doesn't require a wall unit recharger (like my previous one did) so it was easy to plug in out of the way until I needed it again.\n\nI also like the vibrant red color. It doesn't look like a small appliance. It looks like a large LEGO accessory.","Product: With its curling vines and flowers, the rich harvest tones of the fleur des indes collection are exotic and sophisticated. combining eastern motifs with classic french styling, these table linens, runners and are ideal for formal or festive events.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Tones of olive and rose\n\nReview: These are lovely, cotton tea towels with an impressionistic design of small flowers and palm fronds. The picture (on my monitor) looks brighter than my towels appear, particularly the wide olive green strip around the border and the larger leaves. The real color is more green than yellow and more muted. In my opinion, they're prettier in person.\n\nI've used them as a drying towel for wet dishes (very absorbent) and to rest hot dishes on the table (no chance a dish will slide off, unlike some of my trivets).\n\nUseful towel, lovely design, washes well and has a fabric strip on the back of one corner, which allows you to hang the towel to dry (if you have the space). They look nice in my green, white, and light brown kitchen. Rich shades of olive green and rose would work well with a neutral-based tropical decor, some French country decor, or a traditional kitchen decor.","Product: Super Soft sheets with super soft comfort, luxury and style a cut above the rest. Beautiful super soft sheet sets that feel great, look great and launder like a dream. 1800 Super Soft sheet sets made from super soft brushed polyester micro fiber have the comfort, feel, luxury and softness of 1800 Series Egyptian Cotton. Twin, Full, Queen and King size sheet sets with deep pockets that fit today's extra thick mattresses. Twin comes with 1 fitted sheet, 1 flat sheet and 1 pillowcase. The Full, Queen, King, California King includes 1 fitted sheet, 1 flat sheet and 2 pillowcases. WARRANTY DETAILS: WARRANTY ONLY COVERS ITEMS SOLD BY MY SWEET HOME. IF MERCHANDISE IS DEFECTIVE WITHIN THE WARRANTY PERIOD, PLEASE CONTACT MY SWEET HOME.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Soft, inexpensive, microfiber sheets\n\nReview: Note that these are not Egyptian Cotton, nor are they top of the line quality sheets. But also notice the price. They are meant to give owners a soft, luxury feel for a reasonable price. These are very soft, inexpensive microfiber sheets that are quite comfortable if you like a soft sheet, which I do. They are easy to launder (cold wash and a short tumble dry on low setting) and came out of the dryer promptly, so no wrinkles. Since they're made from microfiber yarn, they should hold their color for a long time.\n\nThe pockets are deep and, because of the elastic, will fit comfortably on all but the thickest mattresses. I found the Queen top sheet to be generous in size so it stays tucked in.\n\nI have the gray sheets and, on my Mac, the sheet color is fairly close to what I see on my computer. The piping on the pillowcase is a nice touch. I own other microfiber sheets and these feel more like our Egyptian cotton sheets than they do. So far, I'm very happy with these sheets.","Product: Add a double dose of refreshing color to the stovetop with the Farberware New Traditions Speckled Aluminum Nonstick Twin Pack Skillet Set. New Traditions pairs the time-tested trust and reliability of Farberware with colorful, updated style that's ideal for busy homes and family kitchens. These high-performance aluminum skillets boast bright speckled porcelain enamel exteriors that add a warm, table-ready touch. Durable and distinctive white nonstick interiors offer lively contrast while delivering excellent food release and easy cleanup and comfortable rubberized handles match the pans' colors. Use the 9-1/4-inch skillet for making cheese omelets and the 11-1/2-inch skillet for cooking rosemary potatoes - or team them at dinnertime for cooking seasoned salmon burgers and sauting string beans. Oven safe to 350 Degree F, the skillets hang for convenient storage. Brighten the kitchen and whet appetites with the cheerful and convenient Farberware New Traditions Speckled Aluminum Nonstick Twin Pack Skillet Set.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Comfortable grip; attractive color\n\nReview: This is an attractive little skillet that's useful for cooking small side dishes or prepping ingredients. When I used it to saute some onions--to which I added some other ingredients and seasonings--I was happy that the deep sides kept all my ingredients in the skillet as I cooked. It's also been useful for cooking 1-2 eggs for a quick breakfast. I'll continue making omelets in a slightly larger pan.\n\nThe nonstick coating is new, so it works great: scrambled eggs slid right out of the skillet onto the plate. And it cleaned up easily.\n\nThe red color is not bright, but rather muted and rich. The speckled finish gives it a sort of country, old-timey look that's come back in style.\n\nI especially love the handle, which is comfortable to hold. The rubberized handle doesn't feel like rubber at all--just smooth yet easy to hang onto. There's a place to put your thumb for balance when you're lifting the skillet. It also has a reinforced hole in the handle so that you can hang this skillet from a hook.\n\nSeems to be well made and sturdy. Definitely a keeper.","Product: Freshen up easy, everyday meal-making and worry less about cleanup, with the brilliant cooking performance of the colorful, durable and dishwasher-safe Farberware pure Cook Ceramic Nonstick 12-Piece Cookware Set. The quality begins with innovative, PFOA-, PTFE- and cadmium-free ceramic nonstick that provides superb food release, in a fresh white color that gives even basic cooking a bright, bold look. Ever-dependable Farberware aluminum construction heats fast and evenly, as perfect for a quick skillet breakfast as a delicious slow-cooked pot roast in the Dutch oven. Even better, the larger skillets feature a uniquely-textured quilted nonstick cooking surface to boost food release in the hard-working pans where that matters most. The colorful porcelain enamel exteriors are stain-resistant and easy to clean, and the cookware's sturdy handles sport distinctive stainless steel accents. Shatter-resistant glass lids hold in heat and moisture, while allowing busy home cooks to keep an eye on a one-dish chicken-and-rice dinner and a scrumptious chocolate sauce. The cookware set conveniently includes a set of sturdy Prestige nylon tools a slotted turner, a slotted spoon, and a solid spoon, each ideal for use with the ceramic nonstick interiors. Oven safe to 350 DegreeF, this Farberware cookware set includes a Farberware Lifetime Limited Warranty. Get the cooking performance generations trusted and a bold, modern boost of style and nonstick cooking performance, with the durable, dishwasher-safe Farberware pure Cook Ceramic Nonstick 12-Piece Cookware Set.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Attractive, easy-to-clean starter set\n\nReview: I have an old set of anodized aluminum pans that I replaced with this ceramic cookware. I've been using these for a couple of weeks and, so far, I really like the ceramic. I use the 8 1/2 inch skillet daily. It heats up quickly and I can use a lower heat setting--so I'm using less electricity to cook. I've tried out all but the Dutch oven as I've prepared pork chops, chicken, eggs, and different sauces. I have never had anything stick or stain so far. They clean up easily with a little soap and water. I've even put the small skillet in the dishwasher a few times.\n\nI might be seeing some very small chips in the rim of the 8 1/2 inch skillet from daily use, so I'm trying to be careful when I store the pans.\n\nThe aqua color is pretty and makes it look somewhat retro and modern at the same time. This set provides enough basic pans to be a great starter set for a single person, couple, or young family. There aren't enough saucepans for a larger family or for holiday cooking. It comes with a utensil set, but you'll need to supplement that as well with silicone or nylon tools.","Product: Loloi Enchant Collection Transitional Ivory/Espresso Area Rug 2' 3\" x 3' 9\"\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Soft area rug for a neutral decor\n\nReview: This area rug has 3 colors: a dark, chocolate brown flower with insets of light brown all contained on an ivory background. The dark flowers are large--between 12 and 15 inches in diameter. Therefore the number of flowers in the rug you receive will depend on the size of the rug. My 2-feet 3-inch by 3-feet 9-inch rug only has 2 full flowers on it (not the 5-6 on the photo).\n\nThis rug is soft and the fibers are about a 1/2-inch long. The backing is firm and it looks like it will hold up to light/normal wear. The rug was manufactured in Turkey.\n\nThough it's a floral, it's not frilly and would look nice in a modern or contemporary or eclectic space.","Product: Bissell Vacuum Filter, Series: 11601, Suitable For Use With: Hoover T-Series WindTunnel&reg; Upright Vacuum\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: My house smells like clean laundry\n\nReview: I own a fairly new Hoover Windtunnel T-Series vacuum cleaner that uses 2 filters. One filter is washable. The other filter, a HEPA filter, is not, and must be replaced every 3-6 months to keep the vacuum operating well.\n\nThis Febreze filter replaces only the HEPA filter and, from what I can tell, is nearly identical to the original filter. The only difference is that the Febreze filter lacks a thin membrane over the bottom of the filter which had captured a lot of dust and fuzz. And perhaps that is what differentiates this filter from a true HEPA filter. At any rate, this filter may not get the smallest particles (as a HEPA filter will), but it should trap almost everything else. (Note: nowhere on the box or filter does the acronym HEPA appear.)\n\nThe filter was simple to install. While the original filter slid in and out easily, this one needed a sharp tap from the heel of my hand to click into place. However, this was no different from any other Hoover filter I've ever replaced, so it's not a defect in the product. Once inserted, the filter won't fall out.\n\nThe Febreze scent activated while I vacuumed (probably due to the small amount of heat generated as air moved through the filter). The scent was pleasant--like fresh laundry--and remains in the air, not the carpet.\n\nThis really freshened up the house as I vacuumed and it's definitely a product I would use again. It's a little more expensive than a plain filter, so I'll have to see over the next few months whether it's worth paying extra for the added scent.\n\nAccording to the box, this filter fits the following Hoover vacuum models:\nHoover T-Series Windtunnel\nWindtunnel Pet\nWindtunnel Rewind\nWindtunnel Rewind Plus\nWindtunnel Pet Rewind\nWind Tunnel Purely Clean\nUH70100, UH70105, UH70107, UH70110, UH70120, UH70130, UH70200, UH70205, UH70210, UH70211, UH70215","Product: These shears feature a jar opener, a flathead screwdriver, and a bottle opener. Soft nonslip grip on handles provide a secure and comfortable grip while cutting. A plastic blade sheath provides safety to both you and the shears when it is not in use. Shears are not dishwasher safe. Hand-wash with warm water and a mild detergent; rinse and dry immediately.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Great scissors - but you don't need these other tools.\n\nReview: These are great scissors, but they really don't need to be combined with the other tools. The handle has a nice weight and I feel like they have a firm, no-slip grip. The blades are sharp enough to cut thicker surfaces like cardboard and flower stems. They always feel like a little overkill for thinner papers like coupons - but they work fine and have become the go-to scissors in the kitchen.\n\nI appreciate the plastic blade cover, but have stopped using it because it's a pain to keep removing and replacing.\n\nI started to use the jar opener feature, but quickly stopped. I don't like to have the blades open when opening a stubborn jar. It didn't seem like a safe use, given how sharp the blades are. The screwdriver and bottle opener on the handle is also a little annoying when I'm trying to cut.","Product: The Macally Aircase is a lightweight Neoprene travel sleeve for MacBook Pro, MacBook Air and other laptops up to 15 inches.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Great for daily use\n\nReview: I need a small case for my Macbook Pro 13 and this does the job. I usually want to carry my charger and a small notebook with the computer and these fit in the case also. I use a small pouch to hold the charger and also a usb cable since there are no pockets inside the case. I like this case for the handles since my previous sleeve did not have any. The case zips shut easily and seems fairly durable. The padding is unique and lightweight. As other reviewers noted the package labeling states that is is for 15\" laptops but it is certainly a good size for what I need with the 13 inch unit. I use it daily now and will keep my larger briefcase / luggage for travel.","Product: Keep It SafeGet back to basics with these classic bi-fold folios. The sturdy exterior and soft inner lining protect your new 3rd generation iPad from damage, while the slim design enables you to slip it in and out of any bag without adding bulk. Strap Closure When you're not using your iPad, the secure strap closure keeps the cover closed and your screen protected.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Nothing special, but not too bad\n\nReview: I'm not unhappy with this iPad cover. It does basically what I need it to do--provide a cushioned cover for my iPad which our family uses for reading, games, and personal (not business) use. This cover holds the iPad securely and I like the elastic strap closure to keep the cover shut.\n\nBut it doesn't fit the product description:\n\nFun youthful style? No, it's just basic black with a gray interior\nInteresting lining colors? Just plain old gray. It's going to stain--and already has a stain from being touched by a dirty hand\nAuto wake magnets? Nope, but I don't really need those anyway.\n\nYes, the cover does attract lint and crumbs. But I do like that the cover doesn't feel slippery. It only stands up in the horizontal orientation. It looks just fine with my white iPad and I can access all the controls and ports. It's not a bad cover at all, but watch the price; you might find something you like better for less.","Product: The BRV-1 gives action sports and outdoor enthusiasts 12 hours of music they can bring into the backcountry, rock faces, skate parks, virgin powder downhills, rafting rapids, or even the beach- With its IPX5 certified water resistant, ability to float, shock absorbent, ultra-lightweight and compact design, the palm-sized speaker is set to rock. USB to Micro-USB cable - Works with International Adapter to charge your speaker-- 24 in- 3-5 mm- to connect your speaker to any device you can use headphones with-- Attach this lanyard to the built in loop on the speaker-- IPX5 water resistance- Wirelessly stream music over Bluetooth- Take calls hands free through a built-in mic- Charge mobile devices from a built-in power bank- Control tracks and volume right from the speaker\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Good sound and pretty rugged\n\nReview: This is my second Braven wireless speaker and I'm pleased with the sound that I get from this. We've listened to rock, classical, and jazz music as well as podcasts and TV shows on our iPad. It's lightweight and pretty rugged even when dropped a short distance (table to ground). It's lightweight and very portable: great for poolside, beach, boating, and camping. I'm thrilled to have an outdoor speaker that I don't have to baby. This speaker is small enough to toss into a large purse or bag and you don't have to worry about it getting damaged in transit.\n\nIt was easy to pair up with both our Apple and Android devices. Even after using it off and on for a week, we're still on the initial full battery charge. I like to listen to podcasts as I work and like to have a speaker that I can move from area to area. It starts to lose contact after about 20 feet, but fades slowly. If it loses connection with my iPad, the program pauses until I can move closer, so I don't miss any of my shows.","Product: The Dell Canvas Top load is a smart choice for students and professionals wanting a reliable bag with a fashionable look.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Attractive and functional with plenty of pockets\n\nReview: When I opened the package the thing that struck me first was how professional this bag looks with its dark navy (almost black) canvas and deep brown accents. The brushed pewter zippers are sturdy and the pulls won't snap off. This bag looks and feels very durable.\n\nThe interior is dark gray and each compartment is padded. I can easily fit a 15\" laptop in one compartment, a 10\" tablet in another, plus a 1\" binder--or thick book--, my cellphone, all my charging cables (zipped away inside) and still have room for more. There's even a strap/clip where I can secure my car/house keys (although that part's plastic). Even with all my stuff in there--the bag still holds its shape.\n\nSome bag owners prefer velcro closures over magnets, so it's good to know that this bag's flap is secured with 2 sewn-in magnets--which are padded with some of the leather trim. A 3rd small magnet keeps the exterior, unzippered pocket from flapping open.\n\nThe shoulder strap is black canvas--quite soft--with a padded shoulder rest.\n\nThe only drawback to this dark, canvas bag is that it has already picked up some white cat hairs and a bit of lint. Easily brushed off, if need be.\n\nAn excellent bag for someone looking for something casual that still looks polished and professional.","Product: Cut the cord and set your music free with Bose SoundLink on-ear wireless headphones. The sound is powerful and clear, you can switch easily between music and calls with intuitive controls, and play for hours with a long-lasting rechargeable battery. They're 40% lighter than comparable headphones for a comfortable fit. So it's easier than ever for you to unplug and unwind. Enjoy detailed and balanced sound that raises the bar for Bluetooth headphones. Bose TriPort technology works with Active EQ to deliver music as dynamic as their best wired headphones. You'll hear the deepest lows to the clearest highs, without a wire in sight. With up to 15 hours of play time, you can listen to your favorite music, watch a movie, check out videos and still have plenty of power left. Get a full charge in just 1.5 hours by plugging the included USB cable into any mobile device with a powered port or wall charger. If the battery runs down, a quick 15-minute charge gives you another 2 hours. The adjustable headband rests gently on your head, and earcups rotate for a personalized fit. Soft cushions cradle your ears, and all materials are lightweight and built to last. The earcups fold up to store in the compact carrying case. And there's an extra cable, so you can plug in and listen if the battery runs out. If you get a call while you're listening to music or watching a video, just touch a button on the right earcup and you're instantly connected. Touch again to play, pause, skip and make calls. Roam up to 30 feet while connected to your smartphone and tablet at the same time. Voice prompts tell you battery life, connection status and who's calling. Your phone conversations are clear with SoundLink on-ear headphones-even if you're on a noisy or windy city street. Dual microphones reduce background noise to make sure your voice is heard. And you'll hear your caller's voice clearly, because Bose technologies automatically adjust your headphones' volume as the noise around you changes.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Quality sound and comfortable fit\n\nReview: EASE of USE\nThese were easy to pair up to different devices, right out of the box. I needed to consult the instructions, which were simple and easy to follow. My husband found that he could intuitively use these based on experience with other bluetooth devices. We've linked them to 4 devices: an older, 2nd generation iTouch (for listening to music and podcasts), to an iPad (for movies and games), a Macbook, and a Samsung (Android) phone. The headphones can store 8 devices in memory.\n\nWhen powered on, the headphones automatically connect to the first two devices in memory and you can scroll through paired devices to change which one you're linked to.\n\nSOUND QUALITY\nThe sound quality is good. I can't compare it to wired headphones, but I'm able to hear bass and treble in balance and can hear notes and dynamic levels that I can't detect through stereo speakers or earbuds.\n\nCOMFORT\nThese have been great for listening to podcasts as I walk around the house. They're snug enough that I can listen while I do housework and not worry that they'll fall off. They're not noise cancelling--so I can hear my family in the background (if they need to get my attention)--but they do reduce the amount of outside noise. I even have them on at the same time that I'm wearing my glasses--with no discomfort.\n\nPORTABILITY\nThey fold up into a zippered carrying case that's well padded and small enough to slip into a large purse, bag, or briefcase.\n\nRANGE\nThe product information says 30 feet, but I've walked outside to get the newspaper off the driveway with these on (60 feet) without totally losing the signal.\n\nBATTERY LIFE\nAfter 3 days, we're still on the initial charge: 2 hours of movies, 3 hours of podcasts, some assorted music listening, and a test with an incoming call. It comes with a USB cable to, but since it accepts a mini USB charger, I just used one I already had plugged in for my phone.","Product: The OREI Mini Boom II Bluetooth Wireless Portable Speaker provides a convenient source of audio listening of just about anywhere you wish to locate it. It can connect wirelessly to your smartphone, laptop or other Bluetooth compatible device and produce high-quality sound as it streams your music or game audio. The high bass technology produces powerful deep notes. Its compact shape allows it to easily be placed on a desk or a shelf. It can be operated with either AC or battery power.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Lightweight speaker for desktop or small space\n\nReview: This speaker was easy to set up with both our Apple devices (iPad, and older iTouch) and our Android phones. The only drawback we found is that it only remembers one device, so we had to reconnect each time we switched devices. Minor inconvenience. It is lightweight (12 oz) and small (4 1/2 \" long and 2 3/4\" wide) so it fits just about anywhere: desktop, bedside, small shelf. I even hooked it up to my old iTouch with the included cable and took it outside so I could have music while I worked.\n\nThe sound quality is good. It's not as rich and deep as our larger Breven and G-Go portable speakers, but the sound is clear and it handles the highs and lows well enough to listen to both music and podcasts.\n\nThe only drawback is that the controls don't give you any tactile or visual feedback when you press them, so it was hard to tell if I was pressing hard enough to activate them. I ended up just using the controls on my device where I could tell that I was advancing a track or increasing volume without having to stop and listen. I know the \"no buttons\" control panel is listed as a feature, but I like buttons to press or at least an indentation.\n\nThere's also no automatic shutdown feature, so you will have to remember to turn it off. However, it just uses a standard USB cable for recharging so it's easy to charge.\n\nIt's an attractive, compact speaker that delivers good sound and it simple to set up.","Product: Tablet\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Beautiful display; great tablet\n\nReview: We've been Mac users (iPad) and Chromebook users and this is our first Windows based computer in quite some time. We typically use our tablet for surfing, reading, playing different apps, and watching video; the Chromebook for schoolwork, email, and surfing. We tried out some of our typical tasks on the Galaxy TabPro to see how they compared.\n\nSize and weight\nStraight out of the box, this is beautiful: thin and lightweight. Easy to hold up while using the camera for stills or video.\n\nDisplay\nThe AMOLED display is gorgeous for watching video and quickly became the device of choice for anything requiring video or camera. Crisp colors, easy on the eyes -- video playback is smooth and the screen display is good for reading online as well. The auto adjust setting can get annoying, but that's easy to disable in the settings menu. The camera took some beautiful pictures indoors and outside in sunlight.\n\nKeyboard\nThere's no space between the keys and the keys are slightly larger than the ones on my Chromebook keyboard. The keyboards are roughly the same size, but somehow the TabPro is just a little harder to use for extended typing. So, if I need to do a lot of typing, I'll reach for the laptop. However, the Galaxy TabPro keyboard is useful and just takes some adjusting to. My husband's fingers are larger than mine and he found the keyboard OK. It does make this tablet more useful for productivity than the iPad.\n\nTouchscreen\nResponsive with a light touch. It swaps easily between tablet and keyboard mode. The only thing this iPad user had to get used to was calling up the keyboard when it was in tablet mode--where my iPad automatically displays a keyboard when needed.\n\nBattery\nI had the kids try to run the battery down (apps, surfing, video) and it did last around 8-9 hours of off and on use. So we're happy with the battery life.\n\nDownside\nThe charging cable is not very long\nIt doesn't have an SD card slot for more storage\nNot quite as comfortable to use in your lap as a laptop when you are using the keyboard. The tablet snaps into the keyboard and stays there while in use, but it feels a bit like it's going to come detached. This'll take some getting used to.","Product: Get big streaming power in a pocket-sized, easy-to-use stick. The 2016 Roku Streaming Stick delivers fast performance with a quad-core processor and dual-band wireless. Device works with all top movie and TV streaming services, including Amazon Instant Video, VUDU, Google Play, Netflix, Hulu, HBO, and 3,000 more channels. Access 300,000+ movies and TV episodes plus music, sports, games, international content, and kids' programming. Unbiased search across top channels shows you where content is free or cheapest to watch. And because Roku Streaming Stick is portable, you can stream to different HDTVs in your home, dorm, or hotel room. The Roku Streaming Stick delivers fast performance with a quad-core processor and dual-band wireless. Simple. Access your own subscriptions like Amazon Instant Video, VUDU, Google Play, Netflix, or Hulu. Rent or buy on-demand, and enjoy hundreds of free channels. Save time and money with search results that show you where movies and TV shows are free or cheapest to watch. Totally portable, and streams to different HDTVs in your home, dorm, or hotel room. Private listening via mobile. Use your smartphone or tablet and the Roku mobile app for iOS and Android to enjoy private listening anytime via your Bluetooth or plug-in headphones. Mobile control transforms your iOS or Android mobile device into a Roku remote, search with voice or text, and send photos, video or music, to your TV from your phone or tablet.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Easy to set up simple to use\n\nReview: This Roku Streaming Stick replaces our 1st generation Roku box and we are thrilled with the results and the speed of setup. We have it plugged into the HDMI port of our television and it receives power through our television's USB port. My husband had the stick installed in our television in under 5 minutes and I added our channels.\n\nI like this Roku's interface for adding channels. I'm not a technology power-user. I need clear directions and don't have time for guesswork. This was pretty effortless, just select a channel and follow the onscreen instructions. You need to have a tablet or computer handy for getting the codes that you need to enter for activating channels, but the directions are pretty easy to follow. We already had Amazon Video and a few free channels that carried over from our old Roku system. We've since added PBS and some others that looked interesting. Deleting channels took a little figuring out, but was also pretty simple.\n\nThe remote is small (easy to lose so look out) but the response time between TV and remote is pretty quick. The \"rewind\" and pause functions get a workout from my kids and the remote keeps up with their needs when they \"want to see it again!\" or \"stop it there!\". We haven't experienced any lag or buffering with our signal which makes for a pleasant viewing experience.\n\nAt one point during setup we were asked for a credit card number, we declined to enter it but I can't remember how. We were still able to finish the setup and have experienced no problems.\n\nAbsolutely thrilled with this generation of Roku.","Product: This Rain Poncho from Raines by totes provides maximum coverage when you need it most. The lightweight EVA fabric makes is easy to slip on and side snaps keep it securely in place. A pull over hood protects your head from unwanted rain drops. Each poncho comes with its own mesh carry case. One size fits most.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Pullover poncho ideal for amusement parks and outdoor theaters\n\nReview: My (7 and 9 year old) boys are about 55\" tall and these ponchos come past their knees. They were ideal for keeping them dry while watching an outdoor play and then kept mud off their clothes while they were helping Dad with a rainy day chore. The boys are also able to fold the ponchos back up and put them back in the bags. (They don't look factory perfect after this--but I can't fold that well either.)\n\nI like the fact that they're quick and easy to get out of the bag and put on. They're lightweight and I can keep them in a backpack or tote bag.\n\nThey're not as durable as a rain jacket, but we'll definitely get more than a few uses out of them if we're careful. And I don't have to worry that they'll outgrow them soon. I definitely recommend these over the disposable kind sold at drugstores or amusement parks.","Product: Relax and enjoy your trip, this new lightweight packing cube 2 piece set, helps you keep your clothes and accessories organized while traveling. This is truly an effective, lightweight, and durable way to organize your clothes during travel. These ultra-light packing cubes help separate and compress your shirts, pants, socks, underwear, ties, belts, and the rest of your travel accessories, into separate easy identifiable packing compartments. Also works great for organizing those smallest items, like cords, batteries, chargers, etc. Three sides unzip, allowing for full access to your packing space\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Keeps delicates, t-shirts, pajamas handy for travel\n\nReview: The \"open suitcase\" picture with the product information leads you to believe that these are larger than they are. I'll admit, I was a bit underwhelmed when I first got these out of the package. They're small and look flimsy.\n\nBut, they do hold a lot of items. And they are handy for travel.\n\nWhen full, the larger bag is about 14\" x 11\"x 3\". I can easily fit about 6-8 women's med/large t-shirts inside if I fold them carefully. The smaller bag is about 11\" x 8\" x 3\" and comfortably holds a dozen pairs of underwear and a couple of bras. On trips where we live out of our suitcase it'll be helpful to have items separate.\n\nThey're great for packing items that go together for an overnight stay. Keep pajamas, light robe, and slippers separate from other clothing in a duffel or carryon. They'll be ideal for packing my children's clothing separate from mine when we share a suitcase on short trips.\n\nThey'll also be useful for storage for off-season or holiday clothing or fabric items that can be folded and put away.\n\nThe product information says they're \"water-resistant\" and that might be true. However, the sizable mesh panel on the front of each case will let moisture in so don't count on these to be waterproof. I wouldn't use these for toiletries for the same reason. If something leaked inside the bag, it would also leak out of the bag.","Product: Ultra-soft tee fits closer to the body, but wicks moisture away from the skin to help keep you feeling drier.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Nice slim fit in an XL size\n\nReview: My husband likes the cut of the tee shirt. The length at the waist and the sleeves seem to fit well, neither short nor long. It is one of his shorter length shirts, but he likes that he can leave it hanging out as it stops just below his belt line. It has a large neck opening and soft stretchable stitching. He wears an XL and says that the \"slim fit\" seems to hang nicely; doesn't bag out like some tees do. So it fits well.\n\nHe said that the fabric does not feel as soft to the touch as his other tee shirts. But when he wears it he says it's comfortable, like broken in tee shirt would feel. It is lightweight but thick enough to wear as a shirt alone. He likes the gray color, because he can wear it as an undershirt for warmth or just as a tee shirt alone on warm days.\n\nIt washed well in cold water and kept its shape.","Product: A bigger brother to the Burton kettle pack, this 24 liter two-pocket, back-to-school pack upgrades capacity for the honor student who simply needs more space. An internal padded laptop sleeve keeps expensive electronics protected from books, binders, and gym clothes, while tough external materials prevent blowouts during after school activities. The zippered organizer pocket with a secure key clip offers an easy spot to store pens, pencils, protractors, and other tools of scholarly pursuits.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Big-mouthed bag for travel or school\n\nReview: We got this backpack to carry books and electronics on vacation. This fall it will be my son's backpack for middle school. For vacation, we packed this bag full: iPad in the padded section (which will hold a tablet or small laptop), 4 books, 6 DVDs and 2 game devices in the generous central compartment, cables in the front zipped pockets. Empty, it's not very heavy and my son was able to carry it easily when fully loaded.\n\nI like the rugged construction of this backpack. The base is well padded and heavily stitched and looks like it will hold up to travel back and forth from school. (I know it'll get dragged, shoved, and kicked around--normal use for my guys.) The inside of each compartment is a tan color which will make it easier to find items that have dropped down to the bottom. There are 2 pockets on the outside to store pens, pencils and supplies and a zippered pocket on the inside.\n\nI also like how the main compartment unzips almost to the bottom, which makes it easy to load and unload. I didn't have to root around for smaller items on our trip.\n\nThe cross body strap is a little annoying, since none of us is used to one. It made it a bit harder to put on and off quickly. Other than that, we're happy with this backpack.","Product: The O2 Cool ArctiCloth keeps you cool for hours in the heat of summer. Perfect for sporting events, working out, yard work and any other hot outdoor activities, this absorbent towel wicks the sweat away from your body to make your skin feel cooler and drier. Stores in a convenient carry bottle and it can be machine washed for years of use.Dimensions: 11.75\"x30.5\".Weight: 1.3 lbs..\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Keeps me cool while doing yardwork\n\nReview: It's already 80 degrees in the morning during the Florida summer, so it's hard to get yardwork done even in the \"cool of the day\". I thought I'd give my 02Cool towel a try while doing some yardwork and my husband has used it while mowing the lawn.\n\nIf you soak it in cold water and wring it out, it will keep the back of your neck comfortably cool for an hour. I wouldn't say I came in refreshed after an hour in the heat, but I definitely felt less overheated than usual. It's also long enough that it stayed around my neck and didn't fall off while I worked.\n\nYou do need to care for your O2Cool towel. Follow the initial washing instructions. Keep it in a baggie when not in use so that it doesn't dry stiff. Wash it again if it becomes smelly.\n\nNeither one of us experienced any of the skin problems or discomfort that other reviewers noted.","Product: Multi-Taskers assemble! this spill-proof AUTOSEAL Cortland water bottle is engineered for an easy one-hand drinking experience.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Designed to not leak or spill\n\nReview: This Contigo water bottle is attractive, slim, easy to hold, and is designed to never leak or spill when inverted. It's slender enough to fit into most car cupholders--although it is pretty tall (just over 10\"). Unless your hands are very small, you should be able to grip it well with one hand and depress the autoseal button to release the liquid.\n\nThe bottle's lid has several design features that keep it from leaking. A plastic knob plugs the drinking hole and the seal is tight enough to stop liquid from escaping. When you press the autoseal button, the knob retracts and you drink from the spout. Slide a locking mechanism on the lid, and the autoseal button stays locked shut. If the lid is on correctly, no water will leak out even under pressure.\n\nSo it's ideal for a gym bag or backpack.\n\nThe lid is easy to clean. There's a release mechanism inside the lid that allows you to fully open the spout so that you can hand wash it. Contigo says you can put it in the top rack of the dishwasher as well.\n\nSlender enough--and easy to use--so that even an older child could use it as a sport bottle or water bottle for school.","Product: Designed using two super durable, impact-resistant materials, the Surround Case does just that-surrounds your Samsung Galaxy S III in solid protection, enhancing its overall look without covering it up.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Just surrounds the rim of the phone\n\nReview: I like the size of my Galaxy III phone so I did not want a case that was too bulky. The Belkin case is designed to surround the rim of the phone. It has two layers which feel nice in my hand. The inner layer is soft and it also wraps over the front edge of the phone just a little so when I lay the phone face down it holds the screen up, off the surface. The cover wraps further around the back side of the phone and protects the phone when It is laying face up. I have not tested dropping the phone but the case feels like it would protect the phone from most impacts and certainly from any edge hits. Because it creates a lip around the phone, it makes the phone a little easier to pull out of my pocket. The power and volume buttons are covered by the inner layer and they are easy to use while they are protected at the same time. This little case has a lot of nice features.","Product: Take Protection & Style to the Max. This revved up Samsung Galaxy S III Grip case features raised edges that absorb shock and defend your screen against scratches. Interior AirShock Pockets evenly disperse the force of impact. The Grip Max is extra-protective, yet still sleek enough to slip easily into your pocket or bag without adding bulk.Airshock Pockets act as a protective interior for your Samsung Galaxy S III. These micro air pockets in the inner lining of the case are engineered to cushion your device from drops while keeping the case as thin as possible. Designed with an innovative TPU material that absorbs shock better than TPE or silicone. The raised edges reinforce the areas of your phone most prone to damage, while protecting the body of your case from dings and scratches.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Nice grip; protects, but doesn't cover the screen\n\nReview: I switched to this case after using a \"bumper\" like case/protector. This case cradles the phone in a firm cushion, with a slick plastic edging and back. The cushion comes up and grips just over the metal edge of the Samsung leaving the face free and clear. This case does make it easier to grip the phone and feels more secure than just the bumper. It thoroughly protects all sides except the face, and the lip seems to keep the face off of flat surfaces. I also like the way this case covers and seals the buttons on the sides while keeping them easy to press. The phone in this case is substantially thicker than the phone alone due to the cushion and seems to give the illusion of adding weight to the phone (but doesn't make the phone heavy). The back of the case is surrounded with a raised bit of the softer material which gives your fingers something to grab and also stops the phone from sliding on a slick surface. I got this case in black and it gives my white phone a nice look.","Product: Quartet EnduraGlide Dry-Erase Markers deliver strong bold color every time, to ensure that your message is distinct and legible. Clearly display your writing with our patented 3-chamber, liquid ink system. Plus, our see-through ink gauge shows exactly how much ink remains for your use. Simply look at the barrel to determine when its time to change your marker. Quickly move from one project to the next with these easy to erase markers. Dont fuss with caked on ink. The smooth ink easily wipes away, leaving a streak-free, clean surface. Create thin lines with the fine point tip. The precise lines are perfect for clear, distinct handwriting and detailed drawings. Pack contains 4 assorted markers, including Black, Red, Green and Blue, a foam whiteboard eraser, and a dry-erase cleaner. Keep your room clean and odor-free. The non-toxic, low odor ink is perfect for any environment, such as classrooms, offices and homes.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Low/No odor markers ideal for small whiteboards\n\nReview: I work with a number of small groups of students and a few of the markers I use (Expos and some knock-off brands) have such a strong odor that some of my students complain. I took these Quartet markers in last week and there were no complaints. They're not good for writing on the large, classroom whiteboards, if you need your writing to be visible at a distance. However, they've been perfect for my 1st graders to use on our smaller boards.\n\n* The smaller size marker is closer to pencil size, so students can practice their grip.\n* The shape of the cap keeps it from rolling off the table (if the cap is not secured to the end of the marker)\n* There's almost no odor when you're using them. (They're not odorless, but you have to hold the marker up to your face to detect an odor)\n* I use Quartet markers at home they they don't dry out as quickly as others if the cap is left off\n\nThe eraser---is just an eraser--and the whiteboard cleaner is pretty useful. But the real gem here is the marker set. I'd call the rest of the combo pack optional.\n\nI also used these on a glass display frame at home and the black, blue, and red worked pretty well. The green is a little faint.","Product: Storage bins can be used for a multitude of things from classroom, office, or crafting supplies to holding hanging files, toting groceries and more.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Not just for teachers; lightweight and holds a lot of stuff\n\nReview: I don't have a classroom, but travel around the school. This bin is not sturdy enough for me to tote around comfortably unless it's full, but is the perfect place to keep my files and supplies in a shared office. The bin is 10 1/2 by 12 inches and deep enough to hold several hanging files or binders. The bright blue color really stands out. I wish it came in more primary colors (red and yellow instead of teal and green).\n\nWhen you're not using the bin, it collapses flat and doesn't take up much space. These would be great for temporary storage, short term projects, or to use in the car for keeping items contained. It's labeled a \"teacher storage bin\", but it's not just for teachers.\n\nI like it so well, I might have to buy a couple more.","Product: Always ready - not heat. No odor. No waiting Xyron ezlaminator offers easy to use lamination technology for workplace lamination projects. This portable cold laminator is always ready because it requires no electricity, batteries or warm up time. The cold laminate is photo safe, allowing you to work without the worries of heat or toxic fumes. Ezlaminator requires no pouches or pockets. The easy drop-in cartridges allow for quick changes between projects and the high quality laminate is guaranteed not to peel. To laminate, simply slip your documents into the entry tray, crank the handle and trim with the on-board trimmer. For added flexibility the ezlaminator offers 3 refill cartridge options: 9 inch two-sided laminate 9 inch laminate/magnet 5 inch two-sided laminate\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Quick setup to use anywhere\n\nReview: I've been wanting a small laminator ever since I used a colleague's at school. Her laminator is a hot laminator and uses pouches: great results, but you have to plug it in and warm it up. This cold laminator does just as good a job on my small projects, but there's no wait time and I use less film.\n\nBefore I ever had access to a laminator, I used to cover items with clear contact paper. That's essentially what this product does, except it covers both sides at once and there are fewer wrinkles and air bubbles. (I put 32 small paper rectangles though and only had one come out with wrinkles.) This will also laminate items that are heat sensitive with no damage. Because the film is bonded to the paper, I can cut my items a lot closer to the edge than I can with a hot laminator that relies on the bond between film and film to stay sealed.\n\nI love that this is ready to use in seconds: just pull out the handle and check that the film is ready to go. I can also let my children use this, something I'd never do with a hot laminator.\n\nIt comes with a roll of film and is ready to go right out of the box. New cartridges of film also seem reasonable and you can order a cartridge that will put a magnetic backing on your items. This is great for all my small classroom projects.","Product: Helpful Little Teacher Stool by ECR4Kids is the perfect addition to any classroom for story or circle time. The square hardwood stool features two convenient shelves and a cubby below that allows teachers to store books and supplies within reach. It also includes four casters for easy mobility about the classroom. Two side pockets and a hook-and-loop pouch complement the comfortable 2-inch thick cushion in an attractive neutral canvas. The ECR4Kids Helpful Little Teacher Stool has achieved GREENGUARD [GOLD] Certification for meeting or exceeding standards for low emissions into indoor air during product usage and it is CPSIA-compliant for safety. With a concentration on the Pre K-12 sector, ECR4Kids offers a wide range of products including classroom tables and chairs, preschool rest time solutions, hardwood storage cases, blocks and manipulative, mobile organizers and a variety of indoor and outdoor play structures.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Solid piece of classroom furniture\n\nReview: This is useful for Circle Time if you're short on space or want some alternate seating. There's enough room to put picture books in the larger storage \"bin\" and stow a thin/small props (or papers or pointers) in the side pouches.. The two smaller shelves are a little shallow, but they're fine for holding props or small items that won't roll out. The padded seat cushion is actually pretty firm and comfortable. I'm just under 5 1/2 feet tall and about average weight and I find that I can sit on this with good posture and my legs and back are at comfortable angles.\n\nI did assemble this by hand, as was recommended, and it took me about an hour to do it by myself. I think it would have been just fine to use tools at the lowest power setting. That could cut your assembly time to 15 minutes. You do want to pay careful attention to the drawing to see how the peg holes should be lined up before you start screwing the whole thing together. I had no issues, but a mistake early on, means undoing a lot of assembly later.\n\nThe casters roll smoothly and this feels solid and well constructed. The wood is thick and shouldn't warp or bend under normal, indoor use. My husband even sat on it (he's nearly 6 ft) and it felt sturdy to him too.","Product: Throw out your scoop and save time with our Van Ness sifting pan. This smartly designed unit features two nesting pans and a sifting screen. Stack the pans with the sifting screen on top and fill with clumping litter. When you lift the sifting screen the litter sifts out into the pan, leaving the clumps that you throw away. Replace the sifting screen in the empty pan, move the litter from the full to the empty pan, restack, and your are finished. Made of durable, easy to clean plastic.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Makes a dirty job easier\n\nReview: We bought our first sifting litter box with this design many years ago and always loved the ease of using the sifter, rather than scooping. Clumps could be a problem, but the ease of sifting outweighed the occasional tough wet clump. (Besides the whole thing should be cleaned periodically anyway)\n\nAfter adopting 2 more cats, we needed more litter boxes. I tried one of this model and found that the design had been greatly improved. The size and distance between the slots was modified, allowing for more sifting and fewer clumps. The plastic used for the sifter and trays is slightly more flexible and easier to handle. Sometimes I have to bang the sifter against the inside of our garbage can to dislodge all the clumps, but it generally comes clean quickly.\n\nEven our neighbor, who takes care of our cats from time to time, remarked on the ease of cleaning these litter boxes.\n\nI like this model so much that I purchased a 2nd one. The entry says \"assorted colors\". Both of mine are purple. My cats don't care.","Product: The scratch scroll sisal wave multi-surface cat scratcher is a perfect balance of fashion and function. cats go head-over-heels for the variety of scratching surfaces and angles. snap-in feather toy adds to the fun. you will love the scratch scroll both for its sculptural good looks and for its effectiveness as a furniture saving scratch alternative. available in assorted color.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Miss the old sisal wave design\n\nReview: We have an older wave style scratcher that our cats adore. The sisal arched over the top so that they could get up on top of it with their front paws and really scratch away. I'm not a big fan of this newer design with the sisal area reduced to just the front of the wave. My adult cats are too big to fully use the smaller rectangle. But they enjoy scratching the carpeted part, so it's satisfactory.\n\nThey also like to lay in the bottom of the wave as you can see from the picture. They haven't found the attached feathered toy too exciting, but I like the way Smarty Kat has attached the feather so it doesn't fall off like the older ones did.\n\nI took away one star from the review because of the change in the sisal wave. It's not the 5-star product that it used to be.","Product: Premium fast and firm clumping natural cat litter in soft, ground pellets. Long lasting odor control and unsurpassed absorption with the added benefits of being naturally lightweight, biodegradable, and flushable.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Pleasant smell but won't work in sifter box\n\nReview: I think this litter smells great out of the box. It's lightweight and easy to clean up with a scoop. It has lasted well over 2 weeks and still looks good with regular box cleanings. I wish I could use it in the sifter box--like I do with the clumping clay litter--but the pieces are too big. Still it is a nice product, although much more expensive than the clumping litter I usually buy.\n\nMy cats have not completely taken to it. They won't use it by itself (choosing the 100% clay boxes first), but did finally use it when I mixed it with clay (as per the Okocat litter instructions). I'm sure I could eventually wean them off clay and onto this.\n\nIt's a nice alternative to clay and, fresh out of the box, smells great. However, the price (nearly $36 at the time of this review) is a little steep for my budget.","Product: Prevue pet products kitty power paws sphere with tassel 7130 provides a dedicated place for scratching and stretching, alleviating destructive behavior to household objects. Sphere shape provides additional opportunities for jumping and pouncing while the feather tipped tassel engages your cat in play. Watch as your cat stretches and tones while keeping nails groomed and paws strong. Handsomely finished base lends a furniture feel to complement the durable jute wrapping and integrates with any room dcor. Our kitty power paws sphere ships already assembled and will last for years to come. Sturdy circular base is 11 3/4\" in diameter, sphere measures 11\" in diameter with a total height of 13\".\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: More suitable for a smaller cat\n\nReview: This scratch-able sphere is a great idea in theory. It has plenty of jute wrapped around it and can be scratched while sitting, standing, or laying on your back (for those lazy cats). My cats play with the feathery tassel and that's their favorite part. It's also quite attractive, compared to most cat furniture. If I had company coming over, I'd hide my other cat furniture and just keep this out.\n\nThat said, cat owners know that, with cat toys, you never know how the cats will like it until you get it home. My cats tried the sphere out a few times. Since they're big cats (14 and 16 lbs) they push it away when they press against it. I think that's why they have limited interest in this toy right now. The sphere is attached to the base with a large bolt and I've had to tighten it a few times, otherwise the sphere wobbles on the base. That wobbling also discourages my big cats from scratching.\n\nI love the idea of this toy and hope my cats take to it. It looks like Prevue has other attractive cat products for the home. This one would be better for kittens and smaller cats.","Product: The Minka group is home to the art of decorative lighting and fans. Modern aesthetics define contemporary design and style. No name has been more synonymous with that than George Kovacs. Contemporary lighting design has been influenced for the past sixty years by George Kovacs and his peers. Our next sixty will be influenced by the same, coupled with a minka 'mystique'.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Love the lamp--but it's not \"bronze\"\n\nReview: This lamp has proven a good solution to the problem of one spouse wanting to read while the other one sleeps. Bedside lamps were OK, but we like the fact that these lights can be aimed at the book (iTouch, phone, etc). The dimmer feature is also handy when you need a little bit of light--but don't want to turn on a bright light and wake up your partner. Yes--they do get hot. Very hot. So be careful when you touch them.\n\nThe only problem we encountered was disappointment upon opening the box. This lamp set is not \"bronze\"--as described, but black--as pictured on this page. The only other option was nickel, which won't work with our decor. Not a big problem, but enough to dock one star for the mismatch.","Product: Grab your Bash Ball and get ready to slam it! This flexible sports ball has 3 handy holes so you can grip it and whip it in dodgeball, volleyball or other games. Go for the dunk if you're playing basketball, or drop-kick it in a soccer game! Play all your favorite sports at another level with your Bash Ball! Nerf and all related characters are trademarks of Hasbro.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Mostly for throwing and catching\n\nReview: My 7 and 9-year-old boys put this Nerf Sports Bash Ball through a multi-sport test and found that it's best for throwing and catching games. It's not bouncy enough to use as a basketball. It can't be kicked far enough to be as fun as a soccer ball. It wasn't bad as a volley ball. The holes make it fairly easy to throw and catch and we're thinking it might be fun to take to the beach or play with in the pool. It's one of those toys where you make up your own \"bash ball\" sort of game.\n\nIt is pretty dense foam, so it can hit pretty hard. But it is slightly soft and can get scuffs and nicks.\n\nThis has not replaced the basketball, football, or soccer ball that the boys play with, but is a fun toy.","Product: Not just for recon operations, the all-new UNSC Flame Warthog by Mega Bloks Halo tackles multiple missions. The M12 Force Application Vehicle is the UNSC's primary ground vehicle, commonly used for its scouting and reconnaissance capacity. With an actual working suspension and 360 rotating turret, the highly mobile all-wheel drive \"Hog\" with all-new flame paintjob is clearly ready for battle! Features two new super-articulated micro action figures with customizable armor, includes 2 Spartan GUNGNIR. Ideal for ages 8 and up!.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Kids like the micro action figures\n\nReview: <div id=\"video-block-R2MY6GCT1QWQ9A\" class=\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\"></div><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/B1Kci80axYS.mp4\" class=\"video-url\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/91TNrrS6ZkS.png\" class=\"video-slate-img-url\"> My kids put this model together in about an hour. Some of the pieces were difficult for the 7-year-old to put together (and challenging for Dad as well). My 10-year-old Legomaniac was able to fix some of the pieces and it finally went together just fine.\n\nThe pieces are compatible with Lego, the main difference we noticed is that the details are printed on the blocks. We usually have to apply stickers to Lego kits for detailing (which can be challenging for little hands).\n\nThe direction format is interesting and I showed the manner in which MegaBlocks adds pieces in my video. It's easy to tell where the pieces go.\n\nThis vehicle is fun to play with and the best part--according to my kids--is the inclusion of articulated micro action figures that bend and move differently than the Lego minifigs.\n\nOverall we were very pleased with this kit and it should stay assembled for playtime. After the trouble we had snapping some of the pieces together, I doubt it will come apart easily!\n\nMy boys reviewed it as \"4 stars\". The only reason they didn't give it 5 was because of some of the difficulties with assembly. Older children will have less trouble.","Product: Build your own K'NEXosaurus Rex with classic K'NEX pieces! Includes 200+ pieces and a battery powered motor! Build the model, switch it on and watch it stomp to life! Ages 7+. 2 AA batteries required but not included.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Sturdy pieces that build 2 motorized models\n\nReview: <div id=\"video-block-R2AO3FVO7W6279\" class=\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\"></div><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/A14i8PiqagS.mp4\" class=\"video-url\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/A1UOFXrK5SS.png\" class=\"video-slate-img-url\"> The K'Nexosaurus Rex Building Set allows you to build two different motorized models: the K'Nexosaurus and the Megasaurus. The video show K'nexosaurus in action.\n\nTHE BUILD\nWe built K'Nexosaurus first and it easily took a 30-45 minutes to construct. The instructions are pictorial but fairly clear to follow if you pay close attention to the orientation of the pieces. I like that the pieces are the sturdy, thicker K'Nex pieces (some sets have thinner pieces that always feel like they're going to break when you have to force them together).\n\nThe box says ages 7+. Unless your 7-year-old is mechanically inclined, that's a little young for building alone. My 7-year-old watched. My (almost) 10-year-old was able to assemble this with little help. It's not just the ability to read plans that make this a challenge for younger builders. Snapping some of the pieces together takes strong hands and good fine motor coordination.\n\nOnce built, a young child can operate the controls. Just don't leave a 3-and-under child alone with it because some of the pieces are small enough to be a choking hazard.\n\nTHE MODELS\nK'nexosaurus Rex is 24\" long, 6\" wide and 6\" tall. He has a long tail and neck that swivels when he walks. The motor controller can be toggled to move him forward and backward. The neck and tail moved more when he was going backward and he is more fun to watch than the Megasaurus.\n\nMegasaurus uses a similar building technique on the tail, so don't take K'nexosaurus's tail apart if you build one right after the other! He stands 15\" long and 10\" tall, with a shorter tail.\n\nThe directions and photo for Megasaurus differ on the tail, so you may make some modifications to the spines to make it fit together. We added eyes to the head (which swivels nicely as he moves)\n\nBoth models walk on either a hard surface, like tile, or carpet.\n\nTHE VERDICT\nMy boys gave this 5 stars and I did too. For us, the fun is in the build. It doesn't do anything other than walk forward and backward, so it won't have too much play value. It is interesting to see how the pieces interact with the motor to create movement. These motorized K'nex sets are good for learning some basic engineering (hinges, gears, cams) and we're hoping that, as the kids get older, they'll start to create their own unique motorized builds.","Product: LOO072 Mad Libs The Game Party Game Looney LabsSince its creation in 1958, Mad Libs has become the worlds most popular word game, with over 125 million Mad Libs in print. And now, Looney Labs has turned it into Mad Libs: The Game; a party game that captures all the unexpected silliness of classic Mad Libs.Every player is dealt Word Cards, which each feature a key word used as different parts of speech. Players use the Word Cards, along with the Sentence Card in play, to make the most appropriately inappropriate sentences possible! All players vote and the silliest sentence wins the round. The first player to win three rounds wins the game!With Mad Libs: The Game, the fun is ADJECTIVE and ADJECTIVE, and everyone will quickly be VERB-ing their NOUNs off!Players: 3 to 8Playing time: 10 to 20 minutesAges: 13 and up\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Amusing and easy to play\n\nReview: The fun of Mad Libs is that you don't know how the words you supply are going to fill out the story. The suspense and surprise element just adds to the laughter. My family loves classic pen and paper Mad Libs.\n\nThe board game concept is interesting: each player gets a set of cards that have a root word and a list of words that can be made from that word (with the corresponding part of speech). For instance, \"agree\" includes agreeably, agreeable, and agreement. Players use these cards to fill out a sentence card and then they vote on who came up with the best result. So it's actually a whole different game.\n\nMy kids thought it was great. Sometimes the results were disappointing and nobody got a good sentence. (Which does happen in the classic game.) Then someone came up with Don't \"cuddle\" a \"sweaty\" \"clown\" out of his card stack and we were hooked.\n\nThis won't replace the pen and paper game, but it is quick to play and everyone gets to fill in words. So there's the competition to be clever. There aren't many sentence cards--but it would be easy to make more since the game creators used common proverbs as inspiration.\n\nI'd recommend this for older kids, teens, and adults. You don't need to know parts of speech--like you do with classic Mad Libs--so the grammatically challenged can play too. There are even a few blank cards so you can add your own words.\n\nNote to parents and teachers: The root \"stupid\" is included (a word which some families don't like to use). And if you really work at it you can come up with a double entendre. But it seems to be pretty G-rated family fun.","Product: ALEX Toys Artist Studio Giant Go Go Gear Art puts a new spin on the classic gear drawing sets. Templates come with new designs you can use to enhance your spiral creation. Spaceships, stars, hearts and more can now be incorporated into your artwork. Use Scra-fitti sheets--black paper you scratch off to reveal colorto make pieces that will amaze everyone, even yourself. The kit includes 4 templates, 16 gears, 8 markers, stylus, 16 paper sheets, 10 Scra-fitti sheets, 5 sticker sheets and easy instructions Recommended for children 6 years of age and older.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Requires patience and a steady hand\n\nReview: This set has enough pieces to get you started creating spiral art. The box says ages 6 and up, but this requires some patience (and a steady hand), so you have to know your child. But the payoff includes some really cool designs and hands-on experience with the beauty of spiral patterns.\n\nI like the way the gears slide under a lip in the template, which helps them stay on track. My 10 and 12-year olds were able to use this with just a few minutes practice. Some of the gears and templates are simple to use in combination; others require some practice to get the pressure just right.\n\nThe set comes with markers, which are fine enough to make gorgeous patterns, but you can also use your own pencils or fine tip markers. The instructions state that a paper holder is included, but the set did not come with one.\n\nI was less impressed with the Scra-ffiti paper and stylus. It takes more effort to scratch off the black coating and I found the sound and sensation annoying. We'll use the Scra-ffiti paper for other crafts, so no loss there.","Product: A series of children's books written by Dav Pilkey (best known for his Captain Underpants books). In each book, Ricky Ricotta, a mouse, with the help of his mighty robot, saves the world from an evil villain.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Colorful reboot of the original series\n\nReview: My kids give 5 stars to this colorful reboot of the original Ricky Ricotta series. Ricky is lonely, picked on by bullies, until one day he frees a city-destroying robot from his evil master. The mighty robot becomes Ricky's friend and defeats a monster lizard. The theme is friendship and the book ends with the series' tagline: \"...that's what friends are for.\"\n\nThe text is the same as the original, but Martin Ontiveros' black and white line drawings have been replaced by colorful comics by Dan Santat. Each page is fully illustrated with text on a colorful background. Part of the story is told through text; the other part through comic book paneled pages. Santat kept the \"Flip-o-Rama\" section, but it's concentrated in the back during the big battle scene between the robot and lizard.\n\nThis has a paperback binding and the pages are actually sturdier than the hardcover (or paperback) originals, so the Flip-o-Rama pages should last longer.\n\nThis is a fun, high interest story for confident readers in grade 1 and 2 (Lexile Level around 470; Fountas & Pinnell level J)"],"string":"[\n \"Product: This Eb Alto Saxophone is a great choice of instrument for anyone looking to learn an appreciation for music. Perfect for kids starting in fourth grade band or adults looking to impress with some Cannonball Adderley Jazz Sax solos. This Alto Saxophone is a great low cost instrument to get you started on a fun and empowering musical experience. Fully RoHS and Pro65 compliant means our instrument will not kill you or make you sick. This instrument has been tested by professional musicians and repair technicians to be a solid build with great tone and intonation. We understand the importance of having a quality instrument that will not bust our ever tightening budgets. We also understand the frustration that comes with playing an instrument that is not functioning properly. When your instrument is working against you it is hard to learn or have fun. Learning to play music should be a fun and enriching experience that helps you grow mentally and spiritually.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Good value student saxophone and case\\n\\nReview: We needed a student saxophone for our elementary aged son to use. We're pleased that this saxophone comes with all he needs to get started in beginning band: an attractive instrument with a mouthpiece and reed, a neck strap, a cleaning rod, and a pretty decent case. The case comes with clip-on straps that enable him to carry it on his back like a backpack or by the handle like a suitcase.\\n\\nMechanically, the saxophone works well. My son has been able to play a couple of simple songs (Hot Cross Buns, Mary Had a Little Lamb) which was exciting for him. From our experience with other instruments we know that getting a decent sound is important to keep a beginner motivated. It will also save our ears while he practices.\\n\\nAs parents who don't want to sink too much money into a beginning instrument, we found this saxophone to be a great value for our young musician.\",\n \"Product: Swiffer 360 Heavy Duty Dusters TRAP + LOCK up to 3x more* dust & allergens.** 360 degrees of specially coated fibers grab onto dust & don't let go. They are uniquely designed to Trap + Lock dust from every direction. *vs. feather duster, **common inanimate allergens from cat and dog dander & dust mite matter\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Grabs most of the dust\\n\\nReview: I used this on a particularly dusty job: fan blades and bookshelves that hadn't been dusted in months. When I used it on the fan blades, I found that this duster picked up most of the dust and held it. It didn't collect everything: I had to go back over the blades again with a wipe. However, it did shorten up the job.\\n\\nI like these dusters for bookcases. They'll compress and fit in and around books and knick-knacks so that I can dust quickly. I'm prolonging the life of this by taking it outside to shake off the dust.\\n\\nI like this better than a feather duster, which just moves dust around. I don't like it as well as a wipe, which is more thorough. But this is a great timesaver for touch ups and for getting into tight spaces. I have another Swiffer duster product, but I like the 360 dusters since they'll clean items like blinds that get dusty on top and underneath.\",\n \"Product: The Scotts Outdoor Cleaner Plus OxiCleaner Ready-To-Use 32 oz bottle is the perfect size for spot treating outdoor areas. The Fast Foaming Action lifts dirt and wipes out stains caused by moss, mold, mildew, and algae.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Mild cleaner. Needs a lot of elbow grease for results\\n\\nReview: I didn't get the dramatic results that some of the promo pictures show. Still this was a fairly good cleaner and none of my plants or grass have showed any ill effects. 3 star rating doesn't mean I didn't like it. I was just expecting more. Here are some of the things I've cleaned.\\n\\nTrim around outside windows\\nThe windows, trim, and sills in one corner were filthy. I cleaned the coated-metal trim around the windows and the cleaner took off all the dirt. Excellent.\\n\\nSwings\\nCleaned bird poop off of the kids plastic swings. The foaming action of the OxiClean also lifted off some dirt and grime. Drips onto the grass did not harm the grass. Nice.\\n\\nFaux Wood Bench\\nThis bench isn't even a composite wood, but some sort of coated aluminum. The cleaner lifted off bird poop, grime and some of the oxidized coloring. Didn't hurt the bench--any cleaner takes off some of the color.\\n\\nGarden statue and flower pots\\nWe have a small garden statue (cast concrete?) that has accumulated a lot of algae. Cleaner really foamed up on the statue and I scrubbed it with a brush. Much of the algae came off, but it took several applications and a great deal of scrubbing. Likewise the algae on the terracotta flowerpots. Almost all algae came off, but I had to scrub a long time.\\n\\nIn short, this is not a miracle cleaner. You're going to have to do a lot of work scrubbing and rising to get rid of built up algae, dirt, mildew, etc. However, it has been safe around our plants and grass and doesn't smell too strong.\",\n \"Product: Featuring Hoover WindTunnel technology, this sleek, lightweight, and affordably-priced vacuum is loaded with intuitive on-board features and tools to help you rewind to a clean home!\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Stood up to some heavy testing this past week\\n\\nReview: I didn't anticipate being this hard on my new Hoover WindTunnel so soon, but I've used it pretty heavily this past week to restore some wall-to-wall carpet in the rooms adjacent to my kitchen. It picked up more cat hair than my previous vacuum (an earlier model WindTunnel) leaving my carpet clean and ready for an unexpected test: a leak that flooded part of our house. After extracting water from the carpet with a carpet shampooer, I used the WindTunnel to vacuum up the baking soda and borax that I'd put down to absorb odors and stop mildew.\\n\\nThe WindTunnel recovered most of the substances I'd applied to my carpet, leaving fresh carpet behind. NOTE: The Hoover was NOT used to pick up water; use on DRY carpet only!\\n\\nPrior to our household accident I tested the switch that stops the brush from moving. This makes it easy to go from carpet to hard flooring (tile, slate, wood) without worrying about the brush damaging anything. The \\\"stop brush\\\" pedal also allows me to stop the brush's rotation while I use the various attachments. Nice feature.\\n\\nThe bagless canister is easy to detach and empty and is wide enough to allow me to remove various miniscule Lego pieces that make it past the brush.\\n\\nThis has been a terrific vacuum for our 3 cat, 2 little boy household. The only reason I'm giving it 4 stars is that I wish the hose for the attachments was a little longer. If I had to buy another vacuum tomorrow...I'd get this same model.\",\n \"Product: TTI Floorcare Dirt Devil Express V6 Cordless Bagless Handheld Vacuum. Sleek design, cordless technology this vacuum is great for quick spills, crumbs, and countertop messes. Bagless technology and Quick Flip crevice tool make it easy to pick up and dispose of dirt. Express V6 is lightweight for everyday chores and home projects. RED.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Adequate for small jobs\\n\\nReview: I had given up on handheld vacs until I had an opportunity to test this one. Overall I found that it does what I need it to do and it's nice to not have to pull out the vacuum just to tackle a small mess. It's not as powerful as my full size vacuum, but I don't expect it to be. What it's good for is tackling the small everyday jobs that are typical of a household with small children and pets.\\n\\nMisc. kid messes: This handheld vac picks up crumbs, shredded paper bits, dirt, bits of mulch, and unidentified little piles of \\\"stuff\\\" with ease. My kids like using it--so I can have them clean up. Good for daily quick touch-ups.\\n\\nThe car: Big jobs require a trip to the gas station vac (and $1 in quarters). But, I was able to clean the seats, under the seats, some crevices, and pick up little discarded bits of trash and school projects pretty easily. The crevice tool was particularly useful here.\\n\\nCats: We keep some cardboard scratching pads around to discourage scratching the furniture. This vac quickly cleans up the cardboard bits that come loose. I haven't tried vacuuming up cat litter, but since it picks up large kid crumbs (and small rocks that get tracked in) I think it would handle litter.\\n\\nIt took 24 hours to charge this vacuum the first time and the full charge didn't last long (15 minutes?). I like that it doesn't require a wall unit recharger (like my previous one did) so it was easy to plug in out of the way until I needed it again.\\n\\nI also like the vibrant red color. It doesn't look like a small appliance. It looks like a large LEGO accessory.\",\n \"Product: With its curling vines and flowers, the rich harvest tones of the fleur des indes collection are exotic and sophisticated. combining eastern motifs with classic french styling, these table linens, runners and are ideal for formal or festive events.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Tones of olive and rose\\n\\nReview: These are lovely, cotton tea towels with an impressionistic design of small flowers and palm fronds. The picture (on my monitor) looks brighter than my towels appear, particularly the wide olive green strip around the border and the larger leaves. The real color is more green than yellow and more muted. In my opinion, they're prettier in person.\\n\\nI've used them as a drying towel for wet dishes (very absorbent) and to rest hot dishes on the table (no chance a dish will slide off, unlike some of my trivets).\\n\\nUseful towel, lovely design, washes well and has a fabric strip on the back of one corner, which allows you to hang the towel to dry (if you have the space). They look nice in my green, white, and light brown kitchen. Rich shades of olive green and rose would work well with a neutral-based tropical decor, some French country decor, or a traditional kitchen decor.\",\n \"Product: Super Soft sheets with super soft comfort, luxury and style a cut above the rest. Beautiful super soft sheet sets that feel great, look great and launder like a dream. 1800 Super Soft sheet sets made from super soft brushed polyester micro fiber have the comfort, feel, luxury and softness of 1800 Series Egyptian Cotton. Twin, Full, Queen and King size sheet sets with deep pockets that fit today's extra thick mattresses. Twin comes with 1 fitted sheet, 1 flat sheet and 1 pillowcase. The Full, Queen, King, California King includes 1 fitted sheet, 1 flat sheet and 2 pillowcases. WARRANTY DETAILS: WARRANTY ONLY COVERS ITEMS SOLD BY MY SWEET HOME. IF MERCHANDISE IS DEFECTIVE WITHIN THE WARRANTY PERIOD, PLEASE CONTACT MY SWEET HOME.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Soft, inexpensive, microfiber sheets\\n\\nReview: Note that these are not Egyptian Cotton, nor are they top of the line quality sheets. But also notice the price. They are meant to give owners a soft, luxury feel for a reasonable price. These are very soft, inexpensive microfiber sheets that are quite comfortable if you like a soft sheet, which I do. They are easy to launder (cold wash and a short tumble dry on low setting) and came out of the dryer promptly, so no wrinkles. Since they're made from microfiber yarn, they should hold their color for a long time.\\n\\nThe pockets are deep and, because of the elastic, will fit comfortably on all but the thickest mattresses. I found the Queen top sheet to be generous in size so it stays tucked in.\\n\\nI have the gray sheets and, on my Mac, the sheet color is fairly close to what I see on my computer. The piping on the pillowcase is a nice touch. I own other microfiber sheets and these feel more like our Egyptian cotton sheets than they do. So far, I'm very happy with these sheets.\",\n \"Product: Add a double dose of refreshing color to the stovetop with the Farberware New Traditions Speckled Aluminum Nonstick Twin Pack Skillet Set. New Traditions pairs the time-tested trust and reliability of Farberware with colorful, updated style that's ideal for busy homes and family kitchens. These high-performance aluminum skillets boast bright speckled porcelain enamel exteriors that add a warm, table-ready touch. Durable and distinctive white nonstick interiors offer lively contrast while delivering excellent food release and easy cleanup and comfortable rubberized handles match the pans' colors. Use the 9-1/4-inch skillet for making cheese omelets and the 11-1/2-inch skillet for cooking rosemary potatoes - or team them at dinnertime for cooking seasoned salmon burgers and sauting string beans. Oven safe to 350 Degree F, the skillets hang for convenient storage. Brighten the kitchen and whet appetites with the cheerful and convenient Farberware New Traditions Speckled Aluminum Nonstick Twin Pack Skillet Set.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Comfortable grip; attractive color\\n\\nReview: This is an attractive little skillet that's useful for cooking small side dishes or prepping ingredients. When I used it to saute some onions--to which I added some other ingredients and seasonings--I was happy that the deep sides kept all my ingredients in the skillet as I cooked. It's also been useful for cooking 1-2 eggs for a quick breakfast. I'll continue making omelets in a slightly larger pan.\\n\\nThe nonstick coating is new, so it works great: scrambled eggs slid right out of the skillet onto the plate. And it cleaned up easily.\\n\\nThe red color is not bright, but rather muted and rich. The speckled finish gives it a sort of country, old-timey look that's come back in style.\\n\\nI especially love the handle, which is comfortable to hold. The rubberized handle doesn't feel like rubber at all--just smooth yet easy to hang onto. There's a place to put your thumb for balance when you're lifting the skillet. It also has a reinforced hole in the handle so that you can hang this skillet from a hook.\\n\\nSeems to be well made and sturdy. Definitely a keeper.\",\n \"Product: Freshen up easy, everyday meal-making and worry less about cleanup, with the brilliant cooking performance of the colorful, durable and dishwasher-safe Farberware pure Cook Ceramic Nonstick 12-Piece Cookware Set. The quality begins with innovative, PFOA-, PTFE- and cadmium-free ceramic nonstick that provides superb food release, in a fresh white color that gives even basic cooking a bright, bold look. Ever-dependable Farberware aluminum construction heats fast and evenly, as perfect for a quick skillet breakfast as a delicious slow-cooked pot roast in the Dutch oven. Even better, the larger skillets feature a uniquely-textured quilted nonstick cooking surface to boost food release in the hard-working pans where that matters most. The colorful porcelain enamel exteriors are stain-resistant and easy to clean, and the cookware's sturdy handles sport distinctive stainless steel accents. Shatter-resistant glass lids hold in heat and moisture, while allowing busy home cooks to keep an eye on a one-dish chicken-and-rice dinner and a scrumptious chocolate sauce. The cookware set conveniently includes a set of sturdy Prestige nylon tools a slotted turner, a slotted spoon, and a solid spoon, each ideal for use with the ceramic nonstick interiors. Oven safe to 350 DegreeF, this Farberware cookware set includes a Farberware Lifetime Limited Warranty. Get the cooking performance generations trusted and a bold, modern boost of style and nonstick cooking performance, with the durable, dishwasher-safe Farberware pure Cook Ceramic Nonstick 12-Piece Cookware Set.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Attractive, easy-to-clean starter set\\n\\nReview: I have an old set of anodized aluminum pans that I replaced with this ceramic cookware. I've been using these for a couple of weeks and, so far, I really like the ceramic. I use the 8 1/2 inch skillet daily. It heats up quickly and I can use a lower heat setting--so I'm using less electricity to cook. I've tried out all but the Dutch oven as I've prepared pork chops, chicken, eggs, and different sauces. I have never had anything stick or stain so far. They clean up easily with a little soap and water. I've even put the small skillet in the dishwasher a few times.\\n\\nI might be seeing some very small chips in the rim of the 8 1/2 inch skillet from daily use, so I'm trying to be careful when I store the pans.\\n\\nThe aqua color is pretty and makes it look somewhat retro and modern at the same time. This set provides enough basic pans to be a great starter set for a single person, couple, or young family. There aren't enough saucepans for a larger family or for holiday cooking. It comes with a utensil set, but you'll need to supplement that as well with silicone or nylon tools.\",\n \"Product: Loloi Enchant Collection Transitional Ivory/Espresso Area Rug 2' 3\\\" x 3' 9\\\"\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Soft area rug for a neutral decor\\n\\nReview: This area rug has 3 colors: a dark, chocolate brown flower with insets of light brown all contained on an ivory background. The dark flowers are large--between 12 and 15 inches in diameter. Therefore the number of flowers in the rug you receive will depend on the size of the rug. My 2-feet 3-inch by 3-feet 9-inch rug only has 2 full flowers on it (not the 5-6 on the photo).\\n\\nThis rug is soft and the fibers are about a 1/2-inch long. The backing is firm and it looks like it will hold up to light/normal wear. The rug was manufactured in Turkey.\\n\\nThough it's a floral, it's not frilly and would look nice in a modern or contemporary or eclectic space.\",\n \"Product: Bissell Vacuum Filter, Series: 11601, Suitable For Use With: Hoover T-Series WindTunnel&reg; Upright Vacuum\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: My house smells like clean laundry\\n\\nReview: I own a fairly new Hoover Windtunnel T-Series vacuum cleaner that uses 2 filters. One filter is washable. The other filter, a HEPA filter, is not, and must be replaced every 3-6 months to keep the vacuum operating well.\\n\\nThis Febreze filter replaces only the HEPA filter and, from what I can tell, is nearly identical to the original filter. The only difference is that the Febreze filter lacks a thin membrane over the bottom of the filter which had captured a lot of dust and fuzz. And perhaps that is what differentiates this filter from a true HEPA filter. At any rate, this filter may not get the smallest particles (as a HEPA filter will), but it should trap almost everything else. (Note: nowhere on the box or filter does the acronym HEPA appear.)\\n\\nThe filter was simple to install. While the original filter slid in and out easily, this one needed a sharp tap from the heel of my hand to click into place. However, this was no different from any other Hoover filter I've ever replaced, so it's not a defect in the product. Once inserted, the filter won't fall out.\\n\\nThe Febreze scent activated while I vacuumed (probably due to the small amount of heat generated as air moved through the filter). The scent was pleasant--like fresh laundry--and remains in the air, not the carpet.\\n\\nThis really freshened up the house as I vacuumed and it's definitely a product I would use again. It's a little more expensive than a plain filter, so I'll have to see over the next few months whether it's worth paying extra for the added scent.\\n\\nAccording to the box, this filter fits the following Hoover vacuum models:\\nHoover T-Series Windtunnel\\nWindtunnel Pet\\nWindtunnel Rewind\\nWindtunnel Rewind Plus\\nWindtunnel Pet Rewind\\nWind Tunnel Purely Clean\\nUH70100, UH70105, UH70107, UH70110, UH70120, UH70130, UH70200, UH70205, UH70210, UH70211, UH70215\",\n \"Product: These shears feature a jar opener, a flathead screwdriver, and a bottle opener. Soft nonslip grip on handles provide a secure and comfortable grip while cutting. A plastic blade sheath provides safety to both you and the shears when it is not in use. Shears are not dishwasher safe. Hand-wash with warm water and a mild detergent; rinse and dry immediately.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Great scissors - but you don't need these other tools.\\n\\nReview: These are great scissors, but they really don't need to be combined with the other tools. The handle has a nice weight and I feel like they have a firm, no-slip grip. The blades are sharp enough to cut thicker surfaces like cardboard and flower stems. They always feel like a little overkill for thinner papers like coupons - but they work fine and have become the go-to scissors in the kitchen.\\n\\nI appreciate the plastic blade cover, but have stopped using it because it's a pain to keep removing and replacing.\\n\\nI started to use the jar opener feature, but quickly stopped. I don't like to have the blades open when opening a stubborn jar. It didn't seem like a safe use, given how sharp the blades are. The screwdriver and bottle opener on the handle is also a little annoying when I'm trying to cut.\",\n \"Product: The Macally Aircase is a lightweight Neoprene travel sleeve for MacBook Pro, MacBook Air and other laptops up to 15 inches.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Great for daily use\\n\\nReview: I need a small case for my Macbook Pro 13 and this does the job. I usually want to carry my charger and a small notebook with the computer and these fit in the case also. I use a small pouch to hold the charger and also a usb cable since there are no pockets inside the case. I like this case for the handles since my previous sleeve did not have any. The case zips shut easily and seems fairly durable. The padding is unique and lightweight. As other reviewers noted the package labeling states that is is for 15\\\" laptops but it is certainly a good size for what I need with the 13 inch unit. I use it daily now and will keep my larger briefcase / luggage for travel.\",\n \"Product: Keep It SafeGet back to basics with these classic bi-fold folios. The sturdy exterior and soft inner lining protect your new 3rd generation iPad from damage, while the slim design enables you to slip it in and out of any bag without adding bulk. Strap Closure When you're not using your iPad, the secure strap closure keeps the cover closed and your screen protected.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Nothing special, but not too bad\\n\\nReview: I'm not unhappy with this iPad cover. It does basically what I need it to do--provide a cushioned cover for my iPad which our family uses for reading, games, and personal (not business) use. This cover holds the iPad securely and I like the elastic strap closure to keep the cover shut.\\n\\nBut it doesn't fit the product description:\\n\\nFun youthful style? No, it's just basic black with a gray interior\\nInteresting lining colors? Just plain old gray. It's going to stain--and already has a stain from being touched by a dirty hand\\nAuto wake magnets? Nope, but I don't really need those anyway.\\n\\nYes, the cover does attract lint and crumbs. But I do like that the cover doesn't feel slippery. It only stands up in the horizontal orientation. It looks just fine with my white iPad and I can access all the controls and ports. It's not a bad cover at all, but watch the price; you might find something you like better for less.\",\n \"Product: The BRV-1 gives action sports and outdoor enthusiasts 12 hours of music they can bring into the backcountry, rock faces, skate parks, virgin powder downhills, rafting rapids, or even the beach- With its IPX5 certified water resistant, ability to float, shock absorbent, ultra-lightweight and compact design, the palm-sized speaker is set to rock. USB to Micro-USB cable - Works with International Adapter to charge your speaker-- 24 in- 3-5 mm- to connect your speaker to any device you can use headphones with-- Attach this lanyard to the built in loop on the speaker-- IPX5 water resistance- Wirelessly stream music over Bluetooth- Take calls hands free through a built-in mic- Charge mobile devices from a built-in power bank- Control tracks and volume right from the speaker\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Good sound and pretty rugged\\n\\nReview: This is my second Braven wireless speaker and I'm pleased with the sound that I get from this. We've listened to rock, classical, and jazz music as well as podcasts and TV shows on our iPad. It's lightweight and pretty rugged even when dropped a short distance (table to ground). It's lightweight and very portable: great for poolside, beach, boating, and camping. I'm thrilled to have an outdoor speaker that I don't have to baby. This speaker is small enough to toss into a large purse or bag and you don't have to worry about it getting damaged in transit.\\n\\nIt was easy to pair up with both our Apple and Android devices. Even after using it off and on for a week, we're still on the initial full battery charge. I like to listen to podcasts as I work and like to have a speaker that I can move from area to area. It starts to lose contact after about 20 feet, but fades slowly. If it loses connection with my iPad, the program pauses until I can move closer, so I don't miss any of my shows.\",\n \"Product: The Dell Canvas Top load is a smart choice for students and professionals wanting a reliable bag with a fashionable look.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Attractive and functional with plenty of pockets\\n\\nReview: When I opened the package the thing that struck me first was how professional this bag looks with its dark navy (almost black) canvas and deep brown accents. The brushed pewter zippers are sturdy and the pulls won't snap off. This bag looks and feels very durable.\\n\\nThe interior is dark gray and each compartment is padded. I can easily fit a 15\\\" laptop in one compartment, a 10\\\" tablet in another, plus a 1\\\" binder--or thick book--, my cellphone, all my charging cables (zipped away inside) and still have room for more. There's even a strap/clip where I can secure my car/house keys (although that part's plastic). Even with all my stuff in there--the bag still holds its shape.\\n\\nSome bag owners prefer velcro closures over magnets, so it's good to know that this bag's flap is secured with 2 sewn-in magnets--which are padded with some of the leather trim. A 3rd small magnet keeps the exterior, unzippered pocket from flapping open.\\n\\nThe shoulder strap is black canvas--quite soft--with a padded shoulder rest.\\n\\nThe only drawback to this dark, canvas bag is that it has already picked up some white cat hairs and a bit of lint. Easily brushed off, if need be.\\n\\nAn excellent bag for someone looking for something casual that still looks polished and professional.\",\n \"Product: Cut the cord and set your music free with Bose SoundLink on-ear wireless headphones. The sound is powerful and clear, you can switch easily between music and calls with intuitive controls, and play for hours with a long-lasting rechargeable battery. They're 40% lighter than comparable headphones for a comfortable fit. So it's easier than ever for you to unplug and unwind. Enjoy detailed and balanced sound that raises the bar for Bluetooth headphones. Bose TriPort technology works with Active EQ to deliver music as dynamic as their best wired headphones. You'll hear the deepest lows to the clearest highs, without a wire in sight. With up to 15 hours of play time, you can listen to your favorite music, watch a movie, check out videos and still have plenty of power left. Get a full charge in just 1.5 hours by plugging the included USB cable into any mobile device with a powered port or wall charger. If the battery runs down, a quick 15-minute charge gives you another 2 hours. The adjustable headband rests gently on your head, and earcups rotate for a personalized fit. Soft cushions cradle your ears, and all materials are lightweight and built to last. The earcups fold up to store in the compact carrying case. And there's an extra cable, so you can plug in and listen if the battery runs out. If you get a call while you're listening to music or watching a video, just touch a button on the right earcup and you're instantly connected. Touch again to play, pause, skip and make calls. Roam up to 30 feet while connected to your smartphone and tablet at the same time. Voice prompts tell you battery life, connection status and who's calling. Your phone conversations are clear with SoundLink on-ear headphones-even if you're on a noisy or windy city street. Dual microphones reduce background noise to make sure your voice is heard. And you'll hear your caller's voice clearly, because Bose technologies automatically adjust your headphones' volume as the noise around you changes.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Quality sound and comfortable fit\\n\\nReview: EASE of USE\\nThese were easy to pair up to different devices, right out of the box. I needed to consult the instructions, which were simple and easy to follow. My husband found that he could intuitively use these based on experience with other bluetooth devices. We've linked them to 4 devices: an older, 2nd generation iTouch (for listening to music and podcasts), to an iPad (for movies and games), a Macbook, and a Samsung (Android) phone. The headphones can store 8 devices in memory.\\n\\nWhen powered on, the headphones automatically connect to the first two devices in memory and you can scroll through paired devices to change which one you're linked to.\\n\\nSOUND QUALITY\\nThe sound quality is good. I can't compare it to wired headphones, but I'm able to hear bass and treble in balance and can hear notes and dynamic levels that I can't detect through stereo speakers or earbuds.\\n\\nCOMFORT\\nThese have been great for listening to podcasts as I walk around the house. They're snug enough that I can listen while I do housework and not worry that they'll fall off. They're not noise cancelling--so I can hear my family in the background (if they need to get my attention)--but they do reduce the amount of outside noise. I even have them on at the same time that I'm wearing my glasses--with no discomfort.\\n\\nPORTABILITY\\nThey fold up into a zippered carrying case that's well padded and small enough to slip into a large purse, bag, or briefcase.\\n\\nRANGE\\nThe product information says 30 feet, but I've walked outside to get the newspaper off the driveway with these on (60 feet) without totally losing the signal.\\n\\nBATTERY LIFE\\nAfter 3 days, we're still on the initial charge: 2 hours of movies, 3 hours of podcasts, some assorted music listening, and a test with an incoming call. It comes with a USB cable to, but since it accepts a mini USB charger, I just used one I already had plugged in for my phone.\",\n \"Product: The OREI Mini Boom II Bluetooth Wireless Portable Speaker provides a convenient source of audio listening of just about anywhere you wish to locate it. It can connect wirelessly to your smartphone, laptop or other Bluetooth compatible device and produce high-quality sound as it streams your music or game audio. The high bass technology produces powerful deep notes. Its compact shape allows it to easily be placed on a desk or a shelf. It can be operated with either AC or battery power.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Lightweight speaker for desktop or small space\\n\\nReview: This speaker was easy to set up with both our Apple devices (iPad, and older iTouch) and our Android phones. The only drawback we found is that it only remembers one device, so we had to reconnect each time we switched devices. Minor inconvenience. It is lightweight (12 oz) and small (4 1/2 \\\" long and 2 3/4\\\" wide) so it fits just about anywhere: desktop, bedside, small shelf. I even hooked it up to my old iTouch with the included cable and took it outside so I could have music while I worked.\\n\\nThe sound quality is good. It's not as rich and deep as our larger Breven and G-Go portable speakers, but the sound is clear and it handles the highs and lows well enough to listen to both music and podcasts.\\n\\nThe only drawback is that the controls don't give you any tactile or visual feedback when you press them, so it was hard to tell if I was pressing hard enough to activate them. I ended up just using the controls on my device where I could tell that I was advancing a track or increasing volume without having to stop and listen. I know the \\\"no buttons\\\" control panel is listed as a feature, but I like buttons to press or at least an indentation.\\n\\nThere's also no automatic shutdown feature, so you will have to remember to turn it off. However, it just uses a standard USB cable for recharging so it's easy to charge.\\n\\nIt's an attractive, compact speaker that delivers good sound and it simple to set up.\",\n \"Product: Tablet\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Beautiful display; great tablet\\n\\nReview: We've been Mac users (iPad) and Chromebook users and this is our first Windows based computer in quite some time. We typically use our tablet for surfing, reading, playing different apps, and watching video; the Chromebook for schoolwork, email, and surfing. We tried out some of our typical tasks on the Galaxy TabPro to see how they compared.\\n\\nSize and weight\\nStraight out of the box, this is beautiful: thin and lightweight. Easy to hold up while using the camera for stills or video.\\n\\nDisplay\\nThe AMOLED display is gorgeous for watching video and quickly became the device of choice for anything requiring video or camera. Crisp colors, easy on the eyes -- video playback is smooth and the screen display is good for reading online as well. The auto adjust setting can get annoying, but that's easy to disable in the settings menu. The camera took some beautiful pictures indoors and outside in sunlight.\\n\\nKeyboard\\nThere's no space between the keys and the keys are slightly larger than the ones on my Chromebook keyboard. The keyboards are roughly the same size, but somehow the TabPro is just a little harder to use for extended typing. So, if I need to do a lot of typing, I'll reach for the laptop. However, the Galaxy TabPro keyboard is useful and just takes some adjusting to. My husband's fingers are larger than mine and he found the keyboard OK. It does make this tablet more useful for productivity than the iPad.\\n\\nTouchscreen\\nResponsive with a light touch. It swaps easily between tablet and keyboard mode. The only thing this iPad user had to get used to was calling up the keyboard when it was in tablet mode--where my iPad automatically displays a keyboard when needed.\\n\\nBattery\\nI had the kids try to run the battery down (apps, surfing, video) and it did last around 8-9 hours of off and on use. So we're happy with the battery life.\\n\\nDownside\\nThe charging cable is not very long\\nIt doesn't have an SD card slot for more storage\\nNot quite as comfortable to use in your lap as a laptop when you are using the keyboard. The tablet snaps into the keyboard and stays there while in use, but it feels a bit like it's going to come detached. This'll take some getting used to.\",\n \"Product: Get big streaming power in a pocket-sized, easy-to-use stick. The 2016 Roku Streaming Stick delivers fast performance with a quad-core processor and dual-band wireless. Device works with all top movie and TV streaming services, including Amazon Instant Video, VUDU, Google Play, Netflix, Hulu, HBO, and 3,000 more channels. Access 300,000+ movies and TV episodes plus music, sports, games, international content, and kids' programming. Unbiased search across top channels shows you where content is free or cheapest to watch. And because Roku Streaming Stick is portable, you can stream to different HDTVs in your home, dorm, or hotel room. The Roku Streaming Stick delivers fast performance with a quad-core processor and dual-band wireless. Simple. Access your own subscriptions like Amazon Instant Video, VUDU, Google Play, Netflix, or Hulu. Rent or buy on-demand, and enjoy hundreds of free channels. Save time and money with search results that show you where movies and TV shows are free or cheapest to watch. Totally portable, and streams to different HDTVs in your home, dorm, or hotel room. Private listening via mobile. Use your smartphone or tablet and the Roku mobile app for iOS and Android to enjoy private listening anytime via your Bluetooth or plug-in headphones. Mobile control transforms your iOS or Android mobile device into a Roku remote, search with voice or text, and send photos, video or music, to your TV from your phone or tablet.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Easy to set up simple to use\\n\\nReview: This Roku Streaming Stick replaces our 1st generation Roku box and we are thrilled with the results and the speed of setup. We have it plugged into the HDMI port of our television and it receives power through our television's USB port. My husband had the stick installed in our television in under 5 minutes and I added our channels.\\n\\nI like this Roku's interface for adding channels. I'm not a technology power-user. I need clear directions and don't have time for guesswork. This was pretty effortless, just select a channel and follow the onscreen instructions. You need to have a tablet or computer handy for getting the codes that you need to enter for activating channels, but the directions are pretty easy to follow. We already had Amazon Video and a few free channels that carried over from our old Roku system. We've since added PBS and some others that looked interesting. Deleting channels took a little figuring out, but was also pretty simple.\\n\\nThe remote is small (easy to lose so look out) but the response time between TV and remote is pretty quick. The \\\"rewind\\\" and pause functions get a workout from my kids and the remote keeps up with their needs when they \\\"want to see it again!\\\" or \\\"stop it there!\\\". We haven't experienced any lag or buffering with our signal which makes for a pleasant viewing experience.\\n\\nAt one point during setup we were asked for a credit card number, we declined to enter it but I can't remember how. We were still able to finish the setup and have experienced no problems.\\n\\nAbsolutely thrilled with this generation of Roku.\",\n \"Product: This Rain Poncho from Raines by totes provides maximum coverage when you need it most. The lightweight EVA fabric makes is easy to slip on and side snaps keep it securely in place. A pull over hood protects your head from unwanted rain drops. Each poncho comes with its own mesh carry case. One size fits most.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Pullover poncho ideal for amusement parks and outdoor theaters\\n\\nReview: My (7 and 9 year old) boys are about 55\\\" tall and these ponchos come past their knees. They were ideal for keeping them dry while watching an outdoor play and then kept mud off their clothes while they were helping Dad with a rainy day chore. The boys are also able to fold the ponchos back up and put them back in the bags. (They don't look factory perfect after this--but I can't fold that well either.)\\n\\nI like the fact that they're quick and easy to get out of the bag and put on. They're lightweight and I can keep them in a backpack or tote bag.\\n\\nThey're not as durable as a rain jacket, but we'll definitely get more than a few uses out of them if we're careful. And I don't have to worry that they'll outgrow them soon. I definitely recommend these over the disposable kind sold at drugstores or amusement parks.\",\n \"Product: Relax and enjoy your trip, this new lightweight packing cube 2 piece set, helps you keep your clothes and accessories organized while traveling. This is truly an effective, lightweight, and durable way to organize your clothes during travel. These ultra-light packing cubes help separate and compress your shirts, pants, socks, underwear, ties, belts, and the rest of your travel accessories, into separate easy identifiable packing compartments. Also works great for organizing those smallest items, like cords, batteries, chargers, etc. Three sides unzip, allowing for full access to your packing space\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Keeps delicates, t-shirts, pajamas handy for travel\\n\\nReview: The \\\"open suitcase\\\" picture with the product information leads you to believe that these are larger than they are. I'll admit, I was a bit underwhelmed when I first got these out of the package. They're small and look flimsy.\\n\\nBut, they do hold a lot of items. And they are handy for travel.\\n\\nWhen full, the larger bag is about 14\\\" x 11\\\"x 3\\\". I can easily fit about 6-8 women's med/large t-shirts inside if I fold them carefully. The smaller bag is about 11\\\" x 8\\\" x 3\\\" and comfortably holds a dozen pairs of underwear and a couple of bras. On trips where we live out of our suitcase it'll be helpful to have items separate.\\n\\nThey're great for packing items that go together for an overnight stay. Keep pajamas, light robe, and slippers separate from other clothing in a duffel or carryon. They'll be ideal for packing my children's clothing separate from mine when we share a suitcase on short trips.\\n\\nThey'll also be useful for storage for off-season or holiday clothing or fabric items that can be folded and put away.\\n\\nThe product information says they're \\\"water-resistant\\\" and that might be true. However, the sizable mesh panel on the front of each case will let moisture in so don't count on these to be waterproof. I wouldn't use these for toiletries for the same reason. If something leaked inside the bag, it would also leak out of the bag.\",\n \"Product: Ultra-soft tee fits closer to the body, but wicks moisture away from the skin to help keep you feeling drier.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Nice slim fit in an XL size\\n\\nReview: My husband likes the cut of the tee shirt. The length at the waist and the sleeves seem to fit well, neither short nor long. It is one of his shorter length shirts, but he likes that he can leave it hanging out as it stops just below his belt line. It has a large neck opening and soft stretchable stitching. He wears an XL and says that the \\\"slim fit\\\" seems to hang nicely; doesn't bag out like some tees do. So it fits well.\\n\\nHe said that the fabric does not feel as soft to the touch as his other tee shirts. But when he wears it he says it's comfortable, like broken in tee shirt would feel. It is lightweight but thick enough to wear as a shirt alone. He likes the gray color, because he can wear it as an undershirt for warmth or just as a tee shirt alone on warm days.\\n\\nIt washed well in cold water and kept its shape.\",\n \"Product: A bigger brother to the Burton kettle pack, this 24 liter two-pocket, back-to-school pack upgrades capacity for the honor student who simply needs more space. An internal padded laptop sleeve keeps expensive electronics protected from books, binders, and gym clothes, while tough external materials prevent blowouts during after school activities. The zippered organizer pocket with a secure key clip offers an easy spot to store pens, pencils, protractors, and other tools of scholarly pursuits.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Big-mouthed bag for travel or school\\n\\nReview: We got this backpack to carry books and electronics on vacation. This fall it will be my son's backpack for middle school. For vacation, we packed this bag full: iPad in the padded section (which will hold a tablet or small laptop), 4 books, 6 DVDs and 2 game devices in the generous central compartment, cables in the front zipped pockets. Empty, it's not very heavy and my son was able to carry it easily when fully loaded.\\n\\nI like the rugged construction of this backpack. The base is well padded and heavily stitched and looks like it will hold up to travel back and forth from school. (I know it'll get dragged, shoved, and kicked around--normal use for my guys.) The inside of each compartment is a tan color which will make it easier to find items that have dropped down to the bottom. There are 2 pockets on the outside to store pens, pencils and supplies and a zippered pocket on the inside.\\n\\nI also like how the main compartment unzips almost to the bottom, which makes it easy to load and unload. I didn't have to root around for smaller items on our trip.\\n\\nThe cross body strap is a little annoying, since none of us is used to one. It made it a bit harder to put on and off quickly. Other than that, we're happy with this backpack.\",\n \"Product: The O2 Cool ArctiCloth keeps you cool for hours in the heat of summer. Perfect for sporting events, working out, yard work and any other hot outdoor activities, this absorbent towel wicks the sweat away from your body to make your skin feel cooler and drier. Stores in a convenient carry bottle and it can be machine washed for years of use.Dimensions: 11.75\\\"x30.5\\\".Weight: 1.3 lbs..\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Keeps me cool while doing yardwork\\n\\nReview: It's already 80 degrees in the morning during the Florida summer, so it's hard to get yardwork done even in the \\\"cool of the day\\\". I thought I'd give my 02Cool towel a try while doing some yardwork and my husband has used it while mowing the lawn.\\n\\nIf you soak it in cold water and wring it out, it will keep the back of your neck comfortably cool for an hour. I wouldn't say I came in refreshed after an hour in the heat, but I definitely felt less overheated than usual. It's also long enough that it stayed around my neck and didn't fall off while I worked.\\n\\nYou do need to care for your O2Cool towel. Follow the initial washing instructions. Keep it in a baggie when not in use so that it doesn't dry stiff. Wash it again if it becomes smelly.\\n\\nNeither one of us experienced any of the skin problems or discomfort that other reviewers noted.\",\n \"Product: Multi-Taskers assemble! this spill-proof AUTOSEAL Cortland water bottle is engineered for an easy one-hand drinking experience.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Designed to not leak or spill\\n\\nReview: This Contigo water bottle is attractive, slim, easy to hold, and is designed to never leak or spill when inverted. It's slender enough to fit into most car cupholders--although it is pretty tall (just over 10\\\"). Unless your hands are very small, you should be able to grip it well with one hand and depress the autoseal button to release the liquid.\\n\\nThe bottle's lid has several design features that keep it from leaking. A plastic knob plugs the drinking hole and the seal is tight enough to stop liquid from escaping. When you press the autoseal button, the knob retracts and you drink from the spout. Slide a locking mechanism on the lid, and the autoseal button stays locked shut. If the lid is on correctly, no water will leak out even under pressure.\\n\\nSo it's ideal for a gym bag or backpack.\\n\\nThe lid is easy to clean. There's a release mechanism inside the lid that allows you to fully open the spout so that you can hand wash it. Contigo says you can put it in the top rack of the dishwasher as well.\\n\\nSlender enough--and easy to use--so that even an older child could use it as a sport bottle or water bottle for school.\",\n \"Product: Designed using two super durable, impact-resistant materials, the Surround Case does just that-surrounds your Samsung Galaxy S III in solid protection, enhancing its overall look without covering it up.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Just surrounds the rim of the phone\\n\\nReview: I like the size of my Galaxy III phone so I did not want a case that was too bulky. The Belkin case is designed to surround the rim of the phone. It has two layers which feel nice in my hand. The inner layer is soft and it also wraps over the front edge of the phone just a little so when I lay the phone face down it holds the screen up, off the surface. The cover wraps further around the back side of the phone and protects the phone when It is laying face up. I have not tested dropping the phone but the case feels like it would protect the phone from most impacts and certainly from any edge hits. Because it creates a lip around the phone, it makes the phone a little easier to pull out of my pocket. The power and volume buttons are covered by the inner layer and they are easy to use while they are protected at the same time. This little case has a lot of nice features.\",\n \"Product: Take Protection & Style to the Max. This revved up Samsung Galaxy S III Grip case features raised edges that absorb shock and defend your screen against scratches. Interior AirShock Pockets evenly disperse the force of impact. The Grip Max is extra-protective, yet still sleek enough to slip easily into your pocket or bag without adding bulk.Airshock Pockets act as a protective interior for your Samsung Galaxy S III. These micro air pockets in the inner lining of the case are engineered to cushion your device from drops while keeping the case as thin as possible. Designed with an innovative TPU material that absorbs shock better than TPE or silicone. The raised edges reinforce the areas of your phone most prone to damage, while protecting the body of your case from dings and scratches.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Nice grip; protects, but doesn't cover the screen\\n\\nReview: I switched to this case after using a \\\"bumper\\\" like case/protector. This case cradles the phone in a firm cushion, with a slick plastic edging and back. The cushion comes up and grips just over the metal edge of the Samsung leaving the face free and clear. This case does make it easier to grip the phone and feels more secure than just the bumper. It thoroughly protects all sides except the face, and the lip seems to keep the face off of flat surfaces. I also like the way this case covers and seals the buttons on the sides while keeping them easy to press. The phone in this case is substantially thicker than the phone alone due to the cushion and seems to give the illusion of adding weight to the phone (but doesn't make the phone heavy). The back of the case is surrounded with a raised bit of the softer material which gives your fingers something to grab and also stops the phone from sliding on a slick surface. I got this case in black and it gives my white phone a nice look.\",\n \"Product: Quartet EnduraGlide Dry-Erase Markers deliver strong bold color every time, to ensure that your message is distinct and legible. Clearly display your writing with our patented 3-chamber, liquid ink system. Plus, our see-through ink gauge shows exactly how much ink remains for your use. Simply look at the barrel to determine when its time to change your marker. Quickly move from one project to the next with these easy to erase markers. Dont fuss with caked on ink. The smooth ink easily wipes away, leaving a streak-free, clean surface. Create thin lines with the fine point tip. The precise lines are perfect for clear, distinct handwriting and detailed drawings. Pack contains 4 assorted markers, including Black, Red, Green and Blue, a foam whiteboard eraser, and a dry-erase cleaner. Keep your room clean and odor-free. The non-toxic, low odor ink is perfect for any environment, such as classrooms, offices and homes.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Low/No odor markers ideal for small whiteboards\\n\\nReview: I work with a number of small groups of students and a few of the markers I use (Expos and some knock-off brands) have such a strong odor that some of my students complain. I took these Quartet markers in last week and there were no complaints. They're not good for writing on the large, classroom whiteboards, if you need your writing to be visible at a distance. However, they've been perfect for my 1st graders to use on our smaller boards.\\n\\n* The smaller size marker is closer to pencil size, so students can practice their grip.\\n* The shape of the cap keeps it from rolling off the table (if the cap is not secured to the end of the marker)\\n* There's almost no odor when you're using them. (They're not odorless, but you have to hold the marker up to your face to detect an odor)\\n* I use Quartet markers at home they they don't dry out as quickly as others if the cap is left off\\n\\nThe eraser---is just an eraser--and the whiteboard cleaner is pretty useful. But the real gem here is the marker set. I'd call the rest of the combo pack optional.\\n\\nI also used these on a glass display frame at home and the black, blue, and red worked pretty well. The green is a little faint.\",\n \"Product: Storage bins can be used for a multitude of things from classroom, office, or crafting supplies to holding hanging files, toting groceries and more.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Not just for teachers; lightweight and holds a lot of stuff\\n\\nReview: I don't have a classroom, but travel around the school. This bin is not sturdy enough for me to tote around comfortably unless it's full, but is the perfect place to keep my files and supplies in a shared office. The bin is 10 1/2 by 12 inches and deep enough to hold several hanging files or binders. The bright blue color really stands out. I wish it came in more primary colors (red and yellow instead of teal and green).\\n\\nWhen you're not using the bin, it collapses flat and doesn't take up much space. These would be great for temporary storage, short term projects, or to use in the car for keeping items contained. It's labeled a \\\"teacher storage bin\\\", but it's not just for teachers.\\n\\nI like it so well, I might have to buy a couple more.\",\n \"Product: Always ready - not heat. No odor. No waiting Xyron ezlaminator offers easy to use lamination technology for workplace lamination projects. This portable cold laminator is always ready because it requires no electricity, batteries or warm up time. The cold laminate is photo safe, allowing you to work without the worries of heat or toxic fumes. Ezlaminator requires no pouches or pockets. The easy drop-in cartridges allow for quick changes between projects and the high quality laminate is guaranteed not to peel. To laminate, simply slip your documents into the entry tray, crank the handle and trim with the on-board trimmer. For added flexibility the ezlaminator offers 3 refill cartridge options: 9 inch two-sided laminate 9 inch laminate/magnet 5 inch two-sided laminate\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Quick setup to use anywhere\\n\\nReview: I've been wanting a small laminator ever since I used a colleague's at school. Her laminator is a hot laminator and uses pouches: great results, but you have to plug it in and warm it up. This cold laminator does just as good a job on my small projects, but there's no wait time and I use less film.\\n\\nBefore I ever had access to a laminator, I used to cover items with clear contact paper. That's essentially what this product does, except it covers both sides at once and there are fewer wrinkles and air bubbles. (I put 32 small paper rectangles though and only had one come out with wrinkles.) This will also laminate items that are heat sensitive with no damage. Because the film is bonded to the paper, I can cut my items a lot closer to the edge than I can with a hot laminator that relies on the bond between film and film to stay sealed.\\n\\nI love that this is ready to use in seconds: just pull out the handle and check that the film is ready to go. I can also let my children use this, something I'd never do with a hot laminator.\\n\\nIt comes with a roll of film and is ready to go right out of the box. New cartridges of film also seem reasonable and you can order a cartridge that will put a magnetic backing on your items. This is great for all my small classroom projects.\",\n \"Product: Helpful Little Teacher Stool by ECR4Kids is the perfect addition to any classroom for story or circle time. The square hardwood stool features two convenient shelves and a cubby below that allows teachers to store books and supplies within reach. It also includes four casters for easy mobility about the classroom. Two side pockets and a hook-and-loop pouch complement the comfortable 2-inch thick cushion in an attractive neutral canvas. The ECR4Kids Helpful Little Teacher Stool has achieved GREENGUARD [GOLD] Certification for meeting or exceeding standards for low emissions into indoor air during product usage and it is CPSIA-compliant for safety. With a concentration on the Pre K-12 sector, ECR4Kids offers a wide range of products including classroom tables and chairs, preschool rest time solutions, hardwood storage cases, blocks and manipulative, mobile organizers and a variety of indoor and outdoor play structures.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Solid piece of classroom furniture\\n\\nReview: This is useful for Circle Time if you're short on space or want some alternate seating. There's enough room to put picture books in the larger storage \\\"bin\\\" and stow a thin/small props (or papers or pointers) in the side pouches.. The two smaller shelves are a little shallow, but they're fine for holding props or small items that won't roll out. The padded seat cushion is actually pretty firm and comfortable. I'm just under 5 1/2 feet tall and about average weight and I find that I can sit on this with good posture and my legs and back are at comfortable angles.\\n\\nI did assemble this by hand, as was recommended, and it took me about an hour to do it by myself. I think it would have been just fine to use tools at the lowest power setting. That could cut your assembly time to 15 minutes. You do want to pay careful attention to the drawing to see how the peg holes should be lined up before you start screwing the whole thing together. I had no issues, but a mistake early on, means undoing a lot of assembly later.\\n\\nThe casters roll smoothly and this feels solid and well constructed. The wood is thick and shouldn't warp or bend under normal, indoor use. My husband even sat on it (he's nearly 6 ft) and it felt sturdy to him too.\",\n \"Product: Throw out your scoop and save time with our Van Ness sifting pan. This smartly designed unit features two nesting pans and a sifting screen. Stack the pans with the sifting screen on top and fill with clumping litter. When you lift the sifting screen the litter sifts out into the pan, leaving the clumps that you throw away. Replace the sifting screen in the empty pan, move the litter from the full to the empty pan, restack, and your are finished. Made of durable, easy to clean plastic.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Makes a dirty job easier\\n\\nReview: We bought our first sifting litter box with this design many years ago and always loved the ease of using the sifter, rather than scooping. Clumps could be a problem, but the ease of sifting outweighed the occasional tough wet clump. (Besides the whole thing should be cleaned periodically anyway)\\n\\nAfter adopting 2 more cats, we needed more litter boxes. I tried one of this model and found that the design had been greatly improved. The size and distance between the slots was modified, allowing for more sifting and fewer clumps. The plastic used for the sifter and trays is slightly more flexible and easier to handle. Sometimes I have to bang the sifter against the inside of our garbage can to dislodge all the clumps, but it generally comes clean quickly.\\n\\nEven our neighbor, who takes care of our cats from time to time, remarked on the ease of cleaning these litter boxes.\\n\\nI like this model so much that I purchased a 2nd one. The entry says \\\"assorted colors\\\". Both of mine are purple. My cats don't care.\",\n \"Product: The scratch scroll sisal wave multi-surface cat scratcher is a perfect balance of fashion and function. cats go head-over-heels for the variety of scratching surfaces and angles. snap-in feather toy adds to the fun. you will love the scratch scroll both for its sculptural good looks and for its effectiveness as a furniture saving scratch alternative. available in assorted color.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Miss the old sisal wave design\\n\\nReview: We have an older wave style scratcher that our cats adore. The sisal arched over the top so that they could get up on top of it with their front paws and really scratch away. I'm not a big fan of this newer design with the sisal area reduced to just the front of the wave. My adult cats are too big to fully use the smaller rectangle. But they enjoy scratching the carpeted part, so it's satisfactory.\\n\\nThey also like to lay in the bottom of the wave as you can see from the picture. They haven't found the attached feathered toy too exciting, but I like the way Smarty Kat has attached the feather so it doesn't fall off like the older ones did.\\n\\nI took away one star from the review because of the change in the sisal wave. It's not the 5-star product that it used to be.\",\n \"Product: Premium fast and firm clumping natural cat litter in soft, ground pellets. Long lasting odor control and unsurpassed absorption with the added benefits of being naturally lightweight, biodegradable, and flushable.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Pleasant smell but won't work in sifter box\\n\\nReview: I think this litter smells great out of the box. It's lightweight and easy to clean up with a scoop. It has lasted well over 2 weeks and still looks good with regular box cleanings. I wish I could use it in the sifter box--like I do with the clumping clay litter--but the pieces are too big. Still it is a nice product, although much more expensive than the clumping litter I usually buy.\\n\\nMy cats have not completely taken to it. They won't use it by itself (choosing the 100% clay boxes first), but did finally use it when I mixed it with clay (as per the Okocat litter instructions). I'm sure I could eventually wean them off clay and onto this.\\n\\nIt's a nice alternative to clay and, fresh out of the box, smells great. However, the price (nearly $36 at the time of this review) is a little steep for my budget.\",\n \"Product: Prevue pet products kitty power paws sphere with tassel 7130 provides a dedicated place for scratching and stretching, alleviating destructive behavior to household objects. Sphere shape provides additional opportunities for jumping and pouncing while the feather tipped tassel engages your cat in play. Watch as your cat stretches and tones while keeping nails groomed and paws strong. Handsomely finished base lends a furniture feel to complement the durable jute wrapping and integrates with any room dcor. Our kitty power paws sphere ships already assembled and will last for years to come. Sturdy circular base is 11 3/4\\\" in diameter, sphere measures 11\\\" in diameter with a total height of 13\\\".\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: More suitable for a smaller cat\\n\\nReview: This scratch-able sphere is a great idea in theory. It has plenty of jute wrapped around it and can be scratched while sitting, standing, or laying on your back (for those lazy cats). My cats play with the feathery tassel and that's their favorite part. It's also quite attractive, compared to most cat furniture. If I had company coming over, I'd hide my other cat furniture and just keep this out.\\n\\nThat said, cat owners know that, with cat toys, you never know how the cats will like it until you get it home. My cats tried the sphere out a few times. Since they're big cats (14 and 16 lbs) they push it away when they press against it. I think that's why they have limited interest in this toy right now. The sphere is attached to the base with a large bolt and I've had to tighten it a few times, otherwise the sphere wobbles on the base. That wobbling also discourages my big cats from scratching.\\n\\nI love the idea of this toy and hope my cats take to it. It looks like Prevue has other attractive cat products for the home. This one would be better for kittens and smaller cats.\",\n \"Product: The Minka group is home to the art of decorative lighting and fans. Modern aesthetics define contemporary design and style. No name has been more synonymous with that than George Kovacs. Contemporary lighting design has been influenced for the past sixty years by George Kovacs and his peers. Our next sixty will be influenced by the same, coupled with a minka 'mystique'.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Love the lamp--but it's not \\\"bronze\\\"\\n\\nReview: This lamp has proven a good solution to the problem of one spouse wanting to read while the other one sleeps. Bedside lamps were OK, but we like the fact that these lights can be aimed at the book (iTouch, phone, etc). The dimmer feature is also handy when you need a little bit of light--but don't want to turn on a bright light and wake up your partner. Yes--they do get hot. Very hot. So be careful when you touch them.\\n\\nThe only problem we encountered was disappointment upon opening the box. This lamp set is not \\\"bronze\\\"--as described, but black--as pictured on this page. The only other option was nickel, which won't work with our decor. Not a big problem, but enough to dock one star for the mismatch.\",\n \"Product: Grab your Bash Ball and get ready to slam it! This flexible sports ball has 3 handy holes so you can grip it and whip it in dodgeball, volleyball or other games. Go for the dunk if you're playing basketball, or drop-kick it in a soccer game! Play all your favorite sports at another level with your Bash Ball! Nerf and all related characters are trademarks of Hasbro.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Mostly for throwing and catching\\n\\nReview: My 7 and 9-year-old boys put this Nerf Sports Bash Ball through a multi-sport test and found that it's best for throwing and catching games. It's not bouncy enough to use as a basketball. It can't be kicked far enough to be as fun as a soccer ball. It wasn't bad as a volley ball. The holes make it fairly easy to throw and catch and we're thinking it might be fun to take to the beach or play with in the pool. It's one of those toys where you make up your own \\\"bash ball\\\" sort of game.\\n\\nIt is pretty dense foam, so it can hit pretty hard. But it is slightly soft and can get scuffs and nicks.\\n\\nThis has not replaced the basketball, football, or soccer ball that the boys play with, but is a fun toy.\",\n \"Product: Not just for recon operations, the all-new UNSC Flame Warthog by Mega Bloks Halo tackles multiple missions. The M12 Force Application Vehicle is the UNSC's primary ground vehicle, commonly used for its scouting and reconnaissance capacity. With an actual working suspension and 360 rotating turret, the highly mobile all-wheel drive \\\"Hog\\\" with all-new flame paintjob is clearly ready for battle! Features two new super-articulated micro action figures with customizable armor, includes 2 Spartan GUNGNIR. Ideal for ages 8 and up!.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Kids like the micro action figures\\n\\nReview: <div id=\\\"video-block-R2MY6GCT1QWQ9A\\\" class=\\\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\\\"></div><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/B1Kci80axYS.mp4\\\" class=\\\"video-url\\\"><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/91TNrrS6ZkS.png\\\" class=\\\"video-slate-img-url\\\"> My kids put this model together in about an hour. Some of the pieces were difficult for the 7-year-old to put together (and challenging for Dad as well). My 10-year-old Legomaniac was able to fix some of the pieces and it finally went together just fine.\\n\\nThe pieces are compatible with Lego, the main difference we noticed is that the details are printed on the blocks. We usually have to apply stickers to Lego kits for detailing (which can be challenging for little hands).\\n\\nThe direction format is interesting and I showed the manner in which MegaBlocks adds pieces in my video. It's easy to tell where the pieces go.\\n\\nThis vehicle is fun to play with and the best part--according to my kids--is the inclusion of articulated micro action figures that bend and move differently than the Lego minifigs.\\n\\nOverall we were very pleased with this kit and it should stay assembled for playtime. After the trouble we had snapping some of the pieces together, I doubt it will come apart easily!\\n\\nMy boys reviewed it as \\\"4 stars\\\". The only reason they didn't give it 5 was because of some of the difficulties with assembly. Older children will have less trouble.\",\n \"Product: Build your own K'NEXosaurus Rex with classic K'NEX pieces! Includes 200+ pieces and a battery powered motor! Build the model, switch it on and watch it stomp to life! Ages 7+. 2 AA batteries required but not included.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Sturdy pieces that build 2 motorized models\\n\\nReview: <div id=\\\"video-block-R2AO3FVO7W6279\\\" class=\\\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\\\"></div><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/A14i8PiqagS.mp4\\\" class=\\\"video-url\\\"><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/A1UOFXrK5SS.png\\\" class=\\\"video-slate-img-url\\\"> The K'Nexosaurus Rex Building Set allows you to build two different motorized models: the K'Nexosaurus and the Megasaurus. The video show K'nexosaurus in action.\\n\\nTHE BUILD\\nWe built K'Nexosaurus first and it easily took a 30-45 minutes to construct. The instructions are pictorial but fairly clear to follow if you pay close attention to the orientation of the pieces. I like that the pieces are the sturdy, thicker K'Nex pieces (some sets have thinner pieces that always feel like they're going to break when you have to force them together).\\n\\nThe box says ages 7+. Unless your 7-year-old is mechanically inclined, that's a little young for building alone. My 7-year-old watched. My (almost) 10-year-old was able to assemble this with little help. It's not just the ability to read plans that make this a challenge for younger builders. Snapping some of the pieces together takes strong hands and good fine motor coordination.\\n\\nOnce built, a young child can operate the controls. Just don't leave a 3-and-under child alone with it because some of the pieces are small enough to be a choking hazard.\\n\\nTHE MODELS\\nK'nexosaurus Rex is 24\\\" long, 6\\\" wide and 6\\\" tall. He has a long tail and neck that swivels when he walks. The motor controller can be toggled to move him forward and backward. The neck and tail moved more when he was going backward and he is more fun to watch than the Megasaurus.\\n\\nMegasaurus uses a similar building technique on the tail, so don't take K'nexosaurus's tail apart if you build one right after the other! He stands 15\\\" long and 10\\\" tall, with a shorter tail.\\n\\nThe directions and photo for Megasaurus differ on the tail, so you may make some modifications to the spines to make it fit together. We added eyes to the head (which swivels nicely as he moves)\\n\\nBoth models walk on either a hard surface, like tile, or carpet.\\n\\nTHE VERDICT\\nMy boys gave this 5 stars and I did too. For us, the fun is in the build. It doesn't do anything other than walk forward and backward, so it won't have too much play value. It is interesting to see how the pieces interact with the motor to create movement. These motorized K'nex sets are good for learning some basic engineering (hinges, gears, cams) and we're hoping that, as the kids get older, they'll start to create their own unique motorized builds.\",\n \"Product: LOO072 Mad Libs The Game Party Game Looney LabsSince its creation in 1958, Mad Libs has become the worlds most popular word game, with over 125 million Mad Libs in print. And now, Looney Labs has turned it into Mad Libs: The Game; a party game that captures all the unexpected silliness of classic Mad Libs.Every player is dealt Word Cards, which each feature a key word used as different parts of speech. Players use the Word Cards, along with the Sentence Card in play, to make the most appropriately inappropriate sentences possible! All players vote and the silliest sentence wins the round. The first player to win three rounds wins the game!With Mad Libs: The Game, the fun is ADJECTIVE and ADJECTIVE, and everyone will quickly be VERB-ing their NOUNs off!Players: 3 to 8Playing time: 10 to 20 minutesAges: 13 and up\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Amusing and easy to play\\n\\nReview: The fun of Mad Libs is that you don't know how the words you supply are going to fill out the story. The suspense and surprise element just adds to the laughter. My family loves classic pen and paper Mad Libs.\\n\\nThe board game concept is interesting: each player gets a set of cards that have a root word and a list of words that can be made from that word (with the corresponding part of speech). For instance, \\\"agree\\\" includes agreeably, agreeable, and agreement. Players use these cards to fill out a sentence card and then they vote on who came up with the best result. So it's actually a whole different game.\\n\\nMy kids thought it was great. Sometimes the results were disappointing and nobody got a good sentence. (Which does happen in the classic game.) Then someone came up with Don't \\\"cuddle\\\" a \\\"sweaty\\\" \\\"clown\\\" out of his card stack and we were hooked.\\n\\nThis won't replace the pen and paper game, but it is quick to play and everyone gets to fill in words. So there's the competition to be clever. There aren't many sentence cards--but it would be easy to make more since the game creators used common proverbs as inspiration.\\n\\nI'd recommend this for older kids, teens, and adults. You don't need to know parts of speech--like you do with classic Mad Libs--so the grammatically challenged can play too. There are even a few blank cards so you can add your own words.\\n\\nNote to parents and teachers: The root \\\"stupid\\\" is included (a word which some families don't like to use). And if you really work at it you can come up with a double entendre. But it seems to be pretty G-rated family fun.\",\n \"Product: ALEX Toys Artist Studio Giant Go Go Gear Art puts a new spin on the classic gear drawing sets. Templates come with new designs you can use to enhance your spiral creation. Spaceships, stars, hearts and more can now be incorporated into your artwork. Use Scra-fitti sheets--black paper you scratch off to reveal colorto make pieces that will amaze everyone, even yourself. The kit includes 4 templates, 16 gears, 8 markers, stylus, 16 paper sheets, 10 Scra-fitti sheets, 5 sticker sheets and easy instructions Recommended for children 6 years of age and older.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Requires patience and a steady hand\\n\\nReview: This set has enough pieces to get you started creating spiral art. The box says ages 6 and up, but this requires some patience (and a steady hand), so you have to know your child. But the payoff includes some really cool designs and hands-on experience with the beauty of spiral patterns.\\n\\nI like the way the gears slide under a lip in the template, which helps them stay on track. My 10 and 12-year olds were able to use this with just a few minutes practice. Some of the gears and templates are simple to use in combination; others require some practice to get the pressure just right.\\n\\nThe set comes with markers, which are fine enough to make gorgeous patterns, but you can also use your own pencils or fine tip markers. The instructions state that a paper holder is included, but the set did not come with one.\\n\\nI was less impressed with the Scra-ffiti paper and stylus. It takes more effort to scratch off the black coating and I found the sound and sensation annoying. We'll use the Scra-ffiti paper for other crafts, so no loss there.\",\n \"Product: A series of children's books written by Dav Pilkey (best known for his Captain Underpants books). In each book, Ricky Ricotta, a mouse, with the help of his mighty robot, saves the world from an evil villain.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Colorful reboot of the original series\\n\\nReview: My kids give 5 stars to this colorful reboot of the original Ricky Ricotta series. Ricky is lonely, picked on by bullies, until one day he frees a city-destroying robot from his evil master. The mighty robot becomes Ricky's friend and defeats a monster lizard. The theme is friendship and the book ends with the series' tagline: \\\"...that's what friends are for.\\\"\\n\\nThe text is the same as the original, but Martin Ontiveros' black and white line drawings have been replaced by colorful comics by Dan Santat. Each page is fully illustrated with text on a colorful background. Part of the story is told through text; the other part through comic book paneled pages. Santat kept the \\\"Flip-o-Rama\\\" section, but it's concentrated in the back during the big battle scene between the robot and lizard.\\n\\nThis has a paperback binding and the pages are actually sturdier than the hardcover (or paperback) originals, so the Flip-o-Rama pages should last longer.\\n\\nThis is a fun, high interest story for confident readers in grade 1 and 2 (Lexile Level around 470; Fountas & Pinnell level J)\"\n]","isConversational":false},"profile_size":{"kind":"number","value":43,"string":"43"},"task":{"kind":"string","value":"longlamp_3"},"split_kind":{"kind":"string","value":"user_based"},"id":{"kind":"number","value":980,"string":"980"}}},{"rowIdx":981,"cells":{"question_id":{"kind":"string","value":"AZVXGCT3CHIS5"},"question":{"kind":"string","value":"Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of \"4.0\" for a product with description \"1st edition paperback new\". The summary of the review text is \"Hooray! for a second book that isn't a disappointment!\"."},"answer":{"kind":"string","value":"If I still had any doubts about The Hollows when I finished the Dead Witch Walking, The Good, the Bad, and the Undead laid them to rest.\n\nBook 2 begins with Rachel and Jenks in the middle of a run. Several months has passed since the first book ended, and without a death threat hanging over her head, Rachel is free to pursue her new career as an independent runner. Nick is now officially Rachel's boyfriend, and the roommate situation with Ivy seems to have calmed down now that Rachel knows what Ivy's triggers are and not to pull them.\n\nAnd things just keep swimming merrily along. (<-----did you see what I did there? *snickers*)\n\nRiiiiiight . . .\n\nEven if (for some strange reason) you were hoping things would calm down for our new favorite witch, when Glenn shows up as Rachel and Jenks' ride after the run (instead of Ivy), and insists on taking a detour to the FIB (Federal Inderland Bureau---the human version of police enforcement), it seems HIGHLY unlikely.\n\nEven MORE unlikely when you learn the reason for the detour is that Sarah Jane (Trent's new secretary) is there being questioned after reporting her missing boyfriend.\n\nA serial killer is on the loose in Cincinnati, you see. And serial killers have VERY particular tastes. This one has been viciously murdering ley line witches . . . and guess what Sarah Jane's boyfriend happens to be . . .\n\nSO many things happen in this book.\n\nRachel shows an uncommon aptitude for ley line witchcraft. This is distressing for her, b/c as she has stated (on numerous occasions) she is strictly an earth witch. Ley line magic isn't as black and white as earth magic, and Rachel has seen too many friends slide down that slippery slope from white, to gray, to black b/c POWER lurks in ley line magic. POWER that tempts and overwhelms, and Rachel wants no part of it.\n\nWe find out what Trent is. Not telling. READ IT. *poke*\n\nRachel discovers links between her father and the Kalamacks. Not telling that either. *pokes again*\n\nAnd not lastly (not by a long shot, but if I were to list all of the Big Deal things that happened in this book, we'd be here all day, AND I'd probably get smacked from all the poking), Rachel makes a deal with a demon that sets up for book 3 rather nicely. And by \"nicely\" I mean \"holycraphowisshegoingtogetoutofthatone?!\"\n\nIn addition to SO many things happening in this book, SO many characters are further developed and/or introduced.\n\nWe meet Rachel's wacky mother (who accidentally alludes to a HUGE secret that gets revealed later on), and Piscary (hey, I just noticed \"scary\" is in his name . . . wonder if that was on purpose . . . hmmm . . . ), the scary master vamp. We also meet the several times mentioned, but never actually seen Quen (one of my favorite secondaries). Trent is shown in a less diabolical light that makes him a much more complicated individual, and Nick . . . well, Nick's moral code is revealed to be even more nebulous than previously suspected, but due to certain other events, I can't help but feel a bit sorry for him. That whole situation is just a MESS.\n\nAnd again MORE. Too much to cover all of it, but believe me when I say that it was very well done.\n\nThere wasn't much on the world-building front, but then it wasn't really necessary. Pretty much everything you need to know was covered in the first book. I still find it slightly ridiculous every time Rachel goes out of her way to hid evidence of tomato consumption from the humans, but what are you going to do?\n\nTomato ridiculousness aside, The Good, the Bad, and the Undead brilliantly avoided the book 2 slump that so many series falls prey to. It was another artful combination of humor, action, danger, and flirtation, and BONUS all of this took place within a well-developed and identifiable plot! I know! It so rarely happens that I don't know what to do either!\n\nThat's not true, I know exactly what to do---read the next book. *wink*"},"correct_answer":{"kind":"string","value":"If I still had any doubts about The Hollows when I finished the Dead Witch Walking, The Good, the Bad, and the Undead laid them to rest.\n\nBook 2 begins with Rachel and Jenks in the middle of a run. Several months has passed since the first book ended, and without a death threat hanging over her head, Rachel is free to pursue her new career as an independent runner. Nick is now officially Rachel's boyfriend, and the roommate situation with Ivy seems to have calmed down now that Rachel knows what Ivy's triggers are and not to pull them.\n\nAnd things just keep swimming merrily along. (<-----did you see what I did there? *snickers*)\n\nRiiiiiight . . .\n\nEven if (for some strange reason) you were hoping things would calm down for our new favorite witch, when Glenn shows up as Rachel and Jenks' ride after the run (instead of Ivy), and insists on taking a detour to the FIB (Federal Inderland Bureau---the human version of police enforcement), it seems HIGHLY unlikely.\n\nEven MORE unlikely when you learn the reason for the detour is that Sarah Jane (Trent's new secretary) is there being questioned after reporting her missing boyfriend.\n\nA serial killer is on the loose in Cincinnati, you see. And serial killers have VERY particular tastes. This one has been viciously murdering ley line witches . . . and guess what Sarah Jane's boyfriend happens to be . . .\n\nSO many things happen in this book.\n\nRachel shows an uncommon aptitude for ley line witchcraft. This is distressing for her, b/c as she has stated (on numerous occasions) she is strictly an earth witch. Ley line magic isn't as black and white as earth magic, and Rachel has seen too many friends slide down that slippery slope from white, to gray, to black b/c POWER lurks in ley line magic. POWER that tempts and overwhelms, and Rachel wants no part of it.\n\nWe find out what Trent is. Not telling. READ IT. *poke*\n\nRachel discovers links between her father and the Kalamacks. Not telling that either. *pokes again*\n\nAnd not lastly (not by a long shot, but if I were to list all of the Big Deal things that happened in this book, we'd be here all day, AND I'd probably get smacked from all the poking), Rachel makes a deal with a demon that sets up for book 3 rather nicely. And by \"nicely\" I mean \"holycraphowisshegoingtogetoutofthatone?!\"\n\nIn addition to SO many things happening in this book, SO many characters are further developed and/or introduced.\n\nWe meet Rachel's wacky mother (who accidentally alludes to a HUGE secret that gets revealed later on), and Piscary (hey, I just noticed \"scary\" is in his name . . . wonder if that was on purpose . . . hmmm . . . ), the scary master vamp. We also meet the several times mentioned, but never actually seen Quen (one of my favorite secondaries). Trent is shown in a less diabolical light that makes him a much more complicated individual, and Nick . . . well, Nick's moral code is revealed to be even more nebulous than previously suspected, but due to certain other events, I can't help but feel a bit sorry for him. That whole situation is just a MESS.\n\nAnd again MORE. Too much to cover all of it, but believe me when I say that it was very well done.\n\nThere wasn't much on the world-building front, but then it wasn't really necessary. Pretty much everything you need to know was covered in the first book. I still find it slightly ridiculous every time Rachel goes out of her way to hid evidence of tomato consumption from the humans, but what are you going to do?\n\nTomato ridiculousness aside, The Good, the Bad, and the Undead brilliantly avoided the book 2 slump that so many series falls prey to. It was another artful combination of humor, action, danger, and flirtation, and BONUS all of this took place within a well-developed and identifiable plot! I know! It so rarely happens that I don't know what to do either!\n\nThat's not true, I know exactly what to do---read the next book. *wink*"},"documents":{"kind":"list like","value":["Product: paperback, vg+\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Fabulous start to one of my favorite Urban Fantasy series\n\nReview: The Hollows is another one of the first Urban Fantasy series I ever read. The bug had gotten me, but I was still new enough to not really know what was available. I think I was just pursuing every lead Amazon gave me, and that was back in the 3-for-4 paperbacks days, so I was in the habit of ordering the first four books in any newly discovered series.\n\nWhich was a good plan, b/c by the time I finished Dead Witch Walking, I was well and truly hooked, and if I had days to wait before I could start the next book, I might have cried.\n\nRachel Morgan (a witch) lives in one of my favorite UF worlds---the creatures-out-of-the-closet world.\n\nThe first time I encountered this kind of world, I didn't know what to do with it---it was too foreign a concept for me to unquestioningly swallow. However, upon closer acquaintance, I realized how much simpler things were if the humans knew there really were things that went bump in the night: the hate groups could just be the standard bastard collection of racists and bigots instead of super, secret society types, and the creatures' actions weren't limited to what they could do without being, horror-of-horrors, discovered.\n\nProvided there was a reasonable explanation for why the creatures were out in the open, I soon preferred this set-up almost across the board.\n\nUnfortunately, that's where my main issue with The Hollows began . . .\n\nIn Rachel's world, a disease piggybacking off a genetically modified tomato decimated the human population---the creatures, or Inderlanders, were mostly immune to the disease so that when the dust settled, for the first time perhaps ever, the humans and the creatures were, numbers-wise, largely equal.\n\nThe Inderlanders took advantage of the situation and came out of the closet. If Harrison had left it at that, I probably would have been okay.\n\nBut she didn't.\n\nNope, she had the silly humans outlaw SCIENCE, b/c they were AFRAID. Afraid of SCIENCE. Afraid of TOMATOES. Just pathetically, ridiculously AFRAID.\n\n\"Outlaw science? What does that even mean?\" you ask.\n\nWell it means that the masses are dying of previously treatable illnesses, b/c silly humans destroyed the knowledge and shut down (burned down) anything resembling a research facility.\n\nSo yeah . . . that was a problem.\n\nMore realistically, the silly humans also tried to deprive any Inderlanders of their jobs, especially if said job was some form of government employment. Newly deprived of gainful employment, the Inderlanders blew their noses at the humans, and started their own government agencies.\n\nSo there.\n\nRachel works for one such agency, only she's been getting really crappy assignments (or runs) for awhile now, and she's just about ready to quit.\n\nExcept no one quits I.S. (Inderlander Security), the creature version of law enforcement, before their contract is finished . . .\n\nAt least no one quits . . . Dun dun duuunnnnn . . . and survives.\n\nBut Rachel thinks she's found the out she's been looking for when she captures her latest target, a tax-evading Leprechaun, who offers her 3 wishes in exchange for her freedom.\n\nIt seems like the perfect solution.\n\nAnd it is. Until Ivy Tamwood, another I.S. Runner, former training partner, AND living vampire (can't forget that part), and Jenks, pixy back-up extraordinaire, decide they want in on the action. Ivy even proposes they put out a shingle together and start their own private runner service.\n\nWhat could possibly go wrong?\n\nWell, for one, Boss Man at I.S. is seriously pissed about Ivy buying out her contract (living vamps are loaded), so even though he admits to giving Rachel crap runs for the last two years in an effort to get her to quit, he decides to take his anger over Ivy leaving out on Rachel by using Ivy's generous payout to fund the hits he keeps putting on Rachel's life.\n\nIf that wasn't awkward (HA! Awkward!) enough, Ivy seems to have a bit of a crush on Rachel.\n\nAnd that's problem #2.\n\nRoommate situations already have the capacity for awkwardness, but when one of the roommates has \"secret\" feelings for the other . . . awkward in the extreme. And it has nothing to do with Ivy and Rachel both being female, so calm yourself. It'd be just as awkward if Ivy was a guy. No one wants to be dodging come-ons in their own home. Especially if the source of the come-ons is a vampire who wants to eat you . . . *snorts* . . . that's not what I meant, and you know it.\n\n*shakes head at gutter-minded people*\n\nBUT, on the whole this book was S-T-E-L-L-A-R. The characters are well-developed from the start, and if you ignore the ban on medical research, the world-building is fantastic too. Rachel is pretty kickass, and has limitless growth-potential, and the dash of romance is ridiculously cute. Action-packed,Dead Witch Walking will grab your interest and hold on to it . . . indefinitely. Don't let that scare you off though. The last book in the series comes out in September, and after that there's no reason you shouldn't be able to return to a productive life. (Disclaimer: Rabid Reads can in no way be held responsible for addictions to really excellent books or the shambles your life may potentially turn into due to your inability to do anything but read.)","Product: paperback, fine In stock shipped from our UK warehouse\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: A Commentary on Rachel's Relationship Choices Thus Far\n\nReview: You know how they say the things you hate in others are the things you like least about yourself?\n\nWhen I was 21, after an extreme bout of poor decision-making, I decided to take a sabbatical from dating. In quick succession, I had dated a slightly-younger-than-me guy, a guy who was my age, and a more-than-slightly-older-than-me guy, and they were ALL great, big lamewads. 19 y.o. Mark, the 67 college basketball player and DRAMA QUEEN liked to wake up, drink milk, and then try to kiss me . . . I tried (really hard) to come up with a collection of letters that could accurately describe how completely disgusting that was, but failed utterly. Then there was 22 y.o. Ryan, who onlywantedonething. Then there was 29 y.o. Luke, who hated his job and was under-appreciated in his work. Even though he wasted MANY a morning shooting emails back and forth with me instead of, oh, I don't know, WORKING.\n\nI made it nearly a year, and it was fabulous. I would have made it longer, but I started working at the front desk of a local gym, and well . . . Im only human. *wink*\n\nThen right before I met my husband (who is, of course, perfect *snorts*), there was Ivan the hipster musician, who . . . played his own music in his car on our one and only date.\n\nOh yes. He did. Come on, guysI cant make stuff like this up.\n\nAll of them had great, big WARNING signs flashing over their heads, and I chose to ignore every, single one of them. Then when things didn't work out, I (being the ridiculous female I was) wailed and lamented, Whats wrong with me? How did I manage to scare him off this time? Oh, what a world!\n\n*rolls eyes*\n\nAt the time, it didn't matter that these guys were all HEP-big losers . . . I liked them, damnit!\n\nAnd all of that is why I (in equal parts) am completely exasperated with, love, and relate to Rachel Morgan.\n\nLets talk about Rachels love interests thus far.\n\nFair warningthis is more of a commentary on Rachels love life so far than a review. But come on . . . its book 3. Either youve read it and know what Im talking about, or, if this was a normal review, youd be afraid Id spoil you, so this is a new thing Im trying. No spoilers this way, AND a chance to vent.\n\nFirst up, we have Nick. Nick, whom she met in the ring of an illegal rat fight b/c he had been turned into . . . well, a rat . . . in retribution for his sticky fingers. And not just any old case of sticky fingers either, nope, Nick got sticky-fingered with the belongings of a MASTER friggin VAMPIRE.\n\nSo Nick has a loose moral code, AND is either too stupid to realize how stupid and dangerous it is to steal from a master vampire, or is so cocky he thought he could get away with it. Or both. Could definitely be both. But he did save Rachels life, and hes awfully geek-sexy, and well, humans apparently have a bit more going on down there than male witches . . . He took a demon mark for her! Come on . . . doesnt he deserve a chance?\n\nNO. No, he does not.\n\nThen theres Kisten . . . ye gods . . . SO many road blocks that should never have been ignored.\n\nAll you lovers-of-Kisten, CALM DOWN. I love him too. As a character. But as a potential boyfriend for Rachel . . . well, lets look at this rationally:\n\n1. Hes a VAMPIRE. Rachel refuses to ever be food for a vampire. ITS A PROBLEM. Even if you want to argue that Kisten is a living vampire, and therefore technically doesnt need blood yet . . . YET. Kisten WILL die, and when that happens, Kisten will lose his SOUL, and he will NEED blood. Even if Rachel really does like Kisten-the-living-vampire, she will want absolutely nothing to do with Kisten-the-true-undead, and Rachels not interested in casual that I can tell.\n\nThis relationship was DOOMED before it even got started.\n\n2. Their very first date was a SHAM. That Kist would blindside her that way does NOT bode well. And then she gets all goo goo-eyed b/c he saved her . . . *grinds teeth* . . . if he hadnt asked her out under false pretenses, her life never would have been endangered in the first place<ALL of that would be in caps if I wasn't worried about annoying the hell out of you. But know that I am screaming in my head.\n\nAnd Lee . . . Lee is more of a flirtation than a real romantic interest, but he is also a perfect example of Rachels stupidity with men. Almost immediately after she lays eyes on him for the first time, she sees that he has a DEMON MARK, but still, after he teaches her how to gamble, shes disappointed that he leaves without asking her for her number.\n\nI know Im not the only one driven crazy by this kind of behavior, but I also know that Im not the only one who feels this way due to flashbacks of I am become that which I hate.\n\nBut relationship choices aside, Every Which Way But Dead continued the steady improvement of the The Hollows. More action, more new characters to love, more to love about old characters . . . and all of that is in addition to yet another definitive and unique plot with side-plots weaving through all the while, paving the way for new adventures. Seriously people . . . come and watch Rachel grow and learn from her mistakes with me. This is not a series to be missed.","Product: The 7th stirring instalment of the urban fantasy-thriller series starring Rachel Morgan. A pacey and addictive novel of sexy bounty-hunting witches, cunning demons and vicious vampires. The demon, Algaliarept, although banished back into the everafter has infected others of his kind with his interest in a witch who can channel demon magic. Rachel soon finds herself with not one but three hellions on her tail; and one of them is even crazier and more dangerous than all the fairy assassins, weres and vampires on the planet.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Banshees, and Empaths, and Ghosts, oh, my!\n\nReview: White Witch, Black Curse introduces us to a new type of Inderlander---the banshee. Well, introduces us directly. Mia (the banshee) shows up in a couple of the novellas, but in the seventh installment of The Hollows, she is front and center. And not in a good way:\n\n\"S-stop,\" I stammered, head bowed as I struggled to just breathe. Damn it, what was I doing? I never should have taken this case. She was a freaking predator. A to-of-the-line, ancient predator, like an alligator.\"\n\nHarrison's version of a banshee is more like a succubus or a psychic vampire. They're seen before a person dies, not b/c they're a herald of death, but b/c they're doing the killing. By sucking the life force, or aura, from a person, and after that's gone, the soul. They're dangerous, apex predators, and their ability to feed is strictly monitored by the Inderlander community and strictly policed by other banshees.\n\nOr at least that's the claim. Personally, I don't think the book backed up that idea. I.S. (Inderlander Security) didn't do a damn thing to stop Mia's rampage, and as far as I could tell, the only reason another banshee got involved was b/c she wanted Mia's child (Holly). If there had been no Holly, I'm not convinced they would have gotten involved at all.\n\nBanshee shenanigans aside, LOTS more Big Things are going on.<------it's kind of a trend at this point, yes?\n\nFord (the maybe human empath) figures out that there's a ghost in the church, and Rachel figures out that she can see the ghost, if they're both standing in a ley line at the same time.\n\nPretty cool, right?\n\nUntil Al shows up and snatches the ghost. Demons apparently have ways of getting a new body for a ghost, and this isn't just any ghost, no, it's the ghost of Gordian Nathaniel Pierce, aspiring killer of demons. Al's pretty sure he can make quite a bit of money selling Pierce as a familiar.\n\nWhich, of course, makes Rachel lose her mind. Underdog and all that.\n\nOh. And Rachel gets SHUNNED. I'm not sure why. At first I thought it was all the very public confrontations with demons, but now I think it's b/c of something else that doesn't become an issue until the next book, so not telling.\n\nAnd finally, in the showdown with Mia, Rachel remembers what happens thatnightwedonotspeakof. When she remembers, Rachel loses her mind again, and as a result something happens with her and Ivy and their auras that I'm pretty sure is going to turn out to be HUGELY important in the final book.\n\nAND that, my friends, is why I reread these long running series before the last book comes out. There's still time. You've got eight weeks. Just sayin' . . . *wink*","Product: NA\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: I heart The Hollows and you can too!\n\nReview: So I realize that Im diving straight into this without having reviewed the previous ELEVEN (it makes me happy that eleven is so close to elves) books, but I promise Ill get to them before the series ends next year.\n\n*sobs*\n\nIm also going to do my darnedest to not be spoilery for this particular book, but as its the twelfth book, avoiding spoilers for the series in its entirety is probably beyond my abilities. You have been dully warned.\n\nKim Harrisons The Hollows is my second favorite Urban Fantasy series, and as such, its one of the series that Ive bothered my friends and family into reading. I love it. They love it. Everyone is happy. Especially now that it seems like Trent and Rachel are finally getting their stuff together.\n\nSince the very beginning, Ive had a thing for Trent. Rachels had half a dozen flings along the way (that have all ended in varying degrees of BAD), but Trent . . . of all the jerk-of-my-dreams characters in the world, he may be my favorite.\n\n*sighs wistfully*\n\nSO everyone who shared this perspective was THRILLED a few books back when his and Rachels relationship began to change. Ever since then, Harrison has seemed to be leading us towards a happily ever after (HA), but did it finally happen in The Undead Pool?! Ill never tell.\n\nREAD IT. *smirks*\n\nIn The Undead Pool, Rachel has been providing security for Trent for the past three months while Quen is in Cali with Ellasbeth and the girls (who are due to arrive back any day now). The sexual tension will blow. Your. Friggin. Mind. The last night before Rachel is off the job, Cincy goes to Hellsomething is causing magical misfires of epic proportions.\n\nAt this point I feel its necessary to inform you that Ive been in a bit of a book funk. I don't seem to be loving much of anything right now, so theres a distinct possibility that when the re-read occurs next year, Ill be all OMG that book was AMAZING. Right now, however, something just didn't quite jive for me. Can you guess what it was?\n\nThe freaking mystics.\n\nI mean what in the world? An Elvish goddess whos not really a goddess, but a collective mind made up of energy whose individual thoughts (<the mystics) are sentient, but who may have been an actual goddess (tangible person) once upon a time?\n\nHuh?\n\nAND Rachel has been concerned over the state of Ivys soul (or the lack of one when she transitions from living vampire to undead) almost since the beginning, and for probably the last half of the series, shes been actively trying to come up with a solution. I think that thats the endgame for The Hollowsfinding a way for vampires to keep their souls.\nThe point is that weve all known for a while what was coming.\n\nBUT this lead-in just felt . . . I don't know, contrived? A previously unheard of sect of vampires out to take over (at the very least) the vampire portion of the supernatural races? Wed never heard of the Humans-Against-Whatever from A Perfect Blood either, but at least when the concept was introduced there were background stories to support its existence. This time it was just BOOM: Free Vampires.\n\nAnd the whole situation was engineered by what/who?\n\nDavid at some point in this book says that Rachel saved Trentthat Trent had been headed down a completely different and ruthless path, but Rachel saved him from himself. Maybe Harrison was drawing a parallel about the kind of man Trent would have become without Rachels influence. Maybe. Probably. Whatever.\n\nIntentional parallel or not, all the ends and outs of this installment didn't gel for me the way others have. It was still good. I love Rachel and Trent and Jenks and everyone else, and Harrison upheld all of the established elements of her seriesthere is nothing out of left field here (unlike a not-to-be-named other series that ended recently). But all the time I spent with my brow furrowed in confusion while I was reading makes this a four star book for me. I wasn't able to just sink into the story and let it take me over.\n\nStill, The Hollows continues to have a cast of characters that is both original and dynamic, and its conclusion next year is sure to be bittersweet. Dont let the series end catch you unawaresget caught up and soon!","Product: BOOKS\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Not nearly as good as I remembered.\n\nReview: Hmm . . . I read GRAVE WITCH for the first time back in 2010 right after it was released, and I loved it. I loved it when I reread it before books 2 and 3 came out, too. This time . . . Again, I say, hmm . . .\n\nThere wasn't anything wrong with it. It just wasn't OMG, I LOVE IT, like my memories were telling me it was. AND there were a lot of borrowed ideas I didn't remember noticing.\n\nLike how Alex is a necromancer grave witch who raises zombies spirits of the dead. Her ability is an embarrassment to her family, and she gets shipped off to boarding school when it becomes clear there is no hiding her magic--if she doesn't deliberately use her gift, it will latch on random dead things of its own volition . . .\n\nYES. That does sound familiar.\n\nKnow what else sounds familiar? (view spoiler)\n\nI think it's safe to say we have a Laurell K. Hamilton fan in the house.\n\nThen there's the helpful ghost who can and will go places Alex can't, who's just grateful not to be ignored ( Night Huntress ), and the gargoyle who stalks the parameter of her house and the yard of her home ( The Hollows ), and in hindsight . . . it's all a little underwhelming.\n\nMost of what's left--an Fae friend and landlord, two girlfriends, a snotty younger sister, and an inscrutable father--is flat and underdeveloped. Even Death (the one unique element) and his feelings for Alex are just tossed out there without much effort put into the backstory.\n\nBlah.\n\nThe \"snarky\" dialogue also left something to be desired.\n\nLike when Alex (a witch) crashes her father's dinner party/political gathering for members of the Humans First party, and her parting shot is:\n\nBy the way, George, great party, but one thing amazes me. Why is it Humans First Party supporters hate witches, but sneak in illusion charms for an instant face-lift or boob job? Turning on my heel, I stormed out of the room . . .\n\n*z snaps*\n\nI'm hoping the next installment is better. I think there's more Fae, and now that (view spoiler) is back in the picture, I've got my fingers crossed that things get more interesting.\n\nI'll let you know.\n\n***see review on blog or Goodreads for spoilers***","Product: Meet Harry Dresden, Chicago's first (and only) Wizard P.I. Turns out the 'everyday' world is full of strange and magical things - and most of them don't play well with humans. That's where Harry comes in. Business has been slow lately for Harry Dresden. Okay, business has been dead. Not undead - just dead. You would think Chicago would have a little more action for the only professional wizard in the phone book. But lately, Harry hasn't been able to dredge up any kind of work - magical or mundane. But just when it looks like he can't afford his next meal, a murder comes along that requires his particular brand of supernatural expertise. A brutally mutilated corpse. Strange-looking paw prints. A full moon. Take three guesses. And the first two don't count ...Magic - it can get a guy killed.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: So much better than STORM FRONT.\n\nReview: I don't know if it was the lowered expectations from being told by every-friggin'-body that DRESDEN doesn't start \"getting good\" until book 3 or 4, or if it was how much cooler the book was than the TV episode based on this same installment, or something else entirely . . .\n\nThe why doesn't really matter, what matters is the outcome, and the outcome is that I thought this book was fan-friggin'-tastic.\n\nFOOL MOON was a vast improvement from STORM FRONT. Harry was more winsomely Harry, and while still occasionally awkward, after the first 25% or so, it petered off considerably. In the end, I was completely won over by his adorkableness.\n\nI was not won over by Murphy. I hesitate to comment on how hard I am not shipping her and Harry right now, b/c I already did that while I was actually reading it, and was inundated by assurances that she has good reasons for being the unreasonably mistrustful, impulsive, violent harpy that she currently is.\n\nI BELIEVE you. When EVERYONE is of the same opinion, it's silly to deny its likelihood.\n\nBUT.\n\nThat doesn't change the fact that right now she's a unreasonably mistrustful, impulsive, violent harpy.\n\nBeyond Harry himself improving, there was also a solid plot with solid good guys and bad guys (the lack of which being my biggest complaint about STORM FRONT).\n\nSome kind of werewolf is killing people in Chicago. And by \"killing,\" I mean ripping, tearing, eviscerating, etc.\n\nI've said it before, and I'll say it again: boys are gross. #sorrynotsorry\n\nIt's up to Harry to find out who. And also what. I said \"some kind\" of werewolf b/c there are apparently a lot to choose from, each varying degrees of, \"Oh, s***.\"\n\nThe werewolf lore was very interesting, especially that twist at the very end. An insect-like demon giving teasers about Harry's mother, and more escapades with Harry's ability to \"soulgaze\" kept the pages turning, and I felt like Butcher really raised the bar.\n\nHowever, it wasn't perfect.\n\nThere were eye rolls when a nerd was characterized by looking like he should have a pocket protector, and when Harry told the Bad Guy that he's \"scum\" . . . *rolls eyes*\n\nBUT.\n\nHe also says things like this:\n\nChrist. I wished the police were as savvy as these neer-do-wells.\n\nAnd this:\n\nThat was black magic, and it was easy to use. Easy and fun. Like Legos.\n\nAnd after he calls the Bad Guy scum, he rallies and gives an epic smack down, with this as the parting shot:\n\nIf we were in public, Mr. Dresden, Id have you killed for speaking that way to me.\nIf we were in public, I told him, youd try.\n\nBOOM.\n\nIt's an interesting juxtaposition of \"ne'er-do-wells\" and black magic : legos analogies and \"should have had a pocket protector\" nerds and \"ka-blowie\"s. BUT. I see very good things.\n\nOn a completely random note, are any of you familiar with Jimmy Fallon's \"Ew\" sketch from SNL (...)? B/c Jimmy's character has a stepdad named Gary, and every time Harry does something adorkable or something stupidly dangerous, in my head I'm yelling \"Harry!\" in the same voice that Sara (no \"h\" b/c h's are ew!) yells, \"Gary! Ew, go away, Gary!\" And it cracks me up. *shrugs awkwardly*\n\nAnyway, suffice it to say that I am well and truly hooked by Dresden. Well done, Butcher. Well done. *tips hat*","Product: Ilona Andrews is the pseudonym for a husband-and-wife writing team. Together, Andrew and Ilona are the co-authors of the New York Times bestselling Kate Daniels urban fantasy series and the romantic urban fantasy novels of The Edge. They currently reside in Texas with their two children and numerous pets.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Once again, the Andrews rocked my socks off.\n\nReview: Im just gonna say upfrontIlona Andrews is my absolute F-A-V-O-R-I-T-E.\n\nI always get uncomfortable when writing about her/them because as some of you (MOST of you?) fellow Ilona fans already know, Ilona Andrews is a husband/wife writing team. So if Im talking about her<see there it is right there, I either look like a noob who doesnt know that they are, in fact, a they, or, if you aren't quite as big a fan as the rest of us, I look like an idiot for referring to what on the surface appears to be a singular individual, as a plural. So. For the purposes of this review, Ilona Andrews will be a her/she.\n\nBut Im not a noob. Fyi. *facepalms self* (b/c dorkness).\n\nAnyway, like I saidmy favorite. SO imagine my surprise and delight when Andrews announced on her blog a little over a year ago that she would be posting a FREE WEEKLY SERIAL on her website.\n\nIf I was not an internet stalker before that announcement (and thats debatable), I most definitely was afterwards. Her blog took up residence in my coveted bookmarks bar space, and I began to ritualistically check the site. Anytime I did anything on the internet: email, facebook, pinterest, goodreads, etc., I checked for a new Clean Sweep installment. It was borderline ridiculous, but thats just how I do thingsALL in.\n\nAnd it was. So. Worth. It.\n\nThen, back in December, the story became available in its entirety, PLUS an all-new epilogue, PLUS artistic renderings of the main characters, in paperback and ebook form. And here we are.\n\nDina Demille is an Innkeeper. An Innkeeper? you ask. Yes, but not-your-ordinary Innkeeper. Dina runs a sentient Bed & Breakfast (a B&B that can connect with its Innkeeper, and rearrange itself to better suit her wishes) whose guests are exclusively A-L-I-E-N-S and creatures from parallel dimensions. Dina can wave her magical(?) broom and open Stargate-like portals to other worlds.\n\nIts kind of cool<I misspelled friggin awesome.\n\nBut unfortunately for Dina, one of Earths WAY-out-of-towners, who is not a guest at her Inn, appears to be viciously killing neighborhood dogs. Initially, Dina suspects Sean Evans, the new, local (A-L-I-E-N) werewolf, but after observing his shock and disgust at the canine murders, she decides that hes not responsible, and that the attacks are to provoke him.\n\nDina tells Sean to clean up his mess.\n\nSean plays dumb.\n\nDina says, Fine, Ill take care of it myself.\n\nSean says, Like HELL.\n\nBasically thats what happens anyway, and off they go to find and stop whatever is killing animals before it escalates to killing humans. Together.\n\n*winks*\n\nHave you picked up on the fact that I have a thing for aliens? B/c I totally do. And there is something, to me at least, that is SO cool about SciFi explanations for supernatural creatures.\n\nGot a man who can turn into a wolf and/or a man-wolf hybrid? Hes an alien from a planet whose government genetically modified its people with nanotechnology in order to survive a war. Oh, and the reason his shifts don't hurt is b/c the nanites suppress his pain sensors.\n\nTotally legit.\n\nClean Sweep is the first installment of Ilona Andrews Innkeeper Chronicles. Its part Science Fiction, part Urban Fantasy, and you will love both parts equally. Keep an eye on her blog for information about the next serial installment which is due to start any time now. Any. Time. Now.","Product: Nick Sorrentino knows everyone in the supernatural world considers him the Pack's playboy, the pretty but not very useful werewolf whose only reputation involves his amorous exploits.Usually, Nick couldn't care less what anyone outside the Pack thinks of him. But when it affects his hunt for Malcolm Danvers, a psychotic bogeyman from the Pack's past, it matters.Necessity forces Nick to team up with mercenary half-demon Vanessa Callas to run Malcolm to ground in Detroit. Together, they discover Malcolm is more deadly than ever. And he wants to play.It's time for Nick to prove he's not just a lover.He's a fighter.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Like Nick, but wish he had a bit more substance? Then novella is for you!\n\nReview: ***May contain spoilers if you haven't read WotO through Thirteen***\n\nBrazen is another Nick POV, and I'm really glad Armstrong decided to do a couple of these. I've always liked Nick well enough, but there was no substance. He was just another werewolf. A rich and devilishly attractive werewolf, but that . . . was all.\n\nNot only do we get some depth, but finally, FINALLY, Nick meets a woman he'd liked to pursue a real relationship with. That they got off on the completely wrong foot, only makes me happier (b/c not nice, LOL).\n\nIf you're like me, when the Malcolm bombshell got dropped in Thirteen, you nearly lost your mind. Ever since, I've been wondering what devious plan Armstrong had for dealing with the bomb she'd dropped, and in Brazen, we start getting some answers.\n\nNick has been put on track-him-down duty, and he's hired Rhys and his band of merry mercenaries to help--the deal being that Rhys and co. locate Malcolm, and the Pack take it from there. BUT there's a bit of a dispute over what locating Malcolm entails, and despite Nick's warnings, Vanessa (the agent in charge of the job) refuses to budge on the point of photographic verification, resulting in the abduction of her agent by Malcolm.\n\nFrom there Nick and Vanessa travel to Detroit, and . . . the rest you'll have to read for yourself. *wink*\n\nMUCH better than the last Nick POV (IMO), and like I said, infinitely gratifying in regards to Nick and his eternal bachelor status. Highly recommended.","Product: Shows some signs of wear, and may have some markings on the inside. 100% Money Back Guarantee.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Eh. Decent second book. Read it b/c you can't get to the awesome later installments without it.\n\nReview: Most people who have read this series, at the very least, like portions of it.\n\nThey like the first 3 or 4 installments, but then they get bored, or after the 3rd or 4th book, the series really started picking up for them.\n\nIm weird, I guess. I pretty much liked the entire series right up until the end. Sure, how much I liked each book variedfor example, except for the last book, this one is my LEAST favorite, but thats not uncommon, what with this being book 2 and all. It definitely has its good moments (like when Eric gets shot and that thing happens that is hilarious and awesome), but overall . . . MEH.\n\nLiving Dead in Dallas begins with Sookie finding a dead Lafayette in Andy Bellefleurs car in the parking lot of Merlottes one morning. What do you mean, a dead Lafayette?! you ask. Lafayette cant be DEAD, hes still going strong in season 6 of True Blood!\n\nLet me introduce you to a little game I like to play called Same and NOT the Same.\n\nSO. Andys been drinking, cause you know, being a cop is hard, and Sookie has to call Portia (his sister) to come and pick him up.\n\nLeaving his car at the bar.\n\nFor persons unknown to leave a dead body in.\n\nBut why would someone want to kill Lafayette? Hes so much fun!\n\nYeah, well, hes also got a BIG mouth. A BIG mouth that hes apparently been running about a house hed been going to, where there were all kinds of sex hi-jinks going on, and someone didn't like that. Someone didn't like that a lot.\n\nSo poor Sooks stressed out about that.\n\nThen when she gets home from work that night, Bill tells her that shes been summoned by Eric.\n\nBetter and better.\n\nThe next evening they drive to Shreveport, where Eric informs her that shes been LOANED out to vampires in Dallas who could use some assistance of the telepathic variety. AND while Sookies understandably upset about Erics high-handedness, theres really not much she can do about itshe did, after all, agree to help him any time he wanted, in exchange for turning over human culprits to human authorities, rather than taking matters into their vampire hands. I suppose its her own fault for not specifying she wouldnt stand for being loaned out. You live and you learn, I guess.\n\nFreakin vampires.\n\nAnd that is how Bill and Sookie wind up on an airplane bound for Dallas.\n\nIve already said that this is probably my least favorite book in the series until you get to end, and that is b/c . . . while I don't have a problem with kink, I do have a problem with gross, middle-aged, pervy kink. And this group is just . . . blech.\n\nI also have a problem with centuries-old, pedophile vampires. Actually, I have a problem with ALL types of pedophiles, so even contemplating one that has been doing what they do FOR SO FREAKING LONG<well, clearly, its upsetting.\n\nAND all of the Bill and Sookie relationship angst from book 1 grows and flourishes in book 2 (and relationship angst is not something you want growing and flourishing). This is also the book where you get your first glimpse of how self-absorbed Bill can be.\n\nThis book is also where you get your first glimpse of how attentive someone-not-Bill can be.\n\n*winks*\n\nAnd thats really the only sell point for this installment. Well, that, and its necessary to read this one to get to the good ones. BOTTOMLINEtoo much perv for one book. Read it b/c you cant move forward without it, but go into it knowing that there is some seriously disturbing stuff going on. That is all.","Product: Excellent Book\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Not Awful but Definitely Not as Good as the Prior Installments, IM-humble-O.\n\nReview: So . . . I debated long and hard about how to rate THE PATH OF DAGGERS, book 8 in Robert Jordan's WHEEL OF TIME . . . I think by now it's pretty obvious that I love this series, but . . .\n\n1. No Mat.\n\nLike NONE.\n\nAbout halfway through, I got super impatient, b/c #7 ends with him getting conked on the head, lights out, and, yeah, I know what happens next (b/c rererereread), but still, where the blood and bloody ashes is he? So I started flipping through the chapters, checking out the icons, looking for the tell-tale dice, and I FOUND THEM.\n\nSo I relaxed, and I put on my patient hat . . . Only to discover it was a LIE.\n\nDon't get me wrong, I like Talmanes as much as the next person, but Talmanes is NOT Mat.\n\n2. Aes Sedai shenanigans.\n\nThere are two types of shenanigans, as far as I'm concerned: the good kind that mean FUN, and the Aes Sedai kind that mean NEGATIVE FUN.\n\nI've already explained which type these are.\n\nAes Sedai shenanigans mean scheming and machinations. They mean HUBRIS. They mean ignoring the obvious b/c they know better, even when what they \"know\" has been definitively proven wrong over and over again.\n\nThings Aes Sedai know:\n\n1. The Black Ajah is a filthy rumor.\n\n2. Being Stilled or Severed from the Source cannot be healed.\n\n3. No more than a handful of men develop the ability to Channel every year.\n\n4. Abilities like Traveling and creating new ter'angreal have been lost since the Age of Legends.\n\n5. Only an Aes Sedai can inhibit another's ability to channel.\n\nFALSE, one and all.\n\nAnd admittedly, there are few Aes Sedai who are privy to ALL the contradictory information, but most know at least half, and still, when confronted with undeniable evidence of yet another falsely assumed belief, they refuse to acknowledge the possibility that they're mistaken until concrete proof is waved under their noses, and even then they pick it apart, b/c not convinced.\n\nIt's maddening.\n\nEven more so when the logical and inevitable conclusion of the actions they've taken results in physically becoming sick and wails and denials.\n\n\"We've divided the Tower b/c usurper and blatant abuse of the spirit of the law, gathered over 30k soldiers for our army, and acquired one of the most respected Generals in our world, but actually returning to the Tower with our army and our General to start the war we've been planning . . .?\" *throws up messily in corner*\n\n#GTFO\n\nAnd that's just the Aes Sedai who Egwene's stuck with.\n\nThe Aes Sedai/Kin/Windfinders with Elayne and Nynaeve's group are a whole separate irritation.\n\nBut in that case, Elayne is the bigger annoyance. Whether she's doingthething she shouldn't be doing, b/c if Aviendha can do it, the Daughter Heir of Andor can do it, too, or making meaningless connections while missing the obvious and IMPORTANT ones, I wish this red-haired future queen was a Red Shirt, and good riddance.\n\nBUT.\n\nThere is more to THE PATH OF DAGGERS then a lack of Mat, Aes Sedai shenanigans, and Elayne-whom-I-hate-loathe-despise-and-abominate.\n\nThere's also:\n\n1. A bevy of formidable women-whom-I-LOVE: Alise, Cadsuane, Sorilea, Cadsuane, Cadsuane, Cadsuane.\n\n2. The reappearance of Elyas, who gives Perrin some much needed insight into the minds of Saldean women.\n\n3. Egwene out Aes Sedai-ing the Aes Sedai.\n\n4. TWO revelations: (view spoiler) <------see Goodreads or blog review for spoiler\n\nSo not all bad. But no Mat and too much stupid Aes Sedai nonsense, so not my favorite, either. Read it b/c it's necessary, then move on, is my advice."],"string":"[\n \"Product: paperback, vg+\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Fabulous start to one of my favorite Urban Fantasy series\\n\\nReview: The Hollows is another one of the first Urban Fantasy series I ever read. The bug had gotten me, but I was still new enough to not really know what was available. I think I was just pursuing every lead Amazon gave me, and that was back in the 3-for-4 paperbacks days, so I was in the habit of ordering the first four books in any newly discovered series.\\n\\nWhich was a good plan, b/c by the time I finished Dead Witch Walking, I was well and truly hooked, and if I had days to wait before I could start the next book, I might have cried.\\n\\nRachel Morgan (a witch) lives in one of my favorite UF worlds---the creatures-out-of-the-closet world.\\n\\nThe first time I encountered this kind of world, I didn't know what to do with it---it was too foreign a concept for me to unquestioningly swallow. However, upon closer acquaintance, I realized how much simpler things were if the humans knew there really were things that went bump in the night: the hate groups could just be the standard bastard collection of racists and bigots instead of super, secret society types, and the creatures' actions weren't limited to what they could do without being, horror-of-horrors, discovered.\\n\\nProvided there was a reasonable explanation for why the creatures were out in the open, I soon preferred this set-up almost across the board.\\n\\nUnfortunately, that's where my main issue with The Hollows began . . .\\n\\nIn Rachel's world, a disease piggybacking off a genetically modified tomato decimated the human population---the creatures, or Inderlanders, were mostly immune to the disease so that when the dust settled, for the first time perhaps ever, the humans and the creatures were, numbers-wise, largely equal.\\n\\nThe Inderlanders took advantage of the situation and came out of the closet. If Harrison had left it at that, I probably would have been okay.\\n\\nBut she didn't.\\n\\nNope, she had the silly humans outlaw SCIENCE, b/c they were AFRAID. Afraid of SCIENCE. Afraid of TOMATOES. Just pathetically, ridiculously AFRAID.\\n\\n\\\"Outlaw science? What does that even mean?\\\" you ask.\\n\\nWell it means that the masses are dying of previously treatable illnesses, b/c silly humans destroyed the knowledge and shut down (burned down) anything resembling a research facility.\\n\\nSo yeah . . . that was a problem.\\n\\nMore realistically, the silly humans also tried to deprive any Inderlanders of their jobs, especially if said job was some form of government employment. Newly deprived of gainful employment, the Inderlanders blew their noses at the humans, and started their own government agencies.\\n\\nSo there.\\n\\nRachel works for one such agency, only she's been getting really crappy assignments (or runs) for awhile now, and she's just about ready to quit.\\n\\nExcept no one quits I.S. (Inderlander Security), the creature version of law enforcement, before their contract is finished . . .\\n\\nAt least no one quits . . . Dun dun duuunnnnn . . . and survives.\\n\\nBut Rachel thinks she's found the out she's been looking for when she captures her latest target, a tax-evading Leprechaun, who offers her 3 wishes in exchange for her freedom.\\n\\nIt seems like the perfect solution.\\n\\nAnd it is. Until Ivy Tamwood, another I.S. Runner, former training partner, AND living vampire (can't forget that part), and Jenks, pixy back-up extraordinaire, decide they want in on the action. Ivy even proposes they put out a shingle together and start their own private runner service.\\n\\nWhat could possibly go wrong?\\n\\nWell, for one, Boss Man at I.S. is seriously pissed about Ivy buying out her contract (living vamps are loaded), so even though he admits to giving Rachel crap runs for the last two years in an effort to get her to quit, he decides to take his anger over Ivy leaving out on Rachel by using Ivy's generous payout to fund the hits he keeps putting on Rachel's life.\\n\\nIf that wasn't awkward (HA! Awkward!) enough, Ivy seems to have a bit of a crush on Rachel.\\n\\nAnd that's problem #2.\\n\\nRoommate situations already have the capacity for awkwardness, but when one of the roommates has \\\"secret\\\" feelings for the other . . . awkward in the extreme. And it has nothing to do with Ivy and Rachel both being female, so calm yourself. It'd be just as awkward if Ivy was a guy. No one wants to be dodging come-ons in their own home. Especially if the source of the come-ons is a vampire who wants to eat you . . . *snorts* . . . that's not what I meant, and you know it.\\n\\n*shakes head at gutter-minded people*\\n\\nBUT, on the whole this book was S-T-E-L-L-A-R. The characters are well-developed from the start, and if you ignore the ban on medical research, the world-building is fantastic too. Rachel is pretty kickass, and has limitless growth-potential, and the dash of romance is ridiculously cute. Action-packed,Dead Witch Walking will grab your interest and hold on to it . . . indefinitely. Don't let that scare you off though. The last book in the series comes out in September, and after that there's no reason you shouldn't be able to return to a productive life. (Disclaimer: Rabid Reads can in no way be held responsible for addictions to really excellent books or the shambles your life may potentially turn into due to your inability to do anything but read.)\",\n \"Product: paperback, fine In stock shipped from our UK warehouse\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: A Commentary on Rachel's Relationship Choices Thus Far\\n\\nReview: You know how they say the things you hate in others are the things you like least about yourself?\\n\\nWhen I was 21, after an extreme bout of poor decision-making, I decided to take a sabbatical from dating. In quick succession, I had dated a slightly-younger-than-me guy, a guy who was my age, and a more-than-slightly-older-than-me guy, and they were ALL great, big lamewads. 19 y.o. Mark, the 67 college basketball player and DRAMA QUEEN liked to wake up, drink milk, and then try to kiss me . . . I tried (really hard) to come up with a collection of letters that could accurately describe how completely disgusting that was, but failed utterly. Then there was 22 y.o. Ryan, who onlywantedonething. Then there was 29 y.o. Luke, who hated his job and was under-appreciated in his work. Even though he wasted MANY a morning shooting emails back and forth with me instead of, oh, I don't know, WORKING.\\n\\nI made it nearly a year, and it was fabulous. I would have made it longer, but I started working at the front desk of a local gym, and well . . . Im only human. *wink*\\n\\nThen right before I met my husband (who is, of course, perfect *snorts*), there was Ivan the hipster musician, who . . . played his own music in his car on our one and only date.\\n\\nOh yes. He did. Come on, guysI cant make stuff like this up.\\n\\nAll of them had great, big WARNING signs flashing over their heads, and I chose to ignore every, single one of them. Then when things didn't work out, I (being the ridiculous female I was) wailed and lamented, Whats wrong with me? How did I manage to scare him off this time? Oh, what a world!\\n\\n*rolls eyes*\\n\\nAt the time, it didn't matter that these guys were all HEP-big losers . . . I liked them, damnit!\\n\\nAnd all of that is why I (in equal parts) am completely exasperated with, love, and relate to Rachel Morgan.\\n\\nLets talk about Rachels love interests thus far.\\n\\nFair warningthis is more of a commentary on Rachels love life so far than a review. But come on . . . its book 3. Either youve read it and know what Im talking about, or, if this was a normal review, youd be afraid Id spoil you, so this is a new thing Im trying. No spoilers this way, AND a chance to vent.\\n\\nFirst up, we have Nick. Nick, whom she met in the ring of an illegal rat fight b/c he had been turned into . . . well, a rat . . . in retribution for his sticky fingers. And not just any old case of sticky fingers either, nope, Nick got sticky-fingered with the belongings of a MASTER friggin VAMPIRE.\\n\\nSo Nick has a loose moral code, AND is either too stupid to realize how stupid and dangerous it is to steal from a master vampire, or is so cocky he thought he could get away with it. Or both. Could definitely be both. But he did save Rachels life, and hes awfully geek-sexy, and well, humans apparently have a bit more going on down there than male witches . . . He took a demon mark for her! Come on . . . doesnt he deserve a chance?\\n\\nNO. No, he does not.\\n\\nThen theres Kisten . . . ye gods . . . SO many road blocks that should never have been ignored.\\n\\nAll you lovers-of-Kisten, CALM DOWN. I love him too. As a character. But as a potential boyfriend for Rachel . . . well, lets look at this rationally:\\n\\n1. Hes a VAMPIRE. Rachel refuses to ever be food for a vampire. ITS A PROBLEM. Even if you want to argue that Kisten is a living vampire, and therefore technically doesnt need blood yet . . . YET. Kisten WILL die, and when that happens, Kisten will lose his SOUL, and he will NEED blood. Even if Rachel really does like Kisten-the-living-vampire, she will want absolutely nothing to do with Kisten-the-true-undead, and Rachels not interested in casual that I can tell.\\n\\nThis relationship was DOOMED before it even got started.\\n\\n2. Their very first date was a SHAM. That Kist would blindside her that way does NOT bode well. And then she gets all goo goo-eyed b/c he saved her . . . *grinds teeth* . . . if he hadnt asked her out under false pretenses, her life never would have been endangered in the first place<ALL of that would be in caps if I wasn't worried about annoying the hell out of you. But know that I am screaming in my head.\\n\\nAnd Lee . . . Lee is more of a flirtation than a real romantic interest, but he is also a perfect example of Rachels stupidity with men. Almost immediately after she lays eyes on him for the first time, she sees that he has a DEMON MARK, but still, after he teaches her how to gamble, shes disappointed that he leaves without asking her for her number.\\n\\nI know Im not the only one driven crazy by this kind of behavior, but I also know that Im not the only one who feels this way due to flashbacks of I am become that which I hate.\\n\\nBut relationship choices aside, Every Which Way But Dead continued the steady improvement of the The Hollows. More action, more new characters to love, more to love about old characters . . . and all of that is in addition to yet another definitive and unique plot with side-plots weaving through all the while, paving the way for new adventures. Seriously people . . . come and watch Rachel grow and learn from her mistakes with me. This is not a series to be missed.\",\n \"Product: The 7th stirring instalment of the urban fantasy-thriller series starring Rachel Morgan. A pacey and addictive novel of sexy bounty-hunting witches, cunning demons and vicious vampires. The demon, Algaliarept, although banished back into the everafter has infected others of his kind with his interest in a witch who can channel demon magic. Rachel soon finds herself with not one but three hellions on her tail; and one of them is even crazier and more dangerous than all the fairy assassins, weres and vampires on the planet.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Banshees, and Empaths, and Ghosts, oh, my!\\n\\nReview: White Witch, Black Curse introduces us to a new type of Inderlander---the banshee. Well, introduces us directly. Mia (the banshee) shows up in a couple of the novellas, but in the seventh installment of The Hollows, she is front and center. And not in a good way:\\n\\n\\\"S-stop,\\\" I stammered, head bowed as I struggled to just breathe. Damn it, what was I doing? I never should have taken this case. She was a freaking predator. A to-of-the-line, ancient predator, like an alligator.\\\"\\n\\nHarrison's version of a banshee is more like a succubus or a psychic vampire. They're seen before a person dies, not b/c they're a herald of death, but b/c they're doing the killing. By sucking the life force, or aura, from a person, and after that's gone, the soul. They're dangerous, apex predators, and their ability to feed is strictly monitored by the Inderlander community and strictly policed by other banshees.\\n\\nOr at least that's the claim. Personally, I don't think the book backed up that idea. I.S. (Inderlander Security) didn't do a damn thing to stop Mia's rampage, and as far as I could tell, the only reason another banshee got involved was b/c she wanted Mia's child (Holly). If there had been no Holly, I'm not convinced they would have gotten involved at all.\\n\\nBanshee shenanigans aside, LOTS more Big Things are going on.<------it's kind of a trend at this point, yes?\\n\\nFord (the maybe human empath) figures out that there's a ghost in the church, and Rachel figures out that she can see the ghost, if they're both standing in a ley line at the same time.\\n\\nPretty cool, right?\\n\\nUntil Al shows up and snatches the ghost. Demons apparently have ways of getting a new body for a ghost, and this isn't just any ghost, no, it's the ghost of Gordian Nathaniel Pierce, aspiring killer of demons. Al's pretty sure he can make quite a bit of money selling Pierce as a familiar.\\n\\nWhich, of course, makes Rachel lose her mind. Underdog and all that.\\n\\nOh. And Rachel gets SHUNNED. I'm not sure why. At first I thought it was all the very public confrontations with demons, but now I think it's b/c of something else that doesn't become an issue until the next book, so not telling.\\n\\nAnd finally, in the showdown with Mia, Rachel remembers what happens thatnightwedonotspeakof. When she remembers, Rachel loses her mind again, and as a result something happens with her and Ivy and their auras that I'm pretty sure is going to turn out to be HUGELY important in the final book.\\n\\nAND that, my friends, is why I reread these long running series before the last book comes out. There's still time. You've got eight weeks. Just sayin' . . . *wink*\",\n \"Product: NA\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: I heart The Hollows and you can too!\\n\\nReview: So I realize that Im diving straight into this without having reviewed the previous ELEVEN (it makes me happy that eleven is so close to elves) books, but I promise Ill get to them before the series ends next year.\\n\\n*sobs*\\n\\nIm also going to do my darnedest to not be spoilery for this particular book, but as its the twelfth book, avoiding spoilers for the series in its entirety is probably beyond my abilities. You have been dully warned.\\n\\nKim Harrisons The Hollows is my second favorite Urban Fantasy series, and as such, its one of the series that Ive bothered my friends and family into reading. I love it. They love it. Everyone is happy. Especially now that it seems like Trent and Rachel are finally getting their stuff together.\\n\\nSince the very beginning, Ive had a thing for Trent. Rachels had half a dozen flings along the way (that have all ended in varying degrees of BAD), but Trent . . . of all the jerk-of-my-dreams characters in the world, he may be my favorite.\\n\\n*sighs wistfully*\\n\\nSO everyone who shared this perspective was THRILLED a few books back when his and Rachels relationship began to change. Ever since then, Harrison has seemed to be leading us towards a happily ever after (HA), but did it finally happen in The Undead Pool?! Ill never tell.\\n\\nREAD IT. *smirks*\\n\\nIn The Undead Pool, Rachel has been providing security for Trent for the past three months while Quen is in Cali with Ellasbeth and the girls (who are due to arrive back any day now). The sexual tension will blow. Your. Friggin. Mind. The last night before Rachel is off the job, Cincy goes to Hellsomething is causing magical misfires of epic proportions.\\n\\nAt this point I feel its necessary to inform you that Ive been in a bit of a book funk. I don't seem to be loving much of anything right now, so theres a distinct possibility that when the re-read occurs next year, Ill be all OMG that book was AMAZING. Right now, however, something just didn't quite jive for me. Can you guess what it was?\\n\\nThe freaking mystics.\\n\\nI mean what in the world? An Elvish goddess whos not really a goddess, but a collective mind made up of energy whose individual thoughts (<the mystics) are sentient, but who may have been an actual goddess (tangible person) once upon a time?\\n\\nHuh?\\n\\nAND Rachel has been concerned over the state of Ivys soul (or the lack of one when she transitions from living vampire to undead) almost since the beginning, and for probably the last half of the series, shes been actively trying to come up with a solution. I think that thats the endgame for The Hollowsfinding a way for vampires to keep their souls.\\nThe point is that weve all known for a while what was coming.\\n\\nBUT this lead-in just felt . . . I don't know, contrived? A previously unheard of sect of vampires out to take over (at the very least) the vampire portion of the supernatural races? Wed never heard of the Humans-Against-Whatever from A Perfect Blood either, but at least when the concept was introduced there were background stories to support its existence. This time it was just BOOM: Free Vampires.\\n\\nAnd the whole situation was engineered by what/who?\\n\\nDavid at some point in this book says that Rachel saved Trentthat Trent had been headed down a completely different and ruthless path, but Rachel saved him from himself. Maybe Harrison was drawing a parallel about the kind of man Trent would have become without Rachels influence. Maybe. Probably. Whatever.\\n\\nIntentional parallel or not, all the ends and outs of this installment didn't gel for me the way others have. It was still good. I love Rachel and Trent and Jenks and everyone else, and Harrison upheld all of the established elements of her seriesthere is nothing out of left field here (unlike a not-to-be-named other series that ended recently). But all the time I spent with my brow furrowed in confusion while I was reading makes this a four star book for me. I wasn't able to just sink into the story and let it take me over.\\n\\nStill, The Hollows continues to have a cast of characters that is both original and dynamic, and its conclusion next year is sure to be bittersweet. Dont let the series end catch you unawaresget caught up and soon!\",\n \"Product: BOOKS\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Not nearly as good as I remembered.\\n\\nReview: Hmm . . . I read GRAVE WITCH for the first time back in 2010 right after it was released, and I loved it. I loved it when I reread it before books 2 and 3 came out, too. This time . . . Again, I say, hmm . . .\\n\\nThere wasn't anything wrong with it. It just wasn't OMG, I LOVE IT, like my memories were telling me it was. AND there were a lot of borrowed ideas I didn't remember noticing.\\n\\nLike how Alex is a necromancer grave witch who raises zombies spirits of the dead. Her ability is an embarrassment to her family, and she gets shipped off to boarding school when it becomes clear there is no hiding her magic--if she doesn't deliberately use her gift, it will latch on random dead things of its own volition . . .\\n\\nYES. That does sound familiar.\\n\\nKnow what else sounds familiar? (view spoiler)\\n\\nI think it's safe to say we have a Laurell K. Hamilton fan in the house.\\n\\nThen there's the helpful ghost who can and will go places Alex can't, who's just grateful not to be ignored ( Night Huntress ), and the gargoyle who stalks the parameter of her house and the yard of her home ( The Hollows ), and in hindsight . . . it's all a little underwhelming.\\n\\nMost of what's left--an Fae friend and landlord, two girlfriends, a snotty younger sister, and an inscrutable father--is flat and underdeveloped. Even Death (the one unique element) and his feelings for Alex are just tossed out there without much effort put into the backstory.\\n\\nBlah.\\n\\nThe \\\"snarky\\\" dialogue also left something to be desired.\\n\\nLike when Alex (a witch) crashes her father's dinner party/political gathering for members of the Humans First party, and her parting shot is:\\n\\nBy the way, George, great party, but one thing amazes me. Why is it Humans First Party supporters hate witches, but sneak in illusion charms for an instant face-lift or boob job? Turning on my heel, I stormed out of the room . . .\\n\\n*z snaps*\\n\\nI'm hoping the next installment is better. I think there's more Fae, and now that (view spoiler) is back in the picture, I've got my fingers crossed that things get more interesting.\\n\\nI'll let you know.\\n\\n***see review on blog or Goodreads for spoilers***\",\n \"Product: Meet Harry Dresden, Chicago's first (and only) Wizard P.I. Turns out the 'everyday' world is full of strange and magical things - and most of them don't play well with humans. That's where Harry comes in. Business has been slow lately for Harry Dresden. Okay, business has been dead. Not undead - just dead. You would think Chicago would have a little more action for the only professional wizard in the phone book. But lately, Harry hasn't been able to dredge up any kind of work - magical or mundane. But just when it looks like he can't afford his next meal, a murder comes along that requires his particular brand of supernatural expertise. A brutally mutilated corpse. Strange-looking paw prints. A full moon. Take three guesses. And the first two don't count ...Magic - it can get a guy killed.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: So much better than STORM FRONT.\\n\\nReview: I don't know if it was the lowered expectations from being told by every-friggin'-body that DRESDEN doesn't start \\\"getting good\\\" until book 3 or 4, or if it was how much cooler the book was than the TV episode based on this same installment, or something else entirely . . .\\n\\nThe why doesn't really matter, what matters is the outcome, and the outcome is that I thought this book was fan-friggin'-tastic.\\n\\nFOOL MOON was a vast improvement from STORM FRONT. Harry was more winsomely Harry, and while still occasionally awkward, after the first 25% or so, it petered off considerably. In the end, I was completely won over by his adorkableness.\\n\\nI was not won over by Murphy. I hesitate to comment on how hard I am not shipping her and Harry right now, b/c I already did that while I was actually reading it, and was inundated by assurances that she has good reasons for being the unreasonably mistrustful, impulsive, violent harpy that she currently is.\\n\\nI BELIEVE you. When EVERYONE is of the same opinion, it's silly to deny its likelihood.\\n\\nBUT.\\n\\nThat doesn't change the fact that right now she's a unreasonably mistrustful, impulsive, violent harpy.\\n\\nBeyond Harry himself improving, there was also a solid plot with solid good guys and bad guys (the lack of which being my biggest complaint about STORM FRONT).\\n\\nSome kind of werewolf is killing people in Chicago. And by \\\"killing,\\\" I mean ripping, tearing, eviscerating, etc.\\n\\nI've said it before, and I'll say it again: boys are gross. #sorrynotsorry\\n\\nIt's up to Harry to find out who. And also what. I said \\\"some kind\\\" of werewolf b/c there are apparently a lot to choose from, each varying degrees of, \\\"Oh, s***.\\\"\\n\\nThe werewolf lore was very interesting, especially that twist at the very end. An insect-like demon giving teasers about Harry's mother, and more escapades with Harry's ability to \\\"soulgaze\\\" kept the pages turning, and I felt like Butcher really raised the bar.\\n\\nHowever, it wasn't perfect.\\n\\nThere were eye rolls when a nerd was characterized by looking like he should have a pocket protector, and when Harry told the Bad Guy that he's \\\"scum\\\" . . . *rolls eyes*\\n\\nBUT.\\n\\nHe also says things like this:\\n\\nChrist. I wished the police were as savvy as these neer-do-wells.\\n\\nAnd this:\\n\\nThat was black magic, and it was easy to use. Easy and fun. Like Legos.\\n\\nAnd after he calls the Bad Guy scum, he rallies and gives an epic smack down, with this as the parting shot:\\n\\nIf we were in public, Mr. Dresden, Id have you killed for speaking that way to me.\\nIf we were in public, I told him, youd try.\\n\\nBOOM.\\n\\nIt's an interesting juxtaposition of \\\"ne'er-do-wells\\\" and black magic : legos analogies and \\\"should have had a pocket protector\\\" nerds and \\\"ka-blowie\\\"s. BUT. I see very good things.\\n\\nOn a completely random note, are any of you familiar with Jimmy Fallon's \\\"Ew\\\" sketch from SNL (...)? B/c Jimmy's character has a stepdad named Gary, and every time Harry does something adorkable or something stupidly dangerous, in my head I'm yelling \\\"Harry!\\\" in the same voice that Sara (no \\\"h\\\" b/c h's are ew!) yells, \\\"Gary! Ew, go away, Gary!\\\" And it cracks me up. *shrugs awkwardly*\\n\\nAnyway, suffice it to say that I am well and truly hooked by Dresden. Well done, Butcher. Well done. *tips hat*\",\n \"Product: Ilona Andrews is the pseudonym for a husband-and-wife writing team. Together, Andrew and Ilona are the co-authors of the New York Times bestselling Kate Daniels urban fantasy series and the romantic urban fantasy novels of The Edge. They currently reside in Texas with their two children and numerous pets.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Once again, the Andrews rocked my socks off.\\n\\nReview: Im just gonna say upfrontIlona Andrews is my absolute F-A-V-O-R-I-T-E.\\n\\nI always get uncomfortable when writing about her/them because as some of you (MOST of you?) fellow Ilona fans already know, Ilona Andrews is a husband/wife writing team. So if Im talking about her<see there it is right there, I either look like a noob who doesnt know that they are, in fact, a they, or, if you aren't quite as big a fan as the rest of us, I look like an idiot for referring to what on the surface appears to be a singular individual, as a plural. So. For the purposes of this review, Ilona Andrews will be a her/she.\\n\\nBut Im not a noob. Fyi. *facepalms self* (b/c dorkness).\\n\\nAnyway, like I saidmy favorite. SO imagine my surprise and delight when Andrews announced on her blog a little over a year ago that she would be posting a FREE WEEKLY SERIAL on her website.\\n\\nIf I was not an internet stalker before that announcement (and thats debatable), I most definitely was afterwards. Her blog took up residence in my coveted bookmarks bar space, and I began to ritualistically check the site. Anytime I did anything on the internet: email, facebook, pinterest, goodreads, etc., I checked for a new Clean Sweep installment. It was borderline ridiculous, but thats just how I do thingsALL in.\\n\\nAnd it was. So. Worth. It.\\n\\nThen, back in December, the story became available in its entirety, PLUS an all-new epilogue, PLUS artistic renderings of the main characters, in paperback and ebook form. And here we are.\\n\\nDina Demille is an Innkeeper. An Innkeeper? you ask. Yes, but not-your-ordinary Innkeeper. Dina runs a sentient Bed & Breakfast (a B&B that can connect with its Innkeeper, and rearrange itself to better suit her wishes) whose guests are exclusively A-L-I-E-N-S and creatures from parallel dimensions. Dina can wave her magical(?) broom and open Stargate-like portals to other worlds.\\n\\nIts kind of cool<I misspelled friggin awesome.\\n\\nBut unfortunately for Dina, one of Earths WAY-out-of-towners, who is not a guest at her Inn, appears to be viciously killing neighborhood dogs. Initially, Dina suspects Sean Evans, the new, local (A-L-I-E-N) werewolf, but after observing his shock and disgust at the canine murders, she decides that hes not responsible, and that the attacks are to provoke him.\\n\\nDina tells Sean to clean up his mess.\\n\\nSean plays dumb.\\n\\nDina says, Fine, Ill take care of it myself.\\n\\nSean says, Like HELL.\\n\\nBasically thats what happens anyway, and off they go to find and stop whatever is killing animals before it escalates to killing humans. Together.\\n\\n*winks*\\n\\nHave you picked up on the fact that I have a thing for aliens? B/c I totally do. And there is something, to me at least, that is SO cool about SciFi explanations for supernatural creatures.\\n\\nGot a man who can turn into a wolf and/or a man-wolf hybrid? Hes an alien from a planet whose government genetically modified its people with nanotechnology in order to survive a war. Oh, and the reason his shifts don't hurt is b/c the nanites suppress his pain sensors.\\n\\nTotally legit.\\n\\nClean Sweep is the first installment of Ilona Andrews Innkeeper Chronicles. Its part Science Fiction, part Urban Fantasy, and you will love both parts equally. Keep an eye on her blog for information about the next serial installment which is due to start any time now. Any. Time. Now.\",\n \"Product: Nick Sorrentino knows everyone in the supernatural world considers him the Pack's playboy, the pretty but not very useful werewolf whose only reputation involves his amorous exploits.Usually, Nick couldn't care less what anyone outside the Pack thinks of him. But when it affects his hunt for Malcolm Danvers, a psychotic bogeyman from the Pack's past, it matters.Necessity forces Nick to team up with mercenary half-demon Vanessa Callas to run Malcolm to ground in Detroit. Together, they discover Malcolm is more deadly than ever. And he wants to play.It's time for Nick to prove he's not just a lover.He's a fighter.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Like Nick, but wish he had a bit more substance? Then novella is for you!\\n\\nReview: ***May contain spoilers if you haven't read WotO through Thirteen***\\n\\nBrazen is another Nick POV, and I'm really glad Armstrong decided to do a couple of these. I've always liked Nick well enough, but there was no substance. He was just another werewolf. A rich and devilishly attractive werewolf, but that . . . was all.\\n\\nNot only do we get some depth, but finally, FINALLY, Nick meets a woman he'd liked to pursue a real relationship with. That they got off on the completely wrong foot, only makes me happier (b/c not nice, LOL).\\n\\nIf you're like me, when the Malcolm bombshell got dropped in Thirteen, you nearly lost your mind. Ever since, I've been wondering what devious plan Armstrong had for dealing with the bomb she'd dropped, and in Brazen, we start getting some answers.\\n\\nNick has been put on track-him-down duty, and he's hired Rhys and his band of merry mercenaries to help--the deal being that Rhys and co. locate Malcolm, and the Pack take it from there. BUT there's a bit of a dispute over what locating Malcolm entails, and despite Nick's warnings, Vanessa (the agent in charge of the job) refuses to budge on the point of photographic verification, resulting in the abduction of her agent by Malcolm.\\n\\nFrom there Nick and Vanessa travel to Detroit, and . . . the rest you'll have to read for yourself. *wink*\\n\\nMUCH better than the last Nick POV (IMO), and like I said, infinitely gratifying in regards to Nick and his eternal bachelor status. Highly recommended.\",\n \"Product: Shows some signs of wear, and may have some markings on the inside. 100% Money Back Guarantee.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Eh. Decent second book. Read it b/c you can't get to the awesome later installments without it.\\n\\nReview: Most people who have read this series, at the very least, like portions of it.\\n\\nThey like the first 3 or 4 installments, but then they get bored, or after the 3rd or 4th book, the series really started picking up for them.\\n\\nIm weird, I guess. I pretty much liked the entire series right up until the end. Sure, how much I liked each book variedfor example, except for the last book, this one is my LEAST favorite, but thats not uncommon, what with this being book 2 and all. It definitely has its good moments (like when Eric gets shot and that thing happens that is hilarious and awesome), but overall . . . MEH.\\n\\nLiving Dead in Dallas begins with Sookie finding a dead Lafayette in Andy Bellefleurs car in the parking lot of Merlottes one morning. What do you mean, a dead Lafayette?! you ask. Lafayette cant be DEAD, hes still going strong in season 6 of True Blood!\\n\\nLet me introduce you to a little game I like to play called Same and NOT the Same.\\n\\nSO. Andys been drinking, cause you know, being a cop is hard, and Sookie has to call Portia (his sister) to come and pick him up.\\n\\nLeaving his car at the bar.\\n\\nFor persons unknown to leave a dead body in.\\n\\nBut why would someone want to kill Lafayette? Hes so much fun!\\n\\nYeah, well, hes also got a BIG mouth. A BIG mouth that hes apparently been running about a house hed been going to, where there were all kinds of sex hi-jinks going on, and someone didn't like that. Someone didn't like that a lot.\\n\\nSo poor Sooks stressed out about that.\\n\\nThen when she gets home from work that night, Bill tells her that shes been summoned by Eric.\\n\\nBetter and better.\\n\\nThe next evening they drive to Shreveport, where Eric informs her that shes been LOANED out to vampires in Dallas who could use some assistance of the telepathic variety. AND while Sookies understandably upset about Erics high-handedness, theres really not much she can do about itshe did, after all, agree to help him any time he wanted, in exchange for turning over human culprits to human authorities, rather than taking matters into their vampire hands. I suppose its her own fault for not specifying she wouldnt stand for being loaned out. You live and you learn, I guess.\\n\\nFreakin vampires.\\n\\nAnd that is how Bill and Sookie wind up on an airplane bound for Dallas.\\n\\nIve already said that this is probably my least favorite book in the series until you get to end, and that is b/c . . . while I don't have a problem with kink, I do have a problem with gross, middle-aged, pervy kink. And this group is just . . . blech.\\n\\nI also have a problem with centuries-old, pedophile vampires. Actually, I have a problem with ALL types of pedophiles, so even contemplating one that has been doing what they do FOR SO FREAKING LONG<well, clearly, its upsetting.\\n\\nAND all of the Bill and Sookie relationship angst from book 1 grows and flourishes in book 2 (and relationship angst is not something you want growing and flourishing). This is also the book where you get your first glimpse of how self-absorbed Bill can be.\\n\\nThis book is also where you get your first glimpse of how attentive someone-not-Bill can be.\\n\\n*winks*\\n\\nAnd thats really the only sell point for this installment. Well, that, and its necessary to read this one to get to the good ones. BOTTOMLINEtoo much perv for one book. Read it b/c you cant move forward without it, but go into it knowing that there is some seriously disturbing stuff going on. That is all.\",\n \"Product: Excellent Book\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Not Awful but Definitely Not as Good as the Prior Installments, IM-humble-O.\\n\\nReview: So . . . I debated long and hard about how to rate THE PATH OF DAGGERS, book 8 in Robert Jordan's WHEEL OF TIME . . . I think by now it's pretty obvious that I love this series, but . . .\\n\\n1. No Mat.\\n\\nLike NONE.\\n\\nAbout halfway through, I got super impatient, b/c #7 ends with him getting conked on the head, lights out, and, yeah, I know what happens next (b/c rererereread), but still, where the blood and bloody ashes is he? So I started flipping through the chapters, checking out the icons, looking for the tell-tale dice, and I FOUND THEM.\\n\\nSo I relaxed, and I put on my patient hat . . . Only to discover it was a LIE.\\n\\nDon't get me wrong, I like Talmanes as much as the next person, but Talmanes is NOT Mat.\\n\\n2. Aes Sedai shenanigans.\\n\\nThere are two types of shenanigans, as far as I'm concerned: the good kind that mean FUN, and the Aes Sedai kind that mean NEGATIVE FUN.\\n\\nI've already explained which type these are.\\n\\nAes Sedai shenanigans mean scheming and machinations. They mean HUBRIS. They mean ignoring the obvious b/c they know better, even when what they \\\"know\\\" has been definitively proven wrong over and over again.\\n\\nThings Aes Sedai know:\\n\\n1. The Black Ajah is a filthy rumor.\\n\\n2. Being Stilled or Severed from the Source cannot be healed.\\n\\n3. No more than a handful of men develop the ability to Channel every year.\\n\\n4. Abilities like Traveling and creating new ter'angreal have been lost since the Age of Legends.\\n\\n5. Only an Aes Sedai can inhibit another's ability to channel.\\n\\nFALSE, one and all.\\n\\nAnd admittedly, there are few Aes Sedai who are privy to ALL the contradictory information, but most know at least half, and still, when confronted with undeniable evidence of yet another falsely assumed belief, they refuse to acknowledge the possibility that they're mistaken until concrete proof is waved under their noses, and even then they pick it apart, b/c not convinced.\\n\\nIt's maddening.\\n\\nEven more so when the logical and inevitable conclusion of the actions they've taken results in physically becoming sick and wails and denials.\\n\\n\\\"We've divided the Tower b/c usurper and blatant abuse of the spirit of the law, gathered over 30k soldiers for our army, and acquired one of the most respected Generals in our world, but actually returning to the Tower with our army and our General to start the war we've been planning . . .?\\\" *throws up messily in corner*\\n\\n#GTFO\\n\\nAnd that's just the Aes Sedai who Egwene's stuck with.\\n\\nThe Aes Sedai/Kin/Windfinders with Elayne and Nynaeve's group are a whole separate irritation.\\n\\nBut in that case, Elayne is the bigger annoyance. Whether she's doingthething she shouldn't be doing, b/c if Aviendha can do it, the Daughter Heir of Andor can do it, too, or making meaningless connections while missing the obvious and IMPORTANT ones, I wish this red-haired future queen was a Red Shirt, and good riddance.\\n\\nBUT.\\n\\nThere is more to THE PATH OF DAGGERS then a lack of Mat, Aes Sedai shenanigans, and Elayne-whom-I-hate-loathe-despise-and-abominate.\\n\\nThere's also:\\n\\n1. A bevy of formidable women-whom-I-LOVE: Alise, Cadsuane, Sorilea, Cadsuane, Cadsuane, Cadsuane.\\n\\n2. The reappearance of Elyas, who gives Perrin some much needed insight into the minds of Saldean women.\\n\\n3. Egwene out Aes Sedai-ing the Aes Sedai.\\n\\n4. TWO revelations: (view spoiler) <------see Goodreads or blog review for spoiler\\n\\nSo not all bad. But no Mat and too much stupid Aes Sedai nonsense, so not my favorite, either. Read it b/c it's necessary, then move on, is my advice.\"\n]","isConversational":false},"profile_size":{"kind":"number","value":10,"string":"10"},"task":{"kind":"string","value":"longlamp_3"},"split_kind":{"kind":"string","value":"user_based"},"id":{"kind":"number","value":981,"string":"981"}}},{"rowIdx":982,"cells":{"question_id":{"kind":"string","value":"A3F5M28IHV3F83"},"question":{"kind":"string","value":"Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of \"5.0\" for a product with description \"Lainey lives in beautiful Washington State. She's the youngest of five and has always wanted to be a writer. Her first novel, -A Table for Three- was nominated for best debut novel of 2010 by the Romance Review and marked a dream come true for Lainey. With her third published release -Damaged Goods-, Lainey saw another of her dreams realized when she took a leap of faith to become a full-time author and left the safety net of a day job behind. Now she spends her days writing, with her dog at her feet and a cat curled in her lap, and asks herself a dozen times a day; how'd I ever get so lucky?\". The summary of the review text is \"Absolutely floored by this amazing emotional story\"."},"answer":{"kind":"string","value":"When I first read the synopsis for Embracing the Fall by Lainey Reese, I must confess that I hesitated. I typically love mnage stories but that is when there are two men and one woman. I wasn't sure how I would feel about two women and one man. But I loved, I mean totally loved, the other books in the New York series so I just had to give it a chance. Turns out I should never have doubted Ms. Reese because Embracing the Fall was just as emotional and moving as the rest of the books in this amazing series.\n\nOne of the reasons that I love this series is because Ms. Reese is brilliant at showcasing the healing power of love. She has never done this more brilliantly than in Embracing the Fall. I found myself shedding more than a few tears as we learned about the pain that Cami and Ziporah had faced. While Camis was evident, Ziporahs was no less affected. The shared tragedy had brought these two women together and created a bond that would be very difficult for a man to understand.\n\nBut Master Evan isn't just any man. I first fell in love with Evan when he appeared in Innocence Defied. If ever a man deserved a woman to love, it was Evan. But instead of the perfect woman he is introduced to two women who both appeal to him for different reasons. Separately, he would have been intrigued, but together they blew his mind. I adored the relationship he had with each woman because Evan never treated them as one unit, but as individuals.\n\nMs. Reese tackled a difficult subject with heartbreaking realism which captivated me from the very first pages. I found myself devouring the book, completely fascinated with the burgeoning love amongst the trio. The reader was treated to so many amazing relationships from Evan with each woman to the womens closeness. Each one was given the right amount of attention to showcase how this trio could actually work.\n\nIn addition to an emotional read, we were gifted with some of the hottest sex scenes I have had the pleasure of reading. The passion set my e-reader on fire and I swear I could see smoke. The writing was so descriptive that I felt like a voyeur. And if you are turned away by the idea of two females together, don't be. These two women are just friends who happen to love the same man.\n\nBecause I am a long time fan of this series, it was wonderful to have some of the other characters from the series make an appearance. I love keeping in touch with them and seeing what they have been up to. You don't not need to have read the other books in the series to enjoy Embracing the Fall. But having read the other books, I have a deeper understanding of Master Evan that adds another layer to my enjoyment of the book.\n\nThis story was so amazing that I wish I had more than five stars to give to it. My hat is off to Ms. Reese for surprising and impressing me with this book. I promise that I will never doubt her again."},"correct_answer":{"kind":"string","value":"When I first read the synopsis for Embracing the Fall by Lainey Reese, I must confess that I hesitated. I typically love mnage stories but that is when there are two men and one woman. I wasn't sure how I would feel about two women and one man. But I loved, I mean totally loved, the other books in the New York series so I just had to give it a chance. Turns out I should never have doubted Ms. Reese because Embracing the Fall was just as emotional and moving as the rest of the books in this amazing series.\n\nOne of the reasons that I love this series is because Ms. Reese is brilliant at showcasing the healing power of love. She has never done this more brilliantly than in Embracing the Fall. I found myself shedding more than a few tears as we learned about the pain that Cami and Ziporah had faced. While Camis was evident, Ziporahs was no less affected. The shared tragedy had brought these two women together and created a bond that would be very difficult for a man to understand.\n\nBut Master Evan isn't just any man. I first fell in love with Evan when he appeared in Innocence Defied. If ever a man deserved a woman to love, it was Evan. But instead of the perfect woman he is introduced to two women who both appeal to him for different reasons. Separately, he would have been intrigued, but together they blew his mind. I adored the relationship he had with each woman because Evan never treated them as one unit, but as individuals.\n\nMs. Reese tackled a difficult subject with heartbreaking realism which captivated me from the very first pages. I found myself devouring the book, completely fascinated with the burgeoning love amongst the trio. The reader was treated to so many amazing relationships from Evan with each woman to the womens closeness. Each one was given the right amount of attention to showcase how this trio could actually work.\n\nIn addition to an emotional read, we were gifted with some of the hottest sex scenes I have had the pleasure of reading. The passion set my e-reader on fire and I swear I could see smoke. The writing was so descriptive that I felt like a voyeur. And if you are turned away by the idea of two females together, don't be. These two women are just friends who happen to love the same man.\n\nBecause I am a long time fan of this series, it was wonderful to have some of the other characters from the series make an appearance. I love keeping in touch with them and seeing what they have been up to. You don't not need to have read the other books in the series to enjoy Embracing the Fall. But having read the other books, I have a deeper understanding of Master Evan that adds another layer to my enjoyment of the book.\n\nThis story was so amazing that I wish I had more than five stars to give to it. My hat is off to Ms. Reese for surprising and impressing me with this book. I promise that I will never doubt her again."},"documents":{"kind":"list like","value":["Product: Sylvia Day Crossfire Series: Bared to You, Reflected in You, Entwined in You. Books have been read one time, and are in good condition with some wear on front paperback cover. No highlighting and minimal wear on individual pages. Originally purchased at Barnes and Nobel for $15 each (combined value of $45). THIS IS A GREAT DEAL! Please contact seller with questions and for more information. Thank you!\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: I am satisfied fan!\n\nReview: If you're like me, then you have been waiting with bated breath for seven months for Entwined With You, the third book in the Crossfire series by Sylvia Day. You counted down the weeks, the days and even the minutes until you could reunite with Gideon Cross and Eva Trammel. When the book appeared on my e-reader I screamed with excitement. As I began reading, I fell in love with Gideon and Eva all over again. Entwined With You was definitely worth the wait.\n\nGideon Cross is not your average romance hero. Sure he's gorgeous and a billionaire. But he's quite flawed. As a child he was molested and he still bears the emotional scars from not only the abuse, but his family's denial of the abuse. Eva Trammell is also a flawed individual. She too suffered childhood sexual abuse at the hands of her stepbrother. Each is amazed to find someone who loves them despite their past which causes them to be insecure in their relationship. It is this insecurity that provides a lot of the drama in Entwined With You.\n\nEntwined With You picks up just two weeks after Reflected By You. Gideon and Eva have to work through the murder of Eva's abuser and Gideon's role in his death. Several of Gideon's exes also add to the drama as does Eva's ex-boyfriend. But the story's main focus is their evolving relationship. Eva and Gideon worked on their commitment and their efforts paid off as they get closer and closer.\n\nThere is a lot of sex in Entwined With You, and I mean a lot of sex. Gideon and Eva connect emotionally through their physical contact. Gideon needs it to bind Eva to him and Eva needs it to know that Gideon loves her despite her past. Ms. Day is a master at describing the passion and heat that her characters feel. But Entwined With You is not just about the sex. Eva and Gideon have an important relationship outside of the bedroom. Their relationship is built on mutual love and respect. Gideon loves Eva's mind as much as her body. Eva loves Gideon's generosity, thoughtfulness and more that are part of his personality that only few are privileged to see.\n\nEntwined With You is absolutely not a standalone. There is too much history with the characters to follow the novel without reading Bared To You and Reflected In You.\n\nSome of the complaints of Entwined With You are that additional drama has been added to create material for more books. I must disagree. Yes, there was more drama, but all the new issues that were raised seem a natural extension of the storyline. In fact, it seemed to make more sense that things would not be conveniently wrapped up and Ms. Day has successfully added additional layers to the story that intrigued me.\n\nIf you are expecting happily ever after at the end of Entwined with You then you will be disappointed. Entwined With You does conclude with Eva and Gideon together so there is no relationship cliffhanger. Several storylines have been wrapped up, but there are enough new ones and new questions to fill up another book. And in fact, Ms. Day has announced on her website that Entwined With You is not the last book in the series, but that she actually has plans for two more books. And while this may leave you frustrated, the good news is that we don't have to say goodbye to Gideon and Eva. That is certainly cause for celebration because I have grown to care for these two damaged but passionate people. I just hope that the wait is not as long this time.","Product: Annabel Joseph is a New York Times and USA Today Bestselling BDSM romance author. She writes mainly contemporary romance, although she has been known to dabble in the medieval and Regency eras. She is recognized for writing emotionally intense BDSM storylines, and strives to create characters that seem realeven flawedso readers are better able to relate to them. Annabel also writes non-BDSM erotic romance under the name Molly Joseph.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Ms. Joseph blew me away with this emotional read!\n\nReview: I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.\n\nBased upon past experience, I know that when I read a book by the incredibly talented Annabel Joseph that I am going to be entertained and moved by compelling characters and an emotional storyline. But I wasn't prepared for how emotional I would feel after reading My Naughty Minette, the third book in the Properly Spanked series. I certainly didn't expect to be brought to tears, both happy and sad, as our hero and heroine learned to love each other.\n\nWe were previously introduced to Minette and August in the previous books in the series and I had already fallen in love with Minettes sweetness, sassiness and ability to bring love and joy to all those she cares for. She has been in love with her brothers best friend for what seems like forever but she fears that August will never return that love. August does care for Minette, but not in a romantic manner. He has known Minette since she was a little girl and even helped her brother raise her. He views her as a little sister until circumstances force the two to marry. Now he has to deal with his changing views about Minette, while his past prevents him from admitting his love.\n\nMy Naughty Minette differed from the other books in the series because the heroine is already in love with the hero. In fact, it was Minettes unrequited love that first tugged at my heartstrings. I don't think there is anyone who has not been in that position and understands how painful it can be to watch the one you love not love you. Minette continued to earn my admiration as she fought for August and her marriage. Ms. Joseph wrote the character so brilliantly that long after finishing the book, I was still smiling and thinking of how Minette made me laugh.\n\nAugust was your typical brooding romance hero and I alternated between wanting to smack him and hug him. He truly struggled with his growing feelings for the woman who he thought of as a little sister. The scars left by his past ran deep and even though his actions made me angry, I finally understood why Minette loved him so.\n\nThere was so much emotion in this book and I found myself grabbing for the tissues several times. Ms. Joseph completely blew me away with her ability to touch my heart and soul. I felt Minettes pain as if it were my own and I grieved along with August when he realized how much he had hurt his wife. When you find yourself talking out loud to your book, then you know that your entire being has become intertwined into the story.\n\nThere were still plenty of the hot and steamy scenes that you have come to expect from Ms. Joseph. The sexual chemistry between August and Minette practically set my e-reader on fire.\n\nMy Naughty Minette was the perfect blend of drama, love, angst and passion. If I wasn't already a huge fan of Ms. Joseph and this series, I certainly would be after reading this book. Fortunately for me, and other fans, there is still one more friend destined to find love. Ill be counting down the days until that release.","Product: Maya Banks is the #1 New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of contemporary and historical romances. She lives in Texas with her husband and three children.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Maya Banks does it again!\n\nReview: New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Maya Banks posted on her Facebook page that she wrote and self-published her new book Theirs to Keep as a gift to her fans. When I unwrapped my gift and began reading, it became apparent that the fans were truly receiving an amazing gift.\n\nTheirs to Keep hooked me from the first page. The story begins with Elle, bruised and battered, seeking shelter in a gun shop. The gun shop is monitored by Cade and Merricks security firm and they are stunned to find a woman hiding in a cabinet a woman who had obviously been beaten repeatedly. Elle has no memory of who she is or what happened but she knows that she cant go to the authorities. Cade and Merrick sense an immediate connection and want to protect her so instead of contacting the police, they take her to their home.\n\nOver the course of time, the men both fall in love with Elle. Neither one is willing to walk away from either Elle or their friendship, so they agree to love her together. Theirs to Keep follows their story over many months, so you are able to see the relationship between the three grow naturally. While Elle does not regain her memory, she does have dreams and flashbacks that leave her feeling unworthy of the men. It takes a lot of love and patience on their part to convince Elle that she is the perfect woman for them.\n\nThere is an additional storyline related to Cade and Merricks security firm that adds even further intrigue to the storyline. But even this added drama flows naturally into the story as it moves the triads relationship forward and helps them come together as a cohesive unit. Ms. Banks doesnt add story without it being an essential part of the plot. Everything she writes has a purpose, even if the reader isn't initially aware of it. I always trust that Ms. Banks has a plan and all will make sense to me eventually.\n\nI loved the character of Elle. I have to admit that I absolutely love damsel in distress stories. Its not that I like a weak woman who needs a prince (or two) to save the day. I just love the idea of a strong man wanting to cherish and protect the woman he loves. My favorite type of heroine has an inner strength that enables her to not only survive but know when she needs help and graciously accepts it. Elle is exactly that. As she heals from her physical injuries, she has to learn to accept the trauma she has been through. With the love and support of Cade and Merrick, she finds her inner core and doesnt let her lack of memories or injuries break her.\n\nMerrick and Cade are just about perfect. While they are physically big, strong and beautiful, it is their gentle hearts, protectiveness, tenderness and full acceptance of Elle that makes me love them. I enjoyed that fact that neither had shared a woman before but chose to do so in this instance because each recognized the others love and need for Elle. Merrick and Cade each had their own special relationship with Elle and put aside any petty feelings of jealously to ensure that this unorthodox relationship worked.\n\nTheirs to Keep was an emotional roller coaster. Ms. Banks has an amazing ability to pull you into a story heart first. Her writing is dynamic and so descriptive that you are experiencing the emotions right along with the characters. I felt Elles fear in my heart and every time she cried, I cried along with her. I cheered for the men as they fought Elles insecurities to win her heart. I was on the edge of my seat during the more dramatic moments. You cannot read Theirs to Keep without becoming a part of the story.\n\nTheirs to Keep is the first book in the Tangled Hearts trilogy. And while Elle, Cade and Merrick reach a happy ending, its more of a happy for now ending since their story continues in Always Mine, the second book in the series. There are still so many unanswered questions that I cant wait to read the next book. So Ms. Banks, thank you for my gift. Please don't think me ungrateful, but I want the next one NOW! Ill be counting the days.","Product: Elizabeth Ellen Carter has been a writer all her life, as a child typing her own adventure stories during long school holidays, to a 13 year stint as a newspaper journalist to most recently working as a marketing and communications specialist. With Moonstone Obsession Elizabeth has returned to her first love of storytelling. Elizabeth Ellen Carter lives in Queensland Australia with her writer husband and two cats.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Almost Perfect Historical Romance\n\nReview: I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.\n\nMy absolute favorite genre of romance is the historical romance. Therefore I jumped at the chance to read and review Moonstone Obsession by Elizabeth Ellen Carter. There were parts of the book that I absolutely loved but other times I was confused and overwhelmed by the sheer amount of history included in the book.\n\nSo lets break this review down into two sections the romance part and the historical part. As far as a romance goes, Moonstone Obsession was wonderfully delightful. I loved the hero and heroine from the beginning. Selina Rosewall is a smart, independent, strong-willed woman who is determined to plan her life so that she is not a burden to her brother. But after meeting James Mitchell, Lord Penventen, those plans go out the window.\n\nJames is everything I would want in my historical romance hero. Hes titled, handsome, rich, debonair, patriotic, caring, loving (the list could go on and on.) When James waltzed Selina around the room he won both of our hearts. The relationship between the two was passionate and I was rooting for them from the beginning. Together, James and Selina were a force to be reckoned with. The chemistry was instantaneous and their love was enviable.\n\nSelina is not your typical historical romance heroine and I applaud that. She was able to be an equal partner in solving the mystery of Fidget and she used her knowledge of French to help the Prime Minister and others. James not only loved her for her intelligence but never treated her as the little woman who should just sit back and let the men solve all the problems.\n\nI even loved all of the secondary characters, good and evil. The cattiness amongst the women in the ton was so realistic that I didn't know whether to laugh or cringe. Ms. Carter created multi-dimensional characters that came to life on the pages of Moonstone Obsession. Her imagery of the dresses, balls and more allowed me to completely lose myself in the book.\n\nSet amidst a compelling time in French and English history, Moonstone Obsession, we are treated to adventure and intrigue as Selina and James seek out a traitor. Ms. Carter has obviously done her research. Her attention to detail is unbelievable and she created a picture of that time was so real that I felt transported in time. However, her amazing ability to write stunning details sometimes left me feeling that I was reading a college history textbook rather than a romance novel. While I appreciated Ms. Carters efforts, I just wonder if she could have left some factual information out. By 85% of the book, the hero and heroine had their happy ending. The rest of the book dealt with the intrigue and spy plotline. While I enjoyed the suspense, my ultimate focus was on James and Selina and I didn't need so much mystery.\n\nMoonstone Obsession is the first book I have read by Ms. Carter and my impression was favorable. In fact, the only thing keeping me from giving Moonstone Obsession all five stars are the lapses into history textbook. Overall though, I would recommend this book when you need your historical romance fix but still need a high quality book."],"string":"[\n \"Product: Sylvia Day Crossfire Series: Bared to You, Reflected in You, Entwined in You. Books have been read one time, and are in good condition with some wear on front paperback cover. No highlighting and minimal wear on individual pages. Originally purchased at Barnes and Nobel for $15 each (combined value of $45). THIS IS A GREAT DEAL! Please contact seller with questions and for more information. Thank you!\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: I am satisfied fan!\\n\\nReview: If you're like me, then you have been waiting with bated breath for seven months for Entwined With You, the third book in the Crossfire series by Sylvia Day. You counted down the weeks, the days and even the minutes until you could reunite with Gideon Cross and Eva Trammel. When the book appeared on my e-reader I screamed with excitement. As I began reading, I fell in love with Gideon and Eva all over again. Entwined With You was definitely worth the wait.\\n\\nGideon Cross is not your average romance hero. Sure he's gorgeous and a billionaire. But he's quite flawed. As a child he was molested and he still bears the emotional scars from not only the abuse, but his family's denial of the abuse. Eva Trammell is also a flawed individual. She too suffered childhood sexual abuse at the hands of her stepbrother. Each is amazed to find someone who loves them despite their past which causes them to be insecure in their relationship. It is this insecurity that provides a lot of the drama in Entwined With You.\\n\\nEntwined With You picks up just two weeks after Reflected By You. Gideon and Eva have to work through the murder of Eva's abuser and Gideon's role in his death. Several of Gideon's exes also add to the drama as does Eva's ex-boyfriend. But the story's main focus is their evolving relationship. Eva and Gideon worked on their commitment and their efforts paid off as they get closer and closer.\\n\\nThere is a lot of sex in Entwined With You, and I mean a lot of sex. Gideon and Eva connect emotionally through their physical contact. Gideon needs it to bind Eva to him and Eva needs it to know that Gideon loves her despite her past. Ms. Day is a master at describing the passion and heat that her characters feel. But Entwined With You is not just about the sex. Eva and Gideon have an important relationship outside of the bedroom. Their relationship is built on mutual love and respect. Gideon loves Eva's mind as much as her body. Eva loves Gideon's generosity, thoughtfulness and more that are part of his personality that only few are privileged to see.\\n\\nEntwined With You is absolutely not a standalone. There is too much history with the characters to follow the novel without reading Bared To You and Reflected In You.\\n\\nSome of the complaints of Entwined With You are that additional drama has been added to create material for more books. I must disagree. Yes, there was more drama, but all the new issues that were raised seem a natural extension of the storyline. In fact, it seemed to make more sense that things would not be conveniently wrapped up and Ms. Day has successfully added additional layers to the story that intrigued me.\\n\\nIf you are expecting happily ever after at the end of Entwined with You then you will be disappointed. Entwined With You does conclude with Eva and Gideon together so there is no relationship cliffhanger. Several storylines have been wrapped up, but there are enough new ones and new questions to fill up another book. And in fact, Ms. Day has announced on her website that Entwined With You is not the last book in the series, but that she actually has plans for two more books. And while this may leave you frustrated, the good news is that we don't have to say goodbye to Gideon and Eva. That is certainly cause for celebration because I have grown to care for these two damaged but passionate people. I just hope that the wait is not as long this time.\",\n \"Product: Annabel Joseph is a New York Times and USA Today Bestselling BDSM romance author. She writes mainly contemporary romance, although she has been known to dabble in the medieval and Regency eras. She is recognized for writing emotionally intense BDSM storylines, and strives to create characters that seem realeven flawedso readers are better able to relate to them. Annabel also writes non-BDSM erotic romance under the name Molly Joseph.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Ms. Joseph blew me away with this emotional read!\\n\\nReview: I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.\\n\\nBased upon past experience, I know that when I read a book by the incredibly talented Annabel Joseph that I am going to be entertained and moved by compelling characters and an emotional storyline. But I wasn't prepared for how emotional I would feel after reading My Naughty Minette, the third book in the Properly Spanked series. I certainly didn't expect to be brought to tears, both happy and sad, as our hero and heroine learned to love each other.\\n\\nWe were previously introduced to Minette and August in the previous books in the series and I had already fallen in love with Minettes sweetness, sassiness and ability to bring love and joy to all those she cares for. She has been in love with her brothers best friend for what seems like forever but she fears that August will never return that love. August does care for Minette, but not in a romantic manner. He has known Minette since she was a little girl and even helped her brother raise her. He views her as a little sister until circumstances force the two to marry. Now he has to deal with his changing views about Minette, while his past prevents him from admitting his love.\\n\\nMy Naughty Minette differed from the other books in the series because the heroine is already in love with the hero. In fact, it was Minettes unrequited love that first tugged at my heartstrings. I don't think there is anyone who has not been in that position and understands how painful it can be to watch the one you love not love you. Minette continued to earn my admiration as she fought for August and her marriage. Ms. Joseph wrote the character so brilliantly that long after finishing the book, I was still smiling and thinking of how Minette made me laugh.\\n\\nAugust was your typical brooding romance hero and I alternated between wanting to smack him and hug him. He truly struggled with his growing feelings for the woman who he thought of as a little sister. The scars left by his past ran deep and even though his actions made me angry, I finally understood why Minette loved him so.\\n\\nThere was so much emotion in this book and I found myself grabbing for the tissues several times. Ms. Joseph completely blew me away with her ability to touch my heart and soul. I felt Minettes pain as if it were my own and I grieved along with August when he realized how much he had hurt his wife. When you find yourself talking out loud to your book, then you know that your entire being has become intertwined into the story.\\n\\nThere were still plenty of the hot and steamy scenes that you have come to expect from Ms. Joseph. The sexual chemistry between August and Minette practically set my e-reader on fire.\\n\\nMy Naughty Minette was the perfect blend of drama, love, angst and passion. If I wasn't already a huge fan of Ms. Joseph and this series, I certainly would be after reading this book. Fortunately for me, and other fans, there is still one more friend destined to find love. Ill be counting down the days until that release.\",\n \"Product: Maya Banks is the #1 New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of contemporary and historical romances. She lives in Texas with her husband and three children.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Maya Banks does it again!\\n\\nReview: New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Maya Banks posted on her Facebook page that she wrote and self-published her new book Theirs to Keep as a gift to her fans. When I unwrapped my gift and began reading, it became apparent that the fans were truly receiving an amazing gift.\\n\\nTheirs to Keep hooked me from the first page. The story begins with Elle, bruised and battered, seeking shelter in a gun shop. The gun shop is monitored by Cade and Merricks security firm and they are stunned to find a woman hiding in a cabinet a woman who had obviously been beaten repeatedly. Elle has no memory of who she is or what happened but she knows that she cant go to the authorities. Cade and Merrick sense an immediate connection and want to protect her so instead of contacting the police, they take her to their home.\\n\\nOver the course of time, the men both fall in love with Elle. Neither one is willing to walk away from either Elle or their friendship, so they agree to love her together. Theirs to Keep follows their story over many months, so you are able to see the relationship between the three grow naturally. While Elle does not regain her memory, she does have dreams and flashbacks that leave her feeling unworthy of the men. It takes a lot of love and patience on their part to convince Elle that she is the perfect woman for them.\\n\\nThere is an additional storyline related to Cade and Merricks security firm that adds even further intrigue to the storyline. But even this added drama flows naturally into the story as it moves the triads relationship forward and helps them come together as a cohesive unit. Ms. Banks doesnt add story without it being an essential part of the plot. Everything she writes has a purpose, even if the reader isn't initially aware of it. I always trust that Ms. Banks has a plan and all will make sense to me eventually.\\n\\nI loved the character of Elle. I have to admit that I absolutely love damsel in distress stories. Its not that I like a weak woman who needs a prince (or two) to save the day. I just love the idea of a strong man wanting to cherish and protect the woman he loves. My favorite type of heroine has an inner strength that enables her to not only survive but know when she needs help and graciously accepts it. Elle is exactly that. As she heals from her physical injuries, she has to learn to accept the trauma she has been through. With the love and support of Cade and Merrick, she finds her inner core and doesnt let her lack of memories or injuries break her.\\n\\nMerrick and Cade are just about perfect. While they are physically big, strong and beautiful, it is their gentle hearts, protectiveness, tenderness and full acceptance of Elle that makes me love them. I enjoyed that fact that neither had shared a woman before but chose to do so in this instance because each recognized the others love and need for Elle. Merrick and Cade each had their own special relationship with Elle and put aside any petty feelings of jealously to ensure that this unorthodox relationship worked.\\n\\nTheirs to Keep was an emotional roller coaster. Ms. Banks has an amazing ability to pull you into a story heart first. Her writing is dynamic and so descriptive that you are experiencing the emotions right along with the characters. I felt Elles fear in my heart and every time she cried, I cried along with her. I cheered for the men as they fought Elles insecurities to win her heart. I was on the edge of my seat during the more dramatic moments. You cannot read Theirs to Keep without becoming a part of the story.\\n\\nTheirs to Keep is the first book in the Tangled Hearts trilogy. And while Elle, Cade and Merrick reach a happy ending, its more of a happy for now ending since their story continues in Always Mine, the second book in the series. There are still so many unanswered questions that I cant wait to read the next book. So Ms. Banks, thank you for my gift. Please don't think me ungrateful, but I want the next one NOW! Ill be counting the days.\",\n \"Product: Elizabeth Ellen Carter has been a writer all her life, as a child typing her own adventure stories during long school holidays, to a 13 year stint as a newspaper journalist to most recently working as a marketing and communications specialist. With Moonstone Obsession Elizabeth has returned to her first love of storytelling. Elizabeth Ellen Carter lives in Queensland Australia with her writer husband and two cats.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Almost Perfect Historical Romance\\n\\nReview: I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.\\n\\nMy absolute favorite genre of romance is the historical romance. Therefore I jumped at the chance to read and review Moonstone Obsession by Elizabeth Ellen Carter. There were parts of the book that I absolutely loved but other times I was confused and overwhelmed by the sheer amount of history included in the book.\\n\\nSo lets break this review down into two sections the romance part and the historical part. As far as a romance goes, Moonstone Obsession was wonderfully delightful. I loved the hero and heroine from the beginning. Selina Rosewall is a smart, independent, strong-willed woman who is determined to plan her life so that she is not a burden to her brother. But after meeting James Mitchell, Lord Penventen, those plans go out the window.\\n\\nJames is everything I would want in my historical romance hero. Hes titled, handsome, rich, debonair, patriotic, caring, loving (the list could go on and on.) When James waltzed Selina around the room he won both of our hearts. The relationship between the two was passionate and I was rooting for them from the beginning. Together, James and Selina were a force to be reckoned with. The chemistry was instantaneous and their love was enviable.\\n\\nSelina is not your typical historical romance heroine and I applaud that. She was able to be an equal partner in solving the mystery of Fidget and she used her knowledge of French to help the Prime Minister and others. James not only loved her for her intelligence but never treated her as the little woman who should just sit back and let the men solve all the problems.\\n\\nI even loved all of the secondary characters, good and evil. The cattiness amongst the women in the ton was so realistic that I didn't know whether to laugh or cringe. Ms. Carter created multi-dimensional characters that came to life on the pages of Moonstone Obsession. Her imagery of the dresses, balls and more allowed me to completely lose myself in the book.\\n\\nSet amidst a compelling time in French and English history, Moonstone Obsession, we are treated to adventure and intrigue as Selina and James seek out a traitor. Ms. Carter has obviously done her research. Her attention to detail is unbelievable and she created a picture of that time was so real that I felt transported in time. However, her amazing ability to write stunning details sometimes left me feeling that I was reading a college history textbook rather than a romance novel. While I appreciated Ms. Carters efforts, I just wonder if she could have left some factual information out. By 85% of the book, the hero and heroine had their happy ending. The rest of the book dealt with the intrigue and spy plotline. While I enjoyed the suspense, my ultimate focus was on James and Selina and I didn't need so much mystery.\\n\\nMoonstone Obsession is the first book I have read by Ms. Carter and my impression was favorable. In fact, the only thing keeping me from giving Moonstone Obsession all five stars are the lapses into history textbook. Overall though, I would recommend this book when you need your historical romance fix but still need a high quality book.\"\n]","isConversational":false},"profile_size":{"kind":"number","value":4,"string":"4"},"task":{"kind":"string","value":"longlamp_3"},"split_kind":{"kind":"string","value":"user_based"},"id":{"kind":"number","value":982,"string":"982"}}},{"rowIdx":983,"cells":{"question_id":{"kind":"string","value":"AMOUCAFH0MKJV"},"question":{"kind":"string","value":"Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of \"3.0\" for a product with description \"In 1960s Nigeria, a country blighted by civil war, three lives intersect. Ugwu, a boy from a poor village, works as a houseboy for a university professor. Olanna, a young woman, has abandoned her life of privilege in Lagos to live with her charismatic new lover, the professor. And Richard, a shy English writer, is in thrall to Olanna's enigmatic twin sister. As the horrific Biafran War engulfs them, they are thrown together and pulled apart in ways they had never imagined. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's masterpiece, winner of the Orange Prize for Fiction, is a novel about Africa in a wider sense: about the end of colonialism, ethnic allegiances, class and race -- and about the ways in which love can complicate all of these things.\". The summary of the review text is \"'the world was silent when we died'\"."},"answer":{"kind":"string","value":"The title comes from the emblem of the shortlived Biafran state (1967-70); in this book we see the lead up to and result of this time of turmoil in Africa through the eyes of a group of bourgeois Nigerians. There are two wealthy sisters, their spouses (one a rather feeble British ex-pat, the other a Nigerian intellectual) and their servants.\nIt was an interesting read and I learned a lot on a topic I knew little about. But I felt that because we see these terrible events through the eyes of those with influence, it somehow cushions the reader. Although our characters undergo the horrors of air raids and have to move into grotty accommodation, their wealthy parents abroad and friends in high places are looking out for them.\nI also felt that Adichie writes in a very reserved and distant manner. A character undergoes an experience, we see their reaction but exactly what s/he is thinking and feeling is not revealed.\nThe result for me was that a book set amid what was termed the worst disaster since WW2 kind of washed over me."},"correct_answer":{"kind":"string","value":"The title comes from the emblem of the shortlived Biafran state (1967-70); in this book we see the lead up to and result of this time of turmoil in Africa through the eyes of a group of bourgeois Nigerians. There are two wealthy sisters, their spouses (one a rather feeble British ex-pat, the other a Nigerian intellectual) and their servants.\nIt was an interesting read and I learned a lot on a topic I knew little about. But I felt that because we see these terrible events through the eyes of those with influence, it somehow cushions the reader. Although our characters undergo the horrors of air raids and have to move into grotty accommodation, their wealthy parents abroad and friends in high places are looking out for them.\nI also felt that Adichie writes in a very reserved and distant manner. A character undergoes an experience, we see their reaction but exactly what s/he is thinking and feeling is not revealed.\nThe result for me was that a book set amid what was termed the worst disaster since WW2 kind of washed over me."},"documents":{"kind":"list like","value":["Product: Specifications Weight Capacity: 500g/17.64oz./2500ct/16.075ozt/321.5dwt/7720gn Division: 0.01g/0.001oz/0.05ct/0.001ozt/0.01dwt/0.2gn Measurement Units: g/oz./ct/ozt/dwt/gn Function Buttons: Power/Mode/PCS/Tare/Hold Platform: 3.9 x 3.7 inches Power: 2 x AAA Batteries (included) Smart Weigh Digtial Pro Pocket Scale This Smart Weigh scale is a beautiful and convenient addition to your home. It is extremely precise and is great for weighing finer all household items including jewelry, food, medications, packages/letters and many other items! Using your new Smart Weigh Scale First Use: When you are ready to start weighing on your Smart Weigh scale, first make sure it is on a hard flat surface to ensure an accurate reading. This scale comes with batteries included, so place these in the scale and get weighing! Using the TARE function: If you need to weigh an object that can only be weighed in a container, such as a liquid or powder, the TARE function is extremely helpful. Simply place the container on the platform, press and hold the TARE button, and then place whatever you are weighing into the container. This will help take the guesswork out of weighing objects that are not as easily weighed. PCS Function: This scale also comes with a piece counting function. Simply change the mode, place a sample amount on the scale platform and then add products. The scale will count the number of items on the scale for you! This function is great for anyone who has to count tedious items, such as medications, coins or fine ingredients! Whats Included 1 x Digital Scale 2 x AAA Batteries 2 x Scale Lids 1 x User Manual Warranty Smart Weigh Scales comes with a 2 Year Warranty\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Useful piece of equipment for any household!\n\nReview: received free in return for a review\n\nWhen I first saw these scales, I thought they'd only be able to weigh a few grams - but in fact they can handle up to 2000g / 70 oz (4lb 6oz). They're neat, small and an elegant brushed aluminium.\nI was impressed by the 'tare' function, which means the scale subtracts the weight of the bowl you're using, thus giving a net weight for the contents. It was really simple to do: just place the bowl on scale, then press 'tare', then add the flour or whatever to bowl and get a 'flour only' weight.\nGreat item!\n\nThe whole thing is so much better than my cumbersome old kitchen scales with a dial!","Product: A VHS MOVIE based on the book.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: A mother's silent suffering\n\nReview: Not the best Bette Davis movie I've ever seen, but certainly an entertaining evening's viewing.\n(spoiler alert)\nThe ladies are in crinolines for this 19th century story (from a tale by Edith Wharton). When Delia Lowell (Miriam Hopkins) learns her old love has returned to town just as she's about to marry another, she sends Charlotte (Bette Davis) to tell him the news. Their assignation results in an illegitimate daughter, born when Charlotte 'has gone west for her health.'\nWhen Delia learns who this 'foundling' really is, she wrecks Charlotte's forthcoming marriage. And when she offers Charlotte and daughter Tina a home in her mansion, Tina turns to Delia with love as 'Mummy' - so much nicer a person than sour 'Aunt Charlotte' ...\n\nIt's very dated now, and I have to say I prefer Davis as a villain to a wronged woman","Product: The God of Small Things\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: \"A few dozen hours can affect the outcomes of whole lifetimes...Little events...suddenly become the bleached bones of a story\"\n\nReview: Set in Kerala, Southern India, in the 1970s and today, this is a totally original work. 31 year old Rahel is returning to her childhood home - to her aunt 'Baby' Kochamma and the twin brother she has not seen for many years.\nFrom the first page the reader realises this is a work of masterful prose; Roy's descriptions bring the rank and humid village and its river to life.\n\"Outside the rain had stopped. The grey sky curdled and the clouds resolved themselves into little lumps like substandard mattress stuffing.\"\n\nThere is a childhood tragedy which somehow had lasting implications for the whole family, but this is only slowly revealed in all its detail, as the narrative shifts backwards and forwards. There are moments of great humour as we see the world through the eight-year-old twins' eyes; also of heartbreak, as their lives are ruined forever by an accident and by the malice of the adults around them.\n\nAlthough it's masterly writing, maybe it leaves the reader more impressed than emotionally touched, but still a great novel.","Product: New design for this favourite unabridged story from the grand master of storytelling. Read by Roald Dahl, himself. The Enormous Crocodile grinned, showing hundreds of sharp white teeth. \"I'm going to fill my hungry empty tummy with something yummy yummy yummy yummy!\" The Enormous Crocodile boasts that he is going to eat a child for lunch and he sets out to trick all the children in his attempts for food. But his plots and disguises are foiled by the animals in the jungle -- especially by Trunky, the elephant. A crunchingly golloping tale for age 5+.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Ok, but rather written to the Roald Dahl formula,\n\nReview: I've read many Roald dahl books to my children - and latterly grandchild - but this was one I'd not encountered till recently.\nAimed at around 6 or 7 year olds, this is a short, well-illustrated read, telling the tale of the wicked, hungry crocodile, whose 'secret plans and clever tricks' relate to getting hold of a tasty meal:\n'The sort of things that\nI'm going to eat\nHave fingers, toe-nails, arms\nand legs and feet'\n\nPlenty of Dahl-type language plus characters from his other books, who foil the crocodile's attempts to diguise himself as a seesaw etc and bag a nice juicy little child for dinner.\nMy grandson quite enjoyed it; made for an easy entertaining read. I can't say it massively grabbed me; found it a bit forgettable and very similar to Dahl's other work.","Product: Winner of the Man Booker Prize 2009 'Lock Cromwell in a deep dungeon in the morning,' says Thomas More, 'and when you come back that night he'll be sitting on a plush cushion eating larks' tongues, and all the gaolers will owe him money.' England, the 1520s. Henry VIII is on the throne, but has no heir. Cardinal Wolsey is his chief advisor, charged with securing the divorce the pope refuses to grant. Into this atmosphere of distrust and need comes Thomas Cromwell, first as Wolsey's clerk, and later his successor. Cromwell is a wholly original man: the son of a brutal blacksmith, a political genius, a briber, a charmer, a bully, a man with a delicate and deadly expertise in manipulating people and events. Ruthless in pursuit of his own interests, he is as ambitious in his wider politics as he is for himself. His reforming agenda is carried out in the grip of a self-interested parliament and a king who fluctuates between romantic passions and murderous rages. From one of our finest living writers, 'Wolf Hall' is that very rare thing: a truly great English novel, one that explores the intersection of individual psychology and wider politics. With a vast array of characters, and richly overflowing with incident, it peels back history to show us Tudor England as a half-made society, moulding itself with great passion, suffering and courage.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: 'The whole of Henry's court is Wolf Hall'\n\nReview: Absolutely wonderfully written look at the Tudor Court - not ,as usual, from the royal perspective, but from that of secretary Thomas Cromwell. Cromwell is a mysterious character, rising as he did from the son of a blacksmith to one of the most important men in England. Ms Mantel has crafted a kind of stream of consciousness novel, combining actual events with the thoughts and feelings inside his head - like other reviewers I found this a challenge to begin with, but it works to flesh out Cromwell as we follow his actions.\nAll set against the precarious world of Henry VIII's court, where the king may turn on you at any time:\n\n'The cardinal says, do you think this is a tilting ground? Do you think there are rules, protocols, judges to see fair play? One day, when you are still adjusting your harness, you will look up and see him thundering at you downhill.'\nPlanning to read the sequel once I've had a breather!","Product: Looks unread. Shipped from the U.K. All orders received before 3pm sent that weekday.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: \"an illness with the shape and sound of a snake. It slithers through the branches of our family tree\"\n\nReview: I started reading this morning...and just read and read all day till I finished (300 pages but quite quick reading.)\nIt's narrated by teenage Matt as he looks back on his childhood and the death of his Downs Syndrome brother (we're kept waiting till the end to find out the details on that one).\nAs Matt leaves school (and his grief stricken mother) and begins sharing a flat and using drugs, his brother starts to take over his thoughts...\n\n\"There is weather and there is climate.\nIf it rains outside, or if you stab a classmate's shoulder with a compass needle, over and over, until his white cotton school shirt looks like blotting paper, that is the weather.\nBut if you live in a place where it is often likely to rain, or your perception falters and dislocates so that you retreat, suspicious and afraid of those closest to you, that is the climate.\"\n\nA compelling read and an insight on how it may feel to have schizophrenia...the side-effects of the medication, that cause sufferers not to take it and life in the mental health system.\nI did fear it was about to have an unrealistic, 'happy ever after' ending, but Mr Filer keeps things realistic.\nRecommended.","Product: Best Word Book Ever\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: THE BEST word book ever!\n\nReview: Had this as a preschooler in 1960s and loved the pictures- they're ideal to look at and discuss with your child even before he can read. There's little humourous touches everywhere. Bought a copy recently for a friend's child and wanted to keep it! The rabbit in a chef's hat holding a frying pan on fire labelled 'good cook'; the picture of a classroom where the text reads 'you can learn many things in school- Little Bear is learning how to find a lost glove'!! Wonderful!\nNB Just bought another copy for my granddaughter - was careful to get an old version (the cover design shows mother only in the kitchen, rather than the politically correct mom and dad sharing the chores!) This contains lots of sections that were omitted from later editions such as flower garden. Worth paying a bit more for an older one!!","Product: In this comic novel, Naipaul tells the story of Mohun Biswas, a Trinidadian of East Indian ancestry who stumbles into one misfortune after another as he searches for a house of his own. The experiences of Mr. Biswas bring to light such universal themes as the individual versus society and the search for self-identity.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: 'Bigger than all of them was the house, his house',\n\nReview: Wonderful read, highly entertaining with laugh-out-loud moments yet touchingly sad as well.\nThe novel opens shortly before the death of Mr Biswas, with his fear of losing his home. In the narrative that follows, charting Mr Biswas' life, forever vulnerable to the whims of others, and with no place to call his own, we come to see why the house has such significance for him.\nFor much of his life lack of money compels him to share a large communal house with his wife's family, overseen by the stern and unpredictable matriarch Mrs Tulsi. In his descriptions of the 'shifting, tangled, multifarious relationships' of the Tulsis come many of the novel's most vividly comic moments:\n\n'To combat W C Tuttle's gramophone Chinta and Govind had been giving a series of pious singings from the Ramayana....she sang very well. Govind sang less mellifluously: he partly whined and partly grunted, from his habit of singing while lying on his belly, Caught in this crossfire of song, which sometimes lasted a whole evening, Mr Biswas, listening, listening, would on a sudden rush in pants and vest to the inner room and bang on the partition of Govind's room and bang on the partition of W C Tuttle's drawingroom.\nThe Tuttles never replied. Chinta sang with added zest. Govind sometimes only chuckled between couplets, making it appear to be part of his song.'\n\nor\n\n\"One of the sons-in-law was invariably responsible for precipitating Mrs Tulsi's faint. He was now hounded by silence and hostility. If he attempted to make friendly talk many glances instantly reproved him for his frivolity. If he moped in a corner or went up to his room he was condemned for his callousness and ingratitude. He was expected to stay in the hall and show all the signs of contrition and unease.. He waited for the sounds of footsteps coming from the Rose Room; he accosted a busy, offended sister and, ignoring snubs, made whispered enquiries about Mrs Tulsi's condition. Next morning he came down, shy and sheepish. Mrs Tulsi would be better. She would ignore him. But that evening forgiveness would be in the air. The offender would be spoken to as if nothing had happened, and he would respond with eagerness.'\n\nBrilliant observations on human behaviour, an absolute must-read.","Product: The Republic of Gilead offers Offred only one function: to breed. If she deviates, she will, like dissenters, be hanged at the wall or sent out to die slowly of radiation sickness. But even a repressive state cannot obliterate desire - neither Offred's nor that of the two men on which her future hangs...\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: \"Better never means better for everyone...It always means worse for some.\"\n\nReview: Last read 18 yrs ago- I'd forgotten how utterly brilliant and engrossing it was!\nNarrated by 33 year old Offred, this is a futuristic dystopia where pollution and disease have made sterility and birth defects commonplace. Wealthy and infertile couples can take in a 'handmaid' to give them a chance of their own child. But there is nothing wanton about this - the wife is present during the 'Ceremony', and the handmaid dresses like a nun.\nOffred is one such handmaid. She recounts her life with the Commander and his hostile wife; her trips into town (always paired up with another maid); the police state, where capital punishment is commonplace; the rumours of an underground resistance movement. And she looks back to her youth, when things were still normal, when she had a partner, a child, feminist friends, a mother...\nThe reader will see hints of different political systems: it put me much in mind of African slavery, with people fleeing via safe houses to the North and freedom. But written in 1985, as islamic extremism was increasing, this also reflects that misogynistic world. Women covered up (Offred wears a headdress whose 'wings' give her a limited view), their freedom curtailed (allegedly for their own protection), public executions and enforced 'religion' as another tool of oppression.\nUnputdownable writing.","Product: Flora Poste, orphaned at twenty, decides to go and live with her relatives at Cold Comfort Farm. Once there she discovers they exist in a state of chaos and feels it is up to her to bring order. From the author of LIGHT AND EASY.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: \"...will remind you that Christmas is a magical time of year and romance can blossom in the least likely of places\"\n\nReview: Sixteen short stories set in the 1930s; only one is actually set at Cold Comfort Farm (the weakest in my view, just a skit on the gloomy characters as they sip swede wine and hunt the charm in the pudding that will grant an UNLUCKY new year.\nOtherwise they're pleasant, readable tales, such as you'd find in a good magazine. Failing relationships and new romances; a murderer apprehended; an ex-wife visiting her children... Perhaps the most memorable for me was 'Sisters', where a kind-hearted lady invites a 'bad girl' to be her servant...and lives to regret it.\nEnjoyable though a couple of the later ones irritate, as women realise they need to hang on to their man at all cost (And I'm far from a feminist!)","Product: Tadeusz Borowski's concentration camp stories were based on his own experiences surviving Auschwitz and Dachau. In spare, brutal prose he describes a world where the will to survive overrides compassion and prisoners eat, work and sleep a few yards from where others are murdered; where the difference between human beings is reduced to a second bowl of soup, an extra blanket or the luxury of a pair of shoes with thick soles; and where the line between normality and abnormality vanishes. Published in Poland after the Second World War, these stories constitute a masterwork of world literature.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Birkenau and Auschwitz and after...\n\nReview: Other reviewers have said it all; but this is an immensely shocking and powerful work.\nIn the stories, Borowski focusses on the vast numbers of prisoners being shipped into the killing factory of Birkenau for a speedy despatch. The true horror comes from the way all these individuals are treated as a commodity, carriages unsealed, the 'transport' despoiled of their luggage by guards and other prisoners and walked off to their fate.\n\"What's new with you?\n\"Not much. Just gassed up a Czech transport.\"\n\n\"How many have gone by so far? It's been almost two months since mid-May. Counting twenty thousand per day...around one million!\"\n\nHorrific images remain with the reader: the women in the experimental block \"(they push out their heads between the bars, just like the rabbits my father used to keep; do you remember? grey ones with one floppy ear.)\nBut the dreadful world he has experienced remains with the author after Liberation; in the final story, 'The World of Stone', thoughts of the past erupt into his everyday world. Walking among a crowd, he imagines \"a gust of the cosmic gale has blown the crowd into the air, all the way up to the treetops, sucked the human bodies into a huge whirlpool...mingled the children's rosy cheeks with the hairy chests of the men, entwined the clenched fists with strips of women's dresses, thrown snow-white thighs on the top, like foam, with hats and fragments of heads tangled in hair-like seaweed peeping from below.\"\nBack in the story \"The People who walked on\", he tells of a female inmate trying to hide her child from the SS and how it dawned on him that \"I too would like to have a child with rose-coloured cheeks and light blond hair.\" Perhaps the saddest fact is that after coming through such horrific experiences, Borowski took his life just three days after his daughter was born.","Product: Malidoma Somé was born in Burkina Faso in 1956. At the age of four, he was forcefully taken from his family to be educated at a French Jesuit boarding school. At the age of twenty, he escaped from the school and was reunited with his family. He now lectures on his experiences.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: \"I still often suffered from being a man of two worlds\"\n\nReview: Malidoma Some was born into a village in Burkina Faso when it was still under French rule. He describes his first four years, focussing particularly on his close relationship with his grandfather, an elder and shaman. As he recalls his grandfather's funeral - spirit voices, and the dead man walking - I thought perhaps these were the confused recollections of a small child.\nAt four, the author was 'stolen' by the local priest, and compelled to live in a Catholic boarding school. Forced to communicate in French, he soon forgot his native tongue. And Catholic dogma replaced tribal rites. But while he was persuaded by the religion, to the extent of wanting to become a priest, he was also repelled at the sexual and physical abuse he witnessed, and at the colonial attitudes towards the African people.\nAt twenty he ran back to his village; much of the book now tells of (parts of) the month-long initiation ceremony he underwent. And here the reader must decide for himself what to make of the author's otherworldly experiences, as he enters other dimensions, communes with spirits and much more. Was he drugged? hypnotized? Was it Satanism or is there really a way into other universes? The descriptions are very vivid and persuasive, and I never realized initiation rituals included all this.\nUltimately the author is urged by his elders to take his knowledge of two worlds and tell the white man who his people really are. \"Go and let yourself be swallowed. Your ancestors will do the rest.\"\nAn interesting work; make of it what you will.","Product: When the new teacher first arrives, Barbara immediately senses that this woman will be different from the rest of her staff-room colleagues. But Barbara is not the only one to feel that Sheba is special, and before too long Sheba is involved in an illicit affair with a pupil. Barbara finds the relationship abhorrent, of course, but she is the only adult in whom Sheba can properly confide. So when the liaison is found out and Sheba's life falls apart, Barbara is there...\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Notes on a scandal\n\nReview: An intriguing, undemanding read which I enjoyed. Narrated by teacher Barbara, a spinster approaching retirement, it tells the story of her colleague and friend Sheba. A married art teacher from a well-to-do background, the lovely Sheba seems to have the kind of charmed life the lonely Barbara can only dream of. But when she ill-advisedly begins an affair with a 15 year old boy from their school, things look set to change...\n\nThere are moments of hilarity as Barbara relays Sheba's confidences to her; the way the 40 year old woman imbues her young lover's limited conversational abilities with romantic mystique. And as she describes daily life in a rough comprehensive one laughs out loud at times.\nBut there is also sadness in the desperate loneliness of our narrator, and an ever-present threatening feeling, as she recalls previous 'difficulties' with friends who no longer feature in her life, shows jealousy over Sheba's other friends, and , most mystifying, is keeping a detailed set of notes on the whole incident, complete with timeline...\n\nGood entertainment, though I felt it fizzled out just a tad.","Product: 'EXCUSE ME, SIR, BUT MAY I BE OF ASSISTANCE? AH, I SEE I HAVE ALARMED YOU. DO NOT BE FRIGHTENED BY MY BEARD. I AM A LOVER OF AMERICA...' So speaks the mysterious stranger at a Lahore cafe as dusk settles. Invited to join him for tea, you learn his name and what led this speakerr of immaculate English to seek you out. For he is more worldly than you might expect; better travelled and better educated. He knows the West better than you do. And as he tells you his story, of how he embraced the Western dream-and a Western woman-and how both betrayed him, so the night darkens. Then the true reason for your meeting becomes abundantly clear...\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: compelling work- I read it in one sitting\n\nReview: One of those books I didn't think I'd like from the title, having no particular interest in Islam or politics.\nBut I was immediately drawn into it. The leading character, Changez, is addressing an American he meets in a Lahore teashop (and by extension you the reader.) Hamid never lets you forget you're being 'talked at' rather than reading an autobiography; Changez regularly asks questions or makes polite comments to his American (although the latter's voice is never heard.)\nChangez begins his narrative when he was a student in the US. As an outstanding Pakistani youth he got a scholarship to Princeton. Here religion doesn't seem to feature in his life at all- he aims high, mixes with his classmates, drinks, holidays, falls in love and ultimately lands a prestigious job.\nBut cracks start to emerge in his American persona:\n'I was a modern day janissary, a servant of the American empire at a time when it was invading a country with a kinship to mine.'\nUnputdownable.","Product: Margaret Drabble was born in Sheffield in 1939 and read English at Cambridge. She was awarded a DBE in 2008. Since the 1960s she has written 17 novels - The Millstone was her third - and she has also edited two editions of The Oxford Companion to English Literature. She is married to the biographer Michael Holroyd.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: 'I was trapped in a human limit for the first time in my life, and I was going to have to learn how to live inside it'\n\nReview: Masterly written novel, following 1960s academic, Rosamund Stacey. From her privileged background - amusing, bohemian friends; use of a nice flat while her parents are abroad; male admirers (but nothing more) - she is suddenly brought up short when she discovers she is pregnant after a one night stand with (gay?) George.\nSuddenly she has to take on board a whole world to which she was oblivious: the badly dressed working class patients with whom she must now mix at the doctor's; the disapproval of her siblings. And whether to get back in touch with George and tell him of the fact.\nInteresting from a historical perspective - did NHS matrons really refuse to let parents visit their infants for a couple of weeks after surgery in case it upset them?!\nRosamund doesn't seem to suffer the persecution that one equates with single-motherhood in this era; she acknowledges that this is due in no small part to her class background:\n'Had I not been who I am and born and reared as I was, I would probably never have dared: I only thought I could get away with it, to put it briefly, because those ambulance men collected me from a good address, and not from a bedsitter in Tottenham...So, in a way, I was cashing in on the foibles of a society which I have always distrusted; by pretending to be above its structures, i was merely turning its anomalies to my own use.'","Product: Controversial and compelling, \"In Cold Blood\" reconstructs the murder in 1959 of a Kansas farmer, his wife and both their children. Truman Capote's comprehensive study of the killings and subsequent investigation explores the circumstances surrounding this terrible crime and the effect it had on those involved. At the centre of his study are the amoral young killers Perry Smith and Dick Hickcock, who, vividly drawn by Capote, are shown to be reprehensible yet entirely and frighteningly human. The book that made Capote's name, In Cold Blood is a seminal work of modern prose, a remarkable synthesis of journalistic skill and powerfully evocative narrative.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: \"The suffering. The horror. They were dead. A whole family. Gentle, kindly people, people I knew - murdered.\",\n\nReview: \"The suffering. The horror. They were dead. A whole family. Gentle, kindly people, people I knew - murdered.\", 18 April 2015\n\nThis review is from: In Cold Blood: A True Account of a Multiple Murder and its Consequences (Penguin Modern Classics) (Paperback)\nAn absolutely brilliant reconstruction of the 1959 mass murder of a whole family in a remote Kansas town, by two drifters for no very logical reason. Capote sets the scene brilliantly in the first chapter, as he jumps from the family living their ordinary day to the two murderers, chatting, driving. The reader knows an awful event is about to happen; as little events happen, such as the neighbour's child coming over to visit, you wonder whether she is going to be harmed or will she get away in time...\nIn the 3 succeeding chapters, the police are looking for these 'persons unknown' until the answer presents itself. And throughout we learn more of the killers, though not enough to comprehend their motivation.\nShocking and highly readable.","Product: When Joel Knox's mother dies, he is sent into the exotic unknown of the Deep South to live with a father he has never seen. But once he gets there, everyone is curiously evasive when Joel asks to see his father. Truman Capote's first novel, \"Other Voices, Other Rooms\" is a brilliant, searching study of homosexuality set in a shimmering landscape of heat, mystery and decadence.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: 'as if his heart was beating all over his bodyand all undefined whisperings had gathered into one yearning roar'\n\nReview: Exquisite descriptive writing abounds in this short novel, a coming if age tale of 13 year old Joel Knox sent to live with the father he has never met. It really immerses you in the world of rural Alabama.\n'Deep in the hollow, dark syrup crusted the bark of vine-roped sweetgums; like pale apple leaves green witch butterflies sank and rose; a breezy lane of trumpet lilies beckoned like hands lace gloved and ghostly.'\nThe boy encounters a weird household- father ill in bed, a strange stepmother and Cousin Randolph (an Oscar Wilde type character). He befriends the house servant and Idabel, a local tomboy who has her own issues.\nThen the latter part of the book becomes hard to follow but we see Joel starting to come to terms with his homosexuality.","Product: Herbert Foltinek is Professor of English at the University of Vienna. Kathryn Kirkpatrick is Associate Professor of English at Appalachian State University.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Jane Austen in the Highlands\n\nReview: Written in 1818, this novel tells of Lady Juliana, beautiful but poor, who thwarts her father's plans for her to marry into money ('the Duke of L?' replied Lady Juliana with a scream of horror and surprise. 'Why he's red haired and squints and he's as old as you!') to wed Douglas. Obliged to seek refuge at his parental home in the Highlands, the comedy begins, with our heroine experiencing a massive culture shock. I particularly liked invalid Sir Sampson who requires carrying about and thus calls his man 'Philistine because he has Sampson in his hands'.\nYears go by and Juliana has twin daughters but rejects the weaker one who is gladly brought up in Scotland by her Aunt Douglas. The latter part of the book lacks the comic tones of the first; we see virtuous daughter Mary leave her Highland idyll to meet her mother and sister Adelaide who has turned out as vain and silly as her mother...","Product: In 1997 Philip Roth won the Pulitzer Prize for American Pastoral. In 1998 he received the National Medal of Arts at the White House, and in 2002 received the highest award of the American Academy of Arts and Letters, the Gold Medal in Fiction, previously awarded to John Dos Passos, William Faulkner, and Saul Bellow, among others. He has twice won the National Book Award, the PEN/Faulkner Award, and the National Book Critics Circle Award.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: 'a nightmarish vision of America's anti-Semitic fury roaring...up our backstairs like the waters of a flood'\n\nReview: Roth tweaks 1940s history, imagining how his native USA might have been if Roosevelt had lost the presidential election to Lindbergh- the aviator who was also anti-Semitic and isolationist (opposed to involving his country in Europe's war).\nHe brings out the human side to what could just be a political tale by narrating it as his 9-year-old self; watching his family affected by events such as a state initiative to deport Jews. His cousin determines to help in the War but has to go to Canada to join up. Other families settle in Canada, feeling safer there, while some Jews go along with Lindbergh's government from self-seeking motives.\nNot really my sort of book- I thought Roth evoked his childhood brilliantly but couldn't get too interested in political events and was glad to finish it.","Product: Book by David Olusoga, Casper W. Erichsen\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: German concentration camps in Namibia: a pre-cursor to those of WW2,\n\nReview: An extremely well-written account of an event of which I certainly was unaware - namely the appalling treatment of the native peoples of German S W Africa (now Namibia) in the early years of the 20th century. Based on the Kaiser's desire to create 'lebensraum' - space for the Aryan race to flourish, separate from the 'natives' - the German colonists created horrific concentration camps, notably that of Shark Island, near Luderitz.\nBut the author's don't confine themselves to relating African history; after explaining the German situation from WW1 to the disintegration of the country in its wake, and the rise of the Third Reich, they go on to draw parallels between the racial discrimination that was used to justify the treatment of natives in Africa, and that later used against Slavs and Jews.\n\n\"So much of what took place in German SW Africa at the beginning of the twentieth century horribly prefigures the events of the 1940s: concentration camps, the bureaucratisation of killing, meticulous record-keeping of death tolls and death rates, the use of work as a means of extermination, civilians transported in cattle trucks then worked to death, their remains experimented upon by race scientists, and the identification of ethnic groups who had a future of slaves and those who had no future of any sort.\"\n\nA shocking book, yet written in a very readable style, and I learned so much, both about African and European history.","Product: Book by Jaroslav Hasek\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: \"I still can't make out whether you only act the fool or whether you were born a fool\"\n\nReview: The good soldier Schweik is a totally unforgettable character. Imprisoned, sent to a lunatic asylum then ejected, he returns to his occupation of selling 'pedigree' dogs, before volunteering to fight in World War I. Since his rheumatism is playing him up he has his landlady wheel him there in a bath-chair - resulting in a eulogy 'Patriotism of a Cripple' in the newspaper, but a spell in the military infirmary as a malingerer.\nAnd here begins his army career - working for a drunken chaplain and later as batman to the generally likeable Lieutenant Lukash, for whom he causes no end of troubles, not least by remarking in the presence of a bald-headed gentleman who later turns out to be a fearsome major-general that \"There was a doctor who said that loss of hair was due to mental disturbance during confinements.\"\nAnd through it all Schweik maintains his guileless expression and bland smile, his show of obedience - but the sense that he is poking fun at his superiors with his endless, usually irrelevant, anecdotes.\nWhat started off as an entertaining read definitely started to wear thin for me as it went on. Especially when the troops reached the Galician front and scenes of death and destruction, Schweik's attitude stopped being amusing or credible. Would have benefitted from not being quite so long.","Product: Berlin, summer 2011. Adolf hitler wakes up on a patch of open ground, alive and well. Things have changed - no eva braun, no nazi party, no war. Hitler barely recognises his beloved fatherland, filled with immigrants and run by a woman. People certainly recognise him, albeit as a flawless impersonator who refuses to break character. The unthinkable, the inevitable happens, and the ranting hitler goes viral, becomes a youtube star, gets his own t. V. Show, and people begin to listen. But the fuhrer has another programme with even greater ambition - to set the country he finds a shambles back to rights. Look who's back stunned and then thrilled 1. 5 million german readers with its fearless approach to the most taboo of subjects. Naive yet insightful, repellent yet strangely sympathetic, the revived hitler unquestionably has a spring in his step.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: \"It was my task and mine alone to save the Volk\"\n\nReview: Imagine what would happen if Hitler suddenly woke up in a park in 2012 Berlin (how this happens is never clarified.) At first the humour is based on any time traveller having to get used to a whole different society:\nthe influx of immigrants: \"during my stroll I had noticed the occasional passer-by whose Aryan ancestry was questionable, to put it mildly... it was still a mystery what these racial aliens were doing here.\"\nwhen offered an instant coffee \"the British must still be blockading the seas...the brave, stoic German Volk had been forced to make do with substitutes for so long.\"\nThe shock of a woman president, poorly-behaved young people who don't measure up to the Hitler Youth, even the computer...\n\nBut Hitler is soon discovered and offered a place on a TV show, as an alternative comedian, impersonating the dictator....\n\nWhile many will find any novel on Hitler tasteless, I have to say I found the premise interesting. At a time when there are divisions in the European community, when unchecked immigration has led to anger and the growth of far-right parties, what actually WOULD happen if Hitler turned up again now? Would some people have time for him?\n\nThis is an excellent translation: much of the conversation is in typical 'young person's slang' as Hitler mixes with people in the media, and translator Jamie Bulloch does a convincing job of modern anglicisms: \"LOL\", that's like so cool\" etc.\nInteresting read - probably a *3.5","Product: Bright, clean, almost no wear. Excellent copy of one of best books about religion every written. Lewis knows the denominations and the good motivations and how they can be manipulated\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: \"I'll be the one big preacher in Zenith. And then- Chicago? New York? Bishopric? Whatever I want! Whee!\"\n\nReview: Elmer Gantry is an intensely unspiritual young man at college in the 1920s. Not particularly academic, he is a strapping 'football gladiator' who goes in for fighting, drinking and girls. His only friend is a passionate atheist.\nHow Gantry comes to get sucked into theology school, and his failures and successes thereafter make for a highly readable work, that make one look at organised religion in a dubious manner. Elmer's attitude to the whole thing is well illustrated when he gets his first appointment:\n'He'd show 'em!...Show 'em how he could build up church membership, build up the collections, get 'em all going with his eloquence - and of course, carry the message of salvation into darkened hearts. It would be mighty handy to have the extra ten a week - and maybe more if he could kid the Schoenheim deacons properly. His first church...his own...and Frank had to take his orders!'","Product: LIKE NEW, LIMITED EDITION FRANKLIN LIBRARY LEATHER BOUND, 22 CARAT GILDED PAGES. In like new, unread condition, not price clipped, not library edition, not remainder marked.\nSeller is a lifelong book collector and each edition comes directly from his 35,000+ volume collection! All orders are shipped every business day using USPS Media Mail for all U S. orders. Orders shipped from Grover Beach, California. 93433-1585, Thank You, for your business!!\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: A great festive read\n\nReview: Have read most of Dickens' novels but only just got round to A Christmas Carol, a lovely little novella which may be sentimental but is still a real tear jerker.\nWe meet Ebenezer Scrooge, a joyless, utterly mean employer, sitting in his freezing office on Christmas Eve. He rejects his good-natured neplhew's invitation for Christmas dinner, turns away two gentlemen collecting for the poor: (\"Are there no prisons?...the Union workhouses? Are they still in operation?\") and complains of his clerk, young family man Bob Cratchit, wanting the next day off.\nBut Scrooge is to meet three spirits that show him Christmases past, present and future. We glimpse the Cratchit family making merry as best they can, and Scrooge sees how he will be remembered by his acquaintances in the future, and changes his outlook in consequence.\nAlthough I'd never read this before, I'd picked up quotes and the general theme from snippets on TV, and had envisioned it being too syrupy for me ... but it's a wonderful read.","Product: Those Wild Wyndhams\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: \"A gilded family of remarkable women\"\n\nReview: I really enjoyed this biography of the three Wyndham sisters, (and their two brothers) born to a wealthy, bohemian family in the 1860s. From their childhood, marriages - happy and not - love affairs and children, to their friends and associates. As part of the intellectual 'Souls' set, they mixed with politicians, artists and other notables.\nIt's quite touchingly written as the three bright young things live through war (the five siblings lost a total of five sons), bereavement and disillusionment and move into a chastened old age. The author describes the political world along with the personal, as campaigns and elections impact on their lives.\nImmerses the reader in a distant age of Downton Abbey-type privilege. Very readable.\nB/w photos","Product: Great condition! Ships very quickly and packaged carefully!\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: \"Although I'm usually happy as a novice, I'm not going to become a monk\"\n\nReview: This was a fascinating read, written by a British convert to the life of a Buddhist monk. Here he explains something which travellers to Thailand may have noticed and puzzled over - namely the huge numbers of monks including a large percentage of teenagers.\nWe learn that monasticism is not seen as a lifetime commitment: on the contrary, many take the robe for a short while to 'gain merit' for deceased relatives or as an expected rite of passage. For many children on the other hand, most particularly those from a desperately poor background, spending their formative years in a monastery is their only opportunity to get a secondary education and better themselves.\nThe author tells the life-stories of some of his novices; from beatings, abuse and dire poverty to amphetamines and alcohol, they have chosen to escape to the safety of Buddhism. While some find it difficult to live the life and admit to being naughty and missing the outside life - and are quite open on their plans to 'disrobe' once they graduate - there is a definite sense of their appreciation of the moral tenets that will make them better people.\nExtremely readable and informative.","Product: Slight signs of wear!\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: 'she pictured...some truly terrestrial paradise, where beautiful people in beautiful houses spoke of beautiful things'\n\nReview: Written in the 1960s, this is the story of Clara Maugham, the academic daughter of an upper working-class family in northern England. Always aware that there is a better world out there than the ugly town of her birth, and her grim-faced mother, Clara puts all her energies into escape to university.\nOnce there, the thought of going home for holidays fills her with dread, especially after meeting the fascinating Denham family - writer parents with apparently wonderful offspring - notably her friend, Clelia, and the utterly charming Gabriel...\nDoes Clara's full-scale adoption of the Denhams' tastes and beliefs show a certain immaturity? Clara even acknowledges to herself 'she had sought the smartly intense, at the expense of the more solid and dowdy virtues.'\nBut as she grows up and has to gather her strength to make her life what she wants, she realises they were a means of 'self-advancement' - and through her association she has indeed advanced enough not to be held back by others' claims on her.","Product: English Eccentrics a Gallery of Weird [paperback] Sitwell, Edith [Jul 29, 1971]\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: \"Eccentricity exists particularly in the English\"\n\nReview: A variable collection of characters, from the true eccentrics to those who would hardly seem to qualify.\nThe former include such individuals as the 'amphibious' lord Rokeby ; the 'not entirely pleasing' Celestina Collins, who shared her bed with thirty fowls; Squire Mytton, who frightened his hiccups away by setting his nightshirt on fire...\n\nI was entertained by the account of Mr Coates, a Shakespearean actor who never quite cut the mustard: 'Mr Coates appeared at The Theatre Royal, Richmond...and again no attempt was made upon his life. indeed, the only lives that were in danger were those of certain unfeeling young gentlemen, who, in the scene where the hero poisons himself, were seized with such immoderate paroxysms of laughter that a doctor who was present became alarmed at their condition, and ordered them to be carried into the open air, where they received medical attention.'\n\nEdith Sitwell's sarcastic tone adds to the narrative: 'Others of Miss Martineau's neighbours were hardly respectable, but like a comfortable Christian woman Miss Martineau said no more about them than would destroy their reputation for respectability and enhance her own.' I found her writing extremely hard to get into, especially on the first page, but became accustomed to it.\n\nThe last 60 pages or so I found less interesting: a lengthy investigation into people exhuming the (reported) grave of Milton, and removing parts of the body to sell; a description of the Carlyles. Neither seemed really relevant to the theme of the book.\nIn conclusion then, interesting in parts.","Product: An expatriate living among Central Africa's Pygmies recounts how his visit to research Pygmy music turned into a permanent stay, describing the spiritual sophistication of the Pygmies and his courtship of and marriage with his Pygmy wife. 12,500 first printing.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: \"Now you know our secret. Now you know who we are\"\n\nReview: Drawn to visit the pygmies of the Central African Republic after hearing their music - \"a densely polyphonic sound...soft yodels...a sense of musical development\" - this is the account of Sarno's first encounter with the Ba-Benjelle tribe.\nHe soon finds life with them very different to his expectations as \"they seemed intent only on milking me for all I was worth\". The Ba-Benjelle live close to a village, their life a combination of the forest and the worldly pleasures of shops: cigarettes, palm wine and marijuana. But Sarno manages to become a part of their group, recording numerous dances and shamanistic gatherings (although we presume the dancing spirits to be just men in costume, this is never clarified, the author himself admitting at one point that he was left \"staring in amazement, as flabbergasted as the villagers.\")\nWe also follow his visits into the rain forest, helping with hunting; and the diseases and insects that are a part of life. And Ngbali, the beautiful but enigmatic Be-Benjelle girl with whom the author has become smitten...\nAn extremely well written and compelling book.","Product: The Hearing Trumpet is the story of 92-year-old Marian Leatherby, who is given the gift of a hearing trumpet only to discover that what her family is saying is that she is to be committed to an institution. But this is an institution where the buildings are shaped like birthday cakes and igloos, where the Winking Abbess and the Queen Bee reign, and where the gateway to the underworld is open. It is also the scene of a mysterious murder. Occult twin to Alice in Wonderland, The Hearing Trumpet is a classic of fantastic literature that has been translated and celebrated throughout the world.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: \"Sleeping and waking are not quite as distinctive as they used to be, I often mix them up\"\n\nReview: I really liked the first part of this short (156p) novel, narrated by eccentric 92 year old Marian Leatherby, who lives in Mexico with her son's family. Marian is an absolute delight - she writes of her 'short grey beard which conventional people would find repulsive. Personally I find it rather gallant.' She avoids the 'front regions' of the residence, noting 'this seems to give a certain relief to the rest of the family as my table manners were becoming unconventional.' And describes her daughter-in-law's bridge party: \"I refused to leave the room and told fourteen Parrot stories without forgetting the end of more than six.\" When her friend Carmella gives her a hearing trumpet, Marian starts listening into family conversations and realises they are planning to put her in a Home ...\n\nThe wonderfully eccentric Carmella tries to think up solutions: 'You might escape to Lapland. We could knit a tent here so you wouldn't have to buy one when you arrived.'\nNonetheless Marian finds herself at the seriously peculiar home run by Dr Gambit of the Well of Light Brotherhood, and here magic realism takes over totally. The strange spiritual beliefs of the home, the buildings themselves - \"pixie-like dwellings shaped like toadstools, Swiss chalets, railway carriages\", the mysterious painting of a strange nun on the wall... When fellow inmate Christabel Burns lends her a narrative on the nun's life, we are taken into far flights of fantasy - levitation, the discovery of Mary Magdalene's magic ointment, Knights Templar and much more.\n\nBut back in the 'real world' of the home, a murder has taken place. And the weather is turning too, becoming as cold as Marian's dreamed-of Lapland.\nI found all the far-fetched antics in the latter half a bit much, but I'm glad I read it, there was much of real entertainment.","Product: Text: English, French (translation)\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: \"I...began dreaming of eternal cold\"\n\nReview: Fascinating travel book, in which the reader encounters two vastly different societies. The author describes his young life in Togo, culminating in a visit to a - wonderfully described - python priestess, with all her voodoo paraphernalia.\nInspired by a book on the Eskimos, which he finds on the bookshelf of the local mission, he determines to go to Greenland; the next section of the book explains his lengthy journey across Europe, and the helpful people he met en route. Some years on, he finds himself in S Greenland, and here begins the main part of the tale, as he makes his way from the relatively westernized Julianehab to the north. Life becomes increasingly brutal, dirty and harsh as he enters the real Greenlandic world.\n\nHighly readable and full of interesting facts: the criminal system; Arctic 'madness'; the dogs - who live a hard life, and can turn on humans and kill, and who are another source of food for the Greenlanders. The author compares the native beliefs in spirits have a parallel with those in Africa.\nAnd, above all, vivid descriptions of the place, such as his first experience of the Northern Lights:\n\"Suddenly looking up, I saw long white streaks whirling in the wind above my head. It was like the radiance of some invisible hearth, from which dazzling light rays shot out, streamed into space, and spread to form a great deep-folded phosphorescent curtain which moved and shimmered, turning rapidly from white to yellow, from pink to red...the wind shook it gently like an immense transparent drapery ...Its movements were now regular as an ocean swell, now hurried, jerky, leaping and tumbling like a kite.\"\n\nGreat read.","Product: Reflecting the mixed Cossack and peasant upbringing of Sholokhov himself, \"Quiet Flows The Don\" introduces a myriad of characters in a work which is essential to an understanding of the modern Russian psyche and an appreciation of Russia's great literary tradition. This edition contains commentary.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: A 20th century Cossack 'War and Peace'\n\nReview: Set in the Russian lands bordering the Ukraine, this mammoth (615 p) read opens up just prior to WW1. The first section, 'Peace', follows the Cossack Melekhov family. Theirs is a hard agricultural life and a traditional one, where marriages are arranged and where the Church is at the centre of life. Yet even so, younger son Gregor is involved in a secret relationship with his neighbour's wife... Sholokhov's writing is compelling, his descriptions of the countryside bordering the Don poetic.\nAnd then we enter the second section as \"War\" is declared, and the Melekhov men join up. But as \"Revolution\" and \"Civil War\" take over, I found it all a bit much. We move away from the Melekhovs and find ourselves following umpteen different characters, as the Cossacks go in different political directions, some persuaded by the Red Bolshevik message, others fearful that this will mean their precious lands are confiscated. There are certainly powerful scenes, but also a lot of political talk which seemed to go on for page after page.\nHaving recently finished reading Shalamov's 'Kolyma Tales' (about Stalin's Siberian gulags), the naive beliefs of an idyllic future under proletarian leadership struck me as particularly sad:\n\"When every government is a workers' government they won't fight any more...What shall we have to fight about then? Away with frontiers, away with anger! One beautiful life all over the world...I'd pour out my blood drop by drop to live to see that day.\"\nCertainly a masterly work - but I was glad to reach the last page!","Product: This is the true story of two Englishwomen getting caught up in one of the most fascinating and inexplicable \"time travel\" experiences ever recorded. After travelling down to the grand French palaces of Versailles, they proceed to take a walk along the various pathways and gardens outside, only to lose their way and on top of that, get lost in a time warp, literally. It takes them back in time to the palace gardens at the time of the French Revolution and to a face-to-face confrontation with Marie Antoinette, among others. No, this is not fiction, it purports to be fact. The two women, both prominent academics, give us a very convincing and staggering account of their claims. This book is their clear and thought-provoking explanation of exactly what happened to them. Were they mistaken? Was it a hoax? Was the experience real? You decide. This is a truly fascinating book, which quickly sold 10, 000 copies when it was first published. Here it is back in print again at long last.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Make of it what you will!\n\nReview: I had heard of this story many years ago, so was interested to read it for myself.\nIt's the account of two academic and respected English ladies, who, in 1901, visited Versailles. As they made their way to the Trianon, a series of peculiar things happened to them: people in the clothing of Marie Antoinette's era; buildings where none are now standing (but where, according to the research they later undertook, there once were cottages...) One of the ladies paid further visits and on one occasion again had a strange experience - hearing an orchestra when none was playing that day; and again seeing bridges and woods that didn't correspond to the current lay-out.\n\nThe book gives the ladies' two individual accounts of 1901. Then they each wrote an amplified version of the event, and Miss Jourdain described her second visit. They also discussed the research they had done which seemed to corroborate their conclusion that they were in some sort of ghostly scenario.\nI have to say I was absolutely fascinated by this first part of the book. It is then followed by an examination of the facts, and numerous writers who have provided a rational explanation for what the ladies saw. Unfortunately the rational arguments are persuasive (but I did find this bit of the book repeated itself at times and was rather dull in places.)\nMy advice: read the ladies' thrilling account and stop there!","Product: Spine creased. Shipped from the U.K. All orders received before 3pm sent that weekday.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: \"This is less a garden than a wilderness\"\n\nReview: An autobiographical account of the author - a rather disconsolate wife of a German aristocrat - the \"Man of Wrath\" and mother of three small daughters, whose life takes on new meaning when she starts to remodel the overgrown garden of her husband's estate in Pomerania.\nThere are descriptions of her flowers and the joy of being outdoors; amusing accounts of her -often unwelcome- guests and of family life.\nThe author is nonetheless rather irritating. Despite a readiness to speak up and say what she thinks, she complains about her inability to actually do the gardening and that she can merely give orders to the gardeners (why? Surely in 1898 women could plant flowers?!) Despite her readiness to make sarcastic comments about the guests, she (I assume) sacks a governess whom she overhears speaking out of turn.\nBut it's a feel-good book with some lovely descriptions and thoughts on life.","Product: Elsa Beskow (1874-1953) is the most popular childrens illustrator in Sweden, where her picture books have been known and loved for over a century.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: \"In that little yellow house lived three sisters\"\n\nReview: (Verified Purchase What is this?)\n\nFirst in the 'Peter & Lotta' series, this is the story of how the children first came to live with the three old aunts in their little yellow house. Aunt Green is always out in her orchard; Aunt Brown likes making gingerbread ...and Aunt Lavender just dresses in lavender. And opposite, keeping an eye out for naughty children scrumping the Aunts' fruit lives Uncle Blue.\nWhen a nasty man makes off with their poodle, Dot, the children help find him - and a kitten into the bargain! Since the children have no parents and live with Washerwoman Wendy who doesn't like them, it's easily arranged that they come to live with the aunts. Esmerelda, the kitten, gets to stay too: \"she helped by catching rats and drinking cream and playing with Aunt Lavender's ball of wool.\"\nBeautiful little story with illustrations set in the Swedish countryside."],"string":"[\n \"Product: Specifications Weight Capacity: 500g/17.64oz./2500ct/16.075ozt/321.5dwt/7720gn Division: 0.01g/0.001oz/0.05ct/0.001ozt/0.01dwt/0.2gn Measurement Units: g/oz./ct/ozt/dwt/gn Function Buttons: Power/Mode/PCS/Tare/Hold Platform: 3.9 x 3.7 inches Power: 2 x AAA Batteries (included) Smart Weigh Digtial Pro Pocket Scale This Smart Weigh scale is a beautiful and convenient addition to your home. It is extremely precise and is great for weighing finer all household items including jewelry, food, medications, packages/letters and many other items! Using your new Smart Weigh Scale First Use: When you are ready to start weighing on your Smart Weigh scale, first make sure it is on a hard flat surface to ensure an accurate reading. This scale comes with batteries included, so place these in the scale and get weighing! Using the TARE function: If you need to weigh an object that can only be weighed in a container, such as a liquid or powder, the TARE function is extremely helpful. Simply place the container on the platform, press and hold the TARE button, and then place whatever you are weighing into the container. This will help take the guesswork out of weighing objects that are not as easily weighed. PCS Function: This scale also comes with a piece counting function. Simply change the mode, place a sample amount on the scale platform and then add products. The scale will count the number of items on the scale for you! This function is great for anyone who has to count tedious items, such as medications, coins or fine ingredients! Whats Included 1 x Digital Scale 2 x AAA Batteries 2 x Scale Lids 1 x User Manual Warranty Smart Weigh Scales comes with a 2 Year Warranty\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Useful piece of equipment for any household!\\n\\nReview: received free in return for a review\\n\\nWhen I first saw these scales, I thought they'd only be able to weigh a few grams - but in fact they can handle up to 2000g / 70 oz (4lb 6oz). They're neat, small and an elegant brushed aluminium.\\nI was impressed by the 'tare' function, which means the scale subtracts the weight of the bowl you're using, thus giving a net weight for the contents. It was really simple to do: just place the bowl on scale, then press 'tare', then add the flour or whatever to bowl and get a 'flour only' weight.\\nGreat item!\\n\\nThe whole thing is so much better than my cumbersome old kitchen scales with a dial!\",\n \"Product: A VHS MOVIE based on the book.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: A mother's silent suffering\\n\\nReview: Not the best Bette Davis movie I've ever seen, but certainly an entertaining evening's viewing.\\n(spoiler alert)\\nThe ladies are in crinolines for this 19th century story (from a tale by Edith Wharton). When Delia Lowell (Miriam Hopkins) learns her old love has returned to town just as she's about to marry another, she sends Charlotte (Bette Davis) to tell him the news. Their assignation results in an illegitimate daughter, born when Charlotte 'has gone west for her health.'\\nWhen Delia learns who this 'foundling' really is, she wrecks Charlotte's forthcoming marriage. And when she offers Charlotte and daughter Tina a home in her mansion, Tina turns to Delia with love as 'Mummy' - so much nicer a person than sour 'Aunt Charlotte' ...\\n\\nIt's very dated now, and I have to say I prefer Davis as a villain to a wronged woman\",\n \"Product: The God of Small Things\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: \\\"A few dozen hours can affect the outcomes of whole lifetimes...Little events...suddenly become the bleached bones of a story\\\"\\n\\nReview: Set in Kerala, Southern India, in the 1970s and today, this is a totally original work. 31 year old Rahel is returning to her childhood home - to her aunt 'Baby' Kochamma and the twin brother she has not seen for many years.\\nFrom the first page the reader realises this is a work of masterful prose; Roy's descriptions bring the rank and humid village and its river to life.\\n\\\"Outside the rain had stopped. The grey sky curdled and the clouds resolved themselves into little lumps like substandard mattress stuffing.\\\"\\n\\nThere is a childhood tragedy which somehow had lasting implications for the whole family, but this is only slowly revealed in all its detail, as the narrative shifts backwards and forwards. There are moments of great humour as we see the world through the eight-year-old twins' eyes; also of heartbreak, as their lives are ruined forever by an accident and by the malice of the adults around them.\\n\\nAlthough it's masterly writing, maybe it leaves the reader more impressed than emotionally touched, but still a great novel.\",\n \"Product: New design for this favourite unabridged story from the grand master of storytelling. Read by Roald Dahl, himself. The Enormous Crocodile grinned, showing hundreds of sharp white teeth. \\\"I'm going to fill my hungry empty tummy with something yummy yummy yummy yummy!\\\" The Enormous Crocodile boasts that he is going to eat a child for lunch and he sets out to trick all the children in his attempts for food. But his plots and disguises are foiled by the animals in the jungle -- especially by Trunky, the elephant. A crunchingly golloping tale for age 5+.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Ok, but rather written to the Roald Dahl formula,\\n\\nReview: I've read many Roald dahl books to my children - and latterly grandchild - but this was one I'd not encountered till recently.\\nAimed at around 6 or 7 year olds, this is a short, well-illustrated read, telling the tale of the wicked, hungry crocodile, whose 'secret plans and clever tricks' relate to getting hold of a tasty meal:\\n'The sort of things that\\nI'm going to eat\\nHave fingers, toe-nails, arms\\nand legs and feet'\\n\\nPlenty of Dahl-type language plus characters from his other books, who foil the crocodile's attempts to diguise himself as a seesaw etc and bag a nice juicy little child for dinner.\\nMy grandson quite enjoyed it; made for an easy entertaining read. I can't say it massively grabbed me; found it a bit forgettable and very similar to Dahl's other work.\",\n \"Product: Winner of the Man Booker Prize 2009 'Lock Cromwell in a deep dungeon in the morning,' says Thomas More, 'and when you come back that night he'll be sitting on a plush cushion eating larks' tongues, and all the gaolers will owe him money.' England, the 1520s. Henry VIII is on the throne, but has no heir. Cardinal Wolsey is his chief advisor, charged with securing the divorce the pope refuses to grant. Into this atmosphere of distrust and need comes Thomas Cromwell, first as Wolsey's clerk, and later his successor. Cromwell is a wholly original man: the son of a brutal blacksmith, a political genius, a briber, a charmer, a bully, a man with a delicate and deadly expertise in manipulating people and events. Ruthless in pursuit of his own interests, he is as ambitious in his wider politics as he is for himself. His reforming agenda is carried out in the grip of a self-interested parliament and a king who fluctuates between romantic passions and murderous rages. From one of our finest living writers, 'Wolf Hall' is that very rare thing: a truly great English novel, one that explores the intersection of individual psychology and wider politics. With a vast array of characters, and richly overflowing with incident, it peels back history to show us Tudor England as a half-made society, moulding itself with great passion, suffering and courage.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: 'The whole of Henry's court is Wolf Hall'\\n\\nReview: Absolutely wonderfully written look at the Tudor Court - not ,as usual, from the royal perspective, but from that of secretary Thomas Cromwell. Cromwell is a mysterious character, rising as he did from the son of a blacksmith to one of the most important men in England. Ms Mantel has crafted a kind of stream of consciousness novel, combining actual events with the thoughts and feelings inside his head - like other reviewers I found this a challenge to begin with, but it works to flesh out Cromwell as we follow his actions.\\nAll set against the precarious world of Henry VIII's court, where the king may turn on you at any time:\\n\\n'The cardinal says, do you think this is a tilting ground? Do you think there are rules, protocols, judges to see fair play? One day, when you are still adjusting your harness, you will look up and see him thundering at you downhill.'\\nPlanning to read the sequel once I've had a breather!\",\n \"Product: Looks unread. Shipped from the U.K. All orders received before 3pm sent that weekday.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: \\\"an illness with the shape and sound of a snake. It slithers through the branches of our family tree\\\"\\n\\nReview: I started reading this morning...and just read and read all day till I finished (300 pages but quite quick reading.)\\nIt's narrated by teenage Matt as he looks back on his childhood and the death of his Downs Syndrome brother (we're kept waiting till the end to find out the details on that one).\\nAs Matt leaves school (and his grief stricken mother) and begins sharing a flat and using drugs, his brother starts to take over his thoughts...\\n\\n\\\"There is weather and there is climate.\\nIf it rains outside, or if you stab a classmate's shoulder with a compass needle, over and over, until his white cotton school shirt looks like blotting paper, that is the weather.\\nBut if you live in a place where it is often likely to rain, or your perception falters and dislocates so that you retreat, suspicious and afraid of those closest to you, that is the climate.\\\"\\n\\nA compelling read and an insight on how it may feel to have schizophrenia...the side-effects of the medication, that cause sufferers not to take it and life in the mental health system.\\nI did fear it was about to have an unrealistic, 'happy ever after' ending, but Mr Filer keeps things realistic.\\nRecommended.\",\n \"Product: Best Word Book Ever\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: THE BEST word book ever!\\n\\nReview: Had this as a preschooler in 1960s and loved the pictures- they're ideal to look at and discuss with your child even before he can read. There's little humourous touches everywhere. Bought a copy recently for a friend's child and wanted to keep it! The rabbit in a chef's hat holding a frying pan on fire labelled 'good cook'; the picture of a classroom where the text reads 'you can learn many things in school- Little Bear is learning how to find a lost glove'!! Wonderful!\\nNB Just bought another copy for my granddaughter - was careful to get an old version (the cover design shows mother only in the kitchen, rather than the politically correct mom and dad sharing the chores!) This contains lots of sections that were omitted from later editions such as flower garden. Worth paying a bit more for an older one!!\",\n \"Product: In this comic novel, Naipaul tells the story of Mohun Biswas, a Trinidadian of East Indian ancestry who stumbles into one misfortune after another as he searches for a house of his own. The experiences of Mr. Biswas bring to light such universal themes as the individual versus society and the search for self-identity.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: 'Bigger than all of them was the house, his house',\\n\\nReview: Wonderful read, highly entertaining with laugh-out-loud moments yet touchingly sad as well.\\nThe novel opens shortly before the death of Mr Biswas, with his fear of losing his home. In the narrative that follows, charting Mr Biswas' life, forever vulnerable to the whims of others, and with no place to call his own, we come to see why the house has such significance for him.\\nFor much of his life lack of money compels him to share a large communal house with his wife's family, overseen by the stern and unpredictable matriarch Mrs Tulsi. In his descriptions of the 'shifting, tangled, multifarious relationships' of the Tulsis come many of the novel's most vividly comic moments:\\n\\n'To combat W C Tuttle's gramophone Chinta and Govind had been giving a series of pious singings from the Ramayana....she sang very well. Govind sang less mellifluously: he partly whined and partly grunted, from his habit of singing while lying on his belly, Caught in this crossfire of song, which sometimes lasted a whole evening, Mr Biswas, listening, listening, would on a sudden rush in pants and vest to the inner room and bang on the partition of Govind's room and bang on the partition of W C Tuttle's drawingroom.\\nThe Tuttles never replied. Chinta sang with added zest. Govind sometimes only chuckled between couplets, making it appear to be part of his song.'\\n\\nor\\n\\n\\\"One of the sons-in-law was invariably responsible for precipitating Mrs Tulsi's faint. He was now hounded by silence and hostility. If he attempted to make friendly talk many glances instantly reproved him for his frivolity. If he moped in a corner or went up to his room he was condemned for his callousness and ingratitude. He was expected to stay in the hall and show all the signs of contrition and unease.. He waited for the sounds of footsteps coming from the Rose Room; he accosted a busy, offended sister and, ignoring snubs, made whispered enquiries about Mrs Tulsi's condition. Next morning he came down, shy and sheepish. Mrs Tulsi would be better. She would ignore him. But that evening forgiveness would be in the air. The offender would be spoken to as if nothing had happened, and he would respond with eagerness.'\\n\\nBrilliant observations on human behaviour, an absolute must-read.\",\n \"Product: The Republic of Gilead offers Offred only one function: to breed. If she deviates, she will, like dissenters, be hanged at the wall or sent out to die slowly of radiation sickness. But even a repressive state cannot obliterate desire - neither Offred's nor that of the two men on which her future hangs...\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: \\\"Better never means better for everyone...It always means worse for some.\\\"\\n\\nReview: Last read 18 yrs ago- I'd forgotten how utterly brilliant and engrossing it was!\\nNarrated by 33 year old Offred, this is a futuristic dystopia where pollution and disease have made sterility and birth defects commonplace. Wealthy and infertile couples can take in a 'handmaid' to give them a chance of their own child. But there is nothing wanton about this - the wife is present during the 'Ceremony', and the handmaid dresses like a nun.\\nOffred is one such handmaid. She recounts her life with the Commander and his hostile wife; her trips into town (always paired up with another maid); the police state, where capital punishment is commonplace; the rumours of an underground resistance movement. And she looks back to her youth, when things were still normal, when she had a partner, a child, feminist friends, a mother...\\nThe reader will see hints of different political systems: it put me much in mind of African slavery, with people fleeing via safe houses to the North and freedom. But written in 1985, as islamic extremism was increasing, this also reflects that misogynistic world. Women covered up (Offred wears a headdress whose 'wings' give her a limited view), their freedom curtailed (allegedly for their own protection), public executions and enforced 'religion' as another tool of oppression.\\nUnputdownable writing.\",\n \"Product: Flora Poste, orphaned at twenty, decides to go and live with her relatives at Cold Comfort Farm. Once there she discovers they exist in a state of chaos and feels it is up to her to bring order. From the author of LIGHT AND EASY.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: \\\"...will remind you that Christmas is a magical time of year and romance can blossom in the least likely of places\\\"\\n\\nReview: Sixteen short stories set in the 1930s; only one is actually set at Cold Comfort Farm (the weakest in my view, just a skit on the gloomy characters as they sip swede wine and hunt the charm in the pudding that will grant an UNLUCKY new year.\\nOtherwise they're pleasant, readable tales, such as you'd find in a good magazine. Failing relationships and new romances; a murderer apprehended; an ex-wife visiting her children... Perhaps the most memorable for me was 'Sisters', where a kind-hearted lady invites a 'bad girl' to be her servant...and lives to regret it.\\nEnjoyable though a couple of the later ones irritate, as women realise they need to hang on to their man at all cost (And I'm far from a feminist!)\",\n \"Product: Tadeusz Borowski's concentration camp stories were based on his own experiences surviving Auschwitz and Dachau. In spare, brutal prose he describes a world where the will to survive overrides compassion and prisoners eat, work and sleep a few yards from where others are murdered; where the difference between human beings is reduced to a second bowl of soup, an extra blanket or the luxury of a pair of shoes with thick soles; and where the line between normality and abnormality vanishes. Published in Poland after the Second World War, these stories constitute a masterwork of world literature.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Birkenau and Auschwitz and after...\\n\\nReview: Other reviewers have said it all; but this is an immensely shocking and powerful work.\\nIn the stories, Borowski focusses on the vast numbers of prisoners being shipped into the killing factory of Birkenau for a speedy despatch. The true horror comes from the way all these individuals are treated as a commodity, carriages unsealed, the 'transport' despoiled of their luggage by guards and other prisoners and walked off to their fate.\\n\\\"What's new with you?\\n\\\"Not much. Just gassed up a Czech transport.\\\"\\n\\n\\\"How many have gone by so far? It's been almost two months since mid-May. Counting twenty thousand per day...around one million!\\\"\\n\\nHorrific images remain with the reader: the women in the experimental block \\\"(they push out their heads between the bars, just like the rabbits my father used to keep; do you remember? grey ones with one floppy ear.)\\nBut the dreadful world he has experienced remains with the author after Liberation; in the final story, 'The World of Stone', thoughts of the past erupt into his everyday world. Walking among a crowd, he imagines \\\"a gust of the cosmic gale has blown the crowd into the air, all the way up to the treetops, sucked the human bodies into a huge whirlpool...mingled the children's rosy cheeks with the hairy chests of the men, entwined the clenched fists with strips of women's dresses, thrown snow-white thighs on the top, like foam, with hats and fragments of heads tangled in hair-like seaweed peeping from below.\\\"\\nBack in the story \\\"The People who walked on\\\", he tells of a female inmate trying to hide her child from the SS and how it dawned on him that \\\"I too would like to have a child with rose-coloured cheeks and light blond hair.\\\" Perhaps the saddest fact is that after coming through such horrific experiences, Borowski took his life just three days after his daughter was born.\",\n \"Product: Malidoma Somé was born in Burkina Faso in 1956. At the age of four, he was forcefully taken from his family to be educated at a French Jesuit boarding school. At the age of twenty, he escaped from the school and was reunited with his family. He now lectures on his experiences.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: \\\"I still often suffered from being a man of two worlds\\\"\\n\\nReview: Malidoma Some was born into a village in Burkina Faso when it was still under French rule. He describes his first four years, focussing particularly on his close relationship with his grandfather, an elder and shaman. As he recalls his grandfather's funeral - spirit voices, and the dead man walking - I thought perhaps these were the confused recollections of a small child.\\nAt four, the author was 'stolen' by the local priest, and compelled to live in a Catholic boarding school. Forced to communicate in French, he soon forgot his native tongue. And Catholic dogma replaced tribal rites. But while he was persuaded by the religion, to the extent of wanting to become a priest, he was also repelled at the sexual and physical abuse he witnessed, and at the colonial attitudes towards the African people.\\nAt twenty he ran back to his village; much of the book now tells of (parts of) the month-long initiation ceremony he underwent. And here the reader must decide for himself what to make of the author's otherworldly experiences, as he enters other dimensions, communes with spirits and much more. Was he drugged? hypnotized? Was it Satanism or is there really a way into other universes? The descriptions are very vivid and persuasive, and I never realized initiation rituals included all this.\\nUltimately the author is urged by his elders to take his knowledge of two worlds and tell the white man who his people really are. \\\"Go and let yourself be swallowed. Your ancestors will do the rest.\\\"\\nAn interesting work; make of it what you will.\",\n \"Product: When the new teacher first arrives, Barbara immediately senses that this woman will be different from the rest of her staff-room colleagues. But Barbara is not the only one to feel that Sheba is special, and before too long Sheba is involved in an illicit affair with a pupil. Barbara finds the relationship abhorrent, of course, but she is the only adult in whom Sheba can properly confide. So when the liaison is found out and Sheba's life falls apart, Barbara is there...\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Notes on a scandal\\n\\nReview: An intriguing, undemanding read which I enjoyed. Narrated by teacher Barbara, a spinster approaching retirement, it tells the story of her colleague and friend Sheba. A married art teacher from a well-to-do background, the lovely Sheba seems to have the kind of charmed life the lonely Barbara can only dream of. But when she ill-advisedly begins an affair with a 15 year old boy from their school, things look set to change...\\n\\nThere are moments of hilarity as Barbara relays Sheba's confidences to her; the way the 40 year old woman imbues her young lover's limited conversational abilities with romantic mystique. And as she describes daily life in a rough comprehensive one laughs out loud at times.\\nBut there is also sadness in the desperate loneliness of our narrator, and an ever-present threatening feeling, as she recalls previous 'difficulties' with friends who no longer feature in her life, shows jealousy over Sheba's other friends, and , most mystifying, is keeping a detailed set of notes on the whole incident, complete with timeline...\\n\\nGood entertainment, though I felt it fizzled out just a tad.\",\n \"Product: 'EXCUSE ME, SIR, BUT MAY I BE OF ASSISTANCE? AH, I SEE I HAVE ALARMED YOU. DO NOT BE FRIGHTENED BY MY BEARD. I AM A LOVER OF AMERICA...' So speaks the mysterious stranger at a Lahore cafe as dusk settles. Invited to join him for tea, you learn his name and what led this speakerr of immaculate English to seek you out. For he is more worldly than you might expect; better travelled and better educated. He knows the West better than you do. And as he tells you his story, of how he embraced the Western dream-and a Western woman-and how both betrayed him, so the night darkens. Then the true reason for your meeting becomes abundantly clear...\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: compelling work- I read it in one sitting\\n\\nReview: One of those books I didn't think I'd like from the title, having no particular interest in Islam or politics.\\nBut I was immediately drawn into it. The leading character, Changez, is addressing an American he meets in a Lahore teashop (and by extension you the reader.) Hamid never lets you forget you're being 'talked at' rather than reading an autobiography; Changez regularly asks questions or makes polite comments to his American (although the latter's voice is never heard.)\\nChangez begins his narrative when he was a student in the US. As an outstanding Pakistani youth he got a scholarship to Princeton. Here religion doesn't seem to feature in his life at all- he aims high, mixes with his classmates, drinks, holidays, falls in love and ultimately lands a prestigious job.\\nBut cracks start to emerge in his American persona:\\n'I was a modern day janissary, a servant of the American empire at a time when it was invading a country with a kinship to mine.'\\nUnputdownable.\",\n \"Product: Margaret Drabble was born in Sheffield in 1939 and read English at Cambridge. She was awarded a DBE in 2008. Since the 1960s she has written 17 novels - The Millstone was her third - and she has also edited two editions of The Oxford Companion to English Literature. She is married to the biographer Michael Holroyd.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: 'I was trapped in a human limit for the first time in my life, and I was going to have to learn how to live inside it'\\n\\nReview: Masterly written novel, following 1960s academic, Rosamund Stacey. From her privileged background - amusing, bohemian friends; use of a nice flat while her parents are abroad; male admirers (but nothing more) - she is suddenly brought up short when she discovers she is pregnant after a one night stand with (gay?) George.\\nSuddenly she has to take on board a whole world to which she was oblivious: the badly dressed working class patients with whom she must now mix at the doctor's; the disapproval of her siblings. And whether to get back in touch with George and tell him of the fact.\\nInteresting from a historical perspective - did NHS matrons really refuse to let parents visit their infants for a couple of weeks after surgery in case it upset them?!\\nRosamund doesn't seem to suffer the persecution that one equates with single-motherhood in this era; she acknowledges that this is due in no small part to her class background:\\n'Had I not been who I am and born and reared as I was, I would probably never have dared: I only thought I could get away with it, to put it briefly, because those ambulance men collected me from a good address, and not from a bedsitter in Tottenham...So, in a way, I was cashing in on the foibles of a society which I have always distrusted; by pretending to be above its structures, i was merely turning its anomalies to my own use.'\",\n \"Product: Controversial and compelling, \\\"In Cold Blood\\\" reconstructs the murder in 1959 of a Kansas farmer, his wife and both their children. Truman Capote's comprehensive study of the killings and subsequent investigation explores the circumstances surrounding this terrible crime and the effect it had on those involved. At the centre of his study are the amoral young killers Perry Smith and Dick Hickcock, who, vividly drawn by Capote, are shown to be reprehensible yet entirely and frighteningly human. The book that made Capote's name, In Cold Blood is a seminal work of modern prose, a remarkable synthesis of journalistic skill and powerfully evocative narrative.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: \\\"The suffering. The horror. They were dead. A whole family. Gentle, kindly people, people I knew - murdered.\\\",\\n\\nReview: \\\"The suffering. The horror. They were dead. A whole family. Gentle, kindly people, people I knew - murdered.\\\", 18 April 2015\\n\\nThis review is from: In Cold Blood: A True Account of a Multiple Murder and its Consequences (Penguin Modern Classics) (Paperback)\\nAn absolutely brilliant reconstruction of the 1959 mass murder of a whole family in a remote Kansas town, by two drifters for no very logical reason. Capote sets the scene brilliantly in the first chapter, as he jumps from the family living their ordinary day to the two murderers, chatting, driving. The reader knows an awful event is about to happen; as little events happen, such as the neighbour's child coming over to visit, you wonder whether she is going to be harmed or will she get away in time...\\nIn the 3 succeeding chapters, the police are looking for these 'persons unknown' until the answer presents itself. And throughout we learn more of the killers, though not enough to comprehend their motivation.\\nShocking and highly readable.\",\n \"Product: When Joel Knox's mother dies, he is sent into the exotic unknown of the Deep South to live with a father he has never seen. But once he gets there, everyone is curiously evasive when Joel asks to see his father. Truman Capote's first novel, \\\"Other Voices, Other Rooms\\\" is a brilliant, searching study of homosexuality set in a shimmering landscape of heat, mystery and decadence.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: 'as if his heart was beating all over his bodyand all undefined whisperings had gathered into one yearning roar'\\n\\nReview: Exquisite descriptive writing abounds in this short novel, a coming if age tale of 13 year old Joel Knox sent to live with the father he has never met. It really immerses you in the world of rural Alabama.\\n'Deep in the hollow, dark syrup crusted the bark of vine-roped sweetgums; like pale apple leaves green witch butterflies sank and rose; a breezy lane of trumpet lilies beckoned like hands lace gloved and ghostly.'\\nThe boy encounters a weird household- father ill in bed, a strange stepmother and Cousin Randolph (an Oscar Wilde type character). He befriends the house servant and Idabel, a local tomboy who has her own issues.\\nThen the latter part of the book becomes hard to follow but we see Joel starting to come to terms with his homosexuality.\",\n \"Product: Herbert Foltinek is Professor of English at the University of Vienna. Kathryn Kirkpatrick is Associate Professor of English at Appalachian State University.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Jane Austen in the Highlands\\n\\nReview: Written in 1818, this novel tells of Lady Juliana, beautiful but poor, who thwarts her father's plans for her to marry into money ('the Duke of L?' replied Lady Juliana with a scream of horror and surprise. 'Why he's red haired and squints and he's as old as you!') to wed Douglas. Obliged to seek refuge at his parental home in the Highlands, the comedy begins, with our heroine experiencing a massive culture shock. I particularly liked invalid Sir Sampson who requires carrying about and thus calls his man 'Philistine because he has Sampson in his hands'.\\nYears go by and Juliana has twin daughters but rejects the weaker one who is gladly brought up in Scotland by her Aunt Douglas. The latter part of the book lacks the comic tones of the first; we see virtuous daughter Mary leave her Highland idyll to meet her mother and sister Adelaide who has turned out as vain and silly as her mother...\",\n \"Product: In 1997 Philip Roth won the Pulitzer Prize for American Pastoral. In 1998 he received the National Medal of Arts at the White House, and in 2002 received the highest award of the American Academy of Arts and Letters, the Gold Medal in Fiction, previously awarded to John Dos Passos, William Faulkner, and Saul Bellow, among others. He has twice won the National Book Award, the PEN/Faulkner Award, and the National Book Critics Circle Award.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: 'a nightmarish vision of America's anti-Semitic fury roaring...up our backstairs like the waters of a flood'\\n\\nReview: Roth tweaks 1940s history, imagining how his native USA might have been if Roosevelt had lost the presidential election to Lindbergh- the aviator who was also anti-Semitic and isolationist (opposed to involving his country in Europe's war).\\nHe brings out the human side to what could just be a political tale by narrating it as his 9-year-old self; watching his family affected by events such as a state initiative to deport Jews. His cousin determines to help in the War but has to go to Canada to join up. Other families settle in Canada, feeling safer there, while some Jews go along with Lindbergh's government from self-seeking motives.\\nNot really my sort of book- I thought Roth evoked his childhood brilliantly but couldn't get too interested in political events and was glad to finish it.\",\n \"Product: Book by David Olusoga, Casper W. Erichsen\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: German concentration camps in Namibia: a pre-cursor to those of WW2,\\n\\nReview: An extremely well-written account of an event of which I certainly was unaware - namely the appalling treatment of the native peoples of German S W Africa (now Namibia) in the early years of the 20th century. Based on the Kaiser's desire to create 'lebensraum' - space for the Aryan race to flourish, separate from the 'natives' - the German colonists created horrific concentration camps, notably that of Shark Island, near Luderitz.\\nBut the author's don't confine themselves to relating African history; after explaining the German situation from WW1 to the disintegration of the country in its wake, and the rise of the Third Reich, they go on to draw parallels between the racial discrimination that was used to justify the treatment of natives in Africa, and that later used against Slavs and Jews.\\n\\n\\\"So much of what took place in German SW Africa at the beginning of the twentieth century horribly prefigures the events of the 1940s: concentration camps, the bureaucratisation of killing, meticulous record-keeping of death tolls and death rates, the use of work as a means of extermination, civilians transported in cattle trucks then worked to death, their remains experimented upon by race scientists, and the identification of ethnic groups who had a future of slaves and those who had no future of any sort.\\\"\\n\\nA shocking book, yet written in a very readable style, and I learned so much, both about African and European history.\",\n \"Product: Book by Jaroslav Hasek\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: \\\"I still can't make out whether you only act the fool or whether you were born a fool\\\"\\n\\nReview: The good soldier Schweik is a totally unforgettable character. Imprisoned, sent to a lunatic asylum then ejected, he returns to his occupation of selling 'pedigree' dogs, before volunteering to fight in World War I. Since his rheumatism is playing him up he has his landlady wheel him there in a bath-chair - resulting in a eulogy 'Patriotism of a Cripple' in the newspaper, but a spell in the military infirmary as a malingerer.\\nAnd here begins his army career - working for a drunken chaplain and later as batman to the generally likeable Lieutenant Lukash, for whom he causes no end of troubles, not least by remarking in the presence of a bald-headed gentleman who later turns out to be a fearsome major-general that \\\"There was a doctor who said that loss of hair was due to mental disturbance during confinements.\\\"\\nAnd through it all Schweik maintains his guileless expression and bland smile, his show of obedience - but the sense that he is poking fun at his superiors with his endless, usually irrelevant, anecdotes.\\nWhat started off as an entertaining read definitely started to wear thin for me as it went on. Especially when the troops reached the Galician front and scenes of death and destruction, Schweik's attitude stopped being amusing or credible. Would have benefitted from not being quite so long.\",\n \"Product: Berlin, summer 2011. Adolf hitler wakes up on a patch of open ground, alive and well. Things have changed - no eva braun, no nazi party, no war. Hitler barely recognises his beloved fatherland, filled with immigrants and run by a woman. People certainly recognise him, albeit as a flawless impersonator who refuses to break character. The unthinkable, the inevitable happens, and the ranting hitler goes viral, becomes a youtube star, gets his own t. V. Show, and people begin to listen. But the fuhrer has another programme with even greater ambition - to set the country he finds a shambles back to rights. Look who's back stunned and then thrilled 1. 5 million german readers with its fearless approach to the most taboo of subjects. Naive yet insightful, repellent yet strangely sympathetic, the revived hitler unquestionably has a spring in his step.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: \\\"It was my task and mine alone to save the Volk\\\"\\n\\nReview: Imagine what would happen if Hitler suddenly woke up in a park in 2012 Berlin (how this happens is never clarified.) At first the humour is based on any time traveller having to get used to a whole different society:\\nthe influx of immigrants: \\\"during my stroll I had noticed the occasional passer-by whose Aryan ancestry was questionable, to put it mildly... it was still a mystery what these racial aliens were doing here.\\\"\\nwhen offered an instant coffee \\\"the British must still be blockading the seas...the brave, stoic German Volk had been forced to make do with substitutes for so long.\\\"\\nThe shock of a woman president, poorly-behaved young people who don't measure up to the Hitler Youth, even the computer...\\n\\nBut Hitler is soon discovered and offered a place on a TV show, as an alternative comedian, impersonating the dictator....\\n\\nWhile many will find any novel on Hitler tasteless, I have to say I found the premise interesting. At a time when there are divisions in the European community, when unchecked immigration has led to anger and the growth of far-right parties, what actually WOULD happen if Hitler turned up again now? Would some people have time for him?\\n\\nThis is an excellent translation: much of the conversation is in typical 'young person's slang' as Hitler mixes with people in the media, and translator Jamie Bulloch does a convincing job of modern anglicisms: \\\"LOL\\\", that's like so cool\\\" etc.\\nInteresting read - probably a *3.5\",\n \"Product: Bright, clean, almost no wear. Excellent copy of one of best books about religion every written. Lewis knows the denominations and the good motivations and how they can be manipulated\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: \\\"I'll be the one big preacher in Zenith. And then- Chicago? New York? Bishopric? Whatever I want! Whee!\\\"\\n\\nReview: Elmer Gantry is an intensely unspiritual young man at college in the 1920s. Not particularly academic, he is a strapping 'football gladiator' who goes in for fighting, drinking and girls. His only friend is a passionate atheist.\\nHow Gantry comes to get sucked into theology school, and his failures and successes thereafter make for a highly readable work, that make one look at organised religion in a dubious manner. Elmer's attitude to the whole thing is well illustrated when he gets his first appointment:\\n'He'd show 'em!...Show 'em how he could build up church membership, build up the collections, get 'em all going with his eloquence - and of course, carry the message of salvation into darkened hearts. It would be mighty handy to have the extra ten a week - and maybe more if he could kid the Schoenheim deacons properly. His first church...his own...and Frank had to take his orders!'\",\n \"Product: LIKE NEW, LIMITED EDITION FRANKLIN LIBRARY LEATHER BOUND, 22 CARAT GILDED PAGES. In like new, unread condition, not price clipped, not library edition, not remainder marked.\\nSeller is a lifelong book collector and each edition comes directly from his 35,000+ volume collection! All orders are shipped every business day using USPS Media Mail for all U S. orders. Orders shipped from Grover Beach, California. 93433-1585, Thank You, for your business!!\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: A great festive read\\n\\nReview: Have read most of Dickens' novels but only just got round to A Christmas Carol, a lovely little novella which may be sentimental but is still a real tear jerker.\\nWe meet Ebenezer Scrooge, a joyless, utterly mean employer, sitting in his freezing office on Christmas Eve. He rejects his good-natured neplhew's invitation for Christmas dinner, turns away two gentlemen collecting for the poor: (\\\"Are there no prisons?...the Union workhouses? Are they still in operation?\\\") and complains of his clerk, young family man Bob Cratchit, wanting the next day off.\\nBut Scrooge is to meet three spirits that show him Christmases past, present and future. We glimpse the Cratchit family making merry as best they can, and Scrooge sees how he will be remembered by his acquaintances in the future, and changes his outlook in consequence.\\nAlthough I'd never read this before, I'd picked up quotes and the general theme from snippets on TV, and had envisioned it being too syrupy for me ... but it's a wonderful read.\",\n \"Product: Those Wild Wyndhams\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: \\\"A gilded family of remarkable women\\\"\\n\\nReview: I really enjoyed this biography of the three Wyndham sisters, (and their two brothers) born to a wealthy, bohemian family in the 1860s. From their childhood, marriages - happy and not - love affairs and children, to their friends and associates. As part of the intellectual 'Souls' set, they mixed with politicians, artists and other notables.\\nIt's quite touchingly written as the three bright young things live through war (the five siblings lost a total of five sons), bereavement and disillusionment and move into a chastened old age. The author describes the political world along with the personal, as campaigns and elections impact on their lives.\\nImmerses the reader in a distant age of Downton Abbey-type privilege. Very readable.\\nB/w photos\",\n \"Product: Great condition! Ships very quickly and packaged carefully!\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: \\\"Although I'm usually happy as a novice, I'm not going to become a monk\\\"\\n\\nReview: This was a fascinating read, written by a British convert to the life of a Buddhist monk. Here he explains something which travellers to Thailand may have noticed and puzzled over - namely the huge numbers of monks including a large percentage of teenagers.\\nWe learn that monasticism is not seen as a lifetime commitment: on the contrary, many take the robe for a short while to 'gain merit' for deceased relatives or as an expected rite of passage. For many children on the other hand, most particularly those from a desperately poor background, spending their formative years in a monastery is their only opportunity to get a secondary education and better themselves.\\nThe author tells the life-stories of some of his novices; from beatings, abuse and dire poverty to amphetamines and alcohol, they have chosen to escape to the safety of Buddhism. While some find it difficult to live the life and admit to being naughty and missing the outside life - and are quite open on their plans to 'disrobe' once they graduate - there is a definite sense of their appreciation of the moral tenets that will make them better people.\\nExtremely readable and informative.\",\n \"Product: Slight signs of wear!\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: 'she pictured...some truly terrestrial paradise, where beautiful people in beautiful houses spoke of beautiful things'\\n\\nReview: Written in the 1960s, this is the story of Clara Maugham, the academic daughter of an upper working-class family in northern England. Always aware that there is a better world out there than the ugly town of her birth, and her grim-faced mother, Clara puts all her energies into escape to university.\\nOnce there, the thought of going home for holidays fills her with dread, especially after meeting the fascinating Denham family - writer parents with apparently wonderful offspring - notably her friend, Clelia, and the utterly charming Gabriel...\\nDoes Clara's full-scale adoption of the Denhams' tastes and beliefs show a certain immaturity? Clara even acknowledges to herself 'she had sought the smartly intense, at the expense of the more solid and dowdy virtues.'\\nBut as she grows up and has to gather her strength to make her life what she wants, she realises they were a means of 'self-advancement' - and through her association she has indeed advanced enough not to be held back by others' claims on her.\",\n \"Product: English Eccentrics a Gallery of Weird [paperback] Sitwell, Edith [Jul 29, 1971]\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: \\\"Eccentricity exists particularly in the English\\\"\\n\\nReview: A variable collection of characters, from the true eccentrics to those who would hardly seem to qualify.\\nThe former include such individuals as the 'amphibious' lord Rokeby ; the 'not entirely pleasing' Celestina Collins, who shared her bed with thirty fowls; Squire Mytton, who frightened his hiccups away by setting his nightshirt on fire...\\n\\nI was entertained by the account of Mr Coates, a Shakespearean actor who never quite cut the mustard: 'Mr Coates appeared at The Theatre Royal, Richmond...and again no attempt was made upon his life. indeed, the only lives that were in danger were those of certain unfeeling young gentlemen, who, in the scene where the hero poisons himself, were seized with such immoderate paroxysms of laughter that a doctor who was present became alarmed at their condition, and ordered them to be carried into the open air, where they received medical attention.'\\n\\nEdith Sitwell's sarcastic tone adds to the narrative: 'Others of Miss Martineau's neighbours were hardly respectable, but like a comfortable Christian woman Miss Martineau said no more about them than would destroy their reputation for respectability and enhance her own.' I found her writing extremely hard to get into, especially on the first page, but became accustomed to it.\\n\\nThe last 60 pages or so I found less interesting: a lengthy investigation into people exhuming the (reported) grave of Milton, and removing parts of the body to sell; a description of the Carlyles. Neither seemed really relevant to the theme of the book.\\nIn conclusion then, interesting in parts.\",\n \"Product: An expatriate living among Central Africa's Pygmies recounts how his visit to research Pygmy music turned into a permanent stay, describing the spiritual sophistication of the Pygmies and his courtship of and marriage with his Pygmy wife. 12,500 first printing.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: \\\"Now you know our secret. Now you know who we are\\\"\\n\\nReview: Drawn to visit the pygmies of the Central African Republic after hearing their music - \\\"a densely polyphonic sound...soft yodels...a sense of musical development\\\" - this is the account of Sarno's first encounter with the Ba-Benjelle tribe.\\nHe soon finds life with them very different to his expectations as \\\"they seemed intent only on milking me for all I was worth\\\". The Ba-Benjelle live close to a village, their life a combination of the forest and the worldly pleasures of shops: cigarettes, palm wine and marijuana. But Sarno manages to become a part of their group, recording numerous dances and shamanistic gatherings (although we presume the dancing spirits to be just men in costume, this is never clarified, the author himself admitting at one point that he was left \\\"staring in amazement, as flabbergasted as the villagers.\\\")\\nWe also follow his visits into the rain forest, helping with hunting; and the diseases and insects that are a part of life. And Ngbali, the beautiful but enigmatic Be-Benjelle girl with whom the author has become smitten...\\nAn extremely well written and compelling book.\",\n \"Product: The Hearing Trumpet is the story of 92-year-old Marian Leatherby, who is given the gift of a hearing trumpet only to discover that what her family is saying is that she is to be committed to an institution. But this is an institution where the buildings are shaped like birthday cakes and igloos, where the Winking Abbess and the Queen Bee reign, and where the gateway to the underworld is open. It is also the scene of a mysterious murder. Occult twin to Alice in Wonderland, The Hearing Trumpet is a classic of fantastic literature that has been translated and celebrated throughout the world.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: \\\"Sleeping and waking are not quite as distinctive as they used to be, I often mix them up\\\"\\n\\nReview: I really liked the first part of this short (156p) novel, narrated by eccentric 92 year old Marian Leatherby, who lives in Mexico with her son's family. Marian is an absolute delight - she writes of her 'short grey beard which conventional people would find repulsive. Personally I find it rather gallant.' She avoids the 'front regions' of the residence, noting 'this seems to give a certain relief to the rest of the family as my table manners were becoming unconventional.' And describes her daughter-in-law's bridge party: \\\"I refused to leave the room and told fourteen Parrot stories without forgetting the end of more than six.\\\" When her friend Carmella gives her a hearing trumpet, Marian starts listening into family conversations and realises they are planning to put her in a Home ...\\n\\nThe wonderfully eccentric Carmella tries to think up solutions: 'You might escape to Lapland. We could knit a tent here so you wouldn't have to buy one when you arrived.'\\nNonetheless Marian finds herself at the seriously peculiar home run by Dr Gambit of the Well of Light Brotherhood, and here magic realism takes over totally. The strange spiritual beliefs of the home, the buildings themselves - \\\"pixie-like dwellings shaped like toadstools, Swiss chalets, railway carriages\\\", the mysterious painting of a strange nun on the wall... When fellow inmate Christabel Burns lends her a narrative on the nun's life, we are taken into far flights of fantasy - levitation, the discovery of Mary Magdalene's magic ointment, Knights Templar and much more.\\n\\nBut back in the 'real world' of the home, a murder has taken place. And the weather is turning too, becoming as cold as Marian's dreamed-of Lapland.\\nI found all the far-fetched antics in the latter half a bit much, but I'm glad I read it, there was much of real entertainment.\",\n \"Product: Text: English, French (translation)\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: \\\"I...began dreaming of eternal cold\\\"\\n\\nReview: Fascinating travel book, in which the reader encounters two vastly different societies. The author describes his young life in Togo, culminating in a visit to a - wonderfully described - python priestess, with all her voodoo paraphernalia.\\nInspired by a book on the Eskimos, which he finds on the bookshelf of the local mission, he determines to go to Greenland; the next section of the book explains his lengthy journey across Europe, and the helpful people he met en route. Some years on, he finds himself in S Greenland, and here begins the main part of the tale, as he makes his way from the relatively westernized Julianehab to the north. Life becomes increasingly brutal, dirty and harsh as he enters the real Greenlandic world.\\n\\nHighly readable and full of interesting facts: the criminal system; Arctic 'madness'; the dogs - who live a hard life, and can turn on humans and kill, and who are another source of food for the Greenlanders. The author compares the native beliefs in spirits have a parallel with those in Africa.\\nAnd, above all, vivid descriptions of the place, such as his first experience of the Northern Lights:\\n\\\"Suddenly looking up, I saw long white streaks whirling in the wind above my head. It was like the radiance of some invisible hearth, from which dazzling light rays shot out, streamed into space, and spread to form a great deep-folded phosphorescent curtain which moved and shimmered, turning rapidly from white to yellow, from pink to red...the wind shook it gently like an immense transparent drapery ...Its movements were now regular as an ocean swell, now hurried, jerky, leaping and tumbling like a kite.\\\"\\n\\nGreat read.\",\n \"Product: Reflecting the mixed Cossack and peasant upbringing of Sholokhov himself, \\\"Quiet Flows The Don\\\" introduces a myriad of characters in a work which is essential to an understanding of the modern Russian psyche and an appreciation of Russia's great literary tradition. This edition contains commentary.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: A 20th century Cossack 'War and Peace'\\n\\nReview: Set in the Russian lands bordering the Ukraine, this mammoth (615 p) read opens up just prior to WW1. The first section, 'Peace', follows the Cossack Melekhov family. Theirs is a hard agricultural life and a traditional one, where marriages are arranged and where the Church is at the centre of life. Yet even so, younger son Gregor is involved in a secret relationship with his neighbour's wife... Sholokhov's writing is compelling, his descriptions of the countryside bordering the Don poetic.\\nAnd then we enter the second section as \\\"War\\\" is declared, and the Melekhov men join up. But as \\\"Revolution\\\" and \\\"Civil War\\\" take over, I found it all a bit much. We move away from the Melekhovs and find ourselves following umpteen different characters, as the Cossacks go in different political directions, some persuaded by the Red Bolshevik message, others fearful that this will mean their precious lands are confiscated. There are certainly powerful scenes, but also a lot of political talk which seemed to go on for page after page.\\nHaving recently finished reading Shalamov's 'Kolyma Tales' (about Stalin's Siberian gulags), the naive beliefs of an idyllic future under proletarian leadership struck me as particularly sad:\\n\\\"When every government is a workers' government they won't fight any more...What shall we have to fight about then? Away with frontiers, away with anger! One beautiful life all over the world...I'd pour out my blood drop by drop to live to see that day.\\\"\\nCertainly a masterly work - but I was glad to reach the last page!\",\n \"Product: This is the true story of two Englishwomen getting caught up in one of the most fascinating and inexplicable \\\"time travel\\\" experiences ever recorded. After travelling down to the grand French palaces of Versailles, they proceed to take a walk along the various pathways and gardens outside, only to lose their way and on top of that, get lost in a time warp, literally. It takes them back in time to the palace gardens at the time of the French Revolution and to a face-to-face confrontation with Marie Antoinette, among others. No, this is not fiction, it purports to be fact. The two women, both prominent academics, give us a very convincing and staggering account of their claims. This book is their clear and thought-provoking explanation of exactly what happened to them. Were they mistaken? Was it a hoax? Was the experience real? You decide. This is a truly fascinating book, which quickly sold 10, 000 copies when it was first published. Here it is back in print again at long last.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Make of it what you will!\\n\\nReview: I had heard of this story many years ago, so was interested to read it for myself.\\nIt's the account of two academic and respected English ladies, who, in 1901, visited Versailles. As they made their way to the Trianon, a series of peculiar things happened to them: people in the clothing of Marie Antoinette's era; buildings where none are now standing (but where, according to the research they later undertook, there once were cottages...) One of the ladies paid further visits and on one occasion again had a strange experience - hearing an orchestra when none was playing that day; and again seeing bridges and woods that didn't correspond to the current lay-out.\\n\\nThe book gives the ladies' two individual accounts of 1901. Then they each wrote an amplified version of the event, and Miss Jourdain described her second visit. They also discussed the research they had done which seemed to corroborate their conclusion that they were in some sort of ghostly scenario.\\nI have to say I was absolutely fascinated by this first part of the book. It is then followed by an examination of the facts, and numerous writers who have provided a rational explanation for what the ladies saw. Unfortunately the rational arguments are persuasive (but I did find this bit of the book repeated itself at times and was rather dull in places.)\\nMy advice: read the ladies' thrilling account and stop there!\",\n \"Product: Spine creased. Shipped from the U.K. All orders received before 3pm sent that weekday.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: \\\"This is less a garden than a wilderness\\\"\\n\\nReview: An autobiographical account of the author - a rather disconsolate wife of a German aristocrat - the \\\"Man of Wrath\\\" and mother of three small daughters, whose life takes on new meaning when she starts to remodel the overgrown garden of her husband's estate in Pomerania.\\nThere are descriptions of her flowers and the joy of being outdoors; amusing accounts of her -often unwelcome- guests and of family life.\\nThe author is nonetheless rather irritating. Despite a readiness to speak up and say what she thinks, she complains about her inability to actually do the gardening and that she can merely give orders to the gardeners (why? Surely in 1898 women could plant flowers?!) Despite her readiness to make sarcastic comments about the guests, she (I assume) sacks a governess whom she overhears speaking out of turn.\\nBut it's a feel-good book with some lovely descriptions and thoughts on life.\",\n \"Product: Elsa Beskow (1874-1953) is the most popular childrens illustrator in Sweden, where her picture books have been known and loved for over a century.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: \\\"In that little yellow house lived three sisters\\\"\\n\\nReview: (Verified Purchase What is this?)\\n\\nFirst in the 'Peter & Lotta' series, this is the story of how the children first came to live with the three old aunts in their little yellow house. Aunt Green is always out in her orchard; Aunt Brown likes making gingerbread ...and Aunt Lavender just dresses in lavender. And opposite, keeping an eye out for naughty children scrumping the Aunts' fruit lives Uncle Blue.\\nWhen a nasty man makes off with their poodle, Dot, the children help find him - and a kitten into the bargain! Since the children have no parents and live with Washerwoman Wendy who doesn't like them, it's easily arranged that they come to live with the aunts. Esmerelda, the kitten, gets to stay too: \\\"she helped by catching rats and drinking cream and playing with Aunt Lavender's ball of wool.\\\"\\nBeautiful little story with illustrations set in the Swedish countryside.\"\n]","isConversational":false},"profile_size":{"kind":"number","value":35,"string":"35"},"task":{"kind":"string","value":"longlamp_3"},"split_kind":{"kind":"string","value":"user_based"},"id":{"kind":"number","value":983,"string":"983"}}},{"rowIdx":984,"cells":{"question_id":{"kind":"string","value":"A1NSDP9YZXLMDX"},"question":{"kind":"string","value":"Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of \"3.0\" for a product with description \"A woman faces pregnancy complications from strange events, that are either psychological or supernatural. A mysterious figure holds the key in this haunting horror thriller set in modern day Savannah.\". The summary of the review text is \"Milo and Johnathan tried....Rebecca dragged them down.\"."},"answer":{"kind":"string","value":"I have to admit that this movie got to 3 stars based solely on the 2 actors who play brothers. Milo Ventimiglia and Jonathan Schaech. These 2 men picked up and carried a mediocre story to something a little bit better but even they can't work miracles. Psychological thriller? This same premise has been done better in the past. Very predictable but not that bad. I can't say too much about it, don't want to give anything away. Now for the really bad news. On the Back of the DVD cover they introduce the female of the piece as \"rising star\" Rebecca Da Costa....rising to what? new heights of nausea. A worse actress I have rarely seen, here accent is so thick, I missed most of her dialog, who's girlfriend is she? The producer or the director? She has huge....glands...I guess that is her claim to fame."},"correct_answer":{"kind":"string","value":"I have to admit that this movie got to 3 stars based solely on the 2 actors who play brothers. Milo Ventimiglia and Jonathan Schaech. These 2 men picked up and carried a mediocre story to something a little bit better but even they can't work miracles. Psychological thriller? This same premise has been done better in the past. Very predictable but not that bad. I can't say too much about it, don't want to give anything away. Now for the really bad news. On the Back of the DVD cover they introduce the female of the piece as \"rising star\" Rebecca Da Costa....rising to what? new heights of nausea. A worse actress I have rarely seen, here accent is so thick, I missed most of her dialog, who's girlfriend is she? The producer or the director? She has huge....glands...I guess that is her claim to fame."},"documents":{"kind":"list like","value":["Product: After an illustrious special ops career ends in disaster, Alexander (Steven Seagal) goes off the grid and attempts to lead a quiet life as a handyman at an apartment complex. But when one of his tenants and her family fall under the thumb of a Russian gangster, Alexander is dragged into an all-out war between rival Chinese and Russian gangs; forcing him to not only defend the family, but bringing him face to face with an old foe, and giving him one more chance to reconcile his past.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Not too bad at all.\n\nReview: After an illustrious special ops career ends in disaster, Alexander (Steven Seagal) goes off the grid and attempts to lead a quiet life as a handyman at an apartment complex., Alexander is dragged into an all-out war between rival Chinese and Russian gangs forcing him to not only defend the family, but bringing him face to face with an old foe. This is part of the product description. It is fairly accurate too. I can't believe that I actually liked one of Steven Seagal's movies because he is an awful actor and the plots are usually awful, too. What is this thing with him wearing a coat and scarf through the whole movie, we get that he got heavy, no need to wear all that, he looked like he was baking. The violence level is fine, tons of it. But there is a woman in this and for some reason I can't put my finger on, she annoyed me no end.","Product: Jon Favreau (writer, director and producer) leads a hilarious all-star cast including Sofa Vergara, Scarlett Johansson, John Leguizamo, Bobby Cannavale, Dustin Hoffman, Oliver Platt, Robert Downey Jr. and young actor Emjay Anthony in this deliciously entertaining comedy about starting from scratch. When gifted chef Carl Casper (Favreau) suddenly quits his demanding job at a trendy LA restaurant, he's on his own to pick up the pieces of his once promising career. Finding himself in Miami, he decides to team up with his successful ex-wife (Vergara), best friend (Leguizamo) and son (Anthony) to launch a no-frills food truck business. Taking to the road, Carl reignites his passion for the kitchen and, along the way, discovers a renewed zest for life and love.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Chef...it really can cook!\n\nReview: Okay, so it took me almost a year to watch this movie. My friends told me to get it and I did and it sat and sat and sat. I never would have thought that I would enjoy a movie about a lunch truck! I humbly apologize to everyone! I loved this movie sooooo much. What a story and who would have thought that there could be a story, not me, I do now though. WOW! let me say it isn't just about a lunch truck. so much more. The cast....holy crap...Jon Favreau, Sofia Vergara, John Leguizamo, Oliver Platt, oh really everyone was out of this world! The real joy of this movie came in a small pint sized package, though. Emjay Anthony as the Chef's son, Percy....What a find, this kid is going to be huge! he got me big time.","Product: Germany released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: it WILL NOT play on standard US DVD player. You need multi-region PAL/NTSC DVD player to view it in USA/Canada: LANGUAGES: English ( Dolby Digital 5.1 ), German ( Dolby Digital 5.1 ), German ( Subtitles ), WIDESCREEN (2.35:1), SPECIAL FEATURES: Anamorphic Widescreen, Behind the scenes, Cast/Crew Interview(s), Featurette, Interactive Menu, Scene Access, SYNOPSIS: In the early 1830s Niccolo Paganini, the great virtuoso violinist, takes Paris by storm. 'I am at present marveling at the astounding miracles performed by Paganini in Paris,' writes French novelist Balzac. 'Do not imagine that it is merely a question of his bowing, his fingering, or the fantastic sounds he draws from his violin. There is, beyond all doubt, something mysterious about this man. I go to every one of his concerts. The opera house is packed to overflowing and the cashier raking in 20,000 francs a night.' It is said, in his native Italy, that to play with such virtuosity, Paganini has sold his soul to the devil. Women faint at his concerts, claiming to see a demon guiding his bow at amazing speeds. Rumors abound; he's been in prison for seducing a minor, he's seduced half the noble women of Europe, he is capricious, vain, difficult. International music star, David Garrett, makes his movie debut playing the role of Paganini. It is Garrett's youth and incredible virtuoso talent that brings the excitement, energy, modernity and wonder to this film - the same way he enchants his audience during his sold-out concerts all over the world. ...The Devil's Violinist (2013)\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Stellar performances, well written and told a rock star with a Violin.\n\nReview: Keep in mind that I know nothing of violinists or the music of the time and I still loved it, what a grand story and did it border on some kind of satanic thing, was he led by someone who would take his soul at his death? The movie, once in a while leads in that direction but for the most part sticks with the man himself, Paganini and his \"manager\" who seemed to want complete control over him at all times. The performances by all were magnificent, the music was magnificent and the scenery was magnificent. This movie showed him as a womanizer and a drunkard and a drug addict. But through it all he found the love of one good women and well....you have to watch to see what happened and I do recommend it.","Product: When Air Force One goes down over the Bermuda Triangle, the Navy sends its best rescue team. But in saving the president, the team awakens a creature that threatens the entire eastern seaboard.\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: Send it to the bottom of the Bermuda Triangle.\n\nReview: Yes, I do know it is a SYFY production, yes, I know they are always bad, yes, the effects are always atrocious as is the acting but in my defense, I was hoping to see something like \"Sharknado\". sharknado was bad and they knew it was bad so they played it for laughs and did not take it seriously at all and we know what we were getting into and we had fun! Now, Bermuda Tentacles???? The \"star\" Trevor Donovan must have needed the job/money...I think there is talent there but well, it is a SYFY movie. I think he had nothing to work with. The rest of the cast OH MY GOD, don't list this on your resume'. Now for the reason I only got 48 minutes into it. Linda Hamilton, plays \"the Admiral\" in command of the fleet! She was never, ever an actress (is it possible she got worse?) she looks like a sea hag. She makes these weird faces and barks dumb orders. When she tries to be officious she looks constipated. Really a terrible actress. Who dug her up and thought it was good casting?????","Product: Marty is the ideal fifth grader. He gets good grades, listens to his teachers, and doesn't start trouble in class. But a darkness is beginning to fall over Marty's life. The kids at school won't stop picking on him, his parents just don't seem to understand him, and now Marty must grapple with a terrible secret that threatens to destroy life as he knows it -- his big brother is a serial killer! Brotherly love is put to the ultimate test in this emotional coming-of-age story that descends into full-blown horror.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: I found it oddly interesting and the 2 brother leads...superb.\n\nReview: I am so very torn with this one. is it disturbing, it is. is it somehow fascinating, it is. Is it entrancing, it is. First off, low budget indie film and still it is (as I say, low budget indies can be good with the right story) engrossing. Second, kudos to the \"brothers\" in the film, Gavin Brown and Ethan Philbeck they are electrifying considering the subject matter. the subject matter covers a lot, bullying, parental neglect, parental doting, serial murders. Still they manage to coalesce everything and bring it together. I throw out a huge caution that this movie isn't for everyone but is you like taut drama and some gore you will like this movie it is frightening and psychologically suspenseful.","Product: A youngAmerican couple (James Franco and Kate Hudson) falls into severe debt while renovating a home in London. When theydiscoverthat the tenant in the apartment below themwas murdered and left$400,000 cash stashed in the ceiling, the couple thinks all of their problems are solvedbut that's when very bad things start happening to good people.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Wonderful \"eveyman\" story....what would you do?\n\nReview: What a terrific cast, James Franco, Kate Hudson, Tom Wilkerson. A young American couple (James Franco and Kate Hudson) falls into severe debt while renovating a home in London. When they discover that the tenant in the apartment below them was murdered and left $400,000 cash stashed in the ceiling, the couple thinks all of their problems are solvedbut that's when very bad things start happening to good people. This is the description given. It is very concise and to the point. Why did I like this so much? The performances and the story were very good. Do others who have reviewed this and given it much less have some points, yes, they do. It does get pretty slow at times. This is a vey paced movie and to me this is how it needs to be. Are James and Kate dumb? they do some really stupid things for sure but we have to think they are the \"everyman\" and don't know how to be criminal or hide it. I really love James Franco and someday, everyone will realize what a talent he really is.","Product: Backpacking through the lush Irish countryside, two unsuspecting young couples discover a town's chilling secret. Ben (Andrew Dunbar), Sophie (Stephanie Bennett), David (Brendan Fletcher) and Jeni (Melissa Roxburgh) quickly discover the idyllic land is not what it appears to be when the town's residents offer the hikers an old cabin at the edge of the woods. Soon, the friends will find that one of Ireland's most famous legends is a terrifying reality.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: I'll save you the time, the idiot girl survives, so what else is new.\n\nReview: Backpacking through the lush Irish countryside, two unsuspecting young couples discover a town's chilling secret. Ben (Andrew Dunbar), Sophie (Stephanie Bennett), David (Brendan Fletcher) and Jeni (Melissa Roxburgh) quickly discover this place is not what it appears to be when the town's residents offer the hikers an old cabin at the edge of the woods to stay in for the night. it seems that I won't be able to avoid a few spoilers here so stop now if you care but you shouldn't. So predictable that the townies are setting them up and these four young idiots don't see it. This was a trip planned by the typical girl survivor. this is another plot line I am so bored with....the girl always survives even when every bad decision is hers. Let's just for the sake of something different have a guy make it out! Just a thought. The obvious snares even when they escape and get caught again. I was at best bored and disgusted that I spent my time on this dreck.","Product: Gary Shore directs and Luke Evans stars in this fantasy horror origin story. The film follows Vlad Tepes (Evans) and his struggle to protect his family and his people from the malevolent Ottoman sultan Mehmed (Dominic Cooper), whose ever-expanding empire has put Vlad's homeland in danger of being conquered. Desperate to find a solution, Vlad seeks the help of a mysterious man (Charles Dance) who grants him the powers to defeat his enemy. But do these newly-gained powers come at too high a price?\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Different rendition of Dracula that I like.\n\nReview: I'm sure that there will be people who review this and will be kind of harsh. I thought that it was a different take on the legend of Dracula, here we have him as a loving father and husband and ruler who is trying to give his family and subjects and good life free of Turkish intervention. What he does he does so that his people can live. Luke Evans is Dracula and he has the part down pat in as far as this story is put forward. Dominic Cooper is his ex-friend and ruler of Turkey who tries to force Dracula to give him the children of Transylvania to add to his army. The performances of those two and some others are terrific. The wife and kid, well a little annoying and not the best actors but....overall I just enjoyed it.","Product: THE CROW: CITY OF ANGELS: The spirit of the Crow resurrects another man seeking revenge for the murder of his son. THE CROW: SALVATION: Alex Corvis returns to the world of the living to solve the murder of a young woman that he was wrongly accused of murdering. THE CROW: WICKED PRAYER: On his way to becoming an immortal demon, gangleader Luc Crash (Boreanaz) orchestrates the murder of Jimmy Cuervo (Furlong) and his girlfriend, Lily (Chriqui).\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: this was a slide rule of opinions. Good, fair, Tara Reid.\n\nReview: The Crow City of Angels with Vincent Perez this one was okay, it was along the same lines as the \"one and only\" original with Brandon. so this was an entertaining enough movie. The Crow Salvation, of the 3 on this DVD, this is probably my favorite. It is my favorite thanks to Eric Mabius and the guy who comes back after being executed for murdering his girlfriend, which we all know he didn't. Oh, and my favorite in spite of one of the worst actresses on the planet being in it, Kirsten Dunst (and she got top billing???????) She's a hack. The third was my WTH movie????? How in the name of God did David Boreanaz get suckered into this mess? He's an amusing bad guy. Edward Furlong as the returning Crow? Edward Furlong? Really? Oh, this has another of the worst actresses...EVER....Tara Reid, Really? Plus this goes into a whole witchcraft, demon thing, really? So Wicked Prayer just had no prayer.","Product: One of the most recognized video game franchises in the world, Street Fighter: Assassin's Fist tells the origin story of some of the series' most beloved characters: Ryu, Ken, and Akuma. Delivering top-notch, martial arts action with visual effects that rival major Hollywood studios, this will be a must-see for Street Fighter and action cinema fans, alike.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: I hope for a follow up.\n\nReview: I am being honest when I say that I never knew the Street Fighter story. Having said that I am a little familiar with it. This story seems to be true to the original story. Now this movie is 2 1/2 hours long, there are a lot of slow points and most of this movie comes across as 2 of the characters being trained and trained and still more trained. The story is about 5 characters but 4 in reality, Goken the current Sensei, Goki, his brother and Goken's 2 students...Ken and Ryu, boyhood friends and fellow students. The fifth character is Stayala (I think) he is the original Sensei that trained Goken and Goki. Goki took a dark path and will challenge any he thinks are specializing in the same martial art that he is...there can be only one! (sound familiar?) Anyway the actors are wonderful and so is the story if you stick with it. Pure intro movie. All the performances are terrific but to me Chris Howard was wonderful but so were all of them. Why 4 stars? I hated the ending. Or is it an ending?","Product: A group of friends pays a late-night visit to the city morgue to surprise Amy (Harris) on her birthday. But the surprise is on them when the one-eyed corpse of brutal psychopath Jacob Goodnight (Jacobs) unexpectedly rises from a cold sub-basement slab. Their wild party quickly turns into a terrifying slay-fest as the sadistic mass-murderer resumes his savage rampage complete with hooks, surgical knives and power saws.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Seeing the evil once was good.\n\nReview: Wow, I loved the first one. I love Kane as this really big bad guy. I've grown accustomed to the usual cast of characters but once in a while there are one or two that are really annoying. Let me put it this way...I liked the characters of Amy, Seth and Amy's brother Will (although he had a couple moments that he could hove gone the other way). Jacob (Kane) is taken to the morgue where a b-day party is being thrown for Amy, she is always working) I don't even think I need to tell you more...chaos and mayhem ensue. The powers that be were responsible for my really big problem. Why do the lighting directors make these movies so dark. I mean no light dark. I could barely see anything through most of the movie when Jacob kills the power. Oh, such a very predictable ending/ending. You'll see if you go with it. I won't say one way or another.","Product: Boyd and his family are forced to spend a dreaded Christmas at his parents' house with his eccentric father (Robin Williams) that he has been avoiding for years. When he realizes that he left his son's gifts at home, Boyd and his father must hit the road in a blizzard to retrieve the gifts before sunrise to save Christmas.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Not a holiday classic......yet.\n\nReview: This was one of Robin Williams last films and although it isn't the very best of his movies, it is still one of the most heart warming and entertaining that he has done. Joel McHale is gold for me. I think he is one of those way under rated stars that should be getting more to do. He is the uptight son while robin is the eccentric and very odd dad that he hasn't seen for a long time. Well, he and his family are going to dad's for Christmas and he left his son's present at home which sets off the big trip back to retrieve it. It has definite funny moments and I did laugh quite a bit. I would recommend it for some fun viewing.","Product: Inspired by the true story, Jim Caviezel (The Passion of the Christ) plays high school football coach Bob Ladouceur during the season that changed everything. As coach of the Spartans Football Team, Bob always tells his players that winning doesn't matter. Yet somehow, with the aid of assistant coach Terry Eidson (Michael Chiklis, TVs The Shield), hes led the team to a record-breaking 151 straight victories. When his wife Bev (Laura Dern, Jurassic Park) urges him to refocus on his family, Bob is blinded by the pressure to keep the streak alive. Now, in the midst of a season of crisis and tragedy when the Spartans stand to lose everything, a remarkable young player (Alexander Ludwig, The Hunger Games) helps Bob rediscover that teamwork outshines personal glory When The Game Stands Tall.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Football with religious overtones.\n\nReview: Bravo! I love sports movies that have this type of plot to it. The never give up and the team is all movie. Jim Caviezel is our coach. The back bone of this team and the glue that holds it together. Assistant coach Michael Chiklis is wonderful and the whole football team of kids are outstanding. The standout has to be Alexander Ludwig as Chris Ryan and he has one more cross to bear....his father who is living his life thru his son and is a horrid man. Why 4 stars especially since I loved the movie? This is a true story and I understand that some people are very religious but to me, it was being shoved in my face at every turn. Is it a true sports story or is it one of the Christian movies? I dealt with the religious aspects being pushed at me because the movie and story and performances were so good but I will keep my eyes open next time.","Product: A Close Encounter Of The Undead Kind! Get sucked into a chilling black hole of cosmic creepiness when an evil alien race zeroes in on a crew of unsuspecting astronauts, turning them into zonked-out zombies! Packed with space-age suspense and extraterrestrial terror, this eerily photographed and electrifying thriller drips with an intoxicating, feverish atmosphere of dread. A band of space travelers has just intercepted a distress call from a distant world! Is it a desperate cry for help... or something far more sinister? After landing on the shadowy planet, the crew is attacked by a horde of disembodied aliens with a diabolical plan: to conquer the universe by controlling the crew's minds and stealing their souls-proving that even in outer space, possession is 9/10 of the law! Directed by horror legend Mario Bava (Black Sunday, Black Sabbath).\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: it's a 50 year old movie don't expect too much.\n\nReview: Be prepared of silly effects and silly acting and silly story telling and enjoy yourself. This was made in 1965 and it involves 2 spaceships form where? we don't know, travelling thru space in answer to a distress call of some kind. This is an Italian production so the English is Dubbed, fairly well for the time except for the American Actor Barry Sullivan. This really has nothing to do with Vampires at all, so put that out of your mind. There are energy beings (balls of light) with no form so they are stuck on this planet that is going to be destroyed when the sun goes nova. They inhabit the dead bodies of the dead people that have died or killed each other on these 2 ships. Do not expect great or you will be disappointed. This is another movie where you just go blank and go for the ride. The acting isn't good that is for sure but....","Product: Jason Patric, Bruce Willis and John Cusack face off in this action-packed thriller. A retired assassin is drawn back into the life he gave up when his daughter is kidnapped. To rescue her, he must confront his former rival.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: The Prince is a Prince of a movie.\n\nReview: Another hidden gem. Jason Patric has a past and a bad one and also a daughter and also a bad one but he loves her and wants her back from her drug addled exploits so he goes to New Orleans to find her and well trouble and his past catch up to him. he does a fine job as the doting father and as his only bud John Cusack plays a very low key part and is actually brilliant. The \"bad guy?\" of the piece is Bruce Willis who was done wrong by Jason Patric and once he learns he is back in town....puts out the word and the hit. His number one guy is the Korean singer/actor Rain from \"Ninja Assassin\" (loved that movie) he is cold, calculating and oozes evil. Can you tell I'm a huge fan. Lots of action and lots of good acting.","Product: After their newly adopted daughter goes missing in a small town, Steven and Shannon will stop at nothing to uncover the truth behind her disappearance and the dangerous secret behind the adoption agency they trusted. Risking their own lives, they will discover just what being a parent means and how far they will go to get their child back.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Definitely one to watch\n\nReview: I just don't understand why Ryan Phillippe and John Cusack aren't bigger stars. This movie revolves around a scam called reclaiming, a couple spends tons of money to adopt a foreign child only to pay the money, spend time with the kid and the bad guys take the kid back and keep the money in the dead of night and vanish without a trace. Ryan Phillippe and Rachel Lefevre play just such a couple and are wonderful but I have to admit to being a huge Ryan Phillippe fan. They make the usual movie mistakes but I don't hate them for it, usually I roll my eyes and shake my head. The gang of bad guys, yes, they are BAD. Lead by John Cusack whose slimey, smarmy condescending attitude makes him a very evil guy is terrific. You truly hate him. Suspenseful and not at all a bad movie to sit and devour. Love that Ryan!","Product: After nearly four decades together, Ben (John Lithgow) and George (Alfred Molina) finally tie the knot. But when George loses his job, the couple must sell their apartment and temporarily live apart until they can find an affordable new home. George moves in with two friends (Cheyenne Jackson and Manny Perez) while Ben ends up across town with his nephew (Darren Burrows), his wife (Marisa Tomei) and their teenage son with whom Ben shares a bunk bed. While struggling with the pain of separation, Ben and George are further challenged by the intergenerational tensions and capricious family dynamics of their new living arrangements. LOVE IS STRANGE depicts the delicate nature of two people building a long life together and their love growing deeper and richer with time.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: What a lovely story.\n\nReview: Just a lovely story and nothing more...this movie tells a story and does not pretend to be anything more. John Lithgow and Alfred Molina have been lovers for many years and now wish to Marry, since they can now. The glitch, Alfred works at a Catholic school as a music teacher in NYC. The church finds out and well....you see the rest. They have to sell their apartment since Alfred is unemployed and John is 72 years old. They have to stay with family and friends and separately still while they try to find a place. Why 4 stars? well, why not move out of NYC it is pricey. The end? The performances by all involved were wonderful and lovely.","Product: The worldwide phenomenon comes to life in Fifty Shades of Grey, starring Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan in the iconic roles of Anastasia Steele and Christian Grey. Ana is an inexperienced college student tasked with interviewing enigmatic billionaire Christian Grey. But what starts as business quickly becomes an unconventional romance. Swept up in Christian's glamorous lifestyle, Ana soon finds another side to him as she discovers his secrets and explores her own dark desires. What results is a thrilling, all-consuming romance as Christian and Ana test the limits they will go to for their relationship.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Love him, not her she was as exciting as an end table.\n\nReview: I wanted to like this movie more than I did because of 2 reasons, the first is this is the world I would love to be in (as the submissive) and second how perfect is Jamie Dornan. I totally believed him in this role and found him to be mesmerizing. The looks, the aloofness, the control....dynamite! The story was okay, I guess, I have never read the book or books. so I had a fresh perspective. He had me melting. Now the down side of this movie. Where Jamie gets a 5 star rating from me, Dakota Johnson is a 1. She was so dull, I would rather watch paint dry. Again, I haven't read the book so I am going by the movie. he laid out his life and his quirks for her, showed her his playroom etc and told her he is not the romantic guy and not into dating and all of his \"things\". He gave her a contract, too which she read and made addendums to! She wouldn't sign she just wanted to change him. she was stupidly annoying. For God's sake, send him my way! Oh and the critics were right....not an ounce of chemistry.","Product: WHAT IF is the story of medical school dropout Wallace (Daniel Radcliffe), who's been repeatedly burned by bad relationships. So while everyone around him, including his roommate Allan (Adam Driver) seems to be finding the perfect partner (Mackenzie Davis), Wallace decides to put his love life on hold. It is then that he meets Chantry (Zoe Kazan) an animator who lives with her longtime boyfriend Ben (Rafe Spall). Wallace and Chantry form an instant connection, striking up a close friendship. Still, there is no denying the chemistry between them, leading the pair to wonder, what if the love of your life is actually your best friend? The ensemble romantic comedy costars Megan Park and Oona Chaplin.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Without a doubt, a wonderful and charming movie.\n\nReview: WHAT IF is the story of medical school dropout Wallace (Daniel Radcliffe), who's been repeatedly burned by bad relationships. So while everyone around him, including his roommate Allan (Adam Driver) seems to be finding the perfect partner (Mackenzie Davis), Wallace decides to put his love life on hold. It is then that he meets Chantry (Zoe Kazan) an animator who lives with her longtime boyfriend Ben (Rafe Spall). Wallace and Chantry form an instant connection, striking up a close friendship. Still, there is no denying the chemistry between them, leading the pair to wonder, what if the love of your life is actually your best friend? Such an adorable and charming movie with a ton of very talented and charming actors. Daniel, Zoe and Adam are outstanding and you can't help but love them all. the ending is what it needed to be and that is okay with me. Daniel was damned adorable and the trio of stars made this movie something terrific to watch.","Product: Former Hollywood star Reagan Pearce (Ryan Phillippe) is kidnapped by two men connected to his past while on location in Louisiana. When he wakes up bound and chained in a rundown shack, he soon discovers the real motives of his captors and finds himself in the middle of a twisted scheme with little chance to survive. With no rescue in sight, Reagan must use every ounce of strength he has left to break free and get his revenge.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Ryan Phillippe, brilliant, raw, talented and should be a superstar.\n\nReview: Former Hollywood star Reagan Pearce (Ryan Phillippe) is kidnapped by two men connected to his past while on location in Louisiana. When he wakes up bound and chained in a rundown shack, he soon discovers the real motives of his captors and finds himself in the middle of a twisted scheme with little chance to survive. I may be slightly biased but I don't think so....I think Ryan Phillippe is one of Hollywood's undiscovered gems. Ryan, stars in, directs and wrote this taut and tense movie. Basically a 3 man show, he and the 2 men who kidnapped him are the crux of the story. Why did they really take Ryan? What do they intend? Each man has his own designs. they played the parts SO well. They were both pretty scary. Now as for Ryan. WOW. he wrote this story and directed it, each a monumental task that was done successfully. The acting, HUGe WOW. he plays a selfish hollywood actor, he doesn't know why he is taken, they do unspeakable things to him in many ways. Will he get away? Will he die? Be prepared for some very raw and violent scenes. But I recommend it.","Product: A soldier introduces himself to the Peterson family, claiming to be a friend of their son who died in action. After the young man is welcomed into their home, a series of accidental deaths seem to be connected to his presence.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Scary how scary he is.\n\nReview: There will be nothing that I say here that will not have been said by 457 people before me, so, the reader's digest version. I have seen this very similar plot in other movies and thought they were usually good, \"The Guest\" is very very good. Dan Stevens is very compelling in this role and the rest of the cast is quite good too. Just when you think it is dying down here comes something else to torque it right up. I absolutely love Dan Stevens now and look forward to anything he may be in. I don't want to say too much of the story, I'm sure others have, but I won't, not my style. Just enjoy, loved the bar scene.","Product: Australia released, PAL/Region 0 DVD: it WILL NOT play on standard US DVD player. You need multi-region PAL/NTSC DVD player to view it in USA/Canada: LANGUAGES: English ( Dolby Digital 5.1 ), English ( Subtitles ), WIDESCREEN (2.35:1), SPECIAL FEATURES: Behind the scenes, Cast/Crew Interview(s), Interactive Menu, Scene Access, Short Film, Trailer(s), SYNOPSIS: Where there is imagination, there is darkness and from within that darkness lurks a being of unfathomable terror...close to home. Amelia (AFI Award winner Essie Davis, Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries, The Slap) is a single mother plagued by the violent death of her husband. When a disturbing storybook called 'The Babadook' turns up at her house she is forced to battle with her son's deep seated fear of a monster. Soon she discovers a sinister presence all around her... A chilling tale of the unseen and otherworldly in the haunting tradition of The Conjuring and The Orphanage, Jennifer Kent's visceral journey into the heart of fear itself is as terrifying as it is believable. SCREENED/AWARDED AT: Australian Film Institute, British Independent Film Awards, ...The Babadook (2014)\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: it was okay, not what i had hoped but okay.\n\nReview: did I get some chills from this movie? Yes I did. Were there times I wanted to crack the kid in the head? yes there were. Were there times the Mom got on my nerve endings, yes she did. Did I like this movie, I did but not as much as I was hoping to. I was hoping that this was that movie that finally scared the living daylights out of me. I had a couple moments that came kind of close but it didn't get me to that place. When I watch a horror movie, I need to be scared, like a comedy has to make me crack up laughing. The kid screeched and the mother just was delusional through most of it. She never accepted the kid was a wingnut. I kind of disliked the ending and I tried to see the rationalization of it. All in All, do I recommend it, not really sure. it was okay just not terrific.","Product: Quick Shipping !!! New And Sealed !!! This Disc WILL NOT play on standard US DVD player. A multi-region PAL/NTSC DVD player is request to view it in USA/Canada. Please Review Description.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Not a bad thing to kill (no pun intended) some time.\n\nReview: Well, I can't believe I liked this movie this much. let's face it, Jennifer Lopez is not kind of actress but she did what was needed in this movie. She is a teacher and is divorced and has a son. Her friend (can't recall her name, chilawith or some such) really bad actress plays her friend the vice principal. Jennifer gets with(yep in that way) the teen boy next door, who is a little off center or nutso is you prefer. He obsesses and does bad things. Now HE is the huge saving grace in this usual story, Ryan Guzman....he is scary and so ominous. what will he do next? the ex-husband and the son are both very good too.","Product: Everyone hates Ward's wife and wants her dead, Ward (Donald Faison) most of all. But when his friends' murderous fantasies turn into an (accidental) reality, they have to deal with a whole new set of problems - like how to dispose of the body and still make their 3 p.m. tee time. Scott Foley's directorial debut is a blackly comic caper about helping a friend out of a bad relationship by any means necessary.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Filmmaking as it should be, hip-hip hooray.\n\nReview: I don't see why there are so many negatives? This is a dark comedy, the humor is odd and you really have to like that kind of humor to \"get it\". The subtle looks, the strange little aside, the odd comment. I say BRAVO. Everyone hates Ward's shrewish wife. One of the guys jokes about killing her, and well, ooopppssss, guess what happens? Besides a wonderful and bizarre story which I loved and is among my favorite movies now, we have the amazing direction of Scott Foley. The cast is to me, anyway a dream cast Scott Foley, Patrick Wilson, James Carpinello (sensational), Donald Faison, Amy Acker and Dagmara, Marika, Veronika Domincyk. Easch performer brings something unique and refreshing....real talent. 10 thumbs up for this wonderful little masterpiece. Thank you Scott, Patrick, James Etc. Not recommended for kids because of some pretty raw bloody scenes.","Product: PRIDE is inspired by an extraordinary true story. It's the summer of 1984, Margaret Thatcher is in power and the National Union of Mineworkers is on strike, prompting a London-based group of gay and lesbian activists to raise money to support the strikers' families. Initially rebuffed by the Union, the group identifies a tiny mining village in Wales and sets off to make their donation in person. As the strike drags on, the two groups discover that standing together makes for the strongest union of all...\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Wonderfully uplifting true story or love and helping our fellow human beings.\n\nReview: In the UK in 1984 there was a very long Miner's strike happening and this is the real story of a group of gay and lesbians who decide to take up collections for them so they can actually have money. Most of the Miner's unions turn them down because they are Gay and Lesbian. One small town accepts the help and there is the story. The manly men of the town don't like them, the religious ones don't like them and the town council loves them. This is the story of acceptance and big hearts and people loving and helping each other. Truly a wonderful and uplifting story. Nobody does these movies like our UK friends. Terrific performances, well written and an awesome story.","Product: Jamie Dornan (Fifty Shades of Grey) stars in this romantic, drama-filled love story of unraveling secrets and discovery. Colin (Dornan) is a wealthy New York businessman who always gets what he wants. But when a deal with a wealthy Dubai sheikh hinges on his acquisition of a coveted racing bird, Colin finds himself in unfamiliar territory with the trusting Belgian townspeople who protect the creature. As Colin falls for the owner's gorgeous granddaughter (Charlotte De Bruyne), will he resort to his ruthless techniques of the past or give in to a passion he never knew existed?\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: I recommend this to anyone who loves good film.\n\nReview: Confession time: I was expecting to be bored. I got this to see Jamie Dornan, I wanted to know if he was a good actor. He is! he is a bigshot NY businessman, he wants to do a big deal with a Dubai Sheik, the Sheik will if Jamie gets him a promising future winner of pigeon racing from his Belgian owner! Yep, I could not believe it either, pigeon racers, apparently big in Europe. I was fascinated by that aspect of it too. Fell in love with the bird too. he woos, yes woos, the Belgians granddaughter and well....I don't want to tell you too much, suffice it to say.....I really loved, loved this movie, romance, intrigue, pigeons and Belgians and Sheiks.....what more can you want? BEsides Jamie, charlotte De Bruyne is a prize. As his the entire cast. The beautiful cinematography and direction are also superb. the story is a wonderfully delicate weave.","Product: Maggie (Melissa McCarthy), a single mother, moves into a new home in Brooklyn with her 12-year old son, Oliver (Jaeden Lieberher). Forced to work long hours, she has no choice but to leave Oliver in the care of their new neighbor, Vincent (Bill Murray), a retired curmudgeon with a desire for alcohol and gambling. An odd friendship soon blossoms between the improbable pair. Together with a pregnant stripper, named Daka (Naomi Watts), Vincent brings Oliver along on all the stops that make up his daily routine - the racetrack, a strip club, and the local dive bar. Vincent helps Oliver grow to become a man, while Oliver begins to see in Vincent something that no one else is able to: a misunderstood man with a good heart.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: 10 or 11 stars from me!\n\nReview: Have we seen the cranky old man living next door to the ultra cute little boy next door movies before? We have BUT...this was so adorably cute and wonderful and entertaining that you haven't seen this one! Very formulaic but still touching and funny and sweet, too. Bill Murray, Naomi Watts (the hooker with a heart of gold), Melissa McCarthy (wonderful as the boy's mother) and the rest of the cast are right on target! Now for the real star of this movie Jaeden Lieberher. That is such an unfortunate name as it will be hard to remember when he gets to be the star he has to become. This youngster carried the movie and my heart along with him. If Felix the Cat loves him, so do we. Again, we have seen this before but the actors make it a different movie.","Product: When aspiring knight Gareth goes in search of a fallen comet rumored to contain gold, he is shocked to instead find the dragon Drago (voiced by Academy-Award winner Ben Kingsley). After Drago saves Gareth's life the two become intricately bonded, and must work together to defeat an evil sorcerer and stop his reign of terror. Along the way, Gareth learns the true meaning of being a knight in this fantasy action-adventure for the ages!\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: So much better than I thought it would be.\n\nReview: Well, color me surprised. What a surprise. I loved this one. I didn't think that I would but I did. There are no more dragons in the world but a comet crashes and a young man who wishes to be a knight goes to see what it is all about. He finds a dragon and a bunch of dragons eggs. Bad people want them so he and a young monk have to get them to safety. the dragon can't help too much, a bad sorcerer has put a spell on him. The animation and CGI are way above what I thought it would be, pretty darn good. The actors....very good. Yep, very good. Especially the young knight. My one problem and by now I should be accustomed to it is the angry girl warrior. I am so fed up with that character that I could lapse into a coma. She shoots arrows and growls throughout until she finally softens. I can live without these characters...please! The same would go for the male gender equivalent.","Product: Somerset Maugham's Larry Darrell goes to Paris and Tibet to find the meaning of life.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: wonderful ride through a group of friends lives.\n\nReview: If you are a connoisseur of old films, here is one for you! I had never heard of it until I saw that Tyrone Power was in it, one of his best performances as a man returning home after WW1 to marry his love but has to find himself. Gene Tierney, well, she tended to go over the top so no difference here as the lady in question. Clifton Webb is her uncle and he is his snobbiest and snarkiest. John Payne, Herbert Marshall, Lucille Watson, Frank lattimore and the rest of the cast are superb. From the Parisian lifestyle to finding himself in the mountains of India, a great ride. Wonderful story, dialog, acting, visuals and pay particular attention to the amazing camera angles. Oh and Anne Baxter (never a fan) Thoroughly enjoyed it.","Product: When everyday family man Bill loses his job, his peaceful life quickly spirals out of control. Terrified that he will lose everything he has achieved, he turns to a life of crime, descending into drastic and dangerous measures to stay ahead of the law. As he fights to provide for his family, Bill discovers that the only thing worse than getting caught is getting away with it.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Want a nap....pop this baby in.\n\nReview: I generally try to stay away from the extremes of 1 star or 5 stars, except for those extraordinary movies or shows but this came close to a 1 star event. It took so long to get to the point, man loses job, he loses control of the direction his life should go, the demands of the family weigh on him. he turns to thievery in his quiet desert looking town. I like Wes Bentley, he gets the whole down-trodden everyman thing. He can do low key as well as anyone, BUT, there is such a thing as TOO low key! He really annoyed me with the demure thing, his family give me and give me and never realizing there was something wrong very self centered wife and kids. I made it 45 minutes just after he began his life of crime. It was mind-numbingly painful.","Product: From Director Kevin Macdonald (The Last King Of Scotland) comes this gripping thriller about a rogue submarine captain, played by Jude Law (Sherlock Holmes, The Talented My Ripley) who pulls together a misfit crew to search for sunken treasure in the Black Sea. As greed and desperation take control, the increasing uncertainty of the mission causes the men to turn on each other to fight for their own survival.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Black Sea gets every thumb up!\n\nReview: Wonderful submarine movie but not done during any wars. Here we have a group of British/Russian men collaborating to find a Nazi U-boat that had gone down in the Crimean Sea with a butt load of gold onboard. They are financed and buy an old sub and go for it. The boo-boo is they all get an equal share.....hhhmm....the less men the bigger the individual shares????? Yikes. The British and the Russians really don't like each other on this boat. Well, things happen and stuff and I'm not saying anymore. The DVD cover says Compelling and suspenseful and I do agree. God bless the director for getting this done in close quarters. All the actors are strong with the spotlight on Jude Law, amazing as always and a young actor whose name I didn't get, the \"kid\" on board he was amazing too. do I recommend it....I do indeed.","Product: In the dead of night, Donovan (Liam McMahon) drives his girlfriend, Lucy (Anna Moore) and four friends to a secret rendezvous in the woods. They believe they are meeting a medicine man who can cure Lucy's terminal cancer, but they grow suspicious when a booby-trap in the road forces them to stop short of their destination, and one of them is brutally killed and dragged from the car. The remaining five run for their lives to a deserted cabin, dodging the enchanted wolves that have slaughtered their friend and the bullets of the paramilitary commandoes that hunt them. As the friends die one by one at the hands of the wolves, they realize too late that Donovan has set them up as bait in exchange for the wolf saliva he believes will heal his beloved's disease. But even Dylan is not prepared to pay the price for Lucy's cure.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: The Shattering....yeppers I'm shattered by how bad it is\n\nReview: This was a tough call, I would actually say it was more of a 2.5 stars. Don't get me wrong, though. I wasn't impressed at all or floored by an interesting movie. It was predictable and rather dull. There are wolf attacks and you never see any wolves? There are lots of hunters and losts of gunshots? In the middle of all kinds of strangeness and tragedy, one girl is going into jealous hysterics? Really, these are just stock annoying characters. let's talk about bad actors and actresses. I was rooting for the invisible wolves to eat them or the bad hunters to shoot them. Can someone tell me why OH why in every horror movie the girls are always falling when the run?","Product: A MOST VIOLENT YEAR is a searing crime drama set in New York City during the winter of 1981, statistically the most dangerous year in the city's history. From acclaimed writer/director J.C. Chandor, and starring Oscar Isaac (INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS) and Jessica Chastain (ZERO DARK THIRTY), this gripping story plays out within a maze of rampant political and industry corruption plaguing the streets of a city in decay. J.C. Chandor's third feature examines one immigrant's determined climb up a morally crooked ladder, where simmering rivalries and unprovoked attacks threaten his business, family, and - above all - his own unwavering belief in the righteousness of his path. With A MOST VIOLENT YEAR, Chandor journeys in a bold new direction, toward the place where best intentions yield to raw instinct, and where we are most vulnerable to compromise what we know to be right.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: An anti-gangster movie that delivers.\n\nReview: The anti-Godfather. This is pure story. If you are looking for gunfights and stabbings and random acts of violence, you may be disappointed. A couple guns here and there but not by any means the focal point of this film. Abel Morales (Oscar Isaac) is trying to start an oil transport business in the 60's (I think) and his trucks keep getting hi-jacked by persons unknown and he gets no help from the cops or the feds. He is trying to be that honest man but keeps running into situations that aren't his to control (his greedy mobster's daughter of a wife, pure nightmare) he should have bumped her off, ah well, terrific tale and that is what it is. I was never bored or uninterested at all. Bravo to the performers, Oscar Isaac, Jessica Chastain (the shrew of a wife), David Oyelowo (prosecutor) Albert Brooks (again magnificent). The movie lighting is too dim for me, could not see much.","Product: Germany released, Blu-Ray/Region B : it WILL NOT play on regular DVD player, or on standard US Blu-Ray player. You need multi-region Blu-Ray player to view it in USA/Canada: LANGUAGES: English ( Dolby Digital 5.1 ), English ( DTS-HD Master Audio ), German ( Dolby Digital 5.1 ), German ( DTS-HD Master Audio ), German ( Subtitles ), WIDESCREEN (2.35:1), SPECIAL FEATURES: Cast/Crew Interview(s), Interactive Menu, Scene Access, SYNOPSIS: Doug (Nick Jonas) starts an affair with Lena (Isabel Lucas), the young wife of an investment banker renting the house next door. Everyone becomes a suspect when Lena's husband dies and it is revealed he had a large life insurance policy. ...Careful What You Wish For\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Nick Jonas does a fine job.\n\nReview: Careful What You Wish For is a story of seduction, deceit and betrayal. The summer before he leaves for college, a young man (Nick Jonas) begins an affair with the beautiful wife (Isabel Lucas) of his wealthy and powerful investment banker neighbor (Dermot Mulroney). So, yes, we have seen this story before, so yes it is a retread and maybe not even as good as the others but what does make this better is Nick Jonas, he does a more than adequate job in this film. Did I see the ending coming a mile away....yes, I did. Do you want to reach out and shake the Nick character and yell \"snap out of it\" but you get a teenager with rampaging hormones and a possibly attractive older woman, we know what the rest is. the ending is so predictable and again nothing I haven't seen before. Enough of the gullible teen boy leading with his hormones though....getting boring. This Isabel Lucas....sorry but for me she is not the temptress, vixen or siren type.","Product: An explosive plot to kidnap a corrupt billionaire set against New York, Miami, Washington, and the Caribbean when you have International superstar Sophia Loren involved, this is one FIREPOWER!. Carl Stegner (George Touliatos) is wanted by the US government for fraud, bribery and corruption. But before Stegner can be indicted, his top scientist with the evidence is murdered. Adele Tasca (Sophia Loren, TWO WOMEN, BLOOD FEUD), the murdered man's widow, suggests Stegner's kidnapping to the Justice Department. She recommends Jerry Fanon (James Coburn, CROSS OF IRON, IN LIKE FLINT), her former lover and professional bounty hunter, to catch her husband's killer and bring him back to face justice. Fanon and Adele enlist the aid of Catlett (O J Simpson, KILLER FORCE, THE NAKED GUN), a powerful, professional thief and together they embark on the deadly mission. The top-notch supporting cast includes Eli Wallach (THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY), Tony Franciosa (TENEBRE), George Grizzard (ADVISE AND CONSENT), Vincent Gardenia (DEATH WISH), Billy Barty (FOUL PLAY) and a special guest appearance by Victor Mature (KISS OF DEATH, VIOLENT SATURDAY), and directed by action veteran Michael Winner (THE STONE KILLER, THE WICKED LADY). Catch FIREPOWER, now from a brand new HD master!\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Barely worth the price of admission\n\nReview: This movie is so lucky that I gave it 3 stars. could have gone to the dark side on this. First let's get an aging James Coburn, but he still does an okay job, get an actress who really never was much of an actress (some films maybe, but not many) Sophia Loren, get O'J. Simpson, never, ever an actor. Then get some cool veterans, Eli Wallach and Vincent Gardenia and shake and throw in a very predictable plot and solution and here you have it one of Sir Lew Grades not so good movies. some of them were good bad this was just not good. You can avoid this and hope you can see it for free somewhere if you really want to. I say don't go out of your way for it.","Product: This throwback horror film just raised the hacked-up bar: Horror legend Kane Hodder and Playboy Playmate of the Year 2012, Jaclyn Swedberg star in this scary, sexy, indie shocker that joins a group of friends just as they emerge from the thick, murky darkness of the marshes tattered, bloody, and lucky to be alive. But they will soon find out that the lucky ones are already dead. Muck is packed with old-school gore effects and brutal stunts, without any CGI or apologies. Lachlan Buchanan (Pretty Little Liars) co-stars in writer/director Steve Wolsh's searing directorial debut that unfolds like a blood-stained love letter to horror fanatics everywhere!\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: Minus 5 stars and that is being charitable.\n\nReview: I took this movie with me to my friends house for movie day. I thought a good horror movie who can turn it down? I am not allowed back in their house....EVER! In God's name what was this supposed to be. We start the movie somewhere in the middle and never go back???? What happened to this group of young people that they are injured and torn up and naked? We never find out. All this is, in my opinion is some adolescents dream of terror and breasts! Yep. breasts everywhere, one girl goes into a bar's ladies room and proceeds to change her underwear and bra, repeatedly? Why, no clue and she poses too? One friend after they break into a house goes for help, he finds the bar, goes and washes his hand and orders a drink???? His friend is at the house is bleeding out? Not one bit of pathos for any character in this movie...I was rooting for them to die! The scenes were strange too. it seemed to take one guy 5 minutes to walk across the room!","Product: Based upon the acclaimed comic book and directed by Matthew Vaughn (Kick Ass, X-Men First Class), the film tells the story of The Kingsman; a super-secret spy organization that recruits an unrefined but promising street kid into his agencys ultra-competitive training program just as a global threat emerges from a twisted tech genius\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Bravo Taron Egerton, 10 stars.\n\nReview: Well, I'm not sure how much weight my review will carry after more that 3500 others have already done so but here I go anyway. Funny, exciting, action packed, serious at times. First of all, TARON EGERTON, you may ask why his name is capitalized...because he is sensational! He is in what I assume to be one of his first major films with a ton of acting heavyweights...Colin Firth, Samuel Jackson, Michael Caine, Mark Strong....and he more that shines. The fight scenes are awesome and the attention to the smaller scenes for example Eggsy (Taron's character) and his pug. don't get me wrong there are some really nasty and bloody scenes (the church) but the story and the cast are exemplary. I really hope for a sequel, VERY SOON. I highly recommend this inventive and entertaining movie.","Product: A feisty widowed single mom finds herself burdened with the full-time custody of her explosive 15-year-old ADHD son. As they try to make ends meet and struggle with their unpredictable mnage, the peculiar, new girl across the street, Kyla, benevolently offers her help. Together, they find a new sense of balance, and hope is regained.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Exceptional on so many levels.\n\nReview: Xavier Dolan is fast becoming one of my very favorite writer/directors. I am not exaggerating that statement. He is gritty and he is real and his actors give him all they have to do his movies. I thought that \"tom at the farm\" was disturbing. I loved that and I loved this movie too. French-Canadian film, yes, subtitles, about a Mom with a troubled child. she has him in some kind of juvy hall, they force him out and she has to take him back. He set a fire that hurt someone. Mostly a 3 person story and those 3 persons are Wonderful. Anne Dorval as Mommy (Die or Diane) Suzanne Clement as the neighbor who tutors and tries to help and the outstanding Antoine Olivier Pilon as Steve the problem son, he is amazing. You feel for all of the people involved and who are trying to make a life against all odds. Keep in mind this is Canada and they have laws that we don't have.","Product: Rufus is a shy and lonely boy determined to make a new start. Sure he has some quirks. So what if he likes the taste of blood? It's not like he's addicted. When a cunning vampire hunter slips into town searching for the fountain of youth, Rufus fears his darkest secret is about to be revealed.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: What a wonderful viewing pleasure.\n\nReview: I cannot begin to tell you how much I loved this movie. Rufus is a shy and lonely boy determined to make a new start. Sure he has some quirks. So what if he likes the taste of blood? It's not like he's addicted. When a cunning vampire hunter slips into town searching for the fountain of youth, Rufus fears his darkest secret is about to be revealed. We have Rory J. Saper as Rufus and he has the whole understated, quiet, don't notice me thing down. This is a Canadian film and all of the stars of it are outstanding. Terrific story, not your typical vampire, or is he? He looks 15 or so but is he? he escapes from a place where they have abused him and he wants to make a new start and gets in with a family that recently lost their son. Did I mention that I loved this movie? Really did, mostly story and riveting at that.","Product: An uproarious cross-dressing comedy, First Period follows a new girl and an outcast as the most awkward girls in high school. Together, they set out to take over the annual talent contest and win over the whole school.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Hilarious and I don't toss that word around.\n\nReview: Well, color me shocked and surprised. I never would have thought in a zillion years that I would love this movie as much as I did. So very funny and major camp, too. But camp done well and that adds to the funny. The laughs were everywhere so it would be impossible to start and single any out. The 2 main characters are girls, they are that in the movie but played by 2 guys...but they are girls, not in drag, they are girls, you have to keep that in mind. Let me make this clear, they and the entire cast are truly hysterical. \"didn't we tell you not to talk, just take off your shirt\" (you'll see). Recommend this for any and everyone, you just need to be ready to have fun.","Product: In 1983, a group of childhood friends pulled off the crime of the century: kidnapping one of the richest men in the world, the heir of the Heineken beer empire (Anthony Hopkins). The shocking capture --by gunpoint in broad daylight on the streets of Amsterdam--resulted in the largest ransom ever paid for a kidnapped individual. It was truly the perfect crimeuntil they got away with it. Based on a true story\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: I was enthralled from start to finish.\n\nReview: In 1983, a group of childhood friends pulled off the crime of the century: kidnapping one of the richest men in the world, the heir of the Heineken beer empire (Anthony Hopkins). The shocking capture --by gunpoint in broad daylight on the streets of Amsterdam--resulted in the largest ransom ever paid for a kidnapped individual. What a terrific movie and this is a story that I never know and let me tell you that I had a hard time telling you who I was rooting for, The good guys or the bad. If you don't know the story I won't give it away. I will say this though, very suspenseful and you will find yourself getting involved. I found myself yelling at the TV several times! (don't do that) (stop and think about what you are doing) etc. Anthony Hopkins as Mr. Heineken (Beer guy) magnificent. The kidnappers sensationally portrayed by Jim Sturgess, Sam Worthington, Ryan Kwanten, Jark Van EEowen and Thomas Cocqueral. Totally great.","Product: Every seven seconds in America a child is victimized by a bully, and the Internet is the new school playground. Three friends have a falling out at school after one of them is bullied, and their lives are slowly torn apart as the they fall deeper into a twisted web of hate, ignorance, and revenge - where it turns out no one is truly innocent - all leading to a disturbing and violent conclusion. Bonus features include: Trailers, Behind the Scenes Interviews\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: would I recommend it? no, i would not.\n\nReview: Three friends have a falling out at school after one of them is bullied, and their lives are slowly torn apart as the they fall deeper into a twisted web of hate, ignorance, and revenge - where it turns out no one is truly innocent - all leading to a disturbing and violent conclusion. This movie barely made it to a 3 for several reasons. First the positives, though. for the very small budget this must have had they did a good job. The subject of bullying is well represented here, if not a little extreme. Alexander Fraser as Devon as the victim of the bullying is pretty good, too, Darren Ackerman as the bully is pretty good also. Now the negatives. Adrienne King (first Friday the 13th survivor) really awful as an actress then and still is now, REALLY. The other performers pretty bad too. In both of these instances the girlfriends were mainly responsible for all the trouble (really) they egged on their respective boyfriends to the inevitable bad conclusions.","Product: After he crashes his bike into a super-sexy stranger named Nikki (Avgeropoulos), Cam (Lautner) is introduced to her crew -- a team that uses parkour to pull off heists. Hoping to alleviate his deepening debt to a violent crime gang, Cam quickly joins the group. As the stakes get higher with more dangerous side ventures, the payouts get bigger. Cam must use every ounce of his skill to stay alive as the crew's heists grow more daring with each job, and gang enforcers breathe relentlessly down his neck.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: If mindless jumping around and non-acting is your thing? So is this.\n\nReview: more like 2.5. The plot is soooo predictable, there is so much of the whole parkour thing that it loses its luster quickly and it isn't even good parkour, kind of dull. The girl in this Marie Avgeropoulos is just another in a long line of talentless actresses who have no real talent and pretty much pout and be angry as their way of acting. Please let her never get another part. The support parkour guys are, at best okay, no Golden Globe nominees here. And now for the prime offender, Taylor Lautner, Can someone please tell me why anyone thinks that he can carry a movie? He was okay in Twilight, okay in Grown ups and that is because he (so far) has not shown any real acting chops! Robert Pattinson has taken very real and challenging parts, he came out of the twilight acting pool very well, his co-stars, Kristen and Taylor.....not so much.","Product: Unable to sustain a long-term relationship, a disillusioned man (Evans) is knocked off his feet when he meets the woman of his dreams (Monaghan) the only problem: she's already engaged. As they establish a platonic relationship, he will use the power of imagination and wild vignettes to conquer her heart and escape the friend zone.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: The entire cast makes this different and a luxury.\n\nReview: I am about to disagree with everyone who has reviewed this before me. Chris Evans stars as a disillusioned writer with a big imagination that consists mostly of hot women yielding to his every desire. He is indifferent to the whole concept of true love until he meets HER (Michelle Monaghan), a breathtaking young woman who shakes all his previous beliefs. His buddies, all fellow writers, give him way too much advice, mostly along the lines of getting lucky before getting in too deep. The one thing they do not tell him is to lie through his teeth, which he ends up doing just so he can spend time with her. When the truth comes out, all hell breaks loose and he ends up as the star in his own tragedy. That is the story. Mine is that I am not a big fan of RomComs, but when you have such a wonderful pair as Chris Evans And Michelle Monaghan and the wonderful back up cast. I defy you not to enjoy it, is it formulaic, yes but done with panache and style for this cast.","Product: Best Exotic Marigold Hotel Blu-ray\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Second is as good as the first.\n\nReview: There is absolutely no way I would give this movie anything less that 5 stars, I adored it as much as the first one. Who can argue with this stellar cast. Judi Densch, Maggie Smith, Bill Nighy and now let's add Richard Gere. The story is as wonderful with Sonny who is soon to be married but still trying to expand by wanting to buy a second hotel and going to a corporation to get the money. Sonny played by Dev Patel is absolutely charming and I love him to death. Small spoiler someone is checking out his establishment and someone got bad reports from a doctor. The love and humor abound and I will stack it right up against the first one.","Product: Netherlands released, Blu-Ray/Region A/B/C : it WILL NOT play on regular DVD player. You need Blu-Ray DVD player to view this Blu-Ray DVD: LANGUAGES: English ( Dolby Digital 5.1 ), English ( DTS-HD Master Audio ), Dutch ( Subtitles ), WIDESCREEN (2.35:1), SPECIAL FEATURES: Interactive Menu, Scene Access, SYNOPSIS: James has a dark past, but now he is trying with all his might to change his life, as he meets a beautiful girl, gets a job as an auto mechanic, dreams of owning his own business. Meanwhile, his older brother, Frankie, who served ten years in prison, is released. Frankie is trying to improve relations, but James could not forgive his brother for the fact that many years ago, he caused his crime, which is why James spent sixteen months. However, Frankie attempts to start a new life that James did not add up: because of the prison of the past, he cannot expect to get a good job and fails in lending to their business. Seeing this, Frankie offers James to \"conduct a little business.\" He swears it's the last time and after a bank robbery in New Orleans, they have money, and they will refund his life that was once lost. As a result of \"a little business\", it will become one of the most dramatic and bloody attacks in American history. ...American Heist (2014)\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Hayden Christensen is the one to watfch.\n\nReview: I am going to go okay with this one. Nothing really different about this \"heist\" movie than any other, it is all right but nothing spectacular. What was is more proof that Hayden Christensen can really act, I have been saying it forever and he can. That whole Star Wars thing was a fluke. Watch him in anything else and he is wonderful. The plot? His brother, Adrien Brody, gets out of jail and brings his baby brother into the thick of a heist. He tricked him into it (nice brother) The gang is typical, no type of different character. Things go south real quick, most of these crooks are pretty inept. Except for Christian, you pretty much hate the rest even his brother for being a moron. Do I recommend? Hard to say. I say it is okay for a view if you get it cheap.","Product: For 19-year-old Jay, fall should be about school, boys and weekends out at the lake. But after a seemingly innocent sexual encounter, she finds herself plagued by strange visions and the inescapable sense that someone, or something, is following her. Jay and her teenage friends must now find a way to escape the horrors that seem to be only a few steps behind in this critically-acclaimed chiller that Bloody Disgusting calls the scariest movie of 2015.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: It Follows....It really does and I love it. Well, not the evil it....but you know.\n\nReview: A girl has sex with a young man in a car that she barely knows and thinks she loves. Oops, that is a huge mistake, especially in this case. He has passed on to her through the sex act a creature that will now stalk her every waking moment. Only those that have \"it\" can see \"it\" and she has to pass it on the same way to get between her and \"it\". The idea is to have as many people between you and \"it\" as you can. That way \"it\" will have to kill all the others before \"it\" comes back to you. Like a line of succession. I found this movie to be very suspenseful and I had many a chill. The lead actress was capable enough but I could only wish they had found someone more expressive. All her friends were terrific. Those performances were excellent. Lots of scares and suspense.","Product: Snap your fingers, tap your toes and swing into the jazziest jungle of them all in Walt Disney's coolest Classic, The Jungle Book! This animated gem springs brilliantly to life when Mowgli, an orphan boy raised by wolves, is encouraged by his animal friends to leave the jungle before the return of the fearsome man-eating tiger, Shere Khan. With Bagheera (his loyal panther friend) at his side, Mowgli's journey back to the "man-village" begins. Along the way, he is befriended by a free-spirited bear named Baloo, who rescues him from hilarious run-ins with some of the wildest Disney characters ever created - eccentric elephants, a bewitching boa and a be-boppin' orangutan named King Louie! Through it all, it's lovable Baloo who teaches Mowgli the "Bare Necessities" of life and the true meaning of friendship. Filled with wonderful music and thrilling adventures, The Jungle Book is a swingin', singin', song-filled celebration you'll never forget!\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Must see, even though it is all CGI.\n\nReview: All the other reviews are right on target here. This is a visually stunning movie and I will usually balk at total CGI movies. the voice talents are outstanding and the best is the little boy who plays Mowgli. This kid is nothing short of amazing. The directing by Jon Favreau is off the charts, what an eye for detail. I wholeheartedly recommend this movie for young and old but as a caution let me throw this out there. There is one scene that is probably going to be hard on little kids and you should be aware it is between the wolf pack leader and Shere Khan the Tiger. Other than that, love Neel Sethi, the boy and the characters are so real and genuine too. Bill Murray as Baloo is outstanding.","Product: Dive in and rock out with the hottest surf sequel under the sun! Now that summer's over and school has begun, Brady (Ross Lynch) and Mack's (Maia Mitchell) relationship seems headed for a wipeout -- until Lela, Tanner and the \"Wet Side Story\" kids show up! Dazzled by the novelty and variety of the modern world, Lela wants to stay, but the real world and the \"reel\" world just don't mix. Can Mack and Brady find the magic to get the kids home and get their own romance back on track before it's too late? Packed with electrifying song & dance numbers and hilarious fish-out-of-water wackiness, TEEN BEACH 2 is \"wow-abunga\" fun for everyone!\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: it is Disney, what's not to love.\n\nReview: What can I say that 92 others haven't already said? This is such a Disney Movie, is that meant in any kind of bad way? NO WAY. I love my Disney movies, well 98% of them. this one falls in that category. The terrific ones. Did you love the first \"Teen Beach\"? No reason at all not to love this one too. Wonderful stars, wonderful story, wonderful songs and singing and wonderful dance numbers. now let us look at the 4 prime stars, Leila, couldn't find her real name sorry, is wonderful and sweet. Mack, Maia Mitchell, has to be a future star. Brady, Ross Lynch, dynamic voice and dancer and pretty easy on the eyes too. Now Tanner, goofy and lovable and seriously adorable played by Garrett Clayton, to me was the stand out.","Product: Quick Shipping !!! New And Sealed !!! This Disc WILL NOT play on standard US DVD player. A multi-region PAL/NTSC DVD player is request to view it in USA/Canada. Please Review Description.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: More Like Mad Furiosa: Max Road.\n\nReview: I am going to get my biggest objection out of the way. This is called Mad Max, is it not? It isn't called Ticked off Furiosa, is it? so my question is, why is this a movie about Charlize Theron....give her a movie of her own, it is called Mad Max and he really wasn't the integral player that he should have been! Having said that, I love Nicholas Hoult as Nux the Warboy, this kid is so good in everything he does (Young beast in the x-men) I'm wishing him a much bigger star soon. The brides are terrific. The old gals are terrific. the bad guys are very Mad Max bad and hideous. So I loved the story, the action, the performances and the fact that there isn't much in the way of CGI (the weather etc) I would have gone for 5 stars except it really wasn't a Max movie.","Product: Quick Shipping !!! New And Sealed !!! This Disc WILL NOT play on standard US DVD player. A multi-region PAL/NTSC DVD player is request to view it in USA/Canada. Please Review Description.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: All the cast was very funny.\n\nReview: Well, what a shocker, I really did like this movie a ton! I had my doubts and was fighting myself forever on whether I would see it or not and I am very glad that I did. I sometimes think that Melissa McCarthy is the same in every movie but sometimes she gets it right and here she did. She plays the quiet shy girl who assists an agent in the field, Jude Law and he gets killed and well she takes up the reigns. she infiltrates the bad guys led by Rose Byrne, so funny, and has to stave off the attempts by a rogue agent, Jason Statham, hysterical. I got a good many laughs from this movie and I do recommend it most highly. Melissa herself had me cracking up.","Product: Maiden Woods is a remote and quiet town of decent, hard-working people, but something stirs in the dark woods surrounding this isolated community. After a logging company decimates an area of the forest, a rash of increasingly violent and unexplainable events transpires. Sheriff Paul Shields (Kevin Durand) and his deputy (Lukas Haas) struggle to confront their own personal demons while facing down a new breed of raw terror that is possibly older than humanity itself and much, much hungrier.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Absolutely worth the time.\n\nReview: Well, let me tell you how suspenseful this movie was. Kevin Durand as the seriously emotionally wounded sheriff is very good. Lukas Haas as his deputy is outstanding too. I have to say that the performances in this movie was outstanding. The story and the direction in this movie was terrific and it has been quite a while since I have seen this level of suspense. I am not sure how I would classify this movie but I will go with horror and suspense. I did not see the ending coming. This is also a cautionary tale of what could be. Would I recommend this movie....I sure would. The story is terrific too so even if you aren't a horror fan.....you will se the very good story.","Product: Brian's younger brother Sam goes missing in Tasmania during the middle of a mysterious quarantine. Brian must travel to the deserted island to save his brother from a land now solely inhabited by demonic spirits. In order to survive, he must follow a set of rules: including covering himself with human ashes, to cloak his presence from the malevolent entities haunting the barren landscape. But will this buy enough time for Brian to find his brother, or will they both be stuck in a hellish realm of the dead forever?\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: How to save us? Dont see this movie, that will save you. I saw it, I'm lost.\n\nReview: Brian's younger brother Sam goes missing in Tasmania during the middle of a mysterious quarantine. Brian must travel to the deserted island to save his brother from a land now solely inhabited by demonic spirits. In order to survive, he must follow a set of rules: including covering himself with human ashes, to cloak his presence from the malevolent entities haunting the barren landscape. That is the description they gave...here is mine. Horrifyingly dull, mind-numbingly boring and unfocused. No real dialog just these 2 brothers wandering (separately) across the landscape and the older brother following the notes left by the younger! What are these dimensional creatures? Are they ghosts? Are they breaching a dimensional doorway as one broadcast suggests? I have no Clue at all. I don't think anyone knows what this thing wanted to be, I really don't. Do not waste your time. The reason for 2 stars....Tasmania was gorgeous. Makes me want to travel there.","Product: Spring Ball, 1984. Adrienne (Kendra Timmins, Midnight Sun, Wingin' It), a straight-A student, joins her quarterback crush Sean (Justin Kelly, Maps To The Stars, Big Muddy) and some friends in sneaking out of their high school dance for some unsupervised mayhem. The teens' party plans hit a snag when they run out of gas on a deserted road. They head out on foot and discover a rundown farmhouse where they hope to find help, but instead find themselves at the mercy of Junior Joad (Mark Wiebe, Sweet Karma), a cannibal killer from an urban legend. After the brutal murder of one of their friends, the group s quest for help becomes one of survival. Will anyone survive the night?\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Bravo and bring back the 80's slasher flicks.\n\nReview: A sometimes silly homage to the great slaughter films of the 80's. But the silliness is necessary just for the groans alone. You have the usual suspects who are going off to party, car breaks down, go to the scary house to get help, none available but still lets break in and look around, at times even split up! it really is a fun ride back to the 80's with this movie but the idea is don't take it seriously just smile and enjoy. I am sure you will see all the parts that you yelled at then and will now, too. The mostly young actors do pretty well but I suspect the performances were meant to reflect the acting of the 80's.","Product: Every night, four boys trick a young, blonde girl into meeting them in the forest for a date with the intention to hunt and kill her. One night, Veronica (Abigail Breslin) is selected and when the hunt begins, the boys soon realize that they messed with the wrong girl.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Filmed beautifully...the rest Meh!\n\nReview: I agree whole heartedly with the comments about the way the film was shot, it is very artsy almost in a film noir way. Very nice where that is concerned. The acting is all very understated which also seems to work. Alexander Ludwig as the leader of the pack warrants special attention, he and maybe one or two of his pack are the only really stimulating performances here. Now the negatives....could be some spoilers here so.....The first 15 dull minutes of her \"training\" with Wes Bentley, total boredom. Wes Bentley, wasted here. Abigail Breslin, never bought her in this part. the truth or dare game...drawn out too long. She drugs 3 of the boys with a hallucinogen, if you are going to kill them and make them know it, why drug them? We never really exactly find out why Wes is training her for this, they have killed 20 girls, we don't know for sure if he knew one, he mentions something in passing. Oh, and the kills were quick and too merciful.","Product: Jacob (Anton Yelchin) returns to his desolate hometown and discovers that his child-like brother, Buddy (Chris Marquette) is working for a notorious gang. The gangs ruthless boss (Vincent DOnofrio) has exploited Buddys simple mind and manipulated him into becoming a merciless killer. Jacob realizes the only way to save Buddy is to take down the gang from within. Broken Horses is a gritty, epic thriller about bonds of brotherhood, laws of loyalty, and the futility of violence.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Some wonderful performances but slow at times and Anton...What happened????\n\nReview: Jacob (Anton Yelchin) returns to his desolate hometown and discovers that his child-like brother, Buddy (Chris Marquette) is working for a notorious gang. The gangs ruthless boss (Vincent DOnofrio) has exploited Buddys simple mind and manipulated him into becoming a merciless killer. Jacob realizes the only way to save Buddy is to take down the gang from within. Now for the meat...I got this for Anton Yelchin, I love him BUT he was way too mellow for me in this and I get that is his usual persona but OMG he was so mellow he was comatose. Vincent D'Onofrio who usually annoys the crap out of me is wonderfully malevolent and manipulative. The star has to be Chris Marquette who stuns with his portrayal of Buddy shifting between maniacal and sweet. I will admit I never read the book BUT the movie did lag quite a bit at various parts. Would I recommend???? Tough call as long as you can just view the story and wait for the things to happen.","Product: From acclaimed director Antoine Fuqua (TRAINING DAY) and screenwriters Kurt Sutter (Sons of Anarchy) and Richard Wenk (THE MECHANIC), SOUTHPAW tells the riveting story of Billy, The Great, Hope, reigning Light Heavyweight Boxing Champion of the World (Academy Award nominee Jake Gyllenhaal). Billy Hope seemingly has it all with an impressive career, a beautiful and loving wife (Rachel McAdams), an adorable daughter (Oona Laurence) and a lavish lifestyle. When tragedy strikes and his lifelong manager and friend (Curtis, 50 Cent, Jackson) leaves him behind, Hope hits rock bottom and turns to an unlikely savior at a run-down local gym: Tick Willis (Academy Award winner Forest Whitaker), a retired fighter and trainer to the city's toughest amateur boxers. With his future riding on Tick's guidance and tenacity, Billy enters the hardest battle of his life as he struggles with redemption and to win back the trust of those he loves.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: I don't like bocing movies BUT I love this one.\n\nReview: So, I am in no way shape or form a fan of boxing movies of any kind (never saw a Rocky or any others) so believe me when I tell you that I loved this movie for many reasons. Jake Gyllenhall is an acting God. I don't think he can do any wrong, but that is just me. This is so much more than a boxing movie, things happen when he loses his temper around a rival for his title. A ton of this movie is him trying to get a new start and custody of his child. This is such a poignant movie that you have to root for this guy even though there are times that you want to shake him out of his own head. There are the standard boxing sequences, 2 I think, and they are even well choreographed and you seem to feel the punches yourself. Bravo to the entire support cast too. Direction and writing are off the charts too.","Product: When aliens misinterpret video-feeds of classic arcade games as a declaration of war against them, they attack the Earth, using the games like PAC-MAN, Donkey Kong, Galaga, Centipede and Space Invaders as models for their various assaults. President Will Cooper (Kevin James) has to call on his childhood best friend, 80s video game champion Sam Brenner (Adam Sandler) to lead a team of old-school arcaders (Peter Dinklage and Josh Gad) to defeat the aliens and save the planet.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Never played these games or any but this was fun. Love Qbert.\n\nReview: I don't get why the movie critics were so hard on this movie...will it ever win a Best Picture Nomination? No. Should it? No. But I was seriously entertained. I had a lot of fun and even though things were very predictable I was enjoying it and that is all I want in a movie, entertain me or give me a good story or just something that keeps my attention. If I had one complaint it was with the character portrayed by Peter dinklage, that woice? what was that? Everyone else was terrific Adam was fun and OMG Kevin James as the president, haha. I would certainly vote for him! But anyway, one more reason that I never pay ANY attention to critics. Well the professional ones anyway. You can listen to me.","Product: After a raging all-night party, a group of hung over twenty-somethings awakens to a beating sun and a carnivorous beach that devours anything with a heartbeat.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Well, I was surprised.\n\nReview: After a raging all-night party, a group of hung over twenty-somethings awakens to a beating sun and a carnivorous beach that devours anything with a heartbeat. This is the description for the movie....this does it no justice. I won't tell you that the characters didn't annoy me, they did, I won't tell you that they do stupid things, they do, I won't tell you that the \"monster\" has no origin or explanation, it doesn't. Jamie Kennedy has a cameo as a beach patrol cop and he was too far over the top and just made me want to fast forward thru his part. Those are the negatives BUT I did actually wind up liking this movie. it is a nod to the more old fashioned \"kill the teenager movies\". But it is different enough to keep you watching. Consider too that the whole movie was shot on one beach, budget was small. Oh, the \"monster\" bad effects. I won't say anything about the usual stuff either. But I did like it.","Product: When Max (Taissa Farmiga) and her friends reluctantly attend an anniversary screening of Camp Bloodbath, the infamous 80s horror film that starred Maxs late mother (Malin Akerman), they are mysteriously sucked into the silver screen. They soon realize they are trapped inside the cult classic movie and must team up with the fictional and ill-fated camp counselors, including Maxs mom as the scream queen, to battle the films machete-wielding killer. With the body count rising in scene after iconic scene, who will be the final girls left standing and live to escape this film? THE FINAL GIRLS is a genre-blending horror comedy also starring Adam DeVine, Thomas Middleditch, Alia Shawkat with Alexander Ludwig and Nina Dobrev.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: superb, splendid, sensational and...oh, you get the idea. BRAVO.\n\nReview: When Max (Taissa Farmiga) and her friends reluctantly attend an anniversary screening of Camp Bloodbath, the infamous 80s horror film that starred Maxs late mother (Malin Akerman), they are mysteriously sucked into the silver screen. They soon realize they are trapped inside the cult classic movie and must team up with the fictional and ill-fated camp counselors. This is part of the explanation given about this movie. My take is....you have to see this movie. If you love your 80's slasher films, here is a loving and often funny tribute to them. You get the typical characters from the 80's movies and mix with the now. I loved this movie so much it has to get more than 5 stars. This very fine cast of young stars and they should all be stars is outrageous and superb. Bravo to each and to the writer, director and everyone else involved....can't wait for Part 2???????","Product: In the wake of a nuclear war, a young woman survives on her own, fearing she may actually be the proverbial last woman on earth, until she discovers the most astonishing sight of her life: another human being. A distraught scientist, he's nearly been driven mad by radiation exposure and his desperate search for others. A fragile, imperative strand of trust connects them. But when a stranger enters the valley, their precarious bond begins to unravel.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Truly slow movie but i HATED the ending. otherwise good performances.\n\nReview: In the wake of a nuclear war, a young woman survives on her own, fearing she may actually be the proverbial last woman on earth, until she discovers the most astonishing sight of her life: first one and then a second human being....2 men. This is entirely a 3 person and one puppy movie. Margot Robbie is the woman, along comes Chiwetel Ejiofor a scientist with radiation sickness. She nurses him back to health and some feelings happen between them. he figures many things out too. Along comes Chris Pine and the jealousy begins. I truly hated the ending. I mean really did. The world had ended but really?????? does the savage nature of mankind always need to win? I wanted a better ending.","Product: When a group of cannibal savages kidnaps settlers from the small town of Bright Hope, an unlikely team of gunslingers, led by Sheriff Franklin Hunt (Kurt Russell), sets out to bring them home. But their enemy is more ruthless than anyone could have imagined, putting their mission and survival itself in serious jeopardy. Kurt Russell (The Hateful Eight, Tombstone) leads an all-star cast, including Patrick Wilson (Insidious), Matthew Fox (Lost) and Richard Jenkins (The Visitor) in this gritty, action-packed thriller chronicling a terrifying rescue mission in the Old West.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Kurt, Matthew, Richard and even Patrick get my big thumbs up.\n\nReview: When a group of cannibal savages kidnaps settlers from the small town of Bright Hope, an unlikely team of gunslingers, led by Sheriff Franklin Hunt (Kurt Russell), sets out to bring them home. Kurt Russell (The Hateful Eight, Tombstone) leads an all-star cast, including Patrick Wilson (Insidious), Matthew Fox (Lost) and Richard Jenkins (The Visitor) in this gritty, action-packed thriller chronicling a terrifying rescue mission in the Old West. This is the description given by the Amazon box. Now for mine....WOW! what a terrific combination of horror and suspense and a Western. I even have to say that even though I am not a fan of Patrick Wilson (personal reason) he did a great job as did Matthew Fox and Kurt Russell and Richard Jenkins. Even though some parts walking or riding to the destination seemed drawn out, it wasn't and it made perfect sense. The direction and the scenery are outstanding. I was anticipating each minute of the next frame of this movie. Excellent. Not for the faint of heart, though. Some very nasty scenes.","Product: Zac Efron (\"Bad Neighbours\"), Emily Ratajkowski (upcoming \"Entourage,\" \"Gone Girl\"), and Wes Bentley (\"Interstellar,\" \"The Hunger Games\") star in \"We Are Your Friends\", a film about about what it takes to find your voice. Set in the world of electronic music and Hollywood nightlife, an aspiring 23-year-old DJ named Cole (Efron) spends his days scheming with his childhood friends and his nights working on the one track that will set the world on fire. All of this changes when he meets a charismatic but damaged older DJ named James (Bentley), who takes him under his wing. Things get complicated, however, when Cole starts falling for James' much younger girlfriend, Sophie (Ratajkowski). With Cole's forbidden relationship intensifying and his friendships unravelling, he must choose between love, loyalty, and the future he is destined for.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Predictable but i was still entertained.\n\nReview: Set in the world of electronic music and Hollywood nightlife, an aspiring 23-year-old DJ named Cole (Efron) spends his days scheming with his childhood friends and his nights working on the one track that will set the world on fire. All of this changes when he meets a charismatic but damaged older DJ named James (Bentley), who takes him under his wing. Things get complicated, however, when Cole starts falling for James' much younger girlfriend, Sophie (Ratajkowski). Predictable but still this movie has something. it is sexy and it is very stylish. When he meets the girl he (of course) starts to distance himself from his friends who have been there forever. Cole, wants to \"be someone\" and his buddies don't fit. Will he give in to his urges and steal his new mentors gal? As I said this was so predictable that a monkey could have written it but still I was entertained. The angst was flying everywhere. Does someone die? Someone always does in these movies and you should get who that will be immediately. All of the performances were acceptable and worth a look, it is Zac!","Product: Quick Shipping !!! New And Sealed !!! This Disc WILL NOT play on standard US DVD player. A multi-region PAL/NTSC DVD player is request to view it in USA/Canada. Please Review Description.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Completely loved this movie from beginning to end. jackie is awesome.\n\nReview: Featuring an international cast led by Jackie Chan, John Cusack and Academy Award(R) winner Adrien Brody, the film features the fight for the Silk Road when East and West collide. When corrupt Roman leader Tiberius (Adrien Brody) arrives with a giant army to claim the Silk Road, Huo An (Jackie Chan) and his warriors team up with defected Roman soldiers led by General Lucius (John Cusack) to protect his country and his new friends, Huo An gathers the warriors of thirty-six ethnic nations together to fight Tiberius. 2 problems I had. John Cusack as a Roman General, didn't and don't see it. Adrien Brody as Tiberius, whispered all the time, I couldn't hear him. except for that I loved it. Jackie Chan was SUPERB. The other actors were superb too. The action was terrific. This says it was based on a true story and now I must read about it this was so interesting. The direction and story....outstanding. I will recommend this to everyone. War movie, history movie, a couple chuckles and lots of inspiration, too.","Product: After a painful breakup with her long-term boyfriend (Morris Chestnut), successful lobbyist Leah Vaughn (Sanaa Lathan) jumps into a passionate relationship with a charming stranger, Carter (Michael Ealy), who seems to be the perfect guy. But, after a sexually-charged courtship, she sees a violent side of him and dissolves the budding relationship. In a jealous rage and fueled by insane revenge, he turns her life upside down.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Usual story but the cast is first rate.\n\nReview: So we get Sanaa Lathan, Michael Ealy and Morris Chestnut. So what do we get with this terrific cast? A pretty suspenseful movie, that is what. The vey handsome Michael Ealy is eerie as Carter, he is so good looking that you would never guess what ugliness lies beneath. Morris is the ex-BF and is still trying to get back together. Michael wants to possess her. Sanaa is wonderful as the damsel in distress who isn't going to take it anymore. Nothing really new in this story or plot but the attractive and talented cast make it better than most. I don't doubt that you will figure out the series of events from the first half hour....but still very good show.","Product: John is a rugged small time crook, running from a past full of mistakes and regrets. He soon crosses paths with Louis, a newly orphaned teenage boy, who becomes an unwilling accomplice on an open-road adventure fueled by robberies, guns and deception. John's lonely outlaw lifestyle soon catches up with him and he must confront his demons and decide if his life of doing wrong is still right for him and Louis.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Might be slow but very worth it.\n\nReview: John is a rugged small time crook, running from a past full of mistakes and regrets. He soon crosses paths with Louis, a newly orphaned teenage boy, who becomes an unwilling accomplice on an open-road adventure fueled by robberies, guns and deception. John's lonely outlaw lifestyle soon catches up with him and he must confront his demons and decide if his life of doing wrong is still right for him and Louis. I can see why many have complained about this movie being too slow, I really can, but in the case of this movie....it has to be. We need to see the growing relationship between Josh Duhamel (terrific) and Josh Wiggins (also terrific), is there more to this man and boy? What, if any relationship is there? The chemistry between these 2 and the subsequent travels and hard times they encounter are wonderful to see. Is it slow at times? Yes. Is it worth sticking it out? Absolutely. The 2 Joshes do a sensational job, Bravo.","Product: From award winning director Juan Jos Campanella comes UNDERDOGS, an animated comedy with a little bit of magic and a whole lot of heart. Jake (Matthew Morrison) is a shy, but talented, foosball player. His passion for the game is rivaled only by his love for free-spirited Laura (Ariana Grande). With her encouragement, he beats the town bully, Ace (Nicholas Hoult), in a foosball game. But everything changes when Ace becomes the world s best soccer player and returns years later to turn their village into a new sports stadium. He starts to destroy everything and kidnaps Laura in the process. Just when it looks like all hope is lost, the toy figures from Jake's foosball table come to life! He and the players embark on a wild adventure to save Laura and reclaim their village. With the help of his team, his town, and a little bit of magic, Jake will try to save the day.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Can I have some more thumbs to put up? 2 aren't enough.\n\nReview: Cartoon/Animated fan. That is me. But I am very picky when it comes to the 'toons I watch. The animation has to be good and the story has to be entertaining and the overall 'toon has to hold my attention. Jake is a foosball player in a small town. He challenges and defeats the town bully, Ace. Ace goes on to become the worlds best soccer player. comes back and challenges jake to get a team and play him in Soccer. Now we come to the magical life of jake's foosball characters coming to life to help him and the town. Now I will tell you....I loved this so much. it had all the elements that anyone could want for a fun viewing for young and older alike. Sit bat and enjoy with the family.","Product: Alfonso Poyart directs this mystery thriller starring Colin Farrell as a serial killer and Anthony Hopkins as the man brought in by the FBI to help track him down. Not long into the case, former doctor and psychic John Clancy (Hopkins) realises that the man responsible for the killings has psychic capabilities himself. With both men privy to the actions of each other, a psychological showdown ensues... The supporting cast includes Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Abbie Cornish.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Excellent movie interesting topic.\n\nReview: The FBI is having a problem catching a killer so in desperation they go to Anthony Hopkins to ask him to come back for this one, why him? He is a very prodigious psychic. Please don't think of this as some mindless movie about psychics, this is a very smart movies about psychics, because Anthony is up against an even stronger psychic. It is up to Anthony Hopkins to figure out why the opposing psychic is killing the people he is killing and what is the ulterior motive. Lots of twists and turns and lots of great performances. OH, Colin Ferrell is the opposing Psychic. I recommend this movie to all who like suspense and great writing and directing and acting.","Product: When a terrorist group kidnaps retired CIA field operative Leonard Turner (Bruce Willis), his son Harry Turner (Kellan Lutz), a government analyst who has been repeatedly turned down for field service, launches his own unsanctioned rescue operation. While evading highly skilled operatives, deadly assassins, and international terrorists, Harry finally puts his combat training to the test in a high stakes mission to find his father and to stop a terrorist plot.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Not Too Bad. But Bruce Willis.....please retire.\n\nReview: When a terrorist group kidnaps retired CIA field operative Leonard Turner (Bruce Willis), his son Harry Turner (Kellan Lutz), a government analyst who has been repeatedly turned down for field service, launches his own unsanctioned rescue operation. Now that I have given you the what it is about thing, let's talk a bit more about the movie itself. First, it was entertaining enough, if not sometimes a bit over the top. Second, the characters are all appearing to be going through the motions. Third, I will totally bypass Bruce Willis' part in this since he just seems to do movies for a paycheck now, he was deadpan and didn't show up at all. Gina Carano, I did like her in this but I'm not sure they knew how to use her in the movie, the tough partner or the damsel in distress? Kellan Lutz, I love Kellan, I really do but he was running on Willis's emotional level, meaning not at all. I thought he was okay as was the movie but I want more from him.","Product: During a manned mission to Mars, Astronaut Mark Watney (Matt Damon) is presumed dead after a fierce storm and left behind by his crew. But Watney has survived and finds himself stranded and alone on the hostile planet. With only meager supplies, he must draw upon his ingenuity, wit and spirit to subsist and find a way to signal to Earth that he is alive. Millions of miles away, NASA and a team of international scientists work tirelessly to bring \"the Martian\" home, while his crewmates concurrently plot a daring, if not impossible rescue mission. As these stories of incredible bravery unfold, the world comes together to root for Watney's safe return.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: If I had more than 2 thumbs, they would all be up.\n\nReview: Almost 10,000 others have reviewed this sensational movie. I can't add too much but to say this....Matt Damon is GOD! this performance was one of his best and there are many that are spectacular. He did this part with pathos, humor and charm. His seems to be only part of the whole, we have his crewmen who accidentally left him behind and are planning a very dangerous way to go back and get him. The ground crews and NASA personnel are losing their minds to figure how to get him back. So all in all, we have three stories running simultaneously. Matt Damon is not the only performance of note either. Here we have one of those movies that has the right people in the right parts and they are all terrific. Amazing scenery and amazing acting and amazing writing and amazing direction all make for a nail biter. Are there slow times, sure but even they are amazing. Be aware though, the jargon and tech speak are just that very technical the very detailed. Matt Damon's humor is awesome.","Product: Join the rollicking gang at Rydell High with GREASE LIVE, a one-night musical television adaptation of the popular crossover musical 'Grease' performed LIVE before a studio audience! Featuring a talented young ensemble cast, GREASE LIVE will reintroduce and reimagine the unforgettable moments, great music, and timeless love story to an entirely new generation.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Bravo for this live stage version.\n\nReview: first and foremost.....huge \"Grease\" fan. Now having said that there was no way, ever this was going to get 5 stars. But it does get a wonderful 4.5 stars. Complaints? the voices of the actors were not strong enough for my tastes. Vanessa Hudgens as Rizzo was a very weak portrayal. The support cast was very good and as for the leads....here it comes....Julianne Hough as Sandy was good, she sang well, danced very well but her acting was stilted at best. Aaron Tveit as Danny Zucco......better than good, Acted well,, sang very well and danced exceedingly well. Aaron and Julianne certainly looked the parts. As for the production....superb. to do a live show of this magnitude was impressive. Bravo to the director and all the behind the scenes people. \"Greased Lightning\" was one of the very best numbers.","Product: From Academy Award winner Brian Helgeland (L.A. Confidential) comes the true story of London's most notorious gangsters, twins Reggie and Ronnie Kray (Tom Hardy, Mad Max: Fury Road). As the brothers rise through the criminal underworld, Ronnie advances the family business with violence and intimidation while Reggie struggles to go legitimate for local girl Frances Shea (Emily Browning, Sucker Punch). In and out of prison, Ronnie's unpredictable tendencies and the slow disintegration of Reggie's marriage threaten to bring the brothers' empire tumbling to the ground.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: The language barrier was BIG.\n\nReview: I love Tom Hardy. That is my qualifier. here is the problem, we are truly 2 lands separated by a common language. I have an Anglo-Saxon background so I am usually good with my British friends but The Ronnie Kray part that Tom does has such a thick Cockney accent that I had so much trouble understanding his dialog. The Reggie Kray part was better but lost that a few times too. I love this story of the British gangsters from the 60's and this does it justice for sure but I would love to have heard more. These British gangster films are terrific. This would have gotten a 5 but....I saw another one called \"The Rise of the Krays\" and that was terrific.","Product: Robert Redford and Cate Blanchett star in TRUTH, based on a riveting true story of one of network news biggest scandals. As a renowned producer and close associate of Dan Rather (Redford), Mary Mapes (Blanchett) believes shes broken the biggest story of the 2004 election: revelations of a sitting U.S. Presidents military service. But when allegations come pouring in, sources change their stories, document authenticity is questioned, and the casualties begin to mount. This dramatic thriller goes behind the scenes to expose the intricacies of journalistic integrity and what it takes to reveal the TRUTH.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Great performances and eye-opening story. Free press my eye!\n\nReview: Robert Redford and Cate Blanchett star in TRUTH, based on a riveting true story of one of network news biggest scandals. As a renowned producer and close associate of Dan Rather (Redford), Mary Mapes (Blanchett) believes shes broken the biggest story of the 2004 election: revelations of a sitting U.S. Presidents military service. This was all about Bush and let me just say this, I should never watch things like this, it makes me very angry that our so-called free press, is anything but that. It is well under the governmental and big business control This is why I only watch the BBC and that is where I really learn what is going on in the world. The acting was excellent by all concerned nd after the last election which the media and certain factions tried to control and were way off, by the way, we need to look very hard.","Product: When a strange virus quickly spreads through a safari park and turns all the zoo animals undead, those left in the park must stop the creatures before they escape and zombify the whole city.\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: Heed this warning, stay far away.\n\nReview: I do not understand these 5 star reviews. Right at the start you know this is a bad movie, the actors in the lab are stilted and ridiculous. The CGI(?) animals are terribly done. As we get more people into this zoo, a bunch of interns who have to spend the day helping the zoo people these are all bad actors too, the staff at the zoo horribly bad actors. The stereotypical characters don't help either. The girl too good to do this, the obnoxious little daughter of the woman running the zoo, the tough security chick who is really too over the top, the nerd boy etc. you get the idea. The only actor that may have a shot is Andrew Asper. So horrible acting, bad effects, bad CGI animals, obnoxious child and her annoying overacting mother make for a terrible movie. they should have at least tried to make it a fun bad movie, but no....it takes itself too seriously. Stay away.","Product: Michael Keaton, Mark Ruffalo, and Rachel McAdams lead a critically acclaimed cast in this gripping true story about the Pulitzer Prize-winning investigation that uncovered a scandal that rocked one of the world's oldest and most trusted institutions. Delving into allegations of child abuse within the local Catholic Archdiocese, a tenacious team of Boston Globe reporters exposes a decades-long cover-up that reaches the highest levels of Boston's religious, legal, and government establishment. \"Brilliantly acted and flawlessly directed\" (New York Post ) Spotlight is a powerful and riveting drama the critics are calling \"the All the President's Men of our time\" (Los Angeles Times ).\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Everyone should see it, corruption is EVERYWHERE.\n\nReview: Looking into allegations of child abuse within the local Catholic Archdiocese, a team of Boston Globe reporters exposes a decades-long cover-up that reaches the highest levels of Boston's religious, legal, and government establishment. To say that this film was superb would be an understatement. One of the very finest movies of 2015 and I do not exaggerate that. What a \"dream cast\" and each and every one is amazing. There have already been 3700 reviews so mine will be a nutshell. magnificent performances, great story that needed to be told and more things like this need to happen in this world there is too much being covered up and the corruption in the corporations and government are staggering. Bravo for this stunning, remarkable and brave movie.","Product: Based on the extraordinary true story of the greatest smallboat rescue in Coast Guard history, THE FINEST HOURS is a tale of courage, loyalty and honor in the face of overwhelming odds. When a massive storm strikes off the coast of Cape Cod, it rips a T-2 oil tanker in half, trapping more than 30 sailors on its rapidly sinking stern. As Captain Bernie Webber (Chris Pine) and his crew set out in a 12-seat rescue boat to save them, Chief Engineer Ray Sybert (Casey Affleck) struggles to buy his men more time. Packed with heroic larger-than-life action and driven by the men's faith in their mission, themselves and one another, THE FINEST HOURS is a triumph.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: The finest hours for this movie too.\n\nReview: Based on the extraordinary true story of the greatest smallboat rescue in Coast Guard history. When a massive storm strikes off the coast of Cape Cod, it rips a T-2 oil tanker in half, trapping more than 30 sailors on its rapidly sinking stern. As Captain Bernie Webber (Chris Pine) and his crew set out in a 12-seat rescue boat to save them, Chief Engineer Ray Sybert (Casey Affleck) struggles to buy his men more time. First let me give you the reason for the 4 stars and not 5 which I really wanted to give it. Holiday Granger, the girl that Chris Pine's character is engaged to...useless, worthless to the story and why she had so much to do is beyond me. she was not necessary in any way. every other player is excellent especially Casey Affleck, I am a huge fan and always will be. Chris Pine, Eric Bana as the Coast Guard commander and Ben foster all great the crew on the tanker...great. The story is riveting and rings of honesty. I don't see any sugar coating and recommend this most sincerely.","Product: Will Smith stars in Concussion, a dramatic thriller based on the incredible true David vs. Goliath story of American immigrant Dr. Bennet Omalu, the brilliant forensic neuropathologist who made the first discovery of CTE, a football-related brain trauma, in a pro player and fought for the truth to be known. Omalus emotional quest puts him at dangerous odds with one of the most powerful and beloved institutions in the world. With captivating performances by Alec Baldwin and Academy Award nominee Albert Brooks (1987 Best Supporting Actor, Broadcast News).\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Excellent. Will was outstanding.\n\nReview: Finally, Will Smith got one and hit it out of the park. He plays Dr. Bennett Omalu who was solely instrumental in coming up with the fact that so many football players had so many problems and so many had literally lost their minds sometimes to the point of killing themselves rather than possibly harming their families. he saw after they had died by studying their brains that the human brain was not built to take those kinds of blows. That is one part of this story (real it is, too) the rest was trying to get the NFL to come to terms with it and for that matter America too. Not only is the NFL a big business but a powerful one too. They never cared for the individual player just....MONEY. The Almighty Dollar. They even had certain governmental agencies in their pockets too. This Doctor virtually lost everything to try to save these football players and he was the only one. I love Football myself but I will forever find it hard to watch and not think of this movie. I can't stand the bloodthirsty corporations that have bought and paid for politicians.","Product: Locked in a no-holds-barred MMA combat, Trevor and Derek are on a perpetual mission to beat each other to the very edge of death. After being imprisoned like lab rats in a hyper-real world where torture is pushed to its limits, they begin to realize their abductor s motives and methods. Will psychology, humanity or bloody brute force become the winning factor in this unforgettably brutal battle?\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: I enjoyed parts of it and it is \"Brutal\".\n\nReview: I will first say that this is a very difficult movie to review. Why? there are aspects of brutality (hence the name) that in the beginning you can't quite understand and to be honest at the end I don't think I still understood, I guess at the ending but that is the best I can do. I did figure a few things out as we went along. There are some very interesting points made throughout. Locked in a no-holds-barred MMA combat, Trevor and Derek are on a perpetual mission to beat each other to the very edge of death. I won't say too much more about the story but I will say about the actors and it is a 2 man movie. The character of Derek is awful as is the actor. The character and actor for Trevor was good because he had to play 2 characters, you will see. His real name is Morgan Benoit. I didn't like the ending I think. The brother was good too. Stay after the credits. maybe you can tell me who was behind it all. Would I recommend? Not to everyone.","Product: Four waves of increasingly deadly alien attacks have left most of Earth decimated. Against a backdrop of fear and distrust, Cassie (Chloë Grace Moretz) is on the run, desperately trying to save her younger brother. As she prepares for the inevitable and lethal 5th wave, Cassie teams up with a young man who may become her final hope – if she can only trust him.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Let this sleeping dog lie.\n\nReview: When I first got this movie, I wasn't thrilled about watching it so I very wisely put it off until I was more in the mood and it took quite a while. I finally watched it and can honestly say that I could have waited for another year, or 2. Having never read the books, I went in cold. Our star Chloe Grace Moretz was (as Robert DeNiro would say) as wooden as a canoe! But to be honest again, so was pretty much everyone in this dreck of a movie. The only performance I will say was good was by Alex Roe, the young man who saves her life. Now, I get that there are few if any good and new movie ideas and at first I thought this may be one. But here is the other big word for this.....PREDICTABILITY. I saw each \"surprise\" coming a mile away and, oh no it is set up for a sequel or continuation if you will.....please don't do that. Put this corpse to rest.","Product: A plane takes off from Los Angeles and heads for Tokyo, but soon its passengers feel a mysterious force onboard.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Barely 3 stars Ryan Kwanten got the third one.\n\nReview: \"A plane takes off from Los Angeles and heads for Tokyo, but soon its passengers feel a mysterious force onboard.\" This is the blurb on the description to tell you what this movie is about. Not much right! Will, I don't think that I can tell you too much more without giving things away. I am that guy who tried and succeeds in real life not to tell anything about a movie. But here I have to tell you something, the plane takes off, people die some passengers try to find the reason it is happening. Is this mystery worth sitting through, MEH, might be may be. I am a fan of Ryan Kwanten and did like his performance as well as Jerry Ferrarra, the rest of the cast well, it is a mixed bag of the usual types and that includes the annoying ones.","Product: WWE Superstars Dolph Ziggler and Kane star in this electrifying race against time to stop a mad bomber and save a child.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: By no means anywhere near the better WWE flicks.\n\nReview: Here we go now, people. Confession time, I do like a lot of these WWE movies, no really I do, I am entertained and there is plenty of action and for the most part you take what you can get as far as the story and acting goes. WWE loves to play with the \"I am a cop and my kid died\" thing. That should tell you right off that the story is typical and not too original. The \"good Cop\" that is doing all the wrong things but getting results. The lady cop who begins to believe in his conspiracy theories. and the Captain who wants to believe but won't. Kane as the Captain, not bad. Dolph Ziggler as the Good Cop needs to have a few acting lessons (besides what he gets at the WWE) he's angry all the time and grunt and kicks and growls and scowls and that is about it. Now the worst, Katharine Isabelle, purely awful. All she does is wear tight pants and keep her hand on her gun, lousy actress. Put her and Dolph in the same scene and you will scream for relief from the agony.","Product: When Norm the polar bear learns that humans are moving to his Arctic home, he heads to New York City with a ragtag team of lemmings to try to stop them. Norm has ''oodles of charm'' in this cool adventure the whole family will love.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: A cartoon with a message. Save the planet.\n\nReview: What we have here is your very basic \"message\" cartoon. This is what is going to happen if we don't care for the planet type of movie. I am all for the message, trust me, I believe we are destroying our world but I would have loved to have been entertained a bit more. I did love the characters, especially the lemmings. They were cute and very sweet and indestructible. the voices worked as well with the characters. I will admit to not laughing much but I guess then the message would not have gotten through. it is fun and it is a learning experience. if we don't so something really soon, the world will revolt against us. What a great planet this would have been....what have we done?","Product: Colin McCormack thinks he has it all a great job, a steady stream of hot younger guys, and a best friend whose devotion he takes for granted. But when a charming and mercurial intern sweeps him off his feet, Colin sees a chance for something more: A family of his own. What he discovers instead is a shattering secret that may cost Colin everything and everyone he holds dear. By turns funny, heartbreaking and hopeful, DADDY explores the universal need for love and connection, and the evolving understanding of family in today's rapidly changing world. Loaded with DVD extras - Director Commentary; Deleted Scenes; Evolution of Story to Stage Play to Film; Making of the Score; Music Videos; Kickstarter Campaign Video\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Not for everyone but still a wonderful movie.\n\nReview: Colin McCormack thinks he has it all a great job, a steady stream of hot younger guys, and a best friend whose devotion he takes for granted. But when a charming and mercurial intern sweeps him off his feet. What this boils down to is an older man and younger man and the budding relationship they have.\nI will not reveal too much because there are surprises and truths to be told, the young man seems to have too many secrets and as to what they are? I am not going to say. I will admit that the relationships between the main character and his best friend and the younger man are all portrayed so very well. There are all the emotions of the rainbow here. I was very shocked at how much I liked this movie.","Product: The very day he's about to drive his family to a new life in the city, geologist Kristian Elkjord senses something wrong with the mountain that overlooks his scenic town. No one wants to believe that this could be the big one, especially with tourist season at its peak, but when a landslide from the Mountain sends tons of rock and earth crashing into the sea, everyone has ten minutes to outrace the resulting tsunami to higher ground in this thrilling action spectacular.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: A terrific first disaster movie from Norway.\n\nReview: I'm actually going 4.5 for this Norwegian first attempt at a disaster movie. Many years ago in Norway along a fjord, part of a mountain collapsed and caused a tidal wave that wiped out the town of Geiranger. Well, experts are predicting that it will happen again and soon. But they had rebuilt the town and there are folks living there. This is the story of when it happens again. One of the local seismologists sees an impending problem and tries to warn everyone....but you get it. I have to say except for the dumb son who in my opinion caused a few deaths, I loved this move and the actors and the performances. I have left some things out because I don't want to ruin it but I will say the wave looks terrific and very scary. Kudos to the cast, the writers, the director etc. I watched it in the original Norwegian with the sub-titles, that is how I watch all my foreign movies, no dubbing for me!","Product: Woody Harrelson, Anthony Mackie, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Aaron Paul, Norman Reedus, Casey Affleck, and Kate Winslet lead an all-star cast in an explosive, action-packed thriller critics call \"a twisty, terrific ride\" (Peter Travers, Rolling Stone). A bank robbery is just the tip of the iceberg when two cops in Atlanta start suspecting members of their own team are involved. Not knowing who to trust and how deep the corruption goes, time is ticking for them to uncover the truthbefore they become the target for the next deadly job.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: You have it all with this movie.\n\nReview: A bank robbery is just the tip of the iceberg when two cops in Atlanta start suspecting members of their own team are involved. Not knowing who to trust and how deep the corruption goes, time is ticking for them to uncover the truthbefore they become the target for the next deadly job. This is the description given and I had to use it because I was afraid that I would give something away. Stellar cast, great performances, wonderful dialog and what a great story....so many twists! I didn't know which end was up! The primary cast members are spectacular. Lead by Casey Affleck, God I love this guy! Chiwetel Ejiofor, Anthony Mackie, Aaron Paul, Norman Reedus, Woody Harrelson and Kate Winslet shines as the Russian Mob Boss. Trust me when I say that I don't want to say much about the story because you have to watch it....drama and suspense galore.","Product: NOTICE: Polish Release, cover may contain Polish text/markings. The disk has English audio.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Worth a look see only for the 3 hour version.\n\nReview: What I am going to review is the Ultimate version of this movie, 3 hours and 2 minutes, give or take. The theatrical version was crap and was cut up so bad that it was confusing and choppy. the Ultimate version was so much better, not perfect but better at least we had explanations for what was going on. Lex Luthor, brilliantly played by Jesse Eisenberg. is plotting bad things against both Batman And Superman for many years and he stokes Batman's hatred of Superman (the Alien, to him) to make him go after him. Everything that can be said has been said so I will say this...Ben Affleck as Batman is the best, Christian Bale lost this title because of the \"Voice\" I could never understand him. Henry Cavill is terrific as Superman, what a Bod! I loved Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman....finally got it right. Doomsday looked like an angry green pseudo hulk, and not as Good. The standout was Jesse Eisenberg. Not great but good.","Product: After the death of their father, Nate moves in with his mother, but his elder brother, Steven, continues his studies in another state. The brothers use this opportunity to end their affair. When Mom dies in a car accident, Steven returns for her funeral. During this time of mourning, the two brothers' unrelenting love for each other threatens the secret they had buried. A new provocative film from the Director of The Seminarian. DVD BONUS FEATURES: Video Interview with Actors; Audio Commentary with Director, DP, and Actors.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Bad dialog, bad acting, bad camera angles, bad direction, no emotion.\n\nReview: More like 2.2 stars. After the death of their father, Nate moves in with his mother, but his elder brother, Steven, continues his studies in another state. Next Mom dies and younger brother Nate is devastated and older brother Steven comes home for the funeral and in time we learn the 2 brothers had a dark secret, they were having an affair and they were sleeping together. Steven has moved on and found a boyfriend, Ray who comes to stay with them.....you can guess what happens. This had potential but for a few things, The dialog is so forced. The acting by all is stilted at best. Not a real emotion among any of them, except the Mom. The story is Murky and there are scenes that just don't seem to fit or seem rational. for instance, Nate listening in at his brothers door then going to his room and taking off all his clothes and pouting?????? I don't recommend this to anyone, at all.","Product: Melissa McCarthy (Bridesmaids, The Heat) stars as Michelle Darnell, a titan of industry who is sent to prison for insider trading. After doing her time, Michelle emerges, ready to rebrand herself as America's latest sweetheart, but not everyone she steamrolled is so quick to forgive and forget. With nowhere to go and no one to scam, Michelle is forced to move in with former assistant Claire (Kristen Bell - Frozen, Showtime's House of Lies) and her young daughter, Rachel. Now at her lowest point, Michelle wastes no time in devising a winner-take-all plan to rebuild her empire. Can she reclaim her status as the No. 1 screwer, or will the love of one family screw her for good?\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: I did laugh out loud often.\n\nReview: Melissa McCarthy as Michelle Darnell, a titan of industry who is sent to prison for insider trading. After doing her time, Michelle emerge, but not everyone she steamrolled is so quick to forgive and forget. Michelle is forced to move in with former assistant Claire and her young daughter, Rachel. Now at her lowest point, Michelle devises a plan to rebuild her empire. I and others have said that Melissa does the usual stuff and I still feel that way but she has been changing up on her characters and they have been tons of fun. The Boss is no exception, she plays a woman who stepped on everyone to get to the top and now at rock bottom she has to change her tune or does she? She wants a family and could her previous employee and her daughter be that? The entire support cast is superb. From Kristen Bell and Peter Dinklage and Kathy Bates to the girls who make the cookies. I got many laughs out of this movie.","Product: In this hilarious animated adventure comedy, you'll finally find out why the birds are so angry. In an island paradise populated entirely by happy, flightless birds or almost entirely, Red, a bird with a temper problem, speedy Chuck, and the volatile Bomb have always been outsiders. But when the island is visited by mysterious green piggies, its up to these unlikely outcasts to figure out what the pigs are up to.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Angry birds? Fun times.\n\nReview: In an island paradise populated entirely by happy, flightless birds or almost entirely, Red, a bird with a temper problem, speedy Chuck, and the volatile Bomb have always been outsiders. I have to say that I loved this movie so much and I never really watched or read about angry birds or played the game. These characters were so much fun and so cute that I had a really goofy smile on my face from start to finish. The voices are perfect and the story of the peaceful little birds paradise greeting and influx of Green Pigs and not knowing if or is there a hidden agenda? I really hope there will be many more of the birds movies and I am sure this is good fun for the family.","Product: Elite snipers Brandon Beckett (Chad Michael Collins) and Richard Miller (Billy Zane) are fighting extremists in the Middle East when Colonel (Dennis Haysbert) gives them a new mission: to protect a gas pipeline stretching from the Republic of Georgia to Western Europe from extremists eager to make a political statement. But when skirmishes with the enemy lead to U.S. snipers being killed by a ghost shooter who locks into their exact location, a security breach is suspected. Fingers are pointed and battle lines are drawn, all leading up to an explosive climax.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Skip it unless you just want to see low budget shoot em ups.\n\nReview: Let's not even pretend that this is anything more than it is. A rather disjointed and low budget type of movie that relies more on guns then on real acting. The performances are stiff and can be \"eye-rolling\" Billy Zane, what happened to him? He is the bet thing in this but still very deadpan. No emotion is anywhere on this movie. The Colonel, the man who sends them on missions I also better than this. The STAR is Chad Michael Collins and if given the chance I think that he could actually act. God forbid he smiles! And then we get the usual big chested female who can't act and she is in charge and she knows all. Why do we do this? Stick with what you know. The 2 decent women actors they either kill off or wound? If you take it for what it is.....it is entertaining enough but would I recommend it? Nope. I have never seen any of the other \"sniper\" movies, and I don't intend to.","Product: Tom Hiddleston stars as Dr. Robert Laing, the newest resident of a luxurious apartment in a high-tech skyscraper whose lofty location places him amongst society s upper class. Laing quickly settles in and meets the other tenants: Charlotte (Sienna Miller), a bohemian single mother; Wilder (Luke Evans), a charismatic documentarian who lives with his pregnant wife Helen (Elisabeth Moss); and Mr. Royal (Jeremy Irons), the building s enigmatic architect. Life seems like paradise to the solitude-seeking Laing. But, as power outages become more frequent and building flaws emerge, mainly on the lower floors, social strata begins to crumble and the building descends into a class war.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Stellar cast but.....HUH? Didn't get it.\n\nReview: I am giving this an Okay because of the magnificent cast and the direction is impressive too. BUT, let me say, I think this was a shot at classes. Upper and lower ( we all know the middle class is disappearing) The rich live on the upper floors of the high rise and the less affluent on the lower floors. All of a sudden this turns into a turf war between the haves and have not as much and it was oddly put out there and I could not quite latch onto the concept. The clothes were from the 70's but is happening now. Strange goings on like killing dogs for food and a horse too????? Just go down to the corner store! no one wants to leave and continues the downward spiral into inhumanity. The cast is stellar Tom Hiddleston, Jeremy Irons, Sienna Miller, the terrific Luke Evans etc. but I was still left with ( I did stay to the end, God knows why?) a huge question mark and the feeling that I was robbed of 2 hours of my life.","Product: Disgraced and retired mixed martial artist Wes \"The Jailor\" Baylor (Scott Adkins) couldn't refuse the million dollar purse offered to fight in Myanmar. When he arrives to fight, he learns he's been tricked into becoming the target of a human hunt. Carrying only water and a ruby-filled money belt for the last person standing, Wes must outsmart the heavily armed group who's paid to kill him. As Wes fights for his life in the treacherous jungle terrain, the hunters become the hunted. Hard Target 2 is a must see film for action and martial arts fans featuring Adkins in incredible fight scenes.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: I liked it, just true escapist action fare.\n\nReview: I find that I am liking Scott Adkins more as he is getting older. His early movies were amateurish at best. Now there is a bit more meat to them. This movie and don't get me wrong is a typically themed movie that we have all seen many times. Scott plays an MMA fighter who accidentally kills his best friend in the ring and of course retires until he gets an offer to fight for a million dollars. Well, it isn't what he thought he gets hunted by a group of people who have paid big bucks to hunt a man. As I've said nothing groundbreaking but Scott Adkins has been getting to be a more appealing actor these days. If you like action, here you go. Just sit back and go for this ride.","Product: A lonely puppeteer invents a device for creating incredibly life-like puppets that look suspiciously similar to missing townspeople.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Not by any means superior but a bunch of fun.\n\nReview: Mr. Franz is a kindly, old, silver-haired doll-maker ... who turns people into living puppets! He then forces his human re-inventions to put on parties and sing to him and keep him company since he seems to have the equivalent of 1958's abandonment issues! Mr. Franz owns a doll making factory and well he has taken his craft a step further. Please keep in mind that this is from 1958 and go from there. This is nonetheless a very fun and entertaining entry into the world of scifi. If I had one complaint to make it is the drubbing of the horrible music all through but as I said ......1958! There are also a few glaring things that make you go.....HUH? But please don't go into examination mode and just smile and go with it.","Product: Poe Horror Tale\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: It's okay just ignore all the bad actors.\n\nReview: Just because I like it, it isn't for everyone. If I were going to be harsh, except for Adrian Paul, Patrick Macnee and the fellow that plays Adrian's best friend, this is the worst group of actors EVER! Even having this made in 1989, there is no excuse for these atrocious actors. Even Adrian as Prospero, seems to be the most depressed human on the planet. One honorable truly horrible nod to the actress playing the female blonde lead....she is remarkably BAD. I seriously hope nothing even resembling a career come for her! Anyway it is a fun little Gothic story and I did enjoy parts when I could just focus on some of the story. It isn't the best adaptation (that goes to the Vincent Price one) but it will be okay for just some harmless viewing.","Product: Horror\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: 2 stars for Joey even though this was nowhere near his fun or good stuff.\n\nReview: First of all, I am a huge Joey Lawrence fan. He only had one expression through this whole thing. So I don't understand what this was about where he had only one gear. I found his one note performance annoying at best. Now let me tell you about the other actors.....horrific! To my mind, there is nothing worse than bad actors who are trying to be soldiers and just come across as too much and laughable. This alleged zombie-esque crap failed on every level. There was no suspense or horror at all and I was hoping for massive carnage that would have offed these atrocious actors so they would never afflict my life again. Bad story, bad settings, bad acting, bad directing, and bad everything.","Product: Rapid Fire is aN American action film directed by Dwight H. Little, and starring Brandon Lee, Powers Boothe and Nick Mancuso. The film was released in the United States on August 21, 1992\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: I will always miss Brandon Lee and his dad.\n\nReview: Brandon Lee, such a huge loss. I miss him still. From 1992, we get the story (typical) of a pacifist California Student who saw his father killed in Tienamen Square and then witnesses the murder of a man in an art gallery and the killer happens to be a notorious Mafia guy that the cops and feds are trying to get. They draft our hero, who is a karate expert against his will into the seedy world of underground crime. He has to help and has no idea who to trust and who has been bought off. I adored Brandon and loved his fighting style very much, not too much of a shock that he fights like his dad did, another one I will miss. The story isn't the best and a lot of the acting isn't the best, but you have to know what you are getting....Brandon Kicking Butt!","Product: VHS Tape\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: I am a huge fan, so don't take my word for it.\n\nReview: The legendary Christopher Lee is back as Dracula, bringing unspeakable horrors upon a local village that defies his evil reign. But when a young man and his luscious girlfriend unwittingly visit the Count's castle, they find themselves trapped in a face-to-face frenzy of bloodthirsty vixens, religious blasphemy and sadistic torture. And that is a part of the description given on the DVD cover and it tells you all that you will need to ever know. Let me say Christopher Lee, easily the very best Dracula ever and in this one he speaks more than in any other Dracula movie. THis one is ranked by me as well on track with all the others and maybe even a bit more. Let me ask the usual questions, do you like Christopher Lee as Dracula, do you like the Hammer movies, do you like these kind of movies? This is for you to be sure.","Product: Homer's Illiad surges to the screen in Helen Of Troy, from the '50s heyday of big-screen spectaculars. Robert Wise (Westside Story, The Sound Of Music) directs this lavish epic capturing some 30,000 people on screen at a then huge cost of $6 million.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: it is a good watch so give it a try and look past the leads.\n\nReview: Here I have to tell you that I am torn with this movie but gave it the benefit of the doubt. Given that this was a time when emoting meant acting I have to say that most of the actors in this movie did a great job, except for the 2 leads Paris as played by Jack Sernas is certainly pretty enough for the part of Paris but his acting was somewhat questionable. I gave him the benefit of the doubt thinking that he may have thought that this haughty type of acting was what was called for. Now for my real problem.....Helen....She never played to her fellow actors only to the camera in a single me out fashion. She was awful and I am being kind. Rossana Podesta is the guilty party. If it were up to me I would have tossed her off the Trojan wall to the Spartans below. Huge budget for the time and the direction was pretty good by Robert Wise, my favorite was Sir Cedric Hardwicke.","Product: B Movie heaven :)\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Don't expect too much but have a bit of tongue in cheek.\n\nReview: 1976 brings us this predictable but still fun at times addition to the (at the time) popular genre of the world striking back at the horrible humans that are destroying the planet. This attack is being led by a hawk and his job is to pick off a group of 11 mountain hikers. He uses mountain lions, bears, birds etc. This is fun enough but the story is, as I said very predictable and the worst thing about this is the acting! And I mean by everyone...Christopher George and by extension his wife Linda Daye George both awful by themselves even worse together. And yes all the others are equally bad but the standout worst was (I hate to say this) Leslie Nielsen as the belligerent and wants to be the alpha guy who takes off with a group and then does terrible things to them.","Product: When an archaeological expedition opens an ancient Egyptian tomb, the unimaginable evil of a cursed pharaoh -- Talos -- is unleashed! But before all are lost, team leader Sir Richard Turkel (horror legend Christopher Lee -- DRACULA, THE MUMMY, THE CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN) heroically sacrifices his own life to destroy the tomb and contain Talos once more! Then, years later, Sir Richard's granddaughter (sexy Louise Lombard) sets out with her own team to finish her grandfather's work ... not knowing that she herself is about to reawaken the supernatural terror of the mummified Talos! Also starring action star Jason Scott Lee (RUDYARD KIPLING'S THE JUNGLE BOOK, DRAGON: THE BRUCE LEE STORY), the heart-pounding RUSSELL MULCAHY'S TALE OF THE MUMMY tells us that this time, there may be nothing that can stop the mummy's murderous quest for immortality!\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: The story is good, the acting is good the Mummy? not so much.\n\nReview: Well, color me surprised. This movie was not bad at all. I actually enjoyed it a bit and the few surprises that were tossed in were actually a surprise to me! Let me tell you the one real negative at the outset. The Mummy is pretty cheesy and I can't really tell you why because it is a different take on the Mummy idea, it involves how he gets around. I loved the cast a lot and they definitely made this movie worth my interest and my attention. Jason Scott Lee and Sean Pertwee are the coppers that are investigating a series of strange murders. I will say that this reates seeing but really keep in mind the Mummy is crummy (see what I did there?) The story and the actors are worth it for a good show.","Product: Paul Newman Drama\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Lovely story and nicely acted.\n\nReview: Give me Joanne Woodward and Paul Newman and boy, do I love Robby Benson. What a wonderful movie and it is all pure story. Paul is a widowed dad and he lives with his son, Robby Benson who is purely a very sensitive artsy guy and dad would like him to grow up and get a job other than the auto detailing he is doing. Robby meets and falls in love with an already pregnant girl (shocking! 1984) This is really of story of the relationship between a father and son, and Joanne Woodward as Paul Newman's wife's sister. This is a nice story with very nice performances but of course dad can be a little overwhelming at times and not much in the way of bending. His way or no way. I always loved Robby Benson's very laid back style of acting and it has always worked for him.","Product: Adventure under the sea in a submersible called the Neptune which becomes trapped after an undersea earthquake sends it to the bottom of the ocean. Fantastic Thriller starring Walter Pidgeon, Yvette Mimieux, Ben Gazzara and Ernest Borgnine.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Really painfully boring and badly acted.\n\nReview: Let's begin with the cast. Ernest Borgnine, he was okay. Walter Pidgeon is way too old he looks confused all the time. Ben Gazzara just seems bored. Yvette Mimieux, never a good sign when she is in it, She comes off as snotty every time she opens her mouth and not a good actress and never was. She spends her time tossing her hair! Effects....taking into account this was 1973....still bad. The \"submarine\" is a toy moving around an aquarium and the fish in said aquarium are \"giants\" Laughable. Story....an undersea lab has been pushed into an abyss by an undersea earthquake. (No tidal waves just bubbles on the surface, come on) The Neptune a bitty sub has to locate the lab. Why in God's name did I watch the whole thing? masochism, I guess. My review of it overall.....boring garbage. Really boring garbage. Dialog is awful too. Did I mention BORING. So much time is spent just floating in the bitty sub. Painfully boring.","Product: Reading, writing, and raising the dead...that's what high school's all about in this lightning and hormones horror-comedy. Frank Stein (Mathew Lawrence), a genius nerd, wants to be with the in crowd and get Macy (Christine Lakin), the cutest girl in school. He gets his shot when popular jocks Lance (Justin Walker), and Tuttle (Christine Payne) haze Karl (Ryan Reynolds), the school Goth outcast, to death, literally. Frank offers to bring Karl back to life in his home lab using a brain from his Dad's (Judge Reinhold) research project. The resurrection is a success, and Karl is back and ready TO PARTY! Now Frank and Karl are on the A-list and part of the in-crowd when things start to unravel. Unbeknownst to Frank, he has reanimated Karl with the brain of a mass murderer. The new Karl is cool, foxy, and deadly. Boltneck, in the tradition of hit teen screams \"I Know What You Did Last Summer\" and the upcoming Warner Bros. release \"The In Crowd\" stars a hip young cast and promises to keep you on the edge of your seat.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Just so much fun.\n\nReview: I like Matthew Lawrence and that was the reason that I got this movie. I am so glad I did. What an entertaining and fun surprise. In a nutshell, this is a variation on the Frankenstein story. Modern, what happens is 2 of the jock goons in school punch out the Goth kid, he falls into an empty pool and dies. Matthew Lawrence (Frank Stein) gets to try out his reanimation experiment with the help of the jocks, they have to or go to jail. The Creature (so to speak) is none other than a young Ryan Reynolds! I will say no more about the story. You will get some laughs, suspense, mystery and just a fine old time. Matthew Lawrence and Ryan Reynolds are terrific, the jocks (I think) are Justin Walker and Charles Fleischer...terrific, the girls....terrific. The characters (teachers, family) terrific. You will have a blast with the quips and humor.","Product: Male escorts for homosexual clients ply their trade to tragic result in this semi-experimental and disturbingly violent film. Much of the narrative centers on handsome Harry, an aspiring actor and professed heterosexual who has been working for the High Noon escort service for many years. As an 'escort' he specializes in gay fetishes. In one of the more graphic sex scenes, he allows a producer to exploit his body in order to win a small part on cop-show. Harry also takes time to show Dean, a new recruit at the service how to satisfy customers' fantasies. Dean loves his new job and takes to it most naturally. Then there is Harry's other student, Billy, the classic surfer boy. One night Billy mistakes a fellow in a car for a client and rides off with him. For the young escort it's love at first sight, but unfortunately he ends up beaten to death by gay bashers. An investigation reveals that the madam at the High Noon may be responsible. In the end, Harry too meets tragedy when he participates in a 'snuff ' film.. Unfortunately for Harry his scene is real and the ensuing gratuitous violence may be highly offensive and upsetting for some viewers. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: it's worth the time.\n\nReview: I won't trash it but I won't praise it either. I don't read other people's reviews when I'm going to write mine but I did catch a glimpse of some of them. First of all, the woman who handles the boys...the pimp, if you will, very unbelievable, too much like a bee buzzing all around, bad actress too. Now for the boys themselves. I tried to believe that they were essentially good boys caught in a bad situation and I think I did get there. Harry, Dean and Billy are the focal points. Billy is your typical dumb blonde type character who meets someone and falls in love. Harry is trying to be a serious actor. Dean is just looking for direction. IT is a very sad ending for all concerned but hard to buy. Some laughs, a few sad moments and I would recommend it as long as you don't quest for an Academy Award caliber movie. No real overt sex that I can remember, some s & M type scenes and some frontal male nudity. I say give it a go.","Product: They Came From Beyond Space is the thrilling film adaptation of Joseph Millard's, The Gods Hate Kansas, which revolves around an alien spacecraft that has mechanical problems and crashes into the Moon. The alien beings aboard cannot complete the repairs themselves, so they use their abilities to control and use a number of Earth's scientists as slaves to help with the repairs.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Pass this by and let it go back to space.\n\nReview: An alien spacecraft that has mechanical problems and crashes into the Moon. The alien beings aboard cannot complete the repairs themselves, so they use their abilities to control and use a number of Earth's scientists as slaves to help with the repairs. that is what this crap is about. Let me tell you that there are plenty more really fun and good 50's and 60's horror/space type movies out there, don't bother with this one. The sound is awful, scratchy and could barely hear. The so-called music background is purely awful. What passed for effects, no not really. The acting is amateurish at the very best and infantile at the worst. Story is stilted and stunted. and the banging drum things going off all the time.....what is that?","Product: World War II true story of a lone Navy serviceman fighting for his survival on Japanese-occupied Guam. Starring Jeffrey Hunter with Marshall Thompson and introducing Barbara Perez.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: A very fine movie.\n\nReview: Jeffrey Hunter stars in this incredible true story of a lone Navy serviceman fighting for his survival on Japanese-occupied Guam during WWII. As Pearl Harbor is attacked, Navy radioman George Tweed (Hunter) finds himself trapped on the island of Guam. All other military personnel have either been killed or have surrendered to the invading Japanese forces. Eluding capture, he alone must now find a way to evade the forces that hunt him down relentlessly in this suspense-packed action thriller. I was very pleased with the respect that was given to the people of Guam who despite the danger to themselves....helped an American Sailor. Due to the help he was given he survived to come back with an armed force to liberate the island and look for his friends. BTW, love the rooster. You'll see. Jeffrey Hunter really busted his acting chops for this one and was terrific.","Product: Two best friends find their bond tested by the trials of postwar Italy's street crime and prison life in this neorealist classic from legendary director Vittorio De Sica (The Bicycle Thief). While shining shoes for a living and dreaming of buying a horse of their very own, young Giuseppe and Pasquale are confronted by harsh reality when they are embroiled in a smuggling ring, quickly learning that innocence and childish dreams can only last so long in a world in turmoil. Winner of an honorary 1948 Academy Award (a first for a foreign film), this groundbreaking look at children coming of age against the steepest odds remains a moving, unforgettable experience in world cinema.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Some amazing young performances.\n\nReview: Masterfully revealing post-WWII Italy, Academy Award-winning director Vittorio De Sica (The Bicycle Thief) depicts the lives of two boys. But after the boys are sent to a brutal state juvenile detention center for a crime they didn't commit, their lives are changed forever. I can truthfully say that from the moment that I did see the very beginning of this impressive movie, I knew I would be sad. This is a very harsh movie and it is filmed in just that way to accent that harshness. This is a hard look at what happened to children when the parents let them go. Granted this was after WW2 but still these boys parents should have been strung up for negligence. I always had the impression these were all good kids but the parents were too locked up in themselves. The boys performances are all brilliant. I will recommend this movie to all of those who need to know that children can be saved when not tossed away. Subtitled, so be aware.","Product: It's Spring Break and the students of Tennyson College are heading for sunny Florida. They've got a cool drib, a power boat, and a pool just off the beach. It's all going great until friends start to disappear, one by one. A twisted stalker is slicing through the student body, and as the body count rises, suspicions turn towards each other. Joey Lawrence (\"Blossom\"), Chad Allen (\"My Two Dads\") and Jeff Conaway (\"Taxi\") star in the thriller with sun, surf and slaughter!\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Debate over 1 or 2 stars\n\nReview: What were Joseph Lawrence and Chad Allen thinking? 2 of my favorites. How di they get involved in this tedious film. Even as slasher films go this is a pig and I like slasher films. There is usually some sort of something different that will pull you in, good characters good acting or directing....this missed everything. Joseph Lawrence looked sensational totally buff and so did Chad Allen and that is why 2 stars. The acting was awful, the plot tedious the girls were the epitome of bitchiness (why?) toss in Jeff Conaway as a tortured FBI agent who lost his daughter and the usual bigoted Florida cops that arrests the black guy, just because and you have a movie where you care about nobody. They are vapid and ridiculous stereotypes (which most movies have) but these youwere hoping would get chopped into tiny bits. Jeff Conaway was never an actor...so why??? So unless you want to see Jospeh and Chad looking great in tank tops don't bother. Sorry this was so long.","Product: A Japanese horror film.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: The Manster is good schlock!\n\nReview: So, color me shocked, don't get me wrong but I love my 50's and 60's horror movies because they are such fun. The exception happens now and then when the are uber cheesy and just bad. This does not fall into that category at all. This is a fun movie with fun dialog and a fun story while being thoughtful and sometimes scary at a few moments. Is the a cheesy movie, you bet it is but it is good cheese. We hae an American journalist in Japan who meets up with a Japanese mad scientist and The scientist thinks that he is perfect for an experiment and so secretly does him with a mad formula! Of course, the acting is what you will expect and the story is too but really just have a good time with it, don't judge it by any other standard.","Product: SAMURAI, THE\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Interesting but so confusing.\n\nReview: A shape-shifting cross-dressing psychopath wielding a samurai sword cuts a bloody swath of carnage through a small German village in this surreal mix of violence, sexual desire and dark comedy that recalls early David Lynch. To go from here and tell you what this was about or why it was about is very difficult. I was never a fan of David Lynch and this odd movie was really odd. I get that it is a shape shifter and a cross dresser but its purpose was never really explained, did he have a crush on the young cop? I'm using the term it because I believe it is a werewolf, I think. Was he just on a killing spree? I don't know and if it was said I didn't get it. This is a German movie about a werewolf, cross dressing samurai? I am very confused. I was at sometimes intrigued but still confused. I don't know who to recommend this to or if I should. I did think the dynamic between the young cop and the shape shifter was interesting but needed to be threshed out a bit more.","Product: Matt (Milo Ventimiglia) has just graduated college. Time to join the work force and be an adult, right? Not! His best friend, Peter (Eddie Kaye Thomas) and wild school buddies convince him to winter in Aspen instead. This hilarious no holds barred vacation takes an unexpected turn when Matt falls in love with Michelle (Maggie Lawson) and must decide between money and career or following his heart. Buckle your bindings for the coolest party fest of the year!\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Nothing earth shattering but still entertaining.\n\nReview: Matt (Milo Ventimiglia) has just graduated college. Time to join the work force and be an adult, right? Not! His best friend, Peter (Eddie Kaye Thomas) and wild school buddies convince him to winter in Aspen instead. Matt falls in love with Michelle (Maggie Lawson) and must decide between money and career or following his heart. That is the story, I amended it because the description had the word \" hilarious\" in it and it WAS NOT. If this was supposed to be some kind of Rom-com, it fell way short. It was cute and that is the bet I will go. The cast was wonderful and I am a huge Milo fan, this guy never got the recognition or he just made bad choices, but I like him. There is nothing special about the story. but it is a sweet little movie with the standard characters. I didn't love it but didn't hate it either, so if you have some time to kill it is seriously ....okay.","Product: Drama.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Lovely story and good performances make this something to see.\n\nReview: Our main character is Kennedy (Jimmy Tuckett) he lives in a very small suburban community and wants to be a rock star. He has such a difficult time keeping the band together virtually by himself because the rest of the band just phones it in. The manager is Kennedy's brother and as time goes by kennedy begins to have his doubts about how he is managing the band. This is a low budget indie and I have to say that I was loving it through and through. The characters have been defined and the actors and quite competent. Totally did enjoy the story as it unfolded and I think you may too. The bumps in the road for Kennedy and how he tries to keep things afloat with the help of the girl he works waiting tables with who has a crush on him and sometimes to high to climb but worth following. I do recommend this movie and hope you enjoy it.","Product: A love story about two imperfect teenagers who find perfect love. The film follows the story of two teenagers from different worlds--Mark Deloach and Dori Lawrence--as their lives quickly spiral out of control. The rebellious but privileged Mark delves into dangerous antics resulting in a nearly fatal drunk driving accident, and Dori Lawrence, a wild actress and singer slowly loses touch with reality as she suffers from schizophrenia. Forced to straighten out their lives, Mark is sent to join the Marines and Dori is admitted into a mental hospital. In the midst of life's chaos, Mark and Dori are drawn to each other, recognizing their mutual desperation for love and understanding. Despite pressure from both their friends and family to keep their distance, they maintain their bond. While they fail to fix what's broken in each of their lives, they find comfort in each other's faults and have faith that their unconditional love will eventually heal their deep seeded wounds.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Well worth the trip stateside.\n\nReview: first lets talk about the cast. Rachel Leigh Cook, never a fan of hers BUT she plays a schizophrenic in this and does it pretty well. Val Kilmer as a drill instructor in the Marines, trying to make a man out of Jonathan....great! The rest of the cast very, very competent. And no surprise to me, Jonathan Tucker is a marvel. I confess to being a huge Jonathan Tucker fan because it doesn't matter what movie he has done, I have seen it and been floored by him. It is 1980 he is a teenager and he messes up and his dad arranges a deal...jail or Marines. He meets loony bin Rachael and well for some reason sparks fly. I didn't love it because he never seems to be able to accept that he isn't helping her by removing her from places that are trying to help her. he doesn't get that she is a little nuts and needs therapy and pills. His character seems to be very bright and that whole \"blinded by love\" crap annoys me.","Product: Tony Curtis, Frank Lovejoy, Mary Murphy. Four Marines investigate rumors of a secret Japanese minefield, but with sketchy intelligence and the odds against them, they'll need a miracle to pull off the mission. 1954/color/90 min/NR/fullscreen.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Ridiculously dumb and very stupid and insipid.\n\nReview: First of all, big Tony Curtis fan here. Now to tell you about this drivel. We get info from a French Planter on an island who knows of a possible strike against our navy. The brass sends 4 guys????Yep, 4. to find out if the info is good. The sergeant is sketchy at best and the 3 other guys don't like him. Tony is downright hostile to him. Along the way the number dwindles in stupid ways. What soldier is going to get caught in these circumstances. Now for the worst part, we get to the Plantation guy and he has to bring his daughter and some ridiculous crush happens between her and Tony but she tries to help the sarge and gets Tony Jealous. Very stupid idea as a sub-plot and then she hurt her ankle and the message must get through but Tony won't go he sits with her and her sore ankle????!!!!!! Really! you will sacrifice the navy for the girl!!!!! Very stupid and I would never watch it ever again.","Product: Just a Question of Love follows the whirlwind romance of two young men in different stages of coming out. The film paints a heartbreaking portrait of the difficulties that befall a relationship when one man lives proudly out of the closet, while the other has created a double life to please his parents.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Love should just be!\n\nReview: Once in a while a movie comes along that just speaks to you. \"Just a Question of Love\" is just one of those movies, I'm not saying that this was the life that I have had but I can relate on many levels. First what a wonderful story and so well written, kudos to the director and the writer. What can I say about a terrific story that has some really wonderful actors bringing that story to life. I will say that each of the support players are excellent in their assigned parts. The performances by Syrille Thouvenin as Laurent, the closeted gay agriculture student, whose parents would disown him if they knew and Stephan Guerin Tillie as Cedric who is his mentor and eventually his lover. These 2 men are outstanding, they give life and emotion to these characters created by Christian Faure. For anyone who sometimes find love complicated, here is a movie for you. Cdric's mother is pivotal. Love should just be.","Product: The Emperor Caligula has gone mad. Murdering his sister's husband for conspiracy, he exiles her and takes her son Lucius, who begins his historical legacy as Nero. Revenge, bloodlust and deception haunt Nero's rule. Afraid and paranoid, Nero eventually faces his own army as an enemy and falls victim to the Rome he once ruled.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Fanciful and entertaining but not very likely it is historical.\n\nReview: The Emperor Caligula has gone mad. Murdering his sister's husband for conspiracy, he exiles her and takes her son Lucius, who begins his historical legacy as Nero. Revenge, bloodlust and deception haunt Nero's rule. Afraid and paranoid, Nero eventually faces his own army as an enemy and falls victim to the Rome he once ruled. the first thing you may want to know is that even though I am not a history major, I did some real flaws in this more fictional tale. Having said that I will say the I was nonetheless entertained once I sectioned it into the fiction column. The performers were all adequate and did the job. The bigger scenes were effective. As long as you go at this movie from a pure entertainment role, you will be okay with it. If you are a hardcore purist of history.....not so much.","Product: Action\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: WEll, it was what it was. The last 30 mins was painful.\n\nReview: From 1979 we have a disaster movie not done by Irwin Allen. We have a fire caused by a disgruntled employee who was passed over for a promotion at a Chem/petrol/oil complex that the corrupt mayor allowed to happen right in the middle of town. Quite a cast to be sure, Leslie Nielsen, Henry Fonda, Shelley Winters, Ava Gardner, Barry Newman, Susan Clark and James Franciscus. The acting is what you would expect from an old disaster movie but allow me to say that the worst casting was an aging Ava Gardner as the alleged host of a news show and she is supposed to be a ravishing thing.....not at all and I loved Ava in so many things. She was ravishing back in the day but not here. The ending when we have to evacuate the hospital and its patients is wayyyyyyyyyy too long. I guess they ran out of story and stretched the end out to impossible agony.","Product: When Steve Reeves caused a sensation in Hercules, Italian producers were quick to search for other American actors to fill the beefcake quota in sword-and-sandal films. One of the first of these was Mark Forest, a Brooklyn-born bodybuilder known as \"The Adonis with the Perfect Physique,\" who went on to make a dozen mythical muscleman movies. In one of the best, Son of Samson, he shows up in the ancient Egyptian city of Tanis where the evil Queen Smedes (Folies Bergere dancer Chelo Alonso) is making it tough for the common folk. A spectacular tale of strength and seduction, presented in lustrous color and scope with the original theatrical trailer! PLUS a bonus feature, Son of Cleopatra, in which Mark Damon (the young romantic lead of Roger Corman's House of Usher) stars as El Kabir, an Egyptian Robin Hood who fights for his people against the oppressive rule of Rome. Co-starring Italian bombshell Scilla Gablel (Mill of the Stone Women). Three hours of bicep-straining action on one special two-sided DVD!\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: if you like these movies....go for it. you know what to expect.\n\nReview: First I have to warn you, no matter how badthese Italian Sword and Sandal epics are that won't matter to me, I still get a kick out of them. for instance: Unusually bad acting, unusually bad dubbing, unusually bad story and why do they always have to wrestle a lion? Machiste the hero just looks really cocky. the dialog is truly criminal and where was this shot? Certainly not in Egypt as it says in this movie. mark Forest is without a doubt one of the best there was at these movies, incredible perfect physique and very handsome. So there you have it, if you like these movies....go for it. Oh and the bad guy woman, Chelo Alonso....simply awful. The second feature has Mark Damon as the son of Cleopatra, interesting enough but didn't grip me.","Product: Fresh out of College, Heck Prigusivac (Jonathan Tucker) finds himself stuck in his hometown, where the biggest industry is the local jail. As a result of the Prigusivac predisposition for murder - Heck's late father called Death Row \"home\", and now his estranged brother Chick (Jeremy Renner) is behind bars- finding a \"proper\" job proves difficult. Desperate, Heck takes a job known as a \"Closer\" at the prison. Only after he falls for Chick's ex-girlfriend, the convicted murderess Dori (Walk the Line's Ginnifer Goodwin) also on Death Row, does he realize: he is the Executioner! Now, caught in a lustful, twisted love triangle, Heck discovers that perhaps he isn't so different from Chick. After all, the only way he can get the girl is if one of them winds up dead.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Dark comedy from a very dysfunctional family.\n\nReview: Let me tell you how much I enjoyed this little unknown movie. This dark comedy with dramatic overtones is a gem. Jonathan Tucker is the crown that the gem rests on. Why he has never made it huge is beyond me. He has a college education in spite of the family predilection toward murder, his brother is on death row and his father was already put to death....where is the comedy? Jonathan Tucker can't get a job except as the executioner in the prison! the dialog between every character is priceless. His mom is dying from drinking and smoking, he falls in love with the only woman on death row who also happens to be his brothers girlfriend. I loved the performances, Jeremy Renner plays the brother. But how can this lead to anything? check it out, really!","Product: In the woods outside of a small town, a hideous witch lures children to her crumbling home where she steals their teeth, butchers their bodies and curses their souls to wander the Earth forever.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Take it or leave it.\n\nReview: I think this is just barely okay. I wasn't thrilled but I wasn't totally bored either. What happens when you take a drug addicted couple make them vampires and give them a brand new addiction? Here is the answer. Sometimes rude and crude, lots of gore and lots of sex too. Jeremy Sisto as the \"coven\" leader who is in charge of this gaggle of vamps. he is pretty good and has lots of fun changing accents thru the entire movie. My primary reason for getting this movie was for Matt Keeslar, love him to death and he just never made it and I don't know why. if you have $5 to toss away (no more) and 88 minutes that you feel you can lose, check it out otherwise you won't have missed some kind of optimal event.","Product: Four friends, on their way to a Halloween wedding, get into a horrifying car accident in the middle of nowhere. Searching for help, they come across an desolate, mysterious farm. Unbeknownst to them, the friends' presence awaken an ancient evil and creatures of the night awaken - and the undead rise. A night of relentless horror begins.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: i can't recommend this just because there are so many things in question.\n\nReview: Four friends, on their way to a Halloween wedding, get into a horrifying car accident in the middle of nowhere. Searching for help, they come across an desolate, mysterious farm. Now I get this is a low budget type indie movie and I love those BUT even I draw the line at sometimes. The Tom Noonan thing with the off camera narration? what and why????We never get where these bats came from and the kids did not awaken them. The whole thing takes place in a barn...okay I'm good with that. The stock kid characters okay I can deal with that, the predictablility of this whole thing I just can't, I saw the ending coming a mile away. I wanted to like it but it didn't try hard enough. I even liked the whole if the bat bites you, you will come back as the undead, thing. Very easy to kill though.","Product: A GROUP OF JADED HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS SIGN UP FOR A DEBATE CLASS TAUGHT BY A TOUGH, COMBATIVE TEACHER FROM A GEORGIA MILITARY ACADEMY WHO TEACHES THEM THAT LIFE IS DEBATE & DEBATE IS WAR.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Brilliant ensemble cast of young actors.\n\nReview: What a brilliant cast! This group of young people are all outstanding. 10 young actors and not a bad apple in the bunch. This is one of those stories that is told to us and we don't need anything blowing up or the like. The stories by each of these kids is compelling and draws you in. I would be very hard pressed to choose any of these actors that shines but if I had to....Daniel Letterle and Billy Kay. They were awesome. But again everyone delivered. The older cast, too, delivered but was almost incidental. A teacher breaks his debate class into 5 groups of 2 and the interaction is what drives the stories. The los of the one star? Well, I loved Dale Midkiff as the debate teacher BUT the side story of him and his father (Beau Bridges) was annoying. Sorry, the kids stories were the more compelling.","Product: In this nonstop action adventure thriller, a brutal secret order known as \"Pugnus Dei\" is on a lethal mission for justice. Determined to recruit a traumatized soldier, the group will stop at nothing to achieve its goals. With a stellar cast that includes The Mummy's Arnold Vosloo, Death Train is packed with flying fists, martial arts battles and dark secrets that will have you at the edge of your seat!\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Good for killing some time and somewhat enjoyable too.\n\nReview: a brutal secret order known as \"Pugnus Dei\" is on a lethal mission for justice. Determined to recruit a traumatized soldier, the group will stop at nothing to achieve its goals. Let me say for the record, I know what I was getting ito when I got this movie. I knew it was going to be chock full of bad acting, but it wasn't that bad and the story was going to be bad, but it wasn't at all. The action and the story were pretty good to me. I really liked the karate friar.....played by Stephan Bieker, he was a good fighter and a decent action star and his acting was pretty good. The rest of the cast was fairly good too. I will say that for those who like a more cheesy action movie this is one for you. This will kill some time on that rainy afternoon.","Product: Charlie is an ex-teacher turned reluctant call-center employee who gets fired on the first day. Distraught and unable to provide for his family, he partners up with Gus, an aspiring scam artist, on a seemingly snag-free plan to make some cash: blackmail Reverend Smalls, a man of the cloth, who has frequently turned up in a database of visitors to illegal adult websites. With the help of Gus' ex, a one-time pageant queen, the plan moves ahead... but it all goes wrong as Reverend Smalls dies, thanks to this trio. And that's just the beginning of their troubles...\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: I was surprised at how much I liked it\n\nReview: Well, bust my britches...I can't believe how much I liked this movie! I love Simom Pegg so I thought why not! But David Schwimmer??? Wowie...basically the is a 3 person movie with others dribbled in for good measure and these 3 need money so they plan to blackmail a reverend and Simon, David and Alice Eve just get into more and more trouble. Things happen, things don't happen that should. I rolled my eyes so many times that these poor souls just can't get it right and the lies Alice and Simon tell all the time. Poor David just wants money for his family...robbing isn't the way but.....Very enjoyable, wonderful performances and a good story all around well worth the look-see.","Product: An ex-federal agent lifts weights, learns martial arts and becomes a superhero called the Jaguar to nab the drug lord who killed his family.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Watch at your own risk.\n\nReview: Why? This is a movie from the 90's so I didn't expect too much, but come on, it could have been a little better. the plot, such as it is...ex-agent who put away a bad guy and is living under the witness protection program finds out that the bad guy got away but is told you are in no danger and the bad guy kills his family and thinks they killed him. Overdone plat, but in some other films done so much better. here we have Maxwell Caulfield (Grease 2) with a 70's pornstar mustache (why?) he trains to go after the bad guys with a Chinese sensei (why?) he takes on the persona of his son's imaginary hero, jaguar (why?) Bad acting, bad fight scenes, bad plot, bad dialog, bad locations (the prison? is a warehouse?) really, just terribly bad. $5.00 I could have done better. the rest of the cast all awful, everyone. Why 2 stars you may ask? Maxwell Caulfield and Jason Leigh (I think) have great bods. BTW Linda Blair is in this too. No wonder she had no career!","Product: Privileged teenager Jordan Wells finds himself expelled from prep school after taking provocative photos of his female classmates. Now enrolled in the local high school, he becomes helplessly blinded by the beauty of Shay Bettencourt, a stunning temptress from the other side of the tracks. She is everything he wanted, everything he needed, and nothing he expected. As the relationship heats up, Jordan finds himself wrapped up in the web of her fatal beauty and an accessory to murder twice.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Teen film noir is right on target.\n\nReview: Up front honesty...I got this film because one of the stars is someone that I can't believe Hollywood hasn't recognized as a truly great and talented actor. JONATHAN TUCKER. Consistently wonderful in everything I have seen him in and I can probably say I have seen all his movies. (When did I become a fanboy?) yes, he was terrific in this but so was everyone else and I do mean everyone. The writer and director did something wonderful here, they created a modern day Film Noir ( I love film noir) and gave it a teen spin and by golly...it worked. The Femme fatale, Nikki reed, so good. Michael O'keefe as the cop, so good. Jonathan Tucker...outstanding. Bravo to the rest of the cast. Seeing as this is a film noir type of movie I'm not giving anything away. Look at the product description.","Product: A screenwriter suffering from writers block decides to lock himself in his apartment for 18 days in order to meet a career-making deadline. His script involves characters from his past, including a terrifying and disfigured clown. As cabin fever sets, he soon finds himself living in a world where whats real and whats fiction begin to cross lines with chilling and fatal consequences.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Rock solid okay movie. James gives it his all.\n\nReview: I can give it an okay, I can and feel good about it, too. I will admit to being a little bored at the start but then when I realized I was more or less watching someone have some kind of psychological meltdown (I think) I was able to look at it from a different perspective. I will say it was an interesting story for primarily a one man and sometimes 2 man and apparitions? show. I have always enjoyed James Van Der Beek a lot and I still do and I am so sad that he has never found that one role to push him into the light. The only other \"real\" character is his friend David played by the writer of this movie Darryn Lucio. he does a good job on both. This is one of those, you figure out type of movies and I won't really say which way I lean. did I love it, NO, did I hate it, NO. It really was one of those rock solid okay movies. Will I tell you to run out and get it, no I won't. If you see it somewhere on cable or on sale, no harm no foul.","Product: PLAYROOM introduces us to Max, Jimmy, Norm, Nick and Jason at the age of eighteen. Friends since early childhood, they have bonded deeper than natural brothers. As eighteen-year-old men, we share with them their dreams, loves, and friendships as well as life s hopes and frustrations. We, once again, meet them at age forty and learn how their lives have unfolded as we experience their marriages, strengths and disappointments. Together they are capable of celebrating with each other their emotions in an open and honest fashion. The group is together now on their annual football weekend, this year in Philadelphia. While bonding and enjoying the vibrant nightlife, they become separated only to find a darkness they have never known. It becomes a struggle of life or death where everyone must pay the price.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Low budget doesn't have to mean no talent.\n\nReview: Really tough call on this one. I would actually like it to be 2.5 stars. This movie could have had real potential but aside from the 5 main men in the story, and not all of them were good but the rest of the cast was horrifically bad. Especially the guy doing the alleged torturing, he is just too campy to believe. This is also supposed to take place at two different times, when they are in college and then again when they are 40 years old??? I say where is that fountain of youth...they did not age a day. Nick and Jason are the men in trouble but they usually are. Max and Jimmy have to find them and they don't know they were kidnapped for a torture flick. The fifth friend doesn't have the time and Norm leaves. As far as acting goes, Max, Nick and Jason are the only ones who seem to even try which they should get kudos because the script, direction, production and pool of talent leaves a lot to be desired. Overall, I say pass on it unless you feel particularly masochistic.","Product: After his father's sudden death, Dave Ford returns home with his girlfriend to attend the funeral. There he reunites with former best friends Emily and Brian Nicholson, now married and very wealthy. They offer to help Dave fix up his father's house and their friendship is instantly rekindled. But when Emily and Brian's unstable relationship turns violent, Emily runs to Dave for protection. Despite warnings from an old friend that Emily may not be who she appears to be, Dave can no longer resist his feelings for her. But the truth unravels, friendships are destroyed and jealousy explodes as Dave finds himself tangled up in a deadly game with no way out. DECEIT is a psychological thriller that tells a story of money, lies and obsession.\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: Can i go Minus 5 on this drivel.\n\nReview: After his father's sudden death, Dave Ford returns home with his girlfriend to attend the funeral. There he reunites with former best friends Emily and Brian Nicholson, now married and very wealthy. But when Emily and Brian's unstable relationship turns violent, Emily runs to Dave for protection. Despite warnings from an old friend that Emily may not be who she appears to be, Dave can no longer resist his feelings for her. Where to start to pull this garbage apart. With stars like Luke Mabley and Matt Long this should have been better. So Predictable and if you actually take 2 minutes you have to be able to figure out the juvenile and ludicrous plot/story/ending. Not to be a male chauvinist but the 2 women cops are so awful that if they were paid to appear in this dreck they should give the money back. They were atrocious. Let's hope they never work in film again. The men lead around by their you know what films are getting old and always depict men as stupid pointless creatures as this one does.","Product: A random invitation to a halloween party sparks a bloodbath of mishap, mayhem and hilarity.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: An indie low budget gem. Such a lot of fun.\n\nReview: A random invitation to a halloween party sparks a bloodbath of mishap, mayhem and hilarity. This was the only description that was given for this movie....allow ne to expand on it, this was great. We get a basic nobody who by accident gets and invite to a Halloween party which turns out that it is really a Murder party thrown by a bunch of bored art types who intend to kill him in some artsy way. Now, I have never heard of anyone at all in this movie but the performances were a lot of fun and the story never waivers at all just keeps moving forward. It has a bunch of twists and turns and really does get bloody and gory so be prepared. This comedy of errors is well worth watching as a low budget indie gem. Are there a few over the top performances....sure there are and that is okay because some over the top acting is needed here. Get it and have fun.","Product: Alpha Male is a story of family life, great love and devastating loss. Jim Ferris is the alpha male warm, charismatic, and successful, he is the consummate provider for his wife Alice and children, Jack and Elyssa. It feels as though nothing can touch the idyllic world he has created. But when he dies suddenly, grief, jealousy and dysfunction fill the vacuum until the family s tensions surface a decade later at Jack s 21st birthday party.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: This will make you feel great about your family!\n\nReview: Let's talk about your extremely dysfunctional families. If you think that yours is bad....check out this bunch. Here is what we have and I don't think any of this will be a spoiler. Dad who is the backbone of this bunch passes away, Mom not too strong and doesn't know how to deal, her sister moves in to \"help\" but she is a parasite. The daughter flips out and does something horrible and mom doesn't even react. The son thinks he should be in charge and acts out too. Mom meets another guy family hate3s each other til Jacks 21st birthday and all of it comes out. I was so annoyed at all the drama and pouting that went on that at times I almost turned it off. This is a sad and not happy movie. Would I recommend....if you are already depressed...no....you will cut your wrists. If you want to see a fairly good film and can put up with the crap of the kids especially jack, go for it.","Product: Michael Barnes (Geoff Winter) is a guilt driven philanderer secretly harboring a dark and troubling incident from his youth. While continually struggling to overcome the recent death of his wife Katie (Lisa Adams), Michael makes an attempt to reconnect with his two very different estranged sons. Matt Barnes (Ron Lincoln) is Michael's adopted African American son. Matt has a highly successful career on Wall Street in Manhattan, but struggles daily with demons of drug addiction, as well as pending divorce from a marriage involving two beloved siblings. Kevin Barnes (Mike Williams) is gay, and struggles in a doomed, frightening relationship with his partner Danny (Douglas A. Hary), while he scrapes by barely making a living as a bartender in a gay disco. When the family learns their deceased mother has willed them the beach house they visited every summer in their youth, they all decide to visit the house to attempt to reconnect. However, tragic results ensue leading to a dramatic discovery, ending in a shocking family tragedy.\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: Geoff Wilner, should be very ashamed of this dreck.\n\nReview: Dear God in heaven, what a bad movie, bad story, very bad dialog, bad acting especially from Geoff Wilner, who plays the stricken husband of a wife who died of cancer and has 2 sons one adopted who is successful and one not too successful as a bartender in a gay bar. First all of that was so contrived and off-putting. The angry dad who has his own skeletons is a terrible device. The dad (I wondered how such a bad actor got this part, and guess what....he wrote and produced this dreck!)There are so many really annoying flashbacks to his wife...way too many. The dialog is so forced. No likable characters at all but maybe a bit to Mike Williams. Really bad acting moment....dad cries for a while....not a tear. I should love to get a refund on this but......my mistake. The only actor that may have a shot is Mike Williams, I hope the rest got out of the business!","Product: Fed up with their mundane, ordinary lives, four wannabe thrill-seekers get more than they bargained for when they attend a wild rave in the California desert. Josh (Eric Christian Olsen) and his pals (Rider Strong, Bumper Stevens, Wayne Young) are up for some sex, drugs and rock and roll...not necessarily in that order. But these burning sands, it turns out, are home to some of the deadliest creatures known to man The Scorpions, a local biker gang led by sadistic, machete-wielding Dom (Dash Mihok). Soon, without warning, what began as a spirited road trip devolves into an agonizing battle for survival. Gorgeous Genevieve Cortese also stars in this masterpiece of mayhem about weekend warriors who are forced to become the real deal...or die!\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: It will keep me out of the desert.\n\nReview: When I got this movie, it was just because...no real reason I 5thought a good way to kill some time. I was so wrong. I grant you the characters are typical for this kind of movie and the plot is typical too but it is the young actors that make the difference here. I know it is the we should never have come to this place type of story but give it a shot, really. Young me go to a rave and tick off the locals. Go from there. The performances are whgat make the difference and they are all great, Eric Christian Olsen, Rider Strong, Bumper Robinson and Wayne Young. the female lead is terrific too and she is Genevieve Cortese. The bad guy and he is bad and threatening and scary is Dash Mihok. Gie this movie a shot. some violence and a few other things make this not for kids at all, late teens and up.","Product: Jesse Metcalfe (TV's \"Desperate Housewives\") stars in this horrifying thriller about a man who cons himself into a mental hospital in order to break out his beloved sister. Once inside, he discovers that a doctor (Peter Stormare, Fargo) is mercilessly using his patients as lab rats and is turning them into bloodthirsty killers. Trapped inside an inescapable labyrinth, will they find a way out before the relentless cannibals hunt them down?\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: I found if very entertaining.\n\nReview: Once again I find myself pleasantly surprised. Jesse Metcalfe in a movie that I was really into except for a few things that were kind of silly. The prime silliness being who would have themselves committed to a sanitarium to visit your sister? Looking past that we have Jesse doing just that because he can't get any info on her and he thinks that there are some serious shenanigans going on and boy is he right. It is an interesting story about a mad scientist experimenting on the charges in his care and creates something out of this world, not alien just different. I will say that this was a pretty good movie for what it was, I was no citizen kane but it did keep my attention and entertain me.","Product: Spain released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: it WILL NOT play on standard US DVD player. You need multi-region PAL/NTSC DVD player to view it in USA/Canada: LANGUAGES: English ( Dolby Digital 2.0 ), Spanish ( Dolby Digital 2.0 ), Portuguese ( Subtitles ), Spanish ( Subtitles ), WIDESCREEN (1.66:1), SPECIAL FEATURES: Black & White, Interactive Menu, Photo Gallery, Scene Access, Trailer(s), SYNOPSIS: The second film of director Martin Ritt with both Paul Newmanand Sidney Poitier, it's set in a city that has long been a haven for black musicians eager to escape the racism of the U.S. Newman is Ram Bowen, a trombone player who makes his living in a jazz group, which also includes tenor man Eddie Cook (Sidney Poitier), while studying music and aspiring to a career as a 'serious' composer. Eddie stays in Paris to bask in the respect that its people feel for his music, a respect rarely accorded him in the States. A pair of tourists, Connie Lampson (Diahann Carroll) and Lillian Corning (Joanne Woodward) arrive in the city for a two-week vacation, and the two musicians lose no time in hooking up. Soon both relationships take a serious turn and the musicians are forced to make some important decisions about the possibility of returning to their native soil. SCREENED/AWARDED AT: Oscar Academy Awards, ...Paris Blues\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Stars, movie, music, what more do you want.\n\nReview: What a cast and what wonderful music and what a wonderful movie. Paul Newman, Sidney Poitier, Joanne Woodward, Diahann Carroll and the great Louis Armstrong. I am not what you may call a huge jazz fan, I do like a lot of it but don't go out of my way for it. This movie is awesome with the music and it is definitely worth just listening to it. Paul and Sidney live in Paris because of the jazz surroundings and the freedom to be who you are. Along come tourists Joanne and Diahann and woo the 2 gentlemen in question. Paul is the very blas of the 2 and for him it is all about the music and everything else including women come in a very distant second. Just to sit back and watch this movie and the performances and music is awesome and should be experienced.","Product: SPEED RACER: THE NEXT GENERATION - THE FAST TRACK marks the second film for Next Generation, which builds on the legendary adventures of the original iconic series. Get ready for non-stop, fast-paced action as Speed, Conor and Lucy prepare for the next big race, the Redwood Rally. All seems to be going well until strange things begin to happen on the virtual track, including blinding leaves, falling acorns and a menacing Giant Conor. Clearly someone's been tampering with the virtual programming, but Speed and the gang are hot on the trail to solve the mystery. Annalise, the daughter of evil billionaire Zile Zazic, sets out to spy on Speed's investigation. And before you can say \"Go, Speed Racer,\" they both get caught up in a freak accident that leaves them trapped inside the malfunctioning virtual world with a hungry high-tech virus closing in fast! In order to get them out alive, everyone will have to put their differences aside and work together in a fast and furious race against time. But just when it seems like the day is saved, there is one last - and very big - surprise as the real and virtual worlds collide!\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Liked some aspects and didn't like others?\n\nReview: Big cartoon fan. I think I may have missed something....I am going to guess that this is the original Speed's son? Now I get the whole computer generated thing and I am fine with it but don't get too caught up with the whole total electronic thing, we will lose something for sure. Moving on, I liked Speed Jr. and his team and I guess too that the Spridle who is the school principal is the old spridle? I am guessing a lot. The addition of \"X\" whatever his capacity is, is a good one. Now X's girlfriend is the spoiled rich girl that hates Speed and everything to do with him, I can live without this character...and why would X date this girl? No redeeming qualities. I liked it but didn't like this.....you have to figure it out!","Product: When 15-year-old Owen (Alex Linz) meets Congressman Lawrence Connor (Steven Weber) at his middle-school graduation, the bookish, friendless boy is flattered to be offered a junior position with Connor`s senatorial campaign. Owen befriends the congressman`s young nephew, Caleb, and as his involvement in the campaign grows, Owen`s innocence is shattered as he discovers the dark underbelly of politics, where business and politics share more than financial interests, and idealism and innocence rarely go unpunished.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Stunning and frightening that this is how I also view politicians.\n\nReview: When 15-year-old Owen (Alex Linz) meets Congressman Lawrence Connor (Steven Weber) at his middle-school graduation, the bookish, friendless boy is flattered to be offered a junior position with Connor`s senatorial campaign. Owen befriends the congressman`s young nephew, Caleb, and as his involvement in the campaign grows, Owen`s innocence is shattered as he discovers the dark underbelly of politics, where business and politics share more than financial interests, and idealism and innocence rarely go unpunished. That was the synopsis given. Here is mine. Alex Linz, not seen by me since Home Alone 3, was wonderful as the star struck politics loving kid. Steven Weber is skeevey as the sleezy politician and the bright spot of Escher Holloway (pure talent). I am frightened because I believe this to be a true and real account of politicians. They are in it for what they can get and the whole \"we the people\" thing no longer exists. The end disappointed me but I think this is what had to be. We have no \"bill of rights\" or a \" constitution\" anymore.","Product: WHAT MATTERS MOST is an award winning, poignant, modern-day Romeo & Juliet love story that deeply affects the lives of two divergent families and denizens of a small border town in west Texas. Despite different backgrounds and disapproving parents, a working-class teen falls in love with the wealthy son of a prominent family. A forbidden love, a tragic accident and a devastating consequence give way to the uplifting power of trusting yourself and following your heart.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Very good but very rough\n\nReview: Let me be really honest here, there were things about this movie that disturbed me, not sure why, I have seen it in other movies but for some reason....caused me problems. Chad Allen, totally love him, plays a great part as the son of an abusive, take no prisoners type of father (except of course not with his daughter) causing him to drink and just act out against dad. He gets whipped and gets hurt all due to his father. The mother keeps quiet and the siste3r just covers her ears. The performances were convincing and the story was very good, too. Chad Allen should be such a major star, he really should be. This is a movie about a good many harsh subjects including teen pregnancy and all this in a small Texas town. Very harsh but very good.","Product: A recent college grad spends his final summer with a girl and her adventurous boyfriend before heading into a job his father wants him to take and along the way realizes what he wants more out of his life. Based on the novel by Pulitzer Prize Winning Author Michael Chabon.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Bravo and more bravos.\n\nReview: A recent college grad spends his final summer with a girl and her adventurous boyfriend before heading into a job his father wants him to take and along the way realizes what he wants more out of his life. Once in a while you come across a small movie that is BIG, this is one of those movies. Pure story and what a good story it is, I loved the beginning, the middle and especially the end. This cast is outrageously talented and had me in their grips from start to finish. Let me caution you dear reader, this is story, some fun, some laughs but this is story. This very talented cast was totally held together by someone I don't think I have ever seen before, Jon Foster.....I love this guy....what a very special actor he is. I loved the curves that were tossed out now and them and you have to look closely for most of them. One of my very favorite films in a long time.","Product: Jannicke wakes up in the hospital. All of her friends are dead. As she walks through the dark corridors, she thinks she is left alone. But the nightmare isn't over yet..... This is the deluxe version with glossy slipcover. It is marked Region-3, but is guaranteed to be all-region and playable in the USA.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Reminiscent of Halloween 2, hospital locale but still very effective.\n\nReview: Well, we have here the very rare sequel to a movie that i did like with a sequel that I did like too. I will have to admit though that this reminded me very much of Halloween part 2 and that's okay because there were enough differences to not make me think....ripoff. It had enough to stand by itself. I did like the cast and even though we got the usual story of the cops not believing a word of her story and think that she killed all of her friends from the first film and she has to save the day once again with an assist from another survivor. Take my word for it, if you liked or even loved the first Cold Prey, you will certainly like or love this one too.","Product: Cult filmmaker Jake West (EVIL ALIENS, RAZOR BLADE SMILE) and comic book writer/illustrator Dan Schaffer ('Dog Witch', 'The Scribbler') unite for this distinctively British horror comedy. When a group of young men--including Danny Dyer (THE BUSINESS, SEVERANCE), Noel Clarke (TV's DOCTOR WHO, ADULTHOOD) and Stephen Graham (THIS IS ENGLAND, PUBLIC ENEMIES)--descends upon a remote rural village, the lads look forward to a weekend of high jinks and male bonding. But their fun-filled break soon segues into a living nightmare when they discover that the village's female populous has succumbed to a mysterious virus that has turned them into ravenous creatures with a penchant for male flesh...\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Misongynists and the lady zombies that love them.\n\nReview: A group of guys head off for a boys weekend to buck up a friend still depressed over a painful divorce. Unfortunately, they end up in an isolated town infected with a bio-weapon that has turned all the women into the man-hating monsters. They are constantly running from hairdressers, nurses, schoolgirls and other iconic female figures. These guys are in various stages of being when it comes to women. This is like a nightmare come true. I thought it was very funny and the guys and the lady zombies were are terrific and perfect for the parts. There are the usual shenanigans but in the long run this cast, the writing , the direction are all spot on. I loved it and recommend it is you liked your zombies on the funny side. One small word of warning, the accents are very thick so you may have a bit of a problem following.","Product: Shipwrecked on an uninhabited South Seas atoll, a Canadian nurse (Linda Darnell) and a young Marine (Tab Hunter) initially clash, but as the weeks turn into months, begin to see each other through different eyes and give in to their natural impulses. But when an RAF flyer (Donald Gray) crashes on the island, the tropical love story is complicated by that familiar bit of romantic geometry, the Eternal Triangle.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Lovely story and very good one too.\n\nReview: Shipwrecked on an uninhabited South Seas atoll, a Canadian nurse (Linda Darnell) and a young Marine (Tab Hunter) initially clash, but as the weeks turn into months, begin to see each other through different eyes and give in to their natural impulses. But when an RAF flyer (Donald Gray) crashes on the island, the tropical love story is complicated by that familiar bit of romantic geometry, the Eternal Triangle. Made in 1952, let me first say, what a handsome man Tab was. Linda was pretty gorgeous too. I loved the story and I loved how Tab was so much younger and Linda some older. The scenery was gorgeous, too. Why 4 stars and not 5. Well, 2 things really, no one would take Donald Gray over Tab Hunter! Ever! The second, Tab seems to be able to build anything from bamboo, we had a fully furnished home, plates, tables, chairs, you name it! Really!","Product: Co-directed by Chang Cheh and Pao Hsueh-li, and written by Ni Kuang, Chang Cheh and Chin Shu-mei, The Delightful Forest revolved around the legendary hero Wu Sung (Ti Lung), who was sent to the prison in the Meng province after murdering his sister-in-law Lotus Pan and a local ruffian Hsi Men-ching. There he was acquainted with the prison officer Golden Eye Shih En (Tien Ching), who saved Wu from the baton punishment required for new prisoners. Knowing he had owed Shih a favor, Wu decided to offer any help in return. It turned out that Shih s restaurant Delightful Forest was taken by the local thug Door God Chiang Chung (Chu Mu), with the support from the Meng officials and military trainers. The furious Wu decided to get Shih s restaurant back at all costs...\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: I am a sucker for this type of movie.\n\nReview: Ti Lung, the star of this offering from the Shaw Bros. whom I love each and every movie they make, the fight scenes are superb and fun and reminiscent of the old time kung fu movies. Ti Lung is the star of this one, he has killed his sister in law and a bad guy named Tiger and he is the legendary hero named Wu Sung and he is off to prison after having surrendered. In prison he makes friends with the warden's son who needs his help to beat the bad guys who have taken over his town and businesses. I confess to a love of these kinds of movies so you will need to take that into account. Great fights, some story and well the dubbing is not great but it is fun. I prefer subtitles. So here it is.....if you love these kind of movies you will love this one too.","Product: From director Alexandre Aja (The Hills Have Eyes) comes the new action thriller PIRANHA 3D. Every year the population of sleepy Lake Victoria explodes from 5,000 to 50,000 for Spring Break, a riot of sun and drunken fun. But this year, there's something more to worry about than hangovers and complaints from local old timers; a new type of terror is about to be cut loose on Lake Victoria. After a sudden underwater tremor sets free scores of the prehistoric man-eating fish, an unlikely group of strangers must band together to stop themselves from becoming fish food for the areas new razor-toothed residents. The film stars Jessica Szohr (Gossip Girl), Steven R. McQueen (The Vampire Diaries), Elisabeth Shue, Jerry O'Connell, Ving Rhames, Adam Scott, Richard Dreyfuss, Christopher Lloyd, and Kelly Brook.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Usual cast of characters but fun in spite of some bad performances (Eliz. ShUe)\n\nReview: Every year the population Lake Victoria explodes from 5,000 to 50,000 for Spring Break, a riot of sun and drunken fun. this year, there's something more to worry about than hangovers and complaints from local old timers; a new type of terror is about to be cut loose on Lake Victoria. After a sudden underwater tremor sets free scores of the prehistoric man-eating fish and boy do they look cool, we get the usual amount of dead teens and dumb party-ers. Of course there are the usual cast of characters who are the \"center\" of the movie (BTW, I love Jerry O'Connell, but he was annoying in this) and of course the usual chum in the water, too. With our intrepid band of heroes? you have the ones I refer to as the Red Shirt types that you know are doomed. Overall it is some fun and whoever told Elizabeth Shue that she could act? They were so wrong and she has tried to do many things, all with her customary bad acting. Oh and the 2 little annoying getting into trouble kids esp the smart mouth girl. I so wanted them to get eaten.","Product: When two young couples venture into the desert for a sexy photo shoot, fun in the sun quickly turns into disaster after their car crashes into a ravine. Left with little water and without shelter, the couples are forced to ration supplies. As tensions rise, so does the heat in the isolated desert. Dehydrated, lost and hopeless, one by one the group begins to fall victim to the relentless elements. Miles away from civilization, suffering from delirium and dying of thirst, will anyone make it out alive?\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: I won't give my life to save you lady!\n\nReview: When two young couples venture into the desert for a sexy photo shoot, fun in the sun quickly turns into disaster after their car crashes into a ravine. Left with little water and without shelter, the couples are forced to ration supplies. And first of all, if you can't figure out who survives you have had a lobotomy. Each of these types of movies has the same ending. First after they crash, they just sit around for a couple days? Really? They are afraid one will die from the crash and it happens. To anyone reading this...spoiler.......right now. To anyone, I am not going to give my life for the lady of the piece! You get the same shot I have. I won't sacrifice my life to save you! Let's make that clear. Predictable, dull and annoying at times so it barely got 3 stars from me.","Product: A comedy about miscommunication between the sheets! When Andy (Josh Meyers) hears his girlfriend Lauren (Krysten Ritter) sigh after sex, he panics and hilariously seeks advice from friends, porn stars and tantric experts. But when Lauren reconnects with her childhood crush, Daniel (Ian Somerhalder), and decides to take a job offer in Chicago, Andy realizes that unless he acts fast, he will lose the love of his life forever. Also starring Eugene Byrd, Jenna Jameson, Ken Jeong, James Kyson Lee, Kirk Fox and Lindsay Richards with James Hong.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: We've seen it a hundred times. But still some good laughs.\n\nReview: this is nothing that we haven't seen before. Guy thinks he is a sexual dynamo and actually pleasing his girlfriend when he suddenly realizes that he isn't. he goes and looks up his best friend and then they go and get all kinds of advice from all kinds of people. Josh Meyers is the guy in question and I seem to remember him for That 70's show, towards the end of the run. Anyway were there some pretty funny bits, yes there were. did it take a very odd serious turn? It did. As I said this is nothing we have not ever seen before. Would I recommend it? I will say yes because there were some things in it that were different.","Product: A martial arts champ is lured to a desert fortress where he's to partake in an Olympic-like contest. When he finds out the contest is headed by a criminal mastermind--look out! He's quicker than a bullwhip, faster than a dart, stronger than a raging bull. This disc is expected to play back in DVD Video \"play only\" devices, and may not play in other DVD devices, including recorders and PC drives. This product is manufactured on demand using DVD-R recordable media.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Kill or Be Killed? I should have committed suicide\n\nReview: I am being so very generous here! I must be in a great mood today. Any other day and I would be stepping all over this movie. A martial arts champ is lured to a desert fortress where he's to partake in an Olympic-like contest. He then finds out the contest is headed by a criminal mastermind who happens to be German and has swastikas everywhere. He wants a team to take on his arch nemesis who happens to be Japanese and who he challenges to get his own group of fighters. That is the story in a nutshell and that is all it is. There is some pretty good fight scenes but awful acting and the story leaves much to be desired. It is totally predictable. We do get the requisite female that the hero is in love with and of course she is used as leverage. This was 1976 and I guess the helpless female was still a thing. I really would not recommend this except for a snowy cold night where you have literally nothing to do....at all.","Product: When a team of scientists test an experimental drug that increases aggression in animals and humans, their biochemical lab explodes and a mutated nightmare escapes. Half African King Cobra and half Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake, Seth is pure evil. He's 30 feet long with a giant appetite for terror. Stars Pat Morita, Scott Brandon, Kasey Fallo\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: i can't believe I watched the whole thing.\n\nReview: When a team of scientists test an experimental drug that increases aggression in animals and humans, their biochemical lab explodes and a mutated nightmare escapes. Half African King Cobra and half Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake, Seth is pure evil. He's 30 feet long with a giant appetite for terror. This is the product description from this movie from 1999. Give this one a lot of wiggle room. Do not take this seriously in any way. the \"effects\" are terrible, the acting is awful (Scott Brandon and kasey Falid) you have to know you are in trouble when the movie stars...Pat Morita! ( I kept waiting for a \"wax on, wax off\".) One scene has a little girl sitting in a wooden chair in the middle of the woods??????? Why????? this is mostly \"D\" list stars....Courtney Gaines at the beginning playing an impatient scientist?????? Really?","Product: The gorgeous rising French star Fanny Valette (Moliere, Little Jerusalem) leads a cast of sexy young actors in the riveting action suspense film High Lane. A group of friends on a climbing vacation ignore warnings that the mountains are closed and start their ascent anyway. Collapsing bridges, bear traps and other dangers threaten to splinter the groupwhen the real hell begins and an unseen villain begins picking them off one by one. Combining the heart-stopping suspense of Cliffhanger with the mortal dread of a serial killer, High Lane is certain to cure you of a fear of heights: who cares about the fall when it gets you away from a lunatic?\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: I do recommend this movie for sure.\n\nReview: We have 5 hikers in the Balkans and they want to go rock climbing on an established trail. When they arrive, they find that the way is blocked and no climbers are allowed. 2 are accomplished climbers and 2 try hard and the 3rd is the voice of reason who says, if it is closed, lets not go! Well it is the movie so they have to go anyway. We find out later something about the leader. They become trapped high on these Balkan mountains which in real life there have been many disappearances. They are trapped with a killer and let me say that there are few times that I get the crawling heebie jeebies but this movie did just that. The ending was interesting and should have played out differently but the last survivor got cold feet, you will see what I mean.","Product: Alec Guinness plays Sir Edgar Fraser, a widowed Scottish aristocrat who decides that it is time to introduce his 20-year-old son to the opposite sex. This, he decides, must be done in Paris, the most romantic city in the world. So off they go, and Sir Edgar is determined to find a beautiful, spirited girl for his son. This he does, but complications arise when he finds himself falling for her. Matters become even more tangled when his son falls in love with the woman he has found for his father.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Very entertaining old movie.\n\nReview: Alec Guinness plays Sir Edgar Fraser, a widowed Scottish aristocrat who decides that it is time to introduce his 20-year-old son to the opposite sex. This, he decides, must be done in Paris, the most romantic city in the world. So off they go, and Sir Edgar is determined to find a beautiful, spirited girl for his son. This he does, but complications arise when he finds himself falling for her. Matters become even more tangled when his son falls in love with the woman he has found for his father. Very pleasant movie. All of the actors were spot on and credible. I love the story and the way it played out. the moral of the story....who knows what is in the heart or the mind of a woman.","Product: Netherlands released, Blu-Ray/Region A/B/C : it WILL NOT play on regular DVD player. You need Blu-Ray DVD player to view this Blu-Ray DVD: LANGUAGES: English ( Dolby Digital 5.1 ), English ( DTS-HD Master Audio ), Dutch ( Subtitles ), WIDESCREEN (1.78:1), SPECIAL FEATURES: Interactive Menu, Scene Access, SYNOPSIS: Starring Sean Bean (Lord of the Rings), The Lost Future, is set in an exotic and dangerous future world where an isolated tribe battles for survival in a landscape overrun by mutated beasts carrying a mysterious and deadly illness. The Lost Future also co-stars Annabelle Wallis (The Tudors). ...The Lost Future (2010)\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: The stars make this movie\n\nReview: Well, I was pleasantly surprised. Sean Bean, of course, can do not wrong but his part in this isn't very big. We have a possible future for the human race which includes \"beasts\" men and women mutated into some king of savage beast (not a far stretch) If they bite, scratch or breathe on you, you will change too. There is a cure though created by the \"thinker\" of the cave bunch. Sam Claflin. It is up to him and Corey Sevier, the alpha hunter guy and his lady fair to get the cure and bring it back to his people who are trapped in said cave by a bunch of Beasts. If I am making light of it, that is not my intention it is just that I did enjoy the story and the acting is very good too. There are a few slow parts and they are kind of necessary to the story development. As I said this is a good way to spend an afternoon, check it out, you won't hate it.","Product: Directed by Nick Copus. Starring Joely Richardson, Eddie Izzard, Brian Cox.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Sucks compared to the 1963 excellent version.\n\nReview: I truly loved the original movie from 1963 and had such high hopes for this modern and updated remake.....I was so disappointed. I mean the beginning started out with such promise, much like the original with the sky storm and the blindness that followed. Such a talented cast too and all were wasted. Dougray Scott, Joely Richardson, Jason Priestley etc and all that talent is wasted. As I said what began as a great start, deteriorated into the typical groups all vying for dominance over what is left of the world. Dull and not very well thought out at all. I made if for about 80 minutes before I got bored with how trite it was. Very formulaic and not to imaginative, Coker is now leading a band of blind people and handcuffs sighted people to them to protect them and send them out for supplies with the so-called good people holding guns on them????? When are film makers going to get it.....bigger is not always better, the story of the original was excellent and bare bones.","Product: According to rock 'n' roll lore, age 27 is a fateful milestone. From Robert Johnson, Brian Jones, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison to Kurt Cobain, all stars we lost at this very age. World famous rock star Spyder (Kevin Zegers - Transamerica, Frozen) has achieved fame and fortune with a smash hit debut album. This blinding success however, is built on the Faustian pact that capitalized on the genius of his long lost childhood best friend and band mate, Eric Genson (Jason Ritter - NBC's The Event, Good Dick). Now Spyder retreats to his small hometown after his sophomore effort flops. Reconnecting with Eric after a seven year estrangement, the two recall their youthful ambitions and reexamine the choices they've made. Accompanied by the band's ambitious, fiery manager (Taryn Manning - Hawaii 5-0, Hustle & Flow, 8 Mile), the legendary music impresario August West (Peter Fonda - Easy Rider, 3: 10 to Yuma) and a raucous crew of musicians, they set off on a cathartic journey along historic Route 66 that brings them closer to each other, their history and their destiny. Fueled by a stellar rock 'n' roll soundtrack that includes songs by Nirvana, Bob Dylan, Iggy & The Stooges, Alice in Chains, Muddy Waters, The Violent Femmes, Howlin' Wolf, Jane's Addiction, and many more, The Perfect Age of Rock 'N' Roll fully captures the energy, rebellion, and thrills of the rock 'n' roll lifestyle.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Star performances from Kevin Zegers and Jason Ritter\n\nReview: I honest to god was really annoyed at the beginning, think9ing I was watching a movie about some irredeemable snotty rock star who hates everyone and is better that everyone. Spyder, played sensationally by Kevin Zegers, debut album made him a star, the songs on the album all stolen from his boyhood friend Eric, Played sensationally by Jason Ritter. spyder's 2nd album tanks and he looks for Eric to write him some songs for his 3rd album. Eric's condition is that they travel cross country in a slip stream mobile home, driven by the sensational Peter Fonda. Watch this for the ups and downs and the interactions within the group. Not for the kids, lots of language, sex and drug use. Great story, great music, great direction, great acting and what a terrific movie.","Product: Six people, each on the road to self-destruction, wake up trapped in a surreal facility without knowing how they got there or why. Held captive by a mysterious man, the abductees are subjected to 'The Trials', a sadistic experiment in which they are forced to decide each other's fate over a nerve-racking game of dice.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Die as in one of a pair of dice. Suspenseful.\n\nReview: \"Saw\" with a couple twists. Dead end people are kidnapped and wake up in a series of cages in a basement of some kind. You see immediately who the killer is, so that isn't a mystery. He chooses 2 people from the cages, sits one down and the other has to roll a die (one dice) to come up with a number pertinent to the person in the chair, for example, take a gun roll the die, put that number of bullets in the gun and fire at the seated person etc. Did they die in the process of get \"reborn\" (survive). It was much better than I thought it would be and had some pretty good suspenseful moments. The actors were good as was the story. The mystery is \"why them?\" That does run in a similar vein to \"Saw\". I do recommend this movie, it did hold my interest. Would you roll the die?","Product: Sent to a Gladiator retreat, HERCULES frustrates his fellow warriors with his arrogance, but when his rival CAPANEOUS schemes to poison Hercules, he must learn humility and devise a plan to survive a wrestling match in his weakened state...\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: As painfully bad as a kidney stone.\n\nReview: Sent to a Gladiator retreat, HERCULES frustrates his fellow warriors with his arrogance, but when his rival CAPANEOUS schemes to poison Hercules, he must learn humility and devise a plan to survive a wrestling match in his weakened state...This is the description given at the first page. Are the boys pretty enough, sure, do they finally have them do some actual flexing and posing, yes but the angle is pointed up and the sun obscures what is going on, see none of the muscle. No acting ability....anywhere and the same house is used again as all the other Cocteau movies. Just pointless and still let's toss in one bad actress so it doesn't appear too gay. Give me a break.","Product: What goes around comes around for a pair of prank-playing tire salesmen (Sean Astin and Michael Vartan) who find themselves placed in secretarial jobs by their put-upon boss (David Cross). Now the two pranksters will have to climb their way back to the top.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: i don't see why the hate.....i though this was hysterical if not predictable.\n\nReview: I don't understand the real hatred of this movie. I found it to be a very cute movie. there were no surprises as far as the story or which way the characters were going to go. We have the 2 uber superior salesmen at a tire company. the are pretty much very mean guys and allegedly irredeemable. Michael Vartan and Sean Astin are pretty mean to just about everyone so you almost love the fact that they get their comeuppance. The primary target of the jabs is the company worm and yes you will dislike him too. Then we get the usual story of the 2 guys having a change of heart and becoming human beings. It had its funny bits and I did laugh quite a bit. Some the of situations were hysterical. I really don't get why some of the reviews are so negative I did enjoy this movie.","Product: The day after soon-to-be valedictorian Henry Burke (Matt Bush) takes a hit of the chronic for the first time, his school principal (Michael Chiklis) institutes a zero tolerance drug policy and administers a mandatory drug test for all students. Henry has two options: fail and lose his college scholarship, or team up with his stoner friend Breaux (Sean Marquette) to beat the system. They steal a high powered ganja from law student-turned-drug-dealer Psycho Ed (Adrien Brody) and spike the school's bake sale brownies, getting the whole school--faculty included--completely stoned out of their minds. But with the student body getting higher and higher with every brownie, and a pissed-off Psycho Ed on their tails for stealing his stash, they must find a way to keep their half-baked plan from going up in smoke.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: High on this school.\n\nReview: The day after soon-to-be valedictorian Henry Burke (Matt Bush) takes a hit of a joint for the first time, his school principal (Michael Chiklis) institutes a zero tolerance drug policy and administers a mandatory drug test for all students. He enlists is ex best friend and current stoner to help him to fix this problem. What does Breuax come up with? Getting the entire school high on baked up brownies at the bake sale. Matt Bush is excellent as the straight A student and Sean Marquette is wonderful as the stoner but I have to say that for a teen comedy the entire cast was fun and very good. Even Michael Chiklis as the principal was having a good time. You have to see Adrian Brody...What?....What! He is hysterical. Kudos to all involved for a very entertaining and fun movie, some very good laughs to be sure. You have to like this kind of raunchy and drug comedy to get this and still laugh about it. I do recommend it for sure, everyone gets high at this school..","Product: At a time when superheroes have lost all government and public support, tensions reach an all time high when a superhero by the name of Fridge becomes embroiled in a government conspiracy. Fridge, who has the ability to shoot deadly ice from his hands is in a funk after his girlfriend cheats on him with his civilian alter ego! Meanwhile his partner C-Thru, who possesses superhuman X-ray vision has captured Shrink, a super villain who murdered Fridge s parents. In order to regain the respect of a society that has lost all hope in superheroes, Fridge and C-Thru must work to resolve their own super problems before they can begin to worry about everyone elses.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Nothing special at all but has some nice performances and a lesson or two.\n\nReview: At a time when superheroes have lost all government and public support, tensions reach an all time high when a superhero by the name of Fridge becomes embroiled in a government conspiracy. Fridge, who has the ability to shoot deadly ice from his hands is in a funk after his girlfriend cheats on him with his civilian alter ego! Meanwhile his partner C-Thru, who possesses superhuman X-ray vision has captured Shrink, a super villain who murdered Fridge s parents. This is the basic plot, this very low budget movie hass some charming aspects but overall would I go out of my way to check it out? Not a chance. This cast is limited and they do all right. C-thru is trying to get back in good with the superhero community and the public who no longer needs them o a conspiracy is set in motion. I see the morals, trust, faith and revenge and some other emotions thrown in for good measure.","Product: Piano prodigy Eli Bloom (Jesse Eisenberg, The Social Network, To Rome with Love) is on his way to the most important audition of his life, but first he has to drop his mother Penny (Oscar-winner Melissa Leo, The Fighter) off at drug rehab. Since she has to test positive to be admitted, mother and son end up at the door of her dealer Sprinkles (Tracy Morgan, 30 Rock) in search of one last score. But because Penny's in debt and Sprinkles is low on product, Eli unwittingly must play negotiator as the unlikely team hits the streets. A quinceanera, unruly sock puppet, and American Revolution reenactment are among the obstacles that stand in their way in this absurdly funny and revelatory adventure.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Quick, smart witty dialog.\n\nReview: I am going to go 5 stars on this movie for a variety of reasons. it is a smart movie with fast and snappy dialog. it has wonderful performances by all involved. it held my attention without guns or explosions. This is a tory of a young man who has the possibility to go off from home and become a great pianist...the one thing holding him back is his drug addict mother who finally wants to go to rehab and they won't take her...the reason, she had no drugs in her system. so off to get her drugs....and here comes a series of wacky and nutty happenings. I won't say more except, jesse Eisenberg....love him and he is always great, as the Mom, Melissa Leo she is sensational and Tracy Morgan and his partner....Hysterical.","Product: Winner of the 2012 Cannes Film Festival Jury Prize, "The Angels' Share" is a comic fable about wasted talent and what happens when we are given a chance in life. It would be hard to see Robbie as a man worthy of redemption. He s constantly watching out for a gang of thugs looking to settle a family grudge, his girlfriend is giving birth to a baby while her father offers him money to leave Glasgow, and he s serving 300 hours of community service. But when Robbie meets Harry, the gruff but benevolent man in charge of his sentence, he finds a hidden talent for Scotch whiskey and a new chance at life. For distillers the angels share is the whiskey lost to evaporation each year, and that little fact makes a rare cask of whiskey the perfect target for a heist. A hilarious story about second chances, THE ANGELS SHARE is tender crowd-pleaser from legendary filmmaker Ken Loach ("The Wind that Shakes the Barley", "Kes") and screenwriter Paul Laverty.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Definitely check it out and enjoy but engage the sub-titles.\n\nReview: When I had seen that the people that made \"The Wind That Shakes The Barley\" I was seriously skeptical. Not a fan of that movie. But The fact that it was a Scottish film, I took the leap and am so very glad that I did. Robbie, is a problem, he gets into all kinds of fights with his nemesis and eventually ends up doing community service. there he meets a comical group of similar criminals all doing community service. Robbie has a gift as noted by harry in charge of the group, he can tell whiskey the way wine tasters do it. Well, what follows is a very amusing tale of this bunch not quite able to get away from their backgrounds and that involves and very old and newly discovered cask of whiskey worth a ton of money. This bunch is from Glasgow and have very thick accents, I have an Anglo-Saxon background and usually don't have a problem understanding any of the Scots, Irish or English but I did need the sub-titles for this one. The scenery is gorgeous and the story and acting is terrific. Very different.","Product: THE BREAKFAST CLUB meets ZOMBIELAND in this head-busting zombedy. A group of teenagers trapped in detention fight for survival after their classmates turn into a ravenous zombie horde. Can a stoner, a jock, a bully, a goth, and a nerd put aside their differences for one night to take on the undead? Will they live to see the morning? Fat chance! This is High School after all.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Good laughs and some frights.\n\nReview: what a lot of fun this movie was. first of all let me tell you that the cast is absolutely perfect, we have the of course very diverse group of students, the nerd, the goth, the jocks and the teem queen and others. All of these kids get involved in the same class when a fellow student comes down with a case of zombie-ism and infects the teacher and well it all happens from there. Our intrepid students realize that something is wrong with the other students. They take refuge in the school library. There are many good laughs here and eve a few frights. I really enjoyed Jacob Zachar as the nerd. But to be honest the entire case is excellent. I recommend this movie to any fans of a fun time.","Product: An outlaw who is brought up by the Comanche's falls in love with the daughter of a cruel rancher, all while on a search for a missing man. Presented in 4:3 pan and scan using the highest quality source material available. Presented in 4:3 pan and scan using the highest quality source material available.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: James, Jody and Alana try their best but they were never any good but.....\n\nReview: Let's start out by saying that James Mitchum, Alana Ladd and Jody McCrea are not up to snuff with their more famous sibs and dads. having said that and knowing that theses 3 are going to be very bad let's watch this movie with that knowledge and do what we can with it. it is the standard cowboy movie. Guns, Indians, land barons, pseudo preachers (God Bless, Chill Wills) and the new guy, Gary Conway. If not for Chill and Gary this could have been buried in the southwest desert. Gary is looking for his brother a soldier and along the way makes acquaintances with Jody, james and Alana and they all set out on the trail of the brother and to get away from her father.","Product: Concluding the saga begun in Adam Green's hit 2006 thriller, Hatchet III follows the vengeful Marybeth (Danielle Harris) as she continues seeking out a way to destroy Victor Crowley (Kane Hodder), a hulking, seemingly-invincible sociopath rampaging through a sleepy Louisiana swamp. While a heavily-armed team of mercenaries takes to the bayou surrounding Crowley's home, Marybeth finds herself begrudgingly teaming up with a local policeman (Zach Galligan) and his ex-wife (Caroline Williams) - an expert on the maniac who may have uncovered the secret to ending his murderous rampage once and for all.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Please let this have run its course.\n\nReview: While a heavily-armed team of mercenaries takes to the bayou surrounding Crowley's home, Marybeth finds herself begrudgingly teaming up with a local policeman (Zach Galligan) and his ex-wife (Caroline Williams) - an expert on the maniac who may have uncovered the secret to ending his murderous rampage once and for all. Please let this end! The typical continues, I get they were trying to do an omage to the 80's horror movies but please, enough is enough. Danielle harris is still awful as the, still only survivor trying to get Victor for what he did to her father and brother in the first one. One clever thing in this look carefully toward the end in the canoe....saying no more. The acting has, believe it or not gone downhill with each movie. and the first wasn't too terrific.","Product: NANCY MONROE's mother DENISE just got married -- and Nancy has a new stepbrother, VICTOR, a Goth guy who dresses in black, wears lots of sunscreen, apparently talks to his cat, and has the ability to cloud women's minds. So Nancy is convinced that he's a vampire -- but is she a paranoid wingnut, or is she the only person who sees Victor's true nature?\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Run away from this one\n\nReview: What can I say? Cute idea badly done. Let me say a few positive things first. The best lines come from the cat, truly. Judson Birza as Victor the main character has some promise, I think but don't judge him by this movie same goes for Nick Galarza as Jimmy. Lauren Greg as Lucy...very cute and does a pretty good job. Seth Austin as the loopy crazy kid, Renny Van Helsing is way over the top but oddly fun and sometimes funny. William McNamara not too bad as the Dad, Tracy Nelson is pretty bad as the Mom, Lynn Lowry as the Gestapo Principal of the school...truly awful. Joseph Rich as Mitch is pathetic he comes off as an idiot. finally, the lead female, Shae Landers, never let her perform EVER again. Bad, bad actress with disturbingly skinny legs (sorry it was distracting). the dialog is so bad and the conversations so forced it was making me uncomfortable. You have been warned.","Product: A startling motive is revealed when psychotic killer Melvin 'Spider' Holiday stalks eight unsuspecting teenage victims along old Route 66. As they get further and further from civilization anxiety starts to build as each stop along the way proves stranger then the last until the group is lured to an abandoned amusement park with a horrifying past. Soon they discover that the park comes complete with broken down carnival rides, the smell of death and a killer ready to give them one ticket to hell.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Target audience for horror fans only.\n\nReview: First of all let me tell you this, there are no killer clowns as appears on the cover. 8 buds are on spring break and make the monumental mistake of going off the beaten trail and get lost. They have had a serial killer, Michael Copon on their tails for a very long time. I enjoyed Michael Copon and Michael Copon only. He was very menacing as the killer and I loved his nuances. HE chases the kids all over an old abandoned crappy circus. Some of the killings are pretty good and most are just routine. As for the kids, I didn't have a thought about any of them. It was one of those, oh, go ahead and kill them all movies. You need to be a die hard horror fan in order to really get anything out of this so that is the target audience.","Product: A bullied high school student is suddenly befriended by his chief tormentor and together they face challenges that will change their lives forever.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: The reasons are clear\n\nReview: First, Bravo! This movie is a scathing attack on Bullying. it is a movie that many younger people should see. Kenton duty is excellent as the bully in question,Danny Flaherty is excellent as the object of his bullying. There are other events going on under the surface with Danny's grandmother and Kenton's brother which also serve to fuel this movie. the rest of the cast including Katherine McNamara et al are all superb and do a lot of credit to a topic that needs to be brought out in the open. This is handled in a very sweet and sometimes harsh way. As I said Bravo, because even in spite of the difficulty of the subject....you still learn the lesson and smile from time to time. Well worth seeing for the entire family.","Product: Release Date : 31/10/2013 ---- \nDistributor : United --- \nGenres : Action --- \nAspect Ratio : Anamorphic Widescreen 1.85:1 --- \nLanguage : English 5.1, Thai 5.1 --- \nSubtitles : English, Thai ---- \nNumber of discs : 1 --- \nPackage : DVD, O-ring --- \nRated : R ---- \nRun Time : 121 mins --- \nDirector: Raimund Huber ---- \nWriters: Raimund Huber (story), Johan Kirsten ---- \nStars: Kazu Patrick Tang, Johan Kirsten, Macha Polivka ---- \nStoryline : \nThe Devil's Cauldron, a city where depravity and violence has forged a society in which only the lethal and callous can survive, two young men who possess the intellect and ferocity to flourish, carve a name for themselves as the most efficient and unstoppable hit men. Side by side, these two brothers are the deadliest killers, feared by even the most evil criminals. But when a woman of rare beauty mysteriously enters the brother's lives she blinds them with her sweet promises and turns them against each other, resulting in an epic battle that threatens to bring the Devil's Cauldron to the brink of destruction.\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: This movie needed help and never got it.\n\nReview: Where shall I begin? Patrick Kazo Tang and Johan Kirsten, I believe are the 2 main leads. Patrick is okay (I'm being real kind but his fight scenes moved him up a bit) Johan is possibly the dullest, worst, emotionless actor in the history of acting! Well, running a very close second or neck and neck is the woman who plays his dying mother (complete with makeup) in the hospital she should be charged with assault on my sensibilities too. she must be somebody's mother. This is a Well Go USA film and I usually enjoy them, what happened here? Let's recap...really bad acting, my dead grandmother could write better dialog the movie is just cheesy and not even fun cheesy, the support actors are a joke. confusing editing and the one good spot are a couple good fight scenes. By no means is that a recommendation. Run away!","Product: RUN is a fast paced, coming-of-age crime thriller, about seventeen year old, street smart Daniel who is self taught, and unknowingly adept at Parkour, a physical discipline of training to overcome any obstacle within one's path by adapting one's movements to the environment. Under the guidance of his tough loving, yet misguided father, Mike, Daniel utilizes his incredible athletic skills to become an agile young thief as they move from city to city. After a close call with the Detroit police, Mike decides to return to New York City in the hopes of settling a sixteen year old dispute and proving his innocence with the crime family where he met Daniel's now deceased mother. Daniel yearns for his nomadic lifestyle to end and finds himself bonding with Mark and a group of freerunners who introduce a name to his secret skill set. He instantly falls for Mark's sister Emily who reveals secrets of her own and they both learn the importance of trust. When Mike's truce with the head of the crime family doesn't quite go as planned, Daniel must utilize all his skills to fight for the life and freedom of not only him and his father, but also Mark and Emily when they unexpectedly get pulled into the dispute.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Run....to see this sweet little indie movie.\n\nReview: This is one of those totally harmless Indie films that will entertain you as long as your hopes aren't too high. It is a fun and somewhat predictable movie that never tries to be more than it is and that makes it endearing. Young Daniel (William Moseley, The royals) is the 17 year old son of Adrian Pasdar and both are on the run from Daniel's Uncle who believes that Adrian was responsible for his sister's death, Daniel's mother. They make a living by stealing and robbing and living off the grid....Daniel has a talent for parkour that gets him out of trouble a lot. They move to NY and try to make up to the Uncle, Daniel makes friends and meets a girl and well.....it all hits the fan from there. The parkour stuff is fun and thye performances are all endearing I usually avoid Eric Roberts movies because they tend to be dreck but this was a wonderful little action movie, the small budget is easy to see. William is sweet and the rest of the cast is right on par, very likable.","Product: Simon Leach is a very sick man. Thriving on despair, pain, and panic, he unites a group of broken and desperate teens and showers them with the love and affection they're so desperate for. But Simon has a much darker plan for his followers. \"Belongingness\" can be a terrifying subject. When a young woman embeds herself in the cult looking for answers to her sister's disappearance, she discovers their dark secret and an even darker secret within herself.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Not a bad bit but filming it as a shaky camera business is nauseating.\n\nReview: I want to go 3.5 stars on this one. I almost flipped it off when I saw the shaky camera action (a la Blair Witch, horrible movie that was) but I stuck with it. It is supposed to be something like a documentary based on a true story. it is like a Jonestown type of thing. Criminal reverend gets a bunch of kids that are emotional wrecks and uses them and then well, I won't say much more but if this truly happened....The performances are all good by the kids and the reverend Bill Oberst Jr. is really pretty scary sometimes. if you can deal with the shaky camera thing (that is why it lost 1.5 stars) check it out. it is a frightening movie about how some people can exert control over others.","Product: Dive into the depths of unspeakable terror as Sharknado's Cassie Scerbo comes face to fin with a swarm of bloodsucking sea monsters in this suspense-drenched chiller co-starring Jonathan Lipnicki (Jerry Maguire), Brandon Beemer (TV's \"The Bold and the Beautiful\") and Kevin Dobson (TV's \"Knots Landing\"). While dredging for gold beneath the Bering Sea, siblings Donna (Scerbo) and Joe (Lipnicki) are confronted by a horde of horrific sea vampires. When their father (Dobson) falls victim to the insatiable creatures, Donna and Joe join forces with a dedicated marine biologist (Jacqueline Fleming, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter) and a loyal deckhand (Beemer) to kill or be killed by the beasts.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: i will suggest you not bother. this movie is the real beast.\n\nReview: this is a very tenuous 3 stars. When this movie started I thought not too bad. The acting was okay and the story was okay and then IT happened. Once the \"sea Vampires\" showed up this went rapidly downhill. The sea vampires were such bad CGI? if it was CGI that it was painful. Once they were introduced the acting and the dialog went quickly downhill too. The actors (I'll get more into them in a bit) made bad attempts to convey fear and terror and suspense and it never worked. The story of waking these beasts up by dredging in the Bering Sea is different but they never gave the scenery a chance to help this dreck happen. Now for the actors....Brandon Beemer and Kevin Dobson gave it the old college try and did the best they could with the company of \"actors\" and story they had. Jonathan Lipnicki (Jerry Macguire kid) was lost at sea and the absolute worst was the I don't know what to do with this character, Cassie Scerbo, she was awful.","Product: : On the lonely outback roads of Australia a deadly secret awaits returning soldier Sergeant Ben Cross. Vincent Malek, a cruel and maniacal killer forces Ben to play his deadly game. Relentlessly hunted through unforgiving terrain, Ben must draw on all his strength to survive, and unravel the truth along the way in a deadly game of cat and mouse, leading to one crucial question; how far will you go for revenge\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Slow moving but maybe suspenseful\n\nReview: A veteran returning home, Ben Cross played in a very low key way by Nathan Waring (enjoyed him) meets a girl on the road and strikes up a very quick relationship she is Nina played horribly by Laura Anderson and they run afoul of a lunatic Vincent Stone who apparently snatches people and hunts them and he wants to hunt Ben, he uses Nina to force him to play. I'd have let him have the bad actress. VERY slow movie very deliberate it finally gets moving when Ben stops running and strikes back. Would I recommend it....not sure it plods along sometimes. The hunter, he was pretty good, I loved how you see his frustration build when he can't kill Ben as easily as the others he's hunted.","Product: When their car breaks down, s even friends on a road trip to Las Vegas are forced to stop at a roadside motel for help. With no other option, the friends are convinced to spend the night but soon realize they are trapped, then are tortured and killed off one at a time. Now, they'll need to work together and fight to survive the seemingly helpful group of people who have turned their overnight stay into a dreadful, gory nightmare.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Worth watching for sure, just don't check in.\n\nReview: 7 friends are heading to Las Vegas and somehow the care gets 2, not 1, flat tires? Suspicious? The friends are convinced to spend the night at a gas station/motel but soon realize they are trapped, then are tortured. Now here are my problems with this there are a couple bad girls who look like vegas dancers and I see no real reason for them, then we have the captive girls who are portrayed as mewling sycophants and you are hoping get bumped off! This is not the way it works anymore, there are no helpless whining women! With that said, I had a wonderful time with this, the bad are bad and the good well there are a few molds broken. I don't want to say too much and the explanation kind of comes from left field but okay I'll ride the wave.","Product: Matt Burns is many things -- loser, dork,pizzadelivery boy -- but a hero isn't one of them. That is, until he is forced to eat a genetically-engineered tomato that was designed to create super soldiers. A routinepizzadelivery turns into a fight for his life, when he accidentally stumbles into the middle of a heated corporate takeover that plans on using this science for world domination. Equipped with an indestructible body and advanced strength, Matt must choose to use his new power to fight the E.D.G.E. corporation, led by its conniving and murderous VP John Kryder. When Kryder threatens Matt's mother for information, Matt dons their parlor mascot costume and becomesPIZZAMAN. But it takes more than a costume and powers to become a super-hero, as Matt learns the hard way. Coordinating his new abilities while trying to earn a modicum of respect among those he is fighting and saving is easier said than done. Against all odds, Matt must rise to the challenge, rescue the girl and save the day as the unlikeliest of super-heroes:PIZZAMAN.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Horrifyingly bad acting by all\n\nReview: Let me be very upfront with this. I could not finish this at all, it wasn't funny, if it was supposed to be. It wasn't suspenseful, if fit was supposed to be. It wasn't entertaining, if it was supposed to be. I loved Frankie Muniz in that TV show he used to do, Malcolm in the Middle but this movie shows that he really can't act and neither can some bygone wrestler as the bad guy....diamond Dallas Paige, this was told to me by a friend, I had no idea who he was. I am issuing a very strong warning against this movie, I am not sure what these other reviewers saw. Sometimes I will try a movie again thinking I wasn't in the mood....not this one....EVER.","Product: Superman. Batman. Wonder Woman.\n\nThis is not their story.\n\nThis is the story of B-string superheroes hoping to hit the big time. The guys you've never heard of. The ones who go out every night fighting crime and hoping that someone will notice. The ones who are desperate enough to go on a reality show.\n\nThere's Water Warrior, a hunky hero who seems to have more luck in the bedroom than the battlefield. Sable, a single mom superhero whos trying to juggle crime fighting, a waitressing job, and a moody teenage daughter. Big Shot and Blue Arrow, a macho crime fighter and his former sidekick who are struggling to admit their real feelings for each other. Malibu Action girl, a spoiled princess determined to prove that shes more than the sum of daddys expensive weapons. Rick and Josh, a pair of former teen superheroes trying to put their pasts behind them and build a new life together. They all have powers. And they all have issues.\n\nA screwball superhero reality show action comedy with valiant vigilantes, sexy sidekicks, scheming producers, zombie nazis, and super villains with relationship issues.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Don't take it seriously and have a blast!\n\nReview: I really can't say what got me to buy this movie..but I'm glad I did. let's be real honest here, very, very low budget, now academy award winning actors, no CGI, no breathtaking scenes. and that's all okay! I got more than a few laughs, I was very entertained, I got some real eye candy, what more can we ask for. The pitch is a producer is looking for superheroes to appear on his reality show, do they get Batman or Wonder Woman or Spiderman or Black Widow? No! they get Psychic Sam, Barbie Action Girl (I think) Sable etc. It is just a lot of fun Psychic Sam cracked me up always knowing what was going to happen, Sable is the older mom type who wants to get to work. 2 major hotties, Big Shot and the guy who can talk to fish. This movie is all in fun and that is how you have to watch it, don't try to critique it. Oh, and the 2 sidekicks, I adore them too.","Product: A GROUP of entitled Beverly Hills oceanography STUDENTS arrive at a mansion in MALIBU, to study the local ocean waters. However, someone... or something, has other, more murderous intent, as the Students begin to disappear, one by one, murdered by some flesh-shredding entity, leaving wounds similar in nature to a shark attack. But how is that possible, when the nearest ocean is a half-mile away?\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: Pure unadulterated dreck, slime, drivel. Run Away!\n\nReview: it's my own fault. I will look closer from now on, anything David DeCoteau directs or the production company is Rapid heart I will pass over. Very home-erotic in spite of the inclusion of several women. Handsome and nicely built men. sub-par acting on everyone's part, bad direction and bad story. Same house as all other DeCoteau things. Why, oh, why do we have to watch a guy swim in the dirty pool for long minutes or another guy showering for very long minutes, no soap though. The old lady of the piece who is allegedly a professor is indescribably BAD, what a hag. Judson Birza as Denny, Jeffrey Decker as Pretty boy Tyler, Braden Backe as Bryce. The girls rate no mention because they shouldn't be in it at all. her comes the SPOILER.....the shark attack in question is one of the girls transforming into a shark (on dry land) and eating people's heads off?????!!!!! Terrible effect too.","Product: With only a few weeks left until his two best friends leave for college, Billy Joe (Logan Huffman) robs his cotton farmer boss, Giff (Mark Pellegrino), in order to pay for one last blow out weekend in Corpus Christi, Texas. Upon returning, the teens are confronted by the unfortunate and brutal consequences of stealing from his boss. Now Billy Joe, Sue (Mackenzie Davis) and Bobby (Jeremy Allen White) must embark on a dangerous journey that will test their trust and friendship and take them across the line from carefree adolescence into the harsh reality of adulthood.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Bravo, bravo and one more bravo.\n\nReview: As a film noir fan, they don't come much better than this. Taking place in a very small town in Texas, 3 teens (2 of whom are leaving for school in a week) party hard in Corpus Cristi. Little do Bobby and Sue know, they are partying on money that BJ stole. The 3 played by Jeremy Allen White, Logan Huffman and MacKenzie Davis are superb. These 3 young actors should have budding careers as actors. Damn, I'd hire them for sure. The money was stolen from giff (amazingly played by Mark Pellegrino) I will say no more about the plot because it is one hell of a movie. Bravos go to the actors, directors (Simon and Zeke Hawkins) , writer and everyone else involved.","Product: A nave man transporting lethal narcotics in his stomach is detained by the police. Alone and afraid, the mule makes a desperate choice -- to defy his bodily functions and withhold the evidence...literally. By doing so becomes a human time-bomb, dragging cops, criminals. lawyers and his mother into his impossible escapade. Inspired by true events, THE MULE is a comic nightmare of stomach-churning suspense and belly laughs.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Who do you root for in this? Watch it and decide.\n\nReview: A nave man transporting lethal narcotics in his stomach is detained by the police. Alone and afraid, the mule makes a desperate choice -- to defy his bodily functions and withhold the evidence...literally. First of all, I cannot believe that with the content of this movie I am going 5 stars. Hugo Weaving is the cop and he wants the evidence in Angus Sampson's belly. In the original arrest he is held for 7 days under constant guard. The cops then get extensions all the while Angus is fighting and fighting not to....well you know. I have to say there is something appealing and interesting and complicated in this movie that really held my attention, don't dismiss this because you think you know what this is about, give it a try, great little Australian movie, I have to say that the Australians really know how to make movies and take chances doing that too. Great acting, direction and writing.....a daring idea that works.","Product: Contemporary screwball comedy about a young gay couple, Michael Urie (Ugly Betty) & Randy Harrison (Queer As Folk), who discover a secret room filled with cash while house-sitting for their wealthy humanitarian friends, who have unfortunately just died in a car accident while doing missionary work for the children of Bhutan! Though saddened, Richard and Alex want what everyone wants: success, money, and, of course, a fabulous house in LA! After the boys discover wads of cash that the couple will now, obviously, no longer need, mayhem ensues as they deal with jealousy, sibling rivalry, grey- hounds, labradoodles, porpoises, and other friends who want the money as well. Such Good People is a refreshing and lighthearted throwback to the classic caper comedies of the 60s and 70s. Starring Randy Harrison, Michael Urie, Ana Ortiz ,James Urbaniak, Scott Wolf, Lance Bass, Tom Lenk, Alec Mapa...\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: it is worth your viewing time.\n\nReview: What can I say....very cute. Nothing exceptional but very cute. Michael Urie and Randy Harrison are a lovely couple who want more than the life they are living. They attend a party where a straight couple asks them to house sit while the carry on the charity work in Bhutan. The couple perishes in Bhutan and well the hijinks happen from there. There are a few good laughs when worlds collide over the money the late couple had along with other items. As I said Randy and Michael are the cutest couple ever and they are at odds with how to handle this dilemma. Silly fun but fin nonetheless. You will have a smile on your face. Nothing in it to make any heteros nervous. Just a good bit of fluffy fun.","Product: Billy Gardell is Rick Dancer, a wisecracking, disgruntled detective who is long past his prime. After failing to foil the criminal schemes of Eric Skanz (David A. R. White), Dancer has become the joke of the precinct. That is, until a local kid gets beat up and Dancer is back on the case! Only this time, he is partnered with \"Princess\", a fussy canine cop. Can this hilarious, dysfunctional duo tolerate each other long enough to sniff out the clues and break the case of their careers? Also co-starring EVA LA RUE as Dr. Nicole Jackson.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Funny cop and adorable German Shepherd. Good for the family.\n\nReview: Billy Gardell is Rick Dancer, a wisecracking, disgruntled detective who is long past his prime. After failing to foil the criminal schemes of Eric Skanz (David A. R. White), Dancer has become the joke of the precinct. That is, until a local kid gets beat up and Dancer is back on the case! Only this time, he is partnered with \"Princess\", a fussy canine cop. I have to say this first, I loved the Bloopers, very funny. Now for the movie...I had more than a few laughs coming along here. Princess is adorable too, She looks just like a German Shepherd I had many years ago so I may be biased. Billy Gardell is so good as this cop, he is prickly and he is funny and he has some very angry moments too. All of them he does well. I did mist up a few times to be honest......I was ready to toss myself off my balcony if anything tragic happened to Princess. (There is the clue I am typing this review....get it?) Total recommendation. All the family is good for this.","Product: It's Christmastime in New Orleans and children are mysteriously disappearing, stolen from their homes, taken off the street, dozens have vanished without trace. Detective Harry Ganat and his partner Roy Cody have found a young girl in the home of a murdered swamper and she leads them to the den of her captors...the Molderos, a group of merciless vampires who feed on the blood of children. The detectives lives are spared by a troika of ancient vampires; Brisbane, Dimitri and Lydia all seductive creatures who despise the Molderos as well. In exchange for protecting the detectives from their new enemies, the trio of 'friendly' vampires offer them a deal find the hidden lair of their mutual enemies and their lives will be spared and the other stolen children will be returned to them unharmed. But finding and killing the Molderos is not going to be easy, Harry soon finds himself questioned by the police, hunted by the Molderos at night and caught in a deadly love triangle between Lydia and her ancient master, Brisbane.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Story is different but most actors called in their performances.\n\nReview: Well, I have no idea why I have had this movie for 1.5 years and never watched it. I found it to be very good with some reservations. The vampires were interesting enough and there were some pretty good performances by some of the main characters but though the story was different and not too bad and some pretty good actors I found the performances to be somewhat strained. Mike Doyle just seemed to muddle thru his part of the primary detective and Danny Agha as the new partner was amateurish at best. Jonathan Schaech as a rival vampire to the lead group of animalistic vamps floated along as did the other members of his \"family\". Don't get me wrong I did like it but would find it hard to recommend it to others.","Product: The town of Downers Grove looks like your average suburban neighborhood -- but Downers Grove has a disturbing secret.... For the past eight years, one senior from every high school graduating class has met a bizarre death right before graduation day. And this year Chrissie Swanson (Bella Heathcote) has a terrible feeling that she is going to be the one to die. Can Chrissie survive the curse of Downers Grove or will she, like those seniors before her, fall prey to the town's deadly secret?\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Not terrible, not great, not noteworthy but okay to kill some time.\n\nReview: We have the small town of Downers Grove (a downer it is) they have a secret and that is that every years for the last 8 years a senior has died before graduation. Now we have Chrissie Swanson and she thinks that she is next. She attends a party with her morally questionable girl friend and there meets the town quarterback hero, Kevin Zegers, he attempts to have his way with her and she tears out his eye. Effectively ending his football career, he is miffed to say the least and begins a vendetta with his buddies. She has a maybe boyfriend in Lucas Til and he tries to help. From here on in, you are on your own. I saw the ending coming a mile away and was still mildly entertained. I leave it up to you dear reader whether you wish to try for it or not, it has its moments but Bella Heathcote left me very cold, very flat performance. The rest of the cast is pretty good.","Product: Relentless bullying has turned Lincolns life into a nightmare. But he soon learns the true meaning of terror when he is sent to a remote school for troubled teens and the harassment starts all over again. Only this time, someone is watching a teenage girl named Moira who was driven to suicide by vicious bullying years ago. When Lincoln accidentally summons Moira from the grave, he unleashes a vengeful and unstoppable force on a mission of blood-soaked revenge. Hell on earth has a new meaning in this gruesome shocker \"guaranteed to please any and every type of horror fan\" (Fangoria).\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Totally enjoyed this movie.\n\nReview: Lincoln has always been the object of bullies. When he is sent to a remote school for troubled teens for finally striking back at a boy with a fork to the face the harassment starts all over again. A teenage girl named Moira who was driven to suicide by vicious bullying years ago haunts this place and when Lincoln accidentally summons her back, she goes on a rampage for him. I was shockingly surprised by how much I loved this low budget gem. Ronen Rubinstein as Lincoln, is excellent tons of pathos. He plays this kettle waiting to boil very well. I'm not sure who plays Moira, she is terrific as is the almost girlfriend of Lincoln's. I love most of the cast, there were a couple weak performances and a few silly scenes but overall I looked passed that and found a really cool movie. Since someone else said it, the way that Moira kills is GREAT!","Product: Jess is a bohemian youth with secrets to hide from his shrewd parents. James feels trapped living with his irritable mother. After meeting for a sexual encounter, the two young men set off on a spontaneous road trip across rural Argentina to reunite with Jess estranged brother. On their journey, they confront strange occurrences and engage in a mnage trois affair that brings them closer. Their newly found affection grows, all while discovering a fresh vision of freedom and happiness. JESS & JAMES is a sexually charged road-trip movie, a love story, and a coming-of-age tale, set against the mythical landscape of the Argentinian Pampas.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: wonderful story of self discovery.\n\nReview: Pure story! So if you are expecting anything more....pass by. Jess is a bohemian youth with secrets to hide. James feels trapped living with his irritable mother. After meeting for a sexual encounter, the two young men set off on a road trip across rural Argentina to visit Jess estranged brother. After the first encounter between these 2 young men James wants more but Jess (Geronimo) didn't expect that and tells James to shut up and once James does Jess comments that he is submissive just as he likes and that leads to more time together. On the road they meet another man and they have a threesome. This is a short trip but one that brings a lot of things to light especially for Jess. This is a wonderful movie and lets you think about what these characters are thinking and what they are all about. Beautiful scenery adds to the movie, I have never and won't ever go to Argentina but I feel as though I have. The 2 leads Martin Karich and Nicolas Romeo are superb!","Product: An intense thriller unfolds when a gang of armed robbers break into Kelly's (Kaya Scodelario, THE MAZE RUNNER Franchise) boyfriend Mark s house (Daniel Boyd) to pull off the heist of a lifetime. The gang led by Shane (Dougray Scott, TAKEN 3) and Callum (Ed Skrein, "Game Of Thrones", THE TRANSPORTER REFUELED) have come to abduct Mark's father and force him to carry out a robbery on the bank he manages. Kelly must use every ounce of skill and courage to outwit and overpower her highly trained adversaries.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Good performances and a few surprises make this worth a look.\n\nReview: I am going to call it as I see it and I see it as a very entertaining movie and the fact that this is a plot that we have seen this a million times it makes no difference. The cast is superb and justified I their performances. Kaya Scodelario as the \"no account and not worthy of their son's attention girlfriend\" who is solely responsible for the helping her boyfriend and his family out of a very sticky situation where we have a bunch of bad guys who break into their house and hold them hostage and ransom. Ed Skrein and Dougray Scott as the band guys are credible and even frightening. I really won't say too much because even though we have seen this before we have not seen this level of intensity and a few surprises too. Without a doubt this is worth the view.","Product: Four battle-weary Crusaders take on a mission to track down the evil predator who has abducted all the men and children from a devastated village.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: It wasn't terrible. I actually liked it. Don't expect too much.\n\nReview: I will not blow smoke up your you know what here but I found the movie to be entertaining enough that it held my attention. it isn't the greatest movie ever but it s not by any means the worst and I have seen some of them. This was a bit of the 13th Warrior in it and a few other movies were copied to make this too. I am sure you will see the similarities. We have all seen the rip off types of movies by the lower budget studios and some aren't bad. This one wasn't bad and the acting is okay too. The story well, it is many of them. Don't expect too much and just go blank and you may not think it is too terrible. for a rainy afternoon it will work. Would I recommend you buy it like I did? No find a place to get it for free.","Product: A tired British pop singer tries to rest on an island where two different men keep bees.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: British down played story...no giant bees from another planet here....just bees.\n\nReview: I do love my British movies, they are so well done even when they do it in an understated way. for all intent and purposes this is a 5 person movie. Each person does there parts perfectly. More mystery than a horror type of movie, the question comes down to who is training bees to attack and these are giant mutant bees or bees from the planet mongo, these are....bees. An overworked singer needs a rest and goes to some small farm for rest. then the trouble begins! is it corny and hokey at times...sure it is but it is also a well acted and well paced and thought out little movie. Even though sometimes you want to scream....really...don't do that or are you really going to do that! Suzanna leigh was never a favorite of mine but she was fine here.","Product: Fed up with her parents bickering, poor-little-rich-girl Maya (Dylan Penn) moves in with her boyfriend, who is squatting in an old condemned building on Manhattans Lower East Side. With neighbors that are meth heads, junkies and degenerates, this depraved hell hole is even more toxic than it appears: After a virus born from their combined noxious waste and garbage infects the buildings residents, one by one, they succumb to a terrifying pathogen that turns them into bloodthirsty, rampaging killers and transforms their building into a savage slaughterhouse.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: worth a look if you have some time.\n\nReview: After a virus born from their combined noxious waste and garbage infects the buildings residents succumb to a terrifying pathogen that turns them into bloodthirsty, rampaging killers and transforms the condemned building all these squatters are living in into a slaughterhouse. We start with the rich girl maya moving in with her boyfriend in a condemned building where things don't work so all the garbage, feces and pee and assorted drug concoctions that fly down the drains are all just festering in the building and changes the residents. totally predictable but the characters are a very odd assortment. This is a very darkly lit movie and in very close quarters. I will recommend it to those who love gore and violence and it can get pretty gross at times.","Product: Down-on-his-luck gambler Gerry (Mendelsohn) and his hot-streak buddy Curtis (Reynolds) hit the road for New Orleans, on the hunt for the big payday. On riverboats and racetracks they chase women and thrills--before risking it all in the wager of their lives.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Excellent buddy film, and this should tell you that gambling is bad.\n\nReview: This movie will depend on your tastes. Down-on-his-luck gambler Gerry (Mendelsohn) and his hot-streak buddy Curtis (Reynolds) hit the road for New Orleans, on the hunt for the big payday. Ryan Reynolds made this movie for me. He can do no wrong on any front. Do you like movies about gambling? There was a ton of things in this movie that you could find interesting and for me one of the best things was the budding friendship between the 2 main characters. The gambling doesn't really do anything for me at all but some of it was interesting enough that it reinforces my not ever gambling, really is a sickness or an addiction to be sure. Mendelsohn, in particular, can't stop he has to keep going. Ryan is his lucky charm but never pays any attention to him.","Product: John is an out-of-control gambler who will do anything for money. When a mysterious new bookie starts to offer him more unusual, individually tailored bets with bigger payoffs and greater risks, John spirals into a dangerous world of deceit and dare, with the stakes higher than he can ever imagine.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: So is he or isn't she? You know who?\n\nReview: John (Joe Anderson) is an out-of-control gambler who will do anything for money. When a mysterious new bookie starts to offer him more unusual, individually tailored bets with bigger payoffs and greater risks, John spirals into a dangerous world of deceit and dare. This is one of those movies that in my mind could go either way. You want to smack this guy for being sucked in but you also have to say go for it. I love British movies and this cast is superb and nothing is really what it would seem to be. Luke Evans and Billy Zane and others make for an interesting movie and just who is this woman and why does she do what she does...could she really be????? .......Hmmmmmm. I loved the acting and loved the flow of this movie. Joe Anderson is quickly becoming a favorite actor and I wish he would do much more, I love Luke Evans, no matter what.","Product: Set in present day Los Angeles, Frankenstein is told entirely from the perspective of the Monster. After he is artificially created, then left for dead by a husband-and-wife team of eccentric scientists, Adam is confronted with nothing but aggression and violence from the world around him. This perfect creation-turned disfigured monster must come to grips with the horrific nature of humanity.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: If you have 90 mins to kill, it will work.\n\nReview: Let me tell you that this updated version of \"Frankenstein\" will not be for everyone. The movie begins just as the creature is waking up. We have the celebrations etc but we see he is a virtual child and has to be bottle fed etc. The interesting selection of Xavier Samuel and the Creature is excellent, so handsome to start and then comes the cellular degeneration. They decide to destroy this flawed creation and well.....you see what comes from that. We still have the little girl by the lake and we have the blind man, too. I am a fan of Xavier and really hope that he comes into his own soon, he dies a fine job here. Then we have Danny Huston as the doctor and Carrie ann Moss as his \" assistant\" The real star here is Xavier and the rest are probably highly paid dressing. by no means is this groundbreaking or even innovative, it takes place now and that is about it.","Product: Claude Sweet Tooth Barbee and his gang of cutthroat outlaws the most wanted men in Texas are on a desperate ride across five hundred miles of badlands to recover a fortune in hidden loot from their most daring robbery. But Barbee and his crew arent the only coldblooded killers riding the range. With a large dead or alive cash bounty on their heads, the outlaws are being picked off one by one. What began as a hard journey driven by greed becomes a feverish race to survive in what the Austin Chronicle calls a spaghetti Western chock-full of grit and blood.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Move along, nothing to see here.\n\nReview: The most wanted men in Texas are on a ride across five hundred miles of badlands to recover a fortune in hidden loot from their most daring robbery. But Barbee and his crew aren't the only coldblooded killers riding the range. With a large dead or alive cash bounty on their heads they begin a hard journey driven by greed becomes a feverish race to survive. They had to break one guy out of jail to get a map he was holding to find the money. A bunch of nonsense happens and then more nonsense. I am pretty sure I napped a some point....such a bore-fest! The acting wasn't bad and the dialog was forced but it was still not worth the time.","Product: When the powerful wizard, Lord Tensley, is jilted by Princess Ennogard, he vows to rid the land of love. He commands his fire-breathing dragon to destroy any sign of affection seen throughout the kingdom. As the death toll rises, Camilan, a brave but arrogant warrior seeks to marry his true love despite the curse upon the land. In order to fulfill his destiny, he seeks the help of his estranged brother Ramicus, a bounty hunter with no desire to get involved. It takes an enchanted distress message and the promise of great reward from the beautiful Princess Ennogard, to lure Ramicus into the quest to defeat the wizard and his terrible beast.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Hits all the right notes, scifi, action and comedy.\n\nReview: Yes, 5 stars, what a ton of fun this movie is. Part action, part scifi and part comedy! Yes this is a low budget film and yes you can tell from time to time and yes sometimes the acting isn't very good but then they get back on track and the acting is pretty good. Keep in mind that I am thinking that it is very tongue in cheek and it is very successful in that regard. I got quite a few good laughs of it and some of the total send ups of some of the scenes in all of these movies where you roll your eyes...this movie is not afraid to take the shots at them. I had fun with the brothers and the servant and Ramicus' roommate, the Orc. This was so much fun that I will recommend it to anyone who just wants a very entertaining movie that will give you a few laughs a long the way.","Product: Remo Street is a young fighter who comes from a world where nothing is easy, so when he is faced with the opportunity to train with a world class coach, he has to choose between the long hard road to honor and glory, or succumbing to a brutal future as a cage fighter for the Russian Mafia\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Not a bad little movie, if you have time check it out.\n\nReview: This was a pleasant little surprise to me, I wasn't expecting anything sensational but this movie was entertaining, if not somewhat formulaic. A young man named Remo Street (Beau Casper Smart, I think) training for something? intervenes when some Russians apply pressure to a man to pay them back. he roughs up the two huge Russians (Remo is not a big guy at all) then has to answer to an underground Russian fight promoter for damaging his 2 best fighters. So Remo must now fight in their place. A couple fun turns now and then, the requisite romance and so on but all in all not a bad little move to see. If you have some time check this out. The actors weren't bad either.","Product: Man’s best friend becomes his worst nightmare when a horde of bloodthirsty wild dogs descends upon a family’s farmhouse. In a remote stretch of the Australian Outback, a sheep rancher (Jack Campbell), his veterinarian wife (Anna Lise Phillips), and their two teenage children live in bucolic isolation: until a horrifying night when a pack of fang-baring, four-legged, rabid beasts besiege their home. With no one around to help them, the family must band together to survive: or else become canine kibble. Generating a steadily mounting sense of dread, The Pack cleverly toys with genre conventions before it goes in for the kill.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Another great Australian film.\n\nReview: Mans best friend becomes his worst nightmare when a horde of bloodthirsty wild dogs descends upon a familys farmhouse. In a remote stretch of the Australian Outback, a sheep rancher (Jack Campbell), his veterinarian wife (Anna Lise Phillips), and their two teenage children live in bucolic isolation: until a horrifying night when a pack of , rabid beasts besiege their home. I hate to make such a broad statement but I love me some Australian films. This one is no exception at all, such a ton of suspense and implied danger. The one and maybe only drawback is the typical angry daughter. I really loved the performances because for all intents and purposes all 4 of these performers and the pack themselves were the only performers and did a great job all around. will I recommend this....absolutely but this is very intense at parts so the age may be a factor.","Product: High school seniors Logan and Blake prepare for an epic Spring Break as they travel to the beautiful and exotic Mexican beach resort of Puerto Vallarta hoping to hook up with their high school crushes.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: I really did laugh out loud and care about most of the characters.\n\nReview: Well,, bust my buttons if this movie didn't surprise me. I did laugh and I did laugh a lot! I also had those, why are you listening to your friend when you know he is just going to get you into trouble moments. This is the story of Logan who wants to be a DJ but dad thinks that is a waste of time and his friend Blake who always gets logan into trouble. Well, lits just say that dad trusts Logan one more time and well, Blake talks him into going to sprig break in Mexico where all hell breaks loose and one bad thing after another happens to Logan. I want to tell you that you will be screaming....please don't do that! a lot. But they do it. The actors are all very likable and very energetic. P.S. I love the tour guide/driver they have he is great. Do I recommend it, I do, be aware lots of upper ladies parts going on.","Product: Zack Connors and Rachel Meadows were born with incredible psychokinetic capabilities. When word of their supernatural talents gets out, they find themselves the prisoners of Michael Slovak, a deranged doctor intent on harvesting their powers. After a daring escape, they are free from his sinister institution, but the corrupt doctor will stop at nothing to track them down so that he may continue to siphon their gifts for his own use. The Minds Eye is a mind-bogglingly gory film that has heart, soul, and suspense, but is above all, unbelievably fun to watch. (Modern Horrors)\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Really not too bad for the budget.\n\nReview: Let me tell you right off the bat, this is a low budget and indie type film and having said that....this does not always look that way, the stunts and such are way and truly above the norm. I am very impressed with how the director got things done on what had to be a tiny budget and still looked ultra-professional. This could have been a bit better but it still fell back on the whole mad scientist type thing. More psychokinetics are being born and one, doctor Slovak claims to train them and teach them....claims! Please keep in mind that the acting is a little better than average and so is the story. A very predictable ending happens and it is still not too bad. Will I recommend it? kind of, depends on how much you pay for it.","Product: VHS Tape\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Well worth looking at, Antonio is awesome.\n\nReview: A film by Almodovar! And it is an excellent one too. A screenwriter in Madrid (older man) is in love with Juan, Juan goes away because he doesn't feel the same, Older man meets Antonio Banderas (Super excellent) who obsesses about his new boyfriend to the point of being needy, obtrusive and his owner. Antonio finds out about Juan and well.....you have to watch to see it. This would have been 5 stars for me but for 2 things and they didn't feel right from the start. The screenwriters transgender sister, she just shrieked all the time...really is this how transgendered people have to always be portrayed? And some little girl no idea where she came from. Antonio is exceptional and troubled. Subtitles.","Product: Australia released, PAL/Region 0 DVD: it WILL NOT play on standard US DVD player. You need multi-region PAL/NTSC DVD player to view it in USA/Canada: LANGUAGES: English ( Dolby Digital 2.0 ), SPECIAL FEATURES: Interactive Menu, Scene Access, SYNOPSIS: Go Tell the Spartans is set in Vietnam during that period in which American troops were euphemistically termed \"advisors\". Reluctantly dispensing much of that advice is veteran American major Asa Barker (Burt Lancaster). Though he knows what works and what doesn't on the battlefield, Barker is obliged to carry out the go-nowhere policies of the American military brass. His current objective is a woebegone, barely crucial outpost, which he must defend with a handful of green soldiers and end-of-tether Vietnamese militiamen. True to his predictions, the outpost is overwhelmed by the Vietcong, who have something to fight about and are ruthless in their tactics. Before the relief troops can arrive, virtually everyone is senselessly killed, including Barker. The only survivor is Corporal Stephen Courcey (Craig Wasson), a willing draftee whose initial idealism dies along with his comrades. Wendell Mayes adapted Go Tell the Spartans from the novel Incident at Muc Wa by Daniel Ford. ...Go Tell the Spartans\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Bravo. 4.5 stars for sure.\n\nReview: Burt Lancaster as a hard-boiled major in command of a grubby Vietnam outpost in this classic film of wartime confrontation. The war was still a \"conflict\" and American soldiers were merely \"advisors,\" yet the ambushes, the betrayals and the brutality were all very real. Let me qualify something, this is the first Vietnam movie that I have ever watched, for very personal reasons and let me say that this was a movie that I am glad that I watched. The story is about a small village named Much Wa that higher ups considered strategic. It was up to our small band of \"advisors\" to occupy it with a force of South Vietnam soldiers and hold it. One of my very favorite Burt Lancaster movies. Also big thumbs up to this cast. Evan C.Kim, Marc Singer and Craig Wasson and the rest of the wonderful support cast. This movie was frightening in the idea that no one knew who to trust.","Product: FIGHT AGAINST A POWERFUL ALLIANCE WHICH THREATENS TO TEAR HERBEATRICE PRIOR MUST CONFRONT HER INNER DEMONS AND CONTINUE HERSOCIETY APART WITH THE HELP FROM OTHERS ON HER SIDE.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Did it in 2 movies...Bravo!\n\nReview: So what can I say that 1566 others haven't? Probably nothing new so...I love Shailene Woodley, Theo James, Miles Teller, the brother Elgort. this is a terrific wrap up to divergent and I am glad it was done in 2 movies. If they tried to stretch this out to 3 for the sake of money, we would have hit a wall of boredom unlike any seen before. BUT 2 movies is just right. Good action, good effects, good story and nice job on bringing the characters to life. I do have to say though that Shailene's weepy look all the way through was grating but I guess necessary. Theo, to me, is the consummate hero, who is very much in love which sometimes is annoying. Miles Teller....just which side is he on anyway? Terrific. Her back stabbing brother needed to get a punch right in the yapper.","Product: DVD\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: What a world it was...Inquisition, anyone?\n\nReview: British movie from 1987. The 2 or 3 young stars of this movie are outstanding. Jason Rush and Lee Whitlock and the young men who discover feeling for each other in an England where you could go to jail and mess up your life forever. This movie is a milestone for British TV and for America, too. To have made this movie at this time was HUGE. I was repulsed by the attitudes of the world at that time and was genuinely afraid about how this 60 minute film would end. Aside from a very small amount of touching and one peck on the lips...everything else will be left up to the viewer. I did love the ending. Jenny Jay is wonderful too as Lee Whitlock's girlfriend. The performances of the 2 boys....amazing and heartfelt...bravo!"],"string":"[\n \"Product: After an illustrious special ops career ends in disaster, Alexander (Steven Seagal) goes off the grid and attempts to lead a quiet life as a handyman at an apartment complex. But when one of his tenants and her family fall under the thumb of a Russian gangster, Alexander is dragged into an all-out war between rival Chinese and Russian gangs; forcing him to not only defend the family, but bringing him face to face with an old foe, and giving him one more chance to reconcile his past.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Not too bad at all.\\n\\nReview: After an illustrious special ops career ends in disaster, Alexander (Steven Seagal) goes off the grid and attempts to lead a quiet life as a handyman at an apartment complex., Alexander is dragged into an all-out war between rival Chinese and Russian gangs forcing him to not only defend the family, but bringing him face to face with an old foe. This is part of the product description. It is fairly accurate too. I can't believe that I actually liked one of Steven Seagal's movies because he is an awful actor and the plots are usually awful, too. What is this thing with him wearing a coat and scarf through the whole movie, we get that he got heavy, no need to wear all that, he looked like he was baking. The violence level is fine, tons of it. But there is a woman in this and for some reason I can't put my finger on, she annoyed me no end.\",\n \"Product: Jon Favreau (writer, director and producer) leads a hilarious all-star cast including Sofa Vergara, Scarlett Johansson, John Leguizamo, Bobby Cannavale, Dustin Hoffman, Oliver Platt, Robert Downey Jr. and young actor Emjay Anthony in this deliciously entertaining comedy about starting from scratch. When gifted chef Carl Casper (Favreau) suddenly quits his demanding job at a trendy LA restaurant, he's on his own to pick up the pieces of his once promising career. Finding himself in Miami, he decides to team up with his successful ex-wife (Vergara), best friend (Leguizamo) and son (Anthony) to launch a no-frills food truck business. Taking to the road, Carl reignites his passion for the kitchen and, along the way, discovers a renewed zest for life and love.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Chef...it really can cook!\\n\\nReview: Okay, so it took me almost a year to watch this movie. My friends told me to get it and I did and it sat and sat and sat. I never would have thought that I would enjoy a movie about a lunch truck! I humbly apologize to everyone! I loved this movie sooooo much. What a story and who would have thought that there could be a story, not me, I do now though. WOW! let me say it isn't just about a lunch truck. so much more. The cast....holy crap...Jon Favreau, Sofia Vergara, John Leguizamo, Oliver Platt, oh really everyone was out of this world! The real joy of this movie came in a small pint sized package, though. Emjay Anthony as the Chef's son, Percy....What a find, this kid is going to be huge! he got me big time.\",\n \"Product: Germany released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: it WILL NOT play on standard US DVD player. You need multi-region PAL/NTSC DVD player to view it in USA/Canada: LANGUAGES: English ( Dolby Digital 5.1 ), German ( Dolby Digital 5.1 ), German ( Subtitles ), WIDESCREEN (2.35:1), SPECIAL FEATURES: Anamorphic Widescreen, Behind the scenes, Cast/Crew Interview(s), Featurette, Interactive Menu, Scene Access, SYNOPSIS: In the early 1830s Niccolo Paganini, the great virtuoso violinist, takes Paris by storm. 'I am at present marveling at the astounding miracles performed by Paganini in Paris,' writes French novelist Balzac. 'Do not imagine that it is merely a question of his bowing, his fingering, or the fantastic sounds he draws from his violin. There is, beyond all doubt, something mysterious about this man. I go to every one of his concerts. The opera house is packed to overflowing and the cashier raking in 20,000 francs a night.' It is said, in his native Italy, that to play with such virtuosity, Paganini has sold his soul to the devil. Women faint at his concerts, claiming to see a demon guiding his bow at amazing speeds. Rumors abound; he's been in prison for seducing a minor, he's seduced half the noble women of Europe, he is capricious, vain, difficult. International music star, David Garrett, makes his movie debut playing the role of Paganini. It is Garrett's youth and incredible virtuoso talent that brings the excitement, energy, modernity and wonder to this film - the same way he enchants his audience during his sold-out concerts all over the world. ...The Devil's Violinist (2013)\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Stellar performances, well written and told a rock star with a Violin.\\n\\nReview: Keep in mind that I know nothing of violinists or the music of the time and I still loved it, what a grand story and did it border on some kind of satanic thing, was he led by someone who would take his soul at his death? The movie, once in a while leads in that direction but for the most part sticks with the man himself, Paganini and his \\\"manager\\\" who seemed to want complete control over him at all times. The performances by all were magnificent, the music was magnificent and the scenery was magnificent. This movie showed him as a womanizer and a drunkard and a drug addict. But through it all he found the love of one good women and well....you have to watch to see what happened and I do recommend it.\",\n \"Product: When Air Force One goes down over the Bermuda Triangle, the Navy sends its best rescue team. But in saving the president, the team awakens a creature that threatens the entire eastern seaboard.\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: Send it to the bottom of the Bermuda Triangle.\\n\\nReview: Yes, I do know it is a SYFY production, yes, I know they are always bad, yes, the effects are always atrocious as is the acting but in my defense, I was hoping to see something like \\\"Sharknado\\\". sharknado was bad and they knew it was bad so they played it for laughs and did not take it seriously at all and we know what we were getting into and we had fun! Now, Bermuda Tentacles???? The \\\"star\\\" Trevor Donovan must have needed the job/money...I think there is talent there but well, it is a SYFY movie. I think he had nothing to work with. The rest of the cast OH MY GOD, don't list this on your resume'. Now for the reason I only got 48 minutes into it. Linda Hamilton, plays \\\"the Admiral\\\" in command of the fleet! She was never, ever an actress (is it possible she got worse?) she looks like a sea hag. She makes these weird faces and barks dumb orders. When she tries to be officious she looks constipated. Really a terrible actress. Who dug her up and thought it was good casting?????\",\n \"Product: Marty is the ideal fifth grader. He gets good grades, listens to his teachers, and doesn't start trouble in class. But a darkness is beginning to fall over Marty's life. The kids at school won't stop picking on him, his parents just don't seem to understand him, and now Marty must grapple with a terrible secret that threatens to destroy life as he knows it -- his big brother is a serial killer! Brotherly love is put to the ultimate test in this emotional coming-of-age story that descends into full-blown horror.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: I found it oddly interesting and the 2 brother leads...superb.\\n\\nReview: I am so very torn with this one. is it disturbing, it is. is it somehow fascinating, it is. Is it entrancing, it is. First off, low budget indie film and still it is (as I say, low budget indies can be good with the right story) engrossing. Second, kudos to the \\\"brothers\\\" in the film, Gavin Brown and Ethan Philbeck they are electrifying considering the subject matter. the subject matter covers a lot, bullying, parental neglect, parental doting, serial murders. Still they manage to coalesce everything and bring it together. I throw out a huge caution that this movie isn't for everyone but is you like taut drama and some gore you will like this movie it is frightening and psychologically suspenseful.\",\n \"Product: A youngAmerican couple (James Franco and Kate Hudson) falls into severe debt while renovating a home in London. When theydiscoverthat the tenant in the apartment below themwas murdered and left$400,000 cash stashed in the ceiling, the couple thinks all of their problems are solvedbut that's when very bad things start happening to good people.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Wonderful \\\"eveyman\\\" story....what would you do?\\n\\nReview: What a terrific cast, James Franco, Kate Hudson, Tom Wilkerson. A young American couple (James Franco and Kate Hudson) falls into severe debt while renovating a home in London. When they discover that the tenant in the apartment below them was murdered and left $400,000 cash stashed in the ceiling, the couple thinks all of their problems are solvedbut that's when very bad things start happening to good people. This is the description given. It is very concise and to the point. Why did I like this so much? The performances and the story were very good. Do others who have reviewed this and given it much less have some points, yes, they do. It does get pretty slow at times. This is a vey paced movie and to me this is how it needs to be. Are James and Kate dumb? they do some really stupid things for sure but we have to think they are the \\\"everyman\\\" and don't know how to be criminal or hide it. I really love James Franco and someday, everyone will realize what a talent he really is.\",\n \"Product: Backpacking through the lush Irish countryside, two unsuspecting young couples discover a town's chilling secret. Ben (Andrew Dunbar), Sophie (Stephanie Bennett), David (Brendan Fletcher) and Jeni (Melissa Roxburgh) quickly discover the idyllic land is not what it appears to be when the town's residents offer the hikers an old cabin at the edge of the woods. Soon, the friends will find that one of Ireland's most famous legends is a terrifying reality.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: I'll save you the time, the idiot girl survives, so what else is new.\\n\\nReview: Backpacking through the lush Irish countryside, two unsuspecting young couples discover a town's chilling secret. Ben (Andrew Dunbar), Sophie (Stephanie Bennett), David (Brendan Fletcher) and Jeni (Melissa Roxburgh) quickly discover this place is not what it appears to be when the town's residents offer the hikers an old cabin at the edge of the woods to stay in for the night. it seems that I won't be able to avoid a few spoilers here so stop now if you care but you shouldn't. So predictable that the townies are setting them up and these four young idiots don't see it. This was a trip planned by the typical girl survivor. this is another plot line I am so bored with....the girl always survives even when every bad decision is hers. Let's just for the sake of something different have a guy make it out! Just a thought. The obvious snares even when they escape and get caught again. I was at best bored and disgusted that I spent my time on this dreck.\",\n \"Product: Gary Shore directs and Luke Evans stars in this fantasy horror origin story. The film follows Vlad Tepes (Evans) and his struggle to protect his family and his people from the malevolent Ottoman sultan Mehmed (Dominic Cooper), whose ever-expanding empire has put Vlad's homeland in danger of being conquered. Desperate to find a solution, Vlad seeks the help of a mysterious man (Charles Dance) who grants him the powers to defeat his enemy. But do these newly-gained powers come at too high a price?\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Different rendition of Dracula that I like.\\n\\nReview: I'm sure that there will be people who review this and will be kind of harsh. I thought that it was a different take on the legend of Dracula, here we have him as a loving father and husband and ruler who is trying to give his family and subjects and good life free of Turkish intervention. What he does he does so that his people can live. Luke Evans is Dracula and he has the part down pat in as far as this story is put forward. Dominic Cooper is his ex-friend and ruler of Turkey who tries to force Dracula to give him the children of Transylvania to add to his army. The performances of those two and some others are terrific. The wife and kid, well a little annoying and not the best actors but....overall I just enjoyed it.\",\n \"Product: THE CROW: CITY OF ANGELS: The spirit of the Crow resurrects another man seeking revenge for the murder of his son. THE CROW: SALVATION: Alex Corvis returns to the world of the living to solve the murder of a young woman that he was wrongly accused of murdering. THE CROW: WICKED PRAYER: On his way to becoming an immortal demon, gangleader Luc Crash (Boreanaz) orchestrates the murder of Jimmy Cuervo (Furlong) and his girlfriend, Lily (Chriqui).\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: this was a slide rule of opinions. Good, fair, Tara Reid.\\n\\nReview: The Crow City of Angels with Vincent Perez this one was okay, it was along the same lines as the \\\"one and only\\\" original with Brandon. so this was an entertaining enough movie. The Crow Salvation, of the 3 on this DVD, this is probably my favorite. It is my favorite thanks to Eric Mabius and the guy who comes back after being executed for murdering his girlfriend, which we all know he didn't. Oh, and my favorite in spite of one of the worst actresses on the planet being in it, Kirsten Dunst (and she got top billing???????) She's a hack. The third was my WTH movie????? How in the name of God did David Boreanaz get suckered into this mess? He's an amusing bad guy. Edward Furlong as the returning Crow? Edward Furlong? Really? Oh, this has another of the worst actresses...EVER....Tara Reid, Really? Plus this goes into a whole witchcraft, demon thing, really? So Wicked Prayer just had no prayer.\",\n \"Product: One of the most recognized video game franchises in the world, Street Fighter: Assassin's Fist tells the origin story of some of the series' most beloved characters: Ryu, Ken, and Akuma. Delivering top-notch, martial arts action with visual effects that rival major Hollywood studios, this will be a must-see for Street Fighter and action cinema fans, alike.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: I hope for a follow up.\\n\\nReview: I am being honest when I say that I never knew the Street Fighter story. Having said that I am a little familiar with it. This story seems to be true to the original story. Now this movie is 2 1/2 hours long, there are a lot of slow points and most of this movie comes across as 2 of the characters being trained and trained and still more trained. The story is about 5 characters but 4 in reality, Goken the current Sensei, Goki, his brother and Goken's 2 students...Ken and Ryu, boyhood friends and fellow students. The fifth character is Stayala (I think) he is the original Sensei that trained Goken and Goki. Goki took a dark path and will challenge any he thinks are specializing in the same martial art that he is...there can be only one! (sound familiar?) Anyway the actors are wonderful and so is the story if you stick with it. Pure intro movie. All the performances are terrific but to me Chris Howard was wonderful but so were all of them. Why 4 stars? I hated the ending. Or is it an ending?\",\n \"Product: A group of friends pays a late-night visit to the city morgue to surprise Amy (Harris) on her birthday. But the surprise is on them when the one-eyed corpse of brutal psychopath Jacob Goodnight (Jacobs) unexpectedly rises from a cold sub-basement slab. Their wild party quickly turns into a terrifying slay-fest as the sadistic mass-murderer resumes his savage rampage complete with hooks, surgical knives and power saws.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Seeing the evil once was good.\\n\\nReview: Wow, I loved the first one. I love Kane as this really big bad guy. I've grown accustomed to the usual cast of characters but once in a while there are one or two that are really annoying. Let me put it this way...I liked the characters of Amy, Seth and Amy's brother Will (although he had a couple moments that he could hove gone the other way). Jacob (Kane) is taken to the morgue where a b-day party is being thrown for Amy, she is always working) I don't even think I need to tell you more...chaos and mayhem ensue. The powers that be were responsible for my really big problem. Why do the lighting directors make these movies so dark. I mean no light dark. I could barely see anything through most of the movie when Jacob kills the power. Oh, such a very predictable ending/ending. You'll see if you go with it. I won't say one way or another.\",\n \"Product: Boyd and his family are forced to spend a dreaded Christmas at his parents' house with his eccentric father (Robin Williams) that he has been avoiding for years. When he realizes that he left his son's gifts at home, Boyd and his father must hit the road in a blizzard to retrieve the gifts before sunrise to save Christmas.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Not a holiday classic......yet.\\n\\nReview: This was one of Robin Williams last films and although it isn't the very best of his movies, it is still one of the most heart warming and entertaining that he has done. Joel McHale is gold for me. I think he is one of those way under rated stars that should be getting more to do. He is the uptight son while robin is the eccentric and very odd dad that he hasn't seen for a long time. Well, he and his family are going to dad's for Christmas and he left his son's present at home which sets off the big trip back to retrieve it. It has definite funny moments and I did laugh quite a bit. I would recommend it for some fun viewing.\",\n \"Product: Inspired by the true story, Jim Caviezel (The Passion of the Christ) plays high school football coach Bob Ladouceur during the season that changed everything. As coach of the Spartans Football Team, Bob always tells his players that winning doesn't matter. Yet somehow, with the aid of assistant coach Terry Eidson (Michael Chiklis, TVs The Shield), hes led the team to a record-breaking 151 straight victories. When his wife Bev (Laura Dern, Jurassic Park) urges him to refocus on his family, Bob is blinded by the pressure to keep the streak alive. Now, in the midst of a season of crisis and tragedy when the Spartans stand to lose everything, a remarkable young player (Alexander Ludwig, The Hunger Games) helps Bob rediscover that teamwork outshines personal glory When The Game Stands Tall.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Football with religious overtones.\\n\\nReview: Bravo! I love sports movies that have this type of plot to it. The never give up and the team is all movie. Jim Caviezel is our coach. The back bone of this team and the glue that holds it together. Assistant coach Michael Chiklis is wonderful and the whole football team of kids are outstanding. The standout has to be Alexander Ludwig as Chris Ryan and he has one more cross to bear....his father who is living his life thru his son and is a horrid man. Why 4 stars especially since I loved the movie? This is a true story and I understand that some people are very religious but to me, it was being shoved in my face at every turn. Is it a true sports story or is it one of the Christian movies? I dealt with the religious aspects being pushed at me because the movie and story and performances were so good but I will keep my eyes open next time.\",\n \"Product: A Close Encounter Of The Undead Kind! Get sucked into a chilling black hole of cosmic creepiness when an evil alien race zeroes in on a crew of unsuspecting astronauts, turning them into zonked-out zombies! Packed with space-age suspense and extraterrestrial terror, this eerily photographed and electrifying thriller drips with an intoxicating, feverish atmosphere of dread. A band of space travelers has just intercepted a distress call from a distant world! Is it a desperate cry for help... or something far more sinister? After landing on the shadowy planet, the crew is attacked by a horde of disembodied aliens with a diabolical plan: to conquer the universe by controlling the crew's minds and stealing their souls-proving that even in outer space, possession is 9/10 of the law! Directed by horror legend Mario Bava (Black Sunday, Black Sabbath).\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: it's a 50 year old movie don't expect too much.\\n\\nReview: Be prepared of silly effects and silly acting and silly story telling and enjoy yourself. This was made in 1965 and it involves 2 spaceships form where? we don't know, travelling thru space in answer to a distress call of some kind. This is an Italian production so the English is Dubbed, fairly well for the time except for the American Actor Barry Sullivan. This really has nothing to do with Vampires at all, so put that out of your mind. There are energy beings (balls of light) with no form so they are stuck on this planet that is going to be destroyed when the sun goes nova. They inhabit the dead bodies of the dead people that have died or killed each other on these 2 ships. Do not expect great or you will be disappointed. This is another movie where you just go blank and go for the ride. The acting isn't good that is for sure but....\",\n \"Product: Jason Patric, Bruce Willis and John Cusack face off in this action-packed thriller. A retired assassin is drawn back into the life he gave up when his daughter is kidnapped. To rescue her, he must confront his former rival.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: The Prince is a Prince of a movie.\\n\\nReview: Another hidden gem. Jason Patric has a past and a bad one and also a daughter and also a bad one but he loves her and wants her back from her drug addled exploits so he goes to New Orleans to find her and well trouble and his past catch up to him. he does a fine job as the doting father and as his only bud John Cusack plays a very low key part and is actually brilliant. The \\\"bad guy?\\\" of the piece is Bruce Willis who was done wrong by Jason Patric and once he learns he is back in town....puts out the word and the hit. His number one guy is the Korean singer/actor Rain from \\\"Ninja Assassin\\\" (loved that movie) he is cold, calculating and oozes evil. Can you tell I'm a huge fan. Lots of action and lots of good acting.\",\n \"Product: After their newly adopted daughter goes missing in a small town, Steven and Shannon will stop at nothing to uncover the truth behind her disappearance and the dangerous secret behind the adoption agency they trusted. Risking their own lives, they will discover just what being a parent means and how far they will go to get their child back.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Definitely one to watch\\n\\nReview: I just don't understand why Ryan Phillippe and John Cusack aren't bigger stars. This movie revolves around a scam called reclaiming, a couple spends tons of money to adopt a foreign child only to pay the money, spend time with the kid and the bad guys take the kid back and keep the money in the dead of night and vanish without a trace. Ryan Phillippe and Rachel Lefevre play just such a couple and are wonderful but I have to admit to being a huge Ryan Phillippe fan. They make the usual movie mistakes but I don't hate them for it, usually I roll my eyes and shake my head. The gang of bad guys, yes, they are BAD. Lead by John Cusack whose slimey, smarmy condescending attitude makes him a very evil guy is terrific. You truly hate him. Suspenseful and not at all a bad movie to sit and devour. Love that Ryan!\",\n \"Product: After nearly four decades together, Ben (John Lithgow) and George (Alfred Molina) finally tie the knot. But when George loses his job, the couple must sell their apartment and temporarily live apart until they can find an affordable new home. George moves in with two friends (Cheyenne Jackson and Manny Perez) while Ben ends up across town with his nephew (Darren Burrows), his wife (Marisa Tomei) and their teenage son with whom Ben shares a bunk bed. While struggling with the pain of separation, Ben and George are further challenged by the intergenerational tensions and capricious family dynamics of their new living arrangements. LOVE IS STRANGE depicts the delicate nature of two people building a long life together and their love growing deeper and richer with time.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: What a lovely story.\\n\\nReview: Just a lovely story and nothing more...this movie tells a story and does not pretend to be anything more. John Lithgow and Alfred Molina have been lovers for many years and now wish to Marry, since they can now. The glitch, Alfred works at a Catholic school as a music teacher in NYC. The church finds out and well....you see the rest. They have to sell their apartment since Alfred is unemployed and John is 72 years old. They have to stay with family and friends and separately still while they try to find a place. Why 4 stars? well, why not move out of NYC it is pricey. The end? The performances by all involved were wonderful and lovely.\",\n \"Product: The worldwide phenomenon comes to life in Fifty Shades of Grey, starring Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan in the iconic roles of Anastasia Steele and Christian Grey. Ana is an inexperienced college student tasked with interviewing enigmatic billionaire Christian Grey. But what starts as business quickly becomes an unconventional romance. Swept up in Christian's glamorous lifestyle, Ana soon finds another side to him as she discovers his secrets and explores her own dark desires. What results is a thrilling, all-consuming romance as Christian and Ana test the limits they will go to for their relationship.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Love him, not her she was as exciting as an end table.\\n\\nReview: I wanted to like this movie more than I did because of 2 reasons, the first is this is the world I would love to be in (as the submissive) and second how perfect is Jamie Dornan. I totally believed him in this role and found him to be mesmerizing. The looks, the aloofness, the control....dynamite! The story was okay, I guess, I have never read the book or books. so I had a fresh perspective. He had me melting. Now the down side of this movie. Where Jamie gets a 5 star rating from me, Dakota Johnson is a 1. She was so dull, I would rather watch paint dry. Again, I haven't read the book so I am going by the movie. he laid out his life and his quirks for her, showed her his playroom etc and told her he is not the romantic guy and not into dating and all of his \\\"things\\\". He gave her a contract, too which she read and made addendums to! She wouldn't sign she just wanted to change him. she was stupidly annoying. For God's sake, send him my way! Oh and the critics were right....not an ounce of chemistry.\",\n \"Product: WHAT IF is the story of medical school dropout Wallace (Daniel Radcliffe), who's been repeatedly burned by bad relationships. So while everyone around him, including his roommate Allan (Adam Driver) seems to be finding the perfect partner (Mackenzie Davis), Wallace decides to put his love life on hold. It is then that he meets Chantry (Zoe Kazan) an animator who lives with her longtime boyfriend Ben (Rafe Spall). Wallace and Chantry form an instant connection, striking up a close friendship. Still, there is no denying the chemistry between them, leading the pair to wonder, what if the love of your life is actually your best friend? The ensemble romantic comedy costars Megan Park and Oona Chaplin.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Without a doubt, a wonderful and charming movie.\\n\\nReview: WHAT IF is the story of medical school dropout Wallace (Daniel Radcliffe), who's been repeatedly burned by bad relationships. So while everyone around him, including his roommate Allan (Adam Driver) seems to be finding the perfect partner (Mackenzie Davis), Wallace decides to put his love life on hold. It is then that he meets Chantry (Zoe Kazan) an animator who lives with her longtime boyfriend Ben (Rafe Spall). Wallace and Chantry form an instant connection, striking up a close friendship. Still, there is no denying the chemistry between them, leading the pair to wonder, what if the love of your life is actually your best friend? Such an adorable and charming movie with a ton of very talented and charming actors. Daniel, Zoe and Adam are outstanding and you can't help but love them all. the ending is what it needed to be and that is okay with me. Daniel was damned adorable and the trio of stars made this movie something terrific to watch.\",\n \"Product: Former Hollywood star Reagan Pearce (Ryan Phillippe) is kidnapped by two men connected to his past while on location in Louisiana. When he wakes up bound and chained in a rundown shack, he soon discovers the real motives of his captors and finds himself in the middle of a twisted scheme with little chance to survive. With no rescue in sight, Reagan must use every ounce of strength he has left to break free and get his revenge.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Ryan Phillippe, brilliant, raw, talented and should be a superstar.\\n\\nReview: Former Hollywood star Reagan Pearce (Ryan Phillippe) is kidnapped by two men connected to his past while on location in Louisiana. When he wakes up bound and chained in a rundown shack, he soon discovers the real motives of his captors and finds himself in the middle of a twisted scheme with little chance to survive. I may be slightly biased but I don't think so....I think Ryan Phillippe is one of Hollywood's undiscovered gems. Ryan, stars in, directs and wrote this taut and tense movie. Basically a 3 man show, he and the 2 men who kidnapped him are the crux of the story. Why did they really take Ryan? What do they intend? Each man has his own designs. they played the parts SO well. They were both pretty scary. Now as for Ryan. WOW. he wrote this story and directed it, each a monumental task that was done successfully. The acting, HUGe WOW. he plays a selfish hollywood actor, he doesn't know why he is taken, they do unspeakable things to him in many ways. Will he get away? Will he die? Be prepared for some very raw and violent scenes. But I recommend it.\",\n \"Product: A soldier introduces himself to the Peterson family, claiming to be a friend of their son who died in action. After the young man is welcomed into their home, a series of accidental deaths seem to be connected to his presence.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Scary how scary he is.\\n\\nReview: There will be nothing that I say here that will not have been said by 457 people before me, so, the reader's digest version. I have seen this very similar plot in other movies and thought they were usually good, \\\"The Guest\\\" is very very good. Dan Stevens is very compelling in this role and the rest of the cast is quite good too. Just when you think it is dying down here comes something else to torque it right up. I absolutely love Dan Stevens now and look forward to anything he may be in. I don't want to say too much of the story, I'm sure others have, but I won't, not my style. Just enjoy, loved the bar scene.\",\n \"Product: Australia released, PAL/Region 0 DVD: it WILL NOT play on standard US DVD player. You need multi-region PAL/NTSC DVD player to view it in USA/Canada: LANGUAGES: English ( Dolby Digital 5.1 ), English ( Subtitles ), WIDESCREEN (2.35:1), SPECIAL FEATURES: Behind the scenes, Cast/Crew Interview(s), Interactive Menu, Scene Access, Short Film, Trailer(s), SYNOPSIS: Where there is imagination, there is darkness and from within that darkness lurks a being of unfathomable terror...close to home. Amelia (AFI Award winner Essie Davis, Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries, The Slap) is a single mother plagued by the violent death of her husband. When a disturbing storybook called 'The Babadook' turns up at her house she is forced to battle with her son's deep seated fear of a monster. Soon she discovers a sinister presence all around her... A chilling tale of the unseen and otherworldly in the haunting tradition of The Conjuring and The Orphanage, Jennifer Kent's visceral journey into the heart of fear itself is as terrifying as it is believable. SCREENED/AWARDED AT: Australian Film Institute, British Independent Film Awards, ...The Babadook (2014)\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: it was okay, not what i had hoped but okay.\\n\\nReview: did I get some chills from this movie? Yes I did. Were there times I wanted to crack the kid in the head? yes there were. Were there times the Mom got on my nerve endings, yes she did. Did I like this movie, I did but not as much as I was hoping to. I was hoping that this was that movie that finally scared the living daylights out of me. I had a couple moments that came kind of close but it didn't get me to that place. When I watch a horror movie, I need to be scared, like a comedy has to make me crack up laughing. The kid screeched and the mother just was delusional through most of it. She never accepted the kid was a wingnut. I kind of disliked the ending and I tried to see the rationalization of it. All in All, do I recommend it, not really sure. it was okay just not terrific.\",\n \"Product: Quick Shipping !!! New And Sealed !!! This Disc WILL NOT play on standard US DVD player. A multi-region PAL/NTSC DVD player is request to view it in USA/Canada. Please Review Description.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Not a bad thing to kill (no pun intended) some time.\\n\\nReview: Well, I can't believe I liked this movie this much. let's face it, Jennifer Lopez is not kind of actress but she did what was needed in this movie. She is a teacher and is divorced and has a son. Her friend (can't recall her name, chilawith or some such) really bad actress plays her friend the vice principal. Jennifer gets with(yep in that way) the teen boy next door, who is a little off center or nutso is you prefer. He obsesses and does bad things. Now HE is the huge saving grace in this usual story, Ryan Guzman....he is scary and so ominous. what will he do next? the ex-husband and the son are both very good too.\",\n \"Product: Everyone hates Ward's wife and wants her dead, Ward (Donald Faison) most of all. But when his friends' murderous fantasies turn into an (accidental) reality, they have to deal with a whole new set of problems - like how to dispose of the body and still make their 3 p.m. tee time. Scott Foley's directorial debut is a blackly comic caper about helping a friend out of a bad relationship by any means necessary.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Filmmaking as it should be, hip-hip hooray.\\n\\nReview: I don't see why there are so many negatives? This is a dark comedy, the humor is odd and you really have to like that kind of humor to \\\"get it\\\". The subtle looks, the strange little aside, the odd comment. I say BRAVO. Everyone hates Ward's shrewish wife. One of the guys jokes about killing her, and well, ooopppssss, guess what happens? Besides a wonderful and bizarre story which I loved and is among my favorite movies now, we have the amazing direction of Scott Foley. The cast is to me, anyway a dream cast Scott Foley, Patrick Wilson, James Carpinello (sensational), Donald Faison, Amy Acker and Dagmara, Marika, Veronika Domincyk. Easch performer brings something unique and refreshing....real talent. 10 thumbs up for this wonderful little masterpiece. Thank you Scott, Patrick, James Etc. Not recommended for kids because of some pretty raw bloody scenes.\",\n \"Product: PRIDE is inspired by an extraordinary true story. It's the summer of 1984, Margaret Thatcher is in power and the National Union of Mineworkers is on strike, prompting a London-based group of gay and lesbian activists to raise money to support the strikers' families. Initially rebuffed by the Union, the group identifies a tiny mining village in Wales and sets off to make their donation in person. As the strike drags on, the two groups discover that standing together makes for the strongest union of all...\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Wonderfully uplifting true story or love and helping our fellow human beings.\\n\\nReview: In the UK in 1984 there was a very long Miner's strike happening and this is the real story of a group of gay and lesbians who decide to take up collections for them so they can actually have money. Most of the Miner's unions turn them down because they are Gay and Lesbian. One small town accepts the help and there is the story. The manly men of the town don't like them, the religious ones don't like them and the town council loves them. This is the story of acceptance and big hearts and people loving and helping each other. Truly a wonderful and uplifting story. Nobody does these movies like our UK friends. Terrific performances, well written and an awesome story.\",\n \"Product: Jamie Dornan (Fifty Shades of Grey) stars in this romantic, drama-filled love story of unraveling secrets and discovery. Colin (Dornan) is a wealthy New York businessman who always gets what he wants. But when a deal with a wealthy Dubai sheikh hinges on his acquisition of a coveted racing bird, Colin finds himself in unfamiliar territory with the trusting Belgian townspeople who protect the creature. As Colin falls for the owner's gorgeous granddaughter (Charlotte De Bruyne), will he resort to his ruthless techniques of the past or give in to a passion he never knew existed?\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: I recommend this to anyone who loves good film.\\n\\nReview: Confession time: I was expecting to be bored. I got this to see Jamie Dornan, I wanted to know if he was a good actor. He is! he is a bigshot NY businessman, he wants to do a big deal with a Dubai Sheik, the Sheik will if Jamie gets him a promising future winner of pigeon racing from his Belgian owner! Yep, I could not believe it either, pigeon racers, apparently big in Europe. I was fascinated by that aspect of it too. Fell in love with the bird too. he woos, yes woos, the Belgians granddaughter and well....I don't want to tell you too much, suffice it to say.....I really loved, loved this movie, romance, intrigue, pigeons and Belgians and Sheiks.....what more can you want? BEsides Jamie, charlotte De Bruyne is a prize. As his the entire cast. The beautiful cinematography and direction are also superb. the story is a wonderfully delicate weave.\",\n \"Product: Maggie (Melissa McCarthy), a single mother, moves into a new home in Brooklyn with her 12-year old son, Oliver (Jaeden Lieberher). Forced to work long hours, she has no choice but to leave Oliver in the care of their new neighbor, Vincent (Bill Murray), a retired curmudgeon with a desire for alcohol and gambling. An odd friendship soon blossoms between the improbable pair. Together with a pregnant stripper, named Daka (Naomi Watts), Vincent brings Oliver along on all the stops that make up his daily routine - the racetrack, a strip club, and the local dive bar. Vincent helps Oliver grow to become a man, while Oliver begins to see in Vincent something that no one else is able to: a misunderstood man with a good heart.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: 10 or 11 stars from me!\\n\\nReview: Have we seen the cranky old man living next door to the ultra cute little boy next door movies before? We have BUT...this was so adorably cute and wonderful and entertaining that you haven't seen this one! Very formulaic but still touching and funny and sweet, too. Bill Murray, Naomi Watts (the hooker with a heart of gold), Melissa McCarthy (wonderful as the boy's mother) and the rest of the cast are right on target! Now for the real star of this movie Jaeden Lieberher. That is such an unfortunate name as it will be hard to remember when he gets to be the star he has to become. This youngster carried the movie and my heart along with him. If Felix the Cat loves him, so do we. Again, we have seen this before but the actors make it a different movie.\",\n \"Product: When aspiring knight Gareth goes in search of a fallen comet rumored to contain gold, he is shocked to instead find the dragon Drago (voiced by Academy-Award winner Ben Kingsley). After Drago saves Gareth's life the two become intricately bonded, and must work together to defeat an evil sorcerer and stop his reign of terror. Along the way, Gareth learns the true meaning of being a knight in this fantasy action-adventure for the ages!\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: So much better than I thought it would be.\\n\\nReview: Well, color me surprised. What a surprise. I loved this one. I didn't think that I would but I did. There are no more dragons in the world but a comet crashes and a young man who wishes to be a knight goes to see what it is all about. He finds a dragon and a bunch of dragons eggs. Bad people want them so he and a young monk have to get them to safety. the dragon can't help too much, a bad sorcerer has put a spell on him. The animation and CGI are way above what I thought it would be, pretty darn good. The actors....very good. Yep, very good. Especially the young knight. My one problem and by now I should be accustomed to it is the angry girl warrior. I am so fed up with that character that I could lapse into a coma. She shoots arrows and growls throughout until she finally softens. I can live without these characters...please! The same would go for the male gender equivalent.\",\n \"Product: Somerset Maugham's Larry Darrell goes to Paris and Tibet to find the meaning of life.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: wonderful ride through a group of friends lives.\\n\\nReview: If you are a connoisseur of old films, here is one for you! I had never heard of it until I saw that Tyrone Power was in it, one of his best performances as a man returning home after WW1 to marry his love but has to find himself. Gene Tierney, well, she tended to go over the top so no difference here as the lady in question. Clifton Webb is her uncle and he is his snobbiest and snarkiest. John Payne, Herbert Marshall, Lucille Watson, Frank lattimore and the rest of the cast are superb. From the Parisian lifestyle to finding himself in the mountains of India, a great ride. Wonderful story, dialog, acting, visuals and pay particular attention to the amazing camera angles. Oh and Anne Baxter (never a fan) Thoroughly enjoyed it.\",\n \"Product: When everyday family man Bill loses his job, his peaceful life quickly spirals out of control. Terrified that he will lose everything he has achieved, he turns to a life of crime, descending into drastic and dangerous measures to stay ahead of the law. As he fights to provide for his family, Bill discovers that the only thing worse than getting caught is getting away with it.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Want a nap....pop this baby in.\\n\\nReview: I generally try to stay away from the extremes of 1 star or 5 stars, except for those extraordinary movies or shows but this came close to a 1 star event. It took so long to get to the point, man loses job, he loses control of the direction his life should go, the demands of the family weigh on him. he turns to thievery in his quiet desert looking town. I like Wes Bentley, he gets the whole down-trodden everyman thing. He can do low key as well as anyone, BUT, there is such a thing as TOO low key! He really annoyed me with the demure thing, his family give me and give me and never realizing there was something wrong very self centered wife and kids. I made it 45 minutes just after he began his life of crime. It was mind-numbingly painful.\",\n \"Product: From Director Kevin Macdonald (The Last King Of Scotland) comes this gripping thriller about a rogue submarine captain, played by Jude Law (Sherlock Holmes, The Talented My Ripley) who pulls together a misfit crew to search for sunken treasure in the Black Sea. As greed and desperation take control, the increasing uncertainty of the mission causes the men to turn on each other to fight for their own survival.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Black Sea gets every thumb up!\\n\\nReview: Wonderful submarine movie but not done during any wars. Here we have a group of British/Russian men collaborating to find a Nazi U-boat that had gone down in the Crimean Sea with a butt load of gold onboard. They are financed and buy an old sub and go for it. The boo-boo is they all get an equal share.....hhhmm....the less men the bigger the individual shares????? Yikes. The British and the Russians really don't like each other on this boat. Well, things happen and stuff and I'm not saying anymore. The DVD cover says Compelling and suspenseful and I do agree. God bless the director for getting this done in close quarters. All the actors are strong with the spotlight on Jude Law, amazing as always and a young actor whose name I didn't get, the \\\"kid\\\" on board he was amazing too. do I recommend it....I do indeed.\",\n \"Product: In the dead of night, Donovan (Liam McMahon) drives his girlfriend, Lucy (Anna Moore) and four friends to a secret rendezvous in the woods. They believe they are meeting a medicine man who can cure Lucy's terminal cancer, but they grow suspicious when a booby-trap in the road forces them to stop short of their destination, and one of them is brutally killed and dragged from the car. The remaining five run for their lives to a deserted cabin, dodging the enchanted wolves that have slaughtered their friend and the bullets of the paramilitary commandoes that hunt them. As the friends die one by one at the hands of the wolves, they realize too late that Donovan has set them up as bait in exchange for the wolf saliva he believes will heal his beloved's disease. But even Dylan is not prepared to pay the price for Lucy's cure.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: The Shattering....yeppers I'm shattered by how bad it is\\n\\nReview: This was a tough call, I would actually say it was more of a 2.5 stars. Don't get me wrong, though. I wasn't impressed at all or floored by an interesting movie. It was predictable and rather dull. There are wolf attacks and you never see any wolves? There are lots of hunters and losts of gunshots? In the middle of all kinds of strangeness and tragedy, one girl is going into jealous hysterics? Really, these are just stock annoying characters. let's talk about bad actors and actresses. I was rooting for the invisible wolves to eat them or the bad hunters to shoot them. Can someone tell me why OH why in every horror movie the girls are always falling when the run?\",\n \"Product: A MOST VIOLENT YEAR is a searing crime drama set in New York City during the winter of 1981, statistically the most dangerous year in the city's history. From acclaimed writer/director J.C. Chandor, and starring Oscar Isaac (INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS) and Jessica Chastain (ZERO DARK THIRTY), this gripping story plays out within a maze of rampant political and industry corruption plaguing the streets of a city in decay. J.C. Chandor's third feature examines one immigrant's determined climb up a morally crooked ladder, where simmering rivalries and unprovoked attacks threaten his business, family, and - above all - his own unwavering belief in the righteousness of his path. With A MOST VIOLENT YEAR, Chandor journeys in a bold new direction, toward the place where best intentions yield to raw instinct, and where we are most vulnerable to compromise what we know to be right.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: An anti-gangster movie that delivers.\\n\\nReview: The anti-Godfather. This is pure story. If you are looking for gunfights and stabbings and random acts of violence, you may be disappointed. A couple guns here and there but not by any means the focal point of this film. Abel Morales (Oscar Isaac) is trying to start an oil transport business in the 60's (I think) and his trucks keep getting hi-jacked by persons unknown and he gets no help from the cops or the feds. He is trying to be that honest man but keeps running into situations that aren't his to control (his greedy mobster's daughter of a wife, pure nightmare) he should have bumped her off, ah well, terrific tale and that is what it is. I was never bored or uninterested at all. Bravo to the performers, Oscar Isaac, Jessica Chastain (the shrew of a wife), David Oyelowo (prosecutor) Albert Brooks (again magnificent). The movie lighting is too dim for me, could not see much.\",\n \"Product: Germany released, Blu-Ray/Region B : it WILL NOT play on regular DVD player, or on standard US Blu-Ray player. You need multi-region Blu-Ray player to view it in USA/Canada: LANGUAGES: English ( Dolby Digital 5.1 ), English ( DTS-HD Master Audio ), German ( Dolby Digital 5.1 ), German ( DTS-HD Master Audio ), German ( Subtitles ), WIDESCREEN (2.35:1), SPECIAL FEATURES: Cast/Crew Interview(s), Interactive Menu, Scene Access, SYNOPSIS: Doug (Nick Jonas) starts an affair with Lena (Isabel Lucas), the young wife of an investment banker renting the house next door. Everyone becomes a suspect when Lena's husband dies and it is revealed he had a large life insurance policy. ...Careful What You Wish For\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Nick Jonas does a fine job.\\n\\nReview: Careful What You Wish For is a story of seduction, deceit and betrayal. The summer before he leaves for college, a young man (Nick Jonas) begins an affair with the beautiful wife (Isabel Lucas) of his wealthy and powerful investment banker neighbor (Dermot Mulroney). So, yes, we have seen this story before, so yes it is a retread and maybe not even as good as the others but what does make this better is Nick Jonas, he does a more than adequate job in this film. Did I see the ending coming a mile away....yes, I did. Do you want to reach out and shake the Nick character and yell \\\"snap out of it\\\" but you get a teenager with rampaging hormones and a possibly attractive older woman, we know what the rest is. the ending is so predictable and again nothing I haven't seen before. Enough of the gullible teen boy leading with his hormones though....getting boring. This Isabel Lucas....sorry but for me she is not the temptress, vixen or siren type.\",\n \"Product: An explosive plot to kidnap a corrupt billionaire set against New York, Miami, Washington, and the Caribbean when you have International superstar Sophia Loren involved, this is one FIREPOWER!. Carl Stegner (George Touliatos) is wanted by the US government for fraud, bribery and corruption. But before Stegner can be indicted, his top scientist with the evidence is murdered. Adele Tasca (Sophia Loren, TWO WOMEN, BLOOD FEUD), the murdered man's widow, suggests Stegner's kidnapping to the Justice Department. She recommends Jerry Fanon (James Coburn, CROSS OF IRON, IN LIKE FLINT), her former lover and professional bounty hunter, to catch her husband's killer and bring him back to face justice. Fanon and Adele enlist the aid of Catlett (O J Simpson, KILLER FORCE, THE NAKED GUN), a powerful, professional thief and together they embark on the deadly mission. The top-notch supporting cast includes Eli Wallach (THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY), Tony Franciosa (TENEBRE), George Grizzard (ADVISE AND CONSENT), Vincent Gardenia (DEATH WISH), Billy Barty (FOUL PLAY) and a special guest appearance by Victor Mature (KISS OF DEATH, VIOLENT SATURDAY), and directed by action veteran Michael Winner (THE STONE KILLER, THE WICKED LADY). Catch FIREPOWER, now from a brand new HD master!\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Barely worth the price of admission\\n\\nReview: This movie is so lucky that I gave it 3 stars. could have gone to the dark side on this. First let's get an aging James Coburn, but he still does an okay job, get an actress who really never was much of an actress (some films maybe, but not many) Sophia Loren, get O'J. Simpson, never, ever an actor. Then get some cool veterans, Eli Wallach and Vincent Gardenia and shake and throw in a very predictable plot and solution and here you have it one of Sir Lew Grades not so good movies. some of them were good bad this was just not good. You can avoid this and hope you can see it for free somewhere if you really want to. I say don't go out of your way for it.\",\n \"Product: This throwback horror film just raised the hacked-up bar: Horror legend Kane Hodder and Playboy Playmate of the Year 2012, Jaclyn Swedberg star in this scary, sexy, indie shocker that joins a group of friends just as they emerge from the thick, murky darkness of the marshes tattered, bloody, and lucky to be alive. But they will soon find out that the lucky ones are already dead. Muck is packed with old-school gore effects and brutal stunts, without any CGI or apologies. Lachlan Buchanan (Pretty Little Liars) co-stars in writer/director Steve Wolsh's searing directorial debut that unfolds like a blood-stained love letter to horror fanatics everywhere!\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: Minus 5 stars and that is being charitable.\\n\\nReview: I took this movie with me to my friends house for movie day. I thought a good horror movie who can turn it down? I am not allowed back in their house....EVER! In God's name what was this supposed to be. We start the movie somewhere in the middle and never go back???? What happened to this group of young people that they are injured and torn up and naked? We never find out. All this is, in my opinion is some adolescents dream of terror and breasts! Yep. breasts everywhere, one girl goes into a bar's ladies room and proceeds to change her underwear and bra, repeatedly? Why, no clue and she poses too? One friend after they break into a house goes for help, he finds the bar, goes and washes his hand and orders a drink???? His friend is at the house is bleeding out? Not one bit of pathos for any character in this movie...I was rooting for them to die! The scenes were strange too. it seemed to take one guy 5 minutes to walk across the room!\",\n \"Product: Based upon the acclaimed comic book and directed by Matthew Vaughn (Kick Ass, X-Men First Class), the film tells the story of The Kingsman; a super-secret spy organization that recruits an unrefined but promising street kid into his agencys ultra-competitive training program just as a global threat emerges from a twisted tech genius\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Bravo Taron Egerton, 10 stars.\\n\\nReview: Well, I'm not sure how much weight my review will carry after more that 3500 others have already done so but here I go anyway. Funny, exciting, action packed, serious at times. First of all, TARON EGERTON, you may ask why his name is capitalized...because he is sensational! He is in what I assume to be one of his first major films with a ton of acting heavyweights...Colin Firth, Samuel Jackson, Michael Caine, Mark Strong....and he more that shines. The fight scenes are awesome and the attention to the smaller scenes for example Eggsy (Taron's character) and his pug. don't get me wrong there are some really nasty and bloody scenes (the church) but the story and the cast are exemplary. I really hope for a sequel, VERY SOON. I highly recommend this inventive and entertaining movie.\",\n \"Product: A feisty widowed single mom finds herself burdened with the full-time custody of her explosive 15-year-old ADHD son. As they try to make ends meet and struggle with their unpredictable mnage, the peculiar, new girl across the street, Kyla, benevolently offers her help. Together, they find a new sense of balance, and hope is regained.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Exceptional on so many levels.\\n\\nReview: Xavier Dolan is fast becoming one of my very favorite writer/directors. I am not exaggerating that statement. He is gritty and he is real and his actors give him all they have to do his movies. I thought that \\\"tom at the farm\\\" was disturbing. I loved that and I loved this movie too. French-Canadian film, yes, subtitles, about a Mom with a troubled child. she has him in some kind of juvy hall, they force him out and she has to take him back. He set a fire that hurt someone. Mostly a 3 person story and those 3 persons are Wonderful. Anne Dorval as Mommy (Die or Diane) Suzanne Clement as the neighbor who tutors and tries to help and the outstanding Antoine Olivier Pilon as Steve the problem son, he is amazing. You feel for all of the people involved and who are trying to make a life against all odds. Keep in mind this is Canada and they have laws that we don't have.\",\n \"Product: Rufus is a shy and lonely boy determined to make a new start. Sure he has some quirks. So what if he likes the taste of blood? It's not like he's addicted. When a cunning vampire hunter slips into town searching for the fountain of youth, Rufus fears his darkest secret is about to be revealed.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: What a wonderful viewing pleasure.\\n\\nReview: I cannot begin to tell you how much I loved this movie. Rufus is a shy and lonely boy determined to make a new start. Sure he has some quirks. So what if he likes the taste of blood? It's not like he's addicted. When a cunning vampire hunter slips into town searching for the fountain of youth, Rufus fears his darkest secret is about to be revealed. We have Rory J. Saper as Rufus and he has the whole understated, quiet, don't notice me thing down. This is a Canadian film and all of the stars of it are outstanding. Terrific story, not your typical vampire, or is he? He looks 15 or so but is he? he escapes from a place where they have abused him and he wants to make a new start and gets in with a family that recently lost their son. Did I mention that I loved this movie? Really did, mostly story and riveting at that.\",\n \"Product: An uproarious cross-dressing comedy, First Period follows a new girl and an outcast as the most awkward girls in high school. Together, they set out to take over the annual talent contest and win over the whole school.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Hilarious and I don't toss that word around.\\n\\nReview: Well, color me shocked and surprised. I never would have thought in a zillion years that I would love this movie as much as I did. So very funny and major camp, too. But camp done well and that adds to the funny. The laughs were everywhere so it would be impossible to start and single any out. The 2 main characters are girls, they are that in the movie but played by 2 guys...but they are girls, not in drag, they are girls, you have to keep that in mind. Let me make this clear, they and the entire cast are truly hysterical. \\\"didn't we tell you not to talk, just take off your shirt\\\" (you'll see). Recommend this for any and everyone, you just need to be ready to have fun.\",\n \"Product: In 1983, a group of childhood friends pulled off the crime of the century: kidnapping one of the richest men in the world, the heir of the Heineken beer empire (Anthony Hopkins). The shocking capture --by gunpoint in broad daylight on the streets of Amsterdam--resulted in the largest ransom ever paid for a kidnapped individual. It was truly the perfect crimeuntil they got away with it. Based on a true story\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: I was enthralled from start to finish.\\n\\nReview: In 1983, a group of childhood friends pulled off the crime of the century: kidnapping one of the richest men in the world, the heir of the Heineken beer empire (Anthony Hopkins). The shocking capture --by gunpoint in broad daylight on the streets of Amsterdam--resulted in the largest ransom ever paid for a kidnapped individual. What a terrific movie and this is a story that I never know and let me tell you that I had a hard time telling you who I was rooting for, The good guys or the bad. If you don't know the story I won't give it away. I will say this though, very suspenseful and you will find yourself getting involved. I found myself yelling at the TV several times! (don't do that) (stop and think about what you are doing) etc. Anthony Hopkins as Mr. Heineken (Beer guy) magnificent. The kidnappers sensationally portrayed by Jim Sturgess, Sam Worthington, Ryan Kwanten, Jark Van EEowen and Thomas Cocqueral. Totally great.\",\n \"Product: Every seven seconds in America a child is victimized by a bully, and the Internet is the new school playground. Three friends have a falling out at school after one of them is bullied, and their lives are slowly torn apart as the they fall deeper into a twisted web of hate, ignorance, and revenge - where it turns out no one is truly innocent - all leading to a disturbing and violent conclusion. Bonus features include: Trailers, Behind the Scenes Interviews\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: would I recommend it? no, i would not.\\n\\nReview: Three friends have a falling out at school after one of them is bullied, and their lives are slowly torn apart as the they fall deeper into a twisted web of hate, ignorance, and revenge - where it turns out no one is truly innocent - all leading to a disturbing and violent conclusion. This movie barely made it to a 3 for several reasons. First the positives, though. for the very small budget this must have had they did a good job. The subject of bullying is well represented here, if not a little extreme. Alexander Fraser as Devon as the victim of the bullying is pretty good, too, Darren Ackerman as the bully is pretty good also. Now the negatives. Adrienne King (first Friday the 13th survivor) really awful as an actress then and still is now, REALLY. The other performers pretty bad too. In both of these instances the girlfriends were mainly responsible for all the trouble (really) they egged on their respective boyfriends to the inevitable bad conclusions.\",\n \"Product: After he crashes his bike into a super-sexy stranger named Nikki (Avgeropoulos), Cam (Lautner) is introduced to her crew -- a team that uses parkour to pull off heists. Hoping to alleviate his deepening debt to a violent crime gang, Cam quickly joins the group. As the stakes get higher with more dangerous side ventures, the payouts get bigger. Cam must use every ounce of his skill to stay alive as the crew's heists grow more daring with each job, and gang enforcers breathe relentlessly down his neck.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: If mindless jumping around and non-acting is your thing? So is this.\\n\\nReview: more like 2.5. The plot is soooo predictable, there is so much of the whole parkour thing that it loses its luster quickly and it isn't even good parkour, kind of dull. The girl in this Marie Avgeropoulos is just another in a long line of talentless actresses who have no real talent and pretty much pout and be angry as their way of acting. Please let her never get another part. The support parkour guys are, at best okay, no Golden Globe nominees here. And now for the prime offender, Taylor Lautner, Can someone please tell me why anyone thinks that he can carry a movie? He was okay in Twilight, okay in Grown ups and that is because he (so far) has not shown any real acting chops! Robert Pattinson has taken very real and challenging parts, he came out of the twilight acting pool very well, his co-stars, Kristen and Taylor.....not so much.\",\n \"Product: Unable to sustain a long-term relationship, a disillusioned man (Evans) is knocked off his feet when he meets the woman of his dreams (Monaghan) the only problem: she's already engaged. As they establish a platonic relationship, he will use the power of imagination and wild vignettes to conquer her heart and escape the friend zone.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: The entire cast makes this different and a luxury.\\n\\nReview: I am about to disagree with everyone who has reviewed this before me. Chris Evans stars as a disillusioned writer with a big imagination that consists mostly of hot women yielding to his every desire. He is indifferent to the whole concept of true love until he meets HER (Michelle Monaghan), a breathtaking young woman who shakes all his previous beliefs. His buddies, all fellow writers, give him way too much advice, mostly along the lines of getting lucky before getting in too deep. The one thing they do not tell him is to lie through his teeth, which he ends up doing just so he can spend time with her. When the truth comes out, all hell breaks loose and he ends up as the star in his own tragedy. That is the story. Mine is that I am not a big fan of RomComs, but when you have such a wonderful pair as Chris Evans And Michelle Monaghan and the wonderful back up cast. I defy you not to enjoy it, is it formulaic, yes but done with panache and style for this cast.\",\n \"Product: Best Exotic Marigold Hotel Blu-ray\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Second is as good as the first.\\n\\nReview: There is absolutely no way I would give this movie anything less that 5 stars, I adored it as much as the first one. Who can argue with this stellar cast. Judi Densch, Maggie Smith, Bill Nighy and now let's add Richard Gere. The story is as wonderful with Sonny who is soon to be married but still trying to expand by wanting to buy a second hotel and going to a corporation to get the money. Sonny played by Dev Patel is absolutely charming and I love him to death. Small spoiler someone is checking out his establishment and someone got bad reports from a doctor. The love and humor abound and I will stack it right up against the first one.\",\n \"Product: Netherlands released, Blu-Ray/Region A/B/C : it WILL NOT play on regular DVD player. You need Blu-Ray DVD player to view this Blu-Ray DVD: LANGUAGES: English ( Dolby Digital 5.1 ), English ( DTS-HD Master Audio ), Dutch ( Subtitles ), WIDESCREEN (2.35:1), SPECIAL FEATURES: Interactive Menu, Scene Access, SYNOPSIS: James has a dark past, but now he is trying with all his might to change his life, as he meets a beautiful girl, gets a job as an auto mechanic, dreams of owning his own business. Meanwhile, his older brother, Frankie, who served ten years in prison, is released. Frankie is trying to improve relations, but James could not forgive his brother for the fact that many years ago, he caused his crime, which is why James spent sixteen months. However, Frankie attempts to start a new life that James did not add up: because of the prison of the past, he cannot expect to get a good job and fails in lending to their business. Seeing this, Frankie offers James to \\\"conduct a little business.\\\" He swears it's the last time and after a bank robbery in New Orleans, they have money, and they will refund his life that was once lost. As a result of \\\"a little business\\\", it will become one of the most dramatic and bloody attacks in American history. ...American Heist (2014)\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Hayden Christensen is the one to watfch.\\n\\nReview: I am going to go okay with this one. Nothing really different about this \\\"heist\\\" movie than any other, it is all right but nothing spectacular. What was is more proof that Hayden Christensen can really act, I have been saying it forever and he can. That whole Star Wars thing was a fluke. Watch him in anything else and he is wonderful. The plot? His brother, Adrien Brody, gets out of jail and brings his baby brother into the thick of a heist. He tricked him into it (nice brother) The gang is typical, no type of different character. Things go south real quick, most of these crooks are pretty inept. Except for Christian, you pretty much hate the rest even his brother for being a moron. Do I recommend? Hard to say. I say it is okay for a view if you get it cheap.\",\n \"Product: For 19-year-old Jay, fall should be about school, boys and weekends out at the lake. But after a seemingly innocent sexual encounter, she finds herself plagued by strange visions and the inescapable sense that someone, or something, is following her. Jay and her teenage friends must now find a way to escape the horrors that seem to be only a few steps behind in this critically-acclaimed chiller that Bloody Disgusting calls the scariest movie of 2015.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: It Follows....It really does and I love it. Well, not the evil it....but you know.\\n\\nReview: A girl has sex with a young man in a car that she barely knows and thinks she loves. Oops, that is a huge mistake, especially in this case. He has passed on to her through the sex act a creature that will now stalk her every waking moment. Only those that have \\\"it\\\" can see \\\"it\\\" and she has to pass it on the same way to get between her and \\\"it\\\". The idea is to have as many people between you and \\\"it\\\" as you can. That way \\\"it\\\" will have to kill all the others before \\\"it\\\" comes back to you. Like a line of succession. I found this movie to be very suspenseful and I had many a chill. The lead actress was capable enough but I could only wish they had found someone more expressive. All her friends were terrific. Those performances were excellent. Lots of scares and suspense.\",\n \"Product: Snap your fingers, tap your toes and swing into the jazziest jungle of them all in Walt Disney's coolest Classic, The Jungle Book! This animated gem springs brilliantly to life when Mowgli, an orphan boy raised by wolves, is encouraged by his animal friends to leave the jungle before the return of the fearsome man-eating tiger, Shere Khan. With Bagheera (his loyal panther friend) at his side, Mowgli's journey back to the "man-village" begins. Along the way, he is befriended by a free-spirited bear named Baloo, who rescues him from hilarious run-ins with some of the wildest Disney characters ever created - eccentric elephants, a bewitching boa and a be-boppin' orangutan named King Louie! Through it all, it's lovable Baloo who teaches Mowgli the "Bare Necessities" of life and the true meaning of friendship. Filled with wonderful music and thrilling adventures, The Jungle Book is a swingin', singin', song-filled celebration you'll never forget!\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Must see, even though it is all CGI.\\n\\nReview: All the other reviews are right on target here. This is a visually stunning movie and I will usually balk at total CGI movies. the voice talents are outstanding and the best is the little boy who plays Mowgli. This kid is nothing short of amazing. The directing by Jon Favreau is off the charts, what an eye for detail. I wholeheartedly recommend this movie for young and old but as a caution let me throw this out there. There is one scene that is probably going to be hard on little kids and you should be aware it is between the wolf pack leader and Shere Khan the Tiger. Other than that, love Neel Sethi, the boy and the characters are so real and genuine too. Bill Murray as Baloo is outstanding.\",\n \"Product: Dive in and rock out with the hottest surf sequel under the sun! Now that summer's over and school has begun, Brady (Ross Lynch) and Mack's (Maia Mitchell) relationship seems headed for a wipeout -- until Lela, Tanner and the \\\"Wet Side Story\\\" kids show up! Dazzled by the novelty and variety of the modern world, Lela wants to stay, but the real world and the \\\"reel\\\" world just don't mix. Can Mack and Brady find the magic to get the kids home and get their own romance back on track before it's too late? Packed with electrifying song & dance numbers and hilarious fish-out-of-water wackiness, TEEN BEACH 2 is \\\"wow-abunga\\\" fun for everyone!\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: it is Disney, what's not to love.\\n\\nReview: What can I say that 92 others haven't already said? This is such a Disney Movie, is that meant in any kind of bad way? NO WAY. I love my Disney movies, well 98% of them. this one falls in that category. The terrific ones. Did you love the first \\\"Teen Beach\\\"? No reason at all not to love this one too. Wonderful stars, wonderful story, wonderful songs and singing and wonderful dance numbers. now let us look at the 4 prime stars, Leila, couldn't find her real name sorry, is wonderful and sweet. Mack, Maia Mitchell, has to be a future star. Brady, Ross Lynch, dynamic voice and dancer and pretty easy on the eyes too. Now Tanner, goofy and lovable and seriously adorable played by Garrett Clayton, to me was the stand out.\",\n \"Product: Quick Shipping !!! New And Sealed !!! This Disc WILL NOT play on standard US DVD player. A multi-region PAL/NTSC DVD player is request to view it in USA/Canada. Please Review Description.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: More Like Mad Furiosa: Max Road.\\n\\nReview: I am going to get my biggest objection out of the way. This is called Mad Max, is it not? It isn't called Ticked off Furiosa, is it? so my question is, why is this a movie about Charlize Theron....give her a movie of her own, it is called Mad Max and he really wasn't the integral player that he should have been! Having said that, I love Nicholas Hoult as Nux the Warboy, this kid is so good in everything he does (Young beast in the x-men) I'm wishing him a much bigger star soon. The brides are terrific. The old gals are terrific. the bad guys are very Mad Max bad and hideous. So I loved the story, the action, the performances and the fact that there isn't much in the way of CGI (the weather etc) I would have gone for 5 stars except it really wasn't a Max movie.\",\n \"Product: Quick Shipping !!! New And Sealed !!! This Disc WILL NOT play on standard US DVD player. A multi-region PAL/NTSC DVD player is request to view it in USA/Canada. Please Review Description.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: All the cast was very funny.\\n\\nReview: Well, what a shocker, I really did like this movie a ton! I had my doubts and was fighting myself forever on whether I would see it or not and I am very glad that I did. I sometimes think that Melissa McCarthy is the same in every movie but sometimes she gets it right and here she did. She plays the quiet shy girl who assists an agent in the field, Jude Law and he gets killed and well she takes up the reigns. she infiltrates the bad guys led by Rose Byrne, so funny, and has to stave off the attempts by a rogue agent, Jason Statham, hysterical. I got a good many laughs from this movie and I do recommend it most highly. Melissa herself had me cracking up.\",\n \"Product: Maiden Woods is a remote and quiet town of decent, hard-working people, but something stirs in the dark woods surrounding this isolated community. After a logging company decimates an area of the forest, a rash of increasingly violent and unexplainable events transpires. Sheriff Paul Shields (Kevin Durand) and his deputy (Lukas Haas) struggle to confront their own personal demons while facing down a new breed of raw terror that is possibly older than humanity itself and much, much hungrier.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Absolutely worth the time.\\n\\nReview: Well, let me tell you how suspenseful this movie was. Kevin Durand as the seriously emotionally wounded sheriff is very good. Lukas Haas as his deputy is outstanding too. I have to say that the performances in this movie was outstanding. The story and the direction in this movie was terrific and it has been quite a while since I have seen this level of suspense. I am not sure how I would classify this movie but I will go with horror and suspense. I did not see the ending coming. This is also a cautionary tale of what could be. Would I recommend this movie....I sure would. The story is terrific too so even if you aren't a horror fan.....you will se the very good story.\",\n \"Product: Brian's younger brother Sam goes missing in Tasmania during the middle of a mysterious quarantine. Brian must travel to the deserted island to save his brother from a land now solely inhabited by demonic spirits. In order to survive, he must follow a set of rules: including covering himself with human ashes, to cloak his presence from the malevolent entities haunting the barren landscape. But will this buy enough time for Brian to find his brother, or will they both be stuck in a hellish realm of the dead forever?\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: How to save us? Dont see this movie, that will save you. I saw it, I'm lost.\\n\\nReview: Brian's younger brother Sam goes missing in Tasmania during the middle of a mysterious quarantine. Brian must travel to the deserted island to save his brother from a land now solely inhabited by demonic spirits. In order to survive, he must follow a set of rules: including covering himself with human ashes, to cloak his presence from the malevolent entities haunting the barren landscape. That is the description they gave...here is mine. Horrifyingly dull, mind-numbingly boring and unfocused. No real dialog just these 2 brothers wandering (separately) across the landscape and the older brother following the notes left by the younger! What are these dimensional creatures? Are they ghosts? Are they breaching a dimensional doorway as one broadcast suggests? I have no Clue at all. I don't think anyone knows what this thing wanted to be, I really don't. Do not waste your time. The reason for 2 stars....Tasmania was gorgeous. Makes me want to travel there.\",\n \"Product: Spring Ball, 1984. Adrienne (Kendra Timmins, Midnight Sun, Wingin' It), a straight-A student, joins her quarterback crush Sean (Justin Kelly, Maps To The Stars, Big Muddy) and some friends in sneaking out of their high school dance for some unsupervised mayhem. The teens' party plans hit a snag when they run out of gas on a deserted road. They head out on foot and discover a rundown farmhouse where they hope to find help, but instead find themselves at the mercy of Junior Joad (Mark Wiebe, Sweet Karma), a cannibal killer from an urban legend. After the brutal murder of one of their friends, the group s quest for help becomes one of survival. Will anyone survive the night?\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Bravo and bring back the 80's slasher flicks.\\n\\nReview: A sometimes silly homage to the great slaughter films of the 80's. But the silliness is necessary just for the groans alone. You have the usual suspects who are going off to party, car breaks down, go to the scary house to get help, none available but still lets break in and look around, at times even split up! it really is a fun ride back to the 80's with this movie but the idea is don't take it seriously just smile and enjoy. I am sure you will see all the parts that you yelled at then and will now, too. The mostly young actors do pretty well but I suspect the performances were meant to reflect the acting of the 80's.\",\n \"Product: Every night, four boys trick a young, blonde girl into meeting them in the forest for a date with the intention to hunt and kill her. One night, Veronica (Abigail Breslin) is selected and when the hunt begins, the boys soon realize that they messed with the wrong girl.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Filmed beautifully...the rest Meh!\\n\\nReview: I agree whole heartedly with the comments about the way the film was shot, it is very artsy almost in a film noir way. Very nice where that is concerned. The acting is all very understated which also seems to work. Alexander Ludwig as the leader of the pack warrants special attention, he and maybe one or two of his pack are the only really stimulating performances here. Now the negatives....could be some spoilers here so.....The first 15 dull minutes of her \\\"training\\\" with Wes Bentley, total boredom. Wes Bentley, wasted here. Abigail Breslin, never bought her in this part. the truth or dare game...drawn out too long. She drugs 3 of the boys with a hallucinogen, if you are going to kill them and make them know it, why drug them? We never really exactly find out why Wes is training her for this, they have killed 20 girls, we don't know for sure if he knew one, he mentions something in passing. Oh, and the kills were quick and too merciful.\",\n \"Product: Jacob (Anton Yelchin) returns to his desolate hometown and discovers that his child-like brother, Buddy (Chris Marquette) is working for a notorious gang. The gangs ruthless boss (Vincent DOnofrio) has exploited Buddys simple mind and manipulated him into becoming a merciless killer. Jacob realizes the only way to save Buddy is to take down the gang from within. Broken Horses is a gritty, epic thriller about bonds of brotherhood, laws of loyalty, and the futility of violence.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Some wonderful performances but slow at times and Anton...What happened????\\n\\nReview: Jacob (Anton Yelchin) returns to his desolate hometown and discovers that his child-like brother, Buddy (Chris Marquette) is working for a notorious gang. The gangs ruthless boss (Vincent DOnofrio) has exploited Buddys simple mind and manipulated him into becoming a merciless killer. Jacob realizes the only way to save Buddy is to take down the gang from within. Now for the meat...I got this for Anton Yelchin, I love him BUT he was way too mellow for me in this and I get that is his usual persona but OMG he was so mellow he was comatose. Vincent D'Onofrio who usually annoys the crap out of me is wonderfully malevolent and manipulative. The star has to be Chris Marquette who stuns with his portrayal of Buddy shifting between maniacal and sweet. I will admit I never read the book BUT the movie did lag quite a bit at various parts. Would I recommend???? Tough call as long as you can just view the story and wait for the things to happen.\",\n \"Product: From acclaimed director Antoine Fuqua (TRAINING DAY) and screenwriters Kurt Sutter (Sons of Anarchy) and Richard Wenk (THE MECHANIC), SOUTHPAW tells the riveting story of Billy, The Great, Hope, reigning Light Heavyweight Boxing Champion of the World (Academy Award nominee Jake Gyllenhaal). Billy Hope seemingly has it all with an impressive career, a beautiful and loving wife (Rachel McAdams), an adorable daughter (Oona Laurence) and a lavish lifestyle. When tragedy strikes and his lifelong manager and friend (Curtis, 50 Cent, Jackson) leaves him behind, Hope hits rock bottom and turns to an unlikely savior at a run-down local gym: Tick Willis (Academy Award winner Forest Whitaker), a retired fighter and trainer to the city's toughest amateur boxers. With his future riding on Tick's guidance and tenacity, Billy enters the hardest battle of his life as he struggles with redemption and to win back the trust of those he loves.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: I don't like bocing movies BUT I love this one.\\n\\nReview: So, I am in no way shape or form a fan of boxing movies of any kind (never saw a Rocky or any others) so believe me when I tell you that I loved this movie for many reasons. Jake Gyllenhall is an acting God. I don't think he can do any wrong, but that is just me. This is so much more than a boxing movie, things happen when he loses his temper around a rival for his title. A ton of this movie is him trying to get a new start and custody of his child. This is such a poignant movie that you have to root for this guy even though there are times that you want to shake him out of his own head. There are the standard boxing sequences, 2 I think, and they are even well choreographed and you seem to feel the punches yourself. Bravo to the entire support cast too. Direction and writing are off the charts too.\",\n \"Product: When aliens misinterpret video-feeds of classic arcade games as a declaration of war against them, they attack the Earth, using the games like PAC-MAN, Donkey Kong, Galaga, Centipede and Space Invaders as models for their various assaults. President Will Cooper (Kevin James) has to call on his childhood best friend, 80s video game champion Sam Brenner (Adam Sandler) to lead a team of old-school arcaders (Peter Dinklage and Josh Gad) to defeat the aliens and save the planet.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Never played these games or any but this was fun. Love Qbert.\\n\\nReview: I don't get why the movie critics were so hard on this movie...will it ever win a Best Picture Nomination? No. Should it? No. But I was seriously entertained. I had a lot of fun and even though things were very predictable I was enjoying it and that is all I want in a movie, entertain me or give me a good story or just something that keeps my attention. If I had one complaint it was with the character portrayed by Peter dinklage, that woice? what was that? Everyone else was terrific Adam was fun and OMG Kevin James as the president, haha. I would certainly vote for him! But anyway, one more reason that I never pay ANY attention to critics. Well the professional ones anyway. You can listen to me.\",\n \"Product: After a raging all-night party, a group of hung over twenty-somethings awakens to a beating sun and a carnivorous beach that devours anything with a heartbeat.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Well, I was surprised.\\n\\nReview: After a raging all-night party, a group of hung over twenty-somethings awakens to a beating sun and a carnivorous beach that devours anything with a heartbeat. This is the description for the movie....this does it no justice. I won't tell you that the characters didn't annoy me, they did, I won't tell you that they do stupid things, they do, I won't tell you that the \\\"monster\\\" has no origin or explanation, it doesn't. Jamie Kennedy has a cameo as a beach patrol cop and he was too far over the top and just made me want to fast forward thru his part. Those are the negatives BUT I did actually wind up liking this movie. it is a nod to the more old fashioned \\\"kill the teenager movies\\\". But it is different enough to keep you watching. Consider too that the whole movie was shot on one beach, budget was small. Oh, the \\\"monster\\\" bad effects. I won't say anything about the usual stuff either. But I did like it.\",\n \"Product: When Max (Taissa Farmiga) and her friends reluctantly attend an anniversary screening of Camp Bloodbath, the infamous 80s horror film that starred Maxs late mother (Malin Akerman), they are mysteriously sucked into the silver screen. They soon realize they are trapped inside the cult classic movie and must team up with the fictional and ill-fated camp counselors, including Maxs mom as the scream queen, to battle the films machete-wielding killer. With the body count rising in scene after iconic scene, who will be the final girls left standing and live to escape this film? THE FINAL GIRLS is a genre-blending horror comedy also starring Adam DeVine, Thomas Middleditch, Alia Shawkat with Alexander Ludwig and Nina Dobrev.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: superb, splendid, sensational and...oh, you get the idea. BRAVO.\\n\\nReview: When Max (Taissa Farmiga) and her friends reluctantly attend an anniversary screening of Camp Bloodbath, the infamous 80s horror film that starred Maxs late mother (Malin Akerman), they are mysteriously sucked into the silver screen. They soon realize they are trapped inside the cult classic movie and must team up with the fictional and ill-fated camp counselors. This is part of the explanation given about this movie. My take is....you have to see this movie. If you love your 80's slasher films, here is a loving and often funny tribute to them. You get the typical characters from the 80's movies and mix with the now. I loved this movie so much it has to get more than 5 stars. This very fine cast of young stars and they should all be stars is outrageous and superb. Bravo to each and to the writer, director and everyone else involved....can't wait for Part 2???????\",\n \"Product: In the wake of a nuclear war, a young woman survives on her own, fearing she may actually be the proverbial last woman on earth, until she discovers the most astonishing sight of her life: another human being. A distraught scientist, he's nearly been driven mad by radiation exposure and his desperate search for others. A fragile, imperative strand of trust connects them. But when a stranger enters the valley, their precarious bond begins to unravel.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Truly slow movie but i HATED the ending. otherwise good performances.\\n\\nReview: In the wake of a nuclear war, a young woman survives on her own, fearing she may actually be the proverbial last woman on earth, until she discovers the most astonishing sight of her life: first one and then a second human being....2 men. This is entirely a 3 person and one puppy movie. Margot Robbie is the woman, along comes Chiwetel Ejiofor a scientist with radiation sickness. She nurses him back to health and some feelings happen between them. he figures many things out too. Along comes Chris Pine and the jealousy begins. I truly hated the ending. I mean really did. The world had ended but really?????? does the savage nature of mankind always need to win? I wanted a better ending.\",\n \"Product: When a group of cannibal savages kidnaps settlers from the small town of Bright Hope, an unlikely team of gunslingers, led by Sheriff Franklin Hunt (Kurt Russell), sets out to bring them home. But their enemy is more ruthless than anyone could have imagined, putting their mission and survival itself in serious jeopardy. Kurt Russell (The Hateful Eight, Tombstone) leads an all-star cast, including Patrick Wilson (Insidious), Matthew Fox (Lost) and Richard Jenkins (The Visitor) in this gritty, action-packed thriller chronicling a terrifying rescue mission in the Old West.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Kurt, Matthew, Richard and even Patrick get my big thumbs up.\\n\\nReview: When a group of cannibal savages kidnaps settlers from the small town of Bright Hope, an unlikely team of gunslingers, led by Sheriff Franklin Hunt (Kurt Russell), sets out to bring them home. Kurt Russell (The Hateful Eight, Tombstone) leads an all-star cast, including Patrick Wilson (Insidious), Matthew Fox (Lost) and Richard Jenkins (The Visitor) in this gritty, action-packed thriller chronicling a terrifying rescue mission in the Old West. This is the description given by the Amazon box. Now for mine....WOW! what a terrific combination of horror and suspense and a Western. I even have to say that even though I am not a fan of Patrick Wilson (personal reason) he did a great job as did Matthew Fox and Kurt Russell and Richard Jenkins. Even though some parts walking or riding to the destination seemed drawn out, it wasn't and it made perfect sense. The direction and the scenery are outstanding. I was anticipating each minute of the next frame of this movie. Excellent. Not for the faint of heart, though. Some very nasty scenes.\",\n \"Product: Zac Efron (\\\"Bad Neighbours\\\"), Emily Ratajkowski (upcoming \\\"Entourage,\\\" \\\"Gone Girl\\\"), and Wes Bentley (\\\"Interstellar,\\\" \\\"The Hunger Games\\\") star in \\\"We Are Your Friends\\\", a film about about what it takes to find your voice. Set in the world of electronic music and Hollywood nightlife, an aspiring 23-year-old DJ named Cole (Efron) spends his days scheming with his childhood friends and his nights working on the one track that will set the world on fire. All of this changes when he meets a charismatic but damaged older DJ named James (Bentley), who takes him under his wing. Things get complicated, however, when Cole starts falling for James' much younger girlfriend, Sophie (Ratajkowski). With Cole's forbidden relationship intensifying and his friendships unravelling, he must choose between love, loyalty, and the future he is destined for.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Predictable but i was still entertained.\\n\\nReview: Set in the world of electronic music and Hollywood nightlife, an aspiring 23-year-old DJ named Cole (Efron) spends his days scheming with his childhood friends and his nights working on the one track that will set the world on fire. All of this changes when he meets a charismatic but damaged older DJ named James (Bentley), who takes him under his wing. Things get complicated, however, when Cole starts falling for James' much younger girlfriend, Sophie (Ratajkowski). Predictable but still this movie has something. it is sexy and it is very stylish. When he meets the girl he (of course) starts to distance himself from his friends who have been there forever. Cole, wants to \\\"be someone\\\" and his buddies don't fit. Will he give in to his urges and steal his new mentors gal? As I said this was so predictable that a monkey could have written it but still I was entertained. The angst was flying everywhere. Does someone die? Someone always does in these movies and you should get who that will be immediately. All of the performances were acceptable and worth a look, it is Zac!\",\n \"Product: Quick Shipping !!! New And Sealed !!! This Disc WILL NOT play on standard US DVD player. A multi-region PAL/NTSC DVD player is request to view it in USA/Canada. Please Review Description.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Completely loved this movie from beginning to end. jackie is awesome.\\n\\nReview: Featuring an international cast led by Jackie Chan, John Cusack and Academy Award(R) winner Adrien Brody, the film features the fight for the Silk Road when East and West collide. When corrupt Roman leader Tiberius (Adrien Brody) arrives with a giant army to claim the Silk Road, Huo An (Jackie Chan) and his warriors team up with defected Roman soldiers led by General Lucius (John Cusack) to protect his country and his new friends, Huo An gathers the warriors of thirty-six ethnic nations together to fight Tiberius. 2 problems I had. John Cusack as a Roman General, didn't and don't see it. Adrien Brody as Tiberius, whispered all the time, I couldn't hear him. except for that I loved it. Jackie Chan was SUPERB. The other actors were superb too. The action was terrific. This says it was based on a true story and now I must read about it this was so interesting. The direction and story....outstanding. I will recommend this to everyone. War movie, history movie, a couple chuckles and lots of inspiration, too.\",\n \"Product: After a painful breakup with her long-term boyfriend (Morris Chestnut), successful lobbyist Leah Vaughn (Sanaa Lathan) jumps into a passionate relationship with a charming stranger, Carter (Michael Ealy), who seems to be the perfect guy. But, after a sexually-charged courtship, she sees a violent side of him and dissolves the budding relationship. In a jealous rage and fueled by insane revenge, he turns her life upside down.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Usual story but the cast is first rate.\\n\\nReview: So we get Sanaa Lathan, Michael Ealy and Morris Chestnut. So what do we get with this terrific cast? A pretty suspenseful movie, that is what. The vey handsome Michael Ealy is eerie as Carter, he is so good looking that you would never guess what ugliness lies beneath. Morris is the ex-BF and is still trying to get back together. Michael wants to possess her. Sanaa is wonderful as the damsel in distress who isn't going to take it anymore. Nothing really new in this story or plot but the attractive and talented cast make it better than most. I don't doubt that you will figure out the series of events from the first half hour....but still very good show.\",\n \"Product: John is a rugged small time crook, running from a past full of mistakes and regrets. He soon crosses paths with Louis, a newly orphaned teenage boy, who becomes an unwilling accomplice on an open-road adventure fueled by robberies, guns and deception. John's lonely outlaw lifestyle soon catches up with him and he must confront his demons and decide if his life of doing wrong is still right for him and Louis.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Might be slow but very worth it.\\n\\nReview: John is a rugged small time crook, running from a past full of mistakes and regrets. He soon crosses paths with Louis, a newly orphaned teenage boy, who becomes an unwilling accomplice on an open-road adventure fueled by robberies, guns and deception. John's lonely outlaw lifestyle soon catches up with him and he must confront his demons and decide if his life of doing wrong is still right for him and Louis. I can see why many have complained about this movie being too slow, I really can, but in the case of this movie....it has to be. We need to see the growing relationship between Josh Duhamel (terrific) and Josh Wiggins (also terrific), is there more to this man and boy? What, if any relationship is there? The chemistry between these 2 and the subsequent travels and hard times they encounter are wonderful to see. Is it slow at times? Yes. Is it worth sticking it out? Absolutely. The 2 Joshes do a sensational job, Bravo.\",\n \"Product: From award winning director Juan Jos Campanella comes UNDERDOGS, an animated comedy with a little bit of magic and a whole lot of heart. Jake (Matthew Morrison) is a shy, but talented, foosball player. His passion for the game is rivaled only by his love for free-spirited Laura (Ariana Grande). With her encouragement, he beats the town bully, Ace (Nicholas Hoult), in a foosball game. But everything changes when Ace becomes the world s best soccer player and returns years later to turn their village into a new sports stadium. He starts to destroy everything and kidnaps Laura in the process. Just when it looks like all hope is lost, the toy figures from Jake's foosball table come to life! He and the players embark on a wild adventure to save Laura and reclaim their village. With the help of his team, his town, and a little bit of magic, Jake will try to save the day.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Can I have some more thumbs to put up? 2 aren't enough.\\n\\nReview: Cartoon/Animated fan. That is me. But I am very picky when it comes to the 'toons I watch. The animation has to be good and the story has to be entertaining and the overall 'toon has to hold my attention. Jake is a foosball player in a small town. He challenges and defeats the town bully, Ace. Ace goes on to become the worlds best soccer player. comes back and challenges jake to get a team and play him in Soccer. Now we come to the magical life of jake's foosball characters coming to life to help him and the town. Now I will tell you....I loved this so much. it had all the elements that anyone could want for a fun viewing for young and older alike. Sit bat and enjoy with the family.\",\n \"Product: Alfonso Poyart directs this mystery thriller starring Colin Farrell as a serial killer and Anthony Hopkins as the man brought in by the FBI to help track him down. Not long into the case, former doctor and psychic John Clancy (Hopkins) realises that the man responsible for the killings has psychic capabilities himself. With both men privy to the actions of each other, a psychological showdown ensues... The supporting cast includes Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Abbie Cornish.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Excellent movie interesting topic.\\n\\nReview: The FBI is having a problem catching a killer so in desperation they go to Anthony Hopkins to ask him to come back for this one, why him? He is a very prodigious psychic. Please don't think of this as some mindless movie about psychics, this is a very smart movies about psychics, because Anthony is up against an even stronger psychic. It is up to Anthony Hopkins to figure out why the opposing psychic is killing the people he is killing and what is the ulterior motive. Lots of twists and turns and lots of great performances. OH, Colin Ferrell is the opposing Psychic. I recommend this movie to all who like suspense and great writing and directing and acting.\",\n \"Product: When a terrorist group kidnaps retired CIA field operative Leonard Turner (Bruce Willis), his son Harry Turner (Kellan Lutz), a government analyst who has been repeatedly turned down for field service, launches his own unsanctioned rescue operation. While evading highly skilled operatives, deadly assassins, and international terrorists, Harry finally puts his combat training to the test in a high stakes mission to find his father and to stop a terrorist plot.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Not Too Bad. But Bruce Willis.....please retire.\\n\\nReview: When a terrorist group kidnaps retired CIA field operative Leonard Turner (Bruce Willis), his son Harry Turner (Kellan Lutz), a government analyst who has been repeatedly turned down for field service, launches his own unsanctioned rescue operation. Now that I have given you the what it is about thing, let's talk a bit more about the movie itself. First, it was entertaining enough, if not sometimes a bit over the top. Second, the characters are all appearing to be going through the motions. Third, I will totally bypass Bruce Willis' part in this since he just seems to do movies for a paycheck now, he was deadpan and didn't show up at all. Gina Carano, I did like her in this but I'm not sure they knew how to use her in the movie, the tough partner or the damsel in distress? Kellan Lutz, I love Kellan, I really do but he was running on Willis's emotional level, meaning not at all. I thought he was okay as was the movie but I want more from him.\",\n \"Product: During a manned mission to Mars, Astronaut Mark Watney (Matt Damon) is presumed dead after a fierce storm and left behind by his crew. But Watney has survived and finds himself stranded and alone on the hostile planet. With only meager supplies, he must draw upon his ingenuity, wit and spirit to subsist and find a way to signal to Earth that he is alive. Millions of miles away, NASA and a team of international scientists work tirelessly to bring \\\"the Martian\\\" home, while his crewmates concurrently plot a daring, if not impossible rescue mission. As these stories of incredible bravery unfold, the world comes together to root for Watney's safe return.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: If I had more than 2 thumbs, they would all be up.\\n\\nReview: Almost 10,000 others have reviewed this sensational movie. I can't add too much but to say this....Matt Damon is GOD! this performance was one of his best and there are many that are spectacular. He did this part with pathos, humor and charm. His seems to be only part of the whole, we have his crewmen who accidentally left him behind and are planning a very dangerous way to go back and get him. The ground crews and NASA personnel are losing their minds to figure how to get him back. So all in all, we have three stories running simultaneously. Matt Damon is not the only performance of note either. Here we have one of those movies that has the right people in the right parts and they are all terrific. Amazing scenery and amazing acting and amazing writing and amazing direction all make for a nail biter. Are there slow times, sure but even they are amazing. Be aware though, the jargon and tech speak are just that very technical the very detailed. Matt Damon's humor is awesome.\",\n \"Product: Join the rollicking gang at Rydell High with GREASE LIVE, a one-night musical television adaptation of the popular crossover musical 'Grease' performed LIVE before a studio audience! Featuring a talented young ensemble cast, GREASE LIVE will reintroduce and reimagine the unforgettable moments, great music, and timeless love story to an entirely new generation.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Bravo for this live stage version.\\n\\nReview: first and foremost.....huge \\\"Grease\\\" fan. Now having said that there was no way, ever this was going to get 5 stars. But it does get a wonderful 4.5 stars. Complaints? the voices of the actors were not strong enough for my tastes. Vanessa Hudgens as Rizzo was a very weak portrayal. The support cast was very good and as for the leads....here it comes....Julianne Hough as Sandy was good, she sang well, danced very well but her acting was stilted at best. Aaron Tveit as Danny Zucco......better than good, Acted well,, sang very well and danced exceedingly well. Aaron and Julianne certainly looked the parts. As for the production....superb. to do a live show of this magnitude was impressive. Bravo to the director and all the behind the scenes people. \\\"Greased Lightning\\\" was one of the very best numbers.\",\n \"Product: From Academy Award winner Brian Helgeland (L.A. Confidential) comes the true story of London's most notorious gangsters, twins Reggie and Ronnie Kray (Tom Hardy, Mad Max: Fury Road). As the brothers rise through the criminal underworld, Ronnie advances the family business with violence and intimidation while Reggie struggles to go legitimate for local girl Frances Shea (Emily Browning, Sucker Punch). In and out of prison, Ronnie's unpredictable tendencies and the slow disintegration of Reggie's marriage threaten to bring the brothers' empire tumbling to the ground.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: The language barrier was BIG.\\n\\nReview: I love Tom Hardy. That is my qualifier. here is the problem, we are truly 2 lands separated by a common language. I have an Anglo-Saxon background so I am usually good with my British friends but The Ronnie Kray part that Tom does has such a thick Cockney accent that I had so much trouble understanding his dialog. The Reggie Kray part was better but lost that a few times too. I love this story of the British gangsters from the 60's and this does it justice for sure but I would love to have heard more. These British gangster films are terrific. This would have gotten a 5 but....I saw another one called \\\"The Rise of the Krays\\\" and that was terrific.\",\n \"Product: Robert Redford and Cate Blanchett star in TRUTH, based on a riveting true story of one of network news biggest scandals. As a renowned producer and close associate of Dan Rather (Redford), Mary Mapes (Blanchett) believes shes broken the biggest story of the 2004 election: revelations of a sitting U.S. Presidents military service. But when allegations come pouring in, sources change their stories, document authenticity is questioned, and the casualties begin to mount. This dramatic thriller goes behind the scenes to expose the intricacies of journalistic integrity and what it takes to reveal the TRUTH.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Great performances and eye-opening story. Free press my eye!\\n\\nReview: Robert Redford and Cate Blanchett star in TRUTH, based on a riveting true story of one of network news biggest scandals. As a renowned producer and close associate of Dan Rather (Redford), Mary Mapes (Blanchett) believes shes broken the biggest story of the 2004 election: revelations of a sitting U.S. Presidents military service. This was all about Bush and let me just say this, I should never watch things like this, it makes me very angry that our so-called free press, is anything but that. It is well under the governmental and big business control This is why I only watch the BBC and that is where I really learn what is going on in the world. The acting was excellent by all concerned nd after the last election which the media and certain factions tried to control and were way off, by the way, we need to look very hard.\",\n \"Product: When a strange virus quickly spreads through a safari park and turns all the zoo animals undead, those left in the park must stop the creatures before they escape and zombify the whole city.\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: Heed this warning, stay far away.\\n\\nReview: I do not understand these 5 star reviews. Right at the start you know this is a bad movie, the actors in the lab are stilted and ridiculous. The CGI(?) animals are terribly done. As we get more people into this zoo, a bunch of interns who have to spend the day helping the zoo people these are all bad actors too, the staff at the zoo horribly bad actors. The stereotypical characters don't help either. The girl too good to do this, the obnoxious little daughter of the woman running the zoo, the tough security chick who is really too over the top, the nerd boy etc. you get the idea. The only actor that may have a shot is Andrew Asper. So horrible acting, bad effects, bad CGI animals, obnoxious child and her annoying overacting mother make for a terrible movie. they should have at least tried to make it a fun bad movie, but no....it takes itself too seriously. Stay away.\",\n \"Product: Michael Keaton, Mark Ruffalo, and Rachel McAdams lead a critically acclaimed cast in this gripping true story about the Pulitzer Prize-winning investigation that uncovered a scandal that rocked one of the world's oldest and most trusted institutions. Delving into allegations of child abuse within the local Catholic Archdiocese, a tenacious team of Boston Globe reporters exposes a decades-long cover-up that reaches the highest levels of Boston's religious, legal, and government establishment. \\\"Brilliantly acted and flawlessly directed\\\" (New York Post ) Spotlight is a powerful and riveting drama the critics are calling \\\"the All the President's Men of our time\\\" (Los Angeles Times ).\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Everyone should see it, corruption is EVERYWHERE.\\n\\nReview: Looking into allegations of child abuse within the local Catholic Archdiocese, a team of Boston Globe reporters exposes a decades-long cover-up that reaches the highest levels of Boston's religious, legal, and government establishment. To say that this film was superb would be an understatement. One of the very finest movies of 2015 and I do not exaggerate that. What a \\\"dream cast\\\" and each and every one is amazing. There have already been 3700 reviews so mine will be a nutshell. magnificent performances, great story that needed to be told and more things like this need to happen in this world there is too much being covered up and the corruption in the corporations and government are staggering. Bravo for this stunning, remarkable and brave movie.\",\n \"Product: Based on the extraordinary true story of the greatest smallboat rescue in Coast Guard history, THE FINEST HOURS is a tale of courage, loyalty and honor in the face of overwhelming odds. When a massive storm strikes off the coast of Cape Cod, it rips a T-2 oil tanker in half, trapping more than 30 sailors on its rapidly sinking stern. As Captain Bernie Webber (Chris Pine) and his crew set out in a 12-seat rescue boat to save them, Chief Engineer Ray Sybert (Casey Affleck) struggles to buy his men more time. Packed with heroic larger-than-life action and driven by the men's faith in their mission, themselves and one another, THE FINEST HOURS is a triumph.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: The finest hours for this movie too.\\n\\nReview: Based on the extraordinary true story of the greatest smallboat rescue in Coast Guard history. When a massive storm strikes off the coast of Cape Cod, it rips a T-2 oil tanker in half, trapping more than 30 sailors on its rapidly sinking stern. As Captain Bernie Webber (Chris Pine) and his crew set out in a 12-seat rescue boat to save them, Chief Engineer Ray Sybert (Casey Affleck) struggles to buy his men more time. First let me give you the reason for the 4 stars and not 5 which I really wanted to give it. Holiday Granger, the girl that Chris Pine's character is engaged to...useless, worthless to the story and why she had so much to do is beyond me. she was not necessary in any way. every other player is excellent especially Casey Affleck, I am a huge fan and always will be. Chris Pine, Eric Bana as the Coast Guard commander and Ben foster all great the crew on the tanker...great. The story is riveting and rings of honesty. I don't see any sugar coating and recommend this most sincerely.\",\n \"Product: Will Smith stars in Concussion, a dramatic thriller based on the incredible true David vs. Goliath story of American immigrant Dr. Bennet Omalu, the brilliant forensic neuropathologist who made the first discovery of CTE, a football-related brain trauma, in a pro player and fought for the truth to be known. Omalus emotional quest puts him at dangerous odds with one of the most powerful and beloved institutions in the world. With captivating performances by Alec Baldwin and Academy Award nominee Albert Brooks (1987 Best Supporting Actor, Broadcast News).\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Excellent. Will was outstanding.\\n\\nReview: Finally, Will Smith got one and hit it out of the park. He plays Dr. Bennett Omalu who was solely instrumental in coming up with the fact that so many football players had so many problems and so many had literally lost their minds sometimes to the point of killing themselves rather than possibly harming their families. he saw after they had died by studying their brains that the human brain was not built to take those kinds of blows. That is one part of this story (real it is, too) the rest was trying to get the NFL to come to terms with it and for that matter America too. Not only is the NFL a big business but a powerful one too. They never cared for the individual player just....MONEY. The Almighty Dollar. They even had certain governmental agencies in their pockets too. This Doctor virtually lost everything to try to save these football players and he was the only one. I love Football myself but I will forever find it hard to watch and not think of this movie. I can't stand the bloodthirsty corporations that have bought and paid for politicians.\",\n \"Product: Locked in a no-holds-barred MMA combat, Trevor and Derek are on a perpetual mission to beat each other to the very edge of death. After being imprisoned like lab rats in a hyper-real world where torture is pushed to its limits, they begin to realize their abductor s motives and methods. Will psychology, humanity or bloody brute force become the winning factor in this unforgettably brutal battle?\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: I enjoyed parts of it and it is \\\"Brutal\\\".\\n\\nReview: I will first say that this is a very difficult movie to review. Why? there are aspects of brutality (hence the name) that in the beginning you can't quite understand and to be honest at the end I don't think I still understood, I guess at the ending but that is the best I can do. I did figure a few things out as we went along. There are some very interesting points made throughout. Locked in a no-holds-barred MMA combat, Trevor and Derek are on a perpetual mission to beat each other to the very edge of death. I won't say too much more about the story but I will say about the actors and it is a 2 man movie. The character of Derek is awful as is the actor. The character and actor for Trevor was good because he had to play 2 characters, you will see. His real name is Morgan Benoit. I didn't like the ending I think. The brother was good too. Stay after the credits. maybe you can tell me who was behind it all. Would I recommend? Not to everyone.\",\n \"Product: Four waves of increasingly deadly alien attacks have left most of Earth decimated. Against a backdrop of fear and distrust, Cassie (Chloë Grace Moretz) is on the run, desperately trying to save her younger brother. As she prepares for the inevitable and lethal 5th wave, Cassie teams up with a young man who may become her final hope – if she can only trust him.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Let this sleeping dog lie.\\n\\nReview: When I first got this movie, I wasn't thrilled about watching it so I very wisely put it off until I was more in the mood and it took quite a while. I finally watched it and can honestly say that I could have waited for another year, or 2. Having never read the books, I went in cold. Our star Chloe Grace Moretz was (as Robert DeNiro would say) as wooden as a canoe! But to be honest again, so was pretty much everyone in this dreck of a movie. The only performance I will say was good was by Alex Roe, the young man who saves her life. Now, I get that there are few if any good and new movie ideas and at first I thought this may be one. But here is the other big word for this.....PREDICTABILITY. I saw each \\\"surprise\\\" coming a mile away and, oh no it is set up for a sequel or continuation if you will.....please don't do that. Put this corpse to rest.\",\n \"Product: A plane takes off from Los Angeles and heads for Tokyo, but soon its passengers feel a mysterious force onboard.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Barely 3 stars Ryan Kwanten got the third one.\\n\\nReview: \\\"A plane takes off from Los Angeles and heads for Tokyo, but soon its passengers feel a mysterious force onboard.\\\" This is the blurb on the description to tell you what this movie is about. Not much right! Will, I don't think that I can tell you too much more without giving things away. I am that guy who tried and succeeds in real life not to tell anything about a movie. But here I have to tell you something, the plane takes off, people die some passengers try to find the reason it is happening. Is this mystery worth sitting through, MEH, might be may be. I am a fan of Ryan Kwanten and did like his performance as well as Jerry Ferrarra, the rest of the cast well, it is a mixed bag of the usual types and that includes the annoying ones.\",\n \"Product: WWE Superstars Dolph Ziggler and Kane star in this electrifying race against time to stop a mad bomber and save a child.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: By no means anywhere near the better WWE flicks.\\n\\nReview: Here we go now, people. Confession time, I do like a lot of these WWE movies, no really I do, I am entertained and there is plenty of action and for the most part you take what you can get as far as the story and acting goes. WWE loves to play with the \\\"I am a cop and my kid died\\\" thing. That should tell you right off that the story is typical and not too original. The \\\"good Cop\\\" that is doing all the wrong things but getting results. The lady cop who begins to believe in his conspiracy theories. and the Captain who wants to believe but won't. Kane as the Captain, not bad. Dolph Ziggler as the Good Cop needs to have a few acting lessons (besides what he gets at the WWE) he's angry all the time and grunt and kicks and growls and scowls and that is about it. Now the worst, Katharine Isabelle, purely awful. All she does is wear tight pants and keep her hand on her gun, lousy actress. Put her and Dolph in the same scene and you will scream for relief from the agony.\",\n \"Product: When Norm the polar bear learns that humans are moving to his Arctic home, he heads to New York City with a ragtag team of lemmings to try to stop them. Norm has ''oodles of charm'' in this cool adventure the whole family will love.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: A cartoon with a message. Save the planet.\\n\\nReview: What we have here is your very basic \\\"message\\\" cartoon. This is what is going to happen if we don't care for the planet type of movie. I am all for the message, trust me, I believe we are destroying our world but I would have loved to have been entertained a bit more. I did love the characters, especially the lemmings. They were cute and very sweet and indestructible. the voices worked as well with the characters. I will admit to not laughing much but I guess then the message would not have gotten through. it is fun and it is a learning experience. if we don't so something really soon, the world will revolt against us. What a great planet this would have been....what have we done?\",\n \"Product: Colin McCormack thinks he has it all a great job, a steady stream of hot younger guys, and a best friend whose devotion he takes for granted. But when a charming and mercurial intern sweeps him off his feet, Colin sees a chance for something more: A family of his own. What he discovers instead is a shattering secret that may cost Colin everything and everyone he holds dear. By turns funny, heartbreaking and hopeful, DADDY explores the universal need for love and connection, and the evolving understanding of family in today's rapidly changing world. Loaded with DVD extras - Director Commentary; Deleted Scenes; Evolution of Story to Stage Play to Film; Making of the Score; Music Videos; Kickstarter Campaign Video\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Not for everyone but still a wonderful movie.\\n\\nReview: Colin McCormack thinks he has it all a great job, a steady stream of hot younger guys, and a best friend whose devotion he takes for granted. But when a charming and mercurial intern sweeps him off his feet. What this boils down to is an older man and younger man and the budding relationship they have.\\nI will not reveal too much because there are surprises and truths to be told, the young man seems to have too many secrets and as to what they are? I am not going to say. I will admit that the relationships between the main character and his best friend and the younger man are all portrayed so very well. There are all the emotions of the rainbow here. I was very shocked at how much I liked this movie.\",\n \"Product: The very day he's about to drive his family to a new life in the city, geologist Kristian Elkjord senses something wrong with the mountain that overlooks his scenic town. No one wants to believe that this could be the big one, especially with tourist season at its peak, but when a landslide from the Mountain sends tons of rock and earth crashing into the sea, everyone has ten minutes to outrace the resulting tsunami to higher ground in this thrilling action spectacular.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: A terrific first disaster movie from Norway.\\n\\nReview: I'm actually going 4.5 for this Norwegian first attempt at a disaster movie. Many years ago in Norway along a fjord, part of a mountain collapsed and caused a tidal wave that wiped out the town of Geiranger. Well, experts are predicting that it will happen again and soon. But they had rebuilt the town and there are folks living there. This is the story of when it happens again. One of the local seismologists sees an impending problem and tries to warn everyone....but you get it. I have to say except for the dumb son who in my opinion caused a few deaths, I loved this move and the actors and the performances. I have left some things out because I don't want to ruin it but I will say the wave looks terrific and very scary. Kudos to the cast, the writers, the director etc. I watched it in the original Norwegian with the sub-titles, that is how I watch all my foreign movies, no dubbing for me!\",\n \"Product: Woody Harrelson, Anthony Mackie, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Aaron Paul, Norman Reedus, Casey Affleck, and Kate Winslet lead an all-star cast in an explosive, action-packed thriller critics call \\\"a twisty, terrific ride\\\" (Peter Travers, Rolling Stone). A bank robbery is just the tip of the iceberg when two cops in Atlanta start suspecting members of their own team are involved. Not knowing who to trust and how deep the corruption goes, time is ticking for them to uncover the truthbefore they become the target for the next deadly job.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: You have it all with this movie.\\n\\nReview: A bank robbery is just the tip of the iceberg when two cops in Atlanta start suspecting members of their own team are involved. Not knowing who to trust and how deep the corruption goes, time is ticking for them to uncover the truthbefore they become the target for the next deadly job. This is the description given and I had to use it because I was afraid that I would give something away. Stellar cast, great performances, wonderful dialog and what a great story....so many twists! I didn't know which end was up! The primary cast members are spectacular. Lead by Casey Affleck, God I love this guy! Chiwetel Ejiofor, Anthony Mackie, Aaron Paul, Norman Reedus, Woody Harrelson and Kate Winslet shines as the Russian Mob Boss. Trust me when I say that I don't want to say much about the story because you have to watch it....drama and suspense galore.\",\n \"Product: NOTICE: Polish Release, cover may contain Polish text/markings. The disk has English audio.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Worth a look see only for the 3 hour version.\\n\\nReview: What I am going to review is the Ultimate version of this movie, 3 hours and 2 minutes, give or take. The theatrical version was crap and was cut up so bad that it was confusing and choppy. the Ultimate version was so much better, not perfect but better at least we had explanations for what was going on. Lex Luthor, brilliantly played by Jesse Eisenberg. is plotting bad things against both Batman And Superman for many years and he stokes Batman's hatred of Superman (the Alien, to him) to make him go after him. Everything that can be said has been said so I will say this...Ben Affleck as Batman is the best, Christian Bale lost this title because of the \\\"Voice\\\" I could never understand him. Henry Cavill is terrific as Superman, what a Bod! I loved Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman....finally got it right. Doomsday looked like an angry green pseudo hulk, and not as Good. The standout was Jesse Eisenberg. Not great but good.\",\n \"Product: After the death of their father, Nate moves in with his mother, but his elder brother, Steven, continues his studies in another state. The brothers use this opportunity to end their affair. When Mom dies in a car accident, Steven returns for her funeral. During this time of mourning, the two brothers' unrelenting love for each other threatens the secret they had buried. A new provocative film from the Director of The Seminarian. DVD BONUS FEATURES: Video Interview with Actors; Audio Commentary with Director, DP, and Actors.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Bad dialog, bad acting, bad camera angles, bad direction, no emotion.\\n\\nReview: More like 2.2 stars. After the death of their father, Nate moves in with his mother, but his elder brother, Steven, continues his studies in another state. Next Mom dies and younger brother Nate is devastated and older brother Steven comes home for the funeral and in time we learn the 2 brothers had a dark secret, they were having an affair and they were sleeping together. Steven has moved on and found a boyfriend, Ray who comes to stay with them.....you can guess what happens. This had potential but for a few things, The dialog is so forced. The acting by all is stilted at best. Not a real emotion among any of them, except the Mom. The story is Murky and there are scenes that just don't seem to fit or seem rational. for instance, Nate listening in at his brothers door then going to his room and taking off all his clothes and pouting?????? I don't recommend this to anyone, at all.\",\n \"Product: Melissa McCarthy (Bridesmaids, The Heat) stars as Michelle Darnell, a titan of industry who is sent to prison for insider trading. After doing her time, Michelle emerges, ready to rebrand herself as America's latest sweetheart, but not everyone she steamrolled is so quick to forgive and forget. With nowhere to go and no one to scam, Michelle is forced to move in with former assistant Claire (Kristen Bell - Frozen, Showtime's House of Lies) and her young daughter, Rachel. Now at her lowest point, Michelle wastes no time in devising a winner-take-all plan to rebuild her empire. Can she reclaim her status as the No. 1 screwer, or will the love of one family screw her for good?\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: I did laugh out loud often.\\n\\nReview: Melissa McCarthy as Michelle Darnell, a titan of industry who is sent to prison for insider trading. After doing her time, Michelle emerge, but not everyone she steamrolled is so quick to forgive and forget. Michelle is forced to move in with former assistant Claire and her young daughter, Rachel. Now at her lowest point, Michelle devises a plan to rebuild her empire. I and others have said that Melissa does the usual stuff and I still feel that way but she has been changing up on her characters and they have been tons of fun. The Boss is no exception, she plays a woman who stepped on everyone to get to the top and now at rock bottom she has to change her tune or does she? She wants a family and could her previous employee and her daughter be that? The entire support cast is superb. From Kristen Bell and Peter Dinklage and Kathy Bates to the girls who make the cookies. I got many laughs out of this movie.\",\n \"Product: In this hilarious animated adventure comedy, you'll finally find out why the birds are so angry. In an island paradise populated entirely by happy, flightless birds or almost entirely, Red, a bird with a temper problem, speedy Chuck, and the volatile Bomb have always been outsiders. But when the island is visited by mysterious green piggies, its up to these unlikely outcasts to figure out what the pigs are up to.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Angry birds? Fun times.\\n\\nReview: In an island paradise populated entirely by happy, flightless birds or almost entirely, Red, a bird with a temper problem, speedy Chuck, and the volatile Bomb have always been outsiders. I have to say that I loved this movie so much and I never really watched or read about angry birds or played the game. These characters were so much fun and so cute that I had a really goofy smile on my face from start to finish. The voices are perfect and the story of the peaceful little birds paradise greeting and influx of Green Pigs and not knowing if or is there a hidden agenda? I really hope there will be many more of the birds movies and I am sure this is good fun for the family.\",\n \"Product: Elite snipers Brandon Beckett (Chad Michael Collins) and Richard Miller (Billy Zane) are fighting extremists in the Middle East when Colonel (Dennis Haysbert) gives them a new mission: to protect a gas pipeline stretching from the Republic of Georgia to Western Europe from extremists eager to make a political statement. But when skirmishes with the enemy lead to U.S. snipers being killed by a ghost shooter who locks into their exact location, a security breach is suspected. Fingers are pointed and battle lines are drawn, all leading up to an explosive climax.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Skip it unless you just want to see low budget shoot em ups.\\n\\nReview: Let's not even pretend that this is anything more than it is. A rather disjointed and low budget type of movie that relies more on guns then on real acting. The performances are stiff and can be \\\"eye-rolling\\\" Billy Zane, what happened to him? He is the bet thing in this but still very deadpan. No emotion is anywhere on this movie. The Colonel, the man who sends them on missions I also better than this. The STAR is Chad Michael Collins and if given the chance I think that he could actually act. God forbid he smiles! And then we get the usual big chested female who can't act and she is in charge and she knows all. Why do we do this? Stick with what you know. The 2 decent women actors they either kill off or wound? If you take it for what it is.....it is entertaining enough but would I recommend it? Nope. I have never seen any of the other \\\"sniper\\\" movies, and I don't intend to.\",\n \"Product: Tom Hiddleston stars as Dr. Robert Laing, the newest resident of a luxurious apartment in a high-tech skyscraper whose lofty location places him amongst society s upper class. Laing quickly settles in and meets the other tenants: Charlotte (Sienna Miller), a bohemian single mother; Wilder (Luke Evans), a charismatic documentarian who lives with his pregnant wife Helen (Elisabeth Moss); and Mr. Royal (Jeremy Irons), the building s enigmatic architect. Life seems like paradise to the solitude-seeking Laing. But, as power outages become more frequent and building flaws emerge, mainly on the lower floors, social strata begins to crumble and the building descends into a class war.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Stellar cast but.....HUH? Didn't get it.\\n\\nReview: I am giving this an Okay because of the magnificent cast and the direction is impressive too. BUT, let me say, I think this was a shot at classes. Upper and lower ( we all know the middle class is disappearing) The rich live on the upper floors of the high rise and the less affluent on the lower floors. All of a sudden this turns into a turf war between the haves and have not as much and it was oddly put out there and I could not quite latch onto the concept. The clothes were from the 70's but is happening now. Strange goings on like killing dogs for food and a horse too????? Just go down to the corner store! no one wants to leave and continues the downward spiral into inhumanity. The cast is stellar Tom Hiddleston, Jeremy Irons, Sienna Miller, the terrific Luke Evans etc. but I was still left with ( I did stay to the end, God knows why?) a huge question mark and the feeling that I was robbed of 2 hours of my life.\",\n \"Product: Disgraced and retired mixed martial artist Wes \\\"The Jailor\\\" Baylor (Scott Adkins) couldn't refuse the million dollar purse offered to fight in Myanmar. When he arrives to fight, he learns he's been tricked into becoming the target of a human hunt. Carrying only water and a ruby-filled money belt for the last person standing, Wes must outsmart the heavily armed group who's paid to kill him. As Wes fights for his life in the treacherous jungle terrain, the hunters become the hunted. Hard Target 2 is a must see film for action and martial arts fans featuring Adkins in incredible fight scenes.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: I liked it, just true escapist action fare.\\n\\nReview: I find that I am liking Scott Adkins more as he is getting older. His early movies were amateurish at best. Now there is a bit more meat to them. This movie and don't get me wrong is a typically themed movie that we have all seen many times. Scott plays an MMA fighter who accidentally kills his best friend in the ring and of course retires until he gets an offer to fight for a million dollars. Well, it isn't what he thought he gets hunted by a group of people who have paid big bucks to hunt a man. As I've said nothing groundbreaking but Scott Adkins has been getting to be a more appealing actor these days. If you like action, here you go. Just sit back and go for this ride.\",\n \"Product: A lonely puppeteer invents a device for creating incredibly life-like puppets that look suspiciously similar to missing townspeople.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Not by any means superior but a bunch of fun.\\n\\nReview: Mr. Franz is a kindly, old, silver-haired doll-maker ... who turns people into living puppets! He then forces his human re-inventions to put on parties and sing to him and keep him company since he seems to have the equivalent of 1958's abandonment issues! Mr. Franz owns a doll making factory and well he has taken his craft a step further. Please keep in mind that this is from 1958 and go from there. This is nonetheless a very fun and entertaining entry into the world of scifi. If I had one complaint to make it is the drubbing of the horrible music all through but as I said ......1958! There are also a few glaring things that make you go.....HUH? But please don't go into examination mode and just smile and go with it.\",\n \"Product: Poe Horror Tale\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: It's okay just ignore all the bad actors.\\n\\nReview: Just because I like it, it isn't for everyone. If I were going to be harsh, except for Adrian Paul, Patrick Macnee and the fellow that plays Adrian's best friend, this is the worst group of actors EVER! Even having this made in 1989, there is no excuse for these atrocious actors. Even Adrian as Prospero, seems to be the most depressed human on the planet. One honorable truly horrible nod to the actress playing the female blonde lead....she is remarkably BAD. I seriously hope nothing even resembling a career come for her! Anyway it is a fun little Gothic story and I did enjoy parts when I could just focus on some of the story. It isn't the best adaptation (that goes to the Vincent Price one) but it will be okay for just some harmless viewing.\",\n \"Product: Horror\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: 2 stars for Joey even though this was nowhere near his fun or good stuff.\\n\\nReview: First of all, I am a huge Joey Lawrence fan. He only had one expression through this whole thing. So I don't understand what this was about where he had only one gear. I found his one note performance annoying at best. Now let me tell you about the other actors.....horrific! To my mind, there is nothing worse than bad actors who are trying to be soldiers and just come across as too much and laughable. This alleged zombie-esque crap failed on every level. There was no suspense or horror at all and I was hoping for massive carnage that would have offed these atrocious actors so they would never afflict my life again. Bad story, bad settings, bad acting, bad directing, and bad everything.\",\n \"Product: Rapid Fire is aN American action film directed by Dwight H. Little, and starring Brandon Lee, Powers Boothe and Nick Mancuso. The film was released in the United States on August 21, 1992\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: I will always miss Brandon Lee and his dad.\\n\\nReview: Brandon Lee, such a huge loss. I miss him still. From 1992, we get the story (typical) of a pacifist California Student who saw his father killed in Tienamen Square and then witnesses the murder of a man in an art gallery and the killer happens to be a notorious Mafia guy that the cops and feds are trying to get. They draft our hero, who is a karate expert against his will into the seedy world of underground crime. He has to help and has no idea who to trust and who has been bought off. I adored Brandon and loved his fighting style very much, not too much of a shock that he fights like his dad did, another one I will miss. The story isn't the best and a lot of the acting isn't the best, but you have to know what you are getting....Brandon Kicking Butt!\",\n \"Product: VHS Tape\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: I am a huge fan, so don't take my word for it.\\n\\nReview: The legendary Christopher Lee is back as Dracula, bringing unspeakable horrors upon a local village that defies his evil reign. But when a young man and his luscious girlfriend unwittingly visit the Count's castle, they find themselves trapped in a face-to-face frenzy of bloodthirsty vixens, religious blasphemy and sadistic torture. And that is a part of the description given on the DVD cover and it tells you all that you will need to ever know. Let me say Christopher Lee, easily the very best Dracula ever and in this one he speaks more than in any other Dracula movie. THis one is ranked by me as well on track with all the others and maybe even a bit more. Let me ask the usual questions, do you like Christopher Lee as Dracula, do you like the Hammer movies, do you like these kind of movies? This is for you to be sure.\",\n \"Product: Homer's Illiad surges to the screen in Helen Of Troy, from the '50s heyday of big-screen spectaculars. Robert Wise (Westside Story, The Sound Of Music) directs this lavish epic capturing some 30,000 people on screen at a then huge cost of $6 million.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: it is a good watch so give it a try and look past the leads.\\n\\nReview: Here I have to tell you that I am torn with this movie but gave it the benefit of the doubt. Given that this was a time when emoting meant acting I have to say that most of the actors in this movie did a great job, except for the 2 leads Paris as played by Jack Sernas is certainly pretty enough for the part of Paris but his acting was somewhat questionable. I gave him the benefit of the doubt thinking that he may have thought that this haughty type of acting was what was called for. Now for my real problem.....Helen....She never played to her fellow actors only to the camera in a single me out fashion. She was awful and I am being kind. Rossana Podesta is the guilty party. If it were up to me I would have tossed her off the Trojan wall to the Spartans below. Huge budget for the time and the direction was pretty good by Robert Wise, my favorite was Sir Cedric Hardwicke.\",\n \"Product: B Movie heaven :)\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Don't expect too much but have a bit of tongue in cheek.\\n\\nReview: 1976 brings us this predictable but still fun at times addition to the (at the time) popular genre of the world striking back at the horrible humans that are destroying the planet. This attack is being led by a hawk and his job is to pick off a group of 11 mountain hikers. He uses mountain lions, bears, birds etc. This is fun enough but the story is, as I said very predictable and the worst thing about this is the acting! And I mean by everyone...Christopher George and by extension his wife Linda Daye George both awful by themselves even worse together. And yes all the others are equally bad but the standout worst was (I hate to say this) Leslie Nielsen as the belligerent and wants to be the alpha guy who takes off with a group and then does terrible things to them.\",\n \"Product: When an archaeological expedition opens an ancient Egyptian tomb, the unimaginable evil of a cursed pharaoh -- Talos -- is unleashed! But before all are lost, team leader Sir Richard Turkel (horror legend Christopher Lee -- DRACULA, THE MUMMY, THE CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN) heroically sacrifices his own life to destroy the tomb and contain Talos once more! Then, years later, Sir Richard's granddaughter (sexy Louise Lombard) sets out with her own team to finish her grandfather's work ... not knowing that she herself is about to reawaken the supernatural terror of the mummified Talos! Also starring action star Jason Scott Lee (RUDYARD KIPLING'S THE JUNGLE BOOK, DRAGON: THE BRUCE LEE STORY), the heart-pounding RUSSELL MULCAHY'S TALE OF THE MUMMY tells us that this time, there may be nothing that can stop the mummy's murderous quest for immortality!\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: The story is good, the acting is good the Mummy? not so much.\\n\\nReview: Well, color me surprised. This movie was not bad at all. I actually enjoyed it a bit and the few surprises that were tossed in were actually a surprise to me! Let me tell you the one real negative at the outset. The Mummy is pretty cheesy and I can't really tell you why because it is a different take on the Mummy idea, it involves how he gets around. I loved the cast a lot and they definitely made this movie worth my interest and my attention. Jason Scott Lee and Sean Pertwee are the coppers that are investigating a series of strange murders. I will say that this reates seeing but really keep in mind the Mummy is crummy (see what I did there?) The story and the actors are worth it for a good show.\",\n \"Product: Paul Newman Drama\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Lovely story and nicely acted.\\n\\nReview: Give me Joanne Woodward and Paul Newman and boy, do I love Robby Benson. What a wonderful movie and it is all pure story. Paul is a widowed dad and he lives with his son, Robby Benson who is purely a very sensitive artsy guy and dad would like him to grow up and get a job other than the auto detailing he is doing. Robby meets and falls in love with an already pregnant girl (shocking! 1984) This is really of story of the relationship between a father and son, and Joanne Woodward as Paul Newman's wife's sister. This is a nice story with very nice performances but of course dad can be a little overwhelming at times and not much in the way of bending. His way or no way. I always loved Robby Benson's very laid back style of acting and it has always worked for him.\",\n \"Product: Adventure under the sea in a submersible called the Neptune which becomes trapped after an undersea earthquake sends it to the bottom of the ocean. Fantastic Thriller starring Walter Pidgeon, Yvette Mimieux, Ben Gazzara and Ernest Borgnine.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Really painfully boring and badly acted.\\n\\nReview: Let's begin with the cast. Ernest Borgnine, he was okay. Walter Pidgeon is way too old he looks confused all the time. Ben Gazzara just seems bored. Yvette Mimieux, never a good sign when she is in it, She comes off as snotty every time she opens her mouth and not a good actress and never was. She spends her time tossing her hair! Effects....taking into account this was 1973....still bad. The \\\"submarine\\\" is a toy moving around an aquarium and the fish in said aquarium are \\\"giants\\\" Laughable. Story....an undersea lab has been pushed into an abyss by an undersea earthquake. (No tidal waves just bubbles on the surface, come on) The Neptune a bitty sub has to locate the lab. Why in God's name did I watch the whole thing? masochism, I guess. My review of it overall.....boring garbage. Really boring garbage. Dialog is awful too. Did I mention BORING. So much time is spent just floating in the bitty sub. Painfully boring.\",\n \"Product: Reading, writing, and raising the dead...that's what high school's all about in this lightning and hormones horror-comedy. Frank Stein (Mathew Lawrence), a genius nerd, wants to be with the in crowd and get Macy (Christine Lakin), the cutest girl in school. He gets his shot when popular jocks Lance (Justin Walker), and Tuttle (Christine Payne) haze Karl (Ryan Reynolds), the school Goth outcast, to death, literally. Frank offers to bring Karl back to life in his home lab using a brain from his Dad's (Judge Reinhold) research project. The resurrection is a success, and Karl is back and ready TO PARTY! Now Frank and Karl are on the A-list and part of the in-crowd when things start to unravel. Unbeknownst to Frank, he has reanimated Karl with the brain of a mass murderer. The new Karl is cool, foxy, and deadly. Boltneck, in the tradition of hit teen screams \\\"I Know What You Did Last Summer\\\" and the upcoming Warner Bros. release \\\"The In Crowd\\\" stars a hip young cast and promises to keep you on the edge of your seat.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Just so much fun.\\n\\nReview: I like Matthew Lawrence and that was the reason that I got this movie. I am so glad I did. What an entertaining and fun surprise. In a nutshell, this is a variation on the Frankenstein story. Modern, what happens is 2 of the jock goons in school punch out the Goth kid, he falls into an empty pool and dies. Matthew Lawrence (Frank Stein) gets to try out his reanimation experiment with the help of the jocks, they have to or go to jail. The Creature (so to speak) is none other than a young Ryan Reynolds! I will say no more about the story. You will get some laughs, suspense, mystery and just a fine old time. Matthew Lawrence and Ryan Reynolds are terrific, the jocks (I think) are Justin Walker and Charles Fleischer...terrific, the girls....terrific. The characters (teachers, family) terrific. You will have a blast with the quips and humor.\",\n \"Product: Male escorts for homosexual clients ply their trade to tragic result in this semi-experimental and disturbingly violent film. Much of the narrative centers on handsome Harry, an aspiring actor and professed heterosexual who has been working for the High Noon escort service for many years. As an 'escort' he specializes in gay fetishes. In one of the more graphic sex scenes, he allows a producer to exploit his body in order to win a small part on cop-show. Harry also takes time to show Dean, a new recruit at the service how to satisfy customers' fantasies. Dean loves his new job and takes to it most naturally. Then there is Harry's other student, Billy, the classic surfer boy. One night Billy mistakes a fellow in a car for a client and rides off with him. For the young escort it's love at first sight, but unfortunately he ends up beaten to death by gay bashers. An investigation reveals that the madam at the High Noon may be responsible. In the end, Harry too meets tragedy when he participates in a 'snuff ' film.. Unfortunately for Harry his scene is real and the ensuing gratuitous violence may be highly offensive and upsetting for some viewers. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: it's worth the time.\\n\\nReview: I won't trash it but I won't praise it either. I don't read other people's reviews when I'm going to write mine but I did catch a glimpse of some of them. First of all, the woman who handles the boys...the pimp, if you will, very unbelievable, too much like a bee buzzing all around, bad actress too. Now for the boys themselves. I tried to believe that they were essentially good boys caught in a bad situation and I think I did get there. Harry, Dean and Billy are the focal points. Billy is your typical dumb blonde type character who meets someone and falls in love. Harry is trying to be a serious actor. Dean is just looking for direction. IT is a very sad ending for all concerned but hard to buy. Some laughs, a few sad moments and I would recommend it as long as you don't quest for an Academy Award caliber movie. No real overt sex that I can remember, some s & M type scenes and some frontal male nudity. I say give it a go.\",\n \"Product: They Came From Beyond Space is the thrilling film adaptation of Joseph Millard's, The Gods Hate Kansas, which revolves around an alien spacecraft that has mechanical problems and crashes into the Moon. The alien beings aboard cannot complete the repairs themselves, so they use their abilities to control and use a number of Earth's scientists as slaves to help with the repairs.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Pass this by and let it go back to space.\\n\\nReview: An alien spacecraft that has mechanical problems and crashes into the Moon. The alien beings aboard cannot complete the repairs themselves, so they use their abilities to control and use a number of Earth's scientists as slaves to help with the repairs. that is what this crap is about. Let me tell you that there are plenty more really fun and good 50's and 60's horror/space type movies out there, don't bother with this one. The sound is awful, scratchy and could barely hear. The so-called music background is purely awful. What passed for effects, no not really. The acting is amateurish at the very best and infantile at the worst. Story is stilted and stunted. and the banging drum things going off all the time.....what is that?\",\n \"Product: World War II true story of a lone Navy serviceman fighting for his survival on Japanese-occupied Guam. Starring Jeffrey Hunter with Marshall Thompson and introducing Barbara Perez.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: A very fine movie.\\n\\nReview: Jeffrey Hunter stars in this incredible true story of a lone Navy serviceman fighting for his survival on Japanese-occupied Guam during WWII. As Pearl Harbor is attacked, Navy radioman George Tweed (Hunter) finds himself trapped on the island of Guam. All other military personnel have either been killed or have surrendered to the invading Japanese forces. Eluding capture, he alone must now find a way to evade the forces that hunt him down relentlessly in this suspense-packed action thriller. I was very pleased with the respect that was given to the people of Guam who despite the danger to themselves....helped an American Sailor. Due to the help he was given he survived to come back with an armed force to liberate the island and look for his friends. BTW, love the rooster. You'll see. Jeffrey Hunter really busted his acting chops for this one and was terrific.\",\n \"Product: Two best friends find their bond tested by the trials of postwar Italy's street crime and prison life in this neorealist classic from legendary director Vittorio De Sica (The Bicycle Thief). While shining shoes for a living and dreaming of buying a horse of their very own, young Giuseppe and Pasquale are confronted by harsh reality when they are embroiled in a smuggling ring, quickly learning that innocence and childish dreams can only last so long in a world in turmoil. Winner of an honorary 1948 Academy Award (a first for a foreign film), this groundbreaking look at children coming of age against the steepest odds remains a moving, unforgettable experience in world cinema.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Some amazing young performances.\\n\\nReview: Masterfully revealing post-WWII Italy, Academy Award-winning director Vittorio De Sica (The Bicycle Thief) depicts the lives of two boys. But after the boys are sent to a brutal state juvenile detention center for a crime they didn't commit, their lives are changed forever. I can truthfully say that from the moment that I did see the very beginning of this impressive movie, I knew I would be sad. This is a very harsh movie and it is filmed in just that way to accent that harshness. This is a hard look at what happened to children when the parents let them go. Granted this was after WW2 but still these boys parents should have been strung up for negligence. I always had the impression these were all good kids but the parents were too locked up in themselves. The boys performances are all brilliant. I will recommend this movie to all of those who need to know that children can be saved when not tossed away. Subtitled, so be aware.\",\n \"Product: It's Spring Break and the students of Tennyson College are heading for sunny Florida. They've got a cool drib, a power boat, and a pool just off the beach. It's all going great until friends start to disappear, one by one. A twisted stalker is slicing through the student body, and as the body count rises, suspicions turn towards each other. Joey Lawrence (\\\"Blossom\\\"), Chad Allen (\\\"My Two Dads\\\") and Jeff Conaway (\\\"Taxi\\\") star in the thriller with sun, surf and slaughter!\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Debate over 1 or 2 stars\\n\\nReview: What were Joseph Lawrence and Chad Allen thinking? 2 of my favorites. How di they get involved in this tedious film. Even as slasher films go this is a pig and I like slasher films. There is usually some sort of something different that will pull you in, good characters good acting or directing....this missed everything. Joseph Lawrence looked sensational totally buff and so did Chad Allen and that is why 2 stars. The acting was awful, the plot tedious the girls were the epitome of bitchiness (why?) toss in Jeff Conaway as a tortured FBI agent who lost his daughter and the usual bigoted Florida cops that arrests the black guy, just because and you have a movie where you care about nobody. They are vapid and ridiculous stereotypes (which most movies have) but these youwere hoping would get chopped into tiny bits. Jeff Conaway was never an actor...so why??? So unless you want to see Jospeh and Chad looking great in tank tops don't bother. Sorry this was so long.\",\n \"Product: A Japanese horror film.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: The Manster is good schlock!\\n\\nReview: So, color me shocked, don't get me wrong but I love my 50's and 60's horror movies because they are such fun. The exception happens now and then when the are uber cheesy and just bad. This does not fall into that category at all. This is a fun movie with fun dialog and a fun story while being thoughtful and sometimes scary at a few moments. Is the a cheesy movie, you bet it is but it is good cheese. We hae an American journalist in Japan who meets up with a Japanese mad scientist and The scientist thinks that he is perfect for an experiment and so secretly does him with a mad formula! Of course, the acting is what you will expect and the story is too but really just have a good time with it, don't judge it by any other standard.\",\n \"Product: SAMURAI, THE\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Interesting but so confusing.\\n\\nReview: A shape-shifting cross-dressing psychopath wielding a samurai sword cuts a bloody swath of carnage through a small German village in this surreal mix of violence, sexual desire and dark comedy that recalls early David Lynch. To go from here and tell you what this was about or why it was about is very difficult. I was never a fan of David Lynch and this odd movie was really odd. I get that it is a shape shifter and a cross dresser but its purpose was never really explained, did he have a crush on the young cop? I'm using the term it because I believe it is a werewolf, I think. Was he just on a killing spree? I don't know and if it was said I didn't get it. This is a German movie about a werewolf, cross dressing samurai? I am very confused. I was at sometimes intrigued but still confused. I don't know who to recommend this to or if I should. I did think the dynamic between the young cop and the shape shifter was interesting but needed to be threshed out a bit more.\",\n \"Product: Matt (Milo Ventimiglia) has just graduated college. Time to join the work force and be an adult, right? Not! His best friend, Peter (Eddie Kaye Thomas) and wild school buddies convince him to winter in Aspen instead. This hilarious no holds barred vacation takes an unexpected turn when Matt falls in love with Michelle (Maggie Lawson) and must decide between money and career or following his heart. Buckle your bindings for the coolest party fest of the year!\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Nothing earth shattering but still entertaining.\\n\\nReview: Matt (Milo Ventimiglia) has just graduated college. Time to join the work force and be an adult, right? Not! His best friend, Peter (Eddie Kaye Thomas) and wild school buddies convince him to winter in Aspen instead. Matt falls in love with Michelle (Maggie Lawson) and must decide between money and career or following his heart. That is the story, I amended it because the description had the word \\\" hilarious\\\" in it and it WAS NOT. If this was supposed to be some kind of Rom-com, it fell way short. It was cute and that is the bet I will go. The cast was wonderful and I am a huge Milo fan, this guy never got the recognition or he just made bad choices, but I like him. There is nothing special about the story. but it is a sweet little movie with the standard characters. I didn't love it but didn't hate it either, so if you have some time to kill it is seriously ....okay.\",\n \"Product: Drama.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Lovely story and good performances make this something to see.\\n\\nReview: Our main character is Kennedy (Jimmy Tuckett) he lives in a very small suburban community and wants to be a rock star. He has such a difficult time keeping the band together virtually by himself because the rest of the band just phones it in. The manager is Kennedy's brother and as time goes by kennedy begins to have his doubts about how he is managing the band. This is a low budget indie and I have to say that I was loving it through and through. The characters have been defined and the actors and quite competent. Totally did enjoy the story as it unfolded and I think you may too. The bumps in the road for Kennedy and how he tries to keep things afloat with the help of the girl he works waiting tables with who has a crush on him and sometimes to high to climb but worth following. I do recommend this movie and hope you enjoy it.\",\n \"Product: A love story about two imperfect teenagers who find perfect love. The film follows the story of two teenagers from different worlds--Mark Deloach and Dori Lawrence--as their lives quickly spiral out of control. The rebellious but privileged Mark delves into dangerous antics resulting in a nearly fatal drunk driving accident, and Dori Lawrence, a wild actress and singer slowly loses touch with reality as she suffers from schizophrenia. Forced to straighten out their lives, Mark is sent to join the Marines and Dori is admitted into a mental hospital. In the midst of life's chaos, Mark and Dori are drawn to each other, recognizing their mutual desperation for love and understanding. Despite pressure from both their friends and family to keep their distance, they maintain their bond. While they fail to fix what's broken in each of their lives, they find comfort in each other's faults and have faith that their unconditional love will eventually heal their deep seeded wounds.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Well worth the trip stateside.\\n\\nReview: first lets talk about the cast. Rachel Leigh Cook, never a fan of hers BUT she plays a schizophrenic in this and does it pretty well. Val Kilmer as a drill instructor in the Marines, trying to make a man out of Jonathan....great! The rest of the cast very, very competent. And no surprise to me, Jonathan Tucker is a marvel. I confess to being a huge Jonathan Tucker fan because it doesn't matter what movie he has done, I have seen it and been floored by him. It is 1980 he is a teenager and he messes up and his dad arranges a deal...jail or Marines. He meets loony bin Rachael and well for some reason sparks fly. I didn't love it because he never seems to be able to accept that he isn't helping her by removing her from places that are trying to help her. he doesn't get that she is a little nuts and needs therapy and pills. His character seems to be very bright and that whole \\\"blinded by love\\\" crap annoys me.\",\n \"Product: Tony Curtis, Frank Lovejoy, Mary Murphy. Four Marines investigate rumors of a secret Japanese minefield, but with sketchy intelligence and the odds against them, they'll need a miracle to pull off the mission. 1954/color/90 min/NR/fullscreen.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Ridiculously dumb and very stupid and insipid.\\n\\nReview: First of all, big Tony Curtis fan here. Now to tell you about this drivel. We get info from a French Planter on an island who knows of a possible strike against our navy. The brass sends 4 guys????Yep, 4. to find out if the info is good. The sergeant is sketchy at best and the 3 other guys don't like him. Tony is downright hostile to him. Along the way the number dwindles in stupid ways. What soldier is going to get caught in these circumstances. Now for the worst part, we get to the Plantation guy and he has to bring his daughter and some ridiculous crush happens between her and Tony but she tries to help the sarge and gets Tony Jealous. Very stupid idea as a sub-plot and then she hurt her ankle and the message must get through but Tony won't go he sits with her and her sore ankle????!!!!!! Really! you will sacrifice the navy for the girl!!!!! Very stupid and I would never watch it ever again.\",\n \"Product: Just a Question of Love follows the whirlwind romance of two young men in different stages of coming out. The film paints a heartbreaking portrait of the difficulties that befall a relationship when one man lives proudly out of the closet, while the other has created a double life to please his parents.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Love should just be!\\n\\nReview: Once in a while a movie comes along that just speaks to you. \\\"Just a Question of Love\\\" is just one of those movies, I'm not saying that this was the life that I have had but I can relate on many levels. First what a wonderful story and so well written, kudos to the director and the writer. What can I say about a terrific story that has some really wonderful actors bringing that story to life. I will say that each of the support players are excellent in their assigned parts. The performances by Syrille Thouvenin as Laurent, the closeted gay agriculture student, whose parents would disown him if they knew and Stephan Guerin Tillie as Cedric who is his mentor and eventually his lover. These 2 men are outstanding, they give life and emotion to these characters created by Christian Faure. For anyone who sometimes find love complicated, here is a movie for you. Cdric's mother is pivotal. Love should just be.\",\n \"Product: The Emperor Caligula has gone mad. Murdering his sister's husband for conspiracy, he exiles her and takes her son Lucius, who begins his historical legacy as Nero. Revenge, bloodlust and deception haunt Nero's rule. Afraid and paranoid, Nero eventually faces his own army as an enemy and falls victim to the Rome he once ruled.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Fanciful and entertaining but not very likely it is historical.\\n\\nReview: The Emperor Caligula has gone mad. Murdering his sister's husband for conspiracy, he exiles her and takes her son Lucius, who begins his historical legacy as Nero. Revenge, bloodlust and deception haunt Nero's rule. Afraid and paranoid, Nero eventually faces his own army as an enemy and falls victim to the Rome he once ruled. the first thing you may want to know is that even though I am not a history major, I did some real flaws in this more fictional tale. Having said that I will say the I was nonetheless entertained once I sectioned it into the fiction column. The performers were all adequate and did the job. The bigger scenes were effective. As long as you go at this movie from a pure entertainment role, you will be okay with it. If you are a hardcore purist of history.....not so much.\",\n \"Product: Action\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: WEll, it was what it was. The last 30 mins was painful.\\n\\nReview: From 1979 we have a disaster movie not done by Irwin Allen. We have a fire caused by a disgruntled employee who was passed over for a promotion at a Chem/petrol/oil complex that the corrupt mayor allowed to happen right in the middle of town. Quite a cast to be sure, Leslie Nielsen, Henry Fonda, Shelley Winters, Ava Gardner, Barry Newman, Susan Clark and James Franciscus. The acting is what you would expect from an old disaster movie but allow me to say that the worst casting was an aging Ava Gardner as the alleged host of a news show and she is supposed to be a ravishing thing.....not at all and I loved Ava in so many things. She was ravishing back in the day but not here. The ending when we have to evacuate the hospital and its patients is wayyyyyyyyyy too long. I guess they ran out of story and stretched the end out to impossible agony.\",\n \"Product: When Steve Reeves caused a sensation in Hercules, Italian producers were quick to search for other American actors to fill the beefcake quota in sword-and-sandal films. One of the first of these was Mark Forest, a Brooklyn-born bodybuilder known as \\\"The Adonis with the Perfect Physique,\\\" who went on to make a dozen mythical muscleman movies. In one of the best, Son of Samson, he shows up in the ancient Egyptian city of Tanis where the evil Queen Smedes (Folies Bergere dancer Chelo Alonso) is making it tough for the common folk. A spectacular tale of strength and seduction, presented in lustrous color and scope with the original theatrical trailer! PLUS a bonus feature, Son of Cleopatra, in which Mark Damon (the young romantic lead of Roger Corman's House of Usher) stars as El Kabir, an Egyptian Robin Hood who fights for his people against the oppressive rule of Rome. Co-starring Italian bombshell Scilla Gablel (Mill of the Stone Women). Three hours of bicep-straining action on one special two-sided DVD!\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: if you like these movies....go for it. you know what to expect.\\n\\nReview: First I have to warn you, no matter how badthese Italian Sword and Sandal epics are that won't matter to me, I still get a kick out of them. for instance: Unusually bad acting, unusually bad dubbing, unusually bad story and why do they always have to wrestle a lion? Machiste the hero just looks really cocky. the dialog is truly criminal and where was this shot? Certainly not in Egypt as it says in this movie. mark Forest is without a doubt one of the best there was at these movies, incredible perfect physique and very handsome. So there you have it, if you like these movies....go for it. Oh and the bad guy woman, Chelo Alonso....simply awful. The second feature has Mark Damon as the son of Cleopatra, interesting enough but didn't grip me.\",\n \"Product: Fresh out of College, Heck Prigusivac (Jonathan Tucker) finds himself stuck in his hometown, where the biggest industry is the local jail. As a result of the Prigusivac predisposition for murder - Heck's late father called Death Row \\\"home\\\", and now his estranged brother Chick (Jeremy Renner) is behind bars- finding a \\\"proper\\\" job proves difficult. Desperate, Heck takes a job known as a \\\"Closer\\\" at the prison. Only after he falls for Chick's ex-girlfriend, the convicted murderess Dori (Walk the Line's Ginnifer Goodwin) also on Death Row, does he realize: he is the Executioner! Now, caught in a lustful, twisted love triangle, Heck discovers that perhaps he isn't so different from Chick. After all, the only way he can get the girl is if one of them winds up dead.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Dark comedy from a very dysfunctional family.\\n\\nReview: Let me tell you how much I enjoyed this little unknown movie. This dark comedy with dramatic overtones is a gem. Jonathan Tucker is the crown that the gem rests on. Why he has never made it huge is beyond me. He has a college education in spite of the family predilection toward murder, his brother is on death row and his father was already put to death....where is the comedy? Jonathan Tucker can't get a job except as the executioner in the prison! the dialog between every character is priceless. His mom is dying from drinking and smoking, he falls in love with the only woman on death row who also happens to be his brothers girlfriend. I loved the performances, Jeremy Renner plays the brother. But how can this lead to anything? check it out, really!\",\n \"Product: In the woods outside of a small town, a hideous witch lures children to her crumbling home where she steals their teeth, butchers their bodies and curses their souls to wander the Earth forever.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Take it or leave it.\\n\\nReview: I think this is just barely okay. I wasn't thrilled but I wasn't totally bored either. What happens when you take a drug addicted couple make them vampires and give them a brand new addiction? Here is the answer. Sometimes rude and crude, lots of gore and lots of sex too. Jeremy Sisto as the \\\"coven\\\" leader who is in charge of this gaggle of vamps. he is pretty good and has lots of fun changing accents thru the entire movie. My primary reason for getting this movie was for Matt Keeslar, love him to death and he just never made it and I don't know why. if you have $5 to toss away (no more) and 88 minutes that you feel you can lose, check it out otherwise you won't have missed some kind of optimal event.\",\n \"Product: Four friends, on their way to a Halloween wedding, get into a horrifying car accident in the middle of nowhere. Searching for help, they come across an desolate, mysterious farm. Unbeknownst to them, the friends' presence awaken an ancient evil and creatures of the night awaken - and the undead rise. A night of relentless horror begins.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: i can't recommend this just because there are so many things in question.\\n\\nReview: Four friends, on their way to a Halloween wedding, get into a horrifying car accident in the middle of nowhere. Searching for help, they come across an desolate, mysterious farm. Now I get this is a low budget type indie movie and I love those BUT even I draw the line at sometimes. The Tom Noonan thing with the off camera narration? what and why????We never get where these bats came from and the kids did not awaken them. The whole thing takes place in a barn...okay I'm good with that. The stock kid characters okay I can deal with that, the predictablility of this whole thing I just can't, I saw the ending coming a mile away. I wanted to like it but it didn't try hard enough. I even liked the whole if the bat bites you, you will come back as the undead, thing. Very easy to kill though.\",\n \"Product: A GROUP OF JADED HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS SIGN UP FOR A DEBATE CLASS TAUGHT BY A TOUGH, COMBATIVE TEACHER FROM A GEORGIA MILITARY ACADEMY WHO TEACHES THEM THAT LIFE IS DEBATE & DEBATE IS WAR.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Brilliant ensemble cast of young actors.\\n\\nReview: What a brilliant cast! This group of young people are all outstanding. 10 young actors and not a bad apple in the bunch. This is one of those stories that is told to us and we don't need anything blowing up or the like. The stories by each of these kids is compelling and draws you in. I would be very hard pressed to choose any of these actors that shines but if I had to....Daniel Letterle and Billy Kay. They were awesome. But again everyone delivered. The older cast, too, delivered but was almost incidental. A teacher breaks his debate class into 5 groups of 2 and the interaction is what drives the stories. The los of the one star? Well, I loved Dale Midkiff as the debate teacher BUT the side story of him and his father (Beau Bridges) was annoying. Sorry, the kids stories were the more compelling.\",\n \"Product: In this nonstop action adventure thriller, a brutal secret order known as \\\"Pugnus Dei\\\" is on a lethal mission for justice. Determined to recruit a traumatized soldier, the group will stop at nothing to achieve its goals. With a stellar cast that includes The Mummy's Arnold Vosloo, Death Train is packed with flying fists, martial arts battles and dark secrets that will have you at the edge of your seat!\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Good for killing some time and somewhat enjoyable too.\\n\\nReview: a brutal secret order known as \\\"Pugnus Dei\\\" is on a lethal mission for justice. Determined to recruit a traumatized soldier, the group will stop at nothing to achieve its goals. Let me say for the record, I know what I was getting ito when I got this movie. I knew it was going to be chock full of bad acting, but it wasn't that bad and the story was going to be bad, but it wasn't at all. The action and the story were pretty good to me. I really liked the karate friar.....played by Stephan Bieker, he was a good fighter and a decent action star and his acting was pretty good. The rest of the cast was fairly good too. I will say that for those who like a more cheesy action movie this is one for you. This will kill some time on that rainy afternoon.\",\n \"Product: Charlie is an ex-teacher turned reluctant call-center employee who gets fired on the first day. Distraught and unable to provide for his family, he partners up with Gus, an aspiring scam artist, on a seemingly snag-free plan to make some cash: blackmail Reverend Smalls, a man of the cloth, who has frequently turned up in a database of visitors to illegal adult websites. With the help of Gus' ex, a one-time pageant queen, the plan moves ahead... but it all goes wrong as Reverend Smalls dies, thanks to this trio. And that's just the beginning of their troubles...\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: I was surprised at how much I liked it\\n\\nReview: Well, bust my britches...I can't believe how much I liked this movie! I love Simom Pegg so I thought why not! But David Schwimmer??? Wowie...basically the is a 3 person movie with others dribbled in for good measure and these 3 need money so they plan to blackmail a reverend and Simon, David and Alice Eve just get into more and more trouble. Things happen, things don't happen that should. I rolled my eyes so many times that these poor souls just can't get it right and the lies Alice and Simon tell all the time. Poor David just wants money for his family...robbing isn't the way but.....Very enjoyable, wonderful performances and a good story all around well worth the look-see.\",\n \"Product: An ex-federal agent lifts weights, learns martial arts and becomes a superhero called the Jaguar to nab the drug lord who killed his family.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Watch at your own risk.\\n\\nReview: Why? This is a movie from the 90's so I didn't expect too much, but come on, it could have been a little better. the plot, such as it is...ex-agent who put away a bad guy and is living under the witness protection program finds out that the bad guy got away but is told you are in no danger and the bad guy kills his family and thinks they killed him. Overdone plat, but in some other films done so much better. here we have Maxwell Caulfield (Grease 2) with a 70's pornstar mustache (why?) he trains to go after the bad guys with a Chinese sensei (why?) he takes on the persona of his son's imaginary hero, jaguar (why?) Bad acting, bad fight scenes, bad plot, bad dialog, bad locations (the prison? is a warehouse?) really, just terribly bad. $5.00 I could have done better. the rest of the cast all awful, everyone. Why 2 stars you may ask? Maxwell Caulfield and Jason Leigh (I think) have great bods. BTW Linda Blair is in this too. No wonder she had no career!\",\n \"Product: Privileged teenager Jordan Wells finds himself expelled from prep school after taking provocative photos of his female classmates. Now enrolled in the local high school, he becomes helplessly blinded by the beauty of Shay Bettencourt, a stunning temptress from the other side of the tracks. She is everything he wanted, everything he needed, and nothing he expected. As the relationship heats up, Jordan finds himself wrapped up in the web of her fatal beauty and an accessory to murder twice.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Teen film noir is right on target.\\n\\nReview: Up front honesty...I got this film because one of the stars is someone that I can't believe Hollywood hasn't recognized as a truly great and talented actor. JONATHAN TUCKER. Consistently wonderful in everything I have seen him in and I can probably say I have seen all his movies. (When did I become a fanboy?) yes, he was terrific in this but so was everyone else and I do mean everyone. The writer and director did something wonderful here, they created a modern day Film Noir ( I love film noir) and gave it a teen spin and by golly...it worked. The Femme fatale, Nikki reed, so good. Michael O'keefe as the cop, so good. Jonathan Tucker...outstanding. Bravo to the rest of the cast. Seeing as this is a film noir type of movie I'm not giving anything away. Look at the product description.\",\n \"Product: A screenwriter suffering from writers block decides to lock himself in his apartment for 18 days in order to meet a career-making deadline. His script involves characters from his past, including a terrifying and disfigured clown. As cabin fever sets, he soon finds himself living in a world where whats real and whats fiction begin to cross lines with chilling and fatal consequences.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Rock solid okay movie. James gives it his all.\\n\\nReview: I can give it an okay, I can and feel good about it, too. I will admit to being a little bored at the start but then when I realized I was more or less watching someone have some kind of psychological meltdown (I think) I was able to look at it from a different perspective. I will say it was an interesting story for primarily a one man and sometimes 2 man and apparitions? show. I have always enjoyed James Van Der Beek a lot and I still do and I am so sad that he has never found that one role to push him into the light. The only other \\\"real\\\" character is his friend David played by the writer of this movie Darryn Lucio. he does a good job on both. This is one of those, you figure out type of movies and I won't really say which way I lean. did I love it, NO, did I hate it, NO. It really was one of those rock solid okay movies. Will I tell you to run out and get it, no I won't. If you see it somewhere on cable or on sale, no harm no foul.\",\n \"Product: PLAYROOM introduces us to Max, Jimmy, Norm, Nick and Jason at the age of eighteen. Friends since early childhood, they have bonded deeper than natural brothers. As eighteen-year-old men, we share with them their dreams, loves, and friendships as well as life s hopes and frustrations. We, once again, meet them at age forty and learn how their lives have unfolded as we experience their marriages, strengths and disappointments. Together they are capable of celebrating with each other their emotions in an open and honest fashion. The group is together now on their annual football weekend, this year in Philadelphia. While bonding and enjoying the vibrant nightlife, they become separated only to find a darkness they have never known. It becomes a struggle of life or death where everyone must pay the price.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Low budget doesn't have to mean no talent.\\n\\nReview: Really tough call on this one. I would actually like it to be 2.5 stars. This movie could have had real potential but aside from the 5 main men in the story, and not all of them were good but the rest of the cast was horrifically bad. Especially the guy doing the alleged torturing, he is just too campy to believe. This is also supposed to take place at two different times, when they are in college and then again when they are 40 years old??? I say where is that fountain of youth...they did not age a day. Nick and Jason are the men in trouble but they usually are. Max and Jimmy have to find them and they don't know they were kidnapped for a torture flick. The fifth friend doesn't have the time and Norm leaves. As far as acting goes, Max, Nick and Jason are the only ones who seem to even try which they should get kudos because the script, direction, production and pool of talent leaves a lot to be desired. Overall, I say pass on it unless you feel particularly masochistic.\",\n \"Product: After his father's sudden death, Dave Ford returns home with his girlfriend to attend the funeral. There he reunites with former best friends Emily and Brian Nicholson, now married and very wealthy. They offer to help Dave fix up his father's house and their friendship is instantly rekindled. But when Emily and Brian's unstable relationship turns violent, Emily runs to Dave for protection. Despite warnings from an old friend that Emily may not be who she appears to be, Dave can no longer resist his feelings for her. But the truth unravels, friendships are destroyed and jealousy explodes as Dave finds himself tangled up in a deadly game with no way out. DECEIT is a psychological thriller that tells a story of money, lies and obsession.\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: Can i go Minus 5 on this drivel.\\n\\nReview: After his father's sudden death, Dave Ford returns home with his girlfriend to attend the funeral. There he reunites with former best friends Emily and Brian Nicholson, now married and very wealthy. But when Emily and Brian's unstable relationship turns violent, Emily runs to Dave for protection. Despite warnings from an old friend that Emily may not be who she appears to be, Dave can no longer resist his feelings for her. Where to start to pull this garbage apart. With stars like Luke Mabley and Matt Long this should have been better. So Predictable and if you actually take 2 minutes you have to be able to figure out the juvenile and ludicrous plot/story/ending. Not to be a male chauvinist but the 2 women cops are so awful that if they were paid to appear in this dreck they should give the money back. They were atrocious. Let's hope they never work in film again. The men lead around by their you know what films are getting old and always depict men as stupid pointless creatures as this one does.\",\n \"Product: A random invitation to a halloween party sparks a bloodbath of mishap, mayhem and hilarity.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: An indie low budget gem. Such a lot of fun.\\n\\nReview: A random invitation to a halloween party sparks a bloodbath of mishap, mayhem and hilarity. This was the only description that was given for this movie....allow ne to expand on it, this was great. We get a basic nobody who by accident gets and invite to a Halloween party which turns out that it is really a Murder party thrown by a bunch of bored art types who intend to kill him in some artsy way. Now, I have never heard of anyone at all in this movie but the performances were a lot of fun and the story never waivers at all just keeps moving forward. It has a bunch of twists and turns and really does get bloody and gory so be prepared. This comedy of errors is well worth watching as a low budget indie gem. Are there a few over the top performances....sure there are and that is okay because some over the top acting is needed here. Get it and have fun.\",\n \"Product: Alpha Male is a story of family life, great love and devastating loss. Jim Ferris is the alpha male warm, charismatic, and successful, he is the consummate provider for his wife Alice and children, Jack and Elyssa. It feels as though nothing can touch the idyllic world he has created. But when he dies suddenly, grief, jealousy and dysfunction fill the vacuum until the family s tensions surface a decade later at Jack s 21st birthday party.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: This will make you feel great about your family!\\n\\nReview: Let's talk about your extremely dysfunctional families. If you think that yours is bad....check out this bunch. Here is what we have and I don't think any of this will be a spoiler. Dad who is the backbone of this bunch passes away, Mom not too strong and doesn't know how to deal, her sister moves in to \\\"help\\\" but she is a parasite. The daughter flips out and does something horrible and mom doesn't even react. The son thinks he should be in charge and acts out too. Mom meets another guy family hate3s each other til Jacks 21st birthday and all of it comes out. I was so annoyed at all the drama and pouting that went on that at times I almost turned it off. This is a sad and not happy movie. Would I recommend....if you are already depressed...no....you will cut your wrists. If you want to see a fairly good film and can put up with the crap of the kids especially jack, go for it.\",\n \"Product: Michael Barnes (Geoff Winter) is a guilt driven philanderer secretly harboring a dark and troubling incident from his youth. While continually struggling to overcome the recent death of his wife Katie (Lisa Adams), Michael makes an attempt to reconnect with his two very different estranged sons. Matt Barnes (Ron Lincoln) is Michael's adopted African American son. Matt has a highly successful career on Wall Street in Manhattan, but struggles daily with demons of drug addiction, as well as pending divorce from a marriage involving two beloved siblings. Kevin Barnes (Mike Williams) is gay, and struggles in a doomed, frightening relationship with his partner Danny (Douglas A. Hary), while he scrapes by barely making a living as a bartender in a gay disco. When the family learns their deceased mother has willed them the beach house they visited every summer in their youth, they all decide to visit the house to attempt to reconnect. However, tragic results ensue leading to a dramatic discovery, ending in a shocking family tragedy.\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: Geoff Wilner, should be very ashamed of this dreck.\\n\\nReview: Dear God in heaven, what a bad movie, bad story, very bad dialog, bad acting especially from Geoff Wilner, who plays the stricken husband of a wife who died of cancer and has 2 sons one adopted who is successful and one not too successful as a bartender in a gay bar. First all of that was so contrived and off-putting. The angry dad who has his own skeletons is a terrible device. The dad (I wondered how such a bad actor got this part, and guess what....he wrote and produced this dreck!)There are so many really annoying flashbacks to his wife...way too many. The dialog is so forced. No likable characters at all but maybe a bit to Mike Williams. Really bad acting moment....dad cries for a while....not a tear. I should love to get a refund on this but......my mistake. The only actor that may have a shot is Mike Williams, I hope the rest got out of the business!\",\n \"Product: Fed up with their mundane, ordinary lives, four wannabe thrill-seekers get more than they bargained for when they attend a wild rave in the California desert. Josh (Eric Christian Olsen) and his pals (Rider Strong, Bumper Stevens, Wayne Young) are up for some sex, drugs and rock and roll...not necessarily in that order. But these burning sands, it turns out, are home to some of the deadliest creatures known to man The Scorpions, a local biker gang led by sadistic, machete-wielding Dom (Dash Mihok). Soon, without warning, what began as a spirited road trip devolves into an agonizing battle for survival. Gorgeous Genevieve Cortese also stars in this masterpiece of mayhem about weekend warriors who are forced to become the real deal...or die!\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: It will keep me out of the desert.\\n\\nReview: When I got this movie, it was just because...no real reason I 5thought a good way to kill some time. I was so wrong. I grant you the characters are typical for this kind of movie and the plot is typical too but it is the young actors that make the difference here. I know it is the we should never have come to this place type of story but give it a shot, really. Young me go to a rave and tick off the locals. Go from there. The performances are whgat make the difference and they are all great, Eric Christian Olsen, Rider Strong, Bumper Robinson and Wayne Young. the female lead is terrific too and she is Genevieve Cortese. The bad guy and he is bad and threatening and scary is Dash Mihok. Gie this movie a shot. some violence and a few other things make this not for kids at all, late teens and up.\",\n \"Product: Jesse Metcalfe (TV's \\\"Desperate Housewives\\\") stars in this horrifying thriller about a man who cons himself into a mental hospital in order to break out his beloved sister. Once inside, he discovers that a doctor (Peter Stormare, Fargo) is mercilessly using his patients as lab rats and is turning them into bloodthirsty killers. Trapped inside an inescapable labyrinth, will they find a way out before the relentless cannibals hunt them down?\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: I found if very entertaining.\\n\\nReview: Once again I find myself pleasantly surprised. Jesse Metcalfe in a movie that I was really into except for a few things that were kind of silly. The prime silliness being who would have themselves committed to a sanitarium to visit your sister? Looking past that we have Jesse doing just that because he can't get any info on her and he thinks that there are some serious shenanigans going on and boy is he right. It is an interesting story about a mad scientist experimenting on the charges in his care and creates something out of this world, not alien just different. I will say that this was a pretty good movie for what it was, I was no citizen kane but it did keep my attention and entertain me.\",\n \"Product: Spain released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: it WILL NOT play on standard US DVD player. You need multi-region PAL/NTSC DVD player to view it in USA/Canada: LANGUAGES: English ( Dolby Digital 2.0 ), Spanish ( Dolby Digital 2.0 ), Portuguese ( Subtitles ), Spanish ( Subtitles ), WIDESCREEN (1.66:1), SPECIAL FEATURES: Black & White, Interactive Menu, Photo Gallery, Scene Access, Trailer(s), SYNOPSIS: The second film of director Martin Ritt with both Paul Newmanand Sidney Poitier, it's set in a city that has long been a haven for black musicians eager to escape the racism of the U.S. Newman is Ram Bowen, a trombone player who makes his living in a jazz group, which also includes tenor man Eddie Cook (Sidney Poitier), while studying music and aspiring to a career as a 'serious' composer. Eddie stays in Paris to bask in the respect that its people feel for his music, a respect rarely accorded him in the States. A pair of tourists, Connie Lampson (Diahann Carroll) and Lillian Corning (Joanne Woodward) arrive in the city for a two-week vacation, and the two musicians lose no time in hooking up. Soon both relationships take a serious turn and the musicians are forced to make some important decisions about the possibility of returning to their native soil. SCREENED/AWARDED AT: Oscar Academy Awards, ...Paris Blues\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Stars, movie, music, what more do you want.\\n\\nReview: What a cast and what wonderful music and what a wonderful movie. Paul Newman, Sidney Poitier, Joanne Woodward, Diahann Carroll and the great Louis Armstrong. I am not what you may call a huge jazz fan, I do like a lot of it but don't go out of my way for it. This movie is awesome with the music and it is definitely worth just listening to it. Paul and Sidney live in Paris because of the jazz surroundings and the freedom to be who you are. Along come tourists Joanne and Diahann and woo the 2 gentlemen in question. Paul is the very blas of the 2 and for him it is all about the music and everything else including women come in a very distant second. Just to sit back and watch this movie and the performances and music is awesome and should be experienced.\",\n \"Product: SPEED RACER: THE NEXT GENERATION - THE FAST TRACK marks the second film for Next Generation, which builds on the legendary adventures of the original iconic series. Get ready for non-stop, fast-paced action as Speed, Conor and Lucy prepare for the next big race, the Redwood Rally. All seems to be going well until strange things begin to happen on the virtual track, including blinding leaves, falling acorns and a menacing Giant Conor. Clearly someone's been tampering with the virtual programming, but Speed and the gang are hot on the trail to solve the mystery. Annalise, the daughter of evil billionaire Zile Zazic, sets out to spy on Speed's investigation. And before you can say \\\"Go, Speed Racer,\\\" they both get caught up in a freak accident that leaves them trapped inside the malfunctioning virtual world with a hungry high-tech virus closing in fast! In order to get them out alive, everyone will have to put their differences aside and work together in a fast and furious race against time. But just when it seems like the day is saved, there is one last - and very big - surprise as the real and virtual worlds collide!\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Liked some aspects and didn't like others?\\n\\nReview: Big cartoon fan. I think I may have missed something....I am going to guess that this is the original Speed's son? Now I get the whole computer generated thing and I am fine with it but don't get too caught up with the whole total electronic thing, we will lose something for sure. Moving on, I liked Speed Jr. and his team and I guess too that the Spridle who is the school principal is the old spridle? I am guessing a lot. The addition of \\\"X\\\" whatever his capacity is, is a good one. Now X's girlfriend is the spoiled rich girl that hates Speed and everything to do with him, I can live without this character...and why would X date this girl? No redeeming qualities. I liked it but didn't like this.....you have to figure it out!\",\n \"Product: When 15-year-old Owen (Alex Linz) meets Congressman Lawrence Connor (Steven Weber) at his middle-school graduation, the bookish, friendless boy is flattered to be offered a junior position with Connor`s senatorial campaign. Owen befriends the congressman`s young nephew, Caleb, and as his involvement in the campaign grows, Owen`s innocence is shattered as he discovers the dark underbelly of politics, where business and politics share more than financial interests, and idealism and innocence rarely go unpunished.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Stunning and frightening that this is how I also view politicians.\\n\\nReview: When 15-year-old Owen (Alex Linz) meets Congressman Lawrence Connor (Steven Weber) at his middle-school graduation, the bookish, friendless boy is flattered to be offered a junior position with Connor`s senatorial campaign. Owen befriends the congressman`s young nephew, Caleb, and as his involvement in the campaign grows, Owen`s innocence is shattered as he discovers the dark underbelly of politics, where business and politics share more than financial interests, and idealism and innocence rarely go unpunished. That was the synopsis given. Here is mine. Alex Linz, not seen by me since Home Alone 3, was wonderful as the star struck politics loving kid. Steven Weber is skeevey as the sleezy politician and the bright spot of Escher Holloway (pure talent). I am frightened because I believe this to be a true and real account of politicians. They are in it for what they can get and the whole \\\"we the people\\\" thing no longer exists. The end disappointed me but I think this is what had to be. We have no \\\"bill of rights\\\" or a \\\" constitution\\\" anymore.\",\n \"Product: WHAT MATTERS MOST is an award winning, poignant, modern-day Romeo & Juliet love story that deeply affects the lives of two divergent families and denizens of a small border town in west Texas. Despite different backgrounds and disapproving parents, a working-class teen falls in love with the wealthy son of a prominent family. A forbidden love, a tragic accident and a devastating consequence give way to the uplifting power of trusting yourself and following your heart.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Very good but very rough\\n\\nReview: Let me be really honest here, there were things about this movie that disturbed me, not sure why, I have seen it in other movies but for some reason....caused me problems. Chad Allen, totally love him, plays a great part as the son of an abusive, take no prisoners type of father (except of course not with his daughter) causing him to drink and just act out against dad. He gets whipped and gets hurt all due to his father. The mother keeps quiet and the siste3r just covers her ears. The performances were convincing and the story was very good, too. Chad Allen should be such a major star, he really should be. This is a movie about a good many harsh subjects including teen pregnancy and all this in a small Texas town. Very harsh but very good.\",\n \"Product: A recent college grad spends his final summer with a girl and her adventurous boyfriend before heading into a job his father wants him to take and along the way realizes what he wants more out of his life. Based on the novel by Pulitzer Prize Winning Author Michael Chabon.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Bravo and more bravos.\\n\\nReview: A recent college grad spends his final summer with a girl and her adventurous boyfriend before heading into a job his father wants him to take and along the way realizes what he wants more out of his life. Once in a while you come across a small movie that is BIG, this is one of those movies. Pure story and what a good story it is, I loved the beginning, the middle and especially the end. This cast is outrageously talented and had me in their grips from start to finish. Let me caution you dear reader, this is story, some fun, some laughs but this is story. This very talented cast was totally held together by someone I don't think I have ever seen before, Jon Foster.....I love this guy....what a very special actor he is. I loved the curves that were tossed out now and them and you have to look closely for most of them. One of my very favorite films in a long time.\",\n \"Product: Jannicke wakes up in the hospital. All of her friends are dead. As she walks through the dark corridors, she thinks she is left alone. But the nightmare isn't over yet..... This is the deluxe version with glossy slipcover. It is marked Region-3, but is guaranteed to be all-region and playable in the USA.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Reminiscent of Halloween 2, hospital locale but still very effective.\\n\\nReview: Well, we have here the very rare sequel to a movie that i did like with a sequel that I did like too. I will have to admit though that this reminded me very much of Halloween part 2 and that's okay because there were enough differences to not make me think....ripoff. It had enough to stand by itself. I did like the cast and even though we got the usual story of the cops not believing a word of her story and think that she killed all of her friends from the first film and she has to save the day once again with an assist from another survivor. Take my word for it, if you liked or even loved the first Cold Prey, you will certainly like or love this one too.\",\n \"Product: Cult filmmaker Jake West (EVIL ALIENS, RAZOR BLADE SMILE) and comic book writer/illustrator Dan Schaffer ('Dog Witch', 'The Scribbler') unite for this distinctively British horror comedy. When a group of young men--including Danny Dyer (THE BUSINESS, SEVERANCE), Noel Clarke (TV's DOCTOR WHO, ADULTHOOD) and Stephen Graham (THIS IS ENGLAND, PUBLIC ENEMIES)--descends upon a remote rural village, the lads look forward to a weekend of high jinks and male bonding. But their fun-filled break soon segues into a living nightmare when they discover that the village's female populous has succumbed to a mysterious virus that has turned them into ravenous creatures with a penchant for male flesh...\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Misongynists and the lady zombies that love them.\\n\\nReview: A group of guys head off for a boys weekend to buck up a friend still depressed over a painful divorce. Unfortunately, they end up in an isolated town infected with a bio-weapon that has turned all the women into the man-hating monsters. They are constantly running from hairdressers, nurses, schoolgirls and other iconic female figures. These guys are in various stages of being when it comes to women. This is like a nightmare come true. I thought it was very funny and the guys and the lady zombies were are terrific and perfect for the parts. There are the usual shenanigans but in the long run this cast, the writing , the direction are all spot on. I loved it and recommend it is you liked your zombies on the funny side. One small word of warning, the accents are very thick so you may have a bit of a problem following.\",\n \"Product: Shipwrecked on an uninhabited South Seas atoll, a Canadian nurse (Linda Darnell) and a young Marine (Tab Hunter) initially clash, but as the weeks turn into months, begin to see each other through different eyes and give in to their natural impulses. But when an RAF flyer (Donald Gray) crashes on the island, the tropical love story is complicated by that familiar bit of romantic geometry, the Eternal Triangle.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Lovely story and very good one too.\\n\\nReview: Shipwrecked on an uninhabited South Seas atoll, a Canadian nurse (Linda Darnell) and a young Marine (Tab Hunter) initially clash, but as the weeks turn into months, begin to see each other through different eyes and give in to their natural impulses. But when an RAF flyer (Donald Gray) crashes on the island, the tropical love story is complicated by that familiar bit of romantic geometry, the Eternal Triangle. Made in 1952, let me first say, what a handsome man Tab was. Linda was pretty gorgeous too. I loved the story and I loved how Tab was so much younger and Linda some older. The scenery was gorgeous, too. Why 4 stars and not 5. Well, 2 things really, no one would take Donald Gray over Tab Hunter! Ever! The second, Tab seems to be able to build anything from bamboo, we had a fully furnished home, plates, tables, chairs, you name it! Really!\",\n \"Product: Co-directed by Chang Cheh and Pao Hsueh-li, and written by Ni Kuang, Chang Cheh and Chin Shu-mei, The Delightful Forest revolved around the legendary hero Wu Sung (Ti Lung), who was sent to the prison in the Meng province after murdering his sister-in-law Lotus Pan and a local ruffian Hsi Men-ching. There he was acquainted with the prison officer Golden Eye Shih En (Tien Ching), who saved Wu from the baton punishment required for new prisoners. Knowing he had owed Shih a favor, Wu decided to offer any help in return. It turned out that Shih s restaurant Delightful Forest was taken by the local thug Door God Chiang Chung (Chu Mu), with the support from the Meng officials and military trainers. The furious Wu decided to get Shih s restaurant back at all costs...\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: I am a sucker for this type of movie.\\n\\nReview: Ti Lung, the star of this offering from the Shaw Bros. whom I love each and every movie they make, the fight scenes are superb and fun and reminiscent of the old time kung fu movies. Ti Lung is the star of this one, he has killed his sister in law and a bad guy named Tiger and he is the legendary hero named Wu Sung and he is off to prison after having surrendered. In prison he makes friends with the warden's son who needs his help to beat the bad guys who have taken over his town and businesses. I confess to a love of these kinds of movies so you will need to take that into account. Great fights, some story and well the dubbing is not great but it is fun. I prefer subtitles. So here it is.....if you love these kind of movies you will love this one too.\",\n \"Product: From director Alexandre Aja (The Hills Have Eyes) comes the new action thriller PIRANHA 3D. Every year the population of sleepy Lake Victoria explodes from 5,000 to 50,000 for Spring Break, a riot of sun and drunken fun. But this year, there's something more to worry about than hangovers and complaints from local old timers; a new type of terror is about to be cut loose on Lake Victoria. After a sudden underwater tremor sets free scores of the prehistoric man-eating fish, an unlikely group of strangers must band together to stop themselves from becoming fish food for the areas new razor-toothed residents. The film stars Jessica Szohr (Gossip Girl), Steven R. McQueen (The Vampire Diaries), Elisabeth Shue, Jerry O'Connell, Ving Rhames, Adam Scott, Richard Dreyfuss, Christopher Lloyd, and Kelly Brook.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Usual cast of characters but fun in spite of some bad performances (Eliz. ShUe)\\n\\nReview: Every year the population Lake Victoria explodes from 5,000 to 50,000 for Spring Break, a riot of sun and drunken fun. this year, there's something more to worry about than hangovers and complaints from local old timers; a new type of terror is about to be cut loose on Lake Victoria. After a sudden underwater tremor sets free scores of the prehistoric man-eating fish and boy do they look cool, we get the usual amount of dead teens and dumb party-ers. Of course there are the usual cast of characters who are the \\\"center\\\" of the movie (BTW, I love Jerry O'Connell, but he was annoying in this) and of course the usual chum in the water, too. With our intrepid band of heroes? you have the ones I refer to as the Red Shirt types that you know are doomed. Overall it is some fun and whoever told Elizabeth Shue that she could act? They were so wrong and she has tried to do many things, all with her customary bad acting. Oh and the 2 little annoying getting into trouble kids esp the smart mouth girl. I so wanted them to get eaten.\",\n \"Product: When two young couples venture into the desert for a sexy photo shoot, fun in the sun quickly turns into disaster after their car crashes into a ravine. Left with little water and without shelter, the couples are forced to ration supplies. As tensions rise, so does the heat in the isolated desert. Dehydrated, lost and hopeless, one by one the group begins to fall victim to the relentless elements. Miles away from civilization, suffering from delirium and dying of thirst, will anyone make it out alive?\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: I won't give my life to save you lady!\\n\\nReview: When two young couples venture into the desert for a sexy photo shoot, fun in the sun quickly turns into disaster after their car crashes into a ravine. Left with little water and without shelter, the couples are forced to ration supplies. And first of all, if you can't figure out who survives you have had a lobotomy. Each of these types of movies has the same ending. First after they crash, they just sit around for a couple days? Really? They are afraid one will die from the crash and it happens. To anyone reading this...spoiler.......right now. To anyone, I am not going to give my life for the lady of the piece! You get the same shot I have. I won't sacrifice my life to save you! Let's make that clear. Predictable, dull and annoying at times so it barely got 3 stars from me.\",\n \"Product: A comedy about miscommunication between the sheets! When Andy (Josh Meyers) hears his girlfriend Lauren (Krysten Ritter) sigh after sex, he panics and hilariously seeks advice from friends, porn stars and tantric experts. But when Lauren reconnects with her childhood crush, Daniel (Ian Somerhalder), and decides to take a job offer in Chicago, Andy realizes that unless he acts fast, he will lose the love of his life forever. Also starring Eugene Byrd, Jenna Jameson, Ken Jeong, James Kyson Lee, Kirk Fox and Lindsay Richards with James Hong.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: We've seen it a hundred times. But still some good laughs.\\n\\nReview: this is nothing that we haven't seen before. Guy thinks he is a sexual dynamo and actually pleasing his girlfriend when he suddenly realizes that he isn't. he goes and looks up his best friend and then they go and get all kinds of advice from all kinds of people. Josh Meyers is the guy in question and I seem to remember him for That 70's show, towards the end of the run. Anyway were there some pretty funny bits, yes there were. did it take a very odd serious turn? It did. As I said this is nothing we have not ever seen before. Would I recommend it? I will say yes because there were some things in it that were different.\",\n \"Product: A martial arts champ is lured to a desert fortress where he's to partake in an Olympic-like contest. When he finds out the contest is headed by a criminal mastermind--look out! He's quicker than a bullwhip, faster than a dart, stronger than a raging bull. This disc is expected to play back in DVD Video \\\"play only\\\" devices, and may not play in other DVD devices, including recorders and PC drives. This product is manufactured on demand using DVD-R recordable media.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Kill or Be Killed? I should have committed suicide\\n\\nReview: I am being so very generous here! I must be in a great mood today. Any other day and I would be stepping all over this movie. A martial arts champ is lured to a desert fortress where he's to partake in an Olympic-like contest. He then finds out the contest is headed by a criminal mastermind who happens to be German and has swastikas everywhere. He wants a team to take on his arch nemesis who happens to be Japanese and who he challenges to get his own group of fighters. That is the story in a nutshell and that is all it is. There is some pretty good fight scenes but awful acting and the story leaves much to be desired. It is totally predictable. We do get the requisite female that the hero is in love with and of course she is used as leverage. This was 1976 and I guess the helpless female was still a thing. I really would not recommend this except for a snowy cold night where you have literally nothing to do....at all.\",\n \"Product: When a team of scientists test an experimental drug that increases aggression in animals and humans, their biochemical lab explodes and a mutated nightmare escapes. Half African King Cobra and half Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake, Seth is pure evil. He's 30 feet long with a giant appetite for terror. Stars Pat Morita, Scott Brandon, Kasey Fallo\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: i can't believe I watched the whole thing.\\n\\nReview: When a team of scientists test an experimental drug that increases aggression in animals and humans, their biochemical lab explodes and a mutated nightmare escapes. Half African King Cobra and half Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake, Seth is pure evil. He's 30 feet long with a giant appetite for terror. This is the product description from this movie from 1999. Give this one a lot of wiggle room. Do not take this seriously in any way. the \\\"effects\\\" are terrible, the acting is awful (Scott Brandon and kasey Falid) you have to know you are in trouble when the movie stars...Pat Morita! ( I kept waiting for a \\\"wax on, wax off\\\".) One scene has a little girl sitting in a wooden chair in the middle of the woods??????? Why????? this is mostly \\\"D\\\" list stars....Courtney Gaines at the beginning playing an impatient scientist?????? Really?\",\n \"Product: The gorgeous rising French star Fanny Valette (Moliere, Little Jerusalem) leads a cast of sexy young actors in the riveting action suspense film High Lane. A group of friends on a climbing vacation ignore warnings that the mountains are closed and start their ascent anyway. Collapsing bridges, bear traps and other dangers threaten to splinter the groupwhen the real hell begins and an unseen villain begins picking them off one by one. Combining the heart-stopping suspense of Cliffhanger with the mortal dread of a serial killer, High Lane is certain to cure you of a fear of heights: who cares about the fall when it gets you away from a lunatic?\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: I do recommend this movie for sure.\\n\\nReview: We have 5 hikers in the Balkans and they want to go rock climbing on an established trail. When they arrive, they find that the way is blocked and no climbers are allowed. 2 are accomplished climbers and 2 try hard and the 3rd is the voice of reason who says, if it is closed, lets not go! Well it is the movie so they have to go anyway. We find out later something about the leader. They become trapped high on these Balkan mountains which in real life there have been many disappearances. They are trapped with a killer and let me say that there are few times that I get the crawling heebie jeebies but this movie did just that. The ending was interesting and should have played out differently but the last survivor got cold feet, you will see what I mean.\",\n \"Product: Alec Guinness plays Sir Edgar Fraser, a widowed Scottish aristocrat who decides that it is time to introduce his 20-year-old son to the opposite sex. This, he decides, must be done in Paris, the most romantic city in the world. So off they go, and Sir Edgar is determined to find a beautiful, spirited girl for his son. This he does, but complications arise when he finds himself falling for her. Matters become even more tangled when his son falls in love with the woman he has found for his father.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Very entertaining old movie.\\n\\nReview: Alec Guinness plays Sir Edgar Fraser, a widowed Scottish aristocrat who decides that it is time to introduce his 20-year-old son to the opposite sex. This, he decides, must be done in Paris, the most romantic city in the world. So off they go, and Sir Edgar is determined to find a beautiful, spirited girl for his son. This he does, but complications arise when he finds himself falling for her. Matters become even more tangled when his son falls in love with the woman he has found for his father. Very pleasant movie. All of the actors were spot on and credible. I love the story and the way it played out. the moral of the story....who knows what is in the heart or the mind of a woman.\",\n \"Product: Netherlands released, Blu-Ray/Region A/B/C : it WILL NOT play on regular DVD player. You need Blu-Ray DVD player to view this Blu-Ray DVD: LANGUAGES: English ( Dolby Digital 5.1 ), English ( DTS-HD Master Audio ), Dutch ( Subtitles ), WIDESCREEN (1.78:1), SPECIAL FEATURES: Interactive Menu, Scene Access, SYNOPSIS: Starring Sean Bean (Lord of the Rings), The Lost Future, is set in an exotic and dangerous future world where an isolated tribe battles for survival in a landscape overrun by mutated beasts carrying a mysterious and deadly illness. The Lost Future also co-stars Annabelle Wallis (The Tudors). ...The Lost Future (2010)\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: The stars make this movie\\n\\nReview: Well, I was pleasantly surprised. Sean Bean, of course, can do not wrong but his part in this isn't very big. We have a possible future for the human race which includes \\\"beasts\\\" men and women mutated into some king of savage beast (not a far stretch) If they bite, scratch or breathe on you, you will change too. There is a cure though created by the \\\"thinker\\\" of the cave bunch. Sam Claflin. It is up to him and Corey Sevier, the alpha hunter guy and his lady fair to get the cure and bring it back to his people who are trapped in said cave by a bunch of Beasts. If I am making light of it, that is not my intention it is just that I did enjoy the story and the acting is very good too. There are a few slow parts and they are kind of necessary to the story development. As I said this is a good way to spend an afternoon, check it out, you won't hate it.\",\n \"Product: Directed by Nick Copus. Starring Joely Richardson, Eddie Izzard, Brian Cox.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Sucks compared to the 1963 excellent version.\\n\\nReview: I truly loved the original movie from 1963 and had such high hopes for this modern and updated remake.....I was so disappointed. I mean the beginning started out with such promise, much like the original with the sky storm and the blindness that followed. Such a talented cast too and all were wasted. Dougray Scott, Joely Richardson, Jason Priestley etc and all that talent is wasted. As I said what began as a great start, deteriorated into the typical groups all vying for dominance over what is left of the world. Dull and not very well thought out at all. I made if for about 80 minutes before I got bored with how trite it was. Very formulaic and not to imaginative, Coker is now leading a band of blind people and handcuffs sighted people to them to protect them and send them out for supplies with the so-called good people holding guns on them????? When are film makers going to get it.....bigger is not always better, the story of the original was excellent and bare bones.\",\n \"Product: According to rock 'n' roll lore, age 27 is a fateful milestone. From Robert Johnson, Brian Jones, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison to Kurt Cobain, all stars we lost at this very age. World famous rock star Spyder (Kevin Zegers - Transamerica, Frozen) has achieved fame and fortune with a smash hit debut album. This blinding success however, is built on the Faustian pact that capitalized on the genius of his long lost childhood best friend and band mate, Eric Genson (Jason Ritter - NBC's The Event, Good Dick). Now Spyder retreats to his small hometown after his sophomore effort flops. Reconnecting with Eric after a seven year estrangement, the two recall their youthful ambitions and reexamine the choices they've made. Accompanied by the band's ambitious, fiery manager (Taryn Manning - Hawaii 5-0, Hustle & Flow, 8 Mile), the legendary music impresario August West (Peter Fonda - Easy Rider, 3: 10 to Yuma) and a raucous crew of musicians, they set off on a cathartic journey along historic Route 66 that brings them closer to each other, their history and their destiny. Fueled by a stellar rock 'n' roll soundtrack that includes songs by Nirvana, Bob Dylan, Iggy & The Stooges, Alice in Chains, Muddy Waters, The Violent Femmes, Howlin' Wolf, Jane's Addiction, and many more, The Perfect Age of Rock 'N' Roll fully captures the energy, rebellion, and thrills of the rock 'n' roll lifestyle.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Star performances from Kevin Zegers and Jason Ritter\\n\\nReview: I honest to god was really annoyed at the beginning, think9ing I was watching a movie about some irredeemable snotty rock star who hates everyone and is better that everyone. Spyder, played sensationally by Kevin Zegers, debut album made him a star, the songs on the album all stolen from his boyhood friend Eric, Played sensationally by Jason Ritter. spyder's 2nd album tanks and he looks for Eric to write him some songs for his 3rd album. Eric's condition is that they travel cross country in a slip stream mobile home, driven by the sensational Peter Fonda. Watch this for the ups and downs and the interactions within the group. Not for the kids, lots of language, sex and drug use. Great story, great music, great direction, great acting and what a terrific movie.\",\n \"Product: Six people, each on the road to self-destruction, wake up trapped in a surreal facility without knowing how they got there or why. Held captive by a mysterious man, the abductees are subjected to 'The Trials', a sadistic experiment in which they are forced to decide each other's fate over a nerve-racking game of dice.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Die as in one of a pair of dice. Suspenseful.\\n\\nReview: \\\"Saw\\\" with a couple twists. Dead end people are kidnapped and wake up in a series of cages in a basement of some kind. You see immediately who the killer is, so that isn't a mystery. He chooses 2 people from the cages, sits one down and the other has to roll a die (one dice) to come up with a number pertinent to the person in the chair, for example, take a gun roll the die, put that number of bullets in the gun and fire at the seated person etc. Did they die in the process of get \\\"reborn\\\" (survive). It was much better than I thought it would be and had some pretty good suspenseful moments. The actors were good as was the story. The mystery is \\\"why them?\\\" That does run in a similar vein to \\\"Saw\\\". I do recommend this movie, it did hold my interest. Would you roll the die?\",\n \"Product: Sent to a Gladiator retreat, HERCULES frustrates his fellow warriors with his arrogance, but when his rival CAPANEOUS schemes to poison Hercules, he must learn humility and devise a plan to survive a wrestling match in his weakened state...\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: As painfully bad as a kidney stone.\\n\\nReview: Sent to a Gladiator retreat, HERCULES frustrates his fellow warriors with his arrogance, but when his rival CAPANEOUS schemes to poison Hercules, he must learn humility and devise a plan to survive a wrestling match in his weakened state...This is the description given at the first page. Are the boys pretty enough, sure, do they finally have them do some actual flexing and posing, yes but the angle is pointed up and the sun obscures what is going on, see none of the muscle. No acting ability....anywhere and the same house is used again as all the other Cocteau movies. Just pointless and still let's toss in one bad actress so it doesn't appear too gay. Give me a break.\",\n \"Product: What goes around comes around for a pair of prank-playing tire salesmen (Sean Astin and Michael Vartan) who find themselves placed in secretarial jobs by their put-upon boss (David Cross). Now the two pranksters will have to climb their way back to the top.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: i don't see why the hate.....i though this was hysterical if not predictable.\\n\\nReview: I don't understand the real hatred of this movie. I found it to be a very cute movie. there were no surprises as far as the story or which way the characters were going to go. We have the 2 uber superior salesmen at a tire company. the are pretty much very mean guys and allegedly irredeemable. Michael Vartan and Sean Astin are pretty mean to just about everyone so you almost love the fact that they get their comeuppance. The primary target of the jabs is the company worm and yes you will dislike him too. Then we get the usual story of the 2 guys having a change of heart and becoming human beings. It had its funny bits and I did laugh quite a bit. Some the of situations were hysterical. I really don't get why some of the reviews are so negative I did enjoy this movie.\",\n \"Product: The day after soon-to-be valedictorian Henry Burke (Matt Bush) takes a hit of the chronic for the first time, his school principal (Michael Chiklis) institutes a zero tolerance drug policy and administers a mandatory drug test for all students. Henry has two options: fail and lose his college scholarship, or team up with his stoner friend Breaux (Sean Marquette) to beat the system. They steal a high powered ganja from law student-turned-drug-dealer Psycho Ed (Adrien Brody) and spike the school's bake sale brownies, getting the whole school--faculty included--completely stoned out of their minds. But with the student body getting higher and higher with every brownie, and a pissed-off Psycho Ed on their tails for stealing his stash, they must find a way to keep their half-baked plan from going up in smoke.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: High on this school.\\n\\nReview: The day after soon-to-be valedictorian Henry Burke (Matt Bush) takes a hit of a joint for the first time, his school principal (Michael Chiklis) institutes a zero tolerance drug policy and administers a mandatory drug test for all students. He enlists is ex best friend and current stoner to help him to fix this problem. What does Breuax come up with? Getting the entire school high on baked up brownies at the bake sale. Matt Bush is excellent as the straight A student and Sean Marquette is wonderful as the stoner but I have to say that for a teen comedy the entire cast was fun and very good. Even Michael Chiklis as the principal was having a good time. You have to see Adrian Brody...What?....What! He is hysterical. Kudos to all involved for a very entertaining and fun movie, some very good laughs to be sure. You have to like this kind of raunchy and drug comedy to get this and still laugh about it. I do recommend it for sure, everyone gets high at this school..\",\n \"Product: At a time when superheroes have lost all government and public support, tensions reach an all time high when a superhero by the name of Fridge becomes embroiled in a government conspiracy. Fridge, who has the ability to shoot deadly ice from his hands is in a funk after his girlfriend cheats on him with his civilian alter ego! Meanwhile his partner C-Thru, who possesses superhuman X-ray vision has captured Shrink, a super villain who murdered Fridge s parents. In order to regain the respect of a society that has lost all hope in superheroes, Fridge and C-Thru must work to resolve their own super problems before they can begin to worry about everyone elses.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Nothing special at all but has some nice performances and a lesson or two.\\n\\nReview: At a time when superheroes have lost all government and public support, tensions reach an all time high when a superhero by the name of Fridge becomes embroiled in a government conspiracy. Fridge, who has the ability to shoot deadly ice from his hands is in a funk after his girlfriend cheats on him with his civilian alter ego! Meanwhile his partner C-Thru, who possesses superhuman X-ray vision has captured Shrink, a super villain who murdered Fridge s parents. This is the basic plot, this very low budget movie hass some charming aspects but overall would I go out of my way to check it out? Not a chance. This cast is limited and they do all right. C-thru is trying to get back in good with the superhero community and the public who no longer needs them o a conspiracy is set in motion. I see the morals, trust, faith and revenge and some other emotions thrown in for good measure.\",\n \"Product: Piano prodigy Eli Bloom (Jesse Eisenberg, The Social Network, To Rome with Love) is on his way to the most important audition of his life, but first he has to drop his mother Penny (Oscar-winner Melissa Leo, The Fighter) off at drug rehab. Since she has to test positive to be admitted, mother and son end up at the door of her dealer Sprinkles (Tracy Morgan, 30 Rock) in search of one last score. But because Penny's in debt and Sprinkles is low on product, Eli unwittingly must play negotiator as the unlikely team hits the streets. A quinceanera, unruly sock puppet, and American Revolution reenactment are among the obstacles that stand in their way in this absurdly funny and revelatory adventure.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Quick, smart witty dialog.\\n\\nReview: I am going to go 5 stars on this movie for a variety of reasons. it is a smart movie with fast and snappy dialog. it has wonderful performances by all involved. it held my attention without guns or explosions. This is a tory of a young man who has the possibility to go off from home and become a great pianist...the one thing holding him back is his drug addict mother who finally wants to go to rehab and they won't take her...the reason, she had no drugs in her system. so off to get her drugs....and here comes a series of wacky and nutty happenings. I won't say more except, jesse Eisenberg....love him and he is always great, as the Mom, Melissa Leo she is sensational and Tracy Morgan and his partner....Hysterical.\",\n \"Product: Winner of the 2012 Cannes Film Festival Jury Prize, "The Angels' Share" is a comic fable about wasted talent and what happens when we are given a chance in life. It would be hard to see Robbie as a man worthy of redemption. He s constantly watching out for a gang of thugs looking to settle a family grudge, his girlfriend is giving birth to a baby while her father offers him money to leave Glasgow, and he s serving 300 hours of community service. But when Robbie meets Harry, the gruff but benevolent man in charge of his sentence, he finds a hidden talent for Scotch whiskey and a new chance at life. For distillers the angels share is the whiskey lost to evaporation each year, and that little fact makes a rare cask of whiskey the perfect target for a heist. A hilarious story about second chances, THE ANGELS SHARE is tender crowd-pleaser from legendary filmmaker Ken Loach ("The Wind that Shakes the Barley", "Kes") and screenwriter Paul Laverty.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Definitely check it out and enjoy but engage the sub-titles.\\n\\nReview: When I had seen that the people that made \\\"The Wind That Shakes The Barley\\\" I was seriously skeptical. Not a fan of that movie. But The fact that it was a Scottish film, I took the leap and am so very glad that I did. Robbie, is a problem, he gets into all kinds of fights with his nemesis and eventually ends up doing community service. there he meets a comical group of similar criminals all doing community service. Robbie has a gift as noted by harry in charge of the group, he can tell whiskey the way wine tasters do it. Well, what follows is a very amusing tale of this bunch not quite able to get away from their backgrounds and that involves and very old and newly discovered cask of whiskey worth a ton of money. This bunch is from Glasgow and have very thick accents, I have an Anglo-Saxon background and usually don't have a problem understanding any of the Scots, Irish or English but I did need the sub-titles for this one. The scenery is gorgeous and the story and acting is terrific. Very different.\",\n \"Product: THE BREAKFAST CLUB meets ZOMBIELAND in this head-busting zombedy. A group of teenagers trapped in detention fight for survival after their classmates turn into a ravenous zombie horde. Can a stoner, a jock, a bully, a goth, and a nerd put aside their differences for one night to take on the undead? Will they live to see the morning? Fat chance! This is High School after all.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Good laughs and some frights.\\n\\nReview: what a lot of fun this movie was. first of all let me tell you that the cast is absolutely perfect, we have the of course very diverse group of students, the nerd, the goth, the jocks and the teem queen and others. All of these kids get involved in the same class when a fellow student comes down with a case of zombie-ism and infects the teacher and well it all happens from there. Our intrepid students realize that something is wrong with the other students. They take refuge in the school library. There are many good laughs here and eve a few frights. I really enjoyed Jacob Zachar as the nerd. But to be honest the entire case is excellent. I recommend this movie to any fans of a fun time.\",\n \"Product: An outlaw who is brought up by the Comanche's falls in love with the daughter of a cruel rancher, all while on a search for a missing man. Presented in 4:3 pan and scan using the highest quality source material available. Presented in 4:3 pan and scan using the highest quality source material available.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: James, Jody and Alana try their best but they were never any good but.....\\n\\nReview: Let's start out by saying that James Mitchum, Alana Ladd and Jody McCrea are not up to snuff with their more famous sibs and dads. having said that and knowing that theses 3 are going to be very bad let's watch this movie with that knowledge and do what we can with it. it is the standard cowboy movie. Guns, Indians, land barons, pseudo preachers (God Bless, Chill Wills) and the new guy, Gary Conway. If not for Chill and Gary this could have been buried in the southwest desert. Gary is looking for his brother a soldier and along the way makes acquaintances with Jody, james and Alana and they all set out on the trail of the brother and to get away from her father.\",\n \"Product: Concluding the saga begun in Adam Green's hit 2006 thriller, Hatchet III follows the vengeful Marybeth (Danielle Harris) as she continues seeking out a way to destroy Victor Crowley (Kane Hodder), a hulking, seemingly-invincible sociopath rampaging through a sleepy Louisiana swamp. While a heavily-armed team of mercenaries takes to the bayou surrounding Crowley's home, Marybeth finds herself begrudgingly teaming up with a local policeman (Zach Galligan) and his ex-wife (Caroline Williams) - an expert on the maniac who may have uncovered the secret to ending his murderous rampage once and for all.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Please let this have run its course.\\n\\nReview: While a heavily-armed team of mercenaries takes to the bayou surrounding Crowley's home, Marybeth finds herself begrudgingly teaming up with a local policeman (Zach Galligan) and his ex-wife (Caroline Williams) - an expert on the maniac who may have uncovered the secret to ending his murderous rampage once and for all. Please let this end! The typical continues, I get they were trying to do an omage to the 80's horror movies but please, enough is enough. Danielle harris is still awful as the, still only survivor trying to get Victor for what he did to her father and brother in the first one. One clever thing in this look carefully toward the end in the canoe....saying no more. The acting has, believe it or not gone downhill with each movie. and the first wasn't too terrific.\",\n \"Product: NANCY MONROE's mother DENISE just got married -- and Nancy has a new stepbrother, VICTOR, a Goth guy who dresses in black, wears lots of sunscreen, apparently talks to his cat, and has the ability to cloud women's minds. So Nancy is convinced that he's a vampire -- but is she a paranoid wingnut, or is she the only person who sees Victor's true nature?\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Run away from this one\\n\\nReview: What can I say? Cute idea badly done. Let me say a few positive things first. The best lines come from the cat, truly. Judson Birza as Victor the main character has some promise, I think but don't judge him by this movie same goes for Nick Galarza as Jimmy. Lauren Greg as Lucy...very cute and does a pretty good job. Seth Austin as the loopy crazy kid, Renny Van Helsing is way over the top but oddly fun and sometimes funny. William McNamara not too bad as the Dad, Tracy Nelson is pretty bad as the Mom, Lynn Lowry as the Gestapo Principal of the school...truly awful. Joseph Rich as Mitch is pathetic he comes off as an idiot. finally, the lead female, Shae Landers, never let her perform EVER again. Bad, bad actress with disturbingly skinny legs (sorry it was distracting). the dialog is so bad and the conversations so forced it was making me uncomfortable. You have been warned.\",\n \"Product: A startling motive is revealed when psychotic killer Melvin 'Spider' Holiday stalks eight unsuspecting teenage victims along old Route 66. As they get further and further from civilization anxiety starts to build as each stop along the way proves stranger then the last until the group is lured to an abandoned amusement park with a horrifying past. Soon they discover that the park comes complete with broken down carnival rides, the smell of death and a killer ready to give them one ticket to hell.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Target audience for horror fans only.\\n\\nReview: First of all let me tell you this, there are no killer clowns as appears on the cover. 8 buds are on spring break and make the monumental mistake of going off the beaten trail and get lost. They have had a serial killer, Michael Copon on their tails for a very long time. I enjoyed Michael Copon and Michael Copon only. He was very menacing as the killer and I loved his nuances. HE chases the kids all over an old abandoned crappy circus. Some of the killings are pretty good and most are just routine. As for the kids, I didn't have a thought about any of them. It was one of those, oh, go ahead and kill them all movies. You need to be a die hard horror fan in order to really get anything out of this so that is the target audience.\",\n \"Product: A bullied high school student is suddenly befriended by his chief tormentor and together they face challenges that will change their lives forever.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: The reasons are clear\\n\\nReview: First, Bravo! This movie is a scathing attack on Bullying. it is a movie that many younger people should see. Kenton duty is excellent as the bully in question,Danny Flaherty is excellent as the object of his bullying. There are other events going on under the surface with Danny's grandmother and Kenton's brother which also serve to fuel this movie. the rest of the cast including Katherine McNamara et al are all superb and do a lot of credit to a topic that needs to be brought out in the open. This is handled in a very sweet and sometimes harsh way. As I said Bravo, because even in spite of the difficulty of the subject....you still learn the lesson and smile from time to time. Well worth seeing for the entire family.\",\n \"Product: Release Date : 31/10/2013 ---- \\nDistributor : United --- \\nGenres : Action --- \\nAspect Ratio : Anamorphic Widescreen 1.85:1 --- \\nLanguage : English 5.1, Thai 5.1 --- \\nSubtitles : English, Thai ---- \\nNumber of discs : 1 --- \\nPackage : DVD, O-ring --- \\nRated : R ---- \\nRun Time : 121 mins --- \\nDirector: Raimund Huber ---- \\nWriters: Raimund Huber (story), Johan Kirsten ---- \\nStars: Kazu Patrick Tang, Johan Kirsten, Macha Polivka ---- \\nStoryline : \\nThe Devil's Cauldron, a city where depravity and violence has forged a society in which only the lethal and callous can survive, two young men who possess the intellect and ferocity to flourish, carve a name for themselves as the most efficient and unstoppable hit men. Side by side, these two brothers are the deadliest killers, feared by even the most evil criminals. But when a woman of rare beauty mysteriously enters the brother's lives she blinds them with her sweet promises and turns them against each other, resulting in an epic battle that threatens to bring the Devil's Cauldron to the brink of destruction.\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: This movie needed help and never got it.\\n\\nReview: Where shall I begin? Patrick Kazo Tang and Johan Kirsten, I believe are the 2 main leads. Patrick is okay (I'm being real kind but his fight scenes moved him up a bit) Johan is possibly the dullest, worst, emotionless actor in the history of acting! Well, running a very close second or neck and neck is the woman who plays his dying mother (complete with makeup) in the hospital she should be charged with assault on my sensibilities too. she must be somebody's mother. This is a Well Go USA film and I usually enjoy them, what happened here? Let's recap...really bad acting, my dead grandmother could write better dialog the movie is just cheesy and not even fun cheesy, the support actors are a joke. confusing editing and the one good spot are a couple good fight scenes. By no means is that a recommendation. Run away!\",\n \"Product: RUN is a fast paced, coming-of-age crime thriller, about seventeen year old, street smart Daniel who is self taught, and unknowingly adept at Parkour, a physical discipline of training to overcome any obstacle within one's path by adapting one's movements to the environment. Under the guidance of his tough loving, yet misguided father, Mike, Daniel utilizes his incredible athletic skills to become an agile young thief as they move from city to city. After a close call with the Detroit police, Mike decides to return to New York City in the hopes of settling a sixteen year old dispute and proving his innocence with the crime family where he met Daniel's now deceased mother. Daniel yearns for his nomadic lifestyle to end and finds himself bonding with Mark and a group of freerunners who introduce a name to his secret skill set. He instantly falls for Mark's sister Emily who reveals secrets of her own and they both learn the importance of trust. When Mike's truce with the head of the crime family doesn't quite go as planned, Daniel must utilize all his skills to fight for the life and freedom of not only him and his father, but also Mark and Emily when they unexpectedly get pulled into the dispute.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Run....to see this sweet little indie movie.\\n\\nReview: This is one of those totally harmless Indie films that will entertain you as long as your hopes aren't too high. It is a fun and somewhat predictable movie that never tries to be more than it is and that makes it endearing. Young Daniel (William Moseley, The royals) is the 17 year old son of Adrian Pasdar and both are on the run from Daniel's Uncle who believes that Adrian was responsible for his sister's death, Daniel's mother. They make a living by stealing and robbing and living off the grid....Daniel has a talent for parkour that gets him out of trouble a lot. They move to NY and try to make up to the Uncle, Daniel makes friends and meets a girl and well.....it all hits the fan from there. The parkour stuff is fun and thye performances are all endearing I usually avoid Eric Roberts movies because they tend to be dreck but this was a wonderful little action movie, the small budget is easy to see. William is sweet and the rest of the cast is right on par, very likable.\",\n \"Product: Simon Leach is a very sick man. Thriving on despair, pain, and panic, he unites a group of broken and desperate teens and showers them with the love and affection they're so desperate for. But Simon has a much darker plan for his followers. \\\"Belongingness\\\" can be a terrifying subject. When a young woman embeds herself in the cult looking for answers to her sister's disappearance, she discovers their dark secret and an even darker secret within herself.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Not a bad bit but filming it as a shaky camera business is nauseating.\\n\\nReview: I want to go 3.5 stars on this one. I almost flipped it off when I saw the shaky camera action (a la Blair Witch, horrible movie that was) but I stuck with it. It is supposed to be something like a documentary based on a true story. it is like a Jonestown type of thing. Criminal reverend gets a bunch of kids that are emotional wrecks and uses them and then well, I won't say much more but if this truly happened....The performances are all good by the kids and the reverend Bill Oberst Jr. is really pretty scary sometimes. if you can deal with the shaky camera thing (that is why it lost 1.5 stars) check it out. it is a frightening movie about how some people can exert control over others.\",\n \"Product: Dive into the depths of unspeakable terror as Sharknado's Cassie Scerbo comes face to fin with a swarm of bloodsucking sea monsters in this suspense-drenched chiller co-starring Jonathan Lipnicki (Jerry Maguire), Brandon Beemer (TV's \\\"The Bold and the Beautiful\\\") and Kevin Dobson (TV's \\\"Knots Landing\\\"). While dredging for gold beneath the Bering Sea, siblings Donna (Scerbo) and Joe (Lipnicki) are confronted by a horde of horrific sea vampires. When their father (Dobson) falls victim to the insatiable creatures, Donna and Joe join forces with a dedicated marine biologist (Jacqueline Fleming, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter) and a loyal deckhand (Beemer) to kill or be killed by the beasts.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: i will suggest you not bother. this movie is the real beast.\\n\\nReview: this is a very tenuous 3 stars. When this movie started I thought not too bad. The acting was okay and the story was okay and then IT happened. Once the \\\"sea Vampires\\\" showed up this went rapidly downhill. The sea vampires were such bad CGI? if it was CGI that it was painful. Once they were introduced the acting and the dialog went quickly downhill too. The actors (I'll get more into them in a bit) made bad attempts to convey fear and terror and suspense and it never worked. The story of waking these beasts up by dredging in the Bering Sea is different but they never gave the scenery a chance to help this dreck happen. Now for the actors....Brandon Beemer and Kevin Dobson gave it the old college try and did the best they could with the company of \\\"actors\\\" and story they had. Jonathan Lipnicki (Jerry Macguire kid) was lost at sea and the absolute worst was the I don't know what to do with this character, Cassie Scerbo, she was awful.\",\n \"Product: : On the lonely outback roads of Australia a deadly secret awaits returning soldier Sergeant Ben Cross. Vincent Malek, a cruel and maniacal killer forces Ben to play his deadly game. Relentlessly hunted through unforgiving terrain, Ben must draw on all his strength to survive, and unravel the truth along the way in a deadly game of cat and mouse, leading to one crucial question; how far will you go for revenge\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Slow moving but maybe suspenseful\\n\\nReview: A veteran returning home, Ben Cross played in a very low key way by Nathan Waring (enjoyed him) meets a girl on the road and strikes up a very quick relationship she is Nina played horribly by Laura Anderson and they run afoul of a lunatic Vincent Stone who apparently snatches people and hunts them and he wants to hunt Ben, he uses Nina to force him to play. I'd have let him have the bad actress. VERY slow movie very deliberate it finally gets moving when Ben stops running and strikes back. Would I recommend it....not sure it plods along sometimes. The hunter, he was pretty good, I loved how you see his frustration build when he can't kill Ben as easily as the others he's hunted.\",\n \"Product: When their car breaks down, s even friends on a road trip to Las Vegas are forced to stop at a roadside motel for help. With no other option, the friends are convinced to spend the night but soon realize they are trapped, then are tortured and killed off one at a time. Now, they'll need to work together and fight to survive the seemingly helpful group of people who have turned their overnight stay into a dreadful, gory nightmare.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Worth watching for sure, just don't check in.\\n\\nReview: 7 friends are heading to Las Vegas and somehow the care gets 2, not 1, flat tires? Suspicious? The friends are convinced to spend the night at a gas station/motel but soon realize they are trapped, then are tortured. Now here are my problems with this there are a couple bad girls who look like vegas dancers and I see no real reason for them, then we have the captive girls who are portrayed as mewling sycophants and you are hoping get bumped off! This is not the way it works anymore, there are no helpless whining women! With that said, I had a wonderful time with this, the bad are bad and the good well there are a few molds broken. I don't want to say too much and the explanation kind of comes from left field but okay I'll ride the wave.\",\n \"Product: Matt Burns is many things -- loser, dork,pizzadelivery boy -- but a hero isn't one of them. That is, until he is forced to eat a genetically-engineered tomato that was designed to create super soldiers. A routinepizzadelivery turns into a fight for his life, when he accidentally stumbles into the middle of a heated corporate takeover that plans on using this science for world domination. Equipped with an indestructible body and advanced strength, Matt must choose to use his new power to fight the E.D.G.E. corporation, led by its conniving and murderous VP John Kryder. When Kryder threatens Matt's mother for information, Matt dons their parlor mascot costume and becomesPIZZAMAN. But it takes more than a costume and powers to become a super-hero, as Matt learns the hard way. Coordinating his new abilities while trying to earn a modicum of respect among those he is fighting and saving is easier said than done. Against all odds, Matt must rise to the challenge, rescue the girl and save the day as the unlikeliest of super-heroes:PIZZAMAN.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Horrifyingly bad acting by all\\n\\nReview: Let me be very upfront with this. I could not finish this at all, it wasn't funny, if it was supposed to be. It wasn't suspenseful, if fit was supposed to be. It wasn't entertaining, if it was supposed to be. I loved Frankie Muniz in that TV show he used to do, Malcolm in the Middle but this movie shows that he really can't act and neither can some bygone wrestler as the bad guy....diamond Dallas Paige, this was told to me by a friend, I had no idea who he was. I am issuing a very strong warning against this movie, I am not sure what these other reviewers saw. Sometimes I will try a movie again thinking I wasn't in the mood....not this one....EVER.\",\n \"Product: Superman. Batman. Wonder Woman.\\n\\nThis is not their story.\\n\\nThis is the story of B-string superheroes hoping to hit the big time. The guys you've never heard of. The ones who go out every night fighting crime and hoping that someone will notice. The ones who are desperate enough to go on a reality show.\\n\\nThere's Water Warrior, a hunky hero who seems to have more luck in the bedroom than the battlefield. Sable, a single mom superhero whos trying to juggle crime fighting, a waitressing job, and a moody teenage daughter. Big Shot and Blue Arrow, a macho crime fighter and his former sidekick who are struggling to admit their real feelings for each other. Malibu Action girl, a spoiled princess determined to prove that shes more than the sum of daddys expensive weapons. Rick and Josh, a pair of former teen superheroes trying to put their pasts behind them and build a new life together. They all have powers. And they all have issues.\\n\\nA screwball superhero reality show action comedy with valiant vigilantes, sexy sidekicks, scheming producers, zombie nazis, and super villains with relationship issues.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Don't take it seriously and have a blast!\\n\\nReview: I really can't say what got me to buy this movie..but I'm glad I did. let's be real honest here, very, very low budget, now academy award winning actors, no CGI, no breathtaking scenes. and that's all okay! I got more than a few laughs, I was very entertained, I got some real eye candy, what more can we ask for. The pitch is a producer is looking for superheroes to appear on his reality show, do they get Batman or Wonder Woman or Spiderman or Black Widow? No! they get Psychic Sam, Barbie Action Girl (I think) Sable etc. It is just a lot of fun Psychic Sam cracked me up always knowing what was going to happen, Sable is the older mom type who wants to get to work. 2 major hotties, Big Shot and the guy who can talk to fish. This movie is all in fun and that is how you have to watch it, don't try to critique it. Oh, and the 2 sidekicks, I adore them too.\",\n \"Product: A GROUP of entitled Beverly Hills oceanography STUDENTS arrive at a mansion in MALIBU, to study the local ocean waters. However, someone... or something, has other, more murderous intent, as the Students begin to disappear, one by one, murdered by some flesh-shredding entity, leaving wounds similar in nature to a shark attack. But how is that possible, when the nearest ocean is a half-mile away?\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: Pure unadulterated dreck, slime, drivel. Run Away!\\n\\nReview: it's my own fault. I will look closer from now on, anything David DeCoteau directs or the production company is Rapid heart I will pass over. Very home-erotic in spite of the inclusion of several women. Handsome and nicely built men. sub-par acting on everyone's part, bad direction and bad story. Same house as all other DeCoteau things. Why, oh, why do we have to watch a guy swim in the dirty pool for long minutes or another guy showering for very long minutes, no soap though. The old lady of the piece who is allegedly a professor is indescribably BAD, what a hag. Judson Birza as Denny, Jeffrey Decker as Pretty boy Tyler, Braden Backe as Bryce. The girls rate no mention because they shouldn't be in it at all. her comes the SPOILER.....the shark attack in question is one of the girls transforming into a shark (on dry land) and eating people's heads off?????!!!!! Terrible effect too.\",\n \"Product: With only a few weeks left until his two best friends leave for college, Billy Joe (Logan Huffman) robs his cotton farmer boss, Giff (Mark Pellegrino), in order to pay for one last blow out weekend in Corpus Christi, Texas. Upon returning, the teens are confronted by the unfortunate and brutal consequences of stealing from his boss. Now Billy Joe, Sue (Mackenzie Davis) and Bobby (Jeremy Allen White) must embark on a dangerous journey that will test their trust and friendship and take them across the line from carefree adolescence into the harsh reality of adulthood.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Bravo, bravo and one more bravo.\\n\\nReview: As a film noir fan, they don't come much better than this. Taking place in a very small town in Texas, 3 teens (2 of whom are leaving for school in a week) party hard in Corpus Cristi. Little do Bobby and Sue know, they are partying on money that BJ stole. The 3 played by Jeremy Allen White, Logan Huffman and MacKenzie Davis are superb. These 3 young actors should have budding careers as actors. Damn, I'd hire them for sure. The money was stolen from giff (amazingly played by Mark Pellegrino) I will say no more about the plot because it is one hell of a movie. Bravos go to the actors, directors (Simon and Zeke Hawkins) , writer and everyone else involved.\",\n \"Product: A nave man transporting lethal narcotics in his stomach is detained by the police. Alone and afraid, the mule makes a desperate choice -- to defy his bodily functions and withhold the evidence...literally. By doing so becomes a human time-bomb, dragging cops, criminals. lawyers and his mother into his impossible escapade. Inspired by true events, THE MULE is a comic nightmare of stomach-churning suspense and belly laughs.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Who do you root for in this? Watch it and decide.\\n\\nReview: A nave man transporting lethal narcotics in his stomach is detained by the police. Alone and afraid, the mule makes a desperate choice -- to defy his bodily functions and withhold the evidence...literally. First of all, I cannot believe that with the content of this movie I am going 5 stars. Hugo Weaving is the cop and he wants the evidence in Angus Sampson's belly. In the original arrest he is held for 7 days under constant guard. The cops then get extensions all the while Angus is fighting and fighting not to....well you know. I have to say there is something appealing and interesting and complicated in this movie that really held my attention, don't dismiss this because you think you know what this is about, give it a try, great little Australian movie, I have to say that the Australians really know how to make movies and take chances doing that too. Great acting, direction and writing.....a daring idea that works.\",\n \"Product: Contemporary screwball comedy about a young gay couple, Michael Urie (Ugly Betty) & Randy Harrison (Queer As Folk), who discover a secret room filled with cash while house-sitting for their wealthy humanitarian friends, who have unfortunately just died in a car accident while doing missionary work for the children of Bhutan! Though saddened, Richard and Alex want what everyone wants: success, money, and, of course, a fabulous house in LA! After the boys discover wads of cash that the couple will now, obviously, no longer need, mayhem ensues as they deal with jealousy, sibling rivalry, grey- hounds, labradoodles, porpoises, and other friends who want the money as well. Such Good People is a refreshing and lighthearted throwback to the classic caper comedies of the 60s and 70s. Starring Randy Harrison, Michael Urie, Ana Ortiz ,James Urbaniak, Scott Wolf, Lance Bass, Tom Lenk, Alec Mapa...\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: it is worth your viewing time.\\n\\nReview: What can I say....very cute. Nothing exceptional but very cute. Michael Urie and Randy Harrison are a lovely couple who want more than the life they are living. They attend a party where a straight couple asks them to house sit while the carry on the charity work in Bhutan. The couple perishes in Bhutan and well the hijinks happen from there. There are a few good laughs when worlds collide over the money the late couple had along with other items. As I said Randy and Michael are the cutest couple ever and they are at odds with how to handle this dilemma. Silly fun but fin nonetheless. You will have a smile on your face. Nothing in it to make any heteros nervous. Just a good bit of fluffy fun.\",\n \"Product: Billy Gardell is Rick Dancer, a wisecracking, disgruntled detective who is long past his prime. After failing to foil the criminal schemes of Eric Skanz (David A. R. White), Dancer has become the joke of the precinct. That is, until a local kid gets beat up and Dancer is back on the case! Only this time, he is partnered with \\\"Princess\\\", a fussy canine cop. Can this hilarious, dysfunctional duo tolerate each other long enough to sniff out the clues and break the case of their careers? Also co-starring EVA LA RUE as Dr. Nicole Jackson.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Funny cop and adorable German Shepherd. Good for the family.\\n\\nReview: Billy Gardell is Rick Dancer, a wisecracking, disgruntled detective who is long past his prime. After failing to foil the criminal schemes of Eric Skanz (David A. R. White), Dancer has become the joke of the precinct. That is, until a local kid gets beat up and Dancer is back on the case! Only this time, he is partnered with \\\"Princess\\\", a fussy canine cop. I have to say this first, I loved the Bloopers, very funny. Now for the movie...I had more than a few laughs coming along here. Princess is adorable too, She looks just like a German Shepherd I had many years ago so I may be biased. Billy Gardell is so good as this cop, he is prickly and he is funny and he has some very angry moments too. All of them he does well. I did mist up a few times to be honest......I was ready to toss myself off my balcony if anything tragic happened to Princess. (There is the clue I am typing this review....get it?) Total recommendation. All the family is good for this.\",\n \"Product: It's Christmastime in New Orleans and children are mysteriously disappearing, stolen from their homes, taken off the street, dozens have vanished without trace. Detective Harry Ganat and his partner Roy Cody have found a young girl in the home of a murdered swamper and she leads them to the den of her captors...the Molderos, a group of merciless vampires who feed on the blood of children. The detectives lives are spared by a troika of ancient vampires; Brisbane, Dimitri and Lydia all seductive creatures who despise the Molderos as well. In exchange for protecting the detectives from their new enemies, the trio of 'friendly' vampires offer them a deal find the hidden lair of their mutual enemies and their lives will be spared and the other stolen children will be returned to them unharmed. But finding and killing the Molderos is not going to be easy, Harry soon finds himself questioned by the police, hunted by the Molderos at night and caught in a deadly love triangle between Lydia and her ancient master, Brisbane.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Story is different but most actors called in their performances.\\n\\nReview: Well, I have no idea why I have had this movie for 1.5 years and never watched it. I found it to be very good with some reservations. The vampires were interesting enough and there were some pretty good performances by some of the main characters but though the story was different and not too bad and some pretty good actors I found the performances to be somewhat strained. Mike Doyle just seemed to muddle thru his part of the primary detective and Danny Agha as the new partner was amateurish at best. Jonathan Schaech as a rival vampire to the lead group of animalistic vamps floated along as did the other members of his \\\"family\\\". Don't get me wrong I did like it but would find it hard to recommend it to others.\",\n \"Product: The town of Downers Grove looks like your average suburban neighborhood -- but Downers Grove has a disturbing secret.... For the past eight years, one senior from every high school graduating class has met a bizarre death right before graduation day. And this year Chrissie Swanson (Bella Heathcote) has a terrible feeling that she is going to be the one to die. Can Chrissie survive the curse of Downers Grove or will she, like those seniors before her, fall prey to the town's deadly secret?\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Not terrible, not great, not noteworthy but okay to kill some time.\\n\\nReview: We have the small town of Downers Grove (a downer it is) they have a secret and that is that every years for the last 8 years a senior has died before graduation. Now we have Chrissie Swanson and she thinks that she is next. She attends a party with her morally questionable girl friend and there meets the town quarterback hero, Kevin Zegers, he attempts to have his way with her and she tears out his eye. Effectively ending his football career, he is miffed to say the least and begins a vendetta with his buddies. She has a maybe boyfriend in Lucas Til and he tries to help. From here on in, you are on your own. I saw the ending coming a mile away and was still mildly entertained. I leave it up to you dear reader whether you wish to try for it or not, it has its moments but Bella Heathcote left me very cold, very flat performance. The rest of the cast is pretty good.\",\n \"Product: Relentless bullying has turned Lincolns life into a nightmare. But he soon learns the true meaning of terror when he is sent to a remote school for troubled teens and the harassment starts all over again. Only this time, someone is watching a teenage girl named Moira who was driven to suicide by vicious bullying years ago. When Lincoln accidentally summons Moira from the grave, he unleashes a vengeful and unstoppable force on a mission of blood-soaked revenge. Hell on earth has a new meaning in this gruesome shocker \\\"guaranteed to please any and every type of horror fan\\\" (Fangoria).\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Totally enjoyed this movie.\\n\\nReview: Lincoln has always been the object of bullies. When he is sent to a remote school for troubled teens for finally striking back at a boy with a fork to the face the harassment starts all over again. A teenage girl named Moira who was driven to suicide by vicious bullying years ago haunts this place and when Lincoln accidentally summons her back, she goes on a rampage for him. I was shockingly surprised by how much I loved this low budget gem. Ronen Rubinstein as Lincoln, is excellent tons of pathos. He plays this kettle waiting to boil very well. I'm not sure who plays Moira, she is terrific as is the almost girlfriend of Lincoln's. I love most of the cast, there were a couple weak performances and a few silly scenes but overall I looked passed that and found a really cool movie. Since someone else said it, the way that Moira kills is GREAT!\",\n \"Product: Jess is a bohemian youth with secrets to hide from his shrewd parents. James feels trapped living with his irritable mother. After meeting for a sexual encounter, the two young men set off on a spontaneous road trip across rural Argentina to reunite with Jess estranged brother. On their journey, they confront strange occurrences and engage in a mnage trois affair that brings them closer. Their newly found affection grows, all while discovering a fresh vision of freedom and happiness. JESS & JAMES is a sexually charged road-trip movie, a love story, and a coming-of-age tale, set against the mythical landscape of the Argentinian Pampas.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: wonderful story of self discovery.\\n\\nReview: Pure story! So if you are expecting anything more....pass by. Jess is a bohemian youth with secrets to hide. James feels trapped living with his irritable mother. After meeting for a sexual encounter, the two young men set off on a road trip across rural Argentina to visit Jess estranged brother. After the first encounter between these 2 young men James wants more but Jess (Geronimo) didn't expect that and tells James to shut up and once James does Jess comments that he is submissive just as he likes and that leads to more time together. On the road they meet another man and they have a threesome. This is a short trip but one that brings a lot of things to light especially for Jess. This is a wonderful movie and lets you think about what these characters are thinking and what they are all about. Beautiful scenery adds to the movie, I have never and won't ever go to Argentina but I feel as though I have. The 2 leads Martin Karich and Nicolas Romeo are superb!\",\n \"Product: An intense thriller unfolds when a gang of armed robbers break into Kelly's (Kaya Scodelario, THE MAZE RUNNER Franchise) boyfriend Mark s house (Daniel Boyd) to pull off the heist of a lifetime. The gang led by Shane (Dougray Scott, TAKEN 3) and Callum (Ed Skrein, "Game Of Thrones", THE TRANSPORTER REFUELED) have come to abduct Mark's father and force him to carry out a robbery on the bank he manages. Kelly must use every ounce of skill and courage to outwit and overpower her highly trained adversaries.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Good performances and a few surprises make this worth a look.\\n\\nReview: I am going to call it as I see it and I see it as a very entertaining movie and the fact that this is a plot that we have seen this a million times it makes no difference. The cast is superb and justified I their performances. Kaya Scodelario as the \\\"no account and not worthy of their son's attention girlfriend\\\" who is solely responsible for the helping her boyfriend and his family out of a very sticky situation where we have a bunch of bad guys who break into their house and hold them hostage and ransom. Ed Skrein and Dougray Scott as the band guys are credible and even frightening. I really won't say too much because even though we have seen this before we have not seen this level of intensity and a few surprises too. Without a doubt this is worth the view.\",\n \"Product: Four battle-weary Crusaders take on a mission to track down the evil predator who has abducted all the men and children from a devastated village.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: It wasn't terrible. I actually liked it. Don't expect too much.\\n\\nReview: I will not blow smoke up your you know what here but I found the movie to be entertaining enough that it held my attention. it isn't the greatest movie ever but it s not by any means the worst and I have seen some of them. This was a bit of the 13th Warrior in it and a few other movies were copied to make this too. I am sure you will see the similarities. We have all seen the rip off types of movies by the lower budget studios and some aren't bad. This one wasn't bad and the acting is okay too. The story well, it is many of them. Don't expect too much and just go blank and you may not think it is too terrible. for a rainy afternoon it will work. Would I recommend you buy it like I did? No find a place to get it for free.\",\n \"Product: A tired British pop singer tries to rest on an island where two different men keep bees.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: British down played story...no giant bees from another planet here....just bees.\\n\\nReview: I do love my British movies, they are so well done even when they do it in an understated way. for all intent and purposes this is a 5 person movie. Each person does there parts perfectly. More mystery than a horror type of movie, the question comes down to who is training bees to attack and these are giant mutant bees or bees from the planet mongo, these are....bees. An overworked singer needs a rest and goes to some small farm for rest. then the trouble begins! is it corny and hokey at times...sure it is but it is also a well acted and well paced and thought out little movie. Even though sometimes you want to scream....really...don't do that or are you really going to do that! Suzanna leigh was never a favorite of mine but she was fine here.\",\n \"Product: Fed up with her parents bickering, poor-little-rich-girl Maya (Dylan Penn) moves in with her boyfriend, who is squatting in an old condemned building on Manhattans Lower East Side. With neighbors that are meth heads, junkies and degenerates, this depraved hell hole is even more toxic than it appears: After a virus born from their combined noxious waste and garbage infects the buildings residents, one by one, they succumb to a terrifying pathogen that turns them into bloodthirsty, rampaging killers and transforms their building into a savage slaughterhouse.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: worth a look if you have some time.\\n\\nReview: After a virus born from their combined noxious waste and garbage infects the buildings residents succumb to a terrifying pathogen that turns them into bloodthirsty, rampaging killers and transforms the condemned building all these squatters are living in into a slaughterhouse. We start with the rich girl maya moving in with her boyfriend in a condemned building where things don't work so all the garbage, feces and pee and assorted drug concoctions that fly down the drains are all just festering in the building and changes the residents. totally predictable but the characters are a very odd assortment. This is a very darkly lit movie and in very close quarters. I will recommend it to those who love gore and violence and it can get pretty gross at times.\",\n \"Product: Down-on-his-luck gambler Gerry (Mendelsohn) and his hot-streak buddy Curtis (Reynolds) hit the road for New Orleans, on the hunt for the big payday. On riverboats and racetracks they chase women and thrills--before risking it all in the wager of their lives.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Excellent buddy film, and this should tell you that gambling is bad.\\n\\nReview: This movie will depend on your tastes. Down-on-his-luck gambler Gerry (Mendelsohn) and his hot-streak buddy Curtis (Reynolds) hit the road for New Orleans, on the hunt for the big payday. Ryan Reynolds made this movie for me. He can do no wrong on any front. Do you like movies about gambling? There was a ton of things in this movie that you could find interesting and for me one of the best things was the budding friendship between the 2 main characters. The gambling doesn't really do anything for me at all but some of it was interesting enough that it reinforces my not ever gambling, really is a sickness or an addiction to be sure. Mendelsohn, in particular, can't stop he has to keep going. Ryan is his lucky charm but never pays any attention to him.\",\n \"Product: John is an out-of-control gambler who will do anything for money. When a mysterious new bookie starts to offer him more unusual, individually tailored bets with bigger payoffs and greater risks, John spirals into a dangerous world of deceit and dare, with the stakes higher than he can ever imagine.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: So is he or isn't she? You know who?\\n\\nReview: John (Joe Anderson) is an out-of-control gambler who will do anything for money. When a mysterious new bookie starts to offer him more unusual, individually tailored bets with bigger payoffs and greater risks, John spirals into a dangerous world of deceit and dare. This is one of those movies that in my mind could go either way. You want to smack this guy for being sucked in but you also have to say go for it. I love British movies and this cast is superb and nothing is really what it would seem to be. Luke Evans and Billy Zane and others make for an interesting movie and just who is this woman and why does she do what she does...could she really be????? .......Hmmmmmm. I loved the acting and loved the flow of this movie. Joe Anderson is quickly becoming a favorite actor and I wish he would do much more, I love Luke Evans, no matter what.\",\n \"Product: Set in present day Los Angeles, Frankenstein is told entirely from the perspective of the Monster. After he is artificially created, then left for dead by a husband-and-wife team of eccentric scientists, Adam is confronted with nothing but aggression and violence from the world around him. This perfect creation-turned disfigured monster must come to grips with the horrific nature of humanity.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: If you have 90 mins to kill, it will work.\\n\\nReview: Let me tell you that this updated version of \\\"Frankenstein\\\" will not be for everyone. The movie begins just as the creature is waking up. We have the celebrations etc but we see he is a virtual child and has to be bottle fed etc. The interesting selection of Xavier Samuel and the Creature is excellent, so handsome to start and then comes the cellular degeneration. They decide to destroy this flawed creation and well.....you see what comes from that. We still have the little girl by the lake and we have the blind man, too. I am a fan of Xavier and really hope that he comes into his own soon, he dies a fine job here. Then we have Danny Huston as the doctor and Carrie ann Moss as his \\\" assistant\\\" The real star here is Xavier and the rest are probably highly paid dressing. by no means is this groundbreaking or even innovative, it takes place now and that is about it.\",\n \"Product: Claude Sweet Tooth Barbee and his gang of cutthroat outlaws the most wanted men in Texas are on a desperate ride across five hundred miles of badlands to recover a fortune in hidden loot from their most daring robbery. But Barbee and his crew arent the only coldblooded killers riding the range. With a large dead or alive cash bounty on their heads, the outlaws are being picked off one by one. What began as a hard journey driven by greed becomes a feverish race to survive in what the Austin Chronicle calls a spaghetti Western chock-full of grit and blood.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Move along, nothing to see here.\\n\\nReview: The most wanted men in Texas are on a ride across five hundred miles of badlands to recover a fortune in hidden loot from their most daring robbery. But Barbee and his crew aren't the only coldblooded killers riding the range. With a large dead or alive cash bounty on their heads they begin a hard journey driven by greed becomes a feverish race to survive. They had to break one guy out of jail to get a map he was holding to find the money. A bunch of nonsense happens and then more nonsense. I am pretty sure I napped a some point....such a bore-fest! The acting wasn't bad and the dialog was forced but it was still not worth the time.\",\n \"Product: When the powerful wizard, Lord Tensley, is jilted by Princess Ennogard, he vows to rid the land of love. He commands his fire-breathing dragon to destroy any sign of affection seen throughout the kingdom. As the death toll rises, Camilan, a brave but arrogant warrior seeks to marry his true love despite the curse upon the land. In order to fulfill his destiny, he seeks the help of his estranged brother Ramicus, a bounty hunter with no desire to get involved. It takes an enchanted distress message and the promise of great reward from the beautiful Princess Ennogard, to lure Ramicus into the quest to defeat the wizard and his terrible beast.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Hits all the right notes, scifi, action and comedy.\\n\\nReview: Yes, 5 stars, what a ton of fun this movie is. Part action, part scifi and part comedy! Yes this is a low budget film and yes you can tell from time to time and yes sometimes the acting isn't very good but then they get back on track and the acting is pretty good. Keep in mind that I am thinking that it is very tongue in cheek and it is very successful in that regard. I got quite a few good laughs of it and some of the total send ups of some of the scenes in all of these movies where you roll your eyes...this movie is not afraid to take the shots at them. I had fun with the brothers and the servant and Ramicus' roommate, the Orc. This was so much fun that I will recommend it to anyone who just wants a very entertaining movie that will give you a few laughs a long the way.\",\n \"Product: Remo Street is a young fighter who comes from a world where nothing is easy, so when he is faced with the opportunity to train with a world class coach, he has to choose between the long hard road to honor and glory, or succumbing to a brutal future as a cage fighter for the Russian Mafia\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Not a bad little movie, if you have time check it out.\\n\\nReview: This was a pleasant little surprise to me, I wasn't expecting anything sensational but this movie was entertaining, if not somewhat formulaic. A young man named Remo Street (Beau Casper Smart, I think) training for something? intervenes when some Russians apply pressure to a man to pay them back. he roughs up the two huge Russians (Remo is not a big guy at all) then has to answer to an underground Russian fight promoter for damaging his 2 best fighters. So Remo must now fight in their place. A couple fun turns now and then, the requisite romance and so on but all in all not a bad little move to see. If you have some time check this out. The actors weren't bad either.\",\n \"Product: Man’s best friend becomes his worst nightmare when a horde of bloodthirsty wild dogs descends upon a family’s farmhouse. In a remote stretch of the Australian Outback, a sheep rancher (Jack Campbell), his veterinarian wife (Anna Lise Phillips), and their two teenage children live in bucolic isolation: until a horrifying night when a pack of fang-baring, four-legged, rabid beasts besiege their home. With no one around to help them, the family must band together to survive: or else become canine kibble. Generating a steadily mounting sense of dread, The Pack cleverly toys with genre conventions before it goes in for the kill.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Another great Australian film.\\n\\nReview: Mans best friend becomes his worst nightmare when a horde of bloodthirsty wild dogs descends upon a familys farmhouse. In a remote stretch of the Australian Outback, a sheep rancher (Jack Campbell), his veterinarian wife (Anna Lise Phillips), and their two teenage children live in bucolic isolation: until a horrifying night when a pack of , rabid beasts besiege their home. I hate to make such a broad statement but I love me some Australian films. This one is no exception at all, such a ton of suspense and implied danger. The one and maybe only drawback is the typical angry daughter. I really loved the performances because for all intents and purposes all 4 of these performers and the pack themselves were the only performers and did a great job all around. will I recommend this....absolutely but this is very intense at parts so the age may be a factor.\",\n \"Product: High school seniors Logan and Blake prepare for an epic Spring Break as they travel to the beautiful and exotic Mexican beach resort of Puerto Vallarta hoping to hook up with their high school crushes.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: I really did laugh out loud and care about most of the characters.\\n\\nReview: Well,, bust my buttons if this movie didn't surprise me. I did laugh and I did laugh a lot! I also had those, why are you listening to your friend when you know he is just going to get you into trouble moments. This is the story of Logan who wants to be a DJ but dad thinks that is a waste of time and his friend Blake who always gets logan into trouble. Well, lits just say that dad trusts Logan one more time and well, Blake talks him into going to sprig break in Mexico where all hell breaks loose and one bad thing after another happens to Logan. I want to tell you that you will be screaming....please don't do that! a lot. But they do it. The actors are all very likable and very energetic. P.S. I love the tour guide/driver they have he is great. Do I recommend it, I do, be aware lots of upper ladies parts going on.\",\n \"Product: Zack Connors and Rachel Meadows were born with incredible psychokinetic capabilities. When word of their supernatural talents gets out, they find themselves the prisoners of Michael Slovak, a deranged doctor intent on harvesting their powers. After a daring escape, they are free from his sinister institution, but the corrupt doctor will stop at nothing to track them down so that he may continue to siphon their gifts for his own use. The Minds Eye is a mind-bogglingly gory film that has heart, soul, and suspense, but is above all, unbelievably fun to watch. (Modern Horrors)\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Really not too bad for the budget.\\n\\nReview: Let me tell you right off the bat, this is a low budget and indie type film and having said that....this does not always look that way, the stunts and such are way and truly above the norm. I am very impressed with how the director got things done on what had to be a tiny budget and still looked ultra-professional. This could have been a bit better but it still fell back on the whole mad scientist type thing. More psychokinetics are being born and one, doctor Slovak claims to train them and teach them....claims! Please keep in mind that the acting is a little better than average and so is the story. A very predictable ending happens and it is still not too bad. Will I recommend it? kind of, depends on how much you pay for it.\",\n \"Product: VHS Tape\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Well worth looking at, Antonio is awesome.\\n\\nReview: A film by Almodovar! And it is an excellent one too. A screenwriter in Madrid (older man) is in love with Juan, Juan goes away because he doesn't feel the same, Older man meets Antonio Banderas (Super excellent) who obsesses about his new boyfriend to the point of being needy, obtrusive and his owner. Antonio finds out about Juan and well.....you have to watch to see it. This would have been 5 stars for me but for 2 things and they didn't feel right from the start. The screenwriters transgender sister, she just shrieked all the time...really is this how transgendered people have to always be portrayed? And some little girl no idea where she came from. Antonio is exceptional and troubled. Subtitles.\",\n \"Product: Australia released, PAL/Region 0 DVD: it WILL NOT play on standard US DVD player. You need multi-region PAL/NTSC DVD player to view it in USA/Canada: LANGUAGES: English ( Dolby Digital 2.0 ), SPECIAL FEATURES: Interactive Menu, Scene Access, SYNOPSIS: Go Tell the Spartans is set in Vietnam during that period in which American troops were euphemistically termed \\\"advisors\\\". Reluctantly dispensing much of that advice is veteran American major Asa Barker (Burt Lancaster). Though he knows what works and what doesn't on the battlefield, Barker is obliged to carry out the go-nowhere policies of the American military brass. His current objective is a woebegone, barely crucial outpost, which he must defend with a handful of green soldiers and end-of-tether Vietnamese militiamen. True to his predictions, the outpost is overwhelmed by the Vietcong, who have something to fight about and are ruthless in their tactics. Before the relief troops can arrive, virtually everyone is senselessly killed, including Barker. The only survivor is Corporal Stephen Courcey (Craig Wasson), a willing draftee whose initial idealism dies along with his comrades. Wendell Mayes adapted Go Tell the Spartans from the novel Incident at Muc Wa by Daniel Ford. ...Go Tell the Spartans\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Bravo. 4.5 stars for sure.\\n\\nReview: Burt Lancaster as a hard-boiled major in command of a grubby Vietnam outpost in this classic film of wartime confrontation. The war was still a \\\"conflict\\\" and American soldiers were merely \\\"advisors,\\\" yet the ambushes, the betrayals and the brutality were all very real. Let me qualify something, this is the first Vietnam movie that I have ever watched, for very personal reasons and let me say that this was a movie that I am glad that I watched. The story is about a small village named Much Wa that higher ups considered strategic. It was up to our small band of \\\"advisors\\\" to occupy it with a force of South Vietnam soldiers and hold it. One of my very favorite Burt Lancaster movies. Also big thumbs up to this cast. Evan C.Kim, Marc Singer and Craig Wasson and the rest of the wonderful support cast. This movie was frightening in the idea that no one knew who to trust.\",\n \"Product: FIGHT AGAINST A POWERFUL ALLIANCE WHICH THREATENS TO TEAR HERBEATRICE PRIOR MUST CONFRONT HER INNER DEMONS AND CONTINUE HERSOCIETY APART WITH THE HELP FROM OTHERS ON HER SIDE.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Did it in 2 movies...Bravo!\\n\\nReview: So what can I say that 1566 others haven't? Probably nothing new so...I love Shailene Woodley, Theo James, Miles Teller, the brother Elgort. this is a terrific wrap up to divergent and I am glad it was done in 2 movies. If they tried to stretch this out to 3 for the sake of money, we would have hit a wall of boredom unlike any seen before. BUT 2 movies is just right. Good action, good effects, good story and nice job on bringing the characters to life. I do have to say though that Shailene's weepy look all the way through was grating but I guess necessary. Theo, to me, is the consummate hero, who is very much in love which sometimes is annoying. Miles Teller....just which side is he on anyway? Terrific. Her back stabbing brother needed to get a punch right in the yapper.\",\n \"Product: DVD\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: What a world it was...Inquisition, anyone?\\n\\nReview: British movie from 1987. The 2 or 3 young stars of this movie are outstanding. Jason Rush and Lee Whitlock and the young men who discover feeling for each other in an England where you could go to jail and mess up your life forever. This movie is a milestone for British TV and for America, too. To have made this movie at this time was HUGE. I was repulsed by the attitudes of the world at that time and was genuinely afraid about how this 60 minute film would end. Aside from a very small amount of touching and one peck on the lips...everything else will be left up to the viewer. I did love the ending. Jenny Jay is wonderful too as Lee Whitlock's girlfriend. The performances of the 2 boys....amazing and heartfelt...bravo!\"\n]","isConversational":false},"profile_size":{"kind":"number","value":200,"string":"200"},"task":{"kind":"string","value":"longlamp_3"},"split_kind":{"kind":"string","value":"user_based"},"id":{"kind":"number","value":984,"string":"984"}}},{"rowIdx":985,"cells":{"question_id":{"kind":"string","value":"A19XMHRB3G4DIR"},"question":{"kind":"string","value":"Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of \"5.0\" for a product with description \"The J-DEAL Rechargeable Shaver gives you a closer shave even in the hard-to-reach areas at an affordable price. The CloseCut heads are precision engineered to cut up to 25% closer with durable, self-sharpening blades that won't wear down, for a shave that is always fast and clean. The Flex & Float System follows the many contours of your face, resulting for a close, clean shave. An integrated pop-up trimmer conveniently trims sideburns and moustaches. Able to be used while corded and cordless, the powerful battery delivers up to 60 minutes of shaving after an 8 hour charge. The charging indicator with LED light signals the battery charging status.\". The summary of the review text is \"Good basic budget model perfect for teen or travel\"."},"answer":{"kind":"string","value":"So first things first...realistically this is not going to compete with expensive brand name shavers. No, this is not going to be the best one you have ever used because it is an economy model. On the other hand, for less than the price of a manual razor and a couple of refill packs, you get an electric shaver that is just right for a young teen, to take camping or for traveling when you don't want to risk the loss or damage of shavers costing 10x the price of this one. In this case, this plus a wallet, belt and some other essentials are intended for a teen as a holiday gift and to that purpose, this is perfect. Not overly expensive yet also a nice entry point for a young man. Coupon code resulted in low/no price purchase for evaluation."},"correct_answer":{"kind":"string","value":"So first things first...realistically this is not going to compete with expensive brand name shavers. No, this is not going to be the best one you have ever used because it is an economy model. On the other hand, for less than the price of a manual razor and a couple of refill packs, you get an electric shaver that is just right for a young teen, to take camping or for traveling when you don't want to risk the loss or damage of shavers costing 10x the price of this one. In this case, this plus a wallet, belt and some other essentials are intended for a teen as a holiday gift and to that purpose, this is perfect. Not overly expensive yet also a nice entry point for a young man. Coupon code resulted in low/no price purchase for evaluation."},"documents":{"kind":"list like","value":["Product: Just because you're recording at your desktop and not in a fancy studio, you shouldn't have to settle for low-quality, inaccurate computer speakers — or resort to mixing with headphones. You deserve better, and so do your recordings. You'll be happy to know that M-Audio's AV 40 speakers will easily fit on even crowded desktops. Yes! They're also powered, so you get clean, clear, and (best of all) accurate monitoring — and you won't need a bulky power amp to add to the clutter!\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Impressive little set for the money!\n\nReview: Update...still using these on a daily basis four years later. Great quality and great sound!\n\nThe M-Audio AV30 MKII's are a very nice little set for the money. No, these may not compete head to head with top of the line systems that cost substantially more, but they are among the nicest I've encountered in the sub-$100 price range.\n\nWeight - The first thing you will notice when taking these out of the box is the substantial weight.\n\nShielded - They are shielded for use around computers/electronics.\n\nSmall Footprint - While a tad larger than some, these still take up relatively minimal space on a desk. Comparable to small book shelf speakers in size.\n\nAux Jack - For those wishing to plug in their mp3 or other devices, these include a handy front accessible jack.\n\nComes Complete - Includes everything needed to get started...wires, buffer pad that attaches to the bottom (optional) for stability etc... Took less than 10 minutes to remove from box and begin listening.\n\nSound\n\nVolume- Now, for the sound. These are NOT the loudest set I've encountered; even turned up full volume, they won't shake the windows or threaten any sound barriers. So, if you are a teen who is interested in nothing more than volume, keep searching. Don't get me wrong, they fill the room with sound at a volume any normal person would find sufficient but still within the comfortable range.\n\nQuality - Where these really excel is in the quality of the sound. From jazz to classical, rock to folk and everything in between...these provide an impressive clarity for the price range. Getting the balance and setting just right took a couple minutes but overall, the effect is very enjoyable.\n\nPrice\nVery nice set for the money. This is my first experience with M-Audio so cannot compare to other options in the same line. However, given the overall quality of this entry level set, I'm quite impressed. Excellent set for this price range!\n\nMusic, Presentations, Other\nOne item worthy of mention is the ability to use these for creating/mixing etc music and other auditory file given the true to life sound quality and distinct clarify.\n\nWho Will Enjoy\n- Those searching for overall nice desk top set without breaking the bank.\n- Those that need/want the ability to quickly include mp3 or other aux devices.\n- Those that routinely create presentations, music mix or other audio that requires a clean crisp \"true\" sound.","Product: The TASCAM UX-16x08 captures 16 mic and line inputs to your computer with clear sound quality and advanced features to manage big sessions. Eight Ultra-HDDA microphone preamps deliver the cleanest and quietest operation in their class while delivering up to 57dB of gain. An additional eight line inputs are provided, two of them switchable to instrument level for direct guitar or bass recording. Built into the US-16x08 is a DSP mixer for low-latency digital mixing. The US-16x08 can also be used as a standalone mic preamp. Whether using the ergonomically-designed angled desktop stand or mounting withe the included rack ears, the US-16x08 includes enough I/O for almost any music recording application.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Huge upgrade from my humble mixer!\n\nReview: First, a disclaimer - I've been using an Alto Pro ZMX52 mixer since 2012...it's a rather inexpensive little workhorse that gets the job done. It's a clean little machine but not exactly big on bragging rights and has worked well enough. In any case, the Alto Pro gives the reader a baseline example of the type of use (and user) writing this...basic hobby, non-professional but substantial enough to have put together a decent home studio over the years.\n\nI've wanted an audio interface rather than mixer but really wasn't sure if my needs justified the purchase (okay, they probably don't since I've made do fine with the above mixer buy hey, wanting and needing are two different things!). As everyone knows, Tascam is a reliable brand so I jumped at the opportunity to give this device a go!\n\nOut of the box, first impressions are very favorable. I deliberately selected the Alto Pro above for size - while this Tascam is shaped differently and slightly larger, it is still quite portable and perfect for a small home studio or on the road. Feels solid and well built. 4x4 is \"right sized\" for my needs - not too big and not too small...just right. Now, here is the real kicker - at least for general use, the audio interface provides ease, convenience and flexibility for the majority of uses....hands down!\n\nNow, clearly the mixer versus audio interface debate is contingent upon the type of mixer and admittedly, mine was modest at best. There is also a price difference to consider but, having said that, if I had realized the difference up front, this Tascam would have been first choice ages ago! For the price, this Tascam is able to handle a lot more than what meets the eye plus it's portable and easy to use.","Product: Mix Series Compact Mixers are reliably rugged, with the proven quality you expect from Mackie, the world leader in compact mixer design. With Mackie preamps and proven highheadroom, lownoise design, Mix Series mixers sound great and maintain audio quality from any source. Plus, with their rugged metal chassis and highquality components throughout, they are a solid investment in reliability. An amazing value, Mix delivers a straightforward feature set that's easy to use and the sound quality you need in rugged designs built to last. Plus, wouldn't you rather mix on a Mackie?\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Compares favorably to Alto Pro model\n\nReview: I'm a bit torn on this review because on the one hand, it has some great features, its quite compact and is versatile. On the other hand, it is lacking some basics...like an on/off switch which just really annoys me to no end. I've been using an Alto Professional mixer for about three years and it performs well, is very solid and is a little work horse but being only a 5 channel, is also limited. Mackie has a decent reputation so frankly, I expected more...and in some ways it delivers. This is double the number of channels but only has 4 mic/line inputs versus 6 on the AP. Both have phantom power. This includes effects and does feel well made. Controls are intuitive and easy to use/responsive. Overall I'd rate this as a good buy in terms of build, durability and flexibility with some rather annoying aspects that the prospective buyer should be aware of before purchasing.","Product: Large Diaphagm Condenser Microphone\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Good with some caveats\n\nReview: I'd actually give this a 4.5 but since I'm unable, have settled on the lower rating. I own several microphones but probably the one closest in price is the very popular ATR2100-USB by Audio Technica so I'm going to compare this against that model to provide a comparison of features versus price.\n\nPro's\nThis has several nice features and comes in a complete little package that includes a small tripod and shock mount. Now, make no mistake about it, the tripod is a good addition for a total novice without any other alternatives...assuming you have an alternative, plan to use it because this tripod is better than nothing but barely. The shock mount is a bit better and again, a nice addition since you can make do with it but unless this is a starter set or very very rarely used it, plan on replacing sooner rather than later...especially the tripod.\n\nSensitivity is quite good...better than one would expect at this level. This can pick up very subtle variations and even a whisper level voice without having to squeeze in...the flip side is this will want to pick up extra noise in the room and doesn't do quite as good a job at filtering.\n\nOverall sound quality - I'd rate as good but not great. Overall the tendency is toward a bit of a \"tinny\" sound...not terrible but doesn't have a good depth. On the other hand, it is fairly crisp and doesn't muffle.\n\nPersonal preference - no control button which is a personal preference but something I missed just the same.\n\nCons\nLack of control button (see above personal preference mention)\nBetter than nothing tripod but plan to replace sooner rather than later\nLacks depth\nTendency to pick up extraneous sounds with ease.\n\nComparison\nBoth this and the ATR2100-USB are strong contenders at this price point...it really depends on your usage style but in general, if you have a quiet area and low extraneous noise with a need for very clear input then go with this. If you want a starter kit and don't own a tripod, shock mount or other then this is a good starter but plan to play around with things more than normal. From set-up to clean-up, you will need to invest more time and effort to get a quality recording. On the other hand, both of these are 1/2 to 1/3 the price of the next model mic I own and can yield decent results given a bit of time and effort.","Product: The FLIR TG165 Spot Thermal Camera bridges the gap between single spot infrared thermometers and FLIR's legendary thermal cameras. Equipped with FLIR's exclusive Lepton micro thermal sensor, the TG165 lets you see the heat so you know where to reliably measure it. Easily find unseen hot and cold spots for instant troubleshooting, and store images and data to show customers and include in reports. Accuracy 1.5% or 1.5C (2.7F)\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Consistent design, intuitive and easy to use\n\nReview: I was a bit torn on how to best review this product because about 2 years ago, I purchased the FLIR i3 thermal imaging camera http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0074YLFMC/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1\n\nSo, first things first. I opted to compare and contrast the two products because some buyers might be tempted to use this versus the other larger FLIR models...that would be a mistake and I will explain why in a minute. Next, I opted to evaluate this product as a stand alone rather when providing the review ranking.\n\nOkay, so as far as the comparison...FLIR lists this product as an imaging thermometer and the FLIR i3 (and subsequent models) as a thermal imaging camera. While initially that might seem like semantics, there are important distinctions which should assist the buyer in making an informed decision. This is truly a thermometer that happens to have a visual screen while the other is an imaging camera that happens to be able to differentiate temperature. To put it another way, this thermometer will provide a quick glimpse via the screen but the resolution is insufficient to use in detailed or large applications. The compact i3 model is a bit larger, lightweight and a bit more than double the price...so, which do you need? Of course, the answer largely depends upon your desired function and what you plan to do with it but in general, I'd say you can safely assume this model (the imaging thermometer) will work well for applications such as mechanics/motor vehicle repair and maintenance or spot checking a known leak location. On the other hand, if you intend to do a bit of \"detective work\" such as locating an unknown leak in a large house etc...I'd absolutely go with the i3 or above (and having owned and used the i3 for 2+ years, I'd probably dish out a bit more money and go with a larger model. The i3 is a budget minded model - it works well but the screen and resolution is a bit too small...it gets the job done but I find myself wishing I'd gone larger).\n\nOkay, so now back to this imaging thermometer. It is a nice, lightweight model. Unlike many other FLIR products, it did not come with a case which was a bit annoying. Aside from that, former FLIR users will find a familiar patterns for buttons and device structure. FLIR makes a fairly intuitive product. A standard usb and micro card allows easy storage and distribution of the images - also easily acts as a before/after comparison and ability to zoom for a better look. As others have noted, the battery is locked - ie, not user serviceable without voiding the warranty and undergoing more headache and hassle than one out to be required. FLIR does have a decent warranty and builds a reliable, useful product suitable for a wide variety of professional needs.","Product: The Dyson Cinetic Animal vacuum contains 54 ultra-efficient Dyson Cinetic tips which oscillate up to 5,000 times per second to separate the microscopic particles that clog other vacuums. Because of their efficiency, there's no filter that needs washing or replacing meaning there is no loss of suction.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Works well on tile\n\nReview: We have dogs and cats, live in Florida with a steady stream of sand combined with high humidity and I have 3 ft long hair. To say we put our vac to the test would be an understatement. Now, I've owned other brands of \"animal\" vacs but have been using uprights for years. I've been thinking about a canister because of the new design so when this came up...I immediately jumped at the opportunity to evaluate.\n\nBefore removing it from the box you will already know something is different - the box is much smaller than anticipated. Next, it takes about 5 minutes to have it put together and that includes fiddling. You probably won't even need to look at the manual - everything just snaps into place (with ease). The hose is wide and quite heavy duty..as nice as our premium shop vac hose! The canister itself is surprisingly light...and the odd little design very quickly grows on you!\n\nSo, things that are incredibly neat about this vac...\n1. The snap hose, tube etc...this system is great especially for those that hate to dwadle. Everything fits great.\n2. The hose is wide and well made.\n3. The column can be easily adjusted up/down for easy working without bending over or for easy storage when not in use.\n4. Accessories make sense, are well made and work very nicely. For example, not only can you vac under furniture but entirely under, around and back again with total ease. Folds flat to the ground so able to reach under the tightest cabinets and, since the ball joint on the actual accessory itself also swivels, you can work around legs etc easily.\n5. The retractable cord doesn't pull - it locks into place and then retracts on demand once a button is pressed.\n6. Retractable cord and on/off button is situated on top of the machine so can use foot for quick touch convenience.\n7. Ergonomic - everything is just so easy and convenient to access.\n8. Powerful - Since I knew this was coming, I originally didn't vac in anticipation of putting this through a tough workout test. THEN the weather up north interrupted delivery service so it was delayed...and I still didn't vac. By the time this arrived, it had been OVER a week - now, maybe in some homes that is okay but as much as I hate to admit it, not in mine. Between the dogs (who have a dog door and come/go at will in their fenced yard), the fact that it's early spring here in Florida and just the general in/out...the floors were BAAAAD. We have tile everywhere with a few large rugs...this goes from tile to rug with ease but really shines with tile. No back kicking of sand, no streaks of left behind grains, nothing. There were even one or two small oak leaves which were sucked up along with the sand and dog hair.\n9. NO dust - Okay, one of my HUGE HUGE HUGE pet peeves is constantly having to change the filters on the other vacs. Years ago I went to a bagless model of vac but the filters still end up smelling like wet dog if not constantly washed and changed. I refuse to use air pollutants like Febreeze so that leaves vinegar or a new filter all the time. This has neither a bag or a filter...I couldn't be more pleased! Now of course, this is brand new so shouldn't smell like dog but more importantly, it didn't smell at all. Not a new vac smell, nothing...which is exactly how I like my appliances!\n10. Easy maintenance - speaking of no bags and no filters (yay!!!), this is also a very unique canister. Spouse immediately made mention of no more having to untangle the stem - again, I very long hair so if it's not the dogs, just a few strands of my own 3 ft long hair results in a canister knot of ridiculous proportions in most vac's..for the heck of it, I actually cleaned my hair brush and tossed it in to see what would happen. Nothing. That is a FIRST ever!\n11. Easy storage - this takes up about the same amt of closet space as the upright - very little.\n12. Not terribly loud - It's not quiet but not terrible. Spouse thought it was quieter than average while I thought it was about average.\n\nHow much do we like it? The others are already at the curb!","Product: The South Main Hardware 1-1/4 inch #8 Black coarse thread bugle head drywall screws with #2 PHILLIPS drive are great multipurpose fasteners. These screws include a sharp point and are delivered in a sturdy cardboard box package. Drywall screws are primarily used for installing drywall in houses, buildings and offices. There are approximately 1,800 screws in this 9lb. Package and they are perfect for jobs big and small. Also available in a 3lb. Box.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Sharp and nice size\n\nReview: After recently getting a drywall sander for a smallish project, I realized how easy it was to tackle some other projects and just \"keep going\"...of course, that means drywall screws. Plus, I keep several on hand for other projects totally unrelated to drywall including fence repair etc...so, these are coated, very sharp and perform fine. I will admit, I have SERIOUS hesitation about using these in a primary home or anything long term because I've experienced poor quality versions from China that went bad after a few years...they start rusting, breaking etc... I'm not going to chance it for anything long term. For short-term, small or other types of projects, these are more than ample and come with a nice sized box.","Product: Making Ice is Easy With Ivation's professional-grade automated icemaker, it takes just 6 minutes to make ice! That's right: In less time than it takes to drive to the nearest store or gas station for a bag of ice, you can have a fresh batch of ice cubes made right in the comfort of your own home. It requires neither a glaciology degree nor Mount Everest or North Pole accolades. Simply pour a 'drop into the bucket', and press a button or two. Once the icemaker is done doing its thing, you'll enjoy beautifully solid chillers that remain separated and don't agglomerate. 26-pound output. 2 ice sizes You're busy entertaining and can't afford to serve drinks that are any less than perfect. That is precisely when our icemaker proves to be your ultimate hostess' weapon - from holidays to bridal showers to graduation parties to birthdays to charity events. To keep up with all the glass clinking, it features 2 selectable ice cube sizes so you can satisfy everyone from the whiskey sipper to the juice junkie. At maximum output, it can produce as much as 26.5 pounds of ice in a single 24-hour cycle. Another superior feature is the water recycling system: Unused ice melts back into the water reservoir and is turned into fresh ice during the next ice-making session. Light-Up Alerts Inform You of Cold, Hard Facts When the water level in the 2.5-quart (80-Ounce) reservoir runs low, a red indicator alerts you to add more water. When the ice bucket is full, another indicator alerts you to remove them so more ice may be created. There's even a flashing snowflake icon to keep you informed when an ice-making session is on standby. And for your peace of mind and safety, the unit shuts off automatically when the ice bucket is full. To make way for new ice, store ready cubes in cooler or freezer for later use.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Works better than 2 other higher priced models!\n\nReview: Update - I've now owned this for several months and use it almost daily...still works flawlessly. In fact, like it so well that purchased another from this same company.\n\nOriginal Review\n\nI've purchased two other ice makers from other brands and had to return both due to huge leaks. Basically, they spit out more water than ice...and cost about $100 more than this model. Now, not only does this work without ANY leaking but it's smaller and more compact so takes up less space. It's incredibly easy to use...basically plug it in, pour in the water, close the lid and hit the button. Within 15 minutes you will have ice. Cubes come in two sizes - both are considerably smaller than a regular ice cube from a try but personally I really like the size. We received this yesterday and have used it about 6 times since...the first few times just to 'clean' the machine and then we actually used the ice in a drink. It's a little work horse! Very consistent output in less than 15 minutes. Sound is very acceptable...it does have a hum but much less than our small beverage frig....totally within the tolerable range. Has a window to see how much ice is made and a small collection basket. It's hard to compare the output to regular frig but I'd estimate this makes about 1.5 to 2 trays of old fashioned ice cubes. After a half dozen cycles within the first 12 hours it showed no sign of fatigue or any other problem. Absolutely delightful product! Perfect for use when traveling or for extra beverages when company comes over. I much prefer this to buying bags of ice which according to research, are frequently contaminated due to poorly cleaned lines and so forth....plus, it's a lot more convenient to have it on hand rather than having to run to/from the store. Coupon code resulted in low/no cost purchase for evaluation purpose.","Product: The yardgard garden rabbit fence is especially designed to keep out rabbits & other varmints that could be harmful to your garden. The horizontal wire spacing get progressively closer near the ground when ethe protection is need the most in a 4\" to 2\" to 1\" design. The 4\" space upper horizontal wiring allows hands to pass through. This lightweight galvanized wire is also an excellent temporary barrier around trees, bushes & flowers. The vinyl coating option offers a more natural look for surroundings.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Wish it were larger gauge but does work\n\nReview: Living in Florida should mean year round gardening but in reality, it means year round frustration as rabbits, raccoons, squirrels, moles, turtles and a zillion other creatures all eat anything remotely resembling food. Lest you think this is an exaggeration consider my 16 year old huge fig tree...I've managed to eat maybe a dozen figs from it over the years. The same could be said for oodles of other fruit trees - and don't even begin to consider something like a garden. My entire herb garden was gone overnight. Even my earthworms were eaten - literally. Fast forward a bit, those of us insane enough to keep trying begin to get creative and one of the hands down best ways is with critter proof fencing. Of course, there is no such thing as you need a full shield of iron to truly keep the critters away but this is a decent approximation especially when combined with pots, overhead netting and a few other things. This has varying degree of holes/openings to reduce the access of larger garden pests yet still maintain easy access by humans. I wish the 14 gauge was a bit more sturdy but this does the job. A bit of a hassle to mess with due to the lighter gauge (remember, the larger the number the thinner the metal). I would buy again in the future though.","Product: This iLIVING automatic powerful Attic fan keeps your home cool and comfortable while removing heated Attic air. During those hot summer months, Attic air gets trapped inside and can easily reach 150 degree or more. Using this automatic fan helps reducing heat buildup in Attic and preventing weather-induced home deterioration. The housing is sturdily built with galvanized steel. It has an automatic adjustable thermostat and humidistat. The motor is thermally protected and permanently lubricated for long lasting performance. Product dimensions: 15x8x15. Hardwired required. Install behind shutters for protection from rain. Shutter sold separately. Automatic adjustable built-in thermostat included.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Big return on a little time investment\n\nReview: Living in Florida the attic can literally reach 130 to 140 degrees making it all but impossible to do anything attic related that takes more than a minute. In addition to the heat, the humidity builds up and can quickly raise the temperature in the house or garage while putting a lot more strain on the central air conditioner. Although we have a whole house fan that can quickly reduce the temperature inside if we've been away for awhile, it requires opening doors and windows to use which pulls in dust and pollen. On the other hand, this helps keep the attic at a decent temperature and reduces the effort of the central AC without requiring any input from us other than installation. Hook-up was easy - mount with brackets and attach just like you would a light fixture...it's that simple. Truly a money saving DIY project. The only thing I wish this had was a protective mesh...yes, of course it should be mounted far away from any traffic and it is an attic etc but those blades still look mighty mean and a little mesh would go a long way. Otherwise, a quick and easy DIY Project that should save money from the start.","Product: 30 \" round professional kitchen island featuring a 1 1/2 \" end grain work surface and our unique \"Chop and Drop\" system for sanitary food handling. The \"Chop and drop\" system consists of a juice groove that channels all liquids through the \"Pig Snout\" (a cut out in the block surface) into a stainless steel chef pan. This system allows for the collection of juices, the quick storage of prepped meats and vegetables, or the quick and effortless disposal of trimmings and waste.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Excellent! Great Looks, Versatile, Smart Item!\n\nReview: This is an excellent item. Simple yet attractive design that is exceptionally functional. We have an odd shaped kitchen that requires a lot of \"walking\" between prep areas and stove/frig. We've tried square/rectangular islands/work stations but they seemed to get in the way more than help. When this came up for sale, I decided to give it a try since I like the round look and clean, convenient design.\n\nGlad I did - this is a solid product, well built and very simple to assemble. Prefectly sized to roll from refrigerator to stove and elsewhere around the kitchen yet store out of the way. 30\" diameter, very comfortable height and neutral enough to go with nearly any decor. The butcher blook top looks thicker than the actual dimension and is very attractive. All hardware is included with same stainless appearance. Locking casters are nice quality. The drainage bowl is included or may be replaced with a small kitchen bag - utensil/pot hooks, towel holder etc all come with it.\n\nOne of the unique features is a small groove that channels fluids away from foods and directly into the bowl/bag centered in the middle of the butcherblock top. It's hard to explain but is created in such as way as to appear decorative rather than purely utilitarian - although it is very utilitarian.\n\nNice heavy weight stainless steel legs, good heft to the butcherblock top...all in all a solid and very attractive unit. Came well packed with large insulated box - icludes all hardware needed for assembly. Excellent!","Product: This gorgeous Solabela Painter's Palette Knives and Spatulas Set has the finest details and highest quality you will find anywhere! Solabela Painter's Palette Knives and Spatulas Set is truly remarkable. Product Details: Condition: Brand New Item SKU: SS-CUL-70401Dimensions: H: 11.1 x W: 11.1 x D: 11.1 ()\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Great little grab and go!\n\nReview: One of my hobbies is oil painting and as such, I own 2 full size easels and one table top easel but the one thing I don't have is a portable one. Yes, the table top version can be considered portable but not easily. This on the other hand, is a truly portable little easel. It's very light weight and given the price, I wasn't sure what to expect. Now, to be sure, it is not professional quality...the wood is a bit rough, the hinges are not as solid and the joints are not dovetail etc...having said all that, this is at least 1/4 the price and will certainly get the job done.\n\nNow for the basics...be sure to read the product dimensions. Initially I was surprised how small this is...a positive attribute as this can literally sit on my lap even in a lawn chair. In fact, I find that I'm as prone to use it for desktop work surface as artist surface..it's a wonderful tablet holder with pens, pencils, stylus and other accessories that fit perfectly. But back to art. Really enjoy how small this is and yet designed well. There is a small palette, tool drawer for paint and brushes/other accessories. 3 latches hold everything in place and it folds up with a grab handle for quick and convenient travel.\n\nNow, there was one minor issue which I quickly modified for my own use...first, the actual easel is prone to wind bursts if used outside and since one of my primary places to lug this along is the beach, I simply screwed in an itsy bitsy eye hook with a thread attached. Viola'...2 minutes and the problem is solved.\n\nCrazy convenient little product - great for the budding young artists or grab and go kit for everyone else. Also makes a nice desk in a box for use with tablet and mobile office! Complimentary product provided for evaluation purpose.","Product: A Nobel Prize was awarded for the discovery that Nitric Oxide plays a significant role in the cardiovascular system and Heart Health. Nitric Oxide is naturally made in your body, buy as you age you produce less of it. Berkeley Life helps support Heart Health and Nitric Oxide levels by supplementing your diet with dietary nitrates. The Patented Berkeley Test Strips are a non-invasive saliva test. A diet rich in vegetables with high nitrate levels is best (see Berkeleylife.com for more information) or try The Berkeley Life Nitric Oxide Supplements. They provide the dietary nitrates found in plants, as well as key vitamins, to help support Nitric Oxide, cardiovascular heart health and overall health and vitality.\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: Want to be insulted, stalked and emailed daily...complain about this company. UPDATE -Old Strips? Totally unreliable\n\nReview: Updated Review - I've been asked about the reliability issue related to these strips and continue to maintain that these are unreliable at best...and a waste of money at worst. Because one of us has a chronic lung condition, we were able to correlate the fact that these tests are indeed totally unreliable as compared to the gold standard...via an exhaled NO testing in a medical setting. In fact, due to the type of lung condition, NO levels tend to be HIGHER than average (as tested and measured by eNO in a medical setting) yet these strips showed depleted time and time again. Bottom line = unreliable at best.\n\nI'm updating this review...not because I'm happy but due to the ridiculous personal attacks and other objectionable response(s) related to the original review. Upon the suggestion of someone else, I did contact Berkely who did take the time to respond...and respond, and respond. Daily. I was busy and not able to implement the ideas right away but found Berkeley to be helpful...if not borderline obsessive but hey, I wish more sellers went to these efforts to make their customers happy.\n\nNow, here is the deal...from the email sent by Berekely, there were problems with some strips and they know it. The company seems more than anxious to make it right and normally I would change my review to reflect this fact except for the fact that the original review seems correct...the strips ARE unreliable. I juice fresh daily...with raw beets. I shouldn't have to jump hoops to trouble-shoot the strips for them...I want the strips to work right the first time. I don't want to have conversations via email and I sure don't feel like listening to insults for leaving an honest review.\n\nTake a look at the less than 5 star reviews and associated insults...mostly by the same people who either clearly have an input in this product OR have so little life as to hang out on this board waiting for any response to take place so they can send an unsolicited and non-helpful insult. So, not only does my original review remain but now that I have the time to actually follow up on the troubleshooting and other...thanks but no thanks. I don't choose to do business with a bunch of crazy-makers who sit around and stalk people they disagree with.\n\nBottom line...these strips are NOT reliable. They ARE basically idiot-proof, they are a good idea and aside from the questionable tactics demonstrated via this board which I strongly suspect originates with the sellers...I would have reluctantly been willing to help troubleshoot the problem although for the record, it shouldn't be necessary. Instead, I'll eat the cost and move on to a more professional and less cult-ish provider.\n\nORIGINAL POST\nSpouse and self are both extremely health conscious. We eat raw and leafy greens with every meal, juice with raw beets and other veggies, remain active etc...so, imagine our irritation when we BOTH tested \"depleted\" each and every time with these strips. Tried in the morning...depleted. Tried in the afternoon...ditto. In the evening. Both male and female on well above average diets with above average activity levels.\n\nAfter spending $35 on 50 strips only to use up a substantial number of the strips to determine they are all but worthless. A nice idea but totally unreliable and ultimately a waste of money.","Product: Norton 360 Premier Edition 3.0 eliminates the need for any additional security, performance optimization and data backup & restore products. Truly a breakthrough in PC protection, Norton 360 Version 3.0 provides a hassle-free user experience. It includes the strengths of Norton Antivirus 2009 with Antispyware for online threat protection and powerful features similar as those of Norton SystemWorks Premier Edition for backing up your data securely as well as continuously optimizing your PC for peak performance. Automatically fixes common PC problems Gets rid of unnecessary Internet clutter and temporary files. Removes stale Windows registry entries. Defragments your hard drive(s) for faster data writing and access. Files such as photos, music, contacts and financial documents can be backed up automatically to CDs, DVDs or external drives. Includes 25 GB of online storage Norton Pulse Updates - it automatically checks for new virus definitions every 5 to 15 minutes and downloads them in the background for continuous protection without performance sacrifices.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Fast, Convenient & Best of All...Works where others Failed\n\nReview: I've tried several anti-virus suites in the past year including McAffee and ZoneAlarm plus a few others...after getting a nasty computer virus that wrecked my hard-drive with one of the \"other\" well known products, I switched to this for a 30 day free trial then purchase at the end of the trial period. The purchase was easy, the transition seamless and the product by far the best I've used. Not only did it recognize the virus the others missed but it runs clean and fast in the background.\n\nVery easy to install, this has all the features I can really use without the junk I don't need. I can install on up to 3 computers...perfect for home office, laptop etc use and it comes with free online backup storage with more available for purchase should you need it.\n\nAutomatic update feature is seamless and doesn't impact performance to any notable level. Comes equipped with the PC security suite, identity protection, automatic backup and PC tuneup in this premier edition. One user for up to three computers. Another excellent features is the availability of live help - which I've not had to use so cannot comment on how good/bad it is but it's available should you require it. There is a free 30 day trial available which I used prior to buying since I wanted to know how sluggish this was likely to make my computer...happily the answer was \"barely noticeable\". Updates, back-ups and the rest are stunningly quick and, after having lost work since I have a tendency to delay the back-ups...having an automatic and nearly seamless feature that does it for me is perfect. Deciding what to backup is just a matter of clicking which files or folders which are then sent to a secure - free - area on your account. Prices for additional storage are a bit higher but you have the option or selecting your own storage device, other secure online account or a combination of all of the above. It's simple to schedule or to set on automatic.\n\nZero conflicts with other software or system performance - nothing to complain about in that area whatsoever. Everything is intuitive, easy to use and designed for convenience. To me, the real value is the fact this was the only product out of three different ones that was able to correct the virus that wrecked havoc on my hard drive. Plain and simple, works well without the fuss or hassle. It is worth the extra price in my opinion.","Product: Corel WordPerfect Office X8 Home & Student Edition is an affordable and complete office documents solution. Create documents, presentations, spreadsheets, reports, and more with this all-in-one office suite. Enjoy full compatibility to easily open, edit, and share files in more than 60 file formats, including Microsoft Office (.docx, .xlsx, and .pptx). Built-in PDF functionality allows you to export and adjust file size and resolution for web, e-mail, and print formats. Organize, edit, and improve your photos with AfterShot 2's intuitive controls. View document formatting with Reveal Codes, browse installed or created templates with the Template Viewer to start a new document, and create keyboard macros complete with a printable template.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Still better than word\n\nReview: Unfortunately the place I teach at pretty much requires the use of Word but frankly, I've never understood why because WordPerfect is so much easier to use, robust and intuitive. It seems to do more with less problem. It converts files with ease, integrates into other programs, installs perfectly without problem and never has as many hassles as Word. This version seems to be following the same. It automatically installed without issue - yes, it was a bit slow installing from disc but perhaps that is a product of my own lapse of memory. It removed the old version I had (about 5 years old) and installed the new version of WordPerfect Office. I played around for awhile opening and converting various file types ranging from ppt presentations to Word documents and even a few saved web pages - everything worked beautifully. Creating a new file is so easy - frankly, this is a joy to use.","Product: An Amazon Brand.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Ooooohhhhh sooooo nice - Bath Sheets, Towels and more\n\nReview: I bought four of these bath sheets and 8 towels/hand/washclothes when they went on sale. All of them are wonderful, superb price, great absorbency, wash well...but the bath sheets are my favorite by far - in fact, I came back and bought 6 more bath sheets.\n\nThe size and weight of the bath sheets are wonderful. Comparable to MUCH more expensive brands. In fact, these are my absolute favorite and I own Frette, Tommy Hillfigger, Custom monogrammed from Neiman Marcus best selection plus many others that cost a great deal more than these. Hands down - my new favorite towel...the rest are now dog towels. Buy them - you will be glad you did. Would also make a great gift item -impressive for a great price.","Product: Discover the advantages of home meat grinding with this professional grade meat grinder. Grinding your own meat assures the freshness and quality of meat that goes into your meals. Grind venison, chicken, beef, pork, veal, and ham to make a variety of meals. Make gourmet sausages, meat salads, lasagna, hamburgers, etc. The powerful 1 HP motor is able to grind 3 pounds of meat per minute. The reverse motor function frees clogged food without disassembling the grinder. The grinder includes: 1 cutting blade, 3 durable die cast plates (fine, medium and coarse), 1 sausage stuffer, 1 food pusher and large hopper.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Surpisingly Nice Little Grinder! Great Price and Perfect Size!\n\nReview: Was a bit hesitant to purchase this grinder given the low price so I waited awhile until there were a few other reviews (thanks everyone!). We don't eat a lot of meat but want a way to grind out own ground beef rather than having to purchase it in the store. So, the caveat to this review is that we are not intensive users but rather sporadic users that use it for small batches of a few pounds at a time.\n\nAt least for our purposes this works beautifully. Comes with three blades that allow most popular grinding size options...large, medium and small. Large is fantastic for chili etc..\n\nNoise level is about the same as a juicer--probably a bit better.\n\nWeight is decent and stays put. There is a bit of plastic (stopper/pusher) but exterior is easy to clean. Unlike others, we've experienced no problems after having used it about four times. Ran through test at first then tossed. Cleaned and prepped...found zero issues. Motor is strong and doesn't seem to have issues when in use.\n\nBottom line...great price and super option at least for casual home users such as ourselves.","Product: This Old Mountain cast iron loaf pan is pre seasoned and ready to use. This loaf pan measures 11 3/4\" x 5 3/4\" x 3\" with attached loop handles. Cast iron retains heat better than any other cooking media and is the cooking choice of many chefs and home cooks alike. Nothing bakes your bread to a golden brown like cast iron from Old Mountain. Our attractive Old Mountain logo embossed on the bottom adds style and value.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Excellent - Much better than other option for true pre-seasoning\n\nReview: I own a LOT of cast iron..in fact, I probably own most of what Lodge has put out and typiually only purchase Lodge but I needed some additional bread pans and since cannot find Lodge brand any longer I purchased 2 from Sante Cabin and 2 from Old Mountain. Old Mountain arrived quickly, well wrapped/packaged and completely treated. Washed and used to encounter bread that dropped effortlessly from the pan without need for barely any prompting. After a few more uses the finish was even better...perfect.\n\nThe Sante Cabin cast iron arrived a few days later, washed to prepare for use and pan immediately began to rust. Description indicates \"true seasoned\" and \"ready to use right out of the box\" but also denotes \"non-seasoned\". It is NOT seasoned and rusted immediately after washing. On the other hand, the two Old Mountain loaf/bread pans were perfect. WAshed easily, zero rust, true non-seasoning and a beautifully shaped loaf.\n\nExcellent purchase!","Product: 24 inch pizza peel is made of nature hardwood handle and full body to endure heat, scrubbing, and other harsh treatment. The surface area withstands bending for reliable support.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Perfect for Outdoor Ovens!\n\nReview: As we move from baking indoors to the great unknown of outdoor ovens, the need for a large pizza peel set me on a quest for something large enough to keep away from the VERY hot oven but be light weight enough to manage easily. Since there were not any reviews - but the price was right - I decided to give this a shot.\n\nFirst, it is lightweight but not flimsy. All natural wood tone this has a nice big surface area with ample size for full size pizza or several loaves of bread. Everything is all wood so there is no need to fear contact with hot metal (a big plus for me!) and the handle is long enough to push items into an outdoor oven yet still not so large as to be impossible to deal with.\n\nThe only thing I would have liked is a slightly more ergonomic feel to the handle...it's \"squarish\" rather than rounded. All in all, a fully functional peel for an unbeatable price!","Product: Features & Specifications The Miracle Fermenting Crock Pot - Quick, Easy and Quality! The Harsch / Gartopf fermenting crock pot is a quality crafted piece which is imported from Germany. Easily make nutrition packed sauerkraut, pickled vegetables and so much more. The patented Harsch crock-pot is a beautiful stoneware piece and is fired at 1200 degrees Celsius and finished with a lead free glaze. This crock includes a ceramic cover which fits perfectly over the top and has a special cast gutter in the rim creating a seamless airlock. Gases from the fermentation can escape easily but air is not able to enter. Many other crock-pots can create a pasty white kahm yeast, this one doesn't! Suitable for all types of vegetables like:Cabbages, Cucumbers, Carrots, Pumpkins, Beans, Onions, Celery, Peppers, and more! In just 4-6 weeks you can have delicious fermented veggies in your home! Features: Quality constructed - easy to use. Imported from Germany. Can ferment up 10 liters of vegetables (2 3/4 Gallons) at a time. Use of ceramic weight stones eliminates mold. Clever water sealing system allows gases to escape. No air let in. Lead free. Made of ceramic clay. Simple instructions are included Specifications: Model Harcsh 10 Liter Crock PotCapacity10 Liters / 2.75 Gallons. Built of Made of ceramic lead free clay. Warranty One Year\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Beautiful quality pot - super easy to use. HEAVY Duty!\n\nReview: Being brand new to fermentation, I was a bit hesitant to spend so much money on a \"pot\". However, after reading some of the other fine reviews, decided to go ahead and purchase this one rather than the slightly lower cost item. The price difference, after adding in the stone to the cheaper model, was still fairly significant but I'm pleased to report this is an outstanding item. Very heavy, extremely well made and simple to use. Unlike other reviewers I do not have anything to compare it with but given the quality of the piece, feel it should last many years with basic care and maintenance.\n\nThe size is very versatile - not so large as to waste food but certainly sufficient for most desired foods.","Product: Sink your feet into the Cumulus9 with its proprietary Multi-Core Technology. Feel how it conforms to the shape of your feet and supports your arches for relief of back, leg and foot discomfort. The advantage is its proprietary multilayer cushioning system. The soft, upper layer luxuriously cushions your feet while the firm, lower layer provides soothing support. You'll want an Imprint Comfort Mat everywhere you work and stand including the kitchen, laundry, bathroom, garage, workshop and more. Makes a great holiday gift.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Very pleased! 3+ year update - still going strong!\n\nReview: Three year update - I've now owned these for over three years and both are still going strong but large one is starting to show signs of wear. Color is fine on both (no fading etc) but large one has a few minor \"cracks\" due to abuse (ie, dog claws, spouse using vac without changing height etc). Does not impact function and still plenty of life left in these.\n\nTwo year update - I've now owned these for two years and both are still going strong despite a lot of abuse! These are placed in the kitchen and walked on all day by both people and dogs. My spouse has used the large one as a partial work space with boots, tools etc..they have been vacuumed, mopped, bleached, held up to spills, heels...you name it. One has a small area that looks like a peel and is barely noticed...that's it. The other still looks great. Both perfect perfectly and still stay put on the floor. No curling, no rolling, no slipping. After over two years of hard usage these remain excellent.\n\nUpdate - Have now owned these for a year and both have held up exceptionally well. Still no bending or curves...they lay flat and continue to perform perfectly.\n\nI ordered two of these - one long one to go in front of the sink and this short 20\" by 36 inch to place in front of the stove. After years of using small area rugs, the ease of cleaning combined with soft foot support was very appealing. These were even better than expected!\n\nBoth arrived rolled up and I was somewhat concerned whether or not they would lie flat or have a tendency to curl up on the corners like I've read on reviews of other comfort gel mats. These had no such problem - both are nice and flat without any indication of curling.\n\nClean-up is a breeze. My spouse - who complained this was a totally unnecessary item when it first arrived - is now the biggest fan. These make a big difference on comfort for feet, knees and even hips/lower back when doing long jobs in the kitchen.\n\nI've not owned them long enough to ascertain long term durability but at least initially they seem well made.","Product: The WindTunnel Air Bagless Upright has all the power you need to tackle everyday dirt & debris with Multi-Cyclonic filtration. Recline the handle all the way to the floor to clean under furniture without rearranging your room, then use the built-in wand and attachable stair hose for effortless above floor cleaning. And the bagless design means no messthe dirt cup empties with just the push of a button.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Odd little machine with a lot to like\n\nReview: Right off, this is an odd little machine with several unique features that take a bit of time to become familiar with. First, the positives...\n\n1. Smart Design - this takes the cake for smart design. For example, those little tools are an ongoing problem for most upright vac's...there is minimal storage and the blasted things are forever falling off, getting lost or generally annoying. No so with this machine. There is one tool that is so smartly designed that it becomes three different tools simply by popping in/out in different ways. The entire piece clips to the back for ease of storage and convenience. VERY smart!\n\n2. Adjusting Handle - superb! Why on earth haven't others figured this out is beyond me but I truly appreciate the adjustable handle/stem. It makes storage so much easier and does a great job in those hard to reach places...not to mention, helps with ergonomics for different sized people.\n\n3. Misc Other Great Features - Easy off cannister, flat to floor option to go under beds, stop turning or continue to use beater with one click, VERY lightweight, QUIET...in fact this is SO much quieter than my other vac's it's remarkable. Nice long cord, extra extra long hose to hit those hard to reach places. Re-useable and washable filers including HEPA are very important as is the super easy to clean cannister. No BAGS and HEPA are the only way to go!\n\nNow for the Odd, Neutral or Negative...\n\nThe hose is very long and convenient but attaches in an odd manner. It uses a clip style action and I'm not sure about durability. It feels a bit flimsy...in part, due to the ease or using and light weight but that same light weight also feels less durable. Only time will tell...\n\nSmall footprint. That is good but this is not as wide as most other machines so takes more passes to cover the same territory.\n\nSuction. Okay, first of all, I have monster machines that really suck. Having said that, this seems much more robust than an electric broom but a bit weaker than what I'm familiar with. My floors are all tile with areas rugs. This is perfect for the tile floors and perfectly fine for a quick clean of the rugs but once my pets or spouse have tracked up the rugs, I'd be more inclined to lug the heavy duty vac out. For daily use - this is already up and running! Really appreciate the light weight, quiet noise level and ease of use with smart features.\n\nAll in all, a nice machine but have concerns over long term durability given light weight, lots of plastic etc...","Product: Acclaimed as the best pillow material in the world! features latex foam derived from sustainable rubber trees. The milky sap tapped from these tropical trees is converted to a soft, resilient foam. The shredded latex pieces combine to offer a traditional pillow feel that is both resilient and comfortable.Rayon From bamboo cover is breathable and sleeps coolUnique foam consistency provides superior pressure relief and can eliminate sleeping painNaturally hypoallergenic and dust mite resistantShredded latex provides excellent airflow and sleeps coolShredded pillow filling provides a more familiar pillow feel.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Superb pillow especially for those with neck problems!\n\nReview: Chasing after a good night's sleep has become somewhat of a slight obsession especially after developing arthritis in my neck. The right pillow makes all the difference. Over the years I've purchased just about every pillow known to mankind - many which were very expensive; hand-stuffed down pillows from Cuddledown, memory foam (ugh the heat!), buckwheat (puffy face - allergy prone), spun gel (like trying to sleep on a sponge)...you name it, I've tried them.\n\nI've also tried different shapes, sizes and sleeping positions. The bottom line is that it's not easy to find a great pillow. Until Z by Malouf! Over a year ago I purchased four of their formed talalay pillows - the odor was a bit overwhelming at first but once aired out, they provided a superb level of support combined with comfort. They have held up well and perform perfectly but I actually prefer the shredded talalay for the ability to position it \"just right\".\n\nWhen this shredded talalay became available I ordered two king size pillows which arrived quickly, encased in the very nice carrier. Unlike the prior pillows, the odor from these wasn't as bad although a good airing is probably still in order. These do not come with a removable cover although the outside of the pillow itself is a comfortable material (bamboo according to the label). The king size is a bit odd shaped in that it is long but not as wide as anticipated. I will be ordering more in the queen size due to this variation.\n\nAside from the slightly odd sizing of the king size, this is an exceptional deal! Shredded talalay isn't easy to find (none of my local stores seem to carry it) and when ordering via catalog or online, the cost tends to be high. This compares very favorably to the pillows used at Weston for their dream beds for those searching for a general type of comparison...it's a bit firmer which I actually like as the extra support helps with the neck pain.\n\nFor those that suffer from allergies (other than latex), this is a GREAT option! Feather pillows and buckwheat tend to leave me puffy, others with a heavy chemical can actually cause a cough and congestion. This is natural talaly, tends to resist mites and other common causes of allergies. Just remember, the talalay is NOT appropriate for those with a latex allergy!!!!\n\nFinally, for those with a neck problem this pillow is the best solution I've encountered to date. Unlike feather pillows that pack down during the night, this remains supportive throughout the entire evening, reducing the angles that often lead to pinched nerves, circulation problems and pain. Unlike gel or foam that is often \"too fluffy\", this still allows compression so the head and neck are held at a natural angle.\n\nAlthough I purchased these specifically due to neck problems, my spouse - who has no such issues - absolutely loves the pillows as well. Bottom line - fantastic pillow, fantastic price!\n\nUPDATE - Ordered four more queen sized pillows which arrived with a zipper case. Unsure why the king size didn't but wanted to update review to indicate the inclusion of a nice zippered case for the queen size.","Product: 70 Pint Dehumidifier. 115v ENERGY STAR&reg; qualified. Continuous Operation Continuous drainage option helps maximize dehumidifier run time. Set Precise Humidity Set humidity level from 30% to 90% RH. Timer 24-hour timer. Low Temperature Operation Works in temps as low as 41 degrees. Removeable Bucket Removeable condensate bucket with carry handle holds approximately 16.2 pints. Convenient Automatic defrost cycle. Casters included for easy mobility. Displays room temp and humidifity. Filtration Washable, slide-out filter\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Works Well but seems slow to start\n\nReview: Living in Florida it's totally typical to encounter hot humid summer days where the temperature AND humidity level are both in the 90's. I've always heard about the benefit of a dehumidifier but frankly, was hesitant to try one out because I didn't know if it would be able to \"keep up\" with the excessively high humidity of Florida.\n\nWe also happen to live in one an area with one of the highest electricity rates in the nation so have taken steps (for both financial as well as environmental reasons) to reduce total energy expenditure. During the day we run ceiling fans and increase the AC but find it isn't enough in summer even with high ceilings etc...so, when this came up for review I was very eager to give it a try.\n\nOut of the box hook-up is very simple...which is good because the instructions are minimal at best. Unfortunately, it didn't come on. We tried hooking up a different drain hose, removing it, changing settings...no fan, nothing. There isn't any type of trouble shooting so I went online and looked up a factor provided video which mentioned the need to make sure the setting was low enough. So, just to double check, went back and lowed it even more. Still nothing. As I'm sitting there thinking \"oh heck\" it suddenly comes on!\n\nApparently there is a bit of a delay as this \"reads\" the ambient temperature and humidity level in the room. I expected it to work like a portable air conditioner or even air purifyier/filter...instantly. It does NOT. In the meantime, each change of the controls seems to start it over so give it a few minutes to settle before assuming it's not working. The fan will eventually come on!\n\nOnce we figured that out, everything was fine. This works like a charm and helps reduce humidity. The choice of drainage types is a terrific idea and I'm pleased to report, it works as indicated. Sound-wise, this is quieter than a portable AC unit and actually substantially more quiet than a fairly large Hunter Air Filter we use.\n\nThe pull out drainage \"drawer\" feels a bit cheap and doesn't slide in/out easily but overall, it's a well thought out unit. The filter is easy to pull out and clean/reusable which is convenient.","Product: The Sleep Master folding guest bed by Zinus is perfect for overnight guests. 0.5 inch of fiber padding with a 2.5 inch base of Pressure Relieving Comfort Foam, ensures your guest will get a great night sleep. The Sleep Master Folding Guest Bed Frame is lightweight and compact making it easy to store in closets or under the bed. Worry free 1 year limited warranty. Another comfort innovation from Zinus. Pioneering comfort.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: A bit more basic but still good\n\nReview: A couple of years ago I got one of these folding guest beds with the intention of using it as a spare when company dropped in with kids etc...little did I know that dealing with a loved one who was ill would mean that I literally would spend days...and even weeks...sleeping on it. Rarely have I ever appreciated an item more! Not only did it hold up surprisingly well with daily use by a full grown adult but provided more comfort than expected. It fit easily into a bedroom and allow me to provide needed care to a loved one while still getting some comfortable rest. Not surprisingly, it eventually started to sag a bit in the middle and the mattress flatten - it's still comfortable enough but I was thrilled to see this one come up for review. This isn't quite as nice as the prior version - it doesn't have wheels and it doesn't have a storage case...however, I have the storage case from the old one so it's not a problem but it would still be nice to have a case. The wheels are not a deal breaker but absolutely make it easier to move when putting away/taking out. The mattress is comfortable even though it's a bit thinner - overall not bad but not quite as nice as the older model. On the other hand, this one costs less and still provides 90% of the same comfort level so is a terrific option.","Product: This memory foam bath rug is the perfect combination of luxury and comfort. With 35D high density memroy foam and truly handmade rug construction, this contemperory rug has set itself far apart from the typical micro fiber memory foam rugs in the market.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Memory foam makes the difference!\n\nReview: Originally I purchased one of these from Warehouse deals for my dog. He is getting a bit older and although he has a hammock bed, sometimes prefers the floor but needs a cushion. This was just the right size and thanks to the color/fabric was inconspicuous enough to leave in the living room so he can sit beside us.\n\nHowever, when it arrived, both my spouse and self immediately loved the feel of it! We aren't getting any younger either and this provides just enough cushion to feel secure and soft when getting out of the tub. Non-slip backing and fabric on top are what you would expect from any other bath rug but the memory foam makes all the difference. It's not over-padded but does provide a noticeable amount of cushion just right for aging feet/knees and backs.","Product: The Sleep Master folding guest bed by Zinus is the perfect sleep solution when you need it. The bed neatly folds and includes a bonus storage bag, and the folding frame has swivel wheels for ease of movement. Mattress has Only the Highest Quality of Foam - Foam is CertiPUR-US Certified for durability, performance, and content. A great solution for hotels, bed & breakfast inns that often need additional sleeping accommodations, it's also perfect for house guests, camping, traveling, sleepovers, and dorm rooms. Size: 75 inches x 31 inches x 18 inches. Another comfort innovation from Zinus. Pioneering comfort.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: 4.5 stars - great bed with one small consideration!\n\nReview: Surprisingly nice! This folding/roll away bed comes as a complete package and includes:\n- Light weight but sturdy bed frame. Uses springs with a solid \"canopy\" or trampoline type mesh to support the mattress. No straps or uncomfortable springs.\n- 4 inch mattress - comfortable. Much more so than those old fashioned foam ones!\n- Mattress cover - big plus for including a zipped mattress cover that is easy to remove and easy to put back on.\n- Cover - Zips up to provide extra protection for the entire bed.\n\nPro's\nComfortable, rolls away for easy storage, removable cover for cleanliness, store in its own case. Supports up to 300 lbs. Good for camping due to rounded floor/footing.\n\nCon's\nUnlike many folding beds, this one folds in half almost upside down. This requires a little bit of wrangling with the mattress. The mattress is light weight and the bed frame itself will hold in a true position so this shouldn't be an issue for the majority of people but it is worth mentioning for the elderly or those with some mobility related concerns.\n\nOrigin\nThis is made in China. Comes with a 1 yr warranty. Does NOT include a strong odor or harsh chemical smell like many other related products.","Product: Inspired by professionals and designed for connoisseurs, KRUPS products have been built with three key attributes in mind: Passion, Precision and Perfection. Prepare a large variety of fresh, tasty and healthy juices with the KRUPS ZB500E52 Slow Juice Extractor. Thanks to its breakthrough juice press technology (with 7 patents) the KRUPS ZB500E52 Slow Juicer extracts more juice and gives a very dry pulp. The KRUPS ZB500E52 Slow Juice Extractor comes with 2 different stainless steel baskets: a finer grid basket (for juices and cocktails) and a coarser grid basket (for sauces, smoothies and coulis). You can vary your tastes infinitely: the only limit is your imagination. This Slow Juicer is easy to use, easy to clean (all removable parts are dishwasher safe) and easy to store (compact design). The KRUPS ZB500E52 Slow Juicer is made in France and has a 2-year worldwide warranty.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Absolutely LOVE it! - So quiet, great job juicing, very nice!\n\nReview: We love juicing and have owned several different models over the years including old-fashioned juicer/fruit squeezers, juicer steamers, Omega Continuous pulp ejection juicer and a Waring Pro Juice Extractor. We also have blenders, food processors etc...you get the idea...we juice. So, when this came up for review it was a no brainer to try it out.\n\nThis very quickly became our favorite juicer ever! First, it's so quiet especially compared to the Waring Pro which sounds like a jet engine taking off in the kitchen. This is more like a quiet hum and can be easily used without waking the entire household. In fact, it is the most quiet electric juicer we've used.\n\nNext, assembly and clean-up is within a tolerable limit. While some reviewers have noted it's a hassle, we find it pretty much comparable to other juicer models and better than some.\n\nStorage is easy; we put it in the same place as we store the Waring Pro. It's a bit bigger than the Omega but since we really dislike the Omega (hard to clean up, doesn't extract enough juice and is loud) this was a huge improvement. The Omega is going to the yard sale box!\n\nEXCELLENT operation. Without a doubt, this gets the juice out better than other models we've owned; pulp is dry..very dry. No waste, no slop, no spills, no leaks...great juice.\n\nPure and simple, this delivers. Outperforms both the Omega and the Waring Pro by far!","Product: Friedrich Chill series air conditioners are energy efficient and easy-to-handle. The programmable timer plus the MoneySaver setting helps manage energy use and reduce costs. With capacities from 5200 to 23000 Btu/h and the Auto Air Sweep feature, Chill can evenly cool a single room or a large open space. All models include a remote control. To determine the appropriate cooling capacity, see our sizing guide and model specifications.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Compared to Frigidaire units, this one wins hands down with one small exception!\n\nReview: Updated Review as of 4/30/16. Still using this and still going strong.\n\nAlthough we have central AC, we use portable AC units in several rooms of the house to lower electric bills (we live in an area with one of the highest electricity costs in the nation). To date, we own 3 different Frigidaire models of roughly this same size and 2 other units (smaller in size) for use during power outages/storms. Because of the price difference, buyers probably would like to know if this is better than Frigidaire and the answer is a resounding \"yes\" with one small exception.\n\nSize - This is a larger unit than the comparable Frigidaire but only by a small amount. But don't let that fool you because the unit is also very sturdy and packaged very well. Unlike 2 prior Frigidaire models, this arrived without any damage.\n\nWeight - Despite the relatively large size, this is not overly heavy. Additionally, because of the way it is installed (more on that later), this is actually easier to handle than a comparable Frigidaire model.\n\nFeatures - Features are similar in both brands; both have a nice remote although this comes with a handy case that can be attached to the wall, side of the unit or where desired to hold the remote. Remote is easy to use and functional with clearly delineated buttons. Both are energy star compliant and easily able to cool in excess of a 400 foot room even in Florida known for high humidity. Programming is easy and energy saving features allow the user to set a desired temperature/duration then leave or sleep without worry.\n\nUnique Features - This unit has a couple of nice features the Frigidaire doesn't have including a side-to-side motion for the airflow which is very nice. Rather than blow in one direction only, this can help circulate air in the room with a small fan-like feature that allows air to wisp back/forth.\n\nQuiet! - By far, one of the MAJOR differences between this Friedrich model and similar sized Frigidaire models is the sound...or lack thereof! For example, it was difficult to watch TV and leave the Frigidaire model running due to the sound. Not impossible but it would require turning up the volume several notches. This \"high\" setting on this model is just about the same loudness as the \"low\" setting on the Frigidaire!\n\nInstallation - If there was one problem with this unit it was the inferior directions. Unlike most window units, this has a removable case which is nice since you can just insert the motor/unit in the case after everything is installed but for those who are familiar with standard installation, the instructions leave something to be desired especially since the drawings are too small to understand what is being demonstrated. Aside from that one consideration, this is a terrific unit!\n\nDurability - We've only had this a couple of weeks so only time will tell how durable it is. The Frigidaire brand is a little workhorse. For example, the week before this arrived, we finally 'killed off' our first one which had been in use approx 8 hours a night for the past several years including warm and cold weather. During warm weather we set it at 64 degrees and during cold weather we leave it running on the fan for ventilation and the white noise. And the unit actually didn't die completely; it just started making some horrid noise but still blows and cools.\n\nThe bottom line - this unit is slightly more costly than a comparable Frigidaire unit but vastly more quiet with some nice features. The instructions leave a lot to be desired and only time will tell how durable it is compared to the other brand however, upon initial inspection, it appears to have quality construction with an eye for detail that is missing from the other brand. Energy star approved. If this holds up over time, it's a terrific little machine!","Product: The secret to create delicious veggie recipe to your healthy lifestyle - fast, easy and fun. enjoy your favorite vegetables and fruits in professional & beautiful julienned dishes with nikkouware super-sharp, high precision stainless steel vegetable and julienned peeler. Impress your family and friends. peel potatoes, carrots, zucchini, cucumber, butternut squash, apples, onions and more in seconds. Create tasty and healthy noodles and zoodles in unique & stylish way. here's why our customers choose the nikkouware julienne peeler as their best choice: 1) 100% high grade Japanese stainless steel 2) durable ultra-sharp blades 3) handle 2 jobs with 1 tool : peeling & shredding 4) suitable handle for both left & right handed 5) quick & easy to clean 6) makes fruit and veg easy to eat for picky kids 7) lose weight faster: perfect for following a low-carb, gluten-free, or paleo diet 8) create restaurant style recipe for your home. So, just hurry and try nikkouware julienne & vegetable peeler today and don't miss this special discount before it's expires.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: The King of Peelers!\n\nReview: We are avid health food junkies and slice, dice, peel and julienne our way throughout the day for nearly every meal. To say we go through a lot of knives, peelers and so forth would be an understatement...we simply cannot keep enough in stock. Well, maybe until now. This is, without a doubt, the most well made peeler we've owned...and we've owned a LOT of them. In fact, when this arrived, my dearest spouse (we share the cooking) immediately made a comment about the weight, grip and feel. For lunch we made a salad and put this to the test - smooth operation. This is larger sized than many on the market...a fact that men will especially appreciate - however, women have no need to worry as this is still comfortable. Built in hook makes this easy to store or hang for quick convenience. All stainless construction means no rust and easy to clean. Exceptionally pleased by this product! Complimentary product provided for evaluation purpose but make no mistake about it...this is our fast favorite and new 'go to' tool for peelers!","Product: 26016A Features: -Proctor Silex collection. -Exterior material: Stainless steel. -Browning controls for perfect results. -Makes 4 waffles. -Easy clean nonstick plates. -Power on and ready lights indicates. Product Type: -Belgian waffle maker. Indicator Light: -Yes. Non-Stick: -Yes. Primary Material: -Metal. Finish: -Stainless Steel. Grids/Plates Included: -Yes. Dimensions: Overall Height - Top to Bottom: -5.2\". Overall Width - Side to Side: -13\". Overall Depth - Front to Back: -11.5\". Overall Product Weight: -6.7 lbs.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Good size but non removable plates\n\nReview: We own another waffle maker that is getting up in years - and it's round, small and only makes 1 waffle at a time. Since we only eat waffles sporadically, it's never been a major issue but does tend to be a hassle and yet one more reason not to have waffles...we have to either eat them cold in order to wait on the other waffle to be made or go ahead and eat without the other person. Either way, it's always a bit of hassle.\n\nThis is a huge improvement over our aging waffle maker. It makes 4 small sized waffles each roughly the size of a piece of toast (perhaps a tad larger). This is great for making waffle \"sandwiches\" and other items I've heard about but never tried thanks to our limited waffle iron. It stores standing up and takes up surprisingly little space, has an on/off indicator light and is otherwise very simple. Very simple. If you are a waffle queen/king who loves to get ultra creative this is not the waffle iron for you. But, if you are a basic household that just wants a few quick waffles now and then, it's worth a look.\n\nNow, there are a few improvements that could have been made..first, and perhaps most important...the grill is permanent. Our cheap, old waffle iron was also permanent so it made little difference to us but for power users, this could be a make or break feature. Also, at least for us, the batter pre-set was a non issue. Last but not least, Ours came in a plain brown box - although it seemed new, this would not be appropriate for gift giving etc as it seems like it might have been a refurbished unit or some other non-standard version. Again, not an issue for us but of potential concern to others.\n\nOn the other hand, this seemed to make waffles a LOT faster than our old one...which of course, could be a function of the age difference alone but I don't think so...this really does seem to make waffles fast! At least for us, we get 2x's the waffles in half the time so were thrilled. Upright , space saving storage and ultra easy operation make it a winner in this household!","Product: Ottomanson Ottohome Collection offers rugs and runner rugs that are both functional and decorative to contribute a trendy compliment to your space and home decor while preserving your floors from dirt, scratches, wear and tear. Our Contemporary Moroccan Trellis Design Modern Area Rug features an intricate and elegant Moroccan Trellis design in the earth hues of dark brown and cream colors with a dark brown background and popping cream colored trellis lines. Resistant to fading, stains and shedding, this durable rug offers a fuss-free maintanence and can be an ideal choice for homes with kids and pets as well as heavy traffic areas like hallways, kitchens, entryways, living rooms. Machine-woven loop texture with 100% nylon low-pile for long-lasting quality makes this rug easy to lay flat and feels comfortable under your, your kids' and pets' feet; while the non-slip rubber backing helps with grip so your rug stays safely in place without moving even when you vacuum. Convert your house into a home with a finishing touch by simply setting one rug from this collection under your kitchen table, in your living room or by your foyer to greet your guests in a gracefully welcoming manner.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Versatile, neutral appearance and outstanding durability\n\nReview: This is perfect for the porch - the porch is fully tiled and subject to the rain, humidity, heat, sunshine and sand year round...obviously any rug in that area takes a terrible beating and this is up to the task. First it has a rubberized backing so doesn't collect the water or get soggy even when paws and people trudge around in dirty shoes. Next, the grey with black trellis design adds interest while doing a pretty good job hiding every single bit of dust or sand. The low pile and super durable synthetic fibers mean this can literally be hosed down when desired without fear of fading or falling apart. Super versatile, nice neutral appearance and impressive durability make this an all around winner.","Product: An Amazon Brand.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Good but not great\n\nReview: This is a pretty decent laundry sorter with some caveats. I'll outline the good, bad and neutral aspects below.\n\nThe Good\n- Super simple to assemble. Generally speaking, neither of us are inclined to read directions so any product that isn't totally intuitive is off to a bad start. This is totally intuitive and required no help or assistance from the manual. Total time from unpacking to assembly (without directions) was about 15 minutes.\n- Washable. The bags can be removed from the hanging hardware and washed which is a big positive.\n- Locking rollers. Overall this is fairly sturdy...not super sturdy mind you but sturdy enough. The wheels are smooth and can be locked in place. The hanging hardware for the bags and overall frame are not super strong but ample for laundry.\n-Holds about a load each. Bags are good sized and each hold an average size load.\n\nThe Bad\n- No floor. If you overstuff the bags, there isn't a floor or bottom below. Now, the bags are designed so they won't drag so that isn't really an issue but given enough weight, the bags could eventually wear through which would render this useless. The bag material is okay - not that thick. With repeated washing and heavy weight, my guess would be that the bags will be the first thing to wear out as they feel a bit on the thin side.\n\nThe Neutral\n- The wheels are not bad but not great. They get the job done but frankly, I'd prefer real wheels/casters like the ones on the DecoBros heavy duty 3-bag laundry sorter model. For an extra $5, I'd probably go with that model over this AmazonBasics model in the future since it has better wheels and a reinforced \"floor\" under the bags. For less than $2 difference, I'd go with the Seville Classics model which also has bag support and better caster wheels.\n\nOverall, this isn't a bad option but it's also not my first choice. For just a few dollars more, I'd go with one that has a floor support in place.","Product: Re-Hydrate your surroundings with keystone's ksthw17lag 1.8 Quart ultrasonic humidifier. Perfect for those who suffer from sinus problems, keystone's ultrasonic humidifier has a nightlight for bedtime use. The variable mist intensity control releases up to 1.3 Cups of moisture per hour and will run continuously for up to 6 hours.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Cool, Quiet and versatile!\n\nReview: Update - I've now used this for several hours per day plus several nights in a row...in fact, despite almost not ordering it, this is my new favorite item! The ability to add in a drop of essential oil has been delightful - both for therapeutic reasons as well as just plain \"nice fragrance\" that is much more natural and much less toxic than Febreeze or store-bought chemical laden alternatives. Instead, the house smells wonderful and has the added benefit of being beneficial rather than harmful to the body.\n\nNow, I also tried this using salt for therapeutic purposes. I started off by dissolving the salt in 3 cups of water then adding it to this humidifier. The good news is this works like a charm. Because ultrasonic humidifiers are known to product more 'white powder' than traditional humidifiers (the mineral build up from the water), it goes to reason that they would be good at dispersing salt into the air. This does indeed work just fine...in fact, so well that it set off my smoke detector/fire alarms. Now to be fair, I set this right under the detector and closed the door so your mileage may vary. However, despite the rude awakening, for those searching for a way to add salt, this is worth a look. As a general FYI, for those who wonder why anyone would want to add salt, people with Cystic Fibrosis and other lung disease/disorders often benefit from salt inhalation so using a very light salt can be quite beneficial while resting/sleeping.\n\nOriginal review\n\nThis arrived several hours ago at which point I plugged it in, added 3 cups of water to the top filled basin along with a drop of peppermint essential oil and sat down to work. It immediately started to release a fine mist which has continued non-stop while filing the room with the slightest hint of fragrance...all of which is a good thing because this has been a stressful few hours of trying to deal with dead technology of one sort or another. In fact, it makes this product stand out all the more because it is incredibly simple to use, totally intuitive and so very very easy to have up and running...basically the way every product should work - but as my afternoon proves - all too often doesn't.\n\nNow, about the looks - this oddly shaped teardrop is fairly large so read the dimensions. It will fit nicely on a table top and feels pretty stead. There is a blue LED type light tooted as a night lite...the on/off setting also control intensity so basically this is one button operation.\n\nAs far as the humidifier itself...this is my first ever ultrasonic humidifier and I really wasn't sure how it worked or what to expect. In the past, I've always used the evaporative humidfiers where were hot...this is cool. Evaporative use heat or a heating element to cause steam which is then sent past a fan and released to the room. Basically these are the old fashioned type used by my grandma and mother growing up...they get mineral build up, tend to be hot and stuffy, plus always struck me as petri dishes for germs.\n\nThe ultrasonic humidfier is a new breed that does NOT use heat nor a fan. Instead, it uses an ultrasonic frequency to create an ultra fine mist. This thing is VERY quiet and...this is the BIG one for me...they are said to be able to release fine minerals along with the water vapor. As I mentioned, I first just tried this out with a drop of essential oil but also want to try out salt. Additionally, I like the top pour design.\n\nIf there was one feature I'd like to see, it would be a UV light as germs are always a concern. Aside from that, this is a nifty little device and vast improvement.\n\nLiving in Florida, I like the cool mist option and very much appreciate the silence of this machine. There is a very small tinkle now and then but that's it. For those like myself who haven't used one of these...wow - what a vast improvement! Some might wonder why anyone in Florida would use a humidifier in the first place...fair concern! Most of the time, a dehumidfier (which I also own) is in use BUT, thanks to the fact that we run the AC pretty much non-stop inside the house, the air can indeed get dry plus, I also like to use it as an all natural air freshner by adding essential oils.","Product: Viking designed this roasting pan with the home cook in mind by integrating several unique features. The unique inverted handles allow the roaster to fit into ovens with ease, minimizing space versus roasters with handles extended outward. The inverted handles also make the roaster ergonomically easier to put into and take out of the oven. The roaster can fit up to a 25 point bird and comes with a v-shaped, PFOA and PFOE free Eternal Non-Stick cooking rack. The elevated rack helps cook food quicker and more evenly. The 3-Ply Stainless Steel clad design combines three layers of metal to create one solid piece that is formed into the vessel. An induction capable stainless steel exterior is bonded to a layer of aluminum alloy and then finished with a final layer of high quality 18/10 stainless steel on the interior. The three-layer construction combines the durability of stainless with the superior conductivity of aluminum, delivering even heat distribution along the bottom and throughout the sides of the pan. Cooking surface is non-reactive and ideal for reducing sauces or liquids over a cooking surface. Dishwasher safe. Limited lifetime warranty.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: FAR superior to Cusinart\n\nReview: I've been using a Cuisinart of roughly the same size as this one...it immediately went to the donation bin when this arrived! This is probably twice the weight of the old one, has better handles, a larger insert and the overall build quality is far superior. Now, a few things worth mentioning - the handles on this model are rather odd - rather than overlapping to the outside, they stand up and are grasped from the inside. This will place the hands closer to the food but it saves valuable space when inside the oven since the handles don't take up extra space. Speaking of the handles, they are riveted - extremely solid. Now, related to solid build in general - this is 3 ply which is basically aluminum in between layers of stainless. Normally I do not like any type of aluminum since it's been consider a health hazard. All surfaces that touch the food are stainless with the exception of the coated insert - which is the only part of the Cuisinart I like better...that insert is all stainless. I will probably swap the inserts out although this is otherwise a very nice, heavy one. Overall this is a well built, very solid, nice weight set!","Product: THICKEST(1mm) Hammered Copper Moscow Mule Water Mugs & Pitcher. These mugs are thicker and heavier than ANY other brand including SERTODO!;Pitcher - Capacity: 2.3 Qt. Height:8 Weight:2.1 lb. Brass Handle. 1mm Thick Copper.;Mug - Capacity: 12 fl Oz. Height:4 Weight:8.5 Oz (Compare to Sertodo Mugs which weigh 8 Oz);No lining. 100% Pure Copper. Handmade in Turkey. Magnificient art work. Unique style and superior quality, our equipment gives beautiful service that lasts for generations!\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Sertodo has competition - lovely set, very heavy, great attention to detail.\n\nReview: Whew! Where to begin...so, first things first. I am a big fan of copper especially the use of copper for drinking water. For those unfamiliar with the use of copper, it naturally has anti-bacterial and other properties that are beneficial to health. There is a very long, ancient history of using copper to store water and drink from copper cups which has recently been confirmed by science. Additionally, practitioners of Ayurveda advocate the use of copper for storing and drinking water. In any case, I have used pure copper pitchers and cups for several years - purchased from the Sertodo brand which I am quite pleased with and gone on to purchase many other products from them.\n\nGenerally I fill the pitcher with water the night before and allow it to set overnight then drink from it throughout the day. Additionally, I keep water by my bed at night so have wanted to get a 2nd pitcher set. Now, if you have been shopping for pure copper cups and pitchers, you know the price ranges from low (and dismal quality) to high...in the case of Sertodo, quite high.\n\nThis set had zero reviews at the time of this purchase so I was really taking a chance. I started off by looking at the dimensions and quantity which compares favorable to that of Sertodo. Next, I compared the weight of each product - in the case of these cups, they actually are heavier than those of Sertodo which is impressive as Sertodo had the heaviest cups I've tried yet (and I have purchased cups from at least three other vendors supposedly of good quality). Additionally, this company claimed to not have any lining (a Very important feature) and that this was made from pure copper (also a must). Finally, the use of copper here in the states is still relatively obscure but is quite common in other parts of the world...this set is coming from Turkey so figured I'd give it a try especially because the price was exceptionally attractive.\n\nSo, I place the order and Amazon calculates the product will arrive sometime within the next month...fair enough since it's coming all the way from Turkey. Well, the item shipped out immediately and actually made it to my front door in four days...counting the weekend. I was very impressed!\n\nNext, the set was very well packaged and arrived with zero damage. Last but not least, this is a lovely set. Even my spouse was totally impressed. The curves are much more pronounced and the attention to detail is quite good. The copper is quite thick - seams are all very well done. The cups are surprisingly heavy...notably more so than the Sertodo set(s) which I also own.\n\nThere are a few items worth mention. The handles are not copper and are \"attached\" using a rivet type connection. This is especially visible on the cups - however, the rivet was placed above the water/fluid line and if not copper, it was covered in copper (how thick, I'm unable to ascertain at this time). The bottom segment of the handle is NOT connected to the cup whatsoever - it simply sits against the outer side of the cup. It's a strange design but still feels steady and frankly, I like the fact that there was not an internal weld below the fluid line/level however, this could potentially be a weak spot - only time will tell. Right now, it seems quite stable.\n\nThe pitcher holds slightly less than that of the Sertodo pitcher and has a much more dramatic/pronounced curvature - frankly, I find it more attractive but that depends upon personal preference. The cups are also much more curved/dramatic and heavier. Both the pitcher and cups have the small 'hammered' texture, smooth inside, unlined.\n\nThere is a bright finish - I allow my copper to take on a normal patina so only time will tell how this performs in that respect. Additionally, there is no way for me to know the absolute quality of the copper until after long term use...if there is a problem I will update and report it here.\n\nConsidering the price difference, good looks and quality, Sertodo has some serious competition....this does compare favorably at least right out of the box. Only time will tell on the long term durability, quality of materials and workmanship but right off, I'm VERY impressed! Exceptionally nice set, quite lovely, very heavy and well finished. Good attention to detail. As I mentioned, I own quite a bit of copper - almost all of it from Sertodo - this is the first and only set that has presented any type of challenge...and a challenge it is. Beautiful set!","Product: Our Sertodo Gangotri Water Pitcher is named for the source of the sacred Ganges river high in the Himalayan mountains, the ancient Gangotri glacier. This simple and elegant design is inspired by the simple Ayurvedic practice which goes back thousands of years of storing your water in and drinking from copper vessels to improve your physical, emotional and spiritual health. Copper goods crafted by and for Artists, Artisans, Amateurs, Professionals and Lovers since 1997. Made to be used, made to last and made to look good for generations.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Nice set - well finished, solid feel, excellent quality\n\nReview: I'm very pleased with this set. I initially purchased a single cup from another (less expensive) brand sold on Amazon which came from India...it leaked and had sharp edges. I was obviously disappointed and concerned about buying an entire set \"sight unseen\" however, I read some of the client feedback on other products by this same company as well as customer feedback via their Facebook page...all seemed quite positive so I took the plunge.\n\nThis arrived quickly and is a very nice set. Cups are nicely sized with a solid feel and well finished edges. No sharpness and no leaks. Metal itself is much thicker than the inferior ones from the other company. The pitcher is also well sized, has a solid weight and feel. There seems to be a light protective coat on the exterior (or maybe it is a shine) but none interior just as it should be for water purification. Hammered with a light sheen, very attractive set that you will not mind to have displayed which is nice as I use mine for drinking water on a daily basis.\n\nAlso, I was concerned over the use of recycled copper and contacted the company who was not only very responsive but explained the source of their copper, levels of purity etc... Unlike many other lesser brands, this is NOT zinc or tin lined (huge plus!). For those interested in Ayurveda practices, this is an exceptional choice.","Product: Easy does it with the Oster JsSimple Juicer that's easy to use and easy to clean. You can squeeze more nutrients, antioxidants and immune boosters into your glass and more time into your day. This juicer uses 900 watts of power and 2 speed settings to extract the most of soft and hard fruits and vegetables in no time. It's also designed with a wide chute so even large-sized fruits and vegetables can be easily juiced. You can customize your juice mixes with all the ingredients you want and enjoy. After you're done, clean up goes quickly too. The convenient Rinse 'n Ready filter has a special mesh coating that cuts cleaning time down with less scrubbing. Start juicing with the Oster JsSimple Juicer and discover how easy, and delicious, it can be to enjoy a healthier diet and lifestyle.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Strong, less loud and dry pulp\n\nReview: We do a lot of fresh juicing so tend to run through these machines like mad. Over the past decade, we've bought two different Omega juicers (they wore out fast), two Waring Juicers (workhorses that leave a lot of wet pulp behind but otherwise are great), plus a few other brands that leave dry pulp but have a hard time handling fiber. In short, I feel fairly qualified to provide the good, bad and neutral about this machine.\n\nThe Good\n- Quiet. While certainly not silent, this was absolutely less loud than other machines - many of which sound something like an airplane engine taking off. This is by no means silent but \"less loud\"....considerably less loud.\n- Pretty Strong. At 900 watts, there are stronger juicers on the market (and many more lesser quality ones) but this is a respectable amount of power to get the job done. To test it, we tossed in some carrots with whole apples. Both moved through without incident.\n- Dry. Here is where this machines stands out. We have owned two Waring models that were workhorses...they could handle anything we put in there and stand up for years but the pulp was also wet. Now, wet pulp = less juice and with the price of organic fruit/veggies, that means a very real loss of money. This results in significantly dryer pulp which over time, means significant savings if you juice a lot!\n- Easy to operate, easy to clean and smaller size (more about the size in a minute). This has a nice look, solid base that doesn't wiggle or jiggle when in use, easy functions all around.\n\nThe Bad\n- On one hand, the smaller size is nice for storage but on the other hand, this is considerably smaller than our other juicers. The pulp collector holds about half as does the juice bin. Both are adequate but if you intend to juice for several people at once, this won't handle it....you will need to empty and repeat. Not a big deal but capacity is smaller.\n- Only two speeds. Again, not a big deal but something to keep in mind.\n\nBottom line - because of the ease and convenience combined with dry pulp and price point plus \"less loud\" than average, I'd rate this a good value. Better than 2 other Omega's due to the strength, better than two other Waring models due to the dry pulp and better than average sound level. Better than other models due to ability to handle carrots and apples etc with ease. Strong, quiet and dry pulp.","Product: With 9 versatile cook settings, you can use this precision cooktop for the gentlest of heat to melt butter and chocolate, up to the highest heat for boiling pasta water and searing steak. Fast heat up and cool down, plus compact size, makes the Oster Personal Induction Cooktop perfect for portability. Special induction technology can be used in any environment with magnetic energy rather than open flames or hot coils, making it perfect for campouts, cookouts and travel. Compatible with any induction ready cookware.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Great spare burner and hurricane prep item\n\nReview: This was smaller than expected but still worked well. I tested it using two cups of water straight from the faucet and timed it until reaching a full rolling boil which took 3 minutes using this induction burner and 4:30 (four minutes and thirty seconds) using the high setting on our standard burner. Overall a sufficient savings of time which is quite useful when attempting to minimize energy use like during storm outages while running a burner from a generator. I would absolutely be likely to keep this for power outages and storm prep but will also likely keep it handy for use as a spare burner during busy cooking times. This is interesting technology - reduces the risk of burning although it does stay warm to the touch, it isn't enough to result in a serious burn. Like this well enough to probably buy more for the camper/travel trailer etc once convinced this really does live up to expectations over the long run. In the meantime, makes an awesome spare burner and a \"must have\" for hurricane prep!","Product: This Blue Flame 30,000 BTU Liquid Propane Vent Free heater is the perfect supplemental heating solution even on the coldest days. This heater is conveniently equipped with a thermostat for superior control of the temperature in your space. Also, with a battery powered electronic ignition, starting it is a breeze - battery included. This unit can be permanently mounted to the wall or securely fastened to the floor with included mounting brackets and fasteners. A clean burning blue flame tube burner uses the natural convection of the burn to circulate warm comfortable air. With a factory standard Oxygen Depletion Sensor (ODS), rest assured this heater will provide you with years of comfortable and safe heat.*WE ARE NOT ABLE TO SELL THIS PRODUCT TO CANADA AND CALIFORNIA* ** Please note when operating this heater at altitudes over 4,500 FT above sea level could cause pilot/ODS to shutdown the heater.**\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: No regulator, adapters, connectors nothing...grrrr\n\nReview: I already own a 20,000 BTU version of this for a cabin and wanted another - the smaller version puts out considerable heat and is well built. The only reason I did not give this a full five stars is the lack of ANY type of adapters, regulator etc needed for installation...in fact, it doesn't even specify in the instructions what model numbers to look for when buying a regulator, hose etc... The other issue is the size. I expected this to be pretty close in size to the older 20,000 BTU unit but it's not...this thing is HUGE. I did NOT deduct a point for the size since it was my fault for not paying closer attention to the dimensions but for those (like myself) who THINK you know what this looks like, be sure to consider the size. These put out a lot of heat and I'm a big fan but really wish more care was given to including ancillary items like connectors, regulator etc...or at least take the time to put in the exact item numbers that will work for installation. This CANNOT be installed without a pressure regulator without fear of damage. Additionally, although vent free, the instructions make it clear that those homes which are well sealed should proceed with caution - fortunately, our rickety old fish cabin contains no such risk but others may want to consider carefully.","Product: This Westinghouse seasoned cast iron 12 inch skillet screams versatility, allowing you to make an almost endless assortment of delicious foods all in one pan. Use it over high heat to brown foods perfectly. If youre sear roasting, its a great choice since it can be transferred directly to a hot oven with no worries. Create restaurant-quality French toast or potato pancakes with golden brown, crispy exteriors and its also ideal for making corn bread, frittatas and flat bread in the oven.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Great size and nice features\n\nReview: We own a huge amount of Lodge cast iron cook and bake ware plus a few odd pieces collected over the years. Although I've tried other brands in the past, Lodge remained the best. Now, I'd like to say this was equal or better than Lodge but it's not...although it comes close. Compared to my current 12 inch Lodge pan, this has a couple of improvements including the super nice handle to reduce the risk of burns (yes, it can be removed for cleaning) and also the assist handle on the other side - a huge help when working with heavy items. On the other hand, the finish of this isn't quite up to the same quality - there is a slight pitting that will go away when fully seasoned over time. Last but not least, this is made in China - notorious for low quality and contamination. Still, a really nice pan with excellent extra features.","Product: The Westinghouse seasoned cast iron Dutch Oven provides you not only the opportunity to sear and braise meat, prepare delicious stew or make meat sauce but turn over the lid when youre done and you have a ready to use, ready to cook 10 1/4 skillet. How convenient is that, especially when cabinet space is limited in the kitchen or youre out cooking on a campfire and looking to take as little equipment as necessary. Use the skillet to make golden brown pancakes or cook a steak just the way you like it.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Inferior to Lodge but okay\n\nReview: I own a HUGE amount of Lodge cast iron and use it daily. Over the years I've also tried out a few other brands but few live up to the same quality and this is no exception. It's certainly not 'bad' per se but side by side with the Lodge, hands down this doesn't compare. First, the seasoning is light...it is seasoned but think of it like a starter. Now, having owned many non seasoned cast iron items, that is no big deal as I'm more than willing and able to do my own seasoning...what is a big deal is the rough edges and poor finish of the pot itself. I like the design, it's a great size for all types of cooking or baking plus the two-in-one is always a plus. Unfortunately it's just not up to standard. The handles are small, the edges rough and the overall material has a slight pitted feel and appearance versus the uniformity of the Lodge version. I've opted to use for outdoor grill, bbq and baking rather than traditional use.","Product: Bring commercial quality performance to your kitchen countertop with the Hamilton Beach professional 14 cup dicing food Processor. Designed for the accomplished home cook, this food Processor includes everything you need to quickly dice, slice, shred, knead, chop, mix and puree to your exact specifications.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Some good and some bad but everything is big\n\nReview: I've used a classic Cuisinart food processor for as long as I can remember...in fact, growing up it's the brand my mother owned and the several reiterations since are very similar...almost unchanged for the past 35 years. So, it was with some trepidation that I opted to try this Hamilton Beach version out because, to be perfectly frank, this is not a brand I equate with high quality. On the other hand, my trusty old food processor is a 7 cup and there have been numerous time when putting up homemade batches of kimchi etc that a larger one would have been preferred.\n\nSize = HUGE\nThe first thing prospective buyers should know is that this is rather HUGE so if space is at a premium in your kitchen, this might not be for you. On the other hand, if you batch process large amounts of food this makes fast work of it.\n\nBlades = Numerous and Very cool\nThe next big difference between this and my classic Cusinart is the blades. This comes with five blade and a storage bin (which is also large so plan accordingly) however, the five blades REALLY expand the use of this food processor as compared to my old one. Some of the blade expand/shrink (very cool) so slices can be thin or thick all with the same blade. Another nifty feature is the french fry setting...we blanch and then bake our fresh cut potatoes for super low cal french fries that are delicious snacks without the guilt. In short, nice set of blades...and a quick warning - they are crazy sharp (hence the bandage in the photos...sorry folks).\n\nOpening feed - three sizes\nThis is a huge improvement over my old one which required constant cutting to get the food to fit. This has three options ranging from small to \"just toss in the entire thing\". In fact, it's so large that a full size hand could fit resulting in a nice safety feature which won't turn on the machine until the damper is in place. Speaking of turning on the machine - it's a small thing but I like the glowing lights on the function buttons.\n\nLocking mechanism\nAnother major improvement is the locking mechanism...no more twisting into place thanks to a seal and lock. Just set and lock...now, I don't know how long this will last but at first blush, it's a heck of a lot more convenient.\n\nFunction\nIt's strong. Not terribly loud but certainly not overly quiet. The pulse and some of the controls feel a bit more sluggish - ie, they don't immediately stop and start but rather have a short spot where they rev up and down. No big deal but takes a bit of getting familiar with the variation to find the right consistency.\n\nStability\nOne thing I do not like whatsoever is the suction cups at the bottom to help with stability. They always wear out and I simply despise prying it off the counter plus, over time the appearance becomes an issue. In fact, had I realized this had suction cups at the bottom I probably would not have even selected it...such is the depth of my dislike. A serious machine simply does NOT have stupid suction cups to keep it in place. Which brings up the question of weight - for such a big machine, this still needs the suction cups to remain stable as it will not do it by weight alone. There is a lot of plastic on this machine and obvious areas of weakness like the seal, the suction cups etc that I anticipate will be the failure points in the future.\n\nSo, bottom line...this huge machine does some things very well but given the choice, I would go back to my trusty old Cuisinart version. Unfortunately, that brand isn't what they used to be either so the search continues. In the meantime, this will be put to good use especially during kimchi season and when putting up other large batches of fermented foods.","Product: The 2.7qt Vitaquick Pressure Skillet and Vitaquick Glass Lid set is the ideal package for cooks looking for a convenient way to cook healthy foods. With superior cooking comes superior safety. Features like the UL-listed with multiple safety mechanisms for safe, efficient pressure cooking including an automatic pressure valve and upgraded auto-locking gives the skillet the highest safety in the market. With two convenient setting for gentle or speed cooking the cooker can when indicate optimal cooking pressure has been reached and when the heat need to be lowered completely eliminating the worry and stress. With the ability to double as a frying pan this pressure skillet can satisfy every need. With the patented \"Cookstar\" all stove base, the fry pans create perfect stability for optimal heat absorption and distribution, cooking foods better and faster on every stove top making these pans \"future-proof\". A Novagrill surface creates a barbecue effect on food without the fat external crispy frying and generates a \"non-stick\" experience without the coating or need for fats and oils. Novagrill utilizes the grooved surface of the pan to allow steam to escape so foods sit on top of fats and oil without direct contact cooking food in a healthier and better tasting way. The Vitaquick Glass transforms every Vitavit model to conventional pot. This set allows your Pressure skillet to cook in a variety of ways expanding your cooking with just one set.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Better than Fagor - really nice\n\nReview: This review is for the 8 qt version which comes with a matching glass lid (that does fit the 8 qt) as well as a steamer insert and riser. We are big fans of pressure cookers in this household and have used the Fagor brand stainless steel duo set (we own two of them) for about a decade. We also own a 21 qt All American monster that will probably outlast us. To date, the Fagor set has done well; we've had to replace the gasket a couple of times and all the measurements etc rubbed off long ago but we use it several times each week. I was very eager to give this a try as we could really use another 8 qt size...this is perfect for quick cooking a bunch of beans for chili, soup, roast or other meals.\n\nOur requirements for a pressure cooker are simple; it must be easy to use, safe, all stainless steel inside and out without any coating. This meets each of those requirements with ease. Another thing I really like about this Fissler - and it's an improvement over the Fagor - is the item inventory list. Every single piece can be replaced and reordered - from the handle itself to the seal, the screw that holds the handle to the lid. Next, comparing it to the Fagor again, this Fissler lid is substantially heavier...I was impressed. The glass lid is a great addition and something that we use frequently as is the insert and riser; I really appreciate all three extra items being included rather than having to seek them out individually.\n\nThis does have an assist handle which you will need - this is a substantial pot with some heft to it. Reinforced bottom and quick, easy snap assures everything is in place. Works flawlessly. This is a bit loud but they all are. Overall very pleased.","Product: Originally designed for the Greek Army to grind coffee in the field, these mills are strong, beautiful and work great. The patented grinding mechanism cleaves the pepper to maximize the exposed surfaces of the peppercorn that results in more pepper flavor. Pepper can be ground into the attached collecting cup to add measured amounts to your favorite recipe or directly onto food. Hand crafted in Greece.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Exceptionally Nice - Not disappointed whatsoever!\n\nReview: Thanks to the other reviews, I opted to try this one out after spending far too much money on lesser quality items that failed to perform adequately. Right out of the box, this is a hefty product with a nice weight to it. Not flimsy feeling whatsoever. The appearance is attractive enough to leave on the counter - which is good because it is a fairly tall item.\n\nThe handle is stored inside during shipping and takes less than one minute to \"assemble\". Grinding is exceptionally smooth and easy. There is a nice sized collection container on the lower half that snaps off/on easily making it simple to grind a significant amount to transfer elsewhere or use for measuring.\n\nVERY pleased with this item!","Product: Enjoy hot or cold drinks with these double-walled stainless steel small drinking cups. Made of quality 18/8 stainless steel - no worry of breakage like glass. No lead and BPA-free. Durable and easy to clean. Brilliant reflective finish in excellent craftsmanship. 4 inches in length with handle, 2.75 inches in width and 2.5 inches in height with capacity of 5 fluid ounze. Small in size, but heavy in strength and quality. A great choice for those that prefer a healthy and eco-friendly drinkware. Each cup is shipped in a non-woven reusable drawstring pouch - an assurance you are receiving an authentic StainlessLUX product. One year limited warranty.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Superb Set! Comfortable to hold, well designed, good deal!\n\nReview: This is a superb little set of double walled stainless steel cups. Each comes in an individual pouch to keep scruff marks to a minimum (also makes a very nice little gift set).\n\nThe size is just right...at five ounces these are slightly larger than an espresso cup but no so big that you get a case of the nervous jitters after coffee. Wonderful size for children or adults.\n\nNon-breakable - no need to worry about glass chips or BPH in plastic. These are well made, nice weight, feel solid and can handle daily use with ease. Perfect for coffee, kids or a spot of tea.\n\nInsulted and comfortable to handle. The double insulation performs very well making these comfortable to hold even when filled with the hottest of beverages.\n\nOverall, exceptionally pleased. Great product!","Product: La Cuisine's Shallow Cast Iron Roasting Pan is great for all types of meat, vegetable and fish dishes. Low slung sides gives you perfect roast potatoes and sure-grip, wide-angle wedge handles provide comfort and stability as you carry them to the table. La Cuisine's cast iron cookware is crafted using sand molds, which are used only once, forging a lighter product with a very fine enamel finish that is truly unique. Wonderfully versatile, La Cuisine's shallow roasting pan is suited to the oven and all stovetops, including induction. The scratch-resistant, stain-resistant, non-toxic, matte black enamel interior surface gives excellent food release that improves through continued use, and is simple to clean just wash in warm water.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Looks as good as it works - will last a lifetime!\n\nReview: I'm a long time advocate of cast iron cookware and own literally dozens of different pots, pans, bake ware and other assorted cast iron items for the kitchen...mostly from Lodge. This La Cuisine is a step up from Lodge and an absolute delight. First, it weighs in at about 10 lbs and for an item roughly a foot long, that's a substantial amount of weight. The inside has a slight coating but is otherwise cast iron - no worry about peeling or flaking like many other \"nonstick\" type bakeware. Handles are totally integrated - very strong and easy to handle. They WILL get hot so of course, use proper precautions when removing from the oven...like all cast iron, it retains heat for quite awhile. The outside is fully coated in basic black - it integrates perfectly with the rest of my cast iron items but is frankly, better looking and less \"pitted\"...this has a very smooth finish both inside and out. Durable exterior means years of no rust, no worry use while the inside assures great cooking as well as easy cleaning. Size is perfect - very versatile - I plan on using it for a nice veggie lasagna for two!","Product: The Avalon combines the traditional mattress craftsmanship of 8 inches of individually wrapped coils with a soft layer of ventilated foam. Simply run your fingers along the tailored tweed sides or button-tufted upholstery to feel the attention to detail. Hand-stitched tape edges and four-way stretch knit on top help you reap the full rewards of memory foam, keeping your mattress from bowing and supporting you fully every night and every morning. Most important, micro coils sit in 5 zones, adding extra protection and support for your feet, head, and lumbar area, while ventilated foam keeps your mattress fresh and cool. On Catalina Island, Avalon is the gathering place for revelers, borrowing the name from medieval times. For centuries, the name Avalon has endured, and we know this classic mattress will endure as well.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Really appreciate the PUR rating, use of wool and comfort level that remains firm yet with more 'give'\n\nReview: For the past couple of years we've been using a memory foam with pillow top mattress - it's been a good mattress but after both of us started getting hip pain, realized it was time to replace it. The hip pain has actually got to the point where it wakes us from sleep simply because the foam packs down at night and doesn't allow sufficient \"give\". There are plenty of other mattress choices on this site but what really set this apart was the use of natural wool rather than the toxic fire retardant; whenever possible, we've been trying to reduce our exposure to chemicals and other carcinogens.\n\nThis arrived in a fairly large box and was easy to put in place - literally just unroll it and let it full expand. I'm not a huge fan of the blue siding but it is more than made up for in attention to detail. Solid reinforced stitching everywhere. From the very first I could feel the bit of 'give' from the springs inside yet the mattress is still firm. I was concerned about the odor and having to air this out for a few days but that was entirely unwarranted - there is a slight odor but it's minimal. Comfort level is quite good. Overall I'm VERY pleased.","Product: Celestrons SkyMaster Series of large aperture binoculars are a phenomenal value for high performance binoculars ideal for astronomical viewing or for terrestrial (land) use - especially over long distances. Each SkyMaster model features high quality BaK-4 prisms and multi-coated optics for enhanced contrast. Celestron has designed and engineered the larger SkyMaster models to meet the special demands of extended astronomical or terrestrial viewing sessions. For maximum stability and secure optical alignment the 100 mm SkyMaster model features enhanced structural reinforcement to the main binocular body. As an additional convenience, the 100 mm SkyMaster model also includes an integral super rigid photo tripod adapter. The SkyMaster Series binoculars are built to provide years of magnificent views of the world around you and the heavens above.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Great fun for the family - terrific take-along set for stargazing! Compared to Other Brand - these are better!\n\nReview: First, I should mention that this is my first pair of stargazing type of binoculars although I've owned other birding size varieties. I'm by no means a serious user but rather a person that enjoys the ability to get a better look at things now and then. We purchased a telescope awhile back but the size and time consuming process of setting it up means we use it rarely. What we needed was something that was easy to take along, easy to set up and easy to use. This fit the bill perfectly. These are surprisingly large and become a bit tiresome to hold steady...we took turns laying in the hammock to stare up into the night sky. On the first use I was able to get a good view of Jupiter (very bright in the sky right now) and the surrounding moons! Jupiter is easy to see with the naked eye but not the moons. I focused on Jupiter and was very surprised to see the moons right there along side. Next, I looked over at Sirius - blinking red and blue - through the binoculars the colors really stood out. Last but not least, I spent quite a bit of time just looking around the sky - spots that looked \"empty\" to the naked eye were filled with stars. Other areas that looked like a cluster of five or six stars came alive with dozens and dozens of stars clearly visible with these. Wonderful entry level set of stargazing binoculars that can take camping or just out and about without worry.\n\nWe have now been using these for a month or so an enjoy them more and more. We use a tripod for stability as they grow heavy even when lying in the hammock to view the stars. In fact, we like these so well that we purchased another set of binoculars by Barska with a 25-125 zoom...what a mistake! We spent a couple hours trying to fiddle with them in order to get a decent view of the moon...while the zoom did make the moon larger, the blur was so bad that it failed to provide even half what this pair was capable of doing in a fraction of the time. Those went back and we intend to purchase another set of these since nobody wants to \"share\"!!!","Product: The Tamron AF 90mm f/2.8 Di Macro Lens with Canon EOS Mount is a high-performance macro lens ideal for portraiture and close-up photography. It captures powerful sharp images with a background blur. This lightweight, portable lens features Di (Digitally Integrated Design), multi-coating to its element surfaces, to improve performance with Digital SLRs.Features: Provides life-size 1:1 macro images Ideal as portrait lens One-touch AF/MF switchover by simply sliding the focusing ring back and forth \"Di\" design optimized for digital and photo cameras\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Nice Shots, versatile lens, good price, great warranty, BIG irritation!\n\nReview: I just purchased a Pentax k20d with a Pentax 18-250mm lens - a very versatile lens that works well for day to day use. Since macro photography has always been a major interest for me and I'm wanting to get the biggest \"bang for the buck\" I liked the idea of a lens able to handle both portraits and macro work. After doing some research, the Tamron 90 mm f/2.8 with Macro had some impressive reviews esp for other camera brands. Since there was only one review here on Amazon I was a little hesitant to order. Since I wanted a 1:1 macro without spending a fortune, the only other serious contender was the Pentax 100mm Macro - however, Tamron is currently running a $[...] rebate combined with a 6 year warranty so I decided to give it a go.\n\nThe first thing you will notice is the weight..it seems relatively well built but contains a bit more plastic than expected. The lens comes packed in a nice padded lens bag with drawstring [a nice little extra] and lens hood so no need to purchase either separately. It's very easy to install and the automatic function works seemlessly with the Pentax auto focus. Compared to the Pentax 18-250mm the Tamron was more inclined to \"search\" when focusing at least for the first few moments. I find it to be a little louder than the Pentax but not to the point of distraction.\n\nTo switch from automatic to manual requires pushing or pulling a circle around the lens which seemed a bit odd to me - perhaps it is normal but I'm new to the Pentax line and have never used a Tamron lens so it took a few minutes to figure out (the instructions are all but useless - several large drawings in a plethora of languages).\n\nNow as to the actual image quality itself...of course being a macro you would expect this to a large extent but just to get a better feel I set up a few \"test shots\" using both the pentax and the tamron both set at same distance on a couple small objects - a coffee cup, a spider and the fine hairs on a cactus. while both resulted in fine detail and resolution - the tamron really struts its stuff when it comes to the background!\n\nAs to what I did not like...again, perhaps this is an isolated experience but the first Tamron lens had to be returned due to inability to manually set aperature. The second worked but only in manual mode - would not function in aperature priority mode [Pentax K20D] and it is important to remember to change the settings in the Menu area of the camera body to allow aperature settings on the actual lens [it's the next to last setting on page 6 of 7 for those of you searching for it].\n\nAgain, being new to Pentax and DSLR's in general perhaps this aperature set-up is more common than I realize [been using plain point and shoot after holding out for years with standard SLR's like the old Maxxum series from Minolata...I know - slow to change]. Even after changing the aperature on the lens it will not display as with all other modes. I was expecting tighter integration although it doesn't seem to impact the quality of the photo itself which is very nice. In fact, the photo quailty is so nice I decided to keep the lens despite the small irritation. As other reviews on this lens have noted - it takes some lovely pictures!\n\nAt roughly $[...] after the $[...] rebate and a six year warranty - the price is extremely competitive. The photo quality is lovely - especially if you enjoy macro work with those beautiful creamy backgrounds. For a 1:1 macro at a comfortable 90mm lens this also is versatile enough to take great pictures of family, friends and the family pet.\n\nIn the Box:\nLens\nLens padded case - drawstring\nLen cap and back protector\nInstructions sheet\nLens hood\n\nPros:\n1:1 macro\nNice photos with a beautiful background\nAutomatic integrates seemlessly\nCompetitive price\nBest price with $[...] rebate\nExtensive warranty\n\nCons:\nWeird manual/automatic push/pull ring\nAperature lens adjustment - not thrilled by location or operation in general.\nFeels a bit \"light\" [remember, I'm coming from heavy older SLR's]\n\nOther Misc Notes:\nTakes a 55mm filter {less expensive size}. I typically use a UV filter as protection although this sets so far back it almost doesn't need it. I still use one -habit- and also purchased an exexpensive close up filter set to try out.","Product: This Bose award-winning acoustic waveguide speaker technology produces full, clear stereo sound by guiding air through a labyrinth air chamber. Proprietary circuitry automatically adjusts the tonal balance so that you hear natural sound at all volume levels. This means that you can hear full, realistic bass at all volume levels.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Best Little Bargain Around!\n\nReview: Okay, I had to eat a bit of crow about this little wave radio but it was worth it! My spouse had been saying he wanted this Bose wave radio for ages but frankly, I just couldn't understand why a radio needed to cost so much especially since it doesn't have anything else included. No CD, no nothing.\n\nWell, not only has this stood the test of time but it's remained a household favorite. The fact that is doesn't contain a CD means it hasn't become obsolete like most other electronics. The plugs on the back allow it to be expanded and remain versatile and flexible despite the age/years. The sound is friggin AWESOME. The footprint is small and keeps us both happy...no bulky boxes sitting around, no tangled mess of wires everywhere...just a small little box with a really big sound.\n\nIt's simple to use, versatile, flexible and really a top quality item. Sometimes less really is more and this is the perfect example of that adage in action!","Product: Celestrons SkyMaster Series of large aperture binoculars are a phenomenal value for high performance binoculars ideal for astronomical viewing or for terrestrial (land) use - especially over long distances. Each SkyMaster model features high quality BaK-4 prisms and multi-coated optics for enhanced contrast. Celestron has designed and engineered the larger SkyMaster models to meet the special demands of extended astronomical or terrestrial viewing sessions.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Great fun for the family - terrific take-along set for stargazing! Compared to Other Brand - these are better!\n\nReview: First, I should mention that this is my first pair of stargazing type of binoculars although I've owned other birding size varieties. I'm by no means a serious user but rather a person that enjoys the ability to get a better look at things now and then. We purchased a telescope awhile back but the size and time consuming process of setting it up means we use it rarely. What we needed was something that was easy to take along, easy to set up and easy to use. This fit the bill perfectly. These are surprisingly large and become a bit tiresome to hold steady...we took turns laying in the hammock to stare up into the night sky. On the first use I was able to get a good view of Jupiter (very bright in the sky right now) and the surrounding moons! Jupiter is easy to see with the naked eye but not the moons. I focused on Jupiter and was very surprised to see the moons right there along side. Next, I looked over at Sirius - blinking red and blue - through the binoculars the colors really stood out. Last but not least, I spent quite a bit of time just looking around the sky - spots that looked \"empty\" to the naked eye were filled with stars. Other areas that looked like a cluster of five or six stars came alive with dozens and dozens of stars clearly visible with these. Wonderful entry level set of stargazing binoculars that can take camping or just out and about without worry.\n\nWe have now been using these for a month or so an enjoy them more and more. We use a tripod for stability as they grow heavy even when lying in the hammock to view the stars. In fact, we like these so well that we purchased another set of binoculars by Barska with a 25-125 zoom...what a mistake! We spent a couple hours trying to fiddle with them in order to get a decent view of the moon...while the zoom did make the moon larger, the blur was so bad that it failed to provide even half what this pair was capable of doing in a fraction of the time. Those went back and we intend to purchase another set of these since nobody wants to \"share\"!!!","Product: COMPACT DESIGN WITH A GUIDE NUMBER OF 20 AT ISO 100 M 28 AT ISO 200 M SIMPLE MODE DIAL OPERATION OFFERS P-TTL WITH PRE-FLASH TO ASSURE PROPER EXPOSURE FLASH EXPOSURE COMPENSATION CAN BE SET TO -0.5 and -1 EV IN P-TTL MODE THROUGH DIAL FULL MANUAL MODE FOR MORE CREATIVE CONTROL FLASH COVERAGE FOR FOCAL LENGTHS AS WIDE AS 28MM IN THE 35MM FORMAT BUILT-IN, FLIP DOWN DIFFUSER COVERS FOCAL LENGTHS DOWN TO 24MM IN THE 35MM FORMATSHIPS IN A PLAIN WHITE BOX\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Excellent- Ergonomic, Extends battery and function, Sealed\n\nReview: I wasn't sure if I would use or need this but so very glad to have purchased it with new K20D. Not only does it provide a secure, convenient way to store an additional memory card and remote but automatically extends the batterly life. The additional controls and functions also make for a comfortable fit as does the entire grip...in fact, I STRONGLY prefer the grip as it just seems easier to hold and control.\n\nFor those who may be wondering - yes, the grip IS sealed just like the K20D so no need to worry about a sealed camera with unsealed grip. I don't find it excessively heavy or builky - to the contrary it feels very comfortable even with relatively small hands. I enjoy the ability to use alternative controls when shooting at different angles and VERY pleased with this purchase. EAsy to install, intuitive to use, makes it nice to carry additional accessories without fear of loss. Excellent.","Product: The Explorer Tripod is perfect for digital, video and still cameras up to 4 pounds. Featuring quick release leg locks and 3 way pan head, this tripod is a breeze to set up. Utilizing a geared center post, this extends from 22\" to 60\" giving great range. Extra leg support offers better stability. Tripod bag included.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Great Value - Excellent spare, starter or secondary tripod for great price\n\nReview: This low cost tripod came up as a promotional offer when purchasing a camera so I really wasn't expecting much since the price was so low. I figured the tripod bag would cost nearly that much so decided to give it a try. While by no means is this a professional model, it is an excellent value for an affordable starter tripod or spare.\n\nFeatures:\nRelatively lightweight - certainly not in the lightest class but sturdy and still manages to remain light enough to not tire for standard use.\n\nAbility to rotate in all directions.\n\nQuick connect/disconnect feature.\n\nAble to hold decent sized DSLR not just super light weight point and shoot models.\n\nDecent little canvas bag.\n\nQuick hang hook.\n\nGood spread - fairly steady.\n\nAbility to set-up on non level surface.\n\nAll in all, this is a terrific starter tripod or spare you can toss around, leave in the car etc for a very affordable price. Not sure about durability since I've only had a short period of time but like I mentioned before, at the current sales price a tripod bag will cost you nearly the same amount. This should have a little life in it and can double for other uses later. Better than expected at this price!","Product: Folds nicely into a 18\" carry pouch to carry around.You may hang this disc or mount it with a reflector disc holding arm (see my offering).The translucent surface for softening; silver for the contrast you look for; gold for warm tone; white to fill the shadow; and the black to block out stray light or as background.This is the same reflector you see in professional studios. All 5 of the most popular and commonly used surfaces are contained within one zip pocketed disc. This is an extra large 40\"x60\" disc good enough for full body, large area application.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Nice size - easy to zip and very versatile\n\nReview: An excellent affordable multi-use solution for reflector and difusser. This is sized in such a manner as to provide much more coverage - 3/4 rather than head/shoulders alone. Folds into a circle less of approx 21 inches - still small and compact enough to take along without being bulky. Zips easy enough but is a beast to fold...actually the first time I folded it without any problem whatsoever only to forget what I did and get to struggle and fight with it on subsequent uses. Small word of caution for new users - practice it a FEW times before going in public to avoid looking like a side show while fighting and fueding with this thing! Other than making me look foolish, this is a terrific size that is versatile for all needs. Silver for the natural daylight without cast, gold for sunshine, the standard black and white plus translucent diffuser. Price was right, seller is fast and provides solid service at a very competitive rate; this was my 2nd purchase from them and very pleased with both.","Product: 25-125X80 zoom, gladiator, BaK-4, MC Barska binoculars 25-125x80 zoom, gladiator, BaK-4, MC, green lens AB10594 hunting optics binoculars\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: Absolutely AWFUL - compared to Celestron of lower power\n\nReview: Recently I purchased the Celestron SkyMaster 20x80 Binoculars and was absolutely delighted to spend time stargazing but quickly realized, we needed a second pair of binoculars as neither of us wanted to \"share\". I purchased this via Warehouse deals in good/like new condition however, there is always the possiblity I received a lemon.\n\nWhat's Included:\nThis set comes with the binoculars, case, neck strap and instructions. Lens cap and eye piece covers are also included.\n\nFeel:\nThese have a substantial weight and feel well made..unfortunately looks can be deceptive.\n\nThe Problem(s):\n\nI thought this pair with zoom lenses might be a great addition since it would expand viewing pleasure thanks to the zoom. Boy was I wrong! Although this set of binoculars is only slightly larger in size than the Celestrong pair, the quality is notably less even without using the high zoom. In fact, even at the lowest setting, the blurry image was substantially inferior to the Celestron binoculars. Both myself and spouse spend a considerable amount of time trying these out...we each noticed the same problems. Focusing is more difficult, the image quality severely lacking even at the lowest settings and the haze/double image much more bothersome to eliminate.\n\nAdditionally, the tripod brace and adaptor is not steady. It's very solid but slides side to side slowly once set-up.\n\nBottom Line - Very underwhelming set of binoculars. The celestrong skymaster set is NOT a zoom so was highly disappointed this did not work out. These are being returned.","Product: Logitech HD Webcam C615. HD video calling and sharing-however, whatever, wherever you like. Record in breathtaking widescreen Full HD 1080p. Video call in HD 720p.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Great Webcam! My top pick-EVER!\n\nReview: <div id=\"video-block-R3SDHL7GVR4KB2\" class=\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\"></div><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/C1cWJ1KPpJS.mp4\" class=\"video-url\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/81URU0lYYIS.png\" class=\"video-slate-img-url\"> Please excuse the video quality...total novice at work! PS - Due to Amazon size limitations I reduced the length and quality of the video.\n\nInstallation and set-up: Very fast. Took longer to remove from the box than to have up and running. Install the software, plug in, re-start computer and you are ready to use.\n\nPhotographs & Video: Really like the intuitive interface. I've attempted to show it on the video attached. A pop-up screen provides full access and controls for all functions including photographs or video's. Upload instantly to Facebook, Twitter, uTube or email. Chat in real time. Integrates with Google and other applications.\n\nWidescreen or regular size. Full tilt, pan, other controls.\n\nAutomatic lighting adjustment.\n\nOther add-on's available including face recognition that helps secure the computer when not in use.\n\nFun features like avatars, ability to create a short film and basic editing also available.\n\nBottom line - my favorite webcam to date. Seriously convenient - perfect for travel or home use. Sound is very sensitive, just about idiot-proof as evidence by my attempt to use a video review!\n\nThanks for watching and hope this helps provide a glimpse of the terrific features.","Product: Deluxe lightweight tripod from AmazonBasics. An Amazon Brand.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Excellent Starter or Spare Tripod - Great Value for the Buck!\n\nReview: One can never have \"too many\" tripods but few things are more infuriating than a poorly designed tripod. It's always a balancing act to find a starter or spare tripod that is affordable without being \"cheap\". This strikes a nice balance between affordability and function.\n\nIf you are looking at this tripod then you probably have also viewed the Vista Explorer Tripod <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Vista-Explorer-60-Inch-Lightweight-Tripod-with-Tripod-Bag/dp/B000V7AF8E/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">Vista Explorer 60-Inch Lightweight Tripod with Tripod Bag</a>. I've owned the Vista tripod (and I'm the top reviewer for it) for over three years and will say right up front, this AmazonBasics tripod is VERY similar in style, function and features. Both are affordable options that make a perfect starter, secondary or spare tripod although at the time of this writing, the Amazon tripod is actually less expensive!\n\nFeatures:\nTripod bag - No, not a necessity but it's nice to have a tripod bag and frankly, the cost of most bags is nearly that of this entire unit so you really can't go wrong. This tripod bag (and the tripod) do say \"AmazonBasics\" so prepare to do a bit of advertising for Amazon in exchange for a great price and highly functional unit.\n\nQuick Connect - Yes, this tripod does include a quick disconnect feature. The camera screws on top and then a lever releases/connects the plate.\n\nQuick Hang Hook - Nice addition for those that desire it.\n\nAbility to set-up on non level surfaces. There is small level built in to this unit which is a change from the Vista unit (perhaps that has been added in the past several years but mine is several years old). However, the level is small and hard to see so of fairly limited potential except in good lighting.\n\nRotates in all directions - fairly smooth but certainly not professional quality.\n\nAbility to hold a decent sized DSLR - not just a lightweight point and shoot.\n\nCarry handle - pick up and move easily.\n\nLightweight but with solid spread and decent height. Again, this is not a professional solution whatsoever but for the average hobbiest or someone that needs a spare to toss in the vehicle, this tripod will get the job done.\n\nReally can't beat the price and features! Super starter, spare or secondary tripod.","Product: Wirelessly Stream Music In Genuine Hi-Fi Quality With the Compact HEOS 3 Wireless Speaker: Hear Everything from Tablet Content to Internet Radio, Pandora, Spotify, Rhapsody, iHeartRadio and More Dual Custom Drivers, Two-Channel Amplifier, Dual-Band Wi-Fi, and DSP Processing Guide the HEOS 3 Wireless Speaker and Produce Deep Bass, Involving Sound, and Wonderful Dynamics The compactHEOS 3 wireless speakermakes music come alive in rich, vibrant, full-range, hi-fi sound that features genuinely deep bass and a punchy midrange. Able to stream music from a plethora of sources, including smartphones, tablets, USB sticks, NAS drives, and the entire spectrum of Internet radio and music services such asSpotify, Pandora, iHeartRadio, Rhapsody, andTuneIn,HEOS 3occupies a small footprint but delivers sonics that don't shirk on dynamics or clarity. Because of the superb user interface and simple setup, you'll be listening to music seconds after you remove HEOS 3 from the box. Dual-band Wi-Fi, two custom drivers, a two-channel amplifier, and DSP processing do the rest. You can even add more HEOS components to the system, group them together, and enjoy multi-room sound. Backed by our60-Day Satisfaction Guarantee. What HEOS Is and How It Works Wireless multi-room sound has finally evolved to meet audiophile standards. IntroducingHEOS,a cutting-edge wireless system that fills any room with phenomenal sound from your digital music sources. Bolstered by dual-band 802.11n Wi-Fi for long range and extra bandwidth, HEOS connects to your existing Wi-Fi network and can be placed anywhere. No bridging device or new equipment required. HEOS Means Plenty of Options and Easy User Interface You can choose one of three different-sized standalone speakers; the optional HEOS Extend even expands wireless reach to every part of your home.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: GREAT speakers with some limitations...\n\nReview: I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with this product and suspect most others will encounter a similar response when first using.\n\nThe Good\nMake no mistake about it, these sound terrific. I was delighted to receive these via the Amazon Vine program for review (for other viners, it was just plain luck...no bots, no super sonic connection). Since we have mostly transitioned to online storage and streaming these made perfect sense for our needs.\n\nPackaging - Right from the start you will notice the superior design - the box, instructions and so forth are both attractive and functional.....qualities that expand to the product perfectly.\nDesign - I'm delighted by the design of these speakers...adore how they play from two sides and can be situated in a variety of convenient and practical settings. While these are not ultra small, they also are not huge. The only thing you will need is an electric outlet...no more ugly wires! The speakers have three buttons on the top (volume up/down and mute) as well as a few small contacts in the back (hdmi, aux jack, connect button etc). Very minimal design which makes it easy to use.\nSound - Both the HEOS 3 and 5 sound great but there is a notable difference between the two; the HEOS 3 has a solid sound but not necessarily quite as rich...especially in the bass and lower range...as the 5. It is perfect as a group which is how I prefer to use (more on that in a moment). The HEOS 5 is an impressive speaker and provides ample sound in a good sized room...roughly 400 sq ft with cathedral ceilings. We opted to pair it with the HEOS 3 for use in the kitchen and nook (about another 250 sq ft)and have no gaps nor diminished sound quality. Is able to handle LOUD music without distortion but also equally up to the task of classical, jazz etc...\nEase of Installation - As mentioned, we opted to install these in the living room and kitchen area while removing the last of the wired ugliness...basically plug and play. No wires, no cutting holes in the ceiling, no holes in the walls. Just great sound that fills the room with ease.\nFunction - One of the innovative features of this isn't just the two sided speakers (okay, I just love the design of the speakers...even the handle makes sense!) but how they operate together or independently. This sets the system above the rest and is a great feature! For example, we can both enjoy music from room to room by syncing them together...the music \"follows\" you throughout the house. This is a very nifty feature and the first time I've ever encountered it in a home system.\n\nThe Bad\nNO Access to My Favorite Cloud Service! As enthusiastic as we are about this product there are serious irritations...namely, I do NOT get to use my \"favorite cloud service\" which happens to be Amazon. It comes pre-loaded with Spotify, Pandora and a few others but Amazon is my media company...I love keeping my books, movies and music all in one place. This is a serious limitation in my mind however, I did not dock the product for one simple reason...I am HOPING Denon comes out with an update that includes Amazon asap. Plus, I didn't feel right docking the product when Amazon itself launched their new Fire TV device without access to the streaming music app (which was also seriously annoying especially since it was an Amazon product!). Fire Tv went on to add the music app after a couple of months so hopefully Denon will follow up by adding more providers in the very near future.\n\nIt is possible to use the aux as a work-around and stream whatever you want directly from the device but it rather limits the full potential and adds one more layer of \"connection\" that limited the placement of the speakers to where we could \"plug in\". Again, not a huge deal breaker but it defeats some of the potential of the product since placement has to include a physical wire. On the other hand, using some of pre-sets like Rhapsody etc shows the full range of this product which works flawlessly. Also really like the fact that you can tune in to your favorite radio station anywhere in the world then turn off your device...this keeps playing!\n\nControls are easy to access both on the app and on the actual device itself. Very much hoping Denon adds OUTDOOR speakers to this offering (hint hint hint to any reps that might be reading this).\n\nSet-Up - Yes, set-up is supposed to be easy but should you hit a glitch in the road there is nearly zero help available. For instance, when using the aux it wasn't initially apparent that you had to go through multiple steps that had a slight lag...expecting instant connection, I kept hitting buttons and thought it didn't work only to later realize it was due to a lag. Additionally, when I first grouped the speakers, the latency between speakers was really bad...basically the two songs were playing off sync with one speaker falling behind almost a full second. Very disorienting. Nothing I tried fixed it so I turned everything off and started from the beginning...doing everything all over again and this time the grouping worked perfectly. What went wrong and how did I fix it? I still haven't the slightest idea but it now sounds great. My point is that although this is a very simple system, sometimes less isn't more...sometimes it's just too little information that leads to more frustration if things don't go perfectly.\n\nBottom line - the limitation on streaming music choices was a major disappointment but I've held back on docking a point because Amazon FireTV took two months to add their own app to their device...hopefully Denon will expand streaming options very soon. Since the official release date isn't out yet, more popular options may be available by that point and time. Currently options are limited to Pandora, Spotify and a few others but be forewarned, your favorite provider may NOT be included yet.\n\nOn the other hand, GREAT sound, GREAT design, Ultimate flexibility, easy to expand, love the grouping function. Designed with streaming in mind so Denon...please expand to include Amazon Cloud/music asap!!!!","Product: With free access to Rdios library of 30 million songs, plus internet radio stations, Cone can always find something to match your mood. Whether you prefer to control things a little or a lot, Cone will take care of the soundtrack, so youre free to enjoy the moment.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: NO Android app til 2015 - limited to a single source and single speaker, requires constant re-sync. Not ready for prime time.\n\nReview: I had high expectations from this product but must admit, I'm totally underwhelmed. Out of the box it's a nice looking unit with solid feel and weight. It powered right up and has audio instructions to walk the user through set-up. That was the last time I looked at this unit with anything other than contempt.\n\n So, why the three stars/neutral rating? I've opted to wait until the rest of the features roll out. It seems like more and more products are pre-releasing half finished products.....while I don't personally like paying for the privilege of beta testing half finished products, this is the reality. Cone promises to add more app's and enhance functionality plus play nice with Android in the near future. If it takes care of some of these issues like the ability to add more speakers, apps etc, this will GREATLY enhance the product.\n\nFirst things first...it would not sync with the wifi. I tried time and time again using a desktop, laptop, two different tablets. Turning off the firewalls/protections, attempting to add the device via wifi settings on the laptop, desktop and even direct via the router controls...nothing. Started all over and again, nothing. Went to the website troubleshooting section which seems to be the most redundant bit of non=help available. Tried their \"support\" link...it basically states the exact same thing. Went to Facebook...it's only a sales pitch. After over 2 hours of doing exactly the same thing over and over, it was finally recognized. Okay terrific...nooooo, not so fast.\n\nNext, it immediately stalls and shuts down. Reboot everything and start over...once again, Cone not connected. Meanwhile, the start.aether.com site won't load which of course, adds to the irritation. Try again, start to go through set-up again and for the upteenth time, get tossed off the site. Go through over and over and once again, finally recognized only to get tossed off. By now I'm more than a tad miffed. As a side note, I'm running a Centria dual band router and rarely have issues but just in case, turn off everything else...same problem. You would think they would build in a work around or manual input...apparently not. The itsy bitsy instruction insert provides zero help for trouble shooting. The website was barely better. After doing a Google search, I ran across information about the buggy app, sync issues and a few other notable items including the lack of support for Android users which is NOT something they seem to actually mention on the site or other information...if you read long enough you will run across this tidbit...'{an android version of the app will be available in early 2015). So dear readers, if you are running Android, absolutely wait because this isn't ready for prime time whatsoever.\n\nAlso own Denon Heos products which we adore! In fact, the more we use them, the happier we are with the product. Thought the Cone would go great out in the garage and/or porch thanks to the ability to recharge etc but aside from the set-up issues and the less than impressive app, this is tied directly to Rdio with minimal sue without paid subscription.\n\nAbout Rdio - this cone makes it sound like you get free Rdio access...but in fact, you get the same free access as anyone else using the freebie version. Yes, you can skip' 6 songs in an hour but for truly advertisement free listening, you must pay the subscription rate of $10 per month. Now, that wouldn't be a big deal but unless you are a Rdio user already, it's just adding one more app for what feels like an inferior service compared to other options. In fact, this really feels like a Rdio device that tries to get the user to sink even more money into the service after paying a pretty nice premium for a speaker...or oversized paperweight given the number of times needed to sync, then resync and resync again. Lest you think I'm exaggerating, be sure to take a look at the FAQ's of the company website which clearly lists this as a commonly encountered problem...and if anything, they are being modest.\n\nUsers Held Hostage\n\nIn addition to holding the user hostage to the paid Rdio version for ad free listening, I was surprised to find there is all but zero other ability to add other app's....No Amazon Cloud, No Pandora, No nothing. This is VERY limited...again, you get the freebie/ad version of Rdio or an option to add a monthly subscription for yet one more service...and one that very few people are using at that. Blah!\n\nEven worse, if you want to use your playlists of other standard features, you MUST upgrade to the paid subscription. To truly get this to play the entire album via voice command, you need the full paid subscription...otherwise, it just plays something similar. Ditto for songs. In short, if you don't intend to use the Rdio paid version, this device is only half functional. And remember...you ONLY get a choice of Rdio...no other major subscriptions or choices!\n\nPrivacy\nSo, another thing I initially thought was a benefit turned out to be a very real negative. I've been waiting to buy an Amazon Echo device which is \"always listening\" but able to talk/respond. We have a visually impaired family member who would really benefit from this feature but like many others, I was a bit concerned over privacy issues. This Cone has a press button to allow the user to speak a requested song/other...initially I thought this was a much preferred way to use audio without the constant listening. I was wrong. Reading through the online information, it seems this device is also 'always listening' but without the ability to respond to anything more than a command or song.\n\nI understand addition app's are supposed to be forthcoming and if these plus other updates help improve the item, I'll try again. This feels like a beta release/rush of the product which is only half done. It's filled with glitches, does not easily recognize the item, requires constant attention to sync and re-sync and sync again...only to then be limited to a single rdio feature filled with advertisements.\n\nSingle Speaker\nAnother disappointment was the inability to use more than a single speaker at a time. Frankly, for this price, I expected to be able to add additional speakers to other rooms like the Denon HEOS which allows us to sync the music from room to room or play independently...it's a feature we absolutely adore in this household! Instead, this runs a single speaker at a time and only a single speaker. BIG disappointment!\n\nBottom line - Check out Denon Heos for roughly the same price....more options, multiple speakers and rarely requires a reset. This is simply NOT ready for prime time!","Product: Bamboo Spark with snap-fit for iPad Air 2, utilizing Wacom's proprietary EMR technology and an integrated self-inking pen. Works with any A5 paper.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Very pleased = text conversion does work albeit some caveats\n\nReview: Wow...where was this when I was in college? My main interest in this is to scribble notes...I'm older and tend to do my best thinking with an old fashioned paper and pen. Unfortunately, that is slow, inconvenient and prone to loss. For years I've waited for the easy ability to digitize handwritten notes and with the release of the Galaxy Tablet Pro was finally able to jot down notes and keep them stored/send receive etc...of course, the price is a lot more steep so I was curious how this little Spark would compare.\n\nFirst things first...this was tested using a Galaxy Pro Tablet, running Android with a fairly solid connection/wifi in the room. The Spark arrived nicely boxed and already charged/ready to use out of the box. Turned it on via the switch at the bottom, hit a couple of buttons and was up and going. The small paper pad with protective case/portfolio is sized perfectly - it's basically standard paper and in fact, I also tested this using index cards to write on as I frequently use them when brainstorming (nice to organize and keep digital copies/send via email etc). The pen wouldn't be my first preference but is much nicer than most other digital pens I've tried in the past...not great but not bad either.\n\nI tested using both drawings and written text since my primary interest is in text with some doodles/drawings etc...I then emailed myself copies. Although the \"transform this into text\" feature is still clearly showing as in beta, it worked fairly well. One item with more drawing space than text failed to transfer to text and instead, sent an error message. The others which were primarily text did convert into text albeit, there are clearly some bugs to be worked out. I deliberately used sloppy and irregular handwriting...the results show it. This allows the user to send via only a couple of formats....the only ones relevant to my needs are text and pdf but that should suffice. It synced very well with my tablet and emailing myself the results was totally pain free. I turned off my tablet and tested the Spark - it saved everything and then synced with ease...although I'm not exactly sure how much it is able to save and transfer at a later time, it does indeed work. The Spark also allows notes to be saved individually or combined into a single page...a nice feature that does requires a tad more attention as it will save over one another at times. Overall I'm very impressed by this for both ease of use and overall results. Hopefully the handwriting will continue to progress but shows solid promise at this early stage. I've included a couple examples of the writing (again, deliberately sloppy) as well as the text translation below for comparison.\n\nText Translation Results (in actual format):\n-a\nwriting on\nan index eajdw\nkeeps ask.es#t}\nNow attempting to update this test pg to\nadd#2.. o which it does sucessfully.\nHow long to update the page on the tablet?\n-Basically just a few seconds.\n-Next = does this work on any paper?","Product: Midland GXT-500VP4 X-Tra Talk GMRS/FRS 2-Way Radio Value Pack with 14-Mile Range\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: AWFUL reception! Barely a mile\n\nReview: I just purchased these in part due to the relatively decent reviews and for the rechargeable aspect, features and brand-name. Took them out to test and really not pleased with the performance. In Florida so mountains and hills are not a major influence in the performance evalution. Also, it was perfect weather. I'm not in an area with high rise buildings, rather outside of town in a mostly residential area. At one mile they began crackling severely with static. At just over a mile-they became non-audible...only the call feature worked. By 1.5 miles-forget it. Full charge, no mountains, no hills, no tall buildings, nothing but a few tree's. Now, I did NOT expect anything near the claimed 14 miles, not even half that. I did expect somewhere between 2-4 mile range in perfect weather...nowhere even near it. On the other hand, the rechargeable aspect is nice, the car adaptor is a great little touch but for the price difference-they barely outperformed the $20 set I purchased as toys for my neice/nephew. Disappointing","Product: pProtective Disc Skin Protects discs from scratches.It also protects DVDs, Consol or Computer Games, and Music Data Discs. Works in DVD, CD, Game players and computers. Protective skin with Liplock Seal TM snaps onto disc tightly. Skin does not affect video quality and may be left on permanently, works with most game system discs.Convenient and protctive plastic cover for storage./p\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Great Product - Long Time User Reviews\n\nReview: First of all, I should note this is a great product especially for those with a visual impairment. My spouse has used this daily for several years.\n\nPro's - Five file folders for quick access to the most frequently used data sources.\n\nEasy navigation with both tactile and lcd screen - plus...and this is a biggie, all functions have speech mode making it perfect for low vision or blind users.\n\nGreat sound quality for clear recording.\n\nLong battery life especially with battery saving mode which will turn off by itself.\n\nEasy to upload into computer or vice versa. Software was a bit redudant so don't use much but comes complete with supporting software, strap, headphones and more.\n\nStereo mic works like a charm on playback.\n\nAll in all - fantastic product! Still going strong after years of daily use and one of the best available products for those with a visual impairment. Great for taking notes, school, work or even the grocery list. Can't brag enough about this product. Well worth every penny!","Product: This leather jacket has mandarin collar, front chest vents with rear exhaust, zip in / out liner, two front pockets / three inner pockets, thick cowhide leather with \"antique\" styling, YKK zippers and sizes 50+ Add 10 per cent. It is available in sizes 38 to 52.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Really nice leather - great looking!\n\nReview: Bought a Mossi leather women's jacket and this one for spouse as a little surprise gift... not only did he absolutely love it but it looks GREAT on him! In fact, I like this one better than the women's version due to the less obvious reflective piping during the day which allows this to be worn for many other occasions.\n\nVery thick, ample leather, soft but not really buttery - very thick and provides protection as desired. Pockets and zippers all work, reflective piping is very understated during the day (almost invisible) but does the job in low light.\n\nStreamlined look that is very classic design. No fear of looking like \"the Fonz\" or some other silly cliche. Instead, this has sleek lines despite the heavy leather. Zip out liner is a bit much for Florida but nice to have just the same. Ample pockets, good venting that actually works. Made in the USA with the quality that used to be expected but is not pretty rare.\n\nAccording to him, it felt a bit \"stiff\" at first but quickly loosened up as it was worn making the leather fit like a glove. Very comfortable, very think, well made and looks absolutely awesome!","Product: Distinct in fit, fabric and construction from traditional Dickies jeans, this denim collection is more lifestyle inspired to be worn on or off the job. Modern look while staying true to the heritage, quality and value expected from Dickies. Indigo colors are made of 13 ounce denim.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Built for a platypus - no human has these measurements!\n\nReview: These seem to be mislabeled - first, this is listed as loose straight leg but actual jeans received say 'slim fit'. Next, the size was supposedly 32. x 32 but in fact, the legs are more like 36 inches - they literally run down the feet almost to the toes. As if that wasn't enough, the legs are so thin that it's almost impossible to fit the thighs into yet somehow the waist is substantially too large...large enough that it's possible to pull down the pants without unzipping or even unbuttoning them...in fact, the only thing that keeps the pants up is the near strangulation of tightness at the thigh level which then continues to the ankles. The fit is so bad it's almost laughable - can't imagine what a person able to wear these would even look like. The only reason these got two stars is that the fabric is nice and soft...assuming you get a pair that fit, these would be a good value just be aware that it's really hit or miss.","Product: This long-sleeve 100% linen popover features textured vertical stripes and a band collar while maintaining a laid-back, yet elegant look.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Classic good looks that is as comfortable as it is stylish\n\nReview: Let me start off by saying that this shirt was selected in a smaller than normal size in the hope it wouldn't fit the husband and instead, go straight to my own closet. When it arrived, the dear hubby happened to open the package, see the shirt and came to the somewhat natural conclusion that it was for him. He immediately tried it on and the fit was admittedly tight - and the quality quite nice. Living in Florida means this simple linen long sleeved shirt basically never goes out of style - it can be worn year round and feels perfect for all but about a week in winter. It's cool, casual and always stylish. It was also hard to convince him to give it up despite being small in fit. It seems to run a bit larger than expected - not a lot but the overall fit is still excellent. Arm length quite sufficient even though the shirt was a bit snug - and overall, not snug enough to confiscate the shirt as originally planned. Looks terrific - feels terrific!","Product: Great traditional all-purpose safety toe work boot excels on all surfaces and is super comfortable\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Loose fit, no arch support\n\nReview: Frankly was a bit disappointed in these on several levels. First, not sure what these are made from but wow-what a stink. Not that it's a big deal but I'm not fond of putting a chemical factory on my feet for long periods of time but no point deductions for the smell. White soles - odd but again, no point deduction since it doesn't really impact the wear or comfort...but will clearly not be something that hides the dirt, oil or other problems. Good length and fairly solid construction but some serious limitations. There is all but zero arch support in these and frankly, even though my feet are on the flat side, these are not all that comfortable. Additionally, despite normally wearing a wider sized shoe, the heel on this still allows a lot of wiggle even with thicker socks on. The overall size is a bit loose despite being advertised as the correct size. I've worn a lot of work shoes over the years and do not find these all that comfortable as compared to most. Frankly I probably would not be inclined to purchase these again in the future but will probably keep on hand for sporadic jobs that don't require me to wear these all day long.","Product: KENSBUY is the shoes that you will like.This shoes is using imported sandwich mesh fabric, the bottom is soft TPR (shock proof).Soles can be bent,curled,wear-resistant slip.It is suitable design for people wear at any occasions.Espeically for summer wear.People can wear it to go walk,hiking, beach playing, playing, dancing, jogging,running and so on. You need to have a pair of ventilated casual shoes.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Look good and feel good\n\nReview: Coupon code resulted in low/no price purchase for evaluation. I normally wear a size 7 so ordered these in a 38 and they fit great...a tad loose but that is probably because I can also wear a 6.5 shoe but depending on the style. I selected the bright yellow and have now worn these several times while working out and even running errands...just this afternoon I had two different people stop and ask where I got these - everyone loves the look! Even better - they are crazy comfortable. Originally I got these for the beach but after trying them on, ended up wearing them for workouts, errands and even gardening. They slide on/off fast thanks to a forward and back tab, the cushion is nice but there is no arch support inside. Still, awesome little slip ons! Coupon code resulted in low/no price purchase for evaluation.","Product: Comes complete with a full set of weights that can be adjusted from 2 to 22 lbs. Ideal for road work, bag work or shadowboxing. Specially designed to increase your leg strength and aerobic endurance. Double hook & loop straps for stability. Add $5 for additional shipping cost.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Better than other top rated vest\n\nReview: I've been using a Pure Fitness Weighted Vest <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Pure-Fitness-Weighted-Vest-Silver-Black-Lime-20-Pound/dp/B00DZ3P77A/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">Pure Fitness Weighted Vest, Silver/Black/Lime, 20-Pound</a> for the past couple of years - originally I purchased it due to the low price but it has increased considerably since that time. However, it is a good vest and has been going strong without any issues so this Ringside vest will be compared to that one since they both are in roughly the same price range.\n\nSo, first things first...why use a weighted vest at all? Well, like a lot of people, I was spending a lot of time doing reps without much additional gain. Toss on a vest and suddenly the number of pull ups needed to get the same/better results drops significantly. Ditto for other exercises. My criteria was to find a vest that would not flop or bounce around because I wanted to do a variety of exercises ranging from pull-ups/pushups to jogging. It needed to be secure, comfortable and durable.\n\nBoth the Pure Fitness mentioned above and this new Ringside are neck and neck but there are a few important differences. First, this Ringside is a complete vest rather than one that simply slips over the shoulders. The Pure Fitness is more like a bib with a wrap that secures both the front and back...this is a full vest that secures with belts/buckles. The fit of this Ringside is quite secure assuming you have a good fit. I'm reviewing a size large which fits perfectly for me but could be quite variable for others. The Pure Fitness vest is more forgiving in how it fits since the sides are basically open with the velcro \"belt\" providing the closure. In my case, both vests fit great but if you are a person with a different body size/shape then these will each fit quite differently. For example, MsJJ likes the PureFitness vest due to the length - this new Ringside sits at the wrong place on the hips/buttocks and rubs...other large persons would dislike it because it falls too short to stay secure. Again, this is a product where fit matters! For my use, I find this a much more comfortable and secure fit. There is also ventilation via some mesh panels which is nice although I worry about the long term durability especially with a great deal of movement and friction. Overall this feels well built with big easy to use buckles and two areas to secure (waist and chest roughly).\n\nNow, one area where Ringside really stands out is that all of the weights are metal not sand...and they come preinstalled in the vest. That is a huge improvement over the PureFitness vest which basically send a pile of small sandbags which were a nuisance to insert into each little pocket. Because of the irritation factor, adjusting the weight on the PureFitness is only theoretical...the risk of breaking a bag and just the hassle mean it's unlikely to be done at all and in fact, after owning it for all this time, I've never adjusted the weights. I put them all in and leave it like that. These metal bars are easy to adjust and of course, not prone to breakage.\n\nOne thing that I wish had been added was reflective markers. This basic black looks more like a terrorist belt than exercise belt and provides little/no reflective tape/other for outdoor use. No big deal as it's easy to add but would have been nice to have it built in from the start. Last but not least, at 22lbs this is an okay weight but would have much preferred a 40lb version instead. Overall, very pleased and expect to get plenty of use.","Product: Get the ultimate workout while you reach your fitness goals faster with the T202 treadmill, packed with features including MP3 compatibility and a heavy-duty motor that's smooth and quiet. Comfort The Perfect FLEX deck cushioning provides the right mix of shock absorption for less strain on your feet, ankles, knees and hips. The COOL fit fitness fan keeps you cool, providing a more comfortable workout. Strong, Silent Frame A strong frame that doesn't shake when you run gives you the confidence you need to stick with your program. Horizon Fitness treadmills have more welded steel components, making them easier to assemble and among the strongest and sturdiest. Quiet Motors No distractions. We build powerful motors that run so quietly and efficiently that you can listen to a TV or radio at normal listening levels--even at a full sprint. 30 Program Options Choose from 30 program options, including manual, 6 calorie goal workouts, 10 distance-based workouts, 10 steps goal-based workouts and 3 intervals workouts to meet your short- and long-term fitness goals. Compact Folding System Feather LIGHT folding lift system allows easy folding and unfolding, as well as simple storage. Variable Cushioning In tune with you. Careful study of biomechanics helped Horizon Fitness create sophisticated cushioning systems that provide the right balance of firmness and shock absorption.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Compares T202 with T202.03 models - liked the older model better\n\nReview: Like the older model better. Here is what you need to know. We've had our last treadmill for 7 years and decided to upgrade due to the constant squeaks, moans and groans from the old machine. Additionally, we wanted one that went faster as the top speed on the old one was only 10 mph and the spouse routinely goes above that speed for an extended period of time. So, we went to the local PlayitAgain store and tried out the Horizon T202 (older model) and bought it on the spot. Unfortunately, we brought home a boxed model which was actually this new version of the T202.03. There are substantial differences and despite the fact this is a newer model, we actually ended up returning it to the store for the older model which was the same price.\n\nFirst, both machines have the same motor, speed and other specs. Both machines reach 12 mph with a 12 degree incline. Both have a lifetime warranty on frame and motor (very nice) and both have heart rate grips, media player hook-up, built in fan, built in speakers, and quick entry presets for speed/incline. Both models respond quickly to commands and have flex platform for less impact on knees when running.\n\nHowever, given the choice, we would still choose the older version of the T202 for the following reasons:\n1. Display. This display on this is inferior. It's basically a green LCD with grey/black text that is small, hard to read and inconvenient. The big track is supposed to show progress but takes up a lot of precious space on an already small screen. On the other hand, things like speed etc are stuck in the corner with small font. The older version of the T202 has nice big numbers for easy viewing even while running. The numbers are orange against a black background and substantially sized...very nice!\n\n2. Incremental pre-sets are missing. Both models have quick button pre-sets for inline and speed but the new model T202.03 starts out with 1,2,3,4 then moves to 6,8,10,12...eliminating quick presets for the higher values. The spouse hated this because he stays at the high end of the speed/incline and wanted the more discerning options. I hated it because the pre-set buttons are placed much higher on the new model T202.03...too high for short stature females to reach with ease.\n\n3. No cushioned hand rail. The new model T202.03 does not have cushioned hand-rails...not a big deal but the cushioned version felt more secure especially if sweating etc...\n\n4. Speakers angled odd. Okay, both models allow the user to plug in their media player and have built in speakers. As expected, they are pretty basic quality and most users will probably use earbugs but should you not do so, these speakers are angled outward which is odd as it carries sound away from the runner. Given the minimal sound output that is pretty bad design as it would be tough to hear when running.\n\nBoth machines offer easy up/down option for lifting/cleaning although lifting is manual versus the electronic version on my older treadmill which only required the press of a button and it lifted itself. However, this is easy to lift and shouldn't be a problem for most persons.\n\nRunning platform is ample...nowhere near what you would expect from a gym/commercial quality machine but does fine even for spouse who has a long stride.\n\nBeeping...seriously LOUD. Apparently Horizon uses the same company as trash trucks to manufacture the beeping noise. What this machine lacks in sound when in use it more than makes up for in the absurdly loud beeping...a dubious feature on both models.\n\nEasy to assemble. Both machines were substantially easier to assemble than old treadmill and can be done in an hour or so.","Product: The only thing wrong with the Pro Panther Punch Mitts is that coach will want to do nothing but work mitts. The deeply angled striking surface and recessed contact target combine to catch incoming punches perfectly. A padded hood protects the fingers and a full 1 \" supplemental wrist pad guards the wrist. Flex panels integrated into the glove and hood expand and contract for a more comfortable, secure fit.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Good quality but odd wrist support\n\nReview: I'm a bit split on this review; initially these are tight especially when trying to squeeze the fingers into place....the fit is secure for sure and I expect over time these will loosen up a bit. I like the easy on/off and the overall quality is high. I'm less impressed by the placement of the wrist support - after playing around with it a bit this seems to be both a pro and con. It does support the wrist but in some cases, could actually work against it making a problem more likely since the wrist has less room to maneuver and the support block is quite firm. It also reduces the full range of motion albeit to a limited amount. Overall I like these and will keep them but I'd suggest trying on a pair if locally available before deciding to purchase especially due to the wrist support.","Product: The Viper EVA V-Foam Dartboard Surround Wall Protector adds a protective barrier around your dartboard, preventing unsightly marks and punctures. Measuring 28\" x 28\", this surround supports both bristle fiber sisal and electronic dartboards. It's constructed with high-density V-Foam, allowing errantly thrown steel tip and soft tip darts to be absorbed, protecting your walls and flooring from damage. Customize how you display this surround, positioning it in either a square or diamond pattern. A hanging bracket is already attached on the front of the surround, allowing you to quickly mount your dartboard. The matte surface keeps your game room looking impeccable, providing lasting protection for years to come. Dartboard and darts sold separately.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: All looks and no substance\n\nReview: I've been using a half panel of foam board bought from the local big box store as a type of cheap version of a surround. My dart board is in the garage and frankly the foam board does the job but doesn't exactly look great. I thought this would be a nice upgrade along with the Viper score keeping board that lights up. Frankly, I was disappointed in both. This board is actually thinner than the foam board I've been using. I like the black background (mine is blue thanks to the protective film) but the thickness (or lack thereof) combined with minimal finished edges and fairly crummy mounting hardware made the blue foam version seem super attractive for a fraction of the price. Frankly I'm no longer impressed by these Viper products and would be unlikely to purchase anything from then in the future. I'm giving this a neutral rating since it is a foam board.","Product: The high-impact Slam Ball develops explosive power, improves functional strength, and intensifies bodyweight workouts - all at the same time! Coordinated movements with the slam ball boost stability and balance! Strengthen chest, shoulders, back and arms with pushups, crawls, and pike ups. Get six-pack abs and strong lower back with roll outs, crawls, and knees to chest movements! Boost power in your thighs, glutes, and hamstrings with leg lifts and curls!\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Non-Bounce Ball = perfect for slamming or brutal pull-ups\n\nReview: This is a pretty straightforward item - it's a NON-Bounce ball which means it lands with a thud when dropped. The ball is roughly the size of a basketball but filled with some type of thick gel. It more or less holds it shape but when dropped, flattens at the bottom. There is some texture to the outside to assist with grip but otherwise, nothing to really get excited about. There are much easier ways to life this level of weight - for example, a kettlebell with a nice grip handle - so this does one thing well...allow itself to be slammed to the ground over and over. MrJJ also uses this ball for a brutal pull-up exercise where he grips this between his knees, does a pull up and lifts his knees to chest. Adds that extra oomph to the entire process. For those who miss tossing hay on the farm or loading big bags of stuff on/off the truck...this will be the next best thing. Overall this seems well made - only time will tell how long it lasts after being slammed around awhile. Fun item.","Product: [Made in USA] Vetericyn FoamCare Medicated Equine Shampoo is specially formulated to alleviate and manage skin ailments common to horses. This medicated shampoo aids in relieving itchy, dry, scaling and irritated skin as well as treating fungal skin disorders, rain rot, ring worm and yeast. With its innovative foaming spray applicator, FoamCare is applied evenly with less messsimply from the squeeze of a trigger. Vetericyn FoamCare supports optimal skin and coat health and is soothing, pH optimized and retains the essential oils in your horse's skin. It is the new easy on, easy off shampoo that makes bathing your horse more fun with less stress.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Good lather, convenient spray bottle, better ingredients\n\nReview: Living in \"horse country\" typically means a pretty solid supply of equine related products - especially shampoo - so frankly, I wasn't expecting a big difference. Fast forward an hour or so and this product is on my shopping list because frankly, I like everything about it. The fragrance is nice but not overpowering. it lathers quite well but also rinses easily and it is free of many commonly encountered harsh ingredients like parabens, sulfites etc. The trigger spray bottle is great - super convenient and it works well...yes, no big deal but one of my pet peeves are poorly made spray bottles. I also got the dog shampoo in a spray bottle and like it immensely. Overall, very impressed and super pleased to try this new line.","Product: The Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW5606 elastic cord rowing machine provides outstanding way to increase fitness by burning calories and building muscle in a safe, low-impact way. Made of top grade steel, this ultra smooth and quiet rower features an elastic cord resistance with 4 levels of adjustable tension which makes it the perfect addition to your home gym. It comes equipped with large any-slip pedals with straps and an easy to read LCD monitor which displays time, calories burned, count, total count, count per minute and scan. Featuring the option to fold; the Sunny Health & Fitness elastic cord rowing machine is very portable and it can easily be stored away. Maximum user weight 100 KG.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: A Lot to Like\n\nReview: Coupon code resulted in low/no price purchase for evaluation. First things first, several years ago I purchased a Sunny Health and Fitness spin bike without knowing what to expect. At the time, it was a new brand, totally unknown to me and without many reviews but the specs of the bike including the flywheel etc compared to the price seemed like it would be a good deal...and good deal it was. I still own that bike and it has literally gone through hundreds and hundreds of hours of workout while still going strong. Fast forward and we have now set up a small home gym in the garage. Yes, space is a bit of a premium but we like to mix things up a bit and really wanted a little rower and this fit perfectly.\n\nAbout the rower\nIf you are considering a Concept rower or other high end type machine like they have at the gym...this is not that machine. If you are a pro then this is not your machine. If you are short on space and just want a smooth total body workout for an affordable price....this very well may be all you need.\n\nUnpacking\nThis arrived quickly and was well packaged in a surprisingly modest sized box. Admittedly my first impression was \"uh-oh....this isn't going to be good\". I unpacked and started to assemble...this comes with needed multi-purpose tools so even if you don't own a toolbox, you can still put this together without going to the store and buying tools. It also comes with a battery for the display panel. The company gets an A+ for consumer friendliness. Fortunately I was pleasantly surprised because once it was put together, this felt solid, smooth and more than ample for both of us. We are average sized adults but both male and female felt comfortable on this machine. Initially I thought only my wife could use it but despite the smaller size, this fits an average sized man with ease. The seat was comfortable and ample - even MsJJ (who has literally fallen off a rower and into the floor in the past) commented on how stable it felt.\n\nAssembly\nAssembly was simple and took about 45 minutes while having a coffee break. It's pretty intuitive so admittedly, I did not use the directions whatsoever but they were included in the box. Everything fit in place and went together well. No missing parts, no alignment issues. No drama. Tools and batteries are included.\n\nFunction\nThis comes with a small display panel - nothing fancy but it does work (and the battery was included). It's a bit odd at first because the display button scrolls through several settings which are indicated by the placement on the panel. This was actually rather nice because the machines I've been using at the gym didn't have any settings.\n\nThe actual rowing mechanism is NOT flywheel nor even air resistance but rather a band resistance. Once again, I admit to being a bit hesitant as to how well this would work but was pleasantly surprised how smooth this operates. The band can be adjusted by raising or lowering the main \"wheel\" area toward or away from the user...there are four slots which will increase or decrease the resistance at the macro level. The seat and handles are basic but work well and the foot straps are available although largely not necessary since this is well balanced.\n\nThe actual workout\nLike previously mentioned, if you are a pro rower then keep looking but if you are an average homebody in need of a full workout then this does the job well. My first trial I did 300 strokes - it started out very smooth and really didn't feel like much for the first 50 or so. By 100 I could feel a bit of tension. By 200 I was feeling the effort. At 300 I was sweating. The entire first workout took less than 10 minutes at a modest pace and I could feel the effect by the next day in the form of sore and taunt muscles.\n\nIt Folds for Easy Storage\nOne of my favorite aspects of this great little rower is that it folds up when not in use for easy storage. Setting it back up takes less than 2 minutes. Since space is a premium in our garage, this really makes a big difference. This isn't a huge rower to begin with so takes up substantially less space than most rowers but add the ability to fold and store in the corner, this can be set-up almost anywhere with ease. It's light enough to move around without a lot of effort.\n\nBottom Line\nReally good starter rower. Good overall body workout for average users. Smooth function, easy assembly, basic display and easy storage make this a nice addition to a home gym to mix things up now and then or excellent way to get moving with a basic all around workout. Coupon code resulted in low/no price purchase for evaluation.","Product: Thoughtfully designed for no-hassle daily use, the Jittterbug5 takes simplicity to the next level with features like big buttons, a backlit keypad and a powerful speaker for clear conversations. Unlike most cell phones that need to be recharged almost every day, the Jitterbug5 has one of the longest-lasting batteries on the market and can go nearly a month without needing to be charged. A convenient built-in camera makes it easy to capture and share every special moment. With Minutes-Only plans starting at $14.99 per month, staying in touch with family and friends is easier than ever.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Excellent choice with some caveats\n\nReview: Update - I've been informed by another reviewer that they have now added void dial functionality as of July 2015. This was a MUCH needed addition that will significantly enhance this product.\n\nOriginal Review...\n\nJitterbug and another major provider both claim to have the easiest, most reliable service so was very interested in trying this out. I received this via the Vine program and intended to use with an older blind individual. The phone is a basic flip phone and service is provided via Verizon. For those not familiar with the program, you will basically buy the phone then contract out for the phone service (via Verizon) AND then also add the health access if desired.\n\nThe one button health line is a wonderful addition especially if you have elderly or disabled persons who might need questions answered or emergency care. In some aspects the phone is able to act as an extra support system not only for basic technical help but also emergency contacts, relate information to 3rd party provider etc...However, it is not inexpensive. On the other hand, when comparing it to a stand alone help line, it's a bargain. So, ultimately this may save money if you combine services or cost a bit more than average if you only need phone support.\n\nThe phone received via the Vine program came with 3 free months which appears to be part of this offer as it was included with the paperwork (basically lowering the total cost). There is a 35$ fee to activate and the monthly charge for all services would be another 25$....if one were to purchase unlimited everything with premium services it would run $60 per month however there are other less expensive options with limited interaction.\n\nCharge on this phone is excellent as is the talk time...unlike many smartphones that must be charged daily, this can go a week.\n\nThere were some issues - first, the blind individual did NOT like button placement specific to this phone. The one touch health access interfered as it was too easy to touch and overrides everything else. Good in an emergency but prone to false calls. Next, there was limited/no voice/talking to help set-up and so forth. This was a deal breaker as his current phone is voice enabled (also a Samsung).\n\nIn short, a good phone and solid service but NOT necessarily the best phone for a blind or visually impaired person seeking voice enabled services.","Product: Camco's RV Screen Door Closure Kit helps to keep the screen door shut. It features dual spring action that pulls the door closed with evenly distributed tension. This kit Installs easily on standard, radius corner or fold-down tent camper door.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Simple Solution to Super Annoying Problem!\n\nReview: Anyone that deals with a screen door on a RV or travel trailer will immediately understand the appeal of this little closure kit; rather than having it swing open, stick to the door, step out to separate the two doors then click to close the screen...and repeat a dozen times a day...this little kit does the trick. We only installed one of the springs as it seemed to provide the right amount of tension without a \"snap back\"...just a gentle closure. Installation was quick and easy. No more chasing down the screen door. Simple effective and affordable.\n\nFor those that are wondering if this is more than a thin spring...not really. It's actually two thin springs with a nice tension and installation hardware. You could find same in a hardware store so only real benefit is not having to search or trial/error the tension.","Product: Chicago legend Gene Hunt brings his full length "Sasoned" to Unified Recordings which is jam packed with serious deep house tunes featuring house icon Robert Owens, Cei Bei, Swaylo, D from 24 Karat and a tune done with labelmate Glenn Underground. 10 tracks total on this dope body of work.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Best Grocery or Storage Cart Ever!\n\nReview: Was searching for a folding grocery cart when came across this item. Very pleased with the item! Wheels role smoothly, No rattle or noise. Bag is large enough to put a decent amount of items into and even fully loaded - glide is effortless. Stable support stands firm without fear of falling over. Convenient side pockets great for an umbrella and other quick access items. Small enough to take with you and large enough to pack plenty into. I wish this had been around when I was in college! For now, the only regret I have is wishing they had an even larger size...I'd buy it in a jiffy. Study, well built, cart. Bag is removable and cleans easily. Delivery was fast. Handle is comfortable and stable as well. Excellent bargain!","Product: Mobile Filing Cabinet with glass top and metal structure\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Excellent price Excellent value Excellent Product\n\nReview: I needed some affordable yet sturdy file cabinets for the home office but found the lower cost alternatives at the local office supplies store(s) to be inadequate, low quality or much higher pried. I was a little concerned about ordering these but very pleased with the purchase. They arrived quickly, well packaged and in good condition. Assemply was easy and took about 45-60 minutes. Rollers are very nice - not the small ones that give you trouble but rather large enough to easily navigate the cabinet even when fully loaded. The locking mechanism on the front wheels is easy to use and convenient.\n\nAnother major plus is the all metal construction - except for the front and top [top is glass]. Very attractive and versatile. No warping from the weight, well constructed, good welds should withstand even the heaviest loads. Handles are solid with a nice feel and the sliding mechanism is very well made. Many of the lower cost file cabinets in the local office supply stores were problematic due to the wood or inferior quality of the sliding mechanism. These slide outs are of a much better quaity than some of those twice the price.\n\nCompletely satisified. Total cost for two units was $210 which is still slightly less than one comparable unit at the local store. Good quality item especially for the price. The ONLY thing I would have liked would have been a two file drawer option [file cabinet upper and lower] although for my current needs this worked wonderfully.\n\nExcellent units!","Product: Acrylic Paint Pens for Rock Painting Glass Painting, 24 Colors Paint Markers Kit for Glass, Stone, Wood, Fabric, Metal, Ceramic, DIY Art Crafts and Most Surfaces, Extra Fine Tip, Water Based, Acid Free Non Toxic\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Extra nice = exceeded expectations\n\nReview: A beautiful set of colored pencils. Like many others, I enjoy adult coloring books but also use colored pencils for \"real art\" where Prismacolors are my \"go to\" brand...at a buck per pencil, I reserve those for fine art only so imagine my surprise when I found this set. While not quite the same quality, these come close...very close. Nice vibrant colors that provide ample opaque coverage. Come with a secure storage box that is extra nice - metal so will last a good long time. Blotter paper, nice color selection....frankly, these were above average and exceeded expectations. In fact, I like these so much that I'm not using for adult coloring books but rather reserving for regular art! Complimentary product provided for evaluation.","Product: Accept every way your customers want to pay with the new Square Reader for contactless and chipEMV chip cards, Apple Pay, Android Pay, other NFC payments, and magstripe cards. The reader connects wirelessly to iOS or Android devices with Bluetooth LE or with USB if you sell with the optional Square Stand. It works exclusively with the free Square Point of Sale app to take care of payments, tipping, inventory, reports, and more. Square Reader for contactless and chip comes with a free Square Reader for magstripe so you can swipe cards the old-fashioned way, too. Pay only 2.75% per swipe, dip, or tap for Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express, with no surprise fees. Square sends deposits directly to your bank account in one to two business daysor you can enable Instant Deposit for 1% per deposit to get your money in seconds. Get a Dock for Square Reader to anchor the reader on your countertop and keep it charged all day. Squares hardware is only approved for use in the country for which it is intended. For example, hardware sold or intended for sale in the United States is not approved for use in Australia, Canada, Japan, or the United Kingdom.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Has flaws but does work - most of the time - in specific settings\n\nReview: I've used Square and the Amazon Register (now discontinued) for about 18 months or so and frankly, I preferred the Amazon version while it was available. Now that it's gone, Square is really the only game in town...well, more or less the most reliable as the PP version is awful. In any case, the mobile reader is quirky to say the last and this contactless version seems to work well in a stationary stand with a tablet or other...don't expect to move around much or rely on this if you have iffy connectivity issues because it will be a total practice in frustration. On the other hand, if you have a decent signal and a steady place to set the tablet/stand then this works fairly well and can be a time saver. I was already familiar with it since a local small business owner adopted this prior to my use so I've had the opportunity to see it in action for several months before this became available. For those that want an all in one solution - this may not be it. For those that are in a steady place with decent signal, this can be a good option.","Product: The Canon image class MF416dw all in one printer has print, scan, copy and fax capabilities so you can accomplish all necessary tasks with just one machine. Your professional quality documents are printed at speeds of up to 35 pages per minute in black and white with a quick first print time of 6.3 seconds or less. Eco friendly, all mode duplexing right out of the box allows you to save on paper and related costs. The MF416dw has built in Wi-Fi direct capability, enabling easy connection to mobile devices without a router. The MF416dw is equipped with a variety of easy to use mobile capabilities for printing and scanning on-the-go using your compatible mobile device, such as apple air print, Mopria print service and Google Cloud print. The Canon print business app allows users to print to and scan from the device to compatible iOS or Android devices. With NFC technology, you can easily \"touch and print\" to the MF416dw using your compatible mobile device. Password protected department ID management helps business owners manage device usage for up to 300 IDs. Secure print helps keep confidential documents safe. Using USB direct print, you can easily print from and scan to that USB in JPEG, tiff and PDF formats. The MF416dw also supports host-based ufr II, Pcl6, and adobe postscript languages to provide printing versatility. The intuitive 3.5-Inch touch LCD display allows users to navigate through the menu seamlessly. The 3.5 inch wide screen and color display is user friendly and easy to read. With the front-loading 250-sheet paper Cassette, 50-sheet dadf, 50-sheet multipurpose tray, and additional optional 500-sheet paper Cassette (pf-44), your paper handling requirements are covered. The MF416dw uses only 2.2 watts or less of energy in wireless, energy saver mode, helping you save money on energy costs. This machine uses Canon genuine toner, cartridge 119 and cartridge 119 II for higher volume printing.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Good option if not a bit bulky\n\nReview: For many years I used a Brother brand MF machine but thanks to the maturation of electronic signing and documentation, thought I could get by with a regular consumer machine and went with an Epson. Well, after suffering through that for a couple years, decided to upgrade to something able to use wireless printing, increased speed and lower priced ink....and don't get me started on the ink scam where one cartridge out of six (or more) goes dry and suddenly you are unable to print anything...not even black and white). Fortunately Canon doesn't seem to have joined the ranks of rip-off...this barrel type toner provides sufficient ink to keep going a good long time and undoubtedly will cost less in the long run....assuming I'm able to find it which so far, I've not had much luck with (I like to buy replacements asap to have on hand). This is fast and functions as well as the old Brother brand machines I used for years. Detail seems good - overall the noise level is fine even for a home office and it seems to play nice with software, drivers and so forth that I'm using (PC not Mac in my case). I've had this for about three weeks and overall I'm satisfied to date.","Product: The Omni Tray from Stander gives you the convenience of a TV Table and the safety of a mobility handle in one product to keep you happy and healthy. The Omni Tray features a large Bamboo tray table that is perfect for using your lap top, eating dinner, or reading your favorite book. When not in use simply rotate the table off to the side for use as a couch side table. The ergonomic mobility handle gives you the leverage you need to help boost yourself up off the couch safely and independently. Whether you have recently had surgery or simply lack the same mobility you once had, the Omni Tray is the functional and attractive Tray Table you've been looking for.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Smart design - very well made\n\nReview: Having an elderly parent means we are always on the lookout for things that help maintain independence and reduce the risk of injury. After a couple of nasty falls that fortunately, didn't result in anything more than ugly bruising, we made a deliberate effort to scout out items that were built well, easy to use and preserved functioning; starting with the bathroom, we've now added items throughout the entire house including the kitchen, bathroom, bedroom and now this super versatile tray. Admittedly, we are still rather new to this and never heard of this brand before but will absolutely keep an eye on their offerings from this point forward because this is very well made and even better design.\n\nSo, here is the deal...we actually own a couple other similar style tray's on wheels which give a false sense of security and are prone to sliding, slipping and in general...not a good idea around the parent who has a tendency to lean on things when getting up or sitting down. In fact, it's such a problem that we take pains to make sure none of the furniture is prone to scooting for exactly that reason. This takes the opposite approach to most trays...rather than rolling around, this stays in place and even acts like a cane for support while standing or sitting...and then the tray itself swivels around. It is made to fit under the furniture so it's not a tripping hazard, it's very solid and well made...very much so! Hands down, this is worth every penny thanks to the added stability and safety features.\n\nEXCELLENT product! Couldn't be more pleased and very happy to have found a brand that really keeps independent functioning in mind for elderly parents!","Product: The Fiskars long-handle steel digging shovel makes it easy to dig into tough soil without sore knees from kneeling or back strain from bending. The welded steel construction is far more durable than wood and wont flex like fiberglass. A sharpened blade cuts into dense soil easily, an extra-large foot platform helps maximize force to break up hardened soil clods, and a teardrop-shaped shaft profile provides exceptional comfort and control.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Fiskars is the best - GREAT shovel...Seriously!\n\nReview: This entire Fiskars binge began with a hoe [incredible product] and then a rake [excllent] and eventually have replaced nearly entire outdoor garden tool set with Fiskars.\n\nMy husband said we didn't need another shovel but I was so happy with the other garden tools that I bought this for myself...I've not been able to use it once because he immediately adopted it. According to him it 'digs itself\". I'm not exactly sure what that means but he brags about the weight and balance - says it makes it so much easier. The same applies for the square shovel. Super nice weight, well balanced, Comfortable.\n\nWhile it might initially seem counter-intuitive to buy a heavy shovel...it actually is much easier to work with than a light weight shovel. The weight allows maximum efficiency so you don't need to strain and struggle to break the earth - it does the work for you. He has a tendency to have lower back pain when working (age related) and within an hour this became his new favorite shovel....he quickly insisted on buying the square head equivalent (every bit as good).\n\nThe other major difference is the long handle. It seems more and more tools are trying to scrimp by on less material - this is a very solid, very heavy item with an extra nice long handle that is perfect for those who are a bit on the tall side. It also has the rolled edge to keep the foot from slipping...lots of nice little extra's that set this apart from the rest.\n\nVery pleased with the Fiskars line of garden tools - either buy two or don't let your husband borrow it...you won't get it back","Product: This EPDM rubber pre cut and boxed pond liner can be used for building all types of ponds, water gardens, basins for fountains, bog gardens, lining cracked hard shell ponds and other applications. The pond liners membrane is based on ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) synthetic rubber, a highly flexible yet stable waterproofing membrane with a proven performance history in exposed applications. pond liners retains its high flexibility even in cold weather. It can easily be shaped to fit the unique contours of any pond. Pond liners shows outstanding resistance to the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation (U.V.), ozone and other environmental conditions. pond liners exhibits a high tensile strength and an outstanding resistance to puncture and, once installed, requires little or no maintenance. pond liners is specially formulated to be safe for exposure to fish and plant life in decorative ponds while resisting microbial and algae attack. It is safe for fish and aquatic plants. Pond liners black color gives a natural look that blends with the algae that frequently grows after several months. The black color also lends greater U.V. protection while giving the illusion of greater depth. Measures 15-feet length by 20-feet width by 0.045-inch thick.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Excellent Price - Great Delivery - Highly Satisified!\n\nReview: After doing a lot of research both online and with local pond experts, we decided to go with the EPDM rubber pond liner despite the additional cost. Not only is it considered more environmentally sound and durable, but almost a necessity if you want fish without fear of contamination etc...\n\nSince a pond is not something we want to re-do every few years due to a poor quality liner, nor do we want to risk puncture/tears/rips that could ruin the plants and fish, this seemed like the best option and most cost effective in terms of time and expensve over the long run.\n\nBUT, when we began searching locally for an EPDM liner, the price was either very high OR the size options very small. Originally we thought about a 10x15 size but after calculating pond dimensions and depth (don't forget the depth), realized it was not sufficient. (As a side note, for those that are searching for a basic pond rule of thumb...take the desired length of feet, add 2 feet, and 2x desired depth to calculate width. Do the same for width).\n\nDecided to order this - very pleased with the purchase. The price per square foot was competitive with the best local prices per square foot for the smaller sizes yet we were able to get a larger dimension for a more useful pond size. Thickness is of a very nice quality. Seller was prompt, delivery quite rapid. This was the same liner a professional pond installer uses on his personal pond so should last for a substantial period of time.\n\nOverall, great product and a great price with superb service!","Product: This EPDM rubber pre cut and boxed pond liner can be used for building all types of ponds, water gardens, basins for fountains, bog gardens, lining cracked hard shell ponds and other applications. The pond liners membrane is based on ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) synthetic rubber, a highly flexible yet stable waterproofing membrane with a proven performance history in exposed applications. pond liners retains its high flexibility even in cold weather. It can easily be shaped to fit the unique contours of any pond. Pond liners shows outstanding resistance to the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation (U.V.), ozone and other environmental conditions. pond liners exhibits a high tensile strength and an outstanding resistance to puncture and, once installed, requires little or no maintenance. pond liners is specially formulated to be safe for exposure to fish and plant life in decorative ponds while resisting microbial and algae attack. It is safe for fish and aquatic plants. Pond liners black color gives a natural look that blends with the algae that frequently grows after several months. The black color also lends greater U.V. protection while giving the illusion of greater depth. Measures 20-feet length by 20-feet width by 0.045-inch thick.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: 2nd Order in 2 months! Very satisfied!\n\nReview: This is our second order in two months...the first was a 15x20 foot product and then this 20x20 foot product. The prices were far below what we could get locally for exactly the same item, manufacturer etc...with the added benefit of delivery direct to the door in just a few days.\n\nAfter doing a lot of research both online and with local pond experts, we decided to go with the EPDM rubber pond liner despite the additional cost. Not only is it considered more environmentally sound and durable, but almost a necessity if you want fish without fear of contamination etc...\n\nSince a pond is not something we want to re-do every few years due to a poor quality liner, nor do we want to risk puncture/tears/rips that could ruin the plants and fish, this seemed like the best option and most cost effective in terms of time and expensve over the long run.\n\nBUT, when we began searching locally for an EPDM liner, the price was either very high OR the size options very small. Originally we thought about a 10x15 size but after calculating pond dimensions and depth (don't forget the depth), realized it was not sufficient. (As a side note, for those that are searching for a basic pond rule of thumb...take the desired length of feet, add 2 feet, and 2x desired depth to calculate width. Do the same for width).\n\nDecided to order this - very pleased with the purchase. The price per square foot was competitive with the best local prices per square foot for the smaller sizes yet we were able to get a larger dimension for a more useful pond size. Thickness is of a very nice quality. Seller was prompt, delivery quite rapid. This was the same liner a professional pond installer uses on his personal pond so should last for a substantial period of time.\n\nOverall, great product and a great price with superb service!","Product: The rhythmic and random sounds of the Encore Water Bell Fountain are reminiscent of the natural sounds of a gently flowing stream. Adapted from an original and copyrighted design by artist and musician Ron Snider, they are handcrafted using solid brass bells for excellent sound. Water bubbling up from the center of the fountain causes two floating bells to gently swirl around six fixed bells, ringing softly when they meet. An adjustable pump lets you control the water flow and frequency of ringing. This musical fountain adds beauty and charm to your home. It flourishes as a centerpiece or accent and will fill your surroundings with joy.Over 30 years ago, Grammy award-winning musician and instrument designer Garry Kvistad created the first Woodstock Chime from an aluminum lawn chair he found in a landfill. Fascinated by the Scale of Olympos, a 7th century pentatonic scale that cant be played on a modern piano, Garry cut and tuned the lawn chair tubes to the exact frequency of the ancient scale. The resulting Chimes of Olympos was the first Woodstock Chime and is still one of our best selling, musically-tuned windchimes. Garry and his wife Diane founded Woodstock Chimes in 1979 and still develop the chimes today. It remains a family-owned business in New Yorks Hudson Valley.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Lots of Compliments! Very soothing sounds!\n\nReview: Bought this for my spouse as we have all types of regular wind chimes and thought something different would be fun. One reviewer mentioned the heavy smell which is indeed present especially when the box was first opened...I noticed it a LOT but better half didn't seem to at all. However, it wore off over time especially after using white vinegar (to reduce the build-up).\n\nWe have this in the living room and receive a lot of compliments...it's always funny because it typically takes awhile before people realize they are relaxing to the sound of these small bells. After 20 minutes or so it begins to dawn on them and they start looking around...without exception, everyone wants to know where to buy them.\n\nA very nice addition. Simple, non obtrusive. Soothing.","Product: The yardgard PVC welded wire has all the benefits of welded wire, but is coated to enhance longevity & appearance. This coating adds a rich look by complimenting the natural surroundings. The yardgard PVC welded wire is virtually maintenance free & offers a versatile, lighter weight & economical solution to ornamental fencing. The yardgard PVC welded wire is uniformly galvanized prior to coating for reinforced rust & wear protection.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Perfect for garden area or similar needs\n\nReview: I'd actually give this a 4.5 stars if possible because it's just a tad lighter gauge than I'd normally like but the coated portion more than makes up for any deficiency. This is light weight and easy to move around - can be stapled or used with those wire mesh stakes. In my case, this is just the right size to use around a small garden area to keep pets and critters out of the way. Low enough to step over if needed yet tall enough that small people or pets stay out. The coating should help prevent it from rusting so only time will tell how long it last but I anticipate a longer than average lifespan for it. Very pleased!","Product: The newly designed Four-Wheeled Hose Cart is the best designed, heaviest duty hose reel cart available. It holds an unbelievable 350 feet of 5/8-inch hose, enough for gardens of any size. With high quality pneumatic wheels and a well balanced design this Hose Reel Cart moves easily over rough terrain. Simply attach the bolt-on wheels, reel crank and Snap-on frame handle and this hose truck is ready to provide years of service. All steel with an anti-rust finish. Yard Butler guarantees all Yard Butler tools for life against any defects in manufacturing or materials.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Easy Assembly - Quality Components\n\nReview: This is probably one of the most sturdy hose cart/trucks made for the average homeowner. If you are like us, hauling around an extra long hose is a constant battle. We've tried all types of smaller versions which fail to do the job. This is the exception.\n\nOut of the box you will instantly notice that this is easy to assemble; parts are clearly marked and of a substantial quality. Wheels and related assembly were especially durable materials.\n\nOnce assembled, this roles easily thanks to the wheels and parts. The turning is a bit less easy but that is largely related to the size and weight of the hose. I will say this is probably the first truck able to handle our extra long, extra heavy duty hose. The handle is well sized and of a useful height.\n\nThis is not the most attractive product but it scores very high on functionality.","Product: The Algreen Agua Rain Barrel combines the timeless aesthetic elegance of ceramics with the enduring durability of modern plastics. The Agua is constructed from tough, roto-molded plastic able to withstand extreme temperatures and will not chip, fade, or crack over time. Differentiate your garden dcor with new upscale granite and stone finishes. Made in Canada.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Attractive, Functional & Environmentally Friendly...but\n\nReview: I have had my eye on these and the larger ones for well over a year but each time they were sold out before I could put in an order. Spur of the moment saw these and ordered 2 immediately. I opted for the \"smaller\" 50 gallon rain barrel which is still the same size as most on the market albeit MUCH more attractive.\n\nDelivery was very quick - 2 days. Both arrived wrapped in a plastic bag with the contents stuffed inside. I suspect mine were originally boxed since there was a card-board shipping label taped to the top of each but it's hard to say - the local deliver seems to be pretty tough on products lately and one arrived with the side pushed in a bit. I'm going to try and fill it up to see if it pops back out as well as test the seams to make sure there are no other problems that don't readily meet the eye.\n\nThe hose is a very inexpensive quality - you will likely want to replace it and I've already ordered better quality remnants available elsewhere on Amazon itself. Also, the valve is located at the very bottom of the container - you should get maximum drainage unlike other models where the discharge spout is higher up the side (or even at the top in some models...which makes no sense to me whatsoever).\n\nThese truly do look like clay or adobe especially at a distance. Are lightweight when empty and the total effect is very pleasing. A terrific alternative to those with HOA restrictions or just searching for a visually pleasing product. The price is very competitive to most others on the market although certainly a lot higher priced than finding your own used soap bucket or such. Locally even those go for $40 and up...if you can manage to find them at all. My one MAJOR irritation - and it has nothing to do with the item itself - is these were clearly from Amazon return department. I ordered new and it just annoys me to get returns instead of new items when I pay full price. I really feel this should be disclosed PRIOR to purchase and/or discounts provided if you are ordering a returned product. However, the product is lovely, shipping was fast (still not sure about that box) and the price was competitive with other options (although irritating to get refurbished rather than new).\n\nQuick Update - The \"dent\" from shipping popped right out without effort when filling. These look even better when set-up. Were very easy to steady - we set each one on a large concrete stepping stone which provided just enough stability for them to remain level without getting weighed down into the soil/grass. These are VERY heavy when filled (estimated to weight over 400 lounds just from weight of 50 gals of water) and the drain valve is so low you will want to keep it out of the grass. Overall very pleased! By far the most attractive rain barrel I've encoutered to date...","Product: The newly designed Four-Wheeled Hose Cart is the best designed, heaviest duty hose reel cart available. It holds an unbelievable 350 feet of 5/8-inch hose, enough for gardens of any size. With high quality pneumatic wheels and a well balanced design this Hose Reel Cart moves easily over rough terrain. Simply attach the bolt-on wheels, reel crank and Snap-on frame handle and this hose truck is ready to provide years of service. All steel with an anti-rust finish. Yard Butler guarantees all Yard Butler tools for life against any defects in manufacturing or materials.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Easy Assembly - Quality Components\n\nReview: This is probably one of the most sturdy hose cart/trucks made for the average homeowner. If you are like us, hauling around an extra long hose is a constant battle. We've tried all types of smaller versions which fail to do the job. This is the exception.\n\nOut of the box you will instantly notice that this is easy to assemble; parts are clearly marked and of a substantial quality. Wheels and related assembly were especially durable materials.\n\nOnce assembled, this roles easily thanks to the wheels and parts. The turning is a bit less easy but that is largely related to the size and weight of the hose. I will say this is probably the first truck able to handle our extra long, extra heavy duty hose. The handle is well sized and of a useful height.\n\nThis is not the most attractive product but it scores very high on functionality.","Product: The Algreen Agua Rain Barrel combines the timeless aesthetic elegance of ceramics with the enduring durability of modern plastics. The Agua is constructed from tough, roto-molded plastic able to withstand extreme temperatures and will not chip, fade, or crack over time. Differentiate your garden dcor with new upscale granite and stone finishes. Made in Canada.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Attractive, Functional & Environmentally Friendly...but\n\nReview: I have had my eye on these and the larger ones for well over a year but each time they were sold out before I could put in an order. Spur of the moment saw these and ordered 2 immediately. I opted for the \"smaller\" 50 gallon rain barrel which is still the same size as most on the market albeit MUCH more attractive.\n\nDelivery was very quick - 2 days. Both arrived wrapped in a plastic bag with the contents stuffed inside. I suspect mine were originally boxed since there was a card-board shipping label taped to the top of each but it's hard to say - the local deliver seems to be pretty tough on products lately and one arrived with the side pushed in a bit. I'm going to try and fill it up to see if it pops back out as well as test the seams to make sure there are no other problems that don't readily meet the eye.\n\nThe hose is a very inexpensive quality - you will likely want to replace it and I've already ordered better quality remnants available elsewhere on Amazon itself. Also, the valve is located at the very bottom of the container - you should get maximum drainage unlike other models where the discharge spout is higher up the side (or even at the top in some models...which makes no sense to me whatsoever).\n\nThese truly do look like clay or adobe especially at a distance. Are lightweight when empty and the total effect is very pleasing. A terrific alternative to those with HOA restrictions or just searching for a visually pleasing product. The price is very competitive to most others on the market although certainly a lot higher priced than finding your own used soap bucket or such. Locally even those go for $40 and up...if you can manage to find them at all. My one MAJOR irritation - and it has nothing to do with the item itself - is these were clearly from Amazon return department. I ordered new and it just annoys me to get returns instead of new items when I pay full price. I really feel this should be disclosed PRIOR to purchase and/or discounts provided if you are ordering a returned product. However, the product is lovely, shipping was fast (still not sure about that box) and the price was competitive with other options (although irritating to get refurbished rather than new).\n\nQuick Update - The \"dent\" from shipping popped right out without effort when filling. These look even better when set-up. Were very easy to steady - we set each one on a large concrete stepping stone which provided just enough stability for them to remain level without getting weighed down into the soil/grass. These are VERY heavy when filled (estimated to weight over 400 lounds just from weight of 50 gals of water) and the drain valve is so low you will want to keep it out of the grass. Overall very pleased! By far the most attractive rain barrel I've encoutered to date...","Product: Create a lovely, layered effect with these antique-zinc-finished planters from Strathwood. Available in a handy set of two planters, in two sizes, outfitting the yard, patio, or solarium is a breeze. Constructed of 100-percent galvanized sheet, the planters are durable and attractive. A slightly tapered design makes for a more elegant silhouette. The round design looks great in rows or clustered, and a square design is sold separately, so creating a coordinated look is easy. The large round planter measures 16.4 inches high by 16.6 inches wide; the small planter measures 14.4 inches high by 14.6 inches wide.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Ohhh-Better Than Expected but for one problem...well, maybe 2\n\nReview: These are attractive, solid yet lightweight planters...note=they are not pots but rather planters. As others have already mentioned they do not have holes in the bottom making them the perfect solution for those wishing to avoid water spills or stains on their flooring (especially from that blasted blue fertilizer...all you gardeneers out there know what I mean!).\n\nThe pair look great together and are actually larger than I expected even though I read the dimensions. My only complaint is the seam - yes, it can be turned to the back but it requires attention to placement to avoid seeing a fairly significant sized seam that runs vertically through each. Outside of that (and the lack of a drainage hole if that bothers you) these are terrific!\n\nI have a decent sized back porch, a second fairly large patio plus a small greenhouse with plants on each - as you might imagine, I have my fair share of pots and always on the search for more. I'm actually glad to have some without the holes to put on the porch itself and avoid unwanted drainage, stains etc...\n\nThe zinc coating is relatively thick so I suspect it should wear well even with the added benefit of a nice neutral color that fits equally well with a rustic or upscale decor (great color!).\n\nVery pleased, price is competitive or better than the big box stores and a terrific option for those wishing to avoid draining related problems!","Product: Hand hammered copper basin 21 inch\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Nice but lighther than exepcted\n\nReview: This is a nice size but lighter than anticipated. Okay, maybe it's my age but at the risk of sounding like my own grandparents, it wasn't that long ago that these had some heft to them...especially when the intended use was for outdoor decoration. Like others, I purchased this for use outdoors in the garden and will probably still use it as such but expect it to tarnish quickly (no big deal as that is expected from copper) and probably get dinged up due to the lack of heft. It's thinner than anticipated, lightweight and overall not bad but certainly not the copper I'm accustomed to. In fact, although this claims to be pure copper...I really have my doubts and expect it's mixed with heaven only knows what. It just doesn't have the same feel.","Product: Handcrafted steel bell with deep resonance; plays beautifully in the wind. This handcrafted, wind-activated bell, with its bold tone and design, functions nicely as a welcome bell at any entrance to your home or garden. The antiqued copper finish adds a rustic element to your garden. Use it to call the kids in for supper, or as an alternative doorbell. We tone our bells to unite two important ways the instrument vibrates. One is the sound of the bell itself and the other is the hollow chamber inside the bell that acts like an organ pipe. The slots on the sides of the bell are the secret to this unique coupling. The result is a rich sound with much depth and beauty. This steel bell has been coated with a handsome, durable finish, so you can enjoy it for years to come. Hang your Heroic Windbell in a breezy spot and let it play in the wind. In 1979, Grammy Award-winning musician and instrument designer Garry Kvistad created the first Woodstock Chime from an aluminum lawn chair he found in a landfill. Fascinated by the Scale of Olympos, a 7th century pentatonic scale that cant be played on a modern piano, Garry cut and tuned the lawn chair tubes to the exact frequency of the ancient scale. The resulting Chimes of Olympos was the first Woodstock Chime and is still one of our best selling, musically-tuned windchimes. Garry and his wife Diane still develop the chimes today as part of their family-owned business in New Yorks Hudson Valley. Woodstock Chimes - The World's Favorite Windchime.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Excellent! Unique windchime/windbell - superb construction! Delightful Sound!\n\nReview: Typically I'm not a huge fan of the woodstock brand of chimes but this is an exception!\n\nWe love chimes and own several fairly expensive ones including Music of the Spheres (3 models), GraceNotes (3 models) and several miscellanous other hand-made chimes we've come across over the years. What we didn't own was a wind bell!\n\nA few days ago we happened to be at the local True Value and saw a slightly smaller version of this in person for substantially more (over 40 percent more than the currently listed price on Amazon). Impressed by the sound but not really liking the price, we decided to look it up on Amazon. Now, I like to buy local when possible but not for nearly 2x's the price for a smaller item!\n\nOrdered this - it arrived promptly without any damage. Looks GREAT. Sound is exceptionally nice and this is from someone that owns quite a few above average chimes! This compares head to head with Music of the Spheres or GraceNotes in sound quality. Of course, it is low and has minimal range since it's a single tube rather than multiple...however, what you will miss in the 'song' is more than made up for in uniqueness, resonance and beauty.\n\nThis is fairly large - the estimated 40 inches INCLUDES the string, flag etc...the actual bell is substantially smaller but still quite heavy and visible. It will not get lost in the landscape and will require a fairly strong sized place to hang.\n\nLovely sound - impressive quality and beautiful addition to patio, garden or even indoor area.","Product: The BioSmart is a flow-through filter that is both innovative and efficient. It undertakes biological and mechanical filtration and offers maximum oxygenation. With a sludge drain that allows for easy removal of coarse debris, the BioSmart is built for work - there is no need to remove or manually unclog the filter foams. Distinct filter zones promote the settlement of beneficial bacteria responsible for different phases of the nitrogen cycle, increasing the conversion of harmful ammonia in the pond. The BioSmart is Nature-friendly technology with positive results for local wildlife and fish stock. With a built-in cleaning indicator and water temperature display, the unit requires minimal maintenance. The BioSmart UVC 1600 with included UV Filtration is for ponds up to 1,600 gallons; the BioSmart 5000/10000 for up to 10,000 gallons. For maximum effect it can be combined with the Vitronic 18 - 36 Watt UV Clarifiers. When used in conjunction with the BioSmart filter, the AquaMax Eco Classic 1200-2700 or AquaMax Eco Premium 2000-3000 and the Vitronic UV Clarifier qualify for the OASE Water Guarantee.\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: JUNK - incomplete, poor instructions, leaks and nowhere near advertised size\n\nReview: Don't fall for this piece of JUNK. I own another filter and thought I'd use this as a small boost since my pond (roughly 4000 gallons) could use a little extra 'umph'. I should have listened to the negative reviews on this thing - absolute junk. So, my other filter is actually a tad small for my pond (3500 gallon filter) and this supposedly is a bit larger. What a laugh. First thing prospective buyers should know is that this doesn't come with anything needed to hook up the discharge nor even the intake(s)...you have to hunt around for the right sizes - these are not standard - and then when you FINALLY find them, spend a good amount (another $65 bucks or so in my case) only to realize that this thing leaks like a sieve. The reviewer who mentioned putting a smaller than suggested pump is right - you must have VERY low pressure to make this work which means you will need to use this on a MUCH smaller pond than what is advertised. The instructions are junk, this item is junk, plan on hunting around town and spending at least another $50 bucks or more for the right tubing, discharge, connections etc...then downsize your pump and pond because there isn't any way this is going to get near the size advertised without leaking or downright exploding.","Product: Suncast Alpine Series, 155 cubic feet, Blow Molded Resin 7-1/2-feet by 3-1/2-feet. Large Storage Shed. Durable double-wall construction with windows and functional vents.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Very cute, durable, doesn't leak, easy to install\n\nReview: Like many homeowners, trying to deal with the clutter of brooms, rakes and garden equipment is a never ending battle. We have a small 10x12 garden shed but tall long equipment seems to get in the way especially because it has short side walls which doesn't allow long items to be hunt. We considered buying a larger shed but it would require having to tear out and re-pour the concrete base...adding substantial cost to the project. We thought about a 2nd shed but didn't want to use up more space in the yard. Saw this at Home Depot (for substantially less I might add) and it was PERFECT.\n\nThe size allows it to fit on the walkway outside our garage. It fits easily under the eave of the house and can be connected directly to the outside wall of the garage. This saved money by not having to pour a new concrete footer and added stability.\n\nAssembly is easy and although the instructions indicate two people, my spouse did it alone. This does come with a floor (a thick vinyl/plastic type floor), side walls and back walls and roof. Everything interlocks in a way that is easy to put together but maintains moisture and keeps it from leaking.\n\nThe walls and roof are thick molded plastic type material, UV treated to help prevent cracking. Obviously they won't rust nor will be prone to termites. I do wonder how long the plastic will hold up under the harsh Florida summers but I guess time will tell.\n\nThere are two vents with screens in the top to help keep it cooler. The windows are decorative but can actually be viewed....although they are tinted for some additional protection. There is a clasp lock which allows the addition of a big security bolt to lock if desired.\n\nSize is 3 ft deep x 6 ft wide and 7 ft tall (7.5 outer height). Basically this provides just over 20 sq ft of interior space. Shelving is available via optional purchase...I did not opt for this alternative as really wanted this to store ladders, brooms, rakes and other tall items in with ease.\n\nIt has a very cute appearance, is easy to clean (hose down!). All in all, a nice alternative to traditional shed without the worry of pests (wood) or rusting (metal). Keep an eye out for sale prices...I saved several hundred off the list price of this item!","Product: Tackle those hard-to-reach branches with ease. The Sun Joe Saw Joe SWJ800E pole chain saw takes the danger and difficulty out of trimming your overgrown trees. Stand safely on solid ground and simply adjust Saw Joes telescoping pole to gain up to 15 feet of overhead reach. Powered by a 6.5-amp motor, the SWJ800E can handle the most stubborn tree limbs up to 7.5-inches thick. This pole chain saw features an 8-inch Oregon bar and chain with an auto-oiler to keep the bar and chain fully lubricated during use. Unlike gas-powered tools, Saw Joe is powered electrically, so youll reliably power up with the push of a button without having to deal with smoke, fumes, unpredictable starters or costly tune-ups. Plus the SWJ800E comes equipped with a built-in safety switch to prevent accidental starting. Saw Joe is CSA approved and carries a full two-year warranty.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Very cost effective, easier to use, light weight and no chain slippage make this a winner\n\nReview: We actually own two pole saws - one battery operated one from Oregon for heavier work and this model for lighter needs. While the Oregon pole saw is a beast, there are actually some advantages of this model over the larger and much more expensive Oregon. First is of course, price. This sells for roughly 1/4 of the price of the other one and for the majority of 1-2 inch limbs, works just as well. The Oregon model really comes through when you get to the larger - much larger pieces and/or if you need a battery rather than electric....ie, distance away from a power source. That is not to say this model will not tackle larger branches - from time to time I do use it for larger branches up to 3 inches or so simply because I don't want to switch devices in the middle of a job.\nNext, this is lighter and easier to manage - a major consideration for those who might be elderly or find the much larger models cumbersome. Last but not least, the chain on this model is actually more secure and easier to deal with than the Oregon model which has a tendency to slip. Despite substantial usage, this chain stays in place!","Product: Lawn cleanup just got easier with the Sun Joe Mow Joe MJ403E. No more messy gas or oil! Just power up your Mow Joe with the push of a button and watch its powerful 13-amp motor mow a 17-inch wide path in a single pass. Easily control the cutting height of your grass with the 7 position height adjustment lever. The 12 gallon rear bag detaches easily to quickly dispose of grass clippings. You can even turn your Mow Joe lawn mower into a mulching mower by removing the bag and allowing the grass clippings to insert back into your lawn. Whether mulching or mowing, the MJ403E delivers the reliable performance you and your lawn can depend on every time. The MJ403E provides the extra security of a safety switch and is backed by a full two year warranty.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Should be a 4.5 Star - Compare this model to 2 other electric models\n\nReview: I own a Black and Decker electric mower and a Greenworks electric mower (also requires a cord) so will compare to both of those as well as a standard gas push model.\n\nFirst, notice that this is only a 17 inch cut which is substantially smaller than other models which were both 20 inches each. A standard gas mower is usually 22 inches and up so plan on taking a few more passes to get the job done.\n\nAssembly was very easy - this is SUPER light weight...so light that there is actually a handle on the top of the machine to pick it up. The bag is easy to put on and take off, build is plastic but seems solid enough. You will need to purchase a standard long electric cord for use but otherwise, no mess, no fumes and very small storage required.\n\nSafety - there is one inferior feature associated with this machine...it lacks a \"brake\" or \"instant off\". Once released, the blade continues to spin for a second or two rather than immediately shutting down like other versions. In most instance this isn't a big problem but the user should be aware of the inferior safety function.\n\nPerformance - I just finished mowing the front yard which I specifically allowed to grow while waiting for this to arrive. We live in Florida, summer with rain each afternoon means the grass got high very fast...it was literally to the knees! So, plugged this in and gave it a good first workout. Although the grass is severely overgrown, the front yard has few/no limbs, weeds etc so it's really just long grass. A standard gas powered push mower as well as the other two electric mowers handle this without any notable difference. Unfortunately, this mower did get bogged down...it never actually choked or stopped running but became notably slower and required \"lifting\" the front to keep it from stopping. Basically it doesn't have quite the power one would hope for heavier jobs.\n\nNow, having said that, there are some very real advantages to this machine...the wife loves it due to the extra light weight and easy ability to maneuver and push. Perfect for finishing or in between trees, other areas where larger mowers won't fit. Great option for the elderly and those who need to keep a well groomed lawn maintained without worry about long overgrown grass, weeds and/or other obstacles.\n\nI didn't baby this thing whatsoever and it performed well. Had zero issues with materials/other. Will update if it doesn't last or performs poorly after repeated usage.","Product: Good Ideas IMP-L50-TC Impressions 50-Gallon Rain Saver Linen - Terra Cotta is designed with a self-draining planter top and built-in overflow. It features dual spigot locations, allowing you to use a hose and spigot simultaneously and an anti-debris/bug screen. Constructed with thick and durable polyethylene resin, which holds up to the harshest elements, the exterior has the appearance of linen. The graceful lines, curves and garnishes on the exterior make it an accent piece on your homes exterior and not something that just sticks to your house. The design optimizes space used and allows you to position the rain saver close to walls or flat areas. The top is the only of its kind that acts as a planter space and also self-drains when excess water is present. There is also a channel built into the rim, which diverts overflowing water to the front and away from the barrel and home foundation. You can have peace of mind that you're helping the environment by conserving water and giving your garden the best water it can get, devoid of harsh chemicals and rich in nutrients. And you can perform that conservation without sacrificing your home's outer appearance.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Better quality than the Algreen\n\nReview: We live in an area with exceptionally high water bills and ample rain so water barrels are a 'no brainer'. Unfortunately, living in the suburbs also means appearance matters almost (maybe more than) function. In the past, we've purchased the Algreen rain barrels that look like big terra cotta jugs and have been happy with them more or less (B0013CJLI6 ATIN number). However, one one can never have too many rain barrels so when this came up for review, I jumped at the opportunity.\n\nPackaging\nThis arrived promptly and well packaged without any dings or dents. My original Algreen order had a big dent which I managed to get 'unkinked\" but suffice to say, this held up better. It is a big box and very cumbersome so keep this in mind especially if mobility or other related considerations are an issue.\n\nQuality of Construction\nI'd have to rate the quality of construction 'excellent'. It is molded but very thick...much more so than the Algreen 50 gal rain barrels. The planter does not have drainage which is a bit odd. The screen is thick and built-in so more stable. There is a breathing hole and two well placed spigots made out of brass. You will need to install the spigots (2 of them...tape is included to form a tight seal). These are attractive and made out of metal which looks better than the plastic but only time will tell if they hold up to rust/corrosion. There is a notable seam and for some reason, one of the spigot holes is placed adjacent to the seam making it difficult to position when attempting to hide the seam. Compared to the Algreen 50 gal barrels, this feels more substantial and of an overall better quality. Note, it does not come with a drainage hose so plan accordingly.\n\nAppearance\nThis is an attractive, very neutral color, rain barrel. The picture doesn't show it as well but the entire outside is covered in a type of 'wave' pattern which I think will likely collect dirt more readily than a flat/smooth surface. The lighter color is also more likely to show it than the terra cotta Algreen barrel. All in all, this is attractive but not as attractive as the Algreen. However, it will be easy to wash off and appearance is truly in the eye of the beholder.\n\nStability\nAs you can see from the product photo, the bottom is smaller than the top although not by a lot. We set this up on a few paver/walking stones for added stability...more than ample. This is VERY heavy when filled with water so taking the time to reinforce it before allowing it to be filled is prudent.\n\nWhat You Will Need\n- Stable place for placement. When filled with water this will weigh well over 400 lbs so shifting sand/other could become a problem. We use a couple of large walking stones/pavers for support which is more than ample.\n- Hose. This does not come with a hose. We use remnants purchased here on Amazon.\n- Downspout drainage. This is designed for use with a downspout which fits over the built-in (but removable) grill screen.","Product: The Hickory Square Fire Pit Cover from Classic Accessories is made from durable Weather10 material featuring a rugged fabric outer layer with a laminated waterproof and wipe-clean inside coating. Weather Leather trim looks authentic but won't rot. Large air vents reduce mold and mildew-causing moisture while preventing wind-lofting. An adjustable elastic hem cord will secure your cover on windy days and ensures a tight and custom fit. Padded handles make putting on and removing your cover easy and comfortable. Covers square fire pits up to 40\"L x 40\"W. Not designed to entirely cover the leg bottoms. Limited lifetime warranty. Product is imported.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Easy and convenient but one potential weak spot\n\nReview: This is now the third item from this product line that we've tried and while the most simple, might be my favorite. Over the years, we've tried at least three other covers for the fire pit - one leaked like a sieve, one rotted away from the sun and although it initially kept the water out, didn't last through summer and then started leaking and falling apart - and the last one, well it was still going but literally by threads. This fits most standard sized small fire pits. It has elastic around the bottom edge followed by sizing security, the canvas provides protection from the sun while the interior liner provides weather protection.\n\nSo, why only four stars? There is a weak spot on this item and it's probably the elastic around the bottom edge - it's not quite the same quality as the rest of the item. Unfortunately, due to the way this fits, when the elastic goes this will be of minimal use since it doesn't slide down around the legs. Given the high use, constant stretch and sun....only time will tell but have doubts over the long run","Product: Restyled for 2014, the Weber Q 220 is now the Weber Q 2200. The grill has the same great performance and sleek styling, but adds new aesthetics that are both functional and fun, including larger grip handle and control knobs, ergonomic side handles, sturdy front and rear cradles, larger-sized fold-out side tables with greater rigidity plus the familiar Weber Q logo prominently branded in the lid. Split grates allow for a grate/griddle cooking combination: Just replace one of the grates with the Q 2000-series compatible griddle (sold separately) and experience an alternative way to prepare breakfast, lunch and dinner on your grill. The tall lid accommodates the grilling of small roasts and birds, while the large built-in thermometer allows you to monitor temperatures inside the grill. The Weber Q 2200 is ideal for use when camping and tailgating but, thanks to a design that offers both compact overall size and large grilling surface, can double as a stationary grill in your outdoor living space. The grill runs on disposable LP cylinders (not included), but an optional LP adapter hose for 20-lb. tanks is available as an accessory. A seamless stainless steel burner is your assurance of durability and long-lasting performance. The cast-aluminum lid and body are both lightweight and rugged. May be used with Weber Portable Cart model #6557 and Q Cart model #6525.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Pro's/Con's and comparison to Cuisinart grill of similar size/specs\n\nReview: Pro's\nAluminum materials = lighter weight and more durable over time\nClean, smooth appearance\nNice sized grill that is heavy, durable, easy to cure\nPlastic trays are heavy duty and won't corrode\nExtra large drip pan\nEven heat distribution\nExtra nice start-best used to date\nTall dome lid allows larger items to be grilled with ease\nLight weight, easy to carry and transport\n\nCon's\nDrip pan feels flimsy but is large and has extra large capacity\nNo protection or shield for flame - first experience with this form\nColor - ewww. Won't look faded over time because already looks faded and tired\n\nWe also own a Cuisinart grill of a similar size which we really liked for the first couple of years due to the sleek stainless steel appearance, ease of use etc however, the Cuisinart body might be stainless but the component pieces were not resulting in rust and deterioration. This grill is larger, lighter weight and potentially more durable.","Product: Liberty Garden Products 710 Navigator Rotating Hose Reel holds 125-feet of 5/8-inch hose with 5-feet of leader hose. This hose reel features 18 gauge steel construction and a durable powder coat finish that is weather resistant. The 90 degree solid brass swivel helps prevent hose damage during winding. With 8 locking positions this hose reel is ideal for any size job. The storage tray will hold your frequently used watering tools and nozzles. Functional and stylish! Mounting hardware is not included. Color: bronze.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Hands down - just about perfect!\n\nReview: We seem to have a hard time finding a decent hose reel. Over the year we've own expensive ones that looked great but wore out far too fast, cheap ones that we planned to toss after each year but which performed so badly we still didn't get out money's worth, moderate ones that seemed to be the worst of all possible worlds...too expensive to toss out and inferior in almost every way. We store one hose in a hose bucket/basket which is less unsightly but still a pain to wind. We have a couple portable reels that are more trouble than they are worth. When this came up for review I thought 'what the heck'....so very glad to try this out!\n\nFirst, this is smartly designed. Really like the added shelf to store accessories which often end up in the shed and out of reach or laying in windowsills. Next, the heft and weight are much more substantial than most...combined with a powder coating, this FEELs far superior to most hose reels.\n\nSize is terrific - holds ample hose length for the average homeowner. Function is superb - easy to use handle that is ergonomically stable PLUS (and this is a big one) a built-in swivel so the hose goes where you need it to go with less effort.\n\nStable - you will need to secure this to the house or other designated area but comes complete with brackets. All in all, VERY impressive! Finally an attractive, functional and easy to use hose reel.","Product: The Black & Decker LST400 12\" 20v MAX Lithium High Performance Trimmer and Edger offers up to a full hour of runtime when using dual mode switch in run-time mode, along with Runtime Extension Technology with a dual mode accelerator switch for high performance or longer run time. This unit includes (1) 4.0 Amp hour 2X lithium battery pack for 2X more run time per battery pack. It features a patented Power Drive Transmission that prevents bogging down in heavy grass and weeds and the Automatic Feed Spool ensures continuous work without bumping and having to stop to adjust the spool. It includes a wheeled edging feature- which allows you to just rotate to convert from trimmer to edger. It is quiet and easy to start, delivering great cutting results without the mess and hassles of gas powered trimmers and the adjustable height and pivoting handle positions provide maximum comfort and control. This unit is part of the 20V MAX System - A System that Demands Attention (1 Battery fits multiple tools). Includes: (1) LST400 20V MAX Cordless Trimmer/Edger, (1) LB2X4020-OPE 20V MAX 2X Battery, (1) Charger - LCS1620, (1) AF-100 Spool, (1) Guard and (1) Handle.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Not as powerful as the 40 volt but still gets the job done\n\nReview: I recently purchased a B&D 40 volt lithium trimmer and then was offered this via the Vine program. Since we have a 2nd property, I jumped at the opportunity to try this one out. As might be expected, it isn't quite as powerful as the 40 volt version but otherwise, is very similar in function, weight and appearance. I should also add, I've been putting the 40 volt to the paces and have been impressed by what it manages to handle. My first day out, I used it to trim everything between a bunch of fruit trees in a lot that was overgrown, thick and full of weeds. It cut grass, weeds and even underbrush like a pro. Amazing!\n\nSo, as I mentioned, this is not quite as powerful but assuming you aren't using it to take down swamp growth but rather an average lawn, it is more than sufficient. The charge takes about an hour (max) and seems to last 30 to 45 minutes. The string does not require a bump which is nice and last through the entire trim without worry.\n\nWeight is not problematic although it is not skimpy like some electric versions. The battery is interchangeable with other B&D products of the same voltage (a very nice touch). The entire machine is adjustable up/down to fit short or tall persons. There is a guard on both the front and back to protect self and plants.\n\nOverall - great tool. Can't believe we waited this long to try out cordless trimmers but will NEVER go back now that we have!","Product: The PS250-A6 Pole Saw, with its mid-mount motor design, provides superior weight distribution and balance. This distinctive engineering creates an original user-centric tool unique to the cordless tool industry. The Pole Saw is equipped with a tool-free extendable fiber glass shaft that allows the tool to extend from 7'3\" to 10'4\" and provides approximately 14-15' of reach. The high-torque performance is controlled by a custom designed planetary gear reduction system allowing for an efficient transfer of power. The PS250-A6 is configured with a compact cutting head for improved cutting agility, light-weight maneuverability and reduced elevated weight. This pole saw maximizes the ergonomic design, motor power and battery performance to produce up to 500 cuts on 2-3\" size branches. Weighing only 13.5 lbs with 4.0 Ah Battery Pack, this rigid and balanced, pole saw with 8\" bar length and cast aluminum branch removal hook will allow for more work to get done. Battery Pack and Battery Charger included. Fully charged battery voltage measured without a workload is 40 volts. Nominal voltage is 37. Based on estimate for a 5'10\" (1.8m) individual operating at a 60 degree angle +/- 18 degrees.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Cuts through branches and limbs like butter!\n\nReview: Cuts branches like butter! First things first, this thing cuts as smooth and easy as butter. We own another very popular model which is used at a heavily wooded weekend cabin so jumped at the opportunity to test this one. The other highly rated model has been put through the paces o had pretty high expectations of what to expect but must admit, the power of the 4.0 Ah battery pack far exceeded our expectations. It is a BIG battery with built-in charge indications showing approximate amount of remaining charge (very nice touch and easy to see). This comes with only one battery but what a battery it is! Very powerful and estimated to last roughly and hour with a full charge.\n\nWhat's in the package...\nThis comes well packed and complete with a (surprisingly nice) screwdriver and other accessories needed for assembly. The main unit, oil, chain, single battery, battery charger and a nice strap are also included (be sure to check which option you are buying, there are at least two different forms of battery for this unit as well as one without a battery if you happen to own other tools in this line. Batteries are interchangeable with other Oregon products...another nice benefit!).\n\nResults - Tested it Out in the Yard\nSo, after putting it together, took it out to the yard for a test. Started off with small 1-2 inch low hanging branches on a wild hickory tree...this cut through those so fast and easy that the spouse didn't realize they came down! Moved on to some unruly bamboo (big bamboo) which tends to be tough, woody and yet has a lot of fiber...once again, made fast work of that usually messy job. Last cut a 3-4 inch branch from an oak tree that has been getting in the way; this is a pretty solid sized branch and probably a bit beyond what we would normally use a pole saw to handle but wanted to see how it performed...believe it or not, pretty darn well! It wasn't an \"instant\" cut like the smaller branches but certainly managed to take the branch down.\n\nSo, hickory, bamboo \"wood\" and oak ranging from 1-3.5 inches in diameter all with ease. The engine showed NO sign of stress on any cut; the saw does have a built in \"stop\" mode if it isn't running perfectly which is a nice safeguard against getting pinched or taking on more than the saw could handle however, nothing we used it on triggered this feature.\n\nErgonomics\nSurprisingly, this is a significantly more comfortable than the \"other\" brand due to the placement of the motor, The carry strap is a nice extra and comes in handy when the pole is fully extended. Solid grips and secure extension keeps unit stable during use. Noise level if quite acceptable...much less obnoxious than a standard chain saw plus no need to hassle with gasoline, fumes or even extension cords as with electric models.\n\nBottom line\nCut through 1-2 inch green hickory branches like butter...had to check twice to see if even hit the branch it was so fast!\nCut through large bamboo stalks (up to 2 inches) green and fiber with ease.\nCut through 3-4 inch oak branch without bogging down.","Product: The PowerPro 1000 Watt generator is proof that good things do come in small packages. This two stroke generator delivers 900 watts of running and 1000 watts of starting power but weighs under 36 pounds. Small and portable, this generator is great for camping and tailgating as well as for your house's backup power. This rugged machine is both EPA and CARB compliant and is safe to use in any national park due to the spark arrestor. The power panel features an engine on/off switch, a 120V three-prong receptacle, a 12V DC receptacle, a volt meter and individual circuit reset buttons.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Perfect for powering incidentals during hurricane and power outages\n\nReview: Living in Florida means perpetual preparedness but after the most recent hurricane season, two generators failed leaving us with minimal power for a week. While that isn't the end of the world, it is more than a mere inconvenience in the excessively high heat and humidity that follows a major storm. Add to that an elderly person with health issues and a fairly large fish pond, well it was a round the clock burden to keep things running smoothly. That is where this came in. We needed a small generator for outdoor things like a pump and aeration for the koi pond as well as other incidental power needs - this was perfect. It's small, easy to tote around and inexpensive. Yes, it's a bit loud but not terrible. I found it on a great sale via warehousedeals and couldn't be more pleased - used the 2 cycle blend which is a bit expensive but worth it to avoid a hassle. Starts up easily, runs what I need it to run and tucks away when not in use.","Product: Myron Mixon 36\" Barrel Style Barbeque Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker with Digital Temperature Control and Center Fire Box.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Great - aside from the horrid goo covering everything\n\nReview: Whew-where to begin. Living in Florida, we do a lot of outdoor cooking. In fact, buying a small hibachi grill was one of the first things we purchased decades ago when setting up our first apartment. Over the years we've owned smokers, propane grills, charcoal, woodburning, big ones and small ones plus nearly everything in between but this is our very first pellet version so I was especially excited to give this a try. In fact, I had been shopping for a new smoker (my old one having been banished to the curb earlier this year).\n\nThe box arrived in good order but like others, I immediately noticed a few problems...fortunately the outside looks great but inside there were some pretty notable scratches etc in the hood....no big deal though. What was a big deal was the super UGLY BROWN GOO spilled all over the inserts, tray etc...inside the bags. This obviously came from the factory that way - and I have no idea what it was but it was hard to remove. In fact, the first few times firing this up was just to burn off the rest of the residual yuck that wouldn't wash off...and speaking of washing, it took forever to wash off hands, wash off the items, wash off the floors after putting things together. So, one point deducted for unpseakable amounts of gross goo that got everywhere and shouldn't be there in the first place...plus, what is it? Hopefully it wasn't toxic.\n\nAside from the scratches and goo, most everything else was in good order except a few bits of hardware which I had replacements for on hand so assembly was about what one would expect. I'd estimate it took a couple of hours - more than it should have but again, I had to deal with big brown goo before even being able to handle some of the parts.\n\nOnce together, everything seemed to work fine. This is for the 24 inch version which is perfectly sized for two people but can certainly handle substantially more. There is a side helper shelf and a lower storage shelf, a coated grill that is fairly substantial. The display is not huge but adequately visible.\n\nNow, for those that have never used pellets (like myself)...oh you are in for a treat! It's the best of both worlds - the flavor of wood without the mess and hassle but the convenience of propane minus the propane. This grills, bakes and smokes making it perfect for outdoor cooking and finally allowing us to minimize the number of grills, smokers and BBQ...no need to have multiple devices! Bottom line is that I'm already thrilled over this new option...the size, convenience and wood smoke option is fantastic however, there needs to be some serious quality control evaluation...it's not acceptable to send out items covered in what looks like an oil slick of brown, sticky mess.","Product: Champion all-in-one tune-up kits include everything needed for a quality lawn mower tune-up. The top of the package serves as the oil funnel and the base as the drain pan for used oil. Includes Champion spark plug, air filter, oil and fuel stabilizer.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Smart Set - Well designed all in one maintenance solution\n\nReview: This is a smart set. If you are like us, chances are you have bits of this and that hanging around the shed; motor oil here, spark plug there, drain pan somewhere...you get the hidea. I affectionately refer to the shed and garage as the \"black hole\" because what goes in never seems to make its way out again and we always end up at the store buying this or that.\n\nSo, the first thing most people will notice is that the container is actually a funnel and drain pain which is super smart and convenient. I hate packaging that is bad for the environment and takes up space in the trash but this actually serves a purpose and is sized right. Next, the spark plug, filter and fluid is all packed inside and designed so you can do the maintenance all at once. The value seems solid especially compared to buying each individually and I like the time saving aspect. I got two because we actually have a couple of mowers - one we use for personal and one we use for rentals. Both arrived in good order, both are convenient and both seemed well priced.","Product: Jolly Pets 4.5-Inch Tug-n-Toss, Purple\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: This is a GREAT dog toy!\n\nReview: Okay, I saw this at a local farm supply store and didn't realize it was for horses and brought it home for my dogs...both of which are big gentle babes who just love to play. The only other toys they didn't destroy in minutes is the Kong line until now! The first time I brought one of these home they chewed through the handle but the ball is still going strong months later. The second one they left the handle on...seriously it's like the figured out what it's for and neither of them chewed it! In any case, this quickly became THE favorite toy...I actually had to get a 2nd one so they don't get jealous. Very durable although the handle can be chewed through but it still won't impact the performance of the ball which takes a LOT of abuse. Non toxic, hollow center, easy to hose down and at least for my boys, this provides a happy exercise time daily for several months now.","Product: This extra wide gate mounts easily in large openings up to 8 feet. Expandable from 53\" to 96\" wide. Gate stands 24\" high. Features varnished wood frame.This gate permanently mounts to walls.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Good choice but not right for every dog breed = lasted three days\n\nReview: Sigh. This is probably the fifth gate we've tried in the past few years and while it is an improvement over baby gates, it has some serious limitations. First, it's not all that easy to put into place but since easy to install has been associated with \"easy for the dog to push through\" in the past, we were willing to deal with the additional hassle. Just plan accordingly - you will need extra time. Next, this is NOT for jumpers - notice that the size is only 2 feet tall so many jumper type dogs will easily get over this fence. Fortunately, ours are not jumpers...far from it...so it's not a concern for us but prospective buyers should keep that in mind. Last but not least, while I really like the wood slats, they are merely stapled into place. While our dogs are not jumpers, they are rather big brutes...the slats are almost small enough to worry over their paws getting stuck and I worry over the long term durability of the stapled slats since one dog has already started to chew the wood in order to escape.( Update - by day three the dog chewed through this gate entirely) I'm treating the wood with bitter apple/deterrent and keeping a close eye until I know he's either stopped trying to chew/escape or I have to remove the gate entirely as I can't risk injury. Overall not bad but I'm not sure how durable either. Would work well for certain breeds but not extra large dogs, no jumpers etc...\n\nUpdate - by day three, the dog chewed through this gate and was happily wagging his tail when we walked in the door. I would buy this again only if it were made with metal rather than wood.","Product: We developed a sturdy thermoplastic (ABS) frame; a see through poly vinyl flap; a floating sill to insure good closure; and a strong molded ABS lock-out slide to restrict the pet's movements when necessary. Then we made it 4 sizes for pets up to 120 pounds. And with a tamper proof mounting system and easy installation, it's the most economical pet door in the industry.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Best door for the price!\n\nReview: We recently ordered an Ideal Large dog door an were so impressed by the quality, opted to replace our cat doors with this brand. Because we actually have a series of doors, we ordered this version and the other (tuff weather) version. The tuff weather version by Ideal is fantastic but a bit more expensive - the benefit is that there are two flaps instead of one so it is insulated and keeps leaves/other out. This is a one flap version, had the hard slide door and works like a charm...for a price that is stunningly good!\n\nWe've been using another brand for years but it had a hard flap that always managed to catch the tail. The latch to hold the door close was problematic and the cat figured out how to undo it (smart cat!). This has a door that is inserted and slides down so can truly shut tight.\n\nInstallation was simple with plenty of trim to provide a nice flush appearance. We will use the old pet door on the porch since this is far too thick for use on a screen door but have replaced the garage and outter door with this model and the Tuff Weather (double flap) model. VERY pleased!","Product: Whether you live and work in the Great Plains or North where the temperature plummets, or in the South- east or West where Summer is endless, the cost of energy has sky rocketed. So, either heating or cooling the back yard with an old fashioned pet door just won't do anymore. In some cases the energy waste is like opening and closing the door itself 4 or 5 times a day. Ideal Pet has the answer with The Ruff-Weather Door's air pocket between 2 soft flaps, making it a great energy efficient insulator. The Ruff-Weather series in Small, Medium, Extra Large and Super Large are designed to give an air pocket of up to 3 inches between the 2 flaps in a door installation. And with the available wall tunnel kit, an air pocket of up to 9 inches. This is serious energy efficiency\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Very pleased - Great Dog Door!\n\nReview: We recently adopted a new dog that stays on location at the office due to a personality conflict with my old dog who has no patience for any young'un's. Our new little guy has his own indoor living quarters complete with couch (his idea - not ours!) and a shiny new fenced in yard. The only thing lacking was a doggy door so he could come at go at will without our having to stop working.\n\nNow, being a young yet somewhat clumsy 60 pounder that feels the need to run everywhere, a door that was able to withstand the beating was in order. After reading oodles of reviews, we opted to try this one out and was very glad at the results. Installation was fairly simple...all things considered of course. It's necessary to remove the door, measure the pet and install. Trim provides a finished appearance.\n\nDouble flaps work well without catching his tail and the slide in insert allows complete closure that is secure when we want him to remain inside. Although a bit more expensive than other options, we are quite pleased with the purchase...so much so that we bought three more Ideal Pet Doors to replace other models used at home (multiple doors!).","Product: Whether you live and work in the Great Plains or North where the temperature plummets, or in the South- east or West where Summer is endless, the cost of energy has sky rocketed. So, either heating or cooling the back yard with an old fashioned pet door just won't do anymore. In some cases the energy waste is like opening and closing the door itself 4 or 5 times a day. Ideal Pet has the answer with The Ruff-Weather Door's air pocket between 2 soft flaps, making it a great energy efficient insulator. The Ruff-Weather series in Small, Medium, Extra Large and Super Large are designed to give an air pocket of up to 3 inches between the 2 flaps in a door installation. And with the available wall tunnel kit, an air pocket of up to 9 inches. This is serious energy efficiency\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Best Door - Period!\n\nReview: This is for the Ruff Weather small door although we also purchased the small size Ideal Pet door in small as well. The two are very similar; both are fairly easy to install, have a nice frame with a finished appearance and slide in door that closes securely when not in use.\n\nThe primary difference between the two is price. This one is more expensive but contains TWO flaps rather than one...making this a great option for inclmenent weather. This is also slightly larger than the other option. If you are price sensitive and do not need extra insulation/dual flaps for the weather, opt for the standard version and save some money. We own both and use one for the outter garage door and one for the inner garage door leading to the house...the two look similar in appearance so works perfectly!\n\nNo more snagged tails due to hard plastic, no more raccoons sneaking in thanks to secure closures and no more gunky build-up on a lock...FAR superior product compared to others on the market!","Product: Whether you live and work in the Great Plains or North where the temperature plummets, or in the South- east or West where Summer is endless, the cost of energy has sky rocketed. So, either heating or cooling the back yard with an old fashioned pet door just won't do anymore. In some cases the energy waste is like opening and closing the door itself 4 or 5 times a day. Ideal Pet has the answer with The Ruff-Weather Door's air pocket between 2 soft flaps, making it a great energy efficient insulator. The Ruff-Weather series in Small, Medium, Extra Large and Super Large are designed to give an air pocket of up to 3 inches between the 2 flaps in a door installation. And with the available wall tunnel kit, an air pocket of up to 9 inches. This is serious energy efficiency\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Very pleased - Great Dog Door!\n\nReview: We recently adopted a new dog that stays on location at the office due to a personality conflict with my old dog who has no patience for any young'un's. Our new little guy has his own indoor living quarters complete with couch (his idea - not ours!) and a shiny new fenced in yard. The only thing lacking was a doggy door so he could come at go at will without our having to stop working.\n\nNow, being a young yet somewhat clumsy 60 pounder that feels the need to run everywhere, a door that was able to withstand the beating was in order. After reading oodles of reviews, we opted to try this one out and was very glad at the results. Installation was fairly simple...all things considered of course. It's necessary to remove the door, measure the pet and install. Trim provides a finished appearance.\n\nDouble flaps work well without catching his tail and the slide in insert allows complete closure that is secure when we want him to remain inside. Although a bit more expensive than other options, we are quite pleased with the purchase...so much so that we bought three more Ideal Pet Doors to replace other models used at home (multiple doors!).","Product: Whether you live and work in the Great Plains or North where the temperature plummets, or in the South- east or West where Summer is endless, the cost of energy has sky rocketed. So, either heating or cooling the back yard with an old fashioned pet door just won't do anymore. In some cases the energy waste is like opening and closing the door itself 4 or 5 times a day. Ideal Pet has the answer with The Ruff-Weather Door's air pocket between 2 soft flaps, making it a great energy efficient insulator. The Ruff-Weather series in Small, Medium, Extra Large and Super Large are designed to give an air pocket of up to 3 inches between the 2 flaps in a door installation. And with the available wall tunnel kit, an air pocket of up to 9 inches. This is serious energy efficiency\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Best Door - Period!\n\nReview: This is for the Ruff Weather small door although we also purchased the small size Ideal Pet door in small as well. The two are very similar; both are fairly easy to install, have a nice frame with a finished appearance and slide in door that closes securely when not in use.\n\nThe primary difference between the two is price. This one is more expensive but contains TWO flaps rather than one...making this a great option for inclmenent weather. This is also slightly larger than the other option. If you are price sensitive and do not need extra insulation/dual flaps for the weather, opt for the standard version and save some money. We own both and use one for the outter garage door and one for the inner garage door leading to the house...the two look similar in appearance so works perfectly!\n\nNo more snagged tails due to hard plastic, no more raccoons sneaking in thanks to secure closures and no more gunky build-up on a lock...FAR superior product compared to others on the market!","Product: Watch the pieces slide into place with Nina Ottossons Dog Domino! Fill each chamber and peg with treats, and your pup must take multiple steps to achieve each delicious reward. This is a two step game: first, your pup must slide each brick into place to uncover a treat chamber. Next, they need to slide the peg out from the side to get even more deliciousness. Every dog's a winner with Nina Ottosson by Outward Hound Games! Bring out the genius in your dog with our interactive, treat-seeking puzzles and exercise toys. Difficulty level 3 - For the doggy genius\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Durable and nice size for larger dogs\n\nReview: My big boys are huge fans of these puzzles but frequently they tend to be a bit small...this one is the exception since it's larger than many of the others and better sized for their paws and jaws to get a firm grasp. Coupled with some new treats, this is a great way to pass a little time on rainy afternoons or when they don't get to stay outside as long due to the heat and high humidity here in Florida during summer. Well made, this is better quality than some of the more recent games. Only allow mine to play with these when supervised because they are big dogs and prone to chewing...this is not indestructible but it is durable.","Product: CANIDAE Grain Free PURE wet foods offer quality nutrition without compromising great taste. We use meat or sh as the rst ingredient for quality protein and limited ingredients for gentle digestionmaking them ideal for sensitive pets. Available in a variety of delicious avors, enticing textures, and convenient serving sizes. Each recipe provides your pet with delicious nutrition you can feel good about feeding.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Dog and people approved - really does work with sensitive stomachs\n\nReview: Dogs love the flavor and I like the ingredient list. We have three medically complex dogs - one of which had oodles of stomach issues. Absolutely nothing seemed to work for him until we went totally grain free; his diabetic thirst, weight gain and need to urinate constantly cleared up and he is now off all medications. Unfortunately, he tends to dislike many of the grain free foods...he will try it for a bit and then snub his nose at it. This was a different story; he's eager about eating it and after, there was no stomach grumbles or upset. Did equally well for my (very) old Foxhound who has to eat small meals due to age and digestive issues.","Product: Inspired by the diet of the wolf, BLUE Wilderness Wet Dog Food is a high-protein, grain-free food that will provide your dog with a higher concentration of the meat he loves. Complete and balanced, BLUE Wilderness wet dog food is also a sensible alternative to less convenient raw diets, which often require additional supplementation to be nutritionally complete. BLUE Wilderness dog food is a product of the Blue Buffalo company. Based in the United States, Blue Buffalo makes premium-quality pet foods featuring real meat, fruit and vegetables.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: My old Foxhound loves it!\n\nReview: We switched to grain free awhile ago and haven't looked back since. The dogs are healthier and seem to have substantially less stomach or other issues...especially out Foxhound who is now nearing 14 years of age (fairly old for his breed). He eats two meals each day - one in the morning and one in the evening - both with canned mixed with kibble. A few weeks ago, we ran out of food earlier than our \"subscribe and save\" order arrived so bought a bit of Alpo at the local grocery store...what a mistake! We quickly went back to our regular brand but have been searching for something we can find locally if we run out again, Blue Wilderness is carried in some other local stores and after seeing how well this did for out old guy, will be on the list. We like the pop top easy open lid and the ingredient list. The only hesitation we have is the prior recalls from this brand...we took the time to investigate this version which didn't seem like it was part of the recall but the fact that there have been more than one in recent years is concerning.","Product: Dogs get into things, and sometimes we all pay the price. Daily Probiotic for Dogs from Pet Naturals is a great way to address those little mishaps and the more normal digestive issues that arise in your pet. Weve included Ganaden brand probiotics which ensures a stable 100 million Bacillus Coagulans to the gut. When probiotics normalize the digestive environment it helps keep the G.I. tract running smoothly in times of stress, illness or general mischief. A healthy digestive system also supports the immune system and overall health in pets of all ages.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Huge Hit with dogs and people!\n\nReview: We have 2 rescue dogs that were medically complex. One in particular seems to have the most sensitve stomach ever. We've tried keeping the diety steady over long periods of time, changing to very high end foods, supplementing with eveyrthing from yogurt to papaya upon the advice of our vet. As for treats...forget it. Just last week we went to our favorite doggy bistro for a cookie break which ended up upsetting his stomach for the next 24 hours.\n\nSo, not really knowing what to expect, I first tried this out on the less sensitive dog who LOVED his new treat. The next dog was equally happy with the flavor and after several days, no sign of this upsetting his stomach...a MAJOR issue since nearly every new treat tends to do so. Whether or not it will actually help with other digestive issues over time remains to be seen but so far so good!","Product: Nina Ottossons Dog Worker treat game is ideal for your doggy genius! With so many challenges, this game is sure to keep your pup active and engaged and provide hours of fun. The four outer blocks give a quick reward once your pup pulls them out, but the four inner blocks are where the true challenge begins. First, they have to spin the disc to align with the blocks track. Then push the block to the end opening, pull it out, and reveal a tasty reward. This game is truly challenging, and truly rewarding! Every dog's a winner with Nina Ottosson by Outward Hound Games! Bring out the genius in your dog with our interactive, treat-seeking puzzles and exercise toys. Difficulty level 3 - For the doggy genius\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Good fun for supervised play\n\nReview: I've purchased a few of these over the years and overall, my dogs adored them but like all toys, the dogs learn the trick and then it's not much fun. Now that my dogs are all pretty old, they aren't quite as inclined to play with them but still enjoy it now and then especially on rainy afternoons where the Florida thunderstorms keep them locked inside and often a bit fearful. This keeps them occupied and the relaxation treats help take the edge off the anxiety of thunderstorms...makes a great duo. This is a bit more advanced game - my Foxhound who tends to be very good at these games - enjoys it immensely. My bagle (beagle/basset mix) girl didn't like it much as she seemed to get frustrated and then loose interest. In general, she's never been quite as good at these due to lack of patience (she's a bit of a grumpy girl). As always, I only use these with supervision as the large dogs can/will chew the entire puzzle up instead of play and it could be a hazard.","Product: Our ingredient list is purposefully simple, made with ONE ANIMAL PROTEIN and ONE VEGETABLE, versus the mix of each youll find in most other dog foods. Guided by the purity and simplicity of raw, Instinct Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free Real Turkey Recipe is simple and essential nutrition your dog needs to thrive.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Old dog did great with this\n\nReview: My dogs absolutely love this food and I like the grain free option. Unfortunately, with three dogs weighing in at about 80lbs each who eat twice per day, this gets expensive fast. I really wish they would offer larger can size options (hint hint!!!). Aside from my personal wish list for dog food, this really is easier to digest. I have a very old dog who suffers from liver problems - recently we ran out of food and brought home canned Alpo to go with his kibble for an emergency...what a mistake. For days after he smelled intolerable due to his liver and GI tract not being able to handle whatever was in there....it didn't cause him pain but clearly his liver wasn't able to process that junk. Fortunately his regular food arrived and all was back to normal. Unfortunately, he gets tired of his food quickly these days so we like to keep alternatives that he enjoys on hand. This food did perfectly from day one. Zero upset stomach. Zero odor due to his liver. He likes the flavor and sleeps calmly and peacefully after eating without any tummy growling or gurgles.","Product: Grizzly Pollock Oil is rich in the Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids that are beneficial for skin and coat health, healthy joints, cardio health as well as for the nervous system and eyes. Sourced from sustainable Wild Alaskan Pollock with a high ratio of natural fish oils. Grizzly Pollock Oil delivers the right Omega 3 fatty acids, EPA and DHA, that are readily and easily accessible for your dog or cat's metabolism. Grizzly Pollock Oil is an excellent and sustainable natural source of fish oil rich in Omega 3 fatty acids. It is also used worldwide as the primary source for high quality white fish products.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Convenient size and easy to use\n\nReview: I have three rescue dogs each with medical issues due to prior abuse - one had super serious skin issues that resulted in total hair loss. Even five years later, he continues to have skin troubles so we go out of our way to only use grain free foods, priobiotics and fish oils to help maintain his health and skin health but it's a constant battle. Awhile back we bought a big 32 oz pump of fish oil and he loves the stuff but unfortunately, that was too large of a size and it ended up having to toss out a lot. This is a much more convenient size and still has the pump which is great - we just add a single pump to his feed each night. He loves the flavor and we enjoy the convenience.","Product: Comfort Zone products with Feliway are clinically proven 90% effective at reducing urine marking and vertical scratching. The Comfort Zone with Feliway Diffuser product dispenses a drug-free, odorless vapor that mimics a cats natural calming pheromones. This vapor signals to your cat that the area is friendly and safe, reducing your cats need to spray and scratch. It helps to reduce or completely stop unwanted behavior due to stress-related issues such as multiple pet household, transition from shelter or breeder, moving, home remodeling or furniture changes, or changes in people and pets in the home. Don't let unwanted behaviors ruin your relationship with your cat.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Cats and People Like it!\n\nReview: My very first introduction to Feliway was about 8 years ago; we had found a half-grown feral cat and took it in for shots/neutering with a vet who happens to be our neighbor. It was a disaster! The help staff didn't listen when I told them he was half feral. The cat - who is more than a tad skittish - got loose in the office and became increasingly upset as the staff rushed to catch him. They ended up trying to 'noose' him with a throat constraint until I stopped and managed to get hold of him. In the process, he scratched me to pieces and obviously, the cat became terrified of vet/other staff.\n\nSo, I took the poor little guy back home without his shots/neuter and called another vet that specializes only in cats. This time they did listen and made the entire experience quite pleasant for both people and the poor little cat. They used Feliway in the exam room and never took him out of the crate until after a light sedation. He recouperated the same way. The Feliway seemed to really take the edge off even while in the exam room...a practice still in use to this very day.\n\nOur half feral cat is now a fairly mature guy and still as independent as ever. He likes us but has little use for other people or visitors and will remove himself as far away as possible...usually the garage where he gets highly upset and clearly irritated with us for the invasion into \"his\" domain and terrority. A small corner of our garage is dedicated to his comfort with a large cat tree, a window box, food and now his Feliway. He clearly approves and seems not only more relaxed but inclined to just hang out there when its in use. There is a cat door to the main house so he can come/go at whim but with the Feliway in use, he seems quite content to just hand out in his cat cave!","Product: Oh hey, Jeff! Thanks for coming to our barbecue! Im just throwing some steaks on the grill right now, said no coyote ever. Why? Because coyotes, wolves, and any other distant relative of our pal, the domesticated dog, never eat anything cooked or processed. They hunt and forage for their food, then eat it sans flame. Raw Raw Chick Boom Ba contains the same type of raw, natural ingredients that dogs were meant to eat and enjoy. And you didnt have to go crossbow hunting in the woods for it. Add water, and boom! Full meal. Be prepared to get lots of high fives. In the leg. With a tail.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Great addition to diet of old Foxhound\n\nReview: I have an old Foxhound who has trouble keeping weight on - and another dog who has trouble keeping it off. Now, the problem is that one feels deprived if fed less and feeding two different foods doesn't always work especially if it's a low-fat type meal that tends to be less tasty. One thing that we have found to work very well is adding this type of dry powder to the Foxhounds primary meals. It provides extra nutrition while still not being obvious to the other dogs that there is something different. No fighting or fussing, just much needed added nutrition. Now, aside from the super convenience of problem solving for our motley crew, this is an impressive list of ingredients - as much for what it contains as what it doesn't contain. In fact, I recently ordered some cat and dog food from this brand on a special discount from Amazon before being offered this - so far, everyone loves the food. Our animals are old - the cat is 16+, the Foxhound is 13 (old for his breed) and the rest are about 10 years. Each had SEVERE medical problems before coming to us so we not only baby them but try to make sure they are always comfortable and well cared for - and that means no grain. After changing their diets, their coat, kidney issues and other problems all dramatically improved and this is not exception. Very good ingredient list - it looks a lot like muesli but the dog seems to really enjoy it. Very impressed`","Product: NUTRO WHOLESOME ESSENTIALS Large Breed Adult Farm-Raised Chicken, Brown Rice & Sweet Potato Recipe Dog Food always starts with great tasting, farm-raised chicken as the first ingredient and contains high-quality nutrients like glucosamine and chondroitin. This dog food is crafted to support healthy joints and help keep your large breed dog trim and fit. NUTRO Food for Dogs always follows the THE NUTRO FEED CLEAN philosophy, is always made with Non-GMO* Ingredients and is made with no artificial flavors, colors or preservatives. *Trace amounts of genetically modified material may be present due to potential cross contact during manufacturing.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Works well for big dogs\n\nReview: Nice big bag and food intended for large dogs. My dogs all weigh in at roughly 80lbs each so they are not huge but can still go through quite a bit of food. Each has their own preference/needs - one is quite elderly and has trouble digesting some foods, another will turn her nose up to any treat that isn't 100% meat and gets seriously annoyed by inferior food and the last has skin and stomach issues that go crazy with certain grains. We spend a fortune feeding them and few things are more irritating then buying a big bag of food only to realize they won't or can't eat it. Small bags are good for flavor but don't provide enough feeding times to determine how it will impact their health. This food is just the right size to feed for a week or so in order to truly determine if they like it and how well it does with their individual health needs. So far so good - they like the flavor, we like the size and it is working well for everyone - no major upsets (knock on wood). We buy this brand pretty frequently (alternate between this and one other brand) so it's nice to add another flavor to the mix.","Product: Looking for a food as unique as your dogs dietary needs? Solid Gold Green Cow Grain & Gluten Free wet dog food is extremely palatable and ideal for picky eaters or dogs with decreased appetites. Green Cow contains green beef tripe for an irresistible taste your dog will love plus the nutrients they need to thrive. Green beef tripe contains partially digested plant matter, as well as naturally occurring gastric juices and healthy digestive enzymes. Solid Gold Green Cow is naturally low in phosphorus and suitable for dogs with Kidney disease. Feed on its own as a complete meal or as a topper or mixer for your dogs current food. Holistic adult dog food for all breeds and all sizes. Made in the USA.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Vet suggested for digestive troubles - happy to give it a try\n\nReview: Personally this would rate up there with \"most gross\" things to feed a dog but since I'm not the one eating it and the vet suggested it might help two of my older dogs who have digestive issues I was more than happy to give it a try. I've been a bit hesitant since it's rather expensive...one can per dog (my dogs are large) really adds up especially if they end up hating it. Fortunately I was offered this to try out and so far so good. The dogs seem quite enthusiastic about their kibble with some of this mixed in...especially good for my old guy who has trouble keeping his weight up as well as the other dog who has trouble keeping the weight off. Easy to mix in, this is grain free and according to the vet acts a lot like a doggy digestive aid while providing important enzymes that help with stomach issues. Very happy to give this a try - case of 12 is just right for my large dogs.","Product: The locking function gives you the option to set it so your pet can only go out or come in. Or you can unlock both directions. You can also lock both directions to keep your pet in/for the night. While some cat doors only cover the opening, the PetsN'all locking pet door is telescopic. This means the frame will also cover the interior of the door so your pet won't damage the wood or step into a hollow door by accident. Features: 2-way door with four locking modes, telescopic frame fits doors with thickness from 1.25\" to 1.75\", great for cats and small dogs up to 15 pounds , weatherproof seal keeps out draft and saves energy , brush strip ensures quiet closure to eliminate noise and prevent startling your pet , includes screws for installation.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Good option and I like the bell\n\nReview: This low cost cat or small dog door is actually built pretty well. Over the years I've owned a LOT of pet doors ranging from super inexpensive \"flaps\" which fell apart in no time flat to super expensive \"smart doors\" that were expensive to buy, expensive to install and \"buggy\" to use. Over the long term there are a few things I've learned to look for in a pet door and this covers most (but not all) requirements.\nFirst, it needs to be thick enough to fit the door - not one of the thing ones that are suitable only for a screen door or other type of metal frame. This will fit most normal sized doors but be sure to measure first. Next, it needs to lock - this does lock but the type isn't quite as secure or reliable as the types that have a flat face that inserts into the door itself. On the other hand, this is a cat or small dog sized door which means you aren't dealing with brutes so it would usually work fine. I've owned these in the past and except for a very bright cat, these worked well. Last but not least is the flap itself which tends to be the weak spot over time. I like the bubble print on this and find it a decent compromise between the soft flaps and the multiple flap but high cost doors - notice, cats may take more time to get familiar with these since it's not a soft landing on the tail. Overall an affordable option.","Product: A collection of I and Love and You'd delicious canned cat foods. You're cats will think it's perfect. Benefits:I and Love and You'd Variety Pack of Canned Cat Food gives your cat plenty of nutritious meals.Three delicious recipes are included in this pack: Chicken Licking' Good, Oh My Cod! and Porky Turkey.High in protein and made with whole, deboned meat and real fruits and vegetables to help your cat stay healthy and active.Natural recipes are also free of artificial preservatives, flavors and colors and contain no fillers or by product meals.Allergy Safe pet food and treats\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Good ingredient list and even tolerated by old, very fussy cat\n\nReview: I'm fast becoming a big fan of this brand; a few weeks ago Amazon had a promotion coupon so I picked up a case of canned cat food, then dog food. After, I was offered the opportunity to try this dry kibble plus some other flavors of canned. I have old animals including a 16 year old cat who has had HUS for several years due to a bad batch of cat food recalled ages ago. Due to her kidney problems and age, she can only eat small meals but hates to have a dry bowl. We feed her canned two to three times each day and put kibble in the bowl between feedings. Now, like a lot of cats, she's incredibly finicky - in fact, she takes it to an art form. Food that worked yesterday may not today. Kibble is her least favorite but it's the only way for her not to freak out due to an empty bowl....however, this seems to go over well. We fed her the canned food from this company - she loves it - and now this kibble which also seems to be a hit. We'll know for sure by the end of the bag - assuming she hasn't snubbed it by then it will be a major winner. In the meantime, good ingredient list!","Product: SportDogFood Maintenance Beef Meal & Rice Formula is a balanced diet infused with a unique blend of freeze-dried ingredients. We use Beef Meal as our first ingredient. Beef meal provides the essential amino acids for nourishing muscles and bones. Maintenance Beef Meal is GMO and hormone-free recipe made in the USA. There is No Corn, Wheat, Soy or Gluten.This is a Single SourceProtein. Limiting animal protein sources to a single amino-acid chain can be beneficial for pets with food sensitivities and allergies.Does not contain Chicken, Flax Seed, Peas, Egg or Egg Product. No Corn-gluten, artificial preservatives, flavors, fillers or by-products further reducing the likelihood of food allergiesand intolerances. Guaranteed levels of Omega-3 Fatty Acids fromSalmon Oil and Herring Oilensure a Healthy Skin and Coat. Active Enzymes, Probiotics, Antioxidants and trace Mineralshelp promote a healthy digestive tract and immune system.Optimal levelsof Calcium &Phosphorus, along with aproprietary blendofvitamins,trace minerals, and freeze-dried fruits and vegetables,are allessential fordeveloping strong bones, teeth and excellent muscle tone.The extracted Glucosamine from the green-lipped sea mussel is useful in preventing arthritis and maintaining healthy connective tissue, tendons, ligaments and cartilage. Includes Pumpkin to ensure firm, consistent stool. Ingredients and packaging are made and sourced in the USA. All this makes Sport Dog Food a nutrient rich super food. Sport Dog Foods Maintenance Beef Meal Formula for Dogs is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient profiles for All Life Stages.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Dogs seem to really like\n\nReview: I have an old foxhound who is up in years, still in good health but we have a bit of a struggle to keep his weight up due to his age and activity level. Worse, many of the foods found today either are subject to a recall or so filled with junk it's out of the question. I've now tried a couple different versions of this brand designed with sportsdogs in mind and frankly, have been impressed. So, out of my three dogs (one who can't gain weight, one who can't loose weight and one who is a picky as a cat), this became a huge favorite with all three. They eat is eagerly, it hasn't seemed to cause any stomach upset.","Product: [Made in USA] Vetericyn FoamCare Pet Shampoo for Fine Coats is an easy clean for Dachshunds, Bull Terriers, Bulldogs, American Shorthair Cats and other fine-coated pets! When filthy happens and your groomer appointment is two weeks outreach for Vetericyn FoamCare Pet Shampoo. The easy on and easy off conditioning shampoo that saves you time while leaving them with a fresh, clean scent. Its the coat-specific shampoo that delivers nutrients that are vital for your furry friends optimal skin health. FoamCare is the easy choice for a better bath.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Great design and good for dogs with minimal hair\n\nReview: Having rescue dogs means dealing with a lot of different medical conditions including one dog with such severe skin damage that he lost all of his hair; several years later it has somewhat grown back in thin patches yet many areas remain hairless. If you are wondering, no he's not the prettiest of dogs but has so much personality that everyone loves him instantly. Unfortunately, many thick lather shampoos end up being too much so I was really interested in giving this a try on him. I've had the opportunity to try out some of the other shampoo products from these people including the one for dense hair (great for another dog that has one of the thickest undercoats we've ever seen). The spray bottle design is great - we both absolutely prefer it over regular dog shampoo- and this does rinse easily which is important because left over shampoo makes him more prone to sun burn, dirt/grit residue and skin irritation.","Product: [Made in USA] Vetericyn FoamCare Pet Shampoo for Fine Coats is an easy clean for Dachshunds, Bull Terriers, Bulldogs, American Shorthair Cats and other fine-coated pets! When filthy happens and your groomer appointment is two weeks outreach for Vetericyn FoamCare Pet Shampoo. The easy on and easy off conditioning shampoo that saves you time while leaving them with a fresh, clean scent. Its the coat-specific shampoo that delivers nutrients that are vital for your furry friends optimal skin health. FoamCare is the easy choice for a better bath.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Great design, nice ingredients\n\nReview: I REALLY REALLY REALLY appreciate this spray bottle of dog shampoo - why this isn't the standard is beyond me because it is so much easier than fussing with flip tops or even the pressure pop tops. I like the plant based shampoo ingredients - especially because it is great for maintenance bathing...like a lot of pet owners, I have allergies and have broke out in some pretty mean rashes after bathing the dogs due to the ingredients in the dog shampoo. This high density also does the job for our one dog that has a dense undercoat plus, it's easy to use the spray to add more/less where needed. Overall I'm really happy to have tried this and look forward to using their low density shampoo for my other dog who barely has hair due to serious skin damage.","Product: When your pet needs a drink, you don't want to make it wait. The Coleman Collapsible Pet Bowl folds up small, so it's easy to pack and carry along. Unfolded, the Pet Bowl holds up to 2 quarts of water. Constructed of rugged, durable polyoxford with a waterproof liner, the Collapsible Pet Bowl stands up to heavy use and is 100% washable.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Great item! Pack and go plus decent size\n\nReview: My four legged friends like to visit the doggy park or go shopping at the local pet store but as one of them gets a little older he sometimes needs a little extra drink to stay hydrated [hey, he is a russian sheepdog living in florida...rescue pup] and mom doesn't like the idea of sharing water bowls with unknown pets at the doggy park [dog germs can spread]. This is a great solution. Easy to fold up and take along, sets up in a second and just bring a little bottled water for a clean, safe water source whether we are going across town or across the nation. This size is large enough for bigger dogs without being obnoxious to stow away. Fits in mom's purse for a long romp or the glove compartment.","Product: Dallas Manufacturing Co. 36-Inch by 45-Inch Fleece Pet Bed, Brown Plaid\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Easy to wash and refill\n\nReview: This is a very nice sized dog bed that even my 80lb boys can fully stretch out on with comfort. One side is fleece like and the other is a printed flannel look. There is a side zipper to remove the cover for washing and then inside, another zipper that holds the poly fill fiber stuffing. The zippers are okay - not super great but should last - and living in Florida with sand, I really appreciate the ability to wash both the outside and the inner liner...additionally, the ability to refill the poly is GREAT. So often the fluff starts off good but then fails...now I can just buy cheap pillows at wally world to add or replace the fill when needed. Should prolong the life of the bed...and with three large dogs, the price of these gets steep so extending the life with regular washing and refill is a big bonus.","Product: Dallas Manufacturing Co. Faux Suede Couch Pet Bed, 34-Inch, Brown\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Nice size for larger dogs and washable\n\nReview: I have three dogs and live in Florida which means dog beds are constantly needing to be washed and then replaced...I'm lucky if they last the entire year. I like to put new ones into circulation in Autumn and then toss them out at the end of the following summer - typically they have been washed and worn out to the limit by then. Because all of my dogs are large and each has their own preference, dog beds are a big deal. I've tried them all it seems. This one is for my bagle (beagle basset mix) who like the head roll and open sides...she won't sleep in one that has sides all the way around. This can be unzipped for washing (an absolutely requirement) and has an ample amount of fluff/fill. The texture is a bit more fluffy than I'd normally prefer here in Florida but the underside has a flat rough texture which is better than average. Overall pleased.","Product: Camco RV Screen Door Cross Bar allows for easier exit and protection of the RV screen door. It adds a sturdy feel to the door and saves repair to screens. This bar adjusts from 21-5/8\" - 28-5/8\". It is easy to install and includes hardware.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Excellent Item! Easy to Install, Nice Feel, Very Effective, Great Price!\n\nReview: Most RV or camping related items leave you feeling a bit sour due to the high prices and low quality...no so with this one! You actually feel like you are (more or less) getting your money's worth. This has a decent feel/weight to it, is easily adjusted to fit nearly all standard RV/travel trailer doors and is simple to install.\n\nA quick note - be sure to measure the door when closed. It's so easy to install that you are probably tempted not to read the instruction or use the provided template. My better half did exactly that and (of course) the alignment was slightly off once the door was shut. Measure with the door closed to avoid re-drilling.\n\nSturdy, simple and does what it was meant to do.","Product: The Light up Reflective Safety Vest allows you to be seen from up to 2500 feet away to help prevent accidents. Whether you run, bike, jog, or walk the dog at night this vest will help you be visible. 16 Super bright, red, LED lights will either flash approximately 150 times per minute or stay continuously on. Flexible, weatherproof, lightweight mesh, and batter powered (two AA batteries, not included). Be Safe. Be Seen!\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Awesome safety vest - very visible!\n\nReview: We take regular walks - usually at a park but since the local parks now forbid dogs (ugh!), we've started walking around the neighborhood more and more. Unfortunately, our town has very few sidewalks (it's not pedestrian friendly) so people are forced to share the road with cars, bicycles and whatever else happens to be out and about. Needless to say, not all drivers are equally cautious and there have been a few which are downright dangerous.\n\nAfter someone was killed just a few blocks away (while walking on the side of the road), we decided it was better to be safe than sorry and started searching for safety measures. We bought reflective wear including hats and some clothing but most is rather small and easily confused by distant lighting. When I saw this I figured it was worth a try as it seemed to have good reviews.\n\nIt's VERY visible, allows the user to select a flash mode or steady and easily slides on over most existing clothing. Fit the husband perfectly...originally I purchased one and tried his on..then purchased a second one. I found it rather large but more than adequate...it's a bit too big especially in summer with light clothing but will allow for sweaters/etc in winter. Either way, I'm not out to make a fashion statement and this is the most visible product I've found.\n\nJoggers, walkers, anyone that works on roads or just wants a great safety vest for the sake of safety if a car breaks down while traveling should have this product. GREAT visibility!","Product: Camco RV Screen Door Cross Bar allows for easier exit and protection of the RV screen door. It adds a sturdy feel to the door and saves repair to screens. This bar adjusts from 21-5/8\" - 28-5/8\". It is easy to install and includes hardware.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Excellent Item! Easy to Install, Nice Feel, Very Effective, Great Price!\n\nReview: Most RV or camping related items leave you feeling a bit sour due to the high prices and low quality...no so with this one! You actually feel like you are (more or less) getting your money's worth. This has a decent feel/weight to it, is easily adjusted to fit nearly all standard RV/travel trailer doors and is simple to install.\n\nA quick note - be sure to measure the door when closed. It's so easy to install that you are probably tempted not to read the instruction or use the provided template. My better half did exactly that and (of course) the alignment was slightly off once the door was shut. Measure with the door closed to avoid re-drilling.\n\nSturdy, simple and does what it was meant to do.","Product: The Light up Reflective Safety Vest allows you to be seen from up to 2500 feet away to help prevent accidents. Whether you run, bike, jog, or walk the dog at night this vest will help you be visible. 16 Super bright, red, LED lights will either flash approximately 150 times per minute or stay continuously on. Flexible, weatherproof, lightweight mesh, and batter powered (two AA batteries, not included). Be Safe. Be Seen!\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Awesome safety vest - very visible!\n\nReview: We take regular walks - usually at a park but since the local parks now forbid dogs (ugh!), we've started walking around the neighborhood more and more. Unfortunately, our town has very few sidewalks (it's not pedestrian friendly) so people are forced to share the road with cars, bicycles and whatever else happens to be out and about. Needless to say, not all drivers are equally cautious and there have been a few which are downright dangerous.\n\nAfter someone was killed just a few blocks away (while walking on the side of the road), we decided it was better to be safe than sorry and started searching for safety measures. We bought reflective wear including hats and some clothing but most is rather small and easily confused by distant lighting. When I saw this I figured it was worth a try as it seemed to have good reviews.\n\nIt's VERY visible, allows the user to select a flash mode or steady and easily slides on over most existing clothing. Fit the husband perfectly...originally I purchased one and tried his on..then purchased a second one. I found it rather large but more than adequate...it's a bit too big especially in summer with light clothing but will allow for sweaters/etc in winter. Either way, I'm not out to make a fashion statement and this is the most visible product I've found.\n\nJoggers, walkers, anyone that works on roads or just wants a great safety vest for the sake of safety if a car breaks down while traveling should have this product. GREAT visibility!","Product: For customers who do not have a reliable pressurised mains\nwater supply, whether it is at home, on a campsite, or in a holiday\ncottage, a gravity filter enables you to have clean filtered drinking\nwater on tap. Water is poured manually into the upper chamber. It\npasses through the filter candles under pressure of gravity into\nthe lower chamber where the filtered water can be accessed via a\ntap on the front of the filter.\nMade from high grade polished stainless steel, the SS Gravity\nFilter is a portable, robust model, which is easy to keep\nhygienically clean. The SS is very popular with aid organisations\nand private customers alike.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Must Have Hurricane Prep Item - Emergency Water Supply\n\nReview: Living in a hurricane prone area totally supplied by public utilities means a loss of electricity and water during outages. Although stocking up on bottled water is fine for a few days, between people and pets there is an ongoing need for fresh clean water without the excessive cost. This unit is used by the Red Cross as well as many other organizations in places where contaminated water is an issue. Not only is it les expensive than bottled but water tastes great, this requires zero electricity and it's simple to use. All stainless steel eliminates the risk of plastics while ensuring a long life. No nasty iodine tablets (especially for those with sensitiviites) and re-usable filters are easy to keep clean. Great product with long term reputation for quality.","Product: BoAir 20x20x1 Electrostatic AC Furnace Filter (Exact filter size is 19-5/8 X 19-5/8 X 7/8) BoAir's 5-stage Air Conditioner filter is great for reducing allergens and dust in your indoor air. Recommended for allergy and asthma sufferers. We are an official BoAir authorized factory dealer. Due to our high volume of filter sales & low overhead we can offer these filters at THE LOWEST PRICES AVAILABLE ANYWHERE!! BoAir filters are constructed with 5 layers of media (not just three like others) and surrounded by a rugged aluminum filter frame. A unique combination of Polypro with Polyurethane foam media attract and hold the airborne pollutants inside the layers of the electrostatic filter until they are released by washing. Highest quality in the industry - we're so confident in our electrostatic filters that we back them with a lifetime warranty (10 years for commercial applications). No polyester - BoAir electrostatic filters contain NO polyester, meaning they are easier than ever to clean, and they're less restrictive than competing products. High performance - BoAir filters have undergone independent A.S.H.R.A.E. testing and boast dust arrestance in excess of 90% with initial resistance of a mere 0.10 w.g. at 1200 CFM. Easy for you to maintain - BoAir electrostatic filters are permanent, washable and re-usable. Simply rinse with clean water, let dry and re-install. The Only filter with VIBAX MI-50 - BoAir electrostatic filters are the only ones embedded with VIBAX MI-50, an anti-microbial agent which helps prevent the growth of mold and mildew.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Exceptional - Well Made, Fast delivery, Great price!\n\nReview: I was a little hesistant to purchase a filter without any reviews from a company I wasn't familiar with but given the price, thought I'd give it a try especially since they seemed to have a decent satisfaction policy. I'm happy to report, the item was well packaged, shipped and received within 2 days direct to the door.\n\nThe filter fit exactly, seems well built with a decent weight aluminum frame and quality materials throughout. Most electrostatic filters are extremely expensive - and even reusable filters of a much inferior quality - tend to run 2/3 of the price of this one. Well built, great price and seems to do the job.\n\nHave only had for a few days so unsure of the long term durability but will try to report back after awhile. Also, the company never responded to inquiry about what chemical is contained in the anti-bacterial/mold resistant treatment...hopefully they will do so eventually. For those with chemical sensitivities, be aware the treatment is present and of an unknown ingredient list. No information was provided in the box regarding the chemical treatment either...something I was hoping/expecting to see.","Product: KREG KMA3200 Shelf Pin Drilling Jig\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Simple but Highly Effective!\n\nReview: After recently purchasing a Porter Cable Pocket Hole Jig (a bit more expensive than the Kreg model but VERY nice item!), all that was needed was a quick way to set those shelf pins in order to get up to speed fast on shelves and work benches for the garage.\n\nSaw this and placed and advanced order. It's a small little plastic device, easy to handle, easy to use and effective. I suspect the price is a bit on the higher side but the convenience and time saving aspect still makes this a winner.\n\nVery easy to just set in place and drill. Really - nothing to this whatsoever but resolves having to make your very own or worry about getting it just right with each new hole.\n\nGreat little device that works just as it should!","Product: Aleko100 LED solar powered decorating lights - no Outlet needed. Now Decorate anywhere without dangerous extension cords or need for an Outlet. Sun charges string of 100 lights by day, turn on automatically at dusk and run for about eight hours. No energy cost. Great near Road, around mailbox or lamp post - now you're not limited to near by outlets. 35' length.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Fantastic little product! Pretty lights, super easy installation, no fire hazard!\n\nReview: I wasn't sure what to expect from this little light string but thought I'd give it a try since I liked the idea of the solar powered set especially in an outdoor location. We are not using this for xmas or holiday decorations but rather surrounding a sitting area beside a small pond. It takes about 1 minute to set up - simply set the stake where desired and string the lights. To test, cover the solar section so the light isn't directed on it...viola...very clear albeit small lights. These are comparable to the mini-lights sold at most holiday decorations but with the benefit of not requiring any power, no need to worry about shorting out etc..color is very clear and visible but again, these are small mini lights. Look perfect for our use and enjoy the ability to relocate at will. Automatically come on at nightfall, last several hours. I've only had for a couple of days so don't know about the durability but will try to update once I've owned for awhile. Plan to purchase more for use inside patio and to string around garden area. Very nice set!","Product: HHIP Z-limit ergonomic low noise air die grinder. Rubber molded cushion grip. Air regulator on top. Safety throttle lever. Rear exhaust with silencer. 360 degree swivel air inlet. Low noise 79 dB(A). 20000 RPM free speed. .25-inches NPT air inlet. 90 PSI air pressure. 4 CFM air consumption. 7.375-inches overall length. .375-inches hose size.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Responsive and works well.\n\nReview: Overall I'm quite pleased with this no-name version. I'll tackle each point individually starting with the noise level. While this is noticeably more quiet than my old version I still wouldn't say it's quiet...low noise is pretty accurate. As for ergonomic, this is comfortable to hold - not quite as light as you would hope but then again, it feels substantial and strong - not cheap. The one thing that is a bit of a double edged sword is the safety mechanism under the handle - it's not easy to press which is great for the sake of safety but becomes a slight annoyance rather quickly. I didn't really have a job for this so opted to test it by cutting a large piece of pvc pipe - it performed beautifully. No lagging, not sluggish whatsoever. Fits standard sizing - nice adjustment phase ranging from zero to full. Responsive. For those that aren't using this all the time and don't need a big name brand this is a solid option. Comes with small maintenance tools but nothing else. Pleased and would purchase again in the future.","Product: The World Famous Crescent Brand Tool Sets Contain a Carefully Selected Assortment of Crescent Mechanic and Hand Tools. All Tools in This Set Meet New ANSI and ASME Specifications and Come with a Full Satisfaction Guarantee. Crescent, Providing Quality Tools since 1907. Set Includes: One 3/8\" Drive 72-tooth quick release ratchet, one 3/8\" Drive 3\" Extension, 3/8\" Drive 12 Point sockets sizes 5/16\", 3/8\", 7/16\", 1/2\", 9/16\", 5/8\", 11/16\", 3/4\", 13/16\"; 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17 & 19mm.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Versatile set great for RV/travel trailer\n\nReview: Back in the day buying tools was simple; SnapOn was expensive but even Craftsman came with a lifetime warranty. All that has changed. Cheap tools are some of the most expensive - at best they wear out fast and at worst, damage your machines/other. Initially I needed something to toss in the travel trailer when out on the road and thought this would work well...and it does. Basic set includes the most common sizes. Easy carry holder is very nice - sockets snap into place along with the wrench and extension. Unlike the old blow molded cases, this can fit inside a nice carry tote with ease or will remain secure just about anywhere. Takes up very little space.\n\nTools and sockets feel solid - good weight, polish finish. These are nice 'old school' with the finger press release (no need to tug with greasy hands/other). Good turn ratio means less work. All in all a nice little go-to set.","Product: For unparalleled performance and durability, the Bosch HDS182 18-Volt Brushless 1/2-Inch Compact Tough Hammer Drill/Driver is equipped with innovative features engineered to perform the broadest range of heavy-duty applications. Featuring an innovative brushless motor and enhanced electronics, this tool lasts twice as long as previous generations. An individually customized Electronic Motor Protection system also protects the maintenance-free motor from overload and further ensures the longevity of the drill/driver. More durable and powerful than ever before, the HDS182 outperforms competitors in heavy-duty applications, while still offering unmatched control as the most compact tool in its class. Answering user demands for increased power, the HDS182 delivers optimized torque for screw driving with increased speed (up to 1,700 RPMs) for drilling applications; alongside the additional hammer drill function for drilling in masonry. This tool also feature a variable speed trigger for reliable speed regulation and 18+1 clutch settings for increased versatility. At only 7-2/5-Inches long, the HDS182 boasts the most compact head length in its class. Additionally, the HDS182 features a 1/2-Inch auto lock chuck for convenient clamping of drills and bits. To maximize jobsite efficiency, the HDS182 comes standard with a magnetic four-tip bit holder and a belt clip that allows for convenient tool storage when not in use. Equipped with Dura shield housing and a built-in LED light that illuminates any working area, the HDS182 is constructed to withstand tough job site conditions. The HDS182-02L Kit Includes: (1) 18-Volt Brushless 1/2-Inch Compact Tough Hammer Drill/Driver, (2) 2.0Ah Batteries, (1) Charger, (1) 4X Bit Tip Holder, (1) 4 Piece Bit Tip Set, (1) Magnetic Bit Tip Holder, (1) Belt Clip and (1) L-BOXX-2 carrying case with an Exact-Fit Tool Insert Tray, which are part of a stackable storage system designed to improve tool organization and transportation on the jobsite.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Newest Go-To Tool! Versatile, strong and comfortable\n\nReview: Use a drill on a regular basis? This is the tool for you! Forget those cheap knock-off versions that fail just when you need them most. This is a serious drill for users who need a serious tool to get the job done right. Spouse is tough tough tough on drills and uses them all the time. We own a B&D for small jobs around the house, Hitachi, Craftsman, Bosch and Ryobi versions. This has now replaced them as the \"go to\" solution for most jobs.\n\nSo, this was tested using 3 inch screws into wood AND 3/8 x 2 inch deep into concrete. Both performed flawlessly for the entire duration of both projects. Fast, powerful and charge lasts long enough to get through the entire day of near constant use (ie installing a wood privacy fence etc).\n\nPro's\nFAST charge - less than an hour to full charge.\nLong lasting battery - went the entire day without need to recharge.\nWell Balanced/ Compact and Ergonomically Correct - smaller than you would expect! Light weight and easy to use.\nIntegrated ring to transition drill/hammer - super simple to switch from drill to hammer.\nBelt loop and bit carrier included.\nSuper Strong = 3/8 x 2 inches into concrete just like butter!\nSnap together case - ours came broken but is a great idea if it works.\nSlim batteries interchangeable with other tools - own other Bosch components? Swap out.\nComes with two batteries, charger, belt loops, snap case etc...\nEasy to see charge indicator\nStill fits double-stack battery - awesome extended use time!\nLED light has about 5-6 second delay - nice addition when working.\n\nCons\nBit carrier doesn't keep bits secure - lost a couple\nSnap case came broken - great idea but poor execution. Takes up considerable space, like the ability to stack and go but clips came broken so not usable feature.\nNo included wrist strap! Grrr...use this feature a lot for extra security when in use but no wrist strap included.\n\nAside from these minor glitches, this is a wonderful tool suitable for heavy usage.","Product: The Black amp;amp; Decker 20V MAX Lithium Cordless Drill with AutoSense TM Technology instead has an automatic clutch that has proven to be three times more accurate than a mechanical clutch. Homeowners no longer need to experiment with trial and error to set the clutch. The 20V MAX Lithium Cordless Drill with AutoSense has two modes, drill and drive. In drive mode, a microprocessor continuously measures the tools performance. As the screw enters the material there is a rapid change in its torque profile. The microprocessor analyzes the rate of change and stops most screws flush with the material within three milliseconds.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Little Cricket of Drills! Awesome - Compared to Bosch, Hitachi and even old Craftsman\n\nReview: Remember Men in Black where Will Smith was given an itsy bitsy little gun that later knocked him off his feet? Well THIS is the little cricket of drills! My spouse has owned a lot of drills over the years; he currently has 2 Hitachi's and a couple of Bosch drills/drivers so when this arrived, he took it out of the box, laughed and said \"I didn't know they made drills for women\".\n\nYes - it is small enough to fit a female and light enough to use with ease but it is still comfortable for most men as well. So, he went to use it and guess what - LOTS of power is packed in this little package! I could see it on his face - utter shock and surprise!\n\nThis comes with a built-in bit, two batteries - very light weight and fast recharge. Check out the dimensions and weight on this but don't let it fools you...this compared very favorably to his top of the line Bosch and Hitachi drills. The autosense works as advertised - super nice feature that i especially appreciate but also won points with the spouse.\n\nSwitching from drill to driver is a breeze - there is a toggle on the top of the drill which lights up when you make your selection. No surprises, easy to see, easy to change.\n\nPowerful performance, super light weight - you can use this all day long without fatigue. Small enough for women but certainly still comfortable for men. Smart autosense feature actually works like described. Toggle selection, extra light weight battery, fast charge and lots of 'umph'.\n\nTo be perfectly frank, B&D was never in this household - Craftsman was the 'go to' for years until their quality went downhill a decade or so ago then Bosch, Hitachi and Dewalt took over. We recently tried out B&D yard products and were pleasantly surprised so gave this a try...yet another very pleasant surprise.","Product: The Foreman Pocket-Hole Machine (Item# DB210) makes it possible for woodworkers, cabinet shops, contractors, and dedicated do-it-yourselfers to complete projects using Kreg pocket-hole joinery with twice the speed and half the effort of a standard pocket-hole jig. Plus, the new Foreman Pocket-Hole Machine is built with the same quality and features of its predecessor, (Item# DB110), but costs less than half the price. Your will immediately appreciate all of the great features the upgraded Foreman has to offer. With one pull of the handle, they can start the motor, clamp their workpiece, and drill perfect pocket holes. The adjustable fence positions the workpiece for precise pocket depth, and a pair of adjustable stops provide repeatable accuracy. A powerful 110-volt motor enables fast drilling, and a quick-change chuck allows for fast, tool-free bit changes. Plus, the new Foreman is the first Kreg pocket-hole machine that can create all three types of Kreg pocket holes: Standard, Micro-PocketTM, and HD (Heavy-Duty). Please Note: Micro and HD Bits are sold separately. Combine these innovative features and you have the Kreg Foreman DB210 - the versatile, affordable, high -speed solution for pocket-hole construction.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Awesome little machine! Compare to Porter Cable...Quicker than Quick!\n\nReview: Kreg builds some smartly designed machines and this pocket-hole machine is not exception. We currently own a Porter Cable 560 QuickJig pocket hole machine as well as a manual pocket hole jig; both of which will probably be put into the next yard sale bin thanks to this machine!\n\nThis review will consist of two parts; first, a review of the Kreg Foreman pocket hole machine itself and then a comparison with other popular choices such as the Porter Cable pocket hole machine.\n\nThe Kreg Foreman Pocket Hole Machine\n\nConstruction - Like most Kreg products, this has a lot of heavy duty plastic with a metal work top. While the plastic might seem inferior, it actually makes a lot of sense...no rust, light weight enough to be portable yet stable enough to feel like a stationary machine.\n\nDesign - This is a smartly designed machine designed with the serious hobbyist or home user in mind. It can be placed on a table/bench top or attached to a stand via the screw holes on the four corners which also act as \"feet\". It tends to be quite stable when in operation and not overly loud..certainly no more so than a table top drill press and perhaps less so. The handle is ergonomically designed and there is easy access to everything whether mounted or not.\n\n3 Bit Options! - - As noted in the description, one exciting feature is the ability to use standard, micro or heavy duty bits. This comes with a single standard bit; others sold separately.\n\nAssembly - Incredibly easy! Basically remove from the box, unlock the handle, set up the dust capture (or not...can be used with or without however, if used, you will need a shop vac for capture according to the instruction manual. This is not a problem as we have one in the garage but users should be aware of the need for a shop vac if they hope to use the capture). This comes with a single drill bit with other sizes available for purchase separately. The work plate lifts up for drill bit storage and access to change bits, cleaning etc... The fence can be adjusted and there is a locking feature to hold wood in place while drilling.\n\nOperation - Very smooth and easy. Not only is this an incredibly safe little machine since the operator has no reason to have hands near the wood during operation but it performs exceptionally well. Tried out several different sizes and types of wood including scraps of oak, cedar and heaven only knows what it was laying around the garage bin. Sizes were roughly 1/2 inch to about 1.5 inches. It's a good idea to test a few pieces out until you get the feel of the machine but what makes this so nice is the ability to replicate the procedure by setting the stops...basically this allows the home user to obtain an assembly line level of speed and accuracy for a fraction of the cost! There was basically zero vibration, very smooth and consistent results.\n\nSetting depth - Although very basic, might just be a bit too basic at first. However, it's a minor point the ease of use was almost off putting as you feel as though you are \"missing something\"...it's really just that simple! Just align the wood, clamp and go!\n\nComparison to other options\nHands-down, this is so superior to manual jigs that it's barely worth a mention. If you plan to use any amount of pocket holes on a regular basis, then a machine is the way to go. On the other hand, for those who use these far and few between then perhaps the extra expense isn't worth it.\n\nThis means you have a few others options; other Kreg pocket hole machines which cost almost 2x the amount of this one or a hand-held device like the Porter Cable 560 QuickJig. Now, according to the purchase history here on Amazon, we purchased the Porter Cable machine 3 years ago. It's a beefy, heavy metal device which is somewhat bulky. Now, three years ago when first buying the PC machine, it seemed like the best thing since sliced bread; in fact, compared it to the popular Kreg model at that time and opted for the PC instead. The PC QuikJig system was fast, and easy compared to other home use options. Fast forward a few years and now things are totally revered. The PC handheld model now feels hard to set up (compared to this) and although better than manual, not really a pleasure to use. On the other hand, the Kreg Foreman is an absolute pleasure to use...simple, effective and oh so easy!\n\nThe Porter Cable is portable but frankly, so is this Kreg Foreman. The PC needs to be clamped down for use whereas this is quite steady; I'd be inclined to use this Kreg over the PC QuikJig for the vast majority of projects. Yes, it's a bit more bulky but also more stable and much easier to obtain reliable and consistent results. The Kreg system functions like a much larger machine without the high cost.\n\nThe Bottom Line\nSuper Simple to set-up and even easier to use!\nPerfect blend between portability and stability.\nVery well priced - half that of similar styled models\nSafe, consistent results.\nWill not handle large pieces or commercial level use but a versatile choice for home users.\n\nAll electric - just plug and go. No air compressor/other needed.\nAdditional drill bits sold separately - comes with 1 standard and 1 power drive bit\nShop Vac needed for collection system","Product: Healthier and great tasting water has never been so convenient with the Pelican premium Countertop Drinking Water Filtration and Purification System. Addresses chlorine, chloramines, lead, cysts, VOC's and THM's. One of the most important things we can do is protect ourselves from the long-term and damaging effects dangerous chemicals such as chlorine has in our water. The state-of-the art Pelican Countertop Drinking Water Filtration and Purification System, with its unique modern design can alleviate your worries and get your on your way to a cleaner, safer and healthier lifestyle.\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: Tried on 3 faucets = fit NONE\n\nReview: I am so disappointed by this product...it has been a total waste of time and effort. We do a lot of home fermentation but because we live in town, city water is filled with chlorine which is a 'no-go' for fermentation. Normally we have to go to extremes to get chlorine free - yet still healthy - water for fermentation. This seemed like a good work-around and even though the battery life was questionable, figured it would be well worth the effort for the time savings when fermenting. Well we were wrong.\n\nFirst of all this is a nice small solid unit that doesn't take up much space so it seemed promising enough. We went to hook it up and that is where things started to get tricky. The directions are dismal but fortunately, MrJJ is a handy sort and has installed enough of these to know what he's doing...for others, consider yourself warned. Next, this comes with two adapter sizes neither of which works for our faucet which is a newer pull down single faucet model from Moen. Since a sizable number of people actually have these faucets, the manufacturer simply tosses in a couple of cheap extras to make sure this will actually fit the customers faucet OR expects the customer to tote around pieces all over town trying to find the correct adapter...clearly Pelican chose the second choice. We couldn't find a suitable adapter and there is no way to use this without it. We're NOT going to change the head of our faucet to fit this machine which was the only other choice.\n\nSince it became obvious that this wasn't going to work in our own house we took it to a rental to see if it would fit figuring some benefit should be available. Guess what - it wouldn't fit that faucet either. Happened to be going to another rental and yep...you guessed it...doesn't fit in the 3rd house either. Three strikes and you are out. Not worth the hassle. At best, this is a guessing game to determine IF it will fit your faucet....if it doesn't then this has no value whatsoever.","Product: Enjoy easy access to hot water during your next outdoor adventure with the Coleman Hot Water on Demand H2Oasis Portable Water Heater. Ideal for washing dishes, bathing, or preparing hot beverages, this propane-powered water heater dispenses hot water at temperatures up to 125 degrees Fahrenheit. Simply fill the included 5-gallon water carrier with drinkable water, connect it to the pump, twist the dial to the desired temperature, and wait as the water heats up in as little as 30 seconds. The unit's Instastart ignition allows you to light the heater with the push of a button, while PerfectFlow technology helps ensure a steady heat output. The H2Oasis also features a shower head to help you maintain personal hygiene while camping or backpacking. Equipped with a high-power submersible electric pump and brass hose fittings, the water heater maintains robust, reliable water flow even amidst harsh conditions. Its intuitive LED display provides a clear readout of heating status. And thanks to its mesh storage bag, this portable water heater is easy to carry around the campsite or trail.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Compared to EccoTemp = pro's and con's plus which I'd go with for hurricane prep\n\nReview: I've owned the Eccotemp portable hot water heater for about eight years according to my order history and it's held up well for sporadic use during power outages, hurricanes and camping. Unfortunately, <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Eccotemp-L5-Portable-Tankless-Water-Heater-and-Outdoor-Shower/dp/B000UVLW4C/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">Eccotemp L5 Portable Tankless Water Heater and Outdoor Shower</a> has always had a couple of annoying issues top among it being the amount of hot water - it does get comfortably warm but not overly hot and I like a hot hot hot shower. In any case, I thought this might not only get warmer but certainly expected the technology to improve over the past 8 years and could also use another one of these for dishes, dogs and so forth.\n\nWhen this arrived I was immediately impressed by what appears to be a solid build of construction. It's heavy and feels nice and well built. The controls are intuitive and things like easy grip handles are a big improvement over the Eccotemp which has always had a problem hanging. This can use small portable propane containers which is nice - the other uses BBQ sized propane which can be troublesome to lug around. Of course the flip side is this runs out a bit faster. This can sit on a table top or hang much easier than the Eccotemp which never seems easy to hang, it's not easy to carry and it's generally a pain to work around.\nUnfortunately this also has a few major annoyances. For example, this comes with a small plastic water tank - the other can be hooked up via a hose for continual water supply. This battery can only be charged via 12v making it hard to run off a generator directly. And of course, the price is substantially different. Between the two, I'd still prefer my 8 year old EccoTemp since it can run endless amounts of water, can use a large propane tank and is easier to hook up direct to a generator/other. This is more convenient in terms of hanging/sitting and the water - although limited - is hotter. Overall I'm happy to have both but would consider this better for truly off road/off grid applications where you intend to bring in a limited water supply for dish washing or a very quick one person shower or where the weather is much colder and hotter temperature is needed. The Eccotemp can sustain an endless supply of warm water for multiple uses over a longer setting. Together they complement one another and make a great combo for showers and dishes etc...","Product: The cassius is a 52-inch damp-rated Fan, making it perfect for any room in your home or office including covered porches. The industrial design comes with reversible blades, so you can choose a soft wood tone for a gentle appearance or a metallic tone that gives the Fan a consistent masculine look. The clean lines and exposed motor create a minimal presence with no frills, placing the focus on its superior performance.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Loft design look = close match to industrial look with a few extras most people appreciate\n\nReview: I just purchased four Emerson stainless steel industrial ceiling fans which seemed to make this show up on my suggestion list. In the past I used to only buy Hunter fans for all of our rentals and personal properties but after trying out Emerson, I switched. However, I needed something that could be used in damp conditions, could be reversed and yet still look similar to the Emerson industrial fans....this is very similar and fits all my needs. It can be retrofit for a light fixture by removing the base plate - it's already wired -. This not full stainless steel but it has a solid weight and looks very similar especially at a distance. Unlike true industrial fans which have to be mounted at a minimum of 10 feet and lack all the extras like the ability to reverse etc...this motor can reverse and so can the blades. One side is silver and the other wood. This doesn't have many extras aside from the ability to reverse both the blades and motor as well as add a light fixture if desired. I did notice a bit of wobble at high speed but very minimal. Fan is not silent but it is quiet. Has a nice design that goes well in a contemporary loft style home decor or works well in an office environment etc where you might want/need a few extra features. Installation is easy - literally three wires (blue, black and white). Has cap to cover mount and pull string option. Solid fan.","Product: The Ronan features a wired-formed cage surrounding a vintage-style LED light bulb. The warm metal and tonal blades create a nice contrast with the Fan body. This 52-inch designer series Fan is ultra-modern and ready to join your home.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Great looks, solid build\n\nReview: Hunter has been my \"go to\" for about the last 20 years. I've used them in rentals and personal home due to overall good looks and reliability....until a few years ago when I switched to Emerson brand fans. Fast forward a few years and I'm in need of new fans again but wanted something contemporary, sleek and stylish. This immediately appealed to me so opted to give it a try. The cage is larger than expected but in a good way. Initially I thought it might look small and insignificant but it's large, easy to access the bulb and allows a variety of \"edison\" type retro LED looking bulbs (or regular bulb) which is great because I have a small collection. The fan itself is very sleek and smooth. Three blades, quiet and heavy - check the weight of this as compared to other models including those with five blades...this outweighs the other fans by several pounds. More metal, less plastic, comes with the remote and I have to hand it to Hunter, they got the remote right. The Emerson remote smart fan was a total PITA to install - and over the years I've installed at least 3 dozen fans...probably more. This was simple enough for the average homeowner with basic tools and common sense to tackle without problem meaning a nice savings on installation fees. Nice fan, contemporary design, reverses, remote...what's not to like?!","Product: This is a factory reconditioned product. Reconditioned generally means that the product has been returned to the manufacturer, who brings the product back to like new condition. Some products may contain cosmetic blemishes. Includes Air Chisel - TL100300RB\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Wow-What a BARGAIN - GREAT Little Item!!!!\n\nReview: Saw this on sale and picked it up for my spouse thinking it was something else entirely (I'm not the tool person so I confused this for a Hammer Drill). Lucky for us because this is an exceptional little bargain that I wouldn't have bought if I'd realized my mistake sooner...but, it turned out to be a fortunate mistake because he is raving about it...rated it as the best buy I've made in months!\n\nNice, small but well made - solid build with a good, comfortable grip. Order arrived quickly and included a complete five piece tip/bit set (worth more than the entire price of the order alone) with common sized chisels. Has excellent sensitivity control to adjust setting from very gentle to \"knock down the wall\" settings. Tried it out and goes through concrete like butter. Not very loud this is versatile enough to use for detail work or powerful enough for even the most brutish needs. Tried it on a few blocks - put hole through block in less than a minute and also was able to trim away minute particles almost like a sculpture on the gentle setting.\n\nExcellent purchase!","Product: TILE BOND is a superior solution for adhering concrete and clay roof tiles goes on fast, stays strong.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Lives up to the name\n\nReview: The name says it all...this is GREAT stuff! Living in Florida after our most recent hurricane activity, it seems there is always a need to stick something back and this makes short work of quick repairs that help prevent even more damage from being done. Better yet, this can actually \"glue\" oddball things together include cement blocks - thanks to the wife there are more uses than what I'd have normally considered. Easy enough for anyone to use, just be warned that it's nearly habit forming for \"some\" people (like the wife) who use it like a construction version of super glue. Out of control spouses aside, this is easy to use and does the job. Be careful of the straw - if lost, the entire bottle is useless.","Product: IRIS-DRIVE, a performance-driven SSD designed for 4K video-shooting professionals. Equipped with top of the line, powerful performance, the reliability of IRIS-DRIVE is unprecedented. By combining next-generation data-loss-protection with 2TB capacity of uninterrupted video recording, the IRIS-DRIVE is a video professional's best storage option. IRIS-DRIVE is a recommended drive for Atomos SHOGUN and NINJA ASSASSIN series. You can check the recommended drives for Atomos products here at http://www.atomos.com/drives/ IRIS-DRIVE represents the storage solution made by professionals, for professionals in media and entertainment.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Works but inconsistent finish and poor quality\n\nReview: Frankly I was disappointed when this arrived. Initially this looked great; a cool industrial style light fixture is exactly what I was looking for but once the beat up box arrived, the painted metal cage that holds the lights felt - and looked - cheap. The paint doesn't even cover the entire surface of the metal cage but instead, stops almost at the point of insertion. This does not come with the bulbs and considering the listed retail on this, it's another disappointment. Overall the fixture is lacking; it's lacking quality, it's lacking in attention to detail, it's lacking paint, it's lacking substance in the form of metal used...yes, it works but I won't be buying another from this vendor for sure.","Product: The first of its kind! the vault is a simple, minimal Fan enveloped by a modern cage design that is sure to make a statement in your contemporary space. This high-contrast artistry is on-trend and ready to be the centerpiece that brings new life into your home with the craftsmanship that ushers in long-lasting powerful performance. Works well with many different types of dcor.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Looks great, quiet, easy DIY install - wish it had the light\n\nReview: Like the other reviewers, I was a bit disappointed this did not come with the light kit but fortunately, it wasn't a critical element for my needs as it is going in a room where I rarely use any type of overhead light. It's replacing an older standard white Hunter fan that has served well but is beginning to look dated - and has a single floppy light that just looks terrible. Fast forward to this sleek, good looking unit. It's a nice Hunter - and by that I mean one of the better quality versions since sadly, Hunter has started a more modest priced line in recent years that is junk. This is not junk. It's quiet, smooth and looks as good as it works. Installation is quite simple - moderately capable DIY types will have no trouble whatsoever and frankly, this is a breeze compared to the last fan I installed by Emerson (which also makes wonderful fans but really a PITA to install). Speaking of which, this comes with a remote which is a double edged sword - on one hand, the single thing we dislike the most from the Emerson fan is the wall unit control but on the other hand, let's face it...one more remote is not what anyone needs these days. Frankly, I'm divided about the remote. In any case, this is a nice fan - understated but stylish, very versatile look and quiet operation.","Product: The Encyclopedia of Immaturity has been such a hit that we've followed up with a second book that includes thought-provoking topics such as How to Slide Down a Banister, What We Talk About When We Talk About Wedgies, How to Send a Toiletgram, and more. It's hopelessly goofy and shamelessly wonderful.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Best Yet! Approved by Kids and Adults Alike!\n\nReview: I originally purchased the Encyclopedia of Immaturity V1 for my nephew but it was such a hit with both adults and kids that it ended up making the rounds instead. When Volume 2 came up for sale I knew I had to get it but wasn't sure if it would \"make the cut\". So often it seems the first volume is the best and the rest is just added on to ride on the fame of the original. No so with this one!\n\nFirst, the thin page problem mentioned by many reviewers in the first volume is fixed in this one. Pages are substantially thicker - although that leads to fewer total tips. However the quality of the tips is as good - if not better - than the original. Same silly jokes, fun but young \"tricks\" and an abundance of totally meaningless activiites sure to delight everyone.\n\nCover is the same material as the first, very nice and thick. Pages are thicker with glossy sheen made to last longer and wording is in keeping with all the Klutz products (of which we have purchased several including the airplanes, art-rageous projects, museum in a book, Do Not Open this Book, Maze, Bubbles and many others! Each and every one is a huge hit with everyone!).\n\nMy younger brother (nearly 40) loved this as did our nephew, 11 year old neighbor and everyone in between. Fun stuff! Perfect gift for younger siblings of any age or kids over for a visit.","Product: You don't have to be a rocket scientist to unravel this cube into a snake (just twist and swivel the 27 wooden cubes to uncoil the serpent) but it certainly helps to be a genius to put it back together. This legendarily difficult brain-teasing puzzle will have you undulating in no time. If the snake starts to constrict you, just remember: The string of cubes form a Hamiltonian path through a 333 grid graph, duh! Skill and patience will be tried when turning the snake back into the original cube. \n\nDimensions: 2 1/3\" x 2 1/3\" x 2 1/3\"\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Stumped all the chumps in this household and visitors too!\n\nReview: Update. It appears there have been changes in the quality, size etc of this item since I ordered it 7 years ago. The original was very well sized and nicely crafted - I cannot speak to the quality or specifications of the current item if it is changed. Original review follows.\n\nFirst of all, we buy a lot of these types of brain teasers and puzzles. This is a well built item, very durable. Originally I expected this to be very easy but to date, it remains unsolved. Everyone from the age of ten to mid-forties has enjoyed trying this out...in fact, it quickly became the center of attention this past weekend as out of town family members ranging in age from 12, 19 to 40 attempted to solve it. None did although the 40 year old worked on it for the better part of an entire afternoon [we lost him to this one]. Another great feature about this one is that it is one piece - unlike others that have multiple pieces that easily get lost or scattered about. Due to that, it is an excellent choice for those that may have young children or pets in the household OR for to take along when traveling.","Product: The story of this puzzle begins a long time ago in a small village in India, where a young farmer somehow learned to fly just before his wedding. With this new ability, he found the perfect gift for his bride to be: he plucked a star from the heavens. Unfortunately he was so nervous about the upcoming nuptial that he let the star fall to the earth and it subsequently broke into six pieces. Fortunately for him, he frantically rebuilt it in time to present it to his new wife... And lived happily ever after. Reconstruct this ancient fable with this celestially challenging puzzle. Take the star apart and rebuild it using the six interlocking pieces. Contains six identical hand crafted wooden pieces. Dimensions: 3 1/7\" x 3 1/7\" x 3 1/7\"\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Medium Difficulty - Fun but not frightening!\n\nReview: Another beautiful puzzle made out of lovely wood that will last for years. This star puzzle is a medium difficulty level without a lot of small parts to keep track of. Excellent choice for quick interest items or a hard puzzle for kids. Great puzzle for those with a visual impairment especially kids that aren't ready for the more advanced puzzles. I own/play with a lot of these puzzles BUT...to get a true sense of the puzzle, I throw out the instructions without ever looking at them whenever bringing home a new puzzle. Also, because my better half is visually impaired, it gives us both a \"level\" playing field with a little friendly competitive. See my other reviews for a break down on difficulty level, quality of workmanship and more.","Product: The story of this puzzle begins a long time ago in a small village in India, where a young farmer somehow learned to fly just before his wedding. With this new ability, he found the perfect gift for his bride to be: he plucked a star from the heavens. Unfortunately he was so nervous about the upcoming nuptial that he let the star fall to the earth and it subsequently broke into six pieces. Fortunately for him, he frantically rebuilt it in time to present it to his new wife... And lived happily ever after. Reconstruct this ancient fable with this celestially challenging puzzle. Take the star apart and rebuild it using the six interlocking pieces. Contains six identical hand crafted wooden pieces. Dimensions: 3 1/7\" x 3 1/7\" x 3 1/7\"\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Medium Difficulty - Fun but not frightening!\n\nReview: Another beautiful puzzle made out of lovely wood that will last for years. This star puzzle is a medium difficulty level without a lot of small parts to keep track of. Excellent choice for quick interest items or a hard puzzle for kids. Great puzzle for those with a visual impairment especially kids that aren't ready for the more advanced puzzles. I own/play with a lot of these puzzles BUT...to get a true sense of the puzzle, I throw out the instructions without ever looking at them whenever bringing home a new puzzle. Also, because my better half is visually impaired, it gives us both a \"level\" playing field with a little friendly competitive. See my other reviews for a break down on difficulty level, quality of workmanship and more.","Product: Care of Wooden Floors\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Tedious and not that funny - Kafka meets modern discontent\n\nReview: I was intrigued by the title as well as the description of the book. For those that enjoy Kafka and other existential writers, the idea of combing a bit of humor with the thought provoking journey of the mind is a compelling start. Now, like most book in that genre, don't be surprised if that is all that you encounter...the start. Indeed, the journey itself does grow tedious (but isn't that the point) however, the promised humor never really shows its face which is sad because there is so much opportunity for it to do so. It simply doesn't 'materialize'.\n\nHowever, the book is not without merit and does a fine job of relating the relative mundane matters of modern existence in a way that both annoys and elucidates the reader into the sad state of affairs. The constant comparison between the narrator and friend, the growing dismal state of the wooden floors, the cats (always the cats) and the not surprising tendency of the protagonist to let himself and others down on a daily (nearly hourly) basis is likely to resonant with anyone that has been forced to pull it together without the slightly idea how. It's a mocking manifesto of modern life made all the more repugnant by the tedious and tiresome care of wooden floors.","Product: How to survive good on just working 4 hours a week\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Outsourced content - practice what he preaches but at price.\n\nReview: First of all, the book just arrived today and as per my verified purchase, you can see I've actually taken the time to read THIS version rather than only the first version like a couple of the early reviewers. Also, be sure to check out the number of reviews from some of the other reviewers...one review history...of this book only? I suspect that is a friend of the author. To that effect, it was a disappointment for those of us who actually purchased/read the first book and were expecting a lot of new information given the tough economy.\n\nLong time four hour workweek fans are likely to be disappointed...looks like Ferris outsourced this entire book to someone who collected some interesting blog posts/testimonials and then corrected a few spelling errors in the last book. Readers deserve so much more! Seriously, although he is practicing what he preaches, isn't everyone sick and tired of being suckered by greedy people? I know I am...from bankers to dream peddlers, how about giving us our money's worth rather than simply adding the testimonials from readers plus a few added bits of inspiration.\n\nThis does indeed have over 100 pages of new content that makes the book much more substantial. The core of the book remains nearly the same as the first book...the additional 100 pages primarily consist of examples from others and testimonials taken from the blog. While these are certainly great additions - they don't change or update the core content. Former readers have little/nothing new to go on at a time when there is a need for even more (not less) REAL information. Not feel-good fluff.\n\nNew readers will absolutely want to purchase this version rather than the first version since it is packed with great examples, testimonials and other tidbits but prior readers will find very little additional value from reading this version. Bottom line - buy this book if you are new to his work. Former fans of the four hour work week should save their money as they will find little/nothing new. A major let-down to long time fans and blatant laziness that is an insulting cash grab.\n\nFor former readers that insist on ignoring this review and buying the new version anyway...you were warned. Like another reviewer said, \"life is short\"....why waste your time and money re-reading the same material twice. Want a life changing book? Go for one that has stood the test of time...Your Money or Your Life. Great stuff and no...I have no affiliation with those authors.","Product: ..\".easy recipes that are as taste satisfying as they are nutritious.\"\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Almost But Not Quite...Other Alternative Better\n\nReview: I purchased several of these vegie burger books including this one and \"vegetarian burgers\"...this is a good book but could have been much better for several reasons - first, the author reies heavily on soy. I rarely use soy simply because I'm not a huge fan of the flavor however, it is often genetically modified and tends to act/interfere with hormone levels in some sensitive individuals so I'm sure there are others that are not huge soy fans other than myself. However, the soy reliance alone is not my \"big beef\" with this book...rather the inclusion of inferior ingredients found in many of the recipes is. While I realize many vegetarians have no problems putting all types of chemicals or other adulturants into their bodies as long as it isn't animal based, there are plenty of other people such as myself that avoid highly procesed, chemically tained products whenever possible. Sadly, this book includes many 'short cut' ingredients of dubious quality that are never found in my kitchen.\n\nFor those searching for one good book, try \"vegetarian burgers\", it includes a wider variety of grain, beans and other ingredients aside from soy. The author also uses fresh ingredients and very few processed seasonings or other \"junk\" in the recipes. It is simply beyond me why so many other authors take a nutritious food then add inferior ingredients to the recipe. NO _I AM NOT AFFILIATED WITH EITHER AUTHOR!!! Just a person that spent money on two books rather than one and hopes to help others avoid making the same mistake.\n\nThat having been said, the author does assume you are starting from canned beans and other sources rather than grinding your own or starting from fresh. I would love to have seen recipes included for self-grinding options since there are so many more options available than in whole form but, it is simple enough to experiment with the basic recipes to work out your very own."],"string":"[\n \"Product: Just because you're recording at your desktop and not in a fancy studio, you shouldn't have to settle for low-quality, inaccurate computer speakers — or resort to mixing with headphones. You deserve better, and so do your recordings. You'll be happy to know that M-Audio's AV 40 speakers will easily fit on even crowded desktops. Yes! They're also powered, so you get clean, clear, and (best of all) accurate monitoring — and you won't need a bulky power amp to add to the clutter!\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Impressive little set for the money!\\n\\nReview: Update...still using these on a daily basis four years later. Great quality and great sound!\\n\\nThe M-Audio AV30 MKII's are a very nice little set for the money. No, these may not compete head to head with top of the line systems that cost substantially more, but they are among the nicest I've encountered in the sub-$100 price range.\\n\\nWeight - The first thing you will notice when taking these out of the box is the substantial weight.\\n\\nShielded - They are shielded for use around computers/electronics.\\n\\nSmall Footprint - While a tad larger than some, these still take up relatively minimal space on a desk. Comparable to small book shelf speakers in size.\\n\\nAux Jack - For those wishing to plug in their mp3 or other devices, these include a handy front accessible jack.\\n\\nComes Complete - Includes everything needed to get started...wires, buffer pad that attaches to the bottom (optional) for stability etc... Took less than 10 minutes to remove from box and begin listening.\\n\\nSound\\n\\nVolume- Now, for the sound. These are NOT the loudest set I've encountered; even turned up full volume, they won't shake the windows or threaten any sound barriers. So, if you are a teen who is interested in nothing more than volume, keep searching. Don't get me wrong, they fill the room with sound at a volume any normal person would find sufficient but still within the comfortable range.\\n\\nQuality - Where these really excel is in the quality of the sound. From jazz to classical, rock to folk and everything in between...these provide an impressive clarity for the price range. Getting the balance and setting just right took a couple minutes but overall, the effect is very enjoyable.\\n\\nPrice\\nVery nice set for the money. This is my first experience with M-Audio so cannot compare to other options in the same line. However, given the overall quality of this entry level set, I'm quite impressed. Excellent set for this price range!\\n\\nMusic, Presentations, Other\\nOne item worthy of mention is the ability to use these for creating/mixing etc music and other auditory file given the true to life sound quality and distinct clarify.\\n\\nWho Will Enjoy\\n- Those searching for overall nice desk top set without breaking the bank.\\n- Those that need/want the ability to quickly include mp3 or other aux devices.\\n- Those that routinely create presentations, music mix or other audio that requires a clean crisp \\\"true\\\" sound.\",\n \"Product: The TASCAM UX-16x08 captures 16 mic and line inputs to your computer with clear sound quality and advanced features to manage big sessions. Eight Ultra-HDDA microphone preamps deliver the cleanest and quietest operation in their class while delivering up to 57dB of gain. An additional eight line inputs are provided, two of them switchable to instrument level for direct guitar or bass recording. Built into the US-16x08 is a DSP mixer for low-latency digital mixing. The US-16x08 can also be used as a standalone mic preamp. Whether using the ergonomically-designed angled desktop stand or mounting withe the included rack ears, the US-16x08 includes enough I/O for almost any music recording application.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Huge upgrade from my humble mixer!\\n\\nReview: First, a disclaimer - I've been using an Alto Pro ZMX52 mixer since 2012...it's a rather inexpensive little workhorse that gets the job done. It's a clean little machine but not exactly big on bragging rights and has worked well enough. In any case, the Alto Pro gives the reader a baseline example of the type of use (and user) writing this...basic hobby, non-professional but substantial enough to have put together a decent home studio over the years.\\n\\nI've wanted an audio interface rather than mixer but really wasn't sure if my needs justified the purchase (okay, they probably don't since I've made do fine with the above mixer buy hey, wanting and needing are two different things!). As everyone knows, Tascam is a reliable brand so I jumped at the opportunity to give this device a go!\\n\\nOut of the box, first impressions are very favorable. I deliberately selected the Alto Pro above for size - while this Tascam is shaped differently and slightly larger, it is still quite portable and perfect for a small home studio or on the road. Feels solid and well built. 4x4 is \\\"right sized\\\" for my needs - not too big and not too small...just right. Now, here is the real kicker - at least for general use, the audio interface provides ease, convenience and flexibility for the majority of uses....hands down!\\n\\nNow, clearly the mixer versus audio interface debate is contingent upon the type of mixer and admittedly, mine was modest at best. There is also a price difference to consider but, having said that, if I had realized the difference up front, this Tascam would have been first choice ages ago! For the price, this Tascam is able to handle a lot more than what meets the eye plus it's portable and easy to use.\",\n \"Product: Mix Series Compact Mixers are reliably rugged, with the proven quality you expect from Mackie, the world leader in compact mixer design. With Mackie preamps and proven highheadroom, lownoise design, Mix Series mixers sound great and maintain audio quality from any source. Plus, with their rugged metal chassis and highquality components throughout, they are a solid investment in reliability. An amazing value, Mix delivers a straightforward feature set that's easy to use and the sound quality you need in rugged designs built to last. Plus, wouldn't you rather mix on a Mackie?\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Compares favorably to Alto Pro model\\n\\nReview: I'm a bit torn on this review because on the one hand, it has some great features, its quite compact and is versatile. On the other hand, it is lacking some basics...like an on/off switch which just really annoys me to no end. I've been using an Alto Professional mixer for about three years and it performs well, is very solid and is a little work horse but being only a 5 channel, is also limited. Mackie has a decent reputation so frankly, I expected more...and in some ways it delivers. This is double the number of channels but only has 4 mic/line inputs versus 6 on the AP. Both have phantom power. This includes effects and does feel well made. Controls are intuitive and easy to use/responsive. Overall I'd rate this as a good buy in terms of build, durability and flexibility with some rather annoying aspects that the prospective buyer should be aware of before purchasing.\",\n \"Product: Large Diaphagm Condenser Microphone\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Good with some caveats\\n\\nReview: I'd actually give this a 4.5 but since I'm unable, have settled on the lower rating. I own several microphones but probably the one closest in price is the very popular ATR2100-USB by Audio Technica so I'm going to compare this against that model to provide a comparison of features versus price.\\n\\nPro's\\nThis has several nice features and comes in a complete little package that includes a small tripod and shock mount. Now, make no mistake about it, the tripod is a good addition for a total novice without any other alternatives...assuming you have an alternative, plan to use it because this tripod is better than nothing but barely. The shock mount is a bit better and again, a nice addition since you can make do with it but unless this is a starter set or very very rarely used it, plan on replacing sooner rather than later...especially the tripod.\\n\\nSensitivity is quite good...better than one would expect at this level. This can pick up very subtle variations and even a whisper level voice without having to squeeze in...the flip side is this will want to pick up extra noise in the room and doesn't do quite as good a job at filtering.\\n\\nOverall sound quality - I'd rate as good but not great. Overall the tendency is toward a bit of a \\\"tinny\\\" sound...not terrible but doesn't have a good depth. On the other hand, it is fairly crisp and doesn't muffle.\\n\\nPersonal preference - no control button which is a personal preference but something I missed just the same.\\n\\nCons\\nLack of control button (see above personal preference mention)\\nBetter than nothing tripod but plan to replace sooner rather than later\\nLacks depth\\nTendency to pick up extraneous sounds with ease.\\n\\nComparison\\nBoth this and the ATR2100-USB are strong contenders at this price point...it really depends on your usage style but in general, if you have a quiet area and low extraneous noise with a need for very clear input then go with this. If you want a starter kit and don't own a tripod, shock mount or other then this is a good starter but plan to play around with things more than normal. From set-up to clean-up, you will need to invest more time and effort to get a quality recording. On the other hand, both of these are 1/2 to 1/3 the price of the next model mic I own and can yield decent results given a bit of time and effort.\",\n \"Product: The FLIR TG165 Spot Thermal Camera bridges the gap between single spot infrared thermometers and FLIR's legendary thermal cameras. Equipped with FLIR's exclusive Lepton micro thermal sensor, the TG165 lets you see the heat so you know where to reliably measure it. Easily find unseen hot and cold spots for instant troubleshooting, and store images and data to show customers and include in reports. Accuracy 1.5% or 1.5C (2.7F)\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Consistent design, intuitive and easy to use\\n\\nReview: I was a bit torn on how to best review this product because about 2 years ago, I purchased the FLIR i3 thermal imaging camera http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0074YLFMC/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1\\n\\nSo, first things first. I opted to compare and contrast the two products because some buyers might be tempted to use this versus the other larger FLIR models...that would be a mistake and I will explain why in a minute. Next, I opted to evaluate this product as a stand alone rather when providing the review ranking.\\n\\nOkay, so as far as the comparison...FLIR lists this product as an imaging thermometer and the FLIR i3 (and subsequent models) as a thermal imaging camera. While initially that might seem like semantics, there are important distinctions which should assist the buyer in making an informed decision. This is truly a thermometer that happens to have a visual screen while the other is an imaging camera that happens to be able to differentiate temperature. To put it another way, this thermometer will provide a quick glimpse via the screen but the resolution is insufficient to use in detailed or large applications. The compact i3 model is a bit larger, lightweight and a bit more than double the price...so, which do you need? Of course, the answer largely depends upon your desired function and what you plan to do with it but in general, I'd say you can safely assume this model (the imaging thermometer) will work well for applications such as mechanics/motor vehicle repair and maintenance or spot checking a known leak location. On the other hand, if you intend to do a bit of \\\"detective work\\\" such as locating an unknown leak in a large house etc...I'd absolutely go with the i3 or above (and having owned and used the i3 for 2+ years, I'd probably dish out a bit more money and go with a larger model. The i3 is a budget minded model - it works well but the screen and resolution is a bit too small...it gets the job done but I find myself wishing I'd gone larger).\\n\\nOkay, so now back to this imaging thermometer. It is a nice, lightweight model. Unlike many other FLIR products, it did not come with a case which was a bit annoying. Aside from that, former FLIR users will find a familiar patterns for buttons and device structure. FLIR makes a fairly intuitive product. A standard usb and micro card allows easy storage and distribution of the images - also easily acts as a before/after comparison and ability to zoom for a better look. As others have noted, the battery is locked - ie, not user serviceable without voiding the warranty and undergoing more headache and hassle than one out to be required. FLIR does have a decent warranty and builds a reliable, useful product suitable for a wide variety of professional needs.\",\n \"Product: The Dyson Cinetic Animal vacuum contains 54 ultra-efficient Dyson Cinetic tips which oscillate up to 5,000 times per second to separate the microscopic particles that clog other vacuums. Because of their efficiency, there's no filter that needs washing or replacing meaning there is no loss of suction.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Works well on tile\\n\\nReview: We have dogs and cats, live in Florida with a steady stream of sand combined with high humidity and I have 3 ft long hair. To say we put our vac to the test would be an understatement. Now, I've owned other brands of \\\"animal\\\" vacs but have been using uprights for years. I've been thinking about a canister because of the new design so when this came up...I immediately jumped at the opportunity to evaluate.\\n\\nBefore removing it from the box you will already know something is different - the box is much smaller than anticipated. Next, it takes about 5 minutes to have it put together and that includes fiddling. You probably won't even need to look at the manual - everything just snaps into place (with ease). The hose is wide and quite heavy duty..as nice as our premium shop vac hose! The canister itself is surprisingly light...and the odd little design very quickly grows on you!\\n\\nSo, things that are incredibly neat about this vac...\\n1. The snap hose, tube etc...this system is great especially for those that hate to dwadle. Everything fits great.\\n2. The hose is wide and well made.\\n3. The column can be easily adjusted up/down for easy working without bending over or for easy storage when not in use.\\n4. Accessories make sense, are well made and work very nicely. For example, not only can you vac under furniture but entirely under, around and back again with total ease. Folds flat to the ground so able to reach under the tightest cabinets and, since the ball joint on the actual accessory itself also swivels, you can work around legs etc easily.\\n5. The retractable cord doesn't pull - it locks into place and then retracts on demand once a button is pressed.\\n6. Retractable cord and on/off button is situated on top of the machine so can use foot for quick touch convenience.\\n7. Ergonomic - everything is just so easy and convenient to access.\\n8. Powerful - Since I knew this was coming, I originally didn't vac in anticipation of putting this through a tough workout test. THEN the weather up north interrupted delivery service so it was delayed...and I still didn't vac. By the time this arrived, it had been OVER a week - now, maybe in some homes that is okay but as much as I hate to admit it, not in mine. Between the dogs (who have a dog door and come/go at will in their fenced yard), the fact that it's early spring here in Florida and just the general in/out...the floors were BAAAAD. We have tile everywhere with a few large rugs...this goes from tile to rug with ease but really shines with tile. No back kicking of sand, no streaks of left behind grains, nothing. There were even one or two small oak leaves which were sucked up along with the sand and dog hair.\\n9. NO dust - Okay, one of my HUGE HUGE HUGE pet peeves is constantly having to change the filters on the other vacs. Years ago I went to a bagless model of vac but the filters still end up smelling like wet dog if not constantly washed and changed. I refuse to use air pollutants like Febreeze so that leaves vinegar or a new filter all the time. This has neither a bag or a filter...I couldn't be more pleased! Now of course, this is brand new so shouldn't smell like dog but more importantly, it didn't smell at all. Not a new vac smell, nothing...which is exactly how I like my appliances!\\n10. Easy maintenance - speaking of no bags and no filters (yay!!!), this is also a very unique canister. Spouse immediately made mention of no more having to untangle the stem - again, I very long hair so if it's not the dogs, just a few strands of my own 3 ft long hair results in a canister knot of ridiculous proportions in most vac's..for the heck of it, I actually cleaned my hair brush and tossed it in to see what would happen. Nothing. That is a FIRST ever!\\n11. Easy storage - this takes up about the same amt of closet space as the upright - very little.\\n12. Not terribly loud - It's not quiet but not terrible. Spouse thought it was quieter than average while I thought it was about average.\\n\\nHow much do we like it? The others are already at the curb!\",\n \"Product: The South Main Hardware 1-1/4 inch #8 Black coarse thread bugle head drywall screws with #2 PHILLIPS drive are great multipurpose fasteners. These screws include a sharp point and are delivered in a sturdy cardboard box package. Drywall screws are primarily used for installing drywall in houses, buildings and offices. There are approximately 1,800 screws in this 9lb. Package and they are perfect for jobs big and small. Also available in a 3lb. Box.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Sharp and nice size\\n\\nReview: After recently getting a drywall sander for a smallish project, I realized how easy it was to tackle some other projects and just \\\"keep going\\\"...of course, that means drywall screws. Plus, I keep several on hand for other projects totally unrelated to drywall including fence repair etc...so, these are coated, very sharp and perform fine. I will admit, I have SERIOUS hesitation about using these in a primary home or anything long term because I've experienced poor quality versions from China that went bad after a few years...they start rusting, breaking etc... I'm not going to chance it for anything long term. For short-term, small or other types of projects, these are more than ample and come with a nice sized box.\",\n \"Product: Making Ice is Easy With Ivation's professional-grade automated icemaker, it takes just 6 minutes to make ice! That's right: In less time than it takes to drive to the nearest store or gas station for a bag of ice, you can have a fresh batch of ice cubes made right in the comfort of your own home. It requires neither a glaciology degree nor Mount Everest or North Pole accolades. Simply pour a 'drop into the bucket', and press a button or two. Once the icemaker is done doing its thing, you'll enjoy beautifully solid chillers that remain separated and don't agglomerate. 26-pound output. 2 ice sizes You're busy entertaining and can't afford to serve drinks that are any less than perfect. That is precisely when our icemaker proves to be your ultimate hostess' weapon - from holidays to bridal showers to graduation parties to birthdays to charity events. To keep up with all the glass clinking, it features 2 selectable ice cube sizes so you can satisfy everyone from the whiskey sipper to the juice junkie. At maximum output, it can produce as much as 26.5 pounds of ice in a single 24-hour cycle. Another superior feature is the water recycling system: Unused ice melts back into the water reservoir and is turned into fresh ice during the next ice-making session. Light-Up Alerts Inform You of Cold, Hard Facts When the water level in the 2.5-quart (80-Ounce) reservoir runs low, a red indicator alerts you to add more water. When the ice bucket is full, another indicator alerts you to remove them so more ice may be created. There's even a flashing snowflake icon to keep you informed when an ice-making session is on standby. And for your peace of mind and safety, the unit shuts off automatically when the ice bucket is full. To make way for new ice, store ready cubes in cooler or freezer for later use.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Works better than 2 other higher priced models!\\n\\nReview: Update - I've now owned this for several months and use it almost daily...still works flawlessly. In fact, like it so well that purchased another from this same company.\\n\\nOriginal Review\\n\\nI've purchased two other ice makers from other brands and had to return both due to huge leaks. Basically, they spit out more water than ice...and cost about $100 more than this model. Now, not only does this work without ANY leaking but it's smaller and more compact so takes up less space. It's incredibly easy to use...basically plug it in, pour in the water, close the lid and hit the button. Within 15 minutes you will have ice. Cubes come in two sizes - both are considerably smaller than a regular ice cube from a try but personally I really like the size. We received this yesterday and have used it about 6 times since...the first few times just to 'clean' the machine and then we actually used the ice in a drink. It's a little work horse! Very consistent output in less than 15 minutes. Sound is very acceptable...it does have a hum but much less than our small beverage frig....totally within the tolerable range. Has a window to see how much ice is made and a small collection basket. It's hard to compare the output to regular frig but I'd estimate this makes about 1.5 to 2 trays of old fashioned ice cubes. After a half dozen cycles within the first 12 hours it showed no sign of fatigue or any other problem. Absolutely delightful product! Perfect for use when traveling or for extra beverages when company comes over. I much prefer this to buying bags of ice which according to research, are frequently contaminated due to poorly cleaned lines and so forth....plus, it's a lot more convenient to have it on hand rather than having to run to/from the store. Coupon code resulted in low/no cost purchase for evaluation purpose.\",\n \"Product: The yardgard garden rabbit fence is especially designed to keep out rabbits & other varmints that could be harmful to your garden. The horizontal wire spacing get progressively closer near the ground when ethe protection is need the most in a 4\\\" to 2\\\" to 1\\\" design. The 4\\\" space upper horizontal wiring allows hands to pass through. This lightweight galvanized wire is also an excellent temporary barrier around trees, bushes & flowers. The vinyl coating option offers a more natural look for surroundings.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Wish it were larger gauge but does work\\n\\nReview: Living in Florida should mean year round gardening but in reality, it means year round frustration as rabbits, raccoons, squirrels, moles, turtles and a zillion other creatures all eat anything remotely resembling food. Lest you think this is an exaggeration consider my 16 year old huge fig tree...I've managed to eat maybe a dozen figs from it over the years. The same could be said for oodles of other fruit trees - and don't even begin to consider something like a garden. My entire herb garden was gone overnight. Even my earthworms were eaten - literally. Fast forward a bit, those of us insane enough to keep trying begin to get creative and one of the hands down best ways is with critter proof fencing. Of course, there is no such thing as you need a full shield of iron to truly keep the critters away but this is a decent approximation especially when combined with pots, overhead netting and a few other things. This has varying degree of holes/openings to reduce the access of larger garden pests yet still maintain easy access by humans. I wish the 14 gauge was a bit more sturdy but this does the job. A bit of a hassle to mess with due to the lighter gauge (remember, the larger the number the thinner the metal). I would buy again in the future though.\",\n \"Product: This iLIVING automatic powerful Attic fan keeps your home cool and comfortable while removing heated Attic air. During those hot summer months, Attic air gets trapped inside and can easily reach 150 degree or more. Using this automatic fan helps reducing heat buildup in Attic and preventing weather-induced home deterioration. The housing is sturdily built with galvanized steel. It has an automatic adjustable thermostat and humidistat. The motor is thermally protected and permanently lubricated for long lasting performance. Product dimensions: 15x8x15. Hardwired required. Install behind shutters for protection from rain. Shutter sold separately. Automatic adjustable built-in thermostat included.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Big return on a little time investment\\n\\nReview: Living in Florida the attic can literally reach 130 to 140 degrees making it all but impossible to do anything attic related that takes more than a minute. In addition to the heat, the humidity builds up and can quickly raise the temperature in the house or garage while putting a lot more strain on the central air conditioner. Although we have a whole house fan that can quickly reduce the temperature inside if we've been away for awhile, it requires opening doors and windows to use which pulls in dust and pollen. On the other hand, this helps keep the attic at a decent temperature and reduces the effort of the central AC without requiring any input from us other than installation. Hook-up was easy - mount with brackets and attach just like you would a light fixture...it's that simple. Truly a money saving DIY project. The only thing I wish this had was a protective mesh...yes, of course it should be mounted far away from any traffic and it is an attic etc but those blades still look mighty mean and a little mesh would go a long way. Otherwise, a quick and easy DIY Project that should save money from the start.\",\n \"Product: 30 \\\" round professional kitchen island featuring a 1 1/2 \\\" end grain work surface and our unique \\\"Chop and Drop\\\" system for sanitary food handling. The \\\"Chop and drop\\\" system consists of a juice groove that channels all liquids through the \\\"Pig Snout\\\" (a cut out in the block surface) into a stainless steel chef pan. This system allows for the collection of juices, the quick storage of prepped meats and vegetables, or the quick and effortless disposal of trimmings and waste.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Excellent! Great Looks, Versatile, Smart Item!\\n\\nReview: This is an excellent item. Simple yet attractive design that is exceptionally functional. We have an odd shaped kitchen that requires a lot of \\\"walking\\\" between prep areas and stove/frig. We've tried square/rectangular islands/work stations but they seemed to get in the way more than help. When this came up for sale, I decided to give it a try since I like the round look and clean, convenient design.\\n\\nGlad I did - this is a solid product, well built and very simple to assemble. Prefectly sized to roll from refrigerator to stove and elsewhere around the kitchen yet store out of the way. 30\\\" diameter, very comfortable height and neutral enough to go with nearly any decor. The butcher blook top looks thicker than the actual dimension and is very attractive. All hardware is included with same stainless appearance. Locking casters are nice quality. The drainage bowl is included or may be replaced with a small kitchen bag - utensil/pot hooks, towel holder etc all come with it.\\n\\nOne of the unique features is a small groove that channels fluids away from foods and directly into the bowl/bag centered in the middle of the butcherblock top. It's hard to explain but is created in such as way as to appear decorative rather than purely utilitarian - although it is very utilitarian.\\n\\nNice heavy weight stainless steel legs, good heft to the butcherblock top...all in all a solid and very attractive unit. Came well packed with large insulated box - icludes all hardware needed for assembly. Excellent!\",\n \"Product: This gorgeous Solabela Painter's Palette Knives and Spatulas Set has the finest details and highest quality you will find anywhere! Solabela Painter's Palette Knives and Spatulas Set is truly remarkable. Product Details: Condition: Brand New Item SKU: SS-CUL-70401Dimensions: H: 11.1 x W: 11.1 x D: 11.1 ()\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Great little grab and go!\\n\\nReview: One of my hobbies is oil painting and as such, I own 2 full size easels and one table top easel but the one thing I don't have is a portable one. Yes, the table top version can be considered portable but not easily. This on the other hand, is a truly portable little easel. It's very light weight and given the price, I wasn't sure what to expect. Now, to be sure, it is not professional quality...the wood is a bit rough, the hinges are not as solid and the joints are not dovetail etc...having said all that, this is at least 1/4 the price and will certainly get the job done.\\n\\nNow for the basics...be sure to read the product dimensions. Initially I was surprised how small this is...a positive attribute as this can literally sit on my lap even in a lawn chair. In fact, I find that I'm as prone to use it for desktop work surface as artist surface..it's a wonderful tablet holder with pens, pencils, stylus and other accessories that fit perfectly. But back to art. Really enjoy how small this is and yet designed well. There is a small palette, tool drawer for paint and brushes/other accessories. 3 latches hold everything in place and it folds up with a grab handle for quick and convenient travel.\\n\\nNow, there was one minor issue which I quickly modified for my own use...first, the actual easel is prone to wind bursts if used outside and since one of my primary places to lug this along is the beach, I simply screwed in an itsy bitsy eye hook with a thread attached. Viola'...2 minutes and the problem is solved.\\n\\nCrazy convenient little product - great for the budding young artists or grab and go kit for everyone else. Also makes a nice desk in a box for use with tablet and mobile office! Complimentary product provided for evaluation purpose.\",\n \"Product: A Nobel Prize was awarded for the discovery that Nitric Oxide plays a significant role in the cardiovascular system and Heart Health. Nitric Oxide is naturally made in your body, buy as you age you produce less of it. Berkeley Life helps support Heart Health and Nitric Oxide levels by supplementing your diet with dietary nitrates. The Patented Berkeley Test Strips are a non-invasive saliva test. A diet rich in vegetables with high nitrate levels is best (see Berkeleylife.com for more information) or try The Berkeley Life Nitric Oxide Supplements. They provide the dietary nitrates found in plants, as well as key vitamins, to help support Nitric Oxide, cardiovascular heart health and overall health and vitality.\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: Want to be insulted, stalked and emailed daily...complain about this company. UPDATE -Old Strips? Totally unreliable\\n\\nReview: Updated Review - I've been asked about the reliability issue related to these strips and continue to maintain that these are unreliable at best...and a waste of money at worst. Because one of us has a chronic lung condition, we were able to correlate the fact that these tests are indeed totally unreliable as compared to the gold standard...via an exhaled NO testing in a medical setting. In fact, due to the type of lung condition, NO levels tend to be HIGHER than average (as tested and measured by eNO in a medical setting) yet these strips showed depleted time and time again. Bottom line = unreliable at best.\\n\\nI'm updating this review...not because I'm happy but due to the ridiculous personal attacks and other objectionable response(s) related to the original review. Upon the suggestion of someone else, I did contact Berkely who did take the time to respond...and respond, and respond. Daily. I was busy and not able to implement the ideas right away but found Berkeley to be helpful...if not borderline obsessive but hey, I wish more sellers went to these efforts to make their customers happy.\\n\\nNow, here is the deal...from the email sent by Berekely, there were problems with some strips and they know it. The company seems more than anxious to make it right and normally I would change my review to reflect this fact except for the fact that the original review seems correct...the strips ARE unreliable. I juice fresh daily...with raw beets. I shouldn't have to jump hoops to trouble-shoot the strips for them...I want the strips to work right the first time. I don't want to have conversations via email and I sure don't feel like listening to insults for leaving an honest review.\\n\\nTake a look at the less than 5 star reviews and associated insults...mostly by the same people who either clearly have an input in this product OR have so little life as to hang out on this board waiting for any response to take place so they can send an unsolicited and non-helpful insult. So, not only does my original review remain but now that I have the time to actually follow up on the troubleshooting and other...thanks but no thanks. I don't choose to do business with a bunch of crazy-makers who sit around and stalk people they disagree with.\\n\\nBottom line...these strips are NOT reliable. They ARE basically idiot-proof, they are a good idea and aside from the questionable tactics demonstrated via this board which I strongly suspect originates with the sellers...I would have reluctantly been willing to help troubleshoot the problem although for the record, it shouldn't be necessary. Instead, I'll eat the cost and move on to a more professional and less cult-ish provider.\\n\\nORIGINAL POST\\nSpouse and self are both extremely health conscious. We eat raw and leafy greens with every meal, juice with raw beets and other veggies, remain active etc...so, imagine our irritation when we BOTH tested \\\"depleted\\\" each and every time with these strips. Tried in the morning...depleted. Tried in the afternoon...ditto. In the evening. Both male and female on well above average diets with above average activity levels.\\n\\nAfter spending $35 on 50 strips only to use up a substantial number of the strips to determine they are all but worthless. A nice idea but totally unreliable and ultimately a waste of money.\",\n \"Product: Norton 360 Premier Edition 3.0 eliminates the need for any additional security, performance optimization and data backup & restore products. Truly a breakthrough in PC protection, Norton 360 Version 3.0 provides a hassle-free user experience. It includes the strengths of Norton Antivirus 2009 with Antispyware for online threat protection and powerful features similar as those of Norton SystemWorks Premier Edition for backing up your data securely as well as continuously optimizing your PC for peak performance. Automatically fixes common PC problems Gets rid of unnecessary Internet clutter and temporary files. Removes stale Windows registry entries. Defragments your hard drive(s) for faster data writing and access. Files such as photos, music, contacts and financial documents can be backed up automatically to CDs, DVDs or external drives. Includes 25 GB of online storage Norton Pulse Updates - it automatically checks for new virus definitions every 5 to 15 minutes and downloads them in the background for continuous protection without performance sacrifices.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Fast, Convenient & Best of All...Works where others Failed\\n\\nReview: I've tried several anti-virus suites in the past year including McAffee and ZoneAlarm plus a few others...after getting a nasty computer virus that wrecked my hard-drive with one of the \\\"other\\\" well known products, I switched to this for a 30 day free trial then purchase at the end of the trial period. The purchase was easy, the transition seamless and the product by far the best I've used. Not only did it recognize the virus the others missed but it runs clean and fast in the background.\\n\\nVery easy to install, this has all the features I can really use without the junk I don't need. I can install on up to 3 computers...perfect for home office, laptop etc use and it comes with free online backup storage with more available for purchase should you need it.\\n\\nAutomatic update feature is seamless and doesn't impact performance to any notable level. Comes equipped with the PC security suite, identity protection, automatic backup and PC tuneup in this premier edition. One user for up to three computers. Another excellent features is the availability of live help - which I've not had to use so cannot comment on how good/bad it is but it's available should you require it. There is a free 30 day trial available which I used prior to buying since I wanted to know how sluggish this was likely to make my computer...happily the answer was \\\"barely noticeable\\\". Updates, back-ups and the rest are stunningly quick and, after having lost work since I have a tendency to delay the back-ups...having an automatic and nearly seamless feature that does it for me is perfect. Deciding what to backup is just a matter of clicking which files or folders which are then sent to a secure - free - area on your account. Prices for additional storage are a bit higher but you have the option or selecting your own storage device, other secure online account or a combination of all of the above. It's simple to schedule or to set on automatic.\\n\\nZero conflicts with other software or system performance - nothing to complain about in that area whatsoever. Everything is intuitive, easy to use and designed for convenience. To me, the real value is the fact this was the only product out of three different ones that was able to correct the virus that wrecked havoc on my hard drive. Plain and simple, works well without the fuss or hassle. It is worth the extra price in my opinion.\",\n \"Product: Corel WordPerfect Office X8 Home & Student Edition is an affordable and complete office documents solution. Create documents, presentations, spreadsheets, reports, and more with this all-in-one office suite. Enjoy full compatibility to easily open, edit, and share files in more than 60 file formats, including Microsoft Office (.docx, .xlsx, and .pptx). Built-in PDF functionality allows you to export and adjust file size and resolution for web, e-mail, and print formats. Organize, edit, and improve your photos with AfterShot 2's intuitive controls. View document formatting with Reveal Codes, browse installed or created templates with the Template Viewer to start a new document, and create keyboard macros complete with a printable template.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Still better than word\\n\\nReview: Unfortunately the place I teach at pretty much requires the use of Word but frankly, I've never understood why because WordPerfect is so much easier to use, robust and intuitive. It seems to do more with less problem. It converts files with ease, integrates into other programs, installs perfectly without problem and never has as many hassles as Word. This version seems to be following the same. It automatically installed without issue - yes, it was a bit slow installing from disc but perhaps that is a product of my own lapse of memory. It removed the old version I had (about 5 years old) and installed the new version of WordPerfect Office. I played around for awhile opening and converting various file types ranging from ppt presentations to Word documents and even a few saved web pages - everything worked beautifully. Creating a new file is so easy - frankly, this is a joy to use.\",\n \"Product: An Amazon Brand.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Ooooohhhhh sooooo nice - Bath Sheets, Towels and more\\n\\nReview: I bought four of these bath sheets and 8 towels/hand/washclothes when they went on sale. All of them are wonderful, superb price, great absorbency, wash well...but the bath sheets are my favorite by far - in fact, I came back and bought 6 more bath sheets.\\n\\nThe size and weight of the bath sheets are wonderful. Comparable to MUCH more expensive brands. In fact, these are my absolute favorite and I own Frette, Tommy Hillfigger, Custom monogrammed from Neiman Marcus best selection plus many others that cost a great deal more than these. Hands down - my new favorite towel...the rest are now dog towels. Buy them - you will be glad you did. Would also make a great gift item -impressive for a great price.\",\n \"Product: Discover the advantages of home meat grinding with this professional grade meat grinder. Grinding your own meat assures the freshness and quality of meat that goes into your meals. Grind venison, chicken, beef, pork, veal, and ham to make a variety of meals. Make gourmet sausages, meat salads, lasagna, hamburgers, etc. The powerful 1 HP motor is able to grind 3 pounds of meat per minute. The reverse motor function frees clogged food without disassembling the grinder. The grinder includes: 1 cutting blade, 3 durable die cast plates (fine, medium and coarse), 1 sausage stuffer, 1 food pusher and large hopper.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Surpisingly Nice Little Grinder! Great Price and Perfect Size!\\n\\nReview: Was a bit hesitant to purchase this grinder given the low price so I waited awhile until there were a few other reviews (thanks everyone!). We don't eat a lot of meat but want a way to grind out own ground beef rather than having to purchase it in the store. So, the caveat to this review is that we are not intensive users but rather sporadic users that use it for small batches of a few pounds at a time.\\n\\nAt least for our purposes this works beautifully. Comes with three blades that allow most popular grinding size options...large, medium and small. Large is fantastic for chili etc..\\n\\nNoise level is about the same as a juicer--probably a bit better.\\n\\nWeight is decent and stays put. There is a bit of plastic (stopper/pusher) but exterior is easy to clean. Unlike others, we've experienced no problems after having used it about four times. Ran through test at first then tossed. Cleaned and prepped...found zero issues. Motor is strong and doesn't seem to have issues when in use.\\n\\nBottom line...great price and super option at least for casual home users such as ourselves.\",\n \"Product: This Old Mountain cast iron loaf pan is pre seasoned and ready to use. This loaf pan measures 11 3/4\\\" x 5 3/4\\\" x 3\\\" with attached loop handles. Cast iron retains heat better than any other cooking media and is the cooking choice of many chefs and home cooks alike. Nothing bakes your bread to a golden brown like cast iron from Old Mountain. Our attractive Old Mountain logo embossed on the bottom adds style and value.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Excellent - Much better than other option for true pre-seasoning\\n\\nReview: I own a LOT of cast iron..in fact, I probably own most of what Lodge has put out and typiually only purchase Lodge but I needed some additional bread pans and since cannot find Lodge brand any longer I purchased 2 from Sante Cabin and 2 from Old Mountain. Old Mountain arrived quickly, well wrapped/packaged and completely treated. Washed and used to encounter bread that dropped effortlessly from the pan without need for barely any prompting. After a few more uses the finish was even better...perfect.\\n\\nThe Sante Cabin cast iron arrived a few days later, washed to prepare for use and pan immediately began to rust. Description indicates \\\"true seasoned\\\" and \\\"ready to use right out of the box\\\" but also denotes \\\"non-seasoned\\\". It is NOT seasoned and rusted immediately after washing. On the other hand, the two Old Mountain loaf/bread pans were perfect. WAshed easily, zero rust, true non-seasoning and a beautifully shaped loaf.\\n\\nExcellent purchase!\",\n \"Product: 24 inch pizza peel is made of nature hardwood handle and full body to endure heat, scrubbing, and other harsh treatment. The surface area withstands bending for reliable support.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Perfect for Outdoor Ovens!\\n\\nReview: As we move from baking indoors to the great unknown of outdoor ovens, the need for a large pizza peel set me on a quest for something large enough to keep away from the VERY hot oven but be light weight enough to manage easily. Since there were not any reviews - but the price was right - I decided to give this a shot.\\n\\nFirst, it is lightweight but not flimsy. All natural wood tone this has a nice big surface area with ample size for full size pizza or several loaves of bread. Everything is all wood so there is no need to fear contact with hot metal (a big plus for me!) and the handle is long enough to push items into an outdoor oven yet still not so large as to be impossible to deal with.\\n\\nThe only thing I would have liked is a slightly more ergonomic feel to the handle...it's \\\"squarish\\\" rather than rounded. All in all, a fully functional peel for an unbeatable price!\",\n \"Product: Features & Specifications The Miracle Fermenting Crock Pot - Quick, Easy and Quality! The Harsch / Gartopf fermenting crock pot is a quality crafted piece which is imported from Germany. Easily make nutrition packed sauerkraut, pickled vegetables and so much more. The patented Harsch crock-pot is a beautiful stoneware piece and is fired at 1200 degrees Celsius and finished with a lead free glaze. This crock includes a ceramic cover which fits perfectly over the top and has a special cast gutter in the rim creating a seamless airlock. Gases from the fermentation can escape easily but air is not able to enter. Many other crock-pots can create a pasty white kahm yeast, this one doesn't! Suitable for all types of vegetables like:Cabbages, Cucumbers, Carrots, Pumpkins, Beans, Onions, Celery, Peppers, and more! In just 4-6 weeks you can have delicious fermented veggies in your home! Features: Quality constructed - easy to use. Imported from Germany. Can ferment up 10 liters of vegetables (2 3/4 Gallons) at a time. Use of ceramic weight stones eliminates mold. Clever water sealing system allows gases to escape. No air let in. Lead free. Made of ceramic clay. Simple instructions are included Specifications: Model Harcsh 10 Liter Crock PotCapacity10 Liters / 2.75 Gallons. Built of Made of ceramic lead free clay. Warranty One Year\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Beautiful quality pot - super easy to use. HEAVY Duty!\\n\\nReview: Being brand new to fermentation, I was a bit hesitant to spend so much money on a \\\"pot\\\". However, after reading some of the other fine reviews, decided to go ahead and purchase this one rather than the slightly lower cost item. The price difference, after adding in the stone to the cheaper model, was still fairly significant but I'm pleased to report this is an outstanding item. Very heavy, extremely well made and simple to use. Unlike other reviewers I do not have anything to compare it with but given the quality of the piece, feel it should last many years with basic care and maintenance.\\n\\nThe size is very versatile - not so large as to waste food but certainly sufficient for most desired foods.\",\n \"Product: Sink your feet into the Cumulus9 with its proprietary Multi-Core Technology. Feel how it conforms to the shape of your feet and supports your arches for relief of back, leg and foot discomfort. The advantage is its proprietary multilayer cushioning system. The soft, upper layer luxuriously cushions your feet while the firm, lower layer provides soothing support. You'll want an Imprint Comfort Mat everywhere you work and stand including the kitchen, laundry, bathroom, garage, workshop and more. Makes a great holiday gift.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Very pleased! 3+ year update - still going strong!\\n\\nReview: Three year update - I've now owned these for over three years and both are still going strong but large one is starting to show signs of wear. Color is fine on both (no fading etc) but large one has a few minor \\\"cracks\\\" due to abuse (ie, dog claws, spouse using vac without changing height etc). Does not impact function and still plenty of life left in these.\\n\\nTwo year update - I've now owned these for two years and both are still going strong despite a lot of abuse! These are placed in the kitchen and walked on all day by both people and dogs. My spouse has used the large one as a partial work space with boots, tools etc..they have been vacuumed, mopped, bleached, held up to spills, heels...you name it. One has a small area that looks like a peel and is barely noticed...that's it. The other still looks great. Both perfect perfectly and still stay put on the floor. No curling, no rolling, no slipping. After over two years of hard usage these remain excellent.\\n\\nUpdate - Have now owned these for a year and both have held up exceptionally well. Still no bending or curves...they lay flat and continue to perform perfectly.\\n\\nI ordered two of these - one long one to go in front of the sink and this short 20\\\" by 36 inch to place in front of the stove. After years of using small area rugs, the ease of cleaning combined with soft foot support was very appealing. These were even better than expected!\\n\\nBoth arrived rolled up and I was somewhat concerned whether or not they would lie flat or have a tendency to curl up on the corners like I've read on reviews of other comfort gel mats. These had no such problem - both are nice and flat without any indication of curling.\\n\\nClean-up is a breeze. My spouse - who complained this was a totally unnecessary item when it first arrived - is now the biggest fan. These make a big difference on comfort for feet, knees and even hips/lower back when doing long jobs in the kitchen.\\n\\nI've not owned them long enough to ascertain long term durability but at least initially they seem well made.\",\n \"Product: The WindTunnel Air Bagless Upright has all the power you need to tackle everyday dirt & debris with Multi-Cyclonic filtration. Recline the handle all the way to the floor to clean under furniture without rearranging your room, then use the built-in wand and attachable stair hose for effortless above floor cleaning. And the bagless design means no messthe dirt cup empties with just the push of a button.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Odd little machine with a lot to like\\n\\nReview: Right off, this is an odd little machine with several unique features that take a bit of time to become familiar with. First, the positives...\\n\\n1. Smart Design - this takes the cake for smart design. For example, those little tools are an ongoing problem for most upright vac's...there is minimal storage and the blasted things are forever falling off, getting lost or generally annoying. No so with this machine. There is one tool that is so smartly designed that it becomes three different tools simply by popping in/out in different ways. The entire piece clips to the back for ease of storage and convenience. VERY smart!\\n\\n2. Adjusting Handle - superb! Why on earth haven't others figured this out is beyond me but I truly appreciate the adjustable handle/stem. It makes storage so much easier and does a great job in those hard to reach places...not to mention, helps with ergonomics for different sized people.\\n\\n3. Misc Other Great Features - Easy off cannister, flat to floor option to go under beds, stop turning or continue to use beater with one click, VERY lightweight, QUIET...in fact this is SO much quieter than my other vac's it's remarkable. Nice long cord, extra extra long hose to hit those hard to reach places. Re-useable and washable filers including HEPA are very important as is the super easy to clean cannister. No BAGS and HEPA are the only way to go!\\n\\nNow for the Odd, Neutral or Negative...\\n\\nThe hose is very long and convenient but attaches in an odd manner. It uses a clip style action and I'm not sure about durability. It feels a bit flimsy...in part, due to the ease or using and light weight but that same light weight also feels less durable. Only time will tell...\\n\\nSmall footprint. That is good but this is not as wide as most other machines so takes more passes to cover the same territory.\\n\\nSuction. Okay, first of all, I have monster machines that really suck. Having said that, this seems much more robust than an electric broom but a bit weaker than what I'm familiar with. My floors are all tile with areas rugs. This is perfect for the tile floors and perfectly fine for a quick clean of the rugs but once my pets or spouse have tracked up the rugs, I'd be more inclined to lug the heavy duty vac out. For daily use - this is already up and running! Really appreciate the light weight, quiet noise level and ease of use with smart features.\\n\\nAll in all, a nice machine but have concerns over long term durability given light weight, lots of plastic etc...\",\n \"Product: Acclaimed as the best pillow material in the world! features latex foam derived from sustainable rubber trees. The milky sap tapped from these tropical trees is converted to a soft, resilient foam. The shredded latex pieces combine to offer a traditional pillow feel that is both resilient and comfortable.Rayon From bamboo cover is breathable and sleeps coolUnique foam consistency provides superior pressure relief and can eliminate sleeping painNaturally hypoallergenic and dust mite resistantShredded latex provides excellent airflow and sleeps coolShredded pillow filling provides a more familiar pillow feel.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Superb pillow especially for those with neck problems!\\n\\nReview: Chasing after a good night's sleep has become somewhat of a slight obsession especially after developing arthritis in my neck. The right pillow makes all the difference. Over the years I've purchased just about every pillow known to mankind - many which were very expensive; hand-stuffed down pillows from Cuddledown, memory foam (ugh the heat!), buckwheat (puffy face - allergy prone), spun gel (like trying to sleep on a sponge)...you name it, I've tried them.\\n\\nI've also tried different shapes, sizes and sleeping positions. The bottom line is that it's not easy to find a great pillow. Until Z by Malouf! Over a year ago I purchased four of their formed talalay pillows - the odor was a bit overwhelming at first but once aired out, they provided a superb level of support combined with comfort. They have held up well and perform perfectly but I actually prefer the shredded talalay for the ability to position it \\\"just right\\\".\\n\\nWhen this shredded talalay became available I ordered two king size pillows which arrived quickly, encased in the very nice carrier. Unlike the prior pillows, the odor from these wasn't as bad although a good airing is probably still in order. These do not come with a removable cover although the outside of the pillow itself is a comfortable material (bamboo according to the label). The king size is a bit odd shaped in that it is long but not as wide as anticipated. I will be ordering more in the queen size due to this variation.\\n\\nAside from the slightly odd sizing of the king size, this is an exceptional deal! Shredded talalay isn't easy to find (none of my local stores seem to carry it) and when ordering via catalog or online, the cost tends to be high. This compares very favorably to the pillows used at Weston for their dream beds for those searching for a general type of comparison...it's a bit firmer which I actually like as the extra support helps with the neck pain.\\n\\nFor those that suffer from allergies (other than latex), this is a GREAT option! Feather pillows and buckwheat tend to leave me puffy, others with a heavy chemical can actually cause a cough and congestion. This is natural talaly, tends to resist mites and other common causes of allergies. Just remember, the talalay is NOT appropriate for those with a latex allergy!!!!\\n\\nFinally, for those with a neck problem this pillow is the best solution I've encountered to date. Unlike feather pillows that pack down during the night, this remains supportive throughout the entire evening, reducing the angles that often lead to pinched nerves, circulation problems and pain. Unlike gel or foam that is often \\\"too fluffy\\\", this still allows compression so the head and neck are held at a natural angle.\\n\\nAlthough I purchased these specifically due to neck problems, my spouse - who has no such issues - absolutely loves the pillows as well. Bottom line - fantastic pillow, fantastic price!\\n\\nUPDATE - Ordered four more queen sized pillows which arrived with a zipper case. Unsure why the king size didn't but wanted to update review to indicate the inclusion of a nice zippered case for the queen size.\",\n \"Product: 70 Pint Dehumidifier. 115v ENERGY STAR&reg; qualified. Continuous Operation Continuous drainage option helps maximize dehumidifier run time. Set Precise Humidity Set humidity level from 30% to 90% RH. Timer 24-hour timer. Low Temperature Operation Works in temps as low as 41 degrees. Removeable Bucket Removeable condensate bucket with carry handle holds approximately 16.2 pints. Convenient Automatic defrost cycle. Casters included for easy mobility. Displays room temp and humidifity. Filtration Washable, slide-out filter\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Works Well but seems slow to start\\n\\nReview: Living in Florida it's totally typical to encounter hot humid summer days where the temperature AND humidity level are both in the 90's. I've always heard about the benefit of a dehumidifier but frankly, was hesitant to try one out because I didn't know if it would be able to \\\"keep up\\\" with the excessively high humidity of Florida.\\n\\nWe also happen to live in one an area with one of the highest electricity rates in the nation so have taken steps (for both financial as well as environmental reasons) to reduce total energy expenditure. During the day we run ceiling fans and increase the AC but find it isn't enough in summer even with high ceilings etc...so, when this came up for review I was very eager to give it a try.\\n\\nOut of the box hook-up is very simple...which is good because the instructions are minimal at best. Unfortunately, it didn't come on. We tried hooking up a different drain hose, removing it, changing settings...no fan, nothing. There isn't any type of trouble shooting so I went online and looked up a factor provided video which mentioned the need to make sure the setting was low enough. So, just to double check, went back and lowed it even more. Still nothing. As I'm sitting there thinking \\\"oh heck\\\" it suddenly comes on!\\n\\nApparently there is a bit of a delay as this \\\"reads\\\" the ambient temperature and humidity level in the room. I expected it to work like a portable air conditioner or even air purifyier/filter...instantly. It does NOT. In the meantime, each change of the controls seems to start it over so give it a few minutes to settle before assuming it's not working. The fan will eventually come on!\\n\\nOnce we figured that out, everything was fine. This works like a charm and helps reduce humidity. The choice of drainage types is a terrific idea and I'm pleased to report, it works as indicated. Sound-wise, this is quieter than a portable AC unit and actually substantially more quiet than a fairly large Hunter Air Filter we use.\\n\\nThe pull out drainage \\\"drawer\\\" feels a bit cheap and doesn't slide in/out easily but overall, it's a well thought out unit. The filter is easy to pull out and clean/reusable which is convenient.\",\n \"Product: The Sleep Master folding guest bed by Zinus is perfect for overnight guests. 0.5 inch of fiber padding with a 2.5 inch base of Pressure Relieving Comfort Foam, ensures your guest will get a great night sleep. The Sleep Master Folding Guest Bed Frame is lightweight and compact making it easy to store in closets or under the bed. Worry free 1 year limited warranty. Another comfort innovation from Zinus. Pioneering comfort.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: A bit more basic but still good\\n\\nReview: A couple of years ago I got one of these folding guest beds with the intention of using it as a spare when company dropped in with kids etc...little did I know that dealing with a loved one who was ill would mean that I literally would spend days...and even weeks...sleeping on it. Rarely have I ever appreciated an item more! Not only did it hold up surprisingly well with daily use by a full grown adult but provided more comfort than expected. It fit easily into a bedroom and allow me to provide needed care to a loved one while still getting some comfortable rest. Not surprisingly, it eventually started to sag a bit in the middle and the mattress flatten - it's still comfortable enough but I was thrilled to see this one come up for review. This isn't quite as nice as the prior version - it doesn't have wheels and it doesn't have a storage case...however, I have the storage case from the old one so it's not a problem but it would still be nice to have a case. The wheels are not a deal breaker but absolutely make it easier to move when putting away/taking out. The mattress is comfortable even though it's a bit thinner - overall not bad but not quite as nice as the older model. On the other hand, this one costs less and still provides 90% of the same comfort level so is a terrific option.\",\n \"Product: This memory foam bath rug is the perfect combination of luxury and comfort. With 35D high density memroy foam and truly handmade rug construction, this contemperory rug has set itself far apart from the typical micro fiber memory foam rugs in the market.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Memory foam makes the difference!\\n\\nReview: Originally I purchased one of these from Warehouse deals for my dog. He is getting a bit older and although he has a hammock bed, sometimes prefers the floor but needs a cushion. This was just the right size and thanks to the color/fabric was inconspicuous enough to leave in the living room so he can sit beside us.\\n\\nHowever, when it arrived, both my spouse and self immediately loved the feel of it! We aren't getting any younger either and this provides just enough cushion to feel secure and soft when getting out of the tub. Non-slip backing and fabric on top are what you would expect from any other bath rug but the memory foam makes all the difference. It's not over-padded but does provide a noticeable amount of cushion just right for aging feet/knees and backs.\",\n \"Product: The Sleep Master folding guest bed by Zinus is the perfect sleep solution when you need it. The bed neatly folds and includes a bonus storage bag, and the folding frame has swivel wheels for ease of movement. Mattress has Only the Highest Quality of Foam - Foam is CertiPUR-US Certified for durability, performance, and content. A great solution for hotels, bed & breakfast inns that often need additional sleeping accommodations, it's also perfect for house guests, camping, traveling, sleepovers, and dorm rooms. Size: 75 inches x 31 inches x 18 inches. Another comfort innovation from Zinus. Pioneering comfort.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: 4.5 stars - great bed with one small consideration!\\n\\nReview: Surprisingly nice! This folding/roll away bed comes as a complete package and includes:\\n- Light weight but sturdy bed frame. Uses springs with a solid \\\"canopy\\\" or trampoline type mesh to support the mattress. No straps or uncomfortable springs.\\n- 4 inch mattress - comfortable. Much more so than those old fashioned foam ones!\\n- Mattress cover - big plus for including a zipped mattress cover that is easy to remove and easy to put back on.\\n- Cover - Zips up to provide extra protection for the entire bed.\\n\\nPro's\\nComfortable, rolls away for easy storage, removable cover for cleanliness, store in its own case. Supports up to 300 lbs. Good for camping due to rounded floor/footing.\\n\\nCon's\\nUnlike many folding beds, this one folds in half almost upside down. This requires a little bit of wrangling with the mattress. The mattress is light weight and the bed frame itself will hold in a true position so this shouldn't be an issue for the majority of people but it is worth mentioning for the elderly or those with some mobility related concerns.\\n\\nOrigin\\nThis is made in China. Comes with a 1 yr warranty. Does NOT include a strong odor or harsh chemical smell like many other related products.\",\n \"Product: Inspired by professionals and designed for connoisseurs, KRUPS products have been built with three key attributes in mind: Passion, Precision and Perfection. Prepare a large variety of fresh, tasty and healthy juices with the KRUPS ZB500E52 Slow Juice Extractor. Thanks to its breakthrough juice press technology (with 7 patents) the KRUPS ZB500E52 Slow Juicer extracts more juice and gives a very dry pulp. The KRUPS ZB500E52 Slow Juice Extractor comes with 2 different stainless steel baskets: a finer grid basket (for juices and cocktails) and a coarser grid basket (for sauces, smoothies and coulis). You can vary your tastes infinitely: the only limit is your imagination. This Slow Juicer is easy to use, easy to clean (all removable parts are dishwasher safe) and easy to store (compact design). The KRUPS ZB500E52 Slow Juicer is made in France and has a 2-year worldwide warranty.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Absolutely LOVE it! - So quiet, great job juicing, very nice!\\n\\nReview: We love juicing and have owned several different models over the years including old-fashioned juicer/fruit squeezers, juicer steamers, Omega Continuous pulp ejection juicer and a Waring Pro Juice Extractor. We also have blenders, food processors etc...you get the idea...we juice. So, when this came up for review it was a no brainer to try it out.\\n\\nThis very quickly became our favorite juicer ever! First, it's so quiet especially compared to the Waring Pro which sounds like a jet engine taking off in the kitchen. This is more like a quiet hum and can be easily used without waking the entire household. In fact, it is the most quiet electric juicer we've used.\\n\\nNext, assembly and clean-up is within a tolerable limit. While some reviewers have noted it's a hassle, we find it pretty much comparable to other juicer models and better than some.\\n\\nStorage is easy; we put it in the same place as we store the Waring Pro. It's a bit bigger than the Omega but since we really dislike the Omega (hard to clean up, doesn't extract enough juice and is loud) this was a huge improvement. The Omega is going to the yard sale box!\\n\\nEXCELLENT operation. Without a doubt, this gets the juice out better than other models we've owned; pulp is dry..very dry. No waste, no slop, no spills, no leaks...great juice.\\n\\nPure and simple, this delivers. Outperforms both the Omega and the Waring Pro by far!\",\n \"Product: Friedrich Chill series air conditioners are energy efficient and easy-to-handle. The programmable timer plus the MoneySaver setting helps manage energy use and reduce costs. With capacities from 5200 to 23000 Btu/h and the Auto Air Sweep feature, Chill can evenly cool a single room or a large open space. All models include a remote control. To determine the appropriate cooling capacity, see our sizing guide and model specifications.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Compared to Frigidaire units, this one wins hands down with one small exception!\\n\\nReview: Updated Review as of 4/30/16. Still using this and still going strong.\\n\\nAlthough we have central AC, we use portable AC units in several rooms of the house to lower electric bills (we live in an area with one of the highest electricity costs in the nation). To date, we own 3 different Frigidaire models of roughly this same size and 2 other units (smaller in size) for use during power outages/storms. Because of the price difference, buyers probably would like to know if this is better than Frigidaire and the answer is a resounding \\\"yes\\\" with one small exception.\\n\\nSize - This is a larger unit than the comparable Frigidaire but only by a small amount. But don't let that fool you because the unit is also very sturdy and packaged very well. Unlike 2 prior Frigidaire models, this arrived without any damage.\\n\\nWeight - Despite the relatively large size, this is not overly heavy. Additionally, because of the way it is installed (more on that later), this is actually easier to handle than a comparable Frigidaire model.\\n\\nFeatures - Features are similar in both brands; both have a nice remote although this comes with a handy case that can be attached to the wall, side of the unit or where desired to hold the remote. Remote is easy to use and functional with clearly delineated buttons. Both are energy star compliant and easily able to cool in excess of a 400 foot room even in Florida known for high humidity. Programming is easy and energy saving features allow the user to set a desired temperature/duration then leave or sleep without worry.\\n\\nUnique Features - This unit has a couple of nice features the Frigidaire doesn't have including a side-to-side motion for the airflow which is very nice. Rather than blow in one direction only, this can help circulate air in the room with a small fan-like feature that allows air to wisp back/forth.\\n\\nQuiet! - By far, one of the MAJOR differences between this Friedrich model and similar sized Frigidaire models is the sound...or lack thereof! For example, it was difficult to watch TV and leave the Frigidaire model running due to the sound. Not impossible but it would require turning up the volume several notches. This \\\"high\\\" setting on this model is just about the same loudness as the \\\"low\\\" setting on the Frigidaire!\\n\\nInstallation - If there was one problem with this unit it was the inferior directions. Unlike most window units, this has a removable case which is nice since you can just insert the motor/unit in the case after everything is installed but for those who are familiar with standard installation, the instructions leave something to be desired especially since the drawings are too small to understand what is being demonstrated. Aside from that one consideration, this is a terrific unit!\\n\\nDurability - We've only had this a couple of weeks so only time will tell how durable it is. The Frigidaire brand is a little workhorse. For example, the week before this arrived, we finally 'killed off' our first one which had been in use approx 8 hours a night for the past several years including warm and cold weather. During warm weather we set it at 64 degrees and during cold weather we leave it running on the fan for ventilation and the white noise. And the unit actually didn't die completely; it just started making some horrid noise but still blows and cools.\\n\\nThe bottom line - this unit is slightly more costly than a comparable Frigidaire unit but vastly more quiet with some nice features. The instructions leave a lot to be desired and only time will tell how durable it is compared to the other brand however, upon initial inspection, it appears to have quality construction with an eye for detail that is missing from the other brand. Energy star approved. If this holds up over time, it's a terrific little machine!\",\n \"Product: The secret to create delicious veggie recipe to your healthy lifestyle - fast, easy and fun. enjoy your favorite vegetables and fruits in professional & beautiful julienned dishes with nikkouware super-sharp, high precision stainless steel vegetable and julienned peeler. Impress your family and friends. peel potatoes, carrots, zucchini, cucumber, butternut squash, apples, onions and more in seconds. Create tasty and healthy noodles and zoodles in unique & stylish way. here's why our customers choose the nikkouware julienne peeler as their best choice: 1) 100% high grade Japanese stainless steel 2) durable ultra-sharp blades 3) handle 2 jobs with 1 tool : peeling & shredding 4) suitable handle for both left & right handed 5) quick & easy to clean 6) makes fruit and veg easy to eat for picky kids 7) lose weight faster: perfect for following a low-carb, gluten-free, or paleo diet 8) create restaurant style recipe for your home. So, just hurry and try nikkouware julienne & vegetable peeler today and don't miss this special discount before it's expires.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: The King of Peelers!\\n\\nReview: We are avid health food junkies and slice, dice, peel and julienne our way throughout the day for nearly every meal. To say we go through a lot of knives, peelers and so forth would be an understatement...we simply cannot keep enough in stock. Well, maybe until now. This is, without a doubt, the most well made peeler we've owned...and we've owned a LOT of them. In fact, when this arrived, my dearest spouse (we share the cooking) immediately made a comment about the weight, grip and feel. For lunch we made a salad and put this to the test - smooth operation. This is larger sized than many on the market...a fact that men will especially appreciate - however, women have no need to worry as this is still comfortable. Built in hook makes this easy to store or hang for quick convenience. All stainless construction means no rust and easy to clean. Exceptionally pleased by this product! Complimentary product provided for evaluation purpose but make no mistake about it...this is our fast favorite and new 'go to' tool for peelers!\",\n \"Product: 26016A Features: -Proctor Silex collection. -Exterior material: Stainless steel. -Browning controls for perfect results. -Makes 4 waffles. -Easy clean nonstick plates. -Power on and ready lights indicates. Product Type: -Belgian waffle maker. Indicator Light: -Yes. Non-Stick: -Yes. Primary Material: -Metal. Finish: -Stainless Steel. Grids/Plates Included: -Yes. Dimensions: Overall Height - Top to Bottom: -5.2\\\". Overall Width - Side to Side: -13\\\". Overall Depth - Front to Back: -11.5\\\". Overall Product Weight: -6.7 lbs.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Good size but non removable plates\\n\\nReview: We own another waffle maker that is getting up in years - and it's round, small and only makes 1 waffle at a time. Since we only eat waffles sporadically, it's never been a major issue but does tend to be a hassle and yet one more reason not to have waffles...we have to either eat them cold in order to wait on the other waffle to be made or go ahead and eat without the other person. Either way, it's always a bit of hassle.\\n\\nThis is a huge improvement over our aging waffle maker. It makes 4 small sized waffles each roughly the size of a piece of toast (perhaps a tad larger). This is great for making waffle \\\"sandwiches\\\" and other items I've heard about but never tried thanks to our limited waffle iron. It stores standing up and takes up surprisingly little space, has an on/off indicator light and is otherwise very simple. Very simple. If you are a waffle queen/king who loves to get ultra creative this is not the waffle iron for you. But, if you are a basic household that just wants a few quick waffles now and then, it's worth a look.\\n\\nNow, there are a few improvements that could have been made..first, and perhaps most important...the grill is permanent. Our cheap, old waffle iron was also permanent so it made little difference to us but for power users, this could be a make or break feature. Also, at least for us, the batter pre-set was a non issue. Last but not least, Ours came in a plain brown box - although it seemed new, this would not be appropriate for gift giving etc as it seems like it might have been a refurbished unit or some other non-standard version. Again, not an issue for us but of potential concern to others.\\n\\nOn the other hand, this seemed to make waffles a LOT faster than our old one...which of course, could be a function of the age difference alone but I don't think so...this really does seem to make waffles fast! At least for us, we get 2x's the waffles in half the time so were thrilled. Upright , space saving storage and ultra easy operation make it a winner in this household!\",\n \"Product: Ottomanson Ottohome Collection offers rugs and runner rugs that are both functional and decorative to contribute a trendy compliment to your space and home decor while preserving your floors from dirt, scratches, wear and tear. Our Contemporary Moroccan Trellis Design Modern Area Rug features an intricate and elegant Moroccan Trellis design in the earth hues of dark brown and cream colors with a dark brown background and popping cream colored trellis lines. Resistant to fading, stains and shedding, this durable rug offers a fuss-free maintanence and can be an ideal choice for homes with kids and pets as well as heavy traffic areas like hallways, kitchens, entryways, living rooms. Machine-woven loop texture with 100% nylon low-pile for long-lasting quality makes this rug easy to lay flat and feels comfortable under your, your kids' and pets' feet; while the non-slip rubber backing helps with grip so your rug stays safely in place without moving even when you vacuum. Convert your house into a home with a finishing touch by simply setting one rug from this collection under your kitchen table, in your living room or by your foyer to greet your guests in a gracefully welcoming manner.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Versatile, neutral appearance and outstanding durability\\n\\nReview: This is perfect for the porch - the porch is fully tiled and subject to the rain, humidity, heat, sunshine and sand year round...obviously any rug in that area takes a terrible beating and this is up to the task. First it has a rubberized backing so doesn't collect the water or get soggy even when paws and people trudge around in dirty shoes. Next, the grey with black trellis design adds interest while doing a pretty good job hiding every single bit of dust or sand. The low pile and super durable synthetic fibers mean this can literally be hosed down when desired without fear of fading or falling apart. Super versatile, nice neutral appearance and impressive durability make this an all around winner.\",\n \"Product: An Amazon Brand.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Good but not great\\n\\nReview: This is a pretty decent laundry sorter with some caveats. I'll outline the good, bad and neutral aspects below.\\n\\nThe Good\\n- Super simple to assemble. Generally speaking, neither of us are inclined to read directions so any product that isn't totally intuitive is off to a bad start. This is totally intuitive and required no help or assistance from the manual. Total time from unpacking to assembly (without directions) was about 15 minutes.\\n- Washable. The bags can be removed from the hanging hardware and washed which is a big positive.\\n- Locking rollers. Overall this is fairly sturdy...not super sturdy mind you but sturdy enough. The wheels are smooth and can be locked in place. The hanging hardware for the bags and overall frame are not super strong but ample for laundry.\\n-Holds about a load each. Bags are good sized and each hold an average size load.\\n\\nThe Bad\\n- No floor. If you overstuff the bags, there isn't a floor or bottom below. Now, the bags are designed so they won't drag so that isn't really an issue but given enough weight, the bags could eventually wear through which would render this useless. The bag material is okay - not that thick. With repeated washing and heavy weight, my guess would be that the bags will be the first thing to wear out as they feel a bit on the thin side.\\n\\nThe Neutral\\n- The wheels are not bad but not great. They get the job done but frankly, I'd prefer real wheels/casters like the ones on the DecoBros heavy duty 3-bag laundry sorter model. For an extra $5, I'd probably go with that model over this AmazonBasics model in the future since it has better wheels and a reinforced \\\"floor\\\" under the bags. For less than $2 difference, I'd go with the Seville Classics model which also has bag support and better caster wheels.\\n\\nOverall, this isn't a bad option but it's also not my first choice. For just a few dollars more, I'd go with one that has a floor support in place.\",\n \"Product: Re-Hydrate your surroundings with keystone's ksthw17lag 1.8 Quart ultrasonic humidifier. Perfect for those who suffer from sinus problems, keystone's ultrasonic humidifier has a nightlight for bedtime use. The variable mist intensity control releases up to 1.3 Cups of moisture per hour and will run continuously for up to 6 hours.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Cool, Quiet and versatile!\\n\\nReview: Update - I've now used this for several hours per day plus several nights in a row...in fact, despite almost not ordering it, this is my new favorite item! The ability to add in a drop of essential oil has been delightful - both for therapeutic reasons as well as just plain \\\"nice fragrance\\\" that is much more natural and much less toxic than Febreeze or store-bought chemical laden alternatives. Instead, the house smells wonderful and has the added benefit of being beneficial rather than harmful to the body.\\n\\nNow, I also tried this using salt for therapeutic purposes. I started off by dissolving the salt in 3 cups of water then adding it to this humidifier. The good news is this works like a charm. Because ultrasonic humidifiers are known to product more 'white powder' than traditional humidifiers (the mineral build up from the water), it goes to reason that they would be good at dispersing salt into the air. This does indeed work just fine...in fact, so well that it set off my smoke detector/fire alarms. Now to be fair, I set this right under the detector and closed the door so your mileage may vary. However, despite the rude awakening, for those searching for a way to add salt, this is worth a look. As a general FYI, for those who wonder why anyone would want to add salt, people with Cystic Fibrosis and other lung disease/disorders often benefit from salt inhalation so using a very light salt can be quite beneficial while resting/sleeping.\\n\\nOriginal review\\n\\nThis arrived several hours ago at which point I plugged it in, added 3 cups of water to the top filled basin along with a drop of peppermint essential oil and sat down to work. It immediately started to release a fine mist which has continued non-stop while filing the room with the slightest hint of fragrance...all of which is a good thing because this has been a stressful few hours of trying to deal with dead technology of one sort or another. In fact, it makes this product stand out all the more because it is incredibly simple to use, totally intuitive and so very very easy to have up and running...basically the way every product should work - but as my afternoon proves - all too often doesn't.\\n\\nNow, about the looks - this oddly shaped teardrop is fairly large so read the dimensions. It will fit nicely on a table top and feels pretty stead. There is a blue LED type light tooted as a night lite...the on/off setting also control intensity so basically this is one button operation.\\n\\nAs far as the humidifier itself...this is my first ever ultrasonic humidifier and I really wasn't sure how it worked or what to expect. In the past, I've always used the evaporative humidfiers where were hot...this is cool. Evaporative use heat or a heating element to cause steam which is then sent past a fan and released to the room. Basically these are the old fashioned type used by my grandma and mother growing up...they get mineral build up, tend to be hot and stuffy, plus always struck me as petri dishes for germs.\\n\\nThe ultrasonic humidfier is a new breed that does NOT use heat nor a fan. Instead, it uses an ultrasonic frequency to create an ultra fine mist. This thing is VERY quiet and...this is the BIG one for me...they are said to be able to release fine minerals along with the water vapor. As I mentioned, I first just tried this out with a drop of essential oil but also want to try out salt. Additionally, I like the top pour design.\\n\\nIf there was one feature I'd like to see, it would be a UV light as germs are always a concern. Aside from that, this is a nifty little device and vast improvement.\\n\\nLiving in Florida, I like the cool mist option and very much appreciate the silence of this machine. There is a very small tinkle now and then but that's it. For those like myself who haven't used one of these...wow - what a vast improvement! Some might wonder why anyone in Florida would use a humidifier in the first place...fair concern! Most of the time, a dehumidfier (which I also own) is in use BUT, thanks to the fact that we run the AC pretty much non-stop inside the house, the air can indeed get dry plus, I also like to use it as an all natural air freshner by adding essential oils.\",\n \"Product: Viking designed this roasting pan with the home cook in mind by integrating several unique features. The unique inverted handles allow the roaster to fit into ovens with ease, minimizing space versus roasters with handles extended outward. The inverted handles also make the roaster ergonomically easier to put into and take out of the oven. The roaster can fit up to a 25 point bird and comes with a v-shaped, PFOA and PFOE free Eternal Non-Stick cooking rack. The elevated rack helps cook food quicker and more evenly. The 3-Ply Stainless Steel clad design combines three layers of metal to create one solid piece that is formed into the vessel. An induction capable stainless steel exterior is bonded to a layer of aluminum alloy and then finished with a final layer of high quality 18/10 stainless steel on the interior. The three-layer construction combines the durability of stainless with the superior conductivity of aluminum, delivering even heat distribution along the bottom and throughout the sides of the pan. Cooking surface is non-reactive and ideal for reducing sauces or liquids over a cooking surface. Dishwasher safe. Limited lifetime warranty.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: FAR superior to Cusinart\\n\\nReview: I've been using a Cuisinart of roughly the same size as this one...it immediately went to the donation bin when this arrived! This is probably twice the weight of the old one, has better handles, a larger insert and the overall build quality is far superior. Now, a few things worth mentioning - the handles on this model are rather odd - rather than overlapping to the outside, they stand up and are grasped from the inside. This will place the hands closer to the food but it saves valuable space when inside the oven since the handles don't take up extra space. Speaking of the handles, they are riveted - extremely solid. Now, related to solid build in general - this is 3 ply which is basically aluminum in between layers of stainless. Normally I do not like any type of aluminum since it's been consider a health hazard. All surfaces that touch the food are stainless with the exception of the coated insert - which is the only part of the Cuisinart I like better...that insert is all stainless. I will probably swap the inserts out although this is otherwise a very nice, heavy one. Overall this is a well built, very solid, nice weight set!\",\n \"Product: THICKEST(1mm) Hammered Copper Moscow Mule Water Mugs & Pitcher. These mugs are thicker and heavier than ANY other brand including SERTODO!;Pitcher - Capacity: 2.3 Qt. Height:8 Weight:2.1 lb. Brass Handle. 1mm Thick Copper.;Mug - Capacity: 12 fl Oz. Height:4 Weight:8.5 Oz (Compare to Sertodo Mugs which weigh 8 Oz);No lining. 100% Pure Copper. Handmade in Turkey. Magnificient art work. Unique style and superior quality, our equipment gives beautiful service that lasts for generations!\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Sertodo has competition - lovely set, very heavy, great attention to detail.\\n\\nReview: Whew! Where to begin...so, first things first. I am a big fan of copper especially the use of copper for drinking water. For those unfamiliar with the use of copper, it naturally has anti-bacterial and other properties that are beneficial to health. There is a very long, ancient history of using copper to store water and drink from copper cups which has recently been confirmed by science. Additionally, practitioners of Ayurveda advocate the use of copper for storing and drinking water. In any case, I have used pure copper pitchers and cups for several years - purchased from the Sertodo brand which I am quite pleased with and gone on to purchase many other products from them.\\n\\nGenerally I fill the pitcher with water the night before and allow it to set overnight then drink from it throughout the day. Additionally, I keep water by my bed at night so have wanted to get a 2nd pitcher set. Now, if you have been shopping for pure copper cups and pitchers, you know the price ranges from low (and dismal quality) to high...in the case of Sertodo, quite high.\\n\\nThis set had zero reviews at the time of this purchase so I was really taking a chance. I started off by looking at the dimensions and quantity which compares favorable to that of Sertodo. Next, I compared the weight of each product - in the case of these cups, they actually are heavier than those of Sertodo which is impressive as Sertodo had the heaviest cups I've tried yet (and I have purchased cups from at least three other vendors supposedly of good quality). Additionally, this company claimed to not have any lining (a Very important feature) and that this was made from pure copper (also a must). Finally, the use of copper here in the states is still relatively obscure but is quite common in other parts of the world...this set is coming from Turkey so figured I'd give it a try especially because the price was exceptionally attractive.\\n\\nSo, I place the order and Amazon calculates the product will arrive sometime within the next month...fair enough since it's coming all the way from Turkey. Well, the item shipped out immediately and actually made it to my front door in four days...counting the weekend. I was very impressed!\\n\\nNext, the set was very well packaged and arrived with zero damage. Last but not least, this is a lovely set. Even my spouse was totally impressed. The curves are much more pronounced and the attention to detail is quite good. The copper is quite thick - seams are all very well done. The cups are surprisingly heavy...notably more so than the Sertodo set(s) which I also own.\\n\\nThere are a few items worth mention. The handles are not copper and are \\\"attached\\\" using a rivet type connection. This is especially visible on the cups - however, the rivet was placed above the water/fluid line and if not copper, it was covered in copper (how thick, I'm unable to ascertain at this time). The bottom segment of the handle is NOT connected to the cup whatsoever - it simply sits against the outer side of the cup. It's a strange design but still feels steady and frankly, I like the fact that there was not an internal weld below the fluid line/level however, this could potentially be a weak spot - only time will tell. Right now, it seems quite stable.\\n\\nThe pitcher holds slightly less than that of the Sertodo pitcher and has a much more dramatic/pronounced curvature - frankly, I find it more attractive but that depends upon personal preference. The cups are also much more curved/dramatic and heavier. Both the pitcher and cups have the small 'hammered' texture, smooth inside, unlined.\\n\\nThere is a bright finish - I allow my copper to take on a normal patina so only time will tell how this performs in that respect. Additionally, there is no way for me to know the absolute quality of the copper until after long term use...if there is a problem I will update and report it here.\\n\\nConsidering the price difference, good looks and quality, Sertodo has some serious competition....this does compare favorably at least right out of the box. Only time will tell on the long term durability, quality of materials and workmanship but right off, I'm VERY impressed! Exceptionally nice set, quite lovely, very heavy and well finished. Good attention to detail. As I mentioned, I own quite a bit of copper - almost all of it from Sertodo - this is the first and only set that has presented any type of challenge...and a challenge it is. Beautiful set!\",\n \"Product: Our Sertodo Gangotri Water Pitcher is named for the source of the sacred Ganges river high in the Himalayan mountains, the ancient Gangotri glacier. This simple and elegant design is inspired by the simple Ayurvedic practice which goes back thousands of years of storing your water in and drinking from copper vessels to improve your physical, emotional and spiritual health. Copper goods crafted by and for Artists, Artisans, Amateurs, Professionals and Lovers since 1997. Made to be used, made to last and made to look good for generations.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Nice set - well finished, solid feel, excellent quality\\n\\nReview: I'm very pleased with this set. I initially purchased a single cup from another (less expensive) brand sold on Amazon which came from India...it leaked and had sharp edges. I was obviously disappointed and concerned about buying an entire set \\\"sight unseen\\\" however, I read some of the client feedback on other products by this same company as well as customer feedback via their Facebook page...all seemed quite positive so I took the plunge.\\n\\nThis arrived quickly and is a very nice set. Cups are nicely sized with a solid feel and well finished edges. No sharpness and no leaks. Metal itself is much thicker than the inferior ones from the other company. The pitcher is also well sized, has a solid weight and feel. There seems to be a light protective coat on the exterior (or maybe it is a shine) but none interior just as it should be for water purification. Hammered with a light sheen, very attractive set that you will not mind to have displayed which is nice as I use mine for drinking water on a daily basis.\\n\\nAlso, I was concerned over the use of recycled copper and contacted the company who was not only very responsive but explained the source of their copper, levels of purity etc... Unlike many other lesser brands, this is NOT zinc or tin lined (huge plus!). For those interested in Ayurveda practices, this is an exceptional choice.\",\n \"Product: Easy does it with the Oster JsSimple Juicer that's easy to use and easy to clean. You can squeeze more nutrients, antioxidants and immune boosters into your glass and more time into your day. This juicer uses 900 watts of power and 2 speed settings to extract the most of soft and hard fruits and vegetables in no time. It's also designed with a wide chute so even large-sized fruits and vegetables can be easily juiced. You can customize your juice mixes with all the ingredients you want and enjoy. After you're done, clean up goes quickly too. The convenient Rinse 'n Ready filter has a special mesh coating that cuts cleaning time down with less scrubbing. Start juicing with the Oster JsSimple Juicer and discover how easy, and delicious, it can be to enjoy a healthier diet and lifestyle.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Strong, less loud and dry pulp\\n\\nReview: We do a lot of fresh juicing so tend to run through these machines like mad. Over the past decade, we've bought two different Omega juicers (they wore out fast), two Waring Juicers (workhorses that leave a lot of wet pulp behind but otherwise are great), plus a few other brands that leave dry pulp but have a hard time handling fiber. In short, I feel fairly qualified to provide the good, bad and neutral about this machine.\\n\\nThe Good\\n- Quiet. While certainly not silent, this was absolutely less loud than other machines - many of which sound something like an airplane engine taking off. This is by no means silent but \\\"less loud\\\"....considerably less loud.\\n- Pretty Strong. At 900 watts, there are stronger juicers on the market (and many more lesser quality ones) but this is a respectable amount of power to get the job done. To test it, we tossed in some carrots with whole apples. Both moved through without incident.\\n- Dry. Here is where this machines stands out. We have owned two Waring models that were workhorses...they could handle anything we put in there and stand up for years but the pulp was also wet. Now, wet pulp = less juice and with the price of organic fruit/veggies, that means a very real loss of money. This results in significantly dryer pulp which over time, means significant savings if you juice a lot!\\n- Easy to operate, easy to clean and smaller size (more about the size in a minute). This has a nice look, solid base that doesn't wiggle or jiggle when in use, easy functions all around.\\n\\nThe Bad\\n- On one hand, the smaller size is nice for storage but on the other hand, this is considerably smaller than our other juicers. The pulp collector holds about half as does the juice bin. Both are adequate but if you intend to juice for several people at once, this won't handle it....you will need to empty and repeat. Not a big deal but capacity is smaller.\\n- Only two speeds. Again, not a big deal but something to keep in mind.\\n\\nBottom line - because of the ease and convenience combined with dry pulp and price point plus \\\"less loud\\\" than average, I'd rate this a good value. Better than 2 other Omega's due to the strength, better than two other Waring models due to the dry pulp and better than average sound level. Better than other models due to ability to handle carrots and apples etc with ease. Strong, quiet and dry pulp.\",\n \"Product: With 9 versatile cook settings, you can use this precision cooktop for the gentlest of heat to melt butter and chocolate, up to the highest heat for boiling pasta water and searing steak. Fast heat up and cool down, plus compact size, makes the Oster Personal Induction Cooktop perfect for portability. Special induction technology can be used in any environment with magnetic energy rather than open flames or hot coils, making it perfect for campouts, cookouts and travel. Compatible with any induction ready cookware.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Great spare burner and hurricane prep item\\n\\nReview: This was smaller than expected but still worked well. I tested it using two cups of water straight from the faucet and timed it until reaching a full rolling boil which took 3 minutes using this induction burner and 4:30 (four minutes and thirty seconds) using the high setting on our standard burner. Overall a sufficient savings of time which is quite useful when attempting to minimize energy use like during storm outages while running a burner from a generator. I would absolutely be likely to keep this for power outages and storm prep but will also likely keep it handy for use as a spare burner during busy cooking times. This is interesting technology - reduces the risk of burning although it does stay warm to the touch, it isn't enough to result in a serious burn. Like this well enough to probably buy more for the camper/travel trailer etc once convinced this really does live up to expectations over the long run. In the meantime, makes an awesome spare burner and a \\\"must have\\\" for hurricane prep!\",\n \"Product: This Blue Flame 30,000 BTU Liquid Propane Vent Free heater is the perfect supplemental heating solution even on the coldest days. This heater is conveniently equipped with a thermostat for superior control of the temperature in your space. Also, with a battery powered electronic ignition, starting it is a breeze - battery included. This unit can be permanently mounted to the wall or securely fastened to the floor with included mounting brackets and fasteners. A clean burning blue flame tube burner uses the natural convection of the burn to circulate warm comfortable air. With a factory standard Oxygen Depletion Sensor (ODS), rest assured this heater will provide you with years of comfortable and safe heat.*WE ARE NOT ABLE TO SELL THIS PRODUCT TO CANADA AND CALIFORNIA* ** Please note when operating this heater at altitudes over 4,500 FT above sea level could cause pilot/ODS to shutdown the heater.**\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: No regulator, adapters, connectors nothing...grrrr\\n\\nReview: I already own a 20,000 BTU version of this for a cabin and wanted another - the smaller version puts out considerable heat and is well built. The only reason I did not give this a full five stars is the lack of ANY type of adapters, regulator etc needed for installation...in fact, it doesn't even specify in the instructions what model numbers to look for when buying a regulator, hose etc... The other issue is the size. I expected this to be pretty close in size to the older 20,000 BTU unit but it's not...this thing is HUGE. I did NOT deduct a point for the size since it was my fault for not paying closer attention to the dimensions but for those (like myself) who THINK you know what this looks like, be sure to consider the size. These put out a lot of heat and I'm a big fan but really wish more care was given to including ancillary items like connectors, regulator etc...or at least take the time to put in the exact item numbers that will work for installation. This CANNOT be installed without a pressure regulator without fear of damage. Additionally, although vent free, the instructions make it clear that those homes which are well sealed should proceed with caution - fortunately, our rickety old fish cabin contains no such risk but others may want to consider carefully.\",\n \"Product: This Westinghouse seasoned cast iron 12 inch skillet screams versatility, allowing you to make an almost endless assortment of delicious foods all in one pan. Use it over high heat to brown foods perfectly. If youre sear roasting, its a great choice since it can be transferred directly to a hot oven with no worries. Create restaurant-quality French toast or potato pancakes with golden brown, crispy exteriors and its also ideal for making corn bread, frittatas and flat bread in the oven.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Great size and nice features\\n\\nReview: We own a huge amount of Lodge cast iron cook and bake ware plus a few odd pieces collected over the years. Although I've tried other brands in the past, Lodge remained the best. Now, I'd like to say this was equal or better than Lodge but it's not...although it comes close. Compared to my current 12 inch Lodge pan, this has a couple of improvements including the super nice handle to reduce the risk of burns (yes, it can be removed for cleaning) and also the assist handle on the other side - a huge help when working with heavy items. On the other hand, the finish of this isn't quite up to the same quality - there is a slight pitting that will go away when fully seasoned over time. Last but not least, this is made in China - notorious for low quality and contamination. Still, a really nice pan with excellent extra features.\",\n \"Product: The Westinghouse seasoned cast iron Dutch Oven provides you not only the opportunity to sear and braise meat, prepare delicious stew or make meat sauce but turn over the lid when youre done and you have a ready to use, ready to cook 10 1/4 skillet. How convenient is that, especially when cabinet space is limited in the kitchen or youre out cooking on a campfire and looking to take as little equipment as necessary. Use the skillet to make golden brown pancakes or cook a steak just the way you like it.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Inferior to Lodge but okay\\n\\nReview: I own a HUGE amount of Lodge cast iron and use it daily. Over the years I've also tried out a few other brands but few live up to the same quality and this is no exception. It's certainly not 'bad' per se but side by side with the Lodge, hands down this doesn't compare. First, the seasoning is light...it is seasoned but think of it like a starter. Now, having owned many non seasoned cast iron items, that is no big deal as I'm more than willing and able to do my own seasoning...what is a big deal is the rough edges and poor finish of the pot itself. I like the design, it's a great size for all types of cooking or baking plus the two-in-one is always a plus. Unfortunately it's just not up to standard. The handles are small, the edges rough and the overall material has a slight pitted feel and appearance versus the uniformity of the Lodge version. I've opted to use for outdoor grill, bbq and baking rather than traditional use.\",\n \"Product: Bring commercial quality performance to your kitchen countertop with the Hamilton Beach professional 14 cup dicing food Processor. Designed for the accomplished home cook, this food Processor includes everything you need to quickly dice, slice, shred, knead, chop, mix and puree to your exact specifications.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Some good and some bad but everything is big\\n\\nReview: I've used a classic Cuisinart food processor for as long as I can remember...in fact, growing up it's the brand my mother owned and the several reiterations since are very similar...almost unchanged for the past 35 years. So, it was with some trepidation that I opted to try this Hamilton Beach version out because, to be perfectly frank, this is not a brand I equate with high quality. On the other hand, my trusty old food processor is a 7 cup and there have been numerous time when putting up homemade batches of kimchi etc that a larger one would have been preferred.\\n\\nSize = HUGE\\nThe first thing prospective buyers should know is that this is rather HUGE so if space is at a premium in your kitchen, this might not be for you. On the other hand, if you batch process large amounts of food this makes fast work of it.\\n\\nBlades = Numerous and Very cool\\nThe next big difference between this and my classic Cusinart is the blades. This comes with five blade and a storage bin (which is also large so plan accordingly) however, the five blades REALLY expand the use of this food processor as compared to my old one. Some of the blade expand/shrink (very cool) so slices can be thin or thick all with the same blade. Another nifty feature is the french fry setting...we blanch and then bake our fresh cut potatoes for super low cal french fries that are delicious snacks without the guilt. In short, nice set of blades...and a quick warning - they are crazy sharp (hence the bandage in the photos...sorry folks).\\n\\nOpening feed - three sizes\\nThis is a huge improvement over my old one which required constant cutting to get the food to fit. This has three options ranging from small to \\\"just toss in the entire thing\\\". In fact, it's so large that a full size hand could fit resulting in a nice safety feature which won't turn on the machine until the damper is in place. Speaking of turning on the machine - it's a small thing but I like the glowing lights on the function buttons.\\n\\nLocking mechanism\\nAnother major improvement is the locking mechanism...no more twisting into place thanks to a seal and lock. Just set and lock...now, I don't know how long this will last but at first blush, it's a heck of a lot more convenient.\\n\\nFunction\\nIt's strong. Not terribly loud but certainly not overly quiet. The pulse and some of the controls feel a bit more sluggish - ie, they don't immediately stop and start but rather have a short spot where they rev up and down. No big deal but takes a bit of getting familiar with the variation to find the right consistency.\\n\\nStability\\nOne thing I do not like whatsoever is the suction cups at the bottom to help with stability. They always wear out and I simply despise prying it off the counter plus, over time the appearance becomes an issue. In fact, had I realized this had suction cups at the bottom I probably would not have even selected it...such is the depth of my dislike. A serious machine simply does NOT have stupid suction cups to keep it in place. Which brings up the question of weight - for such a big machine, this still needs the suction cups to remain stable as it will not do it by weight alone. There is a lot of plastic on this machine and obvious areas of weakness like the seal, the suction cups etc that I anticipate will be the failure points in the future.\\n\\nSo, bottom line...this huge machine does some things very well but given the choice, I would go back to my trusty old Cuisinart version. Unfortunately, that brand isn't what they used to be either so the search continues. In the meantime, this will be put to good use especially during kimchi season and when putting up other large batches of fermented foods.\",\n \"Product: The 2.7qt Vitaquick Pressure Skillet and Vitaquick Glass Lid set is the ideal package for cooks looking for a convenient way to cook healthy foods. With superior cooking comes superior safety. Features like the UL-listed with multiple safety mechanisms for safe, efficient pressure cooking including an automatic pressure valve and upgraded auto-locking gives the skillet the highest safety in the market. With two convenient setting for gentle or speed cooking the cooker can when indicate optimal cooking pressure has been reached and when the heat need to be lowered completely eliminating the worry and stress. With the ability to double as a frying pan this pressure skillet can satisfy every need. With the patented \\\"Cookstar\\\" all stove base, the fry pans create perfect stability for optimal heat absorption and distribution, cooking foods better and faster on every stove top making these pans \\\"future-proof\\\". A Novagrill surface creates a barbecue effect on food without the fat external crispy frying and generates a \\\"non-stick\\\" experience without the coating or need for fats and oils. Novagrill utilizes the grooved surface of the pan to allow steam to escape so foods sit on top of fats and oil without direct contact cooking food in a healthier and better tasting way. The Vitaquick Glass transforms every Vitavit model to conventional pot. This set allows your Pressure skillet to cook in a variety of ways expanding your cooking with just one set.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Better than Fagor - really nice\\n\\nReview: This review is for the 8 qt version which comes with a matching glass lid (that does fit the 8 qt) as well as a steamer insert and riser. We are big fans of pressure cookers in this household and have used the Fagor brand stainless steel duo set (we own two of them) for about a decade. We also own a 21 qt All American monster that will probably outlast us. To date, the Fagor set has done well; we've had to replace the gasket a couple of times and all the measurements etc rubbed off long ago but we use it several times each week. I was very eager to give this a try as we could really use another 8 qt size...this is perfect for quick cooking a bunch of beans for chili, soup, roast or other meals.\\n\\nOur requirements for a pressure cooker are simple; it must be easy to use, safe, all stainless steel inside and out without any coating. This meets each of those requirements with ease. Another thing I really like about this Fissler - and it's an improvement over the Fagor - is the item inventory list. Every single piece can be replaced and reordered - from the handle itself to the seal, the screw that holds the handle to the lid. Next, comparing it to the Fagor again, this Fissler lid is substantially heavier...I was impressed. The glass lid is a great addition and something that we use frequently as is the insert and riser; I really appreciate all three extra items being included rather than having to seek them out individually.\\n\\nThis does have an assist handle which you will need - this is a substantial pot with some heft to it. Reinforced bottom and quick, easy snap assures everything is in place. Works flawlessly. This is a bit loud but they all are. Overall very pleased.\",\n \"Product: Originally designed for the Greek Army to grind coffee in the field, these mills are strong, beautiful and work great. The patented grinding mechanism cleaves the pepper to maximize the exposed surfaces of the peppercorn that results in more pepper flavor. Pepper can be ground into the attached collecting cup to add measured amounts to your favorite recipe or directly onto food. Hand crafted in Greece.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Exceptionally Nice - Not disappointed whatsoever!\\n\\nReview: Thanks to the other reviews, I opted to try this one out after spending far too much money on lesser quality items that failed to perform adequately. Right out of the box, this is a hefty product with a nice weight to it. Not flimsy feeling whatsoever. The appearance is attractive enough to leave on the counter - which is good because it is a fairly tall item.\\n\\nThe handle is stored inside during shipping and takes less than one minute to \\\"assemble\\\". Grinding is exceptionally smooth and easy. There is a nice sized collection container on the lower half that snaps off/on easily making it simple to grind a significant amount to transfer elsewhere or use for measuring.\\n\\nVERY pleased with this item!\",\n \"Product: Enjoy hot or cold drinks with these double-walled stainless steel small drinking cups. Made of quality 18/8 stainless steel - no worry of breakage like glass. No lead and BPA-free. Durable and easy to clean. Brilliant reflective finish in excellent craftsmanship. 4 inches in length with handle, 2.75 inches in width and 2.5 inches in height with capacity of 5 fluid ounze. Small in size, but heavy in strength and quality. A great choice for those that prefer a healthy and eco-friendly drinkware. Each cup is shipped in a non-woven reusable drawstring pouch - an assurance you are receiving an authentic StainlessLUX product. One year limited warranty.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Superb Set! Comfortable to hold, well designed, good deal!\\n\\nReview: This is a superb little set of double walled stainless steel cups. Each comes in an individual pouch to keep scruff marks to a minimum (also makes a very nice little gift set).\\n\\nThe size is just right...at five ounces these are slightly larger than an espresso cup but no so big that you get a case of the nervous jitters after coffee. Wonderful size for children or adults.\\n\\nNon-breakable - no need to worry about glass chips or BPH in plastic. These are well made, nice weight, feel solid and can handle daily use with ease. Perfect for coffee, kids or a spot of tea.\\n\\nInsulted and comfortable to handle. The double insulation performs very well making these comfortable to hold even when filled with the hottest of beverages.\\n\\nOverall, exceptionally pleased. Great product!\",\n \"Product: La Cuisine's Shallow Cast Iron Roasting Pan is great for all types of meat, vegetable and fish dishes. Low slung sides gives you perfect roast potatoes and sure-grip, wide-angle wedge handles provide comfort and stability as you carry them to the table. La Cuisine's cast iron cookware is crafted using sand molds, which are used only once, forging a lighter product with a very fine enamel finish that is truly unique. Wonderfully versatile, La Cuisine's shallow roasting pan is suited to the oven and all stovetops, including induction. The scratch-resistant, stain-resistant, non-toxic, matte black enamel interior surface gives excellent food release that improves through continued use, and is simple to clean just wash in warm water.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Looks as good as it works - will last a lifetime!\\n\\nReview: I'm a long time advocate of cast iron cookware and own literally dozens of different pots, pans, bake ware and other assorted cast iron items for the kitchen...mostly from Lodge. This La Cuisine is a step up from Lodge and an absolute delight. First, it weighs in at about 10 lbs and for an item roughly a foot long, that's a substantial amount of weight. The inside has a slight coating but is otherwise cast iron - no worry about peeling or flaking like many other \\\"nonstick\\\" type bakeware. Handles are totally integrated - very strong and easy to handle. They WILL get hot so of course, use proper precautions when removing from the oven...like all cast iron, it retains heat for quite awhile. The outside is fully coated in basic black - it integrates perfectly with the rest of my cast iron items but is frankly, better looking and less \\\"pitted\\\"...this has a very smooth finish both inside and out. Durable exterior means years of no rust, no worry use while the inside assures great cooking as well as easy cleaning. Size is perfect - very versatile - I plan on using it for a nice veggie lasagna for two!\",\n \"Product: The Avalon combines the traditional mattress craftsmanship of 8 inches of individually wrapped coils with a soft layer of ventilated foam. Simply run your fingers along the tailored tweed sides or button-tufted upholstery to feel the attention to detail. Hand-stitched tape edges and four-way stretch knit on top help you reap the full rewards of memory foam, keeping your mattress from bowing and supporting you fully every night and every morning. Most important, micro coils sit in 5 zones, adding extra protection and support for your feet, head, and lumbar area, while ventilated foam keeps your mattress fresh and cool. On Catalina Island, Avalon is the gathering place for revelers, borrowing the name from medieval times. For centuries, the name Avalon has endured, and we know this classic mattress will endure as well.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Really appreciate the PUR rating, use of wool and comfort level that remains firm yet with more 'give'\\n\\nReview: For the past couple of years we've been using a memory foam with pillow top mattress - it's been a good mattress but after both of us started getting hip pain, realized it was time to replace it. The hip pain has actually got to the point where it wakes us from sleep simply because the foam packs down at night and doesn't allow sufficient \\\"give\\\". There are plenty of other mattress choices on this site but what really set this apart was the use of natural wool rather than the toxic fire retardant; whenever possible, we've been trying to reduce our exposure to chemicals and other carcinogens.\\n\\nThis arrived in a fairly large box and was easy to put in place - literally just unroll it and let it full expand. I'm not a huge fan of the blue siding but it is more than made up for in attention to detail. Solid reinforced stitching everywhere. From the very first I could feel the bit of 'give' from the springs inside yet the mattress is still firm. I was concerned about the odor and having to air this out for a few days but that was entirely unwarranted - there is a slight odor but it's minimal. Comfort level is quite good. Overall I'm VERY pleased.\",\n \"Product: Celestrons SkyMaster Series of large aperture binoculars are a phenomenal value for high performance binoculars ideal for astronomical viewing or for terrestrial (land) use - especially over long distances. Each SkyMaster model features high quality BaK-4 prisms and multi-coated optics for enhanced contrast. Celestron has designed and engineered the larger SkyMaster models to meet the special demands of extended astronomical or terrestrial viewing sessions. For maximum stability and secure optical alignment the 100 mm SkyMaster model features enhanced structural reinforcement to the main binocular body. As an additional convenience, the 100 mm SkyMaster model also includes an integral super rigid photo tripod adapter. The SkyMaster Series binoculars are built to provide years of magnificent views of the world around you and the heavens above.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Great fun for the family - terrific take-along set for stargazing! Compared to Other Brand - these are better!\\n\\nReview: First, I should mention that this is my first pair of stargazing type of binoculars although I've owned other birding size varieties. I'm by no means a serious user but rather a person that enjoys the ability to get a better look at things now and then. We purchased a telescope awhile back but the size and time consuming process of setting it up means we use it rarely. What we needed was something that was easy to take along, easy to set up and easy to use. This fit the bill perfectly. These are surprisingly large and become a bit tiresome to hold steady...we took turns laying in the hammock to stare up into the night sky. On the first use I was able to get a good view of Jupiter (very bright in the sky right now) and the surrounding moons! Jupiter is easy to see with the naked eye but not the moons. I focused on Jupiter and was very surprised to see the moons right there along side. Next, I looked over at Sirius - blinking red and blue - through the binoculars the colors really stood out. Last but not least, I spent quite a bit of time just looking around the sky - spots that looked \\\"empty\\\" to the naked eye were filled with stars. Other areas that looked like a cluster of five or six stars came alive with dozens and dozens of stars clearly visible with these. Wonderful entry level set of stargazing binoculars that can take camping or just out and about without worry.\\n\\nWe have now been using these for a month or so an enjoy them more and more. We use a tripod for stability as they grow heavy even when lying in the hammock to view the stars. In fact, we like these so well that we purchased another set of binoculars by Barska with a 25-125 zoom...what a mistake! We spent a couple hours trying to fiddle with them in order to get a decent view of the moon...while the zoom did make the moon larger, the blur was so bad that it failed to provide even half what this pair was capable of doing in a fraction of the time. Those went back and we intend to purchase another set of these since nobody wants to \\\"share\\\"!!!\",\n \"Product: The Tamron AF 90mm f/2.8 Di Macro Lens with Canon EOS Mount is a high-performance macro lens ideal for portraiture and close-up photography. It captures powerful sharp images with a background blur. This lightweight, portable lens features Di (Digitally Integrated Design), multi-coating to its element surfaces, to improve performance with Digital SLRs.Features: Provides life-size 1:1 macro images Ideal as portrait lens One-touch AF/MF switchover by simply sliding the focusing ring back and forth \\\"Di\\\" design optimized for digital and photo cameras\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Nice Shots, versatile lens, good price, great warranty, BIG irritation!\\n\\nReview: I just purchased a Pentax k20d with a Pentax 18-250mm lens - a very versatile lens that works well for day to day use. Since macro photography has always been a major interest for me and I'm wanting to get the biggest \\\"bang for the buck\\\" I liked the idea of a lens able to handle both portraits and macro work. After doing some research, the Tamron 90 mm f/2.8 with Macro had some impressive reviews esp for other camera brands. Since there was only one review here on Amazon I was a little hesitant to order. Since I wanted a 1:1 macro without spending a fortune, the only other serious contender was the Pentax 100mm Macro - however, Tamron is currently running a $[...] rebate combined with a 6 year warranty so I decided to give it a go.\\n\\nThe first thing you will notice is the weight..it seems relatively well built but contains a bit more plastic than expected. The lens comes packed in a nice padded lens bag with drawstring [a nice little extra] and lens hood so no need to purchase either separately. It's very easy to install and the automatic function works seemlessly with the Pentax auto focus. Compared to the Pentax 18-250mm the Tamron was more inclined to \\\"search\\\" when focusing at least for the first few moments. I find it to be a little louder than the Pentax but not to the point of distraction.\\n\\nTo switch from automatic to manual requires pushing or pulling a circle around the lens which seemed a bit odd to me - perhaps it is normal but I'm new to the Pentax line and have never used a Tamron lens so it took a few minutes to figure out (the instructions are all but useless - several large drawings in a plethora of languages).\\n\\nNow as to the actual image quality itself...of course being a macro you would expect this to a large extent but just to get a better feel I set up a few \\\"test shots\\\" using both the pentax and the tamron both set at same distance on a couple small objects - a coffee cup, a spider and the fine hairs on a cactus. while both resulted in fine detail and resolution - the tamron really struts its stuff when it comes to the background!\\n\\nAs to what I did not like...again, perhaps this is an isolated experience but the first Tamron lens had to be returned due to inability to manually set aperature. The second worked but only in manual mode - would not function in aperature priority mode [Pentax K20D] and it is important to remember to change the settings in the Menu area of the camera body to allow aperature settings on the actual lens [it's the next to last setting on page 6 of 7 for those of you searching for it].\\n\\nAgain, being new to Pentax and DSLR's in general perhaps this aperature set-up is more common than I realize [been using plain point and shoot after holding out for years with standard SLR's like the old Maxxum series from Minolata...I know - slow to change]. Even after changing the aperature on the lens it will not display as with all other modes. I was expecting tighter integration although it doesn't seem to impact the quality of the photo itself which is very nice. In fact, the photo quailty is so nice I decided to keep the lens despite the small irritation. As other reviews on this lens have noted - it takes some lovely pictures!\\n\\nAt roughly $[...] after the $[...] rebate and a six year warranty - the price is extremely competitive. The photo quality is lovely - especially if you enjoy macro work with those beautiful creamy backgrounds. For a 1:1 macro at a comfortable 90mm lens this also is versatile enough to take great pictures of family, friends and the family pet.\\n\\nIn the Box:\\nLens\\nLens padded case - drawstring\\nLen cap and back protector\\nInstructions sheet\\nLens hood\\n\\nPros:\\n1:1 macro\\nNice photos with a beautiful background\\nAutomatic integrates seemlessly\\nCompetitive price\\nBest price with $[...] rebate\\nExtensive warranty\\n\\nCons:\\nWeird manual/automatic push/pull ring\\nAperature lens adjustment - not thrilled by location or operation in general.\\nFeels a bit \\\"light\\\" [remember, I'm coming from heavy older SLR's]\\n\\nOther Misc Notes:\\nTakes a 55mm filter {less expensive size}. I typically use a UV filter as protection although this sets so far back it almost doesn't need it. I still use one -habit- and also purchased an exexpensive close up filter set to try out.\",\n \"Product: This Bose award-winning acoustic waveguide speaker technology produces full, clear stereo sound by guiding air through a labyrinth air chamber. Proprietary circuitry automatically adjusts the tonal balance so that you hear natural sound at all volume levels. This means that you can hear full, realistic bass at all volume levels.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Best Little Bargain Around!\\n\\nReview: Okay, I had to eat a bit of crow about this little wave radio but it was worth it! My spouse had been saying he wanted this Bose wave radio for ages but frankly, I just couldn't understand why a radio needed to cost so much especially since it doesn't have anything else included. No CD, no nothing.\\n\\nWell, not only has this stood the test of time but it's remained a household favorite. The fact that is doesn't contain a CD means it hasn't become obsolete like most other electronics. The plugs on the back allow it to be expanded and remain versatile and flexible despite the age/years. The sound is friggin AWESOME. The footprint is small and keeps us both happy...no bulky boxes sitting around, no tangled mess of wires everywhere...just a small little box with a really big sound.\\n\\nIt's simple to use, versatile, flexible and really a top quality item. Sometimes less really is more and this is the perfect example of that adage in action!\",\n \"Product: Celestrons SkyMaster Series of large aperture binoculars are a phenomenal value for high performance binoculars ideal for astronomical viewing or for terrestrial (land) use - especially over long distances. Each SkyMaster model features high quality BaK-4 prisms and multi-coated optics for enhanced contrast. Celestron has designed and engineered the larger SkyMaster models to meet the special demands of extended astronomical or terrestrial viewing sessions.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Great fun for the family - terrific take-along set for stargazing! Compared to Other Brand - these are better!\\n\\nReview: First, I should mention that this is my first pair of stargazing type of binoculars although I've owned other birding size varieties. I'm by no means a serious user but rather a person that enjoys the ability to get a better look at things now and then. We purchased a telescope awhile back but the size and time consuming process of setting it up means we use it rarely. What we needed was something that was easy to take along, easy to set up and easy to use. This fit the bill perfectly. These are surprisingly large and become a bit tiresome to hold steady...we took turns laying in the hammock to stare up into the night sky. On the first use I was able to get a good view of Jupiter (very bright in the sky right now) and the surrounding moons! Jupiter is easy to see with the naked eye but not the moons. I focused on Jupiter and was very surprised to see the moons right there along side. Next, I looked over at Sirius - blinking red and blue - through the binoculars the colors really stood out. Last but not least, I spent quite a bit of time just looking around the sky - spots that looked \\\"empty\\\" to the naked eye were filled with stars. Other areas that looked like a cluster of five or six stars came alive with dozens and dozens of stars clearly visible with these. Wonderful entry level set of stargazing binoculars that can take camping or just out and about without worry.\\n\\nWe have now been using these for a month or so an enjoy them more and more. We use a tripod for stability as they grow heavy even when lying in the hammock to view the stars. In fact, we like these so well that we purchased another set of binoculars by Barska with a 25-125 zoom...what a mistake! We spent a couple hours trying to fiddle with them in order to get a decent view of the moon...while the zoom did make the moon larger, the blur was so bad that it failed to provide even half what this pair was capable of doing in a fraction of the time. Those went back and we intend to purchase another set of these since nobody wants to \\\"share\\\"!!!\",\n \"Product: COMPACT DESIGN WITH A GUIDE NUMBER OF 20 AT ISO 100 M 28 AT ISO 200 M SIMPLE MODE DIAL OPERATION OFFERS P-TTL WITH PRE-FLASH TO ASSURE PROPER EXPOSURE FLASH EXPOSURE COMPENSATION CAN BE SET TO -0.5 and -1 EV IN P-TTL MODE THROUGH DIAL FULL MANUAL MODE FOR MORE CREATIVE CONTROL FLASH COVERAGE FOR FOCAL LENGTHS AS WIDE AS 28MM IN THE 35MM FORMAT BUILT-IN, FLIP DOWN DIFFUSER COVERS FOCAL LENGTHS DOWN TO 24MM IN THE 35MM FORMATSHIPS IN A PLAIN WHITE BOX\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Excellent- Ergonomic, Extends battery and function, Sealed\\n\\nReview: I wasn't sure if I would use or need this but so very glad to have purchased it with new K20D. Not only does it provide a secure, convenient way to store an additional memory card and remote but automatically extends the batterly life. The additional controls and functions also make for a comfortable fit as does the entire grip...in fact, I STRONGLY prefer the grip as it just seems easier to hold and control.\\n\\nFor those who may be wondering - yes, the grip IS sealed just like the K20D so no need to worry about a sealed camera with unsealed grip. I don't find it excessively heavy or builky - to the contrary it feels very comfortable even with relatively small hands. I enjoy the ability to use alternative controls when shooting at different angles and VERY pleased with this purchase. EAsy to install, intuitive to use, makes it nice to carry additional accessories without fear of loss. Excellent.\",\n \"Product: The Explorer Tripod is perfect for digital, video and still cameras up to 4 pounds. Featuring quick release leg locks and 3 way pan head, this tripod is a breeze to set up. Utilizing a geared center post, this extends from 22\\\" to 60\\\" giving great range. Extra leg support offers better stability. Tripod bag included.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Great Value - Excellent spare, starter or secondary tripod for great price\\n\\nReview: This low cost tripod came up as a promotional offer when purchasing a camera so I really wasn't expecting much since the price was so low. I figured the tripod bag would cost nearly that much so decided to give it a try. While by no means is this a professional model, it is an excellent value for an affordable starter tripod or spare.\\n\\nFeatures:\\nRelatively lightweight - certainly not in the lightest class but sturdy and still manages to remain light enough to not tire for standard use.\\n\\nAbility to rotate in all directions.\\n\\nQuick connect/disconnect feature.\\n\\nAble to hold decent sized DSLR not just super light weight point and shoot models.\\n\\nDecent little canvas bag.\\n\\nQuick hang hook.\\n\\nGood spread - fairly steady.\\n\\nAbility to set-up on non level surface.\\n\\nAll in all, this is a terrific starter tripod or spare you can toss around, leave in the car etc for a very affordable price. Not sure about durability since I've only had a short period of time but like I mentioned before, at the current sales price a tripod bag will cost you nearly the same amount. This should have a little life in it and can double for other uses later. Better than expected at this price!\",\n \"Product: Folds nicely into a 18\\\" carry pouch to carry around.You may hang this disc or mount it with a reflector disc holding arm (see my offering).The translucent surface for softening; silver for the contrast you look for; gold for warm tone; white to fill the shadow; and the black to block out stray light or as background.This is the same reflector you see in professional studios. All 5 of the most popular and commonly used surfaces are contained within one zip pocketed disc. This is an extra large 40\\\"x60\\\" disc good enough for full body, large area application.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Nice size - easy to zip and very versatile\\n\\nReview: An excellent affordable multi-use solution for reflector and difusser. This is sized in such a manner as to provide much more coverage - 3/4 rather than head/shoulders alone. Folds into a circle less of approx 21 inches - still small and compact enough to take along without being bulky. Zips easy enough but is a beast to fold...actually the first time I folded it without any problem whatsoever only to forget what I did and get to struggle and fight with it on subsequent uses. Small word of caution for new users - practice it a FEW times before going in public to avoid looking like a side show while fighting and fueding with this thing! Other than making me look foolish, this is a terrific size that is versatile for all needs. Silver for the natural daylight without cast, gold for sunshine, the standard black and white plus translucent diffuser. Price was right, seller is fast and provides solid service at a very competitive rate; this was my 2nd purchase from them and very pleased with both.\",\n \"Product: 25-125X80 zoom, gladiator, BaK-4, MC Barska binoculars 25-125x80 zoom, gladiator, BaK-4, MC, green lens AB10594 hunting optics binoculars\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: Absolutely AWFUL - compared to Celestron of lower power\\n\\nReview: Recently I purchased the Celestron SkyMaster 20x80 Binoculars and was absolutely delighted to spend time stargazing but quickly realized, we needed a second pair of binoculars as neither of us wanted to \\\"share\\\". I purchased this via Warehouse deals in good/like new condition however, there is always the possiblity I received a lemon.\\n\\nWhat's Included:\\nThis set comes with the binoculars, case, neck strap and instructions. Lens cap and eye piece covers are also included.\\n\\nFeel:\\nThese have a substantial weight and feel well made..unfortunately looks can be deceptive.\\n\\nThe Problem(s):\\n\\nI thought this pair with zoom lenses might be a great addition since it would expand viewing pleasure thanks to the zoom. Boy was I wrong! Although this set of binoculars is only slightly larger in size than the Celestrong pair, the quality is notably less even without using the high zoom. In fact, even at the lowest setting, the blurry image was substantially inferior to the Celestron binoculars. Both myself and spouse spend a considerable amount of time trying these out...we each noticed the same problems. Focusing is more difficult, the image quality severely lacking even at the lowest settings and the haze/double image much more bothersome to eliminate.\\n\\nAdditionally, the tripod brace and adaptor is not steady. It's very solid but slides side to side slowly once set-up.\\n\\nBottom Line - Very underwhelming set of binoculars. The celestrong skymaster set is NOT a zoom so was highly disappointed this did not work out. These are being returned.\",\n \"Product: Logitech HD Webcam C615. HD video calling and sharing-however, whatever, wherever you like. Record in breathtaking widescreen Full HD 1080p. Video call in HD 720p.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Great Webcam! My top pick-EVER!\\n\\nReview: <div id=\\\"video-block-R3SDHL7GVR4KB2\\\" class=\\\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\\\"></div><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/C1cWJ1KPpJS.mp4\\\" class=\\\"video-url\\\"><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/81URU0lYYIS.png\\\" class=\\\"video-slate-img-url\\\"> Please excuse the video quality...total novice at work! PS - Due to Amazon size limitations I reduced the length and quality of the video.\\n\\nInstallation and set-up: Very fast. Took longer to remove from the box than to have up and running. Install the software, plug in, re-start computer and you are ready to use.\\n\\nPhotographs & Video: Really like the intuitive interface. I've attempted to show it on the video attached. A pop-up screen provides full access and controls for all functions including photographs or video's. Upload instantly to Facebook, Twitter, uTube or email. Chat in real time. Integrates with Google and other applications.\\n\\nWidescreen or regular size. Full tilt, pan, other controls.\\n\\nAutomatic lighting adjustment.\\n\\nOther add-on's available including face recognition that helps secure the computer when not in use.\\n\\nFun features like avatars, ability to create a short film and basic editing also available.\\n\\nBottom line - my favorite webcam to date. Seriously convenient - perfect for travel or home use. Sound is very sensitive, just about idiot-proof as evidence by my attempt to use a video review!\\n\\nThanks for watching and hope this helps provide a glimpse of the terrific features.\",\n \"Product: Deluxe lightweight tripod from AmazonBasics. An Amazon Brand.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Excellent Starter or Spare Tripod - Great Value for the Buck!\\n\\nReview: One can never have \\\"too many\\\" tripods but few things are more infuriating than a poorly designed tripod. It's always a balancing act to find a starter or spare tripod that is affordable without being \\\"cheap\\\". This strikes a nice balance between affordability and function.\\n\\nIf you are looking at this tripod then you probably have also viewed the Vista Explorer Tripod <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Vista-Explorer-60-Inch-Lightweight-Tripod-with-Tripod-Bag/dp/B000V7AF8E/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Vista Explorer 60-Inch Lightweight Tripod with Tripod Bag</a>. I've owned the Vista tripod (and I'm the top reviewer for it) for over three years and will say right up front, this AmazonBasics tripod is VERY similar in style, function and features. Both are affordable options that make a perfect starter, secondary or spare tripod although at the time of this writing, the Amazon tripod is actually less expensive!\\n\\nFeatures:\\nTripod bag - No, not a necessity but it's nice to have a tripod bag and frankly, the cost of most bags is nearly that of this entire unit so you really can't go wrong. This tripod bag (and the tripod) do say \\\"AmazonBasics\\\" so prepare to do a bit of advertising for Amazon in exchange for a great price and highly functional unit.\\n\\nQuick Connect - Yes, this tripod does include a quick disconnect feature. The camera screws on top and then a lever releases/connects the plate.\\n\\nQuick Hang Hook - Nice addition for those that desire it.\\n\\nAbility to set-up on non level surfaces. There is small level built in to this unit which is a change from the Vista unit (perhaps that has been added in the past several years but mine is several years old). However, the level is small and hard to see so of fairly limited potential except in good lighting.\\n\\nRotates in all directions - fairly smooth but certainly not professional quality.\\n\\nAbility to hold a decent sized DSLR - not just a lightweight point and shoot.\\n\\nCarry handle - pick up and move easily.\\n\\nLightweight but with solid spread and decent height. Again, this is not a professional solution whatsoever but for the average hobbiest or someone that needs a spare to toss in the vehicle, this tripod will get the job done.\\n\\nReally can't beat the price and features! Super starter, spare or secondary tripod.\",\n \"Product: Wirelessly Stream Music In Genuine Hi-Fi Quality With the Compact HEOS 3 Wireless Speaker: Hear Everything from Tablet Content to Internet Radio, Pandora, Spotify, Rhapsody, iHeartRadio and More Dual Custom Drivers, Two-Channel Amplifier, Dual-Band Wi-Fi, and DSP Processing Guide the HEOS 3 Wireless Speaker and Produce Deep Bass, Involving Sound, and Wonderful Dynamics The compactHEOS 3 wireless speakermakes music come alive in rich, vibrant, full-range, hi-fi sound that features genuinely deep bass and a punchy midrange. Able to stream music from a plethora of sources, including smartphones, tablets, USB sticks, NAS drives, and the entire spectrum of Internet radio and music services such asSpotify, Pandora, iHeartRadio, Rhapsody, andTuneIn,HEOS 3occupies a small footprint but delivers sonics that don't shirk on dynamics or clarity. Because of the superb user interface and simple setup, you'll be listening to music seconds after you remove HEOS 3 from the box. Dual-band Wi-Fi, two custom drivers, a two-channel amplifier, and DSP processing do the rest. You can even add more HEOS components to the system, group them together, and enjoy multi-room sound. Backed by our60-Day Satisfaction Guarantee. What HEOS Is and How It Works Wireless multi-room sound has finally evolved to meet audiophile standards. IntroducingHEOS,a cutting-edge wireless system that fills any room with phenomenal sound from your digital music sources. Bolstered by dual-band 802.11n Wi-Fi for long range and extra bandwidth, HEOS connects to your existing Wi-Fi network and can be placed anywhere. No bridging device or new equipment required. HEOS Means Plenty of Options and Easy User Interface You can choose one of three different-sized standalone speakers; the optional HEOS Extend even expands wireless reach to every part of your home.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: GREAT speakers with some limitations...\\n\\nReview: I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with this product and suspect most others will encounter a similar response when first using.\\n\\nThe Good\\nMake no mistake about it, these sound terrific. I was delighted to receive these via the Amazon Vine program for review (for other viners, it was just plain luck...no bots, no super sonic connection). Since we have mostly transitioned to online storage and streaming these made perfect sense for our needs.\\n\\nPackaging - Right from the start you will notice the superior design - the box, instructions and so forth are both attractive and functional.....qualities that expand to the product perfectly.\\nDesign - I'm delighted by the design of these speakers...adore how they play from two sides and can be situated in a variety of convenient and practical settings. While these are not ultra small, they also are not huge. The only thing you will need is an electric outlet...no more ugly wires! The speakers have three buttons on the top (volume up/down and mute) as well as a few small contacts in the back (hdmi, aux jack, connect button etc). Very minimal design which makes it easy to use.\\nSound - Both the HEOS 3 and 5 sound great but there is a notable difference between the two; the HEOS 3 has a solid sound but not necessarily quite as rich...especially in the bass and lower range...as the 5. It is perfect as a group which is how I prefer to use (more on that in a moment). The HEOS 5 is an impressive speaker and provides ample sound in a good sized room...roughly 400 sq ft with cathedral ceilings. We opted to pair it with the HEOS 3 for use in the kitchen and nook (about another 250 sq ft)and have no gaps nor diminished sound quality. Is able to handle LOUD music without distortion but also equally up to the task of classical, jazz etc...\\nEase of Installation - As mentioned, we opted to install these in the living room and kitchen area while removing the last of the wired ugliness...basically plug and play. No wires, no cutting holes in the ceiling, no holes in the walls. Just great sound that fills the room with ease.\\nFunction - One of the innovative features of this isn't just the two sided speakers (okay, I just love the design of the speakers...even the handle makes sense!) but how they operate together or independently. This sets the system above the rest and is a great feature! For example, we can both enjoy music from room to room by syncing them together...the music \\\"follows\\\" you throughout the house. This is a very nifty feature and the first time I've ever encountered it in a home system.\\n\\nThe Bad\\nNO Access to My Favorite Cloud Service! As enthusiastic as we are about this product there are serious irritations...namely, I do NOT get to use my \\\"favorite cloud service\\\" which happens to be Amazon. It comes pre-loaded with Spotify, Pandora and a few others but Amazon is my media company...I love keeping my books, movies and music all in one place. This is a serious limitation in my mind however, I did not dock the product for one simple reason...I am HOPING Denon comes out with an update that includes Amazon asap. Plus, I didn't feel right docking the product when Amazon itself launched their new Fire TV device without access to the streaming music app (which was also seriously annoying especially since it was an Amazon product!). Fire Tv went on to add the music app after a couple of months so hopefully Denon will follow up by adding more providers in the very near future.\\n\\nIt is possible to use the aux as a work-around and stream whatever you want directly from the device but it rather limits the full potential and adds one more layer of \\\"connection\\\" that limited the placement of the speakers to where we could \\\"plug in\\\". Again, not a huge deal breaker but it defeats some of the potential of the product since placement has to include a physical wire. On the other hand, using some of pre-sets like Rhapsody etc shows the full range of this product which works flawlessly. Also really like the fact that you can tune in to your favorite radio station anywhere in the world then turn off your device...this keeps playing!\\n\\nControls are easy to access both on the app and on the actual device itself. Very much hoping Denon adds OUTDOOR speakers to this offering (hint hint hint to any reps that might be reading this).\\n\\nSet-Up - Yes, set-up is supposed to be easy but should you hit a glitch in the road there is nearly zero help available. For instance, when using the aux it wasn't initially apparent that you had to go through multiple steps that had a slight lag...expecting instant connection, I kept hitting buttons and thought it didn't work only to later realize it was due to a lag. Additionally, when I first grouped the speakers, the latency between speakers was really bad...basically the two songs were playing off sync with one speaker falling behind almost a full second. Very disorienting. Nothing I tried fixed it so I turned everything off and started from the beginning...doing everything all over again and this time the grouping worked perfectly. What went wrong and how did I fix it? I still haven't the slightest idea but it now sounds great. My point is that although this is a very simple system, sometimes less isn't more...sometimes it's just too little information that leads to more frustration if things don't go perfectly.\\n\\nBottom line - the limitation on streaming music choices was a major disappointment but I've held back on docking a point because Amazon FireTV took two months to add their own app to their device...hopefully Denon will expand streaming options very soon. Since the official release date isn't out yet, more popular options may be available by that point and time. Currently options are limited to Pandora, Spotify and a few others but be forewarned, your favorite provider may NOT be included yet.\\n\\nOn the other hand, GREAT sound, GREAT design, Ultimate flexibility, easy to expand, love the grouping function. Designed with streaming in mind so Denon...please expand to include Amazon Cloud/music asap!!!!\",\n \"Product: With free access to Rdios library of 30 million songs, plus internet radio stations, Cone can always find something to match your mood. Whether you prefer to control things a little or a lot, Cone will take care of the soundtrack, so youre free to enjoy the moment.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: NO Android app til 2015 - limited to a single source and single speaker, requires constant re-sync. Not ready for prime time.\\n\\nReview: I had high expectations from this product but must admit, I'm totally underwhelmed. Out of the box it's a nice looking unit with solid feel and weight. It powered right up and has audio instructions to walk the user through set-up. That was the last time I looked at this unit with anything other than contempt.\\n\\n So, why the three stars/neutral rating? I've opted to wait until the rest of the features roll out. It seems like more and more products are pre-releasing half finished products.....while I don't personally like paying for the privilege of beta testing half finished products, this is the reality. Cone promises to add more app's and enhance functionality plus play nice with Android in the near future. If it takes care of some of these issues like the ability to add more speakers, apps etc, this will GREATLY enhance the product.\\n\\nFirst things first...it would not sync with the wifi. I tried time and time again using a desktop, laptop, two different tablets. Turning off the firewalls/protections, attempting to add the device via wifi settings on the laptop, desktop and even direct via the router controls...nothing. Started all over and again, nothing. Went to the website troubleshooting section which seems to be the most redundant bit of non=help available. Tried their \\\"support\\\" link...it basically states the exact same thing. Went to Facebook...it's only a sales pitch. After over 2 hours of doing exactly the same thing over and over, it was finally recognized. Okay terrific...nooooo, not so fast.\\n\\nNext, it immediately stalls and shuts down. Reboot everything and start over...once again, Cone not connected. Meanwhile, the start.aether.com site won't load which of course, adds to the irritation. Try again, start to go through set-up again and for the upteenth time, get tossed off the site. Go through over and over and once again, finally recognized only to get tossed off. By now I'm more than a tad miffed. As a side note, I'm running a Centria dual band router and rarely have issues but just in case, turn off everything else...same problem. You would think they would build in a work around or manual input...apparently not. The itsy bitsy instruction insert provides zero help for trouble shooting. The website was barely better. After doing a Google search, I ran across information about the buggy app, sync issues and a few other notable items including the lack of support for Android users which is NOT something they seem to actually mention on the site or other information...if you read long enough you will run across this tidbit...'{an android version of the app will be available in early 2015). So dear readers, if you are running Android, absolutely wait because this isn't ready for prime time whatsoever.\\n\\nAlso own Denon Heos products which we adore! In fact, the more we use them, the happier we are with the product. Thought the Cone would go great out in the garage and/or porch thanks to the ability to recharge etc but aside from the set-up issues and the less than impressive app, this is tied directly to Rdio with minimal sue without paid subscription.\\n\\nAbout Rdio - this cone makes it sound like you get free Rdio access...but in fact, you get the same free access as anyone else using the freebie version. Yes, you can skip' 6 songs in an hour but for truly advertisement free listening, you must pay the subscription rate of $10 per month. Now, that wouldn't be a big deal but unless you are a Rdio user already, it's just adding one more app for what feels like an inferior service compared to other options. In fact, this really feels like a Rdio device that tries to get the user to sink even more money into the service after paying a pretty nice premium for a speaker...or oversized paperweight given the number of times needed to sync, then resync and resync again. Lest you think I'm exaggerating, be sure to take a look at the FAQ's of the company website which clearly lists this as a commonly encountered problem...and if anything, they are being modest.\\n\\nUsers Held Hostage\\n\\nIn addition to holding the user hostage to the paid Rdio version for ad free listening, I was surprised to find there is all but zero other ability to add other app's....No Amazon Cloud, No Pandora, No nothing. This is VERY limited...again, you get the freebie/ad version of Rdio or an option to add a monthly subscription for yet one more service...and one that very few people are using at that. Blah!\\n\\nEven worse, if you want to use your playlists of other standard features, you MUST upgrade to the paid subscription. To truly get this to play the entire album via voice command, you need the full paid subscription...otherwise, it just plays something similar. Ditto for songs. In short, if you don't intend to use the Rdio paid version, this device is only half functional. And remember...you ONLY get a choice of Rdio...no other major subscriptions or choices!\\n\\nPrivacy\\nSo, another thing I initially thought was a benefit turned out to be a very real negative. I've been waiting to buy an Amazon Echo device which is \\\"always listening\\\" but able to talk/respond. We have a visually impaired family member who would really benefit from this feature but like many others, I was a bit concerned over privacy issues. This Cone has a press button to allow the user to speak a requested song/other...initially I thought this was a much preferred way to use audio without the constant listening. I was wrong. Reading through the online information, it seems this device is also 'always listening' but without the ability to respond to anything more than a command or song.\\n\\nI understand addition app's are supposed to be forthcoming and if these plus other updates help improve the item, I'll try again. This feels like a beta release/rush of the product which is only half done. It's filled with glitches, does not easily recognize the item, requires constant attention to sync and re-sync and sync again...only to then be limited to a single rdio feature filled with advertisements.\\n\\nSingle Speaker\\nAnother disappointment was the inability to use more than a single speaker at a time. Frankly, for this price, I expected to be able to add additional speakers to other rooms like the Denon HEOS which allows us to sync the music from room to room or play independently...it's a feature we absolutely adore in this household! Instead, this runs a single speaker at a time and only a single speaker. BIG disappointment!\\n\\nBottom line - Check out Denon Heos for roughly the same price....more options, multiple speakers and rarely requires a reset. This is simply NOT ready for prime time!\",\n \"Product: Bamboo Spark with snap-fit for iPad Air 2, utilizing Wacom's proprietary EMR technology and an integrated self-inking pen. Works with any A5 paper.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Very pleased = text conversion does work albeit some caveats\\n\\nReview: Wow...where was this when I was in college? My main interest in this is to scribble notes...I'm older and tend to do my best thinking with an old fashioned paper and pen. Unfortunately, that is slow, inconvenient and prone to loss. For years I've waited for the easy ability to digitize handwritten notes and with the release of the Galaxy Tablet Pro was finally able to jot down notes and keep them stored/send receive etc...of course, the price is a lot more steep so I was curious how this little Spark would compare.\\n\\nFirst things first...this was tested using a Galaxy Pro Tablet, running Android with a fairly solid connection/wifi in the room. The Spark arrived nicely boxed and already charged/ready to use out of the box. Turned it on via the switch at the bottom, hit a couple of buttons and was up and going. The small paper pad with protective case/portfolio is sized perfectly - it's basically standard paper and in fact, I also tested this using index cards to write on as I frequently use them when brainstorming (nice to organize and keep digital copies/send via email etc). The pen wouldn't be my first preference but is much nicer than most other digital pens I've tried in the past...not great but not bad either.\\n\\nI tested using both drawings and written text since my primary interest is in text with some doodles/drawings etc...I then emailed myself copies. Although the \\\"transform this into text\\\" feature is still clearly showing as in beta, it worked fairly well. One item with more drawing space than text failed to transfer to text and instead, sent an error message. The others which were primarily text did convert into text albeit, there are clearly some bugs to be worked out. I deliberately used sloppy and irregular handwriting...the results show it. This allows the user to send via only a couple of formats....the only ones relevant to my needs are text and pdf but that should suffice. It synced very well with my tablet and emailing myself the results was totally pain free. I turned off my tablet and tested the Spark - it saved everything and then synced with ease...although I'm not exactly sure how much it is able to save and transfer at a later time, it does indeed work. The Spark also allows notes to be saved individually or combined into a single page...a nice feature that does requires a tad more attention as it will save over one another at times. Overall I'm very impressed by this for both ease of use and overall results. Hopefully the handwriting will continue to progress but shows solid promise at this early stage. I've included a couple examples of the writing (again, deliberately sloppy) as well as the text translation below for comparison.\\n\\nText Translation Results (in actual format):\\n-a\\nwriting on\\nan index eajdw\\nkeeps ask.es#t}\\nNow attempting to update this test pg to\\nadd#2.. o which it does sucessfully.\\nHow long to update the page on the tablet?\\n-Basically just a few seconds.\\n-Next = does this work on any paper?\",\n \"Product: Midland GXT-500VP4 X-Tra Talk GMRS/FRS 2-Way Radio Value Pack with 14-Mile Range\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: AWFUL reception! Barely a mile\\n\\nReview: I just purchased these in part due to the relatively decent reviews and for the rechargeable aspect, features and brand-name. Took them out to test and really not pleased with the performance. In Florida so mountains and hills are not a major influence in the performance evalution. Also, it was perfect weather. I'm not in an area with high rise buildings, rather outside of town in a mostly residential area. At one mile they began crackling severely with static. At just over a mile-they became non-audible...only the call feature worked. By 1.5 miles-forget it. Full charge, no mountains, no hills, no tall buildings, nothing but a few tree's. Now, I did NOT expect anything near the claimed 14 miles, not even half that. I did expect somewhere between 2-4 mile range in perfect weather...nowhere even near it. On the other hand, the rechargeable aspect is nice, the car adaptor is a great little touch but for the price difference-they barely outperformed the $20 set I purchased as toys for my neice/nephew. Disappointing\",\n \"Product: pProtective Disc Skin Protects discs from scratches.It also protects DVDs, Consol or Computer Games, and Music Data Discs. Works in DVD, CD, Game players and computers. Protective skin with Liplock Seal TM snaps onto disc tightly. Skin does not affect video quality and may be left on permanently, works with most game system discs.Convenient and protctive plastic cover for storage./p\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Great Product - Long Time User Reviews\\n\\nReview: First of all, I should note this is a great product especially for those with a visual impairment. My spouse has used this daily for several years.\\n\\nPro's - Five file folders for quick access to the most frequently used data sources.\\n\\nEasy navigation with both tactile and lcd screen - plus...and this is a biggie, all functions have speech mode making it perfect for low vision or blind users.\\n\\nGreat sound quality for clear recording.\\n\\nLong battery life especially with battery saving mode which will turn off by itself.\\n\\nEasy to upload into computer or vice versa. Software was a bit redudant so don't use much but comes complete with supporting software, strap, headphones and more.\\n\\nStereo mic works like a charm on playback.\\n\\nAll in all - fantastic product! Still going strong after years of daily use and one of the best available products for those with a visual impairment. Great for taking notes, school, work or even the grocery list. Can't brag enough about this product. Well worth every penny!\",\n \"Product: This leather jacket has mandarin collar, front chest vents with rear exhaust, zip in / out liner, two front pockets / three inner pockets, thick cowhide leather with \\\"antique\\\" styling, YKK zippers and sizes 50+ Add 10 per cent. It is available in sizes 38 to 52.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Really nice leather - great looking!\\n\\nReview: Bought a Mossi leather women's jacket and this one for spouse as a little surprise gift... not only did he absolutely love it but it looks GREAT on him! In fact, I like this one better than the women's version due to the less obvious reflective piping during the day which allows this to be worn for many other occasions.\\n\\nVery thick, ample leather, soft but not really buttery - very thick and provides protection as desired. Pockets and zippers all work, reflective piping is very understated during the day (almost invisible) but does the job in low light.\\n\\nStreamlined look that is very classic design. No fear of looking like \\\"the Fonz\\\" or some other silly cliche. Instead, this has sleek lines despite the heavy leather. Zip out liner is a bit much for Florida but nice to have just the same. Ample pockets, good venting that actually works. Made in the USA with the quality that used to be expected but is not pretty rare.\\n\\nAccording to him, it felt a bit \\\"stiff\\\" at first but quickly loosened up as it was worn making the leather fit like a glove. Very comfortable, very think, well made and looks absolutely awesome!\",\n \"Product: Distinct in fit, fabric and construction from traditional Dickies jeans, this denim collection is more lifestyle inspired to be worn on or off the job. Modern look while staying true to the heritage, quality and value expected from Dickies. Indigo colors are made of 13 ounce denim.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Built for a platypus - no human has these measurements!\\n\\nReview: These seem to be mislabeled - first, this is listed as loose straight leg but actual jeans received say 'slim fit'. Next, the size was supposedly 32. x 32 but in fact, the legs are more like 36 inches - they literally run down the feet almost to the toes. As if that wasn't enough, the legs are so thin that it's almost impossible to fit the thighs into yet somehow the waist is substantially too large...large enough that it's possible to pull down the pants without unzipping or even unbuttoning them...in fact, the only thing that keeps the pants up is the near strangulation of tightness at the thigh level which then continues to the ankles. The fit is so bad it's almost laughable - can't imagine what a person able to wear these would even look like. The only reason these got two stars is that the fabric is nice and soft...assuming you get a pair that fit, these would be a good value just be aware that it's really hit or miss.\",\n \"Product: This long-sleeve 100% linen popover features textured vertical stripes and a band collar while maintaining a laid-back, yet elegant look.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Classic good looks that is as comfortable as it is stylish\\n\\nReview: Let me start off by saying that this shirt was selected in a smaller than normal size in the hope it wouldn't fit the husband and instead, go straight to my own closet. When it arrived, the dear hubby happened to open the package, see the shirt and came to the somewhat natural conclusion that it was for him. He immediately tried it on and the fit was admittedly tight - and the quality quite nice. Living in Florida means this simple linen long sleeved shirt basically never goes out of style - it can be worn year round and feels perfect for all but about a week in winter. It's cool, casual and always stylish. It was also hard to convince him to give it up despite being small in fit. It seems to run a bit larger than expected - not a lot but the overall fit is still excellent. Arm length quite sufficient even though the shirt was a bit snug - and overall, not snug enough to confiscate the shirt as originally planned. Looks terrific - feels terrific!\",\n \"Product: Great traditional all-purpose safety toe work boot excels on all surfaces and is super comfortable\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Loose fit, no arch support\\n\\nReview: Frankly was a bit disappointed in these on several levels. First, not sure what these are made from but wow-what a stink. Not that it's a big deal but I'm not fond of putting a chemical factory on my feet for long periods of time but no point deductions for the smell. White soles - odd but again, no point deduction since it doesn't really impact the wear or comfort...but will clearly not be something that hides the dirt, oil or other problems. Good length and fairly solid construction but some serious limitations. There is all but zero arch support in these and frankly, even though my feet are on the flat side, these are not all that comfortable. Additionally, despite normally wearing a wider sized shoe, the heel on this still allows a lot of wiggle even with thicker socks on. The overall size is a bit loose despite being advertised as the correct size. I've worn a lot of work shoes over the years and do not find these all that comfortable as compared to most. Frankly I probably would not be inclined to purchase these again in the future but will probably keep on hand for sporadic jobs that don't require me to wear these all day long.\",\n \"Product: KENSBUY is the shoes that you will like.This shoes is using imported sandwich mesh fabric, the bottom is soft TPR (shock proof).Soles can be bent,curled,wear-resistant slip.It is suitable design for people wear at any occasions.Espeically for summer wear.People can wear it to go walk,hiking, beach playing, playing, dancing, jogging,running and so on. You need to have a pair of ventilated casual shoes.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Look good and feel good\\n\\nReview: Coupon code resulted in low/no price purchase for evaluation. I normally wear a size 7 so ordered these in a 38 and they fit great...a tad loose but that is probably because I can also wear a 6.5 shoe but depending on the style. I selected the bright yellow and have now worn these several times while working out and even running errands...just this afternoon I had two different people stop and ask where I got these - everyone loves the look! Even better - they are crazy comfortable. Originally I got these for the beach but after trying them on, ended up wearing them for workouts, errands and even gardening. They slide on/off fast thanks to a forward and back tab, the cushion is nice but there is no arch support inside. Still, awesome little slip ons! Coupon code resulted in low/no price purchase for evaluation.\",\n \"Product: Comes complete with a full set of weights that can be adjusted from 2 to 22 lbs. Ideal for road work, bag work or shadowboxing. Specially designed to increase your leg strength and aerobic endurance. Double hook & loop straps for stability. Add $5 for additional shipping cost.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Better than other top rated vest\\n\\nReview: I've been using a Pure Fitness Weighted Vest <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Pure-Fitness-Weighted-Vest-Silver-Black-Lime-20-Pound/dp/B00DZ3P77A/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Pure Fitness Weighted Vest, Silver/Black/Lime, 20-Pound</a> for the past couple of years - originally I purchased it due to the low price but it has increased considerably since that time. However, it is a good vest and has been going strong without any issues so this Ringside vest will be compared to that one since they both are in roughly the same price range.\\n\\nSo, first things first...why use a weighted vest at all? Well, like a lot of people, I was spending a lot of time doing reps without much additional gain. Toss on a vest and suddenly the number of pull ups needed to get the same/better results drops significantly. Ditto for other exercises. My criteria was to find a vest that would not flop or bounce around because I wanted to do a variety of exercises ranging from pull-ups/pushups to jogging. It needed to be secure, comfortable and durable.\\n\\nBoth the Pure Fitness mentioned above and this new Ringside are neck and neck but there are a few important differences. First, this Ringside is a complete vest rather than one that simply slips over the shoulders. The Pure Fitness is more like a bib with a wrap that secures both the front and back...this is a full vest that secures with belts/buckles. The fit of this Ringside is quite secure assuming you have a good fit. I'm reviewing a size large which fits perfectly for me but could be quite variable for others. The Pure Fitness vest is more forgiving in how it fits since the sides are basically open with the velcro \\\"belt\\\" providing the closure. In my case, both vests fit great but if you are a person with a different body size/shape then these will each fit quite differently. For example, MsJJ likes the PureFitness vest due to the length - this new Ringside sits at the wrong place on the hips/buttocks and rubs...other large persons would dislike it because it falls too short to stay secure. Again, this is a product where fit matters! For my use, I find this a much more comfortable and secure fit. There is also ventilation via some mesh panels which is nice although I worry about the long term durability especially with a great deal of movement and friction. Overall this feels well built with big easy to use buckles and two areas to secure (waist and chest roughly).\\n\\nNow, one area where Ringside really stands out is that all of the weights are metal not sand...and they come preinstalled in the vest. That is a huge improvement over the PureFitness vest which basically send a pile of small sandbags which were a nuisance to insert into each little pocket. Because of the irritation factor, adjusting the weight on the PureFitness is only theoretical...the risk of breaking a bag and just the hassle mean it's unlikely to be done at all and in fact, after owning it for all this time, I've never adjusted the weights. I put them all in and leave it like that. These metal bars are easy to adjust and of course, not prone to breakage.\\n\\nOne thing that I wish had been added was reflective markers. This basic black looks more like a terrorist belt than exercise belt and provides little/no reflective tape/other for outdoor use. No big deal as it's easy to add but would have been nice to have it built in from the start. Last but not least, at 22lbs this is an okay weight but would have much preferred a 40lb version instead. Overall, very pleased and expect to get plenty of use.\",\n \"Product: Get the ultimate workout while you reach your fitness goals faster with the T202 treadmill, packed with features including MP3 compatibility and a heavy-duty motor that's smooth and quiet. Comfort The Perfect FLEX deck cushioning provides the right mix of shock absorption for less strain on your feet, ankles, knees and hips. The COOL fit fitness fan keeps you cool, providing a more comfortable workout. Strong, Silent Frame A strong frame that doesn't shake when you run gives you the confidence you need to stick with your program. Horizon Fitness treadmills have more welded steel components, making them easier to assemble and among the strongest and sturdiest. Quiet Motors No distractions. We build powerful motors that run so quietly and efficiently that you can listen to a TV or radio at normal listening levels--even at a full sprint. 30 Program Options Choose from 30 program options, including manual, 6 calorie goal workouts, 10 distance-based workouts, 10 steps goal-based workouts and 3 intervals workouts to meet your short- and long-term fitness goals. Compact Folding System Feather LIGHT folding lift system allows easy folding and unfolding, as well as simple storage. Variable Cushioning In tune with you. Careful study of biomechanics helped Horizon Fitness create sophisticated cushioning systems that provide the right balance of firmness and shock absorption.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Compares T202 with T202.03 models - liked the older model better\\n\\nReview: Like the older model better. Here is what you need to know. We've had our last treadmill for 7 years and decided to upgrade due to the constant squeaks, moans and groans from the old machine. Additionally, we wanted one that went faster as the top speed on the old one was only 10 mph and the spouse routinely goes above that speed for an extended period of time. So, we went to the local PlayitAgain store and tried out the Horizon T202 (older model) and bought it on the spot. Unfortunately, we brought home a boxed model which was actually this new version of the T202.03. There are substantial differences and despite the fact this is a newer model, we actually ended up returning it to the store for the older model which was the same price.\\n\\nFirst, both machines have the same motor, speed and other specs. Both machines reach 12 mph with a 12 degree incline. Both have a lifetime warranty on frame and motor (very nice) and both have heart rate grips, media player hook-up, built in fan, built in speakers, and quick entry presets for speed/incline. Both models respond quickly to commands and have flex platform for less impact on knees when running.\\n\\nHowever, given the choice, we would still choose the older version of the T202 for the following reasons:\\n1. Display. This display on this is inferior. It's basically a green LCD with grey/black text that is small, hard to read and inconvenient. The big track is supposed to show progress but takes up a lot of precious space on an already small screen. On the other hand, things like speed etc are stuck in the corner with small font. The older version of the T202 has nice big numbers for easy viewing even while running. The numbers are orange against a black background and substantially sized...very nice!\\n\\n2. Incremental pre-sets are missing. Both models have quick button pre-sets for inline and speed but the new model T202.03 starts out with 1,2,3,4 then moves to 6,8,10,12...eliminating quick presets for the higher values. The spouse hated this because he stays at the high end of the speed/incline and wanted the more discerning options. I hated it because the pre-set buttons are placed much higher on the new model T202.03...too high for short stature females to reach with ease.\\n\\n3. No cushioned hand rail. The new model T202.03 does not have cushioned hand-rails...not a big deal but the cushioned version felt more secure especially if sweating etc...\\n\\n4. Speakers angled odd. Okay, both models allow the user to plug in their media player and have built in speakers. As expected, they are pretty basic quality and most users will probably use earbugs but should you not do so, these speakers are angled outward which is odd as it carries sound away from the runner. Given the minimal sound output that is pretty bad design as it would be tough to hear when running.\\n\\nBoth machines offer easy up/down option for lifting/cleaning although lifting is manual versus the electronic version on my older treadmill which only required the press of a button and it lifted itself. However, this is easy to lift and shouldn't be a problem for most persons.\\n\\nRunning platform is ample...nowhere near what you would expect from a gym/commercial quality machine but does fine even for spouse who has a long stride.\\n\\nBeeping...seriously LOUD. Apparently Horizon uses the same company as trash trucks to manufacture the beeping noise. What this machine lacks in sound when in use it more than makes up for in the absurdly loud beeping...a dubious feature on both models.\\n\\nEasy to assemble. Both machines were substantially easier to assemble than old treadmill and can be done in an hour or so.\",\n \"Product: The only thing wrong with the Pro Panther Punch Mitts is that coach will want to do nothing but work mitts. The deeply angled striking surface and recessed contact target combine to catch incoming punches perfectly. A padded hood protects the fingers and a full 1 \\\" supplemental wrist pad guards the wrist. Flex panels integrated into the glove and hood expand and contract for a more comfortable, secure fit.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Good quality but odd wrist support\\n\\nReview: I'm a bit split on this review; initially these are tight especially when trying to squeeze the fingers into place....the fit is secure for sure and I expect over time these will loosen up a bit. I like the easy on/off and the overall quality is high. I'm less impressed by the placement of the wrist support - after playing around with it a bit this seems to be both a pro and con. It does support the wrist but in some cases, could actually work against it making a problem more likely since the wrist has less room to maneuver and the support block is quite firm. It also reduces the full range of motion albeit to a limited amount. Overall I like these and will keep them but I'd suggest trying on a pair if locally available before deciding to purchase especially due to the wrist support.\",\n \"Product: The Viper EVA V-Foam Dartboard Surround Wall Protector adds a protective barrier around your dartboard, preventing unsightly marks and punctures. Measuring 28\\\" x 28\\\", this surround supports both bristle fiber sisal and electronic dartboards. It's constructed with high-density V-Foam, allowing errantly thrown steel tip and soft tip darts to be absorbed, protecting your walls and flooring from damage. Customize how you display this surround, positioning it in either a square or diamond pattern. A hanging bracket is already attached on the front of the surround, allowing you to quickly mount your dartboard. The matte surface keeps your game room looking impeccable, providing lasting protection for years to come. Dartboard and darts sold separately.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: All looks and no substance\\n\\nReview: I've been using a half panel of foam board bought from the local big box store as a type of cheap version of a surround. My dart board is in the garage and frankly the foam board does the job but doesn't exactly look great. I thought this would be a nice upgrade along with the Viper score keeping board that lights up. Frankly, I was disappointed in both. This board is actually thinner than the foam board I've been using. I like the black background (mine is blue thanks to the protective film) but the thickness (or lack thereof) combined with minimal finished edges and fairly crummy mounting hardware made the blue foam version seem super attractive for a fraction of the price. Frankly I'm no longer impressed by these Viper products and would be unlikely to purchase anything from then in the future. I'm giving this a neutral rating since it is a foam board.\",\n \"Product: The high-impact Slam Ball develops explosive power, improves functional strength, and intensifies bodyweight workouts - all at the same time! Coordinated movements with the slam ball boost stability and balance! Strengthen chest, shoulders, back and arms with pushups, crawls, and pike ups. Get six-pack abs and strong lower back with roll outs, crawls, and knees to chest movements! Boost power in your thighs, glutes, and hamstrings with leg lifts and curls!\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Non-Bounce Ball = perfect for slamming or brutal pull-ups\\n\\nReview: This is a pretty straightforward item - it's a NON-Bounce ball which means it lands with a thud when dropped. The ball is roughly the size of a basketball but filled with some type of thick gel. It more or less holds it shape but when dropped, flattens at the bottom. There is some texture to the outside to assist with grip but otherwise, nothing to really get excited about. There are much easier ways to life this level of weight - for example, a kettlebell with a nice grip handle - so this does one thing well...allow itself to be slammed to the ground over and over. MrJJ also uses this ball for a brutal pull-up exercise where he grips this between his knees, does a pull up and lifts his knees to chest. Adds that extra oomph to the entire process. For those who miss tossing hay on the farm or loading big bags of stuff on/off the truck...this will be the next best thing. Overall this seems well made - only time will tell how long it lasts after being slammed around awhile. Fun item.\",\n \"Product: [Made in USA] Vetericyn FoamCare Medicated Equine Shampoo is specially formulated to alleviate and manage skin ailments common to horses. This medicated shampoo aids in relieving itchy, dry, scaling and irritated skin as well as treating fungal skin disorders, rain rot, ring worm and yeast. With its innovative foaming spray applicator, FoamCare is applied evenly with less messsimply from the squeeze of a trigger. Vetericyn FoamCare supports optimal skin and coat health and is soothing, pH optimized and retains the essential oils in your horse's skin. It is the new easy on, easy off shampoo that makes bathing your horse more fun with less stress.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Good lather, convenient spray bottle, better ingredients\\n\\nReview: Living in \\\"horse country\\\" typically means a pretty solid supply of equine related products - especially shampoo - so frankly, I wasn't expecting a big difference. Fast forward an hour or so and this product is on my shopping list because frankly, I like everything about it. The fragrance is nice but not overpowering. it lathers quite well but also rinses easily and it is free of many commonly encountered harsh ingredients like parabens, sulfites etc. The trigger spray bottle is great - super convenient and it works well...yes, no big deal but one of my pet peeves are poorly made spray bottles. I also got the dog shampoo in a spray bottle and like it immensely. Overall, very impressed and super pleased to try this new line.\",\n \"Product: The Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW5606 elastic cord rowing machine provides outstanding way to increase fitness by burning calories and building muscle in a safe, low-impact way. Made of top grade steel, this ultra smooth and quiet rower features an elastic cord resistance with 4 levels of adjustable tension which makes it the perfect addition to your home gym. It comes equipped with large any-slip pedals with straps and an easy to read LCD monitor which displays time, calories burned, count, total count, count per minute and scan. Featuring the option to fold; the Sunny Health & Fitness elastic cord rowing machine is very portable and it can easily be stored away. Maximum user weight 100 KG.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: A Lot to Like\\n\\nReview: Coupon code resulted in low/no price purchase for evaluation. First things first, several years ago I purchased a Sunny Health and Fitness spin bike without knowing what to expect. At the time, it was a new brand, totally unknown to me and without many reviews but the specs of the bike including the flywheel etc compared to the price seemed like it would be a good deal...and good deal it was. I still own that bike and it has literally gone through hundreds and hundreds of hours of workout while still going strong. Fast forward and we have now set up a small home gym in the garage. Yes, space is a bit of a premium but we like to mix things up a bit and really wanted a little rower and this fit perfectly.\\n\\nAbout the rower\\nIf you are considering a Concept rower or other high end type machine like they have at the gym...this is not that machine. If you are a pro then this is not your machine. If you are short on space and just want a smooth total body workout for an affordable price....this very well may be all you need.\\n\\nUnpacking\\nThis arrived quickly and was well packaged in a surprisingly modest sized box. Admittedly my first impression was \\\"uh-oh....this isn't going to be good\\\". I unpacked and started to assemble...this comes with needed multi-purpose tools so even if you don't own a toolbox, you can still put this together without going to the store and buying tools. It also comes with a battery for the display panel. The company gets an A+ for consumer friendliness. Fortunately I was pleasantly surprised because once it was put together, this felt solid, smooth and more than ample for both of us. We are average sized adults but both male and female felt comfortable on this machine. Initially I thought only my wife could use it but despite the smaller size, this fits an average sized man with ease. The seat was comfortable and ample - even MsJJ (who has literally fallen off a rower and into the floor in the past) commented on how stable it felt.\\n\\nAssembly\\nAssembly was simple and took about 45 minutes while having a coffee break. It's pretty intuitive so admittedly, I did not use the directions whatsoever but they were included in the box. Everything fit in place and went together well. No missing parts, no alignment issues. No drama. Tools and batteries are included.\\n\\nFunction\\nThis comes with a small display panel - nothing fancy but it does work (and the battery was included). It's a bit odd at first because the display button scrolls through several settings which are indicated by the placement on the panel. This was actually rather nice because the machines I've been using at the gym didn't have any settings.\\n\\nThe actual rowing mechanism is NOT flywheel nor even air resistance but rather a band resistance. Once again, I admit to being a bit hesitant as to how well this would work but was pleasantly surprised how smooth this operates. The band can be adjusted by raising or lowering the main \\\"wheel\\\" area toward or away from the user...there are four slots which will increase or decrease the resistance at the macro level. The seat and handles are basic but work well and the foot straps are available although largely not necessary since this is well balanced.\\n\\nThe actual workout\\nLike previously mentioned, if you are a pro rower then keep looking but if you are an average homebody in need of a full workout then this does the job well. My first trial I did 300 strokes - it started out very smooth and really didn't feel like much for the first 50 or so. By 100 I could feel a bit of tension. By 200 I was feeling the effort. At 300 I was sweating. The entire first workout took less than 10 minutes at a modest pace and I could feel the effect by the next day in the form of sore and taunt muscles.\\n\\nIt Folds for Easy Storage\\nOne of my favorite aspects of this great little rower is that it folds up when not in use for easy storage. Setting it back up takes less than 2 minutes. Since space is a premium in our garage, this really makes a big difference. This isn't a huge rower to begin with so takes up substantially less space than most rowers but add the ability to fold and store in the corner, this can be set-up almost anywhere with ease. It's light enough to move around without a lot of effort.\\n\\nBottom Line\\nReally good starter rower. Good overall body workout for average users. Smooth function, easy assembly, basic display and easy storage make this a nice addition to a home gym to mix things up now and then or excellent way to get moving with a basic all around workout. Coupon code resulted in low/no price purchase for evaluation.\",\n \"Product: Thoughtfully designed for no-hassle daily use, the Jittterbug5 takes simplicity to the next level with features like big buttons, a backlit keypad and a powerful speaker for clear conversations. Unlike most cell phones that need to be recharged almost every day, the Jitterbug5 has one of the longest-lasting batteries on the market and can go nearly a month without needing to be charged. A convenient built-in camera makes it easy to capture and share every special moment. With Minutes-Only plans starting at $14.99 per month, staying in touch with family and friends is easier than ever.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Excellent choice with some caveats\\n\\nReview: Update - I've been informed by another reviewer that they have now added void dial functionality as of July 2015. This was a MUCH needed addition that will significantly enhance this product.\\n\\nOriginal Review...\\n\\nJitterbug and another major provider both claim to have the easiest, most reliable service so was very interested in trying this out. I received this via the Vine program and intended to use with an older blind individual. The phone is a basic flip phone and service is provided via Verizon. For those not familiar with the program, you will basically buy the phone then contract out for the phone service (via Verizon) AND then also add the health access if desired.\\n\\nThe one button health line is a wonderful addition especially if you have elderly or disabled persons who might need questions answered or emergency care. In some aspects the phone is able to act as an extra support system not only for basic technical help but also emergency contacts, relate information to 3rd party provider etc...However, it is not inexpensive. On the other hand, when comparing it to a stand alone help line, it's a bargain. So, ultimately this may save money if you combine services or cost a bit more than average if you only need phone support.\\n\\nThe phone received via the Vine program came with 3 free months which appears to be part of this offer as it was included with the paperwork (basically lowering the total cost). There is a 35$ fee to activate and the monthly charge for all services would be another 25$....if one were to purchase unlimited everything with premium services it would run $60 per month however there are other less expensive options with limited interaction.\\n\\nCharge on this phone is excellent as is the talk time...unlike many smartphones that must be charged daily, this can go a week.\\n\\nThere were some issues - first, the blind individual did NOT like button placement specific to this phone. The one touch health access interfered as it was too easy to touch and overrides everything else. Good in an emergency but prone to false calls. Next, there was limited/no voice/talking to help set-up and so forth. This was a deal breaker as his current phone is voice enabled (also a Samsung).\\n\\nIn short, a good phone and solid service but NOT necessarily the best phone for a blind or visually impaired person seeking voice enabled services.\",\n \"Product: Camco's RV Screen Door Closure Kit helps to keep the screen door shut. It features dual spring action that pulls the door closed with evenly distributed tension. This kit Installs easily on standard, radius corner or fold-down tent camper door.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Simple Solution to Super Annoying Problem!\\n\\nReview: Anyone that deals with a screen door on a RV or travel trailer will immediately understand the appeal of this little closure kit; rather than having it swing open, stick to the door, step out to separate the two doors then click to close the screen...and repeat a dozen times a day...this little kit does the trick. We only installed one of the springs as it seemed to provide the right amount of tension without a \\\"snap back\\\"...just a gentle closure. Installation was quick and easy. No more chasing down the screen door. Simple effective and affordable.\\n\\nFor those that are wondering if this is more than a thin spring...not really. It's actually two thin springs with a nice tension and installation hardware. You could find same in a hardware store so only real benefit is not having to search or trial/error the tension.\",\n \"Product: Chicago legend Gene Hunt brings his full length "Sasoned" to Unified Recordings which is jam packed with serious deep house tunes featuring house icon Robert Owens, Cei Bei, Swaylo, D from 24 Karat and a tune done with labelmate Glenn Underground. 10 tracks total on this dope body of work.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Best Grocery or Storage Cart Ever!\\n\\nReview: Was searching for a folding grocery cart when came across this item. Very pleased with the item! Wheels role smoothly, No rattle or noise. Bag is large enough to put a decent amount of items into and even fully loaded - glide is effortless. Stable support stands firm without fear of falling over. Convenient side pockets great for an umbrella and other quick access items. Small enough to take with you and large enough to pack plenty into. I wish this had been around when I was in college! For now, the only regret I have is wishing they had an even larger size...I'd buy it in a jiffy. Study, well built, cart. Bag is removable and cleans easily. Delivery was fast. Handle is comfortable and stable as well. Excellent bargain!\",\n \"Product: Mobile Filing Cabinet with glass top and metal structure\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Excellent price Excellent value Excellent Product\\n\\nReview: I needed some affordable yet sturdy file cabinets for the home office but found the lower cost alternatives at the local office supplies store(s) to be inadequate, low quality or much higher pried. I was a little concerned about ordering these but very pleased with the purchase. They arrived quickly, well packaged and in good condition. Assemply was easy and took about 45-60 minutes. Rollers are very nice - not the small ones that give you trouble but rather large enough to easily navigate the cabinet even when fully loaded. The locking mechanism on the front wheels is easy to use and convenient.\\n\\nAnother major plus is the all metal construction - except for the front and top [top is glass]. Very attractive and versatile. No warping from the weight, well constructed, good welds should withstand even the heaviest loads. Handles are solid with a nice feel and the sliding mechanism is very well made. Many of the lower cost file cabinets in the local office supply stores were problematic due to the wood or inferior quality of the sliding mechanism. These slide outs are of a much better quaity than some of those twice the price.\\n\\nCompletely satisified. Total cost for two units was $210 which is still slightly less than one comparable unit at the local store. Good quality item especially for the price. The ONLY thing I would have liked would have been a two file drawer option [file cabinet upper and lower] although for my current needs this worked wonderfully.\\n\\nExcellent units!\",\n \"Product: Acrylic Paint Pens for Rock Painting Glass Painting, 24 Colors Paint Markers Kit for Glass, Stone, Wood, Fabric, Metal, Ceramic, DIY Art Crafts and Most Surfaces, Extra Fine Tip, Water Based, Acid Free Non Toxic\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Extra nice = exceeded expectations\\n\\nReview: A beautiful set of colored pencils. Like many others, I enjoy adult coloring books but also use colored pencils for \\\"real art\\\" where Prismacolors are my \\\"go to\\\" brand...at a buck per pencil, I reserve those for fine art only so imagine my surprise when I found this set. While not quite the same quality, these come close...very close. Nice vibrant colors that provide ample opaque coverage. Come with a secure storage box that is extra nice - metal so will last a good long time. Blotter paper, nice color selection....frankly, these were above average and exceeded expectations. In fact, I like these so much that I'm not using for adult coloring books but rather reserving for regular art! Complimentary product provided for evaluation.\",\n \"Product: Accept every way your customers want to pay with the new Square Reader for contactless and chipEMV chip cards, Apple Pay, Android Pay, other NFC payments, and magstripe cards. The reader connects wirelessly to iOS or Android devices with Bluetooth LE or with USB if you sell with the optional Square Stand. It works exclusively with the free Square Point of Sale app to take care of payments, tipping, inventory, reports, and more. Square Reader for contactless and chip comes with a free Square Reader for magstripe so you can swipe cards the old-fashioned way, too. Pay only 2.75% per swipe, dip, or tap for Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express, with no surprise fees. Square sends deposits directly to your bank account in one to two business daysor you can enable Instant Deposit for 1% per deposit to get your money in seconds. Get a Dock for Square Reader to anchor the reader on your countertop and keep it charged all day. Squares hardware is only approved for use in the country for which it is intended. For example, hardware sold or intended for sale in the United States is not approved for use in Australia, Canada, Japan, or the United Kingdom.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Has flaws but does work - most of the time - in specific settings\\n\\nReview: I've used Square and the Amazon Register (now discontinued) for about 18 months or so and frankly, I preferred the Amazon version while it was available. Now that it's gone, Square is really the only game in town...well, more or less the most reliable as the PP version is awful. In any case, the mobile reader is quirky to say the last and this contactless version seems to work well in a stationary stand with a tablet or other...don't expect to move around much or rely on this if you have iffy connectivity issues because it will be a total practice in frustration. On the other hand, if you have a decent signal and a steady place to set the tablet/stand then this works fairly well and can be a time saver. I was already familiar with it since a local small business owner adopted this prior to my use so I've had the opportunity to see it in action for several months before this became available. For those that want an all in one solution - this may not be it. For those that are in a steady place with decent signal, this can be a good option.\",\n \"Product: The Canon image class MF416dw all in one printer has print, scan, copy and fax capabilities so you can accomplish all necessary tasks with just one machine. Your professional quality documents are printed at speeds of up to 35 pages per minute in black and white with a quick first print time of 6.3 seconds or less. Eco friendly, all mode duplexing right out of the box allows you to save on paper and related costs. The MF416dw has built in Wi-Fi direct capability, enabling easy connection to mobile devices without a router. The MF416dw is equipped with a variety of easy to use mobile capabilities for printing and scanning on-the-go using your compatible mobile device, such as apple air print, Mopria print service and Google Cloud print. The Canon print business app allows users to print to and scan from the device to compatible iOS or Android devices. With NFC technology, you can easily \\\"touch and print\\\" to the MF416dw using your compatible mobile device. Password protected department ID management helps business owners manage device usage for up to 300 IDs. Secure print helps keep confidential documents safe. Using USB direct print, you can easily print from and scan to that USB in JPEG, tiff and PDF formats. The MF416dw also supports host-based ufr II, Pcl6, and adobe postscript languages to provide printing versatility. The intuitive 3.5-Inch touch LCD display allows users to navigate through the menu seamlessly. The 3.5 inch wide screen and color display is user friendly and easy to read. With the front-loading 250-sheet paper Cassette, 50-sheet dadf, 50-sheet multipurpose tray, and additional optional 500-sheet paper Cassette (pf-44), your paper handling requirements are covered. The MF416dw uses only 2.2 watts or less of energy in wireless, energy saver mode, helping you save money on energy costs. This machine uses Canon genuine toner, cartridge 119 and cartridge 119 II for higher volume printing.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Good option if not a bit bulky\\n\\nReview: For many years I used a Brother brand MF machine but thanks to the maturation of electronic signing and documentation, thought I could get by with a regular consumer machine and went with an Epson. Well, after suffering through that for a couple years, decided to upgrade to something able to use wireless printing, increased speed and lower priced ink....and don't get me started on the ink scam where one cartridge out of six (or more) goes dry and suddenly you are unable to print anything...not even black and white). Fortunately Canon doesn't seem to have joined the ranks of rip-off...this barrel type toner provides sufficient ink to keep going a good long time and undoubtedly will cost less in the long run....assuming I'm able to find it which so far, I've not had much luck with (I like to buy replacements asap to have on hand). This is fast and functions as well as the old Brother brand machines I used for years. Detail seems good - overall the noise level is fine even for a home office and it seems to play nice with software, drivers and so forth that I'm using (PC not Mac in my case). I've had this for about three weeks and overall I'm satisfied to date.\",\n \"Product: The Omni Tray from Stander gives you the convenience of a TV Table and the safety of a mobility handle in one product to keep you happy and healthy. The Omni Tray features a large Bamboo tray table that is perfect for using your lap top, eating dinner, or reading your favorite book. When not in use simply rotate the table off to the side for use as a couch side table. The ergonomic mobility handle gives you the leverage you need to help boost yourself up off the couch safely and independently. Whether you have recently had surgery or simply lack the same mobility you once had, the Omni Tray is the functional and attractive Tray Table you've been looking for.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Smart design - very well made\\n\\nReview: Having an elderly parent means we are always on the lookout for things that help maintain independence and reduce the risk of injury. After a couple of nasty falls that fortunately, didn't result in anything more than ugly bruising, we made a deliberate effort to scout out items that were built well, easy to use and preserved functioning; starting with the bathroom, we've now added items throughout the entire house including the kitchen, bathroom, bedroom and now this super versatile tray. Admittedly, we are still rather new to this and never heard of this brand before but will absolutely keep an eye on their offerings from this point forward because this is very well made and even better design.\\n\\nSo, here is the deal...we actually own a couple other similar style tray's on wheels which give a false sense of security and are prone to sliding, slipping and in general...not a good idea around the parent who has a tendency to lean on things when getting up or sitting down. In fact, it's such a problem that we take pains to make sure none of the furniture is prone to scooting for exactly that reason. This takes the opposite approach to most trays...rather than rolling around, this stays in place and even acts like a cane for support while standing or sitting...and then the tray itself swivels around. It is made to fit under the furniture so it's not a tripping hazard, it's very solid and well made...very much so! Hands down, this is worth every penny thanks to the added stability and safety features.\\n\\nEXCELLENT product! Couldn't be more pleased and very happy to have found a brand that really keeps independent functioning in mind for elderly parents!\",\n \"Product: The Fiskars long-handle steel digging shovel makes it easy to dig into tough soil without sore knees from kneeling or back strain from bending. The welded steel construction is far more durable than wood and wont flex like fiberglass. A sharpened blade cuts into dense soil easily, an extra-large foot platform helps maximize force to break up hardened soil clods, and a teardrop-shaped shaft profile provides exceptional comfort and control.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Fiskars is the best - GREAT shovel...Seriously!\\n\\nReview: This entire Fiskars binge began with a hoe [incredible product] and then a rake [excllent] and eventually have replaced nearly entire outdoor garden tool set with Fiskars.\\n\\nMy husband said we didn't need another shovel but I was so happy with the other garden tools that I bought this for myself...I've not been able to use it once because he immediately adopted it. According to him it 'digs itself\\\". I'm not exactly sure what that means but he brags about the weight and balance - says it makes it so much easier. The same applies for the square shovel. Super nice weight, well balanced, Comfortable.\\n\\nWhile it might initially seem counter-intuitive to buy a heavy shovel...it actually is much easier to work with than a light weight shovel. The weight allows maximum efficiency so you don't need to strain and struggle to break the earth - it does the work for you. He has a tendency to have lower back pain when working (age related) and within an hour this became his new favorite shovel....he quickly insisted on buying the square head equivalent (every bit as good).\\n\\nThe other major difference is the long handle. It seems more and more tools are trying to scrimp by on less material - this is a very solid, very heavy item with an extra nice long handle that is perfect for those who are a bit on the tall side. It also has the rolled edge to keep the foot from slipping...lots of nice little extra's that set this apart from the rest.\\n\\nVery pleased with the Fiskars line of garden tools - either buy two or don't let your husband borrow it...you won't get it back\",\n \"Product: This EPDM rubber pre cut and boxed pond liner can be used for building all types of ponds, water gardens, basins for fountains, bog gardens, lining cracked hard shell ponds and other applications. The pond liners membrane is based on ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) synthetic rubber, a highly flexible yet stable waterproofing membrane with a proven performance history in exposed applications. pond liners retains its high flexibility even in cold weather. It can easily be shaped to fit the unique contours of any pond. Pond liners shows outstanding resistance to the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation (U.V.), ozone and other environmental conditions. pond liners exhibits a high tensile strength and an outstanding resistance to puncture and, once installed, requires little or no maintenance. pond liners is specially formulated to be safe for exposure to fish and plant life in decorative ponds while resisting microbial and algae attack. It is safe for fish and aquatic plants. Pond liners black color gives a natural look that blends with the algae that frequently grows after several months. The black color also lends greater U.V. protection while giving the illusion of greater depth. Measures 15-feet length by 20-feet width by 0.045-inch thick.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Excellent Price - Great Delivery - Highly Satisified!\\n\\nReview: After doing a lot of research both online and with local pond experts, we decided to go with the EPDM rubber pond liner despite the additional cost. Not only is it considered more environmentally sound and durable, but almost a necessity if you want fish without fear of contamination etc...\\n\\nSince a pond is not something we want to re-do every few years due to a poor quality liner, nor do we want to risk puncture/tears/rips that could ruin the plants and fish, this seemed like the best option and most cost effective in terms of time and expensve over the long run.\\n\\nBUT, when we began searching locally for an EPDM liner, the price was either very high OR the size options very small. Originally we thought about a 10x15 size but after calculating pond dimensions and depth (don't forget the depth), realized it was not sufficient. (As a side note, for those that are searching for a basic pond rule of thumb...take the desired length of feet, add 2 feet, and 2x desired depth to calculate width. Do the same for width).\\n\\nDecided to order this - very pleased with the purchase. The price per square foot was competitive with the best local prices per square foot for the smaller sizes yet we were able to get a larger dimension for a more useful pond size. Thickness is of a very nice quality. Seller was prompt, delivery quite rapid. This was the same liner a professional pond installer uses on his personal pond so should last for a substantial period of time.\\n\\nOverall, great product and a great price with superb service!\",\n \"Product: This EPDM rubber pre cut and boxed pond liner can be used for building all types of ponds, water gardens, basins for fountains, bog gardens, lining cracked hard shell ponds and other applications. The pond liners membrane is based on ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) synthetic rubber, a highly flexible yet stable waterproofing membrane with a proven performance history in exposed applications. pond liners retains its high flexibility even in cold weather. It can easily be shaped to fit the unique contours of any pond. Pond liners shows outstanding resistance to the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation (U.V.), ozone and other environmental conditions. pond liners exhibits a high tensile strength and an outstanding resistance to puncture and, once installed, requires little or no maintenance. pond liners is specially formulated to be safe for exposure to fish and plant life in decorative ponds while resisting microbial and algae attack. It is safe for fish and aquatic plants. Pond liners black color gives a natural look that blends with the algae that frequently grows after several months. The black color also lends greater U.V. protection while giving the illusion of greater depth. Measures 20-feet length by 20-feet width by 0.045-inch thick.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: 2nd Order in 2 months! Very satisfied!\\n\\nReview: This is our second order in two months...the first was a 15x20 foot product and then this 20x20 foot product. The prices were far below what we could get locally for exactly the same item, manufacturer etc...with the added benefit of delivery direct to the door in just a few days.\\n\\nAfter doing a lot of research both online and with local pond experts, we decided to go with the EPDM rubber pond liner despite the additional cost. Not only is it considered more environmentally sound and durable, but almost a necessity if you want fish without fear of contamination etc...\\n\\nSince a pond is not something we want to re-do every few years due to a poor quality liner, nor do we want to risk puncture/tears/rips that could ruin the plants and fish, this seemed like the best option and most cost effective in terms of time and expensve over the long run.\\n\\nBUT, when we began searching locally for an EPDM liner, the price was either very high OR the size options very small. Originally we thought about a 10x15 size but after calculating pond dimensions and depth (don't forget the depth), realized it was not sufficient. (As a side note, for those that are searching for a basic pond rule of thumb...take the desired length of feet, add 2 feet, and 2x desired depth to calculate width. Do the same for width).\\n\\nDecided to order this - very pleased with the purchase. The price per square foot was competitive with the best local prices per square foot for the smaller sizes yet we were able to get a larger dimension for a more useful pond size. Thickness is of a very nice quality. Seller was prompt, delivery quite rapid. This was the same liner a professional pond installer uses on his personal pond so should last for a substantial period of time.\\n\\nOverall, great product and a great price with superb service!\",\n \"Product: The rhythmic and random sounds of the Encore Water Bell Fountain are reminiscent of the natural sounds of a gently flowing stream. Adapted from an original and copyrighted design by artist and musician Ron Snider, they are handcrafted using solid brass bells for excellent sound. Water bubbling up from the center of the fountain causes two floating bells to gently swirl around six fixed bells, ringing softly when they meet. An adjustable pump lets you control the water flow and frequency of ringing. This musical fountain adds beauty and charm to your home. It flourishes as a centerpiece or accent and will fill your surroundings with joy.Over 30 years ago, Grammy award-winning musician and instrument designer Garry Kvistad created the first Woodstock Chime from an aluminum lawn chair he found in a landfill. Fascinated by the Scale of Olympos, a 7th century pentatonic scale that cant be played on a modern piano, Garry cut and tuned the lawn chair tubes to the exact frequency of the ancient scale. The resulting Chimes of Olympos was the first Woodstock Chime and is still one of our best selling, musically-tuned windchimes. Garry and his wife Diane founded Woodstock Chimes in 1979 and still develop the chimes today. It remains a family-owned business in New Yorks Hudson Valley.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Lots of Compliments! Very soothing sounds!\\n\\nReview: Bought this for my spouse as we have all types of regular wind chimes and thought something different would be fun. One reviewer mentioned the heavy smell which is indeed present especially when the box was first opened...I noticed it a LOT but better half didn't seem to at all. However, it wore off over time especially after using white vinegar (to reduce the build-up).\\n\\nWe have this in the living room and receive a lot of compliments...it's always funny because it typically takes awhile before people realize they are relaxing to the sound of these small bells. After 20 minutes or so it begins to dawn on them and they start looking around...without exception, everyone wants to know where to buy them.\\n\\nA very nice addition. Simple, non obtrusive. Soothing.\",\n \"Product: The yardgard PVC welded wire has all the benefits of welded wire, but is coated to enhance longevity & appearance. This coating adds a rich look by complimenting the natural surroundings. The yardgard PVC welded wire is virtually maintenance free & offers a versatile, lighter weight & economical solution to ornamental fencing. The yardgard PVC welded wire is uniformly galvanized prior to coating for reinforced rust & wear protection.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Perfect for garden area or similar needs\\n\\nReview: I'd actually give this a 4.5 stars if possible because it's just a tad lighter gauge than I'd normally like but the coated portion more than makes up for any deficiency. This is light weight and easy to move around - can be stapled or used with those wire mesh stakes. In my case, this is just the right size to use around a small garden area to keep pets and critters out of the way. Low enough to step over if needed yet tall enough that small people or pets stay out. The coating should help prevent it from rusting so only time will tell how long it last but I anticipate a longer than average lifespan for it. Very pleased!\",\n \"Product: The newly designed Four-Wheeled Hose Cart is the best designed, heaviest duty hose reel cart available. It holds an unbelievable 350 feet of 5/8-inch hose, enough for gardens of any size. With high quality pneumatic wheels and a well balanced design this Hose Reel Cart moves easily over rough terrain. Simply attach the bolt-on wheels, reel crank and Snap-on frame handle and this hose truck is ready to provide years of service. All steel with an anti-rust finish. Yard Butler guarantees all Yard Butler tools for life against any defects in manufacturing or materials.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Easy Assembly - Quality Components\\n\\nReview: This is probably one of the most sturdy hose cart/trucks made for the average homeowner. If you are like us, hauling around an extra long hose is a constant battle. We've tried all types of smaller versions which fail to do the job. This is the exception.\\n\\nOut of the box you will instantly notice that this is easy to assemble; parts are clearly marked and of a substantial quality. Wheels and related assembly were especially durable materials.\\n\\nOnce assembled, this roles easily thanks to the wheels and parts. The turning is a bit less easy but that is largely related to the size and weight of the hose. I will say this is probably the first truck able to handle our extra long, extra heavy duty hose. The handle is well sized and of a useful height.\\n\\nThis is not the most attractive product but it scores very high on functionality.\",\n \"Product: The Algreen Agua Rain Barrel combines the timeless aesthetic elegance of ceramics with the enduring durability of modern plastics. The Agua is constructed from tough, roto-molded plastic able to withstand extreme temperatures and will not chip, fade, or crack over time. Differentiate your garden dcor with new upscale granite and stone finishes. Made in Canada.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Attractive, Functional & Environmentally Friendly...but\\n\\nReview: I have had my eye on these and the larger ones for well over a year but each time they were sold out before I could put in an order. Spur of the moment saw these and ordered 2 immediately. I opted for the \\\"smaller\\\" 50 gallon rain barrel which is still the same size as most on the market albeit MUCH more attractive.\\n\\nDelivery was very quick - 2 days. Both arrived wrapped in a plastic bag with the contents stuffed inside. I suspect mine were originally boxed since there was a card-board shipping label taped to the top of each but it's hard to say - the local deliver seems to be pretty tough on products lately and one arrived with the side pushed in a bit. I'm going to try and fill it up to see if it pops back out as well as test the seams to make sure there are no other problems that don't readily meet the eye.\\n\\nThe hose is a very inexpensive quality - you will likely want to replace it and I've already ordered better quality remnants available elsewhere on Amazon itself. Also, the valve is located at the very bottom of the container - you should get maximum drainage unlike other models where the discharge spout is higher up the side (or even at the top in some models...which makes no sense to me whatsoever).\\n\\nThese truly do look like clay or adobe especially at a distance. Are lightweight when empty and the total effect is very pleasing. A terrific alternative to those with HOA restrictions or just searching for a visually pleasing product. The price is very competitive to most others on the market although certainly a lot higher priced than finding your own used soap bucket or such. Locally even those go for $40 and up...if you can manage to find them at all. My one MAJOR irritation - and it has nothing to do with the item itself - is these were clearly from Amazon return department. I ordered new and it just annoys me to get returns instead of new items when I pay full price. I really feel this should be disclosed PRIOR to purchase and/or discounts provided if you are ordering a returned product. However, the product is lovely, shipping was fast (still not sure about that box) and the price was competitive with other options (although irritating to get refurbished rather than new).\\n\\nQuick Update - The \\\"dent\\\" from shipping popped right out without effort when filling. These look even better when set-up. Were very easy to steady - we set each one on a large concrete stepping stone which provided just enough stability for them to remain level without getting weighed down into the soil/grass. These are VERY heavy when filled (estimated to weight over 400 lounds just from weight of 50 gals of water) and the drain valve is so low you will want to keep it out of the grass. Overall very pleased! By far the most attractive rain barrel I've encoutered to date...\",\n \"Product: The newly designed Four-Wheeled Hose Cart is the best designed, heaviest duty hose reel cart available. It holds an unbelievable 350 feet of 5/8-inch hose, enough for gardens of any size. With high quality pneumatic wheels and a well balanced design this Hose Reel Cart moves easily over rough terrain. Simply attach the bolt-on wheels, reel crank and Snap-on frame handle and this hose truck is ready to provide years of service. All steel with an anti-rust finish. Yard Butler guarantees all Yard Butler tools for life against any defects in manufacturing or materials.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Easy Assembly - Quality Components\\n\\nReview: This is probably one of the most sturdy hose cart/trucks made for the average homeowner. If you are like us, hauling around an extra long hose is a constant battle. We've tried all types of smaller versions which fail to do the job. This is the exception.\\n\\nOut of the box you will instantly notice that this is easy to assemble; parts are clearly marked and of a substantial quality. Wheels and related assembly were especially durable materials.\\n\\nOnce assembled, this roles easily thanks to the wheels and parts. The turning is a bit less easy but that is largely related to the size and weight of the hose. I will say this is probably the first truck able to handle our extra long, extra heavy duty hose. The handle is well sized and of a useful height.\\n\\nThis is not the most attractive product but it scores very high on functionality.\",\n \"Product: The Algreen Agua Rain Barrel combines the timeless aesthetic elegance of ceramics with the enduring durability of modern plastics. The Agua is constructed from tough, roto-molded plastic able to withstand extreme temperatures and will not chip, fade, or crack over time. Differentiate your garden dcor with new upscale granite and stone finishes. Made in Canada.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Attractive, Functional & Environmentally Friendly...but\\n\\nReview: I have had my eye on these and the larger ones for well over a year but each time they were sold out before I could put in an order. Spur of the moment saw these and ordered 2 immediately. I opted for the \\\"smaller\\\" 50 gallon rain barrel which is still the same size as most on the market albeit MUCH more attractive.\\n\\nDelivery was very quick - 2 days. Both arrived wrapped in a plastic bag with the contents stuffed inside. I suspect mine were originally boxed since there was a card-board shipping label taped to the top of each but it's hard to say - the local deliver seems to be pretty tough on products lately and one arrived with the side pushed in a bit. I'm going to try and fill it up to see if it pops back out as well as test the seams to make sure there are no other problems that don't readily meet the eye.\\n\\nThe hose is a very inexpensive quality - you will likely want to replace it and I've already ordered better quality remnants available elsewhere on Amazon itself. Also, the valve is located at the very bottom of the container - you should get maximum drainage unlike other models where the discharge spout is higher up the side (or even at the top in some models...which makes no sense to me whatsoever).\\n\\nThese truly do look like clay or adobe especially at a distance. Are lightweight when empty and the total effect is very pleasing. A terrific alternative to those with HOA restrictions or just searching for a visually pleasing product. The price is very competitive to most others on the market although certainly a lot higher priced than finding your own used soap bucket or such. Locally even those go for $40 and up...if you can manage to find them at all. My one MAJOR irritation - and it has nothing to do with the item itself - is these were clearly from Amazon return department. I ordered new and it just annoys me to get returns instead of new items when I pay full price. I really feel this should be disclosed PRIOR to purchase and/or discounts provided if you are ordering a returned product. However, the product is lovely, shipping was fast (still not sure about that box) and the price was competitive with other options (although irritating to get refurbished rather than new).\\n\\nQuick Update - The \\\"dent\\\" from shipping popped right out without effort when filling. These look even better when set-up. Were very easy to steady - we set each one on a large concrete stepping stone which provided just enough stability for them to remain level without getting weighed down into the soil/grass. These are VERY heavy when filled (estimated to weight over 400 lounds just from weight of 50 gals of water) and the drain valve is so low you will want to keep it out of the grass. Overall very pleased! By far the most attractive rain barrel I've encoutered to date...\",\n \"Product: Create a lovely, layered effect with these antique-zinc-finished planters from Strathwood. Available in a handy set of two planters, in two sizes, outfitting the yard, patio, or solarium is a breeze. Constructed of 100-percent galvanized sheet, the planters are durable and attractive. A slightly tapered design makes for a more elegant silhouette. The round design looks great in rows or clustered, and a square design is sold separately, so creating a coordinated look is easy. The large round planter measures 16.4 inches high by 16.6 inches wide; the small planter measures 14.4 inches high by 14.6 inches wide.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Ohhh-Better Than Expected but for one problem...well, maybe 2\\n\\nReview: These are attractive, solid yet lightweight planters...note=they are not pots but rather planters. As others have already mentioned they do not have holes in the bottom making them the perfect solution for those wishing to avoid water spills or stains on their flooring (especially from that blasted blue fertilizer...all you gardeneers out there know what I mean!).\\n\\nThe pair look great together and are actually larger than I expected even though I read the dimensions. My only complaint is the seam - yes, it can be turned to the back but it requires attention to placement to avoid seeing a fairly significant sized seam that runs vertically through each. Outside of that (and the lack of a drainage hole if that bothers you) these are terrific!\\n\\nI have a decent sized back porch, a second fairly large patio plus a small greenhouse with plants on each - as you might imagine, I have my fair share of pots and always on the search for more. I'm actually glad to have some without the holes to put on the porch itself and avoid unwanted drainage, stains etc...\\n\\nThe zinc coating is relatively thick so I suspect it should wear well even with the added benefit of a nice neutral color that fits equally well with a rustic or upscale decor (great color!).\\n\\nVery pleased, price is competitive or better than the big box stores and a terrific option for those wishing to avoid draining related problems!\",\n \"Product: Hand hammered copper basin 21 inch\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Nice but lighther than exepcted\\n\\nReview: This is a nice size but lighter than anticipated. Okay, maybe it's my age but at the risk of sounding like my own grandparents, it wasn't that long ago that these had some heft to them...especially when the intended use was for outdoor decoration. Like others, I purchased this for use outdoors in the garden and will probably still use it as such but expect it to tarnish quickly (no big deal as that is expected from copper) and probably get dinged up due to the lack of heft. It's thinner than anticipated, lightweight and overall not bad but certainly not the copper I'm accustomed to. In fact, although this claims to be pure copper...I really have my doubts and expect it's mixed with heaven only knows what. It just doesn't have the same feel.\",\n \"Product: Handcrafted steel bell with deep resonance; plays beautifully in the wind. This handcrafted, wind-activated bell, with its bold tone and design, functions nicely as a welcome bell at any entrance to your home or garden. The antiqued copper finish adds a rustic element to your garden. Use it to call the kids in for supper, or as an alternative doorbell. We tone our bells to unite two important ways the instrument vibrates. One is the sound of the bell itself and the other is the hollow chamber inside the bell that acts like an organ pipe. The slots on the sides of the bell are the secret to this unique coupling. The result is a rich sound with much depth and beauty. This steel bell has been coated with a handsome, durable finish, so you can enjoy it for years to come. Hang your Heroic Windbell in a breezy spot and let it play in the wind. In 1979, Grammy Award-winning musician and instrument designer Garry Kvistad created the first Woodstock Chime from an aluminum lawn chair he found in a landfill. Fascinated by the Scale of Olympos, a 7th century pentatonic scale that cant be played on a modern piano, Garry cut and tuned the lawn chair tubes to the exact frequency of the ancient scale. The resulting Chimes of Olympos was the first Woodstock Chime and is still one of our best selling, musically-tuned windchimes. Garry and his wife Diane still develop the chimes today as part of their family-owned business in New Yorks Hudson Valley. Woodstock Chimes - The World's Favorite Windchime.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Excellent! Unique windchime/windbell - superb construction! Delightful Sound!\\n\\nReview: Typically I'm not a huge fan of the woodstock brand of chimes but this is an exception!\\n\\nWe love chimes and own several fairly expensive ones including Music of the Spheres (3 models), GraceNotes (3 models) and several miscellanous other hand-made chimes we've come across over the years. What we didn't own was a wind bell!\\n\\nA few days ago we happened to be at the local True Value and saw a slightly smaller version of this in person for substantially more (over 40 percent more than the currently listed price on Amazon). Impressed by the sound but not really liking the price, we decided to look it up on Amazon. Now, I like to buy local when possible but not for nearly 2x's the price for a smaller item!\\n\\nOrdered this - it arrived promptly without any damage. Looks GREAT. Sound is exceptionally nice and this is from someone that owns quite a few above average chimes! This compares head to head with Music of the Spheres or GraceNotes in sound quality. Of course, it is low and has minimal range since it's a single tube rather than multiple...however, what you will miss in the 'song' is more than made up for in uniqueness, resonance and beauty.\\n\\nThis is fairly large - the estimated 40 inches INCLUDES the string, flag etc...the actual bell is substantially smaller but still quite heavy and visible. It will not get lost in the landscape and will require a fairly strong sized place to hang.\\n\\nLovely sound - impressive quality and beautiful addition to patio, garden or even indoor area.\",\n \"Product: The BioSmart is a flow-through filter that is both innovative and efficient. It undertakes biological and mechanical filtration and offers maximum oxygenation. With a sludge drain that allows for easy removal of coarse debris, the BioSmart is built for work - there is no need to remove or manually unclog the filter foams. Distinct filter zones promote the settlement of beneficial bacteria responsible for different phases of the nitrogen cycle, increasing the conversion of harmful ammonia in the pond. The BioSmart is Nature-friendly technology with positive results for local wildlife and fish stock. With a built-in cleaning indicator and water temperature display, the unit requires minimal maintenance. The BioSmart UVC 1600 with included UV Filtration is for ponds up to 1,600 gallons; the BioSmart 5000/10000 for up to 10,000 gallons. For maximum effect it can be combined with the Vitronic 18 - 36 Watt UV Clarifiers. When used in conjunction with the BioSmart filter, the AquaMax Eco Classic 1200-2700 or AquaMax Eco Premium 2000-3000 and the Vitronic UV Clarifier qualify for the OASE Water Guarantee.\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: JUNK - incomplete, poor instructions, leaks and nowhere near advertised size\\n\\nReview: Don't fall for this piece of JUNK. I own another filter and thought I'd use this as a small boost since my pond (roughly 4000 gallons) could use a little extra 'umph'. I should have listened to the negative reviews on this thing - absolute junk. So, my other filter is actually a tad small for my pond (3500 gallon filter) and this supposedly is a bit larger. What a laugh. First thing prospective buyers should know is that this doesn't come with anything needed to hook up the discharge nor even the intake(s)...you have to hunt around for the right sizes - these are not standard - and then when you FINALLY find them, spend a good amount (another $65 bucks or so in my case) only to realize that this thing leaks like a sieve. The reviewer who mentioned putting a smaller than suggested pump is right - you must have VERY low pressure to make this work which means you will need to use this on a MUCH smaller pond than what is advertised. The instructions are junk, this item is junk, plan on hunting around town and spending at least another $50 bucks or more for the right tubing, discharge, connections etc...then downsize your pump and pond because there isn't any way this is going to get near the size advertised without leaking or downright exploding.\",\n \"Product: Suncast Alpine Series, 155 cubic feet, Blow Molded Resin 7-1/2-feet by 3-1/2-feet. Large Storage Shed. Durable double-wall construction with windows and functional vents.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Very cute, durable, doesn't leak, easy to install\\n\\nReview: Like many homeowners, trying to deal with the clutter of brooms, rakes and garden equipment is a never ending battle. We have a small 10x12 garden shed but tall long equipment seems to get in the way especially because it has short side walls which doesn't allow long items to be hunt. We considered buying a larger shed but it would require having to tear out and re-pour the concrete base...adding substantial cost to the project. We thought about a 2nd shed but didn't want to use up more space in the yard. Saw this at Home Depot (for substantially less I might add) and it was PERFECT.\\n\\nThe size allows it to fit on the walkway outside our garage. It fits easily under the eave of the house and can be connected directly to the outside wall of the garage. This saved money by not having to pour a new concrete footer and added stability.\\n\\nAssembly is easy and although the instructions indicate two people, my spouse did it alone. This does come with a floor (a thick vinyl/plastic type floor), side walls and back walls and roof. Everything interlocks in a way that is easy to put together but maintains moisture and keeps it from leaking.\\n\\nThe walls and roof are thick molded plastic type material, UV treated to help prevent cracking. Obviously they won't rust nor will be prone to termites. I do wonder how long the plastic will hold up under the harsh Florida summers but I guess time will tell.\\n\\nThere are two vents with screens in the top to help keep it cooler. The windows are decorative but can actually be viewed....although they are tinted for some additional protection. There is a clasp lock which allows the addition of a big security bolt to lock if desired.\\n\\nSize is 3 ft deep x 6 ft wide and 7 ft tall (7.5 outer height). Basically this provides just over 20 sq ft of interior space. Shelving is available via optional purchase...I did not opt for this alternative as really wanted this to store ladders, brooms, rakes and other tall items in with ease.\\n\\nIt has a very cute appearance, is easy to clean (hose down!). All in all, a nice alternative to traditional shed without the worry of pests (wood) or rusting (metal). Keep an eye out for sale prices...I saved several hundred off the list price of this item!\",\n \"Product: Tackle those hard-to-reach branches with ease. The Sun Joe Saw Joe SWJ800E pole chain saw takes the danger and difficulty out of trimming your overgrown trees. Stand safely on solid ground and simply adjust Saw Joes telescoping pole to gain up to 15 feet of overhead reach. Powered by a 6.5-amp motor, the SWJ800E can handle the most stubborn tree limbs up to 7.5-inches thick. This pole chain saw features an 8-inch Oregon bar and chain with an auto-oiler to keep the bar and chain fully lubricated during use. Unlike gas-powered tools, Saw Joe is powered electrically, so youll reliably power up with the push of a button without having to deal with smoke, fumes, unpredictable starters or costly tune-ups. Plus the SWJ800E comes equipped with a built-in safety switch to prevent accidental starting. Saw Joe is CSA approved and carries a full two-year warranty.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Very cost effective, easier to use, light weight and no chain slippage make this a winner\\n\\nReview: We actually own two pole saws - one battery operated one from Oregon for heavier work and this model for lighter needs. While the Oregon pole saw is a beast, there are actually some advantages of this model over the larger and much more expensive Oregon. First is of course, price. This sells for roughly 1/4 of the price of the other one and for the majority of 1-2 inch limbs, works just as well. The Oregon model really comes through when you get to the larger - much larger pieces and/or if you need a battery rather than electric....ie, distance away from a power source. That is not to say this model will not tackle larger branches - from time to time I do use it for larger branches up to 3 inches or so simply because I don't want to switch devices in the middle of a job.\\nNext, this is lighter and easier to manage - a major consideration for those who might be elderly or find the much larger models cumbersome. Last but not least, the chain on this model is actually more secure and easier to deal with than the Oregon model which has a tendency to slip. Despite substantial usage, this chain stays in place!\",\n \"Product: Lawn cleanup just got easier with the Sun Joe Mow Joe MJ403E. No more messy gas or oil! Just power up your Mow Joe with the push of a button and watch its powerful 13-amp motor mow a 17-inch wide path in a single pass. Easily control the cutting height of your grass with the 7 position height adjustment lever. The 12 gallon rear bag detaches easily to quickly dispose of grass clippings. You can even turn your Mow Joe lawn mower into a mulching mower by removing the bag and allowing the grass clippings to insert back into your lawn. Whether mulching or mowing, the MJ403E delivers the reliable performance you and your lawn can depend on every time. The MJ403E provides the extra security of a safety switch and is backed by a full two year warranty.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Should be a 4.5 Star - Compare this model to 2 other electric models\\n\\nReview: I own a Black and Decker electric mower and a Greenworks electric mower (also requires a cord) so will compare to both of those as well as a standard gas push model.\\n\\nFirst, notice that this is only a 17 inch cut which is substantially smaller than other models which were both 20 inches each. A standard gas mower is usually 22 inches and up so plan on taking a few more passes to get the job done.\\n\\nAssembly was very easy - this is SUPER light weight...so light that there is actually a handle on the top of the machine to pick it up. The bag is easy to put on and take off, build is plastic but seems solid enough. You will need to purchase a standard long electric cord for use but otherwise, no mess, no fumes and very small storage required.\\n\\nSafety - there is one inferior feature associated with this machine...it lacks a \\\"brake\\\" or \\\"instant off\\\". Once released, the blade continues to spin for a second or two rather than immediately shutting down like other versions. In most instance this isn't a big problem but the user should be aware of the inferior safety function.\\n\\nPerformance - I just finished mowing the front yard which I specifically allowed to grow while waiting for this to arrive. We live in Florida, summer with rain each afternoon means the grass got high very fast...it was literally to the knees! So, plugged this in and gave it a good first workout. Although the grass is severely overgrown, the front yard has few/no limbs, weeds etc so it's really just long grass. A standard gas powered push mower as well as the other two electric mowers handle this without any notable difference. Unfortunately, this mower did get bogged down...it never actually choked or stopped running but became notably slower and required \\\"lifting\\\" the front to keep it from stopping. Basically it doesn't have quite the power one would hope for heavier jobs.\\n\\nNow, having said that, there are some very real advantages to this machine...the wife loves it due to the extra light weight and easy ability to maneuver and push. Perfect for finishing or in between trees, other areas where larger mowers won't fit. Great option for the elderly and those who need to keep a well groomed lawn maintained without worry about long overgrown grass, weeds and/or other obstacles.\\n\\nI didn't baby this thing whatsoever and it performed well. Had zero issues with materials/other. Will update if it doesn't last or performs poorly after repeated usage.\",\n \"Product: Good Ideas IMP-L50-TC Impressions 50-Gallon Rain Saver Linen - Terra Cotta is designed with a self-draining planter top and built-in overflow. It features dual spigot locations, allowing you to use a hose and spigot simultaneously and an anti-debris/bug screen. Constructed with thick and durable polyethylene resin, which holds up to the harshest elements, the exterior has the appearance of linen. The graceful lines, curves and garnishes on the exterior make it an accent piece on your homes exterior and not something that just sticks to your house. The design optimizes space used and allows you to position the rain saver close to walls or flat areas. The top is the only of its kind that acts as a planter space and also self-drains when excess water is present. There is also a channel built into the rim, which diverts overflowing water to the front and away from the barrel and home foundation. You can have peace of mind that you're helping the environment by conserving water and giving your garden the best water it can get, devoid of harsh chemicals and rich in nutrients. And you can perform that conservation without sacrificing your home's outer appearance.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Better quality than the Algreen\\n\\nReview: We live in an area with exceptionally high water bills and ample rain so water barrels are a 'no brainer'. Unfortunately, living in the suburbs also means appearance matters almost (maybe more than) function. In the past, we've purchased the Algreen rain barrels that look like big terra cotta jugs and have been happy with them more or less (B0013CJLI6 ATIN number). However, one one can never have too many rain barrels so when this came up for review, I jumped at the opportunity.\\n\\nPackaging\\nThis arrived promptly and well packaged without any dings or dents. My original Algreen order had a big dent which I managed to get 'unkinked\\\" but suffice to say, this held up better. It is a big box and very cumbersome so keep this in mind especially if mobility or other related considerations are an issue.\\n\\nQuality of Construction\\nI'd have to rate the quality of construction 'excellent'. It is molded but very thick...much more so than the Algreen 50 gal rain barrels. The planter does not have drainage which is a bit odd. The screen is thick and built-in so more stable. There is a breathing hole and two well placed spigots made out of brass. You will need to install the spigots (2 of them...tape is included to form a tight seal). These are attractive and made out of metal which looks better than the plastic but only time will tell if they hold up to rust/corrosion. There is a notable seam and for some reason, one of the spigot holes is placed adjacent to the seam making it difficult to position when attempting to hide the seam. Compared to the Algreen 50 gal barrels, this feels more substantial and of an overall better quality. Note, it does not come with a drainage hose so plan accordingly.\\n\\nAppearance\\nThis is an attractive, very neutral color, rain barrel. The picture doesn't show it as well but the entire outside is covered in a type of 'wave' pattern which I think will likely collect dirt more readily than a flat/smooth surface. The lighter color is also more likely to show it than the terra cotta Algreen barrel. All in all, this is attractive but not as attractive as the Algreen. However, it will be easy to wash off and appearance is truly in the eye of the beholder.\\n\\nStability\\nAs you can see from the product photo, the bottom is smaller than the top although not by a lot. We set this up on a few paver/walking stones for added stability...more than ample. This is VERY heavy when filled with water so taking the time to reinforce it before allowing it to be filled is prudent.\\n\\nWhat You Will Need\\n- Stable place for placement. When filled with water this will weigh well over 400 lbs so shifting sand/other could become a problem. We use a couple of large walking stones/pavers for support which is more than ample.\\n- Hose. This does not come with a hose. We use remnants purchased here on Amazon.\\n- Downspout drainage. This is designed for use with a downspout which fits over the built-in (but removable) grill screen.\",\n \"Product: The Hickory Square Fire Pit Cover from Classic Accessories is made from durable Weather10 material featuring a rugged fabric outer layer with a laminated waterproof and wipe-clean inside coating. Weather Leather trim looks authentic but won't rot. Large air vents reduce mold and mildew-causing moisture while preventing wind-lofting. An adjustable elastic hem cord will secure your cover on windy days and ensures a tight and custom fit. Padded handles make putting on and removing your cover easy and comfortable. Covers square fire pits up to 40\\\"L x 40\\\"W. Not designed to entirely cover the leg bottoms. Limited lifetime warranty. Product is imported.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Easy and convenient but one potential weak spot\\n\\nReview: This is now the third item from this product line that we've tried and while the most simple, might be my favorite. Over the years, we've tried at least three other covers for the fire pit - one leaked like a sieve, one rotted away from the sun and although it initially kept the water out, didn't last through summer and then started leaking and falling apart - and the last one, well it was still going but literally by threads. This fits most standard sized small fire pits. It has elastic around the bottom edge followed by sizing security, the canvas provides protection from the sun while the interior liner provides weather protection.\\n\\nSo, why only four stars? There is a weak spot on this item and it's probably the elastic around the bottom edge - it's not quite the same quality as the rest of the item. Unfortunately, due to the way this fits, when the elastic goes this will be of minimal use since it doesn't slide down around the legs. Given the high use, constant stretch and sun....only time will tell but have doubts over the long run\",\n \"Product: Restyled for 2014, the Weber Q 220 is now the Weber Q 2200. The grill has the same great performance and sleek styling, but adds new aesthetics that are both functional and fun, including larger grip handle and control knobs, ergonomic side handles, sturdy front and rear cradles, larger-sized fold-out side tables with greater rigidity plus the familiar Weber Q logo prominently branded in the lid. Split grates allow for a grate/griddle cooking combination: Just replace one of the grates with the Q 2000-series compatible griddle (sold separately) and experience an alternative way to prepare breakfast, lunch and dinner on your grill. The tall lid accommodates the grilling of small roasts and birds, while the large built-in thermometer allows you to monitor temperatures inside the grill. The Weber Q 2200 is ideal for use when camping and tailgating but, thanks to a design that offers both compact overall size and large grilling surface, can double as a stationary grill in your outdoor living space. The grill runs on disposable LP cylinders (not included), but an optional LP adapter hose for 20-lb. tanks is available as an accessory. A seamless stainless steel burner is your assurance of durability and long-lasting performance. The cast-aluminum lid and body are both lightweight and rugged. May be used with Weber Portable Cart model #6557 and Q Cart model #6525.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Pro's/Con's and comparison to Cuisinart grill of similar size/specs\\n\\nReview: Pro's\\nAluminum materials = lighter weight and more durable over time\\nClean, smooth appearance\\nNice sized grill that is heavy, durable, easy to cure\\nPlastic trays are heavy duty and won't corrode\\nExtra large drip pan\\nEven heat distribution\\nExtra nice start-best used to date\\nTall dome lid allows larger items to be grilled with ease\\nLight weight, easy to carry and transport\\n\\nCon's\\nDrip pan feels flimsy but is large and has extra large capacity\\nNo protection or shield for flame - first experience with this form\\nColor - ewww. Won't look faded over time because already looks faded and tired\\n\\nWe also own a Cuisinart grill of a similar size which we really liked for the first couple of years due to the sleek stainless steel appearance, ease of use etc however, the Cuisinart body might be stainless but the component pieces were not resulting in rust and deterioration. This grill is larger, lighter weight and potentially more durable.\",\n \"Product: Liberty Garden Products 710 Navigator Rotating Hose Reel holds 125-feet of 5/8-inch hose with 5-feet of leader hose. This hose reel features 18 gauge steel construction and a durable powder coat finish that is weather resistant. The 90 degree solid brass swivel helps prevent hose damage during winding. With 8 locking positions this hose reel is ideal for any size job. The storage tray will hold your frequently used watering tools and nozzles. Functional and stylish! Mounting hardware is not included. Color: bronze.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Hands down - just about perfect!\\n\\nReview: We seem to have a hard time finding a decent hose reel. Over the year we've own expensive ones that looked great but wore out far too fast, cheap ones that we planned to toss after each year but which performed so badly we still didn't get out money's worth, moderate ones that seemed to be the worst of all possible worlds...too expensive to toss out and inferior in almost every way. We store one hose in a hose bucket/basket which is less unsightly but still a pain to wind. We have a couple portable reels that are more trouble than they are worth. When this came up for review I thought 'what the heck'....so very glad to try this out!\\n\\nFirst, this is smartly designed. Really like the added shelf to store accessories which often end up in the shed and out of reach or laying in windowsills. Next, the heft and weight are much more substantial than most...combined with a powder coating, this FEELs far superior to most hose reels.\\n\\nSize is terrific - holds ample hose length for the average homeowner. Function is superb - easy to use handle that is ergonomically stable PLUS (and this is a big one) a built-in swivel so the hose goes where you need it to go with less effort.\\n\\nStable - you will need to secure this to the house or other designated area but comes complete with brackets. All in all, VERY impressive! Finally an attractive, functional and easy to use hose reel.\",\n \"Product: The Black & Decker LST400 12\\\" 20v MAX Lithium High Performance Trimmer and Edger offers up to a full hour of runtime when using dual mode switch in run-time mode, along with Runtime Extension Technology with a dual mode accelerator switch for high performance or longer run time. This unit includes (1) 4.0 Amp hour 2X lithium battery pack for 2X more run time per battery pack. It features a patented Power Drive Transmission that prevents bogging down in heavy grass and weeds and the Automatic Feed Spool ensures continuous work without bumping and having to stop to adjust the spool. It includes a wheeled edging feature- which allows you to just rotate to convert from trimmer to edger. It is quiet and easy to start, delivering great cutting results without the mess and hassles of gas powered trimmers and the adjustable height and pivoting handle positions provide maximum comfort and control. This unit is part of the 20V MAX System - A System that Demands Attention (1 Battery fits multiple tools). Includes: (1) LST400 20V MAX Cordless Trimmer/Edger, (1) LB2X4020-OPE 20V MAX 2X Battery, (1) Charger - LCS1620, (1) AF-100 Spool, (1) Guard and (1) Handle.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Not as powerful as the 40 volt but still gets the job done\\n\\nReview: I recently purchased a B&D 40 volt lithium trimmer and then was offered this via the Vine program. Since we have a 2nd property, I jumped at the opportunity to try this one out. As might be expected, it isn't quite as powerful as the 40 volt version but otherwise, is very similar in function, weight and appearance. I should also add, I've been putting the 40 volt to the paces and have been impressed by what it manages to handle. My first day out, I used it to trim everything between a bunch of fruit trees in a lot that was overgrown, thick and full of weeds. It cut grass, weeds and even underbrush like a pro. Amazing!\\n\\nSo, as I mentioned, this is not quite as powerful but assuming you aren't using it to take down swamp growth but rather an average lawn, it is more than sufficient. The charge takes about an hour (max) and seems to last 30 to 45 minutes. The string does not require a bump which is nice and last through the entire trim without worry.\\n\\nWeight is not problematic although it is not skimpy like some electric versions. The battery is interchangeable with other B&D products of the same voltage (a very nice touch). The entire machine is adjustable up/down to fit short or tall persons. There is a guard on both the front and back to protect self and plants.\\n\\nOverall - great tool. Can't believe we waited this long to try out cordless trimmers but will NEVER go back now that we have!\",\n \"Product: The PS250-A6 Pole Saw, with its mid-mount motor design, provides superior weight distribution and balance. This distinctive engineering creates an original user-centric tool unique to the cordless tool industry. The Pole Saw is equipped with a tool-free extendable fiber glass shaft that allows the tool to extend from 7'3\\\" to 10'4\\\" and provides approximately 14-15' of reach. The high-torque performance is controlled by a custom designed planetary gear reduction system allowing for an efficient transfer of power. The PS250-A6 is configured with a compact cutting head for improved cutting agility, light-weight maneuverability and reduced elevated weight. This pole saw maximizes the ergonomic design, motor power and battery performance to produce up to 500 cuts on 2-3\\\" size branches. Weighing only 13.5 lbs with 4.0 Ah Battery Pack, this rigid and balanced, pole saw with 8\\\" bar length and cast aluminum branch removal hook will allow for more work to get done. Battery Pack and Battery Charger included. Fully charged battery voltage measured without a workload is 40 volts. Nominal voltage is 37. Based on estimate for a 5'10\\\" (1.8m) individual operating at a 60 degree angle +/- 18 degrees.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Cuts through branches and limbs like butter!\\n\\nReview: Cuts branches like butter! First things first, this thing cuts as smooth and easy as butter. We own another very popular model which is used at a heavily wooded weekend cabin so jumped at the opportunity to test this one. The other highly rated model has been put through the paces o had pretty high expectations of what to expect but must admit, the power of the 4.0 Ah battery pack far exceeded our expectations. It is a BIG battery with built-in charge indications showing approximate amount of remaining charge (very nice touch and easy to see). This comes with only one battery but what a battery it is! Very powerful and estimated to last roughly and hour with a full charge.\\n\\nWhat's in the package...\\nThis comes well packed and complete with a (surprisingly nice) screwdriver and other accessories needed for assembly. The main unit, oil, chain, single battery, battery charger and a nice strap are also included (be sure to check which option you are buying, there are at least two different forms of battery for this unit as well as one without a battery if you happen to own other tools in this line. Batteries are interchangeable with other Oregon products...another nice benefit!).\\n\\nResults - Tested it Out in the Yard\\nSo, after putting it together, took it out to the yard for a test. Started off with small 1-2 inch low hanging branches on a wild hickory tree...this cut through those so fast and easy that the spouse didn't realize they came down! Moved on to some unruly bamboo (big bamboo) which tends to be tough, woody and yet has a lot of fiber...once again, made fast work of that usually messy job. Last cut a 3-4 inch branch from an oak tree that has been getting in the way; this is a pretty solid sized branch and probably a bit beyond what we would normally use a pole saw to handle but wanted to see how it performed...believe it or not, pretty darn well! It wasn't an \\\"instant\\\" cut like the smaller branches but certainly managed to take the branch down.\\n\\nSo, hickory, bamboo \\\"wood\\\" and oak ranging from 1-3.5 inches in diameter all with ease. The engine showed NO sign of stress on any cut; the saw does have a built in \\\"stop\\\" mode if it isn't running perfectly which is a nice safeguard against getting pinched or taking on more than the saw could handle however, nothing we used it on triggered this feature.\\n\\nErgonomics\\nSurprisingly, this is a significantly more comfortable than the \\\"other\\\" brand due to the placement of the motor, The carry strap is a nice extra and comes in handy when the pole is fully extended. Solid grips and secure extension keeps unit stable during use. Noise level if quite acceptable...much less obnoxious than a standard chain saw plus no need to hassle with gasoline, fumes or even extension cords as with electric models.\\n\\nBottom line\\nCut through 1-2 inch green hickory branches like butter...had to check twice to see if even hit the branch it was so fast!\\nCut through large bamboo stalks (up to 2 inches) green and fiber with ease.\\nCut through 3-4 inch oak branch without bogging down.\",\n \"Product: The PowerPro 1000 Watt generator is proof that good things do come in small packages. This two stroke generator delivers 900 watts of running and 1000 watts of starting power but weighs under 36 pounds. Small and portable, this generator is great for camping and tailgating as well as for your house's backup power. This rugged machine is both EPA and CARB compliant and is safe to use in any national park due to the spark arrestor. The power panel features an engine on/off switch, a 120V three-prong receptacle, a 12V DC receptacle, a volt meter and individual circuit reset buttons.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Perfect for powering incidentals during hurricane and power outages\\n\\nReview: Living in Florida means perpetual preparedness but after the most recent hurricane season, two generators failed leaving us with minimal power for a week. While that isn't the end of the world, it is more than a mere inconvenience in the excessively high heat and humidity that follows a major storm. Add to that an elderly person with health issues and a fairly large fish pond, well it was a round the clock burden to keep things running smoothly. That is where this came in. We needed a small generator for outdoor things like a pump and aeration for the koi pond as well as other incidental power needs - this was perfect. It's small, easy to tote around and inexpensive. Yes, it's a bit loud but not terrible. I found it on a great sale via warehousedeals and couldn't be more pleased - used the 2 cycle blend which is a bit expensive but worth it to avoid a hassle. Starts up easily, runs what I need it to run and tucks away when not in use.\",\n \"Product: Myron Mixon 36\\\" Barrel Style Barbeque Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker with Digital Temperature Control and Center Fire Box.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Great - aside from the horrid goo covering everything\\n\\nReview: Whew-where to begin. Living in Florida, we do a lot of outdoor cooking. In fact, buying a small hibachi grill was one of the first things we purchased decades ago when setting up our first apartment. Over the years we've owned smokers, propane grills, charcoal, woodburning, big ones and small ones plus nearly everything in between but this is our very first pellet version so I was especially excited to give this a try. In fact, I had been shopping for a new smoker (my old one having been banished to the curb earlier this year).\\n\\nThe box arrived in good order but like others, I immediately noticed a few problems...fortunately the outside looks great but inside there were some pretty notable scratches etc in the hood....no big deal though. What was a big deal was the super UGLY BROWN GOO spilled all over the inserts, tray etc...inside the bags. This obviously came from the factory that way - and I have no idea what it was but it was hard to remove. In fact, the first few times firing this up was just to burn off the rest of the residual yuck that wouldn't wash off...and speaking of washing, it took forever to wash off hands, wash off the items, wash off the floors after putting things together. So, one point deducted for unpseakable amounts of gross goo that got everywhere and shouldn't be there in the first place...plus, what is it? Hopefully it wasn't toxic.\\n\\nAside from the scratches and goo, most everything else was in good order except a few bits of hardware which I had replacements for on hand so assembly was about what one would expect. I'd estimate it took a couple of hours - more than it should have but again, I had to deal with big brown goo before even being able to handle some of the parts.\\n\\nOnce together, everything seemed to work fine. This is for the 24 inch version which is perfectly sized for two people but can certainly handle substantially more. There is a side helper shelf and a lower storage shelf, a coated grill that is fairly substantial. The display is not huge but adequately visible.\\n\\nNow, for those that have never used pellets (like myself)...oh you are in for a treat! It's the best of both worlds - the flavor of wood without the mess and hassle but the convenience of propane minus the propane. This grills, bakes and smokes making it perfect for outdoor cooking and finally allowing us to minimize the number of grills, smokers and BBQ...no need to have multiple devices! Bottom line is that I'm already thrilled over this new option...the size, convenience and wood smoke option is fantastic however, there needs to be some serious quality control evaluation...it's not acceptable to send out items covered in what looks like an oil slick of brown, sticky mess.\",\n \"Product: Champion all-in-one tune-up kits include everything needed for a quality lawn mower tune-up. The top of the package serves as the oil funnel and the base as the drain pan for used oil. Includes Champion spark plug, air filter, oil and fuel stabilizer.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Smart Set - Well designed all in one maintenance solution\\n\\nReview: This is a smart set. If you are like us, chances are you have bits of this and that hanging around the shed; motor oil here, spark plug there, drain pan somewhere...you get the hidea. I affectionately refer to the shed and garage as the \\\"black hole\\\" because what goes in never seems to make its way out again and we always end up at the store buying this or that.\\n\\nSo, the first thing most people will notice is that the container is actually a funnel and drain pain which is super smart and convenient. I hate packaging that is bad for the environment and takes up space in the trash but this actually serves a purpose and is sized right. Next, the spark plug, filter and fluid is all packed inside and designed so you can do the maintenance all at once. The value seems solid especially compared to buying each individually and I like the time saving aspect. I got two because we actually have a couple of mowers - one we use for personal and one we use for rentals. Both arrived in good order, both are convenient and both seemed well priced.\",\n \"Product: Jolly Pets 4.5-Inch Tug-n-Toss, Purple\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: This is a GREAT dog toy!\\n\\nReview: Okay, I saw this at a local farm supply store and didn't realize it was for horses and brought it home for my dogs...both of which are big gentle babes who just love to play. The only other toys they didn't destroy in minutes is the Kong line until now! The first time I brought one of these home they chewed through the handle but the ball is still going strong months later. The second one they left the handle on...seriously it's like the figured out what it's for and neither of them chewed it! In any case, this quickly became THE favorite toy...I actually had to get a 2nd one so they don't get jealous. Very durable although the handle can be chewed through but it still won't impact the performance of the ball which takes a LOT of abuse. Non toxic, hollow center, easy to hose down and at least for my boys, this provides a happy exercise time daily for several months now.\",\n \"Product: This extra wide gate mounts easily in large openings up to 8 feet. Expandable from 53\\\" to 96\\\" wide. Gate stands 24\\\" high. Features varnished wood frame.This gate permanently mounts to walls.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Good choice but not right for every dog breed = lasted three days\\n\\nReview: Sigh. This is probably the fifth gate we've tried in the past few years and while it is an improvement over baby gates, it has some serious limitations. First, it's not all that easy to put into place but since easy to install has been associated with \\\"easy for the dog to push through\\\" in the past, we were willing to deal with the additional hassle. Just plan accordingly - you will need extra time. Next, this is NOT for jumpers - notice that the size is only 2 feet tall so many jumper type dogs will easily get over this fence. Fortunately, ours are not jumpers...far from it...so it's not a concern for us but prospective buyers should keep that in mind. Last but not least, while I really like the wood slats, they are merely stapled into place. While our dogs are not jumpers, they are rather big brutes...the slats are almost small enough to worry over their paws getting stuck and I worry over the long term durability of the stapled slats since one dog has already started to chew the wood in order to escape.( Update - by day three the dog chewed through this gate entirely) I'm treating the wood with bitter apple/deterrent and keeping a close eye until I know he's either stopped trying to chew/escape or I have to remove the gate entirely as I can't risk injury. Overall not bad but I'm not sure how durable either. Would work well for certain breeds but not extra large dogs, no jumpers etc...\\n\\nUpdate - by day three, the dog chewed through this gate and was happily wagging his tail when we walked in the door. I would buy this again only if it were made with metal rather than wood.\",\n \"Product: We developed a sturdy thermoplastic (ABS) frame; a see through poly vinyl flap; a floating sill to insure good closure; and a strong molded ABS lock-out slide to restrict the pet's movements when necessary. Then we made it 4 sizes for pets up to 120 pounds. And with a tamper proof mounting system and easy installation, it's the most economical pet door in the industry.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Best door for the price!\\n\\nReview: We recently ordered an Ideal Large dog door an were so impressed by the quality, opted to replace our cat doors with this brand. Because we actually have a series of doors, we ordered this version and the other (tuff weather) version. The tuff weather version by Ideal is fantastic but a bit more expensive - the benefit is that there are two flaps instead of one so it is insulated and keeps leaves/other out. This is a one flap version, had the hard slide door and works like a charm...for a price that is stunningly good!\\n\\nWe've been using another brand for years but it had a hard flap that always managed to catch the tail. The latch to hold the door close was problematic and the cat figured out how to undo it (smart cat!). This has a door that is inserted and slides down so can truly shut tight.\\n\\nInstallation was simple with plenty of trim to provide a nice flush appearance. We will use the old pet door on the porch since this is far too thick for use on a screen door but have replaced the garage and outter door with this model and the Tuff Weather (double flap) model. VERY pleased!\",\n \"Product: Whether you live and work in the Great Plains or North where the temperature plummets, or in the South- east or West where Summer is endless, the cost of energy has sky rocketed. So, either heating or cooling the back yard with an old fashioned pet door just won't do anymore. In some cases the energy waste is like opening and closing the door itself 4 or 5 times a day. Ideal Pet has the answer with The Ruff-Weather Door's air pocket between 2 soft flaps, making it a great energy efficient insulator. The Ruff-Weather series in Small, Medium, Extra Large and Super Large are designed to give an air pocket of up to 3 inches between the 2 flaps in a door installation. And with the available wall tunnel kit, an air pocket of up to 9 inches. This is serious energy efficiency\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Very pleased - Great Dog Door!\\n\\nReview: We recently adopted a new dog that stays on location at the office due to a personality conflict with my old dog who has no patience for any young'un's. Our new little guy has his own indoor living quarters complete with couch (his idea - not ours!) and a shiny new fenced in yard. The only thing lacking was a doggy door so he could come at go at will without our having to stop working.\\n\\nNow, being a young yet somewhat clumsy 60 pounder that feels the need to run everywhere, a door that was able to withstand the beating was in order. After reading oodles of reviews, we opted to try this one out and was very glad at the results. Installation was fairly simple...all things considered of course. It's necessary to remove the door, measure the pet and install. Trim provides a finished appearance.\\n\\nDouble flaps work well without catching his tail and the slide in insert allows complete closure that is secure when we want him to remain inside. Although a bit more expensive than other options, we are quite pleased with the purchase...so much so that we bought three more Ideal Pet Doors to replace other models used at home (multiple doors!).\",\n \"Product: Whether you live and work in the Great Plains or North where the temperature plummets, or in the South- east or West where Summer is endless, the cost of energy has sky rocketed. So, either heating or cooling the back yard with an old fashioned pet door just won't do anymore. In some cases the energy waste is like opening and closing the door itself 4 or 5 times a day. Ideal Pet has the answer with The Ruff-Weather Door's air pocket between 2 soft flaps, making it a great energy efficient insulator. The Ruff-Weather series in Small, Medium, Extra Large and Super Large are designed to give an air pocket of up to 3 inches between the 2 flaps in a door installation. And with the available wall tunnel kit, an air pocket of up to 9 inches. This is serious energy efficiency\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Best Door - Period!\\n\\nReview: This is for the Ruff Weather small door although we also purchased the small size Ideal Pet door in small as well. The two are very similar; both are fairly easy to install, have a nice frame with a finished appearance and slide in door that closes securely when not in use.\\n\\nThe primary difference between the two is price. This one is more expensive but contains TWO flaps rather than one...making this a great option for inclmenent weather. This is also slightly larger than the other option. If you are price sensitive and do not need extra insulation/dual flaps for the weather, opt for the standard version and save some money. We own both and use one for the outter garage door and one for the inner garage door leading to the house...the two look similar in appearance so works perfectly!\\n\\nNo more snagged tails due to hard plastic, no more raccoons sneaking in thanks to secure closures and no more gunky build-up on a lock...FAR superior product compared to others on the market!\",\n \"Product: Whether you live and work in the Great Plains or North where the temperature plummets, or in the South- east or West where Summer is endless, the cost of energy has sky rocketed. So, either heating or cooling the back yard with an old fashioned pet door just won't do anymore. In some cases the energy waste is like opening and closing the door itself 4 or 5 times a day. Ideal Pet has the answer with The Ruff-Weather Door's air pocket between 2 soft flaps, making it a great energy efficient insulator. The Ruff-Weather series in Small, Medium, Extra Large and Super Large are designed to give an air pocket of up to 3 inches between the 2 flaps in a door installation. And with the available wall tunnel kit, an air pocket of up to 9 inches. This is serious energy efficiency\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Very pleased - Great Dog Door!\\n\\nReview: We recently adopted a new dog that stays on location at the office due to a personality conflict with my old dog who has no patience for any young'un's. Our new little guy has his own indoor living quarters complete with couch (his idea - not ours!) and a shiny new fenced in yard. The only thing lacking was a doggy door so he could come at go at will without our having to stop working.\\n\\nNow, being a young yet somewhat clumsy 60 pounder that feels the need to run everywhere, a door that was able to withstand the beating was in order. After reading oodles of reviews, we opted to try this one out and was very glad at the results. Installation was fairly simple...all things considered of course. It's necessary to remove the door, measure the pet and install. Trim provides a finished appearance.\\n\\nDouble flaps work well without catching his tail and the slide in insert allows complete closure that is secure when we want him to remain inside. Although a bit more expensive than other options, we are quite pleased with the purchase...so much so that we bought three more Ideal Pet Doors to replace other models used at home (multiple doors!).\",\n \"Product: Whether you live and work in the Great Plains or North where the temperature plummets, or in the South- east or West where Summer is endless, the cost of energy has sky rocketed. So, either heating or cooling the back yard with an old fashioned pet door just won't do anymore. In some cases the energy waste is like opening and closing the door itself 4 or 5 times a day. Ideal Pet has the answer with The Ruff-Weather Door's air pocket between 2 soft flaps, making it a great energy efficient insulator. The Ruff-Weather series in Small, Medium, Extra Large and Super Large are designed to give an air pocket of up to 3 inches between the 2 flaps in a door installation. And with the available wall tunnel kit, an air pocket of up to 9 inches. This is serious energy efficiency\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Best Door - Period!\\n\\nReview: This is for the Ruff Weather small door although we also purchased the small size Ideal Pet door in small as well. The two are very similar; both are fairly easy to install, have a nice frame with a finished appearance and slide in door that closes securely when not in use.\\n\\nThe primary difference between the two is price. This one is more expensive but contains TWO flaps rather than one...making this a great option for inclmenent weather. This is also slightly larger than the other option. If you are price sensitive and do not need extra insulation/dual flaps for the weather, opt for the standard version and save some money. We own both and use one for the outter garage door and one for the inner garage door leading to the house...the two look similar in appearance so works perfectly!\\n\\nNo more snagged tails due to hard plastic, no more raccoons sneaking in thanks to secure closures and no more gunky build-up on a lock...FAR superior product compared to others on the market!\",\n \"Product: Watch the pieces slide into place with Nina Ottossons Dog Domino! Fill each chamber and peg with treats, and your pup must take multiple steps to achieve each delicious reward. This is a two step game: first, your pup must slide each brick into place to uncover a treat chamber. Next, they need to slide the peg out from the side to get even more deliciousness. Every dog's a winner with Nina Ottosson by Outward Hound Games! Bring out the genius in your dog with our interactive, treat-seeking puzzles and exercise toys. Difficulty level 3 - For the doggy genius\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Durable and nice size for larger dogs\\n\\nReview: My big boys are huge fans of these puzzles but frequently they tend to be a bit small...this one is the exception since it's larger than many of the others and better sized for their paws and jaws to get a firm grasp. Coupled with some new treats, this is a great way to pass a little time on rainy afternoons or when they don't get to stay outside as long due to the heat and high humidity here in Florida during summer. Well made, this is better quality than some of the more recent games. Only allow mine to play with these when supervised because they are big dogs and prone to chewing...this is not indestructible but it is durable.\",\n \"Product: CANIDAE Grain Free PURE wet foods offer quality nutrition without compromising great taste. We use meat or sh as the rst ingredient for quality protein and limited ingredients for gentle digestionmaking them ideal for sensitive pets. Available in a variety of delicious avors, enticing textures, and convenient serving sizes. Each recipe provides your pet with delicious nutrition you can feel good about feeding.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Dog and people approved - really does work with sensitive stomachs\\n\\nReview: Dogs love the flavor and I like the ingredient list. We have three medically complex dogs - one of which had oodles of stomach issues. Absolutely nothing seemed to work for him until we went totally grain free; his diabetic thirst, weight gain and need to urinate constantly cleared up and he is now off all medications. Unfortunately, he tends to dislike many of the grain free foods...he will try it for a bit and then snub his nose at it. This was a different story; he's eager about eating it and after, there was no stomach grumbles or upset. Did equally well for my (very) old Foxhound who has to eat small meals due to age and digestive issues.\",\n \"Product: Inspired by the diet of the wolf, BLUE Wilderness Wet Dog Food is a high-protein, grain-free food that will provide your dog with a higher concentration of the meat he loves. Complete and balanced, BLUE Wilderness wet dog food is also a sensible alternative to less convenient raw diets, which often require additional supplementation to be nutritionally complete. BLUE Wilderness dog food is a product of the Blue Buffalo company. Based in the United States, Blue Buffalo makes premium-quality pet foods featuring real meat, fruit and vegetables.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: My old Foxhound loves it!\\n\\nReview: We switched to grain free awhile ago and haven't looked back since. The dogs are healthier and seem to have substantially less stomach or other issues...especially out Foxhound who is now nearing 14 years of age (fairly old for his breed). He eats two meals each day - one in the morning and one in the evening - both with canned mixed with kibble. A few weeks ago, we ran out of food earlier than our \\\"subscribe and save\\\" order arrived so bought a bit of Alpo at the local grocery store...what a mistake! We quickly went back to our regular brand but have been searching for something we can find locally if we run out again, Blue Wilderness is carried in some other local stores and after seeing how well this did for out old guy, will be on the list. We like the pop top easy open lid and the ingredient list. The only hesitation we have is the prior recalls from this brand...we took the time to investigate this version which didn't seem like it was part of the recall but the fact that there have been more than one in recent years is concerning.\",\n \"Product: Dogs get into things, and sometimes we all pay the price. Daily Probiotic for Dogs from Pet Naturals is a great way to address those little mishaps and the more normal digestive issues that arise in your pet. Weve included Ganaden brand probiotics which ensures a stable 100 million Bacillus Coagulans to the gut. When probiotics normalize the digestive environment it helps keep the G.I. tract running smoothly in times of stress, illness or general mischief. A healthy digestive system also supports the immune system and overall health in pets of all ages.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Huge Hit with dogs and people!\\n\\nReview: We have 2 rescue dogs that were medically complex. One in particular seems to have the most sensitve stomach ever. We've tried keeping the diety steady over long periods of time, changing to very high end foods, supplementing with eveyrthing from yogurt to papaya upon the advice of our vet. As for treats...forget it. Just last week we went to our favorite doggy bistro for a cookie break which ended up upsetting his stomach for the next 24 hours.\\n\\nSo, not really knowing what to expect, I first tried this out on the less sensitive dog who LOVED his new treat. The next dog was equally happy with the flavor and after several days, no sign of this upsetting his stomach...a MAJOR issue since nearly every new treat tends to do so. Whether or not it will actually help with other digestive issues over time remains to be seen but so far so good!\",\n \"Product: Nina Ottossons Dog Worker treat game is ideal for your doggy genius! With so many challenges, this game is sure to keep your pup active and engaged and provide hours of fun. The four outer blocks give a quick reward once your pup pulls them out, but the four inner blocks are where the true challenge begins. First, they have to spin the disc to align with the blocks track. Then push the block to the end opening, pull it out, and reveal a tasty reward. This game is truly challenging, and truly rewarding! Every dog's a winner with Nina Ottosson by Outward Hound Games! Bring out the genius in your dog with our interactive, treat-seeking puzzles and exercise toys. Difficulty level 3 - For the doggy genius\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Good fun for supervised play\\n\\nReview: I've purchased a few of these over the years and overall, my dogs adored them but like all toys, the dogs learn the trick and then it's not much fun. Now that my dogs are all pretty old, they aren't quite as inclined to play with them but still enjoy it now and then especially on rainy afternoons where the Florida thunderstorms keep them locked inside and often a bit fearful. This keeps them occupied and the relaxation treats help take the edge off the anxiety of thunderstorms...makes a great duo. This is a bit more advanced game - my Foxhound who tends to be very good at these games - enjoys it immensely. My bagle (beagle/basset mix) girl didn't like it much as she seemed to get frustrated and then loose interest. In general, she's never been quite as good at these due to lack of patience (she's a bit of a grumpy girl). As always, I only use these with supervision as the large dogs can/will chew the entire puzzle up instead of play and it could be a hazard.\",\n \"Product: Our ingredient list is purposefully simple, made with ONE ANIMAL PROTEIN and ONE VEGETABLE, versus the mix of each youll find in most other dog foods. Guided by the purity and simplicity of raw, Instinct Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free Real Turkey Recipe is simple and essential nutrition your dog needs to thrive.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Old dog did great with this\\n\\nReview: My dogs absolutely love this food and I like the grain free option. Unfortunately, with three dogs weighing in at about 80lbs each who eat twice per day, this gets expensive fast. I really wish they would offer larger can size options (hint hint!!!). Aside from my personal wish list for dog food, this really is easier to digest. I have a very old dog who suffers from liver problems - recently we ran out of food and brought home canned Alpo to go with his kibble for an emergency...what a mistake. For days after he smelled intolerable due to his liver and GI tract not being able to handle whatever was in there....it didn't cause him pain but clearly his liver wasn't able to process that junk. Fortunately his regular food arrived and all was back to normal. Unfortunately, he gets tired of his food quickly these days so we like to keep alternatives that he enjoys on hand. This food did perfectly from day one. Zero upset stomach. Zero odor due to his liver. He likes the flavor and sleeps calmly and peacefully after eating without any tummy growling or gurgles.\",\n \"Product: Grizzly Pollock Oil is rich in the Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids that are beneficial for skin and coat health, healthy joints, cardio health as well as for the nervous system and eyes. Sourced from sustainable Wild Alaskan Pollock with a high ratio of natural fish oils. Grizzly Pollock Oil delivers the right Omega 3 fatty acids, EPA and DHA, that are readily and easily accessible for your dog or cat's metabolism. Grizzly Pollock Oil is an excellent and sustainable natural source of fish oil rich in Omega 3 fatty acids. It is also used worldwide as the primary source for high quality white fish products.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Convenient size and easy to use\\n\\nReview: I have three rescue dogs each with medical issues due to prior abuse - one had super serious skin issues that resulted in total hair loss. Even five years later, he continues to have skin troubles so we go out of our way to only use grain free foods, priobiotics and fish oils to help maintain his health and skin health but it's a constant battle. Awhile back we bought a big 32 oz pump of fish oil and he loves the stuff but unfortunately, that was too large of a size and it ended up having to toss out a lot. This is a much more convenient size and still has the pump which is great - we just add a single pump to his feed each night. He loves the flavor and we enjoy the convenience.\",\n \"Product: Comfort Zone products with Feliway are clinically proven 90% effective at reducing urine marking and vertical scratching. The Comfort Zone with Feliway Diffuser product dispenses a drug-free, odorless vapor that mimics a cats natural calming pheromones. This vapor signals to your cat that the area is friendly and safe, reducing your cats need to spray and scratch. It helps to reduce or completely stop unwanted behavior due to stress-related issues such as multiple pet household, transition from shelter or breeder, moving, home remodeling or furniture changes, or changes in people and pets in the home. Don't let unwanted behaviors ruin your relationship with your cat.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Cats and People Like it!\\n\\nReview: My very first introduction to Feliway was about 8 years ago; we had found a half-grown feral cat and took it in for shots/neutering with a vet who happens to be our neighbor. It was a disaster! The help staff didn't listen when I told them he was half feral. The cat - who is more than a tad skittish - got loose in the office and became increasingly upset as the staff rushed to catch him. They ended up trying to 'noose' him with a throat constraint until I stopped and managed to get hold of him. In the process, he scratched me to pieces and obviously, the cat became terrified of vet/other staff.\\n\\nSo, I took the poor little guy back home without his shots/neuter and called another vet that specializes only in cats. This time they did listen and made the entire experience quite pleasant for both people and the poor little cat. They used Feliway in the exam room and never took him out of the crate until after a light sedation. He recouperated the same way. The Feliway seemed to really take the edge off even while in the exam room...a practice still in use to this very day.\\n\\nOur half feral cat is now a fairly mature guy and still as independent as ever. He likes us but has little use for other people or visitors and will remove himself as far away as possible...usually the garage where he gets highly upset and clearly irritated with us for the invasion into \\\"his\\\" domain and terrority. A small corner of our garage is dedicated to his comfort with a large cat tree, a window box, food and now his Feliway. He clearly approves and seems not only more relaxed but inclined to just hang out there when its in use. There is a cat door to the main house so he can come/go at whim but with the Feliway in use, he seems quite content to just hand out in his cat cave!\",\n \"Product: Oh hey, Jeff! Thanks for coming to our barbecue! Im just throwing some steaks on the grill right now, said no coyote ever. Why? Because coyotes, wolves, and any other distant relative of our pal, the domesticated dog, never eat anything cooked or processed. They hunt and forage for their food, then eat it sans flame. Raw Raw Chick Boom Ba contains the same type of raw, natural ingredients that dogs were meant to eat and enjoy. And you didnt have to go crossbow hunting in the woods for it. Add water, and boom! Full meal. Be prepared to get lots of high fives. In the leg. With a tail.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Great addition to diet of old Foxhound\\n\\nReview: I have an old Foxhound who has trouble keeping weight on - and another dog who has trouble keeping it off. Now, the problem is that one feels deprived if fed less and feeding two different foods doesn't always work especially if it's a low-fat type meal that tends to be less tasty. One thing that we have found to work very well is adding this type of dry powder to the Foxhounds primary meals. It provides extra nutrition while still not being obvious to the other dogs that there is something different. No fighting or fussing, just much needed added nutrition. Now, aside from the super convenience of problem solving for our motley crew, this is an impressive list of ingredients - as much for what it contains as what it doesn't contain. In fact, I recently ordered some cat and dog food from this brand on a special discount from Amazon before being offered this - so far, everyone loves the food. Our animals are old - the cat is 16+, the Foxhound is 13 (old for his breed) and the rest are about 10 years. Each had SEVERE medical problems before coming to us so we not only baby them but try to make sure they are always comfortable and well cared for - and that means no grain. After changing their diets, their coat, kidney issues and other problems all dramatically improved and this is not exception. Very good ingredient list - it looks a lot like muesli but the dog seems to really enjoy it. Very impressed`\",\n \"Product: NUTRO WHOLESOME ESSENTIALS Large Breed Adult Farm-Raised Chicken, Brown Rice & Sweet Potato Recipe Dog Food always starts with great tasting, farm-raised chicken as the first ingredient and contains high-quality nutrients like glucosamine and chondroitin. This dog food is crafted to support healthy joints and help keep your large breed dog trim and fit. NUTRO Food for Dogs always follows the THE NUTRO FEED CLEAN philosophy, is always made with Non-GMO* Ingredients and is made with no artificial flavors, colors or preservatives. *Trace amounts of genetically modified material may be present due to potential cross contact during manufacturing.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Works well for big dogs\\n\\nReview: Nice big bag and food intended for large dogs. My dogs all weigh in at roughly 80lbs each so they are not huge but can still go through quite a bit of food. Each has their own preference/needs - one is quite elderly and has trouble digesting some foods, another will turn her nose up to any treat that isn't 100% meat and gets seriously annoyed by inferior food and the last has skin and stomach issues that go crazy with certain grains. We spend a fortune feeding them and few things are more irritating then buying a big bag of food only to realize they won't or can't eat it. Small bags are good for flavor but don't provide enough feeding times to determine how it will impact their health. This food is just the right size to feed for a week or so in order to truly determine if they like it and how well it does with their individual health needs. So far so good - they like the flavor, we like the size and it is working well for everyone - no major upsets (knock on wood). We buy this brand pretty frequently (alternate between this and one other brand) so it's nice to add another flavor to the mix.\",\n \"Product: Looking for a food as unique as your dogs dietary needs? Solid Gold Green Cow Grain & Gluten Free wet dog food is extremely palatable and ideal for picky eaters or dogs with decreased appetites. Green Cow contains green beef tripe for an irresistible taste your dog will love plus the nutrients they need to thrive. Green beef tripe contains partially digested plant matter, as well as naturally occurring gastric juices and healthy digestive enzymes. Solid Gold Green Cow is naturally low in phosphorus and suitable for dogs with Kidney disease. Feed on its own as a complete meal or as a topper or mixer for your dogs current food. Holistic adult dog food for all breeds and all sizes. Made in the USA.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Vet suggested for digestive troubles - happy to give it a try\\n\\nReview: Personally this would rate up there with \\\"most gross\\\" things to feed a dog but since I'm not the one eating it and the vet suggested it might help two of my older dogs who have digestive issues I was more than happy to give it a try. I've been a bit hesitant since it's rather expensive...one can per dog (my dogs are large) really adds up especially if they end up hating it. Fortunately I was offered this to try out and so far so good. The dogs seem quite enthusiastic about their kibble with some of this mixed in...especially good for my old guy who has trouble keeping his weight up as well as the other dog who has trouble keeping the weight off. Easy to mix in, this is grain free and according to the vet acts a lot like a doggy digestive aid while providing important enzymes that help with stomach issues. Very happy to give this a try - case of 12 is just right for my large dogs.\",\n \"Product: The locking function gives you the option to set it so your pet can only go out or come in. Or you can unlock both directions. You can also lock both directions to keep your pet in/for the night. While some cat doors only cover the opening, the PetsN'all locking pet door is telescopic. This means the frame will also cover the interior of the door so your pet won't damage the wood or step into a hollow door by accident. Features: 2-way door with four locking modes, telescopic frame fits doors with thickness from 1.25\\\" to 1.75\\\", great for cats and small dogs up to 15 pounds , weatherproof seal keeps out draft and saves energy , brush strip ensures quiet closure to eliminate noise and prevent startling your pet , includes screws for installation.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Good option and I like the bell\\n\\nReview: This low cost cat or small dog door is actually built pretty well. Over the years I've owned a LOT of pet doors ranging from super inexpensive \\\"flaps\\\" which fell apart in no time flat to super expensive \\\"smart doors\\\" that were expensive to buy, expensive to install and \\\"buggy\\\" to use. Over the long term there are a few things I've learned to look for in a pet door and this covers most (but not all) requirements.\\nFirst, it needs to be thick enough to fit the door - not one of the thing ones that are suitable only for a screen door or other type of metal frame. This will fit most normal sized doors but be sure to measure first. Next, it needs to lock - this does lock but the type isn't quite as secure or reliable as the types that have a flat face that inserts into the door itself. On the other hand, this is a cat or small dog sized door which means you aren't dealing with brutes so it would usually work fine. I've owned these in the past and except for a very bright cat, these worked well. Last but not least is the flap itself which tends to be the weak spot over time. I like the bubble print on this and find it a decent compromise between the soft flaps and the multiple flap but high cost doors - notice, cats may take more time to get familiar with these since it's not a soft landing on the tail. Overall an affordable option.\",\n \"Product: A collection of I and Love and You'd delicious canned cat foods. You're cats will think it's perfect. Benefits:I and Love and You'd Variety Pack of Canned Cat Food gives your cat plenty of nutritious meals.Three delicious recipes are included in this pack: Chicken Licking' Good, Oh My Cod! and Porky Turkey.High in protein and made with whole, deboned meat and real fruits and vegetables to help your cat stay healthy and active.Natural recipes are also free of artificial preservatives, flavors and colors and contain no fillers or by product meals.Allergy Safe pet food and treats\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Good ingredient list and even tolerated by old, very fussy cat\\n\\nReview: I'm fast becoming a big fan of this brand; a few weeks ago Amazon had a promotion coupon so I picked up a case of canned cat food, then dog food. After, I was offered the opportunity to try this dry kibble plus some other flavors of canned. I have old animals including a 16 year old cat who has had HUS for several years due to a bad batch of cat food recalled ages ago. Due to her kidney problems and age, she can only eat small meals but hates to have a dry bowl. We feed her canned two to three times each day and put kibble in the bowl between feedings. Now, like a lot of cats, she's incredibly finicky - in fact, she takes it to an art form. Food that worked yesterday may not today. Kibble is her least favorite but it's the only way for her not to freak out due to an empty bowl....however, this seems to go over well. We fed her the canned food from this company - she loves it - and now this kibble which also seems to be a hit. We'll know for sure by the end of the bag - assuming she hasn't snubbed it by then it will be a major winner. In the meantime, good ingredient list!\",\n \"Product: SportDogFood Maintenance Beef Meal & Rice Formula is a balanced diet infused with a unique blend of freeze-dried ingredients. We use Beef Meal as our first ingredient. Beef meal provides the essential amino acids for nourishing muscles and bones. Maintenance Beef Meal is GMO and hormone-free recipe made in the USA. There is No Corn, Wheat, Soy or Gluten.This is a Single SourceProtein. Limiting animal protein sources to a single amino-acid chain can be beneficial for pets with food sensitivities and allergies.Does not contain Chicken, Flax Seed, Peas, Egg or Egg Product. No Corn-gluten, artificial preservatives, flavors, fillers or by-products further reducing the likelihood of food allergiesand intolerances. Guaranteed levels of Omega-3 Fatty Acids fromSalmon Oil and Herring Oilensure a Healthy Skin and Coat. Active Enzymes, Probiotics, Antioxidants and trace Mineralshelp promote a healthy digestive tract and immune system.Optimal levelsof Calcium &Phosphorus, along with aproprietary blendofvitamins,trace minerals, and freeze-dried fruits and vegetables,are allessential fordeveloping strong bones, teeth and excellent muscle tone.The extracted Glucosamine from the green-lipped sea mussel is useful in preventing arthritis and maintaining healthy connective tissue, tendons, ligaments and cartilage. Includes Pumpkin to ensure firm, consistent stool. Ingredients and packaging are made and sourced in the USA. All this makes Sport Dog Food a nutrient rich super food. Sport Dog Foods Maintenance Beef Meal Formula for Dogs is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient profiles for All Life Stages.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Dogs seem to really like\\n\\nReview: I have an old foxhound who is up in years, still in good health but we have a bit of a struggle to keep his weight up due to his age and activity level. Worse, many of the foods found today either are subject to a recall or so filled with junk it's out of the question. I've now tried a couple different versions of this brand designed with sportsdogs in mind and frankly, have been impressed. So, out of my three dogs (one who can't gain weight, one who can't loose weight and one who is a picky as a cat), this became a huge favorite with all three. They eat is eagerly, it hasn't seemed to cause any stomach upset.\",\n \"Product: [Made in USA] Vetericyn FoamCare Pet Shampoo for Fine Coats is an easy clean for Dachshunds, Bull Terriers, Bulldogs, American Shorthair Cats and other fine-coated pets! When filthy happens and your groomer appointment is two weeks outreach for Vetericyn FoamCare Pet Shampoo. The easy on and easy off conditioning shampoo that saves you time while leaving them with a fresh, clean scent. Its the coat-specific shampoo that delivers nutrients that are vital for your furry friends optimal skin health. FoamCare is the easy choice for a better bath.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Great design and good for dogs with minimal hair\\n\\nReview: Having rescue dogs means dealing with a lot of different medical conditions including one dog with such severe skin damage that he lost all of his hair; several years later it has somewhat grown back in thin patches yet many areas remain hairless. If you are wondering, no he's not the prettiest of dogs but has so much personality that everyone loves him instantly. Unfortunately, many thick lather shampoos end up being too much so I was really interested in giving this a try on him. I've had the opportunity to try out some of the other shampoo products from these people including the one for dense hair (great for another dog that has one of the thickest undercoats we've ever seen). The spray bottle design is great - we both absolutely prefer it over regular dog shampoo- and this does rinse easily which is important because left over shampoo makes him more prone to sun burn, dirt/grit residue and skin irritation.\",\n \"Product: [Made in USA] Vetericyn FoamCare Pet Shampoo for Fine Coats is an easy clean for Dachshunds, Bull Terriers, Bulldogs, American Shorthair Cats and other fine-coated pets! When filthy happens and your groomer appointment is two weeks outreach for Vetericyn FoamCare Pet Shampoo. The easy on and easy off conditioning shampoo that saves you time while leaving them with a fresh, clean scent. Its the coat-specific shampoo that delivers nutrients that are vital for your furry friends optimal skin health. FoamCare is the easy choice for a better bath.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Great design, nice ingredients\\n\\nReview: I REALLY REALLY REALLY appreciate this spray bottle of dog shampoo - why this isn't the standard is beyond me because it is so much easier than fussing with flip tops or even the pressure pop tops. I like the plant based shampoo ingredients - especially because it is great for maintenance bathing...like a lot of pet owners, I have allergies and have broke out in some pretty mean rashes after bathing the dogs due to the ingredients in the dog shampoo. This high density also does the job for our one dog that has a dense undercoat plus, it's easy to use the spray to add more/less where needed. Overall I'm really happy to have tried this and look forward to using their low density shampoo for my other dog who barely has hair due to serious skin damage.\",\n \"Product: When your pet needs a drink, you don't want to make it wait. The Coleman Collapsible Pet Bowl folds up small, so it's easy to pack and carry along. Unfolded, the Pet Bowl holds up to 2 quarts of water. Constructed of rugged, durable polyoxford with a waterproof liner, the Collapsible Pet Bowl stands up to heavy use and is 100% washable.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Great item! Pack and go plus decent size\\n\\nReview: My four legged friends like to visit the doggy park or go shopping at the local pet store but as one of them gets a little older he sometimes needs a little extra drink to stay hydrated [hey, he is a russian sheepdog living in florida...rescue pup] and mom doesn't like the idea of sharing water bowls with unknown pets at the doggy park [dog germs can spread]. This is a great solution. Easy to fold up and take along, sets up in a second and just bring a little bottled water for a clean, safe water source whether we are going across town or across the nation. This size is large enough for bigger dogs without being obnoxious to stow away. Fits in mom's purse for a long romp or the glove compartment.\",\n \"Product: Dallas Manufacturing Co. 36-Inch by 45-Inch Fleece Pet Bed, Brown Plaid\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Easy to wash and refill\\n\\nReview: This is a very nice sized dog bed that even my 80lb boys can fully stretch out on with comfort. One side is fleece like and the other is a printed flannel look. There is a side zipper to remove the cover for washing and then inside, another zipper that holds the poly fill fiber stuffing. The zippers are okay - not super great but should last - and living in Florida with sand, I really appreciate the ability to wash both the outside and the inner liner...additionally, the ability to refill the poly is GREAT. So often the fluff starts off good but then fails...now I can just buy cheap pillows at wally world to add or replace the fill when needed. Should prolong the life of the bed...and with three large dogs, the price of these gets steep so extending the life with regular washing and refill is a big bonus.\",\n \"Product: Dallas Manufacturing Co. Faux Suede Couch Pet Bed, 34-Inch, Brown\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Nice size for larger dogs and washable\\n\\nReview: I have three dogs and live in Florida which means dog beds are constantly needing to be washed and then replaced...I'm lucky if they last the entire year. I like to put new ones into circulation in Autumn and then toss them out at the end of the following summer - typically they have been washed and worn out to the limit by then. Because all of my dogs are large and each has their own preference, dog beds are a big deal. I've tried them all it seems. This one is for my bagle (beagle basset mix) who like the head roll and open sides...she won't sleep in one that has sides all the way around. This can be unzipped for washing (an absolutely requirement) and has an ample amount of fluff/fill. The texture is a bit more fluffy than I'd normally prefer here in Florida but the underside has a flat rough texture which is better than average. Overall pleased.\",\n \"Product: Camco RV Screen Door Cross Bar allows for easier exit and protection of the RV screen door. It adds a sturdy feel to the door and saves repair to screens. This bar adjusts from 21-5/8\\\" - 28-5/8\\\". It is easy to install and includes hardware.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Excellent Item! Easy to Install, Nice Feel, Very Effective, Great Price!\\n\\nReview: Most RV or camping related items leave you feeling a bit sour due to the high prices and low quality...no so with this one! You actually feel like you are (more or less) getting your money's worth. This has a decent feel/weight to it, is easily adjusted to fit nearly all standard RV/travel trailer doors and is simple to install.\\n\\nA quick note - be sure to measure the door when closed. It's so easy to install that you are probably tempted not to read the instruction or use the provided template. My better half did exactly that and (of course) the alignment was slightly off once the door was shut. Measure with the door closed to avoid re-drilling.\\n\\nSturdy, simple and does what it was meant to do.\",\n \"Product: The Light up Reflective Safety Vest allows you to be seen from up to 2500 feet away to help prevent accidents. Whether you run, bike, jog, or walk the dog at night this vest will help you be visible. 16 Super bright, red, LED lights will either flash approximately 150 times per minute or stay continuously on. Flexible, weatherproof, lightweight mesh, and batter powered (two AA batteries, not included). Be Safe. Be Seen!\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Awesome safety vest - very visible!\\n\\nReview: We take regular walks - usually at a park but since the local parks now forbid dogs (ugh!), we've started walking around the neighborhood more and more. Unfortunately, our town has very few sidewalks (it's not pedestrian friendly) so people are forced to share the road with cars, bicycles and whatever else happens to be out and about. Needless to say, not all drivers are equally cautious and there have been a few which are downright dangerous.\\n\\nAfter someone was killed just a few blocks away (while walking on the side of the road), we decided it was better to be safe than sorry and started searching for safety measures. We bought reflective wear including hats and some clothing but most is rather small and easily confused by distant lighting. When I saw this I figured it was worth a try as it seemed to have good reviews.\\n\\nIt's VERY visible, allows the user to select a flash mode or steady and easily slides on over most existing clothing. Fit the husband perfectly...originally I purchased one and tried his on..then purchased a second one. I found it rather large but more than adequate...it's a bit too big especially in summer with light clothing but will allow for sweaters/etc in winter. Either way, I'm not out to make a fashion statement and this is the most visible product I've found.\\n\\nJoggers, walkers, anyone that works on roads or just wants a great safety vest for the sake of safety if a car breaks down while traveling should have this product. GREAT visibility!\",\n \"Product: Camco RV Screen Door Cross Bar allows for easier exit and protection of the RV screen door. It adds a sturdy feel to the door and saves repair to screens. This bar adjusts from 21-5/8\\\" - 28-5/8\\\". It is easy to install and includes hardware.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Excellent Item! Easy to Install, Nice Feel, Very Effective, Great Price!\\n\\nReview: Most RV or camping related items leave you feeling a bit sour due to the high prices and low quality...no so with this one! You actually feel like you are (more or less) getting your money's worth. This has a decent feel/weight to it, is easily adjusted to fit nearly all standard RV/travel trailer doors and is simple to install.\\n\\nA quick note - be sure to measure the door when closed. It's so easy to install that you are probably tempted not to read the instruction or use the provided template. My better half did exactly that and (of course) the alignment was slightly off once the door was shut. Measure with the door closed to avoid re-drilling.\\n\\nSturdy, simple and does what it was meant to do.\",\n \"Product: The Light up Reflective Safety Vest allows you to be seen from up to 2500 feet away to help prevent accidents. Whether you run, bike, jog, or walk the dog at night this vest will help you be visible. 16 Super bright, red, LED lights will either flash approximately 150 times per minute or stay continuously on. Flexible, weatherproof, lightweight mesh, and batter powered (two AA batteries, not included). Be Safe. Be Seen!\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Awesome safety vest - very visible!\\n\\nReview: We take regular walks - usually at a park but since the local parks now forbid dogs (ugh!), we've started walking around the neighborhood more and more. Unfortunately, our town has very few sidewalks (it's not pedestrian friendly) so people are forced to share the road with cars, bicycles and whatever else happens to be out and about. Needless to say, not all drivers are equally cautious and there have been a few which are downright dangerous.\\n\\nAfter someone was killed just a few blocks away (while walking on the side of the road), we decided it was better to be safe than sorry and started searching for safety measures. We bought reflective wear including hats and some clothing but most is rather small and easily confused by distant lighting. When I saw this I figured it was worth a try as it seemed to have good reviews.\\n\\nIt's VERY visible, allows the user to select a flash mode or steady and easily slides on over most existing clothing. Fit the husband perfectly...originally I purchased one and tried his on..then purchased a second one. I found it rather large but more than adequate...it's a bit too big especially in summer with light clothing but will allow for sweaters/etc in winter. Either way, I'm not out to make a fashion statement and this is the most visible product I've found.\\n\\nJoggers, walkers, anyone that works on roads or just wants a great safety vest for the sake of safety if a car breaks down while traveling should have this product. GREAT visibility!\",\n \"Product: For customers who do not have a reliable pressurised mains\\nwater supply, whether it is at home, on a campsite, or in a holiday\\ncottage, a gravity filter enables you to have clean filtered drinking\\nwater on tap. Water is poured manually into the upper chamber. It\\npasses through the filter candles under pressure of gravity into\\nthe lower chamber where the filtered water can be accessed via a\\ntap on the front of the filter.\\nMade from high grade polished stainless steel, the SS Gravity\\nFilter is a portable, robust model, which is easy to keep\\nhygienically clean. The SS is very popular with aid organisations\\nand private customers alike.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Must Have Hurricane Prep Item - Emergency Water Supply\\n\\nReview: Living in a hurricane prone area totally supplied by public utilities means a loss of electricity and water during outages. Although stocking up on bottled water is fine for a few days, between people and pets there is an ongoing need for fresh clean water without the excessive cost. This unit is used by the Red Cross as well as many other organizations in places where contaminated water is an issue. Not only is it les expensive than bottled but water tastes great, this requires zero electricity and it's simple to use. All stainless steel eliminates the risk of plastics while ensuring a long life. No nasty iodine tablets (especially for those with sensitiviites) and re-usable filters are easy to keep clean. Great product with long term reputation for quality.\",\n \"Product: BoAir 20x20x1 Electrostatic AC Furnace Filter (Exact filter size is 19-5/8 X 19-5/8 X 7/8) BoAir's 5-stage Air Conditioner filter is great for reducing allergens and dust in your indoor air. Recommended for allergy and asthma sufferers. We are an official BoAir authorized factory dealer. Due to our high volume of filter sales & low overhead we can offer these filters at THE LOWEST PRICES AVAILABLE ANYWHERE!! BoAir filters are constructed with 5 layers of media (not just three like others) and surrounded by a rugged aluminum filter frame. A unique combination of Polypro with Polyurethane foam media attract and hold the airborne pollutants inside the layers of the electrostatic filter until they are released by washing. Highest quality in the industry - we're so confident in our electrostatic filters that we back them with a lifetime warranty (10 years for commercial applications). No polyester - BoAir electrostatic filters contain NO polyester, meaning they are easier than ever to clean, and they're less restrictive than competing products. High performance - BoAir filters have undergone independent A.S.H.R.A.E. testing and boast dust arrestance in excess of 90% with initial resistance of a mere 0.10 w.g. at 1200 CFM. Easy for you to maintain - BoAir electrostatic filters are permanent, washable and re-usable. Simply rinse with clean water, let dry and re-install. The Only filter with VIBAX MI-50 - BoAir electrostatic filters are the only ones embedded with VIBAX MI-50, an anti-microbial agent which helps prevent the growth of mold and mildew.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Exceptional - Well Made, Fast delivery, Great price!\\n\\nReview: I was a little hesistant to purchase a filter without any reviews from a company I wasn't familiar with but given the price, thought I'd give it a try especially since they seemed to have a decent satisfaction policy. I'm happy to report, the item was well packaged, shipped and received within 2 days direct to the door.\\n\\nThe filter fit exactly, seems well built with a decent weight aluminum frame and quality materials throughout. Most electrostatic filters are extremely expensive - and even reusable filters of a much inferior quality - tend to run 2/3 of the price of this one. Well built, great price and seems to do the job.\\n\\nHave only had for a few days so unsure of the long term durability but will try to report back after awhile. Also, the company never responded to inquiry about what chemical is contained in the anti-bacterial/mold resistant treatment...hopefully they will do so eventually. For those with chemical sensitivities, be aware the treatment is present and of an unknown ingredient list. No information was provided in the box regarding the chemical treatment either...something I was hoping/expecting to see.\",\n \"Product: KREG KMA3200 Shelf Pin Drilling Jig\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Simple but Highly Effective!\\n\\nReview: After recently purchasing a Porter Cable Pocket Hole Jig (a bit more expensive than the Kreg model but VERY nice item!), all that was needed was a quick way to set those shelf pins in order to get up to speed fast on shelves and work benches for the garage.\\n\\nSaw this and placed and advanced order. It's a small little plastic device, easy to handle, easy to use and effective. I suspect the price is a bit on the higher side but the convenience and time saving aspect still makes this a winner.\\n\\nVery easy to just set in place and drill. Really - nothing to this whatsoever but resolves having to make your very own or worry about getting it just right with each new hole.\\n\\nGreat little device that works just as it should!\",\n \"Product: Aleko100 LED solar powered decorating lights - no Outlet needed. Now Decorate anywhere without dangerous extension cords or need for an Outlet. Sun charges string of 100 lights by day, turn on automatically at dusk and run for about eight hours. No energy cost. Great near Road, around mailbox or lamp post - now you're not limited to near by outlets. 35' length.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Fantastic little product! Pretty lights, super easy installation, no fire hazard!\\n\\nReview: I wasn't sure what to expect from this little light string but thought I'd give it a try since I liked the idea of the solar powered set especially in an outdoor location. We are not using this for xmas or holiday decorations but rather surrounding a sitting area beside a small pond. It takes about 1 minute to set up - simply set the stake where desired and string the lights. To test, cover the solar section so the light isn't directed on it...viola...very clear albeit small lights. These are comparable to the mini-lights sold at most holiday decorations but with the benefit of not requiring any power, no need to worry about shorting out etc..color is very clear and visible but again, these are small mini lights. Look perfect for our use and enjoy the ability to relocate at will. Automatically come on at nightfall, last several hours. I've only had for a couple of days so don't know about the durability but will try to update once I've owned for awhile. Plan to purchase more for use inside patio and to string around garden area. Very nice set!\",\n \"Product: HHIP Z-limit ergonomic low noise air die grinder. Rubber molded cushion grip. Air regulator on top. Safety throttle lever. Rear exhaust with silencer. 360 degree swivel air inlet. Low noise 79 dB(A). 20000 RPM free speed. .25-inches NPT air inlet. 90 PSI air pressure. 4 CFM air consumption. 7.375-inches overall length. .375-inches hose size.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Responsive and works well.\\n\\nReview: Overall I'm quite pleased with this no-name version. I'll tackle each point individually starting with the noise level. While this is noticeably more quiet than my old version I still wouldn't say it's quiet...low noise is pretty accurate. As for ergonomic, this is comfortable to hold - not quite as light as you would hope but then again, it feels substantial and strong - not cheap. The one thing that is a bit of a double edged sword is the safety mechanism under the handle - it's not easy to press which is great for the sake of safety but becomes a slight annoyance rather quickly. I didn't really have a job for this so opted to test it by cutting a large piece of pvc pipe - it performed beautifully. No lagging, not sluggish whatsoever. Fits standard sizing - nice adjustment phase ranging from zero to full. Responsive. For those that aren't using this all the time and don't need a big name brand this is a solid option. Comes with small maintenance tools but nothing else. Pleased and would purchase again in the future.\",\n \"Product: The World Famous Crescent Brand Tool Sets Contain a Carefully Selected Assortment of Crescent Mechanic and Hand Tools. All Tools in This Set Meet New ANSI and ASME Specifications and Come with a Full Satisfaction Guarantee. Crescent, Providing Quality Tools since 1907. Set Includes: One 3/8\\\" Drive 72-tooth quick release ratchet, one 3/8\\\" Drive 3\\\" Extension, 3/8\\\" Drive 12 Point sockets sizes 5/16\\\", 3/8\\\", 7/16\\\", 1/2\\\", 9/16\\\", 5/8\\\", 11/16\\\", 3/4\\\", 13/16\\\"; 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17 & 19mm.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Versatile set great for RV/travel trailer\\n\\nReview: Back in the day buying tools was simple; SnapOn was expensive but even Craftsman came with a lifetime warranty. All that has changed. Cheap tools are some of the most expensive - at best they wear out fast and at worst, damage your machines/other. Initially I needed something to toss in the travel trailer when out on the road and thought this would work well...and it does. Basic set includes the most common sizes. Easy carry holder is very nice - sockets snap into place along with the wrench and extension. Unlike the old blow molded cases, this can fit inside a nice carry tote with ease or will remain secure just about anywhere. Takes up very little space.\\n\\nTools and sockets feel solid - good weight, polish finish. These are nice 'old school' with the finger press release (no need to tug with greasy hands/other). Good turn ratio means less work. All in all a nice little go-to set.\",\n \"Product: For unparalleled performance and durability, the Bosch HDS182 18-Volt Brushless 1/2-Inch Compact Tough Hammer Drill/Driver is equipped with innovative features engineered to perform the broadest range of heavy-duty applications. Featuring an innovative brushless motor and enhanced electronics, this tool lasts twice as long as previous generations. An individually customized Electronic Motor Protection system also protects the maintenance-free motor from overload and further ensures the longevity of the drill/driver. More durable and powerful than ever before, the HDS182 outperforms competitors in heavy-duty applications, while still offering unmatched control as the most compact tool in its class. Answering user demands for increased power, the HDS182 delivers optimized torque for screw driving with increased speed (up to 1,700 RPMs) for drilling applications; alongside the additional hammer drill function for drilling in masonry. This tool also feature a variable speed trigger for reliable speed regulation and 18+1 clutch settings for increased versatility. At only 7-2/5-Inches long, the HDS182 boasts the most compact head length in its class. Additionally, the HDS182 features a 1/2-Inch auto lock chuck for convenient clamping of drills and bits. To maximize jobsite efficiency, the HDS182 comes standard with a magnetic four-tip bit holder and a belt clip that allows for convenient tool storage when not in use. Equipped with Dura shield housing and a built-in LED light that illuminates any working area, the HDS182 is constructed to withstand tough job site conditions. The HDS182-02L Kit Includes: (1) 18-Volt Brushless 1/2-Inch Compact Tough Hammer Drill/Driver, (2) 2.0Ah Batteries, (1) Charger, (1) 4X Bit Tip Holder, (1) 4 Piece Bit Tip Set, (1) Magnetic Bit Tip Holder, (1) Belt Clip and (1) L-BOXX-2 carrying case with an Exact-Fit Tool Insert Tray, which are part of a stackable storage system designed to improve tool organization and transportation on the jobsite.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Newest Go-To Tool! Versatile, strong and comfortable\\n\\nReview: Use a drill on a regular basis? This is the tool for you! Forget those cheap knock-off versions that fail just when you need them most. This is a serious drill for users who need a serious tool to get the job done right. Spouse is tough tough tough on drills and uses them all the time. We own a B&D for small jobs around the house, Hitachi, Craftsman, Bosch and Ryobi versions. This has now replaced them as the \\\"go to\\\" solution for most jobs.\\n\\nSo, this was tested using 3 inch screws into wood AND 3/8 x 2 inch deep into concrete. Both performed flawlessly for the entire duration of both projects. Fast, powerful and charge lasts long enough to get through the entire day of near constant use (ie installing a wood privacy fence etc).\\n\\nPro's\\nFAST charge - less than an hour to full charge.\\nLong lasting battery - went the entire day without need to recharge.\\nWell Balanced/ Compact and Ergonomically Correct - smaller than you would expect! Light weight and easy to use.\\nIntegrated ring to transition drill/hammer - super simple to switch from drill to hammer.\\nBelt loop and bit carrier included.\\nSuper Strong = 3/8 x 2 inches into concrete just like butter!\\nSnap together case - ours came broken but is a great idea if it works.\\nSlim batteries interchangeable with other tools - own other Bosch components? Swap out.\\nComes with two batteries, charger, belt loops, snap case etc...\\nEasy to see charge indicator\\nStill fits double-stack battery - awesome extended use time!\\nLED light has about 5-6 second delay - nice addition when working.\\n\\nCons\\nBit carrier doesn't keep bits secure - lost a couple\\nSnap case came broken - great idea but poor execution. Takes up considerable space, like the ability to stack and go but clips came broken so not usable feature.\\nNo included wrist strap! Grrr...use this feature a lot for extra security when in use but no wrist strap included.\\n\\nAside from these minor glitches, this is a wonderful tool suitable for heavy usage.\",\n \"Product: The Black amp;amp; Decker 20V MAX Lithium Cordless Drill with AutoSense TM Technology instead has an automatic clutch that has proven to be three times more accurate than a mechanical clutch. Homeowners no longer need to experiment with trial and error to set the clutch. The 20V MAX Lithium Cordless Drill with AutoSense has two modes, drill and drive. In drive mode, a microprocessor continuously measures the tools performance. As the screw enters the material there is a rapid change in its torque profile. The microprocessor analyzes the rate of change and stops most screws flush with the material within three milliseconds.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Little Cricket of Drills! Awesome - Compared to Bosch, Hitachi and even old Craftsman\\n\\nReview: Remember Men in Black where Will Smith was given an itsy bitsy little gun that later knocked him off his feet? Well THIS is the little cricket of drills! My spouse has owned a lot of drills over the years; he currently has 2 Hitachi's and a couple of Bosch drills/drivers so when this arrived, he took it out of the box, laughed and said \\\"I didn't know they made drills for women\\\".\\n\\nYes - it is small enough to fit a female and light enough to use with ease but it is still comfortable for most men as well. So, he went to use it and guess what - LOTS of power is packed in this little package! I could see it on his face - utter shock and surprise!\\n\\nThis comes with a built-in bit, two batteries - very light weight and fast recharge. Check out the dimensions and weight on this but don't let it fools you...this compared very favorably to his top of the line Bosch and Hitachi drills. The autosense works as advertised - super nice feature that i especially appreciate but also won points with the spouse.\\n\\nSwitching from drill to driver is a breeze - there is a toggle on the top of the drill which lights up when you make your selection. No surprises, easy to see, easy to change.\\n\\nPowerful performance, super light weight - you can use this all day long without fatigue. Small enough for women but certainly still comfortable for men. Smart autosense feature actually works like described. Toggle selection, extra light weight battery, fast charge and lots of 'umph'.\\n\\nTo be perfectly frank, B&D was never in this household - Craftsman was the 'go to' for years until their quality went downhill a decade or so ago then Bosch, Hitachi and Dewalt took over. We recently tried out B&D yard products and were pleasantly surprised so gave this a try...yet another very pleasant surprise.\",\n \"Product: The Foreman Pocket-Hole Machine (Item# DB210) makes it possible for woodworkers, cabinet shops, contractors, and dedicated do-it-yourselfers to complete projects using Kreg pocket-hole joinery with twice the speed and half the effort of a standard pocket-hole jig. Plus, the new Foreman Pocket-Hole Machine is built with the same quality and features of its predecessor, (Item# DB110), but costs less than half the price. Your will immediately appreciate all of the great features the upgraded Foreman has to offer. With one pull of the handle, they can start the motor, clamp their workpiece, and drill perfect pocket holes. The adjustable fence positions the workpiece for precise pocket depth, and a pair of adjustable stops provide repeatable accuracy. A powerful 110-volt motor enables fast drilling, and a quick-change chuck allows for fast, tool-free bit changes. Plus, the new Foreman is the first Kreg pocket-hole machine that can create all three types of Kreg pocket holes: Standard, Micro-PocketTM, and HD (Heavy-Duty). Please Note: Micro and HD Bits are sold separately. Combine these innovative features and you have the Kreg Foreman DB210 - the versatile, affordable, high -speed solution for pocket-hole construction.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Awesome little machine! Compare to Porter Cable...Quicker than Quick!\\n\\nReview: Kreg builds some smartly designed machines and this pocket-hole machine is not exception. We currently own a Porter Cable 560 QuickJig pocket hole machine as well as a manual pocket hole jig; both of which will probably be put into the next yard sale bin thanks to this machine!\\n\\nThis review will consist of two parts; first, a review of the Kreg Foreman pocket hole machine itself and then a comparison with other popular choices such as the Porter Cable pocket hole machine.\\n\\nThe Kreg Foreman Pocket Hole Machine\\n\\nConstruction - Like most Kreg products, this has a lot of heavy duty plastic with a metal work top. While the plastic might seem inferior, it actually makes a lot of sense...no rust, light weight enough to be portable yet stable enough to feel like a stationary machine.\\n\\nDesign - This is a smartly designed machine designed with the serious hobbyist or home user in mind. It can be placed on a table/bench top or attached to a stand via the screw holes on the four corners which also act as \\\"feet\\\". It tends to be quite stable when in operation and not overly loud..certainly no more so than a table top drill press and perhaps less so. The handle is ergonomically designed and there is easy access to everything whether mounted or not.\\n\\n3 Bit Options! - - As noted in the description, one exciting feature is the ability to use standard, micro or heavy duty bits. This comes with a single standard bit; others sold separately.\\n\\nAssembly - Incredibly easy! Basically remove from the box, unlock the handle, set up the dust capture (or not...can be used with or without however, if used, you will need a shop vac for capture according to the instruction manual. This is not a problem as we have one in the garage but users should be aware of the need for a shop vac if they hope to use the capture). This comes with a single drill bit with other sizes available for purchase separately. The work plate lifts up for drill bit storage and access to change bits, cleaning etc... The fence can be adjusted and there is a locking feature to hold wood in place while drilling.\\n\\nOperation - Very smooth and easy. Not only is this an incredibly safe little machine since the operator has no reason to have hands near the wood during operation but it performs exceptionally well. Tried out several different sizes and types of wood including scraps of oak, cedar and heaven only knows what it was laying around the garage bin. Sizes were roughly 1/2 inch to about 1.5 inches. It's a good idea to test a few pieces out until you get the feel of the machine but what makes this so nice is the ability to replicate the procedure by setting the stops...basically this allows the home user to obtain an assembly line level of speed and accuracy for a fraction of the cost! There was basically zero vibration, very smooth and consistent results.\\n\\nSetting depth - Although very basic, might just be a bit too basic at first. However, it's a minor point the ease of use was almost off putting as you feel as though you are \\\"missing something\\\"...it's really just that simple! Just align the wood, clamp and go!\\n\\nComparison to other options\\nHands-down, this is so superior to manual jigs that it's barely worth a mention. If you plan to use any amount of pocket holes on a regular basis, then a machine is the way to go. On the other hand, for those who use these far and few between then perhaps the extra expense isn't worth it.\\n\\nThis means you have a few others options; other Kreg pocket hole machines which cost almost 2x the amount of this one or a hand-held device like the Porter Cable 560 QuickJig. Now, according to the purchase history here on Amazon, we purchased the Porter Cable machine 3 years ago. It's a beefy, heavy metal device which is somewhat bulky. Now, three years ago when first buying the PC machine, it seemed like the best thing since sliced bread; in fact, compared it to the popular Kreg model at that time and opted for the PC instead. The PC QuikJig system was fast, and easy compared to other home use options. Fast forward a few years and now things are totally revered. The PC handheld model now feels hard to set up (compared to this) and although better than manual, not really a pleasure to use. On the other hand, the Kreg Foreman is an absolute pleasure to use...simple, effective and oh so easy!\\n\\nThe Porter Cable is portable but frankly, so is this Kreg Foreman. The PC needs to be clamped down for use whereas this is quite steady; I'd be inclined to use this Kreg over the PC QuikJig for the vast majority of projects. Yes, it's a bit more bulky but also more stable and much easier to obtain reliable and consistent results. The Kreg system functions like a much larger machine without the high cost.\\n\\nThe Bottom Line\\nSuper Simple to set-up and even easier to use!\\nPerfect blend between portability and stability.\\nVery well priced - half that of similar styled models\\nSafe, consistent results.\\nWill not handle large pieces or commercial level use but a versatile choice for home users.\\n\\nAll electric - just plug and go. No air compressor/other needed.\\nAdditional drill bits sold separately - comes with 1 standard and 1 power drive bit\\nShop Vac needed for collection system\",\n \"Product: Healthier and great tasting water has never been so convenient with the Pelican premium Countertop Drinking Water Filtration and Purification System. Addresses chlorine, chloramines, lead, cysts, VOC's and THM's. One of the most important things we can do is protect ourselves from the long-term and damaging effects dangerous chemicals such as chlorine has in our water. The state-of-the art Pelican Countertop Drinking Water Filtration and Purification System, with its unique modern design can alleviate your worries and get your on your way to a cleaner, safer and healthier lifestyle.\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: Tried on 3 faucets = fit NONE\\n\\nReview: I am so disappointed by this product...it has been a total waste of time and effort. We do a lot of home fermentation but because we live in town, city water is filled with chlorine which is a 'no-go' for fermentation. Normally we have to go to extremes to get chlorine free - yet still healthy - water for fermentation. This seemed like a good work-around and even though the battery life was questionable, figured it would be well worth the effort for the time savings when fermenting. Well we were wrong.\\n\\nFirst of all this is a nice small solid unit that doesn't take up much space so it seemed promising enough. We went to hook it up and that is where things started to get tricky. The directions are dismal but fortunately, MrJJ is a handy sort and has installed enough of these to know what he's doing...for others, consider yourself warned. Next, this comes with two adapter sizes neither of which works for our faucet which is a newer pull down single faucet model from Moen. Since a sizable number of people actually have these faucets, the manufacturer simply tosses in a couple of cheap extras to make sure this will actually fit the customers faucet OR expects the customer to tote around pieces all over town trying to find the correct adapter...clearly Pelican chose the second choice. We couldn't find a suitable adapter and there is no way to use this without it. We're NOT going to change the head of our faucet to fit this machine which was the only other choice.\\n\\nSince it became obvious that this wasn't going to work in our own house we took it to a rental to see if it would fit figuring some benefit should be available. Guess what - it wouldn't fit that faucet either. Happened to be going to another rental and yep...you guessed it...doesn't fit in the 3rd house either. Three strikes and you are out. Not worth the hassle. At best, this is a guessing game to determine IF it will fit your faucet....if it doesn't then this has no value whatsoever.\",\n \"Product: Enjoy easy access to hot water during your next outdoor adventure with the Coleman Hot Water on Demand H2Oasis Portable Water Heater. Ideal for washing dishes, bathing, or preparing hot beverages, this propane-powered water heater dispenses hot water at temperatures up to 125 degrees Fahrenheit. Simply fill the included 5-gallon water carrier with drinkable water, connect it to the pump, twist the dial to the desired temperature, and wait as the water heats up in as little as 30 seconds. The unit's Instastart ignition allows you to light the heater with the push of a button, while PerfectFlow technology helps ensure a steady heat output. The H2Oasis also features a shower head to help you maintain personal hygiene while camping or backpacking. Equipped with a high-power submersible electric pump and brass hose fittings, the water heater maintains robust, reliable water flow even amidst harsh conditions. Its intuitive LED display provides a clear readout of heating status. And thanks to its mesh storage bag, this portable water heater is easy to carry around the campsite or trail.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Compared to EccoTemp = pro's and con's plus which I'd go with for hurricane prep\\n\\nReview: I've owned the Eccotemp portable hot water heater for about eight years according to my order history and it's held up well for sporadic use during power outages, hurricanes and camping. Unfortunately, <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Eccotemp-L5-Portable-Tankless-Water-Heater-and-Outdoor-Shower/dp/B000UVLW4C/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Eccotemp L5 Portable Tankless Water Heater and Outdoor Shower</a> has always had a couple of annoying issues top among it being the amount of hot water - it does get comfortably warm but not overly hot and I like a hot hot hot shower. In any case, I thought this might not only get warmer but certainly expected the technology to improve over the past 8 years and could also use another one of these for dishes, dogs and so forth.\\n\\nWhen this arrived I was immediately impressed by what appears to be a solid build of construction. It's heavy and feels nice and well built. The controls are intuitive and things like easy grip handles are a big improvement over the Eccotemp which has always had a problem hanging. This can use small portable propane containers which is nice - the other uses BBQ sized propane which can be troublesome to lug around. Of course the flip side is this runs out a bit faster. This can sit on a table top or hang much easier than the Eccotemp which never seems easy to hang, it's not easy to carry and it's generally a pain to work around.\\nUnfortunately this also has a few major annoyances. For example, this comes with a small plastic water tank - the other can be hooked up via a hose for continual water supply. This battery can only be charged via 12v making it hard to run off a generator directly. And of course, the price is substantially different. Between the two, I'd still prefer my 8 year old EccoTemp since it can run endless amounts of water, can use a large propane tank and is easier to hook up direct to a generator/other. This is more convenient in terms of hanging/sitting and the water - although limited - is hotter. Overall I'm happy to have both but would consider this better for truly off road/off grid applications where you intend to bring in a limited water supply for dish washing or a very quick one person shower or where the weather is much colder and hotter temperature is needed. The Eccotemp can sustain an endless supply of warm water for multiple uses over a longer setting. Together they complement one another and make a great combo for showers and dishes etc...\",\n \"Product: The cassius is a 52-inch damp-rated Fan, making it perfect for any room in your home or office including covered porches. The industrial design comes with reversible blades, so you can choose a soft wood tone for a gentle appearance or a metallic tone that gives the Fan a consistent masculine look. The clean lines and exposed motor create a minimal presence with no frills, placing the focus on its superior performance.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Loft design look = close match to industrial look with a few extras most people appreciate\\n\\nReview: I just purchased four Emerson stainless steel industrial ceiling fans which seemed to make this show up on my suggestion list. In the past I used to only buy Hunter fans for all of our rentals and personal properties but after trying out Emerson, I switched. However, I needed something that could be used in damp conditions, could be reversed and yet still look similar to the Emerson industrial fans....this is very similar and fits all my needs. It can be retrofit for a light fixture by removing the base plate - it's already wired -. This not full stainless steel but it has a solid weight and looks very similar especially at a distance. Unlike true industrial fans which have to be mounted at a minimum of 10 feet and lack all the extras like the ability to reverse etc...this motor can reverse and so can the blades. One side is silver and the other wood. This doesn't have many extras aside from the ability to reverse both the blades and motor as well as add a light fixture if desired. I did notice a bit of wobble at high speed but very minimal. Fan is not silent but it is quiet. Has a nice design that goes well in a contemporary loft style home decor or works well in an office environment etc where you might want/need a few extra features. Installation is easy - literally three wires (blue, black and white). Has cap to cover mount and pull string option. Solid fan.\",\n \"Product: The Ronan features a wired-formed cage surrounding a vintage-style LED light bulb. The warm metal and tonal blades create a nice contrast with the Fan body. This 52-inch designer series Fan is ultra-modern and ready to join your home.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Great looks, solid build\\n\\nReview: Hunter has been my \\\"go to\\\" for about the last 20 years. I've used them in rentals and personal home due to overall good looks and reliability....until a few years ago when I switched to Emerson brand fans. Fast forward a few years and I'm in need of new fans again but wanted something contemporary, sleek and stylish. This immediately appealed to me so opted to give it a try. The cage is larger than expected but in a good way. Initially I thought it might look small and insignificant but it's large, easy to access the bulb and allows a variety of \\\"edison\\\" type retro LED looking bulbs (or regular bulb) which is great because I have a small collection. The fan itself is very sleek and smooth. Three blades, quiet and heavy - check the weight of this as compared to other models including those with five blades...this outweighs the other fans by several pounds. More metal, less plastic, comes with the remote and I have to hand it to Hunter, they got the remote right. The Emerson remote smart fan was a total PITA to install - and over the years I've installed at least 3 dozen fans...probably more. This was simple enough for the average homeowner with basic tools and common sense to tackle without problem meaning a nice savings on installation fees. Nice fan, contemporary design, reverses, remote...what's not to like?!\",\n \"Product: This is a factory reconditioned product. Reconditioned generally means that the product has been returned to the manufacturer, who brings the product back to like new condition. Some products may contain cosmetic blemishes. Includes Air Chisel - TL100300RB\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Wow-What a BARGAIN - GREAT Little Item!!!!\\n\\nReview: Saw this on sale and picked it up for my spouse thinking it was something else entirely (I'm not the tool person so I confused this for a Hammer Drill). Lucky for us because this is an exceptional little bargain that I wouldn't have bought if I'd realized my mistake sooner...but, it turned out to be a fortunate mistake because he is raving about it...rated it as the best buy I've made in months!\\n\\nNice, small but well made - solid build with a good, comfortable grip. Order arrived quickly and included a complete five piece tip/bit set (worth more than the entire price of the order alone) with common sized chisels. Has excellent sensitivity control to adjust setting from very gentle to \\\"knock down the wall\\\" settings. Tried it out and goes through concrete like butter. Not very loud this is versatile enough to use for detail work or powerful enough for even the most brutish needs. Tried it on a few blocks - put hole through block in less than a minute and also was able to trim away minute particles almost like a sculpture on the gentle setting.\\n\\nExcellent purchase!\",\n \"Product: TILE BOND is a superior solution for adhering concrete and clay roof tiles goes on fast, stays strong.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Lives up to the name\\n\\nReview: The name says it all...this is GREAT stuff! Living in Florida after our most recent hurricane activity, it seems there is always a need to stick something back and this makes short work of quick repairs that help prevent even more damage from being done. Better yet, this can actually \\\"glue\\\" oddball things together include cement blocks - thanks to the wife there are more uses than what I'd have normally considered. Easy enough for anyone to use, just be warned that it's nearly habit forming for \\\"some\\\" people (like the wife) who use it like a construction version of super glue. Out of control spouses aside, this is easy to use and does the job. Be careful of the straw - if lost, the entire bottle is useless.\",\n \"Product: IRIS-DRIVE, a performance-driven SSD designed for 4K video-shooting professionals. Equipped with top of the line, powerful performance, the reliability of IRIS-DRIVE is unprecedented. By combining next-generation data-loss-protection with 2TB capacity of uninterrupted video recording, the IRIS-DRIVE is a video professional's best storage option. IRIS-DRIVE is a recommended drive for Atomos SHOGUN and NINJA ASSASSIN series. You can check the recommended drives for Atomos products here at http://www.atomos.com/drives/ IRIS-DRIVE represents the storage solution made by professionals, for professionals in media and entertainment.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Works but inconsistent finish and poor quality\\n\\nReview: Frankly I was disappointed when this arrived. Initially this looked great; a cool industrial style light fixture is exactly what I was looking for but once the beat up box arrived, the painted metal cage that holds the lights felt - and looked - cheap. The paint doesn't even cover the entire surface of the metal cage but instead, stops almost at the point of insertion. This does not come with the bulbs and considering the listed retail on this, it's another disappointment. Overall the fixture is lacking; it's lacking quality, it's lacking in attention to detail, it's lacking paint, it's lacking substance in the form of metal used...yes, it works but I won't be buying another from this vendor for sure.\",\n \"Product: The first of its kind! the vault is a simple, minimal Fan enveloped by a modern cage design that is sure to make a statement in your contemporary space. This high-contrast artistry is on-trend and ready to be the centerpiece that brings new life into your home with the craftsmanship that ushers in long-lasting powerful performance. Works well with many different types of dcor.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Looks great, quiet, easy DIY install - wish it had the light\\n\\nReview: Like the other reviewers, I was a bit disappointed this did not come with the light kit but fortunately, it wasn't a critical element for my needs as it is going in a room where I rarely use any type of overhead light. It's replacing an older standard white Hunter fan that has served well but is beginning to look dated - and has a single floppy light that just looks terrible. Fast forward to this sleek, good looking unit. It's a nice Hunter - and by that I mean one of the better quality versions since sadly, Hunter has started a more modest priced line in recent years that is junk. This is not junk. It's quiet, smooth and looks as good as it works. Installation is quite simple - moderately capable DIY types will have no trouble whatsoever and frankly, this is a breeze compared to the last fan I installed by Emerson (which also makes wonderful fans but really a PITA to install). Speaking of which, this comes with a remote which is a double edged sword - on one hand, the single thing we dislike the most from the Emerson fan is the wall unit control but on the other hand, let's face it...one more remote is not what anyone needs these days. Frankly, I'm divided about the remote. In any case, this is a nice fan - understated but stylish, very versatile look and quiet operation.\",\n \"Product: The Encyclopedia of Immaturity has been such a hit that we've followed up with a second book that includes thought-provoking topics such as How to Slide Down a Banister, What We Talk About When We Talk About Wedgies, How to Send a Toiletgram, and more. It's hopelessly goofy and shamelessly wonderful.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Best Yet! Approved by Kids and Adults Alike!\\n\\nReview: I originally purchased the Encyclopedia of Immaturity V1 for my nephew but it was such a hit with both adults and kids that it ended up making the rounds instead. When Volume 2 came up for sale I knew I had to get it but wasn't sure if it would \\\"make the cut\\\". So often it seems the first volume is the best and the rest is just added on to ride on the fame of the original. No so with this one!\\n\\nFirst, the thin page problem mentioned by many reviewers in the first volume is fixed in this one. Pages are substantially thicker - although that leads to fewer total tips. However the quality of the tips is as good - if not better - than the original. Same silly jokes, fun but young \\\"tricks\\\" and an abundance of totally meaningless activiites sure to delight everyone.\\n\\nCover is the same material as the first, very nice and thick. Pages are thicker with glossy sheen made to last longer and wording is in keeping with all the Klutz products (of which we have purchased several including the airplanes, art-rageous projects, museum in a book, Do Not Open this Book, Maze, Bubbles and many others! Each and every one is a huge hit with everyone!).\\n\\nMy younger brother (nearly 40) loved this as did our nephew, 11 year old neighbor and everyone in between. Fun stuff! Perfect gift for younger siblings of any age or kids over for a visit.\",\n \"Product: You don't have to be a rocket scientist to unravel this cube into a snake (just twist and swivel the 27 wooden cubes to uncoil the serpent) but it certainly helps to be a genius to put it back together. This legendarily difficult brain-teasing puzzle will have you undulating in no time. If the snake starts to constrict you, just remember: The string of cubes form a Hamiltonian path through a 333 grid graph, duh! Skill and patience will be tried when turning the snake back into the original cube. \\n\\nDimensions: 2 1/3\\\" x 2 1/3\\\" x 2 1/3\\\"\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Stumped all the chumps in this household and visitors too!\\n\\nReview: Update. It appears there have been changes in the quality, size etc of this item since I ordered it 7 years ago. The original was very well sized and nicely crafted - I cannot speak to the quality or specifications of the current item if it is changed. Original review follows.\\n\\nFirst of all, we buy a lot of these types of brain teasers and puzzles. This is a well built item, very durable. Originally I expected this to be very easy but to date, it remains unsolved. Everyone from the age of ten to mid-forties has enjoyed trying this out...in fact, it quickly became the center of attention this past weekend as out of town family members ranging in age from 12, 19 to 40 attempted to solve it. None did although the 40 year old worked on it for the better part of an entire afternoon [we lost him to this one]. Another great feature about this one is that it is one piece - unlike others that have multiple pieces that easily get lost or scattered about. Due to that, it is an excellent choice for those that may have young children or pets in the household OR for to take along when traveling.\",\n \"Product: The story of this puzzle begins a long time ago in a small village in India, where a young farmer somehow learned to fly just before his wedding. With this new ability, he found the perfect gift for his bride to be: he plucked a star from the heavens. Unfortunately he was so nervous about the upcoming nuptial that he let the star fall to the earth and it subsequently broke into six pieces. Fortunately for him, he frantically rebuilt it in time to present it to his new wife... And lived happily ever after. Reconstruct this ancient fable with this celestially challenging puzzle. Take the star apart and rebuild it using the six interlocking pieces. Contains six identical hand crafted wooden pieces. Dimensions: 3 1/7\\\" x 3 1/7\\\" x 3 1/7\\\"\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Medium Difficulty - Fun but not frightening!\\n\\nReview: Another beautiful puzzle made out of lovely wood that will last for years. This star puzzle is a medium difficulty level without a lot of small parts to keep track of. Excellent choice for quick interest items or a hard puzzle for kids. Great puzzle for those with a visual impairment especially kids that aren't ready for the more advanced puzzles. I own/play with a lot of these puzzles BUT...to get a true sense of the puzzle, I throw out the instructions without ever looking at them whenever bringing home a new puzzle. Also, because my better half is visually impaired, it gives us both a \\\"level\\\" playing field with a little friendly competitive. See my other reviews for a break down on difficulty level, quality of workmanship and more.\",\n \"Product: The story of this puzzle begins a long time ago in a small village in India, where a young farmer somehow learned to fly just before his wedding. With this new ability, he found the perfect gift for his bride to be: he plucked a star from the heavens. Unfortunately he was so nervous about the upcoming nuptial that he let the star fall to the earth and it subsequently broke into six pieces. Fortunately for him, he frantically rebuilt it in time to present it to his new wife... And lived happily ever after. Reconstruct this ancient fable with this celestially challenging puzzle. Take the star apart and rebuild it using the six interlocking pieces. Contains six identical hand crafted wooden pieces. Dimensions: 3 1/7\\\" x 3 1/7\\\" x 3 1/7\\\"\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Medium Difficulty - Fun but not frightening!\\n\\nReview: Another beautiful puzzle made out of lovely wood that will last for years. This star puzzle is a medium difficulty level without a lot of small parts to keep track of. Excellent choice for quick interest items or a hard puzzle for kids. Great puzzle for those with a visual impairment especially kids that aren't ready for the more advanced puzzles. I own/play with a lot of these puzzles BUT...to get a true sense of the puzzle, I throw out the instructions without ever looking at them whenever bringing home a new puzzle. Also, because my better half is visually impaired, it gives us both a \\\"level\\\" playing field with a little friendly competitive. See my other reviews for a break down on difficulty level, quality of workmanship and more.\",\n \"Product: Care of Wooden Floors\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Tedious and not that funny - Kafka meets modern discontent\\n\\nReview: I was intrigued by the title as well as the description of the book. For those that enjoy Kafka and other existential writers, the idea of combing a bit of humor with the thought provoking journey of the mind is a compelling start. Now, like most book in that genre, don't be surprised if that is all that you encounter...the start. Indeed, the journey itself does grow tedious (but isn't that the point) however, the promised humor never really shows its face which is sad because there is so much opportunity for it to do so. It simply doesn't 'materialize'.\\n\\nHowever, the book is not without merit and does a fine job of relating the relative mundane matters of modern existence in a way that both annoys and elucidates the reader into the sad state of affairs. The constant comparison between the narrator and friend, the growing dismal state of the wooden floors, the cats (always the cats) and the not surprising tendency of the protagonist to let himself and others down on a daily (nearly hourly) basis is likely to resonant with anyone that has been forced to pull it together without the slightly idea how. It's a mocking manifesto of modern life made all the more repugnant by the tedious and tiresome care of wooden floors.\",\n \"Product: How to survive good on just working 4 hours a week\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Outsourced content - practice what he preaches but at price.\\n\\nReview: First of all, the book just arrived today and as per my verified purchase, you can see I've actually taken the time to read THIS version rather than only the first version like a couple of the early reviewers. Also, be sure to check out the number of reviews from some of the other reviewers...one review history...of this book only? I suspect that is a friend of the author. To that effect, it was a disappointment for those of us who actually purchased/read the first book and were expecting a lot of new information given the tough economy.\\n\\nLong time four hour workweek fans are likely to be disappointed...looks like Ferris outsourced this entire book to someone who collected some interesting blog posts/testimonials and then corrected a few spelling errors in the last book. Readers deserve so much more! Seriously, although he is practicing what he preaches, isn't everyone sick and tired of being suckered by greedy people? I know I am...from bankers to dream peddlers, how about giving us our money's worth rather than simply adding the testimonials from readers plus a few added bits of inspiration.\\n\\nThis does indeed have over 100 pages of new content that makes the book much more substantial. The core of the book remains nearly the same as the first book...the additional 100 pages primarily consist of examples from others and testimonials taken from the blog. While these are certainly great additions - they don't change or update the core content. Former readers have little/nothing new to go on at a time when there is a need for even more (not less) REAL information. Not feel-good fluff.\\n\\nNew readers will absolutely want to purchase this version rather than the first version since it is packed with great examples, testimonials and other tidbits but prior readers will find very little additional value from reading this version. Bottom line - buy this book if you are new to his work. Former fans of the four hour work week should save their money as they will find little/nothing new. A major let-down to long time fans and blatant laziness that is an insulting cash grab.\\n\\nFor former readers that insist on ignoring this review and buying the new version anyway...you were warned. Like another reviewer said, \\\"life is short\\\"....why waste your time and money re-reading the same material twice. Want a life changing book? Go for one that has stood the test of time...Your Money or Your Life. Great stuff and no...I have no affiliation with those authors.\",\n \"Product: ..\\\".easy recipes that are as taste satisfying as they are nutritious.\\\"\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Almost But Not Quite...Other Alternative Better\\n\\nReview: I purchased several of these vegie burger books including this one and \\\"vegetarian burgers\\\"...this is a good book but could have been much better for several reasons - first, the author reies heavily on soy. I rarely use soy simply because I'm not a huge fan of the flavor however, it is often genetically modified and tends to act/interfere with hormone levels in some sensitive individuals so I'm sure there are others that are not huge soy fans other than myself. However, the soy reliance alone is not my \\\"big beef\\\" with this book...rather the inclusion of inferior ingredients found in many of the recipes is. While I realize many vegetarians have no problems putting all types of chemicals or other adulturants into their bodies as long as it isn't animal based, there are plenty of other people such as myself that avoid highly procesed, chemically tained products whenever possible. Sadly, this book includes many 'short cut' ingredients of dubious quality that are never found in my kitchen.\\n\\nFor those searching for one good book, try \\\"vegetarian burgers\\\", it includes a wider variety of grain, beans and other ingredients aside from soy. The author also uses fresh ingredients and very few processed seasonings or other \\\"junk\\\" in the recipes. It is simply beyond me why so many other authors take a nutritious food then add inferior ingredients to the recipe. NO _I AM NOT AFFILIATED WITH EITHER AUTHOR!!! Just a person that spent money on two books rather than one and hopes to help others avoid making the same mistake.\\n\\nThat having been said, the author does assume you are starting from canned beans and other sources rather than grinding your own or starting from fresh. I would love to have seen recipes included for self-grinding options since there are so many more options available than in whole form but, it is simple enough to experiment with the basic recipes to work out your very own.\"\n]","isConversational":false},"profile_size":{"kind":"number","value":162,"string":"162"},"task":{"kind":"string","value":"longlamp_3"},"split_kind":{"kind":"string","value":"user_based"},"id":{"kind":"number","value":985,"string":"985"}}},{"rowIdx":986,"cells":{"question_id":{"kind":"string","value":"A3LOXOMPX3ZPRK"},"question":{"kind":"string","value":"Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of \"5.0\" for a product with description \"2003 single on RCA from American Idol runner-up, the title track is backed with 'This Is The Night'.\". The summary of the review text is \"Clay's singing is awesome!!! Long analysis of arrangement.\"."},"answer":{"kind":"string","value":"Hi. Thank you for reading my review out of 2000+ others.\n\nI give this recording 5 stars simply for the wonderful singing of Clay Aiken, which we all agree is amazing and beyond reproach. How did this guy remain anonymous so long until Idol discovered him? Well, even later rather than sooner, it was inevitable that talent this huge would \"make it.\"\n\nHowever, the reason for this review is to critique the arrangement of \"Bridge,\" and I'm sorry to say that it comes up a little short.\n\nI'll give the arranger some points: The arrangement is original and unique, and it's ambitious. It tries to be better than the original, and it almost gets there. But because of a few flaws it falls down and I'll label it \"bombastic.\"\n\nProblem #1: The build doesn't work. A typical pop arrangement starts off quiet and simple, and gradually builds to a hopefully shattering climax. The gradual build is key to triggering the \"goosebump effect.\" You are enjoying the beautiful quiet verse and as the arranger steps it up just a notch, say by adding in a second vocal voice or introducing the strings in the second verse, your subconcious recognizes that build and thinks \"Man, this is getting better than I expected. If it was great in verse one, and it's better in verse two, I can only imagine how good the final verse and chorous are going to be, and the finale is going to be incredible! And with that intangible and unproven expectation your imagination gets captured and everything comes together. However in this arrangement the arranger blows that and instead starts off from the first with an overly rambunctious loud choir and driving drums. He then continues to interrupt the build by turning the voltage up and down throughout the song. Loud intro, quiet first verse, loud chorous, drop it back down for the third verse, then turn it up again for the end. The end result is boring and a \"just more of the same\" effect.\n\nProblem #2: The choir is too rowdy and obscures Clay's voice. That is just not allowed!!! Not with *my* Clay Aiken. Turn them down and don't turn them up again. I am paying money to hear the star, not a bunch of nobodies wearing purple robes.\n\nProblem #3: Here is the crucial mistake: The arranger fires off his finale fireworks too early and is left with nothing with which to blow me away. In the chorous just before the third verse, Clay's soaring voice jumps off melody and hammers a few impossibly high notes several intervals higher than expected and we get the \"money shot.\" Not only that, but the arranger drives the point home with hammering orchestra hits, even slowing down the tempo. It sounds just like a climactic ending. But as Clay finishes it up, the rhythm section continues playing, drops the voltage way back, and introduces the third verse. Your subconcious reacts: \"There's more? That's not right. They're not going to be able to deliver more than what I just heard. Hmmm, I'm skeptical. It's either going to have to be something so great that it's never been heard before in pop music history, or it's going to be a letdown.\" Then the final climax is very similar to the one we just heard, slightly better, but not enough to deliver that \"shattering\" effect. Instead it delivers a \"more of the same\" effect, it's a letdown, and that ruins the entire thing. The original arrangement carefully built up to that climax and that was really the payoff of the whole song. This arrangement fails in this most critical place.\n\nAs I was listening to this song for the first time, towards the end of the second verse I recognized where the arrangement was heading. I paused it and remarked to my wife: \"I see where this is going. The arranger has stepped the intensity of this song way up and he is trying to outdo the original. Well, the original depended on the climax, and if this arrangement is going to beat that, it will really have to deliver there. We'll see if he can pull it off.\" I then resumed the play. I was surprised to hear those early fireworks, and then the end just couldn't deliver.\n\nProblem #4: After all of that, the final straw is the contrived finale. Clay sings the entire song. The lyric is done. The high notes have been hit. The orchestra has hammered the whole thing to a close, Clay's voice exits and the choir comes in to clean up the mess and close the whole show down. But the arranger throws in a few pivot chords and brings it back one more time so that Clay can blow us away. Clay comes back in, causing yet another mood swing and another increase in voltage, and hits a few notes even higher than before. Finally the song ends. It's just too contrived and obvious.\n\nNow there's no reason that mood swings, voltage fluctuations, early fireworks, etc. can't work in the hands of a skilled arranger, but to throw all the usual rules of arranging away like this is going to require real skill and genius to make it work. Unfortunately it's not here.\n\nTo tell the truth, I never have liked this song. For one thing, the lyrics don't say much. They don't tell a complete story. What is \"silver girl?\" Is that a plane? Or is that a hypodermic needle delivering a drug as some have suggested? I did some research but couldn't find an analysis of the lyric, though I did find lots of people saying this is excellent song. I have always felt that the main value of this song is Art Garfunkel's high notes at the end.\n\nFlawed, but pleasingly ambitious, arrangement aside, one thing is for sure, Clay Aiken's singing is a ten. And despite the finale not bringing about the intended effect, the final high notes are simply unbelievable. Whoever thought that this nobody could hit all those notes? I think he compares favorably to Art Garfunkel, or even beats him by a good margin. That's huge."},"correct_answer":{"kind":"string","value":"Hi. Thank you for reading my review out of 2000+ others.\n\nI give this recording 5 stars simply for the wonderful singing of Clay Aiken, which we all agree is amazing and beyond reproach. How did this guy remain anonymous so long until Idol discovered him? Well, even later rather than sooner, it was inevitable that talent this huge would \"make it.\"\n\nHowever, the reason for this review is to critique the arrangement of \"Bridge,\" and I'm sorry to say that it comes up a little short.\n\nI'll give the arranger some points: The arrangement is original and unique, and it's ambitious. It tries to be better than the original, and it almost gets there. But because of a few flaws it falls down and I'll label it \"bombastic.\"\n\nProblem #1: The build doesn't work. A typical pop arrangement starts off quiet and simple, and gradually builds to a hopefully shattering climax. The gradual build is key to triggering the \"goosebump effect.\" You are enjoying the beautiful quiet verse and as the arranger steps it up just a notch, say by adding in a second vocal voice or introducing the strings in the second verse, your subconcious recognizes that build and thinks \"Man, this is getting better than I expected. If it was great in verse one, and it's better in verse two, I can only imagine how good the final verse and chorous are going to be, and the finale is going to be incredible! And with that intangible and unproven expectation your imagination gets captured and everything comes together. However in this arrangement the arranger blows that and instead starts off from the first with an overly rambunctious loud choir and driving drums. He then continues to interrupt the build by turning the voltage up and down throughout the song. Loud intro, quiet first verse, loud chorous, drop it back down for the third verse, then turn it up again for the end. The end result is boring and a \"just more of the same\" effect.\n\nProblem #2: The choir is too rowdy and obscures Clay's voice. That is just not allowed!!! Not with *my* Clay Aiken. Turn them down and don't turn them up again. I am paying money to hear the star, not a bunch of nobodies wearing purple robes.\n\nProblem #3: Here is the crucial mistake: The arranger fires off his finale fireworks too early and is left with nothing with which to blow me away. In the chorous just before the third verse, Clay's soaring voice jumps off melody and hammers a few impossibly high notes several intervals higher than expected and we get the \"money shot.\" Not only that, but the arranger drives the point home with hammering orchestra hits, even slowing down the tempo. It sounds just like a climactic ending. But as Clay finishes it up, the rhythm section continues playing, drops the voltage way back, and introduces the third verse. Your subconcious reacts: \"There's more? That's not right. They're not going to be able to deliver more than what I just heard. Hmmm, I'm skeptical. It's either going to have to be something so great that it's never been heard before in pop music history, or it's going to be a letdown.\" Then the final climax is very similar to the one we just heard, slightly better, but not enough to deliver that \"shattering\" effect. Instead it delivers a \"more of the same\" effect, it's a letdown, and that ruins the entire thing. The original arrangement carefully built up to that climax and that was really the payoff of the whole song. This arrangement fails in this most critical place.\n\nAs I was listening to this song for the first time, towards the end of the second verse I recognized where the arrangement was heading. I paused it and remarked to my wife: \"I see where this is going. The arranger has stepped the intensity of this song way up and he is trying to outdo the original. Well, the original depended on the climax, and if this arrangement is going to beat that, it will really have to deliver there. We'll see if he can pull it off.\" I then resumed the play. I was surprised to hear those early fireworks, and then the end just couldn't deliver.\n\nProblem #4: After all of that, the final straw is the contrived finale. Clay sings the entire song. The lyric is done. The high notes have been hit. The orchestra has hammered the whole thing to a close, Clay's voice exits and the choir comes in to clean up the mess and close the whole show down. But the arranger throws in a few pivot chords and brings it back one more time so that Clay can blow us away. Clay comes back in, causing yet another mood swing and another increase in voltage, and hits a few notes even higher than before. Finally the song ends. It's just too contrived and obvious.\n\nNow there's no reason that mood swings, voltage fluctuations, early fireworks, etc. can't work in the hands of a skilled arranger, but to throw all the usual rules of arranging away like this is going to require real skill and genius to make it work. Unfortunately it's not here.\n\nTo tell the truth, I never have liked this song. For one thing, the lyrics don't say much. They don't tell a complete story. What is \"silver girl?\" Is that a plane? Or is that a hypodermic needle delivering a drug as some have suggested? I did some research but couldn't find an analysis of the lyric, though I did find lots of people saying this is excellent song. I have always felt that the main value of this song is Art Garfunkel's high notes at the end.\n\nFlawed, but pleasingly ambitious, arrangement aside, one thing is for sure, Clay Aiken's singing is a ten. And despite the finale not bringing about the intended effect, the final high notes are simply unbelievable. Whoever thought that this nobody could hit all those notes? I think he compares favorably to Art Garfunkel, or even beats him by a good margin. That's huge."},"documents":{"kind":"list like","value":["Product: Brilliant stereo recording in your pocket.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Semi-pro recorder for a low price, but fatal flaw does not include divide track.\n\nReview: This is a fancy recorder that differs from the typical inexpensive voice recorder in that it is targeted at musicians and other power users that need higher fidelity, but it does not cost much more than other units. I will leave it to you to review the many advanced features that this unit offers and decide if those features are useful to you. However, the recorder does suffer from some disadvantages.\n\nThe main shortcoming is that it does not provide a \"track divide\" function. This is unbelievable and unacceptable. A \"track divide\" function is a necessity, and a no brainer on any unit. Sony's unit that lists for about half the price of this does offer this function. Olympus recorders almost never provide a track divide function and that's inexcusable, but especially for a relatively expensive semi-pro unit like this. When recording in the field, you will almost always get a lot of unusable noise. Noise at the start and end of tracks and often you have to record an hour in order to get just a few seconds of what you need. With a \"track divide,\" you can review the track and divide off those useless portions and delete them. Without that function, you have to wait until you get back to the computer and then use complicated sound editing software to edit the tracks. You also have to waste time transferring garbage to the computer, and you also waste a lot of your finite memory card carrying around garbage. This can be a real problem if you do a lot of recording and can't get back to the computer. Also being able to divide the tracks on the unit increases the usefulness of the unit, other recorders that include the function are more useful than ones that do not. Like the Olympus units, Zoom partially compensates for the lack of a divide function by providing a \"track mark\" function. That may be a borderline useful feature in addition to track divide, but as a substitute for track divide it's silly and useless.\n\nIn spite of the prose aimed at musicians here on the Amazon page, this unit does not include variable speed playback nor A/B repeat. Sony's units do include those functions. While reasonably small, this unit is bigger and more attention grabbing than other inconspicuous voice recorders. That may be a problem in some situations (like recording children that tend to grab this wacky looking gizmo).\n\nConsider the Sony ICD-PX820 and ICD-UX200 units, which offer most of the functionality of this unit as well as the additional features mentioned above at a lower price point, and they are smaller and less conspicuous. Also consider the Sony ICD-SX750 at price point similar to the Zoom for semi-pro use.","Product: The Peterson V-SAM presents a combination of programmable Virtual Strobe tuner, audio tone generator, and metronome in a hand-held format. It marries the revolutionary Virtual Strobe Technology, first introduced in the VS-1 tuner, with a new, brighter, high-contrast display. The high-output tone generator within the V-SAM offers 10 octaves of audible tones, which conform to a selected preset or custom temperament and are adjustable in 0.1 cent increments. This permits ear-training possibilities previously unavailable in a hand-held device.Versatile Metronome The V-SAM's audio/visual metronome allows tap or dial-in tempo, adjustable beats per measure, beat subdivisions, and a stopwatch function.Built to be Better The V-SAM's \"tuner mode\" expands upon the Peterson VS-1 with an even wider variety of alternate temperaments and the ability to select temperament tonal roots. In addition, the user can create and store custom temperaments and use them with the same flexibility as preset ones. The V-SAM automatically detects a note being played in real-time and is accurate to 1/1000th of a semitone. It can transpose displayed notes based on any of 12 scale notes.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Too big, too expensive, too valuable, cheapo tuner is better.\n\nReview: If you need a guitar tuner, this is not it. It's simply way too big to tote along. Also, at this price, you have to be really careful that it doesn't get dropped, lost, or stolen, and that further reduces its usefulness. On top of all that, why would you even consider paying this kind of money when you can get a perfectly good pocket tuner for $15?\n\nThis tuner features various advanced functions like temperaments, a tone generator, and alternate tuning schemes. If you really need those, and will use them, then this device might make sense. I've used it successfully to tune pianos, with some difficulty, but notice that even Peterson does not recommend it for pianos.\n\nJust like other tuners, this tuner often has trouble locking on to the tone. Overtones can confuse it. During my piano sessions, I had a lot of trouble with it not locking on. Also when using it on my guitar, even in a quiet room, the tuner wanders all over the place, locking on to various random overtones and the tuning indicator going sharp, then flat, then sharp again, obviously impossible. I expected a lot better.\n\nMy main objection is its size, and after that its cost.\n\nBesides that, don't buy into all of Peterson's hype, much of which is just hyperbole.\n\nSTROBE DISPLAY: This is simply a gimmick that 1: tries to leverage the strobe tuner reputation and 2: tries to push the strobe display into popular use as a way of increasing awareness of Peterson's expensive strobe machines. A conventional scale type of readout is far superior to this strobe gimmick.\n\nSPEED OF DISPLAY: They make a big deal that the display is instantaneous and doesn't give an average reading. That's just hype. Other tuners work fine.\n\nINCREASED ACCURACY: Just accepting their numbers as true, it's still just hype. I didn't notice any \"dramatic difference\" or \"sounds like a whole new guitar\" or anything else like that from any increased accuracy. You have to wonder how precise the guitar tuners can be in the first place. A $15 tuner works fine, it gets it perfect, this expensive device doesn't get it any better.\n\nBUZZ FEITON: Same comments as above. It may make some subtle improvement, but get real. Pros have been playing for 100s of years without this system and have always sounded great. It's just more hype.\n\nLater addition: To my astonishment, Peterson has now made a tuner software application for the iPhone and iPod Touch. The cost is only $10. The iPod Touch has no microphone so Peterson will sell you a microphone for an additional $13.00. The app features the same strobe display as on this unit and also features the same .1 cent precision. That Peterson would sell a $10 app that would replace their $200 tuner seems incredible. It also shows how trivial the size of hardware must be, since look at all the iPhone does as well as tune. Strip out all of those extra functions and you must have left a quartz crystal the size of a few atoms and a slice of silicon about the size of a pinhead. Plus look at the giant gorgeous color display on the iPhone and they still sell it to you for <$300 and you see that this Peterson machine is a joke. Far better to buy an iPod Touch and the software app. That *will* fit in your guitar case!","Product: The 18-8 stainless steel socket cap screw has a plain finish and a button head with an internal hex drive. The 18-8 stainless steel material provides strength and offers good corrosion resistance in many environments. The material may be slightly magnetic. The button head is round with a low profile and short vertical sides, and is suitable for light duty applications. The internal hex drive, also known as a hex-socket drive, has a hexagonal slot that requires an Allen key driver, also known as a hex key or Allen wrench. Socket cap screws are threaded fasteners that have a cap head with an internal socket drive for installing in areas with limited side clearance. These screws are available with a variety of head shapes, which determine how the screw interacts with the mating surface, and drive styles, which determine the type of tool required to install the screw.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Allen wrench is the only way to go. Conscientious seller.\n\nReview: THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!\nThese wonderful Allen head screws are difficult/impossible to find locally.\nLooking at the big box stores or neighborhood hardware stores is just a giant waste of time.\nCome here and get exactly what you need in any length, a box at a time, with no hassle.\nThe only catch is that you need to know exactly what you need, no easy challenge.\nBut if you can determine that, then you can get it here and it's wooooonderful.\n\nComparing Allen head screws with Phillips head screws is like comparing a banana with granite. Phillips = impossible to use in tight quarters like behind a doorknob, requires force to engage the screwdriver, guaranteed to strip when you want to remove it, and you can't tighten it down tight because the bit will slip. Allen=won't strip, wrench gets positive engagement with no pressure required at all, you can tighten it down as tight as you want, will remove easily 20 years from now, and wrench can fit on it with less than an inch clearance, try that with your stubby Phillips, hahahaha.","Product: The ScumBuster tub and tile scrubber tackles not only the most dreaded of all tasks - cleaning the bathroom - but now busts the dirt and grime everywhere in your house, yard or garage. The hand-held ScumBuster effortlessly cleans all types of surfaces, including spots on carpets, outdoor furniture, barbecues, car bumpers and grills, tires hubcaps, bathtubs, pool surfaces, tiled walls and hundreds of other surfaces with a variety of scrubbing pads and brushes. The ScumBuster can be safely submersed in water buckets, sinks or tubs.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: It works fine. Possibly useful in limited situations.\n\nReview: Overall, I don't think it's worth the space it takes up, but it does work.\n\nPower: good. The power is fine and I was able to exert enough pressure with no problem to feel like I was doing something.\n\nBattery Life: Excellent. I was favorably impressed with the battery life, it lasted much longer than I expected. However, with any cordless appliance you need two batteries so that you can charge one while you are using the other. Also, rechargeable batteries work best in appliances that are in daily use, like a cordless phone or a drill you use daily in your construction job. Otherwise you never have a charged battery when you need it and keeping them always on the charger shortens their life.\n\nSpeed of rotation: slow. It turns too slowly to clean quickly. However, I can see if it turned faster it might sling soap around the room, it might be dangerous, and it might be hard to control.\n\nCleaning carpet: Lousy. The circular motion scrubs only one way, not in all directions like I like. I went back to a manual scrubber. Manual is just as fast, better, and only a little more effort.\n\nCleaning the bathtub: Lousy. The tiny little pad and slow rotation combine to make the tool too slow. I went back to a manual scrubber and do it faster and much better, albeit with more effort.\n\nCleaning tile grout: Possibly useful. Since grout is soo difficult to scrub, and a toothbrush seems to be the tool of choice, a power tool like this would be a revolution (hahaha). My set came with a cone shaped bristle brush and if you hold the brush sideways to the wall the bristles are able to get into the grout groove. That makes it possibly useful but my scrubbing session did not yield success. I think that may be because grout mildew, like calcium, is impervious to scrubbing. The chemical action of the chlorine bleach in Tilex is the only thing that works.\n\nCleaning the shower tile: too slow. Same problem as with the tub. Hint: To get shower tile truly clean, try this. First, scrape each and every tile with a razor blade until it feels smooth and you aren't scraping off any more calcium. Then scrub each tile carefully with Ajax or Zud Heavy Duty. The Scumbuster could help in this task. For the final step, go over the tile carefully with Meguiar's Gold Class car wax. This stuff is amazing and the only product that I have found to really clean off that incredibly stubborn calcium, and I have tried them all. Also it smells great. Buff to a shine and your tile will look just like the pictures on the bottles of all those products that are supposed to clean tile but don't. This procedure takes me about 4 hours per shower stall. The scumbuster is not up to this job because it's too tiny. It would take something bigger like a car polisher that you can plug in.\n\nCleaning the tile at the water line of the pool: Good. The small area of tile, having to work in the water, having some of the tile under water, and the length of the tile to be cleaned make the Scumbuster useful for this task.\n\nCleaning the calcium off the sink faucet: lousy. First off, the Scumbuster pad can not fit in the narrow spaces required. Second off, the calcium can not be removed by scrubbing. Again, scraping with a razor blade is required. Simply scrape the calcium off, then follow with the Megauir's wax mentioned and you will get a better than brand new sparkle. Remove the faucet handles so that you can get all of the calcium. Keep a washcloth on the towel rack handy and wipe down the faucet after each use (5 seconds) to keep it sparkling like new.\n\nScrubbing the sink: Acceptable. The small area to be cleaned allow the Scumbuster's speed to be acceptable here. However, I still went back to manual.\n\nUPDATE: This review (minus a few recent edits) was originally written in 2003. Since then my Scumbuster has been sitting unused under the sink. Recently I was doing a reorg and I dug it out and determined to either use it or trash it. I never expected the battery to hold a charge after that time. To my great surprise, the battery charged overnight and the Scumbuster worked fine! I reiterate my original opinion...this thing has a good battery.\n\nUpdate (Mar 2016); All that said, I trashed it. However now I am going to try a new one. Search Amazon on \"Quickie toilet\" to find a similar scrubber they offer that has a long handle. I now live in a mansion that has a spa style shower with a ceramic tile ceiling! One scrubbing of *that* by hand shows me that I need to always use power tools whenever possible!","Product: Keep the good times rolling and the hot dogs for that matter. ook eight regular-sized or four foot-long hot dogs at a time. The stainless steel rollers continuously rotate to evenly cook hot dogs, while the adjustable heat settings makes cooking hot dogs simple and quick. The stylish canopy doubles as a bun warmer, holding up to 6 buns at a time. Take snack or meal time to the next level.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Super cute but is it worth the space?\n\nReview: This hot dog maker is obviously waay cute. It's also a good price. Compared to other cutesy hot dog makers, 8 dogs is a good number. I love the carnival themed umbrella sneeze guard over the dogs, and having that double as a bun warmer was an inspired idea. The poles that hold up the umbrella are nice and sturdy, and it assembles in only 1 minute. This thing has many bonus features:\n\n*Rollers look just like the industrial unit at your local convenience store. They really roll!\n*It can also handle 4 foot long dogs and even foot long buns! That's really great because my wife loves those. However, 4 is an anemic number.\n*Nostalgia went to the extra expense to include an on/off switch and even a temp control. Temp control should prove useful vs. devices that do not include that.\n*This unit includes a griddle attachment for hamburgers/bacon/sausage, etc. I think the unit is too small to be useful for frying hamburgers; you could only do two at a time. The griddle drops in where the rollers would otherwise go, so switching functions is not going to be convenient and will require tools or heat proof gloves if you don't want to wait for a cool-down period.\n*The heating element is a beefy rectangular coil that gives good coverage of the cooking area and is directly exposed to the dogs, yielding fast, strong heat.\n*The drip tray, griddle, and rollers are all removable for easy cleanup. Love that.\n*The rollers are beefy all metal construction - nice.\n\nSo that adds up to one very nice unit, of which Nostalgia should be proud. The only real shortcoming I see is that eight dogs, while a good number for a toy device like this, can't stand up to much crowd control. Figure at least two dogs for each child, and three for each man and you're feeding only three to four people per batch. Assume the thing is lightning fast at ten minutes per batch and you see that you're going to need ten of these toys to feed your super bowl party, hahahaha.\n\nThen you have to ask yourself, is this gizmo worth the space? It's pretty big, about the size of a toaster oven. Will you keep it out on the counter and use this special purpose device often (doubtful)? How far back in the closet will it be stored and will you go to the trouble to drag it out to cook up dogs for three people, pack it back up, and re-store it (doubtful)? So is it worth the space? I think it's probably best suited for its intended audience: a party of four kiddos.","Product: Embark upon a fantastic adventure to the empire of the Mayas. Go back in time 2,000 years and discover the mysterious temples and fabulous treasures of this once powerful and enigmatic culture! Play adventure mode and try to solve the mystical puzzle surrounding the ancient temple of Tikal or simply select your favorite Mahjongg boards on over 300 layouts. Experience classical Mahjongg or try one of the 11 unbelievable game variations. You will love the detailed graphics, the fantastic animations and the atmospheric music!\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Fantastic game and great improvement over the usual plain vanilla game\n\nReview: Fantastic game and great improvement over the usual plain vanilla game\nThis is an awesome game. It has great cartoon style graphics of the rainforest and Mayan pyramids, etc. It leads you on adventures past various famous actual Mayan sites like Tikl (Guatemala) and Copn (Honduras). It features various Mayan flavored tilesets and photographic backgrounds of rain-forest, beach, waterfall, pyramids, etc. It also features some fantastic rain-forest flavored music. I actually don't know what Mayan music should sound like, but this music sounds like African jungle music and I also noticed some Peruvian sounding pan-flutes. It's good music on an absolute scale and also contributes heavily to the rain-forest adventure atmosphere. It also features archeological sound effects like heavy stone tablets sliding open, monkeys, birds, and (presumably) Mayan natives grunting (sometimes in tune with the music).\n\nThe game is a big improvement over the usual Mahjongg game in several ways: The entire game is slickly produced and operates smoothly, more so than expected. The Mayan theme is used throughout: the cursor, help windows, tiles, backgrounds, music and sound effects, lettering, command buttons, every single thing that you see on the screen has a Mayan theme. The game opens up new features (like tilesets) as you progress through it. Most importantly, this version of Mahjongg elevates the usual simply one-dimensional game into an actual game with time awards, multiple levels, a storyline, surprise features, and special bonus tiles (for example a wildcard tile). In \"adventure\" mode, you work your way through a Mayan adventure by visiting Mayan sites (starting with El Gran Jaguar in Tikl) and solving a Mahjongg puzzle at each site. When you solve the puzzle, then you move on to the next Mayan site, possibly adding some game features along the way. I won't spoil the surprise of the bonus tiles. An additional delightful surprise is a comic book intro story in the vein of Indiana Jones.","Product: The NEW AND IMPROVED ScumBuster tub and tile scrubber tackles not only the mosts deaded of all tasks - cleaning the bathroom - but busts the dirt and grime everywhere in your house, yard or garage. The cordless scrubber now has an on board cleaning system that allows you to pour any liquid based cleaner and then just SPRAY and GO! It effortlessly cleans all types of surfaces, including spots on tile, tubs, countertops, carpets, outdoor furniture, barbecues, car bumpers and grills, tires hubcaps, bathtubs, pool surfaces, tiled walls and hundreds of other surfaces with a variety of scrubbing pads and brushes. The ScumBuster can be safely submersed in water buckets, sinks or tubs.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: It works fine. Possibly useful in limited situations.\n\nReview: I have an older Scumbuster model but my comments mostly concern the usefulness of Scumbusters in general.\n\nOverall, I don't think it's worth the space it takes up, but it does work.\n\nPower: good. The power is fine and I was able to exert enough pressure with no problem to feel like I was doing something.\n\nBattery Life: Excellent. I was favorably impressed with the battery life, it lasted much longer than I expected. However, with any cordless appliance you need two batteries so that you can charge one while you are using the other. Also, rechargeable batteries work best in appliances that are in daily use, like a cordless phone or a drill you use daily in your construction job. Otherwise you never have a charged battery when you need it and keeping them always on the charger shortens their life.\n\nSpeed of rotation: slow. It turns too slowly to clean quickly. However, I can see if it turned faster it might sling soap around the room, it might be dangerous, and it might be hard to control.\n\nCleaning carpet: Lousy. The circular motion scrubs only one way, not in all directions like I like. I went back to a manual scrubber. Manual is just as fast, better, and only a little more effort.\n\nCleaning the bathtub: Lousy. The tiny little pad and slow rotation combine to make the tool too slow. I went back to a manual scrubber and do it faster and much better, albeit with more effort.\n\nCleaning tile grout: Possibly useful. Since grout is soo difficult to scrub, and a toothbrush seems to be the tool of choice, a power tool like this would be a revolution (hahaha). My set came with a cone shaped bristle brush and if you hold the brush sideways to the wall the bristles are able to get into the grout groove. That makes it possibly useful but my scrubbing session did not yield success. I think that may be because grout mildew, like calcium, is impervious to scrubbing. The chemical action of the chlorine bleach in Tilex is the only thing that works.\n\nCleaning the shower tile: too slow. Same problem as with the tub. Hint: To get shower tile truly clean, try this. First, scrape each and every tile with a razor blade until it feels smooth and you aren't scraping off any more calcium. Then scrub each tile carefully with Ajax or Zud Heavy Duty. The Scumbuster could help in this task. For the final step, go over the tile carefully with Meguiar's Gold Class car wax. This stuff is amazing and the only product that I have found to really clean off that incredibly stubborn calcium, and I have tried them all. Also it smells great. Buff to a shine and your tile will look just like the pictures on the bottles of all those products that are supposed to clean tile but don't. This procedure takes me about 4 hours per shower stall. The scumbuster is not up to this job because it's too tiny. It would take something bigger like a car polisher that you can plug in.\n\nCleaning the tile at the water line of the pool: Good. The small area of tile, having to work in the water, having some of the tile under water, and the length of the tile to be cleaned make the Scumbuster useful for this task.\n\nCleaning the calcium off the sink faucet: lousy. First off, the Scumbuster pad can not fit in the narrow spaces required. Second off, the calcium can not be removed by scrubbing. Again, scraping with a razor blade is required. Simply scrape the calcium off, then follow with the Megauir's wax mentioned and you will get a better than brand new sparkle. Remove the faucet handles so that you can get all of the calcium. Keep a washcloth on the towel rack handy and wipe down the faucet after each use (5 seconds) to keep it sparkling like new.\n\nScrubbing the sink: Acceptable. The small area to be cleaned allow the Scumbuster's speed to be acceptable here. However, I still went back to manual.\n\nUPDATE: This review (minus a few recent edits) was originally written in 2003. Since then my Scumbuster has been sitting unused under the sink. Recently I was doing a reorg and I dug it out and determined to either use it or trash it. I never expected the battery to hold a charge after that time. To my great surprise, the battery charged overnight and the Scumbuster worked fine! I reiterate my original opinion...this thing has a good battery.","Product: The NEW AND IMPROVED ScumBuster tub and tile scrubber tackles not only the mosts deaded of all tasks - cleaning the bathroom - but busts the dirt and grime everywhere in your house, yard or garage. The cordless scrubber now has an on board cleaning system that allows you to pour any liquid based cleaner and then just SPRAY and GO! It effortlessly cleans all types of surfaces, including spots on tile, tubs, countertops, carpets, outdoor furniture, barbecues, car bumpers and grills, tires hubcaps, bathtubs, pool surfaces, tiled walls and hundreds of other surfaces with a variety of scrubbing pads and brushes. The ScumBuster can be safely submersed in water buckets, sinks or tubs.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: It works fine. Possibly useful in limited situations.\n\nReview: I have an older Scumbuster model but my comments mostly concern the usefulness of Scumbusters in general.\n\nOverall, I don't think it's worth the space it takes up, but it does work.\n\nPower: good. The power is fine and I was able to exert enough pressure with no problem to feel like I was doing something.\n\nBattery Life: Excellent. I was favorably impressed with the battery life, it lasted much longer than I expected. However, with any cordless appliance you need two batteries so that you can charge one while you are using the other. Also, rechargeable batteries work best in appliances that are in daily use, like a cordless phone or a drill you use daily in your construction job. Otherwise you never have a charged battery when you need it and keeping them always on the charger shortens their life.\n\nSpeed of rotation: slow. It turns too slowly to clean quickly. However, I can see if it turned faster it might sling soap around the room, it might be dangerous, and it might be hard to control.\n\nCleaning carpet: Lousy. The circular motion scrubs only one way, not in all directions like I like. I went back to a manual scrubber. Manual is just as fast, better, and only a little more effort.\n\nCleaning the bathtub: Lousy. The tiny little pad and slow rotation combine to make the tool too slow. I went back to a manual scrubber and do it faster and much better, albeit with more effort.\n\nCleaning tile grout: Possibly useful. Since grout is soo difficult to scrub, and a toothbrush seems to be the tool of choice, a power tool like this would be a revolution (hahaha). My set came with a cone shaped bristle brush and if you hold the brush sideways to the wall the bristles are able to get into the grout groove. That makes it possibly useful but my scrubbing session did not yield success. I think that may be because grout mildew, like calcium, is impervious to scrubbing. The chemical action of the chlorine bleach in Tilex is the only thing that works.\n\nCleaning the shower tile: too slow. Same problem as with the tub. Hint: To get shower tile truly clean, try this. First, scrape each and every tile with a razor blade until it feels smooth and you aren't scraping off any more calcium. Then scrub each tile carefully with Ajax or Zud Heavy Duty. The Scumbuster could help in this task. For the final step, go over the tile carefully with Meguiar's Gold Class car wax. This stuff is amazing and the only product that I have found to really clean off that incredibly stubborn calcium, and I have tried them all. Also it smells great. Buff to a shine and your tile will look just like the pictures on the bottles of all those products that are supposed to clean tile but don't. This procedure takes me about 4 hours per shower stall. The scumbuster is not up to this job because it's too tiny. It would take something bigger like a car polisher that you can plug in.\n\nCleaning the tile at the water line of the pool: Good. The small area of tile, having to work in the water, having some of the tile under water, and the length of the tile to be cleaned make the Scumbuster useful for this task.\n\nCleaning the calcium off the sink faucet: lousy. First off, the Scumbuster pad can not fit in the narrow spaces required. Second off, the calcium can not be removed by scrubbing. Again, scraping with a razor blade is required. Simply scrape the calcium off, then follow with the Megauir's wax mentioned and you will get a better than brand new sparkle. Remove the faucet handles so that you can get all of the calcium. Keep a washcloth on the towel rack handy and wipe down the faucet after each use (5 seconds) to keep it sparkling like new.\n\nScrubbing the sink: Acceptable. The small area to be cleaned allow the Scumbuster's speed to be acceptable here. However, I still went back to manual.\n\nUPDATE: This review (minus a few recent edits) was originally written in 2003. Since then my Scumbuster has been sitting unused under the sink. Recently I was doing a reorg and I dug it out and determined to either use it or trash it. I never expected the battery to hold a charge after that time. To my great surprise, the battery charged overnight and the Scumbuster worked fine! I reiterate my original opinion...this thing has a good battery.","Product: Nespresso has developed a unique extraction system specially adapted to capsules. It controls every vital setting when preparing a perfect espresso. Nespresso machines have been designed with renowned partners and designers, and bring out the taste and aromas of coffee by combining quality of design with ease of use. The Nespresso Concept Automatic D290 Machine is part of our Concept Line, which features a modern, and practical design. The machine deploys technology essential for preparing an outstanding Espresso, and is exceptionally easy to use: Automatic control of the amount of coffee in the cup. A high pressure pump (19 bars) extracts all the aromas and develops a smooth crema in the cup. A thermobloc which heats water to 187and 196 during extraction and empties the remaining water after each use so that the water is fresh for each preparation. A simple system which perforates the capsule and soaks all the ground coffee to optimally filter the coffee. A functional Jaw system, which allows for easy coffee preparation. Automatic ejection of used capsule. Removable water container (34-ounce). Tray for used capsules. Back-lit control button\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Great machine and system, but mediocre capsules\n\nReview: I have had three Nespresso machines for a long time now and use them a lot. My comments concern the Nespresso system rather than any particular machine.\n\nThe idea of the capsules rather than using coffee beans requires some trade offs, but has lots of huge advantages. The capsules are super convenient, fast, clean and neat, attractive, and allow you to easily serve a variety of coffee blends (decaf, Latin American, African, pure Arabica, etc, which is fun). A big advantage is that they stay fresh for months at a time, so you can always have them on hand when you need them.\n\nComparing the Nespresso system with the conventional system shows the value of convenience. Conventional machine: you have to have fresh beans, you have to have an expensive burr grinder (more counter space, more to clean, more to break down), you have to get the fineness of the grind correct, you have to measure the ground coffee accurately, you have to tamp the coffee in the holder correctly, you have to pour the correct amount of water through. This requires a large amount of time, effort, experimentation, patience, and experience. Serving a party of 10 people like this could easily take you an hour, and you are making a lot of noise and not enjoying the party, and making a big mess to clean up later.\n\nA conventional machine could never be used in your office or company kitchen, but a Nespresso machine works out very nicely in that situation.\n\nOn the downside, 45 cents or more (for special editions) per shot of espresso is a little expensive compared to doing it with beans. You are limited to the Nespresso capsules, nothing else will come close to working. This means you can't try out the interesting jars of beans at your local coffee shop. There may come a day when the capsules are not available, but I don't see that happening.\n\nThe big downside is the quality of the espresso produced by the capsules, and therein is my main gripe. After many years they have recently expanded their offerings from 10 varieties or 15 or so. I haven't tried all the new ones, but I didn't really like any of the old ones. Most of them include some Robusta coffee beans in the blend. That's unusual because gourmet coffee is 100% Arabica, and my opinion is the Robusta is a problem. I have to wonder if Nespresso is trying to cut costs in this most critical aspect of an otherwise first-rate system. However, once or twice a year Nespresso releases a \"special blend\" for a limited time. This is usually 100% Arabica. In 1998 and 1999, the special blend was very good. In 2000 it was bad but then they released another one in June 2001 that was very good. They have a new, more expensive line of coffees that I haven't yet explored.\n\nThe final alternative is the \"super-automatic\" style machine, that with a single button push automatically grinds the beans, measures, tamps, pours the espresso, and dumps out the spent grounds. That's great but it requires fresh beans and that's a problem for me. I think maybe a food vacuum sealer might solve that problem.\n\nOne final comment: Don't fool yourself into thinking that a machine at home, no matter how nice, is going to save you money at Starbucks. Nothing can replace that fad inducing experience.","Product: Nespresso has developed a unique extraction system specially adapted to capsules. It controls every vital setting when preparing a perfect espresso. Nespresso machines have been designed with renowned partners and designers, and bring out the taste and aromas of coffee by combining quality of design with ease of use. The Nespresso Concept Automatic D290 Machine is part of our Concept Line, which features a modern, and practical design. The machine deploys technology essential for preparing an outstanding Espresso, and is exceptionally easy to use: Automatic control of the amount of coffee in the cup. A high pressure pump (19 bars) extracts all the aromas and develops a smooth crema in the cup. A thermobloc which heats water to 187and 196 during extraction and empties the remaining water after each use so that the water is fresh for each preparation. A simple system which perforates the capsule and soaks all the ground coffee to optimally filter the coffee. A functional Jaw system, which allows for easy coffee preparation. Automatic ejection of used capsule. Removable water container (34-ounce). Tray for used capsules. Back-lit control button\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Great machine and system, but mediocre capsules\n\nReview: I have three Nespresso machines, including this one. My comments concern the Nespresso system rather than any particular machine, but I can't see paying the money for this D150 when for only a little more you can get the D300.\n\nThe idea of the capsules rather than using coffee beans requires some trade offs, but has lots of huge advantages. The capsules are super convenient, fast, clean and neat, attractive, and allow you to easily serve a variety of coffee blends (decaf, Latin American, African, pure Arabica, etc, which is fun). A big advantage is that they stay fresh for months at a time, so you can always have them on hand when you need them.\n\nComparing the Nespresso system with the conventional system shows the value of convenience. Conventional machine: you have to have fresh beans, you have to have an expensive burr grinder (more counter space, more to clean, more to break down), you have to get the fineness of the grind correct, you have to measure the ground coffee accurately, you have to tamp the coffee in the holder correctly, you have to pour the correct amount of water through. This requires a large amount of time, effort, experimentation, patience, and experience. Serving a party of 10 people like this could easily take you an hour, and you are making a lot of noise and not enjoying the party, and making a big mess to clean up later.\n\nA conventional machine could never be used in your office or company kitchen, but a Nespresso machine works out very nicely in that situation.\n\nOn the downside, 45 cents or more (for special editions) per shot of espresso is a little expensive compared to doing it with beans. You are limited to the Nespresso capsules, nothing else will come close to working. This means you can't try out the interesting jars of beans at your local coffee shop. There may come a day when the capsules are not available, but I don't see that happening.\n\nThe big downside is the quality of the espresso produced by the capsules, and therein is my main gripe. After many years they have recently expanded their offerings from 10 varieties to 15 or so. I haven't tried all the new ones, but I didn't really like any of the old ones. Most of them include some Robusta coffee beans in the blend. That's unusual because gourmet coffee is 100% Arabica, and my opinion is the Robusta is a problem. I have to wonder if Nespresso is trying to cut costs in this most critical aspect of an otherwise first-rate system. However, once or twice a year Nespresso releases a \"special blend\" for a limited time. This is usually 100% Arabica. In 1998 and 1999, the special blend was very good. In 2000 it was bad but then they released another one in June 2001 that was very good. They have a new, more expensive line of coffees that I haven't yet explored.\n\nThe final alternative is the \"super-automatic\" style machine, that with a single button push automatically grinds the beans, measures, tamps, pours the espresso, and dumps out the spent grounds. That's great but it requires fresh beans and that's a problem for me. I think maybe a food vacuum sealer might solve that problem.","Product: This handy kit contains everything a home cotton candy maker needs. With an assortment of paper cones plus 8-ounce flossing sugars (in two flavors), the user will have enough supplies for even the hungriest carnival kids or picnic pals.\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: This kit is cool, but the price is not.\n\nReview: Please be aware that this kit does not include a cotton candy machine. You need to have one of your own.\nThis kit includes replacement paper cones for use with your machine, and 4 small packets of floss (colored and flavored sugar for use in making cotton candy).\n\nI'm sure this is a fine set, but $20+ is the wrong price. Something close to $5 is the right price.\n\nIf you've seen this kit and the small, toy machine amount of floss that it comes with, you will laugh out loud when you see that you can buy 52oz of floss for under $4.00 right here on Amazon by searching for this item:\nGreat Western Pink Vanilla Sugar Floss 52OZ #16085\nOf course, that amount of floss with a toy machine will last you several decades. But that's a good thing, right?","Product: The Nespresso C190 Capsule Espresso Machine is a true standout in design, convenience and performance. The unique shape, dubbed the Concept series by Nespresso, brings style and a choice of color to the kitchen. But the beauty is much more than skin deep. The C190 has a powerful pump capable of producing 19 bars of pressure and a unique capsule ejection system via a revolutionary jaw device. Simply lift the lever to fill your next capsule and as the jaw opens, the last capsule is automatically ejected into a collection receptacle in the body of the machine for later removal. Nespresso has taken the capsule concept and made it even easier to use. A special steam wand aids in frothing milk for cappuccinos and another setting is perfect for steaming milk for lattes. Nespresso espresso machines are designed to be used exclusively with the Nespresso hermetically sealed capsule containing a precise amount of freshly roasted and ground coffee. The aroma and flavor are protected until you are ready to brew. With 9 premium coffee blends available, you are sure to find a perfect match for your palette. The individual serving capsule system is extremely easy to use. Brew one espresso, cappuccino or latte at a time. Eliminate the hassle and mess of grinding, scooping and tamping your coffee as you would with traditional expresso machines. Cleanup is a snap - never touch the coffee grinds. With the jaw handle up, you are ready to insert a new pod to make your next cup. One press of a button to starts the brewing and when your desired volume is reached, another press stops brewing. The C190 espresso machine is a single boiler unit, but heat up time for steaming is quick. This model features a special titanium color body with chrome accents and chrome plated metal drip tray. Features Include: - Automatic ejection of used capsules into the collection receptacle - Steam function for cappuccino - Manual volume control - 19 bar pump - Temperature regulation system - ABS housing (Ac...\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Great machine and system, but mediocre capsules\n\nReview: I have had three Nespresso machines for a long time now and use them a lot. My comments concern the Nespresso system rather than any particular machine.\n\nThe idea of the capsules rather than using coffee beans requires some trade offs, but has lots of huge advantages. The capsules are super convenient, fast, clean and neat, attractive, and allow you to easily serve a variety of coffee blends (decaf, Latin American, African, pure Arabica, etc, which is fun). A big advantage is that they stay fresh for months at a time, so you can always have them on hand when you need them.\n\nComparing the Nespresso system with the conventional system shows the value of convenience. Conventional machine: you have to have fresh beans, you have to have an expensive burr grinder (more counter space, more to clean, more to break down), you have to get the fineness of the grind correct, you have to measure the ground coffee accurately, you have to tamp the coffee in the holder correctly, you have to pour the correct amount of water through. This requires a large amount of time, effort, experimentation, patience, and experience. Serving a party of 10 people like this could easily take you an hour, and you are making a lot of noise and not enjoying the party, and making a big mess to clean up later.\n\nA conventional machine could never be used in your office or company kitchen, but a Nespresso machine works out very nicely in that situation.\n\nOn the downside, 45 cents or more (for special editions) per shot of espresso is a little expensive compared to doing it with beans. You are limited to the Nespresso capsules, nothing else will come close to working. This means you can't try out the interesting jars of beans at your local coffee shop. There may come a day when the capsules are not available, but I don't see that happening.\n\nThe big downside is the quality of the espresso produced by the capsules, and therein is my main gripe. After many years they have recently expanded their offerings from 10 varieties or 15 or so. I haven't tried all the new ones, but I didn't really like any of the old ones. Most of them include some Robusta coffee beans in the blend. That's unusual because gourmet coffee is 100% Arabica, and my opinion is the Robusta is a problem. I have to wonder if Nespresso is trying to cut costs in this most critical aspect of an otherwise first-rate system. However, once or twice a year Nespresso releases a \"special blend\" for a limited time. This is usually 100% Arabica. In 1998 and 1999, the special blend was very good. In 2000 it was bad but then they released another one in June 2001 that was very good. They have a new, more expensive line of coffees that I haven't yet explored.\n\nThe final alternative is the \"super-automatic\" style machine, that with a single button push automatically grinds the beans, measures, tamps, pours the espresso, and dumps out the spent grounds. That's great but it requires fresh beans and that's a problem for me. I think maybe a food vacuum sealer might solve that problem.\n\nOne final comment: Don't fool yourself into thinking that a machine at home, no matter how nice, is going to save you money at Starbucks. Nothing can replace that fad inducing experience.","Product: Crack open a bottle of your favorite cold drink with this golden Star Trek bottle opener in the shape of the USS Enterprise! This special version features a gold finish.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Very nice item and 100% satisfied\n\nReview: Everyone in the known universe seems to agree that this is a nice item, as comfort giving as a warm tribble. The one I got was just as expected: gold (appearing as if it was made from terran element 79, but it's not), heavy (go back 10 seconds in time and review the previous comment), NCC-1701 inscription as used by Captain Pike, very nice, like a cup of coffee and chicken sandwhich. What I didn't expect was that it comes in deluxe \"Apple\" style packaging. The box, similar to the cube like housing unit of insanity provoking Medusan Ambassador Kollos is deluxe with a tight fitting lid (fitting almost as tightly as a cracked and overheating dillithium crystal in a warp core) and dense foam packaging, as dense as Charlie X coming to terms with his adulthood. Personally I don't see how that's any bigger deal than a Vulcan's pointed ears but Apple fan-people make a huge deal about it, seemingling as big as if a parallel universe had been discovered. The whole quality presentation makes me wonder if this has the authority to issue a code one distress call, but I was surprised to see that this is officially licensed by CBS, and *that* gives it the authority. Before purchase I had misgivings about using the delicate looking Jeffries Tubes as pry levers, but as everyone here agrees this is a sturdy solid metal item and there's no doubt it's up to the task. Finally, this is a bottle opener, not an intergalactic starship. It does not fly, float, self-propel, make medical diagnoses, summon Captain Kirk, shoot phaser beams nor photon torpedos, so don't expect too much. If what you want is a nice, well made, heavy duty, inexpensive, luxuriously packaged, utilitarian memento of a nostalgic by-gone era about which we all love to reminisce, I calculate a 97.4567894% certainty that you will not be disappointed. And yes, I used a computer to type that, but not by voice command. I used the keyboard, how quaint.","Product: DVD Hard Disc Drive Recorder, 160 GB memory, Record Live TV, Instant Replay, Dual media record and playback (DVD+/- R/RW), MP3, CD, CD-RW, USB 2.0 Connect (plays music or digital picture files), iLink for easy firewire connect to digital camcorder,\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: Half-baked software. Hardware is probably good.\n\nReview: This review covers three DVRs for comparison purposes:\nPanasonic DMR-EH55S (200 GB hard drive) (Most expensive)\nPhillips DVDR3455/37 (160 GB hard drive)\nPolaroid DRM-2001G (80 GB) (least expensive)\n\nHere are some of my observations on these three DVRs. I would call the Phillips and Polaroid \"half-baked\" and I returned them and would not recommend them. The Panasonic is nice and I recommend it, but it's not perfect.\n\nIn my review, strengths are marked with a +, weaknesses with a -.\n\nRegarding the Phillips and Polaroid DVRs:\n\nThese two DVRs are similar. They may be the same machine. They use the same operating system and the on screen menus are all identical in the two units.\n\nGeneral comments first and then I will comment on the differences in the units.\n\n+Tracks are easy to select for burning to the DVD\n\n+As you select tracks for burning it shows you how much room on the DVD you have left.\n\n+It's always recording, so even if you don't hit the record button until halfway thru the show you can still get the whole show.\n\n+It pauses live TV and this feature is full featured and effective. Live TV behaves just as if you were playing back a disk with pause, rewind, slo-mo, and fast forward all available.\n\n+Does not delete edits, but simply hides them on playback. When you write out to the DVD it does not write the deleted portions. This would allow you to go back and rethink your edits. Panasonic deletes them immediately. On commercials this is probably no big deal but on home movies it might be useful to keep those deleted scenes handy in case you change your mind.\n\n+Allows editing tracks while recording a show. Since the machine is always recording it must support this feature, so it's not surprising, but it is way handy since we keep ours recording shows almost all the time and I am a heavy editor also. If I could only edit while not recording it would be hard for me to get it done. What is surprising is that my more expensive Panasonic DMR-EH55S does not support this feature.\n\n+Technical support is good. I called them twice, got through to someone and they gave intelligent answers.\n\n+Dividing tracks works well, unlike the Panasonic. It's easy to simply select \"divide\" instead of \"view,\" and then divide the track at your stopping point for today and then you're ready for next viewing to start where you left off.\n\n-Takes 15 annoying seconds to boot while you miss the kick off of the super bowl.\n\n-fluorescent display is small with only medium readability from across the room.\n\n-There are not many buttons on the front panel\n\n-Track titles are only 10 chars - that's not enough\n\n-The operating system is primitive, buggy, missing many useful features and has a generally clunky feel, as if they programmed only the bare minimum features required to allow operation. For example, holding buttons down on the remote will not repeat the key. This feature is sorely needed when inputting text with the on-screen keyboard because it's torture to have to keep repeatedly pressing the buttons on the remote to scroll from one side of the keyboard to the other. Another example, the editing screen has a bug where you hit the edit button to start an edit and the prompt correctly displays \"hit edit to stop editing.\" Then you search forward to find the end of the commercial and you hit edit and it slices out that portion and the prompt correctly displays \"hit edit to start [your next] editing.\" That's not a bad system, but the OS has a bug in it so that if an edit is started, when the info screen goes away it comes back incorrectly displaying \"hit edit to start editing\" when it should say \"hit edit to stop editing.\" However, the edit feature still works correctly in spite of the display. But this can be confusing enough to make you forget where you are and make you exit the edit screen and start over.\n\n-The info pop-up screen is really annoying. It's giant and it's never there when you need it and always there when you don't. There's no way to turn it off or on permanently. Especially when you are viewing something frame by frame - it's maddening.\n\n-Text is slow/torturous to put in, made worse by the weak remote control.\n\n-The machine crashes and locks up, sometimes without provocation, and you have to unplug it to get it going again.\n\n-The machine crashes and trashes the DVD when trying to append tracks to a non-finalized DVD.\n\n-remote control is weak and that's really annoying when you are editing text. You have to be close and at small angle from the sensor.\n\n-Does not show new track time after you edit out the commercials.\n\n-Only allows 9 characters per DVD track title.\n\n-It has a manual, but it's not very good.\n\n-It has a useful time shift buffer, but its interface uses arbitrary buttons on the remote, there is no on-screen help, and sometimes you have to use the hidden \"hold down the button for 3 seconds\" technique.\n\nNow to highlight some differences:\n\nPolaroid\n+Has a way handy feature to jump to a specific time in a show. You just hit \"go to\" and then enter a time like 35 minutes, and it goes to it.\n\n+DVD burner on this unit seemed faster than on the Phillips.\n\n-Earlier version of the operating system - has bugs, features that don't work, and missing needed features\n\n-No progress indicator as it burns to DVD, and you can't watch the program as it's burning\n\n-Manual is rougher.\n\n-Fan on this unit is too loud.\n\n-A bug in the OS prevented me from entering the tens digit of a recording program start time.\n\nPhillips\n\n+Has an updated operating system with some welcome enhancements and bug fixes. More stable, but still crashes and trashes disks.\n\n+Will show a progress indicator as it burns the DVD.\n\n-Has a T/C (time code) button to jump to a specific time in a track, but it does not work.\n\n-DVD burner on this unit seemed slow.\n\nPanasonic DMR-EH55S\nOver all opinion: Good. Reliable, high quality and studded with features, although missing some no-brainers. I don't expect any glitches. Probably the best available at this consumer level price point, but unfortunately has many limitations that reduce its usefulness to a heavy editor like myself.\n\n+Text entry is very good, with great use of the remote control buttons to allow hot key shortcuts for various operations and screen positions. It's a clever system and fast and fun to use.\n\n+Remote control is strong and the unit responds to its commands without fail.\n\n+The scrubber for finding an edit point is great.\n\n+The manual is very good, 77 packed pages with detailed technical information on all aspects of operation. It's much better than the \"user friendly\" Sony manuals that avoid tech talk. It also carefully lists the many limitations of this unit and the technology, including what burn speeds you can expect.\n\n+The on screen TV guide is da bomb. It's far superior to the scrolling cable channel we have been watching for the last ten years. In spite of reviews here to the contrary, it worked perfectly for us, setting up with just few easy questions, one minor glitch requiring a glance at the manual, and then video nirvana. It finally makes it possible to reliably set programs for a recording device. I love it!\n\n+The fan is whisper quiet.\n\n+The manual warns you that high speed burn will be louder than normal. For me it's not bad. The high speed burn usually sounds like someone running water in the sink, with loud portions sounding like an electric shaver.\n\n-In some disappointing passages, the manual points out that although this unit is \"compatible\" with 16X recording speed disks, \"this is not the copy speed.\" (However, in many cases it can get better than 16x speed if you record at lower quality.) The manual also points out many other limitations such as: you can not record to the SD card, movies can not be played from the SD card, the Firewire port can only be used with digital video equipment and not computers, DVDs are copied to the hard drive only in real time, the advanced feature \"flexible recording\" fits the highest quality footage possible filling all DVD space but only burns in real time, the system is not smart enough to juggle overlapping record programs and will just drop earlier programs even if there is only a small overlap, it can not play DIVx files while recording other programs, it can not play still pictures while recording other programs, you can not rename/delete/edit/divide titles while recording other programs, it will drop scheduled recordings if you have the unit busy editing photos, finalizing the high speed burn may take four times longer than estimated on the finalize screen HUH? and various other limitations. I don't want all that...just make it work!\n\n-Multi-tasking challenged. You can't edit any previously recorded tracks, not even renaming them, while the unit is recording. You can't even watch tracks while high-speed burning a DVD with finalize, which is silly, since you can watch without finalize. What's in this thing, an 8080 microprocessor? During high speed burn with finalize it won't even play TV from the tuner! This is a serious limitation for me, greatly reducing the utility of this expensive device.\n\n-Copies DVDs to the hard disk (HDD) only in real time and with loss of a generation. The Pioneer DVR also copies in real time, I assume also losing a generation. I think what they are doing here is playing the DVD and routing its signal through the analog circuitry to allow any copy protection scheme on the DVD to confuse the input circuitry and cause that brightness fading in and out and color shifting. This is another serious limitation for me since I like to consolidate my home movies and etc.\n\n-Will not pause live TV! Instead you have to start recording and then chase playback. That's an odd oversight on Panasonic's part and a sorely missed feature.\n\n-When you divide or edit a track you have to do it in a small preview screen. That's silly, sacrifices a lot of usefulness, and so needless. They sacrificed screen space for useless stuff, including a useless title bar at the top, another one on the bottom, useless edit/divide preview windows, and huge on screen buttons for \"divide\" and \"preview\" operations. I like to edit and divide my programs while watching them, but since Panasonic has a special screen for editing/dividing, where the program is shown only in a small preview window, I have to view my program once, then go back and edit or divide it later. If you edit much video you know that editing time is a big problem, e.g. another reviewer mentions fifteen minutes to edit the commercials out of a one hour show. If you record many shows, that's hours of editing. So a needless time waster like this edit/divide screen is a problem. For me, this needless limitation is a fatal flaw. Today I had to bite the bullet and watch America's Funniest Videos in the preview screen because I just can't afford to watch a one hour track twice to get my edits. Also another problem, the system recomputes your track location with each edit. That's bad because it makes it impossible to have any idea of an edit decision list (EDL), where you might jot down approximate times of things you want to save or cut. Because it recomputes all times with every edit, what used to be at the one hour mark of your program will change.\n\n-Does not show program length nor time remaining while viewing a program. The current track time is displayed on the front panel and available on screen.\n\n4-2009 Update: The Panasonic has served me well for years under heavy use. Largely it works perfectly. However, it has developed a few glitches:\nThe unit sometimes, and way too often, aborts scheduled recordings. It starts recording at the scheduled time, then stops after 8 seconds. The error log simply says \"recording was aborted.\" There is no explanation or fix from Panasonic (other than sending your unit in for service). I have found threads on the internet complaining about this problem but no explanation or fix. It's pretty much a fatal glitch, obviously.\n\nThe DVD drive can no longer finalize DVDs. I have found threads indicating that the spindle in the unit gets dirty and dismantling and cleaning the unit can solve the problem. Can anyone tell me why finalizing has to be so difficult and error prone?\n\nThe remote only lasted three years before some of the buttons now don't respond well. That makes a big difference in pleasure of use.\n\nThe fact that this unit disables many functions while its recording has greatly reduced its usefulness, as I mentioned in my review.\n\nPanasonic has stopped making these hard drive DVRs-so there's no hope for continuing firmware updates.\n\nThe end result is that if there was another attractive option to try, I'd try it.","Product: Sony's ICD-PX820 Digital Voice Recorder is a budget friendly way to immortalize your thoughts, meetings, and other voice quality audio. The PX820 has a 2GB builtin flash memory which can hold up to 535 hours (in LP mode) of data. Features like voice activated recording, dictation correction and an add function are all practical conveniences that help aid in the recording process. The ICD-PX820's recording is both PC and Mac compatible (Mac files must be edited on a Mac compatible software). The popular Dragon NaturallySpeaking software and the included Digital Voice Editor software are both compatible with your compatible Windows PC.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Just about a perfect basic unit that gives you more than you have a right to expect.\n\nReview: Hear me now believe me later: I'm not a Sony lover, in fact I avoid Sony when possible, but they got it right with this unit.\n\nThis is a great unit. Inexpensive, easy to use, inconspicuous, large legible display, built in speaker, no software or drivers required, doubles as a thumb drive, button (not menu) driven, includes some surprising advanced functions, takes conventional batteries, nothing proprietary. If you can live with a few limitations it's just about a perfect unit. I traded this unit in on the more expensive ICD-UX200, but this unit balances its features better than that one. In particular I wanted the backlight on the ICD-UX200, but really the large non-lighted display on this PX820 is more useful than the tiny, dim, and dimly lit UX200.\n\nThis little voice recorder hits the sweet success formula just about perfectly. Its one problem is that it does not support stereo so it can't be used as an mp3 player, (just use your cell phone for that). In some ways that's a bonus since mono is perfect for most applications of a voice recorder of this type and then everything is easier: file size, transfer time, editing time. Also it does not include a backlight, but the large letters partially make up for that, and the backlight on the more expensive Sony ICD-UX200 is pretty useless.\n\nRight off the bat is the attractive price. The price here on Amazon does not look that good, I got a better price at the local Sony Style store. Conventional AAA batteries are the right choice rather than a built-in rechargeable battery.\n\nThis unit features a small but handy size, with a big legible screen (a big plus for those of us that don't usually wear our reading glasses) and big buttons for play and record. Rewind, forward and stop buttons are also larger than on some tinier units. Other handy controls are along the sides of the unit. Hard buttons are supplied for most functions, minimizing the need to navigate through torturous menus.\n\nTwo functions that really increase the handiness of this unit are the built-in speaker and the \"divide track\" function. Some people don't realize the usefulness of those functions. Most voice recorders do not supply a \"divide track\" function, and for me that's a deal killer. You're always going to have garbage in your tracks, usually at the start and end of every track. When recording kids you may only use a tiny portion of what you record. An on-unit \"divide track\" function allows you to trim off this garbage in the field, while it's fresh in your mind, and delete it so that it's not using up your memory and your transfer time and sitting on your computer until you get around to editing it, by which time you've forgotten the layout of the track and you have to listen to the whole thing again, an intensely time consuming process. Olympus voice recorders especially, and most brands other than Sony do not include the divide track function.\n\nA built in speaker is also a deal killer for me. I hate dealing with headphones. I hate carrying them, I hate finding them, I hate coiling and uncoiling them, I hate untangling them, I hate being seen with them, I hate everything about them. Having a speaker allows me to operate some projects without headphones. I can check that the recorder is getting something, I can get an idea of the volume level, I can edit in the car, I can play the track back for everyone to hear. You still need headphones for some things, to judge the quality of the recording, to listen while the recording is in process, to listen for bothersome extraneous noise like air conditioning, and the volume of the nickel size speaker is minimal, but it's still useful.\n\nThis unit is also plain, non-attention getting and doesn't look like a toy. That's useful in business situations and also recording kids, who tend to grab the recorder and ruin the recording. In many situations, the plainer the better.\n\nIt saves in .mp3 format, a major advantage and so surprising from intensely proprietary Sony! A USB interface is provided and the unit operates like a thumb drive, so no software or even drivers are needed! That's excellent, and it can used as a thumb drive as well, increasing its usefulness that much more.\n\nIt also features two advanced functions that are especially useful to musicians: variable speed playback and A/B repeat. A/B repeat allows you to set and begin and end point in the track and have playback loop over and over, for practicing along with your guitar, say. To see those advanced functions on this inexpensive unit puts it over the top in bang for buck.","Product: High Quality, Durable FM TRANSMITTER,COMPACT\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Works fine, small size, no wires=perfect unit\n\nReview: This little gizmo is way handy. I have needed one of these for 20 years but always resisted because I thought the sound would be staticky and low fidelity. Now that I've tried it I realize how handy it is and I wish I had bought this loong ago. It's true that the sound isn't great (that's not because this isn't a good brand, it's just unavoidable with this method of sound transmission). However, the handiness of no wires trumps that limitation.\n\nThis works perfectly for me. You simply use the no-brainer up-down buttons on the unit to select a station that isn't in use in your area and then tune your car radio to that station. It connects up and you hear music, you can't get simpler than that. I have used it for a year and it has never left me down. It just plain works, every time.\n\nAs for sound quality, it's fine. It sounds good. There is no static. I use a hand-held MP3 player and I wave it all around and it works smoothly. When static begins to creep in it's time to charge the battery.\n\nThis unit features a permanently built in rechargeable battery and that's the right way to go. Battery life is adequate at several hours of play, maybe 3 hours. Trying to use the unit while it's wired to the cigarette lighter for charging results in an interference ticking. It's usable in a pinch, but annoying. Many other units do not have a battery but rather plug directly into the lighter or require a cable for power. That's way inconvenient over this light and free unit. Holding my player in my hand allows me to operate the controls while driving, with either hand or to pass my player to someone in the back. Fastforward, rewind, stop and start all the time, I even edit tracks by splitting them and erasing them, all while driving and without looking away from the road.\n\nAfter a year of heavy use the charging port on mine broke and I came here looking for a replacement. After viewing the options available I chose this device again! I think it's the best unit available. I couldn't find it at any bargain basement price but I was happy to pay its regular retail price. I got 2, one for each car.\n\nIf only all tech was this easy and worked so well! 5 solid stars.","Product: High Quality, Durable FM TRANSMITTER,COMPACT\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Works fine, small size, no wires=perfect unit\n\nReview: This little gizmo is way handy. I have needed one of these for 20 years but always resisted because I thought the sound would be staticky and low fidelity. Now that I've tried it I realize how handy it is and I wish I had bought this loong ago. It's true that the sound isn't great (that's not because this isn't a good brand, it's just unavoidable with this method of sound transmission). However, the handiness of no wires trumps that limitation.\n\nThis works perfectly for me. You simply use the no-brainer up-down buttons on the unit to select a station that isn't in use in your area and then tune your car radio to that station. It connects up and you hear music, you can't get simpler than that. I have used it for a year and it has never left me down. It just plain works, every time.\n\nAs for sound quality, it's fine. It sounds good. There is no static. I use a hand-held MP3 player and I wave it all around and it works smoothly. When static begins to creep in it's time to charge the battery.\n\nThis unit features a permanently built in rechargeable battery and that's the right way to go. Battery life is adequate at several hours of play, maybe 3 hours. Trying to use the unit while it's wired to the cigarette lighter for charging results in an interference ticking. It's usable in a pinch, but annoying. Many other units do not have a battery but rather plug directly into the lighter or require a cable for power. That's way inconvenient over this light and free unit. Holding my player in my hand allows me to operate the controls while driving, with either hand or to pass my player to someone in the back. Fastforward, rewind, stop and start all the time, I even edit tracks by splitting them and erasing them, all while driving and without looking away from the road.\n\nAfter a year of heavy use the charging port on mine broke and I came here looking for a replacement. After viewing the options available I chose this device again! I think it's the best unit available. I couldn't find it at any bargain basement price but I was happy to pay its regular retail price. I got 2, one for each car.\n\nIf only all tech was this easy and worked so well! 5 solid stars.","Product: High Quality, Durable FM TRANSMITTER,COMPACT\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Works fine, small size, no wires=perfect unit.\n\nReview: This little gizmo is way handy. I have needed one of these for 20 years but always resisted because I thought the sound would be staticky and low fidelity. Now that I've tried it I realize how handy it is and I wish I had bought this loong ago. It's true that the sound isn't great (that's not because this isn't a good brand, it's just unavoidable with this method of sound transmission). However, the handiness of no wires trumps that limitation.\n\nThis works perfectly for me. You simply use the no-brainer up-down buttons on the unit to select a station that isn't in use in your area and then tune your car radio to that station. It connects up and you hear music, you can't get simpler than that. I have used it for a year and it has never let me down. It just plain works, every time.\n\nAs for sound quality, it's fine. It sounds good. There is no static. I use a hand-held MP3 player and I wave it all around and it works smoothly. When static begins to creep in it's time to charge the battery.\n\nThis unit features a permanently built in rechargeable battery and that's the right way to go. Battery life is adequate at several hours of play, maybe 3 hours. Trying to use the unit while it's wired to the cigarette lighter for charging results in an interference ticking. It's usable in a pinch, but annoying. Many other units do not have a battery but rather plug directly into the lighter or require a cable for power. That's way inconvenient over this light and free unit. Holding my player in my hand allows me to operate the controls while driving, with either hand or to pass my player to someone in the back. Fastforward, rewind, stop and start all the time, I even edit tracks by splitting them and erasing them, all while driving and without looking away from the road.\n\nAfter a year of heavy use the charging port on mine broke and I came here looking for a replacement. After viewing the options available I chose this device again! I think it's the best unit available. I couldn't find it at any bargain basement price but I was happy to pay its regular retail price. I got 2, one for each car.\n\nIf only all tech was this easy and worked so well! 5 solid stars.\n\n<<UPDATE: Nov 14, 2013>>\nI am choosing this same device yet again. The two that I referred to in my review above just bombed out on me. Both at the same time, how odd. Both units now only tune to freq 50.0 to 69.9 Mhz, and my car radio only tunes down to 87.1 or something, so I need to rebuy. That makes three units that have bombed out on me after constant use, but for this low price I don't expect them to last forever. They are so handy I'm going to keep this Amazon page bookmarked and turn on 1-click ordering so that whenever one bombs out on me I can order a replaced quickly.","Product: Record up to 102 hours of media on the internal drive, create DVDs at the touch of a button and use the easy one-touch recording to save your favorite shows. Uses long-lasting, top quality DVD recording formats as well as the built-in hard drive. Features TVGuardian Foul Language Filtering Technology.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Half-baked software. Hardware is probably good.\n\nReview: This review covers three DVRs for comparison purposes:\nPanasonic DMR-EH55S (200 GB hard drive) (Most expensive)\nPhillips DVDR3455/37 (160 GB hard drive)\nPolaroid DRM-2001G (80 GB) (least expensive)\n\nHere are some of my observations on these three DVRs. I would call the Phillips and Polaroid \"half-baked\" and I returned them and would not recommend them. The Panasonic is nice and I recommend it, but it's not perfect.\n\nIn my review, strengths are marked with a +, weaknesses with a -.\n\n***********************************************************************************\n***<Late breaking addition (April 5, 2010)>:\n#1: I have gotten some feedback that some of my points made in regard of the buggy operating system on the Polaroid and Phillips units have since been corrected. So it's possible that later versions of this operating system are improved. That's great, but they should be ashamed and driven out of business for releasing a half-finished product.\n#2: I have now lived with the Panasonic DVR for many years. It continues to be a workhorse and is still working fine. Learning to make extensive use of the \"chapter mark\" feature has, in a minor but welcome way, alleviated some of the limitations I point out below. Using the chapters helps allow you to partially edit tracks while the unit is recording and also without jumping in to the stupid \"preview\" screen that is used for the editing functions. \"Chapter mark\" is *the only* editing function that continues to work while the unit is recording. I continue to recommend this unit, but unfortunately long term use of it has uncovered two major, fatal really, flaws. A) The unit occasionally (but far too often) inexplicably skips recording scheduled programs. This is a disaster! Via \"Murphy's Law\" it seems to happen more often during season finale week. It has dropped the season finales to \"Lost\" and \"Dancing with the Stars\" and \"American Idol.\" I estimate it drops about 10%-20% of scheduled programs. It starts recording on time, records about 8 seconds, then stops. If you view the error log, it gives you the ever popular (with computer programmers): \"An error has occurred.\" Panasonic refuses to release any info on or workaround for this problem. B) The otherwise totally awesome \"TV Guide Onscreen\" feature stops working for months at a time. This has happened four times in ten years, and each time it was out for at least one month, and once it was three months. During this time you have to use another source (like a web site) to view the schedule of upcoming programs, and you have to manually program the unit to record those shows at the proper time and that's way harder than using the \"TV Guide\" feature. Panasonic is downright evil on this issue, refusing to admit that there is a problem or provide any info at all. They waste your time telling you to reset your unit and jump through various troubleshooting hoops when all the time they know exactly that the problem has nothing to do with your unit but is rather that your residence is not receiving the signal via the convoluted path it takes over your cable.\n***********************************************************************************\n\nRegarding the Phillips and Polaroid DVRs:\n\nThese two DVRs are similar. They may be the same machine. They use the same operating system and the on screen menus are all identical in the two units.\n\nGeneral comments first and then I will comment on the differences in the units.\n\n+Tracks are easy to select for burning to the DVD\n\n+As you select tracks for burning it shows you how much room on the DVD you have left.\n\n+It's always recording, so even if you don't hit the record button until halfway thru the show you can still get the whole show.\n\n+It pauses live TV and this feature is full featured and effective. Live TV behaves just as if you were playing back a disk with pause, rewind, slo-mo, and fast forward all available.\n\n+Does not delete edits, but simply hides them on playback. When you write out to the DVD it does not write the deleted portions. This would allow you to go back and rethink your edits. Panasonic deletes them immediately. On commercials this is probably no big deal but on home movies it might be useful to keep those deleted scenes handy in case you change your mind.\n\n+Allows editing tracks while recording a show. Since the machine is always recording it must support this feature, so it's not surprising, but it is way handy since we keep ours recording shows almost all the time and I am a heavy editor also. If I could only edit while not recording it would be hard for me to get it done. What is surprising is that my more expensive Panasonic DMR-EH55S does not support this feature.\n\n+Technical support is good. I called them twice, got through to someone and they gave intelligent answers.\n\n+Dividing tracks works well, unlike the Panasonic. It's easy to simply select \"divide\" instead of \"view,\" and then divide the track at your stopping point for today and then you're ready for next viewing to start where you left off.\n\n-Takes 15 annoying seconds to boot while you miss the kick off of the super bowl.\n\n-fluorescent display is small with only medium readability from across the room.\n\n-There are not many buttons on the front panel\n\n-Track titles are only 10 chars - that's not enough\n\n-The operating system is primitive, buggy, missing many useful features and has a generally clunky feel, as if they programmed only the bare minimum features required to allow operation. For example, holding buttons down on the remote will not repeat the key. This feature is sorely needed when inputting text with the on-screen keyboard because it's torture to have to keep repeatedly pressing the buttons on the remote to scroll from one side of the keyboard to the other. Another example, the editing screen has a bug where you hit the edit button to start an edit and the prompt correctly displays \"hit edit to stop editing.\" Then you search forward to find the end of the commercial and you hit edit and it slices out that portion and the prompt correctly displays \"hit edit to start [your next] editing.\" That's not a bad system, but the OS has a bug in it so that if an edit is started, when the info screen goes away it comes back incorrectly displaying \"hit edit to start editing\" when it should say \"hit edit to stop editing.\" However, the edit feature still works correctly in spite of the display. But this can be confusing enough to make you forget where you are and make you exit the edit screen and start over.\n\n-The info pop-up screen is really annoying. It's giant and it's never there when you need it and always there when you don't. There's no way to turn it off or on permanently. Especially when you are viewing something frame by frame - it's maddening.\n\n-Text is slow/torturous to put in, made worse by the weak remote control.\n\n-The machine crashes and locks up, sometimes without provocation, and you have to unplug it to get it going again.\n\n-The machine crashes and trashes the DVD when trying to append tracks to a non-finalized DVD.\n\n-remote control is weak and that's really annoying when you are editing text. You have to be close and at small angle from the sensor.\n\n-Does not show new track time after you edit out the commercials.\n\n-Only allows 9 characters per DVD track title.\n\n-It has a manual, but it's not very good.\n\n-It has a useful time shift buffer, but its interface uses arbitrary buttons on the remote, there is no on-screen help, and sometimes you have to use the hidden \"hold down the button for 3 seconds\" technique.\n\nNow to highlight some differences:\n\nPolaroid\n+Has a way handy feature to jump to a specific time in a show. You just hit \"go to\" and then enter a time like 35 minutes, and it goes to it.\n\n+DVD burner on this unit seemed faster than on the Phillips.\n\n-Earlier version of the operating system - has bugs, features that don't work, and missing needed features\n\n-No progress indicator as it burns to DVD, and you can't watch the program as it's burning\n\n-Manual is rougher.\n\n-Fan on this unit is too loud.\n\n-A bug in the OS prevented me from entering the tens digit of a recording program start time.\n\nPhillips\n\n+Has an updated operating system with some welcome enhancements and bug fixes. More stable, but still crashes and trashes disks.\n\n+Will show a progress indicator as it burns the DVD.\n\n-Has a T/C (time code) button to jump to a specific time in a track, but it does not work.\n\n-DVD burner on this unit seemed slow.\n\nPanasonic DMR-EH55S\nOver all opinion: Good. Reliable, high quality and studded with features, although missing some no-brainers. I don't expect any glitches. Probably the best available at this consumer level price point, but unfortunately has many limitations that reduce its usefulness to a heavy editor like myself.\n\n+Text entry is very good, with great use of the remote control buttons to allow hot key shortcuts for various operations and screen positions. It's a clever system and fast and fun to use.\n\n+Remote control is strong and the unit responds to its commands without fail.\n\n+The scrubber for finding an edit point is great.\n\n+The manual is very good, 77 packed pages with detailed technical information on all aspects of operation. It's much better than the \"user friendly\" Sony manuals that avoid tech talk. It also carefully lists the many limitations of this unit and the technology, including what burn speeds you can expect.\n\n+The on screen TV guide is da bomb. It's far superior to the scrolling cable channel we have been watching for the last ten years. In spite of reviews here to the contrary, it worked perfectly for us, setting up with just few easy questions, one minor glitch requiring a glance at the manual, and then video nirvana. It finally makes it possible to reliably set programs for a recording device. I love it!\n\n+The fan is whisper quiet.\n\n+The manual warns you that high speed burn will be louder than normal. For me it's not bad. The high speed burn usually sounds like someone running water in the sink, with loud portions sounding like an electric shaver.\n\n-In some disappointing passages, the manual points out that although this unit is \"compatible\" with 16X recording speed disks, \"this is not the copy speed.\" (However, in many cases it can get better than 16x speed if you record at lower quality.) The manual also points out many other limitations such as: you can not record to the SD card, movies can not be played from the SD card, the Firewire port can only be used with digital video equipment and not computers, DVDs are copied to the hard drive only in real time, the advanced feature \"flexible recording\" fits the highest quality footage possible filling all DVD space but only burns in real time, the system is not smart enough to juggle overlapping record programs and will just drop earlier programs even if there is only a small overlap, it can not play DIVx files while recording other programs, it can not play still pictures while recording other programs, you can not rename/delete/edit/divide titles while recording other programs, it will drop scheduled recordings if you have the unit busy editing photos, finalizing the high speed burn may take four times longer than estimated on the finalize screen HUH? and various other limitations. I don't want all that...just make it work!\n\n-Multi-tasking challenged. You can't edit any previously recorded tracks, not even renaming them, while the unit is recording. You can't even watch tracks while high-speed burning a DVD with finalize, which is silly, since you can watch without finalize. What's in this thing, an 8080 microprocessor? During high speed burn with finalize it won't even play TV from the tuner! This is a serious limitation for me, greatly reducing the utility of this expensive device.\n\n-Copies DVDs to the hard disk (HDD) only in real time and with loss of a generation. The Pioneer DVR also copies in real time, I assume also losing a generation. I think what they are doing here is playing the DVD and routing its signal through the analog circuitry to allow any copy protection scheme on the DVD to confuse the input circuitry and cause that brightness fading in and out and color shifting. This is another serious limitation for me since I like to consolidate my home movies and etc.\n\n-Will not pause live TV! Instead you have to start recording and then chase playback. That's an odd oversight on Panasonic's part and a sorely missed feature.\n\n-When you divide or edit a track you have to do it in a small preview screen. That's silly, sacrifices a lot of usefulness, and so needless. They sacrificed screen space for useless stuff, including a useless title bar at the top, another one on the bottom, useless edit/divide preview windows, and huge on screen buttons for \"divide\" and \"preview\" operations. I like to edit and divide my programs while watching them, but since Panasonic has a special screen for editing/dividing, where the program is shown only in a small preview window, I have to view my program once, then go back and edit or divide it later. If you edit much video you know that editing time is a big problem, e.g. another reviewer mentions fifteen minutes to edit the commercials out of a one hour show. If you record many shows, that's hours of editing. So a needless time waster like this edit/divide screen is a problem. For me, this needless limitation is a fatal flaw. Today I had to bite the bullet and watch America's Funniest Videos in the preview screen because I just can't afford to watch a one hour track twice to get my edits. Also another problem, the system recomputes your track location with each edit. That's bad because it makes it impossible to have any idea of an edit decision list (EDL), where you might jot down approximate times of things you want to save or cut. Because it recomputes all times with every edit, what used to be at the one hour mark of your program will change.\n\n-Does not show program length nor time remaining while viewing a program. The current track time is displayed on the front panel and available on screen.","Product: He's the most inept nautical man since Peter "Wrong Way" Peachfuzz, but for the suburban family that hires him to take them on a Caribbean cruise in their new yacht, Captain Ron manages to sail them into a hilariously unforgettable adventure. Kurt Russell, Martin Short, Mary Kay Place star.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: It's good. Don't expect too much and it's more adventure than comedy.\n\nReview: This movie is worth watching. I think some negative reactions are from disappointed expectations rather than the movie not being actually good. One problem is that it's marketed as a comedy but I don't really see it that way. It's one of those movies that is more amusing than laugh out loud funny. I notice that there are many enthusiastic reviews here.\n\nObviously, much of the fun is in watching Kurt Russell and Martin Short. Regarding Kurt Russell, the guy is a major star and goes waaaay back to the 60s as already a major star. If you are a fan of his (as 40+ years' worth of people are), you will enjoy watching him cut up in this whacky role. He's a lot of fun and since I've been a fan since 1967's Flubber, I really enjoyed his entire performance.\n\nI'm a big Martin Short fan but so often his roles in movies are restrained, e.g. The Three Amigos. I'm not really sure what he is shooting for in that persona, but if you like him he can come across as charming in whatever he says or does. In this case his character is again restrained, the straight guy, and on the annoying side, plus he's a little bit of a loser. None of that seems like a formula for success and I don't really think the character or performance works all that well but since I like him he comes across as charming for me.\n\nThe movie is largely an adventure and it works on that level. A lot of things go wrong and I don't like that type of movie but it doesn't hit that close to home for me because I've never tried to quit my job and take a boat across the world. So the situations seem so outlandish that I can laugh them off without feeling Martin's pain.\n\nAlso this movie features Benjamin Salisbury (Brighton from \"The Nanny.\") He's a great actor, I really like the way he delivers his lines.\n\nAnyway, as many others here have said, it's pretty good and especially if you're a fan of either or both of the stars, it's worth watching.","Product: Timothy Hutton is Stalked by His Psychotic Secretary Played by Lara Flynn Boyle. Very Scary.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Gosh...I thought I was the only person that liked this movie\n\nReview: **** REVIEW INCLUDES \"GREAT DIALOG\" SPOILERS ****\n\nWow was I surprised to see all the positive reviews of this movie here on Amazon. I thought I was alone in being entertained by this. External reviews often completely trash this movie without finding anything positive.\n\nWell get this chemical makeup: Stunning and popular star Lara Flynn Boyle overtly titillating us and wearing skimpy outfits even including a bikini(!), Timothy Hutton, habitual scene stealer Oliver Platt during younger and thinner days, superstar Faye Dunaway, and Steven Webber from the TV show \"Wings.\" How's that for voltage? Add in a proven plotline with a long pedigree (Hand that rocks the cradle, Single White Female, many more), some great whacky dialog, and top it off with the inspired idea of a corporate thriller set in a cookie company with the climax in an industrial kitchen, and yeah...I'll bank that. How could you possibly lose?\n\nActually I really like this movie, even just watching it straight. The only problem I have is Faye Dunaway's really bad, hammy, mugging acting, and toward the end Boyle picks up some of the same style, but other than that I like it. However, if you make me analyze it, ok, it's riddled with plot holes, dropped threads, unanswered questions, implausabilities, etc, but that really doesn't matter if the movie succeeds in entertaining me. And it does. So with that in mind, you could look at it as one of the \"so bad it's good\" genre, and it does succeed on that level. I agree with others that the ending seems as tho it was written on the spot when someone lost the rest of the script.\n\nIt actually has a lot of good stuff in it. For example:\n\nOne of my favorite literary devices is the \"buddy thing,\" which is an entertainment staple: Laurel and Hardy, Skipper and Gilligan, Kip and friend in Bosom Buddies, Balky and Larry in \"Perfect Strangers,\" etc. This movie features that, but in four directions: Hutton and his boss, Hutton and his buddy (Webber), Hutton and his rival (Platt), Hutton and Boyle. Lots of fun there.\n\nThe highlight for me is some of the whacky dialog, which I'm still quoting years later. For example:\n\n\"You're BLOWIN' it man.\"\n\n\"YOU'VE GOT THIS PROBLEM.\"\n\nAnd one of the greatest lines ever:\n\n\"Good gosh how hard can it be? I'm not asking you to splice DNA you just DO IT!\"\n\nWonderful stuff.\n\nFinally, it's no surprise that Hutton and Platt both turn in performances that are well worth watching.","Product: I'll Take Sweden\nActors: Bob Hope, Dina Merrill, Tuesday Weld, Frankie Avalon, Jeremy Slate\nDirectors: Frederick De Cordova\nWriters: Arthur Marx, Bob Fisher, Nat Perrin\nProducers: Alex Gottlieb, Edward Small\nRated: NR (Not Rated)\nVHS Release Date: March 2, 1994\nRun Time: 97 minutes\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Yawn. 90 minutes of juvenile sex talk and situations.\n\nReview: This film is in the style of Doris Day films that feature compromising sexual situations and innuendo while on the surface everything remains innocent fun. That may have been titillating in 1965 when you couldn't say the word \"pregnant\" on TV and Rob and Laura Petrie had separate beds, but now it's just boring and adolescent. I get tired of this innuendo quickly, but it's always fun explaining each joke to my wife, because the entire thing goes way over her head.\n\nThis film features blatant sexual material centering around the question of Bob Hope's daughter: will she or won't she?\n\nThe film presents Sweden as a sexually free place, while America stands for a higher morality. On the surface the movie preaches this higher morality while actually presenting and capitalizing on the intriguing images and ideas of a free-lovin' society.\n\nOne problem with this type of film is that the writers think that the innuendo will carry the film. They think that just the fact that they are covertly, or in this case, overtly, talking about sex will keep us nervously giggling and entertained, gasping in shock or winking at each other. It's like a comedian whose act relies on dirty language. Ok, they may get nervous laughs, but after some time it gets boring or even distasteful. In this film, because the writers are overconfident, they don't bother with good characters, a good plot, clever dialog, motivations, or any thing else that makes for good drama or comedy, they just let the subject of sex carry it. That just doesn't cut it, especially not in modern times when any shock value it might have had is completely gone.\n\nAn example of good writing is \"Frequency,\" where the writers did not assume that a time travel gimmick would carry a weak story, but instead gave us a long eventful ride with a triple your money's worth climax in addition to the front and center gimmick.","Product: Bob Hope (The Road To Hong Kong) and Lucille Ball (Yours, Mine and Ours) are teamed in The Facts of Life, a comedy with dramatic twists. When their spouses are unable to join them on a planned group trip, longtime friends, Larry Gilbert (Hope) and Kitty Weaver (Ball) find themselves thrown together and falling in love under the sun in beautiful Acapulco. With their vacation coming to an end, both Larry and Kitty find themselves torn between feeling guilty about the affair and whether or not to end it.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Very good. Lucy and Bob are great. Subject material still holds interest in modern times.\n\nReview: *** This review contains spoilers ***\n\nThis movie surprised me. I really enjoyed it. Lucy is stunning as a glamor star. She gets the soft focus and lighting, the glamor hair and makeup, but the showstopper is the glamor wardrobe. I've never seen her look more beautiful.\n\nI did not know that Lucy had made it so far in her movie career as to be able to star as a glamor girl, opposite Bob Hope yet. Another notch on the resume of this fascinating woman.\n\nMy wife and I had just been discussing Lucy's talents as a straight actress and by coincidence this movie came on the next day. I had the opinion that Lucy was best in comedy and was not quite right in a straight role. This movie proved me wrong on that! She is convincing and when she kissed Bob I really believed it.\n\nBob is also great. His comedy style here is more subtle than usual, playing funny bits off in a straight style without the usual hamming. The bit with the hankie made me belly laugh.\n\nThe subject matter of this movie is similar to other movies of the early 60s as the sexual revolution was just starting...all clean and above board on the surface, yet doing their best to titillate us with sexual situations and innuendo. As I said in my review of Bob's \"I'll Take Sweden,\" I find this juvenile and boring. There's no shock value left by now, so it falls flat. However, this movie tackles more serious subjects than simply titillating sex, namely the subjects of infidelity, marriage, and marital boredom. That is more interesting and even in 2005 I found the subject matter moving and thought-provoking.\n\nThe script is tight and witty, with good dialog. The plot is also more or less water tight with plausible motivations.\n\nGood stuff....worth watching.","Product: Animated feature \"Spirit : Stallion of the Cimarron\" comes to dvd in this widescreen edition.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: A great, entertaining adventure\n\nReview: This was a great movie. I'm really glad to see someone other than Disney not only put forth this kind of effort, but critically succeed as well.\nAll I had to do was log on to the dreamworks web site about this movie and hear the soaring music by Hans Zimmer to know the movie would be great, and I wasn't disappointed. The movie has a lot of social commentary, about slavery, pride, loyalty, friendship, breaching racism, history (skewed or not) and etc.\nIt was a lot of fun, it was an adventure. You can tell the filmmakers reached for an adventure because Spirit explicity tells you \"thus started my adventure.\" And off we went, to meet many interesting people and see far away places.\nMy wife cried through a lot of the movie...that's got to be a good thing.\nThe story proceeds forth with a minimum of dialog and monolouges. Much of the story is masterfully told with subtle nuances, facial expressions and body language.\nI gave this 4 stars because it still does not reach the stratospheric heights of \"The Little Mermaid\" or \"Hercules.\"","Product: At War With the Army: First in the Dean Martin-Jerry Lewis features, At War with the Army set the tone for all collaborations to comewith Dean Martin as a self-confident Don Juan who always has a smile and a song for the ladies, and Jerry Lewis as a lovable but hapless screw-up who has only the best intentions. Road to Hollywood: Road to Hollywood is the 1946 blockbuster hit that documents singer and dancer extraordinaire Bing Crosby's rise to dizzying heights of fame and celebrity.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: This mediocre comedy is required viewing, of course.\n\nReview: This is required viewing since it is Martin and Lewis' first movie. As a comedy, it's not that great. It's not very funny, there's a lot of time wasted on generic dialog, and Dean's character isn't likeable since he mostly shouts, bullies, womanizes, and lies throughout. The movie is based on a play and it seems that some portions that may have played well in a live setting don't work on the screen. I can't be too sure since I don't know what is new to this movie and didn't appear in the play, or what did work in 1950 but doesn't work in 2005.\n\nI got a good nostalgic feeling watching the movie. It gave me a feeling of sitting in a playhouse in 1940 with that era of audience and laughing at silly running gags like the half open door. Now that the bar has been raised so many times with comedy superstars like Eddie Murphy, Richard Pryor, Steve Martin, Tom Hanks, and Jerry Lewis himself, it's fun to watch material from a simpler time.\n\nDean comes across well. His singing is great, he dances, and does an excellent impersonation of Bing Crosby. This is a good showcase of his talent.\n\nJerry also comes across well, as expected, with all of his trademarks. Bumbling clowning, funny faces, pouting, mime. His singing was better than I expected. He switches off between various singing voices like his zany voice, mock romantic, sarcastic, etc. He can hit the high notes and he sounds good.\n\nThe plot is pretty good. The various subplots involving Jerry, his wife and baby, his former friendship with Dean, Dean's two girlfriends and his military career, Dean's romantic rival, and the captain and his wife make for a somewhat complex plot. The movie builds up to the climax where all of the misunderstandings (and intentional subterfuges by Dean's character) come together with seven actors onscreen at the same time fighting each other to work things out. We're lucky that all seven made it into the TV frame!\n\nI was touched by the ending in the same way that I remember always being touched by Martin and Lewis' movies: as though they are really good friends and that's heartwarming.\n\nI was surprised to see so much polish on Martin and Lewis for their first movie, but you have to remember that they had been doing a live act before this, so that explains it.\n\nI can imagine that a lot of the physical comedy gags, like running in and out of doors, throwing things around the room, jumping in another's arms, running around the room turning off lights, fighting with the drink machine, etc, would have worked in a play where the actors are actually doing that stuff live right in front of you. That would have added a lot of action to this play, where plays can sometimes be boring. On screen it doesn't work for me. It seems silly but nothing more.\n\nMartin and Lewis' act is something like the Smothers Brothers' act. Martin scolds Lewis and Lewis gets meek and pouts.\n\nI think most of the value in this movie comes from the performance pieces. The feature songs, dances, impersonations, and large comedy bits like the drink machine scene and Jerry as a woman are good stuff. I'm sorry to say that the rest of the material, which is probably the original play, doesn't quite cut it","Product: At War With the Army: First in the Dean Martin-Jerry Lewis features, At War with the Army set the tone for all collaborations to comewith Dean Martin as a self-confident Don Juan who always has a smile and a song for the ladies, and Jerry Lewis as a lovable but hapless screw-up who has only the best intentions. Road to Hollywood: Road to Hollywood is the 1946 blockbuster hit that documents singer and dancer extraordinaire Bing Crosby's rise to dizzying heights of fame and celebrity.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: This mediocre comedy is required viewing, of course.\n\nReview: My comments only apply to \"At War with the Army.\"\n\nThis is required viewing since it is Martin and Lewis' first movie. As a comedy, it's not that great. It's not very funny, there's a lot of time wasted on generic dialog, and Dean's character isn't likeable since he mostly shouts, bullies, womanizes, and lies throughout. The movie is based on a play and it seems that some portions that may have played well in a live setting don't work on the screen. I can't be too sure since I don't know what is new to this movie and didn't appear in the play, or what did work in 1950 but doesn't work in 2005.\n\nI got a good nostalgic feeling watching the movie. It gave me a feeling of sitting in a playhouse in 1940 with that era of audience and laughing at silly running gags like the half open door. Now that the bar has been raised so many times with comedy superstars like Eddie Murphy, Richard Pryor, Steve Martin, Tom Hanks, and Jerry Lewis himself, it's fun to watch material from a simpler time.\n\nDean comes across well. His singing is great, he dances, and does an excellent impersonation of Bing Crosby. This is a good showcase of his talent.\n\nJerry also comes across well, as expected, with all of his trademarks. Bumbling clowning, funny faces, pouting, mime. His singing was better than I expected. He switches off between various singing voices like his zany voice, mock romantic, sarcastic, etc. He can hit the high notes and he sounds good.\n\nThe plot is pretty good. The various subplots involving Jerry, his wife and baby, his former friendship with Dean, Dean's two girlfriends and his military career, Dean's romantic rival, and the captain and his wife make for a somewhat complex plot. The movie builds up to the climax where all of the misunderstandings (and intentional subterfuges by Dean's character) come together with seven actors onscreen at the same time fighting each other to work things out. We're lucky that all seven made it into the TV frame!\n\nI was touched by the ending in the same way that I remember always being touched by Martin and Lewis' movies: as though they are really good friends and that's heartwarming.\n\nI was surprised to see so much polish on Martin and Lewis for their first movie, but you have to remember that they had been doing a live act before this, so that explains it.\n\nI can imagine that a lot of the physical comedy gags, like running in and out of doors, throwing things around the room, jumping in another's arms, running around the room turning off lights, fighting with the drink machine, etc, would have worked in a play where the actors are actually doing that stuff live right in front of you. That would have added a lot of action to this play, where plays can sometimes be boring. On screen it doesn't work for me. It seems silly but nothing more.\n\nMartin and Lewis' act is something like the Smothers Brothers' act. Martin scolds Lewis and Lewis gets meek and pouts.\n\nI think most of the value in this movie comes from the performance pieces. The feature songs, dances, impersonations, and large comedy bits like the drink machine scene and Jerry as a woman are good stuff. I'm sorry to say that the rest of the material, which is probably the original play, doesn't quite cut it","Product: Ruthless. Shameless. Clueless! Celebrity interviewer Jiminy Glick (Martin Short) tackles the big screen with his first feature film: a wildly irreverent, laugh-till-it-hurts movie experience that skewers Hollywood with \"potent comic accuracy\" and features \"more celebs than you can shake a microphone at\" (Entertainment News)! Hungry for an A-list interview that could launch him into the gossip-page stratosphere, the small-time journalist with big aspirations and an even bigger appetite drags his wife and kids across the country to the star-studded Toronto Film Festival. But in between the nonstop parties and all-you-can-eat buffets, Glick soon finds himself in the middle of an outrageously scandalous mystery that becomes the celebrity scoop of the decade!\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Ambitious loosely scripted movie just isn't funny.\n\nReview: I like Martin Short. I like everything about him. I think he's a great singer and entertainer, he's smart, he's lovable, and he's apparently very funny because he's always cracking up the cast and behind camera crew. He and his style appeal to me, and I just like him.\n\nBut this movie just isn't funny. And Glick isn't funny. Short tries to carry Glick with the same funny speech patterns that carried Ed Grimley... \"I'm as doomed as doomed could be, ya' know.\" Grimley and Glick use similar speech patterns. But that's not enough to carry this character or this movie.\n\nShort says in the DVD commentary that they improvised most scenes with no or very little script, though his commentary partner calls him on that and disagrees with him and insists there was a script. Now that's funny. But anyway, as the Beatles learned when filming \"Magical Mystery Tour,\" hoping that people will be naturally funny and interesting doesn't work. You have to put some hard work and long hours into a polished script to get anything worth shooting. This movie (if there really was no script) again affirms that truth.\n\nThis movie features a lot of vulgar material and I think that was a big mistake. The larger plot and story and comedy style would have appealed to young people and families and Short sacrificed that entire viewing audience for the coarse material and it really doesn't add anything. I guess Short felt an R rating was what was needed at this point in his career.\n\nVery little in this movie works. The boyfriend/manager character was the only one that was funny, yes he was over the top but at least he was actually somewhat funny. Glick is best when Hollywood celebrity Short shows through the character while giving a good natured ribbing to Hollywood giants like Steve Martin, Tom Hanks, and Kurt Russel (Hanks does not appear in this movie but Glick has interviewed him elsewhere to great results). The interviews that Glick does with Martin and Russel, and especially the deleted outtake footage of those interviews are the only thing that works in this movie.\n\nThe production and story were much bigger than what I expected. The plot explanation at the end is pretty good, creative, outlandish, unexpected, and funny. There's a part that was scripted. The movie has good production values, but what it needed was a script that actually contained some jokes.","Product: Ruthless. Shameless. Clueless! Celebrity interviewer Jiminy Glick (Martin Short) tackles the big screen with his first feature film: a wildly irreverent, laugh-till-it-hurts movie experience that skewers Hollywood with \"potent comic accuracy\" and features \"more celebs than you can shake a microphone at\" (Entertainment News)! Hungry for an A-list interview that could launch him into the gossip-page stratosphere, the small-time journalist with big aspirations and an even bigger appetite drags his wife and kids across the country to the star-studded Toronto Film Festival. But in between the nonstop parties and all-you-can-eat buffets, Glick soon finds himself in the middle of an outrageously scandalous mystery that becomes the celebrity scoop of the decade!\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Ambitious loosely scripted movie just isn't funny.\n\nReview: I like Martin Short. I like everything about him. I think he's a great singer and entertainer, he's smart, he's lovable, and he's apparently very funny because he's always cracking up the cast and behind camera crew. He and his style appeal to me, and I just like him.\n\nBut this movie just isn't funny. And Glick isn't funny. Short tries to carry Glick with the same funny speech patterns that carried Ed Grimley... \"I'm as doomed as doomed could be, ya' know.\" Grimley and Glick use similar speech patterns. But that's not enough to carry this character or this movie.\n\nShort says in the DVD commentary that they improvised most scenes with no or very little script, though his commentary partner calls him on that and disagrees with him and insists there was a script. Now that's funny. But anyway, as the Beatles learned when filming \"Magical Mystery Tour,\" hoping that people will be naturally funny and interesting doesn't work. You have to put some hard work and long hours into a polished script to get anything worth shooting. This movie (if there really was no script) again affirms that truth.\n\nThis movie features a lot of vulgar material and I think that was a big mistake. The larger plot and story and comedy style would have appealed to young people and families and Short sacrificed that entire viewing audience for the coarse material and it really doesn't add anything. I guess Short felt an R rating was what was needed at this point in his career.\n\nVery little in this movie works. The boyfriend/manager character was the only one that was funny, yes he was over the top but at least he was actually somewhat funny. Glick is best when Hollywood celebrity Short shows through the character while giving a good natured ribbing to Hollywood giants like Steve Martin, Tom Hanks, and Kurt Russel (Hanks does not appear in this movie but Glick has interviewed him elsewhere to great results). The interviews that Glick does with Martin and Russel, and especially the deleted outtake footage of those interviews are the only thing that works in this movie.\n\nThe production and story were much bigger than what I expected. The plot explanation at the end is pretty good, creative, outlandish, unexpected, and funny. There's a part that was scripted. The movie has good production values, but what it needed was a script that actually contained some jokes.","Product: America's Favorite siblings celebrate Christmas with the whole Osmond Family. Enjoy a white Christmas at the Osmond cabin, complete with horseback riding, snowmobiling, skiing, singing, cooking, entertaining and more! Share the memories and laughs with the whole Osmond family, including a time ever performance by the Osmond wives, meet Donny's new bride Debbie, and enjoy performances by the Osmond brothers.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Fabulous. Mostly music and mostly great. No live performance.\n\nReview: Overall: Fabulous.\n\nThis is Donny & Marie's third Christmas special. This is not the one that features the outdoor concert, that's 1977.\n\nIt's almost wall to wall music. There are no non-musical comedy segments, no guest stars, and a minimum of talking, impressive. Sadly it does not feature any live performance.\n\nOnly one segment falls a little flat - the rooftop segment. The dancing and production is good, but the song isn't very good. Marie over acts in a style of performance that's really gone out of style now. As Donny relates in some interviews, he had to unlearn much of his performing style since it now seems passé. The constant smiling and overt playing to the audience. It's interesting to see Marie performing this way and inasmuch as it seems old fashioned that gives you some insight into your own evolution of taste.\n\nThe final two songs are sensational. An arrangement of \"Silent Night\" set against another tune and a final climax number with the entire family. Several other songs in the show are great.\n\nDonny & wife Debbie sing \"Three Times a Lady\" to each other to very good results. Debbie sings in a slight Osmond style and way better than I expected, actually very good. Donny is electrifying in this piece and the saccharine level may move you, it did me.\n\nThe Osmond brothers appear throughout but do not get prominently featured. Jimmy gets a solo song and featured in a few other segments, he comes off well.\n\nThe concert segment is a relative disappointment, it isn't as ambitious as other concert productions from Donny & Marie had been. It doesn't feature any live performance at all and does not feature any instrumental sections. It's not that long. That said, it still delivers an electrifying Donny & Marie duet up front and when the duet adds in Jimmy for a third voice the voltage is just that much higher.\n\nEven at this early stage (1978) the size of the Osmond clan is impressive with 2 parents, 9 children (most with associated wives), and a gaggle of grandkids.\n\nThe Osmond wives sing a number in the talent show segment and it's ok. It ups the saccharin content but for historical purposes it would have been better to see an ambitious Osmonds production.\n\nThe Osmond men sing through a comedy cooking segment production number. It's ok.\n\nGeorge & Olive sing a duet by themselves - yet another saccharine over music moment. It's not great singing but it's a nice moment.\n\nThere is an Osmond band segment during the talent show segment that comes off a little weak. It's painfully obvious that none of the instruments are actually being played. Merrill repeats yet again his banjo playing. Dad Osmond gets a bass solo which is just throwing it in our faces that we're watching air guitar. I don't know how good Donny is at piano but I'm pretty sure he's nowhere near as good as what we hear him play - we don't get to see his hands. Even so, it's good.\n\nThe religious content is not in your face - just standard Christmas fare from people that actually believe in it.\n\nThe overall effect, outside of the musical content, is pretty much as intended. The Osmonds come across as a tight, happy extended family with wholesome values and fun. There's some extra saccharin there but it's not so overdone that it's distracting.\n\nOverall: A, but I was hoping for A++++","Product: Get ready for non-stop action, edge-of-your-seat suspense and spectacular chase sequences with everyone's favorite assassin in The Jason Bourne Collection! Matt Damon is Jason Bourne, an elite government agent determined to outwit and outmaneuver anyone who stands in the way of his finding out the secrets of his mysterious past. Follow his explosive, action-packed adventures in three blockbuster films from one of the most popular series of all time: The Bourne Identity, The Bourne Supremacy and The Bourne Ultimatum. Loaded with hours of bonus features, The Jason Bourne Collection is the ultimate Bourne experience for movie fans everywhere!\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: All action and no story make for a dull movie.\n\nReview: My review mostly relates to the 3rd installment, \"The Bourne Ultimatum.\" I rate that movie only one star. However, because this set includes the much better \"Bourne Supremacy,\" I'll average the rating out to three stars.\n\nBourne Ultimatum (movie #3) is similar to Bourne Identity (movie #1) in that it exists simply for the sake of the action. There's hardly any literary content at all. It's just a straightforward plot that moves the action along. It's like so many other action movies. Sure the production is impressive with explosions, stunts, car chases, fighting, etc, but as far as dialog, motivations, characters, plot twists, or anything else clever, that's all been carefully stripped out. That doesn't cut it for me and I rate this movie low. I like the Bourne Supremacy (movie #2) the best. That one has more story.\n\nOther reviewers here agree with me on the above points, but I disagree with them on the excellence of the action. I don't think it's all that great as I'll explain below along with my low opinions on the lack of story. I agree with another reviewer here that my review on the literary merit of the movie is a waste of time. The movie is about action and that's it. Critiquing its literary merits is like critiquing the safeness of a motorcycle. It's simply not about that.\n\nAnyway....\nThe girl in this movie hardly speaks at all. She just walks around looking dumb and worried. If the girl was paid by the line, they paid her about $50 for her \"role.\" Her close-ups become comical because repeatedly they cut to her, she looks worriedly into the camera, and then doesn't speak.\n\nAs many others have pointed out, the shaky camera work is annoying/nauseating/amateurish direction. I really hated it and it really did make me sick.\n\nThe story has a long, straightforward build up to an ultra-lame, straightforward conclusion, which makes me feel like I wasted my time. What's the big deal about his training anyway...you just need to train him as a sniper, which is no big deal, and then you're done. What Jason does is not that different than any other soldier, especially a sniper. Much more interesting was Bridget Fonda in \"Point of No Return\" and her cycle of training, initiation, and wanting out.\n\nAgain in the \"unintentionally funny\" department, we get comedy/spoof/\"so bad it's funny\" like running commentary:\n\"He's looking right at her!\"\n\"He drove off the roof!\"\nAs if we, the audience, couldn't see that he just drove off the roof. Actually this comedy material was some of the best fun this movie has to offer.\n\nJason takes the unneeded/indefensible risk of calling the CIA security down on him before he even cracks the safe. No trained burglar would do that. He just needed to hang up the phone as soon as the guy answered and said his name. And if cracking the safe was that easy the CIA wouldn't be using that safe. How did Jason know that the spook used his name as the safe voice password? He could have used any phrase. Ludicrous.\n\nDuring the chase where the assassin chases the girl, Jason repeatedly jumps through the windows. Once is enough, twice is repetitious, thrice is an eye roll. He did it, like, six times. Severe lack of imagination on the part of the movie makers. Plus, that assassin must be a super blood hound to be able to track the girl from the street as she runs around on the rooftops.\n\nGrade (for Bourne Ultimatum): Waste of time.","Product: Get ready for non-stop action, edge-of-your-seat suspense and spectacular chase sequences with everyone's favorite assassin in The Jason Bourne Collection! Matt Damon is Jason Bourne, an elite government agent determined to outwit and outmaneuver anyone who stands in the way of his finding out the secrets of his mysterious past. Follow his explosive, action-packed adventures in three blockbuster films from one of the most popular series of all time: The Bourne Identity, The Bourne Supremacy and The Bourne Ultimatum. Loaded with hours of bonus features, The Jason Bourne Collection is the ultimate Bourne experience for movie fans everywhere!\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: All action and no story make for a dull movie.\n\nReview: My review mostly relates to the 3rd installment, \"The Bourne Ultimatum.\" I rate that movie only one star. However, because this set includes the much better \"Bourne Supremacy,\" I'll average the rating out to three stars.\n\nBourne Ultimatum (movie #3) is similar to Bourne Identity (movie #1) in that it exists simply for the sake of the action. There's hardly any literary content at all. It's just a straightforward plot that moves the action along. It's like so many other action movies. Sure the production is impressive with explosions, stunts, car chases, fighting, etc, but as far as dialog, motivations, characters, plot twists, or anything else clever, that's all been carefully stripped out. That doesn't cut it for me and I rate this movie low. I like the Bourne Supremacy (movie #2) the best. That one has more story.\n\nOther reviewers here agree with me on the above points, but I disagree with them on the excellence of the action. I don't think it's all that great as I'll explain below along with my low opinions on the lack of story. I agree with another reviewer here that my review on the literary merit of the movie is a waste of time. The movie is about action and that's it. Critiquing its literary merits is like critiquing the safeness of a motorcycle. It's simply not about that.\n\nAnyway....\nThe girl in this movie hardly speaks at all. She just walks around looking dumb and worried. If the girl was paid by the line, they paid her about $50 for her \"role.\" Her close-ups become comical because repeatedly they cut to her, she looks worriedly into the camera, and then doesn't speak.\n\nAs many others have pointed out, the shaky camera work is annoying/nauseating/amateurish direction. I really hated it and it really did make me sick.\n\nThe story has a long, straightforward build up to an ultra-lame, straightforward conclusion, which makes me feel like I wasted my time. What's the big deal about his training anyway...you just need to train him as a sniper, which is no big deal, and then you're done. What Jason does is not that different than any other soldier, especially a sniper. Much more interesting was Bridget Fonda in \"Point of No Return\" and her cycle of training, initiation, and wanting out.\n\nAgain in the \"unintentionally funny\" department, we get comedy/spoof/\"so bad it's funny\" like running commentary:\n\"He's looking right at her!\"\n\"He drove off the roof!\"\nAs if we, the audience, couldn't see that he just drove off the roof. Actually this comedy material was some of the best fun this movie has to offer.\n\nJason takes the unneeded/indefensible risk of calling the CIA security down on him before he even cracks the safe. No trained burglar would do that. He just needed to hang up the phone as soon as the guy answered and said his name. And if cracking the safe was that easy the CIA wouldn't be using that safe. How did Jason know that the spook used his name as the safe voice password? He could have used any phrase. Ludicrous.\n\nDuring the chase where the assassin chases the girl, Jason repeatedly jumps through the windows. Once is enough, twice is repetitious, thrice is an eye roll. He did it, like, six times. Severe lack of imagination on the part of the movie makers. Plus, that assassin must be a super blood hound to be able to track the girl from the street as she runs around on the rooftops.\n\nGrade (for Bourne Ultimatum): Waste of time.","Product: Avatar is the story of ex-Marine Jake, a paraplegic war veteran, who finds himself thrust into hostilities on a distant planet filled with exotic life forms, Pandora. As an Avatar, a human consciousness in an alien body, he finds himself torn between two worlds in a desperate fight for his own survival and that of the indigenous people. Those from Earth find themselves at odds with each other and the local culture.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: What's the point? Impressive production falls flat with a lousy drama.\n\nReview: I'll admit that I was expecting a lot from this movie. I had heard about the huge budget and effort required to create it and had heard that it was a landmark movie that was going to take the movie business to a new level. I didn't like the movie at all. It was a trite straightforward drama with colorless characters, recycled elements, WOW factors we've seen before and a weak \"showdown\" climax.\n\nGround breaking CGI: Big deal. I don't know about 10 year old kids, but I've seen so much CGI, for so long, that it's simply boring. Yes the glowing flowers and such were beautiful (even if the dandelion seeds were overused), but so what? Movies are best about things in our real world, like courage, loyalty and friendship. Glowing flowers are nice but can't carry a movie.\n\nToo many recycled elements from Aliens, Terminator, Star Wars, and Transformers: Weaver, cybersleep, the loaders, the veloci-copters, the gunship, the flight deck, the pilot, the sarge, the combat drop, the walkers (Star Wars). Even the guy that can't walk now being able to walk is from \"Lost.\"\n\nTrite, straightforward and pretty ham-handed drama of the military guy against the ethical soldier against the scientists against the natives...Universal Soldier (Van Damme), Soldier (Kurt Russell).\n\nAvatar concept is old, and even more so now that that concept is recycled into the virtual reality gimmick: Sargon controlling Kirk, Kirk exchanging minds with that crazy lady that wanted to be Captain, Spock's Brain (where his body was controlled by a remote control), The Matrix.\n\nWeaver's character was a waste - she did not play a big part in the story and the part that she did play was sketchy. Weaver had been there how many years? Teaching them English? And she's still there leading the team even though the military is there moving? And the natives still accept her? Weaver is all hostile to the new guy right up until she puts him in the mind link chamber. Then they meet up on the other side and she's all smiles and charm towards him. Huh?\n\nThe climactic battle was a lot like the Ewoks against the Empire in \"Return of the Jedi,\" right down to the grenades in the engines.\n\nThe big revelation in the movie of the neural network of the trees fell totally flat. That was supposed to be a big dramatic moment but I think everyone in the audience, just like those on the command deck were like: \"So what? Is that supposed to mean something?\" There was only a few lines in the movie that supported that plot line and after the big revelation it was pretty much dropped.\n\nCharacters were not colorful and well differentiated like in Aliens (All the characters were colorless: The wheelchair guy, his buddy, Weaver, the traitorous pilot, the native mother and father had extremely small parts, the native prince was colorless, even the princess was pretty colorless, the pencil pusher heartless bureaucrat, the Colonel was the only character that was almost good), there was no sparkling dialog like all throughout Aliens.\n\nIt seems that some of the \"Wow factor\" of the movie was contained in the computer displays in the lab, especially the ones that could be swiped off the wall and onto a tablet PC. If they thought that would impress me....oh please. Spielberg already tried all that exact same stuff in \"Minority Report\" to equally unimpressive results and Cameron, of all people, should know that no matter how impressive your production is, it's useless without a great drama with all of the elements needed to make drama great.","Product: Disneynature Af(Br+Dv\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Horrible. Imagine Bambi where not just mother, but *everyone* dies\n\nReview: We walked out of this movie at the 3/4 mark because it was just the same old thing the entire movie. Cute cubs get eaten by hyenas. Old noble lioness can't keep up with pride & she & cub are left to die. Old lioness abandons cub & dies alone. Cheetah mom has to fight male lions. Male lions gang up on cute cheetah cubs. Male lions gang up on old male & drive him to his lonely death. Cheetah kills adorable gazelle. Crocs threaten lions. Just on and on. The fabricated script is laser focused on death, dying, injury, pain, suffering, and fighting.\n\nRemember when Bambi's mother got killed? Well in this movie it's more like mother, father, aunt, Thumper, & a few assorted birds & rodents all get killed.\n\nThe writers concocted a simplistic dramatic story that's focused on death & struggle, & the movie strictly follows that, ignoring other aspects of feline life that might have been explored. You don't get much insight into cat behavior other than fighting, hunting, & dying. In spite of the \"Cats\" in the title, there are not many cats in the movie. 1 cheetah, 5 cheetah cubs, 5 male lions, 4 female lions, & 10 or so lion cubs, & that's it. No puma, jaguar, lynx, tiger, cougar, mountain lion, or any other cat.\n\nGreat photography of cats, animals, landscape, & weather, but u can't enjoy it. How can you enjoy great photography of an African thunderstorm when they carefully point out t you the cold, wet, shivering cheetah & cubs?\n\nIt's not really a documentary. There isn't much educational content. It's more a creative effort of storytelling. They needed to balance it. Maybe 70% cute cubs playing & exploring cat behavior & thought with only 30% harsh reality. Instead it's 90% depressing.","Product: The beautiful western scenery of northern Wyoming is the backdrop for The Invasion of Johnson County, based on the actual Johnson County War. The battle was also known as the War on Powder Creek, fought between large cattle ranchers and homesteaders in 1892. Bill Bixby stars as a free-sppirited Bostonian Sam Lowell, who arrives on the frontier and teams up with George, a crusty Wyoming cowboy to stop a land baron's attempts to drive out a group of small ranchers and take over their property.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: I like it. Good fun and educational, plus we get some Bixby bar tricks! Can't get enuf Bixby!\n\nReview: Synopsis: Western style dramatized true story about big money cattle ranchers that put together a private army and march to exterminate small ranchers in Wyoming. Bixby plays a highly educated, decent, and sensible rambler that goes along so as to get a reporter's fee, ultimately interfering in the plan in an attempt to avoid bloodshed.\n\nLar-ry-view: A. I like it. It's 90% drama, 10% fun. Bill gets a buddy and they play the buddy act throughout the movie. He also does some bar tricks for us, reprising his \"The Magician\" persona. The movie starts out with Bill standing an egg on its end, then later he balances two forks on the end of a toothpick.\n\nJust like with his Tony Blake character from \"The Magician,\" and his Dr. David Banner character from \"The Hulk,\" Bixby plays an intelligent, reasonable, decent man. I take this character as being similar to Bill's real personality. A leading man, as opposed to character actors, essentially play themselves in every role. Others have pointed out to me, however, that Bixby's talent allowed a large dramatic range as shown in some other presentations that were not Bixby starring vehicles. Sure, I can buy that. Anything he does is golden.\n\nThis movie is a stereotypical western: horses, saloons, sheriffs, trains, card games, gunfights and all. I could list a few places in which the script could have been better, but I won't bother. What matters is that this movie is entertaining, fun, and even contains educational history. You might want to invest your time and money in this movie if you: like Bixby, like bar tricks, like westerns, like buddy movies, or are interested in the historical events covered by the movie.","Product: Mothers Back-to-Black Trim Care - 8 ounce helps to stop and reverse oxidation. As your ride's exterior ages, rubber, plastic and vinyl of all colors will dry, crack, flake and deteriorate. With Mothers back-to-black trim care, this oxidation process can be reversed. This trim treatment is great for bumpers, moldings, louvers, window trim, vents, seals, skirts, door handles, wiper arms - anything that's uncoated plastic, rubber or vinyl. The back-to-black to sunburnt plastic, rubber and vinyl can be applied to revive the factory-new sheen, and then re-treat regularly.\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: It did not work for me at all-bumpers look worse than before\n\nReview: I guess it was a pipe dream to believe that any magic liquid could restore my faded gray bumper trim to black.\n\nI applied about 5 coats of this Back to Black product over the course of a few days. It might look better when wet, but by the next day I was back to gray. I was pretty peeved. What's worse, I notice that now I have streaks on the bumper that look like jail stripes. The car is a 1989 Honda Accord with a black rubber strip on the bumper cover. Yeah, they're severely faded, but isn't that the intended market for this product?\n\nI have read some other fixes on the web, notably including mink oil (normally used for shoes), and instant shoe polish. There is a spray paint also and it seems that that's the only real way to restore the black. Mask off everything but the trim, rough it up with sand paper, and then repaint...I hear this gives good, long lasting results.\n\nAs for Back-To-Black, in spite of the positive reviews here on Amazon, I think a google search will convince you that it's a poor risk. It certainly did not work at all for me.","Product: We ship quickly from US to Japan (delivery in 14-21 days on average) and the rest of the world. Please refer to Amazon page for product details, and information.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Super-great and \"Must Have.\"\n\nReview: I was amazed at the excellence of some of these songs. I really enjoyed listening to this set. It's great to take a close listen to this group since some of their stuff is amazing. I find that the songs I recognized from USA radio play were a large notch better than the rest of the stuff on the CDs as a general rule. I did not enjoy CD2 near as much but maybe I need to listen several more times.\n\nSomebody amongst the three songwriters is an excellent poet because the lyrics on at least \"The Winner Takes It all,\" \"Fernando,\" and \"The Day Before You Came\" are great. \"The Day Before You Came\" (CD2) is 5 minutes and 45 seconds of unique lyrics, and interesting to try and interpret. I guess that one song is worth the price of CD2.\n\nThe \"radio play\" songs feature excellent drums and the bass player is good 'n' funky with great stuff.\n\nMy CD has the 4 signatures in gold on the back cover and I notice the signatures are engraved in the paper as if someone had actually signed them rather than just printed. Could that be?","Product: A Grab Bag of Tracks from the Former Stealer's Wheel Man's Solo Career, Including his Two Biggest Hits \"Baker Street\" and \"Right Down the Line\". 16 Tracks in all from his Many Solo Albums.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Baker Street is excellent.\n\nReview: My comments regard only the song \"Baker Street.\"\n\nOf course I love Baker Street. There is a lot going on in that track, sophisticated and excellent. Comparing it with the (obscenely bad) Foo Fighters cover shows both the weaknesses of the Fighters' arrangement as well as the talent, polish, intelligence, and diligence of Rafferty's producer.\n\nI personally don't like solo sax much and so it doesn't touch me as much as it seems to touch others, but even so I can see that the sax intro and other sax parts are electrifying. I respect this production choice because for so many people the sax is the only part of the song they identify and according to some reviews the sax bought most of that copious radio air-time in 1978. On the other hand, it's a shame to see this overstated sound overshadow the rest of the beautiful song in peoples' minds.\n\nThe swooping guitars are awesome and yet subtle and fill a crucial spot in the intro melody. The guitar solo is masterful. Much of the time in the solo is taken up with only a few sustained and repeated notes and the bulk of the solo is made up of bends, trills, swoops, dives, and inventive tremelos. Each note of the minimal note count speaks out to us in important ways. It reminds me of lyrics that say volumes with only a few words. It's one of my all time favorite guitar solos.\n\nThe two featured analog synthesizer sounds are way cool. The synth during the verse sounds like falling leaves or water. The bass synth sound that counterpoints the vocal during the chorous, again, is inventive: an interesting, unusual sound, delightful instrumental melodic counterpoint to the vocal, a melodic sound in this region of the bass territory is also unusual in pop. You usually have the bass drum and the bass guitar in the bass region and that's about it. This synth sound and melody is something like a `cello line, lending an orchestral feel while still using pop instruments.\n\nThe lyrics to Baker Street are good, but I wouldn't say great. They give an overall impression of loneliness, futility and yearning for something better in the future. What's there is good but it's not great because the song does not tell a complete story. The \"City to City\" album from which this song is taken is a concept album and every lyric addresses these issues of loneliness and itinerant living on the road. Considering the entire album's lyrics as a whole pushes them up a notch as ambitious, intelligent, very good, and maybe you could consider the whole as a complete story. They fall short of something blisteringly great like \"Eleanor Rigby\" (The Beatles) or \"She Always a Woman\" or \"AllenTown\" (Billy Joel).\n\nRegarding the Foo Fighters' cover version: The Foo Fighters skip the swooping guitars during the intro melody and you can hear it as dead space, causing a drop in intensity there resulting in an undesirable volume pumping effect. The Fighters copy the guitar solo note for note, what's the point? We've heard that already, and much better, so why bother? Granted I'm not that familiar with post 1989 Pearl Jam clone musical styles so I might be missing something, but to me the Fighters' guitar version of the sax intro melody is just plain wrong. The rhythm is wrong and corny, the accents are in the wrong place, and the guitar sound is so anemic when compared to the sax. Why would a band of the Fighters' stature cover a song anyway? The whole thing is just wrong.","Product: A Grab Bag of Tracks from the Former Stealer's Wheel Man's Solo Career, Including his Two Biggest Hits \"Baker Street\" and \"Right Down the Line\". 16 Tracks in all from his Many Solo Albums.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Sophisticated, inventive, ambitious, intelligent. Classic.\n\nReview: I like the entire City to City album. I think every single song on it is good, not a bad one in the bunch.\n\nOf course I love Baker Street. There is a lot going on in that track, sophisticated and excellent. Comparing it with the (obscenely bad) Foo Fighters cover shows both the weaknesses of the Fighters' arrangement as well as the talent, polish, intelligence, and diligence of Rafferty's producer.\n\nI personally don't like solo sax much and so it doesn't touch me as much as it seems to touch others, but even so I can see that the sax intro and other sax parts are electrifying. I respect this production choice because for so many people the sax is the only part of the song they identify and according to some reviews the sax bought most of that copious radio air-time in 1978. On the other hand, it's a shame to see this overstated sound overshadow the rest of the beautiful song in peoples' minds.\n\nThe swooping guitars are awesome and yet subtle and fill a crucial spot in the intro melody. The guitar solo is masterful. Much of the time in the solo is taken up with only a few sustained and repeated notes and the bulk of the solo is made up of bends, trills, swoops, dives, and inventive tremelos. Each note of the minimal note count speaks out to us in important ways. It reminds me of lyrics that say volumes with only a few words. It's one of my all time favorite guitar solos.\n\nThe two featured analog synthesizer sounds are way cool. The synth during the verse sounds like falling leaves or water. The bass synth sound that counterpoints the vocal during the chorous, again, is inventive: an interesting, unusual sound, delightful instrumental melodic counterpoint to the vocal, a melodic sound in this region of the bass territory is also unusual in pop. You usually have the bass drum and the bass guitar in the bass region and that's about it. This synth sound and melody is something like a `cello line, lending an orchestral feel while still using pop instruments.\n\nThe lyrics to Baker Street are good, but I wouldn't say great. They give an overall impression of loneliness, futility and yearning for something better in the future. What's there is good but it's not great because the song does not tell a complete story. This is a concept album and every lyric addresses these issues of loneliness and itinerant living on the road. Considering the entire album's lyrics as a whole pushes them up a notch as ambitious, intelligent, very good, and maybe you could consider the whole as a complete story. They fall short of something blisteringly great like \"Eleanor Rigby\" (The Beatles) or \"She Always a Woman\" or \"AllenTown\" (Billy Joel).\n\nRegarding the Foo Fighters' cover version: The Foo Fighters skip the swooping guitars during the intro melody and you can hear it as dead space, causing a drop in intensity there resulting in an undesirable volume pumping effect. The Fighters copy the guitar solo note for note, what's the point? We've heard that already, and much better, so why bother? Granted I'm not that familiar with post 1989 Pearl Jam clone musical styles so I might be missing something, but to me the Fighters' guitar version of the sax intro melody is just plain wrong. The rhythm is wrong and corny, the accents are in the wrong place, and the guitar sound is so anemic when compared to the sax. Why would a band of the Fighters' stature cover a song anyway? The whole thing is just wrong.","Product: The Third Single to Be Taken from their Debut Album \"Get Born\".\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Weak lyrics but thick mood make for a total Beatles experience\n\nReview: I'm here because this song sounds like the Beatles. That got the attention of my 40+ year old ears.\n\nI read the lyrics on the web and they're weak. The first line about the picture won't sing for you is clever, after that there's hardly any other content. There are only six lines in the entire lyric...that's lightweight even by Paul McCartney standards. Even the popularly lampooned \"Someone's knocking at the door\" has more lyrics than that. The lines other than the first lines and the chorus line don't make a lot of sense, in other words, they're cryptic. We have no idea how she made a fool of everyone, or why, or who \"everyone\" is. If all that's left has gone away, then it isn't left anymore, is it? Conversely, if it's left, then it hasn't gone away, so that line is non-sense. The singer lectures his ex-lover that making a fool of everyone is fun until she loses what she had won, but something tells me that she doesn't care that she lost it, actually she didn't lose it but rather threw it in the trash because it wasn't valuable to her, so that line is also non-sensical. The 2nd verse is more of the same quasi-profound sounding non-sense. Unlike Lennon and Lewis Carroll, however, these non-sensical verses do not add up to profound word imagery, so they're just useless drivel. The lyric also doesn't tell any complete intelligible story, there are no vibrant characters, and other than the \"sing\" there's no clever wordplay.\n\nSo the lyric is vapid, except for one clever line and an overall sense of loss and the \"fool of everyone\" sound bite, which will be the only thing most people will remember.\n\nHowever, the mood and sound of the song are great. It's so strange that the moody, swirling, heady sound that the Beatles invented and made popular appears to be universally useful. Something about that sound is appealing and triggers a strong emotional response in people. I take that as confirmation of the Beatles and George Martin's genius, that they invented that, found that, perfected that, and gave it to the world.\n\nThe fact that Jet can get so much attention with a copy of that sound only further validates the hard work and results of the Beatles. It does not, however, say much about the talent of Jet, other than that they are savvy enough to recognize the value of that sound and use it to their advantage. That isn't saying much: who doesn't recognize the value of the Beatles?\n\nFor those reviewers here that focus on the similarity between this song and John Lennon's sound, it's not just a copy of Lennon's style. The drum part is also a carbon-copy of Ringo's Beatles drumming style and sound. Did Lennon ever release vapid lyrics? If not, that would make the lyrics a copy of McCartney's style. So the entire product is a Beatles sound-alike. Now all we need is a soaring, melodic guitar solo and/or tasty lead guitar fills during pauses in the lyric, and we've got the entire package. Oh, it has that? hahahahahaha.....\n\nOverall I'll give the song a B, the Beatles an A+++++++, the lyrics a D, Jet's producer an A, and Jet's talent level a question mark, (based only on this song). See? Forty+ year olds *can* recognize great new music. It just has to sound like the Beatles. Hahahahahahahaha.","Product: In box. New never been opened.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Deluxe toy has most features of the TV show game\n\nReview: This is a passable version of the \"Wheel of Fortune\" game. It plays 3 rounds plus a bonus round. If you don't get bored with it by the time you play all its puzzles, you can buy expansion cartridges. It has people, places, and things. It's a deluxe hand-held toy, large size with a full QWERTY keyboard, 6 dedicated buttons (a welcome convenience over devices that try to keep the button count low), a large screen that cleverly tries to simulate color graphics, and an exciting sticker that adds needed color. It has a few digitized sound effects (gong, buzzer, and spinning wheel). It also includes most of the rule-set from the TV show (bonus round, buy a vowel, bankrupt, free spin, WHEEL selection of mystery prize, and spotting you the RESLT letter in the bonus round). It can play 1, 2 or 3 players and has a computer opponent. You can mute the sound and it keeps track of the highest amount of money won so far for those family bragging rights. All told, that's a pretty nice game. It works fine and it's fun.\n\nHowever, cost saving measures detract from this toy and leave me unsatisfied. As soon as you power on the game you are greeted with a cheap-o rendition of the theme music by a monophonic sound chip that is really lame, and I just hate that. It's great that the game includes digitized sounds, but only three? The screen is not color and while it is clever with the use of color backgrounds, it's still a basic black and white screen with limited graphics. Also the screen is not very legible, especially for those looking on at an angle. It does not display what letters have been tried and found missing from the puzzle, so you have to try and remember that. If that's the way the TV show works, then that's good but if the TV show shows you what letters have been tried, then it's annoying that this game does not.","Product: It s the ultimate chess - opponent and teacher. You ll swear it has a brain as it smoothly maneuvers pieces across the board, steers taken pieces off to the side, and talks while playing - in English, French or Spanish| Offers 2 play modes - play the computer or watch it play itself . Set to 'learning' level, and get coached with verbal cues and explanations, or choose 'tournament' level with dual clock display and skill rating. Includes game memory, LCD contrast control, auto shut-off, and chess piece storage.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Seriously buy this now. A fantastic set and awesome gizmo.\n\nReview: This is a fantastic chess set. It's the closest computer based system you can get to playing chess naturally. Because you simply move your pieces, and the computer moves its own, it's really just like playing a game of chess with another person. Compared to the usual cumbersome system of punching your moves in with a keypad, and then reading a screen and moving the piece for the computer, this allows you to concentrate on the game with your usual focus.\n\nSome reviewers may make an issue of the speed of the transport. In normal game play I don't find the speed annoying at all. There is a slight delay while the transport moves to the desired piece and then moves it. The speed is a problem, however, when the game has to do a reset of any sort, like put all the pieces in place for a new game or clear the board for piece practice. No problem, I just set the pieces up myself at the start of the game. Wherever the Phantom Force does not allow you to bypass these automatic resets and just do it manually instead the slowness will be a problem. I'm not sure how good it is at allowing you to manually reset when you want to play special practice modes but in normal game play there's no problem. Having the Phantom Force reset the board is fun for showing people how cool it is. Other than that it's too slow and manually resetting the board is needed.\n\nSome reviewers also make an issue of the noise. Yes, it's slightly noisy, but I've not had any family members complain. It sounds like a dremel grinding tool on low speed. I don't find it annoying.\n\nOn the good side....this game is simply waaaaaay cool. There's no other way to get an authentic playing experience. To move, you simply press down the piece you want to move, move the piece to the desired position, and then press down there. The touch sensitive playing surface registers the move with the computer and then \"Chessica\" (love that) makes her move. You can't get any easier than that. Various games have been made in the past that move the pieces. Some of these have featured an above board robotic arm. They've always been expensive and delicate/trouble prone, so they go out of production and the companies go bankrupt. This game is a recent entry into the market and until now an automatic chess game of this type has been unavailable for many years. Go for it!\n\nThe game has many features, including adjustable skill level, practice mode (love it), hints, allow the computer to move for you, force the computer to move before it's finished thinking, talking, battle sound effects, and allow the computer to play both sides. I like the talking and battle sound effects, but they can be muted. The talking uses the same phonetic program used by computers since the IMSAI 8080 days (this talking was featured in the 1983 movie \"Wargames\"). The program existed in the Commodore 64 and was further made famous in the Commodore Amiga. It's incredible that a piece of software would exist that long. The battle sounds are fun. You get sword clashing, grunting when stabbed, thud when hitting the ground dead, drum cadence when royalty is marching, horse hooves galloping, and more.\n\nIf you're worried about reliability...get real. This is a delicate machine. It won't work forever and it won't tolerate any abuse. It's a miracle that they are able to produce a robot at this price point, so don't expect Rolls Royce style robustness. If it works for several years you got your money's worth.\n\nIn short, this is a fantastic piece of whiz-bang technology that really allows you to practice your chess game and play naturally. It's a good price, so if it appeals to you just buy it.\n\nNote: I gladly paid $200 for my game and would gladly do so again. Since this one is available for half that price it represents an absolute steal.","Product: It s the ultimate chess - opponent and teacher. You ll swear it has a brain as it smoothly maneuvers pieces across the board, steers taken pieces off to the side, and talks while playing - in English, French or Spanish| Offers 2 play modes - play the computer or watch it play itself . Set to 'learning' level, and get coached with verbal cues and explanations, or choose 'tournament' level with dual clock display and skill rating. Includes game memory, LCD contrast control, auto shut-off, and chess piece storage.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Seriously buy this now. A fantastic set and awesome gizmo.\n\nReview: This is a fantastic chess set. It's the closest computer based system you can get to playing chess naturally. Because you simply move your pieces, and the computer moves its own, it's really just like playing a game of chess with another person. Compared to the usual cumbersome system of punching your moves in with a keypad, and then reading a screen and moving the piece for the computer, this allows you to concentrate on the game with your usual focus.\n\nSome reviewers may make an issue of the speed of the transport. In normal game play I don't find the speed annoying at all. There is a slight delay while the transport moves to the desired piece and then moves it. The speed is a problem, however, when the game has to do a reset of any sort, like put all the pieces in place for a new game or clear the board for piece practice. No problem, I just set the pieces up myself at the start of the game. Wherever the Phantom Force does not allow you to bypass these automatic resets and just do it manually instead the slowness will be a problem. I'm not sure how good it is at allowing you to manually reset when you want to play special practice modes but in normal game play there's no problem. Having the Phantom Force reset the board is fun for showing people how cool it is. Other than that it's too slow and manually resetting the board is needed.\n\nSome reviewers also make an issue of the noise. Yes, it's slightly noisy, but I've not had any family members complain. It sounds like a dremel grinding tool on low speed. I don't find it annoying.\n\nOn the good side....this game is simply waaaaaay cool. There's no other way to get an authentic playing experience. To move, you simply press down the piece you want to move, move the piece to the desired position, and then press down there. The touch sensitive playing surface registers the move with the computer and then \"Chessica\" (love that) makes her move. You can't get any easier than that. Various games have been made in the past that move the pieces. Some of these have featured an above board robotic arm. They've always been expensive and delicate/trouble prone, so they go out of production and the companies go bankrupt. This game is a recent entry into the market and until now an automatic chess game of this type has been unavailable for many years. Go for it!\n\nThe game has many features, including adjustable skill level, practice mode (love it), hints, allow the computer to move for you, force the computer to move before it's finished thinking, talking, battle sound effects, and allow the computer to play both sides. I like the talking and battle sound effects, but they can be muted. The talking uses the same phonetic program used by computers since the IMSAI 8080 days (this talking was featured in the 1983 movie \"Wargames\"). The program existed in the Commodore 64 and was further made famous in the Commodore Amiga. It's incredible that a piece of software would exist that long. The battle sounds are fun. You get sword clashing, grunting when stabbed, thud when hitting the ground dead, drum cadence when royalty is marching, horse hooves galloping, and more.\n\nIf you're worried about reliability...get real. This is a delicate machine. It won't work forever and it won't tolerate any abuse. It's a miracle that they are able to produce a robot at this price point, so don't expect Rolls Royce style robustness. If it works for several years you got your money's worth.\n\nIn short, this is a fantastic piece of whiz-bang technology that really allows you to practice your chess game and play naturally. It's a good price, so if it appeals to you just buy it.\n\nNote: I gladly paid $200 for my game and would gladly do so again. Since this one is available for half that price it represents an absolute steal.","Product: Its your turn to pilot the Star Trek U.S.S Enterprise! This RC drone lets you explore space with smooth and stable flight in the iconic Star Trek spacecraft. The Air Hogs Star Trek U.S.S Enterprise NCC-1701-A RC celebrates the 50th Anniversary with authentic styling, real lights and sounds, warp speed capabilities, and a 50th Anniversary collectors display stand. The remote control with 2.4Ghz communication puts you in the Captains chair with long-range, high-performance handling. Boldly go where no one has gone before with the Air Hogs Star Trek U.S.S Enterprise NCC-1701-A RC.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: If you want it, get it. Drop dead gorgeous and respectable toy drone that flies similar to other toy drones\n\nReview: Captain's log: Star Date 170319, Captain Emeritus Larr Ree Brown reporting. Science Officer Spock reports that Star Fleet cadets have a new Federation Starship simulator available to hone their piloting skills. Dr. McCoy recommends that if a cadet has any interest in Starships whatsoever they should get said simulator without equivocation or overthinking it, and he highly recommends it for it's stress relieving and mirth inspiring abilities. Commander Chekov did a few hours during shore leave last month at Starbase 10 and although his Beatle haircut appeared perturbed at the mention that imprecise handling of the simulator caused him to fail to \"shoot the moon\" during the Kobyashi Maru exercise, his face was \"beaming\" a wide grin at the stunning beauty of the Starship body work. Chekov mentioned that better handling simulators are available for several times the price at a dedicated \"hobby simulator\" store, but as far as he knows the Air Hogs simulator is the only flying Enterprise drone available, which makes it a \"no-brainer\" purchase to any interested cadet, or professional pilot for that matter.\n\nIt's a respectable effort. The looks are 100%, it looks great, just like Mudd's women. Not as good as the excellent photography of it that is shown on the Air Hogs box, creative photography can make the genuine article look better on the box even when showing the actual item, in the same way that Mudd's women can look better with the help of a little cosmetically enhancing medication. First engineering officer Montgomery Scott points out that even the real U.S.S. Enterprise can be made to look better with the aid of some good lighting and a TV screen, so take that as a point of realism.\n\nThe simulator proved challenging for Sulu to fly. He said that it flies similar to other inexpensive simulators that he's tried, which is to say it flies, but not like rock steady like the real Enterprise. He had to keep his hands on the controls at all times making adjustments, it always drifted, was not able to \"no hands\" hover, and would not trim out perfectly. When given a chance at the controls, Communications officer Uhura needed need plenty of room and practice to be able to keep it where she wanted, which was \"right here, Sugah.\"\n\nScotty said that scheduled refuelings were every 5 minutes, the same as most any other inexpensive simulator but a little more reasonable for this one because this is not a feather weight, it's a pretty big Starship.\n\nFinally Miranda Jones used her gassomer sensor web to scan the included stand and commented that it seememd similar to the stands supplied with other model Enterprises, space age and sleek and a worthy display. Everyone on the bridge agreed and we started towards our next mission laughing and slapping each other on the back.\n\nSo my official report is that all interested parties should buy time on the simulator and they will probably enjoy it, as long as they don't expect it to perform 30 minutes between refuelings or as well as simulators costing several times the price.\n\nCaptain Emeritus Larr Ree Brown out."],"string":"[\n \"Product: Brilliant stereo recording in your pocket.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Semi-pro recorder for a low price, but fatal flaw does not include divide track.\\n\\nReview: This is a fancy recorder that differs from the typical inexpensive voice recorder in that it is targeted at musicians and other power users that need higher fidelity, but it does not cost much more than other units. I will leave it to you to review the many advanced features that this unit offers and decide if those features are useful to you. However, the recorder does suffer from some disadvantages.\\n\\nThe main shortcoming is that it does not provide a \\\"track divide\\\" function. This is unbelievable and unacceptable. A \\\"track divide\\\" function is a necessity, and a no brainer on any unit. Sony's unit that lists for about half the price of this does offer this function. Olympus recorders almost never provide a track divide function and that's inexcusable, but especially for a relatively expensive semi-pro unit like this. When recording in the field, you will almost always get a lot of unusable noise. Noise at the start and end of tracks and often you have to record an hour in order to get just a few seconds of what you need. With a \\\"track divide,\\\" you can review the track and divide off those useless portions and delete them. Without that function, you have to wait until you get back to the computer and then use complicated sound editing software to edit the tracks. You also have to waste time transferring garbage to the computer, and you also waste a lot of your finite memory card carrying around garbage. This can be a real problem if you do a lot of recording and can't get back to the computer. Also being able to divide the tracks on the unit increases the usefulness of the unit, other recorders that include the function are more useful than ones that do not. Like the Olympus units, Zoom partially compensates for the lack of a divide function by providing a \\\"track mark\\\" function. That may be a borderline useful feature in addition to track divide, but as a substitute for track divide it's silly and useless.\\n\\nIn spite of the prose aimed at musicians here on the Amazon page, this unit does not include variable speed playback nor A/B repeat. Sony's units do include those functions. While reasonably small, this unit is bigger and more attention grabbing than other inconspicuous voice recorders. That may be a problem in some situations (like recording children that tend to grab this wacky looking gizmo).\\n\\nConsider the Sony ICD-PX820 and ICD-UX200 units, which offer most of the functionality of this unit as well as the additional features mentioned above at a lower price point, and they are smaller and less conspicuous. Also consider the Sony ICD-SX750 at price point similar to the Zoom for semi-pro use.\",\n \"Product: The Peterson V-SAM presents a combination of programmable Virtual Strobe tuner, audio tone generator, and metronome in a hand-held format. It marries the revolutionary Virtual Strobe Technology, first introduced in the VS-1 tuner, with a new, brighter, high-contrast display. The high-output tone generator within the V-SAM offers 10 octaves of audible tones, which conform to a selected preset or custom temperament and are adjustable in 0.1 cent increments. This permits ear-training possibilities previously unavailable in a hand-held device.Versatile Metronome The V-SAM's audio/visual metronome allows tap or dial-in tempo, adjustable beats per measure, beat subdivisions, and a stopwatch function.Built to be Better The V-SAM's \\\"tuner mode\\\" expands upon the Peterson VS-1 with an even wider variety of alternate temperaments and the ability to select temperament tonal roots. In addition, the user can create and store custom temperaments and use them with the same flexibility as preset ones. The V-SAM automatically detects a note being played in real-time and is accurate to 1/1000th of a semitone. It can transpose displayed notes based on any of 12 scale notes.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Too big, too expensive, too valuable, cheapo tuner is better.\\n\\nReview: If you need a guitar tuner, this is not it. It's simply way too big to tote along. Also, at this price, you have to be really careful that it doesn't get dropped, lost, or stolen, and that further reduces its usefulness. On top of all that, why would you even consider paying this kind of money when you can get a perfectly good pocket tuner for $15?\\n\\nThis tuner features various advanced functions like temperaments, a tone generator, and alternate tuning schemes. If you really need those, and will use them, then this device might make sense. I've used it successfully to tune pianos, with some difficulty, but notice that even Peterson does not recommend it for pianos.\\n\\nJust like other tuners, this tuner often has trouble locking on to the tone. Overtones can confuse it. During my piano sessions, I had a lot of trouble with it not locking on. Also when using it on my guitar, even in a quiet room, the tuner wanders all over the place, locking on to various random overtones and the tuning indicator going sharp, then flat, then sharp again, obviously impossible. I expected a lot better.\\n\\nMy main objection is its size, and after that its cost.\\n\\nBesides that, don't buy into all of Peterson's hype, much of which is just hyperbole.\\n\\nSTROBE DISPLAY: This is simply a gimmick that 1: tries to leverage the strobe tuner reputation and 2: tries to push the strobe display into popular use as a way of increasing awareness of Peterson's expensive strobe machines. A conventional scale type of readout is far superior to this strobe gimmick.\\n\\nSPEED OF DISPLAY: They make a big deal that the display is instantaneous and doesn't give an average reading. That's just hype. Other tuners work fine.\\n\\nINCREASED ACCURACY: Just accepting their numbers as true, it's still just hype. I didn't notice any \\\"dramatic difference\\\" or \\\"sounds like a whole new guitar\\\" or anything else like that from any increased accuracy. You have to wonder how precise the guitar tuners can be in the first place. A $15 tuner works fine, it gets it perfect, this expensive device doesn't get it any better.\\n\\nBUZZ FEITON: Same comments as above. It may make some subtle improvement, but get real. Pros have been playing for 100s of years without this system and have always sounded great. It's just more hype.\\n\\nLater addition: To my astonishment, Peterson has now made a tuner software application for the iPhone and iPod Touch. The cost is only $10. The iPod Touch has no microphone so Peterson will sell you a microphone for an additional $13.00. The app features the same strobe display as on this unit and also features the same .1 cent precision. That Peterson would sell a $10 app that would replace their $200 tuner seems incredible. It also shows how trivial the size of hardware must be, since look at all the iPhone does as well as tune. Strip out all of those extra functions and you must have left a quartz crystal the size of a few atoms and a slice of silicon about the size of a pinhead. Plus look at the giant gorgeous color display on the iPhone and they still sell it to you for <$300 and you see that this Peterson machine is a joke. Far better to buy an iPod Touch and the software app. That *will* fit in your guitar case!\",\n \"Product: The 18-8 stainless steel socket cap screw has a plain finish and a button head with an internal hex drive. The 18-8 stainless steel material provides strength and offers good corrosion resistance in many environments. The material may be slightly magnetic. The button head is round with a low profile and short vertical sides, and is suitable for light duty applications. The internal hex drive, also known as a hex-socket drive, has a hexagonal slot that requires an Allen key driver, also known as a hex key or Allen wrench. Socket cap screws are threaded fasteners that have a cap head with an internal socket drive for installing in areas with limited side clearance. These screws are available with a variety of head shapes, which determine how the screw interacts with the mating surface, and drive styles, which determine the type of tool required to install the screw.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Allen wrench is the only way to go. Conscientious seller.\\n\\nReview: THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!\\nThese wonderful Allen head screws are difficult/impossible to find locally.\\nLooking at the big box stores or neighborhood hardware stores is just a giant waste of time.\\nCome here and get exactly what you need in any length, a box at a time, with no hassle.\\nThe only catch is that you need to know exactly what you need, no easy challenge.\\nBut if you can determine that, then you can get it here and it's wooooonderful.\\n\\nComparing Allen head screws with Phillips head screws is like comparing a banana with granite. Phillips = impossible to use in tight quarters like behind a doorknob, requires force to engage the screwdriver, guaranteed to strip when you want to remove it, and you can't tighten it down tight because the bit will slip. Allen=won't strip, wrench gets positive engagement with no pressure required at all, you can tighten it down as tight as you want, will remove easily 20 years from now, and wrench can fit on it with less than an inch clearance, try that with your stubby Phillips, hahahaha.\",\n \"Product: The ScumBuster tub and tile scrubber tackles not only the most dreaded of all tasks - cleaning the bathroom - but now busts the dirt and grime everywhere in your house, yard or garage. The hand-held ScumBuster effortlessly cleans all types of surfaces, including spots on carpets, outdoor furniture, barbecues, car bumpers and grills, tires hubcaps, bathtubs, pool surfaces, tiled walls and hundreds of other surfaces with a variety of scrubbing pads and brushes. The ScumBuster can be safely submersed in water buckets, sinks or tubs.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: It works fine. Possibly useful in limited situations.\\n\\nReview: Overall, I don't think it's worth the space it takes up, but it does work.\\n\\nPower: good. The power is fine and I was able to exert enough pressure with no problem to feel like I was doing something.\\n\\nBattery Life: Excellent. I was favorably impressed with the battery life, it lasted much longer than I expected. However, with any cordless appliance you need two batteries so that you can charge one while you are using the other. Also, rechargeable batteries work best in appliances that are in daily use, like a cordless phone or a drill you use daily in your construction job. Otherwise you never have a charged battery when you need it and keeping them always on the charger shortens their life.\\n\\nSpeed of rotation: slow. It turns too slowly to clean quickly. However, I can see if it turned faster it might sling soap around the room, it might be dangerous, and it might be hard to control.\\n\\nCleaning carpet: Lousy. The circular motion scrubs only one way, not in all directions like I like. I went back to a manual scrubber. Manual is just as fast, better, and only a little more effort.\\n\\nCleaning the bathtub: Lousy. The tiny little pad and slow rotation combine to make the tool too slow. I went back to a manual scrubber and do it faster and much better, albeit with more effort.\\n\\nCleaning tile grout: Possibly useful. Since grout is soo difficult to scrub, and a toothbrush seems to be the tool of choice, a power tool like this would be a revolution (hahaha). My set came with a cone shaped bristle brush and if you hold the brush sideways to the wall the bristles are able to get into the grout groove. That makes it possibly useful but my scrubbing session did not yield success. I think that may be because grout mildew, like calcium, is impervious to scrubbing. The chemical action of the chlorine bleach in Tilex is the only thing that works.\\n\\nCleaning the shower tile: too slow. Same problem as with the tub. Hint: To get shower tile truly clean, try this. First, scrape each and every tile with a razor blade until it feels smooth and you aren't scraping off any more calcium. Then scrub each tile carefully with Ajax or Zud Heavy Duty. The Scumbuster could help in this task. For the final step, go over the tile carefully with Meguiar's Gold Class car wax. This stuff is amazing and the only product that I have found to really clean off that incredibly stubborn calcium, and I have tried them all. Also it smells great. Buff to a shine and your tile will look just like the pictures on the bottles of all those products that are supposed to clean tile but don't. This procedure takes me about 4 hours per shower stall. The scumbuster is not up to this job because it's too tiny. It would take something bigger like a car polisher that you can plug in.\\n\\nCleaning the tile at the water line of the pool: Good. The small area of tile, having to work in the water, having some of the tile under water, and the length of the tile to be cleaned make the Scumbuster useful for this task.\\n\\nCleaning the calcium off the sink faucet: lousy. First off, the Scumbuster pad can not fit in the narrow spaces required. Second off, the calcium can not be removed by scrubbing. Again, scraping with a razor blade is required. Simply scrape the calcium off, then follow with the Megauir's wax mentioned and you will get a better than brand new sparkle. Remove the faucet handles so that you can get all of the calcium. Keep a washcloth on the towel rack handy and wipe down the faucet after each use (5 seconds) to keep it sparkling like new.\\n\\nScrubbing the sink: Acceptable. The small area to be cleaned allow the Scumbuster's speed to be acceptable here. However, I still went back to manual.\\n\\nUPDATE: This review (minus a few recent edits) was originally written in 2003. Since then my Scumbuster has been sitting unused under the sink. Recently I was doing a reorg and I dug it out and determined to either use it or trash it. I never expected the battery to hold a charge after that time. To my great surprise, the battery charged overnight and the Scumbuster worked fine! I reiterate my original opinion...this thing has a good battery.\\n\\nUpdate (Mar 2016); All that said, I trashed it. However now I am going to try a new one. Search Amazon on \\\"Quickie toilet\\\" to find a similar scrubber they offer that has a long handle. I now live in a mansion that has a spa style shower with a ceramic tile ceiling! One scrubbing of *that* by hand shows me that I need to always use power tools whenever possible!\",\n \"Product: Keep the good times rolling and the hot dogs for that matter. ook eight regular-sized or four foot-long hot dogs at a time. The stainless steel rollers continuously rotate to evenly cook hot dogs, while the adjustable heat settings makes cooking hot dogs simple and quick. The stylish canopy doubles as a bun warmer, holding up to 6 buns at a time. Take snack or meal time to the next level.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Super cute but is it worth the space?\\n\\nReview: This hot dog maker is obviously waay cute. It's also a good price. Compared to other cutesy hot dog makers, 8 dogs is a good number. I love the carnival themed umbrella sneeze guard over the dogs, and having that double as a bun warmer was an inspired idea. The poles that hold up the umbrella are nice and sturdy, and it assembles in only 1 minute. This thing has many bonus features:\\n\\n*Rollers look just like the industrial unit at your local convenience store. They really roll!\\n*It can also handle 4 foot long dogs and even foot long buns! That's really great because my wife loves those. However, 4 is an anemic number.\\n*Nostalgia went to the extra expense to include an on/off switch and even a temp control. Temp control should prove useful vs. devices that do not include that.\\n*This unit includes a griddle attachment for hamburgers/bacon/sausage, etc. I think the unit is too small to be useful for frying hamburgers; you could only do two at a time. The griddle drops in where the rollers would otherwise go, so switching functions is not going to be convenient and will require tools or heat proof gloves if you don't want to wait for a cool-down period.\\n*The heating element is a beefy rectangular coil that gives good coverage of the cooking area and is directly exposed to the dogs, yielding fast, strong heat.\\n*The drip tray, griddle, and rollers are all removable for easy cleanup. Love that.\\n*The rollers are beefy all metal construction - nice.\\n\\nSo that adds up to one very nice unit, of which Nostalgia should be proud. The only real shortcoming I see is that eight dogs, while a good number for a toy device like this, can't stand up to much crowd control. Figure at least two dogs for each child, and three for each man and you're feeding only three to four people per batch. Assume the thing is lightning fast at ten minutes per batch and you see that you're going to need ten of these toys to feed your super bowl party, hahahaha.\\n\\nThen you have to ask yourself, is this gizmo worth the space? It's pretty big, about the size of a toaster oven. Will you keep it out on the counter and use this special purpose device often (doubtful)? How far back in the closet will it be stored and will you go to the trouble to drag it out to cook up dogs for three people, pack it back up, and re-store it (doubtful)? So is it worth the space? I think it's probably best suited for its intended audience: a party of four kiddos.\",\n \"Product: Embark upon a fantastic adventure to the empire of the Mayas. Go back in time 2,000 years and discover the mysterious temples and fabulous treasures of this once powerful and enigmatic culture! Play adventure mode and try to solve the mystical puzzle surrounding the ancient temple of Tikal or simply select your favorite Mahjongg boards on over 300 layouts. Experience classical Mahjongg or try one of the 11 unbelievable game variations. You will love the detailed graphics, the fantastic animations and the atmospheric music!\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Fantastic game and great improvement over the usual plain vanilla game\\n\\nReview: Fantastic game and great improvement over the usual plain vanilla game\\nThis is an awesome game. It has great cartoon style graphics of the rainforest and Mayan pyramids, etc. It leads you on adventures past various famous actual Mayan sites like Tikl (Guatemala) and Copn (Honduras). It features various Mayan flavored tilesets and photographic backgrounds of rain-forest, beach, waterfall, pyramids, etc. It also features some fantastic rain-forest flavored music. I actually don't know what Mayan music should sound like, but this music sounds like African jungle music and I also noticed some Peruvian sounding pan-flutes. It's good music on an absolute scale and also contributes heavily to the rain-forest adventure atmosphere. It also features archeological sound effects like heavy stone tablets sliding open, monkeys, birds, and (presumably) Mayan natives grunting (sometimes in tune with the music).\\n\\nThe game is a big improvement over the usual Mahjongg game in several ways: The entire game is slickly produced and operates smoothly, more so than expected. The Mayan theme is used throughout: the cursor, help windows, tiles, backgrounds, music and sound effects, lettering, command buttons, every single thing that you see on the screen has a Mayan theme. The game opens up new features (like tilesets) as you progress through it. Most importantly, this version of Mahjongg elevates the usual simply one-dimensional game into an actual game with time awards, multiple levels, a storyline, surprise features, and special bonus tiles (for example a wildcard tile). In \\\"adventure\\\" mode, you work your way through a Mayan adventure by visiting Mayan sites (starting with El Gran Jaguar in Tikl) and solving a Mahjongg puzzle at each site. When you solve the puzzle, then you move on to the next Mayan site, possibly adding some game features along the way. I won't spoil the surprise of the bonus tiles. An additional delightful surprise is a comic book intro story in the vein of Indiana Jones.\",\n \"Product: The NEW AND IMPROVED ScumBuster tub and tile scrubber tackles not only the mosts deaded of all tasks - cleaning the bathroom - but busts the dirt and grime everywhere in your house, yard or garage. The cordless scrubber now has an on board cleaning system that allows you to pour any liquid based cleaner and then just SPRAY and GO! It effortlessly cleans all types of surfaces, including spots on tile, tubs, countertops, carpets, outdoor furniture, barbecues, car bumpers and grills, tires hubcaps, bathtubs, pool surfaces, tiled walls and hundreds of other surfaces with a variety of scrubbing pads and brushes. The ScumBuster can be safely submersed in water buckets, sinks or tubs.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: It works fine. Possibly useful in limited situations.\\n\\nReview: I have an older Scumbuster model but my comments mostly concern the usefulness of Scumbusters in general.\\n\\nOverall, I don't think it's worth the space it takes up, but it does work.\\n\\nPower: good. The power is fine and I was able to exert enough pressure with no problem to feel like I was doing something.\\n\\nBattery Life: Excellent. I was favorably impressed with the battery life, it lasted much longer than I expected. However, with any cordless appliance you need two batteries so that you can charge one while you are using the other. Also, rechargeable batteries work best in appliances that are in daily use, like a cordless phone or a drill you use daily in your construction job. Otherwise you never have a charged battery when you need it and keeping them always on the charger shortens their life.\\n\\nSpeed of rotation: slow. It turns too slowly to clean quickly. However, I can see if it turned faster it might sling soap around the room, it might be dangerous, and it might be hard to control.\\n\\nCleaning carpet: Lousy. The circular motion scrubs only one way, not in all directions like I like. I went back to a manual scrubber. Manual is just as fast, better, and only a little more effort.\\n\\nCleaning the bathtub: Lousy. The tiny little pad and slow rotation combine to make the tool too slow. I went back to a manual scrubber and do it faster and much better, albeit with more effort.\\n\\nCleaning tile grout: Possibly useful. Since grout is soo difficult to scrub, and a toothbrush seems to be the tool of choice, a power tool like this would be a revolution (hahaha). My set came with a cone shaped bristle brush and if you hold the brush sideways to the wall the bristles are able to get into the grout groove. That makes it possibly useful but my scrubbing session did not yield success. I think that may be because grout mildew, like calcium, is impervious to scrubbing. The chemical action of the chlorine bleach in Tilex is the only thing that works.\\n\\nCleaning the shower tile: too slow. Same problem as with the tub. Hint: To get shower tile truly clean, try this. First, scrape each and every tile with a razor blade until it feels smooth and you aren't scraping off any more calcium. Then scrub each tile carefully with Ajax or Zud Heavy Duty. The Scumbuster could help in this task. For the final step, go over the tile carefully with Meguiar's Gold Class car wax. This stuff is amazing and the only product that I have found to really clean off that incredibly stubborn calcium, and I have tried them all. Also it smells great. Buff to a shine and your tile will look just like the pictures on the bottles of all those products that are supposed to clean tile but don't. This procedure takes me about 4 hours per shower stall. The scumbuster is not up to this job because it's too tiny. It would take something bigger like a car polisher that you can plug in.\\n\\nCleaning the tile at the water line of the pool: Good. The small area of tile, having to work in the water, having some of the tile under water, and the length of the tile to be cleaned make the Scumbuster useful for this task.\\n\\nCleaning the calcium off the sink faucet: lousy. First off, the Scumbuster pad can not fit in the narrow spaces required. Second off, the calcium can not be removed by scrubbing. Again, scraping with a razor blade is required. Simply scrape the calcium off, then follow with the Megauir's wax mentioned and you will get a better than brand new sparkle. Remove the faucet handles so that you can get all of the calcium. Keep a washcloth on the towel rack handy and wipe down the faucet after each use (5 seconds) to keep it sparkling like new.\\n\\nScrubbing the sink: Acceptable. The small area to be cleaned allow the Scumbuster's speed to be acceptable here. However, I still went back to manual.\\n\\nUPDATE: This review (minus a few recent edits) was originally written in 2003. Since then my Scumbuster has been sitting unused under the sink. Recently I was doing a reorg and I dug it out and determined to either use it or trash it. I never expected the battery to hold a charge after that time. To my great surprise, the battery charged overnight and the Scumbuster worked fine! I reiterate my original opinion...this thing has a good battery.\",\n \"Product: The NEW AND IMPROVED ScumBuster tub and tile scrubber tackles not only the mosts deaded of all tasks - cleaning the bathroom - but busts the dirt and grime everywhere in your house, yard or garage. The cordless scrubber now has an on board cleaning system that allows you to pour any liquid based cleaner and then just SPRAY and GO! It effortlessly cleans all types of surfaces, including spots on tile, tubs, countertops, carpets, outdoor furniture, barbecues, car bumpers and grills, tires hubcaps, bathtubs, pool surfaces, tiled walls and hundreds of other surfaces with a variety of scrubbing pads and brushes. The ScumBuster can be safely submersed in water buckets, sinks or tubs.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: It works fine. Possibly useful in limited situations.\\n\\nReview: I have an older Scumbuster model but my comments mostly concern the usefulness of Scumbusters in general.\\n\\nOverall, I don't think it's worth the space it takes up, but it does work.\\n\\nPower: good. The power is fine and I was able to exert enough pressure with no problem to feel like I was doing something.\\n\\nBattery Life: Excellent. I was favorably impressed with the battery life, it lasted much longer than I expected. However, with any cordless appliance you need two batteries so that you can charge one while you are using the other. Also, rechargeable batteries work best in appliances that are in daily use, like a cordless phone or a drill you use daily in your construction job. Otherwise you never have a charged battery when you need it and keeping them always on the charger shortens their life.\\n\\nSpeed of rotation: slow. It turns too slowly to clean quickly. However, I can see if it turned faster it might sling soap around the room, it might be dangerous, and it might be hard to control.\\n\\nCleaning carpet: Lousy. The circular motion scrubs only one way, not in all directions like I like. I went back to a manual scrubber. Manual is just as fast, better, and only a little more effort.\\n\\nCleaning the bathtub: Lousy. The tiny little pad and slow rotation combine to make the tool too slow. I went back to a manual scrubber and do it faster and much better, albeit with more effort.\\n\\nCleaning tile grout: Possibly useful. Since grout is soo difficult to scrub, and a toothbrush seems to be the tool of choice, a power tool like this would be a revolution (hahaha). My set came with a cone shaped bristle brush and if you hold the brush sideways to the wall the bristles are able to get into the grout groove. That makes it possibly useful but my scrubbing session did not yield success. I think that may be because grout mildew, like calcium, is impervious to scrubbing. The chemical action of the chlorine bleach in Tilex is the only thing that works.\\n\\nCleaning the shower tile: too slow. Same problem as with the tub. Hint: To get shower tile truly clean, try this. First, scrape each and every tile with a razor blade until it feels smooth and you aren't scraping off any more calcium. Then scrub each tile carefully with Ajax or Zud Heavy Duty. The Scumbuster could help in this task. For the final step, go over the tile carefully with Meguiar's Gold Class car wax. This stuff is amazing and the only product that I have found to really clean off that incredibly stubborn calcium, and I have tried them all. Also it smells great. Buff to a shine and your tile will look just like the pictures on the bottles of all those products that are supposed to clean tile but don't. This procedure takes me about 4 hours per shower stall. The scumbuster is not up to this job because it's too tiny. It would take something bigger like a car polisher that you can plug in.\\n\\nCleaning the tile at the water line of the pool: Good. The small area of tile, having to work in the water, having some of the tile under water, and the length of the tile to be cleaned make the Scumbuster useful for this task.\\n\\nCleaning the calcium off the sink faucet: lousy. First off, the Scumbuster pad can not fit in the narrow spaces required. Second off, the calcium can not be removed by scrubbing. Again, scraping with a razor blade is required. Simply scrape the calcium off, then follow with the Megauir's wax mentioned and you will get a better than brand new sparkle. Remove the faucet handles so that you can get all of the calcium. Keep a washcloth on the towel rack handy and wipe down the faucet after each use (5 seconds) to keep it sparkling like new.\\n\\nScrubbing the sink: Acceptable. The small area to be cleaned allow the Scumbuster's speed to be acceptable here. However, I still went back to manual.\\n\\nUPDATE: This review (minus a few recent edits) was originally written in 2003. Since then my Scumbuster has been sitting unused under the sink. Recently I was doing a reorg and I dug it out and determined to either use it or trash it. I never expected the battery to hold a charge after that time. To my great surprise, the battery charged overnight and the Scumbuster worked fine! I reiterate my original opinion...this thing has a good battery.\",\n \"Product: Nespresso has developed a unique extraction system specially adapted to capsules. It controls every vital setting when preparing a perfect espresso. Nespresso machines have been designed with renowned partners and designers, and bring out the taste and aromas of coffee by combining quality of design with ease of use. The Nespresso Concept Automatic D290 Machine is part of our Concept Line, which features a modern, and practical design. The machine deploys technology essential for preparing an outstanding Espresso, and is exceptionally easy to use: Automatic control of the amount of coffee in the cup. A high pressure pump (19 bars) extracts all the aromas and develops a smooth crema in the cup. A thermobloc which heats water to 187and 196 during extraction and empties the remaining water after each use so that the water is fresh for each preparation. A simple system which perforates the capsule and soaks all the ground coffee to optimally filter the coffee. A functional Jaw system, which allows for easy coffee preparation. Automatic ejection of used capsule. Removable water container (34-ounce). Tray for used capsules. Back-lit control button\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Great machine and system, but mediocre capsules\\n\\nReview: I have had three Nespresso machines for a long time now and use them a lot. My comments concern the Nespresso system rather than any particular machine.\\n\\nThe idea of the capsules rather than using coffee beans requires some trade offs, but has lots of huge advantages. The capsules are super convenient, fast, clean and neat, attractive, and allow you to easily serve a variety of coffee blends (decaf, Latin American, African, pure Arabica, etc, which is fun). A big advantage is that they stay fresh for months at a time, so you can always have them on hand when you need them.\\n\\nComparing the Nespresso system with the conventional system shows the value of convenience. Conventional machine: you have to have fresh beans, you have to have an expensive burr grinder (more counter space, more to clean, more to break down), you have to get the fineness of the grind correct, you have to measure the ground coffee accurately, you have to tamp the coffee in the holder correctly, you have to pour the correct amount of water through. This requires a large amount of time, effort, experimentation, patience, and experience. Serving a party of 10 people like this could easily take you an hour, and you are making a lot of noise and not enjoying the party, and making a big mess to clean up later.\\n\\nA conventional machine could never be used in your office or company kitchen, but a Nespresso machine works out very nicely in that situation.\\n\\nOn the downside, 45 cents or more (for special editions) per shot of espresso is a little expensive compared to doing it with beans. You are limited to the Nespresso capsules, nothing else will come close to working. This means you can't try out the interesting jars of beans at your local coffee shop. There may come a day when the capsules are not available, but I don't see that happening.\\n\\nThe big downside is the quality of the espresso produced by the capsules, and therein is my main gripe. After many years they have recently expanded their offerings from 10 varieties or 15 or so. I haven't tried all the new ones, but I didn't really like any of the old ones. Most of them include some Robusta coffee beans in the blend. That's unusual because gourmet coffee is 100% Arabica, and my opinion is the Robusta is a problem. I have to wonder if Nespresso is trying to cut costs in this most critical aspect of an otherwise first-rate system. However, once or twice a year Nespresso releases a \\\"special blend\\\" for a limited time. This is usually 100% Arabica. In 1998 and 1999, the special blend was very good. In 2000 it was bad but then they released another one in June 2001 that was very good. They have a new, more expensive line of coffees that I haven't yet explored.\\n\\nThe final alternative is the \\\"super-automatic\\\" style machine, that with a single button push automatically grinds the beans, measures, tamps, pours the espresso, and dumps out the spent grounds. That's great but it requires fresh beans and that's a problem for me. I think maybe a food vacuum sealer might solve that problem.\\n\\nOne final comment: Don't fool yourself into thinking that a machine at home, no matter how nice, is going to save you money at Starbucks. Nothing can replace that fad inducing experience.\",\n \"Product: Nespresso has developed a unique extraction system specially adapted to capsules. It controls every vital setting when preparing a perfect espresso. Nespresso machines have been designed with renowned partners and designers, and bring out the taste and aromas of coffee by combining quality of design with ease of use. The Nespresso Concept Automatic D290 Machine is part of our Concept Line, which features a modern, and practical design. The machine deploys technology essential for preparing an outstanding Espresso, and is exceptionally easy to use: Automatic control of the amount of coffee in the cup. A high pressure pump (19 bars) extracts all the aromas and develops a smooth crema in the cup. A thermobloc which heats water to 187and 196 during extraction and empties the remaining water after each use so that the water is fresh for each preparation. A simple system which perforates the capsule and soaks all the ground coffee to optimally filter the coffee. A functional Jaw system, which allows for easy coffee preparation. Automatic ejection of used capsule. Removable water container (34-ounce). Tray for used capsules. Back-lit control button\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Great machine and system, but mediocre capsules\\n\\nReview: I have three Nespresso machines, including this one. My comments concern the Nespresso system rather than any particular machine, but I can't see paying the money for this D150 when for only a little more you can get the D300.\\n\\nThe idea of the capsules rather than using coffee beans requires some trade offs, but has lots of huge advantages. The capsules are super convenient, fast, clean and neat, attractive, and allow you to easily serve a variety of coffee blends (decaf, Latin American, African, pure Arabica, etc, which is fun). A big advantage is that they stay fresh for months at a time, so you can always have them on hand when you need them.\\n\\nComparing the Nespresso system with the conventional system shows the value of convenience. Conventional machine: you have to have fresh beans, you have to have an expensive burr grinder (more counter space, more to clean, more to break down), you have to get the fineness of the grind correct, you have to measure the ground coffee accurately, you have to tamp the coffee in the holder correctly, you have to pour the correct amount of water through. This requires a large amount of time, effort, experimentation, patience, and experience. Serving a party of 10 people like this could easily take you an hour, and you are making a lot of noise and not enjoying the party, and making a big mess to clean up later.\\n\\nA conventional machine could never be used in your office or company kitchen, but a Nespresso machine works out very nicely in that situation.\\n\\nOn the downside, 45 cents or more (for special editions) per shot of espresso is a little expensive compared to doing it with beans. You are limited to the Nespresso capsules, nothing else will come close to working. This means you can't try out the interesting jars of beans at your local coffee shop. There may come a day when the capsules are not available, but I don't see that happening.\\n\\nThe big downside is the quality of the espresso produced by the capsules, and therein is my main gripe. After many years they have recently expanded their offerings from 10 varieties to 15 or so. I haven't tried all the new ones, but I didn't really like any of the old ones. Most of them include some Robusta coffee beans in the blend. That's unusual because gourmet coffee is 100% Arabica, and my opinion is the Robusta is a problem. I have to wonder if Nespresso is trying to cut costs in this most critical aspect of an otherwise first-rate system. However, once or twice a year Nespresso releases a \\\"special blend\\\" for a limited time. This is usually 100% Arabica. In 1998 and 1999, the special blend was very good. In 2000 it was bad but then they released another one in June 2001 that was very good. They have a new, more expensive line of coffees that I haven't yet explored.\\n\\nThe final alternative is the \\\"super-automatic\\\" style machine, that with a single button push automatically grinds the beans, measures, tamps, pours the espresso, and dumps out the spent grounds. That's great but it requires fresh beans and that's a problem for me. I think maybe a food vacuum sealer might solve that problem.\",\n \"Product: This handy kit contains everything a home cotton candy maker needs. With an assortment of paper cones plus 8-ounce flossing sugars (in two flavors), the user will have enough supplies for even the hungriest carnival kids or picnic pals.\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: This kit is cool, but the price is not.\\n\\nReview: Please be aware that this kit does not include a cotton candy machine. You need to have one of your own.\\nThis kit includes replacement paper cones for use with your machine, and 4 small packets of floss (colored and flavored sugar for use in making cotton candy).\\n\\nI'm sure this is a fine set, but $20+ is the wrong price. Something close to $5 is the right price.\\n\\nIf you've seen this kit and the small, toy machine amount of floss that it comes with, you will laugh out loud when you see that you can buy 52oz of floss for under $4.00 right here on Amazon by searching for this item:\\nGreat Western Pink Vanilla Sugar Floss 52OZ #16085\\nOf course, that amount of floss with a toy machine will last you several decades. But that's a good thing, right?\",\n \"Product: The Nespresso C190 Capsule Espresso Machine is a true standout in design, convenience and performance. The unique shape, dubbed the Concept series by Nespresso, brings style and a choice of color to the kitchen. But the beauty is much more than skin deep. The C190 has a powerful pump capable of producing 19 bars of pressure and a unique capsule ejection system via a revolutionary jaw device. Simply lift the lever to fill your next capsule and as the jaw opens, the last capsule is automatically ejected into a collection receptacle in the body of the machine for later removal. Nespresso has taken the capsule concept and made it even easier to use. A special steam wand aids in frothing milk for cappuccinos and another setting is perfect for steaming milk for lattes. Nespresso espresso machines are designed to be used exclusively with the Nespresso hermetically sealed capsule containing a precise amount of freshly roasted and ground coffee. The aroma and flavor are protected until you are ready to brew. With 9 premium coffee blends available, you are sure to find a perfect match for your palette. The individual serving capsule system is extremely easy to use. Brew one espresso, cappuccino or latte at a time. Eliminate the hassle and mess of grinding, scooping and tamping your coffee as you would with traditional expresso machines. Cleanup is a snap - never touch the coffee grinds. With the jaw handle up, you are ready to insert a new pod to make your next cup. One press of a button to starts the brewing and when your desired volume is reached, another press stops brewing. The C190 espresso machine is a single boiler unit, but heat up time for steaming is quick. This model features a special titanium color body with chrome accents and chrome plated metal drip tray. Features Include: - Automatic ejection of used capsules into the collection receptacle - Steam function for cappuccino - Manual volume control - 19 bar pump - Temperature regulation system - ABS housing (Ac...\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Great machine and system, but mediocre capsules\\n\\nReview: I have had three Nespresso machines for a long time now and use them a lot. My comments concern the Nespresso system rather than any particular machine.\\n\\nThe idea of the capsules rather than using coffee beans requires some trade offs, but has lots of huge advantages. The capsules are super convenient, fast, clean and neat, attractive, and allow you to easily serve a variety of coffee blends (decaf, Latin American, African, pure Arabica, etc, which is fun). A big advantage is that they stay fresh for months at a time, so you can always have them on hand when you need them.\\n\\nComparing the Nespresso system with the conventional system shows the value of convenience. Conventional machine: you have to have fresh beans, you have to have an expensive burr grinder (more counter space, more to clean, more to break down), you have to get the fineness of the grind correct, you have to measure the ground coffee accurately, you have to tamp the coffee in the holder correctly, you have to pour the correct amount of water through. This requires a large amount of time, effort, experimentation, patience, and experience. Serving a party of 10 people like this could easily take you an hour, and you are making a lot of noise and not enjoying the party, and making a big mess to clean up later.\\n\\nA conventional machine could never be used in your office or company kitchen, but a Nespresso machine works out very nicely in that situation.\\n\\nOn the downside, 45 cents or more (for special editions) per shot of espresso is a little expensive compared to doing it with beans. You are limited to the Nespresso capsules, nothing else will come close to working. This means you can't try out the interesting jars of beans at your local coffee shop. There may come a day when the capsules are not available, but I don't see that happening.\\n\\nThe big downside is the quality of the espresso produced by the capsules, and therein is my main gripe. After many years they have recently expanded their offerings from 10 varieties or 15 or so. I haven't tried all the new ones, but I didn't really like any of the old ones. Most of them include some Robusta coffee beans in the blend. That's unusual because gourmet coffee is 100% Arabica, and my opinion is the Robusta is a problem. I have to wonder if Nespresso is trying to cut costs in this most critical aspect of an otherwise first-rate system. However, once or twice a year Nespresso releases a \\\"special blend\\\" for a limited time. This is usually 100% Arabica. In 1998 and 1999, the special blend was very good. In 2000 it was bad but then they released another one in June 2001 that was very good. They have a new, more expensive line of coffees that I haven't yet explored.\\n\\nThe final alternative is the \\\"super-automatic\\\" style machine, that with a single button push automatically grinds the beans, measures, tamps, pours the espresso, and dumps out the spent grounds. That's great but it requires fresh beans and that's a problem for me. I think maybe a food vacuum sealer might solve that problem.\\n\\nOne final comment: Don't fool yourself into thinking that a machine at home, no matter how nice, is going to save you money at Starbucks. Nothing can replace that fad inducing experience.\",\n \"Product: Crack open a bottle of your favorite cold drink with this golden Star Trek bottle opener in the shape of the USS Enterprise! This special version features a gold finish.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Very nice item and 100% satisfied\\n\\nReview: Everyone in the known universe seems to agree that this is a nice item, as comfort giving as a warm tribble. The one I got was just as expected: gold (appearing as if it was made from terran element 79, but it's not), heavy (go back 10 seconds in time and review the previous comment), NCC-1701 inscription as used by Captain Pike, very nice, like a cup of coffee and chicken sandwhich. What I didn't expect was that it comes in deluxe \\\"Apple\\\" style packaging. The box, similar to the cube like housing unit of insanity provoking Medusan Ambassador Kollos is deluxe with a tight fitting lid (fitting almost as tightly as a cracked and overheating dillithium crystal in a warp core) and dense foam packaging, as dense as Charlie X coming to terms with his adulthood. Personally I don't see how that's any bigger deal than a Vulcan's pointed ears but Apple fan-people make a huge deal about it, seemingling as big as if a parallel universe had been discovered. The whole quality presentation makes me wonder if this has the authority to issue a code one distress call, but I was surprised to see that this is officially licensed by CBS, and *that* gives it the authority. Before purchase I had misgivings about using the delicate looking Jeffries Tubes as pry levers, but as everyone here agrees this is a sturdy solid metal item and there's no doubt it's up to the task. Finally, this is a bottle opener, not an intergalactic starship. It does not fly, float, self-propel, make medical diagnoses, summon Captain Kirk, shoot phaser beams nor photon torpedos, so don't expect too much. If what you want is a nice, well made, heavy duty, inexpensive, luxuriously packaged, utilitarian memento of a nostalgic by-gone era about which we all love to reminisce, I calculate a 97.4567894% certainty that you will not be disappointed. And yes, I used a computer to type that, but not by voice command. I used the keyboard, how quaint.\",\n \"Product: DVD Hard Disc Drive Recorder, 160 GB memory, Record Live TV, Instant Replay, Dual media record and playback (DVD+/- R/RW), MP3, CD, CD-RW, USB 2.0 Connect (plays music or digital picture files), iLink for easy firewire connect to digital camcorder,\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: Half-baked software. Hardware is probably good.\\n\\nReview: This review covers three DVRs for comparison purposes:\\nPanasonic DMR-EH55S (200 GB hard drive) (Most expensive)\\nPhillips DVDR3455/37 (160 GB hard drive)\\nPolaroid DRM-2001G (80 GB) (least expensive)\\n\\nHere are some of my observations on these three DVRs. I would call the Phillips and Polaroid \\\"half-baked\\\" and I returned them and would not recommend them. The Panasonic is nice and I recommend it, but it's not perfect.\\n\\nIn my review, strengths are marked with a +, weaknesses with a -.\\n\\nRegarding the Phillips and Polaroid DVRs:\\n\\nThese two DVRs are similar. They may be the same machine. They use the same operating system and the on screen menus are all identical in the two units.\\n\\nGeneral comments first and then I will comment on the differences in the units.\\n\\n+Tracks are easy to select for burning to the DVD\\n\\n+As you select tracks for burning it shows you how much room on the DVD you have left.\\n\\n+It's always recording, so even if you don't hit the record button until halfway thru the show you can still get the whole show.\\n\\n+It pauses live TV and this feature is full featured and effective. Live TV behaves just as if you were playing back a disk with pause, rewind, slo-mo, and fast forward all available.\\n\\n+Does not delete edits, but simply hides them on playback. When you write out to the DVD it does not write the deleted portions. This would allow you to go back and rethink your edits. Panasonic deletes them immediately. On commercials this is probably no big deal but on home movies it might be useful to keep those deleted scenes handy in case you change your mind.\\n\\n+Allows editing tracks while recording a show. Since the machine is always recording it must support this feature, so it's not surprising, but it is way handy since we keep ours recording shows almost all the time and I am a heavy editor also. If I could only edit while not recording it would be hard for me to get it done. What is surprising is that my more expensive Panasonic DMR-EH55S does not support this feature.\\n\\n+Technical support is good. I called them twice, got through to someone and they gave intelligent answers.\\n\\n+Dividing tracks works well, unlike the Panasonic. It's easy to simply select \\\"divide\\\" instead of \\\"view,\\\" and then divide the track at your stopping point for today and then you're ready for next viewing to start where you left off.\\n\\n-Takes 15 annoying seconds to boot while you miss the kick off of the super bowl.\\n\\n-fluorescent display is small with only medium readability from across the room.\\n\\n-There are not many buttons on the front panel\\n\\n-Track titles are only 10 chars - that's not enough\\n\\n-The operating system is primitive, buggy, missing many useful features and has a generally clunky feel, as if they programmed only the bare minimum features required to allow operation. For example, holding buttons down on the remote will not repeat the key. This feature is sorely needed when inputting text with the on-screen keyboard because it's torture to have to keep repeatedly pressing the buttons on the remote to scroll from one side of the keyboard to the other. Another example, the editing screen has a bug where you hit the edit button to start an edit and the prompt correctly displays \\\"hit edit to stop editing.\\\" Then you search forward to find the end of the commercial and you hit edit and it slices out that portion and the prompt correctly displays \\\"hit edit to start [your next] editing.\\\" That's not a bad system, but the OS has a bug in it so that if an edit is started, when the info screen goes away it comes back incorrectly displaying \\\"hit edit to start editing\\\" when it should say \\\"hit edit to stop editing.\\\" However, the edit feature still works correctly in spite of the display. But this can be confusing enough to make you forget where you are and make you exit the edit screen and start over.\\n\\n-The info pop-up screen is really annoying. It's giant and it's never there when you need it and always there when you don't. There's no way to turn it off or on permanently. Especially when you are viewing something frame by frame - it's maddening.\\n\\n-Text is slow/torturous to put in, made worse by the weak remote control.\\n\\n-The machine crashes and locks up, sometimes without provocation, and you have to unplug it to get it going again.\\n\\n-The machine crashes and trashes the DVD when trying to append tracks to a non-finalized DVD.\\n\\n-remote control is weak and that's really annoying when you are editing text. You have to be close and at small angle from the sensor.\\n\\n-Does not show new track time after you edit out the commercials.\\n\\n-Only allows 9 characters per DVD track title.\\n\\n-It has a manual, but it's not very good.\\n\\n-It has a useful time shift buffer, but its interface uses arbitrary buttons on the remote, there is no on-screen help, and sometimes you have to use the hidden \\\"hold down the button for 3 seconds\\\" technique.\\n\\nNow to highlight some differences:\\n\\nPolaroid\\n+Has a way handy feature to jump to a specific time in a show. You just hit \\\"go to\\\" and then enter a time like 35 minutes, and it goes to it.\\n\\n+DVD burner on this unit seemed faster than on the Phillips.\\n\\n-Earlier version of the operating system - has bugs, features that don't work, and missing needed features\\n\\n-No progress indicator as it burns to DVD, and you can't watch the program as it's burning\\n\\n-Manual is rougher.\\n\\n-Fan on this unit is too loud.\\n\\n-A bug in the OS prevented me from entering the tens digit of a recording program start time.\\n\\nPhillips\\n\\n+Has an updated operating system with some welcome enhancements and bug fixes. More stable, but still crashes and trashes disks.\\n\\n+Will show a progress indicator as it burns the DVD.\\n\\n-Has a T/C (time code) button to jump to a specific time in a track, but it does not work.\\n\\n-DVD burner on this unit seemed slow.\\n\\nPanasonic DMR-EH55S\\nOver all opinion: Good. Reliable, high quality and studded with features, although missing some no-brainers. I don't expect any glitches. Probably the best available at this consumer level price point, but unfortunately has many limitations that reduce its usefulness to a heavy editor like myself.\\n\\n+Text entry is very good, with great use of the remote control buttons to allow hot key shortcuts for various operations and screen positions. It's a clever system and fast and fun to use.\\n\\n+Remote control is strong and the unit responds to its commands without fail.\\n\\n+The scrubber for finding an edit point is great.\\n\\n+The manual is very good, 77 packed pages with detailed technical information on all aspects of operation. It's much better than the \\\"user friendly\\\" Sony manuals that avoid tech talk. It also carefully lists the many limitations of this unit and the technology, including what burn speeds you can expect.\\n\\n+The on screen TV guide is da bomb. It's far superior to the scrolling cable channel we have been watching for the last ten years. In spite of reviews here to the contrary, it worked perfectly for us, setting up with just few easy questions, one minor glitch requiring a glance at the manual, and then video nirvana. It finally makes it possible to reliably set programs for a recording device. I love it!\\n\\n+The fan is whisper quiet.\\n\\n+The manual warns you that high speed burn will be louder than normal. For me it's not bad. The high speed burn usually sounds like someone running water in the sink, with loud portions sounding like an electric shaver.\\n\\n-In some disappointing passages, the manual points out that although this unit is \\\"compatible\\\" with 16X recording speed disks, \\\"this is not the copy speed.\\\" (However, in many cases it can get better than 16x speed if you record at lower quality.) The manual also points out many other limitations such as: you can not record to the SD card, movies can not be played from the SD card, the Firewire port can only be used with digital video equipment and not computers, DVDs are copied to the hard drive only in real time, the advanced feature \\\"flexible recording\\\" fits the highest quality footage possible filling all DVD space but only burns in real time, the system is not smart enough to juggle overlapping record programs and will just drop earlier programs even if there is only a small overlap, it can not play DIVx files while recording other programs, it can not play still pictures while recording other programs, you can not rename/delete/edit/divide titles while recording other programs, it will drop scheduled recordings if you have the unit busy editing photos, finalizing the high speed burn may take four times longer than estimated on the finalize screen HUH? and various other limitations. I don't want all that...just make it work!\\n\\n-Multi-tasking challenged. You can't edit any previously recorded tracks, not even renaming them, while the unit is recording. You can't even watch tracks while high-speed burning a DVD with finalize, which is silly, since you can watch without finalize. What's in this thing, an 8080 microprocessor? During high speed burn with finalize it won't even play TV from the tuner! This is a serious limitation for me, greatly reducing the utility of this expensive device.\\n\\n-Copies DVDs to the hard disk (HDD) only in real time and with loss of a generation. The Pioneer DVR also copies in real time, I assume also losing a generation. I think what they are doing here is playing the DVD and routing its signal through the analog circuitry to allow any copy protection scheme on the DVD to confuse the input circuitry and cause that brightness fading in and out and color shifting. This is another serious limitation for me since I like to consolidate my home movies and etc.\\n\\n-Will not pause live TV! Instead you have to start recording and then chase playback. That's an odd oversight on Panasonic's part and a sorely missed feature.\\n\\n-When you divide or edit a track you have to do it in a small preview screen. That's silly, sacrifices a lot of usefulness, and so needless. They sacrificed screen space for useless stuff, including a useless title bar at the top, another one on the bottom, useless edit/divide preview windows, and huge on screen buttons for \\\"divide\\\" and \\\"preview\\\" operations. I like to edit and divide my programs while watching them, but since Panasonic has a special screen for editing/dividing, where the program is shown only in a small preview window, I have to view my program once, then go back and edit or divide it later. If you edit much video you know that editing time is a big problem, e.g. another reviewer mentions fifteen minutes to edit the commercials out of a one hour show. If you record many shows, that's hours of editing. So a needless time waster like this edit/divide screen is a problem. For me, this needless limitation is a fatal flaw. Today I had to bite the bullet and watch America's Funniest Videos in the preview screen because I just can't afford to watch a one hour track twice to get my edits. Also another problem, the system recomputes your track location with each edit. That's bad because it makes it impossible to have any idea of an edit decision list (EDL), where you might jot down approximate times of things you want to save or cut. Because it recomputes all times with every edit, what used to be at the one hour mark of your program will change.\\n\\n-Does not show program length nor time remaining while viewing a program. The current track time is displayed on the front panel and available on screen.\\n\\n4-2009 Update: The Panasonic has served me well for years under heavy use. Largely it works perfectly. However, it has developed a few glitches:\\nThe unit sometimes, and way too often, aborts scheduled recordings. It starts recording at the scheduled time, then stops after 8 seconds. The error log simply says \\\"recording was aborted.\\\" There is no explanation or fix from Panasonic (other than sending your unit in for service). I have found threads on the internet complaining about this problem but no explanation or fix. It's pretty much a fatal glitch, obviously.\\n\\nThe DVD drive can no longer finalize DVDs. I have found threads indicating that the spindle in the unit gets dirty and dismantling and cleaning the unit can solve the problem. Can anyone tell me why finalizing has to be so difficult and error prone?\\n\\nThe remote only lasted three years before some of the buttons now don't respond well. That makes a big difference in pleasure of use.\\n\\nThe fact that this unit disables many functions while its recording has greatly reduced its usefulness, as I mentioned in my review.\\n\\nPanasonic has stopped making these hard drive DVRs-so there's no hope for continuing firmware updates.\\n\\nThe end result is that if there was another attractive option to try, I'd try it.\",\n \"Product: Sony's ICD-PX820 Digital Voice Recorder is a budget friendly way to immortalize your thoughts, meetings, and other voice quality audio. The PX820 has a 2GB builtin flash memory which can hold up to 535 hours (in LP mode) of data. Features like voice activated recording, dictation correction and an add function are all practical conveniences that help aid in the recording process. The ICD-PX820's recording is both PC and Mac compatible (Mac files must be edited on a Mac compatible software). The popular Dragon NaturallySpeaking software and the included Digital Voice Editor software are both compatible with your compatible Windows PC.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Just about a perfect basic unit that gives you more than you have a right to expect.\\n\\nReview: Hear me now believe me later: I'm not a Sony lover, in fact I avoid Sony when possible, but they got it right with this unit.\\n\\nThis is a great unit. Inexpensive, easy to use, inconspicuous, large legible display, built in speaker, no software or drivers required, doubles as a thumb drive, button (not menu) driven, includes some surprising advanced functions, takes conventional batteries, nothing proprietary. If you can live with a few limitations it's just about a perfect unit. I traded this unit in on the more expensive ICD-UX200, but this unit balances its features better than that one. In particular I wanted the backlight on the ICD-UX200, but really the large non-lighted display on this PX820 is more useful than the tiny, dim, and dimly lit UX200.\\n\\nThis little voice recorder hits the sweet success formula just about perfectly. Its one problem is that it does not support stereo so it can't be used as an mp3 player, (just use your cell phone for that). In some ways that's a bonus since mono is perfect for most applications of a voice recorder of this type and then everything is easier: file size, transfer time, editing time. Also it does not include a backlight, but the large letters partially make up for that, and the backlight on the more expensive Sony ICD-UX200 is pretty useless.\\n\\nRight off the bat is the attractive price. The price here on Amazon does not look that good, I got a better price at the local Sony Style store. Conventional AAA batteries are the right choice rather than a built-in rechargeable battery.\\n\\nThis unit features a small but handy size, with a big legible screen (a big plus for those of us that don't usually wear our reading glasses) and big buttons for play and record. Rewind, forward and stop buttons are also larger than on some tinier units. Other handy controls are along the sides of the unit. Hard buttons are supplied for most functions, minimizing the need to navigate through torturous menus.\\n\\nTwo functions that really increase the handiness of this unit are the built-in speaker and the \\\"divide track\\\" function. Some people don't realize the usefulness of those functions. Most voice recorders do not supply a \\\"divide track\\\" function, and for me that's a deal killer. You're always going to have garbage in your tracks, usually at the start and end of every track. When recording kids you may only use a tiny portion of what you record. An on-unit \\\"divide track\\\" function allows you to trim off this garbage in the field, while it's fresh in your mind, and delete it so that it's not using up your memory and your transfer time and sitting on your computer until you get around to editing it, by which time you've forgotten the layout of the track and you have to listen to the whole thing again, an intensely time consuming process. Olympus voice recorders especially, and most brands other than Sony do not include the divide track function.\\n\\nA built in speaker is also a deal killer for me. I hate dealing with headphones. I hate carrying them, I hate finding them, I hate coiling and uncoiling them, I hate untangling them, I hate being seen with them, I hate everything about them. Having a speaker allows me to operate some projects without headphones. I can check that the recorder is getting something, I can get an idea of the volume level, I can edit in the car, I can play the track back for everyone to hear. You still need headphones for some things, to judge the quality of the recording, to listen while the recording is in process, to listen for bothersome extraneous noise like air conditioning, and the volume of the nickel size speaker is minimal, but it's still useful.\\n\\nThis unit is also plain, non-attention getting and doesn't look like a toy. That's useful in business situations and also recording kids, who tend to grab the recorder and ruin the recording. In many situations, the plainer the better.\\n\\nIt saves in .mp3 format, a major advantage and so surprising from intensely proprietary Sony! A USB interface is provided and the unit operates like a thumb drive, so no software or even drivers are needed! That's excellent, and it can used as a thumb drive as well, increasing its usefulness that much more.\\n\\nIt also features two advanced functions that are especially useful to musicians: variable speed playback and A/B repeat. A/B repeat allows you to set and begin and end point in the track and have playback loop over and over, for practicing along with your guitar, say. To see those advanced functions on this inexpensive unit puts it over the top in bang for buck.\",\n \"Product: High Quality, Durable FM TRANSMITTER,COMPACT\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Works fine, small size, no wires=perfect unit\\n\\nReview: This little gizmo is way handy. I have needed one of these for 20 years but always resisted because I thought the sound would be staticky and low fidelity. Now that I've tried it I realize how handy it is and I wish I had bought this loong ago. It's true that the sound isn't great (that's not because this isn't a good brand, it's just unavoidable with this method of sound transmission). However, the handiness of no wires trumps that limitation.\\n\\nThis works perfectly for me. You simply use the no-brainer up-down buttons on the unit to select a station that isn't in use in your area and then tune your car radio to that station. It connects up and you hear music, you can't get simpler than that. I have used it for a year and it has never left me down. It just plain works, every time.\\n\\nAs for sound quality, it's fine. It sounds good. There is no static. I use a hand-held MP3 player and I wave it all around and it works smoothly. When static begins to creep in it's time to charge the battery.\\n\\nThis unit features a permanently built in rechargeable battery and that's the right way to go. Battery life is adequate at several hours of play, maybe 3 hours. Trying to use the unit while it's wired to the cigarette lighter for charging results in an interference ticking. It's usable in a pinch, but annoying. Many other units do not have a battery but rather plug directly into the lighter or require a cable for power. That's way inconvenient over this light and free unit. Holding my player in my hand allows me to operate the controls while driving, with either hand or to pass my player to someone in the back. Fastforward, rewind, stop and start all the time, I even edit tracks by splitting them and erasing them, all while driving and without looking away from the road.\\n\\nAfter a year of heavy use the charging port on mine broke and I came here looking for a replacement. After viewing the options available I chose this device again! I think it's the best unit available. I couldn't find it at any bargain basement price but I was happy to pay its regular retail price. I got 2, one for each car.\\n\\nIf only all tech was this easy and worked so well! 5 solid stars.\",\n \"Product: High Quality, Durable FM TRANSMITTER,COMPACT\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Works fine, small size, no wires=perfect unit\\n\\nReview: This little gizmo is way handy. I have needed one of these for 20 years but always resisted because I thought the sound would be staticky and low fidelity. Now that I've tried it I realize how handy it is and I wish I had bought this loong ago. It's true that the sound isn't great (that's not because this isn't a good brand, it's just unavoidable with this method of sound transmission). However, the handiness of no wires trumps that limitation.\\n\\nThis works perfectly for me. You simply use the no-brainer up-down buttons on the unit to select a station that isn't in use in your area and then tune your car radio to that station. It connects up and you hear music, you can't get simpler than that. I have used it for a year and it has never left me down. It just plain works, every time.\\n\\nAs for sound quality, it's fine. It sounds good. There is no static. I use a hand-held MP3 player and I wave it all around and it works smoothly. When static begins to creep in it's time to charge the battery.\\n\\nThis unit features a permanently built in rechargeable battery and that's the right way to go. Battery life is adequate at several hours of play, maybe 3 hours. Trying to use the unit while it's wired to the cigarette lighter for charging results in an interference ticking. It's usable in a pinch, but annoying. Many other units do not have a battery but rather plug directly into the lighter or require a cable for power. That's way inconvenient over this light and free unit. Holding my player in my hand allows me to operate the controls while driving, with either hand or to pass my player to someone in the back. Fastforward, rewind, stop and start all the time, I even edit tracks by splitting them and erasing them, all while driving and without looking away from the road.\\n\\nAfter a year of heavy use the charging port on mine broke and I came here looking for a replacement. After viewing the options available I chose this device again! I think it's the best unit available. I couldn't find it at any bargain basement price but I was happy to pay its regular retail price. I got 2, one for each car.\\n\\nIf only all tech was this easy and worked so well! 5 solid stars.\",\n \"Product: High Quality, Durable FM TRANSMITTER,COMPACT\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Works fine, small size, no wires=perfect unit.\\n\\nReview: This little gizmo is way handy. I have needed one of these for 20 years but always resisted because I thought the sound would be staticky and low fidelity. Now that I've tried it I realize how handy it is and I wish I had bought this loong ago. It's true that the sound isn't great (that's not because this isn't a good brand, it's just unavoidable with this method of sound transmission). However, the handiness of no wires trumps that limitation.\\n\\nThis works perfectly for me. You simply use the no-brainer up-down buttons on the unit to select a station that isn't in use in your area and then tune your car radio to that station. It connects up and you hear music, you can't get simpler than that. I have used it for a year and it has never let me down. It just plain works, every time.\\n\\nAs for sound quality, it's fine. It sounds good. There is no static. I use a hand-held MP3 player and I wave it all around and it works smoothly. When static begins to creep in it's time to charge the battery.\\n\\nThis unit features a permanently built in rechargeable battery and that's the right way to go. Battery life is adequate at several hours of play, maybe 3 hours. Trying to use the unit while it's wired to the cigarette lighter for charging results in an interference ticking. It's usable in a pinch, but annoying. Many other units do not have a battery but rather plug directly into the lighter or require a cable for power. That's way inconvenient over this light and free unit. Holding my player in my hand allows me to operate the controls while driving, with either hand or to pass my player to someone in the back. Fastforward, rewind, stop and start all the time, I even edit tracks by splitting them and erasing them, all while driving and without looking away from the road.\\n\\nAfter a year of heavy use the charging port on mine broke and I came here looking for a replacement. After viewing the options available I chose this device again! I think it's the best unit available. I couldn't find it at any bargain basement price but I was happy to pay its regular retail price. I got 2, one for each car.\\n\\nIf only all tech was this easy and worked so well! 5 solid stars.\\n\\n<<UPDATE: Nov 14, 2013>>\\nI am choosing this same device yet again. The two that I referred to in my review above just bombed out on me. Both at the same time, how odd. Both units now only tune to freq 50.0 to 69.9 Mhz, and my car radio only tunes down to 87.1 or something, so I need to rebuy. That makes three units that have bombed out on me after constant use, but for this low price I don't expect them to last forever. They are so handy I'm going to keep this Amazon page bookmarked and turn on 1-click ordering so that whenever one bombs out on me I can order a replaced quickly.\",\n \"Product: Record up to 102 hours of media on the internal drive, create DVDs at the touch of a button and use the easy one-touch recording to save your favorite shows. Uses long-lasting, top quality DVD recording formats as well as the built-in hard drive. Features TVGuardian Foul Language Filtering Technology.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Half-baked software. Hardware is probably good.\\n\\nReview: This review covers three DVRs for comparison purposes:\\nPanasonic DMR-EH55S (200 GB hard drive) (Most expensive)\\nPhillips DVDR3455/37 (160 GB hard drive)\\nPolaroid DRM-2001G (80 GB) (least expensive)\\n\\nHere are some of my observations on these three DVRs. I would call the Phillips and Polaroid \\\"half-baked\\\" and I returned them and would not recommend them. The Panasonic is nice and I recommend it, but it's not perfect.\\n\\nIn my review, strengths are marked with a +, weaknesses with a -.\\n\\n***********************************************************************************\\n***<Late breaking addition (April 5, 2010)>:\\n#1: I have gotten some feedback that some of my points made in regard of the buggy operating system on the Polaroid and Phillips units have since been corrected. So it's possible that later versions of this operating system are improved. That's great, but they should be ashamed and driven out of business for releasing a half-finished product.\\n#2: I have now lived with the Panasonic DVR for many years. It continues to be a workhorse and is still working fine. Learning to make extensive use of the \\\"chapter mark\\\" feature has, in a minor but welcome way, alleviated some of the limitations I point out below. Using the chapters helps allow you to partially edit tracks while the unit is recording and also without jumping in to the stupid \\\"preview\\\" screen that is used for the editing functions. \\\"Chapter mark\\\" is *the only* editing function that continues to work while the unit is recording. I continue to recommend this unit, but unfortunately long term use of it has uncovered two major, fatal really, flaws. A) The unit occasionally (but far too often) inexplicably skips recording scheduled programs. This is a disaster! Via \\\"Murphy's Law\\\" it seems to happen more often during season finale week. It has dropped the season finales to \\\"Lost\\\" and \\\"Dancing with the Stars\\\" and \\\"American Idol.\\\" I estimate it drops about 10%-20% of scheduled programs. It starts recording on time, records about 8 seconds, then stops. If you view the error log, it gives you the ever popular (with computer programmers): \\\"An error has occurred.\\\" Panasonic refuses to release any info on or workaround for this problem. B) The otherwise totally awesome \\\"TV Guide Onscreen\\\" feature stops working for months at a time. This has happened four times in ten years, and each time it was out for at least one month, and once it was three months. During this time you have to use another source (like a web site) to view the schedule of upcoming programs, and you have to manually program the unit to record those shows at the proper time and that's way harder than using the \\\"TV Guide\\\" feature. Panasonic is downright evil on this issue, refusing to admit that there is a problem or provide any info at all. They waste your time telling you to reset your unit and jump through various troubleshooting hoops when all the time they know exactly that the problem has nothing to do with your unit but is rather that your residence is not receiving the signal via the convoluted path it takes over your cable.\\n***********************************************************************************\\n\\nRegarding the Phillips and Polaroid DVRs:\\n\\nThese two DVRs are similar. They may be the same machine. They use the same operating system and the on screen menus are all identical in the two units.\\n\\nGeneral comments first and then I will comment on the differences in the units.\\n\\n+Tracks are easy to select for burning to the DVD\\n\\n+As you select tracks for burning it shows you how much room on the DVD you have left.\\n\\n+It's always recording, so even if you don't hit the record button until halfway thru the show you can still get the whole show.\\n\\n+It pauses live TV and this feature is full featured and effective. Live TV behaves just as if you were playing back a disk with pause, rewind, slo-mo, and fast forward all available.\\n\\n+Does not delete edits, but simply hides them on playback. When you write out to the DVD it does not write the deleted portions. This would allow you to go back and rethink your edits. Panasonic deletes them immediately. On commercials this is probably no big deal but on home movies it might be useful to keep those deleted scenes handy in case you change your mind.\\n\\n+Allows editing tracks while recording a show. Since the machine is always recording it must support this feature, so it's not surprising, but it is way handy since we keep ours recording shows almost all the time and I am a heavy editor also. If I could only edit while not recording it would be hard for me to get it done. What is surprising is that my more expensive Panasonic DMR-EH55S does not support this feature.\\n\\n+Technical support is good. I called them twice, got through to someone and they gave intelligent answers.\\n\\n+Dividing tracks works well, unlike the Panasonic. It's easy to simply select \\\"divide\\\" instead of \\\"view,\\\" and then divide the track at your stopping point for today and then you're ready for next viewing to start where you left off.\\n\\n-Takes 15 annoying seconds to boot while you miss the kick off of the super bowl.\\n\\n-fluorescent display is small with only medium readability from across the room.\\n\\n-There are not many buttons on the front panel\\n\\n-Track titles are only 10 chars - that's not enough\\n\\n-The operating system is primitive, buggy, missing many useful features and has a generally clunky feel, as if they programmed only the bare minimum features required to allow operation. For example, holding buttons down on the remote will not repeat the key. This feature is sorely needed when inputting text with the on-screen keyboard because it's torture to have to keep repeatedly pressing the buttons on the remote to scroll from one side of the keyboard to the other. Another example, the editing screen has a bug where you hit the edit button to start an edit and the prompt correctly displays \\\"hit edit to stop editing.\\\" Then you search forward to find the end of the commercial and you hit edit and it slices out that portion and the prompt correctly displays \\\"hit edit to start [your next] editing.\\\" That's not a bad system, but the OS has a bug in it so that if an edit is started, when the info screen goes away it comes back incorrectly displaying \\\"hit edit to start editing\\\" when it should say \\\"hit edit to stop editing.\\\" However, the edit feature still works correctly in spite of the display. But this can be confusing enough to make you forget where you are and make you exit the edit screen and start over.\\n\\n-The info pop-up screen is really annoying. It's giant and it's never there when you need it and always there when you don't. There's no way to turn it off or on permanently. Especially when you are viewing something frame by frame - it's maddening.\\n\\n-Text is slow/torturous to put in, made worse by the weak remote control.\\n\\n-The machine crashes and locks up, sometimes without provocation, and you have to unplug it to get it going again.\\n\\n-The machine crashes and trashes the DVD when trying to append tracks to a non-finalized DVD.\\n\\n-remote control is weak and that's really annoying when you are editing text. You have to be close and at small angle from the sensor.\\n\\n-Does not show new track time after you edit out the commercials.\\n\\n-Only allows 9 characters per DVD track title.\\n\\n-It has a manual, but it's not very good.\\n\\n-It has a useful time shift buffer, but its interface uses arbitrary buttons on the remote, there is no on-screen help, and sometimes you have to use the hidden \\\"hold down the button for 3 seconds\\\" technique.\\n\\nNow to highlight some differences:\\n\\nPolaroid\\n+Has a way handy feature to jump to a specific time in a show. You just hit \\\"go to\\\" and then enter a time like 35 minutes, and it goes to it.\\n\\n+DVD burner on this unit seemed faster than on the Phillips.\\n\\n-Earlier version of the operating system - has bugs, features that don't work, and missing needed features\\n\\n-No progress indicator as it burns to DVD, and you can't watch the program as it's burning\\n\\n-Manual is rougher.\\n\\n-Fan on this unit is too loud.\\n\\n-A bug in the OS prevented me from entering the tens digit of a recording program start time.\\n\\nPhillips\\n\\n+Has an updated operating system with some welcome enhancements and bug fixes. More stable, but still crashes and trashes disks.\\n\\n+Will show a progress indicator as it burns the DVD.\\n\\n-Has a T/C (time code) button to jump to a specific time in a track, but it does not work.\\n\\n-DVD burner on this unit seemed slow.\\n\\nPanasonic DMR-EH55S\\nOver all opinion: Good. Reliable, high quality and studded with features, although missing some no-brainers. I don't expect any glitches. Probably the best available at this consumer level price point, but unfortunately has many limitations that reduce its usefulness to a heavy editor like myself.\\n\\n+Text entry is very good, with great use of the remote control buttons to allow hot key shortcuts for various operations and screen positions. It's a clever system and fast and fun to use.\\n\\n+Remote control is strong and the unit responds to its commands without fail.\\n\\n+The scrubber for finding an edit point is great.\\n\\n+The manual is very good, 77 packed pages with detailed technical information on all aspects of operation. It's much better than the \\\"user friendly\\\" Sony manuals that avoid tech talk. It also carefully lists the many limitations of this unit and the technology, including what burn speeds you can expect.\\n\\n+The on screen TV guide is da bomb. It's far superior to the scrolling cable channel we have been watching for the last ten years. In spite of reviews here to the contrary, it worked perfectly for us, setting up with just few easy questions, one minor glitch requiring a glance at the manual, and then video nirvana. It finally makes it possible to reliably set programs for a recording device. I love it!\\n\\n+The fan is whisper quiet.\\n\\n+The manual warns you that high speed burn will be louder than normal. For me it's not bad. The high speed burn usually sounds like someone running water in the sink, with loud portions sounding like an electric shaver.\\n\\n-In some disappointing passages, the manual points out that although this unit is \\\"compatible\\\" with 16X recording speed disks, \\\"this is not the copy speed.\\\" (However, in many cases it can get better than 16x speed if you record at lower quality.) The manual also points out many other limitations such as: you can not record to the SD card, movies can not be played from the SD card, the Firewire port can only be used with digital video equipment and not computers, DVDs are copied to the hard drive only in real time, the advanced feature \\\"flexible recording\\\" fits the highest quality footage possible filling all DVD space but only burns in real time, the system is not smart enough to juggle overlapping record programs and will just drop earlier programs even if there is only a small overlap, it can not play DIVx files while recording other programs, it can not play still pictures while recording other programs, you can not rename/delete/edit/divide titles while recording other programs, it will drop scheduled recordings if you have the unit busy editing photos, finalizing the high speed burn may take four times longer than estimated on the finalize screen HUH? and various other limitations. I don't want all that...just make it work!\\n\\n-Multi-tasking challenged. You can't edit any previously recorded tracks, not even renaming them, while the unit is recording. You can't even watch tracks while high-speed burning a DVD with finalize, which is silly, since you can watch without finalize. What's in this thing, an 8080 microprocessor? During high speed burn with finalize it won't even play TV from the tuner! This is a serious limitation for me, greatly reducing the utility of this expensive device.\\n\\n-Copies DVDs to the hard disk (HDD) only in real time and with loss of a generation. The Pioneer DVR also copies in real time, I assume also losing a generation. I think what they are doing here is playing the DVD and routing its signal through the analog circuitry to allow any copy protection scheme on the DVD to confuse the input circuitry and cause that brightness fading in and out and color shifting. This is another serious limitation for me since I like to consolidate my home movies and etc.\\n\\n-Will not pause live TV! Instead you have to start recording and then chase playback. That's an odd oversight on Panasonic's part and a sorely missed feature.\\n\\n-When you divide or edit a track you have to do it in a small preview screen. That's silly, sacrifices a lot of usefulness, and so needless. They sacrificed screen space for useless stuff, including a useless title bar at the top, another one on the bottom, useless edit/divide preview windows, and huge on screen buttons for \\\"divide\\\" and \\\"preview\\\" operations. I like to edit and divide my programs while watching them, but since Panasonic has a special screen for editing/dividing, where the program is shown only in a small preview window, I have to view my program once, then go back and edit or divide it later. If you edit much video you know that editing time is a big problem, e.g. another reviewer mentions fifteen minutes to edit the commercials out of a one hour show. If you record many shows, that's hours of editing. So a needless time waster like this edit/divide screen is a problem. For me, this needless limitation is a fatal flaw. Today I had to bite the bullet and watch America's Funniest Videos in the preview screen because I just can't afford to watch a one hour track twice to get my edits. Also another problem, the system recomputes your track location with each edit. That's bad because it makes it impossible to have any idea of an edit decision list (EDL), where you might jot down approximate times of things you want to save or cut. Because it recomputes all times with every edit, what used to be at the one hour mark of your program will change.\\n\\n-Does not show program length nor time remaining while viewing a program. The current track time is displayed on the front panel and available on screen.\",\n \"Product: He's the most inept nautical man since Peter "Wrong Way" Peachfuzz, but for the suburban family that hires him to take them on a Caribbean cruise in their new yacht, Captain Ron manages to sail them into a hilariously unforgettable adventure. Kurt Russell, Martin Short, Mary Kay Place star.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: It's good. Don't expect too much and it's more adventure than comedy.\\n\\nReview: This movie is worth watching. I think some negative reactions are from disappointed expectations rather than the movie not being actually good. One problem is that it's marketed as a comedy but I don't really see it that way. It's one of those movies that is more amusing than laugh out loud funny. I notice that there are many enthusiastic reviews here.\\n\\nObviously, much of the fun is in watching Kurt Russell and Martin Short. Regarding Kurt Russell, the guy is a major star and goes waaaay back to the 60s as already a major star. If you are a fan of his (as 40+ years' worth of people are), you will enjoy watching him cut up in this whacky role. He's a lot of fun and since I've been a fan since 1967's Flubber, I really enjoyed his entire performance.\\n\\nI'm a big Martin Short fan but so often his roles in movies are restrained, e.g. The Three Amigos. I'm not really sure what he is shooting for in that persona, but if you like him he can come across as charming in whatever he says or does. In this case his character is again restrained, the straight guy, and on the annoying side, plus he's a little bit of a loser. None of that seems like a formula for success and I don't really think the character or performance works all that well but since I like him he comes across as charming for me.\\n\\nThe movie is largely an adventure and it works on that level. A lot of things go wrong and I don't like that type of movie but it doesn't hit that close to home for me because I've never tried to quit my job and take a boat across the world. So the situations seem so outlandish that I can laugh them off without feeling Martin's pain.\\n\\nAlso this movie features Benjamin Salisbury (Brighton from \\\"The Nanny.\\\") He's a great actor, I really like the way he delivers his lines.\\n\\nAnyway, as many others here have said, it's pretty good and especially if you're a fan of either or both of the stars, it's worth watching.\",\n \"Product: Timothy Hutton is Stalked by His Psychotic Secretary Played by Lara Flynn Boyle. Very Scary.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Gosh...I thought I was the only person that liked this movie\\n\\nReview: **** REVIEW INCLUDES \\\"GREAT DIALOG\\\" SPOILERS ****\\n\\nWow was I surprised to see all the positive reviews of this movie here on Amazon. I thought I was alone in being entertained by this. External reviews often completely trash this movie without finding anything positive.\\n\\nWell get this chemical makeup: Stunning and popular star Lara Flynn Boyle overtly titillating us and wearing skimpy outfits even including a bikini(!), Timothy Hutton, habitual scene stealer Oliver Platt during younger and thinner days, superstar Faye Dunaway, and Steven Webber from the TV show \\\"Wings.\\\" How's that for voltage? Add in a proven plotline with a long pedigree (Hand that rocks the cradle, Single White Female, many more), some great whacky dialog, and top it off with the inspired idea of a corporate thriller set in a cookie company with the climax in an industrial kitchen, and yeah...I'll bank that. How could you possibly lose?\\n\\nActually I really like this movie, even just watching it straight. The only problem I have is Faye Dunaway's really bad, hammy, mugging acting, and toward the end Boyle picks up some of the same style, but other than that I like it. However, if you make me analyze it, ok, it's riddled with plot holes, dropped threads, unanswered questions, implausabilities, etc, but that really doesn't matter if the movie succeeds in entertaining me. And it does. So with that in mind, you could look at it as one of the \\\"so bad it's good\\\" genre, and it does succeed on that level. I agree with others that the ending seems as tho it was written on the spot when someone lost the rest of the script.\\n\\nIt actually has a lot of good stuff in it. For example:\\n\\nOne of my favorite literary devices is the \\\"buddy thing,\\\" which is an entertainment staple: Laurel and Hardy, Skipper and Gilligan, Kip and friend in Bosom Buddies, Balky and Larry in \\\"Perfect Strangers,\\\" etc. This movie features that, but in four directions: Hutton and his boss, Hutton and his buddy (Webber), Hutton and his rival (Platt), Hutton and Boyle. Lots of fun there.\\n\\nThe highlight for me is some of the whacky dialog, which I'm still quoting years later. For example:\\n\\n\\\"You're BLOWIN' it man.\\\"\\n\\n\\\"YOU'VE GOT THIS PROBLEM.\\\"\\n\\nAnd one of the greatest lines ever:\\n\\n\\\"Good gosh how hard can it be? I'm not asking you to splice DNA you just DO IT!\\\"\\n\\nWonderful stuff.\\n\\nFinally, it's no surprise that Hutton and Platt both turn in performances that are well worth watching.\",\n \"Product: I'll Take Sweden\\nActors: Bob Hope, Dina Merrill, Tuesday Weld, Frankie Avalon, Jeremy Slate\\nDirectors: Frederick De Cordova\\nWriters: Arthur Marx, Bob Fisher, Nat Perrin\\nProducers: Alex Gottlieb, Edward Small\\nRated: NR (Not Rated)\\nVHS Release Date: March 2, 1994\\nRun Time: 97 minutes\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Yawn. 90 minutes of juvenile sex talk and situations.\\n\\nReview: This film is in the style of Doris Day films that feature compromising sexual situations and innuendo while on the surface everything remains innocent fun. That may have been titillating in 1965 when you couldn't say the word \\\"pregnant\\\" on TV and Rob and Laura Petrie had separate beds, but now it's just boring and adolescent. I get tired of this innuendo quickly, but it's always fun explaining each joke to my wife, because the entire thing goes way over her head.\\n\\nThis film features blatant sexual material centering around the question of Bob Hope's daughter: will she or won't she?\\n\\nThe film presents Sweden as a sexually free place, while America stands for a higher morality. On the surface the movie preaches this higher morality while actually presenting and capitalizing on the intriguing images and ideas of a free-lovin' society.\\n\\nOne problem with this type of film is that the writers think that the innuendo will carry the film. They think that just the fact that they are covertly, or in this case, overtly, talking about sex will keep us nervously giggling and entertained, gasping in shock or winking at each other. It's like a comedian whose act relies on dirty language. Ok, they may get nervous laughs, but after some time it gets boring or even distasteful. In this film, because the writers are overconfident, they don't bother with good characters, a good plot, clever dialog, motivations, or any thing else that makes for good drama or comedy, they just let the subject of sex carry it. That just doesn't cut it, especially not in modern times when any shock value it might have had is completely gone.\\n\\nAn example of good writing is \\\"Frequency,\\\" where the writers did not assume that a time travel gimmick would carry a weak story, but instead gave us a long eventful ride with a triple your money's worth climax in addition to the front and center gimmick.\",\n \"Product: Bob Hope (The Road To Hong Kong) and Lucille Ball (Yours, Mine and Ours) are teamed in The Facts of Life, a comedy with dramatic twists. When their spouses are unable to join them on a planned group trip, longtime friends, Larry Gilbert (Hope) and Kitty Weaver (Ball) find themselves thrown together and falling in love under the sun in beautiful Acapulco. With their vacation coming to an end, both Larry and Kitty find themselves torn between feeling guilty about the affair and whether or not to end it.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Very good. Lucy and Bob are great. Subject material still holds interest in modern times.\\n\\nReview: *** This review contains spoilers ***\\n\\nThis movie surprised me. I really enjoyed it. Lucy is stunning as a glamor star. She gets the soft focus and lighting, the glamor hair and makeup, but the showstopper is the glamor wardrobe. I've never seen her look more beautiful.\\n\\nI did not know that Lucy had made it so far in her movie career as to be able to star as a glamor girl, opposite Bob Hope yet. Another notch on the resume of this fascinating woman.\\n\\nMy wife and I had just been discussing Lucy's talents as a straight actress and by coincidence this movie came on the next day. I had the opinion that Lucy was best in comedy and was not quite right in a straight role. This movie proved me wrong on that! She is convincing and when she kissed Bob I really believed it.\\n\\nBob is also great. His comedy style here is more subtle than usual, playing funny bits off in a straight style without the usual hamming. The bit with the hankie made me belly laugh.\\n\\nThe subject matter of this movie is similar to other movies of the early 60s as the sexual revolution was just starting...all clean and above board on the surface, yet doing their best to titillate us with sexual situations and innuendo. As I said in my review of Bob's \\\"I'll Take Sweden,\\\" I find this juvenile and boring. There's no shock value left by now, so it falls flat. However, this movie tackles more serious subjects than simply titillating sex, namely the subjects of infidelity, marriage, and marital boredom. That is more interesting and even in 2005 I found the subject matter moving and thought-provoking.\\n\\nThe script is tight and witty, with good dialog. The plot is also more or less water tight with plausible motivations.\\n\\nGood stuff....worth watching.\",\n \"Product: Animated feature \\\"Spirit : Stallion of the Cimarron\\\" comes to dvd in this widescreen edition.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: A great, entertaining adventure\\n\\nReview: This was a great movie. I'm really glad to see someone other than Disney not only put forth this kind of effort, but critically succeed as well.\\nAll I had to do was log on to the dreamworks web site about this movie and hear the soaring music by Hans Zimmer to know the movie would be great, and I wasn't disappointed. The movie has a lot of social commentary, about slavery, pride, loyalty, friendship, breaching racism, history (skewed or not) and etc.\\nIt was a lot of fun, it was an adventure. You can tell the filmmakers reached for an adventure because Spirit explicity tells you \\\"thus started my adventure.\\\" And off we went, to meet many interesting people and see far away places.\\nMy wife cried through a lot of the movie...that's got to be a good thing.\\nThe story proceeds forth with a minimum of dialog and monolouges. Much of the story is masterfully told with subtle nuances, facial expressions and body language.\\nI gave this 4 stars because it still does not reach the stratospheric heights of \\\"The Little Mermaid\\\" or \\\"Hercules.\\\"\",\n \"Product: At War With the Army: First in the Dean Martin-Jerry Lewis features, At War with the Army set the tone for all collaborations to comewith Dean Martin as a self-confident Don Juan who always has a smile and a song for the ladies, and Jerry Lewis as a lovable but hapless screw-up who has only the best intentions. Road to Hollywood: Road to Hollywood is the 1946 blockbuster hit that documents singer and dancer extraordinaire Bing Crosby's rise to dizzying heights of fame and celebrity.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: This mediocre comedy is required viewing, of course.\\n\\nReview: This is required viewing since it is Martin and Lewis' first movie. As a comedy, it's not that great. It's not very funny, there's a lot of time wasted on generic dialog, and Dean's character isn't likeable since he mostly shouts, bullies, womanizes, and lies throughout. The movie is based on a play and it seems that some portions that may have played well in a live setting don't work on the screen. I can't be too sure since I don't know what is new to this movie and didn't appear in the play, or what did work in 1950 but doesn't work in 2005.\\n\\nI got a good nostalgic feeling watching the movie. It gave me a feeling of sitting in a playhouse in 1940 with that era of audience and laughing at silly running gags like the half open door. Now that the bar has been raised so many times with comedy superstars like Eddie Murphy, Richard Pryor, Steve Martin, Tom Hanks, and Jerry Lewis himself, it's fun to watch material from a simpler time.\\n\\nDean comes across well. His singing is great, he dances, and does an excellent impersonation of Bing Crosby. This is a good showcase of his talent.\\n\\nJerry also comes across well, as expected, with all of his trademarks. Bumbling clowning, funny faces, pouting, mime. His singing was better than I expected. He switches off between various singing voices like his zany voice, mock romantic, sarcastic, etc. He can hit the high notes and he sounds good.\\n\\nThe plot is pretty good. The various subplots involving Jerry, his wife and baby, his former friendship with Dean, Dean's two girlfriends and his military career, Dean's romantic rival, and the captain and his wife make for a somewhat complex plot. The movie builds up to the climax where all of the misunderstandings (and intentional subterfuges by Dean's character) come together with seven actors onscreen at the same time fighting each other to work things out. We're lucky that all seven made it into the TV frame!\\n\\nI was touched by the ending in the same way that I remember always being touched by Martin and Lewis' movies: as though they are really good friends and that's heartwarming.\\n\\nI was surprised to see so much polish on Martin and Lewis for their first movie, but you have to remember that they had been doing a live act before this, so that explains it.\\n\\nI can imagine that a lot of the physical comedy gags, like running in and out of doors, throwing things around the room, jumping in another's arms, running around the room turning off lights, fighting with the drink machine, etc, would have worked in a play where the actors are actually doing that stuff live right in front of you. That would have added a lot of action to this play, where plays can sometimes be boring. On screen it doesn't work for me. It seems silly but nothing more.\\n\\nMartin and Lewis' act is something like the Smothers Brothers' act. Martin scolds Lewis and Lewis gets meek and pouts.\\n\\nI think most of the value in this movie comes from the performance pieces. The feature songs, dances, impersonations, and large comedy bits like the drink machine scene and Jerry as a woman are good stuff. I'm sorry to say that the rest of the material, which is probably the original play, doesn't quite cut it\",\n \"Product: At War With the Army: First in the Dean Martin-Jerry Lewis features, At War with the Army set the tone for all collaborations to comewith Dean Martin as a self-confident Don Juan who always has a smile and a song for the ladies, and Jerry Lewis as a lovable but hapless screw-up who has only the best intentions. Road to Hollywood: Road to Hollywood is the 1946 blockbuster hit that documents singer and dancer extraordinaire Bing Crosby's rise to dizzying heights of fame and celebrity.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: This mediocre comedy is required viewing, of course.\\n\\nReview: My comments only apply to \\\"At War with the Army.\\\"\\n\\nThis is required viewing since it is Martin and Lewis' first movie. As a comedy, it's not that great. It's not very funny, there's a lot of time wasted on generic dialog, and Dean's character isn't likeable since he mostly shouts, bullies, womanizes, and lies throughout. The movie is based on a play and it seems that some portions that may have played well in a live setting don't work on the screen. I can't be too sure since I don't know what is new to this movie and didn't appear in the play, or what did work in 1950 but doesn't work in 2005.\\n\\nI got a good nostalgic feeling watching the movie. It gave me a feeling of sitting in a playhouse in 1940 with that era of audience and laughing at silly running gags like the half open door. Now that the bar has been raised so many times with comedy superstars like Eddie Murphy, Richard Pryor, Steve Martin, Tom Hanks, and Jerry Lewis himself, it's fun to watch material from a simpler time.\\n\\nDean comes across well. His singing is great, he dances, and does an excellent impersonation of Bing Crosby. This is a good showcase of his talent.\\n\\nJerry also comes across well, as expected, with all of his trademarks. Bumbling clowning, funny faces, pouting, mime. His singing was better than I expected. He switches off between various singing voices like his zany voice, mock romantic, sarcastic, etc. He can hit the high notes and he sounds good.\\n\\nThe plot is pretty good. The various subplots involving Jerry, his wife and baby, his former friendship with Dean, Dean's two girlfriends and his military career, Dean's romantic rival, and the captain and his wife make for a somewhat complex plot. The movie builds up to the climax where all of the misunderstandings (and intentional subterfuges by Dean's character) come together with seven actors onscreen at the same time fighting each other to work things out. We're lucky that all seven made it into the TV frame!\\n\\nI was touched by the ending in the same way that I remember always being touched by Martin and Lewis' movies: as though they are really good friends and that's heartwarming.\\n\\nI was surprised to see so much polish on Martin and Lewis for their first movie, but you have to remember that they had been doing a live act before this, so that explains it.\\n\\nI can imagine that a lot of the physical comedy gags, like running in and out of doors, throwing things around the room, jumping in another's arms, running around the room turning off lights, fighting with the drink machine, etc, would have worked in a play where the actors are actually doing that stuff live right in front of you. That would have added a lot of action to this play, where plays can sometimes be boring. On screen it doesn't work for me. It seems silly but nothing more.\\n\\nMartin and Lewis' act is something like the Smothers Brothers' act. Martin scolds Lewis and Lewis gets meek and pouts.\\n\\nI think most of the value in this movie comes from the performance pieces. The feature songs, dances, impersonations, and large comedy bits like the drink machine scene and Jerry as a woman are good stuff. I'm sorry to say that the rest of the material, which is probably the original play, doesn't quite cut it\",\n \"Product: Ruthless. Shameless. Clueless! Celebrity interviewer Jiminy Glick (Martin Short) tackles the big screen with his first feature film: a wildly irreverent, laugh-till-it-hurts movie experience that skewers Hollywood with \\\"potent comic accuracy\\\" and features \\\"more celebs than you can shake a microphone at\\\" (Entertainment News)! Hungry for an A-list interview that could launch him into the gossip-page stratosphere, the small-time journalist with big aspirations and an even bigger appetite drags his wife and kids across the country to the star-studded Toronto Film Festival. But in between the nonstop parties and all-you-can-eat buffets, Glick soon finds himself in the middle of an outrageously scandalous mystery that becomes the celebrity scoop of the decade!\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Ambitious loosely scripted movie just isn't funny.\\n\\nReview: I like Martin Short. I like everything about him. I think he's a great singer and entertainer, he's smart, he's lovable, and he's apparently very funny because he's always cracking up the cast and behind camera crew. He and his style appeal to me, and I just like him.\\n\\nBut this movie just isn't funny. And Glick isn't funny. Short tries to carry Glick with the same funny speech patterns that carried Ed Grimley... \\\"I'm as doomed as doomed could be, ya' know.\\\" Grimley and Glick use similar speech patterns. But that's not enough to carry this character or this movie.\\n\\nShort says in the DVD commentary that they improvised most scenes with no or very little script, though his commentary partner calls him on that and disagrees with him and insists there was a script. Now that's funny. But anyway, as the Beatles learned when filming \\\"Magical Mystery Tour,\\\" hoping that people will be naturally funny and interesting doesn't work. You have to put some hard work and long hours into a polished script to get anything worth shooting. This movie (if there really was no script) again affirms that truth.\\n\\nThis movie features a lot of vulgar material and I think that was a big mistake. The larger plot and story and comedy style would have appealed to young people and families and Short sacrificed that entire viewing audience for the coarse material and it really doesn't add anything. I guess Short felt an R rating was what was needed at this point in his career.\\n\\nVery little in this movie works. The boyfriend/manager character was the only one that was funny, yes he was over the top but at least he was actually somewhat funny. Glick is best when Hollywood celebrity Short shows through the character while giving a good natured ribbing to Hollywood giants like Steve Martin, Tom Hanks, and Kurt Russel (Hanks does not appear in this movie but Glick has interviewed him elsewhere to great results). The interviews that Glick does with Martin and Russel, and especially the deleted outtake footage of those interviews are the only thing that works in this movie.\\n\\nThe production and story were much bigger than what I expected. The plot explanation at the end is pretty good, creative, outlandish, unexpected, and funny. There's a part that was scripted. The movie has good production values, but what it needed was a script that actually contained some jokes.\",\n \"Product: Ruthless. Shameless. Clueless! Celebrity interviewer Jiminy Glick (Martin Short) tackles the big screen with his first feature film: a wildly irreverent, laugh-till-it-hurts movie experience that skewers Hollywood with \\\"potent comic accuracy\\\" and features \\\"more celebs than you can shake a microphone at\\\" (Entertainment News)! Hungry for an A-list interview that could launch him into the gossip-page stratosphere, the small-time journalist with big aspirations and an even bigger appetite drags his wife and kids across the country to the star-studded Toronto Film Festival. But in between the nonstop parties and all-you-can-eat buffets, Glick soon finds himself in the middle of an outrageously scandalous mystery that becomes the celebrity scoop of the decade!\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Ambitious loosely scripted movie just isn't funny.\\n\\nReview: I like Martin Short. I like everything about him. I think he's a great singer and entertainer, he's smart, he's lovable, and he's apparently very funny because he's always cracking up the cast and behind camera crew. He and his style appeal to me, and I just like him.\\n\\nBut this movie just isn't funny. And Glick isn't funny. Short tries to carry Glick with the same funny speech patterns that carried Ed Grimley... \\\"I'm as doomed as doomed could be, ya' know.\\\" Grimley and Glick use similar speech patterns. But that's not enough to carry this character or this movie.\\n\\nShort says in the DVD commentary that they improvised most scenes with no or very little script, though his commentary partner calls him on that and disagrees with him and insists there was a script. Now that's funny. But anyway, as the Beatles learned when filming \\\"Magical Mystery Tour,\\\" hoping that people will be naturally funny and interesting doesn't work. You have to put some hard work and long hours into a polished script to get anything worth shooting. This movie (if there really was no script) again affirms that truth.\\n\\nThis movie features a lot of vulgar material and I think that was a big mistake. The larger plot and story and comedy style would have appealed to young people and families and Short sacrificed that entire viewing audience for the coarse material and it really doesn't add anything. I guess Short felt an R rating was what was needed at this point in his career.\\n\\nVery little in this movie works. The boyfriend/manager character was the only one that was funny, yes he was over the top but at least he was actually somewhat funny. Glick is best when Hollywood celebrity Short shows through the character while giving a good natured ribbing to Hollywood giants like Steve Martin, Tom Hanks, and Kurt Russel (Hanks does not appear in this movie but Glick has interviewed him elsewhere to great results). The interviews that Glick does with Martin and Russel, and especially the deleted outtake footage of those interviews are the only thing that works in this movie.\\n\\nThe production and story were much bigger than what I expected. The plot explanation at the end is pretty good, creative, outlandish, unexpected, and funny. There's a part that was scripted. The movie has good production values, but what it needed was a script that actually contained some jokes.\",\n \"Product: America's Favorite siblings celebrate Christmas with the whole Osmond Family. Enjoy a white Christmas at the Osmond cabin, complete with horseback riding, snowmobiling, skiing, singing, cooking, entertaining and more! Share the memories and laughs with the whole Osmond family, including a time ever performance by the Osmond wives, meet Donny's new bride Debbie, and enjoy performances by the Osmond brothers.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Fabulous. Mostly music and mostly great. No live performance.\\n\\nReview: Overall: Fabulous.\\n\\nThis is Donny & Marie's third Christmas special. This is not the one that features the outdoor concert, that's 1977.\\n\\nIt's almost wall to wall music. There are no non-musical comedy segments, no guest stars, and a minimum of talking, impressive. Sadly it does not feature any live performance.\\n\\nOnly one segment falls a little flat - the rooftop segment. The dancing and production is good, but the song isn't very good. Marie over acts in a style of performance that's really gone out of style now. As Donny relates in some interviews, he had to unlearn much of his performing style since it now seems passé. The constant smiling and overt playing to the audience. It's interesting to see Marie performing this way and inasmuch as it seems old fashioned that gives you some insight into your own evolution of taste.\\n\\nThe final two songs are sensational. An arrangement of \\\"Silent Night\\\" set against another tune and a final climax number with the entire family. Several other songs in the show are great.\\n\\nDonny & wife Debbie sing \\\"Three Times a Lady\\\" to each other to very good results. Debbie sings in a slight Osmond style and way better than I expected, actually very good. Donny is electrifying in this piece and the saccharine level may move you, it did me.\\n\\nThe Osmond brothers appear throughout but do not get prominently featured. Jimmy gets a solo song and featured in a few other segments, he comes off well.\\n\\nThe concert segment is a relative disappointment, it isn't as ambitious as other concert productions from Donny & Marie had been. It doesn't feature any live performance at all and does not feature any instrumental sections. It's not that long. That said, it still delivers an electrifying Donny & Marie duet up front and when the duet adds in Jimmy for a third voice the voltage is just that much higher.\\n\\nEven at this early stage (1978) the size of the Osmond clan is impressive with 2 parents, 9 children (most with associated wives), and a gaggle of grandkids.\\n\\nThe Osmond wives sing a number in the talent show segment and it's ok. It ups the saccharin content but for historical purposes it would have been better to see an ambitious Osmonds production.\\n\\nThe Osmond men sing through a comedy cooking segment production number. It's ok.\\n\\nGeorge & Olive sing a duet by themselves - yet another saccharine over music moment. It's not great singing but it's a nice moment.\\n\\nThere is an Osmond band segment during the talent show segment that comes off a little weak. It's painfully obvious that none of the instruments are actually being played. Merrill repeats yet again his banjo playing. Dad Osmond gets a bass solo which is just throwing it in our faces that we're watching air guitar. I don't know how good Donny is at piano but I'm pretty sure he's nowhere near as good as what we hear him play - we don't get to see his hands. Even so, it's good.\\n\\nThe religious content is not in your face - just standard Christmas fare from people that actually believe in it.\\n\\nThe overall effect, outside of the musical content, is pretty much as intended. The Osmonds come across as a tight, happy extended family with wholesome values and fun. There's some extra saccharin there but it's not so overdone that it's distracting.\\n\\nOverall: A, but I was hoping for A++++\",\n \"Product: Get ready for non-stop action, edge-of-your-seat suspense and spectacular chase sequences with everyone's favorite assassin in The Jason Bourne Collection! Matt Damon is Jason Bourne, an elite government agent determined to outwit and outmaneuver anyone who stands in the way of his finding out the secrets of his mysterious past. Follow his explosive, action-packed adventures in three blockbuster films from one of the most popular series of all time: The Bourne Identity, The Bourne Supremacy and The Bourne Ultimatum. Loaded with hours of bonus features, The Jason Bourne Collection is the ultimate Bourne experience for movie fans everywhere!\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: All action and no story make for a dull movie.\\n\\nReview: My review mostly relates to the 3rd installment, \\\"The Bourne Ultimatum.\\\" I rate that movie only one star. However, because this set includes the much better \\\"Bourne Supremacy,\\\" I'll average the rating out to three stars.\\n\\nBourne Ultimatum (movie #3) is similar to Bourne Identity (movie #1) in that it exists simply for the sake of the action. There's hardly any literary content at all. It's just a straightforward plot that moves the action along. It's like so many other action movies. Sure the production is impressive with explosions, stunts, car chases, fighting, etc, but as far as dialog, motivations, characters, plot twists, or anything else clever, that's all been carefully stripped out. That doesn't cut it for me and I rate this movie low. I like the Bourne Supremacy (movie #2) the best. That one has more story.\\n\\nOther reviewers here agree with me on the above points, but I disagree with them on the excellence of the action. I don't think it's all that great as I'll explain below along with my low opinions on the lack of story. I agree with another reviewer here that my review on the literary merit of the movie is a waste of time. The movie is about action and that's it. Critiquing its literary merits is like critiquing the safeness of a motorcycle. It's simply not about that.\\n\\nAnyway....\\nThe girl in this movie hardly speaks at all. She just walks around looking dumb and worried. If the girl was paid by the line, they paid her about $50 for her \\\"role.\\\" Her close-ups become comical because repeatedly they cut to her, she looks worriedly into the camera, and then doesn't speak.\\n\\nAs many others have pointed out, the shaky camera work is annoying/nauseating/amateurish direction. I really hated it and it really did make me sick.\\n\\nThe story has a long, straightforward build up to an ultra-lame, straightforward conclusion, which makes me feel like I wasted my time. What's the big deal about his training anyway...you just need to train him as a sniper, which is no big deal, and then you're done. What Jason does is not that different than any other soldier, especially a sniper. Much more interesting was Bridget Fonda in \\\"Point of No Return\\\" and her cycle of training, initiation, and wanting out.\\n\\nAgain in the \\\"unintentionally funny\\\" department, we get comedy/spoof/\\\"so bad it's funny\\\" like running commentary:\\n\\\"He's looking right at her!\\\"\\n\\\"He drove off the roof!\\\"\\nAs if we, the audience, couldn't see that he just drove off the roof. Actually this comedy material was some of the best fun this movie has to offer.\\n\\nJason takes the unneeded/indefensible risk of calling the CIA security down on him before he even cracks the safe. No trained burglar would do that. He just needed to hang up the phone as soon as the guy answered and said his name. And if cracking the safe was that easy the CIA wouldn't be using that safe. How did Jason know that the spook used his name as the safe voice password? He could have used any phrase. Ludicrous.\\n\\nDuring the chase where the assassin chases the girl, Jason repeatedly jumps through the windows. Once is enough, twice is repetitious, thrice is an eye roll. He did it, like, six times. Severe lack of imagination on the part of the movie makers. Plus, that assassin must be a super blood hound to be able to track the girl from the street as she runs around on the rooftops.\\n\\nGrade (for Bourne Ultimatum): Waste of time.\",\n \"Product: Get ready for non-stop action, edge-of-your-seat suspense and spectacular chase sequences with everyone's favorite assassin in The Jason Bourne Collection! Matt Damon is Jason Bourne, an elite government agent determined to outwit and outmaneuver anyone who stands in the way of his finding out the secrets of his mysterious past. Follow his explosive, action-packed adventures in three blockbuster films from one of the most popular series of all time: The Bourne Identity, The Bourne Supremacy and The Bourne Ultimatum. Loaded with hours of bonus features, The Jason Bourne Collection is the ultimate Bourne experience for movie fans everywhere!\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: All action and no story make for a dull movie.\\n\\nReview: My review mostly relates to the 3rd installment, \\\"The Bourne Ultimatum.\\\" I rate that movie only one star. However, because this set includes the much better \\\"Bourne Supremacy,\\\" I'll average the rating out to three stars.\\n\\nBourne Ultimatum (movie #3) is similar to Bourne Identity (movie #1) in that it exists simply for the sake of the action. There's hardly any literary content at all. It's just a straightforward plot that moves the action along. It's like so many other action movies. Sure the production is impressive with explosions, stunts, car chases, fighting, etc, but as far as dialog, motivations, characters, plot twists, or anything else clever, that's all been carefully stripped out. That doesn't cut it for me and I rate this movie low. I like the Bourne Supremacy (movie #2) the best. That one has more story.\\n\\nOther reviewers here agree with me on the above points, but I disagree with them on the excellence of the action. I don't think it's all that great as I'll explain below along with my low opinions on the lack of story. I agree with another reviewer here that my review on the literary merit of the movie is a waste of time. The movie is about action and that's it. Critiquing its literary merits is like critiquing the safeness of a motorcycle. It's simply not about that.\\n\\nAnyway....\\nThe girl in this movie hardly speaks at all. She just walks around looking dumb and worried. If the girl was paid by the line, they paid her about $50 for her \\\"role.\\\" Her close-ups become comical because repeatedly they cut to her, she looks worriedly into the camera, and then doesn't speak.\\n\\nAs many others have pointed out, the shaky camera work is annoying/nauseating/amateurish direction. I really hated it and it really did make me sick.\\n\\nThe story has a long, straightforward build up to an ultra-lame, straightforward conclusion, which makes me feel like I wasted my time. What's the big deal about his training anyway...you just need to train him as a sniper, which is no big deal, and then you're done. What Jason does is not that different than any other soldier, especially a sniper. Much more interesting was Bridget Fonda in \\\"Point of No Return\\\" and her cycle of training, initiation, and wanting out.\\n\\nAgain in the \\\"unintentionally funny\\\" department, we get comedy/spoof/\\\"so bad it's funny\\\" like running commentary:\\n\\\"He's looking right at her!\\\"\\n\\\"He drove off the roof!\\\"\\nAs if we, the audience, couldn't see that he just drove off the roof. Actually this comedy material was some of the best fun this movie has to offer.\\n\\nJason takes the unneeded/indefensible risk of calling the CIA security down on him before he even cracks the safe. No trained burglar would do that. He just needed to hang up the phone as soon as the guy answered and said his name. And if cracking the safe was that easy the CIA wouldn't be using that safe. How did Jason know that the spook used his name as the safe voice password? He could have used any phrase. Ludicrous.\\n\\nDuring the chase where the assassin chases the girl, Jason repeatedly jumps through the windows. Once is enough, twice is repetitious, thrice is an eye roll. He did it, like, six times. Severe lack of imagination on the part of the movie makers. Plus, that assassin must be a super blood hound to be able to track the girl from the street as she runs around on the rooftops.\\n\\nGrade (for Bourne Ultimatum): Waste of time.\",\n \"Product: Avatar is the story of ex-Marine Jake, a paraplegic war veteran, who finds himself thrust into hostilities on a distant planet filled with exotic life forms, Pandora. As an Avatar, a human consciousness in an alien body, he finds himself torn between two worlds in a desperate fight for his own survival and that of the indigenous people. Those from Earth find themselves at odds with each other and the local culture.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: What's the point? Impressive production falls flat with a lousy drama.\\n\\nReview: I'll admit that I was expecting a lot from this movie. I had heard about the huge budget and effort required to create it and had heard that it was a landmark movie that was going to take the movie business to a new level. I didn't like the movie at all. It was a trite straightforward drama with colorless characters, recycled elements, WOW factors we've seen before and a weak \\\"showdown\\\" climax.\\n\\nGround breaking CGI: Big deal. I don't know about 10 year old kids, but I've seen so much CGI, for so long, that it's simply boring. Yes the glowing flowers and such were beautiful (even if the dandelion seeds were overused), but so what? Movies are best about things in our real world, like courage, loyalty and friendship. Glowing flowers are nice but can't carry a movie.\\n\\nToo many recycled elements from Aliens, Terminator, Star Wars, and Transformers: Weaver, cybersleep, the loaders, the veloci-copters, the gunship, the flight deck, the pilot, the sarge, the combat drop, the walkers (Star Wars). Even the guy that can't walk now being able to walk is from \\\"Lost.\\\"\\n\\nTrite, straightforward and pretty ham-handed drama of the military guy against the ethical soldier against the scientists against the natives...Universal Soldier (Van Damme), Soldier (Kurt Russell).\\n\\nAvatar concept is old, and even more so now that that concept is recycled into the virtual reality gimmick: Sargon controlling Kirk, Kirk exchanging minds with that crazy lady that wanted to be Captain, Spock's Brain (where his body was controlled by a remote control), The Matrix.\\n\\nWeaver's character was a waste - she did not play a big part in the story and the part that she did play was sketchy. Weaver had been there how many years? Teaching them English? And she's still there leading the team even though the military is there moving? And the natives still accept her? Weaver is all hostile to the new guy right up until she puts him in the mind link chamber. Then they meet up on the other side and she's all smiles and charm towards him. Huh?\\n\\nThe climactic battle was a lot like the Ewoks against the Empire in \\\"Return of the Jedi,\\\" right down to the grenades in the engines.\\n\\nThe big revelation in the movie of the neural network of the trees fell totally flat. That was supposed to be a big dramatic moment but I think everyone in the audience, just like those on the command deck were like: \\\"So what? Is that supposed to mean something?\\\" There was only a few lines in the movie that supported that plot line and after the big revelation it was pretty much dropped.\\n\\nCharacters were not colorful and well differentiated like in Aliens (All the characters were colorless: The wheelchair guy, his buddy, Weaver, the traitorous pilot, the native mother and father had extremely small parts, the native prince was colorless, even the princess was pretty colorless, the pencil pusher heartless bureaucrat, the Colonel was the only character that was almost good), there was no sparkling dialog like all throughout Aliens.\\n\\nIt seems that some of the \\\"Wow factor\\\" of the movie was contained in the computer displays in the lab, especially the ones that could be swiped off the wall and onto a tablet PC. If they thought that would impress me....oh please. Spielberg already tried all that exact same stuff in \\\"Minority Report\\\" to equally unimpressive results and Cameron, of all people, should know that no matter how impressive your production is, it's useless without a great drama with all of the elements needed to make drama great.\",\n \"Product: Disneynature Af(Br+Dv\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Horrible. Imagine Bambi where not just mother, but *everyone* dies\\n\\nReview: We walked out of this movie at the 3/4 mark because it was just the same old thing the entire movie. Cute cubs get eaten by hyenas. Old noble lioness can't keep up with pride & she & cub are left to die. Old lioness abandons cub & dies alone. Cheetah mom has to fight male lions. Male lions gang up on cute cheetah cubs. Male lions gang up on old male & drive him to his lonely death. Cheetah kills adorable gazelle. Crocs threaten lions. Just on and on. The fabricated script is laser focused on death, dying, injury, pain, suffering, and fighting.\\n\\nRemember when Bambi's mother got killed? Well in this movie it's more like mother, father, aunt, Thumper, & a few assorted birds & rodents all get killed.\\n\\nThe writers concocted a simplistic dramatic story that's focused on death & struggle, & the movie strictly follows that, ignoring other aspects of feline life that might have been explored. You don't get much insight into cat behavior other than fighting, hunting, & dying. In spite of the \\\"Cats\\\" in the title, there are not many cats in the movie. 1 cheetah, 5 cheetah cubs, 5 male lions, 4 female lions, & 10 or so lion cubs, & that's it. No puma, jaguar, lynx, tiger, cougar, mountain lion, or any other cat.\\n\\nGreat photography of cats, animals, landscape, & weather, but u can't enjoy it. How can you enjoy great photography of an African thunderstorm when they carefully point out t you the cold, wet, shivering cheetah & cubs?\\n\\nIt's not really a documentary. There isn't much educational content. It's more a creative effort of storytelling. They needed to balance it. Maybe 70% cute cubs playing & exploring cat behavior & thought with only 30% harsh reality. Instead it's 90% depressing.\",\n \"Product: The beautiful western scenery of northern Wyoming is the backdrop for The Invasion of Johnson County, based on the actual Johnson County War. The battle was also known as the War on Powder Creek, fought between large cattle ranchers and homesteaders in 1892. Bill Bixby stars as a free-sppirited Bostonian Sam Lowell, who arrives on the frontier and teams up with George, a crusty Wyoming cowboy to stop a land baron's attempts to drive out a group of small ranchers and take over their property.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: I like it. Good fun and educational, plus we get some Bixby bar tricks! Can't get enuf Bixby!\\n\\nReview: Synopsis: Western style dramatized true story about big money cattle ranchers that put together a private army and march to exterminate small ranchers in Wyoming. Bixby plays a highly educated, decent, and sensible rambler that goes along so as to get a reporter's fee, ultimately interfering in the plan in an attempt to avoid bloodshed.\\n\\nLar-ry-view: A. I like it. It's 90% drama, 10% fun. Bill gets a buddy and they play the buddy act throughout the movie. He also does some bar tricks for us, reprising his \\\"The Magician\\\" persona. The movie starts out with Bill standing an egg on its end, then later he balances two forks on the end of a toothpick.\\n\\nJust like with his Tony Blake character from \\\"The Magician,\\\" and his Dr. David Banner character from \\\"The Hulk,\\\" Bixby plays an intelligent, reasonable, decent man. I take this character as being similar to Bill's real personality. A leading man, as opposed to character actors, essentially play themselves in every role. Others have pointed out to me, however, that Bixby's talent allowed a large dramatic range as shown in some other presentations that were not Bixby starring vehicles. Sure, I can buy that. Anything he does is golden.\\n\\nThis movie is a stereotypical western: horses, saloons, sheriffs, trains, card games, gunfights and all. I could list a few places in which the script could have been better, but I won't bother. What matters is that this movie is entertaining, fun, and even contains educational history. You might want to invest your time and money in this movie if you: like Bixby, like bar tricks, like westerns, like buddy movies, or are interested in the historical events covered by the movie.\",\n \"Product: Mothers Back-to-Black Trim Care - 8 ounce helps to stop and reverse oxidation. As your ride's exterior ages, rubber, plastic and vinyl of all colors will dry, crack, flake and deteriorate. With Mothers back-to-black trim care, this oxidation process can be reversed. This trim treatment is great for bumpers, moldings, louvers, window trim, vents, seals, skirts, door handles, wiper arms - anything that's uncoated plastic, rubber or vinyl. The back-to-black to sunburnt plastic, rubber and vinyl can be applied to revive the factory-new sheen, and then re-treat regularly.\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: It did not work for me at all-bumpers look worse than before\\n\\nReview: I guess it was a pipe dream to believe that any magic liquid could restore my faded gray bumper trim to black.\\n\\nI applied about 5 coats of this Back to Black product over the course of a few days. It might look better when wet, but by the next day I was back to gray. I was pretty peeved. What's worse, I notice that now I have streaks on the bumper that look like jail stripes. The car is a 1989 Honda Accord with a black rubber strip on the bumper cover. Yeah, they're severely faded, but isn't that the intended market for this product?\\n\\nI have read some other fixes on the web, notably including mink oil (normally used for shoes), and instant shoe polish. There is a spray paint also and it seems that that's the only real way to restore the black. Mask off everything but the trim, rough it up with sand paper, and then repaint...I hear this gives good, long lasting results.\\n\\nAs for Back-To-Black, in spite of the positive reviews here on Amazon, I think a google search will convince you that it's a poor risk. It certainly did not work at all for me.\",\n \"Product: We ship quickly from US to Japan (delivery in 14-21 days on average) and the rest of the world. Please refer to Amazon page for product details, and information.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Super-great and \\\"Must Have.\\\"\\n\\nReview: I was amazed at the excellence of some of these songs. I really enjoyed listening to this set. It's great to take a close listen to this group since some of their stuff is amazing. I find that the songs I recognized from USA radio play were a large notch better than the rest of the stuff on the CDs as a general rule. I did not enjoy CD2 near as much but maybe I need to listen several more times.\\n\\nSomebody amongst the three songwriters is an excellent poet because the lyrics on at least \\\"The Winner Takes It all,\\\" \\\"Fernando,\\\" and \\\"The Day Before You Came\\\" are great. \\\"The Day Before You Came\\\" (CD2) is 5 minutes and 45 seconds of unique lyrics, and interesting to try and interpret. I guess that one song is worth the price of CD2.\\n\\nThe \\\"radio play\\\" songs feature excellent drums and the bass player is good 'n' funky with great stuff.\\n\\nMy CD has the 4 signatures in gold on the back cover and I notice the signatures are engraved in the paper as if someone had actually signed them rather than just printed. Could that be?\",\n \"Product: A Grab Bag of Tracks from the Former Stealer's Wheel Man's Solo Career, Including his Two Biggest Hits \\\"Baker Street\\\" and \\\"Right Down the Line\\\". 16 Tracks in all from his Many Solo Albums.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Baker Street is excellent.\\n\\nReview: My comments regard only the song \\\"Baker Street.\\\"\\n\\nOf course I love Baker Street. There is a lot going on in that track, sophisticated and excellent. Comparing it with the (obscenely bad) Foo Fighters cover shows both the weaknesses of the Fighters' arrangement as well as the talent, polish, intelligence, and diligence of Rafferty's producer.\\n\\nI personally don't like solo sax much and so it doesn't touch me as much as it seems to touch others, but even so I can see that the sax intro and other sax parts are electrifying. I respect this production choice because for so many people the sax is the only part of the song they identify and according to some reviews the sax bought most of that copious radio air-time in 1978. On the other hand, it's a shame to see this overstated sound overshadow the rest of the beautiful song in peoples' minds.\\n\\nThe swooping guitars are awesome and yet subtle and fill a crucial spot in the intro melody. The guitar solo is masterful. Much of the time in the solo is taken up with only a few sustained and repeated notes and the bulk of the solo is made up of bends, trills, swoops, dives, and inventive tremelos. Each note of the minimal note count speaks out to us in important ways. It reminds me of lyrics that say volumes with only a few words. It's one of my all time favorite guitar solos.\\n\\nThe two featured analog synthesizer sounds are way cool. The synth during the verse sounds like falling leaves or water. The bass synth sound that counterpoints the vocal during the chorous, again, is inventive: an interesting, unusual sound, delightful instrumental melodic counterpoint to the vocal, a melodic sound in this region of the bass territory is also unusual in pop. You usually have the bass drum and the bass guitar in the bass region and that's about it. This synth sound and melody is something like a `cello line, lending an orchestral feel while still using pop instruments.\\n\\nThe lyrics to Baker Street are good, but I wouldn't say great. They give an overall impression of loneliness, futility and yearning for something better in the future. What's there is good but it's not great because the song does not tell a complete story. The \\\"City to City\\\" album from which this song is taken is a concept album and every lyric addresses these issues of loneliness and itinerant living on the road. Considering the entire album's lyrics as a whole pushes them up a notch as ambitious, intelligent, very good, and maybe you could consider the whole as a complete story. They fall short of something blisteringly great like \\\"Eleanor Rigby\\\" (The Beatles) or \\\"She Always a Woman\\\" or \\\"AllenTown\\\" (Billy Joel).\\n\\nRegarding the Foo Fighters' cover version: The Foo Fighters skip the swooping guitars during the intro melody and you can hear it as dead space, causing a drop in intensity there resulting in an undesirable volume pumping effect. The Fighters copy the guitar solo note for note, what's the point? We've heard that already, and much better, so why bother? Granted I'm not that familiar with post 1989 Pearl Jam clone musical styles so I might be missing something, but to me the Fighters' guitar version of the sax intro melody is just plain wrong. The rhythm is wrong and corny, the accents are in the wrong place, and the guitar sound is so anemic when compared to the sax. Why would a band of the Fighters' stature cover a song anyway? The whole thing is just wrong.\",\n \"Product: A Grab Bag of Tracks from the Former Stealer's Wheel Man's Solo Career, Including his Two Biggest Hits \\\"Baker Street\\\" and \\\"Right Down the Line\\\". 16 Tracks in all from his Many Solo Albums.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Sophisticated, inventive, ambitious, intelligent. Classic.\\n\\nReview: I like the entire City to City album. I think every single song on it is good, not a bad one in the bunch.\\n\\nOf course I love Baker Street. There is a lot going on in that track, sophisticated and excellent. Comparing it with the (obscenely bad) Foo Fighters cover shows both the weaknesses of the Fighters' arrangement as well as the talent, polish, intelligence, and diligence of Rafferty's producer.\\n\\nI personally don't like solo sax much and so it doesn't touch me as much as it seems to touch others, but even so I can see that the sax intro and other sax parts are electrifying. I respect this production choice because for so many people the sax is the only part of the song they identify and according to some reviews the sax bought most of that copious radio air-time in 1978. On the other hand, it's a shame to see this overstated sound overshadow the rest of the beautiful song in peoples' minds.\\n\\nThe swooping guitars are awesome and yet subtle and fill a crucial spot in the intro melody. The guitar solo is masterful. Much of the time in the solo is taken up with only a few sustained and repeated notes and the bulk of the solo is made up of bends, trills, swoops, dives, and inventive tremelos. Each note of the minimal note count speaks out to us in important ways. It reminds me of lyrics that say volumes with only a few words. It's one of my all time favorite guitar solos.\\n\\nThe two featured analog synthesizer sounds are way cool. The synth during the verse sounds like falling leaves or water. The bass synth sound that counterpoints the vocal during the chorous, again, is inventive: an interesting, unusual sound, delightful instrumental melodic counterpoint to the vocal, a melodic sound in this region of the bass territory is also unusual in pop. You usually have the bass drum and the bass guitar in the bass region and that's about it. This synth sound and melody is something like a `cello line, lending an orchestral feel while still using pop instruments.\\n\\nThe lyrics to Baker Street are good, but I wouldn't say great. They give an overall impression of loneliness, futility and yearning for something better in the future. What's there is good but it's not great because the song does not tell a complete story. This is a concept album and every lyric addresses these issues of loneliness and itinerant living on the road. Considering the entire album's lyrics as a whole pushes them up a notch as ambitious, intelligent, very good, and maybe you could consider the whole as a complete story. They fall short of something blisteringly great like \\\"Eleanor Rigby\\\" (The Beatles) or \\\"She Always a Woman\\\" or \\\"AllenTown\\\" (Billy Joel).\\n\\nRegarding the Foo Fighters' cover version: The Foo Fighters skip the swooping guitars during the intro melody and you can hear it as dead space, causing a drop in intensity there resulting in an undesirable volume pumping effect. The Fighters copy the guitar solo note for note, what's the point? We've heard that already, and much better, so why bother? Granted I'm not that familiar with post 1989 Pearl Jam clone musical styles so I might be missing something, but to me the Fighters' guitar version of the sax intro melody is just plain wrong. The rhythm is wrong and corny, the accents are in the wrong place, and the guitar sound is so anemic when compared to the sax. Why would a band of the Fighters' stature cover a song anyway? The whole thing is just wrong.\",\n \"Product: The Third Single to Be Taken from their Debut Album \\\"Get Born\\\".\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Weak lyrics but thick mood make for a total Beatles experience\\n\\nReview: I'm here because this song sounds like the Beatles. That got the attention of my 40+ year old ears.\\n\\nI read the lyrics on the web and they're weak. The first line about the picture won't sing for you is clever, after that there's hardly any other content. There are only six lines in the entire lyric...that's lightweight even by Paul McCartney standards. Even the popularly lampooned \\\"Someone's knocking at the door\\\" has more lyrics than that. The lines other than the first lines and the chorus line don't make a lot of sense, in other words, they're cryptic. We have no idea how she made a fool of everyone, or why, or who \\\"everyone\\\" is. If all that's left has gone away, then it isn't left anymore, is it? Conversely, if it's left, then it hasn't gone away, so that line is non-sense. The singer lectures his ex-lover that making a fool of everyone is fun until she loses what she had won, but something tells me that she doesn't care that she lost it, actually she didn't lose it but rather threw it in the trash because it wasn't valuable to her, so that line is also non-sensical. The 2nd verse is more of the same quasi-profound sounding non-sense. Unlike Lennon and Lewis Carroll, however, these non-sensical verses do not add up to profound word imagery, so they're just useless drivel. The lyric also doesn't tell any complete intelligible story, there are no vibrant characters, and other than the \\\"sing\\\" there's no clever wordplay.\\n\\nSo the lyric is vapid, except for one clever line and an overall sense of loss and the \\\"fool of everyone\\\" sound bite, which will be the only thing most people will remember.\\n\\nHowever, the mood and sound of the song are great. It's so strange that the moody, swirling, heady sound that the Beatles invented and made popular appears to be universally useful. Something about that sound is appealing and triggers a strong emotional response in people. I take that as confirmation of the Beatles and George Martin's genius, that they invented that, found that, perfected that, and gave it to the world.\\n\\nThe fact that Jet can get so much attention with a copy of that sound only further validates the hard work and results of the Beatles. It does not, however, say much about the talent of Jet, other than that they are savvy enough to recognize the value of that sound and use it to their advantage. That isn't saying much: who doesn't recognize the value of the Beatles?\\n\\nFor those reviewers here that focus on the similarity between this song and John Lennon's sound, it's not just a copy of Lennon's style. The drum part is also a carbon-copy of Ringo's Beatles drumming style and sound. Did Lennon ever release vapid lyrics? If not, that would make the lyrics a copy of McCartney's style. So the entire product is a Beatles sound-alike. Now all we need is a soaring, melodic guitar solo and/or tasty lead guitar fills during pauses in the lyric, and we've got the entire package. Oh, it has that? hahahahahaha.....\\n\\nOverall I'll give the song a B, the Beatles an A+++++++, the lyrics a D, Jet's producer an A, and Jet's talent level a question mark, (based only on this song). See? Forty+ year olds *can* recognize great new music. It just has to sound like the Beatles. Hahahahahahahaha.\",\n \"Product: In box. New never been opened.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Deluxe toy has most features of the TV show game\\n\\nReview: This is a passable version of the \\\"Wheel of Fortune\\\" game. It plays 3 rounds plus a bonus round. If you don't get bored with it by the time you play all its puzzles, you can buy expansion cartridges. It has people, places, and things. It's a deluxe hand-held toy, large size with a full QWERTY keyboard, 6 dedicated buttons (a welcome convenience over devices that try to keep the button count low), a large screen that cleverly tries to simulate color graphics, and an exciting sticker that adds needed color. It has a few digitized sound effects (gong, buzzer, and spinning wheel). It also includes most of the rule-set from the TV show (bonus round, buy a vowel, bankrupt, free spin, WHEEL selection of mystery prize, and spotting you the RESLT letter in the bonus round). It can play 1, 2 or 3 players and has a computer opponent. You can mute the sound and it keeps track of the highest amount of money won so far for those family bragging rights. All told, that's a pretty nice game. It works fine and it's fun.\\n\\nHowever, cost saving measures detract from this toy and leave me unsatisfied. As soon as you power on the game you are greeted with a cheap-o rendition of the theme music by a monophonic sound chip that is really lame, and I just hate that. It's great that the game includes digitized sounds, but only three? The screen is not color and while it is clever with the use of color backgrounds, it's still a basic black and white screen with limited graphics. Also the screen is not very legible, especially for those looking on at an angle. It does not display what letters have been tried and found missing from the puzzle, so you have to try and remember that. If that's the way the TV show works, then that's good but if the TV show shows you what letters have been tried, then it's annoying that this game does not.\",\n \"Product: It s the ultimate chess - opponent and teacher. You ll swear it has a brain as it smoothly maneuvers pieces across the board, steers taken pieces off to the side, and talks while playing - in English, French or Spanish| Offers 2 play modes - play the computer or watch it play itself . Set to 'learning' level, and get coached with verbal cues and explanations, or choose 'tournament' level with dual clock display and skill rating. Includes game memory, LCD contrast control, auto shut-off, and chess piece storage.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Seriously buy this now. A fantastic set and awesome gizmo.\\n\\nReview: This is a fantastic chess set. It's the closest computer based system you can get to playing chess naturally. Because you simply move your pieces, and the computer moves its own, it's really just like playing a game of chess with another person. Compared to the usual cumbersome system of punching your moves in with a keypad, and then reading a screen and moving the piece for the computer, this allows you to concentrate on the game with your usual focus.\\n\\nSome reviewers may make an issue of the speed of the transport. In normal game play I don't find the speed annoying at all. There is a slight delay while the transport moves to the desired piece and then moves it. The speed is a problem, however, when the game has to do a reset of any sort, like put all the pieces in place for a new game or clear the board for piece practice. No problem, I just set the pieces up myself at the start of the game. Wherever the Phantom Force does not allow you to bypass these automatic resets and just do it manually instead the slowness will be a problem. I'm not sure how good it is at allowing you to manually reset when you want to play special practice modes but in normal game play there's no problem. Having the Phantom Force reset the board is fun for showing people how cool it is. Other than that it's too slow and manually resetting the board is needed.\\n\\nSome reviewers also make an issue of the noise. Yes, it's slightly noisy, but I've not had any family members complain. It sounds like a dremel grinding tool on low speed. I don't find it annoying.\\n\\nOn the good side....this game is simply waaaaaay cool. There's no other way to get an authentic playing experience. To move, you simply press down the piece you want to move, move the piece to the desired position, and then press down there. The touch sensitive playing surface registers the move with the computer and then \\\"Chessica\\\" (love that) makes her move. You can't get any easier than that. Various games have been made in the past that move the pieces. Some of these have featured an above board robotic arm. They've always been expensive and delicate/trouble prone, so they go out of production and the companies go bankrupt. This game is a recent entry into the market and until now an automatic chess game of this type has been unavailable for many years. Go for it!\\n\\nThe game has many features, including adjustable skill level, practice mode (love it), hints, allow the computer to move for you, force the computer to move before it's finished thinking, talking, battle sound effects, and allow the computer to play both sides. I like the talking and battle sound effects, but they can be muted. The talking uses the same phonetic program used by computers since the IMSAI 8080 days (this talking was featured in the 1983 movie \\\"Wargames\\\"). The program existed in the Commodore 64 and was further made famous in the Commodore Amiga. It's incredible that a piece of software would exist that long. The battle sounds are fun. You get sword clashing, grunting when stabbed, thud when hitting the ground dead, drum cadence when royalty is marching, horse hooves galloping, and more.\\n\\nIf you're worried about reliability...get real. This is a delicate machine. It won't work forever and it won't tolerate any abuse. It's a miracle that they are able to produce a robot at this price point, so don't expect Rolls Royce style robustness. If it works for several years you got your money's worth.\\n\\nIn short, this is a fantastic piece of whiz-bang technology that really allows you to practice your chess game and play naturally. It's a good price, so if it appeals to you just buy it.\\n\\nNote: I gladly paid $200 for my game and would gladly do so again. Since this one is available for half that price it represents an absolute steal.\",\n \"Product: It s the ultimate chess - opponent and teacher. You ll swear it has a brain as it smoothly maneuvers pieces across the board, steers taken pieces off to the side, and talks while playing - in English, French or Spanish| Offers 2 play modes - play the computer or watch it play itself . Set to 'learning' level, and get coached with verbal cues and explanations, or choose 'tournament' level with dual clock display and skill rating. Includes game memory, LCD contrast control, auto shut-off, and chess piece storage.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Seriously buy this now. A fantastic set and awesome gizmo.\\n\\nReview: This is a fantastic chess set. It's the closest computer based system you can get to playing chess naturally. Because you simply move your pieces, and the computer moves its own, it's really just like playing a game of chess with another person. Compared to the usual cumbersome system of punching your moves in with a keypad, and then reading a screen and moving the piece for the computer, this allows you to concentrate on the game with your usual focus.\\n\\nSome reviewers may make an issue of the speed of the transport. In normal game play I don't find the speed annoying at all. There is a slight delay while the transport moves to the desired piece and then moves it. The speed is a problem, however, when the game has to do a reset of any sort, like put all the pieces in place for a new game or clear the board for piece practice. No problem, I just set the pieces up myself at the start of the game. Wherever the Phantom Force does not allow you to bypass these automatic resets and just do it manually instead the slowness will be a problem. I'm not sure how good it is at allowing you to manually reset when you want to play special practice modes but in normal game play there's no problem. Having the Phantom Force reset the board is fun for showing people how cool it is. Other than that it's too slow and manually resetting the board is needed.\\n\\nSome reviewers also make an issue of the noise. Yes, it's slightly noisy, but I've not had any family members complain. It sounds like a dremel grinding tool on low speed. I don't find it annoying.\\n\\nOn the good side....this game is simply waaaaaay cool. There's no other way to get an authentic playing experience. To move, you simply press down the piece you want to move, move the piece to the desired position, and then press down there. The touch sensitive playing surface registers the move with the computer and then \\\"Chessica\\\" (love that) makes her move. You can't get any easier than that. Various games have been made in the past that move the pieces. Some of these have featured an above board robotic arm. They've always been expensive and delicate/trouble prone, so they go out of production and the companies go bankrupt. This game is a recent entry into the market and until now an automatic chess game of this type has been unavailable for many years. Go for it!\\n\\nThe game has many features, including adjustable skill level, practice mode (love it), hints, allow the computer to move for you, force the computer to move before it's finished thinking, talking, battle sound effects, and allow the computer to play both sides. I like the talking and battle sound effects, but they can be muted. The talking uses the same phonetic program used by computers since the IMSAI 8080 days (this talking was featured in the 1983 movie \\\"Wargames\\\"). The program existed in the Commodore 64 and was further made famous in the Commodore Amiga. It's incredible that a piece of software would exist that long. The battle sounds are fun. You get sword clashing, grunting when stabbed, thud when hitting the ground dead, drum cadence when royalty is marching, horse hooves galloping, and more.\\n\\nIf you're worried about reliability...get real. This is a delicate machine. It won't work forever and it won't tolerate any abuse. It's a miracle that they are able to produce a robot at this price point, so don't expect Rolls Royce style robustness. If it works for several years you got your money's worth.\\n\\nIn short, this is a fantastic piece of whiz-bang technology that really allows you to practice your chess game and play naturally. It's a good price, so if it appeals to you just buy it.\\n\\nNote: I gladly paid $200 for my game and would gladly do so again. Since this one is available for half that price it represents an absolute steal.\",\n \"Product: Its your turn to pilot the Star Trek U.S.S Enterprise! This RC drone lets you explore space with smooth and stable flight in the iconic Star Trek spacecraft. The Air Hogs Star Trek U.S.S Enterprise NCC-1701-A RC celebrates the 50th Anniversary with authentic styling, real lights and sounds, warp speed capabilities, and a 50th Anniversary collectors display stand. The remote control with 2.4Ghz communication puts you in the Captains chair with long-range, high-performance handling. Boldly go where no one has gone before with the Air Hogs Star Trek U.S.S Enterprise NCC-1701-A RC.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: If you want it, get it. Drop dead gorgeous and respectable toy drone that flies similar to other toy drones\\n\\nReview: Captain's log: Star Date 170319, Captain Emeritus Larr Ree Brown reporting. Science Officer Spock reports that Star Fleet cadets have a new Federation Starship simulator available to hone their piloting skills. Dr. McCoy recommends that if a cadet has any interest in Starships whatsoever they should get said simulator without equivocation or overthinking it, and he highly recommends it for it's stress relieving and mirth inspiring abilities. Commander Chekov did a few hours during shore leave last month at Starbase 10 and although his Beatle haircut appeared perturbed at the mention that imprecise handling of the simulator caused him to fail to \\\"shoot the moon\\\" during the Kobyashi Maru exercise, his face was \\\"beaming\\\" a wide grin at the stunning beauty of the Starship body work. Chekov mentioned that better handling simulators are available for several times the price at a dedicated \\\"hobby simulator\\\" store, but as far as he knows the Air Hogs simulator is the only flying Enterprise drone available, which makes it a \\\"no-brainer\\\" purchase to any interested cadet, or professional pilot for that matter.\\n\\nIt's a respectable effort. The looks are 100%, it looks great, just like Mudd's women. Not as good as the excellent photography of it that is shown on the Air Hogs box, creative photography can make the genuine article look better on the box even when showing the actual item, in the same way that Mudd's women can look better with the help of a little cosmetically enhancing medication. First engineering officer Montgomery Scott points out that even the real U.S.S. Enterprise can be made to look better with the aid of some good lighting and a TV screen, so take that as a point of realism.\\n\\nThe simulator proved challenging for Sulu to fly. He said that it flies similar to other inexpensive simulators that he's tried, which is to say it flies, but not like rock steady like the real Enterprise. He had to keep his hands on the controls at all times making adjustments, it always drifted, was not able to \\\"no hands\\\" hover, and would not trim out perfectly. When given a chance at the controls, Communications officer Uhura needed need plenty of room and practice to be able to keep it where she wanted, which was \\\"right here, Sugah.\\\"\\n\\nScotty said that scheduled refuelings were every 5 minutes, the same as most any other inexpensive simulator but a little more reasonable for this one because this is not a feather weight, it's a pretty big Starship.\\n\\nFinally Miranda Jones used her gassomer sensor web to scan the included stand and commented that it seememd similar to the stands supplied with other model Enterprises, space age and sleek and a worthy display. Everyone on the bridge agreed and we started towards our next mission laughing and slapping each other on the back.\\n\\nSo my official report is that all interested parties should buy time on the simulator and they will probably enjoy it, as long as they don't expect it to perform 30 minutes between refuelings or as well as simulators costing several times the price.\\n\\nCaptain Emeritus Larr Ree Brown out.\"\n]","isConversational":false},"profile_size":{"kind":"number","value":43,"string":"43"},"task":{"kind":"string","value":"longlamp_3"},"split_kind":{"kind":"string","value":"user_based"},"id":{"kind":"number","value":986,"string":"986"}}},{"rowIdx":987,"cells":{"question_id":{"kind":"string","value":"A2O8XMNIBHZXCE"},"question":{"kind":"string","value":"Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of \"5.0\" for a product with description \"The KEF KHT3005 (SE) 5.1 home theater speaker system is an extremely high performance, yet room-friendly home theater system, which raises both the design and performance benchmarks in the category of elegant home theater speaker packages. KEF's patented \"sit anywhere\" Uni-Q driver configuration places the tweeter in the acoustic center of the bass/midrange cone. This creates a single focused audio source that disperses the sound image evenly throughout the room so that everyone enjoys the full richness of music or movie soundtracks. The Uni-Q array in the 3000 series has a completely new design which performs better than ever. Instead of having identical center and satellite speakers like other systems, KEF's created a stunning new dedicated center channel that gives dialogue more weight and clarity delivering cinema-like frontal impact. KEF also added a radical new high performance powered subwoofer. As a system, it certainly puts the 'live' into living room.\". The summary of the review text is \"Amazing for the price - especially when bundled!\"."},"answer":{"kind":"string","value":"This is the first surround system I have ever purchased, so I can't compare it to anything except the Bose system I heard in a Bose demonstration room. I AM, however, an accomplished pianist, composer, and audiophile with a world-class, high-end system in a dedicated listening room for vinyl, Redbook CD, and SACD listening of mostly classical music. So, I know how music SHOULD sound when reproduced properly. Of course, movie soundtracks are not just music. The sound effects are equally important. I have to rely on a 40 year old memory of artillery and exploding mortars but, like everyone else, recent memory of thunderstorms and the like. And movie production often uses artificial means of producing many of the sound effects we hear in movies that they want us to hear as the real thing.\n\nGiven the above, I can honestly say that the KEF 3005 5.1 system is truly remarkable. I would have never expected the satellite speakers alone to produce the upper base that I hear without the subwoofer. And the subwoofer certainly isn't a true sub given its low end specs and room characteristic that, together, make the low bass a bit boomy and fuzzy. Yet, the system as a whole gives a very satisfying listening experience, with no audible distortion and wide frequency and dynamic ranges when used with a Panasonic BD70V Blu-Ray player and a Denon AVR-3310CI receiver (I purchased the Denon bundled with the KEF system). Violins and brass sound very good. I think that if I added acoustic treatment to our great-room as I have to my listening room, the sound would be even more refined, but the WAF (wife acceptance factor) would preclude such treatment.\n\nThe sound of music from the KEF system is not that of my Vandersteen 3a Sigs, but I didn't expect that it would. Still, just considering music, the KEF's provide a musical experience of definite pleasure. You can drive these speakers to volume levels that irk my wife and impress guests without ANY discernible distortion. (Try watching/listening to such Blu-Ray DVD's as 2012, Patton, Knowing, and The Day After Tomorrow for demonstration-quality sound effects that show-off your KEF's!) This is amazing considering their price. But KEF is also a high-end speaker manufacturer that has obviously scaled down size without sacraficing quality of sound. Just to give you an example of how life-like these speakers are, I have found myself asking my wife if she was talking to me when it was the HD TV program that was responsible, and I can't tell you how many times I have checked my Droid for a call that was actually ringing on the TV.\n\nThe physical appearance of the speakers with their glossy surfaces and egg-like shape appears much more pleasing to the eye than typical box speakers would and produce less edge-induced distortion. Their ingenious engineering of the small bases, that can be reconfigured for wall and stand mount as well with the changing of just one bolt, is also admirable.\n\nI bought the stands for the 3001 satellites. They are NOT glossy but rather dull black. Still, they look nice with the speakers but are rather pricey at $230 a pair. I guess if you can afford the speakers, you should be able to afford the stands, though. I bought another pair of satellites and stands to get a 7.1 system. It is even better than the 5.1.\n\nMy only complaints are two. When using bare wire, attaching speaker wire to the satellites is a bit frustrating for my fingers. I bought some Monster banana plugs that make the connection tasks just plain easy, and I heartily recommend you do the same. Banana plugs also make connection to the receiver a breeze, as well. Second, I find that the center speaker's extra midrange makes the dialog a bit less easy to hear clearly, but that could have to do with other factors such as placement on the surface of my low entertainment cabinet. Wall-mounting it, that would require wall-mounting my Pioneer Kuro 151FD also, might improve the situation.\n\nDo I think I might enjoy the sound of an even more expensive speaker setup? Probably. But I am so satisfied with the KEF (now, 7.1) system, that I am not even considering the eventual purchase of a more expensive speaker system unless I win the Lottery, my wife starts teaching full-time again, or Congress passes a flat tax bill. That being the case, I would love to hear what a second KEF sub would do for the sound. That, however, would require the purchase of a 9.2 receiver, another set of satellites, and ... (pleeeze don't tell my wife)..."},"correct_answer":{"kind":"string","value":"This is the first surround system I have ever purchased, so I can't compare it to anything except the Bose system I heard in a Bose demonstration room. I AM, however, an accomplished pianist, composer, and audiophile with a world-class, high-end system in a dedicated listening room for vinyl, Redbook CD, and SACD listening of mostly classical music. So, I know how music SHOULD sound when reproduced properly. Of course, movie soundtracks are not just music. The sound effects are equally important. I have to rely on a 40 year old memory of artillery and exploding mortars but, like everyone else, recent memory of thunderstorms and the like. And movie production often uses artificial means of producing many of the sound effects we hear in movies that they want us to hear as the real thing.\n\nGiven the above, I can honestly say that the KEF 3005 5.1 system is truly remarkable. I would have never expected the satellite speakers alone to produce the upper base that I hear without the subwoofer. And the subwoofer certainly isn't a true sub given its low end specs and room characteristic that, together, make the low bass a bit boomy and fuzzy. Yet, the system as a whole gives a very satisfying listening experience, with no audible distortion and wide frequency and dynamic ranges when used with a Panasonic BD70V Blu-Ray player and a Denon AVR-3310CI receiver (I purchased the Denon bundled with the KEF system). Violins and brass sound very good. I think that if I added acoustic treatment to our great-room as I have to my listening room, the sound would be even more refined, but the WAF (wife acceptance factor) would preclude such treatment.\n\nThe sound of music from the KEF system is not that of my Vandersteen 3a Sigs, but I didn't expect that it would. Still, just considering music, the KEF's provide a musical experience of definite pleasure. You can drive these speakers to volume levels that irk my wife and impress guests without ANY discernible distortion. (Try watching/listening to such Blu-Ray DVD's as 2012, Patton, Knowing, and The Day After Tomorrow for demonstration-quality sound effects that show-off your KEF's!) This is amazing considering their price. But KEF is also a high-end speaker manufacturer that has obviously scaled down size without sacraficing quality of sound. Just to give you an example of how life-like these speakers are, I have found myself asking my wife if she was talking to me when it was the HD TV program that was responsible, and I can't tell you how many times I have checked my Droid for a call that was actually ringing on the TV.\n\nThe physical appearance of the speakers with their glossy surfaces and egg-like shape appears much more pleasing to the eye than typical box speakers would and produce less edge-induced distortion. Their ingenious engineering of the small bases, that can be reconfigured for wall and stand mount as well with the changing of just one bolt, is also admirable.\n\nI bought the stands for the 3001 satellites. They are NOT glossy but rather dull black. Still, they look nice with the speakers but are rather pricey at $230 a pair. I guess if you can afford the speakers, you should be able to afford the stands, though. I bought another pair of satellites and stands to get a 7.1 system. It is even better than the 5.1.\n\nMy only complaints are two. When using bare wire, attaching speaker wire to the satellites is a bit frustrating for my fingers. I bought some Monster banana plugs that make the connection tasks just plain easy, and I heartily recommend you do the same. Banana plugs also make connection to the receiver a breeze, as well. Second, I find that the center speaker's extra midrange makes the dialog a bit less easy to hear clearly, but that could have to do with other factors such as placement on the surface of my low entertainment cabinet. Wall-mounting it, that would require wall-mounting my Pioneer Kuro 151FD also, might improve the situation.\n\nDo I think I might enjoy the sound of an even more expensive speaker setup? Probably. But I am so satisfied with the KEF (now, 7.1) system, that I am not even considering the eventual purchase of a more expensive speaker system unless I win the Lottery, my wife starts teaching full-time again, or Congress passes a flat tax bill. That being the case, I would love to hear what a second KEF sub would do for the sound. That, however, would require the purchase of a 9.2 receiver, another set of satellites, and ... (pleeeze don't tell my wife)..."},"documents":{"kind":"list like","value":["Product: The SRH1440 Professional Open Back Headphones provide full range audio with rich bass in a sleek, attractive design. The premium-padded headband with steel frame provides hours of listening comfort. An included storage case, replacement set of velour earpads, and an additional cable ensures years of uninterrupted listening enjoyment.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Superb headphones (1440) when used with the FiiO E17 headphone amp/DAC. High quality.\n\nReview: This review is for the 1440 model. I have used these headphones for about a year off and on. I much prefer my Vandersteen 3a Signature speakers, but my listening room is just below the master bedroom, so when my wife goes to bed, so must the Vandersteens. The 1440's are a far cry from the basic Koss headphones of 50 years ago that I used. The fit is comfortable for headphones. The sound is very refined with a pretty decent bottom end than is well-defined (not boomy). I'm a classical musician turned psychiatrist, and I am still quite particular about ALL of the frequency range contained on CD's. If a headphone can pass the classical music test, it should be able to reproduce anything. Although the phones use plastic, they seem very well made. I am glad to see that Shure hasn't gone the way of other manufactures and begun cutting corners. Highly Recommended.\n\nADDENDUM 7-19-14: I have been listening to these headphones for about a day via the superb FiiO E17 headphone amp/DAC that I have just reviewed. My source: a laptop computer (actual CD's - not a WAV or FLAC file). I now stand convinced that with this setup, I have heard the sound like never before on these headphones. The FiiO E17 is a miraculous piece of equipment costing only $140! On the 1440's, strings are sublime, brass is raspy, and percussion is great! The FiiO is little larger than a slightly-elongated deck of cards. I am not about to tell you that the FiiO can't be bettered. I'm certain it can. But no one should listen to the 1440's without a dedicated headphone amp/DAC. I can now tell you without hesitation that these headphones garner my VERY HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION.","Product: Made from high quality wood with a polished finish, sterile tongue depressors are tasteless, odorless and smooth providing superior patient comfort.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: The perfect tongue depressors. Say \"Ah\"\n\nReview: I don't understand why medical professionals would use tongue depressors that weren't in sterile packaging these days. Paying a few cents more to insure a clean tongue depressors is more than worth my AND my patients' satisfaction that I am not introducing a contaminated product into their mouth. Yes, yes, I know how unlikely an infection would result, but why not just be safe?\n\nThese tongue depressors are smooth and elicit no complaints - other than the knowledge that most patients wonder why their doctors aren't more careful not to make them gag! LOL. I have always educated my patients that I make them gag on purpose to check on cranial nerve function. Great, inexpensive tool for physicians. I hear you can also mix epoxy with them.","Product: Powerful 600 watt DC motor - low noise operation for better food preparation. 14 speeds + soft pulse - allows superior control, select optimal speed/pulse to suit the task, handy push button pulse for exact control when processing soft or delicate foods. Electronically controlled, step less variable speed for optimal processing control. Unique dual safety lock - ensures bowls cannot be opened when unit is on. Usage guide on front panel - quick reference on recommended speed range for individual attachments. Sealed bowls - eliminates leakage or overflowing. Work-bowl capacity: 9 cups (2 L). Attachments included: Universal chopping blade, chops - blends, mixes & purees. Dough hook, powerfully kneads up to 3 lbs. of dough. Cream attachment - for perfect whipping results. Versatile slicing system, includes: fine slicer, fine shredder, coarse grater and cheese grater. Citrus juicer, citrus press fits into the work bowl. Easy cleaning - Dishwasher-safe attachments and bowls. Color: White with blue control knobs 1 Year limited warranty.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Easy to use, intuitive, powerful, easy clean-up. In other words, PERFECT!\n\nReview: This is the first food processor I have ever bought, and for a husband who only occasionally uses it, it is perfect! I have used it for 3 years about once a month for preparing bean dip. Okay, you say, is that all? YES! But what a great job it does. The recipe: 2 cans of kidney beans quickly drained (leave a bit of liquid), chili seasoning, garlic powder, ground red pepper, a few dashes of Red Hot sauce, 3/4 cup diced onion, and salt to taste. It is GREAT!\n\nThe pieces of this powerful \"Kitchen Machine\" fit together exceptionally well and clean up with ease. If it is easy for a man to use for some simple bean dip, just think how much more easily it is to use by someone with even more kitchen experience. If I could give it more than 5 stars, I would. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!","Product: Designed to the highest standards of commercial performance and reliability, the KitchenAid PRO LINE Series Burr Coffee Mill is your key to making the finest coffee and espresso possible. Two precision, flat cutting burrs will grind your coffee to superb consistency, while the low-noise DC motor and gear reduction system work to minimize the frictional heating of the grinds, maximizing your coffees flavor and aroma. The all-metal housing and glass hoppers are not only durable, stylish, and easily cleaned, they help reduce the static cling of coffee grinds common with plastic components. The PRO LINE Series Burr Coffee Mill has been designed for years of heavy use: the durable stainless steel cutting burrs can be easily adjusted to compensate for wear or replaced if damaged. Like the famous KitchenAid Stand Mixer, the PRO LINE Series Burr Coffee Mill features performance that can be enjoyed from generation to generation. The KitchenAid PRO LINE Series: commercial quality for the discriminating home chef. From the company distinguished by its legendary craftsmanship.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: A fine product with minor caveats...\n\nReview: I always try to buy the very best when I can, and I am a believer in the adage \"you get what you pay for.\" So when my wife and I decided on moving up to better cups of coffee in the morning, I started reading reviews of coffee grinders. Alton Somebody on HGTV had a show on coffee making and praised the KitchenAid coffee grinder. The reviews I read were all positive, so I ordered it.\n\nIs this the best coffee grinder out there? Maybe. It is, as another reviewer said, built like a tank (the Abrams, not the Sherman, for you fellow veterans). Since we also use a French Press on weekends, the KitchenAid Pro Line allows us the change the grind size with ease. The resulting grind appears very consistent in size, and frankly it's fun to experiment with the settings. Of course, the conical burs used for grinding the beans are the type serious coffee drinkers MUST have.\n\nYes, the glass bowl that receives the grinds seems a bit fragile, so be carefull when handling it. It's shape seems designed perfectly to fall out of your hands when washing it. Yes, you DO have to bop it when the beans stop falling into the grinding mechanism. The bopping makes much more noise than the grinding which sounds determined but relatively quiet.\n\nSure, the product is not perfect and that is the reason for not giving it five stars. (If I could have, however, 4.5 would have been appropriate.) The unit is a bit pricey, the receiving bowl a bit fragile, the bops a necessity, and the weight as much as that of the coffee maker. BUT, if you are determined to brew the BEST coffee you can every morning, then you HAVE to start with beans and the KitchenAid Pro Line Grinder.\n\nBut don't stop there. We finished out the system with a BUNN BTX-B ThermoFresh Brewermaker, a Premia Water Pitcher, a Bodum Columbia 8-Cup Stainless-Steel Thermal Press Pot, and a Nespresso expresso maker. I actually look forward to waking up and starting the process every morning, and the coffee is wonderful!","Product: Ideal for showcasing your favorite classroom books! Students can easily view and access the books from a tabletop or shelf top. Features an angled base to nest the books and an adjustable book stop so books remain upright. Birch plywood construction. Adult assembly required. 24\"W x 10\"D x 8.5\"H.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Perfect solution for books on the floor, and they look great in Cherry!\n\nReview: This is my review for the Cherry veneer book browser. that I posted for that item. Other than the veneer, they are identical items.\n\nI have a dedicated music listening room in my home in which I both listen and review classical albums. I bought two of these terrific tabletop book browsers, because I had a dozen and a half classical music reference books that I consult when writing my reviews laying around on the floor. I thought that these book browsers might be the solution to organizings what had become unsightly mess of books, so I ordered two of them..\n\nDelivery was prompt. Last night I opened the boxes, removed the contents, sat on the floor, and put them together. The task was relatively easy. The pieces have adhesive letters on them that correspond to an accompanying diagram. It takes a little ability to envision how they go together. Assembly requires only about 15-20 minutes if you use no power screwdriver but rather only the small hex wrench in the hardware ziplock bag that also includes the needed screws. The time is mostly devoted to turning the hex wrench. The holes in the pieces lined up perfectly. If I had to redo the assembly, I would definitely use a power hex screwdriver. It would have reduced assembly time to 5 minutes. The screws are a bit of a chore as the screws have a tight fit. Someone with delicate hands might find screwing in the screws a bit tough if only using the supplied hex wrench. After screwing all of the pieces together you get an extremely sturdy single-shelf book shelf. I have mine sitting on the carpeted floor. I'm glad that I chose the cherry veneer. It looks great.\n\nNow, my reference books are neatly organized on these attractive book browsers, easily accessible, and off the floor finally. For the price, these book browsers are a bargain. I would buy them again if needed without a moment's hesitation. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!","Product: Style meets function with this classic red leatherette storage ottoman. It features button tufting and padded lift off top. Use this piece on its own or as a pair to make a statement in any room. The easy to attach wooden legs feature a light cherry finish which compliments the classic red color. This stylish ottoman has a durable wooden frame with a 250 lb. Weight capacity which can accommodate most guest. Also available in a rich brown color. Spot clean only by hand to clean visible spots or stains. Ottoman Dimensions are 17.5 inches in length, 17.5 inches in Width and 17.5 inches in Height.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Excellent value, attractive, functional\n\nReview: We bought two of these for the small living area on a small houseboat. They arrived undamaged. The dark leather-like look is very attractive. The top opens to the storage space. This isn't the type of ottoman that you can abuse and get away with it. Take your shoes off before you plop you feet up on it, and they will look new forever. The top isn't plush but it is soft enough for comfort whether you sit on it or put your feet up on it. As I recall, all we had to do was screw the wooden feet on each corner and they were ready to use. For the price, they represent excellent value. A very functional item. Recommended without reservation!","Product: A ticket, A tasket, look it's a banana basket. Now you can hang up your green bananas to ripen and put them in the bowl when ready to eat. Measures: 11.02\" L x 4.33\" W x 16.54\" H. Weighs: 1.06 lbs.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Perfect solution for hanging bananas!\n\nReview: What a great idea: something to get your bananas off the countertop and provide a space for other fruit below in the basket. Very, very clever. The holder is satin nickel, but it has a sheen. The only thing this holder doesn't have is a way to keep one banana off the top, but my wife has balanced one on the top. Now, that's a bit of a trick. The holder takes up little space on the counter, certainly less than a bunch of bananas. It sits securely on the counter and has never fallen over. The thing looks cool, too! I can't think of a better way to keep those dark spots off the greater curvature of the fruit. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!","Product: Keep your CD collection organized with this sleek flip-rack. Constructed of clear acrylic and designed to store up to 20 CDs - cases flip for easy viewing. Attractive enough to display on a shelf or tabletop, yet also tucks away easily in a drawer. Line up several CD racks to organize your entire music collection! CD rack dimensions: 6\"W x 16\"D x 1\"H. . Made in America\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: A great way to organize single-disc CD's\n\nReview: Understand from the outset that these CD Flip Trays only hold single-disc CD cases or those 2-disc CD cases of the same thickness as the singles. If you have the thicker 3- or 4-disc CD cases you are out of luck. The trays are ingenious. You can store your CD's and flip them to see the covers. They are very well-made sturdy and attractive pieces. I bought eight and all but one had rubber feet, so they won't scoot around on slick surfaces such as glass end tables.\n\nThe best way to store your CD's are in covered cases like THE CUBE that protect your CD's from dust, but for temporary display, these Clear CD Flip Trays are perfect. Highly Recommended!!","Product: Experience extra comfort and control with this wireless mouse that features an ergonomically designed soft rubber grip. High-definition optical tracking enables responsive cursor control. Advanced wireless technology and tiny receiver give you reliable performance. Automatic sleep mode turns off the mouse when youre not using it to conserve battery power. Connector/Port/Interface: USB; Left/Right Hand Use: Left/Right; Mouse Technology: Optical; Wired/Wireless: Wireless.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Great little wireless mouse and nano receiver!\n\nReview: I was very apprehensive about a wireless mouse before buying my first laptop about 10-12 months ago. I had always used a desktop computer with a wired mouse except a couple of times when I used my wife's laptop with her M305. I am happy to report that this Logitech M305 works like a charm. The battery lasts forever. I haven't had to replace the battery yet, and I leave it on all the time except when I am transporting it and the laptop in a laptop case. I find it easy to use and have experienced no problems whatsoever. I was worried that the smaller size might offer some problems for me, but there have been none. I even bought a spare for the office, which brings up an important point. The nano receiver that comes with the mouse won't work for another M305, so plan on keeping them together as a unit. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!","Product: The color touch screen and sculpted buttons, organized into logical zones with backlighting, give you easy, one-touch access to your home entertainment - even in the dark. Just one press and you're watching a DVD or your favorite TV channel. The ergonomic design fits comfortably in your hand, and because it's rechargeable, you won't need to worry about buying new batteries. With support for more than 5,000 brands, you can control home entertainment devices that you own today or will buy tomorrow. Our online software guides you through setup, and our live customer support team is available if you need help.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Very good but not quite universal ...\n\nReview: Other reviewers have articulated this remote's many positive features. And there are many. Were it not for its few but significant shortcomings, it would warrant an easy 5-star rating for me. Still I do use the Harmony One instead of my other remotes 95% of the time. That being said, let me point out some details that Harmony could revise in future remotes that I think would enhance the Harmony One's utility for most users, especially those of us who are older.\n\n1. While black may be the color of the day in electronics, it makes the buttons of this remote less easy to visually distinguish from the background surface. Shadows are by definition dark. Unlike remotes of a lighter color, such as the DirecTV RC64R remote, the individual buttons of the Harmony One cast shadows on a black background. I wish Logitech had produced the One with a lighter-colored surface.\n\n2. Shiny surfaces look cool, but light reflections make the printed words or symbols on the buttons more difficult to read. I wish Logitech had used a non-reflectice surface surrounding the buttons.\n\n3. It is clear that Logitech didn't beta-test this remote with the over-60 crowd. A slight decrease in the space between buttons and a slight increase in button size and print size would have made the buttons easier to read without resorting to reading glasses. Younger users, please don't scoff at this. Presbyopia begins about 40 years of age as the lens becomes less flexible. We all go there eventually.\n\n4. One reviewer referred to the Harmony One as slick. And slick it is! It slips out of your hand more easily than the DirecTV remote mentioned above. Though a bit heavier and thicker, the DirecTV remote is much easier to grasp and retain in hand. It only slips out of my hand when I'm eating some great New York style pizza!\n\n5. The Harmony One separates the remote into areas of buttons with related functions. I wish those thin silver lines that separate the areas were also back-lit, or Logitech had backlit with alternating colors for alternation functional areas (even better). Again, it would have made the remote easier to navigate in low light conditions.\n\n6. When compared to the DirecTV remote, the choice of the up, down, left, right buttons that border the OK button makes them less easy to use than the arrangement on the DirecTV remote.\n\n7. I am less impressed with the utility of the screen than others seem to be. The six screen \"buttons\" are a better fit for slender fingers than larger ones. When tapping the lower right button, I end up hitting the \"device\" bar more often than I would like if trying to do so with one hand. Using four buttons instead of six would have been more to my liking, but this is more of a personal preference. In fairness to Logitech, you can just program only the top four buttons and resolve this issue.\n\n8. Does anyone use the number buttons very often? I don't, so I wish Logitech (and the other remote manufacturers) would have made them as horizontal elongated buttons like the Guide and Info buttons. That would have saved space and enabled more function buttons.\n\n9. I programmed the remote for channel level (a Denon AVR-3310CI function). I can get the initial GUI screen to come up but no matter how I program it, I cannot get the up or down direction to work on this screen, making it useless. I guess this is one function that I will HAVE to use the Denon remote for.\n\n10. You can get a custom button for the screen to replace the absent Red, Green, Yellow, and Blue buttons, but come on, Logitech. Those colored buttons are on almost all remotes, these days. There is just no excuse not to have the colored buttons on a current Harmony model.\n\nSo, in view of my complaints and recommendations, why did I give the remote 4 stars? Because it is difficult to harbor a grudge against a \"universal\" remote. I'm glad I don't have to use four remotes all the time (DirecTV DVR, Panasonic BD70V Blu-Ray & VHS player, Denon AVR-3310CI receiver, Pioneer 151FD plasma TV).\n\nThe Harmony One is better than having to use multiple remotes, but as currently configured, it is NOT the best. For example, if you have an AV receiver, you will find some functions for which the Harmony One does not have a corresponding key AND cannot be programmed using a custom button. It is likely that you will have to resort back to your AV receiver remote more than your others, not surprizing since the receiver is likely to be the most complicated of your gear. So, be realistic with your expectations for the Harmony One. It will enable you to to drastically cut back on use of other remotes, but you will not be able to just pack the others up and put them in a closet.","Product: 18 songs, 1993\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: One of the most astonishing and well-recorded soundtracks ever composed for film!\n\nReview: I am a classical musician at heart but not by profession, as I turned to a different career path while in music school. As such, I am always listing to the soundtracks of movies while I'm watching them. Randy Edelman is one of a small group of film composers to whom I am grateful for not wasting his considerable talent in any other field of endeavor. His score to the epic movie, Gettysburg, captures in exquisite detail the emotional content of the tragic war between ourselves that occurred 150 years ago. If you are one of the few who have been to war, you will agree that those emotions are all part of the experience, several occurring together at most times.\n\nThere is no art form better able to find our heart than music and only the senses of vision and smell even come remotely close by comparison. Music can transport you across time and set emotions vibrating. This music certainly confirms this. Edelman translates both the tragic and the heroic, the courageous and the fearful, and the victorious and the defeated into musical expression that moves directly to the deepest parts of our souls.\n\nTechnically, the sonics of the recording are equally stunning. The soundscape is deep and extends laterally past the loudspeakers. Bass instruments and tympani are recorded with astonishing clarity and are will-defined. This is a recording made for audio systems with subwoofers. I have such a system, and I can't begin to describe how overwhelmingly impactful the recording is on a high-end system. It is just astonishing.\n\nEdelman's score is one sublime melodic line after another, and the orchestration raises them to sublime heights. If ever a score served a motion picture as well or better than the screenplay or the cast, it is this one. I can't recommend it more highly!","Product: CD\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Superb Rhapsody and American in Paris from America's Heartland\n\nReview: George Gershwin is an American legend and represents the first not-so-secret passageway between jazz and classical worlds. His songs and Porgy and Bess are clearly influenced by the jazz idiom but stand on the popular music side of the passageway. The Three Preludes for Piano, Rhapsody in Blue, and An American in Paris ARE the passageway, and this disc presents the latter two in performances by Erich Kunzel and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra on this splendid Telarc disc from 1981.\n\nRhapsody in Blue is one of Gershwins signature compositions. It was composed in 3 weeks in 1924 in response to a commission for a jazz concerto by Paul Whiteman for his orchestra. Two years later, Ferde Grofe revised the work for symphony orchestra. To say that Rhapsody in Blue became a success is a gross understatement. More importantly over the years, it has served as one of the greatest crossover pieces ever written and has introduced millions to the outskirts of the classical realm. The work incorporates a wonderful melody with syncopated rhythms characteristic of Tin Pan Alley and jazz in general. The present performance is performed by classical musicians led by one of the finest pops conductors ever to wield a baton. The music speaks for itself. The performance is beyond reproach. Eugene List, a prodigy of Julliards Olga Samaroff (who also spawned Rosalyn Turek, Julius Katchen, and two of my own teachers, Maurice Hinson and Joseph Battista), plays flawlessly. His technique is an easy match for the considerable demands of the Rhapsody. His rounded tone is perhaps more successful than his adaptation to the jazz idiom but only slightly less so. The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra plays with energy and conviction.\n\nRemove the piano from Rhapsody in Blue, and you have the essence of An American in Paris, composed just a few years after the Rhapsody. Once again, Gershwin, a superb songwriter, gave a fabulous melody orchestral life. And once again, the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and Erich Kunzel perform as though the jazz idiom is their home turf.\n\nThis album is a perfect way to begin a small collection of Gershwin works. The performances are magnificent, and the non-remastered analogue sound is Telarc at its best. How could you possibly go wrong? VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!","Product: Fennell,Frederick ~ Stars & Stripes/Marches & More\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: More stunning wind music from Frederick Fennell. Perfect sonics.\n\nReview: This was my second album by Frederick Fennell and the Cleveland Symphonic Winds and it, like the first, is awash with superbly played and recorded wind music. Beginning with Arnaud's Three Fanfares from which the Olympic fanfares originate, through a number of marches and Sousa's Stars & Stripes Forever, and finally to Percy Grainger's beautiful Lincolnshire Posy, the Cleveland Symphonic Winds razzle and dazzle again and again.\n\nEach piece is superbly played. Brass, flutes, and woodwinds are exceptional as always. The entire disc is thrilling. Sonics couldn't be more stunning. There is a perfect amount of reverberation. Depth of soundstage is excellent and center fill is, as well. This is fantastic band music with both the familiar and not so familiar. My personal favorite is Horkstow Grange in Grainger's Linconshire Posy. And if Stars & Stripes Forever doesn't stir you up a bit, I'll be very surprised. The disc is just one gem after another and is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!","Product: Over 60 minutes of light classical favorites from the legendary conductor's 50 years at the helm of the Boston Pops.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: The very best marches and the like played by the Boston Pops!\n\nReview: The title of this extraordinary album is misleading to garner attention. It actually contains only a few standard U.S. military marches. But what Stars and Stripes Forever DOES contain is one of the nicest collections of marches, and patriotic songs you are likely to find, and all performed by the Boston Pops and conducted by Arthur Fiedler. This is the orchestra that started the pops orchestra movement in 1885. It consisted primarily of Boston Symphony players and generally not the 1st chairs. Arthur Fiedler was the longest serving conductor (1930-1979).\n\nThis album is full of ear candy, from classical greats such as the Triumphal March from Verdis Aida to great traditional military marches such as Bagley National Emblem March and of course Sousas wonderful Stars and Stripes Forever. The performances could not be more grand, and the sound could not have held up better. This is a stupendous disc and I give it my HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION!!","Product: Enjoy all the energy and excitement of military marches as conductor Felix Slatkin leads the band! Includes Taps; Revielle; Stars and Stripes Forever and more!\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: An essential disc for military band lovers. Stunning sonics.\n\nReview: Here is one of those perfect albums, with content, performance, and sonics all stellar. It is an album of military band music that was originally recorded in 1958!!! The album also demonstrates what careful digital remastering from original session tapes is capable of producing. For this compilation, experienced band conductor Felix Slatkin pulled together 70 of the best musicians. Many had previously played in military bands. He calls them the Concert Arts Symphonic Band, and they are absolutely phenomenal!\n\nThe album begins with Reveille and moves on to 14 well known service anthems and marches. The album concludes with Taps. The closest album to this one is Fennell's Stars and Stripes. Honestly, this music is played as well as any I have ever heard. Especially if you have ever served in the Armed Forces, this album is essential. And don't be surprised if you get a little choked up. The music is that thrilling. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED !!!","Product: 1988\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: A reference recording of sound, interpretation, and depth of emotion\n\nReview: I had the original LP back in the early 1960's and with such a limited collection at the time, I can't tell you how many times I listened to it. Back then you had A record of a piece, not THE record. I later purchased the Colin Davis/Concertgebouw recording and since CD's were easier to play than records, Davis became THE CD. Of course the days of one recording of a favorite piece has passed the way of my hair (gone). Now, I look for the definitive recording as long as it meets MY standard of providing me a great listening experience, i.e. a recording must have great sound with an interpretation that dovetails with my innate sense of musicality and depth of emotion.\n\nA few weeks ago I purchased this CD and am playing it a second time as I write this review. I am an emotional listener. A great piece performed well will produce tears at emotionally intense climaxes and particularly beautiful softer passages. I can tell you that Munch passes the tear test. Davis, despite a very good interpretation and sound to match, doesn't. Now, I remember the intense feelings I felt 40 years ago when I first listed to the LP, and I am feeling them again.\n\nI don't remember all of the details of the story, now, but I do recall that the symphony was a product of rejected love -- such matters that I help patients work through daily in my office. Fortunately, Berlioz had a supreme talent that could take the intense internal emotional pain he must have experienced and give it an outward life by the creation of music. In other words, we actually have a window to the pain of Berlioz. Very few of us have not experienced similar rejection at some point in our lives, and we can identify to one degree or another with Berlioz's despair. This is especially true because of how exquisitely the composer translated those feelings into music. The next time you listen to Munch's emotionally charged account, let you mind drift back to the rejection you most intensely experienced. I think you will agree that Munch was both inside the music and mind of Berlioz. Davis is less likely to produce the same intense experience.\n\nIt isn't so much that the quality of the recorded sound makes this a better recommendation. It is that this high quality of sound provides a cleaner conduit for the music to affect us emotionally. Isn't that what music is supposed to do? This recording is a rare gem. I only wish that more stars were available for me to give it!","Product: CD\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Excellent but doesn't top Tureck.\n\nReview: Murray Perahia's Goldberg Variations comes from a pianist who can give a great performance from a wide range of musical periods. He is rather unique in that regard. His present recording proves to be a potential contender and a sharp contrast to Glenn Gould's more rigid 1955 recording, Perahia demonstrates a more romantically-conceptualized Goldberg and should appeal to a greater number of non-musician listeners who enjoy Gould's 1981 recording. The 1981 Gould version is a more contemplative but not necessarily more successful than his 1955 version. Perahia's performance uses more pedal than characteristic of Gould, and there are points that the performance begins to sound a bit Chopinesque. If you have the space for third recording of the Goldberg Variations, the you should consider Perahia's. Of course, neither overthrow my favorite -- Tureck, who provides a more moving interpretation.","Product: CD\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Probably the greatest set of Bruckner symphonies ever recorded!\n\nReview: This is a set of Bruckner Symphonies No. 1-9 featuring Herbert von Karajan conducting the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra (his second set - the first was recorded on EMI). It may be the supreme Bruckner recording achievement. These recordings date back to 1975-1981.\n\nAt first, the dated sound of the recordings is distracting at times but once you begin hearing through the sound to the performance, you are in another world. After considerable listening, I find little to complain about regarding the sonics of this traversal. Yes, yes, superb digital recordings may have that ultimate clarity, but what good is it if that clarity only permits you to hear more clearly lesser interpretations? The Berlin Philharmonic, as expected, play as though Bruckner is in their blood. And it is.\n\nAll of Bruckner's symphonies share common characteristics. First they tend to be works that inspire such terms as massive, monumental, deeply moving, spiritual, intense, and massive with frequent intermediate climaxes. There is nothing casual about Bruckner. It is as though Bruckner took Gustav Mahler's concept of massive scale and built upon them, reaching heights that to this day have never been exceeded.\n\nSecond, despite the appropriateness of these adjectives, the symphonies also contain some of the most sublimely lyrical music to be found anywhere. Examples abound, but take the 2nd movement of his 3rd Symphony as a case in point.\n\nThird, Bruckner's symphonies include pauses within movements. It is as though Bruckner knew that his symphonies were of such intensely-massive and other-worldly proportions that his earth-bound listener's minds and souls would periodically need to catch a breath.\n\nFourth, Bruckner makes heavy use of volume contrasts that sometimes are sudden shifts and gradual crescendos and decrescendos at others. Except during slow movements, these contrasts occur quite frequently. It is as though he is exercising your very sense of predictability, much as Kahlil Gibran said, \"... sifting you to free you from your husks.\"\n\nFifth, these symphonies all seem to be reaching for God in Heaven. Bruckner was a deeply religious man, and his music was his conduit to the spiritual realm. Throughout his music, the structure appears reaching for that difficult-to-define spiritual realm that words are woefully inadequate to describe. But this almost-anguished reaching has an emotional effect on the listener. While unable to describe it, the listener has awareness of it.\n\nThe sixth and final characteristic of Bruckner symphonies is their ability to stir something deep inside the listener. Sensitive listeners are moved by Bruckner's music in a manner that is different from their reactions to simple musical beauty. As a psychiatrist, I see this happen in therapy frequently when a well-chosen interpretation moves past the patient's unconscious defenses and reaches the deepest emotional part of that individual's unconscious mind where it evokes immediate tears.\n\nIt may well be that the success and quality of performance of a Bruckner symphony may best be evaluated by the degree to which the six common characteristics are realized by the conductor and his orchestral forces. Said another way, if the performance is true to Bruckner's intentions, the listener will be affected emotionally and forever changed as a result.\n\nAlmost everything in Karajan's Bruckner seems right - tempo, sonorities, dynamics, and intensity. This is the way Bruckner is supposed to sound. And because of that single fact, this set is absolutely and most highly recommended!\n\n*****************************************************************************************************************************************\n\nWhat follows, for those interested, are my transcribed notes for each symphony as presented in the sequence of the discs.\n\nSymphony 1: (Linz) (Remember there were two previous symphonies (0 - zeroica -- and 00 or Study Symphony). Bruckner himself called this a saucy besom. It is a river after weeks of rain. It doesn't give the listener his best melodic lines but what is there is attractive and intense. Instead there are repeated, strongly-rhythmic phrases. Karajan gives a dynamic, thrusting performance. Sound is sketchy initially in the 1st Movement. (Jochum/BPO is best.)\n\nSymphony 5: Another emotionally-charged and delightful symphony. Bruckner has settled into a style he will stay with. Karajan matches the intensity. The 2nd movement is a long Adagio of great beauty. The 4th Movement Finale at 24+ minutes can tire me out. As the symphony concludes, the brass and tympani bring things together. The BPO sounds wonderful. Sonics are excellent. (Jochum/Concertgebouw 1986 is also superb.)\n\nSymphony 3: (Nowak) Possesses some of the greatest lyrical beauty in all of Bruckner's music, especially the 2nd Movement.\n\nSymphony 4: A superb account recorded in 1975 that is moving without being mushy. Karajan's reading of the 4th reveals the power of the music. I have found that with other conductors' slow movements, I find my mind wandering. Not so with Karajan, who maintains enough intensity to keep me with him as he always does in the faster movements.\n\nSymphony 2: What a beautiful work it is. It's a winner. Sound is excellent. (Some believe the best performance is by Stein/VPO. I don't.)\n\nSymphony 6: A constant beating undercurrent that serves to increase tension opens the work. Lyrical elements prevail for a time before Bruckner's power takes on an increasing role.\n\nSymphony 7: One of my favorites. The power announces itself almost immediately. The secondary themes in 1st movement are so beautiful - like shelters from the storm. 1st movement finale splendid. 2nd movement opens with sublime almost-melancholic reaching, resolving to peace. 3rd movement is fantastic Scherzo. 4th movement shows off Berlin brass. Very powerful. (Jochum/BRSO is better and has even bigger sound.)\n\nSymphony 8: (Haas) This is Bruckner's most monumental symphony thus far. The 1st Movement is notable for strong contrasts. Bruckner's most monumental work so far, and so emotionally moving. 2nd Movement Scherzo reveals rapid intensification to brass choir and repeated motifs to minor climax. Always in Bruckner, there are frequent crescendos, intensification, false conclusions. 3rd Movement is characterized by serene, anguishing music in minor. Melancholic. The 4th Movement is powerful and solemn with heightened intensity. (Wand in Lubeck Cathedral is amazing.)\n\nSymphony 9: Bruckner raced against time to complete this symphony but died with only three movements completed. Karajan gives a great performance, but the sound can't quite compare to Leitner and Giulini. Karajan, however, may reign supreme in the lyrical sections. Oddly, his tempo in the 1st Movement is slightly faster than his two principal competitors. Rather unKarajan-like. Sonics are excellent. (Giulini/VPO and Leitner/SRSO also great and maybe better. Leitner could be the best.)","Product: In celebration of Chopin Year--2010 being the 200th birthday of the sui generis Polish genius--Nelson Freire, a Chopin interpreter of unique discernment, records the beloved Nocturnes. Freire is an acknowledged master of the keyboard. His recordings for Decca have won numerous awards, including a Gramophone Award, Diapason d'or, Grand Prix de l'Acadmie Charles Cros, and Choc du Monde de la musique. Freire is past winner of the Dinu Lipatti Medal, first prize winner of the International Vianna da Motta Competition and was France's Victoires de la Musique's \"Soloist of the Year\" in 2002. A pianist's pianist who's playing \"sings\" with every refinement of the school of bel canto, Nelson Freire is an artist whose profile deserves the attention of a wider classical market. In the opinion of The Dallas Morning News, \"Any new Freire recording is virtually self-recommending.\" 2 CDs for the price of 1!\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Stellar, emotion-laden (and emotion-evoking) Nocturnes with a very close perspective\n\nReview: I have listened to and played Chopin for well over five decades, and this is as perfect a set of Nocturnes as I will likely ever hear. Within just a few measures of the first in B-flat minor, there were tears in my eyes. Freire never tries to impress. He just plays what this exquisite music calls for. I have heard a great many technicians in my life but few musicians. Freire is not only a musician. He has moved into the heart of Chopin and returned to show us what sublime actually sounds like. Each Nocturne is played as perfectly as the one before. I kept waiting for an unsatisfying interpretation. There were none. A few quibbles here or there. That's all. Technically, Freire's touch produces beautifully-rounded tone. The piano sound is, as well, although the recording gives us an up close and personal perspective. In the end, that perspective actually enhances the intimacy of the listening experience.\n\nThis is as perfect as music-making ever gets. I cannot recall the last time a recording hit me so emotionally so quickly. The performance just reminds me of the lyrics to the Lieder piece the lyrics of which begin with, \"Oh lovely art.\" If you love Chopin's piano music as I do, then you must hear this astonishing set of Nocturnes. You will hear all others differently for the rest of your life.","Product: The legendary brass section of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, long recognized for its power, dynamism and lyricism, takes center stage in the latest release from the Grammy-winning CSO Resound label. Cheered for their performances and recordings of Mahler, Bruckner and Strauss, the CSO Brass turns its focus to works by Gabrieli, William Walton and J.S. Bach, as well as symphonic works arranged for brass and percussion by Silvestre Revueltas (Sensemay) and Prokofiev (Three Scenes from Romeo and Juliet). Percy Grainger's Lincolnshire Posy, beloved by generations of wind-ensemble devotees, is transcribed here in a stunning arrangement by San Francisco Symphony trombonist Timothy Higgins. Virtuoso arrangements by Joseph Kreines of three scenes from Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet and Walton's Crown Imperial feature the entire brass ensemble in thrilling fashion.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Unparalleled performance, stunning sonics!\n\nReview: I have long been a raving fan of brass and have multiple albums like the extraordinary ones by Frederick Fennell and various ensembles he has directed over the years. This CSO Brass can hold their own with any ensemble around and it is proven with absolute certainty within this album of incredibly superb sonics and sublime performances.\n\nThe album is comprised of arrangements of standard classical fare for brass and is uniformly successful. There isn't one bad apple in the bunch. In fact, each piece is a music fest. The original works span from baroque to 20th century. I won't go into detail about each individual track, but I was particularly impressed with the three Gabrieli tracks. The most stellar to my ears is a Canzon on Track 3. The technique of the players is truly mind-blowing and has to be heard to be believed. In total, the disc contains 15 tracks of sublime brass pieces from the works of six composers including Walton, Bach, Grainger, Revueltas, Prokofiev, and of course Gabrieli.\n\nIf you too are a lover of brass, then you simply must have this glorious disc! The performances are unparalleled and the sonics are stunning. If this had been an LP, I would already have played the grooves out of it! VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!","Product: EMI Classics releases an exclusive 4-CD collection honoring the career of Finnish conductor Paavo Berglund who died earlier this year at the age of 82. Best known for his interpretations of Jean Sibelius s symphonies, the set features all seven symphonies the core of Sibelius s complete works. This collection also contains a number of tone poems ranging from his early Karelia Suite to his final completed work, Tapiola, and is truly a magnificent introduction to this masterly composer. Berglund leads the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra in these historical recordings that have been unearthed from the archives after a long period of not being available. Berglund studied the violin and by 15 had decided to make his career in music, gaining experience from playing and restaurants and dance orchestras. In 1949 he joined the first violin section of the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra. He was greatly impressed by Furtwngler when he brought the Vienna Philharmonic to Helsinki and he was soon studying in Vienna where his friends in the orchestras allowed him access to rehearsals and recording sessions. He formed his own chamber orchestra in 1949 and co-founded the Helsinki Chamber Orchestra four years later. In 1955 he started his long association with the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra first as Associate Conductor and then Chief Conductor. It was a series of Sibelius Centenary Concerts in 1965 that brought him to Bournemouth, becoming the principal conductor of the city s Symphony Orchestra in 1972 and over the next seven years made numerous recordings including the ones found in this collection.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Extremely successful cycle that competes well with Davis' flashier one\n\nReview: This is a highly-regarded Sibelius symphony cycle with the late Paavo Berglund conducting the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. The recordings were made between 1972 and 1978 at various venues in and around London and Southampton. The set also includes the tone poems. Sound is uniformly excellent.\n\nThese are strong readings with more introspection, a broader perspective, and better attention to the lyrical elements than Davis but no less intensity. One of Berglund's strengths is his ability to so carefully build long crescendos, another desired consequence of his broader perspective.\n\nAll the symphonies receive excellent or better performances with superb performances in 2, 3, 5, 6, and 7. Symphony 2, 5, and 7 are especially noteworthy. Berglund's responsiveness to the lyrical elements of Sibelius, so apparent in Symphony 2, never diminishes the grand, monumental or majestic. Symphony 5 is a total success and concludes in a blaze of carefully-shaped monumental grandeur. Symphony 7 is performed with monumental proportions. Finlandia, not surprisingly, is broadly interpreted giving it a more melancholic character as it should have prior to the tempo quickening. This is one of the most superb performances I have heard and is reminiscent of Karajan's interpretation. When the woodwind chorale begins, the character lightens as the Berglund begins his long crescendo towards the glorious coda.\n\nDespite remastering, the sound is slightly congested at peaks but not enough to diminish enjoyment of the cycle in any meaningful way. Fortunately, the soundfield is well-distributed, unlike Davis' recording. The basses and tympani are strong but definition is less than ideal. Violins are generally natural-sounding but become a bit strident at some volume peaks. Tempi are less urgent than Davis but the performances reveal no lack of intensity and Berglund's broader approach seems better suited to Sibelius. Berglund's account of the symphonies is hugely successful with excellent sonics. Recommended highly.","Product: GEORGE SZELL - GEORGE SZELL CONDUCTS BEETHOVEN - 5 CD SET\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: One of the 3 or 4 finest sets and rightfully a classic!\n\nReview: This set of Beethovens Nine Symphonies performed by George Szell and the Cleveland Orchestra and recorded between 1962 and 1967 has enjoyed classic status for decades. And well it should! There isn't a less-than-excellent performance among these five Sony discs, and most are stellar. The symphonies are not presented in order of composition but rather economically so they would fit on the fewest discs. This is somewhat of a pain if you seek to follow the master as his symphony writing matured over the years. Still, the set is such a bargain that you find it difficult to complain. The sound may not be exemplary but given the age of the recordings, it requires absolutely no statements of caution or apology and you bass-lovers will never feel short-changed.\n\nAs for the music, it is simply sublime. Szell certainly had the pulse of Beethoven, and I found myself so engrossed in the music that I would have to repeat movements so that I could pound out the review. It is difficult to pick out favorites, but I found Szells Pastoral (coupled with Symphony 1 on the first disc) to be particularly exquisite. This was my first LP of a Beethoven symphony as a prepubescent and has always been one of my favorites. In Szells hands, it just flows beautifully, with the sonorities bringing more than the occasional tear to my eyes. Szell allows us to seemingly peer into the heart of Beethoven. The brass of the 3rd Movement were wonderfully raspy. The ensuing storm felt like one! The final movement had no shortage of drama and ended with soft intensity. After over six decades of listening to Beethoven, I am still in awe of the vast range of mood and intensity that he conveyed in his music. And Szell is second to none in his ability to draw that same range from an orchestra. This ability is well-demonstrated in the Eroica on Disc 2. The energy is almost palpable, especially in the fast movements. Symphony 7 (Disc 3 with Symphony 4) is as fine a performance as I have ever heard and, again, the intensity is arresting. Ditto for Symphony 5 (Disc 4 with Symphony 2), but Kleiber still reigns supreme. Symphony 9 for me was the least successful in the set. The Ode to Joy dragged a bit too much for my tastes.\n\nThe playing of the Cleveland Orchestra is perfect. Such precision would be the envy of any orchestra. So, you have the finest symphonies ever composed (and Overtures), intensely interpreted, spectacularly performed, and at a price not to be beaten. Needless to say, Very Highly Recommended!","Product: Symphony No. 1 in G Minor; Symphony No. 2 in A Major.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Strong performances of 2nd tier Russian symphonic music\n\nReview: Vasily Kalinnikov was a Russian composer of the late 19th century known especially for the first of his two symphonies. He was well-regarded by Tchaikovsky, which speaks well for him. In this Naxos disc, Theodor Kuchar leads the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine in those two symphonies.\n\nIn Symphony 1, Kalinnikov demonstrates that he was a better than average melodist. Orchestration is fairly representative of the Great Five of Russian music - bold, virile and of conventional harmonies. Sound is a little on the reverberant side but not to the point of obscuring detail. There are no major misses in the rather predictable form of the symphony and although it is not particularly memorable, it is a very pleasant symphony to hear. The second movement is particularly sweet. The 4th movement begins with the theme of the 1st movement but moves past it in short order to new material.\n\nSymphony 2 is the more interesting of the two symphonies. The 1st movement gives evidence of more mature ideas orchestrated with greater complexity and weight. The 2nd movement opens with the initial melodic motif from the 1st movement and develops into a lament-like piece of sublime beauty. The 3rd movement is a rather graceful and fleeting scherzo with moments of weight. The 4th movement begins with a lovely Andante cantabile that moves on to an Allegro vivo that concludes with a rather stirring but overly-repetitive coda.\n\nThe Ukraine orchestra plays with excellence and precision, and the DDD sound is generally excellent, as well. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for those who want to explore more deeply the composers of late 19th century Russian music. These symphonies may not be 'great,\" but they certainly deserve a larger audience.","Product: CD\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: A beautiful American choral work recorded with superb sound.\n\nReview: John Rutter is one of our most talented contemporary American choral composers (I believe that Lauridsen is the most talented). In tis 1993 recording, Rutter's Requiem is performed by the Turtle Creek Chorale, Dallas Women's Chorus, a small instrumental ensemble, and Joel Martinson under the direction of Timothy Seelig.\n\nThe choral work, organ, and instrumental ensemble blend perfectly for this performance. Rutter is an accomplished melodist, making this Requiem extremely tuneful and easily accessible. Rutter's choral writing and sense of drama is perfect for our time. There is not a weak movement in the entire work. I especially enjoyed the instrumental accompaniment of The Lord Is My Light and My Salvation. The Requiem aeternum is suitably dark with a repeated tympani beat during half of the movement. It then transitions to a lighter, more hopeful and lyrical Kyrie eleison carried by the sopranos. Sanctus is majestic. A Gaelic Blessing is simply sublime.\n\nThe Requiem is performed with superb sound. This is a work that belongs in every choral collection. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!","Product: CD\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Successful compilation of classical candy with stellar sound\n\nReview: People who buy compilations such as this one aren't necessarily looking for definitive accounts of the works but rather a mix of styles that share the quality of being enjoyable to listen to. We classical musicians are looking for an easy way to hear superbly performed musical candy. So, it is a real plus for the first group when almost all of the selections are excellently performed as these are. For those in the second group, a plus with caveats The second plus is that Reference Recordings records these wonderful performances. Both groups win on this plus.\n\nChabrier's Espana Rhapsody receives a stellar, exciting performance. Finlandia is beautifully recorded but lacks the intensity and punch it deserves. Still the work never fails to bring tears to my eyes and does here, as well. Escales has never been one of my favorites and still isn't, although it is a sweet piece. Alfven's Midsummer Vigil is a lively piece but this attribute is lacking the nth degree in this performance. Borodin's Steppes of Central Asia receives an average performance, again lacking any magical quality. Smetana's Moldau is held back by tempo. Tchaikovsky's Capriccio Italien is the longest work on the disc and too often seems it.\n\nOue could sometimes seem uninspired, and he does here. Tempi are a bit on the slow side, which robs the works of their edge. The orchestra performs beautifully, and the sound is simply stellar. For what the intent of this album is, it's a success. But I don't think that most musicians or experienced listeners will be too interested in repeated listening. Highly Recommended for those looking for a fine compilation of classical candy.","Product: CD\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Excellent Grieg A-minor Piano Concerto with equally impressive sonics\n\nReview: Krystian Zimerman performs the Schumann and Grieg A-minor Piano Concertos under the baton of Herbert von Karajan and the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra in this remastered disc originally recorded in the mid-1980's. The real winner here is Karajan and the Berlin Philharmonic which provides a lush orchestral partner to Zimerman, albeit not always on the same page of the hymnal. Zimerman is a talented virtuoso with fantastic technique. Unfortunately, despite remastering, the piano sounds harsh in spots (I'm giving the benefit of the doubt to the pianist and assuming he wasn't banging at the keys). He tends to be too precise and note perfect at the expense of musicality at times.\n\nZimmerman and Karajan wisely don't try to beat the competition with speed but rather give time for the lyrical portions of the concertos to unfold, and they blossom beautifully. The performances come off well but are not the last word in inspired readings. Still, these are a very competent pair of performances and are worth a listen and order if you can afford more than a couple of discs for these concertos. Recommended but not as a frontrunner.","Product: Used audio cassette without case and without art, usado sin caja y sin portada, to a bien.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Mocedades reigns especially in Er es tu!!!\n\nReview: I believe it was in the mid-1970s when Mocedades Er es tu was a top pop hit on the radio. Not understanding a work of Spanish, I thought the lyrics of the refrain were it is true. It was about 40 years later before I happened to hear the music, found it on Amazon, and purchased this disc. It was four years later when I played it for my new bride who was a former Spanish teacher, and she corrected my error. The point of this story is that this group made a lasting impression on this difficult-to-please, classically trained musician. As such, my review will be from the perspective of a classical music lover. So what I really like in this album is entirely about the music, the ensemble, the harmonies, the sonorities.\n\nThese songs usually feature one member of the group as soloist. Many are remakes of American songs. I am not going to tell you that I think that every song on this 2-disc album is a work of art. It isnt. But there are enough songs to easily justify the price of the CD. Amor de Hombre is a delightful song with a wonderful melody. Colores, a remake of an English song, is a lovely duet. Dande Estes is an emotionally moving male solo. Asi Fue Nuestro Amor is a wonderful remake of John Denvers Annies Song. Maitucha Mia is a beautiful song with Mocedades and Placido Domingo, and does he ever let it rip! Un Poco De Amor is a great remake of Somebody to Love by Queen. Solos en la Alhambra is one of the most beautiful pieces in the album with its wonderful modal transitions (going back and forth between major and minor) and soaring melody.\n\nThe piece de resistance for me is not surprisingly Er es tu. This is one of the greatest songs ever written. It is intense, emotional, and demonstrates the amazing talent of Mocedades. The female soloist is just amazing. That simple melody is profoundly sublime.\n\nThere is much great music on these two discs. Only Er es tu crossed the border into the States, but quite a few others certainly should have. The sound is superb. Soundstage is wide and center fill is perfect. So, from musical and sonic perspectives, it is easy to give this album my Very Highest Recommendation!!!","Product: Used CD\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Very likable early to middle Simpson symphonies with great sound.\n\nReview: Robert Simpson, the modern British composer, openly stated his desire to bring modern music back to some sense of structure once epitomized by the symphonies of Ludwig von Beethoven. Simpson's Symphonies Nos. 2 and 4 aptly reflect that goal. In fact, Symphony 2 is scored for the same instrumental forces used by Beethoven in his first two symphonies. In this Hyperion disc, Vernon Handley conducts the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra in performances of those two symphonies that were recorded in 1991 and 1992.\n\nSymphony 2 begins with a quiet pastorally-styled introduction in its first of three movements. It is tonal but, as the accompanying booklet describes, driven by two keys. The movement sounds modern with musical expressions that demonstrate more interest than beauty. As is characteristic of Simpson's works, there is much rhythmic vitality interspersed with interludes of respite. The 2nd movement is a sorrowful statement with brass punctuation in theme and variations form. The 3rd movement is aggressive with an intensely driven character to it. It is frequently punctuated by brass and timpani. The coda is even fiercer.\n\nSymphony 4 requires larger forces than the Beethoven-like ensemble of the Second. In comparison to the more modern, less accessible harmonies on Symphony 2, the Fourth is more tonal and agreeable. It is lively with much play between instruments. The 2nd movement is an impressive demonstration of big, explosive orchestration, and the movement concludes with an agitated climax is the movement's icing on the cake. The slow 3rd movement features a cello solo and comes closest to presenting an extended glimpse of an actual melody. The movement has many moments of beauty. It segues into the 4th and final movement which amounts to a turbulent struggle between minor and major mode with the former remaining dominant throughout most of the movement. The coda is pure excitement with snare leading the charge to a simple end.\n\nSimpson is a very impressive modern symphonist with wonderful orchestrating skills. These symphonies are accessible albeit more so in the Fourth. Sound is exemplary. The cymbals of the Fourth Symphony's 4th movement, in particular are unusually life-like. The music is exciting with moments of exquisite beauty in the Fourth's Andante. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!","Product: Bornemouth Symphony Orchestra, dir. Vernon Handley\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: An astonishingly successful modern symphony with composer commentary and superb sound!!!\n\nReview: How often does one thoroughly enjoy a modern symphony of continuous music lasting over of an hour? For me, not often - unless Robert Simpson composed it. Beginning with a single sustained note played by basses, English composer Robert Simpson's Symphony No. 9 stands as the longest single movement in music history - and fortunately for the listener, it is a movement of extreme interest. Vernon Handley and the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra perform this seminal symphony dedicated to his wife on a Hyperion disc recorded in 1992. Simpson composed his ninth of 11 symphonies in 1987. From listening to the music, it appears Simpson loved his dedicatee.\n\nThis really is an unusual symphony in so many ways. First, it is a modern work that is tonally organized, although there is no conventional sense of key. Second, although the symphony is a continuous movement, it is divided into recognizable sections. Each section reflects a particular thought and mood and played frequently by groups of instruments. Third, the symphony is very accessible due to its melodic and rhythmic vitality, its sharp contrasts of dynamics, group sonorities, exciting tutti climaxes along the way, and general musical interest.\n\nThis is music that easily holds your interest. It is actually difficult to explain, but Simpson really has a unique ability to combine the elements of music to produce very pleasant sounding ideas that unfold in sensible ways. There is a certain congruence in his work that is very satisfying to the ear. Now, don't ask me to analyze all of these sections embodied by this symphony. If you are of an analytic mindset, the accompanying booklet does that for you, the symphony is divided into 17 tracks delineating the sections within the symphony, and an additional track of Robert Simpson explaining the work is also provided. I often find that just sitting back and absorbing modern music is a best way to initially approach modern music, which is exactly what I did when I first listened to this symphony. It was enjoyable, and I can report that repeated hearings only served to increase my appreciation for Simpson's unusually well-orchestrated compositional style.\n\nOnly in modern music do we have the opportunity to hear a composer explain what he was trying to do when he wrote the music. That is precisely what we get following the conclusion of the symphony. Robert Simpson explains Symphony 9 in an illustrated discussion of 18 minutes. I found his talk quite informative and interesting. He explains how he built the symphony off a simple triplet upon which various instrument combine in playing variations. These variations shorten to gain increasing intensity and move up by perfect fourths until arriving at the original D-sharp. The composer goes on to explain the many compositional devices he utilized in Symphony 9. I think you will find the discussion very interesting. I was particularly struck by Simpson's admission of being influenced and inspired by Anton Bruckner. Wouldn't it be helpful to have this kind of introduction and explanation available for every modern work, and wouldn't such commentaries likely increase popular appreciation of modern music? I think it would, indeed.\n\nSymphony 9 is a superb modern symphony, performed by an accomplished orchestra led by an extremely credible conductor, and recorded in superb sound. With reference to the latter, soundstage is wide, center fill is fine, and instrumental timbres are natural-sounding. I enthusiastically give the album my VERY HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION!!!","Product: 24 Préludes op. 28 - Ballade n° 4 / Ivan Moravec, piano\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Definitive \"modern\" account of the Chopin Preludes - now with less treble hardness of the piano sound!\n\nReview: This is almost the identical review I wrote for the original 1996 release of these performances. In the 2009 release, the original release's hard sound of the piano's treble has been tamed with a slight loss of brilliance. This one is much improved in my opinion and now represents the finest account of the Chopin Preludes available.\n\nFrederic Chopin modeled his 24 Preludes after Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier. Before a concert, Chopin would seclude himself with a piano and play through the WTC for memory. Like Bach, Chopin wrote a Prelude in each major and minor key. Each one is a masterpiece with each its own prevailing mood. In the present album, Ivan Moravec performs the set of Preludes and the Ballade No. 4 on the Supraphon label, recorded in 1963.\n\nIn Moravec's hands, the Preludes take on new lives. He plays them with a fresh approach. When you listen to them, you can hear him feeling his way through each of them. Take No. 6 in B minor, for example. If No. 15 is the \"Raindrop Prelude,\" then No. 6 should be the Teardrop Prelude. Its sublime melancholic melody is unparalleled in the piano literature. In contrast, No. 7 in A major is a sweet but brief smile played. No. 9 in E major is performed with serious majesty, but I wish it was less disjointed and more flowing. Moravec demonstrates his superb technique and light touch with No. 10. Unlike the interruptions of No. 9, the Prelude in G-sharp minor which can sound disjointed is flowing. Odd. No. 15 in D-flat major receives the finest performance I have heard. The emotion flows throughout but it never becomes thick and overly dramatic. I have always loved this Prelude, and Moravec more than any pianist conveys perfectly its exquisite and anguished feeling state. No. 20 in C minor was played at Chopin's funeral. It can sound ponderous in some hands but not in Moravec's. The F minor Ballade concludes the disc. It is given a heavenly performance by Moravec who conveys perfectly the intense moods of the work.\n\nThis is the finest set of Preludes I have been privileged to hear. In the original 1994 release, the treble of Moravec's piano could sound hard in loud passages but not so much that it diminished the pure joy of his magnificent interpretations and overall performance. With the new 2009 reissue (and possibly the 1998 reissue), however, the treble hardness has been tamed. We now have not only the finest performances of the Preludes ever but also the finest sound for those performances. For me, this reissue represents the definitive \"modern\" recording of the Preludes. I give this reissue my ABSOLUTE HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION!!!!","Product: This compilation shows an almost perfect Neville performance conducting Academy of St. Martin in The Fields for the four Orchestral Suites and a Violin concerto. Flute soloist William Bennett's remarkably menuet and badinerie (tracks 13 & 14, listen to the samples on this page)are worth the price of the 2 disc set. St. Martin in The Field chamber orchestra performance is neat. A beautiful masterwork.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Superb modern accounts of the Orchestral Suites 1, 3, and 4 with matching sound.\n\nReview: While reviewers argue about which recording of Bachs Orchestral Suites is the reference or definitive recording, the happy fact remains that these are such sublime works that it almost matters only that the conductor/group read music, play it well, and maintain their physiological pulse throughout the recording session. These are works that any solid music-lover will listen THROUGH the recording to the music. Now, I know that sounds heretical and maybe Ive just listened to too many accounts, but as a musician, I can tell you that I haven't listened to a rotten performance of the Suites ever! (Admittedly, there ARE probably terrible performances out there that I haven't heard and hope I never will.) Everybody always has their favorite which no one else can beat but in truth, we are fortunate to have an embarrassment of riches when it comes to the Orchestral Suites, and there is an abundance of very good to superb recordings.\n\nThe present Philips album of the ECO led by Raymond Leppard performing Nos. 1, 3, and 4 is a case in point. I haven't seen stellar professional reviews of Leppards performances of the Suites, and yet these are superb modern accounts that could easily serve as the sole recording in anyones collection. They are expressively performed on modern instruments by a superb chamber orchestra led by a well-regarded conductor. The sound is excellent, with fine soundstage, orchestral sonorities, and good center fill. The ECO plays with precision and has tons of experience with Baroque music. This is a superb album of some of Bachs greatest orchestral music. I really enjoyed Suzukis period accounts that I recently reviewed, and these are their modern instrument equals. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!","Product: CD\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Do we have an emerging successor to Karajan and Wand? Very possibly!\n\nReview: I had heard tidbits about the new female conductor in Germany, but until now had not heard any of the interpretative/conducting products. Here the Australian Simone Young leads the Hamburg Philharmonic in a 2008 SACD recording of Bruckner's 8th Symphony. The conductor chose to use the composers original 1st version dated 1887, reasoning that until the Eighth, Bruckner had never finished a score and started revising it immediately. Be that as it may, in the 1st Movement the original is very noticeably different from a later revision that is richer in texture, has a more complex and interesting rhythm and frankly is more beautiful in my opinion. Put more simply, I don't care as much for the original version, but Young produces a splendid performance nonetheless.\n\nSimone Young's performance proves her to be a gifted Bruckner conductor. Interpretatively, her tempo for the 1st Movement is faster than the norm (though not as fast as Schuricht), while the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Movements are more conventionally paced. The Adagio is gorgeous in every respect. The lyrical elements are performed with an emotionally longing sense. Her treatment of the drama throughout is awe-inspiring and emotionally-evocative for me. This is a conductor who has the depth and power necessary for Bruckner, the essential long view of Bruckner's structure, and who is well on her way to being considered a great Bruckner interpreter. The 4th Movement is very dramatic, intense, and powerful, and it demonstrates the combined effect of all the aforementioned attributes. I would love to hear a second cycle in a decade or so after she has had more time to mature even more in her thoughts on Bruckner. I can only imagine how great that cycle could be. The orchestra plays superbly and is a world-class ensemble. They play with uncommon precision and obvious heart-felt emotion. I am extremely impressed. The Hamburg Phil is definitely ready for prime-time. Where exactly have they been hiding???\n\nThe sonics of the recording are as superb as the interpretation and orchestral playing. Violins are sweet. Brass and winds are very slightly recessed. The base register is not perfectly defined at lower volumes but very close to it, and I suspect this is due to the hall's ambience rather than any deficiency of the recording end of things. Instrument sonorities are very natural and truly beautiful. There is good weight to the recording as there is to Young's reading. The ambience of the hall is almost perfect. I could have stood another second or two of reberberation, but compared to Wand's Lubeck Cathedral venue, it would sound dry.\n\nThis performance of Bruckner's 8th is superb. I think I will try some more of this gifted conductor's Bruckner. I am not about to throw out my Karajan or Wand/Lubeck discs, but I now need to make a place for Simone Young in my top shelf collection. Very highly recommended!!","Product: Tchaikovsky 1812 Overture ~ Tchaikovsky 1812 Overture\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Terrific music played exceptionally well with superb sound\n\nReview: Sir George Solti had one heck of a stay with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and was one of Americas finest conductors. The present album justifies his reputation as an energetic, emotional conductor with splendid accounts of Tchaikovskys 1812 Overture, Romeo and Juliet, and the Nutcracker Suite.\n\nSolti and the CSO give a thrilling account of the 1812 complete with canon and bells. It is intense and emotional to the hilt. Whats more important is that Solti makes it music rather than a mockery of music as it is sometimes performed. The CSO is in great form with superb instrumental timbres, lush violins, thrilling brass a blazing, and well-defined timpani. The sonics are the match of the performance and the clarity of the recording is great.\n\nRomeo and Juliet is better music than 1812, but on this recording it is the 1812 that wins the day. Dont get me wrong. This is a fine, intense account of R&J, just not quite as emotion-laden as the 1812 or as heard in other performances. Still, you can hear the longing, the despair and the tension in two lovers separated by families. The Nutcracker Suite, on the other hand, is magical. From the very first notes of the Overture, you know you are in for a treat. With just the right amount of intensity and animation, Solti provides an energetic and spirited performance of the most popular ballet music ever written. Each dance is supplied with its own unique character and musical identity. When you listen to it you just know that each member of the CSO must have had a great time playing this delightful music. The Waltz of the Flowers that wraps up this wonderful performance is stunning in its animation and sweeping melodic lines and final crescendo to the climax of the work.\n\nThis is terrific music played exceptionally well with superb sound. Highly recommended.","Product: \"No praise can be too high for the playing of Binns, whose fleetness of finger and poetic sensibility are a constant source of delight.\" - GRAMOPHONE Charles Villiers Stanford (1852-1924) was a staunch representative of the Edwardian school in British composing, long out of fashion but having a comeback in our neo-Romantic era. His lovely choral song \"The Blue Bird\" has never gone out of style.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Superb Tintagel and November Woods with extraordinary sonics!\n\nReview: Sir Arnold Bax was an English composer who was raised in wealth and who composed during the first half of the 20th century. He was influenced by his keen interest in the Irish poet Yeats and Irish legend. His music was a blend of romantic and impressionistic musical styles. Generally speaking, Baxs music is rather pleasant and mostly easy-going (despite his occasional intensity), with the public preferring the briefer works over his seven symphonies. On the present Lyrita disc, Sir Adrian Boult leads the London Philharmonic Orchestra in performances of five of Baxs briefer works: Northern Ballad No. 1, Mediterranean, and three symphonic poems The Garden of Fand, Tintagel (the most popular of his orchestral works), and November Woods. The Gareden of Fand and Tintagel are based on Irish legend.\n\nThe disc begins with the first of his two Northern Ballads. The Northern Ballad No. 1 depicts the fiery romantic life of the Scottish Highlands of yesteryear. After a strong brass opening which presents a recurrent melodic motif, the music unfolds with dreamy string passages punctuated by the recurrent melodic motif. Intensity increases to a minor climax which opens a busy, Irish-sounding theme with its origin in the recurrent melodic motif that undergoes development. Dreamy and luxurious string passages wax and wane with oboe, violin, and other instruments taking up the busy theme. Tutti passages are climactic but give way to a calmer period leading up to a final climactic chord. In Mediterranean, we hear a few cultural idioms found around the sea especially Spanish - with passages reminiscent of a ships to and fro.\n\nThe Garden of Fand depicts the calm Atlantic off the Western shores of Scotland, albeit not always calm. He apparently included some weather in his composition. The orchestration demonstrates Baxs superb use of orchestral color. Unfortunately, his orchestrations are better than his creative genius which produced little music that could be described as profound. The Garden is generally easy-going and pleasant. It has a lovely melody surrounded by lush instrumentation, but nothing is especially memorable.\n\nTintagel embodies the sea, Tintagel castle in Cornwall, and connects to the legend of King Arthur. Legend has it that Arthur was conceived in Tintagel. Compared to its predecessors in this album, its orchestration is much more robust, its intensity greater, its tempo and flow more agitated, and the calm that pervades the previous works on this disc is scarcer. Bax comes up with impressive climaxes in Tintagel. The final minutes of the work bring apparent resolution and are an amazing and quite moving orchestration. Its popularity is very understandable. I encourage you to Google photos of the Tintagel area. Its rugged landscape helps understand how exquisitely Bax translated the geography into a splendidly-conceived musical work.\n\nNovember Woods completes this album and is the longest work at 18 minutes. Some view it as Baxs finest tone poem. It begins with a depiction of a stormy day in the woods of late fall. Again, the orchestration is superb with lots of timpani thunder. A more peaceful development section ensues before the storm returns.\n\nThe sonics of this disc absolutely belie the recordings age. They are vivid with superb orchestral sonorities. Soundstage is wide and relatively deep with excellent center fill. While all of the pieces are pleasant, it is for Tintagel and November Woods that I will return to this album. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!","Product: CD\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Superbly played and recorded classical music for tough times\n\nReview: This is an album unlike most that Eiji Oue and the Minnesota Orchestra usually produce. It is a classical album with a singular purpose: to provide respite from our daily storm. There are similar discs out there but not even approaching the quality of Reveries. The recording quality is assured by the label, Reference Recordings. They take sound recording as seriously as anyone, and their goal is to make finer recordings than anyone else. And they generally succeed as this album proves.\n\nThe content of this beautiful album ranges from composers familiar to those outside of classical circles, like Tchaikovsky, to less familiar ones such as Faure and Gounod. They have in common the single trait of being superb melodists. Each piece is built upon a beautiful melody surrounded by exquisite orchestration. Each was composed with a slow, relaxed tempo. Violins abound because they can be soothing, but also flutes and even French horns.\n\nTechnically, the sound of Reveries is of the highest quality. Instrumental timbres, the air surrounding instruments, and their definition are all superb. So is the amount of reverberant ambience, and clarity, and depth of soundstage, and center fill. All this adds up to sumptuous sound.\n\nReveries is an album to place in the CD player and then sit down, listen, and let the tension drain into the ether. Highly recommended if you happen to live in today's hectic, chaotic world. (Even if you don't, buy it for someone who does.)","Product: OND 1016; ONDINE - Finlandia;\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Another great Rouse disc with some wonderful surprises.\n\nReview: American modern music composer Christopher Rouse was Born in Baltimore, MD in 1949. His music education began with an undergraduate degree from Oberlin and graduate degrees from Cornell where he studied with Karel Husa. He also studied privately with George Crumb. After holding faculty positions at the University of Michigan and Eastman School of Music, Rouse moved to the Juilliard School of Music in 1997 where he teaches composition. His most successful student is Michael Torke. Stylistically, Rouse is considered a neoromantic composer who often blends tonal and atonal music in his compositions. In the 2004 Ondine disc under review, Leif Segerstam and the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra perform Rouse's Der Gerettete Alberich, Rapture, and Violin Concerto.\n\nThe album begins with Der Gerettete Alberich, a percussion concerto inspired by Wagner's dwarf character Albrecht in Gotterdammerung who survives with the Rhinemaidens. The piece opens with a musical flashback to the opera before moving forward a century. Der Gerettete Alberich imagines various moods of Albrecht following his survival. The music is predominantly atonal, so don't look for a recognizable melody. The three-movement work is interesting with some wonderful tutti climaxes and dazzling percussion solos. The slow 2nd movement begins with high-pitched violins and occasional notes from the steel drum. This section of the work actually presents a brief but beautiful and mournful melodic line. The 3rd movement could wake up the dead with its STRONG Big Band influence (there is a drum set!) . The drum solos are energized. You can't help but enjoy the 3rd movement!\n\nRapture opens slow and tonal. There is something very beautiful about the work as it builds into a brass chorale in the first few minutes. The piece progressively builds further with tension, intensity, and complexity of texture increasing. The ascent isn't smooth and there are repeated flashbacks to earlier in the flight. Rouse is rightfully acclaimed for his orchestration and especially for his exquisite writing for percussion, and the timpanist in particular gets a workout. Oh yes, there was plenty of lactic acid accumulating in this piece. I don't see how any listener couldn't have fun listening to this work. It is just over the top!\n\nI generally shy away from two genres of music, solo voice or instrument (other than piano) and violin concertos. But this violin concerto (and Brahms, Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Tchaikovsky, and Bruch) are exceptions to the rule. Moreover, I had anticipated that a modern one would be even more difficult to endure. Not so! This one is endlessly fascinating. Of course I miss the conventional melodic lines, but the fascinating writing for the violin kept me in the spell. This is a two-movement work. The Barcarola begins slowly with solo violin. A second joins in, then viola. Their trio is soft and mesmerizing, but the orchestra explodes with profundity. Calm is reestablished and the violin carries the melodic line over a glimmering accompaniment. At about 4:30 a tutti climax seems to signal a premature close, but the music resumes with a faster tempo to another pause. Now, the pace quickens again with a constantly moving melodic line. Another section appears with similar organization, and the solo, duo, trio reemerges. The orchestra awakens with a set of intervals with timpani to close another section. Finally, solo violin reappears over soft timpani, a wonderful effect that concludes the movement. The 2nd movement Toccata opens quietly but excitedly. The agitation sometimes leans toward frenetic. Occasional brass chords are sounded incessantly with increasing rhythmic complexity. No one sleeps while listening to the Toccata! Soloist Cho-Liang Lin performs admirably with little rest. Rouse gives us a rest with a slow melancholic interlude at about 6:30 before the music again picks up tempo at about 9:30 when the music becomes rather furious. Solo violin plays agitatedly to the close when an brief orchestra flourish concludes the work.\n\nThis is a fascinating album of Rouse. For me it is the Big Band 3rd movement of Der Gerettete Alberich and Rapture that steal the show, but the Violin Concerto was quite an interesting work. The sound is exemplary, with excellent soundstage and center fill. Another highly successful Christopher Rouse disc that deserves a VERY HIGH RECOMMENDATION!!!","Product: MUNCH/BOSTON SYMPHONY - SYMPHONY 3/SAINT-SAENS - CD\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: 5-star performanc, 3-star sound\n\nReview: Charles Munch and the Boston Symphony Orchestra have long been reputed to have produced the definitive performance of the Saint-Saens Symphony No. 3 (Organ Symphony). When RCA began transferring some of their old great recordings to SACD, the Munch Organ Symphony was one of the first. I have both the Red Book CD and the SACD and have been listening to both again over the course of the day, so I will make some comparisons along the way.\n\nThe Munch/BSO performance is first and foremost extraordinary in its depth and richness. It has an intensity to it heard best in the forte passages, and yet sounds rather relaxed during the softer ones. I think this is a simple quality of Munch being so completely comfortable with the work. It was part of him, and it shows. Performance-wise, I could live with this being my only recording and be exceptionally happy.\n\nUnfortunately, there are other considerations in recorded music, namely, the sound. Here we have a mixed bag. In the softer passages, the recorded sound just sounds dated, even on SACD - and I do not think that the SACD improvement is adequate to assert that there are no sound issues with the SACD. There are. While the sound quality in soft sections is very good albeit dated, the loud tutti sections are quite congested and in some instances shrill. This problem can be minimized to some extent by turning the volume down. That, however, is not how many people including me enjoy their music. I certainly prefer concert hall levels and in the 5th row (up close and personal). There is an additional problem of soundstage and center fill with this SACD. The same was true of the Red Book CD. Only the organ seems to be mixed in both channels to any significant degree. RCA may have had old master tapes that were beyond their prime or the engineers may have done a less than splendid job in the remaster. Either way, this disc and the CD have frank sound problems.\n\nAnd the issue is not with my equipment which consists of McCormack amplification, Vandersteen 3A Sigs, Vandy 2Wq Subs, and an Oppo SACD player. Additionally the listening room is fully decked out with diffusers and absorption panels. Good recordings sound exquisite with excellent center fill\n\nThe bottom line is that the Munch/BSO performance is second to none but the sound issues for me prevent me from saying that this should be your top pick for the Organ Symphony. The quality of recorded sound matters, especially in orchestral discs. Highly recommended for performance only.\n\nAddendum (7-4-15): I am adding this comparative analysis to all of my eight reviews of performances of the Organ Symphony. Please see my individual reviews for greater detail. I have provided conductor/orchestra/organist/label for each review capsule so you can find each recording more easily. The comments are, of course, my educated opinions only, so take them as you will. I have loved this symphony for 40 years and listened to many of the finest recordings. Ive saved what I think is the best recording for the end, if you just want to cut to the chase. I hope you will find the comparisons helpful.\n\nBadea/RPO/Murray/Telarc: This Telarc recording is an account of few new insights interpretively but no crippling errors of omission or commission, either. It is not, however, the most inspired of readings. What we end up with is one of the most exciting sound reproductions that I have heard. The performance is beautiful but less inspiring. Recommended for purposes of hearing what recorded sound SHOULD be.\n\nDutoit/Philharmonia/Hurford/Decca Originals: Dutoit's reading is intense and dynamic, but he takes the fast movements break-neck speed. You can almost smell the smoke rising from the violins by the conclusion of the symphony. Even so, Dutoit's reading is second only to that of Ormandy/Philadelphia/Murray on Telarc. Ormandy's recording is now available as an SACD that is absolutely one of the finest SACD's that I have heard. Recommended, but certainly second to Ormandy.\n\nMunch/Boston SO/Zamkochian/RCA: This performance is the consensus favorite for the symphony. It is extraordinary in its depth and richness. It has an intensity heard best in the forte passages, and yet sounds rather relaxed during the softer ones. Performance-wise, I could live with this being my only recording and be exceptionally happy. Unfortunately, the sonics are another story. Softer passages sound dated even on SACD, and loud tutti sections are quite congested. Bottom Line: the Munch/BSO/ Zamkochian performance is second to none but the sonics preclude a slam-dunk for top pick. Highly recommended for the performance.\n\nDeWaart/San Francisco SO/Guillou/Philips: This is a lush performance of the Organ Symphony with spot-on tempi, great orchestral balance, and unsurpassed balance between organ and orchestra. This symphony has one long melodic line after another, and DeWaart keeps a long view that prevents any sense of meandering. The organ is stunningly recorded. Brass blaze with glory. Strings are lush. Timpani are extremely well-defined. The clarity of the recording provides an excellent window into finer details. It is difficult to imagine how anything could have been improved upon. The disc is filled out with a strong performance of Widor's Allegro from his Symphony No. 6. This account of the Organ Symphony has everything going for it. There are no obvious weaknesses. If you have excellent subwoofers, they will get the workout of their life. Very Highly Recommended!\n\nNezel-Seguin/Montreal Metropolitan Orchestra/Belanger/ATMA: Nezel-Seguin's account of the Organ Symphony is surprisingly competitive in a crowded field. Tempi are reasonable, dynamics are excellent, organ-orchestral balance is very good, instrumental timbres are superb, and the CD provides for a deep soundstage. I am not particularly enamored with Belanger's choice of registration which caused the organ to be less prominent occasionally. My reservations aside, this was a very impressive performance by this relatively unknown group of musicians, but it is outclassed by Murray/Ormandy/Philadelphia. Still, the disc is so enjoyable, I would recommend it highly as an alternative to Murray/Ormandy and for the enjoyable pieces for solo organ.\n\nMata/Dallas SO/Guillou/Dorian: This one has its share of both positives and negatives. On one hand, Mata's tempi are rather conventional, the Dallas Symphony play superbly, and the recording is vivid and has great clarity. Unfortunately, the negatives are equally strong, beginning with the balance between organ and orchestra that shifts inexplicably from recessed in the coda of the 2nd movement to predominant in the preceding section. The choice of organ registration is poorly matched to the orchestra. In the finale of the 4th movment, the brass are excessively highlighted. The brass play gloriously, but the spotlight detracts from the music. This recording has enough negative attributes to preclude a strong recommendation.\n\nLevine/Berlin PO/Preston/DG: This disc also includes Dukas' Sorcerer's Apprentice, and each receive stunning performances. The organ is rarely prominent in this particular recording until the last movement. Pity. Not until the 4th movement do we finally hear confirmation of an organ actually having a place at the table - and a big place it is until the final measures when the organ inexplicably recedes again into the background. The final movement is just glorious. The preceding three SHOULD have been as well. Despite the short-schrifted organ role in the Organ Symphony, this disc is highly recommended for the beautiful orchestral playing, the symphony's 4th movement.\n\nOrmandy/Philadelphia SO/Murray/Telarc: No musical work should benefit more from an SACD recording than Saint-Saens Organ Symphony. Ormandy chooses a tempo for the first movement that is on the slow side. The second movement picks up the pace. The Adagio is sublime. I didn't realize the Philadelphia violins could sound that lush. And the organ could not sound more glorious! The sonics of this recording are demonstration class. The balance between organ and orchestra, like in Guillou/DeWaart, is perfect. The finale demonstrates every positive element within this stunning achievement. I don't believe a finer Organ Symphony has ever been recorded. Michael Murray fills out the remainder of the disc with French organ pieces. The organ and recording are both superb. If you love organ music, you won't want to leave the disc after just the Organ Symphony. The performance stands up well to Munchs fabulous account but beats it hands down on sonics. This is probably the most impressive SACD disc I have heard. It should be in everyone's collection. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.","Product: This special collection of operatic music composed by Gioacchino Rossini contains five of his most famous works including \"The Barber of Seville,\" one of the most famous pieces of operatic music. The \"Rossini Overtures\" are performed here by the London Symphony Orchestra, as well as the compositions \"The Thieving Magpie,\" \"The Silken Ladder\" and \"William Tell,\" the last opera Rossini ever wrote. Available on CD for the very first time, this title will dazzle you with a spectrum of musical energy. Re-mastered by JVC using their exclusive XRCD24 technology, the sound quality of this release will make you want to put away your LP version for safe keeping! (Previously deleted:11/1/05. Original release date:11/16/04)\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Astonishing in interpretation, performance, and sound!!!\n\nReview: Pierino Gambas account of the Gioaccchino Rossini Overtures with the London Symphony Orchestra is not widely appreciated. JVC took his 1960 Decca recordings of The Thieving Magpie, The Silken Ladder, The Barber of Seville, Semiramide, and William Tell Overtures and applied their xrcd-24 process to turn the original recording into the most unbelievably and stunningly vivid remastering you have ever heard! That is Vivid with a capital V.\n\nSpecial mention must be made of Pierino Gamba who conducted these performances. I was unfamiliar with this Italian conductor and pianist until reading about this disc. The album gives no information about his, but he was considered a child prodigy who conducted Beethoven Symphony No. 1 in the Rome Opera House AT 8 YEARS OF AGE! He currently lives in New York City where he teaches conducting. If the present recording is any indication of his interpretive and conducting skills, it is a pity we don't have a lot of recordings of this incredibly talented musician.\n\nEach overture is give a high voltage interpretation and performance that I have never heard equaled and which bears resemblance to those you might hear from Toscanini. And the sound of each is astonishing, particularly in view of the 1960 recording date. The top end may have the slightest amount of sizzle, and occasionally you might wish for more weight in the recording especially the timpani, but these are extraordinary from a sonic perspective. Soundstage is wide and deep. Center fill is perfect. Instrumental timbres are lifelike.\n\nThis album is a remarkable achievement in every way and has MY VERY HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION!!!","Product: JOHANNES BRAHMS - PNO CTO 1 - SACD HYBRID\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Best Brahms' Piano Concert No. 1\n\nReview: I fell in love with this Brahms concerto in the early 1960's on LP, and I have yet to hear an account that can surpass it. What gives this recording its stature is 1) the perfect collaboration between Rubenstein, Reiner, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, 2) the superb musicianship of Rubenstein, and most importantly, 3) what I believe is the most beautiful and emotion-evoking piano concertos ever composed.\n\nThis is the most heart-felt readings of any piano concerto I have yet heard. Listen to Rubenstein's tone, his rubato, his power, and his finesse. This is his finest performance with orchestra, although he thought his Grieg was the most perfect. Rubenstein could, at times, play with detachment, but not here. He was totally within the piece. To this day, I can easily become teary-eyed as I listen to his passionate performance of the Adagio. RCA's decision to team Rubenstein up with Fritz Reiner and the CSO was a marriage made in heaven. I believe Reiner's heart was in to the performance as much as Rubenstein's. Each had to merge their egos and just make sublime music, which is precisely what they produced. Of course, the CSO played like the world-class (with emphasis on class) orchestra they were under Reiner.\n\nThe sound on the LP was wonderful before the digital age created the term sonics. Somehow in this recording, the term sonics does what we hear an injustice. The piano sound was just gorgeous. Orchestral instrument sonorities were just as fine, although some stridency in the violins can be heard in loud tutti sections.\n\nThis recording is one of those rare ones when everything seems to go right. You will never hear a more passionate performance of the Brahms's Piano Concerto No 1. I can give it my highest recommendation.","Product: Featuring some of the most popular American choral work ever written, CHOOSE SOMETHING LIKE A STAR celebrates the masterful music of Randall Thompson. The CD hights Thompson's most well-known composition, \"Frostiana\", a musical score set to seven poems by Robert Frost, including favorites like \"The Road Not Taken,\" \"Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening,\" and the title track. Also featured on the album are selections from THE PEACE ABLE KINGDOM, based on the Biblical text of Isaiah, \"Alleluia\" and \"The Last Words of David\".\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Choral nectar for soothing difficult times\n\nReview: I first became familiar with the music of Randall Thompson over 50 years ago when the Seneca Chorale that I was in sang Alleluia and Choose Something Like a Star. Even then I was struck by the simple beauty of his music. Randall Thompson represents one side of America - that simple, pastoral-like, honest, almost home-spun character that we used to resemble in our better days.\n\nThe present album is a tribute to Thompson and actually to American poet Robert Frost as well. We hear choral settings to Frost's Seven Country Songs and Four Songs from Frost's Peaceable Kingdom. Like so much of Thompsons work, these are all tuneful, melodically simple songs performed by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. They sing like angels. Of course my favorites are Choose Something Like a Star and Alleluia. Both receive heavenly performances and take me back to days when I had hair!\n\nThere isn't a song in this collection that isn't stellar and the recording sonics are exemplary. This album has my highest recommendation. Order it and discover for yourself how much a calming, peaceful influence it can have on your life, too.","Product: This concert from the Mnchner Klaviersommer 1986 is a real treat for every Friedrich Gulda fan. His Chopin interpretations are absolutely unique; this concert shows his versatility and indescribable talent. If you want to hear a really different Chopin, this is it. And if you want to see him perform with Limpe Fuchs, a German composer and performance-artist, this first-ever release of an outstanding concert gives you the opportunity. Bonus: Joachim Kaiser interviews Friedrich Gulda (1986).\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Music that should remind us of who we are!\n\nReview: These are stirring marches played by concert bands of our military branches. They prove that our military bands can lay claim to some of the finest musicians in the world. Most of these marches will be familiar to almost everyone. To those of us who have served in the armed forces, don't be surprised if the marches elicit a tear or two for the days of our youth when we were prepared to sacrifice everything, and in some cases our innocence or more was shattered by the realities of conflict.\n\nThe marches are for the most part recorded in resplendent sound equal to the quality of the superb performances they receive. There isn't a single mediocre performance on the entire disc. I cannot recommend this disc more highly. Finally, let's not forget those who served with us that can never hear this patriotic music again and their families who had no choice but to soldier on without them.","Product: Import Hybrid-SACD pressing.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Excellent - rounded up from 4.5 stars\n\nReview: I have no idea how many recordings of Beethoven's 9th Symphony are currently available or how many have ever been produced, but this is one of the better ones of today's recording era. BIS has produced a sonically beautiful recording by an excellent regional orchestra (possibly world-class by the sound of it) led by a conductor outside the small circle of greats such as Wand, Blomstedt, Barenboim, Klemperer or Haitink.\n\nVanska leads the Minnesota Orchestra in a loving interpretation of this most famous of symphonies (well, perhaps the dit dit dit dah may elevate the 5th to the top honors). At any rate, as with many other classical favorites, the 9th's Ode to Joy or its Huntley-Brinkley 2nd movement would certainly place it at least tied for first place among most familiar motifs ever written. Beethoven wrote for the ages. The 9th is so easy to listen to repeatedly.\n\nWhat keeps Vanska's account just shy of the upper echelon? First, this is a recording that lacks the nth degree of weight. It is rather easy-going until the final movement. It's not at all musically monotonous but also not the most intensely dynamic of 9ths. Tempi fall within a reasonable range about the norm EXCEPT the 4th movement. Here, Vanska takes a tempo much quicker than most in spots. When he comes to the main theme (Ode to Joy), the tempo relaxes to a comfortable pace. (Vanska's tempi remind me of those of Reiner's Zarathustra - mostly comfortable but quicker than average.) And the theme is played as sweetly as you will find. The tutti section expands but you find yourself wishing for more umph. The soloists are excellent and the chorus even better. The violins sound a bit thin. Other instrumental sections sound appropriately staffed. The massed soloists, chorus and orchestra sections are again at a faster tempo but are nonetheless glorious.\n\nI want to pause a moment to emphasize the unusual character of Vanska's view of the 4th movement. The tempi are never sluggish and occasionally uncomfortably quick. But as the movement progresses, you become increasingly involved with the beauty of his interpretation and in no small part assisted by the glorious sound of the full tutti section of the concluding pages. It was in the final pages of the score where Vanska was more convincing than anywhere else in the symphony. If for no other reason than the 4th movement, this recording should be part of your collection.\n\nWhile I wouldn't place this recording on the top shelf of 9ths, it is ever so slightly below them, and the sound is virtually faultless. This is a keeper and the interesting and unique 4th movement WILL be played again to keep the Beethoven 9th Symphony portion of my mind from becoming too complacent with the greats.","Product: This box contains the most highly regarded Brahms Symphonies and the Violin Concerto recorded by the Cleveland Orchestra under the direction of Christoph von Dohnanyi.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: A superb cycle and the very best Haydn Variations around!\n\nReview: I initially had only the Brahms 2 and Haydn Variation with Dohnanyi and the Cleveland Orchestra, but their performance and sound was so stellar, that I HAD to get the complete set of Symphonies, Tragic and Academic Festival Overtures, Haydn Variations, and the Violin Concerto. The complete set is a complete success.\n\nDohnanyi proves admirably that he is a superb Brahms interpreter. As you listen through the symphonies, overture, Haydn Variations, and Violin Concerto, I found myself repeated nodding yes. This is a tremendous achievement, particularly his astonishing shaping of the Haydn Variations. I have a detailed review of the Variations with a comparison of five other accounts elsewhere. You can read that in my 5/17/14 review of the single Teldec disc coupled with the Symphony 2.\n\nThroughout the complete set of Brahms Symphonies, Overtures, Haydn Variations, and Violin Concerto, the Cleveland Orchestra plays superbly well. I have not one criticism. Every instrumental section is exceptional. Sound is also excellent with a slightly constricted sound stage front-to-back. Clarity is excellent. **** I must point out that while I have only the original Teldec disc of Symphony 2 coupled with the Haydn Variations for comparison, the Warner Classics complete set seems to have lost the brilliance of the original Teldec performances. The difference is noticable only in A-B comparisons.\n\nThis set is not only self-recommending but may be the finest complete set currently available and certainly at least on the top shelf with Karajan and Levine (RCA). Very highly recommended!!!\n\n* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *\nFor those interested in a detailed review of each work, please read on. For the Haydn Variations, I have both review comments as well as a comparison of five other accounts of the Variations in my review of the single disc of Symphony2 which was coupled with the Variations.\n\nThere is no lack of gravitas in Dohnanyi's interpretation of Symphony 1, and yet the lyrical elements have their day as well. Fourteen years in the making, Brahms 1was well worth the time spent in composition. Dohnanyi gives it a complete monumental treatment. I can't think of any other composer whose first symphony is as bold or mature. In contrast to the foreboding 1st movement, the 2nd movement major key Andante sostenuto sounds so fresh that the ink could still be smeared in Dohnanyi's hands. In the 3rd movement, the minor key does not displace the flowing quality that the conductor preserves. The 4th movement tempo-wise dances between adagio and allegro and in between the great theme of the symphony reemerges from obscurity to a grand flowing 2nd theme in major key that seems eternally optimistic in character. Dohnanyi is masterful in putting it all together into one of the greatest symphony movements ever penned.\n\nThe Academic Festival Overture, Brahms expression of gratitude for the University of Breslau bestowing upon him an honorary doctorate, is a moving tribute that many graduates from high school and college have walked to. Dohnanyi infuses it with appropriate majesty with brief flashbacks to earlier times. Dohnanyi's treatment of the overture is thrilling. He resists the temptation of letting it all out prematurely, but when the popular theme appears the orchestral expression flows to the final procession in regal form.\n\nI have already reviewed the Symphony 2 and Haydn Variations in the Teldec single disc format here on Amazon earlier today. In the complete set, Symphony 2 is coupled with the Tragic Overture which receives a thrilling performance by Dohnanyi and the Cleveland Orchestra. It has no definite program, and the writing is turbulent and complex and replete with intensity and emotion alla Dohnanyi and forces. Brahms' theme is hardly a tune but it undergoes considerable development and key modulation to a brief, less ominous secondary theme. Finally, Dohnanyi brings the work to an abrupt close. It is a curious work and not one of my favorites, frankly.\n\nThe Brahms Symphony No. 3's 1st movement is fiery and Dohnanyi gives us just that con brio. The symphony's lyrical elements shine in the 1st movement makes those transitions with ease. The 2nd movement is beautifully begun by woodwinds perfectly played by orchestra which has to move to sweeping crescendos repeatedly throughout the movement. Dohnanyi maintains the intensity and interest par excellance. The melancholic 3rd movement is almost enchanting. The 4th begins mysteriously before gaining the higher ground glimpses of joy amidst turmoil. The intervening years between the second and third symphonies were put to good use by Brahms whose 4th movement of Symphony 3 is a revelation of mature composition at its finest.\n\n The Brahms Violin Concerto is one of the few that I really enjoy as a pianist. Dohnanyi provides a sympathetic partner to soloist Thomas Zehetmaier and with no lack of brilliance on the orchestra's part. Zehetmaier is a capable violinist but doesn't convey the strong emotional element of this concerto as well as others. It is a fine performance nonetheless.\n\nSymphony 4 required that Brahms publisher or manuscript paper with additional staves because of the large number of parts the composer wrote into the symphony. Dohnanyi gives us a relatively low-intensity 1st movement. To be fair, however, the movement is conceptually more difficult than most and seems to meander quite a bit to my ears. A single French horn initiates the placid 2nd movement which evolves slowly with woodwinds before the theme is captured by the violins. The Cleveland violins distinguish themselves in this movement. The 3rd movement is a rollicking affair with a dancing theme that expands into an abrupt but marvelous tutti section. For Brahms' final symphony movement, he goes full circle and returns to a grave beginning like in the 1st movement of the Symphony 1. For me the movement is the most challenging of Brahms' movements to follow, and the coda does not provide Brahms best by far.\n\nI previously reviewed the Haydn Variations in the review of the single disc Symphony 2 that was coupled with the Variations. Suffice it to say that this recording is the finest on record.","Product: Young,Simone/Philh.Hamburg\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Superb interpretation of the inferior Original (1874) Version with superb sonics\n\nReview: I have been impressed with several Bruckner symphony recordings made by Simone Young and the Hamburg Philharmonic Orchestra and her Symphony 4 is no exception and maybe her finest. Young uses the original edition of the score, so expect some major differences from versions more commonly used by conductors. Young is an superb conductor, becoming a superb Bruckner conductor, and as I have stated before, she may be the second coming of Karajan and Jochum not there yet, but I cant wait to hear her next Bruckner cycle with a few more years under her belt.\n\nYoungs tempo in the 1st movement is slightly slower than that of most of our established great Bruckner interpreters except Celibidache who is always the caboose in such lists. The 2nd movement is played at the standard tempo and sounds heavenly. In Youngs 3rd and 4th movements, the version she uses sounds very different from what we usually hear. In fact, this 3rd movement was tossed out by Bruckner and replaced by a much improved Scherzo. As typical for Young, her interpretation embodies the essence of Bruckner depth and emotionality. Just as typically, she draws elegant playing from her Hamburg orchestra. For a regional orchestra, the Hamburg Philharmonic play with the precision and heart of any of your more familiar world-class ensembles, and they appear to be making a definite move towards such billing.\n\nOn a personal note, I far prefer the usual versions/edition that we hear in most recordings aside from Inbal. Although interesting from an historical perspective the original in my view compares unfavorably with Bruckners later (and better) musical thoughts for his symphonies each of which have greater melodic complexity, beauty, and musical flow. At least in the case of Bruckner, his original version needed to be revised. The usual rules for multiple choice exams -- that your first answer is more likely to be the correct one -- does not apply when it comes to Bruckner's symphonic compositions. I have not heard a numbered symphony yet when Bruckner's later revisions were not substantially more beautiful and flowing than his original. I really wish Simone Young felt the same way. Maybe she will in the future. One can only hope!\n\nSound on this disc is superb in both 2-channel stereo (I listened using headphones) and 2-channel SACD (I listened using loudspeakers) with the expected benefits of smoothness and depth of soundstage in the SACD playback. Instrumental timbres are natural with fine definition of the lower register. Listener perspective is somewhat close as it is in the other recordings of hers that I have heard. Youngs interpretation lacks the last bit of intensity found in Karajan, Jochum and Skrowaczewski, and she still cannot sustain the drama as well as those conductors.\n\nWe have a very different and to me less beautiful Symphony 4 with the last two movements VERY different. It is of some interest, but Bruckners revisions are far superior. Still, this is a fine performance of the original version such as it is. Unfortunately, Simone Young will not make a lot of friends with her insistence on using original versions. I guess I will have to wait for her second complete cycle for complete satisfaction. Recommended for musicologists and listeners interested in historical perspective.","Product: Garrick Ohlsson, piano - Leila Josefowicz, violon - Carter Brey, violoncelle - Elizabeth Man, flûte - Ewa Podles, contralto - Orchestre Philharmonique de Varsovie - Kazimierz Kord, direction\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Excellent perfomances but not sublime\n\nReview: Few pianists have produced complete surveys of the works of Frederic Chopin, so Garrick Ohlssons traversal is an important one. Since I initially trained as a pianist, Chopin has always been dear to my heart. I have seldom heard pianists who play it well. The best has been Nelson Freire in his sublime performance of the Nocturnes.\n\nOhlsson begins his long traversal with Chopins three sonatas. I was immediately struck with the precision of Ohlssons playing. It is stunning. His tone in piano or pianissimo sections is rather lovely. The relatively close listening perspective, however, does not benefit him, because in forte passages it reminds you that the piano is considered a percussion instrument. I never like that. Notwithstanding the somewhat hard sound, Ohlssons gifts with the keyboard are extraordinary. Listen to the Marche Funebre of the second sonata that contains one of the most exquisite long crescendos and subsequent decrescendos I have ever heard. Amazing. Ohlssons range of dynamics is extremely impressive, as well.\n\nTechnical abilities aside, how does Ohlsson play? In a word, astonishingly! He is clearly one of the worlds finest Chopin interpreters. The longer you listen to him, the more convincing he becomes. Take for example the Largo of Sonata 3. Perfect. Mesmerizing. On both Chopins and Ohlssons part. Listen carefully and you can hear astonishing pedal work as Ohlsson carefully allows some note blurring to resolve by releasing the sustaining pedal at just the right times. Ladies and gentlemen, this is remarkable pedal technique as well as musicianship of the highest order.\n\nIn the end, I would place Garrick Ohlsson is the top tier of pianists, technically, but not where sublime playing is concerned. I find myself commenting more on the superb quality of his technique than the beauty of his music. His talent is more appropriate in the virtuoso pieces rather than in the pieces most emotion-laden where there is less to obscure the emotion such as velocity and loudness. He is more cerebral than emotional. In Chopin, the emotional carries the day. I think the set is certainly recommended for a one stop Chopin shop of excellence but not for the sublime.","Product: I will ship by EMS or SAL items in stock in Japan. It is approximately 7-14days on delivery date. You wholeheartedly support customers as satisfactory. Thank you for you seeing it.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Copland-like music of some interest\n\nReview: Mark O'Connor is not exactly a household name in classical music. Perhaps he should be. While I am certainly not ready to proclaim him the second coming of Aaron Copland, his music as performed on this disc does remind you of Copland's simple music. I don't hear anything here of the weight or musical significance of Copland's Appalachian Spring. Still, these are tuneful pieces of low complexity that deserve repeated listening. Actually, I would place O'Connor between Copland and Randall Thompson. Alsop and the Baltimore Symphony perform these pieces with precision and quality. Sonics are excellent.\n\nIn my \"Favorites\" drawers I include newer music that I periodically pull out and play just to make sure that no cobwebs are forming in my musical mind. This album has a deserved place reserved for it in those drawers. Recommended.","Product: Dudamel Discoveries is the perfect compilation album and souvenir release to introduce listeners to the wonderful music of Dudamel and the Simn Bolvar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela! This album will be the perfect compilation to help reach out to a broader audience, offering them a unique way to experience Dudamel and the genre of classical music. With a mix of European and Latin influence, this recording will attract the general public, target a casual classical listener, and introduce them to Dudamel's other recordings and concert activities during the 2009/2010 season. Gustavo Dudamel, acclaimed worldwide as one of the most exciting and compelling conductors of our time, will begin his tenure as Music Director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic this October 2009.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Phenomenal music, interpretations, performance, and sound. Is there anything these kids CAN'T do???\n\nReview: Phenomenal music, interpretations, performance, and sound. The headline says it all. This is a youth orchestra, for God's sake. The Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra of Venezuala or whatever name is currently in vogue has previously demonstrate how superbly young musicians can play Latin American music given adequate practice, a sterling conductor, and public support. Here Gustavo Dudamel leads this incredibly talented group of instrumentalists in a program of mostly 19th century music. The album aptly demonstrates that these young players amazing music-making abilities are NOT restricted to Latin American music but extend to a wide range of standard concert fare.\n\nDudamel and the orchestras performance of the 1st movement of the Beethoven Symphony 5 is the equal of the finest world-class adult orchestras. They play with great precision and a near-mature orchestral sonority. Symphony No. 7s Allegretto goes similarly well. Even more impressive was Dudamels interpretations of the two movements which confirm earlier suspicions of a coming conducting giant moving through his formative years. I kept thinking of Kleibers Beethoven 5 as I listened to Dudamels. Movements from Mahlers and Tchaikovskys Fifth Symphonies are both sublimely interpreted and performed. The orchestra already proved their absolute competence in Latin American music several times in the past. They underscore it here.\n\nThis is a testament to what young musicians can accomplish with proper commitment, leadership, and support. Moreover, their performances are not just great for a youth orchestra. These are great performances for ANY orchestra. It would be no surprise if Dudamel grew to one of the greatest conductors ever to move a baton. The sound is up to the quality of what it conveys. This is another very special offering by these young Venezuelan musicians and easily rates MY VERY HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION!!!\n_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _\n\nFor those like me, who are disgusted about the current state of affairs in music and have time to indulge my verbosity, you can read further comments about the issues this youth orchestra raise below\n\nRight now, every high school band and orchestra teacher must be wondering HOW? I think a major part of the answer is our society's decision to relegate cultural education to the back room - if any room at all - so science and math scores of our youth can crawl back out of the gutter. I hope that Dudamel's and others' work with the Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela may enlighten our decision-makers as to the necessity of culture in our declining society. Folks, the problem isn't that our kids aren't smart or talented. It isn't that our math, science, music, art, and drama teachers aren't competent and committed. Our problem is the complete bankruptcy of motivation, sense of personal responsibility, satisfaction derived from commitment, respect and consideration for others, and basic ethics. We have made a sense of entitlement too easy to satisfy. It sickens and frightens me that because of this bankruptcy, our arts have taken such a critical hit. I will leave it to social scientists and historians to elucidate the causes of this bankruptcy. For now, at least, we music lovers must keep sounding the alarm and continue to look for ways to support culture in a society that seems determined to devastate it.","Product: SOLO 004; SOLO MUSICA - CAMPANELLA -Germania; Classica Orchestrale\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Not quite a great performance but the sound is superb\n\nReview: Brucknerians always have an eye out for any new (or newly reissued) recording of a Bruckner symphony in hopes of finding THE Holy Grail, finding a NEW Holy Grail, or finding a NEW RELEASE of either. This second reissue of Carlo Maria Giulini's 1974 recording of Bruckner 2 with the VSO falls into the third class. The first reissue of the Second was on Testament in 2001. It was most recently remastered in 2014 from a direct copy of the original tapes for this release.\n\nGiulini secured his place as a top Bruckner conductor with his DG recording of Bruckner 9 with the VPO that many see as the greatest Ninth ever recorded. So he is a great Bruckner interpreter - along with Karajan, Jochum, and Skrowaczewski (these three all have well-received complete sets of the symphonies, and I will refer to them as the Big 3 later in this review). Conductors whose individual symphonies have received acclaim include Stein, Leitner, Wand, and others (Wand has a complete set, as well, but fewer would agree on Wand's set being in the class of the earlier three conductors except confirmed Wand fans). Please forgive any omissions in the above short lists. It is a pretty big field.\n\nIn the present recording, the edition that Giulini used - the Nowak edition - is a critical issue. This edition includes cuts that the more popular Haas edition does not include. For newcomers to Bruckner, you should know that which edited version a conductor uses can spark heated debates among Brucknerians. Moreover, Bruckner himself frequently revised his works. Yes, it is a complicated affair! As someone who began listening to Bruckner about 15 or 20 years ago but only very seriously over the past year, I can report to you that the more you learn about the Bruckner symphonies and recordings, the more you realize there is yet to learn about them. So, if you are confused by all of the conductors, editions, and revisions of Bruckner symphonies, don't despair. You are part of a large subset of Brucknerians.\n\nAs far as this disc goes, it is beautifully interpreted, performed, recorded, and remastered. This is the Vienna Symphony, and they have the experience, the numbers, and the sound such that they will play exceptionally well the interpretation presented to them by the conductor. The recording is superb. I did not have the Testament version to compare with the VSO label reissue, but I can find no real issues with the sound. All of the elements you look for in a recording are there. Orchestral balance, instrumental timbres, soundstage width and depth, and center fill are all superb - especially for a 1974 recording.\n\nThis leaves only one issue to make or break the success of the present disc: the interpretation. In other words, how well did Giulini interpret Bruckner's score via Nowak, and should he have used that edition to begin with? Giulini provides an rather intense reading of the Bruckner Symphony No. 2 but less intense that Karajan. His attention to detail and his experience with Bruckner pay off. If you have never heard the Second Symphony before, I have no doubt that you will love this recording. It is extremely expressive, but I was less touched by it emotionally than I was with Karajan. His time for the 1st movement is greater than each of the Big 3 conductors - over 1'30\" longer than Karajan. 2nd movement times vary widely among the Big 3, but Giulini is about 1'15\" shorter than Karajan (Skrowaczewski is even shorter than Giulini). So, movement times alone do not differentiate Giulini in a meaningful way. He is slower than some and faster than some depending on the movement.\n\nThe bottom line - at least for now - is that Giulini gives us an account of Bruckner 2 that is more lyrical than intense or monumental. For some that may be your cup of tea. I think for many Brucknerians, however, Bruckner without the intensely monumental isn't Bruckner. Giulini's approach to this symphony cannot simply be discounted. Listen to it and decide for yourself. The recorded sound is certainly about the best I have heard and, I think, better than the performance itself. It's not quite a great performance but definitely worth listening to. You may find it more satisfying than I did. Definitely listen to Karajan for comparison. I think you may prefer Karajan's performance for its majesty (plus he restored some of Nowak's cuts).","Product: Your organization system is spot-on with these removable color coding labels. The small size makes them ideal for adding emphasis to documents, controlling inventory, marking prices and more. Keep track of related objects, mark important dates on your calendar or use for a variety of other purposes where it's important to catch the eye quickly. The labels are removable so you can place them firmly yet remove them when no longer needed. It's a bright coding system that really hits the spot. Label Size - text: 1/4\" dia.; Label Color(s): Assorted; Machine Compatibility: Handwrite Only; Sheet (W x L): 4 x 6.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: 1/4 inch size perfect for organizing CD's and easily identifying special recordings later\n\nReview: These 1/4\" labels are the perfect way to organize CD's. My system for classical music is as follows (for those of you interested in such things). My top picks for a work are designated with two red dots on the right spine of the case. Other superb recordings of that work get one red dot. All of my superb or better recordings are in my top three drawers. Everything else is in the drawers below. Contemporary recordings that I want to listen to again get a green dot on the left portion of the spine. Demonstration quality recordings get a yellow dot on the left, as well. This makes it easy to refind the great albums. Of course, there are in alphabetical order by genre and composer. With about 500-600 albums, using these dots fixes the problem of not recalling which albums I rated as definitive recordings.\n\nThe dots are easily removed from the paper, and they stick on the CD jewel case very well. I only wish they were fluorescent. They can be removed with little more effort than using your fingernail. We use the larger ones at my private practice office for patient folders. Avery has a good thing going with such a simple but effective means of identifying what you want to find at a later date.","Product: Compact lighted magnifier provides illuminated magnification in a convenient size, perfect for a pocket, briefcase, purse, glovebox or desk.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: This is better quality!\n\nReview: Don't be fooled by the couple of low star reviews. This is a quality product - at least better quality than one I reviewed sometime back that cost $4.95. I must add that I don't need the light, just the magnification. As others have reported, my light didn't work, either, and for that flaw I subtracted a star. Other wise, this is a great little magnifier. I use them everywhere, and I can lip it into my shirt pocket. Although it is plastic, it is solidly constructed. Oh, I guess it could break if you jump up and down on it, but I hardly think that is part of its intended use. The lens is plastic but high quality. I have never broken one of these and have bought additional ones so I have one everywhere I need one. But the light... REALLY, B&L. Fix the problem or quit calling it lighted! Highly Recommended if you don't require the light to work.","Product: Compact lighted magnifier provides illuminated magnification in a convenient size, perfect for a pocket, briefcase, purse, glovebox or desk.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: This is better quality!\n\nReview: Don't be fooled by the couple of low star reviews. This is a quality product - at least better quality than one I reviewed sometime back that cost $4.95. I must add that I don't need the light, just the magnification. As others have reported, my light didn't work, either, and for that flaw I subtracted a star. Other wise, this is a great little magnifier. I use them everywhere, and I can lip it into my shirt pocket. Although it is plastic, it is solidly constructed. Oh, I guess it could break if you jump up and down on it, but I hardly think that is part of its intended use. The lens is plastic but high quality. I have never broken one of these and have bought additional ones so I have one everywhere I need one. But the light... REALLY, B&L. Fix the problem or quit calling it lighted! Highly Recommended if you don't require the light to work.","Product: Ideal for showcasing your favorite classroom books. Easily view and access the books from a tabletop or shelf top. Features an angled base to nest the books and an adjustable book stop so books remain upright. Easy-clean cherry laminate construction. Adult assembly required. 24\"W x 10\"D x 8.5\"H.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Perfect way to organize a moderate number of books, and they look great.\n\nReview: I have a dedicated music listening room in my home in which I both listen and review classical albums. I bought two of these terrific tabletop book browsers, because I had a dozen and a half classical music reference books that I consult when writing my reviews laying around on the floor. I thought that these book browsers might be the solution to organizings what had become unsightly mess of books, so I ordered two of them..\n\nDelivery was prompt. Last night I opened the boxes, removed the contents, sat on the floor, and put them together. The task was relatively easy. The pieces have adhesive letters on them that correspond to an accompanying diagram. It takes a little ability to envision how they go together. Assembly requires only about 15-20 minutes if you use no power screwdriver but rather only the small hex wrench in the hardware ziplock bag that also includes the needed screws. The time is mostly devoted to turning the hex wrench. The holes in the pieces lined up perfectly. If I had to redo the assembly, I would definitely use a power hex screwdriver. It would have reduced assembly time to 5 minutes. The screws are a bit of a chore as the screws have a tight fit. Someone with delicate hands might find screwing in the screws a bit tough if only using the supplied hex wrench. After screwing all of the pieces together you get an extremely sturdy single-shelf book shelf. I have mine sitting on the carpeted floor. I'm glad that I chose the cherry veneer. It looks great.\n\nNow, my reference books are neatly organized on these attractive book browsers, easily accessible, and off the floor finally. For the price, these book browsers are a bargain. I would buy them again if needed without a moment's hesitation. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!","Product: Easily haul your gear with the MAC Sports Folding Utility Wagon. It opens in SECONDS! The lightweight durable design has a 150 lb. capacity and is a must have to transport heavy bulky loads. Great for trips to the park, camping, outdoor sporting events, gardening and much more! The accordion style floor makes set up and break down a breeze. It folds easily into its own carry bag for compact storage. MAC Sports is a trusted brand since 1993!\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Excellent alternative to a grocery cart at the marina\n\nReview: We use this folding utility wagon to cart clothes, food, soft drinks, and all the other stuff you need for a weekend on a small houseboat. It holds A LOT of such items. When not in use, it easily folds up to be stored inside the boat or in the trunk of our car. We find it extremely functional. We chose the color red because, HEY, if you are 66 years old and are pulling a wagon, you might as well flaunt it with a color no one can miss! That way, no one thinks you have just regressed back to childhood. The cart steers well, and the transmission stays in first gear. Let's see, am I missing anything??? Yes, it is a great bargain, too. Recommended!!","Product: CD\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: A superb treat for all music lovers.\n\nReview: This is my first experience with the music and playing of Ola Gjeilo. As a classically-trained pianist, I am always interested to hear such pianists when they crossover to non-classical idioms. From what I am hearing, Gjeilo has done so very successfully. From a technical standpoint, his technique is not surprisingly superb, and his tone is not surprisingly well-rounded. What is more important, however, is that he produces superb music. His compositions are lovely, and he plays them like a true musician. Of particular note is the song \"Hudson\" (Track 5) with cello and piano which is absolutely beautiful beyond words. That single piece puts to rest any question as to the degree of his creative talent. Moreover, he proves himself to be a superb melodist.\n\nI was initially skeptical of all the drooling in the reviews I read for this album. There is no skepticism left. It is all true. Very Highly Recommended for anyone who loves music!","Product: Kahlil Gibran was among the most important Arabic language authors of the early twentieth century. Born in 1883 in Lebanon, he spent the last twenty years of his life (to 1931) in the United States. He is the author of numerous volumes, the most famous of which is THE PROHPET, translated into over twenty languages.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: The most beautiful and profoundly true book ever written by one man!\n\nReview: I was first introduced to Gibran's masterpiece when I was a young intelligence analyst serving in Vietnam in 1968. You may think what an odd place to meet The Prophet, but actually a combat zone may have been the perfect locale. Vietnam was an area where man's inhumanity to man begged for something that was beautifully expressed and was profoundly true, something that was man's greatest achievement in an area of his worst. This is just one example of the power of The Prophet.\n\nThe Prophet is a relatively short book that can be read in an afternoon, but its impact will endure for a lifetime. I have given copies to friends on the occasion of their weddings, and read it to every woman I ever loved. I have also recommended it to countless patients in my psychiatry practice. One would have to be dead inside not to be moved by the poetic beauty of Gibran's carefully chosen words on life, love, marriage, joy and sorrow, children and the like. It was truly inspired by God himself, so profound are its truths.\n\nThis edition is equally perfect. It is hardcover and contains Gibran's own unique drawings. The paper is heavy and softly feathered, giving it an expensive appearance appropriate to the value of the writing within. It really does make a simple but valuable gift for occasions such as weddings or for others you love.\n\nIf you have never read The Prophet, then you must buy some copies, read one and keep it, and give the others away to people you care about. After all these years, I cannot count the number of times that I have quoted it. It is my favorite book of all times and easily garners MY ABSOLUTE HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION!!!!!"],"string":"[\n \"Product: The SRH1440 Professional Open Back Headphones provide full range audio with rich bass in a sleek, attractive design. The premium-padded headband with steel frame provides hours of listening comfort. An included storage case, replacement set of velour earpads, and an additional cable ensures years of uninterrupted listening enjoyment.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Superb headphones (1440) when used with the FiiO E17 headphone amp/DAC. High quality.\\n\\nReview: This review is for the 1440 model. I have used these headphones for about a year off and on. I much prefer my Vandersteen 3a Signature speakers, but my listening room is just below the master bedroom, so when my wife goes to bed, so must the Vandersteens. The 1440's are a far cry from the basic Koss headphones of 50 years ago that I used. The fit is comfortable for headphones. The sound is very refined with a pretty decent bottom end than is well-defined (not boomy). I'm a classical musician turned psychiatrist, and I am still quite particular about ALL of the frequency range contained on CD's. If a headphone can pass the classical music test, it should be able to reproduce anything. Although the phones use plastic, they seem very well made. I am glad to see that Shure hasn't gone the way of other manufactures and begun cutting corners. Highly Recommended.\\n\\nADDENDUM 7-19-14: I have been listening to these headphones for about a day via the superb FiiO E17 headphone amp/DAC that I have just reviewed. My source: a laptop computer (actual CD's - not a WAV or FLAC file). I now stand convinced that with this setup, I have heard the sound like never before on these headphones. The FiiO E17 is a miraculous piece of equipment costing only $140! On the 1440's, strings are sublime, brass is raspy, and percussion is great! The FiiO is little larger than a slightly-elongated deck of cards. I am not about to tell you that the FiiO can't be bettered. I'm certain it can. But no one should listen to the 1440's without a dedicated headphone amp/DAC. I can now tell you without hesitation that these headphones garner my VERY HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION.\",\n \"Product: Made from high quality wood with a polished finish, sterile tongue depressors are tasteless, odorless and smooth providing superior patient comfort.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: The perfect tongue depressors. Say \\\"Ah\\\"\\n\\nReview: I don't understand why medical professionals would use tongue depressors that weren't in sterile packaging these days. Paying a few cents more to insure a clean tongue depressors is more than worth my AND my patients' satisfaction that I am not introducing a contaminated product into their mouth. Yes, yes, I know how unlikely an infection would result, but why not just be safe?\\n\\nThese tongue depressors are smooth and elicit no complaints - other than the knowledge that most patients wonder why their doctors aren't more careful not to make them gag! LOL. I have always educated my patients that I make them gag on purpose to check on cranial nerve function. Great, inexpensive tool for physicians. I hear you can also mix epoxy with them.\",\n \"Product: Powerful 600 watt DC motor - low noise operation for better food preparation. 14 speeds + soft pulse - allows superior control, select optimal speed/pulse to suit the task, handy push button pulse for exact control when processing soft or delicate foods. Electronically controlled, step less variable speed for optimal processing control. Unique dual safety lock - ensures bowls cannot be opened when unit is on. Usage guide on front panel - quick reference on recommended speed range for individual attachments. Sealed bowls - eliminates leakage or overflowing. Work-bowl capacity: 9 cups (2 L). Attachments included: Universal chopping blade, chops - blends, mixes & purees. Dough hook, powerfully kneads up to 3 lbs. of dough. Cream attachment - for perfect whipping results. Versatile slicing system, includes: fine slicer, fine shredder, coarse grater and cheese grater. Citrus juicer, citrus press fits into the work bowl. Easy cleaning - Dishwasher-safe attachments and bowls. Color: White with blue control knobs 1 Year limited warranty.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Easy to use, intuitive, powerful, easy clean-up. In other words, PERFECT!\\n\\nReview: This is the first food processor I have ever bought, and for a husband who only occasionally uses it, it is perfect! I have used it for 3 years about once a month for preparing bean dip. Okay, you say, is that all? YES! But what a great job it does. The recipe: 2 cans of kidney beans quickly drained (leave a bit of liquid), chili seasoning, garlic powder, ground red pepper, a few dashes of Red Hot sauce, 3/4 cup diced onion, and salt to taste. It is GREAT!\\n\\nThe pieces of this powerful \\\"Kitchen Machine\\\" fit together exceptionally well and clean up with ease. If it is easy for a man to use for some simple bean dip, just think how much more easily it is to use by someone with even more kitchen experience. If I could give it more than 5 stars, I would. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!\",\n \"Product: Designed to the highest standards of commercial performance and reliability, the KitchenAid PRO LINE Series Burr Coffee Mill is your key to making the finest coffee and espresso possible. Two precision, flat cutting burrs will grind your coffee to superb consistency, while the low-noise DC motor and gear reduction system work to minimize the frictional heating of the grinds, maximizing your coffees flavor and aroma. The all-metal housing and glass hoppers are not only durable, stylish, and easily cleaned, they help reduce the static cling of coffee grinds common with plastic components. The PRO LINE Series Burr Coffee Mill has been designed for years of heavy use: the durable stainless steel cutting burrs can be easily adjusted to compensate for wear or replaced if damaged. Like the famous KitchenAid Stand Mixer, the PRO LINE Series Burr Coffee Mill features performance that can be enjoyed from generation to generation. The KitchenAid PRO LINE Series: commercial quality for the discriminating home chef. From the company distinguished by its legendary craftsmanship.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: A fine product with minor caveats...\\n\\nReview: I always try to buy the very best when I can, and I am a believer in the adage \\\"you get what you pay for.\\\" So when my wife and I decided on moving up to better cups of coffee in the morning, I started reading reviews of coffee grinders. Alton Somebody on HGTV had a show on coffee making and praised the KitchenAid coffee grinder. The reviews I read were all positive, so I ordered it.\\n\\nIs this the best coffee grinder out there? Maybe. It is, as another reviewer said, built like a tank (the Abrams, not the Sherman, for you fellow veterans). Since we also use a French Press on weekends, the KitchenAid Pro Line allows us the change the grind size with ease. The resulting grind appears very consistent in size, and frankly it's fun to experiment with the settings. Of course, the conical burs used for grinding the beans are the type serious coffee drinkers MUST have.\\n\\nYes, the glass bowl that receives the grinds seems a bit fragile, so be carefull when handling it. It's shape seems designed perfectly to fall out of your hands when washing it. Yes, you DO have to bop it when the beans stop falling into the grinding mechanism. The bopping makes much more noise than the grinding which sounds determined but relatively quiet.\\n\\nSure, the product is not perfect and that is the reason for not giving it five stars. (If I could have, however, 4.5 would have been appropriate.) The unit is a bit pricey, the receiving bowl a bit fragile, the bops a necessity, and the weight as much as that of the coffee maker. BUT, if you are determined to brew the BEST coffee you can every morning, then you HAVE to start with beans and the KitchenAid Pro Line Grinder.\\n\\nBut don't stop there. We finished out the system with a BUNN BTX-B ThermoFresh Brewermaker, a Premia Water Pitcher, a Bodum Columbia 8-Cup Stainless-Steel Thermal Press Pot, and a Nespresso expresso maker. I actually look forward to waking up and starting the process every morning, and the coffee is wonderful!\",\n \"Product: Ideal for showcasing your favorite classroom books! Students can easily view and access the books from a tabletop or shelf top. Features an angled base to nest the books and an adjustable book stop so books remain upright. Birch plywood construction. Adult assembly required. 24\\\"W x 10\\\"D x 8.5\\\"H.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Perfect solution for books on the floor, and they look great in Cherry!\\n\\nReview: This is my review for the Cherry veneer book browser. that I posted for that item. Other than the veneer, they are identical items.\\n\\nI have a dedicated music listening room in my home in which I both listen and review classical albums. I bought two of these terrific tabletop book browsers, because I had a dozen and a half classical music reference books that I consult when writing my reviews laying around on the floor. I thought that these book browsers might be the solution to organizings what had become unsightly mess of books, so I ordered two of them..\\n\\nDelivery was prompt. Last night I opened the boxes, removed the contents, sat on the floor, and put them together. The task was relatively easy. The pieces have adhesive letters on them that correspond to an accompanying diagram. It takes a little ability to envision how they go together. Assembly requires only about 15-20 minutes if you use no power screwdriver but rather only the small hex wrench in the hardware ziplock bag that also includes the needed screws. The time is mostly devoted to turning the hex wrench. The holes in the pieces lined up perfectly. If I had to redo the assembly, I would definitely use a power hex screwdriver. It would have reduced assembly time to 5 minutes. The screws are a bit of a chore as the screws have a tight fit. Someone with delicate hands might find screwing in the screws a bit tough if only using the supplied hex wrench. After screwing all of the pieces together you get an extremely sturdy single-shelf book shelf. I have mine sitting on the carpeted floor. I'm glad that I chose the cherry veneer. It looks great.\\n\\nNow, my reference books are neatly organized on these attractive book browsers, easily accessible, and off the floor finally. For the price, these book browsers are a bargain. I would buy them again if needed without a moment's hesitation. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!\",\n \"Product: Style meets function with this classic red leatherette storage ottoman. It features button tufting and padded lift off top. Use this piece on its own or as a pair to make a statement in any room. The easy to attach wooden legs feature a light cherry finish which compliments the classic red color. This stylish ottoman has a durable wooden frame with a 250 lb. Weight capacity which can accommodate most guest. Also available in a rich brown color. Spot clean only by hand to clean visible spots or stains. Ottoman Dimensions are 17.5 inches in length, 17.5 inches in Width and 17.5 inches in Height.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Excellent value, attractive, functional\\n\\nReview: We bought two of these for the small living area on a small houseboat. They arrived undamaged. The dark leather-like look is very attractive. The top opens to the storage space. This isn't the type of ottoman that you can abuse and get away with it. Take your shoes off before you plop you feet up on it, and they will look new forever. The top isn't plush but it is soft enough for comfort whether you sit on it or put your feet up on it. As I recall, all we had to do was screw the wooden feet on each corner and they were ready to use. For the price, they represent excellent value. A very functional item. Recommended without reservation!\",\n \"Product: A ticket, A tasket, look it's a banana basket. Now you can hang up your green bananas to ripen and put them in the bowl when ready to eat. Measures: 11.02\\\" L x 4.33\\\" W x 16.54\\\" H. Weighs: 1.06 lbs.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Perfect solution for hanging bananas!\\n\\nReview: What a great idea: something to get your bananas off the countertop and provide a space for other fruit below in the basket. Very, very clever. The holder is satin nickel, but it has a sheen. The only thing this holder doesn't have is a way to keep one banana off the top, but my wife has balanced one on the top. Now, that's a bit of a trick. The holder takes up little space on the counter, certainly less than a bunch of bananas. It sits securely on the counter and has never fallen over. The thing looks cool, too! I can't think of a better way to keep those dark spots off the greater curvature of the fruit. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!\",\n \"Product: Keep your CD collection organized with this sleek flip-rack. Constructed of clear acrylic and designed to store up to 20 CDs - cases flip for easy viewing. Attractive enough to display on a shelf or tabletop, yet also tucks away easily in a drawer. Line up several CD racks to organize your entire music collection! CD rack dimensions: 6\\\"W x 16\\\"D x 1\\\"H. . Made in America\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: A great way to organize single-disc CD's\\n\\nReview: Understand from the outset that these CD Flip Trays only hold single-disc CD cases or those 2-disc CD cases of the same thickness as the singles. If you have the thicker 3- or 4-disc CD cases you are out of luck. The trays are ingenious. You can store your CD's and flip them to see the covers. They are very well-made sturdy and attractive pieces. I bought eight and all but one had rubber feet, so they won't scoot around on slick surfaces such as glass end tables.\\n\\nThe best way to store your CD's are in covered cases like THE CUBE that protect your CD's from dust, but for temporary display, these Clear CD Flip Trays are perfect. Highly Recommended!!\",\n \"